Canberra CityNews June 2-8, 2011

App snaps TAMS into action

By Eleri Harris

IT may be an abandoned shopping trolley in a driveway, a broken rubbish bin on the median strip, a busted handrail next to the gallery or a pothole in the street; public property gets damaged or misplaced and a quick-fix requires communication with the relevant authorities.

In the ACT, that authority is generally the Department of Territory and Municipal Services, notified through third-party government agency, Canberra Connect.

Whether you use a phone, online forms or visit their shop fronts in Dickson, Woden or Belconnen, dialogue with Canberra Connect is guaranteed to suck up at least five minutes of your life and include handing over personal information.

Even the online form requires your full name, with options including your residential address, home, work and mobile numbers.

If you ring direct, after waiting on hold, a similar set of details will be asked.

But in our new modern age of smart-phone technology a small company from St Kilda, Melbourne, called Outward Mobile has kindly produced an application to simplify the process.

Designed for the Victorian Government’s “Ap My State” in 2010, “Snap, Send, Solve” allows you to photograph the problem, add a note and location, and email it to the relevant authority anywhere in Australia, bringing the entire process down to under a minute in any location you can imagine.

Outward Mobile’s Eyton Lenko says the free app has been downloaded 20,000 times.

“We’ve had an amazing reaction,” Lenko told “CityNews”.

“There are hundreds of reports sent everyday from ‘Snap, Send, Solve’.

“Similar apps are available in many States, but they all involve back-end systems. We just thought we could do it in a lot more friendly manner. We’ve aggregated email addresses found online from council websites and with the app the email is coming from you. We just want to facilitate your report.”

In the ACT, “Snap, Send, Solve” sends an email to canberraconnect@act.gov.au; the correct address, “CityNews” has been assured, for making a complaint or pointing out a problem.

A TAMS spokesperson told “CityNews” there

It works! Photographer SILAS BROWN spotted a dangerously broken handrail near the Canberra Museum and Gallery on London Circuit and, on May 4, he notified TAMS using “Snap, Send, Solve” to lodge a written and photographic alert. Two weeks later Silas was notified by email that TAMS had removed the rail and thanked him for advising them of the hazard.

Autumn brrrs

CANBERRA has experienced its coldest autumn since 1984 and May was the coldest in 46 years, says Weather Channel meteorologist Tom Saunders. “The average autumn minimum was a chilly 5.7°C, around 1°C below average while the maximum was only 19.6°C, around half a degree below average.” After the second-wettest summer on record, the rain all but dried up in autumn, with only 62.6mm of rain, well below the long-term average of 141.1mm.

Red Shield shines

may be a risk with members of the public using a third-party company to process their feedback as “there is potential that the request is not received by the appropriate council”.

“Canberra Connect receive around 800 municipal-related jobs a week, with around three to four enquiries coming from Outward Mobile, the ‘Snap, Send, Solve’ provider,” the spokesperson said.

“Enquiries received from Outward Mobile are processed in the same way as enquiries made direct to Canberra Connect (either online through Fix My Street or via telephone).”

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about the time it takes to get a response from either Canberra Connect or TAMS, but it’s certainly faster and much less painful than listening to tinny hold music for half an hour.

“CityNews” staff notified Canberra Connect of a broken handrail in Civic on May 4 and received a reply two weeks later, the handrail removed and an expression of appreciation included.

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THE Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal doorknock over the weekend raised nearly $237,000, an increase of about 17 per cent on last year, says appeal director Capt Dale Murray. Donations can still be made by calling 13 72 58, visiting www.salvos.org. au, in person at any Westpac branch, or by sending a cheque to PO Box 9888, Canberra ACT 2600.

Canberra inventor wins

FYSHWICK mechanical engineer David Webster, has won the invention of the episode on the ABC show “New Inventors”. His “Water Watch” warns a diesel engine owner of water contamination in the fuel.

Canberra students win

STUDENT Lewis Rosenberg, of Telopea Park School, has won the 2011 National Geographic Channel Australian Geography Competition intermediate division for the ACT and will represent the Territory in the finals in Sydney on June 6. In the schools division, Canberra Grammar School was placed equal second in Australia and first in the ACT for the twelfth consecutive year. Students Callum Macgill and Benjamin Mynott, from Canberra Grammar, placed equal first in the ACT in the junior division, and Kenji Strazdins, from Lyneham High School, and Nicholas McClelland from Canberra Grammar School were equal first in the ACT in the senior division.

Getting Abbott off the habit

“KICK the habit, Mr Abbott.” Them’s fighting words! This is the other face of reforming Health Minister, Nicola Roxon.

In her monumental stoush with big tobacco she has also put a heavy calibre shot in the guts of the Liberal Party. And it’s worked – the Libs have finally conceded and will support plain packaging of tobacco.

Big tobacco has come in ready to fight. But Roxon has responded to the fisticuffs with gloves off. Tobacco companies are frenetic in their opposition to something they ironically argue will make no difference to smoking rates.

There are even arguments that plain packaging will fund terrorist organisations.

Their claims fail the “scream test” – if it will make so little difference, why are the tobacco companies putting so much effort into resisting? Secondly, the World Health Organization supports the move so strongly that Roxon has been granted, on World No Tobacco Day, a timely special award by director general Dr Margaret Chan.

The tools big tobacco are using include getting American Congressmen to write to the Australian Government, asking the Malaysian Government to do the same and they are using world trade negotiations as one of their tools to defeat this move by the Gillard Government.

But their product is different from all others – used as directed, it kills half of all the people who use it.

Big tobacco is operating just the way they are portrayed in the biting movie satire “Thank You for Smoking”, where Nick Naylor, who represents cigarettes, explains: “That’s the beauty of argu-

By Michael Moore

ment, if you argue correctly, you’re never wrong.” Also sounds like oppositional politics – and Tony Abbott is a master exponent!

British American Tobacco gives 97 per cent of its global donations to the Australian Coalition, Roxon told Federal Parliament.

This is the habit that she wants the Opposition Leader to kick. Being addicted to big donations is a disaster for democracy and nowhere is it clearer than with big tobacco companies who are taking extreme measures to resist the important health initiative of plain packaging.

This is the same Tony Abbott who as health minister did nothing new to reduce the scourge of tobacco use in stark contrast to his conservative colleague Michael Wooldridge, who was proactive across a range of anti-tobacco initiatives and Liberal backbench MPs such as Mal Washer – a GP who, despite the tight numbers in Parliament, provided leadership by announcing he has the courage to cross the floor on the issue.

This raised the spectre of a split in the Coalition lines. The reality is that the Leader of the Opposition has to balance truckloads of money going into the Coalition coffers against legislation that will improve the health of our community.

It has taken huge pressure from within his own ranks and from health organisations to get him to move on what should have been obvious.

Donations do influence political parties. It is obvious to anyone who watches politics. How could big donations not have an influence? Blind Freddie can see it! Why don’t politicians and political

parties allow themselves to see it? A desperate government in the twilight of its term in NSW took action on political donations because it knew that the community understands the impact of this sort of money on governments.

The tobacco wars should serve as a catalyst for reforming the system of political donations across the country.

If this awful product can have such an influence, what about other businesses such as developers, pharmaceuticals gambling, alcohol or junk food that are driven to put profit ahead of the public interest?

The admission made by then-Premier Kristina 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 NSW approach of legislating limits on spending in elections at the same time as banning particular donations provides a blueprint for protecting our democracy from this insidious influence.

At least instead of his whining opposition to almost everything the Government does, Abbott has announced the Liberals will not oppose the plain-packaging legislation. However, this situation highlights the need to take the Liberal Party off the tobacco companies’ teat and use the opportunity as a catalyst to improve democratic institutions by providing genuine leadership in political party donation reform.

Michael Moore was an independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly (1989 to 2001) and was minister for health. He is currently the CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia.

Goulburn salutes a pioneer hero

THOUSANDS of people are expected to attend the unveiling and blessing of a mosaic, the largest monument to Caroline Chisholm (pictured) in Australia, in Goulburn at the end of June.

As part of the restoration of the Saints Peter and Paul’s old Cathedral, itself a building of national heritage significance, the parish of Goulburn is honouring one of Australia’s most prominent pioneering women through the creation of a mosaic depicting her contribution to Australia by internationally renowned mosaic artist Nola Diamantopoulos, the founding and current president of the Mosaic Association of Australia and NZ and the founding director of the Mosaic Art School of Sydney.

Archbishop Mark Coleridge will bless the mosaic at a public unveiling ceremony at 11.30am on Wednesday, June 29.

When Chisholm arrived in Australia and witnessed the living conditions of the women and children of the early colony, she was determined to improve their situation.

Chisholm had a long and enduring relationship with the people of southern NSW. She travelled through Goulburn, raising money and escorting young immigrant girls to their workplaces as domestic servants to many country farms.

Students’ project seeks year-end donations

THE Interact Club of Telopea Park School is appealing to anyone looking to make a tax-deductible donation before June 0 to assist it in its goal of raising $80,000 to assist a school in Vanuatu.

Since 2006, Telopea Park School has had a special relationship with a remote village school in Vanuatu, the Port

Resolution School on the Island of Tanna.

Over the years, this relationship has developed with Telopea Park School forming a junior Rotary club, “Interact” (which stands for International Action). The students in the club regularly communicate with, and send educational supplies to, the Vanuatu school.

Last year the schools embarked on a project to build a school hall, library and kitchen in the grounds of the Vanuatu school. Not only will the new buildings be the centre of the

school, the will form an important meeting place for Port Resolution Village, bringing many benefits to the local community.

If Telopea Park students raise $80,000, Rotary International will project-manage the construction of the building. Telopea students are over a third of the way to their goal, having raised $28,000 over the last 10 months through fundraising activities such as bake sales, barbecues and raffles, with $8000 from a recent trivia night.

The Interact Club has a flyer that provides information about the Vanuatu Project and details how individuals, clubs or business can make a tax-deductible donation. It is available from Telopea Park School.

In a league of their own

Women all over town are queuing to take part in the Canberra Roller Derby, but ELERI HARRIS discovers there’s another league on the rise.

IT’S the crowds that make the game when people who don’t go to sports matches are packing out the stands.

Sipping beer and munching down fried food, the high-heeled, tattooed and Doc Martin-clad fans share benches with bevvies of little girls dressed like fairy princesses and cheerleaders, while redlipsticked, rockabilly pin-up girls and their long-haired, metal-head boyfriends cart babies wearing t-shirts saying: “I met these people on Facebook”.

Screaming and chanting and waving signs, the kooky, family-filled congregation goes wild as a gang of chicks on skates squeal across the gymnasium floor.

Welcome to the Canberra Roller Derby at Tuggeranong’s Southern Cross Stadium, a regular sell-out sports entertainment bout run by volunteers, skaters and devotees of this increasingly popular game.

The Canberra Roller Derby League, considered the most professional in the country, has been running for two years, starting with two teams of 16 and now with four – the Black and Blue Bells; Surly Griffins; Red Bellied Black Hearts and the Brindabelters.

But with 400 names on their “fresh meat” list, the CRDL doesn’t have the capacity to expand fast enough to accommodate everyone who wants to spend the required 18 months training to bout.

Enter students Emma Eriksen, 19, and Tea Karacic, 23, and their newly founded ANU Roller Derby.

“Everyone’s seen the movie ‘Whip It’ and wanted to do roller derby, I just decided to start my own league,” Emma smiles as she laces her shiny new black skates.

“CRDL is so packed, but there’s room in this town for people wanting to commit to a life of fishnets and skates.”

Teeing up with the ANU Students Association and kicking off incorporation with ANU Sports and Recreation, Tea and Emma have gathered together a team of skating enthusiasts to do what CDRL did three years ago; establish their own roller derby league.

“This is a bit more laissez faire and laid back,” Tea says as she smooths down her

Mohawk, dons a helmet and helps a newbie stand up.

“We’re all learning together and are, more or less, at the same level. We had a couple of meetings at the start of term, but then we had to stop because we had an accident. Our first casualty, one of our girls, fell down and broke her leg.”

The ANU Roller Derby girls have enlisted the help of former Central Coast skate guru Kaylee “Marie Slamtoinette” Dean and started ticking safety and accreditation boxes.

“As soon as the accident happened, Emma and I got our butts into gear,” Tea says.

“We did all our paperwork and finished our incorporation with ANUSA and went to talk with the guys at the sports hall, we did our risk management.

“Sports and Rec have given us the use of a hall for an hour every Sunday. If all goes according to plan we’re going to maintain that for the rest of the year.”

With rules too complicated to summarise, a mandatory Australian Flat-track Skating grading system using coloured stars for different levels of skill and some serious fitness requirements, it will take more than a year for the ANU roller derby kids to get into a real live bouting ring.

“Emma and I have really ambitious ideas,” Tea admits.

“She’d like to compete against the teams in the Canberra Roller Derby, but we’d really like to start a university league. It would be awesome to get teams into the Uni Games.

“But, right now we’re focusing on fundraising because we need to pay for the hire of the hall and equipment, we need some crash pads for practice!”

The ANU Roller Derby hope to take on the CDRL teams by June 2012.

More information from anurollerderby@ gmail.com and for roller derby rules visit http://wftda.com/rules

Ah, little girls; all curls and Botox!

IT was one of those tabloid headlines that left me gobsmacked: The story was about little Britney Campbell, the eight-year-old beauty contestant who is, apparently, the youngest girl in the world to have Botox treatments for cosmetic-related purposes.

Britney’s mum, a beauty therapist who apparently sources the Botox from internet suppliers and injects her child herself, claims that Botox and other beauty treatments including full-body waxing will enable her daughter to get ahead of the pack, stay young longer and achieve her dreams.

Everything about this seems totally wrong, but it was Britney’s own words that really made me cringe. “I check every night for wrinkles; when I see some, I want more injections. They used to hurt, but now I don’t cry that much. I also want a boob and nose job soon, so that I can be a star.”

The international headlines about Britney

By sonya Fladun

have been accompanied by controversy about the arrival in Australia of the American-style kids beauty pageant phenomenon in which tiny contestants are spray tanned, bewigged and bejewelled, crimped and curled, and plastered with make-up.

I’d be the first to admit there’s a lot of fun to be had dressing up your little daughter for a special occasion, such as a birthday party. It’s one of those great mother-daughter bonding experiences, though just what looks good is pretty subjective.

Already, my five-year-old likes to do her own mixing and matching; for example combining her favourite gumboots with a party dress and painting dog whiskers on her face just before we leave.

Ribbons and bows are also a thing of the past as she cut most of her hair off last Christmas, declaring it would be “less trouble”.

That said, she does have some thoughts about her appearance. At the moment, she still has a full set of perfect baby teeth, but wants to lose her two front teeth without delay because “I’ll whistle better, mummy”, and the Tooth Fairy apparently pays “big money” for the front ones.

I know this will change and that in the not-too-distant future she will be layering on her lip gloss and mascara and fighting me for possession of the hair straightener.

However, the pursuit of beauty, or at least society’s rather narrow interpretation of it, can carry too high a cost throughout the lives of many women. And that’s just not a burden I want to place on my daughter’s young shoulders.

Veggies keep kids in the zone

By Kathryn Vukovljak

KIDS are more likely to eat vegetables if they’re involved in planting, growing, harvesting and cooking them, says Molly Henson.

The environmental science teacher at Duffy Primary School, says her pupils love getting their hands dirty in the school’s large “eco-zone”.

“The kids do everything,” says Molly. “They really enjoy being outside, in nature, and seeing their success.”

Complete with six veggie gardens, two new and as yet unnamed chickens scratching around, a greenhouse for propagating seeds, freshly planted sweet peas for colour – “the kids’ idea!” – and a hutch for the school hamsters Coconut and Cookie, Molly says the ecozone is flourishing this year, particularly since the school signed up for the “Veggie Patch” promotion, which involves redeeming points from bar codes on frozen vegetables, to get equipment and seeds to keep the veggie patches going.

“It helps because it can be quite costly running a veggie patch,” says Molly.

“The kids also raise money by proudly selling the vegetables they grow, which they love doing – they all want to take their veggies home.”

Molly says her classes also deal with waste, biodiversity and conserving water, and that the school is working towards becoming a waste-wise school, by composting and recycling – “we’re not creating any extra waste,” she says.

An eco-zone such as this can create additional learning opportunities in a hands-on way, like a sense of responsibility, particularly with the animals, says Molly.

“They learn that the plants need water and special attention, which teaches them that

Lachlan White, 10, and Byanna Yeats, 10, with environmental science teacher

nurturing something helps it to grow,” she says. “We’re teaching them where our food comes from.

“The chickens are a great new addition to the eco-zone, and when you link them into the equation, how they help with composting and then using the waste on the veggies, it really shows the whole system and the kids are loving it. They all want to help with the chickens!

“It’s great for the kids to learn about the needs of animals.”

letters dose of dorin

On rubbish, Macklin’s got it right!

I HAVE just read Robert Macklin’s article (“Katy, may rubbish be thy name”, CN May 2) and for once I agree!

Not having green waste removal from the kerbside, as they do in many other cities, is ridiculous. I wrote an email in January to “CityNews”, the Environment Commission ACT, “The Canberra Times” and the then-Chief Minister Jon Stanhope, and I have never received a single reply!

For me, it just goes to show that we have had a Labor government for far too long in Canberra and they are out of touch with what the community wants.

They can’t even build a decent GDE! That has taken five years so far and God knows how much money, yet they can afford to build the Arboretum and now they want to build a new office tower for the public service!

We need a change of Government.

Mark Rowley, via email

Oh, no he hasn’t!

I DID not take your “gadfly” Robert Macklin to be a “what’s the Government going to do about it?” person, re his exhortation to the new Chief Minister Katy Gallagher to improve the rubbish collection in Canberra (“Katy, may rubbish be thy name”, CN May 26).

Garden refuse: Do what I and many others do,

line the boot of your car with plastic sheeting, load it with garden rubbish and take it to the free recycling depots. Why should the Government have to do this simple task?

Unwanted furniture (which he admits can be useful to someone else): Use the free advertisements in “The Canberra Times” to encourage others who would appreciate them to collect and use these items or take them to one of the “revolve” depots.

Metals such as his defunct stove: Just call Ezy Scrap Services and they will provide a free service to collect and dispose of any metal item.

As regards to his having to pay $10 to dispose of useless items at the public tip he should keep in mind that should he continue to demand that the Government do all this for him it will cost us all more than that in an increase in rates each year. I and many others have a full recycled bin each fortnight and a smaller household bin each week, as well as a full compost bin in my garden. I have not had to go to the tip and pay $10 for the last 10 years (that was when I had to dispose of the body of our dog).

If you want any Government to reduce its charges to the public, we must all make an effort to reduce our dependence on it.

Patrick Flynn, Page

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

Chief puts heart into challenge

THE Chief Minister Katy Gallagher leads the way at the launch of the Heart Foundation’s Healthy Heart Challenge, a practical program for women to improve their heart health behaviours.

Heart disease kills four times as many women as breast cancer and The Heart Foundation says this can be changed.

Women are being urged to make June the month of action and start to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle.

As part of this year’s Go Red for Women campaign, the free 10-week Healthy Heart

Challenge has been designed to provide small, yet realistic, steps to assist women build changes into their lifestyle. If sustained, these changes will make an important difference to their heart health long-term.

On registering, participants will be asked to sign up to one of six goals and be supported to achieve this through a weekly e-newsletter with tips and information to keep them motivated.

The goals include being active every day, improving nutrition and quitting smoking. Register at goredforwomen. org.au

Win ‘Paper Giants’ DVD

“CityNews” has five DVD copies of the television sensation “Paper Giants, the Birth of Cleo”, valued at $29.95 each, to give away. All the details and entry form at citynews.com.au/win

Suddenly, we have lots of shiny new signs

REGULAR readers will be aware of this paper’s crusading passion for public signage and over recent months we have had a continuous giggle at some of the silly, old, outdated and downright dopey signs around the town.

Our campaign culminated on April 21 with a wonderful story about tourist signs that were so hopelessly out of date they still pointed visitors to places that had long passed into the town’s history (eg Mugga Lane Zoo).

But now sign-sensitive snapper Silas Brown got a picture of a flashy, new, ungraffitied sign down by Lake Burley Griffin the other day.

Are we getting through? Are the bureaucrats rising to our incessant challenge? Not quite.

A straight-faced spokeswoman for TAMS says the new sign is part of the “Lake Directional Signage” project, which has been in design/development for about 18 months and includes the ultimate installation of more than 100 signs around Lake Bur-

ley Griffin, Lake Tuggeranong, Lake Ginninderra and Yerrabi Pond.

“These signs at Lake Burley Griffin replace some of the older and redundant signage which has been installed around the lake over the last 20-30 years,” she says. “It is an initiative to encourage Canberrans and tourists to walk or cycle around our waterways.

“The signs include information relating to time and distance to a number of nearby attractions as well as providing information about the local heritage and environment. “

She says the project also includes another “CityNews” obsession, the installation of drinking fountains and seats at some of the locations.

briefly

Assembly’s new face

ALP candidate Chris Bourke will replace former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope as a member for Ginninderra in the ACT Legislative Assembly. Bourke received a majority of preferences after Mr Stanhope’s votes were distributed by computer count by the ACT Electoral Commission.

Jane leads walk

JANE Turner, from the television hit show “Kath and Kim”, will lead the annual, five-kilometre “Stroll for Sarcoma” fun walk beside Lake Burley Griffin from the Nara Japanese Gardens (within Lennox Gardens, by the lake, immediately across the road from the back of the Hyatt Hotel), at 11am on Sunday, June 5. Sarcoma, a devastating group of cancers, strikes the young and within five years of diagnosis 50 per cent of sufferers die. More information at findcureforsarcoma.org

Win signature status

SIREN, the new Gungahlin bar and restaurant is using social media to give patrons the chance to have a signature cocktail on the menu ahead of its July opening. Visitors to the restaurant’s website can upload the name and recipe for their own signature cocktail. The winning cocktail will be available as a drink option when the bar opens. Enter at sirenbar.com.au

A screen test from Columbia

2CC breakfast radio host MARK PARTON can feel a career in reality television coming on... KEEP an eye on the TV screen because I am set to make my television debut any day now.

I’ve been in electronic media nearly 30 years and never dabbled in television. With a head like mine, I guess that’s understandable, but things are about to change.

It’s not a TV journalism role or presenting a live program. No, I’ve decided to launch into reality TV.

Is it “Master Chef”? No. “Dancing With The Stars”? Nuh. I’m thinking my national television debut will come via Seven’s “Border Security”. That’s the plan, anyway.

As you read this, I’ve departed Australia for my first time overseas. I wanted to go somewhere where I can test my new-found Spanish skills and what better place than Latin America.

I’ve been messing around learning Spanish now for about five months through podcasts, online interaction and just bumbling my way through.

I landed in Buenos Aires without even a “Spanish for Dummies” phrase book. The 17-hour flight gave me a great chance to review my “els” and “las” and my “holas” and “mucho gustos”.

After a night in Argentina, I headed up to Colombia to stay with friends in Bogota. Did you know Bogota, which is a city of eight million, is 2600 metres above sea level? That’s half a kilometre further into the sky than Mt Kosciouszko.

I’ve been looking forward to this trip for a while. That anticipation took a bit of a dent when I discovered how many vaccinations I had to have: Nine needles in total!

I’ll be back mid-June and there awaits my TV debut: “44-year-old man. Virgin passport. First trip overseas, stayed with friends... in Colombia”. How many red flags for Customs there? If I don’t end up on “Border Security” they’re just not doing their job. See you on the telly soon.

Getting kids unplugged and into exercise

PARENTS are being urged to encourage their children to spend more time in active play.

UNPLUG + Play, launched by the Health Directorate, ACT Government, encourages parents and carers to limit children’s electronic entertainment to no more than two hours each day, and to encourage children to spend more time in active play.

Australian Physical Activity Recommendations state that children between 5 and 12 years of age need at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity everyday.

The recommendation also states that children should not spend more than two hours each day using electronic media for entertainment – this includes watching television, playing computer games and the internet.

The increasing availability of electronic media has contributed to sedentary lifestyles and rising levels of obesity, particularly in children and young teens, according to the director of the Health Promotion Branch, Merryn Hare.

“International studies indicate that spending more than two hours watching television is associated with a higher risk of overweight or obesity, poor  tness, increased social problems, limited time interacting with siblings or friends and increased aggressive behaviour,” Ms Hare says.

“Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that children who watch television for more than two hours each day are more likely to have problems sleeping and achieve less at school.”

Rates of overweight and obesity in children have almost doubled since 1995.

‘is what we’re doing bene  cial for our children?’.

“It is also important that parents are actually seeing kids do activities. Parents assume that their children are getting enough physical activity at school but it is very dif  cult for children to get two hours of physical activity in the school day.”

In the ACT, preliminary data from the 2009 ACT Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey indicates that one third of Year 6 children living in the ACT were found to watch TV or use the computer for more than two hours each weekday.

“Unplug + Play promotes creativity and physical activity as a fun alternative to electronic entertainment,” Ms Hare says.

Unplug + Play promotes creativity and physical activity as a fun alternative to electronic entertainment.

Ms Hare says this could be because time once spent doing “old fashioned” things like playing outside is now taken up with watching television, sur  ng the net and playing electronic games.

“Many parents are surprised to discover how much time their child spends sitting in front of the television, electronic games and computer screens for entertainment.

“It is dif cult to change practices within the home and is obviously going to be harder to make radical changes with children who have had a TV in their room for years.

“We are particularly trying to encourage parents of really young children to stop and ask,

Limit your child’s TV, electronic games and internet for entertainment to less than

The campaign provides tips for parents to encourage children to Unplug + Play.

Some of these tips include: making children’s bedrooms screen-free zones; setting family rules around screen time; limiting the number of electronic screens in the home; role modelling screen free behaviour; and providing active play opportunities for children.

Ms Hare says she hopes the campaign helps to raise awareness among parents and encourages people to ask questions.

“We are interested in getting feedback from people and really hope this campaign helps to generate conversations in the community.” More information at www.unplugandplay.act. gov.au or 6207 9527.

hours a day.

Unplug play

Rates of overweight and obesity in children have almost doubled since 1995. Time that children once spent playing outside is now taken up with TV, electronic games and the Internet. Your children need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day for good health and electronic entertainment should be limited to less than 2 hours a day.

For tips on how to unplug and play visit www.unplugandplay.act.gov.au or call the Health Promotion Branch on 6207 9527.

© State of

Branches give back to the local community

BENDIGO Bank’s local and regional branches are doing their bit to assist the Snowy Hydro SouthCare rescue helicopter with a $50,000 sponsorship.

Nine branches of the Bendigo Bank are involved, including three company owned branches and six community bank branches.

This level of support to the local community is Bendigo Bank’s point of difference, according to Bendigo Bank, ACT & Central West NSW regional manager Dion Christie.

“It is what makes the community bank model successful and attracts customers to the bank,” Mr Christie says.

“Customers of every bank pay fees, but isn’t it nice to know that part of that fee will go to a community project, like fixing up the local park where our children play – rather than some head office in Martin Place in Sydney.”

The bank has more than 470 branches across the country and more than half of those are community banks. The model has been operating for 13 years and in that time 275 branches have opened, all at different stages of their life-cycle.

“A community bank is no different to any other small business out there. Circumstances will dictate success. But when a branch becomes profitable everyone benefits – including the local shareholders and the local community,” Dion says.

“In 13 years, the community banks have invested a combined $51 million back into their communities and we are extremely proud of this.

“In the ACT we have two community banks, Calwell and Wanniassa – both are very successful. They are managed by a committed

and professional board of directors who are also working on two further community bank campaigns at Jerrabomberra and Curtin. Last year this group contributed $250,000 to the ACT and surrounds.”

More information at www.bendigobank.com.au or call 1300 236 344.

Helping clients achieve success in business

AT Achieve Business Solutions, clients can count on a personal approach to their finance matters, according to senior accountant Wanda Wojciechowsk.

“We believe in old-fashioned service through meeting clients face-to-face and maintaining that personal touch with our clients,” Ms Wojciechowsk says.

“I have a passion for helping people and being able to make a difference.”

Achieve Corp, located in Kingston, boasts a dedicated team of professional staff who can help withS all accounting needs and Ms Wojciechowsk heads up the business section.

“The most satisfying part of our work is being able to help people with their businesses, no matter how small or large, help them with accounting and taxation issues.

“We take pride in our work, and believe everyone is important. There is nothing better than seeing our clients walk away with a relieved smile.”

Ms Wojciechowsk says she can help free up more of her clients’ valuable time to focus on activities that add value to their business, such as keeping their customers happy.

“My clients can pick up the phone at any time knowing that I am here to help,” she says.

More information is at www.achievecorp.com.au or 1300 139217 or email business@achievecorp.com.au

At ACT Asthma Foundation’s 5th birthday, Press Club At ‘Passion

all about the arts

Sara, the real-deal kid from Cook, comes home a star

COVER STORY

By arts editor Helen Musa

SARA Zwangobani is not a manufactured Canberra-girl-madegood – she’s the real thing and she’ll be here soon with the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Sarah Ruhl’s hit “In the Next Room, the Vibrator Play.”

Who doesn’t know that this play, directed by Pamela Rabe, portrays an 1880’s woman whose husband uses an electric apparatus to treat women suffering from hysteria?

Zwangobani gets to play Elizabeth, the wet-nurse to the central character Catherine, played by Jacqueline McKenzie.

In an era she describes as “the dawn of all sorts of things”, it is Elizabeth who gives Catherine a most helpful piece of advice about marital relations that is “all very relevant today.”

Born in Canberra, Zwangobani was raised in Cook and went to the local primary school, now a centre for Canberra theatre companies. She enjoyed “a great drama program” at Hawker College under theatre educationist and writer Frank McKone in what she regards as the college’s golden days.

She’s a huge fan of her home town and still has family here, including her futsal-playing brother Elliott Zwangobani, now an Australian

Sports Commission director, declaring herself “envious” of friends who’ve been able to make their lives here permanently. Bondi just can’t match the ACT.

“It’s my first truly professional

performance in Canberra,” she tells me, “it’s very exciting.”

Trained here as a hoofer at Betsy Sawyer’s School of Dance, she worked with Human Veins Dance Theatre, then left in the early ‘90s

for the Victorian College of the Arts. On graduating, she was headhunted by John Howard (the actor, not the politician) to work in Sydney.

Later, in film and TV, she found steady roles in “All Saints” and “Home and Away” and “Love My Way” and parts in films such as “The Merchant of Fairness” and “Disgrace”.

But let’s face it. With a Zimbabwean dad and a Zulu surname, Zwangobani is unmistakeably a person of colour and that, in Australia’s conservative theatre scene, could well be limiting.

“I’m the STC’s go-to girl for coloured roles,” she tells me, “ninety per cent of my roles in the theatre are roles of colour.”

In the 2009, “A Streetcar Named Desire” she’s on the cast list as “a Negro woman” and now in “The Vibrator Play”, Zwangobani plays the more substantial African American wet nurse.

Oddly, TV turns out to be “more flexible”. On screen, she’s been playing lady cops, doctors and lawyers for ages.

Yet it’s probably worth the apparently retrograde step. For the past few years she’s been working with the Sydney Theatre Company and that led to the excitement of travelling with Cate Blanchett and the play’s director Liv Ullmann to New York with “Streetcar”.

And this play? Sydneyites, especially men, were rolling in the aisles with laughter but Melburnians took it more seriously. “I’m curious as to what Canberrans will think,” she says.

“In the Next Room, the Vibrator Play”, The Playhouse, June 8-11, Bookings to 6275 2700.

Snow where else to be

By Helen Musa

WE’VE all been running out of jokes about the Third Perisher Snowy Mountains of Music Festival being the highest festival in Australia, so the organisers have come up with an incontestable claim – it’s the only music festival in Australia in the snow!

Veteran musician David De Santi has programmed more than 100 concerts across venues in Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes and Guthega for this snowy four-day festival of live music. Best of all, it opens the 2011 Australian winter ski season.

De Santi may be a folkie, but his choices are open-minded, with everyone from Christine Anu to Eric Bogle putting in an appearance. Proof of his eclecticism is the inclusion of intellectual punk-rockers The Go Set, who put an Australian social and political twist into their lyrics.

Who else will be there? 2010 Musicoz Awards Artist of the Year Dallas Frasca, roots/rock musicians Marshall and The Fro (you’ve seen them in the Billabong ads), tongue-in-cheek songstresses The Sunny Cowgirls, Skipping Girl Vinegar, Doc Jones and the Lechery Orchestra, Ganga Giri, Messups Puppets, The Bearded Gypsy Band, The Con Artists, The Stiff Gins (Nardi Simpson and Kaleena Briggs, who’ve just put out their new album) and The Woohoo Revue, praised for their sizzling arrangements of traditional Eastern European tunes. And about 20 more acts.

There’s even poetry. The Broken Ski Award will be awarded for the best submitted original verse, while the Snowy Poetry Cup will go to the best recited poem. Submit Broken Ski Award entries by June 8 to www.snowymountainsofmusic.com.au

Will the kids be bored? Under 15s get in free with a paying adult, but there’s also a special Family Fun Day ticket for $39 on Saturday or Sunday with entry to all venue, the kids stage, and other freebies. The Snowy Mountains of Music Festival, June 10-13, Kosciuszko National Park entry three days for the price of two. Bookings to www.snowymountainsofmusic.com. au/store or 1300 811324.

arts&entertainment

Documentary in shallow water

“OCEANS” (G)

BIG, bold, beautiful, “Oceans” by French documentary-makers Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cuzaut is a Disney release tending to prefer cute to rigorous in offering magnificent images to charm, excite, scare and otherwise engage film-goers.

The polemic in Pierce Brosnan’s narration charging human indifference with being the “greatest threat to the world’s oceans” is valid but the film falls short.

A brief sampler of what you’ll see that might be new to you: A blue whale engulfing a shoal of krill. A mother walrus cuddling her baby. Two opposing phalanxes of spider crabs marching over and through each other on the floor of Port Phillip Bay.

Images to strengthen our concern for the health of our oceans. Tuna waiting to be brailed out of a net on to the deck of a purse seine vessel. A dugong grazing a barren sea-grass meadow. Polar ice cracking and diminishing the life-support resources of marine mammals. A supermarket trolley upright on the seabed in a floating cloud of man-made detritus.

I don’t hesitate to recommend “Oceans” as a spectacle, but it misses many opportunities to emphasise its stated objective.

At Greater Union

“SOuL SuRFER” (PG)

THIS reality-based account of how 13year-old Bethany Hamilton (Anna-Sophia Robb) recovered from the shark attack that severed her left arm then found the inner strength to continue her ambition to become a professional surfer, is pure vanilla.

cinema

Dougal Macdonald

The film’s strong Christian ethic and a long list of producers we’ve never heard of betokens financial support from religious groups.

“Soul Surfer” takes most of its dramatic energy from competitive surfing off Hawaii. A sub-plot involving another surfie chick’s jealousy of Bethany’s prowess leads to a clichéd moment at the end of a big carnival.

We can assume that Sean McNamara’s film cleaves reasonably closely to realism. The real Bethany appears in family videos during the closing credits. Brave, generous of spirit, still surfing and working with World Vision, she deserves a better bio film.

At the Dendy

“THE HANGOVER 2” (MA)

IN 2009, director Todd Phillips quite upset my traditionally low opinion of mainstream formulaic Hollywood comedies and I gave “The Hangover” three and a half stars.

This sequel, following Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug to Thailand where Stu is to marry the delectable daughter of a wealthy businessman, is a riot of rubbish, building from the original’s theme of friends who drink too much, behave rather badly then pass out before waking with enormous hangovers.

The same happens in Part 2, garnished by a talented small monkey, a brothel populated by lady boys and an Interpol sting operation.

Once again, Zack Galifianakis as the bumbling Alan walks away with the film’s

Museum opens new gallery

THE National Museum of Australia has a new permanent gallery, open to the public this month.

“Landmarks: People and places across Australia,” has been designed by Cunningham Martyn, of Melbourne, to look at 10 big themes, asking how people have engaged with landscapes, flora, fauna, and technologies to build distinctive communities.

And the objects? Phar Lap’s heart, a 15.2-tonne excavator bucket from Mount Tom Price, the Holden No.1 prototype, and a shell-covered sculpture of the Opera House. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

“Landmarks invites visitors to discover how every place has a past, and how that past that shapes our present and future,” says curator Kirsten Wehner.

– Helen Musa

minuscule acting honours as he saves the day. At risk of type-casting, any generous-hearted film-goer might hope that his comic style finds better opportunities.

At all cinemas

FELIX Bush wants the Tennessee community near where he has lived four decades in self-imposed isolation to know why he’s allowed fanciful tales about him to circulate unchecked.

Deciding that his wake should take place before his death so he can set the record right, he asks the local undertaker to arrange it.

That’s all the information I had before this warm, involving, tale of a man arranging relief from a dreadful emotional and moral burden started to roll across the screen. Commending it needs scant further explanation.

As Felix, gentle, anxious, Robert Duvall is a joy to watch. As Undertaker Quinn, Bill Murray forcefully reminds us that he’s a fully dimensioned actor, not just a comedian. Sissy Spacek makes a lovely Mattie, a widow returned to her birthplace because it’s comfortable for her. Lucas Black is effective as Quinn’s assistant dealing with his first client. And Bill Cobb is powerful as a black clergyman who expected to take Felix’s secret to his grave.

Recreating the 1930s with affection and visual restraint, Aaron Schneider’s directorial debut brings nicely balanced gravitas to a deft delivery of the narrative among autumnal countryside. People of compassion and goodwill should not miss it.

At the Dendy

Braddon’s big taste of Greece

dining

Wendy Johnson

GREECE is on my bucket list. Until I get there, I’ve got to settle with the taste of Greece in Canberra, such as that served at a traditional Greek-style tavern in Braddon that has held its own on busy Lonsdale Street for yonks.

O’Stratos Greek Taverna has been described as a “Greek food-lover’s paradise”. It’s an older member of the family of eateries on this busy street that now includes trendy places such as Lonsdale Street Roasters and Italian and Sons.

But there’s something comforting about a well-established place and we enjoyed the large, street-front windows and the bold blue and yellow colour scheme that is “oh, so Greece”.

Traditional favourites are celebrated and the list of weekly specials and weekly fresh-fish options is extensive (and stuck to the inside of the menus with tape on blue Post-it notes – nothing pretentious about O’Stratos!).

We started by sharing the chewy, salty, addicting, pan-fried haloumi cheese ($13.50), which always gets the taste buds dancing. It was a nippy day, so for mains we opted for comfort food.

The Moussaka, a dish that is steeped in tradition – was delicious ($24). Made with prime beef mince, layered with creamy potato, eggplant and zucchini and topped

Stan Daglis prepares an octopus at O’Stratos Greek Taverna, Braddon.

Photo by Silas

with a béchamel sauce, it was comfort through and through.

The lamb shanks, oven baked with Greek-style vegetables ($26), fell off the bone and were packed with the deep tastes that slow-cooked food promises.

It’s no surprise that seafood features heavily on the menu, including dishes such as traditional grilled octopus, of which O’Stratos is particularly proud, stuffed calamari, Saganaki prawns, fried white bait and more.

Prawns are also an essential element of the Mediterranean chicken dish ($28.95), created with love, but certainly not a dish for those worried about garlic intake. The grilled fillets were tender, the prawns well cooked and the garlic sauce a winner.

We agreed the portions were massive, especially for lunch. Their size would impress those with hearty appetites,

but could easily be a turn-off for others. We found the quantity of food almost confronting, and none of us finished our meals, which meant a fair bit made its way back in to the kitchen (this always breaks my heart).

Vegetarians are well catered for, including with the famous Spanakopita, flaky triangles of pastry absolutely stuffed with spinach, fetta cheese and fresh herbs ($19.50).

The special platters are designed to share (two people minimum) and my bet is you would need a marathon session to get through them ($70 for the meat platter, up to $85 for the seafood and meat platter).

The service is friendly and efficient. Indeed, the staff can’t do enough for you.

O’Stratos Greek Taverna, 9 Lonsdale Street, Braddon. Open lunch and dinner. Call 6257 8200.

Spelling-bee play makes it to Canberra

THE amazingly titled “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is probably the most frequently-named play at the annual CAT awards. Now Canberra will see it in the production by Phoenix Players, running from June 10-25 at the ANU Arts Centre. Bookings to 6257 1950. Dinner and show package 6257 2718.

I POPPED in on the launch of Canberra Opera Workshop the other day. That’s COW, to you and me. The director, Canberra singing teacher David Reedy, has snared Alexander O’Sullivan and Cate Clelland as musical director and stage director. If you want to be in their December production of “The Elixir of Love”, call 0415 721222 or email secretary-cow@ grapevine.com.au

RADFORD College has its 27th annual art show and sale until June 5 at the TB Millar Hall. On the final day at 11am, Robert Stevens, director of Aarwun Gallery will talk on “The Art of Buying Art.” IN “Sexual Interpretations of Chance Subjects and Biblical Passages” local painter James Rowell juxtaposes literal interpretations of the Bible with sexual interpretations of the same biblical passage. At ANCA

arts in the city

Gallery, Rosevear Place Dickson until June 6

CANBERRA Youth Orchestra will premiere of “Concerto for Orchestra” by Kanako Okamoto, written specially for the orchestra, and Andrian Pertout’s “Symphonie de Guerre” at Llewellyn Hall on June 10. Bookings to 132 849 or at the door.

THE weather may be cold, but our potters are firing. The Canberra Potters’ Society’s winter fair is at Watson Arts Centre until June 12. Thursday to Sunday, 10am-4pm.

STOPERA plans to indulge in drama, revenge and romance in its “Tutto Italiano!” concert of Italian opera and song, a night of operatic and Neapolitan songs performed by Sydney tenor Lorenzo Rositan and soprano Rebecca Collins, with pianist Vivienne Winther at

Tuggeranong Arts Centre, June 5. Bookings to 6293 1443.

TALKING of Tuggeranong Arts Centre, it has just announced its 2013 Centenary project, a combined exhibition, forum and family festival by the shores of Lake Tuggeranong to be called “Lakeside.”

APPLICATIONS for the superprestigious Australian Youth Orchestra close on June 10. If you’re a brilliant musician aged between 12-30, rush to www. ayo.com.au

Concert ticket winners

Winners of the tickets to see “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber” at Canberra Theatre on Sunday, June 5 are: Cristina Arganese, of Bruce; Anne Handberg, Chapman; and Agnieszka Malzacher, Deakin.

all about Italian Republic Day

Italy, the epitome of classical beauty

From the relics of Ancient Rome to the blue waters of the Mediterranean, from the catwalks of Milan to the beaches of Sardinia, Italy is the ultimate epitome of classical beauty and contemporary appeal, imbued with renaissance gracefulness and cultural uniqueness.

ITALY’S fashion, automobiles, leather goods, gourmets and fine wine have long been the world’s envy.

Italian culture and lifestyle is firmly entrenched in the Australian cultural landscape and continues to grow in appreciation and interest.

Italy is a country where you can find tradition fused with innovation. The “Made in Italy” label represents not only the highest quality achieved by all the Italian craftsmen, but also the persistency they hold throughout centuries.

This year marks a very special point in Italy’s history; on March 17 Italy celebrated its 150th anniversary of its unification as a single state.

As we note this important milestone in Italian history, we also salute the joint efforts of those Italians who came to Australia seeking a new life, and to those who embraced Italy’s unique culture and celebrate its lifestyle and traditions.

Win a vision of Italy

“CITYNEWS” has five copies of the new DVD “Visions of Italy – Northern Style” to give away. It promises to be the “ultimate vacation postcard of Italy” with the video tour beginning in the Alps at the northern border and continues through Lombardy to Genoa, along the Ligurian coast to Portofino, then inland over the Tuscan countryside to Florence. After dipping into Umbria, the tour turns north-east, culminat ing in Venice.

Details and entry form are at citynews. com.au/win

Vernazza on the Italian Riviera is part of the Cinque Terre National Park (a World Heritage Site) established in 1999; which consists of five picturesque villages reached only by hiking trail, train, or ferry.

Festival day that celebrates the republic

FESTA della Repubblica (literally Festival of the Republic or, in English, Republic Day) is celebrated in Italy annually on June 2.

THE day commemorates the institutional referendum held by universal suffrage in 1946, in which the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government, following World War II and the fall of Fascism.

With 12,717,923 votes for a republic and 10,719,284 for the monarchy, the male descendants of the House of Savoy were sent into exile.

To commemorate it, a grand military parade is held in central Rome, presided over by the President of the Italian Republic in his role as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

The Prime Minister, formally known as the

President of the Council of Ministers, and other high officers of state also attend.

In 1950, the parade was featured for the first time in the protocol of official celebrations. This provides for the ceremonial laying of a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Vittoriano.

The ceremony continues in the afternoon with the opening of the gardens of the Quirinale Palace, seat of the President of the Republic, and with musical performances by the band ensembles of the Italian Army, Italian Navy, Italian Air Force, the “Arma dei Carabinieri”, State Police, the “Guardia di Finanza”, the Penitentiary Police Corps and the State Forestry Corps.

Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor Emmanuel II.

An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito Mussolini established a Fascist dictatorship. His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy’s defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed.

Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.

Learn Italian from the experts Italian Republic Day

THE Canberra Dante Alighieri Society is a local non-profit association, open to anyone with an interest in Italian language and culture.

For more than 20 years, the Canberra society’s adult language classes have been popular with Canberrans.

The classes cater for all levels of proficiency and are held on weekday evenings by qualified instructors.

As a non-profit organisation, fees are kept to a minimum and provide students with the best value-for-money Italian courses in the ACT.

In addition to the formal language classes, the Society offers free conversation evenings on Thursdays to all members – an excellent opportunity to practise the language.

The Canberra branch has been actively promoting Italian language and culture continuously for almost 50 years. It has around 400 members and supporters and is one of the most active branches of the society in Australia.

The Dante Alighieri Society takes its name from the 14th century Florentine poet Dante Alighieri, the reputed father of the modern Italian language and author of the “Divine Comedy”.

The Society was first established in Italy in 1889 with the primary objective of promoting the Italian language and culture throughout the world. With its headquarters in Rome, it has more than 400 independent committees that operate outside Italy.

The society also contributes to the enrichment of Canberra’s cultural life with performances of its choir – Dante Musica Viva.

The choir specialises in Italian folk and popular songs and has been a regular performer at festivals and other popular events in Canberra for more than six years.

It welcomes invitations to participate in community events, particularly charity fund-raising events.

Membership of the choir is open to anyone with an interest in Italian popular music; the only pre-requisite being membership of the society. There are no auditions.

More information at www.dantealighiericanberra.org.au and to join or enrol in a language courses call 6247 1884 or email dantecanberra@ozemail.com.au

Passion for Italy

Famous peninsula shaped like a boot

ITALY is a long peninsula shaped like a boot, surrounded on the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and on the east by the Adriatic. It is bounded by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia to the north. The Apennine Mountains form the peninsula’s backbone; the Alps form its northern boundary. The largest of its many northern lakes is Garda (370 sq km); the Po, its principal river, flows from the Alps on Italy’s western border and crosses the Lombard plain to the Adriatic Sea. Several islands form part of Italy; the largest are Sicily (25,708 sq km) and Sardinia (24,090 sq km).

MICHELE (Michael) Perrone is an expert on Italy, having spent most of his life traveling within Italy and Europe.

The owner of the Italian Travel Bureau, 1st Floor, Bailey’s Corner, he has strong and deep roots in the Italian culture.

He has devoted the last 20 years sharing his passion and knowledge of “la bella Italia” with colleagues, friends and clients from all around Australia.

“The highest priority is make sure customers are not just satisfied, but they will look forward to the next trip,” he says. “And customer service is the hallmark of the Italian Travel Bureau.”

Michele does all his consultation on appointment in order to dedicate the right time to every tour. That can be done in person or over the phone.

More information call 6247 4444, email michael@ travelmakers.com.au or info@italianbureau.com.au. Website travelmakers.com.au or italianbureau.com.au

The Colosseum in Rome.

Italian Republic Day

Italian and right on target

THE success of Beretta Australia, the company believes, is due to its pride in its Italian heritage and the ability to combine the best of Italian and Australian values.

Passion for excellence and impeccable craftsmanship are two such values that are synonymous with both Italy and Beretta.

When asked about the importance of the Italian heritage of his company, Luca Scribani Rossi says: “At Beretta Australia, we are driven by the quintessential Italian sentiments: passion, excellence and innovation.

“Unconditional commitment to our customers, obsessive attention to detail and a strong drive for innovation are the natural consequences of our Italianism, a value we treasure and foster every day. We are very proud to be Italian”.

Beretta is the first Italian

firearms maker, and one of the finest manufacturers in the world and its history dates back to 1526, when Mastro Bartolomeo Beretta, of Gardone (Brescia, Italy), received 296 ducats as payment for 185 arquebus barrels sold to the Arsenal of Venice.

Beretta Australia was founded in early 2000 by Olympic bronze medallist and Italian and Australian shooting coach Mr Scribani Rossi.

Since then he has transformed a small business into the leading importer and wholesale distributor of firearms and accessories in Australia.

Throughout the sport of clay-target shooting, Beretta is recognised as La Migliore (the best) and is the choice of Australian sporting stars Russell Mark (gold and silver Olympic medallist) and Adam Vella (bronze Olympic medallist).

President: Giorgio Napolitano (2006).

Prime Minister: Silvio Berlusconi (2008).

Land area: 294,019 sq km; total area: 301,230 sq km.

Population (2010 est.): 58,090,681; birth rate: 8.0/1000; life expectancy: 80.3; density per sq km: 197

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Rome, 3,550,900 (metro. area), 2,455,600 (city proper)

Other large cities: Milan, 1,180,700; Naples, 991,700; Turin, 856,000; Palermo, 651,500; Genoa, 602,500; Bologna, 369,300; Florence, 351,600; Bari, 311,900; Catania, 305,900; Venice, 265,700

Monetary unit: Euro (formerly lira)

special feature

Rise and fall of Mussolini Quick facts

ITALY entered World War 1 in 1915 on the side of the Allies, but obtained less territory than it expected in the post-war settlement. Benito (“Il Duce”) Mussolini, a former Socialist, organised discontented Italians in 1919 into the Fascist Party to “rescue Italy from Bolshevism”. He led his Black Shirts in a march on Rome and, on October 28, 1922, became prime minister.

He transformed Italy into a dictatorship, embarking on an expansionist foreign policy with the invasion and annexation of Ethiopia in 1935 and allying himself with Adolf Hitler in the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936.

When the Allies invaded Italy in 1943, Mussolini’s dictatorship collapsed; he was executed by partisans on April 28, 1945, at Dongo on Lake Como.

Following the armistice with the Allies (September 3, 1943), Italy joined the war against Germany.

A June 1946 plebiscite rejected monarchy and a republic was proclaimed.

Milan sets the sofa trends

NATUZZI, Italy’s largest furniture company and world leader in the sofa sector, says high-quality leathers were the attraction at April’s Milan Fair, along with a new high-end fabric range featuring grey patterns.

We should expect to see vintage, silk-effect fabrics and imperfect weaves as part of the company’s future collection in response to this trend.

The company says there was also a demand from customers wanting more versatility from their sofas, including modular configurations, detailed stitching, compact corner suites with integrated sofa beds, shaped terminals and adjustable, styled headrests.

The Natuzzi Fyshwick store is at 23 Townsville Street, call 6285 5400. www.natuzzi.com.au

Rebuilding its economy

ITALY became an integral member of NATO and the European Economic Community (later the EU) as it successfully rebuilt its post-war economy.

A prolonged outbreak of terrorist activities by the left-wing Red Brigades threatened domestic stability in the 1970s, but by the early 1980s the terrorist groups had been suppressed.

“Revolving door” governments, political instability, scandal, and corruption characterised Italian politics in the 1980s and 1990s.

Italy adopted the euro as its currency in January 1999. Treasury Secretary Carlo Ciampi, who is credited with the economic reforms that permitted Italy to enter the European Monetary Union, was elected president in May 1999.

Italy joined its NATO partners in the Kosovo crisis. Aviano Air Base in northern Italy was a crucial base for launching air strikes into Kosovo and Yugoslavia.

Perfecting the art of European travel

ANYONE new to cruising owes it to themselves to experience the thrill of a Silversea luxurious and intimate cruises, says a spokesperson for the company.

“Silversea Cruises presents sumptuous ocean-view suites and the luxurious freedom of an all-inclusive lifestyle,” he says.

“Preconceptions vanish as you discover the spacious public spaces, sumptuous suites, personalised service, generous amenities and all-inclusive lifestyle aboard Silversea’s smaller cruise ships.

“This is what it means to arrive in style, travelling from one fascinating destination to another without repacking or airport hassles – awakening each day refreshed and ready to explore ashore or to indulge in a variety of leisurely on-board activities.

“Distinctive European styling is reflected in every detail, from uncompromising service to exquisite gourmet dining.

“Intimate spaces and welltravelled, international guests foster a convivial on-board ambience. And in each fascinating destination, Silversea provides access to exclusive explorations and uniquely enriching cultural connections.”

all about home&garden Light, bright and bringing the outside in

Owner Meg Taylor… “The joy of the house is that you don’t have to be outside to feel that you’re in the garden.”

HOuSE TOuR

Wo RDs: Kathryn Vukovljak

PH otos: s ilas Brown

AN “airy, light-filled pavillion”, cleverly added to an Ainslie cottage and designed to maximise solar access without impacting on the large garden, has been entered into the Australian Institute of Architects awards, says architect Hugh Gordon.

“The original cottage is now used for sleeping and studying, and a new entry forms a link between new and old,” he says.

Owner Meg Taylor says they wanted more space, and that their main brief to the architect was to “bring the outdoors in – because it’s such a great garden to bring in,” she says.

The result is a very workable, family-friendly house, says Meg.

“The kids love to run from their bedrooms

straight through the living area and use the coffee table as a ramp to jump off! Luckily it’s pretty robust.”

Meg says the extension is exactly what they had in mind before they started the work.

“We had the vision then Hugh listened to what we wanted and took it further to join the old and new areas together beautifully.”

With hard-wearing polished concrete floors that retain heat, in-slab heating, a wall of doubleglazed glass doors opening wide to the large art-filled garden, raked ceilings with clerestory windows to the north, fans to circulate the air and water tanks supplying water to the cistern in the new bathroom, the home is as sustainable as it is stylish.

“We don’t worry about window treatments; no one can see in,” says Meg. “The garden is quite private and we like the feeling that we’re in the garden when we’re inside.”

The new open-plan space, with high, angled ceilings to mirror the original house, includes a kitchen, family room, master bedroom, ensuite and study, and features quirky touches such as the fun birdcage pendant over the dining table and Indian-influenced furniture and nick-knacks.

“I was surprised, when we first moved in after the work had been done, how much the house impacts on how I feel every day,” says Meg.

“One of the lovely things about living in a nice space is that it makes me feel good and I’m really thankful for it.

“I appreciate how lucky I am.”

High in the Blue Mountains, a little bit of garden heaven

gardening

cedric Bryant

THE gardens of the Blue Mountains are world class and a must-see in spring if you have not visited the mountains before.

Last weekend, I decided to take a couple of days off with a purposeful visit of one garden in particular, namely “Merry Garth” at Mount Wilson.

Libby and Keith Raines established this garden more than 30 years ago. The land was part of the famous Wynstay Estate with a small workman’s cottage built in 1930.

The Raines, plus three small children, purchased two hectares in a largely cleared area surrounded by forest in 1979 to start creating the magnificent garden it is today.

Like all gardens, it is a garden in the making and like all gardens, including our own, will never be finished.

Many of the trees and rare shrubs were given to them by famous garden names such as Peter Valder, formerly owner of nearby “Nooroo”, housing Australia’s best collection of Wistaria. Or Paul Sorensen, who laid out the stunning “Everglades” garden at Leura, a garden not to be missed. Their collections of rare magnolias, hybrid rhododendrons, dogwoods, maples and mollis azaleas is simply spectacular in spring.

The rock garden includes rare conifers and a collection of daphne plants. The main purpose of my visit was to add to my collection of daphne, adding another 10 varieties to the nine I already had growing.

These were from their old-fashioned style of nursery as part of the gardens, rather than the supermarket garden centres of today. The nursery is a mecca for those looking for rare and unusual plants. Most folk connect daphne with China and Japan, however there are even more varieties from

the Mediterranean region, from the hottest parts of Italy right up through the Caucasus.

To give you an idea of the interest in the gardens I arrived at 9.30am intending to collect my daphnes and be on my way – come 2.30pm and I was still there! The gardens are open in spring from September to November and in autumn in April and May.

THE next garden I visited was “Windy Ridge” also at Mount Wilson. It turned out that we used to purchase camellias and azaleas 30 years ago from the owners, Roger and Wai Davidson from their Sydney nursery when we had our nursery in Yass.

The property dates back to 1877 as

part of the historic “Yengo” estate. Today “Yengo” is another superb Mount Wilson garden in its own right. The Davidson’s purchased the then-basic garden in 1995 to house their large collection of cold-climate plants.

This has now been converted into a grand garden with incredible brick terraces and features. Like most mountain gardens, this garden truly comes alive in spring. Quoting from their guide, it is “a garden to intoxicate the senses, of light and shade, of seasonal colour and exotic cool climate plantings”. This sums it up perfectly and I am suggesting in your forward planning for the coming spring head to Mount Wilson, it is a little bit of a garden heaven.

This week in the winter garden:

Do not cut back frost-affected leaves on plants such as bedding Begonias. These protect the main plant from further frost damage. Do not cut back until new shoots appear in spring. This equally applies to all evergreen plants.

If you are new to Canberra it is illegal to burn leaves. If you have too many, think about using TrashPaks, the original company in Canberra that started this great idea. See the phone book for your area.

If you happen to be in Sydney for the Queen’s Birthday holiday, head to the Royal Botanic Gardens for its huge birthday bash, celebrating 195 years. Governor Lachlan Macquarie on June 13, 1816 pronounced the land as Sydney Botanic Garden.

Laminates get touch of drama

ADDING unexpected colour and pattern in kitchen bench tops and feature walls is a great way to create drama and interest in a home, according to Jared Dinneen, Laminex marketing manager.

As part of Laminex Fusion DesignSource, which provides pre-created designs that can be made into laminate surfaces, a new range “This Life”, has been created by renowned textile designer Julie Paterson,

In the swing

THAT’S our Cedric looking relaxed and comfortable after helping 20 ActewAGL staff volunteers to construct, over two weekends, an outdoor learning, barbecue and garden area for The Galilee School as part of ActewAGL’s first staff volunteer program project. The Galilee School is a program managed by Communities@Work. It provides alternative education for disadvantaged and at-risk young people aged between 12 to16 years in the Canberra region.

and “can turn an ordinary space into an extraordinary experience,” he says.

Inspired by everything from graffiti on inner-city walls to the gum tree down the end of her street, Julie says she has gathered together 10 themes that reflect “everyday Australian experiences”.

“It is the strength, austerity and scale of the Australian environment that inspires me; the tones, the textures and the patterns

are a never-ending source of stimulation,” she says.

Urban living and the natural world are explored in bold geometric prints and subtle earthy tones, Julie says, with some designs featuring bright flowers, kangaroo grass, coral and cafe chalk boards.

Julie’s designs can be represented on laminate and used for tabletops, wall panels, ceilings, cabinetry and more, says Jared.

‘Buena Vista’ winners

WinnerS of the double tickets to see “Bar at the Buena Vista – The Godfathers of Cuban Music” at the Canberra Theatre on Saturday, June 11 are: Roz Hamera, of Pearce; Jay Stevenson, Karabar; Russ Miller, Calwell; Rodney Plane, Monash; Mica Cochrane, Lyneham; and Annette Sharpe, Wanniassa.

your week in the stars

With Joanne Madeline Moore June 6 – 12

ARIES (Mar 2 – Apr 20)

Look out world! Rampaging Rams are in a gung-ho, takeno-prisoners kind of mood and you won’t appreciate others telling you what to do. Wealth planet Jupiter is now in your money zone, so you’re (potentially) in for a lucky financial year – as long as you don’t fritter away extra cash. If you are impulsive and extravagant, you’ll quickly blow any benefits.

TAURUS

(Apr 2 – May 20)

Over the next 12 months, it’s imperative that you capitalise on the lucky opportunities that prosperity planet Jupiter sends your way. It’s time for Bulls to be bold and beautiful, as you let your Taurean talents shine. Be inspired by birthday great Judy Garland: “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”

GEMINI (May 2 – June 2)

Talkative Twins – you’re usually such a sticky-beak but try to be discreet this week. If you spread garrulous gossip you could end up in gigantic trouble. Venus vamps into your sign on Friday (until July 4) so get ready to wow others with your gregarious Gemini charms. It’s the perfect time for singles to jump into the pool of love. The water’s just fine!

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Don’t think small – it’s time to wish upon a star! With Jupiter (planet of abundance) now in your hopes and wishes zone, make your dreams for the future as fabulous as you possibly can. Saturday’s a super day for socialising, whereas Sunday favours spending time with a very special person – you. Solitude is soul food for Crabs at the moment.

LEO (July 2 – Aug 22)

With Jupiter and Mars in your career zone, things are about to liven up at work. Some Lions can expect a promotion or improved conditions, while others will just be very busy. But don’t spoil professional success by being pushy or pretentious. Venus moves into your peer-group zone on Friday, so it’s time to add some fresh faces to your friendship group.

VIRGO (Aug 2 – Sept 22)

Don’t always play it safe. This week’s stars encourage you to be a versatile Virgo, as you step out of your comfort zone and do something adventurous and daring. As General George Patton declared: “Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.” So slip out of sensible, worry-wart mode and into fun, flexible mode – if you can.

LIBRA (Sept 2 – Oct 2)

Librans are fabulous flirters and this week, with vampy Venus (your ruling planet) moving into flirtatious Gemini, it’s time to give those charisma muscles a workout. Do you want more romance and abundance in your life? Flutter those eyelashes (or flex those abs) and you shall receive! For some singles, love and travel are linked in luscious ways.

SCORPIO (Oct 2 – Nov 2)

Prepare to be at your sexy Scorpio best, as Jupiter joins fiery Mars in your partnership zone. So it’s time to up the romance factor and make your (neglected?) partner feel extra special. Singles – don’t sit around passively waiting for your soul mate to appear. You need to be passionately proactive as you get out on the prowl, looking for lasting love.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 2)

Sagittarians are spontaneous folk, but don’t overdo it (especially on Sunday) when you could suffer (again!) from “foot-in-mouth syndrome”. Think before you speak, otherwise you’ll upset others with your unique brand of truth serum. With Jupiter (your ruling planet) visiting Taurus for the next 12 months, it’s time to slow down and think things through.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 9)

Jolly Jupiter is energising your entertainment zone, so stop being such a serious Capricorn and start having fun with family and friends. Singles – it’s the perfect week to take time off work so you can smell the roses and circulate socially. You won’t find love with your nose permanently to the career grindstone. Strive to nurture the creativity of others.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 8)

Many Aquarians are in the mood to redecorate, renovate or relocate (preferably somewhere with more space). And have you been pulling your weight at home? Make sure you do your fair share of household duties, otherwise dirty dishes could lead to domestic dramas. Singles – don’t let a sudden dreamy attraction turn into a long-term nightmare.

PISCES (Feb 9 – Mar 20)

Self-delusion is a dangerous thing, because you’re completely unaware that you are deluded. But it’s time for Fish to face the facts – is there a relationship you’re not seeing clearly? Or is a family member pulling the wool over your misty Piscean eyes? You’ll feel confused on Friday, but you may emerge from the fog with a new perspective.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2011

8 Which other word is descriptive of a recognition of merit?

9 To turn into bone, is to do what? 10 What is an alternative term for

11 To which animal family does the cow belong?

12 Which part of speech comprises words denoting persons, places, things, etc?

13 To which mineral variety does the emerald belong?

16 To be affected with vertigo is to be what?

19 Name the US gunfighter/lawman,

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Call Agent 48 Wanderer Bentham 0418 574 140 3BR I ARANDA

Call Agent 4/24 Bindaga Pl Elders Belconnen 0428 486 692 2BR H U

Call Agent 1/37 Bindaga St Elders Belconnen 0428 486 692 3BR H U BANKS

Sat 1:00-1:30 29 Wilhelmi Cr Peter Blackshaw Tuggeranong 0402 017 912 3BR J

Sat 1:30-2:15 14 Angell Pl Peter Blackshaw Tuggeranong 0418 822 144 4BR G

Sat 1:45-2:15 34B Bellchambers Cr Peter Blackshaw Tuggeranong 0402 017 912 3BR J

Sat 2:30-3:15 8/41 Bellchambers Cr Ray White Canberra 0414 622 926 3BR I

Sun 11:30-12:15 8/41 Bellchambers Cr Ray White Canberra 0414 622 926 3BR I Call Agent 53A Bellchambers Cr L.J. Hooker Tuggeranong 0424 288 717 3BR J Call Agent 6/48 Betty Maloney Cr L.J. Hooker Tuggeranong 0438 627 772 3BR I

13 Booderee Pl L.J. Hooker Tuggeranong 0438 627 772 4BR G

9 Carter Pl Colin McIntyre Property 0417 263 678 4BR H

0409 015 400 3BR I

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Woden 0413 909

Canberra Region Property Summary

100%

BRUCE

Canberra Region Property Summary

CHIFLEY

CHISHOLM

CRACE

FLOREY

FLYNN

Canberra Region Property Summary

GUNGAHLIN

HACKETT

465 5BR G

Dr Elders Belconnen 0409 560 539 3BR I

Dr Independent Dickson 0435 046 964 3BR I

Baldwin Dr L.J. Hooker Belconnen 0414 734

0416 087 834 4BR H

1A Delegate St Sadil Quinlan 0414 631 607 3BR H

Diamantina Cr L.J. Hooker Canberra City 0430 311 628 4BR G

196 Maribyrnong Ave Independent Belconnen 0406 535 181 4BR H U

L.J. Hooker Kaleen 0418 242 743 3BR H U

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Shannon Cct Laurrie Scheele 02 6295 8888 3BR I

KARABAR

KINGSTON

LATHAM

THE ONLY MARKETING YOUR PROPERT Y NEEDS.

NARRABUNDAH

Canberra Region Property Summary

NORTH TERRACE

O'CONNOR

PALMERSTON

PHILLIP

Ray White Canberra 0419 289 574 1BR N

L.J. Hooker Tuggeranong 0431 419 847 5BR D

& Holland 02 6297 9191 3BR I

ROYALLA

Canberra Region Property Summary

THE

THEODORE

TORRENS

TURNER

WANNIASSA

WARAMANGA