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Bands, bands, DJs and more bands Art after Dark Theatre Greek Film Festival Children & Family Melbourne’s Hidden Gems Reader feedback Music Something different New market Ballet Russe Environment Food & wine The Typographic Sleuth Fashion showcase Country Victoria Advance notice The White Hat Quiz
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BANDS, BANDS, DJs & MORE BANDS
This weekend is the first Melbourne appearance of Parklife with bands and DJs throughout the day. Details at: http://www.inthemix.com.au/whatson/event/31713/Parklife_Melbourne If your budget doesn’t stretch that far, there is always the High Vibes Street Festival in Northcote on Sunday with tons of bands. It’s free. Details at http://highvibes.com.au/
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ART AFTER DARK There are only two more Wednesdays left if you want see the Picasso Exhibition ‘after dark’. These sessions feature food and wine and what the gallery calls “late night entertainment”. Since they close at 9pm that gives visitors an indication of what we consider a late night here in Melbourne. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Galleries/NGVInt.asp
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THEATRE There have been a number of smaller theatre productions open recently. These include I Start Again, Lament: Candles & Compost, Autobiography of Red and Honour Bound. Details and descriptions of these can be found at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Events/TheatreM.asp
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GREEK FILM FESTIVAL There is currently a Greek Film Festival running in South Yarra. As an acknowledgement that not everybody in Melbourne speaks Greek, some films may be subtitled in Italian. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Festivals/Film.asp
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CHILDREN & FAMILY Currently you can see 31 Circus acts in 30 minutes at Fed Square. This event is free. On Saturdays until Christmas at Fed Square are workshops called ‘Dream Seed’ culminating in a mass performance just before Christmas. The Da Vinci Machines exhibition at the Docklands continues until the end of the month. On Sunday at the Vic Market is Magic Sally’s Band especially for kids. On Monday at the City Library is a free Beat Box & Rap workshop for teenagers. Details of all these at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Lifestyle/Children.asp For teenager who are more serious about rap and hip-hop there are 5 continuous days of classes in Collingwood. Details at: http://www.stampingground.com.au/breaking.html Parents don’t have to attend, but if you really loved your child and are interested in their world you would also sit through all five days of classes. Later next week there is the Grand Final Parade featuring players from somewhere over the border. And the Royal Show is on every day. Details at: http://www.royalshow.com.au/
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MELBOURNE’S HIDDEN GEMS The Australian Garden at Cranbourne is not really hidden but certainly not well enough known but most Melbourne locals and visitors. Melbourne is rightfully proud of the Royal Botanic Gardens in the Domain and visitors will vouch that these are gardens of a standard and style comparable with the best in Europe. But why travel to Australia just to see things in the European tradition?
When you enter the Australian Garden you are not presented with a soothing Constable landscape. You are confronted (and in my case delighted) with a Fred Williams landscape without a lawn in sight. Individual native plants isolated from the tangled bushland where we usually encounter them and placed in starkly coloured Australian stone start to take on a strange beauty all their own. Many of the plants have an immediate affinity with contemporary architecture and sculpture and I expect that it won’t be long before the contemporary Australian garden escapes from its small enclaves in modern industrial estates to become a staple and stunning feature of the Australian suburban landscape.
The garden has only been open for about six months and many of the plantings are still in their establishment phase. That is all the more reason to go along now and then pay repeat visits as the plantings develop. Why not choose a particular spot to photograph the children or grandchildren and repeat the process each time you visit? That way you can record the growth of both the kids and the plants.
There are numbers of places to sit and contemplate. My favourite would be somewhere near the fragrant eucalypts. There you can ponder the cluster of ‘black boys’ contrasted against the ochre sand and wonder what Burke & Wills would have made of them being used as a feature in a formal garden.
You can find details (including a downloadable MP3 file) of the Australian Garden at: www.rbg.vic.gov.au
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READER FEEDBACK
Dear Mr WhiteHat: I would also like to know the best way to fertilise and care for lemon trees. Helen: Mother of the Weeny, Sad Lemon Tree”
Helen. This is a rather delicate subject. I suggest you hold a dinner party with plenty to eat and drink. After dinner send the gentlemen out the back to discuss the fertilizing of lemon trees while the women retire to discuss important subjects such as Australian Idol. Repeat this process several times, ensuring there is plenty to drink, and I think you will find lemon tree is not quite so weeny.
“You can't do that to me! How did the bike race finish? Who was it? When was it? Argh, where's me pieces of eight so I can pay somebody to divulge the full truth, the whole truth and the rest of the story. Regards Walter”
“Curse you whitehat, I forwarded your newsletter around the office and they’ve being talking like pirates the whole day. Now I can’t get a simple answer to a simple question without several AAArghs in it. It hasn’t helped that my name is Pete.”
Several weeks ago we asked What is your nomination for the most inappropriately named suburb or development? Yvonne responded with “Deer Park (deer? park? Where?)". That has prompted the following reply from Pam>
“Have been meaning to write to you for some weeks now to tell you how Deer Park got its name.
In 1850 William Clarke claimed 31,000 acres of land stretching from Mt Macedon to Sydney Road & down to Werribee where it bordered the Chirnside's property 'Werribbe Mansion'. He built 4 stations on the property 'Deanside' at Rockbank, ' Red Rock' at Riddell, 'Bolinda Vale' at Clarkefield (which is still in Clarke hands) & Sunbury where the Rupertswood Mansion now stands in the grounds of the Salesian College. (The mansion was built by his son Sir William Clarke.) He ran sheep on the property & for sport raised & hunted deer on his 'Deer Park' located near the now, Western Highway. There was 1 particular Stag that nobody was allowed to kill & it roamed the property till its death when its head was mounted on a board & presented to the Melbourne University. It is still remembered as its picture is on 1 of the glass panels in the stained glass windows on the ground floor of the mansion.
In 1922 the mansion passed out of the hands of the Clarke family, being bought by H V McKay. He only lived there for 4 years dying on the property in 1926. The main legacy of his ownership was the installation of 1 of the first lifts installed in a private residence in Australia. (He was unwell from the time he first moved in so was unable to use the stairs.) The lift is still operational but is only used to take elderly visitors to the first floor everyone else uses the stairs.
Have been receiving your newsletter for some time now & enjoy it very much, keep up the great work. Pam”
So that’s why it’s called Deer Park. The rest of our subscribers knew all that but we printed it for Yvonne’s sake. Maybe more about the Clarke family and their impact in Melbourne in future newsletters.
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MUSIC You can’t complain about the range of music available in Melbourne this week. Apart from the two full days of bands and DJs mentioned above, there is acoustic Flamenco at the George Adams Gallery. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Music/Folk.asp There is Jazz at Shakespeare’s in Frankston and the Copocbana in Smith Stree. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Music/Jazz.asp Melbourne Chorale performs Howells Requiem at St Pats – an ideal venue for that work. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Music/Classical.asp There is experimental music in Fitzroy under the name of Experimentalia Musicia. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Music/Pop.asp There is an entertainment based around the life of popular WWII entertainer Stella Bowen at both Mornington and Ballarat. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Music/General.asp There are also the rap and hip-hop classes we have mentioned above, although anybody found to be holding a tune will be expelled from the class.
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SOMETHING DIFFERENT Have you just received a reply to your singles ad from ‘Fun-loving Gent from Dandenong interested in Social Outings’ who is taking you on a date on Sunday night. This is probably where you’re going.
“Opening night invitation to all radio controlled enthusiasts young and old to a fun indoor event where drivers of 1/18 scale radio controlled (rc) electric cars are able to test their abilities with other drivers on a high-traction racing circuit. Pilots of mirco and small scale rc electric helicopters can test an aerial circuit. Family friendly event with fully stocked canteen and onsite parking.” Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Lifestyle/Children.asp
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NEW MARKET The new Heathmont Farmers’ Market opens soon. Details can be found on our (now quite lengthy) list of farmers’ markets: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Victoria/Markets/Farmers.asp This weekend is also the occasional Munchkin Market selling children’s goods. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Festivals/FairsFetes.asp
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BALLET RUSSE Next Thursday there is a special presentation at Rippon Lea where guests from the Australian Ballet recount the impact made by the Australian seasons of the Ballet Russe. If you intend to go, it is worth trying to see the currently released film on Ballets Russes. I think it is still in some cinemas. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Places/RipponLea.asp
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ENVIRONMENT We are constantly being reminded about the environment and global warming. For instance last Saturday’s Age had a large article telling us how we could do our bit, however small, because every little bit counts. What they omitted to mention was that the Saturday Age is vary large, most people throw away most sections without even opening them, but large amounts of energy are consumed and greenhouse gases created in printing and transporting the full edition to all customers whether they want the full edition or not (the advertisers wouldn’t pay otherwise) so that they can preach to us about doing our little bit for the environment. And the subscribers take their copy from the letterbox marked 'No Junk Mail' and nod their head at the wisdom of the article. Such are the curiosities of our weekly Melbourne rituals.
For the next couple of weeks there is the opportunity to take a free tour of the Melbourne City Council’s new ‘green’ building. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/100GT/Arts/Workshops.asp The following weekend there is a community spring planting day at Royal Park with free gourmet barbecue. Remember that Sundays is also the day for cheap tickets on public transport. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Parks/RoyalPark.asp
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FOOD & WINE The Asian Food Festival continues throughout Melbourne. One of the most common searches we get on our website is for “best Chinese food in Melbourne”. They then head off to somewhere like the Flower Drum or Silks and later complain to us that they had searched for “best Chinese food in Melbourne” because that would be a cheap way of eating out. There is a food and wine expo this Sunday at the wonderfully preserved Gulf Station in the Yarra Valley. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Victoria/Regions/YarraValley.asp
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THE TYPOGRAPHIC SLEUTH Steffan submitted a listing for a concert of ‘Unusual Organ Music’ in Greensborough. The concert is still a month away but details can be found at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Music/Classical.asp We note with interest that the enquiry number submitted was 03 - 9 434 2429 Does the spacing tell you anything?
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FASHION SHOWCASE Next Thursday is the monthly fashion showcase at Fed Square. I haven’t attended (fashion leaders like myself don’t need to) but if you are still leaving a space after the 9 in your phone number, maybe it’s time you did attend. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Events/FashionM.asp
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COUNTRY VICTORIA If you are driving up to Mildura this weekend you will notice an increasing flow of wives and girlfriends leaving town. As you get closer you will find a number of faithful dogs lying dead by the side of the road. You see it is the Midura Country Music Festival and I’m not sure what you will find if you make it all the way to town. The following weekend is a country music festival and ute muster at Deni so that may prove a chance to replace the wife or girlfriend who left you. Nothing could replace that dog though. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Music/Country.asp
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ADVANCE NOTICE Coming up in the following weeks is a Peruvian Festival, an MSO Pops concert with a program suitable for young people, the Fringe Festival, a free community planting day and BBQ in Royal Park, the Seniors Festival and, of course, the Grand Final. In the country there is the Albury-Wodonga Food & Wine Festival, the Grampians Wildflower and Art Show and the Ironbarks Festival in Stawell. Details of all these events on our website.
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THE WHITE HAT QUIZ
How well do you know Melbourne?
First to last week’s quiz
Please note: This section of the newsletter has been removed as it forms part of a forthcoming publication.
Now to this week’s quiz.
MELBOURNE PARKS, GARDENS & RESERVES
1. Where would you find the ‘Temple of the Winds’? 2. In which park will you find a monument to Burke & Wills? 3. Which Melbourne park is built on the site of an old antinomy mine? (As a supplementary question – what is antimony used for?) 4. In what Victorian gardens can you find an avenue of busts of Australian prime ministers? 5. What park is the site of the first European burials in Melbourne? 6. These are all too easy. In what interstate city can you find a monkey enclosure in the gardens? What connection does that city have with Melbourne? 7. What is your candidate for the most inappropriately named park, garden or reserve in Victoria?
Send your answers to quiz@whitehat.com.au
No prizes – just glory and a warm inner glow.
