The inner west’s most influential living legends #20-#11
Welcome to second instalment of the Inner West Courier’s list of our area’s 30 most influential living legends
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Welcome to second 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 countdown of the numbers 20 to 11. Don’t miss our final instalment tomorrow at 5pm when we will reveal the top 10.
POSITIONS 20-11
#20 MICHAEL SPENCE: ACADEMIC
An Australian academic and Anglican priest, Michael Spence became the 25th vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Sydney in 2008. Dr Spence is also recognised internationally as a leader in the field of intellectual property theory. In January this year the head of Australia’s oldest university weighed into the row over claims of Chinese students’ spying in Australia; questioning whether Australia is as welcoming a place as it used to be.
#19 JOSEPH TAWADROS: MUSICIAN
Lute player Joseph Tawadros, who splits his time between London and Newtown, is a triple ARIA Award winner. It was a yearning to connect to his traditional roots, together with stories and photos of his grandfather playing the oud, that first prompted Tawadros to pick up the ancient instrument when he was about 10 years old. The traditions of Egyptian music are laced with metal, prog-rock and jazz on his album, Live At Abbey Road.
#18 JAMES POWDITCH: ARTIST
Archibald Prize finalist James Powditch’s artwork is heavily influenced by cinema, history, environmental issues and politics. His bold, graphic pop-influenced images have made him one of the most recognisable Sydney artists. In a speech to open Summer Hill Public School’s annual art show in 2016 Powditch asked those assembled to imagine what life would be like without art: “Without art, life would be kind of dull. We all need to learn how to read and write but that’s not going to cover the walls with beautiful paintings …”
#17 BRONWYN BANCROFT: ARTIST
Indigenous painter and author Bronwyn Bancroft was a founding member of the Leichhardt-based Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative, one of Australia’s oldest Indigenous-run organisations. Bancroft’s 30-year art career includes international exhibitions and public art commissions. She illustrated her first children’s book, The Fat and Juicy Place, in 1992, and has since authored and illustrated 40 books. In 2010 Bancroft received the Dromkeen Medal for her contribution to Australian Literature.
#16 NEIL ARMFIELD: THEATRE
The accolades keep coming for Birchgrove director Neil Armfield, who was awarded Best Direction of an Opera in this year’s Helpmann Awards on July 15. Armfield, who is artistic director of Company B at Belvoir Street Theatre, was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the arts in 2007. His theatrical highlights include The Diary of A Madman starring Geoffrey Rush, Casey Bennetto’s musical Keating! and the new production of Bliss. His film work includes Candy, which he co-wrote and directed, starring Heath Ledger, Abbie Cornish and Geoffrey Rush.
#15 BRYAN BROWN: ACTOR
AUSTRALIAN film legend Bryan Brown’s 2018 film Sweet Country had the audience at the at the prestigious Venice Film Festival, where it had its premier screening, on their feet. Brown’s most notable film credits include Cocktail, with Tom Cruise, (1988), Two Hands, with Heath Ledger (1999) and Breaker Morant, with Edward Woodward, Jack Thompson and John Waters, (1980).
#14 TANYA PLIBERSEK: POLITICIAN
Tanya Plibersek, who is the deputy leader of the federal Opposition as well as Sydney Labor MP and federal Opposition spokesperson for both the environment and women, won the election for the inner-city seat of Sydney in 1998 and her work has focused on creating a more just society. This includes campaigns for paid parental leave, fairer rights at work and rights for same-sex couples. She has also been a strong campaigner for more female voices in politics.
#13 IAN MOSS: MUSICIAN
Ian Moss is back on the road to promote his self-titled first studio album in eight years. In 1989 Moss released his debut solo album, Matchbook, which topped the ARIA charts, won three ARIA Awards and yielded the hit single “Telephone Booth”. The Annandale-based Moss answered an advertisement for a guitarist in a shop window in 1973. The band he signed up for eventually became the legendary Cold Chisel, with Jimmy Barnes on vocals and Steve Prestwich on drums. Cold Chisel’s decade of glory ended in 1983 but Moss kept the dream alive with a successful solo career.
#12 COLIN FRIELS: ACTOR
Actor Colin Friels, who stars as stars station owner Tony Ballantyne in the ABC TV series Mystery Road, is getting ready to perform his first solo theatre piece, the one-man play Scaramouche Jones at the Arts Centre Melbourne from August 15 to 25. Friels trained at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts) with wife Judy Davis, Mel Gibson and Dennis Olsen. As an actor he is best known for Water Rats (1996), Darkman (1990) and Dark City (1998).
#11 REG MOMBASSA (CHRIS O’DOHERTY): ARTIST
Reg Mombassa’s art gave surf brand Mambo its signature look but the artist’s designs have been given a new sartorial canvas, with denim brand Rollas’s new menswear sporting the vibrant prints of his early works. Mombassa (Chris Doherty) formed rock band Mental as Anything in 1976 with four other National Art School students. Mental as Anything released 11 albums and 27 singles, with 20 entering the top 40. Mombassa left the Mental’s in April 2000 after 25 years, so that he could concentrate on his art.