FREE SINCE EVERYBODY'S BEEN ON 1993 ALBANY'S RIVERBOAT 90 Lockyer Ave, Albany 9842 1211 P BUT IT REALLY PAYS TO BOOK Vol 29, No 14 April 8, 2021 www.gsweekender.com.au 9844 3166 107 Stead Road, Albany WA 6330 HANNAH TURNER COMMUNITY space and Albany Roller Derby League Telephone: (08) 9842 2788 headquarters The Track will close its doors in July because of the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. Classifieds: (08) 9842 2787 The volunteer-run club have been fi ghting to keep The Track open but a lack of sponsorship and revenue Facsimile: (08) 9842 2789 has fi nally taken its toll, with no roller derby games played since early last year. “Our future is uncertain, but we will work to keep our skating community alive and thriving,” they said on their Facebook page. “We will fi nd a new venue.” ADVERTISING MANAGER: Albany Roller Derby League President Natalie Jarvis said the organisation has had a signifi cant decline in its income since the pandemic, which meant they couldn’t Roslyn Buktenica pay their rent. “When COVID happened, we had to shut everything quite quickly, but we were still having to pay rent on our building,” she said. SENIOR DESIGNER: “As things were starting to reactivate again, we had no games and with no games means no income. Our Jami Welshman team sponsors had nothing to sponsor because there was no team. [email protected] “Our landlord really kindly renegotiated our lease which allowed us to open the doors again and restart our juniors program, our Skate Like a Girl program and our adult’s Roller Derby. “But recently [our landlord] got a much better offer, ACTING EDITOR: someone who could pay all of the rent, so he gave us Michael Roberts notice last week that we would have to move.” The closure of The Track isn’t just affecting local skaters but also other community groups such as four-piece band Liz Dexic, who use the venue as a jam space. JOURNALISTS: Guitarist Cameron Spence said the closure of the space “sucks” and they’ll have to fi nd a new place to Isabel Vieira, Deanna Corrieri and Hannah Turner: practice once The Track closes down in July. “We’ve been there for the last three years and they’ve [email protected] been really good to us, we’ve been able to store all our gear there in between jams and shows,” he said. “It’s a really convenient space, we’re the only ones there when we are jamming and it’s in the industrial district, so we don’t have to worry about noise com- ADVERTISING SALES: plaint which is a big issue in Albany.” Initially, a Lotterywest Covid response grant helped [email protected] re-open The Track, but that funding source has since dried up. “Because we are a not-for-profi t and a sporting club we don’t really fall under a lot of the grant help and ACCOUNTS: especially not for rental costs,” Ms Jarvis said. “The closure of the venue impacts lots of different [email protected] people in lots of different ways. “I think we’ve probably seen the biggest impact on the teenagers involved in our Skate Like a Girl program. “For a lot of them prior to participating they’d never done a sport, never enjoyed sport…but happily put on CLASSIFIEDS: roller skates. “They were quite upset and devastated by the very [email protected] sudden news to them because we had tried to keep everything functioning normally.” Ms Jarvis said the League were currently looking for a slightly cheaper new home and had no intensions of Check out our locally owned radio station at giving up. “At the moment it’s all on pause,” she said. www.goldmx.com.au “The Track and Roller Derby has always been a really Rollin’ out inclusive space, a really diverse space for people who maybe haven’t felt welcome in other sporting groups. Photo: Hannah Turner “We are a very diverse bunch of people and it’s a really friendly and welcoming space. “So, to have that gone for a little while is going to n Nyree Holland, Tegan Stones, Hazel Mitchell, Natalie Jarvis and Julie Wrobel from the Albany Roller Derby League. be really hard.” 23,000L TANK $2,937 INC GST BOOST YOUR WATER 25,000L TANK $3,124 INC GST 27,500L TANK STORAGE... $3,498 INC GST FREE DELIVERY 38,000L TANK within 800km of Perth $5,082 INC GST 50,000L TANK See your local agent or call 1800 555 185 • westcoastpoly.com.au $7,469 INC GST 2 The Weekender, April 8, 2021 The Weekender, April 8, 2021 3 By Nathan Vass Viney WALPOLE KIDS COMICS See more at www.artbynathanviney.com HOROSCOPES By Joanne Madeline Moore Australian astrologer Joanne Madeline Moore’s horoscope columns @realty are published in newspapers and magazines around the world. You Minor party’s joint eff ort can also read her horoscopes at www.bohoastro.com Thinking of selling your property and would like professional service ARIES [March 21-April 20] Prepare to pivot. It’s one of your luckiest weeks of the year so make the most of it! With four planets with lower fees? in Aries, confi dence and self-belief will take you far. You’re keen to make connections with other people, as Mars and Jupiter highlight your communication and networking zones. It’s a terrifi c time to initiate ideas and make waves within your circle of infl uence. Powerful and positive collaborations are the keys to future success, so roll up your sleeves and get cracking Rams. TAURUS [April 21-May 21] People are looking to you for some sound leadership. Taurus is a fi xed sign and you can be a very bossy, stubborn Bull. Aim to be more adaptable and adventurous this week, as you focus atten- tion on helping those around you. Being of service to others sees you sparkle and shine. When Venus shifts into your sign mid-week, it’s time to catch up with close friends and call in a few old n Steve Thomas. n Alannah MacTiernan. n Sophia Moermond. favours. When you’re fi ring on all cylinders, it’s hard for others to resist your bovine charms! ” Jeremy Stevenson “I have a background GEMINI [May 22-June 21] in healthcare, starting of 0427 183 688 Open, honest and considered communication is required this week. And expect an especially event- as a registered nurse, and [email protected] ful weekend, when Mercury (your ruling planet) links up with Jupiter, Mars and Pluto. But make following on with natur- LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL sure you don’t become the neighbourhood nosey-parker. Passing on unverifi ed hear-say could opathy and traditional Lorraine Stevenson lead to unpleasant consequences, so think long and hard Gemini before you spread secrets and Chinese medicine. My SOUTH WEST 0417 183 688 garrulous gossip. What’s needed at the moment are kind words, helpful actions and noble deeds. focus has always been [email protected] CANCER [June 22-July 23]PE to empower and help REGION Relationships with loved ones or colleagues will be stressful as Pluto squares the Sun, Mercury people through informed LONG OR SHORT TERM and Venus which will increase workloads, limit patience and lengthen frustrations. If you are choices.” 1. Sally Talbot, Labor MACHINERY AVAILABLE n Sally Talbot. FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY housebound with sick or bored family members then do your best to keep them comfortable, It will be diffi cult for any FOR HIRE well-fed, well-hydrated and entertained. The weekend is a good time to don your detective cap, MICHAEL ROBERTS In what many political of the minor parties to in- 2. Steve Thomas, Liberal do some research, dig deep and uncover hidden information that other people have overlooked. analysts have described fl uence the newly-elected LEO [July 24-Aug 23] THE Legalise Cannabis as a ‘broken system’, mi- McGowan Government, nor parties like Legalise with Labor controlling 3. Alannah MacTiernan, Labor With the Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Pluto fi ring up your tempestuous nature, you’re amped up and WA Party has offi cially ready to perform as you to let your hair down and overdo just about everything! But don’t let bossy secured two upper house Cannabis WA use prefer- both the Legislative As- WEEKEND QUIZ overconfi dence trip you up this week Cats. Your head’s full of ambitious dreams and spectacular seats in State Parliament ence deals to boost their sembly and Legislative 4. Jackie Jarvis, Labor schemes, but they’ll only work if you can persuade other people to contribute to Team Leo. You’ll after the final Legisla- percentage of the vote. Council for the fi rst time fi nd creative collaboration will take you a lot further than working as a solo operator. tive Council votes were Discussing the issue of in WA’s history. 5. Sophia Moermond, Labor will hold a re- WELCOME back to our weekly quiz. Each VIRGO [Aug 24-Sep 23] counted this week for the legalising cannabis, Ms Legalise Cannabis 2021 election. Moermond said she ran markable 22 seats in edition, 10 questions will be placed on this It’s action stations at work this week, as Mars and Jupiter turbo-charge your Virgo motivation page to test you on your knowledge to test you Despite the party reg- for the South West region the Legislative Council, and boost your determination.