West End Stories

G'Day Dorothy Day Recording

2010-07-27T18:55:00.003+10:00

Have a listen to the working version of 'G'Day Dorothy Day'. It'll be one of the songs we'll be performing in West End Live on September 19th. We need singers, musos, poets and some more songs about Boundary Street West End.

G'Day Dorothy Day

Lyrics - 'Best End of West End'

2010-07-27T16:11:00.002+10:00

Some people like starting with the story and moving to the lyrics and then the music others prefer the reverse.

Here's a song that started with some music. Not surprising really given the number of local musos and singers involved in our project.

Next came the chorus and we started thinking that maybe the verses could be about a range of different people you might come across from one end of West End to another. Ted Jones gave us a good idea for the first verse. We've got some good ideas for a second or third verse but we really would like your ideas about who they should be about. Come along on Saturday 2:00pm - 4:30pm at the Croquet Club Community Hall, 91 Cordelia St, West End to help out.

'Best End West End'

chorus
The best end of West End
is it in the middle

The best end of West End
is it near the top

The best end of West End
is it all over

Or the best end for West End
be no end at all

I saw Ted the Big Issue seller walking down Boundary Street
He was looking for the best place, best place to sell his magazines

He sat by the Lizard in the shade of the fig tree
His eyes turned to the sky and he thought back 10 years

He said, 'Phil from St Andrews trained me for two hours
And I said 'Hey Ted lets have a chat now'

I said, 'What's it like?'
He said, 'It's like being a gypsie,'
I asked 'Where is the best place to sell?'

The best end of West End
is it in the middle?

The best end of West End
is it near the top?

The best end of West End
is it all over?

The best end for West End
He said 'There's no end at all.

Lyrics - 'G'day Dorothy Day'

2010-07-27T15:37:00.004+10:00

Here's the lyrics of one of our Stories and Songs of Boundary Street songs. We were telling stories about some of the communal households that existed in the 1970's, 80's and 90's and the various social justice projects that have abounded in West End. Anne Parker regaled us with some of her experiences living in Dorothy Day House and volunteering at Justice Products and this is the result.

G'Day Dorothy Day

G
G'day Dorothy Day
.......C ..................................... G
My goodness what would she say
...................................................................... D
about the mayhem at the Catholic Workers House?
.........G
They never made any money
.......... C ................... G
but by God wasn't it funny
........... ........................................... G
all the characters who shared that house (that wild house)

................. C ................................... G
There was Bernie Maloney saying 'G'day cobber'
D .............................................. G
Wearing his feathered sombrero
C ................ G
Terry Yates cooking up his hot Curries
Am ............. C ................. D
bringing the tears to our eyes

Anne and the crew worked at Justice Products

Fair Trade was the only policy

Jim and Anne were good Marxist Catholics

Donating to the household 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Bm ................... C ....... G
Dunveer would shovel down those hot curries
......... D
while Sharkbait relished his takeaways way way way
C ................. G ...................... D
Roy chasing Jim singing out 'I'll kill him!'
F ........................................................... D
There are no boundaries in Boundary Streeeeeeeet

(created Sat, 10th July, 2010, Stories and Songs of Boundary St Project members)

Two new songs underway

2010-07-12T14:50:00.007+10:00

Stories and Songs of Boundary Street is well underway. We've had two workshops at the Croquet Club now and have 2 new songs almost complete, well, 'sort of' almost complete.

The first is 'West End - Best End'. There's a great chorus that the first group put together with the help of Yani and Chris Anderson in particular. I suspect that this is going to be a song about the changes happening along Boundary Street over the years and, of course, right now.

I had to laugh the other day, I had arranged to meet with a colleague to talk about digital stories at a local coffee shop but, surprise, surprise, when I turned up at 10:00 o'clock at Cibo's, it had been gutted. There was a sign on the door saying they had closed with regret and the builders were already turning it into a commercial blank slate. Oh well.

The second project song is much further along the way. We were swapping stories about Boundary Street and I remembered that Anne Parker had once told us all about her living in one of the Catholic Workers households and helping out at Justice Products. Well, Anne told us the story again and all sorts of people chipped in with their memories and suggestions and, before we knew it, some lyrics were under way.

Getano Bann was in great form. His guitar was running hot. Helen Abrahams dropped in and made some great contributions to the song as well. Everyone was joining in with much enjoyment and fun. The working title is 'G'day Dorothy Day'.

I can see it might evolve a little as more people hear it and make comments, especially some of the people currently mentioned by name. I reckon it can make a great Digital Story based around that area of Boundary Street so it would be good to start working on that. Anyone up for it?

Next session will be 2:00 pm Saturday 17th July at the Croquet Club.

Please bring:
- gold coin donation
- contribution to afternoon tea (home baked cake would be wonderful)
- photos or videos of West End (especially Boundary St) if you have any
- poems about West End
- your voice or musical instrument

Looking forward to seeing you there,

Daryll

Stories & Songs of Boundary Street Project
westendstories@storytell.com.au
(07) 3846 3135 mob 0417 478 408
PO Box 5300, West End,
Brisbane, Qld 4101
www.facebook.com/westendstories
www.westendstories.blogspot.com/

Stories and Songs of Boundary Street Project

2010-07-09T19:00:00.004+10:00

Our latest 2010 project is - 'Stories and Songs of Boundary Street'.

We'll be:
- collecting and telling stories about
- creating, singing and performing new songs about
- creating, projecting and uploading new digital stories about

Boundary Street West End.

So if you live in West End, or there abouts, and would like to help us get this project really singing, please come along to:

The Croquet Club Community Hall,
91 Cordelia Street (in Musgrave Park),
West End

from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm most Saturdays till the West End Live Festival on Sunday the 19th September, 2010.

We need:
- musicians,
- poets,
- storytellers,
- historians,
- social networkers,
- singers,
- chair movers,
- publicists,
- fundraisers,
- friends and good people.

Gold coin/s donation to cover costs of hall hire and tea and coffee.

For more information ring:
Daryll Bellingham on 07 3846 3135 or text 0417 478 408
Kat Ogilvie on 07 3846 2114
or email westendstories@storytell.com.au

Follow us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/westendstories

Stories and Songs of Boundary Street 2010

2010-05-25T09:46:00.004+10:00

Good news, the West End Live Festival director, has offered us 20 minutes on the Culture Stage at the 2010 West End Live Festival on the 19th September.

The project involves working with local storytellers, poets, musicians and multimedia artists to create new stories and songs and then perform them with the Transformer Choir on stage.

We'll be dividing Boundary Street up into 4 precincts from north to south to discover and explore and collate new stories.

So if you have any stories about Boundary Street - personal stories, community stories, historical events or just some information you would like included - come along to one of our West End Stories regular community sessions or post a comment to this blog.

Meetings
6:30pm - West End Community House, 4 Norfolk Rd, West End - Tuesday 25th May, 22nd June
2:00 pm - Crocquet Club Building, Musgrave Park, Cordelia Street - Monday 7th June

There are lots of opportunities to help out, contribute and help keep West End's culture alive.

westendstories@storytell.com.au

Documenting Street Art in West End

2009-12-15T13:15:00.003+10:00

Wow! Paul Rollo is documenting street art in West End. You can have a look at his collection on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/23178306@N00/2812376159/

This is a shaggy one from Thomas St. where the wild things are.

Save West End

2009-10-14T06:58:00.002+10:00

We posted a story about the group on Save West End website last night.

We would love to hear your stories about West End as well. Come along on the 4th Tuesday of this month, the 27th and share some of your stories - 4 Norfolk Road, 6:30pm.

Lionel's story about the Gap Storm

2008-11-25T20:49:00.003+10:00

The storm hit the Gap very badly and a lot of houses were damaged. I went up there and volunteered on Sunday and gave a hand to clean up.

I used a chain saw with a twelve inch blade. I showed them how to use the chain saw really quickly and easily and safely, so no one would get electrocuted by the power lines or anything else.

They got 3 heavy duty cranes in to lift up the logs from the power lines. Then I showed them how to put the straps on the ends of each log and how to leave a gap for the chainsaw. Then I cut it in half so the log wouldn't go back on the power lines. Then I said: " Right boys I've showed you how to do it, quick and easy so you won't get electrocuted.' One of the guys said: "Good idea."

Then I said: "Here boy, have a go" - I watched him and he did it the way I showed him. It was pretty good.

I didn't think he would have the guts to use the chainsaw and cut the log but I was glad to see he did and that I had shown him how to do it.

I hope all the people up there go back to their own homes.

4AAA Kiosk Community Interviews - Wed 8th Oct - 2:00pm

2008-10-06T15:20:00.004+10:00

On Wednesday 8th October at 2:00pm we'll be collecting stories about places and spaces in West End as part of our West End Digital Story Spaces Project.

We need your stories about the special places and spaces of West End so please drop down to the 4AAA Kurilpa Kiosk, 195a Boundary Street (opposite the Goanna) around 2:00pm and donate a story.

Old Shops

2008-09-16T21:22:00.009+10:00

One of the landmarks of West End used to be the roundabout at Melbourne, Boundary, Mollison and Browning Streets. Now all of that remains of the roundabout is the Roundabout Cafe. Which is a bit like - all that remains of the Gun Shop is the Gunshop Cafe. There was a big campaign to save the roundabout.

The Gun Shop closed down in the late 90's. 'There was a story that a bloke went in and bought a gun and that he was going to come down Boundary St and kill people but luckily the coppers went around to his place and stopped him.'

There used to be a shoe repair shop called Brandons on the corner of Melbourne and Browning Streets. After the shoe repair shop there was a cafe where you could play records and experiment with making different sounds. There was also a pizza shop nearby. It was called Enzo's.

Emma's bookshop used to be in Vulture Street. Next to the bookshop was a fantastic deli. The Tru Value hardware shop was on the corner of Boundary and Vulture Streets. 'Cash Converters' was on the corner where the old hardware shop was for a while.

There have been so many changes in the last while it's hard to keep up to date.

From discussion with George, Kenny and David

Boundary Street - the best place in West End

2008-09-16T21:03:00.008+10:00

I like Boundary street because there shops and things to see and i go to the coffee van on wednesday night. drugarm runs the coffee van.

Contributed by George

Fruit shop

2008-09-09T18:36:00.002+10:00

Vietnamese Bakery

2008-09-09T18:30:00.008+10:00

David buys sausage rolls here. "They are good, delicious, and they are cheap!" They always have plenty in stock. Malcolm says that it's the only place in West End where you can get long wholemeal hot dog rolls and that lots of people come here from other places. They always have lots of customers because, as Malcolm says:' the prices are really good.'

Ted said that one time there was a fire in the ovens and they had to shut the place down for a few days till it was fixed. Ted used to be a baker, at Tip Top. Daryll's father was a baker and he worked at Tip Top too.

John sometimes wakes up during the night - that's when they're baking - he buys a pizza or something from them as well. He likes it that he can get up and get something even when it's night, so long as you have the correct change, even at 2am! Peter says just give them a call.

When Karen wants to impress someone and look like she knows all about flash cakes she buys a fruit flan from the Vietnamese bakery. No just joking! It's really when she wants to share a lovely cake with people. Now who told Karen about the beautiful fruit flans? Margaret of course! And at that stage they were only $7.

Malcolm knew a couple who ran a snack bar in Charlotte St and they were complaining about how their baker wasn't very good and so Malcolm suggested they use the West End Vietnamese bakery - and a few months later he saw them in West End and they said how fantastic it was.

Contributed by David, Ted, John, Malcolm, Margaret and Karen

Triple A Kiosk

2008-09-09T18:29:00.009+10:00

'Sometimes I hangout at the kiosk and I talk to people and staff. I stay for a few hours and then I go to other places like LANDS (Logan and Northern Districts Services - in Vulture St) after that. I like the kiosk because it's a good place to catch up with people.' George

'The kiosk is needed in West End because it helps not only Indigenous people but locals as well. The staff, Joe, Peter, Sally, Maya are great and do good work.' David S.

View Larger Map

Sussex Street

2008-09-09T18:28:00.006+10:00

The Sussex Street Uniting Church Hall is the scene of many activities of West End Community House. For that reason it is a favourite West End space for George Moraitis.

What's George up to in the Sussex Street Hall space this year? You can find out on George's podcast:
http://westendstories.podOmatic.com/entry/2008-09-09T04_43_43-07_00

St Mary's

2008-09-09T18:25:00.003+10:00

West End rights

2008-08-19T20:57:00.004+10:00

'West End is the only area with a better bus service than where I live - at Dutton Park off Gladstone Road.

The local politicians or gun fighter stands up for the rights of the inhabitants of West End.'

Anonymous

West End Fruit Shop

2008-08-19T20:49:00.005+10:00

I live at West End and I work down at the fruit shop with Tony and Johnny. I live at Liliput. I've been in West End for at least 3 months.

We do deliveries and take fruit around to peoples houses in the new truck. I help Tony and Johnny.

I start work at 4 or 5 in the morning when we load the shop up and put everything like vegies and fruit in the shop.

Ernie Vascotto

Living at West End

2008-08-19T20:38:00.005+10:00

My name is Robert McNalty. I live at 38 Colville St, West End. This project is excellent. I like it because it is really excellent. I really like the kitchen in Colville Street because there is really good food there.

I like going to Coles with my friend Ken. He buys me a lot of coffee. I like going down to South Bank and meeting my friend, the Robot Girl. Her name is Pollie.

Robert McNalty

New Faces

2008-08-06T08:53:00.003+10:00

It was great to have some new people join us last night - a big welcome to Richard, Dave and Lyn. We spent the evening catching up with each other, adding to our Google Map of West End and doing some podcasts. It was lovely to hear Anne recording her recollections of Tristrams. John came along with a painting which we were going to photograph but instead he shared one of his witty poems. We'll be adding it soon to our podcasts.

As we added places to the map someone mentioned the scrub turkeys in Colville Street. I always think it's great that in a place so close to the centre of the city we still end up talking about scrub turkeys! Some of us have even seen them wandering across quite busy roads around West End.

When we next meet in a fortnight's time (19th August) we'll have a look at MySpace, check out the comments feature on the blog, join some group members so more people can contribute, take some photos and get some permission forms from newcomers.

Tristrams Please Podcast

2008-08-05T21:48:00.001+10:00

West End - Favourite Places

2008-08-05T14:01:00.016+10:00

Eddie, Jonathon and John

When we met on July 22nd we all talked about our favourite places in West End and beyond. Here's a list of some of them:

Robbie, Lionel, Kenny - Highgate Hill especially Colville St (that's home!) Kenny also likes the Emigres coffee shop
Anne and Apples - all of West End
Margaret - Daventry Street
Terry - Emigres coffee shop
David - TAB
Malcolm - Albertos
Peter - the flying saucer artwork outside the Commonwealth Bank in Melbourne St.
Daryll - the goanna sculpture
Karen - the Greek tailors in Vulture St where they do alterations to clothes
Jason - the pub
Eddie - the coffee shop and the food van and South Bank

We are checking out Google Maps.
View Larger Map

We made soft drinks

2008-07-22T21:22:00.008+10:00

When I was a child in the 60's we'd drive to my aunty's who lived at the Gap. We went in our little blue VW. Mum, Dad, myself and my two brothers. We'd go past Tristram's on the way, before we crossed the William Jolly bridge. I'd wait for the moment, cause I'd know the building would be coming up.

I always had a fascination with its architecture even though I was just a kid. I'd watch the trucks with the old wooden crates and the bottles all stacked up - I loved the fact that it was a Brisbane based company. I loved the pineapple drink. Golden Circle might have made pineapple too but it's the Tristram one I always remember.

It made me feel like Brisbane was really important - WE MADE SOFT DRINKS! It's great that the building is still here.

Anne Parker

West End favourites - Peters Icecream

2008-07-22T21:05:00.008+10:00

In the early 1950's we came to visit the Peter's icecream factory. At the time I didn't know it was in West End but I did know that it had a huge icecream cone on the lawn out the front! Yum!

After you went for a slightly boring walk through the factory if you were young and handsome (like Malcolm!) you were given a free icecream. And then there was the Tristram's soft drink factory - just down the road. But that's another story!

Malcolm 'Have a Heart' Campbell

We Like West End (and Port Augusta)!

2008-07-22T20:33:00.005+10:00

John - coffee shop, Ernie - I love West End fruit shop, Rob - Colville St, George - Southbank, Lionel - cattle stations (Lionel's not really a West End boy! He's from Port Augusta!) Jonathon - Mater Hospital (and Jonathon also loves the Ekka, it's nearly Ekka time!)