Memories Crashing Down

December 7, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
8 Comments

It’s the end of an era. If all goes to plan, the place that I created so many memories will come crashing down early next year.

The Perth Entertainment Centre, originally named the Channel 7 Edgley Entertainment Centre, is about to be knocked down. When it was built it was like nothing Perth had ever seen. It was Perth’s primary large concert venue, with seating for over 8000 people, from 1974 until it closed its doors in 2002.

Demolition work will begin on the Perth Entertainment Centre next month after a land swap deal between the building’s owner, Seven Group, and the State Government.

The Entertainment Centre, disused and a growing eyesore since it was closed in August 2002, will be demolished to make way for a new mixed use development likely to include office space and apartments.

Seven Group chief executive Peter Gammell said the company was yet to finalise its plans but at this stage there was no intention to move Channel 7 Perth’s operations from their studios in Dianella. – thewest.com.au

Some of the concerts I remember seeing at the centre included Amy Grant, Australian Crawl, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Cliff Richard , David Bowie,  DC Talk, Dire Straits, Elton John (with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra),  Feargal Sharkey, Gangajang, Genesis,  Hoi Polloi, Hoodoo Gurus, James Taylor, Joan Armatrading, Joe Jackson , John Farnham, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Motels,  Olivia Newton-John, Phil Collins, Roxette, Sade, Simple Minds, Spandau Ballet, Split Enz, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, U2, Van Morrison, and Whiteheart.

I’m sure there were other shows I saw there as well. I know that I was at the Entertainment Centre for a conference or two, to watch basketball, and even to see Disney on Ice many, many years ago. I also remember sleeping on the pavement outside the Entertainment Centre to get the best possible tickets to a couple of shows.

If you’re a Perth local I’d love to hear some of your memories of the Perth Entertainment Centre. What shows did you see there? Will you be sad to see the old place knocked down?



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What’s Your View on WikiLeaks?

December 7, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
1 Comment

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested in Britain after an international warrant was issued for him last week, London’s Metropolitan Police said. – ABC News

I’m sure that there are many points of view regarding WikiLeaks and its recently arrested founder Julian Assange. Some believe that releasing previously confidential documents will aid in openness and accountability. They would say that we as the people of democratic countries have the right to know what our elected governments are doing. Others are going as far as saying that publishing classified military documents online amounts to treason and that lives have been put at risk.

What do you think? Can there even be a simple answer or are you still unsure what to think of the revelations that have hit the internet and our news services recently?

Well over 500 mirror sites have already been created for WikiLeaks so the information being released isn’t about to go away any time soon.

Closer to home

The whole situation has me thinking a little closer to home. Do we have the right to know everything? Are there reasons that things should be kept from us? If so, who should make the decision about what is out in the open and what is kept confidential?

Should we expect to know everything that goes on in our workplace, even when it doesn’t concern us? Should boards of management, CEOs and others in senior positions reveal everything about their dealings with everyone inside and even outside the company? Would you be happy to have your employment records and complete pay details online for all to see? I imagine that it wouldn’t bother some people but others would find it a little more concerning.

It seems interesting to me that at the same time that many are calling for greater privacy there is a great deal of support to reveal government details. There was a huge uproar when people felt that Facebook didn’t regard their privacy highly enough. Now we want to expose private conversations between heads of state which may have far greater consequences.

Caught in between

To be honest, I’m caught in between. I think there should be a great deal of openness and accountability within government, especially when those governments are acting on our behalf, but on the other hand, I think there’s a lot to be said for electing a government and then handing over the responsibility of government to those we have chosen to represent us.

Getting personal

Making it even more personal, I’m glad that every conversation I have, every email I write and every thought that goes through my mind isn’t splashed across the web. I try to keep my conversations honourable but I know that sometimes I mess up and say things that should never have left my lips. I’m glad that some people don’t hear those words. When I’m writing emails I do my best to be careful with what I say but I must admit that I have, on occasion, sent emails which have been less than helpful. When it comes to my thoughts …. I’m ashamed at what goes through my mind at times. I’m glad that between the time I think about something and the time I act on my thoughts I have the opportunity to censor myself and filter my reactions.

I’m glad that every thought, word and deed by every person isn’t displayed around the world. I believe we all need to be careful about the way we conduct ourselves in public or in private. We need accountability. We need transparency and openness. But I’m wondering if in calling for confidential details of government conversations to become public property, we’re holding others to a standard we would refuse to be held to ourselves.



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World’s Greatest Kevin Bacon Fan

December 7, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
1 Comment

Don’t you love it when celebrities are happy to be part of a joke at their own expense? Mind you, I guess this time it was Logitech which picked up the expenses.

This is such a brilliant advertisement. Well done to Logitech and Kevin Bacon.



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