Canberra CityNews March 25-31 2010

Lots of pants in naked cycle

c aught in a bureaucratic triangle, protesters in c anberra’s world Naked Bike Ride kept their pants (or body paint) on while the Nca rebuffed them, the police shepherded them and the ac T Government looked sympathetically on. eLeRi HaRRis discovers the vagaries of the Nudity act 976.

“THERE’S nothing like nudity to really polarise people,” Alice Snow says.

As an organiser for the World Naked Bike Ride Canberra caught between liberal ACT Government legislation and an officious National Capital Authority, she would know.

More than 100 cyclists, skaters, unicyclists and a chap in a wheelchair rolled around the Parliamentary triangle last Sunday to raise awareness of the vulnerable on Territory streets, bring attention to road safety issues and the importance of sustainable transport in the capital – but they didn’t actually do it in the nude, that would be breaking the law.

The Naked Bike Ride in the ACT isn’t really naked, participants wear body paint and knickers, because organisers have yet to get Minister for Sport and Recreation Andrew Barr to approve the ride, now in its second year, under the Nudity Act 1976.

The ACT is the only jurisdiction in Australia where, through the Nudity Act, you can actually

apply for the relevant Minister to make an area temporarily a prescribed legal place in which to be naked.

Without approval, public nudity – or indecent exposure, as it is known – can be punished with up to 12 months imprisonment.

Barr’s office told “CityNews” that, although the ACT Government administers the Act, the ride itself took place on land controlled by the National Capital Authority.

An NCA spokesman told “CityNews” they did not deal with the ACT Government when arrangements were made for the ride, only the AFP.

“The NCA was asked to comment on the Nude Bike Ride and expressed a view that they would

contact us INDEX

February March 25-31, 2010

Since 1993: Volume 16, Number 12

Arts&Entertainment 24-26

Body 27

Crossword 38

Dining 26

Fashion 23

Horoscope 38

Letters 17

Movie reviews 25

News 5-17

Politics 14

Property 39-47

Social Scene 18-21

Sport 8

Sudoku 38

FRONT COVER: Environment Minister

Simon Corbell talks Monergy. Story

Page 10. Photo by Silas

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not support the ride as there was already a number of other events approved to take place in the Parliamentary Zone on the day.

“The NCA recognises the right to protest and offered no view on the issue of public nudity.”

The AFP maintain a presence at the event and Minister for both the Environment and Police Simon Corbell is supportive of the event.

“I don’t think you have to be naked to be in favour of renewable energy, but if people want to make a point, good on them. It’s great that people want to raise awareness of the issue in quirky and unusual ways,” he says.

Nude or partially clothed protest has become the de jour political statement across Australia in recent years with pensioners and taxi drivers

stripping down in Melbourne, animal activists presenting themselves naked, coated in fake blood, at the Canadian embassy in Canberra and cyclists across the east coast pedalling downtown in body paint alone.

But while the causes may differ, the message of vulnerability is the same and Snow says baring all is a deliberate tactic.

“You just can’t escape the symbolism of it, the first thing that screams at you is vulnerability.

“The main focus is on sharing the roads and there being more awareness that at the end of the day if you are sharing the roads, whether it be on roller blades, cycle, motorcycle – you may as well just not be wearing anything, because of the level of vulnerability between you and the road.”

The World Naked Bike Ride started in Spain in 2004 and is now an annual event in 50 cities in 20 countries, with the largest numbers in Vancouver, Canada, and London, UK, where up to 5000 people participate.

The Canberra version of the protest comes off the back of ANU and insurance broker

AAMI studies showing high levels of tension between cyclists and drivers in the ACT as well as concerning numbers of cyclists with injuries presenting in emergency wards across the Territory.

Snow says the numbers are alarming, despite Canberra’s sizable bike path infrastructure.

She says that nudity separates the ride from other more aggressive protests.

“It’s really hard to be angry as a naked person. You can’t take yourself too seriously, but you can seriously get the message across,” she says.

Deliberate outrage, letters Page 17

Oh, Canberra, those temples to bad taste!

AS we all know, Canberra is easily the most attractive and desirable place to live on the entire planet (with the possible exception of Tuross). So we must be especially vigilant to keep it that way. And it pains me to say it, but someone is trying to turn Canberra ugly.

If you doubt it, cruise up Hindmarsh Drive toward Fyshwick and – if you have a strong stomach – look right: you will be confronted by the architectural horrors of O’Malley. Who could have perpetrated this blot on Canberra’s escutcheon? Surely, no professional designer could be responsible for such grotesqueries. When I first noticed them I thought they must be a mad mix-up of the plans by the builders; the authorities would soon step in and put matters right. But alas, the temples to bad taste keep rising. And I fear the uglification of Canberra is not confined to O’Malley. Hideous houses are ap -

THe GaDFLY

By Robert Macklin

pearing almost overnight in some of our most gracious and charming suburbs. They are different from the O’Malley monstrosities. They are all straight lines and sharp angles, plastered smooth and painted white and some variation of dog-poo grey.

All seem to come from the same school of architecture. I call it “Serbian Fortress”. You half expect to see the snouts of machine guns protruding from slits in the façade and commandos abseiling down from the roof. They stand out like the proverbial canine appendages among the friendly, rambling homes of Forrest, Red Hill and Yarralumla.

They first made their appearance about five years ago; now they’re all over the place – soulless fabrications crowding in like alien intruders.

Then there’s the boxes of glass and concrete proliferating in Civic as apartment blocks. With one or two exceptions, they are about as exciting and tasteful as milk crates piled upon each other – barely a whiff of originality among them.

On the distant reaches of the north side, the new McMansions are a triumph of tastelessness. And their new owners have loaded themselves with mortgages that will haunt their nights for decades to come. We can only hope that they will plant forests of trees to disguise their worst excesses.

But the real prize for the New Hideous must go to the Kingston foreshore development. Treating the Burley Griffin puddle as some kind of miniSydney Harbour was always a piece of grandiose

Beauties amid the beasts

We send snapper SILAS BROWN out on the dream assignment of photographing nude cyclists (the story’s on Page 5) and he comes back with curves of a different kind. Wearying of the sight of protesting naked flesh, he retreated from Parliament House to the car show in Parkes Place where he indulged himself in a different kind of photographic intimacy.

nonsense from the Carnell era. But did it really have to be so utterly without redeeming features?

Bare of any semblance of grace, warmth or charm, it’s not so much a living space as a collection of giant glass and marble pigeon lofts.

Canberra has many hidden architectural treasures – from that charming little village inside the motel compound at Symonstown; luxuriant O’Connor ridge in the inner north; the modest little homes of Calwell; the streetscapes of Oxley, Chapman and especially the leafy loveliness of Reid.

Perhaps one day a sense of graceful home design will be forced upon us by the new deus ex machina, Climate Change. We can but hope. In the words of the great Gough Whitlam: “Well may we say, ‘God save Canberra’ ... because nothing will save O’Malley.”

robert@robertmacklin.com

Sayers tipped for top museum job

By arts editor Helen Musa

With the departure of director Craddock Morton from the National Museum of Australia, speculation is firming up on the announcement of his successor. informed sources say that Andrew Sayers, director of the National Portrait Gallery since 1998, is the most likely of three contenders.

Sayers, born in 1957, in England, is widely regarded as not having put a foot wrong since leaving the National Gallery of Australia to head up the Portrait Gallery. h e successfully negotiated the purchase of John Webber’s 1782 portrait of Captain James Cook, and funding from the h oward Government for the new $73.6 million National Portrait Gallery, eventually opened by Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in late 2008. h e steered his way without partisanship between two Federal governments and two patrons in Janette h oward and, presently, thérèse Rein, with whom Sayers will share centre stage during the Canberra international Music Festival in May to read extracts from the diaries of Robert and Clara Schumann.

the visual arts, it is believed that with his administrative skills he would welcome a move on to a broader stage.

“h e’s done such a brilliant job at NPG and people there love working for him,” a former staffer at the Museum said, adding that NMA staff were also “positive” about the idea of working with Sayers. A spokesman from the office of Federal Environment, h eritage and the Arts Minister Peter Garrett told “CityNews” the formal announcement would take place in “the next weeks – plural.”

Andrew Sayers

While Sayers’s career so far has been in

Mr Morton was brought in as a “fixer” in December 2003 after the controversial departure of museum director Dawn Casey. An arts adviser and part architect of former prime minister Paul Keating’s “Creative Nation” policy, he openly scoffed at Senator Kate Lundy’s suggestions that he was the “handpicked foot soldier” of the Howard Government and proved brilliantly popular with staff and successful at securing funding and toning down the “history wars” debate at the museum through exhibitions and seminars. h e plans to retire to Adelaide with his wife.

Praise be for sport’s redemptive power

YOU don’t have to look far to find stories of redemption in sport; stories of sportspeople given another opportunity to succeed in their chosen field, a chance to right the wrongs and get their lives back on track. It is not worth contemplating where they would be if it wasn’t for sport.

Todd Carney was given more warnings than most when he was playing for the Raiders. In the end, the Canberra board had no option but to show him the door. At the same time, they would have recognised the fact that he would return to haunt the club as a player in a rival team if given the opportunity.

The Roosters have provided that so-called second chance and Carney is repaying the club on the field. He has publicly stated that he has given up alcohol to ensure that the focus is on his football prowess and not off-field indiscretions.

While it is great to see him back playing, you

Flying ace to thrill open day crowds

AEROBATIC pilot Gary Criddle, who has more than 40 years flying experience and was once a pilot in the Roulettes, will be flying a spectacular low-level display in a Dragonfly A-37B at the Canberra Airport’s upcoming annual open day.

His aerobatics are not for the faint-hearted and he will be on at various stages throughout the airport’s fifth Open Day, on Sunday, March 28, 9.30am to 1.30pm.

The day has, of course, special experiences for aviation enthusiasts (with several civilian and military aircraft on display) as well as children’s rides, food and entertainment to ensure the day is a hit with the whole family.

“The Open Day is our way of thanking community for their support and at the same time providing them with the opportunity to see airport aviation activity up close,” says airport managing director Mr Stephen Byron.

Some of the aircraft on display will include: a Qantas 767, QantasLink Q400, Virgin Blue 737, Brindabella Airlines J-41 and Metroliner, smaller aircraft and warbirds.

Take a step back in time with an aviation display from the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society including the famous “Connie” (Super Constellation), a Neptune, a Catalina

There’s a lot of forgiveness when it comes to naughty sportspeople, says

T iM GaVeL

can’t help contemplating what might have been. One of the conditions imposed by the Raiders if he was to stay with Canberra was to give up alcohol. Apparently, that didn’t happen and the rest is history. If only he had offered the same commitment off the field to the Raiders that he is now presenting to the Roosters, he could still be playing for Canberra.

In fact, rugby league is one of the more forgiving codes. Lote Tuqiri has been welcomed back with open arms by the NRL after his contract was

terminated by the Australian Rugby Union. Nate Myles has emerged as one of the form players 12 months after an off-field incident on the Central Coast, while Dane Tilse is making the most of his second chance with the Raiders.

But rugby league is not the only sport offering redemption of sorts. Twelve months ago who would have thought Justin Harrison would be back playing for the Brumbies? It is probably not a bad thing to have a player in your squad who has experienced the highs and lows. In many instances the younger players will take more notice of a player who has lived a little. As it has turned out, Harrison has been able to offer sage advice to the younger players coming through.

Then there is the return of referee Steve Walsh who retired after an alcohol-related incident at a SANZAR conference in 2007. He has worked his way back through grade football in Sydney and

flying plane and DC3/C47.

Elsewhere there will be a jumping castle and inflatable worm ride, face painting and glitter tattoos, Australian Federal Police Stall, ACT Aeromodellers Association flight simulators and rides in a tethered RAAF hot air balloon.

There will be a range of food stalls, including coffee, sausage sizzle, pizza, gelato and Dutch pancakes.

The open day will be held in Brindabella Business Park and parking is free, just follow the signs.

has refereed the Brumbies twice so far this year in the Super 14.

The AFL also has plenty of second-chance stories with Ben Cousins the most obvious example. By far the biggest redemption story in sport this year has to be Marion Jones. Jones lost five medals, including three gold, after admitting to using banned drugs. She was also jailed for six months for lying to Federal prosecutors about doping and her role in tax fraud. At the time it was hard to imagine her being involved in sport ever again. But no, Marion Jones has been signed to play basketball in the American WNBA by the appropriately named “Tulsa Shock”. This means Jones will be lining up against the likes of Lauren Jackson this year. Sure, sport has a habit of bringing bad publicity on itself, but on the flip-side there are plenty of stories about how sport can turn around the lives of transgressors.

pRopeRTY

By Catherine Carter

Energy benefits of

a black out

GiVEN that energy consumption in Canberra’s commercial and industrial buildings, and the homes we live in, accounts for around 70 per cent of the territory’s greenhouse gas emissions, the annual Earth Hour is a simple way of demonstrating the energy savings which can be made by simply flicking a switch.

Last year, Earth hour 2009 reached 1 billion people worldwide with iconic landmarks in 4000 cities from 800 countries taking part.

Locally, the hour had impressive results – a 9.5 per cent drop in Canberra’s electricity usage, which represented a reduction of 27 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking eight cars off the road for an entire year.

This year, those participating at home might consider getting candles ready and planning some non-electric activities with the kids. It’s worth taking the opportunity to get them involved and contributing. this can be much more than an instructive interlude. it can be great fun as well.

Every year Earth Hour grows in prominence and significance, and it provides a practical demonstration of how a little thought can reduce our environmental footprint.

Earth hour is between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Saturday, March 27.

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

Monergy: Saving money and energy

combating climate change by targeting your hip pocket, the ac T Government has launched a new campaign called “Monergy” to help canberrans save the planet.

ENVi RONMENt Minister Simon Corbell says the campaign message of Monergy is simple: Save money and energy.

“The Monergy campaign is designed to raise awareness among ordinary Canberrans about what they can do to save money and save energy in their home,” he says.

“it’s part of our push to make the Government’s rebates and information program available to more Canberrans.” Monergy is focused on the ACTSmart website, where information on Government rebates is collated in an easy-to-use, online format, Corbell says will appeal to AC t locals.

“It’s a single package. In the last Budget we decided to bring all the rebate programs together because previously our programs and rebates and other information activities were scattered all over the place. i t was very hard for Canberrans to find out what kind of assistance they could get from the ACT Government on energy efficiency, on water efficiency,” he says.

“So we’ve brought it all together, we’ve rebranded it as AC t Smart and we’ve created a single web-based, one-stop-shop for people to find that information.”

“Sixty per cent of all energy in Canberra is used through stationary energy, which is energy in people’s homes and in buildings generally.

“So, if we can achieve a reduction of even one or two per cent at an individual household level, and if we achieve that in enough homes across the Territory, that starts to become quite a significant amount of energy saved and greenhouse gas reduction achieved.

“We think we’ve already reached out to those people who are really convinced about this issue, convinced about climate change energy efficiency and there’s lots of households that are already converted, but what we’re trying to do is reach those households that aren’t focused on that message and trying to give them a really practical reason for considering energy efficiency and water efficiency in their

home, because we’re offering just under $19 million of assistance and information over the next four years.

“We’ve launched this campaign to make it easy for people.

sixty per cent of all energy in c anberra is used through stationary energy, which is energy in people’s homes and in buildings generally.

“It has been difficult in the past, you’ve got to do a lot of research, track down different websites and different points of information and we’ve created AC t Smart to bring it all together – a single point of reference.

“Running the Monergy campaign gives people the message, ‘save some money by saving energy, go to this website and find out how’.

“So it’s designed to be a much simpler way to break through that barrier that does exist in many people’s minds.

“Canberrans still, overall, have a very strong interest in tackling climate change, they’re very conscious of the issue and, given the levels the levels of participation we see in events such as Earth hour, it’s quite clear that Canberrans want to take individual action on the issue, so i think it’s the Government’s job to help them do that.”

Rebates are available for renters as well as home owners, businesses and schools and include energy auditing, wood heater replacement, rainwater tanks and renewable energy.

More information at www.environment.act.gov.au/actsmart

Family dances into work

By Kathryn Vukovljak

HAVING successfully turned her dance-school “hobby business” into a full-time job, Raquel Paez Ricciardo, director of Salsabor Dance Company, says it’s down to the support of her all-dancing family.

Salsabor, which means “salsa with style”, has just moved into its own studio on East Row in Civic, and will be celebrating with an opening party on April 17 to showcase what the school has to offer.

“Two years ago I decided to risk everything and put my heart and soul into Salsabor,” she says. “Now we finally have our own studio – it’s so exciting.”

The school has taught at different venues across Canberra for the past five years, but this is the first time it has had a “home”.

Raquel, 30, says her sister Andrea, 29, has helped her every step of the way, working full-time in the public service as well as teaching and helping to manage the school.

“She’s my rock,” says Raquel.

Raquel’s younger sister Julia, 24, takes the payments in classes and brother Alejandro, 19, looks after the admin and runs their social night every Monday at King O’Malley’s. Even their parents are involved.

“They’re well-known to our regular students, because they help out at every major event and party we hold, even though they don’t live in Canberra,” says Raquel. “They have a passion for traditional Ecuadorian sanjuanito dancing, so we’ve grown up with dancing.”

Specialising in salsa, Zumba, Batchata, Reggaeton, hip hop, bridal dance, and private tuition, Salsabor has expanded from 70 students to more

than 400 in the past two years and has 10 instructors.

The quartet also has a younger brother Inti, who’s 13. “He likes dancing but we haven’t roped

him into the business yet!” laughs Raquel. Salsabor, first floor, 11-13 East Row, at the bus interchange. Visit www.salsabor.com.au

Sharing the message

“YOU can do something” is the the message of phone counselling service Lifeline’s new TV community service announcement. “Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under the age of 44 and women under the age of 34,” says Canberra CEO Mike Zissler. “Often we hear people say that they feel sad about suicide but don’t believe it has anything to do with them. At Lifeline Canberra we consider everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention in Australia, and this could be as simple as donating to Lifeline’s life saving service.” For emotional crisis support call Lifeline 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 131114.

Night in the clouds

“A NIGHT in the Clouds”, the Annual Snowy Hydro SouthCare gala ball and auction, will be held at the National Convention Centre Saturday, May 15. t his year’s theme celebrates the early pioneers of aviation including the first rotary, fixed wings and the hot-air balloon. All profits go towards keeping the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Rescue helicopter in the air saving lives. Ticketing information from Jillian Bronwlie on 0433 888161, Belinda Pasfield on 0421 832815 or log on to showponyevents.com.

Flight in the clouds

tRAViS Wood, of Canberra, has won the four-way intermediate formation skydiving National Championships at Sydney Skydivers, Picton, with a record-breaking performance. the team broke the Australian record number of formations in competition with a 17-point skydive – that’s 17 formations in 35 seconds!

By Sonya Fladun

When ‘sorry’ has to stop

MICHAEL Kirby has once again put the cat amongst the pigeons with his suggestion that the time will come for an apology to gay people.

He is right, of course. Just like Aboriginal people of the stolen generation felt that they deserved an apology as victims of structural prejudice, an argument can easily be made and easily understood that gay people have also been victimised.

It was not until he was a member of the High Court and largely unassailable that, in 1998, Kirby was able to put his relationship with Johan van Vloten officially on the public record.

Up until that time, he was not able to give public recognition to his long-term partner – a matter that heterosexual couples (married or not) took for granted.

Kirby’s argument goes: “It was a response to criticism, from some of the usual media suspects, suggesting that I should apologise for being in a relationship with my partner at the time that homosexual acts were a criminal offence.

I suggested that this was like saying that Nelson Mandela should apologise for… breaching the racist laws during the apartheid days. When the law changes, it is sometimes appropriate to provide apologies to those who were oppressed by the old law”.

poLiTics

By Michael Moore

His explanation raises many questions. While the immediate reaction of compassionate people is likely to be: “Of course people who have been wronged by the system, by our laws, by our society should receive an apology. It was true for Aboriginal people that were snatched from their parents and it should be true for others.

w hen the law changes,it is sometimes appropriate to provide apologies to those who were oppressed by the old law.

He contends that “more important than apologies, however, are practical measures that remove the discrimination in the law books. Fortunately, this is now happening in our country, slowly but surely.”

However, Kirby’s suggestion does raise the spectre of where the apologies should end. There is no doubt that bad laws, structural issues and systemic bias have in the past had a significant impact on women – and many argue that it continues.

It is only a matter of time before we are going to recognise that the imprisonment of refugees as they flee torture is simply unconscionable. However, these prejudices are part and parcel of our society and no one knows better than Michael Kirby the importance of the “rule of law” – even when those laws are wrong and need changing. Will we need to be apologising to women, to refugees, to those of poorer socio-economic status – to everyone other than white, heterosexual, middle-class males with dutiful wives and families?

Perhaps we will. Perhaps we should. But perhaps we should be asking what is happening in the minds of our elected representatives when they either pass laws or fail to remove laws that are oppressive, prejudicial and judgemental. Politicians should be asking themselves before supporting any new law: will this law create a situation where as a society we are going to have to offer an apology in the future? It is not a bad test of whether any new law is appropriate in a free society.

Kirby’s own history on human rights, his powerful intellect and his strong commitment to others takes him rapidly beyond the headline grabber – the apology – to how he views a better society.

“I have a feeling that we in Australia are in an important cross-roads in the evolution of acceptance of difference and diversity in our society,” he says.

“I hope that this will come about and we must all do whatever we can to promote acceptance and to grow out of infantile attitudes that insist that people must all be exactly the same.”

A myriad of apologies is not something to look forward to. All the more reason for us to test our own attitudes, push our politicians into making better laws, drive them into implementing structural change and using every opportunity we can to avoid the need for societal apologies in the future.

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

Michael Kirby is at: www.michaelkirby.com.au

briefly

Top call centre

ACTEWAGL’S contact centre has been ranked first in Switchselect.com.au’s survey of Australian energy companies’ customer service call times. The survey, which reviewed 16 major energy providers across Australia, compared the cost of the call, the time taken to answer the call and the number of selections before talking to a person. General manager retail Ayesha Razzaq said: “We are constantly reviewing our systems and procedures to ensure that we can offer our customers great service.”

Festival needs help

THE not-for-profit Tuggeranong Festival is looking for people who have all sorts of skills in IT, marketing, promotional, graphic design, event or project management, newsletter and desk-top publishing, finance, secretarial, general committee work or interacting with the local events and entertainment sector. The festival is also looking for volunteers who would like to help out on the day in Tuggeranong Town Park on November 27. To get involved contact Jill Faulkner at Communities@Work on 6293 6500.

Calling all comrades

LOCAL left-winger John Passant is inviting likeminded people to the “left event of the year” over Easter at Melbourne University for four days of politics, debate and discussion with the likes of John Pilger, Sameh Habeeb from the “Palestine Telegraph”, Richard Downs, a spokesperson for the Ampilatwatja walk-off against the NT Intervention and Canberra’s own Deutscher Prize winner Rick Kuhn. There will more than 60 talks on subjects from Palestine to women’s oppression to the struggles of workers around the world as well as introduction to Marxism seminars. For more information visit www.marxism2010.com or call John on 0422 984334.

Bring back the old nanna nap!

i REALLY wasn’t a nap person. Ever since I was a teenager I stayed up late and burnt the candle at all ends. i could go for long periods with minimal shut-eye with no apparent ill effect. Even when heavily pregnant with our first child, I found it difficult to switch off.

When my son arrived i found it impossible to take a quick nap when he did, no matter how tired i was. i nstead, i ran around the house with the aid of way-too-much caffeine catching up on all the household stuff I couldn’t get done while he was awake (which, in his case, was pretty much most of the time). When i did fall into bed, i was so exhausted it was an agony to wake up and I generally felt worse. i t took me about a year to learn the art of napping. The key thing was the realisation that all the other things I thought were so important, like getting the piles of washing and ironing sorted or picking up toys, were inconsequential when compared to getting a bit of rest – something that my mum used to call the “nanna nap”. Sadly, our modern society seems to be moving further and further away from encouraging people to get enough sleep, much less take a nap. With our hyperactive 24/7 lifestyle, one of the first things people cut back on is sleep and certainly an afternoon nap seems like an impossible indulgence.

Years ago, I was a bit shocked when a manager confided she regularly snuck off to a vacant tea room with a comfy couch and nodded off mid afternoon for half an hour or so. Work was for working, not napping, right! But she put in long hours and regularly worked weekends. Looking back she was probably pretty smart for listening to her body clock and not trying to power through that mid-afternoon brain fade by hitting the junk food machine for chocolate washed down by double-shot coffee.

The Spanish have the right idea with the whole siesta thing. Scientific research is apparently coming down in favour of taking a nap for improving memory, thinking more creatively and improving one’s ability to learn. I’m beginning to think we should be encouraging people to grab a nap and recharge their batteries. I reckon we might find ourselves with a more productive workforce – i know i function so much better after a bit of a nap.

i hope Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who reportedly sleeps only four hours a night, goes in for the odd nanna nap. (I guess it’s a power nap in his case.) h e should perhaps take advice from Bill Clinton, former US president and these days a self-confessed napper, who recently attributed his current health problems to years of insufficient sleep. Admittedly, he succumbed to a few other indulgences while president but, unfortunately, they didn’t include getting caught napping.

Australia and the road to ruin

SOME might say it was “courageous” of Australia to lend Indonesia, recently confirmed as the most corrupt country in south-east Asia, $A300 million of their taxpayers’ money to build a road to nowhere through the heart of Borneo. Further, giving Indonesia an additional $A30 million grant would, on the face of it, appear generous in the extreme. (see “Jakarta Post”, March 19,”Australia to help improve road network in W. Kalimantan).

All this from Australia, a country which has consistently failed to explain what happened to $A500,000 it alleges it gave towards orangutan conservation two years ago.

At first sight, what may appear to be generous, actually raises a number of questions. Why give all this money to a country with such an appalling reputation for corruption? Why build this road through the heart of Borneo, making access to rapidly dwindling forests even easier? The majority of vehicles I saw using this road two weeks ago were trucks carrying palm nuts and logs. Human habitation

The pride of Canberra?

WITH the weather sublime, Canberra looking gorgeous (well, all the bits either side of the endless roadworks) and the rest of us all on our best municipal behaviour in front of the thousands of visitors to the National Gallery, and some artless boofhead with a spray can goes and shatters the serenity of the Red Hill lookout with senseless, vulgar scrawling across an information board. Thanks, pal.

was springing up both sides of the road, the few remaining tress being felled, and doubtless all wildlife has long since been killed or captured.

The Australian Government is, beyond question, assisting deforestation and the mass killing of wildlife (including orangutans) in Borneo. I don’t see this as the work of a courageous country; more like one reckless in the extreme. Both governments clearly

Little money for local sport

THE advertisement by the ACT Government (CN, March 18) on the spending of roadworks in 09-10 should be a wake up call for those wanting public funds to upgrade run-down sporting facilities and other infrastructure.

The $175 million doesn’t include the future spending on the GDE of another $60 million in the next two financial years to finish the duplication up to the Barton Highway; the $45 million, car park at Canberra Hospital and, in the future, the duplication of the Majura parkway costing $250 million for 11km of road. This combined total is well over half a billion dollars on infrastructure for cars and other road vehicles.

I note the article from [columnist] Tim Gavel a couple of weeks back about a new multipurpose sports facility and a call to upgrade other sporting facilities which will all need funding, but from where?

Last week, we had the end-ofseason Woden Little Athletics carnival at Woden Park, which has seen little improvement over the last 30 years since I did little athletics at the same facility. A javelin’s throw away, the Planning and Sports Minister Andrew Barr called in the development application to build the $45 million hospital car park. Just 10 per cent of that cost could have upgraded Woden Athletics Field to an all-

weather track.

have a hidden agenda. We can only hope the regulatory authorities in Indonesia and Australia will examine closely the financial accountability for this eye-watering amount of money, and whilst they are it, perhaps they would investigate what happened to that A$500,000 two years ago.

Sean Whyte, chief executive, Nature Alert, PO Box 3915, London, www.naturealert.org

Senator smiles?

RE the article on (Senator) Kate Lundy “Lundy fights net filter” (CN, March 18). What would have really impressed me, and many other Canberra and interstate citizens, would have been the headline “Lundy fights Linsay Tanner on behalf of Commonwealth Superannuants and Defence Force Pensioners”. Now that would make much more of a difference than net filters to those struggling on pensions indexed to the CPI rather than Average Weekly Earnings or even better, parliamentary salary rises. She has good reason to smile!

Ric Hingee, Duffy

Ecstasy it’s not!

THE 2009 International Narcotics Control Board report (released 24/2/10) reveals that 36 per cent of all ecstasy seized globally in 2008 was destined for Australia. Consider this percentage against Australia having around 0.003 per cent of the world’s population. Police and customs are doing a sterling job trying to keep ecstasy and similar drugs away from our kids. But the evidence strongly suggests that drug cartels have assessed that Australia’s drug strategy is failing to reduce demand, and may unwittingly be fuelling it.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

If we continue to spend all our money on facilities for the car, then there will be none left for much-needed upgrades to other public facilities. I know where I would spend the money; so what if there is a pothole in the road as you drive to work?

Martin Miller, Chifley

Deliberate outrage

THE intention of the tribal display of naked men and women bike riding about this town was a deliberate act to outrage public decency. Like the needless nude event at the Opera House recently, the phony excuse is “freedom of artistic expression”.

Is it not still a crime to be naked in public? Unless our society is sicker than I thought, public nakedness is still offensive to most people. Is not indecent exposure still an offence under the various Sexual Offences Acts? If such laws still stand in the ACT, who has suspended them and why and on what grounds? Apart from intentionally titillating adults, doubtless children will have seen the parade. There is thus an element of sexual grooming of children involved in this display. Is that not an offence also?

Greg O’Regan, Farrer

At ‘Toy Symphony’, Canberra Theatre

At ActewAGL party for Ivan Slavich, Pol Roger Bar, National Gallery

all about living

Front-row fashion

Fashion editor kaTHRYN VukoVLJak

reports from the “Front Row Fashion” hotos by siL as BRowN

its hottest looks for autumn/winter 2010, the Canberra Centre hosted “Front Row Fashion”, a two-day fashion event including a catwalk show and a series of fashion, beauty and hair workshops.

Mimi Macpherson presented the catwalk show with fashion stylist Lizzie Wagner. he themes for the season are frills, layering, leather and glamorous fur,” says Lizzie.

“We’ll also be seeing volume and draping, which is great for dressing fuller figures, toning greys, 1940s-inspired looks, second-skin leggings, palettes of cool neutrals and lots of hats!”

Subtle checks, long scarves or necklaces and a slim silhouette were dominant looks on the Canberra Centre catwalk – always teamed with a fabulous coat,

A 1940s-inspired look is updated with a fuchsia trench adorned with a corsage, ensuring outerwear is the main event. Model wears Review, Diana Ferrari

be it double-breasted, military-inspired, checked, fabulously fitted in a hot colour or any style of leather jacket – an item that will be on everyone’s shopping list, says Lizzie. Corsage-style detailling is back, with brooch-style clasps and clips in crystals, metallics, gems and sequins adding a pretty, sparkly touch to all the neutrals around.

For the boys, a sophisticated palette of greyon grey gives a professional workwear look, with a simple white t-shirt, jeans and jacket getting a new twist with boho-style chains and a statement fedora, Lizzie says.

the catwalk show was followed by a more in-depth new-season fashion preview over lunch at Cream.

The farce that can’t be described

By Helen Musa

it doesn’t matter who you speak to, everybody seems to have his or her own description of “ the Walworth Farce”, the prize-winning gothic comedy by Enda Walsh being brought to the Playhouse soon by Galway’s celebrated Druid Theatre.

Premiering at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway in 2006, the play has been a hit ever since, yet nobody can describe it.

Oddly, the company seems keen to have it so and when i talk to Mercy Ojelade, who plays the role of hayley, a checkout chick at the local supermarket who accidentally turns the plot awry, she preferred to emphasise that she is “loving it – it’s an actor’s dream”, rather than give me much detail. And staff at

the Canberra Theatre are saying that her role in the play is “a secret”. Well, not for long.

Nigerian-born Ojelade, noted for performances with the Young Vic, won the part on audition in London and has been with the company since 2008 through the London, Irish and American seasons. She has been praised by critics for introducing a bit of female normality into a story that has much to do with wrong shopping.

“ that may sound trivial, but it is instrumental in the plot,” Ojelade explains, spreading more mystery. in fact, when she turned up for auditions in London, with just a few pages of the script and knowing little about Druid, she was just as puzzled as everyone –“you need to read it all”.

i prod further. “ there’s more than one story, there is a play within a play.”

It’s one play specifically, conceived by the violent father Dinny (Michael Glenn Murphy) and performed day-by-day in a family rollercoaster ride. Dinny plays himself, son Blake (Raymond Scannell) acts out all the female roles and the other son Sean (Tadhg Murphy play the other men and does the wrong shopping. In the hands of director Mikel Murfi, it becomes a violent, horrifying piece.

“It’s funny, but it’s not a feel-good play,” Ojelade says in the understatement of the month.

“The Walworth Farce”, Canberra Theatre, April 7-10.

aRTs iN THe ciTY

By Helen Musa

Festival of the light and little

THE Lake Light Sculpture Festival is running from April 2-5 on the foreshores of Lake Jindabyne, and features the “Smalls Gallery” that will showcase petite works that don’t have to be “hearty and weatherproof”. There will more than $11,000 in prize money.

AFTER performing at the Adelaide Fringe, the exciting Seattle group Theater Simple will be here at the Street from March 31-April 1 with “The Snow Queen”, based on hans Christian Andersen’s story. they’ve done this production as a site-specific work in parks and forests around Seattle.

“KP11: producing communities” is a national touring exhibition from the Australia Council, running at Belconnen Arts Centre until April 11, which showcases the work of 11 arts companies from around the country. Very cleverly, the centre used the tour as an excuse to run the “ARt in pARtnership” forum recently, featuring a swag of local and national community art experts.

ChiEF and Arts Minister Jon Stanhope has announced the appointment of Peter Loxton as consultant to review the ACt Government’s events and festivals. Mr Loxton was previously head of ABC Radio and deputy director-general of the NSW Premier’s Department. This would be a good thing if one could believe the Government was keen on building festivals, not cutting them.

DAVID Finnigan and Gillian Schwab are co-directing the Crack theatre Festival, to run from September 30 to October 4 in Newcastle. Until March 31 they are accepting submissions for performances, workshops, artist and project presentations, demonstrations, panels and forums. Visit http://cracktheatrefestival.com

Silly journey to the cells

“The BounTy hunTeR” (M)

EX- COP turned bounty-hunter Milo (Gerard Butler) sets out to bring in his reporter ex-wife Nicole (Jennifer Aniston) who’s skipping bail while investigating a suspicious suicide. Two groups of bad guys start chasing them.

You’ve probably already figured this plot out. That opening premise, while less than fresh, might just sustain it. But its long, frustratinglysilly journey to the clinch through the bars of a police cell drags it through some serious tedium.

Sarah thorp’s screenplay never really confirms any reasonable expectation that Milo and Nicole might show mental agility and analytical skills while simultaneously delivering funny lines. “The Bounty Hunter” suggests she and director Andy Tennant and Thorpe googled, copied and pasted into its clunky, ragged screenplay, rom-com thriller clichés that seemed cute without critical evaluation. tennant should have sent it back for rigorous re-writing. At every fork in its path, the action takes the one confirming its limpness.

Watching it lurch across the screen before an audience of mums nursing some very new Australians persuaded me that babies still at the breast make competent movie critics. this lot bawled raucously. One day, one of them may well have this job.

At Dendy, Hoyts and Limelight

thiS rom-com is not half bad. At least, the half that’s not bad is.

ciNeMa

By Dougal Macdonald

Forty-year-old divorcee Sandy (Catherine Zeta-Jones) brings her two kids to the Big Apple in search of a life less fraught and engages 25-year-old Aram (Justin Bartha), a sweet, unassertive guy still living with his parents, to nanny them while she’s at work. there’s no early chemistry between Aram and gorgeous Sandy. Her new city girl chum tries unsuccessfully to fit her up with men if only to break celibacy’s monotony. On our side of the screen, what’s developing is obvious.

About mid-film, intermittent coitus interruptus and an ectopic conception turn a happy relationship that deserves to work into a laboured drama (pardon the pun – a termination is implied). Sandy feels it wrong to have a relationship with a man 15 years her junior but fails to look from the other side, at its significance for Aram who’s smart enough and self-confident

enough to seek his own destiny.

half a rom-com is better than none. Writer/ director Bart Freundlich after an unpromising start extrapolates that aphorism and reaches at least a basis for possible future optimism, as we always knew he would.

At Dendy, Hoyts and Greater Union

i R iSh director Jim Sheridan’s perceptive study of war’s damage to a family back home is a remake at least as worthy as Danish film-maker Suzanne Bier’s original.

In Afghanistan, the Marine Corps lists captain Sam (Tobey Maguire) and one of his troopers KIA. Accepting what they cannot change, Sam’s brother tom (Jake Gyllenhaal) helps care for his wife Grace (Natalie Portman) and her two daughters while the men’s father (Sam Shepard) does his best to deal with the grief.

But Sam and his trooper are captives resisting enemy pressure to record anti-US statements for political use. Before rescue arrives, Sam is put in an impossible position that burns a cruel and indelible mark into his psyche. tom and Grace inevitably become close. Were they lovers? And how do the three handle things after Sam’s return?

This powerful, uncompromising film says things worth hearing about brotherhood, courage, fear and commitment to ideals. Maguire and Gyllenhall are great – how might the film have been if they had exchanged roles? On any grounds, worth a visit.

At Dendy

Bloody Beetroots topping the bill

th E A iS Arena is set to tremble on May 1 with nearly 6500 dance music lovers descending for Warehouse 2010, Canberra’s annual rave-comefestival event now in its third year.

Headlining acts include the Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77, Steve Angello, MSTRKRFT, Ferry Corsten, LMFAD and the newly added Jorris Voorn. Organisers, Kicks Entertainment, say it will be an exciting show spanning a variety of genres.

Number one on the bill, i talian electronica and dance music duo the Bloody Beetroots will be performing with their band Death Crew 77 for the first time in Canberra, adding guitars, drums and synths to their usual DJ set.

From midday to midnight in three arenas, two indoors, Warehouse will showcase some unique international and Australian artists who wouldn’t always come to the capital, drawing crowds from the city and beyond, as nearly 30 per cent of attendees come from more than an hour away.

Limited tickets are still available online at www.ticketek.com.au/citynewswh10 or in person at Parliament Clothing and Landspeed Records.

WIN A VIP PASS

“CityNews” has a double Vi P pass valued at $300 to warehouse to be won. Not available for purchase, it includes Vi P access to the event, access to a private Vi P area (side of stage) and a private bar. e ntry details and conditions at www.citynews.com.au

WIN A WAREHOuSE VIP PASS

“CityNews” has a double Vi P pass valued at $300 to warehouse to be won. Not available for purchase, it includes Vi P access to the event, access to a private Vi P area (side of stage) and a private bar. e ntry details and conditions at www.citynews.com.au/competitions

Faces in search of prize

PHOTOGRAPHY

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2010

National Portrait Gallery, until May 2.

Reviewed by Anni Doyle Wawrzynczak

th ERE are 43 portraits on exhibition. Among them are a number of extremely fine portraits of young people.

Photographs such as “Kingdom” (2009, Tom Cramond), that depicts the young photographer seated crosslegged amidst claustrophobic detritus and “Vinh (Mario’s uniform)” (2009, Michelle Tran), show burgeoning self-discovery.

A filmic sense pervades “The Duots: a family portrait” (2009, Lee Grant) and “Kew House 2: Bedtime” (2009, Bronek Kozka). t he latter is a persuasively constructed, dark suburban narrative, while the former is enlivened through the colours of the impeccably Sunday-suited Sudanese/Australian family, standing before their red-brick Australian suburban home.

A tiny selection of works see the essential human lost in a melange of detail. “Midday in the squat” (2009, Hannah Robinson) is a strong example of social documentary, but it is a stretch to call it a portrait.

Both “The Shield” (2009, James Geer) and “Gori,

Bougainville” (2009, Stuart Miller) are powerful portraits of humans at their best in their natural environment.

In “The Shield”, a mother, daughter and their small dog, own the foreground. Their

figures are backgrounded by the tall verticals of burnt trees lit from behind with the startling orange of a post-fire sunset.

In “Gori”, the subject bestrides his watery world,

his power clearly invested in place. h is bare torso and the rivulets of rain lend luminosity to a landscape whose greyness is relieved by lightpoints bouncing off individual raindrops.

Square meals at the new Mile

it’S a bit chaotic around the Kingston Green Square area these days. The Belgian Beer café is closed for renovations. Filthy’s pub is closed for renovations. The Zest café went when it was sold a while ago and the ACT Government has fencing everywhere as it refurbishes by planting greenery around the place.

But a new café – Square Mile – has

DiNiNG

By Wendy Johnson

opened and it is getting busier by the day.

Square Mile is located where Zest café used to be. the interior layout remains the same, but the place has been repainted in chocolate, caramel and mocha colours and smartened up with fabulously gleaming polished concrete floors. the lunch menu isn’t super extensive, but offers good variety. We tussled over ordering one of the main meal salads, which all sounded like they would hit the spot. Options include char sui beef (with the beef marinated in Chinese five-spice, star anise, honey, soy, and hoisin sauce), a thai chicken salad with coconut, and a Morrocon chicken salad – all $15.90. Vegetarians won’t go wrong with the grilled haloumi salad with loads of vegetables ($14.90).

We ended up in another section of the menu, one of us ordering fish and chips and the other a lamb burger. The beerbattered flathead fillets were the winner – fresh fish with a light batter and served with a perky salad, shoe string fries and a slightly tangy lime mayonnaise ($17.50).

A straightforward, satisfying lunch meal, with the portions just right.

My Mediterranean lamb burger ($15.50) didn’t quite hit the mark. I loved the way Square Mile mixes the mince with chunks of haloumi cheese, semi-dried tomatoes and kalamata olives, and the taste was great. However, the burger was too dry for my liking and a bit tough-going as a result.

Square Mile also has a range of focaccias and other lunch options such as a roasted field mushroom bruschetta.

We didn’t have coffee but Square Mile is owned by the folks who operate Kingston Grind, just down the way, and they are known for making a perfect cup. I’ve never had them miss a beat on a cappuccino. And, on our visit, we noticed that Kingston Grind – which is always busy, busy, busy – has added more outdoor tables along Eyre Street.

Square Mile has only been open a couple of weeks so operations are still being (understandably) refined. The staff were efficient and friendly, working both the inside café area and the large outdoor area which enjoys sun virtually all day.

the café didn’t have a phone at time of writing, so unless things have changed, don’t try to contact them. Square Mile is not currently licensed.

By Tamara Smallhorn

CUtiCLE care and regular moisturising are a must if you want to keep nails looking strong and youthful, says Rachel Walsh, of Mudd the Spa in Barton.

Discussing the do’s and don’ts of do-it-yourself manicures, she says it’s important to

but only ever file across the top, not down the sides, and never use a metal file. “A metal file can split the nail, while filing down the sides can result in an ingrown nail which can become painful. And make sure you only ever file in one direction – filing back and forth weakens the nail,” she says.

Buffing is the next step to fabulous nails. “Buffing stimulates growth and gets rid of any ridges,” she says. “Next, apply cuticle oil – almond oil is great – and massage it into the cuticle to promote healthy nail growth.”

If you’re getting your manicure done professionally, the icing on the cake, says Rachel, is a paraffin treatment. “It’s a warm, moisturising wax solution that you immerse your hands in. t’s fantastic; it removes any dead skin, enhances the effects of moisturiser and promotes good circulation,” she says.

And polishes actually help protect the nail, Rachel says. “Use a base coat to nourish the nail before applying a colour, add two coats of your favourite colour, and finish it off with a top coat to protect the colour and prevent

all about Easter

Places to go, things to do around Canberra

More to festival than beards and sandals

easTeR wouldn’t be easter in c anberra without the National Folk Festival. But if you think it’s all anglo- celtic music, beards and sandals, authentic instruments played around the fireside, think again says arts editor HeLeN Musa

th E artistic director of the National Folk Festival, fiddler and guitarist Dave O’Neill, makes no bones about what he likes and this year is particularly excited about “Ball and Chains”, the big convict musical Ted Egan is putting together. Not just that, there will be “ the Great Poetry Debate” run by Perth poet Roger Montgomery. This year the topic is climate change and O’Neill hopes it will be adversarial enough to see climate change sceptics given short shrift. And talking of adversarial people, there will be a musical history of west-coast tasmania, with special

emphasis on folk music that arose during the fight against the Gordonbelow-Franklin dam. Music historian Rob Willis is behind the event, in which the unlikely heroine in the story appears to be Lady Franklin, widow of the 19th century governor of Van Diemen’s Land. there are craft stalls, there is food, there are kids’ events, there are friendly volunteers and, on the visual front, in the popular Session Bar, Canberra photographer Stuart Cohen is staging an exhibition, “5 Nights”, showing scenes from past festivals. Yet in reality, the line-up does seem familiar and comfortable

– Newcastle fiddler and singer Tom McConville, folk and world music journalist Andrew Cronshaw, piper Paddy Keenan, Eddie Reader and Emily Smith from Scotland, James Keelaghan and Genticorum from Canada and Faerd from Denmark and Sweden.

Sebastian Flynn is the new managing director of the festival, arriving here on February 15. A classically trained fiddle player from England, he got into folk music, later becoming director of the Queensland Multicultural Festival. Flynn has a natural sympathy with culturally diverse acts, and deplores old stereotypical view the breaks music down into jazz, classical and folk.

“It’s more of a more crossover,” he says, citing folk experiments by composers Bela Bartok and Kodaly. But he loves the intimacy of folk. Flynn jumps into the controversial question of the Fringe, to be called

the Majestic and funded by the AC t Government for three years. h e argues that it is a kind of vaudeville, a fringy folk phenomenon and praises Fringe director Adam Hadley, whom he expects to bring in circus skills, poetry and lots of young people.

Flynn praises O’Neill as an “international musician” who knows his stuff and is very definite that “my job is administrator”. He is keen to tap into the Canberra centenary, and though he hasn’t met creative director Robin Archer yet, is impressed by her folk credentials as a pretty fair ukelele player.

It is a huge advantage, he says, that the festival won the Festivals and Events category in the 2009 Canberra and Capital Region Tourism Awards. “it’s well-deserved after 43 festivals… it’s an accolade.”

The National Folk Festival, Exhibition Park, April 1-5. Details at www. folkfestival.asn.au

Easter church services

st Luke’s anglican church, Newdegate street, Deakin

April 2, 10.30am, Good Friday story for Families.

this family friendly service aims to interactively tell the story of Good Friday. it includes drama, story, explanation of traditions, and time for prayer and reflection.

April 4, 6am, easter Dawn service.

Join us on the lake at Yarralumla Bay (at the bottom of hopetoun Circuit) as we watch the sun come over the lake, celebrate with holy Communion, and share in the joy of the resurrection of Jesus. We finish with hot cross buns and an Easter egg hunt.

April 4, 8am, holy communion, traditional APBA Prayer Book service. April 4, 10am, family service.

A joyful and interactive service for people of all ages. Includes new and old music, children’s program, holy communion and morning tea.

st philip’s anglican church, Macpherson street, o’connor April 1, Passover Dinner and Maundy thursday service.

April 2, noon to 3pm, Good Friday service.

April 4, 6am, lighting of the new fire; 7am, Eucharist; 8am-9.30am Easter celebration breakfast; 10am sung Eucharist. st christopher’s cathedral, Manuka

April 2, 3pm, Good Friday service. April 3, 7.30pm mass.

April 4, 8am, 11am and 5.30pm, easter sunday mass.

st John’s, corner constitution avenue and anzac park west April 4, 6am eucharist & lighting of the new fire Rev Paul Black. 8am, sung Eucharist, Rev Margaret Campbell.

9.30am, church family Eucharist, Rev Black.

11.15am choral Eucharist, Rev Black. No evening service.

So much to do, so little time...

Aisles of treasures

old Bus Depot Markets “ portobello Road”

sunday, april 4, 0am-4pm

FOR Easter Sunday, the focus is on antiques and collectables. Browse the aisles of eclectic and interesting treasures – retro decorative art, antique jewellery, quirky collectables, china and art glass, linens and lace, silver and restored pieces.

Old Bus Depot Markets, Wentworth Avenue, Kingston

A market to relax

Hall Market

sunday, 0am-pm

WONDERFUL variety, quality and pricing of goods makes hall a must for those who enjoy markets in a relaxed atmosphere. i tems available include craft, timber products, pottery, leatherwork, jewellery, toys, preserves, cakes, fruit and vegies, plants, poultry, food and refreshments.

All items must be hand produced, grown or crafted by the stallholders. Come stroll among the trees, stay for lunch and enjoy the live entertainment and children’s activities.

Hall Fairgrounds, Hall

Endurance riders

00 australian solo  4 Hour

Mountain Bike championships april  -4

WitNESS the nation’s best endurance riders going hard in Australia’s most gruelling solo mountain bike race.

The 24 Hour is a two-day mountain biking event that tests riders’ skills and endurance over a demanding course. Riders compete solo to complete the most laps in the 24-hour period. Enjoy exciting entertainment and demonstrations. Whether you want to qualify for the World Champs or are just looking for a fun weekend – this is it.

Innabaanya Guide Camp www.solo24hour.com. au, Majura Pines, Majura Road

Free Bunny photos

Free photos with the easter Bunny March 7 until april  (excluding Good Friday)

GE t your child’s photo taken with the Easter Bunny. You’ll receive one free 5x7cm photo per child per day, printed within 60 minutes (same day for busier periods). Additional photos can be purchased for $5.

Brand Depot, Majura Park, 11am-2pm daily.

National portrait photos

“National photographic portrait prize 00” until april 

thE annual National Photographic Portrait Prize promotes the very best in contemporary photographic portraiture by professional and aspiring Australian photographers.

National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace Parkes, call 6102 7000 or visit www.portrait. gov.au. Open daily 10am - 5pm, entry is free

Best of the best

“Masterpieces from paris: Van Gogh, Gauguin, cézanne and Beyond” until april 

BRAVE the queues and catch this epic, recordbreaking exhibition before it goes! The National Gallery of Australia has extended “Masterpieces from Paris: Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and beyond”, for two weeks. the works of art usually reside at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and their visit is a first for Australia – and only in Canberra.

Visit nga.gov.au/MasterpiecesFromParis/ for opening times, or call 6240 6411

Democracy at work

“australian Democracy: more than 000 years in the making” until May 9

SEE Australia’s democracy in its historical and geographical context. View a first edition of Thomas Paine’s “The Rights of Man”, published in response to the French Revolution, and learn about Catherine Helen Spence, who fought for women’s suffrage.

Exhibition access included in the museum’s entry fee.

Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House www.moadoph.gov.au, King George Terrace, Parkes, 6270 8222. Daily 9am-5pm – adult $2, child $1, family $5, concession $1

All you need is...

“o f Love and war” until May  LOVE touches us all. During times of conflict it plays an important role in the lives of our servicemen and women; the sweethearts and lovers they left behind or those they met while serving.

this exhibition looks at the impact of war on these relationships and the ways in which Australians incorporated affairs of the heart into their wartime lives.

Australian War Memorial, Special Exhibitions Gallery www.awm.gov.au

Treloar Crescent, Campbell, 6243 4211. Daily from 10am-5pm

u p close with water

“ water: H0 = Life” until May 6

EXPER i ENCE water like never before in this thought-provoking, entertaining and inspiring exhibition. Learn how water shapes our planet and nearly every aspect of our lives.

Discover what you and your family can do to protect and conserve our planet’s water. See interactive displays and live fish and frogs. This international exhibition features a special section devoted to Australia’s own water story.

National Museum of Australia www.nma.gov.au Lawson Crescent, Acton, 6208 5000, 9am-5pm daily

Don’t wait to be a victim

AS the Easter break approaches, ACt households are being advised to look at their home security.

Quoting the latest ABS figures, ADT Security says the ACt experienced 5500 household breakins the last financial year, with a further 2800 homes the target of attempted break-ins.

Only 35.3 per cent of ACt residents perceived home burglaries to be a problem in their area, said ADT Security’s Mark Norton.

“Easter is a popular time for many of us to get away on holidays with our families and friends.

Unfortunately, many people think it will never happen to them but when a break-in does occur there are numerous personal and practical implications,” he says.

“Beyond the emotional trauma of having strangers in your home and losing sentimental possessions, dealing with police, insurance companies and replacing stolen goods is typically a very time-consuming task.

“The message is to be proactive and not wait until you are the victim of a home robbery before you take action to protect your property and family.”

he also says that nationally, the most common types of property stolen during a break-in include money (18 per cent), personal electronic equipment (14 per cent), garden tools (13 per cent), jewellery (12 per cent), and personal items (12 per cent).

all about Pialligo Autumn in our country village

Pi ALLi GO is Canberra’s own “country village” – a rural suburb built along Beltana Road and packed with nurseries, garden and landscaping supplies, apple orchards, a winery, a restaurant and several little cafes.

As the season changes, the mellow hints of autumn make Pialligo a wonderful spot for keen home gardeners to pick up new plants or garden decor, or just a beautiful place for anyone to enjoy a stroll through gorgeous nursery gardens.

The name Pialligo has been used for the area since at least 1820, and is likely of Aboriginal origin. Streets in Pialligo are named with Aboriginal words.

The airport roadworks are finally finished, so head out to Pialligo for your garden needs, a relaxed wander, pick up some fresh apples or just browse the quirky gift shops.

all

Pots of distinction

CELEBRAti NG its 30th birthday this year, Posh Pots sells a broad range of quality pots, featuring a large array of colours and styles that can add distinction to your home, according to owners Allan Buerckner and hylkia de Greve.

“The shop maintains its uniqueness through careful selection and direct importing of quality garden pots, planters and decor from overseas,” says Allan.

“A container of new stock should arrive before Easter and will be on display soon.”

Allan says that Posh Pots works hard to offer the fairest prices possible. “We don’t have to inflate our prices in order to offer large discounts to customers,” he says.

Posh Pots also sells a range of unique garden decor, wall art, exterior mirrors and giftware.

Blissed out on stylish living

N ES tLED into Pialligo’s “nursery precinct”, Bliss is a sublime destination for beautiful garden decor, exquisite jewellery, cute kids’ items, country-style crockery and stunning imported garden pots, say owners Iain and Kylie Eaton.

“The shop really has something special for everyone,” says Iain, an expert horticulturist. “The outside is packed with niche garden decor, including ironwork tables and chairs, wall art, mirrors and candle holders.

“We also stock a lot of pots, which are very popular – we have some gorgeous glazed varieties in jade green, and also some water features that are so simple to install. i t’s as easy as placing a pot on your patio.”

“We have a great team, who are dedicated to giving exceptional customer service,” says Allan. “Many of our staff have been with us for more than 10 years.”

There is also a flagship warehouse and store operating out of 80 Hoskins Street, Mitchell, he says.

Posh Pots, 12 Beltana Road, Pialligo, 6242 6511

Bliss also specialises in water plants, such as water lilies.

“In the gift shop, we’ve created an enticing space filled with the kind of useful and beautiful objects we love,” he says. “Our three children inspire us to choose unique toys and activities to nurture kids’ imaginations and encourage hands-on fun. For us it’s all about stylish, practical living.”

Bliss offers kids’ potting workshops, too. “It’s a lovely, relaxed experience for them,” Iain says. “Kids can come along and learn how to plant a little flower, and they love taking their work home.”

Bliss Garden and Giftware, 8 Beltana Road, Pialligo, 6257 8358

Bring the kids

AIR- CONDITIONED in summer and cosily heated with a log fire in winter, tulips Cafe is a family business that caters for young kids with ease,

thanks to its safe, secure enclosed play area, according to owner Anita.

“When people book i always ask if they have kids,” she says. “If not, I sit them on the deck, so it’s great for everyone.”

Gluten-free slices, chips and bread are also available, as is coffee, cakes and freshly made quiches – in fact, all the food is made fresh on-site every day by chef Danielle, who is Anita’s daughter-in-law. “She makes absolutely everything, even the biscuits, herself and they are just to die for,” Anita says.

“We are licensed, we have a regular menu and also a blackboard menu that changes daily,” she says.

Open from 8am to 4pm, seven days a week for breakfast and lunch as well as Devonshire teas, Tulips provides quality, homemade fare and offers flexible catering options for business and social functions, says Anita.

Tulips Cafe, 8 Beltana Road, Pialligo, 6249 6118

Rug up in Peruvian style

A LUXURIOUS fibre, softer than cashmere and warmer than merino, Peruvian baby alpaca is ideal for the production of clothing for the cooler months, according to irene Lilford and Christine Reid, owners and founders of Anuk Peru, Pialligo’s newest clothes outlet.

“The garments are really light and breathable, perfect for the Canberra climate,” says Christine.

irene and Christine came up with the idea for the shop after an “exhilarating” holiday in Peru.

“We were inspired by the beauty and craftsmanship of the alpaca wear and boots we discovered there,” she says. “What followed was that two women with no time on their hands squeezed a return trip to Peru into their calendars!”

Christine says they were intent on finding the maker of a gorgeous, comfortable pair of boots she’d bought, and armed with just a “smattering” of Spanish, the pair spent two weeks establishing contacts in the Peruvian alpaca industry.

Showcasing international fashion houses such as Sol Alpaca and Ethnic Peru, Christine explains that the collection at Anuk Peru is a unique mix of vibrant Peruvian colour coupled with the luxury and timelessness of baby alpaca. Never before seen in Canberra, the range also introduces the new label, Anuk Peru, she says.

Anuk Peru, 20a Beltana Road, Pialligo, 6230 1211

Roses, vines... and wine

th E spectacular rural setting, featuring roses, vines and stunning views, all help to create a special atmosphere for any get-together, says Sally Milner, owner of Pialligo Estate Winery.

“We offer free tastings of our award-winning, estate-grown wines, to give our visitors the chance to experience the benefits of our vineyard site,” says Sally.

Clearly cool climate, this vineyard on the banks of the Molonglo River produces fully ripe, deliciously flavoured, hand-picked fruit from hand-pruned vines. the style is rich and strongly varietal, without the high alcohol of some wines, says Sally.

Visitors to Pialligo can sip wines or lunch in style while enjoying spectacular views to Parliament

h ouse and other city landmarks.

Apart from free tastings, wine is sold by the glass or bottle to accompany light or hearty meals served at tables both inside and out.

Visit and take a vineyard walk, stroll through the olive grove, party with friends in the festive marquee, view the regular art exhibitions, or challenge at pétanque with boules available to everyone. the venue also lends itself well to small and medium-sized functions, whatever the occasion, Sally says. the winery is open 10am-5pm, Monday to Sunday for tastings and wine sales. the cafe is open 10am-5pm Wednesday to Sunday and public holidays.

Pialligo Estate Winery, 18 Kallaroo Road Pialligo, 6262 6692

Quaint setting, innovative food

SE t in the gorgeous, established gardens of Pialligo Plant Farm, Podfood is a delightful location for an intimate wedding, private evening function or simply as a quiet, relaxed spot for breakfast or lunch, says co-owner Catherine haskins.

The restaurant is located in a quaint 1930s cottage overlooking a large covered deck, and can seat 50 people and 20 more outside, undercover and heated.

“We’re open tuesday to Saturday for breakfast and lunch, but only for private functions in the evenings,” says Catherine. “We can do wedding ceremonies on site. For a cocktail party we can cater for up to 120 people, and for a sit-down meal up to 60.

“We invite people to come and enjoy the lush surroundings and fresh, innovative food,” says Catherine.

Podfood also offers a cooking school, with a myriad of different lessons available including knifework, cooking seafood and making canapes.

Podfood, 12 Beltana Road, Pialligo, 6257 3388

Specialists in art and roses

th E Pialligo Plant Farm is a nursery that specialises in flowering plants for courtyards, particularly roses, say owners and founders Rhonda and Geoff Cleary.

Geoff is a horticulturist, and can offer expert advice to customers regarding any flowering plants, and Rhonda curates Gallery 12 – which is curently running the exhibition “The Art of the Shoe”, a combination of paintings and scultpures. She also runs the shop, which sells a wide range of Fair trade items, wind chimes, candle holders and other gift ideas. She explains that art and locating curiosities to sell are passions of hers.

“With the shop, I love sourcing quirky Fair Trade items in interesting directions and, with the art, I use a gut feeling for what people will like,” she says. “The art is a real mixed bag here, which is great.”

Geoff and Rhonda founded Pialligo Plant Farm 25 years ago, and lease areas of number 12 to Posh Pots and Podfood.

Pialligo Plant Farm, 12 Beltana Road, Pialligo, 6247 5752

Terminate termites

tERMitES rely on timber as their primary food source, establishing colonies that eat away inside roofs, walls, ceilings and under floors, according to Robert Short, owner/operator of Amalgamated Pest Control.

“Once inside a house, termites can cause significant structural damage within six months, depending on the size of the colony,” he says. Early detection is one of the most important factors in combating termites.

“As they breed rapidly, early detection of an infestation is vital to help us limit damage and eradicate the insects,” he says.

“Exterior timber elements of a home such as support posts, steps and balcony foundations are most vulnerable to attack as they contact soil and can often provide a passage into the home for termites.”

Robert advises homeowners to look out for the following signs:

• Mud tubes leading up to and over the edge of concrete slabs, stumps and foundations. These mud tubes can be quite small but are a strong indicator of termites, who carry mud with them and blindly build “tunnels” to protect themselves from predators.

• Dried mud in the joins of doors, architraves and mouldings.

• Blistering paint on doors and skirting boards. this can result from termite activity between walls.

• Damp areas or moisture stains on walls. termites collect moisture for their colonies, which may be detectable when they’re gathered in large numbers.

• Splintering or weak timber foundations. This may not be visible to the eye and can be tested by pressing timber with a screwdriver.

• Wall timbers that sound hollow when tapped. this may indicate that part of the wood has been eaten away.

• Power failures and a build up of mud around power points.

• Piles of translucent wings on window sills and door jambs. These wings may be left by flying subterranean termites, which travel in swarms during summer to start new colonies.

• timber doors, windows and cupboards that no longer close properly.

ARIES

your week in the stars

With Joanne Madeline Moore

March 29 - April 4

(Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Dynamic Rams are usually the dominant one in a relationship, but this week’s Full Moon falls in your partnership zone so don’t expect your spouse to be their usual compliant self. it’s time for you to learn the gentle art of compromise! Happily solo? Get ready for someone special to come and rock your world.

TAu RuS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Calling all Taurean couch potatoes! With the Full Moon activating your health zone, it’s high time you had a close look at your general health and fitness levels. Bulls have a sweet tooth but if you overdo the hotcross buns and chocolate eggs this Easter, you’ll end up with unwanted extra kilos on board!

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Gregarious Geminis will feel right at home this week, as the Full Moon revs up your entertainment zone. Get set for a busy weekend. Those around you can look forward to some amusing antics and manic moments from yours truly. Easter is a time of rebirth, so start rejuvenating parts of your life that need a serious reboot.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Looking after loved ones isn’t easy at the moment, as you juggle conflicting roles and responsibilities (like attentive partner, protective parent, perfect homemaker and patient friend …) Sensitive issues from the past may surface which is a positive development, as it clears the way for improved communication and a fresh start.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Leos are never happier than when they have an audience. this week the Full Moon gives your communication skills a boost as you entertain others and talk up a storm. Your quote for the next seven days is from Emile Zola (born on April 2): “If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud.”

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Security issues (of an emotional and financial nature) come to a head this week if your money is tied up with someone else’s, make sure you keep the lines of communication open. And don’t rely on loved ones for regular feedback and approval. Learn to encourage and praise yourself – be your own cheer squad.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

Who’s the boss? it looks like you are, Libra! With the Full Moon and Saturn both in your sign, it’s time to ditch procrastination and relish extra responsibilities as you jump off the fence and take charge of your life. Hidden fears may surface, but don’t let that stop you from moving forward with confidence and conviction.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

Scorpios can turn on the charm in spades – when you’re in the mood. And you’re certainly in the mood from mid-week onwards, as Venus vamps into your relationship zone and you flirt up a storm. Are you frustrated that your dreams seem to be on hold? Be patient and trust that things are progressing (slowly) behind the scenes.

SAGITTARI uS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Nobody does excess quite like you! This weekend’s stars encourage overdoing just about everything as you eat, drink and party your way through the Easter break. Pace yourself, or you’ll end up a sad and sorry sight by next Monday. With Mars in your aspirations zone, it’s time to hop on your horse and follow your dreams.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Capricorns are notorious for being the conscientious workaholics of the zodiac. And this week, with the Easter Full Moon and Saturn in your career zone, your natural inclination will be to work through the long weekend. By all means attend to important business, but don’t neglect loved ones in the process. Balance is the key.

AQ uARI uS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Many Aquarians are rebels at heart (just think of famous examples like James Dean, Yoko Ono and Bob Marley). With the Full Moon in your adventure zone, remember there’s a fine line between being rebellious and daring – and being plain impulsive and reckless. If you must take risks, make sure they are calculated ones.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Passionate Pisceans – the spotlight’s on lust and loot this Easter, as the Full Moon brings unresolved issues to a head. An intimate union could reach exciting new levels – or crash and burn. If you avoid serious relationship issues (or are careless with joint finances) then you’ll pay the price further down the track.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2010.

ACROSS

3 What is a ruthless and unscrupulous follower?

7 One of those confined in prison is a what?

8 Which term implies something has been rewritten on a shorter scale?

9 What consists of three stumps and two bails?

10 In which establishment does a triage work?

11 What do we call a person who seeks alms?

14 Name the monetary units of Belgium and Switzerland.

17 To be more indistinct is to be what?

18 What is a Canberra NRL player called?

19 What is a homonym?

20 Which part of the body is also known as the chest?

21 In US parlance, what are lists or registers? DOWN

1 Something belonging to former times is said to be what?

2 What is an accumulation of work?

3 Name the low evergreen waste land shrubs of England and Scotland.

4 What is the vegetable container of a refrigerator?

5 What equals one million tons?

6 What are tubercles also known as?

11 Name a contagious, often fatal, epidemic disease transmitted by fleas from rats?

12 What is a connoisseur in the delicacies of the table?

13 What is a spray container?

14 Which forms of polecats are used for hunting rabbits?

15 Who checks the account books?

16 Which items of apparatus take snapshots?