18 SEPTEMBER, 2024
Boyd graces the opera Werribee’s Boyd Owen will be starring as the lovestruck poet Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème at The Melbourne Opera. Puccini’s work offers a refreshing break from traditionally aristocratic compositions, as it aligns with the “Verismo” movement in Italian opera, which focuses on portraying human characters and their experiences. Owen explained that his character, Rodolfo, is a young, idealistic poet who embraces life as it comes, without worrying much about the future. However, the character and his free-spirited companions must confront the harsher realities of life, which “produces the tragedy of the rest of the story” as Rodolfo navigates love and making a living. Owen has learned to manage his stage nerves over his 25-year career. He attributes this to his intellectual interest in the science of the nervous system, and his understanding that while nerves are an inevitable part of performing, the effects they have on a performer are within their control. Owen also highlights the importance of voice type in opera, likening it to the specialisation required in the Olympics. He notes that this particular role would not have been suited to his voice just a few years ago, but is now well within his capabilities. Boyd Owen. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 430521_07
Development rejected By Jaidyn Kennedy Sanctuary Lakes residents have had a win after a commercial development on Greg Norman Drive was rejected by Wyndham council. Residents attended the September 10 council meeting to voice their concerns about the proposed commercial development. The proposed development included the construction of a medical centre, an adjoined pharmacy, six food and drink premises, a convenience store, a bottle shop, two retail premises, two office tenancies and car parking for the facilities. Among the key concerns residents spoke
about were increased traffic, insufficient parking, noise disturbances and delinquency caused by the sale of alcohol. Resident Michael Montague asserted that the development would “reduce the quality [of life] of these families irrevocably.” “These families will be subject to every disorderly element that the development produces, ruining a lifestyle that they have worked hard to enjoy,” he told the council meeting. Resident Philip Amore labelled the proposed development “contrary to the general ambience of the area”. “I purchased a residential property in
Sanctuary Lakes as it is one of the few residential areas available in the suburbs of metropolitan Melbourne that offers quiet and peaceful residential living,” he said. Mr Amore also stressed the concerns relating to the service of alcohol, citing an alleged increase of crime as a result of alcohol consumption in the estate. “I don’t want to be confronted by someone who has just purchased alcohol and had a drink,” he said. Cr Adele Hegedich put forth an alternative motion that council refuse to grant the planning permit on the grounds it is inconsistent with noise regulations, light
Authorised by Rifai A. Raheem.P.O.Box-8171, Tarneit VIC 3029.
emittance regulations and does not provide sufficient parking spaces. Cr Jasmine Hill invoked her knowledge of physics to explain soundwaves and how the noise pollution will disturb residents. “We must recognise that the noise is subjective and often feels more intrusive when experienced on a daily basis,” she said. She went on to state that “introducing constant commercial traffic will cause congestion and road deterioration” and that the allocated parking spaces would be “grossly inadequate”. Cr Hegedich’s motion was supported by council.
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