Capturing the good stuff and bringing positivity into focus with Ku-ring-gai council’s 2023 photography competition. “Need a Lift” is the Ku-ring-gai council’s newest initiative to bring some positivity back into the frame of its young residents. Locals between the ages of 12 – 24 are invited to snap pictures of the people, places, or things that “lift” their mood and brighten their days with a small caption explaining why. There are plenty of positive things to focus your lens on! Maybe you’ll snap some gorgeous shots of the sunrise or even a picture of your dog enjoying a snooze in the sun. You and your friends might even pose for a picture together – just remember to point the camera at something that lifts your mood! All entries will be put before a panel of young judges, and a selection of the entries will go on display at various NSW Health and Council facilities across northern Sydney with the tagline “Need a lift”. These exhibits will run throughout October and coincide with Mental Health Month. It is designed to encourage local residents towards better attitudes, outlooks and overall more positive mental health. But it’s not just a space in the exhibit that’s on offer – there are multiple Westfield vouchers to be won! The overall winner will win a $350 voucher, with the runner-up winning a voucher worth $250. That’s not all – there will also be three age categories where each winner will be awarded a $150 voucher. The age categories are as follows: 12-15 years 16-18 years 19-24 years The local residents can also have their say with the People’s Choice Award – everyone can vote via https://pollunit.com/polls/2023needalift between 1 October and 31 October – the winner is set to receive a $250 Westfield Voucher. The competition is supported by a range of Sydney councils and public health organisations, including the Northern Sydney Local Health District School-Link Program, Child and Youth Mental Health Service, headspace Brookvale, headspace Chatswood, Ku-ring-gai Council, City of Ryde, North Sydney Council, Lane Cove Council, Mosman Council, Northern Beaches Council, Avalon Youth Hub, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Community Drug Action Team. To submit your entry, head to https://pollunit.com/polls/2023needalift and read the Terms and Conditions. The competition is open now and closes on September 4th, 2023. Get snapping!

By Adeline Teoh More on Newtown The gallery event that turns Newtown into brew-town. It’s a Sydney institution that brings together artisans and tea-lovers — switch the kettle on, the Sydney Teapot Show is back after a hiatus, in Septemer-October, 2022. There’s a curious phenomenon that happens, almost uniformly, to visitors to the Sydney Teapot Show. One moment you’ll be admiring an exquisite ceramic sculpture and the next it’ll dawn on you that it’s a teapot… so how the hell does it pour? Elisabeth Johnson — curator at Newtown’s Kerrie Lowe Gallery which hosts the annual exhibition, bar 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic — says that’s a moot point: here the teapot is an art object first and tableware second. “But, we do have one [award] section, which is the best pouring teapot,” she concedes. The Sydney Teapot Show Beginnings The Sydney Teapot Show began more than 30 years ago as part of the Inner City Clayworkers Gallery in Glebe. When that shut down, it was offered to the Kerrie Lowe Gallery. “They didn't want it to just disappear — it's a Sydney institution,” says Johnson. It fit well with the gallery’s mission to exhibit and promote work by Australian potters, becoming an important show for them. “People do come and travel from other states for it. We always have it during [Sydney] Craft Week too.” It’s also bigger than the Clayworkers’ version because the Newtown gallery has more space than its Glebe counterpart did. Up to 300 teapots are on display in any given year, a “huge undertaking” to curate and a significant drawcard for collectors. “We do get teapot fanatics,” Johnson mentions. The Sydney Teapot Show Exhibits So, what can you expect? Everything from classic teapot shapes in fabulous glazes to weird and wacky animal forms. One award section, sponsored by heritage management organisation Comber Consultants, highlights the best archaeologically themed teapot. Another, supported by Keane Ceramics, recognises botanically themed ones. But, you can leave those categories to the expert judges — anyone who visits is entitled to vote for their favourite across the whole exhibition as part of the People’s Choice Award. As for Johnson, she generally has a penchant for wood-fired ceramics, “but I love the decorative things that people do for the teapot show,” she says. “Potters continue to find new ways of expressing things. It's fascinating, really.” Her own tea habits are fairly traditional — she drinks black tea from fine white china — though she does mention an interest in teapots that started with her grandmother’s. “When I was very small, my grandmother had a very fine terracotta teapot, a small teapot and a set. So, I started off loving that from about four years old.” Today, she sees it as part of an evolution from the swinging billy to an artform, one that brings people together to share a cuppa. “Teapots have always been important in Australia and it's fun to see people experimenting with the whole concept.” The Sydney Teapot Show runs from 17 September to 16 October 2022. Visit the Kerrie Lowe Gallery (kerrielowe.com) at 49–51 King Street, Newtown.

More on Newtown Rediscover the forgotten beauty of Newtown's architectural history. As the end of the nineteenth century approached, rapid development came to Newtown with farms and estates replaced by Victorian villas and terraces. Some of the most impressive terraces are those along Warren Ball Avenue and Georgina Street, facing into Hollis Park. These homes survive to this date in almost original form and are a prized part of Newtown's architectural history. Brockleigh The first in a row of eight Victorian Italianate terraces overlooking Hollis Park, Newtown. John Icke Kettle, a magistrate, purchased a substantial amount of Newtown land in 1846 and subdivided a portion of it for housing in 1851. He held the remainder of land until his death in 1881 when his estate was left for his two daughters, Georgina and Mary Ann. Mary Ann married Robert Brock in 1853 and they had a son, George, in 1855. By 1882, George had assumed the role of developer and further subdivided the family’s land into its present form. George built eight terraces on a street known as Kettles Avenue from 1884 to 1885. George and his wife occupied the first terrace, Brockleigh, while his aunt Georgina Thruchley occupied the last terrace, the ‘bookends’ of the group. The Kettle Street name was changed to L’Avenue after completion. All eight terraces were sold as one line in 1908 and the new owners operated them as boarding houses. They were sold again in 1914 and the street name was changed to Warren Ball Avenue, the name it is known by today. Warren Ball was an alderman and local Newtown businessman. The homes changed hands as a group several times until the last owner to purchase the row in 1948 sold off the terraces individually over the next 12 years. Indigenous activist Charles Perkins occupied Brockleigh from 1997 until his death in 2000. Georgina Street While residing in Brockleigh, George Brock set about building another 15 terraces on the western side of Hollis Park, perpendicular to the first eight terraces. They were numbered 9–23 L’Avenue, the street known as Georgina Street today. The terraces were completed in 1889, and once again the ‘bookends’ of the group are the standouts featuring turrets with decorative arched entries and an overall larger footprint. The balcony on each terrace is adorned with a cast iron lace frieze and balustrade. The terrace numbered 23 L’Avenue had stables accessible from the rear lane, which survive to this day. Historical records show a number of Brock family members occupied the terraces following completion. The family offered the terrace numbers 9–23 for auction as advertised by Raine & Horne in the Sydney Morning Herald on 29 November 1906 and by this time the address was known as Georgina Street. Records show that by 1915 all but one of the terraces was listed as boarding houses in the Sands Directory. Today, the 23 Victorian terraces built by George Brock are considered some of the finest and most sought after in the Newtown area, selling with multi-million dollar price tags. Enmore This freestanding Victorian villa was built around 1890 and is one of the grandest homes of its era in Enmore. Set high on a double block, it has sweeping district views from the upper level. Period features include projecting bay windows on both the upper and lower floors, and a decorative iron lace frieze and balustrade to the balconies. When the home was offered for sale in 2016 the real estate agent noted it was the first time the property was on the market since 1916, marking 100 years of ownership within the same family. Photos from the last sale show it was offered as somewhat of a renovator’s delight. Since then the home has been tastefully and sympathetically restored to its former glory and painted in heritage colours. By Drew Hoy - Follow him on Instagram @forgottensydney

The bond you have with your rental journey is unbreakable. But not all relationships begin in marriage. People move for all sorts of reasons, such as moving closer to work, school, university, into a larger place to accommodate a growing family or start a new life. But, moving costs money, and these expenses quickly add up. The initial costs of moving with two weeks paid upfront as a deposit and another four weeks upfront for the rental bond is like highway robbery and pretty hefty on the piggy bank. Getting off to a rocky start is inevitable, according to the annual WeMoney Financial Wellness Survey, with 60 % of Australians worrying about debt and 30 % living paycheck to paycheck. The survey also found many Australians are anxious about their financial future, and 20% don't have emergency savings. Even if someone is working and earning a good wage, coming up with the rental bond, which is the most significant portion of the initial costs of moving to begin your rental journey, is as stressful as finding parking on King Street in peak hours. Let's face it. Rental in Australia isn't getting any easier. Too many of us are being frozen out of the market with the cost of moving and paying the rental bond upfront. With over 8.3 million Australians (32% of the population) living in rental housing, there is a real need to disrupt this market and provide alternative funding solutions to pay rental bonds that run into the thousands on top of all the other moving expenses every time tenants move. The costs of the rental bond can be a significant barrier for people to move to ensure their living conditions fit their current life circumstances. How MyBond Works "One week only" implies that renters pay one week's rent, and MyBond handles the rest. Sounds too good to be true? MyBond allows renters to bond with their time and cash flow with an innovative new financial service that supports the underdog and disrupts the rental bond market. MyBond helps people change, take control, and open up options for managing finances whilst moving houses. Unique & the first of its kind in the world, MyBond helps tenants pay their rental bond with a straightforward fee of just one week's rent or as little as $150* (T&Cs apply) by paying for the entire tenant's bond. Simplify your rental bond journey with MyBond. Here's how it works. You apply online at mybond.com.au. Pay a fee to MyBond. MyBond pays your full rental bond to the Rental Bonds Online NSW Fair Trading. The rental bond is refunded to MyBond when you move out. Enjoy no interest. No repayments. No credit checks and buy back your bond at any time*(T&Cs apply). MyBond is a service that is a solution to pay for your rental bond with a fast, easy and reliable solution that saves money and your time. Reward your bond with your rental journey by spending the money you saved from your rental bond on moving costs, buying a new air fryer or other home appliances, or spoiling yourself with new fits or little luxuries. MyBond's Story Since Founding Since launching in March 2021, MyBond has already assisted hundreds of everyday Australians in New South Wales, particularly in Newtown and neighbouring suburbs, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and beyond and is committed to helping even more renters. MyBond's social enterprise is enriched by its collaboration with local services and non-profit organisations to assist individuals and families who have been victims of domestic abuse in settling into a new life by offering a new method of paying the initial bond. Dedicated to improving families' lives and finances while supporting our diverse Australian community and trusted partner throughout a renter's life is MyBond's Vision. Truth be told, some relationships are like renting; you go on a journey and can make choices to make or break that bond, but at MyBond, it's all about giving people flexibility and choice in how they pay and manage their rental bond and allowing someone to take control of where they want to live and when they want to live there. Go on, apply now at mybond.com.au or call 1800 342 342 MyBond "One week only”

More on Newtown The captivating relationship between William Dawes, a British astronomer, and Patyegarang, a Gadigal woman from Sydney, Australia, started in 1788. Both are the subjects of Fintan Magee’s latest work - Patye and William (Carriageworks, Eveleigh) - and this image. The Story of WIlliam Dawes William Dawes was an astronomer, linguist, and officer of the Royal Marines who played a significant role in the early settlement of Sydney. His interactions with the Indigenous people of the area, particularly Patyegarang, have become a subject of interest for historians and linguists alike. Their relationship has been the subject of books, plays, and even an opera, as it highlights the importance of cultural exchange and the complexities of the first colonial encounters in Australia. William Dawes arrived in Sydney in August 1788 as a passenger on The Sirius – the flagship of the First Fleet. He was one of the few members of the British expedition interested in learning about the local Indigenous people and their language. Dawes established a rapport with the Gadigal people, whose traditional lands spanned from South Head to Petersham in the west and from the Harbour to Botany Bay in the south. He learned their language and recorded their words and phrases, creating one of the earliest written records of an Australian Indigenous language. The Story of Patyegarang It was during his work with the Gadigal people that Dawes met Patyegarang. She was a young woman from the Eora nation, which inhabited the land we now refer to as Newtown. Patyegarang was also interested in learning English and soon became Dawes' teacher of the Eora language. They spent time together, sharing knowledge about their respective cultures and languages. Their conversations were documented in Dawes' notebooks which are catalogued in the NSW State Library. William Dawes and Patyegarang's story and their relationship was more than a mere exchange of language. Patyegarang's intelligence and beauty entranced Dawes, and he wrote about her in his journals in a way that suggested a romantic interest on his part. Patyegarang saw Dawes as a friend and teacher. She was not interested in a romantic relationship with him but appreciated his interest in her people and culture. Their interactions were cut short when Dawes was recalled to England in 1791. Patyegarang disappeared from the historical record, and there is, unfortunately, little known about her life after this period. William Dawes and Patyegarang's Story This interaction is an integral part of Australian history and a reminder of the complexities of the colonial encounter. Their relationship highlights the power of language, cultural exchange, and the need to preserve Indigenous languages.

More on Sydney CBD Sydney Dance Company’s latest production Resound will have audiences feeling the entire spectrum of emotions, from darkness into light in three unique dance works. “A journey from darkness to light, Resound traces a complex arc of emotions that will move, uplift and inspire audiences,” says Sydney Dance Company’s Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela. The Company’s upcoming production is sure to enthral, with three unique dance works on display: the world premieres of Summer by Bonachela and The Universe is Here by Stephanie Lake, plus the return of Bonachela’s Ocho. Ocho by the Sydney Dance Company Audiences will first be led through Ocho, which debuted in 2017. The piece, with its theme of searching for salvation and connection, feels quite pertinent after 2021’s lockdowns. “Ocho has certainly taken on new meanings following the pandemic and the experience of lockdown. The work unfolds in a highly urban setting, with an imposing glass box taking centre stage. As the eight dancers interact with their surroundings and one another, the sense of entrapment and isolation is palpable,” explains Bonachela. The haunting score of the work, composed by Nick Wales, with vocals from Aboriginal artist Rrawun Maymuru, sets the scene for the powerful choreography. It garnered rave reviews upon debut in 2017, and Bonachela is excited for its return to the stage: “Reexploring Ocho years later with a new cast has revealed its startling relevance for today’s audiences.” Summer by the Sydney Dance Company In contrast to the turmoil of Ocho, the premiere of Summer is sure to have spirits high. Bonachela set the work to the sound of ‘Cicadidae’ by Kate Moore, which he describes as the “dominant sound of summer in Australia”. Recorded by the Australian String Quartet, Moore’s piece evokes the frenetic sound of cicadas emerging in the warmer months. “[Moore] has captured the urgency of these insects as they emerge from the earth to reconnect with one another,” says Bonachela. Almost in direct opposition to Ocho, it was important to capture feelings of release and warmth in this work. “This idea of emergence was key for me, as I decided after one of the many lockdowns last year that Summer was the work I would create in a future where we could embrace again,” says Bonachela. “I wanted to create a work that was restorative, with three dancers connecting with each other, to support, embrace and move with one another.” The costuming of Summer comes from iconic Australian brand Romance Was Born, whom Bonachela have admired since he arrived in Australia. “Luke and Anna are unrivalled in their command of shape, texture and colour. As Summer was taking shape in my mind, the connection to their work was immediate — the vibrancy, boldness of print and celebration of colour,” he recalls. “I remembered seeing their landmark collection with iconic Australian artist, Ken Done, and knew that this collaboration would be perfect — and it is.” The Universe is Here by the Sydney Dance Company Rounding out the triad is the premiere of Stephanie Lake’s The Universe is Here. The mesmerising new work features a score from Robin Fox, with live performance on stage from harpist Emily Granger. Bonachela sees The Universe is Here as the final puzzle piece for Resound. “Resound is an emotional and sensorial journey from turbulent darkness to ethereal brilliance which Stephanie Lake’s newest creation completes,” he says. “The Universe is Here is such a thrilling and mesmerising work that I’m honoured to have commissioned. Stephanie Lake is an extraordinary artist and a force of nature and I’m so excited to be able to share her superb new work with Sydney audiences.” Resound will take place at the Roslyn Packer Theatre Walsh Bay from 28 October to 5 November 2022. More information and tickets can be found at https://www.sydneydancecompany.com/performance/resound/. By Georgia Griffiths

More on Newtown BY JAMIE APPS After sell-out success at London’s National Theatre and a smash-hit West End run, Nina Raine’s acclaimed play, Consent, makes its Australian premiere. Brought to the stage by the award-winning Outhouse Theatre Co, this intricately constructed drama pings with questions of consent not just sexual but personal, probing the murky moral terrain of the courtroom and the marriage bed, and putting Justice herself in the dock. Director, Craig Baldwin & Star, Anna Samson - Interview Ahead of the premiere Neighbourhood Media spoke to Director Craig Baldwin & star of the show Anna Samson. Consent first captured the attention of Craig & the team at Outhouse Theatre when the play opened to glowing 5-star reviews at the National Theatre in London in 2017. Reflecting on that time Craig said, “[Consent] was wildly successful and, interestingly, it was written just before the #MeToo movement took off so it was also enormously prescient. It really captured the zeitgeist.” Although the play has been on their mind for 6 years for various logistic reasons it is only now possible to bring this show to Sydney. Despite the delay, Caig believes Consent has only “grown more resonate” as time has passed. “The global conversation around consent is in full swing… the play obviously deals with a very important and topical question around the law and whether it truly delivers justice, especially to survivors of sexual assault. The story is so powerful there. But I also think that description could mischaracterise the play as a preachy kind of ‘issue’ play. The writing is so smart, so surprisingly witty and so, so recognisably human - not remotely preachy.” Anna Samson on the Importance of Consent For actress Anna Samson this play is so important for several reasons. “The script is so good,” Samson said before expanding on her answer. “It’s important to investigate the big, unanswerable questions of life on stage in the safety of a framework created by a deeply intelligent playwright… Consent shows us who we are and who we pretend not to be.” While Consent was written by a British playwright to be performed in London the themes & topics unfortunately translate to Australia. When asked if they had to make any changes to make the show more relevant to Australia Craig said, “Sadly no. Our flawed legal system so completely mirrors the British system. Our class bubbles, our boy's clubs, our fundamental misunderstanding of each other, even (especially?) in marriage - none of it is any different here really. These could just as easily be Sydney barristers. They even share our awful obsession with real estate!” With the play touching on some very difficult topics, we asked Anna if it is a challenging play to prepare for & perform in. “I wanted to play Kitty and do Consent because it is challenging,” answered Anna swiftly. “Audiences will be asked to think about consent and relationships in complex ways. Nina is clever enough to give us the comedy of life within this. Human beings are funny creatures. ” Future Importance of Consent In closing our conversation with Craig & Anna we asked if they hoped the show would become irrelevant one day. “It will never really be irrelevant,” said Craig. “I would hope we work out a much better legal process for rape survivors, and I hope we do more to educate, and more to incorporate consent practices into our culture - but the play is exploring further than just sexual consent. It is asking how to bridge the chasms of misunderstanding that happen between people. It is asking what constitutes justice, retribution, and repentance. It’s asking about empathy, and how we ever really know another person’s experience. And it is doing all that with such sparkling intelligence.” As for Anna, she answered by saying, “We are all aware that our legal system fails the survivors of sexual assault in cruel, dangerous and baffling ways, again and again. This failure must be condemned and must change. Consent is a gesture towards a necessary conversation in this area. “I would like the incessant need for women to become something in relation to others in order to be palatable to be a thing of the past. The way women are viewed most comfortably is as a wife or a mother. How these seem to be the things that implicitly hold the most (I won’t say value because that’s not correct) ease, ease for the patriarchy. Life is far more glorious than the little boxes we’ve created for ‘comfort’.” June 1-24. Seymour Centre, Cnr City Road &, Cleveland St, Chippendale. $33-49+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com/event/consent

More on Newtown They say laughter is contagious and with all the Superstar comedians in town for the 2023 Just for Laughs Festival, we’re sure you’re aching for more! Check out where you can get your funnies fulfilled locally. Buddy’s Comedy - 2nd Thursday every month - 7:30pm Buddy’s Bar | 391 King St, Newtown | $20 + complimentary beer/wine Join the team at Buddy’s for a hilarious night of comedy on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 7:30pm upstairs at Buddy’s Bar. Featuring 6 world-class comedians every week, it’s the perfect night out to get you through the mid-week hump. With 45 self-serve taps of craft beers, wines, and cocktails, you’re bound to find a new favourite drop. There’s awesome food options available from a menu brought to you by the Rub-A-Dub team. Whether you're out with a group, on an awkward first date or flying solo, you'll feel right at home in this warm, intimate, and welcoming space. Complimentary beer or wine with every ticket purchased online. Tickets: trybooking.com/eventlist/buddyscomedy IG: buddysnewtown/ Improv Comedy Cagefight - Monday from 7:30pm Waywards | 324 King St, Newtown | $15 At the Cagefight, comedians have a limited time to win the votes of the audience, and no one in the audience gets picked on at the Cagefight. Instead, the audience are part of the show and help the performers with suggestions and humour! You will vote for your favourite comedians via our electronic voting system. The crowd’s favourite comedians will perform a second time each night. These guys also host corporate events, combine a comedy workshop with a meal and drink The Bank! Tickets: improvcomedycagefight.rezdy.com/ Contact 0438579356 or dave@improvcomedycagefight.com.au for more info! Joke Off Comedy - Wednesday from 7pm Kelly’s on King | 285 King St, Newtown | $15 A weekly comedy room showcasing a diverse lineup of premium comedians every Wednesday. They also host a comedy competition twice a year, you can go in the draw to win a massive cash prize, with the winner voted by the audience and a panel of judges. You can regularly catch acts such as Luke Heggie, Nikki Britton, Michael Hing, Chris Ryan, Tom Cashman, Cameron James plus up and coming local acts you’re bound to love. Tickets: powerbombcomedy.com/joke-off-comedy IG: @jokeoffcomedy FB: jokeoffcomedy The Wharf Revue - Pride in Prejudice | From Nov 8th, 2023 Seymour Centre | Cnr City Rd + Cleveland St, Chippendale The Wharf Revue is back for another year of sensational satire with Pride in Prejudice. Satirical content is up by 7%, the average laughter quotient is indexed at 8.3% over the forward estimates but the Wharf Revue defies the cost-of-living pressure by keeping the ticket price at the same level as last year! Take that, Phillip Lowe! "The Wharf Revue is now a national institution and it just keeps on giving…a sea of hilarity ★★★★’ Limelight Magazine “a night of uproarious laughter and cheeky hilarity by (the) stunningly talented Wharf Revue:” Canberra Times Ticketing link: www.seymourcentre.com/event/the-wharf-revue-pride-in-prejudice/ Facebook: seymoursydney Instagram: seymoursydney Comedy Store Showcase - Every Thurs, Fri, Sat Evening Sydney Comedy Store | 122 Lang Rd, Moore Park NSW 2021 | $34.50-$49.50 The crème de la crème of the comedy world coalesces at the Comedy Store every week to give audiences the Sydney Comedy Store Showcase. Presenting household names, cult comedy faves, secret special surprises, and the hottest new talent in the country! Each night at the Comedy Store is a carefully curated comedy experience designed to get the blood pumping with non-stop chuckles. With drinks included in every ticket and an incredible cast of stand-up talent absolutely bursting with belly-busting laughs, this is the hottest ticket in town. www.comedystore.com.au IG: comedystoresyd/ FB: comedystoresydney/ Rat & Klub - Monday from 6:30pm Moshpit Bar | 642A King St, Erskineville This is an intimate show with a fun, casual vibe where comedy fans can see a diverse line-up of comedians.You can often catch special guests coming through to work on new material - these guys have hosted people like Dave Hughes, Becky Lucas, Sam Taunton, Aaron Chen & Michael Hing! What really makes the show fun, however, is the range of experienced and new local comics we have jump up each week. There's a wealth of comedic talent in Sydney & Rat Klub is one of the best ways to see what the local scene has to offer. And a quick heads up, because we’re in the know - as we come into spring and summer there will be a lot of big comedians wanting to tighten up their material for next year's festival season! There are drink specials available all night for RSA holders as well as group ticket discounts. We also have drink specials all night for RSA holders as well as group ticket discounts. Ticketing link: trybooking.com/events/landing/988107 IG: @ratklub_comedy

Professional wrestling has always had flashy, flamboyant characters who proudly wore sequins & feathery robes. People like “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair & Gorgeous George were the epitome of this on the global stage. Down here in Australia, Ken “Dazzler” Dunlop was paving a legacy of his own as Australia’s first openly gay professional wrestler. Ken’s wrestling career began in 1977 at just 16 years old and would last until just 3 weeks before his 40th birthday. As a lifelong wrestling fan, Ken grew up watching wrestling with his family while growing up in the rural Victorian town of Moe. When wrestling shows would come to Gippsland, Ken’s family would always attend, but when they moved to Melbourne the passion really took off. “We moved to Melbourne when I was 13–14, so then Mum & I started going to Festival Hall every Saturday night,” remembered Ken excitedly. “It was just the most amazing time in the world to go and meet some of the local wrestlers.” With his passion having grown from a flickering flame to a roaring inferno, Ken knew he had to at least try to train to become a wrestler himself. A decision that would alter the course of Ken’s life & ultimately see him inducted into the Wrestling Hall Of Fame. While all of Ken’s achievements inside the squared circle are phenomenal, it is actually his personal journey that is truly remarkable. FINDING A HOME IN SYDNEY While Ken grew up in Victoria he found his greatest wrestling success in Sydney after making a rather spur-of-the-moment decision to uproot his life & move. As much of a career-defining decision as the move to Sydney was, it was an even more pivotal moment in Ken’s personal life. When Ken moved to Sydney & ventured down to Oxford Street for the first time he was “quite shocked” by what he saw. “When I first came to Oxford Street, I saw two guys walking down the street holding hands, two girls holding hands. And I just thought, ‘Oh, wow’,” Ken recalled. “You just didn’t see that in Melbourne because there was no sort of gay area… So just seeing that really blew my mind.” At that moment Ken immediately knew he was where he was meant to be. “It made me feel like I was normal… when I came up here & saw people being so open & accepting, it just felt right & you felt safe.” Having found his home & a safe place to be his true self, Ken would go on to meet his husband & again alter his life forever. “Joey & I met in 2003,” glowed Ken. “At the time I was thinking about packing up & moving back to Melbourne because I’ve always wanted to go back home. But then I met Joey & just knew there was something special there & we’ve been here together now for 20 years.” In the 20 years since then, Ken & Joey have called Sydney Inner West their home & have witnessed that area undergo major changes. “When we moved here there were only 2 big buildings & we could see all the way to the airport. But now, there are 12 or so buildings blocking our view & the area itself has blown up. The area is a huge city of its own now, there are no houses anywhere it’s all just apartments but it’s still really peaceful. It’s fantastic.” KEN DUNLOP COMES OUT TO FAMILY Not only was Ken an outstanding talent but he was an openly gay man in wrestling. A fact made even more noteworthy because it was at a time when homosexuality was still outlawed in Australia. When Ken first started training he hadn’t come out to anybody, so he really struggled mentally & emotionally with coming to terms with his own sexuality. In his book, Dazzler Dunlop Inside My Squared Circle, Ken revealed that his struggles with his sexuality even led him to attempt suicide once. As Ken explained, following his attempted suicide he knew he needed to come out to his family. “I wasn’t necessarily scared to come out to my family but my father was a real old-fashioned, hardworking Australian guy. In his family history, there were never any hugs or anything like that, it was always just a handshake,” explained Ken. “So on the first night when I was going to tell them I chickened out. But then on the second night, I got my Mum, Dad & Grandma in a room & told them. Mum said ‘Oh, I’ve known forever’ & didn’t seem to care but Dad didn’t say a word & just walked out of the room.” Thankfully after a night to sleep on it, Ken says his Dad told him, “Look, you're my son. I love you. I don't understand it. Just don't talk about it.” And then according to Ken “everything was back to normal.” It wasn’t until some years later that Ken & his Dad’s relationship would become much closer. “Ten years later, when my mother passed away, Dad & I became really, really close,” said Ken proudly. “He’d hold my hand & tell me he loved me. He accepted Joey [Ken’s husband] as his son-in-law & everything was fantastic.” COMING OUT TO THE LOCKER ROOM After coming out to his family Ken then had to come out to his second family, his peers in the wrestling locker room. A process that was met with a more shrouded hostility according to Ken, “I didn’t get a lock of negativity but some of the older guys didn’t like me & I assume it was because of my sexuality.” However, Ken does recall vividly one moment when the hostility reared its ugly, violent head. “The only time I ever got really abused for being gay happened in the early 80s. It was a really big thing back then to have an earring in your left ear & I’d forgotten to take it out before a match. As the referee was telling us the rules, my opponent said ‘You fucking faggot you’ve got your earring in’ before he leaned over & ripped it out so there was blood pouring out everywhere. Then the bell rang & we started the match as normal. That really, really shocked me & not a word was said after the match. The guy didn’t apologize or anything. That day I lost all of my respect for that guy.” BLOOD IN WRESTLING Blood in wrestling during Ken’s heyday was a relatively regular occurrence, which was remarkable given the rise of the HIV/AIDS crisis during the 1980s. Looking back on this time Ken described it as “really scary” despite the New South Wales Government Department of Sport and Recreation, which oversaw wrestling during that time, outright banning the intentional use of blood. During that time in wrestling “juicing”, as it was known, was the process of intentionally cutting yourself to introduce blood into the match and was a common practice. However, for 5 years, at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, “juicing” was banned. “While there was no blood, HIV wasn’t really talked about with the other guys,” recalled Ken. “But, I remember when we started juicing again I would always ask my opponent if they were ok if I did it & nobody ever said no.” Outside of wrestling though Ken said he was very scared of HIV, “I was still going out & doing my thing… I was pretty much a slut in those days. I’d go out looking for sex all the time but you just had to be very careful, so it was a pretty scary time.” Although he was very careful in his consensual sexual interactions Ken explained in his book that he still experienced the dread of awaiting HIV test results after he had been raped. “When I got raped that was unprotected sex & that really terrified me. In those days it took around 10 days to get your test results so for those 10 days I was shitting myself thinking what happens if I’ve got it. Luckily enough the result came back negative.” EVOLUTION OF WRESTLING PORTRAYAL OF GAY CHARACTERS In closing out our conversation with Ken we asked how he as a gay man, whose character avoided the gay stereotype tropes, felt about the portrayal of gay characters in wrestling. “Gay characters were always made to be the bad guys because at the time it was said the fans loved seeing them get beat up. I think that’s pretty sad & pathetic.” For Ken, he believes it was this portrayal of gay characters that contributed to many gay wrestlers being afraid to come out. “So many gay wrestlers, both male & female, never came out. That's sad because they always had to have secrets & keep everything hidden. Thankfully now the wrestling scene globally, but particularly here in Australia, has come a long way. “I’ve been to about 6 shows in the last 6–7 months & it’s good to see that there are openly gay wrestlers on the shows now. There’s no backlash from the crowd or anyone. That’s how it should be because we all train the same.” Ken’s book can be purchased at www.shawlinepublishing.com.au

More on Newtown There are many famous faces in the line-up for Just For Laughs: Sydney, none perhaps as quick-witted and high-spirited as Dara Ó Briain. We had the pleasure of catching up with Dara ahead of his return to Sydney with his currently touring show, So…Where Were We? Interview with Dara Ó Briain Irish funnyman Dara Ó Briain is set to return to Sydney for the upcoming Just For Laughs: Sydney between the 12th and the 21st of November. This year, Dara will bring his current show So…Where Were We? down under. Originally written and performed as COVID-19 restrictions began to ease, Dara states, "This is a show about reunions”. He explained that the show has evolved since he began touring it on and off since September 2021 (interrupted by COVID-19). “We’ll be up to show 162 or 163 by the time we get to Sydney, so it’ll be very polished”, Dara joked. “Really, I like to give myself the leeway to do a lot of things that kind of characterise what I do - a lot of audience messing around”. Dara’s comedy is not only known to be highly entertaining but a master of improvisation and crowd work. While audiences will recognise Dara from various programmes, Mock The Week – a British improvisational comedy show, was perhaps his most notable regular appearance, having hosted it for 17 years. Whilst the show ended late last year, it has shown itself to be an enduring staple of comedy amongst Dara Ó Briain’s fans worldwide. “The Aussies and New Zealanders, the locals who are comedy nerds who have seen Mock The Week on the Internet, who have seen the Live at the Apollo stuff – they’re really interesting to me”. Of his international audiences, Dara said: “Sometimes they can be incredibly kind.” It was at this point in the interview that Dara – who was speaking to us via video call from his home in the UK - pulled out a giant puppet of himself, “Somebody in Toronto made a puppet of me – he’s in a proper suit and everything… I had to go all the way to the West Coast, into Calgary and Vancouver with this puppet. The puppet has been on a ferry, and it's been through various security checks.” His travels will soon bring him to Just for Laughs: Sydney, where he will join a wealth of other international and Australian comics for a week of fantastic comedy. “When I’m touring, I'm on my own, and the Just for Laughs Gala, which is in the Opera House, will be, you know, with like ten other comics, and I don't get to see other comics very often. It will also be ten other comics in Australia, so they'll be friendly,” Dara joked. Dara Ó Briain, Irish Comedian on Tour “Just for Laughs in Montreal with those American comics - they are not friendly people.” He laughed. “So, it'll be fun to be among, you know, Aussie and New Zealand comics, but also it’s in the Opera House”. Dara has previously performed at the Opera House during his 2017 tour Dara O Briain Live. “The walk to it is just the most fun…you just walk along, and there are all the people milling at the bars, and then you walk to THE Opera House”, he said with amazement. In addition to performing a set at the Just For Laughs: Sydney All-Star Gala, Dara is also confirmed to be performing his own show, So…Where Were We? at the State Theatre, which he described as “Insanely beautiful”. With a busy touring schedule and over 25 years in comedy and TV presenting, Dara says he is still passionate about performing. “It would be very easy to slip into a kind of, you know, ‘here we go again’. You know, because you could name towns that are less interesting to visit than Sydney over the course of the tour. But they are very much the mainstream. You tour the UK, and you're on the motorway, going here and there”. “There was a point in May of this year where it was like a list of British town names: Crawley, Bedford, Hastings. On and on and on. But things like the Australian and New Zealand gigs are the prize you give yourself.” “That's the work. Obviously, and that's fine, and that's how you make money by going to every town in the UK. But it is a lot of towns like, I mean, It's 60 million people wedged into the country, and they built theatres in every town, and you go to town after town, and that can get to be a bit of a grind. So, the prize at the end is the Opera House or Hammersmith Hall, things like that…Sydney is the dessert at the end of a very long tour.” Dara also shared how the Internet has impacted his career and created new opportunities. “The Internet has kind of developed a thing of bringing my clips to people - that all happened in the last ten years - so the point when you might have been going “okay, here we go again”, suddenly I was able to do Oslo. Suddenly, I was able to do Auckland. On various tours, new bits kept being added, new towns, new places to visit. On this tour, we did Athens and Cyprus for the first time. In Athens, there were two people in the front row, one called Orpheus and the other called Thanos, and you're going, ‘Well, that writes itself.’… That kind of stuff is so lovely.” “I’m in show business, for Christ’s sake. I’m 51 and in show business. If I were in a band, not only would the band be over, but the legacy tour would be over, too. But I’m still in the middle of it…So we [comedians] get a really long chance to get to do this for years and years. What’s kept it interesting is that every now and then, you’ll go somewhere totally new, and that’s lovely. It’s great.” Sydney is a hotspot for Australian comedy, particularly for new comics honing their skills and finding their voice. On almost any night in Sydney, a comedy show is happening. To end, Dara had some words of advice for up-and-coming comedians; “Get as much stage time as you possibly can while you’re trying to find your voice. Everything else will look after itself in terms of when breaks come and what happens. You should be thrilled to get any chance. Be thrilled to get the gig that’s a three-hour drive away with only 20 minutes on stage.” “Just try to get on stage as much as you can. For free, for nothing, for anything at all, just because you will find your voice, and that’s everything. It didn’t click for me for a while…You learn by doing, so take any gig you can.” The Just For Laughs All-Star Gala is an annual sell-out. Be quick to book a ticket and find out more information here: www.justforlaughs.sydney/all-star-gala And to see Dara Ó Briain at his solo show, So…Where Were We in Sydney, on November 14th, head to www.justforlaughs.sydney/dara-obriain To keep up-to-date with Dara Ó Briain, you can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @daraobriain or check out his website: www.daraobriain.com By Isabella Edwards

A series of NSW pokies reforms to address the impact of pokie addiction and money laundering aim to create a safer gambling environment. NSW Poker Machine Reforms Since September 1, 2023, all pubs, clubs, and venues with gambling facilities in NSW have been required to remove any signs advertising gambling from their exterior walls. Banned words include ‘VIP Room,' ‘Golden Lounge,' 'Player’s Lounge,’ and pictures of dragons, coins, and lightning motifs. Despite bans, venues are already finding loopholes, with The Royal Sheaf Hotel in Burwood displaying a sign with the words “Phòng VIP” (“VIP Room” in Vietnamese), according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Nonetheless, venues failing to comply with the sign removal face hefty fines, starting at $11,000 per offence. Exceptions may be granted for venues unable to remove signage due to circumstances beyond their control, with an additional three-month compliance period. The legislation extends existing laws prohibiting poker machines from being visible from the street. Changes aim to eliminate the promotion of pokies and curb the negative impact of gambling addiction across the state. The NSW government’s commitment to minimising gambling-related harm includes a range of initiatives, spanning legislation, regulation, data management, certification, education, and training. Focusing on the long-term sustainability of clubs and pubs within NSW communities underpins these efforts. In addition to the ban on gambling signage, other reforms include: Capping the number of gaming machines in circulation. Implementing cashless gaming with mandatory bank-account-linked cards. Banning political donations from gambling clubs. Establishing a buyback scheme for poker machines. Debate: Pokie Reform and Personal Freedoms Australia houses over 20% of the world’s gaming machines, with NSW alone boasting over 100,000 pokies. NSW gamblers lost $4.6 billion on pokies last year, while gaming operators and the government profited substantially through taxes. Critics argue reforms might infringe on personal freedom and could potentially drive gambling underground. However, with concerns over money laundering and gambling addiction, the reforms underscore the need for intervention in what is seen as a public health crisis. “Of course, change isn’t easy,” said former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet when the reforms were announced, “Taking action to stamp out crime and help our most vulnerable community members is a complex task. It has consequences for us all, especially the pubs and clubs that are the lifeblood of so many communities across NSW.” The NSW government has also announced initiatives, including no-interest loans and grants to support communities and venues transitioning to cashless technologies and pursuing new revenue streams without compromising their operations. A government task force will also closely monitor the rollout of reforms focusing on industry viability and job maintenance. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do the right thing and create a better NSW, and we must not let the challenges hold us back,” Perrottet said in his announcement. You can visit the NSW government website for more detailed information on the legislation and reforms. If you or someone you know in NSW is struggling with gambling-related issues and needs assistance, GambleAware is available to help. They can be reached at 1800 858 858, and further information is available on their website, gambleaware.nsw.gov.au. By Tahney Fosdike

More on Dee Why Sean Keenan (@seansperception) is a Sydney-based photographer who gained international recognition when he filmed incredibly rare footage of blue whales offshore. If you enjoy looking at photos of sunsets, beaches and sea life, then chances are you may have encountered the imagery of Sydney snapper Sean Keenan. The Irish immigrant, who publishes on Instagram under the moniker SeansPerception, has a keen eye for capturing the extraordinary. His portfolio includes gold-and-purple sunsets over cultural landmarks, rugged waves broaching shorelines, spectacular aerial views of coastal scenes, and quirky cockatoos in flight. One of his recent images gaining a lot of exposure is an aerial view of rainbow-coloured steps on Coogee Beach. In August 2020, Sean filmed two blue whales cruising past Maroubra Beach, which made international headlines. Whale experts from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) believe it was perhaps only the third sighting in a century of blue whales off the coast of Sydney. NPWS' ranger Andrew Marshall said on 4 Sept, “The blue whale is the largest animal on the plant yet despite its size it could have easily slipped by Sydney's coast unnoticed.. They are not often seen because they tend to live very far out to sea, their populations are widely dispersed and we have very limited data on its migration and critical habitat… Opportunistic sightings like this one are so incredibly valuable. They improve our understanding of where these species live and suggest if there are measures we need to consider to try to protect them." Interview of Sean Keenan, Photographer Neighbourhood Media caught up with Sean to discuss his eye for detail and what brought the young Irishman to Sydney. How did you land in the sea-side hamlet of Dee Why? “I left my home country nearly 7 years ago, with my now-fiancé,” he revealed, “and although I love my home, I needed to try something new. With so many people leaving you always hear of the great stories and opportunities out here and I haven’t looked back since.” What first attracted you to photography? “I got my first DSLR camera when I moved to Sydney, as we were always going new places for the weekend and wanted to capture our travels,” he revealed. “I started taking it a bit more seriously around a year ago; I did a quick 4-hour photography course during Vivid Festival one night and was completely lost but amazed at the magic a cheap camera can produce.” The majority of your images feature the Sydney coastline, many utilising a drone to get amazing aerial angles - do you prefer capturing sea-based images? “I love shooting the coastline,” he confirmed. “The drone gives you a completely different perspective than being on the ground. I’ve spent a lot more hours in my photography journey in the sky with the drone, hence a lot of my photos being coastal. “It’s only when the whale watching season finished last year that I started to take my handheld camera a bit more seriously and work on my ground landscape shots. I usually prefer stills, I think they look better on social media, except if I come across wildlife, because the unexpected can happen so it’s always good to [be able to] video.” What's the secret to filming whales: do you receive tip-offs that pods are migrating along the coast, or simply find a headland with a good launching spot, send the drone out and hope for the best? “For whale watching, it’s just a matter of spending a lot of time on the coast,” he revealed. “I was watching for a good seven months last year - I lost count of how many days I was out there! It’s just by being consistent you’ll (hopefully) get lucky.” How did the incredible images + film footage of the blue whales come to fruition? Do you think this has been your favourite capture? “Both blue whales I spotted, four weeks apart, had been seen just off the coast at Maroubra, less than 1km away, which was very surprising. The blue whale footage is probably my favourite,” he confirmed. “I’d be lying if I said otherwise, it was such a special and exciting capture for me. “I still consider myself an amateur photographer who got lucky and was able to gain a bit of following. In the meantime I can’t wait for this whale season to begin as I never get sick of it! Let’s hope I’m able to spot a couple more species, preferably Orcas.” Follow Sean on Instagram - @seansperception