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A life saved

By EMMA BLADEN

Fast-acting lifesavers, on and off duty, saved a man’s life in a dramatic incident at Cottesloe beach on Sunday morning.

“He was unconscious, not breathing, and had no pulse,” said Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club president Julian Barry.

Four doctors at the beach at that time were also among those who assisted the man, aged in his 60s.

He suffered a medical episode

while in the water and was pulled to shore.

Volunteer lifesavers treated the man while St John Ambulance was on its way.

Mr Barry said he was one of two patrol captains on duty when they were alerted to the man’s condition about 9am.

“The gentleman was swimming at the groyne end of the beach and had some kind of medical episode,” he said.

“I’m not a medical person so I can’t say what that is.

“There was a swimmer who saw him have the episode and helped get him to shore.”

Mr Barry said three surf club members brought the man up onto the sand.

“It was fortunate that he was between the ﬂags,” Mr Barry said.

“He was near members who commenced resuscitation immediately.”

The lifesavers resuscitated the man by applying the deﬁbrillator and gave him oxygen therapy as well, he said.

They brought him back to life. It was amazing ‘ ’

“We got him breathing again.”

Lynda Kenny-Cassell, who posts on social media as the Cottesloe Morning Report, was on the beach at the time and witnessed the incident.

She said she had just interviewed a young off-duty lifesaver who was undergoing training.

Shortly after, he was performing chest compressions to revive the swimmer.

“They brought him back to life,” she said.

“It was amazing.”

Ms Kenny-Cassell said it turned out that the man’s wife was standing near her.

After he was revived, a lifesaver ran up to the woman to ask if she was the man’s wife.

“He wants to talk to you,” he said.

Mr Barry said the successful outcome was a result of the combined efforts of club members and the doctors.

He also thanked the Fremantle and North Cottesloe surf clubs

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Subiaco HQ to cost $64m

By LLOYD GORMAN

A new council admin centre would be at the heart of a proposed $64million redevelopment of Subiaco’s “civic precinct” – a price tag defended by the mayor and CEO as a sound investment.

In May, councillor Mark Burns voted against awarding a $3.3million contract to architects for the project, which he said would cost ratepayers

as much as $75m ($75m bill for chambers? POST, May 31).

Plans for the pricey project were set to be published on the council’s website for community feedback from Friday morning for the next few weeks. They reveal a major revamp of the gardens and grounds between the clock tower on one end, the museum and library at the other and Subiaco primary school to the rear.

Giant trees that tower over

Rankin Gardens and other signiﬁcant trees on the site will stay put but the areas around them will be landscaped to include botanic gardens and a “festival lawn” with space for up to 400 people.

The planned council building – which would be built on the site of the former ofﬁces – would have several zones, including the council’s chambers on top of a “grass roots pavilion” beside the main entrance.

As well as enough office space for all its admin staff, the building would also have an exhibition space and mini cafe, lobby and community hub with a hall big enough for 100 people and meeting rooms for hire.

Subiaco said the designs –created by architects Lyons –were based on the anticipated needs and feedback to date of the community and they were asking for further input.

“We have drawn on everything the community has told

•

Team effort … Lifesavers, swimmers and four doctors who were at the beach rushed to help. Photo: Lynda Kenny-Cassell

The new offices would have cafe and exhibition space, a hall and community hub and be surrounded by botanic gardens with a festival lawn.

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Beach terminal a ferry bad idea

Having grown up in Sydney and having used the Sydney Harbour ferries to go to school, university and then work, I ﬁnd the idea of having a ferry wharf on a beach at Matilda Bay most odd.

This view was supported by

Please email your letter to letters@postnewspapers.com.au, lodge online at postnewspapers.com.au or snail mail to: The

Hospice survey deadline looms

Now the Perth Children’s Hospice construction is well under way and additional land granted, I hoped some civicminded honesty would apply to planning the next phase. Not so it seems.

Illegal electric motorbikes are not e-bikes

similarly to traditional bikes under the law.

They are designed to assist –not replace – pedal power, and they operate within safe and regulated speed and power limits. In contrast, the rise of illegal electric motorbikes – sometimes sold and labelled as “e-bikes”

They are not e-bikes. They are in fact illegal motorbikes that should be subject to registration, licensing, and road rules like any other motorbike. Illegal motorbikes ridden in public spaces can be subject to hoon laws. WestCycle strongly supports

tighter import controls and clearer public education to help everyone understand the difference – and place more scrutiny on both online and direct retailers who are selling these devices that are used for unlawful purposes. In this direction, WestCycle has backed the recent Bill introduced into Federal Parliament aimed at improving e-bike safety and cleaning up the market. WestCycle has also made extensive representations to the ongoing WA Parliamentary Inquiry into eRideables and e-bikes. Let’s not confuse innovation with illegality. E-bikes are a vital part of our active transport future. Illegal motorbikes masquerading as e-bikes are not.

Wayne Bradshaw CEO, WestCycle

A circular from the Swanbourne Parkland Project Team informs us that a draft concept plan has been developed by the project architects and refers readers to their website.

The website continues a litany of misrepresentation that has tormented the project from the outset.

A statement reads, “For nearly 20 years, a vacant plot of land next to the future Sandcastles Children’s Hospice in Swanbourne has sat neglected – a barren, overlooked space

full of untapped potential.” Calling this “spin” would be too polite.

The photo included shows an area at the northern part of the site in summer, not the new parkland for which the community has express wishes for ecologically sensitive rewilding.

Completion of the Norn Bidi trail and native planting that respect community thoughts for the natural environment and wildlife is still needed.

It is a simple request, given all that has been lost through this massive intrusion into scarce open parkland.

There is an online survey. www.pchf.org.au/swanbourneparkland

Go to it and have your say now, or forever have regrets.

Forum protest verdict baffles

The recent overturning by the WAPC SPC of the Cambridge PSP in preference to an alternative APIL owner-driven proposed development plan deserves comment.

This approval illustrates starkly the transactional nature of the long term planning processes now in place in WA between private entities and public approval entities.

Since when has private entity commercial outcomes been the key consideration overturning orderly public planning processes?

The public image of WA having

No money missing

A letter published in the POST last week incorrectly stated that Nedlands Council had made a “supposed loss” of $2million.

The letter writer was in error. There is no evidence of any money missing from the City of Nedlands.

orderly planning processes that serve the community has been damaged almost beyond repair with this decision. The only entity the WAPC SPC decision serves is APIL.

The success of this approach will see multiple other local government precinct development plans being challenged and overturned by private entities using similar commercial threats of non development.

Get ready for the rush.

Colin Percival Riversea View, Mosman Park ■ See report opposite

Dr Neville Hills

Mt Claremont

Bikes on Sea View golf links.

The $35million hospice for seven kids under construction in Swanbourne.

Ghost of Eats to haunt Cott

By BRET CHRISTIAN

The ghost of Van Eileen, an indelible slice of Cottesloe’s beachside culture, is coming back to haunt next year’s Sculpture by the Sea.

Artist Tim Haynes has had accepted his idea to build an almost full-sized reminder of the beloved pioneer of fast roadside food.

When the original was demolished by council order in 1998, crowds of fans turned out with ribbons tied to their car aerials to bid the caravan a fond farewell.

“I’d love for the project to spark a conversation about what we lose when councils and corporations decide what we can and can’t have,” Tim said.

“Whether it’s a 40,000-year-old piece of rock art or a 50-year-old burger van, these places matter, and once they’re gone, that’s it.”

The germ for the Ghost of Van Eileen took hold during lockdown in Melbourne, with the WA born and bred artist and sculptor daydreaming of Cottesloe Beach and what it had lost.

“Since then, the idea’s really taken on a life of its own,” he said.

“The more I dig, the more I realise what cultural institutions like EATS meant to people.”

Social media burst into life with strong opinions and a

rush of nostalgia from people recalling sitting on the bonnets of their cars parked behind the van, munching delicious burgers while gazing out to sea.

Back then, courting couples lined up along with people from the beach and local pubs, sometimes recognising captains of industry and judges, all waiting for the best steak and hamburgers in town.

“The Ghost of Van Eileen is easily my biggest sculpture yet. I’ve had so much encouragement and support from the locals for it, so now it’s just about doing it justice,” Tim said.

He has obtained enthusiastic arts sponsorship from the McCusker Charitable Foundation and from Capral Aluminium but, as the deadline rapidly approaches, he needs around $15,000 to ﬁnish the project.

Tim said Van Eileen was part of the roadside culture that grew rapidly as more people could afford cars – they embraced roadside eateries, drive-in-

theatres and motels.

“It represents the quiet erasure of cultural landmarks, the end of the rich and peculiar history,” he said.

“Van Eileen was part of what Robin Boyd famously called ‘the neon-lit, candy-coloured, ﬂashing fun life’.

“It was a modest food van turned community touchstone, beloved for its unpretentious charm, toasted bread burgers, and egalitarian atmosphere where judges and tradies stood side by side.

Alarm at Floreat Forum profit ruling

By JEN REWELL

Floreat locals are “deeply disappointed” that Floreat’s high-rise future will be determined by a plan developed by commercial property trust company APIL.

“Growth must be guided by good planning, not developer-

ers chose APIL’s precinct plan at a meeting last Wednesday. Locals rallied immediately against the APIL plan when it was ﬁrst made public in early 2023, and the Cambridge council developed its own plan in response, which it presented to the Statutory Planning Committee (SPC).

intense interest in how their suburb was developed, the SPC voted for the APIL precinct structure plan (Mack blasts Forum high-rise verdict, POST, November 8).

at the meeting.

Ms Cole told the meeting that the “critical issue” was implementation of the PSP, and APIL had indicated it would not develop the area if its plan was not chosen.

The saga has seen court cases, spirited community meetings, and a battle of

Churchlands MP Basil Zempilas said planners had ignored the concerns of locals when they decided on Floreat’s future.

Despite the community’s

“The community is now entitled to say, ‘Why bother? Why go through the process if we’re not going to be listened to’,” he said.

“They’ve invested their time, their effort, their expertise, they’ve met all the criteria that’s been required, and still they’ve been rejected.”

Floreat resident Kristy Gannon said she was “very concerned” by statements made by SPC chair Emma Cole

“Basing decisions on what ‘future landowners’ may or may not do is extraordinary, unless there is something the WAPC knows that the public does not,” Ms Gannon said.

“A majority landowner’s appar-

ent unwillingness to subdivide or develop because a communityfocused plan is adopted, presumably as it doesn’t maximise proﬁt, should not be a determining factor in planning approvals,” she said. Ms Cole said she was in favour of the APIL plan.

After the submissions were completed at the SPC, there was no discussion or dissent from the other members of the committee.

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Van Eileen lit up to star in a feature film. RIGHT: Tim Haynes with a model of his sculpture, which will be life-size.

An aerial view of Floreat Forum.

Photo:Simon Westlake

THE listening

Grass tree a whopper double

CARDS

Cottesloe local Russell King made sure he had his trusty POST when he embarked with grandchildren Elliot King and Briana King on a section of the Cape to Cape Track that runs for 123km between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.

They stopped for a photo at one of the monster grass trees that are a feature of Wilderness Road, this one thought to be 10 to 12 human generations old.

A western suburbs resident is about to be surprised with a parking fine from the Town of Claremont, thanks to a POST reader who photographed the alleged violation.

Our reader took a photo of the resident’s car parked across two motorbike spaces in the

Lapsley Road car park in Claremont.

The POST published the photo (November 8, 2025) with blurred registration plates to protect the car owner’s identity.

A second reader responded to the published article to say the car’s owner was high profile – and a repeat offender

John, Ros recognised for their POST work

The Sporting POST is the best football column in the State.

John Townsend was named best columnist at the annual WA Football Media awards held at Perth Stadium this week.

And POST contributor Ros Thomas was named best freelance writer in the WA Media Awards on Saturday, also winning the prestigious Hugh Schmitt award for feature writing.

defence of its traditions.”

The judges praised John’s weekly Sporting POST columns for displaying “sharp insight, depth of research and a clear-eyed passion for WA football”.

“His writing is informed, balanced and thoughtprovoking, notably offering a reasoned opinion and the context required to enrich public understanding of football in WA,” they said.

Examples of Townsend’s work cited included a “thoughtful analysis of Harley Reid’s future and the game’s governance, evocative storytelling about the volunteers who sustain the sport, and a spirited

– when it came to poor parking in the Town.

So we forwarded the photo, with the licence plate showing, to the Town of Claremont, to ask what action they might take.

A spokesperson for the Town responded to say the car’s owner would be fined.

“Parking offences occur-

The Sporting POST was written by WA football great Austin Robertson for more than a decade before his death in 2023 when Townsend succeeded him.

The POST gave prominence to a series of reports by Ros Thomas that featured insights into the causes of loneliness.

They included a Claremont interview with homeless man Russell Price that resulted in him returning home to Adelaide, and a feature titled “Technology creates recipe for loneliness”.

Ros also wrote on loneliness for a national newspaper after seeking out the chronically lonely in five countries.

ring with the Town are infringed under the Town of Claremont Parking Local Law 2016,” the spokesperson said.

“Offences witnessed by the community can be reported to our Community Safety Team by calling us on 9285 4300 and the vehicle will be infringed accordingly.”

“They include chronic loneliness, dementia, suicide and prescription drugs.

“Her deeply affecting and nationally significant features (two of them exclusives) were beautifully written and demonstrated extensive research, contextual understanding and a deep empathy and care for her interview subjects”.

A rangy not a motorcycle.

John Townsend Ros Thomas

Bridge closure sparks call for local cops

By LLOYD GORMAN

Cottesloe’s “under-utilised” police station needs to beefed up with active duty ofﬁcers during the pending closure of the Fremantle trafﬁc bridge to deal with local crime and order, Cottesloe MP Sandra Brewer told parliament this week.

“Even with sirens blaring, I do not see how it will be feasible for police to manoeuvre across a single congested bridge to reach people in the suburbs I represent when they need them most,” she said.

“We need a plan from the minister for police to reassure my community of their safety during the tumultuous time ahead,” she told the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

Ms Brewer called for the extra cops as “a priority” during the coming year-long bridge rebuild.

Police minister Reece Whitby said she was stoking “unnecessary fear and anxiety”.

Cottesloe, Mosman Park, North Fremantle and Peppermint Grove are currently served by police from the Fremantle district, who need to travel “many kilometres” and cross the Swan River to reach the western suburbs.

“Active-duty ofﬁcers must be able to respond to situations in my community without having to traverse the Swan River,” Ms Brewer said.

“Should there be a major incident at Perth’s most desirable tourist destination, Cottesloe beach, perhaps one that involves groups of people intent on conﬂict, we cannot wait for police vehicles to get through the congestion on Stirling Bridge.

“It is risky and inadequate.”

She also called for policing at night to be covered out of Perth.

The local member said crime was on the

rise and getting worse.

Innocent social housing tenants and nearby residents needed to be empowered to be report troublemakers and know action would be taken she said.

Minister Whitby told the POST: “Sandra Brewer is attempting to cause unnecessary fear and anxiety in the local community over emergency response services and capabilities.”

He said police have forward-planned the effects of the bridge closure.

“The WA Police Force has all the necessary resources to respond to reported incidents 24 hours a day 7 days a week, to maintain best possible police service to the community.”

Arrest after bus assault on girl

By BEN DICKINSON

Wembley Police have arrested a 39-year-old man who allegedly threatened and assaulted a 17-year-old girl on a Transperth bus in Nedlands last week.

The arrest follows a series of reports from women who say they were threatened and stalked by a man carrying a skateboard in the Claremont and Nedlands area, although it is not clear if there is a connection to the arrested man.

The 39-year-old has been charged with assault and making racially aggravated threats. He was granted bail until his next appearance in Perth Magistrates Court on November 28.

Police say he verbally

abused the girl on the bus, before hitting her backpack as she disembarked.

Trilogy Homewares managing director Tyler Formica said a man carrying a skateboard screamed at two female staff members and a female customer in his Claremont showroom on Melbourne Cup Day last week.

“We had this lovely woman in there who just happened to be Asian,” Mr Formica said.

“He started screaming racial obscenities at her.

“He was accusing this woman of calling him a paedophile, but he didn’t know her at all.”

Mr Formica said the store manager ushered the man out of the showroom without further incident.

A social media thread posted

Court pulls plug on Pep Grove build

By LLOYD GORMAN

A project to build a large Peppermint Grove mansion has been halted by the state’s highest court after a complex and extended planning tussle.

The case hinged on intricate interpretation of planning rules by the Court of Appeal, which last week upheld Peppermint Grove shire’s appeal against Sophie McComish’s bid to build a new home at 25 Irvine Street.

The court said she should pay the costs of the appeal and proceedings.

Peppermint Grove’s legal costs up to September 30 were $70,641.40, not including a half-day hearing in the appeal court last month.

for a neighbour told a council meeting in 2023 that the applicant had not calculated the plot ratio correctly.

This “miscalculation” would allow an additional 230sq.m of ﬂoor space, the council was told.

“It will have an unreasonable impact on the amenity of my client’s property and the broader locality,” the neighbour’s lawyer Jess Hamdorf told councillors.

The increased plot ratio would have the effect of excessive bulk and scale and increased risk of overshadowing and overlooking nearby properties, she said.

She said moderate plot ratios were a feature of Peppermint Grove’s predominant character of single homes in generous garden

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last week was filled with reports by local women who said they were harassed and verbally abused by a man who matched the description and was carrying a skateboard.

“This sounds like the same person I have also had a run-in with earlier this week out front of the daycare on Dalkeith Road and also at the Nedlands skate park some months ago,” one woman posted.

“I’ve experienced the same scruffy character, very abusive, scruffy and on a skateboard … on Broadway and Fairway,” another woman said.

“I was terriﬁed and couldn’t get inside of the gate fast enough.”

Several women said they had had trouble getting police to act on their complaints.

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An elevation of the design from the 2023 submission to the Shire of Peppermint Grove.

Shorten police response times, says Sandra Brewer at her local police station. Photo: Paul McGovern

Turtle Dom sticks his neck out

By JACK MADDERN

In the dead of night, while the city sleeps, one man takes it upon himself to scour through the weeds and reeds of lakes and swamps in search of turtle life.

This unusual habit has earned Dom Enoch the reputation around Perth as the “turtle consultant”.

It is a quirky title outquirked only by the Victorian-era suit and top hat he dons for his expeditions.

However, his expertise in Perth’s turtle ecology is among the best, and he has been asked on multiple occasions to help

Murdoch University and state government departments deal with threats from invasive turtle species.

He has come to discover a trend among the turtle populations in Perth’s busy metropolitan wet areas.

“In response to urbanisation, turtles have become nocturnal,” he said.

“In places where there is basically no light pollution at night and there are no busy roads nearby, the turtle activity at night is basically zero, whereas in busy metropolitan areas, they are found to be pretty much nocturnal.

“This explains why so many

Grove poll in March

By BRET CHRISTIAN

Peppermint Grove will hold an election for a new councillor on March 26.

A vacancy has been left on the council after not enough candidates nominated to ﬁll the four seats that became vacant for the elections held last month.

Three sitting councillors were elected unopposed, but former councillor Doug Jackson did not re-nominate.

It meant Peppermint Gove has been left one councillor short, and it is a legal require-

held within four months in that case.

If there is more than one candidate for the seat, the State Electoral Commission will run the postal election at a cost to ratepayers of $15,000.

That amount was budgeted for the October 18 election but was not needed because no election was held due to the shortage of candidates.

Peppermint Grove, Australia’s smallest shire, has 1187 electors.

It usually has a relatively high turnout with around 40%

eople assume that lakes, nd small bod-

to turtles.”

When he hears that a lake does not have any resident turtles, Dom takes it upon himself to prove the claim wrong.

“I saw Friends of Lake Gwelup had posted about an ecologist who had done a survey for Main Roads and that found no turtles were present in the lake,” he said.

“That survey helped Main Roads to get permits for clearing trees and altering the environment.

“I reached out to Annika McKirdy, a local opposing Main Roads’ plans, to say I thought the survey was wrong.

“I sent her a video of a turtle I had found there, which helped her campaign and stopped Main Roads from destroying the wetlands.”

Ms McKirdy called him the suited sentinel of the night.

“The footage he sent me was a game-changer, as it showed threatened oblong turtles living in the ‘clear zone’ where groundworks were imminent,” she said.

“After a public outcry, the Government abandoned those plans.

“He knows all the secret wetlands of Perth. If you live near a road drain or creek, you can bet he’s paid a visit.”

Dom says there are no tricks to his four years of turtle-ﬁnding success.

Typically, he can ﬁnd them within 15 minutes of arrival, armed with just three torches and a phone to document his discoveries.

His surveying will start anywhere from 8 to 9pm and ﬁnish between 3 and 4am.

“My lifestyle has acclimatised to the turtles’ activity,” he said.

“As they have adapted to urbanisation, I have adapted to them.

“If I go to a place and don’t ﬁnd turtles the ﬁrst time, I will go back a week later.

“So far, there have only been two places where I have not found turtles after a third time.”

His work in the western suburbs is far from over.

He has his sights set on proving the existence of turtles on many of the golf courses, such as Wembley Golf Course where fenced-off areas provide some protection from incursions by foxes.

When he or other members of the community make a turtle discovery, they share it on his iNaturalist map of turtle sightings.

Turtle whisperer Dom Enoch spends his nights seeking out the reptiles.

Cafe’s small bar bid stirs local protest

By EMMA BLADEN

A Claremont resident says she and her family will be forced to move if a plan for a small bar is approved at 18-20 Ashton Avenue.

Nicole Annson, who lives in Second Avenue near the Claremont Showground, said the council informed her about the bar proposal by regular mail.

She had 11 days to lodge a written response.

The property at 20 Ashton Ave is occupied by Boujee Brew, a cafe which opens seven days a week for mornings only.

But under the bar proposal the business would trade from 6.30am to 11pm, she said.

Ms Annson said she has young children, one of whom is disabled and does not sleep well at the best of times.

“If this was to go ahead we would have to move,” she said.

Claremont Mayor Peter Telford said a number of residents had written to him regarding their concerns about the small bar proposal.

The residents were concerned about noise, parking, the number of patrons the bar would serve inside and outdoors, and about the area’s suitability for a small bar, he said.

He had noted residents’ concerns and looked forward to considering the relevant development application when it arose at an ordinary council meeting.

Ms Annson addressed the council’s October meeting, asking councillors if they thought the bar it was in the community’s best interests.

She said she appreciated councillors had not yet seen a development application.

“Does the application for a small bar on Ashton Avenue align to the community environment that you are endorsing for

Claremont, and do you feel it’s in the best interests of the local community?” Ms Annson asked.

Nearby houses were “to everyone’s knowledge … less than 10 metres, three metres in some circumstances,” from the site, she said.

E-bike teen still critical

A 16-year-old boy remains in a critical condition at Royal Perth Hospital’s Major Trauma Unit more than a week after an e-bike crash in City Beach.

The boy was a passenger on the bike, which was being ridden by a 14-year-old boy when it collided with a car in Kingsland Avenue on November 5.

The younger boy also sustained serious injuries and was in a stable condition at Perth Children’s Hospital when the POST went to press.

Police say the bike involved was a mountain bike that had been ﬁtted with an electric motor and had no pedals.

“Under road trafﬁc law, it is classified as an unregistered motorcycle that cannot be registered,” a police spokesperson said.

“As we kick off the licensing process, a key part will be community engagement, with the council gauging if there is local support for a small bar in our area,” it has posted.

Boujee Brew on its website is calling for expressions of support for the small bar.

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EPA dumps Matilda Bay ruling

By LLOYD GORMAN

WA’s Environmental Protection Authority waved through contentious plans for an expanded ferry service – including a terminal in Matilda Bay this week – without even assessing them.

The environmental regulator said likely environmental impacts were “not so signiﬁcant” and “likely to be small in extent”.

“The EPA does not consider that the proposal impacts will combine or interact in a holistic way which requires assessment by the EPA,” it said in a six-page decision published this week.

Nedlands MP Jonathan Huston blasted the EPA’s decision as “a profound breach of trust with the people of Western Australia”.

The public expected the environmental regulator to act as an independent guardian of the Swan

River, not to rubber stamp government projects he said.

“The river does not have a voice – so it is our duty to speak for it,” he said.

“Once those nesting trees are felled and the foreshore reshaped, it cannot be undone. We owe it to future generations to protect what little natural riverfront we have left.”

A family friendly action day to ‘Save the Bay’ is planned at Matilda Bay for this Sunday (16 November) from 11am to 1pm.

Mr Huston said the EPA decision ignored widespread community concern about the project and the unique ecological and social values of the Matilda Bay foreshore.

“The EPA’s determination that this proposal poses no signiﬁcant risk to the river, to marine life, or to the fragile ecosystems of Matilda Bay deﬁes both science and common sense,” he said.

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE

“To dismiss the loss of black cockatoo nesting trees, the potential damage from wave energy, and the disruption to the marine environment as minor or manageable is to turn a blind eye to the lived experience of our local community and the evidence of independent experts.”

City Beach and Floreat residents have complained in recent months of groups of boys on illegally modiﬁed e-bikes and electric dirt bikes riding dangerously throughout their suburbs, including inside Floreat Forum.

Boozy Boujee … This Claremont cafe could become a bar. Photo: Paul McGovern

A 140m long jetty is part of the planned Matilda Bay terminal.

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Have your say: A new civic building and gardens

The City of Subiaco’s Civic Precinct is set to undergo an exciting redevelopment with a new civic building and surrounding gardens that will deliver a range of modern, ﬂexible indoor and outdoor community spaces. A concept design is now available for the community to view and feedback on community spaces is being sought.

The Civic Precinct includes key community facilities like the E H Parker Library, Subiaco Museum, Rankin Gardens and Council Chambers and Administration Centre, is a place for the community to come together to connect, celebrate our successes, welcome new citizens, promote local culture, and debate the issues that are important to our community.

In March 2024, Council resolved to start a tender process for qualiﬁed architects to prepare a concept design for a new civic building and surrounding gardens.

In May 2025, a jury of architectural industry experts appointed Lyons Architects as the lead ﬁrm for the redeveloped Civic Precinct.

Lyons’ concept design features a dedicated community hub, ﬂexible exhition space, festival lawn and grass roots pavilion along with a new Council Chambers that will

quick monthly

It’s not often in this busy modern age that we take a collective moment from our day to stop, remember and reﬂect.

The City’s Remembrance Day service (held in conjunction with the local branch of the RSL) was such a strong show of community, and appreciation for all those who have served.

There are few more special duties as Mayor than to lay a wreath on behalf of the City of Subiaco at the base of our Fallen Soldiers Memorial.

also serve as a bookable community space and staff ofﬁces.

The City is eager to hear from the community about the indoor and outdoor community spaces, and what they would like to see within the garden area in front of the civic building.

Mayor David McMullen said, “We have drawn on everything the community has told us over the last several years, and now, we want to hear from as many people as possible so we can reﬁne the design of the Precinct’s indoor and outdoor spaces so they meet community needs and expectations; are functional and ﬁt for purpose; and offer lasting value and amenity.

“We are not just designing for today. The vision is longterm, and has been carefully thought through - with all of the probity and oversight that ratepayers would quite rightly expect for a project of this scale.”

Read more about the project at www.subiaco.wa.gov. au/civic-precinct, and have your say on the concept design via www.haveyoursaysubiaco.wa.gov.au/ civic-precinct

Cardio at Lords gets a refresh Lords Recreation Centre has welcomed new cardio machines - including eight treadmills, six bikes, four rowers and a new Evolt 360 bodyscanner – just in time for summer.

Plus, Lords is set to be the ﬁrst gym in the state to be equipped with Matrix upper body cycles, a great option for those with lower back or lower limb issues seeking cardio training without stressing the lower body.

Read more about the upgrades at www.subiaco.wa.gov.au/news.

Subi’s ﬁrst West Tech Fest event Startup WA and the City of Subiaco are joining forces to host ‘Subi Sundowner: Startups on Tap’ as part of West Tech Fest 2025.

The event, which will take place at FOUND Subiaco on Monday 8 December from 5.30pm to 9pm, aims to connect people directly with leaders in the innovation, technology, and start-up space.

Read more and book tickets via www.subiaco.wa.gov.au/news.

Big wins for City

The City’s thriving markets (including Subi Night Market and the Pre Loved Clothing Market), and Subi Blooms x Gather 2025 have

both received awards at national and state ceremonies this month.

The City also took out silver awards in categories for Excellence in Local Government Tourism, and Government Communications Team of the Year.

Read about the awards, and the winning initiatives, via www.subiaco.wa.gov.au/news.

Giant birthday

Subiaco’s much-loved giant Bille Bob celebrated his third birthday this week in his Theatre Gardens home.

Part of the Giants of Mandurah exhibition by internationally renowned artist Thomas Dambo, Bille Bob’s extended stay in Subiaco which has been signiﬁcantly longer than the 12 months he was expected to last – is a testament to the careful stewardship of the City’s staff and the community’s affection for him.

Mayor David McMullen said, “The City has been proud to care for Bille Bob over the past three years. He has brought something special to Subiaco, and has encouraged people to explore, to pause, and to reconnect with nature. He will always be fondly remembered by our community.”

In the gun for $290k

By BEN DICKINSON

Nedlands ratepayers will fork out at least $290,000 in extra audit fees as the council continues to grapple with the fallout of its failed 2023 audit.

Acting corporate services director John Vojkovich revealed the hefty bill at a special council meeting on Tuesday after questioning from former councillor Rebecca Coghlan.

“If we’re assuming that ordinarily the audit fee would be around the $95,000 to $100,000 mark per year, the last three years [combined] of audit fees are about $290,000 more than that value,” Mr Vojkovich told the meeting.

“[That] includes an estimate for this year of $150,000, which I’m expecting to go beyond.”

The meeting approved the payment of a $276,357 bill for the

recently completed FY2023-24 audit, nearly double the initial estimate of $145,900.

The Office of the Auditor General, which conducted the audit, told the council that unresolved issues from the previous year’s disclaimer of opinion had made the 23-24 audit much more complex than expected.

Issues included “the City’s inability to produce appropriate records to support the amounts stated in the ﬁnancial report”, partly due to high staff turnover – according to Mr Vojkovich’s report.

The council’s ﬁnance team made more than $1.8million worth of retrospective adjustments to the previous year’s books, including a $1million reduction in the recorded value of council-owned property, plant and equipment, and a $326,476 increase in current liabilities.

Probe into lopped eucalypt

A Swanbourne homeowner who extensively pruned a mature gum tree in their backyard is being investigated by Nedlands council.

A neighbour of the Jameson Street property said tree loppers took out about half of the massive eucalypt’s canopy on October 20, and told worried neighbours to “leave us alone”.

“They’ve taken off several branches … it’s half the size that it was,” they said.

Trees taller than 8m, or with canopy widths of more than 6m, are regulated under Nedlands council’s tree retention policy,

which requires homeowners to seek council approval before any “tree-damaging activity”.

A council spokesperson conﬁrmed this week that no permit was granted.

“The City of Nedlands has recently been informed that you have extensively pruned a potentially regulated tree,” reads a letter sent to the owners.

“The city will investigate this potential issue further over the coming weeks.

“If you have any information or images that you could send me that would assist in the investigation that would be greatly appreciated.”

Sea lion kips among the kelp

A sea lion had a sleepy nap on the seaweed near The Cove, south of the Cottesloe Groyne.

As keen surfers took to the water to enjoy good waves, the creature took a more restful pose on a bed of washed-up weed.

It was a good spot for a kip –the large bank of smelly weed meant dogs and pedestrians stayed well away.

It is the fourth resting sea lion locals have seen at Cottesloe this year.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction (DBCA) said sea

lions naturally “haul out” or come on to land to rest, moult and recuperate.

“Seal lions need to rest for long periods and sometimes people confuse this long rest time with them being sick or injured,” a spokesperson said.

“Disturbance … can result in reduced time spent feeding and resting, sometimes resulting in reduced body condition.”

Sea lions are protected in WA with minimum separation distances required between people and the animals in the water, on land and when using drones.

Claremont re-thinks shutdown

Residents and property owners in Claremont are to be given more time to have their say about long-term closures in Shenton Road due to building works.

A proposal advertised on November 8 to close parts of the road and footpath gave until November 21 for comments to be lodged.

However a Town of Claremont spokesperson said this week that the proposal was to be reviewed and re-advertised, and the closing date extended.

“The wording of the public notice and supporting information will also be reviewed,” the spokesperson said.

The Town of Claremont had advertised plans to close Shenton Road’s westbound left lane at the intersection of Davies and Shenton roads because of works to build a medical centre at 2 Shenton Road.

The closure would be from December 1 this year to February 26, 2027, and include closing part of the footpath on the south side of Shenton Road.

The footpath is shared by pedestrians and cyclists.

The Town also said the eastbound lane between Davies and Graylands roads would close from December 1, 2025, to September 26, 2027.

This was due to works for The Terraces Residential development at 3 Shenton Road, now under way.

This closure would also affect the footpath on Shenton Road’s north side.

A sea lion basks sleepily on the weeds, oblivious to the more energetic souls surfing nearby. Photo: Rob Crossing

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Jet sets solemn tone

By JEN REWELL

A ﬂyby by an RAAF Hawk 127 was the highlight of the Remembrance Day service at the West Leederville cenotaph.

A small crowd was standing around chatting after the short service when the jet made its very fast, very loud pass overhead.

CEO Lisa Clack said the Town had asked for a ﬂyby after the RAAF had been over the Kings Park memorial.

When the moment came, most were unprepared for the speed and noise of the aircraft.

The solemn service was

conducted by the Town of Cambridge in conjunction with the RSL Cambridge subbranch.

Jonathon Wilks, 12, and Eddy Wilson, 11, from City Beach Primary School laid a wreath on the cenotaph steps.

Jonathon’s family has a long history of service in the RAF and RAAF, and Eddy’s father served in the navy.

Remembrance Day commemorates the moment when the guns on the Western Front fell silent on November 11,1918 at the end of World War I.

The Leederville Cenotaph was unveiled by Governor Sir Francis Newdegate in 1924.

‘Lost’ graves remembered

By JEN REWELL

A heartfelt tribute was provided by 70 students from Freshwater Bay Primary School who hammered wooden crosses in the graves of old soldiers at Karrakatta Cemetery.

The students had spent weeks learning about 38 soldiers who fought at Gallipoli and in France

Remembrance Day ay November 11

our English and HASS classrooms, researching each soldier’s life and writing a personalised Ode, culminates in this powerful act of remembrance,” teacher coordinator Cindy Carboni said.

“It’s a meaningful connection between history and humanity.”

Some soldiers were decorated with the Military Medal, others wounded in service.

All were laid to rest at Karrakatta before the Perth War Cemetery was established in 1942.

Many of the soldier’s graves were unmarked – the graves had previously had memorial headstones that have been removed by the cemetery’s renewal program.

Members of the school board, family representatives, parents, and RSL Presidents from across Perth attended, with many expressing gratitude for the authenticity and depth of the students’ commemoration.

Girls spread the poppy message

Cadets from St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls helped sell red poppies for the RSL before Remembrance Day.

Tracy Hage, acting Secretary of the RSL Mosman Park subbranch, said the St Hilda’s cadets joined RSL members Jenny Dunlop and Margret Kent at the Cottesloe Central shopping centre in Peppermint Grove to raise funds for Poppy Day.

“The funds are used to support

St Hilda’s cadets join RSL members selling poppies at Cottesloe Central on Remembrance Day.

our past and currently serving Defence members in crisis accommodation, social and wellbeing programmes,” Ms Hage said.

“It’s such an incredibly important day for our community and the public has supported

Construction commencing January with completion late 2027 3 bedroom residences from $1.81m

Noah Zed and Sebastian Lambert place crosses at the graves of World War I soldiers at Karrakatta.

Eddy Wilson, 11, Cambridge mayor Gary Mack, and Jonathon Wilks, 12, at the West Leederville war memorial.

Photo: Jane Wishaw

Pub next to alcohol addiction treatment centre

I write as a neighbour of the Irish Club since 1991. (35 years) (Irish club to be reborn as Irish pub, POST, November 8).

I have operated my medical work in the building next to Irish Club, and watched the effect of alcohol sales on those outside my building as well as those inside my building whom I treat

Subiaco is a small town and has more than 100 venues selling alcohol.

As an addiction specialist I am treating old cricketers and footballers as they developed their addiction celebrating on the ﬁeld after sporting games when they were 15 to 25 yrs of age.

Western Australia has falsely promoted that the brain has grown enough to make alcohol safe at 18 years. But 26 years is more accurate. That is why the US government does not support drinking before 21 years.

I am the neighbour next door to the old Irish Club running Fresh Start (www.freshstart. org.au) as a service treating thousands of West Australians with alcohol as a problem that has ruined their lives.

Fresh Start as a treatment program spends more than $6million a year towards recovering these patients. It provides medication that would cost more than $4million a year in the US with not one cent from the three levels of government (councils, State and federal) towards this

medication cost.

It needs each level to support it as well as the donors.

Alcohol disease costs the West Australian community $3.1 billion per year from a combination of policing, hospitalisations, road crashes, and ambulances.

Alcohol costs WA hospitals $172 million pa.

As a specialist in addiction medicine I am asking the community for help and support for this enormous problem troubling our children and the whole community.

At Floreat Forum ‘WAPC wrong again’

My view is that with its Floreat Forum decision, the Statutory Planning Committee of the WA Planning Commission has got it wrong (again). (Mack blasts Forum high-rise verdict, POST, September 8).

The APIL plan they approved will certainly have an earlier development timeframe than the Cambridge plan, but will preserve a 60-year-old singlestorey shopping centre that would not be built today.

The APIL plan will allow APIL to make more money and make it now.

The SPC rejected the properly prepared Cambridge Precinct Structure Plan (PSP).

The SPC clearly based their decisions on the better economics of the PSP for APIL, leading to a more likely redevelopment

of the land around Floreat Forum. Was the decision right and proper?

APIL own 90% of the property and the major buildings on the site of the PSP. They have done so since 2009.

The Floreat Forum shopping centre is a single storey shopping centre with reasonable parking.

The Floreat pub at the north end of the Forum has just spent several million dollars refurbishing and I think that Woolworths did too in recent years.

The Forum is old and poorly opened to the community especially on the western side. But it is a good place to park and shop.

The APIL PSP leaves the Forum shopping centre alone and has several apartment tow-

ers up to 20 storeys.

The grant of the APIL PSP therefore greatly increases the value of their land and brings forward APIL realising proﬁts on its “unused” land.

The WAPC SPC decision turns down a proper plan for the whole Floreat Forum precinct which it condemns for 100 years.

Ken Perry Dalkeith Road, Nedlands

Take note of kids motorbikes

Your reporting on Sea View Golf Club having its greens vandalised by e-bikes plus another article alongside on teens injured in an e-bike crash instantly raised my hackles (Golfers see red over greens damage, POST, November 8).

Irresponsible parenting is the root cause of the majority (if not all) of juvenile crime or offences committed.

It seems that modern day parents have great difﬁculty in setting reasonable rules and boundaries and they haven’t mastered the skill of saying “no”.

With the scourge of e-bikes, e-scooters and illegal e-bikes we’ve seen an ever-increasing number of serious accidents and even deaths.

Throughout Australia this activity is killing children and young adults as well as hapless pedestrians being terrorised.

In addition our parks and sporting ﬁelds are being deliberately damaged in the name of fun.

While authorities (governments and police) understandably are calling for tighter regulations and better education, it is the slack parents who should wake up because they are contributing to this seemingly uncontrollable crises.

Quite frankly the parents are complicit in any resultant accident or random damage caused by purchasing these vehicles for their children.

And, by the way, teach them personal respect towards others as well as respecting community public property.

Bruce Strang Tighe Street, Jolimont

Word on Waste

Workshops

Get ready for a more sustainable Christmas with two festive low-waste workhops.

Dr George O’Neil Townshend Road, Subiaco Fresh Start, left, treats alcoholics, which the Irish Club, right, is to become a pub.

YARRA RANGES, VIC PEONIES

ENJOY THE TIMELESS BEAUTY OF PEONIES

We have bunches of beautiful Peonies available in our Flower Department. These exquisite blooms cultivated in Victoria are available in a range of pinks and whites including varieties Sarah Bernhardt, Festive Maxima and Dr Alex Flemming. Renowned for their timeless elegance, Peonies captivate with their abundance of delicate petals, intricately layered to form large, tightly packed blooms that unfurl into lush, rufﬂed textures. Be quick, we are certain they will not last long!

NOVEMBER 2025

WELCOME NEW MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS

Congratulations and welcome to the Town’s newly elected Mayor and Councillors!

Congratulations to Melissa Harkins on her new position as Mayor, and to our re-elected Councillors; Lorraine Young (who stepped down from the Mayoral role at the end of her term on 18 October 2025), Brad Wylynko, Helen Sadler and Chilla Bulbeck. At the Special Council Meeting held after the election, Sonya Heath was elected as the Town’s Deputy Mayor.

The Town would like to thank everyone who voted. We look forward to working with the new Council.

SWIMMING POOL SAFETY

The Town would like to remind our community of the importance of safe summer swimming in backyard swimming pools. To ensure you have a safe and enjoyable summer please: remain vigilant and always watch children when they are in and around a pool, restrict access – pool gates should always be closed with no climbable objects or hazards next to pool fencing, teach children water safety skills and learn how to respond in case of an emergency.

Find out more at www.royallifesaving.com.au/stay-safe-active/locations/water-safety-at-home

COUNCIL MEETINGS

The November Council Agenda Forum will be held on Tuesday, 18 November and the Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 25 November. Meetings are held at 6pm at Cottesloe Civic Centre, 109 Broome Street, Cottesloe. Agendas are available at the Civic Centre or on our website.

JOIN US FOR CAROLS!

Cottesloe Carols by Candlelight is on Saturday, 6 December on the Main Lawn at Cottesloe Civic Centre. Gates open at 5.30pm and carols begin at 6.45pm.

Bring a picnic or enjoy something delicious from one of the food trucks on offer. We look forward to seeing you there!

CYCLING WITHOUT AGE

Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the beautiful Cottesloe foreshore with Cycling Without Age! Rides are available every Wednesday between 9.30 and 10.30am, starting at Curtin Heritage for a leisurely cruise along the coast and back. This free experience, offered through Cycling Without Age Australia, helps connect seniors and people with limited mobility to the simple joy of being outdoors.

To book a ride, visit https://cyclingwithoutage.org.au/cycling-without-age-perth-trishaw-ridebooking-request-form/ or email bookings@cyclingwithoutage-perth.org.au. If you’re passionate about cycling and want to give back to your community, consider becoming a volunteer cyclist! Full training is provided. Contact training@cyclingwithoutage-perth.org.au to ﬁnd out more.

SUMMER BRINGS OUT SNAKES

The weather is warming up which means snake activity increases as they emerge from hibernation to bask in the sun. When you are out enjoying our beautiful beaches this summer please keep to the paths and keep an eye out. If you do see a snake do not approach it, they are venomous and could bite. Snake sightings in public areas can be reported to the Town on 9285 5070. Our Rangers are trained to deal with them.

Sinner priest Holmes gets years more jail

A Shenton Park priest who sexually abused “a steady stream of children” in the 1970s and 80s has had 4½ added to his prison sentence after he was found guilty of raping two altar boys.

Patrick Holmes, 90, was found guilty by a District Court jury last week of violating the two boys between 1977 and 1983, while he was the parish priest at St Aloysius Catholic Church in Keightley Road.

He appeared at a sentencing hearing before Judge Craig Astill on Wednesday in prison greens, having already served 8½ years for abusing seven other children, mostly girls.

Astill said.

“These children were nothing more than vehicles for your gratiﬁcation,” Judge Astill said.

Judge Astill told the court that Holmes groomed the ﬁrst of the two altar boys, then aged no more than eight, to become “a compliant and unknowing victim”.

He said Holmes fondled the boy under his clothes on several occasions, including in the church rectory after a service while parishioners were milling around outside waiting to speak to him.

“Having spent the morning no doubt taking confession and absolving others of their sins you yourself sinned in the most grave way,” Judge

Holmes later took his young victim to a retreat at New Norcia, where he woke him in his dormitory, carried him to another room, and raped him.

“I have no doubt that at his young age this would have been painful for him,”

Judge Astill said.

“But whatever injuries you caused that night went well beyond the physical.”

the printing room of the priest’s church-supplied house in Shenton Park.

He too had been groomed through “tickling and wrestling”, Judge Astill said.

To be judged at a far higher level than mine. ‘ ’

The victim, now a man in his 50s, sat in the court gallery and wiped away tears while he listened to Judge Astill’s recount of his abuse.

The second victim was aged 10 or 11 when Holmes raped him in

Holmes told police in a recorded interview that he could not even recall the boy.

“He was just one of a steady stream of children who came through your parish that you offended against,” Judge Astill said.

In a sentencing submission, defence counsel Tony Hager asked Judge Astill to take into account the good Holmes had done over 16 years as parish priest.

But Judge Astill said it was hard to conceive

Police Beat

Ben Dickinson

that it could ever atone for having “destroyed” the lives of his victims.

“The harm that you’ve caused them has been deep and enduring” he

“Their pain has shaped their lives, their relationships, and their sense

“Whether the good you have done outweighs the harm you have caused is something that will be judged at a far higher level than mine.”

Judge Astill sentenced Holmes to a combined 4½ years’ jail for two counts of carnal knowledge against the order of nature and six counts of indecent dealings of boys under 14.

Ten other charges of indecent treatment were thrown out part way through the trial after Mr Hager successfully argued there was insufﬁcient evidence.

Legal win but no release from jail

An alleged drug dealer charged with possessing stolen property in Mosman Park will remain in prison despite a legal win.

Daniel James Haasy, 42, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday via video link from prison to face four charges.

They include possessing methamphetamine and stolen property in Mosman Park on June 26, and aggravated burglary and assault occasioning bodily harm in North Coogee on December

15 last year.

Police discontinued the burglary and assault charges, prompting Magistrate Lynette Dias to enquire whether he should be granted bail.

But Haasy’s lawyer told Ms Dias her client was being held on remand while he awaited sentencing on more serious charges of possessing cocaine and methamphetamine with intent to sell or supply.

That case is next due before the District Court on March 6.

Bentley oﬀ the road

He said he also gave weight to Holmes’ age and time served for other offences.

“No sentence that this court can impose can undo the harm that was done to those victims,” he said.

Holmes will be eligible for parole in early 2029, when he will be 93.

Police have impounded a western suburb man’s $400,000 Bentley after he was allegedly caught driving on a suspended licence in South Perth.

Officers stopped the driver on Renwick Street around 5.30pm on November 4, according to a police spokesperson.

“The male driver was charged by summons with

driving while licence suspended (revocation),” they said.

“He is due to appear before Perth Magistrates Court at a later date.” Police impounded the white Bentley Bentayga pending the outcome of the court process.

The base model of the V8 SUV retails for $395,800.

Former priest Patrick Holmes. Photo: ABC News

Sweet ride … Police have impounded this Bentley SUV.

Forensic unit squeeze is on

I refer to Lloyd Gorman’s article, (Graylands bed numbers to shrink, POST, November 1, 2025).

Thanks for highlighting the chronic bed shortage. The longstanding bed squeeze in the Forensic Unit has been known to all health ministers over the last few decades, but the issue has been relegated to the ‘too-hard basket’.

The whole idea to increase the forensic mental health beds, numbered only 30 for over a decade, was to address the severe shortage and increased need to improve the legal rights of persons with mental health impairment and prevent unﬁt placement of people on custodial orders in prison.

Mental illness has once again received a tokenistic approach.

I wonder if the stigma attached to mental illness ﬂows through to the corridors of the minister and government bodies that continually limit funding to an illness that affects one in ﬁve Australians and one in 100 will be affected by severe (Schizophrenia) mental illness.

Gail Lee Princes Street, Cottesloe

Please email your letter to letters@postnewspapers.com.au, lodge online at postnewspapers.com.au or snail mail to: The Editor, 276 Onslow Rd, Shenton Park 6008. All letters must include writer’s full name, address and daytime phone no. for veriﬁcation. Boring letters or those over 300 words will be cut. Deadline: Noon Wednesdays.

numbers shrink

By LLOYD GORMAN

A new secure mental health facility at Graylands will have 40 beds – not the 52 the State Government promised.

The shortfall was described by shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam as “a failure” by a government more interested in building racetracks.

Then Health Minister Amber Jade Sanderson announced in 2023 that $218.9million would be allocated for the ﬁrst stage of the new facility.

She said the funding would deliver “at least 53 additional forensic mental health beds”, including ﬁve for a new children and adolescent unit (Upgrade at Graylands, POST, April 29, 2023).

But the POST can reveal the actual number of new beds is well short of that number.

the…design and construction of 40 new forensic mental health beds,” said an expressionofinterestdocumentfor

Infrastructure Delivery.

“Through business case development a decision was made to prioritise sub-acute adult male beds over the originally proposed non-acute male beds

The POST’s report on November 1.

“Sub-acute beds require more space to enable rehabilitation andlongerstays

of this S ure to p and inf

“The Service the des forensi WAform

Premier grabs at development power

I am calling on Sandra Brewer, my local Liberal member of state parliament, and the Liberal Party of WA to reverse support for the State Development Bill 2025, recently introduced to the WA Parliament without any public consultation

The Bill gives extraordinary power to one person - the Minister for State Development (with approval from the Premier) - to designate any speciﬁed development project as a “priority project”.

And the Minister is given sweeping discretion in designating a “priority project”.

The Minister is only required to “have regard to” the Bill’s object, and to be personally satisﬁed that the project is of strategic or eco-

nomic signiﬁcance to the State.

The Minister is not required to consider the public interest, the protection of the environment, or even community views. There are no requirements for public consultation.

The Conservation Council of WA has warned that the Bill proposes signiﬁcant changes to the approval of major projects in WA, and the application of WA environment and planning law.

If this Bill passes it is likely to harm our environmental, community and cultural values.

The Liberal Party must vote against the Bill when it comes to the upper house. Thanks Heidi

Guilt for the past and future

Guilt can only apply to people responsible for evil deeds. Later generations have nothing to apologise for.

Their responsibility is to try to correct the consequences of the wrong. It is shame that applies to them. (Stirling:Virtue-signalling and woke, POST November 8).

On Anzac Day we proudly celebrate the heroic deeds of our ancestors. Shame is also part of our history.

We are a nation of wimps if we deny our shameful past while

glorifying our proud past.

To face our shame we must acknowledge, not apologise. The events that we condemn as evil, had the approval of the majority and the authorities. Each generation can ﬁnd fault with its predecessors. We make endless, ofﬁcial apologies for past happenings. Why don’t we anticipate likely future apologies and take steps now to avoid them?

D Brown Barker Road, Subiaco

How to beat a bully

The federal Education Minister announced $10m for a new bullying prevention policy for the 9653 schools in Australia, so in reality a $10million bandaid.

The national deﬁnition of bullying for Australian schools says: ‘Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and or psychological harm’.

Ongoing, Deliberate. Repeated. Students’ and parents’ personal deﬁnition of bullying is very different. Understandable when a child comes home crying and distraught that the ‘B’ word is invoked, and sadly that makes everything worse.

The child becomes a victim, the bully a villain. Not helpful!.

We need to help our children become resilient.

With verbal bullying the most prevalent, when someone is mean to them, they should call it out immediately, the very ﬁrst time – ‘that was mean!’ and walk away. Walking away after denouncing the behaviour as mean, (the behaviour not the person), results in two things. First, it puts the child back in control, they choose to walk away taking away the oxygen from the situation, and second it gives bystanders a chance to be upstanders.

The way to protect our children is to have them know what to do to keep their power. In efforts to protect them, we often take away their power and teach them how to be a victim. Schools can support families to help students be resilient, kind, and keep their power.

Jennifer Townsend Alexander Street, Wwmbley

Hardisty Myera Street, Swanbourne

The Claremont riding centre set up by M’Liss Henry, right, will move across the road.

HOME IS MOSMAN PARK

LIMITED RESIDENCES REMAINING

Mos Lane is defined by quality without compromise — a collaboration between ADC, Nelson and Koo, and Icon, bringing experience and craftsmanship to one of Perth’s most sought-after postcodes.

Each residence has been meticulously designed by Nelson + Koo to offer the space and warmth of a home, with the ease of apartment living & uncompromising amenity — a rare balance of design intelligence, practicality, and freedom.

Natural materials, bespoke joinery, and timeless finishes have been chosen with care, creating spaces that feel considered, enduring, and effortlessly livable. Warm tones, textured stone, and timber draw from the Western Suburbs landscape — earthy neutrals, soft greens, golden light, and the natural warmth of oak. Every surface feels tactile and grounded: wool, oak and brushed chrome chosen for their beauty and longevity.

We invite you to experience the craftsmanship and detail of Mos Lane first-hand at our Display Suite in Cottesloe — a glimpse into what it means to feel at home, and the new standard of living in Mosman Park.

COMPLETION 2027

This is a rare opportunity to secure your place within Mosman Park’s landmark address. Private viewings and further detail available upon enquiry.

Visit the ADC Project Suite. 22 Napoleon St, Cottesloe. Thurs 4–6PM & Sat 10AM–2PM or private appointment.

Tom House +61 421 481 180

Lachlan McDonald +61 400 226 186

Megamansion strikes new hitch

By BEN DICKINSON

An overseas family’s plan to build a four-storey family compound in Dalkeith has been dealt another blow by Nedlands council’s commissioners.

Leederville developer Liya Xu has been trying since last year to build a block of ﬁve apartments on her family company’s 1012sq.m Alexander Road property.

Neighbours described the building as “monstruous” and a “megamansion” at a Development Assessment Panel (DAP) meeting in May.

The entire building would be periodically occupied by members of Ms Xu’s multigenerational family and their traveling chauffeur, the developer’s consultants told the panel at the time.

Ms Xu launched an appeal

in the State Administrative Tribunal after the DAP knocked back the development on the basis it was too bulky and would cast a long shadow of its southern neighbours.

Last week, Nedlands council’s commissioners decided to oppose the latest iteration of the plans, despite a 50cm reduction in the building’s overall height.

Southern neighbour Robert William told a council meeting that his main north-facing living area would be in shade from 9am on the winter solstice, as would his outdoor living area.

“Yes, our solar panels now receive their minimum hours of sunlight from 10am, but the rest of the home still suffers from signiﬁcant overshadowing.

“[It] deeply affects the comfort and liveability of our home.”

The site has caused regulatory

• Please turn to page 28

Liya Xu is trying again after her plans for a

Passmore’s nearly 40-year career in local government. She was a councillor under former mayor Richard Diggins and then succeeded him as mayor in 1994 for another ﬁve years – only the second female mayor of Subiaco since 1896. Her predecessor Evelyn Helena Parker was the ﬁrst woman in Western Australia, elected mayor in 1975.

Helen decided not to run for a second term as mayor

with the City’s staff, I saw an opportunity that could assist them in better servicing their communities and hence, LO-GO Appointments WA was born at 1995,” she said. She started the specialised employment agency as a onewoman operation upstairs in 1 Rokeby Road.

“There was no working from home those days – no emails, no internet, no Google, no chat GPT.

“Everything was paper based and completed via fax and over

Helen Passmore with a portrait of herself as Subiaco mayor.

Harper on Swan presents a rare opportunity to reside within Perth’s most coveted riverfront address. Perfectly positioned on the South Perth Esplanade, uninterrupted views of the Swan River and city skyline become an

WHEN lifestyle COMES FIRST

At the centre of it all, yet away from it all. The Gardens brings together the best of Nedlands - leafy streets, river walks, boutique shopping and effortless access to daily conveniences, creating a home that balances calm with connection.

Peace Memorial Rose Gardens 10m

New Nedlands Town Centre 700m

Taylor Road IGA 700m

Nedlands Tennis Club 1.1km

STAMP DUTY DISCOUNTS ENDING SOON MOVE IN

Nedlands Golf Club 1.3km

Nedlands Hospital Precinct 2km

Claremont Quarter 2.1km

Swan River 2.6km

STEVE KERR

0434 140 829

steve@duetproperty.com.au thegardensnedlands.com.au

Your home is unique, and so is our strategy to sell it. Known for our bespoke marketing and home to some of the state’s top agents, DUET ensures your property isn’t just on the market — it’s truly for sale. At DUET, nothing is left to chance. Every detail, from how your home is positioned to how it’s presented and priced, is carefully considered to attract the right buyer for your home and deliver a premium result for you, the seller.

803m2VIEWINGPLATFORMAVAILABLE AUCTION

15 TARA VISTA WEST LEEDERVILLE

AUCTION ON SITE 9:30AM SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER

THE FEATURES YOU WILL LOVE

15 Tara Vista has long been the topic of discussion around the coffee shops of West Leederville. One of only two vacant blocks left on the Hill of Tara, number 15 is the only one left with genuine, North-facing views over Lake Monger/Galup. ‘What’s happening with the block on Tara Vista?’ is a question we are asked on a fortnightly basis. With a gentle slope and some encouragement via site works, this site could be one of Perth’s best opportunities to build your dream home.

AGENTS ON SITE

Saturday 15th November 9:00am - 9:30am

Wednesday 19th November 1:00pm - 1:30pm

AUCTION ON SITE

Saturday 29th November 9:30am

AUCTION

CRAIG GASPAR

M 0413 929 999

T (08) 6244 7860

craig@duetproperty.com.au

153 Broadway, Nedlands WA duetproperty.com.au

109 PARAMATTA ROAD

DOUBLEVIEW

AUCTION ON SITE 1:30PM SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER

THE FEATURES YOU WILL LOVE

Offering a robust 1970s design, a sprawling block, and a location worthy of envy, this perfectly positioned home encompasses all the convenience of Doubleview residency. Capable of hosting any number of guests and family alike, your poolside oasis is framed by beautiful gardens from an elevated aspect. Set on a generous 713 square metres, this is an opportunity to create decades of joy-filled memories.

HOME OPENS

Saturday 15th November 11:00am - 11:45pm

Sunday 20th November 1:00pm - 1:30pm 713m

AUCTION ON SITE

Saturday 29th November 1:30pm

DECLAN TURNER

M 0415 723 838

T (08) 6244 7860

declan@duetproperty.com.au

153 Broadway, Nedlands WA duetproperty.com.au

7/8 BAY ROAD CLAREMONT

31 RILEY ROAD CLAREMONT

A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY

THE FEATURES YOU WILL LOVE:

Set on a perfectly level 1012sqm landholding with a coveted north-facing rear and rear laneway access, the property sits in one of the most tightly held and revered enclaves of Claremont. While move-in ready, the home presents exciting potential for a cosmetic update, larger renovation, or complete redevelopment in the future to take full advantage of its exceptional location.

HOME OPENS:

Saturday 15th November 11:00am - 11:30am

AUCTION ON SITE: Saturday 29th November 12:00pm AUCTION 1012m 4212 2

Wednesday 19th November 5:15pm - 5:45pm

SUSAN JAMES

M 0408 003 700 T (08) 6244 7860

susan@duetproperty.com.au 153 Broadway, Nedlands WA duetproperty.com.au

Never too old to play at MLC

By JEN REWELL

A bold masterplan for Methodist Ladies’ College will take several decades years to complete, but the ﬁrst steps are already under way.

Principal Rebecca Clarke announced the Claremont masterplan to parents and supporters this week, with the ﬁrst stage being a new all-age adventure playground.

“You’re never too old to play,” she said.

There is no timeline for the masterplan and no budget.

“It’s more about each project, case by case, being thoughtfully considered and ﬁscally responsible,” she said.

“This is not going to happen overnight,” she said.

She said the response from the school community had been positive.

The masterplan was announced at a gala event, where parents and supporters cheered at the idea of new boat shed on the river.

Currently, MLC students share a boat shed that belongs to their neighbours, Christ Church Grammar School.

But Ms Clarke said the boat shed was just one of many parts of the grand plan, which includes a new STEM centre, chapel, event space, boarders’ spaces, and major upgrades to staffrooms and junior school learning areas.

She said the school’s science block would have been groundbreaking when it was built in 1960s with biology and physics laboratories, but it was now tired and did not allow for modern, collaborative learning styles.

Each part of the development

minimum.

“You can’t let the fear of being told ‘no’ hold you back,” Ms Clarke said.

The original school building, Centenary House, was opened in 1907; boarders live upstairs

Centenary House was a landmark building for many years in Claremont, but as the years went by it had additions “tacked on”.

The masterplan envisages stripping building back to its

original grandeur, Ms Clarke

“It will be beautiful, it’s part of the history of the whole area,” she said.

“The school is 118 years old and some of the buildings are tired, so it’s time to look to the future and refresh,” she said.

Dalkeith megamansion strikes new hitch

headaches for its last two owners since the street was rezoned for mid-rise apartments in 2019.

Former owner Rohan Hocking tried to build a fourstorey complex on the site but was foiled when the State Administrative Tribunal ruled that it would cause unacceptable overshadowing of its twostorey neighbours.

The decision set a precedent that developers of rezoned sites must consider how their projects will impact their realworld neighbours, not just the

hypothetical future streetscape.

Since then, ﬁve more two-storey houses have been approved for the other side of the street from Ms Xu’s property, nixing developers’ arguments that the street is in transition.

“Of the 16 other properties on the street, only three consist of older dwellings that are likely candidates for development potential,” council staff noted in a report.

Last week, consultant Daniel Hollingworth, of Lateral Planning, told Nedlands commissioners that one of two apartments originally slated for the

top storey had been moved to the ground, and the building height reduced, Architect Felipe Soto disputed council planners’ claim that the building would not ﬁt in with the two-storey streetscape, calling it “simply unjustiﬁed”.

“The design presents to the street as a pair of wellproportioned three-storey townhouses,” he said.

But commissioners sided with their staff, voting unanimously with no discussion to oppose the latest plans at a Development Assessment Panel meeting on November 18. • From page 20

Jasmine Goonewardene, 11, principal Rebecca Clarke and Annabelle Lewis, 9, take a stroll around the site of the planned multiage adventure playground, the first part of the ambitious MLC masterplan. Photo: Paul McGovern

Step inside 168 Broadway, Crawley, and experience what it means to live with the Swan River at your doorstep.

Explore an exclusive collection of just 21 luxury residences, crafted for sophisticated living with bespoke interiors, sweeping views of the river and parklands, soaring ceilings and beautifully detailed finishes.

Discover the private collection of wellness-inspired amenities, from the yoga studio, gym and cedar-lined sauna, to the private wine lounge and elegant resident dining and living spaces, each designed to enrich daily life with calm, connection and ease.

Visit us this weekend or secure a private appointment today. With only a handful of residences remaining, this is your rare opportunity to own a boutique riverfront home like no other.

Fan of AI warns of its severe threats

John Barrington AM has been at the forefront of technology innovation for three decades and cofounded

AI medtech company Artrya Ltd.

Artiﬁcial intelligence didn’t arrive with ChatGPT. It’s been running quietly in the background of our lives for more than a decade, curating our feeds, shaping our opinions and inﬂuencing our decisions.

Long before the critics arrived, AI was the hidden engine behind social media.

Facebook began using machine learning algorithms in 2010 and deployed them at Instagram after its acquisition in 2012.

What began as a marketing tool rapidly became a juggernaut that shaped public debate, harmed mental health and inﬂuenced democratic processes.

AI has affected elections, consumer behaviour and social movements, though we have only recently begun to understand its consequences.

Even the pioneers of the digital age misread what was coming.

With AI, the future arrived early. What was meant to be tomorrow’s challenge has already reshaped today.

Critics rightly warn of bias, privacy breaches and unequal access to AI tools.

These are real problems. But they are symptoms, not causes. Addressing them will not ﬁx the deeper issue – an existential threat to humanity.

The danger comes from how these systems are built and

rewarded. They’re designed to maximise engagement, not truth; self-interest, not the common good.

And because they evolve faster than our capacity to explain them, accountability has fallen behind.

At last month’s Tech Council of Australia Summit in Sydney, AI was described as a greater threat to human existence than climate change.

What we have created is an artiﬁcial species of intelligence: one that learns, adapts and advances faster than we can respond.

As a proponent of artiﬁcial intelligence for a decade, and cofounder of a medtech company using AI to detect heart disease, I see the profound opportunities to improve lives. And the risks.

AI in medical technology is tightly regulated and operates with clinical oversight. But the algorithms shaping public thought and behaviour largely operate outside such controls.

We don’t understand how these systems work, which makes controlling them one of the hardest challenges we face.

But harder doesn’t mean hopeless. It means global cooperation is essential, not optional.

Calls for regulation are appropriate, but national laws won’t be enough.

We need a new international agreement – a 21st Century framework as powerful as the

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty – before the technology evolves beyond our control.

The Council of Europe has taken the ﬁrst step, but there is no universal accord with equivalent authority.

In a fractured world, global agreement may seem unlikely. But we’ve done it before. Today 191 nations are signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty, including the US, Russia and China.

The future is no longer ahead of us, it’s here. And the danger is growing faster than our capacity to manage it. Nothing less than humanity depends on how we respond.

Cambridge

$212k rate errors

Cambridge council’s ﬁnance department has been kept busy refunding rates from its $1million miscalculation.

The October ﬁnancial report includes the adjustment to rates income resulting from the Endowment Lands Area rates error, for which recentlyconﬁrmed CEO Lisa Clack took responsibility.

More than $212,000 of ELA rate refunds had been repaid

to 948 property owners, staff said.

There was a significant decrease in the number of refund requests towards the end of October. Budget amendments show a deﬁcit of $152,572, including the ELA rates error.

Staff said it was envisaged that the deﬁcit would be recovered during the 2025/26 budget review process.

The benefits and dangers of artificial intelligence have come with a speed that has the world by surprise.

Bunnings link to derelict house

By LLOYD GORMAN

A historic West Perth house the state government allowed to deteriorate and now wants to bulldoze was built for the brother of the founders of hardware giant Bunnings.

No.56 Thomas Street has been slated for demolition after it was neglected and damaged by squatters during several decades in government hands.

Former Subiaco councillor Malcolm Mummery, who grew up in the Federation house, revealed the history of the house and its identical neighbour which was demolished after a ﬁre in 2016.

“Nos. 56 and 58 Thomas Street were owned by my father,” Mr Mummery said.

“Dad bought No. 58 after the war and he bought No. 56 from the original owners, who were the Hicks, who was the blind editor for the Countryman newspaper.

“Dad always said that both houses were built by the Bunning brothers when they moved to Perth from Bunbury.”

The State Heritage Ofﬁce records that the houses were ﬁrst owned in 1902 by accountant Frederick Bunning, a carpenter and world record cyclist.

He worked for his brothers Robert and Arthur Bunning, who were building contractors and hardware merchants, after they migrated from Lancashire in the 1890s.

Mr Mummery said he lived at No. 58 from 10 until he was an adult.

“After that I moved into No. 56 where I lived for about 10 years

with our two young children.

their primary school years and beyond.”

he bought No. 58 in the 1950s.

“Dad wanted to build a medical centre – because Perth Children’s Hospital was nearby – and we would live on the top of it,” he said.

That plan changed when his father discovered that Thomas Street was earmarked for a sixlane highway, which would also see the hospital move.

“Dad built a high wall at the front of No.58 so basically we lived out through the laneway at the back,” he said.

“In those days the rest of West Perth was deserted on weekends so the kids and I had a ball.

“They were good years, life was fantastic.

“Living at No. 56 was great because we had the grandparents next door and because dad allowed us to live there for 10 years which gave me a big advantage setting out on life.

their mother died in the early 1990s.

No.58 was used as a childcare centre while No.56 became an architect’s ofﬁce,but both houses deteriorated under government ownership.

“No.58 burned down about 10 years ago when there were squatters in it,” Mr Mummery said.

“They didn’t ﬁll it with tenants and I don’t know why they didn’t.

“The fact people got into No.58 and burned it down is probably the reason why there are bars on this one.

“The best protection against dereliction is to have people living in a place.”

No.58 was demolished in 2016 with the POST reporting at the time it had been empty for 15 years.

A notice at No.56 warns against trespassers with the Department

They were good years, life was fantastic ‘ ’

in 1991 they just allowed the properties to depreciate into dereliction,” he said.

“I can’t understand why.

“I was upset the history of those two houses didn’t garner due respect from the government.

of Planning conﬁrming last week that a person had been recently

Mr Mummery said it has been sad to watch the demise of properties that were once happy homes with a noteworthy history.

“The tragedy is these were historic buildings because of the Bunnings link and I would have thought that would have been recorded, even if they just took photos and documented it.

“I don’t know what the City of Perth did with the information I gave them but I never heard anything back from them.”

Public comment on the appli-

Arthur and Robert Bunning at their first sawmill.

Malcolm Mummery at No. 56 Thomas Street, where he grew ups. Photo: Lloyd Gorman

Canberra chokes Alzheimer’s research

By BEN DICKINSON

Promising Alzheimer’s research at QEII Medical Centre is being hampered by an arbitrary federal government funding cap, Curtin MP Kate Chaney says.

Speaking in Parliament last week, Ms Chaney said Nedlandsbased Alzheimer’s Research Australia had received only a fraction of the funding it requested from the Medical Research Future Fund.

It was needed for a large-scale study of how lifestyle factors inﬂuence the progression of the debilitating brain disease.

“More broadly, researchers

in Curtin have had products rated highly by the MRFF but turned down simply because of the funding cap,” Ms Chaney told the House of Representatives.

“This includes research into rare childhood diseases, Indigenous children’s health, diabetes, heart disease detection and cancer therapy.”

The MRFF was created by the Turnbull Government in 2015 with the goal of releasing at least $1billion a year once the fund reached $20billion.

The fund now sits at $24.1billion, but disbursements are still capped at $650million annually.

Ms Chaney’s fellow Teal MP, paediatric neurologist Monique Ryan, is leading the push to unlock more money.

“The funding cap is arbitrary,” Ms Chaney said.

“It’s time to unlock the potential of the MRFF to back researchers in Curtin and across Australia who are working every day to change

ARA research director Ralph Martins said his organisation had to raise around three-quarters of the cost of its AU-ARROW study, which aims to prove that a healthier lifestyle can stave off dementia.

Art Deco honour for visionary Vyonne

By BRET CHRISTIAN

Heritage activist Vyonne Geneve, credited with helping save many Art Deco buildings including in the western suburbs, has received the highest Art Deco accolade.

Perth had a mini-boom in Art Deco architecture in the 1930s, with buildings such as Subiaco’s Regal and Nedlands’ Windsor cinema, the Cottesloe Hotel, shops and many private houses springing up featuring the avant-garde design.

But they has little protection or recognition until Vyonne in 1987 founded what was to become the Art Deco and Modernist Society of WA, realising that the state’s inter-war buildings were disappearing.

Under her direction, the Society hosted the Second World Congress on Art Deco in Perth in 1993.

The commercial buildings and whole streets of suburbs such as Nedlands and Daglish became a mecca for the world’s Art Deco enthusiasts.

This week Vyonne was

named President Emerita in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to the appreciation and conservation of Western Australia’s Art Deco and Modernist heritage.

Incoming President Philip McAllister, a heritage architect and planner, paid tribute to Vyonne Geneve’s impact still being felt daily as she passed 90 years of age.

“Without Vyonne’s vision and determination, WA would have lost some of its most important Art Deco buildings,” he said.

“As President Emerita, she will continue to work alongside me to secure the future of the Windsor Cinema – one of the few remaining signiﬁcant Art Deco buildings still lacking formal heritage protection.

“We’re eager to collaborate with its owners to ensure both the long-term conservation of the cinema and the realisation of the site’s economic potential.”

Vyonne’s influence also extends into education and the arts. Her pioneering thesis on Art Deco cinemas

Using Future Fund Reserve to Payout Aquatic Centre Loan

At the Ordinary Council Meeting held on Tuesday 28 October 2025, Council resolved to use $355,393.48 from the Town’s Future Fund Reserve to repay a Western Australian Treasury Corporation (WATC) loan. The loan was established in 2010 to fund refurbishment of the Aquatic Centre and is otherwise due to mature in December 2030.

For more detail about this matter, refer to the minutes of the 28 October 2025 Council Meeting available at https://www.claremont.wa.gov.au/council/councilmeetings/agendas-and-minutes/.

Queries can be directed to the Town by emailing toc@claremont.wa.gov.au or calling 08 9285 4300. This notice is given in accordance with section 6.11(2) of the Local Government Act 1995, which requires local public notice of a proposal to use money in a reserve account for another purpose.

Tim Clynch Interim Chief Executive Officer

$12million to do the trial properly,” he said.

“[The MRFF] had a ceiling of about $3.4million.”

The ARA had to turn to the US Alzheimer’s Association, which contributed $5.9million, while the Lion’s Alzheimer’s Foundation chipped in another $2.5million.

“The magnitude of funding that’s needed to do a trial of this size is expensive, but it has a huge significance for prevention if we implement it in the Australian community,”

Professor Martins said.

The two-year clinical trial of around 600 participants will wrap up next year.

being coached by dietitians, exercise physiologists and other health professionals to see if lifestyle interventions reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Every participant will undergo brain imaging at the start and end of the study to track the progression of plaque on the brain that is linked to the disease.

Each scan costs “at least” $3000, Prof. Martins said.

ARA is working on a possible blood test alternative, which could reduce the need for costly brain scans.

“Alzheimer’s is now a treatable condition…and that needs to get into the psyche of our

Vyonne Geneve’s fight to save the Art Deco Windsor cinema in Nedlands continues. She is pictured here during one of the campaigns with National Trust CEO Julian Donaldson. Photo: Billie Fairclough

at the University of Western Australia laid the foundation for decades of research.

Her co-authored book Picture Palaces of the Golden West remains a key reference for heritage professionals.

She transformed the ADMSWA from a small group of enthusiasts into a respected authority on heritage preservation, research and design.

The society completed a major survey of Art Deco structures in partnership with the National Trust, which led to the inclusion of many buildings on the State Register of Heritage Places.

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Hacking costs soar

New ﬁgures from WA ScamNet show that data-related scams are causing signiﬁcant harm, says Consumer Protection.

So far this year, more than $1.1million has been lost to hacking scams, while phishing scams in October alone cost West Australians over $323,000 – including a single loss of $314,000.

Scammers are using stolen data to target individuals with alarming precision, Commissioner for Consumer Protection Trish Blake said.

Scammers are increasingly using stolen personal data – such as names, email addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth – to tailor their attacks.

“These details allow scammers to create scam messages that appear more realistic, credible and

harder to detect,” Ms Blake said.

As more personal information circulates online, people are urged to take steps to secure both their digital accounts and their identity.

“Start by securing your online accounts – change your passwords or passphrases, enable two-factor authentication wherever possible, and regularly review your security settings to ensure they’re up to date,” the Commissioner said.

“One of the most effective ways to protect your identity in Western Australia is by placing a block on your driver’s licence or learner’s permit through the Department of Transport’s DoTDirect service.

“This prevents scammers from using those documents for identity verification through the Australian Government’s Document Veriﬁcation Service.”

Chief Executive

Artist finds beauty in kitchen scraps

By JEN REWELL

Onion peel, foraged mushrooms, and slices of lemon… most people would pop these scraps in the kitchen compost, but for Deborah WorthyCollins they are art.

The Wembley Downs artist won the major $8000 prize at the City of Stirling Art Awards with her eco-print Kitchen Scraps #4.

The award has thrilled Deborah, who ﬁts her art into her busy life as a mother of two and a social worker.

Her “studio” is a dye-bath on the dining room table in her busy home and her art revolves around things that are “found”.

“My art practice has integrated into my every day,” she said.

“I might come home from a walk with a mushroom that I will make a dye, or ﬁnd a mouldy blueberry.”

Materials might be soaked in water, or weighted down, or bleached with lemon slices, while others are left for hours or days to soak into paper to create a print.

Sometimes Deborah accepts the outcome of unexpected dye results, and at other times she “steps in” to the work to emphasise a particular image.

“It turns into a conversation on what’s happening domestically for me,” she said.

“There is a reﬂective quality to my work. I’m using it to make sense of things.”

Judges said the intriguing eco-print was “embedded with a consciousness of human impact on our planet”.

“Domestic waste has been ingeniously used to produce this layered work, in which concept, technique and creative outcome are cleverly entwined,” judges said.

“Subtle tonal variations, texture and shape unify the organic abstract composition, which reframes discarded everyday materials as elements within her artmaking process.”

Second Prize went to

Brett Leigh Dicks, from Fremantle, for his photograph called Birds & Cooling Tower, taken at the Satsop Nuclear Power Plant in Elma, Washington.

Subiaco resident Nazila Jahangir, who moved to Australia from Iran, won third prize with her painting Immigration –Shellhouse, which reﬂected her search for a new home.

“The shell I found on Swanbourne Beach, featured in this painting, carries the ocean’s salt and song – a small relic from the vast, untamed world to which I belong,” Nazila said.

Judges said the skilful painting had a sense of magic realism and offered a unique interpretation of her lived experience as an immigrant.

More than 150 works were shortlisted for the biennial Art Award.

All artworks were for sale with artists receiving 100% of the sale price of their work.

27c Dalkeith Road, Nedlands

Privately tucked away, this warm and inviting two bedroom, two bathroom home captivates with its courtyard garden and generous living spaces, providing an exciting opportunity for downsizers, professionals and small families to immediately enjoy the advantages of this blue-chip address.

Deborah WorthyCollins won the Stirling Art Awards with her eco print Kitchen Scraps #4.

Photo: Ezra Alcantra

Immigration – Shellhouse by Nazila Jahangir.

JUSTSOLD

“ Emma Milner was fantastic to work with.

RAY WHITE DALKEITH | CLAREMONT

Submitted VIA Ray White

Suzanne’s garden evolves from vision to vibrancy

In designing her own garden, landscape designer Suzanne Lefroy said she was torn between achieving everything she wanted in a garden and the practicalities of having three active sport-loving children.

“My husband effectively became my ‘client’,” she said. “He balanced my dreams with practicalities.”

What she created, she said, was a beautiful, textural and layered garden without a huge cost.

Next weekend her Nedlands garden is open to the public to offer an insight into a designer’s personal vision as part of Open Gardens WA’s scheme.

She selected a planting palette of robust succulents, hardy natives and layered deciduous trees, punctuated with ﬂoral highlights using affordable ma-

What is under the bonnet?

If looking under the bonnet of your car is a bit of a mystery, some car fanatics at Mosman Park Men’s Shed can help.

On Saturday, November 29, the men’s shed will hold a half-day course to cover basic motor vehicle maintenance for internal combustion engine powered vehicles.

The course is open to all community members over the

age of 16 – you don’t need to be male or a member of the Shed. The workshop will cover essentials like checking the engine coolant level, engine oil level and automatic transmission ﬂuid level. The men will demonstrate how to jack a vehicle for changing a tyre and what to do if you are involved in a vehicle accident. Attendees should wear clothing appropri-

ate to the tasks.

What’s Under the Bonnet and Other Motoring Mysteries will be held on Saturday November 29 from 9am to noon at the Mosman Park Men’s Shed in Perrott Close. Tickets are $35 and include morning tea.

To book go to https://mpms.org. au/public/schedule/events/78429what-s-under-the-bonnet-andother-motoring-mysteries.

terials to ensure that the Lefroy family garden always feels lush and vibrant while remaining easy to maintain.

Suzanne said that, their house design ensured the garden could be enjoyed from every room.

Open Gardens WA is a not-forproﬁt volunteer-run organisation that selects and showcases the talents and dedication of WA gardeners and designers through an annual program of open gardens and exclusive ticketed events.

A Designer’s Vision: Suzanne Lefroy’s garden at 8 Martin Avenue, Nedlands, is open next weekend, November 22 and 23, from 10am to 4pm.

The Landscape Design Institute is offering free consultations with designers. Visitors can take along photographs of gardens for one-on-one chats. Entry is $8.

EUROPEAN ELEGANCE STUNNING OCEAN VIEWS

m2 VIEW 11-11:45am Sunday 16 November

Perfectly elevated to soak up spectacular ocean views, this stunning Mediterranean-inspired beach abode is truly a standout on so many levels. Grand enough to privately accommodate multigenerational family members and friends with two kitchens, four bathrooms and five bedrooms. Truly an impressive entertainer, easy walk to the beach and restaurants. right in the heart of the Margaret River wine region.

Landscape designer Suzanne Lefroy balanced her dream garden with family practicalities.

Photo: Paul McGovern

Members of Mosman Park Men’s Shed will reveal what’s under the bonnet.

Home Open Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th Nov 11am - 12 noon

Strategically located on 3rd floor overlooking Rosalie Park this well presented two bedoom, one bathroom apartment has a spacious lounge room, large enclosed verandah, functional kitchen situated in a well maintained development with attractive outdoor living. On the door step to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, transport, Kings Park, Subiaco and CBD.

NOTE: Two recent sales below this level have SOLD October 25! for $547,000 and $552,000 respectively.

•

FEATURES:

• Ground-floor bedroom with ensuite

• Soaring cathedral ceilings

• Secure gated entrance

• Fireplace and a wood burning stove

• Multiple living areas (potential 4th bedroom)

• Flexible, family-friendly floorplan

• Beautifully maintained and presented

39,350,000 UNDER CONTRACT

TOGETHER, WE’RE MOVING THE MARKET IN 10 DAYS

READY TO DISCUSS YOUR PROPERTY? LET’S TALK.

First Name: Age: Guardians Name: Guardians Phone:

Invite your children or grandchildren to colour in the picture above for a chance to win a prize!

Please submit your entries by 3.00pm 18th December 2025.

receive an “Open Book” voucher worth $100 each.

Ocean Heroes

Deborah Brady

Homage to an Early Romantic

German composer Louis Spohr (1784-1859) is not a familiar name these days but was highly regarded in his own lifetime for 10 symphonies and 10 operas and many concertos and chamber works.

The ensemble Flutissimo will explore the rarely heard

chamber music of this master of the Early Romantic period, accompanied by readings from Spohr’s fascinating autobiography.

Advantages of vintage on view

Pre-Loved Market Perth is back in Subiaco next Sunday for another day of vintage fashion, local creativity and community connection.

“Subiaco has such a strong sense of style and communityit’s the perfect setting for a day that’s all about shopping more sustainably, supporting small businesses and celebrating creativity,” said founder Laura Park.

Pre-Loved Market Perth started in 2022 to champion sustainability in fashion, with markets

in Fremantle, Joondalup and Subiaco.

In partnership with SEE Subiaco and the City of Subiaco, the event will transform Seddon Street into a vibrant market lane lined with over 100 curated stalls featuring preloved clothing, vintage ﬁnds, handmade accessories and food stalls, with live music and entertainment throughout the day.

Pre-Loved Market runs from 11am to 3pm, on Sunday, November 23 in Seddon Street, Subiaco.

Mikulicz on bassoon and Eve McEwen on French horn, with flautist Emily Gunson and renowned Ukrainian concert pianist Anna Sleptsova.

Flautist Emily Gunson is joined by Som Howie on clarinet, Adam Mikulicz on bassoon and Eve McEwen on French horn to play works by Louis Spohr.

A Shed with a difference

If you have ever wondered about what goes on in a community shed, Lake Monger Community Shed will reveal all in an open day next Saturday.

Operating along similar lines to Men’s Sheds, the Lake Monger Community Shed is open to both men and women over the age of 18.

The initial focus of the Shed when it was established in 2019 was woodwork, wood-turning and metal work, but it now boasts an active pottery and

clay-work group, an art group, and a 3D-makers’ group.

Of the 350 members, at least half are under the age of 60 and 25% are under 40.

The open day will feature a range of hand-made clay, metal and wood items for purchase, the proceeds helping to support the LMCS community.

With Christmas just around the corner, this a great opportunity to ﬁnd beautiful, unique, handmade gifts. There will also be cakes and baked goods and jams and preserves to buy.

Ceremony to honour soldiers of 44th

The 44th Australian Infantry Battalion Memorial is holding its second memorial ceremony in Kings Park next Saturday.

The 44th Battalion was raised in Claremont in 1916.

Over 2000 soldiers of the 44th left WA for WWI with 437 soldiers losing their lives in battle. Members of the 44th also served in WWII.

The 44th is the only West Australian regiment that does not have a dedicated physical memorial. The 44th Australian Infantry Battalion Memorial Inc was established with the aim of raising funds to create such a memorial.

Last year, Christ Church Grammar School’s art depart-

ment recreated the original 44th Australian Infantry Battalion Standard from 1916, to present at the inaugural memorial. This year the ceremony will be held on Saw Avenue Lawn East, on the corner of Saw Avenue and May Drive on November 22 at 11am, at the site where members of the Battalion Memorial are hoping to establish a permanent physical memorial.

The ceremony will be attended by WA Governor Chris Dawson, Perth Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds, mayors, members of the Australian Defence Force and the WA Fire and Emergency Services Band.

Shed members will also be on hand to offer guided tours of the facility, while other members will demonstrate their craft.

A sausage sizzle and a coffee cart will provide refreshments. LMCS is at 146 Gregory Street, Wembley, overlooking beautiful Lake Monger/Galup. The open day is on Saturday November 22, from 9am to 1pm.

For more information about the Lake Monger Community Shed go to www.lakemongershed.org.au.

A community of craft: members of Lake Monger Community Shed will showcase a range of crafts.

The 44th Battalion at Claremont Showground.

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Surrounded by mature trees, the home offers a cool, peaceful ambiance and panoramic views of the waterfall and brook. Completely off grid, the property is equipped with a brand-new solar power system and state of the art battery storage, providing energy efﬁcient living without compromising on comfort.

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UWA to share pride in Austen first editions

The Austen volumes are the most popular items in the University of WA’s rare books collection. Jane Austen fans will be able to view this rare collection of the English author’s ﬁrst editions as part of a free event hosted by UWA.

Marking the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, this Monday, November 17, Associate Professor Ned Curthoys, a lecturer in English and Literary Studies at UWA, will discuss the remarkable Austen treasures held by the university, and the stories behind them.

The works include rare ﬁrst editions of the three volumes that make up the novel Emma, ﬁrst published in 1815. One volume includes an inscription from Elizabeth Rice, believed to be Austen’s niece, dated 1823.

The volumes, of which only 2000 copies were printed, also

bear the famous dedication to the-then Prince Regent that a reluctant Austen was forced to include – an insult she avenged via some subtly barbed language.

Also in the collection is a four-volume original edition of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, published five months after Austen’s death in 1817 at the age of 41, which revealed the author’s identity for the ﬁrst time.

Prof Curthoys will be joined by UWA Professor Emerita Imelda Whelehan to discuss the enduring popularity behind Jane Austen’s novels.

The free event will be held in the Ross Lecture Theatre in UWA’s Physics Building from 9.30am to 1pm on November 17. Register attendance through events.humanitix.com/janeausten-250th-at-uwa.

Uni switch was overture to music career

Shenton Park musician and gallerist Mark Coughlan has been a signiﬁcant player in the Australian music scene for 30 years, as a concert pianist, conductor, artistic director and educator.

On Tuesday, November 18, Mark will give a talk to Westcoast Community Centre entitled My Accidental Musical Life.

Mark went to university

to study law and will share stories about his unusual career path that saw him become an acclaimed pianist and conductor and hold several signiﬁcant leadership positions, including Head of Music at UWA, chief executive of WA Symphony Orchestra, board member of Musica Viva Australia and executive director of Piano Plus Australia

and the Sydney International Piano Competition. He has also owned and operated a medical centre and continues to run The Orangery Gallery in Shenton Park.

The talk for Westcoast will be held in the Community Room at the Grove Library from 10am on Tuesday. Book tickets through westcoastcommunity.com.au/ programme or pay at the door.

Banished from Persia; life on a game farm

Two talks about Persian refugees and South African game will wrap up a season of fascinating presentations for U3A western suburbs.

The last meeting of the year for U3A Western Suburbs branch will be this Monday November 17, at the Grove Library.

At 1pm, Fr Geoff Beyer will give a talk on A Refugee from Persia. He will give an account of his cousin Dagmar whose family, along with all other German citizens, were expelled by the Shah of Iran in 1941. The men were sent to internment camps in India or Australia. Her father Gustav was sent to an internment camp in South Australia, never to return.

At 2.30pm, Dave Howcroft will give a talk titled Buffelsdrift, about his game farm in South Africa. He bought a cattle farm north of Johannesburg in 1973 and converted it into a game farm with free roaming wild animals. Dave and his wife lived among the wild animals for the next 20 years. Visitors are welcome and there is a $3 entry fee.

Have your say in the POST letters@postnewspapers.com.au

Mark Coughlan will give a talk about his successful music career.

UWA has a 1926 edition of the carefully curated 1869 memoir of Jane Austen by her nephew James Edward Austen Leigh.

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Seeking clues to RPH bomb shell vases

At first glance, it looks like any other vase – sleek, polished, perhaps made of steel or aluminium? But look a little closer and discover that this vase holds a secret. It was once a World War II bomb shell.

Museum curator Sarah Toohey is trying to solve the mystery.

In the 1960s, these striking vases were a familiar sight on the wards of Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), often ﬁlled with fresh ﬂowers. Today, two of them are in the Royal Perth Hospital Museum, but where did they come from, who made them and why?

Each vase has markings on its base - dates, initials and clues, but how they came to be transformed from war weapons into beautiful household ornaments and ended up in a hospital, no one knows.

One theory suggests that the vases were crafted by returned WWII servicemen recovering at

Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital, once an annex of RPH. As part of their journey to recovery, patients were encouraged to learn new skills. Maybe metalwork was one of them?

If you have any memories, or clues that could help Sarah piece together this puzzle, she would love to hear from you at RPHMuseum@health. wa.gov.au.

Counting on young maths stars

Students from Perth Modern School, All Saints’ College and Hale School have taken out the top individual prizes while Perth Modern won the team prize in WA’s Maths Olympiad hosted by University of WA.

The competition, where calculators are banned and the emphasis is on “brains only”, aims to challenge, inspire and nurture a love of mathematics while identifying the top young students in the state.

The top individuals in Years 7 and 9 all achieved the maximum possible score. Year 9 student

Nelson Yan, and Year 8 student

from Perth Modern School, Shyann Zhang from All Saints’ College, and Jeremy Lim, from Hale School, tied for most outstanding Year 7 student. In the team competition, winning the most outstanding award was a Year 7 team from Perth Modern - Declan Lin, Danil Kazanov, Jeremy Wang and Boan Li. In second place a Year 7 team Ignatius Coutis, Tyler George, Jeremy Lim and Vic Qi, were from Hale School.

The competition, held in the UWA Ezone Student Hub last month, attracted 447 individual competitors and 109 teams from

60 Years. Western Suburbs. One Crabby Negotiator.

I’ve been selling real estate in the western suburbs for over 60 years. Yes, that makes me older than most of your parents, even your grandparents. Yes, I creak a little when I walk. But don’t let that fool you — I can negotiate a deal better than most.

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I don’t run up stairs, but my PA ensures everything runs smoothly. I won’t pressure you into selling or buying — that’s your decision. But I will give you honest advice, practical solutions, reasons why computer-generated appraisals are incorrect, and all the information you need to succeed.

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Outstanding: the winning maths brains from Perth Modern School.

One of the RPH vases and, above, the markings on the base. Photo: Dan McCabe

Summer sale to support W Papuan students

All Saints Uniting Church in Floreat is holding a special summer sale this Saturday to raise money to support two West Papuan students.

The Super Sports and Summer Sale will be held at the church at 50 Berkeley Crescent, Floreat, this Saturday, November 15, from 8.30am to 12.30pm.

The church is part of a partnership between the Uniting Church Australia and the Evangelical Christian Church in the Land of Papua, called Black Pearl Network. Black Pearl is a network of volunteers in who work with Papuans to realise their dreams through community

development, education, health and cultural exchange.

Recently, members of the Black Pearl Network from Perth visited the Papuan provinces of Indonesia to conduct interviews with applicants for next year’s three-month program at the Milner International College of English in Perth.

Dommingus Tebai and Yeretinus Simbu were the successful candidates. Both men have been outstanding students in the Black Pearl English course in West Papua and both hope to become teachers. Studying in Perth is a lifechanging opportunity that will open many doors for them.

Rare emu bush in the pink

Kings Park has partnered with the WA Parks Foundation to release a new plant that will enable people to bring one of the State’s rarest species into their own backyard.

The silky emu bush (eremophila nivea) is listed as a criticallyendangered threatened species under WA’s Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the short term.

The species usually displays a bright purple flower, but the new cultivar, eremophila nivea ‘Pink Pearl’ will bloom in pastel pink.

It is an upright shrub with pink flowers appearing in autumn, spring and summer. Apart from its novel ﬂowers, the plant has a reduced reliance on water and fertiliser and attracts native insects and insect-eating birds.

“By adding Pink Pearl to home gardens, it will turn backyards into conservation hubs,” senior plant breeder Digby Growns said.

Pink-ﬂowering variations of the species are extremely rare. By replicating this colouration through advanced propagation techniques, Kings Park’s plant development program is conserving not only the at-risk

The endangered silky emu bush has been propogated for backyard growers.

species, but also its genetic diversity. Kings Park’s plant development program is the only ornamental plant breeding program in the world with environmental outcomes as its primary focus.

Now available at local nurseries, royalties from the sale of plants will support the work of Kings Park and the WA Parks Foundation, with 60c from the sale of each plant contributing to the conservation of WA ﬂora.

West Papuans Dommingus Tebai and Yeretinus Simbu have the chance to study in Perth next year.

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For those seeking a seamless, luxurious family lifestyle within stunning oceanside Swanbourne, your journey is over. Positioned on a highly desirable corner site of 531m2, this stunning three level architect designed masterpiece sets an unrivalled standard for quality and elegance that effortlessly combines with arguably one of the best oceanside lifestyles on offer.

This Gerard McCann designed contemporary coastal classic was meticulously built by renown builder Humphrey Homes. Including porch, alfresco and garage, this vast home has a floor area of some 520sqm. The ground level showcases open plan living at its finest, with substantial open living spaces and a sleek, open modern kitchen plus scullery that has a bird's eye view of one of the finest north facing outdoor living areas you will find. An expansive, well protected, private timber decked alfresco area overlooks a resort style pool and pristine lawnarea, perfect for the kids or entertaining friends and family. The ground level also boasts an impressive entry, large powder room, substantial study nook and wellequipped laundry.

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The exquisite quality of this wonderful build is undeniable and on display at every turn. High ceilings, reverse cycle ducted air conditioning, alarm system, Italian tapware, full height stacker doors, cavity slider doors, American Oak timber flooring, Caesar Stone kitchen benchtops and Ilve appliances and built in sound system, Monsoon outdoor shower, 6.4 kilowatts of solar panels with Fronius inverter, and an oversized garage with polished concrete flooring are just some of the many exceptional elements that make this stunning family abode truly special.

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First Home Open Saturday, November 15th from 11:45am to 12:30pm

Tennis club casts wide net for new members

The Royal Kings Park Tennis Club is wielding much more than tennis racquets. The club, which was granted royal patronage in 1947, has a long history of tennis but has now expanded to a wide variety of racquet sports.

In 2007, the club incorporated a gym and membership included the tennis club, gym and pools. Now the tennis club has split from the gym and people are invited to join the tennis club and participate in racquet sports including squash, pickleball, racquetball and table tennis.

“We have a range of racquet

sports on offer,” said club member Katherine Kohan. “And I think we are unique in having ﬁve squash courts.”

Coaching is available and members can participate in league competition, tournaments and social tennis. Since separating from the Next Gen gym, the tennis club is on a membership drive.

“From a low of 350, we are now at 380 members and still wanting more to join us,” Katherine said.

For more information go to www.rkptc.com.au, or to join email Royal Kings Park Tennis Club at admin@rkptc.com.au.

Before the Ashes get down to the Bashes

The 2025/26 Ashes Series kicks off next Friday November 21 at Perth Stadium but before the West Test can get under way – and in keeping with tradition – The Bashes will play out the day before at the WACA.

Next Thursday, November 20, the Barmy Army will face their WA counterparts The Spud Kings and Queens for a charity game to bowl out the other side and win bragging rights.

Barmy Army Perth Supporters members Steph Hayward in Daglish and Alison Foskett in Claremont pulled off “a coup” by organising for the showdown to be held at the iconic cricket ground in East Perth for the ﬁrst time.

Local England fans are expected to turn out in big numbers for the game and to have their numbers swelled by visiting fans.

“It’ll be great to get as many of them down to the WACA as possible for The Bashes for a great game of cricket and show camaraderie, and it’s for a good cause as well,” Steph said.

“We are hoping for a win at Perth which will set the tone for Brisbane and beyond. If you add Gower and Botham’s ages to the current England squad, the average is still younger than the Aussie squads, or should I say ‘Dad’s Army’?”

The Barmy Army website said the Perth games would be a highlight.

“These Bashes fixtures will be played at some of the

country’s best club grounds –including, for the ﬁrst time in Australia, an ex-Test match venue – ensuring another unforgettable chapter in Barmy Army CC history,” it said.

The Barmy Army roots can be traced back to December 1998 when England fans staying at a backpackers in Melbourne were challenged to a friendly game by Middle Park CC.

This laid the foundation for “The Bashes” and the rivalry has been a part of every Ashes tour since the 2006–07 series.

Tickets are $15 and all proceeds going to the WA Cricket Foundation. Book through https://www.universe.com/ events/the-bashes-ticketsV3JKGD.

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Local Barmy Army follower Steph Hayward with Ben Stokes, captain of the English Test team.

The Spud Kings and Queens are ready to bowl against the Barmy Army.

Kaye Maskiell, Ric O’Donnell, Peter Taylor, Greg MacPherson and Larisa Flatters are engaged in a variety of racquet sports.

Up the creek with a paddle

Would you like to know how to get up the creek with a paddle? If you want to try kayaking, Swan Canoe Club Mosman Park is holding an open afternoon for people to give kayaking a go. Join club members for a fun and friendly afternoon at the Swan Canoe Club, 16 Johnson Parade, Mosman Park, next Sunday, November 16 from 1 to 3.30pm.

All equipment is provided, and beginners are welcome. For more information call 0419 859 301, or email admin@swancanoeclub.org.au.

Try your hand at kayaking at the Swan Canoe Club.

Setting great store by silence

Visiting international speaker Abhijatri Robinson is giving a free and informative meditation workshop called the Power of Silence at the Palms Community Centre this month.

Sea View steps up for cancer care

When Sea View Golf Club held the Ladies’ ChariTee fundraiser for Cancer Council WA’s Crawford Lodge last month, the goal was to raise around $8000 to provide a room for one year for a regional cancer patient.

The fundraiser included two events, one

in-house and one open to the metropolitan golfing community. With this expanded community support, Sea View has raised a total of $16,678. The golf club has now “adopted” Room 109 at Crawford Lodge in Nedlands for the next two years, to provide home-away-from-home motel-style accommoda-

Each week, the POST lists tradespeople who provide every kind of household service, from unblocking drains to unravelling the mysteries of your new television.They’ll do your books, clean or paint your house, landscape the garden, do handyman repairs or build an entire house.

Readers tell us they’ve carried out major extensions and renovations just by using the POST Trades & Services directory near the back pages of every edition. To advertise, email robyn@postnewspapers.com.au

So support POST advertisers - they make your free local paper possible.

tion for a regional cancer patient and a carer while they access critical cancer treatment.

Emma Youd and Shellee Devereux from Cancer Council WA attended Sea View’s annual Trophy Presentation Day lunch to present Sea View’s events coordinator Erica Rogers with a certiﬁcate of appreciation.

A student of meditation teacher Sri Chinmoy, Zimbabwe-born Robinson has been teaching meditation since 1997 in New Zealand, South Africa and, more recently, Australia. In his ﬁrst visit to Perth he is running a free workshop to cover the basics

of how to meditate and share the spiritual beneﬁts of regular daily practice. This is ideal for beginners. For more experienced practitioners the course will continue weekly through December.

Learning the Essentials is on Saturday November 22 from 1 to 3pm.

The course continues on Sunday with Travelling the Path of Peace from 10am to 12pm, followed by Embracing the Teachings on Tuesday November 25 from 7.30 to 9pm.

Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions to gain a full understanding of the practice. All the sessions are at the Palms Community Centre on Rokeby Road, Subiaco. To register, go to meditationperth.org or call 0468 886 040.

Bowling

Dalkeith Nedlands

The men’s Thursday competition saw some pleasing results last week with 1st Division Blue earning 4 points while 4th Division Gold managed 5 points.

Hollywood Subiaco

For Melbourne Cup Day on November 4, there was a large celebration at the club.

The rafﬂe will be drawn on Sunday, December 14 at 4pm at TeeBox Cafe. Raﬄe for revegitation

The not-for-profit organisation Friends of Lake Claremont has been working at Lake Claremont for years to re-vegetate the wetland area. Unfortunately, many trees have been lost to the Polyphagous shot-hole borer. FOLC is running a rafﬂe to raise money to continue their work in replanting affected areas. Generous sponsors have donated some wonderful prizes. First prize is a Great Southern Outback Tours and Accommodation package of four nights for four guests valued at $1300. Second prize is a Ningaloo Coral Bay Experience; three nights for two adults and two children, valued at $1150. Other prizes include Flametree wines, a month-long membership to Method Health and vouchers to TeeBox Cafe. Tickets are $5 each or $50 a book, selling at Claremont Quarter, outside TeeBox Cafe and at local IGAs. For more information about buying tickets call 0413 929 553 or 0408 851 299.

Unfortunately, 2nd Division Red were soundly beaten by a very strong Melville side. 1st Division is in ﬁfth place and 4th Division in sixth.

Last Saturday’s results were also encouraging with 1st Division Blue gaining 7 points and 4th Division Gold (1) 7.5 points.

The best performed team in 1st Division was skippered by Jesse Brown, ably supported by Mark Lindsay, David Fitzgerald and Peter Jeanes, with an 18-shot win.

In 4th Division Blue (1) Rick Camins and his team of David Broadfoot, Brian Page and John O’Meehan were victorious by 14 shots.

4th Division Blue (2) were playing against the top side in the division, and despite winning 21/2 rinks, could not secure the aggregate, losing by 9 shots.

On Thursday, November 6, 2Gold travelled to Cambridge. On 1 Mike Basford, Craig Hirsch, Jim West and Mike Hatch lost 17-25; on 2, George Savage, Wally Graham, George Sterpini and Glen Morey lost 18-28 and on 3, Ron Middleton, Milton Byass, Tony Byrne and Rob Campbell won 26-19.

Last Saturday, 2Gold hosted Doubleview. On 2, George Savage, Jim West, George Sterpini and Glen Morey won 27-9; on 3, Craig Hirsch, Chris Litchﬁeld, Tony Byrne and Dan Byrne won 19-17; on 4, David Allport, Mark Wilde, Stuart Porter and Rob Campbell won 23-1, and on 5, Billy Gerlach, Ron Middleton, Milton Byass and Mike Hatch lost 12-20. 5Gold travelled to Innaloo where on 5, Brian Marsland, David Leeson, Ron Palmer and Beck Byrne lost 13-26; on 6, Betsy Tapley, Dot Leeson, Ray Fells and Jannette Middleton lost their last end to lose 17-18, and on 7 Mark Petterson, Alan Evans, Mike Basford and Wally Graham lost 15-20.

Everybody had a great time whether they won the sweeps or not. Good food and drink made up for any disappointment. Because of Melbourne Cup, Ladies’ pennants were held on Wednesday instead of Tuesday. The men’s 100 Up final was held on Sunday. The final was held between Brian Vidovich and Mario Van Bemmel, with Brian winning 100- 78. Well done. Meals are available at the club on Monday evenings. Bookings can be made through the office.

Last Saturday, November 8, club members and visitors enjoyed an afternoon of social petanque.

On Sunday, the annual interclub petanque competition was held with four teams per club comprising ladies singles, mixed doubles, mixed triples and men’s triples.

The Subiaco club managed a very competitive third place. The club will hold another round of the President’s Cup this Saturday, November 15. Visitors are welcome on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Check our website for details: www. petanque-subiaco.com.

Mosman Park

Subiaco Pétanque

Abhijatri Robinson

Sea View events coordinator Erica Rogers accepts a certificate of appreciation from Emma Youd and Shellee Devereux from Cancer Council WA.

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Merger widens focus to royalties, estates law

By Nadia Budihardjo

Nedlands-based Cullen Macleod Lawyers has merged with Taylor & Taylor, the boutique ﬁrm acting for family-run DFD Rhodes in the continuing legal dispute over iron ore royalties.

Taylor & Taylor founders Godfrey Taylor and Michael Taylor have experience in resourcesrelated disputes, including the action between Hancock Prospecting, Wright Prospecting and DFD Rhodes.

Michael Taylor will become a shareholderdirector of the merged ﬁrm, joining the 32-strong Cullen Macleod team.

“It’s the same trusted advisers with a larger platform and a wider runway,” Mr Taylor said.

“We’re keeping the responsiveness that built our client base, with added bench strength where WA businesses most often need it.

“That responsiveness is calibrated to a system ﬁnalising more civil matters year-on-year.”

Cullen Macleod has also appointed Jackson McDonald’s Sally Bruce as its principal of wills, estates and succession planning.

“Bringing Taylor & Taylor into the tent and elevating estates leadership under Sally positions us to set the pace for the mid-market, especially

The

Cullen Macleod director Catriona Macleod said.

Contract complexities, squeezed timelines and uneven supply chains issues have increased and caused commercial disputes to be more frequent and urgent, Cullen Macleod said in its statement.

The ﬁrm’s director Rick Cullen said the integration with Taylor & Taylor meant moving from structuring and risk to negotiation and litigation, without losing momentum or institutional knowledge.

“Continuity counts when volumes tick up, the work shouldn’t lose context just because it changes phase,” he said.

The firm said there has also been more generational handover of privately owned businesses and family wealth, which has reshaped the need for succession, asset protection and estate litigation.

Ms Bruce said commercial and family decisions tended to overlap.

solved once,” she said.

“With probate litigation becoming a bigger part

estate planning and disputes work is no longer optional.”

Receivers step in at Tate Wine

By Isabel Vieira and Mark Pownall

Insolvency practitioners have taken control of Margaret River wine producer Tate Wine, the latest local alcoholic beverage maker to buckle under industry headwinds.

Receivers from FTI Consulting have assumed control of Tate Wine’s business, operations and assets, including products from the brands Franklin Tate Estates, Tatelbaum, Origin of Now and Miles From Nowhere.

FTI receivers Daniel Woodhouse, Hayden White and Antonetta Carroll were appointed

by creditor Westpac immediately after Cor Cordis administrators were voluntarily called in on November 7.

The practitioners are working on an assessment of the ﬁnancial position of the entities under the group, which are understood to have debts in the tens of millions of dollars.

The entities under FTI’s control are Grape Expectations Vintners (GEV), Grape Expectations Enterprises (GEE) and Grape Expectations Trust, while the administrators are running a ruler over GEV and GEE.

The group trades under the name Tate Wine.

Former tradie nails one of Perth’s priciest properties

By Mark Pownall

Mader Group founder and Rich 100 member Luke Mader has paid one of the highest prices for a residential Perth property this year.

A tradesman who started his maintenance business from the back of a ute, Mr Mader paid $13.1million for a house and more than 3000 sq.m of land in Peppermint Grove, the ﬁfth most expensive West Australian home purchase this year, according to Cotality data.

Property records show the ﬁve-bedroom home was acquired from property developer Adam Shephard and his family interests.

home, previously owned by real estate agent Vivien Yap.

Mr Mader is worth an estimated $945million, largely thanks to his hugely successful listed mining services company Mader Group.

He has previously listed a Quindalup address in the state’s south as his residence, although his family interests include an apartment at Elizabeth Quay.

It is among the higher priced homes sold this year, the three top prices being Mosman Park houses.

Retired cardiologist Bernard Hockings paid $22.75million to fellow Rich 100 member Tim Goyder.

Warren and Anne Marie Aronson paid $21.5million for another Mosman Park

Most recently, Bell Potter Securities equities player David Curnow paid $15.3million for a Mosman Park pad, having sold his Peppermint Grove home of 13 years for more than $6.6million to Mader Group chief ﬁnancial ofﬁcer Paul Hegarty and his spouse Joanna Kiernan, just a month before the pair bought a $2million getaway in Margaret River.

The fourth most expensive home sold in WA this year was in Peppermint Grove, with commercial lawyer Alex Salvaris’s interests acquiring the home of Marie Louise Wordsworth for $15 million.

Grove digs for mining magnate, Changing Hands, page 79

When Jingle Bells rings alarm bells

When playwright Andrea Gibbs came across statistics that indicated an alarming increase in the number of women over the age of 60 who are experiencing homelessness, her character Carol was born.

In Andrea’s new play, the titular Carol was born on Christmas Day. For her Christmas is a big deal and for decades she was the one wrapping the presents, dishing out the pav and “holding the whole shebang together”. But this year, everything has changed.

Life has thrown 60-yearold Carol a curveball, and nothing is jolly.

According to Street Smart Australia: “Marriage breakdowns and domestic and family violence are

forcing women from the family homes without the superannuation or ﬁnancial stability to sustain ever increasing cost of living pressures.”

Andrea interviewed a number of vulnerable women: “Their stories were similar; they hadn’t had control of the family ﬁnances or they hadn’t had the same earning capacity. Sometimes the husband was very controlling, and the women had no access to money, or there was domestic violence. They had all lost that basic stability.

“The common thread was ‘I never thought it would happen to me’.

“In Carol, I wanted to show how quickly disaster can happen,” Andrea said.

“We see Carol in her element before everything

changes. My favourite line is ‘Christmas is always the same, until it’s not’.”

Carol is a heartfelt story ﬁlled with hope, courage and resilience, with Melbourne comedian and actor SallyAnne Upton in the title role.

“I needed someone in my mind while I was writing this and I needed someone in their 60s with warmth and humour,” Andrea said. “Sally-Anne is perfect. She

is incredibly funny and gives Carol great heart.” Black Swan Theatre Company has partnered with Beyond Bank for this production to shine a light on themes of housing insecurity and ﬁnancial wellbeing.

■ Black Swan presents Carol, directed by Adam Mitchell, at State Theatre Centre from November 22 to December 14.

New Year’s Eve Concerts

Featuring Mark Coughlan and Sopranos –Beth Redwood & Bella Marslen

New Years Eve 2025 Celebrate the New Year in unforgettable style at the Vienna Pops NYE Concert. Join us with musical Director Mark Coughlan and the Orchestra. Welcome the new year in the most stylish and inspiring way possible!

Book Now: www.ticketsWA.com

Choose your concert

Afternoon Matinee 2pm- 3.15pm Evening Gala 9pm - 12.15am

At UWA’s prestigious Winthrop Hall, NEDLANDS

On a festive note: From left, director Adam Mitchell, writer Andrea Gibbs, music director Jackson Harper Griggs, Mark Storen, Sally-Anne Upton, Isaac diamond, Bruce Denny and Ruby Henaway come together for Carol.

■ Violinist Yana Burova has moved to Perth from London.

■ WAYJO at the Quarry.

SARAH McNEILL

Byrne frazzles, dazzles

Legs I’d

Hot on the heels of another pressure-cooker ﬁlm about the psychic drain of motherhood, Die, My Love, comes If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.

For me, it’s the stronger of the two.

It’s writer-director Mary Bronstein’s weird, darkly comic deep-dive into the chaotic life of Long Island therapist, Linda (a superb Rose Byrne), who is herself only hanging on by a thread.

Linda has a young daughter (Delaney Quinn) who needs to be tube-fed because she won’t eat, her husband Charlie (Christian Slater) works away, she has to listen to other people’s problems for a living, and in the ﬁlm’s opening scenes comes the ﬁnal straw –their apartment’s ceiling gives way under the weight of a burst water pipe.

Forced to move into a seedy beachside motel, Linda is struggling.

Juggling the building superintendent, her daughter’s pushy doctor (played by Bronstein), and an unstable new mother client (Danielle Macdonald), she

doesn’t even feel supported by her own therapist (Conan O’Brien).

It’s little wonder that by night, when her daughter’s asleep, she self-medicates with booze and whatever else she can get via motel neighbour, James (A$AP Rocky).

Cinematographer

Christopher Messina keeps the camera right in close, so we feel Linda’s panicked exhaustion. We don’t even glimpse the child’s face until right near the end; we hear only her incessant prattling in the background. Same with Charlie, who mostly berates her on the phone.

It’s all about Linda’s spiral into a dark void, which Bronstein occasionally animates by way of the surrealist, oozing, cosmic black hole in the ceiling – an experimental visual ﬂourish that doesn’t entirely work.

But Byrne’s unvarnished performance – frazzled, eye twitching, shovelling food in her face – is a livewire of shot nerves and barely suppressed rage.

It’s not an easy ﬁlm; several walked out from the screening I attended. Byrne is the tightly knotted rope holding it together and it is because of her the ﬁlm has legs.

Jessica accepts Violetta challenge

Jessica Blunt has graduated from WA Opera’s Young Artist program and steps into the role of Violetta in La Traviata next year.

“We have invested a lot of time and effort into Jess,” said director Chris van Tuinen at the launch of WA Opera’s 2026 program, “so we are proud that she is ready to take on this challenging role.”

Director Sarah Giles’s 2022 version of La Traviata is now the “go-to” version hired out by companies around the world.

Local soprano Samantha Clarke made her WAO debut as Violetta in 2022, and next year becomes Artist in Residence, running masterclasses and providing mentorship for WAO’s next crop of young artists. They are Michelle Pryor, Belinda Butler, Vin Trikeriotis, Devon Lake

My wife just hit me with “I want another child”. It’s no surprise, she has always wanted a big family. I was OK with that before we had two.

Our ﬁrst was a charm, an easy child, but our second was a problem from the start, screaming uncontrollably, didn’t sleep well for a year and won’t leave his mother’s side.

My wife has now

and Bayden Adams. She will also take on the lead roles of the other two main stage productions, Eugene Onegin and Romeo et Juliette.

There’s a strong Irish connection with these: Cameron Menzies (Into

resorted to Mafia-like strong-arm tactics. “I am not fulfilled, I need another, if we don’t have number three I will get over it but…” She gave me the cold shoulder for three weeks when I said no. She has 100 reasons to have it and wants five good reasons from me. My time and the cost of a child isn’t valid. I am nearly 40, have chronic back issues, and don’t want to deal with picking up a kid when I am 50. What do I do?

Irvin Irvin, your wife may be an expert in verbal

the Woods) returns to WAO from Northern Ireland Opera in Belfast to direct Eugene Onegin.

Romeo et Juliette is a new production in collaboration with Irish National Opera and Opera South Australia, to be directed by London-

jujitsu, but both parents should want to bring a child into the world. That decision cannot result from coercion.

On your side, you can argue your wife hasn’t been denied motherhood, and she can argue she always told you she wanted a big family. If you don’t give in to her, she can punish you in 100 ways; if you do give in, three years from now she may want a fourth child. A victor gets a taste for the spoils.

But what both arguments come down to is: I want what I want.

Take a cue from

based Rodula Gaitanou. Secret Opera will continue next year, with secret locations and secret performances for a maximum of 100 people at each event. “There’s huge measure of trust in selling out when they don’t know what they’re going to see,” Chris said.

The Song Catchers is a new commission as part of Albany centenary celebrations, composed by Jarred Wall, and another new work will be created in a collaboration with UWA’s music conservatorium. Guy Gouse and Gina Williams have been commissioned to write a third Noongar opera and WAO will collaborate with Lost & Found Opera to produce Philip Glass’s opera The Trial based on Franz Kafka’s novel.

“No one does existential dread like Philip Glass,” Chris said.

Indigenous tribes who held consultations in which each person was encouraged to explain their point of view without interruption or criticism, letting real fears, real reasons, and real hopes come out. Punishments and arm-twisting were forbidden.

Begin by talking about the damage to your marriage this is causing. Whatever decision you reach it must be mutually embraced - not just accepted, but embraced.

Wayne

& Tamara

• Need some advice? Write to writedirectanswers@gmail.com

■ As Linda, Rose Byrne takes a deep dive into stress, chaos and rage.

SARAH McNEILL

■ Local soprano Samantha Clarke becomes WAO’s new Artist in Residence.

Grimm and magical Cinderella

SARAH McNEILL

The Cinderella story we all know and love is largely the product of the 1950 Disney ﬁlm.

But when Nedlands choreographer and former principal dancer with WA Ballet Jayne Smeulders created her own version for the company in 2011, she returned to the Grimms’ fairytale version where meanness is dealt with swiftly and viciously, and kindness is its own reward.

Cinderella was her ﬁrst full-length work – the ﬁrst of many she has since created for the company, including The Nutcracker which returns next year.

Last performed in 2015, Cinderella is the ballet’s Christmas show.

Jayne set the ballet in the glamorous 1930s for its gorgeous couture and men in uniform and altered the brutal and bloody end of the Grimm Brothers’ version, in which the ugly sisters cut off bits of their feet to ﬁt the prince’s slipper, for a more Disney “happy-

ever-after”.

Instead of the traditional pantomime Ugly Sisters, ﬁrst created by Sir Robert Helpmann, Jayne said: “I didn’t want to have men playing the ugly sisters. I wanted girls who are beautiful on the outside but ugly within.

“Cinderella holds such a special place in my heart.

“Every time I return to this production, I discover something new. It’s full of heart, mischief and a touch

of magic – everything I love about storytelling.”

■ Set to Sergei Prokoﬁev’s famous score performed by WA Philharmonic Orchestra, WA Ballet performs Cinderella at His Majesty’s Theatre from November 21 to December 14.

Change of guard at WA Ballet

“Bold, courageous, ambitious and West Australian,” is how Leanne Stojmenov describes WA Ballet’s 2026 season.

The season had been planned by David McAlister as Leanne prepares to take over as the new artistic director.

Former Australian Ballet artistic director David has been holding the fort at WAB for two years and

planned the 2026 season before he takes a “retirement” break.

During his time with the company David has forged strong links with Australian Ballet, its artists and choreographers.

His former principal dancer Leanne takes over from him next year as the ﬁrst female artistic leader since the company’s founder Kira Bousloff in 1952.

Leanne began her dancing career with WAB at

the age of 17, when it was a small company of 19 dancers. After eight years as principal dancer with Australian Ballet, and with a young child, Leanne decided it was time to leave on a high.

“It was challenging because I was at the peak of my career, with roles being created for me, but it felt empowering to make my own decision as to when to leave,” she said.

Next year she will over-

see the company’s ﬁrst interstate tour since 1998.

“The company hasn’t toured since I was dancing here,” she said of taking Dracula to Adelaide.

Commissioned by the company in 2018 for Polish choreographer Krzysztof Pastor, Dracula will perform in Adelaide in April before returning to His Majesty’s Theatre in May.

The team that created this year’s successful Butterﬂy Effect,

next year for a new contemporary take on Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

A co-production with New Zealand Ballet, it will premiere there before its Australian premiere in September.

The year will include the popular Quarry and Genesis seasons, ending with The Nutcracker.

choreographer Alice Topp, lighting designer John Buswell and costume designer Aleisa Jelbart, will reunite

SARAH McNEILL

■ Right: Brooke WidisonJacobs was the last dancer to play Cinderella.

Photo: Emma Fishwick

For 11 years, Loan and Triet Ly ran Fremantle Arts Centre’s courtyard cafe.

The picturesque Canvas (as it was called then) was a popular spot, regularly ﬁlled with families, art students and gallery visitors.

But in 2022, a personal falling-out meant the lease wasn’t renewed and the cafe closed. People disappeared from the venue. With no cafe for morning

coffee or lunch, children’s storytelling stopped. With no cafe, events like the Australian Short Story Festival moved to other locations, and visitors to the arts centre dropped off.

Now Loan and Triet are back with a restaurant called Plated.

Loan said that after three years away, it was a great opportunity to reﬂect on what they had done in the

past and relaunch with a new and improved menu.

Plated is now open seven days a week from 8am to 3pm, with an all-day brunch menu.

A new retrospective exhibition of Fremantle artist Theo Koning’s ﬁve decades of making opens this weekend, and the popular summer Sunday Music sessions have started.

Shorehouse rides wave of success

For the third year, The Shorehouse, owned by Kailis Hospitality Group (KHG), won the top Metropolitan Restaurant Award and has now been inducted into the AHA WA Hall of Fame

Its newer sibling, Gibney Cottesloe, also run by KHG, once again won Superior Dining Award, Wine List Award, Head Chef Award for James Cole Bowen and Restaurant Manager Award for Luca Fiordi.

Since it opened in May 2024, the sophisticated brasserie has won several awards for its wine list, with Nina Throsby named Sommelier of the Year and James Gentile named Bartender of the Year in this year’s Good Food Guide awards.

and AHA Industry Legend inductee George Kailis said the consecutive years of awards reﬂected a consistency and professionalism across all venues:

KHG managing director

“Consistency is everything in our industry and it’s what we are all here for, so to be

awarded with back-toback wins is evidence of the commitment and dedication of our team to deliver outstanding dining experiences day in and day out,” he said.

KHG also runs Magic Apple Wholefoods on

WA shows its shiraz pizzazz

One of shiraz’s great levellers is the Great Australian Shiraz Challenge. It is Australia’s preeminent, single-class wine competition. Between 2012 to 2021, South Australia, which led Australia’s overseas sales, consistently won the Champion Shiraz trophies. In ‘22 and ‘23 Tasmania surprised by winning the Champion Awards.

In the last two years, WA has come out on top. Geographe’s Smallwater Estate won the trophy in 2024; Evans and Tate Redbrook 2023 won this year. Smallwater Estate Shiraz 2023, $55, also

ON THE grapevine

By john jens

Adelaide Wine Show, Howard Park Wines won the Max Schubert Trophy for Most Outstanding Red Wine in Show for its Margaret River Leston Shiraz. It also won Best Shiraz in Show and Best Shiraz 2023 Vintage and Younger. Wine of the Week: You might expect serious competition from the east when it comes to wonderful

cabernet sauvignon under $30. But Margaret River’s just-released Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, $25-30, is absolutely outstanding and one of the best values for this variety. It illustrates the deﬁnition of a “crowd-pleaser”. Full. Finely textured. Ample but with restraint. Seamless. Serious. Brilliant ﬁnish and aftertaste. Soft, gentle and plush. ■ 18.6 points.

■ Top value for money: Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2023.

■ Coastal restaurants Gibney in Cottesloe, pictured, and The Shorehouse in Swanbourne have taken out awards in the annual Australian Hospitality Awards WA for Excellence.

■ The pretty cafe courtyard of Plated at Fremantle Arts Centre.

From lollies to a home, sweet home

This 1898 commercial and residential property is a reminder of the days when the local corner store was the heart of the neighbourhood.

POST readers may remember buying lollies from the shop, which has had many reincarnations over the years.

In the early 1900s, Mrs Agnes King sold groceries from the premises, and she kept her delivery horse and cart on the empty block next door, on the corner of Caxton Road. Gifts, antiques, jewellery and hats have been sold from the shop, which has been a popular hair and beauty salon for almost a decade.

The charming facade with an elaborate parapet frontage, tuck pointing and bullnosed veranda is typical of the Federation free classical style that ﬂourished in the late 1890s to early 1900s.

The architectural style combined traditional classical elements with modern simplicity.

Since buying in 2016, the owners have restored the character property which has a salon in the original front section and what they call a delightful outback garden studio at the rear.

“We love and adore every inch of our home,” the owners said.

“We especially love the large kitchen and living spaces which have been perfect for hosting parties and family get-togethers.

“We are going to miss this beautiful location, only two streets away from the river and easy walking distance to Claremont Quarter.”

There are many eye-

AGENT: Emily Hiskins, Mint Real Estate.

Raked

AGENT: Olivia Ruello, Wallace Real Estate.

catching features but winning the tussle for attention in the original section is the bathroom with a free-standing bath, original fireplace and colourful stained-glass windows.

Agent Harry Stevenson described it as one of the best opportunities in Claremont.

“It is a versatile family home with the rare privilege of mixed-use zoning for business pursuits,” Mr Stevenson said.

It has a Category 2 heritage listing on Claremont council’s municipal register.

AGENT: Candie Italiano, Ray White Cottesloe Mosman Park.

Lloyd

AGENT:

■ A skylight and french doors ensure the studio at the rear is light and

COTTESLOE

MOSMAN PARK

7A Bateman Street

Low $4millions

The owners have poured decades of design and renovation experience into their 2022 home opposite Mosman Park golf course and around the corner from Chidley Point. “For 30 years, I have been developing and renovating houses annually as a part-time hobby,” one of the owners said. They have worked with designer Peter Fryer on more than 12 homes, including this property for sale which has a modern, London townhouse feel. One of their favourite spaces is the rooftop terrace with views from Blackwall Reach to Point Walter and the golf course.

50 Marine Parade Offers

Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest has spent years buying up Cottesloe properties to create his more than 8651sq.m superblock on the beachfront. In second place, by a wide margin, is this 1382sq.m property opposite the south groyne and Dutch Inn Playground. On his website, agent Justin Davies said it was rare for such a large landholding to come on the market – let alone on the beachfront

The R30 property, on the corner of Beach Street, offered endless opportunities to renovate, rebuild or develop, he said. Landgate records show Yiping Wu paid $10.22million for the two-titled property in 2014.

1 Mayfair Street Offers

After selling a $15.5million new house in Deane Street, Cottesloe, and two other high-end properties in Cross Street, Swanbourne, a family development company turned its attention to designing and building this new abode. The developers chose a prime site opposite Cottesloe golf course. The elevated 520sq.m site, on the corner of Haldane Street, looks out to the third green. The house spreads over three levels, with the main bedroom wing on the top ﬂoor to take advantage of the view. A cellar, EV charger, pool, lift and a six-car basement garage are on the long list of features.

■ Justin Davies 0419 909 350.

■ Mack Hall 0417 744 600.

MT CLAREMONT

■ Tim Caporn 0406 300 828.

New Grove digs for mining magnate

Mining magnate Luke Mader has taken the keys to a heritage-listed mansion in Peppermint Grove for $13.1million. The circa 1913 home at 140 Forrest Street is on a sprawling 3179sq.m site near Presbyterian Ladies’ College. Mr Mader started his career as tradie for a Caterpillar dealership before setting up his own company, Mader Group, in 2005. Working as a one-man band from the back of his ute in the Kimberley, Mr Mader built the mining services company from the ground up, according to Business News. His company, with almost 3000 employees, specialises in mobile and fixed equipment maintenance and support. The

fortune in property development, as did the original owner, Benjamin Copley. Landgate records show the five-bedroom and three-bathroom house with a tennis court settled on October 23.

Rentals hit high note for Claremont investors

The latest rental data from REIWA will be music to the ears for investors with properties in Claremont and Shenton Park. Claremont had the highest increase in median weekly rent in October – up 9% to $790. Shenton Park recorded the fastest median leasing times – six days. Perth homes leased in a median of 16 days during October. REIWA

President Suzanne Brown said the Perth market usually saw some tightening in the rental sector toward

fast Gingin sale

“Water is the new gold,” agent John Garland said after an historic Gingin property with abundant water sold at auction on November 2. Darren Duffy, a nearby beef farmer with other business interests, bought the 372ha property after the auction for an undisclosed sum. “It was the fastest settlement I have ever done,” Mr Garland said about the 30-day settlement of Cheriton. It was the fourth time he had sold the property in 60 years. The sale was a joint listing between his eponymous firm and Nick Wallace of Bellcourt Property Group. Mr Garland described Cheriton as a landmark rural estate, rich in history and natural beauty. “The Gingin Brook flows through the property, delivering an estimated seven million gallons

of fresh water daily - a resource that has sustained generations of farming and grazing,” he said. The property, spread across four titles,

has two heritage-listed houses, including a manager’s cottage, pictured, which dates back to 1902.

■ There is nothing stingy about it, agent Mack Hall said about the extension of this Peppermint Grove home which has sold to a mining entrepreneur.

■ Beef farmer Darren Duﬀy has expanded his extensive landholdings by purchasing this 372ha Gingin property at auction on November 2. Among the heritage-listed dwellings is a 1902 limestone cottage.

■ It was a family aﬀair on Saturday when agent Lisa Buckley, right, auctioned the Woodlands home of her brother Troy, far left.

AGavel bug bites in Woodlands

drastic shortage of properties for sale is leading to houses selling overnight and many people missing out, agent Lisa Buckley of Ray White said.

That’s why she decided to auction 31 Woodlands Street, Woodlands.

“It gave more people a chance, especially with so many properties selling offmarket,” Ms Buckley said. in Woodlands.”

Five bidders put their hands up for the fourbedroom and two-bathroom house, which was knocked down to a final bid of $2.35million.

A family with two businesses in the area bought the 728sq.m property in the Churchlands Senior High School catchment area.

The sellers, Helen and Troy Buckley, built the They are downsizing but

staying in the same area, having purchased another property just around the corner.

“We’re feeling relieved, but also sad to see the home go,” Helen said.

“But we’re glad to see it go to another lovely family.”

Property records show they paid $238,000 for the block in 1999.

Charity ready to buy

Wanted: a property priced up to $1.5million for a charity that provides essential services to refugees and people seeking asylum.

For almost a year, Suha Ali and her team at the Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees (CARAD) have been looking for a property to buy following a bequest.

But they have had no luck.

A charity that provides food and other services to refugees has appealed to POST readers to help them ﬁnd a property. Photo: Daniel Grant

On their wish list is a property within a 5km radius of the city that has ofﬁce space for at least 14 people and is near public transport.

“We understand it is a difﬁcult market and a lot of people are looking for properties,” Ms Ali, chief executive ofﬁcer, said.

“But we need something soon so we can continue to help people who have nowhere else to turn.”

Until recently, they were renting a building in the city from the Uniting

Church but it is understood the property will be sold.

CARAD is now operating from two different sites until a more permanent home can be found.

Ms Ali said the charity began in 2000 when the then federal government issued Temporary Protection Visas, which provoked community opposition to the law. Volunteers started providing basic settlement assistance and support to refugees holding the visas.

If you can help, email ofﬁce@carad.org.au.

Advertising in the POST works.

It’s great being part of the POST and we all love it but at the end of the day, we’re in business and we have to make a profit. And one of the things we’ve always felt about the POST is that we’ve got a great return on our investment, with the advertising space we use in the paper each week.

Fred Fairthorne

If you need to advertise, the POST delivers. Every week, ads in the POST target over 112,000 keen, engaged locals. See for yourself why more people & businesses advertise with us.

■ MOSMAN PARK

• 34C Owston Street was due to auctioned on November 15 but it sold beforehand for $4.2million. Agent Deb Brady of Ray White said it went to a local family who loved the layout, ambience and location opposite Mosman Park golf course and EG Smith Field Reserve. “Houses of this calibre are hard to come by,” Ms Brady said. Architect Meaghan White designed two-storey home on a 431sq.m site.

■ SHENTON PARK

•12 Keightley Road East went under the hammer $3.45million to a buyer with plans to renovate the 1930s house on a 873sq.m site. “She had been admiring the home for years but thought it was going to be out of her price range,” agent Caro Cunningham of Ray White said. There was competition from five buyers for the 3x1 on the corner of Arthur Street. Simone Caswell and her three sisters grew up in the home which had been in their family for more than 60 years. Simone said it was filled with memories, laughter and generations of stories. “Dad was a lecturer in cartography, and Mum was a stay-at-home mother with a passion for op shops,” she said. “She eventually founded Paddy’s Market in Subiaco, and her thrifty nature meant our home was always filled with beautiful, eclectic treasures. The house itself reflected her creativitycolourful, warm, and full of character, as was Ma.”

•There are five upcoming auctions in the western suburbs, including a 2x1 unit in Mosman Park which is being sold by the bailiff. The thirdfloor rental at 46/4 Dover Court is due to be auctioned on Thursday, November 20, at 11am. For details, text 0488 849 770 with a phone code of 52489. The bailiff’s reference is 323691.

■ A local family snapped up this Mosman Park house before its auction for $4.2million.

■ The buyer, left, had been admiring a Shenton Park character house for many years but thought it was out of her budget. She is pictured with agent Caro Cunningham and auctioneer Patrick Derrig.

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Small bar bid

• From page 7

“If you support the idea of a small local bar in our area, it would be great to hear from you.

“Please show your support by adding your name to our Show of Support below. Thank you!”

The POST has approached the cafe owner for comment.

Claremont’s director of Planning Nicola Clark responded to Ms Annson that the development application was “being processed in accordance with the town’s obligations under the planning and development local planning scheme regulations 2015.

“This includes an obligation to formally advertise the application to neighbouring and nearby landowners and residents,” she said.

“Advertising of the application I must stress does not indicate any support or position from the administration.

“Rather the purpose of advertising is to ensure the transparency and provide the community the opportunity to provide feedback which will be carefully considered as part of the assessment process.

“The application will be assessed on its merits. Any proposal must meet the relevant planning scheme and policy requirements to be approved. If it does not meet these requirements, it will be refused.

“At this stage the application has not been determined.

“The town will continue to assess it rigorously taking into account the statutory planning framework and public submissions received.”

who sent jet skis and inﬂatable rescue boat crews to support Cottesloe.

Club members had undergone extensive training for such a situation, Mr Barry said.

“He was very fortunate because of the skill set of the lifesavers who were resuscitating him because they’ve done all that training and were able to apply it,” he said.

“Once the deﬁb was applied he responded to that.

“Once he was stabilised on the sand he was taken to the concrete pathway at the bottom of the stairs for further stabilisation.”

Three ambulances attended the scene, and the man was transferred to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

Once he was on his way to hospital the club did a de-brief with the remaining paramedics.

“We offer counselling to our members as well as a precaution,” he said.

Mr Barry said later in the day one of the off-duty doctors who had helped tend to the man on the beach checked on the patient in hospital and reported back that it

was a positive outcome.

“There was lots of relief there,” Mr Barry said.

“It was quite an exhausting process physically and mentally, but everyone is collectively very proud.”

In a statement that evening Mr Barry said: “Fortunately we had several Nipper parents, who all hold their Bronze Medallion, assist with recovering the patient from the water.

“Today saw Cottesloe SLSC at its best, with at least 15 members acting quickly to save a life.”

A St John Ambulance WA spokesperson said the service was called to Cottesloe beach just after 9am and responded to a man in his 60s.

“He had been swimming,” the spokesperson said.

“Witnesses then found him. He’d had some kind of medical episode.

“He was brought to shore where surf lifesavers started treatment and called us.

“We got there, took over, and got him to Charlie’s Priority 1 by 9.58am.

“He went from critically unwell to conscious and breathing.” • From page 1

Ghost of Eats to haunt Cott

“I grew up in the bush but had family in North Cott, and our summers were all about swimming, surﬁng and ﬁshing, just exploring the coastline.

“When I was a bit older, a swim or Sunday session at the OBH, followed by a burger at EATS, was my idea of a perfect day.”

Started in 1949 as a small caravan, gifted to her son by Eileen Bower for his war service and named in his mother’s honour, the business had many ﬁghts with the local council, but survived to fry another day.

Disaster struck in 1967 when someone lit sticks of gelignite placed underneath, blowing the van to tiny pieces, scattering food scraps over the beach.

It was threatened with closure in 1987, and again in 1997, when Cottesloe council decreed that it had failed to meet health standards.

An outcry followed that decision, including from expatriate West Australians yearning for a beach burger on a Cottesloe summer night,

An attempt to save it by fast-tracking a heritage listing for the van was ruled by

the Heritage Council as being “below threshold”.

Van Eileen was ﬁnally demolished, in May 1998, soon after that decision, with many of its old customers calling by to pay their respects.

Its ghost will arise at Sculpture by the Sea in March, with Tim Haynes arranging some tasty surprises.

If you are able to help bring the Ghost of Van Eileen to life, please email timhaynes@mac. com.

Donations for the work can be made through Sculpture by the Sea and are tax deductible.

Subiaco HQ to cost $64m

us over the last several years about their priorities, aspirations and pressures,” mayor David McMullen said.

“Now, we want to hear from as many people as possible so we can reﬁne the design of the precinct’s indoor and outdoor spaces.

“These spaces must meet community needs and expectations; they must be functional and ﬁ for purpose; they must offer lasting value and amenity.

“By taking a whole-of-precinct approach to this redevelopment, we are maximising the opportunity to provide for current and future people in our City.

“Already, countless hours of planning and preparation have been put in by experts in their ﬁeld – the project architects, City staff, and members of council (current and past) – to reach a concept design that we would be proud to share with our community for consultation.

“Priority is the community” … How the new council offices and surrounding public spaces would look from above.

construction and landscaping, the total cost of the new civic building and gardens is currently estimated at $64million.

“Every decision so far; and every workshop, discussion, briefing, and instruction to consultants, has occurred with community front of mind.

“We are not just designing for today.

“The vision is long-term and has been carefully thought through – with all of the probity and oversight that ratepayers would quite rightly expect for a project of this scale.”

CEO Colin Cameron said that

“The cost of the new civic building and gardens is comparable to what we would need to spend if we didn’t proceed.

“Additional beneﬁts include new community spaces and longterm stability for our Council Chambers and office accommodation to support the City’s growing community.”

It is estimated the new facility will have a lifespan of at least 50 years.

The city’s former administration centre at 241 Rokeby Road was built in the 1960s and is showing its age.

roof space of a server room three years ago was expected at ﬁrst to close the ofﬁces for a couple of days (Fire scare for Subi council, POST September 10, 2022).

But it soon emerged the problem was much worse and the council and City needed new premises.

After being effectively homeless for eight months, Subiaco took over the second ﬂoor of the Colonnade at 388 Hay Street on a four-year lease.

Councillors voted behind closed doors this year to extend that commercial lease, the terms of which are not public.

A timeline for the “practical completion” of the $64million project has been given as 2030.

Court pulls plug on Pep Grove build

• From page 5

The 785sq.m block is one of four created in 1983 when a single block was subdivided.

Under the shire’s planning scheme, the maximum plot ratio for residential land zoned R12.5 is 0.5, unless determined otherwise by the local government.

“The house which [Ms McComish] wishes to build has a plot ratio which is, on any view, greater than 0.5,” Justice Quinlan said.

“[Ms McComish] says it is 0.66, and the Shire says that it is 0.797.

Lawyers for Ms McComish argued she did not need to get development approval to build the proposed home, because of the “deemed provisions” of the R-codes.

But the court ruled that the Shire of Peppermint Grove had the power under Scheme 4 to impose the extra conditions that it did, and that Ms McComish needed development approval.

Ms McComish’s lawyer argued these conditions were inconsistent with the R-codes.

The judges ruled there was “no inconsistency between the two provisions”.

“As [her] proposed works have a plot ratio of more than 0.5, it was necessary for her to apply for development approval to obtain a separate determination to allow a greater maximum plot ratio and to permit the works to proceed,” Justice Quinlan said.

“The [Shire’s] appeal must be allowed.”

Peppermint Grove twice refused sets of plans for the ambitious house two years ago.

Ms McComish appealed the refusal to the State Administrative Tribunal, where senior member Stephen Willey ruled the shire was acting within its powers to reject the application.

Ms McComish then appealed the SAT decision to the Supreme Court which ruled SAT had “erred in law”.

“Contrary to the approach taken by the Tribunal, s 257B(3) requires a model provision incorporated in a local planning scheme, such as cl 32, be held to be of no effect to the extent that

it is inconsistent with a deemed provision,” that court ruled.

“The correct answer to the preliminary question before the tribunal was therefore that the proposed development does not require approval under the Scheme” Justice Gary Cobby said in his judgment last December.

The shire then successfully appealed that decision to the Court of Appeal.

Alarm at Floreat Forum profit ruling

The Town of Cambridge condemned the decision and said it was a serious breach of trust between the State Government, the Town, and the community.

Mayor Mack said he was bitterly disappointed with the SPC’s decision which was “a failure of procedural fairness”.

“The future of Floreat is so important to us all, and this is an issue that has been passionately debated and defended by our community for more than a year,” he said.

Ms Gannon said the APIL plan did not address trafﬁc or public transport issues, nor did it consider revamping the Forum shopping centre, which was 60 year old and often ﬂooded.

An 18-storey tower would cast a shadow over the local primary school’s outdoor classroom and library, she said.

She was also concerned at the lack of scrutiny around additional storeys which the SPC added as a “modiﬁcation” to APIL’s plan, which covered roughly 50% of the site footprint and substantially raised dwelling numbers.

APIL was contacted for com-

community advocacy, this decision marked a profoundly disappointing day for Floreat, and an even more troubling one for the integrity of our State’s planning system,” Ms Gannon said.

“Planning decisions must be made based on long-term community beneﬁt and sound urban design principles, not on the commercial preferences of a single landowner.”

Mr Zempilas said he had advocated for the town-led proposal as locals believed it was best suited to what the people needed.

“It’s disappointing for the community, for them to have put all that time and effort in, and not to have got the result, and now end up with a development that will likely include 20-storey towers directly opposite the primary school, is very disappointing,” he said.

He said both proposals would have delivered the same number of dwellings.

A parliamentary enquiry into the WA planning system was launched in August and submissions closed on October 31.

The Select Committee into Land Development and Planning in WA must provide interim

How it started … Locals rallied in March, 2023 when they first saw the plans which have now been approved by state planners.

EPA dumps Matilda Bay ruling

• From page 7

As well as not fully considering the plans the EPA had also cut off any right of appeal.

“When 257 public submissions out of 293 called for a full environmental review, to deny even the right of appeal is to silence the very people the EPA was created to serve,” Mr Huston said.

There were only 25 responses in support of no assessment according to Megan

Bagworth, spokesperson for Safety on Swan – a coalition of Matilda Bay groups and clubs representing more than 7000 members

“The function of the EPA is to act as an independent authority in assessing environmental impacts,” she said.

“The Swan River is one of the State’s most signiﬁcant natural assets.

“While high-speed ferry travel has often been proposed,

the river’s shallow depth, along with the safety risks to existing water users, has consistently made such operations unviable.

“In Matilda Bay this impact is even more stark.

“A ferry terminal at Matilda Bay runs counter to the reserve’s gazetted purpose of ‘recreation’, undermining the very values that make it special and will fundamentally alter the way the reserve and the Bay is used by the public.”

• From page 3

How the sculpture would look if placed on the site of the original EATS van. Sculpture by the Sea has allocated it a prime site on the beach sand.

Cott beach launched hed Gower power

THE Sporting

David Gower has never had any regrets about his numerous fulﬁlling trips to Perth over nearly half a century.

Well, except for the time he failed to get a Test triple century at the WACA Ground.

“I got 72 and it really should have been 300,” he told the Sporting Post this week.

It was 1982 and Gower was about to morph from a stylish, capable and highly promising England cricketer into one of the most graceful and substantial players of his generation.

Armed with a sense of whimsy and the ability to not take himself too seriously, Perth was the place that Gower relished above all others.

He had spent a summer on Cottesloe beach in 1977-78, came back a year later to score his ﬁrst Ashes century and then returned regularly to add further memorable chapters to his storied reputation.

By the time his Test career ended a decade and a half after it started, his return of 471 runs in Perth set a mark that has not been approached by any of the other 340 players to perform here, while no other visitor had played more than his ﬁve Tests nor scored more than his two centuries.

Those WACA records will never be broken while the shrinking of Test cricket, with the minnow nations likely to be squeezed off the international stage by surging domestic Twenty20 competitions, means that it will be only the rarest of players, from only a handful of teams, who could top his record

county dasher into a barnacle impersonation at Test level, was scoreless for more than an hour in each innings.

And rather than boo his frigid batting, the WACA crowd stood and cheered both times when the scoreboard clock ticked over to an hour without a run being scored at Tavare’s end.

The second feature was Gower’s limpid batting. It was exquisite. Barely a blond curl was rufﬂed as he played strokes of such ease and timing that he appeared to be on a different plane to the other competitors in the match.

There were plenty of good ones. Even great ones.

“I was a few inches between carrying on in that same rich vein of form and having to walk back and ponder it for the rest of your life.”

Gower’s reflections were sparked by his imminent arrival in Perth for yet another Ashes tour.

Duncan for his generosity.

“When I ﬁrst came out they put me in a basic room at the Albion Hotel on the highway and there was a car company that allowed me to drive one of their wrecks,” he said.

And it could have been so much more if he hadn’t scooped a low catch to John Dyson from the bowling of Terry Alderman when he had the attack at his mercy in the ﬁrst Ashes Test of the 1982-83 tour.

That was Alderman’s only wicket before he damaged his shoulder so badly chasing an English pitch invader that he did not play for more than a year.

be tional stage Twenty20 com that it will be from co in Perth cou much more if a low catch to the o mercy in the ﬁ the 1982-83 to That was A wicket before shoulder so b did not play fo Two that match, a th after tor Keith Mil with scan vivid imagina able standing

Two things stood out about that match, apart from the day two drama that threatened to explode after ABC commentator Keith Miller suggested on air, with scant evidence but a vivid imagination and unassailable standing built on his history as a World War II hero and mercurial Test cricketer, that it appeared that Alderman had been shot by a spectator.

Gower’s great mate Chris Tavare, who converted his approach as a

Australia’s attack comprised Dennis Lillee, perhaps Australia’s ﬁnest fast bowler, Alderman, and Geoff Lawson and Bruce Yardley, who would both have the best seasons of excellent 100-wicket careers and who would provide Gower with one of the sternest tests of his time in the game.

Other WACA innings were unforgettable – West Indian Roy Fredericks brutalised Lillee and co. with 169 in 1975 while Adam Gilchrist launched a remarkable blitzkrieg three decades later –but no one has batted with such rare elan and elegance as Gower did that day 43 years ago this week.

He won’t be in the commentary box, where he spent several decades providing insightful analysis with the lightest touch and most melliﬂuous voice, before television bean-counters decided that the listeners needed louder and brasher voices to bark at them during play.

It was one of those days where things just clicked ‘ ’

No wonder Gower abandoned his usual self-deprecation for long enough to regret his lost opportunity.

“It was one of those days where things just clicked into place from the start,” he said.

“The WACA pitch had the pace and bounce that people like me quite like, and I just slotted into the sort of form you dream about.

“I was going so well which is why I should have got 300 because you don’t often play as well as that.

“You rarely reach that level where you feel absolutely perfect in everything you do.

“And I remember, clearly, clipping one off my toes, just off the ground, and it went to John Dyson who took a nice diving catch right on the turf.

He will have a series of speaking engagements but is keen to spend time with the fast friends he made in Perth in 1977 when he came out to play club cricket at ClaremontCottesloe.

I had a small hand in one of his triumphs, a classy century against North Perth, in my role as a junior scoreboard attendant at Cresswell Park where the reward of a bottle of Fanta from team manager Bill Cove, and the chance to watch club heroes Mack Hall and Jim Cunningham and Jock Cameron from close range, made Saturday afternoons the most anticipated time of the week.

Gower had come to Claremont on the recommendation of his Leicestershire teammate Graham McKenzie and soon established relationships that have thrived to this day.

One was with Nick Duncan, who now runs SAVE, the body he founded in 1987 to help protect Zimbabwe’s critically endangered rhinos.

Gower is patron of SAVE, a cause that resonated with his upbringing in eastern Africa,but has a personal reason to thank

“I was grateful for the accommodation but Nicholas, who was playing seconds or thirds, went back to the UK for Christmas and said I could use his ﬂat.

“That was lovely. It was on the beach at Cottesloe and that is where I spent the summer, either embracing the beach or the OBH or playing cricket.

“And I went to the WACA a bit too. I remember watching the Test match there during the ﬁrst season of World Series Cricket, so I had a bit of useful knowledge a year later when I played there.”

The knowledge might have helped because Gower scored a century in his ﬁrst outing at the ground, surviving a ferocious interrogation with ball and tongue from the irrepressible Rodney Hogg, to establish a career that took off in the 1980s.

It culminated in Gower starring with the bat as he captained England to an Ashes win in 1985, a series in which he reached the zenith of his career, as he balanced silk, steel and smarts in a winning formula almost unmatched in the game’s history.

He will be back at Claremont next Wednesday when he speaks at a club lunch before turning his eye to the Ashes battle that was part of his life for so long.

“I would be worried for England if it all goes horribly wrong in Perth but I would be delighted if they get it beautifully right,” he said.

“If you get the right result in Perth, whoever gets it, it just sets you up for the rest of the summer.”

And Gower is speaking from experience when he says that.

The Cottesloe Longboard Club crew were out in full force to celebrate another epic local surf season at their annual awards presentation last Sunday.

Outgoing president and foundation member Martin “Richo” Richardson has steered the good ship Cott with steady hands over the past four years keeping the stoke alive and the vibes friendly.

“As the sun sets over another funﬁlled year the message was clear that it’s all about the waves, the friends you make and keeping the passion for longboarding frothy,” Richo said

“It’s been an absolute honour watching this club grow from a few starry-eyed dreamers 27 years ago into a fully ﬂedged Cottesloe institution.

“We’ve always tried to keep the ﬁre burning in the groms as they’re

the future and with a new crew of young bloods paddling into leadership lineup it’s comforting to know the club is in solid hands.”

Richo also gave a nod to the importance of keeping the local breaks clean and green.

“We’re all about looking after our patch of coast as the beach, reefs and the lineups are our second home.

“We’ve got to keep Cottesloe’s waters sparkling and the surf breaks pristine for the next generation of surfers to come.”

Even with the waves being a bit scarce this year the club still managed to pull off six solid comps.

“What really makes the club a success isn’t just the great competition it’s the fantastic crew,” Richo said.

“From young guns to old sea salts we’ve got legends from all walks of life and the camaraderie’s unreal.

“It’s more than a club, it’s a family.

“In a historic ﬁrst, Meagan Tucker paddles into the head role as the club’s ﬁrst female president with Jack Robinson (no not that one) as vice president.”

Cottesloe Longboard Club 2025 fi placings:

Open Men: 1st Max Scott, 2nd Luke Giglia, 3rd Declan Stick. Open Women: 1st Selina Sterker, 2nd Ciara Browne.

Old Mal Pre 1967 Boards: 1st Max Scott, 2nd Paul Borbas, 3rd James McGhee. Old Mal Wahine: 1st Meagan Tucker, 2nd Selina Sterker, 3rd Iara Suarez. Junior: 1st Stevie Dixon. Wahines: 1st Jamie Lovell, 2nd Tash Peterson, 3rd Sarah Daylight. Grand Master Wahine: 1st Bronwyn Fricke, 2nd Belinda LeGrice, 3rd Ari Schipf.

Waterman: 1st James McGhee, 2nd Brett Reed, 3rd Paul Borbas. Legends: 1st Jon Downing, 2nd, Shawn Male, 3rd Jeff Hughes.

Surfrats: 1st John Chisolm, 2nd Rob Grace, 3rd Terry Goddard. Rippers: 1st Alani Da Conceicao, 2nd Justin Dyson 3rd, Daniel Pasqualini.

surfing with cameron bedford-brown

Gower was the epitome of style and substance throughout his 117 Tests.

Richo paddles out with nods to waves, mates and passion

John townsend

David Gower and his England teammates at The Oval after winning the Ashes in 1985.

Use this shape to make a drawing. The best two entries will win.

How to enter:

Do your best Doodlebug drawing in the box above, and fill in the entry form. Cut out the drawing and entry form and ask an adult to email it to sarah@postnewspapers.com.au, with “Doodlebug” in the subject heading. Or drop your entry off to our office at 276 Onslow Road, Shenton Park 6008, during normal business hours, or mail it to POST Kids at that address. For artists up to the age of 12. ENTRIES MUST ARRIVE BY NOON ON WEDNESDAY.

Name: .........................................................................Age ............................

Address ...........................................................................................................

Suburb ........................................................................Postcode ....................

Phone number: ..............................................................................................

What have you drawn?:

Breakfast Cake

Cake for breakfast? It tastes like a treat, but this dense cake is packed with protein and topped with sweet berries for a tasty, healthy breakfast.

WHAT YOU NEED

1 banana

2 medium eggs

100g plain yogurt

75ml milk

2 tbsp honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 180c and line a baking dish with parchment paper.

Sunny and funny!

World peace, a puppet show, some happy engine cogs, a slime monster and a hungry baby were just some of the fabulous and funny ideas that the doodle inspired this week.

There were lots of elephants and cute dogs, and plenty of rockets and monsters.

But my two favourites are this week’s winners. Sam Marriott, 8,

Q. Did you hear about the girl who ran away with the circus?

with a picture of three robo-turtles balancing on top of each other in a circus tent. It’s bright, sunny and funny. Our other winner is a very accomplished drawing by Willow Harrison, 8, from Mt Claremont. Willow has drawn a girl doing a cartwheel. It’s a smart use of the doodle and beautifully balanced. Keep coming up with all your great ideas. I love this job!

A. The police made her bring it back!

Q. How can you tell if there’s an elephant in the ice cream shop?

A. His bike is outside!

Q. What do you get if you cross a lemon with a cat?

A. A sour-puss!

Q. Why did the tomato stop in the middle of the road?

A. It wanted to play squash!

200g self raising ﬂour

160g frozen berries

Put the banana in a large bowl and mash with a fork. Add the eggs, yogurt, milk, honey and vanilla and whisk well. Add in the ﬂour and mix just enough until all the ingredients are combined.

Pour the mixture into the lined dish and top with the frozen berries.

Bake for 25 minutes. Allow the cake to cool for a few minutes in the tin before lifting it out and cutting into squares.

twister

Tongue twister

The wrinkled wizard winked and waved his wand

Q. What do you do with a green elephant?

A. Wait until it ripens!

Q. What is a dog’s favourite instrument?

A. A trom-bone!

Vouchers will be mailed and valid for 4 weeks. Julian Obreschkow, Caoimhe Hopkins, Ailsa Wray, Elodie Fox, Ilyssa Teh, Ravi Iyer-Woods, Lincoln Kwon, Noah Tydde, Alexandra Fish, Gwyneth Larsen.

Sam Marriott (8)

POST Newspapers 15 November 2025

A life saved

Subiaco HQ to cost $64m

Beach terminal a ferry bad idea

Hospice survey deadline looms

Illegal electric motorbikes are not e-bikes

Forum protest verdict baffles

No money missing

Ghost of Eats to haunt Cott

Alarm at Floreat Forum profit ruling

THE listening

CARDS

Bridge closure sparks call for local cops

Arrest after bus assault on girl

Court pulls plug on Pep Grove build

Turtle Dom sticks his neck out

Grove poll in March

Cafe’s small bar bid stirs local protest

E-bike teen still critical

EPA dumps Matilda Bay ruling

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE

Have your say: A new civic building and gardens

Big wins for City

In the gun for $290k

Probe into lopped eucalypt

Sea lion kips among the kelp

Claremont re-thinks shutdown

Jet sets solemn tone

‘Lost’ graves remembered

Remembrance Day ay November 11

Girls spread the poppy message

Pub next to alcohol addiction treatment centre

At Floreat Forum ‘WAPC wrong again’

Take note of kids motorbikes

Word on Waste

Workshops

YARRA RANGES, VIC PEONIES

NOVEMBER 2025

WELCOME NEW MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS

SWIMMING POOL SAFETY

COUNCIL MEETINGS

JOIN US FOR CAROLS!

CYCLING WITHOUT AGE

SUMMER BRINGS OUT SNAKES

Sinner priest Holmes gets years more jail

Police Beat

Legal win but no release from jail

Bentley oﬀ the road

Forensic unit squeeze is on

numbers shrink

Premier grabs at development power

Guilt for the past and future

How to beat a bully

HOME IS MOSMAN PARK

LIMITED RESIDENCES REMAINING

COMPLETION 2027

Megamansion strikes new hitch

WHEN lifestyle COMES FIRST

15

TARA VISTA WEST LEEDERVILLE

109 PARAMATTA ROAD

Never too old to play at MLC

Dalkeith megamansion strikes new hitch

Fan of AI warns of its severe threats

AI medtech company Artrya Ltd.

Cambridge

$212k rate errors

Bunnings link to derelict house

Canberra chokes Alzheimer’s research

Art Deco honour for visionary Vyonne

Hacking costs soar

Artist finds beauty in kitchen scraps

27c Dalkeith Road, Nedlands

JUSTSOLD

Suzanne’s garden evolves from vision to vibrancy

What is under the bonnet?

EUROPEAN ELEGANCE STUNNING OCEAN VIEWS

Homage to an Early Romantic

Advantages of vintage on view

A Shed with a difference