Canberra CityNews November 18-24

Whooping cough: It’s back

WHOOPING cough is on the rise in the ACT, says acting chief health officer Dr Andrew Pengilley – and while Canberrans have high vaccination rates, there’s more we can do to help prevent the spread of the disease.

Whooping cough is highly infectious, and can be fatal. Several Australian babies have died from the disease in recent years.

“An increase in the number of pertussis (whooping cough) notifications has been observed in the ACT since the beginning of October, with 115 cases notified in October, compared with 41 notifications in September,” Dr Pengilley told “CityNews”, adding that 70 cases had already been received this month by November 11.

This is in line with a national rise in whooping cough. For example, NSW reported a 44 per cent increase in notifications in September compared to August, and a similar increase from September to October.

Dr Pengiley says that the Health Protection Service closely monitors cases of whooping cough, and that measures are being taken to help raise awareness including a letter being sent to school principals “alerting them to the increase and requesting they provide information to their school communities”. GPs have also been alerted.

Canberrans are among the best when it comes to being vaccinated against infectious disease.

“As at June 2010, the ACT recorded the highest vaccination coverage nationally for pertussis in the 12 to under 15 month age group, and the 24 to under 27 month age groups,” Dr Pengilley says,

INDEX

November 18-24, 2010

Since 1993: Volume 16, Number 46

Arts&Entertainment 25-27

Cinema 26

Crossword 37

Dining 27

Fashion 28-29

Home 33

Horoscope 37

Letters 14

News 5-13

Politics 8

Property 38-51

Social Scene 21-24

Sport 14

Sudoku 37

Dr Andrew Pengilley... “The disease is highly infectious.”

“with 95 per cent and 97 per cent in these age groups fully vaccinated for their age.

“The 60 to under 63 month age group recorded the second-highest vaccination coverage when compared to other States, with 91 per cent vaccinated.”

He says that there’s several things we can do to help reduce the spread of whooping cough.

• “Anyone diagnosed with pertussis should be excluded from work, school and social activities until they have received five days of an appropriate antibiotic,” says Dr Pengilley.

• “Immunisation remains the best way to prevent pertussis infection. The National Immunisation Program includes pertussis vaccination at two, four and six months of age, with boosters given at 3.5 to four years of age, and in Year Nine at high school.

• “Parents and grandparents of children aged less than 12 months should be encouraged to access free pertussis vaccines as a part of the ACT Targeted Adult Pertussis Program. The program has been extended until December 31.” Vaccines are available via GPs and, for new mums, in hospital maternity units.

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What is pertussis?

WHOOPING cough, or pertussis, is a respiratory illness caused by infection with the Bordetella Pertussis bacterium.

“It is characterised by a persistent cough which develops one to two weeks after infection,” says Dr Pengilley. “Whooping cough gets its name from a ‘whoop’ noise produced by some people, particularly young children, when they breathe in after a fit of coughing.

“The disease is highly infectious during the first few weeks after a person becomes infected. The cough can persist for up to three months.”

While pertussis isn’t a very predictable disease in terms of incidence trends – notification numbers can be affected by an increase in testing due to heightened awareness of the illness – increases in rates have been observed every three to four years.

“In the ACT, notifications are consistent with this pattern, with peaks observed in 2000, 2003, 2005-6 and 2009. It is possible that the current increase in cases is a continuation of the 2009 peak.”

• “Where possible, a person with pertussis should avoid contact with babies or women in the last stage of pregnancy until they have received five days of an appropriate antibiotic, or three weeks have passed since the onset of their cough,”

Dr Pengilley says. “Whooping cough can be particularly dangerous in young babies, who are most vulnerable until they are vaccinated at six months of age.”

Time to go home on time

HALF of all Australians are suffering from time pressure, with overwork preventing them from keeping healthy and spending time with family, according to new research.

The Australia Institute research was conducted for this year’s national Go Home On Time Day, which will be held on November 24.

Go Home On Time Day is an initiative of The Australia Institute to raise awareness of the extent of overwork in Australia and the important workplace, health and social consequences it has.

Anyone can get a personalised “leave pass” from the www.gohomeontimeday. org.au website, or register their intention to participate on the GHOTD Facebook page.

“Time poverty”, or not having enough time to do all the things you want or need to do, is affecting our health and our relationships.

“A decade on from John Howard declaring work/life balance as the barbecue-stopper, it’s still stopping barbecues,” said the institute’s executive director Dr Richard Denniss. “But we don’t hear our leaders talking about it much anymore. Overwork comes at a cost to other, more important aspects of our lives, such as our families and our health. Go Home On Time Day is an opportunity to spend time on the other priorities in our lives.”

Christopher pedals

By Kathryn Vukovljak

WITH hundreds of mountain-biking enthusiasts at the ready, a new sponsor and a more determined than ever 12-year-old boy at the helm, this year’s Pedal 4 Pierce bike ride in Stromlo Forest Park will be a “really major event”, says young Christopher Jeffreys.

“We’ve already got 250 riders signed up, compared to 70 last year,” he says shyly. “I feel proud and excited to race again.”

The Pedal 4 Pierce event will be held at Stromlo Forest Park on Sunday, November 21 from 10am-2pm. Christopher’s charity ride at 10.15am is known as “Pierce’s Track”, and is a fun, easy ride for anyone – just 4km and takes about 15 minutes, says Christopher, who’s keen to point out that it’s not a race, just a ride to enjoy while raising money at the same time. There will also be a raffle, home-baked morning tea, sausage sizzle and Dutch pancakes (which pleases Christopher and his brother Ashley, 10, no end).

Christopher organised the first charity bike ride in December last year because he wanted to “help people who research things”.

His parents Nigel and Rebecca were floored when their son raised the question at dinner in 2009. “He was only 10 at the time, but we all had a chat and worked out the who, what and how,” says Nigel.

It was decided that Christopher would ride his bike to raise funds to help find a cure for congenital muscular dystrophy, inspired by five-year-old Pierce Burns, a friend of the fam-

ily who suffers from the illness. The event last year raised $10,300.

Christopher says he’s excited that this year they have their first big sponsor, Rocky Trail Entertainment, which specialises in bike events. Pedal 4 Pierce will be held on the last day of the three-day Grand Prix Mountain Bike Festival, which attracts more than 300 mountain-bike enthusiasts from NSW and the Canberra region.

“Last year was so much fun, and we had riders aged three up to 70 join in, but it can be hard to raise money so it’s great to have our sponsor this year,” says Christopher.

Funds raised by Pedal 4 Pierce support the ACT Muscular Dystrophy Association, and research programs at the Institute of Neuroscience and Muscle Research at The Children’s Hospital, Westmead.

“Pierce will start the race with the airhorn and I’ll lead the way,” Christopher says. “He was a bit scared of the airhorn last year though, so we’ll see what happens this time.”

Interested in signing up? Email pedal4pierce@ hotmail.com, call Nigel on 0418 440481 or visit www.rockytrailentertainment.com

for Pierce

Frocktober a big hit

FROCKTOBER Canberra raised $41,542 for the Ovarian Cancer Foundation. “I’d never dreamed that we would be so successful,” said Amy Moon, organising committe chairwoman. “The results have exceeded our highest expectations.”

Bowling for research

“BOWL for Blue” is a fundraising event at Queanbeyan RSL Memorial Bowling Club, Yass Road, noon-5 pm, November 20, in aid of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Tickets from bowlforblue@gmail.com.

Christmas songs

CHIEF Minister Jon Stanhope has launched “The Songs of Christmas”, which was recorded by local musicians to help raise funds and awareness for Diabetes ACT. The album is available from Supabarn supermarkets, Sanity stores and local pharmacies. Christopher Jeffreys… “Last year was so much fun… but it can be hard to raise money.”

Time to clean up, Jon politics

BY making it illegal for political parties to accept donations from tobacco, gambling and alcohol, a government under the hammer has finally admitted what should have been obvious.

These are just part of a wide range of measures to clean up politics in NSW.

The most obvious benefit is reducing the influence of the “sin” industries on government decision making. However, the ramifications go much further by embarrassing the ACT Government and by highlighting the insidious nature of large donations on the political process.

In the ACT, the Labor Government has long been dependent on gambling, alcohol and (to a much lesser extent) tobacco for funding the lion’s share of its election campaigns.

It has always been inappropriate, but there has never been an elected Labor Member of the Legislative Assembly who has been honest enough to stand up and admit it.

Once pre-selected, there was no choice about distancing themselves from the money as generic party advertisements, secretarial support and election materials were all centrally funded. However, there was always the appropriate opportunity to stand aside from voting on any matters that generated a conflict of interest for the elected MLAs. Not one has done so!

The dependency of Labor comes from its close relationship with the Labor Clubs that make their profits from poker machines and selling alcohol and tobacco. Since self-government there have been multiple millions of dollars injected into Labor election campaigns. The same money has been responsible for funding both Federal and Territory election campaigns.

The admission by NSW Premier Kris-

With Labor compromised by its clubs’ donations, it’s time the Chief Minister stood up and showed some leadership on political donations, says MICHAEL MOORE

tina Keneally in shepherding this funding reform through the NSW Parliament is that such donations do influence, they do have an insidious effect and, as such, tainted funds are entirely inappropriate to provide support for political parties.

The Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, must now provide leadership to bring the ACT into line with the NSW legislation. It is true that this will have the greatest impact on Labor because of the level of funds that it receives from the Labor Clubs. However, the Liberal Party certainly receives significant donations from tobacco and alcohol companies as well as donations generated by gambling.

As I pointed out when Stanhope spoke

out against the Wilkie/Gillard move to control poker machines, it is only just over a year ago the Chief Minister and Labor leader was as keen as mustard for the Labor Party to divest itself of its close relationship with the Labor Clubs so that it could distance itself from this conflict of interest. The move was botched and the dependency on gambling and alcohol remains.

In the widest ranging restructure of election funding in Australia, the NSW Parliament has unanimously agreed to restrictions on the amount of money spent by any party across the State election as well as the amount of money that can be spent in any individual electorate. Additional restrictions include expenditure by third parties seeking to influence elections.

By these reforms the NSW Parliament has finally acknowledged the inappropriate influence that large donations have on the political process. And it is not just the sin industries. The mining industry demonstrated its influence just before the last Federal election and the same is true for developers, banks and foreign investors. It is an admission that should rapidly be taken up with similar electoral reform being adopted in every jurisdiction where enough members genuinely believe in a fair and equitable democracy.

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

The Afghanistan issue Parliament is out of touch

THE recent debate on Afghanistan showed just how out of touch our Parliament is from the people of Canberra. In the entire debate only two speakers opposed the war – a Liberal, Dr Mal Washer, and the Green, Adam Bandt. Yet the polls consistently show that a strong majority of Canberrans want us out of there.

This raises some interesting issues. For example, I would bet pounds to peanuts that our Labor Senator Kate Lundy and our two Labor members in the House of Reps really agree with the majority of their constituents. But because of the strict rules of the Labor caucus, they are prevented from speaking out.

Consequently traditional Labor voters lose trust and respect for them and feel alienated from their party. So they switch their allegiance to the Greens. If this goes on long enough – and over a few similar issues – Labor’s future starts to look pretty dim.

The major parties said the main reason for our being there was to support our US ally in time of war. It was never a terribly persuasive argument but as the war has become increasingly unpopular, the alliance itself is suffering.

the gadfly

Perhaps this might not be such a bad thing. Americans are a fiercely divided nation – as their mid-term elections showed – and the resulting catalepsy in government – and the loss of entrepreneurial vigour – means that America’s future also starts to look pretty dim.

Australia, too, is showing signs of polarisation and the Afghan war is both a symptom and a cause. Through an odd coincidence, I find myself with a foot in both camps. Like most of my fellow Canberrans I think no good purpose can be served by keeping our soldiers in harm’s way for the next two years, and perhaps longer. President Karzai is a crook; Al Qaeda is no longer resident in the country but happily ensconced in Pakistan. In the end, the Afghans themselves must choose between the Taliban and a more moderate way of life. They must also choose between corruption and fair play in government. And whatever happens in the next few years, in the end

they will chose moderation and natural justice, because that’s what humanity does.

However, during the debate I published my latest book, “SAS Sniper”, the life story of Rob Maylor our top marksman in the regiment whose deeds in Afghanistan are the climax of the story. And while I oppose the war I strongly support our servicemen who are fighting it. Clearly, I’m not alone. The book became an instant bestseller in Australia and it’s been sold to publishers in the UK and the US.

Rob and his mates did (and are doing) a fantastic job on the front lines. They are taking out the bad guys and they have suffered some heart-breaking casualties. More will follow and it would be terrible to think that they have died for nought. But do we solve that dilemma by staying till Afghanistan is a working democracy like ours? Alas, that’s just not going to happen in the lifetime of anyone reading these words. So, what to do? I wish I had some clever answers.

robert@robertmacklin.com

Nurses who go willingly to war

By Megan Haggan

IN 2003, as the Australian Army Nursing Corps were celebrating their 100th birthday, Lieut-Col. Judith Spence first had the idea of collecting the stories of Australian Army Nurses over the years.

Seven years on, “Willingly into the Fray: One Hundred Years of Australian Army Nursing” has just been released, and Judith, who was deployed to Rwanda in 1994, says the book makes it evident how much army nursing has changed.

“Some of the early nurses, before Federation, had to pay their own way to the Boer War, intent on ‘helping their fellows’,” she tells “CityNews”.

“How we work has changed. It’s now not only across wars, but peacekeeping; when Australia responds to any sort of humanitarian or disaster relief activity.”

One of the biggest changes is just that: Army nurses now provide nursing to locals, not just allied soldiers.

Judith spent six months in Rwanda, after Australia responded to a UN call to send a hospital into the country following the genocide there.

“We arrived in August ‘94, and set up our facility in an existing hospital in Kigali.”

There had been significant fighting in the area, and the hospital had been damaged. “So we worked quite hard to clean it.

“Our role was to look after the UN

soldiers deployed to Rwanda, but fortunately there wasn’t a lot of illness and injury with them, so we ended up doing quite a bit of work with the local people.

“The health system was quite debilitated and we saw people with gunshot wounds and other severe injuries they’d had for some time. Land mines were a problem, so there were a lot of traumatic amputations and grenades were a problem, with little kids picking them up, thinking they were toys.”

The book begins with stories from

the Boer War and goes through the two World Wars, the Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Vietnam War and into the modern day.

“It’s quite different to a lot of other history books because there’s a real sense of what was happening – it’s not about how many went or how many died, but about what it felt like to go to these places,” Judith says. “Some stories are quite powerful, and you can tell the people involved are unhappy, but there’s also joy and humour in there.

“It’s very reflective in terms of the

kind of work nurses do across such a broad range of action.”

The book was edited by Jerrabomberra-based Catherine McCullough, who drew upon her own military background – she served in the Australian Regular Army for 20 years in a variety of capacities, from teaching Mandarin Chinese to a role as the senior editor of the Army’s doctrine publishing cell – when collecting the stories.

She said that as well as trying to ensure all the earlier campaigns received enough coverage, she wanted to cover “later campaigns and current nurses, because I think they’re quite under-reported in some ways”.

“I think the perception is still of white veils and scarlet capes, but these days they wear camos and look like the average soldier,” she says.

For her, one of the most compelling stories was that of Nell Espie, who served in three wars.

“Nell was a bit frail, so we talked for an hour a day for three days: basically we did a war each day! She was a very young nurse when she went to Korea in the early ‘50s, then a middleto-senior nurse when she went to the Malayan emergency in the late ‘60s, and a matron in Vietnam. It was amazing to hear about the changing role of the nurse over that time.”

“Willingly into the Fray” is available from bookstores or from www.bigskypublishing.com.au

Toys for kids

THE 30th annual motorcycle toy run will be held on December 11 starting with coffee and breakfast at Old Parliament House from 8.30am. Riders form up and depart at 10am. The procession travels along Adelaide Avenue via Woden, finishing in Garema Place where representatives of local charities will accept the rider donations of toys, cash and non-perishable Christmas fare.

Woolies to the rescue

THE Woolworths Fresh Food Rescue Program has awarded OzHarvest Canberra a grant of $60,000, which will be put towards petrol vouchers, enabling OzHarvest to rescue surplus fresh food from all Woolworths stores in the ACT. OzHarvest manager, Dave Burnet says: “Running costs are our main expense and fuel is a huge component of this. Now, we’ll be able to use the savings to reach even more people in need in our community.”

Grant for food

COMMUNITIES@WORK has been awarded a $10,000 grant as part of the Commonwealth Bank’s annual Community Grants program. The grant will be used to fund food delivery to school nutritional programs, youth centres and other agencies that care for children and young people. This will involve the delivery of fresh, donated food to children and young people’s breakfast and meal programs in Canberra.

Youth voice certain

By Eleri Harris

WHILE Planning Minister Andrew Barr charges on ahead with capital youth consultation, the appointment of nine new members to the ACT’s Youth Advisory Council provides a fresh take on a more traditional avenue for asking the kids what they think.

On a quiet afternoon at the Australian Catholic University’s campus in Watson, 23 year-old youth worker, ANU graduate and newly anointed member of the ACT Youth Advisory Council Ruth Simpson cracks jokes about being a kid in Canberra, grins and says the Territory needs two things by 2030 – better public transport and something/anything for teenagers to do.

“We need to address typical young Canberrans saying there’s nothing to do in Canberra,” Simpson says.

“Canberra’s a beautiful city and we’re a very planned city, we’ve planned for our art projects and we’ve built great parks, but when you’ve hit 10 and you don’t want to go down to the park and play on a swing anymore and movies are getting expensive, what are you going to do?” she says.

“Not everyone skateboards.

“I think the Portrait Gallery is the closest thing we have to something that will cater for young people especially. Questacon’s too expensive, the National Gallery’s not hip enough and, when you’re 15, going to the gallery just screams school excursion.”

Youth Advisory Council

the Territory needs better public transport and something/anything for teenagers to do,

The new recruits for the 15-member council range in age from 12-24, including one indigenous, five “culturally/linguistically diverse” and one with a disability.

They are charged with advising the Minister for Youth and Children, Joy Burch, along with pretty much everyone in the Territory, on the needs and wants of youth as well as raising awareness of youth issues.

Amongst their highly qualified ranks, Simpson considers herself lucky to be chosen, although as a youth worker in her early 20s she “ticks a lot of boxes”.

Simpson was born and raised in Canberra and spends her days assisting young people who

of the future

are homeless or at risk of homelessness in finding accommodation and navigating the often complex structures of Centrelink and other welfare networks.

She sees the role as an opportunity to work with Government to get better outcomes for the city’s most marginalised.

“From the Youth Advisory Council, I can help steer things for young people,” Simpson says.

“It’s my segue for 2030, what I want to see in Canberra.

“I wanted to join the youth advisory council as the middle-man for the disengaged, the homeless, young people of Canberra to get them to tell about what they thought, to get them to come along to forums and speak out.

“Particularly as the Minister for Young People is also the Minister for Housing, it gives her the opportunity to hear from frontline workers, what are the problems, what is working and the feedback that way, so I guess I see myself as a sort of media channel. Because young people don’t often get a chance to waltz into the Minister’s office and say ‘Wassup? Let’s chat’.”

Calender winners

“A FOGGY morning by the lake” by Melissa Prague, of Gordon, is one of the five photos by Canberrans among the 12 winners of ActewAGL’s “Postcards from Your Town” photography competition. Winners were selected from 630 entries and received $500 and a place in ActewAGL’s 2011 calendar. The calendar will be distributed free to schools, community groups and businesses throughout the capital region and will be available from ActewAGL stores.

Students help school

EvENT management students of the Australian International Hotel School will host a fundraising event in support of the Sala Bai Hotel School in Siem Reap, Cambodia on Wednesday, December 1, at the Hotel Kurrajong, Barton. The Cambodian school teaches hospitality skills to poor and underprivileged students. Tickets are $95 and bookings, before November 24, to Sarah Walker at sarah.walker@aihs. edu.au or on 6234 4427.

opinion

The Monaghan controversy

How quickly things go pear-shaped

A COUPLE of years ago, I spoke to the Raiders’ players as part of an awareness program about the dangers of alcohol and the impact one wrong decision could have on their lives.

In the lead up to last season I was asked again to speak to some of the younger players. I told them that all it takes is one off-field incident to undo the many good things they do in the community, such as going to schools and helping kids to read. Things can quickly go pearshaped.

This year the players were given a stark warning about the dangers of social media such as Twitter, mobile phones and Facebook. Many emerging from the room at the Raiders’ Club in Gungahlin were surprised at just how quickly things could get out of control with a combination of alcohol and social media.

I am explaining this to point out that clubs are constantly making players aware of their responsibilities and because they have a high profile within the community, their lives can become even more exposed through the new forms of media.

I have received e-mails in the past week from people who blame the media for the demise of Joel Monaghan. Monaghan deserves credit for fronting the media and ringing sponsors to apologise for his actions and accepting responsibility. He paid a high price; in the eyes of some, it was too high given nobody was injured or hurt and Monaghan was genuinely contrite.

I have always found Joel to be a decent man

letters

Cancer and mobiles

THE increasing prevalence of cancers in the brain, many near the ear, is sounding a loud warning as to the future which may lie in our hands in the guise of mobile phones.

I suspect few people would be aware that the first sentinel report on the dangers of asbestos was published in 1916 during World War I. It took seventy-plus years for action to be taken to ban the product.

To date, deafness seems to be the only response by governments to a possible epidemic of head cancers. Increased in-depth research must start now and, in the interim, stronger warnings placed in the media and on the products themselves.

colliss Parrett, Barton

sport

t im Gavel

with a wicked sense of humour. He is always up for a laugh and a prank, but this time he crossed the line. He did plenty for charity including fundraisers for the Malkara Special School. But all of this was overshadowed in a moment of madness.

I believe the issue gained momentum when the NRL warned the Raiders that they would be closely monitoring what action the club took against Monaghan. Make no mistake, there was external pressure on the Raiders’ board to take a strong stance from the NRL and sponsors.

I have also been asked why the media takes such a hard line. I suspect it’s because there is more media competition than ever before; mainstream media is now competing with the new forms of social media, which has very few guidelines such as libel and editorial discretion. I am not defending Monaghan, but pointing out the reasons why off-field incidents are dealt with in a different way by the media than they were 20 years ago.

Monaghan has learnt the hard way that an indiscretion that takes place in private can quickly become public with enormous ramifications. My hope is that he has an opportunity to restore his reputation because everybody deserves a second chance.

Happy memories

YOUR article on the Starlight Drive-In sure brought back memories.

Living in Narrabundah at the time, it was quite a long drive for our two daughters all excited about their first visit to the drive-in to see “Jesus Christ Superstar”.

With both girls snuggled up with pillows and blankets in the back seat, my husband assumed they were asleep when we stopped at the ticket booth. “Two adults, please,” he said. Low and behold, up pop two heads from the back chorusing: “Are we there yet?”

“You’d better make that two adults and two children,” said my husband.

We never took them to the drive-in again! Joyce Williams, Lyneham

When too many roses are not enough!

Wo

RDs: Kathryn Vukovljak

PH otos: s ilas Brown

BOB Templeton says his motto is “too many roses are never enough!”, and this is evident in his Bungendore garden, which features an abundance of stunning roses of all varieties and colours, as well as an eclectic mix of natives, perennials and annuals, set among gravel paths that wind around the lovely 2000sqm block.

“We used to have a lawn, but I hated mowing it, and I resented all the water it needed and all the weeds that came up when we did water it, so we pulled it all up and replaced it with free-flowing garden beds lined with rocks,” says Bob.

Bob and his wife Glynn’s garden will open on the weekend of November 27-28 as part of the Open Garden Scheme to promote the knowledge and enjoyment of gardening.

Bob says that he grows 300 roses of all varieties. “We transported 28 of the roses from the far-north coast when we moved here,” he says. “We also have 42 David Austin roses as well as three Alistair Clarke roses that we grew here.”

Glynn says she loves picking the roses, but her favourite spot is the veggie patch, which includes tomatoes, raspberries, strawberries and asparagus, and the orchard, featuring Pink Lady, Golden Delicious, Fuji and Granny Smith apples, as well as two mystery apples propagated from ailing 170-year-old trees from the first set-

tlement at Braidwood. There’s also a Beurre Bosc and a WIlliams pear, European plums, peach trees, Japanese plums and three new quince trees.

“I love making jams, and do it all year round,” she says. “It’s also wonderful not having to buy any fruit or vegetables.”

There is colour everywhere in the garden, including the front area, which is a bright flower garden, including irises, pansies, dahlias, poppies and snap dragons – “having everything green is boring!” Bob laughs.

He says he loves the quiet areas where he can just admire his handiwork.

Bob and Glynn Templeton… “I love making jams, and do it all year round,” says Glynn. “It’s also wonderful not having to buy any fruit or vegetables.”

“Gardening has been a steep learning curve for me, mainly because of the extremely sandy soil here and also the fact that the block is so exposed that we get high winds from all directions,” he says.

“When we moved in, 12 years ago, we planted as many trees as we could to give us protection from the elements,” he says. “Now we can’t even tell if it’s windy until we step outside!”

2 Ashby Drive, Bungendore, will be open on Saturday, November 27 and Sunday, November 28 from 10am-4pm. Adults $6, children under 18 are free. Funds raised will go to the Open Garden Scheme and Rotary.

Also opening on the same weekend is the garden at 23 McCusker Drive, Bungendore. More information in next week’s “CityNews” and www. opengarden.org.au

all about yarralumla The inner-south village with a vibe

YARRALUMLA is one of Canberra’s oldest suburbs: Green, leafy and established, it has a welcoming, village-like vibe that makes shopping a pleasure.

First settled by Europeans in 1828, Yarralumla was named for the Ngunnawal people’s name for the area, and in 1928 it was gazetted as a suburb, then known as “Westridge”.

Today, Yarralumla is one of Canberra’s most desirable suburbs: It’s centrally located close to the city and parliamentary triangle, and nestled close to the lake, it’s a picturesque part of town.

It wasn’t always a well-to-do area. In 1913, the Yarralumla Brickworks were set up to produce building materials for Australia’s new capital, and the surrounding area was dubbed “Westridge” by Walter Burley Griffin. The brickworks were actually linked by railway to Old Parliament House and Kingston.

In 1922, men working on Canberra’s sewer works were housed in a tent camp set up on the eastern side of Stirling Ridge. Shortly afterwards, timber cottages were erected for workers constructing Parliament House, and other camps were set up to house workers on other projects around the capital. These camps were collectively known as “Westlake”.

Westridge was renamed Yarralumla in the ‘50s, and after the lake was filled in 1963, the suburb was expanded to include Westlake, making it one of Canberra’s larger suburban areas.

Summer under the plane trees

BEESS and Co, at the Yarralumla shops, is all about fresh food, says owner Andrea und Chrostin – and it’s just been named one of Australia’s top breakfast spots by “Gourmet Traveller”, which loved its caramelised pear, toasted brioche and mascarpone.

“Our food is very fresh and seasonal, from sandwiches to proper sit-down meals,” says Andrea. “We also have a lot of people coming around for business lunches and functions, especially around Christmas time.

“We have quite a large outside area, under big London plane trees, and everyone loves to sit outside in summer.

“We make all our own cakes on the premises, and the menu changes seasonally.”

The cakes are a big drawcard: Andrea says the cafe is happy to give away a lot of its recipes, but the way to create its sour cherry, rum, chocolate and pecan decadent dessert is to remain a secret.

“We also have a separate breakfast and lunch menu, plus specials; we also pride ourselves on having very good coffee as well as a lot of glutenfree cakes.”

Beess and Co also offer take-home meals and home-made jams.

More information on 6285 0116.

The blooming post office!

NEXT door to the supermarket is Yarralumla Post Office and Flowers, also owned by Yvonne, and which she says is increasingly popular with locals because of its range and friendly service.

“We’ve now joined the Petals network, which means we can deliver flowers worldwide,” she says.

“We still offer post office services, as well as gifts, books, photocopying and faxing.

“We just felt that a florist was missing from Yarralumla, as we like to look at the shopping centre as a whole. I think it’s important to keep people local, and that if someone goes to their shopping centre they should be able to get everything they need in one place.”

The florist makes up arrangements daily, and also does bouquets and boxes for special occasions.

More information on 6282 3556.

Shopping and service with a smile

Y vONNE Dourdoulakis has run the local IGA for six years, and says she’s very much at home in Yarralumla.

She says that the supermarket stocks organic meat, a wide selection of gourmet cheeses, a host of fresh fruit and vegetables and a large selection of liquor which features local, Australian and imported beers, wines and spirits. Local wines are a particular focus.

Old is new again

THOR ’S Hammer, at the Yarralumla Brickworks, uses recycled timber from demolitions around the country

“Bridges, factories, houses, wharves... we bring the timber from these demolitions to Canberra and de-nail and metal detect them, to make sure there’s no metal lingering in the wood,” says owner Thor Diesendorf.

“We also cater for people with special dietary needs,” she says. “We have quite a large selection of gluten-free, wheat-free and other products which make it easier for people to shop.

“We pride ourselves on our great customer service, friendly staff and our experience. If there’s a product that a person can’t find, we’ll do our best to find it for them, once we’ve got the empty packet we can look it or its distributors up for them.

“It’s part of the service we offer as a local supermarket.”

The deli caters for functions and parties, with Yvonne offering meat, cheese and salad platters to order.

More information on 6282 4122.

“We have a sawmill, and saw and dress the wood to make things like flooring and decking, as well as custom-made furniture, mostly front doors, tables and kitchen benches as well as shelving.

Thor says that the finished timber is “quite beautiful”, and that many customers enjoy the sense of history involved.

“We record where we got the timber

from, and can let people know that it came from a church in St Albans, for example, or the Electrolux factory, or the CSR sugar wharf at Pyrmont. You get a piece of history.”

Thor adds that recycled timber is a good use of resources and environmentally-friendly - another drawcard for many customers.

More information at www.thors.com. au or call 6282 9900.

WINNER OF THE “DELI OF THE YEAR” AWARD NSW/ACT 2008

Gourmet delicatessen includes - fresh dips, salads & bbq chickens, top quality meat, chicken & sh

all about yarralumla

Ducks have Christmas covered

SITTI NG Ducks Catering gives Canberrans the chance to have Christmas covered: Individuals can order items such as glazed hams and turkey breast rolls, while companies and other organisations can have their Christmas functions fully catered.

“My wife Kay and I took over the business in 2009,” says co-owner Herman Postuma, “and we believe we’ve built up an enviable reputation in highquality catering for private as well as corporate events.

“It’s all about the quality of

the food and the service. We also have a very user-friendly website where anyone can look at our extensive menus.

“It’s about having a worryfree experience, whether at Christmas or any other time of year.”

Menus are heavily based around fresh, seasonal produce, and Herman says that the style is modern Australian: contemporary, innovative in taste, style and presentation. Menus can be developed for different events, no matter how simple or extravagant.

More information at www. sittingducks.com.au or call 6282 1631.

Brasserie with a taste of art

PROMOTING local and Australian artists is a real passion for Brent and Elaine Richter, who have run the Yarralumla Gallery and Oaks Brasserie, at Weston Park Road, Yarralumla, for 13 years.

The gallery features pieces in a variety of media, from pottery to glass, jewellery to textiles, and has a major exhibition each month: At the moment, the work of local artist Suzanne Lawrence, a painter who works in acrylics, has just gone on show. Suzanne’s work will be exhibited until December 11.

“We’ve also got Merri Hamilton and Greg Sugden, who are well-known Braidwood artists; a lot of glassware from Gordon Glass Studios, on victoria’s Mornington Peninsula; Mollie Bosworth from up near Cairns and Lilach Mileikowksi, from Melbourne.”

The gallery’s not just about art, though: It runs functions, from weddings to christenings to corporate Christmas parties, and is open to the public for coffee, cake and more.

More information at 6260 5253.

Buongiorno, Yarralumla

YARRALUMLA Primary School is a tranquil, welcoming place for children to learn, says teacher Trish Foster.

“It’s one of the oldest parts of Canberra, with a lovely view of Black Mountain Tower and the lake; it’s between beautiful, massive oak trees and the grounds are just beautiful,” she says.

“We have a kitchen garden with chickens and a worm farm, and snow peas. Each year is allocated a garden lot to weed and look after, and the food goes to the canteen, where a lot of fresh foods are made: Tomatoes, lettuces, peas.

“We’ve recently had a new

Meat treats side by side

“WE offer fresh halal meats, aged beef, Christmas turkeys... we have a real focus on quality meat,” says Ugur Kocak, from Yarralumla Meats, and also Halal Turkish Pide.

“We also do a lot of smallgoods: from salami to smoked beef.

“At Halal Turkish Pide, we’ve got the best kebabs in town! They’re all made with fresh meat from the butchers’ next door, and home-made breads and pides made on the premises. Baklava

and sweets are home-made, too.

“We also offer a Christmas banquet and specials.”

Ugur urged Canberrans who are considering using the Pide House for functions and catering, or Yarralumla Meats for their Christmas meat needs, to act quickly and order to avoid disappointment.

More information on 6281 3969 (Yarralumla Meats) or 6281 1991 (Turkish Halal Pide House).

library built through the Building the Education Revolution program, and it’s fantastic, fully stocked with computers, a conference room and a lot more books, which have been donated to the school.”

One of the school’s biggest distinctions, though, is that it’s bilingual. Students spend 50 per cent of their learning time fully immersed in an Italian language environment.

“It’s not a LOTE [languages other than English] program, it’s speaking in Italian,” Trish says. “It’s total immersion, so that they’re learning through the lens of a different language.”

The school prides itself on being inclusive of children with all learning needs, Trish says, with gifted and talented students able to network to several programs for a variety of learning opportunities. More information on www. yarralumlaps.act.edu.au or call 6205 5766.

At

luncheon for Children’s Medical Research Institute, Government House

‘A

At St Vincent de Paul charity ball, Rydges Lakeside

all about living

Patron Nancye has Free Rain riding high

By arts editor Helen Musa

WITH a new home in the old Cook Primary School shared with Phoenix Theatre and Supa Productions, it’s no wonder that the founder and director of Free Rain Theatre, Anne Somes, is riding high.

Somes has scored a theatrical triumph in getting star veteran of musicals, Nancye Hayes on board as artistic patron (Senator Gary Humphries is the long time non-artistic patron).

Somes says that, as a teenager, she was a fan of Hayes’ “sheer magic” and so Free Rain is honoured to have such a “legend of the Australian stage” to help raise its profile. Of late, Hayes has also been very active in schemes to stage new Australian musicals.

In addition, having a permanent home in Cook has allowed Somes to take on “wonderful new personnel” as her artistic associates – performer Andrea Close and director Cate Clelland.

And there’s more: Somes has developed The Free Rain Actors Studio to train performers for stage and screen auditions (at a cost), hold masterclasses, offer scholarships for young directors and present special shows coming out under the banner “Put Colour in Your Life”. These actors’ studio productions, which include “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” (written by Jordan Best and her father, the celebrated film composer Peter Best), “The Removalists”, directed by Jordan Best and “Grease”, directed by Fiona Aitkin.

The idea is to give opportunities for an up-and-coming generation of actors who can’t currently get leading roles with the major presenters. For instance, “Grease” will be only to audition from people between ages 14 and 21

Stencil wins prize

CANBERRA artist, E.L.K has won the $2000 2010 Australian Stencil Art Prize for his stencil artwork titled “Saul Williams”, a photorealist stencil of American poet, writer, actor and musician Saul Williams that impressed judges with its technical brilliance.

E.L.K’s winning artwork was based on an image by “CityNews” photographer Silas Brown. It will be exhibited alongside 19 other finalists at Oh Really Gallery in Newtown, Sydney, until November 21.

and “The Removalists”, 21 to 35.

As for the 2011 mainstage season, it will take advantage of various locations such as The Q, the Canberra Theatre’s Courtyard Studio and Tuggeranong Arts Centre with an ambitious program of musicals such as “Oklahoma”, “Sweet Charity”, “Beauty and the Beast”, directed by Barbara Denham and straight plays “Auntie Mame” and a new work dramaturged by Somes, “The Dark Side of Midnight written by former Canberra director Tessa Bremner.

And it’s her comment on that play that sums up Somes’ irrepressible vision of a new era for free Rain Theatre – “fascinating”.

On November 29, there will be a free forum at 7pm with Canberra directors, musical directors and choreographers at Cook Community Hub for anyone wanting to be in musicals next year. For all details of the 2011 season and actors studio programs and go to http://sites.google.com/site/freeraintheatre2/

In 2008, E.L.K won Most Popular Piece at the Melbourne Stencil Festival Poster Competition. He was a finalist in the inaugural Australian Stencil Art Prize in 2009. His work has hung alongside the Parisian “Godfather” of stencil art Blek Le Rat in Los Angeles. He has also exhibited in Iran, Germany, Britain and Australia and run youth workshops in Belconnen Arts Centre and at the National Portrait Gallery.

Canberra’s month to celebrate all things African

AFRICANS are saying “karibu!” (welcome) to all Canberrans during the 2010 Celebrate Africa Month. It’s a montage of African crafts, photographs and books. Books are at the Civic Library and the rest at the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, 180 London Circuit, Civic, where Kabu Okai-Davies’ “The Long Road to Africa – An Autobiography in verse” will be launched on November 21 from 3pm to 6pm. The finale will be the Africa forum in the same venue on November 26, 5.30pm-10pm.

THE Street Theatre is treading on ambiguous territory with Elizabeth Avery Scott’s play “Lies, Love and Hitler” playing until November 27. The play revolves

arts in the city

Helen Musa

around the “slightly mad” academic Dr Paul Langley who keeps having visions of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bookings to 6247 1223.

TWO of the three plays Tempo Theatre is staging as “Tempo’s Tiny Tales” at Belconnen Theatre until November 27 at Belconnen Theatre have been written by locals Matt Ashton and Bruce vincent. Tickets $15 at the door. Times at http://tempotheatre.org.au

“DIGITAL Jam” is an underground

project coinciding with the National Gallery of Australia’s “Space Invaders” exhibition. It features projections by London video director and illustrator Danny Sangra and dance music by DJs such as Melbourne sound artist Buttress O’Kneel. It’s at the northern end of the NGA carpark, 8pm November 20.

STRATHNAIRN Arts Association’s members’ show is called “Wool Shed” and, running Friday to Sunday, 10am to 4.30pm until December 19. The rural theme highlights the uniquely bucolic character of Strathnairn Homestead in Stockdill Drive, Holt.

AT 3pm on November 21 in Wesley Music Centre, Art Song Canberra is

presenting songs by Russian, German, Austrian, Italian, English and Australian composers. Tickets at the door.

THE 2011 Japanese Film Festival is at the National Film and Sound Archive’s Arc cinema until November 21 with thrillers, anime, documentaries and comedy Bookings to 6248 2000.

TRY to catch Belconnen Artists Network’s quirky exhibition “Belconnen Ways” at the Church Gallery, Gold Creek and also the Tin Shed Art Group’s edgy exhibition of monoprints, abstracts, scraps of hessian, oils, acrylics and the surreal at the Watson Art Centre in Aspinall Street. Both run until November 21.

Thriller with a ripple of laughs

ROBERT Rodriguez has made some top-class bad movies, vigorous, morally dubious, imaginative, unabashed in violence, giving unrestrained views of the geographical and cultural underbelly where Mexico and the US collide.

Former Mexican policeman Machete (Danny Trejo, by no means a beautiful leading man, but ideal for the role) confronts racist US Senator McLaughlin (Robert de Niro), Texan drug distributor Booth (Jeff Fahey) and Torrez, the Mexican drug lord who controls them both (Steven Segal) in a two-pronged crusade.

Machete wants revenge for the murder three years earlier of his family by Torrez’s goons and an end to the murderous vigilante activities of psychopath Jackson (Don Johnson).

On the side of the angels are Luz (Michelle Rodriguez), legally in the US and secret leader of a network helping illegals, and US Customs and Immigration agent Sartana (Jessica Alba). Cheech Marin plays Machete’s priest brother with a nice line in practical religion. Lindsay Lohan has a zero costume budget as Fahey’s indulged daughter.

Liberally splashed with blood and flying body parts, enhanced by vigorous action sequences, stunts and destruction, with a message underlying its treatment of both sides of illegal immigration, implausible yet entertaining, occasionally relieved by sardonic humour, “Machete” is escapism several steps above the films of Sam Peckinpah.

At Dendy

cinema

Dougal Macdonald

IN 1993, in “Cible Emouvante”, a French romantic comedy thriller, Jean Roquefort played victor, tall, slim, lugubrious, third generation in the Meynard family’s bespoke assassination service. In Jonathan Lynn’s remake (not shot-for-shot) combining English and French creative styles, tall, slim, lugubrious Bill Nighy plays victor. victor accepts a contract to delete Rose (Emily Blunt) who has sold a forged Rembrandt self portrait to magnate art lover Ferguson (Rupert Everett). The hit goes wrong. Ferguson sends his household goons to terminate victor and Emily and recover the money. That goes wrong. Tony, a youth caught in the crossfire, gets taken on as victor’s apprentice. Ferguson hires another lower-priced assassin.

“Wild Target” delivers pace, good tensions and a steady ripple of laughter. As always, Nighy, a delightfully idiosyncratic character actor, is great. Blunt contributes a face that cameras fall in love with, legs that go on for ever, and superb skills in the micro-details of film acting. As Tony, Rupert Grint conveys potential for a future without Harry Potter. Eileen Atkins is deliciously acidulous as victor’s mother.

Among such goodies, it is possible to forgive the film’s occasional continuity lapses and structural flaws. Regard them as tests of your observation skills.

At all cinemas

NOT just a vanity for star and co-producer George Clooney, this thoughtful drama subjugates its thriller potential to exploring the ethos and workplace dangers of the assassin’s calling.

In a creative environment characterised by Dutch director Anton Corbijn’s sympathetic use of Italian mountain locations and a restrained musical score gently invoked only at high dramatic moments, Rowan Joffe’s adaptation of Martin Booth’s novel unrolls at a gentle walking pace.

Fleeing a contract in Sweden, John’s handler Pavel (Johan Leysen) sends him to an isolated Italian town to await his next assignment. There, friendship with a priest (Paolo Bonnicelli) provides a forum for discussion of matters of the mind and spirit. Beautiful sex-worker Clara ( v iolante Placido) brings a new emotional element into his life. A colleague Mathilde (Thekla Reuten) brings the orders for the ne xt job. In a sub-plot, Swedish hunters are coming bent on revenge.

The five main characters drive a film that moderately well gets inside John’s head and asks uncomfortable questions about his profession. As expectations build for a denouement of a kind fitting this kind of story, the tensions become almost too much to bear. Clooney and Corbijn deliver the message in a wellcrafted package. An assassin has no friends.

At Dendy and Greater Union

Ambitious tilt at bawdy show

UTILISING a large cast, bright sets and costumes and well-staged production numbers, Phoenix Players and director Kelda McManus have mounted an ambitious production of this bawdy musical which takes place in a brothel in Texas run by the world’s nicest madam, Miss Mona (Megan Baran).

Highlight is the Aggie dance at the end of act one, where the men, as lusty footballers, have some boot-stomping fun in one of several energetic dance routines choreographed by Nikole Sklavos. The “whores” also worked well as an ensemble, particularly during “Hard Candy Christmas”, with Jacinta Le a standout as the new Chicken Ranch recruit, Angel.

As Miss Mona, Megan Baran looked lovely and sang with an attractive Texas twang, but

MUSICAL

“The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” Phoenix Players, The Q, Queanbeyan, until November 27. Reviewed by Bill Stephens

Jon Garland, as the hot-tempered and coarse Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, provided the emotional fireworks.

However, on opening night the second act lacked the energy of the first; the sound and lighting cues were erratic and the abrupt ending appeared to leave the cast stranded and the audience non-plussed, and maybe wondering why the spectacle of football jocks cavorting in a brothel seems rather less palatable now than it might have back in 1978.

A cosy place for good Thymes

ONCE in a while, you stumble across a café that makes you feel like you’re at home.

Thymes thirtythree in Bungendore is a cosy little place – with a warm, friendly vibe and great home-cooked meals, complete with fresh ingredients from Karen Broadhurst’s garden.

Karen and her partner, Alison Cryer, opened the café around 10 months ago, designing the interior themselves and creating a menu that is too terribly yummy.

Eggs come from a nearby farm, the produce is carefully sourced from reputable suppliers (local where possible) and Karen is known to nip home to pick “bits and pieces” from her backyard. Mostly everything is made on site – with Karen and Alison in the kitchen – including a healthy range of gluten-free products.

Thymes thirtythree is tucked behind the Bendigo Bank on Ellendon Street, not too far from the main drag of this small,

Latino fireworks

By Helen Musa

WITH this being the bicentennial year of independence in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and venezuela, Wollongong’s 55-strong WIN Symphony Orchestra and their Colombian-born conductor, Carlos Alvarado (pictured) will play their part in festivities in Llewellyn Hall on November 20.

The orchestra will perform “Classical Latino”, a display of musical fireworks including compositions by Ginastera, Piazzolla, Gutierrez, Romero, Moncayo, Marquez, Soro, Bermudez, Barros and Zumaque,

The performance is the result of an unusual collaboration between the embassies of the five countries, the Australian and ACT Governments, the WIN Symphony Orchestra, sponsor WIN T v and Canberra businesses.

“What better way to express the joy, freedom, energy, ingenuity and creativity that have flourished since independence than by celebrating the music of the people?” the organisers are asking. Bookings to www.ticketeck. com.au

dining

Wendy Johnson

traditional country town.

We started with a super coffee, proof that the “gals” have years of barrista skills under their belts.

Breakfast is available all day. The eggs Florentine dish ($12) was perfect – the hollandaise sauce creamy, the wilted baby spinach adding a nice touch and the farmfresh eggs poached perfectly. The egg and bacon roll ($7.50) was another winner with some of the most delicious bacon I’ve ever had. It was crispy and there was plenty of it. Indeed, Thymes thirtythree is very generous with portions on all counts.

The lunch menu features a large number of gourmet rolls and wraps (only $8), all with their own personalities. The risotto ($16) is created with prawns rolled in Thymes thirtythree’s own special Dukkah and tumbled over the pasta and served with wilted baby spinach (gluten free). My bet is it would go down very, very well as would the gluten-free hamburgers.

Gourmet pies all come with salad. Mainsize salads include a Thai beef, chicken with baby beetroot, fetta and lemon dressing and a Caesar. Also for lunch is a small

selection of pizzas and larger mains. Or you can peek at the specials’ board.

Karen and Alison do sweets well, including the popular caramelised banana French toast made with loads of butter and loads of cream. The gluten-free brownies sell like crazy.

The décor at Thymes thirtythree is sweet. The colour scheme is a snow white and light apple green. Local art is displayed and the owners have had fun playing with an eclectic mix of transfers, including one of Audrey Hepburn. The fireplace keeps customers warm during winter and the bar area at the front overlooks a courtyard with comfy wicker furniture.

Thymes thirtythree. 3/33 Ellendon Street, Bungendore. Open 8am to 4pm, seven

‘CityNews’ WINNERS...

THE winners of an autographed copy of Griff Rhys Jones’ DVD “Rivers” were Belinda Izzard, of Macgregor; Fiona Rayns, Yarralumla; and Lisa Donkin, Jerrabomberra.

THE winners of the double passes to see David Helfgott, at the Canberra Theatre, were Sonia Gherdevich, of Wanniassa, and Penelope Cole, of Franklin.

‘Mad’ fashions for a day at the Cup

CANBERRANS are backing the retro, glamorous look epitomised by the cult TV series “Mad Men”, says Jenny Tiffen.

She was the winner of Fashions on the Field at Thoroughbred Park on Melbourne Cup Day – and the upcoming Canberra Cup is the perfect place to show it off.

The $200,000 Canberra Cup is one of Canberra’s three feature race days, and will be held on Sunday, November 28. A highlight will be the Myer Fashions on the Field, which will see Canberra’s fashionistas compete for prizes including a trip for two to Hong Kong.

Jenny says she usually finds her hat first and then chooses an outfit to complement it, but that this time her winning combination began with the dress.

“I found my dress at the Fash ‘n’ Treasure racewear special market day, which I really hope they do again, as it was a great event. It’s from The Darling Sisters, as are the gloves and bag: it’s a real ‘Mad Men’ look, which works very well for the races.

“Then I went to Cynthia Bryson,

cover story

By Megan Haggan

the milliner, and she custommade the hat for me.

“I think vintage is very much in fashion at the moment,” says Jenny. “It’s a ‘50s look, but with an edge – it has a modern twist.”

Briony Young, from Thoroughbred Park, says she loves the “Mad Men” look, and encourages Canberran women to go retro for a touch of polish at the Canberra Cup.

“Fascinators are taking a bit of a back seat right now, and big hats are back – it’s a very ‘60s look. The ‘Mad Men’ look has spread over the fashion world, was big on Melbourne Cup Day and on Oaks Day in Melbourne, and I think will be there for the Canberra Cup as well.

“Back then, women exuded sophistication and elegance in the way they dressed. It wasn’t overtly sexy, but feminine.”

Briony predicts that floral patterns and polka-dots will be big for Canberra Cup’s Fashion on the Field.

She adds that the judges won’t be adding up the amount spent

on an outfit, but instead judging it on its elegance, style and originality.

There are several criteria for Fashions on the Field entrants – for example, a hat or a fascinator is a must for ladies – which include style and originality; no predominance of exposed skin; a roughly knee-length skirt and no denim.

Attention to detail when it comes to accessories is a must, advises Briony: Whether it’s gloves, jewellery, or weather-appropriate additions like a parasol or brolly.

Great racewear is unique and lets us stand out from the crowd, Jenny says, adding that if we can wear it to a nightclub, a dress probably isn’t appropriate racewear.

“Sometimes, more is more!” she laughs.

Jenny says that a day at the races is a great way to spend time as a family – or get away from the kids!

“It’s like a little holiday,” she told “CityNews.”

The Canberra Cup, Thoroughbred Park, Sunday, November 28. More information at www. thoroughbredpark.com.au or call 6204 0000.

The ‘beautiful’ hat is back

THE trend in headwear is away from fascinators, and towards hats, says Trish McIntyre, creator of Hats by Trish: “It’s a look that’s really feminine and pretty – a beautiful hat finishes an outfit.”

Trish says that previous generations understood that a hat was necessary everyday wear to pull an outfit together; today, we’re starting to come back around to the idea that hats give cohesion to outfits worn for special occasions such as race days.

“It’s especially the case if you look for something that suits your face shape and your colouring as well as your outfit. If you can do these three things, you’ll really pull your outfit together.”

She says that a round face looks good in small brims, worn straight or forward on a sassy slant; women with long faces suit medium-to-wide brims worn straight. “Avoid tall, narrow shapes,” she suggests. Women with oval faces look great in hats worn forward,

with square or round crowns.

“Angle is also important. The tradition used to be that hats were worn to the right, but that’s since changed: if you have a parting, it’s important today to always put the hat over the parting. Wear the hat forward rather than backward on the head, as well.”

Trish says that while we can wear the same dress or suit to a variety of different functions or events, changing the hat and bag can make a big difference.

“Gloves are also coming back. If there’s anything on the hat that I can pick up, for example tiny flowers, beads or diamantes, these can be hand-stitched on to gloves to really complete an outfit.”

More information at www. hatsbytrish.com.au or 6230 2310

By Megan Haggan

Wide choice in racewear Being in the market for a bargain

THERE’S a wide range of choice in appropriate racewear right now, says Irene Pavlovic, from Ellory Lane in the Canberra Centre.

“A lot is in at the moment, from prints to plain dresses – I don’t feel as though many will be able to get it wrong!

“All I can say is that if you choose to wear a print, go subtle on accessories. If you choose plain, bling it up.

“Remember, the day holds an element of class, so dress chic and sophisticated, even if you’re not!”

Irene says that while headwear is important, a fascinator or hat needs to complement the outfit, not detract from it or draw all the attention.

Foundation garments can also be useful: “Correct underwear could make or break an outfit!” she says.

“As for shoes, whether it’s heels or flats, either is fine as long as your outfit is hot.”

Shop DF14, Canberra Centre, Civic

DESPITE our reputation for playing it safe when it comes to fashion, Canberrans are actually avid market shoppers, say local market fashionistas Rebekah Griffiths and Jane Grant.

“Cities such as Sydney and Melbourne have always been seen as the ‘fashion capitals’, and this is reinforced by the variety and availability of fashion outlets, and the willingness of locals to embrace new trends,” says Jane, the creator of Fash ‘n’ Treasure, a fashion market which includes personal and professional retailers – everything from local designers to vintage and pre-loved clothes – which is held regularly at Kingston’s Old Bus Depot.

One of the stallholders is Material Pleasures, which brings an estimated 1500 items of clothing every week to the Gorman House Markets in Braddon (on Saturdays) and the Old Bus Depot Markets (on Sundays) as well as operating a retail store in Fyshwick.

“People love to come to markets for clothing because it satisfies the thrill of the hunt and bargain-hunting urge at once,” says Rebekah Griffiths, owner of Material Pleasures.

“The other most common reason for customers to choose markets as part of their fashion shopping experience is that you can really find something unique and different.

“Market shopping generally offers you one-ofa-kind pieces. You won’t find racks of ‘same same’. Whether your style be retro, designer, vintage or a blend of all mixed with new clothes, you can really begin to build your own personal style instead of ‘following fashion’.”

Jane agrees. “There’s an element of luck to market shopping. Designers rarely mass-produce their products, so many styles come in limited quantities.

“Aside from the fact that you’re unlikely to see your recent market purchase walking through Civic on a Friday afternoon, the ‘handmade’ factor gives designers the ability to add their own quirky touches to each piece.

“Market shopping also gives you the opportunity to talk to the designer or curator. Unlike some sales assistants, the seller has an in-depth understanding of the composition and design of each piece, and genuinely has an interest in ensuring the perfect fit for the customer.”

Canberrans are embracing the concept of the fashion market. For example, the recent Way We Wear vintage Fair was originally intended when devised in 2008 to be

an annual event. But according to owner Fiona Baverstock: “It was so successful we had to fit in another one before the end of the year, and have two last year.” This year there were three.

“It is definitely becoming more commonplace and acceptable for a broader spectrum of the community to shop at markets for clothing,” says Rebecca.

“The stigma attached to recycled clothes is well and truly waning, and as stalls become more upmarket in their presentation, it makes for a relaxed shopping/browsing experience.

“Celebrities wearing vintage, either couture or streetwear, from bygone eras has also helped to broaden the appeal and acceptability.”

Jane says that one reason Canberrans love markets is their desire for variety, particularly in vintage and designer fashion.

“Markets, particularly Fash ‘n’ Treasure, introduce diversity to the Canberra fashion scene.” Fash ‘n’ Treasure will next be held on Saturday, November 27. More information at www. fashntreasure.com.au.

Gym with the ‘best of

“I knew that if I built a gym that had the best of everything, it wouldn’t fail.”

“I’D been training with weights since I was about 13, so I had a very clear idea of what I liked and didn’t like about gyms,” says Billy Giampaolo, co-owner of Elite Physique in Phillip.

“I knew that if I built a gym that had the best of everything, it wouldn’t fail.”

Elite Physique is celebrating its fifth birthday this month, and Billy says that seeing the concept – which he developed with his sister-in-law and co-owner Lela Giampaolo – become such a great success has been a dream come true.

“I absolutely love what I do, and I’m excited for the next five years,” he says. “I’m more passionate about the business than I’ve ever been. It’s an exciting time.”

Billy says that Elite Physique started off slowly, as businesses do. “For a while there was a definite feeling of, ‘what have we done?’” he says. “I wish now that I’d had more confidence in myself, because it turned out that we had created exactly what people wanted, but at the beginning, having made a such a huge financial outlay, it was a tough time.

“I was working 100-hour weeks for the first 18 months. But I stood by what I thought – if you build the best, people will come. And they did.”

The gym has the latest and best cardio and strength training equipment, says Billy, as well as group classes including Zumba, yoga, box fit, group cycling, mixed martial arts, muscle endurance training and Pilates. But Billy says that it’s the people that make the gym what it is.

“We felt very strongly that our trainers had to be the absolute best,” he says. “It’s like going to see a doctor – would you choose someone who has just qualified, or would you rather go to someone with years of experience? It’s the same thing – it’s your health.

everything’ celebrates five years

“Our massage therapist has worked with Formula One, and our trainers are elite athletes, world-record holders and Commonwealth Games champions. These people have been the best in their field nationally and internationally, they’ve got the experience, and they’ve been there.”

Creating an inviting environment that appeals to everyone is something Billy particularly prides himself on.

“The quality of our trainers and equipment attracts elite athletes to the gym, but the atmosphere is so friendly and non-threatening that we also have ladies of 60 years old training next to them,” Billy says. “There are always up to five or six trainers walking around the gym, making sure people are okay, that everyone is using

the machines correctly, or to offer assistance if anyone’s looking unsure.

“It’s like having a personal trainer without having to pay for one. People always tell us that they’ve never had service like this in any gym they’ve used before.

“With some gyms, they herd people in like sheep and then there’s no follow-up, no support once they’ve got your money. People tell me they end up getting disillusioned with the fitness industry, or they hurt themselves, or they find the atmosphere intimidating. We’re dedicated to helping our members reach their goals, to motivating them.

“Our motto is ‘step up’ and be the best you can be. We’ll help our members every step

of the way, whether it’s someone who’s never exercised a day in their lives, or an athlete training for a competition.”

The gym also has an in-house health and supplement store, which Billy says stocks protein supplements, health alternatives, vitamins, body enhancement supplements and fitness accessories, and can offer advice on nutritional strategies and supplementation.

Billy says he’s there at the gym, seven days a week and, as such, has got to know all the members.

“It’s been an amazing five years – I think I’ve

probably only missed about a week in that time,” he says. “I’m more excited than ever about where we’re going.

“The plan is to grow over the next few years, but not too much.

“We’ll eventually cap the membership, because we’re determined to maintain the exceptional level of customer service we have at the moment.”

Elite Physique, corner of Townshend and Botany Streets, Phillip. Call 6281 6999, email reception@elitephysique.com.au, or visit www. elitephysique.com.au

Living with the changes

THE living room constantly changes to reflect new tastes, perspectives, moods and lifestyles, says Corine Rozen from Natuzzi – because our homes are reflections of ourselves.

“Your living room should be a place where you can relax and unwind from daily stresses,” she says. “It should be a place of respite, where you can be yourself to rest or play.

“Today, more than ever, the home – and especially the living room – is where you go to retreat and recover your true spirit. So the sofas, armchairs, furnishings and accessories that surround you are part of what creates that much-needed harmony.”

To make our living rooms truly welcoming, we should be true to our own style and surround ourselves with objects we’re happy to return to each day, she says.

Comfort’s just as important as style, she adds, so when buying sofas and chairs, we should test them out properly before buying.

“The seat depth and lumbar support are a very personal choice, so you should sit on a sofa or armchair for at least 15 minutes before you make your decision,” Corine says. “Often it takes that long to get a feeling for what design is most comfortable for you.”

Annual airing of the quilts

ON the fourth weekend of November each year, the historic town of Braidwood, NSW, becomes an open-air gallery and a mecca for quilters and tourists with its Quilt Event.

This year, the 16th annual Quilt Event, which features the “Airing of the Quilts”, will be held on Saturday, November 27 from 9am-5pm, with the major indoor exhibition in the historic tin-shed National Theatre in Wallace Street, the main street of Braidwood, on Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 9am4pm. The cost is $5.

During the Quilt Event weekend, Braidwood’s main street glows with colour as quilts are strung up on first-floor verandahs against a backdrop of ornate ironwork and wood.

The first Quilt Event was held in 1995 when Australia experienced its first public outdoor Airing of the Quilts. Over the years, the event has grown from the original 25 outdoor quilts and one indoor venue to more than 500 quilts and 15 venues.

Fringe benefits

THE Fringe Festival offers an opportunity for not-for-profit organisations to raise funds, and visual artists to gain attention from the crowds that visit Braidwood over Quilt Event weekend. Some Fringe Festival events include:

• FyreGallery, 84 Wallace Street, presents the work of Susan Dorothea White, an Australian printmaker and artist whose career spans 50 years. FyreGallery is the sponsor of the Annual Quilt Event $1000 Acquisitive Art Award. The award is for an art quilt inspired by the work of Susan Dorothea White entitled “Magic Pudding”.

• Miriam Miller, a rug-maker who holds workshops at her Narrawilly Farm Studio in Milton, will exhibit rug designs and examples of the techniques of rug making.

• St Andrews, Braidwood’s historic Anglican Church in Elrington Street, offers a display of quilts and craft items.

• The old Westpac building at 138 Wallace Street will house work for sale exhibited by a group of creative artists

from Braidwood, Canberra and Lake Bathurst.

• The cottage garden at 6 Malone Street will be open between 10am and 4pm. Light refreshments will be available and a gold coin donation will support the local hospital.

• Australia’s Open Garden Scheme will open two historic gardens over Quilt Event weekend. Mona and St Omer will open both days between 10am and 4.30pm. More info at www.opengarden.org.au.

• Braidwood Fire Station in Park Lane will display quilts and provide Home Fire Safety Information on Saturday from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

• The Masonic Lodge, Elrington Street, will open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday. The Masons will display a collection of quilts together with their collection of Lodge regalia.

• The vintage Sports Car Club of Australia will display 50 vintage cars in Duncan Street between 9am and 2.30pm on Saturday.

Christmas gift ideas

Bliss in an Aladdin’s cave

BLISS Garden and Giftware is an “Aladdin’s cave” of unusual and hard-to-find gifts that sees many customers stocking up with presents for themselves as well as loved ones, says Ian Eaton. Ian, who owns the Pialligo business with wife Kylie, says Bliss is ideal for those looking for unusual Christmas decorations, including baubles – “the kind of decorations you won’t find in every shopping centre.”

“It’s like a treasure box,” he says. “We have brands like b.Sirius bags, Anna Chandler crockery, Oobi childrenswear and the Tiger Tribe range of kids’ stuff.”

He’s particularly excited about Tiger Tribe’s

new Makedo, an environmentally-friendly gift which helps kids make a cubby house, for example, out of recycled materials.

“This sort of thing is great during holidays, because it gives kids something to do, rather than sticking them in front of the television.”

Bliss imports a range of unusual pots, including ceramic water bowls which let Canberrans create a water feature without having to dig a pond (or indeed, own a backyard) and wroughtiron furniture.

More information at www.blissgardengiftware.com.au or call 6257 8358.

your week in the stars

With Joanne Madeline Moore November

22-28

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Don’t rush Rams! Hasty words and actions could land you in a heap of trouble on this crazy Full Moon week. Think things through before you act – especially when you go shopping. Don’t be seduced by buy now, pay later offers. Be realistic about your financial situation, otherwise there’ll be serious consequences in the months ahead.

TAURUS

(Apr 21 – May 20)

This week’s Full Moon is in your sign, so you’ve got energy to burn. If you are stubborn and dig your heels in with loved ones you’ll get nowhere fast – being a flexible Bull will get you a lot further. Don’t limit your peer group to the same old safe crowd. New friends and creative acquaintances are waiting to add interest and excitement to your life.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Talkative Twins are real chatterboxes but (over the next seven days) watch what you say, how you say it, and who you say it to – especially at work. Inspiration is high on Saturday as you connect with the creative muse within. Your quote for the week is from birthday great Bruce Lee: “Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself.”

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Capricious Crabs - are you ready for your monthly dose of Full Moon madness? If you pace yourself (and avoid touchy subjects and vexing people) then you’ll get through the week OK, without major tantrums and tears. Friday is your best day as flowing Sun, Jupiter and Uranus aspects boost your confidence and stimulate your adventure gene.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Work will be volatile as the Full Moon stirs up petty jealousies and insecurities in you – and your workmates. You’ll need to think (carefully) before you speak, and don’t add fuel to the fire by making thoughtless remarks that antagonise others. Utilise your leadership skills in practical and productive ways. Creativity is high on Friday.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Calling all virgo fuss-pots! You have such high standards and can be very critical of yourself (and others). Try not to be too hard on loved ones this week. With the Full Moon in fellow earth sign Taurus, you’re keen to spend time in nature and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Let non-essentials go and focus on what’s really important to you.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

This week’s Full Moon stimulates your sex/money zone, so expect dramatic developments to do with lust or loot. You prefer order and harmony in your daily routine but things won’t run according to your perfect plans this week. Don’t fight it – go with the flow. If you’re told something in confidence, keep mum and don’t pass it on.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

A flexible and fun approach is the secret to a successful week. A stubborn attitude will only lead to a fraction too much friction. If you are patient and understanding then your personal relationships will gradually improve. Don’t be a selfish Scorpio – compromise is the key. Money matters are on your mind but don’t make any rash or risky moves.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

The full moonbeams light up your wellbeing zone so it’s time to shine the spotlight on your health and fitness, and make sure you’re up-to-date with your medical checks. And don’t make mountains out of molehills, especially at work. If you can maintain a sense of perspective (and humor) then you’ll get through this feisty Full Moon week just fine.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Focus your full attention on nurturing and enjoying relationships. Attached or single, with the Full Moon activating your romance zone, it’s time to flirt up a storm and have some fabulous fun! And, the more you nurture professional partnerships, the more support (and feedback) you’ll receive. Don’t be a lone wolf – this week, it takes two to tango!

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Have you been so busy solving the world’s problems that you’ve neglected home and hearth? The Full Moon activates your domestic zone, so it’s time to lavish your Aquarian abode (and your loved ones) with plenty of TLC. Your words could be misinterpreted though, so it would be wise to embellish them with some tactful sugar-coating.

PISCES

(Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Don’t procrastinate Pisces! With gung-ho Mars in speedy Sagittarius in your career zone, it’s time to be positively proactive at work. Your quote for the week is from action-man Bruce Lee (born on November 27, 1940): “If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.” Don’t confuse fact with fantasy, especially on Sunday.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore

general knowledge crossword

Across

4 Name the reptile having a body enclosed in a shell.

7 To remove someone from a high position is to do what?

8 Which type of cloud yields rain or snow?

9 What describes one's occupation, profession, or trade?

11 What is another term for a hawker?

13 A number is also called a what?

15 Name the newspaper, about half the ordinary page size.

17 What is an immature form of frog?

20 Which term describes a reckless proceeding?

23 To be getting older is to be what?

24 In the US, what do they call a locomotive driver?

25 What is another word for a cure-all?

Down

1 A woman's escort is also called a what?

2 What is a more readily known reliquary?

3 Name another term for a pigmented naevus.

4 To be stretched tight, is to be what?

5 What is something that cures a disease?

6 Colloquially, what do we call a despicable person?

9 What is a widespread and destructive plant disease?

10 What are icons that move around a screen in computer graphics?

12 Name an alternative term for a puzzling question.

14 Which huge stone figure has the head of a human and the body of a lion?

16 To resemble a wolf is to be what?

18 What do we call an attendant of God?

19 Name an earlier racecourse enclosure.

21 Which structure houses birds?

22 What is an affair of honour? Solution next week

Gavel champ loves thrill of the auction

By Megan Haggan

CALLING an auction is a rush like no other, says the ACT’s top auctioneer Jason Roses who, at 21, has just been named Senior Auctioneer of the Year.

“I don’t look at an auction as standing up there and simply calling bids,” he says.

“For me, it’s about providing an exceptional performance, with high energy, enthusiasm and professionalism, and being able to demonstrate to those in the crowd that this is something you don’t have to do, but something you love to do.”

Jason, who works for L.J. Hooker in Tuggeranong, is the youngest person to have won the Real Estate Institute of the ACT award. He’ll head to the Gold Coast in March to compete in the Australasian titles.

Auctioneering is an art, says Jason – important in getting the best-possible price on the day.

“I think many sellers underestimate the true power that an auctioneer can play on auction day, when it comes to the selling of their home,” he told “CityNews”.

“To be a great auctioneer it all really does come from inside and from the passion that you have. Sometimes people are a bit shocked by the amount of energy and enthusiasm I give every time, but it’s what I love doing!”

Make the most of growth

WHAT is it that makes a city liveable? Specifically, what gets it on the world’s most liveable city lists?

According to a recent speech to the Property Council by former NSW Premier Nick Greiner, our well being is a function of prosperity, security, amenity and sustainability.

Greiner was looking at Sydney as a global city in his presentation, but the principles he espoused hold for Australia’s other cities, including Canberra.

“Whether our cities wither or bloom in this century will depend on the positive marriage of continuing growth and sustainability,” he said.

That marriage might as well be annulled if our first action is to close and bar our doors. Environmentally sustainable activities, such as providing public transport, investing in greener building technologies, dedicating and preserving green spaces, even providing recycling facilities, all cost money. And while such money will be amply repaid by increasing the community’s wealth and offering more intangible benefits, it must first be obtained for the initial investment.

Finally, to be sustainable, a community must

property

c atherine c arter

also be economically viable, with a healthy private sector to provide the jobs, facilities, goods and services and, both directly and indirectly, tax revenue. And the private sector needs to see opportunity in order to invest.

Growth provides that opportunity and, according to the research, our population is growing and will continue to grow, despite attempts to stop it via harsher immigration restrictions.

“We must acknowledge that Australia’s cities are growing regardless of who controls the immigration numbers,” said Greiner, and he’s right. Will discouraging migrants stop our population from growing? The evidence is that it won’t. So why not take Greiner’s advice. Stop castigating our politicians for not being able to stop the tide coming in, and start intelligent plans to provide for our future community by creating homes, infrastructure and workplaces.

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

Canberra Region Property Summary

BELCONNEN

BUNGENDORE

L.J. Hooker Kippax 0410 632 527 4BR I

CONDER

Canberra Region Property Summary

CONDER

CURTIN

FLOREY

FLYNN

GIRALANG

HACKETT

Canberra Region Property Summary

HALL

HARCOURT HILL

JERRABOMBERRA

4BR G

0419 688 034 3BR I

KINGSTON

MACARTHUR

LATHAM

Luton

Thu 5:30-6:00 10 Stieglitz Cct L.J. Hooker Tuggeranong 0417 285 528 5BR A Thu 6:00-6:30

Allchin Cct L.J. Hooker Tuggeranong 0423 900 640 4BR H

623 324 3BR A

459 427 3BR A

Cct

Woden 0413 909 158 4BR H

0421 961 810 7BR B

LYNEHAM

NICHOLLS

Canberra Region Property Summary

Canberra Region Property Summary

TORRENS

TURNER

WESTON