Slava's Snowshow in Perth

September 4, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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slava.jpgI’m not a big fan of clowns. To be honest I don’t see the attraction …. yet there’s something about Slava’s Snowshow that may just change my mind.

I took James to the opening night of Slava’s Snowshow at the Regal Theatre last night. They say that Snowshow is to clowning what Cirque du Soleil is to Circus.

On the Snowshow website is a warning.

Weather warning! The forecast is for smoke and fog effects, occasional loud music, brief showers, high winds and plenty of snow. Skies will be clear at first with clowns increasing, becoming more mischievous later in the show. Conditions are not recommended for children under 8. Please note that children under the age of 2 are not permitted in the theatre.

It’s no joke. The show at times is incredibly subtle and at other times is extremely intense. If you’re going to the show, and I recommend that you do, be prepared for a show like no other.

Slava’s Snowshow is unlike anything you have seen on stage before, combining hilarity and poignancy with stunning spectacle and breathtaking images. The ensemble cast of clowns creates a world of wonder in which a bed becomes a boat, a web of cotton envelops the audience and one tiny piece of paper begins an exhilarating snowstorm which engulfs the entire theatre.

I’m feeling a little torn at the moment. I so much want to tell you about the magic of the show. I want to describe the excitement of the various elements which make up the show but I don’t want to spoil the surprises for anyone who may go to the show.

You may have been to shows before that let a few audience members interact with the cast. This show isn’t like that. When you go to Slava’s Snowshow everyone will have opportunity to be part of the show in one way or another.

I don’t think James will stop talking about the show for a long time. It was a lot of excitement for a ten year old. Once we got home he started telling Pauline about what we’d experienced. He still had plenty to tell this morning as he remembered more and more spectacular moments.

Slava’s Snowshow is on in Perth until the 20th of September. If it ever comes to a theatre near you … don’t miss it.



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I'm No Hero

August 21, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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cadent_1_small.jpgI’m certainly not a hero but I have just signed on to Everyday Hero, a website that will collect donations for the bike ride for cancer I’m undertaking in October. You can be a real hero by sponsoring me. Just click this link and make your donation to Cancer Council Western Australia.

Just to fill you in if you haven’t read about the ride before, back in February I told you about a sad goodbye. My wife’s sister had just passed away at the age of 41 from cancer.

In the weeks leading up to her death I was throwing an idea around for a bike ride from Perth to Albany. The ride would take my morning radio programme on the road to broadcast from a different town each day. I wanted to give people who had been touched by cancer a chance to tell their story. Whether they’d lost a loved one or survived cancer, I wanted people to have the opportunity to break the silence and let people know that they’ve been through some deep waters. I wanted others who have been touched by cancer to know they’re not alone.

Plans for that ride are now well underway.

As well as giving people opportunity to tell their story we’ll be raising funds for Cancer Council Western Australia.

I have a number of cyclists ready to take part and I’m looking for a few more. Each morning I’ll broadcast my radio programme before hopping onto my bike just after midday to cycle to the next town.

Here’s the itinerary:

Saturday 17th October 2009: Perth to York – 97km

Sunday 18th October 2009: Rest Day

Monday 19th October 2009: York to Pingelly – 87 km

Tuesday 20th October 2009: Pingelly to Wagin – 100 km

Wednesday 21st October 2009: Wagin to Katanning – 55 km

Thursday 22nd October 2009: Katanning to Cranbrook – 80 km

Friday 23rd October 2009: Cranbrook to Albany – 91 km

TOTAL: 510 km

Where to from here?

The task now is to finalise the team of cyclists. I’m hoping that we’ll have around ten to twelve riders. We’ll be followed by support vehicles which will carry all our gear.

If you know anyone in any of the towns along the way who you think would be a good contact, please let me know.

I also need your story. Have you been touched by cancer? Are you battling cancer now or beaten it in the past? Does a loved one have cancer? Have you lost a friend? If you’d rather not leave your story in the comments section of this post, you can go to my contact page and send me an email.

If you’d like to donate towards a wonderful cause, just click this link. By supporting this venture you’ll be the real hero.



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The secret revealed

July 14, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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cadent_1_small.jpgI’ve hinted at it a few times and now I’m ready to say a little more.

Back in February I told you about a sad goodbye. My wife’s sister had just passed away at the age of 41 from cancer.

In the weeks leading up to her death I was throwing an idea around for a bike ride from Perth to Albany. The ride would take my morning radio programme on the road to broadcast from a different town each day. I wanted to give people who had been touched by cancer a chance to tell their story. Whether they’d lost a loved one or survived cancer, I wanted people to have the opportunity to break the silence and let people know that they’ve been through some deep waters. I wanted others who have been touched by cancer to know they’re not alone.

Plans for that ride are now well underway.

As well as giving people opportunity to tell their story we’ll be raising funds for Cancer Council Western Australia.

I have a number of cyclists ready to take part and I’m looking for a few more. Each morning I’ll broadcast my radio programme before hopping onto my bike just after midday to cycle to the next town.

Here’s the itinerary:

Saturday 17th October 2009: Perth to York – 97km

Sunday 18th October 2009: Rest Day

Monday 19th October 2009: York to Pingelly – 87 km

Tuesday 20th October 2009: Pingelly to Wagin – 100 km

Wednesday 21st October 2009: Wagin to Katanning – 55 km

Thursday 22nd October 2009: Katanning to Cranbrook – 80 km

Friday 23rd October 2009: Cranbrook to Albany – 91 km

TOTAL: 510 km

Where to from here?

The task now is to finalise the team of cyclists. I’m hoping that we’ll have around ten to twelve riders. We’ll be followed by support vehicles which will carry all our gear.

If you know anyone in any of the towns along the way who you think would be a good contact, please let me know.

If you’re part of a business that would like to partner with us on the journey, I’m looking for some sponsors for the cycling jerseys. There are different levels of sponsorship for various sized logos on the jerseys.

I also need your story. Have you been touched by cancer? Are you battling cancer now or beaten it in the past? Does a loved one have cancer? Have you lost a friend? If you’d rather not leave your story in the comments section of this post, you can go to my contact page and send me an email.

Sometime soon I’ll let you know how you can donate to Cancer Council Western Australia in support of the ride.



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Faith and Education

July 2, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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DavidSmith.gifChristian education is a subject that evokes a wide range of opinions. Some feel that it’s the only reasonable option in current times, while others would say that it brainwashes children or that it places young people into a false reality, cocooning them away from ‘real life’.

While I have my concerns about some forms of Christian education, I need to say that we have chosen to educate our children through a Christian college. Rather than hiding children away from the world and its views, I believe that Christian education can prepare children to face the world. A teacher’s world view will always come through in the way that they teach and I feel it’s important that our children are taught from people who have a similar world view to our own.

One of the world’s leading authorities on Christian education, author and international education consultant, David Smith, has been described as a gifted, passionate, insightful and challenging speaker. David will soon be in Perth for the one day Christian Education National State Conference – Reimagining the Christian Classroom – Monday the 20th of July – at Swan Christian College. He’ll also be speaking at a couple of parent evenings – Saturday the 18th July – Foundation Christian College – Greenfields – and Tuesday the 21st July – Kingsway Christian College – Darch.

David I Smith completed his B.A. at Oxford University, a M.Phil.F. Degree at the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto and a PhD in curriculum studies at the Institute of Education at the University of London. He is currently Director of the Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning and Associate professor of German at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He serves as Senior Editor of the journal of Education and Christian Belief and Editor of the Journal of Christianity and Foreign Languages. He has authored or edited over 10 books and over 30 book chapters and articles in the fields of language education and philosophy of education, and travels widely as a speaker at educational events and as a consultant to schools.

In preparation for his Perth visit, I spoke to David during my morning programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM. I found him to be a fascinating person and I only wish I could have spent longer talking about the issue of education.

We spoke about a range of topics such as how we can retain a sense of awe and wonder of God while being immersed in a Christian education environment.

If you have school aged children, can I encourage you to think through the issues David raises? You can listen to our conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.



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Perth Cycling

June 1, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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bike_parts.jpgThe best place to connect with cyclists around the world remains BikeForums. It’s been going for years and the information you can find there is amazing.

For those of us who live in Perth, Western Australia there is a local forum which will prove to be very useful if enough people register and use it regularly. The problem is that such a forum is fishing from a much smaller pond for its members. Any such forum needs to reach some kind of critical mass for it to be truly effective.

That’s why I thought I’d give Perth Cycling and its associated Perth Cycling Forums a bit of a plug today. I’m in no way associated with the site or forums. I simply reckon it’s a great opportunity for local cyclists and I’d hate to see it disappear through lack of support.

Perth Cycling is the main website which has some excellent links and information.

This site has been set up to provide any person new to cycling or new to Perth, a central point of reference to help them find group rides, race information, race results, forums, classifieds and blogs.

While the site is primarily aimed towards group road riding and racing, those behind the site are willing to develop it into whatever users require.

Perth Cycling Forums gives you the opportunity to interact with other local riders. You’ll find everything there from classifieds to local ride information and advice from other cyclists in your area.

If you are from Perth and you ride a bike, can I encourage you to check out the website and forums. I’m hoping that membership of the forums will grow and that we’ll see some interesting discussions develop.



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