If you’ve ever strolled through The Pickle District in West Perth – chances are you’ve bumped into Andrew Kailis.
The Founder/Co-ordinator of The Pickle District town team is passionate about preserving this burgeoning arts precinct and creating a space where creative minds can showcase their talents and inspire others.
One of Vincent’s best kept secrets, The Pickle District is known for its light industrial charm and emerging arts scene.
Andrew lives in West Perth with his wife Belinda and young daughter Selina and said he enjoys connecting with people and creating fun arts events.
“In May this year we created and executed an Art Crawl event (during covid I might add) called the Pickle District #afterdark,’’ he said.
“The free roving art crawl across The Pickle District opened access to local art galleries, light installations and music performances – and featured an incredible line-up of installations, artwork and exhibitions.”
Andrew applauded the City of Vincent for their support of the Pickle District town team and said he looked forward to creating bigger and better arts events next year.
In between enjoying the many fabulous food and coffee haunts in Vincent and travelling with his family Andrew has found time to also join the board of Floreat Athena Soccer Club this year and hopes to help out wherever he can to support local sport.
MARTIN LAWRENCE
Martin Lawrence may be stepping aside as president of the Mt Hawthorn Football Team – but his heart will always lie with the Cardies.
“I still attend all the committee meetings and I’m still running all of the IT for the club,’’ he joked.
Involved with the club since 2006 when his oldest son started Auskick, Martin has been a familiar face on the local field at Menzies Park and a well-known volunteer in the Mt Hawthorn community.
“The smiles, the squeals and the excitement of kids running around on a footy field are hard to beat,’’ he said.
“I also love seeing families come together as a community. It takes a lot of volunteers to run a football club and those efforts build some strong relationships.”
Martin and his wife Suzanne (who is a university lecturer and who also volunteers for the City of Vincent) have five children between the ages of 16 – 26. Running the club has been a bit of a family affair with everyone helping out on special occasions, helping to run training sessions or carrying boxes and boxes of soft drinks, chips and lollies into the canteen.
“I’m inspired by the army of volunteers who run our club. Hundreds of local parents and volunteers chip in to get kids out playing sport on a weekend, including my son, who during his final year at University this year, decided to volunteer at the club and coach one of the Cardies teams,’’ he said.
TIEGAN FIRIOS
Tiegan Firios said her work in HR and the work she does to support Robertson Park have a lot of similarities
“I spend time with people, listen to what is important to them and what their goals and aspirations are, and I work to create alignment and opportunities to make it happen,’’ she said.
“I also enjoy acting as an intermediary and working as a team with my neighbours and the City of Vincent.”
The HR Manager for a large engineering and environmental services consultancy, focusing on future energy sources, Tiegan is a proud City of Vincent resident.
“I was lucky to buy my dream home here in the City of Vincent 6 years’ ago and it’s been wonderful. I have the best neighbours in the world, I’ve been able to display and grow my art collection (I particularly collect Aboriginal art from Western Australia), start my cactus collection and I love how there is so much to see and do in walking distance from my home,’’ she said.
“The 2018 State Tennis Centre proposal for Robertson Park is what spurred me into action and got me more involved in my local community. We certainly needed an upgraded State Tennis Centre, but Robertson Park was the wrong location.”
“Robertson Park has a unique history which should be preserved and enhanced, plus we need more green space in the City of Vincent for current and future residents and visitors to enjoy,’’ she said.
“I am so excited to see the proposed Development Plan for Robertson Park come to life in the next few years. It’s the result of great ideas and a lot of hard work from the community and the City of Vincent and I really appreciate everyone’s energy and commitment as we worked towards a great outcome.”
JODEY BROCKHURST
As one of our RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan) members, Jodey is a valued and much loved local.
She moved to WA in 2006 and lives within walking distance to the beautiful Hyde Park.
“I’m a Kamilaroi who grew up on Gubbi Gubbi country and completed my schooling via correspondence,’’ she said.
“I completed university in Meeanjin/Brisbane before moving to Whadjuk boodja. I graduated as a Mechatronics (robotics/automation) engineer and have remained passionate about progressing technology and innovation.”
Jodey said she first dabbled in volunteer work a few years back when she took leave to study and travel.
While in South America, she was struck by the parallels between the experiences and outcomes of first nations people in Argentina, Bolivia and Peru with Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples in Australia.
“What I subsequently learnt about our own history and policies challenged my view of contemporary narratives and motivated me to get involved in reconciliation activities,’’ she said.
“In volunteering I value the privilege to meet people in the broader community and learn from them – hear their perspectives, histories and visions.”
Jodey has also tutored migrants in English language through the Adult Migrant Education Program through North Metropolitan TAFE.
“Nature is the most inspirational experience for me. It’s both calming and a sensory overload. The louder the birds, frogs and insects the better,’’ she said.
“I love observing the multitude of colours available and specially love the scents of melaleucas in bloom and approaching rain.”
PAUL MCANELLY
Paul McAnelly isn’t sure if he found Loton Park Tennis Club or if Loton Park Tennis Club found him – but either way he is grateful for picking up his racquet all those years ago.
As former President of the Loton Park Tennis Club, Paul said he’s loved meeting and engaging with organisations and community groups, including The City of Vincent.
“I was honoured to be voted in as president for the 20/21 season and lead the most wonderful group of people I have ever met,’’ he said.
“It was easy to spend the spare time I had investing in a club and community that has given so much to me.
“I moved to Perth in 2018 and looked for a tennis club to join and picked a racquet back up after 15 years of not playing, and from the moment I walked through the gates I was greeted with smiles and open arms.”
Paul said through his years of service with the Department of Defence Force he always felt a need to serve the community.
Moving to Townsville this month, he said he would always look back fondly of his time in Perth and the Loton Park Tennis Club
“The fabulous people I have met over the past few years has inspired me to be a proud leader within local communities and clubs as I continue to move around every few years with my job,’’ he said.
“It’s not ‘goodbye’ but ‘see you later.”
JOSH MULIK
Fresh out of high school, Josh Mulik is from the Vincent Youth Network Council.
The Aranmore Catholic College graduate holds two jobs – while chairing Perth STEM, a charity that is dedicated to creating a better future where young people are empowered and inspired to create positive change.
Accepted into an honours engineering degree at the University of Western Australia next year, Josh says dedicating his time to the community would still be high on his priority list.
“The community is the reason for where I am today. It's the community, my friends, my family, my peers and teachers, co-workers and our future leaders who I want to give back to and ensure they have a positive, healthy and successful life,’’ he said.
“I have assisted in the implementation of programs such as our new Ryde Program, which helps disadvantaged youth in the City of Vincent get their driver's license for free or for a low cost and I’m pushing for new youth programs in Vincent that will teach them valuable life skills such as how to do your taxes, preparing to move out of home, finance, dealing with mental and physical health issues.”
Josh said the most rewarding part about volunteering and being active in the community is seeing the positive differences and changes that you can make.
“I also love being involved in organisations that have a visible outcome, it is always a joy when you see the bright happy smiles on our young patron's faces,’’ he said.
PHIL BROWN
Since retiring, Phil Brown of Mt Hawthorn has shown no signs of slowing down.
He went on to complete an Honors Degree in Sociology and Anthropology at UWA and got involved in Transition Town Vincent – now holding the position as Vice Chairperson.
“Soon after studying my degree in Sociology it became increasingly obvious to me that for the most part, worldwide central governments are not creators of change and it was at the level of community and local government where change was supported and driven,’’ he said.
“Transition Town Vincent are a non-political group supporting change for us all.
“TTV works to keep our community strong and sustainable by supporting local food production, protecting the environment and connecting people to achieve these goals.
“In the face of climate change and peak oil, there are huge economic and social benefits in working smarter on issues of food, energy, waste and recycling, housing, education, transport, flora and fauna.”
Phil was instrumental in the start –up for the Tools n Things Library.
Led by volunteers, the non-profit organisation’s main goal is to reduce consumption and waste with an increase in education and skills.
“Through sharing of resources and knowledge we can provide unlimited access to our community library of shared tools for DIY projects, gardening, cleaning, renovations, catering, sporting, camping and so much more,’’ he said.
“The success of our events and fundraising efforts is a result of many hundreds of hours of effort and belief and generosity from the citizens of Vincent, Governance of the City of Vincent , our many volunteers and Committee and the Floreat Athena Football club,’’ he said.
MARIE SLYTH
Having grown up in the neighbourhood, West Perth resident Marie Slyth is a passionate advocate for restoring character and charm in Vincent.
Marie has been a driving force behind the City of Vincent’s Character Areas and Heritage Areas policy – a community driven process which involves residents nominating their street as a character street.
“Character streets preserve Vincent’s charm and set guidelines to ensure future development is sensitive and respectful to the character of the neighbourhood,’’ Marie said.
Marie has lived at her gorgeous character home on Carr Street for 20 years which is around the corner from her beloved childhood home on Strathcona Street.
“I just love the look and feel of our local character homes, they are so warming and welcoming and provide a sense of belonging to those who have grown up here,’’ she said.
“It’s so important we protect this slice of history and hold onto these beautiful homes for our future generations.”
Marie said it was while working in Sydney that her passion for local government was sparked.
“In Sydney I became involved in the local ratepayer precinct groups and found it highly rewarding standing up for residents,’’ she said.
“When I returned to Perth in 1994 I took great interest in what was happening in my local area and I was actually the first ratepayer to speak at Vincent Council’s first Council meeting back in 1995.”
“I’m a firm believer that as ratepayers our voices can be heard and both developers and Councils value our input.
“26 years later and my efforts to save our precious few heritage/character streets goes on.
“I’m quite well known in the area too many people in the Cleaver Street Precinct stopping by my front gate to say hi, it’s a great sense of community here and that’s what I love most.”
MEAGAN MAYHILLS
A trip to New Zealand in 2010, sparked Meagan’s interest in permaculture and living sustainably.
“The experience really sparked a passion for me and I knew I wanted to start living in a way that aligned with my values,’’ she said.
“When I came back to Perth I joined my local Transition Town group in Vic Park and then found Transition Town Mt Hawthorn (now called Transition Town Vincent) in 2016 after moving to North Perth.
“I’ve also been the chairperson of Transition Town Vincent (TTV) for the past 3 years.
“I really love what the Transition movement is about – helping people to become more resilient in the face of our climate crisis, by connecting them with others in their community, and using the skills and resources we have in our local area.
“To me, it doesn’t matter if you’re passionate about the environment, children, education, sport or even Scrabble! What inspires me is people who put their time and energy into sharing whatever their passions are, and getting involved in their community to make positive change. This is why I love being a part of Transition Town Vincent.”
Meagan Mayhills has worked for The Smith Family for 9 years, running a financial education program called Saver Plus, but says being a Mum is by far the toughest and most rewarding job she’s ever had.
She said what inspired her most about volunteering was getting involved in the community and working towards positive change.
