A new approach to raising money for creative ventures will be on show during an evening of soup and art.

‘Sunday Soup at the Red Rat’, a new grassroots approach to funding artistic projects, will launch on February 5 at The Red Rattler Theatre in Marrickville.

The event is both a banquet and forum that enables artists to discuss their potential projects and gain independent funding.

“The basic recipe is that people come together, pay a fee, share a meal, and listen to a bunch of ideas and things people are working on or making,” the Theatre said in a statement.

“Everyone who purchases the meal gets one vote and all the income from that meal is given as a grant to support the creative project with the most votes.”

The event co-coordinator, Penelope Benton, said many types of ventures would be accepted. “It’s largely dependent on what people are willing to bring to the forum. It really will change with every different Sunday soup,” she said.

“We could be supporting films, we could be supporting magazines, it could be websites, it could be a book.”

Co-organiser of the music and arts series ‘New Moon Blues’, Asher Richardson, supports the idea.

“Trying to get funding can be such a daunting and difficult experience for people wanting to kick-start a project. Even worse is when you’re asked to compromise your ideas to fit the values of the sponsors,” he said.

“New Moon Blues would definitely look to participate in the project, even if it’s just for a good meal and meeting some new friends.”

“I think perhaps a movie screening or performance could liven up the evening,” Mr Richardson said.

‘Sunday Soup’, an initiative believed to originate in the United States, helps fund projects otherwise overlooked by mainstream sources. Meals will cost between $7 and $10.

Ms Benton has some loose predictions for how much money they will raise on the night.

“Looking at the events around other countries, sometimes they raise a couple of hundred and sometimes they raise a couple of thousand.”

She said if they achieve full capacity, which is 300 people, they will raise $3,000. She expects to see at least 100 people.

Plans for the next event, ‘Second Soup at The Red Rat’, are not yet confirmed. “We haven’t set a date for the next one, because we wanted to see how this one went,” she said.

A series of evening seminars in Leichhardt and Balmain will give authors the opportunity to discuss changes in the food industry, journalism and Sydney’s harbour.

Chef and author Michele Cranston will be at Leichhardt Library on February 8 and Balmain Library on February 22. She intends to speak about the evolution of the food industry and the emergence of celebrity chefs.

“There have always been well-known chefs around but there wasn’t that interest in them that there is now. Everyone says they’re kind of the new rock-stars.

“There wasn’t Jamie Oliver. All of those really well known household identities didn’t exist prior to 10 to 12 years ago.”

Ms Cranston’s new cookbook, Marie Claire – Fresh and Easy, was partly inspired by nostalgia for her grandfather’s garden and their rustic approach to dining. “When I was growing up, my grandfather had one of those wonderful backyard vegetable gardens. He had all the carrots, lettuces, tomatoes, herbs and cumquats and lemons. Rhubarb, strawberries.

“We grew up going in and seeing what he had, and pulling carrots out of the ground and seeing if they’d grown.”

Journalism is foremost on Alex Mitchell’s mind as the author of Come the Revolution. On February 16, he plans to debate the future of journalism when he talks at the Leichhardt Library.

“The technology has advanced so much that the profession has fundamentally changed,” he said.

“It’s no longer about gumshoe work, although the gumshoe work is really important. It is now being transformed by new technology: the internet, by iPads, iPhones.”

Kicking off the series of talks on February 1 is historian and award-winning author of Sydney Harbour, Ian Hoskins.  He will speak at Balmain Library about the Sydney Harbour’s changing identities.

“There’s two sides to Sydney Harbour. There’s the beautiful harbour that we all know and have come to love,” he said, “but for many years, in fact for most of its life it was a working port … and one of the busiest ports in the British Empire.”

“That working harbour has pretty well ended by now. There are very few tankers that come into Sydney Harbour. Its identity has changed so much, it’s now a big pond full of yachts.”

“All landscapes change,” Mr Hoskins said. “Sydney Harbour is no different.”

A community-run campaign has triumphed with plans for the installation of a common garden above a child care centre in Balmain.

An organiser of the Mort Bay Park Garden, Tony Hill, said construction will start soon. “The first seeds will be planted this autumn.”

The garden will feature raised beds since the site’s soil is not suitable for vegetables.

Mr Hill said a group of people first discussed the idea in 2010. After a public meeting, a core group put together a submission last year.

While most reactions to the garden have been positive, Mort Bay Community Garden Group has encountered a few objections.

“Some neighbours have raised objections, including the possibility of vandalism,” Mr Hill said. “As the garden is yet to get on the ground, the issues for the future are those of all community gardens.”

Former Leichhardt Mayor, Maire Sheehan, believes any objections to the garden are invalid.

“The notion that you cannot do something interesting in a public space for fear of vandals is simply giving into fear. That is not a healthy way to grow community,” she said. “The issue of food security and informed citizens is important for the future of decisions on this issue. The gardens can play a role here if the project is open enough.”

“People working together for a purpose strengthens community.”

“If the garden grows a mix of fruit and vegetables it can serve as an educational process for the adults and children of the community,” she said.

A council-approved grant of $10,000 was awarded for the garden’s outlay which was presented in December by Mayor Rochelle Porteous to committee members at Leichhardt Town Hall.

By Daniel Paperny

Movie viewers are flocking to outdoor venues for the chance to spend an evening under the stars.

Similar to other parkside screenings, Leichhardt Council is hosting ‘Pics In the Park’, a series of free outdoor films throughout February and March. Intending to foster links with the wider community, the initiative will present audiences with an alternative to standard indoor cinema viewing.

A teacher at St Jerome’s Catholic School, Margaret Wallace, said moonlight cinema viewing is like “an alfresco experience” with a community feel.

“When my children were little, I took them to see an outdoor production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” she said. “Everyone loves a good picnic.”

The program, developed by the Council’s Youth Team and Leichhardt Youth Council, aims to raise funds for local charity organisations, such as the Balmain Mental Health Carers Support Group, Balmain PCYC and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.

Pics In the Park will seek to provide a unique cinematic experience by showcasing a diverse array of films for viewers of all ages.

With the escalating price of indoor cinema tickets, outdoor cinemas are becoming increasingly popular. The Ford Focus Moonlight Cinema at Centennial Park, the Open Air Cinema at Bondi Beach and the St George Open Air Cinema at Mrs Macquarie’s Point have established themselves as popular venues for recreational outdoor cinema viewing.

Mrs Wallace said: “External spaces allow for a family-friendly environment and atmosphere.”

“It’s plenty of fun and the value element of it is great. You can take your children along and have a wonderful experience.”

The Pics In the Park program commences on Friday, February 3 at sunset, with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Opponents of the White Bay cruise ship terminal are “annoying” and “misguided greenies”, according to some residents who have spoken out in support of the development.

In a letter obtained by the Inner West Independent, White Bay resident David Christmas told Premier Barry O’Farrell the terminal is “the best initiative for the area, and the NSW Government should be applauded for having the foresight to carry this through”.

“We find it so dreadfully annoying receiving weekly drops of misinformed
literature (junk mail) by the so-called ‘Friends of White Bay’, Mr Christmas wrote. He also complained of “the constant petitioning of misguided greenies outside Woolworths Balmain with obviously little else to do with their time.”

Another Inner West Independent reader commented: “I do not understand why the Council are so intent on trying to derail this development.”

She said the number of people attending town hall meetings to protest the development was insignificant, and that all her neighbours support Sydney Ports’ plan.

“Maybe the Council should listen to its residents and consider this development might be what they want,” she said.

The cruise terminal has elicited a strong negative response from some members of the community, who have organised a campaign to have the project stopped. The Friends of White Bay group is led by President Michael Lehmann, and has support from local Greens MP Jamie Parker, Leichhardt Mayor Rochelle Porteous and independent councillor John Stamolis.

Mr Christmas and his wife reside at Dockside Apartments, one of the closest buildings to the proposed terminal site. He said it was a pleasure to see cruise liners using the port, and that community fears of excessive noise and traffic were not evidenced by his experience.

Mr Christmas added it was “thrilling” to witness a circus performance on the main deck of the Pacific Jewel, which docked at White Bay in December 2009.

“We are hoping these cruise ships will be a regular occurrence for us over the coming months,” he wrote.

The terminal is expected to be ready by 2013 and anticipates the arrival of 120 ships. Sydney is struggling to accommodate an increasing demand for large passenger liners to berth here.

The White Bay terminal would accommodate ships able to pass underneath the Harbour Bridge and larger vessels would dock at Circular Quay, or potentially Garden Island.

That port is currently home to the Navy but Defence Minister, Stephen Smith is considering the use of the terminal as a shared-use facility.

A future martial arts superstar may be in our midst. Alex Vij, 15, has already been earmarked for an international career.

Alex, who attends Newtown’s Athena school, has won a total of 79 formal sword matches and is on his way to represent Australia in New Zealand and Japan in 2012.

He competes within his own style of karate as well as other major styles.

In July, Alex attended the third international Federation of Karate under 18s tournament in London, winning against Israel but narrowly losing to England.

He competed in the New Zealand Martial Arts Championships in November, placing in all six events that included sword fighting, basic sumo wrestling and set floor displays.

The Principal at the Athena School, Fiona Milne said: “It shows us what you can achieve in this modern day and age, when you have that sort of dedication as well as having people to support you and back you up.”

While attending the Australian Martial Arts Championship in Queensland, Alex managed to place first in sword fighting and gain two second places in weapons free fighting, even after needing first aid for a shin injury an hour earlier.

“We’re all so proud of this young man who’s gone after his dreams and dedicated a lot of personal time to achieving them,” Ms Milne said.

“He’s definitely chuffed, he’s just worked so hard, and at such a young age.”

In 2012, Alex has been invited to join a squad competing across major styles of karate: he will represent Australia in the match set to attract contestants from all over the world.

By Georgia Fullerton

Older men in the Leichhardt area are at an increased risk of oral cancers, according to research presented by the Leichhardt Seniors Council.

The findings suggested this was a long-term trend, not a temporary aberration. It is thought to be primarily linked to high rates of smoking and alcohol consumption in the Inner West.

From 2004-2008, 39 known cases of head and neck cancer were confirmed within the Leichhardt local government area, responsible for eighteen deaths. These figures are above the national average, according to the Council.

“This goes against the general trend in NSW, where the rate of these cancers is dropping,” a spokesperson said.

“The frontline of early detection is dentists, who are trained to spot suspicious lesions that might be an early sign of these cancers.”

Leichhardt Council will write to the Federal Minister for Health, now Tanya Plibersek after the recent cabinet reshuffle, and the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. It is believed Council will push for an expansion of the Medicare dental scheme, particularly for low-income earners.

The scheme has a murky history, described in commentary as “rort-prone” and “scandal-ridden”. Ms Plibersek has committed to a major reform of the policy.

“If you’re a millionaire, you can get $4250 worth of treatment, but if you’re poor and don’t have a chronic health condition you can’t get that sort of treatment,” she told The Australian.

The Seniors Council has also formed a Working Party to investigate and make recommendations concerning the abnormally and persistently high incidence rates of head and neck cancer among older males in the Leichhardt area.

Oral cancers are particularly devastating, often diagnosed late and with a poor survival rate. Last Friday, the celebrated British-American journalist Christopher Hitchens died of esophageal cancer, at the age of 62.

Part 1

The construction of a cruise terminal at White Bay has sparked further controversy with accusations that Sydney Ports failed to adequately notify residents of asbestos removal from the site.
Leichhardt Council was to apply for an injunction if it believed Sydney Ports had breached the project’s conditions of approval. But subsequent research has indicated that notification of residents was not an explicit requirement.
“To the best of our knowledge, on information received from both authorities, they are complying with the consent conditions,” a Council spokesperson said.
The conditions of approval require Sydney Ports to “undertake a hazardous material survey prior to construction and…manage hazardous material, including asbestos or asbestos-contaminated materials that may be uncovered during the construction of the project.”
But the conditions do not stipulate that local residents must be given forewarning about the removal process.
Councillor John Stamolis said this was not good enough, and that it was of utmost importance that information be provided.
“You need to know, because if you are a risk-averse person, you need to be able to make your decision,” he said.
“It is a gross oversight, and if it is still within procedures, then those procedures need to change. People need to be communicated with.”
Sydney Ports contacted residents by mail on November 25 with information about the ongoing removal of asbestos from the area. This was in response to “a small number of enquiries about the demolition works at our site”, a spokesperson from Sydney Ports said.
“Workcover has attended the site and found all relevant measures and plans have been implemented for the asbestos removal.”
An injunction on that basis is now unlikely. However, Council and the Friends of White Bay community group will continue to push for a moratorium on the cruise terminal’s construction. They want a master plan which would allow for community input on the purpose, direction and content of the precinct.
Friends of White Bay President, Michael Lehmann said: “If you’re going to do a true master plan, you must stop construction on White Bay immediately.” He believes there are no impediments to halting construction immediately.
“It’s very doable, very feasible. Glebe Island is available as a temporary facility [for cruise ships]. From a political perspective…there is a significant impact on the traffic which will continue to worsen from the cruise terminal being located here, on Victoria Road.”
Roads and Maritime Services, which is responsible for both Victoria Road and the City West Link, required the construction of a separate, purpose-built access road as part of the cruise terminal’s planning process.
“The new access road via James Craig Road will be constructed through an industrial area and will not impact surrounding residents,” Sydney Ports said.
“In addition, the majority of traffic movements generated by domestic cruise ships generally occur outside of traffic peak hours.”
At a community meeting at Leichhardt Town Hall on Monday night, Mr Lehmann told an audience of about forty residents that the terminal would create an extra 2600 car movements per cruise ship.
This would have a direct impact on Victoria Road, which was already Sydney’s slowest major arterial road, he said.
Cr Porteous also attended the meeting and announced she would take a seat on the terms of reference sub-committee of the Bays Precinct Taskforce. The group, which has representation from the state government, Sydney Ports and the community, will meet for the first time in January and is to formulate a long-term strategy for the bays area. At this stage that would not include stopping or changing the White Bay cruise terminal.
Criticising Sydney Ports’ hostility to consultation, Cr Porteous said: “I’ve got a few words to describe them…but they’re probably not appropriate at a public meeting.”
The Greens member for Balmain, Jamie Parker, told the meeting Garden Island was a superior site for a new terminal, and that the White Bay development was not supported by the Tourism and Transport Forum or any council.
“It’s actually about providing a money-making facility for Sydney Ports,” he said.
The meeting was unified in its condemnation of the plan. But there was recognition that stopping its construction – which is due to begin in six to eight weeks – was a tough ask.
“Our numbers are relatively modest right now,” said Mr Lehmann, who opened the meeting. “But they will continue to grow.
“We are looking at the worst case scenario. If you think the White Bay terminal should be there…this may not be the right meeting for you.”

Cockatoo Island could soon attract adventure and thrill seekers with a new aerial park.
The development application for a sophisticated high-ropes course would occupy 13,000 square metres or approximately one tenth of the island.
The historic shipyard has served as an entertainment venue, artists’ studios and temporary exhibitions.
The creative director of Mighty High Pty Ltd, Marcus Jackson, said he envisaged the park over a year and a half ago.
“We wanted to make something truly unique, something that confronts your fears, because everyone is scared of heights,” he said. “But when you confront that, it really gives you this positive charge; a great feeling and a high sense of achievement.”
His vision for the project was instigated by a desire to provide his autistic 16-year old son, Shelby, with a safe form of recreation whereby children could challenge themselves and grapple with their fears.
“When Shelby’s doing these courses, he looks like a legend,” Mr Jackson said. “He knows he’s different and braver than the rest of us … and that’s what makes him special.”
Mighty High on Cockatoo Island would provide “an interactive physical adventure system” that would utilise fascinating, historic machines as anchors of the course. Those include the restoration of an existing crane on the island, as well as a replica bow of the HMAS Success naval ship.
The vessel was the largest ever built in Australia for the Royal Australian Navy and the last ship to be constructed on Cockatoo Island.
The amusement park would combine a rope-climb structure with a constant-delay system and full-body harnesses for optimal safety. Mr Jackson said he wanted to find a location in close proximity to the city centre.
Cockatoo Island is named on both the National and Commonwealth Heritage Lists, possessing what the Trust calls “aesthetic, historic and social significance for current and future generations of Australians”. In July 2010 it was one of 11 former convict sites added to the World Heritage List.
The Trust is now considering Mr Jackson’s proposal, maintaining that “the Parkland needs to be considered in its totality” in order to convey “the original shoreline and historical uses” of Cockatoo Island.
While not a consenting body for the development, Leichhardt Council will make a submission to the Trust. The DA is available for public inspection until January 13 at the Cockatoo Island Visitors Centre, Leichhardt Council Chambers and Balmain Library.

By Daniel Paperny

Australia’s young creatives are encouraged to help light up one of Sydney’s architectural icons this New Years Eve. You Only Live Once (YOLO), a social website, invited young Aussies to enter original lighting designs in December to decorate the Sydney Opera House’s balcony for the 11.12 New Year’s party. The winning entrants would receive two free tickets to the night’s event and gain creative exposure.
Co-founder of YOLO, Dan Single said: “It’s an unbelievable chance to get your name out there.”
“Everyone’s eyes are on Sydney for the first major New Years Eve party in the world and the 11.12 party is set to be the hottest ticket in town.”
Artists had an allocated space of two metres by 20 metres and could integrate a message, a word or anything abstract or “out there”.
“As long as it’s eye catching, fits with the party theme and looks great we’ll be happy,” Mr Single said.
“You don’t have to be a lighting professional or designer, you just need to have an epic idea using the materials we are supplying and we’ll put it up. We want everyone to be inspired and get creative.”
French lighting, display and exhibition designers, Superbien, judged the competition on December 20.
The 11.12 NYE party will have catered food, cocktails and world class music from the Grammy award winning godfather of House, Frankie Knuckles, as well as vocalist Jamie Principle headlining the night.
The party also boasts the ultimate view of the fireworks, designed this year by Marc Newson.
“It’s going to be the best house party at the best house on the planet,” Mr Single said. “It really will be the coolest place to bring in the New Year.
“We have been given an amazing space to throw this party, have done the drinks, done the music, done the decor and all that is left is the art piece to light up the Top Shelf – a special balcony we are creating for the best vantage point for the fireworks in town.”

By Georgia Fullerton