Canberra CityNews July 7-13, 2011

Shelter from ‘terror’ on the streets

The

ROBERT

Brumbies:

Red

CEDRIC

When

Shelter plan to reduce ‘terror’

By Freyla Ferguson

HOMElESS people are living “in a state of absolute terror” on the streets of Canberra.

“Out on the street – where do you go to the toilet?” says Uniting Care director Brendan Kennedy.

“Where do you get food, if you have the courage to ask? What do you do at night? Where do you wash yourselves? How do you look after your feet? If you take off your shoes, there’s a high chance they won’t be there in the morning – so you never take them off.

“For people living on the street, their biggest concerns are, one – they want a safe place to sleep and two – a safe place to store their property.” Canberra refuges are turning people away because they can’t keep up with the demand and are forced to refer homeless people to refuges outside of the Territory in Goulburn and Wagga Wagga.

Most recently, First Point, the ACT Government support line for the homeless or people at risk of homelessness, recorded 106 women and children turned away from local refuges, says Mr Kennedy.

But he and a group of churches and concerned community workers are hoping to turn that around by forming the Safe Shelter Group, which has recognised the issue and is devising a plan to start a safe shelter for the homeless.

After seeking help from Housing ACT and speaking to the then-Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and Housing Minister Joy Burch to begin

the project, the group turned to the private sector for help.

“ClubsACT said they were happy to help because they felt it was a problem they could solve,” he said.

They also have the full support of other community organisations including the Canberra branches of Rotary and Probus.

But despite the amount of goodwill shown by the community – the group can’t find a building to house the shelter.

“All it is is a place to sleep,” Mr Kennedy said.

“The Early Morning Centre is where they can have breakfast and meet people who can help

Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au

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Uniting Care director Brendan Kennedy talks to one of the guests at the refurbished Early Morning Centre in Pilgrim House. The centre, on Northbourne Avenue, Civic, is a place for people living rough to have breakfast or a cuppa and seek advice on their living issues. Funded by a $750,000 grant from the ACT Government, the centre now has a new dining area, kitchen, bathrooms, laundry and office space and will allow the centre to extend its hours and services past the breakfast and morning period. Anyone interested in volunteering to help run the centre can call manager Chris Stokman on 6247 5041.

them get on to the housing list and make other valuable contacts.

“How can they begin to deal with their issues without a safe place to have a good night’s sleep.”

Mr Kennedy said with so many empty buildings across Canberra, there is no reason they can’t be put to good use by housing the homeless.

Recently, Uniting Care bought four lockers for people to safely store their swags during the day, while they look for work or further their education.

The initiative, supported by the ACT Government, cost the church $6000, but still needs a place for installation.

Luton’s green scheme wins

A REAL estate agency helping homeowners to sell by promoting energy efficiency has been named the 2011 Telstra ACT Business of the Year.

Luton Properties, which has 80 staff across seven offices, also won the Medium Business Award announced at a dinner in Canberra on Tuesday night.

Established in 1999 and headed by Richard Luton, the business focuses on environmental sustainability in its own office and encourages vendors to “green” their homes before sale by giving advice on home-energy audits.

Luton Properties, the city’s largest privately-owned real estate agency, has achieved 185 record suburb sales prices among its 6500 home sales during the past 11 years, with 270 sales in excess of $1 million. Luton Properties’ green policy was recognised this year when it won the Real Estate Institute of Australia’s Excellence Award for Innovation.

Other winners were industry skills training organisation Learning Options (Micro-Business Award); coaching and business planning advisers; Interaction Consulting Group (Small Business Award); boutique recruitment company PCA People (Social Responsibility Award) and media and entertainment company Lucy Media (People’s Choice Award and Innovation Award), which operates a website portfolio including whosdatedwho.com.

The winners will be judged against category winners from other States and the NT in the lead up to the national business awards in Melbourne on August 26.

‘The Gundown’ DVDs to be won

“CityNews” has five copies (including two in Blueray format) to give away of “The Gundown” (M) a movie about a reclusive gun-for-hire who travels the Arizona desert bringing fugitives to justice, dead or alive. It stars Peter Coyote and William Shockley. Entry form and details at citynews.com.au/win

Brumbies: hope for the best!

I HAVE been asked consistently over the past month whether the Brumbies will be conducting an independent review of the past season, but given 2 players and the bulk of the coaching staff are departing, I wonder the worth of any review.

In many respects, there is sense that it’s a new club and, as supporters, we need to put our faith in new coach Jake White and hope for the best.

From the outside you can question tactics such as why props end up on the wing in attack or why the Brumbies kept getting pushed off the ball at the breakdown or why the ball was coming out so slowly from the ruck allowing opposition defences to form or why the Brumbies lost to the Lions 29-20 in round 13 at Canberra Stadium, only to beat the top side Queensland 22-14 in round 16, away from home?

I had reservations over the past three years as to whether they were doing enough physical contact at training; I was told the players didn’t want to suffer injuries at training and they were as hard and tough as any other team in the Super 15. I had my doubts; they were getting punished physically.

After the loss to the Lions, Tony Rea had

Eleven losses in  games; this year was the Brumbies annus horribilis, the worst in the club’s history, writes TIM GAVEl

obviously come to the same conclusion. There were some exceptions: Stephen Moore at hooker; Matt Giteau did all he could to lift the team, but it wasn’t easy with slow ball; Pat McCabe was a revelation at inside centre; and Mitchell Chapman put his body on the line. Sadly four players don’t make a team. Why did it go so horribly wrong? Some point to the sacking of coach Andy Friend and injuries to key players, coupled with a lack of form, while others believe there

was a lack of passion in the playing ranks. Was there a problem with players having an over-inflated opinion of their own abilities?

I stated during the year that I felt some players were not as committed as they should be to the Canberra community. I could be misguided, but it is something I feel strongly about and campaigned on this issue through the season. Given we are starting afresh, why not reinforce this message to the new players?

If you sign a contract with the Brumbies, you live in Canberra throughout the year and if you are not playing for the Brumbies on any given weekend you turn out for the local teams, not hightail it to Sydney. Surely, if they were playing in Canberra it would forge a closer alliance with the local rugby community and strengthen the bond with the wider Canberra community.

This has been one of the hardest of my 22 years as a sports commentator in Canberra. There was, at times, a fractious relationship between the team and the media; I wasn’t sure where I stood with one player and it became harder than it should have been.

It was easier in 2004 because the team was winning; 2012 brings new hope, and I have always believed that you support your team, through the highs and lows.

Barbed wire of prejudice

THE most important lesson of the remarkable SBS program “Go Back to Where you Came From” was the sad misjudgement that lies at the heart of our refugee program.

It goes by the rubric of “mandatory detention” which was introduced by the Keating Government in 1992 and came into force in 1994. At the time the “wave” of boat people – mainly Cambodians and Chinese – was less than 500 a year. Chinese boat arrivals peaked at just over 1000 in 1994. The refugees were processed on the mainland and the overwhelming majority granted visas.

The concept was enthusiastically embraced by the John Howard’s Liberals and over the next few years a new and potent element was introduced. The refugee focus shifted from our region. The war in former Yugoslavia, together with George W. Bush’s Iraqi disaster, meant that an increasing number of boat arrivals were Muslims. And, of course, Osama bin Laden and his terrorist confederates – Muslims all – were the enemy.

Then Tampa won Howard an election and not only were we fighting them on the battlefield in Afghanistan and Iraq, but in 2002 their fellow religionists in Indonesia committed the Bali bombing atrocity.

After that, the Labor Party – dominated by the “whatever it takes” attitude of the NSW Right – threw principle and humanity to the wind and joined the rush to the political underbelly.

Kevin Rudd, to his great credit, tried to stop any “lurch to the right”, but by then the civil war in Sri Lanka had added to the arrival num-

the gadfly

Robert Macklin

bers and while he sought a more humanitarian regime, not even he was prepared to tackle the real demon embedded in the heart of the issue: mandatory detention itself.

Indeed, his Christmas Island solution only seemed to magnify the issue and provided the Liberals, led by Tony Abbott and the egregious Scott Morrison, with the chance to fire up the darker angels in our nature.

They are not fools. They know – as indeed does Julia “lurch” Gillard – that the moment you fence off a group of people from the rest of the community you devalue and eventually dehumanise them in the eyes of the majority.

History abounds with these lessons, from the slave trade to the Jewish holocaust. All it needs is a roll of barbed wire and those inside become the “other”. And we’re prepared to abandon all our better angels in our treatment of them.

The SBS program brought this home like a knife to the heart. It also revealed just how fatuous both the Nauruan and Malaysian “solutions” really are.

The truth is that we could absorb 15,000 refugees – including 3000 boat people – each year into our 21 million-strong community with barely a ripple. And they could be “processed” while living and working with the rest of us.

SBS revealed quite starkly the way face-toface meetings dissolve the barbed wire of prejudice. It also showed that it’s not too late – hatred and political opportunism do not have to define us as a nation. We’re better than that... or are we?

robert@robertmacklin.com

Where insults and porkies fly politics

“IT’S a big porky”, “duplicitous”, “just mendacious”, “crap”, “Goebbels-speak”, “a bunch of shonks”, “two tongues”, “fraud”, “that’s trying to dupe” are all examples from the ACT Assembly which members were forced to withdraw.

There are the more blatant as well: “You lied”, “she’s the biggest liar”, “grossly and wilfully misrepresented” and they go on.

Accusing someone of lying is certainly unacceptable in the heat of debate. If a member has lied to the parliament it is a serious matter that requires a full debate because parliaments cannot function unless information provided is accurate.

Ministers, for example, can lose their position if they mislead the Assembly.

The vigorous nature of parliamentary democracy grows out of the fact that it is a much more civilised alternative to sorting out differences by determining who is stronger or more vicious or who has the more powerful weapons. People enter parliament largely because they believe that they can play a role in delivering a better world.

The conflict arises over different perceptions about what makes a better world. But even in the midst of vigorous debate

Political commentator MICHAEl MOORE takes a look at the insults flying around the ACT Assembly.

there is a balance between being precious and going over the top.

The balance lies in the distinction between a personal issue and a substantive matter.

Examples from the ACT Assembly Hansard that have been deemed unacceptable include: “hypocrite”, “stupid”, “you are going out on the grog”, “unhinged”, “bloody fool”, “Fascist”, “you are a coward”, “pathetic little worm”, “has no principles”, “grubby little man”, “spineless”, “suppurating boil”, “buffoon”, “make a dickhead of yourself”, “bigot”, “fraudulent”, “sneaky”, “jellyback Jeremy”, “moron”, “you remind me of Pol Pot”, “guttersnipes”, “he has been homophobic, he has been sexist”, “dog turds”, “you are a lowlife, gutless wimp”, “a man for whom honour and truthfulness seem to be a foreign concept”.

However, there is one other interesting aspect which clearly degrades the individual making the comment as well as the Assembly as a whole.

These comments are rare and are based on gender. At times, the male members of the Assembly in particular lower themselves to a personal attack based on women’s characteristics.

“A condescending bloody woman” was a comment Ted Quinlan was forced to withdraw a few Assemblies ago. Jon Stanhope was criticised over the term “dollying”.

Speaker Greg Cornwell once made a reference to Kerry Tucker as a “Jezebel”.

Recently, in the poorest of political timing, Labor’s John Hargreaves (who on a previous occasion used the term “silly woman”) went over the top with a snipe at Liberal Vicki Dunne who he effectively described as “pear shape”.

The timing was poor as it allowed the Liberals to move the focus from $10,000 in volunteer funding they received, which was designed to help community volunteers withstand the global financial crisis. Having been caught they will now hand it back.

Whenever a member of the same party is accused of unparliamentary behaviour his or her colleagues wade in to defend the robust nature of debate.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher took an overview when she commented on the Hargreaves matter: “We do need to take a step back, reflect on our behaviour and work to improve it.”

She added: “The people of Canberra deserve and expect better from their politicians.” She was right in one way, but should have been firmer with Hargreaves. Without such a firm hand, it is possible that the Assembly will degrade to a constant exchange of personal attacks.

Michael Moore was an independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly (1989 to 2001) and was minister for health.

Swap away to new wardrobe

By Kathryn Vukovljak

MOST of us have clothes we love, but don’t wear any more, languishing in the back of the wardrobe, says public servant Maddy Gover, who’s bringing a new clothesswapping event to Canberra.

Maddy and her friend Jess Ewens are organising Canberra’s first Clothing Exchange, a clothes-swapping event that’s been in Melbourne since 2004, and are urging people to come along and get a new wardrobe by swapping clothes, shoes or accessories they no longer use.

“We’d been to swaps in Melbourne, and to a national swap last year, and had such a blast,” says Maddy.

“When we realised there wasn’t a shopping exchange in Canberra, we knew we had to bring it here.”

The Clothing Exchange is a professional swapping service that promotes the simple notion of swapping instead of shopping for a better wardrobe.

It will be held on July 10 at the Ginninderry Homestead, near Kippax Shopping Centre, at a cost of $25.

There will be a one-hour check-in period, where Maddy and Jess assess the quality of the garments while everyone relaxes with tea, cakes or champagne. Then tokens are issued and the swapping begins.

Maddy Gover and Jess Ewens… “It’s a lovely atmosphere. You get people saying, ‘that used to be my dress’, and sharing stories about it,” says Maddy.

“The rules are that everyone can bring up to six garments, which stops things getting out of hand,” says Maddy. “And you’re only able to hold on to three garments at any one time to try on so there’s no grabbing handfuls of clothes!

“We want to keep it respectful.”

Maddy says there is no price attached to any item, and it’s not about designer labels, but the clothes should be good quality; the kind of thing you would gift to a friend.

“It’s a lovely atmosphere. You get people saying, ‘oh, that used to be my dress’, and sharing stories about it,” says Maddy.

“So many of our clothes get one or two wears, and then end up on landfill somewhere and it’s such a waste.

“This way you can get a whole new wardrobe and do something pleasant for the environment while you’re at it.”

More information at www.clothingexchange.com.au.

‘The Gundown’ DVDs to be won

“CityNews” has five copies (including two in Blueray format) to give away of “The Gundown” (M) a movie about a reclusive gun-for-hire who travels the Arizona desert bringing fugitives to justice, dead or alive. It stars Peter Coyote and William Shockley. Entry form and details at citynews.com.au/win

children

By Libby Rolfe

IN an attempt to tackle the obesity crisis, children across the ACT are participating in the Active Kids Challenge.

An initiative of The Physical Activity Foundation, the program provides schools with incentives to get children huffing and puffing during the colder months.

Aranda Primary School is one of 64 schools that have signed up to the challenge, which strives to get children to be physically active for at least 60 minutes a day.

“It’s about giving children the opportunity to make healthy lifestyle choices,” says Aranda Primary School deputy principal Ros Webb.

“We are focusing on modelling a healthy lifestyle and regular physical activity while encouraging the children to be active, keep fit and have a go.”

Organisers say the challenge is not only aimed at children who are good at sport.

“It is not only about sport and we are really targeting those that don’t take part in sport. We encourage non-sporty kids to be involved in activities that are fun and some activities may even assist with their motor-skill development,” says Physical Activity Foundation chairman Adam Pine.

“Any activity that makes them huff is encouraged. It can be games, sport, or active transport like walking or riding.”

The 2011 program will focus on fun

Success runs on huffing and puffing

activities and rewards directly to the children who are participating.

“The best thing this year is the competitions and incentive rewards for the kids who are doing the hard work,” says Physical Activity Foundation CEO Sue Marriage.

“We know that kids like to do fun activities and they love unique characters to help them get motivated.

“We have secured Animalates and the

So far, more than 17,000 students are registered for this year’s challenge, which starts on Monday, July 25 and runs until September 30.

It’s not too late for ACT primary schools to register via the Physical Activity Foundation website at www.activekids.org.au

Shoppers to decide the charity challenge

CANBERRA shoppers are being encouraged to support the three Canberra children’s charities in the running for the $10,000 to be donated in the Majura Park charity challenge.

This year’s beneficiaries are PatCH (Paediatrics at the Canberra Hospital), Ronald McDonald House Canberra Building Appeal and Sids and Kids ACT.

The Majura Park $10,000 Charity Challenge is supported with the “Big Book of Kids’ Savings”, which is being delivered into households in Canberra and Queanbeyan.

“The Big Book” contains six weeks’ of coupon deals from stores at Majura Park, Canberra Airport, and a “donation slip”.

The charity with the most donation slips by Sunday, August 14, will receive a $5000 donation from Majura Park, with $3000 and $2000 donations for the other charities according to the number of donation slips submitted.

Additional donation slips will be available in three editions of “CityNews” before August 14.

Donation slips can be placed in collection boxes at any participating store, including Toys”R”Us, Babies”R”Us, Lollipop’s Playland,

Chemist Outlet, Trade Secret, 3 Seeds and McDonald’s Majura Park.

FUNDS raised for Ronald McDonald House Charities will help build a house within the new Women’s and Children’s building at Canberra Hospital, the first Ronald McDonald House built within a hospital in Australia.

Currently, there is no Ronald McDonald House in Canberra. McDonald’s owner/operator Craig Coleman said the house would have 11 rooms with ensuites, kitchen, lounge, dining, playroom and laundry facilities.

IN the past five years, Sids and Kids ACT has used community donations to expand its bereavement support services to include early pregnancy loss and children’s services, improve its peer support program, and ensure the safe-sleeping program reaches high-risk vulnerable groups.

AND PatCH will again be a worthy beneficiary of a donation from Majura Park, with last year’s “Christmas Campaign” raising almost $4000 to assist with health initiatives for children at the Canberra Hospital.

Student shocked by film archive

THIS year I visited The National Film & Sound Archive for the first time. As a film and television student at Swinburne University in Melbourne, the NFSA is regularly referred to in my readings and I had been looking forward to viewing the archive.

As Australia’s film heritage library, the archive gathers, restores, preserves and “celebrates” our country’s audio-visual achievements. However, disappointingly, little of the archive’s achievements are on display or noted within the venue.

The public exhibit can be walked through in a few minutes and is primarily aimed at children. There is little information to read about Australia’s early film achievements; I found next to no information on Raymond Longford and his achievements and struggles with the AF-UT combine. There was nothing celebrating Australian women in film, such as Lottie Lyell, Australia’s first international film star, or Louise Lovely, Australia’s first successful female actress in Hollywood. Portions of the exhibit looking at director Ken G. Hall seemed greatly overlooked, as is Yorum Gross’ animation achievements.

I had presumed that the NFSA would have a bookstore catering for at least some academic reading material for students. Instead, the giftshop is filled with various nick-knacks, magnets, key-chains and overpriced pens.

There is a wall of golden-era Hollywood films on DVD and few of Australia’s own films are available. Only a pile of disorderly film canisters would even suggest the visitor’s location. In the poster rack, the only Australian film poster I could see was for the recently restored DVD of “The Story of the Kelly Gang”.

I understand that the archive must cater for tourists who would only have a very limited interest in film, let alone Australian film, but I found it disturbing that the NFSA would neglect to cater for the people that actually have interest in Australian film history.

For a long time, the myth that Australian films are of a sub-standard, irrelevant and niche has been driven into Australian society. It would be nice if the NFSA didn’t encourage that view with its disdainful display of Australia’s filmic achievements.

Jake Houston Harris, swinburne u niversity of technology, Melbourne.

Letter ‘belies belief’

ACTEWAGL’S recent price-increase letter dished up to so-called valued customers belies belief.

How can a 5.3 per cent increase in energy produced by wind and solar mean higher prices for consumers? For a start it negates the stated 3 per cent fall in electricity generation in the cute diagram/sum.

Poles and wires expense up, sure can handle that. Marketing up 0.5 per cent, no wonder with a stupid notice like this going out to every household in the ACT. Face the facts, you have a virtual monopoly on electricity in the ACT and if you’re putting the prices up there’s not much we can do about it, sugar-coating your reasons in dodgy graphics just makes the pain worse. What a waste of time and energy.

Jas Hugonnet, Hughes

Stop the myths

I RECOGNISE it is hard for a MP to sell the party line when its indefensible, and so I have some sympathy for Andrew Leigh (“We’ll be left behind”, letters, CN June 30).

Andrew, despite his economic experience, is forced to defend a line that polluters will pay the carbon tax. Andrew would know if you simply ask the question if polluters are supposed to pay this tax, why do you need to compensate consumers? The answer is that the burden is borne by consumers hence the need for compensation, which for most people (some 85 per cent) will be inadequate or non-existent.

Peddling the lie that some 1000 apparently rapacious companies will bear this burden and absorb it into their profits is simply absurd and surely Andrew knows that from his faintest recollection of Economics 101.

Yes, climate change needs to be tackled; be up-front about it and stop the myths, marketing spin and lies!

M. Gordon, Flynn

Needles perpetuate drug use

IT was encouraging to learn that the Chief Minister is hesitant to put needles into the Alexander Maconochie Centre (“Canberra Times”, June 29). What has been omitted from discussion on this matter is the fact that most drug afflicted recover from their problems on their own, without formal treatment. Successful self-help drug recovery with a lifelong abstinence rate of up to 69 per cent in tens of countries confirms this (www.drugsanddrink.net).

The fundamental effect of drug use is to take away an individual’s self-determination. So to assist the drug-afflicted in our prison to continue using is self-defeating of the Government’s own policy, and strips prisoners of their human rights. The cost to the family of a drugdependent person exceeds $5000 annually for support. Why add to their burden and perpetuate drug use? In practical terms, the Alexander Maconochie Centre is a rehabilitation ward. So to hand out needles there makes as much sense as handing out cigarette lighters in a thoracic ward!

Little wonder corrections officers have said “needles in, guards out”. colliss Parrett, Barton

Biggzy is ‘where the love is’

l IBBy ROlFE meets a new face on morning radio who plans to be a “bit out there, a bit obnoxious, a bit in your face”

FOR Carla “Biggzy” Bignasca moving to Canberra has been the realisation of a career dream to host a breakfast radio show.

“For me, it’s always been about getting on to a breakfast show and being in an ensemble cast,” Biggzy says.

“In radio, that’s where the love is. That’s where the pulse of the station is.”

The 31-year-old who, along with Pete Curulli, will host MIX 106.3’s breakfast program, has spent almost four years hosting the nationally broadcast “Hot 30 Countdown”.

“That took me around the world and it was a lot of fun,” she says. “I met a lot of celebrities.”

But she admits the 18-to-24-year-old audience has a different appetite to the loyal listeners of MIX106.3.

“I’ve gone from one end of the day where we could pretty much say whatever we liked, to making sure I’m right on cue in breakfast.

“The mindset is switched differently. It seems like only insomniacs, lonely people and young people doing their homework listen to night-time radio, but breakfast radio allows you to be so much broader.

“I’m allowed to talk about my husband snoring or talking about things that are happening in the day, as opposed to just talking about ‘does Lady Gaga have a penis?’ And we will be talking about

Pete Curulli and Carla “Biggzy” Bignasca... “If you evoke any emotion that can be love or hate, then you’ve done your job,” she says.

that, of course, but in a different context.”

Biggzy has a positive attitude to her new life in the nation’s capital even though it means she has to live apart from her husband who will remain in Sydney for his work.

“I’ve moved down here with my shoeboxes in the boot of my car. I took all the winter clothes and left everything else in the house.”

“But I like Canberra. It doesn’t feel like a small town. People here seem really open-minded,

which suits me just fine because I think I can be a bit out there, a bit obnoxious, a bit in your face,” she laughs.

“What I’m most looking forward to is being a part of a community. I’m a bit older now, Mix 106.3 will allow me to be more local and that’s the thing I’m really looking forward to.

“It was great to be able to talk to a nation through music and pop culture but it will be great to be a part of a community and part of Canberra.”

No doubt there are hopes for the new hosts to lift the ratings of Mix 106.3, which is behind sister station FM104.7 and ABC 666.

Biggzy and Pete were announced as the new hosts of the Mix 106.3 breakfast show following the sudden departure of previous hosts Cam Sullings and Lisa Ridgley. While she didn’t have any comments about her predecessors, Biggzy is ready to take on 104.7 hosts Scotty and Nige.

“I can’t speak for the previous teams that have been on air because I wasn’t here and I wasn’t listening, but I’ve been listening to the opposition and although they’re nice boys and sit two metres away from us, they’ll be getting a wakeup call.”

So what can listeners expect?

“If you evoke any emotion that can be love or hate, then you’ve done your job. If you just be bland and beige then you haven’t done your job, you’re not creating anything.

Turning to her co-host she consults, “Let’s not be beige, alright Pete?”

Long legs of the law

SPONSORSHIP from Consensus Family Law has ensured the continuation of the annual Canada Day Fun Run, which will be held this year, for the 22nd time, on Sunday, July 17, in aid of the ACT Cancer Council. Founding supporter, the Canadian High Commission, declined last year to fund the event. The 10km race will be held at Mt Stromlo starting at 10am and the 5km walk/run at 10.30am. Registration at www.actcancer.org

Quiz for Dili kids

A QUIZ night to raise funds to support a youth group in East Timor will be held at Canberra Bowling Club, corner of National Circuit and Melbourne Avenue, Forrest, at 7pm on Wednesday, July 13. Proceeds will support Hadezta, a youth group that teaches life skills including English, computing and music to young people in Dili. Tickets are $20. Bookings to 0421 972287 or email altamr@bigpond.com

Helping with Mel

THE Australian Foundation for Mental Health Research is holding a charity screening of Mel Gibson’s new film, “The Beaver”, at Dendy Cinemas, 5.45pm, July 12. Tickets, including wine and nibbles, are $25 each. Book on line at www.stickytickets.com. au/5981 or call 6125 9722.

ANU’s new pro-chancellor

ILANA Atlas, will succeed Justice Annabelle Bennett as pro-chancellor of the ANU from August 1. Ms Atlas has served on the University Council since July 2004. A practising lawyer for 22 years, Ms Atlas is a board member of Suncorp Group Limited, Coca-Cola Amatil Pty Limited and Westfield Holdings Limited as well as being chair of the Bell Shakespeare Company. The pro-chancellor acts as a deputy to the chancellor.

Rake’s new role

THE NCA’s chief executive Gary Rake has been appointed chairman of the Pegasus Riding for the Disabled’s foundation board. He has served on the board for more than four years. The former Federal member for the seat of Canberra Annette Ellis has been appointed as a member of the board.

Magical gala

M AK e-A-WISH Australia, the only charity in Australia that focuses solely on wish granting for children with life-threatening medical conditions is holding a Magical Night Gala Dinner, Hellenic Club, Woden, August 27. Tickets are $150 each and bookings to 0410 685793. Make-A-Wish receives no ongoing government support and wouldn’t be possible without the support of donors and volunteers.

all about Mums & Bubs

Lots to remember when baby arrives

A NEW addition to the family brings much excitement, but it’s also a time of great change, with a lot of new products and services needed.

From maternity wear to setting up a nursery, finding clothes and shoes for little ones and buying toys, there’s always plenty to do!

Here’s a change; a nappy cake!

SISTERS Jessica Arena and Rebecca Aveyard created their new business, The Unbaked Cake to provide different gift options for baby showers.

“We create beautiful hand-crafted nappy cakes and baby gifts that mums will adore,” says Jessica.

A new mum herself, Jessica says nappy cakes are proving popular gifts for new mums taking maternity leave from the workplace and are always well received at baby showers.

“Our nappy cakes, baby bouquets and baby boxes are created to order, so we can make a truly unique baby gift to suit any budget,” Jessica says. Baby boxes start from $55 and are made to order. The Unbaked Cake can include anything from nappies, baby wraps, singlets, dummies, soft toys to bibs, books and clothing.

The Unbaked Cake unbakedcake@gmail.com or facebook.com/unbakedcake Phone 6262 2048

Pregnant but still stylish

“A WOMAN deserves to feel beautiful, stylish and comfortable throughout her pregnancy,” says Thérese Scarano, owner of Dressing for Two.

“I wanted Canberra women to have access to current maternity fashion from all over Australia without having to pay for the shipping”, says Thérese. Dressing for Two offers quality fashion and accessories at reasonable prices and delivers to Canberra and the surrounding regions for free. Dressing for Two

also prides itself on its simple and flexible returns policy, she says.

“I think it’s important to give our customers the confidence to buy online and we do this through our returns and exchange policy”, says Thérese.

“The boutique carries a great range of products and this range is growing each week. The shirt/jumper combo, winter opaque tights and black V-neck dress are just a few of the new arrivals at Dressing for Two.”

www.dressingfortwo.com.au

A place for mums to meet

THE G-Gungahlin hosts a mums and bubs group every month with morning tea and guest speakers. The next mums’ group meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 10 from 10am-noon and everyone is welcome.

For bigger children, the shopping centre has The Saturday Club on the first Saturday of every month with activities for those 12 and under.

In retail offerings, Best and Less offers children’s clothing at competitive prices; The Reject Shop offers craft, toys and games and birthday cakes can be bought from Michel’s Patisserie or at Donut King.

The G Level 1, 46-50 Hibberson Street Gungahlin. Call 6242 2005 www.theg.com.au

all about mums & bubs

The bag that keeps on giving

MANY expectant mums don’t realise just how much they will need to carry around once their baby arrives, according to Beck Daly from Motherly Instincts.

Beck is happy to help all mothers choose the right nappy bag to suit their needs and has a large range in store with brands including Vanchi, Baby Mel and OiOi starting from $99.

“All mums deserve a great nappy bag! All nappy bags have long straps; wipe case, bottle holders and change mats. Vanchi bags come with extra plastic sleeve and a dummy case. These bags look more like a handbag than a nappy bag,” Beck says.

Beck says there are 10 items every new mum needs to take with her

when out and about with the little one:

Nappies

Barrier cream

Change mat

Tissues

Wipes

Sanitising lotion for your hands

Plastic nappy disposal bag

Change of clothes for baby

Warm clothes (a jumper, socks)

Bib

Wrap

Hat

Teething ring

Bottle of water

Motherly Instincts, Shop 17 Homeworld Centre, 150-180 Soward Way, Tuggeranong, Phone 6293 4452.

Holiday activities galore

THE Marketplace Gungahlin has all sorts of school-holiday activities, with a free program starting from July 11.

SpongeBob Squarepants will be at The Marketplace between July 11 and 15 to meet and greet with the young ones from 11am to 1.30pm. From July 18 to 22, free face painting will be available between 11am and 2pm opposite BIG W.

The Marketplace Gungahlin offers a five-star parents’ room facility to the Market Play, an indoor playground for little ones up to five-years-old.

The Marketplace Gungahlin, Hibberson Street, Gungahlin, www.themarketplacegungahlin.com.au

When shoes matter

WHEN choosing footwear for little ones it is important to choose the correct shoe for the purpose, according to Birkenstock retail operations manager Romina Fragnito.

“Keep in mind how your child wears-in his/her shoes, for example, shoes with a rubber toe is great for children who wear out that area fast. Sturdy flexible soles and soft uppers ensure the healthy development of growing feet,” says Romina. Birkenstock specialise in fitting children and pass on as much information to the adults while the children are entertained with the play tunnel inside the store.

“We ascertain your footwear needs, and give the customer a full shoe fitting service to grasp your exact size and width,” Romina says.

“We sell a lot of Garvalin, Richter which have been sourced from Europe for their high quality and design. For our pre-walkers we sell Tip Toey Joey and, of course, we sell some great animal-themed gumboots in winter.”

Lil Feet Birkenstock Boutique, Canberra Centre. Phone 6248 9044 www.birkenstock.com.au

At Olims Courtyard a la carte restaurant opening

At ‘Architecture’ exhibition opening, at The Q

At South Canberra Rotary dinner, Rydges Capital Hill

all about the arts

Hello sailors: Mico’s pirate comedy sets sail again

DOM

eNIC Mico’s old pirate play has recently been revamped to become “The Pirates of Lake Tuggeranong” (it used to be “The Pirates of Burley Griffin”). Billed as “a thrilling new comedy for children”, it shows 10-year-old Petie and his older sister Joanne meeting the diabolical Captain Clam, who sets sail for the Hyperdome with the kids onboard. Mico says it’s for “children aged six to 96” and it runs at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre, July 13-22. Bookings to 6293 1443.

CHRISSIE Shaw returns to The Street Theatre, July 11-16, with one of her most successful shows, “Flotsam and Jetsam”, about kids living on a lighthouse island. Like Mico, she’s been

arts in the city

Helen Musa

reworking an old script, originally written by Greg Lissaman, with her own research and songs. It’s suitable for children from 5-12 years and families. Bookings to 6247 1223 or www.thestreet.org.au

IT’S time for the 2011 Canberra Gang show, “Without a Clue”, a theatre production performed by ACT Scouts and Guides from a script written by a youth team. It’s been running for 44 years, and this year’s version will run in erindale Theatre, July 16-23, with

matinees on most days. Tickets at the door 60 minutes before each session or bookings to 8093 6688.

DICKSON College’s refugee program has a photography exhibition at Ilios Community Gallery, Hackett shops. Running until July 24, it comprises works inspired by the experiences of young refugee students coming from places as varied as Afghanistan and Burma.

THE “Hundred Languages of Children” exhibition, now in its 20th year of touring, is at the Convention Centre, July 14-17. The exhibition features children’s representations of their theories and ideas through drawing, sculpting and painting, photographs of the

process and transcripts of children’s discussions and large collaborative colourful works. It’s part of the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange conference for 2011. More information at www.reggioaustralia.org.au

THE international organisation for women Soroptimist International will hold a dinner on July 16 at St James Uniting Church in Curtin, where guests will be entertained by a cabaret act by Shortis and Simpson. There’s also a raffle and a silent auction involving some very arty products. Profits go to a project in Papua New Guinea providing training to reduce infant mortality. Bookings to neelyatbavin@ hotmail.com

The sum of something real

By Helen Musa

WHEN I catch up with actor Patrick Harvey, he’s just arrived in Bendigo from Benalla.

It’s hard work touring around the continent in David Stevens’ play “The Sum of Us”. A night in Darwin, a night in Tasmania and, on July 16, a night in Canberra.

But Harvey’s not complaining. “Touring keeps it fresh for us,” he tells me. A plus is that he’s acting for the first time with John Jarratt, who plays his dad and Glenn van Oosterom, playing his love interest, as well as Nell Feeney whom Harvey already knew from “Neighbours”.

“Everyone pulls their weight, but we respect each other,” he says.

Anyway, during a stint in England a few years ago, he played pantomime for 82 days in the same venue with only a day off – now that was a bit depressing.

As for his lilting native Irish accent and an Aussie play, “I get rid of it all

for the part”. And he does it better than Meryl Streep.

“The Sum of Us” was made popular by the film starring Jack Thompson and Russell Crowe, so it’s not raising too many eyebrows in the country.

“The fact that Jeff is gay is in the sub-plot, but the play doesn’t concentrate on it.” Harvey says audiences have been receptive because the play is very simple and it has a universal theme – “everyone needs someone to love… it’s funny, it’s sad, it’s bittersweet”.

Though Harvey has been addicted to theatre since he was young and performing since age nine, many of his day-to-day mates just “don’t want to see a play”, except Melbourne Comedy Festival shows, where “they’re guaranteed a laugh”. But once dragged in, they’ve enjoyed

“The Sum of Us.” And that, to Harvey, signals the play is about something real.

“The Sum of Us” is at The Playhouse on July 16. Bookings to 6275 2700 or canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Patrick Harvey... “Everyone needs someone to love… it’s funny, it’s sad, it’s bittersweet”.

No plot, nor plan, just pure delight

“THE TRIP (M)

I’VE no information about the genesis of director Michael Winterbottom’s travelogue around the north of England and Wales, but once conceived, its gestation is a delight.

Steve Coogan plans a tour of rural hotels and their restaurants as the basis for a magazine piece to underpin a week of carnality with his American bird. But she’s gone home, so Steve asks his friend and colleague Rob Bryden to take her place (without the carnality).

The resultant film has neither plot nor plan, a script limited to Steve’s nightmares, a professional cast of two, British blokeism (very likely contrived) and many reasons for us to laugh, or at least snicker.

Coogan and Bryden are talented mimics. In their ad-libbing of people such as Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, Billy Connolly etcetera, engaging more than challenging, gentle humour often overlays implied sadness. That it has no writer’s credit is irrelevant and a Good Thing.

Long exterior shots of snow-capped mountains are breathtaking. It can’t be mere coincidence that as Steve stands on a Yorkshire dale beside Ribblehead Viaduct, a freight train rolls along that major feat of 19th century railway building. At Greater Union

continued page 23

A lens for fine design

PHOTOGRAPHY

“Architecture”

By Nathan Lanham, at The Q, Queanbeyan, until July 17. Reviewed by Helen Musa

NATHAN Lanham, born in Gunning and by trade a chef, has been indulging a personal passion by photographing architecture and design-related images for more than seven years.

Now, armed with a CIT degree in photography, he is changing careers with his first solo exhibition at The Q this month, a way of introducing himself to the Canberra region public and presumably potential clients.

His enthusiasm for buildings has been fine-tuned visits to South Africa and to Europe, notably Barcelona. Now Lanham looks at forms in Australia’s

buildings through 30 fine-art photographs where the pure beauty of line is his main concern.

While Canberra (a corner of the National Gallery, the top of City West car park) and

Sydney images (the surreal Jasper Apartments) feature, it is Melbourne that has initially captured Lanham’s imagination, following a visit motivated by the wish to snap the Web Bridge in Docklands.

Federation Square, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art and Melbourne’s Custom House are all shown in crisp, mostly black and white images that show patterns extracted from the buildings, not the buildings themselves.

Lanham has thus transformed three-dimensional architecture into two-dimensional art. Visit www.nathanlanham.com

Magic dust saves the show

MUSIC

“Brazilian Guitar Magic” Belconnen Arts Centre, July 2. Reviewed by Ian McLean

THE performance space was filled to capacity and staff caught by surprise when the “walk up” audience exceeded those who had pre-booked. Consequently production values were inadequate and short of expectation for a professional performance presentation.

The concert itself then commenced inauspiciously with an under-rehearsed, out-of-context and superfluous work aimed at linking this concert with NAIDOC Week.

Thankfully, some magic dust was sprinkled with the arrival of Guilherme Vincens who performed a 30-minute set for solo guitar. While technically outstanding, it was his ability to create imagery that enchanted and mesmerised as he floated from Spanish wheat fields to South American city suburbs in a gentle, mellow manner. “Desifinado” was brilliant and, while I expected Latin fire and passion, particularly in the Piazolla pieces, I was strangely content to be calmed and relaxed.

Jobim was a feature after an interval where homecooked Brazilian fare had been a popular addition. The gentle flavour continued with the haunting flute and sweet voice of Cicilia Kemezys and the well-matched guitar of Milena Cifali joining Guilherme for more easy going artistry.

Of note was a beautiful interpretation of “The Girl from Ipanema” and the premiere of “Beautiful Spain” by Canberra-based composer Jesmond Grixti.

Mellow passion of truffles

dining

Wendy Johnson

THE annual Capital Country Truffle Festival kicked off with a bang at Diece e Mezzo at the end of last month.

It was a degustation dinner designed by three well-known chefs – Ben Willis (Aubergine), Thomas Moore (Grazing at Gundaroo) and James Kidman (Diece e Mezzo).

In an industry where competition can rule over co-operation, these three talents didn’t hesitate to join forces and truffle the fancy of the packed restaurant with magical dishes. As James says: “It’s about the ethos of food.”

The line-up of creations included white asparagus and truffle custard, baby vegetable salad and truffle dressing; tortellini of duck, foi gras mousse, curly lettuce, globe artichoke and truffle; and a fabulous salt-crusted roast chicken studded with truffle.

Truffles are unique in taste – mellow and intoxicating. No matter how they are used (always sparingly), you’ll want to lick the plate, especially at Dieci e Mezzo with the Amedei Toscano chocolate delice – white chocolate and truffle ice cream, with a touch of edible gold leaf (how beautiful).

Other venues offering a truffle experience throughout the winter months of July and part of August, when the season ends, are Pulp Kitchen and Benchmark. Truffles are also on the menu further afield

Artistically provocative

DANCE

“EnTrance”

Created and performed by Yumi Umiumare, The Street Theatre, season ended.

Reviewed by Joe Woodward

YUMI Umiumare is an accomplished performer exhibiting a versatile range of styles that make her work engaging and intriguing.

In “EnTrance” she covers a wide range of identifiably Butoh characteristics.

Butoh was influenced by French surrealism and is created as a kind of anti-aesthetic against traditional and modern dance in Japan. Butoh became a world-wide phenomena by the 1980s, through the collaboration of Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno.

“EnTrance” illuminates the transparency of the individual against the backdrop of the world. We see the individual lost in movement of the modern city. This dance of shadows suggests there is a deeper more elusive reality.

with Kidman working with the Albion Café in Braidwood (a fantastic spot) on a local dinner. Regional wineries, such as Lambert Vineyards, Pankhurst Wines and Lark Hill are also participating.

The Truffle Festival is all about eating dishes celebrating what French gastronome Brillat-Savarin describes as “the diamond of the kitchen”. The truffles grown here are black Périgord trulles and they form part of a national industry of about 200 producers expected to double in production size this year to 3.4 tonnes.

The Dieci e Mezzo dinner was all the more special with sensational wines matched by viticulturist Michael Gray, and guests, such as Sherry McArdle- english from French Black-Truffles of Canberra, who spoke with love of the highly-trained Snuffles the

cinema Dougal Macdonald

truffle dog. This two-year-old American cocker spaniel, with a sense of smell 1000 times greater than yours, hunts daily for the black fungus.

Unlike the pigs traditionally used for snuffing out these delicacies, dogs don’t have a natural attraction to truffles and so won’t try to eat what they find. Just as well, with the price of a smallish truffle fetching about $125, depending on quality.

Dieci e Mezzo’s truffle dinner was meant to be one off, but it’s success gave executive chef Kidman a taste for more, so a second dinner will be held on July 19, with a decidedly Canberra region feel.

During the Capital Country Truffle Festival you can participate in a truffle hunt, learn how truffles are farmed or participate in cooking classes. www.trufflefestival.com.au

continued from page 21

“THE TREE OF LIFE” (PG) “MR POPPER’S PENGUINS”(G)

LIKE “The Trip”, much of Terrence Malick’s visit to a small Texas town during the 1950s also lacks plot, defined structure and scripted dialogue.

Reminding us about a more-innocent age when families sat down together for the evening meal, when mothers read Kipling to their sons at bedtime, when life in small communities moved at a measured pace through good and bad times, when families went together to church in their Sunday best, “The Tree of Life” invites us to consider how the last six decades have changed happiness.In his fifth film in 48 years, Malick rejects dramatic and structural conventions. With breathtaking astronomical, geological and climatological images with no apparent connection to the narrative, he invites us to share his wonderment at the complex beauty of the universe.

In a beautifully constructed scene about tears, Umiumare explores this relationship in a comical and yet sad sequence. The yearning for something real and the pain beneath often flippant portrayals in popular representations are treated in an extraordinary way through parody followed by a strange introverted sequence of a woman with an umbrella.

Whle some of “EnTrance” seems disjointed and awkward, it is a unique experience of visual delight and artistic provocation.

The film gives every indication of his having told his actors what he wants the day’s filming to say then letting them get on with it. It works, beautifully.

As well as playing the head of the O’Brien family, Brad Pitt is also the film’s producer. In both those jobs, he earns a respect that transcends the buffed pretty-boy image that has so far driven his public persona. As his wife, Jessica Chastain is a pure delight. The camera loves her from every distance and angle.

At Dendy

AMBITIOUS property developer Tom Popper (Jim Carrey) lives apart from his wife and children.

Tom’s globe-trotting mariner father sends him six penguins. Tom converts his high-rise apartment into a penguin-friendly environment.

While what Mark Waters’s film says about keeping exotic animals as pets may seem cute, it sends some very wrong messages to young viewers.

Not because any kid’s likely to get a penguin for Christmas (illegal, in any case) but because animals have specific requirements and the more exotic the animal, the more complex the requirements.

Relationships within families are complex, too. The Popper family broke apart because of Tom’s obsession with his job.

While he has the penguins, the kids love him.

Without them, the kids reject him. He needs attitudinal re-structuring to escape being a total loser. And the kids need counselling!

A film aimed at an audience too young to see through its porkies is, in my book, malicious.

Any proposal that “Mr Popper’s Penguins” makes a valid statement about restoring family unity doesn’t convince me.

At all cinemas

Australian Hotels Association annual awards

Member of the year

Mark Sproat, Brassey Hotel

Best Redeveloped Venue The George Harcourt Inn

Best Restaurant Cookery Employee Chef Aaron Cook, The George Harcourt

Brassey chief makes his mark

MARK Sproat is the Australian Hotels Association’s ACT Member of the year.

Mr Sproat, general manager of the Brassey Hotel, Barton, was named at the association’s annual hospitality awards night at Rydges Lakeside in front of 450 industry leaders and local politicians.

Mr Sproat, who has managed the Brassey since 1994, has a long record of industry leadership on boards and committees including the Canberra Convention Bureau, Canberra SKAL Club, ACT Advancing Athletes with Disabilities and as president of the AHA’s accommodation division.

Last year Mark was recognised at the Canberra Tourism Awards and received a major award for the Outstanding Contribution by an Individual.

AHA general manager Gwyn Rees said the Association’s most prestigious Award was a fitting recognition: “Mark is one of Canberra’s longest-tenured hotel general managers and has been one of the industry’s leaders for many years. He makes a substantial contribution to the AHA and has been recognised previously by other organisations grateful for his involvement.”

Mr Sproat has recently overseen the refurbishment and reopening of the Brassey’s restaurant, bar and garden

The Brassey was also recognised with the Best New/Redeveloped Award.

“The ACT Heritage Register lists places of particular importance to the people of Canberra. The Brassey is significant in its design and architecture. Venues like the Brassey face enormous hurdles when making alterations,” Mr Rees said. The AHA also recognised the outgoing general manager of the AHA ACT Branch Steven Fanner. Mr Fanner was awarded the President’s Award, which was presented by ACT President Michael Capezio. The

on awards night

award recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the tourism and hospitality industry in the ACT.

AHA general manager Gwyn Rees congratulated The George Harcourt Inn at Gold Creek as the only venue that managed to

take out multiple awards in the bar/nightclub sector.

“The George has shown the value of refurbishing an existing venue by taking out not only the Best Redeveloped Venue award, but saw the culinary skills of Chef Aaron Cook recognised in the Best

Restaurant Cookery Employee.

“Since construction on its new bar and bistro expansion were completed the Harcourt Inn has seen a strong rise in popularity of its food and beverage offerings.”

KING O’Malley’s Irish pub in Civic was again awarded the award as Canberra’s leading live music venue.

“Peter Barclay, director of O’Malley’s, takes the award very seriously and understands the popularity of providing a live music,” said AHA general manager Gwyn Rees.

ALTHOUGH being pipped at the post, Country Comfort Greenway was highly commended in the Best Mid-Range Accommodation award.

“Hotel Heritage overcame a hotly contested field in the Best Mid-Range Category. The judge commented that recent renovations at The Brassey had also placed it in contention, however after some difficult decisions, a high commendation was awarded to Country Comfort Greenway,” said AHA general manager Gwyn Rees.

all about dancing Canberra’s rising desire

DANCE is increasingly popular in the ACT and region, says Neil Roach, director of Ausdance ACT.

“There seem to be more and more dance classes trying to keep up with demand, “ he says.

Social dances such as salsa and fitness dances such as Zumba or Human Fusion are everywhere, he says – and a healthy studio and community dance sector means there’s a dance class for everyone aged two to 92, “just about anywhere in the ACT”.

Ausdance ACT publishes a Dance Directory for classes across the ACT, and at more than 3000 downloads in May, they know people want to dance, says Neil.

Friendly and fun

“S ABOR ” is Spanish for “flavour” and there’s plenty of it at Canberra’s friendliest dance school, Salsabor, says director Raquel Paez.

“As the temperature drops this time of year, so does the motivation to keep fit. Instead of worrying about what that meat pie will do to your hips this winter, why not keep them moving instead?” she says.

The instructors at the city-based Salsabor dance school are making it easy to get fit and have fun this winter – they are inviting “CityNews” readers to attend a free dance class anytime during August.

Salsabor is not just a Latin dance school, it offers a range of classes to suit your “sabor”. From Hip Hop to Salsa and Zumba classes – “all of the instructors are passionate about making sure you get the most out of your session – whatever level you’re at,” says Raquel.

More information at salsabor.com.au

Dancing for everyone

LEGS Dance Studio is about to introduce a new class for kids aged 10-15 with Down Syndrome and special needs, starting in term three (July 30).

It’s based on the success of its “Dream Team”, a group of young adults and older teenagers who have performed at cheer competitions doing a prom routine, at festivals and openings, and other productions.

As well as special needs classes, Legs offers a wide range of classes for all ages (starting at 18 months) and in styles including tap, jazz, street funk, Ballet Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus and an Eisteddfod and Performance Program for the serious dancer. More information at www.legsdance.com.au or 6293 3212.

Siosiua Tofua’ipangai... main presenter of Pacific Island dances by Phoenix Dance.

Traditional moves and more

PACIFIC Island dances by Phoenix Dance are now offered by the Belconnen Arts Centre, in addition to Flamenco, Latin-style, Bollywood and Zumba classes.

Participants can learn about the distinctive nature of traditional Pacific Island dance and its relationship with classical ballet and contemporary dance, and blend the three to reflect the Pacific Island, multicultural and Western backgrounds of Canberra and its artistic and creative environment.

The program features Siosiua Tofua’ipangai, who will be its major dancer and presenter.

The class, “Introduction to Traditional Island Dances with Ballet and Contemporary,” will run on Fridays from 7.15pm to 8.15pm from July 22 to September 30.

Information and enrolments on 0415 668769, 6257 9907 or slafitani@hotmail.com

Where rockabilly rules

THE ACT Rock ‘n’ Roll Club is hosting its winter prom at the Italian Club in Forrest on Saturday, July 9, and president evelin Muller says members and non-members alike are welcome for an evening of ‘50s fun.

Tickets for dancing only, or dinner and dance, can be purchased, and the evening will feature Sydney rockers the Midnight Drifters, playing a mainly late-50s straight rock style. It’s a great chance to come and see what rock ‘n’ roll dancing’s all about, Evelin says: “We’re hoping people will come along, put on their gladrags and have fun – rockabilly music, in particular, is seeing a resurgence among young people at the moment.”

More information at www.actrocknroll.org.au or mail@actrocknroll.org.au

to get up and dance, dance, dance!

Sharing the joy of dance

WITH more than 40 classes a week and students ranging from children up to the age of 80, there is always plenty happening at Kokoloco for director Becky Fleming.

Becky opened the Latin dance studio in 2004 and since then it has grown to having three locations; Philip, Belconnen and Civic.

Many styles of Latin dance are taught at Kokoloco, from Salsa and Merengue to Ramba and Zumba.

“Zumba has exploded. Everyone loves it and we have found it attracts

a lot of people who don’t like going to the gym to work out,” Becky says Kokoloco strives to provide the best possible dance tuition and performance in a fun and friendly atmosphere. With a focus on body movement, technique and the joy of dance through musical expression.

Kokoloco is dedicated to offering the best in Latin dance tuition, events and Brazillian and Latin dance entertainment.

Phone 6282 9666 or visit www. kokoloco.com.au

Dynamic brides and kids

DYNAMIC Studios offers classes in a variety of dance styles ranging from hip hop crews, Latin American, wedding choreography, school holiday workshops, to little stars for the youngest dancers.

Director Nicole Georgiou opened Dynamic Studios when she was 18 and has passionately nurtured the business for almost two decades.

“As a small child I knew I wanted to be a dancer,” she says. And she sees plenty of children come through the studio with similar dreams.

“One of the best things about Dynamic Studios is that we have classes

for children as young as 18 months of age. It’s a lot of fun,” Nicole says.

Another area that’s taking off for the business is wedding choreography.

“We can teach routines ranging from the traditional bridal waltzes to something a bit more exciting and can tailor something to the theme of the wedding, too. We’ve choreographed routines for a ‘50s-themed wedding to a Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’-inspired routine”

Dynamic Studios, Level 1, Units 1115 Corner of Brookes and Heffernan Streets, Mitchell, www.dynamicstudios.com.au

A Leap to excellence Teaching the teachers

“IDeNTIFY” is a newly-developed original youth dance work in three stand-alone sessions, says Gary Barnes, from QL2 Dance, showing what can be done by talented, creative young people working closely with skilled professionals.

“e ach year we create a flagship performance for QL2’s Quantum Leap ensemble, and it is always exciting and special,” he says. “‘Identify’ explores the idea of identity from three different perspectives.”

The work’s creative team includes Australian professional choreographers Jodie Farrugia, Adam Wheeler and Anton, all of whom were invited to return after successful creative collaborations last year, and who have worked intensively with the young dancers to create the works.

“Jodie Farrugia’s work ‘The Land is Calling’ looks at our migration heritage, from the first indigenous Australians migrating to Australia, each successive wave of migrants through recent history, and migrants and refugees today,” he says.

“Adam Wheeler returned to QL2 in January to create ‘Precipice’, originally part of the ‘Toes on the Edge’ collaboration between QL2 and Bangkok Dance Academy that toured to three major cities in Thailand in January. ‘Precipice’ explores the idea of who we believe we are, the expectations put on us by others, and the boundaries we choose to stretch or accept.

“Choreographer Anton’s work ‘Digital

The QL2 dancers perform in Thailand earlier this year.

Face’ considers how we identify ourselves online.

“It’s a collaborative experience, not just to produce an amazing performance, but also developing choreographic intelligence in young people that enables them to imagine and product new movement with meaning and substance, rather than being steps.”

The 34 local dancers in this year’s ensemble are aged 14 to 20. Most are from the ACT and surrounding regions.

“Identify” will run from at The Q, Queanbeyan, from 7pm, Wednesday, August 3 to Saturday, August 6, with an extra matinee at 2pm, August 6. School matinees will be performed at 10.30am on Thursday, August 4 and 5 August (public welcome).

More information and bookings to www. theq.net.au or 6285 6290.

TRAIN eD dance teachers are in short supply, says Neil Roach, director of Ausdance ACT.

“Ausdance ACT has a new short course for teachers of dance that will lift their skills and give them a brand new toolkit for teaching,” he says.

For dance teachers wanting to excel, the course covers the development of safe, ethical and professional practice and the skills needed to design an effective and safe dance class.

It has four units of competency, selected from the Community Recreation Industry Training Package SRC04, a nationally-endorsed training package, and there are copious support materials for any topic.

The skill set runs over two weeks at the Belconnen Arts Centre, from Tuesday July 19 to Friday, July 22, and from Tuesday, October 11 to Friday, October 14.

More information fromwww. ausdance.org.au/act/index. html, projects.act@ausdance. org.au or 6247 9103.

Hell for leather

Invest in leather this winter for a stylish and practical addition to any wardrobe, says fashion editor lIBBy ROlFE

Not just chic for accessories, leather jackets, skirts and pants have made a comeback this season and anything goes.

Teamed with pretty lace or a classic white shirt, leather can make any outfit effortlessly chic.

If the budget doesn’t allow you to splurge on the real thing, investigate some of the fabulous faux options, which are better quality than ever before. Whether you’re splurging or saving, a well-cut item is sure to stand the

Oran Leather Handbag,$111.95, from Bags to go.

White Verve

Parallel Universe skirt, $259, from Soho

all about home&garden

When a dream (home) comes true

HOUSE TOUR

Words: Kathryn Vukovljak

Photos: silas Brown

WITH the wardrobe of every girl’s dreams and a “boys-only” rumpus room complete with well-stocked bar and flat-screen TVs, Mark and Hieu Taylor’s Forde home ticks all the boxes for the couple who knew exactly what they were looking for.

“After viewing a few houses, we decided to build our dream home because we realised we weren’t likely to find it unless we designed it ourselves,” says Hieu.

“We looked at display homes for inspiration, but we already knew how many rooms we wanted, and how we wanted the house to feel – spacious and airy with high ceilings.

“Our architect helped us with the orientation, so that it all came together logically and so that we had this lovely indoor-outdoor flow.

“The result is exactly what we wanted.”

The light, bright living area features skylights for an open feel, a large modular sofa, rough-hewn, chunky dining table and a gorgeous kitchen with glass green splashbacks, endless bench space and open timber shelves to add character and warmth.

“I love the space in here, and the kitchen is a dream to cook in,” says Hieu.

But she says the highlight of the home for

her is the girl-heaven, walk-in wardrobe.

“I’ve always wanted a wardrobe this size, with plenty of shoe storage,” she says of the Carrie Bradshaw-like space.

“It actually helps me save money, because I can see all my clothes and bags at a glance – I don’t feel the need to do as much shopping!

“It’s also easy to keep everything tidy, because you can put things back in their

place straight away. It’s very practical.”

Although it’s primarily Mark’s domain, Hieu says she also loves the upstairs rumpus area, which overlooks the entrance hall and stunning silver chandelier.

“I don’t like to admit that I like the ‘man cave’, because the intention was that it would be Mark’s space,” she says.

“But it’s very cosy upstairs and we often hang out there in winter.”

Red heads in the frost

I N winter, red can give a garden a real uplift, especially on a frosty morning. Some plants with red berries have a long tradition behind them such as holly, a favourite winter decoration in Europe.

Nandina domestica or “Sacred Bamboo” illustrated here also has a tradition.

Botanically, not a bamboo at all, so it is not going to take over your garden. This is a traditional house-warming present in Japan.

It is said that if you buy a home with this plant in the garden, do not remove it, even if you do not like it. The story goes that if it is in the garden “whilst you may never be rich, you will never be poor”. It does not work if you race out and buy one. Unfortunately, we did not have this growing in our garden when we bought the house!

Along Northbourne Avenue there is a carpet of bright red berries clearly defining

• • • • This week in the frosty, winter garden

the drip line of Cratageous ‘Smithiana’ or hawthorn, so beloved of birds for their winter diet.

Many old-fashioned roses have large red hips. Refer to my Cedfacts garden information sheet at www.cedricbryant. com for uses of rose hips including rose hip tea and rose hip syrup.

The ground cover Cotoneaster dammeri in winter is covered with sealing-wax red berries. In the past, the Parks and Gardens people planted this in neighbourhood parks, remnants can still be seen in Deakin, Forrest and other older suburbs.

Besides berries, let us not forget plants of which the leaves turn red the colder it gets, such as Nandina domestica “Nana Purpurea”, the dwarf version of the Nandina mentioned above.

This had a huge following in the ‘70s until many people decided it was too common and it lost its popularity. Planted

in groups rather than the ubiquitous path edging, it can bring a splash of colour into the winter garden. An improved version is Nandina domestica “Gulf Stream” (N. d. “MoonBay”) with red bordering on orange leaves in winter. I highly recommend this plant and it looks great in a container.

LAST week I made a brief reference to Prunus mume “Rosebud”, the flowering apricot now in full flower about town. This is the first ornamental flowering tree to come into blossom. Every year, when folk see the blossoms in early winter, without fail, I get calls asking: “Is spring coming early this year?” The answer is “no”, this is when it is supposed to flower.

A few weeks later Prunus mume “Splendens”, also a flowering apricot starts to blossom. Next for a continuous floral display is Prunus “Pollardii”, a flowering almond in late July/early August. This is followed in late August/early September by Prunus “Blireana” the first of the flowering plums. To keep the blossoms coming, more suggestions next week. Check deciduous shrubs to see if ties have been left on and are cutting into trunks/branches. Look for summer/autumn flowering bulbs, which need to be planted now. These include Liliums, Day Lilies, Gladioli, Peonies and Nerines. Read about the origins of plants before you buy. Do they come from drier continents similar to ours?

Advance diary date: Rose pruning demonstration by the Horticultural Society at 1 Pillar Place, Lyons, 1pm to 4pm, Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17.

Win a book on container gardening

FOLLOWING on from my recent discussion on container plants, “Continuous Container Gardens” by Sara Begg Townsend and Roanne Robbins (Story Pub. rrp $24.99 Dist. Capricorn Link) recently arrived on my desk. How opportune! This is full of great ideas to have your containers looking good every month of the year, even in mid-winter. Although an American book, it is equally applicable here and almost all the varieties of plants are available locally. Some of the named varieties may have to be substituted, but your local garden centre can advise on this aspect.

One lucky reader will win this book; simply write your name and contact details on the back of an envelope, with the name of a favourite plant that’s doing well in

your week in the stars

With Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 2 – Apr 20)

July 11–17

Rams rush in where angels fear to tread! With the Full Moon falling in Capricorn, patient persistence will get you a lot further this week (especially at work). The Sun and Venus visit your domestic zone, so slow down and appreciate the cozy comforts of Casa Aries – and spend more time with family members. At the moment, home is where the heart is.

TAuRuS (Apr 2 – May 20)

Luxury-loving Bulls – are you keen to upsize your lifestyle? With a bigger this, and a more expensive that? The Full Moon activates your aspirations zone (and Venus squares thrifty Saturn) so make sure you have the cold, hard cash to finance these super-sized dreams! In the current economic climate, small and sustainable is the smart way to go.

GEMINI (May 2 – June 2)

Overindulgence and impulse buys could land Twins in a heap of financial trouble so pause before you purchase – and separate your wants from your needs. If your money is tied up with someone else (either personally or professionally) then keep the lines of communication open. And don’t lend money to others without a formal written agreement.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Relationships are complicated on Thursday, as passion is combined with power games and romance is coupled with responsibility. Friday’s Full Moon encourages you to nurture your partner with some extra TLC. Singles – have you been looking for love in all the obvious places? It’s time to crawl out of your Crab cave and be a little more adventurous.

lEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Don’t barge in with guns blazing (especially at work). Focus on practical matters, and finish details properly before you embark on new projects. Your quote for the week is from birthday great, Henry David Thoreau: “Haste makes waste, no less in life than in housekeeping.” Pay close attention to your dreams – are they trying to tell you something?

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

With the Full Moon stimulating your kids’ zone, be prepared for plenty of post-dinner hyperactivity and a few late nights. If you don’t have children, you may surprise others by just how childish you can be. (Yes, even super sensible Virgos can have their moments of madness!) Friends and finances are a messy mix, so try to keep the two separate.

l IBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

Others will expect more from you than flirty looks and superficial conversation. Serious Saturn is asking you to step up to the plate and deliver something of substance – especially at work. Friday’s Full Moon falls in your home zone, so it’s not a good time to get the long lost relatives together, or bring up sensitive issues with fractious family members.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 2)

Communication of all kinds is highlighted, from reading and writing to discussing and debating. Travel is also likely (especially short trips) but try to slip out of Scorpio controlfreak mode and into flexible mode, as plans are likely to be altered at the last minute. The weekend is a wonderful time to wind down and relax with family and friends.

SAGITTARIuS (Nov 22 – Dec 2)

Your financial self-control is at an all-time low, as you become obsessed with buying something that you really can’t afford. You need to switch from spending to saving mode, and squirrel funds away to cover you when times are financially tight. You’re feeling generous on Saturday but don’t promise more than you can comfortably deliver.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan )

The Full Moon in Capricorn can bring out the best – and worst – in Goats. So what’s it going to be? Patient and responsible, with a wickedly dry sense of humor? Or overworked and super stressed, with a pessimistic approach to life? The choice is yours! When it comes to close relationships, a subtle (and sensitive) approach is the sensible way to go.

AQuARIuS (Jan 20 – Feb )

With Uranus (your ruling planet) charging through impulsive Aries, you’re restless for new experiences. But – if you are in too much of a hurry to shake up the status quo – you may throw the baby out with the bathwater. Intelligent, selective changes are what’s required at the moment. And changes will only last if they are accompanied by consultation.

PISCES (Feb  – Mar 20)

Don’t let shyness or lack of confidence stand in the way of forming close connections with others this week. It’s time to nurture friendships and tell loved ones how you really feel. Do you have to make an important decision? e xpect to change your mind many times, as you play Piscean chameleon and keep your options open until the last minute.

Daily astrology updates at www.twitter.com/JoMadelineMoore

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2011

general knowledge crossword

Across

3 What is a room-heating device?

7 Name the pulpy residue from apples after crushing, as in cidermaking.

8 Which other word is used for thoughts, ideas or notions?

9 Name an intelligent variety of sheep-dog.

10 What is a heavy fall of rain?

11 What are preliminary sketches?

14 Name an alternative term for a grandmother.

17 What, in geometry, is a line dividing an angle?

18 What is something regarded as true and implicitly believed?

19 Which word describes a festive procession?

20 To be getting on in years is to be what?

21 Which piece of photographic equipment makes the print bigger?

Down

1 Name the officer who investigates some deaths by inquest.

2 Which official serves writs for the sheriff?

3 An ebb tide does what?

4 Which substance produces a pleasant fragrance when burnt?

5 Name an infectious, often fatal, fever.

6 What is a platform, for public speaking?

11 What is another term for a general break-up?

12 Which word is descriptive of "southern"?

13 To be more shabby is to be what?

14 Name a person who breaks and enters to commit a felony?

15 What is a more familiar name for an edible, marine, stalk-eyed, decapod crustacean?

16 An aerial is also known as a what?

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