Kevin Hillier says Encore’s pricing should suit its host city
I’m sure I’m not the only one who found the recent story in this paper regarding the Encore Events Centre pricing quite disturbing. Here are the facts: Council paid for an independent report to compare the cost of hiring and running an event at Encore with similar venues across Melbourne. This was on the back of a residents’ petition in December calling for Encore’s prices to be reduced.
One councillor told Star Weekly it was important to ask the right questions. Hello? Bit late for that. The questions have been asked and the report completed. Another councillor questioned why Encore was compared with venues in Hawthorn and Ivanhoe, where house prices are well above Wyndham’s. Again, hello? If I was paying for a report, I’d be telling those doing it exactly what I wanted.
The latter councillor also said the pricing was exorbitant given it was a publicly funded project. BANG. Penny drop moment. If this facility was built to host more events for locals, then the costs need to reflect that and it’s better for the venue to be used than sitting idle while local organisations stage their events elsewhere. It’s a place of business and should be run accordingly … but it’s also a community venue and that needs to be considered.
Plucking up courage
I’ve always admired the strength of women in general, but there are a few areas where their physical strength and pain threshold is out of this world. The obvious one is childbirth. Let’s be honest, if men had to have the babies, caesareans would become the norm.
Women also go to extremes in their regular beauty regime, the latest being something called threading, a hair removal procedure which makes waxing a thing of the past. It involves a beautician twisting a piece of cotton and rolling it over the skin to gently lift the entire hair from the follicle, leaving smooth skin. Perfect for eyebrows and other facial hair.
My wife says there’s nothing gentle about it at all and, while very effective it’s also excruciating. Can you imagine men doing this instead of the old Gillette and shaving cream? Not on your nelly. ■
If you have any news or events, let me know at kevin@howdypartnersmedia. com.au
