Damo and I arrived right on the dot of seven, as we were keen to maximise our drinking and schmoozing time with the other “very important people”. Damien said he was particularly impressed by the white wine, declaring it “the best Rosemount I’ve ever tasted”. While he was, at first, more polite when it came to gulping down food – I had no such qualms – he was eventually grabbing two pieces of food, just to be sure. We became best friends with the short Irish girl and the bleach-blonde-tips gay boy who looked after us all night. Unfortunately, they didn’t provide ice-creams, but they did open up another bottle of wine so we could sip wine during the movie.
And what a movie it was. It was called Standing In The Shadows Of Motown. According to the publicity blurb from the website, Fourteen years in the making, this film is based upon a book of the same title that won the 1989 Rolling Stone / BMl “Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award”, STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN was shot in 35mm film, on location in Detroit and elsewhere. This one hour and forty-eight minute documentary and performance film tells the Funk Brothers’ saga through archival footage and still photos, narration, interviews, re-creation scenes, 20 Motown master tracks, and twelve new live performances of Motown classics with the Funk Brothers backing up Chaka Khan, Ben Harper, Bootsy Collins, Montell Jordan, Meshell Ndegeocello, Joan Osborne, and Gerald Levert.
There were some wonderful anecdotes, some fantastic insights into the construction of the “Motown sound”, and some great performances. One of the real surprises was Joan “What If God Was One Of Us” Osbourne. Although she seemed like a bit of a “try hard”, her vocal performances were truly remarkable, especially one of my favourite songs, “What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted”.
It’s Saturday night and I have a rug on my knees. I don’t know exactly what happened to summer which appeared briefly earlier today, but winter isn’t quite over yet. As such, I’ve just woken up from a terrific afternoon nap. Since waking up I’ve been listening to a fantastic new CD which I picked up earlier today.
The last week has been reasonably busy with work-related activity.
The only other social engagement was the launch of Perth’s annual Pride Festival on Thursday night at the West Australian Museum. The launch was quite good except for two things: the bar service was too slow and the speeches were too long and too similar to each other. That said, the festival looks reasonably interesting and it’s bound to keep me off the streets – or perhaps on them – for the next couple of weeks.
Speaking of streets. I don’t know why but at the moment, the centre of Perth is one big construction site. In addition to the highly controversial railway project, there is a large number of major buildings under development. Although the Swan River colony was established in 1829, Perth is a relatively new city, and many of the locals have told me that the 1983 America’s Cup win really “made” Perth and Fremantle in particular. That said, although Fremantle has some wonderful well-preserved old buildings, the same can’t be said for Perth. It wouldn’t surprise me if most of the buildings in the CBD had been built in the last twenty years. Or maybe I have it all wrong?
The next few weeks will be reasonably interesting with Sue, Colin and Damien all paying a visit to Perth. I have also applied for a job in Sydney – a promotion – and have been told to keep September 23 and 23 free for a trip home for an interview, though it hasn’t been confirmed yet. The only plan I have at this stage, aside from hopefully getting a fabulous new job, is dinner with Damien on Sunday night. Damien arrives here at the end of October and, after he spends a few days at Margaret River, we’re heading up to Broome.
Actually, I am a little homesick at the moment and I’m not sure if it’s been enhanced or worsened by listening to a CD called, Bondi Calling 2. compiled by Andy Glitre who I first remember hearing on Triple J in the late 1980s. In my Perth bedroom with a blanket over my knees, I am transported momentarily to Bondi RSL on a warm Sunday afternoon or to the Opera Bar at Sydney Opera House in the midst of summer. Yes. This CD is Sydney! In the same way that “Sunny” takes me to the warm, great-feeling Sydney of summer, another track, “Just” by Aya Larkin transports me to that other Sydney that people don’t wish to acknowledge exists, the artsy, intelligent reflective Sydney that you find at pubs in Newtown or acoustic nights as “The Basement”. On a weekend in which I’m feeling a little homesick for Sydney, I can’t decide if listening to this CD is such a good idea.
Life continues to return to normal after my big trip. Work went well today. I achieved a lot and felt good about all that I did. I also went out for lunch with Damien ahead of his (very overdue) haircut (after lunch) and trip to New Zealand (tonight). And then tonight I caught up with Michaela for a drink and a meal at our favourite Sydney small bar, Yulli’s.
Oh, by the way, as an aside, Kate came up with a great phrase last night when we too caught up in a small bar. I described it as “One of those Melbourne style bars” to which she replied, noting it wasn’t quite as narrow as they are in Melbourne, “It’s a Sydney-style Melbourne-style bar”. That’s my new phrase I’ll be over-using for the next few months.
We chatted about life, the universe and everything. She’s very excited because she film she has been working on,”Boxing for Palm Island” has been chosen as the opening night film at this years Message Sticks Festival at the Sydney Opera House. It will also have a screening on ABC-TV later in the year.
Before I went to Sweden she asked if I would bring back a snow dome for her collection which includes pieces from all around the world, including, of all places, Dubai. As I was in Stockholm I looked around for snow domes. I mean, they have snow, so presumably they would have snow domes. And to be honest, I wasn’t all that impressed with what was one offer. But then I saw it. The commemorative snow dome for this year’s wedding of the Crown Princess. I told Michaela, the Swedish tourist authority had controversially branded the event with an English language slogan, “the year of love”. You can’t open a paper or a magazine in Sweden without seeing the royal couple. It’s like Charles and Diana, though hopefully with a happier story. And so when I found the commemorative royal snow dome I knew I had a winner. Only problem is, I don’t know how to say “snow dome”. I’ve looked everywhere on the internet for a translation without success. Until then, I’ve come up with my own phrase “Snö Globen”.
Swedish royal wedding snow dome
Swedish lessons resume next Tuesday, which I’m looking forward to very much. Especially as it will give me the chance to ask Marianne about how to say “snow dome” på svenska.
I noticed there was a bloke with a “Hall & Oates” haircut as I looked around the room at “The Sportsman’s Hotel” in Brisbane last night. Do you remember THAT 80s look? A perm on the top, a mullet at the back, and a matching beard. There were lots of other young people wearing 80s looks and fashion too. The current generation has obviously been going through their parent’s/grandparent’s old clothes, and looking at their old photographs for inspiration.
And then I looked up and saw a photograph of Toye de Wilde. Back in the 80s and living in Brisbane, I fondly remember Toye from her days doing shows at The Hacienda, the legendary gay bar on Brunswick Street. She was a huge figure on the LGBTQIA+ scene in Brisbane. A few years later, she ran for state parliament on a gay rights platform.
To her right, there was a photograph of another performer from those days, Malika. Around the corner, there was a photograph of Sybil Thorndike, another local performer from the mid-80s.
Toye and Malika on the wall of The Sportsman’s Hotel, Brisbane
It was then I started thinking about other drag performers from those days, including Freda Mae West whose apparent inability to lip-sync was a memorable highlight of the Sunday Session at The Alliance Hotel, another Brisbane gay bar from the 80s.
It was a wonderful time in my life. I was about twenty years old, living away from home for the first time, being in a city not a country town, attending university in Brisbane, and getting to really experience my life as a “gay man”.
My memories of those days are vivid. I smiled recently as Kate Bush topped the charts with “Running Up That Hill”, as being on the dance floor of a Brisbane nightclub and dancing to that song is one of my strongest memories of that time. “Boom Boom Boom (Let’s Go Back To My Room)” and “Male Stripper” was the soundtrack of the time. My friend Cathy and I both vividly remember going to the “alternative night” at The Hacienda, “Short Circuit” and, in the midst of Siouxsie & The Banshees, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, The Cure, The Clash, and other “alternative music”, really getting down on the dance floor to “Wham Rap”. We still laugh about it now as a “bonding experience”.
I remember $3 beers, midnight closing (and then re-opening once the police had gone through and collected their money), the Bjelke-Peterson government, going to The Beat nightclub on a Sunday night to “make the weekend last longer”, and going to The Terminus. It’s no longer there, but The Terminus was my favourite Brisbane gay bar, maybe because it was the first one I attended (aged 15!!!) and in particular, I loved the shows put on by Destiny.
I don’t remember much of the exact details, but I remember Destiny as a wonderful host. I remember being there for her final show before she headed off for a new life in Cairns. It was an emotional night.
The friend who I shared a house with back then, Heather and I named our cat, Destiny. In fact, Destiny the cat had three names, Destiny Delores de Wilde, named after two other drag performers in Brisbane at the time.
Our cat was a much-loved member of our small family. When we both left Brisbane we left her in the capable hands of a friend, who in turn left her in the capable hands of a friend while he went on holiday. When he returned from holiday, his friend refused to return Destiny. And in fact, he stopped taking calls, as he loved Destiny so much. As did we. As far as cats go, she was “quirky”.
Destiny the cat is presumably long-gone, but as I looked at the photographs, I wondered “Where’s Destiny?”, the trans woman and drag performer. “Why isn’t there a photograph of Destiny the performer on the wall?”, I thought to myself.
Destiny the performer later ended up at a wildlife farm in Cairns, doing crocodile shows. I remember reading this at the time, and it was later reported in the newspaper Q-News.
Destiny worked for many years in drag shows in Fortitude Valley including for five years at Neil McLucas’s Terminus Nightclub.
“The Terminus was a wild old time,” she said.
“It was the punk era and the declining years of the Bjelke-Petersen reign and we partied like there was no tomorrow.
“Then AIDS came along, and for a while it seemed like there would be no tomorrow. We were just lucky to have venues like the Terminus where we outcasts at the time could form our own families and communities.
But where is Destiny now? Apparently, she is the Editor of Q-News. And why doesn’t The Sportsman’s Hotel have a photograph of the much-loved Destiny on their wall?
Current Thursday night drag shows at The Sportsman’s Hotel, BrisbaneWaiting to go on stage. Drag shows at The Sportsman’s Hotel, Brisbane
About a year ago when I was working in Darwin, I visited the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and discovered the works of Kaylene Whiskey. In the time since, she’s become a firm favourite of mine, and some of her works have been recently shown at Sydney’s Museum Of Contemporary Art. Because her art touches on the popular culture icons of many Indigenous women of a similar age to her own, I love the “truth” in her works.
This year, working in Darwin, I’ve been able to attend the actual announcement of the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards
As well as the art, there were some terrific dance and musical performances by, amongst others, Djuki Mala (formerly Chooky Dancers) of “Singing In The Rain”; Electric Fields performing “Pukulpa” and Mojo Juju (who has an amazing voice and stage presence).
A really memorable night.
Dancers to open the art awardsDjuki Mala (formerly Chooky Dancers) performing “Singing In The Rain”Dancer from the Torres Strait
Electric Fields
Electric Fields
Among the artists, it was great to see Kaylene Whiskey win an award, and the acceptance speeches by the daughter of Nyaparu (William) Gardiner, and by Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu (in sign language) were really wonderful.
Kaylene WHISKEY Yankunytjatjara language Indulkana, SA Seven Sistas 2018 water-based enamel on SA tourist attraction road sign 75 x 270 cmNyaparu (William) GARDINER (dec.) Nyangumarta/Warnman/Manjilyjarra languages South Hedland, WA Our Old People 2018 synthetic polymer paint, lead pencil and ink on paper 114 x 300 x 90 cmMalaluba GUMANA Yolŋu Matha language Nhulunbuy, NT Rainbows in the lilies 2018 natural pigments on hollow stringybark 293 x 80 x 80 cm (overall)Malaluba GUMANA Yolŋu Matha language Nhulunbuy, NT Rainbows in the lilies 2018 natural pigments on hollow stringybark 293 x 80 x 80 cm (overall)Owen YALANDJA Kuninjku language Barrihdjowkkeng Outstation, NT ‘Ngalkodjek yawkyawk’ 2019 natural pigments, charcoal, PVA fixative, stringybark (Eucalyptus tetradonta) 130 x 25 cm 100 x 20 cm
I can scarcely believe that tomorrow marks the tenth anniversary of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Sydney, and I wonder if you might drop me a line to give me an update on what’s happened since September 2000. I’m quite confused. “How can it possibly be TEN YEARS since the Olympic Games were held in Sydney”? It’s just not possible.
I remember the Sydney Olympics as a fairly magical time in Sydney, when strangers chatted to each other without too much attitude, and when people on public transport were actually quite considerate. People in Sydney aren’t as scarey as many others in Australia think – we have an unspoken policy of always thanking the bus driver, which I haven’t seen in many other locations – but Sydney-siders can also be somewhat aloof. But during the Sydney Olympics, a lot of the pretence you often associate with Sydney – “We live in a truly global city”, “We have New York style apartments” etc – was forgotten. People just got on with the business of enjoying themselves.
For Damo (my partner at the time) and I, the games started with the opportunity to attend a few of the dress rehearsals for the opening ceremony which were fun. While he was working quite hard during the Olympic Games – a business association – I had most of the time off, which meant sitting back and relaxing, and enjoying all that I could.
A particular favourite memory for me was the visit by the NBC Today Show to Homebush. Small things, eh? At the time, I was quite a fan of the show, and I loved when we went out to Homebush late one night to watch the show and the swimmer, Misty Hymen was one of the guests. Do you remember her? Can you believe anyone really had the name Misty Hymen? I was more excited to see Matt and Katie myself.
I also remember quite vividly when we were at Circular Quay, and had scored quite good seats at Customs House when Cathy Freeman won the 400-metre event. I still remember, quite strongly, the collective elation that was felt, as we all literally, stood up and cheered her success. There was also much speculation at the time about the sexuality of Ian Thorpe. There’s one thing that hasn’t changed in ten years :)
Sydney Olympics Closing
Thanks to my friend Kate, Damien and I were also lucky enough to gain tickets to the Closing Ceremony. Tickets which, wonderfully enough, allowed us access backstage, and onto the “field of play”. In essence, that meant we were able to go onto the ground itself where the closing ceremony was taking place, and got to attend the “Cast Party” which meant a moment on the dance floor with Opera singer, Yvonne Kennedy. Now that’s a moment I won’t forget, despite the ten years passing.
Sydney Olympics Closing
And then a couple of weeks later, we had the Paralympics which were also quite exciting. Famously that night, someone in the audience went on the stage and danced with Kylie as she sang “Spinning Around”. It was all very September 10.
Dressed up before the Sydney Olympics.
I can’t believe it’s ten years. Some things have changed, some haven’t.
“How are you coping with the heat?” is a question that has been coming my way from family, friends and colleagues over the past few days. Navigating the recent warm weather in Sydney has been a bit of a challenge for me, with a prosthetic leg, and a liner and socks for my leg, resulting in a few weeks filled with perspiration. In fact, there was a day recently after a session with my physiotherapist where I removed my leg, and a significant amount of sweat dropped on the floor. We shared a laugh and a mutual “ew gross” at the situation. I now keep a towel handy for our sessions.
Since mid-January, I’ve been observing Wednesdays as a “rest day” as part of my gradual “return to work plan” following last year’s medical issues. Though the day has primarily been devoted to catching up on medical appointments and some much-needed sleep, the physical and emotional toll of undergoing an amputation, adapting to a prosthetic, and rejoining the workforce cannot be underestimated.
Discussing the possibility of increasing my workdays to four with my doctor, she regarded the idea skeptically. “Okay, that’s fine if you feel up to it, but if not, sticking to three days is perfectly reasonable with everything you’ve gone through,” she advised.
While I don’t urgently need to return to work, having accumulated plenty of “sick leave” during my time at the ABC since 1989, I recognize the importance of my mental health and rehabilitation in choosing to go back to the office rather than staying at home.
My current routine involves spending two or three days in the office, depending on how I feel, and working the rest from home. On some days, I’ve noticed myself starting to get a little tired in the mid-afternoon, an experience I shared with another colleague who wears prosthetic limbs during a recent meeting. We briefly connected over the shared fatigue, a blend of physical and mental exhaustion.
In many ways I feel like I need to “prove myself” again to my colleagues. Aged 58, and with a medical condition, there’s a fear deep down that some of my colleagues I’m biding time until a medically related retirement. “There’s plenty of fire in my belly”, I’ve told colleagues.
Others have told me to relax, and not to stress. There was one day last week when I did get a little stressed. Being away for six months, it took me longer to achieve something I would normally complete quickly. It wasn’t the physical situation that frustrated me, it’s the fact quite a few colleagues have left over the last six months, and I needed to establish new relationships. I was far more relaxed the next day after I was able to process the frustration I felt with my own performance.
In the past week, I attended the Lady Rizo show at the Sydney Festival. The performance, reminiscent of Bette Midler with its candid one-liners, and strong vocal performances, thoroughly impressed me.
Lady RizoAttending Drag Karaoke at my local pub, The Shakespeare was a lot of fun. Though I didn’t get up to sing myself, I enjoyed grabbing a seat at the bar, chatting to a few locals, and enjoying the night’s fun.To test my “resolve” I popped into legendary dance club, Palms. Fearful of falling over, I got there early, before the crowds arrived. I’m not quite ready for a return to the dance floor yet!
I also had a lovely catchup with a couple of former colleagues. Roger Summerill enjoyed a long-time career in both commercial radio and the ABC, and has recently written and released a book about his experiences. As I worked closely with Roger at 702 ABC Sydney (ABC Radio Sydney), I got a few mentions in the book, and I helped “proof read / fact check” a few of the stories. We loved catching up with my friend Andrea Ho, who also gets a few mentions in the book. Over a great lunch, we remembered the good times we enjoyed, and maybe also shared a few stories that couldn’t appear for legal reasons!!
And then yesterday I caught up with a colleague who I’ve known for several years, but didn’t know also had a physical disability associated with his foot. It’s amazing how you can work with someone and not know. There’s another colleague who I’ve worked with for twenty years who also has a prosthetic limb. As I’d never seen her in a dress or shorts, I had no idea she had a prosthetic limb. Since we’ve started to know this about each other, we’ve started to share ideas, tips and so on. “How are you coping with the heat”?, seems to be the most common question that’s been asked.
