Issuu

‘

Trapped in Brisbane by the ﬂoods, ‘Cit yNews’ car toonist Paul Dorin gives ELERI HARRIS an insight into what was going on around him

we wer e st uck up on h i g h g rou nd i n To owon g , not fa r f rom

Ros a le e,” D or i n s a id

“F i nd i n g p et rol wa s a bit d i f ﬁ-

cu lt , a l l bu si ne s s e s a r e clos e d a nd

t he v ide o shop wa s ﬂo o de d i n, so we c ou ld n’t r et u r n t he DV D s T hey wer e t h row i n g t hem a l l out , r u i ne d DV D s, st ack s of t hem

“ I ’ve r e a l ly not ic e d t he c a l m ne s s of ever yb o dy, p e ople a r e qu ite u nder st a nd i n g a nd f r iend ly

“St a nd i n g on t he water ’s e d ge, you s e e how much Mot her Nat u r e c a n ch a n ge t h i n g s “ W hen we went for a wa l k a f ter

t he ﬂo o d , my t h r e e ye a r- old d au g hter s a id , ‘my pl ayg rou nd’s gone, we ne e d a b oat !’

“ We’r e one of t he for t u n ate one s, 2 0 0 met r e s dow n t he road i s deva st at ion

“ T her e wa s c a l m b efor e t he stor m, but it st i l l c atche s p e ople by su r pr i s e t he water, how h i g h it ros e, wher e it got to F ront ya rd s lo ok ok ay, but op en t he do or a nd t her e’s water ever y wher e It ’s su rr e a l “ I n some pa r t s you’ve got p e ople out doi n g ga rden i n g , c ont r ac tor s st i l l doi n g r enovat ion s, bu i ld i n g hou s e s, ga rden i n g c ont r ac tor s work i n g W h i le ot her p e ople a r e moppi n g out t hei r hou s e s “ You’ve got a r e a l m i x t u r e h app en i n g “F u n n ie st t h i n g wa s ment ione d on b o ok i n g ac c om mo d at ion a s we he ade d sout h. T r avel l i n g to Por t M ac qu a r ie, t hey s a id : ‘A l l t he ro om s w it h water f ront v iews a r e t a ken’, my r eply wa s: ‘ T h at ’s p er fe c t , I h ave s e en enou g h water to l a st a l i fet i me’ ”

par t

at the National Convention Centre C anb er ra, from 1pm on Sunday, Januar y 2 3 to raise funds for the Que

ﬂ oo d app eal. The

will feature guest instr uctor s from NS W and live music and p ercussion by DJ M ar io G ordon. The cost is $25, ever yone is invite d (esp e cially b e ginner s) and organiser s want to raise $25,0 0 0 for the app eal

Sw i m w i t h t he s t ars

S WI M with the St ar s for Floo d Relief will b e held at the A IS , 1 30 pm -3pm on S aturday, Januar y 2 2. Attending will b e some of Australia’s fastest swimmer s including Commonwealth Games ﬁ vetime gold me dal winner A licia Coutt s, gold - me dal winner s A shley Delaney, Tommaso D’O r sogna and C ameron Prosser and many other O lympians and Para O lympians . Donations at the door towards the Que ensland ﬂ oo d relief effor t s . Sp ot pr izes will b e hande d out dur ing the after noon

Bucket

s’ blessed

TA X Commissioner M ichael D’A scenzo has approve d “bucket donations” for the Que ensland and N or ther n NS W ﬂ oo ds . The ATO will allow de ductions for donations up to $10 made to “bucket app eals” for the ﬂ oo ds without ne e ding to ke ep a re ceipt

Cal li ng for toys

I NSPI R ED by a little Que ensland ﬂ oo d victim on radio who s aid she was upset ab out what has happ ene d, esp e cially b e cause all her te ddy ’ s were swept away, the R iver side Plaz a, Queanb eyan, is st aging a toy app eal for children affe cte d by the ﬂ oo ds . Toys can b e dropp e d off at G lor ia J ean’s Coffe e, Queanb eyan Cit y Travel & Cr uise or R iver side Plaz a centre management

Cooper pledges big look at env ironment

Maxine Cooper is about to begin the biggest environmental repor t the AC T has seen, writes ELERI HARRIS

a r “ T h i s i s a he a lt h che ck for t he c om mu n

a whole a nd how we’r e doi n g env i ron ment a l

so we c a n t a ke ac t ion s b efor e it ’s b eyond c or r e ct ion,” C o op er s ays “ It ’s pa r t icu l a rly i mp or t a nt t h at it ’s done i ndep endent ly, so we t r y a nd a s s emble t he scienc e a nd t he c om mu n it y v iews qu ite i ndep endent of G over n ment

“ T he r ep or t st a r t s of f w it h wh at ou r over a l l e c olog ic a l fo ot pr i nt i s a nd t h at prov ide s a broad f r a mework for how wel l we a r e doi n g a nd t hen we lo ok at , wel l we k now we ne e d to i mprove, but t he key a r e a s we shou ld pick B e c au s e t he St ate of t he Env i ron ment Rep or t c ou ld m a ke a t hou s a nd r e c om mend at ion s, but I doubt eit her t he G over n-

ment or t he c om mu n it y wa nt to pick t hos e up It ’s t he one s t h at c ou ld m a ke a d i f fer enc e ” Cooper says this report will progress with a much higher community focus than the previous six

“ T h i s t i me i n t he St ate of t he Env i ron ment Rep or t , i n ste ad of v iew i n g it a s a profe s sion a l te ch n ic a l do cu ment , we’r e t r y i n g to i nteg r ate community understanding,” Cooper told “CityNews”

ie s ”

Canberra, home to the biggest wasters!

B y E l e r i H a r r i s

CA N BE R R A : T he bu sh c apit a l ; a n a f ﬂuent cit y st ate; a p ol it ic a l ly prog r e s sive p opu l ac e; a roa ri n g e c onomy, T r e a su r er K at y Ga l l a g her s ays; a nd home to t he bi g ge st p ol luter s i n t he c ou nt r y

A Un iver sit y of Syd ney st udy h a s r eve a le d

C a nb er r a n s h ave t he h i g he st aver a ge e c olog ic a l fo ot pr i nt i n Au st r a l i a , u si n g 14 t i me s t he l a nd

a r e a of t he AC T to supp or t ou r l i fe st yle s

C om m i s sione d for t he “St ate of O u r Env i ron-

h i g h fo ot pr i nt “ It ’s not a cr i me to b e we a lt

ment ” r ep or t due for r ele a s e l ate nex t ye a r, t he st udy

“ T he 2 0 0 8 - 0 9 Ec olog ic a l Fo ot pr i nt of t he

p opu l at ion of t he AC T ” shows we c on su me d 9 2

g loba l he c t a r e s of l a nd r e sou rc e s e ach i n t h at

t i me f r a me – 15 p er c ent mor e t h a n ou r fel low

Au st r a l i a n s

“ T her e a r e ot her pl ac e s who a r e e qu a l ly a s a f-

ﬂuent a s we a r e, but t hei r fo ot pr i nt i s a lot le s s,” s ays Env i ron ment C om m i s sioner

C o op er

D r M a x i ne

“ We ne e d to c on su me to b e le s s wa stef u l a nd

move ou r c on su mpt ion f rom go o d s i nto s er v-

ic e s ” St udy aut hor D r Ch r i stopher D ey s a id r e si-

dent s of t he AC T a r e c on su m i n g to o much of ju st ab out ever y t h i n g

“ T he bi g ch a l len ge fo ot pr i nt a n a lysi s r e a l ly

t h rows up i s it r e a l ly i s ab out ou r l i fe st yle s a nd

t he f u l l a sp e c t s of ou r l i fe st yle s.

“O u r c on su mpt ion i mpac t s go wel l b eyond ou r

i m me d i ate su r rou nd i n g s

“ T he AC T h a s a h i g h p er c apit a i nc

h a s

s e a level s m ay b e mo ot , but m ayb e M r Dav i s shou ld buy some l a nd a nd move t her e, t hen we’ l l s e e wh at he h a s to s ay Ja c k J e s w i e t , Ac to n

A S fa r a s I c a n s e e, t he on ly “ lo on-

ey ” i n Keit h Dav i s’ let ter (“ B ewa r e t he ‘ lo on ie s’” CN, Ja nu a r y 13) i s

Keit h Dav i s h i m s el f

shou

Close t he jails?

i n g a nd t he cu r r ent wet we at her a s so ci ate d w it h a ver y st ron g L a

Ni ñ a event i n t he Paci ﬁc O c e a n?

Perh ap s M r Dav i s c ou ld ex pl a i n

Pa t r i c i a S a u n d e r s , C h a p m a n

I T H A N K Keit h Dav i s, of St

M a r y ’s, NSW, for h i s u n scient i ﬁc, u nc or rob or ate d , u n subst a nt i ate d , u nwa r r a nte d “r a nt ” (CN, let ter s,

Ja nu a r y 13) ab out g loba l wa r m-

i n g /cl i m ate ch a n ge. Perh ap s t he t r ut h r e a l ly i s “ i nc onven ient ” for you , Keit h?

B a r r y Ro l l i n g s , v i a e m a i l

M R Dav i s do e s not ne e d to i n su lt a s “ lo on ie s” t hos e who do not

sh a r e h i s v iews He s ays he i s a mu s e d by t hei r cl a i m t h at i n t he f ut u r e ﬂo o d s w i l l b e c au s e d by t he melt i n g of p ol a r ic e c ap s, a nd t h at r e c ent ﬂo

W h at on e a r t h i s t he c on ne ct ion b et we en t he p os sible f ut u r e melt i n g of t he p ol a r ic e c ap s due to hu m a n-i nduc e d g loba l wa r m-

A NUM B ER of business acquaintances share my wear iness with dr ug lib eraliser s s aying that jailing does not prevent re - occur rence of use. Jailing does not wholly prevent offences like murder, rap e, ass ault, ar son etcetera. S o what should we do? Close down our jails?

We have no long - ter m clinical rehabilit ation centres so our judges and magistrates are hamstr ung b e cause they wor k within a s ystem which is a re ﬂ e ction of US -st yle do - drop - in - for-a -while centres, fre quente d mainly by movie st ar s

If our leader s would intro duce a fair dinkum dr ug p olicy that pr ior itises cess ation of ille gal dr ug use b efore it get s to the jailing st age, businesses and residences would b e much s afer

C o l l i s s Pa r r e t t , B a r to n

Does Chinese food cause headaches? If it does, it ’s probably not the MSG , says food scientist AMANDA DOS SANTOS

H AV E you ever h ad a t h i r st a nd he ad ache

a nd su sp e c te d t he cu lpr it m i g ht b e M S G you t h i n k i s i n you r Ch i ne s e t a ke - away ?

It ’s a p opu l a r p erc ept ion, but i n r e a l it y, le s s t h a n one p er c ent of t he Au st r a l i a n p opu l at ion i s e st i m ate d to b e a f fe c te d by a

t r ue hy p er s en sit iv it y to M S G

T he t y pic a l t r a n sient ef fe c t s of M S G such

a s he ad ache s, we a k ne s s a nd ﬂu sh i n g c ou ld

a l so b e a sy mptom of somet h i n g el s e, such

a s dehyd r at ion S ome p e ople r ep or t a st h m a-

l i ke sy mptom s to M S G, a lt hou g h t h i s i s not

c om mon.

S o wh at i s M S G a nd how do e s it a f fe c t

some p e ople?

M S G st a nd s for monoso d iu m g lut a m ate

It i s of ten u s e d a s a ﬂ avou r en h a nc er for it s

u m a m i or s avou r y ﬂ avou r prop er t ie s, yet it

do e s o c cu r n at u r a l ly i n m a ny fo o d s

A s a n add it ive, t he cr yst a l l i ne subst a nc e

i s b el ieve d by some scient i st s to op en up

t a ste bud s, a l low i n g mor e ﬂ avou r i n

M S G i s abu nd a nt i n protei n-r ich fo o d s

such a s me at a nd br e a st m i l k , a lt hou g h i n

t he s e subst a nc e s t he g lut a m ate i s b ou nd It

i s i n t he f r u it s a nd veget able s such a s mu sh-

ro om s, p e a s, p ot ato e s or che e s e s, such a s

pa r me s a n, wher e t he st ate of t he g lut a m ate

i s f r e e It i s t he f r e e st ate of g lut a m ate wh ich

le ad s to it s ﬂ avou r- en h a nci n g prop er t ie s

du r i n g c o ok i n g a nd wher e a ny ef fe c t s of

M S G wou ld t a ke pl ac e

T he l ab el l i n g or d i sclosu r e of M S G i n

fo o d i s c ontent iou s

I n pack a ge d fo o d s, M S G i s i nd ic ate d by t he nu mb er 6 21 T he st i g m a a rou nd M S G

Does MSG cause headaches?

Natalie’s eye on safet y

B y M e g a n H a g g a n

AUST R AL IA Day barbecues, summer picnics and family gatherings can all be dangerous times for kids if they ’re around water, says Natalie Huntsman, lifeguard at Dick son Pool.

le s s t her e’s a sup er v i si n g adu lt w it h e ach of t hem “ P ut b ot h ch i ld r en i n t he s a me

p o ol a nd watch t hem – you c a n never h ave

enou g h sup er v i sion

Nat a l ie s ays t h at sw i m m i n g le s son s

a r e g r e at for g iv i n g k id s c on ﬁdenc e i n t he

water, but t hey ’r e not a p er fe c t solut ion “ T h at c on ﬁdenc e c a n ac t u a l ly b e r i sk y

K id s who c a n sw i m a nd k now a l l ab out

sw i m m i n g to t he side of t he p o ol c a n get

i nto t rouble i n a n u n fa m i l i a r env i ron-

ment , a nd a ga i n t h at ’s wher e sup er v i sion

c ome s i n.”

S o ci a l o c c a sion s such a s ba rb e cue s c a n

b e d a n gerou s b e c au s e pa r ent s m ay fe el

t h at w it h so m a ny p e ople a rou nd , some -

one el s e w i l l not ic e i f t hei r ch i ld get s i nto

t rouble i n a p o ol or water sou rc e s, she

s ays It ’s pa r t icu l a rly t he c a s e i f t hey ’r e

c on su m i n g a lc ohol

“ W hen t he p o ol i s packe d , you’r e not a lways 10 0 p er c ent su r e who’s pl ay i n g ‘who c a n hold t hei r br e at h lon ge st ’ a nd who’s i n t rouble

“ T h at ’s why we h ave t he ‘ Ke ep Watch’ c a mpa i g n: l i feg u a rd s a r e not babysit ter s

We’r e her e to prov ide a s er v ic e, but it ’s u lt i m ately t he pa r ent s’ job to ke ep a n eye on t hei r ch i ld r en ” “ Ke ep Watch” i s a n e duc at ion prog r a m wh ich a i m s to e duc ate pa r ent s ab out sup er v i sion, r e st r ic t i n g ac c e s s to water, i mprov i n g water awa r ene s s a nd le a r n i n g r e su scit at ion

O ne of t he b e st approache s i s not to let k id s go to s epa r ate p o ol s at a venue u n-

“ Pa r ent s of ten s ay to a n older brot her or si ster : ‘ You’r e lo ok i n g a f ter t he you n ger ch i ld’ wh i le t hey h ave a d r i n k , a nd

t hey t h i n k of t h at a s sup er v i sion T h at older ch i ld m ay ke ep t h i s i n t he back of

t hei r m i nd , but t hey wa nt to h ave t hei r

ow n f u n a s wel l ”

Pa r ent s shou ld n’t pa s s t h i s r e sp on si-

bi l it y on to t hei r older ch i ld r en, she s ays

– it ’s to o much for t hem

“ It on ly t a ke s a few s e c ond s for a ch i ld who’s i n t he water to go u nder a nd it ’s to o

l ate ”

D row n i n g of ten t a ke s pl ac e qu ick ly

a nd si lent ly, c ont r a r y to p opu l a r m i sc on-

c ept ion s: “O nc e you go u nder you don’t

m a ke much noi s e ” N at alie H u nt s m a n o n d u t y at D ic k so n Pool

Tim opens Tandem House

TH E Pr ime M inister ’ s par tner T im M athieson has op ene d Tandem H ouse, in Kambah, C anb er ra ’ s newest respite ser vice providing after-school, holiday and we ekend respite for te enager s living with a dis abilit y

Play maket h t he professor

C A N B ER R A Grammar old b oy B ar r y Spur r has b e en app ointe d Australia’s ﬁ r st professor of p oetr y and p oetics at the Univer sit y of Sydney. A fter completing his e ducation at CGS , Prof Spur r graduate d with F ir st Class H onour s from the Univer sit y of Sydney, and is now one of the longest-ser ving memb er s of the univer sit y ’ s academic st aff. Citing the classes of B r ian R idden, Keith S owell and John Tyr rel, Prof Spur r also s aid: “B eing involve d in the school’s pro duction of T S . Eliot’s ‘Murder in the C athedral’ spar ke d my lifelong interest in Eliot’s p oetr y which remains at the centre of my teaching and research”

M usic for good cause

AUTISM A sp erger AC T is the b ene ﬁ ciar y of all

Phones mean ducks

O R ever y t wo mobile phones re cycle d by Januar

New voice for 2CC

Talking babies over a pint

B y Ka t h r y n Vu kov l j a k

D ON ’ T tex t you r m ate s, don’t ch at to t he m idw i fe ab out t he we at her a nd don’t s ay you’r e t i r e d

b e c au s e it ’s t a k i n g a wh i le, s ays dou l a Vick ie H i n g ston- Jone s, who’s t a k i n g C a nb er r a’s ex p e c ta nt d ad s to t he pub to tel l t hem how to su r v ive ch i ldbi r t h

“A s a dou l a , I do a lot of work w it h men a nd

I s e e t h at m a ny don’t k now wh at t hey c a n do to help t hei r pa r t ner s i n t he bi r t h i n g ro om,” s ays

Vick ie, t he C a nb er r a faci l it ator for “ B e er a nd

Bubs”, a one -n i g ht i n for m at ion s e s sion i n t he pub wher e ex p e c t a nt d ad s le a r n how to supp or t t hei r pa r t ner wh i le she’s i n l ab ou r

“ T hey t h i n k t hey ’r e ju st helple s s byst a nder s, but I tel l t hem pr ac t ic a l t h i n g s t hey c a n do, l i ke

m a k i n g su r e t hei r pa r t ner h a s enou g h water or t h at she’s not wor r ie d ab out a ny t h i n g

“S omet i me s I get a lot of eye -rol l i n g when I tel l t hem t h at how t hey ac t i s i mp or t a nt to t he pro c -

e s s, but t hey a lways le ave fe el i n g emp ower e d ”

“ B e er a nd Bubs” wa s develop e d by Lucy Per r y, a Syd ney-ba s e d ch i ldbi r t h e duc ator a nd bi r t h at-

tend a nt , ﬁve ye a r s a go a nd Vick ie h a s b e en r u n-

n i n g t he cl a s s e s i n C a nb er r a for a ye a r

“ T he cl a s s e s h ave b e en f u l ly b o oke d ,” she s ays. “S ome g uys b o ok t hem s elve s i n, but m a ny

a r e s ent a lon g by t hei r pa r t ner s It ’s i nter e st i n g – m a ny g uys at ﬁ r st t h i n k t hey don’t ne e d to b e

t her e, a nd ot her s h ave no ex p e c t at ion s ” Vick ie s ays t h at t he s e s sion s of fer pr ac t ic a l

adv ic e, not me d ic a l i n for m at ion, a nd t h at t he

c onc ept of t a l k i n g bi r t h a nd babie s i n t he pub i s i ntende d to help t he d ad s -to -b e fe el c om for t able

ab out t he subje c t . “ It ’s a le s s for m a l env i ron ment t h a n t he hos -

pit a l – t he g uys fe el t hey c a n a sk que st ion s t hey

m i g ht not wa nt to a sk i n a n a nten at a l cl a s s, or w it h t hei r pa r t ner t her e,” she s ays

“ T her e’s of ten a m i xe d at t it ude at ﬁ r st , but a f ter t he s e s sion I ’ve h ad not h i n g but p osit ive fe e dback

“O ne g uy s at back a nd st a r te d tex t i n g i n t he m idd le of my t a l k , wh ich I t hou g ht wa s a bit r ude, but a f ter wa rd

all about Australia Day

Canberra’s many ways and days to celebrate

t alent, including J essica M aub oy, Littler Re d, Ross Wilson, The M cClymont s, St an Walker, Thir st y M erc and A ltiyan Childs

The Australia Day Eve celebrations on the lawns of Par liament H ouse will feature the announcement of the Australian of the Year and enter t ainment by some of the countr y ’s b est musical

Australia Day ( Januar y 26) will commence with the Great Aussie Day B reak fast, and Flag Raising and Citizenship Ceremonies in Commonwealth Par k

L ater in the day, the par k will b e the venue for the Children’s F estival, with fre e enter t ainment by

B en 10, and the Aussie Day Jam featur ing some of C anb er ra’s b est local bands

O ther highlight s include the Australia Day Bush Picnic at T idbinbilla Nature Reser ve, The Chief M inister ’s S ailing Re gatt a and a sp e ct acular fi rewor k s fi nale over L ake Bur ley Gr iffi n

“Australia Day provides an opp or tunit y for all C anb er rans to celebrate our national day and display the pr ide we share in our national

Jimmy joins the show by satellite

J I M MY B ar nes will make a sp e cial s atellite p er for mance at the Australia Day Live concer t b eing st age d on the lawns of Par liament H ouse on Tuesday, Januar y 25.

High - pro ﬁ le ‘8 0 s band Ganggajang will p er for m their classic hit “ S ounds of Then ( This Is Australia)”

Concer t goer s will also se e a p er for mance by the Chook y Dancer s, a group of young

A b or iginal traditional dancer s from Galiwin’ku, Elcho Island in the NT. It is their ﬁ r st p er for mance in C anb er ra having already t aken the YouTub e wor ld by stor m with their quir k y inter pret ation of the Gre ek Zor ba dance

Elsewhere, the line - up includes The Wiggles, Ross Wilson, The M cClymont s, Little Re d, Thir st y M erc, J essica M aub oy, St an Walker, Justice Crew and A ltiyan Childs

National Australia Day Council CEO War ren Pear son s aid the Australia Day Live concer t provide d an opp or tunit y to help with the Que ensland Floo d A pp eal. The SES will b e colle cting donations from the crowd

The Australian of the Year will b e announce d at 6 pm

For information at w w w.australiadaylive org.au

identit y,” s ays Chief M inister Jon St anhop e “ The 2011 program, develop e d in association with the National Australia Day Council and local organis ations, will feature a wide var iet y of event s that is sure to have something for ever yone to enjoy on the day,” M r St anhop e s aid

The full program of events is at w w w australiaday.org.au/act.

Muslim leader our ambassador

I K EBA L Patel (picture d) is the AC T 2011 Australia Day A mbass ador

M r Patel is president of the Australian F e deration of Islamic Councils . H e is the chair man of the Muslim Advisor y Council of the AC T and b oard chair man of the Islamic S chool of C anb er ra.

The Australia Day A mbass ador program se es not ab le Australians par ticipate in local celebrations in towns and cities across the nation. The ambass ador s volunte er their time to inspire pr ide and celebration in their local communities

A nnouncing M r Patel’s sele ction, Chief M inister Jon St anhop e s aid M r Patel had made a signi ﬁ cant contr ibution to the C anb er ra communit y as a pub lic advocate of har mony and tolerance b et we en p e ople of different faiths, and will b e a wor thy AC T ambass ador on our national day

M r Patel is a memb er of Civil Lib er ties Australia and the Australian Par tner ship of Religious O rganis ations . H e is also an ambass ador of the White R ibb on F oundation for the elimination of violence against women

M r Patel was awarde d the Pr ide of Australia “Fair G o” M e dal in 2010 and re ceive d a sp e cial commendation in the Communit y C ate gor y of the AC T Volunte er of the Year awards in 20 0 6 . “M r Patel has sp ent most of his life assisting other s, par ticular ly helping with the resettlement of refuge es,” M r St anhop e s aid

“His de dication to the prote ction and advancement of civil lib er ties and human r ight s is re cognise d b oth locally and nationally. I am please d that, along with thous ands of C anb er rans, M r Patel will b e helping us celebrate Australia Day,” M r St anhop e s aid

Dinosaurs galore roaming in the cit y

AS if the AC T Government ’s “Groovin’ in the Cit y ” hadn’t already outdone itself this week with the Amazing Drumming Monkeys, The Fool Fac tor y, Kokoloco Dancer s and Drumassault , it ’s about to over whelm children and adults alike with a re - creation of ferocious prehistoric creatures and what it politely calls “other icons” just in time for Australia Day

Er th’s celebrate d life -size pupp et s are retur ning to C anb er ra to create a “Dinos aur Petting Zoo” in Garema Place with shows from Januar y 25 -28 and lot s of opp or tunities to cuddle, fe e d and other wise mingle with a troup e of fr iendly monster s

Er th is one of Australia’s most exciting physical and visual theatre groups, in const ant demand at home and over seas, and re cently p er for me d at the 2010 Hi S e oul F estival and the S e oul Per for ming A r t s M ar ket in Korea

These p er for mer s, heade d up by tour manager A ndrew M cCour t, are confi dent that they can successfully br idge the gap b et we en ar t and science, combining life - like movement, gr imaces and gestures in the giant pupp et s . The company of top professional ar tist s from the fi ne ar t s, circus, costume, design and theatre backgrounds also tread the fi ne line b et we en e ducation and the pure fun for which they have b e come k nown

While dinos aur s may b e re garde d as

inter national, thongs and bushranger s are less so, so if patr iotism is your thing, you’ll b e ab le to follow your inclinations by de corating a pair of thongs and a matching t-shir t under the watchful eye of local indigenous ar tist Duncan Smith.

O ther s may prefer to commune with the ghost of N e d Kelly, on the loose around town with full gover nment approval and ar me d with jokes and the famous outlaw’s trademar k quotes . “ Such is life,” C anb er rans will b e ab le to re ﬂ e ct

Erth’s dinosaur s can be seen from Tuesday, Januar y 25 to Friday Januar y 28 , including Australia D ay, at Garema Place, Civic, with free performances at 11 30 am and 1pm

Stars come ou t for big break fas t

SO M E of C anb er ra ’ s most p opular sp or t s st ar s will b e cook ing and signing autographs at the fre e Great Aussie Day B reak fast.

St ar ting in Commonwealth

Par k at 7 30 am on We dnesday, Januar y 26, it is offer ing 5 0 0 0 s aus ages, an all -st ar celebr it y line up and enter t ainment

C anb er ra Trans AC T C apit als st ar Suz y B atkovic and coach C ar r ie Graf, along with C anb er ra Raider s C apt ain A lan Tongue and top female golfer s comp eting in the ActewAGL Royal

C anb er ra L adies Classic will b e there

L ast year more than 4 0 0 0 p e ople tur ne d out and sp onsor s ActewAGL and the F yshwick Fresh F oo d M ar ket s are hoping to b eat that re cord this time

The break fast, consisting of s aus ages, bread, fresh fr uit, tea and coffe e, is fre e, however gold - coin donations for C amp Qualit y are encourage d

More information from Canberra Connect on 13 22 81 or visit australiaday gov au/act

Plan for day in t he park

Wher e can I park?

• Civic: Take the footbr idge over Par kes Way to Commonwealth Par k

• Acton Par k off Commonwealth Avenue: Cross Commonwealth Avenue at the trafﬁ c light s

• Dis ab le d par k ing: In the car par k adjacent to Re gatt a Point

Will the r oad s c lose?

Yes, some road and car par k s will b e close d.

• Par kes Place nor th will b e close d to the pub lic from 6 pm until 10 pm

• Access to Commonwealth Par k car par k will b e by author ise d p er mit only

• Commonwealth B r idge easter n lane, southb ound, will b e close d from 6 am until midnight

• Commonwealth B r idge easter n walk way will b e close d from noon until midnight

• Commonwealth B r idge will b e close d dur ing the ﬁ rewor k s

Wher e’s best for the ﬁ r ework s?

Re gatt a Point or the lawns of the National Librar y

This chick has a voice!

“BURLESQUE” (M)

WH EN A li, newly ar r ive d in H olly woo d from I owa, se ek s a job at the bur lesque lounge r un by Tess, who is b ehind in her mor tgage payment s, there are no vacancies . When a waitress fails to tur n up, A li, encourage d by bar man Jack , pick s up a tray and b e gins car r ying dr ink s When the Karaoke machine fails, A li grabs a mike and b elt s out some notes . A stounding. This chick has a voice! S o despite Tess’s initial doubt s, but with the supp or t of chore ographer and costumier S ean, she get s a gig that lead dancer Nik k i resent s big time

Jack , whose fiancé e is in a N ew Yor k play, offer s A li accommo dation in his apar tment. It’s initially platonic but Jack get s miffe d when wealthy playb oy prop er t y develop er M arcus t akes an interest in her. M arcus also want s to buy Tess out. Tess won’t agre e. There’s little novelt y in Steve A nton’s fi lm. The musical numb er s are vigorous The dancer s’ costumes exp ose much bare sk in. The role of Tess present s Cher with no diffi cult y. St anley Tucci is fun to watch as S ean

Playing A li, Chr istina Aguilera, cre dite d also as exe cutive pro ducer of the ﬁ lm’s musical numb er s, look s wholesome and innocent in a role demanding a core of asser tiveness . H er singing is energetic. H er dancing is energetic. Yet her tot al effe ct is less p ower ful than the ﬁ lm ne e ds . Pit y

At all cinemas

“AGORA” (M)

A S the 4th centur y A D closes, pagans, J ews and Chr istians comp ete for conver t s in the Agora, the pub lic for um out side the librar y in the Egyptian cit y of A lexandr ia Inside the librar y, the atheist philosopher and astronomer Hypatia discour ses with her class of young men. Young nob leman

O restes loves her without de clar ing it. A nd her young slave Davus cannot de clare his love

Out side, the follower s of Chr istian demagogue Cyr il are not ab ove reinforcing their theistic claims by p elting J ews and pagans with rock s

Wr iter/dire ctor A lejandro A menabar pur sues t wo nar rative threads through this re - creation of actual event s and character s Hypatia (Rachel Weisz) was a scientist in the b est mo der n mould, advancing her astronomical argument s through obser vation

rather than b elief. Cyr il and his follower s did loot the librar y and bur n the b ook s, not an unusual practice among demagogues str iving to dominate a faith

A n uncomfor t ab le ﬁ lm in several ways, “Agora” grabs your think ing par t s and offer s a p er suasive account of histor ical event s, the effe ct s of which resound to this day. Pulling no punches, it s violent pass ages depict unrestraine d br ut alit y with no compunction ab out showing Chr istianit y in an unﬂ atter ing light

At Greater Union

“THE DILEMMA” (M)

RO N H oward’s fi lm ask s: “ What does a b loke do when he accident ally se es G eneva ( Winona R yder) , wife of Nick (Kevin James) , with her toy- b oy? ” Vince Vaughn, b est k nown for his comic roles, plays dominating but emotionallydamage d Ron. B y kow- towing to Vaughn’s other function as one of the fi lm’s co - producer s, A lan Loeb’s scre enplay contr ives it s downfall, wr iting Ron as a self- pit ying and unremitting p oltroon with less back b one than a jellyfish and the social graces of a fl atulent, age d dog

Even b efore Ron has back p e dalle d several times from giving the bad news to Nick , his b est pal and par tner in an auto - design business and smothere d his gir lfr iend B eth ( J ennifer Connolly) in lies, the ﬁ lm descends into te dium with which it is hard to p er severe in hop e for ultimate resolution of the dilemma (which, when it ar r ives, leaves Ron’s intract ab le ﬂ aws unresolve d)

The ﬁ lm cont ains pro duct placement s from A mer ican muscle car s to linger ie. This cynical reviewer think s the pro ducer s had a sneak ing suspicion that the ﬁ lm was a lemon, the cost of which pro duct placement s might help to alleviate

At all cinemas

The summer fes tival

A S C anb er rans prepare for Australia Day festivities, several prominent pub lic ﬁ gures have calle d for a big summer festival

A las, we use d to have just such a gigantic event in the for m of the National Multicultural F estival, now re duce d to a mo dest we ekend frolic. A ny way, we ’ ve just had Summer nat s

O N a happier note, some of our leading p er for mer s are b eing re cognise d elsewhere. Hannah Cor mick has b e en accepte d into the Jacques Le co q Theatre S chool in Par is and Lucy G oleby got into N I DA

WH AT a coup for the C anb er ra G lasswor k s to have score d dire ctor of the National Museum of Australia, A ndrew S ayer s, as it s new chair man. H e replaces John M ackay, who has gone to the Univer sit y of C anb er ra as chancellor.

arts in the city

H e l e n M u s a

FR A N K Hather ley ’ s play

“M anly M ates” is set in 1970 s M anly, where B ob and his mates re gular ly me et at the pub. But all is not as it se ems . C anb er ra Dramatics, in what may b e it s swansong pro duction, is st aging the play at Tuggeranong A r t s Centre from Januar y 27 to F ebr uar y 5. B ook ings to 6293 14 43

PA I NTB OX F ine A r t is pretending this is a nor mal summer with it s cur rent exhibition “Coast Watch”, celebrating the joys of the season through paintings of coast al life by Sus an Sutton, John Shar man, R ichard Siemens and James Willebrant on show, Lonsdale Stre et, B raddon, until Januar y 30

Festival looms for local bands

B y E l e r i H a r r i s

FRO M the ar t s y C anb er ra indi - rock hipster s who brought you the ill - fate d and shut down “Chain Gang” exhibition of 2010 comes the mini - festival “H ey Dad, can you pick me up from Josh’s, other wise it’s like t wo buses”

To b e held in t wo, eighthour set s over the we ekend of F ebr uar y 12 and 13 at the Phoenix Pub in Civic, “H ey Dad” will showcase 14 local bands and ar t wor k s from emerging ar tist s, highlighting what sole organiser Travis H H einr ich calls the “amazing t alent” of the AC T H einr ich s ays: “If you want something done here you have to do it your self, but it is fun ” H einr ich, assist ant to Luke Pender s for the Chain Gang E xhibition and the A r t s S chool B all in 2010, s ays the mini - festival is not a money mak ing scheme; he won’t t ake home a pro ﬁt and the gig it self is fre e “I ’ m not putting in to promote myself or to make a pro ﬁt,”

H einr ich s ays . “Just to show off our local bands, while many of them have playe d at the venue b efore, this will b e a whole new exp er ience ” But already the youth - culture -st ar ve d hordes of C anb er ra are circling with hundre ds of attende es on Faceb ook a p otential issue for the Phoenix , which has a capacit y of just 94 patrons

“Chain Gang” close d after op ening night in De cemb er when unpre ce dente d crowds supp ose dly cause d a near r iot in the cit y centre

“ There has b e en ab out a

we used to have is now a frolic

GEN ER A L manager of business and administration at A r t S ound FM , Isob el Gr ifﬁ n, is leaving the organis ation to pur sue “other opp or tunities ” B r ian Le onard is acting general manager and Gr ifﬁ n will continue as a presenter of “A r t s Diar y ”

TEN young dancer s from C anb er ra’s QL 2 Centre for Youth Dance are in Thailand for t wo we ek s of p er for mance and cultural exchange with Thai dancer s in “ Toes on the Edge”. They will t ake a shor t contemp orar y dance pie ce to B angkok Dance Academy, with a group of young Thai dancer s . The tour t akes in B angkok , Chiang M ai and K hon Kaen

MO R E than 8 6,5 0 0 p e ople have visite d “ Y iwar ra Kuju: The C anning Stock Route” at the National Museum of Australia. It’s a re cord.

children’s theatre reviews

Theatre treat for t he ver y tiny

four-year lull in C anb er ra ’ s indep endent ar t s and music scene, since Toast close d,” H einr ich s ays, explaining the enthusiastic resp onse to rare indep endent event s “But there are whole younger generations emerging with their own wor k now and in a couple of year s things will b e really exciting ”

“H ey Dad” will feature ar tist s including tr iple j unear the d winner s Crash the Cur b, Par t y Bus, A ss assins 8 8, The F ighting League, Voss, Kasha, Dar k H or se, Spar t ak , M or nings, James Fahy, O r bit s, B o Gre enwoo d, Reub en Ingall and L akeside Circus; plus the wor k s of Luke Pender s, Stella - Rae Zelnik , Paul Summer ﬁ eld, Char lie White, G e orge Rose, Robbie Kar mel, Eliz ab eth G oldr ick and more

F O RGE T ab out p ost- mo der n notions of children’s theatre b eing e qually for the adult s – this is theatre for the ver y tiny.

A n or iginal comp osition by the celebrate d ﬁ lm comp oser Peter B est, (“Mur iel’s We dding”, “Croco dile Dunde e” and so on) this light- hear te d musical is made up entirely of singing dialogue, with catchy tunes and r hymes that the young audience memb er s can easily lear n Dire ctor Jordan B est has a ﬁ r st- class

“Goldilocks and the Three Bears”

Writ ten and comp ose d by Peter Be st , dire c te d by J ordan Be st , Cour t yard Studio,

C anb er ra T heat re, until Januar y 22 Rev iewe d by Hele n M u s a

cast of b ear s ( Jim Adamik , K ik i Skountos and B rendan Kelly) who ver y near ly, but not quite, steal the show from G oldilock s

(A lex de Toth) , whom they serenade in the words: “ You’re not so ver y hair y, but you ’ re ver y, ver y scar y ” . This pro duction is largely an exercise in interacting with children and the resp onses were ter r i ﬁ c from the out set Fre e Rain Theatre has score d a winner with this show, which occupies just over 30 minutes and demonstrates the vir tues of using the b est theatre ar tist s p er for m for young p e ople

Not hing grim abou t t his recipe for famil y fun

“H A NSEL and Gretel” may b e the nastiest of the Gr imms’ Tales, but there’s nothing gr im ab out this pro duction

Dire ctor Justin Wat son has p er fe cte d I ck le Pick le Pro ductions’ unique for mula involving big cast s of children ke en to lear n theatre sk ills, enthusiastic family audiences and lot s of mutual appre ciation

C anb er ra scr ipt wr iter Peter M cDonald ser ves up a familiar cockt ail of puns, cor ny

“Hansel and Gretel”

B y Peter McD onald , dire c te d by J ustin

Wat son , Belconnen T heat re until Januar y 29 Rev iewe d by Hele n M u s a

jokes and up dates, so that the B lack F orest here is b eset with climate change issues

Hansel and Gretel are no innocent s, but rather a pair of smar t y- pant s wor r ie d that their iPo d is out of batter y. O nce in

the forest, they me et ever yone from the Ginger bread M an and the White Rabbit to the Wicke d Witch and a fr ustrate d M asterchef, deter mine d on getting those k ids into the cook ing p ot.

There are Disney song and dance routines such as “Hi H o,” p er for me d with var iab le sk ills to loud applause. It’s hardly ve get ar ian, but it’s the p er fe ct re cip e for family fun

2011 new year, new you

Now’s

the time to lose that weight

It ’s one of the most popular New Year ’s Resolutions: Lose weight , star t eating a healthy, balanced diet and get more exercise. A s many of us know, it ’s not as simple as just making that decision, so “Cit yNews” spoke to some of C anberra’s exper ts about how to make 2011 a year for a new you

Big resu l t s f rom s mall changes

PEO PLE make resolutions to improve their health at N ew Year b e cause the signi ﬁ cant date act s as an incentive to make p ositive changes, s ays B illy Giampaolo, of Elite Physique – and with the help of professionals, we can make changes that last.

“Ever yone se es N ew Year ’ s as a big event, or the date might b e a function, like a we dding, a fr iend’s we dding or a signi ﬁ cant bir thday,” he s ays – using the date as a mar ker can help ﬁ r m our intentions, if only to b e gin with.

“ You ﬁ nd that a lot of that t ap er s off as time goes on. S o what we do at Elite is tr y and make little changes from the st ar t. A little change will make a big difference: We don’t want p e ople to do the ‘B iggest Loser ’ st yle of thre e hour s in the gym ever y day and eating nothing, you can’t maint ain that, and when you stop, any weight loss get s rever se d within a few we ek s of stopping ”

B illy s ays that under t ak ing a diet or exercise re gime that’s too severe almost invar iab ly ends in dis app ointment, while the approach t aken by Elite trainer s is more sust ainab le

“If it’s a really str ict diet, I can almost guarante e that you won’t b e doing it by M arch. Pe ople who are consider ing using 2011 to make changes can do it the smar t way, as opp ose d to just jumping in ”

P OWER Living C anb er ra is the ﬁ r st franchise of Australia’s biggest yoga business, Power Living, which was founde d by a for mer C anb er ran and Duntroon graduate, Duncan Peak B ase d in Sydney, the for mer elite paratroop er and now successful yoga gur u teaches the athletic-st yle Power Yoga to sp or ting teams such as the M anly S ea E agles, the Warat ahs, celebr ities including tennis champion Pat Rafter and “M cLe o d’s Daughter s” st ar Zoe Naylor, and a growing numb er of men drawn to Power Yoga’s abilit y to tone muscles, calm the mind and bur n calor ies, he s ays . Power Living C anb er ra studio owner s Justine Lisson and M arcus Janssen traine d with Duncan Peak in Sydney. They s ay they b oth tur ne d to Power Yoga after stressful, highpressure year s in the cor p orate wor ld that left Justine fre quently ill from anxiet y, and M arcus overweight

“ Through Power Living C anb er ra, we are ab le to help stresse d, fastpace d C anb er rans relax , lose weight, tone up and look and fe el younger, more energise d and p ower ful,” s ays M arcus, who lost 5 4kg through Power Yoga

Justine s ays the pair love Power Yoga “b e cause of it s dynamic, ﬂ owing qualit y, and it s abilit y to help p e ople transfor m and rebalance their lives through nour ishing exercise, a b etter diet and re gular me dit ation. It’s a complete wor kout for the b o dy, mind and soul Power Living C anb er ra offer s daily classes in Power Yoga, Y in and k ids’ classes, wor k shops, teacher training and retreat s, plus DVDs and CDs . A sp e cial intro ductor y offer provides newcomer s with 10 days of unlimite d Power Yoga classes for $20 Power Living Canberra is at 1 Oatley Court, B elconnen. More information at w w w powerlivingcanberra com au or call 6162 1424

Bill y Gia m p aolo, o f Elite Phy siq u e

new year, new you advertising feature

B O DY B asics provides simple strate gies that make it s client s account ab le for their own rest, exercise and nutr itional b ehaviour s

The company has a strong focus on e ducating client s ab out which of their lifest yle habit s can under mine their exercise re gime, and how these habit s can b e mo di ﬁ e d, it s ays – with an under st anding of how rest, exercise and nutr ition interact to affe ct the b o dy

According to B o dy B asics, it under st ands the demands of client s’ sche dules and the impact our bus y lifest yles have on our abilit y to achieve health and ﬁtness goals

It offer s a range of ser vices, including fitness and nutr ition ser vices in Cur tin, le d by p er sonal trainer M atthew Quixley, and a b oot camp which features new wor kout s ever y we ek to ke ep par ticipant s intereste d and challenge d. This includes unconventional exercises like t yre training and lifting water cont ainer s . There’s also pr ivate group fitness classes for groups of fi ve or more More information at w w w bodybasics net au or call 6282 83 44 .

The no -sweat sol u t ion to feel i ng rela xed and des t ressed

TH E Shap emaster p ower-assiste d exercise s ystem use d at F e el G oo d Studio in Tur ner has several advant ages, including the fact that the client does not pump the energy use d from inside their b o dies

“B reak ing sweat and muscle pains exp er ience d dur ing or after strenuous exercise send signals of har mful distress to the b o dy,” s ays F e el G oo d owner Nat asha Luk in

She s ays with Shap emaster, “the energy is provide d pre dominantly by the exter nal p ower of the sup er ior designe d me chanics of the toning b e ds . E xerciser s don’t sweat and don’t overexer t themselves, but instead fe el relaxe d and de -stresse d ” Nat asha s ays the Shap emaster s ystem consist s of six different toning b e ds k nown as Power tone Plus Pilates

“At F e el G oo d Studio we do a lot of

research and allow careful consideration b efore de ciding what we can offer to our client s . St ar ting with Shap emaster, we later include d infrare d and hor izont al te chnology in our programs, and our recent acquisition is I onither mie, a b eautiful French cellulite buster and detoxi ﬁ cation treatment.”

More information on w w w shapemastercanberra com au or call 6247 6267

N E W Year ’ s resolutions ne e d to b e wor ke d into our daily lives, and many p e ople ﬁ nd that choosing a set time to exercise each we ek wor k s for them, s ays A lisia Cutifani, manager of A nytime F itness in Tuggeranong.

“Ever yone has a sche dule, and there literally aren’t enough hour s in the day,” A lisia s ays . “ That’s why we ’ re op en 24 hour s a day: We’re op en dur ing those extende d hour s so that p e ople can come anytime, which helps them stick to their plan.”

The abilit y to ﬁ nd a time of day to exercise which wor k s in with p e ople’s bus y sche dules makes it easier for them to pick a time and stick with it, she s ays . “It’s also imp or t ant to enjoy it. Wor k out with a fr iend, ﬁ nd a class you like, and you st ar t look ing for ward to your time exercising

“Pe ople including myself are bus y for lot s of reasons! It may b e k ids: tr ying to juggle wor k , after noon sp or t and foo d preparation is enough to make any p er son bus y until b e d time!

“It may b e the inconvenience of when p e ople actually wor k ; it could b e those later night s or ear ly mor nings that gyms just aren’t op en . we give these p e ople the opp or tunit y to still have ﬁtness as a factor in their life

“ The anytime access allows a bus y p er son to sche dule to get the imp or t ant things out of the way, and still have their health as a realit y in their life ” Anytime Fitness is open at locations including Woden, Tuggeranong and Jerrabomberra. More information at w w w.anytimeﬁtness.com.au

Ease you rsel f i n to rou t i nes t hat bri ng las t i ng change

TH E key to a successful N ew Year ’ s resolution is b eing k ind to our selves, s ays Troy Roughley, manager of Gymquip in F yshwick

“ There’s an old myth that ever yone b elieves: Losing weight is ab out sweating till you fall over. But that’s not what it’s ab out,” s ays Troy

“If you ease your self into it, if you have realistic goals to st ar t with, it’s more likely to wor k . Don’t exp e ct to buy an exercise bike and r ide for an hour at ﬁ r st. You might b e ab le to do 15 minutes, then build that up to 20, 25 and so on, and when you can do it this way, you’ll fe el goo d ab out your self. It’ll encourage you to ke ep doing it and pushing your self gradually a bit harder ”

The other key to mak ing lasting changes is routine, Troy s ays

“It’s ab out for ming a habit. It break s down to doing something at the s ame time each day or

each we ek . F or example, if you buy a treadmill, and you’re going to watch it in front of the T V, pick a favour ite show you watch each we ek and use it then

“If you watch that show without b eing on the treadmill you’ll fe el guilt y. A nd, of cour se, it’s different for ever yb o dy, but to for m a habit, a set time is the easiest way ”

S ometimes it’s b est to put a new pie ce of e quipment where we’ll se e it fre quently, he adds: all too often, exercise bikes put in the garage just end up gather ing dust

“Put it in a room where you’ll se e it ever y day and walk past it; each day you’ll rememb er that you should b e using it ”

2011 - your year in the st ar s

IN 2011, the pace of life is set to accelerate even more as Jupiter and Uranus charge into gung - ho Aries. Entrepreneurial ventures will flourish and expec t to hear about exciting new inventions, technological advances and scientific break throughs. However, the threat of a double - dip recession isn’t over, so being frugal with your finances is still the safest way to go. Uranus was last in Aries from 1927-35, which was a period of great social, economic and political upheaval. “ Personal freedom” is the catch - cr y for the coming year. This will run the gamut from an increase in relationship break- ups; to individuals and communities protesting against budget cuts and other government decisions; to an upsurge in political rebellions and insurgencies around the world.

ARIES

(M a rc h 21-A p ril 20)

LOVE

SI N GLE Rams – S atur n is moving slowly through your par tner ship zone, so you ’ve b e en lear ning some hard lessons in love. But – if you have gaine d wisdom from past liaisons – then you have a real chance of ﬁ nding your soul mate in 2011 Att ache d A r ies – resist the urge to b e confront ational. The more you co - op erate and consult with your par tner, the b etter your relationship will b e. Cool compromise is the key

LOOT

B E careful with your cash in Januar y. In July and Octob er, Jupiter tr ines Pluto in your ﬁ nancial and wor k zones so they are the p er fe ct months to look for a job, hit your b oss for a raise, apply for a loan or st ar t a new business M any Rams will t aste professional success or s atisf y p olitical ambitions dur ing this time. If extra money comes your way make sure you se cure it wisely, with an eye to future ne e ds (rather than present whims)

LIFEST YLE

H O LD on to your seat! Jupiter and Uranus b oth bar nstor m through your sign in 2011, so you’ll b e at your sp ont ane ous and adventurous b est. Unconventional p e ople and places app eal, and you’ll do all you can to avoid b eing b ore d. Travel and study are t wo ways you can shake up your life and get things moving in an exciting new dire ction. You’re b old and brave in A pr il – but you ’ re also more accident- prone than usual

FAMOUS ARIANS

B E T TE Davis, Elle M acpher son, Russell Crowe, Kate Hudson

TAURUS

LOVE D O N ’ T let your jealous side sp oil romantic moment s in Januar y. Love and lust are on the menu as t wo e clipses stimulate your sexualit y zone in June and N ovemb er, and your libido goes through the roof. If you are att ache d – spr ing is the time to b e less stubb or n and more ﬂ exib le. Single Bulls – Cupid’s ar row is most likely to str ike b et we en August and Octob er, so make sure you circulate in st yle

LOOT

JU PITER (the planet of prosp er it y) p ower s through your sign from June 2011 to June 2012 for the ﬁ r st time in 12 year s, so L ady Luck is on your side. If you are quick enough to grab luck y opp or tunities when they come along (and ke ep a sensib le head on your shoulder s) then 2011 will b e a for tunate year ﬁ nancially. Resist the urge to sp end extra cash – instead, concentrate on sust ainab le living and smar t s aving

LIFEST YLE

S ATU R N visit s your well - b eing zone, so you ne e d to get ser ious ab out your health. Take a goo d look at your diet and ﬁtness program, and ke ep up - to - date with health che ck s . Don’t sk imp on sle ep and relaxation or you’ll ﬁ nd your b oundless b ovine energy has deser te d you. With N eptune moving into your humanit ar ian zone, you ’re in the moo d to help those in the communit y who are less for tunate.

FAMOUS TAURE ANS

AU DR E Y H epbur n, David B e ck ham, C ate B lanchett, G e orge Clooney

GEMINI

LOVE

JUGGLI N G p er sonal fre e dom with relationship commitment s is the major theme of 2011. Singles – you may b e attracte d to some one much older, who act s as a mentor or parent al ﬁ gure. O r a platonic fr iendship could b e come more ser ious (esp e cially in S eptemb er or Octob er). If you are att ache d, you have much to lear n from your par tner and the children in your life. S ome Twins will b e come parent s for the ﬁ r st time, with adde d resp onsibilities and sle epless night s

LOOT

TH E solar e clipse on July 1 stimulates your ﬁ nance zone, as you r ing in the N ew F inancial Year with a brand new attitude to money. The more organise d and infor me d you are, the b etter your ﬁ nancial future will b e. Resist the urge to splurge in August and S eptemb er, when impulsive M ar s marches through your money zone

LIFEST YLE

WH EN M ercur y retrogrades through your p e er group zone (from M arch 31- A pr il 2 3 ) you ne e d to review your major fr iendships . Choose your company wisely b e cause false fr iends will only lead gullib le G eminis astray! A n extreme make over is likely in June, when the solar e clipse makes you restless for an up date d image. F or some – a hot

new wardrob e or hair st yle; for other s – a sp ot of surgical enhancement

FAMOUS GEMINIS

B O B D ylan, Nicole K idman, Johnny Depp, Kylie M inogue

C

buy a home, move house, renovate or re de corate.

LIFEST YLE

WITH Jupiter and Uranus activating your adventure zone, F ebr uar y through to M ay are pr ime months to travel (esp e cially to exotic, unusual over seas destinations). You’re also in the moo d to study so fur ther e ducation is likely, as you up grade your professional quali ﬁ cations or research a subje ct that has always fascinate d you The solar e clipse in July coincides with a religious celebration or spir itual awakening for some cur ious C at s

FAMOUS LEOS

A M ELI A E ar har t, B arack O bama, H elen M ir ren, M adonna

LOVE

YOU ’R E enter ing a new phase in relationships, as Pluto and a solar e clipse light up your love zone. If you are att ache d, you b oth ne e d to face up to unresolve d issues, other wise the union is unlikely to sur vive in the long - ter m. Singles – you are look ing for a de ep conne ction with some one sp e cial. It’s far b etter to wait for the r ight p er son to come along, than to waste time on incompatib le par tner s and shallow relationships

LOOT

B E T WEEN Januar y and M ay you could gain extra income via a pay r ise, promotion, se cond job or wor k ing over time. Don’t celebrate with a sp ending spre e though – make sure you squir rel extra funds away to cover you when times are tight. From June onwards, proje ct s involving computer s, communication or new te chnology will b e ﬁ nancially rewarding and you’ll ﬁ nd the more innovative and entrepreneur ial you are, the more your business will grow

LIFEST YLE

WITH luck y Jupiter and unpre dict ab le Uranus b oth activating your care er zone, you can look for ward to plent y of professional sur pr ises in 2011, which could include an over seas business tr ip, new job, or altere d wor k ing conditions . Avoid the tempt ation to b e a cautious Crab – the more conﬁ dent and adventurous you are, the more successful your care er will b e. If you embrace changes and challenges, then you’ll b e come more indep endent and resilient

FAMOUS C ANCERIANS

H A R R ISO N F ord, Tom Cr uise, M er yl Stre ep, Pr ince William.

LOVE

WITH N eptune moving into your love zone, 2011 promises to b e a sup er romantic year. Att ache d Virgos – Januar y is the pr ime month for romance and candlelit dinner s, as you renew your vows or ﬁ nd creative new ways to pamp er your par tner Singles – Cupid’s ar row is most likely to str ike b et we en A pr il and July (so br ush up on your ﬂ ir ting te chnique and sex y one - liner s) but avoid falling for some one who ne e ds to b e s ave d

LOOT

B E patient in 2011 as you focus on the future, esp e cially where investment s and real est ate are involve d. F ind clever ways to make your money go fur ther. S atur n is ask ing you to b e pr udent and practical, as you concentrate on shor t- ter m pain for long - ter m gain. Avoid b or rowing funds or initiating joint ﬁ nancial ventures from M arch 31- A pr il 2 3, when M ercur y (your r uling planet) rever ses through your share d resources zone

LIFEST YLE

TH E main obst acle for you in the coming year is inse cur it y. The tighter you hold on to money, p ossessions or p e ople, the more likely you’ll lose them. You will lear n that tr ue self- este em and se cur it y come from within, re gardless of what you own or what you achieve. 2011 is the year to adopt a more adventurous approach, esp e cially at wor k . A nd don’t b e afraid of mak ing mist akes – they will set you off in an exciting new dire ction

FAMOUS VIRGOS

SO PH I A Loren, M ichael Jack son, C ameron Diaz, B eyonce

LOVE

A touch of fant as y will spice up your sex life when N eptune visit s your intimacy zone (from A pr il 4 - August 5 ). Long - ter m par tner ships get b ogge d down in S eptemb er- Octob er but hang in there b e cause the solar e clipse in N ovemb er promises a romantic renaiss ance via a holiday, sp e cial anniver s ar y celebration or sur pr ise pre gnancy. Single C at s – summer love comes calling in the shap e of a sex y S agitt ar ian or an amorous Aquar ian

LOOT

DU R I N G the ﬁ r st six months you ’re ke en to t ake on a new loan (or extend an old one) but don’t b or row more money than you ne e d – or more than you can comfor t ab ly pay back . The se cond half of the year is the luck iest time to look for a job, apply for a promotion or ask a colleague for a favor, as prosp er it y planet Jupiter jumps into your care er zone. A nd Octob er is the b est month to

LOVE YOU R love life will b e unpre dict ab le. F or some att ache d Librans – a relationship that has lost it s spar k could unexp e cte dly b e reignite d; for other s – a previously happy par tner ship could suddenly fall apar t. If you’ve put your “p er fe ct” par tner on a p e dest al, 2011 is the year they may come crashing down! Singles: M arch through to

ACCL AIMED as one of Au stralia’s top astrologer s , Joanne was a well- know n teenage ac tress and appeared in many television show s , movies and t heatre produc tions. She has been a professional astrologer and w riter since 1992. Joanne’s horoscopes ref lec t her belief t hat astrolog y is a wonder ful tool for self- discover y “A horoscope reading is your regular spiritual tu ne - u p It get s you in sy nc wit h cosmic energies and helps you c hoose t he most au spiciou s times to make impor t ant c hanges in your life ”

De cemb er are the b est months to look for love, and you’ll have more luck if you don’t go for your usual t yp e

LOOT

MO N E Y will b e tight in the fi r st half of the year but things improve from June onwards, when wealth planet Jupiter jumps into your “moneyfrom - other s” zone and you could b ene fit from a pay r ise, settlement or inher it ance. Don’t splash the cash around though! S er ious S atur n is still ask ing you to b e fiscally conser vative, as you put inst ant grati fi cation aside and concentrate on building a bump er nest e gg for the future.

LIFEST YLE

S ATU R N is still moving slowly through your sign, teaching you to b e more mature – and less reliant on the opinion and approval of other s . 2011 is the year to stop procrastinating and st ar t mak ing ﬁ r m de cisions – and stick ing to them. With four e clipses in your study/travel zones, you ’re hungr y for new e ducational exp er iences and adventures over the next 12 months . June and De cemb er are the b est times to t ake a well - ear ne d break

FAMOUS LIBR ANS

B RUCE Spr ingste en, O livia N ewton - John, Hugh Jack man, Naomi Watt s,

SCORPIO

(O c to be r 24N ove m be r 22)

LOVE

TH E S olar Eclipse in June is the p er fe ct time to embar k on an exciting new erotic liaison or spice up a long - ter m sexual relationship. S cor pios are se cretive when it comes to love but, dur ing the se cond half of 2011, you’ll b e more op en and straightfor ward ab out your fe elings . Att ache d S cor ps – t ake a de ep breath and tell your par tner how you really fe el. Singles – spar k s are set to ﬂ y with some one from a different countr y or culture

LOOT

MO N E Y issues t ake centre st age in 2011, as four e clipses stimulate your fi nance se ctor s . You’ll want to est ab lish a more se cure fi nancial p osition so budgeting, s aving, investing, and mayb e even a se cond job will b e high on your list of pr ior ities . N ovemb er ’ s solar e clipse signals the st ar t of a fresh fiscal cycle as you ne gotiate a pay deal, liquidate asset s, buy prop er t y or enter into a business par tner ship

LIFEST YLE

WITH Jupiter visiting your well - b eing zone (from Januar y 2 3 - June 4 ) you ne e d to b e more proactive (and enthusiastic) ab out your health and ﬁtness

A nd don’t b e too conventional – Uranus is ask ing you to t ake a look at alter native therapies and unusual sp or t s (anything from acupuncture to Zumba) that may improve existing health prob lems and ke ep you moving. July is the ideal month to escap e on a heavenly holiday with

some one sp e cial

FAMOUS SCORPIOS

PA B LO Picasso, Hillar y Clinton, Le onardo Di C apr io, Julia Rob er t s

SAGIT TARIUS

(N ove m be r 23De ce m be r 21)

LOVE

2011 will b e a pivot al year as thre e e clipses activate your relating zones . F or some, the solar e clipses in June and July promise a hot new romance (or a revamp e d old one). F or other s, things come to a head in De cemb er, when one of you de cides to leave. Singles – you ’re look ing for some one who gives you the fre e dom to b e your self. Att ache d A rcher s – don’t sp end so much time focusing on p er sonal proje ct s that you ne gle ct your par tner

LOOT

WITH Pluto in your cash zone, you ne e d to transfor m your attitude to money and b e come more discipline d in the present – and more focuse d on the future. There’ll b e less ﬁ nancial dramas if you limit window shopping, impulse buys and cre dit card binges . Concentrate on s aving rather than sp ending, and use your k nowle dge and creativit y to make extra cash. (C an you tutor student s, have a garage s ale or sell things online?)

LIFEST YLE

IT’S time for less t alk and more action, as Jupiter (your r uler) charges into A r ies . If you are unhappy at wor k – ﬁ nd another job; if you have a longcher ishe d dream – make it a realit y. In the se cond half of the year you’ll b e more incline d to put on weight and will have to push your self to eat less and exercise more. N ovemb er is the month to up date your app earance via a new hair st yle, wardrob e or ﬁtness routine.

FAMOUS SAGIT TARIANS

WA LT Disney, Jane F onda, B rad Pitt, B r itney Sp ear s .

C APRICORN

(Dece m be r 22Ja n u a r y 20)

LOVE

K EEP your professional and passionate desires separate in 2011. Love and wor k are a mess y mix (esp e cially in M arch and A pr il) and a wor k place romance will str uggle to sur vive the year. M ay and June are imp or t ant months for singles . F or some – it’s when Cupid ﬁ nally comes calling; for other s – it’s a great time to get engage d or marr ie d. B e proactive in love in August-S eptemb er, as

you set new ground r ules in your relationship

LOOT

2011 is the year to purchase prop er t y, move to a larger residence, extend your present dwelling, renovate or re de corate. You’ll also fe el like entert aining more, so dust down the old cook b ook s and t ake Granny ’ s silver out of storage! M arch and Octob er are luck y months for money, when you could make big buck s through real est ate or for tuitous family conne ctions . It’s also a great time to apply for a loan or buy a lotter y ticket

LIFEST YLE

YOU R care er shift s into top gear in 2011. E xp e ct an increase d wor k load and high levels of stress but, if you wor k hard, you’ll reap the rewards With S atur n in your reput ation /job zone, other s are look ing to you for ﬁ r m dire ction and solid leader ship. C apr icor ns are master s at displaying grace under pressure, so make sure you approach challenges with gusto and st yle. Don’t b e too bus y to attend to health matter s in June and De cemb er

FAMOUS C APRICORNS

M A R LEN E Dietr ich, Elvis Presley, Nigella L awson, David B owie

AQUARIUS

(Ja n u a r y 21Fe b ru a r y 19)

LOVE

I N the coming year, str ive to get the balance r ight b et we en b eing an indep endent fre e -spir it and having a s atisf ying par tner ship. Singles – F ebr uar y ﬁ nds you in a sup er fr isk y moo d as you ﬂ ir t up a stor m. S o it’s the b est month to host a par t y, go on a holiday, join a singles club or look for love online. Att ache d Aquar ians – June and De cemb er are the months to share activities that you b oth enjoy, as you make b eautiful music together

LOOT

YOU R fi nances ne e d to b e fl exib le and your investment s diver se, to accommo date changing circumst ances . Ste er clear of “dream deals” from A pr il through to August, when nebulous N eptune clouds your fi nancial judgment. If you can afford it, the se cond half of 2011 is a great time to invest in real est ate, buy your fi r st home or renovate

your present place. ( Just make sure you have a realistic contingency fund to cover budget b lowout s )

LIFEST YLE

YOU ’LL b e extra restless in 2011, as Jupiter and Uranus stir up your gyps y gene, and you’re ke en to travel or move – esp e cially inter st ate. You may discover that the grass isn’t always gre ener on the other side though! S ome Aquar ians will resolve a long -st anding issue with a parent, that se es the relationship move in a p ositive new dire ction CH I LDR EN and creativit y are a magical mix in June

FAMOUS AQUARIANS

O PR A H Winfrey, B ob M ar ley, Justin T imb er lake, J ennifer A niston

PISCES

(Fe b r u a r y 20M a rc h 20)

LOVE

M A N Y Pisceans will t ake the plunge in 2011 via an engagement, we dding or by b e coming a parent, as you str ive for more p er manence in your pr imar y par tner ship. With hard wor k and commitment, your romantic relationship will slowly go from strength to strength. F or F ish who are sick and tire d of b eing single – July is the b est month to go look ing for love (and don’t r ule out searching for your soul mate online)

LOOT

YOU R ﬁ nancial situation pick s up in 2011 as luck y Jupiter moves through your money zone (for the ﬁ r st time in 12 year s). E xp e ct a b oost to your bank balance via a pay r ise, b onus, gift or extra business coming your way. A ny windfall won’t last long if you don’t manage it wisely though A nd, with fr ugal S atur n moving through your “ moneyfrom - other s” zone, you ne e d to b e more discipline d when it comes to managing debt

LIFEST YLE

YOU R r uling planet N eptune moves into your sign in A pr il (for the ﬁ r st time since 18 4 8) so you ’ re set for a creative and spir itual awakening. The next few year s is a p er io d when your wildest wishes can really t ake ﬂ ight. N ow ’s the time to t ap into your inner muse, dream big dreams and visualise a fabulous future. M any Pisceans will also b e come more involve d in volunte er wor k , as you reach out to help the old, sick or dis advant age d.

FAMOUS PISCE ANS

LIZ A M innelli, B r uce Willis, Drew B ar r ymore, Eva Longor ia.

Across

1 Name the ﬂesh of more mature sheep

7 To be too much concerned with purely intellectual interests is to be what?

8 Name another word for hue, or dye, etc

9 Which international philanthropic organisation was formed in consequence of the 18 6 4 Geneva Convention (3,5)?

1 0 Where is the legendary home of Ulysses?

1 1 Which molluscs have two shells hinged together?

1 4 Name a variety of jade

1 8 Which line of kings ruled England from 10 6 6 to 115 4?

19 Name the obsolete Spanish gold coin

2 1 What is another term for a panacea?

2 2 What are pointless series of acts?

2 3 In golf, which are scores of two below par? Down

1 Lansing is the capit al of which US st ate?

2 What is another name for the chest?

3 Name the NE NSW town, postcode

2 39 0.

4 Shakespeare was known as the what?

5 What is gasoline also known as?

6 Which thin paper is used for wrapping delicate articles, etc?

1 2 What do we call a native of the capit al of Austria?

1 3 Name the It alian forms of address to married women

1 5 Which word refers to milestones in history?

1 6 Which Tasmanian city was named af ter the fourth Earl of Buckinghamshire?

17 Who composed "White Christmas" Berlin?

2 0 Which word suggests the likelihood of a cert ain event happening?

your week in the stars

With Joanne Madeline Moore January 24-30

ARIES

(Mar 21 – Apr 20)

F ind proactive ways to solve prob lems this we ek A r ies . Sitting around fe eling sor r y for your self will get you nowhere fast. Instead, look to your p e er group for p ositive and pro ductive advice. Jolly Jupiter asp e ct s will increase your generosit y and sense of wellb eing on Fr iday. Rams to the rescue as you help some one who’s in ne e d

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Don’t let jealous y rear it s ugly head. Have the conﬁ dence to give your par tner plent y of p er sonal space. Single Bulls – don’t confuse lust with love. When it comes to wor k , ke ep plugging away. You’ll se e rewards over the next few months, if you put 10 0 % care and commitment into all that you do. Handle colleagues with extra t act and patience

GEMI N I (May 21 – June 21)

With so much activit y in your adventure zone, Twins are in fre e dom bunny mo de! S o it’s a great time to travel or to plan a tr ip for later in the year. Singles are impatient for romance but exp e ct a few false -st ar t s b efore tr ue love comes calling. Att ache d Twins – avoid b eing confront ational with your par tner. S oftly, softly is the smar t way to go

C ANCER (June 22 – July 22)

C autious Crabs can get stuck in a comfor t ab le r ut that does nothing for your p er sonal growth. Don’t b e come so obsesse d with se cur it y that you’re afraid to move for wards Love, conver s ation and laughter are highlighte d on Fr iday as you relax , romance and relate. O n the we ekend, M ar s and Venus encourage you to b e b old and b eautiful

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Lions have a pathological ne e d to hog the limelight. With the Sun and M ar s activating your par tner ship zone, it’s time to step back from the sp otlight and let other s gain some attention (and applause) for a change. B eing op en and emotionally availab le will draw a sp e cial p er son to you (who would nor mally st ay away). It’s time to fe el the love Le o! VI RGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Vigilant Virgos are fastidious folk but, if you are too fuss y and meticulous mid -we ek , you’ll just complicate matter s and end up in a sup er-stresse d st ate. Ke ep it simple! The we ekend’s st ar s highlight fre e dom and exp er iment ation. B e inspire d by bir thday great G er maine Gre er “Fre e dom is the fre e dom to get things wrong as well as r ight.”

L IB R A (Sept 23 – Oc t 23)

You have a p er fe ctionist streak and hate backtrack ing and doing things a se cond time but that’s exactly what you’ll have to do, as S atur n retrogrades through your sign (which also increases your tendency to procrastinate). Librans are fabulous fencesitter s but you ne e d to make a big de cision soon, b efore some one else steps in and makes it for you

SCORPIO (Oc t 24 – Nov 21)

The M oon’s in S cor pio from We dnesday to Fr iday, which b oost s your deter mination and stubb or nness . K nowing when to hold on and when to let go is the se cret to success . A re family memb er s featur ing in your nightly dreams? Your unconscious mind is wor k ing on relationship prob lems while you sle ep. It’s the p er fe ct k ind of therapy – and it’s fre e!

SAGIT TARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

It’s the p er fe ct we ek for swashbuck ling S adges, as romance and adventure are highlighte d. S o t ake your par tner on a magical jour ney or go searching for a new love. O pp or tunities ab ound (esp e cially on Fr iday) but grab them when they app ear or they ’ll pass you by. Your motto for the next seven days? “ Str ike while the iron is hot! ” C APRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

C apr icor n Central is an intense place to b e, as you focus intently on your future plans This we ek’s inspiration is from bir thday great O prah Winfrey “Passion is energy. F e el the p ower that comes from focusing on what excites you ” Don’t b e too hast y though - with S atur n shifting into retrograde motion, the lesson to lear n at the moment is patience

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Indep endence is your numb er one pr ior it y this we ek , and you won’t t ake k indly to other s telling you what to do! With might y M ar s in your sign (until F ebr uar y 2 3 ) you’re pr ime d to plunge into life – and don’t wor r y if you make some monument al mist akes . A s bir thday great Colette wrote “ You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm ”

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Pisceans are the idealistic dreamer s of the zo diac – esp e cially at the moment, as the Sun, M ar s and N eptune all ﬂ oat through your spir itualit y zone. But there are bills to b e paid and plans to b e made (plus heaps to do at wor k and at home) so stop daydreaming and get on with it! There’ll b e plent y of time for dreams and schemes when each day is done

Copyr ight Joanne M adeline M oore 2011