Canberra CityNews March 8, 2012

news / International Women’s Day

Stories from the soul of her shoes index

Freyla Ferguson reports

IMAGINE spending a day in another person’s shoes. And what if they could spend a day in yours? How would it feel?

That’s what was running through Anastasia Kaldi’s mind when she came up with “In Her Shoes”– a social media campaign, started in Canberra, that aims to create positive media to transform the ways immigrant women are viewed in society.

Women and men are invited to jump on the “In Her Shoes” Facebook page, post a photo of their favourite or most meaningful shoes and tell the story behind them.

Anastasia says each photo of shoes is a metaphor for its owner’s story.

“It steps past the skin colour and the vision,” she said. “It’s about taking off your own shoes and stepping into someone else’s for one day.”

Anastasia is the program manager for the peak advocacy body, Australian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Alliance.

As part of a submission to the Federal Government’s new Multicultural Policy, AIRWA made a recommendation that the government do more positive media for immigrant women.

“We told the Government that we weren’t going to wait on the policy, we were going to move on it under our brief,” Anastasia said.

“For me it is really important. I think that there is a double discrimination about immigrant and refugee women.

“There’s an intersecting discrimination there that makes it doubly hard for them to participate equally in society.

“The media is not helping in any way, shape or form. The negative media stereotypes out there for refugees, and boat people in particular, has sent racism back and discrimination.”

Although officially launched last week, the campaign had a soft launch last month and has already gained about 250 “likes” on Facebook and attracted stories from people from all over the world.

“You can’t force people to overcome their ideas but perhaps you can bring them to a level where they can at least open their eyes a little bit more,” she said.

“I know that people have set ways and set ideas, maybe I’m wrong, maybe it will change nothing, but I believe in the power of one.”

Anastasia has her own story of how she got to where she is today; her Hungarian grandfather survived the Holocaust thanks to a selfless act from another man.

Anastasia Kaldi... “I always tell the story of my last name; I say if you change one life, you can change forever.”

“He was in a concentration camp and was shot in the leg by a Nazi guard for target practice and was dying; basically he had the fever and couldn’t work anymore,” she said.

She says because of his injury he was selected to be taken to the gas chambers.

“Our last name was Klein back then, and when they called Klein, a guy called Kaldi, my last name, stood up before my grandfather could and said ‘I’m Klein’ and he went and died for him,” she said.

“My grandfather adopted his name and made it out of the war...

“I always tell the story of my last name; I say if you change one life, you can change forever.”

“In Her Shoes” campaign coincides with International Women’s Day. To tell your story, or read someone else’s, visit facebook.com/InHerShoesAIRWA

Arts&Entertainment 19-23

Canberra Confidential 14

Cinema 22

Dining 23

Garden 24-25

Letters 10

News 5-10

Puzzles 27

Social Scene 15-18

‘Golden girls’ home for the party

THE Australian Ballet has chosen to celebrate its 50th birthday in the national capital by bringing home several of our “golden girls”, principal artists Lana Jones and Rachel Rawlins and Queanbeyan’s Dimity Azoury.

It will perform at a free show, “Telstra Ballet in the Park” at Stage 88, in Commonwealth Park, as part of the Canberra Festival, on March 16.

“CityNews” spoke to Rawlins recently as she prepared to embark on a celebratory tour around the country and later to New York.

Promoted to principal dancer in 2004, Rawlins left home at age 13 after taking ballet classes here with Del Brady and later studying at the Victorian College of the Arts, the National Theatre Ballet School and The Australian Ballet School.

Rawlins has no family left in Canberra, but has many old friends here and likes to see them.

After an early career with The Australian Ballet, she joined The Royal Ballet in London for two years as a first soloist. Back in Australia, audiences thrilled to the beauty of performances such as Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” and Cio-

Helen Musa reports

Cio-San (Butterfly) in “Madame Butterfly”. Now at the peak of her career, she says, “you gain things as you get older”.

She’ll be dancing in an excerpt from Act II of “Giselle”, a role she says she’s done a few times and loves.

“I try to do outdoor performances about once a year… it’s always a very special night… it gives people a chance to see the ballet,” she says.

Artistic director, David McAllister, describes the free performance as “our birthday present to our passionate Canberra supporters”, noting the long connection that began in 1965 when the company helped open the Canberra Theatre. Another long connection is with principal sponsor Telstra, which has partnered with The Australian Ballet for 28 of its 50 years.

Our golden night will feature Australian Ballet highlights from over the decades in “La Favorita”, “Don Quixote”, “Giselle”, “The Nutcracker”, “Le Corsaire” and “Molto Vivace” and – never seen before in Canberra – Graeme Murphy’s memorable interpretation of

But for ballet tragics, the highlight will be the piece from “La Bayadere”, where 11 female dancers take the stage in white tutus, tiaras and tulle.

Ballet staff say Commonwealth Park will give the audience a

chance to see the company’s dancers up close.

Telstra “Ballet in the Park”, Stage 88, 7pm, Friday, March 16. If the weather is inclement, visit australianballet.com.au at 3pm on March 16 for updates. No tickets are required.

Fashion sale

ZO n Ta will hold its Preloved Designer and Retro Women’s Fashion sale at the aTSI Cultural Hall, Lady Denman Drive, 10am-3pm, Saturday, March 10. Zonta recycles donated clothing from business and professional women in Canberra into the sale, said president, Lesley Morrison. Sales items included dresses, skirts, pants, blouses, shoes, handbags, hats, scarves and jewellery. Funds raised would, among other things, go to support women’s refuges in the aCT region and provide breast cushions for women who have had invasive surgery.

Tharwa’s big birthday

THaRWa Village is celebrating its 150th birthday with a family friendly, picnic markets day, 10am-3pm, on Sunday, March 18. There will be food, music and children’s activities at the park beside the Tharwa bridge, a guided walk around the historical sites and a display of memorabilia and old photographs at the village hall.

Daramalan’s jubilee

DaR aMaL an College, in Dickson, turns 50 this year and there is a jubilee reunion cocktail party planned for current and former staff on Friday, april 13. The organisers are looking to invite as many ex-staff as possible and for more information and registration call 6245 6300 or email jubilee@daramalan.act.edu.au before March 23. There will also be a reunion dinner for former students and an open day in October. More information at www.daramalan.act.edu.au

When dreams come true... it’s scary!

Do you have embarrassing work-related dreams?

Trouserless MARK PARTON does

AM I the only one who has the dream that you’re at work and you realise at lunchtime you forgot to put your pants on? Surely, that’s not just me.

As a radio announcer for the last 30 or so years, I have a recurring workplace dream: I’m on air, doing a music shift and I’ve put a song on air and leave the studio to go to the toilet or make a coffee. There are long corridors and the dream is always the same: running down endless corridors in a blind panic listening to the song fade out but, try as I might, I can’t find the studio.

I’ve also had the dream that I’m finishing an interview and I go to play a commercial, but nothing works. The on-air computer doesn’t work, the CD players don’t work, nothing is functioning and I’m sitting there stuck for words.

As a race caller, I’ve also had the dream that I’m at the races and one of the races starts while I’m not in the broadcast box. I race up the

stairs and when I get there I’m too breathless to call the race.

At the Canberra Show this year, I actually lived that dream.

I was there to call the harness races. There were four races, the first at 6pm and the second at 7.15pm. In previous years, the Show trots have never run on time. I was there with my family and we had some dinner between the first and second races.

At around 7.13pm I got up and announced that I better go see if the horses were on the track for the second race. As I got out to the main arena I saw that the horses were indeed on the track… the first thing I saw was the green light flashing and the mobile barrier pulling away.

There I was living the dream! I tore up the stairs of the grandstand with all eyes on me as the race progressed, got to the microphone in time to call the last lap while trying to catch my breath.

I guess it was better than living the no-pants dream!

briefly

Hunter’s new job

BRUCE Hunter, former deputy secretary of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous affairs, has joined Ernst & Young as a Canberra partner and to lead the firm’s local finance team.

Night with the bears

THE launch of Wildlife a sia, a national collaboration between four conservation groups – the a sian Rhino Project, Silvery Gibbon Project, australian Orangutan Project and Free the Bears – will be celebrated at a wine evening among the big cats and bears, national Zoo and aquarium from 6pm on March 22. Tickets are $45 and available from act@orangutan.org.au, the national Zoo and aquarium reception or Belco Pets, Oatley Court, Belconnen.

Sutton’s country fair

THE Sutton Country Fair, at the 140-year-old Sutton Public School, on Victoria Street, will be held 10am2pm on Saturday, March 24. Only eight kilometres north of Canberra on the Federal Highway, Sutton’s fair promises “a community day of fun for all!”

Rock swap

THE Canberra Lapidary Club’s annual Rock Swap – with dealers and non-commercial rock enthusiasts selling crystals, minerals, gemstones, opals, fossils, lapidary supplies and jewellery – will be held at Wagtail Way, EPIC, on Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25, 8.30am-5pm. Entry is free.

More information at canberralapidary.org.au/

Win tickets to ‘Yes, Prime Minister’

“CityNews” has three double tickets, valued at $158 each, to the opening night of “Yes, Prime Minister” at the Canberra Theatre. www.citynews.com.au/win

Brittney clears hurdles to win a glamour title

Libby Hill reports

BRITTNEY McGlone’s love of racing fashions started as a young girl watching her mother entering fashionson-the-field competitions.

The newly crowned Myer Face of Canberra Racing first entered a fashions-on-the-field competition when she was 15 and since then, her mum Kerry has been her stylist.

“I’ve loved it ever since and I’m lucky enough to have mum, who has helped me and supported me,” Brittney says.

Kerry designs all of her daughter’s head wear, a tradition that started because they found it difficult to find hats and fascinators to match Brittney’s frocks. So far, they estimate the 22-year-old has entered about 30 competitions, a number that will grow after the Face of Racing commitments are over for 2012.

“It’s something that I love and have a passion for. It’s a hobby to me and it actually brings my mum and I closer together, being able to do something with her,” Brittney says.

“I just love mixing and matching outfits and designing hats. It’s a lot of fun for me.”

Brittney, a full-time athlete, is a 400-metre hurdler at the AIS and has an impressive record of winning.

“I train six days a week, twice a day as I have the Olympics and Commonwealth Games that are ahead, so training is pretty hard at the moment,” she says.

Brittney’s love of fashion and athletics come together in another profitable pastime that she lists among her hobbies – running in stilettos.

“In Australia they have held four stiletto races and I’ve won all of them. Two of them were Guinness world record races,” she says.

In 2010, Brittney and three friends she trains with at the AIS won a four by four relay, in Sydney.

Prizes for the races have been “actually better than my athletics money – about $5000 each race”.

When she’s not competing, the self-described country girl loves returning to her family’s 285-hectare acre farm at Braidwood.

“Since I was born, I’ve been around horses. Mum popped me on a horse when I was two years old. I love them,” she says.

She takes over as Canberra’s racing ambassador from Natasha Roberts.

COVER LOOK

“We’ve teamed it with a teal hatinator because this season is all about the hatinator and hats, not the fascinator. It’s nice to have a mismatch in the outfit as well just to make it more of a modern look as opposed to classic.”

Tablets take their toll

TWICE a week my husband and I take our two children to gymnastics. Sitting on the sidelines last week, I suddenly noticed something odd among the spectators: silence, absolute silence.

Being a mum, I’m always nervous when things go quiet. I looked up from my Kindle. My nine-year-old son, waiting for his trampolining session to start, was engrossed in a game on his iPod. On the other side, my husband was working diligently away on his laptop.

A few chairs over another man was busy on his iPad. Next to him, a row of other waiting mums were texting. A group of tweens further along were silently playing a game with their Nintendos, connected via the magic of wireless. Several other parents had their devices out. Not a word was being spoken.

How the world has changed. Normally, get a bunch of parents and kids together and there is a thing called talking, some call it conversation – parents comparing anecdotes and kids gathered in gossiping, laughing groups. All that still happens, but the silence on the sidelines suggested that technology is killing real social interaction.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my new electronic reader. Twitter, too, has its seductive charm and it’s easy to spend hours following what’s happening and swapping thoughts with people who are often on the other side of the globe.

letters

Rudd left to rot

ROBERT Macklin’s prediction (“Start spreading the news”, Cn, March 1) that the present Prime Minister would “leap at the chance” to offer Kevin Rudd the position of australia’s ambassador to the Un after the next election fails to take into account her essential vindictiveness.

She would prefer to see him rot away as a backbencher rather than give him the chance to shine elsewhere. Kevin’s best chance of becoming australia’s ambassador to the Un will be if a future Coalition Government makes a magnanimous gesture and offers him the position.

Robert’s other prediction that Kevin Rudd may well become secretary general one day, fails to take into account the fact that australia is not a non-aligned nation. Until australia stops being a servile supporter of the US and Israel, no australian will be seriously considered for this position.

John Franze, Gowrie

Sonya Fladun mum in the city

Making conversation can take some effort, especially with strangers on a sports-centre bench. But making conversation is hugely important. Apart from the benefits of directly socialising with human beings, we are also setting an important example for our children. When parents converse with other adults, our children are usually listening and learning. Some experts warn that our increasing reliance on electronic means for communication, entertainment and distraction may be creating a new generation unable to communicate with their teachers and peers or even have a critical inner dialogue running when they are reading something.

The art of conversation is something we learn as we sit on mother’s knee. And it continues throughout our childhood and teens as we speak and listen to our parents and peers. We learn subtle verbal cues, the importance of nuance and politeness. But as one prominent diplomat observed recently, “there is no nuance on Twitter”.

Of course, persuading my son that he put away his iPod so we could just have a chat is not easy, but if we and our kids don’t work at the art of conversation early, just talking may prove even more difficult when they get to their teens and beyond.

Swan’s song

WaYnE Swan’s line about vested interests implies that only he and his party are on the side of righteousness and have the public’s interest at heart.

Swan is simply promoting class bigotry of old. The aLP simply is the political front for its industrial wing the unions, a significant vested interest, which has long ago ceased to represent “workers”.

Swan has simply embarked on a newspeak of propaganda to denounce critics as, in effect, enemies of the people. apparently, opposing the carbon tax (which Gillard once did) makes you such an enemy. If the public react against it, it may well be because they work out they have been conned and are worse off for no environmental gain.

He likes the media that run his line, and criticises those who are not so amenable.

Swan is simply deploying divide-and-rule politics, the most base but very traditional aLP approach. Martin Gordon, Flynn

‘New Labor’ out spoiling for a fight

THE vote to reject Kevin Rudd’s bid was only a few hours old when the “new Labor” came out fighting.

The relentless repetition of the new approach is now upon us in three main ways – we will hear again and again firstly, the achievements of Labor compared to the failures of the conservatives; secondly, the unity of the party and thirdly, the reiteration of a range of slogans in the vein of “working families”.

Former Liberal Peter Slipper, as Speaker, has helped strengthen the numbers for Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s government. The nomination of former NSW Premier Bob Carr to replace Mark Arbib in the Senate and then to serve as Foreign Affairs Minister reinforced her ability to find the right person for the job and will strengthen the ministerial team.

The first element of the three-part formula is Labor singing its own praises about its achievements while bagging the Opposition. They will talk about “selling what we have achieved”.

Michael Moore comments

In a Matter of Public Importance, raised by Victorian Liberal Senator Mitch Fifield soon after the leadership vote, purportedly on “The failure of the Gillard Government to run an honest, transparent and accountable administration”, Senator David Feeney blasted back with the Labor strategy, part one – move the focus on to the conservatives: “Mr Abbott’s government will repeal the carbon price, the mining tax and the means testing of the private health insurance rebate, increase government spending in various areas and yet somehow bring in a Budget surplus.

“The Labor Party’s proposition to this country is to let us have a carbon market, let the forces of supply and demand drive innovation, let the forces of supply and demand and the marketplace liberate Australian entrepreneurialism so it can help find the solutions that this country so desperately needs.”

dose of dorin

WA Liberal Senator Dr Chris Back said: “It is amazing to be lectured by the Labor Party on economic responsibility – I am reminded of Dracula and the blood bank!”

Labor unity will be the second part of the strategy.

Why sporty Kate’s

THE well-merited elevation of our own Senator Kate Lundy to the Gillard ministry was almost lost in the excitement of the Bob Carr coup. But, in the longer term, I suspect it will be revealed as much more important.

Certainly, the Carr appointment as Foreign Minister revealed a Prime Minister prepared to back her own judgement against the opposition of two senior allies, the gossipy Craig Emerson and the mediocre Stephen Smith, both of whom had their eyes on the Foreign Ministry slot.

More significantly, it ruled a decisive line under Kevin Rudd’s stewardship of the portfolio, which he used as

Robert Macklin comments

a soothing balm to a bruised ego and a springboard to keep himself in the news as (in his mind) a viable contender for the top job.

Immediately after the Gillard/Carr press conference, Twitter was alight with the rather unkind remark that “Suddenly Kevvie is sooo yesterday”.

And he is. Julia Gillard now has the clear air she craved to sell her policies and crush Tony Abbott. The election, in my view, is now hers to lose. Her only real problem is that if she succeeds too well in the interim, the Libs will replace him with Malcolm Turnbull, who will be much harder to defeat.

For Malcolm has succeeded against

the odds in becoming – and least in the public eye – “a man of principle”.

But either way, it is the promotion of Kate Lundy as Minister for Sport that will hold the key to Ms Gillard’s success. Not, I hasten to add, that Kate’s performance in itself is all that pivotal. She will do an excellent job and be very visible in this Olympic year excusing our relatively poor performance in London.

Instead, it’s the fact that she joins no fewer that six other highly competent and formidable female ministers. Count them: Jenny Macklin, Nicola Roxon, Tanya Plibersek, Penny Wong, Kate Ellis and, of course, Gillard herself at the vanguard of Labor’s offensive. Against them, all Abbott can field are the two Bishops – “death-stare Julie” and “batty Bronwyn”.

Labor will now start to experiment with slogans. How often did we hear the term “working families” a few years ago? Ad nauseum! The Prime Minister is talking in terms of “we now need to move forward” then there is the “Building the Education Revolution”. They have dealt with the health “blame game” and now will find a way to sloganise the National Broadband Network.

There are not many people putting money on Labor to win the next election. The strategy will give them a chance. Provided they don’t keep tripping over their own feet, Julia Gillard ought not be written off as a contender.

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

“Getting on with the work of government”, “putting the Rudd fiasco behind us”, “looking forward”. Labor knows how damaging the disunity has been and now the members know that they have no choice but to get on and work together if they have any chance of returning to parliament at the next election. This is the strongest motivator.

going to be kicking goals

Julia Gillard is perfectly aware of the electoral power of this favourable imbalance. These days she continually opens her speeches with the salutation, ‘Women and men…’

This feminisation of the government is fine by Canberrans. We have no problem at all with a female GovernorGeneral, Prime Minister, Chief Minister, and two of our four representatives in Federal Parliament.

But out in the boondocks it needs to be handled quite carefully. A machismo backlash is always possible. However, I suspect that even there it’s slowly dawning that women are far better equipped than men to handle the business of politics.

Ego trips and excessive testosterone are the real impediments to good governance; firmness of purpose allied to

Kate Lundy... joining no fewer that six other highly competent and formidable female ministers.

the capacity for compromise are much to be preferred. And that’s women’s business. robert@robertmacklin.com

Canberra Confidential

Alex misses the cue on Jews

Q UESTIO n S are being asked and formal complaints raised about aBC 666 morning presenter Alex Sloan’s failure to hit the dump button when her guest, the British actor Miriam Margolyes, in town for her one-woman show “Dickens’ Women”, had this to say on air:

Sloan: Many people describe it [Dickens’ Fagin character] as an anti-Semitic description. What do you make of those?

Margolyes : No, I don’t believe that at all. I don’t think that he was anti-Semitic. Look, I’ve said this before. People don’t like Jews. And sometimes I’m not surprised. Because I don’t like some of them either – especially not the

way Israel’s treated Palestinians. No, of course I don’t….

Sloan, who was clearly in awe of Margolyes, said nothing in reply, which isn’t surprising given the local aBC website describes Sloan as interviewing “one of her all-time favourite actresses today – the wonderful, the fabulous, the witty and fantastic Miriam Margolyes”.

New baby, new start

ANNABELLE Pegrum is a grandmother, again! Her daughter Elisabeth Judd gave birth to a baby boy named Cole on February 22. Weighing 4.4kg and nine days late, annabelle says “both mum and baby are healthy and wonderful – we are all very happy”. Cole joins big brother Liam, 2. It’s definitely a close family; annabelle and Elisabeth have also joined forces to create a new company in strategic policy, planning and design called Pegrum Judd.

G-G for high tea

Unexpected old boy

residents use Twitter, compared to less than 10 per cent elsewhere.

“CC” has seen at least one formal complaint to local aBC chief Andrea Ho and Sydneybased managing director Mark Scott national commentator Gerard Henderson , in issue 126 of his Media Watch Dog column (thesydneyinstitute.com.au/media-watchdog) says: “It’s okay for Ms Margolyes to say that people do not like Jews. But imagine the outrage if the British thespian had said something like this: ‘People don’t like Muslims and sometimes, I’m not surprised because I don’t like some of them either, especially not the way Saudi arabia’s treated Christians.’ Just imagine.”

Margolyes, who is of Jewish background and lives in australia, is currently applying for australian citizenship.

The comment in question from the February 21 interview can be heard at around 4min 33secs here: abc.net.au/local/ stories/2012/02/21/3435900.htm?site=canberr a&program=canberra_mornings

GOVERnOR-General Quentin Bryce is set to make an appearance at the Hats and Gloves High Tea for Malkara Special School at Government House on Friday, March 23. Her husband, Michael Bryce is the patron of Malkara but at last year’s Hats and Gloves event, the GG was out of town. The high tea is run by the Friends of Malkara fundraising committee.

Contact malkarahatsandgloves@gmail.com

Get walking, kids

anD we wonder about child obesity... 40 years ago, 80 per cent of australian children walked or rode a bike to school, but today the number is thought to be less than 20 per cent, despite the fact that most children still live within two kilometres of the school gate, according to Scott Whiffen, Ride2School program director. The national Ride2School Day is on Friday, March 23.

L aBOR Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Stephen Conroy has a Canberra past. He emigrated here with his parents from England in 1973 and attended Daramalan College, in Dickson.

How big is the public service in Canberra again? #justsayin

Moving along... The report also showed 73 per cent of the aCT’s Twitter users access their stream weekly, while 18 per cent – more than 6500 people – use it daily. and 40.7 per cent of Canberra users say Twitter is an important way for them to stay in touch with news and information. Well “CC” has a tip for those people! Follow us @city_news

Jim Hacker requests...

The Catholic school is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with reunions of staff and students. In 1962 Daramalan started with 246 boys and today has grown to become Canberra’s largest, single-campus secondary school with more than 1460 boys and girls from Years 7 to 12. Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo is also an old boy.

Tweet city

OUR mag loves Twitter; and according to advertising agency Grey Canberra , so do 38,000 Canberrans!

In Grey’s recent social media monitor, there’s more pro rata Twitter users in Canberra than anywhere else in the country. Currently, 13.7 per cent of Canberra

“CC’s” collective heart skipped a beat when we got an invitation from “The British Prime Minister and his Cabinet Secretary” to a “spot of lunch” lunch at Parliament House next Tuesday.

But all was not what it seemed when we noticed the Prime Minister is one Jim Hacker and his Cabinet Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby – the leading characters in the legendary television series “Yes, Prime Minister” and of the more recent stage show of the same name, which opens at Canberra Theatre, March 21-24.

Despite the promise that “in the fullness of time and taking into consideration the broad scheme of things, it is felt the... visit will facilitate a meeting of mutually beneficial reciprocity that will ultimately be to everyone’s advantage”, the RSVP is to Coralie Wood, one of the sharpest publicists in town.

At Yellow Edge’s 10th birthday celebration, Barton

At the Oscar Gala at The Hellenic Club, Woden

At ‘Four of our Top Authors’, Electric Shadows Bookshop

arts & entertainment

Bernard climbs the greasy pole

“WE have nothing to gain or lose personally,” says Cabinet Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby, in the stage production of “Yes, Prime Minister”, coming to the Canberra Theatre soon.

Thousands of public servants climbing “the greasy pole” will relate to this, but it’s far more likely to be the Virgil-quoting Principal Private Secretary, Bernard Woolley, with whom Canberrans will feel the most in common.

Co-writer of the play and the BBC TV series, Jonathan Lynn, in australia for the play’s Melbourne opening, tells me: “Bernard is the one character who undergoes a serious change in the play.”

Early on, the sincere Bernard, to the horror of Sir Humphrey, says: “I believe in democracy”. But he is learning fast. at first shocked by the pejorative epithets such as “the Micks and the Polacks”, used by PM Jim Hacker (Mark Owen Taylor), he learns to cope.

I spoke to John Lloyd Fillingham, the English actor now living in australia who plays Bernard. He believes the comedy in “Yes, Prime Minister” is so accurate that it could almost be the work of a government insider and for that reason, audiences in Canberra will have a particular perspective on the show.

“at the beginning of the play Bernard has a strong moral compass,” Fillingham tells me, “but it is interesting to see how this develops through the play.”

Lynn agrees, adding: “Bernard starts out taking the moral high ground, but

Helen Musa reports

by the end of the play he is ready to be promoted – as Humphrey says, he’s grown up.”

Producer andrew Guild tells me he hopes “Yes, Prime Minister” will signal “a return to the era of commercial comedies”.

The play is the first collaboration for scriptwriters Lynn and antony Jay in 24 years, the main difference from the TV series being the necessity to move from the 28-minute TV format to a full-length play.

Though first staged in London during 2010, it seems to be about 2012. Set at Chequers, the British Prime Minister’s country residence, the script is packed with references to EU problems, the GFC, illegal immigrants, the 24-hour news cycle, spin doctors, global warming and (special emphasis for australia) minority governments.

Fresh characters include the “tough, cynical and very intelligent” Special Policy advisor Claire Sutton, played by Caroline Craig. a s well, there is the Director General of the BBC, played by former Canberran Tony Llewellyn-Jones, who will take over from Philip Quast as Sir Humphrey at the end of the season here.

But we should give Fillingham, as Bernard, the last word. His advice for Canberra’s public servants? “Develop a willow-like passivity.”

“Yes, Prime Minister”, Canberra Theatre, March 21-24. Bookings to 62752700.

They are here, again

By Helen Musa

WITH a festival called You are Here, thoughts inevitably turn to the present tense.

“That’s pretty much it,” agrees adam Hadley, who adds that the title also refers to “those little circles that you see on maps to show where you are”.

He’s one of the three co-producers charged by the Canberra Centenary’s creative director Robyn archer with showing off the talents of our younger artists this month in the lead up to the big 2013 celebrations.

Hadley has joined with theatre director David Finnigan and visual arts commentator Yolande n orris to put together more than 40 separate events, all to be held in non-traditional venues.

Each of the producers is focusing on his or her own strengths – shy Finnigan does admin, norris curates the art and Hadley has “Cabaret Schmabaret”, a “theatrical, camp and macabre” act to be called “Horseface Ethel and Her Marvellous Pigs in Satin”. n orris’ gargantuan exercise is called “Petite Public art”, where 50 Canberra artists are creating ephemera to be hidden in nooks and crannies.

“One favourite of mine is by Jess Kelly… discarded snail shells have little houses on top of them – ‘snail houses’,” she explains. Tiffany Cole’s tiny mushroom-like sculptures will be hidden in flowerbeds, while adam Veikkanen’s stack of Plasticine bubblegum pieces will be equally obscure. You’ll be able to pick up a map from the Canberra Museum and Gallery to help locate these special artworks that will show, as norris puts it, “where art begins and landscape ends”.

A warning: The printed program is so arty it’s unreadable, but the website is crystal clear at www.youareherecanberra. com.au

“You Are Here”, in Canberra’s alleyways, bookstores and shopfronts until March 18.

arts & entertainment / reviews

Big night for the little ukes

MUSIC

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Canberra Theatre, Saturday, March 3.

Reviewed by Ian McLean

WaLKInG to Canberra Theatre in the rain I was amazed at the number of people heading in the same direction, but with a ukulele tucked under their arms.

“Cutting it a bit fine, this English Orchestra,” I thought. But no, it wasn’t those guys, it was audience members responding to an invitation to front up with an instrument so they could be active participants at some stage during the show.

It set the scene for what was a light-hearted, happy and friendly evening of good entertainment.

The eight members of the orchestra played instruments ranging from a deep, tonal bass to a tiny, hand-sized ukulele and covered styles from hillbilly, rock ‘n’ roll, blues and funk to a touch of classics.

Clever arrangements of the music of Kate Bush, the Rolling Stones and The Who were all accompanied by polished patter and dry English humour. all players sang and, while some harmonies lacked perfect accuracy and the balance between amplified voices and instruments was somewhat skew whiff, vocal sound was always pleasant and in keeping with the relaxed atmosphere. These fine exponents will certainly encourage the recent phenomenal resurgence in ukulele popularity. Judging by the rapturous standing ovation that greeted the stunning encore to this concert, the uke is back and back big (and small)!

Win tickets to ‘Yes, Prime Minister’

“CityNews” has three double tickets, valued at $158 each, to the opening night of “Yes, Prime Minister” at the Canberra Theatre.

www.citynews .com.au/win

Doing it for the ‘Don’ts’

By Helen Musa

YOU don’t see much of our 2008 “Citynews” artist of the Year, nicole Canham, these days.

That’s because, for the past three years, the clarinetist and former director of the Canberra International Chamber Music Festival has been traversing the world, pursuing her own performance career, dashing between australia and Mexico for an interactive 360° video installation production in the midst of which she performs.

now Canham and choreographer-dancer n erida Matthaei are about to stage their own creation in Canberra.

The pair has been talking about working together for ages, so when Canham picked up a copy of the 1925 book “Don’ts for Dancers” at Heathrow airport, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for a dance and music collaboration.

That led to a month’s creative development with international artists specialising in the crossover of movement, voice and dance, first in France and then at the Centre of Dance in Dublin.

now, together with two dancers, alex Bryce and Leah Shelton, they’ve come up with their own production about what you should and should not do. Canham and Matthaei are mixing waltz, 1920s Charleston and tango with contemporary pop and techno music and dance. and, yes, dancing in this context is very much a heterosexual activity.

“In the production there are three girls and one guy, so it’s a question of who gets to dance with the guy,” Canham says.

“Don’ts for Dancers”, Canberra Theatre Courtyard Studio, March 14-17. Bookings to 6275 2700.

arts & entertainment / cinema

Shakespeare with real vigour

“Coriolanus” (M)

FOR his directorial debut Ralph Fiennes chose this modern-era adaptation of Shakespeare’s most politically-violent and militarily-bloody play and also plays its principal character, Caius Martius, later called Coriolanus.

From its opening sequence, the film displays tremendous vigour, a commendably deep understanding of the play and modern, mechanised war. It tells how Martius, victorious over the Volscians, selected by the Senate to be Consul, opposed by the populace whom he despises, banished by political opponents, forms a union of military convenience with his Volscian former bitter enemy aufidius whose underlings ultimately persuade him that Martius is too hot an ally to keep.

The film powerfully confirms the eternality of Shakespeare’s language, adapted for the screen by John Logan. Its cast is a joy to watch. Vanessa Redgrave is magnificent as Martius’ mother.

Jessica Chastain as his wife is luminously lovely yet steely in his defence. Brian Cox is convincing as his political mentor Menenius. James nesbitt and Paul Jessup are splendidly malevolent as the tribunes whipping the populace into a frenzy against him.

“Coriolanus” offers nothing gentle or comical. But its pace, visual and dramatic verities and command of the viewer’s involvement are profound.

At Dendy

“Carnage” (M)

IF you arrive late for this compact dramatic comedy, directed by Roman Polanski, you’ll miss opening titles preparing us to expect something special from its cast of four actors on the top of their profession.

Yasmine Reza’s screenplay from her novel cries out for a third incarnation as a one-act play unfolding in the apartment of Penelope (Jodie Foster) and Michael Longstreet (John C. Reilly) where nancy (Kate Winslet) and alan Cowan (Christoph Waltz) are visiting to discuss a playground incident in which their son whacked the Longstreets’ son with a stick, damaging two front teeth.

alliances form in all directions and collapse, settlement propositions arise and sink, old sores are opened, fresh wounds are sustained.

“Carnage” delivers comedy and humour packaged separately. It’s clever. It’s witty. Its acting is bravura – visualisation intelligent; dialogue brilliant; staging uncompromising and resolution surprising.

a s you may have gathered, I liked it a lot.

At Dendy and Greater Union “Weekend” (MA)

FOR his first feature, writer/director andrew Haigh invites us to observe while Russell (Tom Cullen),

Dougal Macdonald reviews

after a Friday night family party, visits a gay bar where he allows Glen (Chris new) to pick him up. at the session I watched, two women left after about 20 minutes, leaving me and a handful of other men there for whatever reasons. Walking out is a negative response making a positive statement. How “Weekend” goes down with straight men or women will depend on whether they are tolerant or homophobic. I cannot answer whether it will persuade gay men of its emotional authenticity. Ditto whether it gives them an erotic buzz.

Its language is totally frank about the mechanics and the motivations driving gay sexuality and the dialogue of gay love-making technique leaves no doubt about how it works.

alcohol provides a subtext throughout the film, together with grass, coke and other addictive substances. Do they give Dutch courage or heighten the orgasmic sensation? The film’s matter-of-fact treatment of these questions is somehow re-assuring, less frightening while avoiding direct mention of the elephant in the room, HIV aIDS.

At Dendy

“A Separation” (PG)

a MIDDLE -class Iranian couple, nader and Simin, is preparing to divorce. Simin wants to emigrate to give their 11-year-old daughter Termeh a better future. nader cannot leave his father who has alzheimer’s disease. The judge refuses to grant the divorce. Simin moves out. nader engages a housekeeper Razieh to care for his father while he is at work.

On this foundation of not-greatly-remarkable domestic issues, film-maker a sghar Farhadi has built a profound observation of an Iranian family in turmoil.

Razieh goes out one morning leaving the old man tied to his bed to stop him wandering. nader berates her, accuses her of theft and fires her. Leaving the apartment she falls on the stairs. next thing she is in hospital miscarrying.

This year’s Oscar-winning Best Foreign Language film examines Iranian attitudes and issues about women’s social standing, the moral and ethical imperatives taught in the Koran, the justice system and family structures.

If this list sounds unexciting, be assured that the tensions and conflicts in “a Separation” demonstrate the contrary, engaging us with the characters from a variety of directions and a uniform level of involvement, making us concerned for resolution of their issues.

At Greater Union

“Like Crazy” (M)

anna’S a Brit studying Eng.Lit. in L a . Jake’s an L a native, studying design and building furniture. Love builds after a delicious courtship. Her student visa is about to expire. Love curdles her judgement. She overstays by a week.

When anna (Felicity Jones) decides that despite a good job in publishing and a quite acceptable pair of parents, London life isn’t fulfilling her, she flies back to the US. Overstaying a US visa may not yet be a hanging offence but it feels like it when it bars you from returning to be with the love of your life.

Drake Doremus has written and staged a bitter-sweet screenplay for this gently-paced romance. Its ups and downs make interesting viewing. Letters, emails, phone calls, none delivers the comfort of a warm body in a soft bed. a registry office wedding, hoping that the wife of a citizen will escape the immigration barrier, fails. Sam (Jennifer Lawrence) in Jake’s office takes anna’s place. a presentable young Londoner slides into anna’s bed. Is this the end ?

Well, not exactly. But even as the end credits prepare to roll while anna and Jake (anton Yelchin) are hugging under the shower in his apartment after Immigration finally relents, Doremus still leaves loose ends hanging. Personally, I’m most sorry for Sam, ditched not once but twice by her boss.

At Greater Union

“Project-X” (MA)

nIMa nourisadeh’s first movie may have taken for its template Corey Delaney’s party on January 14, 2008, when 500 teenagers trashed the Delaney home in narre Warren while his oldies were away. On Thomas’ (Thomas Mann) 17th birthday, his parents are off for a weekend of marital whatever leaving Tom with clear and reasonable instructions about celebrating in their absence.

Tom’s a nerd, as are his besties – overweight JB (Jonathan Brown) and Costa (Oliver Cooper), at 18 years and six months old, legally an adult in California. Costa, unrestrained by conscience, using Tom’s lack of assertiveness to further his own ambition to ejaculate his sperm into as many acquiescing young women as possible, uses social networks, face-to-face and posters to tell Pasadena’s young folk where and when. a fourth nerd, Dax, unseen until late in the film, is there to capture the event on video. The amateurish result making the film visually uncomfortable, matches its intentions.

a s parties go, this one’s a world-beater, liquor, sex, rock ‘n roll, ecstasy tabs, you name it, these kids are off the leash and ready to make the most of it. Parents, be frightened.

At Dendy, Hoyts and Limelight

arts & entertainment

Darling diner with a difference

Wendy Johnson dining

IT hasn’t taken long for those in Fyshwick to sniff out a new, delightful eatery and, on my first visit, I watched a steady stream of customers, including business people, tradespeople and others, embrace The Box Diner on Tennant Street.

This small diner is attached to The Box Business Centre overlooking peaceful farmland, instead of the noisy traffic you have to put up with in some parts of this industrial area.

In the brand, spanking new — and exceptionally well-equipped kitchen — is Toby Boutland (formerly of The Lobby and Pork Barrel). The menu is extensive for the size of the place and the prices are right, especially given the commitment to “low miles from farm to plate”. I know you’re thinking that practically every cafe claims they source quality, fresh ingredients, but The Box Diner is true to its word.

“We use fresh herbs, local eggs from happy, free-range chooks, beef from Hereford cattle, who thrive on tasty grass, and artisan breads from a local bakery made with little or no preservatives,” says Toby. “Our jams, marmalades

and chutneys come from friends at Boorowa’s Walsh Country Kitchen, created with regional fruits and vegetables. and we make everything on site daily.”

Breakfast starts early and features smaller items such as thick-cut banana bread with maple syrup ($6.50) and a big breakfast for those needing massive amounts of fuel to kick-start the day ($16.60).

We visited at lunch and, although the regular menu offered many dishes we would have been happy with, we were attracted to the daily specials board. The tender duck (cooked to perfection) and blackberry tart was on the sweeter side, but I love that, and it married well with the simple spinach and ricotta salad ($15). The Methi potato curry, served with crispy pappadum and light, fluffy saffron rice, hit the spot ($17).

Most salads come as sides and mains ($3.50 to $10). Other dishes include salt-and-pepper squid with a chilli citrus salad ($14), tempura fish and chips ($15), paninis (all $9) and pasta dishes. The flame-grilled beef burger is proving to be popular ($12.90) and the coffee is great. The rice paper rolls in the display cabinet look sensational.

You order at the counter and are served at your table. The fit-out is exceptional, with warm timbers; wine-coloured, comfy bench seating; funky lighting and two booths towards the back. There’s lots of outdoor seating, too.

The Box Diner is refreshing in many ways and one thing is for sure… everyone will feel at home the minute they walk in the front door.

The Box Diner is byo. Unit 17, 65 Tennant Street, Fyshwick, open 7am to 3pm weekdays.

Tumultuous marriage put to song

“THE Last Five Years” is a contemporary, intimate musical about a tumultuous marriage, first staged in new York during 2002. Performed some years ago in cabaret at Teatro Vivaldi, Domenic Mico is staging the Canberra theatre premiere at Tuggeranong arts Centre, March 14-24. Bookings to 6293 1443.

POLITIC aL comedy is the order of the season. Coming to Canberra at the same time as “Yes, Prime Minister” is Melbourne comedy group Political a sylum. “Instability is often hilarious,” they say. at Civic Pub, Lonsdale Street, Braddon, March 21-24, details at www.politicalasylum. com.au

“BaCK to BaC” is the oddly-named biennial exhibition of works by members of Strathnairn arts a ssociation. Peter Haynes, former director of the Canberra Museum and Gallery and now University of Canberra art curator, has selected works by 17 artists. at the Belconnen arts Centre, 10am-5pm, Tuesday to Sunday, until March 25. Meet the artists at 3pm, March 18.

WELCOME back to popular pianist Colleen Rae-Gerrard, returning to Canberra from six years in nZ to resume working at the anU School of Music. She’ll be playing Mozart, Haydn and

Beethoven on her fortepiano “Constanza” at Wesley Music Centre, 3pm, March 11. Children under 12 free. Tickets at door.

“a GHOST at the Café” is the first tour of the 2012 season for the “new look and feel” Selby & Friends, featuring former leader of the australian String Quartet, Sophie Rowell on violin, Clancy newman on cello and artistic director Kathryn Selby on piano. and their ghost? That would be Beethoven’s “Ghost” piano trio. at Fairfax Theatre, nGa , 7.30pm, Monday, March 19, children free. Bookings to 9969 7039 or 9405 5532.

C anBERR a artist Dirk Bouma is exhibiting paintings that support the fight to reserve and develop the Ginninderra Falls and Gorge area into a national park. CSIRO Discovery Centre, 9am-5pm until March 22.

“C aRnIVaL: a Celebration of Colour” is an exhibition of masks, scarves and canvas by Eryka Garbutt, whose former career in engineering has given way to art deco-style “expeditions” into art.

at Strathnairn Homestead Cafe, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt, 10am-4pm, Friday to Sunday, until March 25. “CORnER Detritus” is an exhibition of sculpture, drawing and mixed media by former set designer and props maker Paul Michael Murray. His figures “plead with you to understand their silent narrative”. at anC a , 1 Rosevear Place, Dickson, noon-5pm, Wednesday-Sunday, until March 11.

Open days honour

open garden

THE opening of the beautiful Osborn Garden at 16 Dungowan Street, Hawker, honours a promise that owner Richard Osborn made to his wife and fellow gardener, Fay, who passed away last year.

“In 2008, we had made a commitment to Open Gardens australia to open in the autumn in order to showcase the intense colours of the roses, but this was delayed by drought and Fay’s battle with cancer,” Richard says.

“This opening is one of the few commitments that Fay asked me to honour.”

The garden is planted out with old favourites – lindens, lavender, salvias, groundcovers, ferns, clematis and an avenue of 70 roses in autumn flush.

During the drought years, the irrigation was removed and many of the original plantings did not survive. Richard and Fay replaced them with drought-tolerant plants.

a low bluestone wall echoes the hues of the adjacent bush and the Brindabellas provide a backdrop to the garden.

“We came to this place in 1997,” says Richard.

“Many of the original plantings were removed by 2005 as the drought took hold. We stopped irrigating, widened the beds, and started the avenue of roses with a backdrop of salvias in 2006/2007.

“ neither Fay or I claimed, or claim, any expertise in the finer points of gardening, or knowing much about the specimens we collected.

“We did so primarily through the web, looking for drought-tolerant plants to replace those lost when we turned off the irrigation. Most of what you now see growing in this place came via eye appeal when browsing.

“The area immediately to the right when coming through the gate includes the dogwoods and some rhododendrons that were here when we came in 1997, plus the three maples. One was planted direct from nursery, and I’ve had the other two for 27 years. Violets that have always been here plus some introduced native pelagoniums provide the ground cover.”

16 Dungowan Street, Hawker, open 10am-4.30pm, March 10-11, $6 (under 18s free). There are picnic spots in the garden or nearby and proceeds will go towards supporting sportspeople with disability.

a special promise to Fay

Mystery of the missing moth

DESPITE the cooler summer, I have found no evidence of codling moth in our apples or invasion of fruit fly.

Conversely, the mosquitoes just love these damp, humid conditions.

I would be interested in readers’ comments regarding their own fruit trees.

One important reminder with chemical sprays, make absolutely certain of the withholding period. In other words, the time between spraying any edible crop, fruit or vegetables.

L a ST week, I briefly discussed suckering from the base or roots of trees. This followed a reader inquiry with concerns at the number of suckers from the base of a tree, plus the top of the tree appeared to be dying.

There is no relationship between the two, with healthy trees producing suckers (illustrated here with an oak tree). In particular, grafted plants can produce suckers under the graft and it is important to remove them as soon as they appear.

Many trees can produce suckers when digging within the root zone and damaging the roots. Elm trees and Robinia “Mop Tops” are notorious for this problem.

VEHICLES constantly driven over the root zone, as on nature strips, can result in suckers with roots being exposed and subsequently damaged. Vehicles cause soil compaction, which reduces oxygen to the root zone and causes water run-off. Over time, particularly in droughts, the tree could die with no water penetrating to the roots.

Incidentally, it is illegal under aCT Territory and Municipal Services regulations for “parking or storing any type of vehicle or trailer on your nature strip [also referred to as the verge] is

Cedric Bryant gardening

prohibited, whether registered or unregistered”. and this is not a recent regulation – it has been in place since the early 1920s, with amendments over the years.

The problem is compounded with the advent of large numbers of units being built with insufficient parking facilities. Of course, I would rather have trees on nature strips than wall-towall vehicles.

IT is bulb- planting time, as I noticed the Heritage nursery and others furiously unpacking bulbs.

The advantage, as I have said before, is that you can pick good, healthy bulbs at your local garden centre as opposed to mail order, when you may not know what you are getting. I will discuss more on bulbs next week – how deep to plant, where to plant, etcetera.

LUCERnE in bulk has been in short supply over recent years other than those plastic-wrapped bales at garden centres. This has been due to drought in the traditional growing areas and the demand for stock feed. Why lucerne for mulch?

Firstly, you might like to look at my Cedfacts Garden Information Sheet “What is so special about lucerne hay?” which can be found at www. cedricbryant.com

Secondly, help is now at hand with an excellent growing season and locally grown amungula Lucerne of Sutton. andrew Bingley can supply either bales or bags of shredded lucerne that is weed free and ideal for all garden applications.

Delivery is available to all areas of Canberra and Queanbeyan. Call Andrew on 0417 223 296 or andewbingley1@bigpond.com

It’s time to...

• Clip conifers. More details next week.

• Plant evergreen shrubs so the roots will be established before spring.

• Tie up dahlias. The ideal growing conditions this year results in fast growth.

• Plant bulbs.

Diary dates

Horticultural Society of Canberra’s next meeting at Wesley Church Centre, national Circuit, Forrest, 7.30pm, Monday, March 19, with guest speaker Stephen Utick, of Camellia ark Project, which endeavours to preserve endangered and early cultivar camellias. Meetings are free, open to all with supper provided.

Lanyon Homestead with Open Gardens australia is hosting a “gardener’s heaven”. an opportunity to find the perfect plant at its plant fair, 10am-4pm, Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25, plus the gardens will be open for inspection.

health & fitness

Abundance of autumn foods

WE bid summer fruits and vegetables farewell in the knowledge that autumn holds an equal abundance of fresh seasonal produce, including apples (green), brown and white potatoes, Kiwi fruit, lemons, shallots and sweet potato.

Produce still in season includes, asparagus, bananas, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, cos lettuce, cucumber, watermelon and zucchini.

Belconnen fruit and veg retailer Todd Irvine, shares his top autumn produce picks:

Versatile pears

“PE aRS are a versatile fruit, and when autumn rolls around they’re at their absolute peak, with various types such as nashi, Bosc and anjous, all equally delicious. They can be enjoyed on your breakfast cereal, as on-the-go snacks, or as a dessert poached in red wine, sugar, and cinnamon. When grocery shopping, don’t be afraid to choose pears that are still quite firm as they will ripen and sweeten on their own in a few days when left at room temperature.”

Impressive figs

“FIGS are one of the most underrated and underused fruits, yet they’re extremely versatile. Like pears, there are so many ways in which they can be served – they make a perfect accompaniment to a cheese platter and can even be preserved and made into jam. alternatively, if you’re short on

time, just drizzle the figs with honey and scatter some fresh mint over the top.”

Pumpkins plus

“WHETHER it’s a Japanese pumpkin roasted with garlic and rosemary, or a Butternut pumpkin pureed to make a soup, pumpkins are sure to be a great addition to any meal. Look for pumpkins with an intact, strong stem and that sit up flat on their own. This will ensure you’re choosing a solid ripe pumpkin with no rotten sections.”

Sweet corn

“ManY people associate corn on the cob with summer, but as we enter autumn the corn will only get sweeter. Try experimenting with recipes like corn fritters or homemade chicken and sweet-corn soup. When choosing corn cobs, look for tassels that aren’t black or dry, and feel each ear through the husk to check for even, plump kernels.”

The art of eating elephants

C an you eat an elephant and lose weight?

“absolutely,” says Brett Hill, australian wellness expert and author of the new book, “How To Eat an Elephant”.

The health and wellness book is targeted at health-conscious babyboomers. The format allows people to control their own lifestyle decisions and helps them make small steps of never-ending improvement.

“My goal for this book was for it to make it easy and fun to make longlasting lifestyle changes. n o more fad diets, quick-fix exercise regimes or self-improvement gimmicks, just simple solutions to make real change one bite at a time,” says author Dr Hill.

The book covers all aspects of health and lifestyle including diet, exercise and positive thinking in short, succinct chapters.

“‘How To Eat an Elephant’ takes all the health information out there and packages it in an easy-to-read, easy-to-use format to help people make real, long-lasting change, one bite at a time,” says chiropractor and wellness coach Dr Laurence Tham.

“How To Eat An Elephant” is available in book stores or from www. howtoeatanelephant.com

Joanne Madeline Moore

your week in the stars / March 12 - 18

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

With Mercury reversing through your sign (from March 13-april 4) it’s not an appropriate week to initiate projects or absorb new information. But it’s a terrific time to revise, review and rehearse. Wednesday’s Mars/Uranus trine boosts your spirits, and sends lucky business or work opportunities your way. For single Rams – love comes calling mid-week.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Wednesday is your pick of the week as Pluto, Jupiter and Mars all make marvelous aspects to Venus (your ruler). Expect to feel more confident and sociable, as you flirt up a storm and your charm meter gets stuck on high. Self-discipline is at an all-time low, and the need to pursue pleasure is at an all-time high. For single Bulls – love and travel are an intoxicating mix.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Mercury (your ruling planet) moves backwards over the next three weeks, so choose your words wisely – especially when chatting with friends. Otherwise you’ll say the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time! With Uranus in your dream zone, don’t be too conventional with your hopes, goals and wishes for the future. Reach for the unreachable star!

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

It’s all about connections at the moment Crabs, as Venus and Jupiter jump-start your networking zone. Plus Pluto increases your ability to persuade others in powerful ways. Resist the urge to be manipulative on Friday – you’ll get further if you try to cajole rather than control. Don’t underestimate the knowledge and wisdom you can pick up from an older family member.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Jupiter sends helpful colleagues or cashed-up clients in your direction, so make sure you capitalize on lucky breaks that come your way. Imagination is your greatest ally and you’ll find the more confident and creative you are, the more professional success you’ll generate. Be inspired by albert Einstein (born on March 14): “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

With Mars reversing through your sign (from March 13-april 4) projects will take longer than usual to complete, and you’ll have to be patient. But it is a fabulous time to research, revisit and reboot. Resist the urge to nag and criticise though – leading by example is the smart way to go. Venus and Jupiter bless overseas friendships, so nurture your international contacts.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

Librans love to be in love. You dream of a blissful soul-mate union, where you and your mate are madly in love 24/7. However, with Mercury reversing through your relationship zone, you’re in for a rollercoaster ride (complete with mix-ups and misunderstandings!). Singles – expect a few dating disasters over the next three weeks. Saturday is super for family functions.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

Venus is visiting your partnership zone so it’s a fabulous time for business negotiations, joint ventures and shared creative projects. Rickety relationships have a chance to heal and blossom and, the more generous and forgiving you are, the quicker the process will be. Jealous outbursts and possessive behaviour will get you nowhere fast – especially on Friday.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Jupiter trines Pluto and Mars this week so the pace picks up and you’ll approach challenges with extra confidence, chutzpah and Sagittarian sizzle. Expect financial luck or a business boost and, the more you rub shoulders with creative and influential people, the more benefits you’ll reap. For singles – love and work are linked in wonderfully wicked ways.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Venus hooks up with Jupiter in your entertainment zone, which encourages you to let your hair down and indulge in life’s luxuries – good food, good living and good loving. Plus projects involving sport, children and creativity look exciting, so get motivated and have some fun. On Friday and Saturday, aim to be thoughtful and thorough – rather than fussy and finicky.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

aquarians are adventurous souls but this week, home is where the heart is, as Jupiter and Venus snuggle up in your domestic zone. Take the time to relax with loved ones – or to finish all those DIY projects you started so enthusiastically many moons ago! You’re keen to lend a helping hand when needed, but friends and finances are a confusing mix at the moment.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

If you are a Fish who is floundering financially, then you need to employ a professional to sort out your money problems pronto. and with the Sun and neptune in your sign, it’s time to visualise your ideal future – and surround yourself with people who support your dreams. a s birthday great Liza Minnelli said, “Don’t listen to anyone who doesn’t know how to dream.”

General knowledge crossword No. 351

Across

1 Which notorious Australian bushranger was known as “Mad Dog”

?

8 Name another term for a slaughterhouse

9 What is hessian also known as?

10 Which pole is used to support that which lights a street, etc?

11 What is a pair of equal and opposite electric charges called?

12 What is the under portion of one’s foot?

13 To put away, as for safekeeping, is to do what?

16 What is a fashionable shop called?

19 In cricket, what is a set of six bowls delivered?

21 Name the second book of the Old Testament

22 What are fabrics such as orlon and the like, called?

23 What are the coloured portions of the eyes, which contain the pupils?

24 Which actor is renowned for “Go ahead, make my day”, Clint ...?

25 What are items in a sports program called?

Down

2 Which doctor is skilled in the examination and treatment of the eyes?

3 Name the structure designed for hanging people

4 Near which city does Mt Vesuvius lie?

5 What are extensive treeless plains?

6 Which Australian officer ranks one below a brigadier?

7 Name the European island which comprises England, Scotland and Wales

13 What are four-sided planes having all sides equal and at right angles to each other?

14 What is a place where a person may be reached?

15 Name the late eye specialist noted for his work with Australian Aborigines, and in Eritrea, Fred ...

17 Which plant genus includes monkshood or wolf’s bane?

18 What does it mean, to be wealthy?

20 To dwell for a considerable time is to do what?

Solutions

‘Super tax’ to drive house prices higher

WE see statements from members of the ACT Government who say they speak for everyone in saying we all “love our bush capital” and we all want to enjoy Canberra as an attractive and liveable city.

Indeed we do, but linking that popular sentiment to a new “developers’ tax” is a politically convenient image.

Firstly, is the new lease variation charge really a “developers’ tax” or is it just another tax on land owners in the aCT?

The Government’s own report, that it relied on to justify the tax, states that the new charge will be borne by three groups of people. However, the Government talks only about one of these groups – “developers” –and calls it a “developers’ tax”, mischievously diverting attention from the impact of the tax on existing and future homeowners as identified in its own report.

The report specifically states that the tax will be partially borne by existing landowners as developers can now afford to pay what the previous market price was, less the new lease variation charge.

Or, the new tax will be passed on to end-buyers by the developer in the form of higher prices. Or, the tax will be partially absorbed by the developer in the form of a reduced profit.

Less development will occur due to the high rate of tax, presenting a barrier to a developer buying a property from an existing landowner. This constricts supply,

and any development that does go ahead will only do so as the developer has assessed that sufficiently higher prices can be charged to cover the new tax. It follows also that if supply is constricted, rents will go up. adding to these problems is that the Government has now tried to create a further smokescreen by trying to link the tax to the need to maintain and improve the infrastructure of Canberra. Isn’t this what rates and land tax are meant for?

Moreover, failure to raise the revenue planned from the lease variation charge means that the so called Urban Improvement Fund will probably never be realised.

It will be interesting to see which projects are cut first, for this is a dangerous stunt in an election year.

Contrary to what the Government says, the lease variation charge will not “return to the community its rightful share of development gains”. The reality is that the cost of the lease variation charge will hit existing property owners first, followed through with a hit to future home owners.

It is time to stop calling the lease variation charge a “developers’ tax” and start calling it by its real name –

“The new Housing Super Tax”.

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