Author: Ashleigh Fielding

IT IS not often local council meetings are packed to the rafters, and even more unusual when those in attendance stand up mid-proceedings to deliver a surprise choir performance.

But that is exactly what happened during last week’s City of Albany Council meeting when local group AboutFACE choir staged a flash mob.

For those who have never witnessed a flash mob first hand, it’s a seemingly random act, such as a dance or singing performance, carried out in a public place.

AboutFACE sang a stirring rendition of Swahili song Wana Baraka, with councillors, general members of the public and media all sitting quietly in appreciation of the mesmerising tune.

Formed in 2013, AboutFACE offers vocal development and performance opportunities for young people living in the Great Southern.

City of Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington congratulated the group on their “fantastic” presentation.

“In my 20 years on Council that’s the first time I’ve ever seen a flash mob at Council,” he said.

“Well done, it was a terrific exercise.”

AboutFACE weren’t just there to flex their skills however, with the choir seeking funding for a July tour of Europe where they have been invited to represent Australia at the International Youth Music Festival in Bratislava.

As part of the trip, AboutFACE plans to engage with choir specialists in Vienna to develop the group’s talent.

“To best represent the City of Albany, AboutFACE needs to up skill,” Tour Development Officer Bethany Findlay said.

“We have exhausted the development opportunities here in WA.”

With About FACE’s European tour costing just over $300,000, the group asked City of Albany for a $14,000 contribution.

Ms Findlay said any support would be a worthy investment, with the choir looking to partner with the City for 2026 bicentennial celebrations.

“As the next generation of Albany citizens we are uniquely placed to be part of and potentially lead the creative components of the bicentenary,” she said.

“Consider investing in the youth of your city.”

A DISGRUNTLED group of Albany residents want to get rid of the dog exercise area at Emu Point Western Swimming Beach, arguing the dogs have ‘taken over’.

Last week the City of Albany Council received a community petition containing 301 signatures that requested the area no longer be designated as a dog-friendly zone.
The contentious dog exercise area is a small strip of about 80m, wedged between the rock wall and groyne opposite Cunningham Street.

Within designated dog exercise areas, pooches can roam freely without being on a leash.

Speaking to Council on behalf of the concerned locals, Spencer Park resident Sue Buckingham said dogs and beachgoers were battling for space.

“We consider this beach totally inappropriate as a dog exercise area,” she said.

“It further reduces the number of areas where swimmers can go without dogs taking over.”

The section of beach was changed to a dog exercise area in November 2018 after community requests for a sheltered beach area where less mobile residents and families with small children could take their dogs.

In December 2019, residents started taking their dogs down to the area more regularly after the City installed additional signage that made it clear furry friends were welcome.

Ms Buckingham argued there were plenty of other places close by for dog owners to take their loyal companions.

Under City of Albany’s Dog Exercise, Prohibited and Rural Leashing Areas Policy, there are currently 15 areas/reserves within city limits where dogs don’t need to be on a leash, but must be controlled at all times.

These include a long strip of Middleton Beach from Surfers Beach to Firth Street and a section of Emu Point Marina Beach between Hunter Street and Swarbrick Street.

When the Weekender visited Emu Point Western Swimming Beach on two separate
occasions, there wasn’t a furry friend in sight, but Ms Buckingham told council swimmers have been side-stepping dog faeces all summer.

“It seems there is a total disregard for health and safety issues at this public area of western swimming beach,” she said.

At a Development and Infrastructure Services Committee meeting this Wednesday, City of Albany will review a number of strategies that could resolve the issue, including installing a barrier between beaches to deter dogs or restricting use based on season and times.

Since a spike in complaints, rangers have been visiting the area daily to educate users of appropriate dog management behaviour, according to the City.

ALBANY’S first and only MRI machine is currently on lockdown after an internal water leak at Albany Health Campus.

All appointments have been cancelled and rescheduled, with patients either being sent to receive a CT scan in its place, or being asked to travel to Perth for a bulk- billed MRI.

Great Southern Radiology CEO Glen Marshall said he was alerted to the issue on Saturday.

“I just got the phone call on Saturday morning to say that there was water in our MRI room which is quite strange,” he said.

“Our technicians flew down on Sunday from Perth, they’ve been here up until lunch time today and they’ve checked out the machine.

“The [MRI] is fully operational, so that’s a fantastic outcome for the machine.”

Despite the good news for the expensive piece of tech, it’s structural damage to the room itself that has halted all use of the MRI.

“Because it’s such a technical piece of equipment it actually lives inside a copper room,” Mr Marshall said.

“So now what we need to do is to test the integrity of that copper room, because what’s happened is the water has flooded and effected the floorboards, they’ve stretched and that’s stretched the copper casing, and we now need to make sure it hasn’t separated anywhere.”

The copper casing is an essential aspect of the room as it prevents an excessive amount of electromagnetic radiation from distorting the MR signal.

It also stops the electromagnetic radiation generated by the MR scanner from causing interference in other nearby medical devices.

Great Southern Radiology conducts approximately 10 to 12 MRI scans per day, with around 100 appointments expected to be impacted.

A spokeswoman for WA Country Health Service confirmed the water leak, and advised that the equipment will be examined.

“In line with the WA Country Health Service’s (WACHS) unwavering commitment to patient safety, all technology housed within the area will now undergo a safety review,” she said.

“This includes the facility’s MRI machine.

“In the interim, WACHS is providing alternative imaging pathways for patients and working with Great Southern Radiology where appropriate noting there are currently no urgent cases waitlisted for an MRI.”

While all appointments are being diverted and rescheduled, the loss of the machine comes after years of campaigning, petitioning and bipartisan and community support to get the device to Albany in the first place.

Mr Marshall said the installation of the machine in 2014 was a step in the right direction for health in the Great Southern.

“It was a real win for Albany,” he said.

But as a $2m piece of machinery, it’s likely to be the only MRI in Albany for a while yet.

“It’s the unfortunate problem of living in a regional town.

“Occasionally equipment is affected and we need to make best use of what we’ve got.

“We’ve had no major issues before this at all.”

Appointments with Great Southern Radiology are estimated to be running again in mid-March.