Year in Review: Stories and pictures from June 2017

In our review of June 2017 we have highlighted the fourth TEDxBunbury event and the celebration of culture during NAIDOC week. We also remember the start of the Koombana Bay transformation project.

Artwork has friendship garden in full bloom

Creative thinking and businesses helped bring an idea for an impressive entry statement to reality.

The cherry blossom engraved arbours at the entrance to Bunbury’s Friendship Garden were designed by City of Bunbury landscape and open space manager Kristy Tillett.

The impressive artwork was installed last week at the Queens Gardens location.

Competition a ‘bonus’ for South West surfer

Binningup resident Wayne Figliomeni was the only West Australian to compete in the Nudie Australian Adaptive Surfing Titles in New South Wales..

Mr Figliomeni lost a leg in a work accident three years ago.

“This year I have surfed more, where as last year I concentrated more on hitting the gym and exercising, which was rightly so because I was in the early stages

Theatre restoration turns back the clock

A refurbishment revealed the original Victorian facade of an iconic Bunbury building, with owners hoping it provides an insight into the CBD’s history.

The former Lyric Theatre’s exterior revitalisation, funded by the State Government’s Heritage Grants Program, exposed the 112-year-old building’s original brickwork.

Co-owner Mike Honeybell said he was impressed with the redevelopment, following the $100,000 grant which was committed to the restoration.

Mr Honeybell said he hoped it would prompt other CBD building owners to also return buildings to their original state.

Play returns to roots for special UK performance

Bunbury’s Stark Raven Theatre Company’s play Wollaston: A Man and a Mission returned to the tale’s roots when it travelled to West Wickham in the United Kingdom for a special performance.

The small village was home to the Wollaston family for 19 years – where John Wollaston was the local vicar – before leaving in 1840 to build a new home in Bunbury.

History buff and playwright Norm Flynn adapted the Wollaston diaries into the play which features Tony Martin as John Wollaston and Sigari Luckwell as Wollaston’s wife Mary.

TEDxBunbury - ideas worth spreading

A wave of “ideas worth spreading” flowed into the Bunbury Entertainment Centre when TEDxBunbury presented a collection of speakers to spark discussion and connection.

TEDx is a program of local, self-organised events inspired by the famous “TED” conferences held annually in Vancouver, which have seen famous talks from Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Bill Gates and many Nobel Prize winners in the past.

The fourth TEDxBunbury event featured talks surrounding the theme “wave”, which licensee Susie Delaporte said allowed for a wide variety of speakers and ideas

Former resident claims city icon

The new owner of one of Bunbury’s oldest and most iconic buildings said he would lease out his newest asset.

The former Bunbury Post Office at Stephen Street in the CBD went under the hammer, with the winning bidder rounding out the auction at $480,000.

While Summit Realty South West principal and auctioneer Greg Gardiner could not reveal the man behind the victorious bid, he told the South Western Times the Perth businessman grew up in Bunbury and had long-term plans for the historic building.

Celebrations of culture

Kaya is the Noongar meaning for hello and Bunbury residents were encouraged to use it as a way of celebrating NAIDOC Week and its theme of Our Languages Matter.

NAIDOC week, which ran during the July, celebrated the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It got under way in Bunbury with a flag raising and NAIDOC awards ceremony.

Transformation of Koombana Bay begins

Bunbury City leaders officially marked the start of the Koombana Bay foreshore revitalisation, although work was already well underway.

Contractors moved in and started preparation works and demolition in an effort to create a “blank canvas” for the major upgrades as part of the Transforming Bunbury’s Waterfront project.

Mr Brennan said it was exciting to see the transformation that had already taken place.