Streetsheet

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

Vale Adnan

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of vendor Adnan, who was very recently diagnosed with cancer. You may know him from the cover of the Vendor Week edition in March. Adnan has been a regular with The Big Issue since mid-2020, working in Paddington and Coorparoo, Brisbane. He enjoyed selling the magazine because he loved meeting and learning about people from all over the world. He was highly political and believed “everyone in the world must struggle for the end of wars, for children not to die, for the end of hunger, for peace to come”. It was an honour to know Adnan and he will be sorely missed.

PETER SIMMONS VENDOR SUPPORT I QUEENSLAND

Save the Market

Fisherman’s Wharf Market in Port Adelaide is open every Sunday (and public holiday Mondays) from 9am-4pm, but now the lease has come up and the owner has been asked to close it down in September, after more than 20 years. You’ve got everything there, including kitchenware, car parts, toys, clothes, shoes, books, playing cards, bike parts and leather goods. Outside of the building you have food stalls: hot dogs, hot chips, hamburgers, hot coffees. Then you’ve got one called Danny’s Mini Donuts, which makes great little donuts and toasted sandwiches: cheese, ham and cheese, ham and cheese and tomatoes. Upstairs you have a stall called Mystical, run by Heather. She sells all different types of wolves, dragons, insects, dresses, shirts, toys, books, cups, lucky dips for children, parents and adults. The owner of the markets is looking for another site for them all to move. But they have to wait to see what happens. I would like to see all the Adelaide people visit down there – as well as interstate and overseas people, too.

KERRY-ANNE THE BODY SHOP, RUNDLE MALL, ELIZABETH & ADELAIDE ARCADE I ADELAIDE

Ruff Spot

On my third day selling The Big Issue a lady rocked up and asked me to mind her dog for five minutes while she did her shopping. But she didn’t say that it was really scared and shivering. Everyone thought it was my dog and people kept telling me to feed it. Some people bought me dog food. I ended up holding the dog, to try to comfort it, and I sold more magazines than ever before. She came back about three hours later – she didn’t even say sorry or thanks.

Hard Yakka

I recently got the opportunity to work as a guest speaker in The Big Issue Classroom. It is a great opportunity to talk to students about homelessness and surviving on limited finances. One thing did cross my mind: I would have to dress a good deal more formally than I usually do to sell The Big Issue. The dress code for selling Big Issue is informal, casual. I was homeless when I began, and my irreverent wearing of Nike, Adidas and ex-military clothes reflected the limited choices of this Big Issue vendor – clothes built tough to last, as money is limited. Yes, I was homeless when I started with Big Issue in 2009 and yes, homeless again in 2015 when I again started from scratch. And yes, on both occasions the Sallies sent me down to their op shop and I went to Aussie Disposals to get the right long-lasting clothes. But now, as a long-time vendor lecturing students about homelessness, I need to reflect my better results, like a teacher – formal casual at least. A Country Road wardrobe easily tops $100-$200 from a Country Road franchise. But from Savers at Footscray and Brunswick, or op shops, a full Country Road kit easily comes in under $100. So now I am shopping for fashion items, which although are not cheap, are also not that dear. And I’m honestly enjoying talking to young people about hard-wearing formals!

KELLY CNR ELIZABETH & LONSDALE STS I MELBOURNE

Mother Nature

She feels nothing she does is good enough Transparent dangling carrots shine the way forward Her glass castle in ruins Her heart, soul and mind argue For no-one is sinless The world is a place of insanity Lights trickle down poles as she tries to clutch at straws In her loveless world A world of insanity Where those who destroy Mother Nature are in charge And those who try to save it are jailed or punished

LYNN (AKA NOVA CHRISTEEN) NEWCASTLE

ALL VENDOR CONTRIBUTORS TO STREETSHEET ARE PAID FOR THEIR WORK.

Hats Off, Liz

The best thing about selling The Big Issue is my customers. I was really chuffed this week when my customer Liz got back from her holiday in Brisbane and gave me this hat (and bought a mag). It was a lovely thought. I have also recently started accepting sales via PayID. I have done my first three sales and I’m slowly getting the hang of it.

STEVE W ELIZABETH QUAY I PERTH

STEVE SAVOURS HIS SOUVENIR