Monday 8 February 2010

No Future for Acorn Theatre

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No Future for Acorn Theatre

Kimberley Shaw reports on the demise of "The Smallest Theatre in the Southern Hemisphere."
At their Annual General Meeting on 3rd February it was decided that Perth’s Acorn Theatre, formerly the Smallest Theatre in the World, would close.
Former member Sharon Mobilia said, “It was voted at Wednesday night’s AGM to close Acorn Theatre. There are not enough willing motivated members left to run the theatre as a traveling concern. A sad day as another community theatre says goodbye.”
The Acorn Community Theatre was founded in 1987 by Rosemarie Butler, Mary-Lyn Lewenhoff and Dee Day. Nestled in the Perth foothills the theatre seated just 28 people and in 2001 was celebrated in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest amateur theatre in the world. They later were relegated to "The Smallest Theatre in the Southern Hemisphere" having been replaced by a British theatre situated in a toilet.
Patrons sat comfortably on seats formerly from His Majesty's Theatre in Perth and productions included an assortment of plays from those written by well-known playwrights to locally produced plays. They staged 4 to 5 productions a year including a July Pantomime, variety nights, comedies and dramas.
Last year the City of Gosnells Council, who owned Seaforth Hall, Acorn’s performance venue since the early 1990s, decided to close the venue, saying it was too expensive to maintain. The council plans to sell off the land.
The theatre was promised support and assistance to find a new home. The council eventually suggested shared use of Gosnells’ Addie Mills Centre.
In November Acorn Members voted against the council’s proposal of moving into the Addie Mills Centre. Some of the deciding factors were, the stage was too small with no backstage or wings, there was no daytime access for set preparation, and Acorn had a dwindling and ageing membership. At that stage there was hope that Acorn would continue as a traveling theatre.
Sharon Mobilia, an Acorn member since 1994 lamented “Hopefully other theatres will open their arms to the Acornians who wish to continue on their theatre journeys. There was a lot of talent hidden away in the foothills of Gosnells. I hope they have the courage to use that talent on the bigger stages in the community.” 



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Friday 5 February 2010

Thornlie Tree Man heads to Heritage Council

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Thornlie tree protest heads to Heritage Council

BEATRICE THOMAS, The West AustralianFebruary 5, 2010, 2:00 pm
Richard Pennicuik in his tree. Picture Sandra Jackson
WA News / Sandra Jackson ©Enlarge photo


























































    UPDATE: The ongoing saga of Thornlie's tree man has taken another bizarre turn with confirmation Richard Pennicuik is applying to have the tree heritage listed.
    The application, to be lodged with the Heritage Council of WA, will be based on the tree's 40-year age and the cultural significance obtained as a result of Mr Pennicuik's 60-day protest.
    Mr Pennicuik said the tree was culturally significant because it stood for free choice and saving the environment.
    “I, and the tree, stand for free choice and all the people who know what it’s like to have something taken away from them,” he said.
    Mr Pennicuik's lawyer, John Hammond, said he expected the application to be taken seriously "given the sentiment and controversy that surrounds the tree".
    It will also buy some time because any building or structure cannot be touched while it is being assessed for heritage listing, though it is understood the Heritage Council plans a quick turn around on the application.
    His wife Rose Malumbres, 55, said the application made use of another avenue to try to save the tree and did not demean the heritage process.
    “What about trees that are 100 years old that haven’t been heritage listed, that’s frivolous,” she said.
    Any listing on the State Register of Heritage Places needs to be of State significance.
    Hundreds of trees form part of the State Heritage database but in most cases they are part of a broader listing of a place.
    The council will have to carry out an initial assessment on the tree before making a decision.
    Mr Hammond said he had also put an "open offer" to the City of Gosnells outlining that Mr Pennicuik would come down from the eucalyptus melliodora tree if it agreed to preserve it, a nearby tree and also erect a barrier around it.
    The scene at the Pennicuik house is never dull.
    Almost every driver who whizzes by has a few honks and throwaway comment for the “tree man”. Their contributions range from “go tree man” to “get down you idiot” and “you dole bludger”.
    Mrs Malumbres said Friday nights gets especially rowdy because carloads of detractors pester her husband.
    “But he has never come down,” she said. “I would sit through a lie detector test to prove that.”
    A big crowd gathered outside Mr Pennicuik's Hume Road house for a "tree party" organised by a commercial radio station to mark the 60th day of the campaign this morning.
    A bush band and sausage sizzle were put on as part of the celebration.
    Tom, a neighbour who did not want his surname used, said the tree man was wasting his time.
    “It hasn’t got the significance to be heritage listed,” he said. “The shire will get its own way. He should just give up with some grace.”



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    Thornlie Tree Man Won’t Give In

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    The Tree Man Won’t Give In Or Come Down

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    Atta boy Richard
    OK Loons, remember Richard Pennicuik the man up the tree in Thornlie? Come on sure you do, I even think some of you made fun of him. Well, he is still up the eucalyptus tree (60 days and counting) , despite being fined, abused and even egged. Now Richard has found another angle to stop the City of Gosnells from chopping down his beloved tree… the Heritage Council. Oh , yeah, heritage list the bugger and stop the friggin City of Gosnells once and for all. Nice move.
    Psst Anyone who wants to show their support don’t forget to join his Facebook site…some of the comments are priceless.
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    Thursday 4 February 2010

    Broadcaster quits over Heritage FM

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    Broadcaster quits over Heritage FM's Irish jokes

    radio350
    NOT AMUSED: Former local radio announcer Brendan Belovnf says there is nothing funny about Irish jokes. Picture:inmycommunity.com.au Source: PerthNow
    A LOCAL radio announcer has quit community broadaster Heritage FM because it features Irish jokes.
    Former local radio announcer Brendan Belovnf says there is nothing funny about Irish jokes, and is so passionate about the matter he has parted ways with Heritage FM because it was regularly airing such jokes.
    Mr Belovnf said he had been a volunteer announcer at the station for four years until recently when he began noticing one too many jokes at the expense of Irish people being made by the broadcaster.
    “I told station management that I wasn’t happy with the telling of Irish jokes recently on air by a particular presenter because basically the jokes were portraying Irish people as dumb,” he said.
    “I am half-Irish myself and I find those kinds of jokes offensive.”

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    Day one ..

    the following reply was given ...

    Thankyou for your enquiry. Council meetings are conducted under the provisions of the City of Gosnells Standing Orders Local Law 2003, a co...