Swan Magazine March 2017

Unit 8 Vale Town Centre 31 Egerton Drive Aveley WA 6069 Phone: 9296 7688

Email: frank.alban@mp.wa.gov.au

If you would like to receive a free copy of the new, expanded digital Swan Magazine sent to you electronically and save a tree’s life, send an email to: editor@swanmagazine.com.au with ‘Subscribe’ in the subject line.

Annie’s Vintage Wonderland Your One Stop Vintage Prop & Decor Shop 0430 456 586

Shop 3/121 James St., Guildford www.anniesvinatagewonderland.com 1

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IN THIS ISSUE FEATURES

PAGE

House & Garden

How to Grow Bougainvillea

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5 Tips on Public Speaking Books KSP Writers’ Centre Letters to the Editor Poetry Pain The Idler Writing Your Life Story

33 30 35 34

Business Card Board

Finance with Steve Get Your Networking Working

44 29 30

Books and Writing

Business

Community

26 36 34

5 Things Successful People Know 12 And the Rains Came 27 DFES Award for Local Fire School 11 Ethel Warren Honoured 37 Federal Notes 5 Guildford Heritage Festival 9/10 Horse Hotline Launched 11 John Day 6 Moondyne Joe 15 Notes From Parliament 5

SWAN MAGAZINE PAGE

Rod Henderson SAFE Stations of the Cross Surf on Turf SVRN Midvale Sporting Complex Wall-to-Wall Remote Mattresses Help Kiera Shave Free Volunteer Training Toodyay Music Festival What’s On

7 39 12 11 28 28 28 29 29 29 17 13

Film with James Kookaburra March That Face at Stirling Theatre with Gordon

26 25 23 24

Amarettos Douglas’ Wineries & Dineries Health Letter from South Africa

20 22 21

Challenge for the Next Premier SICD Gene Found

19 19

Entertainment

Food & Wine

WEBSITE:

www.swanmagazine.com.au

Email: editor@swanmagazine.com.au Registered Address: 18 Tokay Lane, The Vines, Western Australia 6069 APRIL DEADLINES: Advertisements: 25th March Editorial: 1st April Copyright: Swan Magazine 2017 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. Synhawk Publications Pty Ltd does not accept any liability for any statements or any opinion, or for any errors or omissions contained herein.

Front Page Photograph: Wedding at Caversham.

Photograph: Ella Otranto,

Ella Otranto Photography

www.ellaotranto.com.au See editorial on page 12 ...

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NOTES FROM PARLIAMENT HON ALYSSA HAYDEN MLC

Member for East Metropolitan Region

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NEW JETTIES AND FERRY PROPOSAL

ecently I invited the Hon Albert Jacob MLA, Minister for Environment; Heritage to Guildford to meet with myself and Daniel Parasiliti, our Liberal Candidate for Midland to discuss the importance of heritage tourism and opportunities available to the area.

Daniel and I then hosted a meeting at the Rose & Crown in Guildford and met with local Guildford residents, representatives from the Guildford Historical Society, Ratepayers Association and Remember Midland to listen to their views and opinions on the future for Guildford.

Following on from that meeting, both Daniel Parasiliti and I welcomed the announcement over the weekend that a reelected Liberal Government would provide $5 million for a new public jetty to be located north of the Swan River Pedestrian Bridge on the Burswood Peninsula, alongside the Perth Stadium.

This new jetty would service private boats and charter services, expected to commence construction by April 2017 and operational in 2018. Importantly, this initiative

will open up the riverside areas of our eastern suburbs to boost river tourism, from the Swan Valley through to Guildford, Burswood and Perth City itself.

As Parliamentary Secretary to Tourism, I

attract more visitors to the Swan Valley.

This investment supports and encourages new tourism based businesses to invest. For example, Yvonne Larson has a dream to offer a new experience on the river and I was delighted to meet up with her, the City of Swan and Travers from Mandoon Estate at its new jetty to discuss how together, we can see her dream come true.

But wait – there is more! The announcement also pledged an additional $3 million to be allocated to build a new jetty with land facilities at Guildford. It will also open up opportunities for passengers traveling on ferries on the Swan Valley route to disembark at Guildford and partake in history and heritage tourism experiences.

And still more! In addition to the new jetties, a re-elected Liberal Government has also pledged to provide $3 million to purchase a third public transport ferry to have had many discussions about the need for provide the capability for a public ferry service to more facilities and attractions on the Swan River, the Perth Stadium during special events. particularly towards the eastern suburbs, to Continued on page 6...

FEDERAL NOTES AGED CARE & INDIGENOUS HEALTH

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KEN WYATT MP

t has been a great honour and privilege to have Health is a newly created role for which I am been asked by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull very grateful, the health outcomes of Indigenous to serve as Minister for Aged Care and Minister Australians are of paramount importance to for Indigenous Health. me. I am humbled by the opportunity to be the I am thrilled that the importance of Aged Care first Indigenous person to be appointed to the has been recognised by the Prime Minister having Commonwealth Ministry. elevated to its own Ministry and I am honoured to I want to boost access to GPs and primary be serving as the Minister responsible for such an health care for indigenous Australians, with important portfolio. maternal and child health a top priority.

Our government is committed to giving I want to sincerely thank the residents in the people greater choice and more flexibility when it electorate of Hasluck for giving me this enormous comes to aged care. We are putting in place real, opportunity, not just as your representative, but meaningful and sustainable reform that puts to also serve the nation in two crucial portfolios. the consumer in control of their journey.

Consultation with the sector has been a feature of aged care reform up until now and I will ensure consultation with the sector will continue to be a cornerstone for initiatives in this area.

Being the Minister for Ken Wyatt MP being sworn in by the Governor General Indigenous Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, MC

I am incredibly grateful for your support and humbled by your trust in me as your local representative.

I look forward to continuing to meet with residents in my electorate to hear your concerns and to discuss ways in which we can together make our community an even better place to live.

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KEN WYATT MP Federal Member for Hasluck 9359 0322

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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STATE CANDIDATE MINISTER FOR HEALTH, CULTURE AND THE ARTS JOHN DAY MLA

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am proud of my lifelong connection with the east metropolitan and Hills region and honoured to have been able to promote both local and broader issues during my time in Parliament.

It was quite a step from my dental practice in Glen Forrest to the State parliament in 1993 and it is within our local communities that I continue to find great inspiration.

As a Minister, there have been milestones for the benefit all Western Australians, including the new $428 million WA Museum project and the transformation of our capital city through the development of Elizabeth Quay, Yagan Square and the revitalised Perth Cultural Centre.

Locally, the single most significant achievement has been to conceive the idea and to ensure the relocation of major police facilities to Midland when I was Police Minister.

The co-location of the State police communications, traffic and forensic centres as the WA Police Operations Support Facility has been the catalyst for much of the current redevelopment and growth, including the new St John of God Midland Public Hospital.

The benefits continue to accrue, with the location of more medical facilities in the area including the PlusLife Bone Bank and the new Curtin Medical School.

Supporting our aging population has been a priority, too, and it is pleasing to see progress on ADVERTISEMENT

Say YES to getting the job done.

John DAY Member for Kalamunda

0419 717 877

John.Day@wa.liberal.org.au

JohnDayMLA

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Authorised by A Cox, 2/12 Parliament Place, West Perth WA 6005.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

JohnDay.com.au

PO Box 701, Kalamunda WA 6926

Minister Day at Kalamunda Men’s Shed Inc with Ron Henderson the establishment of more aged care facilities in High Wycombe and Kalamunda.

As Health Minister, I have also been able to recently announce significant moves to free up hospital beds across Perth, through the provision of an additional 75 community aged care beds and additional funding to extend the popular Silver Chain Home Hospital service.

The east metropolitan region has a strong tradition of community festivals, concerts and sporting events, which will be boosted by a new Liberal-led initiative, the $1 million Metropolitan Events Scheme.

Local education is also a major focus, with the commitment of substantial funding for redevelopments at Kalamunda, Lesmurdie and Eastern Hills Senior High Schools, and Lesmurdie Primary School.

The popular Kalamunda Community Learning Centre is also well and truly on the way to redevelopment, thanks to a $1 million Liberal commitment, matching Commonwealth funding and supported by the Shire of Kalamunda.

My first fifteen years in Parliament was spent serving the people of the Darling Range electorate. It was renamed Kalamunda in 2008, and there have been major boundary changes for the 2017 election, with Glen Forrest, Mahogany Creek, Hovea, Parkerville, Stoneville and much of Mundaring now included in the seat, together with Darlington, most of the Shire of Kalamunda, and part of the City of Gosnells.

A re-elected Liberal Government will commit $75,000 to help build the Darlington Oval’s new Darlington Pavilion, a great community project that has been driven for more than 10 years by a wonderful and passionate group of local

volunteers.

Having grown up in the Hills, I know the devastation bushfires can cause, so I am delighted that a Liberal Government will contribute $250,000 towards the building of a new headquarters for the Stoneville Volunteer Bushfire Brigade.

With locals and visitors in mind, I joined Premier and Tourism Minister Colin Barnett to announce $2.5 million for the Perth Hills Mountain Bike Precinct, comprising a new 40km trail through John Forrest and Beelu national parks.

I have also been pleased to obtain a commitment of $75,000 for the Darlington Pavilion project if the Liberal government is reelected. This is in addition to the Lotterywest grant of $275,000 provided last year.

All of these investments highlight my commitment to ensuring the electorate of Kalamunda remains a great place to live, work and raise a family, while protecting the many unique characteristics we love so much.

Concluded from page 5...

Getting to the game at the new Perth Stadium will be easier and more fun than ever before for sports fans and will benefit residents of the Midland electorate who will be able to access the new jetties in their private boats.

This is huge news for local Guildford and surrounding residents. Our local economy stands to benefit, and no doubt local residents will enjoy having access to these exciting new attractions on their river doorstep.

As always, keeping you in touch with my activities.

STATE CANDIDATE ROD HENDERSON Your Vote, Your Community, Your Representative

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• Help build and support the upgrading of hundreds of schools across our community.

As an IPS board member at Ballajura Community College I see the Liberal Party’s Independent Public Schools policy making school management less complex and enabling local businesses to be contracted for works needed at the school Under a re-elected Liberal Government, 100 more public schools will become IPS encouraging greater autonomy, community involvement and local decision making.

Premier Colin Barnett said the IPS program was incredibly popular in communities, with 524 WA schools now independent.

“The rapid expansion of Independent Public Schools in WA shows the community likes what

s a local resident of the West Swan electorate, it has been my privilege to run as your Liberal Candidate for West Swan over the past few months.

With Election Day now on its way, I want to cut through the hot air and let you know what a vote for Rod Henderson on March 11 really means.

I am proud to be running as part of the Western Australian Liberal Team, which has shown strong leadership over the past eight years.

The Western Australian Liberal Team has improved our healthcare and education systems, cracked down on crime and got on with the job of building the critical infrastructure that our growing State needs.

But while a lot has already been done, there is always more to do.

That’s why I am asking for your vote.

A vote for me on March 11 is a vote for a local resident who will: • Be a strong, local voice representing you in State Parliament.

I recently joined my fellow Swan Valley ward Councillor and President of the Grape Growers Association, Darryl Trease, to discuss the tragic flooding that has hit our Swan Valley community.

Premier Colin Barnett has made Disaster Relief available - affected farmers are welcome to contact me at Rod.Henderson@wa.liberal.org. au for more details.

• Always be available to hear your concerns and to help fix your Paul Miles, Rod Henderson and Bill Marmion problems.

For example, getting to the game will be easier they’re seeing,” the Premier said. for sports fans with a re-elected government to provide $3 million to purchase a third public • Help complete the crucial road transport ferry to provide the capability for a infrastructure we have started, public ferry service to the Perth Stadium during including bridges on the Tonkin and special events.

Reid Highways and to get Roe 8 done.

Sports fans will be able to catch a ferry, or It was great to join Paul Miles and jump off a private boat, with new jetties to be Bill Marmion recently to announce constructed on the Burswood Peninsula and in the Liberal Government is building Guildford, in Perth’s east. an overpass at the intersection of The new jetty is part of a range of measures Wanneroo Rd and Ocean Reef Rd! to promote the use of river ferries and improve This is a big win for residents in my connections between key tourist nodes on the electorate of West Swan, particularly river such as Fremantle, Elizabeth Quay, South Banskia Grove, who would use this Perth, East Perth and the Swan Valley. intersection on a regular basis.

Our local economy stands to benefit, and no I’m sure you are all well aware doubt local residents will enjoy having access of how heavy traffic can be at this to this exciting new attraction on their river intersection and why this upgrade is so doorstep. vital to keep our local economy moving forward.

• Support local businesses and ensure that the Liberals raise the payroll tax threshold, to help • Fight hard to reduce red tape and businesses create more local jobs. taxes, starting with Land Tax.

• Crack down hard on crime, hoons and graffiti vandals, as well as introducing the toughest jail terms for meth dealers in Australia.

• See the Swan Valley Development Plan review become an effective tool for Swan Valley tourism, viticulture and horticulture.

I support the need for a committee of the City of Swan council, such as a Board with agreed Terms of Reference, to ensure that the Swan Valley community has effective input to council decisions.

• Work on solutions to the urban impact on Swan Valley rural businesses including water, power costs, rates, land taxes and DFES levies.

• Be a strong voice who will represent the needs of the equestrian community It’s time for a change in West Swan. It’s time for someone local, passionate and willing to fight for our area to help our community get ahead.

That is why I am asking for your vote – thank you.

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Rod HENDERSON Liberal for West Swan

Rod is a proud local who will be a strong voice for West Swan

Fighting for family and community 0428 944 781 Rod4WestSwan rod.henderson@wa.liberal.org.au rodhenderson.com.au

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Authorised A Cox, 2/12 Parliament Place, West Perth WA 6005.

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COMMUNITY GUILDFORD HERITAGE FESTIVAL BROMWYN FACER

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ose yourself in the wonder of yesteryear with a day out at the Rose and Crown Guildford Heritage Festival with a celebration of the regions rich and diverse cultural heritage with a novel glimpse into the arts, hobbies, trades and everyday living of our forbearers.

From the energetic sounds of Rockabilly, Rock ‘n’ Roll and Country Rock to the slick presentation and raw energy of Adam Hall and The Velvet Playboys rejoycing in the music of the 40’s and 50’s along with a touch of Australiana from The Mucky Duck Bush Band you’ll find yourself up on the dance floor rockin’ and jiving to some of Perth’s finest musicians, Adam Hall and The Velvet Playboys’ repertoire is rooted in the Jazz and Rhythm & Blues music of artists such as Louis Prima, Frank Sinatra, With everything from cars, busses, tractors, bikes, military exhibitions of historical interest with artefacts, memorabilia vehicles, stationary engines and images depicting aspects of life from early settlement. to the unusual and quirky

Join Brockman House at the Children’s Festival with the that is motor driven, you will old-time games such as Four Square; Elastics; Hopscotch and enjoy some magic motoring hands-on interactive activities. FREE amusement rides, face memories. painting MEGA bubbles and so much more.

Penny farthings on parade,

Browse the stalls with its handcrafted wares along military drills to the trade with all things vintage, retro, rusty, dust & old to retro and demos including blacksmithing, rockabilly fashion and accessories. wood turning, bookbinding,

Step inside St Matthews Church Hall for the West spinning and lace making there Coast Collectors Fair for genuine antiques and collectables. is something for those of all Valuations will be available on the day. ages and interests.

Bring along a picnic rug, grab a bite to eat from the Local associations including Foodies Hub which has tastes from all corners of the globe and historical societies, military railway, and genealogical special interest groups have come together with settle in for a day of non stop entertainment and activities.

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COMMUNITY

The Rose and Crown Guildford Heritage Festival is a real community celebration which and has been recognized as an important day on the calendar of events in Perth.

It is only through community support such as that provided by local business like Alfreds Kitchen and Annies Vintage Wonderland – Annis Sloan Chalk Paint Stockiest and the festival’s major sponsor the Rose and Crown, located in the heart of Guildford.

Parking will be available at the Kings Meadows Polo Grounds on Helena Street.

If you’re catching the train, hop off at Guildford and Stirling Square - only a few minutes stroll from the station.

To check out what else is happening throughout the day visit www,facebook.com/ guildfordheritagefestival.

MAJOR SPONSOR WITH NAMING RIGHTS

Registered with the National Trust the Rose and Crown has stood the test of time for 175 years. The hotel is located on Swan Street and is the oldest Pub not only in our lovely corner of Guildford, but the whole of Western Australia, and the third oldest in Australia.

The original building dates all the way back to 1841, when the Colony was little more than a decade old.

Original owner, Thomas Jecks opened a General Store first, then extended the scope of the license to include a licensed Inn. The Jecks like many of the Rose & Crowns Publicans have a fascinating past, and today, the a la carte restaurant and heritage accommodation suites are housed in the main building.

Over past fourteen years loving restorations have been completed by owner Mark and Tracy Weber including the old outbuildings and stables which are now utilised as function and wedding venues, and a beautiful backdrop to the beer garden.

Check out it’s truly unique convict built cellar – complete with hand made nails and the original tunnel entrance leading to the Swan River which was how the stores and barrels were moved from river barges to the building.

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COMMUNITY DFES AWARD

SURF ON TURF IN SWAN

RICKY HARVEY

KATE PHILLIPS

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et your bathers and sun cream ready because the City of Swan is bringing the beach to Midland. The Surf on Turf pop-up beach playground is sailing into Midland for one epic weekender in March.

You’ll be able to slip, slide and splash your way through the water playground, soak, up a packed program of family entertainment or just kick back at the Midland Gate Beach café where you can enjoy some gourmet food truck fare.

The free event will take place on the Corner of Cale Street and the Crescent in Midland on March 11 and 12, between 10am to 3pm.

It will feature entertainment from The Lulus, Bizircus, Pirateman, Perth Stilt walkers, The Mermaids and Riley Pearce and more, as well as sand sculptures, face painting and giant games.

City of Swan Mayor Mick Wainwright said the family friendly event would bring the only thing Midland doesn’t have to its shores – a beach.

“It will be fantastic to see part of Midland’s CBD transformed into a water themed pop up park and I hope to see all of the community down there and getting involved,” he said.

City of Swan Councillor Mark Elliott said the event, which is sponsored by Midland Gate, Community News and Advance Print, was a sign of things to come this summer.

“We are always proud to bring events like this to our local communities as they not only add vibrancy and atmosphere to the area, but allow our community members to see their usual surroundings in a very different light,” For more information on this and upcoming events, head to the City of Swan Events Facebook page or the City’s website.

(L-R) Department of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner, Mr Wayne Gregson APM, and Mundaring Firefighters School Chairman, Mr Nigel Morgan.

Photograph courtesy of Ricky Harvey

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ecently the Department of Fire & Emergency Services Commissioner, Mr Wayne Gregson APM, presented the Mundaring Firefighters School with a Certificate of Distinction.

This award recognises more than twenty-one years of service, and the ongoing support that the Mundaring Firefighters School has given to volunteer fire fighters.

Both those of the Shire of Mundaring, and the Bush Fire Service brigades of many other surrounding Local Governments.

MFS Chairman, Mr Nigel Morgan said “We really appreciate the recognition of DFES, through its senior officers and our close working relationship with the Fire & Emergency Services Academy in Forrestfield.

“Congratulations and thank you to all of the hard working volunteer trainers, assessors, coordinators, office bearers and assistants for maintaining our proud tradition of volunteers training volunteers.”

MFS trainers and assessors hold formal qualifications in adult learning and have been

assessed and subsequently endorsed by DFES to deliver their courses.

Many of the courses offered at the school are the same DFES courses that all fire fighters - volunteer and career - must complete. These involve formal assessments, theory and practical sessions.

The MFS have also developed several inhouse courses tailored to our particular Hills environment. Courses conducted range from basic training to advanced level skills, right up to Incident Controller.

While the School caters primarily for Shire of Mundaring volunteers, it is common to have members from other local government brigades, the SES and Government Departments take part.

The Mundaring Firefighters School is operated by local Bush Fire Brigade volunteers through the Shire of Mundaring, and according to Mr Morgan, “As far as we are aware the MFS is the only fully volunteer staffed and operated Firefighters School in Australia.”

HORSE HOTLINE

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new fortnightly equestrian radio program the horse industry is experiencing, along with started on Radio VCA 88.5fm at 1.30pm on local, national and international news.

Monday 13th February.

A feature of the programs will Horse Hotline will be presented be regular Co-Presenters who will

by Diane Bennit – Chair of the WA be talking about their particular Horse Council. If you are unable equestrian interests. to listen at 1.30pm, the program will If you would like to be a be re-broadcast at 7.30pm on the Co-Presenter or if you would Monday evenings. like promotion of your special Horse Hotline will be discussing equestrian interest contact diane@ the different horse breeds, upcoming horsehotline.org or ring 0409 083 clinics, events and any issues that 617.

The first week’s co-presenter was be Janet Cameron from the WA Horse Council’s Trails portfolio. Janet is a keen trails advocate and has represented the Horse Council on a number of trails issues over the years.

Janet spoke about some of the progress currently being made with horse trails in Western Australia.

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COMMUNITY 5 THINGS SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT STYLE STATIONS OF THE CROSS KELLY PRICE

KIRSTY MILLIGAN

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our clothes influence the way people think about you at all times. Whether at work, on a date, or out with friends, your clothes speak to people before you do.

It's not to be taken lightly. Your employer’s perception of what your wardrobe says about you does affect your career.

1. How Your Look Counts A study released by Office Team, a staffing agency that polled Senior Corporate Executives found that '93% of managers say that how you dress at work influences your chance of a promotion'.

2. Suited for Purpose It's interesting to note that not everyone needs to 'dial it up' with his or her corporate wardrobe. In fact, overdressing is just as detrimental to your career prospects as underdressing.

Overdressing can give the impression that you are a lone entity that you don’t fit within the cultural environment and that you're not a team player.

As a former people manager, these are not attributes I've ever been looking for when interviewing candidates for management positions.

Of course, underdressing comes with it's own hidden demons.

Employees who arrive underdressed for interviews can rarely make up for their disheveled appearance with witty commentary.

And it's a jungle out there.

The well dressed guy who interviewed next may not have had such dynamic verbal skills, but he is likely to progress further than the underdressed guy whose first impression read as lazy, unprofessional, disrespectful and shallow.

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3. For or Against Quite simply put, our professional style is either working for us, or against us, there is no inbetween. As humans, we have been programmed to judge on sight. It’s how we stayed alive in the caves. We recognised friends or foes by their garments or dressings and we still do it today.

The problem is, when we don't understand what our visual image is actually saying, we're not controlling our own companies branding or messaging.

That can mean that all our hard work on websites, communications and culture goes down the drain every time anyone in our business has a face-to-face meeting.

4. The Psychology of Colour The colour of our clothing has an effect on ourselves and our potential customers.

Professionalism, reliability, leadership, trustworthiness, intelligence and enthusiasm can all be represented by wearing the right colour.

Wear the wrong colour and you could be telling people to go away.

5. Be Busy, Don’t Look Busy Your professional clothes shouldn’t be louder than you are. Save your flashy things for weekends and social events.

Your wardrobe shouldn’t distract you or your colleagues. They should be dazzled by your achievements, not your sparkly shoes.

A purposeful first impression should underline everything you say and be the exclamation point at the end of every sentence.

Your visual image has power to it.

When it is thoughtful and congruent with your service offerings people will connect to you and your business at first glance. Your visual image can qualify you when you walk in a room.

Courtesy of kirstymilligan.com.au

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esley Uniting Church in the City, Perth present the annual art exhibition Stations of the Cross. Running for the eighth year, the exhibition is curated by Claire Bushby and will feature newly commissioned artworks by fifteen Western Australian contemporary artists.

The fifteen artworks correspond to the traditional Easter story and ritual of the ‘Stations of the Cross’. While pertaining to a religious narrative, participating artists each interpret a single ‘station’ through their personal and unique understanding of Easter and the human experiences and themes that underlie it.

The vision of the Rev Craig Collas, minister at Wesley Church, is an open one – he hopes audiences of all spiritual persuasion can enjoy the imagination, imagery and conversation that the unique works of art will offer.

“As visitors to Wesley see the artworks, my hope is that they will be able to find their own entry point and engage with the life and journey of Jesus in a way that connects to their own personal journey. I also hope that they will be able to share their journey through conversation with others, and in that context, come closer to the love and life that this experience offers.”

This year, the commissioned artists – who hail from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds - were asked to focus on the embodiment of humanity within their works and to engage in interfaith dialogue by exploring universal human experiences such as loss, grief, oppression, and mortality. Through a variety of art forms – including painting, sculpture, and textiles – the exhibition bridges between sacred stories and the issues and events that are present in our contemporary world.

Stations of the Cross will be opened by Professor Ted Snell, Director of the Cultural Precinct at the University of Western Australia.

Curator Claire Bushby commends Wesley Uniting Church for developing a strong reputation in the Perth visual arts landscape over the past eight years.

“It is an opportunity for the public to see a selection of artworks by some of Western Australia’s leading established and emerging artists.

“Stations of the Cross originated around the 17th Century and has since been observed in many forms over the centuries. The essence of which is a pilgrimage of contemplation focused on evocative moments (the Stations) in Jesus Christ’s path from His condemnation to the resurrection.

“I believe that by inviting WA artists with diverse cultural backgrounds and beliefs to spend time creating artworks that responds to the fifteen stations is a courageous, much needed engagement by Wesley Uniting Church with the wider Perth community.

“It demonstrates commitment to opening a varied and inclusive dialogue about current issues.”

Stations of the Cross is proudly sponsored by the City of Perth.

WHAT’S ON IF YOU WOULD LIKE AN EVENT LISTED IN THIS COLUMN RING OUR OFFICE ON 6296 5161 Entries for non-profit entities are free, commercial entries are welcome at $10 per fifty words.

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.

MORRIS DANCING All welcome. It’s like bush dancing, with sticks and bells. It’s aerobic exercise and great fun!

Tuesdays 7-9pm practice, Guildford Town Hall, cnr James St and Meadow St, Guildford. And drinks later at the Woodbridge Hotel with live Irish music For more information please contact: AUSTRALIAN BREASTFEEDING ASSOC. Christine Hogan: 9279 8778 Discussion groups, guest speakers, morning Email: madtattersmorris@iinet.Net.Au tea. Free breastfeeding counselling. Expectant Website: madtattersmorris.Myclub.Org.Au mothers, mothers, babies and children welcome.

National Breastfeeding Helpline 1800 686 2686 MUSTARD SEED - DISCOVERING COMPUTERS is a 24 hour 7 days a week service.

Mustard Seed is a fifteen year old non-profit organisation and teaches all aspects of everyday Swan/Mundaring Group meets every Monday, 9:30- computing. Ability levels from beginners 11:30am at the Gumnuts Family Centre, 8 Mudalla onwards. Want help with Windows 10? In need Way, Koongamia. A qualified ABA counsellor of instruction with your Mac computer? Have an is present at each meeting to give confidential iPad or Android tablet and don’t know what it will information and support on breastfeeding issues. do? We can help. Cost is $3 per session. Classes Contact Natalie 9572 4971. are heldat 56 McGlew Road, Glen Forrest. To gain a place enrol now.

Kalamunda Group meets fortnighly on a Thursday, Phone 9299 7236 or 0478 604 163 or 9:30-11:30am at the Maida Vale Baptist Church, E: mustardcomputers@gmail.com Edney Road, High Wycombe.

W: noodlebytes.com Contact Jenny 9252 1996.

SWAN WOODTURNERS GROUP Northam Group meets each second Tuesday of The group meets in the rear hall of The Senior the month at the Bridgeley Community Centre, Citizens’ Centre, The Avenue, Midland, at 1-00pm.

Wellington Street, Northam 10am to Noon. on 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Tuesday, and at 7-00pm.

Fourth Tuesday each month at Toodyay Playgroup, on 2nd Tuesday of each month. A demonstration Stirling Terrace, Toodyay. Noon to 2pm. Please and cuppa are the norm. Men and Women are phone Louisa 9574 0229. welcome. Enquiries to Ted 9295 4438.

TUESDAY BADMINTON CLUB Tuesdays Join us for Social Badminton from 9am - 11am at Brown Park Recreation Centre. Beginners Welcome. Contact Miriam 9274 5058.

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.

TALKING HORSES Wednesday evenings 6:00pm The WA Horse Council equestrian radio program is now in its seventh year. The programme is broadcast on the Community Radio Station 91.3 SportFM. To ensure that your club, event, breed or business gets coverage, call Diane Bennit 0409 083 617.

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

The group leader is Gilly, she 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 welcome!

For more information call 9296 1976 or E: enquiries@swanvalleycommunitycentre.com W: www.swanvalleycommunitycentre.com.

ELLENBROOK AND DISTRICT MENS SHED INC. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday We are open at 4 Transit Way Ellenbrook from 10.00am to 3.00pm. Potential members can turn up on those days and there will be someone to explain what we do and give membership details.

Annual fees are low and members can do their own thing, participate in projects for the community or simply just come in for a chat and a cuppa.

We are considering extending our days to include Saturdays or evenings if there is enough interest.

SWAN VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE MUSIC CLASSES Tuesday mornings Learn to play tunes on piano or keyboard immediately – the SIMPLY MUSIC method. Play songs, chords, blues and classical in small groups at a reasonable price.

Call Heather 9296 4181 for more details.

HILLS CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT GROUP 1st Wednesday of each month Hilltop Grove Estate, 1645 Jacoby Street, Mahogany Creek. Morning tea provided, between 10.30 - 12.00 noon.

Enquiries Terina 9572 1655.

MIDLAND MEN’S SHED Every Tuesday morning We meet socially every Tuesday morning from 9.30am to 11.30am in the Bellevue Baptist Church Hall and each month we have a guest speaker on a wide range of topics.

We also go on excursions to various places of interest (e.g. HMAS Stirling, Aviation Museum, ALCOA, etc.). There is the chance to also do some woodworking or metal work at external sites.

Our music and art groups are functioning extremely well and welcome new members. For more information please contact Kevin Buckland on 0417 961 971 or by email: kebinsv@tpg.com.au

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 HARMONY SINGERS Wednesdays ELLENBROOK COMMUNITY Come and sing with us! Swan Harmony Singers WEIGHT LOSS CLUB is a community choir that meets, 7-9pm, to sing music ranging from jazz to pop, plus the Every Wednesday evening We meet from 6.45pm to 8.00pm at the occasional classic. No auditions. Join us at the Woodlake Community Hall, Meeting room 1. Salvation Army Church Hall, 371 Morrison Rd, Highpoint Blvd, Ellenbrook. Friendly support (opposite Swan View Primary School), Swan View. group and low cost. Male and females of all Enquiries: call Anna on 9299 7249, or Chris on ages welcome. Contact Shirley 9276 7938 9298 9529 or 0435 062 728. shirleysardelich@aapt.net.au.

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COMMUNITY MOONDYNE JOE’S OUT AND ABOUT LESLIE HERBERT

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ooray, it's coming round to the Act-Belong-Commit Toodyay Moondyne Festival time again.

Each May the small rural town of Toodyay goes en feté, attracting visitors from all over the state and even from the Eastern states.

The town of Toodyay celebrates the life of legendary Welsh Bush ranger, Joseph Bolitho 'Moondyne Joe' Johns, transported to Western Australia for stealing food.

He was given a ticket of leave on arrival in 1853 and embarked on a life of crime, stealing, getting caught, escaping, getting caught, escaping again, finally gaining a Governor's pardon on a bet that he couldn't escape. He married and together he and his wife travelled WA until his death in 1900.

The connection with Toodyay in that a lot of his activity was in and around the township. His nickname 'Moondyne' is probably from the area near Toodyay.

The town celebrates Moondyne Joe's life by stepping back into Victorian times and recreating his trial and escapes in the main street. The town is full of Victorian architecture so the illusion is convincing.

As well as the vivid street theatre there is the interactive Colonial Village, smaller events, wood-chopping displays, Bush poets and bush bands, the 1860's Regiment, glorious in their scarlet coats and polished Brown Bess muskets.

There's a miniature train for the littlies, face painting, displays of antiques and home-made wares of all kinds. Arts, Crafts and lots and lots of food stalls as well as the Toodyay shops, cafes and restaurants vending their excellent wares.

Go along and join in the fun of WA's premier Colonial festival.

It's free, fun and family.

We support many events in regional WA just like this one!

Royalties for Regions is investing $60 million in Tourism WA’s Regional Events Program to help grow our regional areas into thriving and sustainable communities.

share your Toodyay & Districts Community Bank® Branch

Regional events bring valuable promotion, vibrancy and prosperity to communities.

Don’t keep your best photos to yourself. Tag your photos #justanotherdayinWA to share your extraordinary Western Australian experiences and follow us on Instagram @westernaustralia

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TFI Toodyay & Districts Community BankÂŽ Branch

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COMMUNITY TOODYAY MUSIC FESTIVAL

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aturday March 25, 2017 marks the date of the first annual Toodyay Music Fest.

With stages in Duidgee and Stirling Parks for bands and various other performers, St Stephens Church will open its doors for those who prefer to be entertained by classical and easy listening music.

The streets of Toodyay will be lined with buskers to entertain those that are dining in our cafes and for shoppers alike.

A variety of food and drinks will be available for festival goers from a variety of vendors. There will also be stalls for those that wish to purchase music festival wares.

The Toodyay Music Fest kicks off at 11 am and ends at 9pm with what promises to be a fun and exciting free family community event.

With bands such as Another Fine Mess, The Blue Hornets and the finale being The Australian Beatles tribute band and Jumping Jack Flash Rolling Stones tribute band.

There will be music of all genres to suit everyone’s liking and many local artists will be performing also.

Take a rug or chairs and share a great day out with your friends and family and help make Toodyay shine.

SPECIAL AVONLINK TRAIN SERVICE: Departs Midland - 10.15am Departs Northam - 9.03pm THE AUSTRALIAN BEATLES The Australian Beatles superbly reproduce, in precise detail, the evolving sights and sounds of the greatest band in history.

From the early days of mop top hair and matching suits, to the astonishing psychedelic horizons of ‘Sgt Pepper’ and beyond.

The show will transport you back to the golden age of rock ’n roll, and show you why The Beatles are the biggest selling, most influential

and most important band in the waters including the largest cruise liner ‘Ovation history of popular of the Seas'.

The band is featured regularly on TV and radio. Members of the band have also sung at The Cavern Club in Liverpool. Drummer for the band Dave, is the Australian Ambassador for the Beatles Story in Liverpool, the world’s largest permanent exhibition purely devoted to the lives and times of The Beatles.

music, as the four lads from Liverpool themselves said….. “A splendid time is guaranteed for all” The Australian Beatles are on a never-ending world tour! Recent highlights include Beerfest Asia – Singapore and at the world’s largest Casino Resort – The Venetian in Macau.

Performances closer to home include Rottnest Beatles Fest and headline performances on some of the finest cruise ships in Australian

JUMPING JACK FLASH The Rolling Stones Tribute show band, Jumping Jack Flash have performed internationally and extensively throughout Australia.

At the heart of this world-class tribute to The Rolling Stones are Tom Jennis as Mick Jagger, and Rocky Evangelisti as Keith Richards – the ‘Glimmer Twins’.

Jennis perfectly captures the strutting, swaggering charisma of Jagger’s stage presence, while Evangelisti faultlessly reproduces the attitude and performance of rock and roll’s original guitar hero – Keith Richards.

With the rest of this five piece live band at full throttle, they blast out hit after Stones hit.

The legendary Rolling Stones are unmatched in musical history for their power and presence on stage. Jumping Jack Flash are a group of dedicated, enormously experienced musicians who make it very clear why The Rolling Stones are, and always will be, “the greatest rock and roll band in the world” Immediately after Toodyay music fest both The Australian Beatles and Jumping Jack Flash depart on an Asian tour with performances in Bangkok, Singapore and Phuket, with the tour finishing in Hong Kong where they will perform in the 40,000 seat stadium providing the half time entertainment at The Hong Kong Rugby Sevens tournament.

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HOUSE AND GARDEN HOW TO GROW BOUGAINVILLEA

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ougainvillea is a tropical, shrub-like vine that bursts forth with colorful flowers for eleven months of the year if it's planted in the right climate.

To grow bougainvillea, plant it in full sun, slightly acidic and well-drained soil, and a relatively hot and dry climate. Water sparingly, fertilizing every few months, pruning at the end of the season, and training it to climb.

Decide whether to plant in the ground or in a pot. Bougainvillea thrives in places that are hot and relatively dry. If you want to keep bougainvillea outdoors all year long, it's best to be in hardiness zone 9 or higher.

If you're in a colder, wetter zone, you can still grow bougainvillea if you plant it in a pot and bring it indoors for the winter.

Bougainvillea do best when night temperature don't drop below 16 °C and daytime temperatures don't exceed 38 °C. Bougainvillea can be wintered over in a low light area.

Find a sunny spot in your yard. Bougainvillea is a sun-lover and it will grow best in a full sun position, in the open, facing due North.

Bougainvillea needs at least five hours of full sun every day to thrive.

Choose a place with rich, well-drained soil.

Bougainvillea won't do well in soil that retains too much water, so make sure the soil drains quite well. They need rich soil that is slightly acidic, with pH between 5.5 and 6.0.

Add limestone to the soil to increase the pH or sulphur to decrease the pH as necessary.

If you're planting the bougainvillea in a pot, choose a soil mix with the appropriate pH level.

Dig a hole as deep as the bougainvillea

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plant's root ball. Add a high-phosphate fertilizer to the hole to promote root growth and help the flowers bloom.

Lift the bougainvillea plant from its container and place the root ball into the wetted hole. Lightly pat the soil around the base of the plant.

If you want the bougainvillea to climb a trellis or wall, be sure to plant it near the structure.

As it grows, you'll need to "train" it to climb the structure by wrapping it gently around the base.

If you're planting the bougainvillea in a container, make sure to choose one with plenty of drainage holes, since bougainvillea hate to have "wet feet."

Water sparingly. Bougainvillea plants weaken with too much watering, ending up with all leaf growth in place of flowers. On the other hand, letting the soil dry out will cause the plant to get stressed out. Find a happy medium - water enough to keep the soil damp, but not so much that you leave the plant waterlogged.

Fertilize regularly. Feed the plant a fertilizer every few months to keep the flowers blooming.

Fertilizing too frequently can cause the plant to grow quite vigorously, so if you find that it's getting too large, cut back on fertilizer.

Organic or slow-release

fertilizers work best.

Be sure to fertilize at least once a year, at the beginning of spring, to help the season's growth get underway.

Bougainvillea plants are prolific growers and need good pruning to force blooming and retain a pretty shape. After the bougainvillea has finished blooming for the season, cut it back by a few inches.

This will promote healthy growth in the spring.

Wear gloves when pruning bougainvillea.

Some people can get a skin rash from pruning bougainvillea.

Bougainvillea plants need support to cover a wall, fence, or other area.

If you'd like the plant to grow in a certain vertical spot, you can hang rows of wire or string against the surface that you want covered. Tuck the bougainvillea branches behind these guidance supports at regular intervals. Keep a close eye on growth and adjust as necessary until the bougainvillea starts covering the wall or other surface.

HEALTH SICD GENE FOUND ALICIA MURRAY-JONES

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team of researchers, including scientists from the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, have linked a faulty gene to the deaths of seemingly healthy children whose hearts suddenly stopped.

Last year the Perkins Neurogenetic Diseases Laboratory received DNA from a family in Scotland whose four-month-old baby had tragically suffered a cardiac arrest and died.

With the family’s permission, their doctor sent the baby’s DNA to the Perkins laboratory and noted that the family were expecting a second child. Perkins researcher, Dr Gina Ravenscroft, said the team analysed the child’s DNA to find possible disease-causing genes.

“We found two genetic variants in a gene called PPA2 that could be the cause of this disease, but we didn’t have any other patients with variants in that gene,” Dr Ravenscroft said.

Dr Ravenscroft entered the gene into a research database and found no other researchers had identified it as a disease gene. Months later the Perkins team were contacted by genetics researchers at the French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) in Paris.

The INSERM team knew of two families with similar cardiac death and mutations in PPA2.

The collaborators have been able to quickly translate their findings into a genetic screening test for future babies that might face this silent disease risk.

“Recently, the family we received the initial

Professor Nigel Laing AO and Dr Gina Ravenscroft of the Harry Perkins Institute

DNA from had their second baby and last week we screened the baby’s DNA and found he only has one of the gene variants. To get the disease you need two copies and he’s only carrying one so he won’t get the disease,” Dr Ravenscroft said.

“The screening test has also helped a family who lost two sons from sudden cardiac arrest linked to PPA2.

“Their two other children were screened and found to have two copies of the PPA2 mutation, so they have been fitted with implantable defibrillators.

If their heart stops the

defibrillator will support their heart function.”

Head of the Perkins Neurogenetic Diseases Laboratory, Professor Nigel Laing AO, said his research team is dedicated to finding answers for families.

“Our job is to find as many disease genes as we can, as rapidly as possible. We’re filling in the map of known disease genes and this is another step in the right direction,” Professor Laing said.

The research was published in the high impact journal The American Journal of Human Genetics.

For more information www.perkins.org.au.

CHALLENGE FOR THE NEXT PREMIER

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estern Australians are being denied access to best-practice stroke treatment and care with the State’s hospitals falling below national averages in several critical areas.

Stroke Foundation data has revealed only forty-four percent of Western Australian stroke patients are treated in a stroke unit, well below the national average of sixty-seven percent.

Additionally only six percent of Western Australian ischaemic stroke patients are being treated with clot-busting medication – the country’s top-performing stroke services are delivering this standard treatment at rates of twenty percent.

Stroke Foundation Western Australia State Manager Jonine Collins said these figures contributed to a growing body of evidence demonstrating the Western Australian stroke care system is failing its patients and their families.

In launching the Challenge for Western Australia report today is the Stroke Foundation called on the next Government to take targeted action to improve patient outcomes.

“It is an injustice that only a small percentage of Western Australian stroke patients are accessing best-practice care that we know saves lives and reduces disability,” Ms Collins said.

“Not only are our patients missing out on

RACHEL MURPHY

proven treatments like thrombolysis (clotbusting medication) but less than half of stroke survivors are benefiting from stroke unit care.

“We know the overwhelming majority of health professionals are doing the best they can in a fragmented system that is the result of under-resourcing over many years. They need the backing of the next State Government to improve the standard of care.”

Ms Collins said the next State Government had an opportunity to make a positive change and potentially save lives.

“With targeted investment the next Western Australian Government can reduce the impact of stroke, improve the quality of care, and give survivors the support and information they desperately need,” Ms Collins said.

“Further investment in telestroke services, improving the level of support offered to patients post-discharge, and increasing community understanding and awareness of stroke will help save hundreds of Western Australians from unnecessary death and disability.

“We are presenting all major parties with an opportunity to make a difference. With a modest investment, the next Government can take positive steps towards improving the state of stroke in Western Australia.”

Ms Collins said with Western Australians

predicted to suffer close to 5000 strokes this year it was time for action.

“It estimated more than 1000 Western Australians will lose their lives to stroke this year and countless more will be left with significant disability,” Ms Collins said.

“The good news is stroke is preventable, treatable and ultimately beatable.

“We’re calling on the next Western Australian Government to deliver targeted stroke programs that will save lives, reduce disability and support survivors in their recovery.

“By investing in stroke the Government can not only save lives and reduce disability, but will also deliver more than $1.5 million in savings back to the health budget each year.

“With an aging population and subsequent projected increase in stroke it is crucial the next State Government takes action now before more lives are lost to this brutal disease,’’ she said.

The Challenge for Western Australia sets out the key priorities to reduce the impact of stroke in Western Australia, including a program to drive targeted improvements in stroke treatment; funding to improve community awareness of stroke; and using telemedicine to improve stroke care in rural and regional areas.

The document is available at: www. strokefoundation.org.au 19

DINING OUT

The Thoughts of an Ageing, Balding Foodie

AMARETTOS

DOUGLAS SUTHERLAND-BRUCE

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ome years ago there was an advertisement on TV along the lines of ‘I liked it so much I bought the company’. And let’s face it, who hasn’t been at work, looked around and thought ‘I could run this so much better.’

Certainly young Naomi, when she was working as a server in a restaurant while putting herself through university on a business degree, felt that perhaps there was a better way.

Fast forward six or so years Naomi, now in her late twenties and rather more business experience found the restaurant she had worked in was for sale.

Accordingly, after considerable discussion, her father Craig and his partner Jackie bought the restaurant, cleaned it up and reopened as Amarettos in Ellenbrook.

Amaretto is Italian, and means literally, ‘little love’ usually shown in art as pudgy little Cupids.

Certainly it’s an excellent name for this particular restaurant (which is not in any way associated with Cafe Amaretto) which treats the food with respect, the customers with care and the whole hospitality business as a calling rather than a way to make easy money.

By the bye, anyone who thinks that hospitality is a way to make easy money is deluded.

Amarettos is a medium sized restaurant offering dining inside and out in a wide, airy, light, comfortable area.

The decor was designed by Jackie, whose other career was in the New Home Industry Designing and Selling, and the choice of colours is imaginative, both welcoming and calming.

The main feature is a four-part original hand-painted in China per Jackie’s instructions of a stylised money tree. Calming as it is, the painting caused a certain amount of anxiety as it arrived, in pieces and without instructions, only the day before the grand re-opening.

Imagine an Ikea kitchen flat pack without instructions or tools. It was completed only hours before the doors opened, but worth the effort, in my opinion.

Angela and I called in at lunchtime on a Wednesday to try the food.

The menu is huge, broken into breakfast,

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luncheon and dinner. It’s also licensed so there’s a sizable wine and drinks list as well.

It’s all one big menu, so you can be tempted to come back for a different meal - Personally, I HAVE to come back for breakfast. Soon.

There is a good variety and balance to the dishes, mostly European with a strong Italian accent, but all enticing and attractive.

As a special favour Chef cooked a dinner entrée for Angela - the deep fried Camembert ($14)served, not with the usual sweet plum sauce, but with an original sauce of fresh strawberries in a berry and port coulis. Different, fresh and delicious.

For myself I ordered Lemon Pepper Calamari ($15) with sauce Tatare (or Ta-ta sauce as James called it when he was very young). Chef, I expect, took one look at me and sent out a main course size ($18), and I’m very glad he did. The squid was superb.

Calamari/squid is really, really easy to get wrong. Under-cooked and it’s slimy and horrible and five minutes later it’s over-cooked, rubbery and awful.

Chef got it perfectly in the middle of that five minute window, magnificently tender and the light, lemon and peppered finish just made it delicious. The salad was nice, but for me the hero was the calamari.

Continued on the next page ...

Service Hours Monday & Tuesday : 5pm - 10pm Wednesday to Friday : 11am - 3pm / 5pm - 10pm Saturday & Sunday : 8:30am - Late

BOOK NOW - (08) 9296 9333 Shop B02, 11 MAIN STREET, ELLENBROOK, WA 6069 (We are not affiliated with Cafe Amaretto, Osborne Park)

FOOD - LETTER FROM SOUTH AFRICA JUST KEEP TO THE STEAK IN A STEAKHOUSE

I

INGRID SHEVLIN

fear for the future of chef-owned restaurants. a terrace overlooking the sea. Rather bizzarely calamari strips, and mussels marinière.

With the the high cost of running a restaurant is their toilets are down a long, lonely passage A pleasant enough salad selection included a it only franchise operations that can survive? And on the outside, which left me feeling I was on biltong, roquefort and fig salad; and a jalapeño, are they serving the cause of fine food? a building site as the walls and floor were bare Parmesan and avocado salad. Also two vegetarian There are around twenty-three Cattle Baron cement. If you go, don’t go alone. It was quite dishes and five burgers. franchise restaurants in South Africa. Most of scary.

The meat selections is extensive. If you are a them in the Cape. Their first in KwaZulu Natal, The franchise was established in 1987 and carnivore, this is paradise. Over forty choices. A has just opened in the Pearls in Umhlanga. How their menu boasts of offering traditional-style kind of 101-ways-with-steak. Also ribs and chops depressing. food inspired, I assume, by the 80s. Think oven- available.

Depressing because Umhlanga is becoming baked snails and avocado and prawn cocktail, In contrast here are five chicken options – wall-to-wall franchise restaurants and it seems deep fried cambert and crepe suzettes. And chicken parmesan and baked chicken cordon blue there is less and less room for the individually- several chicken and seafood options were deep- – and ten seafood options, ranging from fish and owned eatery. Probably due to exorbitant rents fried or gratinéed. chips to grilled line fish and a seafood combo. and running costs. How can a one-man Although not particularly inspired by operation compete against the might the starter selection, Mercury food critic of the major players in the restaurant Frank Chemaly and I eventually opted to industry. share a smoked salmon trout served on Depressing because the whole a deep-fried rosti, with creme fraiche, concept of franchises is to keep costs capers and red onions, R78 ($7.80) It was down and profits high and the only way very pleasant with the rosti nicely crisp. to do this is to compromise on food. It’s I wasn’t much inspired by the chicken strict portion control, pre-coooking and options either as they seemed rich. cooking by numbers. Little inspiration Eventually I ordered the deep-fried here. crumbed chicken schnitzel served with Depressing because the last three the above-mentioned free veggies, a free mediocre meals I ordered recently have mushroom sauce, plus a free starch. In been in franchise restaurants. my case it was oven baked baby potatoes.

But Cattle Baron is the one that The cost of the dish, according to my convinced me. If you eat at a steakhouse, bill, was R85 ($8.50) which was weird as Smoked salmon trout on deep-fried rosti ($7.80) eat steak. That’s common sense. the menu stated R105 ($10.50). Mistake?

The seafood, chicken and vegetarian options I got quite excited when I saw they serve I thought Frank described my schnitzel very are concessions to those who, unwillingly, their legendary vegetables free with main dishes. well in his review: “The schnitzel crumb was find themselves at steakhouses. Like a work I thought of chargrilled asparagus or pan-fried not particularly crisp, but not soggy either. The colleague’s farewell or a friend’s birthday green beans. Instead it was creamed spinach and chicken was not exactly succulent, but wasn’t celebration. butternut. Bleh. dry”. Bleh Cattle Baron Umhlanga is a huge restaurant The starter selections was varied and It was also served with a pool of grease in the with a pleasant decor and comfortable seating. included mushrooms stuffed or crumbed or middle of the schnitzel. The mushroom sauce was Like most of the restaurants in The Pearls it has topped with Napolitana sauce; venison carpaccio, okay, the veggies bleh and the baked potatoes bleh. bleh.

I should also point out that in addition to They tasted as if they had been pre-cooked Concluded from the previous page...

Craig tells me people come from all over and the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus there and set aside and baked much later as they were come back often to eat that Calamari - and I have are specials - Monday offers Jazz and Shiraz, grey with an unpleasant taste. The one positive no difficulty believing that at all. I myself would Wednesdays offer Parmy Night and Thursday thing was that it was a huge portion.

Frank opted for a blackened pepper 200g hosts ‘Best Steak in Town Night’. travel a fair distance to get it.

For mains Angela had a Chicken Burger They also offer a take-away service and fillet, rolled in peppercorns, pan fried, flamed in ($18) served on a good wooden trencher and a menu for those occasions when you don’t want to brandy and simmered in a creamy pepper sauce, shave or put on clothes and would rather eat in R179 ($17.90). Chips were his carb of choice. miniature deep fry basket of crisp chips.

Onions rings cost him R32 ($3.20).

I had another major popular favourite - the your pajamas watching TV. BBQ Babyback Pork Ribs ($25), cooked in Chef’s Next month I celebrate thirty years as a Since the steak was flamed at the table own BBQ sauce served with chips and a sizeable professional food writer. I’ve also served as a it didn’t quite reflect the promise of favours Gold Plate Judge and you would think that over merging in the pan. However it was super tender salad.

A goodly, generous portion of a pile of ribs, the years of eating at literally thousands of and cooked a perfect rare. He enjoyed the pepper glazed in a rich, smokey, sipid sauce. The meat restaurants I would have a good idea of what crust but felt the sauce was just “flour and fire”.

That aside he was happy enough. His chips were just fell off the bone in tender deliciousness. Very makes a successful restaurant. dismal, though. Bleh, bleh. popular, Craig said, a huge under-statement if I Nope. Not a clue. Not the foggiest.

What I can do, is spot a restaurant that has The uninspiring desserts included ever heard one.

We were very pleased with our meal, the got it right and Amarettos is a restaurant that cheesecake, chocolate mousse and creme brûlée. service was friendly, the prices reasonable and reeks of success - you can see it in every aspect We settled on sharing crepe suzettes, the culinary - the spotless dining hall, the smiling wait staff, pièces de résistance when a was a young bride in the surroundings charming.

We didn’t stay for sweet course for reasons of the happy diners, that buzz of contentment that the 80s. This version was a sad facsimile. Bleh.

Would I return Cattle Baron? No. Am I going to eat sheer capacity, but the cakes and cheesecakes in cannot be faked. the cabinet looked amazing and there’s a range of I strongly suggest that you climb aboard this at a steakhouse again? No. success express and give your stomach a real The bill came to R513.9o ($51.30). Prices are ice creams to add. reasonable and there are free sides and sauces.

Next time I shall re-arrange my meal to make treat.

Service was pleasant. sure sweets are included (even if it’s breakfast.) Very Highly Recommended Indeed.

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DOUGLAS’ WINERIES AND DINERIES

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Open for Lunch Wed - Sun; Dinner Fri - Sun. (08) 9296 6354 marketing@elmars.com.au

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ENTERTAINMENT THAT FACE AT STIRLING FRAN GORDON

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hat Face is a two act play written by Polly Stenham and directed by Sharon Greenock. Polly Stenham is an English writer and wrote That Face when she was just nineteen years old.

She won the Evening Standard’s Charles Wintour Award, the Critic’s Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright and the Theatrical Management Association Award for Best New Play.

This is Sharon Greenock’s first production with Stirling Players. Both of Sharon's professional careers to date

written by her when she was only nineteen. I figured she loved watching people and observing relationships, which is something I like to do.

“It's interesting how she sees the flaws in all the characters and yet they are still somewhat endearing. I hope the audience can't help themselves but talk about what they've seen, and even recognise some flaws in themselves."

Mia is at boarding school and has access to her mother's drugs. She gets into trouble for drugging a fellow student and this causes her father to be brought back to England from Hong Kong. Henry, her Juliette Greenock and Paddy McAuley as brother and sister in That Face brother, has dropped out of school and has to stay at home have been psychiatry, community mental health and drug and look after his alcoholic mother, Martha, who controls their lives whilst her own sick mind about people. and alcohol treatments.

She qualified In 2002 she graduated with a degree in and world crumble around her. An insight into a as a Mental Broadcasting from The WAAPA and began a career dysfunctional family, yet one with love.

Health Nurse at ABC Radio in Perth. She has worked as producer That Face opens at 8pm on March 17th and runs until April 1st. at twenty- and presenter. She has seven children. one and has When asked about her choice of play, Sharon Bookings open on Monday February 13th specialised said: "I was attracted to Polly Stenham's and can be made through Morris Newsagency on in child play because I was so impressed that it was 9440 1040 or Trybooking.com/OJJF

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COMMUNITY THEATRE REVIEWS THEATRE WITH GORDON

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.

- Helen K eller MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS

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nakes and Ladders is a humorous, yet deeply moving drama, set around an Australian family.

An Adelaide book editor and playwright, Tony Moore, wrote this riveting tale about four years ago. Moore has written more than a dozen plays and specialist advice notes for actors and directors.

This two hour show can be seen at KADS Theatre, Barber Street, Kalamunda each Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evening at 8.00 pm until Saturday 4th March.

The scene is that of an older person’s living room. The design by Geoffrey Rumsey is excellent.

It has all of the signs of a genuinely ‘lived-in’ room, with moquette chairs, velvet settee, a shag pile rug, and standard lamp. Great props by Anita Bound, the little touches bring the scene to life.

Stage manager Lesley Broughton had each minor scene change well planned.

Stephen Marr’s lighting design was particularly good. Stephen had a well-balanced blend of blue and yellow lights, capturing the ‘3 in the morning’ mood. Instead of just flooding the room with soft light for day scenes, he still thought hard about the effect that he wanted.

The sound design was by Lindsay Goodwin, crisp and flawless. The impeccable tech operators were Andre Du Prees and Linda Redman.

It is the current day in Charlie’s living room.

abbreviated version of this play about three years ago, as part of a trilogy. Karin Staflund directed that play, with one of the actors in the enjoyable, original production being Christine Ellis. Chris has directed this full version.

This ‘complete’ production was much more satisfying than the previous shortened play, as it allowed the full depth of the characters, and the complex chemistry between the relatives to develop.

The three, highly competent actors are all wonderful. Their rich voice projection and enunciation is well above average. The play has very funny passages, then instants of friction that can be seen in any family group, along with a few sad moments. The director has used the physical spacing between the actors well, grouping them or separating them for just the right amount of tension or pathos. In the wrong hands, this play could easily have become too sugary and have lost the tenderness. Beautiful portrayals of the very different family members.

This is a cleverly structured play, with wellobserved characters, soundly acted and perfectly presented. Try to catch it. ~oOo~

Gentlemen Incorporated is a very funny comedy with an added touch of farce; young NSW lecturer, Deborah Mulhall, wrote it. Deborah has written several plays and is very much involved Two elderly, retired sisters now share a house with professional and community theatre. together; they are a retired, ‘maiden’ English This fresh, Australian comedy is being teacher, Emily (Julie Holmshaw) and her sibling presented by the Darlington Theatre Players Inc., is Charlotte, known affectionately as ‘Charlie’ at the Marloo Theatre, 20 Marloo Road, just off (Karin Staflund). The sisters are enjoying a Greenmount Hill. The producers have played safe quiet Sunday evening at home with a glass or and put up a warning sign saying ‘Adult Themes’; two of wine, reading the latest ‘Aga saga’, and it is a little saucy and the storyline is for adults, brawling over the cryptic crossword. but there is nothing offensive.

The 130-minute show can be seen on Widowed Charlie has spent most of her married Wednesday, Friday, and a Saturday nights until life bringing up her daughter, Beth (Jennifer 11th March. There are Sunday matinées at 2.00 McGrath) who arrives, breaking the peace. pm on 26th February and 5th March.

She has left her husband and is looking for The set is a very smart, modern flat in the maternal reassurance. The family has always Sydney CBD. The walls are a pale grey, and the been close, but Beth starts asking too many grey tile floor is slightly darker. The décor is uncomfortable questions about her relatives. simple – the contemporary minimalist style – but The Stirling Players presented a carefully quality. There is a bar, a sofa and antique chairs.

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In the corner is a desk. On one wall is a beautiful oil painting by Catherine Spadaccini, and the rear wall has a photoprint by Missy Cat, of a snooker game, called Hail, Hail the Gangs all Here showing James Dean – Damien’s hero.

On the stage apron was a well-furnished, commercial office scene. The whole show was smoothly stage managed by Belinda Beatty.

The set was designed by Hayley Derwort, and built by the two men in her life – her dad, Allan, and boyfriend, Ashley Johnson. George Boyd supplied friendly advice. Extra assistance came from David Bain and Adrian Ashman.

David Bain’s lighting design was operated

by Shelly Miller, and Greg Rusha’s soundscape operated by Eden Sambridge.

Immaculately dressed, an insurance salesman, George (Owen Davies) has just made another appointment on the phone with a client, when there is a knock on the front door. It is George’s old Uni friend, hippy and slightly alternative, Marcus (Jake Dennis), returning after a year wandering around the world.

Marcus phones his girlfriend, Isabelle (Brittany Isaia) to tell her he is on home soil.

George reveals that he has decided, for business reasons, to use the more vibrant name, Damien. Seeing how busy Damien is, Marcus – poverty stricken from his trip – asks if he can get a similar job.

When Marcus telephones his mother, Elinor (Marsha Bennett), he lets it slip where he is staying and in typical maternal fashion, she arrives at the flat within minutes.

After a few days, Isabelle tells her work cool and well-organised boss, Marion (Alyssa Burton) how Marcus is no longer the wild rampant male he was before his trip. Marion has some wise advice.

This is director, Hayley Derwort’s second comedy, having given us an hysterical show last season. She searched for a new Australian script and was thrilled to find this hilarious piece.

Hayley has selected three, well-proven cast members.

Continued on page 26 ...

ENTERTAINMENT KOOKABURRA’S - MARCH PROGRAMME

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ring your picnic basket and enjoy a meal under the stars before the show. Blankets and cushions are advisable if cool. This is the Hills’ icon’s twenty-first programme, both varied and interesting: BALLERINA (G) Canada - Animated Screens: Friday 10th March Director: Eric Summer, Éric Warin Stars: Elle Fanning, Dane DeHaan, Maddie Ziegler Tells the story of Félicie, a young orphan girl with a passion for dancing. With the help of her best friend Victor, she manages to escape from an orphanage and travel all the way to Paris, where many challenges and intriguing encounters await her.

JACKIE (MA15) US Drama Screens: Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th March Director: Pablo Larraín Stars: N a t a l i e Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, John Hurt, Max Casella, Beth Grant The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 was one of those moments that defined a generation. Told solely through the eyes of Jacqueline Kennedy (Portman) in the lead role.

Structuring his film around Theodore H. White’s Life magazine interview with the First Lady, that took place a mere week after the assassination of her beloved husband, Larraín takes us on a journey as the First Lady recounts the immediate aftermath of her husband; her return to the White House, arrangements for the President’s funeral, and her time spent accompanying her husband’s coffin to Arlington Cemetery.

lost dream of glory eats at him, and causes him to JASPER JONES (M) Australia Drama make a decision that threatens to tear his family Screens: Friday 7th, Saturday 8th April apart.

Director: Rachel Perkins Stars: Hugo Weaving, Toni Collette, Levi Miller, HIDDEN FIGURES (PG) US Drama/Biographical Angourie Rice Screens: Friday 24th & Saturday 25th March Based on the iconic Australian novel, and Director: Theodore Melfi shot in WA’s south west, it tells the story of Stars: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Charlie Bucktin, a bookish boy of fourteen who Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst strikes up a friendship with the titular character The incredible untold story of Katherine G. Jasper Jones, a mixed race outcast who discovers Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and the dead body of young woman: Mary Jackson - brilliant African- an event that will American women working at expose the racism NASA, who served as the brains and division behind one of the greatest within their operations in history: the launch country Western of astronaut John Glenn into Australian town orbit, a stunning achievement in the summer that restored the nation’s of 1965. confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world.

The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.

NOW OPEN

THE REHEARSAL (MA15) NZ Drama Screens: Friday 17th March Director: Alison Maclean Stars: James Rolleston, Kerry Fox, Ella Edward First-year acting student Stanley mines his girlfriend’s family scandal as material for the end-of-year show at drama school. The result is a moral minefield.

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA (M) US Drama Screens: Sunday 26th March & Friday 31st March (Please note; split week) Director: Kenneth Lonergan Stars: Casey Affleck, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges, Michelle Williams Tells the story of the Chandler family, a working class family from Massachusetts. After Lee’s (Affleck) older brother Joe (Chandler) suddenly passes away, he is made the legal guardian of his nephew (Hedges).

Lee is forced to deal with a tragic past that separated him from his wife Randi (Williams) and the community where he was born and raised.

FENCES (M) US Drama Screens: Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th March Director: Denzel Washington Stars: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson, Stephen Henderson The story of Troy Maxson, a mid-century Pittsburgh sanitation worker who once dreamed of a baseball career, but was too old when the major leagues began admitting black players.

He tries to be a good husband and father, but his

THE GREAT WALL (M) US/China Action/Adventure/ Drama Screens: Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd April Director: Zhang Yimou Stars: Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Andy Lau, Lu Han, Pedro Pascal Tells the story of an elite force making a last stand for humanity on the world’s most iconic structure. The first English-language production for Yimou is the largest film ever shot entirely in China.

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FILM REVIEWS FILM WITH JAMES

War in Germany

ALONE IN BERLIN

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hey say that the victors write the history books. The Germans lost two world wars and if you grew up in the forties through sixties, there was an overwhelming depiction of the conflicts from the American/British/French/Australian point of view.

There is a classic David Mitchell comedy skit with two German SS officers examining the skull and crossbones badges on their black hats and asking themselves: “Are we the bad guys?” [www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToKcmnrE5oY] Having said that, I would have to comment that in my humble opinion, the best novel and film of the Great War (All Quiet on the Western Front) is from the German point of view.

However, Hitler and the Nazis were, by any measure, evil. It is practically impossible to portray any of their actions as morally acceptable.

In the 1930s, it was extremely difficult to live and work in Germany unless you were a member of the party.

Thus even if you were not actively promoting National Socialism, you were forced into a passive acceptance of it. The police (both regular and secret) were efficient and ruthless.

Were there any good Germans?

Well yes, there were. Even in the 1956 film The Battle of the River Plate, we have Captain Langsdorff treating his prisoners well and giving a naval salute rather than the Nazi Heil Hitler. More recently, we have had them preserving culture in The Book Thief, saving Jews in Schindler’s List*, resisting the Nazis with the White Rose Society in Sophie Scholl and trying to kill Hitler in Valkyrie.

Alone in Berlin is taken from a best-selling novel by Hans Fallada, written in 1947 and based

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on a real police file.

It is similar to the story of Sophie Scholl, a student who really did print and distribute pamphlets opposing the war. She was caught in Munich in February 1943 and went to the guillotine.

So, yes, there was a German resistance. But it was fragmented and had little chance of success against the Gestapo.

Brendan Gleeson and Emma Thompson play (superbly) a husband and wife who live in a small apartment in a working-class district of Berlin. In 1940, their son is killed (presumably in France – the opening scene) and their anti-establishment feelings manifest themselves in a campaign of writing anonymous postcards - exposing the lies of the Nazi propaganda.

Nearly 300 of these cards are placed in office buildings and public places across the city. Almost all are turned in to the police by people fearing what would happen if they were caught reading such material.

Soon the police are pinning tiny flags to a map of Berlin as they search for patterns in the distribution of the cards. And soon after that we are shown the brutality of the regime as the detective is told to find the culprits within the next two days or else…

Apart from the first-class acting and direction (Vincent Perez), the film is a fine depiction of life in Berlin before the RAF and USAAF reduced it to rubble.

There are only passing references to the persecution of Jews and the bombing. Mostly it is about ordinary people trying to survive in an oppressive regime. Informers are everywhere.

The film’s strength is in its depiction of the capital of a country which, at the time, was winning the war. It is a history lesson of a time just a few generations ago.

Alone in Berlin opened at Cinema Paradiso on March 2nd.

Rating: Four out of five stars.

Editor’s Note: *Schindler’s List is historically highly suspect, being based on a fictionalised version written as a novel by Australian author Thomas Keneally.

Interested readers should look at this page: w w w. r e d d i t . c o m / r / A s k H i s t o r i a n s / comments/2x2maw/how_historically_accurate_ is_schindlers_list/

POETRY PAIN

TARJA HENTTONEN

f every cell in your body has the same DNA Does that mean every cell feels the same pain?

When the man you love with every breathe and heartbeat, walks away Does not the heart muscle sense weakness as your ankles give way?

As you lie on the floor in a crumpled heap Do your hair follicles take a leap?

Your kidney, liver and small intestines Can they cry the same tears your eyes cry?

You are numb and don’t want to feel Your mind doesn’t want to register this is for real How can the emptiness cause such pain?

If your soul is shattered they is no gain To go on! Is that what the advice is?

Do these people that advise know what real love is?

Have they caught a butterfly and watched it fly Held rainbows and watched the sunrise Shared an ice cream cone, walked together in snow Have they sat surrounded by love?

By that one and only one They can’t advise, they can’t possibly know That when that butterfly gets crushed and the rainbows don’t show Cloudy sunrise, melted cones. No footsteps, no sound, no one home And the pain just doesn’t go.

Concluded from page 24...

Owen as the owner of an unusual business was smooth and unflappable. Brittany had several very different moods to conquer, from randy to broken hearted, which she did with aplomb.

Alyssa, as always, gave a great performance as the cool, stiff upper lipped, boss who had several secrets and great advice.

When two first time actors auditioned, Hayley took a risk and wisely put her faith in them; the result was excellent. This is Jake Dennis’s first time acting, although he has a huge amount of experience as a musical entertainer, both on stage and TV. After a course at the highly respected, Ali Robert’s Acting School – and perhaps now approaching a mid-life crisis (joking x) – Marsha Bennett seen here on the stage for the first time, has courageously thrown herself into this major part in a full-length play. With good direction and a solid cast around her, she shines in this production.

I thought it was going to be a straightforward storyline, but there were quite a few twists. This well-paced play is great fun.

Most enjoyable.

COMMUNITY AND THE RAINS CAME DOUGLAS SUTHERLAND-BRUCE

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here is no intention here to minimise the tragedy of death and destruction that was the February floods. The Swan Valley has been declared a natural disaster.

But in the darkest clouds there is a sliver of silver and happiness to be found. Caversham House, the glorious

venue for weddings, was flooded and despite that, in the spirit of the Blitz, remained open for business. The photos, by Ella Otranto Photography, are spectacular and very definitely unique.

Eric Lembo, of Caversham House, took a photograph of Ella taking some of the photographs of the happy couple, showing the lengths she’ll go to for a good photograph.

But spare a thought for the young man, who’s

head can just be seen by her knees standing up to his neck in the water holding the kayak.

The resulting photographs are stunning and my respects go out to the couple, who took it all in their stride. We wish them a long and happy marriage.

Ella’s website is well worth a visit and may be found here: www.ellaotranto.com.au.

Photographs courtesy of Ella Otranto Photography

Ella photographing the wedding couple - Photograph by E Lembo, Caversham House 27

SWAN VALLEY AND REGIONAL NETWORK WALL-TO-WALL: RACE FOR RESEARCH MIDVALE SPORTING COMPLEX HON ALYSSA HAYDEN MLC & DANIEL PARASILITI

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he Liberal candidate for Midland, Daniel Parasiliti said he knew that the Midvale Sporting Precinct was in urgent need of an upgrade and he and Hon Alyssa Hayden MLC, Member for the East Metropolitan Region had been working hard to source funding assistance from the Liberal Government.

“I have been working with the Midvale Junior Football Club over the past 12 months and have seen how many players go through the facility at Ron Jose Oval. The area caters for many players from the Hills, Foothills and across to Ellenbrook as well as Landsdale.” said Daniel Parasiliti.

“It is such a well-used and well run program by Terry Goodacre and Ian Hall and his team and with a little bit of help, they could provide so much more for the local community. There are no real club rooms for the Midvale Junior Football Club, players share toilets and change rooms at the aquatic centre and all the Club’s equipment and trophies are stored in a sea container. At least the Club’s trophies and memorabilia should be on display, especially those of Nick Naitanui and Michael Walters!” Daniel Parasiliti said.

The precinct is extremely popular but has been neglected for far too long by the local Council that has focussed on its growing regions of Ellenbrook and Whiteman Park. The Council does have a forward budget for improving facilities, but the time line has blown out to 2018. Both the Deputy Premier, Hon Liza Harvey MLA and our Premier, Hon Colin Barnett have previously visited the sporting precinct with myself and Hon Alyssa Hayden MLC and both agreed that the facilities were in dire need of improvements.

The announcement that a re-elected Liberal Government will commit $150,000 for new lights at Midvale Junior Football Club for arena lights is great recognition that the Club is doing an outstanding job at training our young players. Not only does the Club support and promote grassroots football but it has also expanded and excelled in Indigenous Academies for players around the Swan District area – Kirby Bentley Academy for female players and Nicky Winmar Academy for mail players.

The Midvale Junior Football Club is also one of a few clubs who nominate several junior women’s teams in the girls Under 12 and Under 15 competition and has put forward a proposal to facilitate junior girl’s competition fixtures at Ron Jose Oval on Friday nights. But this has not been possible due to the poor lighting at the venue.

“This funding assistance is such wonderful news for the Club and I believe will be a real boost for players. The $150,000 will contribute to the City of Swan’s $300,000 allocation for lights at the Ron Jose Oval to enable evening training and competition through the winter months as well as allow for security and safety when training at night. The City of Swan will now be able to make this a priority.” Daniel Parasiliti said.

Alyssa Hayden said the contribution for the Ron Jose Oval lights will be funded through the recently announced $4.5 million commitment to lighting installation and upgrades at sports facilities which is in addition to $10 million already allocated to the Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund.

“I am also over the moon with the funding pledge from a re-elected Liberal Government that will provide $150,000 towards four new courts at Swan Districts Netball Association and $150,000. President, Jenny Huband and Administrator, Sue Stacey do an amazing job coordinating teams, competitions and fixtures. This funding will make a big difference on weekend game days as well as provide more options throughout the week for training. One of the courts will be used for a safer warm up facility, as players currently use a small uneven grassed area or alongside the courts where games are in progress.

“The courts currently used are showing signs of wear and tear, developing crack and lumps and are in urgent need to be repaired and replaced. With additional courts, the Swan Districts Netball Association will be able provide more skills programs and fixtures to cater for the growing demand for netball in the area. The City of Swan has budgeted $100,000 for a warn up area, with this additional pledge of $150,000, I hope to see new courts installed as a priority.

Since 2008 the Liberal Government has upgraded 51 netball centres and built the new $26 million, 1000 seat four-court State Netball Centre.

These two funding announcements are a win-win solution for our community.” said Daniel Parasiliti.

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D

r Quintin (Huey) Hughes works as a researcher for the Perth Blood Institute's research arm, the Western Australian Centre for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, based at Murdoch University.

Quintin, along with the other WACTH team members, undertake research into finding better ways to diagnose, treat and ultimately develop cures for a range of haematological disorders.

However, research costs money and so Huey, along with his mate Dr Matthew Wright (Clinical Haematologist and Head of the Department of Haematology at Fiona Stanley Hospital) came up with the concept of the "Wall-to-Wall: Race for Research" as a means of raising much needed funding for blood-related research in Western Australia.

The concept is simple: Matt will swim the 25km distance from Fremantle (Rous Head = Wall #1) to Hillarys Boat Harbour (marina wall = Wall #2), while Huey will start at Hillarys Boat Harbour and paddle his surfski to Fremantle and back to Hillarys, a round trip of 50km.

Dr Hughes is hoping to raise $10,00. If you feel you’d like to help, go to the website: www.mycause.com.au/page/145040/walltowall-race-forresearch.

THE PERTH BLOOD INSTITUTE Since being established in 2013, The Perth Blood Institute Limited has become one of the fastest growing haematology research organisations in Australia, with a focus on providing outstanding patient care with an ethical and sustainable approach.

SWAN NETWORKING

NETWORKING = BUSINESS Hosted by:

Moonburra Stay, Billabong Coach Charters & Swan Chamber of Commerce Networking with a difference!

Join us on a Billabong Coach for a trip to Moonburra Stay, a luxury Bed & Breakfast set amongst peaceful surroundings, where hosts Michael and Lizelle will treat you to canapes and drinks as you mingle and enjoy the stunning scenery.

When: Tuesday 14th March 5.30pm – 8pm Where:

Swan Chamber of Commerce 1/27 Old Great Northern Hwy Midland

Meet at Swan Chamber of Commerce at 5.15pm for 5.30pm departure.

Numbers are strictly limited so RSVP no later than Friday March 10.

Cost is $5 per person to cover transport costs.

ALL BUSINESSES WELCOME TO THIS EVENT RSVP: FRIDAY MARCH 10, 2017 TO REGISTER:

CONTACT NATALIE ON 9374 5000 OR INFO@SWANCHAMBER.COM.AU

Please note: payment can be made prior to or on the day of the event.

Final numbers for catering are confirmed 2 days prior to the event therefore cancellations received after this will not be eligible for a refund/credit.

SWAN VALLEY AND REGIONAL NETWORK REMOTE MATTRESSES

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ver wondered where used mattresses end up?

A lot has changed in recent years regarding how local governments deal with bulky waste items like mattresses.

Discarded mattresses are one of the bulkiest, most expensive items filling up landfill but most are now being recycled, repurposed and reused.

In the last two years, more than 180 tonnes of mattresses disposed of in the City of Swan were diverted from landfill and given a new life.

Many of the good quality mattresses are now being sent to remote Aboriginal communities in need of essential items thanks to a new initiative by the City’s contractor, Spider Waste.

The good quality used mattresses salvaged in the City of Swan are steam-cleaned, packed into sea containers and sent to central towns for

distribution to the remote communities.

The City of Swan’s contractor Spider Waste started sending re-usable mattresses to communities-in-need late last year, sending containers of about ninety at a time.

Spider Waste owner Rob Santoro said reusing the mattresses had both environmental and social benefits.

“I can’t see the sense in stripping them down if they can be used by people who really need them,” he said.

“We also include a few other items like bicycles in the sea containers and it’s all been really well received in the communities.”

Other mattresses, collected from the City’s recyclable goods drop off days and Red Hill Waste Facility, are taken to Spider Waste’s facility in

Bayswater where they are taken apart. Metal components are sold as scrap, foam is turned into carpet underlay, while salvaged timber and pocket springs are often used to make dog beds.

Meanwhile, the recycling process has also created jobs for people with disabilities.

City of Swan Mayor Mick Wainwright said mattress recycling was integral to reducing the amount of waste going into landfill.

“The average mattress takes up almost a square metre of space in landfill,” he said.

“Most mattresses contain about 12.5kg of steel, 2kg of wood and 1.5kg of foam – all of which can be recycled.”

Used mattresses can be disposed of for free at one of the City of Swan’s regular recyclable goods drop-off days.

FREE VOLUNTEER TRAINING

HELP KIERA SHAVE DOUGLAS SUTHERLAND-BRUCE

A Woman’s Crowning Glory Is Her Compassion

Kiera Macdonald and her Mum, Tracey

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hronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) is a rare blood cancer of the white blood cells. It’s cause is largely unknown and treatment is fairly recent.

CML is now largely treated with targeted drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) which have led to dramatically improved longterm survival rates since their introduction in 2001.

Although CML is rare, blood cancer (leukaemia) is unfortunately not. You may not be aware, but blood cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in Australia claiming more lives than breast cancer or melanoma. And every day another thirty-five people will be diagnosed.

One of the sufferers of the CML rare cancer is Mrs Tracey Macdonald of the Swan Valley, who has a daughter, Keira.

Kiera is sixteen and travels each day to Swan Valley Anglican Community School in Aveley where she is in year Twelve.

Keira, like many of her peers, works parttime – within the Swan Valley at a local café and is

taking part in the World’s Greatest Shave to help beat blood cancer.

She will be donating her lovely long hair to a Childs Charity for wig making for children who have lost their hair to treatment of cancer This fund raiser is a huge thing for a sixteen year old girl to do, especially in her final year at school.

Kiera has an appeal on the Leukemia Foundation’s page and you can donate there: https://secure.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/ registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?RegistrationID =666325#&panel1-3 Donations of any amount will help. $52 can give someone in hospital a support visit to help them feel less anxious during treatment. $80 can give a regional family a home for a night to reduce the financial burden of city treatment. $120 can support a blood cancer research project for a day through a PhD Scholarship grant, but donations of even one or two dollars can make a difference.

Kiera is hoping and aiming to raise $1,500 and I would urge you all to support her in this compassionate gesture.

If you are interested in The World’s Greatest Shave and want to know more, or what the money is used for, please visit their website here: https://worldsgreatestshave.com/

KATE PHILLIPS

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he City of Swan will hold a number of free training sessions for those involved or interested in volunteer management.

The City’s Swan Volunteer Resource Centre has put together an impressive calendar of events that cover topics including presenting with confidence, implementing national standards, public speaking and tips and tricks for new volunteer managers.

City of Swan Mayor Mick Wainwright said the free events were a great way for people to develop new skills and a better understanding of what’s involved.

“Volunteer Managers are the people working behind the scenes to coordinate the good work that we see being done in the community,” “It is my hope that these events will not only help to sharpen the skills of those who currently work in the area, but encourage others to get involved in volunteer management in the future.”

The volunteer community training event calendar kicks off on Tuesday February 28 with its ‘Valuing Volunteer Managers’ session.

The session will be presented by Dr Megan Paull, Director of Post Graduate Research/Senior Lecturer Management at Murdoch University who will delve into the outcomes of her recent research into volunteer managers and how to empower yourself in the industry.

From there, the following events will take place: Tips and Tricks for new Volunteer Managers – Wednesday, March 8 Implementation of the National Standards – Thursday, April 6 Public speaking; presenting with confidence – Monday, May 8 Boards of Management and Committees; what you should know – Monday, June 7 For more information on the above events, please go to the City’s website: www.swan.wa.gov.au 29

BUSINESS GET YOUR NETWORKING WORKING SHARRON ATTWOOD

also the time to be thinking of how you could be helping others in your network. Who could you be y definition, a network is a group or system connecting? of interconnected people or things. For In his best selling book, Influence, author our purposes, your network is a group of inter- Robert Cialdini discusses the Law of Reciprocation. connected people.

Everyday we utilise those in our network, from joint ventures at work through to a friend collecting our kids from school.

It really can be that simple.

Why is it then that when trying to build a business, land a job, gain experience, find love even – I hear from people making it harder than it has to be?

We look outside of our circles to find that one person we think holds the answers we seek. That one person who will make it happen for us – who Reciprocity is essential the rule that says we should repay in kind. As such, the act of will bring about our success.

In business this looks like that person who connecting people in your network, will see them attends every function and gets along to all the want to connect and assist you. As you consider networking events. FOMO (*Fear of Missing Out) who you already know that could help you, look affects their decisions. What if they miss meeting even more closely at who you could be helping.

Goes around, comes around. ‘the one’?

For a job seeker or graduate – they write off It is readily accepted that the average person to every agency, every company and attend every has 120 people in their immediate circle. So go course. That one person has got to be out there ahead and multiply your contacts by 120! You currently have access to that many people. somewhere.

What if I told you – you don’t have to do Add to this your family. With any luck they that? Exhale, focus and tune in. You are better already think highly of you and want to see you succeed – so tap into their connections and be networked than you realise.

Often we are staying busy to avoid deciding grateful of their support. what it is we really want. I mean – what if that If Uncle Joe works for the company you need one person was in front of me? Would I even an introduction to – just ask! I am always amazed when people don’t ask. We think to ourselves know?

We’ll cover getting clear on what we want ‘They are too busy”, but so many of us love to from our networks in future columns – but for connect and refer others. Just ask. now lets just get clear on how amazing your Having kids is another great way to increase your network. Maybe not the most cost effective network currently is.

Start with who you already know. Platforms way – but let’s examine the benefits. When I like LinkedIn and Facebook are great for this moved to a new area – having kids made it easy exercise. Look through the contacts you have. to make new friends.

So look at that network and they way you Even your phone contacts list is vital here.

Who are you not reaching out to? This is can leverage it. Where do the other parents go when they exit the school gate or leave the game? So often we see each other as little Billy’s Mum or Dad – but we have connections and skills to share. You just have to participate, connect and ask.

What else do you do with your time? Sport, Craft, Volunteer?

Start a list – and then look at who you know in these areas.

The benefit of social media platforms is that they tell us who knows who, but face-to-face communication still reigns supreme when looking for a personal recommendation, lead or referral.

Know what you have to give.

In the case of seeking employment

You are better networked than you realise.

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or work experience you may not feel like you have much to offer.

However, if a colleague is looking for staff and I can help them by referring you, everyone wins. A thank you also goes a long way here, as does following up leads given.

In business you need to understand your business and yourself to know how you can help others in your network. In turn, they will know how they can help you.

This is just the start. You will still need to attend events, write letters, make phone calls and send emails. You will need to up skill, working on yourself and your business to get ahead.

At the same time though, look at your existing networks and connection for an opportunity to find work, experience, leads and even love. The same rules apply.

You are better networked than you realise.

About Sharron Attwood

Owner – Brand Etiquette AS AN effective and strategic networker Sharron knows first hand the difference a strong personal brand can make. Sharron was recently nominated and voted one of the “Top 100 Influential Persons of the Year within Perth’s Small Business Community” by NifNex. She believes in the value a strong personal brand will add to both your business and personal life, drawing on a variety of skills, training and a solid background in the personal development industry to support this assertion.

Having spent many years working in corporate positions within banking, government, training and recruitment Sharron could see her brand having a positive impact on her career path.

As an experienced coach and mentor Sharron has utilised this training, experience and a passion for seeing people develop into their potential to develop “Brand Etiquette” As much as this is her business – Personal Branding is her passion. www.brandetiquette.com.au

FINANCE THE RACE IS ON STEVE BLIZARD

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hose saving for retirement are rushing to top up their superannuation accounts with fund managers reporting a surge in voluntary contributions ahead of the 30 June cut-off.

The uptick in contributions comes as Treasurer Scott Morrison’s superannuation reforms were finally passed by federal Parliament at the end of November.

However, it is important to understand how the old super rules work in the months leading up to June 30, and the six months beyond July 1 when the new rules come into force.

When accumulating savings for retirement through superannuation, there are two ways this can be achieved.

First, by making regular contributions – either tax-deductible (also called concessional) or after-tax (non-concessional) contributions.

Concessional super contributions, also known as before-tax contributions, include employer’s compulsory Super Guarantee contributions, additional employer contributions, and any salary sacrificed contributions that you arrange for your employer to deduct from your before-tax salary.

Non-concessional contributions are contributions that aren’t included in your super fund’s assessable income - the most common type being personal contributions made by the member whereby no income tax deduction is claimed.

The latter may be sourced from cash savings in the bank, funds realised from the sale of investments like shares or property, an inheritance or from proceeds when downsizing a family home.

Second, super can accumulate as a result of the compound investment earnings these contributions generate.

Directing sizeable after-tax amounts into your fund, this can accelerate super savings by taking advantage of the low rate of concessional taxes on investment earnings enjoyed by super funds. `It is important to know the difference of the various types of contributions in the period

leading up to June 30 because higher contribution amounts can be made compared to those allowed after July 1.

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY Concessional super contribution limits are $30,000 for anyone aged 48 or under on June 30, 2016, or $35,000 if you were 49 or over on this date.

From July 1, they will be either 20 percent or 40 percent less when these limits become reset at the new cap of $25,000 for everyone.

Being aware of this reduction is important

contributions.

Where you have done so, you may need financial advice on how the new non-concessional rules will influence contribution entitlements, as there are complex transitional rules that apply.

For those considering a January to June strategy, it is important to think carefully about any planned contributions and how they may impact future contributions beyond July 1.

As part of the previous system, the $540,000 bring forward rule will apply for the remainder of the 2016-17 income year for those eligible to claim this.

But if the bring forward provision is triggered but the full $540,000 amount is not used, then the bring forward amounts available to contribute in 2017-18 and 2018-19 is reduced.

For example, Mike is 54 with $1 million in his family Self-Managed Super Fund.

He has recently inherited $520,000 in cash which he wants to transfer into his SMSF, in order to invest in a more tax effective manner.

If the super contribution is made before June 30, it will count towards his non-concessional contribution cap and he will trigger the bring forward rule, because the pre-June 30 contribution levels still allowing him to contribute up to $540,000. offers a window of opportunity at the old levels.

When making after-tax non-concessional TRANSITION RULES contributions, the annual limit up to June 30 is But because Mike has not used his non80 percent more at $180,000 than the $100,000 concessional contribution cap entirely before July after July 1.

1, he will fall under the transitional rules.

In contrast, with these contributions, there These rules state that where the bring is no tax concession entitlement. forward rule was triggered in the 2016-17 financial year, his transitional cap for the three BRING FORWARD STRATEGY years starting on July 1, 2016, will be $380,000.

Should the proceeds from any realised This is made up of $180,000 for the 2016-17 investments exceed $180,000, it is possible to year, and $100,000 for each of the 2017-18 and contribute up to $540,000 before June 30 under 2018-19 financial years. a little-known super rule that allows the ability As Mike's contribution of $520,000 exceeds to bring forward three years of non-concessional his $380,000 transitional non-concessional contributions into one year. contribution cap, he cannot make any further However, this three-year rule has an contributions of this type until the 2019-20 important restriction. financial year.

In each of the previous two years you must However, as far as the $380,000 transitional not have exceeded $180,000 in non-concessional cap is concerned, Mike won’t breach this cap because he made the contribution before July 1.

SUPER STILL WORTHWHILE Despite the recent changes, superannuation remains the best vehicle for retirement available.

This is because the tax settings still favour superannuation savings as opposed to being invested outside of super.

For most retirees, pension investment earnings are all tax exempt, which helps to boost long-term retirement income.

We have noticed a significant increase in demand from clients seeking clarity on what these super changes mean, in addition to numerous referrals from people needing help around the complexity of these changes.

Courtesy of Roxburgh Securities 31

BOOKS JUST OUT Title: Unzip the Adolescent Chick - a guidebook for the 21st century teenage girl Author: Ann Carni Publisher: Balboa Press Australia ISBN: 9781 5043 0573 0

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nn Carni’s new book, Unzip the Adolescent Chick: Facing All Your Teenage Concerns and Fears Head On and Overcoming Them Triumphantly, offers a go-to reference for the 21st century teenage girl.

The self-help book is designed to help readers work through all their anxieties and find the solutions to their challenges.

“The most beautiful, educated or gifted don’t always achieve success in life, but it’s obtainable for everyone, if you know how to apply the strategies,” says Carni. “With the right mindset and attitude, opportunities will come your way. It’s a matter of patience, practice and persistence, doing the work, and being focused.”

From bullying and suicidal thoughts to homelessness, racism and drug use, Carni covers myriad topics that teenagers might face. The book offers a mix of practical advice, as well as motivation to trust one’s intuition to figure out what choices are the right ones.

Carni says the book will help readers “get all the relevant information (they) can, before (they) make any final decision on (their) choices.” She adds, “Seek the answers within yourself, this will gauge if you are on the right path.”

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

In Final Days of Judgement, author Beverley Title: Rainbow Rain: Global Warming: How Buckley proposes that sanity on Earth will You Can Make A Difference prevail when people realize that what they Author: Karyn Pickles are experiencing is a reflection of their own Publisher: Partridge Singapore subconscious thoughts. These operate as internal ISBN: 9781 4828 6591 2 programs designed to avoid feeling fear.

Unfortunately, they have the opposite effect; ccording a study featured on the NASA they cause fearful experiences to be drawn to website, ninety-seven percent or more them, over and over again. Since thought is the of climate scientists agree that climate- tool of creation, what we create is what we most warming trends over the past century are fear when we hold fear within.

Buckley suggests that the solution is not to extremely likely due to human activities.

Author Karyn Pickles has traveled the world be found in fighting what we fear, but rather by working with children and educating them on the going within and accepting what we discover importance of protecting the planet. Her new without judgement. Her book describes the book, Rainbow Rain: Global Warming: How You Can journey which has enabled her to accept the truth Make A Difference, is her creative way of reaching of this idea and to test how the universal laws out to young people and engaging them in the apply in today’s world.

Final Days of Judgement describes what campaign for better stewardship of the earth.

Told in a rhyming format, Rainbow Rain tells happens when the chains of greed and control the story of a rainbow who has fallen from the are released and fear is let go. Life improves sky to protect herself from the rising fumes that dramatically when mankind operates from a state of universal acceptance without judgement. are causing her to overheat and fade away.

Billy, a rainbow chaser, becomes increasingly Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble troubled by his missing rainbow and so turns to his friend, Meg, for answers. Meg’s child-friendly About the Author explanation of global warming, pollution and Born on 1937 in Sydney, Australia, Beverley recycling is accompanied by the dreamy and Buckley obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree at sometimes humorous illustrations of Laurie Heng. Sydney University and diploma of education at “My book is very thought provoking and so Sturt University, Bathurst. many discussions can spin off from every page,” Buckley is also the author of book Transition Pickles says. “This book will show how we as a Farms, a series of interviews with Australian human race can protect our planet if we work farmers on the transition of traditional together and don’t ignore the warning signs that commercial farming methods to permaculture type of farming.

Mother Nature is giving.” ~oOo~ An imaginative take on a timely topic, Rainbow Rain is a story for all generations. It is a useful What If? tool for parents and educators who want to teach Title: global warming and how to address its effects in a Author: Derrick Woolhouse Paxton way that is fun and compelling for young readers. Publisher: Xlibris AU ISBN: 9781 5144 4695 9 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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About the Author Ann Carni has been in the health industry for over twenty-five years and is currently studying nutrition. She lives with her second husband on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia.

More information is available at: www.vibrationAbout the Author alhealthcenter.com.

Karyn Pickles was born in Melbourne, Australia. Pickles has now returned to Australia she raises her five children and continues to Have a book to publish? where write and educate the children on the importance R Family History R Non-Fiction of conserving planet Earth and its resources.

Pickles and her husband own their own health R Autobiography R Biography and wellness company educating men and woman R Fantasy R Fiction on the importance of using environmentally safe R Poetry products to not only keep the planet safe but to show a better way to all of society. ~oOo~ 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

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Title: Author: Publisher: ISBN:

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Final Days of Judgement Beverley Buckley Xlibris AU 9781 5144 4293 7

urin, Italy - Fear is everywhere - and for good reason. The world is in a mess and many are afraid. Final Days of Judgement outlines the universal laws that operate at every level of existence. These give man’s existence meaning and purpose and help us to understand what is happening at this time.

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hat If? is the result of many facets of life and travel. It is an effort to factually show how much people take for granted in their daily lives, without consideration, the value of historical finds discovered by those who seek them. The book reflects upon the past to establish the future, from the discoveries of ideas, which have become fact.

“It shows that we have chances and they take us into areas that are unexpected,” Paxton explains. “It is not a religious book, although much of our daily lives are based upon explanations put forward in the past.”

About the Author Derrick Woolhouse Paxton is a business entrepreneur, married and with three children.

His education includes a degree in sociology at Sydney.

His interests are writing, craft, research work, and general sports, as well interest in people’s unique voice as religion, mechanics, woodworking, engineering, and horse management.

mmmmmmmmm

WRITING 5 TIPS ON PUBLIC SPEAKING JAY CRISP CROW

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hen I originally launched Crisp Crow Communications, I couldn’t imagine public speaking would become part of my business journey.

The idea of speaking publicly, either in front of real, live humans or on the air, made my heart palpitate and mind race.

And here’s the odd thing: with a background and training from one of Australia’s premier Drama and Music institutions and a life time spent on stage (I started dancing at two and my first job was of professional cheerleader) I should have been completely confident.

However, to put yourself in the vulnerable position of public speaking is simply a different, more nerve wracking experience than communicating through words, or indeed, as it seems, song.

When I was asked to speak at my first event, I thought perhaps it would be a one off. It was a trial by fire – a full day of MCing to a hall full of clever people, complete with making up jokes and telling anecdotes about my kids and my job when the day’s schedule was held up.

Shortly after, I realised I had enough clients wanting to work with me one on one with digital communications training to put them all in a room together, do it all in one shot, and save them each a couple of hundred dollars.

I soon had to get used to the idea that this is how my clients wanted to meet me – in person.

Teaching them something.

From there, workshops were booked out, I received more invitations to speak, and I soon had to get used to the idea that this is how my clients wanted to meet me – in person. Teaching them something.

I’ve learned some tips on public speaking from not only stumbling through my own presentations but also from some highly effective public speakers I’ve met on the circuit.

I hope my tips will help you relax and prepare for the next time you tackle this formidable task.

5 Top Tips to Public Speaking Success (for introverted, scared little copywriters and other chickens).

1) Feel honoured: Someone thinks you have something to say, and they are giving you the opportunity to make your voice heard.

When you add the feeling of sincere gratitude into the mix, the sheer anxiety dissipates a bit. If others have faith in your ability, you should give it a shot.

2) Be flexible: Don’t over structure everything you’re planning to say.

A structured speech can help you stay organised, but might feel unnatural for your audience if it is too rigid. With some flexibility, you can modify your speech as you go along.

Understand the content of your speech, and

keep some things to say in mind, but don’t worry so much about where and when you will say them… they will flow out when the right moment presents itself.

Having some flexibility also takes into consideration that not all audiences are created equal. Be prepared to morph your presentation or speech in line with your audience response.

3) Get jazz hands: Use your hands! It makes your audience feel more at ease, and you seem more personable.

We’re human, after all, and we already communicate so much with body language.

So shake out those nerves and keep yourself moving. And more importantly, remember to take a deep breath before you begin.

There are some absolutely rivetingly fascinating TED talks about body language.

Watch them and practice as you go.

4) Be enamoured: Talk about something you love.

When you talk about something you’re crazy about, you’ve already prepared most of your speech.

In my podcasts and workshops, where I talk about Crisp Crow Communications and all that entails successful copywriting, I’m really talking about my love for writing.

Passion and purpose are the perfect sources to begin a discussion. Plus, an audience wants to know who is speaking to them, and what better way to get to know a person by hearing them talk about something they love?

something they can practice in their personal lives.

For example; some entrepreneurs say life is about finding work/life balance – but I disagree. I believe life is about blending all roles that constitute our lives.

I am not a copywriter by day and a mother by night. Rather, I’m a mother who sometimes has to write content for a company’s website during my child’s soccer match.

This is a belief that melds my personal and work life together, and it’s something I strive to share with my audience in the hope of helping them.

Teaching your audience something they can implement in their lives is ultimately the end we strive to achieve in public speaking. We are a voice given the opportunity to be heard, and we all have something to say.

While these are just a few tips on public speaking, it’s important to challenge the fear of putting yourself out there because that ultimately paves the way for something extraordinary.

When people come up to tell me how I helped change their lives, or when they send emails about how touched they were by something I said, it makes all that fear and gruelling anticipation worth it.

When I make connections after speaking, it reminds me how tangible my lesson is. Different people learn in different ways, so if we scrap the idea of giving a speech or presentation forever, we’re missing out on all that interaction with people who don’t learn by reading.

We’re all human, and we all have fears, but public speaking doesn’t have to be one of them.

Once you’ve stepped out of your comfort zone and plunged yourself into the realm of public speaker, you might even come up with some tips on public speaking of your own.

Courtesy of Crisp Crow Communications

5) Give value: Impart some wisdom to the audience that they can use to implement change that very day.

You want your audience to go home having learned 33

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Sir: Labor Member for Midland, Michelle Roberts, must substantiate where her Party’s promised funding for Midvale Sports would come after it appeared to be either an unfunded, hollow commitment or an announcement fraudulently claiming City of Swan funding as Labor’s own.

Mrs Robert’s pledge seems a pale imitation of that made by Liberal Candidate for Midland, Daniel Parasiliti. Daniel has been working with the Midvale Junior Football Club at Ron Jose Oval as well as the Swan Districts Netball Club at the Dulcie Ludlow Netball Centre in Midvale.

We have taken the Premier and Deputy Premier to visit on separate occasions to meet the representatives from both organisations.

The Labor Member for Midland recently promised that, if elected, the Labor Party would fund $40,000 to the Midvale Tennis Club and $360,000 to the Midvale Junior Football Club.

While this is encouraging and long-awaited news for the community, it is totally out of character for the Member for Midland to actually

work for her constituents. But to suddenly make an appearance in the Midland electorate during an election campaign only confirms the Member is trying to claim relevance. She is falling short and is simply following the Liberal’s lead.

On the Premier’s visit this month, the Premier, Mr Parasiliti and I announced that a re-elected Liberal Government pledged $300,000 and would contribute $150,000 for the Midvale Junior Football Club and $150,000 for the Swan Districts Netball Club.

The $150,000 promised by the Liberal Party will contribute to the City of Swan’s allocation of $300,000 for lights to facilitate the junior girl’s competition fixtures on Friday nights. It is hoped the City of Swan can now make this upgrade a priority.

The Liberal Party’s re-election promise is being funded through the recently announced $4.5 million commitment to lighting installations and upgrades at sports facilities which is in addition to $10 million already allocated to the Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund.

The Liberal’s funding commitment is over and above the City of Swan’s budget.

Unfortunately, according to information from one of the local sporting clubs, it appears that Labor has admitted its funding is actually that of the City of Swan, not State funds over and above the local government’s.

If this is the case then the Labor Member’s recent funding announcement is fraudulent and is totally disrespectful to her community. Michelle

Roberts needs to come clean and set the record straight.

The community need to know if Michelle Roberts is just using the Council’s draft figure to claim as her own Party’s commitment.

The current arena lighting at the Ron Jose Oval is totally inadequate as the lighting poles are not appropriate for night training sessions and are deemed to be unsafe by the Club.

The $150,000 promised by the Liberal Party will contribute to the City of Swan’s allocation.

The Hon Alyssa Hayden MLC Midland

WRITING WRITING YOUR LIFE STORY MARIA BONAR

Writing Your Life Story Saturday 8 April 2017 Venue: Citiplace Community Centre Perth Railway Station Concourse, opposite top of Platform 9.

Helen Iles Life Writing 9.30am - 12 noon Helen Iles, award winning author and poet; editor and publisher, invites you to this Life Writing workshop where you will learn how to structure and focus your writing to engage and interest the reader. Capture the poignant, the memorable, the historic and the truly unique aspects of your life story or memoir. Helen will also outline a variety of ways you can set up your book and publish it economically.

Publishing Your Life Story & Photo Restoration 1pm - 3.30pm Bring your 'Life Writing Project' to this session if you are unsure of how to progress towards publishing or are simply stuck in the development phase. Helen Iles, editor of Linellen Press, a local publisher of memoirs and life stories, will answer your questions and view your project in this interactive session. During the second half of this workshop, she will teach you how to enhance and restore old photographs.

Men and women are encouraged to attend. Morning and afternoon tea provided.

Cost $25 per workshop.

For bookings, contact maria.bonar@iinet.net.au or telephone 0438 41 4450.

The Society of Women Writers WA www.swwofwa.com

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ould you like to chronicle your life as a gift to your descendents? Or perhaps you would like to publish a memoir about a really interesting period of your life?

The Society of Women Writers WA is again hosting the popular, Writing Your Life Story Workshops, on Saturday 8 April 2017 at Citiplace Community Centre, Perth Railway Station Concourse. Helen Iles, publisher and award-winning writer, will conduct two workshops.

The morning workshop, Life Writing, is from 9.30am to 12 noon. Helen will show you how to structure and focus your writing to engage and interest the reader.

Capture the poignant, the memorable, the historic and the truly unique aspects of your life story or memoir. She will also outline a variety of ways you can set up your book and publish your story economically.

The afternoon workshop, Publishing Your Life Story and Photo Restoration, is from 1pm to 3.30pm.

Helen says, "If you have started writing your life story, but are stuck in the development phase, bring your manuscript to this interactive workshop and I will help you progress your project towards completion and publication." During the second half of this workshop, Helen will teach you how to enhance and restore old photographs.

Men and women are invited to attend.

Morning and afternoon tea provided. Bring your lunch, or there are several take away outlets nearby.

Cost is $25 per workshop. For bookings, please email maria.bonar@iinet.net.au or telephone 0438 41 4450.

For more information about the Society of Women Writers WA, visit the website www.swwofwa.com

WRITING KSP WRITERS CENTRE SHANNON COYLE

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he not-for-profit KSP Writers’ Centre in Greenmount offers many activities and development services for writers, one of the most popular being the residency and retreats program.

With three self-contained Jarrah cabins onsite, writers from all over the country come to KSP to write, contemplate ideas, and be inspired by the former home of Katharine Susannah Prichard, notable Australian author.

In 2017, KSP has launched a new tier to this program. In addition to the more established Writers-in-Residence, the Centre will also host thirteen Fellows, who are a talented group of dedicated aspiring writers.

KSP’s comprehensive line-up of Writers-inResidence and Fellowship recipients means that the Centre will be buzzing with special guests this year, and our local community has the unique opportunity to meet and learn from these talented artists.

Keep an eye on Boya and Mundaring libraries as many of our writers will be offering a free author talk this year.

The writers will also host workshops and feature at social events at the Centre, so be sure to check out our website for details or pop in to KSP to collect an events

calendar. KSP’s March guests are offering the KSP poetry award, WAPI Love Poetry Prize, Trudy following events: Graham Biennial Literary Award, and she has both won and been highly commended in the Ethel Reaching Your Reader Workshop Webb Bundell prize for poetry.

Saturday 11 March, 10.00-11.30am Renee is currently completing her PhD in This workshop will take place during the Creative Writing through Curtin University. regular session of KSP’s Past Tense Social History Cost: $5 members/$10 others; book online or pay Writing Group, and will mainly focus on the genre cash on entry. of social history writing. This includes memoir, For more details please visit the KSP website life story, biography, family history and subjects www.kspwriterscentre.com or phone the office of historical interest.

08 9294 1872.

We will look at the strategies writers can use to engage their readers and keep faith in the relationship between the two. Please bring along the first paragraph or beginning sentences of a If you would like to receive a piece of your writing to share and discuss. free copy Cost: $5 members/$12 others; no bookings of the new, expanded digital necessary, pay cash on entry.

KSP Sunday Session with Local Poet Renee PettittSchipp Sunday 26 March, 4.005.30pm

This special event will feature poetry on the verandah and a glass of red from Lion Mill Winery.

In the past five years, Renee has been shortlisted for the Dorothy Hewett manuscript prize, ACU literature prize,

REACHING YOUR READER This workshop will look at the strategies writers can use to engage their readers and keep faith in the relationship between the two. Bring along the first paragraph or beginning sentences of a piece of your writing to share and discuss.

Swan Magazine sent to you electronically and save a tree’s life, send an email to:

editor@swanmagazine.com.au with ‘Subscribe’ in the subject line.

MARATHON WRITING COMPETITION Saturday 25 March 2017 9.30am to 4pm Venue: Citiplace Community Centre Perth Railway Station Concourse, opposite top of Platform 9.

Helen Iles Ignite your creativity! Dislodge the rich earth in the landscape of your imagination. Mine the mother lode to unearth fresh new materials and produce nuggets of first drafts that can later be honed and polished into short stories, novels, plays or poems. Kick start your imagination by booking a place in the Marathon Writing Competition.

Helen Iles, award winning author and poet; editor and publisher, will give participants a series of writing prompts. There will be 10 challenges, each lasting 25 minutes. You will experience an exhausting, but liberating day of free writing that will generate new ideas. The winner will receive a trophy and there are prizes for second and third places.

OOK, D TO B NO NEE COME! T JUS

Men and women are encouraged to attend.

Cost $25. Tea & Coffee provided.

www.kspwriterscentre.com 11 Old York Rd, Greenmount Morning tea provided

For bookings, email: maria.bonar@iinet.net.au or telephone 0438 41 4450. www.swwofwa.com

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THE IDLER The Idle Thoughts of an Idle Mind novel in a small town. The

Literary Death Match, the first claustrophobic atmosphere time this event has been held and opportunities for chance in Australia. As the judges encounters enhances plot lambasted each writers’ possibilities. performance, the injection When asked about of humour was the perfect motivation Throsby bookend to a day of crime and suggested that ‘first time mental health. writers get to write the book they want to read’ and both DAY TWO ladies conceded that being Day two began with Nick pregnant provided the perfect Earl’s discussion about short Nick Earls nine month enforced deadline. form novellas, 20,000 words Glennys Marsdon Leaving the crime world that can be read in two hours. behind I listened to Barbara Arrowsmith- It was an insightful discussion about how literary Young talk about growing up with severe value should not be measured in size. Earls riters Festivals are all about inspiration, learning difficulties, and ‘living in a fog’ with a concluded ‘we don’t buy books by the kilo’. motivation, learning, friendship and new ‘fragmented sense of self’. Her father told her Hashtag Headlines provided a fascinating and books, or at least they are for me, and the 2017 it was her ‘responsibility to go out and solve the timely insight into how politicians are turning into Perth Writers Festival continued this tradition. problem’ which she publishers through their use of Twitter.

To be honest when I first looked at the did by developing a Journalist Mark Di Stefano provided program I couldn’t find my space, but after a series of exercises an example of how the news cycle second look there it was lurking amongst the 100 that are now has shorten from one day to nine writers, thinkers and activists’ names. taught around the minutes. Lindy West lamented that With an 80,000 word crime/mystery world. while Twitter enabled her to access a manuscript hiding in my bottom drawer I was Even more broader perspective of opinions, sadly thrilled to see the genre had made it into the impressive though, by expressing her own she was privy to program, and not just a token nod a darker side of society, death and rape in between the multiple refugee threats. and political offerings.

Both professed the need for greater Held over three days my checks and balances on social media.

David Whish-Wilson weekend started with a workshop David Whish-Wilson, Jane Harper and on crime writing by Candice Candice Fox teamed up to discuss the Fox. Candice has many literary she has gone from essential need for secrets in crime fiction. Whishaccomplishments to her name not learning difficulties Wilson explaining that ‘if there’s no surprise for least of which, a killer hairdo that to assembling IKEA me then there’s no surprise for the reader.’ gave her the courage to tap James furniture. While I found After all this focus on crime fiction, Dan Box’s Patterson on the shoulder at a her talk interesting session on Bowraville was a timely reminder writer’s function. and inspiring several about not glorifying crime. In real life, crime A tap that resulted in her people around me were doesn’t entertain, it extinguishes hope. collaborating with Patterson on disappointed to have Twenty years ago three Aboriginal children, Candice Fox several books. I was fortunate paid for what they felt Evelyn Greenup, Clinton Speedy-Duroux and to attend one of Candice’s was a gratuitous sales Colleen Walker went missing. They all lived on the workshops years ago in Byron Bay, her courses pitch. same street. are informative, entertaining and inspiring.

This perception was further cemented They all went missing within a five month Over three hours we explored the need when the first audience question pleaded for period. Thanks to the enduring efforts of the to make readers care about the suspect and an example of one of the exercises. These families, laws have been changed and the police investigator as well as the victim. We delved into perceptions serve as a reminder of the fine line now have a suspect for two of the murders. crime statistics, the lifecycle of flies, motives, between sound self-promotion and negative Sadly, the whereabouts of the third child plot (start on a high note) and publishing. word of mouth. is still unknown. It was fascinating to hear Box The subsequent panel discussion with new As the sun went down I headed to the explain the part that traditional media, social crime writer voices, Holly Throsby and Jane State Theatre for a new event called Courtyard media and his podcast played in this crime.

Harper, outlined the benefits of setting your Sessions. For only $10 I settled in to watch the For example, when the families boarded a hire bus to the city to demonstrate, Box joined them and tweeted knowing his colleagues would be watching. As a result, when the bus arrived at the destination several camera crews were already in situ.

Similarly, Patrick Cockburn and Madeleine O’Dea’s discussion about reporting from the frontline put the life of war correspondents into perspective.

It was fascinating hearing Cockburn talk about checking his Wikipedia account, not out of ego, but to craft what his captures would find should he ever be held hostage.

‘The first thing the captors do is look at your Wiki page.’ Cockburn explained.

Continued on the next page ...

PERTH WRITERS’ FESTIVAL

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COMMUNITY ETHEL WARREN HONOURED

Concluded from the previous page ...

Unfortunately, I missed the talk by NSW Australian of the Year, Deng Adut, which I heard received a standing ovation at the Octagon Theatre, something I’ve not seen before.

KATE PHILLIPS

SUNDAY On a lighter note, Sunday was Family Day which always brings some interesting sights like handmade Viking boats floating on the UWA pond, and megaphones spruiking children’s answers to important questions. One of the best initiatives of this year was having children curate the day. They picked the books and interviewed the authors. Brilliant.

Looking back PWF 2017 was yet another year of educational opportunities, creative ideas, inspiring stories, stunning settings, and chance encounters with hibernating author friends.

The ongoing inclusion of so many free events sets this festival apart from others and opens the doors for more people to experience the behind the scenes life of a writer.

AFTERWORD If I had to consider any improvements, some regulars I spoke to did not attend at all this year because they felt the program was limited to only a few genres e.g. refugees and politics.

Others who attended several of these thoughtful sessions found the cumulative effect draining and decided to forgo other events even though they’d bought tickets.

So perhaps there could be a greater diversity amongst the genres on offer, although naturally this depends on the books published during the year.

Another reason for not attending this year was the desire to hear from more new voices rather than the usual suspects. I’d wager this is particularly important in isolated Perth.

Lastly, I’m not sure whether the presentations get vetted, however as stated earlier, while people were happy to accept a sales pitch during a free event they were not so forgiving when they had paid.

Most of all though my lasting impression from this years festival was that while we have the luxury of writing and reading interesting stories, some people have the misfortune of living out the very lives that we choose to fictionalise.

Something that should be kept in mind when writing and promoting our stories. Here’s hoping that by this time next year the third Bowraville child will have been found and all three families will have justice.

Mrs Ethel Warren with four generation of family at the naming ceremony L-R: Neil Sheridan (grandson), Ella Sheridan (great-granddaughter), Ethel Warren, Jo Sheridan (granddaughter) and Anne Porter (daughter)

T

he City of Swan has named its newest community centre after one of its longest serving residents.

The Ethel Warren Bullsbrook Community Centre was officially named at a small ceremony attended

by Mrs Warren and her family and friends.

City of Swan Mayor Mick Wainwright said Mrs Warren had spent most of her ninety-three years in and around Bullsbrook and was still highly involved in the local community.

“Mrs Warren was a founding member of the Bullsbrook Historical Society, instrumental in setting up the Bullsbrook Museum and a long term staff member at the Bullsbrook Community Kindergarten,” he said.

“Not only has she made a significant contribution to the local area, but continues to contribute to the cultural vibrancy of the Bullsbrook community and the City is very pleased to be able to commemorate that today.”

Ethel May Warren, who was born in 1923, started her working life helping her parents on the family farm in Muchea before moving to Cottesloe with her family in 1941.

There Mrs Warren took a job at the Claremont Can Factory with the Army before joining the Women’s Australian Naval Service (WRANS) where she worked as a cook.

Not long after, in 1943, Ethel met her husband Colin who was stationed locally with the army.

The couple had two daughters and moved back to Colin’s family property in Bullsbrook where she became immersed in the local community and worked for a number of well-known local businesses and leased the Iconic Ginger’s Roadhouse Café.

Ethel then took a position at the Bullsbrook

plaqu ing the cas il e v n u u L en r David el Warr Mrs Eth Deputy Mayo

e with

C o m m u n i t y Kindergarten before moving to the new Pre-Primary, where she remained for ten years until her retirement.

North Ward Councillor Kevin Bailey said Mrs Warren’s contribution to and effect on the community has been profound.

“Since retirement, Ethel has spent her time passing her well-honed skills in painting, sewing, patch working and gardening onto the community,” he said.

“She has always been a highly valued community member and has worked diligently in the background to help individuals and families in need,” “To be able to honour her commitment and dedication in this way today is not only a joy, it’s an honour.”

The Ethel Warren Bullsbrook Community Centre is expected to be complete by August 2017.

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COS03343

Humane Food Region

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K

We’d also love to welcome more foster carers to our network in Perth and across the state. Fostering is a vital role as it provides rehabilitation, training, caring and loving of animals to prepare them for their new lives with permanent owners.

We are always in need of donations to pay vet bills - every rescue animal has to be desexed, vaccinated and microchipped. Volunteer fundraisers and marketers to help raise these much needed funds.

If you’d like to donate, information can be found on: www.safe.asn.au/How_to_help/Donate.html If you’d like to make a difference and join our team of volunteers and foster carers, please our animals into foster and permanent homes.

We have volunteers working effectively from email karratha@safe.asn.au or phone us at SAFE all over the country performing an array of tasks. Karratha at (08) 9185 4634.

Our overheads are kept small as we rely on our volunteers to care for the animals, take photographs, write profiles, coordinate photographers and profilers, do website content management, write stories for publications, do public relations and administrative work.

Email and internet makes volunteering possible from anywhere.

KITTEN SEASON

ittens may be cute but at SAFE there’s nothing cute about Kitten season.

Kitten season is this time of year when cats give birth, flooding animal rescue groups across the nation with homeless litters.

It’s really three seasons in one, starting in spring, peaking in late spring/early summer and ending in autumn.

SAFE Karratha currently has nearly twenty youngsters under the age of four months old, with half of them as young as seven weeks.

Often the kittens are found in litters with multiple animals. SAFE begins by ensuring they all are vet-checked then finds suitable foster homes.

Next, the kittens are photographed and advertised for adoption on our websites. As you can imagine, kitten season is an incredibly busy time of year for our SAFE volunteers.

One of SAFE’s great initiative programs is that we also assist families with rehoming unwanted litters. We take the pregnant mother into foster care where she has access to regular veterinary care.

The kittens, when born, are rehomed through SAFE and the mother is desexed, microchipped and returned to her owner.

Moet, Mog and Miley are thirteen-week-old kittens ready for their new permanent homes.

This rambunctious trio all have different characters to match their vastly different colourings but all come from a loving and trusting mum.

Moet, the only girl, is a quiet and chilled little lady who loves to sit and watch the world go by from her cat tower. Brothers, Mog and Miley are always up for a roll around and playful tackle with Miley being the cheekiest of the three who’s likely to lead them all into trouble.

These three cuties are able to fly anywhere in Australia to their new homes and their adoption fee includes desexing, microchipping and vaccinations.

If you’d like to welcome one of these beautiful kittens into your life, contact SAFE Karratha on 08 9185 4634 or visit our website http://www. safe.asn.au to see the other kittens, cats and dogs that are looking for permanent homes.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS Are you looking for a new challenge? Have you thought about volunteering for SAFE? We are a not for profit organisation that saves rehomeable animals from euthanasia. We have ten branches around the state and are always in need of volunteers in many different roles to help

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