The Lighter Note

CHOGM a hit, by all reports

Its CHOGM week and The Note has been following the frenzy of activity around the big event.

Sunday was a big day, starting with the CHOGM-linked Lanco International Super Series Hockey tournament finals.

Indian group Lanco, which bought the Griffin coal assets and seems to have rubbed the state government up the wrong way, was not the only mining outfit pushing its name at the event.

Fortescue Metals Group sponsored the Kookaburra’s shirts and chairman Andrew Forrest used the finals day to unveil his company’s backing of a National Indigenous Hockey Program which will push the sport in Pilbara indigenous communities.

The Note has heard Mr Forrest has a carrot and stick approach to business; this must be the latter half.

Later that day, Premier Colin Barnett spoke in front of industry luminaries at the new State Reception Centre atop Fraser’s restaurant in Kings Park as part of the CHOGM events.

Mr Barnett noted the benefit of having control of the approvals process and getting the centre completed within eight months. While some mining types might be miffed at the express treatment, it is worth noting the centre’s construction was more of a brownfields expansion than a new project.

Mr Barnett also hinted the name would change from its current “Soviet” style. The Note thought that was odd given the dumping of Heath Ledger’s name from the State Theatre Centre.  

Finally, The Note is a big fan of the statue of Eliza in Matilda Bay and how various jolly types dress her appropriately for events of the time. Thinking a photo each day would be like a time lapse record of Perth’s goings on we were happy to discover a website which tried to do that: http://elizasensembles.blogspot.com/

Sadly, there’s no mention of Eliza wearing a crown and lilac outfit in honour of Her Majesty’s visit.