Somebody is poisoning Claremont’s birds.
They have been seen snoozing around town in recent weeks – after it is believed they ate poi- son-laced cereal grain intended for the local pigeon population.
Claremont chief executive Arthur Kyron said the council was receiving phone calls from con- cerned residents who saw “doz- ing” birds around the town cen- tre, and they wanted to know if the council had a hand in it.
“It’s not us doing this to the birds,” Mr Kyron said.
“We don’t have an issue with them. “We have in the past had prob- lems with pigeons in the town cen- tre, but we are not involved in any pest-control operations affect- ing pigeons at the moment.” One central Claremont business owner said he had seen several “zonked out” birds in Bay View Terrace in recent weeks, but was unaware of any initiative among businesses in the town cen- tre to kill off the pigeons.
Mr Kyron said Claremont’s manager of environmental health, Elizabeth French, told him the likely cause of the sleepy birds was a pest-control substance called alpha chloralase, an anaes- thetic agent that immobilised pigeons.
A local pest-control operator told the POST alpha chloralase was a narcotic and a registered product.
A bird that consumed alpha chloralase would soon experience a reduction in body tempera- ture and appear to be dozing.
This made it easier for pest con- trollers to pick up the birds and remove them, before euthanising them in a humane way, the pest- control operator said.
Alpha chloralase was applied to pigeon mix – a variety of grain and cereal particularly tasty to the birds – to form a bait.
The bait was usually moni- tored by pest controllers to en- sure no birds other than the tar- geted birds took the bait.
But it seems this may not have happened this time. suspended at a height that meant he simply knelt, placed his head through the noose and pretend- ed to hang.
But in the performance, the noose had been suspended too high, meaning he had to stretch saw the boy was unconscious, and quickly brought him down from the noose.
He called the school nurse who performed CPR, and an ambulance arrived four minutes later.
The boy’s relatives said they attempted suicide.
The school had phoned the boy’s mother and told her he had been winded, the relatives said.
When she arrived at the hospi- tal to pick up her “winded” son, she was shocked to find the true nature The boy was released from hospital on Thursday with a prominent scar from ear to ear – the mark of the noose.
His relatives said he was mak- ing good progress and expected he would make a full recovery.

Australian film Samson & Delilah is a hit at the box office and will also be talked about at the 62nd Cannes International Film Festival this month.
It will screen at the Cannes International Film Festival in Un Certain Regard, which is reserved for films that express a personal vision, with an emphasis on special cultural expression and cinematic innovation.
The festival will run from May 13-24, 2009.
According to the distributors, Samson & Delilah has had the highest per screen average for any Australian film released nationally since Lantana in 2001.
Samson muscled up $199,163 on just 12 screens for an enormous screen average of $17,170.
The result is even more impressive given it does not include any Thursday figures for Sydney cinemas, as the film opened one day later in that city than the rest of the country.
In response to the news of the weekend box office results, Warwick Thornton said: “This is very, very cool – we’re all so buzzing. It is a great feeling to know that as I fly off to France, the Australian public is looking after our baby Samson & Delilah”. Cinemas right across the country reported sold out sessions over the weekend.
“I can’t tell you how great it is to see queues like this for an Australian film,” Natalie Miller said from the Nova cinema in Melbourne.
“Nova Carlton is so proud that an outstanding film has been so well received by our audience. You can just feel the sense of excitement from the audiences who are seeing the film – that wow, this is an incredible film and it’s an Australian film. It’s really captured the imagination of film-goers.”
The box office news this week caps off an extraordinary week for Samson & Delilah following its Sydney Premiere last Thursday as opening night film of the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival at the Sydney Opera House, where it received a standing ovation.
Director-writer-cinematographer Warwick Thornton, producer Kath Shelper, and the film’s two 15-year-old leads, Rowan McNamara (Samson) and Marissa Gibson (Delilah) have flown to Cannes for the festival.
Samson & Delilah tells the love story of two Aboriginal teenagers in a remote community in the Central Australian Desert.
First-rate filmmaking tells a largely untold story that’s soaked in history and simply transcribed. 
Director and screenwriter of Samson & Delilah is Warwick Thornton. The cast includes Rowan McNamara, Marissa Gibson, Mitjili Napanangka Gibson, Scott Thornton, Matthew Gibson, Steven Brown, Gregwyn Gibson and Noreen Robertson Nampijinpa.
 

Mary and Max: astonishing accomplishment

By Rama Gaind

PRAISE continues for the Australian feature ‘Mary and Max’ as the film is selected in competition for France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival from June 8-13, 2009.
Mary and Max is one of only nine feature films selected for the prestigious festival, known as “the Cannes of Animation”.
Producer Melanie Coombs and writer/director/designer Adam Elliot will travel to France for the screening. In addition, Elliot has been invited to join the Short Film Jury for the Festival.
Mary and Max was the first Australian film ever to open the Sundance Film Festival, was awarded a Jury Prize at the Berlin Film Festival, and now in national release through Icon Film Distribution, it is the highest-grossing Australian film this year. 

REVIEW
Adam Elliot employs an uncharacteristic form of animation (remember Oscar-winning Harvey Krumpet) to tell a compelling narrative.
The convincing and expressively fascinating story is told using plasticine figurines.
It’s the semi-autobiographical friendship between two unlikely pen pals: lonely eight-year-old Mary in Melbourne and a secluded older New Yorker.
Their friendship straddles two continents, runs over two decades and survives many ups and downs that life throws their way.
Among the stars are the voices of Toni Collette, Philip S. Hoffman, Eric Bana and Barry Humphries.
Mary and Max is an astonishing accomplishment, humble and unpretentious in some respects and daring and bold in others.

BACKGROUND
In 2003 ‘Harvie Krumpet’ was awarded three prizes at Annecy. These awards ensured that the film was eligible for the Academy Awards, resulting in Adam Elliot and Melanie Coombs winning the Best Short Animation Oscar!
Annecy also selected Harvie Krumpet in their top 100 animated films of all time. According to Melanie, "France has a grand tradition and long love affair with Adam’s short films, and so we are thrilled to be selected for this prestigeous festival”.
Adam says, " For some odd the reason my humour tickles the fancy of the French and so I’m looking forward to showing them Mary and Max, who they’ve been longing to meet”.
Gaumont has acquired the rights to Mary and Max for the French-language territories and while there for the Festival, Adam and Melanie commence the French leg of their world-wide publicity tour in advance of the release in France.

INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL
Annecy has been showcasing the very best in animation for over 45 years, making it the industry’s leading international competitive festival. The competition is open to the following five film categories, each using different animation techniques:- feature films,- short films,- commissioned and TV films,- graduation films
The capacity to present and promote animation in all its different forms has made Annecy a world-wide point of reference for the animation industry.
 

New Car Warranty Protection

next to Claremont Oval.
The plans stipulated that all new multi-storey buildings in the de- velopment would have to have below-ground and basement parking for occupants.
Claremont this week released its much-anticipated blueprint for the 9.4ha area north of the rail- way line that will set Claremont’s shape for the next century. Structure plans for the precinct will be shown to the public from this week, after the council voted to advertise the plans and seek public comment on them at this week’s council meeting.
The council has a statutory obligation to advertise the plans for a minimum of 21 days, and commenced this 21-day period from Friday this week. “The release of the Proposed Structure Plan is a significant mile- stone which will pave the way for transforming the poorly-utilised north-east precinct into a vi- brant centre with excellent access to public transport and improved pedestrian connectivity with the town centre,” Claremont’s mayor Peter Olson said.
“We look forward to further in- volving the community in refin- ing the plan as we head towards the final planning approval.” Widespread advertising of the plan would ensure that members of the community had the oppor- tunity to present their views and give input via public submissions before the plan was presented to Claremont’s councillors for formal

Cottesloe’s push to curb anti- social behaviour and hoon driving along the beachfront has earned the town a presti- gious award from the Office of Crime Prevention.
The scheme includes a suc- cessful lock-down experiment at local hotels, even though Northbridge has rejected a trial of the scheme.
While the WA Crime and Safety Awards cannot be hand- ed out until the new government is sworn in, the council has been notified that the award will be going to Cottesloe.
The community safety pro- gram includes extra ranger pa- trols, CCTV, a 9pm lock-out at both hotels, and three-hour parking restrictions applicable 24 hours a day to both major beachfront carparks.
“If you leave (a pub) after 9pm on a Sunday you don’t get let back in,” said senior ranger Neil Ferridge.
“That way the crowd starts dis- persing and at 10pm closing time you don’t get so many peo- ple in the streets.” He said the three-hour limit at No. 1 and 2 carparks was also playing its part.
“The carparks also start emp- tying by 9.30, so you don’t get peo- ple going back to their vehi- cles and drinking alcohol … and causing trouble,” he said.
Reports of anti-social behav- iour have reduced dramatical- ly in the two years the program has been running.
It all began when a commit- tee was formed to tackle the prob- lem. The group included local res- idents, business proprietors, councillors, council staff, po- lice liquor licensing, hotel man- agers, council rangers and the officer-in-charge of Cottesloe Police Station.
They agreed peak time was Sunday evenings during the summer, with activity concen- trated around the Cottesloe Beach Hotel, the Ocean Beach Hotel and associated carparks.
The awards will be present- ed as part of Crime Prevention Week on September 25 at Fraser’s Function Centre in King’s Park.

Innovative thriller

By Rama Gaind

DUPLICITY:
Director Tony Gilroy has adopted an innovative way to approach a familiar spy theme.
A lot also has to be said for the chemistry between Julia Roberts and Clive Owens as they play former CIA agent Claire Stenwick and M16 agent Ray Koval who get caught in the bitter rival competition between two rival cosmetic companies.
THE PINK PANTHER 2:
An insipid comedy which makes you wonder why Steve Martin even bothered.
As well, what a waste of talent for Bollywood star and former Miss World Aishwariya Rai Bachchan.
17 AGAIN:
An adult fantasy, to relive part of his/her youth is a theme that’s been done to death.
However, with a slight twist, director Burr Steers turns this one into a family oriented quest.
Mike O’Donnell feels that life has passed him by. When the clock turns back a couple of decades, Zach Efron plays the youthful Mike who wants to reconnect with his children – an unsuccessful attribute for some adults.
He has one last shot to get things right, goes back to class, but while Zach is likeable, a weak script lets him down.
 

Film reviews

By Rama Gaind

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE:
Australian song-and-dance man Hugh Jackman, who plays comic book superhero Wolverine, is pretty special.
AKA James Logan, Wolverine with formidable claws is grumpy, touchy and a recluse, torn between his honourable instinct to be a fighter and a wish to live a normal, simple life.
Going back to the origins, the film starts with Logan as a child in Canada realising that he and his brother Victor (Live Schreiber) possess super powers. Being immortal, the brothers fight their way through the wars before being hired by Colonel William Stryker (Danny Huston) in a special military troop.
This fast-paced action film, with a few appreciative surprises, takes off when Wolverine sets off to take revenge after the fate of girlfriend Kayla Silverfox (Lynn Collins).
Special effects are noteworthy, with director Gavin Hood adding another dimension by raising philosophical questions about moral principles
FAST AND FURIOUS:
Reteaming for the decisive chapter of a celluloid franchise built on speed, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker head back to the streets and rejoin Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster as exotic cars race through Los Angeles and the Mexican desert.
When Dom Toretto and agent Brian O’Conner are forced to confront a shared enemy, the limits of what’s possible behind the wheel are pushed to the limit as the duo set out to exact revenge.
An unlikely hit the first time round, this high-octane action flim should appeal to a select audience.
 

If you were mesmerised, confused, disgusted, outraged, apathetic about ‘The Australian Wheat Board Scandal’, you need to see this piece of political theatre. Every word in the play is cited to be true. Definitely worth the drive over the boarder!

The critic’s said…..
“Most theatre companies aim to give us a good night out. Version 1.0 goes the extra mile: it entertains, informs and then contributes to the betterment of our democracy.” Jason Blake, Sun Herald, 2/9/2007

"It’s like The 7:30 Report on acid." FBi Radio says about Deeply Offensive and Utterly Untrue

$290 million in bribes was paid to the regime of an evil dictator on the eve of war. Why? Government ministers and Australian Wheat Board executives all struggled to remember exactly what went on, but no one is too sure… The 8,500 pages of transcript of the Cole Inquiry into the ‘wheat for weapons’ scandal have been transformed into provocative and entertaining theatre by Version 1.0, the team behind the acclaimed The Wages of Spin. It’s time to kickback the kickbacks.

"Hypocrisy on such a blatant scale is hard to represent in any form. Version 1.0 has recently specialised in a sub-genre of the verbatim – inquiry theatre – and this is its most assured work yet. Amid the suits and the recounted testimony and that ABC interview with the Foreign Minister, the work’s big question is stronger for never being explicitly stated. They read the Cole report so you don’t have to..." Stephen Dunne – Sydney Morning Herald
 

"Informed and informative, all balls and no filler; once again Version 1.0 prove themselves as purveyors of unmissable renegade theatre on a topic that should have our country still hanging its head in shame." Ewa Jaremkiewicz, City Hub, September 2007

LIMITED SEASON: 13 – 16 May 2009, with Matinees @ 2pm on Thursday and Saturday ($25). Access tickets from $25-$47 at The Q Box Office at www.theq.net.au
 

New Car Warranty Protection

next to Claremont Oval.
The plans stipulated that all new multi-storey buildings in the de- velopment would have to have below-ground and basement parking for occupants.
Claremont this week released its much-anticipated blueprint for the 9.4ha area north of the rail- way line that will set Claremont’s shape for the next century. Structure plans for the precinct will be shown to the public from this week, after the council voted to advertise the plans and seek public comment on them at this week’s council meeting.
The council has a statutory obligation to advertise the plans for a minimum of 21 days, and commenced this 21-day period from Friday this week. “The release of the Proposed Structure Plan is a significant mile- stone which will pave the way for transforming the poorly-utilised north-east precinct into a vi- brant centre with excellent access to public transport and improved pedestrian connectivity with the town centre,” Claremont’s mayor Peter Olson said.
“We look forward to further in- volving the community in refin- ing the plan as we head towards the final planning approval.” Widespread advertising of the plan would ensure that members of the community had the oppor- tunity to present their views and give input via public submissions before the plan was presented to Claremont’s councillors for formal

Cottesloe’s push to curb anti- social behaviour and hoon driving along the beachfront has earned the town a presti- gious award from the Office of Crime Prevention.
The scheme includes a suc- cessful lock-down experiment at local hotels, even though Northbridge has rejected a trial of the scheme.
While the WA Crime and Safety Awards cannot be hand- ed out until the new government is sworn in, the council has been notified that the award will be going to Cottesloe.
The community safety pro- gram includes extra ranger pa- trols, CCTV, a 9pm lock-out at both hotels, and three-hour parking restrictions applicable 24 hours a day to both major beachfront carparks.
“If you leave (a pub) after 9pm on a Sunday you don’t get let back in,” said senior ranger Neil Ferridge.
“That way the crowd starts dis- persing and at 10pm closing time you don’t get so many peo- ple in the streets.” He said the three-hour limit at No. 1 and 2 carparks was also playing its part.
“The carparks also start emp- tying by 9.30, so you don’t get peo- ple going back to their vehi- cles and drinking alcohol … and causing trouble,” he said.
Reports of anti-social behav- iour have reduced dramatical- ly in the two years the program has been running.
It all began when a commit- tee was formed to tackle the prob- lem. The group included local res- idents, business proprietors, councillors, council staff, po- lice liquor licensing, hotel man- agers, council rangers and the officer-in-charge of Cottesloe Police Station.
They agreed peak time was Sunday evenings during the summer, with activity concen- trated around the Cottesloe Beach Hotel, the Ocean Beach Hotel and associated carparks.
The awards will be present- ed as part of Crime Prevention Week on September 25 at Fraser’s Function Centre in King’s Park.

Those of you who loved Gold Logie Award-winning Australian actor John Wood as Senior Sergeant Tom Croydon in Blue Heelers, you will be fascinated to watch him transform into Monk O’Neill, one of the great comic creations of Australian dramatic literature.
 

In A Stretch of the Imagination Monk’s colourful, rambling monologue cuts to the core of what Australia once was and what one day it could become. The resilient ironies of the play will not be lost on today’s generation.
 

The Sydney Morning Herald had this to say about the play, currently showing at The Q Performing Arts Centre in Queanbeyan: “No sooner had Stretch premiered than it was deemed an Australian classic, for good reason. It was bold and absurd, it spoke about and to Australians, it boisterously let rip with the vernacular, and gave its actor the chance to show his mettle.”
 

From his corrugated iron bush hut atop One Tree Hill, we are invited to spend an entertaining day with the irascible Monk O’Neill, bush philosopher, yarn spinner, epic lover, mate, heroic battler and individualist, sardonic iconoclast, sportsman, cultured man-of-letters and bon-vivant – as he acts out his memories and fantasies while heroically fighting against his own physical decline and the depredations of his environment.
 

“Jack Hibberd’s Australian classic is a gift to Wood’s comic sensibilities and acting prowess. The audience is putty in his hands as he creaks and flits around the stage, his handsome girth put to repugnant good use. Monk O’Neill’s irascibility is tragic rather than terrifying in Wood’s wonderfully droll portrayal, eliciting sympathy that Monk doesn’t always get. “ The Advertiser
‘Stretch’ is at ‘The Q’ until 9 May. ** It is important to note that this play has an MA rating. Bookings at ‘The Q’ Box Office phone 62980290