TWiSK #413

Mum’s Day
Cake and a show for Mum on Acland
Eugene Hamilton luncheon at Newmarket Cellar
Ned Kelly’s legal posse buried at St Kilda

Podcasters live
Mamamia Out Loud and live
The Imperfects

Musical visitors
Greek Legends of the 20th Century
The Whitlams Black Stump
Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen

Theatre
Billy Elliot The Musical
The Grinning Man
He

The charge of the EV brigade gets deferred
Candidates for Lakeside Ward line up

RoPP launches cash for access drive

and more …


He @ TW Explosives Factory

Tuesday 7 May – Saturday 18 May, 7.30 pm
Spanish Friday 10 May and Friday 17 May. 7.30 pm
He is a coming-of-age tragedy (set in post-civil war El Salvador) about the treacherous waters of masculinity, homophobia, and love. About dad, the war, mum, the moon, the shadows of the past… still lingering. A story about sex, sin, Jesús, and the ocean.
Conceived, written and performed by Salvadoran-Australian theatre practitioner Rodrigo Calderón, He is physical, vivid and delirious storytelling, with a cumbia heart-beat.
Tix
References to sexual violence and homophobia, and use of homophobic slurs.
Explosives Factory is accessed via a flight of stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.
The Grinning Man @ Alex
Wednesday 8 May – Sunday 19 May, 7.30 pm some matinees
Following an extended West End run, The Grinning Man is a magical and macabre musical based on the novel The Man Who Laughs, written by the globally celebrated author, Victor Hugo (Les Miserables, The Hunchback of Notre Dame), and will make its Australian Premiere. $84/$60
Tix 
Hayley Millar Baker: In Life, In Death @ Vivien Anderson Gallery
Wednesday 8 May – 8 June
Opening Saturday 11 May, 2 pm – 4 pm
“A series of seven deeply personal, evocative archival inkjet prints exploring the human psyche, centred on the psychological abyss of despair when confronted with the incomprehensible spectre of mortality.”
Hayley Millar Baker (b. 1990) is a lens-based artist living and working in Melbourne. She is an Aboriginal Gunditjmara/Djabwurrung woman with mixed Anglo-Indian and Portuguese-Brazilian heritage. Hayley’s work centres on Indigenous feminine narratives of being, spirituality, and the psyche – prominent subjects in her personal and cultural identity and experiences.
Info
284–290 St Kilda Road
Tuesday – Friday 11 am — 5 pm
Saturday 12 pm — 4 pm
Mamamia Out Loud LIVE @ Palais
Thursday 9 May, 7 pm
“Join Holly Wainwright, Jessie Stephens and Mia Freedman for a night of laughs, unpopular opinions and their trademark honesty”. $89+
Tix

Ryan McMullan @ Espy Gershwin
Thursday 9 May, 7.30 pm
Irish singer-songwriter Ryan McMullan. $54.60
Tix

Twist & Shout: A Salute to Rock ‘n Roll @ Memo
Friday 10 May, 7 pm
The Williams Brothers perform the classic No 1 hits of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Legends of the 50’s & 60’s.
The Williams Brothers are the sons of one of Australia’s leading Rock ‘n’ Roll pioneers, Warren Williams, the boys were born to carry on the tradition of one of the greatest eras in Music History. $69.90/$59.90
Tix
The Mojo Corner + Doc Halibut @ George Lane
Friday 10 May, 7:00 pm – 10:45 pm
The Mojo Corner are Rock. They are Roots. They are Blues. They have Soul.
Doc Halibut’s rock n’ roll and pop exhibits an authentic heart and irrepressible energy to carry any audience aloft and along for the ride.
Tix
Billy Elliot The Musical @ National Theatre
Friday 10 May – Saturday 25 May, 8 pm (some matinees)
CLOC is proud to bring the Victorian Non-Professional Premiere of Billy Elliot, The Musical. $66/60
Tix
Greek Legends of the 20th Century @ Palais
Friday 10 May, 8 pm
Celebrating 100 years of Greek influence on modern music with the cream of Greek/Australian singers, dancers, and musicians. $101+
The organisers are not modest, they promise an event “bigger than Ben Hur, bigger than The Trojan Horse and bigger than the Pyramids.”
Tix
Shannon Bourne Band @ George Lane Matinee Sessions
Saturday 11 May, 3 pm – 6 pm
Shannon Bourne is a critically-acclaimed blues-and-roots-founded guitarist, singer and songwriter with a strong following of discerning fans and the power to sway audiences with the naked emotion and sheer virtuosic power of his soul-searing performances.
Tix
The Imperfects @ Palais
Saturday 11 May, 5 pm and 8 pm
“Founder of The Resilience Project, Hugh van Cuylenburg, his brother Josh van Cuylenburg and comedian Ryan Shelton (neither of their brothers), are touring on an original stage show that will make you laugh, feel and think.” $61.03 +
Tix

The Whitlams Black Stump @ Memo
Saturday 11 May, 7 pm
Tim Freedman’s alt-country project The Whitlams Black Stump sees him and longtime drummer Terepai Richmond joined by an A Team of roots musicians, reconstructing the best of The Whitlams’ repertoire with a smattering of new songs and classic Americana. $65/60/55
Tix 

Lady Bunny – Don’t Bring The Kids!! @ Espy Gershwin
Saturday 11 May, 6 PM
Second show after first date sold out. Drag Royalty Lady Bunny in an hour of jokes and demented song parodies. $59/$49
Tix
J.P. Shilo & T.J. Howden – Hungry Ghosts (duo)  @ George Lane
Saturday 11 May, 7:30 PM 11:00 PM
The reclusive cult-like instrumentalists – Hungry Ghosts, are like rare birds from a bygone era.
Their two founding members – J.P. Shilo & T.J. Howden will be appearing in an exclusive duo mode, previewing new works as well as selections from Shilo’s “Invisible You” LP and his various collaborations. Support on the night is D.C. Cross.
Tix
Mother’s Day Trail @ Acland Street
Sunday 12 May, 1 pm – 4 pm
Organised by the local traders, Mother’s Day Trail is a Mother’s Day event with a yummy difference – where Mum and her guests get to experience all Acland Precinct has to offer – coffee, cake, entertainment and prizes for only $5!
Entertainment includes Flamenco dance, mums comedy show, opera and fashion.
Bookings required 

Mothers Day Luncheon with The Eugene Hamilton Cocktail Quartet @ Newmarket Cellar
Sunday 12 May, 1 pm – 4 pm
“In this special Mother’s Day Luncheon, Eugene in up close and intimate Cocktail Quartet format croons you for you, as only he can.”
Tix include your choice of mains from a sumptuous menu and a complimentary glass of bubbles to toast the Mums on your table. $55 ($27 child)
Tix 
34 Inkerman St
Magistrates Barristers and Prosecutors linked to Ned Kelly’s Capture and Trial @ St Kilda Cemetery
Sunday 12 May, 1 pm & 3 pm
Be transported back 140 years to hear about some of the people linked to Ned Kelly. Lawyers, soldiers, prison authorities and politicians. All were involved at different stages with Ned Kelly.
Visit the graves and hear about magistrate Arthur Akehurst, William Anderson Artillery Commander, Hugh Barclay District Superintendent, Henry Bindon counsel, John Castieau Prison Governor (pictured) and more. Adults $ 15, FOSC members $ 10
Bookings essential gkp@netspace.net.au | 0448740195
Repair Café @ EcoCentre
Sunday 12 May, 2 pm – 5 pm
Volunteers help you fix and mend things. They are clever and keen to reduce waste.
Visit their webpage to more good info 
38 Blessington St

Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen (UK/USA) @ Memo
Sunday 12 May, 3 pm; Tuesday 14 May, 7 pm
Grammy award winning multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer Jon Cleary returns for his first Australian tour in five years with his band The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, to celebrate twenty years since the band’s inception and first album. $69.90/64.90/59.90+bf
Tix 
The Golden Gaytimes @ St Kilda Sports Club
Sunday 12 May, 5pm
Free

Later in May

Book Launch: Houdini Unbound @ Readings
Wednesday 15 May, 6.30 pm
Celebrate the launch of Alan Attwood’s Houdini Unbound.
“It is 1910. Halley’s Comet is coming. Harry Houdini is in Australia for the first time. The most celebrated escape artist in the world has sold-out seasons in both Melbourne and Sydney. Houdini has a new obsession: aviation. He has brought with him from Europe his own Voisin biplane, being put together and prepared in a Diggers Rest paddock by his French mechanic, Brassac. Houdini is intent on claiming a record: first to fly in Australia. But he has competition from aspiring aviators in several states, and is left restless and distracted when his promotional leap-in-chains from a Melbourne bridge disturbs a corpse in the Yarra.”
Free, but bookings are essential. 
112 Acland Street
Introducing the Degrowth Movement @ U3A Saturday zoom seminar
Saturday 18 May, 2.30 pm – 3.30 pm
Degrowth is a lifestyle, a call for system change and a rapidly expanding international movement. Politicians aim for about 3% GDP growth per annum, which is a doubling every 23 years. This growth is killing the natural environment that keeps us alive. Presented by Terry Leahy, a sociologist and environmentalist. Free
Info and link
Tree planting @ Elwood
Sunday 19 May. 10 am – noon
Join Earthcare St Kilda in a quest to plant 1000 trees in 2 hours.
All materials are provided but please bring your own garden gloves if you have them.
Meet between Foam St and Wave St, Elwood, along the residential fence line and pedestrian walking path. Look for the blue Earthcare banner. All welcome.

Dancing from Broadway to Broadway

Moving from Melbourne to Manhattan is set to become a reality for professional dancer and teacher Lucy Mangion.

Dance is more than a passion for this Elwood local, it’s an inspiration.
“Ever since I could talk, I told people I wanted to be on stage,” says Lucy Mangion.
“My Nanna made all the cousins put on a Christmas concert every year. We used to sing and dance in full costumes she made us.
“Performing is what I’ve always known I was born to do.
“At school I received perfect scores for my VCE dance, VET dance and VCE drama performance exams and invitations to perform in Top Class.
“This was when I realised that performing arts could really be a possibility for a career path.”
For the past 5 years Lucy has been working at Mentone Grammar School choreographing and directing their school musicals and dance shows.
She also started her own entertainment business CTRL Entertainment and has been booked for artists including The Kid Laroi, Sean Kingston, Joel Corry, Topic and Havana Brown, and have choreographed for Australian rap artists Alpy & Sophiya
Broadway calling …
From her cosy home in Broadway (Elwood) she set her sights on the City that never sleeps.
“My dream Broadway show is Chicago the musical. I auditioned last time I was in NYC and made it through their audition process leaving me as a possible future replacement.
“Once I get to NYC I have a job at Broadway Dance Centre teaching which I am so excited for.
“When I bought my apartment in Elwood during COVID I knew it was meant to be because it was on Broadway in Elwood so I am moving from one Broadway to another.”
Break a leg, Lucy.

Charge of the EV brigade postponed

“Electric vehicle ownership is growing and the number of EVs registered in Port Phillip has almost doubled since 2019 with almost 340 EVs registered in 2022.
Independent consultants estimate that there will be around 11,000 EVs in Port Phillip by 2030.”
Report to Council 1 May

A decision to discontinue a pilot program of Private Kerbside EV chargers has been deferred until June to collect more information.
Since 2021, 10 private chargers have been installed in nature strips at residents expense (about $6500 each) in a pilot program.
It’s a contentious issue because EV ownership is rising yet an estimated 90% of households will not have the space or technology to charge at home. This will make them reliant of public charging facilities – which are currently almost non-existent in Port Phillip.
Supporters of private kerbside charging spoke passionately at Council urging continuation of the program. They said their private investment made owning an EV possible and convenient even though they could not guarantee access to their charger. ‘Neighbours have been co-operative’ they reported.
Council supporting a network of charging options
Council is investigating ways to increase provision of public charging to meet a range of demands. In a rapidly evolving technology, the current thinking is that EV owners will rely on a mix of public rapid charging (>30 minutes to full charge on a road trip), incidental charging (say 1 hour in a shopping centre carpark) and public kerbside (7Kw) charging (2 – 5 hours) – giving results similar to home charging.
Public pole chargers look promising (NSW picture)
Council is working with Intellihub, who were awarded a grant of $1.35M by the Victorian Government’s Zero Emissions Vehicle Emerging Technologies (ZEVET) program to install 100 EV chargers mounted on power poles across three inner city local government areas, including Port Phillip. This program is due to be completed by end of 2024. Council is also working with EVX Australia Pty Ltd to investigate pole mounted chargers.
Councils across Melbourne are grappling with the complexities of EV charging, both for the public and their own fleet. A large hurdle is the cost of installing electricity supply for fast charging as it needs more than the domestic network currently supplies.
Watch this space

Race for Lakeside Ward kicks off
There will a postal vote for all Victorian Councils in October
Port Phillip will have 9 single councillor wards
Voting is compulsory for enrolled residents

The first two candidates for the newly drawn Lakeside Ward in the Port Phillip Council elections have stepped forward.
Joining the fray are Jo McDonald, an independent Liberal candidate, and Ivy Pierlot, an endorsed Greens candidate.
Lakeside Ward was created in the recent changes to the local ward boundaries that abolished the previous multimember wards by mandate of the State government.
The Ward includes residents and ratepayers on the Lakeside of St Kilda Road, the Lakeside of Canterbury Road and the ‘junction’ area of St Kilda Road (see map).
See ward map

Ivy Pierlot
Greens for Lakeside Ward
“As a young trans woman, student and advocate, I am passionate about social justice and environmental sustainability. I am committed to amplifying the voices of marginalised communities and fostering inclusion in society.
As a life-long resident of Port Phillip, I want to see our community become more sustainable and inclusive – through supporting young people, better public transport and access to green spaces. I have campaigned tirelessly for LGBTQ+ rights and believe we need more diversity in politics.”
ivy.pierlot@vic.greens.org.au
Ivy’s campaign page
Jo McDonald
Independent for Lakeside ward
“I have a master’s degree in Economics and am a career professional in consulting and asset management. I will be able to use these skills with maximum impact as your local Council representative.
“Whilst I am a member of the Liberal Party of Victoria, I am running for this election as an independent candidate to represent everyone. So, in October I ask you to support a candidate that will listen and act and put your interests first. I will listen and advocate for you and the outcomes that matter to you the most.”
0407 558 286
jo.mcdonald.copp.election@gmail.com

Connor Slattery: Greens for Albert Park ward

Also announced this weekend, Connor Slattery will seek election in Albert Park ward.
“As a long-term resident of Port Phillip, I am passionate about protecting our beautiful green spaces, biodiversity and climate action. I’ve witnessed the decline in our local biodiversity and believe the council has a core responsibility to change this.
“For over a decade, I’ve been at the forefront of the circular economy movement, working to reduce waste and combat environmental degradation.
“I will push for expanding green spaces, fostering biodiversity, taking action on climate change and planning for local climate resilience from future floods.”
connor.slattery@vic.greens.org.au
Connor’s campaign page 
TWiSK will announce candidates as they come forward.
Email TWiSK to be included

RoPP launches campaign with cash for access plan

Residents of Port Phillip (RoPP) lobby group has started it’s campaign for the Council elections with a call for cash from supporters.
Pledging to drive politics out of Council, the cash drive offers silver, gold and platinum packages to prospective donors.
Included in the benefits of the higher packages is access to RoPP sub-committees and executive meetings.
The Platinum Package ($2K+ pa) includes “Invitation to any ROPP executive meeting to present on a topic.”
See full details at RoPP site
Two RoPP councillors were elected in 2020
In the 2020 Council elections, ROPP ran an election campaign for three independent candidates and two were elected: Cr Rhonda Clark (left) and Cr Christina Sirakoff.
Campaign donation reports show that RoPP was the biggest single donor to the 2020 council elections with $38,253 declared.
The ALP declared $11,132 and the Greens declared $16,744. The ALP’s Robbie Nyaguy declared $12,000 to his own campaign.
See all declared donations 

RoPP right of reply

We offered Campbell Spence (RoPP President) an opportunity to comment, this is his reply in full:
“Thank you for the opportunity to comment on your article. Your headline should read ROPP offers the community an innovative way to save thousands of dollars for household costs. Can anyone else match it?
Check out the link 
We are very proud to be offering residents discounts on major whole household costs during a cost of living crisis.
ROPP are a community organisation and we’re running candidates for the benefit of the community and as such need to raise funds . We have enabled a way for our community to save thousands of dollars per annum on household cost.
Your comment about “cash for access” is misleading because ROPP listens to ALL of our constituents – we will be holding public meetings specifically to hear feedback from residents in relation to their expectations of councillors!
Big donors will be invited to our committee meetings, but they have no more influence over the committee than any other resident!“

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