Yagan Square’s ‘insulting’ Big Ben image, Seven West Media’s crack Rotto Swim team and RTRFM’s Harbour Sundays’ ridiculous arm band debacle

Big Ben’s insult An Inside Cover reader was scrolling through social media recently when they happened upon a post regarding the digital tower at Yagan Square. In particular, an image it displayed depicting the clock face of Elizabeth Tower (colloquially known as Big Ben) at Westminster Palace in London. “Do I read too much into things or is something not quite appropriate with ... projections of the Palace of Westminster, a poignant symbol of rank imperialism and colonialism, across a square commemorating an Aboriginal leader the British beheaded for resisting the forced settlement of Noongar land,” the social media post read. We can’t say we’ve ever noticed Big Ben on the digital tower but, now we are aware of it, it’s hard not to think the use of this image at Yagan Square is, if not controversial, at least a tad awkward. For those who came in late, Yagan Square is managed by DevelopmentWA, the newish State Government entity that swallowed LandCorp and the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority last year. A DevelopmentWA spokesman confirmed Big Ben’s presence is part of a series of clock face images displayed on the digital tower that includes other notable giant clocks, such as the one at Times Square in New York. Some people may still see a cultural insensitivity here — many more will not — but it’s worth noting the Yagan Square amphitheatre is hosting Nyumbi, a celebration of Noongar culture, every Friday night until June 26. And that’s a more tangible demonstration of the square’s connection to Yagan than a digital tower image could be an insult to his memory. Channel 7 team There’s no “I” in team but there is in “swim team”, and we’d like to wish the Seven West Media swim team the very best for the Rottnest Channel Swim on February 22. In case you were wondering, your trusty Inside Cover correspondent has taken on a strictly motivational, Laurie Lawrence-esque role for the team, mostly because his swimming ability is slightly less than that of a mafia victim sporting concrete shoes. Thankfully, the SWM team is much better equipped for the task and features Seven News managing editor Ray Kuka, a man often mistaken for Keiren Perkins when he’s wearing swimming goggles, SWM WA digital general manager Kari Barnard, who may in fact be part dolphin, and chief marketing officer Kate “the new Steph Rice” Molinari. Digital sales director Brent Stewart rounds out this crack team of swimmers and has committed to a “shave down” that would put Michael Klim, right, to shame. The SWM crew finished last year’s Rotto Swim in a rather auspicious seven hours and seven minutes but hope to go even faster this time. However, if they fail in that goal they’ll have a second chance when they swim the Channel 7 Port to Pub race on March 21. On that topic, you can still register for the Port to Pub via porttopub.com.au, and follow in our team’s footsteps by using your participation to raise money for Telethon. Designated kiddos We have it on good authority that RTRFM’s Harbour Sundays live music series at the WA Maritime Museum is a must-see event this month. We also hear security at the event have a tendency to let protocol get in the way of common sense. A reader told us he attended the event last weekend with his family, which included kids aged two and four. He said security staff fitted the little kids with wristbands to ensure these underage revellers weren’t served alcohol by bar staff. Seriously, have you ever seen a two-year-old nursing a negroni? If that wasn’t ridiculous enough, security chided our reader for daring to remove the wristband because it was uncomfortable on the two-year-old’s wrist. Liquor licensing laws exist for good reason, that we don’t doubt, but wouldn’t it be grand if there was a little more discretion exercised in enforcing them?