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Wayne Lynch was a surfing legend when conscripted to fight in Vietnam
A surfing legend from the age of 14, Wayne Lynch became an outlaw for two and a half years to avoid fighting a war he did not believe in. Despite international acclaim, he has remained a recluse for many years, quietly building surfboards based on some of his 70s designs.
Five years ago, filmmaker Craig Griffin saw Lynch speak in Torquay. “Surfers are not renowned for being articulate but this guy is an exception.”
“He has disappeared into the forest and lived on his wits. He has rejected the corporate offers of fame and riches and become a recluse at the height of his fame. There is a frankness and greatness about him that is simply gripping.”
Four and a half years later, the film has played to sell-out crowds in surfing centres such as Torquay, Byron Bay, Hawaii, LA and New York. Brisbane audiences get their chance at the BEMAC cinema in Kangaroo Point on Thursday December 5th.
Westender caught up with Griffin on the road. I just had to ask him about the surfing scene in Manhattan.
“It’s a hipster scene. People take the subway to Long Island with their boards or further out to Montauk.” <heads to South Brisbane railway station.>
Tickets available at Trybooking – entry price includes food and a free drink
When Westender reported on October 31 that the Newman government was about to slash funding to around ten inner city arts bodies (Newman’s slashing of the Arts ) we had very few details and wrote “stay tuned for further updates on these arts cuts.” The ripples are still being felt a month later.
At the time, one reader responded “Wondering how much it cost to send 2 senior detectives on a door knocking walk through Eagle Farm businesses today looking to see if we were stashing any bikie gangs ?? They had a list and everything !”
The real challenge for local artists is that the government is using its funding muscle to create a corporate-friendly, classics-heavy art scene in Brisbane.
Opening the OperaQ 2014 season, Newman joked about how politically incorrect the 19th century Italians were. He clearly relishes trotting out 150 year old artworks as a sign of how open minded and flexible he is.
His Minister for the Yarts played on the same theme at the preview of the Queensland Ballet’s 2014 season. “I had oysters and champagne at the Ekka and saw the ballet. Brisbane sure is changing.”
Like many of you, we received a letter from David Pierce at Pondera today which reveals the flow on effect of these cuts on the broader community. It was in part a response to another of the defunded organisations, Backbone. We share it simply to help keep alive the coals of your rage at the damage this government is doing to the fabric of our society.
As some of you may know, recent slashing of arts funding in Qld has resulted in a number of youth and community arts organisations being completely defunded. While this is not the forum to comment or discuss, I am reaching to to the local business community to see if anyone has, or knows of some office space which could be used for these organisations. In particular the one attached, Backbone Youth Arts is appealing for space.
My business has just turned 7 and had built a considerable percentage of our income from the arts community from dance to musicians to theatre and more so thanks to anyone who can help in any way
The new westender logo provides a taste of the style to come
The publishers of Westender are proud and excited to note that the first print edition of the grand old newspaper in a year and a half has rolled off the presses and it rumbling its way toward West End.
You will see copies begin to appear on the street as early as today Friday November 29.
As is always the way with creative ventures, there were a few heart stopping moments and not everything has gone exactly as planned – please support local plumbers and electricians Neil T Falloneven though their full telephone number 3846 3666 did not quite make it into print.
You will see the stories that appear in print arrive on the website and facebook page over the next couple of days, where you can respond, participate and contribute to the next edition in February.
We like to think that we represent you, our neighbours in West End, so please feel free to use us as your urban voice.
I started this year with the wish, “May nudity return to purity in 2013″, and if my recent facebook ban is anything to go by, it seems that it is not yet the case.
I posted a beautiful photo of a sculpture of an indigenous woman by Jayne Skipper three days ago, and within hours received a message from facebook informing me it violated facebook policies, and that I am consequently blocked from posting for 30 days.
"BE, I thought. Because, I sought.
I knew that when I could actually be, I was at my ultimate."
Sidonie Bouchet - Alleluia
I was referred to Facebook’s Community Standards, and assume it belongs in the Nudity and Pornography section – “Facebook has a strict policy against the sharing of pornographic content and any explicitly sexual content where a minor is involved. We also impose limitations on the display of nudity. We aspire to respect people’s right to share content of personal importance, whether those are photos of a sculpture like Michelangelo’s David or family photos of a child breastfeeding.”
After reading the above, I have to admit I was unclear exactly what I had breached, especially the latter part regarding facebook’s aspiration.
I wondered whether it was a racial issue perhaps, because let’s face it an aboriginal woman wearing a shirt to go out gathering seems somewhat strange. I also asked myself whether it would have been pulled off if she had had pert youthful breasts, as I have regularly witnessed far more sexually explicit content and nudity of the perfect body on facebook.
Whatever the reason behind this ban, it is very apparent that as a society we still have a long way to go before we return to the purity of nudity in the Garden of Eden.
Soul partners enjoy a complete union on all levels.
Some of you might be familiar with the concept of twin flame. Some of you might believe you have a twin flame. And some of you might even be holding off on a relationship unless it is with your twin flame.
For those of you unfamiliar with the term, basically a twin flame is your other half, your ultimate beloved, you true love.
Anyway after much soul searching, I have discovered that putting on hold my life for my twin flame is ridiculous, and that actually it is not my destiny here on Earth. Yes, it is true that reuniting with him will be blissful, but what does one do if their soul contract means reunification in another dimension?
I decided to share my discovery on my facebook page Soul Sex. “It is true that we seek reunion with our true twin flame, but whilst on Earth we are here to exchange DNA with others. Enjoy the process, rather than pining for your beloved, with whom you will reconnect for eternity anyway,” I wrote.
Accompanied by a stunning photo, it began to be shared profusely on social media, and the initial comments were in total agreement. “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with,” said one man. “Non-exclusive is what Divine Source is, so we are too… that is our true nature,” added a woman.
But then the opposition began, “No thanks. Fidelity is fine. Patience is a virtue,” politely remarked one woman. “For yourselves. I’d rather stay separate for now,” said another woman. “She is right!!! I’d rather wait,” agreed a man. Maybe these two are twin flames, I wondered, but I had to ask myself will they find one another?
“How boring!!!..I would rather wait for my twin flame..,” said a lady. Boring? What could be more boring than waiting and longing for something that’s not in the now. “Not once you connect with your twin. Nothing else comes close,” added another.
“I don’t like being asked to sleep around. I’m not a whore,” said one woman. I tried reassuring her with, “This is not about infidelity or promiscuity. This is about honouring every step of your journey back to oneness.”
Some began to share their twin flame experiences after a man asked, “How do you know if someone is your twin flame?” “You will KNOW,” responded a woman. “Holding to limitation is not advisable. Perhaps there was a time when twin-flame union was everything, now we have a grand new opportunity – embrace it,” said one wise woman. “It is a timely reminder for me, after being lovesick all day. Pining. Tomorrow I will continue on my path,” said one brave man. “Still water grows stagnant after a while,” explained yet another man.
More comments came in: “well said!”, “These words are so true. Thank you for sharing the validation.” “Very True”, “yes TRUTH thank you…. it is such a wide truth in the perspective you offer to all of us.”
“I haven’t heard of twin flames before…hmm, new thought process to process ; ) Is it the same as a soulmate?,” asked a woman. “A twin flame is like your other half, a soul mate is a karmic partner,” I explained. “Thank you for the reply, guess I still have a lot of learning to do before I am ready,” she answered with a winking smile.
“Soul mates, soul lovers, soul fragments, twin flames… some souls split like cells over the eons… gets kinda complicated once you read some esoteric cosmology. Love the pic. The quote is the most retarded thing I think I’ve ever read. My God… Guess that woman with 10 kids and 10 partners is perfectly following her appointed divine purpose. Well done! *Pukes*,” said the grumpy man.
“You’ re right – by exchanging DNA a NEW individual is born!! What a beautiful way to think of it! I have one such exchange, not with a soul mate or twin flame and yes I pine. I needed this message- thank you !” “Exactly the truth Soul Sex, too many people forget what it means to be human. It’s about sharing love, not f*cking everything you see but choosing those special people that are not always a twin flame.
I must disagree with you Sidonie this time, I’m not here to exchange DNA,” said one woman. You might want to rethink this post,” offered another.
Well this has triggered quite a few people indeed. Funnily, there would have been a time when it would have triggered me too. Blessings to all, wherever you are on your journey. Ultimately there is no separation. We are all One.
Sidonie Bouchet, author of Alleluia, is the founder of the facebook Soul Sex. She offers online spiritual mentoring sessions to help you reclaim fragmented aspects of yourself. You can contact her at www.soletosoulsex.com
A few summers ago I was sitting out back of a pub in West End playing eyeballs with a blue tongue lizard as long as my thigh.
It was mid-afternoon and she was handling the heat better than I.
I sat and baked and swat like I never done swat before while she nestled in the scrappy bushes lining the fence and crunched down old chicken bones, shard by bony shard.
It was a long time before I went back. But times have changed in West End.
Nowadays places to drink in the shade without marauding lizards are plentiful. Try some of these on for size:
The Joynt, 48 Montague Road.
If you visit West End only once in your life, make sure you drop by the Joynt for a cold beer. It might be a little out of the way, but it has atmosphere you can’t purchase – plus it’s close to the river for an after-drink stroll. Just don’t go expecting fancy cocktails and silver service.
Best drink: Coopers Sparkling longneck in a bucket of ice.
Popular with: Music lovers. Come here in the arvo for a few cold drinks to pass the time until the evening’s act.
Open: Varies. From 2pm on weekends but closes 8pm Sundays. 3pm til midnight most weekdays, opens earlier on Fridays for a lunchtime drink.
Lock n Load back garden, Boundary Street.
It’s like a jungle, starring you and fans blowing cool, cool mist on your hot, hot face. Great for a couple of cold drinks – but it’s set up for meals, not drunken sprawling.
Best drink: Always partial to a pint of Rogers. Ok, two pints of Rogers.
Popular with: Lunchtime workers during the week, holidaymakers on weekends. You can always get a seat during the week, but from 2pm you can probably have the whole jungle to yourself.
Open: Every day. 10am til late Monday-Friday, opens 7am on weekends.
Boundary Hotel front bar, 137 Boundary Street.
West End was founded on the front bar of the Boundary Hotel. Ok, that’s a lie. But it might as well have been. You haven’t been to West End until you’ve had a drink in the front bar of the Boundary – or until you’ve cadged a rolly off somebody and smoked it on the footpath outside.
Best drink: Schooner of draught, thanks mate.
Popular with: Generations of local barflies who were born, raised, weathered, and buried in the front bar.
Open: Every day 10am til midnight. Closes 10pm on Mondays.
The Burrow, 37 Mollison Street.
The decor is a blend of rustica, kitsch, and pop culture and upstairs is a rabbit warren of small rooms – but there’s always a quiet seat, usually with a view, the windows are open and the overhead fans comfortably whop away.
Best drink: Extensive beer list but on a hot afternoon who can go past a glass jar of cider with ice, slices of apple, and raspberries?
Popular with: Young men with beards and young women with their shirts tucked into their shorts, all looking disgustingly carefree and easy going.
Open: Every day except Monday, 7am til late.
The Depo, 16 Horan Street.
A new one, hidden off the main drag. The decor is eclectic, the prices are high, and compared to some the selections are narrow. But the Depo exploits certain features – the outdoor seating, quiet street, shady trees, understated stated staff and music, focus on quality food and drink – to create a place you wished Brisbane had more of. Happy hour is 4-6pm.
Best drink: Happy hour’s $8 prosecco while sitting outside on a balmy afternoon takes some beating.
