Westender has been West End’s urban voice for 25 years.
Originally a weekly tabloid newspaper it has been the voice of the community, with locals writing about locals for locals. That tradition has continued up to the present day, even though many of the locals now come from all corners of the globe and we are somewhat more densely settled than we were in 1992.
In between, Westender was a colourful fortnightly A4 publication, until the floods and family illness knocked the stuffing out of the little paper with a big heart.
We look forward to working closely with you to let the world know just what a wonderful place our West End truly is.
Thanks for supporting ad-free, independent, volunteer run, community media.
Submit your article ideas or comments using the form below or by email to info@westender.com.au
Publisher: Kerrod Trott
Editor: Jan Bowman
The Westender acknowledges and respects the traditional owners & custodians of the land on which we work: that of the Jagera and Turrbal nations.
We’ve seen the beauty and glamour of burlesque with the likes of Dita Von Teese paving the glittering way, but have you ever seen such extravagance on a budget?
Introducing Australia’s newest burlesque competition, DIY BurlesKoala, touching down in Sydney on Thursday 5 December as part of the Sydney Burlesque Gala.
Some of Australia’s best and brightest burlesque performers have only $100 to create an innovative, entertaining, extravaganza on stage, all in the name of winning the inaugural DIY crown and being named the Great DIY BurlesKoala for 2019.
A sister competition to New Zealand’s burlesque on a budget extravaganza, DIY BurlesKiwi, which was first run in 2015 and has grown in popularity and innovation year on year. Sydney performer Mae de la Rue has been entrusted, as an Honorary Kiwi and as the 2018 Duchess of the New Zealand Burlesque Festival to bring this Frugal Flamboyance to Australia for the first time in 2019!
The rules are simple – create a brand new act for the competition without spending more than $100. Challenge your creativity and innovation and deliver your best burlesque on a budget.
Who will be the most innovative, creative, clever and entertaining performer on the night?
The only way to find out is to witness history in the making and attend our first ever DIY BurlesKoala!
Brisbane’s own burlesque beauties, Michelle M’Bell, Katrina Lee, and Chloe the Cocaine all have their eyes on the prize. They have been busily crafting and creating brand new burlesque acts to take on the competition. Michelle is taking on capitalism with a thoroughly tongue in cheek edge, Katrina has tapped in to her personal experiences with an allegorical tribute to the bushfires, and Chloe is sharing her cultural heritage depicting a Chinese God!
Catch performers from Sydney’s suburbs, all the way through to Queensland cuties, sassy South Australians, vivacious Victorians, cheeky Canberrans, and some naughty Novocastrians.
See them compete in a one night thrift-off, being fabulous on a budget, and working the stage, their costume, their props all down to the last dollar. We’ve seen a sneak peek of costumes which include ingenious use of cable ties, yoga mats, bubble wrap, cheerios, and even a discarded waterbed bladder.
It’s sure to be a fantastic night full of frivolity and frugal fashion. Witness the first ever DIY BurlesKoala and see who will take home the handmade crown!
In response to the NSW bushfires, the cast of DIY BurlesKoala have donated gifts to be won in a fundraiser for the Koala Hospital. Fundraising draw entries available at the show or to buy online via the show tickets link, and are $5 each or 3 for $10.
What: DIY BurlesKoala burlesque competition
When: Thursday 5 December, 7pm for a 7.30pm show
Where: The Red Rattler Theatre, 6 Faversham St, Marrickville
Cost: $25 GA, $35 VIP
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/diy-burleskoala-tickets-71200650061?
thanks for this. The Westender usually focuses on more local Brisbane and West End stories – will it come to Brisbane?. Good luck with the show.
It may well come to Brisbane next year. We have multiple Brisbane performers coming this year and right now, we’re looking at taking the show to the winners city next year – so there’s some pretty good odds one of the Brisbane DIYers could win!
Hello,
My name is Tara East and I am reaching out to you today in regards to my mystery novel, Every Time He Dies, which was released on Tuesday, 5 November 2019. The official book launch will be hosted at Avid Reader, West End on Saturday, 7 December.
I am writing to you in the hopes that you would include this event within either the community news section of the books section within Art & Music. I have a prepared press release, author photos and images of the cover that I would be happy to send you.
The release of my novel would be of interest to Westender readers as the event is taking place in West End, the novel is set within our region (Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast), and I am a local resident currently completing my doctorate at USQ in Toowoomba.
If you are interested in running an article, it would be great if it were published a week before the launch.
Thank you for considering my request and I look forward to your reply.
Tara East
https://taraeast.com
@authortaraeast
Hi Westender team,
I’m getting in touch with a nice story about the community coming together to suport a good cause. We thought it may be a story of interest, particularly as Christmas season is the season for giving!
Brisbane resident, Stuart Neilson, embarking on an 800km ride around Thailand to raise money for kids in need. His local Thai/ Asian restaurant, P’Nut Street Noodles Southbank, is helping raise funds and support the cause by donating money from every Pad Thai sale that’s made on 7 December.
We’d love to arrange a photo and interview with Stuart so the local community can come and cheer Stuart on.
WHAT: To raise awareness for the cause, Stu will be bike-riding around Brisbane this weekend (7 December) stopping at P’Nut Street Noodles restaurants as a warm up for his big 800km across Thailand in January. Funds raised will go to Australian-run charity, Hands Across The Water, which provides accommodation and essential necessities to families and kids in need across Thailand.
P’Nut Street Noodles is helping Stuart raise funds ahead of his 800 km ride by donating money from every Pad Thai sale made on 7 December at P’Nut Windsor, Southbank, Kawana Shoppingworld and Bulimba. So locals can easily contribute by enjoying a Pad Thai at P’Nut Southbank on 7 December.
PHOTO OPP: Any day this week with Stuart OR Saturday, 7 December at P’Nut Street Noodles Southbank. Stuart will riding around Brisbane this weekend (7 December) as a warm up for the big ride. He’ll be stopping at all P’Nut Street Noodle restaurants in Brisbane for photos and interviews.
Look forward to hearing if this is of interest, appreciate your support.
Hi there,
Do you have a PDF or printed copy of your magazine?
What is the frequency of this and how much is it for a subscription?
Can you help us how to subscribe to that?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you.
Hershey
Media Connect Australia
Hi there, we publish articles as we write them.
We have a monthly newsletter and you can subscribe to that from the front page of our website at https://www.westender.com.au
Hi Jan.
Is this in a magazine format or just a newsletter/online version?
I am actually looking for a PDF or printed Westender magazine.
Is there anything like that? How can I subscribe to the PDF/Printed magazine?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you.
Hershey
Hi Hershey – we provide an email newsletter each month, and you can subscribe via the link on our front page. Also all of our stories can be printed as PDFs.
regards Jan
My name is Richard, a local artist born and raised in Brisbane.
From April 1st to April 5th I’ll be holding an exhibition in the Royal Queensland Art Society Gallery in Petrie Terrace in Brisbane. It’s called IFEL – Life From a Different Perspective.
The paintings that will be displayed are a collection of artistic visual metaphors designed to evoke the viewer with clarity and motivation in an artistic stimulating style. I think it’s an important exhibition for people to see as some will help with mental health and some with motivation; especially the young. An experienced psychologist is supporting my project and will be present on the official opening night on the 1st of April at 7pm. During the night there will prints and canvas prints for sale and 50% of all puchases will go towards “Alive.” An organisation which is working towards preventing youth suicide. I believe it’s an important cause as 39% of all deaths of Australians between 15-24 in suicide, and alot of it relates to mental health. I aim to bring light to an epidemic so more can be done to help the ones in need, and I also aim to help them through my art.
I would love to have my story in your media to bring more awareness and help bring more people so more money can be raised for such an important cause.
Here is a link to the event: https://rqas.com.au/event/richard_khouri_ifel/
I hope to hear from you soon
Hi Richard I will email you
Hi There
I have lived in West End for the last 3 years and am saddened by the businesses that are being affected by Corona Virus.
I work for a business that assists business owners in times of cashflow crisis (like now). We provide strategic support and advice. Please let me know if that would assist the community and how can we get the word out there?
First chat with business owners is obligation free.
Good Afternoon,
With all the negative news at the moment, we have a feel good community story that we hope you might like to run
It would be wonderful for communities near and far to know that there is a Senior Safe Clinic they can go to for all their radiological and interventional needs.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact our HR Manager – Cari Clarke on 0407 091 190 | hr@exactradiology.com.au
I have sent you an email Cari
Hello
I’d love to talk with the people who run this magazine. I live in Wynnum and we have just lost our local paper, the Wynnum Herald. We are investigating creating a new local paper. So we are wanting to see successful models of community newspapers etc. I can’t seem to find any contact details on your website hence this comment.
Thanks
Tamara Playne
Hi,
Our names are Elloise, Ty and Mary – we are anthropology students at UQ (St. Lucia) and we are doing an assignment on the West End community, including a social impact assessment on the new West Village development (particularly the Eaves building).
We would love to hear feedback from local West Enders regarding the community – what you love about it, what is important within the community to you and what makes West End community your home.
We have created a Facebook page (link below).
Or feel free to reply to us on the this forum.
https://www.facebook.com/UQ-Anthropology-West-End-Community-Forum-105758964596341
Ever since I was a child, I’ve been obsessed with nature. That’s why I’m happy to hear that the Queensland Government has released their Protected Area Strategy. Queenslanders know that we’re spoiled with the most unique ecosystems in the world, from deserts, to rainforests, to coral reefs. But we fall behind in protecting it with only 8% protected.
One of the things I appreciate about our country is just how much we have yet to learn about it. By properly funding our protected areas and conservation jobs, we can uncover so much more about our natural heritage and ensure that ecosystems and threatened species thrive into the future, all the while providing the much needed boost to the economy to bounce back from COVID-19.
The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble and the women of Southern Queensland Correctional Centre
(SQCC) are delighted to present A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Three worlds collide in this story of magic and mischief, where feuding fairies and fleeing lovers grapple
with jealously and chase love. Meanwhile, in the ensuing mayhem, a little band of actors desperately try to
put on a play!
The third time’s a charm for this year’s Shakespeare Prison Project, which began in March with a robust
and enthusiastic ensemble of women choosing A Midsummer Night’s Dream for their 2020 production. But
much like the play, the path to performance was not smooth, with the project suspended twice due to
COVID-19.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS:
Date: Saturday 12th of December 2020
Times: 10am and 2pm
Tickets: $35
Duration: 2 hours (approx.)
Venue: Southern Queensland Correctional Centre, Spring Creek QLD
Bookings close: Saturday 28th of November
More info: Visit qldshakespeare.org or contact Project Manager Rebecca at spp@qldshakespeare.org
So, it’s Saturday morning just after 9am and the third helicopter just crawled over West End and South Brisbane to the CBD, looped around, and back to Archerfield. Slow and preferably low over the urban areas of course, because the tourists want to see something.
On some days and especially over weekends, I see a dozen or more of these “joy rides” — hovering over houses, noodling in circles, following the river or sitting over Southbank. Last Friday after 22:00pm, one of those helicopters sat for several minutes right above where I live on Dornoch Tce. The amount of noice whipping into my place was deafening.
Am I the only who’s bugged by this?
I’ve reached out to the city council three times to no avail; silence from the mayor’s office too. Of course, nothing from the joy ride companies down at Archerfield because caring just a little (about the environment, about the residents) would be bad for business, right? And Air Services Australia has no legislation for Brisbane air space.
Once I enjoyed living in West End… but that seems like a long time ago. Nowadays, West End seems to suffocate on car and air traffic and corporate housing developments. There’s barely a quiet hour to be had anymore. Time to move, methinks
We just wanted to let West End and city residents know about a new democratic community high school, opening in 2021 at 93 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley. This is a community high school, run by the families, teachers and students, with a focus on joy, kindness, student well-being, community connections and self-directed learning. Students are able to follow passions and interests through carefully supported personal projects, as well as contribute to the wider community through collaborative projects designed to improve communities and make the world a better place. We have a number of upcoming parent information sessions at our new home in the Valley. For more details, please visit our website http://www.humanitashighschool.org.au