Canberra CityNews October 6-12, 2011

election 2012

Liberals in with an outside chance

A big sigh of relief could be heard across Canberra from the Greens and the Liberals on the announcement of the electoral boundaries for the next election, says political commentator MICHAEL MOORE

THE boundaries for the October 2012 election remain much the same, with just a little tweaking to maintain the parameter of one vote, one value.

The Liberals will improve their representation in the Assembly and have an outside chance of winning government.

The ACT Electoral Commission is fiercely independent and has been through a thorough process to determine the fairest-possible distribution. “The Augmented Commission therefore had a difficult decision to make, given that there were no available options that would have avoided the splitting of any districts,” the commission said.

“On balance... the Augmented Commission has decided to adopt the ‘minimal change’ proposal put forward by the Redistribution Committee.”

Liberal Leader Zed Seselja is providing the Liberals with their best chance at government. They have made the right call in rearranging their key players according to the election boundaries. Seselja has now taken the leadership of the Liberals to the electorate of Brindabella in Tuggeranong, where he was raised. He will combine with the very popular Brendan Smyth, who at the last election won the highest percentage of the vote at 13.4 per cent ahead of Labor’s John Hargreaves on 11.1 per cent.

Labor was just ahead of Liberals with 36.5 per cent of the vote compared to 35.3 per cent. This provides the Liberals with a good chance at winning three seats in that electorate.

Hargreaves is no longer running and Joy Burch is yet to establish a strong presence.

There will be genuine competition for the fourth and fifth seats between unknown Labor and Liberal candidates and the Greens’ Amanda Bresnan. However, it is possible that the strength of voting that any leader brings along with the personal vote for Smyth may well flow over to the third Liberal candidate – especially if they can field a competent woman.

In Molonglo, the seventh seat at last election went to the Greens’ Carolyn Le Couteur. Despite her hard work she really has, at best, an outside chance of retaining this seat.

It was a surprise when the Greens won this second seat and it will be an even bigger surprise if they retain it.

With the extraordinarily popular Chief Minister Katy Gallagher in Molonglo, supported by long-term ministers Simon Corbell and Andrew Barr, the seat is likely to move back to Labor which has almost its entire vote-pulling power concentrated in Molonglo.

Steve Doszpot has now moved to Molonglo (swapping with Seselja) and the Liberals are likely to retain this seat and have an outside chance of winning a third.

Jeremy Hanson has been a strong asset for the Liberals and is likely to retain his seat and Doszpot has his own following. Greens Speaker, Shane Rattenbury, is not under threat.

The Greens have had an advantage with a concentration of their voters in the seven-member electorate of Molonglo, but it is not enough to win a fourth seat.

Meredith Hunter is likely to retain her position in the seat of Ginninderra as is Liberal Vicki Dunne. Hunter has the Greens’ leadership advantage and Dunne has worked hard over a long period to establish a strong following. Alistair Coe, who out-polled Dunne at last election, is likely to retain the Liberal’s second seat.

Labor is significantly disadvantaged in this seat by the retirement of former chief minister Jon Stanhope. Labor stalwart Mary Porter has a strong following, but it is still an uphill battle for Stanhope’s replacement Chris Bourke to secure his own seat before Labor can think about wrestling a third. A third seat to the Liberals in

Car raffle helps to get through

By Freyla Ferguson

IT may be an unusual way to raise money for an election campaign, but the ACT Liberals see their car raffle as a way to get to know their constituents.

Since May, ACT Liberal MLAs have been in Woden and Belconnen malls, selling raffle tickets to win a $47,500 Ford Falcon XR6 – the first time the ACT Liberal Party has raffled a car.

Deputy leader Brendan Smyth says that using grassroots fundraisers, such as raffles, not only helps the party fund its election campaign, but allows them to get to know their community.

“Unlike the ALP, we don’t take hundreds of thousands of dollars from poker machines and problem gamblers,” he said.

Ginninderra is an outside chance that could bring about a change of government.

A year is a long time in politics and there is danger for Labor. The possibility of a Liberal government cannot be dismissed. However, the most likely outcome is for Gallagher to retain leadership of a minority government supported by three of the Greens.

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

“It’s been pretty good so far. It’s a great way to spend time with constituents and serves two purposes; it raises money and also keeps us in touch with the community.”

He said constituents have been very responsive – “who wouldn’t want a new car?” – with many people using it as an opportunity to air their concerns about community issues, including the prison needle-and-syringe proposal and road safety.

“It’s lovely to have that opportunity to obviously listen to both sides of the argument,” he said.

INDEX

September 29-0ctober 5, 2011

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Students plan jigsaw marathon

By Kathryn Vukovljak

A LOVE of jigsaw puzzles has inspired an unusual charity event for ANU students Courtney Parrott and Sinead Creaner.

The girls are gathering teams of four to six people at Warrumbul Lodge Common Room, UniLodge, to make as many jigsaws as they can within a 24-hour period from 6pm, Friday, October 7 to 6pm, Saturday, October 8, to raise money for Save the Children.

“It’s a bit like Relay for Life with jigsaws,” says Courtney. “Rules are that only one jigsaw may be worked upon at a time, and that one person from the team must be working on the jigsaw at any one time.”

“At the moment we’re on the lookout for 1000piece children’s jigsaws, and I think we’ll need maybe 30 or 40,” says Sinead. “After the event we plan to glue the jigsaws into pictures, frame them, auction and donate them to the children’s ward of Canberra Hospital.”

Courtney and Sinead estimate that each team

should complete four to five 1000-piece jigsaws – each 1000-piece jigsaw takes between six and eight hours to complete.

The girls, who are community assistants at UniLodge, say the idea came from a recent movie and pizza night Sinead organised for her floor.

“It was a good night, but the jigsaws we had as a sideline became the hero of the night and people stayed until the early hours to finish them,” she says.

“I love puzzles, I have fond memories of my mum always having one on the go when I was a child!

“So we thought it would make a fantastic charity event.”

Sinead says they’re aiming to raise around $10,000 for Save the Children from the event.

“We’re looking for sponsorship to fund the event, but we’ll be supplemented by the Resident’s Committee of UniLodge at ANU, which is great,” she says.

Emergency? Turn on the radio

LAST month’s chemical fire at Mitchell may have saved countless lives in the future, says

MARK PARTON

THE fire in Mitchell was possibly our biggest emergency drill. It could have been disastrous; it wasn’t but it enabled us to have a training run on a suburban disaster and we passed most of the tests.

The biggest failure was in the new whiz-bang telephone warning system. The weight of SMS messages was just too great.

This same system is used by every State and Territory except WA. It works well if you only have to send out a couple of hundred or a thousand messages, but it buckled under the weight of 170,000 alerts on September 16. The system functions too slowly, so much so that if they had persevered sending messages on the fire day it would have taken seven hours – and nobody has that much time in a fire emergency.

Emergency Services Minister Simon Corbell has promised to raise the issue with the Federal Attorney General and at the standing council on police and emergency management next month.

Perhaps when the WA Government offered us their emergency alert system for free, we should have given it more consideration. Apparently, it can message at much higher volume than ours.

If we can’t fix the message alert system, what do we use?

Every now and then, one of my radio listeners comes up with an idea so wonderfully basic that it just makes sense. Warren called last week with the suggestion that we forget telephone alerts and just use London Blitz-style sirens. It’s not as silly as it sounds; erect 40 or 50 sirens to cover the suburbs and sound them when we’re facing an emergency. The siren means, “turn to local radio now”.

It’s a lot less complex than recorded messages and SMSs.

The telephone system failure again highlighted the importance of local radio in any disaster. Radio can instantly modify programming and cover local events blow by blow.

On the fire morning it wasn’t possible for 2CC and 2CA to broadcast without my breaking the law. I’m not going to go into the ins and outs of what we did and how we did it, but producer Jorian Gardner and I made the call that, in such an emergency situation, it is our duty to inform the public of risk in whatever way we can and I would do it again tomorrow.

Mark Parton is the breakfast announcer at 2CC.

Aloha to big shirts

THE 2011 Hawaiian Ball in aid of the ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group will be held at the Southern Cross Club, Woden, on Saturday, November 19. Tickets are $140 each and corporate packages are available. More information or bookings to actemcsg. org.au or call 6297 1261.

Volunteers needed

THE Humanitarian Settlement Services Program, which provides refugees and humanitarian clients with support in settling in Australia, is seeking volunteers. No qualifications are necessary beyond time, patience and goodwill. More information at Hss5@marss.org. au or call 6248 8577.

Help with parking

WESTFIELD Belconnen has introduced easier parking with a new light system that directs drivers to the closest available vacant spaces. The parking guidance system is part of the final stage of Belconnen’s $125m redevelopment, which now includes parking for more than 2800 cars and 340 bicycles and three car-park entry points.

Overpass gets gong

THE just-opened Kings Avenue overpass has been awarded an engineering excellence award from the Engineers Australia, Canberra Division. The Tharwa Heritage Bridge restoration was highly commended. There were 17 finalists in the 2011 awards, which is the highest number of entrants in almost 20 years.

Who you gonna call? Code busters!

By Libby Hill

A GROUP of tech-savvy teens are taking their love of the iPhone to a new level, and all the way to Silicone Valley.

The 20 Canberra Grammar students, who call themselves the Code Cadets, started meeting five months ago, coming together after school and on weekends to talk about iPhone development, debug their programs and eat pizza.

Since then, the students who are from years 7 to 12 have started developing apps for the iOS platform and are now planning a trip to San Francisco to attend the renowned conference, Macworld 2012.

Year 9 student Lachlan Darrow says Code Cadets is a great opportunity to spend time with his friends and he finds it especially beneficial to be able to meet up with older students.

“We learn heaps from the year 11 and 12 students because they have more experience than us and are able to help if we come across any problems.”

Nick Divall, who is in year 10 says: “We meet up every Sunday for a couple of hours and it’s a chance for us to help each other and learn how to fix problems.”

The students and their teacher, Matthew Purcell, soon realised they had skills to share and saw an opportunity to raise money to fund their San Francisco trip.

“We started holding iPhone development seminars, which were massively successful,” Mr Purcell says.

“About 120 people attended each session and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.”

Held throughout August and September, the Code Classes were open to the public and Mr Purcell said more than 80 per cent of attendees had no affiliation with Canberra Grammar School.

While it won’t be Mr Purcell’s first Macworld conference, he says it’s an important opportunity for the students who will get to see what

they are developing in context.

“They will get a better understanding of the practical implications of what they are doing,” he says.

For more information about Code Cadets or to sponsor the students’ trip go to http://www.codecadets.com/

briefly Choir off to Olympics

CANBERRA’S Australian Rugby Choir is off to sing at the London Olympics next July as one of 20 male voice choirs participating in a “Choir of the World” concert in the Great Hall of Alexandra Palace. As a fund-raising foretaste, the choir is holding its annual fund-raising concert at Hughes Baptist Church, Saturday, October 15.

Gender perspectives?

THE lives and careers of pioneering women who studied the ancient world – from 1683 to today – will be the topic of a talk at the ANU by Dr Lea Beness, lecturer in Macquarie University’s Department of Ancient History. The talk will ask the question: are readings of the past subject to a gendered perspective? The lecture, hosted by the Friends of the ANU Classics Museum, will be at the Haydon Allen Lecture Theatre (The Tank) at the ANU, 8pm, Friday, October 21.

In the grip of a yo-yo brain

By sonya Fladun

I THINK I’m suffering what might be called late-onset attention deficit disorder. I used to be able to happily read for hours or sit riveted to watch my favourite television series. But these days, I’m up and down like a yo-yo.

Five minutes of reading is often spread across half an hour of breaks to put on the kettle, whip up a batch of cupcakes, tidy up after the kids, go to the loo and maybe make a quick phone call. Even when I’m watching a good movie, I’m generally surfing the web, catching up on emails or browsing ebay. I think it’s all a matter of focus, or rather lack of it. I’ve been blaming the children, for the constant interruptions that cut through any thought process requiring more than a few seconds.

The other day I had to leap out of the shower with my hair still thick with shampoo after the five-year-old came to tell me the cocker spaniel had stolen the barbecued chicken off the kitchen bench and was devouring it under her bed.

Later, when getting ready to go out, I was left wondering why the hair brush was stuck in my hair, which suddenly had the consistency of barbed wire. A momentary and totally understandable lapse in concentration, right? But I am convinced that my lack of focus is becoming more pronounced; I find myself unable to relax like I used to.

Once, when I sat down to write, I could type for hours and knock out 30 or more pages of text. Now the instantaneous wonders of microblogging are sucking me in – why labour for hours when you can punch out a quick tweet in 140 characters or less. In the back of my mind is the knowledge that, should I forget a phone number or what the title of that book is or that name of that fab Indian takeaway, it’s all just a search engine away.

I’m not alone in this, with recent academic studies showing concentration spans and memory retention are decreasing because the internet and social media are leading people to live ever-more frantic lives.

I’m not at all sure if this is a good thing. Memory and the ability to concentrate are much like our muscles. If we don’t use them they shrink and wither. In my case, this might not be ideal but when it comes to our children, who actually might require a good memory and decent span of concentration to achieve whatever they want to achieve in life, well, maybe, this is a phenomenon that requires a lot more attention than it’s getting.

Road dips raise motorists’ ire

By Freyla Ferguson

CONCERNED motorists have been complaining to the National Capital Authority about the state of unfinished roadworks at the new Kings Avenue overpass.

While officially open and the 80kph speed limit restored, there is a 40mm dip between the roads that connect Kings Avenue to Parkes Way.

Going down... uneven road surface at the new Kings Avenue overpass, westbound.

According to a spokeswoman, final road work on the intersection is still at least a fortnight short of completion and since complaints from the public, the NCA has installed signs warning cyclists of the conditions and a “gradient”, and most recently a variable message sign. She said the final layer of asphalt is still to be laid, but depending on weather and resources, that could take up to two weeks.

“It’s something we talked to our construction contractor about and it’s not unusual,” she said.

Transport Industry Skills Centre senior trainer Clinton Ernst says if a driver is unaware of the uneven surface on the road, the car could take on its own path. However, he says so long as a motorist has seen the change in road conditions, a vehicle could handle the drop in the road surface at the speed limit.

Construction of the overpass began in September 2009, replacing the Russell roundabout, which had recorded the highest number of accidents of any intersection in the ACT with an average of two a week.

No free kicks for kids

Are kids being robbed of sporting opportunities because of the bureaucratic user-pays philosophy? TIM GAVEL thinks they are

UNDER the current user-pays philosophy, the costs associated with sport appear to be rising each year, putting some sports out of reach of many people, especially children.

When you ask why fees go up, it is often to do with the rising cost of hiring venues, increased insurance premiums, the rising cost of watering facilities and so on.

I have several concerns with this. Firstly, we are constantly told by health authorities and the like to get our kids involved in sport because it is important for their health and it will lead to a reduction in health-related costs further down the track.

I’m not just talking about weight-related issues, but also general health and mental health. There is also scientific research proving that kids involved in sport do better at school; it supports the old adage: healthy body, healthy mind.

But what are we doing to encourage parents to put their kids into sport, particularly when organised sport is often the easiest way for busy families to guarantee that their children are involved in some social and physical interaction beyond school hours?

How can some families afford to participate?

On the surface, it would appear as though we have to do more. For a start, if the ACT

and Federal governments are fair dinkum they would be doing more to reduce the cost of hiring facilities.

It is all very well to have fabulous facilities, but what’s the use if everybody doesn’t have an equal opportunity to use them or they are beyond the budget of most?

The cost of registration, which is borne by the clubs and the players, needs greater government subsidy and greater support from national bodies.

While on the subject of governmentowned facilities, I realise that the hiring charges are cheaper for juniors than they are for seniors, but I would argue why is there a charge at all?

These facilities are not just for junior sport, they are for school sporting activities as well.

Putting kids in junior sport will never be free because there are administration costs, uniforms and other equipment costs.

An added cost, which has become a major expense in most sports, is insurance.

Add to this the costs associated with kids wanting to achieve at a higher level and you have many talented sportspeople pulling out because of the strain on the household budget.

Canberra should pride itself on being an egalitarian place to live; and part of that lifestyle should include choices for kids to play a number of sports.

It shouldn’t be predicated on whether or not it’s affordable.

Insulted by ‘uninformed’ Moore

WHILST Michael Moore is entitled to his uninformed comments (“Ally Turns Hypocrite”, CN September 22), at least he should not become what he accuses the US of becoming, namely a hypocrite.

It is not true that non-Jews cannot vote in Israel. Israel has the same rules that we have here, that if you are a citizen you may vote and just as here your colour or creed is not considered toward your entitlement to be a citizen, in fact, I believe there is an ethnic Arab who is a Minister in the Government. As a survivor of anti-semitism, I am insulted by Mr Moore’s claims of knowledge re this subject and suggest he sticks to matters that do not display his bigoted feelings.

George Fuzi, via email

Why bother, Wendy?

I AM wondering why Wendy Johnson wrote the article in the dining section of “CityNews” (“In, out and happily Q’ilty”, September 22)?

She wanted lunch under a really tight time frame as she was in between meetings. Why

then, after a staff member went to all the trouble to do this for her, would she complain about the way it was presented?

It sounds like she couldn’t find anything wrong, so why make it up over something so trivial?

Debbie c hamberlain, via email

Needle policy contradiction

DAVID Templeman, CEO, Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia, (letters, September 29) is yet another drug commentator who ignores the complete contradiction in the ACT Government’s needle policy.

It has ruled out any possibility of a medically supervised injecting centre in the Canberra community and, as the name indicates, even in the presence of medical staff and nurses. So there can be no justification for allowing needles in our prison.

The inmates have already been given one sentence, they don’t need another!

colliss Parrett, Barton

a reader’s story

Ha, you call that a tent?

NEW language, new handwriting – but when the school announced that year 10 students were going on a nine-day camp, I was totally confident. After all, when you are talking tents, you are talking Arab.

We have been tent experts for thousands of years. There are not many stones in the desert and if you can get a tree to grow there, you are not going to cut it down to build something. Goats, on the other hand, we have always had a lot of, so we make tents from their skins.

To Australians, a tent is a shelter; to us, it is a residence.

A traditional Arabian tent is home for up to 10 people. It has rooms, carpets, cushions, all the comforts of home (because it is home).

Tents are our tradition, our heritage. So I told Tom and Richard they were in good hands. Their friend Ahmed knows about tents.

But when we got our tent, I

Coming from the United Arab Emirates to live in Australia, year 0 student AHMAD AL GHARDAQA had a lot to learn when it came to camping

was shocked. Instead of huge poles and masses of material, the parcel was the size of a sleeping bag.

“What is this?” I wondered.

“A free sample?” That was the tent. We must put it up. Well, okay. Maybe it was bigger than it looked. Now, sand is great for camping. If a sand dune is not level, you can push it around and make it level. No sand at the campsite, but plenty of rocks and tree roots. It would have taken a bulldozer to make this level. I found a spot but it looked a little slanted. Never mind. We got the tent up but there was a bit left over.

“What is this?” I asked.

“Rain sheet?” my friends

suggested. I had never heard of such a thing. Rain is not really a problem in the desert. Surely it was a pad or carpet. So I put it on the ground.

That night we learned that the Australian idea of a threeperson tent and an Arab’s idea of a tent big enough for three are very different. We learned the bit left over was not a carpet, it was indeed a rain sheet (and it was raining). We learned that even a gentle slant causes three guys to roll down to the bottom of a tent and end up in a pile. I loved caving, canoeing and even the 25km hike (with pack; without camel) on our nine-day camp. But, really, we still need to talk about these tents!

Photos with a sharp focus on success

CANBERRA photographers

Kelly Tunney, Dan O’Day, Chris Morrison and Beth Jennings won gold awards at the 2011 Canon AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards, held in Sydney earlier this year.

O’Day went on to win a major category, the 2011 AIPP Australian Creative Photographer of the Year.

Their work is the focus of a Floriade exhibition by the ACT Division of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) showcasing the silver and gold award-winning prints by the ACT members.

These prints were judged in a variety of categories including family, commercial, illustrative, landscape, portrait and wedding.

The awards are held annually, and this year – its 35th – attracted more than 3000 entries from professional Australian and NZ photographers, who compete for awards by submitting four images, which are judged by a panel of their peers.

With a history of more than 40 years, the AIPP is Australia’s leading professional photography institute. It supports professional photographers at all stages of their careers, enabling them to become accredited members of the AIPP.

It is the only professional photography organisation that provides a standard assurance

through its ongoing accreditation program.

Catering to photographic enthusiasts, students and industry veterans, membership with the AIPP is a symbol of professional ability and dedication to the photographic sector and community.

WHAT: Canon AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards, ACT winners’ exhibition WHERE: ACTEWAGL Look and Learn Pavilion, Floriade, Commonwealth Park. WHEN: October 11-16, during Floriade hours.

The good, the bad and the parliament

The recent behaviour of Federal Parliamentarians has prompted a new outburst of objection about the low standards of our legislators. Get over it, says DON AITKIN, it’s never been any different

ALTHOUGH I do not possess an “Abusometer” or anything like it, I doubt that we have experienced a new low in parliamentary debate recently. Australian politics, especially at the Federal level, has been like that from the beginning. Why is it so? There are a number of reasons. One is that much of Federal politics is not about the delivery of services of one kind or another, but about ideas, ideology and passion. These themes can easily bring out good and bad feelings, and good and bad language.

Another is that a substantial section of the Opposition feels that the present Government hardly deserves to be there at all, and that it would be overwhelmingly defeated at the polls should there be an election. The parallels with 1975 are plain, and that was also a time when the language of politics was crude and abusive.

I don’t like the slanging any more than the next person, but I’m used to it – and I can ignore it, too.

But what is missing today, at least in my experience, is the funnier side of slanging. There is little wit or humour. Those complaining about the gutter language of today should recall the efforts of Paul Keating, Prime Minister 20 years ago. He could be as crude as they come. But he was funny, too, at least sometimes. Who today could refer to an attack on himself by the other side as “as painful as being flogged by warm lettuce”? Who could come up with a reference to an opponent as “a shiver looking for a spine to run up”?

I’ve mentioned the Whitlam years already, and there was some very tough talk then, but alive

and well was Fred Daly, and Parliament has known few funnier MPs. I love his election slogan: “Give us this day our Daly, Fred”. And then I think almost at once of Jim Killen, Jim Cope, Bert Kelly and others of the 1960s and 1970s, all capable of real wit.

Was it that the issues then were not so serious? Rubbish! These were the years of a possible nuclear holocaust, of Vietnam, of the apparent end of prosperity, of stagflation. No, every period thinks that its own problems are the worst that humanity has ever experienced.

Then there was the baiting of a sleepy George Reid by Billy Hughes.

Reid, asleep after a good lunch, was being verbally tormented by Hughes, and Reid’s colleagues prodded him into wakefulness, the then-Prime Minister clearing his head by moving it.

“Ah” said Hughes, “the Honourable Member shakes his head!”

“No, I, er...” began Reid, trying to work out what was going on.

“But he did! I distinctly heard it rattle!”

I can’t neglect Menzies, who did not, at least in my knowledge, descend to the gutter, though he had Eddie Ward to contend with, but had an elegant wit, best expressed in a famous exchange on the hustings: “Come on, Bob! Tell us all you know!”

To which Menzies replied: “I’ll tell us all we both know – it won’t take any longer!”

Churchill called Australian politics “robust”, though he never came here to see it in action. I’ll stick with what we’ve got, even its distasteful side. It’s a great deal better than the alternative.

Stress challenges city growth

URBANISATION has caused the global rate of population growth to drop significantly.

So says traveller, academic and author Joel Kotkin, who made a compelling presentation at the recent Cities Summit held in Sydney.

Kotkin’s support for oldfashioned suburbs challenges a lot of current thinking about the need for greater density and infill in our major cities, and which turns current urban planning in many locations on its head.

His argument is that the stresses of high-density urban life leave workers too exhausted to manage a family.

“Where you have density, you tend to have very few children.”

For example, he argued, in Mexico, the birth rate is now lower than it is for Mexicans living in the US.

Even under Iran’s theocratic regime, he said, there had been a dramatic reduction in the birthrate. And most populations were ageing.

property c atherine c arter

Kotkin identified the ratio comparing a community’s number of retirees to the number of people of working age.

There had been a “very dramatic” increase in the ratio.

It’s around 30:100 in Australia, meaning there were 30-something retired people for every 100 workers. In some countries, such as Germany and Japan, it was approaching one retiree for every two workers.

“I don’t see that that’s sustainable,” he said, adding that those countries were forecast for increasing debt as a result.

He said the conventional wisdom was to assume that populations were moving back to cities, but less than 20 per cent said they wanted to live in the city. Around 35 per cent wanted the “tree change” to a rural lifestyle (but he dismissed some of those people as dreamers, who would hate the actual lifestyle if they ever attained it). People, including retirees, were mov-

Author Joel Kotkin...

ing into suburbs, more than in the 1990s and more than into the cities.

However, in widely dispersed Canberra, I believe there is scope to have more density near to Civic, the major employment centres and along transport corridors.

In the end though, what everyone needs is a range of affordable housing choices, whether that’s in a traditional suburban home or an apartment with an urban lifestyle.

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

Busy world of lovely Bungendore advertising feature all about Bungendore

DESPITE its proximity to Canberra, Bungendore has a distinctive rural look and ambience, says Dr Jay Gomboso, president of the town’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“It is just about everywhere you look: at our local events; in our communities; in our buildings, which date back to the mid 1800s and, most importantly, in our people – with their warm, country-style hospitality,” she says.

“We have an active and vibrant business community, and a Chamber of Commerce and Industry that is 20 years strong.

“We proudly boast an array of high quality, locally-based designers and craftsmen, who play a major part in defining Bungendore’s arts, crafts, food and fashion.”

Bungendore was settled in 1837 and has become a major tourist centre in recent years.

In 1901, Lake George and Bungendore were proposed as sites for the nation’s capital city. However, the draw-card of Lake George failed to impress the visiting commissioners.

THE theme of this year’s Bungendore spring ball is “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas”. It will be held on Saturday, October 29 at the hall in Bungendore Public School. Tickets are $90 each.

More information at 0412 611847 or by email to penny.s.ford@gmail.com

THIS year’s Bungendore Rodeo will be held on Sunday, October 23. The celebrated rodeo, now in its 51st year, features – as always – events such as bull riding, bareback riding, saddlebronc, steer wrestling, rope and tie and team roping. More information, including a downloadable program, at www.bungendorerodeo. com.au

THE arrival of the railway in March 1885 helped the town to grow quickly. At the now-historical Bungendore Railway Station is the year-old Station Shops, a homewares and gift shop with a little French influence. Just opened in the former ladies waiting room is the Platform Gallery – a space for local and regional designers to showcase their unique pieces, including the work of

Canberra-based milliner Rachael Henson. Rachael is currently showing her springracing inspirations.

Station Shops is open Thursday to Sunday and the Platform Gallery is open Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm.

THYMES 33 is a pretty, modern cafe with all the comforts of home. Owners Karen Broadhurst and Alison Cryer say they love nick-nacks and that Alison even decorated the fresh-feeling space with items from her own home.

The café serves all-day breakfast, gourmet rolls, wraps and pies, cakes and gluten-free bread and cakes.

“Everything is made here on the premises, fresh every time,” says Karen. “Our produce is local wherever possible and our halloumi and zucchini fritters are to die for!”

Thymes 33 is open 8am-4pm seven days.

NEXT to the pretty sun-filled courtyard of Thymes 33, is the office of solicitor Cheryl Welsh, of Just Law, who says she has been in business in Bungendore for over five years.

She has a general law practice and deals in all areas of law. If she is unable to help with a particular problem she is able to refer clients to a solicitor who is able to help. Just Law has a solicitor who handles all legal aid matters in both ACT and NSW. After-hours appointments are also available to those who are unable to make appointments during business hours.

Just Law, 4/33 ellendon Street Bungendore, 6238 0192.

JUST outside Bungendore is Bywong, where gold was discovered in 1894. The Bywong Gold Mining Town promises a unique educational experience in an authentic gold-mining town that existed from 1895-1906.

Visitors can work in the blacksmith shop, pan for gold, turn the tiny stamp mill (which children did to survive at the turn of the century), see the machinery that separated gold from the ore, visit the mining area, unchanged since the last gold was extracted, and explore the re-created 1890s village.

“Teachers return here year after year because, let’s face it, where else can they show students 120 years of gold history only 30 minutes from the city centre?” says Bywong Town tour operator Chris Fowler. Bywong Gold Mining Town, 35 Bywong Town road, Bywong

Hellenic Club in the City turns two

Thriving Civic hub celebrates birthday

THERE is plenty of change happening in City West and one of the area’s hotspots, the Hellenic Club in the City, is seeing growth, too.

It’s the club’s second birthday and venue manager Mick Douros says it’s going from strength to strength.

“It’s a really exciting and fun place in the community,” Mick says.

“It has been very rewarding over the past two years to see patronage grow and people making the club culture strong.”

Mick says the Hellenic Club, in Moore Street, plays an important part in the community.

“We’re all about giving back to the community and to our members. It’s our job to offer a place to socialise and feel comfortable and offer value for money,” he says.

“The club scene is still very much alive. People still enjoy the sense of community here and there is a nice intimate feel.”

Mick acknowledges the support of the community in making the club’s culture strong.

“I’d really like to thank all the club’s members, guests and staff for supporting the club over the past two years and I’m looking forward to many more years of good times,” he says.

“Over the past two years, I have watched the place grow and the member base grow and it makes me really proud.

“We now have more than 10,000 members on the northside.”

This week the Hellenic Club in the City is offering free coffee to members as part of a special second birthday promotion to say thank you.

The Hellenic Club in the City encourages sponsorship proposals from local sporting groups and associations.

The Hellenic Club in the City,13 Moore Street, Civic. Call 6162 6777 or go to www.hellenicclub.com.au

Hellenic Club in the City

City West good for business

WITH full bar and gaming facilities, a bistro and cafe and $9.90 lunches the Hellenic Club has proven popular with city workers during the week.

“We see lots of public servants and people who work in the city coming in on weekdays and then, on weekends, the club is very popular with uni students who kick off their night here with a few beers and a meal before heading out,” says venue manager Mick Douros.

Mick says the increasing vibrancy in the City West precinct has been good for business.

“City West is really coming to life. We are seeing lots of development in the area with more cafes, restaurants and accommodation, which is really positive.”

Just the place to party or plan

THE Hellenic Club in the City’s two large function rooms are ideal for Christmas parties, special occasions or corporate functions, according to venue manager Mick Douros.

“We have lots of conferences here and the venue has been really popular for businesses holding staff training days,” he says.

He says the club’s functions department is happy to help plan your next function, whether it be a conference or wedding reception. The club has two rooms, which have both been recently renovated.

The Atlas Room suits intimate occasions and boasts large open windows providing an abundance

of natural light. Newly refurbished with a private bar inside the room. Inbuilt data projector and screen, surround sound, microphone and DVD. Capacity 122.

The Poseidon Room is a large and modern space with a private bar inside the room and a large adjoining balcony. Guests may enjoy the view from the balcony or enjoy the large open spaces within the room. There is lots of natural light along with inbuilt data projector and screen, surround sound, microphone and DVD. Capacity 266. For enquiries contact Sean on 6162 6707 or email at cityfunctions@hellenicclub.com.au

Take the Sumo Challenge

THERE are a range of regular events for members including trivia nights, free Greek movie screenings and all UFC fights are screened, says venue manager Mick Douros.

And there will be more improvements to come at the club including TAB facilities and an outdoor cafe area.

Also popular with members is the Sumo Steak Challenge where patrons are invited to devour a 1kg rump steak with chips and vegetables or chips and salad plus a jug of Stricklands 1842 beer in 45 minutes. The challenge costs $45 to enter and depending on the result, the diner will be featured on the fame or shame wall.

Mick encourages anyone to take on the challenge and try to beat his record.

“There is quite a bit of hype about the challenge and you can do it any day of the week,” he says.

It’s just one of the things at the Hellenic Club in the City that contribute to the atmosphere, he says.

The Bistro offers quality meals at affordable prices. You can indulge in a hot or cold entrée, then move on to a steak from the char-grill, a roast of the day, a chicken schnitzel or indulge in some fresh seafood. All meals are prepared and cooked on the spot.

Café offers

great selection of teas and hot chocolate. There are lots of light snacks including toasted sandwiches, banana bread, raisin toast, quiche and sandwiches. Desserts include tarts, cakes, slices, muffins and friands which are available all day.

Canberra Confidential

With Lisa Ridgley

Harry Potter seen in Braddon

FORMER Network Ten News journalist Harry Potter’s been spotted out in Canberra recently, dining with friends at the Haig Italian Restaurant, in Braddon, and it wasn’t just the food that impressed him.

The crime reporter, whose career spanned more than 30 years, was apparently rather taken with our local Kamberra Winery’s 2009 Meeting Place shiraz and chardonnay.

Word has it Potter was so keen to get a hold of a case or two, he left his details with restaurant staff so they could investigate the possibility on his behalf.

The 70-year-old joined Sydney’s Eyewitness News in 1978 and retired on Christmas Eve last year after successfully beating cancer twice. Many will recall his most famous line: “The headless torso was found lying face down”.

Let’s hope this latest mystery wasn’t too difficult to solve!

Bryce to open school show

THE Cranleigh School community will no doubt be celebrating after hearing that its annual art show is set to become a vice-regal affair.

“Confidential” can reveal that Governor General Quentin Bryce will open this year’s show, which will feature more than 230 artworks by local artists

including Cranleigh students.

And you might want to get in early, “Confidential’s” witnessed first-hand how quickly the pieces get snapped up. The show raises funds for Cranleigh, a school for children with disabilities, and is again sponsored by Capital Chemists. opening night is Friday, october 21 and the show runs until Sunday, october 23. Tickets, at $15, from www.cranleighcapitalchemistartshow.org Pitcher this...

AUSTRALIAN Baseball League’s Canberra Cavalry has secured its major sponsor for the 2011 season.

“Confidential” can reveal UberGlobal has agreed to back our boys, in a deal that’s secured the team’s immediate future and attracted the best-possible players.

Canberra-based UberGlobal is one of the largest web-hosting companies in Australia. And, while the ink was barely dry on the paperwork, the Cavalry secured coach Steve Shrenk again this season, as well as attracting elite baseball players from minor league’s Tampa Bay Rays (Florida), and the major league’s Lotte Giants (Korea) and Hanshin Tigers (Japan).

“Australian Baseball League is the equivalent of minor-league standard in the US and it’s backed by their major league… they see Australia as a training and development ground,” says Cavalry’s chairman Ivan Slavich.

“It’s huge over there… the minimum salary for major-league players in the US is $400,000 a year,” he says.

Meantime, the Canberra Cavalry’s pitchers Hayden Beard and Steve Kent have joined 23 other Australian baseball players at the Baseball World Cup in Panama. But the boys will be back for the Cavalry’s first home game of the season at Narrabundah Baseball Park on November 4.

Dishing up secret recipes

WE all have our favourite restaurants and if you’re anything like me, you may find yourself sticking with what you love and ordering the same thing at the same restaurant time and time again. Ever wished you could get hold of that recipe?

Well, “Confidential’s” heard whispers a book containing the secret recipes of leading chefs and restaurants from the Canberra region has gone to print.

The “Nurture” cookbook is the brainchild of SIDS and Kids ACT and is set to go on sale in early November – just in time for Christmas.

secrets good enough to eat.

And while “Confidential” can’t confirm its recipes, we can report some of the restaurants include The Ginger Room, Pulp Kitchen, The Lobby Restaurant and Courgette. Apparently, our award-winning chefs were more than happy to hand over a few of their secrets for a great local cause.

At $24.95 a copy, all proceeds will stay in the Territory. Contact SIDS and Kids on 6287 4255 for pre-order details.

Josh shares body secrets

JENNIFER Garner, Matt Damon, Jessica Biel and Madonna all do it and now you can, too! If you want a hot bod in time for Christmas, CrossFit might just be the way.

That’s what ex-Brumbies’ winger Josh Birch believes. He opened CrossFit 2600, Canberra’s only purpose-built facility almost a year ago and he told “Confidential” that he’s fitter now than ever before.

“I was pretty fit when I played with the Brumbies back in the 90’s, but that was nothing compared with the fitness gains I’ve made since I took up CrossFit,” he says.

The former Marist boy maintains the training is not just for our sporting elite or the rich and famous. In fact, he says, it can be tackled by anyone. “Everyone and anyone can do it no matter what your fitness level,” says Birch. CrossFit can have you running, skipping, doing weights and rowing all in the one session. And for time-poor folk, there’s now no excuse; a session can be knocked over in as little as 20 minutes. Head to www.crossfit2600.com.au

all about ACT Worksafe Month

Careful, don’t touch that asbestos!

ACT Work Safety Commissioner MARK McCABE says it is illegal for homeowners to work with banned, asbestos-based materials

IF you are a DIY (do-it-yourself) home renovator or a tradesperson, you will probably come across asbestos every once in a while.

While this doesn’t have to be an automatic cause for concern, care must be taken in any situation involving asbestos.

In light of a number of concerning asbestosrelated incidents on residential and commercial sites recently, I believe it is important to remember what we are dealing with and how best to keep ourselves and others safe.

It is hard to imagine that asbestos-based materials were so commonly used in residential and non-residential buildings throughout Australia until it was banned from residential use in 1985, and banned entirely in December 2003.

If your house was built before 1985, there is a good chance it contains asbestos-based materials, with some common locations including kitchens, wet areas and under the eaves outside your house. The only way to know for certain if your house contains asbestos is to have a licensed asbestos assessor conduct a test.

Asbestos generally poses a health risk when asbestos fibres are released into the air and are inhaled or ingested. This only occurs

if you come across asbestos in its friable or loose form or when bonded asbestos starts to break down and deteriorate. Bonded asbestos that is in good condition and undisturbed generally does not pose a health risk. There are no determined “safe” levels of inhaling or ingesting asbestos, but what we do know is that the chance of developing an asbestosrelated illness increases with longer term and frequent exposure.

If you are a homeowner or DIY renovator, it is important to understand what you or any hired help can and cannot do with asbestos. Firstly, it is illegal for you to work with asbestos-based materials, so if in doubt, call a professional.

Secondly, there is a misconception out there that any tradesperson can simply remove up to 10 square metres of asbestos. This is not the case. Only a licensed asbestos removalist can remove asbestos from your property.

Thirdly, while certain types of tradespeople can work with asbestos in limited situations, they must be suitably qualified and follow strict requirements and guidelines.

Remember, if in doubt, play it safe and we should all be able to breathe easier as a result. For information at www.asbestos.act.gov.au

ActewAGL sees value in safety

ACTEWAGL aimed to be recognised as a safety leader when it came to eliminating harm to people, property and the environment, said the company’s CEO Michael Costello.

“Safety is at the core of ActewAGL and with an internal safety motto of ‘Work safe. Home safe. Always safe’, ActewAGL recognises the health and safety of its workers outside of work, as well as within the workplace,” he said.

“That’s why ActewAGL, which supports ACT Work Safety Month and is committed to continuous safety improvement, is currently developing and implementing a number of safety projects and initiatives to further improve safety for all its workers.

“We believe that the more we identify, eliminate or control hazards in our workplaces, the safer our jobs, and the community will be.

“Reducing the number of workplace-related injuries also means that we have the opportunity to provide our customers with high-quality and timely services.”

ActewAGL was also committed to the safety of the community, as well as fellow businesses that have a working relationship with the organisation, and during the year a range of public safety campaigns have been implemented, she said.

Combating occupational skin cancer

CANBERRA outdoor workers receive at least five to 10 times more UV exposure yearly than indoor workers, which places them at a higher-than-average risk of developing skin cancer, including melanoma, warns the Cancer Council ACT.

At least two in three Australians will experience some form of skin cancer before the age of 70, with the risk being higher in men than in women.

Occupational health and safety legislation has a clear objective to prevent illness and injury at work and saving lives and ACT employers must take all reasonably practicable steps to protect their workers from any foreseeable harm, including over-exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

The council says ACT workers also have a responsibility to take care of their own health and well being at work and must co-operate with their employer’s efforts to improve workplace health and safety practices and procedures.

“While effective sun protection behaviour will minimise one’s risk at whatever age it is applied, it is vital that young Canberra workers entering the workforce develop and maintain healthy attitudes and behaviour around skin cancer prevention and awareness, including

the importance of early detection,” the council says.

“Generally speaking, a combination of sun-protection measures is recommended when UV reaches ‘moderate’ levels (3) and above.

“By October we are already experiencing ‘very high’ UV levels each day in Canberra. The higher the UV levels the less time it takes for unprotected skin and eyes to be damaged, increasing one’s lifetime risk of skin cancer.

“Canberra workers who are required to spend extended time periods outdoors should aim to adopt a combination of sensible sun protection measures all year round.

“This includes adequate clothing and hat, wrap-around sunnies, access to sunscreen and using shade when available.”

The council says the good news is that skin cancer is also one of the few almost totally preventable cancers.

The Cancer Council ACT can provide workplaces with on-site information sessions, outdoor workplace kits and other resources to help maintain awareness around occupational UV exposure and skin cancer.

More information at 6257 9999 or visit www.actcancer.org

Conference promises practical approach

THIS month, safety professionals from across Australia will gather to experience a practical approach to health and safety at “The Safety Conference Sydney: One Small Step”. Presented by the Safety Institute of Australia Ltd, it will be held at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, October 25-27.

The conference will present the latest in OH&S research and legislation from industry leaders, with each day focusing on a key area of OH&S process: gap analysis, planning and application.

Looking towards harmonisation in 2012, the first day will provide up-to-date legislation

and tools to carry out best practice. Keynote speakers John Watson, general manager WHS Division, WorkCover NSW and Greg Pattison general manager, Workplace Solutions, NSW Business Chamber will provide valuable thought leadership for making the transition to legislation harmonisation and how to manage associated risks.

The second day of the conference will look at safety behavior. The opening keynote address from Prof Andrew Hopkins will set the scene for discussion on preventing workplace incidents by monitoring and changing the behaviour of individuals.

The final day of the conference will begin with a keynote address from Beaconsfield Mine survivor Todd Russell and lead into sessions focusing on the application of best-practice techniques to prevent and manage workplace injuries.

In addition, and new for 2011, discussion groups facilitated by WorkCover NSW will provide attendees with practical guidance on implementation and understanding of the new legislation.

More information and registrations to www.sia. org.au/nswsafetyconference

At the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Yarralumla

At the 51st anniversary of the independence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hotel Realm

all about Cup fashion

Angela likes breaking the rules

COVER STORY

By Libby Hill

WHEN it comes to dressing for the races, serial fashions-on-the-field entrant Angela Menz, of Kingston, is not interested in rules.

“I know there are a lot of unwritten rules and I tend to ignore them,” Angela says in response to those who advise of demure dressing.

“Often my skirts are a bit shorter than other contestants and some people think that strapless is inappropriate for the races. Well, I have worn strapless and I will do it again and I have won fashions on the field wearing a strapless dress.

“I think if something is done right, it doesn’t necessarily have to fit the rules.”

The 27-year-old has entered more than 100 fashions-on-the-field competitions during the past decade. Her partner isn’t mad about going to the races so she always goes with her dad (a former bookie). She says going to the races has always been a part of her life.

“I’m well and truly into triple figures now. That’s a lot of fashions on the field!” she says.

And it’s paying off. Angela, who manages a retail store, is preparing for one of the biggest contests so far when she heads to Melbourne next month to compete for the fashions on the field national title held on Oaks Day.

“I’ll get to go to Myer birdcage and mingle with the celebrities and I’ll also be in the Melbourne Cup parade, sitting in a car waving to the crowd,” Angela says.

“I still get really nervous, I’ve done so many and I’ve been doing it for so long, but I still get really nervous.

“I believe the celebrity judge for the final is going to be Sarah Jessica Parker so to be standing in front of someone like that and be judged on your outfit is pretty scary.

“Another judge is milliner Philip Treacy and he is like a god to me, so that’s going to be really exciting.”

Lucky for Angela, she doesn’t have to stress about what to wear to Oaks Day.

“For my winning outfit, which I now have to wear in the final, I was going with the colour-blocking trend so that was chartreuse, hot pink and orange and very strong block colours.”

For the “CityNews” cover shoot, Angela’s outfit featured a clash of prints, with the one shoulder and bubble skirt mixing

gingham with florals, which she also plans to wear during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

“I guess it’s a bit of an eclectic look,” she says.

“I think for the races, feminine, romantic and pretty looks are always appropriate and something I’ll be doing.”

Angela views her love for race wear as a hobby. She finished studying fashion design a few years ago and since then spends much of her spare time designing clothes and headwear. She still can’t decide which she likes best – the millinery or clothing design.

“I do love fashion and I spend a lot more time on it than the average person,” she says.

And how much money does she spend on her passion for fashion?

“I try not to think about that too much because it might depress me. I think if you really want something, you will always find a way to afford it.

“Other people my age spend a lot of money travelling around going to music festivals and concerts and this is just my thing that I pour my money into and spend my weekends doing.

“I love it and just get completely sucked in!”

Cup fashion calls for more colour

Jendi black and white striped clutch, $39.95, GIC black diamante clutch, $26.25, Jendi black beaded clutch, $19.95, Trend red clutch, $31.95, all from Bags To Go.

“CITYNEWS” cover girl and fashionista Angela Menz has been keeping an eye on the trends for the upcoming spring racing carnival.

“I think we’ve had a big shift in race wear this season,” Angela says. “We’ve moved away from the vintage fashions of previous seasons and we’re now seeing looks that are more modern with a lot more colour.

“Colour blocking is certainly something that I noticed coming through in Sydney and is in the shops everywhere so I think we’ll be seeing a lot of it in Canberra on Melbourne Cup Day.”

Win tickets to see Red Hot Chilli Pipers

“CityNews” has three double passes, valued at $90 each to give away.

All the details and entry form at citynews.com.au/win

Melbourne Cup fashion special feature

all about the arts

Teddy can’t stop tickling the ivories

By arts editor Helen Musa

ONE of Canberra’s most brilliant pianists, former Narrabundah College student Edward “Teddy” Neeman, is a finalist in the biennial Southern Highlands International Piano Competition.

Neeman is home in Canberra for a break after completing the coursework for his doctorate at New York’s celebrated Juilliard School. He’s already performed at the Polish Embassy and the Wesley Centre in September and will return to the US, to complete his doctoral thesis, after performing Grieg’s Concerto in A minor with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra in Llewellyn Hall on October 19-20.

“I’m trying to do more actual music-making… and also I thought it would be fun to do the Southern Highlands competition as well,” he says. He wasn’t doing classes in New York, so was able to enter.

The piano competition is centred in Bowral and has prizemoney totalling $50,000. The 30 contestants, aged between 18 and 34, come from Australia, China, Hungary, Italy, Korea, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Taiwan, Ukraine, and the US.

Since September 30, they’ve been competing for the first prize of $20,000 and the opportunity of performances in America, France, Russia and Belarus. The international panel of jurors is headed by Mira Yevtich, from St. Petersburg. Last year’s winner, a Russian pianist now resident in Canada, has also just won one of the biggest Chinese piano competitions.

I caught up with the competition’s artistic director, Grant Foster, recently in Canberra, where he outlined his vision for young concert pianists. This year, for the third such event, he has scored a major coup with the Russian maestro Valery Gergiev agreeing to become patron.

Foster, a noted composer and musician who has been living in the area for eight years, said he had agreed to become director only if it would be “an international competition which would attract people from around the world”.

He started small, with $30,000 from Springett’s Family Foundation of Bowral and now they have more than $260,000 and a solid basis of in-kind donations and family billets.

For the first time, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra will back the concerto in the finals on October 9. It’s a move he sees as adding gravitas because of “the high standard” of the orchestra. Foster also hopes some preparatory rounds will be

held in Canberra during the Centenary year, 2013.

Foster is an impressive name dropper, but with good reason, as the spin-off performances for the prize-winners are achieved through his contact with musicians from busy cities in Italy, the US and Russia who appreciate the quiet of the Southern Highlands.

“It’s so difficult for young artists to get noticed,” he says.

The Southern Highlands International Piano Competition culminates in a concerto performance, Clubbe Hall, Mittagong, 3pm, october 9. Bookings and information at www.shipc.org.au or 4885 1734. For edward Neeman’s CSo concert on october 19-20, bookings to 132849.

Swing

band hits the spot

MUSIC

“In the Mood” String of Pearls Orchestra, Canberra Theatre, September 29.

Reviewed by Ian McLean

WITH a mispitch, brass untunefulness and a sloppy military-like band entrance, I feared this show might prove to be over-hyped.

THANKFULLY, my fears were unfounded. Unashamedly nostalgic, this slick, tightly rehearsed and entertaining American production was just the job for a jam-packed theatre keen to relive the days of the big bands. The audience loved it!

A first half devoted to the ‘40s then a heart-tugging tribute to the music of World War II and how it drew the American people together. Australia was not forgotten with a stirring “Waltzing Matilda” interwoven with the “Star Spangled Banner” and an invitation for service veterans to stand and be acknowledged.

It wasn’t the String of Pearls Orchestra that dominated the show, but rather the marvellous, six-piece In the Mood Singers and Dancers who crooned wonderfully, moved gracefully, captured tight harmonies and generally charmed the socks off everyone.

Singer/compere Mark Brignone was a perfect host, while the swing dancers were mesmerising as they glided through complicated routines.

After the slightly dodgy start, the crisp, well-balanced band replicated the sound of the era just about perfectly and the solos, particularly those of trombonist and drummer, received deserved prolonged applause. Initial misgivings disappeared quickly and I really enjoyed this highly professional and cleverly presented show.

A touch of jealously, though; why can’t Canberra’s fine professional and community big bands and the outstanding Jumptown swing dancers draw such crowds?

How Nim made a monkey of the hippies

“PROJECT NIM” (PG)

IN 1973, a family of wealthy New York hippies bought a baby chimpanzee, named it Nim and set about rearing it as if it were human. None of the family had any knowledge of primate behaviour.

To tell Nim’s story, documentarist James Marsh uses archival footage, interviews with the humans who played roles of varying importance in Nim’s life and some staging to fill in gaps between story and resources available for telling it.

The experiment was doomed to fail once Nim stopped being a cute juvenile. The family and their voluntary assistants ignored the signals. Academics with different mind sets and attitudes toward keeping animals for scientific experimentation came into the act.

Sequences showing how universities treated their chimpanzees will distress people of compassion.

Nim never knew life in the wild. His life, until dying of a heart attack, aged 26 must have confused him mightily.

Marsh pulls no punches in telling this story. Its emotional profile begins entertaining before progressing steadily toward bleak. That’s why it’s worth seeing. Happy endings are not obligatory.

At Dendy

Driving home after a restaurant dinner, when Emily (Julianna Moore) tells husband Cal (Steve Carell) that she’s been unfaithful, he opens the car door and gets out.

Cal picks himself up and starts frequenting a bar where he regurgitates his injured psyche over whoever will listen.

Playboy Jacob (Ryan Gosling) teaches him how to pull chicks including high-school English teacher Kate (Marisa Tomei). Cal’s 13-year-old son Robby is in love with babysitter Jessica who loves Cal! Hannah (Emily Stone) has rejected Jacob, but after a romantic disappointment elsewhere gets back with him.

The permutations of these and other pairings form the foundation for some very skilled performers to strut their stuff for our enjoyment.

A long two-hander between Jacob and Hannah stands out, but every performance, including the juveniles, is admirable.

Making us laugh with gentle wit while its issues offer food for thought, the film offers something useful for partners in every kind of relationship to think about, as well as a well-timed surprise.

At all cinemas

“CRAzY STUPID LOVE” (M) “THE WHISTLEBLOWER” (MA)

CHOOSING which of the people involved in creating this comedy who most deserve praise was not easy, but at its conformist yet credible conclusion, my vote went to writer Dan Fogelman for giving directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa such a great package of dramatic goodies to translate into moving images.

CANADIAN film maker Larysa Kondracki’s based her confronting feature debut on American cop Kathryn Bolkovac’s book recounting her experiences as a UN peacekeeper in Bosnia.

A gritty sere story, filmed with matching images, develops slowly as Kathryn (Rachel Weiss)

Nim... The experiment was doomed to fail once the chimpanzee stopped being a cute juvenile.

uncovers an organised racket selling girls in their early teens. The bad guys include UN employees confident in their protected status. The good guys, short of resources and reliable intelligence, have to do their jobs by the book.

The combination of ready-at-hand, low-priced sexual comforts and rake-offs from the pimps and traffickers forms a potent barrier against staff seeking to make a difference for the better.

Kathryn discovers that her job wallows in a slough of racial prejudice and economic blight among colleagues doing well from corruption. Using rigorous methodology and professional

standards, she develops a case involving two young women only to learn that the prosecution files she worked so hard to create have been closed.

The main thrust of the plot is about getting them to the attention of somebody with enough clout to make people at the top listen. Even the BBC seems doubtful about her.

Bolkovac’s book is unrestrained in telling a distasteful story. Kondracki wears her heart on her sleeve, telling us: “You don’t have to love what my film says, but please take it seriously.”

At Greater Union

New voice for local music

By Freyla Ferguson

CANBERRA’S music industry is banding together to create a new peak music body called MusicACT that will represent, promote and advocate for all music in the ACT.

The ACT is currently the only State or Territory without a music body in Australia and, after nine months of planning, a group of nine people within the ACT music industry have decided now is the time to begin one.

“When it comes back to our charter, we want to represent music in the ACT through advocacy and promotion, that’s exactly what we are doing,” MusicACT president Gil Miller said.

Mr Miller said there had been a number of music organisations set up over the years, including another MusicACT, but none have got off the ground.

“One of the concerns of some of the local organisations is that we will be stomping on their turf, but it’s quite the contrary,” he said.

“Anyone who has existing facilities, we are looking at utilising them and bringing them on board as a member.

“We aren’t looking at reinventing the wheel.”

Mr Miller said that, ideally, they’d like to see the organisation become independent and not have to worry about where funding is coming from.

“We are always going to be dependent on sponsors, but we need to get to a point where we can have our own office setup with an administrator-cum-general manager, secretarial support,” he said.

So far, MusicACT has already begun planning sound and lighting workshops and business workshops for up-and-coming artists.

He said he also hoped members could approach

MusicACT president Gil Miller... “We want to represent music in the ACT through advocacy and promotion.”

them for help when facing issues such as noise constraints or lack of venue space.

Currently, MusicACT is working closely with the ACT Government through artsACT but is seeking new members and sponsors.

Already, they’ve attracted the sponsorship support of Elite Sound and Lighting, NAB, Canberra Milk and design agency Giraffe.

And they’re looking for any musicians, DJs, producers, venues, and music related organisations, educators, retailers, businesses and professionals who’d like to take out a membership.

MusicACT will be launched at The Deck, regatta Point , Wednesday o ctober 12. Local bands, The Goji Berry Jam Fusion Band and Fun Machine will be performing. More information at info@ musicact.com.au

arts in the city

The march of the Munchkins

PHOENIX Players are lashing out from October 7-22 at the ANU Arts Centre with “The Wizard of Oz”, directed by Kelda McManus and Jon Garland. It has no fewer than 20 little Munchkins and BJ Anyos as the Wicked Witch of the West. Dinner and show (including a child’s menu) through Teatro Vivaldi 6257 2718. Bookings to 6257 1950.

IT looks like being an Italian season of art. With the support of the Italian Embassy, perspex and foam works by non-conformist painter-sculptor Sante Monachesi, originally curated out of the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna in Rome, are at the Gallery of Australian Design, at Commonwealth Place in the parliamentary triangle, until October 29.

YOU can’t keep an old rocker down. Jon English and his troupe of young musos will be at the Canberra Theatre with “The Rock Show… More!” That means more Beatles, more Stones, more Who, more Zepplin, more Bowie, more Elton, and so on. Bookings to 6275 2700.

PAINTBOX Fine Art, 32 Lonsdale Street, Braddon, has Sophie Gralton’s “A Child Most Likely”, 11am-5pm, Wednesday-Sunday, until October 9. Most works are autobiographical self-portraits, but she crops the eyes so that the result is a fleeting moment or a memory.

IDENTICAL twin brothers and stars of Melbourne International Comedy Festival, James and Benjamin Stevenson are at Civic

Pub, 8 Lonsdale Street, Braddon, 8pm, October 5-8. The show will be recorded for a CD release. Tickets at the door.

POETRY comes to the screen, when the cream of the “Poetry in Film” festival appears at the National Film and Sound Archive at 7pm, October 10. Independent film makers were asked to interpret the poem “Four Letters Three Words”, by Belinda Hilton, into a short film.

A NEW dance film “…in wonderland” by James and Emma Batchelor, part of Canberra Contemporary Arts Space’s festival “Close Range”, running all day on October 8 and beginning with performance art films in CCAS’s Gorman House space. “…in wonderland” will then be performed at 7.30pm as an installation supported by living sculptures, featuring dancers Laura Boynes and Adelina Larsson and musicians Shoeb Ahmad and Tristen Parr. Tickets $10.

Rich taste of Bali takes a bow

dining

Wendy Johnson

WHEN I think of Balinese food, I think rich flavours, rich colours and rich aromas.

Traditional Balinese cuisine is the order of the day at a small, unpretentious restaurant on Emu Bank, Belconnen.

Sanur’s Balinese Restaurant, established by chef Handra Tjhie in 2007, has picked up a couple of restaurant and catering awards for excellence for Asian dining, which – from the first bite – is no surprise.

I was fascinated by the “Soto Corner” section of the menu. Soto is meant to be a common soup, and is created in an endless number of regional ways, but I’ve never found anything common about it.

Sanur’s soto soup, which you can order with traditional or clear broth, is to die for. The combination specialty of the house ($16.90) is made with authentic Indonesian herbs and spices (still very much alive in my memory bank) and the full-bodied broth almost indescribable with flavours so intense and so exotic – chilli, lime, coriander, coconut and vegetables.

The wheat noodles, chicken tenderloin,

prawn dumplings, king prawns and soy bean cake are tasty, but also filling (this is a big bowl of soup). The rational side of me, which warned it would be too much to finish the dish, had a real tussle with the emotional side of me, which cried out for me to do so (I got about half way through).

Sanur’s also has gluten-free soto soup, with the noodles replaced with rice cake.

My friend’s Gulai Bebek ($21.90) was equally exotic and I would not hesitate to order it on another visit. This Balinese-style, yellow duck curry is served with lychee and piping-hot Asian vegetables. The duck was tender (and there was loads of it) and the authentic flavours out of this world. So lovely with fluffy, white rice.

The décor at Sanur’s is as warm and inviting as the food, with earthy Balinese tones. The tables are a good size and can easily accommodate several dishes if sharing is what you love to do. If you visit at lunch, as we did, take a look at the quick specials for just $10.90. The day we dined specials included slow-cooked beef rendang and Opor Ayam, tender chicken cooked in spiced coconut curry.

Sanur’s service is friendly and efficient. My only complaint, and this is not particular to Sanur’s, is what happens when you hit the tail end of the lunch period as staff get busy setting up for dinner. We could have done without the noisy scraping of tables and chairs along the floors. It’s just a bit annoying sometimes and disturbs meal conversation.

Sanur’s Balinese restaurant Shop 1, 114 emu Bank, Belconnen. Call 6162 1688. Take away menu available. Fully licensed. o pen Tuesday-Saturday for lunch and TuesdaySunday for dinner.

The theatre of politics

ALANA Valentine has succeeded in her aim to create authentic characters exaggerated enough to be theatrical within a context of Canberra’s special place in the Australian political and cultural scene.

Rarely has The Street Theatre witnessed such an evident opening-night bond between the theatrical event and its audience. Geraldine Turner WAS the MP. Her performance was so real within the artifice of the stage that one could forget we were watching an actress.

Soren Jensen played two strikingly different roles and Andrea Close played five characters, each demonstrating very different qualities.

Stephen Barker’s mastery of nuanced dialogue illustrated the awkward experiences of the “Canberra” male establishment’s changing realities on a personal and social level. Leah Baulch portrayed a most endearing yet calculating character with a recognisable truth.

Imogen Keen’s set was mythic and reminiscent; the sparse and uncluttered set was a masterpiece of theatre design. While the production still needs to find its rhythm between scenes and a greater degree of variation in intensities, “MP” is an exciting theatrical event with a quality of text that is accurate and inspiring.

Prints charming

By Libby Hill

ANIMAL, geometric, floral or abstract – take your pick of this season’s beautiful, printed dresses.

Canberra fashion designer and stylist Janette Lenk says bold accessories are a great way to personalise a look.

“Define your style by adding a pair of leopard-print shoes or a belt and spice it up a bit,” she says.

And there has never been a better time to start experimenting with colour.

“Don’t be afraid to colour block and choose geometrics and make a statement.”

Janette says it’s also important to complete the look with make-up to complement.

“Old Hollywood glamour is back and the lipstick finish is velvet matte.”

Gorgeous cottage garden in Gowrie

MAYFIELD is a garden in Gowrie with roses blooming in terraced beds, which combine with perennials and exotics to create a cottage garden feel.

Elegant Eucalyptus mannifera provides a canopy for front beds where groundcovers flourish.

“We purchased 26 Gratwick Street in January 2003, just after the awful Canberra bushfires,” says owner Jo Gross. “The bigger house and larger block attracted us here, but it was hard leaving behind a pretty garden in Curtin.

“However, an extra bonus was a big, empty backyard, just perfect for a lovely new garden. Our new front garden had basic landscaping with lush lawn, but far too many trees and little else of interest.

“Gardening is my passion (my husband John loves admiring only) and I had brought loads of cuttings and baby plants and seedlings from my former garden,” says Jo.

The block sits on a gentle slope so terracing seemed a good idea to Jo, plus soft paths of gravel so that every drop of rainfall would stay in the garden.

“I redesigned the front garden myself and did most of the work with a little help from my husband and son,” she says.

“All grass was removed, new garden beds added, others enlarged, paths were widened and we used a light-coloured gravel for paths and extra parking on the nature strip.

“Because the two manifera rather dominate the front garden, I thought that a mix of natives and

Photographs by silas Brown

exotic plants would work quite well.

“Our back garden was also designed and largely built by me. I wanted a pretty garden with the WOW factor, as well as practical considerations such as vege and herb areas and some lawn for the grandchildren.

“Roses, Camellias and Hebes are three of my favourite shrubs and have been used extensively.

“We have a garden view from every window in the house and some calming and relaxing spots in the garden and the patio.”

Mayfield, 26 Gratwick Street, Gowrie, is open 10am-4.30pm, o ctober 15-16. entry is $6, under 18 free; plants available for purchase.

The twining ways of wisteria

gardening

cedric Bryant

WISTERIA conjures up images of romantic cottages with the powerful fragrance wafting through the air.

Pictured here is such a scene, on the front veranda of a late 19th century cottage, with wisteria growing in conjunction with euphorbia wulfenii, a wonderful contrast.

Wisteria sinensis, or Chinese wisteria, has been cultivated in that country for more than 1500 years and admired as much for its blossoms as its dragon-like gnarled and twisted trunks.

The Australian authority on wisteria is Dr. Peter Valder, whose book “The Garden Plants of China” (1999) is a must for any garden library.

American botanist Thomas Nuttall named wisteria after Caspar Wistar (1761-1818), a North American physician and early promoter of vaccinations.

Wisteria sinensis was introduced into Western gardens from Canton in 1816 and is possibly the most-popular variety, with stems twining anti-clockwise on posts.

Phillip von Siebold introduced Wisteria florabunda,or Japanese Wisteria, into Western gardens from Japan in 1830. This one twines clockwise on posts. An interesting peculiarity that, to my knowledge, no one can explain. You can try every method possible to make them go the other way, it just does not work.

Wisteria colours range from pure white to deep mauve/purple. To enjoy wisteria to its best is to grow it over a high, strong pergola or frame to allow the racemes to hang down and still be able to walk under the flowers.

I cannot emphasise enough the word strong as the trunk and stem can reach an incredible size as illustrated here. The wisteria was originally growing over a timber frame that collapsed under the weight of it, especially when in full flower. Note the small piece of remaining timber pergola encircled by the plant! As this was at an historic homestead, the timber frame was replaced with a strong, galvanised metal frame. Get going on groundcovers

AT present, the ground is beautifully soft for weeding and planting. Think of ground covers as a living mulch; they will keep the ground moist, reduce evaporation and look

considerably better than most mulches.

Let us consider a few suggestions starting with carpet thyme, such as Thymus “Doone Valley”. I recommend this as some thymes such as the culinary Thymus Westmoreland, or Turkey Thyme, can grow to 40cm tall.

An extremely ground-hugging, living mulch is Dymondra margaretae with silver grey variegated foliage and tiny yellow flowers.

Ajuga “Catlin’s Giant” is in flower in gardens and garden centres with its deep blue spikes of blooms 25-30cm high.

Parahebe “Oxford Blue” is one of the real delights in our garden mixed in with Phlox subulatus. Do not confuse this variety with Phlox paniculata, which grows from 75cm-90cm high.

Let us not forget rosmarinus prostratus, the ground cover rosemary or Scaevola “Mauve Clusters” or Scaevola aemula “Summer Blues”.

I suggest you plant most ground covers about 40cm-50cm apart. One of the most vigorous ground covers is the great Aussie Myoporum parvifolium with fine leaves and a mass of tiny white flowers. This is a real toughie and will even grow well under gum

Now is the time to...

•

Trim conifer hedges. Very important not to cut into the old wood as most conifers will not re-shoot from this old wood.

Hold off planting tomatoes until after Melbourne Cup Day. You will gain nothing by planting sooner.

As an indicator, once Sambucus nigra or elderberry flowers, one can assume frosts are over.

Refrain from watering gladioli,

Wisteria gets heavy... this plant was originally growing over a timber frame that collapsed under the weight of it. Note the small piece of remaining timber pergola.

trees as is evidenced under our eucalptus Nicholii on the nature strip. This is just a small selection to get the thought processes going for living mulches.

unless the weather is very dry for an extended period.

•

•

Add honey or glucose to the water of cut flowers and remove leaves under the water.

Visit the Slow Food Festival in conjunction with the Botanic Gardens and The Corinbank Music Festival on Saturday, October 15, 6pm-11pm under the stars. More information at www.corinbank.com

your week in the stars

With Joanne Madeline Moore October 10-16

ARIES

(Mar  – Apr 0)

Many Aries (like Marlon Brando and Diana Ross) were pioneers in their chosen fields. This week’s Full Moon (in your sign) sees rampaging Rams at your inspirational best, as you forge your own unique path. Plan plenty of physical activities so you channel excess energy in constructive ways. If you don’t face up to your responsibilities, expect relationship problems.

TAURUS (Apr  – May 0)

You’re not in the mood to mix and mingle, so keep a low profile this week Bulls. The Full Moon brings up secrets from the past. Expect vivid memories to come flooding back, or the resurfacing of a sensitive old issue. It’s also important to get the balance just right in your daily life. Perhaps some routines, activities, bad habits (and people) will have to go?

GEMINI (May  – June )

Mercury (your ruling planet) moves into Scorpio on Thursday, which will improve your concentration span. At home and work, it’s time to look beneath the surface gloss to decipher what’s really going on. A fragile relationship with a child or teenager may be tested on Friday so tread carefully Twins. And has a fair-weather friend passed their used-by date?

CANCER (June  – July )

Expect some workplace dramas, as the Full Moon triggers prima donna moments and petty jealousies, and you find yourself the talk of the town. Try to schedule difficult tasks for another time, as you’ll have trouble keeping your mind on the job (and your emotions under control). If you neglect home and family issues, they’ll come back and bite you on the bum.

LEO (July  – Aug )

The Full Moon activates your travel/adventure zone so get out and about as much as you can. But don’t be too disappointed if a holiday or weekend escape is delayed. It’s definitely not a good time to be stuck indoors otherwise you’ll drive yourself (and those around you) crazy with your demanding diva-like ways. Hey – just another wild week in Leo land!

VIRGO (Aug  – Sept )

Vigilant Virgos love things to run efficiently and on time. But there’s manic Full Moon energy about, so drop the strict schedule and just take things as they come. With the full moonbeams stimulating your sex/money zone, expect some dramatic developments to do with lust or loot. When it comes to finances, a conservative approach is the sensible way to go.

LIBRA (Sept  – Oct )

This week, you may feel there’s a gulf between you and the world. Don’t take criticism to heart – and don’t let others dampen your Libran love of life. Be inspired by birthday great Eleanor Roosevelt: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Shop carefully. With Venus visiting your money zone (until November 2) you’re liable to overvalue things.

SCORPIO (Oct  – Nov )

Get ready for Full Moon energy to disrupt your carefully orchestrated daily routine. Expect mood swings and emotional dramas (but also creative inspiration and spiritual insights). Attached Scorpios – share your aspirations for the future with your partner. Singles – stop focusing on past failures. Spruce up your keyboard skills because love is waiting online.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov  – Dec )

The feisty Full Moon falls in your drama zone so expect an eventful week full of extremes – everything from passion and flamboyance to arguments and dummy-spits. On Saturday, voluptuous Venus/Jupiter aspects increase your tendency to overindulge. So your motto for the weekend is from birthday great Oscar Wilde: “I can resist anything but temptation.”

CAPRICORN (Dec  – Jan )

Prepare for domestic dramas and family fiascos of the fiery kind, as the Full Moon lights up your home zone. Friday’s Sun/Saturn connection boosts your ambitious streak. You’re keen to get ahead but don’t trample over others on your climb to the top (and don’t neglect loved ones). Aim to get the balance right between your personal and professional responsibilities.

AQUARIUS (Jan 0 – Feb )

Expect to hear a few unpleasant home truths this week, as the Full Moon and Saturn stir up your communication zone. It will be hard to express yourself, as you say the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time. If you learn from your mistakes, then you’ll bounce back in no time. On the weekend, you’re in the mood for some frivolous fun.

PISCES (Feb  – Mar 0)

The Full Moon stimulates your money zone so it’s not a good time to go on a shopping spree, venture into the real estate market, plus buy or sell shares. You’re likely to make important financial decisions based purely on your emotional state, which is fluctuating wildly under the full moonbeams. If you lend cash to someone in need, don’t expect it back in a hurry.

Across

1 Name a type of world renowned whisky.

8 What is a particular type of bowling?

9 What is a discourse for the purpose of religious instruction?

10 Name a slender flexible animal appendage which serves as an organ of touch, etc.

11 Which other word applies to a buccaneer?

12 Name the capital of Italy.

13 What is a narrow piece, comparatively long and usually of uniform width?

16 Name a popular card game.

19 Which acronym describes the Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation group?

21 Name the dogs used in the chase.

22 To get something back is to what?

23 What is the child of one's uncle or aunt?

24 What is another word for a hatchet?

25 Name the first US crewed orbiting space laboratory, launched in 1973.

Down

2 Name an alternative term for a pharmacist.

3 What is a set of kettledrums?

4 Who was the governor of NSW 1795-1800, John ...

5 Name the state of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, etc.

6 Which silver-white substance occurs in limestone, chalk, etc?

7 What is a general pardon for offences against a government?

13 What do we call strong distilled alcoholic liquors?

14 What are measured movements, as in dancing?

15 Which other word applies to outcasts?

17 Montevideo is the capital of which republic?

18 Name a rich, strong, white wine, resembling sherry.

20 When one verifies for correctness, one does what?

BONNER

Canberra Region Property Summary

CALWELL

CAMPBELL

DEAKIN

Canberra Region Property Summary 100%

DICKSON

0408 805 408 4BR E

6209 1700 4BR H

703 443 4BR H

Turbayne Cr Ray White Canberra 0419 715 736 5BR E

Turbayne Cr First National Gungahlin 0414 249 449 4BR G

Turbayne Cr Bentham 0415 045 648 4BR H

Turbayne Cr First National Gungahlin 0414 249 449 4BR

FRANKLIN

FRASER

GRIFFITH

GARRAN

HAWKER

Canberra Region Property Summary

JERRABOMBERRA

HIGGINS

HOLT

LATHAM

NGUNNAWAL

Canberra Region Property Summary

Canberra Region Property Summary

WANNIASSA

WARAMANGA

WATSON