It’s a boy’s life, but is it reality? Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au THE film The Mask You Live In screening at the Shirley Burke Theatre, Parkdale, next week examines the role boys are encouraged to play in our society and how the pressures to conform influence their behaviour. It follows a group of boys and young men in the US as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating our culture’s narrow definition of masculinity. Under societal pressure, the characters confront life’s “messages” – often subliminal – which encourage them to disconnect from their real emotions, devalue their friendships, objectify and degrade women, and resolve conflicts through violence. Online videos compound this false view of reality – especially pornography which, these days, is so easily accessed by the young. The gender stereotypes interconnect with race, class, and circumstance, creating a maze of identity issues boys and young men must navigate to become “real” men. Founder of Suburban Sandcastles, Bridget Wood, is hosting the film. She says it is important to channel boys’ behaviour – good and bad – in constructive ways and generate purpose and passion. “We, as a society, prescribe gender roles which limit boys’ true expression,” she said. “These roles mask the reality of life and boys simply have to act as they are expected to.”
The impact of media games is a case in point. By the time boys are 12 they may have “killed” 12,000 people at the touch of a button. There’s no empathy or involvement – just detachment. “Some boys live in a world of video games and dopamine hits. It’s not reality but it is how boys are taught to behave.” Ms Wood said beliefs and expectations about male behaviour were handed down through generations and allowed to prevail. Hence the need for the film: “When a society doesn’t question things we get polarised. This is really about opening a conversation and assessing how best to raise boys.” Actors in the film range from a three-year-old to elderly men. One is a US football coach who talks about his boyhood experiences and how they influence his coaching style. It’s all manly stuff. Experts in neuroscience, psychology, sociology, sports, education, and media also weigh in, offering empirical evidence of the “boy crisis” and tactics to combat it. The Mask You Live In aims to illustrate how we, as a society, can raise a healthier generation of boys and young men. A guest panel will include social worker and counsellor Melissa Rowe and neuroscientist and behaviour expert Brett Fisher. They will take part in a question and answer session afterwards, take questions about the film and offer their professional and personal opinions. Tickets are available online or at the
Mixed messages: When we don’t question things we become polarised, says film organiser Bridget Wood, pictured with her young son.
theatre for $25. Doors open at 5:45pm for the 6.45pm screening on Wednesday 15 July. Viewers can buy dinner and dessert. Exhibitors will showcase products and services reflecting the Suburban Sandcastles’ ethos of connection with our food, environment, relationships and ourselves.
Proceeds from a raffle will help support a disadvantaged child through children’s author Liliane Grace’s Master your Life and You Can Master Anything online program which guides children and teens through goal-setting, reflection and building resilience. See suburbansandcastles.com
Golf club sets new course Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au A NEW board at Rossdale Golf Club seems to have driven plans to sell off the club’s Aspendale golf course for residential development into the bunker. Three new Rossdale Golf Club board members – Nick Linford, Geoff Charnley and Tony Mitchem – were elected to the club’s nineperson board late last month. Club general manager Tim Hanton wrote to members last week, on behalf of the board, to advise Rossdale Golf Club has “secured some short term funding via a members loan” and is in negotiations with several
banks to secure long term funding “by the end of September”. Mr Hanton’s letter follows a previous email from the general manager stating the club was contemplating a move to Bangholme as a way to ease financial pressures (‘Golf course fears to the fore’, The News 1/7/15). The latest letter confirmed a proposal to sell an 80 metre by 30 metre parcel of land at the 43-hectare Sixth Avenue golf course, previously approved by club members at the 2013 annual general meeting, has been submitted to Kingston Council for approval. As a result, the board will no longer seek members’ approval for any further changes and a planned Special General Meeting later this month
will no longer take place. Mayor Cr Geoff Gledhill said council cannot pre-empt any decision on the planning application but had encouraged the club to submit it. “We will continue to work with them. It’s an important club for the members and the people who live down that way.” In the mayor’s opinion, large-scale residential development would not be suitable for the area. “It’s a place that it’s difficult at the best of times to get in and out of,” Cr Gledhill said. The mayor said council is speaking to Golf Victoria and recognises that some golf clubs will have to change their business model. Rossdale Golf Club will consider
a redesign of its course to cater for golfers who may not have the time to play all 18 holes in a round. Mr Hanton told The News new members would go a long way to securing the club’s long-term future. “Anyone who wants to join is more than welcome to give me a call. We’re happy to take any new membership enquiries and get people into the club.” The new board will answer questions about the club’s future strategy at an annual general meeting on Monday 24 August. Call Rossdale Golf Club on 9580 1008 or email rgc.manager@rossdalegolf.com.au for membership enquiries.
Twilight art lights up Arts Centre SEE your name up in lights at the Kingston Arts Centre as part of the free twilight exhibition Voices in the Courtyard Projections. The projections – which feature the community’s responses to the question “Art Is …?” will be screened daily on Kingston Arts Centre’s external courtyard wall every evening 6-9pm, from Monday 13 July until the end of August. The illuminated word art display features a series of black-and-white slides, inspired by the responses of more than 100 people at the Kingston Arts Makers Market in December. Kingston mayor Cr Geoff Gledhill said the innovative arts project tapped into community views on the arts. “Market-goers of all ages were asked to respond to the open-ended question: “Art Is …?” he said. “Voices in the Courtyard Projections highlights the diverse range of ideas and perceptions from community members about what art is, and the potential of what art can be.” The courtyard is at Kingston Arts Centre, 979-985 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin. See kingstonarts.com.au or call the Kingston Arts Centre on 9556 4440.
Head to beach for National Tree Day THE focus of National Tree Day – Sunday 26 July – will be to boost the amount and scope of indigenous vegetation along Kingston’s foreshore. Mayor Cr Geoff Gledhill is urging residents to head along to planting days at Aspendale, Bonbeach and Carrum beaches to help protect foreshore areas from erosion. “Planting trees and shrubs will help stabilise foreshore dunes and protect our beaches,” he said. “It is a fun and rewarding day spent with others in our community. All you need do is come along ready to roll up your sleeves and help.” Planting sessions will be held at Aspendale Gardens’ Yammerbrook Nature Reserve and Mordialloc Creek Reserve. More than 21 million native trees, shrubs and grasses have been planted by more than three million volunteers on Planet Ark’s National Tree Days, established in 1996. Events will be 10am-noon, Sunday 26 July. Call call 9581 4734 for details. An Interfaith Tree Planting Day will be held 10am-1pm, Saturday 1 August, at Mordialloc Creek Reserve, Mordialloc. Meet at the George Woods Reserve car park, off Governor Rd.
Peninsula Fireplace
Centre
We Specialise in the Sales of
Fireplace Systems 6/42 Hartnett Drive, Seaford PH: 9770 4011
W: www.peninsulafireplace.com.au E: info@peninsulafireplace.com.au
...Don’t miss securing that wanted property
Volkswagen, Audi & Skoda Specialists
✓ Immediate access to Bond & Rent ✓ Move into that property now ✓ Fast prompt assistance ✓ Easy terms and conditions ✓ No upfront fees and charges ✓ Pre approval before finding a property ✓ We can assist with transfer of bonds between properties
All Service & Repair Work using Genuine Parts Passenger & Commercial Vehicles Factory trained Volkswagen Technician Quality, affordable alternative to dealership servicing
WE CAN ASSIST YOU WITH IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO BOND AND RENT
✆1300 554 470
All other Makes & Models Welcome
2-4 Chelsea Rd, Chelsea VIC 3196 Fax: 03 9776 2929 Email: info@bondassist.com.au
www.bondassist.com.au
1/257 Governor Rd, Braeside Ph: 9580 7110 www.volkser vice.net.au
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 8 July 2015
PAGE 3