Last Thursday, 3 June, Reconciliation Week was the impetus for a community celebration at West End’s People’s Park. The theme for the week was More than a word. Reconciliation takes action, or as Kylie Deen put it, “doing, not just talking”. That was precisely the vibe at the park last week. Over the last year,…
Karyn Walsh one of eight new Queensland Greats
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced eight new recipients of the Queensland Greats Awards, among them is Micah Project’s CEO Karyn Walsh AM. She was recognised for her social justice advocacy. The other 2021 Queensland Greats are: Humanitarian and women’s health champion, Professor Ajay Rane OAM Wellbeing champion for the Torres Strait Islands and proud member of…
Mixed response to Council’s Green Bridges decisions
In May, after receiving over 4000 submissions, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner revealed the landing sites for the proposed two new green bridges to West End. Cr Schrinner said that the alignment options to be progressed by Council would be the proposed Option A for both bridges. Option A for the St Lucia bridge runs between…
The Secret is out: Avid Reader is Australia’s Top Bookshop
We locals always knew Avid Reader is the best bookshop in Australia, if not the world, and now the secret is out. This month, Avid Reader was announced the Bookshop of the Year by the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA). The Award is for the individual physical bookshop in Australia that has demonstrated excellence over…
These Streets aren’t made for walking
Brendon Donohue is a 27-year-old young man. He is good company, articulate, and funny. He is also blind and a passionate advocate for disability rights. Brendan lives at Common Ground, a government-funding housing project that accommodates many people with impaired vision and impaired mobility. He says he can’t safely cross the road unassisted, which cuts…
98.9fm celebrates 27 years and its tenth year in West End
This April 98.9 best the country celebrated its 27th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of its move to West End. 98.9 FM started as 4AAA on Tuesday, 6 April 1993. Station manager Dan Rennie told me that the station had its beginnings well before that with the Murri Hour on 4ZZZ in the early 1980s.[i] “There was nothing…
When We Speak: Cellist Katherine Philp showcases Australian Female composers
In her new recital performance, When We Speak, Katherine Philp, principal cellist at Camerata, aims to re-cast our ideas of beauty, gesture, and expression. The solo recital features recently written music using electroacoustic and amplified sound to meld with film and animation. The program, held on Saturday 1 May at Metro Arts, features works by Kaija…
Hugh Possingham: Queensland’s Chief Scientist
Without any fanfare from the Government or from media, Hugh Possingham, Professor of mathematics and conservation science at the University of Queensland, was appointed Queensland Chief Scientist in September 2020. I know something of Professor Possingham’s work and was surprised to find that little had been written about his appointment and his new role. I…
West End Green Bridges: connecting or dividing communities?
The Westender has closely followed Council and community responses to the proposed green bridges program to West End from St Lucia and Toowong, and we provide here a timeline of the process from the announcement until now. There have been several Council information sessions, and politicians and various community and interest groups have run forums…