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Highlights of the 2012 Melbourne Festival The Heart of Melbourne Ball St Kilda Road’s Airlie Mansion A golf lesson from Mark Allen
your guide to the st kilda road precinct
www.lmcf.org.au
CONTENTS
Publisher’s note
Publisher Susan Riley susan@melbournemedia.com.au M 0412 045 993
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, we weren’t just complaining more than usual – it really was a bitterly cold winter in Melbourne! Thankfully, the warmer months are upon us and the boulevard has so much to look forward to, with an amazing calendar of events, performances, festivals and exhibitions to draw us out into the sunshine.
Editor Emily Rolfe emily@melbournemedia.com.au
Advertising Enquiries Lyndall Tennant lyndall@melbournemedia.com.au M 0422 857 939
This year’s Melbourne Festival will be Director Brett Sheehy’s last, and you can read about the stunning program of local and international events on page five. Once again, our coverage of the road/boulevard debate that just won’t go away on St Kilda Road generated a lot of correspondence from our readers – turn to the letters on page 13 and see what St Kilda Road’s residents had to say.
Feature writers Costa Rolfe, Tom Elliott, William So, Emily Rolfe, Anita Roper, Chelsea Arnold, Sergeant Steve Bills, Ian Shears and Helen Kent Photography Lucia Ondrusova info@luciaondrusova.com
Flinders Street Station will soon be getting the long overdue makeover it deserves, with registrations for the $1 million Flinders Street Station Design Competition now closed. The challenges of the task are many, including restoration of the heritage-listed spaces including the grand ballroom, to truly make the most of this magnificent asset. Costa Rolfe explores the history and future of one of our finest public buildings.
Design Smith & Rowe studio@smithandrowe.com.au P 9525 3933 Printing Almar Press, Brunswick Phone 9380 4228
Be sure to make the most of the fine weather and even finer events to be had along our boulevard this Spring.
This magazine has a distribution of 10,000 - connecting residences and businesses in the St Kilda Rd & Queens Rd Precinct.
Susan Riley Publisher 3004 News
3004 News is published by: Melbourne Media Pty Ltd The Foundry Suite 305 / 399 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 PO Box 107, Collins St West, Melbourne VIC 8007
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No part of this publication may be recorded, stored in a retrieval system, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission of The Publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this publication. The opinions in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of The Editor or The Publisher. ©Melbourne Media Pty Ltd.
St Kilda Road Police Station The Melbourne Festival
Melbourne Writers Festival
Flinders Street Station - Past and Future St Kilda Road’s Coolest Office A golf lesson with Mark Allen
Property Flashback: Airlie Mansion
HAPPENING COVER STORY HAPPENING SPECIAL FEATURE HAPPENING SPORT PROPERTY
We invite our readers to submit ideas, stories, happenings and other material relevant to the St Kilda Road precinct. Email us at: emily@melbournemedia.com.au or retro mail to: PO Box 107, Collins St West, Melbourne 8007
S P R I N G 2 0 12 47
Highlights of the 2012 Melbourne Festival The Heart of Melbourne Ball St Kilda Road’s Airlie Mansion A golf lesson from Mark Allen
your guide to the st kilda road precinct
Cover image: Hahn-Bin, Korean violinist performing in this year’s Melbourne Festival
For advertising enquiries contact Lyndall Tennant: 0422 857 939 ISSUE 47
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Precinct Message Question:
Answer:
What do you prefer? Attractive artificial grass or an area that is a mud heap in winter and dust bowl in summer.
It doesn’t really matter because the artificial grass is illegal and has been ripped up by the City of Port Phillip. It is the latest chapter in a saga that deserves its own television series. For more than a decade the St Kilda Road Precinct and Promotions Committee has been complaining about the state of the nature strips along the boulevard. Couriers’ motor bikes, foot traffic and Melbourne’s long drought left them as a dangerous eye sore with people constantly tripping over
tree roots or in winter stepping into puddles of murky water.
artificial turf anyway as a safety and beautification initiative.
But the council isn’t waiting any longer.
Five years ago the situation was highlighted at the historic joint meeting of the Port Phillip and Melbourne councils and an action group of the two councils was formed to come up with a landscaping option for St Kilda Road.
The cost was about $2000 and they thought it a sound investment while they waited for the joint council option.
They finally realised the artificial turf was there and tore it up!
More than five years later they are still waiting
Artificial turf, we were told, was not being considered as it was environmentally unfriendly when disposing of it at the end if its life span.
After being responsible for a strategy to reduce Theft From Motor Vehicles (TFMV) a few years ago, I developed a habit as I walk by parked cars of looking at what people leave on show in them. As I’ve recently started catching the train to work, I now have a 20-minute walk from the station to indulge in what some might call a slightly strange habit! Most offenders don’t get up in the morning thinking they are going to break into some cars. Rather, they break into cars on their way to somewhere else. As they head off to their destination they are tempted by what they see in parked vehicles along the way. If they don’t see anything that makes them think the risk of breaking into the car might be worthwhile, then they generally won’t take that risk. This is why it is so important to make sure that you don’t leave any obvious signs in your vehicle when you park it. In my walks from the station to work, I have seen laptop bags and actual laptops, on back seats and 4
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William H. Deague
President, St Kilda Road Precinct & Promotions Committee
At the same time the Melbourne City Council gave a $1 million grant to have artificial turf installed at the North Melbourne sports centre. Go figure. Anyway back along St Kilda Road many property owners, risking a fine for illegal activity on council land, decided to install the
Keeping St Kilda Road’s vehicles safe I’m pleased to say that the crime rate in our response zone is still heading down, which is great for the community, but also great news for my members who have been working very hard to ensure that we keep our little space in Victoria as safe as possible.
Still no sign of the joint initiative.
in the back seat foot wells, loose change in the centre console, GPS cradles on the windscreen, iPods and portable DVD players still attached to the head rests. These are the types of items that give potential offenders reason to consider breaking into your vehicle. Each of the items I have mentioned above can be sold easily by the offender and therefore may be worth his or her while to take the risk of breaking into your vehicle. Even things like gym bags on the front seat can be inviting - you may know it has only sweaty gym clothes, but someone might think it’s worth the risk to break in and see if it also contains a phone or wallet. If we could get everyone to have a look through their car when they park it and make sure they didn’t leave anything obvious in the vehicle, I genuinely believe we could reduce these offences by as much as 80%. When you consider on average there are around 40000 offences of TFMV state-wide each year, this is an enormous reduction. But it is one that will only see a significant reduction if the public takes responsibility for what they leave in their vehicles.
What did you leave in your vehicle today…???
...by Senior Sergeant Steve Bills
COVER STORY
Melbourne Festival 2012 Highlights
Opening on Thursday 11 October, this year’s Melbourne Festival will be presenting no fewer than 18 world premieres, 33 Australian premieres, and a program of 74 events over 17 days. Outgoing festival Artistic Director Brett Sheehy said of his fourth and final program, ‘I am thrilled that I conclude my tenure with the Festival presenting the works of Lee Ranaldo, Gregory Crewdson, Young Jean Lee, Michel van der Aa, Thurston Moore, Santiago Sierra, Tim Fain, Chris Kohn and dozens of other international artists.’
The first weekend of the Festival features Swanlights, from Antony and the Johnsons. A collaboration between New York’s Museum of Modern Art and Antony, Swanlights sees the ethereal vocals of Antony backed by a 44-piece orchestra and an unforgettable visual aesthetic. Intended as a oneoff work, never to be seen again, the Festival has managed to secure a second showing of the concert at Hamer Hall. Best known for his work in the film Black Swan, virtuoso violinist and rising star of the classical world, Tim Fain presents his keenly awaited Australian debut with Portals, along with another classical performer making a huge impact on the world stage, the enigmatic ‘avant-pop’ classical violin prodigy, Hahn-Bin, who features on this issue’s cover. An exciting and diverse dance program commences with The Forsythe Company’s I don’t believe in outer space, a work by the legendary choreographer William Forsythe that investigates life in all its fragility and inevitable mortality. Having taken the 2010 Festival by storm, dance phenomenon Akram Khan returns with his critically acclaimed, mesmerising one-man show, Desh. Chunky Move present the world premier of their first show under visionary Artistic Director, Anouk Van Dijk, An Act of Now, at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, and one of Australia’s most renowned
Picture: Denis Darzacq
choreographic talents Lucy Guerin stages Weather, an homage to the power of the elements. Theatre lovers are treated to the return of audacious theatre ensemble Schaubuhne Berlin, after stunning audiences in 2011 with their ultramodern interpretation of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler. The world premiere season of An Enemy of the People is a startling take on Ibsen’s acerbic classic under the leadership of directorial prodigy Thomas Ostermeier. One of the UK’s most popular storytellers and performance poets Luke Wright presents an energetic evening of balladry, and will also host a series of free midday poetry performances in the heart of the city at Fed Square. The centerpiece of this year’s visual arts program is a global art phenomenon culminating in a fiery finale, as the subversive and political Spanish artist, Santiago Sierra carries out one last act of obliteration to conclude his work spanning two years and ten countries, Destroyed World. This year’s Melbourne Festival is proud to collaborate with internationally renowned festival producers Strut and Fret to create the new Foxtel Festival Hub: a custom-designed bar, club and hub – a performance space and festive destination in the heart of the Festival precinct built on an extravagant scale.
For full program details, visit www.melbournefestival.com.au ISSUE 47
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FLANDERSJoos van CLEVE (manner of ) St Jerome (1530s –40s), oil on wood panel, 42.6 x 31.9 cm National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Felton Bequest, 1932 (4590-3)
Jean Bowring, Cake icing and decorating, Melbourne, Colourgravure Publications, Herald and Weekly Times, 1950, Beverley Wood Collection
The Tulip Ball
Barassi the Stage Show
The Four Horsemen
Gusto! A Culinary History of Victoria
Julie Sewell and her husband John live at St Kilda Road’s Yve building. In 2000, when he was just 55, John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Julie and her daughter Joanna launched the inaugural Tulip Ball in 2008 to raise funds to help fight the disease, as Parkinson’s has 9 times the prevalence of most other neurological diseases but receives less than 3% of government funding. The Tulip Ball is a fabulous, glamorous night, with all money raised going to Parkinson’s Victoria.
One of the standout footballers of his generation, beloved Melbourne champion Ron Barassi sent shockwaves through the Victorian Football League when he defected to Carlton in 1964. Barassi’s mark on Aussie Rules would not end there, however, later imploring his Carlton team to “handball, handball, handball!” when they were 44 points astern of archrival Collingwood in the 1970 Grand Final, the coach’s famous words changing the game forever. Barassi The Stage Show honours the life story of this footballing giant, from his father’s tragic death at Gallipoli to the feted #31’s more recent acts of courage. Written by Tee O’Neill, directed by Terence O’Connell and starring Steve Bastoni.
The turmoils of war, famine and religious conflict that shackled Europe from the 15th to early 18th centuries are manifested in much of the artistic expression of the period. The NGV’s The Four Horsemen exhibition explores those themes of death, disaster and divine punishment that characterised the age’s choking social climate of fear (the more things change…). Prints, woodcuts, illuminated manuscripts, illustrated books and paintings featuring all manner of demonic and apocalyptic imagery will be on show, from artists such as Ablrecht Durer, Hans Holbein and Jacques de Gheyn.
If the lifeblood of Melbourne were to be distilled down to its basic elements, football, music and food would probably comprise the bulk of what’s leftover. In fact, all three were seen in spectacular harmony when a singing meatloaf strutted its stuff at last year’s AFL Grand Final. Gusto! celebrates Victoria’s enduring love affair with food, exhibiting gastronomic treasures relics from recipe books of old. This potted culinary history explores everything from fine dining and viticulture to Indigenous foods and sustainable food practices, and also features the story of exalted industry figures like Jaques Raymond and Stephanie Alexander.
Where: Plaza Ballroom, Regent Theatre When: Saturday 10 November Tickets: www.tulipball.org
Where: Athenaeum Theatre When: 20 September - 7 October Tickets : Ticketek 13 28 49
Where: NGV International When: 31 August 2012 - 28 January 2013 Tickets: Free
Where: State Library of Victoria, Keith Murdoch Hall When: 3 August 2012 – 28 April 2013 Tickets: Free
3004NEWS
Veggies and Honeybees at Fed Square
Honey, I’m Home
Lord of the Rings Anticipating the release of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, part one of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, will be screened as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Chorus and National Boys Choir perform the Oscar-winning score live at Hamer Hall. The epic film trilogy was supported by some of the greatest film music of all time – in each film, composer Howard Shore uses the combination of orchestra and chorus to match the visceral impact of the journey unfolding on the screen.
Joyce Carol died alone whilst watching television and wrapping Christmas presents in her London flat. Her body wasn’t discovered for three years, so shocking a disbelieving nation: such things simply don’t happen to beautiful, talented people on the right side of 40. Carol Morley’s documentary film Dreams of a Life explores the littleknown circumstances of Joyce’s life and death. The essential poignancy of Dreams of a Life, however, resides not only in Joyce’s tragic lonely demise, but in the nostalgic reminiscing of her friends, lovers and colleagues. Asked to recall the mostly carefree memories of their youth, it appears evident that Joyce might not be the only thing they’ve lost.
As part of Federation Square’s ongoing food and wine program, this Spring, Melbourne’s cultural hub and unofficial town square will become home to Melbourne’s largest edible CBD garden and one of the biggest rooftop honey projects in the city. In conjunction with the Little Veggie Patch Co, Fed Square will be converting the carpark rooftop into a ‘Pop Up Patch’, offering 140 subscriber gardens for Melburnians to grow their own veggies. The rooftops will also be opened to a colony of honeybees with the installation of 10 hives.
This October ACMI presents the upcoming film program ‘Honey I’m Home: Visions Beyond the White Picket Fence’. We all have our notions of ‘home’ and what this means is personal, subjective and by its nature, has a moving definition. This season, ACMI explores these definitions and how they adapt depending on circumstance. A selection of Sundance award-winning documentaries from America, and classics including Kubrick’s cabin-fever classic, The Shining, explore this domestic theme.
Where: ACMI, Federation Square When: 13 September - 7 October Tickets & sessions: www.acmi.net.au
Where: Federation Square When: Opening September Subscriptions: www.popuppatch.com
Where: ACMI, Federation Square When: 18-31 October Tickets & sessions: www.acmi.net.au
HAPPENING
Dreams of a Life
Where: Hamer Hall When: 4-6 October Tickets: Adult $79-$139; Concession $59-$129
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Bayview Eden Melbourne wins Hotel Restaurant of the Year
...and they want to give 3004 News readers a glass of wine to celebrate! Held at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne on Tuesday 12th June 2012 , the TAA State Awards for Excellence celebrated Victoria’s hospitality industry, specifically acknowledging the accommodation sector. “Winning this prestigious award is recognition of the high standards of service and total customer satisfaction that Bayview Eden Melbourne endeavours to deliver to our guests”, David Owen, General Manager. “We are constantly striving to provide an unforgettable, dining experience for guests with an emphasis on traditional service, exquisite cuisines and peaceful surrounds” David added. Bayview Eden Melbourne is part of the Bayview International Hotels & Resorts Group. The portfolio includes hotels in Australia, New Zealand, London, Malaysia and Singapore. Located on the ground floor, adjacent to the Niche Cocktail Bar at Bayview Eden Melbourne, is Niche Cafe.
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The restaurant is headed by Stephen Blokkeerus who explores the international flavours and cuisine from the far East to the West with Executive Chef Alex Karamitos, using a wide variety of local produce and place emphasis on the creation of food excellence.
To celebrate their win, Bayview Eden Melbourne would like to offer 3004 magazine readers a complimentary glass of wine when dining at Niche Cafe for lunch. Valid 7 days until the 30TH November 2012.
Happy Birthday, Federation Square!
Fed Square is turning 10 this year and to celebrate – everyone is invited to a weekend of free activities from 25 – 28 October. Come down during the weekend and enjoy a free family concert, late night openings, a movie marathon on the Big Screen and the Melbourne Architecture Annual. As part of the birthday celebrations, there will also be free public tours of Melbourne’s iconic Square and
special activities and workshops at ACMI, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia and Kirra Galleries. Fed Square has also commissioned a new creative work by American artist, Patrick Dougherty who bends and weaves sticks into extraordinary large scale sculptures. This will mark the Australian premiere of Stickwork, which will take three weeks to build and remain onsite for several months.
The curtains have been raised, the ticket box is open and audiences are returning in droves to the revamped and reenergised Hamer Hall at the Arts Centre Melbourne.
show, one of the failings of the old Melbourne Concert Hall’s façade.
The redevelopment, two years and $135.8 million in the making, ensures Hamer Hall is set to become Australia’s premier concert hall. The extensive facelift has included a redeveloped auditorium with improved acoustics, air conditioning, lighting, superior stage systems, leading edge technology and new wider seating for an improved audience experience. The most significant change to the building, which was delivered on time and on budget, is the addition of new space on the river edge, providing entry points for Hamer Hall right on the river, which Arts Centre Chief Executive Judith Isherwood said, was a key element of the vision for the hall. Ms Isherwood described Hamer Hall as a “world-class concert hall” for the people and said the dazzling design of the precinct would encourage more visitors to experience the arts and culture on
Contemporary approaches to sustainability including power generation and waste and water management have also been included. Hamer Hall was originally built in 1974 on a small site known as Snowden gardens. It opened in 1982 as the Melbourne Concert Hall and was renamed in 2003 in honour of former Premier Sir Rupert Hamer. Hamer Hall has been home to Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Musica Viva. Opera stars Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, and Dame Kiri te Kanawa, guitarist, John Williams and many world orchestras have also performed on the stage.
Hallelujah moved those in the audience, plus soprano Rachelle Durkin, musical theatre’s Caroline O’Connor, singers Archie Roach and Lior and local hero Eddie Perfect.
By Chelsea Arnold area, bringing new audiences of all ages and offering expanded facilities including three new restuarants”.
Other highlights of the opening celebrations included Kylie Minogue and Barry Humphries exhibitions, and entertainment in the newly expanded foyer.
“The redevelopment is expected to increase Arts Centre Melbourne patronage by an additional 600,000 visitors per year coming, drawn to the lively, creative ambience and attraction of the free exhibitions and venues,” Dr Napthine said.
Minister for Major Projects Dr Denis Napthine said that just as it did when first built 30 years ago, “Hamer Hall will further revitalise the Southbank
“I invite all Victorians to come along and enjoy the revitalised Hamer Hall and celebrate Melbourne’s love affair with the arts.”
HAPPENING
Showtime at Hamer Hall
To celebrate the reopening, Hamer Hall staged gala concerts in July, part of four days of events to showcase the hall to Melburnians. Entertainment industry VIPs filled the audience as well as 1600 lucky punters whose names were selected from a Victoria-wide ballot to attend. Special guest star of the events was k.d.lang whose rendition of
432 St Kilda Road Melbourne Tel 03 9866 6220 robertahairbeauty.com Ladies | Mens Hair and Beauty Therapy ISSUE 47
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Tune in for
Melbourne Music Week By Chelsea Arnold
The arrival of spring heralds the start of the much-anticipated music festival season. And with more than 200 acts, Melbourne Music Week (MMW) is sure to be a highlight this spring. Now in its third year, MMW boasts an even bigger line-up than ever before. From 6 to 24 November, international acts will descend on Melbourne for more than 90 events including 50 concerts, 15 workshops, 10 screening and 15 other experiences. In a coup for MMW, Italian progressive rock band Goblin will play the Melbourne Town Hall grand organ. Goblin, who found fame in the 70s, are renowned for their Dario Argento film soundtracks. They will play alongside other musicians on Wednesday, 21 November. Another exciting feature of MMW is the return of the Label series celebrating the talent of independent labels Siberia Records, Cutters Records, Two Bright Lakes and Chapter Music. Chapter Music, one of Australia’s longest-running independent
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record labels, will present a full-day show with a massive line-up of past and present acts to celebrate its 20th anniversary. In their first live performance since 2009, four-piece Melbourne band Crayon Fields will headline the concert alongside Twerps.
The United States’ Teengirl Fantasy and home-grown favourite Collarbones are the first artists announced to headline the two Bright Lakes and Cutters Records show. The Siberian show will feature Kirin J Callinan who confronts audiences with his haunting compositions and wild guitar performances. MMW is also all about contrasting old and new. So for the first time, MMW will host Where?House, a mysterious flagship venue. With a mix of permanent features of the location and the latest multimedia technologies, an iconic Melbourne space will be transformed into a hub providing a pop-up venue. Where?House will operate from mid-morning each day, hosting free and ticketed shows and the official after party on Sunday, 25 November. In the spirit of electronic music culture of days gone by, the location of the venue will not be
announced until opening day. Three international acts touring Australia for the first time will be headlining the shows at Where?House. French synth-rock due Housse de Racket (Kitsune), LA-based electronic music producer and live performer Eskmo (Ninja Tune) and San Francisco-based trio PillowTalk (VisionQuest, Wolf + Lamb) are sure to draw impressive crowds. Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said MMW reinforces Melbourne’s reputation as the music capital of Australia and one of the top music cities in the world. “Melbourne is world-renowned for music in all its forms and we’re proud of our long lineage of musicians, producers and artists. MMW partners with the local music industry to create a unique event for the city that contributes $1.5 million to Melbourne’s economy,” Cr Doyle said. “MMW is an event that recognises the strength of Melbourne’s music scene on the local, national and international stage. This innovative event celebrates Melbourne as a world-class creative city. We are looking forward to another successful event in 2012.”
More Melbourne Music Week acts, concerts and events will be announced on 19 September when selected tickets go on sale. Full program details will be announced on 3 October.
To get your Melbourne Music Week fix in the meantime, visit www.facebook.com/melbmusic
HAPPENING
Federation Bells Chiming The Federation Bells struck a new tune on August 30 as the City of Melbourne announced the winners of a unique composition competition. Composer Daryl Wallis won $2000 for his piece Purple Daze and musician Anthony Barnao came runner up with his piece The Dreamer, whose compositions chimed throughout Birrurung Marr from 30 August to 2 September. Entries were received from across Australia, testament to the popularity of the Federation Bells. Competition entries were judged by Yorta Yorta composer and
soprano Deborah Cheetham, PBS Program Manager Owen McKern and City of Melbourne Curator of Musical Instruments Ariel Valent.
at Rod Laver Arena. Purple Daze was inspired by some of the musical energies felt in Birrarung Marr that evening,’ said Daryl.
The Federation Bells can be found on the Middle Terrace of Birrarung Marr, between Federation Square, the Yarra River and the MCG.
‘The composers have clearly considered the physical, cultural and artistic space the Federation Bells occupy in Melbourne and have devised works that respond intimately with that environment,’ said Owen McKern. Winner Daryl Wallis was inspired to write his piece after an impressive musical night in Melbourne. ‘I heard the bells chiming one evening whilst walking t hear a longstanding musical inspiration
www.federationbells.com.au
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Words with friends “The thing that makes the MWF so great is that it captures every type of writing. It showcases that storytelling is at the centre of our lives, it reflects what makes Melbourne such a great writing city,” Grimwade said. Grimwade recalls how there was not a dry eye in the room when in 2009 German law professor and writer Bernhard Schlink spoke of the tensions surrounding his book, The Reader, and how contemporary Germany was still trying to come to terms with the Holocaust. Eleven days, 350 events and 400 guest speakers marked the end of another chapter for the Melbourne Writers’ Festival (MWF). When the curtain closed on the 27th MWF on 2 September it was the swansong for outgoing director Steve Grimwade, who leaves the festival after five years, three of those at the helm.
“We’ve really been able to connect with people on an emotional level,” Grimwade said. “It’s been an absolute delight to see audiences throng to see writers as diverse as Joss Whedon, Mona Eltahawy and Jonathan Franzen.” Under Grimwade’s directorship, the festival has enjoyed everincreasing audiences and the
...by Chelsea Arnold greatest box office results in the past two years. He has also helped grow sponsorships by more than a third and donations by 50 per cent. Additionally, he has been instrumental in forging new international networks for the festival – working with other UNESCO Cities of Literature and the Word Alliance, a coalition of the world’s leading literary festivals. “The festival has been growing for the past 28 years. Our audiences averaged 30,000 six years ago and in recent years we’ve attracted more than 50,000 since we’ve moved to our new home at Federation Square. We had outgrown The Malthouse and wanted a venue at the heart of the city so in 2008 we moved to Federation Square. It’s close to public transport which is how the majority of our audiences travel to the festival. “We are reaching a much younger audience, the programming has been broadened, and we are now
holding events in quick, exciting venues like restaurants and bars.” But Grimwade said proactive renewal was an important part of building and maintaining strong, vital arts festivals. “It’s time to let MWF find a new leader to further cement itself as a globally significant festival,” Grimwade said. “It’s been an honour to create a festival which reflects Melbourne’s strengths, and which then connects these to the world at large. “I can tell you though that we have been fortunate to source funding to bring Scottish writers to Melbourne, so the MWF will be celebrating Scotland in 2013.” And how will the plot play out in Grimwade’s next chapter? “I look forward to working with ideas, writers and audiences. It’s exciting to have new opportunities.”
The Art of Daylesford It’s not quite St Kilda Road, but the Hepburn Shire town of Daylesford is a place of which we’re particularly fond. Art has featured prominently in the Daylesford region since its settlement during the Gold Rush era in Victoria in the mid 1850s. Eduard Von Gerard lived and painted in Daylesford at that time and his works feature in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, the Geelong Gallery, the Art Gallery of Ballarat and Bendigo Art Gallery. 12
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Norman Lindsay and his artistic family all lived and painted in nearby Creswick, and renowned contemporary artist Peter Tyndall paints and creates installation pieces from his studio in Hepburn. Tyndall’s work is highly sought and graces many galleries and private collections locally and overseas.
Over 1500 art lovers visited the four-day event with a quarter of paintings selling; an amazing result considering the economic times in which we live and testament to the quality of the art on offer. With even more entries expected this year, the 2012 Daylesford Art Show promises to be even better.
Today, we are blessed to have many wonderful artists living and painting within the Daylesford community. Names like Nash, Mack, Waterhouse, Parker, Porter, Leunig and Spronk to mention a few.
The 2012 Daylesford Rotary Art Show runs from Friday November 2nd to Monday November 5th, 9.30pm to 5pm at the Daylesford Town Hall.
Now in its 28th year, the Daylesford Art Show has become one of the town’s major community events. In 2011, it was the most successful regional art show in Victoria with more than 220 paintings on display from 73 local, regional and Melbourne artists.
Entry forms must be received by Friday October 26th.
For further information, contact Karen or Warren Maloney. (03) 5348 1451
karenmaloney@bigpond.com
What our residents think . . . With many of our readers writing in to share their views in response to Chelsea Arnold’s story, this debate looks like it isn’t going away anytime soon.
Why not name it ‘Melbourne Boulevarde’, with an ‘e’? That way, it has more to do with Melbourne than St Kida and sgives it distinction as many are spelled this way in Europe.
Valma Angliss
In my opinion I prefer it to be called a road because of the commercial aspect and its history.
Ashleigh Wakefield, Australian Property Management My husband Gary and I have always referred to St Kilda Road as The Boulevard, for it is indeed a boulevard. We would be among many happy with such a name change. We say that living on The Boulevard
is like living on Melbourne’s Champs Elysees, or, like living on Melbourne’s Park Avenue overlooking not Central Park but, Fawkner Park.
Trisha and Gary D Bouma I would like to see St Kilda Road renamed St Kilda Boulevard as I truly believe we should acknowledge the beauty of this stunning streetscape.
Susan Stirling, SSK Property Solutions St Kilda Road is beautiful, and may rival any Boulevard in the world, but it is well known by its current name and we do not have to copy or ‘live up to’ anywhere else. Let us be proud and confident enough to
be ourselves, and turn our attention to more pressing problems, like looking after the trees, improving the street furniture and reducing the amount of litter and cigarette butts on our beautiful road.
Janet Parr We live in Slater Street, off St Kilda Road. My husband walks a lot and tells me he sees a tremendous number of backpackers and others looking for a St Kilda address. We cannot stress how much easier it would be if the road were called St Kilda Boulevard up to the junction; St Kilda Road from the junction to where Brighton Road begins; and Brighton Road up to Elsternwick, where the Nepean Highway begins. Just our thoughts.
Stella Torrance
The reason why a name change for St Kilda Road is not necessary is right there in the article: of the world’s four greatest boulevards mentioned, only one, Santa Monica, has ‘Boulevard’ in its name. Some of the Parisian streets that are designated ‘Boulevards’ have elevated train tracks running down the middle of them, Boulevard De la Villette and Boulevard de la Chaphelle for example, while the Boulevard Peripherique is the eight lane freeway that encircles Paris!
COMMUNITY
St Kilda Road . . . Street or Boulevard?
Keep St Kilda Road and promote it as Melbourne’s world-class boulevard.
Richard Moore
Let us know your thoughts on St Kilda Road and the things you’d like to see more of in the magazine by sending an email to emily@melbournemedia.com.au
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Flinders Street Station Past and Future
‘Meet me under the clocks’ is a phrase close to Melbourne’s heart. Indeed, most Melburnians have enjoyed the welcome sight of a loved one waiting for them beneath the city’s nine unofficial timekeepers (the Nylex Clock an honorary tenth). Flinders Street Station is not a mere meeting point, however, but a cultural reference point too. Nineteen-eighties Melbourne powerhouse Painters and Dockers sang about it once: “A train rushed out of the underground loop/and gave three loud ‘toot! toot! toots!’/the force of the movement as it rushed by/was enough to rip the boy’s trousers off and send them into the sky/ Infatuation, the boy who lost his jocks on Flinders Street Station!” A persistent busking bagpiper pumped out a different, more grating tune on the station’s steps for what seemed like forever, achieving iconic status in the process. The engrossing 1920 short film City Traffic in Variable Moods too based much of its three minutes and fifty seconds around the bustle of the Flinders and Swanston Street corner. Despite its revered status as Melbourne’s tireless sentry, however,
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a broader understanding of Flinders Street Station’s textured past is perhaps surprisingly absent from the city’s collective psyche. The first railway station to occupy the site was the largely weatherboard Melbourne Terminus, which sprang up in 1884 adjacent the Fish Market building. In 1899, railway employees James Fawcett and H.P.C. Ashworth won the right to design a more permanent replacement, with their French-Renaissance proposal – complete with dome and clock tower – generating much excitement. Building commenced in earnest soon after, with continual expansion over the next two decades seeing Flinders Street eventually acknowledged as the world’s busiest passenger station in 1926. But beyond that famous façade, the Flinders Street Station site in its entirety was no mere transport hub, but an intricate catacomb home to some of Melbourne’s most vibrant civic spaces. The mighty administration building – four storeys high, and a quarter of a kilometre long – houses many of the initiatives introduced by the Victorian Railway Institute.
The 400-seat ballroom, located towards the Elizabeth Street entrance, was for years a big drawcard in the city’s social scene. A cinematograph lantern was installed in 1913, with ‘Picture Entertainments’ held every Saturday night. Socials gained popularity after World War I, with dancing classes and ballroom competitions soon becoming commonplace. English and American servicemen (or ‘pink pants’, as the latter were known) were permanent fixtures at such events.
A billiard room proved a hit for those interested in a spot of entertainment that didn’t revolve around alcohol. By 1922, five billiard tables adorned the room, with snooker warranting a charge of ‘4d per stick’. A gym, too, began to attract regular clientele from 1914 onwards. Boxing and weightlifting were particularly popular, with the station used extensively for the training of both pugilists and lifters in the lead up to the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Even the station’s roof
space was invaded when weather permitted, with ‘physical culture’, judo, fencing and wrestling conducted along the city’s skyline. Those who pushed themselves to over-exertion on the roof could retreat to the Loungers’ Club in the station’s basement. Opened in 1909 and available to both men and women, the Loungers’ Club provided afternoon tea, newspapers and ‘an easy chair’ for tired shoppers or students to while away an hour or two. The station’s Flinders Street side and concourse were home to
all manner of different retailers and food stands, too, should any have had time to kill before a meeting under the clocks. Trying on a rakish fedora at City Hatters, operating out of the station since 1910, was always another option. Gradually, however, much of Flinders Street Station’s vibrant amenity was lost to disrepair. The third floor was overrun by decay and abandoned many years ago, with refurbishment plans neglected by government after government. Now, the Baillieu
government has made clear its commitment to restoring the entire 4.7-hectare site of Flinders Street Station, so scouring the globe for particularly imaginative and suitable design concepts. The Premier himself articulated his party’s unequivocal position: “This precinct calls for creative brilliance from across the globe so a Melbourne landmark site can be restored to its full potential. This competition will harness the very best ideas and help bring the precinct back to life. After years
SPECIAL FEATURE
...by Costa Rolfe
of neglect, the administration building has been left derelict while access and facilities are well below an acceptable standard.” The project will not only seek to improve transport functions, but re-energise the station and its surrounds, and preserve its heritage. Entries for the $1 million design Flinders Street Station Design Competition closed in mid-2012, with international offerings strongly represented.
ISSUE 47
15
COMMUNITY
St Kilda Road’s Coolest Office
Drab mass-produced ‘executive chairs’ and filing cabinets, sad little work stations, maybe a few tired old indoor plants – office spaces are generally not known for exuding a cutting-edge vibe.
But St Kilda Road is bucking the trend thanks to the revamped headquarters of game designers EA (Electronic Arts). Tenants of VACC House at 464 St Kilda Road for 12 months, EA recently
Students on Screen
online), country and even personal identity. Entries may also look at how a lack of belonging or connectedness affects the wellbeing of individuals and society.
There is less than a month to go until entries close for Screen It 2012, the national competition for school-aged filmmakers and game makers run annually by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). This year’s theme, ‘Belonging’, provides a valuable trigger for students and teachers to investigate topical issues while learning game and filmmaking techniques along the way. The competition is open to anyone enrolled in primary or secondary education. Students can enter through their school or independently. Entries can be live-action films, computer games or animations, but must incorporate the theme.
Students may choose to explore belonging as it relates to family, cultural groups, community (such as at school, in sporting teams or 16
3004NEWS
“By encouraging students to understand ideas of belonging and inclusiveness, we are equipping a generation of young Australians for thoughtful, caring and confident futures,” said Christine. Unlike other student film competitions, Screen It is designed to provide rich crossdisciplinary educational outcomes for participants. Judged by a panel of industry experts, winners will be presented at an awards ceremony in December, each receiving a certificate, a trophy and a DVD prize pack courtesy of Madman Entertainment.
The 2011 Screen It competition attracted the highest number of entries in the competition’s history with 499 entries submitted by over 1456 students nationwide. Entry is free and closes for the 2012 competition at 5pm on Friday 14 September.
Students and teachers from across Australia can register online now: www.acmi.net.au/screenit
commissioned several street artists to liven up the interiors with a few vividly rendered automative scenes.
artwork affiliated with the brand, and it’s been a great collaboration between old-school graffiti artists and a couple of younger artists. EA VACC Building Manager Cameron were after an old Melbourne-alley LA0014_Press 90x120mm_OL-HR-R1.pdf 1 5/05/11 10:24 Pritchard said, ‘They wantedAdsome feel in a corporate environment.’
AM
COMMUNITY
Club 3004 Club 3004 continues to strengthen our community, inviting both business representatives and residents to celebrate our diversity and passion for St Kilda Road. Join fellow networking enthusiasts either casually, or as a member to accelerate your growth potential.
Deborah Davis, Greg Quirke and Cathy Mattinson
Ashleigh Israel, Lyndall Tennant, Mark Richardson and Hunter Dean
Beverley Hind and Paul McFarlane
David Bower and Brian Jones
Miriam Sandkuhler and Chris McDonald
Maree Norris, Bob Richardson and Victoria St John
Matthew Devenish and Evan Davis
Membership form
Club 3004 is a social club for those who work and/or live within the 3004 postcode precinct. The club aims to offer a fun and relaxed atmosphere for people to meet and mingle with their neighbours over a drink and finger food. The club holds cocktail functions on the 1st Thursday of every month from 6.00pm till 7.30pm at our home - Ormond Hall, 557 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, 3004. To join, simply fill out this form and return by fax to 9758 7411, or post a cheque to Lyndall Tennant at Club 3004, PO Box 107, Collins Street West, Melbourne 8007. Alternately, e-mail Lyndall: enquiries@club3004.com.au to pay via bank transfer. Receipts will be e-mailed back.
TYPE
COST
DESCRIPTION
Individual
$125 pa
Membership for one includes entry to ten club functions
SME’s
$250 pa
Includes individual and interchangeable membership for up to 5 associates
Invited guests
$20 per event
A pass will be issued to invited guests for the evening
Sponsorship
Package available on request
I/we wish to join Club 3004 for twelve months
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Enclosed is a cheque for $ .............................................................
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or Please charge my Visa / Master Card / Amex
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Club 3004 Sponsors
Club Dates Thursday 4 October Thursday 8 November Members:
Don’t forget to upload your details on the Club3004 website. www.club3004.com.au
Webpage sponsored by Rodney www.pn.com.au
ISSUE 47
17
ENVIRONMENT
Anita Roper 3004 News’ Environment Page
City of Melbourne and City of Port Phillip are partnering with the State Government to increase recycling rates with ‘Get it right on Bin Night. Think about what you put into your bins. Batteries, computers and mobile phones contain materials which should not go to the tip. Port Phillip has a Resource Recovery Centre for these materials. There is a recycling scheme for computers, printers and cartridges – often they, or their parts, can be reused.
Victorians produce, literally, mountains of waste – more than 10 million tonnes or 2000kg per person per year. Sustainability Victoria, based on household surveys, estimates that our weekly rubbish contains 450,000 wheelie bins of material that could have been recycled. Instead it ends up in landfill. Quite apart from the waste of scarce resources think of the additional council rates we are paying to bury it all. Our principle should be to reduce, reuse and recycle. Communities, businesses, families or individuals can all make smarter choices to reduce our environmental impact. Good advice is available at Sustainability Victoria’s website, resourcesmart. vic.gov.au, and from your local council - councils, including the
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3004NEWS
It’s a good idea to ‘Detox your Home’ (and business). It’s amazing what we accumulate over time – acids, aerosol cans, batteries, cleaners, CFLs, paint, weed killers, solvents etc. Mobile drop offs are organised by the local council, often at weekends. While councils and the State Government offer these services, it is really up to us. Owners and tenants as well as managers need to encourage good behaviour. In our apartment block we have a good recycling system in our basement. However, any system is only as good as its users. Often plastic bags and rubbish are put in both the glass and metals wheelie and the paper/cardboard container. Collectively we can achieve huge reductions in waste. Until next time,
Anita Roper
A New Lone Pine By Dr Ian Shears
It was a solemn, grey August day when the Lone Pine tree at the Shrine Reserve was removed. For almost eight decades this tree was cherished as a special symbolic connection to those veterans that fought and died on the Battlefields of Gallipoli. Planted in 1933, the tree was grown from seeds collected by a soldier – Sgt Keith Mc Dowell – who picked up a cone from the Lone Pine on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. Last summer, City of Melbourne’s arborists discovered that the Lone Pine was infected with the fungal disease Diplodia pinea. In the months following many attempts were made to heal the tree until it inevitably succumbed to the disease. Removal of the tree was undertaken to avoid the disease spreading to the many other pine trees in the vicinity. The risk of disease transmission increases substantially as the weather begins to warm up in spring.
Over a period of two days on 22 and 23 August, the City’s arborists carefully dismantled the tree. The main trunks and branches have been retained for milling and will be used in the future Galleries of Remembrance project. Fortunately, a Young Lone Pine propagated from the same tree – was planted next to the original Lone Pine in 2006 as a precautionary measure. This young tree will continue to carry the Lone Pine’s legacy for generations to come.
Time-lapse photography which beautifully documents the removal of the Lone Pine is available for viewing on The Age website: http:// media.theage.com.au/news/ environment-news/timelapsethe-shrines-lone-pinefelled-3574800.html
The Big Issue – Women’s Subscription Enterprise Sold on the streets around Australia, The Big Issue has been having a positive impact on the lives of its vendors since its launch in 1996. Vendors come from backgrounds underscored by homelessness, mental illness, family breakdown or drug and alcohol addiction, buying the magazine for $2.50 from The Big Issue and selling it on the streets of Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and regional Victoria for $5, keeping the difference. Australian Big Issue vendors have sold over 6 million magazines, with more than $13.2 million going into the pockets of the nation’s homeless and disadvantaged. It’s an enterprise that works, harnessing
a creative solution to some of our social problems and driven by quality content overseen by editor and Walkley-winner Alan Attwood. The Big Issue’s latest venture is its Women’s Subscription Enterprise, providing training opportunities to homeless women. Subscription sales to the magazine will provide employment opportunities for disadvantaged women as dispatch assistants, collating and distributing The Big Issue each fortnight. Along with paid work, women will be given the opportunity to develop their skills in a secure environment and receive ongoing training.
www.bigissue.org.au
precinct round-up The Melbourne Athenaeum Library is a contemporary reading room and recreational reading library located on the first floor of the Athenaeum Theatre in Collins Street.
The library is a subscription-based oasis offering more than 30,000 volumes of biography, science fiction, fantasy, history, current best sellers, journals and popular magazines, detective fiction and classics. Its club like atmosphere is the locale for readings, book clubs, author talks and other activities with a literary focus. Join one of Melbourne’s oldest cultural institutions before the 1st November and you can go into the draw to win an iPad2.
Where am I?
Enter our relaxing spa like environment, and let your cares drift away. Listen to the tranquillity of our cascading water feature and soothing lounge music. Absorb the delicious aroma of our herbal tea, freshly brewed ground coffee and designer fragranced candles. Our guests have described the ambience as ultimate luxury and often comment on feeling uplifted and rejuvenated. Answer – If you are not at Freedom Dental, you are in the wrong chair.
Becoming Spoilt…
St Kilda Road is becoming spoilt for choice for dining with many changes. Discover the world-renowned Melbourne café and coffee scene, Orient East’s new brunch-inspired menu for breakfast at 348 St Kilda Road, and Bakini’s new delicious authentic Italian lunch Bistro Bakini, lighting up the lunch hour on 568 St Kilda Road, created especially for St Kilda’ Road’s busy professionals.
Melburnian of the Year on song
The City of Melbourne’s highest award was presented at a Gala ceremony at the Melbourne Town Hall on August 18 2012 to Melbourne’s pop music entrepreneur Michael Gudinski, who celebrated with family, friends and colleagues when announced as the 2012 Melburnian of the Year. This Melbourne Awards ceremony marked the 10th anniversary of Melbourne City Council’s prestigious presentation that recognises both individuals and organisations with the highest of accolades and highlights inspirational stories and achievements of Melbournians such as Michael. Past Melburnian’s of the Year include Harold Mitchell, Jim Stynes, Susan Barton, John Burtrand,
(L-R) Matt Gudinski, Richard Holyman, LM Robert Doyle, Michael Gudinski, DLM Susan Riley, Molly Meldrum, Kate Alexa.
Ron Barassi and Andrew Gaze. Captured in the celebrations were ……..
Are you single? Get ready to mingle!
Encourage growth with tree’s and relationships by taking part in the ‘Tree planting for Singles’ morning from 9:30am – 12noon on September 22 2012. Meet a new person to plant a new tree every 10 minutes. Then join everyone to mingle over a nice drink. Even if you don’t happen to meet your dream partner, you will feel good knowing you have done something for your local environment. Need more info? Call 9209 6548 or emailenviro@portphillip.vic.gov.au
Spring Grazing at Bakini
Join Bakini as they celebrate a new spring and the wonderful Victorian produce that comes with it. In the ultimate graze, Bakini is proudly hosting a five-course degustation dinner that will amaze food lovers.
PRECINCT ROUND-UP
Win an iPad2 by checking out
Enjoy a glass of complimentary Tarra Warra pinot or chardonnay on arrival, and take in the menu utilising Victoria’s high quality produce, including king fish from Werribee, Chandon from the Yarra Valley, and Gippsland spring lamb. Join us at Bakini for this delicious Melbourne Food and Wine Festival event on Wednesday September 26 – with great food, good company and spring blossoms.
ISSUE 47
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SPORT
A Golf Lesson from Mark Allen
The move from playing golf professionally to a career analysing the game might seem logical – after all, the media is certainly full to bursting with ex-sporting greats from the annals of Australian Rules, rugby, tennis and cricket.
Allen’s golf success kicked off early, and genetically, things couldn’t have gone much better. Blessed with two skilled golfing parents (Allen’s mother was a dual club champion, and his father claimed a couple of Victorian Open victories) and armed with a ball and a club, Allen developed an affinity with golf from a young age. ‘It was more like a sport to me than an old man’s game. I’d hit the ball, run after it, hit it again, run after it,’ he says.
For Mark Allen, the career shift from golf pro to commentator was far from the inevitable next step beyond the fairways. Retirement was sudden, and Allen reflects candidly on the weeks that followed as a grim period. ‘I’d always said that if I dropped out of the top 50, what the hell was I doing it for?’
At 18, Allen was awarded a scholarship to Texas Tech. ‘I thought it was pretty easy, to be honest, and two years later after returning to Australia, I turned pro. I thought I was king of the world, that this pro gig would be a breeze and I’d be meeting movie stars.’ Allen’s fortune continued, and he tied for 8th in his first tournament.
Following his exit from pro golf after defeat in New Zealand in 2003, Allen says, ‘the wheels fell off and I couldn’t see beyond the disappointment. Golf was all I had ever done.’ But an unexpected phone call from Rod Law (now Fox Sports Melbourne General Manager) presented a fresh opportunity. ‘Rod said, “We’ve got a new radio station, it’s all sport,”’ Allen recalls. The station was SEN 1116, Melbourne’s fledgling 24-hour all-sports radio, with Allen coming aboard as host of the Wednesday night one-hour golf program, ‘Chasing Birdies’. When broadcaster Francis Leach left SEN at the end of 2011 for ABC Radio, Allen stepped in as co-host of ‘The Run Home’ alongside David Schwarz.
Between his media commitments, and coaching at Albert Park Golf Academy, Allen remains is convinced that golf is the most intensely psychological sport there is – one morning’s success can be swiftly followed by inexplicable disaster. ‘It’s definitely the most mental game. It’s about being able to repeat a skill you’ve practised a thousand times, but this time the lights are on and everybody’s watching. You see some great performances from players, but if you put them in a tournament with big names they get scared off the leader board.’ Fine-tuning your game is a frustrating lifelong work-in-progress, and as Allen says, ‘You’re never done with that. Tiger Woods is still working on his swing. You have to find a way to just enjoy it. There are so many levels to turning pro, and that’s the difference between somebody hitting balls at the driving range and a real golfer.’ And what is it that makes a real golfer? ‘Poise,’ declares Allen. ‘That’s the difference. When the cameras are on some blokes just turn to water. I used to hate playing without the crowds and cameras. ’
St Kilda Road Medical Centre
St Kilda Rd Sports & Physiotherapy Centre
Services available:
St Kilda Rd Sports and Physiotherapy Centre hosts a team of experienced physiotherapists, massage therapists and dietitian. Their vast knowledge and experience provides a solid foundation for the effective care of a broad spectrum of clientele, from recreationally active individuals to elite level athletes in all sports including gymnastics, tennis and triathlon. Though our therapists are capable of assessing and treating a wide range of injuries, they also have particular specialist expertise in the treatment of spinal, shoulder and hip injuries. Appointments are available Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. Please call us to make an appointment or enquiry.
• General Practice • Men’s and Women’s Health • Family medicine • Accredited Travel Vaccination Centre • Acupuncture
• Nutritional medicine • Preventative Medicine • Dietitians • Physiotherapy – Sports and Rehabilitation • Remedial Massage
We offer: • High quality medical care • Female and Male practitioners
• Established for over 15 years • Dorevitch Collection centre on site
Phone 9869 2000 Level 1/391 St Kilda Road (Between Domain Rd & Toorak Rd) e: info@phm.org.au www.skrmc.com.au 8am – 6pm Mon – Fri, Sat 9 – 11am Consultation by appointment only 20
Early in his career Allen had claims on being one of Australia’s best professional golfers – no small accomplishment in an era that featured the likes of Greg Norman and Steve Elkington. His achievements encompassed ten years inside the Australian PGA Tour Order of Merit top 50 players, as well as numerous majors appearances and international top ten finishes at some of the world’s strongest tours.
By Emily Rolfe
3004NEWS
St Kilda Road Medical Centre
Phone 9869 2030 Level 1/391 St Kilda Rd (Between Domain Rd & Toorak Rd) e: physio@phm.org.au www.skrphysio.com.au Mon – Fri 8am – 6pm Consultation by appointment only
Imagine a world where no Australian woman died from breast cancer. If the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) has anything to do with it, this ambitious goal will be a reality by 2030. This year alone, it is estimated that 14,610 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the most common cancer in women. On a positive note, most will survive. Latest statistics show that the five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer is more than 88 per cent. However, research is still needed to improve the prevention, detection and treatment of the disease. NBCF’s Chief Executive Officer, Carole Renouf said that when the NBCF was founded in 1994, 30 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer lost their battle with the disease. “In less than 20 years, that percentage has halved, a statistic achieved primarily through research,” Ms Renouf said.
In order to continue this level of research, NBCF’s Regional Development Executive, Irene Ryder said, “it is important that we continue to raise funds and grant them to the research that will make the greatest impact”. Since NBCF was established in 1994, more than $81 million has been raised and used to fund over 300 Australianbased research projects across every state and territory.
While efforts focus on the big picture, fundraising also continues locally to provide a better outcome for those women facing their breast cancer journey. The Think Pink Foundation’s chairwoman, Irene Hendel, knows first-hand the emotional, physical and financial challenges that confront women diagnosed with breast cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998 and then again in 2003. “It was after my second diagnosis when I had six weeks of radiotherapy that I got to see many women every day for six weeks. A lot of
Why is it so, William So?
So, William So, What is your best advice regarding...
Oral Transmucosal pain gel
Have you ever wondered whether our stomach lining is really the only site for drug absorption? Swallowing a tablet remains the most common route due to low cost and ease of use. However, severe drawbacks exist such as liver metabolism and stomach drug degradation affect the drug action. Therefore other absorptive mucosal linings are being considered, including the nasal, rectal, vaginal, ocular and oral cavity. In recent years, oral mucosa, particularly buccal mucosa, as site of drug administration have received considerable attention as an effective, safe and noninvasive administration route.
Broadly speaking, the upper lining of our mouth include the cheeks is the buccal mucosa and the sublingual region being the floor of the mouth under the tongue. The sublingual mucosa is thinner than the buccal mucosea, making it a better site if a rapid action is desired such as Nicotine sublingual lozenges in smoking cessation. The buccal mucosa is less
permeable and is a better site for longterm treatment such as chronic pains. Recent developments have lead to the use of various oral semisolid gels and creams in treatment of orofacial pain. Drugs in use are local anaesthetics, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs and antiepilepsy drugs. These typically contain a polymer, drugs and any required excipients dissolved or suspended as fine powder in a cream/gel base. A couple of dentist specialists upstairs in my building are already employing the Oral Transmucosal pain gel in their patients with considerable success. As for me, I am simply delighted that I find a new use for my Stud 100 delay spray!
them were from the country and had no income during their treatment. It was quite devastating for them and their families, having the stress of being sick and the financial stress.”
By Chelsea Arnold Snapshot of breast cancer in Australia
• Australian women have a one in nine lifetime risk of developing breast cancer • The risk increases with age • The average age of first diagnosis in women is 60
Mrs Hendel suggested to the then Think Pink Committee that the foundation should change its focus from funding breast cancer research to funding projects providing direct financial, emotional and physical support to patients. “It was always my hope and intention that we would also have our own space and place where we can enable women to have a better journey through breast cancer,” Mrs Hendel said. Her vision became a reality last year with the opening of the first Think Pink Living Centre at 390 St Kilda Road. The Living Centre offers a range of holistic support
HEALTH
Think pink to beat breast cancer
services, free of charge, to all breast cancer patients and their families. Services include counselling, advice from qualified nurses, peer support, pilates and art-therapy classes, breast cancer specific massage therapy, a wig library and indulgence days.
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month festivities, Think Pink is holding a high tea at the Intercontinental, Collins Street, Melbourne on 22 October. Tickets are $100. Call The Living Centre on 9820 2888 for more information or to book.
not just band-aid solutions Benefit from our years of experience & knowledge for your long-term health and well being. Our philosophy is simple. We provide ‘Quality and Care’ to ensure our customers receive the best healthcare advice with value for money and reputable medical products. We are dedicated to providing professional pharmaceutical advice… our finger is always on the pulse for your good health..
Pharmacy 517 517 St Kilda Rd (Corner Commercial Rd) P 9866 4892 • F 9866 2133 Monday – Friday 8.30am – 6.30pm Saturday by appoinment Email pharmacy.517@nunet.com.au
• Self-Care Health Information • Prescription (Rx) • Vitamins • Passport Photos • Photocopy & Fax
At Pharmacy 517, we don’t have customers, we have friends. It’s how we connect with our friends that allows us to make a difference in their lives. ISSUE 47
21
TRAVEL
Freewheeling Adventure ... by Helen Kent
As a widow of some seven years, I thought I had my life neatly packaged and thoroughly predictable. It was a very happy life, full of love from family and friends, I was relishing being a new grandmother, had an active social life and a diverse array of enjoyable interests and activities that kept me mentally and physically challenged. Well so I thought. Just into the new year of 2012, I met ‘Diver Dan’ at a lunch on the Mornington Peninsula and my life took a sharp detour. My ‘Diver Dan’ is nearly five years younger than me, rather gorgeous, an absolute gentleman with a fascinating mind and quite the adventurer. He, in his 50s, has roamed the world, climbed the odd mountain, is a sailor, a gentle bikie and keen cyclist. Over the next few months I fell in love with him and it appears this was mutual - lucky me.
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3004NEWS
I knew he loved an adventure and would take off overseas every winter to explore the world. Then he started suggesting that I might like to join him on a self-guided cycling trip from Amsterdam to Paris. I was a bit daunted initially but then became quite thrilled at the prospect of such an adventure. The idea was to purchase bikes and then cycle around 50km a day, mainly on canal paths or designated cycle roads. Our accommodation en route would be rather basic with a few more luxurious places every 5-7 days for two night’s ‘R&R’. The training started and ‘Diver Dan’ pulled out a lovely old bike that had belonged to his mother (no gears and a dodgy seat) and we set forth riding for two hours along the bike path from Albert Park to Elwood then zigzagging back through the streets of Elwood, St Kilda, Middle Park and Albert Park
– punctuated by a stop for a yummy lunch, and finishing at the Albert Park Hotel for a glass of wine. I was amazed to find that I had survived without any aches or pains. The training accelerated to 2530 km rides and surprisingly the body stood up quite well. At the time of writing, ‘Diver Dan’ has escaped to Japan for a month and will meet me in Amsterdam, where we will stay at the beautiful Pulitzer Hotel before commencing our bike tour. In the meantime I’m continuing my training, planning for the trip and counting the days till I see him. The downside to this trip is that I have been advised my luggage for the duration of the three-week cycling adventure is to be no more than a small ‘carry-on’. This will be quite a challenge as I normally travel at the pointy end of the plane with oversized luggage.
A couple of savvy female friends, who have done this sort of thing before, have been an enormous source of advice (once they stopped laughing at the thought of me on this trip) on what to take. So I have the bag packed, the requisite minimal clothing, make-up, toiletries, medical kit and my enthusiasm charged to the max. I will leave the oversized suitcase for when we triumphantly cycle in for six days of sheer luxury at the end of our journey. My son, the ‘doubting Thomas’, has suggested running ‘a book’ betting on just how far I will get towards Paris. Stay tuned. A bientôt!
By Tom Elliott
for C02 permits will become far more integrated with the rest of the world. This benefits all of us because assuming climate change is real, an international and holistic approach to tackling it must surely have a greater chance of success than a hodgepodge of regional approaches. When one reads, as I did the other day, that Arctic ice is retreating during the Northern summer at a rate not seen for millennia, the time for concerted action has to be sooner rather than later.
Recently the Federal Government made a smart change to the rollout of its controversial carbon tax. From 2015, instead of the carbon price having a potentially artificial floor of $15 per tonne (vs $23 per tonne at present), the price for carbon emissions here will be allowed to match the international levels for the stuff (set largely in Europe). For a variety of reasons, this decision is an excellent one for Australian businesses. For a start, because Europe currently faces both an oversupply of carbon credits combined with a pretty terrible recession, the price per tonne of CO2 emissions has fallen to well below $10 per tonne. Should economic matters not improve there over the next three years, then there’s a good chance Australian companies will be able to purchase needed permits at a price well below the ambitiously high local level of $23 per tonne. Assuming the reduced costs of such permits flows through to consumers, then household and business electricity prices, for example, could well become cheaper over time rather than more expensive. A second benefit for Australia from the Government’s rethink on carbon is that our markets
Possibly the biggest potential problem with the Government’s plan is how to handle the relatively high carbon tax compensation already flowing to households. In theory, if the current level of Household Assistance Package (HAP) payments is based on the aforementioned ‘high’ carbon price of $23 per tonne, then a future lower price for carbon permits should also result in lower compensation. Unfortunately, Australian households have a long history of voting against governments who cut their benefits, especially when such cuts are applied to those in lower income brackets. Although Climate Change Minister Greg Combet has spoken at great length about the benefits of international carbon price integration, he has been conspicuously silent on the sleeping giant of winding back the associated compensation. This suggests to me that like many issues, potential bad policy news will be delayed until after the 2013 federal election which, given its recent uptick in the opinion polls, the Government still hopes to win. If, therefore, you’re one of the individuals or households currently enjoying the HAP’s largesse, I’ll give you some free advice – don’t factor these payments into your ongoing expenditure plans.
Technology keeping us awake Caffeine is one of the most wellknown culprits, but there might be another reason you’re having trouble getting to sleep each night. Researchers at the Lighting Research Centre at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have found that it could be your tablet or smartphone that’s to blame. The study has found that exposure to backlit devices for periods of two hours or more suppresses melatonin, which can lead to difficulty sleeping at night, especially for teenagers. Mariana Fiqueiro, director of the LRC’s Light and Health Program said ‘Our study shows that a two-hour exposure to light from self-luminous electronic displays can suppress melatonin
BUSINESS
Backing Down On The Carbon Tax
by about 22 percent. Stimulating the human circadian system to this level may affect sleep in those using the devices prior to bedtime. The study recommends dimming backlit devices at night to minimise melatonin suppression. Or you could just read a book.
the
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03 9867 7784 (B/H)
www.thewebmanager.com.au ISSUE 47
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PROPERTY
Property Flashback -
Airlie Mansion
By Costa Rolfe
Constructed in 1891, the stately Airlie Mansion is an enduring vestige of a time when St Kilda Road was the preferred residential location for Melbourne’s upper crust. Whilst many other abodes of the well heeled of yesteryear have gradually vanished from the boulevard’s edge – having retreated to suburbs with a little less bustle – Airlie Mansion’s pristine white walls remain a cultural landmark. Indeed ‘Airlie’, as it was first known, is one of the few period mansions in the area to have been spared the developer’s imagination – or wrecking ball.
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3004NEWS
An impressive two-storey structure erected in the popular ‘boom’ Italianate style of the 1880s, ‘Airlie’ was designed by Anketell Henderson. The mansion, which defines St Kilda Road’s Arthur Street juncture, is recognised externally for its renaissance and mannerist elements and striking roman ionic columns and pediment, with mosaic hall flooring, original joinery and a delicate stained glass stair window particular points of interest within.
The house has retained its six bedrooms, billiard room and extensive outdoor terracing, with its traditional manicured lawn no doubt the site of many a gin and tonic. Airlie’s
street borders too remain precisely marked by an original cast iron fence, with the Arthur Street sideentrance guiding callers to the front door via a grand flight of stairs. One boy who likely honed his marbles, hoops and tops skills on the St Kilda Road footpath abutting ‘Airlie’ was Stanley Bruce, who would grow to serve the nation as Prime Minister from 1923-29. Leadership came easily to Bruce, it would appear. Enrolled at prestigious Melbourne Grammar, just a short walk from home, Bruce would come to captain not only the school itself, but also the football, cricket, athletic and rowing teams.
Bruce – immortalised at Melbourne Grammar with a House bearing his name – would go on to row for Cambridge before being admitted as a barrister. Wounds sustained at Gallipoli eventually became the springboard for Bruce’s political career, with the war hero winning a by-election in 1918 to take the seat of Flinders for his Nationalist Party. In 1929, Bruce would become the first sitting Australian Prime Minister to lose his seat, perhaps invoking a longing for more carefree days of hide and seek in Airlie’s nooks and crannies.
PROPERTY
St Kilda Road vacancies forecast to plummet St Kilda Road in March this year.
Investor demand is on the rise after a surge in sales activity in the St Kilda Road, says the latest report by Knight Frank. Knight Frank national director, Paul Henley, said that over the year to August, 2012, there was a total of $220 million transacted across six properties, up from the $161 million sold in the preceding 12 months. The largest deal was Centuria Property Funds’ $58 million acquisition of 441
Mr Henley said, “Private investors have been the dominant purchasers of assets over the past 12 months and are likely to continue to be active in the year ahead. “Valuation benchmarks indicate that both prime and secondary assets within the St Kilda Road and Southbank office markets remain attractive against long term averages. The spread between prime office yields and the real bond rate (risk premium) has increased to 720 basis points, compared to the 10-year average of 530 basis points,” he said. The sales activity in the St Kilda Road and Southbank precincts is
increasing in response to the positive outlook on vacancy and rental levels, says Knight Frank Victorian Research Director, Richard Jenkins. “The fundamentals of both the St Kilda Road and Southbank office markets remain solid with total vacancies forecast to fall to 7.1% and 6.3% respectively by January, 2013. St Kilda Road currently sits at 10.8% while the vacancy for Southbank is 6.7%. “Because of the drop in vacancies, rental growth has been strong with prime net face office rents in St Kilda Road rising by 13% over the past 12 months to a current range of $280 to $320 per square metre,” Mr Jenkins said. He commented that comparable rents at Southbank range between $350 and $410 per square metre. According to Mr Jenkins, the upward trend is forecast to continue in the medium term, coupled with improved net effective rents through a slight
reduction of incentive levels. He said that as vacancies in Melbourne’s CBD have fallen, tenants have been forced to expand in other markets. “In the six months to July, 2012, net absorption in the St Kilda Road office market totalled 3,826 square metres resulting in 23,000 square metres absorbed in the past 12 months, the fifth largest on record. The sharp decline of the vacancy over the past 12 months was a result of a number of large tenants who moved into St Kilda Road including Abigroup, Service Works and Australian Red Cross. Mr Jenkins added that the St Kilda Road office market has contracted by 17% over the past 20 years while Southbank has had 130,623 square metres added since 2005.
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Get EXPOSED with Lyndall Tennant Manager of St Kilda Road’s premier networking group Club 3004 and advertising sales manager of 3004 News, Lyndall Tennant continues to strengthen our community by connecting and promoting businesses within the 3004 precinct. Discover the benefits of becoming a Club 3004 sponsor to promote your business, products and services to an established member-based audience with additional advertising and editorial opportunities in 3004 News – reaching over 30,000 people per issue.
Bookings close on
16 November 2012 to EXPOSE your business in 3004 News Summer issue.
Lyndall Tennant enquiries@club3004.com.au mobile 0422 857 939
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3004NEWS
Club 3004 –
Celebrating 5 years of successful networking
www.club3004.com.au
The St Kilda Road
Precinct Specialists “A successful Property Manager must be innovative in their approach and provide expert advice based on market research and best practice” John Herman is the Director of Property Management for Melbourne Living St Kilda Road, a boutique agency specialising in upmarket residential rental properties within the St Kilda Road precinct. Dedicated and hardworking, John commenced his real estate career as a property manager in 1998 and has also worked in both residential and commercial sales and leasing. A seasoned professional, John has an outstanding knowledge of real estate with
the passion and expertise to deal with the daily challenges of Property Management.
When you entrust your property with Melbourne Living St Kilda Road, you are entrusting your most valuable asset with a licenced agent and Director of the business. You can be guaranteed that John will personally attend to all property management matters relating to your property. Call us today to discuss any of your property management requirements.