Urban Village Summer 2018 by Urban Village

@urbanvillagemag

urbanvillage.com.au | Edition 07 | Summer 2018/19

The Presets' Kim Moyes Tim Ritchie's Christmas Guide Architect Adam Haddow Behind the Opera Centre curtain Oxtravaganza 2018

Julie Bates, AO Making Love, not War Quarterly, for those who live, love, work, visit and play in our inner city villages Urban Village

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a n y t h i n g g o e s

Uncommon

Residences A collection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom residences B | Urban Village

s u r r y h i l l s

In a neighbourhood where everyone has a tale to tell, Surry Hills Village is the perfect place to start your next story.

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Urban Village | 3

Contents

Issue #07 Summer 2018/19

Meet Ardi, the boutique butcher

Inside the HeadOn Photo Awards

Augmented reality, retail's next big thing

Kim Moyes of The Presets talks Sydney nightlife

Julie Bates AO, veteran activist, advocate and sex worker

Tim Ritchie, a local's guide to enjoying the neighbourhoods.

Local foodie expert Maree Sheehan reveals the neighbourhood’s latest culinary news

Editor Lachlan Colquhoun Words Tess Scholfield-Peters, Peter English, Fiona McIntosh, Maree Sheehan, Ross Longmuir, Glen Hare, Dr Nima, Tim Ritchie, Images Walter Maurice, Jeffrey Feng Luca Ward Design & Layout walterwakefield Publisher Urban Village Media Pty Ltd Cover Julie Bates Cover Photo Walter Maurice All Enquiries Tel: 02 8218 2163 Email: info@urbanvillage.com.au Office: Ground Floor, 483 Riley Street Surry Hills NSW 2010 ISSN 2208-6242

Urban Village is published under licence and with the support of the Surry Hills Creative Precinct to foster communcation, innovation and networking between the business community and residents in Surry Hills and the surrounding neighbourhoods of inner Sydney. To learn more or to join, go to www.shcp.org.au or call 02 8218 2169

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HEADS UP

What's happening in the 'hood

Neighbourhood news

Sydney Festival (Jan 9-27) is our city's most iconic cultural celebration. The Belvoir will showcase two festival performances: Old Stock, A Refugee Love Story & The Iliad – Out Loud

Also look out for...

Flickerfest Jan 11 - 20 Australia’s most respected short film festival kicks off the summer cinema season.

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St Jerome's Laneway Festival, Feb 3 Sydney College of the Arts With a line up featuring the best of new and revered seminal music, Laneway 2019 is set to be a day to remember.

Chinese New Year Feb 5 - 19 2019 is the Year of the Pig. Discover the traditions and taboos, dishes and drinks that are part of China’s most important holiday. Events occur throughout Sydney.

Mardi Gras 2019 Feb 15 - March 3

Oxstravaganza Feb 23

Sydney’s biggest party, celebrating the power and beauty of diversity.

Oxford Street comes alive in celebration of all that makes it Sydney’s most iconic, tolerant and fabulous strip. Full program released January 30.

Urban Village | 7

Peter Johnston 1965 - 2018. A TRIBUTE Principal: Bourke Street Public School

he Bourke Street Public School community, family and friends are all mourning the passing of Peter Johnston, the much-loved Principal of the school.

Johnston passed away in November following complications from surgery, with family and friends at his side. His loss has shocked and saddened the Bourke Street School community, where he was Principal for much of this decade after moving from Forest Lodge.

Peter Johnston made a significant contribution to creating the new infrastructure and building a positive and caring environment at the school, which now stands as a tribute to his ability and dedication as an educator. Urban Village extends deep condolences to Peter Johnston’s family and friends and to the Bourke Street school community, who have lost one of their finest.

Under his leadership Bourke Street rebounded from a school potentially slated for closure to a vibrant community with 450 students from a diversity of backgrounds. The 140-year-old school is one of Sydney’s most historic and the heritage buildings are now combined with a new library, school hall and canteen all built during Peter Johnston’s stewardship. After a four-year gap due to the building work the school celebrated its renaissance with a highly successful school fete in October.

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Photo: Supplied

Above: Peter Johnston

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Adam Haddow transforming Surry Hills Shopping Village By Tess Scholfield-Peters

Photo: Supplied

dam is the director of SJB Architects on Crown Street, and has lived and worked in the area for eighteen years. His passion for unifying urban and natural environments is evident in his award winning and globally acclaimed Cleveland Street apartment. We spoke to Adam about his vision for the Surry Hills Shopping Village with TOGA Group, and the future of the suburb. Where did your love for architecture come from? I’ve always wanted to be an architect from the moment I remember thinking about the world. I think perhaps it happened because when I was young I lived in a house that was constantly being built. I’ve always seen things in three dimensions. In my head it’s a really easy thing to do. Space has a massive impact on people’s lives and happiness, so I think the ability to actively influence that is quite a joyful thing. How did the TOGA project come about?

City of Sydney holds competitions for projects over a certain size, and SJB won. When we got the brief, I remember saying, “I can’t lose this. The project is in my backyard.” We put a lot of effort into it and we were successful. For me this project is about localism: it’s crucial to understand the place around the building. I think it’s nice to be able to contribute something to the place you live. You’re almost more careful with it, because you’re going to be there every day. What are some factors you have to think about when designing in Surry Hills? When I started my apartment on Cleveland Street it was an opportunity for experimentation; to do things that hadn’t been done in apartments before. The scheme for Surry Hills Village was based on some of those investigations, about open living and garden courtyard apartments, the ability to frame views, how to manage proximity in cities, how to give people a higher sense of privacy without putting fences up. 10 | Urban Village

One thing about Surry Hills is that people live their lives out on the street; it’s a very social place. So to a certain extent apartments need to be the opposite of that: intimate, quiet, calm. I think that has a big impact on the way I design apartments. The challenge is always providing connectivity and privacy simultaneously. What is unique about this project? I think the garden and the outdoor spaces. The laneway that runs through the site, the new public park, the communal and private gardens; the green becomes the glue. This project is also a proper mix-use project, so it’s important to strike the right balance between retail, residential and commercial. Our role is to make this project feel like it’s part of the street environment and surrounding built fabric. We want people to walk past it and feel like it’s been there forever. What do you see in the future of the suburb, and urban architecture more broadly? Surry Hills has amazing diversity, it has amazing street life, and it’s dominated by local brands. Most of the truly creative industries in the city are located here, so I think that level of diversity and creativity will keep it going. Moving into the future environmentally, I think we need to return to the core fundamental roots of architecture about shade and ventilation, stop relying on technology to achieve those things and instead rely on good practice to achieve quality built environments. We’ve gone through a period of architecture where it was all about building icon buildings. I think now it’s the experiential element of architecture that’s becoming important. It’s not just about what it looks like, it’s about how it feels. I don’t think we’ve yet understood how much of an impact built environments have on people’s lives.

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Ardi's Block to Grill By Tess Scholfield-Peters Ardi Edgu moved to Surry Hills from Turkey when he was ten years old, in 1983. His mother had a butcher shop on the corner of Bourke and Cleveland Streets; there was never any real question of what Ardi was meant to do with his life. By the time he’d finished high school, Ardi was already four years into his butchering apprenticeship. “I’m one of the top butchers at the moment,” he tells me as we sit at the window of his Crown Street shop. “In the world?” I ask. He laughs. “I wish. But I reckon I could give them a run for their money.” According to Ardi, there’s a lot more to being a great butcher than cutting up carcasses. He tells me there are five key elements: presentation, customer service, skill, knowledge, and perseverance. Ardi explains: “It’s very difficult for a jet plane to break that sound barrier. Some butchers drop out; they think the work is too hard. If you can push yourself to a point

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Photo: Walter Maurice

where you won’t crumble, go to a point where you pass the sound barrier, that’s when you start loving what you do. Because you’re in the zone, and all that hard work becomes second nature.” It’s clear from a quick visit that butchering is indeed second nature to Ardi. Each customer that walks in is treated like an old friend, his products are the highest quality and he is passionate about improving the customers’ skills and knowledge of meat. Ardi pauses mid conversation with me and jumps up to the counter as a customer walks in. He looks like a picture: huge grin, hands ready atop the glass display, spotted bowtie just shy of straight. The customer is after the ribs for lunch. They are usually a dinner special, but Ardi makes an exception. As a butcher, Ardi says you’ve got to be skilled enough to square up and use the whole carcass; you have to sell everything, not just what’s easy. “If you give customers the confidence and the knowledge, they take it on. That’s what butchering is about, and I find it incredibly satisfying.”

When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the zone, all that hard work becomes second nature. Photo: Walter Maurice

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What we’re striving for is a neighbourhood culture, and reimagining private spaces as spaces that might be shared.

Backyart

By Tess Scholfield-Peters

Over the exposed bricks of a Stanmore shed hang framed illustrations and street-inspired graffiti art from a mix of emerging and established local artists. People flick through zines as a DJ spins from a corner of the fairy-lit backyard. Someone’s mum has made guacamole and you can purchase a tinny or a wine for a gold coin donation. This is Backyart, an artistic collective and exhibition series comprised of three Darlington roommates and long time friends. Held once every three months in a chosen backyard across Sydney, Backyart is a re-imagining of the boundaries between public and private space. Aisha Phillips, Rebecca Levy and Zoe Edema are Backyart’s organisers, curators and self-titled ‘backyard blitz team’ behind each yard transformation. I caught up with Aisha to chat about the resounding success of this grass roots approach to art and community. So how did you come up with the idea? I work in the art department for film and TV designing sets and props, so I’m always thinking about different ways of looking at space. As well as my work, I’ve been inspired by my community-minded family who have organised many events around social and environmental justice. I’m an art collector and attend lots of exhibitions. At some point I started to think about how I could reinterpret art exhibitions and spaces. I got to thinking; my backyard could be turned into a garden gallery. I think it’s this simplicity that has made Backyart so accessible and successful. 14 | Urban Village

What do you look for in a space? It’s mainly an intuitive feeling I get from looking at a backyard and visualising how we can curate an experience. We’ll look at the decrepit walls, or at the fence that holds a bit of weathered-down texture. It’s fun to play with concepts, like, what would a projection of abstract footage look like in that side passage? How does certain lighting create texture and mood? I also love thinking about the garden aspect, what plants there are and how they can work together with the art. I’m scared to admit how many times I’ll walk through a space in the lead up to a show – I take it to an extreme. Every little aspect of the show has been thought out. Is it hard to find a backyard? Not at all! After our first one, which was at our house in Darlington, I had numerous people come up to me and offer to host. That was when I realised that this idea is something that has a lot of value. People love seeing their backyard transformed into an exhibition space for the night.

As for the artworks, for now our artists are local, very Sydney-focused. We’re really building ourselves up on a grass roots level, but we’ve got some pretty big plans to expand and work with international collaborators. Why is Backyart an important aspect of the Sydney art scene? What we’re striving for is a neighbourhood culture, and reimagining private spaces as spaces that might be shared. Art is such a great talking point, so in that way Backyart works because it brings strangers together. People can have conversations about the art and the space, and connect on a really easy yet meaningful level. For me, that idea of community is the most important part. Like Backyart on Facebook and follow @backyartcollective on Instagram for exhibition updates. The next Backyart will be held in Coogee in January, so stay tuned.

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Local Business

BRIX distilling rum in the heart of Surry Hills Photo: Walter Maurice

Rum has been a part of our culture since the conception of modern Australia. From the first settlers using it as currency, to it being outlawed and then traded on the black market, rum has a century-old history that is very much alive today. By Tess Scholfield-Peters

ustralians have grown up with rum, yet many of us don’t know a whole lot about it. Sydney’s newest distillery has opened on Bourke Street, and is determined to put Australian rum on the world map.

Brix is the project of long time friends James, Damian and Sid. I caught up with James inside the distillery, where a sleek bar and dining area sits amidst the huge silver vats of maturing rum. “I don’t think Australia recognises what good quality rum is,” says James. “We appreciate good whiskey, gin and craft beer, but there’s a whole side to rum that’s incredibly high quality around the world. We want to lift Australia’s appreciation of quality rum, and get our product to that international level.”

Not many people know that rum is made from sugar. We bring sugar cane fresh from Queensland and juice it in the bar for all of our cocktails.

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Brix has a real focus on educating its patrons about the distilling process. You’re invited to take a tour of the distillery, taste the rums on offer and even lay your own custom barrel.

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The ‘Brix White’ is distilled on site, and the ‘Brix Gold’ is blended by a master mixer in the Netherlands, from five and eight year old Barbados rums. The ‘Brix Spiced’ is set to launch this month, a blend of ‘Brix Gold’ and an array of infusers, also created on site. “We want to make one thing and be excellent at it,” says James. “We want to capture something Australians recognise and show them another side to it. I think more than anything, educating people about the distilling process and its history is what makes us unique.”

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Go shopping, with

Augmented Reality

A Surry Hills technology startup has launched an Augmented Reality shopping app which might just be the next big thing. By Lachlan Colquhoun

Robyn Foyster’s approach to her latest startup project is to “start local, then go global.” After an international career in journalism, including stints heading up iconic titles The Australian Women’s Weekly and Woman’s Day, Foyster is now a technology entrepreneur launching what she says is the world’s first Augmented Reality social shopping app. Called “Sweep”, the app hopes to revolutionise how people shop. It joins merchants offering deals with bargain hungry consumers using geolocation technology and an Augmented Reality (AR) view to guide shoppers to bricks and mortar stores. With physical stores under pressure from online retailing, the concept is to create a new avenue for bricks and mortar stores to reach their customers.

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“If you are sitting in a café and want to see where you can go shopping you will open the app and be able to see all the deals that are local to you,” explains Foyster. “You can set and change the radius to capture the deals you want, and you can customise your feed based on what you are interested in.” Sweep also enables users to post comments on deals, and rewards them with loyalty points. For retailers, Sweep is a channel to reach new customers and also attain valuable customer analytics and data which is currently only available online. Foyster and her Sweep team are located in a co working space in Surry Hills, and plan to use the local area as a “proof of concept” before taking Sweep local and then international.

Many Surry Hills merchants have already signed up and are already offering live deals. “Surry Hills is a perfect place for us to launch, it is brimming with people at the cutting edge of technology use,” says Foyster. “It has a high proportion of millennials, and they are a key target market for us because they comprise up to 75 percent of impulse buyers. “We are also working with small businesses as we sign up retailers, and partnerships are very important for us.” Foyster’s philosophy is that businesses need to be “niche or really large” and over time Sweep can be both: connecting people in their local community but transitioning from local to global. From Surry Hills, the plan is to take in the “university areas” of Newtown and Chippendale, and then build out nationally. AR technology is evolving and Sweep will evolve with it. Google, for example, is set to upgrade its maps and those improvements will be incorporated in Sweep. Foyster is also talking with tech giant Amazon about a tie up which would integrate Sweep with the global retailer. “As it grows, AR will be become much more bespoke and Sweep will grow and develop with the technology, and that is moving fast,” says Foyster.

Surry Hills is a perfect place for us to launch, it is brimming with people at the cutting edge of technology use Sweep is launched by Foyster’s company, AR Tech, which aims to leverage AR and geolocation to transform the shopping experience, and other applications and projects are set to follow. “The problem with bricks and mortar retail is that consumers are disengaged, so they may as well shop online,” she says. “We want to make retail much more fun and engaging through technology, and we think that AR can bring a whole community to physical retailing.”

www.sweep.im You can contact the team at hello@sweep.im

Former Editor-in-Chief of The Australian Women’s Weekly Robyn Foyster with her Sweep Co-creators Philip Ip and Subin Park Urban Village | 19

MEET THE CLOCK'S DEAN BRUCE By Tess Scholfield-Peters If you’ve been to a pub in inner Sydney, chances are Dean’s worked there at some point. He’s worked his way up from bartender, to manager, to licensee of venues like The Erko, The Courthouse, Darlo and Kings Cross Hotel. Now Dean runs The Clock, and spoke to me about his two decades in the industry. The hospitality life might sound nightmarish to some: standing for eight hours at a time, wearing a smile for just as long, endless small talk, and dealing with the dramas that undoubtedly occur at one of Sydney’s most popular drinking spots. But for Dean, that’s the industry’s charm.

Photo: Walter Maurice

that sits behind him, and Fernando the head chef can tell you exactly what’s trending in top London restaurants. But at the forefront of The Clock is community, whether that means participating in Movember and Karma Keg, getting involved with the Neighbourhood Centre and Festival preparations, or simply knowing the locals by name. Pop in for a festive drink this month. We guarantee you’ll leave feeling a little bit merrier.

“I love the people and the hours, it’s a very dynamic job. You can be on the floor, in the office, the cellar, talking to a million different people.

This month The Clock will be serving a ‘Santa’s Sling’ cocktail:

“What I really love about the industry is that there are so many stories behind alcohol, and so many different connections you can make,” says Dean.

In a cocktail shaker, mix:

Dean joined Solitel Group fourteen years ago as a bartender at The Clock. After moving through some iconic Sydney venues, he’s found himself right back where he began. If you’ve visited the Surry Hills landmark, you’ll know that each staff member is much like Dean: passionate about the hospitality life. Glynn the bar manager can spin a yarn about the origins of each bottle of whiskey 20 | Urban Village

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www.idealspace.com.au 54 | Urban Village Urban Village | 21

OXTRAVAGANZA is back in 2019

Join in the celebrations of Sydney’s “Pink Mile” On February 23, Oxford Street will come alive in celebration of all that makes it Sydney’s most iconic, tolerant and fabulous strip. Think expert Shibari performances, live DJs and silent disco, marquee stalls and performance classes. An initiative of the Darlinghurst Business Partnership (DBP), OXTRAVAGANZA is an official event of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Now in its 3rd year, OXTRAVAGANZA Festival welcomes The Voice finalist and Boy George protégé Sheldon Riley as its new face. DBP Chairman Stephan Gyory says the area has always had a history of being a place to have a good time and feel welcome.

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“Sydney’s Oxford Street has historically been a stomping ground for oddballs, queers, bohemians and artists, whose influences delightfully combine to form a unique cultural hub,” says Gyory. “Oxford Street is an unconventional and non-judgmental space where anything goes and everyone is welcome.” The Festival will see over 80 local businesses come together to offer special retail promotions, live music, exclusive performances, an emerging designer market, and outdoor music. Proceeds raised on the day will go to Twenty10 + GLCS, a charity for at-risk LGBTQI+ youth. The full program of events will be release on 30 January, so keep your eyes peeled.

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Urban Village | 23

Mister Chop Shop’s Dan Dixon

Photo: Supplied

on stylin’ the Surry Hills man

hether he’s an urban lumberjack or a suave social prowler, the modern man nowadays is a maintenance man. No, not a high maintenance relationship man but a groomed, precise and exact man.

replaced with Balms which provide a heavier hold and an ability to groom the facial fur for follicle freshness, losing the unkempt food catching homeless look.

He thinks out his wardrobe and keeps his shoes pristine whilst regularly receiving online clothing purchases.

Just like anything high maintenance, regular tune-ups are required and styles such as the above are in the shop every 14-21 days, to keep the edge and polish.

His haircut is sharp and his beard even more-so.

Follow: @misterchopshop.surryhills

What cut does he wear? The classic short back and sides is never going to die out, however, currently a shorter skin faded version has taken pride and place as the most requested cut. This cut, with the help of product, is cut and styled directionally to seem effortless. What product, you say… Well a lot of the pomades and waxes of previous years have made way for texture sprays, styling powders and matte pastes. No more shine, No more greasiness. These products will give a natural look to a highly precise cut, accentuating the ‘I haven’t tried, I always look like this!’ demeanor. Then there’s the beard. The long ‘Ned Kelly’ hipster style beard has made way for the sharper finished jawline beard. Still with length but faded out to meet the cut and styled with a beard brush and balm. Beard Oils have faded out and been 24 | Urban Village

The Sydney Comedy Festival returns in 2019, celebrating its 15th year. From the 22nd April until the 19th May, Sydney will be saturated with some of the best emerging and renowned comic talent from both Australia and overseas. The first release includes some of the Festival’s favourite international regulars including: Australia’s adopted son of standup comedy Arj Barker (US), Geordie improviser extraordinaire Ross Noble (UK), and feel-good funny man Stephen K Amos (UK). Local stars joining the line-up include TV regular Nazeem Hussain, the acid-tongue prince Joel Creasey, the hilariously outspoken Akmal, Australia’s only Turkish comic Tahir, musical comedy duo The Stevenson Experience, and rising star and Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s 2017 Director’s Choice Award winner Demi Lardner. “We are pretty chuffed with our first announcement and can’t wait to tell you about the rest!” said Festival Director Jorge Menidis.

Line Up Announcement

Keep an ear out for the full line up announcement in the coming months. Head to www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au for more details.

Sydney Comedy Festival

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The Nevada, a Kings Cross brothel that claimed to have "Australia's largest bed" pictured on 13 December 1982 SUN NEWS Picture by PAUL MURRAY

Julie Bates, AO

Making Love, not War Photo: Walter Maurice

The work of veteran activist, advocate and sex worker Julie Bates was recognised with an Order of Australia (AO) in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours. But, as Bates tells Lachlan Colquhoun, this isn’t the end of her multifaceted career, it’s an added opportunity to continue her fight against injustice. Urban Village | 27

“Think about it, placing sex services premises in industrial zones that are deserted at night is clearly an unsafe environment for a female workforce,” she says.

“I’m going to use this to open more doors to fight injustice” she says.

“Some councils have sought to prohibit sex industry land use entirely and the majority have, through their planning regulations, prohibited the home-based sector, that is people working quietly and privately from their homes.”

ulie Bates, AO, proudly displays her gong from the Queen and takes a sip on her Gin and Tonic upstairs at the Shakespeare Hotel in Devonshire Street.

“There’s still some unfinished business.” Where some people might view an AO as a postscript to a career full of achievement, “The Dame”, as she is known to friends, sees it as a catalyst for expanding upon her activism as a lobbyist for sex industry law reform, urban planning, journalism and even performance art. Specifically, her projects are to finish the process of decriminalising sex work which began in NSW in 1979, and extend that to the area of anti-discrimination protection and an improved legislative framework. “There are still some archaic anomalies which need fixing,” she says. “In terms of discrimination it’s still hard for sex workers to get a loan, rent premises, let alone have your child’s teacher or your family and friends find out you are a sex worker. “Try sharing your occupation at a dinner party or in the doctor's surgery and wait for the gaping mouths and oohs and ahhs.

Bates is also a lobbyist for anti-discrimination protection because decriminalisation alone does not provide sufficient protection for sex workers. One of her pet hates is against a new push for Australia to implement the so called “Nordic model”, which criminalises the clients of sex workers and people who enable their work, such as landlords who rent them premises. This model, says Julie, has led to serious harm and the death of sex workers. “If your client is about to get arrested, it leaves you little time to negotiate your services, get a sense of safety or otherwise and generally make informed choices about proceeding with a booking,” she says. And she’s also plugged into a national and international movement advocating for the rights of sex workers with decriminalisation being at the forefront of the global struggle.

“I do it these days for the shock value but I have nothing to lose my children have grown up and the company I keep is mostly made up of social justice allies.

“In Australia, we have a mishmash of laws from decriminalisation in NSW to licensing in Queensland and Victoria to prohibition in WA and SA,” says Bates.

“However, this is still not the case for the majority of people who work in the sex industry.”

“Under licensing regimes or ‘legalisation’ as some call it, sex workers are licensed like dogs and cats in Victoria and not able to work from their homes or other private workplace and in Queensland they must work alone”

As a lobbyist for decriminalisation and a workable regulatory framework for the sex industry, Bates remains vigilant. Angered about planning regulations which push sex services into industrial areas, she’s busily engaging with the State Government, planning authorities and colleagues for change.

Bates’ drive comes from a passion for social justice she acquired at a young age and from her own life experience.

There is so much violence in the world with people having no regard for others but we sex workers are making love and not war 28 | Urban Village

Photo: Walter Maurice

As a pregnant teenager in Melbourne, she hid from her parents and friends and told them she was going on a “working holiday” interstate. Instead, she moved two suburbs away into a boarding house and had her baby who was then placed into adoption. “It was a horror show from the birth through to the treatment dished out to single mothers on the ward,” she says. “You had no voice and no rights, no ability to raise that child even if you wanted to.

“There was stigma and discrimination, and at the time, without having the words to describe how I was being treated, I just knew that it was so fucking wrong.” From there, she worked her way up to working as a law clerk for a Melbourne law firm which represented sex workers who had fallen foul of the law, brothel owners and drug users and dealers. “At the time, a government inquiry into corrupt police was in train and my job was to take statements from these aggrieved people, people who had complaints against the treatment they received at the hands of the police from being ‘verballed’ to having guns and drugs planted on their premises,” says Bates Urban Village | 29

If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t decriminalise sex work you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care about the people who do it, and if you think about it, we are your mothers, sisters, brothers, fathers and daughters who surely deserve better treatment under the law and in society. Two of Us. Professor Basil Donovan, right, a world expert in sexual disease, and Julie Bates, Sydney, 6 November 2007. SMH Picture by MARCO DEL GRANDE 30 | Urban Village

“It taught me a hell of a lot about the imbalance of power relationships and what was happening on the street.” At this point, Bates says she was “joining the dots” and understanding the dynamic of discrimination and marginalisation and how it was entrenched by obsolete and moralistic laws. In 1981, she moved to Sydney just as HIV was beginning to have an impact in Australia. It was here that she met and was inspired by the work of Alan Winchester, who was instrumental in providing support services to people who were falling through the cracks as mental health services de-institutionalised in NSW. "Alan was my social justice soulmate" she says. Alan and Julie formed a relationship and went on to be co-founders of ADIC (The AIDS Drug Information Collective) which later morphed into NUAA (The NSW Users & AIDS Association) for which Julie was the inaugural manager/CEO and Alan its first President. “I’d also started doing some sex work by then, and had tested the waters so to speak while still in Melbourne,” she says. “I was paying off a mortgage, so I thought I’d pop into the local massage parlour and see what was on offer.” While the work itself was palatable enough, she was shocked by the lack of training and occupational health and safety in sex work. “In those days, before any representation or funded sex worker organisations, sex workers took on a peer support role and provided their own form of education, but it was still pretty thin,” says Bates. After a time in Sydney and experiencing the controls and police involvement in brothels, she chose street work over brothel work. in street work you could use condoms but they were used as evidence in massage parlours that the premises were in fact an illegal brothel. She preferred the flexibility of setting her own hours on the street, where she eventually made the corner of William and Bourke Streets her own. “However, there was a hierarchy,” she says. “You needed to pay your dues. When I arrived there at first on Liverpool Street, the strip between Bourke and Darley Streets was shoulder to shoulder with sex workers, with our safe houses to take clients in two or three of the big old terraces along the street.

“In being moved down to the end of the street I found myself working alongside trans women where, again, I was fiercely questioned as to why I was on their patch until one of them laughed and said ‘she’s no competition’ so they let me work there, and I learned lots from them, some of whom became friends.” It was also a period when her advocacy turned to activism as she became a cofounder of the resurrected Australian Prostitutes Collective which later morphed into the Sex Workers’ Outreach Project (SWOP), an organisation which endures to this day. But perhaps her biggest achievement was her successful push to have safe sex adopted in NSW brothels. “Condoms were police evidence if they were found in brothels that were masquerading as massage parlours to get around the law,” says Bates. “But HIV was here, and we needed to alert sex workers about this new infection that could kill you. “And the industry was also at an all-time low because of the fear of HIV with sex workers being scapegoated.” Bates famously persuaded the proprietor of one of Sydney’s biggest brothels, the Nevada in Kings Cross, to allow condoms to be available and used on the premises. The owner declared that clients who refused to abide by the house safe sex rules would be shown the door. It was a move which not only created huge publicity and boosted business, but began a move to safe sex which has been credited with limiting the impact of HIV in Australia, where there have been no recorded transmissions from sex workers. As Julie’s great friend Professor Basil Donovan, the head of the Sexual Health Program at the Kirby Institute, told Fairfax Media, the move probably saved thousands of lives. If for nothing else, that is deserving of an AO. At the core of Bates’ worldview is the belief that sex work is work and should be treated just like any other. And in an enlightened and civilised society it is work which should be unmolested by the law and not discriminated against. We are not there yet, she says, and that is why her work is incomplete. “There is so much violence in the world with people having no regard for others but we sex workers are making love and not war, so why not a little more respect” says Bates. “If you don’t decriminalise sex work you don’t care about the people who do it, and if you think about it, we are your mothers, sisters, brothers, fathers and daughters who surely deserve better treatment under the law and in society.” Urban Village | 31

Local Profile

Tim Ritchie

“Even though I’ve been living in Surry Hills for half my life, I still feel like a blow in.”

By Tess Scholfield-Peters A resident since 1986, Tim Ritchie is a custodian of by-gone Surry Hills. Back then the neighbourhood was thrilling, he says, and a lot more dangerous. He’s been a live music enthusiast since the Hopetoun days and way before, and has dedicated his life to music, photography and his community. “Streets without people can sometimes be a lot nicer than with people,” he says. Tim’s photography portrays a different Surry Hills. Dark, gritty, quiet. The alleys and back streets overlooked by daytime are a portal into old Sydney. Without cars and people about, a deserted alleyway might be from early last century.

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“I like decay, I like old things,” he says. “That sense of living in history. I feel the sense of importance.” When he isn’t cycling around the city before sunrise capturing the suburb, Ritchie works on the board of FBi radio and the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre. “In Surry Hills, being a local means you recognise people, you give them the nod. When people talk about Surry Hills they only talk about cafes and shops. It’s all about this gentrification,” says Ritchie. “Some people in the community are doing it tough, which is why I joined the Neighbourhood Centre. What it stands for is true diversity and community.”

A Very Ritchie Christmas We asked this long-time local his favourite festive spots to shop, eat, drink and be merry in the neighbourhood.

Where to shop: The Standard Store, 503 Crown Street “Online shopping gives you the same-same all the time. Standard spends time finding the stuff you can't get online, and for the warmer months, you get to see what others have just been wearing in the coolest north hemisphere cities. A very Surry Hills idea!” Title Store, 499-501 Crown Street “Just metres away from Standard. I'm a very digital guy, but I love that analogue still exists. So for vinyl and books, even just to feel them, this is the place. There are new titles plus the stuff old buggers like me go on about. Great reference material for showing off at picnics.” Mackenzie's Hardware, 428 Cleveland Street “Perfection. Old school Surry Hills in both owner and stock. Andy and his wife are always there to help with that summer restoration nail/screw/idea. Not as cheap as the big chains, but part of the community that we all want to survive!”

Where to eat: La Panchina, 3/496 Bourke Street “Next to the playground is my favourite pizza place in Sydney. Luca the owner is a charming man with an Italian wood fired oven. La Panchina is a hidden gem and I hesitate to put it in print as this place should be full every hour it's open!”

Arthur, 544 Bourke Street “No choices, it’s a tasting menu! 11 dishes for $70 is dinner. There have been a few failures in this location, so I really hope the locals get behind this place and their in-house prep of everything; from bread to pickles to a wonderful array of seasonal food.” Suzuya, 210 Devonshire Street “If you don't book, you may find yourself having to eat at one of the pubs nearby. This is one of the few places to survive the Devonshire Street exodus. I kept eating there to support them, and I realised they didn’t need it – they're full all the time.”

Where to drink: The Winery, 285A Crown Street “The winery is like those trendy made to look old and bespoke places, except it is old and bespoke. Many nooks and crannies to hide in and open spaces to be seen in.” Goros, 84/86 Mary Street “Want a sake bomb? Don't know what that is? You definitely need to visit Goros. Sake, beer, highballs and cocktails... with Japanese food too. This joint feels like it’s been plucked out of Shinjuku.” The Carrington, 565 Bourke Street “It used to be owned by a big chain of restaurant and hotels, and it felt a bit that way. Now owned by locals, I can get quality draft beers and take my dog inside. That's a signature of success in Surry Hills.”

“In summer, I like to watch park cricket in Moore Park sitting under a tree with a breeze in my face and a ball in my hand for my dog to chase. I don't know the teams, I don't know the score, I don't watch every ball, but I'm in the city without a flurry of digital content whizzing by. I can't make things go faster, or slower. I'm just there.” Urban Village | 33

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Where to celebrate Christmas, locally Special Christmas Market

The Winery

On 15 December head to Shannon Reserve for all of your Christmas gift needs.

Make this Christmas extra special with a festive feast at The Winery. Food and beverage package for $130pp, or food only for $85pp, 25 Dec (bookings essential.)

Porteño Christmas Market Featuring the wares of local designers, creative and shop owners, you’re bound to find the perfect gift. 16 Dec at 358 Cleveland Street

Claire’s Kitchen at Le Salon Claire’s is putting on a Christmas Eve Dinner on 24 Dec (3 course at $100pp), with Christmas carols and a surprise guest singer. Bookings essential.

Buds and Bowers This Crown Street florist is providing Christmas wreaths made to order from $110, and festive table décor for your Christmas events.

Crown Street Grocer Joe and his team are offering hampers made to order, from $50-$250, with selections from their finest imported and locally sourced produce.

Strawberry Hills Hotel Our favourite Devonshire Street haunt is running Christmas specials through December, including a feast of Roast Turkey and Honey Glazed Ham ($22).

The Shakespeare Hotel Celebrate Christmas Eve at the Local’s Christmas Party, 24 Dec from 4pm. 36 | Urban Village

December Events Our top picks for the festive season in the neighbourhood. Possible Dream Theory #2 14 Nov – 16 Dec, at Galerie pompom, Abercrombie Street Chippendale The Death of Dance, at The Belvoir Theatre 10 Nov-23 Dec, tickets from $37 Stand Up for Refugees, at Giant Dwarf Theatre 8 Dec, tickets $39 WIP Studio Design Pop Up Christmas Edition, 8 Dec, at 243 Devonshire Street Sydney Jazz Collective, 9 Dec at The Dolphin Tangents + The Alister Spence Trio, 12 Dec at Venue 505, tickets $20 Surry Hills End of Year Hurrah (SHCP), 12 Dec at Sydney Brewery Surry Hills Before The End by Megan Seres, 12-21 Dec at 107 Projects Redfern

Neighbourhood Christmas Deals Strawberry Hills Hotel Christmas Specials running through December: Roast Turkey & Honey Glazed Ham ($22) Sticky Date Pudding ($8)

The Shakespeare 12 Dec from 7pm: Hawkes Brewing Bar Shout 21 Dec from 7pm: Xmas Mega Raffle 22 Dec from 8pm: Busker’s sessions – live music, $6 schooners 24 Dec from 4pm: Local’s Christmas Party

Four in Hand Hotel

Funk Engine Final Show of 2018, 13 Dec at Sydney Brewery Surry Hills Prosecco Picnic 14 Dec, at The Winery Special Christmas Market, 15 Dec at Shannon Reserve Cambridge Christmas Market, 15 Dec at The Entertainment Quarter Simon Caldwell b2b Kali, 15 Dec at Harpoon Harry Porteño Christmas Market, 16 Dec, 358 Cleveland Street Christmas Crab + Cray Cray, 16 Dec at Chii Town Surry Hills Studio 54: Documentary, 19 Dec at Golden Age Cinema Classes with Glasses (Late Night Workshop), 20 Dec at Bustle Studios Christmas Feast Stand Up Special, 22 Dec at Giant Dwarf, tickets $20 Glenlivet Whiskey Tasting, 17 Dec at The Wild Rover Sydney Vegan Guide Christmas Picnic, 18 Dec at Prince Alfred Park The Wireless // Harry Tinney 4tet, 18 Dec at Hibernian House, tickets $10

Four Christmas Function packages (minimum 8 guests) For bookings contact functions@fourinhand.com.au

A Christmas Cabaret, 19 Dec at Claire’s Kitchen

Crown Street Grocer

Pillow Pro/Soft Touch Live on the Golden Stage, 22 Dec at Golden Age Cinema

Hampers made to order from $50 - $250 Papa Ricotta Cheesecake Panettones from $20 - $5

Jamie Tiller b2b Lipelis, 22 Dec at Harpoon Harry

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Photo: Tim Ritchie

Surry Hills & Valleys Telling the Stories of People in Our Community

Elizabeth Burton:

Self proclaimed “Ol Tart” When we first came here people thought, “Oh Surry Hills, it’s a bad area”. There were the druggies and criminals. We have had unusual people in our building, we had a drug dealer that got bashed up and we have had incidents in our building. But mostly in our building we’ve been kind to each other. No one has coffee with one another, everyone has their private space, but we are kind to each other, we are lovely to each other. I did the garden for 20 years until my hips broke.

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When I got into this building my daughter was three. There was a lady named Joan at Northcott. Joan and I started cooking and having lunch there. We got a donation so I would make a baked dinner for 20 people, we would hire a bus and take the people at Northcott on a picnic out to Watsons Bay. It was lovely. They have all passed now, that’s how life goes. I used to do hairdressing at Maude House on Devonshire Street when it was around a long time ago.

It was run by a Drag queen (are you allowed to say “drag queen” these days?) I worked there casually. In that time, one day, a guy grabbed my daughter’s bag when she was walking on the street and ran away saying “Sorry I’m a druggie”. My daughter ran after him. She had her heels on so she was getting puffed running and she took the studded belt off she was wearing to be able to run better. He said “Oh no don’t hit me. I’m sorry. I’m a drug addict. ” She wasn’t going to hit him. She just needed to take her belt off. That made me laugh a lot. The other girls she was with called the police but my daughter ran after him. The dynamics of our building have changed today, it was friendlier, you felt safe, and we had our characters. People stay here for many years. Many people die here. Now we have been here a third of our lives, it’s really hard to think “Where will we go?” This is our swan song. You have to comply with everything they ask of you in this building. I have had fights with people, because when they come to inspect your house, I wonder, “Where are their manners? I’ve walked you through my house, now you are opening doors. What does it have to do with you?” I don’t have anything to hide but they treat you like a non-person. I went over to housing and spoke to the boy who is supposed to be looking out for the building during the lightrail construction about the rats that are invading the building since they started building the light rail. All the rats live under the ground. They dig up the ground and they run up the hill. It’s unbelievable. I have already killed 19 and I’m a Buddhist! It breaks my heart to do that. But nothing has been done even though I have written letters. We all want something to be done. When you get old you feel like no one is listening to you. When I was young and spunky they would be all over me, but now, especially when people walk looking at their phones we ignore each other. Sometimes they walk towards me not looking at me and I just yell out “Oi!” They usually jump back. I think they are missing out on life. In the old days you could sit and have a chat with people next to you on the train but not now.

I’m very vicious about a couple of things. At the end of the street there is a termination centre and there is a woman who stands there with a picture of a dead foetus to deter people from going in there. That makes me angry in my heart. I used to be horrible to her. Now I just look at her and say “Hail Mary full of grace Jesus knows you’re a disgrace!” So that’s better than what I used to say before. In 1968 I went to Vietnam as a gogo dancer. I did not know I was going to war, I was out for an adventure. We arrived in Saigon. On the first night we arrived we were taken to some blokes and had a meal. I worked in a show called the rainbow show. We weren’t allowed to speak to anyone that was not Caucasian. I got into trouble because I had American Indian and black guys as friends . But when we did a show they had to sit separately. I was categorised as a “race riot risk” so I was put out of the country. Once they told us we stopped the war because when we were doing the show the Vietcong were in the trees with the binoculars enjoying the show. That was an amazing experience in Vietnam. I went to Hong Kong. I fell in lust with a guy, went to America. Then in NY I auditioned for a strip tease job. I got it. Then I got an agent and travelled from 1968-1979 all over the world. I performed until I was 60, they were nice years. Then I got arthritis in my hips. I used to do the splits! I was a poor little girl. My mother called me a “big ape” and I was her slave. I would say to that little girl “Have more faith in yourself”. You get a lot of negative input in life. I’ve been judged all my life for choosing to be a strip tease dancer. There’s a feeling that you get on stage when you are in your vibe and your body is working well and your tricks are coming off. You don’t have that feeling anywhere else. I love it. I’m going to have a 70th birthday and I’m going to have a show that night. I mean, I did shows when I was pregnant with my daughter and people were shocked but I just thought I looked fab.

About www.surryhillsandvalleys.com We are four storytellers whether through art, photography or written word, who want to create a space for giving voice to the stories of the inhabitants of Surry Hills. Surry Hills has a history of storytelling. We hope that the stories that are told will bring about community in our neighbourhood especially during this time where Surry Hills is going through so much change. We want to represent the diversity of the people in our community so we can increase learning from and respect of each other. To read more profiles, visit

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Central Chalmers Street Light Rail stop under construction

Powering up Light Rail in Surry Hills As construction of the CBD and South East Light Rail in Surry Hills reaches new milestones, we take a look behind the barriers at the work that has been done and explore what work is still to come. We also answer the question of how the future light rail will be powered. Now that all 8000m of track has now been laid along Chalmers and Devonshire Streets and through to Moore Park, work is now moving on to kerb lines, footpath reinstatement and smart poles which are now being progressively installed along the southern side of Devonshire Street. Once smart poles are installed, the next key stage of the project is known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Testing and Commissioningâ&#x20AC;?. Read on to find out more. 40 | Urban Village

Smart poles for Surry Hills You may have noticed the new smart poles around Surry Hills. These smart poles will replace wooden poles and are multi-functional, supporting both street lighting and the overhead wiring system required to power the light rail vehicles. A great advantage of these next generation poles is that fewer poles are required which frees up footpath space and provides a positive contribution to the local streetscape. Smart poles are generally between 9 and 12 metres high. Variations on pole heights and widths are dependent on factors such as the individual load on each pole and street lighting design. Each pole will be mounted on underground concrete footings. A piling rig will be used to drill into the subsurface to allow for concrete

to be pumped into each site to form a concrete footing. During the drilling, a water pump may be used to manage underground water. A â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;capâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is then constructed above the pile, which is fitted with electrical conduits and the bolts to fasten the base of the pole. The installation of the pole from that point becomes a relatively simple process of raising the pole and bolting it to the base. Once all the poles are installed, a specialised crew will begin installing stay wires, cantilevers, cross spans and supports to each pole that will carry the wires along the alignment. The crew will then pull lengths of the overhead wire and attach it from pole to pole before performing final adjustments. For safety reasons, these activities will predominantly be carried out at night.

Smart pole installation

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Surry Hills Flower House In support and recognition of the Surry Hills community and history of the area, Transport for NSW recently worked with the Surry Hills Creative Precinct to produce a street art project which pays homage to the area’s textiles history. In September, Sydney artist Nic Green transformed a building on the corner of Riley and Devonshire Streets, with an explosion of colour and flowers as part of the Surry Hills Festival. The building now known as the “Flower House” will be opposite the future Surry Hills light rail stop.

To find out more about the Sydney Light Rail Project: ❱ Visit the project website: sydneylightrail.com.au ❱ Follow Sydney Light Rail on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ SydneyLightRailProject

Nic’s powerful, floral design was a nod to Surry Hill’s history as a textile district and draws from the style of local textile designer, Longina Phillips.

Flower House Corner of Riley and Devonshire Streets Surry Hills

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HESOP System • Using HESOP technology in our substations and overhead wiring network, the light rail vehicles will be able to recover 99 per cent of the energy usually lost when they brake.

Overhead wires (catenary)

• The recovered energy can be re-used to power other vehicles running on the same line, or supplied back into the network.

• The light rail will be powered by overhead wiring along the alignment from the Town Hall stop at Bathurst Street to the Randwick Terminus and the Kingsford Terminus.

Catenary Substation

Third rail Aesthetic Power Supply (APS) • The light rail will be wire free in the CBD from Circular Quay to Bathurst Street and will be powered by a third rail (APS). • The APS eliminates the need for overhead wires. • The third rail is only powered when the vehicle runs over the rail, ensuring it is safe for pedestrians and all road users.

Substation • Substations have been constructed at various points along the light rail corridor to energise the overhead wires and provide power to the light rail vehicles.

The testing and commissioning process takes place in three stages: 1 Installation of overhead wires

3 Light rail vehicle testing

Once smart poles are installed, a specialised crew will begin installing cantilevers, cross spans and supports to each pole that will support the overhead wires (also known as catenary) along the alignment. The crew will then pull lengths of the overhead wire and attach from pole to pole before performing final adjustments and testing.

Night time testing of Sydney’s new light rail system has been ongoing since the first tram movement along Alison Road in Randwick earlier this year, marking a pivotal moment for the project. The first phase of testing allows engineers to monitor the trams’ performance and get them ready for operations. Initial testing has been carried out at night with trams operating at low speeds. The first daytime test run took place in September in the first energised section of the 12-kilometre light rail route between the Royal Randwick Stop on Alison Road and Lang Road, Moore Park. The Surry Hills community will be kept informed with about when testing in Surry Hills will commence.

2 Energisation of overhead wires When the overhead wires are in place and testing is complete, they will be energised. New signs will be installed along live sections, warning that the area is now energised. Contact with wires must be avoided at all times. Safety and ensuring the Surry Hills community is aware of these works will be our upmost priority.

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From Le Marche to La Panchina By Tess Scholfield-Peters

Draft design of the landmark Central Walk

Photos by Walter Maurice

Work underway on the new entrance to Central Station from Surry Hills Transport for NSW has contracted Laing Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Rourke to deliver the new Sydney Metro platforms under Central Station and the landmark Central Walk, a new underground concourse that will better connect passengers to trains, light rail and the new Sydney Metro underground platforms. Site investigations are underway to prepare for the demolition of 20-28 Chalmers Street. This will be the site of a new entrance to Central Walk, providing direct access to Central Station. For any questions about the Central Station Metro works, please call 1800 171 386 or email centralstationmetro@transport.nsw.gov.au. Laing Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Rourke is proud to be a member of the Surry Hills Creative Precinct. 44 | Urban Village

Italian born Luca Mochi came to Australia for a holiday in 2004. He fell in love, a three-month trip grew to a year, and now Luca and his wife Josephine live in Sydney with their two children. As in every Italian, food culture is in Luca’s blood. He’s from Le Marche in Central Italy, a region between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic. Luca learnt to cook from his mother, family and friends. He studied to be a pizzaiolo in Fermo, and brings over three decades of experience to La Panchina. For the Italians, says Luca, the best food is always home made. The essence of La Panchina comes from the Italian phrase, cosa fatta bene: one thing done well. Luca’s main focus is cooking the best Romana style pizza. La Panchina is nestled into leafy Bourke Street, right next to Arthur Reserve. “It reminds me of Italy,” says Luca. “When we were living in Grottammare, there was a little neighbourhood pizzeria we used to go to with the kids,” recalls Josephine. “It was so easy and laid back. Luca decided he wanted to create something like that here.” Luca takes pizza very seriously. Josephine tells me that he changes the dough depending on the weather. “If it’s humid, he’ll go to check on the dough like they’re little babies.” La Panchina offers simple, beautifully made pizza to Surry Hills. I ask Luca what the secret ingredient is: “Easy,” he says. “The pizza chef.”

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HEADON PHOTO AWARDS

Photo: Dan Gray

A celebration of photography witha prize pool of over $60,000 By Gil Laishevsky

oshe Rosenzveig is an intense, talkative person who believes in the power of the photo to challenge the world, introduce ideas and make conversation through visual storytelling.

Over the years, The Portrait Prize grew bigger and morphed into the Head On Photo Festival, an internationally acclaimed festival of exhibitions, events and seminars on diverse themes inspired by the images.

Moshe worked as a TV producer, a university lecturer and a photographer himself for many years before taking on the mammoth task of putting on a world leading photo festival here in Sydney, for which he received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) earlier this year.

For two weeks each May, the Festival transforms Sydney into a huge gallery. It has grown in stature and reputation, attracting thousands of visitors from all over Australia and the world. Its success was not simply due to the quality and variety of the work, but due to the new energy and the vision that it brought to the photographic community of professionals and hobbyists, artists and commercial photographers.

Moshe first created the Head On Portrait Prize 14 years ago, out of his own front living room. He wanted to tell a different story than the more conventional photographic portraiture exhibitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which complemented the Archibald Portrait Prize, and like the ‘Archies’, focused on celebrity. As a more adventurous photographer and creator, passionate about ideas, he wasn’t interested in the obsession with the rich and famous. His vision was to bring images of ordinary people into the streets of Sydney and introduce school kids to new horizons.

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The Head On Portrait Prize remains at the centre of the festival. World-renowned photographers and curators select the photographic portraits without knowing the identity of the photographer; the work is judged purely on its quality. I asked Moshe Rosenzveig OAM how he defines a portrait, and what makes a good one:

'Mama' by Irmina Walczak & Sávio Freire

'Interaction' by Yana Vasilyeva

“The question for me over the past 14 years has been how we look at images that are intended to represent the essence of a person. “Over the years, I have had many meaningful conversations with leading photographers, curators, picture editors and others interested in photography about their definition of a portrait and the definition of photography. “Generally, I look for images that convey the essence of a person through emotional engagement with the subject.”

'Unfit and Fabulous' by Lauren Horwood

Complementing the Portrait category are the Landscape Prize, exhibiting surprising perspectives of our environment; the Mobile Prize that celebrates smartphone photography with amazingly creative images; and the Student Prize, which exposes the vibrant talents of our next generation artists.

Head On Photo Awards 2019 is offering over $60,000 in cash and prizes and an exhibition for all finalists is now open for entries. To enter visit www.headon.com.au 'Citizens of Despair' by Javier Arcenillas

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On top in Surry Hills

Photo: Supplied

One of Surry Hillsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; best kept secrets has been the rooftop at the ADGE Boutique Hotel in Riley Street, but the space is now open for function bookings, just in time for Christmas, New Year and Summer. With space for up to 60 guests, ADGE rooftop allows you to host the perfect function to entertain guests while taking in the sights and sounds of the city. There is no better way to feel tops on top! The ADGE Rooftop has panoramic views of our gorgeous city to the south and west and is the ideal place to enjoy a cocktail at sunset. The 5 Star ADGE Boutique Hotel (Winner of the World Luxury Hotel Best Boutique Hotel in Australia 5 years running) is located beneath with its unique and quirky lobby and modern apartment style rooms. The urban theme from the hotel can be carried up through to the function space or you can create your own, the canvas is waiting to be painted. The space is available for any type of event, from birthdays to Christmas Parties. Catering is provided in a cocktail style menu, and a pop-up bar can be installed to suit your function type. Packages for food and beverage are available upon request. The space is bookable through the ADGE functions team and inspections are invited. www.adgehotel.com.au

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EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT AT BUSTLE STUDIOS 1/457 ELIZABETH STREET, SURRY HILLS bustlestudios.com/classes-with-glasses

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The Presets are back

in HI VIZ The Presets, aka Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes, have been a driving force in the Australian music scene since their 2003 inception. This year the duo is back with HI VIZ, their first album release since 2012’s Pacifica. I caught up with Kim ahead of their headline show at NYE In The Park (Dec 31). By Tess Scholfield-Peters The Presets have enjoyed an almost unparalleled longevity. While HI VIZ is their first commercial release since 2012, both Julian and Kim have been busy writing and producing records for artists like Flume and DMA’s, collaborating on a project with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and this year Kim has launched his own record label Here To Hell, alongside Melbourne’s Mike Callander. The aptly named HI VIZ, released in June of this year, is a departure from the serene, melancholy sounds of Pacifica, and falls into what the pair have dubbed “up for it, pub rock techno.” The charging and celebratory ‘Downtown Shutdown’ features a gospel choir from African diaspora in Shepparton, rural Victoria, while the track ‘Are You Here?’ features DMA’s vocalist Tommy O’Dell. Kim’s 2018 music ventures are refreshing to talk about, given Sydney’s current climate of nightlife restrictions, warehouse party crackdowns and festival upheavals. The Sydney nightlife scene of the early 2000s, when The Presets had their start, sounds utopic compared to our city today.

could bounce around from club to club until the very early hours of the morning, and that energy really continued right up until around 2009, I think.” “The nightlife in Sydney now is the most vanilla, watered down version of what it used to be,” says Kim. Sydney’s electronic landscape has broadened greatly since early last decade, from both creation and consumption standpoints. Our music scene has been forced to innovate and adapt under harsh licensing and lockout policies. Yet despite Sydney’s current reality, Kim maintains optimism. “I honestly feel like with every era, there are always people who are going to be compelled to make great music.” HI VIZ is a testament to the diversifying and increasingly collaborative Australian music landscape. Now is a time for advocacy and determination, so that local artists who continue to create despite the circumstances might enjoy the same longevity as Kim and Julian.

“Julian and I had been ravers from the mid-90s, back then clubbing was very cerebral.

You can catch The Presets headlining NYE In The Park, Dec 31 at Victoria Park alongside the Jungle Giants, Hayden James and many more.

“There was a real hedonism at night in Sydney in the early 2000s, and in the rest of Australia, in fact. You

Head to nyeinthepark.com for tickets.

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Urban Village | 51

Fitbit or fun: can you have both? Hiscoes Gym owner Lynsey weighs in on our fitness tech obsession. By Tess Scholfield-Peters According to Lynsey, your reliance on technology when you exercise depends on your personality type. Some people love to see daily statistics and workout summaries, while others are happy to go to a class for the fun of it. While she’s all for using tech if it works for you, Lynsey is a believer in exercising because it makes you feel good, not because you need to balance out your calorie intake. “I’m not a points person myself,” says Lynsey. “Some people need to have everything recorded, they need to see the numbers. Whereas others will just come for the experience, to go to a class, see friends and have a laugh. “I always think that when you judge a workout from how you feel rather than what you see on your Fitbit, you get better results. Everyone has good days and bad days, and sometimes you have to adjust your workout depending on how you feel.”

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While apps and devices are great for learning about energy expenditure and intake, Lynsey warns against becoming obsessive. “It’s really bad to get into the habit of rewarding yourself with food,” she says. “It’s good to learn the balance, but it’s really important to not take it too far.” Hiscoes puts a big emphasis on socialising inside the gym. They hold squash comps on Friday and Saturday nights and have a range of classes that promote working out collectively as well as solo. While tech has undoubtedly changed the fitness industry for good, there is something to be said for a gym that still favours community spirit and exercising because it feels good, not just to get your 10,000 steps in.

Upcycle & refresh ... your favourite clothes

Photo: Walter Maurice

A trainer’s tips for the silly season 1

3 4

Jeans before dyeing

Dye .... don’t buy!

Don’t stop your routine just because it’s Christmas! Try and maintain it as much as you can. Anything is better than nothing. With that being said, don't ever let the gym get in the way of a social event. If you know you are going to be out in the evening, hit the gym in the morning or at lunch. Keep the fluids up. Not only is it good for health, but it will slow down the rate you drink alcohol and help stave off the hangovers. Try not to go to parties absolutely famished, as you’ll just fill up on fatty foods. Even though it’s hard, try to eat small amount of delicious stuff. Incorporate exercise into your holiday - go hiking, take a surfing lesson, do some yoga on the beach.

Jeans after dyeing

02 9310 7766 216 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills 2010 www.cullachange.com.au Urban Village | 53

Local NYE Parties

January Events Including selections from the Sydney Festival 2019 Program (9-27 Jan)

Mad Racket NYE w/ Session Victim (Ger) Marrickville Bowling Club (tickets from $60)

Dam Funk & Nightmares on Wax, 3 Jan at Oxford Art Factory

NYEat Victoria Park Camperdown (tickets from $79)

Tramsheds Growers Market (every Sunday), 6 Jan at Tramsheds Forest Lodge

NYE Gala Dinner at Claire’s Kitchen (4 course dinner and a show $120)

Pat Doherty’s Late Night Show, 6 Jan at Café Lounge

A Cosmic New Years at Freda’s (tickets from $35)

Conversations with Nick Cave, 8 Jan at The Opera House

Checkpoint Rooftop NYE at Museum of Contemporary Art

Masters of Modern Sound, 10 Jan at the Art Gallery of NSW

New Years Eve Masquerade at the Burdekin Hotel (tickets from $43) NYE-THiNG at The Impy – The Imperial Hotel (tickets from $15) No Scrubs: 90s + Early 00’s NYE Party at Oxford Art Factory (tickets from $23)

Sydney Jazz Collective, 6 Jan at The Dolphin

Since All Died, 7-19 Jan at Griffith Theatre Company Dust (Dancenorth), 9-13 Jan at Carriageworks Sydney Summer Series (The Jacksons, Kool & The Gang, Village People and more), Jan 12 at The Domain Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, 12-20 Jan at The Belvoir Upstairs Bonnie Kay and the Bonafides Live, 12 Jan at Sydney Brewery Surry Hills Sasha Velour Live & In Colour, 12 Jan at the Enmore Theatre Three Day Language Courses, 15-24 Jan at UTS Building 8

NYE Events in Sydney

ASKYA x Ryan Edmond, 17 Jan at Golden Age Cinema

NYE on Cockatoo Island Camping packages and NYE Night packages available (one night packages from $100)

P2P: Strict Face (ADL), Slim Set + many more, 19 Jan at The Gaelic Club

NYE with Opera Australia An array of NYE packages available. Harbour Party 2018 Celebrate NYE at Luna Park, featuring a line up of local and international artists (tickets from $129)

Paul Capsis with Jethro Woodward & The Fitzroy Youth Orchestra, 17-18 Jan at the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent

Art and Activism: Changing the Conversation, 20 Jan at the Centre for Contemporary Asian Art Inner West Fiesta – Latin Cultural Festival, 20 Jan at Sydney Portugal Community Club Create Massive Success in Your Business! Workshop, 22 Jan at Cambridge Hotel

La Boheme on NYE Experience the famous Bohemian love story on NYE at The Opera House (tickets from $199)

The Iliad Out Loud, 23-27 Jan at Belvoir Upstairs

NYE at Sydney Observatory Celebrate the new year at one of Sydney’s finest vantage points (canapés and drinks included for $325)

Supernatural exhibition, running until 3 Feb at White Rabbit Gallery

Summer Night’s Dream at Royal Botanical Gardens 9 course degustation dinner at one of Sydney’s most iconic locations ($550) Portside Sydney Opera House Front row seats under the sails of the Sydney Opera House (tickets from $795)

The Voice Behind the Stars, 23-24 Jan at The Seymour Centre Wozzeck Opera, from 25 Jan at Sydney Opera House

Australia Day at Sydney Festival (various locations and events) 26 Jan

Local Festival Feasts Sydney Festival has partnered with some of Sydney’s top restaurants, offering delicious options near festival venues. $30 A La Carte deal at Misfits, 106 George Street Redfern $55 A La Carte deal at Toko Sydney, 490 Crown Street Surry Hills $55 A La Carte deal at Zahli Restaurant, 529 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills $55 A La Carte deal at Madame Shanghai, 18 College Street Darlinghurst Head to www.sydneyfestival.org.au for full program guide and ticket details.

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February Events Our top picks for events over summer The Wolves, 2 Feb – 3 March at The Belvoir Theatre Studio Recitals, 3 Feb at The Opera Centre Elizabeth Street Sydney Jazz Collective, 3 Feb at The Dolphin Laneway Festival, 3 Feb at Sydney College of the Arts Learn Stand Up Comedy (run by The School of Hard Knock Knocks), 3-7 Feb at The Forresters Chinese New Year commences, Feb 5 – Feb 19. Gunnas Writing Masterclass, 9 Feb at The Bishop

2019’s Mardi Gras theme is fearless. In the words of the organisers: “Fearless does not mean we have no fear – everyone experiences fear, it’s a part of who we are. Fearless means living our lives in a courageous way, taking action despite our fears.” The recent calls to legislate new forms of discrimination and division remind us that there is still much work to do. Mardi Gras is our biggest celebration of diversity, yet it is also a time for protest and advocacy. “We must remain fearless to achieve and preserve equality,” says Lord Mayor Clover Moore. “There is a personal dimension to this year’s theme – many LGBTIQ people are not okay, many experience loneliness and isolation. “I hope this year’s festival will encourage anyone who needs help to reach out – to be fearless.”

Urban Wine Walk, 9 Feb at various venues across Surry Hills and Darlinghurst (including The Dolphin, The Winery, Li’l Darling, The Bishop & This Must Be The Place) Amy Winehouse Experience, 16 Feb at Venue 505 Le Salon Dad A Opening Night, 17 Feb at Claire’s Kitchen Julien Baker, 19 Feb at Oxford Art Factory Oxtravaganza 2019, 23 Feb along Oxford Street Epic Burgers Class by The Essential Ingredient, 23 Feb at 146 Foveaux Street Surry Hills

This year the Seymour Centre will be the Festival’s hub, hosting a wild mix of queer performance, theatre, music, dance, circus, cabaret and burlesque over twelve nights. From world-class cabaret show Bent Burlesque, to Queer Screen Film Festival, the Sissy Ball, countless parties, talks and performances, Mardi Gras 2019 is set to be the biggest yet. “This year over 400 artists, creatives and thought leaders will come together to showcase, celebrate and disrupt our notions of diversity,” says Mardi Gras Arts CEO Terese Casu. This hallmark event celebrates the fearlessness of our LGBTIQ community, as Australia continues on its journey towards equality. Head to the Mardi Gras 2019 website for the full program guide. Urban Village | 55

A look behind the curtain

Photo: Walter Maurice

By Tess Scholfield-Peters The Opera Centre on Elizabeth Street houses some of the theatre world’s greatest treasures. The Centre’s highly skilled designers, makers and visionaries work on five or six shows at once. For the wig and wardrobe departments, each opening night has been over a year in the making. Urban Village stopped by the Opera Centre and caught up with residents Stef Paglialonga and Rebecca Ritchie. Stef is head of wig manufacturing, and Rebecca is acting head of wardrobe. They were busy packing up the costumes and wigs for La Bohème, bound for Melbourne. “La Bohème is very period, lots of finger waves on the wigs.” Stef sits at her desk, next to a polystyrene head covered in lace netting. “The show requires 56 wigs, and we make them all from scratch.” It takes around 40 hours to make one wig. First, a mould is taken of the individual performer’s head. From this mould the wig’s base will be sewn from a special kind of lace. Then, Stef and her team will knot every single hair individually into place. “You can buy wigs, but they won’t be the same quality,” she says. “They won’t be bespoke, and will probably be synthetic. We only use human hair.” Stef was trained in Germany, in wig making, make up and special effects. The industry isn’t as big here as it is in Europe, she says, in fact here it’s a dying art.

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“We haven’t had a trainee in about three years. People aren’t interested anymore, which is a shame.” Stef shows me to the wig storeroom, its walls covered in hair from floor to ceiling. “We also do facial hair, of course,” Stef says as she brings out a board covered in moustaches. “Sideburns, beards, eyebrows, bald caps – everything that has to do with hair, basically.” I ask Stef what she loves about her trade, one that requires so much skill and intricacy. “I love being able to change people into completely different characters. I love the transformation; I think it’s really important to help the singers get into character.” In the wardrobe workroom I find Rebecca, who has been with the Opera Centre for nearly thirty years. “I came here in ‘89 to do some casual work on Baz Luhrmann’s La Bohème and realised that wardrobe was what I wanted to do. I went and studied at NIDA, came back here for two week’s work experience and never left.” “Luhrmann’s Bohème was such an incredible show to work on because it was so successful. It was made out of nothing; op shop clothes. Working on it in that grimy way of finding clothes and making them look ‘50s, transforming them, was quite a new thing for me.”

Each piece of wardrobe requires a huge collaborative process between the director, designer, buyer and the team of makers. On any one garment there might be seven or eight pairs of hands, Rebecca tells me. “I love the grimy glamour of the La Bohème world, the 1930s seedy Berlin nightclub. And all the clothes reflect this, they’re all a bit sad. “When we started the costumes were all brand new; shiny sequins, net, frills, feathers. They were very cabaret. Once they went through the art department they got a very heavy treatment of black spray to really highlight the world they came from.” It’s easy to get swept up in the stories and characters these clothes embody, and the cultural history spanning hundreds of years threaded into capes and gowns. “The skills of this workroom are very unique,” Rebecca tells me as we talk about theatre’s technological advancements. “I don’t think it will ever go away from being a hand-done manufacturing process.”

Photo: Walter Maurice

“There’s talk of putting digital screens on stage, and new light tracking systems that require singers to wear receivers on either sides of their costumes. Theatre is a very special world; it’s got to happen there and then. I think there’s only so much technology you can include before it loses that spark of a live performance.” La Bohème is showing at the Opera House on New Year’s Eve, then from January 2 until March 28, 2019. Visit https://opera.org.au/ for more details.

Photo: Walter Maurice

Photo: Walter Maurice Urban Village | 57

Urban Wine Walk Urban Wine Walk returns for their Summer Series in 2019 Attention vino enthusiasts: we’ve found you the perfect afternoon. Sip your way through a thoughtfully curated line-up of Sydney’s best wine bars and restaurants. Meander through Surry Hills and Darlinghurst, become reacquainted with an old favourite venue or perhaps discover some new gems on your travels. The afternoon encourages conversation between wine makers and guests, aiming to give you a greater understanding of the current offerings available, with grapes sourced from local and regional vineyards, and by some of the smaller producers.

The day is designed for guests to choose which destinations they visit first, and for how long. You pick your pace, the order of your journey and where you’d like to eat.

PARTICIPATING VENUES INCLUDE: • Mr Pocket • Button Bar • Black Bottle • MV Bistro & Wine Bar • The Commons Local Eating House • The Dolphin Hotel • The Winery • This Must Be The Place • Li’l Darling Darlinghurst • The Bishop Expect to encounter a sensational program of winemakers, such as Slow Wine Co (NSW), Frogmore Creek (TAS) and La Prova (SA).

Above: The Bishop

Below: The Dolphin

For one day only, Urban Wine Walk invites you to explore the landmarks and hidden pockets of Surry Hills and Darlinghurst.

Saturday February 9, 2019 Presented by Neighbourhood Events Co. Tickets on sale now via the Urban Wine Walk website: www.urbanwinewalk.com.au 58 | Urban Village

NEED A LOAN, FEELING THE CRUNCH? We’re helping Surry Hillians get a better deal by providing personalised solutions, great rates and award winning advice. Let’s chat over coffee, our shout.

Dylan Salotti Managing Director Young Broker of the year MFAA NSW Awards 2017 dylan@divitisfinance.com.au 0430 227 328 / 02 8412 0009

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GLEN HARE finance tips Worried about falling asset prices and want to protect your wealth? Make your money go to work!

ver the last 12 months we’ve seen house prices across Sydney soften and a roller coaster ride on the share market sparked whispers of GFC round 2. What does this mean for the budding investor? Should we panic? Should we be ripping our cash from the ATMS and stuffing it into our mattresses or plugging it into time shares on the Gold Coast? The truth is there is no steadfast answer and when considering which investment strategy is right for you (we at Fox and Hare don’t personally advocate for either of the strategies listed above) but there are 4 questions that can help point you in the right direction. 1. What are you investing for? It’s really important to align your investment strategy to a particular goal. These goals range from the mild like buying a home, paying for private education for the kids and travelling the world to the unadulterated and wild. This variety is truly the spice of life and I don’t think the people of Sydney will ever stop surprising me with the things they spend their money on. What they all have in common though is a goal. Something that they’re working towards and once achieved/purchased/paid for will signal their success.

“Those that have goals succeed because they know where they are going” 60 | Urban Village

2. How do you feel about risk? Let’s begin by establishing that ALL investment strategies come with a degree of risk. Investment properties can be damaged or destroyed (recently the roof collapsed on my home in Redfern!), the stock market can crash and interest rates can fluctuate. It’s not all doom and gloom though! There are a number of ways to minimise risk and depending on whether you’re into white knuckle investment rides or something a little less taxing there are options out there for you. My personal risk management favourite is diversification. In English ‘don’t put all your eggs in one basket!’ If you spend every last dollar on property and the market collapses, it’s high seas ahead. If you purchase a cheaper property and use the remaining cash to break into the stock market you’ve spread your risk a little thinner. Time is also of the essence and the length of time you’re exposed to an investment strategy can have implications on its output. Nobody likes a one trick pony! 3. What are the costs associated with investing? There are usually unexpected and almost always unwelcome costs (who knew that a roof could be so expensive?!) when investing, and while Murphy’s law is unpredictable the ATO most certainly is not. It’s absolutely

necessary that you accept you’re not only coughing for the initial investment but will be facing off with tenants, unruly stock markets, changing laws and the taxman as well. It’s imperative that we know and accept the TRUE cost of our investments over their entire lifespan. 4. Are we in it for the long run? Let’s face it, your money is not the only thing you’re investing. You’ve worked hard for that cash and parting with it is going to be hard. Investing can be incredibly emotional so it’s important to remain disciplined. Property is a standout example here, people are much more likely to fall in love with a property they want to live in themselves. Of course, you should love where you live but the flip side of the coin says your investments should be working relationships. Investment is all about the numbers! Your investment strategy should enable you to achieve the goals that are most important to you in life. You should understand the amount of risk you’re willing to take to achieve these goals. Minimise the costs associated with your strategy and stick to the game! Glen Hare is one half of Surry Hills based financial advice firm The Fox & The Hare. https://foxandharewealth.com/fox-and-hare/

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PET TIPS + ADVICE

Photo:Luca Ward

by Dr. Nima We all know the expression â&#x20AC;&#x153;dog breathâ&#x20AC;? and those of us who know the canine species understand that this is actually a real thing. From time to time even the most adorable pet will suffer from bad breath, and the reality is that this is not just a social problem, its also about health. And dogs are not the only ones to blame. Most often, the problem is about the teeth, and is an issue of dental health.

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Why do I need to get my pet’s teeth cleaned? Don’t we all want to make our smiles shine bright?

What can I do for my pet’s dental health? Like any other diseases prevention is the key. Things to remember:

It is said that good teeth are a reflection of a healthy body for people and animals. According to researchers more than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have dental disease by the age of three. Periodontal disease is a very painful condition that involves the gum, bone and soft tissues around the teeth. Apart from the horrible pain and the bad breath, as a consequence of bad teeth pets can develop major internal diseases such as heart, kidney and liver problems.

Choose the right diet. Quality and also consistency of the pet food play a big role. For example, cats and dogs that are on wet food only diet are overrepresented for periodontal diseases. Brush your pets’ teeth. Brushing our fury friends’ teeth at least 3-4 for times a week remains one of the best prevention methods. Last but not least take your pets to your vet for regular 6 monthly dental check-ups to identify early signs of dental diseases.

02 9133 1300

+ DENTISTRY + DE-SEXING + BLOOD TESTING + RADIOGRAPHY + LASER THERAPY

+ VACCINATIONS + GROOMING + PUPPY SCHOOL + PET FOOD & ACCESSORIES + PET BOARDING & DAY CARE

OUR NEW CLINIC IS NOW OPEN!

537 CROWN ST SURRY HILLS OPEN HOURS: MON - FRI: 7:30AM - 8:00PM SAT & SUN: 10:00AM - 4:00PM

VETSONCROWN.COM.AU

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Photo: Walter Maurice 64 | Urban Village

An Oasis of Calm By Fiona McIntosh

espite the construction chaos on Devonshire Street, there is beauty and tranquillity to be found in a range of beautiful furniture and homewares.

Leading contemporary Japanese furniture designer Naoto Fukasawa has said that a single beautiful chair sets the ambience of any room. Step into the Seehosu showroom in Devonshire Street, which is full of beautiful chairs, some of which are designed by Fukusawa himself, and the outside bustle fades away. On display is generations of experience and innovation in furniture design and craftsmanship. The ambience inside is one of calm, thoughtful and gentle elegance that presents quality design for everyday living. Seehosu is a small family-run business, with mother Joyce Seeho and daughter Sara Bordina at the helm. They have been in Surry Hills since 2010, quietly promoting and supplying the best of modern and contemporary international furniture, to local architects, interior designers and individual clients for offices and private homes. The principles which underlie their business, echo those of the international companies and the many small and family-owned designers with whom they work. All share a focus on and absolute commitment to excellence, innovation and sustainability in design and production. Think of it as the ‘slow furniture’ movement upholding a respect for age-old craftsmanship, integrity in design and production innovation.

Seehosu 137-141 Devonshire St Surry Hills NSW 2010 T: 02 8068 8640 W: www.seehosu.com.au

Seehosu’s select range of chairs, sofas, tables, lighting and small objects from companies such as Japan’s Maruni Wood Industry and renowned Danish company PP Møbler, may have their origins in the early part of the 20th century, but are thoughtfully interpreted for a 21st century context. Maruni has just celebrated its 90th year of production. Since its inception Maruni has consistently pioneered the industrial application of traditional craft skills, based on a Japanese aesthetic for a local and international market. Maruni works with leading international designers, such as Jasper Morrison (UK) and Alberto Meda (Italy) and Naoto Fukasawa (Japan) who designed the ‘Hiroshima’ series in 2008. This series encapsulates the beauty, warmth, strength and comfort of a natural wood. The ‘Hiroshima’ dining chair presents a welcoming and sophisticated tone. They are the type of chair you feel compelled to sit in and have no desire to get up from. Renowned Danish company PP Møbler was established by two brothers in 1953 and has worked extensively with Danish designer Hans J Wegner to manufacture his designs. It is now recognised as one of the leading international furniture making companies. Three generations on, their design and manufacturing approach continues to be one which seeks a balance between nature, society and innovation. It recognises a fascination for natural sustainable timbers, a deep respect for the wisdom which generations of craftsmanship bring, and a willingness to embrace new technology to ensure reliability and capacity of production. Urban Village | 65

Wegner’s Circle Chair, for example, is the result of a lifetime’s experience in design and production coming together, to realise something so simple in concept, yet so demanding in construction. Wegner was 72 when he finally completed its design. The Circle Chair’s enduring success as practical, comfortable and elegant is a testament to PP Møbler’s vision to champion quality in both design and production without compromise. Together designer and maker have created a chair which people yearn to own and love to sit in. It incidentally makes it highly collectible as a product which retains it value. Seehosu also represents MUD Australia, a small locally owned company, which excels in the design and manufacture of a range of porcelain for everyday life. Characterised by clean lines, soft colour palette and ‘hand-made’ feel, the porcelain of MUD is a beautiful alternative to the mass produced ranges of crockery that are everywhere, but largely forgettable.

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It is hard to sidestep the designer fakes and cheap mass-produced ranges of household items as we fill our homes with endless ‘stuff’. Invariably this stuff is devoid of a connection to its origins, our sense of self, community or acknowledgement of environment – it is about consumerism. The instant gratification of buying the job lot now is not necessarily one that lasts. Knowing where the timber in your Hiroshima chair came from, knowing the history of the designer and the expertise of the cabinet maker, extends your appreciation of the chair, its smooth curves, the colour and finish of the wood and the level of comfort it offers. Quality offers enduring satisfaction. As with fine art or fine wine, building a collection of objects and furniture of serious quality requires commitment, time and money. It does not have to be done overnight. Life is a journey, made all the more enjoyable and meaningful by living with things which have an inherent integrity and beauty.

Photo: Walter Maurice Urban Village | 67

Surry Hills Creative Precinct Meet the board

Leigh Harris

Naomi Tosic

Founder, Safety Graphics

Business Manager, The Office Space

Having lived and worked in Surry Hills for many years,this place feel like home. My time is spread across my graphics business, which specializes in emergency evacuation diagrams and compliance and my involvement with Urban Village, this very same magazine. I started as an SHCP member when it was founded in 2014, was Vice President in 2016 and have been President since 2017. The role is varied and rewarding, and a lot of fun at times.

I love writing, whether it’s for our business blog or creative pieces for artists. I also curate and host a business talk series, Insight by The Office Space, and support communications and marketing for the SHCP. I’m deeply invested in the small business journey, so it was a natural progression for me to extend my focus to the wider community. My goals for the SHCP are to provide a network of peers, business resources, skills and inspiration, and an occasional social reprieve from work.

Adrian Kotik

Walter Maurice

Graphic Designer, walterwakefield

Photographer/Videographer, Walter Maurice Photography

I am almost always trying to create something. My biggest contribution to SHCP is the visual communication to the public, and I also try to make sure we’re as innovative as possible in our use of technology. I’m excited to connect with and contribute to the community that I have worked in for 10 years and played in for as long as I can remember.

I’m an optimist, I’m impatient and inquisitive. Through my photography I help small businesses attract more customers, creating content that converts. I take photos for Urban Village but help wherever I can across all areas in the Precinct. I am attracted to the creativity, energy and the people that are so unique to Surry Hills.

Nima Rahmani

Nico Pustilnick

Veterinarian, Vets on Crown

Digital Marketing Specialist, Pulse Agency

I recently started my business as a veterinarian here in Surry Hills. I love being involved in community events and being engaged with the people and pets of the neighbourhood. I recently joined the SHCP and hope to get more involved as time goes on. I write a column in Urban Village called Pet Tips. I would love to be of any help to locals and businesses in the area. 68 | Urban Village

Introducing the Board of the SHCP, comprised of local professionals working in different fields around the neighbourhood. Here’s what they do, besides the board.

I’m an Argentine who has been living in Sydney for the last 10 years. I have over 15 years experience in digital marketing and run my own business, Pulse Agency. I’m also a musician; I’ve played the guitar for over twenty years. I joined the SHCP board to help create something great in my community, where people can meet and collaborate.

Blair Lennon

Dylan Salotti

Group General Manager, Shakespeare and Strawberry Hills Hotels

Some days I amaze myself. Other days I spend ages looking for my sunglasses while they’re on top of my head. I have only just been appointed to the SHCP Board, and am currently putting together some concepts to strengthen the brand and local relationships in the area. The chance to assist this awesome community is the main reason for joining the SHCP.

The Surry Hills Creative Precinct is more than a Chamber Commerce.

Managing Director, Divitis Finance

I grew up in the Hawkesbury Region on 5 Acres and have been living in the Surry Hills/Redfern area for five years now. I run a Finance/Mortgage business called Divitis Finance. I’m currently the Treasurer and Vice President of the board, handling money around initiatives around the SHCP. I joined because I believe in the potential of the Surry Hills business community – its cultivation is something I really wanted to be a part of.

It is an innovative and proactive hub for your business to market and network itself in an area with one of the highest concentrations of creative industry in the world. Membership ensures a strong collective voice in shaping the local economy of Surry Hills. For more information about becoming a member visit shcp.org.au/join

Distillery tours rum tastings lunch & dinner Functions & events

Sydney's only dedicated craft rum distillery located in the heart of surry hills 350 bourke St, Surry Hills www.brixdistillers.com info@brixdistillers.com

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Design Note

art, design and crafting Planet Furniture’s Ross Longmuir reveals his tips for maximising your snooze time. When you are in your weekend ceramic class, are you being artistic or making a design object, or hand crafting? Is that flower arrangement really “artistic” just because you like it? Was that beer genuinely “crafted” because it says so on the label? and is that “designer chair” really design if you find it uncomfortable? Terms are loaded with so many implied value judgments, and as access to images and ideas via technology increases, these three words enter our lives regularly and many people seem to be confused by them. For me it's all quite clear and simple art is about ideas. Art pushes forward our understanding of the world. It may be in quite subtle concepts and they may be quite obscure ideas that are very culturally specific, but art makes us think about the world differently. The expression of the idea may be polished, or raw and may come in many different mediums. Many

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world-renowned artists do not actually fabricate the works that they author, relying on the technical skills of craftspeople who have no conceptual contribution. Confusions arise because art can be very valuable and prestigious. Appreciating subtle concepts could be seen as a pastime of the culturally elite, so many people have a vested interest in pushing agendas that don’t have much to do with evolution. As a result, “the art world” is comprised of many people who are not artists, such as dealers, curators, and consumers who may promote unoriginal work that apes someone else’s fashionable ideas… and the work might make an impact and might contain someone else’s great breakthrough and may be decorative, but it devalues and demeans the truly original and at the core, is completely the opposite of creativity… so I would suggest being wary of “stuff that looks like art” (but often isn’t). Of course, great art has the power to transform how we live and is tremendously culturally valuable and should be celebrated but it can even be private and without an exchange value, so look hard for it.

Hand throwing porcelain on a potter’s wheel looks easy, until you try it yourself. When it is fired at a high temperature in exactly the right conditions, wet earth becomes permanently suspended for all time and the resulting vessel becomes sealed like glass. With such a direct connection between maker and materials, a finished object becomes a lasting record of the maker’s hand and this has its own beauty. the big number “4” Of course, objects can involve different combinations of the three elements,

design is about functionality. We all have objects in our lives that make things simpler and easier and better. To my mind however, everything is designed, and its just that some things are well designed and others not so much. The complication became evident in the 1980’s when companies worked out that they could make more profits by branding items as “designer objects” and this usually involved fancy packaging and a big marketing budget. Possibly the most famous designer of the era was Phillipe Stark and he designed a plastic toothbrush. In shape, it looked like a Brancusi “bird in space” sculpture (which he acknowledged that he referenced), cost ten times the price of other regular toothbrushes, was not ergonomic because it rolled in your hand and integral to the brush was a stand for the head that couldn’t be cleaned. To me this object perfectly summed up the hollow promise of the “designer product” and we are still reeling today from the impact. I would suspect that many of these objects have ended up as landfill because they didn’t really make anything better. As a contrast, in a village in India, I saw a boy ride up on a bicycle and as he got off, he pulled a forked branch from the frame and proudly smiled as he arranged it as a perfect bike stand. Now that was a great design.

but I’m always looking for objects that are well designed, skillfully crafted and that contain artistic concepts. As a few examples: Liz Stops makes highly finished ceramic vessels that function beautifully as vases but contain an environmental message about the way that trees hold moisture in a landscape. She uses cast porcelain that becomes vitrified and is incredibly strong and her ingenious shapes reference tree trunks. Kris Coad makes a chandelier called “shelter”. Each leaf is cast by hand in bone china: a material selected for its brilliant translucency and strength. They take her weeks to make and to some degree the meditative repetition is part of the finished work. The title “shelter” refers to the Buddhist idea that the natural world is actually protecting us. Layers of materials and technique (craft), layers of concept (art) and functionality (design) can all belong together happily or in any combination.

crafting is about materials and processes. Making something well involves using appropriate ingredients and being able to skillfully transform them into another form. Crafting beautiful functional items from materials that are carefully considered, has its own validity and doesn’t need to be a new ideology to be immensely intrinsically valuable. In many cultures of the world, this crafting is highly regarded. Of course when the object is also carefully designed for functionality, we tend to end up with objects that are highly valued over time and become classics.

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FEED ME

Photo: Walter Maurice

By Maree Sheehan from The Sydney Connection New Kid on the Block: Don't Tell Aunty Loving the interior colours of the new Don’t Tell Aunty on Fitzroy Street. Pink meets blue which reminds us of that Diana Vreeland quote: “pink is the navy blue of India”. Owner-chef Jessi Singh who describes his menu as "unauthentic Indian," arrived in Sydney from Melbourne via NYC and opened in the former 4Fourteen site in late October. More South East Asian flavours in the hood. Yum! Arthur Arrives Great to see a new operator in the old Fico site on Bourke Street. Tristan Rosier has serious cred having worked at TripAdvisor's fave Sydney restaurant Farmhouse Kings Cross and trained in the art of fine dining at est.

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A nice and easy seasonal 7 course set-menu concept too. No decisions required - our type of dining. Welcome to the hood Arthur Surry Hills! For Sale: Chur Burger Warren Turnbull who pipped every other celebrity chef to the post with the opening of Chur Burger in 2013, has put his fun-idea on the market. There are a number of options on the table, including offloading just its Albion Street flagship or throwing in the brand and licensing deals as well. Stand-by for updates. Longrain celebrates 19 years Claiming an empty warehouse space in what was then a derelict part of town, one of Sydney’s most famous Asian fusion restaurants arrived on the scene in 1999.

The original team comprised of waiter Sam Christie, chef Martin Boetz and Rob Sample. They soon set the bar high for effective stick cocktails, beautiful food and confident but unaffected service. Commonwealth Street is a very different scene from those early days with good neighbours like The Paramount House Hotel, Paramount Coffee, Paramount Recreation Club & Kiosk, Golden Age Cinema Bar and the newly opened Poly just across the road. Congratulations to the team for conquering the very competitive Sydney restaurant scene and being part of the fabric of Surry Hills.

NEW TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD Nutie, Entirely gluten-free (and mostly vegan) bakery 44 Holt Street, Surry Hills RaRa Ramen, Authentic, house made ramen noodles 60b Regent Street, Redfern Don Peppino’s, Italian restaurant by Full Circle Collective 1 Oxford Street, Paddington Caffé Bartolo, All day Italian eatery (previously Bill’s) 359 Crown Street, Surry Hills Goryon-San, Hakata-style kushiyari 47 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills

The Sydney Connection conducts weekly inner‑city dining walks of Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Potts Point. Accompanied by a well-connected local guide, our walks are aimed at visitors and Sydneysiders who want to go ‘where the locals go’ for inspiring food, good service and cool interiors.

Bubble Nini, Specialty Bubble Tea Shop 180 8 Central Park Ave, Chippendale Café Kitsune x Incu Pop up (until Dec 21), Café offering of Maison Kitsune, Pop up located at Artificier Specialty Coffee Bar and Roastery 547 Bourke Street, Surry Hills

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Expert Advice Locally Merry Christmas:

"'Tis the season to be wary..." By Peter English

It’s that time of year as businesses prepare to close for an extended break during the Christmas/New Year period. Great. You’ve earned it. It’s been a huge year. Anything you haven’t finished can wait right?

ang on. Are you on top of your cash flow? Are all your pressing creditors under control?

The Xmas shut down period is dangerous for businesses that trade as companies because of a timecritical device contained within the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) called a “creditor’s statutory demand” (CSD). If your office is shut, or your registered office is with your accountant or lawyer and they are closed for a few weeks, beware. What is a CSD? A CSD is a formal debt recovery document which, if served correctly and is in the proper form, requires the company debtor being served to either: a) pay the amount demanded (which must be over $2,000) within 21 calendar days; or b) on or before 21 calendar days of the demand being served, file and serve proceedings in the Supreme Court (or the Federal Court) to apply to have the demand set aside if the CSD has not been formally withdrawn by the creditor. 74 | Urban Village

The debt which is the subject of the CSD must be “undisputed”. For example, it could be a court judgment debt, an amount agreed to in a formal document or, less frequently and more risky, an invoice that has been acknowledged as owing. The rationale behind the CSD is that if a debt has not been paid by its due date and it is not disputed, the debtor is most likely insolvent. So, to save creditors the time and cost of suing on the debt and then trying to enforce the judgment, the law “deems” a debtor who fails to pay the amount claimed in the CSD within the 21 day time limit, to be insolvent. If you are a debtor, the failure to pay is treated as “evidence” of insolvency and the creditor can take direct steps to apply to a Court to wind you up. That’s Game Over for most small businesses. Usually, those winding up proceedings can only be resolved by paying the debt and any related costs, or proving to the Court that your company is solvent.

If the debt is disputed, evidence of the dispute has to be put before the Creditor asap, with an invitation for them to formally withdraw it. If they refuse, or don’t respond, you must act, or risk expensive litigation. So, back to Xmas. What do I do if I have been served with a statutory demand? Act immediately. Do not delay getting advice from a lawyer. The 21 day compliance period does not stop for Christmas holidays. Do not wait until the last couple of days before the 21 days expires, as a set aside application requires a detailed affidavit and it must be served within that 21 day period. Court registries are open on non-public holidays between Christmas and New Year even if company’s directors, shareholders and staff are away on holidays. It follows that if the 21 day expiry date falls within a company’s “shut down period”, there is no excuse for not being able to file and serve any set aside application.

There is also the issue about knowing whether you’ve served with a demand. So what should you do? 1 Make sure that your registered office details with ASIC are up to date; 2 Make sure that your registered office has a mechanism for receiving mail and forwarding it one of the directors urgently if your business closes down for an extended period over the Christmas/New Year season. 3 Be proactive. Surry Partners wish our readers joy for the Festive Season and best wishes for happy and prosperous New Year. © Peter English. Surry Partners. August 2018.

Peter English is the director and founding partner of Surry Partners Lawyers www.surrypartners.com.au

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Cult Corner

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Photo: Walter Maurice

Film and music buff Rodney Henton is in paradise in Darlinghurst, where he can frequent two shops with unique and obscure collections which are also right next to each other. A regular customer, he caught up with the stores’ owners. By Rodney Henton Over the last few years many beloved neighbourhood video stores have closed down as the downloading and streaming services have dominated. But while that has happened Ben Kenny had a different idea for his shop Film Club in Darlinghurst. Ben knew that some companies overseas had been trawling through film history searching through the cinema of many countries, different eras and genres such as B films, exploitation films and great art films. Over time, he pulled together a collection which is unique in Australia. It was his mission perhaps? “It’s combined a personal passion and belief that everyone should be able to see these films affordably,” he says. “I kinda overlaid my obsession into a small business but really I just want to see everything!” Ben says that when he first went into video stores years ago it made him want to be a librarian, but then a teenage interest in film books kicked in and he started to learn more about films. It is knowledge he dispenses freely and effortlessly to customers in his shop, helping them with everything from the mainstream to the avant-garde. Four years ago photographer and DJ James Tsai and his shop Radio Free Alice moved in next door, with a similar aesthetic but in retail. Radio Free Alice is similar to Film Club in that it imports what other stores can’t, or else don’t know about. There are DVD’s, vinyl records, t-shirts (Scorcese or Fellini anyone?) and the place is also a gallery and venue for launches. There’s a kind of surreal feel to Radio Free Alice. It’s the artwork, the weird mobiles hanging from the ceiling and weird stuff everywhere you look. So many different things happen there it's hard to know exactly what the place is.

“The motto really is food for the soul,” says James. So how did two such like minded shops end up next to each other? “Pure chance,” says James. “I looked at many spaces, there were crazy rents of course and then this came up and I thought wow I could be next to Ben.” So, talking about vinyl, the store is part of the collector scene. Where do the records come from? “A lot is from my own collection,” says James. “I started young, about 8 years old, and I’ve hung onto it all. Now I have a rule about how much I buy for myself and that means I have to put an amount of my collection into the shop. “But I do have suppliers, and of course some of them are from the US.” Film music is another favourite genre, but are there a lot of buyers? “Sure, there are some buyers and that is all they buy,” says James. Tsai is a big fan of Orson Welles movies, but how about music? “Miles Davis, Hendrix…stuff I grew up with like the Beatles, Black Sabbath and a lot of jazz like Coltrane and Mingus, but it changes,” he says. “I came in one day and a schoolgirl was leaving with an album and I asked what she bought and she had Coltrane ‘A Love Supreme’, and I cracked up laughing because at her age I was listening to Black Sabbath.” But what about the art shows? How do they happen? “It’s really customers and getting to know people, and I’m into it as long as I don’t have to pull the shop apart completely,” says James.

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