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Melbourne Obser ver - Wednesday, February 24, 2016 - Page 9
Melbourne
Confidential Talk is cheap, gossip is priceless
Underpaid by $90,000
■ Operators of a retail outlet in Melbourne are facing Court for allegedly short-changing three employees, including two overseas workers, a total of more than $90,000. The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal proceedings against Something Aussie Pty Ltd and company director and part-owner Kuan Kok Kan. Three female shop assistants at the company’s retail outlet on Victoria St, North Melbourne, were allegedly paid flat rates as low as $16 and $17 an hour. The employer allegedly contravened his obligations under the General Retail Industry Award, including minimum hourly rates, casual loadings, annual leave entitlements and weekend and public holiday penalty rates. Award obligations to minimum engagement periods and provision of meal breaks were also allegedly breached. Two of the employees were visa-holders from Thailand when they commenced work with Something Aussie and spoke little English. Each of the three employees was allegedly underpaid just over $30,000 over a five-year period between 2010 and 2015, resulting in a collective underpayment of $91,238. Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says a decision was made to commence litigation because of the seriousness of the alleged contraventions and because Kan had previously been educated about his workplace obligations in 2012. Kan faces maximum penalties of up to $10,200 per contravention and Something Aussie Pty Ltd faces penalties of up to $51,000 per contravention. The Fair Work Ombudsman is seeking an injunction restraining Kan and Something Aussiefrom contravening workplace laws in future. A directions hearing is listed for March 16 in the Federal Circuit Court in Melbourne.
Review: The Boys
■ Theatre can be educational, a tool displaying a part of life we don’t often see, a catalyst for thought. I am assuming most ‘theatre goers’ would not live a life like the Spragues. They are an unhappy family living in anger. An absent father who definitely did not have a ‘heart of gold’, a mother in denial believing that her sons have been brought up to respect women (and just like to let off a ‘bit of steam’) , brothers who have zero respect for women believing they have all the rights in the world to do whatever they want , and three women who believe they can do no better than these men, occasionally trying to stick up for themselves, with words not action. A piece of life inclusive of physical violence, sex, swearing, emotional abuse alcohol and power play, we see it all in Gordon Graham’s play The Boys. Nice Productions performed in the intimate studio space at the Gasworks Arts Park. Luci Klendo’s direction was physical. From the facial expressions, mannerisms, costume choices and overt sexual behavior each character was interesting to observe. There was a very naturalistic style with the actors almost whispering at times, yelling only when necessary. Michael Shanahan’s portrayal of Brett was outstanding. He plays a strong character with such conviction I was hesitant to meet him in ‘real life’. Linda Cookson also gave a great performance, completely embodying the lack of life of Sandra. Whilst this play is thought provoking it does not have any positive role models or a happy ending. More could have been done on stage to convey a sense of hope for this family’s future and a less helpless feeling for the audience as they leave the theatre. - Review by Elizabeth Semmel
David Opat started with $2, became Melb. philanthropist
■ David Opat's story is a classic rags to riches tale of the kind that postWorld War II migration brought many times to Australia. Mr Opat, born David Opoczynski in Lodz, Poland, was a former resistance fighter, prisoner of war and Holocaust survivor whose entire immediate family perished during the War: his older sister died fighting for the Polish Resistance, and his younger sister and their parents were gassed in the infamous Black Maria mobile killing vans. Mr Opat himself endured five gruelling years of being starved and mistreated in Russian forced labour camps during World War II, however he refused to be overtaken by bitter memories. Instead, he regaled friends with humorous yarns from that time -- of prison exploits and stories describing clever antics of survival and cunning; making chess pieces out of stale bread, sewing needles out of fish bones and stealing flour from hidden caches right under the guards' noses. After liberation in 1945, Mr Opat worked in postWar Paris for two years before leaving Europe altogether to seek a new beginning. When he landed in Melbourne in May, 1949 he had just $2 in his pocket - but loads of the other currencies needed to succeed: affability, intelligence, dedication, determination, and optimism. Before the War, Mr Opat's father and grandfather had both been pro-
February 26, 1921 - January 9, 2016 ● David Opat fessional decorators, so Around this time, he the son who had learned formally changed his painting skills at his family name from father's knee soon picked Opoczynski to one that the up a job in booming post- Aussie ear could better war Melbourne. manage and ‘Opat’ beHowever, after three came his official surname. months working for someOver the years, Mr one else, he set up his Opat's reputation grew own outfit, Opat Decorat- and with the support of his ing, operating on what he second wife, Miriam, the knew to be levels of cus- company became a tomer service and profes- prominent player in the sionalism that were new realm of commercial painting, with contracts for the city at that time. Opat Decorating's Eu- rolling in and tenders won ropean-quality crafts- to refurbish large buildings manship was in high de- all over the country, inmand and his first four cluding the Melbourne years in business saw him Arts Centre, Nauru working virtually solo, ten House and the Royal hours a day, seven days a Melbourne Hospital.. week painting hundreds of Away from business, both shops and houses round Mr and Mrs Opat were devoted philanthrothe city and suburbs.
pists deeply involved in Melbourne’s rich cultural, social and political landscape, being patrons of the Victorian Opera, founders of The Jewish Museum and supporters of the Royal Children’s Hospital. As accomplished artists themselves, Mr and Mrs Opat also delighted in support for and encouragement of the Art world -- establishing the Miriam Opat Gallery and School ofArt and building friendships with many prominent artists, including the late Guy Boyd, Frank Werther, Bouchard, Charles Billich, James Farrell, Val Wenzel and Adam Kriegel. Throughout their business and social lives, the couple moved within Melbourne’s high society associating with State Premiers, government members, business leaders and many of Melbourne’s leading families. Also, thanks to his wife's involvement in media, including a stint as social columnist for the Truth newspaper, Mr and Mrs Opat created lasting friendships with many well-known figures in media. One year after the death of his beloved wife Miriam in 2013, then-93 year-old Mr Opat finally retired from their business. David Opat is survived by two sons, and by his second family of two daughters, four grandchildren and two great grand children. - Lili Hampel
Whispers
Grand!
● Patti Newton ■ TV-radio personalities Patti and Bert Newton are grandparents again. They have welcomed Monty, son of Matt and Lauren Welsh.
Favour
● Ian Meldrum ■ More than 1.9 million viewers tuned into the TV special on Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum, produced by Paige McGinley for the Seven Network.
Opening
● Linda Dessau ■ State Governor Linda Dessau will open a senior years’ and science facility at Ivanhoe Grammar School’s Plenty campus on March 22.
Jungle
● Miriam and David Opat on their wedding day
E-Mail: Confidential@MelbourneObserver.com.au
■ Nova Radio’s Fitzy and Wippa are the latest personalities to head to the African jungle. The men will broadcast a week of shows live from the set of the Te n Network’s entertainment show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! from Monday (Feb. 29) says publicist Jane Elliott.