as posted on PerthNow
IT may have copped a bad rap over the years, but if you speak to local agents and residents, they'll tell you that Beckenham has lots to offer.
Porter Matthews Metro marketing consultant Hasi Kodagoda knows the suburb well and believes recent changes in Beckenham are immediately obvious.
"When you walk the streets, you notice that the area has improved dramatically over the past few years,'' he said.
"The streets are tree-lined, the gardens are always neat and tidy and the people are very, very friendly.
"Many (people) who live in Beckenham have been there about 30 to 40 years, so they genuinely care about where they live. They take great pride in the suburb.''
Beckenham is about 13km from the CBD and a five-minute drive from Carousel shopping centre. The suburb has a shopping complex with an IGA, video store, fish and chip shop and liquor store.
Recreational facilities are also good in the area.
"For the older guys there is a recreation centre,'' Mr Kodagoda said. "The Mills Park Bowling Club operates (at Mills Park) and there are dancing classes.
"For the younger guys, there are footy and cricket clubs.''
The suburb is also only a 10-minute drive from the airport and has excellent public transport services.
"Beckenham train station is just off William St and for most residents is about two minutes (away) by car,'' he said.
"There is also a local bus route in and out of the suburb regularly and it goes to the Cannington train station.''
Many home buyers in Beckenham are aged 25-35. They are mostly professionals and investors and are buying in the area because of the rezoning that's on the horizon.
"The rezoning, called the Local Housing Strategy, is being implemented by the City of Gosnells,'' he said.
"In areas closer to the railway station they'll be increasing the density to an R6 zoning, and then near the local Beckenham shop, they are again increasing the density.''
He believed rezoning would take place in the next two to four years.
Blocks in Beckenham range from 700sq m to 800sq m. House styles are diverse and include heritage-listed, colonial-style homesteads and 1930s-built farmhouses.
But according to Mr Kodagoda, most of the houses were built in the second half of last century.
"The homes are very structurally sound,'' he said. "Most were built between 1960 and 1975, and they're mostly federation brick-and-tile, three-bedroom, one-bathroom homes. They have about 100sq m to 120sq m of living space and there are a lot of people renovating.''
Development was also taking place in the suburb, he said.
Residential projects had started, including the recently completed 22-unit development on Campberwell St and a 11-unit site on Albany Highway.
The Campberwell St units have three bedrooms and two bathrooms and sold for about $340,000 each. All the units in the Albany Highway development sold off the plan.
East Cannington and Queens Park border Beckenham heading towards the city and Kenwick borders it heading out. Wattle Grove is to the east and Langford is to the west.
Mr Kodagoda runs free seminars to educate locals on developments and changes that affect real estate in the area.
The last seminar discussed rezoning. His next seminar, expected to be held next month, will focus on selling property in a changing market.
as posted on PerthNow
Thursday 31 January 2008
Tuesday 29 January 2008
Heat clinch berth in Claxton final
as posted on TheWest
Perth Heat have made up for last year’s abominable season by beating champions Victorian Aces to make the final of baseball’s Claxton Shield.
Perth wrapped up their series against Victoria 2-1 at Baseball Park in Thornlie on Saturday night with a come-from-behind 5-3 win in the deciding game to secure their passage to the final against next weekend’s Eastern Division winner.
It has been a remarkable turnaround after last year’s poor season in which the Heat did not win a game.
Canadian field manager Gordon Gerlack said the team had worked hard to finish at the top of their pool.
“Victoria had some veteran players who never gave in but we pitched the way we should,” he said.
Scott Mitchinson started on the mound for Perth on Saturday, pitching seven solid innings before leaving the game at the top of the eighth with the scores tied 2-2.
Gerlack said younger players had time to develop since last year in the US Minor Leagues or in local warmup games before the season.
“We have also had excellent leadership from some older players who were not involved last year and that’s been a big factor in our success,” Gerlack said.
Victoria have one more series remaining, against South Australia in a week, but even if they sweep the series they cannot replace Perth at the top of the table.
Queensland and NSW will be playing off to decide who joins Perth in the final at a venue to be decided from February 8-10.
GENE STEPHAN
as posted on TheWest
Perth Heat have made up for last year’s abominable season by beating champions Victorian Aces to make the final of baseball’s Claxton Shield.
Perth wrapped up their series against Victoria 2-1 at Baseball Park in Thornlie on Saturday night with a come-from-behind 5-3 win in the deciding game to secure their passage to the final against next weekend’s Eastern Division winner.
It has been a remarkable turnaround after last year’s poor season in which the Heat did not win a game.
Canadian field manager Gordon Gerlack said the team had worked hard to finish at the top of their pool.
“Victoria had some veteran players who never gave in but we pitched the way we should,” he said.
Scott Mitchinson started on the mound for Perth on Saturday, pitching seven solid innings before leaving the game at the top of the eighth with the scores tied 2-2.
Gerlack said younger players had time to develop since last year in the US Minor Leagues or in local warmup games before the season.
“We have also had excellent leadership from some older players who were not involved last year and that’s been a big factor in our success,” Gerlack said.
Victoria have one more series remaining, against South Australia in a week, but even if they sweep the series they cannot replace Perth at the top of the table.
Queensland and NSW will be playing off to decide who joins Perth in the final at a venue to be decided from February 8-10.
GENE STEPHAN
as posted on TheWest
Saturday 26 January 2008
Write your life story
as posted on COGsite
Life-writing workshop @ Thornlie Library
Ever wanted to write your life story but didn’t know where to start, what to include or what to leave out?
Guest author and writing coach Elizabeth Bezant will show people how to write a story that is historically correct and fun to read with a free autobiography workshop at Thornlie Library on Wednesday 20 February from 10am to noon.
Bezant will provide all the necessary tips and techniques to kick-start your life story and offer helpful pointers for those who are already in the process of writing their autobiography.
Places are limited, so bookings are essential. Please call T: 9459 2499.
as posted on COGsite
Life-writing workshop @ Thornlie Library
Ever wanted to write your life story but didn’t know where to start, what to include or what to leave out?
Guest author and writing coach Elizabeth Bezant will show people how to write a story that is historically correct and fun to read with a free autobiography workshop at Thornlie Library on Wednesday 20 February from 10am to noon.
Bezant will provide all the necessary tips and techniques to kick-start your life story and offer helpful pointers for those who are already in the process of writing their autobiography.
Places are limited, so bookings are essential. Please call T: 9459 2499.
as posted on COGsite
Local Noongar artefacts needed
as posted on the COGsite
The City of Gosnells' Heritage Services is seeking photos, stories and artefacts for loan to display local Noongar history in the Orange Room at the Knowledge Centre.
This display will be held in the lead up to National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week 2008.
NAIDOC activities are held throughout Australia in the first full week of July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The City of Gosnells is working in partnership with the Gosnells Regional Noongar Action Committee (GRNAC) on the display to give the community an insight into local Noongar history, culture, challenges and childhood memories.
City of Gosnells Mayor Olwen Searle JP said there was tremendous importance in retaining local history.
“The significant thing about this display is that it gives the community and indigenous people this history from a local perspective to ensure future generations know and understand the community in which they live.”
All care will be taken to ensure property is safely returned to its rightful owners. Photographs will be scanned and returned promptly and artefacts will be stored in secure cabinets and returned when the display has finished.
Items must be received by the City by Monday 18 February and people with items that may be suitable for loan are urged to register their interest by calling T: 9452 9905.
Heritage Services has also embarked on a Local Noongar Oral History project, which will contribute to the display.
For more details, please contact the City’s Community Development team T: 9452 9905.
as posted on the COGsite
The City of Gosnells' Heritage Services is seeking photos, stories and artefacts for loan to display local Noongar history in the Orange Room at the Knowledge Centre.
This display will be held in the lead up to National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week 2008.
NAIDOC activities are held throughout Australia in the first full week of July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The City of Gosnells is working in partnership with the Gosnells Regional Noongar Action Committee (GRNAC) on the display to give the community an insight into local Noongar history, culture, challenges and childhood memories.
City of Gosnells Mayor Olwen Searle JP said there was tremendous importance in retaining local history.
“The significant thing about this display is that it gives the community and indigenous people this history from a local perspective to ensure future generations know and understand the community in which they live.”
All care will be taken to ensure property is safely returned to its rightful owners. Photographs will be scanned and returned promptly and artefacts will be stored in secure cabinets and returned when the display has finished.
Items must be received by the City by Monday 18 February and people with items that may be suitable for loan are urged to register their interest by calling T: 9452 9905.
Heritage Services has also embarked on a Local Noongar Oral History project, which will contribute to the display.
For more details, please contact the City’s Community Development team T: 9452 9905.
as posted on the COGsite
Heat rediscover winning formula
as posted on TheWest
The magic which made Perth Heat the most feared team in Australian baseball is back.
A decade after the demise of the former Australian Baseball League, the reinvigorated Claxton Shield sees Perth at the top of the Southern Division table heading into their finals series against Victoria Aces at Baseball Park in Thornlie, starting today at 6.35pm.
The West Australians will guarantee themselves a place in next month’s final against the winners of the Eastern Division if they clinch the best-of-three-games series over the next three days.
Perth Heat opened their condensed season schedule with a 2-1 win over South Australia at home in the first week of this month before travelling to Melbourne where they duplicated the effort against Aces the next weekend.
A week ago, they scored another 2-1 win over the South Australians to give themselves a two-game buffer over Victoria, the division’s hitting leaders.
Clint Balgera, one of a few remaining members of the former Perth Heat line-up, attributes this season’s success to the leadership and overall harmony in the group.
“Gordon Gerlack is a Canadian who has taken over as field manager with no preconceived ideas or biases towards any groups or players,” Balgera said. “He has put together the best possible team and the chemistry has been tremendous.”
Balgera, who has been playing professionally in Italy for the past five years after a career in the US, said the team had some outstanding young talent but needed some leadership which he hoped players like himself and Ben Needle, another member of the old Heat squad, had been able to provide.
Gerlack said the team set out to try to achieve some consistency throughout the season which it had done so far with three 2-1 series wins. He said pitching had also been a key area where starters Liam Hendriks and Mark Kelly had been exceptional.
Balgera had been the standout player, leading the team’s hitting with .433, the second best in the competition behind Victoria’s Daniel Berg who had hit .464 for the year.
GENÉ STEPHAN
as posted on TheWest
The magic which made Perth Heat the most feared team in Australian baseball is back.
A decade after the demise of the former Australian Baseball League, the reinvigorated Claxton Shield sees Perth at the top of the Southern Division table heading into their finals series against Victoria Aces at Baseball Park in Thornlie, starting today at 6.35pm.
The West Australians will guarantee themselves a place in next month’s final against the winners of the Eastern Division if they clinch the best-of-three-games series over the next three days.
Perth Heat opened their condensed season schedule with a 2-1 win over South Australia at home in the first week of this month before travelling to Melbourne where they duplicated the effort against Aces the next weekend.
A week ago, they scored another 2-1 win over the South Australians to give themselves a two-game buffer over Victoria, the division’s hitting leaders.
Clint Balgera, one of a few remaining members of the former Perth Heat line-up, attributes this season’s success to the leadership and overall harmony in the group.
“Gordon Gerlack is a Canadian who has taken over as field manager with no preconceived ideas or biases towards any groups or players,” Balgera said. “He has put together the best possible team and the chemistry has been tremendous.”
Balgera, who has been playing professionally in Italy for the past five years after a career in the US, said the team had some outstanding young talent but needed some leadership which he hoped players like himself and Ben Needle, another member of the old Heat squad, had been able to provide.
Gerlack said the team set out to try to achieve some consistency throughout the season which it had done so far with three 2-1 series wins. He said pitching had also been a key area where starters Liam Hendriks and Mark Kelly had been exceptional.
Balgera had been the standout player, leading the team’s hitting with .433, the second best in the competition behind Victoria’s Daniel Berg who had hit .464 for the year.
GENÉ STEPHAN
as posted on TheWest
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