Canberra CityNews November 17-23, 2011

Erin’s making plans for Braddon

By Freyla Ferguson

A BOUTIQUE hotel, a suspended pool, apartments, commercial space, two storeys of retail, bars and restaurants – Lonsdale Street in Braddon will be unrecognisable once architect and designer Erin Hinton has her hands on it.

“I could go on for hours about it,” she says. “I love it!”

Erin, 31, landed her dream job last year, when she was chosen to design a six-storey mixed-use building on the 14,000sqm block that currently accommodates businesses from Thrifty Car Rentals to Cafe Bamboo on Lonsdale Street owned by Nik Bulum.

“People love Braddon already, so it was saying: okay, it’s because the street is a great scale, the trees dominate, it has a nice feel to it,” she says.

“It doesn’t have a mall feel. It doesn’t have a consistent glass facade where everything looks the same. It doesn’t have signage that has to conform.

“And that’s what we love about it. We wanted to keep that.”

Erin, who owns her own design business Hinton, brought on board another local architect Nathan Gibson Judd to take on the project.

“We are working with Nik Bulum, who

INDEX

November 17-23, 2011

Since 1993: Volume 17, Number 44

Arts&Entertainment 19-22

Canberra Confidential 10

Cinema 20

Crossword 18

Dining 22

Home&Garden 23-24

Horoscope 18

News 3-10

Politics 8

Property 25-39

Social Scene 16-17

18

is one of the younger directors of B & T Construction,” she said.

“He is only a few years older than I and the great thing about that is he has given me a complete licence to do something completely different, at the moment, without any restrictions. Other than planning regulations, of course.”

She said the designs have been with ACTPLA for about eight months, but appear to be close to being approved.

Her design will see the building retain its two storeys on the street side with six storeys towards the back of the block.

One of the big features of the building will include an eight-metre void that will

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Architect and designer Erin Hinton...

“We wanted to make sure that wherever you were, there was business and grittiness and activity. Not just glass facade.”

act as a “promenade street”.

“You walk into that void and you can see things happening on all six levels and they can all look down to you,” she says.

Within the void there will be a concrete podium featuring three by three-metre cubes, which will feature work of local artists, including one computer-generated piece that changes colours and patterns depending on how much activity is happening in the building at the time.

“From the very beginning, we put a lot of focus into not making it feel like it’s this slab of built form,” she says.

“Lonsdale Street has a really beautiful scale at the moment and we were very

Journalists: Freyla Ferguson, freyla@citynews.com.au Kathryn Vukovljak, kathryn@citynews.com.au

Libby Hill, libby@citynews.com.au

Lisa Ridgley, lisa@citynews.com.au

Arts editor: Helen Musa, 0400 043764 helen@citynews.com.au

Design and photography: Silas Brown, 0412 718086

Graphic designer: Louise Brooks

Accounts manager: Bethany Freeman-Chandler accounts@citynews.com.au

Distribution and circulation: Richard Watson, circulation@citynews.com.au

Contributing photographer: Andrew Finch

conscious from the start that we wanted to maintain that scale.

“The other thing we wanted to do, was make sure that we didn’t max the block out and build right up to the frontage the whole way.

“There were to be a lot of shops in it, but they are articulated so they are on different planes.

“So some are up back, some are short, some are tall, you get that kind of ad hoc feel that Braddon has at the moment.”

Retail will also run along different little alley ways into the building plus on the second storey.

“We wanted to make sure that wherever you were, there was business and grittiness and activity,” she said. “Not just glass facade.”

Erin is also an associate professor of architecture and the interior architecture course convener at University of Canberra.

Her work through the university helped her found the design collective called Faculty.

Their work can be seen in the local cafe, Two before Ten, that drew together UC design graduates to design everything from the stools to the artwork.

With her Lonsdale Street project close to approval, Erin is now starting new projects with the Molonglo Group’s NewACTON and 221 developments.

“It’s super unusual, in all honesty with someone with my level of experience and of my age to be working on a building of that scale it’s a dream job,” she says.

“CITYNEWS” has outgrown its office above Bailey’s Arcade and moved to a larger, refurbished space in the same building.

“We had been looking for a while across a variety of suburbs and situations, but came to the conclusion that it was important to keep the paper’s heart in the city, close to the Legislative Assembly and in touch with all the vibrancy that Civic brings,” says general manager Greg Jones.

“We have a great relationship with the Notaras family, Bailey’s Arcade owners, so it wasn’t hard to resist when a larger space became available.

“With the the success of launching citynews. com.au and the paper’s dynamic editorial and advertising elements, it was time to meet the growth with the right creative environment.”

CityNews’ address remains Level 1, 143 London Circuit and its mailing address, at GPO Box 2448, Canberra City 2601, is also unchanged.

Excuses royal for delays

By Freyla Ferguson

THE temporary Floriade traffic lights on Commonwealth Avenue stayed in place longer this year and, if you believe the flower show organisers, the Queen’s to blame!

Weeks after Her Majesty left Canberra, the lights remained in place, every day slowing the city’s principal southern entry and exit.

The lights, installed for the safety of pedestrians walking from the Acton car park to Commonwealth Park, were installed on Monday, August 15, four and a half weeks before Floriade opened to the public on Saturday, September 17 and remained in place this year for 13 working weeks.

The lights, temporary speed limits and fences were scheduled to conclude by 5pm, Friday, November 5.

However, it took four weeks after the event, to remove the infrastructure.

And why? ACT Tourism event manager Matthew Elkins said the reason all infrastructure, including fencing, was delayed a week was because of the Queen’s visit to Floriade, four days after it was closed to the public on Sunday, October 16.

The time frame for Floriade bump-ins and outs, were part of ACT Tourism’s risk management plan, and generally ran for three to four weeks.

He said, in this case, the main reason why there was a delay in the bump-out was due to the royal visit. However, in the past, bump-outs have also been delayed for “natural” reasons such as

the weather.

The removal of temporary signage along the median strip on Commonwealth Avenue, that welcomed commuters to Floriade, was only removed on Monday October 31 – two weeks after the end of the event.

The Queen again? No. Mr Elkin says this was an oversight and all temporary signage was scheduled to be removed in waves starting from October 15.

The three car parks at Regatta Point, were also scheduled to be reopened to the public on Monday, October 31, however fences surrounding some of the car parks were still in place after the date.

Mr Elkin said he was unaware of the royal visit when the scheduled times were first announced.

Taking it to the streets

By Freyla Ferguson ORIENTEERING

may be better known for geeks running around the countryside with maps, but “Street O” (or street orienteering) hopes to dispel the myth.

“We are trying to sex it up a bit,” organiser Julie Sunley says. “It’s not at all geeky.”

Julie, an events organiser and keen bush orienteer, ran a pilot street orienteering series for Orienteering ACT in April that, like bush orienteering, involved participants navigating their way through a course in search of check points called controls.

The April event, which was run in different suburbs in and around the city, attracted more than 450 participants.

Its success has guaranteed other events running throughout November and December plus another six weeks after Christmas.

Julie, who began bush orienteering six years ago, says it’s a great sport for the entire family. Her husband and daughters, aged 18 and 20, still orienteer together as a family.

“It’s designed to get people active,” she says. “We are trying to promote the convenience of the sport.

“You don’t need equipment, and don’t have to be competitive if you don’t want to.

“It’s also fast and can be over in 60 minutes. And really cheap.”

The sport can be competitive, but the Street O series is designed for all levels of fitness and experience.

Julie says the sport is also a great way for people to get into exercise. Also new mums, run (or

walk) courses with their prams.

The series is now up to event three, run from Forrest Primary School on Monday November 21. The other events will be held in Hackett, Yarralumla and Macquarie.

There will be four different courses, course A with 18 controls over 9km, course B with 15 controls over 6km, course C with 12 controls over 3km and power walker – 60 minutes to visit as many controls as possible while walking.

And all participants need are sandshoes.

“You also get watermelon after it!” says Julie. Street Orienteering Series, event three, Monday November 21, Forrest Primary School Park, National Circuit. Cost $5, children $2. More information at act.orienteering.asn.au

No business like show business by the kids

HERE we go again; it’s the pointy end of the year when everything seems to rush at you from all directions.

For me, the end to 2011 is providing a wealth of new experiences as our two highly energetic children are now involved in a host of activities that add a whole new dimension to the pre-Christmas experience.

At year’s end, all the activities undertaken to keep your children busy and happy – ballet, gymnastics, swimming, sports – culminate in events, concerts, competitions and celebrations. Certainly, I don’t remember any of my experiences as an eight-year-old – stumbling, totally uncoordinated, through tap, ballet and jazz – being nearly as intensive, complicated or logistically challenging as what my children are now committed to.

These days, preparation for your kids’ end-of-year performance can be a resource and time-intensive experience; with everything from trying to find an elusive red lipstick to the one-and-only brand of hairspray that will really hold up its end under intense stage lights. It can be a desperate shopping treasure hunt – although one dance company has offered the whole make-up kit for a mere $110 (if you can’t attend the crash course on make-up and hair styling for unskilled parents).

mum in the city

sonya Fladun

And gone are the days when part of the entertainment was when one of the little ballerina swans took a dive into the orchestra pit; these days you can look forward to exhaustive practice and extensive dress rehearsals designed to deliver a fault-free, completely professional performance.

Gone, too, are the days of recording your child’s performance with a Polaroid camera. Amateur photography has been replaced by a special day put aside for a comprehensive, professional photo shoot to deal with the most restless of subjects. This might be for the best – after all it would be tragedy if all the hard work was only recorded as an abstract blur or perhaps as a modernist “Headless Girl in Blue Tutu” (as I was portrayed many years ago).

Of course, I wouldn’t miss seeing either of my amazing munchkins up on stage for anything and I’m looking forward immensely to seeing them leaping, pirouetting or tumbling away. For me, no matter what may or may not happen, they will be totally awesome.

CIT stars on show

CIT’s Centre for Creative Industries is hosting a student showcase at the Old Bus Depot Markets over three nights, Tuesday, November 22 - Thursday, November 24, called “CIT Momentum 2011”. The collaborative event by 300 students will showcase work from fashion design, photography, visual arts, building design, screen and media and more. Industry-ready, emerging talent will be presented at exhibitions, film screenings, sound installations, CD launches and the popular annual CIT fashion parade. General entry tickets at the door $5 per person ($3 concession) and CIT Graduate Fashion Parade tickets, $40. More information at cit.edu. au/citmomentum2011

Macklin meets Mitchell

“CITYNEWS” columnist Robert Macklin will be “In Conversation” with journalist/author Alex Mitchell, focusing on Mitchell’s memoir, “Come The Revolution”, in which he will recount his meetings with, among others, Yasser Arafat, s addam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi. National Library, 4pm, November 22.

Hughes for food...

HUGHEs Primary s chool, in Groom street, is holding its International Food Extravaganza, 4pm-8pm, on s aturday, November 26. stalls will sell food from countries such as Japan, Korea, France, s audi Arabia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as barbecue and pizza options. The entertainment is also multicultural and activities include craft, books, cakes and sweets, jumping castles, splat a rat, guessing competitions and more.

… and Christmas carols

THERE will be an evening of Christmas carols at Hughes Primary s chool on December 11. The evening begins at 6pm with free activities for the kids – including a jumping castle, face painting, free fairy floss and doughnuts. The carols will begin at 7.30pm and feature a choir and band ensemble. There will be a visit from s anta, who will arrive under lights and sirens, courtesy of the local sEs unit.

politics

Libs going up in smoke

Listening to the Senate debate the tobacco plain-packaging legislation made MICHAEL MOORE want to vomit!

THE outcome of the tobacco plain-packaging legislation was fantastic – fewer people will die from using this putrid product – but the debate was atrocious.

Tony Abbott’s leadership has taken Opposition politics to a new low. It flabbergasts me that the person who slipped the political knife into the back of Malcolm Turnbull, to win the Liberal leadership by the narrowest of margins, has been able to change the party dynamic so fundamentally.

Even when the conservatives are supporting an important piece of legislation, they manage to turn everything to a negative. They have picked up on the US Republican approach of mercilessly opposing every possible element whenever they can.

There are exceptions. Liberal Senator Alan Eggleston, from WA, is a true gentleman who put community interest above the party political mantra that is dominating at the moment. He has been in the Senate since 1996 and his experience shone through. It is a shame that there are not more like him.

Liberal backbencher Mal Washer, who is also a GP, worked with Eggleston and a few others to lead the charge on the tobacco legislation within the party. Abbott had to make the choice between either opposing the legislation or having a divided party. The decision was made on what would be the least-worst political outcome.

If there was any doubt about the “always oppose” approach it is worth remembering that Abbott was a health minister. Unlike his conservative colleague, Michael Wooldridge, who proved to be a committed and effective health minister and who took considerable action on issues such as tobacco, immunisation and primary health care, Abbott does not have an enviable health record – although he did increase the size of the graphic warnings to 30 per cent of a tobacco pack. The conservative SA Senator Cory Bernardi had this to say in the debate on tobacco: “Other countries have quite thoroughly examined this issue of plainpaper packaging, and they have invariably rejected it. They have

rejected it on the grounds that there is no compelling evidence – no sensible belief – that it will actually decrease smoking rates”.

This is just one example of a pattern from the conservatives who were supposedly supporting the legislation. The truth is they were dragged kicking and screaming from their now ingrained practice of rubbishing everything, opposing the whole shebang and acting in their own interest, rather than that of the community. Their negativity should come back to bite them. Their strident opposition to a carbon-pricing scheme has included the most outlandish claims suggesting that we will all be much worse

off. Abbott has even made a “blood pledge” to repeal the carbon pricing laws. It is pretence! Even if he wins the election, years will go by before he has adequate control over both Houses of Parliament to be able to achieve this ludicrous promise. Whether it is tobacco, carbon pricing or a myriad of other issues, the question is when can we look to a time where the community interest will come before party and personal political advantage? Not while Tony Abbott remains Leader of the Opposition.

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

letters

Uni leds the way?

WHAT is the problem with selecting the correct spelling for the past tense of the verb “to lead”? You’d think the Canberra University’s Faculty of Education would get it right.

Taken from the university’s website: “As the University of Canberra’s founding Faculty, we have lead the development of the University by providing opportunities for our students to learn from cutting edge researchers and innovators in education.”

a nne Lachlan via email

Festival killed

A s a regular festival goer, I was ready to agree with B Young (CN, letters, October 20) but then I read her reasoning.

stonefest has not collapsed because of a saturated market, it has collapsed because of what it had become. Each year, as stonefest organisers got more and more militant about keeping underage drinkers out, more and more blind drunk 18-year-olds, who were there to drink not see music, were let in. This, combined with 40-minute toilet queues (the likes of which are not seen even at Big Day Out), having to reshow your ID constantly and being watched by dozens

of police and security guards, leads me to wonder who, other than a drunk 18-yearold, would go? Unless, of course, a band you were willing to chew your left arm off to see was playing. It’s not the market that is the problem here, it is the festival and the culture that has developed around it. L Johnson, via email

Out of control

THE situation at the Northbourne Flats is now totally out of control and neither the police nor ACT Housing seem to be able to do anything about it.

A small group of thugs, well known to the police and Housing, terrorise other occupants of the flats – and, indeed, the casual passer-by with impunity.

Police response times for incidents at Government flats can be anything up to an hour and a half, if they get there at all, and Housing says they “have to put these people somewhere”. Why? Why continue to rent to people who have proven time and time again that they are anti-social in the extreme and don’t deserve their continued subsidisation by the citizenry of this beleaguered city? s end them packing!

tony Farrell, Reid

Time to flip coins for parking misery

MARK PARTON enjoys a moment of guilty pleasure at not copping a parking fine. Sad, isn’t it?

WHY do you always get a run of red lights on Northbourne when the clock is against you?

I hate being late, but I will be this morning for a 10.30 meeting in Civic.

I make it to the centre of town by 10.27. Finding a park can be heartbreaking, but I score one in the Magistrate’s Court car park – and then I realise that I have no coins on me, well, very few. I scrounge around in the car and find 30 cents in five and 10-cent coins. Thirty cents is not going to help me.

The choice is run late and get more change or run the risk of getting a fine. I thought about dashing across London Circuit to chase some change, but I made the call to risk it. The 30 cents went into the machine so that I at least had a ticket on the dashboard, even if it was valid for only a matter of moments.

The worry of a fine hovered over me during the meeting. Once finished, I skedaddled back across London Circuit hoping that I didn’t have a little gift under my windscreen wiper.

Phew! This time I was lucky! And don’t you love that feeling of cheeky triumph when you’ve

parked “illegally” and got away with it?

But it shouldn’t have to be like this.

Why, in this technology dominated world, can we not pay for parking by swiping a credit or debit card? Is it really too much to ask?

And while we’re on it, why do we have to predict how long we’re going to need to park in advance? Who really knows if their Civic or Woden or Belconnen adventure is going to take them 90 minutes or three hours? We’re all forced to overestimate and pay accordingly.

Canberrans paid $9.6 million in parking fines in the last financial year. This was a whopping 20 per cent on the previous year and it doesn’t surprise me one iota. I’d love to know how many of our parking victims were stung because they either didn’t have the correct change or underestimated their stay.

Kambah listener Warren told me that he always carried at least $10 in gold coins in his car... until the day that some lowlife forced the lock on the car door in the dead of night and took them all with him.

How do you win?

Mark Parton is the breakfast announcer at 2CC.

Canberra Confidential

With Lisa Ridgley

Hugh keeps an eye

DEBORRA-LEE Furness made her appearance at the National Press Club as part of National Adoption Week recently. Unfortunately her husband Hugh Jackman was unable to make it.

The “Real steel” star was busy with work commitments of his own, opening his one-man Vegas-style show on Broadway at the same time.

But “CC” can confirm the doting father of their two adopted kids arranged for a special family screening. Jackman had Furness’ Canberra address streamed live to his dressing room so he and the kids wouldn’t miss out.

Dasco’s party tapes

MICHAEL Dascarolis, aka Dasco, celebrated a milestone birthday in Canberra recently. The Decca Building Group’s construction director has turned 40 and “CC’s” heard the “who’s who” of Canberra were there to help him celebrate.

Around 200 guests showed up to the lavish affair held at the new Batman st Brasserie in Reid.

But it was the birthday DVD organised by long-time friend Michael Koundouris that stole the show. And it’s had chins wagging around town ever since.

The montage of recorded messages from friends and associates included the likes of sports broadcaster Ken sutcliffe, various well-known racing car drivers, jockeys and footballers. Well-known Canberra-based plastic surgeon Dr Vlad was amongst the celebrities. He talked candidly about the size of Dasco’s nose – a running joke throughout the evening.

But the real shock came when Channel Nine’s “Today” team, including Karl stefanovic, Lisa Wilkinson, Georgie Gardner and Tim Gilbert, appeared on the big screen wishing Dasco all the best.

“CC’s” learnt the “Today” team’s footage was recorded in the wee hours of the morning prior to the program going to air.

Kate Waterhouse’s fiancé, former Roosters pin-up boy turned Channel Nine sales exec, Luke Ricketson, assisted with the production of the recording.

Barr hits Honkeytonks

DEPUTY Chief Minister Andrew Barr has been seen out and about in Canberra. “CC” hears that the social pollie was seen standing outside Honkytonks in Civic at around 11pm on Friday, November 11.

The new bar, which spills out into Garema Place, is certainly proving popular. In fact, word has it, the nightspot was so busy, it looked as though bouncers made Barr wait at the entrance for some time before allowing him through.

Nonetheless, he appeared happy as he waited with a friend. It’s great to see our Deputy Chief enjoying Canberra’s nightlife!

Screen in the vines

LOOKING for something different to do this summer? “CC’s” heard Flint in the Vines has purchased an outdoor cinema!

Owners Jai Dawson and Grant Kells plan to play a mix of new-to-DVD movies as well as old classics on their big screen.

The Murrumbateman restaurant has attracted the likes of political journalist and commentator Laurie Oakes, English celebrity chef and restaurateur Rick stein and ACT magistrate Peter Dingwall. Kells owned and operated Flint Dining Room and Bar in New Acton that, sadly, burnt down in the Acton fire on June 23. Find Flint in the Vines at shaw Vineyard. Movies kick off in the next few weeks. www.flintinthevines.net.au

‘Times’ readers turn away Pool dives in for Calvary

DRAMATICALLY fewer people are reading and buying “The Canberra Times”, with the latest sad figures revealing that readership and circulation of Canberra’s only daily paper continue to plummet.

Continuing falls in its revenue-rich Saturday edition must be concerning its Sydney owners as local management endures another dreadful fall of 13 per cent of its readers and a 5.8 per cent slump in circulation.

Readership figures, measured by Roy Morgan Research, reflect the number of people who read the paper and the Audit Bureau of Circulation’s

figures indicate the actual number of copies sold.

The Morgan research has the Saturday “Canberra Times” dropping from 138,000 readers to 120,000 (-13 per cent) for the year to September. Sunday has shed a stunning 16.6 per cent tumbling from 90,000 to 75,000 and Monday to Friday has fallen from an average of 86,000 readers a day to 80,000 (-7 per cent).

In circulation, in the quarter to September, Saturday has slumped from 53,051 to 49,965. Sunday is down 6.4 per cent to 31,308 and the Monday to Friday average has fallen 5.3 per cent to 30,420.

INFANT aquatic specialists Aquatots is celebrating the grand opening of its new swim school and pool in Forde with a fundraiser for Calvary Hospital’s neonatal wing.

The event, from 11am on sunday, November 27, will showcase infant aquatics training and there will be bands, a jumping castle, face painting, fire hula hoop and poi performers and food stalls.

The supervised swimming pool, at 30 Francis Forde Boulevard, which is usually available only to children and families enrolled in the school, will be open to the public for a gold-coin donation, which will be donated to Calvary Hospital.

More information at www.aquatots.com.au

all about Yarralumla

The tempting village vibe beckons

YARRALUMLA is one of Canberra’s most desirable suburbs; it’s centrally located, close to the city and parliamentary triangle, and nestled near the lake in a picturesque part of town.

The suburb has a welcoming, village-like vibe that makes shopping a pleasure.

Yvonne Dourdoulakis is a firm believer in the value of a local shopping centre and says the supermarket and post office are the heart and soul of it.

As the owner of the local IGA supermarket, the post office and florist, Yvonne and her family see familiar faces every day.

“If you go to a post office in a mall, they don’t know you from a

bar of soap, but at the local shopping centre, the girls in the post office know everyone,” she says.

“We have 200 post boxes here so that’s 200 people who come down to the shops almost every day and they almost always pick something up from the other stores here – whether they go to the chemist or newsagency or grab a coffee.”

she took over the IGA seven years ago and acquired the post office a year later.

“There was no florist here and I

believe every business in the shopping centre should complement each other. I thought a florist would do well here, so we opened one as part of the post office,” Yvonne says.

she says the unique mix of Yarralumla residents has helped shape her businesses.

“With all the embassies here, we really need to cater for the tastes of the world and so we stock a range of products in the supermarket that aren’t always easy to find elsewhere.”

As family run businesses, the post office, florist and supermarket won’t be going anywhere with Yvonne’s children planning to take over one day.

Beess & co. Cafe

Win a night at the opera

WIN one of three double passes to the opening night of Canberra Opera Workshop’s first production, Gaetano Donizetti’s “Elixir of Love”.

This delightful comic opera, directed and designed by the award-winning Cate Clelland, will be sung in English over three nights at the ANU Arts Theatre, December 9-11.

Entry details at citynews.com.au/win

Passion amid the peace

A FEW doors down, at 15 Bentham street, is Urban Hair, which is under new management.

Owner Rosa Suraci has been in the salon for seven weeks and says it’s the vibe of the local shops that she loves most.

“It’s such a lovely atmosphere here – so calm,” Rosa says.

In the salon, she stocks La Biosthetique and Tigi’s Bed Head range of make-up.

“Only the highest-quality products are used for all of our services and we take pride in our work and family environment,” she says.

“I have a completely new service personnel who are a passionate, dedicated and creative team of professionals.”

Rosa says that while Urban Hair is well known as a hair salon, people may not know that she has introduced a range of beauty services including acrylic nails, manicures, waxing, lash and brow tinting and eyelash extensions.

Home to the best kebabs

YARRALUMLA is also the home to the best kebabs in town, according to Ugur Kocak , who manages Halal Turkish Pide and Yarralumla Meats.

s omething of a Canberra institution, there is frequently a line out onto the street as people flock to order a lunchtime kebab.

“Our kebabs are all made with fresh meat from the butchers next door, and home-made breads and pides made on the premises,” he says.

Yarralumla Meats offer fresh halal meats, aged beef, Christmas turkeys as well as smallgoods.

Fresh food under the trees

BEEss and Co, at the Yarralumla shops, is all about fresh food, says owner Andrea Beess und Chrostin – and it’s been named one of Australia’s top breakfast spots by “Gourmet Traveller”, which loved its caramelised pear, toasted brioche and mascarpone. It also won Best Cafe in the Canberra region in the 2011 Restaurant and Catering awards.

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

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

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

The cakes are a big drawcard. Andrea’s mother-in-law’s sour cherry, chocolate, rum and pecan cake remains hugely popular, as is

a recent addition, a decadent chocolate and coffee mousse cake.

“We also have a separate breakfast and lunch menu, plus specials; we also pride ourselves on having very good coffee as well as a lot of gluten-free cakes,” she says. Beess and Co also offers take-home meals and home-made jams. New opening hours are Monday to Friday 7am-5pm. s aturday 7am-4pm.

advertising feature

Where nurseries grow side by side

EARLY in Canberra’s history it was realised that trees and shrubs would need to be raised locally if the garden city concept was to be achieved.

Hence the establishment of the first government nursery in 1911 at the site of where the National Museum was built.

In 1914, Thomas Weston recommended the nursery be moved to Yarralumla where more than 60 million plants have been propagated and sold to beautify our gardens and parklands.

Belinda Ryan, of Yarralumla Nursery, says Canberrans have been enjoying plants grown by the nursery through the garden centre and the free plant issue scheme since 1930.

“If you have not visited Yarralumla Nursery recently, or did not know that they sell to the public, then you are in for a treat,” she says.

“Our friendly garden centre staff will show you plants that have been grown in Canberra for the Canberra region so you can have the confidence needed to create a beautiful garden in our unique climate.”

NEXT door is the Heritage Nursery, which is “quite possibly the prettiest garden centre in town”, according to owner Bruno Zimmerman

“We have all your gardening essentials from organic fertilisers to heirloom seeds, vegetables and fruit,” Bruno says.

There is also a full range of shade trees, blossom trees, shrubs and seasonal bloomers.

“We even have baby chickens and everything needed to give them a good start in life for the promise of home-grown, organic eggs.”

Bed and breakfast near the lake

PRACTICALLY Lakeside Bed and Breakfast in Turner Place, Yarralumla, offers high-quality accommodation in an ideal location, according to owner Luba Thompson

It’s close to tourist venues, Manuka and Kingston cafes, the CBD and the Parliamentary Triangle.

“Privacy is assured in this tastefully appointed, spacious, north-facing studio with separate entrances and pretty garden,” Luba says.

Breakfast is served in a private dining room or al fresco on the deck or under the old oak tree. Bikes and kayaks are available to further explore Canberra’s cycle paths and waterways.

Undercurrent Design Market at the National Portrait Gallery

Love of design inspires market

A LOVE of design is the inspiration behind the annual Undercurrent Design Market, to be held at the National Portrait Gallery this month.

The brainchild of Richard Baz, Undercurrent will celebrate Australian designers with more than 40 stallholders.

“The aim of the market is to promote Australian designer-makers. It’s something I’m really passionate about,” Richard says.

A good place to start Christmas shopping, the market will feature local stallholders as well as some from Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle and beyond.

Undercurrent was held for the  rst time last year and is set to have 25 per cent more stallholders and run over two days.

“We are showcasing local and interstate designer-makers to create a unique and contem-

porary market that sets itself above and beyond the standard market experience.

“We will showcase an array of original, fresh and contemporary design across all mediums and work practices including ceramics, textiles and jewellery.”

More information at 6102 7170 or www. portraitgallerystore.com.au

UNDERCURRENT DESIGN MARKETS

November 25, 5pm-9pm

November 26, 10am-4pm

National Portrait Gallery, in the Terrace rooms.

Welcome to Richard’s Aladdin’s cave

AS owner of the National Portrait Gallery Store, Richard Baz sources a variety of objects and books that can’t easily be found elsewhere. In doing so, he has transformed the store into a shopping destination in its own right.

“We’ve now got the Canberra market recognising us,” he says.

“In the  rst year, business was fantastic but we were the new kid on the block with the gallery, so we had people from all around Australia coming.

“We were still  nding out what worked for us, for example, we didn’t realise how popular kids’ merchandise was going to be.”

Richard believes that many cultural institutions don’t represent Australian designers well.

“You go to a lot of cultural institutions today and they have beautiful objects, but I don’t know why a museum in Australia needs to be selling Swedish-designed iPod docks and things that have nothing to do with Australian design,” he says.

Richard has trained in visual arts and graphic design and makes sure he knows about everything he sells in the shop.

“I’ve got a huge love of books. Absolutely love a well-designed book, especially on the art side of it, and my wife Melanie is a big  ction reader, so between us we work quite well together,” he says.

He used to run shop at the National Gallery of Australia, moved on to Paperchain Bookstore in Manuka, but says the Portrait Gallery Store is different to anything else.

“All stock is Australian designed and mostly Australian made,” he says.

“It’s a little Aladdin’s cave. You go in there and there’s lots and lots and we have an atmosphere. We do books really well, but we also do an Australian-designed gift line, which people are now recognising as something unique and we do have a nice price range so people can spend up or spend down.”

At the Association of Independent Schools of the ACT annual cocktail night, Hyatt Hotel

your week in the stars

With Joanne Madeline Moore November

21-27

ARIES (Mar 1 – Apr 0)

You’re ambitious to be top dog (especially at work) but don’t let your cocky Aries attitude put others offside. Thursday’s Mars/Pluto trine encourages you to reach your goals on a slow burn, with passion and plenty of persistence. As birthday great George Eliot wrote: “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”

TAURUS

(Apr 1 – May 0)

The fiery New Moon signals an exciting beginning involving either lust or loot. Perhaps a passionate new lover, a rejuvenated relationship or the start of a financial partnership? But it won’t all be smooth sailing, as retrograde Mercury throws some curved balls in your direction. When it comes to a romantic encounter, expect the unexpected this weekend.

GEMINI (May 1 – June 1)

Love is in the air! s ome Twins will move into an exciting new phase of a long-term relationship, while others will meet their future partner. But, with Mercury reversing through your partnership zone (from November 24-December 14), make sure you communicate clearly about your romantic expectations, otherwise there’ll be mix-ups and misunderstandings.

CANCER (June  – July )

Friday’s s olar Eclipse fires up your wellbeing zone, so the focus is on health and fitness over the festive season. You have a sweet tooth but don’t overindulge too much or you’ll be a crabby (and super curvy) Crab come the New Year. Over the next three weeks, a relationship with a work colleague goes through a bumpy patch. Try to be uncharacteristically diplomatic.

LEO (July  – Aug )

Lively Lions – prepare to party like a pro! Fabulous sun/Uranus aspects promise an exciting, experimental and high-energy week. And Friday’s s olar Eclipse activates your entertainment zone, so you’re in the mood for fun and frivolity with family and friends. Keep your dancing shoes well-polished – and why not organise a pre-Xmas party of your own?

VIRGO (Aug  – Sept )

Versatile Virgos are always on the go, being busy and useful all over the place. The s olar Eclipse falls in your domestic zone so it’s the perfect time for cooking, cleaning and DIY jobs, as you get your home in ship-shape condition for Christmas celebrations in December. But, with Mercury going retro, expect some domestic dramas over the next three weeks.

LIBRA (Sept  – Oct )

The s olar Eclipse and retro Mercury shake up your communication zone so it’s time to get talking with your nearest and dearest, as you share everything from gossip and good times to dramas and dreams. You need to be doubly diplomatic though. With Uranus stirring up relationships on sunday, expect some family fiascos. Libran peace-makers to the rescue!

SCORPIO (Oct  – Nov 1)

Confidence is high on Thursday, when the Mars/Pluto trine gives you a welcome energy boost. Friday is the ideal time to commit yourself to a fresh (and frugal) financial plan, as the s olar Eclipse and retro Mercury highlight flaws in your financial management. Until you’ve got money matters properly sorted, you’re just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov  – Dec 1)

It’s time to maximise your s agittarian strengths, as the s olar Eclipse lights up your sign. Be inspired by Bruce Lee (born on November 27): “Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself.” With extravagant Venus visiting your money zone (from November 26-December 21) avoid spontaneous spending sprees and credit card blowouts.

CAPRICORN (Dec  – Jan 1)

Many Capricorns are keen to delve into a mystery or solve a problem. Your detective skills are firing, as retro Mercury and the s olar Eclipse stimulate your talent for research. With voluptuous Venus moving into your sign on s aturday, you’re at your fabulous flirtatious best from November 26 through to December 21. The perfect time to call in some favours!

AQUARIUS (Jan 0 – Feb 1)

Aquarians (like Mozart, Barry Humphries and Yoko Ono) are an eccentric lot! Expect to be your wild and wacky best this week, as the s olar Eclipse energises your eccentricity zone. Don’t let others define your persona or set your personal agenda. Unpredictable Uranus stirs up close relationships and confuses communication on sunday, so tread carefully.

PISCES (Feb 1 – Mar 0)

Have a long, hard think about professional adjustments and improvements you need to make, as the s olar Eclipse kickstarts your career zone. The more clearly you communicate with colleagues, the more rewards you’ll reap. The weekend favours creative and charitable pursuits. For some lucky Fish, love and work are linked. Others will find lasting love online.

Across

8 To be undeveloped, is to be what?

9 Name the Australian painter of watercolour landscapes, Hans ...

10 Who was the water boy for Rudyard Kipling's famous poem? (5,3)

11 To guarantee against risk of loss or harm is to do what?

12 Name a river in western Germany that flows into the Rhine.

13 What describes an accidental advantage?

16 What is a shoot, twig, or small branch?

19 Vientiane is the capital of which republic in SE Asia?

21 What is an organised civil force for enforcing the laws?

22 What was the former name of Zimbabwe?

23 What is the process of colouring fibres, yarns or fabrics?

24 What defines an additional occupation?

25 Which term is descriptive of a religious nun?

Down

2 That which is without beginning or end is said to be what?

3 Name the Australian governorgeneral 1969-74, Sir Paul ...

4 Which expression describes the fastest shearer of a group?

5 What are sheds for aeroplanes?

6 A racehorse that jumps over temporary fences is called a what?

7 Which cushion-like chair yields to accommodate the shape of the body?

13 Name the premier of WA 18901901, Sir John ...

14 When a racecourse committee does not dismiss a protest, it does what?

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

17 Name an alternative term for young hens.

18 What is the perfume arising from an aromatic gum when burnt?

20 Name a particular suit of cards.

all about the arts

Berlin’s rich gift of history’s handwriting

By arts editor Helen Musa

HOW often have you heard people use the word “manuscript” to describe text written on a computer?

Now the National Library of Australia is about to put an end to any such loose usage with an exhibition that puts the work of the human hand under the spotlight.

According to the curator, Nat Williams, “Handwritten: ten centuries of manuscript treasures from staatsbibliothek zu Berlin” starts in the mid-800s with a fragment from the “Aeneid” and finishes in 1984 and includes the handwriting of

figures as different as Kepler, Galileo, Beethoven and Napoleon.

Williams declares himself overwhelmed by the generosity of the Berlin state Library and its curator Dr Gabriele Kaiser, who mounted a similar exhibition in 2008 to mark the centenary of the gift of manuscripts by chemist and collector Ludwig Darmstaedter, whose initial interest in the writing of scientists turned into a collection of “great names”. If he was looking for an Einstein manuscript but came across one by Michelangelo, he’d buy it. At last serious count, there were 250,000 items in the collection which, even after Darmstaedter’s death in 1927, continued to

“grow and grow and grow”.

All too well aware that “this is an exhibition about thought”, Williams and his staff have broadened its scope, which will now open with medieval and Renaissance illuminated manuscripts. The library in Berlin has allowed them a fiveyear monopoly on the page openings to be displayed.

While the designers will use graphic devices to entice the eye, you’ll need to read – as Williams says: “You have to let a piece of sheet of paper stand for a life.” Dickens dashes off his signature in a hurry, Newton writes in a fastidiously neat hand.

With 13,500 visitors already pouring in

to the new Treasures Gallery at the NLA and the example of “National Treasures from the World’s Great Libraries” in 2001-02, Williams knows this must be a crowd-pleaser.

s o the show will finish with a selection of musical manuscripts, including scores of Beethoven’s Fifth symphony and Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro”.

“It’s pretty remarkable,” Williams says. The German library has asked for no fees, so it’s free to the public – “it’s a gift to the people of Australia”.

“Handwritten”, exclusive to the National Library of Australia, November 26 to March 18. Free entry.

Free chance to dance with Salsa stars

COLOMBIAN s alsa dancers

Edwin Villalobos Martinez and Leidy Carolina Giraldo are coming to Australia. Both are part of “ swing Latino”, which works with socially excluded young people. On November 23, the duo will run workshops for senior citizens, at NewActon Backyard, corner Marcus Clarke street and Edinburgh Avenue at 10.30am and an introduction to s alsa, Garema Place, Civic, at 5pm. Free entry.

FIGUREs for the just finished Canberra International Film Festival show that attendances were just under 16,000 people, up 15 per cent on last year.

sCHOOL’s nearly out, so it’s time for end-of-year shows, concerts and exhibitions:

DIRECTOR Nina stevenson, of Pied Piper Productions, is about to stage Malcolm sircom’s “Nutcracker” play with music by Tchaikovsky, at Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, Manuka, 10am, November 23-24 and 6pm, •

•

•

November 26-27. Tickets at the door but bookings are essential for school groups to 6286 9122 or info@ pied-piper.com.au

THE bells of the National Carillon will be ringing at a novel recital featuring winning and highly commended entries in a competition jointly mounted by the Wesley Music Foundation and the Carillon s ociety of Australia to highlight music by young Australian student composers from the ACT and N s W. At the National Carillon, 2pm, s aturday, November 26. Free, no bookings required.

KARABAR High s chool and Distance Education Centre presents the annual Years 7-12 art exhibition “Framed”. They’re promising “ceramic cakes good enough to eat, angst-ridden paintings and whimsical portraits”. At The Q, Queanbeyan, 10am4pm, Monday-Friday, and s aturday, 10am-3pm, until November 20.

•

“THE s ound of Music” is the inspiration for the Classical Ballet Centre’s concert featuring more than 170 students from the centre aged 4-18 in ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz and tap. “The Hills are Alive” is at The Playhouse, 7pm, Friday, November 25 and 2pm, s aturday, November 26. Bookings to 6275 2700.

TWO Canberra comedians are getting in early to preview their Melbourne International Comedy Festival show “Figments and Fragments”. Cy Fahey uses traditional joketelling, while Frederich Jones specialises in the deadpan style. At the Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 8pm, November 25-26.

CAPITAL Queers is a local group hoping to get to the sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi-Gras next year. A jazz fundraiser will be held at the Kremlin Bar, Northbourne Avenue, Civic, 7pm, Wednesday, October 26. Bookings to www.daisytickets.com

“Ceramic cakes good enough to eat”… at the “Framed” exhibition.

Grants to conserve community’s past

By Helen Musa

TWO ACT groups will receive grants worth $5200 to help preserve Australia’s heritage under the latest Community Heritage Grants, announced at the National Library.

The AIDs Action Council of the ACT received $1200 for archival storage for the collection and the National Trust of Australia (ACT) received $4000 to conduct an assessment of the ACT Classification Collection.

The Community Heritage Grants program provides grants of up to $15,000 to community organisations such as libraries, archives, museums, genealogical and historical societies, multicultural and indigenous groups. It is funded by the Federal Government through the National Library; the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Office for the Arts; the National Archives; the National Film and s ound Archive and the National Museum.

Recipients will also attend a three-day intensive preservation and collection management workshop held at the National Library, the National Archives, the National Museum and the National Film and s ound Archive.

National Library director-general AnneMarie s chwirtlich said: “These grants are a reminder that if we don’t preserve our history now, it could be lost forever.”

Win a night at the opera

WIN one of three double passes to the opening night of Canberra Opera Workshop’s first production, Gaetano Donizetti’s “Elixir of Love”.

This delightful comic opera, directed and designed by the award-winning Cate Clelland, will be sung in English over three nights at the ANU Arts Theatre, December 9-11.

Entry details at citynews.com.au/win

When the butcher returns

“THE DEBT” (MA)

THIs English-language remake of the 2007 Israeli film “Ha-Hov” has impressive preproduction credits (director John Madden, writers Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn) and cast.

In 1997, retired Mossad field operative s arah (Helen Mirren) learns that Dr Bernhardt (Jesper Christensen), the Butcher of Birkenau, is not dead as told in s arah’s book, which told how in 1966 she shot him in Germany when he broke free from her and two male colleagues holding him captive while awaiting rendition to Israel for war crimes.

s arah and her colleagues (Tom Wilkinson and Ciaran Hinds) know damn well that s arah’s pistol shot didn’t kill Bernhardt three decades earlier. They have kept the secret hoping that Bernhardt would never surface. If they don’t now pick up where they left off, their status as national heroes will vanish.

There is a strong indication that the film’s original argument is Bernhardt’s scorn for how a thousand Jews at a time failed to resist the handful of soldiers herding them into the gas chamber. I certainly have wondered why they let that happen without a fight. There’s reason to conjecture that

Dougal Macdonald

the film’s original purpose might have been to push modern Israeli audiences to ponder that question.

At Greater Union and Dendy

“MONEYBALL” (MA)

THE ancient Romans knew about stadium sport as a pubic spectacle. But contests between lions and Christians were usually government-funded political acts with predetermined winners and losers.

In “Moneyball”, Brad Pitt plays Billy who as a 20-year-old had the choice between playing ball or a scholarship to stanford University. Now 40, as club CEO, he is looking for a magic bullet to rescue the self-esteem of a team that, despite rising to play in the season’s final game, never won it. It may be the hiring of Yale economics graduate Peter (Jonah Hill) who has novel ideas about selecting players.

Baseball has a specialised culture that few Australians yet understand. The screen gets a special energy whenever Billy and Peter are conferring or examining player data.

But imagine how shots of pages from a cricket score-book or statistical yearbook would confuse American audiences.

“Moneyball” is the mirror image of such a film, confusing on this side of the Pacific Ocean, showing modern stadium sport as a business as much as a game.

Big dollars, nine-digits to the left of the decimal point. Players are traded like com -

modities. Lives are blighted by unexpected firings. The changes since ancient Roman times are of style than substance. Blood stains the club office carpet rather than sand in the arena (the Latin word for sand) but the analogy is strong.

At all cinemas

“COuRAGEOuS” (PG)

THI s is a cop movie with a difference. Its main content is not policing although its setting in the s heriff’s Department in a small Georgia town inevitably shows cops on the job. Minor misdemeanours. Community issues. Traffic. Little organised crime.

“Courageous” arrived here without fanfare, which exercised my curiousity enough to choose it for review rather than some more blazoned film. Its first third resembles a pilot introducing people and places for what its producers hope will become a low-budget daytime TV series about families but shy about revealing its true intentions.

The reality is a 129-minute-long religious feature, a framework of Christian spirituality and biblical fundamentals underlying a paean to moral and ethical values. The deeper it delves into religious fervour, the more boring it gets. Its humour and its action passages are episodic devices linking low-key proselytising that rises to a final sermon.

It will do no harm. It is unlikely to persuade anybody to rush to church next sunday. Its cinematic merits fall short of film school graduation exercise standards.

At Hoyts Woden

Floating in a most peculiar way

“VOID Without Void” is a simple, elegant and delightful exploration of isolation and distance. Calling to mind 1970s songs, such as Elton John’s “Rocket Man” and David Bowie’s “ space Oddity”, “Void Without Void’s” vehicle of expression is the spaceship and the solo astronaut.

It is an immersive piece with a single performer and no speech. On arrival, the audience is offered “space suits” to wear over their clothes – the take-up rate is surprisingly high. The audience enters the performance space through a narrow corridor with walls reminiscent of a squashy, textile Tardis. Inside is a universe of light and sound. Performer Cathy Petcōz hangs, suspended in a white space suit, slowly moving to a rich, live soundscape that includes recordings of her breathing and heartbeat as well as synthesised and acoustic sounds.

Gillian s chwab’s lighting is playful and intense.

THEATRE

“Void Without Void”

Directed by Barb Barnett, Street Theatre, season closed.

Reviewed by Simone Penkethman

Are the lights around the walls the stars in space or the instruments on a ship? Do they flash and move or is that a trick of the light and the mind?

As “Void Without Void” progresses, Petcōz takes a journey to the edge of space. she vanishes into an expanding universe and reappears as a smaller puppet of herself. Another smaller puppet follows until the lonely astronaut seems to be too far away from us to ever return.

What could have been a heavy, claustrophobic piece, if delivered too seriously, is an intriguing and engaging 40 minutes that feels like 25.

New best friend in Belluci’s

YOU have to love the fitout of Belluci’s in Manuka.

My favourite touches are the film noir memorabilia and the classic black and white photos of families in Europe – on a motorcycle touring about, eating, laughing, drinking, eating, laughing, drinking …

There’s a charm about the place and, if you take the time to explore, you’ll encounter wonderful art deco elements, a mix of raw material and smooth finishes and a real effort to make this restaurant a home, with the

dining

Wendy Johnson

kitchen the piece de resistance. It was a glorious, sunny s aturday afternoon, however, and we were after a position in the sun, not a table inside.

The menu is Italian through and through, featuring simple, rustic food steeped in tradition, with many dishes made from age-old family recipes – tradizionale cucina Italiana. Yumbo.

If you’re looking for cheap and cheerful, Belluci’s is not the place for you. But our dishes

were delicious, well executed and served by attentive staff who know the customer is their bread and butter.

To kickstart our lazy lunch, we shared the ocean trout carpaccio with a wedge of lemon and crostini ($13). The trout was melt-in-the mouth (although I like it cut more thinly) and a nice portion for two.

I ordered from the specials’ list – hand-made parpadelle (hand-made is big at Belluci’s) with rabbit, created Calabrian style and served with baby onions and parsnips. s outhern Italian cooking is famous for its simplicity and this philosophy inspires dishes such as this at Belluci’s. But at the same time, the dish was robust and the rabbit and parsnip a match made in heaven.

The Galleto alla Diavolo ($32) was inspiring. Grilled spatchcock with the right amount of fresh chilli, garlic and unfiltered olive oil – flavours that command attention. It came with plump, ripe tomatoes, but it wasn’t quite enough so a small side salad was ordered.

Other Il s econdo dishes include citrus glazed duck maryland ($34), slow-cooked lamb shoulder ($36) and grainfed fillet of beef ($36). Pasta dishes start at $25 and top off at $30.

It was a lovely lunch, made

all the more special by a restaurant-owner friend who made an impromptu visit and joined us for a glass of wine. We agreed the Joseph Cattin Pinot Blanc 2009 is a great allpurpose French drop that goes down easy in warmer months. s ome say there’s a formula to the Canberra restaurants spearheaded by soc Kochinos and there may be some truth to that line of thinking. But Belluci’s Manuka, although the prices are getting up there, is still a pleasant place to dine. Belluci’s, corner of Franklin and Furneaux Streets, lunch and dinner, seven days. Call 6239 7424.

Home with a history

DATING from the 1 0s, Palerang was previously the home of poet David Campbell in the 1 0s.

A walled garden shelters a croquet lawn. There are rose-clad pergolas, old Bunya Pine and Atlantic Cedar plus crinkle-crankle stone walls, flagstone paths and herbaceous borders.

Palerang, near Bungendore, will be open to the public on the weekend of November 26-27 as part of the Open Gardens Australia scheme.

“When we moved here 13 years ago, the house was uninhabitable (except for wombats and possums) and the garden was neglected and overgrown,” say owners sue and Ulli Tuisk.

“A visiting friend once commented ‘do you know you have grapevines growing under the hillside of blackberries?’

“A few years on and a lot of hard work and we have revealed and revived the small, old 1970s vineyard.”

Palerang, 154 Hazeldell Road, Mulloon (near Bungendore), open November 26-27, 10am4.30pm. Entry $6 adults, children free.

Other open gardens in this area

St Omer, Nerriga Road, Braidwood: shrouded by cypress groves, the heritage-listed woodland garden at st Omer has been tended by the Bunn family since 1828.

Open November 26-27, 10am-4.30pm, entry $6, children free.

Donnelly’s Cottage, 27 Modbury Street, Bungendore: shady deciduous trees and densely planted boundaries of plums, hawthorns and photinias provide privacy for a charming garden surrounding an 1880s cottage. Heritage varieties of pears, apples, plums and roses.

Open November 26-27, 10am-4.30pm, entry $6, children free.

Keeping the birds at bay

A FEW weeks ago I ran a photo of my wire cage designed to keep possums off the strawberries.

Visiting Anthony and s amantha Bond’s garden at Wamboin, I was impressed with their vegetable garden. Illustrated here, this simple structure will keep marauding birds from raiding berry fruit and vegetables alike. If you are serious about growing your own veggies, this is a worthwhile and economical investment. One indicator of what to plant when in the vegetable garden is to visit a local garden centre and see what’s on sale.

I RECEIVE many books for book review and occasionally one stands out above the rest for excellent garden advice.

“Mediterranean Kitchen Garden” by Mariano Bueno (Thames and Hudson) is such a book. The author is spanish and the book has been perfectly translated into English. Does a spanish book on gardening have relevance here? The answer is a definite yes from the similarity

gardening cedric Bryant

of climate for a start. Their use of drip irrigation for example is described and illustrated exactly as we recommend here. Garden layout, soils, pest control are all discussed in clear concise detail ideal for those just starting to grow one’s own vegetables. The latter half of the book discusses the various veggies in detail, all of which we grow here. One needs to add six months to the planting guide for the southern hemisphere. I recommend this book as the perfect gift.

LAWNs have been dramatically reduced or eliminated altogether with years of drought and water restrictions. Many folk just gave up altogether. When the drought broke last year, our lawn – with no watering for seven years – bounced back and now I am mowing at least once a week with several catchers full to go on the compost heap. However, the scourge of all

lawns is the lawn grub that quietly chews on the roots. The first warning is when there is suddenly bare patches, by that time it is too late. There are many treatments commercially available so long as you remember to apply these at the right time. If you happen to be away at the right spray time, the lawn you have worked hard to reestablish can be lost. Next week I will go into more detail on lawns and how to let someone else worry about your lawn grubs.

THE Friends of the Botanic Gardens’ Great spring Plant s ale will be held from 8.30am11am on s aturday, November 19. The early bird catches the best plants. Bring your own bags/boxes. The list of plants available can be seen at www. friendsanbg.org.au in the “what we do” section under “Growing Friends”.

PAT Wright promises a challenging talk at the Botanic Gardens Theatrette at 12.30pm,

Thursday, November 24, with the question “Who is the smarter, animals or plants?”. An entertaining free talk, all welcome.

THE Geranium and Fuchsia s ociety’s Annual show will be held on s aturday, November 19 at st James Uniting Church Hall, Curtin, 9.30am-4pm. Admission $2. Plants, cuttings, books and the society’s 2012 calender will be for sale.

Be sure to...

Keep the bird bath full in the hot weather. Dig up and replant bulbs that are too deep and not flowering. For most bulbs, cover with soil the same thickness as the bulb. Remove leaves from bulbs. If the leaves come away without pulling the bulb out of the ground it is the ideal time. Plant Nerines now for autumn colour. Mulch without fail A s AP. Thoroughly wet the ground before spreading mulch. Go to www.cedricbryant.com click on “Cedfacts Info sheets” for mulching information and a veggie guide.

BELCONNEN

Canberra Region Property Summary

CHARNWOOD

CAMPBELL

CHAPMAN

CHIFLEY

Canberra Region Property Summary

FADDEN

DICKSON

DOWNER

DUNLOP

GIRALANG

GLENEAGLES

FRANKLIN

GARRAN

GORDON

HARCOURT HILL

Canberra Region Property Summary

HARRISON

JERRABOMBERRA

KINGSTON

Canberra Region Property Summary

NARRABUNDAH

TURNER

Canberra Region Property Summary

URIARRA VILLAGE

WEETANGERA