Road transport operators with diesel trucks made before 2003 will be able to reduce particle emissions by applying for assistance through the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).

The NSW Ports Diesel Retrofit Program aims to improve the air quality of older modelled trucks at no cost to the operators who use Port Botany, the Port of Newcastle, Port Kembla and the Cooks River Rail Yard.

Since October, the RMS has fitted particle traps to the exhausts of more than 529 trucks in an effort to reduce harmful emissions around Sydney.

The RMS estimates that 60 per cent of total particle emissions are from road transport and over 1,500 tonnes of those are being emitted in the metropolitan Sydney area each year. With air quality at risk, they are asking for more operators to volunteer for the initiative.

“There is a budget available this financial year for the devices to be fitted on the exhausts of up to 25 diesel trucks which use the ports,” an RMS spokesperson said.

The program was first launched in 2008 by the RTA (Roads and Traffic Authority) and ceased in 2010 before the current government decided to resume the program.

General Manager of Johnsons Transport, Mike Moylan, said the issue is not the program but the fact that it only helps vehicles older than 1 January, 2003, preventing many operators from benefitting.

“We were part of the program several years ago. Since then we have upgraded our trucks and aren’t eligible under the scheme. We meet current emission standards for all our vehicles,” he said.

Air quality is an important environmental issue affecting many in the community. Diesel emissions contain harmful pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide, which contributes to ground level ozone.

Vehicles manufactured after 2003, don’t release the amount of emissions as older vehicles do, and meet the current diesel emission standards, administrated by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.

A spokesperson for the Environment Minister, Robyn Parker, said the program is one of many undertaken by the state government to reduce pollution in NSW.

“The Ports Diesel Retrofit Program compliments the NSW Government’s Clean Machine Program which aims to reduce emissions in the Greater Metro Region.

The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) developed the Clean Machine Pilot Program that is aimed at reducing exposure to diesel exhaust emissions,” he said.

By SJ Malagre.

... taken from Trapping pollution one truck at a time

Australia’s Climate Change strategy was on the minds of politicians and public figures at Sydney’s Parliament House last Friday, April 27.

‘Beyond The Carbon Price’ saw speeches including former Liberal leader John Hewson, Australian Council of Trade Unions President Ged Kearney and ALP National President Jenny McAllister.

The night opened the 2012 Climate Action Summit weekend.

Mr Hewson said “I think responding appropriately to climate change is the single most important moral issue of this century”

... taken from Climate debate heating up

The world’s second largest festival will once again be spread across Sydney.

Head On Photo Festival will see 200 photographic events held at 100 venues from the CBD to Penrith.

“We have had a great response to the call for events,’ said Head On founder Moshe Rosenzveig.

‘We have spent many months sorting through the applications and are pleased to release a complete program that offers something for everyone. We have exhibitions focusing on a number of different
countries around the world as well as exhibitions that highlight various social issues such as gender stereotyping.”

The list of things to do includes open studios, workshops and outdoor exhibitions.

‘This year we have been approached by various photographers from around the globe who are keen to take part in Head On,’ said Ms Rosenzveig.

‘We will have specialist photographic presenters from America, India and Russia alongside our very own top Australian photographers.’

Photo-media Artist Rowena Hall will bring her first solo exhibition, History Bearing, to Head On.

“The Festival offers Sydney a unique chance to experience the richness that the photographic medium brings to the arts as a whole,” Ms Hall said.

“It also showcases many experienced and emerging artists and photographers. It provides us with a platform and a network to operate from and within.”

Her series of work reveals historical stories of women from 850AD to 1960.

Ms Hall said: “The festival is layered with works that all fall into this medium of ‘photography’ yet the works made and the people that produce them can be worlds apart in vision, technique, experience and culture.”

Ms Hall has emphasised fertility in her exhibition, which readjusts the female body’s representation over time.

“I became more aware of how, throughout western art’s history, the concept of woman that had been consistently expressed excluded her pregnant body,” Ms Hall said.

“I found that where depictions of pregnant women did exist, modern art theorists further censored the pregnant body by denying that the pregnant looking subjects were indeed pregnant.”

Ms Hall worked for four years on History Bearing: “At it’s inception, I certainly felt the premise behind my work was timely”

“Some of the stories about women I came across in the process of looking for narratives to recreate,” Ms Hall said.

“I have found that the images bring a lot of intrigue, and they entertain people as much as they challenge them. We are just not use to seeing the pregnant body in this context.”

... taken from Photo Festival heads for Sydney

A Redfern student has been awarded a $500 scholarship for helping children in the community.

Eathan Philips, 16, was this year’s recipient of the Betty Makin Youth Awards and attends Alexandria Park Community School.

Eathan was nominated by his school teacher Patricia Betar, for using his passion for Indigenous traditions and teaching performing arts, as a way to inspire other students and share his culture.

Ms Betar said: “Eathan has been an excellent mentor for students.

They do look up to him a lot.

“Eathan’s shown a commitment to supporting and promoting the use of quality Aboriginal resources which raise the profile of Aboriginal knowledge, culture and heritage.”

He’s even clocked up over 50 volunteer hours under the Premier’s Volunteer Award scheme, she said.

Eathan wasn’t aware that he was nominated for the award.

“It felt really good,” he said.

His leadership qualities have been inspired by his mentor and uncle, Mr Shane Philips, who is CEO of the Tribal Warrior Association, an organisation where Eathan plays an active role.

“We teach Aboriginal dancing and help out with the cruise boat with kids from different communities,” Eathan said.

Ms Betar said his uncle Shane has been a big influence.

“Eathan has taken on a lot of that cultural awareness.”

In addition to helping others, Eathan displays an enthusiasm towards advancing his career prospects after his Higher School Certificate.

A schools based traineeship with the Department of the Attorney General in business services, will see Eathan in the courts this week to assist recording.

“He’s going to get a really good view of all the jobs and responsibilities in law and order,” Ms Betar said.

Ambitious about the opportunities open to him in the future, Eathan cites the Royal Australian Air Force as just one possible career option.

“I’d like to be a pilot probably, if I get good enough grades,” he said. When asked about his top tip for other kids, Eathan said: “Stick out school.

By Lynn Chinnock

... taken from Redfern youth wins award

Residents, businesses and schools will be out on the streets this Saturday to sell furniture, books,
clothes and vintage items as part of a massive city-wide market.

The organiser of the Garage Sale Trail has set up a website on which vendors can register their garage sale.

Shoppers can then use the website to locate the sale they are interested in.

Forest Lodge resident Floria Cameron said: “I think it is a good idea.”

She will be setting up a stall to enable others to reuse household goods.

“We have had garage sales before, but we’re hoping this is bigger because everyone is doing it.”

Local businesses are taking part and they are getting local residents to join them.

Dynn Szmulenicz, one of the owners of The Little Guy on Glebe Point Rd, attended last year’s event.

“Last year, we walked around doing the trail ourselves. This year, we thought it’d be a good idea doing it ourselves,” he said.

He is planning to provide space in his bar so that local residents can bring things to his bar to sell.

Vintage furniture store Junktique in Glebe also took part in the Garage Sale Trail last year.

Owner Paolo Gnecchi said he expects a lot more shoppers this year than last year.

He said the garage sale was a good way of keeping items in good condition out of the landfill.

“Not only older stuff is better, they’re more beautiful,” Mr Gnecchi said.

“With new furniture, they use plywood and chipboard. But with the old stuff, they use real timber.”

Andrew Valder, co-founder of the Trail, said the event added to the sense of community.

“It was an incredible way for people to meet their neighbours,” Mr Valder said.

“We did some research post-event and we found out that on average people met six neighbours they previously didn’t know.”

There were more than 1,600 garage sales in the Garage Sale Trail last year when it was first expanded to a national scale. This year, over 2,000 sales will take place around Australia; the majority will be in New South Wales and Victoria.

By Jeff Li

... taken from Selling on the streets

An annual exhibition showcasing companies that are launching a new brand or reinforcing existing brands that value sustainable living will be hosted at Moore Park this month.

EcoXpo is a forum of sustainable companies and their customers that are interested in eco living.

Event organiser, Aymeric Maudous, said there will be 7 main pavilions and a number of exhibitions to look forward to.

“The overall main is to inspire people to live a more sustainable life. There are a number of very exciting new exhibitions,” he said.

One of the most anticipated is the presentation of a new Toyota.

“We will be the first in Australia to exhibit the car which consumes much less than all the others on the market at the moment. It is the cheapest of the hybrids,” he said.

The exhibitions will be presented by both celebrities and eco-icons.

Co-founder of Take 3, Tim Silverwood believes in the reduce, reuse and recycle policy.

“Since September last year I haven’t stopped travelling around Australia giving 2-3 presentations every week,” he said.

“I give talks about the impact of plastic pollution in the ocean. The ultimate idea behind the presentations is to motivate and inspire people to take small, simple steps to help protect the environment.”

Take 3 is asking everyone to take three pieces of rubbish with them when they leave the beach.

This will reduce what is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a place where rubbish from the coast of Asia and Australia swirls around the ocean current.

Mr Silverwood said EcoXpo is about a similar sort of thing, showing audiences how to be be more conscious of being sustainable.

“It’s exciting moving people to become more green,” he said.

In addition, renowned chefs from across Sydney will give live demonstrations on cooking with organic foods.

“Clara Mason is a regular, she does all the organic markets in Sydney. 6 months ago she did a big seminar on the importance of eating,” Mr Maudous said.

Previous EcoXpo exhibitions have been highly successful setting standards for the future.

Each year the number of visitors and exhibitors have increased.

Biological Farmers of Australia’s Cheryl Vaughan commends the event.

“Feedback from past industry supporters of this show has been positive and we are happy to recommend this show,” she said.

A key figure of the Auria Project, David Kennett, shares a similar response. “EcoXpo 2011 provided wonderful exposure for exhibitors, in a well organised event,” he said.

“It provided stall holders and public with the opportunity to meet up with like- minded people in a great location”.

The upcoming exhibition will be at Byron Kennedy Hall from May 12-13.

By Priyal Dadhania

... taken from Green expo for eco-friendly living

About 10,000 Australian men visit the Asia pacific each year with the purpose of sexually exploiting children, 2,000 of which are convicted sex offenders.

CEO of the Melbourne based organization, Bernadette McMenamin, set up the Child Wise twenty years ago after witnessing the extent of child sex abuse both in Australia and overseas during her time as a social worker.

“I believed that children had a right to be safe and protected because I saw so much abuse. I just felt all of what I saw could be prevented if people were more educated and vigilant.”

“I thought what sort of world are we leaving to our children when the damage of child abuse is so life long in many cases “ said Ms McMenamin.

Child Wise will hold its first-ever fundraising gala in Sydney this month.

With limited government funding Child Wise relies heavily on private donations.

Funds raised from the gala will go directly into maintaining programs like the national helpline that educates parents and carers on child sex abuse issues.

Child Wise aims to eventually raise enough funds to replicate its Cambodian program in Bali where there are 25,000 street kids.

In Cambodia, Child Wise works with vulnerable communities helping to prevent children being trafficked into child labour and prostitution.

One in five children are sexually abused in Australia.

Approximately two million children are trafficked into prostitution worldwide each year.

Ms McMenamin feels that the Australian government should be held more accountable.

“We can’t send our problems overseas and then forget about them. The Australian government can’t remain so complacent, they need to provide more funding,” she said.

Apart from a three-course meal there will be a variety of live entertainment performances at the black and white gala ball. These include Aerialize, a Sydney children’s circus group, musician Gerry Azor and magician Adam Mada. There will also be a silent auction and live auction of a range of items donated to Child Wise including etchings of works by Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso provided by Chase gallery in Sydney.

Nicola Jones-Crossley volunteers her time and efforts as an event manager for Child Wise.

She said, “They are doing some great stuff. They are still a small organization, its grassroots based so I would like to see them grow bigger because they do some amazing work.”

The gala will be held on May 12 at the Star Room at the Imax Theatre complex.

To book go to http:// childwisegalaball.eventbrite.com.au.

By Kate Horowitz

... taken from Raising funds to stop sex trafficking

EcoXpo is a forum of sustainable companies and their customers that are interested in eco living.

EcoXpo has an annual exhibition showcasing companies that are launching a new brand or reinforcing existing brands that value sustainable living.

Sydney will host the upcoming exhibition at Byron Kennedy Hall between Sat 12th and Sunday 13th May.

The organisor of the event, Aymeric Maudous, said that there will be 7 main pavilions and a number of exhibitions to look forward to.

“The overall main is to inspire people to live a more sustainable life.

There are a number of very exciting new exhibitions.

One of the most looked forward to is Toyota presenting a car which is not being sold at the moment. We will be the first in Australia to exhibit the car which consumes much less than all the others on the market at the moment. It is the cheapest of the hybrids” he said.

The exhibitions will be presented by both celebrities and eco-icons.

Co-founder of Take 3, Tim Silverwood believes in the reduce, reuse and recycle policy.

“Since September last year I havn’t stopped travelling around Australia giving 2-3 presentations every week” he said.

“I give talks about the impact of plastic pollution in the ocean.

The ultimate idea behind the presentations is to motivate and inspire people to take small, simple steps to help protect the environment.

Take 3 simply is asking everyone to take three pieces of rubbish with them when they leave the beach.

This will reduce what is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a term which identifies rubbish from the coast of Asia and Australia which swirls around the ocean current.

EcoXpo is about a similar sort of thing, showing audiences how to be be more conscious of being sustainable. It’s exciting moving people to become more green”

In addition to this renowned chefs from across Sydney will give live demonstrations on cooking with organic foods.

“Clara Mason is a regular, she does all the organic markets in Sydney.

6 months ago she did a big seminar on the importance of eating” said Mr Maudous.

Previous EcoXpo exhibitions have been highly successful setting standards for the future.

Each year the number of visitors and exhibitors have increased.

On behalf of the Biological Farmers of Australia Cheryl Vaughan commends the event.

“Feedback from past industry supporters of this show has been positive and we are happy to recommend this show” she said.

A key figure of the Auria Project, David Kennett, shares a similar response.

“EcoXpo 2011 provided wonderful exposure for exhibitors, in a well organised event.

It provided stall holders and public with the opportunity to meet up with like- minded people in a great location” he said.

Tickets are $10 but children under fourteen are given free entry.

By Priyal Dadhania

... taken from Green ideas aired at forum

A road accident in Pyrmont resulting in the death of a fouryear- old girl last week has called into question the high-volume of traffic along Harris St.

On Tuesday, April 24 the toddler, who was accompanied by her mother, strayed from the footpath near Harris and Quarry Streets.

The girl was hit by a Land Rover Discovery at around 11 am then taken to Sydney Children’s Hospital where she died shortly afterwards. NSW Police are still investigating the incident which involved a 41-year-old male driver. Pyrmont resident and mother-of-two, Emma Driver said there are often lots of parents and children in the area since there is a nearby playgroup and daycare centre.

Ms Driver has a two-year-old daughter and an eight-week-old son.

She has lived on the busy artery for about 10 years and lives 200 metres from the site of the accident.

“There are definitely a lot more [parents and children] than 10 years ago,” she said.

“We’ve always been extremely careful because we live on Harris St.”

Local facilities include the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, Ultimo Community Centre and a City of Sydney Library.

“It’s a popular crossing for people coming from the swimming pool,” she said.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were 541 children under the age of four in the Pyrmont-Ultimo area six years ago.

A population forecast report commissioned by the City of Sydney estimated there are 955 children under four years on Harris St today.

The Pyrmont-Ultimo area has 10 child-care facilities in operation.

One early education centre on William Henry St is attended by 59 children daily and services over 90 families.

The corner of the accident is also one city block from the M4 access point at Fig St.

Ms Driver said she has noticed people speeding to make the light and going around corners at high speeds.

“I’ve seen people get confused because there are lots of oneway streets.

Sometimes, I see people unsure of whether they can turn left or right.”

A child-care teacher who works in the area said she sympathised with the mother of the Pyrmont girl.

“The only thing you can do is just make sure to teach your children about road safety at a very young age,” she said.

“With young children and road safety, you can’t not have them right by your side, children have no concept of speed, they don’t comprehend that if they step out on the road they might be hit.”

Neighbours have since decorated the corner of Harris and Quarry Street with bouquets of flowers, teddy bears and posters to express their sympathies.

... taken from Pyrmont family mourns for toddler

FBI radio’s Cassandra Wilkinson has come a long way from working the night shift at the King’s Cross
McDonalds during her university days.

The co-founder of the Sydney radio station now hopes to lead the Labor party in the upcoming local government elections and become Sydney’s next mayor.

The candidate grew up in Inner and Eastern Sydney and established herself in the local arts scene.

Ms Wilkinson is keen to apply her creative successes to the political sphere.

“Even when FBI Radio was first created, I was very passionate about getting involved in politics,” Ms Wilkinson said.

“The reason I am running for council is that I want to help make Sydney a place that no one needs to, or wants to, leave – I want to make it an exciting, global city,” she said.

A major hindrance to Sydney’s development is the nanny state attitude employed by the current council, she said.

The strict regulation of entertainment venues is just one example of this, according to Ms Wilkinson.

“I have a real problem with people’s experiences being homogenised.

The people of Sydney should be allowed to have more fun, rather than there being more expenses and more regulations imposed on them.

“This is not to say that people who break the law should not be arrested. I am not encouraging the drinking culture of Sydney and the violence that often comes with that – I am encouraging the entertainment culture,” she said.

Whilst this is a major element of Ms Wilkinson’s campaign, she says the majority of her focus is directed towards reducing property prices in Sydney.

She said Sydneysiders are suffering from high rents and mortgages, which are higher than other cities in the country.

“The best thing the council can do for citizens, businesses, artists and other industries, is to bring down the rate of growth in the price of property.”

“To do this, we have got to change our planning rules. We have got to be able to let people build more places to live and work in the City of Sydney – good quality high density is a great way to bring down the pressures on housing prices,” she said.

Many of Ms Wilkinson’s political views and ideas for the City of Sydney can be attributed to Paul Keating, her main political idol.

“The idea that Keating believed in our brain and creativity, and not just our resources, really struck a chord with me.”

“I feel that there is still a need to articulate that belief in Australia, and particularly here in Sydney,” she said.

Ms Wilkinson admits that she will face many challenges in her quest to become Lord Mayor of Sydney. She feels that the biggest of these will be seeing if it is possible to say exactly what she thinks and be able to say ‘no’ to people.

“My campaign is a very much a field test in reforming political speech,” she said.

By Drew Rooke

... taken from FBi president campaign’s for high density

Support for migrants

An open forum at the state parliament tonight will address the challenges of migrant families as they settle into Australian life.

‘Growing the Family Tree’ is a joint partnership with the City of Sydney, Relationships Australia and Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW, addressing common problems in multicultural communities.

Academics, experts, writers and people with experience in this issue, will discuss solutions for intergenerational conflict.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said: “Children grow up in a different culture to their parents, which can create a lot of tension within the family.”

“Children may aspire to less traditional careers and have different values and ways at looking at the world.

“The parents struggle with this and also grapple with how to pass on their culture and language, Cr Moore said.

Mark Franklin, Executive Officer of the Ethnic Communities’ Council NSW said: Connecting generations in multicultural families through this forum will ensure that each generation can continue to experience their familial, cultural and community supports while at the same time experiencing different journeys within our multicultural NSW.”

The forum will take place on Thursday May 3 at 5pm at Parliament House Theatrette, NSW Parliament House.

... taken from News briefs

A bill to stop egg companies who falsely market their products as free range has been introduced to NSW parliament by the Greens.

The new bill would ensure that free-range chickens would be packed no more densely than 750 per hectare, they would receive natural food, be allowed to sleep, and have access to plenty of shade, shelter and vegetation.

It would also prohibit beak and toe trimming and creates strict penalties for mislabeling eggs.

In a speech to NSW Parliament Greens MP Dr John Kaye said: “The root cause of the problem in the free-range egg industry is that there are no legislated definitions relating to it outside Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

The definitions that do exist are not legislated, are inconsistent and create gaps in which unscrupulous egg producers can hide their products under labelling that deeply misleads consumers.”

“Even “barn laid” has little meaning. Animals are often crowded into high densities and dirty conditions, creating conditions for birds that lead to feather pecking and cannibalism,” Dr Kaye said.

In a statement Australian Egg Corporation said, “It is a well-accepted fact that hen husbandry and farm management are the most important determinants for ensuring best practice hen welfare in free range systems, not stocking density.”

“If the egg industry does not accommodate a realistic outdoor stocking density for free range hens, then Australia may end up importing shell eggs from countries that have lower food safety, environmental and welfare standards and laws than Australia. AECL does not support this.”

The Greens’ own analysis shows that between 2006 and 2007 the total laying hen flock in Australia declined by 6 per cent.

At the same time the population required to produce the number of eggs that were sold, and were claimed to be sold as free range eggs, would have needed to have increased by 37.2 per cent.

“Approximately one in six eggs that consumers who are seeking an ethically produced product purchase, and for which they will spend more money to purchase, actually come from hens that are living in conditions which are unconscionable to those who pay additional amounts to purchase them.” Dr Kaye said.

Greens MP and member for Balmain Jamie Parker, who helped launch the Bill, said: “A growing number of
residents in the electorate of Balmain are looking for eggs that come without pain and suffering for the hens that lay them.”

“People who choose to pay extra to buy free-range want to be assured that the hens who laid those eggs did indeed enjoy a decent quality of life,” Mr Parker said.

The bill passed the Legislative Council last November and is currently before the Legislative Assembly.

Mr Parker will host a public meeting on the issue at Leichhardt Town Hall on May 7.

 By Jason Marshall

... taken from Expecting a free range existence

Last Tuesday hundreds gathered at NSW Parliament House to protest police brutality following the shooting of two teenage boys in Kings Cross in April.

The boys were trying to flee police in a stolen vehicle when they hit two people, causing the police to open fire through the windscreen.

The 14-year-old driver was hit in the arm and the chest, and his 17-year-old passenger took a bullet in the neck.

Video footage taken by a witness shows NSW police dragging the bleeding passenger across the pavement and punching him repeated in the head.

The boys, including another 4 passengers, one as young as 13, were from Mt Druitt and are charged with being in a stolen vehicle among other offences.

Assistant Police Commissioner Murdoch told ABC radio that the community should look at the police actions in context.

Rally organiser and president of the Indigenous Social Justice Association, Ray Jackson said it is wrong of the police to take the focus away from their own actions.

“The issue is the retaliation that the police decided they needed to do, they have no duty of care to the six occupants in that car,” he said.

“The police have had it easy for too long, and governments, instead of being the gutless mob that they are need to stand up and take their cops on.”

NSW Greens MP and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge will be referring the matter to the Police Integrity Commission.

“Only in NSW where you have the government and the Labor opposition refusing to come out and have any criticism of the NSW police, could it be seen to be a radical step to be asking not to have police to investigate police, but to have an genuine independent inquiry when there are serious questions to be answered about police conduct,” Mr Shoebridge said.

The community fears an internal police investigation could lead to a white wash.

Mr Jackson read out a prepared statement from Gail Hickey, who was the mother of TJ Hickey, a boy who died after being impaled during a police chase in 2004.

The statement documented how the police denied her son proper medical treatment and then attempted to cover it up.

“There was no independent, transparent investigation, the officer also refused to give evidence in the coroners court about what he did that day that led to my son’s death,” Ms Hickey said.

“We must remember that this is not just an aboriginal problem, deaths in custody, assaults by police, are aimed at every citizen in NSW and the rest of the country. Police abuse our rights every day,” Mr Jackson said.

“They are our police and they must work to our moral code and ethics, not their warped, mutated, diseased way of doing things at their own pleasure.”

Mr Jackson said in the last four months, 5 people have died in police custody.

There will be a National Day of Action on May 12 to commemorate the more than 400 deaths in custody since 1980.

By Jason Marshall

... taken from Shooting spurs community outrage

Joadja, Jesse the dingo, Old Possum and I were sitting in the dark in Jo’s rainforest garden after she’d closed the café. The moon rose over the old terraces while we chatted intermittently,  tuning in to the rustle of leaves, the gentle chirping of crickets and the quiet hum of traffic on Sydney Street.

... taken from The curious incident of the dogs in the night-time

The restaurant formerly known as Concrete Blonde might have kept the name, but it certainly has a new outlook on life; one more in keeping with the area and these times. They’ve brought in Emmanuel Benardos (ex-Grand National), who has a reputation as a restaurant fixer. He’s already worked his magic on the boozy side of things, starting with a slick list of cocktails, from signatures like a standout Caramel Espresso Martini ($18) built with a frothy head on Genovese Coffee, to updated classics. Manoli promises his staff will go the extra mile; and backs it up with Sunday to Thursday BYO ($10/bottle) – if you can resist his personalised cellar tours. Mine gave rise to an interesting South African gem, the 2009 Boekhenhoutscloof ‘Porcupine Rydge’ Syrah ($68). Patrick Dang is replaced in the gleaming kitchen by Ian Oakes (another Grand National boy), who certainly puts that eye-catching grill to better use. You’ll see it in mains like Char-Grilled Yellowfin Tuna ($38) or the slightly chewy Blackmore Wagyu Skirt Steak ($38); and generous sides, including Char-Grilled Zucchini ($9). Make sure adding the excellent Thyme Gnocchi ($18) starter doesn’t prevent you from ordering dessert. After all, the standout White Chocolate and Honeycomb Parfait ($15) gives Manoli one more occasion to flex his formidable matching skills…

Concrete Blonde
Shop 2/33 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross
Ph: (02) 9380 8307 www.concreteblonderestaurant.com.au
Modern Australian $$$$

... taken from Concrete Blonde *UPDATED*

It’s not hard to turn my head with a decent espresso martini, though few live up to the memory of the best one I’ve tried. I was staying in Las Vegas’ The Venetian, and wandering the gorgeous thematically appropriate pools and gardens, when I stumbled upon Thomas Keller’s Bouchon. The Illy martini and dissolving waffle I had there changed me forever…

However since we can’t all be in Vegas every day, I’ve been getting into the Illyquore (RRP $37.99/700ml) at home. It’s a premium, pure Arabica coffee liqueur that’s just landed in Australia. I think it more than gives existing coffee liqueurs like Tia Maria or Kahlúa a run for their money. In case you can’t be bothered shaking together your own breakfast martini, I will tell you know that hospitality star Emmanuel Benardos’ caramel espresso martini over at Concrete Blonde is the closest I’ve been to my espresso martini nirvana on these very shores.  Check their new review in this week for more details…
www.concreteblonderestaurant.com.au

You’d have to be living under a rock to not know that this month we’re going to see a fleet of mobile food trucks roaming the streets. Yes, the City of Sydney has finally seen the light, but while they’re spinning their wheels working out where they’ll actually let this little army of vans stop, I’ll tell you about the truck I’ll be combing the streets for -  Stuart McGill’s Eat Art Truck. Of course by combing I mean the modern day interpretation – using my iPhone to check their Twitter account @eatarttruck.

Stuart’s a former Tetsuya’s Sous Chef, but in his Electrolux kitted out van, he’ll be doing street-style dude food, from cute pulled pork rolls with pickled cabbage to kingfish ceviche and smoky southern BBQ beef. He’s keeping the street connection real with a canvas on one side of the truck featuring a different artist each month – you like it; you can buy that too.

Next time you plan a trip down south, go check out the new barn-meets-beach-house sensibility of The Old Library. It’s been a church, a library, and now it’s sliding into being Cronulla’s top restaurant, with the possibility of an award in the Hospitality Design category of the Australian Interior Design Awards dangling for designers Hecker Guthrie. It also has one of my favourite modern Italian chefs, Danny Russo, behind the pans. Stop in for a bowl of his buckwheat tagliatelle with fungi and truffle butter, or take advantage of the season and try signature roasted figs, prosciutto, goat’s cheese and truffle honey. Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming review.
www.theoldlibrary.com.au

While Melbourne is well known for hidden small bars, Sydneysiders are not yet used to following their noses into the darker recesses of the city to find them. So take a mosey along Kent Street with your eyes peeled for a bright yellow sign pointing to George Street and Regent Place and you’ll find the converted industrial space that is Assembly. So called as it’s been ‘assembled’ together from a collection of vintage apple crates, forklift palates, garage doors and a century old bridge. Alongside an array of sharing boards, and dude food like pork belly sliders and chilli pork hot dogs with toffee onions and chimichurri you’ll find an interesting list of classics and specialty cocktails. This includes the Lavender Hill cappuccino, a pop-rocked martini built on cloudy apple juice and La Mauny rum. Might be time to make me a new martini memory…
www.assemblybar.com.au

... taken from Martini Memory

... taken from City News May 3 2012

... taken from City Hub 3 May 2012

... taken from City News 3 May 2012

... taken from Independent May 2012

... taken from City News 26 April 2012

Six tracks of live frenzied acoustic guitar playing, a voice and percussion on the sole guitar. In the main it is  difficult to follow. There is inconsistency of tempo and sound level, the near genius of Daniel Champagne’s guitar playing is very easily missed. It is clear that he is a very accomplished guitarist, but perhaps his song writing, especially the structure, can’t keep up with his skills on the guitar. Maybe he’d be more suited to be playing in a band? But maybe he’s a lone wolf and doesn’t mix well with others creatively? The guitar playing sounds like it would be better in a rock setting rather than the “flavour” of this decade, folk, blues and roots. His vocals are strong but have a mumbling quality about them (think Bob Dylan or James Reyne). Two of the tracks are covers. Willie Dixon’s Spoonful and Don Maclean’s Vincent. The last track isn’t even really a song. Just manic playing with the audience clapping along that lasts all but a minute. One of the 3 originals is titled I Grew Up Where I Could See the Stars. I’d say at 22 most of us haven’t grown up yet. A little pretentious.

*1/2

... taken from DANIEL CHAMPAGNE – REAL LIVE

Throwing down the gauntlet to other CBD cafés to lift their game, this one gives you the opportunity to dine on an architectural podium at the city’s business end. It’s a riot of vaulting spaces and exposed building innards, including a thermal skin and an eye-catching atrium. The elliptical design is also uber-green, allowing you the chance to marvel at cooling that uses old-fashioned airflow rather than air-conditioning (how novel). To eat, the thin, crisp, pizzas perform best. The Funghi E Patate ($16) – featuring potato, mushrooms, truffled Pecorino and broccoli is the best vegetarian pizza I’ve had all year. You’ll also like the Pancetta ($16) with caramelised pear, rocket and chilli, teamed with Insalata D Rucola E Radicchio ($14) for a balanced lunch. I also dipped into an easy-to-eat pasta, the Linguine Con Cozze E Gamberetti ($14/$21) with mussels, garlic prawns and chilli. Supplement it with one of the well-chosen and eminently quaffable Italian whites – the Villa Chiopris Pinot Grigio ($8/glass) is my pick. Pass over lurid macarons for the artistic (and tasty) array of cakes. The beauty of the White Chocolate Mango ($7) dome is hard to ignore, but my favourite had to be the Italian Baked Ricotta Torte ($7) that swathed my mouth in simplistic, creamy joy.

Janus
1 Bligh Street, Sydney
Ph: (02) 9223 3997
Café $

... taken from Janus

May 14: National Biography Award

It’s hard to resist a good yarn; especially a true blue one. This award has commemorated the art with a $25,000 prize courtesy of the State Library since 1996, this year the longlist includes Delia Falconer’s Sydney, Paul Kelly’s How to Make Gravy, and John Howard’s Lazarus Rising.

11-12.30pm, State Library, books essential 9273 1770, bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au

May 15: Opening Address, The Private Moment

Now based in London, the Libyan novelist Hisham Matar (In the Country of Men, Anatomy of a Disappearance) will officially open this year’s festival with his ruminations on the importance of the private moment, immortalised through fiction, as an act of resistance.

6.30-8pm, Sydney Theatre, $25-35, 9250 1988, ydneytheatre.org.au

 May 16: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Don’t pretend there isn’t a Wimpy Kid tucked away on your bookshelf … or in your closet. Author Jeff Kinney makes his debut appearance to what will no doubt be hordes of pre- and decidedly post-adolescent fans.

6.30-7.30pm, Sydney Opera House, $12-20, 9250 7777, sydneyoperahouse.com  

May 17: FBi Radio’s All the Best, The Great Unveiling

Treat yourself to a night of storytelling as a selection of special guests tread the fine line between public and private. If you’re feeling brave you can even participate in a ‘story slam’ – we’re not sure what that means either, but there’s only one way to find out!

7-8.30pm, Pier 2/3 Club Stage, free and no bookings necessary

May 18: The Tyranny of Affluence

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and Geoffrey Blainey and George Megalogenis are keen to tell us why Australia suffers from it, today.

10-11am, Pier 2/3 Main Stage, $10-15, 9250 1988, sydneytheatre.org.au

May 19: The Disappearing Walking Tour

Poetry hits the pavements of Sydney in this walking tour led by the Red Room Company and local wordwenders Martin Harrison, Astrid Lorange and Nick Bryant-Smith.

6-6.45pm, Sydney Dance Cafe, bookings essential programs@redroomcompany.org

May 20: Bookmaking

One-up the zine-makers over at the MCA Zine Fair (11am-5pm) by binding together a (professionally illustrated!) tome to call your own at this hands-on workshop guided by the Sydney Story Factory.

12-2pm, ATYP, free, no bookings 

... taken from SYDNEY WRITERS’ FESTIVAL: your week sorted with our shortlist

Hinemihi is the incarnation of a female ancestor and a ceremonial meeting house; an access to and rite of honouring the many-threaded tendrils of history. For Copper Promises, dancer Victoria Hunt rediscovered her family’s Hinemihi, assumed abandoned after a volcanic eruption of 1886 displaced her forefathers from the land. It now sits in Surrey, England … and will be resurrected in Sydney, Australia, via movement, sound, and nourishment.

What inspired you to reach back to your Maori roots and resurrect Hinemihi? As carriers of our inheritance and of time, I am in awe of how the spirit of our genetic make-up can speak to us. In my experience it makes the concept of linear time seem outdated. There is no past, present, future when I think of the spirit of Hinemihi.

In what ways have you collaborated with your extended family on this project? We have shared the journey from the beginning. There is a proverb in Maori which says, ”If a seed falls in the right place it will germinate and a new seedling will sprout”. My extended family are gardeners, literally and symbolically.

Copper Promises became the pivot for the wider season of Dimension Crossing … There are uncanny echoes in the work I’ve seen by the other artists. It might seem like a broad theme, but to negotiate the threshold of the crossings is what connects us.

It has been a whopping nine years in the making. What were a few of the low and highpoints of that journey? It’s been a slow gestation because of the identity and cultural unfolding which was necessary, to understand how I to position myself within the work. Low points were losing people to accidents, old age and sickness. Sometimes I had only just reconnected with someone before they passed away. Strangely, it was their tangi funerals and the tremendous gatherings afterwards which are among my most profound memories.

What is meant by the accompanying phrase “I am the house and the house is me. I dance the history of the house and the house reveals my history”? It means I am a direct descendant of Hinemihi which traces back to the Ngatoroirangi line. Maori ancestral meeting houses are rich with cosmological explanations of where we come from and who we are as a people, our whakapapa (genealogy) and tribal history. She represents an ancestral spirit house. She is the architectural representation of a body. She is named after a female ancestor, so the spirit is female. It’s a spirit of survival, non-survival, resilience and renewal. I am the living spirit of Hinemihi. I am her mokopuna grandchild.

After the performance the audience are welcome to join the company for a Hangi food basket. What’s the significance of this ceremony? As hosts we offer food, and lots of it!

May 4-12, CarriageWorks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh, $15-30, performancespace.com.au

... taken from COPPER PROMISES: HINEMIHI HAKA