BWB
Thursday, February 4, 2021
perthnow.com.au/community-news
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NEWS
February 4, 2021Editorial Director: Amanda Keenan News Production: Michael Palmer Design: Carly Pilton
Features Editor: Arylene Westlake-Jennings
Digital Editor: Alison Middleton
General inquiries: 9237 1000
Email: east@communitynews.com.au Reporters:
Kristie Lim 9237 1563
(Bayswater, Bassendean, Vincent)
Nadia Budihardjo 9237 1564 (Stirling)
Photographers:
David Baylis, Andrew Ritchie
Advertising Manager: Max Wilson 0420 927 511 Advertising Executives: Julie Gaze 0420 211769 Sharlene Galvin 0448 000801 Contact Centre/Trades: Ricardo Jeremiah 9237 1490 Distribution 1800 811 855
Published by: Community Newspaper Group
50 Hasler Road, Osborne Park WA 6017.
Printed by Colourpress
54 Hasler Road, Osborne Park WA 6017.
THE City of Bayswater has improved accessible parking at one of its major facilities in light of a campaign to sup-port Acrod permit holders.
The City joined the National Disability Services Acrod’s 10-week This Bay is Someone’s Day parking campaign last month.
This comes after the Acrod car bays at Bayswater Waves were widened in August to make it easier for permit holders to enter and exit the aquatic centre.
Road stickers have also been placed at the Waves’ Acrod parking bays in a bid to raise awareness.
“As part of the City’s Access and Inclusion Plan, the City is committed to
cre-ating a community for peo-ple of all abilities, where everyone can enjoy the same experiences, and have equal access to all opportunities the City has to offer,” Mayor Dan Bull said.
“The four-year plan includes a budget commit-ment to improve and pro-mote accessible parking and infrastructure across coun-cil-owned and managed facilities and services.
“With more than 90,000 Acrod permit holders across Western Australia, This Bay is Someone’s Day is an important campaign to high-light the impact that parking without a permit can have on someone’s day.”
For details, call 9272 0658.
Help make their day
Bayswater Mayor Dan Bull with community access and inclusion advisory committee members Catherine Marion and Suresh Rajan at Bayswater Waves.
BWB
February 4, 2021
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
3
HOMELESSNESS service providers say they have been swamped with requests for assistance during WA’s five day lockdown. There are more than 400 rough sleepers living on the streets in the metropolitan region. Homelessness services are working with govern ment agencies to support people experiencing home lessness and deliver their services in a safe and healthy way. Shelter WA CEO Michelle Mackenzie said people expe riencing homelessness, par ticularly those who are rough sleeping, were espe cially vulnerable to COVID19. “As we know, lockdown requires everybody to stay home to stop the spread of COVID19 but people experi encing homelessness have no home to go (to),” she said. “Service providers are being swamped by people who are sleeping rough pleading for accommoda tion. “Government must be congratulated for recent ini tiatives that provided accommodation and service support for people who were living in local parks, provid ing the foundation for path ways to a permanent home.” City of Perth staff will continue to help homeless people in the CBD during the COVID lockdown. The City closed a range of community facilities after the State Government announced the fiveday lock down but its Safe City ran gers and security officers are continuing to patrol the city on foot and in cars. Rangers in the Safe City team will give water and assistance to people experi encing homelessness. Its outreach service Roo Force will also continue to operate in Wellington Square and Victoria Gar dens.
Housing
services
feeling
the strain
Michael Palmer ELEVEN months on from the initial COVID19 lock down, some businesses have swiftly ‘pivoted’ back to takeawayonly services while some have elected to take a minibreak during WA’s fiveday lockdown. The lockdown has not kept food businesses such as Sherbet Cafe and Bake Shop in Maylands, Folklore in West Perth, Spritz Spizziche ria in Mt Hawthorn and Old Lira in Bassendean out of the game. The newlyopened For klore in the City West Cen tre, which is the sister cafe to tbsp. in Bayswater, had to become takeawayonly just two weeks on from opening its doors. “For the duration of this short, fiveday lockdown, we will be adhering to govern ment health guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety,” the cafe said on Facebook. In Maylands, Rossonero Pizza was among the local food joints that instead made the call to close shop during the lockdown. “With an active COVID19 passing through Maylands these last few days, we want to do everything possible to keep our community safe,” the pizzeria said on Face book. “And thus, we are closing up completely for a few days and getting all our crew test ed (as a precaution). “That way we can be sure everyone is safe when we return. “We want to stress that none of our crew have been at the sites at the times the authorities have indicated and we have no reason to suspect any positive cases coming through our space. “This is all just about being thorough and safe.”Safety first for foodies
WHAT’S STILL OPENCITY OF BAYSWATER - tbsp., Bayswater - Drip Espresso,
Bayswater Sherbet Cafe and Bake Shop, Maylands Smoult’s Larder, Maylands Chapels on Whatley, Maylands -Esprezzo, Noranda - Bite My Banh Mi, Morley - Bobaboba, Morley - Little Viet Restaurant, Morley
TOWN OF BASSENDEAN - Old Lira, Bassendean - O2
Bassendean - Chomp 68, Bassendean - Bassendean Kebab & Cafe, Bassendean - Suisen Japanese Takeaway Restaurant, Bassendean
CITY OF VINCENT Spritz Spizzicheria, Mt Hawthorn
-Panda & Co, Perth - Solo Pasta, Mt Lawley - Mon Taste of Japan, Leederville - Satchmo Cafe, North Perth
CITY OF STIRLING Black Pig Deli & Co, Inglewood
-Cecchi’s, Inglewood - Hoodburger, Inglewood - New Place Japanese Kitchen, Inglewood - Kasma’s Thai Kitchen Restaurant, Inglewood - Finlay & Sons, Inglewood
CITY OF PERTH - Forklore, West Perth - Is Donburi Dining
Room, Northbridge - Long Chim, Perth - Grill’d Shafto Lane, Perth BamBamBoo, Perth Little China Girl, Northbridge -7grams chicken cafe, Northbridge
MAYLANDS businesses are staying positive despite their suburb being the key hot spot of WA’s potential sec ond wave of COVID19. It comes as the State Government placed the Perth metropolitan area into an emergency fiveday lock down on Sunday, after a Maylands hotel security worker in his 20s tested posi tive to the deadly virus. Smoult’s Larder owner Georgie Lindsay told the Re porter on Monday that she was hopeful things would return to normal following the lockdown. “We put all our COVID plans in place that we had previously with the added measures of masks and making sure that everyone that comes into our shop checks in (on the Safe WA app),” she said. “We put it in eight squares and we will only be letting eight people in at a time for an all takeaway service. “Yesterday (Sunday) after noon, people straight away started wearing masks on Whatley Crescent and even today (Monday), we have not had anyone coming in and not wearing a mask. “Everyone is positive. “We know what to do and we will do it and it will all fine by Friday.” Ms Lindsay said her busi ness would be working with other Whatley Crescent businesses and Chapels on Whatley on the relaunch of the Bring Whatley Home delivery initiative during the lockdown. “We are all supporting the whole strip and we are going to look after each other to make sure we are all OK,” she said. Chapels on Whatley own er Keith Archer said it was a “shock” to hear that May lands was a COVID19 hot spot last week. “The community here in Maylands is really diverse; we have got a few million dollar houses on the (Swan) River and then we have got highrise apartments,” he said. “If it is going to happen anywhere, it is going to hap pen here. “It just brings everything back to reality. “People were getting quite blase about ‘we are so lucky’, it became normal for us. WA’s proven that when they are told to do something, they can actually do it.” Looking at the “big pic ture”, he was hopeful that things would return to nor mal as most businesses were open for takeaways. “We look down our street and all of us had our doors open,” he said. “We are trad ing on, looks a bit different but we are here to deliver.” He said all of his staff members have been tested for COVID19. Lyric Lane coowner and Maylands Business Associa tion president, Michiel de Rutyer said his business was not opening until the “threat” had passed. “I haven’t spoke to the wid er business community but as a local Maylands business in hospitality, we are disap pointed but certainly sup port the measures taken,” he said. Mr de Rutyer said working in the Maylands shopping precinct, he believed getting a COVID19 test was “man datory” and “good practice”. “Our staff are similarly being tested…my wife and I had ours this morning (Mon day),” he said. “(It was) not fun but feel better for it.”
Emphasis on positive
Kristie Lim4
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
February 4, 2021 LUNA Palace Cinemas has refunded ticket holders who were planning to spend their Sunday and Thursday even ings at the cinemas rather than stuck in an emergency fiveday lockdown. The State Government’s COVID19 lockdown announcement on Sunday rocked Perth’s cinema in dustry, which had to wind back the clock to when all venues were shut at the start of the pandemic last year. In a statement released on Monday, Luna Palace said it hoped and anticipated to be able to again operate after 6pm this Friday. “The two soldout events – Sunday night’s Movies With Mark: Minari, at Luna Lee derville and The Food Club’s opening night event this Thursday at the Windsor will be rescheduled as soon as we know we can open again,” the statement said. “In the meantime, all tick et holders have been refund ed.” The Inglewood night mar kets, held every Monday, were cancelled this week. Organisers will wait for further lockdown recovery information before decidin g if next week’s event can go ahead. “We were a little disap pointed as it’s also in the midst of Fring’d @ Ingle wood at the markets but we also understand the impor tance of community safety and want what’s best for community,” Inglewood on Beaufort event and market manager Tracy Frawley said. “It was a nobrainer we just had to cancel the event and let all our crew, food and market vendors and artists know, and they are all very understanding.”Lockdown forces closures
PERTH fashion label ILKA sold out of face masks within hours of ramping up produc tion to help the community through WA’s emergency fiveday COVID19 lock down. The label and clothing manufacturer, which relo cated from Mt Hawthorn to Pier Street in Perth’s CBD this month, responded quickly to the State Govern ment’s announcement on Sunday. The brand’s Instagram account posted a cheeky photo of coowner Erin Tay lor wearing one of their sig nature masks with the caption: “@mark_mcgo wan_mp, need a mask?”. Taylor and her business partner Kate Wilks announced they were “sew ing away” in light of the lock down announcement but demand was clearly stronger than supply, with all masks selling out within an hour. One fan lamented: “Argh I should’ve bought them when they first came out!!”. ILKA previously started making face masks and med ical scrubs in April last year when the first lockdown began.
Masks in short
supply again
Kristie LimILKA co-owner Erin Taylor wearing a face mask.
Picture: ILKA
Fresh milk to your door
BROWNES Dairy has rec orded a huge surge in demand for its ‘Milko’ home delivery service, which was revived during last year’s lockdown. Sales have doubled compa red with the previous lock down, with 900 orders placed on Tuesday. The Balcattabased com pany scaled up its delivery capacity within hours of Sunday’s lockdown announ cement and expanded the service. Orders are made online, and drivers wear masks and gloves, and text customers before they arrive.
Jo Granby from Brownes Dairy. Picture: David Baylis
BWB
February 4, 2021
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
5
CITY of Bayswater staff helped provide security around a COVID testing clin-ic in Maylands.
The Department of Health set up the pop-up clinic at The Rise on Monday to help meet testing demands.
Maylands was identified as containing several possi-ble COVID exposure sites.
CEO Andrew Brien said the City welcomed the clinic being established and worked with the State Government on setting up the facility at short notice.
It provided staff, helped with cleaning, and its ran-gers and security team pro-vided security in and around the venue.
Mr Brien said City facili-ties in Maylands and Morley would receive a deep clean while they were closed.
The City closed Bayswater Waves, the Maylands Penin-sula and Embleton Golf Course, community tennis and basketball courts and the Morley Sport and Recre-ation Centre, which is man-aged by the YMCA on behalf of the City.
Libraries in Bayswater, Morley and Maylands were also closed, as well as the City-run community cen-tres in Bayswater and Mor-ley.
Library items that were due to be returned while
they are closed will have their due back date extended automatically to after the libraries reopen.
Local playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor recre-ational facilities, including barbecues and outdoor fit-ness equipment, were fenced off with tape.
The City’s civic centre ad-ministration building was also closed, with signage directing people to the City’s website for updates.
“We understand that the
closure of the libraries and the Civic Centre will reduce access to our customer ser-vice facilities so we encour-age community members to call us on 9272 0622, email us at mail@bayswater.wa.gov. au or message us via Face-book,” Mr Brien said.
“I would like to reiterate that the safety of the com-munity and our staff is our top priority as we continue to operate in this challeng-ing environment. I would encourage anyone who has
visited one of those sites list-ed during the dates and times published to present for a COVID-19 test.”
The Town of Bassendean has closed its library, cus-tomer services and youth services.
A spokesperson said the Town would continue to monitor and implement Government advice. Resi-dents with questions or who need assistance can call 9377 8000 or email mail@bassen-dean.wa.gov.au.
Staff rise to the challenge
Michael Palmer
Long wait... the queues in Maylands early in the morning.
CITY of Vincent residents were urged to look after each other after council facilities were closed as part of this week’s lock-down.
Chemist Warehouse in North Perth was listed as an exposure site by the State Government.
Mayor Emma Cole urged anyone who visited the Fitzgerald Street pharmacy on January 29 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm to get a COVID test.
“We extend our best wishes to this popular local business, all staff and customers and hope everyone remains in good
health,” she said.
“Tell the kids it’s a bonus week of school holi-days, support our local businesses whenever you can and most importantly stay safe and look out for loved ones and neigh-bours.”
The City closed Beatty Park Leisure Centre, its community centre and library, all of its play-grounds and the Leeder-ville skate park.
The City’s annual gen-eral meeting of electors, which was scheduled to be held on Tuesday, has been pushed back to next Tues-day.
MALLS, public amenities and highly-frequented ar-eas within the City of Perth were scheduled to receive enhanced clean-ing this week.
The City’s library, Perth Town Hall, Citi-place Community Centre, iCity Kiosk, Council House, playgrounds and Jacobs Ladder have all been closed.
Waste operations con-tinued as normal and its childcare centre has remained open for essen-tial workers’ children only.
Parking in City of Perth carparks was made free during the lockdown to help essential workers.
That will remain in place until the end of lockdown at 6pm this Fri-day.
A ticket will still be required to enter City car-parks but there will be no fee when leaving.
People using car parks without boom gates will not have to buy a ticket.
City parking inspectors continue to monitor clear-ways, footpaths and ACROD bays.
OPINION
6
NEWS
February 4, 2021SHAKEN UP BY DRILLING
MY wife and I are 100 per cent in favour of better public transport, but some of the works associated with Metronet have not just been horribly intru-sive but are now compro-mising our security.
Drilling works in the streets near Bayswater sta-tion are causing sinkholes to open up and the whole area is rapidly being turned into a swiss cheese beneath the surface.
But we have just been notified by Metronet that the drilling will go on until June.
Why is it that every sin-gle telecommunications company has to drill its own hole for a huge con-duit big enough to take a couple of dozen of their cables?
Why is there zero central co-ordination of this work? Why is it that after we have had our homes shaken around for a week by one drilling company, that after a few days of peace and quiet another one starts up, and then an-other?
The ground beneath us and our homes simply can-not take any more drilling and the sinkholes we are now seeing are irrefutable proof of this. It has to stop now.
They need to be told to dig one big trench, then be given a month to put all their pipes and cables in,
after which it will be filled in, and if some telecommu-nications company misses that deadline, they miss out.
NICK SUESS, Bayswater
HISTORIC VISION NEEDED
WE appreciate the stories on 1 Surrey Street, plus the letters to the editor on how the Town of Bassendean seems to be thinking it’s easier to dispose of Surrey Street and the Pensioner Guard Cottage than have a five-year plan to fix these historic buildings for his-toric and exhibition dis-plays, plus community group use.
This would be far more acceptable with keeping within the Town’s budget restraints and still having a community asset that could better utilised with-out disposing of a signifi-cant piece of State history that should be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
On a recent visit to the
new WA Museum, I saw a display on the Pensioner Guards and the Barrack Archers building that housed the Pensioner Guards, so it was mind boggling to me that the Bassendean councillors and the staff can’t come up with a five-year plan to re-store and retain Surrey Street, which is a piece of State history, and not dis-pose it.
I would like the council-lors, Town staff and local community user groups come up with a plan that would be a great benefit in keeping this valuable, his-toric Town asset.
There is a better solu-tion... the council needs to see it as not too hard to maintain and keep 1 Sur-rey Street for the future.
They need to have a vision, which at the moment is sadly lacking.
Let’s hope a better solu-tion is reached for these historic building to still remain in pubic hands.
CAROL SEIDEL, Bassendean The Pensioner Guard Cottage.
CITY of Bayswater families can learn how to move to the Food Organics and Garden Organics three-bin system at local information sessions this month ahead of its roll out in March.
The FOGO system will build on the existing three-bin system, with families able to put their organic food waste in the lime green lid bin together with garden waste.
The FOGO bins will be col-lected weekly, while the red lid general waste and yellow lid recycling bins will be col-lected every second week.
Bin sizes and collection days will not change.
Families can attend infor-mation sessions in Morley, Maylands and Noranda be-tween February 17 and 24.
Kitchen caddies produced from 100 per cent recycled plastic will be delivered to households during March.
Once residents have received their caddies, they can start using them straight away to sort kitchen scraps into the caddy and then into their lime green lidded FOGO bins for collec-tion. In line with the State Government’s COVID-19 guidelines, people attending the information sessions
have to register at bayswa-ter.wa.gov.au/fogo.
For information, visit bayswater.wa.gov.au/fogo,
call the FOGO hotline on 9272 0964, email fogo@bays-water.wa.gov.au or visit the City’s Facebook page.
What’s bin
making news
Preston Krajancich learns about the FOGO bin system. INFORMATION SESSIONS: City of Bayswater Civic
Centre, 61 Broun Avenue, Morley: February 17, from 9am to 8pm. Presentations will take place at 10am, 2pm and 6pm. The Rise, near Maylands Library, 28 Eighth Avenue, Maylands: February 20, from 9am to noon. Morley Library, 240 Walter Road West, Morley: February 23, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Morley Noranda Recreation Club, 85 McGilvary Avenue, Noranda: February 24, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.
BWB ROBERT Thompson Reserve in Noranda will not be considered for a future skate hub. City of Bayswater council lors voted 82 in favour of Deputy Mayor Filomena Pif faretti’s motion at the Janu ary 27 meeting to exclude the reserve from any current or future skate park and BMX strategy. Noranda residents feared developing a hub at the reserve would bring back antisocial behaviour that plagued their neighbour hood about a decade ago. Noranda resident Harry Bouzidis, who addressed the council on behalf of his neighbours, said the reserve currently had the “perfect balance” and a skate park would cause previous issues to resurface. “The skate park will bring us back to our properties as the reserve becomes over used again,” he said. “We fear that this may de stroy the positive communi ty feel the reserve has and the potential loss of family groups through perhaps bad language and unexpected in timidation. There are two bottle shops within walking distance so we expect anti social behaviour will gravi tate to this facility and we do believe there will be drink ing.” Mr Bouzidis said an elder ly widow who lived across from the reserve was “fear ful” of walking through a possible skate park to Hawaiian’s Noranda shop ping centre because she did not know how teenagers would react to her. Cr Piffaretti said a fenced dog exercise area and a per manent performing arts stage had been proposed for the reserve in the past 12 months and residents were uncertain about the future. “It (the reserve) is for pas sive use; there are families that go there for their chil dren’s birthday parties and like to have that open space and not this additional use.” Cr Elli PetersenPik voted against the motion because he believed it was ad hoc and did not follow proper proc esses. “The timing of the motion is my concern,” he said, “If Robert Thompson Reserve is not an appro priate location for a skate park and the community there does not want it, that is fine but this is something that will need to be managed during the work on the strat egy and community consul tation.” Cr PetersenPik also asked why other parks that were not appropriate for a skate park were not also excluded from a future strat egy.
Reserve is not ready to roll
Kristie Lim
Lifeline for Bassendean jetty
BASSENDEAN Mayor Renee McLennan has welcomed the State Government’s commit ment to replace its old jetty at Sandy Beach Reserve. Under the Department of Transport’s Recre ational Boating Facilities Scheme, $57,470 has been allocated to replace the dilapidated boating jetty with a new structure at the Bassendean river reserve. It’s among more than $1.5 million State Gover nement funding announced for major upgrades, replacements and planning for future works to improve boat ing facilities. Cr McLennan said the commitment to replace Sandy Beach’s decom missioned jetty was “great news”. “The jetty will comple ment the new natured based playground and ablutions that will be delivered by the Town of Bassendean in 2021,” she said. “Sandy Beach is much loved by our community and the upgraded facili ties will provide greater opportunities for people of all ages and interests to connect with the river and enjoy one of our beautiful natural spac es.” Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the funding created jobs in construction and the marine industry, as well enhancing lifestyles. “As we enjoy summer and more people choose to Wander out Yonder, it’s important the grow ing boating community has access to top quality facilities,” she said. Boating facility man agers can apply for grants of up to 75 per cent of the estimated pro ject cost, with the maxi mum amount limited to $750,000. For information, visit transport.wa.gov.au/ rbfs
Bassendean Mayor Renee McLennan with her son Xavier at Sandy Beach Reserve.
8
NEWS
February 4, 2021 OPERA enthusiasts can enjoy the best of WA Opera at local outdoor cinemas with the City of Perth Op era in the Park 30th Gala Concert to be livestreamed this month. Tickets for both concert days have sold out so the Opera has also worked with Telethon 7 Community Cinemas and Luna Palace Cinema’s Camelot Arts to put on livestreams. The Bassendean com munity cinema will show the concert on February 26. This year’s concert fea tures singers Emma Mat thews, Sara Macliver and Paul O’Neill, as well as WA rising stars Chelsea Burns, Lachlann Lawton and Brianna Louwen. Soprano Penny Shaw will be MC. Ms Louwen, of Highgate, said some of the biggest names in WA opera would perform wellknown music at the gala concert. Ms Burns, of South Guildford, said the gala concert reiterated her love for opera because people did not often get to experi ence such performances. “Often, when people go to an opera, they would just be waiting to hear what they know,” she said. “Most of the things in here people should know, so they can enjoy the whole thing. Being able to share those stories with new peo ple and just seeing the excitement that it brings to people who don’t have op era as part of their every day life like we do, is wonderful.” WA Opera executive director Carolyn Chard said the 30th anniversary was a significant milestone for everyone involved, including the singers. “Producing an event on this scale takes a monu mental effort,” she said. “After the COVID19 pan demic disrupted live per formance, we are proud to be able to reconnect with the people of WA with a new COVID safe format. This includes limiting audience numbers at the event but we are able to of fer two performance dates, livestream and the chance to watch from home.” Book free tickets for the Bassendean livestream at www.communitycinemas. com.au.Members of the Young Artist Program at WA Opera Chelsea Burns, Lachlann Lawton and Brianna Louwen at the Telethon Community Cinema in Bassendean. Picture: David
Baylis
Opera to
the people
ST Bart’s in East Perth has received an award for its work in supporting peo ple experiencing homeless ness. The service, which has been operating since 1963, won the Institute of Public Administration Australia WA’s Achievement Award for Excellence in the Not for Profit Sector for its Recon necting Lives program. The BHPfunded program has helped more than 200 people who have been sup ported by St Bart’s to secure and maintain a home in the community. Some of the critical servic es provided by the Recon necting Lives program include tenancy and budget ing support, referrals to rel evant services, attending appointments, NDIS imple mentation and obtaining identification, all of which are significant to preventing participants return to home lessness. St Bart’s CEO Samantha Drury said she was extreme ly proud of the work the pro gram had made in improving the lives of the people participating. “This award recognises the important results we have achieved over the past two years, which is support ing our clients who have commenced their journey towards their goal of living independently,” Ms Drury said.High
achievers
BWB February 4, 2021
STAGE
9
STEPPING on to the Crown Theatre Perth stage in January as Peter Allen’s partner Greg in production The Boy From Oz marked Peter Cumins’ first musical theatre performance in Australia, and it was an experience 17 years in the making. Growing up gay in Attadale during the ’90s had not been easy for Cumins, so moving to London in 2003 with his parents after he had graduated from Seton Catholic College seemed like a perfect opportunity. “I’m the youngest of three, so once I was old enough to do that they decided to go and live in London for a few years,” Cumins said. “I thought living with my parents there would make it an easy transition. I decided to go to university to study music theatre and then I stayed until COVID19 hit and we went into lockdown for 10 weeks.” Having performed in musicals Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Cumins went from singing on cruise ships in vocal group Triptonic to being stuck in his little London flat going stircrazy. He kept busy filming Quarantine Covers YouTube videos until he was fortunate enough to fly home to Perth in July, where he started teaching music theatre at Leederville’s Principal Academy while working on his first Fringe World show, Dear Divas — A Love Letter. “For the last 10 years I have been working primarily in music theatre and while I love it, there is a certain way to work where it’s quite rigid in terms of the style of performance and you’re playing a character; there’s a guideline or blueprint to how things need to be done,” he said. “I’ve never done a show before where it’s songs I love singing, the way I love singing them, with arrangements I had created myself. So I thought about the songs I love singing that I never get to sing and it was all the music I grew up listening to by my favourite divas. “As the idea progressed, it really became about growing up in Perth and how this music affected me. “There’s a Tina Arena medley, a Julie Andrews medley, an Olivia NewtonJohn medley and one for Celine Dion. “I think the music speaks for itself with beautiful songs and it’s a fun time.” At time of publication, Dear Divas — A Love Letter will be at ACES Downstairs at the Maj, His Majesty’s Theatre, February 9 to 13.Cumins
and goings
Tanya MacNaughtonTWO friends will be sharing their paintings of urban and natural landscapes at their first exhibition together at Ellis House Art Centre in Bayswater this month.
Bayswater resident Jo Haythornthwaite and Subiaco resident Noni Lowther will be showcasing more than 50 large and small pieces as part of their Take 2 exhibition from February 11 to 21.
The opening night will be held on February 14, from 3pm to 5pm.
Haythornthwaite, who has a diploma in graphic design, said the main theme was contemporary
abstracts exploring texture and colour with inspiration drawn from urban and natural landscapes.
“I will also show a selection of figurative pieces reflecting the emotions between people and animals and birds,” she said.
“My greatest inspiration is a love of nature. Noni’s abstract work is often inspired by photographs or vistas of nature.
“She loves to let her
imagination fly when she sees a breath-taking scene and with inspired energy, creates her version in paint and ink.”
She said they wanted to make the exhibition an “inclusive” event with live music by guitarist Chris Gibbs, food and drinks.
“The historical Ellis House Art Centre is a beautiful restored building to interest everyone attending and there are grassed areas for children to play on,” she said.
For information, visit Ellis House Art Centre’s website.
Drawing on
landscapes
Artists Noni Lowther and Jo Haythornthwaite.
10
LIFESTYLE
February 4, 2021PERTH resident Sean Bullock is helping to serve up a West End hit as part of Stirling Theatre’s first season of 2021.
Written by Moira Buffini and directed by Virginia Moore Price, Dinner dishes out an evening from hell as hostess Paige celebrates the publication and success of her husband’s philosophy book.
An artist, scientist and sexpot are invited to dine, served by a silent waiter (played by Bullock).
When an unexpected guest arrives, he gets trapped in the fun and games and feast of revenge that will inevitably be the undoing of the night’s entertainment.
“The waiter is a silent yet observant man who has a vital role to play during dinner,” Bullock said.
“The role requires a lot of non-verbal acting and almost constant movement.”
Moore Price said she chose to direct Dinner because the wording and
pace was extremely thoughtful and funny.
Dinner plays at 8pm February 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20, with 2pm matinees February 7 and 14. Tickets are $22, $20 concession – book at www.trybooking. com/BMAMF. The play contains adult themes and some coarse language.
Bullock is at your service
BWB
12
STAGE
February 4, 2021THE COVID-19 restriction on contact between most WA Ballet dancers for part of last year ignited a creative spark in principal Dayana Hardy Acuna and soloist Juan Carlos Osma. “Dayana and I felt lucky that we could keep dancing together because we’re a couple who lives and works together, so we celebrated that by making a work,” Osma, of Mt Lawley, said.
“It was just a way of creating for us, to keep us going during isolation, discovering new
movements that were about the sensitivity of touch because that’s what was lacking during COVID.”
The pair ended up filming the duet as guest artists for the South African
International Ballet Competition gala in July — presented online for the first time — by invitation of
the competition’s owner, who was Hardy Acuna and Osma’s former director at Joburg Ballet in South Africa.
WA Ballet artistic director Aurelien Scannella followed this by
programming their classical work Moment of Joy on the company’s triple bill As One: Ballet at the Quarry, at Quarry Amphitheatre as part of Perth Festival.
It has since been creatively developed and expanded to a 20-minute piece featuring 11 dancers.
The Cuban couple even worked on it during their Christmas break between their first visit to Rottnest Island and going swimming, horseback riding and skydiving.
Osma said they had given words to each movement in the work to act as a choreographic guideline, choosing “warmth and
softness” for the pas de deux, “sensitivity and strength” for the three couples and “care” for the part performed in a trio.
The work’s music will be a live virtuosic piano accompaniment by WA Ballet head of music Michael Brett, who has created a bespoke composition for Moment of Joy with a section of improvisation. At time of publication, As One: Ballet at the Quarry is at Quarry Amphitheatre, City Beach, until
February 27.
All tickets holders will be notified by email with any changes to performances under COVID-19 restrictions.
Chihiro Nomura and Matthew Lehmann will be in As One: Ballet at the Quarry.
Picture: David Baylis
At one with
each other
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February 4, 2021
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THE Perth Broncos moved all training sessions online this week due to the COVID lockdown but do not know if they will have a game this weekend.
The Broncos are sched-uled to take on the Vincent City Ducks on February 6 at James Miller Oval in Man-ning.
Only the men’s team is scheduled to play at 1pm, with the under-19s and women’s having a bye.
At the time of going to print, Gridiron West had not confirmed if the game would go ahead. Visit its Facebook page or email info@gridi-ronwest.com.au for details.
In round 12 last week, the Broncos took on the West Coast Wolverines at Warran-dyte Park in Craigie.
It was their second annual autism awareness match, raising funds for the All Stars Kids Club.
The under-19s lost 0-26 to the Wolverines, but in a re-versal of fortunes the women won 26-0. The men won their match 16-0.
Women’s assistant coach
Sean Taylor said the team played with good execution and intensity.
“The pressure we consis-tently put on the Wolverines and the relentless attack of the ball was a real team effort,” Taylor said.
“A huge push from the defensive line set Kellie Hop-kins up for a successful div-ing punt block, gettdiv-ing the ball back for our offence within 20 yards of the goal line and primed to score. Kally Baxter filled in on the defence at linebacker with little previous experience. She made plenty of tackles while continuing her great
work at running back.” Taylor said it was always a good match between the Broncos and Wolverines.
“Our annual autism awareness match is an important day for both clubs,” Taylor said.
“The Wolverines did a great job hosting it and rais-ing funds for local charity the All Stars Kids Club. The activities and bouncy castle kept the kids entertained and added to a great day of football.”
This weekend’s bye would give the women’s team time to get over niggles and inju-ries heading into the finals.
Broncos move training online
Lou Edwards (#23) dives to bring down the runner in the Perth Broncos Women's 26-0 win over the West Coast Wolverines, Pictures: JF Photography
The Perth Broncos and West Coast Wolverines gridiron clubs joined forces at their annual Autism Awareness Match to raise funds for local charity, the All Stars Kids Club.
NORANDA Hawks Junior Football Club wants to recruit more girls’ players in a bid to field more teams in 2021.
The club had 38 regis-tered girls in the 2020 sea-son, which was an increase from previous years, despite the year being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is now seeking to get to about 60 girls’ players and start two new teams this year.
President Mark Mical-lef said three new players from different sporting backgrounds had already
joined this summer, after four rookies joined the Year 11/12s team last year.
“For female football, I would love for Noranda to be seen as a club that sup-ports the development of female players,” he said.
“We have such a great culture at the club and our coaches work tire-lessly to support the players.
“I want girls to feel they can achieve something in footy, even if they start a bit older.
“Football offers such a fantastic community for
people.”
Throughout the off-sea-son, Micallef said the club worked hard with the City of Bayswater to “retro-fit” the existing changerooms to make them female friendly.
Micallef said pre-sea-son training would start next month, about six weeks before the season . He believed the tenta-tive start date for the sea-son was the first weekend of May.
For information, email secretary@noranda-hawks.asn.au or visit the club’s Facebook page.
Growing interest for girls
Noranda Hawks' young female players.
FOOTBALL West has can-celled all of its soccer matches until further notice.
This includes last Sunday’s scheduled NPL Night Series fixtures at Dorrien Gardens and Percy Doyle Reserve, train-ing and other programs.
Football West CEO James Curtis said all clubs had been building towards the start of the season.
“Football West NPL Night Series, the traditional pre-sea-son competition for our top flight sides, began for men’s teams on Saturday night,” he said.
“There has been real excite-ment across the community for the 2021 season, so hopefully with everyone doing the right thing, the lockdown will not be too lengthy.”
Soccer halts Night Series
THE 2021 WAFL premiership season is scheduled to start with five games over the Easter long weekend.
The 20-round season will start with a double-header on Good Friday, April 2, and finish with the grand final over the weekend of September 18 and 19 at a venue to be confirmed.
West Coast’s return to the WAFL takes the competition to 10 teams, seeing each team play each other twice with three byes across 20 rounds.
Training and gym sessions and face-to-face meetings for all football clubs and umpiring
groups in the metro, Peel and South-West areas were can-celled this week under this week’s lockdown.
“Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our football participants and the wider community, and this will remain at the forefront of all decision making,” the WAFC said in a statement.
WAFC WAFL and talent exec-utive manager Scott Baker said players, clubs and fans should be excited about the return of a full season.
WAFL pre-season fixtures will be played March 20 and 27.
