Fremantle Herald Official

20/11/2025

The Leeuwin Foundation has expressed support for an Australian Transport Safety Bureau report into last year’s Maersk Shekou collision.

According to the ATSB’s report, the Maersk Shekou’s primary pilot did not inform its helmsman with a “planned port 10 degree helm order” which would have turned the ship into the inner harbour.

“This mean that as the pilot attempted to use the main engine and four attached tugs to turn the ship, the helmsman attempted to maintain the ship on the previously instructed heading of 083 degrees, rigorously opposing the ship’s planned turn,” the report said.

The ship then collided with the Maritime Museum before crushing the Leeuwin.

ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell says the Maersk Shekou’s bridge team “ineffectively implemented bridge resource management practices” and “failed to adequately monitor” the ship’s berth into the harbour. Mr Mitchell also referred to the Maersk Shekou’s secondary pilot who was “distracted” from monitoring the entrance manoeuvre while taking a “non-essential mobile phone call”.

Leeuwin Foundation CEO Lawson Dixon expressed support for the ATSB’s conclusions about the ship, which is currently “in the final stages” of repair.

“We are grateful to the ATSB for their thorough investigation which has allowed for a clearer understanding of the events that led to the accident,” Mr Dixon said.

“Likewise, we’re encouraged that Fremantle Ports moved swiftly to put in place appropriate protocols to help prevent any recurrence.”

19/11/2025

A national able-bodied bench-press record is poised to be broken by wheelchair user Kristin Templeman at a Fremantle powerlifting competition next month.

Ms Templeman, who was born with spina bifida, hydrocephalus and scoliosis, started powerlifting just one year ago.

Next month, she’ll be attempting to break the record at the Deadliest Deadlift and Bench Press Competition in Freo, competing in the able-bodied category and bench-pressing 65 kilos

Ms Templeman admits she didn’t think she’d “come this far” in such a short amount of time, especially in the face of a lifetime of wheelchair use and health complications.

“When I watched the Paralympics last year, I’d only been doing this for a couple of months, and I was watching them lift and [thought to myself], ‘there’s no way I could do that’,” Ms Templeman said.

“I was told as a child I would never be able to compete against able bodied people, and I was always different… to think that I could actually get the national record [is pretty special].”

Ms Templeman says she’s “very nervous” to compete but is keen to define a different picture of people living with disabilities, the stereotypes of which can be “very frustrating”.

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/ucbuat42.

18/11/2025

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18/11/2025

A town hall meeting is required for residents to contribute to the future of the Leeming Recreation Centre, according to a local community advocate.

The Chook spoke to our regular consultant on all things Leeming, Con Abbott, who has once again demanded the community have an earlier say about the future of the rec centre, which is currently being investigated by the City of Melville and could be a “life changing” decision for the suburb.

“The City had a consultation process with what they termed ‘stakeholders’, except what I believe is the most important stakeholder, and that is the local community,” Mr Abbott said.

“The City asks for input from the community about all kinds of things… the one that’s sticking in my head at the moment is the ferry terminal at the Raffles, and there’s no doubt they’re regularly inviting comments and feedback, but there hasn’t even been an email [about the LRC].

“I think a ‘town hall’ is the best way, because people have got busy lives… I think, for the investment, one or two nights by management and the [City] to gauge what people want from the future of the LRC.”

City of Melville CEO Gail Bowman says there will be “comprehensive community engagement” next year, pending input from the Department of Education thanks to Leeming Senior High School’s use of the facility.

“The Leeming Recreation Centre forms part of the provision of facilities for the Leeming Senior High School and so at this stage, the City needs to understand the Department of Education’s future views which will determine the options the City has moving forward,” Ms Bowman said.

Mr Abbott appears not to buy that reasoning, saying he does not know why it’s “being put up as a barrier” for community consultation."

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/ywr28wt8.

17/11/2025

For almost five decades, Ruocco's Pizzeria E Ristorante has been a South Fremantle landmark where locals come not just to eat, but to feel at home. Since opening its doors in 1978, Ruocco’s has become part of the fabric of Fremantle life.

A Herald and Perth Voice promotional feature If you’d like your restaurant featured, email [email protected] Walk in on any night and you’ll find three generations gathered around tabl…

17/11/2025

The Fremantle Bicycle Users Group has reconvened amid growing community concern over the lack of safe, connected walking and cycling routes in and around Fremantle.

“The closure of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge is a critical opportunity to act now to enable walking and cycling routes to Fremantle to be safe, accessible and comfortable, providing people with an attractive alternative to driving during the closure,” said Freo BUG spokesperson Annie Matan.

“We also need to ensure the new Swan River Crossing is adequately connected to walking and cycling networks once complete.”

The Fremantle-based group is working with the Mosman Park BUG and the Perth to Port group, and has launched a petition calling on the government to address safety and accessibility issues caused by the bridge works.

Group to advocate for better and safer routes – all the way in to the port city. Photo by Jean Paul Horre
“We are asking the government to prioritise urgent funding to deliver much needed safety measures so people can walk and cycle across the Stirling bridge during the bridge closure,” Dr Matan said.

“Local residents and commuters are struggling to cross Tydeman Road safely. This is only going to become more dangerous in coming months.

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/bdefewyb.

15/11/2025

A sheep spotted being loaded onto a live export ship in Fremantle Port with a bloodied head has drawn ire from animal rights groups.

A small group of “concerned” animal rights activists located the sheep being transported onto the Al Kuwait export ship last Friday, November 7, with visible blood coating the animal’s eye area and alerted the RSPCA.

Animal Justice Party MLC Amanda Dorn says she reported the incident to the primary industries department and WA agriculture minister Jackie Jarvis, but that no further information had been released to her about the animal’s condition.

“This is the animal cruelty which we see time and time again in the live export industry,” Ms Dorn said.

“The sight of this injured animal enduring transportation in this condition is not only unacceptable, it is yet another heartbreaking reminder of the systemic cruelty embedded in live export, which treats animal as cargo rather than living, feeling, innocent, and gentle animals.

“It is further evidence that the industry has lost its social licence and must be held accountable.”

Ms Dorn called on the federal government to bring forward its ban on live export, which is set to come into effect in May 2028.

“We are very concerned that West Australian sheep and cattle are sent on long, arduous journeys at sea, where they are prone to stress, overcrowding, exposure to extreme temperatures, inadequate access to food and water and are also susceptible to injury.

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/4hc8mt57.

14/11/2025

TikTokers filming flames at Wireless Hill last weekend prevented helicopters from dropping water, potentially putting lives and properties at risk, says a firefighter.

Emergency services were called to a “suspicious” fire at the Ardross park at 3.30pm last Saturday, which burnt about 10 hectares of bushland.

Surrounding residents and park visitors were evacuated, but eyewitnesses say a number of park-goers refused to evacuate, and the Chook even found a several TikTok videos of attendees filming on a path with fire burning on either side.

“Aerial support waited to commence their drops for a short time to allow all members of the public to evacuate, but this did not impact aerial firefighting effectiveness,” a DFES spokesperson said.

But a firey at the scene told the Chook of their frustration with the TikTokers, saying they ignored clear directions to leave the park, and used electric bikes to bypass road closures.

The DFES spokesperson said it was a “timely reminder for people to follow the directions of emergency services for their own safety, and to not fly drones during a bushfire as it poses a safety risk as it forces aircraft to be grounded, hindering firefighting efforts”.

According to DFES, “about 60” volunteer and career firefights were deployed to the fire “at its peak”.

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/mr48n7yv.

13/11/2025

Fremantle tattooist Aaron Ashworth has made the jump to the art world with a thought-provoking exhibition on the perils of social media.

Featuring 11 large scale oil paintings, Over Exposure explores the psychological and emotional impact of social media through distorted portraits, fragmented colours and the bright chaos of modern life.

“I was lucky enough to have grown up before social media, giving me space to figure things out without the constant pressure to ‘perform’ and be ‘on’ all the time,” Ashworth says.

“Seeing how young people navigate identity, connections, and information through screens has made me realise how emotionally intense that experience can be.

“Over Exposure is my way of exploring that tension between visibility and vulnerability, hopefully sparking some honest conversations along the way.”

Ashworth is an experienced tattooist who has worked in the Freo area for nearly 15 years and is currently based at Golden Panther on Blinco Street. He started painting about two years ago.

“It was a way to experiment with different materials and further my artistic skill,” he says.

“I wanted to create art that exuded a feeling and created conversation; something that someone might hang in their house rather than wear on their skin.”

Read full story at www.fremantleherald.com.

12/11/2025

The Wardarnji Festival is back for its 27th year for an “incredible celebration” of Noongar dance and culture at Esplanade Park later this month.

The Festival, which will feature an “unforgettable evening” of Noongar dance, storytelling, and songs, as well as a plethora of food venues, has been celebrated by the City since 1998.

Festival director Karla Hart says this year’s instalment of Wardarnji will be a “really special” showcase of Indigenous culture to be celebrated “side by side” with the wider community.

“We are inviting people in and saying, come and be a part of this with us, come and see how beautiful it is, how powerful it is, how strong it is,” Ms Hart said.

“When you celebrate culture, you keep it alive, you see the importance of it to continue on… whether you’re Indigenous or not, you are a part of a collective that is finding joy in each other, and the joy from having one of the oldest living cultures here.

“It’s an incredible celebration of dance and culture, and the dancers that attend [range] from the little ones who are there for the first time to the senior dancers that are coming through… to see the look in these kids’ eyes, their strength and their determination and their joy in celebrating their culture.”

City of Fremantle Aboriginal engagement officer Brendan Moore says the continued pain of the Voice referendum’s result two years ago is no reason to subdue celebration of Aboriginal culture.

The Wardarnji Festival will be held on Saturday, November 29, from 4pm, at Esplanade Park in Freo.

For full story see https://tinyurl.com/4v34wbz9.

11/11/2025

Amnesty Fremantle will be holding its annual Write for Rights in support of journalists and activists worldwide at Clancy’s tomorrow.

Write for Rights, organised by the Amnesty Fremantle Action Group, allows attendees to write letters and sign petitions “calling for fairness and compassion” in “cases of injustice” around the world.

AFAG spokesperson Helen O’Brien says the event is a way for those with a “strong sense of fairness and justice” to “turn that compassion into action”.

“Every letter, every signature, every message of support adds up… when people take part, their words join thousands of others around the world, and together, they make it impossible for injustice to be ignored,” Ms O’Brien said.

“When governments see global pressure from thousands of ordinary people, they listen… that’s the beauty of Write for Rights, it proves that humanity and hope can still cut through bureaucracy and indifference.

“There’s something powerful about seeing a room full of people writing together for someone they’ve never met, it reminds you that empathy still matters.”

Write for Rights will be held at Clancy’s Fish Pub in Freo on Wednesday, November 12, at 6pm.

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/ycp8s5ue.

10/11/2025

A local resident has called for urgent action to clean up rubbish and control illegal camping at Woodman Point, saying the area’s “last bit of untouched coastal recreation beach” is being neglected.

“Why don’t you do a story on Woodman’s Point — the rubbish and illegal campers — it is getting worse,” long-time visitor Clayton Sullivan wrote to the Herald last week.

Mr Sullivan said he has reported the problem to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions but “nothing has been done.”

“Unfortunately due to residential and industrial development, Woodman’s Point at the rocks groin area is the last bit of untouched coastal recreation beach but it is not being managed by the government body,” he said.

“The rubbish, tyres, wooden pallets, drums of oil and other miscellaneous rubbish are in many places like the car parks and near the rocks at end of Woodman’s Point. It’s a pity this is happening and not cleaned up as it is the last pristine coast line left.”

Mr Sullivan said he has “regularly ridden [his] cycle there for last 40 years” and in recent years has noticed “more illegal campers and hence more rubbish; where do they do their business on the beach — it’s terrible.”

“I have noticed that ‘No camping’ signs have been put up and some deliberately ripped down,” he said.

“If this is not controlled it will be worse next summer as word of mouth spreads — I have seen it at South Beach carpark, it is big problem.”

In response, a DBCA spokesperson said the Parks and Wildlife Service “undertakes various actions at Woodman Point Regional Park under the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) to manage unauthorised activities such as illegal camping and littering".

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/4v34wbz9.