News briefs
BIG SHED FOR THE ’LOO
The City of Sydney is building a ‘big shed’ at Woolloomooloo to house community projects and protect an old Sydney tram. The structure will provide a communal shed for space-starved inner city residents, in addition to housing the tram from the onetime Rozelle tram depot. City of Sydney CEO Monica Barone said the structure in Bourke Street Park would be available to people who are retired, cannot work full-time or live in apartment blocks with limited access to outdoor space. “The community sheds movement is a growing initiative targeting isolated people in our neighbourhoods and those with little opportunity to potter around a shed,” she said
VALE BRAD JOHNSTON
Sydney journalist and editor Brad Johnston has died. One of the gay community’s most accomplished writers, the witty and acerbic Johnston had been a fixture of gay publishing since the early 1990s, writing for The Sydney Star Observer, SX, Blue and Outrage, among other titles. Johnston, who was HIV-positive, was also active in the HIV/AIDS sphere, writing for Talkabout and Positive Living magazines. A celebration of Johnston’s life was held at the Oxford Hotel, Darlinghurst on Friday night, a week after he passed away. He is survived by his long-term partner, Mick.
FLOWERS FIGHT CANCER
Inner Sydney will be festooned with thousands of flowers this spring in the name of charity. The City of Sydney says daffodil displays and flowers forming pink ribbons will raise awareness about cancer at key sites and landmarks. The initiative will see around 30,000 plants used to create to displays ahead of Pink Ribbon Day on October 19. Dr Andrew Penman AM, CEO of Cancer Council NSW, said he hoped the floral displays would inspire people to support the fight against one of Australia’s biggest killers
