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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Elton says Jesus was gay

February 22, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
2 Comments

Elton John has created controversy over his recent claims that Jesus was a super-intelligent gay man.

In an article titled Elton John: ‘There’s A Lot Of Hate In The World’, Elton gave Dotson Rader of Parade insights into his life. He spoke about love, drugs, fame and his long term relationship with David Furnish. His most controversial comments were about Jesus.

I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems. On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving. I don’t know what makes people so cruel. Try being a gay woman in the Middle East — you’re as good as dead.

While I completely disagree with Elton’s thoughts on Jesus being gay I must say that this isn’t the first time that someone has tried to turn Jesus into something that he’s not.

Ever since God made man in his image, man has been trying to create a god that conforms to his own image.

Elton John is an extremely talented musician who doesn’t try to hide the fact that he is gay. Is it really a surprise that he would create an image of Jesus that reflects who he would like him to be? The scriptures and history in no way suggest that Jesus was or is gay, yet that is who Elton would like him to be. It suits Elton to see Jesus that way rather than a Jesus who would challenge his thoughts or lifestyle.

In the same way many other people see Jesus in whatever way suits their own purposes. The scriptures and history in no way suggest that Jesus was or is someone who wants us all to be obscenely rich, yet that is who some Christians would like him to be and they tell us that material wealth is a necessary manifestation of God’s blessings. Even though scriptures talk about the dangers of wealth they want to run after such things and so they create a Jesus that wants them to be materially prosperous.

The Jews who were waiting for Messiah were expecting someone to lead a military overthrow. That wasn’t who Jesus was, so many couldn’t see that he was the one sent by God.

I think we all need to be constantly challenging our own image of Jesus. We can’t afford to pretend he is the person we want him to be. If we’re serious, we’ll want to meet the real Jesus. We can’t rely on second hand knowledge from parents, friends, pastors or teachers. They can all be helpful in guiding us but in the end we need to discover the real Jesus presented in the Bible.

It takes a lot of courage to open the scriptures and ask, “Who was Jesus? Who is Jesus? If I’m to follow him what does he require of me? Was he really God or just a good man?”

When we ask those questions we need to be ready to act on what we find, not on what we’d like to find or assume.

I’m pretty selfish by nature so it would suit me a lot better if Jesus wasn’t someone who asked me to always put others ahead of myself. It would be easier for me if Jesus didn’t ask me to take care of those who can’t take care of themselves. I would find life a lot easier if I didn’t have to control my thought life as much as I need to control my actions. There are many things about the Jesus I find in the Bible that challenge me but I can’t just pretend that those aspects of Jesus don’t exist. I can’t make Jesus in my own image and neither can Elton John.

The Jesus I know does share some similarities with the Jesus Elton would like to know. I also think Jesus was compassionate and that he understood human problems. I see very clearly the example he gave in that on the cross he forgave the people who crucified him. I’m in total agreeance with Elton that Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving.

Who is the Jesus you know?



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