On facebook one day I came by this amazing Commonwealth Films Services  promotional film about Sydney in the 1960′s, it shows Sydney in all its post-war glory from the perspective of the perfect family, portraying Sydney as the perfect, modern, western, white, city that it was. It reminded me of another film.

“Sydney 2030″ was a film that I directed for the City Of Sydney and FBi Radio, it was shot in 2007. The film features broadcasters from FBi Radio as well as Sydney musicians talking optimistically about the changes they’d like to see in their home town.

But what’s interesting to note, is that most of these people have now departed from Sydney to seek opportunity elsewhere.

Michaella Solar March: Mic is now living in Brooklyn New York city working for an indie record label, she’s just got engaged is probably not moving back to Australia soon.

Peach: James has moved to Newcastle to practice law, he’s married and now has kids. From what I gather, he’s Mr. Family man cum gun litigator in the Coal City.

Fiona Poole: Fi now lives on an organic farm with her kids and hubby on the NSW mid north coast, and presents breakfast on ABC local radio. She’s one of the best broadcasters I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.

Anna Lunoe: This week is the last week that you can catch Lunoe in Australia. After hustling around the country as part of the awesome DJ troupe Hoops, Lunoe is packing up the decks and the design business and fleeing to the USA where being a megababe DJ is a lot more lucrative.

Dappled Cities (back then Dappled Cities Fly) and Bluejuice: In 2006 these guys were fledgling rock stars, now they are fully fledged rock stars in their own right, ARIA nominated, Hottest 100 charting, internationally touring. But what’s interesting is the third character in the film, the location where the boys are talking about live music. The setting of course is the now derelict Hopetoun Hotel, a former cultural beacon of indie music.

And then there’s me, straight after I delivered this film I moved to Melbourne for 3 years to continue chasing a fledging media/comedy career. Having moved back to Sydney in 2010 for Hungry Beast, I looked around and took note that Sydney is really changing although slowly.

Now in 2012 its villages are becoming more connected through bike lane infrastructure, its food and bar culture is breeding fast and its arts and comedy scene is growing strong. I’m really proud to be back in this town, and excited to participate in the changes that are making it a more progressive, cultural hub. The exciting thing is that finally Sydney is slowly turning into a place to attract good creative people back to it, rather than scare them away.

In the words of Sparkadia, there is still so much to do.