Westender

13/08/2025

https://westender.com.au/qso-presents-the-antarctica-suite-by-nigel-westlake/

I thought I was conservative about music. Nevertheless, the “Antarctica” suite of Nigel Westlake truly mesmerised and took us to different worlds. I was pleasantly surprised, as I was expecting discordant sounds of the 20th century wannabe classical music of some rare composer, trying so hard to...

10/08/2025

Pro-Palestine protest march planned in Brisbane as group aims to shut down the Story BridgeBy Patrick Brischetto12:30pm Aug 8, 2025 X Facebook Mail Pro-Palestine protesters are aiming to shut down the Story Bridge in Brisbane in a proposed march later this month.The important bridge in Australia's t...

10/08/2025

Ok, here's my loooonnng article unpacking what Drew Hutton's expulsion from the Queensland Greens says about the direction of the party. Please don't comment until you've actually read it. I'm more likely to respond to comments on the bottom of the article itself rather than social media comments.

As followers of this page will know, I don't delete posts simply on the basis that people disagree with me (and unlike CERTAIN people, I don't block accounts from this page simply because I don't like what they have to say). But I will delete without warning any comments that suggest/imply that trans people shouldn't exist, or which uncritically repeat anti-trans dogwhistles. And as usual, I'll be deleting obvious misinformation/bots/sock puppet accounts.

If your argument is some variation of "I've got nothing against people identifying as whatever gender they want, but women need safe spaces" that still falsely implies that trans women using a space are an inherent threat to the safety of other women, which - sorry to break it to you - actually is pretty transphobic, and not grounded in reality.

Yes, we all know about the epidemic of male violence against women, but that pattern of violence isn't because simply having a p***s or Y chromosomes automatically makes you biologically/genetically predisposed to assault women. It's because of how people in patriarchal cultures who live as/are treated as men are socialised to behave towards women.

Like I said, please don't waste everyone's time commenting unless you've actually read the whole article.

08/08/2025

Homelessness hitting the most vulnerable hardest – Brisbane Zero Forum
https://westender.com.au/homelessness-hitting-the-vulnerable-hardest-brisbane-zero-forum/

08/08/2025

More from my old mate, and founding Editor of the Westender, John Jiggens.
In this piece, John talks to another old mate of ours, Drew Hutton, about his recent expulsion from the Greens, of which he was a co-founder.
Drew was a regular contributor to the Westender back in the 90s, with a column entitled The Green View.

The expulsion of Greens founder Drew Hutton has exposed deep ideological rifts tearing through the party’s core.

31/07/2025

BIGGER STADIUMS, BIGGER BILLS - AND WE’RE PAYING FOR IT

This is exactly why Brisbane DOES NOT need a 63,000-seat white elephant stadium in Victoria Park. The ABC has already reported how Australia is littered with oversized stadiums that cost billions but sit empty most of the time. Bigger doesn’t mean better - it just means taxpayers foot the bill for seats that will rarely be filled.

The government is ignoring global trends and expert warnings, pushing a vanity project that will drain public funds, destroy 66% of a heritage park and 1,000+ mature and veteran trees. If other cities are downsizing because mega-stadiums don’t stack up economically, why on earth are we going the opposite way?

Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-11/stadiums-too-big-for-some-australian-sports/11951632

Image: Construction of Perth’s Optus stadium

Donate now to save the park: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-victoria-park-from-an-olympic-stadium

Sign the petition: https://www.savevictoriapark.com/petition

31/07/2025

https://westender.com.au/brisbane-festival-unveils-full-contemporary-music-program-for-2025/

Brisbane Festival is tuning up for one of its most dynamic years yet, today unveiling the full contemporary music program for 2025, including a bold line-up of support acts who will share the stage with some of Australia’s most exciting headline artists and accomplished musicians. Returning for an...

30/07/2025

Derby Values - Fun First! The Derby is first and foremost a celebration — a joyful, ridiculous, and heartfelt community street party. It's not about raising money or delivering a product. It’s about collective joy, play, and connection. Life on WHEELS + ! Since the very first Kurilpa Derby rolle...

30/07/2025

A chance meeting over coffee in Boundary Street, West End, put me back in touch with John Jiggens, the original editor of the Westender back in 1992. Lo and behold, he had a story to tell - so here it is: https://westender.com.au/pilgrimage-to-myall-creek-john-jiggens-remembers-the-frontier-wars/

28/07/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16yTuYsunJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

At the West End deli, the Marinellis have been roasting, slicing and sandwiching porchetta since 1987. Food writer Becca Wang visits to find out how what’s changed – and what’s stayed the same: https://bit.ly/4o7Yr2f

27/07/2025