Monday 26 February – Sunday 3 March

TWiSK #403

St Kilda Blues Festival
Three days of free gigs in local venues

Street parade with Hoodoo Mayhem
Acland Street Saturday 6.30 pm | Fitzroy Street Sunday 3.30 pm

Theatre scene shines at Red Stitch, Theatre Works and Alex

Jewish Museum re-opens 

In-home aged care services to end in August
700 clients will ‘transition’ to other carers
45 jobs lost with $1.81M in redundancy costs
|
Dramatic policy shift on protected bike lanes
New wards for next Council 
Rubbish fiasco report fails to appear when promised




St Kilda Blues Festival
Three days of free music in local venues
Friday 1 March – Sunday 3 March

Friday 1 March
All free, all local venues
Kim Volkman Blues Band, Collard Greens and Gravy, Jack Howard & the Long Lost Brothers & Sisters, Wilson James Band, Sammy Owen Blues Band, Otis Namrell Trio, Joshua Batten, Black Molls, Heavy Medicine and Catfish Voodoo.
Click here for all venues and times
Saturday 2 March
All free, all local venues
Charles Jenkins, Opelousas, Catfish Voodoo, Smoke Stack Rhino, Bobby Valentine & The Blues Roulette, Buddy Knox Blues Band, Dom Turner, Kim Volkman Blues Band, Troy Wilson & Aaron Gillet, Jarrod Shaw, Andy Baylor Blues Band, Louis King & The Liars Klub, Shake, Damon Smith, Phil Para, Anna Scionti, Collard Greens & Gravy, Otis Namrell Trio, Rod Paine & the Fulltime Lovers, Mike Rudds Spectrum, The Sammy Owen Blues Band, Margie Lou Dyer Jazz Quintet, Julian James & the Moonshine State, Ragg Gumbo, Mission Brown, Heavy Medicine, Voodoo Preachers, Steve Colbrook Trio, Wilson James Band, Ezra Lee’s Boogie Woogie Band, Murray Cook’s Soul Movers and Geoff Achison & the Soul Diggers.
Click here for all venues and times
Sunday 3 March
All free, all local venues
Shake, Rod Paine & The Fulltime Lovers, Phil Para, Murray Cook’s Soul Movers, Mike Rudd’s Spectrum, The St Kilda Blues Festival Afterparty, Alex Burns, Murray’s Bay Country Club, Heavy Medicine, Synthronica, Kathleen Halloran, Doc Halibut, Ezra Lee, Damon Smith, Anna Scionti, Bobby Valentine & The Blues Roulette, Dom Turner & the Rural Blues Project, The Buddy Knox Blues Band, Andy Baylor Blues Band, McNamarr Project, Paullie Bignall & the Thornbury Two, Smoke Stack Rhino, Voodoo Preachers, Detonators, The Tonalists, Troy Wilson & Aaron Gillet, Penny Ikinger’s Marbles, Kim Volkman, Opelousas and Dalicados.
Click here for all venues and times

Street parade with Hoodoo Mayhem
Acland Street Saturday 6.30 pm | Fitzroy Street Sunday 3.30 pm

Monument @ Red Stitch
Tuesday 27 February – Sunday 10 March
After a successful season last year, Emily Sheehan’s play Monument is back at Red Stitch. With an astute and entertaining script, Monument challenges the trivialisation of beauty therapy, exploring the role that makeup and fashion play in how we perceive and receive women in power.
Info and tix 
Dry Land @ Theatre Works Explosives Factory
Wednesday 28 February – Saturday 9 March, 7.30 pm
Dry Land by Ruby Rae Spiegel is an unflinching play about reproductive rights, the resilience and intimacy of young women, and what happens in a girls’ change room after a high school swimming pool has closed.
Tix 
St Kilda Comedy @ George Lane
Wednesday 28 February, 8 pm – 11.15 pm
With comedians like Billy Styles and Elijah Dries, with guest performances by: Jeremy Dooley, Fergus Neal, Jackie Hatton, William Wang, Christina Schmidt, Sahil Bhatia, Akwasi Osei-Tutu, Abhishek Mishra and Richard Meneses. $10 +bf
Tix
Hana and Child by Nina Sanadze @ JewMu
Thursday 29 February — Sunday 9 June
A selection from Nina Sanadze’s immense body of work, this series of clay sculptures depicts mothers with their children and is informed by the 1942 ‘Ivanhorod Einsatzgruppen photograph’: a black-and-white image of a mother embracing her young child while a uniformed man pointed his gun at them at close range.
Sanadze says, ‘I wanted to show love and immense tenderness between each mother and child in their last moments, not the violence.’ $20/$16
Info 

Instructions for Mending the World by Harry Nankin @ JewMU
From Thursday 29 February
Writer Harry Nankin has created a vast collection of works which juxtapose images of deep space with impressions of cloth captured through a precise process of light exposure. Nankin’s work examines connection and repair, reflecting on the mystical Kabbalist’s call for tikkun olam: to ‘mend the world’.
Info 
Every Lovely Terrible Thing @ Theatre Works
Thursday 29 February – Saturday 16 March, 7.30 pm (some matinees)
A universal tale of love, courage and intergenerational trauma, this darkly comedic new Australian play boldly examines why families stay together – and what happens when they can’t.
Step inside the tumultuous world of the Colemans as they prepare to take on their greatest adversary yet: Themselves.
Tix 
Daniel O’Donnell @ Palais
Thursday 29 February, 7.30 pm
The Irish singing legend Daniel O’Donnell is promising a wonderful show full of Irish standards, and classics from the popular music songbook. $129
Tix

Neil Murray & his band @ Memo
Friday 1 March, 7 pm
Maverick song man Neil Murray was a founding member of the pioneering Warumpi Band, which in the 1980’s penetrated mainstream Australia with the iconic anthems My Island Home and Blackfella Whitefella. $50/$39
Tix

Grass – 1925 silent film with live score by Zöj @ Astor
Friday 1 March, 7.30 pm
The legendary silent masterpiece, Grass, made in 1925. Heart-stopping adventure and beautiful photography accompanied by ZÖJ’s evocative live score. The filmmakers join Iranian Bakhtiari nomads on a challenging 48-day journey across harsh terrains, overcoming river crossings and perilous mountain ascents alongside 50,000 people and 500,000 animals to reach a lush valley. $30
Tix 
Impromptunes: The Completely Improvised Musical @ Alex
Friday 1 March, 8 pm
“The audience suggests a title, and seconds later the curtain opens on a brand new, completely improvised and totally hilarious musical.” From $34
Tix 
Ruthless! the Musical @ Alex
Friday 1 March – Sunday 24 March, 7.30 pm
A laugh-out-loud, high-energy show with a catchy score by Marvin Laird and witty lyrics by Joel Paley. Its billed as a rollicking spoof of classic shows like “Gypsy,” “Mame,” and the iconic thriller “The Bad Seed.” It’s a wild humorous take on these beloved classics.
More info 
Best Fete yet @ St Kilda Park Primary School
Saturday 2 March, from 11 am
Featuring rides, rock climbing, face painting, a Silent Disco, market stalls, sports activities as well as live entertainment, delicious food and a well-stocked bar
Help support your local school at this epic family friendly day out.
Buy an all day ride pass before the event and enjoy unlimited rides all day.
Buy your ride pass 
Mini Market @ Christ Church
Saturday 2 March, 9.30 am – 2 pm
Books, plants, sausage sizzle and more
Become a stallholder Robyn 0408 536 241

Panel Discussion > Facts Of Matter @ Linden
Saturday 2 March, 2 pm – 3.30 pm
Join Debroah Hart (Climarte), Dr Simon Torok (Scientell) and group show curator Cinda Manins for a panel discussion around the latest Projects Space exhibition Facts of Matter. Free
RSVP 

The Sound of Music @ National
Saturday 2 March – Sunday 18 March, 7.30 pm and some matinees
Inclusive theatre enthusiasts present one of the most beloved musicals of all time! $68
Tix

Musical Theatre Rave: Broadway @ The Prince
Saturday 2 March, 8 pm
Live performers will take you from the heart-wrenching ballads of “Les Misérables” to the high-energy beats of “Mamma Mia”, with show-stopping numbers in between.
Join in the excitement with our lip-sync battles, or dance the night away as our DJ spins the best of Broadway. $32
Tix

Client Liaison @ Espy Gershwin
Saturday 2 March, 8 pm
“Welcome to ‘Club Liaison’ where disco, lobsters and dancing unite.” $44
Tix
Clean up Community Event @ Marine Reserve near St Kilda Skate Park
Sunday 3 March, 9 am – 10.30 am
Help keep our city beautiful and prevent litter reaching the bay.
Register 
Dharmaland Festival @ St Kilda Town Hall forecourt
Sunday 3 March, 9 am – 7 pm
Dharmaland will be jam packed with yoga, pilates and dance classes along with meditation, live music, sound healings and inspirational talks.
Info

Meet The Artist > Jill Orr @ Linden
Sunday 3 March, 1 pm – 2 pm
A relaxed afternoon of conversation with Melbourne-based artist Jill Orr and Director of Linden New Art Dr Vincent Alessi, as they discuss Orr’s current exhibition, The Promised Land Refigured, in the relation to the issues of global homelessness and climate change. FREE
RSVP 

Paul Tabone – Viva Pavarotti! @ Memo
Sunday 3 March, 3 pm 
Experience the power and passion of one of the greatest opera singers of all time with a special performance honouring the late Luciano Pavarotti. Featuring special guests, Veneto Club Choir. $45 / $35
Tix

Next Week
Monday 4 March – Sunday 10 March

6-week photo practice program @ Linden
Wednesdays 6 March to 10 April, 6 pm – 9 pm
A workshop designed for complete beginners as well as photographers and artists interested in further developing their camera skills. Participants will gain an understanding of how to artistically control certain photography elements and explore a variety of camera techniques, with an emphasis on available light photography and how to creatively control it. $395
Info and bookings 

Mussel & Jazz Festival @ South Melbourne Market
Saturday 9 March and Sunday 10 March
Saturday Jazz
11 am – Noria and the Parisians (2 sets)
1 pm – Jen Salisbury Trio (2 sets)
3 pm – Miss Lizzy & The Night Owls (2 sets)
5 pm – Joys Jambi
6 pm – Elvis
7 pm – The Jackson Combo (2 sets)
Sunday Jazz
11 am – Hoodoo Mayhem (2 sets)
1 pm – The Bluetone Assembly (2 sets)
3 pm – Margie Lou Dyer (2 sets)
5 pm – Steve Sedergreen Trio (2 sets)
7 pm – Adam Rudegeair (2 sets)
Info

Plan ahead

Sisters in Crime. Unmasking the Truth @ The Rising Sun Hotel
Saturday 16 March, 8 pm
Authors of three new novels will ‘tell all’ under interrogation of journalist and Sisters in Crime convenor, Leslie Falkiner-Rose. The authors are Louise Milligan (Pheasants Nest), Sarah Bailey (Body of Lies), and Abby Corson (The Concierge) expose the perfidy, duplicity, and brutality that define some people, and far too many institutions.
Info  | Bookings 
Festival Africa @ Space2b
Sunday 17 March, 11 am – 5 pm
Featuring Astral African Market showcasing treasures from Black-Owned businesses, including clothing, vintage finds and jewellery; lively performances throughout the day; drumming, henna and face painting workshops and an African art exhibition throughout March.
Info
MICF The Gala @ Palais
Wednesday 20 March, 8 pm
Comedy Festival Gala always sells out – hurry $193+
Tix
GP Formula 1 @ Albert Park 
Thursday 21 March – Sunday 24 March
All the usual zoom zoom and boom boom
Info

Predictable but sad end to Council in home care
Focus shifts to a ‘no gap in service’ transition

Council voted on Wednesday to end in-home aged care services from August this year following a review of the services prompted by changes to the Federal funding in 2027.
The Council will end in-home domestic assistance, personal care, respite care, individual shopping assistance, property maintenance and home modifications.
In recent years the number of people receiving Council support had dropped dramatically, from about 1500 people to 650 and falling as aged care packages enable clients to be serviced by other providers.
Leaving the services will see 45 staff being made redundant with Council liable for $1.8M in redundancy payments.
Council will continue with delivered meals, community bus and Linking Neighbours program.
No gap transition pledge
Acting Mayor Louise Crawford told TWiSK that the 650 residents currently receiving in-home services will not experience any gap during this change.
“[Council] staff will continue to visit until arrangements with not-for-profit providers of their choice to take up these services have commenced” she stressed.
“We believe this, and [Council’s] unique new Community Connector role, will ensure the smoothest possible transition as well as establishing our Council as the first port of call for older people wanting trusted advice on how to navigate the entire, often complex, aged care system.”
With Council elections set for October, a sloppy transition could become a significant issue.
Last minute bid to defer falls short
A last minute bid by Crs Tim Baxter and Robbie Nyaguy to delay the decision for six months stood little chance of success but provided an opportunity to make a last stand.
Cr Baxter said aged care was an essential service. ‘It’s core to council services, it’s about supporting community,’ he said. Cr Nyaguy said it had been a difficult and depressing to watch as Council walked towards scaling down these important services.
Cr Crawford said “I do feel like I failed on this one… I don’t think I grasped the enormity of this change.”
Cr Martin breaks ranks with ‘progressives’
Cr Peter Martin was vocal in his support of the exit, albeit reluctantly. “[In recent years] the people receiving Council support has fallen from 1500 to 650,’ he said. “There are [other] providers out there.”
He strongly advocated that Council be the connector rather than the provider.
‘Council can be the trusted first point of contact for people looking for services,’ he said.
Cr Christina Sikaroff spoke at length in support of the exit. She said Council was not well placed to deliver services in aged care. She rejected claims that people would be left without support.
“Council will have dedicated staff to help clients transition from existing care services to the new programs with increased choice and control for each client,’ she said.
The voting record
For: Bond, Clark, Cunsolo, Martin, Pearl and Sirakoff.
Against: Baxter, Crawford and Nyaguy

Dramatic policy shift on protected bike lanes

Yes on state managed roads,
but only maybe on Council roads.

Council has voted to advocate for protected bike corridors on state managed arterial roads (such as St Kilda Road pictured) while preferring a range safe riding options interventions (but not excluding protected lanes) on local roads.
This significantly changes the Council policy that previously stressed a network of dedicated and continuous protected bike corridors.
It follows a series of vocal local objections to pop-up bike infrastructure and more recent plans being considered along Inkerman Street.
Push back from vocal locals prompts ‘more flexible’ policy
‘This is listening to our community,’ said Cr Bond.
Cr Martin successfully amended the motion make it clear that protected bike lanes could remain an option were appropriate.
Opposing the change Cr Baxter said the evidence showed that protect bike lanes where safer and encouraged more people to ride.
After a tetchy exchange with the Mayor, Cr Nyaguy walked out during the discussion and did not vote.
The voting record
For: Bond, Clark, Crawford, Cunsolo, Pearl and Sirakoff
Against: Baxter and Martin
Absent: Nyaguy

New council ward boundaries announced
Nine single councillor wards

The results of a State Government review of council structure have been released.
From the next elections in October, Port Phillip residents and ratepayers will  elect one councillor in each of nine wards, replacing the three wards with three councillors that has been in place since 2016.
While the most wards have familiar geographical names, the need to balance the population in each ward means some of the boundaries are a bit tricky.
The new wards are: Albert Park (including Middle Park and most of St Kilda West), Alma (mostly St Kilda East), Balaclava, Elwood, Lakeside (St Kilda Road and St Kilda Junction area West of Crimea), Montague (Northside of Port Melbourne), Port Melbourne, South Melbourne and St Kilda.
Check the map

Irony upon irony
Report on the rubbish collection fiasco fails to appear

In November last year, Council announced an independent external review into the circumstances surrounding the kerbside waste collection issues in July 2023.
The review was to be provided to Councillors before the end of 2023
It was to be made public in February.
And with even extra time in a leap year, we are still waiting.
Read Council’s November statement

Council statement on aged care decision
Acting Mayor Cr Louise Crawford

“Port Phillip Council last night (21 February) made the difficult decision to start exiting from providing several in-home services for older residents (domestic assistance, personal care, respite care, individual shopping assistance, property maintenance and home modifications).
The 650 residents currently receiving in-home services will not experience any gap during this transition. Our staff will continue to visit them until arrangements with not-for-profit providers of their choice to take up these services have commenced.
We believe this, and our unique new Community Connector role, will ensure the smoothest possible transition as well as establishing our Council as the first port of call for older people wanting trusted advice on how to navigate the entire, often complex, aged care system.
Under our new Village Model, we will continue to deliver meals and social support programs, provide a free hop-on hop-off community bus to help people get around and stay socially connected and run activities including our annual Seniors Festival and valued Linking Neighbours program. This is not a cost-cutting measure – our Community Service funding will receive an extra $65,000 each year.
We have not made this decision lightly as we understand change can be challenging for everyone and many clients have provided wonderful feedback about their Council staff. It is not something we sought to do.
The Australian Government aged care reforms, however, require significant extra resources and make it incredibly hard for us to compete with other providers. We have already lost staff and clients and the new federal funding model will put us on the backfoot by not providing block funding in advance.
Our Council will inform the Australian Government of our decision today. The Commonwealth will then spend several weeks assembling a panel of not-for profit providers for residents to choose from.
We will then start transitioning clients in stages over three to four months. We will have a team of staff, as well as our Community Connector service, who will be there every step of the way to assist clients seeking advice about how to arrange a new provider. We expect everyone will have a new provider by the end of August 2024.”

Bike lanes are conscripts in the culture wars
Julie Clutterbuck, Port Phillip Bicycle Users Group

“Bike lanes are the latest conscripts in the City of Port Phillip culture wars: consistency and evidence are out.
On Wednesday, Council voted to replace the flagship bike lane policy with a weaker plan to make a “range of interventions” like painted bike symbols, sharrows, kerb outstands and street art. When the State Government put exactly such interventions in our streets two years ago, this council demanded that they be ripped out.
On Wednesday, they voted to “advocate to the State Government to deliver protected bike corridors”. But when the State Government proposed a protected bike corridor along Kerferd Rd (with substantial funding), this council nobbled it.
In 2018, the council planned a 25km network of protected bike lanes to be built over a decade. Only 2.5km has been delivered.
Cycling is already very popular in Port Phillip, and 70% of residents would like to ride more, with the main barrier being riding with motor traffic. Cities around the world, including Paris, have massively grown their rideshare (and decreased pollution and congestion) by building protected bike lanes. The brand new St Kilda Rd lanes have increased ridership by around 300%.
Cr Bond is “proud to be part of the most anti-bike Council in Port Phillip’s history”, but the whole community is missing out: on state government investment in road safety, on reducing transport carbon emissions, on better health through active transport. And our kids are missing out on the simple pleasure of riding independently.”

Resident, volunteer, aged care sector worker speaks out against outsourcing.
By Muriel Arnott 

“I am concerned about the proposal to privatise or outsource all Aged Care facilities in Port Phillip.
When outsourced such services are no longer within a public body thus responsible and accountable to their Council.
The history of Care Services in Port Phillip and previously St Kilda, South and Port Melbourne was of the VERY highest standard.
Meals on Wheels, Social Work departments where action would be taken as soon as required with all the relevant responsibility.
This does not happen when privatised or outsourced.
Meals on Wheels is a classic example.
This request comes from my lived experience of working professionally, and having volunteered in many aspects of Aged Care in Port Phillip and previously in South Melbourne for 30 years.
My mother was a recipient of aged care services.
Once outsourced the capacity and reliability of delivering quality care and services decreases markedly. This can be seen in many care services, especially those for the vulnerable aged who need care.
There is enough evidence to substantiate this fact.
Frequently outsourced services get bigger, allegedly for efficiency, but we all know there is also an agenda of more money including Not for Profit organizations.
When bigger more administration is required, who are paid more which results in cutbacks made at the coal face- impacting the person receiving care.
Money is not saved because, a profit/surplus must be made by the outsourced company, hence quality of care is compromised.
You are in denial if you do not agree with this fact.
I ask every councillor to question what quality of care they would wish for themselves, or for their family. I can assure you the care will be better if NOT privatised or outsourced.
Don’t loose kindness, consideration and humanity for those needing such services which is what you are doing if Aged Care services are privatised-outsourced, then NO longer the responsibility of and accountable to a Public Council.
I plead this as a ratepayer for many years and hope you will respect the knowledge of those experienced in this area.”
“Council have been struggling to provide in-home aged care services due to staff shortages.”
Read more

St Kilda’s only source of independent journalism combined with local arts, music and community events