CITY HUB 19 November 2020

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BEACHSIDE

BEAUTY Art exhibitions to showcase Bondi & support Surf Life Saving Clubs

BY RIDA BABAR ith surf and entertainment being at the core of Sydney’s much-loved Bondi, there is no shortage of festivals and art on display this summer.

As the warmer months approach, artists are taking the opportunity to showcase their work in one of the most vibrant areas Sydney has to offer.

The Wonderland Art Festival, named after one of Sydney’s oldest amusement parks is returning for its second year.

The festival, presented by Tamarama Surf Live Saving Club at Tamarama Beach, will run from November 30 to December 6 and will display works from Australia’s best emerging artists, all available for affordable prices.

The festival comes as a relief from the cancellation of Sculptures By The Sea, filling the void that many Sydneysiders will feel as the city recovers from the impacts of COVID-19.

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All proceeds from the festival will go towards the funding of the Tamarama Club’s renovation.

Tracy Rockwell, the event director for Wonderland Art Festival, said “Tamarama Park and Beach were the site of Sydney’s first amusement park, which was constructed in 1951 and originally called the Bondi Aquarium. About 1906 it was taken over and renamed Wonderland, which unfortunately went out of business due to World War I. “Our art festival is named in honour of our unique ancestry, but our artists are free to exhibit their own particular style of art. We don’t nominate a theme, although ‘seascapes’ are appropriate.

“With Sculptures By The Sea postponed, our local community has been culturally starved, so Wonderland Art Festival will be a fantastic opportunity for visitors to view the amazing work of 30 emerging and established artists, and for collectors to directly purchase original works.”

The event will also have COVID-safe guidelines in place, with Tracy saying, “Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club has a registered COVID Safe Plan, which requires all visitors to check-in and adhere to COVID safe policies, and we will be providing hand sanitiser.”

Tracy also spoke on the process for curating works, boasting the inclusivity of the festival in saying, “we didn’t want to restrict the participation of artists exhibiting at the 2nd Annual Wonderland Art Festival in any way, so we’ve had an open door policy, which has resulted in some truly phenomenal Australian art.”

The link between Bondi’s surf and artistic culture is no doubt a strong one, with multiple murals and the infamous graffiti wall at Bondi Beach itself showing its deep artistic roots.

The picturesque seaside provides locals and tourists with the perfect chance to be inspired and create, indicating why it is one of the most popular spots in Sydney for film, television show, and music video production.

Continued on page 2

BEACHSIDE BEAUTY (Continued from the cover) photography series captured by Aquabumps.”

The exhibition provides a unique experience, being “designed to bring to life the winery’s rich history, showcasing the people and stories throughout the last 50 years.”

Eugene Tan also commented, saying “I think the relationship between Sydney’s art & entertainment scene and the surf scene is one that’s an extension of both our love for the ocean and being fortunate enough to live and be surrounded by it.

Aussies and Sydney siders in particular

Explore Your Horizons. Photo: supplied

The picturesque seaside provides locals and tourists with the perfect chance to be inspired and create, indicating why it is one of the most popular spots in Sydney for film, television show, and music video production.

The Explore Your Horizons exhibition is another artistic showcase coming to the North Bondi Surf Live Saving Club on November 28 and 29 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cape Mentelle Winery.

Cape Mentelle has partnered with Aquabumps, a Bondi-based art gallery with a keen focus on seaside life in Bondi and surrounds.

The exhibition, a photographic series with interactive elements will feature Aquabumps’ Eugene Tan’s work at

the Margaret River region where Cape Mentelle Wine originates.

The exhibition will have full COVID-19 guidelines in place, including contact tracing, temperature checks, hand sanitiser, and regular cleaning during the event.

A spokesperson from Explore Your Horizons has spoken on what guests can expect from the exhibition, saying “The Cape Mentelle x Aquabumps Explore Your Horizon interactive exhibition featuring ‘lift & learn’ technology and footage captured at the Margaret River winery, will give visitors the opportunity to experience the inspiring Cape Mentelle story, taste its range of exceptional Margaret River wines and enjoy a specially curated

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love the outdoors and we choose to live a relaxed and laid-back lifestyle which influences both the art scene and how we like to dine and be entertained – it is and will always be our way of life.”

Both festivals appreciate and pay homage to Bondi’s artistic roots and surf subculture, providing the perfect way to kick off summer.

WONDERLAND ART FESTIVAL -

www.tamaramaslsc.org

EXPLORE YOUR HORIZONS -

www.capementelle.com.au

COMMUNITY ORGANICS

ome delivery has become a staple of our lives in 2020. However, this can come with some shortcomings in relation to the quality of the food we order and receive. Luckily for residents of Sydney a new local company is solving those issues by delivering high-quality, organic fruit and veg right to your doorstep in a beautifully curated box.

Community Organics, founded by Damien La Ferla, has been around for a decade now with its focus on supplying Sydney with the best quality hand selected produce directly from farms.

“Everyone says they have the best quality, but we know we do. We genuinely handselect our produce straight from the farm,” said La Ferla.

Grab yourself a fresh seasonal box to ensure you have a healthy summer body ready to go when it’s time to hit Bondi Beach.

To order a Community Organics delivery head to www.communityorganics.com.au

Cats and kittens available for adoption Discounted feline health services

103 Enmore Road Newtown 9519 7201 www.catprotection.org.au

Information and advice

For people working with cats www.catcare.org.au

Specialist cat boutique

Rehoming Organisation Number R251000224

Ageing Support Supporting people living with HIV aged over 45, through the maze of aged care, disability, and healthcare services in NSW Contact Positive Life NSW on (02) 9206 2177 or 1800 245 677 (freecall)

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CITY HUB 19 NOVEMBER 2020

HubNEWS

Rising sea levels threaten iconic coast (See p.5)

Social housing renewal criticised

BY ALLISON HORE he NSW Government’s announcement of proposals to “renew” the Explorer Street social housing estate in Eveleigh and the social housing estate on Franklyn Street in Glebe has been met with criticism from the community.

Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey said the two new projects would bring the total number of new homes in the City of Sydney to around 4,250, of which around 1,260 will be social.

“Housing is key to the economic recovery of NSW with these five projects creating around 9,400 direct and indirect jobs over the lifespan of the projects,” Ms. Pavey said.

However the announcement to renew the properties as mixed-housing developments of 70 percent private housing was met with swift criticism from the community.

Jenny Leong, Member for Newtown and NSW Greens spokesperson on Housing, said the plan had less to do with maximising the development of new social and affordable housing, and more to do with opening up valuable public land to private development.

T HubARTS: Iphigenia In Splott Despite setting a dark tone from the get-go this show is not to be missed.

(See p. 6)

Published weekly and freely available throughout the Inner City.

Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city.

Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677.

Published by Altmedia Pty Ltd. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, we take no responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions.

ABN 52 600 903 348 Group Editor & Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Publisher Assistant: Mal Moody Advertising Managers: Mal Moody 0404 042 615 Dan Kinsela 0400 319 934 Advertising: sales@altmedia.net.au News Editor: Allison Hore Contributors: Allison Hore, Merril Witt Cartoonist: Sam Mcnair Arts Editor: Jamie Apps Contributors: Irina Dunn, Madison Behringer, Mark Morellini, Renee Lou Dallow, Rida Babar, Linc Jenkin Cover Photo: Supplied. Cape Mentelle x Aquabumps BTS Designer: Nadia Kalinitcheva Mail: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Email: news@altmedia.net.au, arts@altmedia.net.au Ph: 9212 5677 Fax: 9212 5633 Website: cityhubsydney.com.au If you have a story, or any comments you’d like to share with us: news@altmedia.net.au @CityHubSydney

Concept art for the proposal to renew the Franklyn Street social housing estate in Glebe. Photo: NSW Government

“Our communities recognise there is a deepening housing crisis across Sydney, and would welcome the redevelopment of these sites to increase public housing and the availability of homes that people can afford,” she said.

Ms. Pavey hit back at the criticisms to privatise part of the property and said creating a mixed use development would “deconcentrate disadvantage” in the area.

“By deconcentrating disadvantage, we can breathe new life into local economies and deliver more jobs, provide better connections to education outcomes and improve amenities for all residents,” she said.

But community group, REDWatch, said the plan would not “deconcentrate disadvantage” as an even greater number of housing tenants would be concentrated into an even smaller area.

“At best, it can be called statistical dilution,” said REDWatch.

“The same or more “disadvantaged” people, but less visible in the ABS statistics because they are swamped by people who live in the private market housing in the buildings around them.”

Over the next two years the NSW Government will be working with the City of Sydney to collect feedback on the projects.

Sydney councillor elected ALGA president

BY ALLISON HORE

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ity of Sydney councillor Linda Scott was elected president of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) which represents more than 500 councils nationwide.

Councillor Scott was elected to the position unopposed at the association’s AGM on Friday night. She will take over the role from Prospect mayor, David O’Loughlin, who has served as president of the association since 2016.

Ms. Scott was first elected to the City of Sydney in 2012, and re-elected in 2016. While in council she has been an advocate for more affordable housing and green spaces, increased early education and care centres, new skate parks, and increased funding for climate change action.

Councillor Scott also serves as the president of Local Government NSW, where she has been a strong advocate for sustainable council funding. She said Councillor Linda Scott was elected to be president of the Australian Local Government Association.

Photo: Facebook/Linda Scott

that she is “honoured” to have been elected as president of the ALGA and is committed to “looking after the best interests of local government and the people they serve”.

“Councils are the level of government closest to the community – and contrary to what many people might think, our responsibilities encompass much more than ‘roads, rates, and rubbish’,” she said.

“Councils run pools, art galleries, childcare and emergency management centres – they deliver meals on wheels, nurture small business, and tackle homelessness and violence against women among many other things.”

Paying tribute to her predecessor, Cr O’Loughlin, Ms. Scott said he had been a “highly effective champion for councils and for the interests of local communities”.

“He has been an outstanding ALGA President and local government advocate these past four years, and I am honoured to continue his work,” she said.

CITY HUB 19 NOVEMBER 2020

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HubNEWS Opinion

Brandy Hill Quarry planning tragedy

The expansion of the Brandy Hill Quarry was “heartbreaking”. Photo: The Brandy Hill and Seaham Action Group

BY MERRIL WITT he federal government’s approval of the expansion of the Brandy Hill Quarry in Port Stephens was heartbreaking, not only for the local community but for the people of NSW and beyond.

A local community organisation, the Brandy Hill and Seaham Action Group, had launched a last-minute, very effective campaign to stop the destruction of 52 hectares of koala habitat.

Its success in attracting widespread media attention even caused the NSW Environment Minister, Matt Kean, to surprisingly voice his opposition to an approval that was recommended by his own department.

At the opening of the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary on 25 September 2020, Mr Kean publicly implored his federal counterpart, Sussan Ley, to do the right thing and reject the Project.

“You should be looking very closely at this Brandy Hill decision because a lot is turning on the decision you will make,” he said.

The NSW Environment Minister must have known, however, that the timing couldn’t be worse for a reversal of a decision made by the NSW Independent Planning Commission of a State Significant Development.

Ms. Ley would have risked casting doubt on the credibility of the state’s environmental laws and planning processes just when her government is trying to secure passage through the Senate of its controversial Streamlining Environmental Approvals Bill.

Designed to vest states and territories with final approval for proposed actions likely to have a significant impact on Matters of National Environmental

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CITY HUB 19 NOVEMBER 2020

Significance, Ms. Ley says the Bill will “reduce regulatory burden, accelerate job-creating projects, promote economic activity and create certainty around environmental protections.”

But both Labor and the Greens have criticised the Bill for its failure to incorporate robust national environmental standards, as was recently recommended in the Interim Report of the statutory 10-year independent review of the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Needless to say, the only real option open to Ms. Ley was to improve the conditions of the Project’s consent and try to put the best face on a sadly inevitable outcome.

IMPACT STUDY CONTRADICTS ADVICE To inform her decision and possibly quell community anger about the Commission’s decision, Ms. Ley commissioned an additional study on how the loss of habitat would impact the future of Port Stephens’ estimated 200 to 400 koalas.

Interestingly, the report, prepared by the private biodiversity consultancy Biolink, contradicted the advice of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) that the Project would not cause a “significant impact” on the local koala population “due to the mobility of the species, the sparse populations in the locality and the availability of large areas of suitable habitat within other areas of the site and on surrounding land.” It found instead that the Quarry’s expansion footprint “has the potential to negatively impact on current east-west connectivity considerations for koalas.”

Ms. Ley used this finding to secure an additional commitment from

Hanson, the Quarry’s owner, to plant a 74-hectare koala habitat east-west corridor. This slightly more favourable outcome for koala protection allowed the Environment Minister to claim that the “strict additional conditions” will “expand the amount of higher quality habitat available” to koalas.

Quarry’s output set to double Unfortunately, a closer look at the likely impact of the Project’s very significant edge effects on Port Stephens and beyond suggest a far less rosy future, not just for the koalas but for the area’s residents as well.

You should be looking very closely at this Brandy Hill decision At the Commission’s public hearing, Port Washington MP and the Opposition’s Shadow Minister for the Environment, Kate Washington, tried to give a picture of the huge scale of the new extraction activity on Hanson’s 564 hectare rural property. “It’s going to be one kilometre wide by one kilometre long and to a depth of 78 metres,” she said of the 78.5 hectare permanent void that will take 163 years to fill with rain water, according to Hanson’s own estimate.

Carmel Northwood of Port Stephens Koalas expressed concerns about how the koalas on or near the site will cope with the stress of increased “blasting and crushing as well as the traffic.” Production will grow from 700,000 tonnes to 1.5 millions per annum and truck movements to and from the Quarry are expected to also double to close to 600 a day.

Ms. Northwood presented evidence of over 80 incidents of koala “rescues and releases out in the area of that quarry…

Either they were found dead or they died in care and couldn’t recover. About 30 were released,” she said.

Commission’s powers weakened Recent reforms to the Commission’s operations, which have curtailed the Commission’s power to conduct its own assessment process, may explain why these issues weren’t followed up?

When introduced earlier this year, Independent MP Justin Field characterised the reforms as a “gift to the mining industry.” Expert witnesses, for example, can no longer be called to testify at public hearings and the previously familiar practice of holding public hearings in multi-stages to allow time for additional evidence to be gathered and scrutinised has been discontinued.

These and other controversial reforms came out of a NSW Productivity Commission review that was prompted in part by the mining sector’s outrage over the Commission’s refusal of Kepco’s Bylong Valley Coal Mine proposal in September 2019.

The mine proposal in September was rejected by the Commission on the grounds that its impacts on Bylong Valley’s water, agriculture and heritage were unacceptable. It was also found to be contrary to the NSW Government’s policy of cutting carbon emissions in order to address the impacts of climate change.

Surely, equally as compelling reasons could or should have been made by the Commission to refuse or at least defer the Brandy Hill Quarry expansion proposal?

After all, Mr Kean’s response to predictions that NSW’s koalas will become extinct in the wild well before 2050 was a pledge to double the koala population by 2050!

HubNEWS

A grim future for Sydney’s coast

who are taking progressively stronger action - its legacy will be one of failure.”

BY ALLISON HORE “State of the Climate” report released on Friday paints a grim picture for Sydney’s iconic coastline and harbourside riverways.

The report prepared by the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO reveals global sea levels have risen by 25 centimeters since 1880, with half of this rise occurring in the past 50 years. The rate of sea level rise has accelerated by almost 3 centimeters a decade.

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The Federal Government is putting its head in the sand on climate change Sea levels are expected to continue to rise, and at a faster rate as time goes on, says the report. This rise leads to serious risk of inundation and damage to coastal infrastructure and communities.

But it’s not just the level of the sea that’s rising, the surface temperature of the oceans around Australia has also risen. The average surface temperature of the waters around Australia has

COUNCILS RISE TO THE TASK

Activists built a line of sandcastles on Bondi Beach to draw attention to environmental issues. Photo: Allison Hore

increased by 1 degree celsius since 1900. The rise in ocean temperature leads to marine heatwaves which, among other damage, leads to more severe coral bleaching events.

The state of the Climate Report highlighted other impacts which are worsening including extreme heat, longer fire seasons and more dangerous fire weather. A recent royal commission concluded, in “no uncertain terms”, last year’s Black Summer bushfires were driven by climate change.

And CEO of the Climate Council, Amanda

McKenzie, warns there’s worse to come.

She said while there’s overwhelming evidence of the negative effects climate change will have and has already had on the country, the government has done little to mitigate it.

“Despite this, we have once again witnessed the Federal Government putting its head in the sand on climate change,” said Ms. McKenzie.

“If this government does not start looking around at the states, territories, and overseas to our major trading partners like the US, the UK and China,

While the federal government has it’s “head in the sand on climate change” some councils are rising to the task of tackling climate change and carbon emissions on a local level.

Waverley Council has risen to the task of tackling climate change by signing a Safe Climate Declaration in April this year as a commitment to actively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change. This came after the council announced it had kicked its goal of a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The declaration was prepared during the Climate Emergency Summit in Melbourne which Waverley mayor Paula Masselos attended on behalf of the community. The declaration has over 3,000 signatories from across Australia.

“Through the Safe Climate Declaration, Waverley Council is sending an even stronger message to the community about how serious we are about tackling climate change for future generations,” Ms. Masselos said.

COFFIN ED’S NAKED CITY

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BRING BACK THE DUCKY!

t’s great to see that the Sydney Festival will go ahead in January 2021 with an ‘Australian Made’ program – no big name overseas acts but the spotlight on some wonderful local musicians, dancers, actors and artists. Naturally crowd numbers will be restricted with the various COVID-19 protocols but it’s a brave move to stage the event rather than surrendering to the pandemic and postponing until the following year.

Sydney in January has always had a unique buzz about it with its balmy summer nights and unpredictable weather. The latter is something that the Sydney Festival has always had to contend with, especially with its large scale outdoor events.

Back in 2012, Mike Patton of Faith No More fame was presenting his Mondo Cane concert in the Domain, playing the music of Italian pop songs from the 50s and 60 along with a sizeable orchestra.

During the first three songs the grassy expanses of the Domain, packed with thousands of festival goers, were hit with one of Sydney’s infamous sudden downpours – torrential rain accompanied by swirling winds. Sheet music from the stage blew in all directions as much of the

By Sam Mcnair #thatsneakyrabbit

crowd scattered. After a 20 minute break the indefatigable Patton returned to the stage to reward those who saw out the tempest with an encore of songs.

Similarly the ever popular Symphony Under The Stars has regularly battled the elements with ponchos an essential item in the picnic hamper. Whilst the rain has sometimes reduced numbers, it has never deterred the faithful and the warm summer evenings more than compensate for a soggy behind. Perhaps if weather predictions were a lot more accurate and rain was the forecast, the orchestra could

plan ahead with atmospheric inclusions like Handel’s Water Music or Mussorgsky’s Night On Bald Mountain.

Back in the late 1970s when the event was known as The Festival Of Sydney, under the direction of Stephen Hall (aka ‘Festival Hall’), there was a more populist, broad-based approach to the programming. The gala opening concert at the Sydney Opera House featured Sherbert, John Paul Young and Johnny Farnham whilst an extensive sporting program included a Soapbox Derby and a tug-of-war competition in Hyde Park. Sure

there was opera, theatre, dance and a sizeable jazz festival, but the Festival cast its entertainment net wide for all to enjoy.

That’s not to say the more recent Sydney Festivals have bogged down in high art and neglected the populace at large. The various directors have always looked to a combination of paid and free events that cater to a variety of tastes. Times have changed and it’s unlikely we will ever see free model train rides for kids in Hyde Park like we did in the late 70s, but there is plenty of modern innovation to come.

Mind you I would love to see a return of Florentijn Hofman’s giant rubber duck as we did in 2013. Five storeys high and five storeys wide, the big yellow ducky was such a hit with Sydneysiders that it made an encore return in 2014.

This year’s festival director Wesley Enoch may not have foreseen the current election mayhem in the US, but the inclusion of the giant inflatable Trump Baby would have been an enormous coup and a massive crowd pleaser. Imagine too, the Trump Baby, poised atop the big yellow ducky back again 2021, sailing splendidly into Darling Harbour. Now that’s what I call entertainment!

CITY HUB 19 NOVEMBER 2020

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HubARTS

AZURE RYDER:

“being back here all happened how it was meant to” (See p.7)

BLOOM FESTIVAL

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arlinghurst Theatre Company (DTC) has commenced its month-long Bloom Festival, combining culture, entertainment, and dining to create a truly immersive experience.

The company’s CEO and Co-Artistic Director Glenn Terry, and Co-Artistic Director Amylia Harris have revitalised the theatre space and discovered new ways of captivating audiences as government restrictions on public gatherings ease.

Speaking about the festival, Harris said, “The world has changed and, as an arts organisation, we must listen and respond.

We can’t simply pick up where we left off.

It’s time to explore the new normal.

“We have to embrace the opportunities we have right now. We want our audiences, our artists and the whole community to come on this journey with us and explore what it means to congregate and how we want to tell our stories moving forward.”

This festival follows the DTC’s successful season of Red Carpet Cabaret earlier this year.

The Bloom Festival will include a number of unmissable acts including Odette, the Hot Potato Band, Marissa Saroca, Frida Deguise and more.

The month-long event will have something for everyone, with cabaret shows, comedy, panel discussions, and cross disciplinary performances.

The festival runs until November 29, with performances from Wednesday to Sunday each week. (RBa) Until Nov 29. Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton St, Darlinghurst. $27-$54+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.darlinghursttheatre.com

Expired Flare Collection Transport for NSW expired marine flare collection program is on again in November.

Find a collection point near you to safely dispose of your expired flares.

Bayview Boat Ramp, Bayview

Sunday, 29 November 2020

7:30 to 12:00 12:30 to 17:00

Wonga Road Boat Ramp, Yowie Bay

Sunday, 29 November 2020

7:30 to 9:30

Swallow Rock Boat Ramp, Grays Point

Sunday, 29 November 2020

10:30 to 12:30

Hawkesbury Reserve Boat Ramp, Sylvania Waters

Sunday, 29 November 2020

14:00 to 16:00

Tench Reserve Boat Ramp, Penrith

Monday, 30 November 2020

7:30 to 9:00

Ermington Boat Ramp, Ermington

Monday, 30 November 2020

10:30 to 12:00

Drummoyne Boat Ramp, Drummoyne

Monday, 30 November 2020

13:00 to 14:30

Tunks Park Boat Ramp, Cammeray

Monday, 30 November 2020

15:30 to 17:30

TfNSW Rozelle Head Office, 33 James Craig Road, Rozelle

Monday, 30 November 2020

9:00 to 11:00

Rose Bay Boat Ramp, Rose Bay

Monday, 30 November 2020

12:00 to 13:30

Foreshore Road Boat Ramp, Banksmeadow

Monday, 30 November 2020

15:00 to 17:00

For more information on the full schedule including January and April and other collection locations across NSW visit roads-maritime.transport.nsw.gov.au/flares or call 13 12 36.

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CITY HUB 19 NOVEMBER 2020

BLZ_SB1923

Greater Sydney Region Collections

IPHIGENIA IN SPLOTT I phigenia In Splott set a dark tone from the get-go, confronting the audience with the main character launching directly into a sarcastic monologue.

The whole way through, Meg Clarke keeps audiences at the edge of their seats wondering whether they should laugh or cry. The minimalistic background and darkly lit stage provides a keen insight into the life of Clarke’s character.

The portrayal of Clarke’s character as an average, everyday woman relays a sense of relatability with ideas that the audience likely can relate to in some way.

This, combined with the way Clarke dives into the role shows amazing skill on her part.

The performance is incredibly fast paced, meaning that if the viewer looks away for even a minute, they’d find themselves lost. The passionate allegories in the performance reflect a mid-life slump and a desire to change things, which again relays a sense of relatability for viewers.

Overall, Iphigenia In Splott speaks directly to audiences in a way that makes

REVIEW

Photo: Clare Hawley

them feel a part of the play. It is a highly rated performance that is not to be missed. (RBa) Until Nov 21. Flight Path Theatre 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville. $20-$30+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.flightpaththeatre.org

HubARTS

CASULA POWERHOUSE SUMMER SEASON

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n November 18 the Casula Powerhouse re-emerged from a short hibernation for an explosive summer series of shows, workshops and prizes.

Entering the main Turbine Hall visitors step across the Koori Floor, a public artwork by Judy Watson that has just undergone an extensive refurbishment.

Gil Farla was a major emerging local artist and her passion will be commemorated with a posthumous solo show My Secret Urban Sanctuary inspired by her garden, its surrounds and many creatures.

Local artists will also be represented in the 29th Annual Mil-Pra AECG Exhibition with works across all mediums.

The 23rd Annual Liverpool Art Society Exhibition and art prize celebrates the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait artists living in NSW and the ACT. Creative Spark is a six week public program held across various locations for people living with disabilities and this year will focus on design and the making of costumes that will also be documented.

A series of after school workshops for kids will run from October 19 to December 7 and adults will be able to learn about artists’ practices and street art. (JMo) Casual Powerhouse.

1 Powerhouse Rd, Casula.

Info: www.casulapowerhouse.com

AZURE RYDER

BY JAMIE APPS arlier this year 20 year old artist Azure Ryder came storming onto the Australian, and global, music scene with her stunning debut EP Running with the Wolves. Tomorrow she will begin “chapter two” of her journey with the release of her follow up EP, Crazy With The Light, ahead of two debut live shows in December.

Speaking with City Hub Ryder reflected on the wild year that has been 2020.

Following the release of her debut EP Ryder spent much of the early part of the year travelling back and forth between Nashville and London to work with various producers, writers and creatives. A processes and time period which Ryder said “feels like a very long time ago after how this year has gone.” According to Ryder these opportunities saw her further develop as an artist.

“It was an incredible experience where I really felt like I stepped into who I am as an artists and really became comfortable and clear in that vision.”

Much like the rest of the world COVID-19 quickly swept in to place

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FATMAN

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that development on hold as it forced her to return home ahead of border closures.

“I was just about to do a couple of live shows in London, I had put my band together there, but then my team said ‘maybe we should get you home’ because we weren’t sure when the borders were going to shut.”

Luckily Ryder heeded the advice and returned home to Australia when she did because borders would close one week after she flew into Sydney.

Despite this setback in her journey Ryder remains upbeat and positive stating that she believes “being back here all happened how it was meant to.”

Even on a more grand scale Ryder believes this “pause was very needed in this world” because it has allowed everybody to take note and

udging by Mel Gibson’s recent cinematic offerings he has unquestionably lost his mojo in selecting quality scripts that transpire into quality viewing for movie-goers.

Latest on his doomed bandwagon destined for box office failure and universal ridicule is this alleged drama which centres on an obnoxiously evil rich kid who, unhappy with the lump of coal he received in his stocking, hires

recognise “what is truely important.”

For Ryder that is her connection with the music, her emotions and her fans. All of which she will have an opportunity to showcase and develop further with her new EP and her debut live performances here in Sydney in December.

“Everything to me is a journey. This EP is the second chapter to that journey. I go a little deeper into my stories and into me. It is showing the relationship between the darkness and the light that wasn’t as evident in the first EP, simply because I hadn’t gone there yet. So I’m excited for people to see this and hopefully feel connected to it,” Ryder explained when speaking about the EP. In regards to the live shows she added, “Live to me is the most important part. It is where the music and the artist get to have that physical face to face connection with the audience. It’s a very special experience. Being in COVID and being able to do this I think will make it even more of a magical experience. Not only for me but also for everyone there.”

Dec 2-3. Oxford Art Factory, 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. $23.97+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.oxfordartfactory.com

a hitman to kill Santa Clause (aka Fatman) and deliver his head!

Hideously ludicrous this film may fail to find an audience as it’s too violent for children and the Christmas themes may also alienate mature audiences.

A question that comes to mind is, why should a filthy rich kid be furious when he doesn’t receive a present from Santa?

This film may have been borderline entertaining had it been a comedy, but laughably it’s a drama.

Gil Farla

THE GROGANS - DAY/TO/DAY

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n their latest album, Day/To/Day, The Grogans deliver fresh material with new sounds and beats.

Drawing inspiration from the 60s, The Grogans dive into a heart pumping mix of punk and surf-rock. And while exploring vintage sounds, The Grogans come up with a style that’s all their own.

Ahead of the album, The Grogans have released the single Got A Girl, which has already seen widespread approval from fans and critics alike.

Got A Girl gives a glimpse into what new sounds can be expected from The Grogans latest album, and it doesn’t disappoint.

A high-energy tune with bold punk attitude and a fun splash of surf-pop, Got A Girl is an exciting sign of things to come from the full Day/To/Day record. (EE)

WWWW

The only redeeming quality of this fractured Christmas tale is its originality. Astonishingly Santa’s elves are featured and the reindeers are also mentioned.

There will be laughter in cinemas but for all the wrong reasons as Fatman is cringeworthy at best and a justifiable entry into the Hall of Shame.

Sorry folks – there’s no Christmas cheer here!!

(MMo) W CITY HUB 19 NOVEMBER 2020

7

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE OPTUS MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION AT EASTLAKES WITH 5G S0062 Eastlakes: The Lakes Golf Club, Southern Cross Drive, Eastlakes NSW 2018 (RFNSA 2018002) 1. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 4G and 5G equipment and associated works as follows: • Installation of three (3) new panel antennas, 0.59m long, on an existing headframe • Installation of new ancillary equipment, including twelve (12) Remote Radio Units, cabling and antenna mounts • Reconfiguration of existing equipment on the facility and within the equipment shelter, including removal of redundant equipment and replacement of Remote Radio Units 2. Optus regards the proposed installations as Low-impact Facilities under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (“The Determination”), based on the description above 3. In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2018 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Should you require further information or wish to comment, please contact Chan Chen at Axicom, 02 9495 9000, community@axicom.com.au or Level 1, 110 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065 by Friday 4 December 2020. Further information may also be obtained from www.rfnsa.com.au/2018002.

TANYA PLIBERSEK FEDERAL MEMBER FOR SYDNEY

HERE TO HELP As your local representative, I can assist with enquiries or problems you have with Federal Government departments and services like Centrelink, immigration, superannuation, Child Support payments, Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS), Veterans’ Affairs, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the National Broadband Network (NBN), universities, employment, training, Commonwealth funding and grants.

STAYING IN TOUCH To keep up to date with my activities (incuding my mobile offices), issues and events - both locally and nationally, please subscribe to my eNews at tanyaplibersek.com.

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES

NEW PATIENT SPECIAL

No Gap for 1st Visit - New Patients Only     

Comprehensive Oral Examination and Consultation 2 Small X-Rays & 1 x Large Panoramic OPG Scale, Clean & Polish Fluoride Treatment

Your 1st appointment normally takes anywhere between 45 minutes to 1 hour.

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE

For patients without private health insurance this special offer will cost only $195.

My office offers Justice of the Peace (JP) services on Mondays (2pm-4.30pm); Tuesdays (10am-1pm); and Thursdays (2pm-4.30pm). Please contact my office to make an appointment.

Call us today or reserve an appointment online

PYRMONT DENTAL HEALTH Ground Floor, Suite 3, 19 Harris Street, Pyrmont Ph: 02 9518 6262 smile@pyrmontdentalhealth.com.au www.pyrmontdentalhealth.com.au 8

CITY HUB 19 NOVEMBER 2020

My office can arrange messages of congratulations for people who live in my electorate and are celebrating their golden (50th) and diamond (60th) wedding anniversaries; and 90th and subsequent birthdays. Please allow for 6-8 weeks for congratulatory messages from dignatories.

TANYA PLIBERSEK MP 1A Great Buckingham St Redfern NSW 2016 TanyaPlibersek.com SSO Here to Help 2020 V1.indd 1

02 9379 0700

Tanya.Plibersek.MP@aph.gov.au 28/09/2020 1:23:20 PM