Canberra CityNews May 10, 2012

news / the Quinlan Tax Review index / contacts

‘Robin Hood’ tax reform takes from wealthy, gives to poor

THE Quinlan Review of taxation in the ACT sets the groundwork for more progressive forms of taxation.

Even before the release of the report, Treasurer Andrew Barr was pointing out that the tax reform process would take two decades and was busily attempting to reassure Canberrans that there would not be sudden and dramatic changes.

Of course not ; It is an election year.

The fact that this report has been released six months out from an election reveals some interesting insights into how the Labor government in the ACT is positioning itself.

It seems like a politically “courageous” move. However, Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher, is keen to stamp her own brand on the government. This is a government that has served three terms and is looking for a fourth one. They are attempting to paint the picture of a new government, a new leader, a government with new, fresh ideas.

Courageous, yes. But not too courageous! Andrew Barr sat on the report from the beginning of the year releasing on Federal Budget eve. The chances of the media staying focused on this review for a sustained period are quite limited. But then a report of such high calibre needs careful consideration and a thoughtful response rather than one that is marred by politicking, exaggeration and scare tactics. However, the reality is identified in the report: “A shift in the economic incidence of a tax creates winners and losers.”

It seems we are all winners when a report talks about abolishing duty on conveyances, general and life insurance. However, the report is quite clear that this is about replacing revenue. Where savings are made in one area the revenue will have to be made up in another. The challenge is to use an evolutionary process to ensure that the replacement taxes are more progressive than the revenue-raising measures they are replacing.

The ACT Taxation Review was chaired by former ACT Deputy Chief Minister and Labor Treasurer, Ted Quinlan, who was supported by the ACT Under Treasurer, Megan Smithies and Prof Alan Duncan, from the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling at the University of Canberra.

They based their thinking on developing the fairest possible system without undermining the ability of the ACT to operate in a compara-

Michael Moore politics

tive way with the other jurisdictions. Fairness and equity have been drivers. The downside for the Government is that this means a change in which there will be a greater tax burden for wealthier citizens, the most articulate and the best connected members of the community.

In effect, they are taking from the wealthy to give to the poor. This is explained by them as: “Equity – in-principle, taxes should be both horizontally and vertically equitable. Horizontally equitable taxes apply to people in similar financial circumstances in the same way. Vertically equitable taxes increase with income and so are about an individual’s capacity to pay.” They also worked to three other principles –stability, efficiency and simplicity.

The report offers the following summary: “Four key taxes raise the majority of revenue in the ACT: payroll tax, conveyance duty, general rates and land tax. Other taxes and levies also play an important role in the provision of government services to the Canberra community. Land-based revenue is the predominant tax base in the ACT.”

Land-based taxation provides one of the more progressive revenues applied in the ACT and, as such, is the fairest. The wealthier pay a greater contribution. However, the fairest of all the taxing system is the charges levied when there is a change of use on a particular lease. Where a lease has been purchased for a home and a developer wishes to build a set of units the value of the lease increases considerably. As the community is the landlord in this case, the improved value for allowing the variation to the lease belongs as part of community revenue. The report summarises the importance of this concept with: “There are good reasons to set the Lease Variation Charge at as high a rate as possible.”

This is an extensive report. There are issues for debate and the political reality is those most impacted in any negative way will have the loudest voices. However, in the words of the report “the relatively higher socio-economic profile of the ACT indicates capacity to support reform”.

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

Arts&Entertainment 23-27

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The ‘King of Plasma’s’

NEVILLE Tomkins was a fresh faced 18-yearold, first-year university student from rural Queensland when he first decided to donate blood.

Spotting a blood donor van at the ANU campus, he made inquiries and was soon at the former Capital Health Authority building in Civic, donating blood and receiving his “little bag of jelly beans”.

That was 1976. Now in 2012, Mr Tomkins, a senior public servant, has just donated to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service for the 250th time.

“For me blood was a particular interest because there is no substitute for blood,” he said.

“Blood is the most precious gift, it is the most valuable gift you can give.”

Now donating every 14 days, Mr Tomkins has elevated his donations from blood to the muchneeded plasma, making him Canberra’s Blood Service “plasma king”.

“There is a heavy demand for plasma,” he said.

“With our ageing population, medical break-

FREYLA FERGUSON meets an extraordinary man who manages the pain of 36 years’ worth of scar tissue in his arm to donate every fortnight at the blood bank

throughs are finding more ways to use plasma.

“There are 17 different products made from plasma; 34 per cent goes to cancer victims and 18 per cent of plasma goes to burns victims.”

Plasma is the most versatile component of blood; the products it is processed into are used to treat life-threatening conditions such as burns and haemophilia. It is also used to create immunisations.

Platelets on the other hand are used primarily in the treatment of cancers and medical treatments such as chemotherapy – that decrease platelet counts. When platelet counts are low, spontaneous bleeding can occur.

The plasma procedure runs for about one hour and 15 minutes; Mr Tomkins’ blood is drawn from his body and the plasma, also known as “liquid gold”, is extracted from that blood.

The blood is then returned to his body.

What makes it particularly “not easy” for Mr Tomkins is the 36 years’ worth of scar tissue in his arms.

“There’s a little bit of pain, but it’s always worth it, I always keep in mind the stories of recipients,” he said.

“Young people in need. I have something to give. I am going to continue to donate as long as I can and encourage other people to not only donate, but donate on a regular basis.

“It’s better to give than to receive – I always live by that motto.”

To be eligible to donate blood you must be fit, healthy and not suffering from an illness at the time of donation; aged between 16 to 70 years old; and weigh more than 45kg.

To donate blood, plasma or platelets contact the Australian Red Cross Blood Service on 13 14 95 or visit donateblood. com.au

blood and guts

Pink footy day

ANU Women’s AFL and Gungahlin Jets Women’s AFL have teamed up to put on a Pink Footy Day fundraiser event for the Breast Cancer Network Australia at the ANU South Oval from 9.30am on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13. Federal Minister for Sport, Kate Lundy, and ACT Sport Minister Andrew Barr will attend the event.

Smart workshops

FREE Energy Smart workshops, for people wanting to learn more about saving energy in the home, will be held in public libraries until May 30.

People attending the workshop will also receive a take-home workbook with energy saving activities, more than 40 home improvements and 50 low-cost or free actions to create an Energy Smart Action plan. Workshops will be held at various times at Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Erindale, Woden and Gungahlin. Bookings and information at sustainact.com or email energysmart@sustainact.com

Looking for lesbians

ARE you a lesbian or a same-sex-attracted woman? Rebecca Jennings, research fellow in the Department of Modern History, Macquarie University, is looking for women of any age interested in taking part in research into same-sex relationships and lesbian families since 1945. If you are willing to take part in an interview about your ideas and experience of same-sex relationships, families and/or lesbian parenting, contact Rebecca at Rebecca. Jennings@mq.edu.au or call 0403811885.

Lifeline’s bean walking

IN a bid to be more “self sustainable”, Lifeline Canberra has launched a coffeevan concept called Bean Talkin’ – the first of a series of commercial enterprises to be run by volunteers.

Lifeline Canberra CEO Mike Zissler said to keep up with the demand on Lifeline’s 24-hour counselling hotline, the organisation needed to train more counsellors using a more consistent revenue stream above their twice-yearly Lifeline Bookfairs.

“The Bookfairs generate about $950,000 a year, so they are really good income,” Mr Zissler said.

“But Government grants – they only give us about a third of our budget – are actually contracting over time, and are no longer reliable for money, that’s the nature of the business.

“So we are very keen to make ourselves self sustainable over time.

“Because of our volunteer base, we are very successful in generating revenue and we think these are good opportunities.”

The project, which has been developing for about 12 months, is being managed by commercial enterprises manager, Karen Bustamante.

Freyla Ferguson reports

Volunteer baristas working in the Bean Talkin’ vans will complete a two-day course with Lifeline Canberra’s catering sponsors U.8.one.2 and will also take part in a sponsored safe food handling course at CIT. They will also be mentored and supported by Gus’ Cafe.

The van and its baristas will be available for public events.

“It allows us, of course, to generate good income as well, but also very importantly, it’s about getting the message out to the community that the business we’re in, is about talking to each other, listening to each other, making the community stronger, more resilient and safer,” Mr Zissler said.

Depending on the success of the concept, Mr Zissler hopes that Bean Talkin’ could eventually be a way of getting young people who are unemployed or people with a disability into the workforce.

“We’ll get them onto the barista training, the safe food handling training and they’ll be mentored then by one of our volunteers. After they put enough hours in, we’ll write them a ref-

the Talkin’

erence saying they are a good barista, they are reliable, confident and skilled,” he said.

Lifeline Canberra also expects to open a retail shop in July, once again run by volunteers.

“It will not be an opshop, we are not going down the lines of the Salvation Army or St Vincent de Paul – who do a great job,” he said.

“This will very much be a shop with a very specific marketplace that will target young fashionable people who will come and buy things from us and, of course, make a profit for Lifeline.

“Once again, it will be staffed by predominantly volunteers and it’s another training opportunity for people to get back into the workforce.”

It will also have three facets; a shop in Civic, a “pop-up” shop and an online shop. The third concept will be a Christmas event.

Mr Zissler said currently 70 people are being trained as volunteer counsellors for Lifeline, with the hope of training another 70 in the next six months.

He hopes with the help of the new ventures, Lifeline Canberra will double its volunteer counsellors from 200 to 400 and double the calls answered from 20,000 a year to 50,000.

Bean Talkin’ will be stationed at the Albert Hall during the Canberra International Music Festival from May 11 to 20. For more information visit www.act.lifeline.org.au

Swinging soiree

THE Canberra Choral Society will hold a ‘30s-style “soiree” at the Albert Hall on Saturday, July 7. The society is teaming up with the Hall Village Brass Band to put on a night that will rediscover the fun of doing the foxtrot, waltz, quickstep and swing to a live band. Dances will be taught on the night by Marko and Sharon Pekkarinen, of Danzón dance studio. The soirée is part of the Canberra Choral Society’s Albert Hall Festival, which will also include a tribute to Dame Nellie Melba Concert at a concert in her memory on the afternoon of Sunday, July 8.

Irish in art

THE Canberra Friends of Ireland are hosting “Not Only Nolan” at Fairfax Theatre, National Gallery of Australia, 2pm, Wednesday May 16. Miriam Kelly, assistant curator, Australian art and sculpture, and Irish concert pianist, Elaine Brennan, will present an illustrated talk with music about Sidney Nolan and William Duke – both painters of Irish origin whose work is in the gallery. To reserve a place for tea/coffee after the talk, call Denise Scanlon on 0417 061162.

School garage sale

DUFFY Primary School is holding its annual garage sale at the school hall, Burrinjuck Crescent, Duffy, 9am-noon, Saturday, May 26. Bargains are promised among goodquality toys, books and furniture for sale. All proceeds go to resources for Duffy Preschool. More information from 6205 6022.

Julia in the running

ABC 666 reporter Julia Holman has been nominated in the radio category for the Walkley Young Australian Journalist of the Year, for her work on “Rural Reports”. Winners will be announced in Sydney on June 27.

Volunteers get intensive

CANBERRA Hospital’s intensive care unit will soon have a program that will see a volunteer assisting the families of patients during treatment. The program is one of three new volunteer programs to be introduced into the hospital; requiring more than 60 new volunteers.

Volunteer manager Amanda Mironow said the ICU volunteer program is about having a volunteer to “meet and greet” families when they are in the ICU’s waiting room. She said often the families arrive at ICU before the patients.

“One of the nurses in the in-

Australia’s six million volunteers are the focus of attention during National Volunteer Week, May 14-20. Here FREYLA FERGUSON reports on a special volunteer program at Canberra Hospital – in the intensive care unit

tensive care unit has worked on putting a program together developing a [volunteer] role in the intensive care unit,” Amanda told “CityNews”.

“That volunteer will be the link between the family in the waiting room and the medical staff in the unit.”

Another new program is the Ward 11A meal assistance program that calls for volunteers to assist elderly patients

with their meals.

“It’s not feeding patients, volunteers cannot feed,” she said. “But it will be simple things; like a traffic-light system – if I am in hospital and I am a green traffic light it will mean that I’ll need to be back in my bed, and my tray table is ready and when the food tray is there, I’m ready to go.” She said it could also be opening food packages, cutting up food or simply waking sleeping patients to remind them to eat their meal as well as giving them social contact, too.

“It’s ensuring that people are getting their nutrition and assisting them with that,” she said.

In late July, a “Way Finding” program will be introduced to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital to help staff, patients and visitors find their way through the new hospital.

“As you know, there’s a lot of building on campus, there’s a lot of offices that have moved and even staff may not know where they might be,” she said.

Already the hospital has 400 volunteers over 17 existing programs; including the successful emergency department program.

Ms Mironow said she isn’t looking for “a particular set of skills” in her volunteers, but people wanting to give back to the community.

More information at www. health.act.gov.au/volunteering or 6174 5272

Career mums: can they

CAN women really have it all? The career, the husband, the house, the car and the kids?

To be honest, as a 20-something entering my own new chapter – marriage, not babies! – I often wondered if it could ever be possible. To me, it was either one or the other, never both.

But over the past few weeks I’ve met some amazing Canberra mothers who have big responsibilities at home and at work. And I’m less of a sceptic.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s exhausting just thinking about being a “corporate mum”; the early starts, the packed lunches, the dropoffs, the pick-ups, the sports practice, the swimming lessons, the school assemblies, the parent-teacher interviews, remembering when school holidays start and when they finish, dinner, bathtime, bedtime...

Then there’s work; the internal meetings, the external meetings, the reports, the endless emails, the endless phone calls, the interstate trips, the after-work drinks, the corporate functions...

Do these people eat or sleep?

Kate Sykes, mother of three and founder of Canberra-based careermums.com.au, says women are having children later in life so they have typically progressed their career in the lead-up to having children.

“It is only natural that they want to continue in some capacity,” she said. “Many women will concur that returning to work is easier than being at home.

“Furthermore, families often require two

Freyla Ferguson reports

incomes these days to afford mortgages, cars, and school fees.”

However, she says times are changing and working women are not only preparing themselves much earlier for motherhood but workplaces, too, are gearing themselves towards more flexibility.

“When I was in my mid-20s, we weren’t talking about it. It wasn’t topical, it was not in the papers, we weren’t talking about flexibility and mothers coming back to work,” she says.

“Now workplaces are more geared for parents to come back to work.

“Smart young women are trying to work through the issues...

“Some people who sign up [to careermums. com.au] don’t have children or are not pregnant yet.

“They want to understand what challenges are ahead.”

But what about the kids – how do they feel about having a working mum?

Kate says her own children often ask why a friend’s mum doesn’t work.

“I am happy that my daughter is seeing first hand – without thinking about it – that a family and a career is possible, and my sons see their parents working together as a team to balance work and family,” she says.

Careermums.com.au is one of the country’s leading careers centres and jobs board for working parents and parents returning to work.

Melanie SPilker (right), mum of one and state manager for Zenith interiors

FOR Melanie Spilker, it wasn’t a matter of finding the best time to have children but finding the right man.

“I was never one of those people who wanted to settle down and have children,” she says.

“But I was 32 when I met my husband and we started trying to have a child straight away.”

Melanie is the state manager of Zenith Interiors, one of the country’s biggest manufacturers and distributors for work and commercial interiors and furniture.

After years of working in sales, she met her husband and

Catherine Carter, mum of twins and executive director of the aCt Property Council of australia

CATHERINE Carter had a successful career at a Commonwealth agency when she was hit with a double whammy – not only was she pregnant, but pregnant with twins.

After a two-year break to spend time with her babies, she got the job at the Property Council.

“I consider my children the best aspect of my life, the best part of me, the best thing that I’ve ever done,” she says.

“I’m fortunate at the same time to have a job and a career which meets other aspirations in my life.”

But she’s quick to admit it’s not easy. “If you want to be successful in your career there is always people supporting you through it. Always,” she says.

“I’ve seen a lot of people in the world of work that live long lives, have very successful careers and then have regretted that they didn’t spent more time with family and friends.

“I don’t intend to be that person. For me, my children absolutely come first.”

soon after they had Sophie, now 4.

“I admire women who stay at home,” she says. “But it wouldn’t be enough for me.” Her “juggling act” is reliant on efficient time management.

“Selfishness goes; I don’t get time for myself,” she says.

“It’s all about Sophie at home and at work, it’s all about work. I often wonder what I did with all my time.”

really have a job, a family, the lot?

ayeSha r a ZZaq ( below), mum of two and general manager – retail for actewaGl

“I THINK I am a better person for coming to work, I think I would be a terrible mum if I had to stay at home,” says Ayesha Razzaq, ActewAGL’s general manager – retail.

Ayesha runs ActewAGL’s retail areas in electricity, natural gas, water and wastewater services. She’s also a wife and mum to two boys Sam, 6, and Josh, 3.

“Everyone has the same number of hours in a day, everyone has demands whether you are male or female, a mother or not a mother, and it’s just figuring out what’s important to you,” she says.

Ayesha and her husband, neither of whom have family in Canberra, both have flexibility in their jobs and share

the parenting responsibilities.

“I try to be quite pragmatic about it,” she says. “My view is it’s about what works for the family...

“One of the things I am really pragmatic about is kids need both mum and dad, and it’s about sharing and compromise and finding out what’s the best for the family.”

k aren n iCholaS (right), mum of two and director of learning options

KA REN Nicholas was 21 years old when she moved to Canberra with her husband to work in the public service. Soon after she had her son Tyran.

“We were young and needed the income,” says Karen, who was back at work five and a half months after his birth. “It really wasn’t a choice to be made.”

But that was to be her longest break away from work. After working at her career for nine years and two years into starting her own training business, Learning Options, Karen had daughter Ashleigh. Karen says age definitely made a difference between her first and second child.

“I’m a lot more relaxed, any mum will tell you, you want things to be perfect, and second time around I was much more relaxed...” she says.

“But that comes with maturity as well and comes with age to some degree that you care less what people think of you and how they judge you and more about what is right for you and right for your family.”

louiSe CurtiS (above right), mum of two and director of hamperesque and lollypotz

“I T’S the hardest job being in a highflying position as well as being a mum,” says Louise Curtis, owner director of Hamperesque and Lollypotz. But despite being a mum and managing two businesses, including Lollypotz, which has more than 35 franchises in Australia and NZ and plans to go further across the world, Louise says she feels very fortunate having the best of both worlds.

“I don’t think I have the patience to be a full-time mum,” says Louise.

“I couldn’t do that all the time. I really admire mums that can do that.”

As her children get older, Ben, 7, and Nicholas, 4, Louise says, “It’s harder when kids are at school. I want to be there for everything and I can’t.” But when they are together they value that time the most.

“[Nicholas] doesn’t care what we are doing, as long as we are doing it together,” she says.

laurie MCDonalD (right), mum of two and founding director of Canberra Furnished accommodation

“I LI KE working, but I love being a mum,” says Laurie McDonald, who started her business Canberra

Furnished Accommodation while on maternity leave with her first child to raise a bit of spare cash.

The concept was simple; furnishing the investment property she owned with her husband and renting it out on a short-term basis. She now has 60 properties on the books.

“If you really enjoy working and you decide not to work and to stay home with the kids, then you aren’t going to be happy with yourself,” she said.

“One of the biggest things we talk about in our family is ‘happy wife, happy life’.

“In the role of mother and wife in the household, you are really mostly accountable for the emotional well being of the family so if you don’t have that right within yourself and you’re not happy and stimulated within yourself you can’t get the right emotional environment for your family.”

ANU music cuts a disaster for cultural life of Canberra letters

THE announcement by the ANU last week of drastic cuts to staff and courses at the School of Music is a disaster for the cultural life of Canberra.

It might be good for the bottom line of the ANU, but it is going to have a major impact on the teaching of instrumental and vocal music right across the city into the future.

The School of Music has been at the centre of Canberra’s vibrant musical life (as de facto Conservatorium) for over five decades, but the announcement of these cuts and the cessation of one-to-one teaching spells doom for music in the national capital.

The Music Festival and the Canberra Symphony Orchestra should be very worried indeed. So should the music departments of every school in Canberra that rely so heavily on staff and students from the School of Music for instrumental teaching.

Without one-to-one teaching at the School of Music, Canberra will be left without its Conservatorium of Music, unless we create one – one independent of the ANU. Perhaps it could be based at the Ainslie Arts Centre and supported by the ACT Government’s $1 million plus grant that it directs to the ANU School of Music annually? Perhaps the creation of the Canberra Conservatorium of Music could be a wonderful and enduring Centenary of Canberra project? Perhaps there is hope that we will continue to be known as the “City of Music” as we were recently called by the patron of the annual and brilliant International Music Festival, Barbara Blackman. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

Or perhaps we are going to become the city without a symphony, the capital without choirs, a mausoleum without music?

Adrian Keenan, Yarralumla

Parton’s comments ‘insult’

MARK Parton’s views on caged eggs (“Putting the egg before the poor chicken”, CN April 26) are a total insult to the many people who are working hard to end this disgraceful and barbaric trade.

His views are often negative and, on this occasion, he is showing himself to be a person of very little compassion (one can only imagine his views on sow stalls just so people like Mr Parton can buy cheap bacon).

I have sent him a letter to his Facebook account and I trust he will gain a real insight into the awful existence for these chickens trapped in tiny, artificially lit cages, 24 hours a day, in space less than an A4 piece of paper; just so cheapskates like him can buy cheaper eggs.

Parton seems to be unaware that Coles is phasing out homebrand caged eggs in 2013 – the times are changing

and eventually cheapskates will be forced to buy freerange or barn-laid eggs, which are often much tastier. Many of us vote with our wallets these days. We like to think that people in public positions will use those positions wisely, not make a mockery of the suffering of animals.

Eddie Alda, via email

… and disgust

I AM disgusted at the article “Putting the egg before the poor chicken” in “CityNews” (Mark Parton column, April 26).

How is this worthy of printing? The self centred, uneducated opinion is one not shared by the bulk of Canberrans.

The majority supports a ban on battery cage produced eggs, and rightly so.

Shame on Mark Parton, and tremendous shame on your publication for giving him a platform from whence to spout his self centred pontification.

Kate Luke, via email

… and appal

I FOUND Mark Parton’s article appalling with very little regard to living creatures and the dreadful conditions that caged egg chickens endure.

His article is ignorant, promotes unfeeling toward living creatures and I hope he does not get paid by “CityNews” to write articles, but in any case it isn’t even worth publishing if his words were free.

Sia Lipapis, via email

… and provoke

MARK Parton admits to buying cage eggs over free range because they are cheaper (CN, April 26). Unfortunately, Mr Parton is representative of the majority of the human race who apparently have the misguided assumption that everything on earth exists purely for the benefit of mankind to do with as it pleases. And this on the whole translates into plunging living creatures into a life (or death) of unnecessary abuse and torture.

I respect Mr Parton’s honesty and his right to state his views and can only hope that it serves to stimulate discussion and consideration on this issue. As the great animal advocate, Temple Grandin, said: “Nature is cruel; we don’t have to be”.

Jennifer Cottee, Kambah

Little fingers make a good start

Libby Hill reports

LIKE many Canberra gardeners, they had an average tomato crop this year, but overall it was a successful harvest for the little green fingers at Goodstart Early Learning Kingston.

The preschoolers have been growing their own food in a community garden plot, experiencing gardening from the propagation of seeds, to planting in vegetables and herbs suitable to be used in the childcare centre’s meals.

Robyn Pentland is the cook at the centre and had the idea to build the plot at the Kingston Organic Community Garden, which is located behind Goodstart Early Learning.

“I suggested I’d take it on as a part of my role here as I’ve studied permaculture and am happy to share some of my knowledge and experience,” Robyn says.

“Under the Early Years Learning Framework we have focussed on community involvement in the way of establishment of a community garden plot for the children to learn and participate in community activities.

“The Kingston Organic Community Garden, part of the Canberra Baptist Church, is located behind the centre and provides great opportunity for the children to participate in regular excursions there, to assist in the nurturing and harvesting of herbs and vegetables.

“The children delight in being involved in the garden each step of the way, particularly the weeding and watering, and seeing the plants

grow is a great source of amazement. We also share our fresh produce with the local community as it is available.

“We have recently harvested our corn, which we yielded in excess of 45 cobs.

“The children have thoroughly enjoyed participating in the learning experiences of gardening and community involvements and will continue to do so as the seasons change and new and interesting seedlings are planted in, and watched and nurtured with eager eyes and hands until harvest time again.”

opinion

Big praise for small schools

Big is not always better when it comes to education, says Mum in the City columnist SONYA FLADUN

OVER the past three years, both my kids have attended one of the ACT Government’s four early learning schools that provide education from pre-school to Year 2.

When our son and daughter first enrolled, the newly established school had barely 30 children. Our son was in a kindergarten class of only six. It was a wonderful environment, more a family than a school.

The class sizes have now grown considerably, but the school still remains quite small. The teaching staff pretty much know all the kids, not just the ones in their class. The children are happy and engaged, learning in an environment that is supportive, indeed nurturing, and with a real sense of community. The same can be said of my son’s new school, a small independent school with about 40 students. Our boy, now nine years old and in Year 3, is dyslexic and has struggled with reading and writing.

Two brief experiences at other much larger ACT Government schools proved unsatisfactory as it was all too clear his needs would be simply lost in the crowd. In a small, intimate environment our son is thriving and making progress way beyond our expectations.

Of course, in recent years the trend in public primary education has gone the other way. It appears that the four ACT early learning schools, originally presented as a trial, are a model that isn’t going to be followed. Instead, the ACT Government has closed numerous smaller schools in favour of massive, so-called super schools where economies of scale supposedly deliver better facilities, greater choices in curriculum and better information technology. All that may be true, but I wonder whether bean counting has led our education bureaucrats to put too much emphasis on quantity rather than quality.

In my family’s experience there is really no doubt primary education delivers the best outcomes in a small environment, a community where kids are seen as individuals, rather than a massproduction facility where they are all too easily reduced to little more than raw material for NAPLAN statistics. It may not be the cheapest option, but small things are often worth so much more. Perhaps our education policy makers and politicians could think about that a bit more.

Rupert, go smell the roses

MARK PARTON says the saddest thing about Rupert Murdoch is that he’s still in at work slogging it out. What’s the point of retiring at 92?

A COMMITTEE of British pollies decided earlier in the month that Rupert Murdoch wasn’t a fit person to run a media organisation, though history shows he’s made a pretty good fist of it over the years.

There’s no doubt that there was some serious wrongdoing that occurred at the “News of the World” during the hacking scandal. It’s very clear now that the company should have pursued it much more vigorously at the time, but does this translate to Rupert being unfit to run a media organisation?

Will Rupert be inspired to now just give it all away and take a back seat? Of course he won’t.

He will dig in and work hard for his business for as long he can. That’s what he’s done since his early 20s. He’ll work till the day they take him away in a box, and for me that’s the saddest thing about the Murdoch story.

He’s 81 years of age and worked his guts out for six dec -

ades. And that’s the saddest thing about this whole story – he’s still in at work slogging it out. Rupert, just give it away, old son! What’s the point of retiring at 92?

Wouldn’t you just chuck your mobile phone away and go fishing? Wouldn’t you just go buy some racehorses, or learn how to paint? Buy another luxury yacht and go sailing. Life is so short and it’s full of wonderful little things… things that I’m sure Murdoch doesn’t ever see.

I was having a ball wading through the fallen leaves in Ainslie the other day, smelling the smells of autumn. I don’t reckon Rupert ever does that. Does he ever have time to just watch the sunset? I think not. How sad.

Whatever the final result of the various phone-hacking inquiries, I just hope that Rupert takes some time to smell the roses.

Mark Parton is the breakfast presenter on 2CC.

At the AIB Professional Excellence in Building Awards

At the opening of ‘Homesick’ and ‘Futures Pass Remains’, Beaver Gallery, Deakin

At Poland’s National Day celebrations, Polish Embassy

At the Rider Levett Bucknall cocktail party

Canberra Confidential

Lautrec for summer blockbuster

THE visual arts community in Canberra is abuzz with news that the National Gallery of Australia’s summer blockbuster for 2012-13 will be an exhibition of works by the French painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec , reports arts editor HELEN MUSA

When she contacted two senior staffers at the gallery, they would not confirm the story; nor did they deny it. Both said that the director of the NGA, Ron Radford , was very particular about confidentiality regarding coming exhibitions, but that it was expected, as soon as all the paperwork on sponsorship was signed off, that he would make a public announcement, possibly soon after the Second Indigenous Triennial opened at the gallery. The creative director of the Canberra Centenary, Robyn Archer, has said several times that she was hoping for an earlierthan-usual announcement for the gallery so that the exhibition could appear in the Centenary’s official program.

A Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition would be a significant coup for the NGA and an accessible and popular follow-up to the two previous blockbusters, “Masterpieces from Paris” and the recent Renaissance show of paintings from the Accademia Carrara, Bergamo.

Toulouse-Lautrec became a popular culture figure through his colourful posters and paintings depicting the Parisian demimonde of the Post-Impressionist period and in more refined circles he was respected along with Cézanne, Van Gogh and Gauguin. The congenital condition which meant that the artist was the height of a child was dramatised in the 1952 John Huston film “Moulin Rouge”, which revolved around his friendships with prostitutes, rogues and dancers.

Philip’s Paparazzi challenge

REAL Estate agent Philip Kouvelis has a challenge for anyone who fancies themselves as a bit of a film buff.

The part owner of Paparazzi @ Garran, Philip says he’ll buy lunch for anyone who can name all the movie stars on the walls of the suburban cafe.

“If you look around you, you see that the cafe is Paparazzi. It’s got an ‘I want to be seen here’ type feel to it,” Philip says.

Paparazzi manager Natalie Mitchell agrees with Philip that it’s the best cafe in Canberra.

Photo by Silas Brown

Market on the move

THE popular Fash ‘n’ Treasure markets have been held at the charming Old Bus Depot building for the last time.

At last Saturday’s market the space was fully booked and as the market continues to grow, organisers have decided it’s time to move on to EPIC.

The market has new owners, too. Cathie and Stephen Wall have been running the Baby and Kids Market and the Canberra Wedding Fairs for many years.

They say EPIC has heating for winter and cooling for summer, dedicated change rooms for men and women, and mobile change rooms that will be placed around

“Being suburban, it’s very customer focussed and we give that little bit extra. There is very much a community feel here,” she says.

the building.

All good news for the shopper, but the catch is the new, more expensive home means there will be a $3 entry fee to browse the market.

Made for walking

“THERE’S no wonder Canberra residents are born walkers,” says healthy lifestyle magazine “Prevention Australia”, which found Canberra as the number two mostloved walking “town” in Australia. And “CC” does love a good walk! The magazine says it’s our “sunshine, challenging hills, lake views, national monuments and parks” that are most loved.

It seems it’s one big happy family at the Garran shops as Paparazzi is owned by Philip and Marion Nielsen. Marion also manages Philip Kouvelis Real Estate.

“It’s rare that owners own a business for 10 years and it doesn’t change hands and it’s rare that somebody works with you for 10 years,” he says.

“It goes hand in hand with my business, Philip Kouvelis Real Estate. Marion has worked with me for over 30 years and that’s amazing.

“If there is a common link, it’s me. People stay with me because I’m a good person.”

“Prevention” editor Jacqueline Mooney says she was impressed with the hundreds of votes received from supportive locals and visitors (take that, Canberra bashers!). We were pipped at the post by Melbourne (pfft!), the magazine said of the number one spot: “While our southern capital has a reputation for European-style cafes, exclusive fashion boutiques and quirky backstreet bars, it’s a prime location for dedicated walkers, too.”

Rounding out the top five was Noosa, followed by Shepparton and Adelaide. The competition was a national initiative by “Prevention” that “celebrates the health benefits of walking while publicly recognising the country’s most-loved walking areas”.

All about Law Week, 2012 advertising

The profession’s big, important week of legal argument

NATIONAL Law Week is an annual event held from May 14-20 across Australia.

Law Week aims to promote public understanding of the law and its role in society.

The theme of National Law Week this year is “Law and Justice in Your Community”.

In Canberra, Law Week is organised by the ACT Law Society, and is sponsored by LawCover Insurance Pty Ltd. Each year, the events held during Law

Week seek to raise funds for a local Canberra charity – this year, Pegasus Riding for the Disabled.

The wider Canberra community is invited to attend Law Week events which include the breakfast and debate to launch Law Week

on May 14, the Women and Justice Forum, a mock trial organised by the ACT director of Public Prosecutions, will awareness talks, and tours of the ACT Supreme Court.

Highlights will be the annual Sir Richard Blackburn Lecture, to be delivered this year

A chance to better understand the law

ACT Law Week is an opportunity for Canberrans to broaden their understanding of the law, the legal system and how lawyers might be able to assist them.

During Law Week, which is an annual event celebrated nationally, the Canberra legal profession will hold a number of events which will raise funds for Pegasus Riding for the Disabled.

Pegasus is a not-for-profit community organisation that provides equestrian activities for people with disabilities. Operating out of a 40 hectare property in Holt, Pegasus brings horses and people together with activities that improve co-ordination, balance and fitness as well as boosting personal confidence, selfesteem, communication skills and trust.

The wider Canberra community is invited to attend Law Week events, which include the breakfast and debate to launch Law Week on

By Noor Blumer President, ACT Law Society

May 14, the Women and Justice Forum, a mock trial organised by the ACT director of Public Prosecutions, will awareness talks, and tours of the ACT Supreme Court.

Other highlights will be the annual Sir Richard Blackburn Lecture, to be delivered this year by the Hon Michael Black AC QC, former Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, and the Law Week Dinner, organised by the Women Lawyers Association of the ACT, featuring guest speaker the Hon Justice Virginia Bell SC of the High Court of Australia.

Further information about Law Week and any of the events that have been organised can be obtained by contacting Nicole Karman at the ACT Law Society on 6247 5700 or by going to the Law Week page of the society’s website at www.actlawsociety.asn.au

by QC Michael Black, former Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, and the Law Week Dinner, organised by the Women Lawyers Association of the ACT, featuring guest speaker Justice Virginia Bell SC, of the High Court of Australia.

Where there’s a will...

DURING ACT Law Week, the Law Society will run will awareness information sessions in two locations.

These information sessions are aimed at people without a legal background. Speakers will explain the importance of having a current will and a power of attorney, and give you the information you need to make an informed decision about these important documents. Bookings are essential.

In Lyons

Tuesday, May 15, at 2pm, at Bellerive Retirement Village, Burnie Street, Lyons. To book a place, contact Ruth Green on ruth.green@ hindmarshliving.com.au

In Tuggeranong Tuesday, May 15 at 11am and 6.30pm, at Tuggeranong Community Centre, 245 Cowlishaw Street, Greenway. To book a place, contact Brittany Campbell on 6293 6597 or brittany.campbell@ commsatwork.org

All about Law Week, 2012

What’s happening, when and where

Date Time Event Fee

Monday, May 14

7.30am Law Week Breakfast Launch and Great Debate

The Great Debate will follow the official Launch of Law Week 2012 by ACT Attorney General Simon Corbell.

Magistrate David Mossop will adjudicate the Great Debate as prominent local personalities argue the proposition that “Politics is more noble than the Law”.

University House, Balmain Crescent, ANU $60

Monday,   May 14 to Friday, May 18

11am and 2pm

Public Tours of the ACT Supreme Court

Tours of the Court allow members of the community to visit the Court building and see some of the ACT’s architectural and judicial history. Tours will comprise a 20-minute talk and tour of the Court, followed by a live court sitting.

Bookings are essential.

Contact Cathy Paulsen at the Supreme Court on 6207 1252 or by email to cathy.paulsen@act.gov.au

Tuesday May 15

12.30pm Annual Blackburn Lecture

Delivered by Michael Black AC QC, former Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia.

Pilgrim House Conference Centre, 69 Northborne Avenue

Tuesday May 15 11am, 2pm and 6.30pm Will Awareness Day

These information sessions are aimed at people without a legal background. Speakers will explain the importance of having a current will and a power of attorney, and give you the information you need to make an informed decision about these important documents.

Bookings are essential.

2pm, at Bellerive Retirement Village, Burnie Street, Lyons. To book a place, contact Ruth Green on ruth.green@hindmarshliving. com.au

11am and 6.30pm, at Tuggeranong Community Centre, 245 Cowlishaw Street, Greenway. To book a place, contact Brittany Campbell on 6293 6597 or brittany.campbell@commsatwork.org

Date Time Event

Wednesday, May 16 12.30pm Women and Justice Forum

With guest speakers Libby Lloyd and Veronica Wensing. RSVP to 6257 4377 or email admin@womenslegalact.org

Pilgrim House Conference Centre, 69 Northborne Avenue

Wednesday, May 16 7pm Law Week Dinner

Organised by the Women Lawyers Association of the ACT. With guest speaker Justice Virginia Bell SC, of the High Court of Australia, and special guests ACT Attorney General Simon Corbell and Senator Gary Humphries. Numbers strictly limited.

OnRed, 50 Red Hill Drive, Red Hill

Thursday, May 17 6pm ACT Young Lawyers Quiz Night

A fun night of brain-bending trivia. The Canberra Club, 45 West Row

Friday, May 18 1pm Mixed Six-a-Side Soccer Competition Grand Final

Friday, May 18 5pm

$100

$30

Following an intense four weeks of games, the highestranked teams will compete for the trophy. Willows Oval, ANU (off Barry Drive)

ACT Law Week Cocktail Party

Organised by the ACT Bar Association, the Law Week Cocktail Party is an opportunity for the Canberra legal fraternity to network and unwind at the end of a busy Law Week.

Level Three Lounge Bar, Uni Pub, 17 London Circuit

Saturday, May 19 10am DPP Plate Mock Trial Competition

The DPP Plate is an annual moot competition between law students from the ANU and the University of Canberra. Students take the role of either the defence or the prosecution in a criminal law matter and present their case before Mr Jon White, ACT Director of Public Prosecutions. Court Room 1, Supreme Court of the ACT

For more information about Law Week events in Canberra, including registration forms for paid events, visit the society’s website at www.actlawsociety.asn.au/events/act-law-week.

To register for free events, please RSVP to the Society’s communications officer, Nicole Karman, on 6247 5700 or nicole.karman@actlawsociety.asn.au

$27

Free

Members of the ACT legal profession can conduct business in 39 different languages, including Malay, Portuguese, Tamil, Indonesian and Cantonese. Whatever your matter, an ACT firm can help you.

IF you have a legal problem and you don’t know what to do or you think you have a legal problem but you are not sure, make an appointment for a free discussion with a member of the Law Society.

For 40 years the Law Society has operated its Legal Advice Bureau at lunchtimes. Between 12.30pm and 2pm members support the Legal Advice Bureau at the society’s office in Civic, giving initial advice to any member of the public who wishes to call and make an appointment. LAB solicitors do not draft legal documents or make court appearances. If necessary, you may be referred to another solicitor or, if eligible, Legal Aid. THE ACT legal profession includes the 1800 members of the Law Society, who come from a vast array of backgrounds, with broad areas of interest, expertise and experience.

Need a lawyer?

SHOULD you require a lawyer but are unsure who to contact, the ACT Law Society will help you get in touch with firms that practice in the area of law you need. You can call the ACT Law Society on 6247 5700, or use the society’s online register of lawyers and firms at www. actlawsociety.asn.au

Law belief that improves society

PEOPLE often think of law graduates working in the big corporate law firms, but at the ANU law graduates are encouraged to use their knowledge for the improvement of society.

The ANU College of Law’s new Masters’ program in Law, Governance and Development offers courses that focus on development in the South Pacific, South-East Asia and East Asia.

“Our Masters’ program offers a theoretical underpinning and practical applications for those interested in development in the Asia-Pacific and those working in a context of international institutions,” says Dr Sarah Heathcote, convenor of the Law, Governance and Development Program.

“Courses cover highly topical issues such as climate change and displacement, law, order and State-building, human rights, humanitarian and refugee law and anti-corruption.

“ANU also has an international reputation for expertise in Asia-Pacific development, and this program brings together these courses in a highly sought-after degree.”

The program can be studied full-time or part-time with intensive (limited contact hours) courses to suit part-time students. It is available to both law and non-law graduates interested in studying for professional or personal development.

“We encourage prospective students to contact us to discuss their study needs, and programs can be tailored to suit particular study interests,” says Dr Heathcote.

For more information at anulaw.anu.edu.au

In the Zone for cost-effective, transparent legal advice

SMALL business owners and the average consumer often want processes that are not time consuming, complicated or “clumsy” and to have an idea of the costs in advance, says Steven James Fraser, principal, director and general counsel at Zone Legal.

“As an innovative and progressive small law firm we aim to provide personal service,

transparent and fixed-fee, cost-effective legal solutions,” he says. “We aim to facilitate an open, positive process by email, sms and mobile phone. Your questions and concerns will be dealt with as quickly as possible and you will be kept informed as far as possible.

“We use state-of-the-art technology – hosted Outlook MS exchange and hosted file service (US based). SMS and faxes are sent and received by email (Ozefax), and an IP phone system (Canadian) for handling high call volume and messaging to email, and mobile phone and in interoffice paging. All of which keeps costs down.

“The whole office is contained in a digital filing cabinet – seen and accessed on any PC set up for it anywhere. As changes are made to files the hosted file server synchronises everything on any PC – locally or anywhere in the world. Synchronisation also occurs in Outlook.

“For those who engage the digital age, our system does significantly help communications, streamlines information and document processing, and keeps costs down.”

Zone Legal (www.zonelegal.org), Level 6, 39 London Circuit, Civic. Call 6112 8170 or email admin@zonelegal.com

Joanne Madeline Moore

your week in the stars / May 14 - 20

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Restless Rams will feel rash mid-week so slow your motor and cool your heels – otherwise you’re headed for a headache, argument or accident. Blow off steam with some sort of vigorous exercise instead. Thursday’s Mars/Pluto trine is perfect for professional projects. With lucky Jupiter in your money zone (until June 12), slow and steady wins the financial race.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Don’t spoil your romantic chances by being too business-like. As Mars moves through your romance/entertainment zone, strive to be proactive in love, focus on friendships, and have some serious fun! Saturday’s super Grand Trine (in earth) favours travel, education and sporting pursuits. Plus creative Bulls will enjoy turning abstract ideas into practical projects.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Venus reverses through your sign (from May 17-June 28) so be careful what you pray for – you might just get it (and then decide it’s not what you wanted after all). Some single Twins will fall for a smooth talker – but is it love or lust? You’re also fired up to assist someone in need but don’t make commitments unless you can actually deliver. Promises are cheap!

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Work issues are in a state of flux this week, as Uranus throws you a curved ball – but it’s nothing you can’t catch. If you are looking for a job, employment is waiting where you least expect. Are you interested in your ancestors and family history? The next few months will pique your curiosity even more. Perhaps it’s time to take a thorough peek back into the past?

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Lucky Lions – fabulous career, business or financial opportunities are around you, and clever Cats will work out the perfect time to pounce. With Venus reversing through your hopes and wishes zone, it’s important to have a goal that you’re working towards. But you’ll have to be patient –and focus on bringing your dreams down to earth via practical plans.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

With mighty Mars marching through your sign (until July 3) it’s time to be bold and beautiful. Confidence is in and criticism is out; as you approach life with extra passion and pizazz. Travel and adventure are also on the agenda, as you are motivated by birthday great Cate Blanchett: “It’s important to travel and move and have a continual set of experiences”.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

Don’t even try to second-guess the behaviour of others. They will continually surprise (and flummox) you with their unpredictable antics, so don’t lose sleep trying to work out where they’re coming from. If you expect the unexpected, then you’ll manage just fine. Looking for love? With Venus going retrograde, expect some romantic hiccups over the next six weeks.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

This week you can be powerful and passionate – or compulsive and controlling. The choice is yours. And with gung-ho Mars charging through your hopes and wishes zone, are you dreaming of a lifestyle with more freedom and independence? Positive Pluto aspects give you the courage to hop on your horse and follow your heart – wherever that may lead.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

With proactive Mars in your career zone, take the lead at work. If you’re looking for employment, you need to stay one step ahead of the pack (which means finding jobs before they are advertised). Thursday through to Saturday are bonanza days for business transactions and professional projects as the Grand Earth Trine link your money, career and work zones.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Uranus is shaking up your home life, and Saturn is making sure there are plenty of professional projects to keep you busy. Don’t focus on one to the detriment of the other – focus on getting the balance right between your career and your personal life. Be inspired by Cate Blanchett (born on May 14): “I live my life parallel with my work, and they are both equally important.”

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

You’re keen to make the world a better place in your own unique Aquarian way. Don’t get so carried away that you forget your nearest and dearest though. Sometimes it’s best to start your charitable work in your own backyard! Singles – with Venus reversing through your romance zone for the next six weeks, expect a few setbacks along the road to love.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Your finances are currently being influenced by serious Saturn and unpredictable Uranus. Wise up Pisces because being broke is no laughing matter! More careful budgeting (and less spontaneous spending) will help life run more smoothly. Keep your feet on the ground, even though your head’s in the stars. Singles – look for a partner who is passionate and proactive.

arts & entertainment

The dangerous Scottish play beats the hex

“DOUBLE, double toil and trouble, fire burn, and cauldron bubble.”

It’s a reasonable bet that most of our readers know those lines and that they come from Shakespeare’s doom and witch-ridden play, “Macbeth”.

There, I’ve said it. Many theatre people won’t even utter the name of the play for fear of what might happen to them and director Peter Evans, who used to be a sceptic about the superstitions associated with staging “The Scottish Play”, is revising his view after some kind of hex seems to be placed on the opening.

Bell Shakespeare had to cancel three previews and re-schedule opening night in Sydney because of a “horrendous” salmonella infection that swept around the cast and they lost a stage manager for two performances as well.

“We feel we have paid the gods of the theatre,” Evans says philosophically. “We’re hoping they’re smiling on us now.”

If he’s right, this dangerous, but enormously popular play should be a smash hit

Arts editor HELEN MUSA

previews Bell’s latest version of “The Scottish Play”

when it arrives in Canberra soon.

“People love it,” Evans tells me. “It’s been very widely studied at school.”

What is more, he goes on, “it’s perfectly constructed, with no sub-plot and the focus on the main character”.

No wonder this is Bell Shakespeare’s fourth production of the play.

A distinctive feature is the domestic life of the Macbeths, “one of the best marriages in all Shakespeare,” he says, and one the company is building as “erotic”.

It’s the relationship between Macbeth, played by Dan Spielman in his stage debut with Bell, and his even more ambitious wife, played by Kate Mulvaney, that really fascinates Evans.

“Kate is very, very feminine,” Evans says. In rehearsals, they’ve worked out that she lost a child in early infancy, so their unique

relationship is built on grief and sadness.

“How well they know each other!” he says, and yet he and his actors can trace the gradual breakdown of the marriage from the moment in Act III, Scene 2 when Macbeth says: “Full of scorpions is my mind dear wife”, then turns secretive. Evans is thrilled to have Spielman. A veteran of Sydney Theatre Company’s ensemble, The Actors Company, he’s won a swag of awards for his film appearances. It’s probably less well known, but Spielman is also a poet.

“He’s fascinated by the knotty and poetic language, so it’s not so much a bloody version of the deaths, but inspired and psychological,” Evans enthuses. “We see how his mind is unravelling.”

But beware of the witches, or rather witch, for Lizzie Schebesta plays all as one in an unnerving and apparently innocent way that may give you the shivers.

“Macbeth”, The Playhouse, until June 2. Bookings to 6275 2700 or canberratheatrecentre.com.au

plays all the witches as one in an unnerving and apparently innocent way that may give you the shivers.

Luscious ladies who go to Elle

By Helen Musa

THE word “bird” begins with a B, but in the coming production of “120 Birds”, it’s the letter L that holds sway.

Choreographer Liz Lea plays Madame Lou, flanked by a line of luscious ladies with names like Leslie Light, Lyda Lovely and Lola Loop, who together form the fictional “Company Elle”. They, too, have their antecedents in real-life performers like Louise Lovely, Louise Lightfoot and Lola Leap.

Set mostly in the 1920s and 1930s, the show presents four globetrotting hoofers who pirouette, tango, Charleston and waltz through many countries in a “rise and fall” tale of a touring company.

The title is a reference to the 120 birds with which ballerina Anna Pavlova toured to Australia in 1929.

The coming Street Theatre season is billed as an Australian premiere, but that isn’t quite so. Last year, Lea won a Canberra Critics’ Circle award for her solo version of “120 Birds”, presented at the National Gallery of Australia as part of its “Ballets Russes” exhibition.

Its first full showcase was in Edinburgh during 2010, where Lea, after creating costumes with glamorous fabrics and designs inspired by Australian artist Florence Broadhurst,

worked with two tango dancers from Berlin and an English dancer to produce a 45-minute narrative.

“120 Birds” has three principal dancers –Melanie Fayd’herbe de Maudave, Ash Bee and Miranda Wheen, all from Sydney, though Bee has danced with QL2 and Wheen is a regular with Mirramu Dance Company.

This expanded version is a “Liz Lea and Company” production, but Lea was able to mine Canberra Dance Theatre (where she is artistic director) for a troupe of burlesque dancers and four “gold” or senior dancers, Toni Allen, Madeleine Bullock, Charmaine Hallam and Glenys Harris, who augment the company.

Backing the production is a vintage film-scape sourced from the National Film And Sound Archive, which provided professional assistance with editing and permitted Lea to use footage viewed during a residency in 2009/10.

With about 70 costumes, the dancers tell me as they throw on their jewellery for our photographer, it sounds like sheer entertainment.

“Oh, yes,” Lea says, “there are sad moments, such as when Pavlova dies, but it’s mostly tongue-in-cheek and it’s all totally accessible.”

“120 Birds”, The Street Theatre, May 19 and 29. Bookings to 6247 1223 or www.thestreet.org.au

arts & entertainment

Slow but tasty French story

“Delicacy” (PG)

AFTER Nathalie (Audrey Tautou) loses her husband in a road accident, she spends three years working in an office and living a solitary private life obsessed with memories.

Conveying this information consumes the first third of David Foenkinos’s film from his own novel, a process offering little excitement. The film needs something to leaven the mix.

Nathalie’s Swedish colleague Markus (Francois Damiens), big, bluff, balding and not oversupplied with wit or assertiveness, provides the impetus for “Delicacy” to get moving. Its progress is staccato. No matter. The drama begins to acquire flavour. The CEO of the company, with the hots for Nathalie, proposes to further that ambition by transferring Markus to the Stockholm branch and giving Nathalie a pay rise at head office that she will not be able to refuse.

There’s more to this French rom-com than that dramatic thread. Nathalie’s emotional state remains fragile despite the passage of time since Francois died and Markus’s gentle friendship that delivers no threats of passion and its usual consequences.

Both principal actors know what the film is about and do it justice. Bruno Tedeschi as the CEO and Josephine de Meaux as Nathalie’s best girl chum are effective. The locations are agreeable. When the leavened mix emerges fully baked, “Delicacy” proves itself a digestible smallscale human story, moving image as comfort food. Let’s face it, that’s why we go to the movies so often!

At Greater Union

“The Five-Year Engagement” (MA)

DESPITE several things to quibble about, the 124 minutes of Nicholas Stoller’s film, co-written with lead actor Jason Segel, bring wit and strong performances that take us sufficiently distant from the beaten romcom path to reward a visit.

Meeting at a San Francisco New Year’s Eve party, Violet, aspiring to admission to Michigan U to do a doctorate in psychology, and restaurant sous-chef Tom

Dougal Macdonald cinema

realise before next day dawns, as couples often do, that it’s love. They are indeed well suited for each other, but the film is not about to swamp us with sweetness, light and harmony.

Violet and Tom postpone marriage while they negotiate the obstacle course of family intrusions into the relationship, resolving career issues, planning for the customary cultural panoply of nuptial ceremonial, external attempts to steal them away from the relationship. The film’s prime virtue is the freshness with which it deals with these familiar issues of the genre.

There’s much intelligent writing scattered through the film, giving useful opportunities for Emily Blunt, spectacular as Violet, and Segel as Tom to shake the screen with their confrontations, supported by Rhys Ifans as Violet’s academic supervisor, Alison Brie as her sister and Jacki Weaver in her first Hollywood role as their mother.

The film extends an invitation to play your own mind game identifying its virtues and defects before deciding that whatever the score, it’s agreeably entertaining and intelligent.

At Greater Union

“The King of Devil’s Island” (M)

DELINEATING the moral and ethical dilemma arising when men behave abominably toward people unable to defend themselves, Marius Holst’s film tells about a riot in 1915 at the reformatory on Bastoy Island across the bay from Oslo.

The island’s population comprises on the one hand underprivileged male children, adolescents and young adults swept up from the alleys of the towns, not criminals, mostly orphans; on the other hand, the establishment, comprising farm labourers forming a cadre of guards, a weak Governor (Stellan Skarsgard) only too aware of his career inadequacies and inmate superior and sexual predator Brathen (Kristoffer Joner).

Inmate C19 (Benjamin Helsted) is a physically and morally strong young man for whom island conditions are less humane than his former life aboard a whaling ship. He’s no firebrand anxious to lead a revolt. But grim times have an ability to create heroes.

The film’s brutal events reflect Bastoy’s grey, bleak landscape. The reformatory functioned until the 1950s. Not flinching from an uncompromising topic, “The King of Devil’s Island” pulls no punches about what used to happen there. This telling of a strong story may lack the customary ingredients for a box-office smash hit. But that’s no reason for people of good will and compassion to reject it.

At Greater Union

Sweet treats of a musical ‘mousse’

INTRODUCING Stravinksy’s “Suite Italienne” for violin and piano, Kathryn Selby’s friend, violinist Sophie Rowell, said it was the palate cleanser in a concert of chocolate mousse.

In fact, it was so light and transparent, except for the rather ponderous minuet, that it deceived the audience into thinking it was easy to play. It required consummate skill (especially with all that violin double-stop work in the minuet), and Rowell and Selby acquitted its demands brilliantly.

The chocolate mousse was penned by composers of the romantic era, Danish composer, Niels Gade, along with Chopin and the seductive lyricism of Mendelssohn.

MUSIC

“Friends and Admirers” Selby & Friends

James O Fairfax Theatre, NGA, Monday, May 7.

Review by Clinton White

Therein lies the inspiration for “Friends and Admirers”.

Mendelssohn gave Gade his start when no-one else would.

Chopin greatly admired Mendelssohn, too, and they became good friends.

Chopin’s predilection for the piano shows up in his “Sonata for Cello & Piano” Op 65, played by Canberra cellist Julian Smiles. At

times the cello seemed almost extraneous, except for the largo. Smiles was expressive and mournful. Surely, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

The closer, Mendelssohn’s first piano trio, was the pick. All three immersed themselves into the quite long piece; a tour-de-force of expression, melody, contrasts, lyricism. The audience certainly enjoyed it and was rewarded with an encore, the slow movement from Clara Schumann’s piano trio. Selby, of course, was wonderful. Her hands were mesmerising, gliding effortlessly over the keys to give the foundation that can only be produced by the kind of empathy she has for the music.

Warbling women at large

MORE than 1000 women, including the Brindabella Chorus, will gather in Canberra on May 17-21 for the 2012 national Sweet Adelines Women’s Barbershop Competition and Convention – 30 quartets and 20 choruses assessed by judges flown in from the US. You’ll catch a flash mob of warbling women in the food court of the Canberra Centre at 1pm on May 17. Information at www.sweetadelines.org.au/convention/convention-2012

IT’S back to the ‘30s at Tuggeranong Arts Centre with a new musical comedy, “The Court of Swing Caractacus”, by Canberra’s Andrew Hackwill and dancing by Jumptown. Three swindling mystics find themselves in a dilemma of astrological proportions. At the Tuggeranong Theatre, May 15-26, bookings to 6293 1443.

WHILE you’re there, look at Michelle Harris’ colourful exhibition “I’m Like a Bird”, photographs taken around Lake Tuggeranong, featuring masks and costumes inspired by birds, until May 21.

PHOENIX Players is staging “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”, regarded as one of the funniest musicals of all time and starring the charismatic Adrian Flor as the ambitious J. Pierpont Finch. At the ANU Arts Centre until May 26, bookings to 6257 1950.

JOSPEH Conrad said: “To move others deeply we must deliberately allow ourselves to be carried away.” In “Carried Away”, paintings by Angharad Dean and ceramic works by Caroline Reid, illustrate his point in paint and glaze. At Watson Arts Centre, Aspinall Street, until May 27.

GEOFFREY Lancaster and the Osmosis Wind Quintet will perform “Mozart – A Perfect Love”, in honour the memory of the late Jill Downer, the founder of Early Music Enterprises. At the Turkish Embassy, 8.15pm, May 15, bookings to 6275 2700.

SOUTHERN Tablelands Arts and Queanbeyan City

Council have a free session on grant writing techniques. At the Casuarina Room, RB Smith Community Centre, Queanbeyan, 2pm-5pm, Monday, May 14. Bookings essential to 6285 6170.

AN intensive weekend workshop on “How to write a 10-minute play”, with “Short+ Sweet” director, Alex Broun, will run at the ACT Writers’ Centre in Gorman House, May 18-20. Bookings to 6262 9191.

When tongues start wagging

THIS is a deceptively simple play and one that becomes increasingly subtle and absorbing as the different pieces in a larger puzzle are placed together.

Superficially, the plot revolves around two ordinary married couples whose lives intersect on a single, unpleasant day involving an unsuccessful try at infidelity, coincidentally with each other’s partners.

The dialogue overlaps brilliantly as the couples speak in parallel, exploring questions of betrayal, growing old and the failure of self-confidence.

Into the mix, Jane (Lainie Hart) drops a story about a strange late-night incident in her neighbourhood to her husband Pete (Duncan Ley). Somehow it seems inevitable that the two wives, Jane and Sonja, (Helen MacFarlane) should cross paths and that Sonja’s policeman husband Leon (Rob de Fries) should be on the case of the incident. These four strong performances occupy most of Act I.

If you’ve seen the film “Lantana”, developed from “Speaking in Tongues”, you’ll be familiar with part of the story, but the structure of the film is different from this stage version, where the focus is more evenly spread across the nine

THEATRE

“Speaking in Tongues” By Andrew Bovell, directed by Ross McGregor for Canberra Repertory, at Theatre 3 until May 19.

Reviewed by Helen Musa

characters, all of whom director Ross McGregor allows to have their moment.

In Act II, Bovell’s focus expands

to bring in other characters already hinted at, such as the rejected lover Neil (Raul Craemer) and the neurotic psychologist Valerie (Bridgette Black), until the play’s larger canvas is unveiled.

Visually the production is stunning, with a sculptural set by Wayne Shepherd suggesting a bamboo forest in perpetual motion. A haunting musical score by Canberra composer Jonathon McFeat backs the action effectively.

Coyote Catering Jason savours a big,

IF there’s one thing Jason Herbert loves as much as food, it’s business.

Jason owns Coyote Catering, which has become something of a local success story during the past decade.

“When I first started my business 10 years ago, I thought I’d end up having a couple of cafes and maybe a restaurant because that was my real focus, but as we progressed, I realised that catering should be our focus and it’s actually our strength,” Jason says.

“It kind-of snuck up from behind.”

Outside catering started as a sideline business for Jason, who was running the restaurant at the Raiders Club in Gungahlin.

“We started off with a few clients – one of our first big clients was ActewAGL and they are still with us today,” he says.

“At that stage I didn’t even have a website or anything so we were just faxing menus out and trying to ring people – anyone we could think of – we didn’t really know how to approach people.”

Things grew steadily for Coyote Catering, but then the GFC hit and it became a turning point in the business for Jason.

“Everybody panicked, but I saw it as a different opportunity and literally grew the business by a thousand per cent throughout that year,” he says.

“I took on a new premise and built a new catering kitchen, took on more staff and continued to build the catering.

“Before the GFC, companies may have been used to shouting someone a day at the golf course and then taking them for lunch afterwards, but suddenly those days were gone.

“If people were going to go to a restaurant and spend $100 a head for lunch, and that had now been cut from budgets, I saw it as an opportunity to bring lunch to them for a lot less than that.

“We weren’t going to offer clients what they were having in a restaurant obviously, but it was just a matter of seeing what they needed and what we were able to do for them.

“It was a matter of talking to the organisation and finding out what was going on in their business, what budgets had been cut and offering a solution.”

From there the business started to grow and with a primary focus on catering, Jason says, Coyote Catering is a popular choice for cocktail parties, boardroom lunches and children’s parties.

“Cocktail parties are a great avenue for us as well. The feedback we get is always so positive,” he says.

“Most people have great homes that are suitable for a cocktail party so we come along and set up with waiters and everything involved and their home really becomes a fantastic venue for them with a real personal touch to it.”

At the opposite end of the spectrum, another area of the business that’s booming is children’s parties.

“I wanted to take the pressure off mums and dads by

delicious decade

making it as simple as possible for them,” Jason says.

“All parties are themed so party planning becomes as simple as jumping online and clicking on what you want. There are pirate parties, super hero parties, princess parties or you can design your own.”

Jason says that, apart from the stress of organising, one of the best things about having a kids’ party catered for is not having wastage.

“The important thing is as well, especially for little kids’ parties, you get a lot of mums and dads stay around so they can get a cheese platter and food for them, too,” he says.

“I had never really thought about kids’ parties, but one day I realised I had been doing all these parties for my own children and people would come around and ask who did the cake and the cheese platters and everything else.

“The next year my child had a birthday, we noticed that both mums and dads were coming for each child, so each year more and more parents come!

“All the kids want to come to my boys’ parties,” he laughs.

A father of three, Jason is passionate about supporting charities and supports Barnardos every Christmas.

“The first year I did it we got a lot of presents – a real lot – and Barnardos were overwhelmed,” he says.

“I think it’s important to do what we can.”

The name Coyote Catering came from a trip to Santa Fe where Jason encountered Coyote Cafe.

“It’s an amazing restaurant and has amazing food. I just loved it so much, I thought: ‘When I go back to Australia, I’ll open a catering company one day and call it Coyote Catering’.”

But not all of the food has a south-west American influence.

“We make all our own mustards and chutneys and seasonings and those flavours are there, but we do anything,” he says.

“We have a range of menus. Everybody loves our wrap menu #3, which is hot and cold wraps, which has all our chimichangas and so forth on it.” Our clients just really love them.

So with an interesting decade in business behind him, what’s next on the horizon for Jason?

“My recipe for success is my amazing team, our professional clients and my passion for business,” he says. “So looking forward to the future, the biggest dream that I’ve had for Coyote for some years now is to be able to set up the catering interstate and we’re certainly working towards that.”

Coyote Catering Unit 5, 9 Lithgow Street, Fyshwick. Contact 6255 7500 or www.coyotecatering.com.au

arts & entertainment / dining

Honkytonks gets those tastebuds dancing

THE flavours of the Caribbean and South America pack a punch and if you get a kick out of hot spices and chillies, Honkytonks, Garema Place, Civic, will get your taste buds dancing.

Best of all Honkytonks is a fun place to grab a bite when you’re in for soul satisfying, non-pretentious, cheap food. The menu has been recently revitalised. It is still small (six items only) but offers big things. Tuck into corn chips and

Wendy Johnson dining

salsa ($5) or munch on one, two, three or four soft-shell tacos (each $5) served in cute little baskets (depending on how hungry you are, of course). The Honkydog – the final item on the menu – is a traditional pork frankfurter with serrano chillies and decorated with swirls of homemade dog sauce. A real tummy filler.

Homemade is the key to Honkytonks food. The inspiration for the menu came from travels overseas (various trips by the owners and chef), including to Canada and Mexico, where tacos are serious street food.

We sat at the window, on tall bar stools, giggling like kids while devouring the small tacos – we sampled all four, splitting each in half so we could share, which added to the mess (and the hilarity of the scene). Eventually we asked for a spoon. To be honest, we needed big bibs, but managed to escape super spillage (just as well for my friend who was wearing a snow white top).

We couldn’t pick a favourite, but the South American pinto bean taco with its garlic and oregano sautéed mushrooms, cactus salsa and chipotle mayo was

sensational, no doubt helped by the El Jimador tequila (Mexico’s number 1) thrown into the mix. Why does eating vegetarian food always make you feel so healthy (and tequila so happy)?

The cider pork tickled our fancy – spiced cider Spanish chorizo with Romsesco and Argentinian chimichurri. Yumbo. And how about the beef-fillet taco? The meat is marinated in Quilmes beer, brewed in Argentina, hickory smoke and jerk spices. The corn is sweet and the tangy Mexican olive tapendade tangy. And last, but not least, we hit the Carribean with the barbecue Jerk chicken taco made with Captain Morgan’s Rum. Ya mon, it’s Irie!

Honkytonks’ food is as colourful as its décor, and you can’t miss the massive mural, splendid with its mix of shimmering gold and intense reds, blues, greens –indeed every colour of the rainbow. To settle in, grab a spot on bench seating and prop yourself up with a colourful pillow.

gardening

Windflowers brighten dull days

ANEMONE hupehensis or Japanese Windflowers provide a real statement of colour in autumn.

The most common variety has white flowers that give a real lift to dull days. Equally, the pink variety illustrated here makes a great show. Some years ago I was castigated by a reader who said that I should not have suggested these for any garden. I was told that I should tell readers in my next column that I had made a mistake. The writer said these should be considered a weed and can take over a garden. Lots of “shoulds” here! Needless to say, I did not make a correction and, yes, they do spread quite readily, however they are easy to control. Simply thin out after flowering with roots readily pulled out.

ONE of the toughest plants for flowers in the winter garden is Bergenia cordifolia, commonly known as Elephants Ears.

Will it stand the cold and frosts here in our district?

You may be surprised to know it comes from Siberia. With its huge glossy leaves it grows in bold clumps with pink flowers on long stems in winter. It has traditionally been used as a border plant along paths and driveways. Other winterflowering perennials to plant now include Viola headrace and Iris unguilaris or winter iris. The latter has deliciously fragrant flowers that last a long time in containers. Helleborus and polyanthus are both firm favourites for winter colour.

LAST week, I suggested raising all outdoor container grown plants off the ground. This is vital for good drainage, especially with citrus and

Cedric Bryant gardening

succulent plants. For the same reason, get rid of saucers under pots. If water cannot drain away the soil gets rank and root rot sets in.

The worst-case scenario is pots placed on dirt in garden beds. How often have you had a coaster come when lifting a glass? This suction is the same for outdoor pots, stopping the water draining from containers when sitting on a paved or tiled area.

EQUALLY, this applies to indoor plants. If the saucer is kept full of water root rot will be the result. For indoor plants, fill the saucer with small pebbles and place the pot on top of the pebbles. More indoor plants die from over watering than any other cause. For more information on indoor plants, refer to my Cedfacts Information Sheet “Green your home with Indoor Plants” at www. cedricbryant.com

RECENTLY, I discussed autumn foliage and many folk do not realise the difference in the leaf colour of various grape varieties. Look at the grapes at the Mt. Majura Winery on Majura Road. Glance up the side of the hill to appreciate the range of leaf colour.

This season augers well for some top-quality wines. You can plant grape vines now, but do not prune them, even if they look decidedly scraggly. Leave it until the first new shoots appear in spring to stop excessive bleeding.

In your garden this week

• Plant a persimmon tree for delicious fruit.

• Prune Betula pendula or Silver Birches now as they will bleed profusely if pruned in early spring.

THE recent tragic story of the poisonous mushrooms makes it vital that if picking mushrooms in the wild to know what you are picking. There is very good information with photos on Google. Illustrated here is Amanita muscaria appearing in many gardens now, including my own. Do not touch or let your children touch these brightly coloured mushrooms. They are deadly and yet how is it that possums eat them with no ill effects?

• With Cyclamen kept in the home, always water the soil, not over the leaves to prevent mildew.

Correction

• Lift and divide chives for growing in pots or in the garden.

• Allium sativum, or garlic, can be planted now. Break up the bulbs and plant each section just below the surface.

garden

No place like... autumn

Despite our foreboding for winter and the brisk temperatures of late, there is no better season than autumn to define the soul-soaring beauty of our city and its surrounds.

Here, photographer SILAS BROWN captures perfectly that joy. Go hunt the page down from our digital edition on citynews.com.au and email it to every expat Canberran in the world as a reminder of what they’re missing back home!

Open day tempts helpers

LANDSCAPE revegetation is working and the birds are coming back, according to environment organisation Greening Australia, which is hosting its first open day on May 16 in the hope of attracting more volunteers and explaining how the restoration process works.

The open day, held at Greening Australia’s Aranda nursery from 9am to 1pm, will feature a free barbecue lunch, rolling presentations on its restoration practices, including seed collection, nursery activities and direct seeding, and information on the latest research and projects.

Jason Cummings, Greening Australia’s CEO, says the idea for hosting an open day came out of a survey of its regular volunteers.

“We’re a community organisation, there is increasing demand for volunteering opportunities, and we just want to share the contributions of our existing volunteers and provide opportunities for new volunteers to engage,” he says.

“We are also conscious of being a good neighbour in Aranda, and want to give all locals the opportunity to see what great work

goes on in their backyard.”

Volunteer Kolin Toivonen says he was inspired to get involved with Greening Australia after seeing the devastation caused by the 2003 bushfires in the Lower Cotter Catchment area.

“It gives me great satisfaction to assist in restoring biodiversity to the landscape,” he says.

“Working on the Adopt-A-Patch program with fellow volunteer Neil Richardson has been a pleasure and is something we both look forward to participating in when we can.”

Over the past 10 years Canberra volunteers have contributed more than 35,000 days cumulatively to help look after our backyard, says Jason.

“The community has met some significant milestones, including the growing of more than 800,000 native trees and shrubs for regional restoration efforts,” he says.

Greening Australia is located at 2 Kubura Place, Aranda (on the eastern side of the Aranda playing fields). The easiest parking is behind the school and there is also a bus stop at the school.