Canberra CityNews August 19-25, 2010

Boxing Bianca fights sexism

By Eleri Harris

CANBERRA’S Bianca Elmir has won the Oceania Women’s boxing title, but her path to the 2012 London Olympics has hit a major funding road block with sexism stepping into the ring.

Boxing Australia Inc has told the nation’s top female boxers to pay their own way around the international competition circuit, vital to preparing for London, while male boxers are fully funded and supported with access to facilities at the AIS.

Australia’s female boxers are caught in a Catch 22, they don’t qualify for funding from sponsors such as the Australian Sports Commission, Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Committee because women have never had competition categories at those events.

BA’s Julie Felton said females may soon classify for high performance athlete development funding, but not in time for the next World Titles.

“Because women’s boxing will be at the Olympics there is a major submission seeking funding, but we are still under [Federal Election] caretaker mode and no decision has been made,” she said.

In November last year “CityNews” reported Elmir had high hopes for competing at the Commonwealth Games, which would have been the first to include the women’s sport, but there will be no female boxing

in Delhi. Instead, an alternative (not funded) competition will be held in Barbados.

“As it stands the Australian men’s team get funding,” Elmir said.

“They got funding to go to Cuba and Russia this year, fully paid for, and they also got endorsements and if they won they got paid extra amounts of money.

For women it’s not funded at all.

“In Australia, we’re struggling to pay for our own way to go to an interstate competition, let alone international competition.

“Balancing career and sport is hard enough as it is and yet now I need to put an extreme amount of energy into finding sponsorship in order for me to compete at an international level.

“Because there’s no money in the pool to be put towards females.”

The British female boxing team will receive $A1.4 million between now and 2012; the Australian female boxing team will get tracksuits and Elmir, an ACT Greens Assembly staffer, is not impressed.

“As it stands that money’s been

Claire takes the top title

CLAIRE Connelly was named at the Canberra’s Business Woman of the Year at the ACT Chamber of Women in Business awards night on Tuesday.

President Laurie McDonald said the award recognised the business woman who demonstrated leadership, tenacity, compassion, encouragement, pursuit of excellence and was a role model for other business women.

Claire started Papercut, an environmentally friendly graphic design company, in 2007 and since then has increased her clients, profit and team – all by 200 per cent. “Her business philosophy focuses on the triple bottom line that, for her, includes not only profit, but also an emphasis on environmental and social outcomes,” said Laurie.

Other winners are: Real estate agent Maria

Selleck, of Maria Selleck Properties, who won the Best New Business award – for the new business showing excellence in growth, both financially and with the number of clients and demonstrating innovative ideas in marketing.

Dianne Nockels, of Forever Living, was highly commended.

Fiona Allardyce, of HamperArt, won the Outstanding Community Spirit award for the business that cares for the community, enhancing the social, economic, commercial and environmental prosperity of the region.

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frozen to give to female boxers here in this country for international competition and we’re not able to access the facilities at the AIS. It’s for the boys. Seriously,” she said.

“There’s been no reason provided, it just doesn’t seem to be a very valued sport for females yet. Until the Australian Government recognises it, our standard is not going to be as high as other international team and that’s a shame because we have the talent here, we just don’t have the support.

“I feel very much on my own. I feel like I want to do this for my country, I really do. Winning the Oceania Championship, the ceremony that went with it, I was really proud.

“We’ve moved quite forward in the feminist movement in Australia quite generally having equal opportunity for most things, yet, when it comes down to the nitty gritty, with female boxing we’ve been left dry.

“This is the first year that female boxing is even going to be taken to the Olympics. It’s ground breaking.

“That’s my goal now, I can’t sit in Canberra and continue to do what I’m doing if I have any chance of being able to have gold around my neck at the Olympics.”

Elmir is now seeking funding to train in New York in 2011 with hopes to bring in a medal at the next World Title in 2012.

Katy denies leader plan

By Eleri Harris

DEPUTY Chief Minister Katy Gallagher claims to be unaware of any timetable for any imminent change of leadership of the Labor Party from Jon Stanhope to her.

In a no confidence motion against Gallagher, in her role as Health Minister, at the start of the ACT Legislative Assembly sitting week, Liberal deputy Leader Brendan Smyth directly referred to the inevitability of an upcoming leadership change.

“If the Minister can’t run Health, how can she run the Territory?” Smyth asked.

Gallagher told the “CityNews” she was not aware of any date set for a leadership change.

“I’m working on the grounds that Jon’s here. They are over-exaggerated whispers that go to what this stunt this morning was about,” she said.

“This censure motion is all about politics, all about the Liberals’ quest to seek to damage my reputation. It’s not about the performance of the health system,” she said.

The Liberals brought the doomed no confidence motion against Gallagher, based on the “Review of Service Delivery and Clinical Outcomes at Public Maternity Units in the ACT” and the recent about-face on the purchase of Calvary Hospital with the changes in accounting standards. The Greens voted with the Government and the motion was lost.

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By Eleri Harris

“I THINK there is a sense that teaching doesn’t have the gloss that it perhaps should have and does have in other countries,” says Prof Denis Goodrum, the interim chair of the ACT’s new Teacher Quality Institute.

“Perhaps because of salary, perhaps because of community. I think it’s on the way back, I think there’s a greater sense of vocation now. I hope so, because I think it’s important for our country.

“There’ll be a time reached when we don’t have any more iron ore left in the ground and we’ll have to look towards our intellectual ability to keep us to the country we want.”

The Teacher Quality Institute, to accredit and register teachers in the Territory, is the education icing on the ACT Government’s 2010-11 “Budget for a Growing City”.

Set to start operations in March with planning already underway, the ANU’s Prof Denis Goodrum hopes the institute will bring the ACT into line with national developments in education for the first time.

“The chair is an independent chair and I do bring my sense of independence; I’m not beholden to anyone,” Prof Goodrum says.

“While I have a sensitivity to teachers, I don’t represent them per se, and while I have a sensitivity towards teacher education, I’m no longer part of that so I don’t represent those people either.

“My hope is that my own standing in the educational community is what gives me the credibility to make enlightened comments in terms of where things are going.”

The former Dean of Education at the University of Canberra, Prof Goodrum has been involved in a plethora of national and international projects in science education and is now based at the ANU’s Australian Institute of Science developing “cuttingedge” teacher-training materials.

He says children in the ACT have benefited from the Territory’s standing as the highest-educated population in the country.

“People do well when parents are committed to education and I actually think that’s the quality in this town, there is a significant commitment to education here,” he says.

“People believe in it, they think it’s important and they reflect that in their relationship with their children and it’s a matter of building on that.

“The ACT actually has a very good situation, you look at all the international and national studies which are done in terms of student achievement, by and large, students within this territory do better than anywhere else. They’re always at the top of those various tables that look at science understanding or reading ability or maths qualities.

Professor with an independent air

“When you talk to parents, they always think their local teacher is pretty good, the problem lies elsewhere.”

He says the two main functions of the Teacher Quality Institute are teacher registration and teacher accreditation.

“The ACT is the only jurisdiction in the country that doesn’t have an organisation like that and so we’re really the last cab off the rank there,” Prof Goodrum says.

“It’s important for the University of Canberra to have a local institution by which its courses can be accredited. At the moment, its courses are actually accredited through the NSW Institute of Teachers. I just think that’s incongruous.

“They prided themselves on talking about a rigor-

ous curriculum, very content heavy, while the ACT philosophy was always school-based development. Both are at either end of the educational spectrum and yet the preparation of teachers was being governed very much by NSW.

“Now that just doesn’t make sense. So with the establishment of this institute we’re building a much closer synergy between the expectations of people in the ACT and the way in which teachers are educated here.

“It’s important for us to have one so we can engage in the national conversation that’s occurring at the moment. The Australian Government has set up a national mechanism for looking at teacher quality and at the moment we don’t have a seat at that table.”

Evening for Olivia

A CHARITY auction and gala dinner will be held at the Hellenic Club, Woden, from 6.30pm, Saturday, September 11, to raise funds to help six-year-old Olivia Lambert, who is battling neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, and needs to go to Germany for life-saving treatment. Dinner entertainment will be by Heuristic and the guest speaker is Peter Overton from “60 Minutes”. Tickets, at $150; or $1400 for a table of 10, are available online at www. helpolivia.org.au

Unhappy ‘Times’

CIRCULATION of “The Canberra Times” continues to fall, according to the latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulation. The flagship Saturday edition slumped 6.19 per cent to 54,289 copies. The Sunday edition is down 4.62 per cent to 33,197 and the weekday edition fell 3.91 per cent to 32,706.

Floriade (b)looms

H ERE comes Floriade: The fence has gone up around Commonwealth Park and from Monday, August 23, the park will become a construction site as the Floriade team works around the clock to get the event infrastructure into place. Visitors will still be able to access Regatta Point, the National Capital Exhibition, the Canberra Business Event Centre and the Deck restaurant as normal. Floriade opens on September 11.

Friendly grocer

THE IGA at Chifley has won the “Friendly Grocer of the Year” for NSW/ACT from 124 competing stores. The family owners, who have been there only two years, say the supermarket is “quite unique, small and interesting” with its own bakery, takeaway coffee, cakes and pies, and a range of gourmet foods.

Language volunteers

THE Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services of the ACT is looking for volunteer tutors with two to three hours to spare a week to teach English to migrants and refugees under its Home Tutor Program. No formal teaching qualifications are necessary – just time, patience and goodwill, says co-ordinator Rachael Andrews. More information at htp@marss.org. au or call 6248 8577.

Students may miss Book Week

By s hereen c harles

THE lack of trained teacher librarians in local schools could dampen National Book Week celebrations, said Marj Kirkland, national president of the Children’s Book Council of Australia.

“If a school doesn’t have a trained teacher librarian, I don’t think it will celebrate Book Week at all,” she said.

The 65th annual National Book Week runs from August 21-27 and celebrates books, the importance of reading and Australian authors and illustrators through activities, competitions, seminars and stories based on 2010’s theme “Across the story bridge”.

“Trained teacher librarians are usually in charge of running writing workshops, inviting authors to speak and organising Book Week,” said Ms Kirkland. “Without a trained teacher librarian, none of this will happen.”

According to Ms Kirkland, one in five Building the Education Revolution school libraries in Australia are not staffed with qualified teacher librarians.

“The number of trained teacher librarians varies from State to State and organisation to organisation. However, the general observation is that the figures for State schools tend to be worse than private schools,” she said.

In the ACT, at least 50 per cent of primary schools are not staffed with a teacher librarian, she said. Such numbers reflect a decline in the employment of teacher librarians in ACT government schools.

According to Ms Kirkland, one such reason for this decline is the lack of funding for training programs.

“There is no encouragement, incentive or scholarship for teachers to apply for the course. Now it is offered only as a masters program, and that costs a lot of money. Most teachers can’t afford that,” she said.

Aside from encouraging and supporting reading programs, one of the main roles of a teacher librarian was teaching information literacy, such as how to use the internet as a research tool, Ms Kirkland said.

With laptops being integrated in classrooms, students in schools without teacher librarians would be at a disadvantage.

“There has been research showing that libraries that are well-funded with proper staff leads to higher achieving students,” she said.

“The students perform better on tests, they learn more, they produce better research and their spelling and vocabulary improves tremendously.”

Spring fashion parade

THE Rotary Club of Gungahlin’s spring fashion parade will be held at West Belconnen Leagues Club, Hardwick Crescent, Kippax, 10am-noon on Sunday, August 29. Entrance is $25 and includes refreshments on arrival and a Devonshire morning tea. Tickets from Ab Fab Fashions, Belconnen, on 6230 5533, at the club, from Gloria on 6259 2794 or from www.rotaryclubgungahlin.org.au

Captain’s rank for Zoe

ZOE Vogel, of LJH Commercial Canberra, has won a place in the company’s top 15 per cent performers from a network of more than 700 real estate business operations. She is now recognised within the company as a “Captain” and a member of the Captain’s Club, which was established in the early 1990s to reward achievement and draw on experiences of its members to lead others into excellence.

Election ephemera

THE National Library wants to collect 2010 election ephemera – from stickers to how-to-vote cards, from posters to banners – to add to the existing collection of Federal election material, which the library has been collecting since 1983. Director of Australian collections Chris Foster said the library had the largest collection of political memorabilia in Australia, with some material from 1901. More details at www.nla.gov.au/collect/elections.html

Green prizes

ACT and Queanbeyan schools have the chance to win up to $10,000 for an environmental project that saves energy or water. Interested schools need to register online at actewagl.com.au/education before 5pm on Friday, September 3. They will then be sent an application pack and have until October 15 to submit an application. Sponsored by ActewAGL, spokesman Paul Walshe said: “The total prize pool is $10,000, which could go towards projects like water wise gardens, water tanks or purchasing energy-efficient appliances.”

Moving out and eating well

By

s hereen c harles

IN the evenings and on weekends, Jenny Guina’s house is often filled with friends of her five children, who drop by to catch up with the family.

Over tea and chats with her oldest son’s friends, who had started to move out of their family homes, Jenny listened to stories of how the boys were adapting to living on their own and what they were eating.

Many of them, who had no experience cooking, regularly spent most of their money on expensive take-away food and, when they were pinching their pennies, they resorted to two-minute noodles.

“I thought that while it’s pretty normal that most teenagers eat this way, I also knew that it could be so easy to cook healthy and simple meals at home,” she said.

As a parent, Jenny found herself trying to find a solution to this problem, not just for her son’s friends, but also for her own children who were growing up and beginning to move out.

“Every parent worries about what’s happening in their child’s life and a big part of that is eating – having energy and maintaining your health at the same time,” she told “CityNews”.

She decided to take matters into her own hands and came up with a

simple recipe book which would be useful for first-time home leavers.

Driven by her passion for writing, Jenny wrote and self-funded “The Leaving Home Cook Book”. All the recipes are simplified versions of her own family favourites.

The book is divided into different sections, namely breakfast, “Feed The Man Meat”, a vegetarian section, quick snacks, and even desserts for the more ambitious.

“The book contains over 40 different recipes which are all so different in so many ways. There’s no ‘fixed time’ for each dish. For example, there are recipes for roasts which takes about two hours to make, or maybe a boiled egg which will take 10 minutes,” she said.

A feature of the recipe book is the list of storage times of food at the back of the book. Most people, she said, do not know how long food can be stored before it becomes unsafe for consumption.

As two of her older sons get ready to move out of home, Jenny is happy that they have such a book to help them out.

“They will definitely be equipped with a copy of my book when they go,” she said.

“The Leaving Home Cook Book”, $12.95 (inclusive of postage) available from www.majenta.com.au. Bulk orders are reduced in price.

mum in the city

By sonya Fladun

Building emotional strength in little folk

I WAS never much into the old-fashioned concept of character building. It always brought to mind my highschool PE teacher, who, whenever she sent us on chest-bursting cross-country runs in pouring rain, would tell us that such challenges “built character”.

I wasn’t convinced. I was more into cerebral pursuits. Extreme physical exertion made me puke and I couldn’t see how practising my projectile vomiting helped build character.

Many years later, I find myself again thinking of character building. Times change, so has my understanding of how to encourage emotional skills. Now we talk not of character building, but building resilience.

My husband and I sometimes refer to our son as an “egg on legs”. He’s a happy, enthusiastic boy, full of energy. But he’s also “a bit fragile”. Things mean so much to him and he’s shattered whenever something doesn’t work out the way he meticulously planned. So we’ve been looking into some resilience training.

Helping our children develop the emotional and intellectual tools to cope with the ups and downs of life strikes me as important as teaching them read, write, brush their teeth and tie their laces.

Recently, I was reading an article that revealed more than 30,000 Australians under 18 were prescribed antidepressants in 2008. Almost 4000 children under 10 were prescribed antidepressants, including 553 children under five. There are a multitude of reasons for this. But it makes good sense that positive efforts to build our children’s resilience helps protect against depression and anxiety. This doesn’t have to involve throwing your child into the deep end to teach them to swim, or forced marches across difficult terrain. It can be as simple as getting them to focus on the positive when something goes awry, or being realistic in their expectations and learning from their mistakes.

Of course, resilience doesn’t stand alone. It’s supported by healthy selfesteem, a degree of calm, an optimistic outlook, a good sense of humour, a bit of ingenuity, and sometimes even a touch of rat cunning.

My son has all of the above so I’m sure resilience will come. After all, it’s one aspect of a person’s character that you can’t have too much of, that ability to bounce back when life chucks those inevitable curve balls. Hey, a sporting analogy – my old PE teacher would be proud.

Driven into political coma

PolITICs

By Michael Moore

IS there anyone who has not been bored into a political coma through this election campaign? Even so, it is timely to reflect on our good fortune on one hand, and where we can improve our democratic processes on the other.

There are always some who whinge about being forced to vote.

Actually, no one is forced to vote.

The requirement to attend the polling booth and take a ballot paper does not force anyone to complete a ballot paper. The requirement to attend works.

In the 2007 election, 95 per cent of the community submitted valid votes.

Instead of complaining about the requirement to vote, it’s worth thinking about those communities that have struggled for the right to vote or the right to participate in peaceful, open and fair elections.

For example, the announcement that Burma will go to the polls after 12 years of military dictatorship provides hope that the people of that country will be able to select their own government and that their choice will not be overturned.

Closer to home, Australian Federal Police and Australian Defence Force personnel, largely comprising army reservists, played a major role in ensuring calm and peaceful elections in the Solomon Islands on August 4.

This is in marked contrast to the 2006 elections, which were characterised by riots, arson and looting resulting in millions of dollars of damage and citizens feeling threatened and vulnerable.

However, it is one thing to point at others regarding fair and open elections, but harder

to reflect on how we might make our own system fairer and more transparent.

One of the most insidious forces undermining our democracy is in the way donations are made to parties.

It is difficult to believe that the large amounts donated by mining companies did not influence the Liberals’ stance on the “super profits tax”. Mineralogy Pty Ltd donated around $600,000 to the Coalition Parties in 2008/2009.

That same year, the Liberals also accepted large donations from companies such as Philip Morris Limited ($62,275).

It was hardly surprising that the party was reluctant to come out blasting the campaign against plain packaging of cigarettes.

The best illustration of the insidious nature of donations

is that many large donors give to both major parties.

The Westfield Group donated around $100,000 while a series of financial institutions combined donated more than $200,000 in the same period to Labor and Liberal. Clearly, they are not supporting a philosophy – they are purchasing access.

Another democratic improvement would be to institute fixed electoral terms as is the case in Victoria, the ACT and NSW.

It is unfair that the Prime Minister is in a position to call an election when it happens to suit the governing party.

Our preferential electoral systems are certainly significantly fairer than the firstpast-the-post systems used in some other democracies. However, the ACT and Tas -

mania both use a proportional representation system that considerably empowers voters compared to the single-member electorates of the House of Representatives. Hare-Clark is a fairer system that could be rolled out across Australia, although the loss of power from the major parties suggests that such reform is likely to be a pipe dream.

Thanks to the Australian Electoral Commission and to our political entities, our elections are peaceful, transparent and change of power is handled with relative grace. However, there are still ways to make elections fairer.

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

Policies, what policies? Catherine Carter page 9

campaign trail

Home and hosed, l abor’s perennial senator Kate lundy has a more refined approach to campaigning. ElERI HARRIs reports

HOW do you campaign when you’ve won every election you’ve ever contested?

“I think it’s about being respectful,” ACT Labor Senator Kate Lundy says carefully, wrapped in an orange scarf and sipping a giant skinny latte outside a Civic pre-polling booth in the late-afternoon sunshine.

“The more experienced you become, you work to your strengths. You get a bit of a feel for that.”

At 43, Senator Lundy has already won five Federal elections and, bar a near-impossible political catastrophe, she will win again.

“We’re on a continuous campaign,” she says, “Canberra is the only place where the focus is on the Senate race.”

But the two-seat Senate race isn’t really about her, it’s about Liberal Senator Gary Humphries and Greens candidate Lin Hatfield Dodds. Lundy’s Senate seat is safe. For 14 years the high-school drop-out, former construction worker and trade unionist has represented the people of the ACT, as a shadow minister in the Howard era and a back-bencher under Rudd, spending more of her working adult life in Parliament than out of it.

Lundy is no door-knocker, she likes a good supermarket stall, public forums and social networking.

“I’ve done a little, but it’s minimal,” Lundy says. “I try to door-knock in areas where I don’t get a lot of votes.”

“I like social networking and street stalls because people can select if they want to talk to you. I get a really positive response at supermarkets and I do it as often as I can.”

When Lundy does speak to her constituents it’s quietly and slowly, cherry-picking the proper words to communicate both Labor party policy and her own personal

Kate Lundy... “I like social networking and street stalls because people can select if they want to talk to you.”

Kate’s keeping it real with respect

position on the issues they raise – and it seems the two differ rather often.

The first Federal Parliamentarian to build their own website, Lundy is a geek from way back, learning how to use a computer when working for the CFMEU in 1988, teaching herself how to write HTML in the early 1990s and building a reputation as the most tech-savvy pollie in town.

“I was excited about the internet, all the political stuff was happening. I said ‘I’m going to participate in the debate’ and I had the skill set to start the conversation.

“The digital environment allows more

access to information, it’s a great way to stay current with issues. It’s a far more effective political tool, deploying social networking.

“Needless to say, I think this is a really important area of public policy.”

It is her involvement in developing Labor’s communications technology policies that Lundy prides herself on and is famous on the internet for her opposition to Communications Minister Stephen Conroy’s mandatory ISP filter.

But the development of the National Broadband Network, a key election issue, is something Lundy supports whole heartedly and has campaigned on heavily, probably because unlike most MPs – including Tony Abbott – she actually understands the technology being used.

“There is not a better policy on earth than our NBN and I know because I’ve immersed myself in telco for 14 years.

“Our proposal puts fibre optic to every home and guarantees equal bandwidth.

“The Coalition can’t guarantee anything for the people of the ACT. I’m not even sure it [their broadband proposal] would be rolled out here.”

Mark’s clean start with a sentimental name

MARK Ryan jokes that he has solvent in his blood.

“I’ve got really vivid memories of being five years old and going in my grandfather’s dry-cleaning vans – I can really remember the smell,” he says. “Some things never leave you.”

Mark has just rebranded his Canberra Dry Cleaners business in Mawson as R&R Fabricare to reflect its history and his heritage.

“This dry cleaner was set up by myself and my father back in 1985, as a small, customer service-oriented dry cleaner based in Cooleman Court, and another now at Mawson,” explains Mark.

“But it was always an ambition of mine to resurrect the family business name.”

In 1933, Mark’s great-grandfather, Herbert, his brother Gus, son Alan and friend Leo Robins set up R&R in Goulburn; and in 1942, Alan opened another in Monaro Street, Queanbeyan.

Alan’s four sons, Peter, Gary, Brendan and Lynton, all joined the business, and it was Mark’s father, Peter, who opened Canberra Dry Cleaners in 1985.

“The new name is a tribute to my grandparents and the hard work they did raising seven kids in Queanbeyan, and my

grandfather as an entrepreneur. He really laid the foundation for this business,” Mark says.

“I’ve been a bit surprised by the reaction to the rebranding. A few of our customers actually thought we’d left or been taken over by a multinational, and they were actually really relieved when they found out that wasn’t the case!

“I’m the fourth generation of Ryans in this industry, and a lot of things have changed in dry cleaning over those generations, but not the professionalism.”

Techniques have changed, for example, Mark says: dry cleaners now need to be up-to-date with water-based cleaning as well. “You need to be able to offer your customers a choice.

“We also need to be environmentally aware. Solvents are totally licensed these days, and it’s really important to be up to speed on current legislation and housekeeping. Housekeeping’s an important word in this industry.

“The big difference between my work and my grandfather’s era is that back then, a lot of the solvents were petroleum-based, white spirit-based. Emissions weren’t even regulated!”

R&R Fabricare is still basically the same business as Canberra

At your service... the R&R fleet in 1968. Photo QueanbeyanAge.

Dry Cleaners, Mark says. “Garment care is still all about customer service, and we’ve got staff who have been here 20 years or more.

“It’s all about our customers’ image, about how they feel when they wear their clothes: how nicely they present themselves.

“Our customers are handing over their personal possessions and that image to us, and it’s like a lot of other relationships,

with their hairdresser or chemist or doctor: people are always looking for a good dry cleaner, and they talk when they find one!

“There’s a dry cleaner on every street corner, but not too many with my pedigree.”

R&R Fabricare is at Shop 5/8, Southlands Shopping Centre, Mawson. More information at www.rrfabricare.com or call 6286 3695.

motoring

Look at all those idiots on the roads!

AT the moment, we seem to be having a road-crash death every other week, and our total for eight months of the year is already well past the annual average.

The Chief Minister, who doubles as Minister for Transport, has called for a radical change in the ACT’s driving culture. No one much has picked this up, but I will. It is a great idea, but it will ruffle a lot of feathers, and it will need bipartisan support.

The story of our indifference, collectively, to deaths on the road is not as well-known as it ought to be, and the reason has to do with the very driving culture that Jon Stanhope referred to.

In the early 1970s, we used to kill 30 people a year per hundred thousand live population. Fifteen years ago we got that proportion down to 10 per hundred thousand. It’s been quite hard to lower it since, but in a good year – and this won’t be one – it might be around six per hundred thousand.

That’s a great improvement, but what upsets the Minister, and every ambo and police officer and firey who attends the scenes of road fatalities, is that every road death could have been avoided.

Why do they go on happening? We’ve done so well – why can’t we stop them?

Now the reduction from 30 to six

We can speed a little if it’s necessary because we know how to do it safely. Wrong! There’s a need for a cultural change to driving, says DoN AITKIN

has had many causes, including seatbelts, RBT, better roads, better cars, slower speeds in the cities because of congestion, and better driver training.

But what is missing from this list, conspicuously, is a candid look at our driving culture. The University of Canberra has done some work on this element of our society, and more is in prospect.

If I summarised what I think the key components are of our current driving culture, they would include that there is a “right” to drive, that the roads are free, that we are all above average as drivers (well, you and I are), that we don’t make errors when we drive, or many of them, or any important ones (that’s you and I again), that we constantly see idiots driving cars who shouldn’t be allowed on the road, and that we can speed a little if it’s necessary because we know how to do it safely.

Oh, and that speed cameras are really just for revenue-raising, and should be scrapped. Actually, I see speed cameras, warned about or unwarned, as the most benign

form of taxation, like the one on poker machines: you don’t have to pay the tax – you just drive within the speed limits, or avoid the pokies, and let those who don’t pay the tax. Easy.

“Vision Zero”, the goal of no deaths, is ambitious and probably out of our reach, but it is the right goal, and especially the right goal for a Government and a Legislative Assembly to have.

All the legislative enactments that have contributed to the decline in road deaths have been important, but all of them assume, in a way, that we are all rational, well-meaning, skilled and altruistic drivers.

I think it really is time that we took a good long, hard look at ourselves as drivers, and start to build a new driving culture, one that has a more realistic basis.

donaitkin@grapevine.com.au

Don Aitkin, political scientist and historian, served as vice-chancellor of the University of Canberra from 1991 to 2002. He is chairman of the NRMA/ACT Road Safety Trust.

When clunkers go cl-lunk

I HAD car trouble last week; one moment cruising along sweetly in the Astra, the next the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree.

We ground to a halt trying to turn right on to Ellenborough Street from the Barton Highway. Luckily, the driver behind was a Braddon-based mechanic whose onthe-spot diagnosis was a dodgy ignition switch. He gave us a push so I could clutch start it.

For the rest of the weekend, whenever I stopped the car I had to do it facing downhill. It took me back to younger years when I drove some dodgy cars.

I moved up to Coffs Harbour from Adelaide for a radio job, and made the journey in my crappy little Nissan Pulsar. I was astounded that we made it and I rented a place within walking distance of work in anticipation of the car dying. It was a slow death.

First, the ignition switch failed. I could still start the car and it was drivable, but I had to hold the key in exactly the right spot the whole time, or it would lose power. The tricky thing was that the wipers wouldn’t work while the key was in the “driving position”. It rains a lot in Coffs. I’d have to go downhill and jiggle the key till the engine cut out so the

MARK PARToN reminisces about the ghosts of gutless cars past…

wipers could kick in.

Eventually, I traded it in for a Suzuki Sierra soft top. In a place where they get 2000mm of rain every year, those soft tops don’t stop the rain hitting you, they just delay it! With a lack of aerodynamics and a gutless 1.3-litre engine I’d be tacking into the wind like a yacht.

I got a number of calls on my radio program at 2CC about dodgy cars. Mick told us about his old Toyota Corolla. He said he had to drive three laps of the underground car park at work before he had enough momentum to get up the ramp.

Jane called to talk about the time she drove from Sydney to Bowral with some teenage friends. The fan belt broke and the boys replaced it with the elastic from a pair of undies. Aussie engineering ingenuity at its best.

Mark Parton is the breakfast announcer on 2CC.

letters

Appalled and disgusted

I HAVE read the article “Should lives be ruined for just watching?” by Robert Macklin (CN, July 15-21) and I am appalled and disgusted. How could anyone possibly defend viewers of child pornography?

These adults are sexually gratifying themselves over innocent children and it’s sick, they are sick human beings and they deserve to be hung out to dry. They need to be made examples of so that other sickos might be deterred. Any desire to watch child pornography is fueling the supply. Mr Macklin clearly doesn’t understand that. No demand = no supply; it’s that simple. There is no justification for viewing child pornography, and Mr

Limited options

AS prison officers have a difficult and dangerous job, their views should certainly be taken into account. So I was pleased to see Mick Crowther express his views (“Needles are wrong”, CN August 5 ). But the views of prison officers should not be the only ones considered.

As Mr Crowther’s experience shows, needle-stick injuries occur in prisons. Unfortunately, although authorities can reduce the number of needle-stick injuries among correctional staff, they cannot prevent them entirely. Prison authorities therefore must also try to minimise harms caused by needle-stick injuries, including HIV and hepatitis C.

Authorities have only a few ways of reducing these infections. They can try to stop all drugs or all needles and syringes entering prisons, which is impossible, or provide a prison needle and syringe exchange. Prison authorities are responsible for the occupational health and safety of correctional officers and also owe a duty of care to inmates.

The international experience of prison needle and syringe exchanges is very favourable. No serious side effects have occurred. Many European correctional officers working in prisons where needle and syringe exchanges have been operating have become strong supporters.

Macklin is correct in assuming that his stance would be seen as going soft on the issue. He is defending these sick, deranged individuals and making excuses for them. I don’t care if they themselves were victims, there is no excuse. Those people ought to get themselves professional help. Liberal attitudes will never cease to amaze me.

Karlie taylor, via email

Editor’s note: Mr Macklin’s original piece opined about the degree of guilt of someone watching child pornography and was as one with Ms Taylor in his revulsion of all aspects of child pornography.

a dose of

There is now a lot of evidence that HIV infections associated with injecting drug use in prisons around the world is a significant public health problem.

Dr a lex Wodak a M, Darlinghurst nsW

Officers at risk

WHAT do twice needlepricked, ex-prison officer Mike Crowther, smoking, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and needles in our prison have in common? (“Needles are Wrong”, CN August 5). First, Crowther’s experience demolishes the public lie that needles pose no risk.

About 20 years ago my role with Commonwealth Health was to use the Act, together

with the transport ministry, to negotiate with Qantas a ban on smoking in aircraft. It happened. Obviously, the health of passengers was important, but the cabin stewards carried the thrust under the Act because they were always exposed to smoke at work. Prison officers will always face continuous greater exposure to needleprick diseases if needles flood our jail.

If use of a legal drug (smoking) can be banned under occupational and health laws, the same laws must override the use of illegal substances and their ingestion in a place of rehabilitation. If not, litigation must follow.

colliss Parrett, Barton

Fate of missing people

AUGUST marks Missing Persons Week – a reminder of the hundreds of thousands of people who are right now searching for missing loved ones. August 30 is another significant day for the world’s missing, International Day of the Disappeared.

Australian Red Cross’ International Tracing Service works to uncover the fate of the missing and attempts to reconnect families. Tracing, which uses Red Cross contacts and resources in more than 180 countries, works to restore links between families who have been ripped apart by armed conflict, war and disaster.

The distress of separation and the uncertainty of not knowing if your loved ones are

even alive can be devastating and debilitating. Separated families can suffer feelings of grief, isolation and helplessness.

Tracing provides comfort to broken-hearted parents and children, and a flicker of hope for reunification. About two-thirds of our cases are resolved – over the past 12 months we reestablished contact for 198 families – though sadly the news is not always good. You can help support work reconnecting families separated by war, conflict or disaster by making a donation to Australian Red Cross. For more information visit www.redcross.org. au or call 1800 811700.

Robert t ickner, c E o , a ustralian Red c ross

Adolescents with reading difficulties are in every school, in every classroom, writes Jo WHITHEAR

POOR literacy rates in high school are so widespread and obvious, yet no one appears willing to fix the problem.

Trying to remediate reading problems with older students is complex and challenging, but research has shown it can be done. Regrettably, most of these students will have struggled from a young age. The mythical “late bloomer” has not happened for them.

Longitudinal studies (those conducted over several years) have suggested that low-progress readers in the beginning grades will remain lowprogress readers throughout their schooling.

In the late ‘80s, psychologist Keith Stanovich wrote a seminal paper named “The Matthew Ef-

Stopping adolescents from slipping through the cracks

fect” to explain why some adolescents cannot read effectively. He described reading development not as a finite process, but a continuum of increasing complex processes. These older students become less inclined to read over time and fall linguistically further behind their peers.

So while competent readers continue to improve their reading skills by reading MORE, poor readers do not improve because they do not like to read.

The compounding result is that adolescents also exhibit more attitude than younger readers. Students with a history of reading difficulties will be more resistant to instruction.

When an adolescent has experienced years of failure they need a reading program that gives them “instant” success. A program that allows them to see that persevering will result in improved reading.

Ros helps refugee kids find a voice

By s hereen c harles

ROS Phillips had a dream that students who grew up in refugee camps, or who had received broken education, would be able to write their own stories, on their own terms, in a new land.

The Dickson College teacher, who worked with high-school refugee students, had listened to stories of students unable to make a smooth transition into college because of language barriers.

“My big concern was that the college-age students were leaving the intensive language program or going into mainstream college and finding it very difficult to cope and often leaving. In my dream world, I thought, ‘we would have a bridging program that would make the transition easier’,” she said.

With no such program in place, Ms Phillips took it upon herself to turn her dreams into reality.

“I spoke to my former principal about it, and she said: ‘Well, make it happen!’,” Ms Phillips told “CityNews”.

After months of planning and numerous trips to Melbourne to study similar programs, Ms Phillips launched The College Refugee Bridging Program last year.

The program is a year 11 and year 12 course that’s studied over a possible three years at Dickson College. The program will allow stu-

dents to fulfil the requirements of a year 12 certificate.

To date, 25 students have enrolled in the program, which is tailored to each student’s abilities by allowing them to go at their own pace.

“When students come into the program, they usually are solely in the program from 9am3pm, with no free lessons. We have a small team of teachers, and as their language progresses and they become stronger and more supported, they slowly start to do mainstream subjects. A lot of them do a hybrid timetable, some of the time with the literacy stuff and some of the time in the mainstream subjects,” she said.

Aside from modules on literacy and numeracy, there are also modules on IT, study skills and life skills.

“Whether it’s a maths assignment or filling out a form from Centrelink, they’re little things but they are issues that kids need to be sorted out. Students can’t learn until their head is in that space,” she said.

Each with a different, yet equally tragic story to tell, the program aims to provide students with a new lease of life.

“Most of them are just desperate to start a new life where they’re not behind a fence,” she said.

“Kids are amazing really. They are very resilient and they don’t have the prejudice of adults. What amazes me is that they don’t dwell on the past. It’s all about the future for them.”

We must stop “accommodating” these students in the high school. A good proportion of the highschool curriculum is focused upon alleviating and effectively complying with their reading deficits, rather than trying to close the literacy gap. We need to be working on both issues concurrently; otherwise we are implying that we have given up on these students.

We need to teach students how to gain meaning from a text. The secondary curriculum is heavily focused on expository texts (materials written to communicate information to assist learning something new).

The internal questioning that occurs in the mind of a proficient reader needs to be modeled and made “visible” to poor readers. Anyone can struggle with a text and the struggle is not the problem. It is how the reader addresses this that is

important; a “struggling” reader is a more dependent reader. They display limited strategies when compared with a more proficient or independent reader.

Unfortunately, a “one-size-fits-all” reading program is difficult to develop. Some programs focus primarily on improving word skills, while others focus on fluency or strategies for improving comprehension. Others still may include all of these components to some degree. However, quality programs delivered by quality instructors do work. What better outcome is there if we can give young adults the opportunity to broaden their ability to find meaningful work? Or maybe to experience the joy of reading for pleasure?

Jo Whithear is a reading specialist and director of the Canberra Reading Clinic.

All together on Open Day

CANBERRA Tertiary open Day (ToD) will see the ACT’s five tertiary institutions – the University of Canberra, Australian Catholic University, Canberra Institute of Technology, Australian Defence Force Academy and the

Australian National University – host their annual open day on their campuses. live music, art, exhibitions, food and entertainment will feature at the 0 open Day, on saturday, August  from 9am to

International hospitality: exciting and challenging

RECENT statistics issued by the World Travel and Tourism Council underline the importance of the tourism and hospitality industry, says Guy Bentley, CEO of the Australian International Hotel School.

With more than 219 million jobs – 650,000 alone at managerial levels – hospitality is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world today.

“Considering the expected growth in the industry, now is the time for students to gain a recognised qualification (or further their studies) to ensure themselves a senior management career in this exciting industry,” Sarah says.

“For those who are looking for a career that offers travel, varied challenges and enjoy working with people, then gaining a degree in hotel or event management could be for them.”

The Australian International Hotel School (AIHS) offers university-level education to ensure success in hospitality, she says.

The school is a member of the Laureate International Universities (LIU), which owns and operates the Les Roches and Glion hotel schools in Switzerland. Les Roches is ranked among the top three hotel schools in the world.

“AIHS has adopted the famous Swiss hotel school model of teaching and learning which balances and integrates theoretical knowledge,

practical training and professional and personal development.

“As well as taking university-level classes and tutorials, students gain daily practical training, learning discipline, teamwork and leadership skills on the campus.”

AIHS also operates its own four-star boutique hotel, Hotel Kurrajong, onsite giving students the advantage of studying and working in a real-life hotel.

“Graduates of AIHS have gone on to become senior managers and leaders in their field all around the globe.”

Undergraduate and postgraduate programs are available.

More information on enquiry@hotelschool. com.au or call 1800 257 360.

Find the secret to success at CIT

MORE than just a chance to see the facilities and meet the people at Canberra Institute of Technology, Tertiary Open Day is also a golden opportunity to map out the secret to your success using any of the 400-plus courses available on your doorstep, says senior manager, marketing and communication Tiffany King.

This year CIT will have two campuses open for inspection.

“At the Bruce campus you can get down and dirty with forensic investigations, horticulture and veterinary nursing,” says Tiffany.

“For those with grand designs, there is electrical engineering, carpentry, glazing and building.

“For those who want to help others, there is aged care, children’s services and massage.

“At CIT’s Reid campus there will be music in the air as performing arts students entertain the crowds of people exploring the opportunities available in automotive repair, media and journalism, ICT careers, hospitality services, fashion, art and photography.

“You never know, CIT’s Open Day could be the key to unlocking a rewarding and satisfying career built on solid practical training at Canberra’s largest vocational education provider.”

More information on www.cit.act.edu.au

Military training with a degree

TERTIARY Open Day is exciting because it brings together the five tertiary institutions in Canberra, and allows each of them to showcase the best they have to offer, says Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) Commandant, Commodore Bruce Kafer, RAN.

“Each institution has a tendency to specialise in specific areas, so we all have something different and exciting to offer prospective students,” he says.

“ADFA is a unique institution because we provide military training in addition to an undergraduate degree through the University of New South Wales. Our midshipmen and officer cadets graduate with leadership skills as well as the ability to think creatively and laterally.

“UNSW at ADFA also has the best student-to-

lecturer ratio in Australia, so the junior officers receive personal attention from lecturers who are at the top of their fields.”

Visitors to the ADFA Open Day can expect to see Navy and Army helicopters, the Air Force Balloon, military working dog displays, the ACME racing vehicle, a mock section attack and the ADFA band.

“There will also be staff from ADFA, UNSW and Defence Force Recruiting on hand to answer questions. ADFA’s midshipmen and officer cadets will also be available to conduct personalised tours of the Academy and to answer questions about their military training and academic studies.”

More information on www.defence.gov. au/adfa or call 6127 1997.

Explore, experience and discover

OPEN Day is a chance to find out about the extensive range of courses available at the University of Canberra in Bruce, says manager, domestic student recruitment at the University, Nadean Mamic.

“It’s your chance to find out about the extensive range of courses available at the University of Canberra which specialises in professionally preparing graduates for rewarding careers in the real world,” Nadean says.

At Open Day, prospective students, their friends and family are encouraged to come along to find detailed information about the University, as well as experience the uni lifestyle.

Academics, course advisors, current students and support staff will be there to talk to prospective students and give them a realistic picture of what studying at the university is really like, she says.

“Visitors can explore the campus and discover the facilities and services University of Canberra students have at their disposal, including television and radio studios, specialised science laboratories, education centres and much more.

“Entertainment will also be provided with live performances by University clubs and societies and local organisations, a jumping castle and face painting for the children, market stalls and other exciting activities.”

The Open Day is not just for prospective students, she says – it’s also a chance for Canberrans to visit the campus and find out more about their local university.

More information on www.canberra.edu. au.openday or call 1800 864 226.

‘World-class’ opportunities at ANU

“STUDENTS can go out and fossick around the institutions and get all their answers in one go on Open Day,” says Jenny Carlin, deputy registrar student recruitment and international at Australian National University.

“ANU is a world-class university, and as well as students from Canberra and the surrounding areas we have a lot of interstate and overseas students coming to our open day.

“We offer world-class teaching facilities for our students, and particularly for those who want

to get in there and do research or tap into our knowledge, there’s lots of opportunities at ANU.

“Students have every opportunity to be taught by the people who write the textbooks!”

ANU also has the advantage of being a small campus, Jenny says: “students are in a smaller environment where they get more attention paid to them”.

More information on www.anu.edu.au or call 6125 5111.

Gain hands-on experience

AUSTRALIAN Catholic University is recognised for its supportive and nurturing environment and close links with industry, says national media officer marketing and external relations Alisse Grafitti, “giving you the chance to gain hands-on experience in the workplace.”

Completing a degree at the university involves learning to think critically and ethically, she says, and gaining the skills to bring about change in communities, professions and industries.

“Our staff are leading figures in their fields, and passionate about

giving students the best possible experience during their time with us.”

Open Day will give prospective students the chance to attend information sessions on education, social work, nursing and theology.

“You can also learn more about the Early Achievers’ Program, which takes into account the achievements and community contributions made by prospective students when they apply.”

More information on www.acu. edu.au or call 6209 1100.

Big crowd sees Gerard get top prize

A RECoRD  00 people attended the eighth annual ACT Building and Construction Industry Training Council Graduating Apprentice and Industry Encouragement Awards at Thoroughbred Park on Friday August .

The awards formally recognise the ACT’s leading apprentices for outstanding performance in their individual trades.

ACT Education and Training Minister Andrew Barr, in the presence of ACT Legislative Assembly members, and supported by finalists’ families and friends, opened the event and congratulated winners and nominees.

While the outstanding quality of apprentices nominated and interviewed this year made difficult work for the selection panel, the most outstanding apprentice for 2010 award was presented to Gerard Allen.

Gerard recently won the National Skills competition in Brisbane for plumbing. He has also won the ACT Master Builders Apprentice of the Year, the ACT Master Plumber Association’s Apprentice of the Year and

The Canberra Institute of Technology Outstanding Plumbing Award.

The awards also continued to recognise the role of young women in the trades with Catlin Maggs winning the Outstanding Woman in a NonTraditional Trade and the Outstanding Systems Electrician awards.

The awards also recognised the Outstanding Graduating Indigenous Apprentice and this was won by a bricklaying apprentice, Michael Olsen.

Beyond the awards that recognise the traditional building and construction trades, awards in plant

operations and road construction and maintenance were made to two civil construction apprentices this year.

Vince Ball, executive director of the CITC, said that with skills shortages being a major issue for the construction industry, it is fitting that the apprentices are recognised and rewarded for their performance in their trade.

“This year’s winners were all highly motivated and have reached a high standard of skill in their chosen fields within the construction industry,” he said.

Award winners

2010 Outstanding Apprentice Gerard Allen

Bricklaying Sam Griffiths

Cabinet making

Carpentry Justin Poidevin

Commercial/ residential cadet Peter Jamieson

Glass and glazing Shane Moore

Landscaping

Indigenous (bricklaying)

Meritorious

Meritorious

Painting

Plumbing

Engineering

Engineering

Engineering

Plant

Refrigeration

Solid plastering

At the launch of M16 Artspace at Griffith

all about living

By Helen Musa

PAUL

Knobloch

is a Canberra artist who’s proud to acknowledge his origins.

At 32, he is one of the lead dancer-choreographers in the celebrated Béjart Ballet of Lausanne, Switzerland. After previously dancing for eight years in the Australian Ballet, and with a choreographed work that is still in the Australian Ballet School’s repertoire, he is one of our proudest exports.

Right now Knobloch is back in Canberra, visiting family and running master classes on August 22 at his alma mater, the Canberra Dance Development Centre in Belconnen, and is quick to proclaim its director Jackie Hallahan as “a great mentor in ways you can’t even imagine.”

To him, this kind of loyalty is axiomatic: “It’s so important for dancers, past and present, to give back to young professional dancers in order for them to move forward.”

It is just one year since he joined the Swiss ballet company, after popping in with his CV during his holidays. He was lucky enough to be “inspired by the passion” of artistic director Gil Roman, and also saw “Le Tour du Monde en 80 Jours”, the final production of the late Maurice Béjart, who founded the company. Later on the train to Lyon after his visit, he got a call saying he’d been accepted into the company. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave Australia’s flagship ballet, which had offered him opportunities and friendships, but the move has placed him on the world stage. Well aware that he is growing older and though more experienced, less flexible, he hopes to firm up his choreographic experiences in his year remaining in Lausanne and to put himself out there in Europe. Dancing, he says, “is a wonderful career, but it’s a young career.”

Proud Paul shares the skill

ARTs IN THE CITY

By Helen Musa

‘Love’s

Labour’s’ all for laughs

CANBERRA actor, writer and theatre publicist Naomi Milthorpe also directs, and will do so with Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost” at the ANU Arts Centre at 7.30pm, August 26-28. It’s for the uni drama society NUTS and, though no pushover, the play is full of hilarity. Tickets at the door.

THE St Kilda Film Festival will swing into Canberra with its “Top 100 Australian Shorts” on August 29 and 30 at the Arc Cinema, National Film & Sound Archive. This year’s best short film is “Tomorrow”, directed by Simon Portus, produced by David Curzon and starring Leah Purcell.

THE strangest companies are jumping on the election bandwagon. “SingA-Long-A Sound of Music” will show election coverage on five TV monitors during the show at the Canberra Theatre Centre on August 21. More relevant, Melbourne’s live political comedy group Political Asylum have been at C Block Theatre in Gorman House running their own comic election campaign. Oh for the days when Max Gillies played John Howard on stage while Guy Rundle, backstage at the Playhouse, re-scripted as the election results came in.

IT’S good to see our top artists reinforcing their names around the country. Distinguished painter Robert Boynes is exhibiting at the Brenda May Gallery in Waterloo, Sydney until August 29 under the title “Short Stories”. Johannes Kuhnen, head of gold and silversmithing at the ANU, is exhibiting “A Survey of Innovation” until August 28 at the Sydney College of the Arts in Rozelle. And virtuoso pianist Marcela Fiorillo, though a Canberra resident, is part of “The Melbourne Musicians” performing at the Melba Hall on August 22.

HERE’S something original. Salut! Baroque will present “Folk Meets Baroque” on August 27 at Albert Hall, which is to become the ensemble’s new home. A highlight of the concert will be the big hit song of the 1580s, “Greensleeves”. Bookings to 132 849.

‘Daisy’ drives a theatrical

By Helen Musa

WHEN Melbourne actor Brian Davison was offered the role of Hoke, the chauffeur in HIT Productions’

“Driving Miss Daisy”, he instantly recognised a familiar twang in the language of this character.

Davison, born in the US but resident in Australia for 19 years, knew Hoke’s southern accent through and through because it sounded exactly like his old dad, who came from Alabama.

The play is Alfred Uhry’s 1988 Pulitzer prizewinner, made even more famous by the film starring Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman, and to Davison, it is a sheer pleasure to be touring 86 Australian cities with the show – we’ll see it soon

at Tuggeranong Arts Centre.

He is particularly enjoying playing the “fierce clashes” with noted TV actress Debra Lawrance, who plays the elderly southern lady Daisy, but equally enjoys working with Tamblyn Lord as Daisy’s son Boolie.

Davison praises the maturity of Uhry’s script, describing it as “very enlightened to a person of colour”. His character, he says, is “nobody’s fool… he’s actually very clever… this is not a stereotypical black part.”

Director Dennis Moore tells me he believes people are so used to thinking of “Daisy” as a film that they’re going to get a bit of a shock when they see how theatrical it is. And it perfectly matches his

side

personal mission to bring theatre to the country, where people are “refreshing, in comparison to city audiences, which can be jaded.

“Why not take theatre to regional audiences? They’re paying as much tax as anyone else,” he says.

Moore is familiar with our theatres, having performed in David Williamson’s “The Club” in Tuggeranong and at the Q, and directed “A Stretch of the Imagination”. The production, he says, does not compromise theatrical standards when touring outside the cities, though the set will have to be tightened for tiny Tuggeranong.

“Driving Miss Daisy” will be at Tuggeranong Arts Centre from August 26-28. Bookings to 6293 1443.

Desirable ‘Streetcar’

THEATRE

“A Streetcar Named Desire”

By Tennessee Williams, directed by Fiona Atkin for Free Rain Theatre, at the ANU Arts Centre until August 21.

Reviewed by Helen Musa

DIRECTOR Fiona Atkin has taken on Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece in a powerful production that will undoubtedly move audiences.

With a strong cast coping on an un-atmospheric set, she achieves the impression that the forces of civilisation are rapidly being overtaken by more primal urges.

Jordan Best, playing the tour-de-force role of Blanche DuBois, triumphs over a crass program synopsis with a multi-faceted performance showing a woman on the edge, playing out her last moments in this world of reality. This is a tremendous piece of acting that runs the gamut from subtle throwaways to sheer poetry.

Herein lies the main problem of the production, for Best, cast against physical type in the role of the moth-like Blanche, dominates the evening just as she did in last year’s production of “Medea” at the same venue.

Chris Zuber as Stanley Kowalski is young but perfectly credible, playing the main antagonist in a brutal style you won’t forget. Steph Roberts as Blanche’s sister Stella, delivers, feelingly, a multitude of apparently acquiescent “yeses” as if she meant no.

Sam Hannan-Morrow as the decent Mitch is, like Best, cast against physical type, leading to a touching scene that must have mystified audiences unfamiliar with the script. Atkin might have considered a couple of judicious cuts where the text too closely specifies the physical appearance of the characters. An unmissable recreation of a theatre classic.

Charismatic West steals the show

MUSICAL THEATRE

“The Boy From Oz” Canberra Philharmonic Society, Erindale Centre, to September 4

Reviewed by Bill Stephens

AMONG many good reasons to see “The Boy From Oz” is Jarrad West’s remarkable performance as Peter Allen.

This proudly-Australian musical, crammed with Peter Allen songs, charts the life and loves of the entertainer, and sinks or swims on the ability of the lead performer to capture some of Allen’s legendary charisma. Jarrad West has charisma in spades, and his

knowing, sardonic, direct-to-audience delivery goes a long way towards capturing Allen’s unique performance style.

He succeeded brilliantly on opening night, despite the threat of potential disaster from some unsynchronized lighting and music cues.

Impressive also was the touching portrayal of Liza Minnelli by newcomer Anne Maree McLeod, the sassy sophistication of Janie Lawson as Judy Garland, Bronwyn Sullivan’s gutsy Marion Woolnough, and the delightfully assured performance of Cameron Taylor as the young Peter Allen.

Perhaps most impressive of all, is how successfully director Carissa Campbell has managed to achieve an essentially large-scale show in the comparative intimacy of the Erindale Centre with an ensemble production that is funny, moving, spectacular and packed full of good, old-fashioned pizzaz.

Delightfully audacious romance

BALLET

“Romeo and Juliet”

Royal New Zealand Ballet, Canberra Theatre, season closed

Reviewed by Bill Stephens

THE Royal New Zealand Ballet made a welcome return to Canberra with a delightfully audacious production of the classic “Romeo and Juliet”.

It is a production notable for its bold design, witty choreography, and the vivacity of the young dancers, who revelled in the opportunities provided by Christopher Hampson’s intricate choreography, the clarity of the

story-telling, the unsettling fight scenes involving chains, knives, baseball bats and blood, and the gorgeous ballroom scene with its glittering costumes and masks.

But “Romeo and Juliet” is all about the lovers, and on opening night Qi Huan and Katie Hurst-Saxton danced these roles with engaging abandon, particularly in the lovely first-act pas de deux. However, their bedroom duet was less effective partly because, deprived of a flowing nightdress for Juliet, the pas de deux lost much of its romance.

Designer, Tracey Grant Lord, successfully transposed the action from its usual medieval setting into a more ambiguous period, using a huge sweeping wall to neatly differentiate the scenes, and provide an excellent backdrop for the brilliantly coloured costumes, even though her setting occupied so much of the stage area that the dancers sometimes appeared cramped, particularly in the lavish

first-act ballroom scene.

Adding further icing to an already impressive cake, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, under Tom Woods, thrilled with a stirring account of the rousing Prokofiev score featuring some particularly fine playing from the brass section.

Getting behind a blush

DANCE

“Exciting a Blush“

Choreographed

WITH the simple act of blushing, shyness, embarrassment, exertion or arousal is given away. Choreographer Angela Goh examines this theme with newly created group Autumnal, made up of former Canberra dancers from QL2.

She combines dance and abstract theatre. Crumpled brown paper and small frames represent layers of clothes and the confinements of social norms placed on us – real and imagined. Layered paintings and a strategically placed, stuffed bird punctuate situations where one might experience reddened cheeks.

Awkward dance and isolation movements segue into the next “blushing” scenario or return us to unfinished storylines. The dancing is secondary to the theatrical emotion of the production and, at times, appeared overly dramatic.

The small theatre allows the audience access to the embarrassment, awkwardness and fear expressed by the performers. You hear their breath and see their sweat.

Patricia Wood’s portrayal of an ingénue was the perfect embodiment of physicality and emotion, her subtle expressions delightfully effective. Wood’s interactions with Dean Cross, as the youthfully exuberant boy pursuing her, were the highlight.

After a less-than-smooth attempt at poetic wooing, their lingering kiss was extremely moving in its simplicity.

Fantasy of blood and fire

CINEMA

By Dougal Macdonald

“SPLICE” (MA)

VINCENZIO Natali’s sci-fi horror thriller owes creative debts to others beside James Whale, who directed the first Frankenstein film in 1931.

Mary Wollstonecraft in 1817 published her novel addressing changing social conditions, postulating the use of body parts to create a man, a theme on which film-makers have since fed gluttonously.

Nowadays, film and TV feed even more gluttonously on the consequences of the work of Rosalind Franklin, whose research played the fundamental role in the discovery of the structure of DNA (without which Wilkins, Crick and Watson might never have made the subsequent discoveries) but didn’t get the recognition it deserved until 2002, 44 years after her early death.

Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) work for a research company combining DNA from a range of plants and animals. They decide, contrary to company policy, to add human DNA to the mix. The result is Dren (Delphine Chanéac), with feminine physical beauty and a spectacular growth rate. Dren’s gender is uncertain but she’s certainly capable of the full gamut of emotions to which she can respond in ways typical of gender stereotypes.

From this basis, the film explores the relationships between Clive, Elsa and Dren as it builds toward a denouement that Mary Wollstonecraft might have enjoyed while leaving the possibility of

“THE ExPENDABLES” (MA)

IN 1966, Richard Brooks directed “The Professionals” about outdoorsy, multiskilled tough guys hired to rescue a rich man’s wife from Mexican kidnappers.

In 2010, Sylvester Stallone directed “The Expendables” about outdoorsy multi-skilled tough guys hired to terminate the tyrannical dictator of a little-known island in the Gulf of Mexico.

Which is more fun? I saw Brooks’ film several times. I doubt that Stallone’s updated version merits repeat viewings.

Not that it’s a bummer, but like most noisy, violent, CG-enhanced movies, a second viewing won’t give you anything you didn’t already have.

a sequel. The film’s dramatic arguments may not convince us of their credibility and molecular biologists might snigger at Natali’s treatment of its scientific passages, but heck, it’s only a movie.

At Dendy and Hoyts

WARNING to senior folk, perhaps 25 and older. They may have left behind them the target audience cohort for Edgar Wright’s full-on comedy about growing up, relationships and musical instruments making noises that refute their intended purpose.

Having just introduced girlfriend Knives (Ellen Wong) to punk, Scott (Michael Cera), an adolescent in his early twenties, playing bass guitar in Sex-Bob-Omb, a new group

Symphonies of science

“THE Sounds of Science” is an original musical/theatrical performance written and performed by Canberra singer-songwriter team Shortis and Simpson, who tease out the symphony hiding away in the sciences, and in the process make the subject accessible, informative and entertaining.

Topical musical theatre has had a resurgence of late, with productions such as “Keating, The Musical”, “Warnie, The Musical” and “Pennies from Kevin” proving a hit with Australian audiences. Shortis and Simpson

Stallone and Jason Statham play mercenaries who might die for each other if necessary, but would prefer a better option. Jet Li plays a small but perfectly-formed martial arts specialist. Mickey Rourke is a retired bravo who uses a tattooing needle as efficiently as a motor-mechanic’s tools. Dolph Lundgren is a behemoth who punches people for sheer enjoyment. Giselle Itié is the dictator’s daughter who opposes his governing style. Eric Roberts is an ex-CIA rogue who’s driving the bad stuff for his own benefit.

It’s a mindless fantasy of violence, blood, fire and ballistics that the guys probably enjoyed making.

At Dendy, Hoyts and Limelight

awaiting discovery, sets eyes on Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and he’s totally smitten. But as well as letting Knives go, he must eliminate the seven evil men who have been Ramona’s lovers.

Wright tells the story in the style of a music video, heavily dependant on CG. The characters are somewhat over-drawn, their lack of maturity and discipline is over-emphasised. But the screenplay understands their innocence, their mis-use of language and 21st-century argot.

My warning does not say: “Don’t go there”. The film has enough energy to please older film-goers prepared to recall their own youth and accept that young folk now discovering the world they will inherit are little different from themselves at the same age.

At all cinemas

The ultimate rejection

By Helen Musa

GEOFFREY Lancaster from the ANU School of Music and Caroline Stacey from the Street Theatre have joined forces to bring a restored version of Henry Purcell’s sizzling English opera “Dido and Aeneas” to the stage of The Street Theatre. This is the rejection story par excellence as the faithless Aeneas leaves Queen Dido to found Rome. Robert Shearer and Sonia Anfiloff play the

ill-matched lovers, backed by 40 voice students from the university. A chamber ensemble of nine string musicians led by Lancaster on harpsichord will use baroque instruments and technique. There’s even a touch of hip-hop dance from artist William Tran. Oh, yes, Lancaster has embellished the prologue with new composition.

“Dido and Aeneas” is at Street One, The Street Theatre, August 27-29. Bookings to 6247 1223.

have met with the cream of Australia’s scientists over the past year and written an exploration of Australia’s scientific achievements – in 4/4 time – to celebrate National Science Week.

“The Sounds Of Science” explores subjects including the introduction of the first cane toad and the first rabbit, the discovery of DNA and our pioneering work in astronomy.

“The Sounds of Science” at CSIRO Discovery Centre, Black Mountain Laboratories, Clunies Ross Street, Acton. Bookings to 6246 4646. Until August 22.

arts&entertainment

Monet’s good impression

SOAKING up stunning water views while dining on fish that is truly local. You simply cannot beat the experience, which is why Monet’s Café On The Waterfront is a pretty good catch.

Monet’s is an institution in Bateman’s Bay, initially operating for a decade from a smaller space on Orient Street before moving to a new home on the promenade at the water’s edge.

Owners Bruce and Jenny Carrick jumped at the chance to shift locations and the two spaces could not be more different. The original café was narrow with timber floors and copies of Monet paintings. The new space is much larger, open and flooded with natural light. With no disrespect to Monet, it has rotating art exhibitions, primarily of talented south coast artists.

By Wendy Johnson

Monet’s is open for breakfast (you may see the dolphin that swims by around 10.30am) and lunch seven days, as well as dinner Thursday to Saturday (until October when Canberrans start to flock to the south coast).

The new Monet’s operates with the same philosophy – “good, fresh food”. The menu is primarily modern Australian, with some international influences. Plump Clyde River oysters are available, as is fresh flathead and, at times, fabulous mussels from Eden. Frozen salmon and barramundi are nowhere to be found.

The lunch menu is diverse and includes vegetarian fare

Monet’s Café On The Waterfront... the new space is much larger, open and flooded with natural light.

– mains from $13 to $25.

Monet’s also offers special sandwiches for $9.

I ordered the “Latchet Chermoula”, fresh flathead tails sautéed in a Moroccan herb and spice blend with preserved lemon ($25). The fish was as fresh as if I’d tossed a line off the pier and caught it myself. The exotic spice blend was inspiring and the sautéed chats yummy.

My friend opted for the Thai beef salad ($14 as entrée), which she has taste-tested in many dining establishments. Indeed, she is somewhat of an expert and Monet’s did not

disappoint. The marinated and roasted fillet steak was tender (although I would have liked it more finely sliced) and presented on a herb salad with chilli peanuts and Thai dressing.

Monet’s is fully licensed with a decent wine list that is well-priced (including 10 wines by the glass).

Monet’s has live lunch time music on weekends – acoustic blues Saturday and modern jazz Sunday.

Monet’s Café, St George Arcade, Batemans Bay, call 4472 5717. Ten per cent loading Sundays and public holidays.

Grab a bag to make a statement

HANDBAGs are one of the easiest ways for us to express our individual fashion style – whether we’re into basic black or something out of the ordinary!

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Be careful of size and proportion. A huge bag will swamp a tiny figure, and a miniature bag may make a more generous figure appear larger.

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Make sure the bag has all the compartments you need – it’s no fun hunting for a mobile phone in the bottom of your bag!

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Vowing to stop carrying so much by selecting a smaller bag will just mean it’s overstuffed unless you change your ways. If you need lots of room, buy a bag that provides it. A clutch can be versatile: buy one with a strap, and it can move easily from day to night.

Basic black is always a winner, as it goes with everything; but don’t be afraid to splash out with a bright bag to break up a winter outfit!

Summer blooms with Lupo

SPRING/SUMMER 2010 will see the elite Spanish brand Lupo inspired by springtime, where all living things revive and bloom.

The “Days in Bloom” collection, featuring different materials, volumes, finishes and a range of hues, is inspired by nature. According to a spokesperson, Lupo bags are designed to be our companions for life: “These are bags with personality, yet there is nothing obvious about them.”

Made from super-soft nappa fine quality leather, the bags are highly versatile and feature quality craftsmanship. Escala in Manuka is the exclusive retailer of Lupo in Canberra.

More information on www.escalashoes.com. au or call 6232 7666.

Green house that’s more than a home

CANBERRA’S Sustainable House is more than a home. It’s the working model of a visionary project.

The house in Ainslie not only produces all its electricity, with enough left over to send back to the grid in Canberra’s solar feed-in tariff, it also generates and cleans all its own water.

“We are completely off the grid and sewerage network,” says Nicholas Mayo, environmental consultant and co-owner.

Twenty solar tubes provide all the hot water needed and, according to Nicholas, would be sufficient for the average-sized family.

By Tanya Davies

The solar-passive design means no heating is used in the house. Instead, two pavilions have been built so that the living area and bedrooms can collect as much winter sun as possible.

“The second stage is a feature concrete-slab floor and high thermal capacity walls that absorb and store the energy, and release it at night,” says Nicholas. The third stage is insulation in ceilings, walls and beneath the concrete slab.

As well as these main focal points there are any number of tiny details backing up the entire system, and it is for these as much as anything that a visit should be made. On a 90-minute tour Nicholas explains the intricate details that make up the symbiotic system that harvests, cleans and collects rainwater in the 90,000-litre tank under the front garden.

In his studies, Nicholas has touched on biology, zoology, environmental law and much more. The background in environmental law has come in useful on more than one occasion, most notably getting approval for Canberra’s first compostable toilet. Together with partner Sarah Clayton, he has created what he assures me is an affordable, sustainable home.

There is also a reed bed which looks merely like a nicely constructed feature in a landscaped garden but is actually a sub-surface wetland naturally treating and filtering the house’s grey water. “It’s enormously effective. The water comes out clean, virtually odourless and we re-use it in the laundry, effectively closing that loop.”

A tour of the house wouldn’t be complete without exploring the veggie garden bursting with cabbages, silverbeet, carrots, onions, and even prickly pear. The heirloom carrot he pulled for me to taste was certainly the sweetest I’ve

ever eaten, and all the more enjoyable for its hybrid purple and orange colouration.

As well as tours, Nicholas and Sarah are also beginning to see more interest from schools, and there’s plenty for them to study, from basic climate change concepts to physics and engineering.

Canberra’s Sustainable House is at www.canberrassustainablehouse.com.au. Tours cost $15 for adults $5 for children and $35 for a family. For more information call Nicholas on 0429 492 773.

Painting the planet ‘green’

ALL paints aren’t created equal, says Stuart McPhee, from ecolour.

“To date, the paint industry’s been made of two different camps: natural paint, where you’ve historically been limited in colour choice, scrubbability and ease of application; and synthetic paint, which is available in any colour and is easier to use.

“Synthetic paint has a history of causing problems, though: starting with lead and then volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. These cause everything from

Housework: Teach your children well

GETTING kids involved with the housework can benefit the whole family, says Jared Baker, retail director at Godfreys. Yet hardly any Canberra families do it.

“Research has shown that when men do the housework with their children, not only does the dad benefit, but the kids are more likely to be better adjusted and more socially aware,” Jared says.

“It teaches them important life skills about sharing household duties, and if money is changing hands, it can even teach them the value of money and being rewarded for effort.”

A survey just conducted by Godfreys in the ACT showed that almost 70 per cent of Canberra households leave the majority of cleaning duties to one person, almost always female.

Only nine per cent of respondents said their child helped with cleaning as part of their chores, with four per cent of parents paying their children for housework with pocket money.

“One of the results which I did find surprising was that the majority of parents don’t enlist their children in housework, whether for pocket money or not,” Jared says.

“It didn’t come as a surprise, however, that women still do the majority of the work.”

We can encourage kids to help out by, at first, making housework a fun game, he says, “where they learn to put their toys away, keeping the floor clear for mum or dad to clean the floors.

“As children get older, they may be interested in sweeping the floors, mopping and maybe even eventually helping to vacuum.”

breathing difficulties to sick-building syndrome.”

The paint industry is moving towards low-VOC alternatives, Stuart said, but there’s another option.

“At ecolour we bridge the gap between those two camps,” he says.

“We make a synthetic paint with all the benefits like colour choice and ease of application, but without the nasty ingredients.”

Ecolour turns recycled and re-refined waste engine oil into a water-based

paint. Australia collects and recycles more than 300 million litres of waste oil a year. It acts as a preservative and provides durability, superior coverage and smooth application to the paint.

Stuart says ecolour paint is already being used at the Canberra Airport developments.

“The feedback is that it’s good to do something for the planet, and for our health, at the same time.”

More information on www.ecolour. com.au or call (02) 6685 8555.

When floors need the soft touch

STICKING a felt pad under the legs of tables, chairs and freestanding white goods will protect timber, laminate and floating floors the floor from scratches and dents, reduce noise from scraping chairs and make heavier items easier to move when cleaning around them.

Feltac pads are pressure-impregnated with a hot-melt adhesive to ensure the pad remains

stuck to the furniture, even if wet. The thickness of the felt is balanced against softness to ensure the pad retains its stability and dimensions over years of use – irrespective of the weight of the furniture.

Feltac floor protectors range in price from $9.89 to $11.98.

your week in the stars

With Joanne Madeline Moore August 23-29

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

The Full Moon prompts you to behave in strange, erratic ways that are a mystery even to you. Issues from the past could also arise – maybe contact with an old friend or the resurfacing of an unresolved issue. The Moon’s in Aries on the weekend, so you’ll feel like a super Ram/Ramzilla. Focus on passionate projects that make your heart sing.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

The Piscean Full Moon urges you to be more mentally flexible, as you take the rough with the smooth and search for the subtleties in every situation. With Saturn in your wellbeing zone, it’s time to get serious about your health and fitness. As birthday great Ingrid Bergman observed: “Happiness is good health and a bad memory.”

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Expect the unexpected at work, as the Full Moon shakes up your career zone. Postpone making important decisions (if you can) as you’ll find it difficult to keep your mind on the job. Things are also unsettled at home, as Mercury reverses through your domestic zone until September 13. Don’t assume you know what a housemate is thinking.

CANCER

(June 22 – July 22)

Many Crabs are in the mood to clean, redecorate or renovate at home so grab a broom, paint brush or tool bag and get busy. The Full Moon gives you a welcome energy boost mid-week but you may feel as if you’re on an emotional rollercoaster on Friday. You’ll manage best if you can persuade others to work with you rather than against you.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Leos long for a luxurious lifestyle but avoid splashing cash around this week. Instead, separate your wants from your needs – and squirrel money away for when times are tight. Avoid the temptation to be a bossy-boots on Friday. Calm, considered communication will get you a lot further than tiresome temper tantrums and diva-like demands.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Virgos are such sensible folk - but those around you will have a hefty dose of Full Moon Fever this week, so why not let your hair down and join the party? Don’t let fear of failure stop you from enjoying life to the max. Be inspired by birthday great Ingrid Bergman: “I don’t regret a thing I’ve done. I only regret the things I didn’t do.”

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

Librans strive to create harmony, balance and order around them. Don’t even try this week! It’s a ratty, manic, unpredictable Full Moon week, so drop the perfectionist routine and take things as they come. With Venus and Mars both in your sign, it’s time to be romantic and super sexy, as you channel the Love God or Goddess within.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

Have you been too busy to touch base with children, teenagers or friends? The Full Moon encourages you to reconnect in deep and meaningful ways – and don’t be surprised if they have some unexpected (and dramatic) news to divulge! Thursday is a fabulous day to impress others with your communication skills and general knowledge.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Calling all stir-crazy Sagittarians! If you’re stuck indoors this week, you’ll drive everyone nuts with your impatient and impulsive ways [which are magnified by the Full Moon]. Lots of fresh air and physical activity will help calm your restlessness. Single Archers – looking for love online sees you make a hot new connection.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Travel is highlighted but you need to be flexible, as plans are likely to change at the last minute. Don’t worry about mistakes you have made in the past. It’s time to concentrate on the here and now. Be inspired by birthday great Mother Teresa “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Your spending patterns are erratic at the best of times. This week (with the Full Moon stirring up your money zone) you’d be wise to avoid window shopping, and put your credit card out of reach! Instead, spend time nurturing your relationships, especially with friends and family from overseas. Singles – love and travel are lusciously linked.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

With the Full Moon (and Uranus) in your sign this week, you may be affected by mood swings and dramas as pliant Pisceans become pensive and petulant. But you can also expect creative inspiration and spiritual insights, as your inner muse demands to be heard. It’s time to focus your energy and express your numerous talents in surprising ways.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore

Across

1 In Australian poetry, what was the occupation of Harry Dale?

8 In Greek legend, who was the wife of Orpheus?

9 What is a forcible or serious encroachment called?

10 What describes a physical or mental disability?

11 Which term is known as a brief expression in words?

13 What is descriptive of an eager desire for power or fame, etc?

16 What do we call a person who writes music?

19 Any light, simple song is known as a what?

22 A business based in a foreign location for taxation purposes, is said to be what?

24 What do we often call a person who has achieved fame in a particular field?

25 Name another term for an agreement between states.

26 What is a roll of parchment, especially one with writing on it?

Down

2 In the US, what is a farming establishment called?

3 Name a four-stringed musical instrument.

4 What are people called "Blue", or "Ginger", also known as?

5 Which metallic element has the symbol Fe?

6 What is another term for a person who is dependent on drugs?

7 Which book size is determined by printing on sheets folded to form eight leaves?

12 Name a quantity of paper meaning 20 quires, or 500 sheets.

14 Which heavy items of apparatus are used by weight-lifters?

15 What is a graven image?

17 Name a different term for tenders or the like.

18 Which monetary unit was until recently used in Spain?

20 What is a German type of beer?

21 To make void is to what?

23 Which word describes a single occasion? Solution next week

all about property

Investors hunt strata bargains

By t im Humphrey

CANBERRA’S strata office market is seeing renewed interest from investors looking for value.

While the number of distressed sellers have been fewer in the ACT than in Sydney or Melbourne, buyers are aware of the impact the forced sales are having. The opportunity to snare wellpositioned and/or well-leased buildings at a higher yield is certainly attractive.

According to Duane Dawson, associate director at CB Richard Ellis, bids are coming through on a number of properties he is marketing, which are well below reasonable expectations.

“In most cases landlords take them with a grain of salt, but many of these prospective buyers are cashed up and are more than aware of the upcoming increase in vacancy, particularly in the ‘B’ & ‘C’ grade markets,” he says.

CB Richard Ellis is currently selling a whole-floor strata unit on level 5 of the nine-level 161 London Circuit office building in Canberra City. The 512sqm space is currently leased to the YWCA

on a seven-year term on a gross rental of $169,984 (+GST) per annum and incorporates a five-year option. It also has annual outgoings around $55,000 (+GST).

The unit is expected to sell on a relatively tight yield of 7-7.5 per cent, but Mr Dawson has already had bids where are 15-20 per cent below the $1.775 million asking price.

Similarly, LJ Hooker Commercial and Colliers International are also marketing strata units in the planned Mode3 mixed-use development in Braddon.

While the size of office suites is still being finalised, they will range from 123sqm upwards and prices are expected to be significantly higher than the strata sales at the Realm development in Barton. Realm achieved transactions for commercial office space at around $5500sqm (+GST).

Tim Humphrey is editor of Property Daily, a market news and intelligence service focused on commercial property markets nationally. www.propertydaily. com.au

Policies? What policies?

ANYONE searching for new policies on infrastructure, housing, cities, superannuation, business regulation or capital markets will need a magnifying glass for this election.

Given the large percentage of our population with investments (either directly, or indirectly through superannuation) in the property sector, it’s time for both parties to provide policies that ensure its continued importance to the nation’s well being.

Although both major parties promise to reduce company tax, substantial tax reform has also been largely absent. However, the Labor Party has proposed the establishment of Tax System Advisory Board to inform the Tax Commissioner and the Coalition says it will reconsider the Henry Tax Review’s recommendations.

Housing affordability is still, it seems, on the agenda, and Labor’s funding for the Building Better Regional Cities program, which promises to provide $200 million over three years for building up to 15,000 extra affordable homes in regional cities, is welcome.

The Coalition says it will sell

By Catherine Carter

Commonwealth-owned Defence land in Darwin to increase the supply of housing and boost affordability.

On the environment, Labor proposes a one-off 50 per cent tax deduction from July 1 next year for capital works in existing commercial buildings, which increase their green ratings. There is concern at the Coalition’s proposal to discontinue the Green Building Fund and the Carbon Trust.

Infrastructure gets a small mention with the Coalition and Labor promising further feasibility studies into high-speed rail between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, with focus on the Sydney to Newcastle journey.

Labor has promised also to largely fund the Parramattta to Epping rail link and key Sydney road upgrades.

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