ICW October 10

weekender the inner city FRI 10 OCT 2014 • Issue 208

Printed on 100% recycled paper

Dance floor heat

PROUDLY INDEPENDENT P

Trades & Services Tra Need help at your place this weekend? p.23

Festivities and fun

Annual Marrickville Festival is set to be bigger and better than ever CHRIS CONNOLLY

Dirty Dancing returns to the Lyric p.18

Opal lands p.13

Cause for concern Residents meet at Rattler over rezoning p.5

@connolly2204

T

he Marrickville Festival is on again next Sunday, October 19 along Marrickville Road and Illawarra Road.

The Festival, which attracts crowds of up to 50,000 each year, will feature entertainment and stalls selling locally made products.

A highlight will be the international cuisine; from Spanish paella to pulled-pork sliders, Vietnamese Bánh mì to German bratwurst and sauerkraut as well as Greek souvlaki.

Live music starts on the Main Stage at 10am.

Tempe’s Chris Rose, a 24-year-old acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter will feature on the bill along with eight piece ska-punk band Angry Little Gods.

The Break competition returns this year giving young, local musicians a chance to attract industry recognition. Not only are their performances judged by music industry professionals, but they get the invaluable experience of playing to festival crowds and the chance of winning prizes.

The Festival’s International Dance Floor will host a fascinating range of performances from Srikandi Indonesian Dancers, Sydney Hellenic Dance Company, Amera’s Palace Belly Dance & Drummers, Grupo Folclorico Regional da Maderia, demonstrations from the Australian Martial Arts Academy and more. There’s also the Kids Play Park offering great activities and shows.

Marrickville Festival is on Sunday, October 19 between 10am and 5pm.

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OPINION

There needs to be room in society for considered thought

Lawn mowing & Garden Maintenance

Someone asked me recently why I hadn’t written an opinion piece about Australia’s latest military contribution to the war in Iraq. It was a very Marrickville question in that here, international affairs are often more important than local ones.

But after trying to defend myself by saying I had touched on it recently, discussing the centenary of the start of World War I, I eventually confessed I wasn’t entirely sure what I thought of it.

This, apparently, was an even greater crime. In this age of shock jocks, rent a crowds and Twitter, everyone is expected to have an opinion about everything. But why isn’t there room for considered thought on issues?

I disagreed with Australia’s decision to join the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and I still think it was a poor decision. It’s possible that if Saddam Hussein had stayed in power you would have ended up with an Arab Spring type rebellion in Iraq similar to what happened in Tunisia and Egypt and, as a consequence, Iraq would be as unstable as it currently is.

But it’s fair to conclude that the current situation is a direct result of that invasion. Therefore, I can see an argument that Australia should take some responsibility for the situation and attempt to resolve it.

However, is military action the solution? After all, if military action created the problem, how can you have any confidence that it will resolve it? There is even a school of thought that ISIS, or DAISH as some are now calling it, wants to be attacked to give themselves legitimacy in the eyes of the people of Iraq.

What then are the alternatives to military action? It seems hard to imagine any sort of negotiated solution with ISIS would be acceptable as that would also give them legitimacy and potentially any other group elsewhere in the world who decides to use similar tactics to seize power.

Arming opposition groups is also fraught with difficulty as you run the risk of the weapons falling into the wrong hands. Do we do nothing and allow innocent people to be murdered?

In short, I’m not comfortable with any of the alternatives. I suspect part of the solution will involve splitting Iraq into three states so that the Sunni, Shia and Kurdish populations can each determine their own future and I suspect the process has to be driven by neighbouring states such as Saudi Arabia and Iran.

But that doesn’t appear to be an idea on the

opinion

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CHRIS CONNOLLY @connolly2204

I am not comfortable with any of the alternatives

table at the moment and there may be good reasons why it wouldn’t work.

So, until I find an alternative I’m comfortable with, I’m reluctant to come out strongly one way or another.

For the record, there are plenty of other areas where I’m similarly unsure. The legalisation of drugs is one. On one hand you have the argument that the illegality of drugs forces people underground and opens the door to the involvement of organised crime.

If they were legalised in a controlled way, you could potentially reduce overdoses from poor standard controls in illegal drug production and infections from people being forced to share needles.

However, there is a lot of evidence for the harmful effects of most drugs both short term and long term. Would legalising drugs encourage their use to be more widespread like alcohol and tobacco, which also have significant side effects?

The current debate about surrogacy is another I find it difficult to take a position on. Although I don’t personally know anyone who has gone down the path of surrogacy, I can imagine there are a number of situations where it might be the preferred option for people wishing to have a child.

If they can’t find an altruistic surrogate such as a relative in Australia, the only option the way the law stands is to go overseas and use a commercial surrogate, usually a poor woman in a third world country.

The reason commercial surrogacy is banned in Australia is to prevent exploitation of women.

But does pushing it offshore solve the problem or just move it elsewhere?

The WestConnex Motorway is another vexed issue. As someone who grew up in an outer western Sydney suburb far from a train station, I am familiar with the concerns of people who spend hours stuck in traffic commuting to and from work.

It’s the main reason I live in the Inner West now where I can be close to public transport. But I’m also conscious of the argument that building motorways doesn’t solve congestion in the long run.

Maybe you have firm views on all these issues but I don’t. To me they’re between a rock and a hard place and it’s not always obvious which is the lesser of the two evils. But I’m always happy to discuss it.

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HEALTH

3

Scare campaign or real threat?

Leaked document shows Inner West hospitals will be strained by GP co-payment CHRIS CONNOLLY

@connolly2204

local news

N

SW Opposition Leader John Robertson says the emergency departments at inner west hospitals like Royal Prince Alfred, Canterbury and Concord will be unable to cope with the flood of patients if the Federal Government introduces a GP co-payment. However, NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner has dismissed the claim as Labor’s latest scare campaign.

According to an internal Sydney Local Health District memo from Sydney Local Health District chief executive Dr Teresa Anderson to NSW Health Deputy DirectorGeneral Ken Whelan, the proposed co-payment would “place a large burden on extremely busy departments” with “staffing constraints”, and it will create a “significant increase in the administrative support required” to assess “GP-type presentations”.

It said Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s emergency department would be physically too small to handle the additional patients presenting at the hospital with General Practice-type symptoms and additional space would be required to accommodate the increase in demand.

They would have to hire more registrar-

level doctors and nurse practitioners to handle demand; and have patients presenting with more severe, advanced and potentially preventable illness, brought on through not receiving good primary care.

“Tony Abbott is hurting our hospitals and Mike Baird is letting him get away with it. If the Liberals are allowed to get away with this then it will turn our hospitals into a third world system that will take years to fix,” Mr Robertson said.

“The GP tax is only going to hurt patients and hospital staff. We will see more people flooding our emergency departments and these documents show they simply won’t be able to cope.”

Minister Skinner said it should surprise no one that Labor is spinning and scare mongering.

“The facts are clear – a GP co-payment has not been introduced but Labor continues to recklessly scare patients and health staff,” Minister Skinner said.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government has made it clear we will not charge a co-payment for emergency department treatment. Our emergency departments will continue to deliver free public health care to patients across the state.”

She said the NSW Ministry of Health has undertaken no detailed modelling

An internal memo says inner west hospitals will struggle to cope with extra patients if a GP co-payment is introduced on potential impacts since the Federal Budget.

“Following public discussion of a potential recommendation in the National Commission of Audit – flagging a GP

co-payment – the NSW Ministry of Health developed rudimentary scenarios relating to potential impacts on hospital emergency departments,” Minister Skinner said.

News in brief NSW continues to have the second lowest unemployment rate in the country with 9,800 full-time jobs created in September despite a slight rise in the rate, according to the latest data released by the Australian Bureau of

9,800 new jobs

Statistics.

Acting NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the state unemployment rate has been below the national aver-

working to re-prioritise mental health and wellbeing and create momentum for system reform.”

will suffer The World Mental Health Day campaign this year has three themes: 1. Connecting communities 2. Breaking down stigma 3. Encouraging help-seeking See 1010.org.au for more information.

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Today is World Mental Health Day, providing an opportunity for the community to focus as a nation on an issue that affects us all.

“With one in five Australians experiencing a mental illness in the next 12 months, mental health is an issue we all must take seriously,” Mental Health Australia CEO Frank Quinlan said.

“Part of our commitment is our World Mental Health Day campaign, where we ask people to make a mental health promise to themselves, regardless of whether they have a mental illness or not.

“When Australians make a mental health promise to themselves, they become part of a movement that is

age for 10 straight months and currently stands at 5.8 per cent, up from a revised 5.6 per cent.

“While there was a moderate increase in the NSW unemployment rate, we continue to outperform our neighbours north and south of the border, and remain in a prime position to benefit from the nation’s transition away from mining,” Mr Perrottet said.

“It’s pleasing to see an uptick in fulltime jobs for September, with NSW creating 9,800 positions, while our participation rate remained steady at 62.9 per cent.

“I’m delighted to report that the NSW unemployment rate has been below the national average for 10 consecutive months.”

Friday 10 October 2014 the inner city weekender

local news

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Marrickville Park, Livingston Road, Marrickville WW12734

PLANNING

5

Residents rattled by rezoning Community group concerned about infrastructure, overcrowding, business CHRIS CONNOLLY

@connolly2204

Local residents discussing the Victoria Road rezoning at the Red Rattler last week

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group of local residents and businesses met at the Red Rattler in Marrickville last week to discuss the impact of the proposed rezoning of the Victoria Road precinct.

The proposal covers 18 hectares of mostly industrial land either side of Victoria Road from Sydenham Road up to Enmore Park and will potentially see 3,000 new dwellings built in the area.

Marrickville Council recently voted to refer the proposal to the NSW Department of Planning’s Gateway process, which was set up to rezone land for major developments.

Jon Farry, one of the organisers of the meeting at the Red Rattler, said they had about 80 or 90 residents there as well as representatives of the developers.

“The developers were invited to speak but they chose to just listen,” he said.

Mr Farry said there were a number of speakers who raised issues.

“One woman speaks to local businesses a lot. She said they are very distressed. Some have put in very large sums of money into their businesses. They’re fearful they’ll be asked to go when their leases are up,” Mr Farry said.

“There was also a young fellow from an artist collective who talked about the effect on organisations like Red Rattler, the Factory Theatre and art spaces.

“He was comparing it to what happened in New York in the meat packing district where you had an area that was industrialised and under used. Artists moved in and it is now a premier cultural icon in the city.”

Mr Farry said he was concerned at the lack of consultation and how the area would cope with so many new residents.

“They’re talking about 3,080 dwellings which potentially means an extra 9,000 residents in that area, maybe 6,000 cars and 1,500 kids of school age,” he said.

“Where are they going to go? Are the developers going to fork out for upgrades to local infrastructure?”

Marrickville Greens councillor Max Phillips said it was fantastic to hear people talking about what attracts them to Marrickville, and their alternative vision for the evolution of this precinct.

“I was pleased to facilitate the formation of the community action group, which will play an important role in promoting a vision for the area that aims to fulfil broader social goals and foster the existing creative renewal that is happening organically,” Cr Phillips said.

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6

COUNCIL

Jury to deliver their verdict Democracy experiment sees residents get involved in Council’s decisions

local news

CHRIS CONNOLLY

@connolly2204

W

hat level of infrastructure quality do we want to pay for in Marrickville, and what are our local priorities? This is the question in front of Marrickville Council’s Infrastructure Jury as Council’s experiment in deliberative democracy reaches its halfway point this weekend.

Participant Gooch Lee thinks it’s a valid exercise albeit one with a steep learning curve.

“The first day was a long day, learning the basics of what Council’s responsibilities are,” Mr Lee said.

“In the end what we’re supposed to do is come up with a report recommending where Council spends money.”

The process is facilitated by the New Democracy Foundation, a non-for-profit research group that has a particular focus on best practice citizen engagement and innovations in democratic structures.

The idea of a Citizen Jury is based on the premise that a group of ordinary members of the community who are suitably informed can make a sustainable decision trusted by the rest of the community, much like a jury in a court case.

The panel of 32 local citizens was selected

Members of the Infrastructure Jury with Cr Woods, Cr Hanna, Cr Tyler and Cr Haylen

by New Democracy to be representative of the demographics of the local government area.

“I’ve only lived here for five years. It’s interesting to hear people who’ve been here for 40 years and the changes they would like to see,” Mr Lee said.

“I wanted to be part of it because it’s

an interesting insight into how Council works. It’s also a way to be involved in the community. You go to festivals and that.

You’re there to enjoy it. You don’t think about how much it costs.”

He doesn’t think the Jury would suit State or Federal Government because of the complexity of issues involved and

the time it would take to understand the workings of larger governments.

“I think it works well for local government. It’s a good idea to talk to the community,” he said.

At the Jury’s fifth meeting on Saturday, October 25, they will provide recommendations for the consideration of Council.

Police snapshot

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Man charged over two break and enter incidents

Man charged over multiple convenience store robberies

Police have charged a man after two homes were broken into and a resident allegedly threatened at Hurlstone Park last week. Around 10.20am on Friday, October 3, a 30-year-old man allegedly entered a home on Hopetoun Street, Hurlstone Park, and was confronted by the resident who attempted to detain him. The man threatened the resident with a knife before fleeing with a number of items from the house.

Police will allege the same man broke into another house on Wentworth Street, Croydon Park at 2pm the same day and began ransacking the house. He fled after he was seen by a female in the house.

Police were alerted and officers from Ashfield Local Area Command attended the scene where they found the 30-year-old laying in the rear yard with head and facial wounds. The man was admitted to hospital for treatment and then was charged.

A man will face court following a number of alleged armed robberies in Camperdown and Glebe this month.

About 2.40pm, last Thursday, October 2, a 29-year-old man entered a convenience store on Parramatta Road, Camperdown, and allegedly took a mobile phone from a counter and ran from the scene.

About 5.10pm the same day, the man, armed with a syringe, entered a convenience store on Glebe Point Road, Glebe and threatened a 27-year-old man working in the store, demanding money. He ran from the scene a short time later, taking a passport, a hard drive and overseas currency.

Police executed a search warrant on Tuesday, October 7 at a unit on Pyrmont Bridge Road, Camperdown, where they seized a number of items and arrested a 29-year-old man. He was charged with larceny and assault with intent to rob.

Sneaky backpack manoeuvre lands man cannabis offence

Side door smashed, fence scaled in house theft

About 11am on Friday, October 3, police approached a 28-year-old man who was walking along a street in Marrickville.

Upon police approaching the man, he appeared to put something in his backpack quickly.

Police searched the man and located a clear, plastic, resealable bag containing a small amount of green leaf matter in the backpack, which the man identified as marijuana.

The man was issued with a cannabis caution for the offence.

Police are searching for an offender who stole a large amount of property during a break and enter in Marrickville last Sunday, October 5. Between 5.20pm and 9.20pm, a 45-year-old man returned to his home and upon walking into his house, noticed that several rooms had been ransacked and the side rear door smashed. The man also noticed that a large amount of items were missing from the home, worth quite a lot of money. The man immediately called police who believe that the offender may have scaled the back fence to gain entry.

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8

STATE ELECTION

Candidates pledge to support good planning

local news

CHRIS CONNOLLY

@connolly2204

A

group of community organisations is calling on candidates at next year’s state election to commit to a Charter for Good Planning built on fairness, equity and ecologically sustainable development.

‘Planning for People: the Community Charter for Good Planning’ has been prepared by the Better Planning Network, Community Councillors Network, Inner Sydney Regional Council for Social Development, National Parks Association of NSW, National Trust of Australia (NSW), Nature Conservation Council of NSW, NSW Heritage Network, Shelter NSW and the Total Environment Centre.

The charter has been endorsed by the Labor Party and Greens Party as well as their candidates for the local seats of Newtown and Summer Hill; as well as the Socialist Alliance candidate for Summer Hill, Susan Price.

Labor’s Summer Hill candidate Jo Haylen said support for better planning in NSW was critical and would benefit families in the Inner West.

“As a councillor and former Mayor, I’m familiar with the difficulties people experience as they navigate the planning system,” Ms Haylen said.

“The reason why the Community Charter for Good Planning is so important is because it seeks to simplify the process, while outlining principles we know are essential for a good planning system.”

She said her work as Mayor sought to address these fundamental principles of sustainable development.

“Earlier this year I was able to establish an Architectural Design Excellence Panel, which makes sure new buildings in our area contribute to the aesthetic of the environment, rather than detract,” she said.

“The Charter is particularly strong on public participation, environmental protection, respect for heritage and ensuring that planning is accompanied by the provision of infrastructure.”

Greens candidate Max Phillips said the Greens strongly support the Charter as a basis for empowering citizens and reining in developer greed.

“The Liberals came to government in 2011 promising to return planning powers to the people, but after four years have utterly failed to fulfil this promise. Planning has substantial and very long term impacts, so it is vital that genuine powers are given to the communities to shape planning outcomes,” he said.

More detail on the Charter can be found at www.thecommunitycharter.org.

New garbage bins to be delivered to houses in the Marrickville Council area soon

Jo Haylen adds her signature to the Community Charter for Good Planning

MY MARRICKVILLE

Marrickville Council is delivering new garbage bins to houses (not apartments) from mid-October.

If your bins are emptied on a Friday, you’ll also receive a new recycling bin.

WHY? Most bins are now around 15 years old and damaged, so it’s more cost effective for us to replace all of the bins at one time.

WHEN? You’ll receive a letter in your letterbox soon with more information.

For updates on the new bins please visit www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/ newbins

Cade Buchanan, Marrickville

Friday 10 October 2014 the inner city weekender

Rethink Waste – think about what you’re placing in the bin and what can be avoided, reused and recycled.

Favourite restaurant: Pastizzi Cafe on King Street Favourite cafe: Belljar Coffee on Alice Street in Newtown Best place to relax: Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre Best place for entertainment: Enmore Theatre Favourite park: Sydney Park Best shopping experience in Marrickville: Reverse Garbage Co-op on Addison Road The thing you love most about Marrickville is... it’s home.

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COMMUNITY

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Get on your bike for Ride2Work Day CHRIS CONNOLLY

ext Wednesday, October 15 is Ride2Work Day and the Green Living Centre is offering a free breakfast for participants at Hollis Park in Newtown.

The breakfast, including free coffee and bike powered smoothies, will be prepared by local vegan cook Karo Tak and provided

by Alfalfa House Community Food Cooperative.

Marrickville Mayor Mark Gardiner, an avid cyclist himself, said this is the third year that the Green Living Centre has hosted the Newtown Bike Breakfast, in conjunction with Marrickville and City of Sydney Councils, and the Sydney Rides Festival.

“This event is our way of saying thank you to all those cyclists who are riding to work and helping clear some of the congestion on our streets,” Mayor Gardiner said.

“It’s a great opportunity to meet other cyclists, hear more about cycle groups and organisations, grab a free nutritious breakfast, and even score a free bike tuneup.”

The Bicycle Garden, which runs workshops at the Sydney Park Cycling Centre and also regularly attends the Addison Road markets will be there to provide free

advice on bike maintenance.

The Bicycle Network, which organises Ride2Work Day, recommends a ‘Bike Buddy’ system for beginners who feel unsure or anxious about riding to work.

Bike Buddies can be found at www.bikebuddies.net.au.

Mayor Gardiner said a number of Council staff are regular commuter bike riders who will be volunteering to be ‘buddies’ for Ride2Work day. He said they come from as far as Manly, Concord, Redfern and Leichhardt as well as more local suburbs like St Peters, Newtown, Enmore, Petersham and Dulwich Hill.

Ride2Work is the largest national ride to work program of its kind. It has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people choosing to ride to work. 60 per cent of new riders who registered in 2013 were still riding to work five months later.

To register for Ride2Work day go to www.bicyclenetwork.com.au. For more information on cycling in Sydney go to Sydney Rides Festival website www. sydneycycleways.net. Marrickville Council also runs workshops about how to ride in confidence.

The Newtown Bike Breakfast will be held at Hollis Park in Wilson Street, Newtown on Wednesday, October 15 from 7am to 9am. To find out more go to the Green Living Centre page on Facebook.

local news

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@connolly2204

Last year’s Newtown Bike Breakfast attracted a lot of hungry cyclists

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ENVIRONMENT

Green tick for businesses Environmental Awards will recognise environmentally aware businesses and stores

local news

CHRIS CONNOLLY

@connolly2204

E

ntries for Marrickville Council’s Business Environment Awards close next Friday, October 17.

There are seven categories in which businesses can nominate: Energy Smart, Water Saver, Community Leadership, Rethink Waste, Sustainable Innovation, Sustainability Leadership and the new award Beyond our Four Walls, which recognises businesses who influence their suppliers to be more sustainable.

Last year’s winners included The Red Rattler Theatre, IKEA Tempe, Soffritto, Cornersmith, Sixpenny, Stanmore Public School and Michele Margolis.

This year, Serendipity Ice Cream in Enmore Road have nominated for the Sustainability Leadership Award for their efforts to become carbon neutral.

Serendipity CEO Sarah Mandelson said they had been working for the last seven or eight years to reduce their emissions.

“First we switched to 100 per cent green energy. That took out about 82 per cent of our emissions,” Ms Mandelson said.

“We then concentrated on other areas, increasing recycling, reducing the amount of waste going to landfill. For the remaining things we can’t reduce further like

Serendipity Ice Cream staff Graeme Kent, Nicole Carr, Sarah Mandelson and Rhiannon Best are keen to reduce carbon emissions petrol, we buy carbon offsets.”

She said they had to develop their own tools to assess their carbon emissions but are happy to share those tools with others.

“The threat of climate change can’t be overstated. We try to share our resources with as many people as possible,” she said.

She said as a result of the company’s

initiatives, 349 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions were saved in 2014, an estimated 15,000 paper cups were removed from the waste stream, 205 cubic metres of waste was recycled, and over 500 kilolitres of water was reused for cleaning.

The company is also a finalist in the Small Business Sustainability section of the NSW Government’s Green Globe Awards.

Marrickville Mayor Mark Gardiner said the local Business Environment Awards unveil some pretty exciting results.

“Along with the environmental benefits we’re also seeing promising financial savings. Some businesses have halved their electricity use; others have increased their water efficiency by more than 27 per cent. We want local business owners to know there are real savings to be made by working sustainably,” he said.

“Our new ‘Beyond our Four Walls’ award is especially exciting. Not only is Council recognising sustainable businesses, we’re celebrating businesses like Serendipity, that share their enthusiasm and encourage others to work smarter and be more environmentally conscious.”

Nominations can be made online at www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/target but they need to be submitted by next Friday, October 17.

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Friday 10 October 2014 the inner city weekender

The Great American Beer Festival is the largest beer festival in the States

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When tickets went on sale for last weekend’s Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado all 50,000 sold out in 30 minutes.

In its 33rd year, the Festival boasts of being the biggest celebration of beer in the United States with 700 breweries giving away tens of thousands of tasting samples of many of the 3,500 labels represented on the day.

Many stalls also hosted lecture sessions on brewing, history, beer-and-food matching and anything else to do with the amber stuff, including the opportunity to meet the brewers.

The American Homebrewer’s Association that boasts 43,000 members had a

stand offering advice to novices and seasoned home-brewers alike on how to make a top-drop at home for fun.

Although the Great American Beer Festival was held from Thursday to Saturday, hotels, restaurants, bars, cafés, clubs and other drink outlets across Denver also hosted a huge range of events throughout the whole week… from beer dinners to rare beer tastings, beer and cheese and other food pairings – and at one place a full-on American breakfast fry-up with beer.

Next year’s Festival will be held from September 24 to 26; you must be a minimum 21 years of age with photo ID to attend.

TRANSPORT

Opal now on Inner West buses

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State Government’s roll out of new ticketing technology continues CHRIS CONNOLLY

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he NSW Government has extended the Opal card rollout to the Inner West, allowing the cards to be used on most local buses as well as train services.

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said the expansion to the Inner West buses would cover more than 40 million annual customer journeys across 75 suburbs including every suburb in the Marrickville local government area.

Local services accepting the Opal card include the 308, 348, 370, 412, 413, 418, 422, 423, L23, 425, 426, 428, L28, 436, 438, L38, 439, L39, 444, 445, 461, 480, 483, M10 and M30.

“Opal is already available on all suburban and intercity trains, all Sydney Ferries and will be on all 5,000 buses by the end of the year, with light rail to follow in early 2015,” Minister Berejiklian said.

“When the Opal rollout is complete, it’s the only card you’ll need to travel on any type of transport.”

She said the people of NSW are embracing the Opal card with more than one million Opal cards now issued across the state.

“With so many customers now using

Opal cards can now be used on local buses

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Opal, we’re finally seeing the end of Monday morning ticket queues at stations,” she said.

“Customers are also benefitting from Opal’s daily travel caps and weekly travel rewards, with 12 million free trips already taken across the transport network – many on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

“With free travel after eight Opal journeys a week, thousands more customers are choosing to leave their car at home on weekends and catch public transport – helping to reduce congestion on our roads.”

Minister Berejiklian said the one millionth card issued was a huge milestone and customers can get an Opal card from the Opal card website, by calling 13 OPAL, or on-the-spot from more than 1,300 retail stores including all 200 7-Eleven stores and selected Woolworths supermarkets.

“With thousands of customers choosing to pick up their Opal card from a retailer, we’re encouraging people to go on-line and set their card to auto-top-up and never have to worry about manually topping up again, just like having an e-tag,” she said.

Ms Berejiklian added that the Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal card will be released before the end of the year, with concession Opal cards on track to be available next year.

@connolly2204

Snake warning NSW Ambulance is asking people to be mindful that the arrival of spring and warmer weather has coincided with increased snake and spider activity and the potential for bites.

Snakes in particular are on the move, looking for food and a mate after their winter hibernation. Since July 1, 2014, NSW Ambulance paramedics have attended 27 Triple Zero (000) calls for suspected snake bites.

Another 55 calls involved suspected spider bite injuries, and three cases of patients swallowing spiders.

Dose of Dorin

This season’s first funnel web spider bite was responded to on July 17 – there have been 11 suspected bites so far.

Meantime, redback spider activity is also expected to pick up after their winter hibernation. Funnel webs, which are Australia’s deadliest spider, are active year-round.

“Paramedics have attended many cases where people have put on boots and gloves and been bitten by spiders and even snakes which were hidden inside,” NSW Ambulance Inspector Giles Buchanan said.

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Say goodbye to pesky termites

BUSINE S S OF TH E W E E K

A Noble Pest Control and Termite Management provides pest control services to the entire Inner West

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id you know one in five Australian homes are attacked by termites, which are capable of damaging a quarter of an average sized home in just three months?

Carlos Arroyo from A Noble Pest Control & Termite Management says regular inspections are essential, particularly for older houses with no inbuilt termite safeguards. And even if your home does have some safeguards it is still important to make sure the termites aren’t getting around them.

As well as inspections, they provide treatments (Termidor, Termatrac and Fluke) and install termite management systems.

They deal with other pests as well including ants, spiders, cockroaches, silverfish, wasps, fleas, bed bugs, rodents, birds and bird lice.

Carlos Arroyo and co-founder Brian Finch have over 75 years of experience in pest control between them.

They are committed to an environmentally friendly approach called Integrated Pest Management.

“Pests need certain environmental conditions to live, breed and thrive,” Mr Arroyo said.

“Take those conditions away and they’re gone. We identify the root and cause of the infestation, treat those areas and then modify the habitat conditions to stop them returning.”

A Noble Pest Control & Termite Management services the entire Inner West.

They can be contacted on 9564 1852 or by filling in the form on their website www.anoble.com.au.

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HOROSCOPES

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ARIES MARCH 21 TO APRIL 20

Don’t sit on the side-lines and be a Libran wallflower. With vivacious Venus visiting your sign, you’re in the mood to socialise and circulate; converse and communicate; mix and mingle. Mercury is reversing through your sign, so your diplomatic skills will be sorely tested as loved ones get involved in misunderstandings.

TAURUS APRIL 21 TO MAY 21

SCORPIO OCTOBER 24 TO NOVEMBER 22

It will be tempting to overindulge in fatty foods, sweet treats and fine wine this week as Venus and Jupiter switch your hedonistic Taurus streak into top gear. Meanwhile, retrograde Mercury throws all semblance of order out the window! So your motto for the moment is from Oscar Wilde: “I can resist everything except temptation.”

GEMINI MAY 22 TO JUNE 21

JOANNE MADELINE MOORE

Weekly posts at www.BohoAstro. tumblr.com www.twitter.com/ JoMadelineMoore Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2014.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 24 TO OCTOBER 23

Expect pleasure and pain in relationships this week Rams, as the Sun and Venus boost your social life, and then retrograde Mercury causes some mischief and confuses communication. Problems will crop up if you jump to hasty conclusions so try to think things through before you react. Being positive and proactive wins friends.

This week’s stars suit reading, writing, public speaking, social networking, travel, friendships and having fun. But, with Mercury still retrograde (until October 26) expect a few hiccups along the way! On Friday and Saturday, the stars magnify your ability to persuade others with a convincing argument. But realise that a perceived success may have to be tweaked further down the track.

Star predictions for the week beginning October 12

CANCER JUNE 22 TO JULY 22

Still waters run deep! With so much planetary action in your mystery zone this week, there’s more to everything than meets the eye. And it will take your Scorpio discretion to uncover secrets and distinguish fact from fantasy. Plus old emotional issues may rise to the surface. It’s a wonderful weekend to enjoy solo activities like reading.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23 TO DECEMBER 21

Mars is rushing through your sign, so you’re in garrulous, gungho mode. Strive to get the balance right between being passionately proactive, and taking thoughtful action. Spontaneity works sometimes… at other times, smart Sagittarians learn to adopt a more measured approach. Retro Mercury scrambles telecommunications so back-up documents and double-check messages before you press send!

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22 TO JANUARY 20

Mercury is reversing through your home zone until October 26 so domestic dynamics are frustrating at the moment. Time for clever Crabs to communicate clearly and consult often. Plus a problem with a vulnerable family member that you thought was resolved may have to be revisited. The weekend is wonderful for financial matters.

Do you enjoy your job and does it stimulate your mind? This week, take the time to re-evaluate your professional position, as Venus and retrograde Mercury pair up in your career zone. And is your home/work balance way out of whack? Utilise the power of your clever Capricorn mind to work smarter, rather than harder.

LEO JULY 23 TO AUGUST 23

AQUARIUS JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 19

Communication will be a delight and a conundrum this week, as the Sun and Venus increase your Cat charisma. But learn to selfedit what comes out of your mouth Lions, otherwise you are likely to upset someone important (like your mum, boss or partner). And be extra careful when sending emails, texts and tweets.

With plenty of planetary action in your aspiration zones Aquarius, it’s time to dream big dreams, create your preferred future, and follow your destiny. And don’t be dismayed by temporary setbacks and stressful delays. The universe is testing your determination to stick to your desired course.

VIRGO AUGUST 24 TO SEPTEMBER 23

PISCES FEBRUARY 20 TO MARCH 20

With Venus and retrograde Mercury in your finance zone, money matters are oscillating between wonderful and woeful. So stash extra cash away to tide you over when times are tight. When it comes to a recalcitrant relative, you will eventually convince them with your reasonable Virgo rationale.

Jupiter helps you power through work projects with extra energy and enthusiasm. Then you’ll have more hours in each day for rest and recreation, as you enjoy good times with family and friends.

The more you support and encourage colleagues, the better your work environment will be.

FASHION

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Sign up with the Generous Shopper and a percent of your purchase will go to charity

Online shopping can sometimes feel like you are handing your money over to no-one. With nobody to smile and say “have a nice day” and no new purchase to immediately take home, it can feel a little bit pointless. But what if I told you that there is a way to shop and support charity at the same time?

An Australian husband and wife team have come up with a concept that they hope will send some of the $14 billion that Australians spend every year online to Australian charities.

Expedia, The Iconic, Asos, Katies, Pillow Talk, Rebel Sport, Dan Murphy’s, Estee Lauder and Weight Watchers are some of the big names working with The Generous Shopper.

The companies involved donate a percentage of every dollar spent to The Generous Shopper. They then distribute the funds to charity.

But there is a catch: you can’t just log on to Asos, purchase $100 of clothing and expect for part of your spending to be donated to saving puppies, you need to register.

Registering costs nothing and it is as simple as hopping on to www.thegenerousshopper.com, picking a charity, downloading a plugin or clicking the link to your preferred retailer and then shopping.

“This is a really easy way that everyone can do their shopping online and give money to a cause close to their hearts at the same time,” said Generous Shopper co-founder Sarah Chatterjee.

“Australians already lead the US in our average online spend per capita, and are second only to the UK, so the potential is huge. Who doesn’t want to feel they can do some good whenever they shop?”

Seven Australian charities are already signed up such as Assist a Sista, Beyond Blue, CARE Australia, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and Destiny Rescue,.

Co-founder of Assist a Sista, an Australian charity that supports victims of domestic violence, Nicolle, said that when they heard about the concept, they couldn’t wait to be involved.

“It’s heartening to see so many retailers are already on-board,” she said.

LIFE & STYLE

cats might have issues if the walls of the litterbox are too high

HEALTH

Litter problems can be simple to fix

Mother nature says no to smoking

The change of seasons and stress factors can cause some urinary symptoms in cats, including failing to use their litter box. This can be frustrating, but understanding the reasons why this occurs can help us provide for our pets’ needs better.

Urinary Tract Infections or UTIs can cause cats to urinate in incorrect locaDR. SAM tions, however physical factors around KOVAC the litterbox also contribute.

Southern Cross Type of substrate: Cats naturally have Veterinary Clinic a preference for one type of litter over 9516 0234 another. If you’ve adopted a stray cat, 60 Princes Hwy, the least foreign kind of litter is going St Peters www.southernto be soil, so consider using potting mix crossvet.com.au instead of kitty litter to start with and gradually replace the soil with true cat litter. My practice uses crystal type cat litter as we find it is superior in lowering odours. The amount of litter you place in the tray is also of importance as cats have an instinct to cover their droppings. A layer about an inch deep is appropriate.

Cleanliness: Our feline friends are clean characters, so make sure that you keep the litterbox as clean as possible. This means scooping both urine and faeces out of the box at least a couple of times a day.

Location: We all have our favourite place to go and cats are no different. The best spots are private, quiet and not in a thoroughfare of a house. Consider the location of speakers and vacuum motors when selecting a location for the tray.

Even if you only have one cat, make sure you have at least one other litterbox in a different part of the house to encourage your cat using it.

Size: Make sure the tray is at least one and a half times the length of your cat and is not too tall.

It’s one thing for the fools who are gullible enough to still believe that smoking is cool to run their health into the ground and clog up our public health system (where we have to pay for their treatment as they slowly and miserably die), but what about the damage they cause to others? How about a newborn baby? They don’t get much say in it, but mothers who smoke during pregnancy damage the future fertility of their sons, new research has found.

Experts used mice to test the long-term effects of mothers smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Professor Eileen McLaughlin, who led the study, said: “Our results show that males of ‘smoking’ mothers have fewer sperm, which swim poorly, are abnormally shaped and fail to bind to eggs during in vitro fertilisation studies”.

“Consequently, when these pups reach adulthood they are subfertile or infertile.

“This is the first time we have been able to prove conclusively that male baby exposure to cigarette toxins in pregnancy and early life will damage later-life fertility.”

Prof McLaughlin said the study was in mice, but the findings are relevant to human health, as many men now in their 30’s and 40’s were exposed to cigarette toxins in the womb when it was less well known that smoking affected babies’ health.

“These men have difficulty conceiving and this is associated with production of low numbers of poor quality sperm in their semen. Unfortunately about 25 per cent of young women today continue to smoke when they are pregnant and/ or breastfeeding,” she said.

Successful evolution leads to a survival of the fittest trend, and Mother Nature knows that any weakness or flawed genetic trait that makes an organism less healthy or beneficial to the survival of its species needs to be removed for the benefit of all the rest. I guess Mother Nature is saying however you justify your reason for it, if you are stupid enough to suck poison into your body, then maybe your genes aren’t really wanted for the next generation... just my opinion.

DAVID STEIN Owner & Manager of Fitec david@ fitec.com.au

Men are now finding out that they are infertile because their mothers smoked

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life & style

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WHAT'S ON SYDNEY

entertainment

ARTS/CONCERTS/TV/CROSSWORD/SUDOKU

Event news & g uide

Sell out musical is set to heat up the stage at Lyric Theatre he new Australian production of ‘Dirty Dancing’, which opens at the Sydney Lyric Theatre next month will feature two young stars making their debuts as lead actors.

Kirby Burgess takes on the role of

T

CHRIS CONNOLLY @connolly2204

17-year-old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman who goes on holiday with her family in New York’s Catskill Mountains and falls in love with the resort dance instructor.

Burgess has played supporting roles in a number of stage productions including ‘Sweet Charity’, ‘An Officer and A Gentleman’, ‘Hairspray’, ‘High School Musical – Live on Stage’ and ‘Lovebites’. She has also appeared in Channel Ten drama ‘Wonderland’.

Kurt Phelan takes on the role of the charismatic dance instructor Johnny Castle. Phelan is an actor, choreographer and writer who has appeared in ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, ‘Witches of Eastwick’, ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’.

Set in the summer of 1963, ‘Dirty Dancing’ tells the story of Baby who has been dragged on holiday with her family in New York’s Catskill Mountains but has little interest in any of the resort’s activities.

At least not until she stumbles upon the staff quarters where a private all-night

DIRTY DANCING SYDNEY LYRIC THEATRE FROM NOVEMBER 28

dance party is in full swing.

She is taken with the dance styles which she has never seen before and in particular the dirty dancing of Johnny Castle, the resort’s dance instructor.

When Johnny’s dance partner is forced to leave, Baby steps in to the breach and becomes his leading lady both on-stage and off with breathtaking consequences.

The movie version starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze won an Academy Award for the song ‘(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life’ which features in the stage production along with other hits like ‘Hungry Eyes’, ‘Hey! Baby’, and ‘Do You Love Me?’.

Burgess and Phelan are supported by a strong ensemble cast including young classical music singer Mark Vincent as Johnny’s cousin Billy Kostecki, Adam Murphy as Baby’s father Jake and Teagan Wouters as older sister Lisa.

Offering a strictly limited season, there’s no doubt that there will be thousands of fans in Sydney alone who are keen to relive this iconic love story and the heartthumping hits.

Dirty Dancing opens on Friday, November 28 at Sydney Lyric Theatre at The Star, Pirrama Road, Pyrmont.

Performances are at 8pm Wednesdays to Saturdays and 6pm on Sundays with matinees at 1pm on Wednesdays and Sundays and at 2pm on Saturdays.

Tickets start at $59.90 and are available from www.ticketmaster.com.au or 1300 795 267.

THEATRE

Love thy neighbour isn’t all that easy lex Lykos’s new play ‘It’s War’ is a comedy encapsulating Marrickville’s changing demographic, where neighbours with different aspirations have a falling out with hilarious consequences.

Shane and his Vietnamese born wife Ngoc are best friends with neighbours Pandelis and Sue until they start renovating their home.

Pandelis and Sue don’t want their city view ruined. Shane and Ngoc won’t back down.

A war starts between the neighbours with alliances formed with other neighbours and a long-kept secret revealed, which shakes the foundation of their once harmonious and cheerful cul de sac.

“When researching this play, there wasn’t a person I spoke to that hasn’t

Friday 10 October 2014 the inner city weekender

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had at least one disagreement with their neighbour,” Lykos said.

“There is something about neighbourhood disagreements which brings out the worst in people.”

Produced by Bulldog Theatre Company, ‘It’s War’ stars Jenny Apostolou, Chris Argirousis, Marissa Kaye, Janette Lakiss, Ben Maclaine and Maria Tran along with a cameo from author Alex Lykos.

Lykos is developing into the comedic voice of inner west suburbia on the strength of his ‘Alex & Eve’ series of comedies about a Greek-Lebanese couple, as well as ‘A Long Night’, ‘Better Man’ and ‘The Negotiating Table’.

Shooting has just finished on his first feature ‘Alex & Eve The Movie’, which is scheduled to be released early next year.

It is directed by Peter Andrikidis of ‘Underbelly’, ‘Grassroots’ and ‘Wog Boy:

IT’S WAR FACTORY THEATRE UNTIL SUN, OCT 19 Kings Of Mykonos’ fame. The feature is sure to be a cult hit.

‘It’s War’ is being performed at the Fuse Box at the Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Road, Marrickville until Sunday, October

19. Performances are at 7.30pm Thursdays to Saturdays or 6.30pm on Sundays.

Tickets are $23/$19 plus booking fee and available from www.factorytheatre.com. au or 9550 3666.

FILM

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Best of Greek talent shines in annual film festival CHRIS CONNOLLY @connolly2204

More than 20 films will be screened during the festival starting with ‘Little England’ on Tuesday, October 14 and finishing up with ‘Promakhos’.

Set on the island of Andros during World War II, ‘Little England’ tells the story of two sisters, the quiet and reticent Orsa (Pinelopi Tsilika) and the extroverted Moshca (Sofia Kokkali) who become entangled in a love triangle that develops with life-shattering consequences.

Directed by veteran Pantelis Voulgaris this beautifully shot film won Best Film and Best Cinematography at the Hellenic Film Academy Awards and was Greece’s entry for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars.

‘Promakhos’ tells the story of two Athenian attorneys (Pantelis Kodogiannis and Kassandra Voyagis) who pursue litigation against the British Museum to return the

THE GREEK FILM FESTIVAL PALACE CINEMAS OCTOBER 14 - NOVEMBER 2 Parthenon Marbles (known in Britain as the Elgin Marbles) to their rightful home at the Acropolis. Co-directed by Coerte Voorhees and John Voorhees, it is an epic love story about the test of true love through sacrifice.

Themes explored in the Festival

extend well beyond the borders of Greece with films like ‘Brides’, the story of a mail order bride en route to the United States by ship to marry a man she has never seen, who falls in love with someone else on the way; ‘Xenia’, an exploration of patriarchy,

homosexuality and immigrant rights; ‘Standing Aside, Watching’, a Greek tragedy which borrows from Hollywood westerns; and ‘Block 12’ featuring Bollywood dance routines.

Other films on show include ‘Stratos’, a film noir from Yannis Economides; ‘Common Denominator’, which invites viewers to become privy to conversations centred around online dating and infidelity; ‘A Blast’, the story of a woman who feels her world falling out from under her; and ‘September’, which tackles themes of grief and loss following the passing of an inseparable companion.

There’s also ‘Miss Violence’, the gruesomely disturbing tale of domestic and sexual abuse that swept this year’s Hellenic Film Academy Awards and won the Silver Lion for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival.

There will also be a selection of documentaries on show. The full program is available at greekfilmfestival.com.au.

The Greek Film Festival screens at Palace Cinemas, Norton Street, Leichhardt from Tuesday, October 14 to Sunday, November 2. Tickets are available from www.palacecinemas.com.au or by calling 9564 5620.

entertainment

T

he 21st Greek Film Festival starts next week at the Palace Cinema in Leichhardt and will run through to Sunday, November 2.

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Oct 12th Mangrove Booze Kings + 50 million Beers Oct 19th Hunter & Suzy Owens Band Oct 26th The Roadrunner

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WHAT'S ON

entertainment

COMPILED BY KATHERINE TWEED & NATHAN TAYLOR

JIMMY BARNES Friday, October 17 Enmore Theatre

SHEPPARD Sunday, October 12 Enmore Theatre With the highest selling Australian single under their belt in ‘Geronimo’ plus a string of soon-to-be mega hits on the way, Sheppard are Australia’s newest music sensation. After plugging their music in Europe the past couple of months, the band has returned home for a special concert at the Enmore this Sunday at 7pm. Come along and support the next big thing in Aussie music. Tickets are $34.80. To book call 9550 3666.

Now only a week away, now is as good a time as any to enquire about tickets to Jimmy’s celebration of a phenomenal thirty years as one of Australia’s most successful solo musicians. Fans will be treated to Jimmy performing two of his most celebrated albums – ‘For The Working Class Man’ and ‘Freight Train Heart’ – in their entirety, plus additional hits from across his extensive career. For more information, or to book, visit www. enmoretheatre. com.au.

KEEPING AN ICON ALIVE Saturday, October 11 Customs House Library The milk bar is fast disappearing from Sydney streets, but award winning artist Eamon Donnelly is keeping its memory alive on banners across the city for this year’s Art & About Sydney to showcase the event’s ‘endangered’ theme. Sydneysiders can also join Art & About Creative Director Gill Minervini as she leads a panel discussion on Australian milk bars at 2pm this Saturday.

BODIES IN URBAN SPACES Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11 Beginning from the Archibald Fountain In the finale of Art and About Sydney, locals will have the opportunity to see Bodies in Urban Spaces in action. Leaving from the Archibald Fountain at 12.30pm each day, the audience will be taken on an hour-long walk following a group of movement artists as they run, jump and manoeuvre in, on, around and under the urban landscape. It’s crazy viewing!

WUNDERKAMMER BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER Saturday, October 25 Red Rattler, Marrickville Radio and television personality Yumi Stynes will host Wunderkammer, a night of curiosities to end women’s cancer. This wonderful event will feature Adularia Steampunk tribal dancers, Heidi Hoops, a bearded lady beauty and more.

Tickets are $25. To book visit www. stickytickets.com.au.

IT’S WAR October 9 to 19 Factory Theatre Bulldog Theatre Company is back with a new play ‘It’s War’ written by critically acclaimed playwright Alex Lykos. Alex has chosen Marrickville’s changing demographic to explore the delicate relationships between neighbours living closely together.

Tickets are $25. For session times or to book call 9550 3666.

SYDNEY RIDES FESTIVAL Saturday, October 11 to Saturday, October 25 Sydney This year’s Sydney Rides Festival is again inviting Sydneysiders to get on their bicycles and enjoy more than 20 activities running this month to celebrate bicycle riding and healthy living. An illuminated harbour night ride, daring BMX bike stunts, and pop-up breakfast stalls are just some of the features of the 2014 Sydney Rides Festival. Many of the events are suitable for the whole family to take part in. This is the fourth year of the event. Visit sydneyridesfestival.net for more information and individual activity dates.

CRUELTY FREE FESTIVAL Sunday, October 26 Australian Technology Park The Cruelty Free Festival is back again and Sydneysiders are invited to celebrate all things animal-friendly by attending and showing their support.

The festival will play host to over 70 stalls showcasing an array of cruelty free products, including household and personal products. There will also be plenty of food stalls serving up delicious meals all day.

You are invited to the famous

What’s On

PETERS

Ph: 9519 1965 Ph: 9550 4775 (Bistro)

The Manilow 20th anniversary celebrations are almost here and the good folk at Young Henrys have been brewing a commemorative cider to celebrate. The pear and apple cider will be called Dave the Talking Pear and will be available for tastetesting this Sunday from 2pm onwards. A number of bands will also be performing throughout the afternoon to get in on the festivities. It’s sure to be a fantastic afternoon so head down and try this new brew!

October 2014 @ TOWN & COUNTRY HOTEL

Gyrate

Saturday 11th H4.00I

Paul Hayward & Friends

Saturday 11th H7.30I

The Broken Hands

Saturday 11th H9.00I Sunday 12th H4.00-6.30I

Lil ‘Hazel Armistite & Haiku

What’s On This Week

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Friday 10 October 2014 the inner city weekender

Friday 10th H7.30-11.30I

2 Unwins Bridge Road, ST

DAVE THE TALKING PEAR Sunday, October 12 Young Henrys, Newtown

VARIOUS BANDS October 11 to October 14 Lazybones Lounge

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ANTI-POVERTY WEEK Sunday, October 12 to Saturday, October 18 Various Locations

PERCH CREEK Friday, October 10 Factory Theatre

More than 400 activities are expected to be held across Australia as part of Anti-Poverty Week, with a number of those being held in Sydney. There will be launches, forums, addresses, festivals and many other activities aimed at educating people about the different aspects of poverty and hardship at home and abroad. This Sunday there’s a pay as you feel vegan brunch and dinner on at Lentil as Anything in Newtown or why not join a Vinnies night patril? Visit www.antipovertyweek.org.au for a full calendar of activities in Sydney.

Perch Creek are a band of five energetic multi-instrumentalists and vocalists, four of whom happen to be siblings. This Melbourne-based band play harmony driven roots music with a creative energy and fearless spirit that sparkles with imagination and individuality. Perch Creek have performed on ABC’s ‘Spicks and Specks’ as well as at festivals across Australia, Europe and the UK. Tickets are $15. To book call 9550 3666.

EVIL ELVIS Friday, October 24 Factory Theatre ROUND SHE GOES Saturday, October 18 Marrickville Town Hall Start preparing yourself for the final Round She Goes preloved fashion market of the year. Whether you love to snag a bargain or are looking to offload some of your preloved clothes, this is the place for you. There will be 60 different handpicked stallholders offering quality vintage fashion, preloved designer lables, accessories and jewellery. Entry is $2. Visit roundshegoes.com.au.

entertainment

Lazybones Lounge have heaps of fantastic gigs this week starting on Saturday with eight piece band Chuparosa. On Sunday, Becky and the Pussycats hit the stage for their free show of soul, blues and original folk tracks. On Monday, Sonic Mayhem Orchestra are back for another week while on Tuesday blues and roots band Little Big Wolf are in action. On Wednesday there’s Baby Lips and the Silhouettes and on Thursday join Mama Schultz for some reggae.

For more information call 0488 759 548.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT This Weekend Town and Country Hotel It is set to be another big weekend at St Peters’s Town and Country Hotel. The weekend will kick off with Gyrate from 7.30pm on Friday night, playing songs from The Cure, Split Enz, Radiohead and Midnight Oil. Saturday night is bringing a ‘Triple Threat of Rock’ to the area, with Paul Hayward and Friends getting the night started from 4.30pm, followed by The Broken Hands at 7.30pm and Lil’ Hazel at 9pm. As if that wasn’t enough great music, from 4pm to 6pm on Sunday, sit back and enjoy five-piece indie pop rock band Armistite and heavy rock playing brothers, Haiku. And do all this with a beverage and meal in hand.

Canada’s deranged and acclaimed Evil Elvis is back in Sydney for the fifth time. it is all part of the Down Under Zombie Outlaw Tour 2014. Evil Elvis is a bad ass, big balled version of the Stray Cats meets The Cramps, with a stage show packed with originals and classic psychobilly tracks. You won’t know what’s hit you! Tickets are $15.

To book call 9550 3666.

STRUT! @ THE STAG Wednesday, October 15 The Bald Faced Stag This Sydney band competition for local musos has reached the Wildcard Round. This Wednesday the competition is expected to ramp up as bands rock harder than ever for their chance to fill those last spots in the semi-finals, which take place next month.

There will be five local acts performing from 8pm on the night.

Come along and support the inner west’s emerging artists. Tickets are $15 at the door.

Friday 10 October 2014 the inner city weekender

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TEST YOUR BRAIN

crossword 1

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Friday 10 October 2014 the inner city weekender

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ACROSS 1. Schnitzel meat 4. Grove of fruit trees 8. Leo animal 11. Hessian bags 13. Implant 15. Whinny 17. Fifth month 18. Sleep late (3,2) 20. Lifelong 21. Grind down 24. Undue speed 27. Get on in years 28. Tightly-packed 30. Colloquial saying 31. Altogether (2,3) 33. Off course 34. Exercises (influence) 35. Zodiac crustacean 36. Door handle 39. Goaded 42. Pale-faced 44. Replenish 45. Respond 46. Bread bun 48. Great Wall of ...

49. Fang 50. Tyrant 52. Duck lakes 54. University faculty head 55. Producer 56. Male chauvinist 57. See us through, ... us over 60. Focal points 62. Shadowed 65. Distort (meaning) 67. Exchange 69. Hawk’s claw 70. Assisted 72. ... & panties 73. Harmonica, mouth ...

75. Callous opportunists 77. Try, have ... (1,2) 79. Actor, ... Moore 81. Sprocket 82. Clan symbol 84. Build 85. Follow next 86. Walk in water 87. Marches

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Fill in all squares so each row, column and each of the nine 3 x 3 squares contain all digits from one to nine.

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Last week’s solutions 88. Horse pace DOWN 1. Wine 2. Incidental comment 3. Dawdle 4. Scandinavian city 5. Funny movie 6. In any case 7. Debutantes 8. Flower necklace 9. Perfect 10. Cat’s lives 12. Strategy board game

14. Combine 16. Church senior 19. Arctic shelter 22. Sell to public 23. Nappy (US) 25. In the centre of 26. Helm 29. Catching (thief) 32. Demand 35. Knit with hooked needle 37. Fishing-line fibre 38. Annoys 40. Office warning system,

fire ...

41. Furnishing scheme 42. Corrosive substances 43. Crotchets or minims 44. NZ glacial inlet 47. Disliked 51. More effortless 52. Spanish pre-Euro currency unit 53. Saloon cars 54. Expel (barrister) 58. Lead-in 59. Anticipated touchdown time (1,1,1)

61. Emblem 63. Love 64. Ballroom performer 65. Deeply cut 66. Registers 68. Ranted 71. Diner 72. Ferment 74. Bowels 76. Views 78. Skip 80. Before (poetic) 83. In bloom

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Friday 10 October 2014

the inner city weekender // www.innercityweekender.com.au

Roller smackdown Inner West Skatecrashers give it their best to finish fourth CHRIS CONNOLLY

@connolly2204

P

laying in Division 4 of the Eastern Region Roller Derby Smackdown last weekend, the Inner West Skatecrashers finished fourth with one win and two losses.

The Skatecrashers started well beating the Blue Mountains Free Sisters 176-166 before being thrashed by the South Side Derby Dolls 91-190. In their final game they went down to the Hawkesbury/Hills CamoKazis 163-164 in a nailbiter.

Inner West Roller Derby League president Capt’n KidKat said it was disappointing to lose to Hawkesbury/Hills after beating them earlier in the year but she was pleased with the way the Inner West players were developing.

“Two years ago we competed at the same tournament. We barely knew how to play.

The sport is getting more and more demanding, players are feeling the need to join gyms, working with physios, doing warm-ups and cool-downs,” she said.

Roller derby is played between teams of up to 14 players although only five from each team are allowed on the track at any one time.

The Inner West Skatecrashers (in black) taking on the South Side Derby Dolls (teal and purple) on the Central Coast last weekend. Photo: Double Time Imagery One player on each team has a star on her helmet and is known as the jammer. They start behind the other players and have to work their way through the pack to score points. The other players simultaneously try to block the opposing team’s jammer while clearing a way for their own jammer. Capt’n

KidKat said the sport was wonderful for the self esteem of the women who take part.

“They become stronger. You see them step up both at work and in their personal lives.”

The Inner West Roller Derby league is holding a fundraiser on Saturday, October 25 at 1pm at the Vic on the Park in Marrickville.

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