Canberra CityNews February 11-17 2010

THE SMACK: Is it coming back?

Disciplining children can be a tricky business, reports KATHRYN VUKOVLJAK.

A PROPERLY applied smack, when the child understands they are doing wrong and is still defiant, can be in their best interests, says one expert, but there is no doubt that smacking is violence, counters another. So what is a parent to do?

“We support parents to use reasonable forms of physical discipline – they shouldn’t be arbitrarily limited,” says Roslyn Phillips, FamilyVoice Australia’s research officer. “An open hand on the hand, arm or leg promptly is appropriate. It can be followed by a hug, but the parent has to find a way to communicate to the child that their behaviour is not acceptable.

“I don’t believe it protects children if we tell parents they can’t use physical discipline. We have to be reasonable about this.”

But Dr Sue Packer, a member of the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect board has another view: “If you hit an adult it’s assault, if you hit a dog you call the RSCPA, but if you hit a child it’s discipline.

“And what does it really achieve?” she says. “It would certainly stop a child in their tracks, but it also teaches kids that it’s okay to be violent in certain circumstances and it’s okay for a big person to hit a little person.

“Smacking doesn’t improve behaviour – it might make the child fear the smacker but often they don’t remember what they did wrong, they

“Most parents will hit when they are angry or frustrated, which can lead to the danger of hitting harder than they intended to.”

just remember being hit because they were naughty. It’s not teaching them anything positive.”

Roslyn believes that even if parents are told they shouldn’t smack, as with the NZ model of making smacking illegal, there are other ways to abuse a child.

“Abusive parents will find ways to be abusive, whether they can smack or not,” she says.

“Yelling hurtful things can damage a child’s self-esteem more than a simple smack after a warning would do,” she says.

“And banishing them to their room for long periods without properly explaining what it’s for

Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au

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can be confusing and upsetting for a child.

“Ultimately, we have to be consistent,” she says. “Parents need to be clear what the rules are, and be clear about what will happen if the rules are broken. Immediacy is important, too – if they get plonked on a naughty step too long after the event they just won’t get it.”

Dr Packer agrees that consistency is key, but doesn’t believe physical discipline can be consistent.

“Most parents will hit when they are angry or frustrated, which can lead to the danger of hitting harder than they intended to. Not all smacks are in violent homes, but it’s hard to

know the barriers – when to hit and when not to, how hard.

“Kids will also learn they can avoid a smack if mum’s feeling relaxed. Sometimes a parent is not in the mood to do it – so how can you send a consistent message?

“It also gives the impression that’s what you do when you’re feeling angry or frustrated,” she says. “Kids will pick up on that.”

Ultimately, says Dr Packer, kids want to be liked; they want to be praised and to fit in with their family. “If they do unacceptable things, there needs to be a reasonable consequence,” she says.

“But hitting can make a child feel angry, humiliated and frustrated. They’re human, with a lot to learn, and they do get excited, impulsive, and they make mistakes – of course, this needs addressing, but in a way that will help them to learn and grow.”

American psychology professor Marjorie Gunnoe of Michigan studied 2600 adults, of whom one-quarter had never been smacked as children, and found that those who had been physically disciplined during their early years tended to be slightly happier and more successful later in life.

However, Dr Packer believes that children who are hit feel worse about themselves. “Some may say it’s ‘never done me any harm’, but it does affect the way they respond to others,” she says.

But Roslyn says: “Most parents know that smacking, used properly, isn’t a bad thing. A typical comment I hear is: ‘Yes, I got a smack from time to time – and I usually deserved it’.”

Blowing his own trumpet, at last

By Kathryn Vukovljak

GIFTED musician, circus performer and Canberra Grammar School scholarship student Matthew Winnel has been given a $6500 trumpet by the school’s class of 1959.

“What the ‘59ers have done for me is unbelievably incredible,” says Matthew. “It was amazing to accept an award like this, and to know that what I do musically has been acknowledged.”

Only 18 months ago, 17-year-old boarder Matthew was attending an Albury public school via correspondence and planned to complete his HSC there. He had already completed his HSC Music 2 course two years above his level; attended National Music Camp and Young Symphonists

with the Australian Youth Orchestra, and graduated with an associate diploma for trumpet performance before he won the prestigious $70,000 Cooper Music Scholarship at Canberra Grammar School.

The scholarship proved a boon to Matthew’s widowed mum, covering tuition and boarding fees at the school for Years 11 and 12 as well as tuition at the ANU School of Music.

“The scholarship has fantastically changed my life and I am now doing things I never could have imagined,” he says. “I returned to school this year and couldn’t be more grateful and enthusiastic to get into my music and HSC studies – but then, well, what a surprise it was to get this award! I can’t believe I have

my very own D/Eb trumpet. I’ve always wanted a higher-pitched trumpet, but have only ever played one on loan.

“I’ll treasure it forever.”

The presentation was made at the school’s Founder’s Day Assembly, in memory of former WIN newsreader Peter Leonard, a fellow ‘59er, and was made possible by the class of 1959, Yamaha and Better Music.

“Matthew is an amazing kid – he also juggles fire and rides a unicycle,” says Craig Woodland, Canberra Grammar School director of music. “He used to be a member of the Fruit Fly circus down in Albury so he’s a real all-rounder – a sportsman, academic and a great muso. I expect he will go a long way.”

School open days, Page 21

Wake up, Canberra

Regular letter writer, Ric Hi NGee , of Duffy, lists his despair with his home town

OVER the past few weeks there have been articles in the media which indicate areas in which the ACT Government has performed the worst in the country. Examples include the highest child-care costs in the nation, the highest cost per prisoner in our jails, the longest wait for elective surgery, the slowest response times by ambulance services and the highest rates of housing pressure for ACT renters. I could add several dozen more such as the worst GP shortage, the lowest bulk-billing rate, the worst debt defaults, the highest payroll tax, the equal highest car-theft rate, the worst bus system, the highest rates of arson, the most poker machines per head of population, winner of the “Dirty Ashtray Award”, the “most wasteful in the nation” award and the highest taxes in the nation. This list goes on and on.

I am so disappointed in the Government of a town I was born in, a town my engineering family helped create, and a town in which I raised my children. I put much of the blame on middle-class apathy which is reflected at the polls and the lack of vision by Canberra voters who can not see that the Greens are effectively a creature of the Labor party, which “buys” electors votes via their involvement in the gambling industry. When will ACT voters wake up from this nightmare, make Canberra a place to be proud of, and elect people who represent them rather than a party machine?

Making vote count

GREG Cornwall (“Early voters put strain on parties”, CN, February 4) forgets one aspect of ACT pre-polling that may contribute to its high usage – electronic voting.

I, for one, chose to vote via pre-poll specifically so I could cast a vote digitally – a method I believe should be how all voting is done in this digital age.

And although I acknowledge that all votes are counted equally, it is nice to know that my digital vote goes straight into the reported results shortly after the polls close.

Anywhere else in Australia prepoll votes only get counted days later, usually well after the result is known. And that often feels like your vote didn’t count.

As to Greg’s main argument of posting howto-votes in polling booths – bring it on. Such a move would make ACT elections even more democratic and negate a little more of the advantage that large party machines have.

a lan Kerlin, Harrison

Fish feel pain

L OCAL fishing “guru”, Dr Bryan Pratt, has recently claimed in his regular newspaper column and on ABC radio that fish do not feel pain.

Turtle alerts

FOUR turtle-crossing signs to alert motorists to the presence of eastern long-necked turtles will be erected next month on Horse Park Drive near Yerrabi Pond and the Forde wetlands.

Council meeting

A PU blic meeting will be held at the National Press club at 6.30pm on Wednesday, February 17 to to consider forming the “Old c anberra South” community council. convenor Kevin Gill welcomes enquiries on 6239 5651, 0409 446405 or to kgill@vtown.com.au

Letters are invited from “CityNews” readers. Let loose to editor@citynews.com.au, use a form at www.citynews.com.au or write to the editor at GPO Box 2448, Canberra 2601. Letters of 200 words or less stand a better chance of publication.

Further, he states that the “full weight of scientific opinion” confirms his claim. He is wrong; there is no such scientific consensus that fish do not feel pain.

There is significant research from the last few years that fish do have the capacity to suffer, most recently “Do Fish Feel Pain? Norwegian Research Suggests They Can”, “ScienceDaily” (January 15 – sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100112090126.htm).

The RSPCA Policy on Angling (adopted August, 2008) states: “RSPCA Australia considers that the available scientific evidence demonstrates that fish are capable of experiencing pain and suffering”.

This makes recreational angling no more than mass cruelty to animals carried out in the name of sport and family fun and the number of animals affected makes bull-fighting pale into insignificance.

Mike o ’ s haughnessy, s pence

Questionable ‘reforms’

SIMON Corbell’s letter “Moore misses facts” (CN, January 28) should perhaps have been labelled “Corbell misses point”. Leaving aside his disingenous suggestion that all those police recruited since 2005 are currently working as beat police, let’s examine the three “reforms” he cites.

His Government has installed cameras throughout nightspotland. Any defence lawyer could have told him what camera footage is worth in a court. As a matter of fact, most cases relying on identification of any type have a dismal chance in the ACT. Drunken thugs, likewise, pay absolutely no heed to these expensive pieces of junk which serve no other purpose than making Mr and Mrs voter feel safer. His second reform (proposal only at this stage) promises to tighten licensing in the ACT. Will these new inspectors operate under the same rules which found no problem when confronted with the passed-out 15-year-old in a licensed venue? Or will they be like the Government’s much vaunted brothel inspectors who are apparently required to give advance notice before carrying out inspections. Does anyone know what “reforms” were enacted following the heroin-overdose death of an underage girl in an ACT brothel?

As for on-the-spot fines for anti social behaviour, well, Canberra’s thugs will be shaking in their shoes at that one. How many fines currently (and perpetually) remain unpaid by this town’s criminal class? However, credit where credit is due, the measure will relieve pressure on our under-resourced criminal justice system.

Mike c rowther,

Watson

briefly

Heart golf day

THE Heart Foundation Ac T’s 21st Annual Heart classic charity Golf Day will be held at Royal c anberra Golf club from 11.45am on March 25. The cost is $150 a player, including special events, 18 holes of golf, barbecue lunch, competitions and on-course hospitality. More information on registration and sponsorship packages from Eiren b lack or Tom b iggs on 6282 5744.

Spare a thought for the nuns...

The people of c anberra have been dudded by the hierarchy of the c atholic church with the decision not to sell c alvary hospital, writes political columnist MicHAeL MOORe

SPARE a thought for the nuns of the Little Company of Mary. When it comes to politics, managing within a 2000-year-old bureaucracy has to be a real challenge.

Just because the Australian Government gave a hospital to the sisters does not mean it is theirs to sell. What is apparent through the facade is that the real power is held in the church hierarchy. The decision was not announced by Calvary Health Care or the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary, but by the diocesan archbishop.

Unfortunately, in the long-term it is the people of Canberra who will be worse off with this Belconnen public hospital remaining in church hands. The end of the side issue of ownership of the hospice will come as a relief to Deputy Chief Minister Katy Gallagher who had, to some extent, been cornered into this part of the deal.

When the Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Mark Coleridge, announced that he had been informed that the “Sisters of the Little Company of Mary have recommended to the board of Little Company of Mary Health Care that the negotiations with the ACT Government to sell Calvary Public Hospital and acquire Clare Holland House should be terminated”, we were supposed to believe that the decision was largely in-house. The irony is that the announcement came from the church hierarchy and not from the sisters themselves.

The archbishop went on to say that he was “deeply respectful” of the sisters’ decision, which was in the form of a recommendation of the Provincial Council to the Board of Calvary Health Care and the board accepted the recommendation. The context is that the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary number about 100 in a Province that covers all of Australia. They achieve their mission through working closely with like-minded men and women in the church laity. There is no doubt that considerable pressure has been applied to them by the local archbishop, the Australian cardinal and by Rome.

The sale was originally leaked in an article in “The Canberra Times” that quoted Sir Peter

Approvals up

THE Territory’s highest level of residential building approvals for 16 years has been welcomed by chief Minister Jon Stanhope, who said housing industry figures showed approvals in the Ac T rose by 37.2 per cent over the 12 months to December, compared with a decrease of 2.1 per cent nationally. Mr Stanhope said the approvals were the best since 1993.

Word of year

“SHOVEl- READY ” is the Word of the Year from the new words selected for inclusion in the annual update of the Macquarie Dictionary Online. The winning word was selected by the Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year committee chaired by the Vice- chancellor of the University of Sydney, Dr Michael Spence. Shovel-ready is an adjective (of a building or infrastructure project) meaning capable of being initiated immediately, as soon as funding is assured.

Lawler. A former ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See and senior public servant, he provided an insight into the resistance to the sale when he stated: “The Catholic Church has been providing public hospital services for 100 years and I cannot comprehend why it can’t continue.”

Cardinal Pell demonstrated his view when he told ABC radio that the sale was driven by “ideological and anti-Christian elements against the faith”. His Eminence has a direct line to the Pontiff.

The Government is unlikely to continue investing in the capital infrastructure of the hospital which they do not own. Gallagher has stated that the “purchase of the Calvary hospital would allow the Government to invest in the hospital without adding to the Budget deficit”.

Besides the problem is that a previous Federal government gave the Little Company of Mary a hospital worth about $80 million in today’s terms – why would the Government make the same mistake by adding another $200 million gift?

The choices for the Government have now been made much more difficult. On the one hand, the level of care that is delivered at Calvary is high –this has never been in dispute. On the other, more capacity will be needed in our public hospital system particularly as procedures become more complex and as infrastructure more expensive.

The Government could take the short-term view and invest small amounts of additional money in infrastructure to prop up Calvary for a few years. However, this approach hardly takes into account the projected increase in the Australian population by an additional 50 per cent. Alternatively, a long-term commitment could be made to build a new Government hospital – perhaps in Gungahlin. The important requirement would be a transition plan that, over time, reduces the percentage of recurrent funding going to Calvary to allow it to restructure into a private hospital as the new public hospital comes on line.

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

briefly

New name

c AN b ERRA investment corporation limited, has been renamed cic Australia to more accurately reflect its growing portfolio of local and interstate projects. cic Australia, one of the AcT region’s most successful and progressive development companies, is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and a over the last five years has competed for, secure and undertake a range of residential projects in regional NSW, Adelaide and Darwin.

Office market steady

i N the six months to January, the office market vacancy rate in c anberra decreased slightly from 9 per cent to 8.7 per cent, the Property council of Australia reports. c anberra has the second highest vacancy rates of all cb D markets surveyed, after b risbane, but was the only capital city to record a decrease in vacancy over the last six months.

Fears for cheers

CANBERRANS, as we all know, enjoy the occasional tipple. Indeed, as the biggest wine consumers per head in the country, it’s our patriotic duty to support our local vintners and oenologists who have brought such distinction to the Canberra cool climate vintages.

However, I’m afraid I have some disturbing news. This could be the last year that we will be able to indulge ourselves and our wine-making colleagues with a clear conscience. For there is a movement just beginning that will transform both our drinking and our wine production.

And in the end we will all be the better for it.

You see, the international alcohol industry – Big Booze – has become addicted to ever-growing profits and to achieve them it has lost all semblance of restraint. Their advertising in the developed world is targeting ever younger potential consumers and in the poorer countries it has been utterly irresponsible, equating booze with health, happiness and male potency. At the same time, it has increased the alcoholic content of its various products to secure greater addiction among its consumers.

It has infiltrated the political system through donations to political parties and other lobbying techniques. Governments themselves have become addicted to the revenue it provides.

The effects have been absolutely horrific. Literally hundreds of thousands are killed in road accidents annually. Alcohol-related crime is going through the roof. Premature death and domestic violence on a massive scale are part of the price now being paid. The medical bill is enormous; but equally sobering is the terrible pain and anguish visited on alcohol abusers and their families. The social cost is fearfully high.

In the US, some 15 million people are today se -

By Robert Macklin

riously affected by alcohol addiction; in Britain the figure is almost 3 million; and in Australia it’s about 1.1 million. In Canberra, for example, with a population of only 330,000, there are no fewer 42 regular meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous in 27 different venues across the city each week – with special meetings for women, gays and lesbians, Spanish and Finnish speakers.

The reaction was inevitable. The World Heath Organisation recently declared alcohol easily the most harmful drug in use throughout the world. They began a campaign that, I believe, will reflect the successful international struggle against Big Tobacco. And they are right to do so.

The industry must be brought under control, advertising regulated, wine taxed, opening hours reduced and most importantly, the percentage of alcohol cut in all beverages. The alternative is that the wowsers will rise up and the cries for prohibition will become deafening. Far, far better for the forces of moderation to take the initiative now… and that means government and community action against the excesses of Big Booze.

Australia once depended on alcohol for its currency. Now it just depends on it. As the country’s best-educated and most-sophisticated community, Canberra should take the lead in breaking that dependency in favour of the more civilised approach. We can show the way. robert@robertmacklin.com

Dragon... stars of “Celebrate in the Park”.

Celebrate with stars

ARIA Award winners Eskimo Joe will headline the sixth annual “Celebrate in the Park”, which will also feature upcoming Australian superstar Cassie Davis and Ausrock favourites, Dragon.

The concert and associated festivities will celebrate Canberra’s birthday on Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park on Saturday, March 13.

Local performers Manilla Green, The Trivs and Who’s Ya Daddy will support the big-name acts.

Starting at 2pm, the Little Big Top will again provide entertainment for children, with performances from Roary the Racing Car

Thrill seekers will be catered for with the pro skateboarders and BMX riders from Monster Park in Sydney, there will be carnival rides and a variety of food, snacks and drinks, including the “Cellarbrate” marquee featuring local wineries.

For more information visit www. events.act.gov.au

Waiting to be won...

THERE are lots of great prizes waiting to be won right now at citynews.com.au

✔ Win VIP stunt seats

“ciTYNEWS” has a money-can’t-buy experience to be won: the chance of one of three Vi P passenger seat rides for one of the 15-minute Toyota V6 HiLux Heroes performances at the c anberra Show (February 26-28). Here’s the opportunity to be in the passenger’s seat when the stunt team demonstrates a range of precision driving manoeuvres. All passengers must be over 18, fit and healthy and be willing to sign a participant waiver form before the performance.

✔ Win videos

“ciTY N EWS” has three copies of the A bc drama “Hope Springs” to be won. The three-disc series follows the story of four women on the run hiding in a remote Scottish village, without passports, without a plan and more or less without hope.

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Wi N one of three double tickets to “One of Those Nights: Celebration of The Eagles” (c anberra Theatre, February 18), entries close midday Monday, February 15. WiN one of five double tickets to “Candy Man” (canberra Theatre, March 17), entries close midday, Monday, March 8. Wi N one of five double tickets to “Beatlemania on Tour” (c anberra Theatre March 21), entries close midday, Monday March 15.

sport

Plan for pool site

T iM GAVeL thinks its time for a new, city-based one-stop-shop for sport

I THINK it’s time for a major aquatic facility in the heart of the city – an indoor, multipurpose facility similar to but not necessarily as big as the one at Homebush Bay, but with decent spectator seating.

The current Civic Pool site would be an obvious location and the multi-purpose nature of the new facility would allow income to be derived from the facility apart from the usage of the 50-metre pool.

There are barriers to such a plan, the first being funding, while there is also continual speculation about the future location of a new convention centre. I wonder whether it may be worth looking at not just a swimming facility but a multi-sport facility with swimming, basketball, indoor soccer and the like: A one-stopshop for sport in Canberra.

Looking around the city, it is clear that plenty is being done to improve facilities; the Hockey Centre is one of the best in Australia and the Narrabundah Ball Park is being upgraded, as is the National Tennis Centre. There will be a new netball facility at Lyneham, the synthetic soccer field at Hawker could be the way of the future, while improvements have been made to the softball complex next door. The Stromlo Forest Park is world-class, there are also new facilities planned for Gungahlin such as a swimming pool and football ground, there is the Basketball Centre of Excellence and the list goes on. But there are still shortfalls outside the

need to upgrade Canberra Stadium.

The issue of lighting at Manaka Oval has always been a thorny one. If Canberra is going to be part of the domestic 20/20 cricket competition, coupled with the desire to host more AFL games involving Western Sydney, it is obvious that Manaka needs lighting.

There has been opposition in the past from nearby residents, not only to lighting, but also the lack of parking around the ground. I would assume that opposition still exists and, if it’s not possible, a solution needs to be found otherwise Canberra will be left behind when it comes to hosting major cricket and AFL matches.

Over the years, there have been campaigns for a new velodrome with the existing facility at Narrabundah deemed to have passed its use-by date, but there appears to be little in the way of a push for a new track at this stage. There was also a call for a new synthetic running track on the south side to complement the AIS but, once again, I have heard little about it recently. While funding for new facilities is an obvious consideration, use of facilities should be the major determinate. The ACT community’s desire to actively engage in sport and watch major sporting events must guide decision-making alongside the more practical consideration of funding.

Nobody does it better, says dynamic duo

THERE is a huge demand in c anberra for good property management – and no one in c anberra does it properly, except us, say Tamara b axter and Erik Tyler, the young, dynamic directors of boutique agency li VEin Real Estate.

“We might be a small company and we charge less than everyone else, but we’re the best at what we do,” says Tamara. “We’ve achieved a lot in the four years we’ve been in business, and our results prove it – no other agency in c anberra does it better!”

Owners Tamara and Erik, who is director of sales, are determined to show c anberrans there is a better way.

“i’m a property owner myself, and i treat every rental property on our books as if it were my own,” says Tamara. “When i’m vetting potential tenants, i make the decision based on whether i would want them as a tenant myself. My gut instinct never fails!”

Tamara says she actively markets more properties than nearly all the big agencies at any time – and her results speak for themselves. With a client retention rate of 99.6 per cent, with more than 400 clients on her books, she is quick to point out that the 0.4 per cent are clients that she’s fired for reasons such as their failure to carry out routine maintenance. “ i expect high standards from my landlords as well as my tenants”, she smiles.

“We provide canberra’s lowest full-service property management at eight per cent, and i personally manage each property,” she says. “both Erik and myself are always

available, from 8am-8pm seven days a week, and our mobiles are always on.

“As the business owners, the buck stops with us.”

As director of sales, Erik agrees. Having sold more than $70m worth of real estate, he’s also created a saving of more than $1.4 million in commission to his clients – all while setting record suburb and street prices for the lowest flat fee in Canberra of $5950.

in January alone, Erik sold 11 properties with a combined market value of more than $5 million – all within two weeks of commencement of marketing.

“I’m the only agent here confident enough to offer a seven-day agency agreement – agencies generally ask for 90 days – and i guarantee that if you’re not happy in the first seven days, you’re released from contract,” he says.

Tamara says that 90 per cent of li VEin’s rental properties are let on the first open home.

“We provide quality advertising and market aggressively from the outset,” she says. “We’re quick with the whole process, too – it’s all about being organised and proactive.”

Poor marketing will lead to a poor choice of tenants, according to Tamara. “At li VEin we offer professional photography, a strong online presence, high-definition video tours and lively, engaging property write-ups,” she says.

Tamara and Erik say they learnt to do things properly from their time working at

leading london-based real estate agency Foxtons, which appeals to a younger crowd and aims to be as proactive as possible.

“in london, there are more properties than tenants, so agents have to work hard to find people,” she says. “Here in Canberra, we have the opposite problem, so agents don’t put any effort into marketing.

“We saw a gap for a proactive agency here in c anberra – quality marketing will draw quality tenants.

“Agents in c anberra just don’t do it properly.”

Tamara and Erik say they aim to be the undisputed top property management company in c anberra.

“Our plan is to keep going the way we are,” says Erik. “We have taken over properties from other companies, but no one else has ever taken any of our clients. i think that says it all.

“We want to keep innovating and providing a better standard than anyone else.”

For more information visit www.livein. net.au or call 6262 5232

Anyone interested in li VEin property management who mentions this story in February and March will receive their first month free from any management fees (excluding marketing costs) – they are confident enough in their service that you will stay. And anyone interested in selling a property who mentions this story during February and March will receive free marketing and advertising.

By c atherine c arter

Education spin has to stop

THE My School website demonstrates massive achievement gaps between ACT students from rich and poor families that still exist after nearly a decade of the Stanhope Government.

It shows that the large majority of primary schools that consistently achieve in the top 10 results are high socio-economic status (SES) schools. The large majority of schools that achieve in the bottom 10 results are amongst the lowest SES schools.

The picture is similar in the high school sector. The three wealthiest private schools in Canberra consistently achieve in the top five results. In contrast, schools serving the poorest families in Canberra are consistently in the bottom 10 results.

The My School results add to other evidence of the large achievement gap between rich and poor in Canberra’s schools. International test results show that student outcomes in the ACT have stagnated since 2001 and have, in fact, declined in some areas. For example, average reading scores for 15-year-olds in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) declined between 2000 and 2006 by the equivalent of about six months’ learning.

This year’s Ac T Budget will be a test of whether the education Minister is serious about addressing the inequities revealed by the My school website, writes TReVOR cOBBOLD, national convenor, save Our schools.

ency from the Minister for Education. Just how long has his department known about the low results being achieved by a number of schools and why hasn’t he done something about it?

needed in Canberra’s schools.

People will push planning

THE Ac T Government’s response to population growth may be the biggest issue facing the Territory for the foreseeable future following the launch of the Federal Government’s 2010 intergenerational report “Australia to 2050: Future challenges”.

The PISA results for the ACT show an achievement gap between students from high and low income families of about 2½ years of schooling. This achievement gap is the highest in Australia, apart from the NT. This is a shameful outcome for the ACT. Despite all the Government’s rhetoric about improving social equity, massive inequities in education still exist.

Well, we already know the answer. It is 10 years since the first annual literacy and numeracy tests were first conducted in the ACT under the ACT Assessment Program and the results of individual schools have been provided to the Department of Education every year since. The bigger question is why the Government has failed to act on this information. It has been getting this information every year since it was first elected in 2001. The current Minister for Education has been getting school results every year since he was appointed in 2006. Clearly, something has gone wrong in ACT education during the period of the Stanhope Government. Student achievement has declined under its watch and large inequities in education remain.

A massive new funding program is needed to reduce the large inequities in ACT education. The new $1.84 million Federal-Territory program just announced for four disadvantaged, government schools in the ACT over the next four years is not enough. It sounds impressive, but it amounts to a miserly $260 per student per year in these schools. This is not even enough to buy one teacher for a school of 300 students.

All the research shows that schools serving highly disadvantaged families need double or more the average funding per student (currently $16,061). This shows the enormity of the task we face to eliminate the achievement gap.

This year’s ACT Budget will be a test of whether the Education Minister is serious about addressing inequity, or whether he will just resort to his usual “smoke and mirrors” rhetoric.

The My School results show that the spin has to stop. It is time that the Chief Minister and his Minister for Education focus on the main challenge facing ACT education: To reduce the massive achievement gap between rich and poor in Canberra’s schools.

An ageing population is the first challenge, said Treasurer Wayne Swan when launching the report, which confirms recent publicity about Australia’s growing population, and anticipating that we will have 36 million people living in Australia by 2050 – more than a 50 per cent increase on today’s 22 million, with almost a quarter of them aged over 65. b etween now and 2050 the number of people aged 65-84 years will more than double and those over 85 will more than quadruple. b y 2050, those over 65 will represent nearly a quarter of the population. There are five workers for every retiree at present – paying enough in taxes to fund pensions and health care. b y 2050, according to this report, there will be just 2.7 workers per retiree.

It is now time for a bit of transpar-

The fact is that the Government focused on “bricks and mortar” spending, but it has failed to provide the recurrent funding where it is most

This is an edited version of the Save Our Schools policy comment: “My School Results Mark the Failure of the Stanhope Government on Education”.

Learning to seek out the right school

F i ND i NG the right school is one of the most important things parents can do. Get it right and you will have a happy, contented munchkin who marches off to school every day full of enthusiasm. Get it wrong and it can be a disaster with your boy or girl often miserable as they slip behind their peers.

The reality is that not all schools are created equal and not all schools are going to be a good fit for your child. Many parents put in a lot of effort to finding the right school. I know families that have moved to a different suburb just to “be in area” for a high-demand school and some parents make enormous sacrifices to afford private school fees. Others drive from one end of town to the other to take their children to a particular school.

So when i heard more than 1.5 million people had tried to access the new My School website in

By Sonya Fladun

its first hours of operation, I wasn’t really surprised.

Parents are hugely interested to find the right school or else to see just how well their children’s school compares with other possibilities.

My son’s first school is a great school. But after a promising start it turned out to be a bit of a disaster. The school was too big for my son. He got lost among all the other more vocal and confident children. He had a hearing difficultly that made reading really hard and his talents, a love of science and experimentation weren’t high on the priorities

for his age group. He started to hate school, quickly lost all his confidence and tears ensued every morning.

After a lot of angst we moved him to a smaller, gentler more individually focused school. Very quickly his life changed and we got our happy, enthusiastic, little mad scientist back.

The My School site no doubt is useful to parents. b ut such a resource, focused as it is on measures of what is easily quantifiable, only presents a small part of what i ’ve discovered is a much bigger picture. certainly, ensuring all children are able to get the basics out of their education is hugely important. But finding the right fit, a school that is able to instil a love of learning from early on in your little individual, is something that in my experience takes quite a bit more!

The birth rate and migration figures, by creating more potential working taxpayers, may alleviate the fiscal challenges associated with supporting an ageing population, but will also place pressure on our infrastructure, on schools, health services, transport, environment and communities.

As Treasurer Swan said: “We can manage these pressures if we start planning for them now”. More than ever, we need all levels of government to create strategic, integrated plans for infrastructure, for transport, communications, power, water and health and education.

We need those plans to be realistic about potential future need for such infrastructure, to acknowledge the reality that our population is going to grow. Growth must also be different from the haphazard situation of the past, especially if we are to combat climate change and remain fiscally sustainable.

Australia (ACT).

At Qantas’ Canberra to Darwin services launch

At TransACT Data Centre opening, Dickson

all about living

Festival comes with lots of new drama

By arts editor Helen Musa

WHEN writing about festivals, it’s easy to run out of words to describe them. Not so with corinbank Festival, to take place soon in the corin Forest Mountain Resort, 40 minutes from c anberra, which styles itself “an immersive arts, music and sustainability experience.”

Now in its third year, corinbank is offering concerts, avant-garde theatre pieces, workshops, visual arts installations and a series of mind-boggling camps such as the literary Revolution camp, the creative Kids camp, the Yarn- b ombing camp where you can learn to knit graffiti and the Johnny Cash project featuring chillies and burning rings of fire. And if you survive any of these, you will know that the word “interactive” isn’t just a festival cliché. c amps manager Erika Alacs enthuses, “there’s no commerce in the

creative camps, unless you count smiles as currency.” let’s not be disingenuous about this event – the high-profile concerts starring characters such as hip-hop M c Urthboy (Tim levinson) and blues musician Ash Grunwald are designed to draw the crowds in a familiar way and the festival organisers are fairly salivating at news that the National Gallery of Australia will host clare b owditch and You Am i frontman Tim Rogers in March, but they can be seen for half the price at corinbank.

i ’m talking to Elena Kirschbaum, a c anberra professional acrobat and juggler who is on the artistic programming committee for corinbank. She leaves the big-stage music gigs to others to organise while she concentrates on theatre and visual arts which, she is excited to tell me, have been enhanced by “a bit of a budget” that allows for some international and interstate acts this year, as well as local acts such as corinbank’s own on-site soap opera, “corination Street” and a new tableau vivant from “cityNews” Artist of the Year, Min Mae.

Kirschbaum is particularly excited by b ritain’s b rigid Dolan, whose exotic one-woman show “The courtesan” mixes dance, theatre and circus. As well, Melbourne-base Philadelphia comedian and magician Tim Motley will lure audiences with a magic show where he

plays Dirk Darrow, Paranormal investigator and makes magic with razor blades, cards, ties and pretty well any object his audiences throw at him. This is a new show for Motley, who intends to take it on to the Melbourne comedy Festival – more interactivity.

As well as that, Heist Productions, a Melbourne theatre company with a strong focus on narrative-driven shows,

will work with c anberra artists – more interactivity. A hands-on science show featuring fun, safe experiments will be created for the young by former Questacon whiz-kid Graham Walker.

“The big push is getting the people immersed and involved in themselves,” Kirschbaum says.

Corinbank Festival, February 26-28, tickets online at www. corinbank.com

With his heart in a song...

b R i AN Kennedy is a celebrated balladeer, the man who first recorded the b rendan Graham song “You Raise Me Up”, which he also sang at the funeral of Northern i rish football hero George b est.

On February 19, the 43-year old star is expected to receive the lifetime Achievement Award at the Meteor i reland Music Awards and the next morning he’ll be on a plane to Australia. He’s enjoyed a massive career after starting out with six years singing and playing guitar with Van Morrison, and sharing the stage with b ob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. His song, “Every Song is a cry for love”, represented i reland at the 2006 Eurovision Song contest. He has even written two novels and is working on his autobiography. While he claims that being a songwriter naturally leads him into this kind of writing, the only other person that he can readily call to mind who also does it is Nick c ave.

He’s lived in his native b elfast, london and the US, but if some good reason came up, he tells me by phone from Dublin, where he now lives, he wouldn’t mind living in Australia.

Kennedy will soon be in c anberra performing at Tilley’s. He has been there before and describes it as “like a sophisticated supper club when the lights are down”. He is not at all fazed by performing one night in a huge stadium then on another night in an intimate spot such as Tilley’s.

Kennedy also plays guitar and piano, but he is not about to reveal too much about his c anberra performance except that it will have a Van Morrison tribute in it.

–Helen Musa

Tilley’s Devine Café, Lyneham on February 25. Bookings 6247 7753.

Vigour without any charm

ciNeMA

By Dougal Macdonald

“A PROPHET” (R)

JAcQUES Audiard’s 155-minute drama introduces 19-year-old Malik (Tahar Rahim), a street kid since age 11, illiterate, without friends or family, serving six years, and follows his progress after the prison yard ruler cesar (Niels Arestrup) offers him a choice – qualify for protection by whacking a prisoner cesar wants whacked or be thrown to the wolves of the prison’s corsican, Muslim, italian and French population groups.

Moving briskly through the formative period when Malik learns more than prison survival, the film follows his progress as Cesar’s outside man when on day release after three years’ good behaviour, with prospects of career advancement in the criminal world after his sentence ends.

There’s no gentleness, sympathy or charm in “A Prophet”, but its vigour and refusal to compromise in depicting its events make for compelling cinema. Violent to a degree of verisimilitude rare in films from any country, it’s wonderfully subtle in intimating where Malik is heading and persuading us to fear for his life among men unrestrained by any morality. He rises in the prison community by not asking questions but observing causes and outcomes involving others. Nothing in prison life improves his moral awareness. Never his friend, when cesar’s fate unfolds it’s worse than death. Making a clear statement that prisons are places to avoid, especially in France, “A Prophet” is a foreign language nominee at the coming Academy Awards.

At Dendy

“EDGE OF DARKNESS” (MA)

TH

iS adaptation of a 1985 bbc TV series is about widowed detective craven (Mel Gibson) tracking down the shooter of his daughter Emma (Australian actress b ojana Novakovich) while standing beside him on the front porch of his b oston home.

Although perhaps not Gibson’s most successful role, the film has enough tension, excitement, mystery and controlled confusion to sustain it to a moderately mawkish conclusion. its structure comprises layers of mystery surrounding a research company operating out of a former nuclear weapons plant. Government officials have drawn a veil of denial over the

company’s building of WMDs designed to resemble third-world products. craven is operating outside the rules of the Boston PD to find who killed not only Emma but also the increasing number of others associated with the company or his enquiries. The mysterious Jedburgh (Ray Winston) has access to limitless information to implement his political masters’ agenda across the full spectrum of the screenplay. The complexity is effective, the credibility reasonable, the pace all you might wish. Gibson’s penchant for sprinkling wry humour over unalloyed violence does not falter. Director Martin c ampbell bestrews the last act with more bodies than “Hamlet”, rather a good thing considering who most of them are. Yet “Edge Of Darkness” fails to stand out from others of its genre as much as it might have. That’s no reason for

avoiding it, merely an amber light signaling that its satisfaction level may not meet your hopes or expectations.

At all Canberra cinemas

“DAyBREAKERS” (MA) NO STARS

WiTH infantile, irrational, puerile, childish dialogue, a juvenile, preposterous, immature, self-indulgent, disconnected plot, vile coloration, a glowering musical score belonging in a 1930s b movie, clumping military phalanxes that Dr Who does far better, “Daybreakers” easily displaces 1982’s “Turkey Shoot” at the bottom of the heap of Australian-made films untroubled by merit.

“Daybreakers” proposes that by 2019, the world will have become populated by vampires dependant on a human blood diet which entrepreneur b romley (Sam Neill) has scientists trying to synthesise but not even team leader Edward (Ethan Hawke) has been able to crack. b romley is not happy about losing market position after his supply of natural product dries up.

l ast December, “Zombieland”, which at least had the kindness to make us laugh, offered a similar theme. “Daybreakers’s” only perceptible merit is its proposition that while exposure to direct sunlight is agonising to vampires, those who survive will become re-humanised. intending producers of vampire movies please note, sunshine will expose their folly. Which is a good thing.

At Hoyts

arts in the city

Tim creates a bit of a buzz

“llOYD b eckmann, b eekeeper” is the story of a Queensland battler and his lifelong romance with bees as told through his grandson’s eyes. The production immerses the audience in an interactive theatre work that emerged from conversations between actor Tim Stitz and his grandfather. it’s a homecoming for c anberratrained director Kelly Somes after six years in Melbourne. The play is at the courtyard Studio, February 18-21.

KATE Shearer, artistic director of Jigsaw Theatre company who is leaving to take the top job at Melbourne’s b ig West Festival in March, will be back throughout 2010 to work on projects for the company. Her prizewinning show “Walk the Fence” opens on February 25 at The courtyard Studio.

TO celebrate its 21st birthday of the Friends of the National Museum of Australia, a free romantic afternoon of jazz, love songs, and big band favourites will be presented by the Royal Military college b and in the outdoor amphitheatre at the Museum of Australia, 2pm-5 pm, February 14 . The Friends group was formed in 1989 to lobby to have the National Museum built.

i N recent years, the people of b ega have raised $35,000 for a living Arts Prize. Painter Prue Acton is head of the judging committee, but the immediate region is packed with arts-world stars, including no fewer than three recipients of the old “Keating” awards. A new A bc doco, “The living Artist”, by cian O’clery, son of gallery owner and former c anberra arts identity Karen O’clery, follows four local artists as they compete for the prize. it’s on A bc 2 on at 6.30pm, February 14 FEEli NG sentimental? Nine guest vocalists will revisit and reinterpret the music of The Eagles, in “One of These Nights” at the c anberra Theatre on February 18. John Paul Young heads the line-up, with a guest appearance by Jenny Morris.

–Helen Musa

Emilio knows his fish

DiNiNG

By Wendy Johnson

iT was a super-hot summer evening – a perfect time for a lighter meal, so we headed to the new “ocean grill” in Manuka, named after canberra’s Emilio Konidaris.

Emilio’s is a welcome addition to the southside, which for years has been crying out for a seafood restaurant.

it was a bit of a rocky start when Emilio’s had already run out of both the mussels and wine we had selected, but the staff suggested we share the calamari and octopus salad as an entrée instead ($18) and offered a more expensive wine at the lower price. if Emilio knows anything, he knows his seafood. He has been sourcing fresh fish for the AcT for more than 40 years, always craving what he enjoyed so much during his childhood on the Greek island of lifkas. Emilio sources the restaurant’s seafood daily, so the menu continually changes.

The calamari and octopus were fresh and tender, but buried throughout the salad which was overly dressed with oil and lemon. it would be nice to see a more inviting presentation.

My friend’s whole snapper served with parsley, caper butter sauce and chips ($28) melted in the mouth. Fresh was definitely the operative word here. i chose the panfried fish of the day (snapper) with a saffron and fennel bouillabaisse jus ($28). it also came with chips (indeed, chips are big on the menu – i would prefer to see other side options offered as part of some mains). i felt

it was a smallish piece of snapper for the price, but the bouillabaisse was classy and the fish good quality.

We ordered a mixed green salad to share ($6), but had to re-order when the initial request was forgotten. it arrived after we had finished our mains.

if seafood isn’t on your food repertoire,

Emilio’s offers a few meat dishes. The wine list is worth a tick – both selection and price – and includes labels from our own region. Desserts include mango crème brûlée and an interesting sounding basil and buttermilk pana cotta (all $12).

We were the only ones outside in the earlier part of the evening when the heat was intense, so we asked if the thick canopy

could be pulled back for some desperately needed air flow. Despite asking a second time, it stayed put. We also agreed that the exterior could use a “little tlc” to make it more welcoming and less “café like”. And although we had three people serve us throughout our meal, Emilio’s could use some refinements with this side of the operation.

Emilio’s has put his own stamp on the interior. We hope the empty fish tank at the front will soon be filled, in time for another visit.

Emilio’s, 36 Franklin Street, Manuka, open seven days, lunch and dinner, a family friendly restaurant. Call 6295 1036.

Painting rugs for peace

THEODORE artist Guity Daliri has been busy for the past four years, working 10 hours a day, including weekends on a unique artistic project – she’s been painting for world peace.

The public will get a chance to see 24 of her unusual paintings at the Tuggeranong Arts centre from February 26 to March 17. At first glimpse, you’ll think what you’re looking at exquisite, refined carpets from her native Tehran, but closer inspection revealed that these are actually oil on canvas works in which she creates the impression of Persian rugs. These are quite different from i slamic prayer rugs, which feature a directional pointer to Mecca. created entirely from

Daliri’s imagination, there is no focal direction in these tiny carpets.

The carpets Daliri paints, which she calls “carpets in a box”, have been inspired by the faith of c anberra’s b ahai community of which she is a member and the Persian calligraphy inscribed in the centre of each power is a reference to the name of the founder of the faith, b aha’u’llah. Her higher aspiration, she says, is to serve humanity through her art. b ahais were commonly persecuted during the 20th century, but nevertheless aspire to see the union of all peoples in a common religious belief.

–Helen Musa

HEADi

out

after

choose shoes that are officeappropriate but glamorous enough for after-hours … these gorgeous heels will transfer from work to play with ease!

–Kathryn

Heels for work and play

There’s still time to plan a treat for your loved one for Valentine’s Day – book a romantic meal or treat them to a relaxing massage.

Bliss out together

SHAR i NG a blissfully relaxing massage with your partner makes for a special Valentine’s Day treat, says luciana Todd, director of Om Shanti college.

“Our Wellbeing clinic offers various massage treatments from relaxation, remedial, hot rock, sports, pregnancy and cranial,” she says. “We can also happily arrange a couples’ massage for Valentine’s Day – it’s all about taking time out and really unwinding together.”

luciana says that all Om Shanti therapists are

well-qualified and committed to helping people feel better.

“We also offer gift vouchers, which is another great idea for the special person in your life,” luciana says. “customers who come in with a gift voucher are always rapt to have received one.”

Om Shanti College is taking bookings now for Valentine’s Day on 6295 2323.

Think Pink winner

Congratulations to Lindsay

Spice up your life

SPic Y food is guaranteed to get pulses racing on Valentine’s Day, says Reddy Manne, owner of b lu Ginger indian Restaurant.

“ We’re located in a lively centre of civic, and we’re a modern haven for fine Indian dishes,” he says. “Great for a romantic dinner for two.”

With a focus on modern i ndian cuisine, and an extensive menu that’s easy to decipher, b lu Ginger will be offering a new lunchtime menu in February.

“Each dish has a useful heat strength rating and information is provided about the various dishes’ origins,” says Reddy.

Sleep-ins work a treat

A SlEEP- i N is the best way to treat the new mum in your life, says Jenny Tiffen, founder of c anberra FitMums. close second and third on their list of romantic treats would be having someone else unpack the dishwasher and take the clothes off the line once in a while, she says.

“i speak with mums daily about the ups and downs of parenthood, and when i asked them during a workout what they wished for this Valentine’s Day, the response was overwhelming!

“Perhaps if help with the housework is getting mums’ hearts racing, then possibly other areas such as touch, gifts, quality time and words of affirmation are also running a little low,” she says. New mums often struggle with their identity after bringing a child into the world, Jenny says. Sometimes they can feel lost after postponing their career to look after children and lose some desire, need and time to look after themselves and feel beautiful.

ARIES

your week in the stars

With Joanne Madeline Moore

Febraury 15 - 21

(Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Rams can be a selfish lot but guess what – it’s not all about you this week! With five planets activating your ‘helping others’ zone, it’s high time you concentrated on the needs of those around you. You’ll also gain good fortune if you are involved with projects from behind-thescenes.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Venus is joining forces with lucky Jupiter, so fabulous opportunities will come your way through interacting with people face-to-face, plus via social networking sites. it’s all about connections at the moment as you extend your circle of influence to include work colleagues, professional contacts and internet friends.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

When it comes to work, a bold and creative approach will shift the stale old energy, get fresh ideas moving, and could lead to an exciting job opportunity. it’s time to pluck your ideas and dreams from the thought plane and put them into practice in the real world. Dreaming about something isn’t the same as actually doing it!

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Are you feeling a tad restless? is your cosy crab cave starting to look a little predictable and boring? blame it on plenty of planetary activity in your adventure zone, which will stimulate your travel gene and leave you dreaming of tropical trips and exotic escapades. better start planning that itinerary (and saving) ASAP!

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Calling all lusty Leos! With five planets in your sensuality zone, you’re in the mood for love and lust. if you are attached, it’s time to spice up the relationship with a sexy SMS or an erotic email. Single lions – cupid has his arrows pointed in your direction and love is likely with a sassy Sagittarian or an amorous Aquarian.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Partnerships should be a pleasure this week, as Venus and Jupiter encourage affection, companionship and generosity. With a combined head and heart approach, you’ll easily win friends and influence people. You’re also more demonstrative with your feelings – perhaps it’s time to open your heart to someone special?

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

With no less than five planets firing up your job zone, professional matters are on your mind. Saturn is not giving you an easy time, but that can work in your favour. Your quote for the week is courtesy of cathy Freeman (born on February 16): “Hurdles help you understand yourself and encourage you to work harder to reach your dream.”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

it’s all about love this week. if you are attached, you’re overdue to do something wildly romantic with your spouse. Still single? Make a wish list of all the attributes you’d prefer in the ideal partner; burn the list and send your wishes out into the universe. Then – sit back and wait for your sexy Scorpio soul mate to come calling!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Venus boosts your charm and Jupiter bolsters your confidence this week. And, whether you are building, renovating, redecorating, gardening, entertaining or just preoccupied with a handful of kids, you’ll be happy to hunker down at home. “He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.” (Goethe)

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

The more you distance yourself from others midweek, the more difficult things will be. Nurturing your professional and personal contacts takes time and commitment, but is well worth the effort. communicating with a wide range of people will broaden your perspective and make you feel super connected to the world around you.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

With lucky Venus and Jupiter in your money zone, the gods are smiling on your finances. So it’s a great time to look for work, enter a competition, sign up a new client or finalise a big sale. Aquarians are free spirits but you might actually enjoy being housebound this weekend, as you play Domestic Diva or DiY King.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Welcome to Planet Pisces! With five planets in your sign – including lucky, optimistic Jupiter – there are no excuses for not putting your dreams into action. be inspired by birthday great Michael Jordan (born on February 17): “Some people want it to happen, some people wish

could happen, others make it happen.”

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2009.

ACROSS

3 To be meant for a select few is to be what?

7 Which endocrine gland is located in the midbrain?

8 What describes the state of being insusceptible to disease or the like?

9 Which term implies being curved like a sphere?

10 Which word suggests that which is likely to occur at any moment?

11 What are the hard outer portions of bread?

14 Name the relative social position of an individual.

17 What marks the distance to or from a town, as along a highway (4,4)?

18 What do we call a small hut beside a swimming pool?

19 Name the lookout for a two-up game.

20 Which bottle of wine holds about 1.5 litres?

21 What are complete outfits for newborn children?

1 Which term describes a man who has lost his wife by death?

2 Name the amphibious rodents that dam streams.

3 Which alchemic preparations were once believed to turn base metals into gold?

4 What is another word for a holiday maker?

5 What is an archaic term for clothing?

6 Name an alternative word for the prairie wolves.

11 To be funny is to be what?

12 What does it mean, to be illfated or unfortunate?

13 Which is the second section of spar above the deck?

14 Name the term that is an abbreviation of situation comedies.

15 What are inflatable safety devices in motor vehicles?

16 Name the element which is the basis of nuclear reactors.

Solution next week