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The White Hat Melbourne NewsletterArchived Newsletter No.192 - 19 October 2006Contents
New HTML newsletter Festivals Reader feedback Culture The White Hat Hall of Shame Markets & fairs Melbourne’s Hidden Gems Jazz & dance Vale Bill the Fishmonger Some other stuff From the White Hat Inbox Advance notice The White Hat Quiz +----------------------------------------------------+ NEW HTML NEWSLETTER According to our records, when you first subscribed to this newsletter you chose plain text format (which is what you currently see). We will now be issuing the newsletter in HTML format. Looks a bit prettier – no change of content. The occasional photo. If you would like to sample the newsletter in HTML form then send us an email to html@whitehat.com.au together with your name and email address. Don’t hold your breath though. It may be some time before it arrives in your inbox, so in the meantime keep reading this one. +----------------------------------------------------+ FESTIVALS Saturday at Fed Square is a Diwali Festival. Diwali is an old Punjabi word meaning “let’s get together and have fun” – or have I got that mixed up? Anyway it is the Indian Festival of Lights as I’m sure many of our readers will tell me, and everyone has a great time, together with a light show and fireworks. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Festivals/Ethnic.asp There is the Stringybark Festival in the festive suburb of Rowville featuring all things environmental. Your children can their faces painted in the style of some endangered species – “and if you don’t stop that whining you soon will be endangered kid!” Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Festivals/Ethnic.asp +----------------------------------------------------+ READER FEEDBACK “Dear Whitehat I am writing to you at Gabrielle’s request for kid friendly things to do on Halloween. I grew up in Canada and Halloween was pretty big there! Once I had kids and told them about halloween they wanted in, and who could blame them, free lollies! So every year I have a Halloween party for my kids and their friends. Pretty much any birthday party game can be adapted ie 'duck duck goose' becomes 'ghost ghost witch'. I also do up a pinata, easier and cheaper than store bought, fill it with lollies stickers and little toys. I also mail drop the neighbours asking for volunteers who will be home on Halloween and wouldn't mind handing out lollies to trick or treaters - I supply the lollies. That way the kids get the fun, the neighbours are not out of pocket and no is bothered unnecessarily. Most shops stock some Halloween things and if you search the word Halloween on the internet you will find a million or two sites dealing with games, food and just about any Halloween thing you can think of. The only thing I have yet to be able to do is find a decent pumpkin to make a jack o' lantern out of Happy Halloween Jane” “In your newsletter Julie wrote ‘A bit of lateral thinking and cultural understanding would be appreciated before such insensitive remarks written’ in relation to your comment on the Chinese Mid Autumn Festival. I am Chinese and have now lived in Australia for five years. My English is far from perfect but it was obvious to me what was being said and it was not at all offensive. Julie, I don’t know [whether or not] you are Chinese. If you are not, then what I find offensive is people treating me as a [second class citizen] by immediately jumping into the saddle of their politically correct high horse to declare that I need to be treated differently from the mainstream. However, Julie, if you are Chinese – lighten up! Peter” “Hi White Hat, Hysteria reigns in front of my computer when White Hat arrives. I had just rung my ISP this afternoon to see what had happened to last weeks copy of White Hat and one or two during September (when I was overseas) so I guess those ones didn't matter too much for me. I live in … where we have the … Expo and we definitely have a MAUREEN very highly involved in running that gig AND she keeps threatening to 'quit' but never does......I wonder if we are talking about the same Maureen here? I must ask her. Thanks for the entertainment.....keep it up.....just love it. Bev” Several weeks ago we invited overseas readers of this newsletter to contact us and we had a surprising result so we will publish them in bits and pieces over the coming months. “Hello Whitehat, I first started reading your newsletter when I was studying in Melbourne. I am now back home in Singapore where I miss certain things about Melbourne, and there other things which I certainly DON’T miss. I continue to read your newsletter each week because it reminds me of the things I do miss about Melbourne. Chia” +----------------------------------------------------+ CULTURE On Tuesday there is a free orchestral concert with Orchestra Victoria in Williamstown. On Saturday there is a Family Classics for Kids concert. The Flinders Quartet are performing at Montsalvat on Sunday and in the city on Tuesday. Sunday is your last chance to hear soprano Elena Xanthoudakis (there’s a good Melbourne name) before she heads off to sing at Covent Garden – congratulations Elena. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Music/Classical.asp There is a free seminar on history at the State Library. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Events/ForumsM.asp The Melbourne Festival is in full swing with lots of theatre and concerts. With all the cultural choices available I’m finding it difficult to choose. I think I’ll probably head off to the Monster Trucks at Rod Laver Arena. +----------------------------------------------------+ MARKETS & FAIRS This Sunday there is a wearable art bazaar at the Abbotsford Convent. The following Friday Strathaird Primary School is having its inaugural fair. They have a little way to go to catch up to Berwick who are having their 102nd annual flower show and fair. On Sunday at Gulf Station in the Yarra Valley is the newly created ‘Yarra Valley Fresh’ which includes a farmers’ market and showcases the food and wine of the area. There is a Gold, Gem & Treasure Expo in Dunolly and on Sunday there is a Vintage and Old Wares Expo in Warragul. Just the place to pick up an old lamp which you can redecorate and sell at St Andrews Market. Details of all these at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Festivals/FairsFetes.asp On Thursday and Friday there is Open Studio at the Nicholas Building in the city where artists, jewelers and craftspeople will be displaying and selling their wares. This is worth a trip even if you don’t intend to buy. There is also the monthly fashion expo at Fed Square on the Thursday. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Buildings/NicholasBldg.asp There is a woodworking expo at Jeff’s Shed and a Floral Fantasy exhibition in the atrium at Crown Casino. “Yes, dear. I’ll be home later. I’m at the – I’m at a flower show.” The Gardens Market gets under way again next month for summer at the Botanic Gardens with 100 stalls. Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Parks/Botanic.asp +----------------------------------------------------+ MELBOURNE’S HIDDEN GEMS Some of Melbourne’s best food stores are tucked away in industrial estates. We have mentioned several in previous newsletters such as those in Tullamarine. If you are driving along North Road in Murrumbeena you are unlikely to notice the food store number 993. It is part of a set of unremarkable tilt-up cement commercial buildings that are the typical homes of manufacturers of prefabricated cubby houses, security alarms, importers of exotic homewares (“yes madam, we’re expecting that on the next boat, but can I show you this wonderful piece here . .”), and purveyors of bulk pet foods who also make curtains, pelmets and drapes to measure. No point paying for an impressive shopfront or walk-past trade. Margins are low enough already. But walk through the door of the Oasis Bakery and you are in a different world, and it seems that half the residents of the surrounding suburbs know that. People who wouldn’t have known their zataar from their labneh several years ago are now here doing their weekly shop in this Middle Eastern grocery store. Well, more of a Middle Eastern Grocery Store with bakery. Well really more of a Middle Eastern Grocery with bakery, small café, belly dancing supplies and freshly cooked food bar. Cunning! With the smells of all that freshly cooked food wafting around the groceries you end up buying twice as much. For a snack try a Lebanese pizza. We are not talking Italian pizza here – a Lebanese pizza is an entirely different animal. I’m not sure which animal, because the meat is ground very finely and mixed with spices, chilli and lemon. When you order, tell the person behind the counter that you are sure they’re not as good as the ones in Sydney Road and you may get some extra condiments thrown in. Of course, residents in Brunswick and Northcote have plenty of Middle Eastern food stores to choose from, but once you get east of the Yarra the choices are more limited, and the Oasis Bakery is well worth the trip. +----------------------------------------------------+ JAZZ & DANCE The B# Big Band continues for the next two Sunday afternoons at the Copacabana in Smith Street with plenty of big band sounds and swing dancing. Admission is $15 Details at: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Melbourne/Music/Jazz.asp +----------------------------------------------------+ VALE BILL THE FISHMONGER While shopping at the Prahran Market last weekend we were saddened to come across a floral tribute lamenting the passing of ‘Bill’. First thing in the morning when nobody’s hands are that stable he seemed to be able to wield a knife, hold several separate conversations, rarely looking at the cadaver he was expertly dissecting without ever inflicting a major wound on his own person. “Try the gars son – they’re very sweet this time of year.” “OK, I’ll have six – filleted.” “It was cold out there this morning . .” “Six trevally Bill – cutlets and keep the heads!” “Yes it was cold. Gars are good as whiting at the moment but people don’t realise it.” The knife seems to come dangerously close to his fingers each time. “I see they’ve set up a sushi and sashimi section at the other stall.” Crash! The tail is cut off the fish with rather more force than seems necessary. “Sushi” says Bill. “If they can convince people to pay the same price for some rice, a bit of seaweed and a tiny piece of fish as they will for a whole fish here then good luck to them.” “Two trout Bill – cleaned – no head!” “Yes madam – I kept them specially for you” – he says to the blue rinse matron. “They’re out the back – I’ll get them for you in a minute.” “I’ll have these four here – cleaned, my friend” says the swarthy stallholder taking a break to do his own shopping. “”My friend, my friend” mutters Bill after he’s left. “He’s only been here a few weeks and now I’m ‘his friend’.” Chop! “Bill, it’s only a way of being polite. You call everybody mate whether you know them or not.” “She wants the pin bones out of the trout too Bill!” “I suppose so” says Bill “but it takes a bit of getting used to. Lets have a look at these gars son” but he doesn’t look at them. “Just a little bit of flour” – out come the bones clean as a whistle – “bit of butter in the pan” another set of bones is extracted without a skerrick of flesh attached – “then a squeeze of lemon. Nothing fancy or you’ll cover the taste. Enjoy.” I have paid several dollars for the fish and nothing for the skilled labour – or the philosophy. Today I bought several garfish from the Vic Market for breakfast and I will attempt to fillet them myself. I’ll be pleased if I can keep the wastage under 50%, but I’ll eat them in memory of Bill. Vale Bill – a lot of us will miss you. And you’re right – gars are just as sweet as whiting. +----------------------------------------------------+ SOME OTHER STUFF The Spiegeltent is back in front of the Arts Centre and a great place to go for supper and a show, or just for supper. The Italian Film Festival starts next week. Details at: www.italianfilmfestival.com.au +----------------------------------------------------+ FROM THE WHITE HAT INBOX In the list of ‘200 Significant Australians’ on our website we list Sir Edward Hollstrom. We received the following email. “My name is Susan …. I have fond memories of meeting Sir Edward Hollstrom when I was a young girl. Our Family and our great grand parents lived in one of Sir Edward Hollstrom’s rented properties in Willoughby for at least 40 years in total I will always remember him, in that he gave us the opportunity to live in a very happy environment. After Sir Edward died in 1970, the house was sold and through fortunate circumstances my parents moved next door. My parents are no longer with us now, though my younger brother still lives in that home. Thank you for taking the time to read this as this is so special to me. Regards Susan” Susan – thank you for taking the time to write. “My name is Marnie …. and I am a journalist with … Your newsletter often has information with some potential to be turned into stories but usually arrives too late. Please ensure that I receive it at least two day earlier than your general readers. . . “ Marnie – if you find material in our newsletter that “needs to be turned into a story” then it probably means we didn’t intend it to be. And if you find stories in our newsletter that you want to re-write under your own name for your own organisation then the solution is fairly simple. Get out there and get involved – stories are all around you. It then won’t matter at what time our humble newsletter turns up. And Marnie, I’m sure you were going to acknowledge the sources of your “stories”, weren’t you? +----------------------------------------------------+ ADVANCE NOTICE The following weekend (28-29 Oct) is going to keep you particularly busy with numbers of free things and open days. Public galleries throughout Victoria are open to the public free of charge with numbers of special activities. Now, since a number of these galleries are normally free anyway and others are very cheap you may need to spend a fair bit of money on petrol to ensure that the entry fee is “a bargain”. There is also open gardens at Parliament House. For details of all these go our home page and select the appropriate weekend from the drop-down menu of events in Melbourne. No matter which event you attend, provided it is within the boundaries of the City of Melbourne you will find our smiling Lord Mayor there to declare it open, cut a ribbon, make a speech or just shake hands with passers-by. How does he do it? I suppose I should let you into a little secret. White Hat is one of a small band of John So look-alikes hired for such occasions. At the meeting the other night it was explained that it was important that every event should be covered. I stated how gratifying it was for me to get up at such events and utter a few unintelligible words and end up by saying that whatever it was I was opening Melbourne was the best in the world at it an then I would be greeted with cheering. The Lord Mayor giggled and I clearly discerned the boyish glint in his eye. I also pointed out how different it was from living in some countries where such doubles were used as a decoy for assassination attempts. Again I heard the Lord Mayoral giggle, although I must admit it sounded a little more like a hollow chuckle and the glint in the eye was somewhat more steely. Anyway, I look forward to waving to you from one of the podiums that weekend. +----------------------------------------------------+ THE WHITE HAT QUIZ How well do you know Melbourne? First to last week’s quiz Rowie provided the first two answers.
Now to this week’s quiz Fishy things 1. Name a species of fish that you could find at your local fishmonger which may have been caught in Port Phillip Bay 2. What sea creature appears on the Melbourne coat of arms? 3. Name a good eating fish you might catch in the Murray River. 4. What marine creature was being ‘farmed’ by Aboriginal people in Victoria before the arrival of Europeans? 5. How do you catch a yabbie? 6. Where was Melbourne’s first major wholesale fish market? Where is it located now? 7. Fish in Victorian waters live in fear of one day being kissed by a human. Which particular human? Send your answers to quiz@whitehat.com.au No prizes – just glory and a warm inner glow.
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