Canberra CityNews January 8-14, 2009

Kid safety: the heat is on briefly

Kidsafe is campaigning to educate parents and carers about the dangers of hot cars.

Kidsafe aCT’s eric Chalmers urged Canberrans not to leave children unsupervised in cars over summer, even for just a few minutes, and to contact emergency services if they see a child alone in a car.

“There’s a huge danger in leaving children in hot cars,” he says. “a lot of people simply don’t realise how quickly the inside of a car heats up once it’s out in the sun.”

The temperature inside a parked car can be up to 40C hotter than the outside temperature.

This temperature can increase from 30C to 60C degrees in a matter of a few minutes.

“a lot of people don’t realise that the temperature goes up that much, or that quickly. Leaving the window down is not a solution, as it doesn’t release a lot of heat out of the car,” Mr Chalmers says.

Parents who intend to run into a shop and quickly pay for a purchase may be delayed in the shop, he says – and there have been instances where a child has locked the parent out of the car in this short period of time.

“The answer is very simple: Take them out of the car,” he says.

“ i f your child does get locked in, report it to the NRM a , police or fire brigade, who will make sure they get there in a hurry.

“Likewise, if you do see a child who has been

left in a car, make sure you do something about it quickly.”

Children left in cars are exposed to the risk of heatstroke, which can be fatal or lead to irreparable neurological damage, heat exhaustion or heat cramps.

Children can become dehydrated much more quickly than adults, Mr Chalmers says, as their bodies are smaller and younger children in particular lack the ability to regulate their body temperature. They lose fluids more quickly because of their greater skin surface in relation to their size.

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Parents and carers also need to keep a close eye on their children when travelling in cars this summer.

“ i f you are driving in the car with a child, especially long distances for holidays, keep a close eye on them and stop the car, get out and have a break every couple of hours and make sure they have some water,” he says.

“Breaks are important not just for the driver, but for the child. i f you’re driving in the sun with the air conditioner on for a few hours, it’s very easy to get dehydrated.”

– Megan Haggan

Dickson store to be upgraded

WOOLWORTHS will spend $6 million refurbishing its Dickson store in the first half of this year to create what the company describes as “a new-look, contemporary supermarket”. Flooring, lighting, checkouts, signage and refrigeration will be replaced. The store, which will trade through the refurbishment, was first opened in 1966.

Surplus falls

THE ACT Treasury is forecasting a Budget surplus of $15.2 million this year, down from the previous estimate of $73.8 million. In a midyear review of the ACT’s financial outlook, the first since September, ACT Treasurer Katy Gallagher said that since the last update, revenue estimates for the forward years have weakened with deficits “now projected across the forward years, through to 2011-2012, in the order of $100 million”.

Happy police

POLICE have praised the behaviour of patrons to this year’s Summernats festival at Exhibition Park. Seven arrests were made in the vicinity of the annual car festival. Of these, three were for intoxication.

Coe’s the mouse that roared

God save the Queen, because nothing will save monarchist Alistair Coe… or will it? JORIAN GARDNER comes face-to-face with the young Liberal charged with coming face-to-face with the Chief Minister and finds some surprises.

“W e’V e seen mistake after mistake from this Chief Minister and, while he has the experience, that doesn’t mean he’s impeccable with the way he does business. He’s a formidable opponent, but not unbeatable.”

Meet the mouse that roared; rookie Liberal ML a a listair Coe, the 24-year-old wunderkind with the shadow ministerial responsibilities that will pit him against Jon stanhope – a long time, clever and cunning politician.

“Certainly it’s a challenge (going up against stanhope) and something i am really looking forward to,” says Coe in a fresh-faced-to-face sit down with “CityNews”.

“ it’s (Ta M s) a big portfolio for me to get my head across, but it’s about basics – things that actually effect people’s quality of life and they are the things i ran on in the campaign – and will continue to run on.”

f ighting words from Mr Coe, who is already shaping up as a surprise package from the last election.

Coe made his maiden speech to the aCT Legislative a ssembly just before Christmas, and it wasn’t to be his finest hour. He seemed at odds with Liberal colleague Jeremy Hanson as he set the tone for his four years in the a ssembly by attacking the Government for its social policy agenda, raising issues and eyebrows in the process. He singled out criticism of the stanhope Government’s pursuit of equal rights for gays and lesbians by introducing the Civil Unions Bill.

a t a post-speech press conference, “CityNews” pursued Mr Coe as to why he decided to focus on civil unions in his speech. What followed was an embarrassing display by the young ML a , who refused to answer questions on the subject – after this publication asked him 15 separate times to clarify his position. He was subsequently slammed by most media outlets and anti-discrimination

groups that evening and the next day for his stance.

Nobody, and possibly even him, really expected Coe to fill Bill stefaniak’s big boots in Ginninderra, having jumped into the race just five weeks or so before the election following stefaniak’s controversial resignation. But not only did he win a seat, but comprehensively outpolled fellow two-term ML a Vicki dunne to secure the top Liberal spot in his electorate.

Now Coe finds himself the shadow minister for urban services; transport services, housing, heritage, and youth.

Before the a ssembly, he was an adviser with the R sL, researching their media, government policy and history. He is also a former national vice president of the Young Liberals.

There was a surprise at the swearing-in ceremony for ML a s recently when Coe stepped up to the microphone and was the only member to pledge allegiance to the Queen – and only the Queen. He could have chosen to also pledge allegiance to the Territory and its people, but the confirmed monarchist didn’t feel that was the way for him to go.

“ i am a constitutional monarchist,” says Coe. “ i have a lot of respect for the traditions and heritage of our country and believe that by doing the traditional oath to the Queen, then that is doing an oath to the constitution, and the people of the aCT as well.

“ it was a personal decision – that’s what it came down to. i am a traditionalist when it comes to the constitution.”

He is also not backward in coming forward with how he feels about the new speaker, the Green ML a shane Rattenbury.

“ i think Vicki ( dunne, the Liberal nominee for speaker) would have done a much better job with her experience and as a scholar of standing Orders,” a direct Coe says.

Next Race Meetings

Friday January 23rd

Friday February 6th (Pink Ribbon Cup) Thoroughbred Park Randwick Road, Lyneham

“ i think putting someone in there who has only had half-an-hour’s experience is a risk to the day-to-day operations of the a ssembly but, that said, he’ll have the clerk and other experienced people in the a ssembly to help him – mind you, as i say, Vicki would have done a better job.”

Family Fun Day

Gates open at 12.30pm, free admission, free parking, free children’s entertainment 1.00pm-4.00pm (life games & jumping castle).

First race 1.05pm, last race 5.25pm.

a nd outside the a ssembly?

“ i enjoy my sport,” says Coe. “ it’s a passion of mine – watching and playing. i do a fair bit of running, but i have let my soccer and cricket lapse a bit over the last few years, something i hope i will be able to get back into the swing of.”

Friday January 9th

Whittling away our freedoms

“

eV eRY time the a ssembly sits, we whittle away more of our freedoms.” This reminder hung on the wall of a senior advisor during the Carnell years of the aCT Legislative a ssembly. it is a reminder that is pertinent to all members of all parliaments across australia.

Most people in the community need very few rules as they know how to live by common sense and decency. However, when MPs sit down to devise legislation it is usually to find ways to deal with a small minority in the community who do not understand their responsibilities to others.

Over the last two decades we have seen stronger and stronger restrictions on the small things that affect our lives. a few examples include: requirements to wear seat belts, bicycle helmets, neutering and containing dogs and cats in limited areas, excluding us from parts of national parks, reducing the speed limits, largely removing guns from the population, heavily restricting where we are able to smoke, targeted taxation measures, heritage limitations, access to fireworks and a raft of more and more restrictive building and development rules and regulations.

However, these examples, pale into insignificance for impact on liberty compared to the proliferation of Closed Circuit Television (CCT) in public areas and anti-terrorist legis -

By Michael Moore

lation that has passed through all parliaments since the fanatical attacks in a merica on s eptember 11, 2001.

i nvariably, there are reasons for such restrictions: improving community health, protecting ordinary citizens, preventing marauding packs of dogs, conserving the environment, ensuring a carefully planned city and balancing one part of the community’s rights against another. However, as drops of water eventually impact on stone, the results of more and more legislation are greater and greater restrictions and more and more loss of freedom.

i n some ways, it is the nature of parliaments to restrict our freedoms. for example, the new members of the aCT Legislative a ssembly have been elected to make a difference. The most obvious way to make that difference and to be seen to do so is to introduce new legislation – which invariably increases penalties or restricts freedoms.

it is rare to see legislation that protects freedoms – but they do exist. it is a great credit to Chief Minister Jon stanhope that he has attempted to achieve an overall protection

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of individual freedoms through his Human Rights legislation. it is still the closest thing in australia to a Bill of Rights.

a nd it is time for a national Bill of Rights. My own view has changed on this. Previously my concerns have been about the transfer of power and responsibility from the elected parliaments to the appointed courts – particularly because lower socio-economic groups have poor access to the best lawyers. The most notable failure of a Bill of Rights has also had an impact on my thinking – in the Us the protection by the supreme Court of the “right to bear arms” has clearly delivered extraordinarily poor outcomes for community safety. a nother glaring example is that Guantanamo Bay has been able to continue despite the Us Bill of Rights.

No system is perfect and i have now come to the conclusion that a Bill of Rights for australia will provide more advantage than disadvantage. The proliferation of CCT in public areas needs to be tested against the human right to freedom. Legislation that allowed dr Haneef (and who knows who will be next?) to be held for questioning without legal representation and without charge for longer and longer periods should be tested against fundamental human rights.

What are now desperately needed in our parliaments are some genuine liberals. Professor

of Political science at Princeton (formerly of the a NU) Phillip Pettit provides a guideline in his 1997 book on Republicanism. He provided this test for freedom: “liberty is not about noninterference… [but about] construing freedom or liberty as the absence of domination by another.” domination includes other people, businesses and governments.

While waiting for a Bill of Rights, truly “liberal” MPs can do two things. f irstly, they should look at every piece of legislation within a framework that questions the impact of the legislation on freedom. The question should be: does this restriction on freedom really provide such a cost benefit that the law should be introduced or passed? s econdly, there has never been a better opportunity to review and expurgate existing legislation that restricts freedoms.

even though we do allow some restrictions on our liberty so we can live in a healthier community, our freedom is a precious commodity. it was easy last century to point at authoritarian societies and the limitations they inflicted on the freedoms of their citizens. i n our society the danger is more like the boiling frog... the freedoms are undermined little by little until it is too late.

Michael Moore is a former independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and minister for health.

Captain Ellie’s brush with fame

By Jorian Gardner

eLL ie Brush is a local kid who started her football (soccer) career with the under-5s for Weston Creek and never looked back. at 20, she captains Canberra United, the aCT’s team in the new national women’s football league.

a nd she’s having a pretty good debut season as the team’s leading goal scorer (equal with Caitlin Munoz) and leading United into the W-League semi-finals against the Newcastle Jets.

“When i was picked for the team i had hoped for as much as vice-captain, so was honoured when i was named captain!” says an enthusiastic ellie. “ i think i was picked because of my maturity and game play and obviously selectors saw leadership skills within me.”

ellie says that the team has grown a huge fan-base in Canberra with many supporters, friends and family telling her how much they have been enjoying the matches and others, wider afield, tuning in to see the regular national television coverage – which can only be a good thing for women’s football.

“The team has been doing brilliantly, actually, and that’s reflected by the amount of support we have been getting from the community, which has been awesome,” she says.

Move in the right circles

“We can only go further. i mean, we have come such a long way from the start of the season where the team hardly knew each other.

“ i remember we all met in the change rooms for our first game in Newcastle, which was a bit strange! But we have improved out of sight throughout the season and we are quietly confident we can make it to the big one.

“We missed a lot of chances when we first played Newcastle and should have done better. We’ll just have to see.”

ellie’s enthusiastic about bringing locals to the Canberra Untied games.

“ i f you haven’t seen a game on TV or, for that matter live, you really are missing out!” she says.

she divides her time between Canberra and a lbury where she is studying physiotherapy in her second year. Between study and football, ellie says that there is little time for much else.

“When i do get time off, i love to go down the coast – my mum’s family is from Batemans Bay and i just hang out with friends and relax.”

For more information about Canberra United and the W-League, visit www.canberraunited.com.au

CoolSummerSale.

Going to work sick

aUsTR a L ia Ns are choosing work deadlines over their health, with 98 per cent of respondents to a new survey admitting working when sick.

The survey, conducted by national employment site CareerOne.com.au, also found that most of the respondents who admitted to coming into work sick did so in order to attend an important meeting or meet a critical deadline.

Over half of respondents (57 per cent) also admitted to checking their work email, taking work calls and working while at home on sick leave.

Kate southam, of CareerOne, said: “The survey shows many people are not only coming to work sick just to attend important meetings and meet deadlines and that it is all too common to work at home while off sick.

“While some in the employment sector would argue that a skills shortage remains and that unemployment figures are still well below where they were in the early 1990s, speculation about rising unemployment figures and redundancies hitting the headlines have people fearful.

“ i f workers perceive their employment prospects are uncertain then, sadly, they are more likely to take on ever-increasing workloads and come into work sick.”

Inventor turns away from life in crime

H is work is recognised by a street name in dunlop, he is regarded internationally as leading fingerprint expert and has invented a device that’s used in 98 per cent of crime scene investigations, but Milutin stoilovic’s life in crime has come to an end.

The celebrated forensic scientist and inventor of the revolutionary Polilight forensic lamp has retired from the australian f ederal Police after 18 years.

The Yugoslavian-born scientist arrived in australia in June, 1980, at the age of 39, with his wife and daughter.

He graduated from Belgrade University in a Bachelor in Physics in 1966 and a Master in science in 1976, before enrolling in a Ph d. His thesis was a study of solid-state physics concentrating on the luminescence phenomena. a rriving in sydney, he was quickly interviewed by the a NU and the af P to work on scientific research to develop a mobile forensic light source, which could be carried to crime scenes. Towards the end of the ‘70s, the af P was looking for a portable alternative to costly laser technology.

Milutin started developing what was

CAROLE BENITO meets a world-renowned Canberra scientist with a long career in crime…

to become the Polilight in the role of a research scientist for a NUTech, the commercial branch of the a NU, under the supervision of Ron Warrender. The revolutionary Polilight is a high intensity light source, which enables detectives to search crime scenes for undetected evidence, such as fingerprints, blood and semen. it is now used in 98 per cent of crime scenes investigations.

a NUTech Pty Ltd fully commercialised the light in 1987, when it sold it to Rofin australia.

The Polilight was declared 1989 invention of the year, and has been selected among the best australian inventions of the last century. a street in dunlop, Polilight street, has been named after his invention as a sign of recognition for his contribution to australian science.

The use of the light is now being broadened to other areas, such as therapeutic and cosmetic light-based skin treatments, liquid light guide and recycling using light to identify

contaminated bottles.

a few years later, Milutin joined the af P as a senior forensic scientist where he also wrote 12 books for af P internal training and about 30 scientific publications. He gave conferences and lectures worldwide to share his knowledge and experience.

He lectured and trained most of the police forces and investigative agencies’ forensic personnel in australia, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Japan, Korea and the Us i n his home, walls and glass cases display the numerous awards he gained throughout his career.

Milutin says he is settling in well to his new life as a retiree and trying to give his life a new direction.

He says he has never regretted making Canberra his home.

“When i first came to Canberra, i didn’t know such a town existed, it was a mix of my native village in the countryside and a town with everything you need,” says Milutin.

Less hunch, better lunch

HOUR-LONG lunches are becoming a thing of the past in the aCT, with Canberrans now more likely to have a couple of short breaks over the working day.

so say the results of an independent survey, commissioned by Hudson Coffee, which show that 89 per cent of people who live in the aCT eat at their desks at least once a week, compared

to just over 60 per cent of australians in general.

“Taking an hour lunch break is not always feasible; indeed, the survey results show that more than 60 per cent of australians eat lunch at their desks at least once a week,” says general practitioner dr Cindy Pan.

“Taking a number of short-but-frequent breaks may be a more convenient

Look out, there’s termites about

i T’s termite time in Canberra – now is the peak time for the pests to take flight in the search for new colonies and new mates.

option than the ‘long lunch’ of old.”

Hard work seems to instil a need for caffeine into Canberrans, the survey showed, with more than three-quarters taking at least two (or more!) coffee breaks in the workday.

social interaction is the least-important part of breaking for coffee – instead, respondents valued breaks as a chance to step away from their computers.

Taking time away from the computer has health benefits, dr Pan says.

“sitting hunched over your work station for hours can leave you feeling physically stiff and mentally stagnant,” she says.

“Getting up at regular intervals to take a breather and give your brain a chance to reboot may help improve productivity and stimulate creativity.”

“swarms of colonising termites generally take place at dusk when the weather is hot, calm and very humid, which can often be before or after summer storm activity,” says a malgamated Pest Control Canberra manager Phil sargent.

“The swarms can be an impressive event, with some resembling a plume of smoke rising from the nest.

“ i f you do see a lot of flying insects under these climatic conditions, have a good look around the building and yard to see if you can find out where they are coming from, as it might mean you have a nest of termites nearby.”

He said property owners might also be alerted to the fact that a swarm has occurred if they found dead winged termites in windowsills and on floors. Of the millions of winged termites that swarm, only the occasional pair managed to mate and find a suitable nest site. However, if that site was allowed to mature, the queen termite could produce up to 2000 eggs a day.

“These winged termites are all members of the alate caste, with each one a potential king or queen of a new colony,” says Phil.

“a lates do not fly strongly, and unless assisted by winds, their dispersal is limited; so if you do find a large number of winged termites in and around your property over the next few weeks and you don’t have a termite management program in place, call your local qualified pest controller to be on the safe side.”

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Crisis? Don’t you worry about that

i N the run-up to our October elections not one mainstream local politician made any reference to the likely or possible impacts of the global economic crisis on the next aCT Government. Not one.

They all operated on the figures the local Treasury supplied in s eptember, yet a f reddy like me could see these were far removed from the developing reality.

Before the election this is part of what i wrote for “Online Opinion” in an article entitled “ don’t mention the economy – there’s an election on”:

“But something is missing from all the chatter, white noise and waving political gnomes standing on the side of major roads as you drive to work.

“Not one Canberra politician has actually mentioned the global economic crisis.

“ even at a superficial level you’d think some of them, if they were truthful and honest, might be considering adding a caveat to their promises. You know, something like: ‘Paid maternity leave in the aCT Public s ervice will be extended to 18 weeks and there will be paternity leave of two weeks. This of course is subject to the Territory’s financial situation being robust enough to enable us to afford such a cost despite the global economic crisis’.

“f unny, but i haven’t heard one politician mutter this truth contained in that last

JOHN PASSANT wonders why politicians can’t trust taxpayers with the truth.

sentence. (The a LP has, in fact, offered an 18-week paid maternity leave scheme for its employees. But no mention of whether there is the ability to fund it.)”

Recent aCT Treasury figures show the turnaround from the september figures is half a billion dollars. so, instead of rosy budget surpluses totalling $227 million over the next four years, there will be deficits of around $100 million each year. The same process will be going on across australia.

What does this mean for the Budget in the aCT and future spending? Chief Minister Jon stanhope says there might need to be some re-prioritising of election commitments. The cynic in me says: “Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.” stanhope also says that we Canberrans know there won’t be an array of new spending initiatives.

This was clear before the election. Why not be honest with taxpayers and say that things might get worse?

Our Chief Minister has vowed this year’s Budget won’t be as hard as 2006/07. But the Government’s revenue is collapsing because G s T (as everywhere else) is falling and property returns are collapsing because of

Grants for key services

BUsi N esses planning for Men’s Link, technology upgrades for the Canberra Blind society and disabled toilets for the Tuggeranong a rchery Club are among the beneficiaries of the latest Community support and i nfrastructure Grants. aCT Minister for disability and Community s ervices, Katy Gallagher says the grants program provides funding for projects undertaken by community organisations that provide key services to aCT residents and this round totalled $500,000 across 28 projects. They are:

Priority One

– community support: Society of St Vincent de Paul Pty Ltd; Men’s Link Inc; Home Help Service ACT Inc; Mental Health Community Coalition of the ACT; Belconnen Community Service Inc; Families ACT; SIDS and Kids ACT; Tennis ACT Limited; People with Disabilities ACT.

Priority Two – equipment: Prisoners’ Aid ACT; Canberra Blind Society; CREATE Foundation; Companion House Assisting Survivors of Torture and Trauma; NAPCAN; Burrunju Aboriginal Corporation;

Carers ACT; Kidsafe ACT Inc; ACT Palliative Care Society Inc; Computing Assistance Support & Education; Environmental Collective Housing Organisation Inc; Inner North Playschool Inc; Lifeline Canberra Inc; Canberra Rape Crisis Centre; U3A ACT Inc; Women’s Legal Centre.

Priority Three – capital works:

Spielwelt-German Australian Playschool; Tandem Respite Inc; Woden Seniors Inc; CARE Inc; Sharing Places Inc; Woodcraft Guild ACT Inc; Tuggeranong Archery Club; Diamantina Scout Group (Kaleen).

declining prices and fewer sales. (These are two major sources of income for Canberra since it has little major industry).

The Government will increase other taxes or search for new revenue options.

i suspect that with the Greens holding the balance of power the a LP Government will design some “green” taxes that will cut the living standards of ordinary Canberrans. Parking will become more expensive (perhaps with a congestion tax as well) at the same time as public transport infrastructure fails to match the increasing demand.

The Greens program will be under threat. i ndeed, the Chief Minister has already said he would discuss with the Greens whether the a LP’s own priorities were higher than theirs. i f this came about, what would it mean?

The Greens proposed renewable energy plant might be delayed, along with the free water-efficiency program planned for about a quarter of Canberra houses. energy efficiency retrofitting of homes might roll out over a longer period.

Presumably the plastic bag trial will go ahead since it will raise revenue. Bigger ticket

items such as increased public transport will not eventuate as quickly.

The agreed Greens’ goal of 10 per cent of dwellings in the aCT being public seems to be something that will now not be tried (assuming that we are some way from that figure at the moment).

There is a political problem for the Greens here, too. Where can they go if the a LP toughens it out and doesn’t adopt their program as quickly as the Greens wanted?

Certainly not to the Liberals because they, too, will say the economic climate doesn’t allow for these Green programs just yet.

The logic of capitalism has captured the Greens. Their slogan – neither left nor right but out front for Canberra – now looks pathetic. How can you be out front for Canberra if the capitalist mode of production is in crisis and that adversely affects the capacity to deliver your promises?

a ll of this budgetary concern was predictable. What a pity our politicians couldn’t take us into their confidence before the election. Trust and truth are hard enough to get from them in good economic times. i n bad economic times truth and trust become like Wall street without the bailout.

John Passant is a left-wing, Canberra writer who files tirelessly at http://enpassant.com. au/

Gerard treks to uncle’s grave

CONDER resident Gerard Gibbons at the grave of his great uncle who was killed in battle during World War  at Sanananda, in Papua New Guinea, and buried at Bomana War Cemetery. Gerard was the first family member to find and visit the grave. He said it was an honour to be able to pay his respects to Basil who joined the army when he was  and was only  when he died. It is assumed that Basil had changed his name to Vasil so he could sign up for the army under aged. Mr Gibbons, an NRMA patrolman for seven years, was on the Kokoda Track, trekking the demanding  kilometres through the Owen Stanley Range, as part of his employer’s leadership program. The track crosses some of the harshest and most-isolated landscape in the world and is where Australian forces fought in  .

Caesar thrives on sound of success

By Jorian Gardner

H

ai L Caesar! The Canberra Woden Lions Club’s latest hearing dog Caesar, a chihuahua cross italian greyhound, is making itself at home with the Reid family, of Waramanga.

Trained in the adelaide Hills, Caesar responds to household sounds, such as phones, smoke alarms, doorbells, kettles and baby crying, by alerting d ebbie and her husband a nthony, who are both deaf. They have an infant son, Liam.

Caesar’s trainer Julie Hancock, of Lyons Hearing dogs, says that hearing dogs have the same access rights to all public places as guide dogs. They are readily identified by the bright orange collar and lead.

“ s ome dogs, as in this case with d ebbie, go to a household where there is more than one deaf person and integrate with the whole family,” she

letters

When Moore is wrong!

WHENEVER I pick up a copy of the “CityNews”

I get a look at Michael Moore’s articles. I have agreed with very few of them. Take, for example, his most recent article, “Robin had the right idea” (December 18). Yes, the US could have let the companies fail, and thus lose hundreds of US jobs. Or they could tax people a little more. In the article “Politics of getting fatter”, Michael Moore said governments were doing little or nothing to stop smoking and drinking. I know for a fact that is not true. In schools, TV and radio there are constant messages telling us how to be healthy.

In his article “Water joins the grind”, Michael Moore said the water cost increase is “just another tax”. Well, duh. Governments need

says. “When the dogs are out and about – they help their owners be more aware exactly of what’s happening around them. “ i f the dog reacts to things in the outside world, the client can see that; notice the dog reacting and look to see what they need to do. it could be kids on a bike on the footpath and so on, but the majority of their work is in the household sounds.”

Caesar has been trained to go to the sound source and then to his owner, who will be d ebbie and make physical contact with d ebbie until she follows Caesar to the sound source.

australian Lions Clubs have been supporting the Lions Hearing dogs project for more than 20 years at no cost to the deaf or hearing-impaired person. The dogs are trained at the Lions Hearing dogs Training Centre at Verdun in sa . it takes six to eight months to train a dog.

money; added to this, we need to use less water. We are in a drought. He also says that they have seen an extra billion dollars increase in revenue. Yes, they have. But that can reflect an increase in population growth. Which would also explain the money being used in infrastructure.

My wish is that Michael Moore does more research.

Callum McCrow, Rivett

Toothless policy

CANDIDATE-and-elected PM Kevin Rudd warned repeatedly: “Climate change is the great moral challenge of our generation.”

One wouldn’t ascertain that from the CPRS White Paper. It kowtows to industry pressure groups fearing accountability for their indelible footprints on our environment and cops-out from moral leadership. And,

Letters are invited from “CityNews” readers. Let loose to ed@citynews.com.au or write to the editor at GPO Box  , Canberra 0. Letters of 00 words or less stand a better chance of publication.

according to numerous pundits, it’s “foremost a policy for winning a second term.” (Paul Daley, December 21)

As an individual, I’m waiting for clear, concise, fridge-magnet-sized instructions describing what I must do individually to reduce my personal carbon footprint, “contributing my bit” to achieving our greenhouse goals.

As a small business person, I’m waiting for tax credits rewarding me for reducing my greenhouse gasses and tax penalties disincentivising me for doing nothing.

As a careful, concerned consumer, I’m waiting for the “gold list” of carbon-neutral/carbonlite product and service providers, and for the “hall-of-shame list” of big polluters.

As an Australian, I’m waiting for my leaders to model carbon-lite behaviours themselves and act like, well, “leaders.”

This toothless, cowardly CPRS policy addressing a self-declared “great moral challenge” shows the Government has neither the moral fibre nor the ability to stand up to such a challenge. At this rate, I don’t believe they deserve to win a second term.

Judy

Bamberger, O’Connor

The clan gathers

THE National Clan Mackenzie Gathering is being held in Albury, NSW, from May 8-10 and all Mackenzie/McKenzie families and clan folk are welcome.

It will be a social Scottish weekend and

the aim is to promote Scottish culture and friendship. Clan Mackenzie Society in Australia has extensive genealogy records, including many family histories, birth, death and marriage listings, and land records. Our clan genealogists will assist those in attendance to search our records for any possible links to their ancestors.

Scottish entertainment will include, whisky presentation and tasting, on Friday and a welcome dinner that night. Saturday, features Scottish displays, the Albury/Wodonga pipes and drums, and highland dancing. The clan dinner will commence with the address to the haggis, followed by a ceilidh with the five-piece band the Celtic Larrikins. Bookings are essential and further information from loremck@ncable. net.au.

Lorraine McKenzie, Belmont, Victoria

Back to Pimlico High

I AM trying to make contact with all past students, staff and teachers of Pimlico State High School in Townsville as we will be celebrating our 50th anniversary (golden jubilee) on May 2. There is an open day planned and a gala dinner at the Townsville Entertainment Centre that evening.

We are also compiling an alumni list as many of the school’s records were destroyed in a fire in in 1982. Anyone wanting to register their interest in any of the events and/or join the alumni, log on to www.pimlicojubliee.co m making sure to list your years of attendance or you can write to Pimlico Jubilee 09, PO Box 3681, Hermit Park, Queensland 4812 listing your contact details and your years and grades of attendance.

Jane Cairns (nee Kippin,  -), Pimlico Jubilee Organising Committee

citylife

Darwin, but not for dummies

By Helen Musa

i T is a well-known problem for all museum exhibition curators that there’s nothing harder to curate than a notional exhibition. Thus you can easily pack the crowds in for Monet or d egas without burdening them with excessive amounts of information – there, it’s just a case of “show me something beautiful.”

However, natural history and social museums, often suffer from having too much to say and not enough to show, making exhibitions about important issues too theoretical for the general public.

But the National Museum of australia has sidestepped the problem neatly with its huge tribute exhibition on Charles darwin (18091882), an assemblage of specimens, artefacts, original manuscripts and memorabilia related to darwin’s still-controversial discoveries of 150 years ago, organised by the a merican Museum of Natural History in New York working with the Museum of science in Boston, The f ield Museum in Chicago, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and the Natural History Museum, in London. Getting this exhibition to Canberra (it was originally to have premiered in Britain) has been quite a feather in the cap of the NM

The exhibition takes us on a grand tour of darwin’s life from his birth in 1809, his family life and especially its tragedies, his five-year voyage on HM s Beagle with his noted shipmates, who included painters augustus earle and Conrad Marten, his research and his later decision to publish “The Origin of species”.

Most intriguing for australians is the accompanying show called

“ darwin and australia”, which looks at darwin’s time in this country during 1836 – not always happy – and his encounter with celebrities such as explorer Thomas Mitchell, Judge a lfred stephens and Tasmanian surveyor General George f rankland. darwin turned 27 while in australia.

There’s plenty to see. There are maps, family photos, tropical plants and flowers, a genuine live iguana, and life-sized models of huge Galapagos tortoises, a favourite section of the exhibit for me. But be warned, this is not an exhibition for dummies. While the section of the Theory of Natural s election is explained clearly enough, that is in part a verbal explanation. You’ll need a few visits to get through it all; this is a comprehensive exhibition.

The journey through darwin’s scientific discoveries is made much easier by a stimulating accompanying publication “Charles darwin: a n australian s election” (get the pun?) drawn from writings by science commentator Robyn Williams, historian/ theologian Tom f rame and naturalist Nick drayson their joint perspectives pretty well cover the area in which darwin had made the most impact. f rame’s essay outlines the rapidity with which the Theory of evolution was taken up by australians, intellectual and non-intellectual alike. it would have been fun to see a parallel essay from an a merican theologian.

“Darwin” is at the National Museum of Australia until March 29. Admission charges apply.

arts&entertainment

In tune with big grants

WH eN Canberra composer, lyricist and radio personality Peter J Casey discovered that he had won one of Chief and a rts Minister Jon stanhope’s two $45,000 Creative fellowships, he just couldn’t resist the temptation to jest.

it wasn’t true, he claimed, that he was about to compose an opera – “ i just said that to get the grant”.

But it was true. Casey, better known for composing stage musicals, plays and revues, plans to move into chamber opera, mentored by composer Michael smetanin, head of composition at sydney University, and Melbourne orchestrator Michael Kram. The other recipient of a Creative a rts fellowship, folk and traditional music scholar and performer with the worldfusion band eilean Mòr, Ruth Lee Martin, will use her $45,000 to write a series of vocal works.

a side from performance, there was writing, a lot of writing, with former diplomat and sieV X notable Tony Kevin’s book

By Helen Musa

“Walking the Camino: a modern pilgrimage to santiago,” winning the $10,000 aCT Book of the Year award.

This year Mr stanhope also plans to make the famous pilgrimage to santiago de Compostela in spain – but by bike. danijela Kambaskovic- sawers won the $2000 david Campbell Prize for an unpublished poem by an aCT poet.

a formidable list of Poetry Prize winners went to interstate writers, such as Barry Hill (Victoria), who won the $10,000 Judith Wright Prize for a published collection by an australian poet; david Musgrave (NsW), who won the $5000 a lec Bolton Prize for an unpublished manuscript by an australian poet and a ndy Jackson (Victoria), who won the $3000 Rosemary dobson Prize for an unpublished poem by an australian poet.

LOCa L company f ree-Rain Theatre will perform “Winnie the Pooh”, featuring all of a a . Milne’s loved characters – Pooh, Christopher Robin, Kanga, Roo, Piglet, Tigger, eeyore and Owl – from January 16 to 24 in the Courtyard studio at the Canberra Theatre Centre. Bookings through www.canberraticketing.com.au.

TH e Multicultural festival’s comedy night “show us your Roots” – a hilarious fastpaced poke at multicultural australia – has been scheduled for saturday, february 7 at the Canberra Theatre Centre. Your hosts are Mick Molloy, who combines the scruffy appeal of a laid-back larrikin and the acid tongue of the world’s toughest critic and Tahir, widely known for his performances on “Thank God You’re Here” and “Pizza”. The rest of the cast includes Brian Chandler, The a xis of awesome (“Good News Week”) plus five talented, young

THE CANBERRA COLLECTION

An exhibition reflecting Canberra’s history and culture highlighting the diverse range of social history objects and visual art from the CMAG Permanent Collection.

PLAYING HOUSE: CONTEMPORARY DOLLS’ HOUSES 1957 – 2007

The last weeks of this exhibition of dolls houses and miniatures continuing CMAG’s Cabinets of Curiosities series showing private collections in Canberra.

THE DAWN WATERHOUSE COLLECTION

This exhibition samples the extraordinary collection of Canberra memorabilia purchased by CMAG in March 2008.

CMAG COLLECTION SERIES: IN THE CAN

An exhibition that examines social life in Canberra through the stories of four cinemas, Capitol Theatre, Civic Theatre, Center Cinema and Electric Shadows.

CANBERRA MUSEUM AND GALLERY

ARTS IN THE CITY

By Jorian Gardner

ethnic comedians with their cutting-edge humorous stories about growing up in multicultural australia. Bookings through www.canberraticketing.com.au.

Bi LL ed as “brilliant and inspiring”, the divine Performing a rts returns to the Canberra Theatre March 29-31 for another dazzling display of traditional Chinese culture. Producers have just announced that their 20 per cent New Year discount special prices have been extended by two weeks to January 25. The show features dancers in exquisite costumes, thundering drums and soaring songs by masterful vocalists. Visit www.divinearts.org for more information.

Rapping Slam man

By Jorian Gardner

i N what a BC TV is calling “an historic slam off,” Queanbeyan’s Omar Musa has won the 2008 australian Poetry slam, taking home $5000 plus an appearance at the Ubud Writers’ festival.

The “slam off’ was needed to separate Musa and Mark Lloyd, from Perth.

Runner-up in last year’s National Poetry slam, and this year’s winner, Musa is not a traditional rapper. Having back-packed through almost every continent, the Malaysian-australian baritone has freestyled at the National Multicultural f ringe and taught aboriginal children in outback australia.

a winner of the British Council’s Realise Your dream award, he flew to London in March to begin work on his debut album and returned in time to contest the slam in Canberra, travelling to the sydney Opera House with fellow-Canberrans adam Hadley and david f innigan for the finals.

Over the past three months, close to 600 people entered the 2008 australian Poetry slam in local libraries and venues across the country. More than 4000 people turned out to watch everyday australians tell their stories in two minutes or less.

fashion REDALERT

WE all know red turns heads, but it’s now been scientifically proven: men are more attracted to ladies in red.

Two US psychologists from the University of Rochester conducted five experiments to find that while men are unaware of how colour affects their impressions of women, its influence is real. Men rated images of women framed or wearing red as more attractive than the others – and said they were willing to spend more on them on a date!

Red’s one of the hot colours of the season, whether it’s a bold dress or top, or a bright accessory…

- your year in the stars

ARIES

(March -April 0)

LOVE

si NGL e Rams – february’s full moon finds you in a super-frisky mood as you flirt up a storm. so it’s the best month to host a party, go on a holiday, join a singles club or look for love online. for attached a ries – January through to september is the time to share hobbies and activities that you both enjoy. f rom October onwards, the relationship becomes more serious as you get married, expand your family or buy a home.

LOOT

YOU’LL need to be uncharacteristically patient in 2009 as you focus on the long-term, especially where investments are involved. Projects involving computers, communication or new technology should prove financially rewarding. January and august are the months to think outside the box when it comes to making and managing money.

LIFESTYLE

WORK issues take centre stage in July. Many Rams will be promoted; change jobs, or start a completely different vocation. Getting the life/work balance right will be a challenge and you’ll have to be careful you don’t concentrate on your career to the detriment of your personal life – especially your family and friends.

CELEBRITY FORECAST

Ell E Macpherson (born March 29, 1964) i n 2008, Neptune and Pluto formed difficult aspects to her love planets Venus and Mars, resulting in disappointment and anger over her break-up with a rki Busson. These aspects continue until January 2010, so elle has to be careful about starting a serious new relationship in 2009, when her feelings are still so raw.

TAURUS

(April -May )

LOVE

si NGL es – you’ll be looking for someone who gives you the freedom to be yourself, but also makes you feel secure. You’ll have to be patient though as september through to November are the best months to go looking for love. attached Bulls – don’t spend so much time focusing on your career that you neglect your partner. January and July are the ideal months for a surprise seduction or a romantic getaway.

LOOT

T RY to keep your professional and personal lives separate as friends and finances are a poor combination in 2009. Many Taurean parents will give their older children an extra helping hand, but don’t expect loved ones to bail you out if you get into financial difficulties. They’ll be working hard to keep themselves afloat!

LIFESTYLE

YOU ’ LL feel more ambitious than usual in

ACCLAIMED as one of Australia’s top astrologers, Joanne was a well-known teenage actress and appeared in many television shows, movies and theatre productions. She has been a professional astrologer and writer since  . Joanne’s horoscopes reflect her belief that astrology is a wonderful tool for self-discovery.

“A horoscope reading is your regular spiritual tune-up. It gets you in sync with cosmic energies and helps you choose the most auspicious times to make important changes in your life,” she says.

2009. With lucky Jupiter (and two eclipses) in your career zone, you can look forward to a promotion, raise, bonus, new job or improved working conditions. January is the best month to apply for jobs, while august is the prime time to bring projects and deals to a successful conclusion.

CELEBRITY FORECAST

Cat E Blanchett (born May 14, 1969)

Cate will feel less energetic and motivated than usual, and may be temporarily confused about her future direction. so 2009 is a great year to spend more time with her young family. i f she is true to herself (and not persuaded by others to do projects she doesn’t really believe in) then her career will go from strength to strength in 2010.

GEMINI

(May -June )

LOVE

aTTaCH ed Twins – are you still swimming in the shallow end of the love pool? 2009 is the year to dive a little deeper and make a serious commitment to your patient partner. singles – love and work are a messy mix, especially in March and april. ( it would be wise to keep your professional and passionate desires separate!) Best months for romance, proposals and weddings are October through to d ecember.

LOOT

J ULY is an important money month, as two eclipses activate your finance zones. it signals a new financial cycle as you negotiate a pay deal, liquidate assets, buy property or enter into a business partnership. You could also be hit with higher-than-expected home maintenance costs so make sure you budget accordingly.

LIFESTYLE

Wi TH Jupiter (plus three eclipses) in your travel zones, 2009 is a prime year for travel – especially to exotic overseas destinations. f urther education is also likely, as you upgrade your professional qualifications or study a subject that has always fascinated you. Best months for a heavenly holiday are January, february and august.

CELEBRITY FORECAST

Kyli E Minogue (born May 28, 1968) Kylie’s chart shows stress, hard work and challenges until mid 2009. she then enters a very positive period (from October 2009-august 2010) when her career blossoms and her love life really takes off. it’s also the perfect time for the previously commit-

ment-phobic Kylie to enter into a long-term relationship – or even take a stroll down the aisle.

CANCER

(June -July  )

LOVE

fOR some Crabs, the eclipse in January promises a hot new romance – or a revamped old one. for others, July and august are the months when things may come to a head in your relationship – and one of you may decide to call it quits. i f you have put your “perfect” partner on a pedestal, 2009 is the year when they may finally come crashing down!

LOOT

MON eY issues take centre stage in 2009. You’ll want to establish a more secure financial position so budgeting, saving, prudent investing (and maybe even a second job) will be high on your list of priorities. Lucky Jupiter could also send some extra cash your way via an inheritance, windfall, divorce settlement or superannuation payout.

LIFESTYLE

aN extreme makeover is likely, especially in July, when the solar eclipse makes you restless for an updated image. for some – a hot, new wardrobe or hairstyle; for others – a discreet nip and tuck, a batch of Botox or a spot of liposuction. i n November/ d ecember many cautious Crabs will finally renovate, build, buy or sell a home.

CELEBRITY FORECAST

PrinCE William (born June 21, 1982)

Prince William will go through profound emotional and lifestyle changes over the next three years, as Pluto opposes his sun and Moon. His relationship with Kate Middleton is unlikely to survive and, if it does, it will be fraught with difficulties. 2010-2011 is the best time for him to meet the love of his life and get married.

Lions – it’s the perfect time to get engaged, married or renew your wedding vows. i f you are single you could finally find your soul mate while one of you is travelling, or they may come from a different culture. Red-hot months for romance are January, february, March and august.

LOOT

LeOs love to live in the lap of luxury, but penny-pinching saturn continues its journey through your cash zone (until October 30) so you’ll need to put the brakes on retail therapy and credit card blowouts. i n the current economic climate, being thrifty is the new black and you’re wearing it!

LIFESTYLE

BeCOM i NG more self-sufficient is the way to go in 2009. it will save you money, stimulate your creativity and make you feel like a more responsible world citizen. so, whether you sew your own clothes, plant a vegie garden or make your home more environmentally-friendly, it’s time to be a true eco-warrior and lead the way to a more sustainable future.

CELEBRITY FORECAST

BaraCK Obama (born august 4, 1961) President-elect Obama is a classic Leo leader with a natural ability to motivate and inspire others. i n 2009, he has a Uranus/ Mars opposition, which makes him more likely to make rash statements or snap decisions that he later regrets. He could also be

VIRGO (August September  )

accident-prone and needs to be extra careful about his safety during the coming year.

LOVE

Ma NY Virgos will profit from romantic partnerships in January and february, while March and april are the months to show your initiative and be proactive in love. i n May and s eptember you’ll need to be extra careful in the way you communicate or there could be problems. Travel and love are linked in June while the focus turns to home and family in d ecember as you renovate, redecorate – or reproduce!

LOOT

U N deR the cautious influence of saturn, slow and steady wins the financial race as you patiently work to a 5, 10 and 20-year plan. avoid signing important contracts or negotiating business deals in May and s eptember, when Mercury moves backwards through your money and career zones.

LIFESTYLE

LEO (July  -August  )

LOVE

Wi TH Jupiter moving through your relationship zone (for the first time in 12 years) 2009 is a lucky year for love. attached

2009 is the year to take charge of your life, secure your financial future, and get serious about your career. expect an increased workload and high levels of stress along the way but, if you work hard, you’ll reap the rewards. The only thing that could spoil it for you is your tendency to worry. What’s the point of being successful if you can’t enjoy it?

CELEBRITY FORECAST

K

with a workaholic mindset. “Burning the midnight oil” is his favourite thing to do! f rom mid 2009 to mid 2010 he will face many difficulties, particularly health problems and foreign policy challenges. Whether he succeeds or fails in his first term will depend on how well he can pace himself – and delegate.

LIBRA

(September October  )

LOVE

GeT ready for a romantic renaissance in 2009. for attached Librans – expect your partnership to be revitalised via a holiday, special anniversary celebration or surprise pregnancy. for singles – love comes calling in the shape of an ardent a ries or an amorous aquarian. expect some partnership problems from March 7-april 18, when Venus (your boss planet) moves backwards through your relationship zone.

LOOT

Li BR a Ns love to spend, but a balanced, disciplined approach is the way to go in 2009. i f you can make your passion your profession (or pick up extra cash from a favourite hobby) then you’ll get through a tough financial year relatively unscathed. avoid making important purchases from March 7-april 18, when money planet Venus goes retro.

LIFESTYLE

Be prepared for career changes over the coming year, as your boss or workmates throw you a curved ball. The more unpredictable work becomes, the more you’ll rely on the stability and comfort of home. But you’ll need to put lots of time and effort into your home life, otherwise you can expect domestic dramas and family fiascos.

CELEBRITY FORECAST

Olivia newton-John (born September 26, 1948)

Olivia’s “girl-next-door” image belies her true nature. she is a sensual and complex woman with passionate beliefs and volatile emotions. i n 2009, her new marriage will go through some teething problems and she needs to keep a close eye on her health – and her husband’s. she could also have on-going dramas with her daughter, Chloe.

SCORPIO

(October November  )

LOVE

Wi TH Uranus in your romance zone, your love life will continue to be unpredictable in 2009. for some attached scorps – a relationship that has lost its sexual spark could unexpectedly be reignited; for others – a previously happy partnership could suddenly hit a rocky patch. singles – March, april and June are the best months to look

for love, and you’ll have more luck if you are adventurous and don’t go for your “usual” type.

LOOT

YOUR finances will need to be flexible and your investments diverse, to accommodate changing circumstances. i f you can afford it, 2009 is a great year to invest in real estate, buy your first home or renovate your present place. (Just make sure you have a realistic contingency fund to cover likely budget blowouts!)

LIFESTYLE

iN 2009, home is where the heart is. With Jupiter visiting your domestic zone, home and family will assume a new importance for you and some scorpios will move, renovate or redecorate. Others will finally resolve a long-standing issue with a parent that sees the relationship transformed and renewed.

CELEBRITY FORECAST

KatE Ceberano (born november 17, 1966) Kate can expect a frustrating year, as transiting saturn delays projects and drains her usually abundant energy. she needs to stay positive and adopt a long-term view. f rom October onwards, it’s all systems go as previously blocked projects get the green light and her personal and professional lives start powering forwards again.

SAGITTARIUS

(November December )

LOVE i f you are attached, expect a year of domestic ups and downs as unpredictable Uranus stirs up your home zone. You could move, switch roles (one working, one at home) or even have a temporary break from each other. singles – romantic false starts are likely in March and april, as Venus moves backwards through your romance zone. don’t be discouraged though – Cupid’s arrow is most likely to strike in July and august.

LOOT

Wi TH Pluto now in your cash zone, you can expect some financial dramas in 2009 (especially mid-year). i mpulse buys are your downfall, so avoid window-shopping and aim to gradually reduce the limit on your credit card. Then there’ll be less temptation to indulge in spontaneous spending sprees.

LIFESTYLE

edUCaT iON, travel and learning will play an important role in your life in the coming year. You’ll also become more involved in your local neighbourhood and may commit yourself to extra community responsibilities that will take up a lot of your time, but lead to personal satisfaction, and the admiration and appreciation of others.

CELEBRITY FORECAST

rEBECCa Gibney (born December 14, 1964)

Rebecca faces a demanding year, where she won’t be able to fit in everything she wants to do. Change is all around her and

she may move house, or an important relationship could suddenly end. a n unresolved issue from her teens is likely to resurface, which will give her an opportunity to finally heal old emotional wounds.

CAPRICORN

(December January 0)

LOVE

Ca PR iCORNs are controlling creatures – you want every relationship to proceed your way, but 2009 is the year to loosen the reigns and have some fun. singles – lighten up and go for a partner who makes you laugh. i f you are attached, June and July are the best months to reboot the relationship as you share travel, sport and good times together. Make sure you don’t take your patient partner for granted!

LOOT

YOUR finances will be unexpectedly buoyant in 2009, as lucky Jupiter moves through your money zone. even though you may feel like you’re treading water in some areas (like shares and superannuation) you could receive a welcome boost to your bank balance via a pay rise, bonus, windfall or extra business coming your way.

LIFESTYLE

se X and money are the two big issues for you in 2009. With the eclipses (in January and february) activating your lust and loot zones, your libido and earning power will be stuck on high. You have the capacity to earn extra bucks but be careful who you lend money to, as you may have trouble getting it back.

CELEBRITY FORECAST

M El Gibson (born January 3, 1956) Mel is set for a challenging year as major saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto transits shake up his world. His marriage and home life look under severe strain as he encounters problems with the women in his life (especially his wife, daughter and female friends). He is also set for a big change of direction career-wise.

AQUARIUS

(January February  )

LOVE

aTTaCH ed aquarians – balancing solo time and couple time is essential in 2009. i f you don’t get your own space to do your own thing (especially in January and august) you’ll go nuts! singles – february and May are the best months to go searching for your soul mate. The best places to look are online plus in your local neighbourhood. True love could be as close as the boy or girl next door.

LOOT

Wi TH Uranus and saturn in your money zones, it will be a feast and famine kind of year full of unpredictable highs and lows. so

you need to plan (and budget) accordingly. a nd don’t rely on family or friends to help out if finances get tight – they’ll have their own problems to deal with.

LIFESTYLE

Wi TH lucky Jupiter in your sign (for the first time in 12 years) you’ll be feeling optimistic and full of enthusiasm. it’s the perfect year to study, travel, explore and become more confident about your talents and abilities. January’s New Moon is in your sign so you’ll feel like updating your appearance via a new hairstyle, wardrobe or fitness routine.

CELEBRITY FORECAST

SiGri D t hornton (born February 12, 1959)

With Jupiter, saturn, Neptune and Pluto transits, it’s going to be an eventful year for sigrid – plus she turns 50! January through to June looks stressful as extra family commitments take centre stage, but the second half of 2009 promises plenty of opportunities for work, travel and romance.

PISCES

(February 0March 0)

LOVE

si NGL es – you may be attracted to someone much older, who acts as a mentor or parental figure. i f you are attached, you have much to learn from your partner – and the children in your life. Many f ish will become parents for the first time, with added responsibilities and sleepless nights. Choose your company wisely because false friends will lead you up the primrose path to Piscean trouble!

LOOT

MON eY tends to run through your fingers like water so working out a realistic weekly budget (and sticking to it!) is essential. (When it comes to unbudgeted purchases, use lay-by rather than your credit card). for those fortunate f ish who have some extra cash, 2009 is the perfect year to find a cause to champion or a charity to support

LIFESTYLE

YOU ’ LL be more introspective in 2009 so it’s a great year to take up a daily discipline like meditation, yoga or tai chi, or to embark on a spiritual journey or quest. You may also feel the need to give back to the community in some way, through volunteer work or by joining a local group, club or organisation.

CELEBRITY FORECAST

Dr EW Barrymore (born February 22, 1975)

actor and producer drew is an incredibly creative, compassionate and versatile woman. i mpulsive and romantic, she falls in love fast – and often! she’s in for more relationship ups and downs in 2009 and some surprise career-moves, too. she needs to look after her health, especially in July and august.

(C) Joanne Madeline Moore 2008, distributed by Auspac@auspacmedia.com.au.

Highlights

Hot Property

Sunday, Prime, 7.00pm

Michael Caton’s (right) role as grandfather Ted Taylor in 2008’s biggest local hit Packed to the Rafters has further endeared the veteran actor to audiences making him the perfect choice to host this popular real estate program. This week, an Aussie couple plan to build a house to raise money for orphans in Sri Lanka and a photographer attempts to sell his Sydney workshop.

Blood And Guts: A History Of Surgery

Tuesday, SBS, 8.30pm

In a similar vein to his previous series Medical Mavericks, former doctor and presenter Michael Mosley (above) looks at the extraordinary lengths surgical pioneers went to unlock the secrets of the body. With a family history of heart problems, Mosley takes special interest in this episode in which he has a go at heart surgery himself. Occasionally gruesome but utterly compelling viewing.

6.00 Antarctic Oasis: A Haunting Journey. (G, R, S) 6.30 Chant Of The Scrub Turkey. (PG, R, S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 Penguins Of The Antarctic. (G, S) 8.25 News. (S) 8.30 Lusitania: Murder On The Atlantic. Looks at the controversy surrounding the sinking of the ocean liner Lusitania on May 17, 1915, by a German U-boat. (PG, S) 10.00 Compass: The Quiet Revolution – Pioneering City. (G, R, S) 11.30 Movie: Suddenly, Last Summer. (1959) (B&W, M, R, S)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Outback Wildlife Rescue. (G, S) 7.00 Hot Property. (G, S) 7.30 The Rich List. (G, S) 8.30 Movie: While You Were Sleeping. (1995) Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Peter Boyle, Jack Warden. After saving a man’s life, a lonely young woman experiences a loving, family environment after she is mistaken for the man’s fiancée. But it is the man’s brother who she finally falls in love with. (PG, R, S) 11.50 The Benny Hill Show. (PG, R)

WIN

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 20 To 01. (PG, R, S) 7.30 Cricket. Twenty20 International. Game 1. Australia v South Africa. From the MCG. Commentary from Mark Nicholas, Michael Slater, James Brayshaw and Ian Healy. (S)

ER Wednesday, WIN, 9.30pm

Now into series 14, this medical drama doesn’t attract the huge ratings of its heyday. But it still contains a great mix of characters, intelligent dialogue and realistic medical dilemmas. Dr Tony Gates (John Stamos, above) is followed on every step of his rounds by a nerdy new intern while Dr Neela Rasgotra (Parminder Nagra) finds performing surgery on a trauma patient unsettling.

An Audience With Neil Diamond

Friday, Prime, 8.30pm

Since its debut in 1978, British variety series An Audience with … has been visited by the likes of Peter Ustinov, Shirley Bassey, Elton John, Tom Jones, The Bee Gees, Joan Rivers, Rod Stewart and Kylie Minogue. Now it’s the turn of Brooklyn boy Neil Diamond (above), who unleashes his golden voice upon an adoring studio audience, and answers questions from various celebrities.

Beach Cricket

SC Ten, 2.00pm

Sure, it’s a sexed-up, board-shorted version of the game, but if you can’t get enough of cricket this summer, this take on the sport will be cracking good fun. While the old guard will no doubt declare that it’s just not cricket, Ten’s target audience will love seeing some of the game’s legends including Allan Border (above), Dean Jones and Mark Waugh scrambling about in the Coolangatta sand.

6.00 The Simpsons. (G, R, S) 6.30 America’s Next Top Model. (PG, S) 7.30 Don’t Forget The Lyrics. (G, S) 8.30 Movie: Die Hard: With A Vengeance. (1995) Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Irons. New York cop John McClane tries to stop a mad bomber who is holding the city to ransom. (M, R, S) 11.05 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart: Global Edition. (MA15+) 11.35 The Office. (PG)

6.00 Motor Racing. Dakar Rally. Day 8. Highlights. 6.30 World News Australia. (S) 7.30 Lost Worlds: The Germanic Tribes – Under The Sign Of The Cross. (PG, S) 8.30 Movie: Changing Climate, Changing Times. (2008) Tantoo Cardinal, David La Haye, Lucie Jeanne. Follows three people living in the year 2075, and explores how their lives have been impacted in different and dramatic ways by the effects of climate change. (S)

6.05 The House Of Windsor: A Royal Dynasty: The First Windsors. (S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 The 7.30 Report. (S) 8.00 Choir Of Hard Knocks. Part 3 of 5. (PG, R, S) 8.30 Movie: The Somme. (2005) Oliver Jones, Patrick Kennedy, Ed Stoppard. Docudrama following the experiences of a group of young soldiers through the Battle of the Somme during World War I. Narrated by Tilda Swinton. (M, S) 11.20 MDA. (M, R, S)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Today Tonight. (S) 7.00 How I Met Your Mother. (PG, R, S) 7.30 The Rich List. (G, S) 8.30 Bones. Booth and Brennan are called in to investigate when an exhumed corpse is found in the back of a gang member’s car. Booth and Brennan follow the clues, which lead them to another empty grave and a wealthy senator’s house. (M, R, S) 9.30 Killing Hitler. (M, S) 11.40 Kath & Kim: The American Series. (PG)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 WIN News. (S) 7.00 A Current Affair. (S) 7.30 Two And A Half Men. (PG, R, S) 8.00 The Big Bang Theory. Penny opens up to a reluctant Sheldon after a less-than-stellar first date with Leonard, placing him in the uncomfortable position of having to keep a secret. (PG, S) 8.30 The Mentalist. Patrick uses the investigation into the murder of a casino owner as an opportunity to win at the cards table. (M, R, S) 9.30 Crime Investigation Australia: The Greenough Family. (M, R, S) 11.45 Just Shoot Me! (PG)

6.00 The Bold And The Beautiful. (G, S) 6.30 Futurama. (G, R, S) 7.00 Friends. (PG, R, S) 7.30 America’s Next Top Model. (PG, S) 8.30 Law & Order: Criminal Intent. The murder of a pregnant young Pakistani woman leads Logan and Wheeler to investigate the child’s Italian-American father and the animosity between their families. (M, R, S) 9.30 Army Wives. (M, S) 11.00 News/Sports Tonight. (S) 11.45 The Late Show With David Letterman. (PG)

6.00 Motor Racing. Dakar Rally. Day 9. Highlights. 6.30 World News Australia. (S) 7.30 Top Gear. (PG, S) 8.30 South Park. Cartman is challenged to a fight by Wendy after he lampoons her classroom talk on breast cancer awareness. (M, S) 9.00 Drawn Together. Eight characters are brought together to live under one roof in a Big Brother -style competition. (MA15+, R, S) 9.30 World News Australia. (S) 9.55 Market Update. 10.00 Pizza. (M, R, S) 11.25 Movie: Dark Water. (2002) (M, R)

6.10 River Cottage: Gone Fishing! (G, S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 The 7.30 Report. (S) 8.00 The Museum: Old Pots And Puzzles. (S) 8.35 Party Animals. Danny urges Jo to seek counselling for her drinking problem, but it becomes the least of her worries when her home life unravels. The by-election campaign trail bristles with dirty tactics and sexual tension for Scott and Ashika. (S) 9.30 Bastard Boys. Part 1 of 4 (M, R, S) 11.30 Movie: The Man Who Knew Too Much. (1956) (PG, R, S)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Today Tonight. (S) 7.00 How I Met Your Mother. (PG, R, S) 7.30 Wild Vets. (G, S) 8.00 Coastwatch. (PG, S) 8.30 Eli Stone. Eli finds it hard to find anyone willing to believe him after he has a vision of an earthquake striking San Francisco. (M, S) 9.30 Ghost Whisperer. The ghost of a chef who perished in a fire meets Melinda after the restaurant he died in burns down for a second time. (PG, R, S) 11.30 Dirty Sexy Money. (M)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 WIN News. (S) 7.00 A Current Affair. (S) 7.30 Cricket. Twenty20 International. Game 2. Australia v South Africa. From the Gabba. Commentary from Mark Nicholas, Michael Slater, James Brayshaw and Ian Healy. (S)

6.05 Art Museums Of The World. (G, R, S) 6.30 Nigella Express. (G, S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 The 7.30 Report. (S)

6.00 The Bold And The Beautiful. (G, S) 6.30 Futurama. (G, R, S) 7.00 Friends. (PG, R, S) 7.30 The Simpsons. (G, R, S) 8.00 Rules Of Engagement. Jeff gets in trouble when he tries to fix an issue Audrey is having with one of their neighbours. (PG, R, S) 8.30 NCIS. While working on an assignment, Gibbs is seriously injured in an explosion and taken to hospital, where he recalls his painful past. (M, R, S) 11.00 News/Sports Tonight. (S) 11.45 The Late Show With David Letterman. (PG)

6.00 Motor Racing. Dakar Rally. Day 10. Highlights. 6.30 World News Australia. (S) 7.30 Desperately Seeking Doctors: Out Of The Frying Pan. (PG, S) 8.30 Blood And Guts: A History Of Surgery: Bleeding Hearts. Part 2 of 5. (M, S) 9.30 World News Australia. (S) 9.55 Market Update. 10.00 Hot Docs: Chicago 10. (M, S) 11.55 Movie: Lunacy. (2005) (MA15+)

Search Contest for the Montecito, but things go awry when someone sabotages the contestants. Sam is convinced she has witnessed a murder, but has difficulty finding anyone who will believe her. (M, S) 9.30 The Unit. (M, S)

6.00 News.

The

Adventures Of Old Christine. (PG, S) 8.30 CSI: Miami. Popularity becomes a motive for murder at a high-school reunion and the team must find the killer. (M, R, S) 9.30 ER. Gates is shadowed by a nerdy new intern. Neela is unsettled during surgery on a trauma patient. Sam celebrates her birthday in the ER and meets a photographer who changes her outlook on life. (M, S) 11.30 Just Shoot Me! (PG)

6.00 The Bold And The Beautiful. (G, S) 6.30 Futurama. (G, R, S) 7.00 Friends. (PG, R, S) 7.30 The Simpsons. (PG, R, S) 8.00 Rules Of Engagement. Audrey gets a lesson about the “guy code” when Jeff shares a secret about a new friend. (PG, R, S) 8.30 House. After recovering from his gunshot wounds, House works feverishly on two cases at the same time. (M, R, S) 11.00 News/Sports Tonight. (S) 11.45 The Late Show With David Letterman. (PG)

6.00 Motor Racing. Dakar Rally. Day 11. Highlights. 6.30

S) 9.30 World News Australia. (S) 9.55 Market Update. 10.00 Movie: The Green Butchers. (2003) Mads Mikkelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Line Kruse. (MA15+, R) 11.45 Movie: Carnage. (2002)

Movies

The Score

Sunday, WIN, 10.30pm Marlon Brando loafs about, Robert De Niro burns like dynamite fuse and Edward Norton (above) looks as though he’s about to jump out of his skin at any moment in this smart heist flick set in Montreal. High-tech high jinks, spiffy set-pieces, breakneck verbal sparring and absorbing race-the-clock desperation makes director Frank Oz’s hyper thriller an addictive rush.

Dark Water

Monday, SBS, 11.25pm

This ghost tale from Japanese fright maestro Hideo Nakata was remade in the US in 2005 with Jennifer Connelly as the doomed mother. In the Japanese original, young mother Yoshimi (Hitomi Kuroki) gets more than she bargained for when she and her young daughter (Rio Kanno, above) move into a new apartment. A cosy abode at first, the wetness which settles in is more than your average case of rising damp.

Pride & Prejudice

Saturday, SC Ten, 6.30pm

Only the second time Jane Austen’s endearing novel has made it onto the big screen, this adaptation stars Keira Knightley (right) as the headstrong Elizabeth and Matthew Macfadyen (TV’s Spooks) as the dashing but snobbish Mr Darcy. Fans of Colin Firth’s famous stint as Darcy in the purist BBC miniseries may feel disappointed with this cornercutting adaptation from Joe Wright (Atonement), but there are several saving graces.

thursday, 15 friday, 16 s aturday, 17

6.05 Planet Earth: Jungles. (G, R, S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 The 7.30 Report. (S) 8.00 Everest ER. (S) 8.35 The Unteachables. (M, S) 9.30 Nigger Lovers. Follows the battle of the 2007 Indigenous Australian of the Year, Stephen Hagan, as he fights all the way to the United Nations to have a racially offensive sign at a Toowomba sports ground removed. (S) 9.55 Constructing Australia: The Bridge. Part 1 of 3. (G, R, S) 11.05 Live From Abbey Road. (M, S) 11.55 Wildside. (M, R)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Today Tonight. (S) 7.00 How I Met Your Mother. (PG, R, S) 7.30 Ugly Betty. (PG, S) 8.30 Eli Stone. (Final) The case of a man’s right to die coincides with Eli’s surgery to remove his brain aneurysm – a procedure that develops complications that could leave him in a vegetative state. Dr Chen realises the secret of his connection to Eli. (M, S) 9.30 Heroes. (Final) In the aftermath of the showdown, Nathan makes a move that will have global repercussions. (M, S)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 WIN News. (S) 7.00 A Current Affair. (S) 7.30 Sudden Impact. (PG, S) 8.00 The Waiting Room. (PG, S) 8.30 Cold Case. The team reopens the 1991 case of a young inner-city school teacher whose death was believed to have been the result of a carjacking gone wrong. (M, S) 9.30 The Secret Millionaire. Scottish restaurant magnate Charan Gill goes undercover to join some of the thousands of unskilled workers in rural Britain on minimum wage. (PG, S) 11.30 Seinfeld. (PG)

6.00 The Bold And The Beautiful. (G, S) 6.30 Futurama. (G, R, S) 7.00 Friends. (PG, R, S) 7.30 Don’t Forget The Lyrics. (G, S) 8.30 Law & Order: SVU. When the paternity of a missing young boy is questioned, Stabler wonders if he really is the father of Kathy’s child. (M, R, S) 9.30 Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Goren and Eames investigate the murder of a young mother connected to a very wealthy family. (M, R, S) 11.00 News/Sports Tonight. (S) 11.45 The Late Show With David Letterman. (PG)

6.00 Motor Racing. Dakar Rally. Day 12. Highlights. 6.30 World News Australia. (S) 7.35 Rex In Rome. (PG, S) 8.30 Carla Cametti PD. (M, S) 9.30 World News Australia. (S) 9.55 Market Update. 10.00 Movie: Department 36. (2004) Daniel Auteuil, Gérard Depardieu, André Dussollier. Two veteran cops who have grown increasingly tired of each other learn that the job of their retiring superior will go to whoever can capture a gang of armoured-car robbers. (MA15+) 11.55 Queer As Folk. (MA15+, R, S)

6.05 Pilot Guides. (S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 The 7.30 Report. (S) 8.00 Kylie Kwong: My China. Kylie continues her exploration of Chinese culinary traditions in the ancient city of Yangzhou and finds herself in a muddy lake, pulling up roots. (S) 8.30 Movie: Agatha Christie’s Marple: The Sittaford Mystery. (2006) Miss Marple investigates the death of a prominent politician whose demise was predicted during a séance at the isolated hotel where he was staying. (M, R, S) 11.10 Rage. (M)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Today Tonight. (S) 7.00 How I Met Your Mother. (PG, R, S) 7.30 Better Homes And Gardens Summer. (G, R, S) 8.30 An Audience With Neil Diamond. A rare insight into the life and music of legendary American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. (PG, S) 9.30 Tennis. Sydney International. Day 6. Night session. Women’s singles final. From Sydney Olympic Park. Hosted by Todd Woodbridge. (S) 11.30 Tennis. Kooyong Classic. Day 3. Night session. From Melbourne. Hosted by Chris Dittmar.

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 WIN News. (S) 7.00 Cricket. One-day international. Game 1. Australia v South Africa. Second session. From the MCG. Commentary from Richie Benaud, Michael Slater, Mark Nicholas, Ian Chappell, Tony Greig, Bill Lawry and Mark Taylor. (S) 10.00 A Current Affair. (S) 11.00 Movie: Underworld. (2003) (AV15+, S)

6.00 The Bold And The Beautiful. (G, S) 6.30 Futurama. (G, R, S) 7.00 Friends. (PG, R, S) 7.30 The Simpsons. (PG, R, S) 8.30 Law & Order. Detectives Green and Lupo suspect a case of mistaken identity, when a murdered doctor appears to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The detectives are called in to investigate after a teenager is found dead at a high school party. (M, S) 11.25 News. (S) 11.55 Sports Tonight. Local, national and international sporting news. (S)

6.00 Motor Racing. Dakar Rally. Day 13. Highlights. 6.30 World News Australia. (S) 7.30 Dreams Of Obama. (S) 8.35 As It Happened: Churchill’s Bodyguard – Lawrence And Walter Save The Day. Part 2 of 6. Looks at Winston Churchill’s time as colonial secretary and secretary of state for aviation, and his trip to the Middle East. (G, R, S) 9.30 World News Australia. (S) 9.55 Market Update. 10.00 My Penis And Everyone Else’s. (MA15+, R, S) 11.05 Movie: Lucía, Lucía. (2003) (MA15+, R)

6.00 Totally Frank. (PG, R, S) 6.25 Minuscule: A Snail’s Dream. (G) 6.30 Best Of Gardening Australia. (G, S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 Rain Shadow. (PG, R, S) 8.25 News. (S) 8.30 The Bill. DC Dasari feels guilty about her bullying behaviour, after the death and possible suicide of a witness to the assault on a drug dealer. PCs Brown and Ghir come to the aid of a lawyer who has been assaulted in a car park, in what officers later determine was a premeditated attack. (PG, S) 11.20 Rage. (M)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Tornado Intercept. (PG, S) 7.30 Tennis. Sydney International. Day 7. Night session. Men’s final. From Sydney Olympic Park. Hosted by Johanna Griggs. (S) 9.30 Movie: Paparazzi. (2004) Cole Hauser, Tom Sizemore, Robin Tunney. An actor swears revenge on the heartless photographer whose actions caused a car crash in which his wife and daughter were seriously injured. (M, S) 11.10 Disorderly Conduct Caught On Tape. (PG)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Australia’s Funniest Home Videos: Summer Series. (G, R, S) 7.30 Movie: Prince Charming. (2001) (PG, R, S) 9.30 McLeod’s Daughters. Jaz is shattered when her Prince Charming betrays her. Patrick is jealous of Tayler’s friendship with her “study buddy”. Stevie gets revenge on a farmer spreading cruel rumours about her relationship with Marcus. Moira and Phil start to make plans for parenthood, until tragedy strikes. (M, S) 11.30 Movie: Unfaithful. (2002) (AV15+, R, S)

6.00 The Simpsons. (G, R, S) 6.30 Movie: Pride & Prejudice. (2005) (G, R, S) 9.05 Movie: Sahara. (2005) Matthew McConaughey, Penélope Cruz, Steve Zahn. An adventurer in search of a lost Confederate ironclad that disappeared during the Civil War helps a doctor uncover the truth behind a plague that is claiming the lives of Africans. (M, R, S) 11.35 Rush. (AV15+, R, S)

6.00 Motor Racing. Dakar Rally. Day 14. Highlights. 6.30 World News Australia. (S) 7.30 MythBusters. (PG, S) 8.30 Iron Chef. (G, R, S) 9.20 RocKwiz. Hosted by Dave McCormack. (PG, S) 10.00 Movie: Empire Of The Wolves. (2005) Jean Reno, Jocelyn Quivrin, Arly Jover. A young detective’s investigation into a series of disturbing murders plaguing the Turkish immigrant community in France is aided by the expertise of a retired colleague and a woman’s mysterious visions. (MA15+)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10

Little Einsteins

6.30PM – PLAYHOUSE DISNEY (202)

When one of s aturn’s rings falls into June’s backyard, the team goes on a mission through outer space to get the ring back to its planet.

Living Golf

7PM – CNN (451)

“Living Golf” looks at golf on and off the course, teeing up the lifestyle, business, travel, fashion and technology aspects.

Lions for Lambs

8.30PM – MOVIE ONE (411)

Meryl s treep and Tom Cruise star in this topical film on the war in a fghanistan, where the experiences of soldiers, students and politicians intersect.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11

Eurosportnews

6PM – EUROSPORTNEWS (355)

a n interactive sports program, with sport news and updates every 15 minutes.

The Hills

7PM – MTV (251)

There’s finally a chance for friendships to start growing and healing. While at work with Whitney, Lauren gets a text from Holly, Heidi’s sister, saying she wants to see her.

The Druid Sacrifice

8.30PM – NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (301) Roman invaders claimed Britain’s d ruids engaged in barbaric ritual killings and cannibalism. e vidence now reveals the truth about d ruid sacrifice and their bloody last stand against Rome’s legions.

A healthy, happy New Year

By Megan Haggan

M a NY of us start the New Year with the best of intentions – we’re all set to quit smoking, lose weight or detoxify after overindulging during the festive season.

But by about this time, our enthusiasm starts to wane. a couple of weeks of good behaviour start to seem like enough, and we lapse back into old bad habits by the end of the month.

smart Nutrition’s Laura sutherland, an accredited practicing dietician in Canberra and spokesperson for the dieticians’ a ssociation of australia, said that many people tried fad diets and detox programs in the New Year.

“Many people approach their healthy New Year’s resolutions by becoming quite extreme, and choosing diets and detoxes that most people can’t stick to, especially long-term,” she said.

People would often try to rectify all their bad habits at once, she said, for example, going on a radical diet or exercise program at the same time as attempting to quit smoking.

“ it can be unrealistic to try and change

too many things at once,” Laura said.

Making changes that weren’t sustainable in the long-term, particularly if they are strict or difficult to fit around our daily routines, usually resulted in motivation dropping off at around this point in January, Laura said.

Looking at healthy lifestyle change as a long-term commitment, rather than a New Year’s Resolution, could help.

“Think how your goals can be broken down into smaller steps,” she said. “for example, ‘ i’m going to eat healthier’ is a pretty broad statement.

“Try something simple and achievable, like ‘i’m going to eat a serve of fruit a day’. Keep goals long-term, but simple and practical.

“By March, you might have achieved this, and your next goal might be to build on that, and eventually build up to the recommended two serves of fruit and five of vegetables a day.”

sue stone, from the Griffin day spa, said that detoxification after Christmas, and a healthy approach to 2009, didn’t have to be about punishing ourselves, and that if our New Year’s resolutions had already fallen by

Send messages through petals

f LOW eR meanings and symbolism were once key factors in choosing flowers and now, it seems, this old-fashioned tradition is making a comeback.

fourth generation florist and owner of s endflowers, an online and phone order service, Nick Christensen says: “f lorists are finding people are picking bunches based on the message they want to send for a particular occasion.

“f lowers have a lot of different meanings according to their colour and type and these meanings have evolved over the centuries. Knowing the difference between a dark

crimson rose and a red rose means you will never be caught out giving your loved one a bouquet meaning ‘mourning’ when you want to symbolise ‘love’.”

He says that sending any type of flowers should give your loved one fond thoughts, but if for a special message.

the wayside, a little preparation could help us try again.

“Have a detox plan – not something harsh like the Cabbage soup diet, but something sensible like having fruit in the morning, having five little meals a day instead of three big ones, drinking a lot of water, exfoliating, moving your body and keeping active,” she said.

sue said that eating tasty foods high in anti-oxidants, such as strawberries and blackberries, could help us adjust to healthy eating.

“ it’s good to have a diversion when you’re trying to do something like quit smoking,” she said.

“Have your celery sticks or carrot sticks ready, and your herbal teas. Be prepared.

“ it takes about six weeks to break an old habit and another six to form a new one,” sue said. “People break their habits, but because they don’t have a diversion to help them get to the next level, they go back to them.”

Training sessions and a bit of pampering could help us keep our minds off cigarettes and tempting, fatty foods, she said.

Some of the more traditional meanings for the top flowers:

• Calla lilies mean beauty; white lilies mean purity and tiger lilies, wealth and pride.

• Peony roses mean positive influence and action.

• Red roses for love and beauty, yellow for joy and happiness, white roses mean innocence and pink roses, elegance.

• Tulips mean fame and charity.

• Orchids mean love, beauty and refinement.

• Stock means lasting beauty and affection

• Pink carnations mean “I’ll never forget you”; red carnations symbolise admiration and solid-coloured carnations mean acceptance.

• Daffodils symbolise regard, respect and unrequited love.

• Poppies mean eternal sleep, oblivion and imagination.

Help for tough times

dePR essiON group beyondblue has published a booklet to help people look after their health and well being in response to the fallout of the financial crisis and the subsequent loss of employment confronting many australians.

The free, easy-to-understand, self-help booklet contains tips about adjusting to the loss of a job or savings and information for individuals and families about where to get support and assistance.

Chairman Jeff Kennett said: “adapting to adversity and change can be difficult, but there is help and support available. There’s no shame in asking for help – everyone needs a helping hand occasionally.

“Many people have lost their jobs or are worried about being retrenched, while others have been shocked and distressed to see the value of their assets tumble. even thrifty, diligent and cautious people have been dealt a financial blow that has been beyond their control – and all this can take its toll on people’s health, their relationships, their families, their well-being and how they see their future.” he said.

The booklet can be downloaded or ordered via the beyondblue website www.beyondblue.org.au or by calling the beyondblue info line 1300 224636.

LILLI PILLI 37 Denise Drive

Buyer Alert - Unbelievable Price In Denise Drive!

You cannot afford to pass this by! As is the nature of Old Lilli Pilli, this interesting single level home has privacy, charm and room to move, set on a 1309sqm natural bush site. There’s so much potential in this prestige location, with the sunroom leading into a possible splendid fourth bedroom/guest accommodation. You’ll just love the mostly slate and polished timber flooring throughout, a slow combustion fireplace for cosy winters, covered decking for outdoor living, the delightful native garden and beautiful, tranquil Circuit Beach, conveniently less than 300 metres away to provide timeless seaside memories.

MALUA BAY 43 Tallawang Avenue

One of the Best Views in the Bay!

$570,000

by appointment Melissa Williams 0408 253 481

NELLIGEN 20 Braidwood Street

Anyone for Water Sports on the Clyde?

Here is a charming architect-designed residence offering sweeping river and bushland views, 300 metres from the Clyde River. Upstairs enjoy the generous open-plan living area with polished timber floors, smart kitchen and exquisite bathroom. There’s two fabulous entertaining decks that capture the northerly sun and peaceful views, and self contained accommodation downstairs. There’s another huge entertaining deck off the lower large open plan living areas also capturing the picturesque views. Store your boat with ease in between each water ski holiday! Nelligen is a tranquil riverside village ten minutes drive from the centre of Batemans Bay.

Price $525,000

View by appointment

John Haslem 0418 514 399 Raywhite.com BBY11199

From the moment you walk in, it dawns on you that it may be years before you’ll find another location like this. Set in the street in which everyone truly wants, this residence offers it all…direct beach access through the beachfront reserve, one of the most breathtaking views you will ever be able to buy, four oversized bedrooms, master with ensuite, beach inspired design, enormous open plan living areas leading onto one of three entertaining decks, separate leisure/media room, secure rear garden. Light and bright and in absolute tip top condition, it’s a beauty!

LILLI PILLI 18 - 20 Denise Drive

House + Vacant Block+ Views

This interesting but dated house is on 925sqm and comes with the adjoining block of just over 700 sq m giving a total package of 1688m2. Circuit Beach, which offers safe surf and seclusion is just 5 minutes walk away. Denise Drive is sprinkled with million dollar plus beach retreats and this combination on 1688sqm will sell for a good deal less. Position and future opportunity to use the vacant block offer an attractive combination for your consideration AUCTION

Saturday 14 Feb 12pm On Site

View by appointment

John Haslem 0418 514 399

Caryl Haslem 0418 564 599 raywhite.com BBY 11257

All over the world people are saying… I’ve been crunched by the Global Financial Crisis! These are tough times! Houses are slower to sell!

Experience Experience 30 years

Philip Kouvelis is celebrating this year 30 years in his own business together with a total of 36 years listing, selling and renting homes in Canberra.

If you want your home sold or rented in a personal and professional manner contact Philip today on 0412 622 420, email philip@garran.kouvelis.com.au or come discuss your business over a coffee at paparazzi@garran cafe!

Philip Kouvelis Real Estate Garran Shopping Centre, Garran, ACT Telephone: 6285 1590