Neighbourhood Media Surry Hills Magazine | February 2023

THE MARDI GRAS PARADE RETURNS TO OXFORD ST!

THE MARDI GRAS PARADE RETURNS TO OXFORD ST!

WHO WAS KEN ‘DAZZLER’ DUNLOP?

WHO WAS KEN ‘DAZZLER’ DUNLOP?

+ HEAPS MORE + HEAPS MORE

SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE

The First Ever WorldPride Taking Place In The Southern HemisphereOn From Feb 17 Till March 4

Meet Albert Kruger, The 2023 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE

In The Mood To Celebrate?

Check Out Our Giant Events Guide

COMMUNITY

Will and Karl are two locals whose lives changed after fostering through Key Assets Australia

COMMUNITY

Ken ‘Dazzler’ Dunlop - ex-Oxford St regular and Australia’s first ever openly gay wrestler.

LIVE MUSIC

SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE PETS

PUBLISHER - Neighbourhood Media

DESIGNER - Robert Everett

CONTRIBUTORS - Jamie Apps, Corina Harvey, Elliot Lindsay, Key Assets, OneMusic

ADVERTISING - Georgie Pengelly - 0416 972 081

CROSSWORD | SUDOKU

The Audoo Meter has arrived from the UK - how will it support local, independent artists?

Meet some of the Pets of 2010

16 20 22 24 27 18

Test Your Local 2010 Knowledge & Maths... For Fun! Shop Local!

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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Cover Image - Jeffrey Feng

SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE

TTHE 2023 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) is going to be the biggest and most exciting one yet. To align with their 45th anniversary they will join forces with WorldPride to bring the city streets alive for 17 consecutive days.

WorldPride began in Rome in the year 2000 and is a global festival that celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community. Cities all around the world compete with each other to be the next city to host the event and this year is Sydney’s turn.

The alignment will be an important milestone for Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ community as it will be the first time in history where WordPride has been held in the Southern Hemisphere. Despite WorldPride receiving backlash when it first began, it continues to gain momentum each year and is the biggest organisation of its kind.

During the festival, the Sydney Region will host over 300 events and activities, ranging from arts, sport, theatre, concerts, parties and a human rights conference. These events will be held all around the Sydney Basin and will proudly gather on the land of the Gadigal, Cammerayagal, Bidjigal, Darug and Dharawal people.

The main event of WorldPride is the Human Rights Conference that will be held on the 1st to the 3rd of March at Sydney’s International Convention Centre. The focus will be on

LGBTQIA+ Human Rights, both in the present moment, the goals for the future and where the movement is headed. It will be the largest conference of its kind to take place in the AsiaPacific region. There will be over 1500 experts and thought leaders, ranging from LGBTQIA+ activists, campaigners, government officials, First Nation Elders, policy makers and many other stakeholders who will gather here from all over the globe. During this time there will be presentations, workshops and panels designed for reflection and to initiate change.

Although there will be plenty of parties during WorldPride it will also be a time for reflection and learning. We must never forget where the roots of the movement began and the injustices that have occurred. It will become a time in history which will create an important pause to focus on what is still left to be done and bring about change to those who are still facing discrimination.

If you would like to be a part of history, check out WorldPride online and see how you and your family and friends, both young and old can get involved.

sydneyworldpride.com

Get Ready Sydney. From the 17th of February Until the 5th of March Sydney Will Come Alive with Colour, Culture and Community.

MARDI GRAS PARADE RUBY ROAD

Tickets are on sale now to our brand-new Mardi Gras Parade Viewing Area, Ruby Road, where you can witness our grand return to Oxford Street with uninterrupted views, food, bars, relay screens and toilets.

Tickets from $50 + bf scan to buy

SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE

AGather. Dream. Amplify – It’s All About Celebration and Healing for This Year’s WorldPride

ALBERT KRUGER is the CEO of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) and has played a vital role in further developing and growing the organisation and building upon its focus on diversity and inclusivity for the LGBTQIA+ community.

SGLMG is a not-for-profit organisation and is built on the foundations of fighting for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, free creative expression, and challenging systems of injustice and inequality.

Albert expressed that the SGLMG has a long history and was born from a protest on Oxford Street in 1978 and as a result the iconic strip is the beating heart of the Sydney Mardi Gras Festival.

He explains that throughout the pandemic “we were proud to have never stopped marching, giving our communities in Sydney and across the world a moment of hope and pride during a very challenging time and that there could not be a more poignant year to return to Oxford Street — given we are welcoming the world Down Under for the first WorldPride in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as celebrating the 45th anniversary of the first Mardi Gras.”

“We were proud to have never stopped marching, giving our communities in Sydney and across the world a moment of hope and pride during a very challenging time.”

everyone who still does not have equality. And to Amplify what is important to you, while also including and wanting the same for everyone else. It is about both healing and celebration. The event has tried to incorporate the values of inclusivity and accessibility for everyone. There are so many ways for individuals of any age to get involved. Because of the large number of events, the best way to find out what’s happening each day is to take a look at the WorldPride website and check out their festival program which will give you a ‘cheat sheet’ to all the times and places where events are happening. It is recommended that you plan and book early as a lot of events are ticketed. If you are looking at coming and getting involved in WorldPride this year, there are many ways that you can do this. For an all-age zone that is perfect for families then look no further than the new viewing area Ruby Road. It is located at the Moore Park end of the Parade route, so you will have uninterrupted views of the Parade. Feel free to pack a picnic or take advantage of the onsite food trucks, entertainment, bars and live screens to see all the action.

Each year Mardi Gras has a theme and this year it is “Gather, Dream Amplify” incorporating the foundational values of inclusivity and accessibility. It is a calling for people to Gather and participate in a global movement. A time to Dream, about the future, of possibilities and create a space of inclusivity for

If you would like to listen to the Human Rights conference, organisers have thought about all the ways to make it accessible. There is a wide array of ticket options available for individuals and groups, including free live stream and online virtual options if you can’t get to the event.

THE CLOCK

470 Crown Street - 17th Feb - 5th March

Get ready to D.A.N.C.E people. The Clock is celebrating love & pride with celebrity guest, Richard Reid, as our exclusive curator for Sydney WorldPride 2023. The colourful calendar of events includes boozy brunches, karaoke nights, drag queens, trivia with local legend Breko, popup drink menus, giveaways at Rowdy Randy’s Raffle and much more. Don’t miss - Kylie Karaoke on Thursday 2 March from 7pm - all Kylie’s classics, all night - hosted by RuPauls Drag Race Down Under star, Hannah Conda!

GOROS

84 - 86 Mary Street – 22nd Feb - 4th March

Our resident queen Milan Swaay is taking over GOROS to bring you a HUGE two weeks of fabulous activity for Sydney WorldPride 2023! Get ready for karaoke competitions, LGBTQIA+ mixers, 90’s and 00’s dress-up parties, and plenty of queer anthems to get you dancing for two weeks straight. FREE ENTRY every single night.

OPERA AUSTRALIA presents Opera Up Late

Feb 18th & 23rd

Sydney Opera House - Joan Sutherland Theatre

A late-night celebration for the ages! Opera Australia is throwing open the doors to Australia’s most famous cultural icon for Sydney WorldPride with two exclusive concert performances of Opera Up Late. Making a grand debut at the Sydney Opera House, international cabaret star and opera lover Reuben Kaye will host this late-night celebration of queer romance, drag and music. Directed by the award-winning Shaun Rennie, this production has a distinctively Australian flavour, including re-imagined opera classics plus a few musical theatre and pop numbers along the way... this is no regular night at the opera! Opera Up Late offers a rare after-hours glimpse at what the stars of Opera Australia get up to when they unlace the corsets and take off the wigs. Please note this production may contain adult themes, coarse language, and sexual content (...if you’re lucky!).

Book now at opera.org.au

Opera Australia - Opera Up Late

Switched On: Nakhane - March 3rd 2 Angel Place, Sydney

Multi award winning singer, songwriter, actor, and novelist Nakhane has been hailed as “a real star in the making” (The Observer) who “makes the dancefloor a place of tenderness” (VICE). Their previous album, You Will Not Die, garnered acclaim from Pitchfork, The New York Times, The Observer, MOJO and Noisey, and the adoration of fans like Madonna and Elton John, and collaborators such as Perfume Genius, ANOHNI and the aforementioned Nile Rodgers. Q magazine called it “remarkable; defiantly modern and unashamedly emotional” while Pitchfork wrote that the album was “an instant revelation on its own terms and strikingly intimate.” Madonna called Nakhane out as one of her two favourite artists and said their music influenced her 2019 album Madame X, and Elton John interviewed Nakhane on his Beats 1 radio show. In their many guises in music, film and literature, Nakhane has been instrumental in challenging the status quo in conversations about gender and sexuality; steadily building a body of work of cultural importance that hits every dancefloor sweet spot.

Book now at sydneyworldpride.com

- Tickets from $59

SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE

15 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point

Sydney Dance Company are hosting a range of events as part of the 2023 Sydney WorldPride festival at their Wharf Studios, with the support of City of Sydney. You can’t miss Queers of Java (4-5 March, Tickets $49) - a Project Eleven and Sydney Dance Company production, in association with Sydney WorldPride, performed and choreographed by acclaimed Indonesian dancer Rianto. Or strut your stuff with Dance Workshops on 18th February ($15 per class) in Heels, Voguing, Waacking and Drag + Lip Sync with international drag queen royalty Minnie Cooper of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame! Worked up a sweat? Join us at The Social every Wednesday and Thursday evening in February for a pop-up bar with harbourside views!

Book now: sydneydancecompany.com

It’s coming home! The world-renowned Parade returns to Oxford Street in celebration of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras’ 45th anniversary. This dazzling display of LGBTQIA+ excellence showcases the beauty and strength in pride and self-expression as we continue the fight for equality. As the biggest event of the Sydney WorldPride festival, all eyes will be on over 12,500 marchers as 200+ floats adorn Oxford Street for the first time since 2020!

Download the Mardi Gras Parade Map at sydneyworldpride.com

Oxford Street

25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills

Tradition meets mayhem in Blessed Union, a brand new lesbian divorce comedy playing at Belvoir St Theatre from 11 Feb–11 Mar, presented in collaboration with Sydney WorldPride. Host and curator of celebrated LGBTQIA+ storytelling night QueerstoriesMaeve Marsden has penned a queer tale of her own, exploring what it means to watch your family fall apart when that family had to fight so hard to be together..

Book now: belvoir.com.au/productions/blessed-union

17 FEB - 5 MAR

Belvoir StTheatre - Blessed Union

SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE

Feb 15th till March 4th

61 Flinders St, Surry Hills

Gallery hours Wed - Sat, 11am-6pm

Daniel McDonald is a Deaf First Nations LGBTQI artist, inspired by the Western Desert dot techniques. He paints with an eye to his coastal NSW & Inner Sydney origins to tell his own story. In his exhibition ‘Nexus’, Daniel fuses traditional painting techniques with contemporary iconography, colours and concepts. The exhibition seeks to draw harmonious connections between diverse orientations and identities.

Book now: flindersstreetgallery.com

Feb 15 - March 4

420 Crown Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010

Join us 5-7pm on Thursday 16th February, the eve of Sydney World Pride, as we celebrate Australia’s brilliant and diverse LGBTQIA+ art community.

Featuring works from such artists as multiple Archibald Prize finalist Kim Leutwyler, Tits & Co. co- founder Marisa Mu, multidisciplinary emerging artist Cadmium Mellow, Nadege Lamy, Nicholas Watt and many others. sketchcogallery.com.au

DANIEL McDONALD - ‘Shield’

SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE

SEYMOUR CENTRE

15th Feb - 4th March

Presenting nine WorldPride Arts events as part of Sydney WorldPride - a diverse program featuring a kaleidoscope of comedy, cabaret, dance, and drama from a host of muchloved local and international LGBTQI+ artists.

The festivities begin with Elias Jamieson Brown’s brandnew play, CAMP, charting the birth of Australia’s fierce gay rights movement. Then comes Gay Sydney: A Memoir, an evocative new work from renowned storyteller and artist, William Yang, recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Sydney Theatre Awards. The party continues with All Out Comedy, a spectacular night of stand-up featuring Geraldine Hickey, Nath Valvo, and Coco Jumbo.

To follow, Dan Daw presents the Australian premiere of his critically acclaimed work, The Dan Daw Show, named one of the five best dance shows of 2022 by The Guardian UK. Plus, Shaun Parker & Company return with their cuttingedge dance piece, KING, the Briefs boys return with their

OXTRAVAGANZA

Darlinghurst is Turning Up the Glitter Factor for 2023 and is getting ready to party from Feb 17th till March 5th .The Darlo festival is back with a huge series of events including an Art Walk, Performances, Big Drag Brunch, Late Night Shopping, Kids Zone, Storytelling, Viewing Parties and more. There’s the Darlo Big Drag Brunch on March 4th, with 20 drag queens getting ready to hit the streets and the many venues across Darlinghurst! AR Decals around the area are sure to be a social media hit! A Photo Exhibition featuring the “best of Oxtravaganza” from photographer Robert Knapman, will be displayed in the windows of local businesses. Weekend trading hours are extended and key stores and galleries will have dj’s, discounts, giveaways and more.

Plus there are other hubs to be explored like the Rainbow Precinct, Hollywood Quarter, Stanley St, the Glittering Mile,

new cabaret show, Dirty Laundry, and EnQueer/ Sydney Queer Writers’ Festival presents two thought-provoking panel events.

And there’s free offerings to be enjoyed, too: Seymour’s popular outdoor music series, Seymour Nights, also returns for Sydney WorldPride, offering free performances from some of Australia’s most vibrant voices and wickedest DJs, all in the leafy, summery surrounds of the Seymour Centre courtyard.

Get out your planner, get your tickets, and experience Sydney WorldPride arts at the Seymour: seymourcentre.com

all within a short stroll from Taylor Sq or the CBD. Excitingly, the Mardi Gras Parade - Feb 25th has made its return to Oxford St this year - with plenty of viewing areas!

Oxtravaganza.com.au

Gay Sydney: A Memoir

Dirty Laundry

Oxtravaganza

Blessed Union

Written by Maeve Marsden

Directed by Hannah Goodwin

COMMUNITY I

IN WHATEVER form they take and in all their marvellous diversity, families need nurturing, respect, and support.

Will shared his story of becoming a parent and changing his career to find a better workplace support network that allows him to balance the needs of work and family.

“Losing my dad to leukaemia in 2018 was really tough and it made me question my career, the life balance I wasn’t getting and what was really important to me. My Dad left an amazing legacy and I was left questioning mine, I felt that my life needed a greater purpose and I had so much to give as a Dad.

Karl and I have been together for ten years and we always wanted to have children together but being a same sex couple, we thought it would never happen.

During a holiday in Tasmania at the start of 2019, Karl and I started to discuss the option of becoming foster carers and this was the beginning of our unexpected journey to being the family we are today.

We chose to foster with Key Assets Australia, who supported same sex couples to become foster carers. For the next twelve months we went through the complicated and at times difficult process of completing all the necessary documentation, interviews and training on how to parent children who can have multiple physical and/or mental health issues or who have suffered abuse or other traumatic circumstances.

There is little notice given of when a child will be placed with you and a month after starting my new role, we had a call asking us if we would take in two children, Amy, 11 years old, and Tyler, 7 years old, on a long-term basis.

We said yes to the opportunity of a long-term placement and we began planning and preparing to ensure the children’s transition to us was smooth and that they had a connection

with us.

The week before the children arrived, we received another call from our social worker explaining that the children’s biological mum had another six-month-old baby boy called Noah and asked if we would take him to keep all the siblings together. Of course, we agreed and overnight we went from just the two of us to being a family of five — our dream had come true.

Chaos ensued as we moved to a bigger house, bought a pram and car seat, set up the nursery and stocked up on all the things a family of five needs — it was so exciting but overwhelming at the same time.

It’s been over three years now and we have three beautiful children who have changed our life for the better. We are in the process of applying for guardianship of the children to give them a forever home and I’m so lucky to work with a supportive agency like Key Assets Australia who support my family and the LGBTIQ+ community.

Being a parent is the hardest thing I’ve ever done but it’s also the most rewarding. Key Assets has made this journey so much easier for me and my family and continues to support my journey of being a father.”

To learn more about how you can make a difference and become a foster carer, visit canifoster.com.au or contact Key Assets on 1800 932 273

For local Will, the journey for him and his partner, Karl, to become foster carers was challenging but it has been the most rewarding experience of their lives.

Study Sustainable Living

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Science of Gardening

Learn the science behind traditional and modern gardening techniques, changing the way you see your plants, and the way you garden.

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Sustainable Design for Houses

Learn about the environmental and human health impacts of using creative decision making in the design and renovation of houses.

Scan to learn more or visit utas.edu.au/study/sustainable-living

Students at Binalong Bay, Tasmania.

COMMUNITY P

Ken “Dazzler” Dunlop, Australia’s First Openly Gay Pro Wrestler Pens Autobiography

PROFESSIONAL wrestling has always had flashy, flamboyant characters who proudly wore sequins & feathery robes. People like “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair & Gorgeous George were the epitome of this on the global stage. Down here in Australia though Ken “Dazzler” Dunlop was paving a legacy of his own as Australia’s first openly gay professional wrestler.

Ken’s wrestling career began in 1977 at just 16 years old & would last until just 3 weeks before his 40th birthday. As a lifelong wrestling fan, Ken grew up watching wrestling with his family while growing up in the rural Victorian town of Moe. When wrestling shows would come to Gippsland Ken’s family would always attend, but when they moved to Melbourne the passion really took off.

“We moved to Melbourne when I was 13-14, so then Mum & I started going to Festival Hall every Saturday night,” remembered Ken excitedly. “It was just the most amazing time in the world to go & meet some of the local wrestlers.”

With his passion having grown from a flickering flame to a roaring inferno Ken knew he had to at least try to train to become a wrestler himself. A decision that would alter the course of Ken’s life & ultimately see him inducted into the Wrestling Hall Of Fame.

While all of Ken’s achievements inside the squared circle are phenomenal it is actually his personal journey that is truly remarkable.

FINDING A HOME IN SYDNEY

While Ken grew up in Victoria he found his greatest wrestling success in Sydney after making a rather spur-of-the-moment decision to uproot his life & move.

As much of a career-defining decision as the move to Sydney was it was an even more pivotal moment in Ken’s personal life. When Ken moved to Sydney & ventured down to Oxford Street for the first time he was “quite shocked” by what he saw.

“When I first came to Oxford Street, I saw two guys walking down the street holding hands, two girls holding hands. And I just thought, Oh, wow,” Ken recalled. “You just didn’t see that in Melbourne because there was no sort of gay area… So just seeing that really blew my mind.”

At that moment Ken immediately knew he was where he was meant to be.

“It made me feel like I was normal… when I came up here & saw people being so open & accepting, it just felt right & you felt safe.”

Having found his home & a safe place to be his true self Ken would go on to meet his husband & again alter his life forever.

“Joey & I met in 2003,” glowed Ken. “At the time I was thinking about packing up & moving back to Melbourne because I’ve always wanted to go back home. But then I met Joey & just knew there was something special there & we’ve been here together now for 20 years.”

In the 20 years since then, Ken & Joey have called Sydney Inner West their home & have witnessed that area undergo major changes.

“When we moved here there were only 2 big buildings & we

By Jamie Apps

could see all the way to the airport. But now, there are 12 or so buildings blocking our view & the area itself has blown up. The area is a huge city of its own now, there are no houses anywhere it’s all just apartments but it’s still really peaceful. It’s fantastic.

COMING OUT TO THE LOCKER ROOM

After coming out to his family Ken then had to come out to his second family, his peers in the wrestling locker room. A process that was met with shrouded hostility according to Ken, “I didn’t get a lock of negativity but some of the older guys didn’t like me & I assume it was because of my sexuality.”

However, Ken does recall vividly one moment when the hostility reared its ugly, violent head.

“The only time I ever got really abused for being gay happened in the early 80s. It was a really big thing back then to have an earring in your left ear & I’d forgotten to take it out before a match. As the referee was telling us the rules, my opponent said ‘you fucking faggot you’ve got your earring in’ before he leaned over & ripped it out so there was blood pouring out everywhere. Then the bell rang & we started the match as normal. That really, really shocked me & not a word was said after the match. The guy didn’t apologize or anything. That day I lost all of my respect for that guy.”

BLOOD IN WRESTLING

Blood in wrestling during Ken’s heyday was a relatively regular occurrence, which was remarkable given the rise of the HIV/AIDS crisis during the 1980s.

Looking back on this time Ken described it as “really scary” despite the New South Wales Government Department of Sport and Recreation, which oversaw wrestling during that time, outright banning the intentional use of blood.

During that time in wrestling “juicing”, as it was known, was the process of intentionally cutting yourself to introduce blood into the match was a common practice. However, for 5 years, at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, “juicing” was banned.

“While there was no blood HIV wasn’t really talked about with the other guys,” recalled Ken. “But, I remember when we started juicing again I would always ask my opponent if they were ok if I did it & nobody ever said no.”

Outside of wrestling though Ken said he was very scared of HIV, “I was still going out & doing my thing… I was pretty much a slut in those days. I’d go out looking for sex all the time but you just had to be very careful, so it was a pretty scary time.”

Although he was very careful in his consensual sexual interactions Ken explained in his book that he still experienced the dread of awaiting HIV test results after he had been raped.

“When I got raped that was unprotected sex & that really terrified me. In those days it took around 10 days to get your test results so for those 10 days I was shitting myself thinking what happens if I’ve got it. Luckily enough the result came back negative.”

EVOLUTION OF WRESTLING PORTRAYAL OF GAY CHARACTERS

In closing out our conversation with Ken we asked how he as a gay man, whose character avoided the gay stereotype tropes, felt about the portrayal of gay characters in wrestling.

“Gay characters were always made to be the bad guys because at the time it was said the fans loved seeing them get beat up. I think that’s pretty sad & pathetic.”

Thankfully now the wrestling scene globally, but particularly here in Australia, has come a long way.

“I’ve been to about 6 shows in the last 6-7 months & it’s good to see that there are openly gay wrestlers on the shows now. There’s no backlash from the crowd or anyone. That’s how it should be because we all train the same.”

Image: Daniel Mcdonald, Shield, 2020, 60 X 60 Cm, Acrylic On Canvas

MUSIC

It is no secret that Australia’s music industry has had some setbacks and challenges over the last three years. With the industry operating at four per cent in 2021 due to the pandemic, national organisations like music licensing body OneMusic Australia have been working on initiatives to create sustainable careers in the industry. From our favourite local venues like The Great Club to long-standing Lazybones with live music seven days a week, Marrickville is teeming with talent and musicians deserve the right foundations to continue performing, touring and making music.

IIN THE spirit of coming together, local businesses will be working with OneMusic to launch the latest technology helping in this plight. Coming out of the UK, the Audoo Audio Meter is a brand new device, set to change how music played in venues and businesses will be identified.

The Audoo Audio Meter is able to fingerprint music being played in venues to better reflect the royalties being paid to music creators. Tech company Audoo’s investors include some of the world’s most influential musicians such as ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus.

Beloved bar Miss Wolf on Marrickville Road is one of the first venues in the country to install the device. Passionate about music, business owner Gavin Andrews says: “I believe the arts and any form of entertainment should be supported properly.”

Opening in 2019, Miss Wolf has regular events including drag shows twice a week. Drawing in a crowd from every corner, the shows often play a range of music including iconic Australian artists Kyle Minogue, Vanessa Amorosi and Tina Arena.

2022 ARIA Song of the Year Winner, Tones and I is just one of the many high-profile Australian artists to participate in the Audoo launch. The names of music creators will be displayed on a selection of devices to reflect the impact of the technology. As Spotify’s all-time most streamed female artist, Tones and I’s “Dance Monkey” has clocked over five billion streams, going quadruple platinum in the US and 11-times platinum in Australia. The launch has allocated close to 100 music creators with venues already including Casey Donovan, Client Liaison, Illy, John Foreman and Tash Sultana.

Audoo Senior Vice President & General Manager, Asia Pacific, Matthew Fackrell says: “It is so pleasing to see in the first data back from the Audoo Audio Meter installs that some venues are huge fans of local music. A gym in Brisbane’s suburbs featured Ocean Alley, Pnau, Hermitude, Bag Raiders, Cosmo’s Midnight, George Maple, Jungle Giants, Letters to Lions, Jack River, Lime Cordiale, Greta Stanley and Tash Sultana in their first plays, while a music store in Melbourne’s CBD featured KYE, Julia Jacklin, Sensient amongst others.”

From around the country, businesses are showing a concerted effort to support the arts through this OneMusic initiative. These include restaurants, bars, dance studios and office spaces from Dead Ringer in Sydney’s Surry Hills to Brickhouse Gym in suburban Brisbane. Catherine Giuliano of OneMusic Australia says: “We are seeing an outpouring of support from businesses around the country and are optimistic at the very real impact the Audoo Audio Meter will have for our music creator members.”

A OneMusic licence gives you legal access to the majority of the world’s music and brings you into the music economy, allowing even more music to be created. Providing licences to thousands of businesses around Australia, they play a big role in musicians sustaining healthy and thriving careers.

If you are a business interested in supporting this initiative please email audiometer @onemusic.com.au

Sydney WorldPride at Sydney Dance Company

Dance Classes

18 February 2023

Drag + Lip Sync, Waacking, Vogueing and Heels.

Queers of Java

4–5 March 2023

Neilson Studio

Project Eleven and Sydney Dance Company, in association with Sydney WorldPride, present Queers of Java, performed and choreographed by acclaimed Indonesian dancer Rianto.

The Social Wednesday & Thursday nights in February

Join us in our Café Foyer for a relaxed vibe every Wednesday and Thursday from 5.30pm – 9pm during the month of February.

Photo by: Pedro Greig

PETS

NACHO & BYRON

NACHO & BYRON were both adopted rescue cats and are now begrudging housemates living in the St Margaret’s complex. Nacho is a voracious 6 month old ginger kitten with big white paws, a deafening meow and a go-getter attitude. He enjoys jumping in the shower, licking ice cream bowls clean and any form of playtime! Byron (3 years old) is the wallflower bengal-ish tabby who survived a 4 story fall from her aunty’s house in Bondi. She likes chasing reflections on the wall, chirping at mum and dad and teaching Nacho how to be less stinky (still working on it). They spend their days working from home with mum in the sun, chasing each other around, and dreaming of the free life as Surry Hills street cats - note from Nacho: follow me on Instagram, @nachomeowface.

FRITZ & FRIDA

FRITZ & FRIDA - The Dynamic Daschund Duo! Frida is the sweetest little thing, and only 2 years old - she loves cuddles and is happy to perch on someone’s lap all day. She is quite shy around other dogs after she was attacked at an early age. Fritz is a character - he is a bit of a nervous nelly around strangers, but really comes out of his shell once he gets to know you. He has a painfully slow walk - unless he’s caught the scent of chicken, then those little legs can move! Fritz and Frida are regulars at Darlo Dogs and they love going to the Darlinghurst Road Gallery.

Is your pet a star? Submit your photos to our Facebook page

PEANUT ALFIE

PEANUT aka The Princess of Darlo raised by her Labrador sister Abby, Peanut definitely adopted a Lab’s love of food, water and people! But it’s not all play, Peanut works part-time at The Art Centre of Sydney (259 Victoria St, Darlinghurst) - Head of Guest Liaison. If you see her, she’ll bring you on a tour around the place and show you the hidden artworks she did herself! She really is an accomplished dog, she also knows the best local restaurants, she’s a great babysitter and qualified therapist, especially for people afraid of dogs, conquering them with her docile temper.

ALFIE is a 2.5 year old French Bulldog who is handsome whilst emanating an air of entitlement. He loves nothing more than a breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon snack or dinner date with literally anyone who’ll take him. Alfie is a keen gardener and loves to hangout and lie in the sun - of course, he also loves his trips to Bunnings! On a weekend you’ll find showing off his best zoomies at the park, Netlix n’ chilling, socialising with friends or casually perusing the Kings Cross markets.

In 2023, The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras are joining forces with?

First name of the victim in the tragic Bourke St murder case?

Opera Australia are presenting Opera ****** as part of this years WorldPride

The best place in Surry Hills for dinner,drinks AND arcade games?

What was Ken Dunlop’s moniker?

1. The Art Centre of Sydney has a four-legged tour guide called?

3. This years Mardi Gras themeGather. Dream. Amplify - is all about celebration and *******?

5. On which street can you find the award-winning, Sydney Brewery? Famous for its craft beer and cider.

7. The Blame Canada Burger is rated one of the best in Sydney, where could you eat one?

9. Which Street is this years Mardi Gras Parade returning to?

2.

1.

3.

5. 7.

9.

4. 6. 8. 10.

Find yourself at International Grammar School

Join our local school with a global outlook

• Unique languages program

• Central location near Sydney CBD

• Out of hours care

• Early Learning to Year 12

Find out more and book a tour: igssyd.nsw.edu.au | 9219 6700 admissions@igssyd.nsw.edu.au

Ultimo street party for Lunar New Year!

The International Grammar School Parents, Teachers and Friends (PTF) warmly invites members of the local community to join our street party as we celebrate the start of the Year of the Rabbit in association with the City of Sydney

Where: Kelly Street Ultimo

When: Saturday 4 February 2023

Time: 3pm to 7pm (Lion Blessing starts at 3.30pm)

On Saturday 4 February 2023 from noon to 10pm, Kelly Street Ultimo will be closed to cars and cyclists between Mountain Street and 2 Kelly Street.

Artificial grass will be laid on the road to offer families a space to sit and relax. Asian food stalls will be temporarily erected along the footpath.

Activities include traditional lion and dragon dancing and drum performance from the Chinese Youth League, face painting and more.

You can book in advance for extra paid activities including calligraphy, the prosperity noodle toss and photographs with the God of Wealth.

Please scan the QR code for a link to the booking page and to find out more about this wonderful community event. Thank you for your cooperation.

Dragon and Lion

Dancing, Prosperity noodle toss, lanterns, music, delicious food and more

THE JACKSON

Sydney’s newest and most luxurious superyacht have opened their gangway to the public for special events this Summer. From a Chandon Harbour Long Lunch to a Rose Bottomless Brunch, The Jackson offers the ultimate on water dining experience for guests looking to soak up the spectacular views of Sydney Harbour and make up for lost Summers in style!

Book now – thejackson.com.au