ECU City Open Day

Finally, the ECU Open Day came around, giving me a chance to explore and photograph the beautiful, mind-blowing and ridiculously well-designed ECU City building. Some of the photos came out incredible, particularly the colours.

I took my Maman and stepdad, who were both keen to come along. They led the way while I was being torn between obsessing over photographing the escalators and the massive four-storey screen.

ECU City's big four-storey screen

Colours of the range in the roof and under the escalators

They disappeared into the first room they saw and told me to hurry up because a tour was about to begin. It turned out to be a tour of WAAPA’s music school.

The woman leading it, called Genevieve, had an enthusiasm and passion that was second to none, unmatched even by a fresh Energizer Bunny. I think she’s now about the fifth person I’ve met who genuinely knows what their passion is and actually gets paid to do it.

Part of ECU City's new music area

When we came across some of her students performing a mini concert for visitors, Genevieve’s smile broadened and her eyes crinkled like a proud parent. You could see what those students meant to her. They were a product of her dedication, taking budding talent and helping young people believe in themselves enough to chase something they genuinely wanted to do.

Later, I spotted a lovely young fun-sized lady, no more than five foot tall, standing behind me. Her name was Chrissi and she had the biggest smile. It lit her up like a beacon.

Possibly because, like me, she was queuing for free fairy floss.

We were both clearly thinking the same thing: never grow up. Coincidentally, that was exactly what I’d told a 30-year-old earlier while wandering through the beautiful outdoor garden.

One of the outside areas surrounding by views of the city and green space

Chrissi and I started chatting, initially over fairy floss before the conversation was sparked by the DSLR hanging around my neck. Apparently a DSLR still gives off some symbol of professionalism, regardless of qualifications, mastery or, in my case, questionable levels of actual skill.

Her two daughters were passionate about photography and the creative arts and were studying at the campus. One of them, Hannah, came over while we were talking. She seemed a little reserved at first but I could imagine how quickly that could disappear once that creative streak kicked in. That moment when you become absorbed in something you love and any apprehension disappears because nothing else really matters.

I thought it was great that Hannah and her sister were studying creative arts, particularly photography. I’m forever trying to encourage people to take as many photos as they can.

The world is changing constantly and there is so much around us that never gets photographed because we walk past it every day without giving it a second thought. Buildings disappear. Businesses close. Streets change. Interiors are gutted. Things that seem completely ordinary today can suddenly become part of history.

I told Hannah and Chrissi that and they both seemed to agree.

They agreed even more strongly when I said the world is munted and creative arts can be such a great coping mechanism when everything else becomes too much.

For me, that’s photography.

Impressive colour coordinated and modern designs

We finally reached the fairy floss man, although the beautiful pink whispers being spun around the machine were becoming increasingly thin.

Too thin.

Thankfully, the three of us managed to obtain our sticks of childhood before supplies disappeared completely.

“Diabetes on a stick,” my stepdad would later say, when he and Maman eventually emerged from a concert on one of the lower floors.

I wished Chrissi and Hannah a good day. It had been so nice talking to them.

I walked out onto the bridge connecting the two main ECU buildings, carrying my intact pink wispy blob of sugar hairs. A security guard was standing there. A really nice guy, with another one of those charming smiles.

“Never grow up,” I told him, holding up the fairy floss. “Go get one. It’s free!”

He looked slightly hesitant before laughing and saying no.

I knew he wanted some.

“Have some of mine!”

Another no.

“I’ll stand in front of the cameras,” I offered.

He laughed again and thanked me, seemingly genuinely touched that some random person, wandering around with fairy floss, had offered to share it with him.

Outside, the beautiful blue sky was beginning to return to the grey tones we’ve become accustomed to lately, as the next chapter of Perth’s atmospheric drama started rolling in.

It was almost three o’clock. ECU Open Day was coming to an end.

Time to go.