NOTRE DAME REDESIGN NURSING SCHOOL

Fremantle Notre Dame University Vice Chancellor Celia Hammond announced at a small community meeting about the proposed five-storey new Nursing School building in High Street that UNDA will not try to seek approval from the WA Development Assessment Panel, but will redesign the building instead.

The proposal was strongly criticised by the Fremantle community and West End residents and rejected by Fremantle Council because the design quality and height were deemed inappropriate for and disrespectful to the historic West End. The Fremantle Chamber of Commerce approved of the building.

The Vice Chancellor emphasised that Notre Dame is part of the West End and the Freo community and she did not want to put a building up that the community rejected.

From the first day I heard Celia Hammond speak during a Leaders Luncheon at the Esplanade Hotel years ago I have been impressed with her and how genuine she is. She has again shown very strong leadership on a contentious issue and she and UNDA deserve to be congratulated for it.

The small community round table talk was organised by TGP who have been contracted by UNDA to independently assess the pros and cons of the new School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Members of the Fremantle Inner City Residents Association were present, as were the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, the president of the Fremantle Society, architect Murray Slavin and myself.

Roel Loopers

PAPARAZZI ON HORATIO

No one is more very Freo than artist Horatio Birdbath, so when I saw him sitting at a bus stop on South Terrace, when I had to stop behind a bus at the Fremantle Markets, I could not resist and take this paparazzi photo of  him.

Roel Loopers

NEW BAR FOR FREO’S WEST END

 

 

 

This lovely building at 10 High Street in the historic West End of Fremantle could become home to a new small bar if all goes well.

The people behind the fantastic Strange Company bar in Nairn Street are applying for a liquor license for the High Street premises, as the sign on the  bottom right shows, so stay tuned.

Roel Loopers

MIGHTY TUGBOATS IN FREMANTLE PORT

 

Those mighty little tugboats dwarfed by the big container ships always impress me in Fremantle Port, so I had to take a photo of this one this morning pulling strongly.

Roel Loopers

RETHINKING AUSTRALIA DAY

 

The Fremantle Heritage Festival starts this week with the unveiling of the Townhall conservation works at 11.30 am on Friday, so come along.

Notre Dame University students are jumping the gun though with two interesting presentations at the Maritime Museum on Thursday between 1.30 and 3 pm.

They will present a professional report titled Recasting Australia Day and and exhibition proposal Country and Conflict at Swan River 1829-1850.

EXCELLENT NOTRE DAME NURSING STUDENTS

Fremantle Notre Dame University did get a lot of stick, including from me, about their proposal for a five-storey new School of Nursing building in High Street, but they deserve to be congratulated on the high standard of education they give their nursing students.

While I was in Rockingham Hospital for an operation last week I was also cared for by UNDA students and they all were very good.

Especially one of them, Amy, was so incredibly competent, very confident and professional that she came across as a well-experieneced nurse.

She had great communication skills with the patients and the nursing staff and the most delightful personality.

We are lucky in Freo because Amy from Rockingham told me that once she graduates in July she has found employment at Fremantle Hospital. She will be a great asset to the nursing staff there!

Roel Loopers

 

MILSOM RESIGNS AS FREO BID CEO

It comes as a shock to me that Tim Milsom, the energetic CEO of Fremantle BID, has suddenly resigned after only three months in the job, giving personal issues as the reason for his resignation.

It is very disappointing that the well-liked Milsom has gone because the City of Fremantle has just prolonged the life of BID, that was deemed not to have performed satisfactory in its first four years.

I have no doubt the appointment of Milsom as the new BID CEO was one of the reasons Council agreed to extend the Business Improvement District model.

I hope you are well Tim!!!!

Roel Loopers

LOOPY HAVING WEE BREAK

Hey Freo’s View readers.

My apologies for not posting new articles the last three days, but I was in Rockingham Hospital for a prostate operation.

The public health system is pretty amazing and all went exceptionally well. I never though I would be excited about the sound and sight of wee. ; >)

All will be back to normal from Monday on. I need to have a quiet weekend to recover first.

Roel Loopers

ASIAN FREO FISHING BOAT HARBOUR

The Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour will get more diversity with Asian restaurant Han’s opening ist 13th franchise outlet there.

Han’s signed a ten-year lease for the 240sqm space that once occupied the Mussel Bar.

Let’s hope number 13 is a lucky number for them and for Fremantle.

Roel Loopers

SIRONA APPOINTS PROBUILD FOR KINGS SQUARE

SIRONA CAPITAL has appointed national building company ProBuild for the $ 270 million Fremantle Kings Square Project. Building will commence in August this year.

ProBuild has been signed up for several major construction jobs in Perth recently and is already busy with building the Ritz Carlton Hotel on Elizabeth Quay.

I believe it is great news for Fremantle and will truly change our city’s fortunes for the better.

Roel Loopers