Meet the inner west’s top 10 living legends
The final instalment of the Inner West Courier’s countdown of the area’s 30 most influential living legends is here. Who will take the top spot?
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Welcome to final instalment of the Inner West Courier’s list of our area’s 30 most influential living legends in 2018. Our region is full of Sydney’s movers and shakers: from business leaders and influential sports stars and actors to politicians and pioneering academics. Through the week we have been counting down the top 30. Today we reveal our top 10.
POSITIONS 10-1
#10 - TIM FREEDMAN: MUSIC
Singer Tim Freedman rounded up his award-winning band The Whitlams to tour nationally in their classic four-piece configuration this year to bring their 25th year to a rowdy finale. The band, that formed in Newtown, is best known for their rock ballad, “Blow Up the Pokies” that spoke to both the crippling addiction that is gambling and the loss a stage for live music in favour of poker machines. The band is named after former prime minister Gough Whitlam, who saw them perform at Marrickville’s Factory Theatre. When The Whitlams won Song Of The Year at the 1998 ARIA Awards, the band lowered themselves to their knees in front of Gough who presented them with the gong.
#9 - WENDY SHARPE: ART
An Olympic pool-size mural at the Cook and Philip Park Aquatic Centre is just one of the public commissions that has six-time Archibald finalist Wendy Sharpe’s distinctive stamp on it. Sharpe, one of Australia’s most awarded artists, has had the chance to indulge her passion for the performing arts by working with the Australian Ballet and the Australian Opera, burlesque performers, drag shows and even an artist residency with Circus Oz.
#8- KEITH BARNES: RUGBY LEAGUE
The Keith Barnes Stand at Leichhardt Oval stands as a fitting tribute to the former Australian international rugby star known as “Golden Boots” for to his exceptional goal-kicking ability. Keith Barnes, 83, landed 954 of them in premiership and representative football, including 742 for Balmain. Barnes made number two in the original list of Australia’s greatest players, selected to celebrate the 100-year history of the game in Australia in 2008. In 1959, he was named Kangaroo captain. He played 14 Tests in which he booted 54 goals.
#7 - ANTHONY ALBANESE: POLITICS
One of federal Labor’s biggest personalities, Anthony Albanese has reigned over the seat of Grayndler since 1996. During the Rudd-Gillard Government he served as deputy prime minister and many have touted him as a future Labor leader. The bloke they call ‘Albo’ talks about three great faiths: the Catholic curch; the South Sydney Football Club and Labor. And inner west craft brewers Willie the Boatman has even named a beer after him! He is currently the Opposition spokesperson for Tourism as well as Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development.
#6 - ANGUS YOUNG: MUSIC
Angus Young, co-founder, lead guitarist, songwriter and only remaining original member of AC/DC, put Ashfield Boys High School on the world map. The former Ashfield Boys student based his famous school kid stage outfit on the distinctive shorts, tie and cap he had to wear of the school. He started to wear his school uniform onstage as a gimmick but it became his trademark. The family home he shared with brother and fellow AC/DC co-founder, Malcolm, in Burleigh St, Burwood is on the National Trust Register. In 41 years of their career, AC/DC have sold more than 200 million albums.
#5 - TIM CAHILL: FOOTBALL
Tim Cahill has retired from Socceroos as Australia’s all-time leading goalscorer and the first player in the country’s history to take part in four FIFA World Cups. Cahill has delivered on the world stage with astounding success but it all started to kick off for him at his former childhood club, The Marrickville Red Devils. Cahill, who attended both Annandale North Public School and Tempe High School, has played with a host of professional clubs including Millwall and Everton.
#4- BILL CREWS: CHARITY
When Reverend Bill Crews was ordained as minister of the Ashfield Uniting Church Parish Mission in 1986 he was struck by a desperate need of the homeless and at-risk people in the area. He opened the doors to his church to offer shelter and what food was available and in 1989 the Exodus Foundation was founded. In the same year the Loaves and Fishes free restaurant opened, which was brought about through Rev Crew’s close friendship with John Singleton and a lucky bet. The Foundation also operates a literacy program for needy children and a night food van.
#3 - JEFF FENECH: BOXING
Known as the “Marrickville Mauler”, Jeff Fenech won world titles in three weight divisions. Fenech was a larrikin with his eyes on a rugby league career before renowned boxing trainer Johnny Lewis took him under his wing at the Newtown Police Citizens Youth Club. After 24 successive wins Fenech retired at the start of 1990 and briefly played semi-professional rugby before heading back to the ring. During his career, the Five Dock resident had 32 fights for a total of 28 wins (21 by knockout), one draw and three losses. In 1993 he was named as one of the world’s top 30 boxing champions of all time by the World Boxing Council.
#2 - JUDY DAVIS: ACTING
Judy Davis is regarded as one of the finest actresses of her generation with Woody Allen describing her as “one of the most exciting actresses in the world”. She has appeared on the small screen this year in the ABC drama Mystery Road, a spin-off from writer/director Ivan Sen’s feature films - 2013’s Mystery Road and 2016’s Goldstone. Davis first hit the spotlight as Sybylla Melvyn in the film adaptation of Miles Franklin’s novel, My Brilliant Career (1979). She was nominated for an Academy Award for both A Passage to India (1984) and Husbands and Wives (1992). Her big portfolio of film and TV credits include The Dressmaker (2015) and Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001).
#1 - DAWN FRASER: SWIMMING
Balmain-born Dawn Fraser, an Australian freestyle champion swimmer and former politician, is one of only three swimmers to have won the same Olympic individual event three times – in her case the women’s 100m freestyle. She was the first woman swimmer to win gold medals in three consecutive Olympics (1956, 1960, 1964) and from 1956 to 1964 she broke the women’s world record for the 100m freestyle race nine successive times — her mark of 58.9 seconds, established in 1964, was unbroken until 1972. In 1999, Fraser was awarded “World Athlete of the Century” at the World Sport Awards in Vienna. She also was voted the person who best symbolises Australia and is one of Australia’s National Living Treasures.
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