Canberra CityNews March 26-April 1, 2009

SONYA FLADUN WHY WON’T THEY FIX THE FOOTPATHS?

MICHAEL MOORE THE GREAT ALCOPOP FLOP

ROBERT MACKLIN BUSHFIRES SEND THE CHANGERS OUT TO SEA

Chief minister won’t share shoCK rePort

E xCLUSI v E how niGhtfest PLUmPed UP the fLoriade fiGUres

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Stanhope sits tight on shock report

By Jorian Gardner

CHIEF Minister Jon Stanhope is squaring up to challenge the will of the Assembly by stalling on making public the controversial “Costello report”.

On February 12, the Assembly passed a resolution calling on the Chief Minister to table the controversial, but never publicly seen, 2006 report “Strategic and Functional Review of the ACT Public Sector and Services”. It was prepared by former head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Michael Costello, at the time managing director of Actew Corporation.

Following continuous correspondence from the Speaker’s office, on March 17 the Chief Minister wrote to Speaker Shane Rattenbury advising him that the Government was still formulating a response.

“You would appreciate, however, that the impact of the Assembly’s resolution goes to the heart of the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature in the ACT, and to core issues of responsible government and Cabinet confidentiality in this jurisdiction,” the Chief Minister wrote.

However, despite assuring Mr Rattenbury the “the Government is giving its response to the Assembly’s resolution due attention, and will provide a considered response shortly”, the Chief Minister has moved suddenly and without further consultation to have the report declared privileged and therefore beyond public gaze.

Clearly irritated at weeks of delay and sensing some pushback from the Chief Minister, Speaker Rattenbury had earlier written to all members of the Assembly alerting them that he has “taken preliminary steps to arrange for the appointment of an independent legal arbiter”. It is open to any member of the Assembly to contest privilege, which is ultimately decided by the arbiter. “CityNews” under-

stands that both the Greens and the Liberals are considering appealing the Government’s decision.

The Costello report was the blueprint to major structural but shockwave changes by the majority Labor Government including school closures, public service redundancies, the de-corporatisation of the ACT Tourism and the sale of the Government’s leasing company Rhodium Asset Solutions.

“I think members are beginning to wonder where this particular document is,” Mr Rattenbury told “CityNews”.

The Assembly’s new Standing Order requires that documents with no claim of privilege should be lodged with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, but where the Chief Minister considers a document to be privileged, a return is to be prepared giving details of the document and reasons for the claim of privilege.

“No one realistically envisaged it would take the Government this long to claim privilege,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“Currently, if the Government wanted to be difficult they could drag this out for some time.”

ContaC t uS

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Six-month audit to September 30, 2008

Phone 6262 9100 Fax 6262 9111 GPO Box 2448, Canberra City 2601

Editor: Ian Meikle ed@citynews.com.au

Senior writer & arts editor: Jorian Gardner, 0415 516286

Lifestyle editor: Megan Haggan, 0411 045592 lifestyle@citynews.com.au

Arts writer: Helen Musa, 0413 466121

Design and photography: Silas Brown, 0412 718086

Designer: Joran Dilucian

Accounts manager: Bethany Freeman-Chandler accounts@citynews.com.au JGD

Koomarri chief dies

MARGARET Spalding, the popular and long-serving CEO of ACT disability service community organisation Koomarri, has died. She worked in the human services field for more than 30 years in both the public and not-for-profit sectors. Ms Spalding was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia this year. Chief Minister Jon Stanhope immediately paid tribute saluting her as “an outstanding Canberran who worked tirelessly for over three decades to improve the life of those who are unable to advocate for themselves.” She is survived by two sons and three grandchildren.

Voices of women

WOMEN are encouraged to book into the upcoming Australian Women and Leadership Forum, an opportunity to network and interact on a professional level. The forum will be held on Tuesday, March 31 and is a fundraising supporter for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information, call 1300 138 037 or visit www.womensforum.com.au

Hedley heads council

TONY Hedley, has been re-elected division president of the ACT branch of the Property Council of Australia. This is his third term as president.

Thai festival

CANBERRA’S Thai community will celebrate the Songkran Water Festival at the Thai Monastery, 80 Archibald Street, Lyneham, from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, April 19. The festival, which celebrates the Thai new year, features a Thai food fair, cultural and open house activities. Admission is free.

Divine winners

THE winners of the “CityNews” competition for three double passes to the Divine Performing Arts performances at Canberra Theatre are Heidi Miners, of Theodore; Anne Mena, of Amaroo, and Krishanthi Naduvathucherry, of Gordon.

Spectacular to challenge Cirque – Page 13

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Family Law Matters

Property settlement between married couples

If you and your spouse agree on a property settlement, it is important that this be properly documented, even if you have minimal or no assets when you separate.

Why do I need to document a property settlement? It finalises matters, provides certainty and eliminates the possibility of your spouse making claims against your assets, including those you accumulate after separation. Documenting your property agreement in accordance with the law also ensures your interests are protected and you can move forward with your life.

What if we cannot agree about a property settlement?

If you can’t, you must apply for a property order within 12 months of being granted a divorce. In limited cases, the Court may extend this based on hardship grounds.

What if we do not own any assets?

It may still be important to formalise a property settlement. A recent decision by the Family Court highlights the importance of doing so. The parties involved had been divorced for many years. Either could have instituted proceedings within 12 months of divorce, but they did not own any assets and did not, as a result, feel the need to have a property settlement.

A few years after their divorce, one party won a lottery. The Court gave permission to the other party to start property proceedings even though the timeframe had passed. This meant the Court could take into account the lottery winnings when determining the respective property entitlements. Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson can advise you about the best way to document a property agreement.

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Attend a free general information seminar about family law at Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson (18 Kendall Lane, New Acton), Tuesday 31 March 2009, 5:30-6:30pm. Bookings essential: 6212 7690.

Ashtray gets a sign

A COUPLE of months ago, at the height of summer heat “CityNews” went looking for public drinking fountains around the town (because no one in the office could recall having seen one). We found seven and they were in pretty bad shape.

The Government, to its credit, subsequently announced that over this year it would install an additional four fountains in the CBD.

Our snapper to the stars, Silas Brown, who hotfoots about the place, spotted a new sign on a pole pointing to the drinking fountain in West Row Park. Ah ha, this will make them all easier to find? Wrong: The bureaucracy dashed our hopes on enquiry with a poker-faced response. “As this is a leafy area, a directional sign has

been added to ensure both park users and pedestrians are aware of the location of the drinking fountain. There is no larger program of directional signage for drinking fountains.”

And we can see why. The fountain, like before, was suffering from low maintenance and was regaled with cigarette butts, a bottle top and paper rubbish. All the oral appeal of licking an ashtray.

Are footpaths a thing of the

after taking a tumble, Mum in the city soNYa FL aDUN, is unhappy with the state of pavements in canberra.

I FOUND myself flat on my proverbial thanks to one of the gaping cracks that pervade the footpaths around Canberra’s inner north. I admit I’m a notoriously clumsy person with weak ankles and poor co-ordination, but cracks, sometimes-gaping holes and uneven footpaths don’t help.

I have long had an issue with Canberra footpaths or to be more specific their frequent disrepair.

Footpaths often seem to be regarded as optional extras in the Bush Capital. It’s almost like they’re something that has gone out of fashion. I have lived in areas where footpaths suddenly peter out on you or where they just don’t exist at all. If you are equipped for a bit of bush walking this is no problem, but for those of us who are more into strolling than hiking, a walk to

the bus stop with your new suede boots sinking into a quagmire of mud can be a bit of a downer. Sometimes, pushing a pram along the footpath can seem more like negotiating a combat assault course even if you have forked out for the cross-country, three-wheeler with bull bar, snow chains and fog lights.

But I do like walking. Walking is healthy. We are all aware of the need to exercise particularly as many Canberrans spend so much time stationary in front of computers. Walking is relatively low impact (as long as you don’t fall over). And walking is low impact on your wallet, too. I can take the kids for a lovely long walk and be up for no more than say two ice blocks from the local servo.

I know it must be costly to create and

past?

maintain footpaths around Canberra and I guess footpaths aren’t sexy right? Politically, footpaths don’t stack up against big new projects, bold initiatives and grand visions. But far from being kind of old fashioned, I reckon footpaths may well be the way of the future.

With the downturn in the economy, the cost of petrol and concerns for the environment, maybe more of us are going to be walking to work or school, or to the bus stop.

In any case, walking is an intrinsically good thing to do. So just maybe now would be a good time for the ACT Government to move footpaths higher up the priority list. Then we would all be more encouraged to get walking on footpaths without fear of ending up back on our backsides.

18 Kendall Lane, New Acton Canberra City Ph: 6212 7600

North Canberra Family Practice Now Open

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Professional Development - 1 Day Course

Topic: Property Fundamentals

When: Thursday 2 April

Venue: Minter Ellison Lawyers, Forrest

Time: 8am to 5:30pm

Proudly sponsored by Minter Ellison Lawyers Division Lunch

Topic: Weathering the Change 2009 – 2012

Guest speaker: Simon Corbell MLA, Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, and Minister for Energy

When: Wednesday 8 April Time: 12pm to 2pm

Venue: Hotel Realm, Barton Proudly sponsored by ActewAGL Property Council of Australia (ACT) Awards Night and Gala Ball

Theme: A Bollywood Affair

When: Friday 7 August Time: 7:00pm

Venue: National Convention Centre

Proudly sponsored by St Hilliers Property Council of Australia (ACT) NDH Property Services 2009 Golf Classic

When: Thursday 22 October

Venue: Federal Golf Club, Red Hill

Classic hole sponsorship opportunities are now available please email Aperera@propertyoz.com.au for further information.

For more information on upcoming events, membership or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Antoinette Perera on 02 6248 6902 or email Aperera@propertyoz.com.au

MULTICULTURAL WOMEN LEAD SERIES

The Multicultural Women’s Advocacy Inc. with the support of ACT Office of Women presents: MULTICULTURAL WOMEN LEAD

A series of talks from local multicultural womentosharetheirlifeexperienceson developingtheirleadershipskillsinthe community.

By Robert Macklin

Bushfires send the changers out to sea NightFest plumps Floriade figures

Political reporter JORIAN GARDNER finally nags an early copy of the overdue Floriade report from the Minister’s office.

WITHOUT NightFest rescuing the numbers, last year’s Floriade attendance would have slumped 4.4 per cent.

According to the overdue official report of Canberra’s annual spring flower festival, the loss-making NightFest’s 30,248 visitors helped bump the total visitations to 407,667.

Without the innovative NightFest entertainment season, that attracted visitors to Commonwealth Park after dark, the daytime number would have been 377,419, representing 17,497 fewer visits or 4.4 per cent less than the previous year.

tember 12 to Sunday, October 11.

The delayed report shows that Floriade 2008 was the success the Minister had claimed with unconfirmed figures at a press conference in January.

The Minister says that the delay was due to finalising the calculations of the public relations section of the report. It reveals that Floriade 2008 public relations activity was “99 per cent favourable or neutral” and valued at $1,311,281, a figure calculated via an ASR report, which assigns a value to all media coverage equal to the standard advertising space rate.

NO one, I’m sure, felt more empathy for the Victorian bushfire victims than Canberrans. Our memories of the 2003 firestorm – the afternoon darkness, the roaring winds, the fierce gouts of flame – were fearfully revived time and again on the flat screen. And no community, it seems, gave more generously to the various appeals for financial help.

But around the dinner tables of the capital, another factor quickly entered the scene, especially among those with a beach house or a country cabin: property values. “No doubt about it,” said Jeremy, “that’s the end of the tree-change movement. I mean, who’d risk it?”

Everyone nodded wisely. “The Parkers were building in the bush,” someone said. “They’ve given that up.”

“And that means,” said Jeremy’s Jemima, “that property values on the coast will perk up again. Stands to reason – even if a really big bushfire comes, you can always jump into the sea.”

Friday 27 March, 12pm – 2pm | Griffin Centre, Genge St, Canberra City. Childcareassistanceprovideduponrequest. Formoreinformation,pleasecallMWAon0262303632

This month’s presenters; Jelena Serna, Manager of Workplace Health and Safety at TAMS, on “The Journey of Leadership” and; Hasnah Scheding, Manager of Public Affairs at ACT Health on “Leading as a Muslim Mum”.

For the first time, the Floriade report makes the distinction that attendance figures include multiple visits by attendees. Previously, when pressed by “CityNews”, the Minister has conceded that the actual “unique” number of visitors could be possibly as much as half the official figures.

The report also announces that Floriade’s theme for 2009 will be “Mind, Body and Soul” from Saturday, Sep -

The analysis was provided by CARMA International (Asia Pacific), the media analysis and research arm of the Australian Media Monitors Group. The method used by the company is called “systematic multi-variate analysis”, which a quick Google check defines it to be “a generic term for any statistical technique used to analyse data from more than one variable”. Impressed?

letters

Disgraceful mess!

CANBERRA, for all its green pretences and virtuous mantras on recycling, hasn’t learnt a thing if the disgraceful mess that greeted Commonwealth Park visitors the morning after the wonderful Skyfire show is any measure.

Walking the lake across the bridges was an unrelenting challenge to avoid broken bottles and garbage, and the hillock of Regatta Point was a shameful mass of discarded rubbish redolent of the Mugga Lane tip.

Eugene Harrison, n arrabundah

Hotline gone, hoorah

THE Health Care Consumers’ Association is the peak consumer organisation in the ACT and has worked for many years on establishing mechanisms that are responsive and accessible for members of the public to report their concerns, comments and complaints to make sure the system learns from mistakes and near misses.

We do not think the Liberal health hotline was an effective way to capture consumer experience and are pleased to see that Mr Hanson [shadow health spokesman] has chosen to discontinue this service (“CityNews”, March 19).

Darlene Cox, executive director

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Not exactly a comforting thought, but one we carried with us last weekend to our favoured bolthole, the jewel in the Eurobodalla crown, Tuross Head. We’ve been bathing our battered psyches in the balm of Tuross for some years and especially since we acquired our own hideaway there in the ‘90s. Turn off the Princess Highway about 20 minutes south of Moruya and it’s like entering an enchanted land – dolphins capering in Lake Tuross on one side of the headland and catamarans skimming over Lake Coila on the other; the surf rolling in to the wide beaches; limitless parrots flashing their brilliance against the Norfolk pines; kookaburras laughing at the dawn; kangaroos, wallabies and rabbits grazing contentedly in this Arcadia of the Antipodes. And in recent times, it’s been discovered by such luminaries as Lauren Jackson and her folks, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, artists, sculptors, retired journalists and even the occasional author.

But there’s the rub. When we broke the happy news of the property rebound to our mates who live there fulltime, they were aghast.

“That’s terrible,” said Big Ted, the former banker. “You can hardly move for people already. Look.” He waved at a car passing down distant Tuross Boulevard. “We’re knee deep in them.”

“Tell them about the snakes,” said Shirley, Ted’s “good woman”. And it’s true, there have been quite a few sightings of red-bellied black snakes this summer. The trouble is, according to Terry from the Boatshed, “Red-bellied blacks are great – they eat the brown snakes and the other really poisonous ones.” Oh dear.

Next afternoon, I saw Joe the fisherman on the beach. He was hauling in the bream and whiting almost as fast as he could cast into the gutter between the second and third breaker on Bingie Beach. “Oh no,” he said. “No more bloody sea-changers. Tell them about the sharks!”

“I saw one in 1983.” I said.

“No, they’re everywhere,” he shouted as his rod bent almost double. And blow me down if he didn’t land a shark right there and then. A great big shovelnose. “They call it flake,” he said. “Absolutely delicious. But not a word. Understand?”

robert@robertmacklin. com

Fielding’s alcopop flop

“cityNews” political columnist, former ac T Health Minister MicHaeL MooRe is the ceo of the public Health association of australia and lobbied in support of the Government’s alcopops tax. He was in the senate when the legislation failed.

IT felt like the worse days of the first ACT Assembly when the Senate first passed the “alcopops” legislation then, less than half an hour later, returned to reject it.

The $1.6 billion man is Senator Steve Fielding, of the Family First Party. That is the money that has been slashed from the Federal Budget. Thanks to his work and the support of his Liberal co-conspirators 13-year-olds will again be able to use their pocket money to purchase booze. Families first?

Fielding’s performance was appalling. Ironically, what he was trying to negotiate made sense. He wanted to separate sport from television advertising. However, the Government understood that rather than allowing sporting and community groups to collapse, it is better to have governments buy out the sponsorship, as was done with tobacco. The downside is that it takes a number of years. As independent Senator Nick Xenophon described it, Fielding “threw out the baby with the bathwater”.

The evidence was clear. More than 90 million fewer standard drinks were sold in the initial nine months that the alcopops tax was levied. This was a reduction in alcopops sales of about 35 per cent, according to tax office figures. Of course,

there was substitution. The brewers and wine sellers gave evidence to the Senate Committee that there was no increase in sales in their areas. Spirits did see some increase – but overall there was an 8 per cent reduction.

The tax, when combined with other strategies, already meant less alcohol and less harm. Additionally, cross benchers, Nick Xenophon and Greens Senator Rachel Siewart negotiated a range of measures designed to tackle binge drinking on the basis of the investment of an additional $50 million. They included: a fund to provide sponsorship to local community organisations who provide sporting and cultural activities, as an alternative to other forms of sponsorship; community level initiatives designed to tackle binge drinking; an enhanced telephone counselling services and alcohol referrals; and expansion of existing social marketing campaigns. It was not just a loss in revenue that resulted from this decision. Public health campaigns around alcohol have been set back years. It will be a long time before a government will trust the Senate to take on big business. Fielding told the media in September he would pass this Bill as the Government had a right to its Budget. Per-

haps there was a rush of blood to his head that made him change his mind. He forgot that his prime role as a cross-bench Senator is to make governments accountable. Fielding’s fiasco would not be possible if it was not for the complicity of the Liberal and National Parties. It is not one vote in the Senate, but a majority. Senator Scullion is right to be embarrassed for missing a vote, as he was gasbagging in a stairwell. It reflects on the attitude of his side of the house to the issue. They were never prepared to consider it sensibly. After a little hesitation from then-Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson, they announced their opposition within days and then spent the rest of the time campaigning against it. At least they had a reason. Their friends in the alcopops industry had donated around $75,000 to the Liberals around Australia. And it was a good deal for the liquor industry: $75,000 investment and a return of $1.6 billion!

It is not hard to understand the Liberal stance. But Fielding got nothing, traded off family values around alcohol and was just left as the last man standing! Michael Moore is a former independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and minister for health.

Look what’s just around the corner.

The superb apartments and penthouses of The Ambassador are located in the heart of Canberra’s prestigious inner south, just down the road from The Lodge. But it’s not just about the address. Where else can you combine superb views and luxury apartment living with the convenience of shops, cafés and recreation facilities literally at your door?

As befits its exceptional Deakin location, The Ambassador has been designed by leading architect Colin Stewart with an uncompromising commitment to quality. Spacious living areas and exceptionally large balconies command sweeping views to Parliament House, Black Mountain and the Brindabellas.

We’re only a few apartment sales away from triggering our construction milestone, so there’s never been a better time to talk to us. Call 6273 9661, see our website or visit our display suite, corner Hopetoun Circuit and Grey Street Deakin, open 11am to 5pm Wednesday to Sunday.

Meet The Artist

TUESDAY 31 MARCH

In collaboration with the ANU School of Art, NewActon presents a unique opportunity to combine divine dining, music and art and... meet the artist. Join our featured artist for March, ceramicist Lia Tajcnar and be fascinated by her artistic journey. You will also have the chance to purchase work on the evening during our exclusive dinner art auction. Proudly sponsored by Colliers International.

In her own words Lia Tajcnar’s work “…is about the evolution of how ideas manifest themselves into objects and an ongoing relationship between surface and form, or presentation and representation. The work is created using a diverse range of materials and technical processes so that it evokes a sense of multiplicity and pluralism and foregrounds a sense of ongoing creative investigation.”

When: Tuesday 31 March, 7pm

Where: Parlour Wine Room

In further keeping with our commitment to support the local arts community, renowned local jazz musician Mike Price will perform on the evening and at each subsequent Meet the Artist event. A dedicated, well rounded musician, Mike is the head of jazz studies at A.N.U. and lectures in guitar, harmony and improvisation. Having studied and performed abroad, his repertoire includes a blend of Jazz standards and his own compositions. Mike can be heard regularly at festivals and clubs in the ACT and around Australia.

Tickets: $55 per head for a three course meal consisting of Entrée, Main and Dessert plus a glass of wine. Call Parlour wine room to book 02 6162 3656

Extra wine can be purchased on the night from Parlour Wine Rom’s exhaustive list of approximately 120 exceptional wines.

citylife

arts | cinema | fashion | body puzzles | horoscope

Spectacular to challenge Cirque

By Helen Musa

EXUDING what one critic called “wonderfully positive karma,” the extravagant New-York based She Yun (the name evokes the gods) Divine Performing Arts Troupe is making its third visit to the Canberra Theatre from March 29-31, and it is nothing if not ambitious in its scope.

Behind the singers, dancers and drummers show, with spectacular digitalised projections of scenery and art, is a full-on promotional exercise of a kind rarely seen in this town.

Canberra geologist and this show’s promoter, Songfa Liu, makes no bones about the fact that the troupe – which management is calling “the upstart company” – aims eventually to outdo Cirque du Soleil, though he acknowledges that it has a long way to go yet.

In the meantime, he’s been taking no chances that people might miss the advertisements in the press and has stationed beautiful girls in Chinese dress at shopping malls and theatres around Canberra to hand out flyers.

Liu is not a theatre person, but rather a dedicated fan who says he is moved to tears by the beauty of that he sees on stage. In addition, as an overseas Chinese with strong views about the People’s Republic of China and its attitude to minority groups such as the Falun Gong, which supports this tour, there is an additional level of understanding.

But for most people, this will be a highly theatrical entertainment. With 21 separate scenes averaging between three to six minutes in duration, this is a richly costumed dance and music show in brilliant colour with only one episode – the story of the famous woman warrior Mulan – repeated from last year.

Many dances, such as “Flowing Sleeves”, are aimed

Each year we have something new in store and we like to keep it a surprise right up to to the opening night. “ ”

at evoking the refined style of ancient China untrammelled by the Cultural Revolution, but there are also comic episodes such as “The Monkey King Triumphs” and “Monk Ji Abducts the Bride,” and songs by four virtuoso singers Xu Jianing, Yuan Qu, Yang Jiansheng and Guan Guimin singing nostalgic songs to the audience in front of a high-tech backdrop for which the Divine Performing Arts Troupe is now known – large-scale projections on to the back cloth of the theatre.

For the Canberra season, apart from the drums that some of the dancers will play, there will be no live music. Like their role model Cirque, there are two parallel companies to the one performing in Australia, and they do have live orchestras featuring an unusual mix of Western and ancient Chinese instruments. Liu says it will not be long before Australia will get to enjoy the Divine Performing Arts Orchestra, a third branch of which is now being formed.

Liu is not permitted to give away too many details about this performance, explaining that it is the policy of the company bosses to tell us about what happened last year, but not what’s about to happen.

“Each year we have something new in store and we like to keep it a surprise right up until opening night,” a company member Yang Chen says. Even so, Liu predicted that one of the scenes, “Persecuted on a Sacred Path”, will reflect the underlying Falun Gong theme.

But most of it is based on the notion of virtue and beauty breeding their own rewards.Perhaps the final scene’s title give the game away: “Knowing the True Picture Offers Ultimate Hope.”

This photo won $25,000

INGVAR Kenne has won the $25,000 National Portrait Gallery for his work “Cormac and Callum”. The winning work, which shows the photographer’s two sons standing beside an indoor spa pool, is one of 56 portraits from the finalists and will be on display at the Portrait Gallery until May 17.

43rd National Folk Festival

Spectacular music, dance, food and fun for ALL the family

Exhibition Park in Canberra 9 to 13 April 2009

Tickets available at the gate from 9 April

cD Reviews By Jorian Gardner

“TRIPLE J HOTTEST 100” (Vol 16)

Various artists (ABC Music/Universal)

THE Triple J “Hottest 100” album (Vol 16) is full of the nation’s favourite tunes of 2008. Predictably, the number one this year was the Kings of Leon smash hit “Sex on Fire” with MGMT kicking in “Electric Feel” taking the silver medal. There are 44 tracks on the double CD with ditties from The Presets, Cut Copy, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Grates, Lily Allen, Soko and Bliss n Esso.

“AFTER THE DANCE”

Jenny Queen (ABC Music)

IT’S taken Ohio-born, Sydney-based singer-songwriter Jenny Queen five years to follow up her debut album, “Girls Who Cry Need Cake”. “After the Dance” has some “nice” musical moments – and that’s about as good as it gets. In the main, this recording is slow, country, wanna-be pop, and with nothing particularly special about her voice, Queen fails to excite. Five years wasn’t worth the wait.

Disaster zone for chocoholics

THIS play is sophisticated, thoughtful and a disaster zone for chocoholics. Bruce Hoogendoorn proves himself dramaturgically an adept playwright. In this comedy-drama about extreme dieting and body image, he jumps right into the thick of it as Harry the psychologist (played by director PJ Williams) and concerned mother Sandra (Fiona Fox) imprison teenage dieter Caroline (Jess Brent) to save her from a cultish weight-loss centre run by the physically superb Chris (Brian

Dead

THEATRE

“Simon Says”

Written by Bruce Hoogendoorn, directed by PJ Williams. The Street Theatre until March 28.

Reviewed by Helen Musa

Kavanagh). Soon we also meet the affable bodyguard Paul (Max Barker) and reformed dieters Sharon (Erin Gordon), and Marlene (Janine O’Dwyer). All impress with their straight-faced commitment to these roles.

So far so good: With a deft hand at humour, Hoogendoorn steers the play through several effective scenes in act one. But alas, by act two the plot is well and truly stuck in the real mud. In a desperate gambit to finish the play, Hoogendoorn introduces a convenient heart attack that only leaves us more confused. Williams, as director rather than actor, casts well but far too often against physical type. Back to the workshop for tightening and a new ending.

loss of the naked corpses

CANBERRA artist Min Mae has created a unique position for herself in the ACT arts community with her sometimes confronting “Tableau Vivants” – or living pictures.

Her new work “I Die”, was no less confronting than her previous thoughtprovoking works, but failed to live up to its promise.

Fourteen naked, “dead” bodies lay on the floor in a row in the middle of the gallery with toe tags. The audience was given a booklet containing their eulogies,

VISUAL ART

“I Die”

Created by Min Mae. CCAS Gorman House. March 20. Season closed.

Reviewed by Jorian Gardner

complied by various Canberra writers including some choice words from some of their loved ones – family members, lovers and friends. Cellist Liam Morrissey played hauntingly in the corner. The audience was asked to, if they didn’t know the individual “dead person”, to

check their toe tags for their identity and read silently to themselves the tribute contained in the program.

And that’s it: Dull, cold and self-indulgent.

I am sure that the writers – especially Anne-Maree Britton, David Finnigan and Naomi Milthorpe, who wrote with particular flair and imagination – and their subjects and creator Mae, had a stimulating and challenging artistic experience putting the work together, but it didn’t translate to a similar experience for the audience.

HUGE CHILDREN’S BOOK SALE!

This is a fantastic opportunity to purchase children’s favourite books at heavily reduced prices!

WHEN: Tuesday 31 March 8am – 6pm Wednesday 1st April 8am – 12noon

WHERE: Thoroughbred Park, Canberra Racecourse, Randwick Road, Lyneham

• Stock discounted up to 90% RRP

• Children’s favourites from $1.00 • While stocks last! Cash, cheques, eftpos, MasterCard, VISA & school accounts accepted. Telephone: 1800 024 840 Email: bookfairs@scholastic.com.au Trade resellers will not be permitted entry. Thanking School communties.

arts&entertainment

Harvest time, the grape escape

By Megan Haggan

CANBERRA district wines punch above their weight in national competition, according to Anne Caine, president of the Canberra District Wineries Association – and locals are increasingly interesting in supporting them.

Anne, of Lerida Estate at Lake George, says that in 2004 a survey revealed that only five per cent of Canberrans knew they had a local wine industry, but that awareness has increased exponentially since then.

“We’ve a lot of evidence that Canberra district wines are featured much more in bottle shops and on restaurant menus, and I think local people are actively seeking them out,” she told “CityNews”.

Canberrans will have the chance to try wine from 27 different local wineries on the weekend of April 4 and 5, during the annual Canberra District Wine Harvest Festival.

Wineries with cellar doors, from Murrumbateman to Hall to Bungendore and Lake George, will host tastings with a variety of different events, including live jazz and blues, food tasting, walks, educational sessions on winemaking and more.

Cafés and restaurants at several of the participating wineries will put on special menus for the weekend.

“Our wineries now have a real emphasis on not only making good wine, but on submitting it for independent testing,” Anne says.

“In last year’s NSW Wine Awards (most of the wines in the district are outside the ACT itself) six of the top 40 wines were from the Canberra district, even though there are hundreds of wineries in the Hunter and Riverina districts, and only 33 here.

“The top wine in 2007, Collector Wines Marked Tree Red Shiraz, was also local.”

For more information or to download the Harvest Festival brochure, visit www.canberrawines.com.au or call 1300 554 114.

WIN two dozen of Canberra’s best district wines valued at $500 – Page 16

A likeable movie with a left hook

“TWO FISTS, ONE HEART” (M)

SHAWN Seet’s film, set in Perth, offers a boxing theme, romance between the son of workingclass migrant parents and a blonde Anglo girl and ethnic conflict with Mediterranean flavour.

Joe (impressive work from Ennio Fantastichini) once selected to represent Italy at the Olympics, has trained his son Tony (Daniel Amalm) since childhood to box. Tony, working nights as a bouncer and training by day, meets student Kate (Jessica Marais). In a demonstration at Fremantle jail, Joe and Tony meet Nico (Rai Fazioi who also wrote the screenplay) doing time for manslaughter.

For Joe, boxing should be the only focus of Tony’s life. When Nico gets out, Joe agrees to train him as well. When Tony asks Joe for time off, Joe expels him from the house and installs Nico in his room. A Greek used-car dealer’s offer of promotion, management and financial reward leads Nico to bouts never lasting more than five rounds that take him to a national championship. Kate ends the relationship. After Tony and his father resolve their conflict, Tony challenges Nico, evoking the “Rocky” films with less-urgent emotional values. Nico has neither a glass jaw nor experience of a bout that goes the full distance.

Hugh Miller’s low-key lighting and hand-held camera give “Two Fists, One Heart” a challenging visual impact. Not everybody will enjoy the boxing sequences, but that should not be reason to shun a sincere, sensible, story offering credible people in a real human context. On that ground alone, it’s likeable and worth a look.

At Dendy

By Dougal Macdonald

“12 ROUNDS”

market, each spending huge amounts employing high-tech IT toys and espionage professionals to bring the other down. Former CIA field controller Claire (Julia Roberts) works for one and MI6 fieldman Ray (Clive Owen) for the other.

IN Renny Harlin’s actioner, detective Danny (John Cena) leads police and FBI around New Orleans pursuing Miles (Aiden Gillan) through 12 stations of a vengeance game to rescue Molly (Ashley Scott) whom he has kidnapped from the home she shares with Danny. Harlin runs mildly amok around the city committing bangs, traffic mayhem and other disruptions before a breathtaking aerial denouement. The film’s best sequence is Danny stopping a runaway streetcar, not the one named Desire. Gillan gives the best performance. Cena, very athletic, projects all the emotion of a block of granite.

At Hoyts

“DUPLICITY” (PG)

WRITER/ DIRECTOR Tony Gilroy here tries to replicate his achievement with Michael Clayton with a filmic metaphor for the crucial importance of knowing the enemy’s plans in war and spreading disinformation about them.

The combatants are two giant conglomerates competing in the consumer consumables

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Hopping back and forth through time and place, “Duplicity’s” chief virtue is Gilroy’s manipulation of its revelations of where the true loyalties and motives of its characters lie as it presents Claire and Ray as loyal employees, lovers, schemers and ultimately as swindlers

working to cheat both firms out of a formula that will make its owner top dog in a major market.

“Duplicity” is well advanced before Gilroy confirms that he’s really making a comic parable for cynical filmgoers capable of recognising the fatuity of the formula’s promise. Many films do well on that basis and there’s no reason why “Duplicity” should not. It’s entertainment with a dialectic denouement. Just don’t expect too much.

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arts&entertainment

Turning on the charm

A GOOD restaurant is always packed, and Rama’s Fiji Indian Restaurant, even though out of the way at the Pearce shops, is just that.

It is not only the good food, reasonable prices and the BYO “no corkage” policy, it is the bubbly personality of Minnie Gaundar, who is at front of house. She flits around all evening, checking on customers, recommending dishes, and ensuring efficient, friendly service.

Rama’s has been delighting customers forever and a day. Curry connoisseurs love it. Vegetarians love it. Those who want to experience the rich sauces and exotic tastes of Indian cuisine love it.

Our group of six couldn’t decide what to order, so Minnie came to the rescue. We began with mixed entrées – vegetable samosas, fish pakoras and shredded spinach and lentil patties ($18 for two). They were all deep fried, which would disturb some since it is a very heavy start to a meal and at Rama’s the samosas are huge. I enjoyed them, though, and loved the patties, but several of us found the pakoras too dry.

Our favourite dish was the prawn saabji ($20) – cooked with onion, garlic and tomato and a sensational creamy spinach sauce. The lamb saag ($19), also in a creamy spinach sauce, was another winner and chicken korma fans will worship Rama’s take on this age-old dish ($18.50).

The vegetarian dishes are enticing and include the highly recommended vegetable Bombay ($16.50). The potato, beans, carrots, peas and cauliflower absorbed the spicy coconut milk so well.

DiNiNG

By Wendy Johnson

Then came the beef vindaloo that packed a punch with its fresh spices, vinegar, paprika, fresh coriander leaves and sauce ($18.50). Not for the faint hearted, but a delight for those who like a bit of fire to end a meal.

All curries come mild (with no chilli), medium and hot and are served with unlimited rice ($2.50 per person). The restaurant is BYO only and good on Rama’s for the no-corkage policy. The restaurant could, however, improve the style of their wine glasses. The short, stubby ones do not do much for me.

We will be back but more careful about the volume of food ordered. We should have refrained from the heavy appetisers. As it was there were enough great dishes to dream about.

Rama’s décor is as inviting as the food. The contemporary, bright décor is designed around cheerful reds, strong blues and bright buttercup yellows, which complement the beautiful gold framed Indian prints.

All in all, Rama’s is a charming place to dine and, if you do not live near Pearce, well worth the drive.

Outdoor dining (with heaters) and plenty of parking. Open for dinner and takeaway Tuesday-Sunday from 6pm. Bookings essential. 6286 1964.

Music with a motive

By Bill Stephens

WHEN Cameron Smith was first approached to help raise money for “Wellwishers”, he was struck by a certain synergy between an organisation dedicated to providing wells for poor villages in Ethiopia, and the idea of uncovering new jazz talent in Canberra.

After flagging his idea to some musician friends, he soon had an enthusiastic committee and before very long he was announcing the inaugural 12-hour “Jazz Uncovered” festival, which will be held at the Italo-Australian Club, Forrest, on April 5.

Although the prime idea is to raise money for “Wellwishers”, it will also provide an event to promote modern jazz and local performers, encourage evolving music and new musicians and assist the development of the local jazz community, as well as provide an opportunity to sample the work of some of Canberra’s leading contemporary jazz musicians.

Modelled on some earlier jazz festivals, in that it will all take place in the one venue, the “Jazz Uncovered” festival will feature four individual stages set up in the Folkus Room at the Italo-Australian, with 60-minute sets staggered between the stages. Full details of the festival and the band are available on www.jazzuncovered.net

Stars galore at folk festival

THE line-up for the National Folk Festival (April 9-13, at Exhibition Park) is a dynamic mix of much-loved old favourites and exciting new acts.

American performers The Hot Club of Cowtown (featuring the violin of Elena James, a past band member for Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson) and Rodney Crowell share the Easter weekend’s bill with Eric Bogle, Andy Irvine, Colum Sands, Michael Kennedy, The Fiddle Chicks and Pierre Bensusan – renowned as one of the world’s greatest guitar players. To find out more, visit www.folkfestival.asn.au or ring the festival ticket office on 6262 4792.

aRTs iN THe ciTY

By Jorian Gardner

THE McClymonts who, for the third consecutive year recently won the Golden Guitar at Tamworth for best group or duo, are coming to the Vikings Erindale on April 2. The sisters have been getting rave reviews for their debut album “Chaos and Bright Lights” recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.

Whether you are planning a conference, wedding or major event, the new Southern Cross Events Centre boasts the perfect ingredients for a successful and memorable experience.

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“UNDER New Mexico Skies” are prints and works on paper by master American printmakers Phyllis Sloane, Ana Maria Samaniego and Sandra Duran-Wilson from New Mexico. The works are showing from April 3 to May 18 at the Fyre Gallery (84 Wallace Street, Braidwood).

“STOMP”, the British theatrical sensation is back in Canberra from April 7-12, which organisers are promising will be fresher, faster and funnier than ever. With unstoppable energy and toe-tapping exuberance, “Stomp” takes the clutter and junk of everyday life and transforms it into a pulsating theatrical event. See www. canberratheatrecentre.org.au

Canberra

Why ‘come-back’ Katy’s in a spin

By Megan Haggan

IT’S time for ACT Health Minister Katy Gallagher to get serious about finding time to keep fit, she says – and told “CityNews” she hopes that participating in the Gear Up Girl cycling challenge on Sunday, April 5, will help.

“I used to do a lot of cycling, but having had two kids in two years isn’t exactly conducive to getting enough exercise,” Katy says.

“I’m hoping this’ll be a launch back for me to use cycling for fitness and fun: I have to start somewhere and think this ride will be good!”

Many women start to neglect their own fitness, usually following the birth of children, she says.

“I’m like any working mother: It’s hard to find time for myself.

“It’s a generalisation, but even if they’re not in the paid workforce, women are juggling such a wide range of competing priorities – work, parents, partners, children – that it’s easy to put themselves last.

“But if their health suffers, it does have a big impact on their kids and family. So I’ve decided this is the year I’m going to change what I’m doing and go back to staying fit.”

Katy says she enjoys cycling because it’s lowimpact and suitable for all women, not just the super-fit.

“You can ride at any level, from a light level with little short rides with kids, and then use it as a way to try and stay in shape, which is what I used to use it for,” she says.

“Ninety-five per cent of women on the day won’t be racing to win, they’ll just be enjoying a

nice ride with friends in a safe environment.”

Also riding will be Paralympian Janie Armstrong and MIX 106.3’s Lisa Ridgley.

Janie Armstrong says she’s looking forward to the event and hopes it will help make cycling less intimidating for ordinary women.

“There’s always a push from clubs in Canberra to get more females involved in cycling, and so this is a wonderful opportunity for women to have a go,” she says.

“It’s also a good opportunity for me to promote the importance of Pap testing – it’s important to have it done every two years, regardless of whether you’ve had the HPV vaccine.”

This will be the first Canberra challenge, following successful events in Sydney in 2008 and this year.

The 2009 Sydney event, which was held to coincide with International Women’s Day in early March, attracted 840 riders, which event coordinator Nicole Whelan from Bicycle NSW says is about on par with last year.

Gear Up Girl Canberra will proceed along two loop routes: the 20km Weston route, and for more experienced riders, the 60km Tuggeranong route. (The Health Minister will be taking the 20km route.)

Both begin and end at Weston Park and include minimal roads; there will be stalls and displays at Weston Park on the day.

Nicole says Bicycle NSW chose to extend the event to Canberra before other major Australian cities because of the ACT’s network of bikefriendly cycleways.

She says events such as Gear Up Girl can help

raise awareness of cycling among motorists, not just cyclists.

“We advocate for making people aware of cyclists, and aware that they’re able to share the roads – roads aren’t just for cars.”

Bicycle NSW is also looking for volunteers to help with the event, and men are welcome, Nicole says.

The Gear Up Girl Canberra Challenge is presented by Netti and will raise funds for the Oncology Children’s Foundation; “CityNews” is a media partner of the event. For more information, visit www.gearupgirl.com.au or call 9218 5415.

“We

COLOUR may be back for eye make-up, but neutral shades are still packing a punch!

“For day, neutral eyeshadow is always a big hit,” says Sarah Booth, from Bentley’s of Canberra, Garran.

“Choosing shades which suit your eye and skin colour can make a big difference. For example, to increase the intensity of blue eyes, we can try shades from the orange part of the spectrum, like orange-based browns and terracottas.”

Using eyeshadow from the opposite side of the “colour wheel” can make our eyes look bigger and brighter, she says.

For the green-eyed, that means using colours with red tones at the base, such as mauve, pale lilac through to rusty browns.

Women with brown eyes have a lot of scope to play with, she says.

“They can look beautiful in soft, pink-brown tones, mushroom shades and taupes.”

More and more women are using false lashes during the day as well, including individual lashes that are easy to apply, Sarah says.

“They add just a little length and glamour, and can intensify the eyes.”

The eyes have it

Quick check saves lives

ROTARY is urging Canberrans to check their risk of developing Australia’s second most common cancer, by purchasing and using a Rotary Bowelscan kit.

The kits are on sale at ACT and NSW pharmacies until April 7.

Dr John Howe, of the Fisher Family Practice, says that bowel cancer is largely preventable.

“In almost all cases, bowel cancer can be avoided with a simple test for all those over the age of 40,” says Dr Howe, who encourages his patients to test for the disease at least bi-annually.

“The kit detects bleeding which is due not only to cancer, but also to polyps.

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“Bowel cancer is one of the few cancers we’re able to prevent, by identifying bleeding polyps. Once we remove those polyps with a colonoscopy, we have removed the risk of those polyps developing into cancer.”

It’s the perfect example of the effectiveness of early detection of disease, he says, but community awareness of the disease is still low, with many people believing bowel cancer is rarer than other, more high-profile diseases.

A diet which does not include the minimum recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables (two serves of fruit and five of vegetables each day), and being overweight or obese, are significant risk factors for developing bowel cancer.

Bowelscan kits are available for $10 from the majority of pharmacies in the ACT and surrounding areas. For a full list, visit www. bowelscan.org.au

Highlights

The Story Of India

Sunday, ABC1, 7.30pm

British historian Michael Wood takes an epic journey to discover the sights, sounds and dazzling achievements of the world’s oldest and most-influential civilisation. In the first of this six-part series, Wood plays the role of historical detective, and traces the roots of India’s cultural diversity to its beginnings.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala

Monday, SC Ten, 8.30pm

Australia’s iconic comedy festival is back for another year, and that means there's another chance for those sans tickets to see the best of the fest in a two-hour “blink and you’ll miss the person you tuned in to see” extravaganza. This year it’s hosted by Shaun Micallef and features comedians such as Dave Hughes, Tom Gleeson and Arj Barker.

6.00 At The Movies. (R, S) 6.30 The Einstein Factor. (S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 The Story Of India: Beginnings. (G, S) 8.25 News. (S) 8.30 Agatha Christie’s Poirot. Hercule Poirot investigates a series of murders among the staff of an English girls school – the hidden refuge of the last surviving heir to a Middle Eastern kingdom whose life is threatened by revolutionaries from her homeland. (M, S) 11.25 Movie: Joan Of Paris. (1942) (B&W, G, R, S)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Sunday Night. (S) 7.30 Border Security

– Australia’s Front Line. (PG, S) 8.00 Triple Zero Heroes. (PG, S) 8.30 City Homicide. When Bernice’s son goes missing, Stanley and Jarvis join forces to help with the hunt for the missing boy. Meanwhile, Simon and Matt investigate the murder of a psychiatrist. (M, S) 9.30 Bones. Brennan and Booth go to investigate an apparent suicide in Arlington National Cemetery. (M, R, S) 11.00 24. (M, S)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Domestic Blitz. (PG, S) 7.30 60 Minutes. (S) 8.30 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. On Dr Langstones first day on the job, a simple burglary case quickly overlaps with a complicated arson and homicide case. (M, S) 9.30 CSI: Miami. The CSI team will stop at nothing to find who shot Horatio, and the evidence leads them to some of the most dangerous people in Miami, including one of their own. (M, S) 11.30 Body Of Evidence. (M, S)

7.00 The Biggest Loser. (PG, S) 8.00 So You Think You Can Dance Australia. The top eight dancers perform a routine with their partner as well as two group showcases. Hosted by Natalie Bassingthwaighte. (PG, S) 10.00 Rove. Celebrity interviews, comedy, music and regular variety segments. Guests include Shaun of the Dead star Nick Frost, actors Billy Nighy and David Wenham and singer Sia, performing her song Buttons. (M, S) 11.10 Dexter. (AV15+)

6.00 Thalassa: The Plight Of The Atlantic Salmon. (G, R, S) 6.30 World News Australia. (S) 7.30 Lost Worlds: Walking The Bible. (G, R, S) 8.30 Dateline. A look at the new Chinese electric car whose makers believe will be the world’s number one seller by 2025. (S) 9.30 Kurt Wallander. Kurt fears for the safety of an eight-year-old girl, the only witness to her mother’s murder. The case appears to be linked to a rogue cop and the disappearance of millions of kroner. (M) 11.10 Heaven On Earth. (G, S)

The Cook And The Chef

Wednesday, ABC1, 6.30pm

While most TV chefs tend to – excuse the pun – grate after a while, Simon Bryant and Maggie Beer continue to prove themselves one of the better culinary teams on our screens. This week, the prodigious pair celebrate the rise of Australian food culture –spurred on by the multi-cultural boom of the ’50s and ’60s – and are joined by Sydney chef Tetsuya Wakuda.

6.00 Landline Extra. (R, S) 6.30 Talking Heads. (G, S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 The 7.30 Report. (S) 8.00 Australian Story. (S) 8.30 Four Corners. Investigative journalism program. (S) 9.20 Media Watch. Hosted by Jonathan Holmes. (S) 9.35 The Cut. (Final) Andrew investigates after a Falcons player, who claims he was the victim of drink spiking, is arrested fleeing from a booze bus. (M, S) 11.05 Lateline Business. (S) 11.35 Gay Muslims. (PG, R, S)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Today Tonight. (S) 7.00 Home And Away. (PG, S) 7.30 How I Met Your Mother. (PG, S) 8.00 Scrubs. (PG, S) 8.30 Desperate Housewives. Orson’s attempts to get a good night’s sleep put Bree in a precarious position on the day of her big cooking demonstration. Susan must learn to let go of the man she loves. Gaby and Carlos make a surprising discovery in the wake of the fire. (M, S) 9.30 Brothers & Sisters. (M, S) 11.30 30 Rock. (PG, S)

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 Customs. (PG, S) 8.30 Underbelly: A Tale Of Two Cities. Aussie Bob is pressured to arrange a gangland hit on his friend and colleague, Allison Dine. Living in exile in Britain, Terry Clark must terminate his relationship with “Mr Asia”. (M, S) 9.30 Crime Investigation Australia: The Predator – Leonard John Fraser. (M, S) 11.30 Entertainment Tonight. (R, S)

6.00 The Simpsons. (G, R, S) 6.30 Neighbours. (G, S) 7.00

The Biggest Loser. (PG, S) 7.30 So You Think You Can Dance Australia. (PG, S) 8.30 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala. Hosted by Shaun Micallef. Featuring local and international comedians including Steve Coogan, Arj Barker, Tom Gleeson and Dave Hughes. (M, S) 11.15 The Late Show With David Letterman. (PG)

6.00 Living Black. (S) 6.30 World News Australia. (S) 7.30 Top Gear. (PG, S) 8.30 Swift And Shift Couriers. (M, R, S) 9.00 Bogan Pride. Jennie tries to help her mother lose weight after a nasty spider bite combines with morbid obesity to leave her chair-bound. (M, R, S) 9.30 World News Australia. (S) 9.55 Market Update. 10.00 Shameless. (S) 11.50 Movie: Ring 2: Spiral. (1998) (M, R)

Private Practice

Thursday, Prime, 9.30pm

Many TV spin-offs are long-forgotten before the first season even ends – for every series like NCIS (a spin-off from military legal series JAG) there’s at least two or three that exist only in the memories of trash-TV buffs. Fans of Private Practice will be pleased to know that this off-shoot of Grey’s Anatomy, starring Kate Walsh, is a hit in the US, and looks like being on our screens for a while longer.

6.05 Time Team: Shooters Hill. (G, S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 The 7.30 Report. (S) 8.00 Lead Balloon. (PG, S) 8.30 Lost Cities Of The Ancients: The Cursed Valley Of The Pyramids. Part 2 of 3. Discover the buried treasures of the ancient world. What did these legendary places really look like, who lived in them, and why did they vanish? (S) 9.30 Foreign Correspondent. Mark Corcoran presents stories from the ABC’s international correspondents. (S) 11.10 Lateline Business. (S) 11.35 Four Corners. (R, S)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Today Tonight. (S) 7.00 Home And Away. (PG, S) 7.30 RSPCA Animal Rescue. (G, S) 8.00 Find My Family. After years of disappointment, Matt is not sure how he feels about his father. A pair of aunties try to track down their long-lost niece. (PG, S) 8.30 All Saints. A psychotic, drug-affected patient turns the ED into a danger zone. Frank finally gains an insight into Adam’s past. (M, S) 9.30 My Shocking Story: Treeman – The Cure. (PG, S) 11.30 Carpoolers. (PG)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 WIN News. (S) 7.00 A Current Affair. (S) 7.30 Wipeout Australia. (PG, S) 8.30 Two And A Half Men. Charlie agrees to go to relationship counselling with his new girlfriend. (M, S) 9.00 Two And A Half Men. A CSI team is called to Charlie’s house to investigate a mysterious death that occurred during his mother’s wedding. (M, R, S) 9.30 Movie: The Castle. (1997) Michael Caton, Sophie Lee, Anne Tenney, Stephen Curry, Eric Bana. (M, R, S) 11.15 The Ellen DeGeneres Show. (PG, R, S)

6.00 The Simpsons. (G, R, S) 6.30 Neighbours. (G, S) 7.00 The Biggest Loser. (PG, S) 8.00 Bondi Rescue. (PG, S) 8.30 NCIS. The death of an NCIS agent leads Gibbs and Tony into the desert to locate a woman who holds the answer to the mystery. (M, S) 9.30 Lie To Me. Cal and his colleagues rush to a construction site building which has collapsed, and attempt to save three men trapped inside it. (M, S) 11.15 The Late Show With David Letterman. (PG)

6.00 Global Village: Rollers Pt 1. (G, R, S) 6.30 World News Australia. (S) 7.30 Insight. (S) 8.35 Cutting Edge: The Warlords Next Door? Reporter Aidan Hartley examines the close links that some corrupt Somali politicians have to Britain, and how British taxpayers are indirectly funding corruption and extortion in war-torn Somalia. (M, S) 9.30 World News Australia. (S) 9.55 Market Update. 10.00 Hot Docs: Smiling In A War Zone. (M, R, S) 11.30 Movie: Obaba. (2005) (M)

Iron Chef

Saturday, SBS, 8.30pm

This staple of “something to watch while you’re getting ready to leave the house on a Saturday night” television finished its run on Japanese TV nearly a decade ago, but devoted fans of this kooky hit will be pleased to know that this episode is out of the vault marked “never before seen in Australia”. One can only guess what unconventional ingredients will be put before the colourful challengers.

6.00 The Queen’s Cavalry: Passing Out. (Final) (G, R, S) 6.30 The Cook And The Chef. (G, S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 The 7.30 Report. (S) 8.00 The New Inventors. (S) 8.30 Spicks And Specks. (S) 9.00 The Gruen Transfer. (S) 9.30 Lawrence Leung’s Choose Your Own Adventure: Be A Rock Star. In pursuit of his dream of rock stardom, comedian Lawrence Leung learns some moves from You Am I frontman Tim Rogers. (M, S) 10.00 At The Movies. (S) 11.05 Lateline Business. (S) 11.30 Midsomer Murders. (M, R, S)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Today Tonight. (S) 7.00 Home And Away. (PG, S) 7.30 Australia’s Got Talent. (G, S) 8.30 Criminal Minds. The team searches for a female suspect who uses her professional skills to seduce and kill highpowered executives. (M, S) 9.30 Beyond The Darklands: Will Matheson. A look into the mind of killer William Matheson, who brutally murdered his ex-girlfriend in 2003. (M, S) 11.30 Disorderly Conduct Caught On Tape. (M)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 WIN News. (S) 7.00 A Current Affair. (S) 7.30 The Farmer Wants A Wife. (Final) (PG, S) 9.30 The Mentalist. After Patrick is injured in an explosion, he finds himself using unusual methods in the investigation of a financial adviser’s death. (M, S) 11.30 Entertainment Tonight. (R, S)

6.00 The Simpsons. (G, R, S) 6.30 Neighbours. (G, S) 7.00 The Biggest Loser. (PG, S) 8.00 Guerrilla Gardeners. (PG, S) 8.30 House. A nursing-home worker fakes an illness to get House’s attention. (M, S) 9.30 Life. Crews and Stark investigate the death of a soldier who was stabbed in the chest while on leave in Los Angeles, which leads them into a world of extreme corporate and political power. (M, S) 11.15 The Late Show With David Letterman. (PG)

6.00 Global Village: The Warrior Guru. (G, R, S) 6.30 World News Australia. (S) 7.30 Feast India. (Final) (G, R, S) 8.00 Trawlermen: The Edge. (PG, S) 8.35 Long Way Round. Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman embark on an epic motorcycle journey, planning to ride from London to New York, travelling through Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and the Bering Strait. (M, R, S) 9.30 World News Australia. (S) 9.55 Market Update. 10.00 Movie: I Saw Ben Barka Get Killed. (2005) (M) 11.50 Movie: Samsara. (2001)

Movies

Samsara

Wednesday, SBS, 11.50pm

This remarkable piece of cinema follows Tashi (Shawn Ku), a young Buddhist monk who leaves his order to see the world and live out his deepest desires. The glacial pace enhances an ambitious narrative that is full of fascinating details and stunning Himalayan scenery. Superb cinematography.

thursday, 2

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Friday, WIN, midnight

Shane Black (writer of Lethal Weapon) sticks to his ethos of guns, and girls, and references scores of private-eye flicks as he directs this comical tribute to Hollywood film noir. Robert Downey Jr narrates and stars as a two-bit thief who is mistaken for an actor and becomes immersed in a reallife whodunnit while in the company of his technical advisor – eccentric private detective Gay Perry (Val Kilmer).

6.10 Grand Designs. (G, R, S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 The 7.30 Report. (S) 8.00 Catalyst. (S) 8.30 Bombora: The Story Of Australian Surfing. Part 2 of 2. Looks at the later years of Australian surf history from 1967 to the present. . (M, S) 9.30 Q&A. Interactive public affairs program, in which panellists answer questions posed by the studio audience, viewers online and by SMS. Hosted by Tony Jones. (S) 11.05 Lateline Business. (S) 11.30 Spectacle: Elvis Costello With…. (G, R, S)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Today Tonight. (S) 7.00 Home And Away. (PG, S) 7.30 Ghost Whisperer. (PG, S) 8.30 Grey’s Anatomy. Cristina is awarded the first solo surgery among the residents, but is forced to give it up and choose a replacement. Mark performs a cutting edge procedure to restore a patient’s ability to speak. (M, S) 9.30 Private Practice. Violet seeks out Kevin’s advice when a patient is suspected of murdering his wife. (M, S) 11.30 Beauty And The Geek. (PG)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 WIN News. (S) 7.00 A Current Affair. (S) 7.30 Getaway. (PG, S) 8.30 Adults Only 20 To 01. Host Bert Newton counts down 20 risqué musical moments which pushed sexual boundaries. (M, S) 9.30 The Footy Show. NRL. (M, S) 11.00 The Footy Show. AFL. Join hosts Garry Lyon, James Brayshaw and Sam Newman, along with Billy Brownless, Craig Hutchison and Shane Crawford, for the latest news and match previews. (M, S)

6.00 The Simpsons. (G, R, S) 6.30 Neighbours. (G, S) 7.00 The Biggest Loser. (PG, S) 8.00 Bondi Vet. (PG, S) 8.30 Law & Order: SVU. Benson and Stabler try to hunt down a serial rapist after interviewing a woman who was beaten and raped but has no memory of the incident. (M, S) 9.30 Life On Mars. Lt Hunt and his detectives compete with officers from a rival squad in the wake of a bank robbery perpetrated by the Russian Mafia. (M, S) 11.15 The Late Show With David Letterman. (PG)

6.00 Global Village: Lago d’ Orta. (G, R, S) 6.30 World News Australia. (S) 7.35 Inspector Rex. (PG, R, S) 8.30 This Is Civilisation: Uncertainty. (Final) Part 4 of 4. (PG, R, S) 9.30 World News Australia. (S) 9.55 Market Update. 10.00 Movie: Or. (2004) Dana Ivgy, Ronit Elkabetz, Meshar Cohen. The daughter of a prostitute tries to help her mother by finding her another job as a cleaner, but the woman struggles to give up her previous lifestyle. (MA15+, R) 11.45 Queer As Folk. (MA15+, R, S)

Flightplan

Saturday, Prime, 8.40pm, M (2005)

Put The Forgotten and Panic Room in a blender and the result is this thriller that entertains thanks to the rock-solid work of Jodie Foster. Foster plays ace propulsion engineer Kyle, who’s flying from Berlin to New York to lay her dead husband to rest. Flying in the aircraft she helped design, with young daughter Julia (Marlene Lawston), Kyle dozes off and when she awakens, finds Julia missing. With Foster in control, it’s mostly a smooth ride.

friday, 3 s aturday, 4

6.00 Message Stick. (G, R, S) 6.30 Can We Help? (G, S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 Stateline. (S) 8.00 Collectors. (G, S) 8.30 Rebus. Rebus investigates two murders linked to a world trade summit. However, the case takes on a sinister tone after it becomes obvious powerful individuals are seeking to cover up the crimes. (M, S) 9.40 Vincent. Vincent is reunited with an old flame when a grieving mother asks him to re-examine her teenage daughter’s murder. (M, S) 11.25 triple j tv With The Doctor. (R, S) 11.55 Good Game. (R, S)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Today Tonight. (S) 7.00 Home And Away. (PG, S) 7.30 Better Homes And Gardens. (G, S) 8.30 Heartbeat. (PG, R, S) 9.30 Football. AFL. Round 2. Adelaide v St Kilda. From AAMI Stadium. (S)

6.00 Totally Frank. (PG, R, S) 6.25 Minuscule: Zzzeplin. (G) 6.30 Gardening Australia. (G, S) 7.00 News. (S) 7.30 New Tricks. (PG, R, S) 8.25 News. (S) 8.30 The Bill. DCs Masters and Webb attempt to catch a gang trafficking in under-aged girls. DC Moss and DS Turner investigate a spate of burglaries, and discover a link to a local market where Santa’s little helper has been gathering names and addresses of the victims. (PG, S) 10.00 News. (S) 11.50 Rage. (M)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Inside Super Carrier. (PG, S) 7.30 Kath & Kim. (PG, R, S) 8.00 The Vicar Of Dibley. Geraldine sets up Radio Dibley in a bid to bring the community together. Alice tries to impress David, to make him think she is a worthy wife for Hugo. (PG, R, S) 8.40 Movie: Flightplan. (2005) Jodie Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Sean Bean. An aircraft engineer discovers her daughter is missing mid-way through a flight, and struggles to retain her sanity as she launches a desperate attempt to find her. (M, R, S)

SUNDAY, MARCH 29

Ancient Megastructures

6.30PM – NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (301)

The Great Pyramid of Giza is 4500 years old. It is the only ancient Wonder of the World still standing. Built in 2551BC by the enigmatic pharaoh Khufu, it took over 20 years to build.

The Jetsons

8PM – BOOMERANG (204)

A bad student switches reports with Elroy, but when he tries to explain the mix-up to his parents they don’t believe him.

Fool’s Gold

8.30PM – MOVIE TWO (412)

Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey star in this romantic comedy about an estranged couple whose romance and sense of adventure is rekindled when they discover a clue to long-lost treasure.

MONDAY, MARCH 30

Chic Eats

6PM – DISCOVERY TRAVEL & LIVING (308)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 WIN News. (S) 7.00 A Current Affair. (S) 7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 4. Brisbane Broncos v St George Illawarra Dragons. From Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. (S) 9.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 4. Sydney Roosters v Parramatta Eels. From Sydney Football Stadium. (S) 11.30 WIN News. (S)

6.00 News. (S) 6.30 Australia’s Funniest Home Videos. (G, S) 7.30 Movie: Just Friends. (2005) (PG, S) 9.30 Movie: The Notebook. (2004) Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, James Garner, Gena Rowlands. An old man reads a love story from a faded notebook to a woman with Alzheimer’s disease. (PG, S)

6.00 The Simpsons. (G, R, S) 6.30 Neighbours. (G, S) 7.00 The Biggest Loser. (PG, S) 7.30 The Simpsons. (PG, S) 8.00

The Simpsons. (G, R, S) 8.30 Medium. Allison gains the ability to know when people are lying, signalled by a game show like buzzer going off in her head. (M, S) 9.30 Medium. After a series of confusing dreams lead Allison to accuse the wrong person of murder, the ghost of FBI Agent Cooper pays her a visit. (MA15+, S) 11.20 News. (S) 11.50 Sports Tonight. (S)

6.00 Global Village: Haute-Savoie. (G, R, S) 6.30 World News Australia. (S) 7.30 Professor Regan’s Beauty Parlour. (G, R, S) 8.35 As It Happened: Churchill’s Bodyguard – Love Him To Death. (Final) (PG, R, S) 9.30 World News Australia. (S) 9.55 Market Update. 10.00 Maverick Mother. Filmmaker Janet Merewether documents the medical and emotional experiences of the birth of her son through video diaries and studio reconstructions. (M, R, S) 11.00 Movie: AV. (2005) (MA15+, R)

6.00 Futurama. (PG, R, S) 6.30 The Simpsons. (G, R, S) 7.30 Football. AFL. Round 2. Sydney v Hawthorn. From ANZ Stadium, Sydney. (S) 11.00 Angel. (M, R)

In contrast to fast food, “slow food” is becoming highly regarded with many chefs around the world longing to bring back the craft and appreciation of cooking.

Pop Up Video

7.30PM – VH1 (252)

Featuring five of VH1’s most popular music videos, a graphical factoid “pops” on to the screen with amusing facts about the video, including behind-the-scenes stories and biographical information on each artist.

Yentl

8.30PM – MOVIE GREATS (415)

Barbra Streisand and Mandy Patinkin star in this Best Music Oscar winner. A young Jewish girl who is passionate about her studies disguises herself a boy in order to enter a seminary.

6.30 World News Australia. (S) 7.30 Prototype This! Six-Legged All Terrain Vehicle. (Final) (G, S) 8.30 Iron Chef. Japanese cooking show in which a world-renowned chef and his challenger have one hour to concoct a banquet based on a single ingredient. (G, S) 9.20 RocKwiz. Each celebrity performs one of their songs backed by the RocKwiz Orkestra and combine for a duet at the end of the night. Hosted by Julia Zemiro. (PG, R, S) 11.55 Shorts On Screen. (M)

general knowledge crossword No. 204

ACROSS

4 Eighteen Mile Point was the former name of which NSW town?

7 What is the culture, traditions etc, preserved from one generation to another?

8 Baked dinners are commonly known as what?

9 What is a formal drawn-up request, signed by many people?

11 Which colloquial term describes an accurate marksman?

13 In which place are hides converted into leather?

15 What is a Russian metal urn?

17 What are dark patches in the sky consisting of interstellar gases and dust?

20 The Cape of which NSW town is the most easterly point of the Australian mainland (5,3)?

23 What is a member of the second order of angels?

24 To be meant for the select few is to be what?

25 What can it mean, to be worthless and despicable (slang)?

DOWN

1 What is the unit of inheritance?

2 Name another term for sight.

3 What were the three wise men known as?

4 Name the capital of Switzerland.

5 Kampala is the capital of which East African republic?

6 What is a pool into which card players place money?

9 What is a supporter of a cause, art or enterprise?

10 Name a Greek epic poem, ascribed to Homer.

12 The joule is the unit of which capacity for doing work?

14 What is the number of members of a body required to be present at a meeting?

16 What are snow leopards called?

18 Which term describes "relating to morals"?

19 What is another name for a monastery?

21 In chess, which piece is also known as a castle?

22 Upon which line does the earth turn? Solution next week

your week in the stars

ARIES Mar 21 – Apr 20

With your planet Mars now trailing through the open seas in Pisces, you are face to face with the unfathomable depths of your own intrinsic mystery. How you got here is a mystery. Where you are going is a mystery – and where you are is a mystery. Be wonderstruck.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Love is being a capricious mistress – even if she is arriving as a man. That which you can’t control, have a go at understanding. After the waves of tempestuousness have passed, you will find a gem lying in your hand. The golden key is to be patient and not react.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Standing at the crossroads, you are getting antsy. No obvious clear direction is availing itself. Every option is a possibility. There are deceptive voices luring you on. Note your impetuousness and have a good laugh at it. That should help you find your bearings.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

You are a soldier crab marching forward, in company, to grab hold of your special interest. This is not a tentative crustacean shyly poking its head out of a hole in the sand. You are being an entirely different kettle of fish. Your daring will bear surprising fruit.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

You have a lot of power at your command – and you need it. Life is generous in how it gives the lot. The way to accelerate out of this curve is to fully access your competence and dexterity. Face the challenge to love with all the romantic madness at your disposal.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

The attraction of danger is that it makes us feel alive and it brings us fully into the moment. There are obvious flaws to taking this path. Perhaps it’s time to get a handle on alternative ways to gain the same effect. Pleasure can deliver the same results. How deep can you go?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

It is those who have their feet on the ground that are giving you the breaks you need in order to act freely, originally and innovatively. Groundedness is a better servant of aspiration than it is sometimes given credit for. Know where your blessings are coming from.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

As the ground appears to disappear beneath your feet, so a whole beautiful, fertile set of questions are likely to surface. If life is wise – and it might well be – it will be for sure hinting at a new path to be taken here. Optimise while others catastrophise. It is your strength.

Sudoku is an 81, square number grid with nine blocks each containing nine cells. To solve the puzzle, all the blank cells must be filled in using numbers from 1 to 9. Each number can only appear once in each row, column and in the nine 3x3 blocks. You can successfully solve the puzzle just by using logic and the process of elimination. Solution next week

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

The opposition that you face is formidable. It would be wise to size up your chances realistically before you show your full hand. If there are signs that you may be outnumbered at the pass, back off. Here is a moment when you really don’t want your pride to get in a huff.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Though you are facing down a significant collection of doubters, there are signs that you may be able to expand even in this contracted environment. The nagging tone of optimism that is flying around in your brain is not pure delusion. Succumb to its beautiful madness.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Knowing what you can do and what you can’t do will be helpful. To be over-ambitious will land you in the soup. To take appropriate steps will head you towards paradise. Let yourself be liberated by knowing exactly what your limits are and how they can be used.

PISCES

(Feb 19 – Mar 20)

The ocean is not just a placid expanse to be delighted in at a distance. It is powerful – untamed. If you are underselling yourself it would be good to look again. Though your contribution might not be immediately obvious, without you a whole lot less would happen.

Copyright

prestigeproperty

Reach for the heights

Enjoy the Torrens high life

LOCATED in a tightly held, blue-ribbon location in Hawker Street, Torrens, enjoying panoramic views from one of the most-elevated residential positions in Canberra, this spacious, updated house, sits on an expansive block of about 1137sqm.

By Catherine Carter

Certainty, that’s what’s needed!

COMMENTATORS sometimes assert that property developers want a free-for all with respect to planning, or even no planning system at all. This proposition is clearly nonsense. What the property development industry does want is certainty in the planning system, both in terms of what is permitted and what is not permitted, and timely responses from the relevant planning agencies.

This becomes particularly important in an environment where funding for private sector projects is provided by financiers on a “use it or lose it” basis – approvals for finance can lapse if the work is not approved quickly because of delays in the planning system. In an economic downturn, the potential loss of investment into the Territory is something we can all ill afford.

The property sector has welcomed a range of initiatives which have been put in place by the ACT Government in recent months, including the establishment of an industry monitoring group to work together with the ACT Planning and Land Authority to oversight the implementation of an agreed industry action plan, including working on positive actions to address delays and bottlenecks in the system.

THIS spacious, contemporary residence in Hackett is located in the heights of this popular suburb.

The house features four large bedrooms, segregated master with walk-through robe and ensuite, designer bathroom, ensuite and powder room, north-facing formal living room, dining room, internal courtyard, open-plan kitchen and family room that opens to an expansive deck and pool.

The landscapes are designed to be low maintenance with well-established, exotic shrubs and trees and it sits on 982 sqm of land. EER: 1.

Address: 37 Russell Street, Hackett. Exhibition times: From agent. Price: $820,000.

Agent: Fran Pearson, Richard Luton Properties, Manuka, 0410 475052 or 6260 8999.

However, there are still some areas where significant improvements can be achieved, in particular the length of time it takes to get acknowledgement of development applications, and the frequency of contact that is required with planning authorities to achieve an outcome.

Property industry groups, including the Property Council, MBA and HIA and others, have been working together to identify key enhancements to the existing planning system, and have together developed a paper that was presented at the most recent Economic Stimulus Roundtable.

Towards the end of last year, Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and the ACT Government conducted a series of roundtables with industry and community groups on the local impacts of the global financial crisis, and to develop ideas and steps that government can take to mitigate locally the effects of the global recession.

Backing and siding Mount Taylor nature reserve, this light-filled home features five bedrooms (master with ensuite), separate lounge and dining rooms with expansive views, a new kitchen overlooking the family room, a new bathroom, rumpus room, double garage, workshop and extensive storage rooms under the house.

The lower level is suitable for a home office, guest accommodation or teenage retreat. EER: 2.

Address: 66 Hawker Street, Torrens.

Price: By negotiation.

Inspection: By appointment.

Agent: Maria Selleck, Maria Selleck Properties, 0417 258803 or 6162 1234

The property industry paper includes the establishment of a major projects unit to co-ordinate the processing of projects with a construction value of more than $20 million, and a methodology to ensure that all development assessments are dealt with in a timely manner.

The ACT Government is to be applauded for taking early decisive steps to listen to industry and the community, and to work through the issues and barriers to achieving a strong economy.

Carter is executive director of the Property Council of Australia (ACT).

for more information on DELUXE•HOMES visit our website at www.deluxehomes.com.au or phone 0418 632216

State of the Art

Deakin

An affordable family property offering the astute buyer a full range of options in this tightly held suburb. Positioned on a level block of approximately 990m2 with a northerly aspect & a richly planted private rear yard. Well maintained & offering 4 beds, ensuite & spacious living areas. Other features include ducted gas heating, a single lock up garage & carport. Ideally located close to schools, transport, Red Hill & only a short walk to the Deakin shops, restaurants & the gym. EER 0 Auction on site 1pm Wednesday 8th April

Peter Blackshaw Manuka Nicky 0418 285 797 or Bronwyn 0412 631 763

Experience

This year Philip Kouvelis will celebrate his 30th year in his own agency in Canberra. Having commenced his career in early 1973 Philip opened his own business in July 1979. If you wish to have your home sold or rented by a highly experienced agent in a personal and professional manner please contact Philip today either by phone 62851590 or 0412622420, email philip@garran.kouvelis.com.au or call in and discuss your business over a coffee at paparazzi@garran cafe.

Experience does count !!

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

Chapman | Panoramic Views

By Negotiation

2 LINCOLN PLACE - From its elevated vantage point, this picturesque residence, situated in the highly sought-after dress circle location of Chapman, captures panoramic northerly views to Black Mountain and Parliament House. Magnificently built by award winning builders, Better Building Services, this outstanding American-Georgian-style residence, the epitome of elegance, style and grace, has been expertly crafted to the highest standard. An impressive home of grand proportions of 500m2 of living space, accommodation includes an impressive foyer, formal lounge and dining rooms leading to a spacious covered balcony with views, large reception room/rumpus, home theatre complete with a theatre store, stunning open plan gourmet kitchen overlooking the huge family/meals rooms and outdoor entertaining area with a large in-ground pool. EER 5. 6

Open: Saturday 11.15-12noon and Wednesday 6.30-7.15pm

f Maria Selleck 0417 258 803 f Fred Tehle 0431 602 251

33 HACKETT GARDENS - This stunning single-storey residence combines contemporary and classical features with sleek, luxurious finishes to accentuate the home’s prestigious, tightly-held address. Tasteful, sophisticated and beautifully presented, expansive living areas are graced with quality appointments in tasteful neutral tonings contrasting the use of

rich native “forest red” timbers. Accommodation features formal lounge and dining rooms, open plan

meals and rumpus rooms with vast entertaining space, floor-to-ceiling doors and windows opening to the outdoor entertaining areas and spectacular gardens. Impressive in scale and workmanship, this magnificent home, also features 5 large bedrooms, two with ensuite and walk-in-robe, designer bathroom, powder room, state-of-the-art kitchen and a huge store room/studio. EER 4.

Open: Saturday 2-2.45pm and Tuesday 6.30-7.15pm

f Maria Selleck 0417 258 803 f Fred Tehle 0431 602 251

CHAPMAN ����,���

�� PELHAM CLOSE - New listing in a prestigious location! Inspect this quality five bedroom family residence, set amongst other appealing homes.

Beautiful Tasmanian Oak floors hiding under the original carpets present an opportunity for the next lucky owners. A bathroom and two additional ensuites cater for a large family or guests. A rumpus room, bedroom and ensuite with separate entry offer many options. Close to schools, shops and scenic Cooleman Ridge walking trail. EER 2.

Open: By Appointment

Details: Tim Dalton 0403 953 056

WILL YOU VENTURE TO TALIESIN TO BE TOUCHED BY ITS NATURAL BEAUTY? Perfectly positioned to take advantage of everything this rich and diverse region has to offer, Taliesin is located only 24 kilometres from Canberra’s CBD, minutes to the airport and is set within a magnificent parcel of rural land. With guidelines designed to enhance and compliment the existing sheltered environment – this first release of 13 parcels of land (only 8 remaining) provides long term value by ensuring a rural residential lifestyle will be retained and enjoyed for years to come. This foundation has been achieved by the thoughtful placement of home sites that enjoy expansive views yet allow homes to retain privacy and shelter from the wind. The north-facing orientation ensures residents can take advantage of natural light and solar orientation. Lot sizes from 3.2 to 9.6 hectares.

AGENTS ON SITE SATURDAY �����PM AND SUNDAY �.����.��PM OR BY APPOINTMENT

Directions: Follow the Kings Highway, turn onto Captains Flat Road, turn right at Wanna Wanna Road

Details: Margrit Sedlacek 0402 024 447, Greg Hedger 0427 214 337

• Building Blocks range from 6045 square metres to 8683 square metres

• House & Land packages available

• Prices start from $199,000

• Open SAT/SUN from 2.30pm

Country charm for this four bedroom ensuite family home featuring a separate purpose-built home ofce/studio - and when you have nished your homework head to the tennis court. Spacious open-plan family living opens onto & overlooks rear gardens to studio. Horse paddock (bore); useful shedding. A unique Murrumbateman country lane ideally situated for those seeking both privacy and convenience. $680,000 - $695,000

Fertile, gently undulating building block situated approx 16 kms Murrumbateman Village. Lot 306 Yellow Box Drive enjoys a cul-de-sac position, is ready to build on and offers a generous 3 hectares (7 Freehold acres). Improvements include underground power, Telstra Smart avail; fencing, recessed statement entrance and a newly drilled bore. You will be impressed with this attractive country location, its convenience, its easy commute ....... and with Historic Yass town on your doorstep. $240,000

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› From $160 per month - no security deposit.

› Month to month exibility.

› Prestigious address for your business cards & letterheads.

› Professional receptionist to answer your calls.

› Access to over 300 boardrooms and meeting rooms, locally and internationally. Book online in real time.

Receive your first month at half price

be absolutely seduced by this

on the

at Corrigans

Batehaven. Be transfixed by the expansive secure views of sea, mountains and headlands from every room. Enjoy the contemporary kitchen and the beckoning sunny deck for al fresco entertaining or a quiet reflective moment. Hunker down in the comfortable lounge with gas fire, or simply stay in bed and gaze at the views. Superbly constructed by one of the Bay’s leading builders, it is perfect as a seaside retreat or for your permanent residence.

SURFSIDE 42 Myamba Parade

Owner says “Sell!”

Price reduction of over $500,000

Provisional Reserve of $890,000

Unimproved Capital Value $747,000

Absolute waterfront

Direct level beach access

Spectacular uninterrupted sea views

Approximately 40 squares, brick and tile

Self contained accommodation at ground level

Vendor finance negotiable

An amazing opportunity!

Caryl