oneperth.com.au | Perth news

CHRIS THOMSON

The foray of the 12.7 square kilometre City of Perth into foreign affairs continues unabated – this time on home soil.

Yesterday, Nanjing’s Mayor Ji Jianye caught up with globetrotting Perth mayor Lisa Scaffidi before a reception in his honour at Council House.

Mayor Jianye’s delegation of Communists was given a traditional West Aussie greeting by the Wadumbah Aboriginal Dance Group.

Earlier in the day, the delegation visited urban development projects.

The City of Perth has enjoyed formal relations with its sister city of Nanjing since 1998.

Ms Scaffidi claimed international collaboration at the most local of levels was needed to press Perth’s tourism, business, education and health links with China.

Last financial year, the council’s budget for all sister city activities was $314,064.

By contrast, the tab for Ms Scaffidi’s various trips abroad for the Perth Education City consortium has mainly been picked up by the WA taxpayer.

Before becoming mayor in October 2007, Ms Scaffidi had stridently criticised the number of Perth’s sister city agreements, and then-mayor Peter Nattrass’s travel to service them.

CHRIS THOMSON

It’s the night that stops a nation.

Whereas Halloween still holds limited appeal for Australians, for the past few weeks it has been the obsession of most North Americans – at least those jammed in between the Canadian and Mexican borders.

Since the start of October, American punters of all ages have been hollowing out Jack-o-lanterns, preparing their costumes and affixing decorations to their houses that would put the most garish of Christmas light displays in the most outer suburbs of Perth to shame.

American writer Mark Twain said of a visit to the Melbourne Cup in 1895:

“Nowhere in the world have I encountered a festival of people that has such a magnificent appeal to the whole nation. The Cup astonishes me.”

A stroll down Seventh Avenue, Brooklyn a few hours ago as Halloween reached its annual climax showed that the balance had shifted back to Twain’s homeland and from the equine to the spooky.

Everyone over here gets into the trick-or-treat act, and it’s not just householders who are targeted.

Perhaps in recognition of the non-existent welfare state, business-owners (and not just the dentists) readily cough up mountains of Mars bars as armies of marauding vampires, witches and goblins invade their shopfronts like candy-craving locusts.

Parents start chaperoning their ankle-biters down the high streets from around 3pm. By 5pm, a handful of shops have posted ‘no more candy ‘ signs in their front windows.

One hapless woman handing out mini Snickers bars from a warehouse front door looks hangdog as she laments: “I was supposed to go home at 3.30″.

This is Materialism 101, as very few children, let alone their parents, bother to thank the shopkeeps.

Still, the vibe is as joyous as the smile of a hollowed-out pumpkin and contagious as the flu I brought across from New Orleans.

About 6.30pm, just as the last of the twilight disappears, and the chill still lingering from the year’s first snow storm becomes apparent, the local Halloween parade starts up.

The street parade is being thrown by just one Brooklyn neighbourhood, Park Slope, but perhaps 5000 decorated mammals – men, women, children and pet pooches – participate.

It’s a freaky affair launched by two ambulances with their warning lights a-flashin’.

The parade is punctuated by a calypso band of Carribean zombies, and concluded by a whacked-out random wheeling a blaring beat box atop a shopping trolley.

America has spoken, the spirits of the dead have been appeased, and the nation’s children placated.

At least until the sugar rush hits.

CHRIS THOMSON

For a French-founded city, central New Orleans has appalling coffee that is difficult to get in anything but a take-away cup – even when you’re dining in.

But New Orleans is not about the coffee. Grog – and plenty of it – is the beverage of choice.

We wander down to Bourbon Street at 2.30 on a Tuesday morning after a late-night flight from Los Angeles.

The lively strip is closed to cars so revellers can stagger at their leisure from kerb to kerb, brews in hand. The street stinks of urine and vomit.

New Orleans might arguably be the birthplace of jazz and the home of the blues but there is not a saxophone to be seen on its most famous street.

Inside the gaudy bars and strip clubs it’s getting hot in there and people are taking off all their clothes.

Think Aberdeen Street, Northbridge, at closing time – to the power of 10.

We bail and head back to the hotel and to bed.

Five hours later we awake and wander back to discover Bourbon Street has been hosed down – and last night’s clientele replaced by a gentile set of short-wearing tourists.

During the hullabaloo of the night before, the beauty of the street – and the French Quarter it punctuated – had been far from apparent.

The wrought-iron verandahs of the brick and timber shops remind me of pre-Bjelke Brisbane.

Autumn has arrived but the humidity hangs heavy.

Before heading here I’d heard the French Quarter lacked authenticity – and I was expecting an amped up version of Fremantle’s renovated but increasingly plastic West End.

Not true. Many of the buildings are rickety, and most are jaded – in a good way. There is no Botox here. The buildings’ wrinkles and warts are there for the world to see.

The French Quarter is extensive and well worth a long visit.

The further from Bourbon you go, the quainter the Quarter becomes.

Pet cats stretch out on stoops and voodoo shops carry a doll for every occasion.

Street musicians start infusing the air with acoustic Ragtime.

Above a city devastated six years ago by hurricane, purple storm clouds roll in from the Gulf.

Half a dozen heavy rain drops land, then the deluge begins. Pedestrians seek refuge in bars or under verandahs.

Any muck still stuck from the night before is pelted from the pavement in seconds.

But the storm lasts just 10 minutes, freeing us to return to our hotel.

A lengthy snooze and some emails to home later, and it’s back to Bourbon – this time at a decent hour.

It’s about 7.30pm, and the dearth of live music from the early morning before has been rectified.

Street performers – good ones – emerge.

A healthy dose of blues, ragtime, zydeco and even country competes with Top 40 stuff from the less salubrious establishments.

One of the better establishments – Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse – provides respite from the streetside ya-ya.

Accessed off Bourbon Street through the shiny lobby of an upmarket hotel, the club’s vibe is similar to The Ellington back in Perth – though plusher, with no cover charge or dress code, and no staff telling chatting customers to pipe down.

Tonight, a sax-slinging professor of jazz, Ed Petersen from the University of New Orleans, leads a be-bop quartet.

Between songs he recites extracts of Myrtle the Turtle in a tribute to Dr Seuss.

New Orleans is not as famed for modern jazz as it is for the ragtime once trailblazed by its most famous son Louis Armstrong.

But Petersen’s band is great and one senses that to play any kind of jazz gig in this city a musician must be good.

Petersen leads three younger lions – Paul Thibodeaux (drums), Barry Stephenson (bass) and Brian Coogan (piano) - in a sometime spicy, sometime sombre, but always swinging set.

The fried green tomatoes and Californian chardonnay served with style to our table are delicious.

The reputation of Bourbon Street has been restored.

STAFF REPORTER

The number of Legionnaires’ disease cases among Western Australians returning from Bali has hit double figures.

The Department of Health has reissued a warning to recent Bali visitors to be alert for symptoms of the disease.

WA Health has been notified of a new case of Legionnaires’ in a WA woman who recently returned from Bali, the second case identified in Australia in the past week.

There have now been 15 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Australians returning from Bali since August 2010, with 10 of these from Western Australia.

Communicable Disease Control Director Paul Armstrong said the exact source of the disease remained unknown but all infected Western Australians had stayed in the central Kuta area of Bali.

“Legionnaires’ disease most often affects middle-aged and elderly people, particularly those who smoke or who have lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease or a weakened immune system,” Dr Armstrong said.

“People with these risk factors who visit Bali should avoid the central area of Kuta in the vicinity of the intersection of Jalan Singosari and Jalan Kartika Plasa.

“The early symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are typically similar to severe ‘flu-like’ illness.”

Dr Armstrong said that early symptoms may include fever, chills, muscle soreness, headaches, tiredness, reduced appetite and diarrhoea, dry cough and breathlessness.

WA Health is advising Western Australians who have recently returned from Bali and developed severe flu-like symptoms within 10 days to contact their doctor.

“Legionnaires’ disease is treated with specific antibiotics, and while most people recover, some people may develop severe pneumonia requiring hospitalisation,” Dr Armstrong said.

Legionella pneumophilia is a type of bacteria commonly transmitted by the inhalation of water droplets from contaminated warm water sources such as air conditioning cooling towers in large buildings and evaporative air conditioners.

Other sources include showers and warm water systems, spa pools, misting or droplet sprays and fountains.

Legionnaires’ disease cannot be caught from other people or from animal contact.

CHRIS THOMSON

Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi has bedazzled Seinfeld star Jason Alexander during a flirtatious meeting, the comic actor has revealed on Twitter.

Los Angeles-based Alexander, world famous for his portrayal of neurotic Seinfeld character George Costanza, says he met Mrs Scaffidi during the week.

“Quite the sheila,” Alexander recalled before describing a flirtatious encounter that for legal reasons is best read about on his Twitter page.

Mrs Scaffidi is well known for her international trips, having travelled abroad at public expense more than any other capital city leader in Australia.

She and Perth City Council supremo Frank Edwards had been in Houston at an ‘energy cities conference’.

It is understood Mr Edwards is now on two weeks’ leave.

Mrs Scaffidi was due back in Perth on May 6. She has been asked for details about where, why and how she encountered Alexander.

Alexander first visited Perth in December 2009 to perform a comedy gig.

CHRIS THOMSON

With $180,000 left in the City of Perth’s $314,000 sister city budget and only four months to spend it, Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi is set to jet abroad again at the firm demand of Chinese officials.

oneperth.com.au can reveal that a six-day, $70,000 trip is being planned at the behest of the City of Chengdu which last year signed a friendship agreement with Perth.

In no uncertain terms, Chengdu has indicated it expects Ms Scaffidi to accept its invitation.

INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

The Chinese city requires Ms Scaffidi and a troupe of Perth performers to attend the International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage slated for late May as part of Chengdu International Sister Cities Week.

The festival will be a celebration of traditional folk culture. The week’s festivities will include a giant panda adoption ceremony.

Normally Ms Scaffidi would unilaterally decide which sister cities to visit and when.

However, since her first lord mayoral term has already seen her visit sister cities in Italy and Japan, the Chengdu trip needs approval from her city’s councillors.

RECORD HOLDER

When Ms Scaffidi’s several off-shore forays on behalf of the Perth Education City consortium are counted, she has jetted abroad more at public expense than any capital city figurehead in Australia.

Perth city officials have recommended the councillors approve the Chengdu trip.

Most of the city’s councillors have previously expressed concern that Ms Scaffidi has not been required to lodge reports on the outcomes of most of her trips.

ENTERTAINERS

The Chengdu invitation offers to cover Ms Scaffidi’s in-country expenses as well as that of up to 20 Perth entertainers.

The Perth officials are not confident of mustering performers at such short notice but have included travel costs for a troupe in the trip budget regardless.

Perth business delegates have been invited to participate at their own expense.

If approved at the next council meeting in March, the $70,000 trip will take ratepayer cash spent on sister cities in 2010/11 to $204,125.

The council’s budget for all sister city activities this financial year is $314,064.

STAFF REPORTER

Nine Western Australians have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease following recent travel to Bali.

There have now been 13 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Australians who had visited central Kuta since August 2010 – including nine from Western Australia.

WA Department of health Communicable Disease Control Director Paul Armstrong said the exact source of the disease remained unknown.

However, all but one of the Legionnaires victims had stayed at the Ramayana Resort and Spa Hotel in Kuta.

“The Indonesian Government has been advised of the Australian cases by the Australian Government, and is working with the World Health Organisation to investigate the possible source of the disease,” Dr Armstrong said.

“The investigating team has taken steps to disinfect potential sources at the hotel, but it is not yet clear that this has been successful.”

Dr Armstrong said the early symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are typically similar to severe ‘flu-like’ illness.

“Early symptoms may include fever, chills, muscle soreness, headaches, tiredness, reduced appetite and diarrhoea, along with dry cough and breathlessness,” Dr Armstrong said.

The Department of Health advises Western Australians recently returned from Bali who have developed flu-like symptoms within 10 days of their return to call their GP.

“Legionnaires’ disease is treated with specific antibiotics, and while most people recover, some people may develop severe pneumonia requiring hospitalisation,” Dr Armstrong said.

Legionnaires’ disease most often affects middle-aged and elderly people, particularly those who smoke or who have lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease or a weakened immune system.

Legionella pneumophilia is a type of bacteria commonly transmitted by inhaling water droplets from contaminated warm water.

Disease vectors include air conditioning cooling towers in large buildings, evaporative air conditioners, showers and warm water systems, spa pools, misting or droplet sprays and fountains.

Legionnaires’ disease cannot be caught from animals or other people.

STAFF REPORTER

RELATED UPDATE STORY: NUMBER OF WA CASES HITS DOUBLE FIGURES.

Revelations that a fourth Western Australian has been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ Disease after recent travel to Bali coincided with word this afternoon that all affected people had stayed at the same Kuta resort.

Acting Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson said the exact source of the disease remained unknown.

However, all Western Australians recently diagnosed had stayed at the 4.5-star Ramayana Resort and Spa Hotel (pictured) in Central Kuta.

“The Indonesian Government has been advised of the Australian cases by the Australian Government, and is working with the World Health Organisation to investigate the possible source of the disease,” Dr Robertson said.

Dr Robertson said the early symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease were similar to severe ‘flu-like’ illness.

“Early symptoms may include fever, chills, muscle soreness, headaches, tiredness, reduced appetite and diarrhoea, along with dry cough and breathlessness,” he said.

The Department of Health is advising recently returned Bali travellers who developed flu-like symptoms within 10 days to contact their doctor.

“Legionnaires’ Disease is treated with specific antibiotics, and while most people recover, some people may develop severe pneumonia requiring hospitalisation,” Dr Robertson said.

Legionnaires’ Disease most often affects middle-aged and elderly people, particularly those who smoke, or who have lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease or a weakened immune system.

Legionella pneumophilia is a type of bacteria commonly transmitted by inhaling water droplets from contaminated warm water from such sources as air conditioning cooling towers in large buildings, showers, spas and fountains.

Legionnaires’ Disease cannot be caught from animals or other people.

STAFF REPORTER

UPDATE: NUMBER OF WA CASES JUMPS TO NINE.

Holidayers returning from Bali need to be alert for symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease with three Western Australians and two Victorians returning recently with severe pneumonia due to infection with Legionella pneumophilia.

All five infected Australians holidayed in Bali during December, with Acting Chief Health Andy Robertson saying that the Western Australians were most likely infected in the popular Kuta area.

The exact source of the outbreak is unknown.

“The Indonesian Government has been advised of the Australian cases by the Australian Government and is working with the World Health Organisation to determine the source of the infections,” Dr Robertson said.

Since 2010, there have now been 10 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ Disease in Australians who have visited one area of Kuta.

Six of the infected 10 are from Western Australia.

“The early symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease are typically similar to severe ‘flu like’ illness, and may include fever, chills, muscle soreness, headaches, tiredness, reduced appetite and diarrhoea, along with dry cough and breathlessness,” Dr Robertson said.

Legionella infections usually develop two to 10 days after exposure.

“Legionnaires’ Disease is treated with specific antibiotics, and while most people recover, some people may develop severe pneumonia requiring hospitalisation,” Dr Robertson said.

Legionnaires’ Disease most often affects middle-aged and elderly people, particularly those who smoke or who have lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease or a weakened immune system.

“We recommend that anyone who falls in one or more of these risk groups who develops flu-like illness after returning from Bali seeks medical advice, and notifies their doctor of their recent travel,” Dr Robertson said.

Legionella pneumophilia is a type of bacteria commonly transmitted by the inhaling water droplets from contaminated warm water environments such as air conditioning cooling towers, spa pools, showers and fountains.

Legionnaires’ Disease cannot be caught from animals or other people.

CHRIS THOMSON

The Sheraton Hotel logo that has peered out over East Perth for the past 38 years is no more.

Putting the finishing touches on new building livery at the 486-room former Sheraton tower on Adelaide Terrace is new owner Pan Pacific Hotels.

The new company’s logos are now visible on three of the building’s four faces, with only the northern logo (pictured) remaining under wraps.

Pan Pacific’s parent company, Singapore-listed UOL Group Limited, has owned the corner-of-Hill Street site since 1995.

The Perth property is part of an initial three-pronged foray into Australia.

Pan Pacific is also rebranding two Crowne Plazas – in Sydney’s Darling Harbour and Parramatta – as Parkroyal hotels.

Pan Pacific owns or operates more than 30 hotels, resorts and serviced accommodation properties in North America, Asia, China, New Zealand and now Australia.

Sheraton’s departure means the international hotel giant no longer has a brand presence in Perth.