My suburb is the unglamorous sibling of a seaside gem. But we're still better
It's beautiful, safe and free, but all of this still made me want to leave.
My suburb, Williamstown North, is an inland wedge of just 1622 people across the north of Willi. At the far end is the defunct Mobil refinery and an industrial park that makes up more than half the suburb. At the sharp end of this wedge is Newport rail junction, the first step out of this small-town suburb by the bay.
I was born in Williamstown Hospital and lived in the same Willi North house – a green weatherboard – for the first 20 years of my life. Most of the homes in this nest-like suburb curl around the Williamstown Cemetery (and the adjacent retirement home), and mine was no different.
Our house faced two parks: K.C. White Reserve, which looked onto the cemetery, and Quarry Reserve, behind which lay a vast abandoned lot we called 'the rabbits' (due to the feral bunnies who lived there). The lot was surrounded by chicken wire with peeled-up edges that you could easily sneak through. And there is also Boral, a lively operation whose trucks come and go, carrying locally made asphalt.
I loved these parks. I kicked footballs relentlessly in winter, caught cricket balls in the summer. I trained hard with my brother and dad, and the year K.C. White was our home ground, we won the premiership. I also remember our kelpie splashing after waterbirds roosting in the puddle-strewn oval.
I would ride my bike up Park Crescent to buy a Slurpee at the 7-Eleven, or down to Challis St for the paper. In the summer, when I was bored, Mum would send me across to the factories behind Quarry Reserve, next to the rabbits, where I'd hit a tennis ball against big smooth walls in empty parking lots. Experiences like this are characteristic of North Willi: big, flat and empty.
There was something freeing in this quiet spaciousness. Perhaps it's why I was always drawn to the urban and melancholic work of Australian artist Jeffrey Smart. I can't imagine growing up in a fabulous house by the postcard-pretty beach. The temperature is cooler here. The birdsong is louder. The sky is bigger, rounder …
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Aussie county skip left 99 overnight in top-table duel
Former Australian Test batter Peter Handscomb was left on 99 not out as play closed on the first day of the local derby promotion battle between English midlands counties Leicestershire and Derbyshire. The Victorian is Leicestershire captain and he has led the unfashionable county to the summit of the County Championship's second division - with neighbours Derbyshire second. Hosts Derbyshire made a superb start, dismissing their visitors to 2-0 with Kiwi quick Blair Tickner picking up one of the wickets. But Leicestershire responded like champions. England allrounder Rehan Ahmed made 115, his third consecutive hundred in the competition, before falling to a fine running catch at midwicket by Australian Caleb Jewell. Ahmed had added 169 with Lewis Hill who went on to make an unbeaten 132 himself. Hill and Handscomb shared an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 188 to leave Leicestershire 3-357 with three days to play. Handscomb, who is playing his 200th first-class match, reached 50 off 84 balls, and got to 90 off 140 balls and has since spent 23 balls in the 90s. With Hill taking a single off the first ball of the day's last over he had five balls to score the two he needed for his 28th first-class hundred, but could only take a single off the fifth ball. The 34-year-old, who played the last of his 20 Tests in India in 2023, will resume in the morning aiming to lead Leicestershire to a commanding total before Jewell has the chance to lead the home side's response. Elsewhere in Division Two Wes Agar took 3-29 as bottom-of-the-table Kent looked to get back into the game after being dismissed for 154 by Glamorgan. The Welsh county closed on 4-125. Marcus Harris made 29 in Lancashire's 6-290 against Cameron Bancroft's Gloucestershire. In the top flight Beau Webster went straight back into the Warwickshire side after returning from Australia's Test matches in the West Indies. With Worcestershire electing to bat the allrounder was limited to bowling and took the key wicket of visiting skipper Basil D'Oliveira for 57 as the home team made 8-262. Surrey's long-serving Australian opening bowler Dan Worrell, an outside bet to play for England in the Ashes as he is now eligible, took 3-49 at Scarborough as Yorkshire made 4-282. That took his season's tally to 22 at under 24 apiece. At 34, like Handscomb, his chance is probably gone, but he is closing in on 400 first-class wickets and the Victorian knows Australian conditions well. Former Australian Test batter Peter Handscomb was left on 99 not out as play closed on the first day of the local derby promotion battle between English midlands counties Leicestershire and Derbyshire. The Victorian is Leicestershire captain and he has led the unfashionable county to the summit of the County Championship's second division - with neighbours Derbyshire second. Hosts Derbyshire made a superb start, dismissing their visitors to 2-0 with Kiwi quick Blair Tickner picking up one of the wickets. But Leicestershire responded like champions. England allrounder Rehan Ahmed made 115, his third consecutive hundred in the competition, before falling to a fine running catch at midwicket by Australian Caleb Jewell. Ahmed had added 169 with Lewis Hill who went on to make an unbeaten 132 himself. Hill and Handscomb shared an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 188 to leave Leicestershire 3-357 with three days to play. Handscomb, who is playing his 200th first-class match, reached 50 off 84 balls, and got to 90 off 140 balls and has since spent 23 balls in the 90s. With Hill taking a single off the first ball of the day's last over he had five balls to score the two he needed for his 28th first-class hundred, but could only take a single off the fifth ball. The 34-year-old, who played the last of his 20 Tests in India in 2023, will resume in the morning aiming to lead Leicestershire to a commanding total before Jewell has the chance to lead the home side's response. Elsewhere in Division Two Wes Agar took 3-29 as bottom-of-the-table Kent looked to get back into the game after being dismissed for 154 by Glamorgan. The Welsh county closed on 4-125. Marcus Harris made 29 in Lancashire's 6-290 against Cameron Bancroft's Gloucestershire. In the top flight Beau Webster went straight back into the Warwickshire side after returning from Australia's Test matches in the West Indies. With Worcestershire electing to bat the allrounder was limited to bowling and took the key wicket of visiting skipper Basil D'Oliveira for 57 as the home team made 8-262. Surrey's long-serving Australian opening bowler Dan Worrell, an outside bet to play for England in the Ashes as he is now eligible, took 3-49 at Scarborough as Yorkshire made 4-282. That took his season's tally to 22 at under 24 apiece. At 34, like Handscomb, his chance is probably gone, but he is closing in on 400 first-class wickets and the Victorian knows Australian conditions well. Former Australian Test batter Peter Handscomb was left on 99 not out as play closed on the first day of the local derby promotion battle between English midlands counties Leicestershire and Derbyshire. The Victorian is Leicestershire captain and he has led the unfashionable county to the summit of the County Championship's second division - with neighbours Derbyshire second. Hosts Derbyshire made a superb start, dismissing their visitors to 2-0 with Kiwi quick Blair Tickner picking up one of the wickets. But Leicestershire responded like champions. England allrounder Rehan Ahmed made 115, his third consecutive hundred in the competition, before falling to a fine running catch at midwicket by Australian Caleb Jewell. Ahmed had added 169 with Lewis Hill who went on to make an unbeaten 132 himself. Hill and Handscomb shared an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 188 to leave Leicestershire 3-357 with three days to play. Handscomb, who is playing his 200th first-class match, reached 50 off 84 balls, and got to 90 off 140 balls and has since spent 23 balls in the 90s. With Hill taking a single off the first ball of the day's last over he had five balls to score the two he needed for his 28th first-class hundred, but could only take a single off the fifth ball. The 34-year-old, who played the last of his 20 Tests in India in 2023, will resume in the morning aiming to lead Leicestershire to a commanding total before Jewell has the chance to lead the home side's response. Elsewhere in Division Two Wes Agar took 3-29 as bottom-of-the-table Kent looked to get back into the game after being dismissed for 154 by Glamorgan. The Welsh county closed on 4-125. Marcus Harris made 29 in Lancashire's 6-290 against Cameron Bancroft's Gloucestershire. In the top flight Beau Webster went straight back into the Warwickshire side after returning from Australia's Test matches in the West Indies. With Worcestershire electing to bat the allrounder was limited to bowling and took the key wicket of visiting skipper Basil D'Oliveira for 57 as the home team made 8-262. Surrey's long-serving Australian opening bowler Dan Worrell, an outside bet to play for England in the Ashes as he is now eligible, took 3-49 at Scarborough as Yorkshire made 4-282. That took his season's tally to 22 at under 24 apiece. At 34, like Handscomb, his chance is probably gone, but he is closing in on 400 first-class wickets and the Victorian knows Australian conditions well.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Aussie county skip left 99 overnight in top-table duel
Victoria's Peter Handscomb is one run from his 28th century in his 200th first-class match. (Russell Freeman/AAP PHOTOS) Victoria's Peter Handscomb is one run from his 28th century in his 200th first-class match. (Russell Freeman/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Former Australian Test batter Peter Handscomb was left on 99 not out as play closed on the first day of the local derby promotion battle between English midlands counties Leicestershire and Derbyshire. The Victorian is Leicestershire captain and he has led the unfashionable county to the summit of the County Championship's second division - with neighbours Derbyshire second. Hosts Derbyshire made a superb start, dismissing their visitors to 2-0 with Kiwi quick Blair Tickner picking up one of the wickets. But Leicestershire responded like champions. England allrounder Rehan Ahmed made 115, his third consecutive hundred in the competition, before falling to a fine running catch at midwicket by Australian Caleb Jewell. Ahmed had added 169 with Lewis Hill who went on to make an unbeaten 132 himself. Hill and Handscomb shared an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 188 to leave Leicestershire 3-357 with three days to play. Handscomb, who is playing his 200th first-class match, reached 50 off 84 balls, and got to 90 off 140 balls and has since spent 23 balls in the 90s. With Hill taking a single off the first ball of the day's last over he had five balls to score the two he needed for his 28th first-class hundred, but could only take a single off the fifth ball. The 34-year-old, who played the last of his 20 Tests in India in 2023, will resume in the morning aiming to lead Leicestershire to a commanding total before Jewell has the chance to lead the home side's response. Elsewhere in Division Two Wes Agar took 3-29 as bottom-of-the-table Kent looked to get back into the game after being dismissed for 154 by Glamorgan. The Welsh county closed on 4-125. Marcus Harris made 29 in Lancashire's 6-290 against Cameron Bancroft's Gloucestershire. In the top flight Beau Webster went straight back into the Warwickshire side after returning from Australia's Test matches in the West Indies. With Worcestershire electing to bat the allrounder was limited to bowling and took the key wicket of visiting skipper Basil D'Oliveira for 57 as the home team made 8-262. Surrey's long-serving Australian opening bowler Dan Worrell, an outside bet to play for England in the Ashes as he is now eligible, took 3-49 at Scarborough as Yorkshire made 4-282. That took his season's tally to 22 at under 24 apiece. At 34, like Handscomb, his chance is probably gone, but he is closing in on 400 first-class wickets and the Victorian knows Australian conditions well.
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Prawns, Pimms and Pedigree: Tessa Daly returns to hometown of Carnarvon for food, fashion and race day fun
She's the daughter of Carnarvon's most decorated trainer, a rising racing media talent, and now, a proud hometown host for one of the region's most delicious new events. Tessa Daly — the daughter of Carnarvon horse trainer Peter Daly — is set to return to her roots on August 1 for the Massey Bay Prawns and Pimms Race Day, the grand finale of Carnarvon's Gascoyne Food Festival leg. 'I grew up following (dad) around the countryside, going to lots of different racecourses all around WA,' she said. 'I guess it's in your blood when you grow up with it.' Despite dabbling in WAFL operations and dreaming of a career in sports media, Daly said the pull of the racing world was far too strong to ignore. 'I was getting up at 3.30am to work with horses, get that job done by 8am and then rushing to East Fremantle Football Club and back to the stables,' she said. 'It was ridiculously long days and I thought – 'I'm 26 - I either need to try and chase these media dreams while I'm still somewhat young and don't leave it too late'.' Now part of Racing WA's TV broadcast team as mounting yard analyst, Daly's focus is on blending her background with her passion – and that's exactly what Prawns and Pimms is all about. 'It's about bringing people from all walks of life into racing,' she said. 'Sea Harvest have donated prawns for the day, and Pimms goes hand in hand with the races — prawns, Pimms and a bit of a punt and a bit of fun as well.' Held on the day that all Australian horses celebrate a birthday, the afternoon will feature local food, drinks, music, and a laid-back trackside atmosphere – all part of a bigger plan to showcase Carnarvon's produce. 'Racing in Carnarvon falls at the perfect time of the year. The weather's great and the produce is even better,' Daly said. 'Doesn't matter if you're involved in racing or if you like racing or not — it's an opportunity to dress up, have a drink and enjoy fresh seafood.' The event is supported by Sea Harvest, Racing and Wagering WA, and the Gascoyne Food Council, and forms one part of the month-long Gascoyne Food Festival trail. For more information, head to the Gascoyne Food Festival website .
