• A VERY loud part of Perth’s history came to a quiet end recently with the death of local guitarist Neil Farrington. The 87-year-old was one of the first local musicians to play the electric guitar and his band The Trio Tones were pre-cursors to Perth’s rock ’n’ roll scene. Old mate Rusty Christensen said as teenagers the pair used to entertain crowds at the North Fremantle football club. Later Farrington played in the Army’s entertainment corps, then toured England with Leslie Cole, aka The Great Levante. Returning to Perth he played with the cream of the city’s dance bands, including Ron Jenkins and Bill Blaine.
• THE Cockburn Art Group meets every week in the old council chambers, emerging briefly for an annual exhibition. This year they’ll be at the Kerry Street community school from May 1–3, featuring work from Lal Harding, Pat Reed, Ray Surman, Maureen Chester, Frances Myshell and Terry Stone. Kids from the school will also be displaying their work.
• SOROPTIMISTS of Fremantle will be helping the homeless with the annual art auction at the Fremantle Town Hall on Saturday June 6 from 4.30–8.30pm. Proceeds go towards the Freo Street Doctor, The Sisters’ Place and the Fremantle Multicultural Centre which provides crisis accommodation to migrants and refugees.
• SINGLE mum Michelle’s struggle to keep up with her young son while multiple sclerosis takes its toll on her body tugged the heartstrings of a bunch of friends so much they’ve organised an Easter fundraiser to buy a mobility scooter. Organiser Nicole Couper says the fundraiser, at the North Fremantle Bowls Club on Thompson Road will be this Saturday from 2pm till late. There’ll be live music from 3pm, raffles, prizes, a sausage sizzle, kids’ Easter games, face painting or more. Ms Couper says the mates have previously raised funds for various organisations, but this event was a personal mission, and the money will help maintain the scooter and any left over will go towards the mounting medical costs. For more information contact Nicole on 0430 481 821 or Heidi on 0402 908 213.
