POST Newspapers 1 November 2025 by POST Newspapers

Neds mayor hopeful has theft record

By BEN DICKINSON

Gym owner Chris Wilson’s campaign to become mayor of Nedlands is off to a rocky start after revelations he stole money from his former employer.

Mr Wilson, now 37, was convicted of ﬁve counts of stealing as a servant in 2017 after he admitted falsifying invoices at a Cottesloe gym he managed.

The personal trainer, who immigrated from Wales in 2012, substituted the business’s bank details for his own, then deleted the invoices from the company’s system after clients unwittingly sent money to his personal account. It was uncovered when he went on holiday.

The company’s owner, who did not want to be identified, questioned Mr Wilson’s fitness for public office.

“How can someone run for mayor and be responsible for making big decisions and ﬁnancial choices when they have criminal convictions for theft?” he said.

The POST conﬁrmed the court records.

Mr Wilson’s guilty plea was part of a deal with police that saw four more stealing as a servant charges dropped.

He had repaid some of the money connected to those charges, about $13,000.

He was ﬁned $3000 and ordered to

pay court costs of $188.

Mr Wilson conﬁrmed his history when approached by the POST, but said “the circumstances were not as they may appear on paper”.

“I made mistakes, and I’ve taken full responsibility for them,” he said.

“It was a hard but important learning experience that helped shape who I am today.

“Since then, I’ve completely rebuilt my life, built a successful business that employs and supports local people, and dedicated myself to creating positive community impact through health, ﬁtness and charitable work.”

Mr Wilson opened his ﬁrst gym, Chris Wilson Fitness Studio, in Nedlands in 2021.

He has since opened locations in Applecross and Highgate, and last month opened a second, larger gym in Nedlands.

When he announced his run for mayor last month, Mr Wilson said he wanted to be “a voice for young families and small business”.

“I think what we’ve lacked before is clear, transparent leadership,” he said. City of Nedlands elections will be held in March next year.

Pensioner to be chased beyond grave

riddled brain to understand.”

Responding to mounting media focus and ratepayer pressure to write off Ms Lemmey’s debt, Mr Shaw was adamant that

He conﬁrmed that the council would pursue Ms Lemmey’s estate is she would not clear

“We’ve offered … Ms Lemmey a payment plan, which could include something like her estate paying the outstanding

It included a “goodwill resolution” that removed its collection costs of $3387.10.

Mr Shaw said it would be unfair for other ratepayers if Ms Lemmey’s debt was wiped.

“We believe this is the right

Full stop costs $5000

By JACK MADDERN

A full stop out of place and an errant upper-case word have cost Mosman Park council more than $5000.

The written errors were found in two local laws that were close to being gazetted.

The council will have to spend $5550 to re-advertise the laws for public comment.

There were also alphabetical errors and incorrect clause numbering, and references to a non-operational department

and incorrect legislation.

The errors had been made in the Town’s proposed Urban Environment and Nuisance Local Law 2025, and its Local Government Property, Activities and Trading in Thoroughfares and Public Places Local Laws 2025.

The Town was told in September it would have to rectify the grammatical errors in the proposed laws by November 4 or risk them being disallowed, according to correspondence from the Joint Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation tabled at

Tuesday’s meeting.

Because the corrections are counted as amendments to the local laws, the Town was informed it must re-advertise them for public comment.

“The drafting errors identified are easily rectifiable,” the Town officer’s report said.

This prompted a question from Mosman Park resident Gwen Speirs, who asked the council what it was doing to stop this happening again.

“Considering the few errors

approach,” he said.

“Very conﬁdent from a legal perspective, and we’ve thought about this long and hard from an equity perspective.

“We have not allowed ratepayers to not pay the rates for the services they’ve been provided with.”

Ms Lemmey’s lawyer John Hammond was livid at Mr Shaw’s response.

“The Town continues to refuse to acknowledge its mistakes,” he said.

“Mistake one was telling Ms Lemmey she did not owe any money to the Town.

“Mistake two was deferring Ms Lemmey’s rates without her approval.

• Please turn to page 77

Mayoral candidate Chris Wilson admits he ‘made mistakes’ by stealing

Paul ShawJohn Hammond

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.

Decision day looms for Floreat Forum

The Town of Cambridge’s minutes of its meeting with the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage reveal a recommendation to the Statutory Planning Committee to reject the Town’s Precinct Structure Plan for the Floreat Activity Centre.

This is not a debate about the housing crisis – both proposals meet the Town’s allocated density targets; it is a tale of two plans, driven by vastly different motivations.

On one side is the community’s vision, a plan shaped through extensive consultation, proposing a revitalised Floreat Forum with medium-

density development across the site up to eight storeys, including above a new shopping centre which is consistent with the Local Planning Strategy.

Solutions to commercial lease issues are also addressed with staged development.

On the other side is the proposal from one owner, APIL, the syndicate that owns Floreat Forum.

APIL’s plans sit wildly outside established planning frameworks, with minimal public consultation.

Their vision retains the dilapidated, leaking shopping centre and adds multiple towers on the site’s fringes, leaving question marks on future towers to be built.

This is not about community revitalisation; the perception is that it’s about quick proﬁt,

with little regard for the people who live here.

Many examples of shopping centre developments have successfully navigated these issues. The State’s own policy SPP7.2 on precinct structure plans says the intent is to guide the detailed planning and design of an area. Leases are not a relevant planning consideration.

The Town’s plan proves that revitalisation is possible without towers.

The SPC is set to meet this Wednesday, November 5, and the committee must reject APIL’s proposal outright to demonstrate that it upholds principles of orderly and proper planning, listens to the community and respects planning frameworks.

Kristy Gannon Turriff Road, Floreat

Missing letters?

Due to an apparent technical hitch, some Letters to the Editor may not have been received this week. Readers are reminded to use the email address letters@postnewspapers.com.au, or the Letters link on the website postnewspapers.com.au, to ensure that contributions get through. Please resend if your letter does not appear this week.

Anyone for swimming?

Early in the new year, on January 18, Claremont Masters Swimming Club will conduct the 106th annual Swim Thru Perth.

This historic event is always held at Matilda Bay, where the 3.5km event ﬁnishes and 1.6km, 800m and 250m swims are held.

The event follows all the objectives of the Australian Sports Commission “Play Well” strategy, aimed at creating safe, welcoming and inclusive environments

• More letters pages 12, 18

for sport and physical activity.

As our population grows, the protection of our rivers, beaches, forests and open spaces, where physical recreation and mental relaxation are health beneﬁts, is imperative.

Public transport is also important, of course, but community inclusion in planning is essential to avoid beneﬁts for a few yet hardship for many.

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Stuart Gray Hopetoun Terrace,

Shenton Park

School uniforms to surf and protect

Dashing into the Cottesloe surf in full uniform to wash off years of accumulated school experience has become a tradition at this time of year.

These seven Year 12s were jumping for joy after celebrating their last day at St Hilda’s last week.

Friends since primary school, they joined dozens of other students who held hands in a big circle and sang the school song When the Saints Come Marching, before charging into the water.

Grace Bihler is the longest-lasting student after enrolling in junior kindy, and the seven friends hope to continue their adventures at university next year.

Parking fine blows by $2000

By BEN DICKINSON

A builder’s $125 parking ﬁne has been multiplied by a factor of 17 after he took Mosman Park council to court.

Hayden Evans, who represented himself in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, said he knew he would lose his trial but “did not care”.

I don’t care

“This is how you make change,” he said. “I wanted to send them a message.”

no other way he could have carried out the job, as parking is prohibited on that section of the street and vehicles heavier than 2000kg cannot legally be parked on verges.

Mr Evans, 53, received an infringement notice for blocking a footpath while he was building a patio at a client’s Fairlight Street house on August 26 last year.

He told the court there was

“Council have not made adequate planning for parking for services vehicles to access those areas without breaking their rules,” Mr Evans told magistrate Joe Randazzo.

“You cannot create a law, your honour, that is impossible for people to operate within.”

Mosman Park’s lawyer, Peter Gillett showed the court pictures of Mr Evans’ Mitsubishi Pajero parked with a trailer hitched.

The back wheel of the Pajero was on the footpath, while the trailer extended onto the crossover.

“You could have just parked

Zempilas reins in Huston

AUKUS subs dissent

Nedlands MP Jonathan Huston this week broke ranks with his fellow Liberals while creating an awkward problem for his leader, Basil Zempilas.

An internal paper Mr Huston wrote opposing the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal was leaked to the media, putting him at odds with his party’s policy. It led to Mr Zempilas carpeting Mr Huston on Tuesday morning.

“Jonathan is now crystal clear that

the right way to do that in the ﬁrst instance with anything is to contact the shadow minister,” he said.

The former army major and intelligence ofﬁcer’s paper did not hold back in criticising the stationing of nuclear submarines at Garden Island.

He said the submarine ﬂeet would make HMAS Stirling an enemy target.

“The enemy could both surgically destroy the submarine ﬂeet, without civilian injury and cause immense social upheaval and division,” he wrote.

But his paper was not intended for

general circulation, he told the POST.

“It was a personal paper in draft for internal comment,” he said.

“I was most disappointed it was made public without my permission.

“It was never meant to be in the public realm yet.”

Mr Huston said it was vital to have a lively debate and reﬂect about the proposal “in a democracy”.

The publication prompted Mr Zempilas to say on Monday it was a mistake to have circulated the paper

• Please turn to page 77

on the verge, unloaded your goods, and then moved your vehicle somewhere else,” Mr Gillett put to Mr Evans.

But Mr Evans said there were thousands of dollars of materials and tools in the trailer, which could easily have been stolen.

“If we parked them down the road we’d be running signiﬁcant risks,” he said.

LEFT: St Hilda’s students Georgia Herbert, left, Lucy Hayes, Grace Bihler, Poppy Strickland, Piper Lloyd, Ivy O’Brien and Mimi Barnaba celebrated their last day of school with a traditional swim in their uniforms at Cottesloe beach.

THE listening

Old Sri Lanka the new Bali

Sri Lanka is the new Bali for discerning travellers eager to sample the many charms of the teardrop island off the tip of India about 5600km northwest of Perth.

The Thorpe family of Mosman Park visited Sri Lanka recently, with dad Steve lauding its historic sites, mountains, tea plantations and world-class surf beaches. Toby, 14, and Lara, 11, were also taken by the spectacular views from Nuwara Eliya in the mountainous “up country” in the green heart of the island.

• Send a picture and details of your POSTcard adventure to mailbox@ postnewspapers.com.au.

CARDS

Stirling gets second rebuke

Governor Chris Dawson’s criticism this week of James Stirling’s role in the Pinjarra massacre was not the first time the colony’s first governor was stung for his actions.

Stirling was roundly rebuked by his London masters at the Colonial Office for directly threatening to exterminate all native people of the Perth-Peel region.

Two accounts of the 1834 Pinjarra massacre reached Lord Glenelg, one by John Septimus Roe, the surveyorgeneral, and one by Stirling himself.

Their letters took six months to arrive by ship, while the reply took an-

Crushing news for boat’s former owner

The former owner of the yacht Neviot was crushed to discover his old boat was, indeed, crushed.

Llandis Barratt-Pugh recognised his boat in the POST’s pages and contacted the salvage contractor who had hauled the yacht away on a truck.

Sadly, the boat had already been destroyed.

“Perhaps it prevents me taking an expensive and complex nostalgia trip,” Llandis said.

He still loves getting out on the water and has a sixth of a share in a well-equipped 11m Seawind catamaran.

yachts that are sailed 20 times a year and sit for 345 days of the year deteriorating,” he said.

He said co-ownership is a great way to make sure the boat is used

“All those owners should find a couple of people to share with.”

School’s out for Bob Hawke originals

The first children to enter Bob Hawke College in Subiaco as Year 7 students have now passed through the high school system.

The 250 or so students who enrolled at the newly built school in February 2020 held their Year 12 graduation ceremony there last Sunday.

Education Minister Sabine Winton and her predecessor Sue Ellery, who oversaw the school’s construction, attended the ceremony.

Ms Winton described the event as “a major milestone” for the students and the school.

other six months.

Stirling noted that the shooting of the men, women and children was “punishment of the tribe for the numerous murders it had committed.

“My hope is that it may impress them with the conviction of our power to defend ourselves and to avenge violence,” he said.

If Stirling thought he would get a positive vibe from Lord Glenelg, he would have been disappointed.

“It is with pain that I

notice your holding out to the natives a threat of general destruction, extending even to women and children,” Lord Glenelg wrote. He went on to outline how tit-for-tat payback had escalated in other British colonies, and it was up to the colonists to exercise restraint, though police needed to be firm. He urged Stirling to “lead with forbearance and moderation”, but said he could not have remained passive.

Former Cottesloe historian Dr Neville Green said Glenelg had surmised correctly that the Pinjarra massacre was the escalation that started with a more minor incident.

A cattle-theft had led to an Aboriginal man being flogged 30 times on his way into the Fremantle Roundhouse, and another 30 times on leaving.

Full stop costs $5000

that are reported as easily rectiﬁable that have cost the Town money and signiﬁcant delay with the local law reviewing program, what is the Town putting into place to ensure that this scenario is not repeated whilst reviewing all the other local laws?” she asked.

Corporate services director Raad Cerinich said they had checked the laws “quite thoroughly” but conceded they did miss a few things.

“Going forward, we are very speciﬁc about how we’re rolling it through a review process through three sets of eyes to ensure that it gets picked up along the way,” he said.

“So proofreading, proofreading, proofreading?” Ms Speirs said.

“Three times. Yes,” Mr Cerinich said.

A Mosman Park spokesperson said the errors had not delayed the local law review schedule.

“We anticipate the undertaking process to cost less than the ﬁgure of $5550,” they said.

“We will have an exact cost once the amendment local law is ready for gazettal.” • From page 1

Toby and Lara Thorpe at one of Sri Lanka’s highest points, Nuwara Eliya.

Neviot on the way to the crusher.

James Stirling

Calls to cut Stirling landmarks

By JEN REWELL

A highway, a road, a hotel, a suburb, a bridge – there are many ways Captain James Stirling is honoured in the western suburbs.

But his actions in leading a party of 25 men to massacre members of the Bindjareb Noongar tribe in Pinjarra were brought into focus this week, when Governor Chris Dawson apologised for the actions of his predecessor.

“I say sorry to the Bindjareb people, who still feel the trauma of the punishment inﬂicted on their ancestors that day, when so many innocent lives were taken,” Mr Dawson said.

“The time has come – and the time is right – for the Governor to acknowledge the truth of the past actions of a predecessor.”

Jesse J. Fleay, a Noongar man, said Mr Dawson’s apology should mark a turning point in how the past was understood.

“Every public monument,

August 17, 2019).

“It’s not like the name would be obsolete, there are still lots of things named after him, like the Stirling Arms or the City of Stirling,” Ms Egerton-Warburton said.

forced people to confront a horror that had been shrouded in the “polite evasions of colonial

“In an age when so many leaders deﬂect, distract, and divide, here is one willing to tell the truth, not for applause, but for posterity,” he said.

Every West Australian had a

“The violence of 1834 did not end with the last gunshot; it continued through dispossession, child removal, forced labour and economic exclusion,” he said.

“These are not historical footnotes; they are the living consequences of a society built on denial.”

Mr Fleay said the Governor’s apology invited the WA community to confront “what comes next”.

By JACK MADDERN

Increased communication from Claremont council has been welcomed by Swanbourne locals frustrated by customer activity outside the Side Piece Deli.

Residents say café customers block the footpath, make excessive noise and take up parking spaces assigned to other businesses.

Swanbourne resident Ian Satchwell said there had been an increase in communication from the council about residents’ complaints.

“In the space of a few days, we have gone from almost zero communication from the Town to some helpful interactions,” he said.

Residents at Tuesday’s council meeting asked what action it would take in response to their complaints.

John Burridge, who owns the neighbouring Military Antiques, asked the council if it was aware the cafe was more akin to a daytime nightclub.

“I’ve counted up to 35 people all chomping and drinking on the footpath in front of my shop, I’ve never had that for 42

“And so what if we do change it? Women change their names when they get married, and people get their heads around that.”

Mr Fleay, who was a delegate to the United Nations’ GEO-7, said the Governor’s apology

Hope for Side Piece action

cil if there would be a review of Side Piece’s approved development applications.

“Will the Town of Claremont commit to an independent expert review of the Town’s consideration of the three salamislice development applications

“This is not about guilt; it is about responsibility,” he said.

The next chapter was ensuring that education systems told the true history of the state, and that laws respected the enduring sovereignty and rights of indigenous people.

Over the years, many WA schoolchildren were taught that the “Battle of Pinjarra” was necessary to quash an uprising.

Meanwhile, Aboriginal families told stories about survivors using straws to breathe while hiding underwater, and dead babies ﬂoating away down the Murray River past Ravenswood.

lawyers to review the planning decisions relating to the cafe, and would share more information once it had received legal advice.

held on Monday for staff and councillors to discuss available options to remediate the residents’ complaints.

“We discussed options around hard remediation, which I would deﬁne as technicalities of planning law,” Mr Telford said.

the cafe owners to do to rectify some of these issues?” Dr Connaughton said.

Mr Satchwell asked the coun-

Council staff told locals at the meeting they had received the correspondence raising the issues but would not comment on the matter at this time.

“The Town has instructed its own lawyer to provide it with advice, with a view to providing a substantive response to concerns in due course,” a staff

“Until that has occurred, it is premature to answer ad hoc

Tim Clynch, Claremont’s incoming acting CEO, has more than two decades of experience working as CEO in regional

Mr Satchwell said he hoped Mr Clynch would bring some

The CEO job will be advertised on November 7, with interviews expected in December.

The job will pay $183,000 to $300,000.

All records – first hand-written accounts, dispatches, and oral accounts – agree that the colonial forces took positions on both sides of the river and surrounded an unprepared camp. They opened fire on the camp and spent an hour shooting at people who had fled into the river.

• Please turn to page 77

Family tragedy

A Goldﬁelds family are in mourning after a mother was found dead a week after she went missing from Nedlands. Michelle Leahy, 50, had travelled to Perth from Kalgoorlie for treatment at Hollywood Private Hospital.

She left the QEII campus on October 16 and was last sighted walking on Bruce Street.

She was found deceased on October 23 after a large-scale police search.

Police said her death was not being treated as suspicious.

WA’s first governor Captain James Stirlling in retirement, left, is honoured in numerous public landmarks in the western suburbs.

Side Piece Deli customers crowd the Shenton Road footpath outside the cafe. Neighbour John Burridge, inset, wants Claremont to take action.

Courtesy of Battye Library

Novice Fergal faces terror and care

By LLOYD GORMAN

Nurse Fergal Guihen is one of hundreds of young Irish healthcare professionals beating a path to Australia for “better pay, better quality of life and better weather”.

What sets him apart is how he opted to get to his destination.

“I suppose I’d say I’m doing it the conventional way and they’re all doing it the unconventional way,” he joked in Kings Park.

Fergal has cycled from his hometown of Roscommon in Ireland through 24 countries and has made a pit stop in Perth, his ﬁrst port of call in Australia, on his way to Sydney.

He had never ridden a bike, ﬁxed a puncture or slept in a tent before setting off last year on the 23,000km adventure.

He was on crutches with a torn cruciate ligament when he bought a second-hand bike for the epic journey.

“I love endurance and travel so I put the two things together, but it was too far to run on foot

so I decided to bike it instead,” he said.

The then 25-year-old said it was hard to convince his parents he would be okay and able to go the distance when he didn’t know himself if it was possible.

“All I knew was that I’d rather try and fail than not to try at all,” he said.

And he wanted to “do something different” and use the trip to fundraise for a hospice in his hometown and a local suicide prevention service.

Paris and then Greece and so on.”

He got his first flat tyre outside Paris and spent about two hours trying to fix it, by watching YouTube videos on his phone, while also trying to record what he was doing.

It’s amazing how far hopeless optimism gets you ‘ ’

Through his work as a palliative care nurse, and from seeing his older siblings get tied down with family and other responsibilities, Fergal knows how quickly life can change.

He realised now was the right time for him to go

“Until I landed here a couple of weeks ago I never once thought about Australia,” he said.

“I was cycling from Roscommon to Dublin, then to London, then

‘Big house’ goes to Court

Three Supreme Court judges – including Chief Justice Peter Quinlan – presided recently over a legal appeal about a bid to build an oversized house in Peppermint Grove. Sophie McComish’s plans for a two-storey house on a 785sq.m block at 25 Irvine Street were knocked back by the Shire in June 2023. The Shire said the plans exceeded the plot ratio by at least

50% and would set an undesirable precedent in the area. Legal teams for the parties presented their arguments before the trio of judges in the old Supreme Court buildings on Wednesday October 15. At the end of the hearing the appeals court judges said they would reserve their decision, with no indication as to when a judgment would be delivered.

He was well and truly on the way when by pure chance on a coastal road in Turkey he met David McCourt, who was cycling from Australia to Ireland, one of many long-distance cyclists he met along the way.

They swapped stories and after hearing about the “amazing time” his new friend had in Iran Fergal decided to change course to include it.

“I didn’t even know you could travel there and the only thing stopping me from going was fear, so I made the jump,” he said.

“It was one of my favourite countries. I was instantly met by the warmest, kindest people.

“You’d feel sorry for them because they are so repressed by the government but they are absolutely the salt of the earth, incredible people.”

Paradoxically, the only “really bad incident” he faced in the whole journey happened in Iran.

People and motorists would constantly stop to give him drinks and food.

“This one time I got drugged, attacked and hospitalised,” he said.

A man had given him a juice box to drink but he knew immediately that something was wrong.

•

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Cycle of life … Fergal Guihen in Kings Park with amazing tales of kindness and crime. Photo: Paul McGovern

Bittersweet film debut for Fudge

By JEN REWELL

A City Beach dog plucked from obscurity to be a ﬁlm star died before the ﬁrst screening of the movie.

Fudge the border collie was spotted in 2023 by a talent scout while on holiday in Prevelly, and selected to star in the movie Inheritance, which had its ﬁrst screening last week.

Fudge died in June and never got to see the ﬁnished ﬁlm.

Owner Eamon Hurley said it was an emotional moment to watch a cast-and-crew screening of the movie on Sunday.

“Fudge brings it all together,” he said.

Fudge took movie-making in her stride and acted superbly alongside the film’s three human actors.

One scene required her to be in a boat on the ocean, which she had never experienced before.

Fudge, then 11, played the

part of an old dog whose owner returned after being in jail.

Filmmaker Myles Pollard has given Eamon and his wife Mel out-takes and extra scenes from the movie, which contained never-before-seen footage of Fudge.

The movie was ﬁlmed near Busselton and will have its premiere this month.

The voice-work was done by Fudge’s brother Billy, who has a good bark.

Eamon said that when Fudge died in June, the family experienced several other tragedies.

“Poor Billy was crying for the ﬁrst few nights and he was taking himself off to bed early,” he said.

But happiness returned in the form of a pup called Sunny, who is now 14 weeks old.

“She is a little ray of sunshine,” he said.

“Within half an hour of bringing her home, Billy and Sunny were besties.”

Claremont readers flee next door

By JACK MADDERN

A cramped library too small for the Claremont community has caused residents to invade The Grove Library in neighbouring Peppermint Grove.

More Claremont residents used The Grove than their own library last year after the existing facility was relocated from Stirling Highway to make way for a high-rise tower.

Claremont residents warned the council last year that the new library at Bay View Community Centre would be too small.

Readers are abandoning Claremont Library for The Grove Library.

Figures released last month showed that the Claremont Library had 9305 fewer loans for 2024-25 than The Grove Library, while nearly 5000 loans at Peppermint Grove came from

Claremont residents.

“The Grove has more loans to Claremont residents than does the Claremont library,” The Grove report said.

It noted a similar increase in Claremont residents using Nedlands Library.

Peppermint Grove councillor Peter Macintosh suggested it might be practical to merge the Grove and Claremont library services, but the notion was quickly quashed by Shire admin.

“I think what the CEO [Don Burnett} previously said is that Claremont really doesn’t care

too much – they’ve downgraded their library,” a staff member said at the meeting.

“Their feeling is that now that they will be getting a new CEO soon, it might be an opportunity to revisit something there.”

Mr Burnett later clariﬁed to the POST that the Shire has never discussed mergers of services with either Claremont or Nedlands.

New Claremont councillor Ryan Fernandes said he had heard from numerous dissatisﬁed residents during his campaign.

Scotch keeps M Block history

By JACK MADDERN

Scotch College will build a threestorey administrative building to replace the demolished M Block after Claremont council’s ﬁnal approval this week.

The plans for the new administrative building have been 14 years in the making and endured several rocky moments.

A petition raised 197 signatures to prevent “the irredeemable loss of an

invaluable cultural asset which has shaped countless lives over a century”.

McGregor Thom, who had family grow up in the old block, told the POST in 2024 it was like demolishing the “heart and soul” of the school.

But Scotch headmaster Alec O’Connell said the $15million cost to make the building usable was not viable.

“I fully understand when you demolish an old building and the sensitivities just from sheer tenure of the time it has been around,” he said.

“At the same time, you have to progress and move forward.”

Scotch would honour M Block’s history by repurposing some of the old timber into furniture to be used in the new administration facility.

“We’ve been doing planning in my time for 14 years, and whenever we do any planning, we’ve been conscious of our neighbours,” Dr O’Connell said.

“There’s a far more gentle visual in terms of the memorial garden where

• Please turn to page 77

“The library shrank in size, so it’s hard to use the library when there is a zumba class next door,” he said.

“The community space isn’t large enough to do anything.

“I would like to understand the reasons if it is not working for the community and how to ﬁx that.”

Claremont staff questioned the breadth of the community’s concerns and the ﬁgures from The Grove report.

A Claremont spokesperson said that active library membership had increased by 3932

• Please turn to page 77

RIP Fudge, a movie star … Eamon Hurley says it was bittersweet to see the movie in which Fudge starred. Billy, right, has welcomed Sunny to the family. Photo: Paul McGovern

The City’s new Council

The Mayor and four Councillors were sworn in at a Special Council Meeting in the City’s Council Chambers following the local government election on Saturday 18 October 2025.

Mayor David McMullen and returning Councillors Rosemarie De Vries (North Ward) and Penny O’Connor (Central Ward) have commenced their new four-year terms, alongside two newly elected Councillors: Daniel Fyffe in the South Ward, and Brigitte Pine in the East Ward.

They join continuing Councillors Russell Jones in the North Ward, Mark Burns in the East Ward, Nicola Johnston in the Central Ward and Rick Powell in the South Ward.

At the Special Council Meeting, Councillor Rick Powell was elected Deputy Mayor.

Subiaco Museum turns 50

Subiaco Musuem ofﬁcially opened its doors 50 years ago, on 2 November 1975. To celebrate its golden anniversary, the museum is hosting a special exhibition called ‘50 Objects, 50 Years’.

The exhibition will showcase 50 key object and treasures from the museum’s collection. It will open on Saturday 1 November and run through until early 2026.

Stay tuned for more information about this special anniversary, including fun events, at www.subiaco.wa.gov.au/news

Classic cars are back

Classic car and motoring fans are invited to join the third Classic Cars & Coffee event in Subiaco, ‘Subi to Swan’, on Sunday 16 November.

The day will feature an impressive line-up of more than 200 vintage cars, rare luxury vehicles, and supercars. It kicks off at 8am in Market Square Park, where you can view the cars and enjoy food, coffee and entertainment before the cars depart in a procession along Rokeby Road on their way to the Swan Valley.

Herdsman hero wins RSPCA award

By JEN REWELL

Bird rescuer requirements: Big net, towel, paddleboard, and a brave heart.

WA Seabird Rescue volunteer Callum Ashenhurst received a Humane Award from the RSPCA this month, for “showing exceptional courage in rescuing an animal”.

The award was for his rescue of a paralysed spoonbill at Herdsman Lake in May.

Callum is well known in the birdrescuing community for his paddleboarding skills, which have saved many unwell avians in the 400ha Herdsman Lake Regional Park.

He is sometimes spotted paddling out into the picturesque wetlands in his WA Seabird Rescue volunteer blue vest, juggling a paddle and a long-handled net. The towel is used to tightly wrap a rescued bird so it sits quietly on the paddleboard on the journey back to shore.

North Freo wants free buses

By JACK MADDERN

Free North Fremantle public transport has been identified as a key solution to combat the increased traffic congestion expected when the Fremantle Traffic Bridge closes next year.

Greens MP Brad Pettitt and the North Fremantle Community Association called for more free transport to help replace the 21,000 daily car trips across the bridge.

Transport Minister Rita Safﬁoti announced last month that at least 27 extra trains and

buses, and free travel through central Fremantle, would be introduced in the new year.

Extra buses would also be laid on for Iona, St Hilda’s and PLC students.

But Dr Pettitt and NFCA convener Gerard MacGill urged the government to take bigger steps.

“There is not much that is new here and little of comfort for the hard-pressed citizens of North Fremantle,” Mr MacGill said.

“The measures to encourage use of public transport

Join me, Basil Zempilas your local Member for Churchlands, for a coffee!

are welcome, but why free travel between Douro Road and Fremantle Station and not for the more critical route from North Fremantle to Fremantle?

“If the private school students can get new dedicated school bus services, why not the 4000 citizens of North Fremantle?”

Dr Pettitt said the extra services would be welcome but needed to be enhanced with more radical measures.

“While these are a good start, there is no way these are going Time is running out for pedestrians and vehicles that use the old bridge.

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RSPCA WA chair Lynne Bradshaw said the RSPCA’s vision was a world in which animals and people lived together with dignity, respect, and compassion, and the 2025 awards were a wonderful celebration of compassion, courage and community.

“These stories remind us why RSPCA WA exists, for animals to live better lives,” she said.

Gold award winners were a Busselton group, FAWNA, which launched a massive rescue of 250 cygnets abandoned in the VasseWonnerup wetlands after heavy rains disrupted the breeding cycle.

Other winners were sisters Merome Darvill and Beth Brideson, who rescued a kangaroo that had swum 150m out to sea at Gracetown, and Carol Biddulph, who cared for an off-course emperor penguin until it could be released back into the wild.

Whether you have a question, an idea, or simply want to say hi, you’re warmly invited to drop by.

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On a wing and a paddleboard … Callum Ashenhurst performs another super-hero rescue at Herdsman. Photo: Peter Lett

Cockeyed bob rips shreds off Cott

By BRET CHRISTIAN

Winds smashed glass doors and hurled roof parts across the street in south Cottesloe last Friday night.

A concentrated whirlwind climbed the steep hill of Rosendo Street from the direction of the ocean, causing chaos in its wake.

It tore metal roofing off a two-storey luxury house before pausing over the slate roof of the next house to the east.

Slate was scattered across the verge of Avonmore Terrace and beyond. Some landed a block away after clearing the top of a two-storey block of ﬂats.

“I’ve no idea how such heavy slate ﬂew so far through the air,” said a resident who heard the thumps as the slate landed on his property.

Crews worked to waterproof the high-end homes from rain expected later in the day.

Trees were uprooted and branches broken off. By Saturday piles of sawn trees and branches could be seen along Rosendo Street awaiting collection.

The whirlwind, possibly a “cockeyed bob”, sometimes wrongly called a mini-tornado,

The wind smashed a pair of ocean-facing double-glazed doors of an almost-completed new house. The glass shards damaged

ABOVE LEFT: S ome slate tiles ripped from this roof landed a block away. ABOVE: One of the many trees and branches flattened in Rosendo Street.

BELOW: Roofing from a house in Rosendo Street landed on the other side of Avonmore Terrace.

Cott rates shock: computer says ‘No’

By BRET CHRISTIAN

A glitch with a new computer system has meant Cottesloe residents have received overdue ﬁnal rates notices after they have already paid their rates.

Former Cottesloe mayor John Hammond and current councillor Brad Wylynko are among those who have received the unpleasant surprises.

as to why that happened, and is it going to happen again, and has it been ﬁxed?”

CEO Mark Newman said staff had diagnosed the problem with the rates ﬁnal notice issue.

“We had a lot of challenges early on in our go-live period,” he said.

Mr Wylynko asked questions at this week’s council meeting.

“I was quite concerned and phoned the Town to ﬁnd out why,” he said.

“Can we have an explanation

“The receiving [software] now works, so that issue won’t happen again.”

He said he did not know how many wrong ﬁnal rate notices went out.

Staff were considering emailing ratepayers and using media to explain the problem.

Bike ‘gangs’ are a public nuisance

I was disappointed in the POST’s report (Electric fairway, October 18) featuring a group of young boys riding bikes on Sea View Golf Course.

Disappointed, in that it was written in a favourable way Groups of boys on e-bikes are a frequent sight in south Cottesloe, along Marine Parade, on parks, grassed areas, streets during the day and golf course at night.

Wheelstands, near misses of pedestrians and “ﬂipping the bird” to anyone who complains are common.

Do parents know that the law requires a person to be 16 years old to ride an e-bike?

Jo Hardcastle Jarrad Street, Cottesloe

Support for whole-council elections

I agree with proposals to create four-year “all-in-all-out” terms for local government councillors.

When working with such a system in local government in the Northern Territory, I found elected local government representatives took a “we’re all in this together” attitude, which created a team-based environment.

This effectively smoothed out the factions, especially as party politics became more prevalent at a local level.

The ﬁrst six months of the new council are spent developing strategies, three years implementing and the ﬁnal six months of the term reviewing, before going back to the electorate.

The chances of a whole council

being thrown out are negligible unless there were big problems which required such action.

However, with changes to WA’s Local Government Act, the intention of Minister Hannah Beazley is to identify potential issues, through the Local Government Inspector, before they become big issues.

With regard to voting, I tend to like the present non-compulsory system where an elector can democratically decide not to vote.

This may be a little naive of me, because I realise many people won’t vote unless compelled to do so. However, the right not to vote is the nature of true democracy.

Rob Stewart Davies Road, Claremont

if it is the same shark tracking away or getting closer, or if instead there are multiple tagged sharks in the vicinity and increasing the risk.

Can we know if the same shark comes back frequently or seasonally? If so, we can then assess and plan accordingly.

To make the alerts far more useful, the public needs at least six additional points of real-time receiver alert information on SharkSmart including shark tag number / sex / length when tagged / date tagged / where tagged / how many times historically the same shark has triggered the same receiver.

This information is already collected, but it seems is being

Present danger … The SharkSmart app, inset, could be more useful with more detail about detections of tagged sharks along our coast.

withheld. It would be best made available to improve the public’s knowledge, risk planning and safety, or if it is to be withheld can DPIRD please advise why? We all acknowledge the risks of swimming in our ocean and rivers, but more information enables better risk mitigation and safety for all of us.

Chris Newton Keane Street, Peppermint Grove

Mos decision rates badly

I agree with John Hammond (Mosman kept quietonratesdeferral, POST, October 25), the series of errors by Mosman Park council means the council should waive the outstanding rates bill for Suzanne Lemmey.

Pursuing a dying pensioner for rates, after informing her that nothing was owing, is completely heartless.

Those who made the errors are responsible for any ﬁnancial loss in this case.

Prevarication prevails over Fiveight’s Indiana proposals

Having read the article about newly elected Cottesloe Mayor Melissa Harkins (Cott’s new champion, POST, October 25) I really need to comment on some of her remarks regarding the development of the Indiana. She is quoted as saying: “We are waiting for them to come back to us.”

It took 18 months for the council, in June 2024, to ﬁnally respond and reject the application setting loudly lauded development “parameters” for any revision application, so waiting might be expected, although in June 2025 I was told: “The Town expects to have some clarity around the lessee’s revised redevelopment proposal imminently.”

The Indiana development proposal was officially made public in December 2021, although we know

“private” discussions started earlier. It took the community to call a special electors’ meeting back in September 2022 to object to the proposal, many letters to the POST and many public questions at council meetings with objections to the proposal elements of exclusivity, the east side boutique hotel, preservation of reserve lands and more …

The community still has not been given the opportunity to review the specialist environment or heritage reports on the proposal.

After years of stonewalling, the “parameters” ﬁnally included the community concerns. THAT is why the community now “is 100% behind us”.

Meanwhile, the mayor’s Cottesloe tourism arguments ignore the truly embar-

rassing state of the toilet and changeroom facilities this past decade and probably for the next three years, while the building is developed.

The Town continues to engage with Fiveight Property Management on its redevelopment proposal following Council’s resolution in June 2024 that did not support the hotel redevelopment for the Indiana site.

When a revised proposal conforming with the parameters endorsed by Council in June 2024 is put forward by Fiveight, the matter will be brought to Council for further consideration.

When that happens, the community must be on guard to ensure we are “consulted” ﬁrst before any Statewide Business Case survey.

Stephen Mellor Graham Court, Cottesloe

Date: Tuesday, 11th November 2025

Time: 5:00pm for a 5:30pm start Finishing at 8:00pm Gates open 4.45pm

Anne Martis Minora Road, Dalkeith

Boys riding on Sea View Golf Course. Photo: Bret Christian

The Indiana at Cottesloe … What about the toilets?

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Jailhouse rock for R&B star

An R&B star turned sovereign citizen will prepare his legal defence from Hakea Prison after arguing with a magistrate.

Dennis Dowlut, who was nominated for three ARIA awards as a member of 2000s R&B outﬁt Disco Montego, is awaiting trial on seven counts of breaching protective bail conditions this year.

Police say Mr Dowlut sent text messages and videos to his ex-wife’s family in February while he was midway through another domestic violence trial.

“I have no idea what these charges are about,”

Mr Dowlut told magistrate Clare Cullen via video link from Hakea on Tuesday.

“There’s no common law crime.”

Prosecutor Sean Dworcan told the court

Police Beat

Mr Dowlut had been granted bail while he fought allegations that he committed 39 breaches of a family violence restraining order taken out by his ex-wife Alisha Oxley.

He is also accused of pursuing Ms Oxley with intent to intimidate in circumstances of aggravation.

That trial continues, with the next hearing scheduled for December 8.

Ms Oxley, who lives in Sydney, is heir to the Bushell’s Tea fortune.

A condition of Mr Dowlut’s bail was that he was not to contact

her or her family during the trial.

Mr Dworcan said Mr Dowlut sent text messages and videos to a group chat that included Ms Oxley’s parents and sister, accusing his ex-wife of “spreading lies, manipulation and gossip”.

Mr Dowlut was arrested at Scarborough police station soon after that.

He unsuccessfully opposed an application at Tuesday’s hearing for Ms Oxley’s sister to give evidence via video-link from NSW.

He talked over Ms Cullen while she granted the application, complaining that he had to prepare his legal defence from a cell where “someone has committed suicide”.

“There’s no access to internet, no access to phones, no access to resources,” he said.

“I am not ﬁnished,” he

told Ms Cullen when she interrupted.

“Mr Dowlut, I have 45 other prisoners waiting to be heard today,” she said.

“You haven’t sought to get yourself a lawyer so unfortunately you’re going to have to represent yourself.”

TikToker avoids jail over ‘kill mum’ threat

Mr Dowlut was granted a spent conviction by a NSW court in 2022 after he assaulted Ms Oxley before absconding with their two young children while in a state of druginduced psychosis.

Bail battle for Mos council candidate

A Mosman Park council candidate accused of making a Nazi gesture faces an uphill battle to get bail, Perth Magistrates Court has heard.

Samuel William Croll, 20, has been in Hakea Prison since he allegedly assaulted a police ofﬁcer in Fremantle on October 3. He was on bail at the time while awaiting trial on a charge of making a Nazi gesture and using antisemitic language while in a livestreamed video chat with a Jewish content creator in June.

On Tuesday, a duty lawyer told Perth Magistrates Court that Mr Croll would make another bail application on November 14.

“[Defence counsel Gregory Chin] is currently waiting for the CCTV and body-worn camera footage,” the lawyer said. A police prosecutor told

With Ben Dickinson

Musician Dennis Dowlut and ex-wife Alisha Oxley.

Please

Derek Chadwick, a right Royal footballer

Priority use of scarce resources

We all agree there is a dire shortage of affordable housing and that a whole generation of young families are denied access to affordable accommodation.

Politicians talking about this grave national crisis refer to it as an emergency and the nation’s No.1 priority.

In the same breath, they say our ability to build affordable housing is constrained by the lack of skilled workforce.

It seems to me that the workforce tied up in building a brand-new speculative 800sq.m house in City Beach would be better deployed

building ﬁve 150sq.m houses that would secure homes for ﬁve working families.

So, if the housing shortage is truly a national emergency, brave and bold measures are required to ﬁx it.

Since affordable housing is our No.1 priority, the process of building approvals needs to discriminate positively for affordable housing and discriminate negatively against projects with no social beneﬁt, such as speculative mansions in afﬂuent suburbs which tie up scarce building resources.

Michael Keane McKenzie Street, Wembley

Thank you, John Townsend, for your tribute to the late great Derek Chadwick (Sporting POST, October 25).

I started going to the football with my dad in late 1961, so saw almost all of Chaddy’s last 230 of his 269 games for East Perth.

He is, in my view, East Perth’s greatest player in the post-Graham Farmer era, which is a big call given the Royals boast players of the calibre of Ted Kilmurray, Mal Brown, Ken McAullay, Syd Jackson, Keith Doncon, Brad Smith, Dobbie Graham, Phil Tierney, Gary Gillespie, Gary Malarkey, Peter Spencer, Phil Kelly ... the list goes on.

West Coast had Matera and Mainwaring, Hawthorn had Eade and DiPierdomenico, North Melbourne had Greig and Schimmelbusch, there was Brian Dixon and Robert Flower

from Melbourne and John Cahill from Port Adelaide – all terriﬁc wingmen – but above all of them was Derek Chadwick, the best wingman in Australian Football since the mid 1950s and the ﬁnest since West Perth legend Stan Heal.

What is disappointing is that Derek was not inducted into the VFL ... err, sorry ... AFL Hall of Fame before he passed away.

Others are in there who aren’t ﬁt to tie Chaddy’s bootlaces.

East Perth fans like me remember his sublime skill, his ﬁerce desire to compete, his humility and, above all, his loyalty to the East Perth Football Club.

All Royals fans mourn his passing but are forever grateful for his contribution to our football club.

Cambridge ‘stuff up’ points to dysfunction

It seems Cambridge council, just like our failing State Government, is not immune from costly administrative mistakes that ultimately impact ratepayers (Cambridge blunder costs $12,500, POST, October 18).

The rate blunder has cost more than $12,500 so far with potentially higher cost levels

standards

The POST’s policy is to produce accurate and fair reports, and to correct any verified errors at the earliest opportunity, preferably in the next edition. For details of the policy please visit the editorial standards page at postnewspapers.com.au/feedback-policy/

as the council seeks to remedy what one ratepayer categorised as “a giant stuff up”.

At least CEO Lisa Clack has accepted responsibility for the bungle.

It was disappointing that Mayor Gary Mack made no comment on the matter. Being in so-called “caretaker” mode ahead of the local government elections should not preclude showing leadership.

Perhaps if the council did not involve itself in “non-core” matters such as changing the identity of Lake Monger and heritage issues there, then staff

could pay greater attention to day-to-day activities.

Implementing compulsory voting for council elections, as in most other states, might prevent populist ideas from being ideologically managed by small groups amid claims of overwhelming approval from all ratepayers.

George Bowden The Grove, Wembley

Email letters to:

Michael Blakiston, Bill Beament, Dermot Woods and Andy Clayton

Portfolio pre-tax return (net of fees) of 20.4% per annum over the last 5 years

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Louis Carr Simper Street, Wembley

Derek Chadwick was a champion for East Perth and WA.

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Date with destiny

After a long wait, patients at the Quadriplegic Centre in Shenton Park will ﬁnally move into their new home next year.

“Closure of the facility [is] currently expected to be mid-late 2026” according to the 2024/25 annual report for the centre, tabled in Parliament last week.

The 1960s-built “Quad” buildings are “no longer ﬁt for purpose”, the report said, and were being maintained until the “transition” can be made to a purpose-built 20-bed long-term high-support centre.

Eleven people live at the centre, which admitted its last patient in 2018.

More than seven years ago they –and fellow residents who have since died – were told the Quad would be closed by December 2020 and they would be split up and placed into care in the community.

But the group remained deﬁant and eventually the State Government donated a block of land in Montario Quarter, close to the Quad Centre, and funding for a new centre run by MSWA.

Although due originally to be ﬁnished by 2023, construction on the new site didn’t begin until May 2024, a delay which saw the cost of the project almost double to $27million.

The 1960s “Quad” building is no longer fit for purpose.

Only the bravest of the brave would be wise to venture into Branksome Gardens in City Beach this weekend where homeowners have scared up a spooky spectacle for Halloween.

Alex halfway through his long lap

By JEN REWELL

It’s a long way to run, but it was worth it for Alex Barbas to complete the 7800km round trip to see his parents in Wembley Downs.

Alex, 33, left Sydney on September 1 and has run all the way across Australia.

Fewer than 30 people are recorded to have run across the country and if he succeeds, Alex will be the ﬁrst to make it a round trip.

But seeing his mum and dad was not the only reason for the long lap – his run has raised more than $52,000 for the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Alex was greeted by a cheer-

ing crowd at Perth Children’s Hospital in Nedlands where supporters of the Foundation were thrilled with his efforts.

“He had a good night’s sleep back in the comfort of his bed at home and then was off early at 5am from the Perth Children Hospital to complete his mission,” his mother Viola said.

His goal is to raise $780,000 which equates to $100 for every kilometre on his journey.

He runs about 80km a day, coping with extreme weather, trafﬁc and the regular hazards of a long-distance runner.

“This run is more than a physical challenge; it’s a mission to bring happiness to sick kids facing the pain, fear

and stress of serious illness,” Alex said.

Cops once pulled him over because they thought he was “swaying a bit”.

“I didn’t think I had much chance of outrunning them,” he said.

“I have the endurance but not the pace.”

Viola said her son had always had a passion for helping sick children. He had volunteered with the Starlight Foundation in Perth and Sydney.

At the end of every day’s running, he spray-paints a pink line on the road, and starts from that point again the next day.

To follow Alex’s journey, or donate, see alexsoutandback. com.au.

King Eddie’s team comes out on top

Researchers at King Edward Memorial Hospital have been named state winners in the Telstra Best of Business Awards for 2025.

The Women and Infants Research Foundation (WIRF) is driving discoveries in areas such as preterm birth prevention (one of the leading causes of death and disability in children under ﬁve) and advancing treatments to improve long-term outcomes for premature babies.

Its work also extends to endometriosis and gynaecological cancers, perinatal mental health, and First Nations maternal and family health.

WIRF CEO Deb Portughes said. “This acknowledgement reﬂects the dedication of our small but passionate foundation team, our world-class researchers, our clinical, research and community partners, and our generous supporters all of whom share our vision of giving every baby the best possible start to life, every woman the brightest future, and every family the opportunity to thrive.”

The independent medical research institute at KEMH will represent WA at the national

Sports crowds a drag on park

Protected trees and grassy Perry Lakes parklands will come under the microscope as part of a parking review of Mt Claremont sporting reserves.

VenuesWest have appointed a consultant, Urbii, to review the AK Reserve trafﬁc and parking management plan.

The AK Reserve precinct includes several sports facilities including Bendat Basketball Centre, WA Rugby Centre and the WA Athletics Stadium.

Town of Cambridge staff were invited to an initial consultation meeting with VenuesWest to discuss the trafﬁc and parking issues experienced in the precinct.

The Bendat centre recorded more than 500,000 patrons in 2024-2025, and has an underground carpark and 264 outside bays.

Locals say overﬂow parking from big events has been causing issues in the Perry Lakes reserve for more than a year.

WIRF researchers, from left, Dr Sean Carter, Hannah Watson, Dr Erin

On the road again … Alex Barbas enjoyed a few nights at home with his parents before running back to Sydney.

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Graylands bed 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 ﬁ 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.

“An opportunity exists for the…design and construction of 40 new forensic mental health beds,” said an expression of interest document for the Graylands campus project.

An industry brieﬁng for the project was due to be held at the Department of Health on Monday.

The EoI document indicated site works were expected to get underway in the second quarter of next year with practical completion die in late 2028.

“The Graylands Campus Project will include 32 male sub-acute beds and 8 child and adolescent beds – totalling 40 beds,” said a spokesperson for the Ofﬁce of Major

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 to best meet current needs.

“Sub-acute beds require more space to enable rehabilitation and longer stays.

“This change followed broad consultation with stakeholders including mental health clinicians, and international experts, alongside a review of service delivery priorities.

The number of male sub-acute beds aligns with the projected clinical demand.

“This approach will provide greater ﬂexibility to manage demand and enable a recovery focused service.

Ms Mettam slammed the delay and reduction in promised beds.

“This is just another example

of this State Government’s failure to prioritise health services and infrastructure,” she said.

“The Inspector for Custodial Services has been highlighting the desperate need for more forensic mental health beds in WA for more than a decade, but successive Labor Governments have consistently ignored the need.”

The facility will require the Claremont Therapeutic Riding Centre, which occupies the northeast corner of the hospital site, to move to a site on the other side of John XXIII Avenue.

The centre was established in 1972 by M’liss Henry as Claremont Group Riding for the disabled. It started with two riders and has grown to more than 150 a week.

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

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Photo: Paul McGovern

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Bold Park section set to burn

By JEN REWELL

Weeds and ﬁre in bush close to housing are incendiary topics.

A delicate approach to maintaining urban bushland means balancing ﬁre and herbicide spraying, according to research scientist Russell Miller.

Dr Miller is waiting for the perfect conditions to give the go-ahead for contractors to burn a 7ha section of Bold Park in order to study the regrowth of weeds in the area.

“In fragmented urban bushlands such as Bold Park, ﬁre management goes hand-in-hand with weed management and so it is vitally important to understand how ﬁre and weeds interact to impact native vegetation condition,” he said.

“There is still a lot of research required and our research burn is a key part of this learning.”

The burn will be conducted into the wind so it moves slowly, and is planned in small 10m wide patches so that animals can run away or burrow. It is a secluded part of the

park, well away from walking paths.

Flammable material has been raked away from the base of some tuart trees to stop ﬁre running up the bark and damaging the canopies.

There are quenda diggings everywhere in the area – in some places it is difﬁcult to walk without stepping in a hole dug by a foraging quenda.

A line of markers denotes which parts of the bush have been left untouched, and which parts have been targeted by herbicide contractors who are trained in plant identiﬁcation.

In those areas, weeds are

individually poisoned and native plants have room to grow.

On the other side of the line, weeds like veldt grass and pelargonium are thriving.

The area was last burned in 2023.

There has been scientific monitoring of weed regrowth, fuel loads and native plants since then, Dr Miller said.

The research program was established in 2014, and the planned burn marks the halfway point for the burn treatments.

“The aim is to implement different ﬁre intervals to investigate how different

patterns of ﬁre impact the success of weed control treatments,” Dr Miller said.

“Long-term research programs like this are very rare but provide us with valuable insight into the long-term effectiveness of different management strategies.”

He said the preliminary findings had helped to strengthen biodiversity conservation management in the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

“Specifically, how we can assist the recovery of native vegetation after ﬁ and how we can restore weed-invaded degraded ecosystems,” he said.

King Eddie’s replacement

By LLOYD GORMAN

Construction of a $1.8billion women’s and babies’ hospital in Murdoch to replace King Edward Memorial Hospital in Subiaco got under way last week, with completion expected in 2029.

The 12-storey building will have 274 hospital beds, a neonatal unit for newborns needing specialised care, a family birth centre, operating theatres and other facilities.

Two years ago, without warning, the WA Government dropped long-standing plans to build it near Perth Children’s Hospital in the QEII Medical Centre precinct.

Many in the medical community decried the decision to move it 20km away, which they said would put the lives of sick newborns and babies requiring emergency surgery and treatment at PCH at risk.

Health Minister Meredith Hammat said last week the new hospital would “deliver modern, purpose-built facilities to meet the needs of the community”.

An expansion of neonatology services at Perth Children’s Hospital has been ﬂagged by the Government (Some babies at QEII,

Russell Miller says conditions must be perfect before the Bold Park research fire can go ahead.

Work has started to build this new maternity hospital in Murdoch.

Photo: Paul McGovern

Thea Theatre sparked Clubba culture

By JACK MADDERN

There was always a way into Club Bayview even when you had been thrown out.

The news that Club Bayview has closed was met with surprise and an outpouring of anecdotes from locals recounting their adventurous nights of passion and debauchery.

“The old girl absolutely deserved a send-off,” one clubgoer said. “One last hoorah to celebrate all the memories and the joy she gave the masses back in the day.

“She’s gone gently into that good night ... but what a run she had” (Club Bayview fades quietly away, POST, October 4).

“You could level that place, rebuild, and it would STILL smell like Bacardi 151 and bad choices when you walk past,” recalled another former clubber.

“Choi Lee kept the crowd and wannabes under control, the Screamin’ Steamin’ hotdog stand kept us fed and the balcony back corner served well as the re-entry point via below bollard for those of us who were kicked out.”

One man for whom the news felt old was former owner Jon Sainken, who had sold the property 18 months earlier.

He deemed a resurrection near impossible after concluding that the club had lost the key to its cultural success from the start – its theatre.

“The reason we did it is because we wanted something more sophisticated in that market, accessible to those who lived in the western suburbs,” he said.

“It was all based on being theatre.

“Because we thought of it as theatre, we changed it regularly.

“But it lost that spark and without signiﬁcant investment it would have been hard to get back.

“Times change and habits change.”

Mr Sainken pointed to the shift in culture of young people drinking less and opting to romance online rather than face-to-face in a cacophony of sweat, spew, carpet and rhythm.

His view is not just a hunch but scientiﬁcally backed by a recent Melbourne University study of young people’s drinking habits.

“For decades, alcohol has been deeply embedded in social life, but that’s changing,” study co-author Kirrilly

Thompson said.

“Digital socialising, rising living costs and health awareness are reshaping how people spend their time and money.”

Mr Sainken credited his now deceased business partner, Murray Kimber, for creating much of the culture and theatre that the club was celebrated for.

If Mr Sainken was the realist, then Mr Kimber was the dreamer.

“Murray read about a Batman movie coming out, so he said to me: ‘This is going to be a huge craze, we need to ride this wave’,” he said.

The duo then turned their bar walls, ceiling and adornments into the bat cave.

“It was all just theatre, stuff that, if you took a close look at it during the day, it looked pretty tatty, but at night people almost fell over when they walked in and saw the Bat Cave,” Mr Sainken said.

Digging through his boxes brimming with old photos and marketing tools revealed some of the wit and charm that built

bear to miss the real action.”

Mr Sainken said the tone

“It was a balance of playful arrogance and a sense of exclusivity that there was an inside joke that you had to be there to get,” he said.

He recalled using the experience of club regular, Jane Priest, who famously kissed the-then Prince Charles at North Cottesloe Beach in 1979.

“Jane somehow found out that Prince Charles was going for a swim at 6 o’clock on a Saturday morning, so she managed to be there and bumped into Prince Charles by design and kissed him,” he said.

“We then used that as part of our advertising too: ‘Come dance with the man who danced with the lady who kissed the prince’.”

The lawless times, which Mr Sainken said fostered drunken youth travelling to the club, had surprisingly avoided the criminal underworld.

“There was a little gangster culture in Perth and still is, but we were able to resist their attendance in Claremont,”

The 2017 club “raids” that forced the club to shut were, in Mr Sainken’s view, a result of management at the time getting Claremont council offside.

“We didn’t go on being successful because we stopped doing what we were known for and lost that pulse on culture,”

“I think if we’d have gone on at that standard, you’d prob-

The POST is delivered free to households in the western suburbs every week. Showcase your message to a targeted local audience and increase your brand visibility within the community

Jon Sainken, left, and Murray Kimber in Club Bayview’s early days.

Membership, or a pretty face, were the requirements for entry.

Trusted. Independent. Local

Unforgettable doorman Choi Lee, left, was part of the club’s “playfully arrogant” marketing.

Dasher Wheatley, a hero remembered

The moving story of Australian soldier Kevin “Dasher” Wheatley and his act of selﬂess courage will be told on Friday November 14 at Cottesloe Civic Centre’s War Memorial Town Hall.

Nedlands MP Jonathan Huston will pay tribute to Kevin Wheatley as guest speaker presenting this year’s annual Frederick Bell VC Memorial Lecture.

Mr Huston will explore Mr

Wheatley’s life, his service in Vietnam, and the evolution of the Victoria Cross in modern Australian service.

The lecture will be hosted by the Cottesloe RSL subbranch to mark 60 years since the gallant action and death of Kevin Wheatley, the ﬁrst Australian serviceman to earn the Victoria Cross for his service in Vietnam.

Last year he was also posthumously awarded the Medal for Gallantry for “acts of gallantry

in action in hazardous circumstances on May 28 and August 18 1965 as an adviser and assistant adviser to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam”.

Doors open at 6pm for a 6.30pm start.

Tickets are $10 per person and include light refreshments. They are available at the door or can be purchased in advance by going to eventbrite.com.au and searching “Frederick Bell VC Memorial Lecture”.

Brooch design strikes gold

A distinctive design for a miner’s brooch was made in WA in 1894 and copied around the world.

The design for the brooches, made from gold, will be the subject of a talk at the next meeting of the U3A Western Suburbs Branch this Monday, November 3, at the Grove library.

At 2.30pm Greg Street will talk about how the crossed pick and shovel design for early miners’ brooches found its way into variations made in North America and South Africa.

years living as an expatriate in Saudi Arabia. She will present an account of family life in this deeply religious, conservative and traditional society from an expat’s point of view. There is a $3 charge and visitors are welcome.

The goldfields brooch made in Kalgoorlie between 1895 and 1900 by GR Addis.

Before that, at 1pm, Sharon Dunn will talk about her 13

The Grove Library is at 1 Leake Street, Peppermint Grove. For more information about the U3A Western Suburbs phone Sath Moodley 0413 212 513 or email sath.moodley@gmail.com.

Rid your home of unwanted stuﬀ

If you need to clear items from your home but don’t know where to start, get along to the Grove Library for a talk about decluttering.

Kirrilee Lehman is from a ﬁrm called the Queens of Clutter, a business which helps clients ﬁnd ways to rehome or recycle items they no longer want or need.

While decluttering can be immensely satisfying, the process can also be overwhelming, emotional, and exhausting.

Hear Kirrilee’s tips on how to reduce excess belongings

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with a minimum of stress and anguish, and achieve your goals for a calm and welcoming home. Her talk, called Turning Chaos into Calm, is part of the West Coast Community Centre program of activities. It will be on Thursday, November 6, from 10 to 11am. Cost is $12 for members and $17 non-members. Register online by going to westcoastcommunity.com.au/ programme or just turn up and pay on the day.

Locally made lounges and chairs at clearance prices, all ‡oorstock rugs 30 -50% Off and selected timber items to clear

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Kevin Wheatley pictured standing on the roadside near Saigon on August 8, 1965.

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Choral music for Remembrance

A traditional Choral Evensong will be held at St Edmund’s Anglican Church, Wembley, from 5pm on Remembrance Day, Tuesday November 11.

Light refreshments will be served after the service.

St Edmund’s is at 52 Pangbourne Street, Wembley. For more information phone the church ofﬁce on 9387 2287.

ALL THE NEWS. All the VIews.

Organist to pull out all the stops

Juilliard School-trained organist and Fremantle man Alessandro Pittorino will perform a concert next weekend to mark 150 years of pipe organs in WA,

The program, presented at St Patrick’s Basilica in Fremantle by the Organ Society of Western Australia, will feature works by the great Romantic composer Franz Liszt.

The basilica instrument is the largest church organ in the southern hemisphere, with more than 6000 pipes.

It holds a special place in Alessandro’s heart because it is the instrument he grew up playing.

“This organ has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Alessandro said.

“It’s where I ﬁrst fell in love with music, and returning to perform the monumental music of Franz Liszt here – on the very instrument I grew up and learned on – feels like coming home.

“This concert is not only a celebration of 150 years of WA’s organ heritage, but also a tribute to the enduring beauty and power of these remarkable instruments.”

The ﬁrst pipe organ in WA – hand-pumped and featuring around 880 pipes – arrived in Perth in 1875 and over the years was installed at several locations including Wesley Church, Queen’s Hall, and Hale School.

The ﬁrst organist to play it was Agnes Jane Read, who also holds the distinction of being Australia’s ﬁrst female pipe organist.

Rat poison kills wildlife, too

The danger rat poison poses to wildlife will be the topic of a young environmental activist’s presentation in Floreat this week.

Youth Action for Wildlife chair Poppy Mahon, aged 16, will be guest speaker at the Friends of Bold Park Bushland community talk. She will outline the dangers of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs).

The poisons are present in many household products and cause secondary deaths among the owls, quenda,

reptiles, frogs and black cockatoos that eat rats and mice.

Poppy’s passion for protecting wildlife began ﬁve years ago when she joined Dr Boyd Wykes on a trip to monitor owls in Margaret River as part of a school project.

Seeing the impact of SGARs on masked owls inspired her to work for change.

Her talk will outline how SGARs work, what makes them so dangerous, and how to choose safer pest-control

alternatives.

Join the Friends of Bold Park Bushland at the WA Ecology Centre, Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat on Tuesday, November 4, at 6pm.

The Friends will also lead free guided walks on November 8, 16 and 22, and a ticketed nocturnal walk on November 25. For more information visit friendsofboldpark.com.au, events section.

The Organ Society of Western Australia was founded in 1966 to support the appreciation, performance and study of pipe organ music.

The society hosts regular recitals featuring local and international artists, educational sessions, and visits to notable organs across the state.

Alessandro’s performance, titled The Genius of Franz Liszt, will be from 2.30pm on Sunday November 9 at 2.30pm at St Patrick’s Basilica, Fremantle.

Tickets are $40, $30 and $25 and can be purchased on humanitix.com by searching online for “The Genius of Franz Liszt”.

For more information about the Organ Society of Western Australia go to oswa.org.au.

Alessandro Pittorino will play the St Patrick’s Basilica pipe organ.

Poppy Mahon, pictured, warns rat poison is killing native wildlife.

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The Art Matters Group at St Philips Anglican Church Cottesloe invites all to their annual art exhibition, to open with a sundowner next Friday, November 7, from 5.30 to 7.30pm.

The exhibition will continue on Saturday from 10am to 2pm, and Sunday from 11am to 3pm.

Appointments to view the collection can be made through to November 21.

The group of 25 local artists will show recent works including landscapes, portraits and abstracts in a range of media.

All works will be for sale with proceeds to support a primary school in the Kalobeyi resettlement camp for Sudanese in Kenya.

The camp’s school has been named the St Philips Academy, in recognition of the church’s ongoing support.

Helen Manley said the school

she said.

“The Kenyan education system now requires tuition to Grade 9 so increases to funding are an ongoing concern.”

The art group had been instrumental in providing money for each student to receive a nutritious meal at lunchtime.

“Since President Trump suspended US international aid programs, food rations have been cut to 6kg of rice, 3kg of split peas and two litres of cooking oil to last each family for two months,” she said. “Therefore the daily school meal is vital to sustain the health of all 270 students at the school.

“There are also 10 teaching staff plus many volunteers who

teachers’ salaries.”

Helen said the school had been offered new laptops by the Anglican Relief and Development Fund Australia, working with the St Philips support network, Wakimbizi.

The computers would assist the school administrator, teachers, students, and the local minister.

The sundowner will be in the church hall on the corner of Marmion and Napier Streets in Cottesloe and wine, hors d’oeuvres and other light refreshments will be served.

To view the exhibition outside opening hours phone the church ofﬁce on 9385 1042 or email ofﬁce@sthilips.net.au.

Freo orchestra celebrates 20 years of fine music

Fremantle Chamber Orchestra has achieved 20 years of concerts, relying on its music lovers, supporters, donors and sponsors.

In that time the orchestra has featured outstanding orchestral musicians and world-class soloists such as Dutch violinist Rudolf Koelman.

It has also supported and promoted young musicians such as 15-year-old violinist and composer Ellie Malonzo.

This weekend, FCO will end its anniversary series for 2025 with a grand ﬁnale concert featuring concert pianist James Dekleva.

Last year James made his professional concerto debut with FCO, performing Beethoven.

Now established on the concert platform in Australia and China, he will return to

FCO to play the Saint-Saens romantic masterpiece Piano Concerto 2, known for its furious Tarantella ﬁnale.

The concert opens with Mozart’s popular Symphony No.40, described as “a work of passion, violence and grief”.

Arvo Part’s Da Pacem Domine (Give Peace, Lord) will be part of the program, to contrast and complement Mozart’s masterpiece.

John Keene will conduct the orchestra for its grand ﬁnale concert this Saturday, November 1, in Fremantle Town Hall, and Sunday in Government House Ballroom. Both performances begin at 3pm.

Book through trybooking. com/events or call Natalie for tickets on 0438 933 250. Tickets are also available at the door.

Top left: Members of the Art Matters group at St Philips in Cottesloe. Above: Students from the Kalobeyi resettlement camp in Kenya clean up after lunch.

Pianist James Dekleva returns to Fremantle Chamber Orchestra where he made his concert debut.

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Dutch first in Europe to see Galbamaanup

Discover the history of Lake Claremont on a free guided walk.

Whadjuk Noongar people camped around the wetlands at Galbamaanup, now also known as Lake Claremont, for thousands of years.

But historians believe the ﬁrst Europeans to see the lake were likely Dutch, sent ashore by sea captain explorer Willem de Vlamingh.

Much of the lake and its surroundings would be unrecognisable to Vlamingh’s men today, although a few old trees may have survived.

All are invited to hear more about the lake and its history when Friends of Lake Claremont lead guided free

walks this month.

Geologist and maritime historian Dr Phillip Playford examined ships’ logs and Vlamingh’s personal journal and recounts that on January 5, 1697, the captain sent ashore a party of 86 men to the coast near present-day Swanbourne.

The men walked eastwards until they came to the body of water that Vlamingh would name the Swan River.

Along the way, they skirted around an “inland lake”, which Dr Playford concludes was probably Lake Claremont.

If so, this would be the ﬁrst known visit by Europeans to

the lake, and its ﬁrst mention in any European journal.

Walks of about 45 minutes on the eastern side of the lake will take place on Thursday November 6 and Monday November 24.

A 90-minute walk around the lake will be held on Saturday November 15.

All walks start at 10am at the Tree of Wonder statue, on the north side of Tee Box Cafe, Lapsley Road, Claremont. There is no need to book. Just turn up.

For more details email Friends of Lake Claremont at folc.wa@gmail.com.

Swoon to heavenly music at harp soiree

In 2008, Yi-Yun Loei was only the second recipient of a young artists’ scholarship given by Perth’s Royal Schools Music Club.

This month the internationally renowned harpist will return to the music club to give a rare solo recital.

Yi-Yun’s career as a harp player has taken her across six continents since studying music at UWA and earning a Doctor of Music from Indiana University.

She held principal harp positions for the Brno National Theatre Orchestra and the Zlin Philharmonic Orchestra in Czech Republic and while living

all the major orchestras.

She was harp tutor for the Australian Youth Orchestra, and now runs a private studio in Perth and teaches at UWA.

She also has a doctorate degree in law from UWA.

The Royals Schools Music Club will present Yi-Yun’s recital which includes works by George Frideric Handel, Gabriel Faure, Bernard Andres and Henriette Renie.

The concert will be in the Eileen Joyce Studio at UWA on Sunday November 9, at 2.30pm.

Tickets $30 include refreshments after the performance and can be purchased by going to trybooking.com and searching

PERKINS ORATION

Emeritus Professor George Yeoh

Monday 17 November 6.30pm – 7.30pm

As a tsunami of liver cancer looms globally, Prof Yeoh recounts the adventurous journey of his life’s work to ﬁnd the “canary in the coal mine” for this deadly disease—and his quest to save countless lives around the world.

McCusker Auditorium, Harry Perkins Institute 6 Verdun St, Nedlands WA

Perth-born harpist Yi-Yun Loei will give a rare solo harp recital.

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Artists, bidders give generously for Gaza aid

A full house of supporters dug deep on Saturday evening at an auction of works by West Australian artists to beneﬁt the people of Gaza.

The sold-out event raised more than $200,000 for medical and humanitarian aid, to be distributed by charities working on the ground in the besieged territory.

The auction and weekend art sale was held by Perth Doctors for Medical Aid for Palestine at the Holmes a Court Gallery in West Perth, which donated the use of its space.

More than 250 pieces were donated by WA artists, many with national and international standing.

Most were sold by the end of the weekend.

At the event Perth anaesthetist and intensive care specialist Mairead

Heaney said the proceeds would support relief work in Gaza by registered charities.

These included the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Children Not Numbers, the Tea Collective, and Dignity for Palestinians.

Dr Heaney said: “We’re not politicians, we’re not religiously aligned, but as doctors we are morally and ethically compelled to speak up on behalf of patients wherever in the world they may be.

“It is never controversial to call out that the killing of children is wrong. Never.

“Can you imagine in WA if we had a classroom full of children … 28 to 30 children have been killed every single day for over

Best advice for the ages

Live your best life in your later years with tips from physiologist David Beard who will give a presentation titled “Age Well” for Hollywood Subiaco Learners’ Club on November 14.

David will share what he has learned from some amazing old-timers, and eight years of study at three universities on two continents.

He’ll also outline the latest developments in ageing research to offer attendees the most up-

to-date information on ageing and health.

This will be the club’s ﬁnal meeting for the year, from 3 to 4pm at Hollywood Subiaco Bowling Club, 42 Smyth Road in Nedlands. Register from 2.45pm.

Entry is $5 cash only for members and $10 for non-members.

RSVP essential by emailing donarosa49@ gmail.com.

For more about Hollywood Subiaco Learners, look them up on Facebook.

Remember all those who served, at Anzac Cottage

All are welcome to observe Remembrance Day at Anzac Cottage in Mt Hawthorn.

The Friends of Anzac Cottage are holding Remembrance Day commemorations from 4 to 6pm on Tuesday November 11.

The event will explore the theme of “remembrance and peace” with support and insights from students from the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour.

Visitors will be able to tour the cottage and view the exhibition explaining the signiﬁcance of the white poppy.

The moving sunset service will begin at 5pm and conclude at 6pm at the “going down of the sun”.

The timing matches the time the Armistice was signed in 1918 –11am in France was 6pm

two years in Gaza.”

Of the more than one million children in Gaza 20,000 had lost at least one or both parents, and 4000 children had lost at least one limb.

“They deserve to grow up to have dreams about a future the same as our children do,” she said.

Dr Heaney said the United Nations had begged that at least 600 trucks of aid would get in to Gaza every day during the ceaseﬁre, the minimum needed to treat starvation.

“But in the past 10 days an average of 90 trucks a day has been allowed in,” she said.

Former Australian of the Year and renowned child health epidemiologist Professor Fiona Stanley said 100% of children and families in Gaza were damaged by war and would suffer post-traumatic stress for the rest of their lives. They urgently needed medical care, water, nutrition and housing.

Anaesthetist Dr David Borshoff said Perth Doctors for Medical Aid for Palestine started in March 2024 with ﬁve members, to advocate, raise awareness and raise money for the people of Gaza. Before Saturday they had raised $300,000.

“I can’t tell you how

much it has lifted our spirits to have so many artists in Australia and overseas contribute to this evening,” he said.

“I spent some time last year on the West Bank. I made friends and realised how we all as health care workers and as humans want to just live our best life, be kind and move forward.

Bowling

The 1916 cottage built for a returned soldier and his family.

in Perth.

Entry is free to this memorial event with refreshments available for a gold coin donation. Bookings are not required.

For more information phone Anne on 0411 445 582 or email chapan@ highway1.com.au.

Anzac Cottage is managed by the National Trust, and is at 38 Kalgoorlie Street, Mt Hawthorn.

Cambridge

There was no play on Monday and Friday last week, due to bad weather.

Wednesday October 22: Fours winners Zoe Hewitt-Dutton, Rosemary Goddard, Ann Strack and Elizabeth Morrissey. 1st Phil Werrett, Andrew Flack and Chuck Belotte; 2nd Gavin Arrow, Jay Medhat and Dae Miller.

Saturday October 26: 1st Steve Parsons, Yogi Shah and Ted Delaney; 2nd Brian Dick and Jay Medhat.

Book now for the Melbourne Cup as places are running out.

Ladies Pennants will be played at home on Wednesday, November 5, against Warwick. The list is up for ladies wishing to play in the triples.

Bookings for dining on Friday evenings can be made with club manager Ross Bolton.

Dalkeith Nedlands

The pennants season has begun with men’s games on Thursday and Saturday. Thursday October 24: Only two points went the club’s way over the three divisions.

Saturday: 4th Division Blue (1) earned all eight points. The best performed rink was Ron Stapleton, Alan Pitman, John Shaw

Hollywood Subiaco

On Thursday October 23

2Gold hosted Doubleview. David Allport, Milton Byass, Tony Byrne and Rob Campbell were trailing 17-20 on the 20th end when skipper Rob put his last two bowls on the jack to clinch the draw 20-20. George Savage, Dot Leeson, George Sterpini and Glen Morey won 23-14 while Mike Basford, Craig Hirsch, Jim West and Mike Hatch lost 18-20.

On Saturday 2Gold hosted Warwick. David Allport, Chris Litchﬁeld, Tony Byrne and Dan Byrne cruised home 27-17; Billy Gerlach, Mike Basford, Milton Byass and Mike Hatch won 19-15; Craig Hirsch, Dot Leeson, Stuart Porter and Rob Campbell won 23-17; and George Savage, Jim West, George Sterpini and Glen Morey won 19-14.

Meanwhile, 5Gold travelled to Mosman Park. Ron Palmer, Paul Scales and Ron Middleton went down 14-24; Alan Evans, Colin Graves, Ray Fells and Jannette Middleton lost 10-19; and Josh Aislabie, Mark Perrerson, David Leeson and Beck Byrne lost 12-20.

“It’s been very distressing seeing some of the images that we see coming out of Gaza and the Middle East. Watching colleagues targeted, health care infrastructure targeted, and many innocent men, women and children that have been caught up in this. It’s been traumatic for all of us.”

Palestinian Christian

Thursday October 23: The 2025/2026 pennants season began with a win for Lake Monger’s Monsters over Warwick 49-46. Greg Parker, Arthur Sharp Jr, Richard Harper and Brett Parker won by 2 shots, as did Gavin Powell, Barrie Parker, Alan Carter and skipper Ron Ansett.

Lake Monger Monsters 4th Division was defeated away against Warwick by a signiﬁcant 27 shots. The only excitement for Lake Monger was the dugite that tried to interfere in the game.

On Saturday, Morley proved stronger than Lake Monger, which lost by 2 shots. Brett Parker, Greg Parker, John Hall and Greg Bell won by 16 shots. Gavin Powell, Adam Barnes, Alan Carter played well with skipper Ron Ansett, winning by 5 shots. Jim Spencer’s team lost by 6 shots.

Lake Monger’s 4th Division drove to Mundaring and was defeated by 15 shots. Peter Hill, Bevan Chittleborough, Helen Donovan and Roy Sturges had a 3-shot win after a magniﬁcent comeback. Terry Mahoney, Ian Thomson, Andrew McLean and Max Andrews won by 8 shots. The teams skippered by Greg Radalj and Bill Woodland were less lucky.

Lake Monger Recreation Club teams play Thursday and Saturday afternoons at 144 Gregory Street, Wembley. For more information phone 9387 2636.

John Na’em Snobar from the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund said his organisation was raising money for medical missions and equipment for Gaza. For more information about Perth Doctors for Medical Aid for Palestine or the remaining artworks for sale email perthdoctorsmedicalaid@gmail.com.

It was an ignoble start to the pennants season for most Mosman Park teams last week, due to player absence.

Saturday October 25 open gender teams won; 3rd division White defeated Como 6-2; both 5th division teams won: White defeated Warnbro 5-2; Gold defeated Hollywood 6-0. Midweek team men’s 1st division North defeated Dalkeith. The men’s 100UP competition started on Sunday and will continue this Sunday.

Mahjong is on Thursdays 9 to 11am, with only social membership required to

Last Saturday, October 25, a total of 32 members vied for points in the President’s Cup. Peter Cheyne won the day and John Exeter, Guy Soubeyran, Ian Russell-Brown, Andre Gouttenoire, Emma Isliker and Rob Dunlop were also prizewinners. The club will hold another round of the President’s Cup this Saturday, November 1. Visitors are welcome on Saturdays and Wednesdays. For more information visit petanquesubiaco.com for details.

Mosman Park

Subiaco Pétanque

Lake Monger

and Ross MacKenzie with a margin of 22 shots. 1st Division Blue two points. 4th Division Blue (2) one point.

pq play.

David Borshoﬀ, right. It was auctioned by Ray White CEO Mark Whiteman, selling for $700.

84 Millbrook Road, Yallingup

Oﬀers By

With panoramic valley views and an architectural presence to match, this brand-new residence deﬁnes modern luxury. A private wine room, second living space with kitchenette, and a 25-metre magnesium lap pool showcase the home’s uncompromising attention to design and detail.

250 Brash Road, Yallingup

Oﬀers

and

Yallingup property celebrates

and

Former CEO sues Nedlands

By Nadia Budihardjo

Former Nedlands CEO

Bill Parker has sued the City for defamation over comments published on its website last year about its failed 2023 audit.

Mr Parker issued a writ last month alleging Nedlands published material on its website which had defamatory imputations against him and caused him reputational damage, hurt and distress.

He claimed the imputations were made in a Nedlands media release and report about the Ofﬁce of Auditor General’s rejection of its audit, which was published in October 2024.

The OAG did not grade the Nedlands 2022-23 audit and found the local government submitted insufﬁcient evidence without compete

and accurate financial records.

These findings were compiled in the OAG’s Local Government 202223 ﬁnancial audit results report, which was tabled in state parliament in June 2024.

Nedlands published a media release in October 2024 titled “Root causes of OAG rejection of the City of Nedlands 2023 audit”.

Mr Parker claimed, in the writ, damages and an injunction to force Nedlands to remove the media release and report from its website.

Want trusted news, data and insights on the WA business community? Scan the QR code and register for a free trial

He joined Nedlands as interim CEO in 2021 but resigned two years later to become Wanneroo CEO and was replaced by former Cambridge mayor Keri Shannon.

Ms Shannon is now on indeﬁnite leave after leaving suddenly after a performance review conducted by the City commissioners. Nedlands has been plagued by turmoil and was suspended by Local Government Minister

Former WA Planning Commission chairman David Caddy, former REIWA CEO Cath Hart, and former Stirling deputy mayor Bianca Sandri are running Nedlands as commissioners.

Arts chief resigns

By Ella Loneragan

the best,” she said.

“We have appointed a brilliant new acting executive director, Ann Tonks, and have also welcomed the return of Kelly Reid as operations manager.”

The general manager role replaced the chief executive position, which was held by Tania Hudson until she resigned in April.

Business News revealed in March that the

Victory hires former Trump staffer

By Justin Fris

Critical minerals business

Victory Metals has appointed Emma Doyle, a former Donald Trump staffer, as a senior adviser.

Ms Doyle, who worked as President Trump’s deputy chief of staff between 2018 and 2020 – during his ﬁrst term in ofﬁce – will lead the Subiaco junior’s strategic engagement in the US.

She has had 15 years of experience within the Republican Party framework, and has worked closely with former Australian

treasurer and current Perth Bears board member Joe Hockey as a senior adviser for his company, Bondi Partners, which was formed in 2020.

Another senior adviser within the Bondi Partners stable is former WA premier Mark McGowan.

Victory boss Brendan Clark said Ms Doyle’s appointment would give the miner a strong insight into gaining further trac-

tion with the US.

The appointment comes after the US and Australia last week announced a joint investment towards establishing a solid rare earth and critical mineral supply chain.

“I met with Emma earlier this year in Washington and was inspired by her energy, passion and knowledge,” Mr Clark said.

“Emma’s engagement signals that Victory Metals is not just

The POST targets 112,000 local people each week.

Art and the community

“I want to focus on art and friendship,” said Swanbourne artist Cher van Schouwen as she prepared for her ﬁrst solo exhibition in over a decade. She said her latest work, collectively titled Emergence, was a celebration of creativity, colour and community.

Community has always been at the heart of Cher’s art career.

When the South Africanborn interior designer, artist and art teacher arrived in Perth she began teaching art informally, and in 2016 she took over Leon Pericles’ old studio in Mosman Park (now Open Books) and turned it into an art collective called Studio 124.

She brought the community together for exhibition and art classes.

But in November last year Cher turned 50 and decided it was time to focus on herself and her art.

Although she admits it had been tough not working, her “gap” year has allowed her the time to take a group on an art retreat in Kastellorizo, Greece, and time to focus on her own art, working out of a large, sunny studio in West Leederville.

Cher is known for her vibrant portraits, whimsical ﬂorals, and richly textured still life, but her new body of work marks a shift to Australian landscapes.

“I completely surprised myself,” Cher said.

“Something about the Australian landscape just lit something up in me.

“This collection is about everything I love – courage, colour, connection, family, femininity, rhythm and soul.”

Emergence is showing at

Gallery 360, 176 Railway Parade in West Leederville, from November 7 to 22.

A special VIP opening night on Thursday, November 6, will raise money for Perth charity, Homeless Healthcare.

“It isn’t just about celebrating art,” Cher said.

“It’s about showing up for others.”

to prepare for a new solo exhibition.Photo:

Swing to a real jazz fusion

In a unique international collaboration, 18 young musicians from Perth and Tokyo will come together for SHOWAYJO.

Twelve jazz musicians of WA Youth Jazz Orchestra, six of whom represented Australia on tour in Tokyo in September, perform with six students from Japan’s prestigious

Showa University of Music. Under the direction of Gemma Farrell and Masa Ikeda, this unique ensemble will deliver a swinging hour of classic big band repertoire. They perform at the Ellington Jazz Club this Sunday, November 2, from 6pm. ■ Book through ellingtonjazz.com.au.

■ Art teacher Cher van Schouwen took a gap year

Paul McGovern

SARAH McNEILL

Mind your pees and queues

SARAH McNEILL

It might have a whiff of unpleasantness, but the title of the musical Urinetown makes sense when you see it, according to producer Amy Fortnum.

The satirical Tony Award-winning musical is set in a town gripped by a catastrophic water shortage. As amenities dry up, even the most basic human rights are privatised – including the right to pee. When one man leads a rebellion against the corporate-controlled toilets, chaos ensues.

“It was originally performed for the New York Fringe in 2001,” Amy said, “It went on to Broadway, and won three Tony Awards for its sharp, clever wit and political commentary, but also for its satirical score which subverts popular musicals like Les Miserables, West Side Story and even Fiddler on the Roof.

“Now the themes of privatisation, corporate greed and climate change have become more relevant than ever.”

Amy graduated from the WA Academy of Performing Arts in classical voice and musical theatre, to write and perform her own cabarets, but said she also discovered a love of spreadsheets.

“I love being a producer and being able to give jobs to my talented friends,” she said.

She is producing Urinetown for Western Sky Projects at Liberty Theatre with a cast of 18 local musical theatre performers directed by Andrew Baker, and a live ﬁve-piece band with musical direction by Taui Pinker.

A special kind of loss

■ Urinetown performs at the Liberty on Barrack Street, Perth, from November 7 to 15. Book through www.trybooking.com/DBHAY.

Coping in the wake of enormous loss is at the bruised heart of Twinless, a darkly funny comedy of dysfunction from American writer-director James Sweeney.

The ﬁlm centres on Roman (Dylan O’Brien), who at the outset is angrily dealing with his mother (Lauren Graham) after the shock death of his identical twin brother Rocky, in Portland, Oregon – a long

British comedian John Cleese has always had a sharp, acerbic side.

Of the new documentary, John Cleese Packs It In, which followed the 85-year-old’s international theatre tour, he says: “For the ﬁrst time, audiences will see a different side to me – not just the dashing, devil-may-care, devastat-

I got engaged a month ago.

When my ﬁance and I were just friends, his mother had no problem with me. But as our relationship grew, she became involved with his everyday life.

Though my ﬁance denies it, she started poking her nose into our relationship.

She tried to limit our time together, with silly requests like: “I want to buy plants for the garden. I don’t want to go alone.” She would invite herself to dinner or join us on day trips.

As he spent more and

way from their home in Idaho.

Shattered, he and ﬁnds himself in a support group for people who have lost their twin. It’s there he meets Dennis (director Sweeney), a witty smartarse who is also kind of sweet, and the pair develop a fast friendship.

Roman, who’s straight, feels a particular kinship because Dennis is openly gay, like Rocky. And he’s used to the way Dennis is smart and conﬁdent just like Rocky was – the yin to Roman’s shy, guilelessly dim-witted yang.

All this plays out in an incredibly lengthy title sequence that by the time the title credits arrive you’ve forgotten they hadn’t played already, and at which point Sweeney pulls out the rug. The whole thing turns into something different entirely.

The less said the better.

What Sweeney excels at, in addition to penning some wonderfully deadpan dialogue, is crafting a story that speaks to what it is today to be a young, lonely man, deeply in need of the kind of steadfast

Say cheese, Cleese

ingly handsome bon viveur, but also the decrepit, addled, nasty old geriatric that my PR team work day and night to hide from the public.”

It is a backstage view of Cleese reﬂecting on 60 years of subversive, black comedy and struggling through a 23-city European tour in six weeks.

John Cleese Packs It In is a wry, behind-the-scenes portrait of a comedy legend on the road, showing at Luna Leederville on November 7, 9 and 10 and at Windsor Cinema on November 6, 9 and 10.

connection that being a twin must provide.

Sweeney saddles himself with the most difficult role, and is a testament to his confidence both as writer and performer. But this is really O’Brien’s film. He expertly characterises both Roman, and in flashback, Rocky, so you fully invest in them being completely different people.

Twinless is as charming as it is twisted. Sweeney means to throw you offbalance, and he does. You’ll likely squirm as many times as you laugh.

more time at my house, his mother got more and more demanding and meaner towards me. She’s an angel to me when he is there, but an absolute bitch when we are alone.

According to him, everything his mother does is done with good intentions. How do I get her to let go?

Heloise

Heloise, more than a century ago William James spoke of the “psychologist’s fallacy”.

What he meant was we

think what is true of our mind is true of someone else’s.

You believe a man should be free to live his own life.

She may think: “He’s my son, he came out of my body, he’s part of me, he extends my reach.”

Your ﬁance hears her remarks as help and suggestions. He doesn’t want to see his mother as a problem. If you press the point, he may think the problem is you.

You’ve reached the limit of what you can take, and you are not even married. If you think things are bad now, wait until children come along. In the complaints we get about mothers-in-law, there is always one key –the man.

If he wants you in the position of wife, things will work out; if he has an exaggerated view of his mother’s role in his life, no younger woman will change his mind, much less change hers.

Wayne & Tamara

■ Urinetown: A comedy of corporatisation and privatisation.

■ Devastated twin Roman (Dylan O’Brien) ﬁnds an afﬁnity with new friend Dennis (James Sweeney).

Twinless (MA15+)

REVIEW: PIER LEACH

■ Right: John Cleese, 85, was ﬁlmed on what he reckons may be his last live tour.

Rodmusic Productions Presents

Federation classic

Category 1 heritage listing with Claremont council.

This elegant two-storey home has been a feature of Saladin Street for almost 120 years, placed in the middle of a large block with sweeping views to the coast.

The east-facing facade of 11 Saladin Street has undeniable Australian charm, but the home’s true beauty is revealed when you see the original “front” of the home, which takes pride of place at the top of Otway Street.

There, the weatherboard romance will sweep you off your feet, with its detailed fretwork, gorgeous verandas and charismatic bay windows.

Thanks to past residents John and Ray Oldham, the elegant house has a

John was a pioneering landscape architect, garden historian and conservationist, who received an Order of Australia in 1989.

His wife, Ray, was a journalist, author and heritage advocate.

Daughter Tish Oldham said the home, which has soaring ceilings and lightﬁlled living rooms, was used to promote Perth in a ﬁlm for the Empire Games in 1962.

Tish said the house was full of memories, brought back by creaking steps on the twisting timber staircase that leads up to the three spacious upstairs bedrooms.

“When we came home late, we used to sneak up it when my dad snored,” she said.

“We would take one step on a snore and then wait.”

The property includes a separate 3x1 two-storey

studio apartment and a renovated railway carriage studio.

Part of the 1644sq.m block has been separated by a fence but it is included in the sale.

Agent Cam McGregor said the likely buyers would be a family who would nurture the heritage

element of the property and add their own story to it.

– JEN REWELL

■ The elegant Federation Queen Anne-style of architecture is on show at the rear of the house, which backs onto Otway Street.

■ A staircase with turned balusters leads up to the top floor with three bedrooms and a bathroom.

SUBIACO 12/76 Subiaco Road

An investor bought this onebedroom apartment which is advertised for rent at $550 a week.

AGENT: Shane Garrett, Acton | Belle.

■ The curved kitchen benchtop is the centrepiece of the main living area that becomes one large indoor-outdoor entertaining spac

Palm Springs, studio vibe

Park,” Meaghan said.

Architect Meaghan

White dug deep into her suppliers’ catalogues to create a home that seamlessly combines contemporary minimalism with mid-century style.

A long list of high-end materials such as polished concrete ﬂoors and ceilings, curved cedar wall panels and brushed brass taps all contribute to a look that is part Palm Springs, part warehouse studio.

Builder Adrian Zorzi brought the plans to life.

“It was inspired by the great modernist aesthetic of the 50s and 60s that is

“I was after something quite clean and neutral to draw in the parkland setting, water views and provide an interior environment for art and furniture to really pop and let an owner’s personality shine.”

The house is on a 431sq.m block at the top of Owston Street, opposite Mosman Park golf course and EG Smith Field Reserve.

The interesting design, view of greenery and the location near the Mosman Park shopping strip drew the owners to the home.

“When we ﬁrst moved back to Perth during COVID, we were craving open spaces so Owston Street really fitted the bill,” the owner said.

“With the beautiful

road, it really felt like the outside was inside and after being in lockdown for so long that felt heavenly.”

There are many architectural features, ranging from round windows to bricks laid in a diagonal pattern to a dramatic steel staircase.

$1.8million COTTESLOE

31 Lexcen Close

A road reserve separates this three-bedroom and onebathroom character house from Curtin Avenue.

AGENT: Scott Fletcher, Acton | Belle Property.

$4.6million DALKEITH

5 Haig Road

There are four bedrooms and three bathrooms in this two-storey home around the corner from Jutland Parade.

AGENT: Vivien Yap, Ray White Dalkeith Claremont.

But what the owner loves the most about her

“My favourite part is the tree you can see out the window of the main bedroom,” she said.

“It is so peaceful lying in bed with a good book and watching the tree sway.”

Whether it’s casual dinners around the curved kitchen bench or cocktail parties on the rooftop terrace, the house is ideal for entertaining.

“We have hosted many beautiful lunches and dinners, and it has been very handy having a butler’s pantry,” she said. “We

could hide all the mess so the kitchen still looked lovely and clean.

“In summer, we open the huge glass doors so that our kids, and guests alike, can move from inside to the back garden and pool seamlessly.”

32 Riley Road

All three bedrooms are upstairs and there is a study on the ground ﬂoor.

Properties of this size –2024sq.m – are hard to come by in this pocket near the river.

AGENT: Susan James, DUET Property Group.

Out of town?

Read the full edition online.

■ A round window, flat roof and mature dragon tree give the architect-designed house a Palm Springs aesthetic.

■ “It was our bricklayers’ worst nightmare, but they were dedicated to their craft and made it happen,” architect Meaghan White said about the staggered bricks in the alfresco area.

■ There are views of park, golf course and Fremantle Harbour from the rooftop terrace, which has a barbecue.

View of golf course, reserve Elegant curved walls

Cash and karri – the tree came ﬁrst

Don’t hold your horses, dive in

The chance of landing on Mayfair Street in Monopoly is low due the property’s location on the board, according to fans of the game. The most expensive street on the board is coveted because of its high rent. Your chances of landing on 21 Mayfair Street, West Perth, are much higher – just put your hand up at the auction on December 4 The heritage-listed property is one of Perth’s last surviving heritage stables. The stables served as private equine storage at a time when West Perth was a prestigious residential district. Built from 1898, the standalone structure is expected to sell for above $1million, according to agent Brett Wilkins of Ray White. There is 115sq.m of internal space in the building, which has been used as a cafe, bar and consulting rooms. Property records show the 198sq.m property last sold for $121,000 in . Phone 0478 611 168.

Poet Kahlil Gibran described trees as poems that the earth writes upon the sky, and WA’s South-West has produced few things more beautiful than the mighty karri tree, with its coloured peeling bark and ghostly towering branches that light up in the setting sun. A magnificent karri thought to be two centuries old sits in the middle of a 2217sq.m bush block in Margaret River. A previous owner of the property at 13 Karri Loop couldn’t bear to fell it to build his dream home, so he engaged Italian-Australian architecture studio Morq to come up with a solution. The studio designed the house around the tree, creating irregularlyshaped courtyards to protect it and two significant marri trees. Steel tripod footings that had to be dug by hand were positioned so as not to interfere with the roots. A downpipe irrigation system ensures that roots under the footprint get the same distribution of water as they would otherwise have had. Plywood wall linings and exposed timber

beams draw on the forest theme, respectfully complementing the home’s setting. Morq’s design was a hit with critics, earning it a swag of awards. Now has hit the market, and it is bound to attract interest from those looking for an upmarket holiday house or permanent dwelling in a lush and tranquil setting. For more details, phone Paul Manners of Space Real Estate, on 0448 900 838.

Rare gem in Shenton Park Auctions are in the DNA of Ray White, which dominates the auction market in the western suburbs. In 1902, the group’s eponymous founder began auctioning everything from machinery to cars of properties for sale. “It is the from developers but also from

■ Young families and developers have shown interest in this Shenton Park character home due to be auctioned next Saturday, November 8.

■ Here is a rare chance to get your hands on Margaret River’s Karri Loop House, which was built around a karri tree believed to be 200 years old. ■

16 Phillips Street

From $1,995,000

The heritage-listed former railway barracks was a “dusty diamond” when Jeff and Danni Sheahan bought the property in 2010. It was built in the 1950s to accommodate shift workers on the WA Government Railways.

“It looked sad with fading paint, no garden, lots of dust, no people and no life,” the couple said. The retired teachers took three years to transform it into Bridgetown Valley Lodge, with nine bedrooms and nine bathrooms. “We have welcomed thousands of guests, such as a German lady travelling the world, US ﬁlm crews and an English pilot on a Triumph motorbike,” they said.

16 Branksome Gardens

Offers by November 6

There is plenty of wow factor in this new home priced from $10million to $15million.

Agent Scott Swingler expects it to go to an international buyer, subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval, or a south City Beach resident looking for an upmarket upgrade without having to build it.

The U-shaped house wraps around a central pool and spa area which is the focus of the living area. A rooftop terrace looks out to

200 Marine Parade Offers

This beachfront house, on the corner of Vera View Parade, is opposite one of the best beaches in the metropolitan area, according to freelance journalist Fleur Bainger. It was No.2 on her list, behind Fremantle’s Bathers Beach. Agent Chris Shellabear calls it a lagoon in the marketing for the four-bedroom and three-bathroom house.

Fremantle firm Grounds Kent Architecture, which has designed resorts and hotels around the world, drew up the plans for the house on a 344sq.m site. A lap pool along one side of the home gives it a resort vibe, as does the landscaping. The best view is from the topfloor main bedroom which has a fireplace.

‘Living, breathing ecosystem’ AUCTION results

Denmark winemaker

and farmer Tony Ruse sold his Peppermint Grove investment property at auction last Saturday for $3.755million.

Established trees surround the four-bedroom and two-bathroom home at 115 Forrest Street.

Agent Jody Fewster of Ray White Cottesloe Mosman Park said there were four bidders for the 987sq.m property near the Grove Library.

Mr Ruse, owner of Silverstream Wines, said one of the many features of the home was the garden.

“The garden is incredible,” he said.

“It is not just the landscaping; it’s a living, breathing ecosystem carefully cultivated over years.

“A great wine starts with quality soil. We don’t use chemicals at the vineyard, and I’ve applied the same respect for natural systems here.”

In other results:

■ COTTESLOE

•116 Eric Street was snapped up before its auction for an undisclosed sum. Agent Daryl Cook, of Abode Real Estate, said he received a couple of offers before the auction, “enough to shut it down”.The 865sq.m property with development potential went to a buyer with property experience in Cottesloe. The ﬁve-bedroom and one-bathroom house has been in the Wild family since it was built in the 1920s. The prime development site has two street frontages, rear lane access and R60 zoning.

■ DALKEITH

•46 Gallop Road sold under the hammer for $5.35million. Four buyers put their hands up for the Georgian-style house on 1013sq.m. It was a sentimental day for the sellers who are moving to Melbourne to be closer to their children. Agent Tim Caporn, of Ray White Cottesloe Mosman Park, said he sold the land to the sellers 24 years ago. “Today was only the second time in 87 years that the property has been sold,” he said.

■ Scott Swingler 0403 344 649.

■ Alison Rutten 0421 477 818.

■ Agent Mark Whiteman looks for bids from the crowd at the auction of 115 Forrest Street, Peppermint Grove, below. The garden with mature trees was a big attraction of the house that fetched $3.755million.

■ A buyer with experience in Cottesloe property eliminated the competition by purchasing 116 Eric Street before its auction.

CABINETMAKING

Denco Renovations

Fergal on marathon life cycle

North Freo wants free buses

Locals say plans to absorb the heavy traffic from the old traffic bridge are inadequate.

• From page 9

to shift the travel habits of 20,000 people each day,” he said.

“What about a broader free transit zone, ferries to the city, bikes on train etc?”

A recent survey found a third of bridge users would switch to public transport and more would walk and cycle.

Dr Pettitt believes accommodating walkers and cyclists has been an underappreciated focus of the government’s trafﬁc strategy.

“The only new walking and cycling infrastructure to be delivered is a new path behind the bus stop at the intersection of Canning Highway and East Street,” he said.

“It is so underwhelming that they must have felt a little embarrassed putting this solitary example on paper.

“We need to give more than 20,000 people each day better travel options than trying to cross the one remaining bridge in their car.”

The government changes include 100 extra parking bays near Fremantle train station.

The Public Transport Authority said each extra bus could accommodate up to 82 passengers, while the trains could ﬁt 560 passengers.

“We know there will be disruption and congestion created by this bridge closure, but this comprehensive package of initiatives will help ease those impacts,”

• From page 6

He tried to get away and hide but the man found him and started to steal parts from his bike then ripped his trousers to get at the weakened cyclist’s wallet.

“We had a massive ﬁght” said Fergal, who had also badly hurt his hand and leg.

He managed to get away and another car found him and took him to hospital.

“Everyone at the hospital was so apologetic and couldn’t believe that something like this would happen in their country,” he said. “So much kindness came from that one bad act.”

With footage of the incident from the camera on his bike police were able to identify and arrest the man who attacked him.

But they were also suspicious of a foreigner with hidden cameras and while he was being treated for his wounds, police investigated in case he might be a spy.

“Israel had bombed Tehran while I was in the country and tensions were very high, that was one time I did think ‘What am I in for here?” he said.

In China, secret police fol-

lowed him everywhere apart from a 300km stretch through No Man’s Land in a massive desert region.

He ran out of food and water several times but someone friendly always appeared from nowhere to provide help.

“Wherever you are in the world there is always someone ready to help you if you need it,” he said.

“I’m on a road all the time and if you are on a road you’re never that far from civilisation.

“Even on the most rural roads I’ve been on this journey a car goes by at least twice a day.

“The world is a generous place and I’m testimony to that, it’s amazing how far hopeless optimism gets you.”

Nineteen months after he set off on what he predicted would be an 11-month trip, Fergal will spend some time in Perth before ﬁnishing the rest of his journey by Christmas.

His sister has worked here as a doctor for three years and has started a family in West Perth.

Their parents ﬂew in from Ireland recently to surprise Fergal and see their new grandchild for an emotional family reunion.

Scotch keeps M Block history

M Block was, which was a large, intrusive old building right up against the [Shenton Road] setback.

“This creates about 540sq.m in more open space for the students.”

Three of the six neighbours approached by Claremont said the new building would be too high. The other three did not respond.

Claremont conceded that the plans were four metres over the height limit but would make an exemption based on the heritage beneﬁts.

“The development complies with planning requirements except for building height, which requires discretion to be exercised,” the Town ofﬁcer’s report said.

According to Local Planning Strategy regulation 12, a council can vary any site requirements

to facilitate the heritage beneﬁts of places listed on the State Register of Heritage Places.

Councillors agreed that the new administration building would blend in with the Shenton Road streetscape, and the signiﬁcant setback would mitigate issues with its height.

“The building in question was particularly old and in need of re-

placement for a very long time,”

councillor Sara Franklyn said.

“This building should make it a more attractive campus for the school community and for neighbours, and I think it is a great addition to what is already a great school.”

Stage one works are under way, and tenders for further work should go out this week.

Call to cut Stirling names

• From page 5

It is not known how many Bindjareb people were killed – estimates range between 15 and 150.

The one colonial ofﬁcer who died was hit on the head, either by a thrown spear or by falling off his horse, and died two weeks later.

Premier Roger Cook said October 28 was an important day in the state’s history.

“Truth-telling is an important step on our journey to reconciliation,” he said.

Mr Fleay said reconciliation failed when it was reduced to a word or a process.

“History shows that truth, while necessary, is never sufﬁcient,” he said.

“We must learn the stories that were hidden, support the descendants of those whose ancestors were killed, and reimagine our relationship to the land and to each other.”

Now, in many government primary schools, the Noongar seasons are celebrated and the national anthem is sung in both English and Noongar language.

In June, the name of Lake Monger (after a man who lived there for three years in the 1830s) was ofﬁcially changed to Galup, the traditional Noongar name for the area.

The settlement of the Swan

River by British colonists in 1828 was due in large part to Stirling’s enthusiasm and lobbying of politicians and private capitalists.

Many parts of Perth were named by him in his ﬁrst exploration in 1827; Ellen’s Brook, Mt Eliza, Canning River, Melville Water.

Stirling was governor from 1829 to 1839, when he left, never to return, and was in the navy until he retired to England in 1856.

The Perth-Fremantle Road was built by convicts from about 1850 and was gazetted as a public highway in 1881. It was named Stirling Highway in 1932.

Professor Len Collard said the Pinjarra massacre was noted as one of the “nasty” parts of history.

He told ABC Perth that Stirling had played a large role in setting up a system in which Noongar people were dislodged from their homelands and impoverished in an ongoing way by the state.

“The current Governor, who is a good man, is taking responsibility for the conduct of previous governors, and to me that is a noble gesture which tells us that there are good Australians out there, and people that want to set the record straight so we can live in a civil society,” he said.

Prof. Collard said the names

Readers flee next door

in the last ﬁnancial year.

“While the Bay View Community Centre is not a purpose-built library, the options for a library space within the Town were limited,” they said.

Despite the smaller building, the same services remained available, and there had been an increase in residents at library workshops.

“In support of a growing community, council is looking at options for a future community centre, which has the potential to include a purpose-built library space,” the spokesperson said.

Peppermint Grove president Karen Farley said merging of library services would be an opportunity for Claremont to provide better service to its

residents.

“But I understand it’s a minimalist library, to the extent that they are still able to say that they provide library service, but that’s about it,” she said.

“The overarching guide rules are that if you’re a library member in the state, you can go to whatever library you want and get whatever you need.

“Libraries are free, but the infrastructure was contributed to by the councils, and the management is paid for by the councils, so it’s not free – the service is free, but there’s a cost.”

The Grove Library is jointly owned by neighbouring Mosman Park and Cottesloe councils, which contribute annually to the costs.

Mosman Park contributed $18,073 while Cottesloe put in $15,710 last ﬁnancial year.

Parking fine blows by $2000

Mosman Park senior ranger Trevor Jones, who issued the infringement notice, said he knocked on the home’s door after receiving a complaint from a nearby resident but received no answer.

“I could hear power tools inside,” he said.

“If you had been there I would have given you the option to move it.”

Mr Randazzo said it appeared from photos that someone using a wheelchair or walking frame would not be able to get around the parked vehicle.

“My father himself uses a

stick and he could have got around that, no problem,” Mr Evans said.

Mr Randazzo said the council’s parking laws had to be complied with, even if they were impractical for tradesmen.

“If it’s a poor law, a terrible law, a law that is at the borders of not being able to be complied with, the mechanism in this country, in terms of the democracy in which we live, is you change the law,” he said. He upheld the council’s $125 ﬁne and ordered Mr Evans to pay $2000 of the council’s legal costs.

Zempilas reins in Huston

• From page 3

to fellow Liberals, and he needed to talk to Mr Huston about it, he told ABC radio.

Mr Huston, who took the seat of Nedlands from Labor at the March election, is shadow minister for deregulation; small business; public sector reform and veterans.

Mr Zempilas said he should not speak about matters outside his portfolio without going through the party processes.

of “redcoats” were plastered all over the country and were a reminder of people who had acted in uncivilised and barbaric ways.

“In modern Australia, we need to reﬂect and ask why have we got mass murderers’ names on highways and byways and ranges?

“Where are we as a nation?”

He said he was keen to see Mr Huston demonstrate that he understood the team approach.

“Ideas can come to the party room to be discussed,” he said.

“It has to be done in the right way. Jonathan accepts that it wasn’t done in the right way, but it will be done in the right way next time.”

The AUKUS deal between the US, UK and Australia, and the stationing of subs at Garden Island, is strongly supported by both major parties after it was signed by former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison.

Mr Huston’s paper, AUKUS: The Case Against, says that as well as making the base a target, the $368billion price tag was stripping other areas of our defence forces of much needed support and equipment.

“AUKUS was sold as a technological leap,” he said. “In truth, it’s a long and costly crawl. We will not see the ﬁrst nuclear submarine under Australian command for decades.

“By the time we build it, the strategic environment may have changed entirely. The submarines of the future may not even need crews.”

Pensioner to be chased beyond grave

• From page 1

“If the Town is successful will it send the bailiff to Ms Lemmey’s house to seize her assets?”

Resident Mike Ansell threatened to organise a public protest at the Mosman Park chambers if the council did not reverse its stance.

“The Town made a mistake, and the Town should therefore suck it up and write off the outstanding amount,” he said at this week’s council meeting.

“We cannot have a situation whereby public servants fail to manage the public purse and then expect the public to pay the price for it down the track.

“It’s bad enough that the Town made these errors to start with, but to compound that by pursuing individuals is totally unacceptable and fails at any pub test you might like to come up with.

“If this issue requires a public

demonstration to be organised outside these chambers in order to persuade you to do the right thing [I’m] happy to oblige.”

Mr Shaw apologised for Mosman Park’s error in not informing Ms Lemmey of the outstanding rates when she settled the house sale, but claimed she should have received four rate notices that included deferred amounts.

“When we gave Ms Lemmey and her agents incorrect information at the settlement of her property, the council made a mistake, and that’s a signiﬁcant mistake,” he said.

“We understand that that would not only be annoying and quite possibly upsetting, and we sincerely apologise for that.

“[But] we know that there were at least four rate notices where she was informed that she had deferred rates.”

Mr Shaw called the automatic

rate deferral system a partial opt-in safeguard for elderly West Australians.

“It only applies if you register to be a pensioner, you need to actively do that, and then if you don’t pay your rates by a certain designated date, you automatically have your rates deferred,” he said.

“It is not the Mosman Park system, it is the state government’s system.”

Ms Lemmey denied she had failed to pay the rates at any stage during her time at Glenn Avenue.

“What four bills did he send me?” she said.

“If someone sends them, I would have paid them.

“It shouldn’t even be about my health, but about my integrity.

“I was not struggling to afford them. I don’t know if anyone has checked my credit history, but I have never owed a penny in my life.”

• From page 7

• From page 3

A render of the new three-storey Scotch College admin building.

The historic M Block, above, was beyond saving and was demolished in 2024 for a redevelopment, right.

Todd inspired

12 select years

THE Sporting

John townsend

John Todd’s spirit was with me last week.

Toddy was a giant of WA football.

A phenomenally-talented 17-year-old when he became the youngest player to win a Sandover Medal, a cruel knee injury at 18 curtailed what he considered, as did plenty of sound judges, his inevitable ascension as the greatest footballer the game would ever see.

Driven by that shattering reality, he became the most ruthless coach, who would do anything to win.

He did much of the former and more of the latter than anyone else in WA history.

Despite vast differences in our backgrounds, talent, philosophies and proﬁle, Toddy and I hit it off during our decade together as selectors on the WA Football Hall of Fame.

“We JTs need to stick together,” he told me after our rough but memorable ﬁrst meeting. “You will ﬁnd they are all out to get us.”

Toddy died on the morning of our selection meeting last year, with the news being relayed as we ﬁnalised the 2024 crop of inductees.

Selection for the latest group was held last week and, being my last meeting after 12 years, warranted some reﬂection on the characters encountered and debated over that long period.

There was a thank-you to former reporter, author and publisher Alan East, whose newspaper Westside Football was a staple for footy players, administrators and supporters for 17 years.

“Stumpy” East was somewhat irascible at times, particularly close to deadline or if you committed the mortal sin of saying someone “booted” a goal in a story for his pages, but he was a passionate, inﬂuential and generous football identity who employed more media people than just about any editor in

the game.

He was my predecessor as a Hall of Fame selector with a specialist media background and it was his recommendation that led to then WA Football Commission chairman Frank Cooper phoning me one day in 2013 and inviting me to join the panel.

was, it was an irresistible chance to sit alongside Todd, fellow official WA legend Denis Marshall, five-time premiership winner Mal Atwell, Ken “Medals” McAullay whose remarkable 1972 year – East Perth premiership, All-Australian selection, Tassie and multiple Simpson medals AND two Sheffield Shields as an opening batsman – remains the zenith for any WA athlete, the astute and incisive Brian Sierakowski, the incomparable Dennis Cometti, and forensic historian Dave Clement who had attended every WAFL grand final since World War II.

the instantaneous artillery barrage from across the table.

“What would you know?” Todd barked. “Warren Ralph couldn’t play. He never kicked a goal in a grand ﬁnal. What are you doing here if you are going to come up with selections like that? You might as well leave the room now and save everyone some time.”

It was a brutal inquisition, and almost unimaginable only a decade or so later.

If it was a thrill to be in the room with those singular individuals discussing and debating with intimate knowledge WA’s greatest-ever footballers, the feeling evaporated about three seconds after I opened my mouth for the ﬁrst time.

The protocol was to go around the table to enable every selector to nominate one candidate with the 10 or so names forming an initial list for debate.

My nominee was Warren Ralph, the 1980s Claremont and Carlton full-forward who was the most spectacular exponent of his specialist craft during the highest-scoring period in the game’s history.

I didn’t necessarily expect the other selectors to back my

Winmar statue a delicate dilemma

WA football, the State Government and Perth Stadium may need to confront an ugly truth at some point soon.

Nicky Winmar has a statue outside the ground to reﬂ his courageous personal stance against racism that was manifested in him lifting his jumper after a Collingwood game and pointing to his skin.

“I’m black and I’m proud,” was his simple but eloquent response to horriﬁc racist abuse. It was a poignant and powerful moment in Australia’s often tortuous reconciliation journey.

I knew, in theory at least, that it was a Todd principle to test the mettle of everyone he encountered.

It was an inexact science, and he came to regret his methods as he looked back late in life, but he believed that by using brutal words and demanding

strong would thrive and the weak succumb.

And he wanted to know well before grand ﬁnal day which player was which.

I might have had an inkling about the theory, but that hardly prepared me for the reality of a verbal onslaught that parted my hair and caused the people sitting alongside to shufﬂe their chairs away in case they were caught in the line of ﬁre.

Still, I had prepared a Ralph dossier and tried to thaw the freezing pit of wriggling snakes in my guts long enough to provide a coherent response.

“I guess it was like when you were ﬁrst picked, John,” I stuttered. “I didn’t get to pick me but someone did and I presume

We JTs need to stick together. You will ﬁnd they are all out to get us.

they saw something to make that

“And Ralph kicked a few goals in grand finals, about 12 actually, about 50 in all finals and 12 lots of double figures in his career.”

It was tense but Frank Cooper then came to my rescue and urged the meeting to get back

What happened next will remain with me for the rest of my life.

Atwell was next to me and when Cooper looked at him, he responded with the stoniest

Toddy’s eyebrows shot up but Marshall was next. “Warren Ralph,” he said though given that between them they wore No.16 at Claremont 300 times, that was probably little surprise.

An echo and a large grin then came from Siera’s direction. And McAullay repeated the name before a disgusted sound reverberated across the table. ou’ve got me again,” Toddy muttered. “It’s always been like that.”

The best part of the whole episode came outside Subiaco Oval after the meeting when Todd, who had waited for me, came up, stuck out his hand and provided a warm handshake and even warmer words.

“Well done in there,” he said. “I think we might get on OK. You will discover they are all out to get us so we JTs need to stick together.”

And so it proved over the next decade when the game’s greatest ﬁgures were elevated to the Hall of Fame and the preceding discussion, about their skills and foibles, their history and character, their strengths and weaknesses, made for one of the most compelling days of the year.

Algae the price of scorched

Earth

surfing

with cameron bedford-brown

There’s something blooming in the ocean off the South Australian coastline and it’s not hope.

If you mistook it for a biblical omen, you’d be right.

It assaults your nose before you see it and it stings the eyes, causing respiratory problems as surfers at Waitpinga and Parsons beaches on the Fleurieu Peninsula discovered. A suffocating algal bloom spawning across the ocean like a planetary plague since mid-March 2025 has affected a quarter of the SA coast and grown to more than 4500 square kilometres in area.

Nicky Winmar’s statue at Perth Stadium could become the subject of intense scrutiny.

But WA-born and bred Winmar is now facing domestic violence charges with the chance of a jail term if he is found guilty.

Given the decision to strip Barry Cable of his vast football honours and effectively expunge his history over repugnant charges that were decided at

civil level, not as criminal matters, it would appear untenable for the Winmar statue to remain should he be found guilty. But what would that do for reconciliation and the considerable good that Winmar has done with his personal example?

And should a good cause be abandoned because of an individual blemish?

What we’re witnessing is an ocean obituary written in gunk and the foulest part is it’s a deep yellow neon green like the ocean’s excreting pus in real-time. It is like the sea is chundering up something it swallowed a few too many degrees ago. It seems that we’ve turned the planet’s thermostat up so high and leached so many chemicals into the ocean that it’s starting to rot.

The ocean is warmer, the nutrients too eager to spiral out of control and the result is a sea that foams with poison and oozes like a sebaceous cyst.

Is this the new norm? Brown foam seen on Glenelg beach in early October.

The bloom has impacted thousands of animals, including sharks, stingrays, sea lions and dolphins. The exact number is not known but more than 57,000 deaths across more than 400 species have been documented. And we are powerless to do anything about it.

It makes you wonder how many more dead creatures are lying on the sea ﬂoor and whether the planet is trying to ghost us before it goes full scorched Earth.

Is this the new norm, like

the heat dome over Antarctica or just a phase like the sixth extinction?

Meanwhile, the headlines read hottest day in 125,000 years, algae bloom visible from space and UN warns time running out.

So, what’s next? Hell ﬁre, a plague of frogs, swarms of locusts or three days of darkness?

Somewhere in South Australia a young surfer asks what the ocean used to look like while the bloom just lingers and the ocean chokes with silent judgment.

John Todd’s method was to test the mettle of his charges, as Swan Districts captain Brad Shine discovered, above. Todd and Denis Marshall, left, were official legends of WA football and Hall of Fame selectors.

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?:

Theodore Hamilton, Zari Spiccia, Daniella Fish.

The ghoulish and the good Spice Pumpkin Halloween Cake

Halloween night on October 31 was originally called All Hallows’ Eve, when all the ghouls and ghosts come out. The next day, November 1, was called All Saints’ Day when people remembered all the saints and people who have done good in the world. Here’s a recipe you can make look ghoulish but will taste great – and you can make some last for this week’s lunchbox.

WHAT TO DO:

Heat the oven to 180C. Oil two 20cm round cake tins. Combine the ﬂour, bicarb, spices and ½ tsp salt in a large bowl. In a second bowl, whisk the sugars, oil, eggs, pumpkin puree, milk and vanilla together. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, then whisk until smooth. Divide the batter between the tins and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

TO DECORATE:

For the ghosts, gently melt chocolate in the microwave or over a pan of simmering water. Line a baking tray with parchment. Make the ghosts by spooning a teaspoon of melted chocolate onto the parchment, then dragging the spoon through it to make the ghost’s tail. Chill for at least 30 minutes. Draw on eyes and mouths using the icing pen.

Q. What happened to the clown who went out with only half his face painted?

A. Not everyone saw the funny side!

The boys nailed it this week!

Our first main winner is James Czajko, 10, from City Beach. His mum suggested I would get a lot of Halloween drawings, but James’s scary Halloween clown was one of only a handful – and so well done it gave me the creeps.

Our other main winner is George Dodds, 9, from Nedlands,

who used the doodle to create an interesting bird’s-eye view of birds fishing on an archipelago. It is a clever idea, well executed. There were many other clever ideas, including Evie’s cat dreaming of fi sh, Sayuni’s delicious ramen bowl, Zara’s crab on the rocks, Zari’s really cute dog and Daniella’s octopus. I hope you all had a fun Halloween night.

Q. What do bats use to make cakes?

A. Batter!

Q. Why was Cinderella not very good at football?

A. Because her coach was a pumpkin!

Q. What musical instrument does a skeleton play?

A. A trom-bone!

WHAT YOU NEED: FOR THE CAKE

✔ 175ml vegetable oil

✔ 250g self-raising ﬂour

✔ 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

✔ 1 tsp ground cinnamon

✔ ½ tsp ground ginger

✔ ½ tsp ground nutmeg

✔ ½ tsp ground cloves

✔ 200g caster sugar

✔ 200g light brown soft sugar

✔ 3 eggs

✔ 250g pumpkin puree

✔ 150ml milk

✔ 1tsp vanilla extract

To make the icing, beat the soft cheese and butter together in a bowl until creamy and smooth. Gradually add the icing sugar and vanilla, beating until light and ﬂuffy. Divide the icing between two bowls.

Colour one with orange food colouring and the other with pink.

Tongue twister

Is this wristwatch a Swiss wristwatch? atch h?

FOR THE GHOSTS

✔ 200g white chocolate

✔ Black edible icing pen

✔ Mini gold moonand-star sprinkles (optional)

FOR THE ICING

✔ 200g soft cheese

✔ 175g unsalted butter softened

✔ 600g icing sugar

✔ 1 tsp vanilla extract

✔ Orange and pink food colouring

Once the cakes are completely cooled, spoon a dollop each of pink and orange icing on one cake, spread to the edges, then put the second sponge on top. Use a palette knife to dot blobs of the two icings over the cake, then spread evenly over the top and sides, creating a marbled effect. Gently press on the spooky ghosts and sprinkles. The cake will keep chilled in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

Q. Why did the clown keep staring at the carton of orange juice?

A. Because it read “concentrate”!

George Dodds (9)

James Czajko (10)

HomeOpen10:45amSat1stNov–11:20am

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