Airing an idea
I THINK there’s a certain merit to the name Fremantle Breeze (“Breeze hopes to have a bash,” Herald, December 17, 2016).
They could blow a few maidens over, look super cool, rustle up a pile of runs and be an ill wind for their opponents.
Their theme song could be Blowing in the Wind and their after-match celebrations could be held at the Trade Winds Hotel.
In fact, I’m just totally blown away with the whole idea and may the wind be always at your back.
Steve Grady
Murray Road, Palmyra
Not fussy
I WAS amazed to read in the recent Herald article (“CircusWA gets deadline to move”, December 25, 2016) that a “circus insider” says CircusWA has had many offers of new space, even free, which we have not taken up.
We have looked at many buildings. None of them were free, though a subsidised rent was offered on one building where we would have contributed by performing at events.
All these buildings were more than we could afford, or were not large enough, or tall enough, had asbestos problems or were in areas not suitable for youth classes delivered at night. Some of these buildings were council owned such as the Naval Stores. This was the closest we came to securing a new space, but our application was not successful.
If it sounds like the circus is being fussy about its digs, w’re not. If we don’t have a large enough floor area with a high roof we can’t offer our full range of classes. Like other not-for-profit community groups our finances are tight. Any reduction in classes risks affecting our viability. We don’t receive any funding for our day-to-day operations.
The grants we get are project-based for things like performances, community workshops or classes for disadvantaged young people.
What we do receive is a subsidised rent from the culture and arts department at the Old Customs House. With our departure in April imminent we are actively and urgently looking for a partner who can assist us with an affordable or subsidised rent for the medium term. We have some options for a new circus space in the longer term, but they are a year or more away.
In spite of our difficulties in finding a new home CircusWA continues doing what it has done for nearly 30 years. Hundreds of children and adults attend classes each week and our artistic life is flourishing. Our two youth troupes performed very successfully at the recent Fremantle Festival. CircusWA is a strong and active part of the local arts scene and, we hope, can be here for a long time to come.
Pam Nairn
CircusWA Board Chair
Bit rough on the disabled
THANKS to East Fremantle council for giving my disabled daughter a new year gift — a $100 parking infringement.
My daughter is an Acrod permit holder who was simply trying to be independent and enjoy some exercise.
As there were no Acrod bays available at the Zephyr car park, she made the mistake of parking in the No 1 Leeuwin car park, thinking it was the same free parking that Fremantle provides.
I wonder why the Acrod bays at the Zephyr car park are free when two steps away they charge at Leeuwin. Doesn’t make much sense to me. Maybe it’s so East Fremantle can raise some revenue through parking pnfringements.
Please put my daughter’s $100 fine towards upgrading the public restrooms at Zephyr Cafe as they are extremely old and look disgusting. It must be tedious for the Zephyr’s staff to keep them clean.
I think it will be a walk somewhere other than East Fremantle in the future.
Michele Armstrong
Sunset Court, Spearwood
Nature taking a back seat
DID your writer intend to inject some light-hearted relief at the end of the article “Earth-shattering” (Herald, December 24, 2016) when noting the Main Roads’ assertion that work on Roe 8 would improve the “degraded” area, and the Fremantle Liberal hopeful states that the tollway will “provide us with a visual daily connection with nature”?
After I had finished ho-ho-ing I became truly queasy to think that there could be people in the community who hold such views.
I am sure that the red-tailed black and Carnaby’s cockatoos, bandicoots and other wildlife would agree that some of the area is degraded, but the fact is that it is their home.
A busy, wide freeway will fragment a rare piece of bushland in this city, with terrible impact on these vulnerable populations.
Amelioration of the bushland is already happening, with significant revegetation work underway.
And as for Hayden Shenton, who clearly never experiences nature from anywhere but the inside of an air-conditioned car, I’m surprised he’s satisfied with just a freeway. Why doesn’t he create a virtual reality wetlands so he can destroy those pesky critters out there once and for all?
Katrina Budrikis
Beaconsfield