City of Port Phillip magazine - Issue 94 july / september 2018
Winning creatures from Port
creative pulse edition
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Photo: Chris Cassar
A 15 year tradition of knitting circles continues at Woolbaa in Port Melbourne. Mayor Cr Bernadene Voss joined the creative clickers at a recent Thursday afternoon circle. ‘It’s a fun part of Port Phillip’s creative art and soul,’ she said.
Celebrating and supporting creativity Congratulations to Creature Technology for recently being added to the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame.
Mayor Cr Bernadene Voss cover story
It’s alive Creature Technology in Port Melbourne create amazing creatures that tour the world. Read more about their success on page 13. Pictured are Tim Rolfe, Jennifer O’Keeffe, Hayden Zylberberg (and John Hempel in the Baby T-Rex suit). 2
This Port Melbourne business, which supplies the world with amazing animatronics, is just one of the growing ranks of creative businesses in our City. Latest figures show that Melbourne (especially South Melbourne), is a major hub in the world-wide game development industry. The Arcade, two floors of a nondescript South Melbourne building, is a buzzing example of the amazing growth of local interactive game and program developers. Created as a not-forprofit co-working space by the Games Development Association,
The Arcade is now home to nearly 40 game businesses catering to global markets of sci-fi proportions. Council cares about local creativity. We’ve long backed local theatre, arts, film and music, and with our new Art and Soul - Creative and Prosperous City Strategy we will do even more. Council is set to back digital pioneers with a dynamic Game Action Plan to attract more creative enterprises to make Port Phillip their base to tackle the world. Our message to the next generation is simple: we’re game if you are.
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contacts
www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/ contact_us.htm ASSIST 03 9209 6777
Joy in the slow lane
For more information please visit: www.relayservice.gov.au Please contact ASSIST on 03 9209 6777 if you require a large print version.
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Linden’s back in the ’hood Linden New Art is back after renovations.
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Napier Street Aged Care anniversary Book and dinner celebrate 25 years.
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Many strings, one city
Boring walls transformed
Meet Ruby and Joyce, two very different musicians.
Go on, make some art with local youth.
Audio recording of Divercity are available on the City of Port Phillip website and on CD at Port Phillip libraries.
Divercity 94 - July / September 2018 Editor Greg Day - gday@edunity.com.au Story suggestions are welcome Next deadline Friday 10 August Divercity feedback: engagement@portphillip.vic.gov.au Information included in this magazine is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.
The City of Port Phillip respectfully acknowledges the Yalukut Weelam Clan of the Boon Wurrung. We pay our respect to their Elders, both past and present. We acknowledge and uphold their continuing relationship to this land. 3
Photo: Chris Cassar
Game developers Alex Swords, Fabian Malabello, Mitchell Stewart, Sav Ferguson, Ceri Hutton, Kamina Vincent, Jordan Guest, Amy Searle and Zane Woodhead share creative space at The Arcade.
The serious business of games A creative phenomenon has emerged in South Melbourne. In front of a hundred screens, surrounded by games posters and paraphernalia, are scores of people working in over 40 local game development businesses.
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Welcome to The Arcade, a not for profit co-working space created by the Game Developer’s Association of Australia. In just a few years it has become a place where Oscar and BAFTA winners mix with students, and companies with multimillion dollar turnovers share their skills with start-ups.
At The Arcade they’re not playing games, they’re making them for the world.
Association online gdaa.com.au The Games Development Association Awards will be held in Port Phillip in October.
Photos: Chris Cassar
Warren, Stephen, Anne, Jenni and Darcy are proud of their lane.
Neighbours find joy in the slow lane Join the discussion Got a good idea for reducing rubbish? Don’t waste it. Provide feedback on Council’s draft Waste Strategy by 29 July. Do you move through or live in Port Phillip? Get going. Provide feedback on the draft Integrated Transport Strategy by 29 July. Want to make Port Phillip a better place for children? Share your ideas about our childcare centres, kinders, playgroups and toy libraries. Did you offer ideas about the dedicated youth facility? Thank you. The findings will be online from late July.
The chalkboard invites neighbours to share herbs and the decorations show the unmistakable input of local children. This is all evidence of how neighbours in a once notorious St Kilda back lane have become good friends over community garden boxes. Stephen, one of the locals inspired by the tiny gardens, says neighbourhood life has returned to the lane. ‘Not so long ago, my back door had a lot of rubbish. Now, kids play in the lane, neighbours take the time to chat. Indifference has been replaced by respect as we meet each other over the gardens,’ he said. Jenni, another local, said her son Darcy helped to decorate the gardens at Easter. ‘He hid eggs in the gardens and distributed notes to neighbours inviting them to share the joy,’ she said.
The gardens have been made possible by many donations of plants, soil and other materials, including many hand-painted recycled bricks from a nearby artist’s studio. All part of the streetwise charm of this neighbourhood initiative.
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Get on-board Over the coming months a community panel will help Council shape the future of the St Kilda Marina after the current lease expires next April. Email the project team to find out how you can join the discussions. Interest ahoy s kmproject@portphillip.vic.gov.au
After Dark for seniors Mirror Ball Disco Dance is part of the After Dark program, a new feature of the Port Phillip Seniors Festival for 55+ to be held in October. DJ Fiona will be spinning the records and Anna will guide the dance moves. In collaboration with the Victorian Seniors Festival, this event celebrates diversity. Dances such the Bus Stop, Nutbush and the
Give peace a chance
Hustle will get everyone inspired to get up and get moving. Come dressed to dance!
The new Council Schools Peace Awards encourages young people to explore current and historic issues around war and other conflict, and express what peace might look like.
Book online www.memomusichall.com.au Saturday 20 October, 7 pm MEMO Music Hall 88 Acland Street, St Kilda $15 / $10 Seniors Card holders
Photo: Chris Cassar
Open to all primary and secondary students who live or go to school in the municipality. Winning entries will receive a certificate and a gift. Entries, which close on 26 October 2018, can include art, writing, music and video. Get the entry guidelines heritage.portphillip. vic.gov.au
Seniors Festival
8-21 October 2018
Program out September www.portphillip.vic.gov.au
Photo: Chris Cassar
The inhabitants pictured are Gilly Thorne, Doron Banks, Oliver Ashworth-Martin, Jonathan Leahey, Robert Lee Davis, Elizabeth Milsom, Arthur Powell, Ursula Dutkiewicz, Kris Coad, Tania George, John Meade, Tricia Sabey and Ben Storch.
Creative inhabitants Gasworks Arts Park is the natural habitat of some of our most creative species. Often reclusive, sometimes elusive, the artists who inhabit this treasured ecosystem are preparing for the annual ritual of a group exhibition.
Like other annual events in nature, this one is a time of great celebration and trepidation. How will the work be received? Will it be good enough? Will anyone come? Only you can answer these questions.
Don’t miss your chance to witness the wonders of this group exhibition. Inhabitants www.gasworks.org.au Works by the resident artists of Gasworks Arts Park. Wednesday 11 July to Sunday 29 July, 10 am to 4 pm 7
arts
The Antipodes
Art on Carlisle Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8.30 am to 5 pm Thursdays until to 7 pm St Kilda Town Hall 99a Carlisle Street, St Kilda
Sunday 10 July to Thursday 12 August Red Stitch, 2 Chapel Street St Kilda East Amid a storm in New York City, writers are in lockdown. They pursue the ultimate story. $55 / $38 / $28 redstitch.net
Urban Dreaming and Memories and Encounters Wednesday 11 July to Wednesday 8 August Works by Robert Lee Davis and Gabrielle Khazam. Gardens and Place Wednesday 15 August to Wednesday 12 September Works by Trudy Rice and David Wood. www.portphillip.vic.gov.au
Thrills on Acland Theatre Works 14 Acland Street, St Kilda Polygraph Post-truth Politics Tuesday 17 to Sunday 29 July 8 pm Part metaphysical thriller, part murder mystery, part love story. $45 / $37 / $33 A Chamber Made Work Tuesday 14 to Sunday 26 August 8 pm Explore how the dead inhabit female bodies. $45 / $37 / $33 theatreworks.org.au 8
Icky, Lindy and more Gasworks Arts Park 21 Graham Street, Albert Park
Letters to Lindy Thursday 26 to Saturday 28 July 7.30 pm This play, in exploring the 20,000 plus letters sent to Lindy Chamberlain, creates a long overdue dialogue between Lindy and the nation. $45 / $40 Cockfight Thursday 6 to Saturday 8 September 7.30 pm It’s old vs young in this testosterone filled battle for office dominance. $45 / $40 Ickypedia Thursday 27 September 12 pm and 2 pm A mix of clowning, slapstick and improvised chaos the whole family will enjoy. $23 / $20 groups 4+ www.gasworks. org.au
arts
Saintly music
Discover the classics
All Saints Anglican Church 2 Chapel Street, St Kilda East Vital Organs Sunday 12 August 4 pm to 5 pm Featuring organist Thomas Haywood. $15 / $10 / students free www.allsaints.org.au
Photo: Hayden Dibb
Opening event Thursday 19 July 8 pm Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July 10 am to 5 pm Melbourne Camera Club Corner Dorcas and Ferrars streets South Melbourne An exhibition of over 40 prints sourced from the club’s historic collection.
Saturday 25 August to Saturday 1 September A winter celebration of music that serves up a selection of gigs and workshops. Free www.livenlocal.com.au
www.melbournephoto.org.au
Sputnik concert Sunday 12 August, 4 pm South Melbourne Town Hall 210 Bank Street, South Melbourne Roman Salyutov plays treasures from world classical music. $35 / $30 9593 8137
Linden returns Linden New Art 26 Acland Street, St Kilda Saturday 25 August to Sunday 4 November 10 am to 3 pm Julia deVille and Natalie Ryan present a taxidermy art exhibition in the first event since heritage building upgrades.
Musician recitals Tuesday 7 to Friday 31 August ANAM musicians curate their own recitals. $5 / free for members
Live N Local
Melbourne in focus
Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) South Melbourne Town Hall 210 Bank Street, South Melbourne
International Woodwind All-Stars Wednesday 12 September, 7.30 pm The world’s finest wind virtuosi come together for a performance that culminates in Richards Strauss’ Suite for Winds. $60 / $47 / $35 anam.com.au 9645 7911
Bridgland, Brozgul and Beethoven Sunday 16 September, 2.30 pm South Melbourne Town Hall 210 Bank Street, South Melbourne Conductor Lynette Bridgland and solo pianist Berta Brozgul von Suppe combine to present selected classics by Chopin and Beethoven. $20 / $15 / free for 12 and under www.smso.org.au
www.lindenarts.org 9
heritage
Celebrating Carlo Catani Friday 20 July to Monday 30 September St Kilda Town Hall 99a Carlisle Street, St Kilda A display celebrating the life and work of engineer and famed foreshore designer Carlo Catani. Free heritage.portphillip.vic.gov.au
Open House Melbourne Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July 10 am to 4 pm While the Esplanade Vaults on Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda, are a favourite, there are many other local buildings worth a visit, including the South Melbourne Town Hall and Christ Church in Acland Street. www.openhousemelbourne.org
Every family has its secrets Saturday 4 August, 10 am to 1 pm Emerald Hill Library & Heritage Centre, 195 Bank Street South Melbourne Author Hazel Edwards gives a workshop on how to write a non-boring family history. heritage.portphillip.vic.gov.au
Middle Park History Group Monday 6 August, 7.30 pm Albert Park Baptist Church 115 Kerferd Road, Albert Park Bryan Hegarty talks about growing up in Middle Park in the 1970s. middleparkhistory.org 9699 2852
Bill Garner performs Viv Wednesday 8 August 8 pm to 10 pm St Kilda Town Hall 99a Carlisle Street, St Kilda Bill Garner performs a heartfelt memorial in honour of WWI soldier Viv Garner. Free but booking essential heritage.portphillip.vic.gov.au
Dead Poets Society Sunday 16 September, 2 pm St Kilda Cemetery Dandenong Road, East St Kilda Friends of St Kilda Cemetery presents an author and literati tour. $10 9531 3648
Ghost signs of Port Phillip and beyond Love & Legacy Tuesday to Thursday 10 am to 4 pm Friday 10 am to 3 pm and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm Closes Sunday 28 October Jewish Museum 26 Alma Road, St Kilda A new and exuberant exhibition celebrating Jewish Australian grandmothers. $12 / $6 / free for under five www.jewishmuseum.com.au 10
Tuesday 18 September 6.30 pm to 8 pm Emerald Hill Library & Heritage Centre, 195 Bank Street South Melbourne Dr Stefan Schutt leads a panel discussion that will look at the significance of ghost signs as historical markers. heritage.portphillip.vic.gov.au
active
community
The Bloody Long Walk Sunday 26 August, 7 am to 5 pm Cox Oval, Yarra Bend Park to South Beach Reserve A 35 km walk to raise much needed funds for the Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation. $95 www.bloodylongwalk.com.au/ melbourne
Reclink Grand Final Series Tuesday 28 to Thursday 30 August JL Murphy Reserve Port Melbourne Watch as 16 teams of players from disadvantaged backgrounds kick a goal or two and have fun vying for the celebrated Reclink Cup. www.reclink.org
Sustainable
September A two-week festival packed with fun, learning and ideas to inspire you to shop and live more sustainably.
15-30 september
bookings and more info
southmelbournemarket.com.au
Wisdom of the Ages
Father’s Day Car Show
Thursday 12 July, 7 pm 179 Napier Street, South Melbourne Celebrate 25 years of Napier Street Aged Care with dinner and a book launch. $50 marie@nsacs.com
NDIS Expo FREE
Sunday 2 September 10 am to 4.30 pm Acland Street, Acland Plaza and Shakespeare Grove, St Kilda Classic, vintage and movie replica cars are all on display. www.aclandstreetvillage.com.au
Thursday 19 July 10 am to 3 pm St Kilda Town Hall 99a Carlisle Street, St Kilda For people and families living with disability. Get ideas for your NDIS plan. Free 9209 6777
Family Learning Workshops Tuesdays 24 July to 11 September 12 noon to 2.30 pm Koolin-ngal Centre 400 Clarendon Street South Melbourne A series of workshops on how to make the most of a limited budget. Free 8598 6600
Living and Loving in Diversity Friday 21 to Sunday 23 September St Kilda Town Hall 99a Carlisle Street, St Kilda A conference for the multicultural LGBTIQ community. $150 / $50 conference.agmc.org.au
Uniting SouthPort Seniors Tuesday 25 September 10 am to 12 noon South Port Uniting Church 329 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne Over a sausage sizzle and morning tea, seniors can discover what local activities and services are available to them. Free 9690 1188 11
Photo: Chris Cassar
Space2b mentor Tracey Van Ingen and Sharifeh Amiri share a creative welcome.
Creative welcome For Afghan born Sharifeh, it’s been a long journey from a UN refugee camp to Balaclava’s Space2b. Now, after several years of being mentored by Tracey, a 25 year fashion industry veteran, Sharifeh is creating her own fashions and they’re leaping off the rack. With a background in teaching and fashion, Tracey shares the business and production skills 12
needed to make commercially viable clothing. When Divercity visited they were making a pattern from an existing garment, before sewing a calico mock up and doing a bespoke fitting. Tracey’s mentoring is about blending fashion industry skills with craft skills so Sharifeh and others she mentors can be more confident and financially sustainable.
Sharifeh’s Overalls, her own line of easy to wear dungarees, sell well at Space2b’s retail outlet. Best of all, Sharifeh is now mentoring newly arrived Sudanese women, passing on the welcome and the skills. Space2b Social Design 144 Chapel Street, St Kilda
T-Rex before she headed off on the farewell tour of Walking with Dinosaurs The Arena Spectacular.
Going to w ste A recent audit of waste bins across the City of Port Phillip revealed almost 20 per cent of the waste is recyclable*.
Creative creatures In a Port Melbourne factory the size of an aircraft hangar some of the world’s most amazing creatures have taken their first steps. A dark and brooding King Kong, spectacular life-size dinosaurs and huge but cuddly Olympic mascots have all emerged - or should we say hatched? Local company Creature Technology produces these technologically sophisticated, creatively inspired life-like animatronics for global audiences
at arena spectaculars, theme parks, exhibitions and stage shows. To bring life to the concepts the 60 plus staff use an incredible array of skills: design and model making, fabric work and fibreglass fabrication, computer aided design and 3D printing. Attention to detail, engineering experience and imagination are evident in the award winning installations. See how their creatures have conquered the world creaturetechnology.com
Visitors always welcome Last Tuesday of the month, 7 pm
tonnes of recyclable material found in our waste bins each year.
THIS IS MADE UP OF: Glass
Cardboard
Plastics
TONNES
TONNES
TONNES
1,075 1,720 860
CWA in the City Local women have embraced the traditions of the Country Women’s Association (CWA) by setting up a branch in Port Phillip. They bring together women aged from 19 to 50+ to enjoy socialising, making and fundraising. They even do a bit of baking.
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We can do better Port Melbourne Neighbourhood Centre, Liardet Street, Port Melbourne cwaportphillip@gmail.com
Find out easy ways to maximise your recycling www.portphillip.vic.gov.au 13
Strings attached
Musicians Ruby and Joyce, who represent two local musical institutions, show the depth and breadth of local musical talent. Ruby is a violist at the Australian National Academy of Music in South Melbourne. She recently moved to Port Phillip from rural Victoria to pursue her lifelong musical dreams and completely immerse herself in the arts.
Joyce is a singer-songwriter who performs in Port Phillip’s Live N Local music festival. Originally from the Netherlands, Joyce now calls Elwood home. She loves live music and feels lucky to be able to listen to it almost weekly. Both women are energised by the creative pulse of our City, not just its music, but also its galleries and the arts community in general.
Ruby Shirres and Joyce Prescher bring music to our city in very different ways.
ANAM recitals Hear Ruby and other ANAM musicians perform in recitals. 7 to 31 August w ww.anam.com.au Live N Local 25 August to 1 September www.livenlocal.com.au
Photo: Chris Cassar
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For general enquiries contact: www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/ contact_us.htm ASSIST 03 9209 6777
Canal Ward Cr Tim Baxter tbaxter@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 495 250
Cr Louise Crawford lcrawfor@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 514 643
Cr Dick Gross Deputy Mayor
Boring walls transformed Nine Port Melbourne young people have created a mural that celebrates local history and characters on the Trugo Club wall. The youthful team met weekly to create the design, learn how community projects are managed and to spray the wall. With three Indigenous youth on the team, they invited actor and indigenous activist Uncle Jack Charles to be part of the work. He came to see the work and meet all of the artists (pictured).
More play groups for Elwood Thriving Elwood Playgroups on Broadway has begun two new playgroups, one each for grandparents and sole parents. The new groups add to the centre’s existing 40 two hour sessions that are attended by over 200 families. Join a playgroup elwoodplaygroup.org.au
The Port Melbourne Neighbourhood Centre is keen to involve more young people and do more art projects, so they are putting out the call for the owners of boring walls to give more young artists a go. Help youth make their mark www.facebook.com/ streetartentrepreneurs
Lest we forget November will mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. From statues to exhibitions, displays and plays, the people of Port Phillip have remembered the service and sacrifice in so many ways. In the next Divercity, we’ll be reflecting on our collective remembrance of these historic events and their legacy. Tell your story gday@edunity.com.au
dgross@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 355 640
Gateway Ward Cr Marcus Pearl mpearl@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 448 272
Cr Ogy Simic osimic@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 517 360
Cr Bernadene Voss Mayor
bvoss@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0413 246 704
Lake Ward Cr Andrew Bond abond@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0481 034 028
Cr David Brand dbrand@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 445 807
Cr Katherine Copsey kcopsey@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 478 949 15
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