Streetsheet

Streetsheet Stories, poems and pictures by Big Issue vendors and friends

VENDOR SPOTLIGHT GEORGE

YEEHAW! IT’S GEORGE

The Man in Black

Ihave always liked to dress well and I like the cowboy appearance. I used to watch cowboy movies when I was young and I liked them – I watched my first movie with my father when I was three years old, it was called Posse from Hell starring Audie Murphy.

As I got older, in my fifties, sixties and seventies, I fell in love with them – it’s like a hobby for me to watch westerns. I love them so much I watch them over and over and over. I will watch them 50 times a month and then do the same the next month!

I like the Clint Eastwood movies – A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More. My all-time favourite cowboy movie is Dawn at Socorro starring Rory Calhoun, my favourite actor. He has a good cowboy name and he is also a good-looking man to be in the movies. I also love Jeanette MacDonald – she has a beautiful voice, as she is an opera singer.

When I die I want to be buried in my cowboy clothes – dressed in all black. But at the moment I can see myself watching cowboy movies for many years to come!

Time Flies

Last year flew by at the speed of light, and I think that this year will too. Old Man Time is cranking up the engine faster each year. It has been so hot and humid here lately – well, it is summer, I suppose, not my favourite time of the year. I have felt like a lettuce wilting in a garden bed. The COVID masks that people are required to wear have been a wonderful source of entertainment for me. The fashion show is so much fun with all these different masks being paraded. There are all sorts of pretty patterned ones being worn. My favourite is the blue and white one with the butterfly design. I had the pleasure of meeting two retired teachers from my old haunt of Fremantle recently. One of them bought a copy of The Big Issue from me. I told them of the time when I used to walk from 28 Livingstone Street in South Fremantle to the other end of the street where the Church of Christ the King primary school was. Those were the days.

KATHY I BUSSELTON

Son Rising

I am very proud of my eldest Adam who is going into Year 12 this year and going all the way in high school. Over summer he showed me his school report and I was blown away with how well he has done and all the great comments from his teachers. He is definitely better at school than I was! I hope my younger son follows in his footsteps.

KELLEE EUROPEAN RESTAURANT, MURRAY ST I PERTH

Instant Karma

It was my last shift before Christmas. I hesitated to work, but as I had an unpleasant encounter with a housemate, I decided to spend some time in my office. West End is an amazing place, and while I don’t sleep there, lots

of people make me feel like it’s home. At some point, I spotted a credit card on the footpath. For a short moment, I thought, woohoo, free money! But then I realised someone is probably deeply troubled about this loss. Also, do I really need more than I have? So, I chose to leave it with the friendly staff at Avid Reader, the most likely place where the card was used, hoping the owner would reclaim it. I enjoyed doing my work instead of thinking about the conflict at the house. While I was talking to one of my dear regular customers, Jan, a young man came along. “Hello Lenny! Thank you so much for finding my card and giving it to Avid. I’m so glad that I got it back, without going to the trouble of blocking it, and being without it over Christmas.” I was happy to save this man from trouble and hearing his relief. He gave me $50 to buy the magazine, expressing his gratitude. Most of all, I’m happy that I could easily resist doing the wrong thing. Without expecting any reward, I received some instant karma.

LENNY AVID READER BOOKSHOP & WEST END MARKETS I BRISBANE

No Place Like Rocky

I’ve just been on a holiday to Rockhampton. I caught the Tilt Train; it was fabulous. We got seat service: if you order a meal they deliver to your seat. The speed of the train was fabulous. I saw lots of mountains, trees and cattle. The

ALL VENDOR CONTRIBUTORS TO STREETSHEET ARE PAID FOR THEIR WORK. train trip cost very little because I’m on the pension. Rockhampton is a typical country town: small, and everything was a short distance from my motel room.

EDDIE SHERWOOD, MILTON MARKETS & CENTRAL STATION I BRISBANE

Fremantle

Friendly Round about place Emotional in some ways Moments to treasure Adventure around every bend New things open and close Travel around all food areas Love food, love coffee End your day with a smile

SARAH W I FREMANTLE

VERNON IS A PROUD YAMATJI MAN

Flying the Flag

I woke up early to go and buy the flag today. I went to Quality Flags on South Road and guess what? The lady Julie who works there is vendor Ruth’s sister! I bought a full-sized flag and a little one to show off. I’m going to show it off wherever I go. I’m just proud.

I never realised until a few years ago that the flag was privately owned, so to have it free now is so important – the government buying it means it’s free for all of us to use and we don’t ask for much. That’s my flag, my culture.

I want to acknowledge the Kaurna who are the traditional owners of the land I am on, but I am actually a Yamatji man from the Murchison region in WA. Most of my family are there. I hope to return there when the borders are open and it’s a bit easier to travel. I also want to go to Alice Springs and live with the people there for a while.

I’m an Elder and that’s something I’m really proud of. Anyone can be a senior but not anyone can be an Elder. It’s something that’s really important to me, to go and connect with the land and learn the ways. It means that this knowledge isn’t lost and can be passed down to future generations.

VERNON STIRLING & CUMBERLAND PARK WOOLWORTHS I ADELAIDE