130808 citynews

THE RENOVATORS’

Gungahlin’s new-look Magnet Mart Home Timber & Hardware is fast gaining a reputation as the ultimate home improvement destination for Canberra residents.

A s part of the extensive renovations to the Gungahlin site, the store offers a vast selection of home improvement solutions and newlyintroduced product categories including a quality kitchen design and installation offer for its Principal and Profile ranges, confirming Magnet Mart as the place to go for all your renovation needs.

Customers are also able to choose from a range of quality kitchen and bathroom plumbing supplies and accessories, comprehensive flooring selection and various whitegood appliances, alongside the store’s traditional hardware, timber and trade offering.

Supporting the enhanced kitchen displays at Magnet Mart is a team of dedicated onsite specialists who can assist with design, layout and guidance on the complete range of quality flat-pack and installed solution kitchens, with customers able to customise options using the online 3D virtual planner.

With kitchens the heart of any home, the team at Magnet Mart have simplified the time spent planning and choosing a kitchen by allowing customers to book a one-on-one appointment with specialists to be guided through the kitchen online building tool which develops customised solutions for the kitchen ranges in detail.

The Profile range features quality, flat-pack kitchens in a variety of colours and styles at an affordable price. The perfect choice for first home buyers or those focused on a modest budget, Profile is designed to take home today for self installation.

The range provides a modern-look with high impact resistant, heat-proof laminate and soft-close, double-walled drawers as standard. The range features quality products with an impressive range of door styles and bench top colours as well as combinations including cabinets, drawers and panels. To complete the kitchen renovation, Magnet Mart also stocks an extensive range of sinks, taps, handles and appliances.

Profile is stocked in store, ready to take home and assemble. Cabinets come pre-drilled and a step-by-step installation guide is available. Installation by Magnet Mart Home Timber & Hardware can also be organised where required.

All Profile ranges come with a 10-year warranty for added comfort, so you know it will last.

For those looking for a wider range of options and finishes, the modular unit Principal kitchen range uses materials of the highest quality and can be ordered to suit any design.

ONE-STOP-SHOP

Principal kitchens feature clever storage options and the best kitchen solutions from around the world include Australian built cabinets, German soft-close drawers and Italian soft-close hinges. With premium quality and durability, each kitchen is finished with the highest quality European hinges, drawer runners and hardware.

Bringing the world’s best brands together, with Principal kitchens you have additional options such as laminate or stone bench tops in an extensive range of colours, glass splashbacks, undermount or inset sinks, tapware, water filters, organisation units and waste bins, providing you with a fully optioned, personalised kitchen. All Principal components are built for life and backed with a 20-year guarantee.

With the assistance of Magnet Mart Home Timber & Hardware’s kitchen specialists, the range of styles, colours and options available are endless with Principal. Kitchens are usually ready for delivery in around 14 days and the team can advise on a full installation service for this modular system.

To complement the new kitchen range, Magnet Mart Home Timber & Hardware now has an even wider selection of quality plumbing including tapware and sinks for the kitchen and laundry, as well as showers, tapware, matching accessories, vanities and toilet suites for the bathroom, allowing you to update or renovate your home with ease.

All our products carry a WELS rating making it easier for you to choose water efficient products and reduce your bills. Whether you’re in need of tile, storage solutions, decor and accessories, Magnet Mart Home Timber & Hardware has the style and selection to suit all tastes and budgets.

M agnet Mart’s recent transformation has also seen it expand its flooring offer, with extensive displays available to view in-store.

As an area of the home with high traffic, we have chosen a range of sustainable and durable engineered and natural options. Our staff can assist you to choose the right type of flooring, from our budget laminate through to popular, eco-friendly bamboo or engineered cork.

Flooring in the ecologic selection has a modern look and feel; materials include bamboo, cork and timber. There is also the Artisan real oak flooring, which is eco-certified and available in pre-finished and unfinished to help you achieve your desired effect.

Our staff can help you with accessories including underlay and advice on getting the best result. With so much in store to help make your home look its best it’s no wonder Magnet Mart Home Timber & Hardware is fast becoming known as Canberra’s one-stop-shop for renovators. Planning a renovation? ‘Go Where The Tradies Go’ and visit Magnet Mart Home Timber & Hardware Gungahlin located at Crinigan Circle, Gungahlin.

We open early every day with extended trading hours Thursday and Friday:

• Monday to Wednesday 7.00am to 6.00pm • Thursday and Friday 7:00am to 8:00pm • Saturday and Sunday: 8.00am to 6.00pm Call us on 02 6228 9300 or visit our website www.homehardware.com.au for more information.

Fresh look at theatre space

By arts editor

Helen Musa

THE original plan for a conventional theatre at the Belconnen Arts Centre has been dumped for an adaptable, “open performance space” – and a change of architect charged to think outside the square.

ACT Arts Minister Joy Burch has announced that the tender for Stage 2 has gone to a team of Australia’s premier theatre architects, Cox Architecture, which has offices in Canberra and is known for buildings such as the Lyric Theatre, at Star City, Bangarra Performing Arts Centre and Fremantle’s John Curtin Performing Arts Centre.

Describing the selection of Cox as “the right choice,” Ms Burch said community expectations had changed since Stage One went up in 2009, when Chief Minister Jon Stanhope had challenged the community to fill the centre with arts activities.

So popular had it become, embraced by young and old, that earlier plans by the architect of stage one, Melbourne

firm Williams Ross Architects, for a conventional theatre space had given way to the notion of an adaptable, “open performance space” that could include workshop spaces and seating for up to 200 to 400 people, as well as a cafe and community kitchen and an outdoor performance space.

The design, funded from a $300,000 allocation in the 201213 ACT Budget, Ms Burch said, should be guided by a development review from cultural planner Susan Conroy that had looked into new directions for Belconnen Arts Centre.

She warned that they would need to work fast to come up with, say, three design options by November, as the ACT Budget for 2014 would be set by March and, so far, there was no notional costing of the project.

Cox representative Rohan Moss, noting that Belconnen had “a rising feel of confidence,” told the Minster, the new CEO of the centre, Daniel Ballantyne and the head of artsACT David Whitney that they would certainly look at how the centre fits in with changing developments on the Lake Ginninderra foreshore, where cafes, dwellings and offices were mushrooming.

index / contacts

Arts&Entertainment 21-22

Canberra Confidential 16

Cinema 22

Dining 22

Garden 30

Letters 14

News 5-15

Politics 13

Puzzles 29

Socials 17-19

Cover: Sweet ChariTEA models Georgia de Salis (Red Queen) and Tiarna Ryan (Cheshire Cat). Photo by Andrew Campbell. Story Page 15.

Moss said the new plan would be “not radically different” from the Williams Ross plan to fill a large gravel square outside the windows with a theatre, but that it had become clear that the centre required an “open space” capable of being used for dance rehearsals, performances and other communal activities, not just straight theatre. To that end, he said, the space would be very high – 10 to 12 metres – making it suitable for circus work and aerial dance work.

One immediate problem, Moss said, was to retain the “fantastic” natural light that pours into the foyer while inserting the performing space into the gravel square. They’d have to think outside that square.

Since 1993: Volume 19, Number 28

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Arts editor: Helen Musa, 0400 043 764

helen@citynews.com.au

Design and photography: Brent McDonald, brent@citynews.com.au, 0421 962 325

Graphic designer: Leonie Fox

Accounts manager: Bethany Freeman-Chandler accounts@citynews.com.au Responsibility for election comment is taken by Ian Meikle, Level 1, 143 London Circuit, Canberra.

Contributing photographer: Andrew Finch

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

Eczema is an uncomfortable and often painful condition affecting 1 in 3 Australians at some stage of their life. Topical treatments, such as cortisone cream, can treat the current symptoms, but don’t necessarily provide long term relief.

Salt Therapy works over time to create longer lasting respite from the often constant discomfort of Eczema. Feel the difference!

From a Gowrie bedroom, a day for the world

ONE could be forgiven for thinking World Photography Day is a longstanding event, given there are special days for much more obscure things such as International Pi Day, which has celebrated the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter since 1988.

In fact, World Photography Day was thought up in 2009, in a suburban home in Gowrie, by a 21-year-old who dreamed of one day making his living as a landscape photographer.

“It was Boxing Day 2009, I was sitting in my bedroom at home and looking for something to do;

Stephen Easton reports

I was bored,” says Korske Ara, over the phone from Moree in northern NSW.

For one reason or another he searched the web for World Photography Day, and when nothing came up, decided to start it himself. “It was a bit of a wild idea back then,” he admits.

“Everyone looked at me like I was just a crazy man – how are you going to create a worldwide day? I said: ‘I dunno, I’ll give it a go and see what happens,’ and that’s exactly what I did.”

World Photography Day is still mainly online, but has inspired a few real-world activities and interest from newspapers in-

of Korske Ara’s landscape photos.

cluding “The Guardian” in the UK, despite Korske’s confessed neglect of media relations.

“We got some interest in 2010 but in 2011, it really took off,” he says. “Yahoo Flickr shared it on their blog and it got a lot of attention, and in 2012 we ended up getting a few big businesses like Adobe to donate a few prizes, which was really encouraging.”

His reason for doing it, he says, is not at all commercial and he’s wary of it being seen as an attempt to promote his own work, too.

“I’d love for people to be able to grasp it and run with it as an idea to grow their business, or photography clubs to unite their communities, that type of thing,” says Korske.

Now 25, Korske’s portfolio of landscapes has grown and his World Photography Day project has had some success as well, but the first step to follow these dreams was to leave everything behind.

“I just put my finger on a map and it landed on Moree, so that’s where I headed,” he says, of his decision to up and leave town in 2010, one year after ditching his job at an IT company to work in a camera shop.

“I got into the cycle of ‘keeping

up with the Joneses’ – driving a nice car, renting a nice house – and I lost focus on what was important in life, which is your relationships with your friends, your family, and that type of thing. I realised that I had to get out of the drive towards financial success, which isn’t what life is about.”

That and he had $80,000 of debt, which he says he’s paid down to around $15,000 in two and a half years, working on farms and living frugally, and hopes to have cleared it by year’s end.

The reason he’s back in Moree when “CityNews” calls is that he hit a cow with his fourwheel-drive last year, and he’s got friends in the little country town. Fixing it himself to save cash, he hopes to be back on the road in September, but in the meantime, he’s headed for Toowoomba in southern Queensland, where he knows they have the fast mobile internet he needs to run World Photography Day 2013 on Monday, August 19.

For information on World Photography Day go to worldphotoday.org. Korske Ara’s photographs are at redbubble.com/ people/korske

Market rises on creative revolution

CANBERRA’S creative clique is the inspiration behind a new twilight market, collaborating local fashion designers and musicians in NewActon, writes LAURA EDWARDS

WHEN Tegan McAuley returned to Canberra in 2009 after spending five years studying in Brisbane, she was shocked.

“I couldn’t believe how much it had changed since I was last there, and how much it had evolved culturally as a city,” Tegan says.

“It wasn’t long before I discovered a creative revolution bubbling at the heart of Canberra.”

Tegan, a travelling exhibitions officer at the National Portrait Gallery, decided to tap into that creative revolution by launching a new indoor market, “Hustle & Scout”, combining a feast of Canberra’s most talented fashion designers in NewActon’s trendy Nishi foyer from September.

“The idea to access innovative, handmade fashion had actually been brewing for a while, but really kicked off after Fashfest,” Tegan says.

“I went there, had my mind blown by these amazing designers, but didn’t know where I could buy the clothes. So I thought, ‘well what next?’”

The markets, which will run on a quarterly basis, will include stalls hired by local fashion designers selling handmade and vintage clothes and accessories, with all profits going towards the designers themselves.

There will also be several live music

acts and a pop-up bar courtesy of Nishi’s new cafe, A. Baker.

“I don’t want this to be just a market, I want it to be so much more – I want it to be a market with atmosphere and attitude,” says Tegan.

“On the one hand, I want to give Canberrans more access to quality, one-of-a-kind fashion, particularly that of our local designers.

“On the other hand, I want to support our homegrown designers by giving them the opportunity to connect with their buyers on a more personal level and build up a strong support base in Canberra.”

Local designer Andie Meredith, who will be selling items from her selftitled label at the markets, says she “leapt” at the chance to get involved.

“I think the way it’s going to be presented is very exciting, especially in a building like Nishi,” she says.

“NewActon is a very creative, emerging precinct and to personally have a connection with my customers and get their feedback, is a very special thing.”

Hustle & Scout, September 21, 4pm9pm, in the Nishi Foyer, NewActon. Entry is free. For designers wanting to hire a stall, visit hustleandscout.com.au.

Applications to trade close August 11.

Racing charity lunch

“BUBBLES and Black Caviar” is the theme of the 17th Women in Racing Spring Racing Charity Luncheon, in aid of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance ACT, at the Hellenic Club, Phillip, from 11.30am, on Friday, August 23. The colour theme for the day will be salmon pink and black to reflect Black Caviar’s racing colours, and VIP guests will include three of the famous horse’s connections who will join the panel of guest speakers. Bookings and enquiries to 0411 046347.

Founders’ Ball

THE Monaro Folk Society is holding dance classes at St Margaret’s Uniting Church Hall, cnr of Antill Street and Phillip Avenue, Hackett on August 13 and 27 in preparation for its Founders’ Ball at Albert Hall on September 7. The ball, a Centenary of Canberra event , will celebrate the music and dance from the 1910s and 1920s with music by Bob McInnes and the Stringfiddle Big Band. Dance lessons are $6 and the ball tickets are $60. More information from foundersball@ hotmail.com and bookings to mfs.org.au

Charity queen’s ball

THE ACT Filipino-Australian Social and Cultural Association is hosting a ball in support of Nicole Collins, pictured, who is representing the region in the Miss Philippines-Australia Beauty and Charity Queen Quest in Sydney, in October. It will be held at the Southern Cross Club, Woden on August 31. Tickets at $70 are available from 0438 217668 or 0405 089438.

AGE OF WEALTH CREATION

The World is entering a new age - The age of Forex trading

The 21st Century technology boom has seen incredible refinement and innovation in performing the most complex of tasks in a seemingly simple manner.

What if you could trade the Australian Dollar against the US Dollar and make money?

What would you need to learn, watch and be aware of to become a profitable trader?

How is it even possible to enter such a big market?

Every day Millions of people worldwide are trading the Forex Market. Thanks to the evolution of technology, the Forex Trading Market is now a level playing field for all, from blue collar to billionaire. The time has now come to embrace the revolution of the home trader.

We are Canberra this August presenting an educational series of workshops developed for those of you who take your financial future seriously.

Voted the best FX educator 2012 & 2013

Canberra FX Workshop Wednesday 14th August 12pm & 6pm

Making wheat sexy

By Helen Musa

“ELEANOR, you make wheat look really sexy,” a colleague told artist Eleanor Gates-Stuart the other day. She couldn’t be more pleased.

Gates-Stuart has just installed “StellrScope”, her science-art commission for the Centenary, at Questacon.

“Like magic aren’t they?” she says explaining the unique installations that will run until September.

Projected on to a tiled floor are images – stalks and ears of wheat – momentarily intercepted by quite different images when you step around the floor.

ic images leap out as if in attack.

I think I’m looking at a lobster, but no, it’s a wheat weevil.

To the image of a sectioned piece of wheat, we hear the “sound of wheat”, commissioned from ANU music student Marlene Radice.

“The weevil is this big,” she says, pressing her index finger to her thumb, but we’ve enlarged them and they’ve got the quality of 3D movies.”

The piece de resistance is the set of interactive hemispherical displays called “StellrLume Domes”, complete with internal projections. But if you hold your hand over the picture on the dome, you’ll get something else, maybe part of wheat patriarch William Farrer’s diary.

And what about those dull, boring black screens? Just get in front of them and holograph-

From another screen I’m assaulted by spikes of “ancestor wheats” that Gates-Stuart has been growing virtually.

“They’re like little Christmas trees – I think the kids will have fun, don’t you?”

That’s essential, given the location of her exhibition in Questacon.

Gates-Stuart is adamant that she is not a science educator. On the contrary, she insists, she is most definitely an artist, saying: “My role is to be a magnet,

to draw people to the wheat.” Nonetheless, she’s an artist with a firm grounding in science and can talk the talk –biological mutants, phonemics, numerator sequences and so on. That’s why she was appointed Science-Art Fellow at the CSIRO .

Gates-Stuart is a mediator between art and science, but her love of aesthetic beauty remains strong.

“It’s adorable how it moves in the wind but it can also be spiky and sharp,” she says of our most valuable export crop.

“StellrScope”, Questacon, King Edward Terrace, Parkes, daily until September 1.

Dr Nij’s electrifying fun show, Page 20

Property stars come out to shine

CANBERRA’S best and brightest property professionals were celebrated at the annual Property Council’s ACT awards night at Parliament House.

Property Council ACT executive director, Catherine Carter, says: “Canberra is home to many very fine professionals and some of the nation’s most iconic developments. The calibre of this year’s entries was outstanding, with a number of hotly-contested categories making hard work for our judging panel.

“These awards celebrate an industry that is the ACT’s third largest employer, the single largest contributor to ACT taxes and a key driver of economic growth.”

The award winners for 2013 are:

• ACT Property Development of the Year, sponsored by Rider Levett Bucknall, winner: RM Hope Building, 2 National Circuit, developed by ISPT Pty Ltd, designed by Fender Katsalidis Architects

• ACT Property Business of the Year, sponsored by GHD: winner: Geocon

• Allan Wylucki Property Professional of the Year, sponsored by Hays Property, winner: Mark Chappe, director, Rider Levett Bucknall

• ACT Future Leader of the Year, sponsored by the ACT Building & Construction Industry Training Fund Authority, winner: Karen Billington, sustainability manager, Northrop Consulting Engineers

• Executive Director’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Property Council, winner: Brendan Bilston, Principal, Point Project Management

When quilting gets a grip...

Kathryn Vukovljak reports

DEDICATED quilters, business partners and close friends Katy Ciacia and Sandy Thompson couldn’t be happier that their daughters also have the quilting bug – and this is the first year that all six of them have entered quilts in the Canberra Quilters Annual Members’ Exhibition.

“My girls, Talitha, 13, and Caylin, 11, both started showing an interest in quilting when they were about five, and although they had short attention spans at that point, they were keen to sew!” says Sandy.

“I would put the foot pedal on a stool so they could reach it and do as much as possible themselves.”

Katy says she learned everything about quilting from Sandy, and the knowledge then filtered down to her daughters Maddy, 12, and Gabbi, 10.

“They were keen to have a go, and it’s been a really lovely way to spend quality time with them,” she says.

Joys of going to the dogs

I’m a dog person, it’s a family thing, says SONYA FLADUN

I GREW up with dogs. My parents were firmly in the pro-dog camp and I can’t remember a time when we didn’t have a four-legged member of the family trailing around after us.

For me, the benefits of having a pet in general, but especially a dog are huge. They help teach children about caring, about responsibility and love.

Of course, having a dog is not always a bed of roses. You can expect a long learning curve on house training a puppy. Shoes and anything chewable will be fair game and, even years later, there can be occasional disputes over who really owns the couch.

Moreover, as countless parents have learnt when we bring a puppy, dog or any pet into our house, ultimate responsibility is not with the children. When the novelty of feeding and exercising the pet quickly wears off, you’re it!

Nevertheless, having a pet – especially a dog – does teach kids a great deal. Giving them something they have to think about and care for, something that gives unconditional love, is pretty special.

Bringing a dog home requires commitment, planning and research and finding the right type of dog is crucial.

The group already has several awards under their belts – particularly talented Talitha – and they are hoping for some more wins this year.

The exhibition will run until August 11 at EPIC in Mitchell, with around 180 quilts and garments entered across 16 categories. There also will be demonstrations of machine patchwork from Quilts for Others, and visitors will have the chance to buy handmade treasures.

Lloyd’s

“It’s a great way to meet people and I love the sense of community among quilters in Canberra,” says Katy.

Katy says that while their entries for this year have already been submitted, they have a large stash of fabric at home and many more quilts in the pipeline.

“I enjoy the artistic aspect of it but it’s also relaxing for me; it’s my time out, my headspace away from work.”

Canberra Quilters Annual Members’ Exhibition, until August 11, 10am-4.30pm daily at EPIC.

rocky mountain high

TURNER resident Lloyd Donnelly is running in the Everest Marathon on November 28.

The 42-kilometre marathon is run for charity and held every two years.

“The foreign runners are encouraged to fundraise with 50 per cent going to the organisers’ charities in Nepal and 50 per cent to the runners’ charities,” he says.

“I have nominated the Australian Himalayan Foundation and Langtang Valley Health (Australia),

which has just been started by a friend here in Canberra to provide a health clinic in the Langtang region of Nepal, as recipients of my fundraising.

“Apart from the altitude, the course is along rocky mountain trails and exposed to the elements, but with awesome scenery the entire route,” he says. “As I have walked this trail several times, I know what I’m in for!”

To acclimatise, foreign runners

will spend two weeks above 3400 metres. The marathon starts near the base of Mount Everest at Gorak Shep, 5160 metres above sea level, and finishes at Namche Bazaar at 3420 metres.

Lloyd is holding a fundraising dinner at the Hungry Buddha Nepalese Restaurant, Curtin, on Tuesday, August 20. Tickets at $45 include a three-course meal and access to raffles and silent auctions. Bookings to 0403 118169 or lloyd.don@hotmail.com

Active sporty families need an energetic, playful dog that loves to run and tear around the park retrieving frisbees; couch potatoes need a less active breed and if you’re in an apartment with a balcony, it’s probably best to go with a small breed that can’t jump high.

Dogs can be quite costly, needing vaccinations, trips to the vet and you’ll need to factor kennel costs whenever you and your family head off on holiday (if you’re not taking the pooch with you).

Small children and even small dogs should never be left alone. I remember being terrified when I turned my back for an instant to get my baby son’s bottle and found our Pomeranian had managed to jump into his bouncer, snagged his dummy and was snuggled up ready for a good nap. My fear was not for our son, but rather for our tiny dog with his paddle-pop legs and tiny teeth that couldn’t take the skin off a rice pudding. If there was any argument he was the one more likely to come off worse.

But for all the occasional dramas and challenges, I don’t doubt the benefits. Our kids start and finish most days tucked up under a blanket on the couch with their happy, boisterous cocker spaniel that gets and gives a lot of love. The family wouldn’t seem complete without man’s best friend.

Allhomes Manifesto

We love real estate.

1. EvEryonE

We’re here for everyone who loves real estate – the buyers, the sellers, the agents, the landlords, the renters, the real estate junkies and the dreamers.

2. FrEEdom

We believe in freedom of real estate information. The reassurance of knowledge. The surety of facts.

3. InFormatIon

We believe in making information as easy, as intuitive, as human as possible. There’s no such thing as information overload when it comes to property.

4. EmotIonal

We believe the most emotional decisions can be made intelligently. People make property decisions with their hearts, our purpose is to inform the ‘head’ to help them make the wisest decisions.

5. EqualIty

We believe in a level playing field where everyone is treated equally. No favourites, no bias, no priority, no agenda.

6. valuE

We value agents and their role and we strive to bring value to the agent, the industry and the consumer. We believe everyone should win in the property game.

7. ConnECtIon

We believe the ultimate connection we can help facilitate is the loving connection between people and their home.

8. HappInEss

We believe happiness is a great house sold well and a lovely home wisely bought.

Y so hard to get along with?

WHEN girls turn 13, they commence an unrelenting campaign of embarrassment and humiliation against their fathers, designed to demonstrate that their dads are, indeed, ancient.

These campaigns include lots of eye rolling, “whatevers” and looks of astonishment at our ignorance of the ways of the modern world.

Oh, the look when I admitted not knowing who the “X Factor” judge with the crazy hair, crazy glasses and crazy clothes was.

Was it Red Foo?

My Brydie girl explained his musical pedigree, but as soon as she mentioned a band called LMFAO, I lost interest.

I also know I’m old because I don’t understand the concept of bright yellow shoes and because the idea of starting a big night out at midnight seems ridiculous.

When I was 18, we’d go “out on the turps” from about 7 o’clock on a Friday or Saturday night. By midnight, you’d had your fill and were looking for place to lay down.

It’s official: MARK PARTON is an old man. He knows this because he has a 13-year-old daughter!

Therefore, I will never understand Gen Y’s practice of:

a. preloading with cheap grog at home, before

b. going out from midnight and drinking till 5am.

My father told me nothing good ever happens out on the street after midnight, and he was right.

The NSW ACT Alcohol Policy Alliance is calling for the Territory to tighten the sale of alcohol and for earlier closing times for licensed venues.

I know I’m old and out of touch, but what a sensational idea. Surely, getting people out of those venues a few hours earlier is going to curb some of the anti-social behaviour that has plagued our city centre in the early hours of Saturday and

Sunday mornings.

I had an argument on my radio program with Jeff House, from Clubs ACT, about this. He believes licensed clubs shouldn’t be placed in the same category as genuine nightclubs. He says that at 3am his clubs are offering a service to taxi drivers and shift workers, and we would be depriving these people if we closed the doors. He suggested that most licensed clubs were pretty much empty at 3am, anyway.

Well, Jeff, if they’re empty anyway, why not just close them at 3am?

Maybe we need Mr Foo as a consultant to this Alcohol Policy Alliance. Perhaps he could come up with some policy changes that might connect to Gen Y, because I’m blowed if I can.

Mark Parton is the breakfast announcer on 2CC

We can do more to beat booze abuse

It’s time for meaningful political action on alcohol abuse, says MICHAEL MOORE

STREET violence in the wee hours of Saturdays and Sundays is the open face of Canberra’s problem with alcohol. But there is much more!

Launching a new coalition of community groups, Attorney-General Simon Corbell admitted there was more to be done about the harms associated with alcohol.

Nurses and doctors in any hospital emergency department will testify to the level of burden of alcohol-related injury. Domestic violence and other poor behaviours, along with financial hardship as well as long-term health impacts such as cancer, cardiovascular and liver disease, are all ramifications of the harmful impacts of inappropriate use of alcohol.

Corbell argues that the 2010 legislation to manage liquor outlets, sales and promotion was having a significant impact in allowing public interest to be taken into account when consideration is given to applications for new liquor licences.

In welcoming the establishment of the NSW ACT Alcohol Policy Alliance, Corbell pointed to the constant lobbying from industry while the legislation was being prepared and the need for a co-ordinated and consistent community voice.

Alcohol and other drugs are involved in a significant part of the work of the police and ACT commissioner Rudi Lammers told the new alliance that his personal experience of dealing with misuse of alcohol as a frontline policeman means he agrees action is necessary.

Speaking in Canberra recently, WA police commissioner Karl O’Callaghan suggested that alcohol was behind about two thirds of the work of his police officers. This is the same man who recently ran a sting on liquor outlets to find that only about a third did proper age identification checks on young

people.

The alliance argues its goal is to present evidence-based solutions to inform alcohol policy discussions in the ACT and NSW. The alliance of 39 organisations, including 11 from the ACT, intends to employ co-ordinated, planned and professional advocacy in regard to the responsible promotion, supply, consumption and regulation of alcohol.

One of the most interesting experiments in alcohol policy was in Newcastle with a combination of minor interventions – closing hours were pared back to 3am, shots were stopped at 11pm and buying “rounds” was restricted after 1am.

The result was a dramatic reduction in emergency presentations at the hospital and police were loud in their praise of the experiment. This is the sort of evidence that should form the base for sensible policy decisions.

Increasing availability is associated with increased harm. In the ACT, there has been a mushrooming of convenience stores that primarily sell alcohol into the small hours. While the new legislation has made a difference, according to Simon Corbell, cheap alcohol is readily available offering little incentive to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed.

One of the options for governments is a floor price based on the percentage of alcohol. When bottles of wine and casks can be bought for around $5, it should be unsurprising that young people, in particular, drink to excess.

There are options for reducing the harm associated with alcohol, but all have their own political challenges and are likely to be resisted by different sectors in the industry. If the Government is really serious about this issue, it is time to start taking some meaningful action.

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

SETTLED IN AUSTRALIA

Bring back the grass

I’M emailing you in my capacity as a reader of your fine magazine and one-time regular visitor of Green Square in Kingston.

I’ve just read the article (“Pawl calls for more green in the square”, CN August 1) about Pawl Cubbin and the Kingston Traders’ wish to have grass replanted in the area. I wholeheartedly support their cause as Green Square is not now the lovely place it used to be.

Good on Pawl for suggesting he

I READ with interest the article in today’s paper on Green Square (“Pawl calls for more green in the square”, CN August 1).

I am one of the 35 passionate business people who met to discuss tidying up this special part of Kingston.

We sent a letter to the ACT Government several months ago and heard nothing. We finally received a response from [Chief Minister] Katy Gallagher saying the Government wasn’t even prepared to meet us.

I back Pawl Cubbin up. We are not asking for anything overly complicated or costly, but the reality is

could pay for the grass himself. If Manuka can have The Lawns why can’t Kingston have Green Square – a square that is truly grass green?

The area doesn’t have the appeal it once had for me, there’s nowhere now for kids to run around in or people to sit on the ground with their friends (the nicer ones with their dogs!). Boo, hiss, Katy Gallagher.

Shelley Harris, via email

that the spindly native grass is not conducive to children playing and it has driven many people away from the area, not to mention the negative impact it has had on the retail side of Kingston. So let’s do the right thing, in this Centenary year and honour Green Square for what it once was.

And do the right thing by the business owners in Kingston and have a quick meeting with us, Ms Gallagher!

Gabi Radinger, Green Square business owner of 28 years, Kingston

ñksia

THANK you Robert Macklin for jumping to our defence on the matter of slashing Canberra’s public servants (“Shame of slicing public servants”, CN August 1).

I am one of those servants and am proud of it. I’m proud of 14

years spent providing service to the public and to people like Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott. Can they say the same about what they do for the public of Australia, I wonder?

M Crowe, via email

Centenary ‘nobility’ at jazz

AS a keen Canberra-born jazz fan, I was proud to attend John Mackey’s Capital Jazz Project concert on August 2 celebrating Canberra’s Centenary at the Street Theatre.

While the gig was a most enjoyable, yet low-key affair, I felt disappointed at the absence of our Centenary’s “nobility”, who I expected to be there to give

symbolic due recognition to this auspicious event, as has indeed happened with other genres. Many thanks to John for composing and playing, with his beautiful saxophone music, such a wonderful musical contribution to Canberra’s 100th anniversary.

Bob Howe, Chapman

Frank gets his Centenary ‘moment’

IN March I wrote to “CityNews” wondering what would happen in Canberra’s arts scene when the Centenary was over.

I also said that each Canberran deserved a “Centenary Moment” and mentioned that I was still waiting for mine.

Well, I am thrilled to say that I experienced my Centenary Moment last week at The Playhouse watching a group of young Australians, many of them locals, making passionate contemporary dance for all audiences. Even if the participants at “Hit The Floor Together” were at different stages

of their professional development, they all shared a love for dance that was palpable.

I was mesmerised by each of their performances and could not stop making a direct link to what 2013 means to Canberra, to celebrate that we are young and encouraging new generations to be proud of our city. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were to witness the birth of exciting theatre and dance companies searching for a unique Canberra artistic language as a result of 2013?

ChariTEA begins at home for Kartika

Kathryn Vukovljak reports

THE paediatric unit at Canberra Hospital is special to local high-tea guru Kartika Medcraft.

Her son, Sebastian, nine, has a rare spinalcord tumour and has needed frequent appointments and MRIs under anaesthetic since he was diagnosed at the age of three.

Keen to give back, mum of four Kartika is organising a grand-scale high-tea fundraiser, with all funds going to PaTCH, the paediatric unit.

“PaTCH to us is our safe place,” says Kartika. “My son’s illness is wrought with so many unknown, frightening factors, but when we’re in the unit we feel a slight sense of safety and control over the condition.

“We know we’re in good hands, the staff understand our anxiety, fears and are just as proud and supportive of our triumphs as we are.”

Kartika runs Swish Vintage, a company that styles and caters high-tea parties, so it seemed natural to her to make a decadent vintage high tea the first fundraiser of local small business showcase Sweet ChariTEA.

“High tea is my business, so I knew I could do this well,” she says.

“Sweet ChariTEA now has close to 100 local businesses, performers and behind-thescenes people involved in this, our inaugural event.

“It’s wonderful to see everyone coming together.”

Kartika promises a flamboyant, indulgent and elegant afternoon. Local fashion label Rockstars & Royalty is hosting a “rocked-up” couture fashion show with an Alice in Wonderland theme and there will be music, burlesque, floral exhibitions, vintage dress-ups, a photo booth and themed tables. And cakes! Out of the seven-course degustation menu, only two will be savoury, Kartika says.

“High tea is all about the sweet treats, and we’ll have the best macarons, cupcakes,

scones and petit fours in town,” she says.

Kartika started Swish Vintage after leaving her full-time public service job to look after Sebastian.

“I worked in medical imaging, so I was used to the environment, although it’s completely different being on the other side of the fence,” she says. “There was no option for going parttime so I had to resign.

“Once we were more used to taking care of Sebastian, I wanted to do something and with my love of all things vintage and baking, I started Swish Vintage which has gone from strength to strength.”

Kartika says her son’s long-term prognosis isn’t good.

“He’s been left incontinent by the tumour, and he’ll be paraplegic by the end of his teens,” she says. “There’s no hope of surgery to prevent nerve damage – as the tumour grows it will cause damage, and if they operate they will cause damage themselves.

“We spend a lot of time visiting Sydney Children’s Hospital now. Unfortunately Canberra just doesn’t have the specialist services, which was part of the reason for wanting to support them with Sweet ChariTEA.”

Sweet ChariTEA is on Sunday, August 25, 1pm-5pm, at The Abbey, Gold Creek Village. Tickets cost $96 and are available through canberraticketing.com.au

Canberra Confidential

Radio snags the video stars

THE makers of this year’s local viral YouTube video “Sh*t nobody says in Canberra” now have their own show on FM104.7, proving they couldn’t have offended the station too much by questioning the comedic prowess of Scotty and Nige in their comedy short.

The group’s first one-hour radio show as “The Roundabout Crew” aired at 6pm last Sunday, the members telling their Facebook fans they would now be working in a medium “where we don’t have to show our sh*t heads” before asking for suggested topics to talk about.

The Roundabout Crew’s Tom Armstrong, Elliot Morgan, Peter Hughes and Kenny Rodrigues make films under the name Oakenden Productions and have also produced a short comedy called “SarcAdam”, which is playing at Dendy on September 13 for the Canberra International Short Film Festival.

Not-olini’s, brother

CC hears that the recently vacated Artespresso space in Kingston is to get a new look, a new name and new ownership in the form of Danny Tosolini, brother of Civic restaurateur Carlo.

Danny has recently returned to Canberra from working in Sydney and the word is he will have the place rebadged and open for quality dining before October. Carlo is insistent it won’t be called Tosolini’s and went a bit fuzzy when CC asked about his interest in the new place.

Barry channels Mr Bull

QUEANBEYAN identity and occasional dauber Barry Cranston has entered a spooky world with his painting of Queanbeyan’s 1888 Mayor John Bull in the Council Art Exhibition at the Queanbeyan Art Society Gallery.

Clearly channelling the town’s second mayor for inspiration, Crantson discovered after his painting that he and Mayor Bull were eerily alike: of Scottish descent; run businesses in Goulburn; married in St Saviour’s Cathedral, Goulburn; involved in the wool industry; on the committee of the Queanbeyan Racing Club; parishioner of Christ Church, Queanbeyan and a council alderman. That and they look the same. Kidding!

Noobs welcome

THE blogging response to our recent article on Impact Comics principal Mal Briggs (“Comics make a big impact with Mal”, CN July 11) on citynews.com.au has been overwhelmingly complimentry including this: “As well as being incredibly friendly and helpful, they’ve successfully created a comic store that welcomes women and noobs.” Noobs?

Dr Wiki advises: “Newbie, newb, noob, or n00b is a slang term for a novice or newcomer, or somebody inexperienced in any profession or activity.”

It seems to have come from late 20th century US military jargon.

BYO (clean) knickers!

WHILE CC always obeys the maternal instruction of having hospital-strength clean underwear when going out, we haven’t been anywhere with a clean pair

in our hands.

But that was the BYO request of newbie MLA Nicole Lawder, who took Senate aspirant Zed Seselja’s spot on the Liberal benches. Nicole was hosting a “welcome me” soiree to celebrate her first day in the chamber this week and invited guests to bring a pair of new, unused underwear to donate to Canberra Homeless Connect.

Inconvenience store

“CityNews” scribbler Stephen Easton arrived at the brightly branded “24 hours 7 days Quick and Go” convenience store on the north-west corner of the Sydney Building, in Civic late one night, to inconveniently find it closed.

Despite the promise of its multiple signage, less prominently is an A4 piece of paper stuck to the door that says it’s only open continuously from 6.30am on Thursdays until 11pm on Sundays in the winter months. The rest of the week it’s only open between 6.30am and 11pm.

Know something? /

Malcolm’s gone grazing

THE iconic Hermitage restaurant on London Circuit is no more. After 39 years, its founder and owner, the affable Malcolm Carlin has served his last dish.

While the word “retiring” is not one CC would normally associate with the irrepressible restaurateur, that’s what he’s going to do and, within days, his restaurant will be rebranded Mr Wei’s and, under the ownership of chef David Wei, formerly of Kingston Foreshore’s Wild Duck, will feature dishes in the modern Asian style.

Malcolm first opened in Woden and moved the restaurant and its reputation for discreet, fine dining to Civic 15 years ago.

One customer disappointed with his retirement had her 30th birthday there and had booked to celebrate her 40th with Malcolm. Smooth as ever, he’s convinced her to trust the special night to David.

scene / around canberra

Abode – The Apartment Hotel is pleased to announce the opening of our third hotel in Woden.

Our new accommodation offering transforms a 70s commercial building into stylish accommodation, located just minutes to the city, parliamentary triangle and major Canberra attractions.

Abode Woden, located at Juliana House, is a refurbishment and reuse project and is on target to be Australia’s first Green Star and NABERS rated hotel in Australia and will be the smart choice for the savvy visitor.

To celebrate our greatest achievement to date, we are offering rooms at Woden from just $119 per night.

Dr Nij’s electrifying fun show

HOW much electricity does it take to charge a mobile phone, turn a light on for an hour or leave the TV on standby for a week? And how does that compare to boiling the kettle just once, or doing a load of washing?

ANU solar panel researcher Dr Niraj Lal, or “Nij” as he likes to be known, will put all of this into perspective when he presents a high-voltage show on the science of electricity at Questacon on Saturday, August 10, during National Science Week.

To do so, the experienced science communicator asks an audience member to “come on down” and play a version of “The Price is Right”, the old TV game show where the contestant had to arrange a list of prizes in order of their value, to win the lot.

“In the show I do the same thing, but with electricity,” says Nij. “I have a bunch of things that use electricity on the board and we play ‘The Kilowatt-hour is Right’. They ‘come on down’, and they have to arrange the items – things like charging a phone, doing a load of washing, boiling a cup of water, toasting some bread, watching TV for an hour or leaving the computer on for a day – in order of how much electricity they use. If they get it right they walk away with a fantastic prize.”

To make it a bit more fun, Nij encourages everyone to get involved and shout advice at the contestant about where each item should go, just like the host of the old game show.

“I also use simple science demonstrations to show the 10 ways science knows about to make electricity in the whole universe. Then with the electromagnetic dance, I show what’s actually going on in power stations in Tumut or Newcastle to

make electricity come through our power sockets,” he says, explaining what really is a pretty magical process.

“One of the most interesting facts that blew my mind is that 99 per cent of the world’s electricity is made by spinning magnets inside coils of wire. Coal-fired, gas-fired, nuclear, wind, hydro, all are just ways of moving things through turbines, which just spin magnets inside coils.”

But words only go so far, so he disappears inside the ANU’s engineering labs and comes back with a coil of wire connected to a red LED light. Placing a super-powerful neodymium magnet

inside and closing the ends, he shakes it around and the light flashes. But why?

“Thats a good question,” says Nij. “But it’s kind of a deep question really, and I think that the fundamental answer is: it’s sort of just how the universe works, really It’s just a strange and wonderful property of our universe that if you take a magnet and push it through a coil of wire, you can make electricity flow through the coil.

“So 99 per cent of electricity comes from moving magnets through coils, but solar cells are different. They take light and convert it straight into electricity, just

by using the amazing properties of what are called semiconductors – light comes in, excites some charges and they swim across the solar cell and they can be used in a circuit.”

He moves on to his own research about making solar panels work better and cost less. To explain, he picks up a slinky and a Tibetan singing bowl, but to find out how, you’ll have to go to the show.

The Science of Electricity Show is at Questacon on Saturday, August 10 at 11am. For more information go to scienceweek. net.au

Noisy ways to look at science

WITH more than 80 events in and around the ACT for this year’s National Science Week, there really is something for everyone.

The chair of the ACT committee for the science celebration, Kylie Walker, says its aim is to remind people how important science is for our day-to-day lives.

She says that knowing about science also helps everyone make good decisions, and join in the big debates about issues such as climate change, water security or immunisation.

“But that’s the serious side,” says Kylie. “We aim to do that through fun! We like a lot of noise, spectacular visuals and getting grubby, so we do things like making slime, exploding stuff, freezing stuff, watching movies and getting involved in dance workshops. There are a whole lot of fun ways to learn about science.”

Along with the all-ages fun, there are plenty of events for a more mature audience. There’s the Mars Invades Cocktail Party at the UFO-shaped Academy of Science building on Friday, August 9, art workshops on making your own paints and other creative materials, and a festival of dance and science which runs throughout the week at the CSIRO Discovery Centre in Acton.

For the full program, go to scienceweek.net.au

arts & entertainment

Getting science to dance

By Helen Musa

WHEN it comes to making the connections between dance and science, Liz Lea is no birdbrain.

Now this busy artist, the choreographer in residence at the CSIRO Discovery Centre and artistic director of Canberra Dance Theatre, has come up with a “DANscienCE Festival”, to run during National Science Week.

Lea, who’s had our feathered friends on her mind for quite some time, has been deep in the CSIRO’s ornithological collection as she devises her own new dance work called “Kapture”, but in planning the festival, she has spread her wings far further and come up with a week-long program packed with serious scientific symposia complemented by entertaining dance showcases.

Encouraged by art-loving Cris Kennedy, the director of Discovery, Lea put out an SOS to Ausdance National and couldn’t believe her luck when they came back with 10 names of scientific dancers.

Later Ann McLean, the director of Ausdance Queensland, came up with a few more.

The result, she says, is a world first and she’s divided the festival into six sections: physiotherapy & healthy dancing; ornithology; ecology; mature movers; cognitive thinking & psychology; and international film. Lea insists that she is not

naturally scientific by nature, so “asked the experts what to do”, and has retained a sense of humour throughout the planning, relishing the “Dance your PhD” films and the unusual expertise of colleagues such as Dean Walsh who, in his talk “SubMarine”, will describe how he brings dance, diving and marine conservation practices together.

Artist backs ‘Nelly’ for a win

CANBERRA artist Katey Baddeley has made it into the Inglis Equine Art Prize for the second year in a row, the youngest artist to make the finalists list both times. Last year she won People’s Choice and now she’s crossing fingers that her equine portrait of “Nelly” will be honoured in the Sydney announcements on August 13.

THE Griffyn Ensemble purports to have been “putting our green thumbs to use” for the concert “Earth – the science of trees through music” for Science Week. There’ll be Australian, Chilean, American, Swedish and Australian music, with the world premiere of Griffyn director Michael Sollis’ “City of Trees Suite”, commissioned for the Centenary. Artist Annika Romeyn has created an illustrative guide to the program. At CSIRO Discovery Centre atrium, 7pm, August 17, bookings to griffyn. iwannaticket.com.au

OH dear, must people insert “ACT” into everything this year? The ‘tACTile’ group – Jenny Bowker, Dianne Firth, Helen Gray, Beth Miller, Beth and Trevor Reid – have created 20 art quilts each on the idea of Canberra as “a people, place and designed city,” and a collaborative work inspired by Robert Coulter’s panorama of the site for the future capital. At Belconnen Arts Centre, 10am to 5pm, Tuesday-Sunday until August 25. Meet the artists, 3pm, on Sunday, August 11.

jazz

T he 2013 Capital Jazz Project. Various performances at The Street Theatre until August 11. Sunday, August 4, reviewed by Bill Stephens

THE 2013 Capital Jazz Project kicked off auspiciously on Friday night with the John Mackey Quartet performing the world premiere of Mackey’s “Canberra Centenary Suite”.

On Sunday, the first program was from pianist Joe Chindamo and violinist Zoe Black. Having admired their stunning recording “Reimaginings”, on which they brilliantly re-interpret popular classical and classic jazz compositions, I was fearful they might disappoint in the flesh.

I needn’t have worried. Their program, which began with a unique version of Puccini’s “Nessum Dorma”, followed by Chopin Prelude, was sheer bliss.

Big licks of jazz bliss

James Morrison

Liam

accompanied by brilliant young pianist, Tate Sheridan. Although presenting an agreeable selection of jazz standards and original material, I found my enjoyment of Budge’s work compromised by his distracting facial contortions, silly body gyrations and total disregard for the meaning of the lyrics. Hopefully, these are a passing phase, in which case Mr. Budge could well become a very good jazz singer.

The final concert for the evening was a performance by the extraordinary Tawadros Brothers who specialise in the Arabic lute and Egyptian tambourine.

Helen Musa arts in the city

NARRABUNDAH College continues its tradition of provocative student theatre with a production of Soviet writer Evgeny Shvarts’ 1940 play, “The Shadow”, directed by Niki Dudgeon. “Shvarts’ world may have been dark, but his play glows with life and frivolity,” they’re saying. At Narrabundah College’s Hawk Theatre, August 14-24, bookings to 6205 6979 or trybooking.com/49833

CANBERRA’S Austrian Australian Choir is off on its third overseas concert tour, this time to St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the “wedding” church from “The Sound of Music” in Salzburg and the UN Science Forum in Vienna. It will preview the program in the Austrian Australian Club, Mawson, 2 pm, on Sunday, August 11. Tickets at the door or bookings to 6288 7884 or 6286 5793.

THE Life Drawing Workshop, which has been running for nearly 26 years, is coming up soon for six weeks at the Holy Cross Church in Belconnen on Thursdays from 1pm-3pm. Participants bring their own paper, drawing materials and easels, but tables and chairs are provided – and, of course, the models. Call 6253 2002 or 0414 271311, or email art@pazolli.com

“Nelly” by Katey

fingers crossed.

For the general public, there’ll be an accessible “travel around the world in dance” film day and a lecture by indigenous dancer Tammi Gissell and scientist Denis Saunders about research undertaken to create a dance work inspired by the Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo.

Tasmanian choreographer, Glenn Murray, will talk about an installation involving fibre arts, a Tasmanian birdsong score and a theatre work by mature dancers. It’s a week with scientific explorations of everything from body heat to aerial acrobatics and the neuromotor system, the latter by former director of the National Capital Ballet, Janet Karin. Highlights to watch out for include the big opening performance on August 10 at Discovery’s Atrium and an ecological performance event on August 14 at the Discovery Theatre.

It may be a world first, Lea says, but she hopes it won’t be the last.

DANscienCE Festival, at the CSIRO Discovery Centre theatre, August 10-18. Full program at csiro.au/ dance

They could have played the phone book; such was the inventiveness of their variations, which often became so complex that it was sometimes difficult to remember what tune they were re-imagining. This was a sublime performance by two consummate musicians.

Then into Street Two, decked out trendily with chandeliers and little black chairs, for a performance by the

Teamed with electric bass player Steve Hunter, they charmed the audience with an intoxicating mix of mostly Middle Eastern music, brilliantly arranged and performed.

An unexpected highlight was a delightful Q&A with doyen Barbara Blackman, seated in the front row, which suggests Joe Tawadros could possibly aspire to a second career in stand-up.

arts & entertainment

Brawling friends on a crawl to the end of

“The World’s End” (MA)

I FOUND enough novelty in this third horror comedy from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost to persuade me to hit the star key for a third time, but it was a close run thing. Its dual-purpose title points to a British view of apocalypse as five lads in their forties repeat a pub crawl 20 years earlier along the Golden Mile that didn’t reach pub number 12 called The World’s End.

Pegg plays Gary, desperate to recover youth’s riotous days with four chums now living respectably conformist lives. In a toilet confrontation, the pleasant youth with whom Gary picks a fight turns out to be a biologically-generated robot – and everybody else in the town may look human, but they too are robotic.

The film develops into confrontation between the five, augmented by a cute chick who is still human, and the robots. The confrontation escalates into pub brawls enhanced by CG tricks. And that’s what leads the film into tedium. Too many brawls, not enough resolution.

At Dendy, Palace Electric, Hoyts and Limelight

Dougal Macdonald cinema

“The Way Way Back” (M)

IN this agreeable coming-of-age film, 14-year-old Duncan (Liam James) finds diversion from an anguished family situation during a summer holiday.

I confess that even were this film less agreeable, it gave me two fundamental causes for enjoyment:

Toni Colette playing Duncan’s divorced mother Pam now cohabiting with Trent (Steve Carrell) and Allison Janney playing next-door neighbour Betty, seen mostly sipping a drink.

Duncan’s not getting on with Trent and misses his father. In a new community, knowing his mother’s sharing a new man’s bed, he’s feeling abandoned. Betty has a daughter whom he’s too withdrawn to approach. He commandeers the bike belonging to Trent’s unpleasant daughter and rides to the WaterWizz park where manager Owen (Sam Rockwell)

befriends him. The film develops around eccentric good guy Owen’s recognition of Duncan’s plight and his no-nonsense strategy for mentoring him.

The film’s central theme is crises in relationships and without solving underlying problems, it implies gentle, satisfying and optimistic possibilities. Next summer, Duncan and the girl next door may be pleased to see each other. But Duncan’s relationship with Trent is the more interesting to contemplate.

At Dendy, Capitol 6, Palace Electric and Hoyts Belconnen

“100 Bloody Acres” (MA)

ON their remote farm, Reg (Damon Herriman) and his older, domineering brother Lindsay (Angus Sampson) make blood and bone fertiliser from whatever raw material they can get, including road kill.

Along the track, James (Oliver Ackland) and

Tender Marti’s shaking up Manuka

MARTI McGregor, head bartender at Polit Bar, says, in a sexy Scottish accent, that every stranger is a friend you’ve yet to meet, and he says it while mixing, shaking and pouring a divine assortment of handcrafted cocktails at Manuka’s newest bar and lounge.

Marti comes to Canberra from Velluto, a bespoke cocktail, wine and champagne establishment in Sydney, and he has won an Australian Hospitality Award for Excellence (NSW) – Bartender of the Year. So he knows his stuff... so much so that he is now holding cocktailmaking classes on Wednesdays, 6pm-7pm ($30). He makes. You watch. You make. You taste. You smile. Polit is not just a bar for pollies any more than a sports bar is just for sports nuts. Having said that, the political theme is pronounced.

When you visit take a good look around. The aim when decorating was to have fun. Check out the shimmering gold, rope-fringed wall, glittering chandeliers, Art Nouveau lamp, intricate, gold sofa, and antique typewriters. The book collection is worth exploring and behind the bar are two Absinthe Fountains and a line-up of wicked alcohol. If you prefer, select a non-alcoholic wellbeing drink, such as the Acai Action or Maximol Mineral Solution shots. We didn’t go there. Polit Bar recently had its soft opening, code for “we’re open but things might not be perfect”. Hospitality is a manic industry and a million things can go wrong at any

Wendy Johnson dining

time. I feel for Polit Bar ‘cause the top-notch chef they had lined up could not join the team at the eleventh hour due to unforeseen circumstances. Determined to carry on, like the politicians of the day, Polit Bar went to Plan B and swung the doors open to welcome guests. Its line-up of edibles is small, starting with dishes to share such as Sicillian olives and excellent salami ($8) and creamy zucchini fritters with yoghurt and a touch of paprika ($10). The braised pork belly ($13) was cold, which did not enhance the flavour, although I like how it is served with shaved fennel and spicy kimchi, Korea’s national dish. The beetroot and hummus dips ($9), which came with raw veggie sticks, including carrot and celery, were not the best. I prefer my hummus with more intense flavours and a more agreeable consistency.

On “Fabulous Fridays” bubbles, beer and wine is $5 (4pm-7pm). On Sundays, a Cosmos and charcuterie plate is $40 (for two), and French bubbles and a cheese plate $60 (for two).

Cocktails range from $16 to $20 and whiskey lovers will drool at the extensive selection. Same with gin, vodka, rum and tequila lovers. Wines are from $9 to $13, with many sitting at $11.

Polit Bar, Franklin Street, Manuka. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 4pm. Call 0410 931008.

Wesley (Jamie Kristian) discover a human body under sacks in the back of the truck. When Lindsay sees what Reg has brought home, his anger is exceeded only by his businessman’s nose for product development. Here then is the genesis of an Aussie horror film at which it is possible, nay, even necessary, to laugh.

Co-writers/directors Cameron and Colin Cairnes apply great imagination to the plight of three youngsters destined to get minced alive then baked as fertiliser, together with the dead bloke and the cop who discovers him and Wesley, high on LSD, in the boot of Lindsay’s P76 car.

Spatter movies are a genre I’d avoid were it not for this reviewing gig. But it’s undeniable that despite their obvious contrivance and appeal to low minds, they’re a better option than their real life counterparts. And cleverly crafted, as this one is, they can achieve some creative merit.

Comedy of election night

“Don Parties On”

By David Williamson, directed by Aarne Neeme At Theatre 3, until August 17.

Reviewed by Simone Penkethman

“DON Parties On” revisits David Williamson’s famous characters from his 1971 play, “Don’s Party”. In this Canberra premiere, Canberra Rep delivers a quality and credible production.

Cast and direction are strong, striking a balance between social drama and grotesque comedy. Peter Robinson is stylish and nuanced as psychologist and failed writer, Don.

“Don Parties On” depicts a self interested collection of early baby boomers, 41 years after their wifeswapping, politically passionate times around the 1969 election. Their journeys through “Don Parties On” are more about reconciliation with the past than action in the present. None of them are easy to like. Set on election night 2010, “Don Parties On” draws its drama from Don and Kath’s Gen X son, Richard (Sam Hannan-Morrow) who has recently left his wife for a younger woman, Roberta (Ann Mewburn-Gray) . The manipulative home-wrecker Roberta’s scripted lines and actions are over the top and the highly literal direction results in a lack of dynamic and complexity.

Williamson, in “Don Parties On”, reflects on common contemporary themes of middle-class, white Australia with more than a hint of self-loathing. theatre

the skilled make-up artists to dress designers; the right celebrant to officiate to the choice of reception venues...

Getting the guests comfy

ORANISING accommodation for out-of-town wedding guests can be challenging, especially when taking into account everyone’s different needs, says Rhiannon McClelland, of Abode – The Apartment Hotel.

“We can provide guests with sophisticated, comfortable accommodation, ideal for families and friends visiting Canberra to celebrate a wedding,” she says.

Rhiannon says that Abode is a unique concept in quality accommodation, with three locations in Woden, Gungahlin and Tuggeranong. A new Abode

hotel is in the pipeline for Belconnen town centre.

“The apartments feature ensuite, kitchenette, laundry facilities, TV and sofa beds,” she says. “Abode’s inspired design provides everything you need for a stay that is both leisurely and comfortable.”

Abode can cater for large groups and offers interconnecting apartments, ideal for families with young children.

There’s also an online booking system. Call 1300 1 ABODE (22633) or email reservations@abodehotels.com.au

Feel beautiful on the big day

EVERY bride wants to feel beautiful on her wedding day, and Gabrielle Vannithone, owner of Belle Artistry, knows exactly how to ensure clients feel confident and sexy before they walk down the aisle.

“I love that something as simple as make-up can make such a difference to how a bride feels on her big day,” says Gabrielle.

Belle Artistry offers a mobile service and can come to the bride’s home.

“We appreciate that things can get hectic when you’re planning a wedding, so we try to make it that little bit easier,” Gabrielle says.

“We offer an in-depth trial beforehand, taking into account the bride’s personal style, the theme

of the wedding, the dress she’ll be wearing.

“We can experiment with two different looks at the trial to see what works best.

“We also offer a trial tanning session so we can ensure we get the look exactly right.”

Gabrielle says she’s passionate about make-up, beauty and fashion, and strives to transform her clients while creating timeless, chic and elegant looks.

“I really enjoy being a part of such a special day, and helping a bride feel beautiful,” she says. “I’m all about enhancing someone’s natural beauty so they still look like themselves – but better!”

Contact Gabrielle Vannithone at Belle Artistry on 0401 380771 or visit belleartistry.com.au

European flair and unique style

WITH a love of handcrafts and sewing since early childhood, dressmaker Hanna Coady has been designing and handcrafting beautiful wedding gowns with European flair for more than 35 years

“All my wedding dresses are original designs, made-to-measure and crafted according to the style and fashion that will suit the bride,” she says.

“It is here where I bring my experience to bear, to help the bride to choose the style and fabrics

that will be uniquely hers.”

Hanna has a large selection of fabrics sourced from Europe and a vast range of materials to choose from, including satins, laces, taffetas and chiffons.

Hanna says her designs continue to be inspired by her overseas travels and the beautiful fashions of Europe.

Studio Moda, 1/41-43 Colbee Court, Phillip. Call 6282 8003 or 0411 542249.

Vintage Inspired Clothing for the Modern Woman

Beautiful vintage inspired bridal and formal wear including a special range of genuine vintage bridal accessories

Open Thursday to Sunday 10-5 Shop 3, 7 O’Hanlon Place, Gold Creek, Nicholls www.thedarlingsisters.com

wonderful weddings

Radiant skin, the

professional way

FOR radiant, glowing skin on your wedding day, start planning beauty treatments at least six months before the big day, advises Joyce Beacham, owner of day spa, beauty salon and skincare clinic Elegant Image.

“We offer a variety of facials and treatments, including oxygen facials, green peels, and IPL and light therapies including Omnilux,” she says. “The best thing to do is come into the salon, have your skin assessed by a professional therapist and we can work out a program tailored to suit you.

“Brides-to-be can choose the treatments they want and we will do a package at a discounted rate.”

At Elegant Image, the professional, highly qualified aestheticians use state-of-the-art equipment and industry leading products, says Joyce.

The salon also offers spray tans, teeth whitening, brow shaping, hair removal, manicures and pedicures (including Shellac).

Elegant Image is in the Tuggeranong Hyperdome. Call 6293 2992.

A darling vintage wedding

FOR brides seeking something a little more alternative for their wedding day look, the Darling Central boutique in Gold Creek has a wonderful selection of vintage-style gowns, says co-owner Blossom Darling, of the Darling Sisters.

“We’ve been selling our vintageinspired clothing for a while, and decided to branch out into bridal and formal attire,” she says.

“We have vintage-inspired frocks from the Edwardian, Titanic era, to 1960s, Audrey Hepburnstyle wedding dresses, as well as beaded, flapper-style 1920s dresses with fringing – so they’re very different from standard wedding dresses and interestingly, more affordable.”

Blossom says she has seen very clear trends emerging, even with vintage-inspired clothing.

“There was demand for the 1950s-style pin-up look, but now

Darling Central... for brides seeking something a little more alternative.

we’re seeing earlier periods, like the early 20th century up to the 1930s becoming much more popular –thanks to a certain film, perhaps,” she says.

ABODE BENEFITS

Your special day just became that little bit more special with an exclusive offer from AbodeThe Apartment Hotel.

Finding quality accommodation for your guests can sometimes be a challenge. Your friends and family need somewhere that is comfortable, includes all the amenities of home and is close to your wedding venue. Located in three convenient locations, Abode - The Apartment Hotel offers a range of stylish accommodation choices complete with dream luxury king and queen beds, kitchenette, full laundry facilities, ensuite, flat screen television and FOXTEL.

And what would an accomodation offering be without something a little bit special for the bride and groom. When your guests choose to stay at Abode - The Apartment Hotel, you will be able to access the exclusive benefits outlined in the table below.

If you would like to include Abode - The Apartment Hotel as an accommodation option for your guests when sending out your save the dates or invitations, please contact Abode - The Apartment Hotel Operations Manager, Robert Lillington at robert.l@abodehotels.com.au for further information.

andTofindoutmore

• Affordable accommodation close to your chosen wedding venue

• Convenient, stylish new accommodation for your guests

• Dream luxury king or queen beds in each room

• Kitchenette, full laundry facilities and ensuite in each room

• Flat screen TV and FOXTEL in each room

• A short drive from Canberra’s major tourist attractions

• Easy to find from Canberra International Airport

Style by Lauren Makeup Artist, Hair Stylist, Personal Stylist

Style by Lauren offers personalised service for weddings, formals, special occasions, portraits, photo shoots, corporate, personal styling, makeovers, and personal use makeup lessons.

M: 0415 526 309

E: lewilson@netspeed.com.au

W: www.stylebylauren.com.au

F: www.facebook.com/StylebyLaurenHMUAS

and

Warmth, experience and joy

WORKING with a couple to help them create their dream wedding day is a privilege and a joy, says celebrant Helen Nourse.

Describing herself as a calm and cheerful celebrant with a sense of humour, Helen also has extensive experience in public speaking.

“Coming up with the right form and words for a ceremony is an exciting challenge,” she says.

“I will give as much assistance as the couple wants – all my ceremonies are tailored to their precise requirements.”

Helen is also a civil partnership notary, one of a small group of celebrants in the ACT authorised to perform legal same-sex civil ceremonies.

“Recent ACT legislation has made the legal recognition of same-sex unions in the ACT a reasonably straightforward process,” she says.

“I will explain the documents that you will sign and also the residency requirements and legal advantages for this ceremony.”

Helen offers an obligation-free first meeting, a ceremony written to suit you and created with you, the option to have a wedding any day of the week, a rehearsal, and extra meetings at no added cost.

She says she loves the joy on everyone’s faces at a wedding. “You can see the love in their eyes, and it’s beautiful,” she says.

Contact celebrant Helen Nourse on 0405 228486 or email helen.nourse@internode.on.net

Club offers innovative choices

HELLENIC Premium Catering is Canberra’s most innovative caterer and combined with the most stunning wedding venues, promises to make your special day unforgettable, says venue manager Mick Douros.

“There are multiple options to choose from for the perfect venue for your special day, such as The Hellenic Club in Woden, The Hellenic Club in the City, The Australian National Botanic Gardens, Gallagher’s Winery and Gold Creek Station,” he says. “We can ensure your wedding guests

are treated with a unique and appetising menu concept, to complement the truly spectacular settings that the Hellenic Club offers.”

Mick says The Hellenic Club in Woden offers grand ballroom style with five luxurious and elegant wedding reception rooms for up to 600 guests, while the Hellenic Club in the City features city chic style for intimate occasions, with two newly refurbished rooms for 50 to 100 guests.

You could also choose a stunning garden

wedding at Floresco in the Gardens for up to 120 guests, offering unique cuisine including Australian bush foods and modern Australian, he says.

For a different style of wedding, Gold Creek Station offers country heritage and charm for 50 to 250 guests, and Gallagher’s Winery can provide a romantic and fun vineyard setting for 50 to 70 guests with a reception in the charming Champagne Room.

Call 6162 6777 or visit hellenicclub.com.au

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Renovated Rex open for enjoyment

THE newly renovated Canberra Rex Hotel features a range of impeccably appointed event spaces and package choices “like no other venue”.

Whether it’s an intimate gathering of 20 or a party of 350 guests, there is an event space at the Canberra Rex Hotel for your reception.

Each event space incorporates subtle detailing and showcases high ceilings and a state-of-the-art coloured lighting system to match a reception colour scheme.

Camera-ready make-up

A bride wants to be the centre of attention on her special day, and make-up artist Bindi Kelly can create a beautiful look that allows her clients’ personality to shine through.

“I take the time to get to know my clients so I can create the right look for them,” she says. “In the lead-up to the big day, we’ll discuss their day-to-day make-up, their personal style, the colours in their wedding and their expectations of the day.

“I’ll also go to their home to do a trial, so they don’t have to leave the house without make-up!”

On the day, Bindi says she will do the bride’s make-up last so she’s the freshest. She uses products that will stay put all day with minimal touch-ups and that will look beautiful on camera.

“You’ll also receive a lip touch-up kit so you have the tools to maintain your look at your disposal,” she says. “I suggest keeping a pressed powder with you just in case and I am happy to make recommendations on brands and colours.”

Contact Bindi Kelly on 0402 819 339 or email makeupbybindi@ hotmail.com

“Our wedding co-ordinators will work with you from the initial planning stages through to the day you say ‘I do’, to ensure every tiny detail is taken care of,” the hotel promises.

“We believe each wedding is unique and our wedding co-ordinators love working with couples to create their very own personalised wedding package.”

There is also access to a private bar and foyer, all helping to create a perfect wedding reception.

Rex Hotel, 150 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon. Call 6171 0636

Creating a personal day

A WEDDING ceremony should be personal, relaxed and perfectly suited to the couple getting married, according to celebrant Valerie Sellers.

“My main focus is to ensure that the couple have a happy, stress-free day,” she says. “It’s a serious commitment and it can be an emotional time.” Valerie offers an obligation-free meeting at the outset, and can provide sample vows or help clients to customise them to make them more personal.

“Apart from legal wording inclusions, the couple is free to express themselves and make their ceremony what they want it to be.” she says. “My main focus is that it’s their day, and it should reflect their

views and personalities.”

With so many decisions to make when planning a wedding, Valerie says she can help make everything run smoothly on the day. She says she can be contacted at any time before the wedding and will also attend a rehearsal.

“It’s important to be a calm influence and ensure everyone is relaxed and comfortable, whether it’s a small or large wedding, informal or formal, and whatever the location.

“I love everything about being a celebrant – I always come away with such a lovely feeling at the end of the day.”

Contact celebrant Valerie Sellers on 0402 003590 or visit valliecelebrations.com.au

Celebrate your special day at the new Canberra Rex Hotel. The modern, yet timeless Hotel caters for intimate weddings of 50 to gala events for up to 350 guests. The Canberra Rex Hotel is the perfect wedding reception venue with versatile event spaces, wedding packages designed to make your wedding planning seamless as possible and a team of wedding coordinators to work intimately with you to ensure your every need is met.

Functions @ Federal

Federal Golf Club is nestled on the leafy western side of beautiful Red Hill

At Federal we offer a comprehensive range of hospitality services and a variety of catering packages, for weddings, formals, seminars or corporate golf.

Our room hire rates are very reasonable, well priced for that private function or business seminar.

Our floor to ceiling windows allow oodles of natural light, capturing the breathtaking views.

Federal is located only 10 minutes from Canberra CBD with ample complimentary car parking.

Room with a beautiful view

For more information please visit www.fgc.com or call 02 6281 1888

Red Hill Drive Red Hill

‘We look forward to seeing you at our Open Day’

ESTABLISHED in 1933 and nestled on the western base of Red Hill, Canberra’s Federal Golf Club is ideal for larger weddings, with a clubhouse that can cater for groups of 80-180 people.

“We’re a medium to large venue, so we can cater for those weddings that may not fit in other places,” says Melissa Mason, the club’s house and event co-ordinator.

The Scott and Russell function

rooms can cater for groups of up to 180 during the day or evening, she says. The rooms overlook the 18th green, with the surrounding eucalypts lit up in the evening to create a unique atmosphere.

“The room is just beautiful, with floor-to-ceiling windows and amazing views out over the Brindabella mountains,” she says.

The 18-hole championship course is complemented by a

clubhouse that offers a comprehensive range of hospitality services, with dedicated staff to ensure your function is a memorable occasion.

“We can provide a buffet, a three-course menu or a cocktail reception, but we also offer an all-inclusive package, which makes it simpler and more cost-effective, and is very popular,” says Melissa. Call 6281 1888 or email info@fgc. com.au for further information.

The science of make-up

MOBILE personal stylist Lauren Wilson does hair and make-up, personal shopping and wardrobe audits, and has made her own jewellery for about five years. A PhD in biology, she says, helps her understand the science of make-up, and training qualifications help her impart that wisdom through personalised make-up lessons.

“You want a natural, subtle look that’s going to last all day, and using a professional is going to give you that because the products we use are designed to be long-lasting and look good in the photos, and in person as well,” she says.

Lauren also advises brides-to-be to “get someone with experience to help you trial different looks” and says make-up is the “icing on the cake” that must work well with the dress, veil, hairstyle and jewellery.

“The make-up artist is the last person you’re going to see on your big day, before you leave for your

wedding, and you want to leave feeling confident so you want to have someone you can trust, who has a lot of experience,” Lauren advises.

Style by Lauren, call 0415 526309 or go to stylebylauren.com.au

Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Rams will feel feisty on Wednesday, as the Moon and Mars link up. If you channel your fiery energy into sport, exercise or domestic duties, then you’ll feel less frazzled. Inspiration is high on Thursday as you create, donate or participate. When Venus moves through your relationship zone (from Saturday until September 11), aim to be less defensive and more diplomatic.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Relationships and responsibilities go hand-in-hand this week, Bulls. If you try to escape from family commitments, loved ones won’t be amused! Others are keen for you to change your mind about a current situation, but are you digging your hooves in and refusing to budge? On Thursday, Mercury and Uranus encourage you to look at things from a fresh perspective.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Your fickle attention span will be tested (especially at work) when a challenging project demands that you concentrate for more than 60 seconds. You’ve got so many innovative ideas buzzing around in your head, but don’t waste your numerous talents! The week will work well if you can get the balance right between being wildly creative and doggedly disciplined.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Don’t assume you have all the answers, Crabs. You have much to learn from others, especially the children in your life. Listen for the words of wisdom that come out of the mouths of little people! And have you been feuding with a family member? Venus visits your domestic zone (from August 17 until September 11), so it’s time to hold out the olive branch of peace.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

With the Sun and Mercury charging through your sign (and Venus moving into luxury-loving Libra) it’s time for larger-than-life Leos to let your hair down, express yourself and indulge your senses. Be inspired by the wonderful Mae West (born on August 17, 1892): “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.” But don’t neglect your domestic duties in the process!

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

When Mercury (your ruling planet) and serious Saturn link up, you can veer off into Virgo worry-wart mode. But stressing about problems won’t help. Instead, roll up your sleeves, put your head down, and get on with the job at hand. Your motto for the week is: “Keep calm and carry on!” Finances are favoured from August 17-September 11, when Venus visits your money zone.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

Librans love to shop but are your finances in a precarious state? If you separate your wants from your needs, it will shorten your shopping list considerably. Love, romance, companionship and creativity are all highlighted when Venus vamps through your sign (from Saturday through until September 11). It’s time to flirt up a storm, as you call in a few old favours!

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

Proceed carefully with professional projects early in the week. If you are too hasty (or too stubborn), then you could encounter a problem with a colleague, client or customer. Strong feelings resurface on the weekend, as others push your emotional buttons. Settle down Scorpio, otherwise you run the risk of turning a minor matter into a major obsession.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Slow down Sagittarius! If you run around on auto-pilot, then you’re more likely to make thoughtless remarks and silly slip-ups. Plus resist the temptation to jump in and judge others. With a flexible mind and an open heart, you’ll sail through any temporary glitches. The weekend is wonderful for outdoor adventures, creative collaborations and group get-togethers.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

A relationship with a friend or acquaintance could cool, as responsibilities overtake having fun. If you keep the lines of communication open, things will soon settle down. Friday is fabulous for innovative ideas and making international connections. But avoid being too confrontational with a loved one or workmate this weekend – softly, softly is the way to go.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Early in the week there may be some conflict between personal and professional responsibilities. Thursday is your best day, as your Aquarian imagination takes you to magical places. It’s also the perfect time to approach problems in perceptive new ways. From Saturday onwards, Venus blesses study, education, commerce, publishing, travel and legal matters.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Are you procrastinating about which Piscean project to pursue? With Saturn activating your aspirations zone, focus on your goals for the future. And, with Neptune moving through your sign, it’s also time to follow your bliss. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great Julia Child: “Find something you’re passionate about, and keep tremendously interested in it.”

4 Name the renowned US general, (1820-91), William...

8 What is an altar attendant of minor rank?

9 Which parts of speech modify verbs?

10 Which marine mammal is a small whale?

11 Name the government department that collects duties

12 What is an alternative term for a cadaver?

14 What is another name for a jail?

18 Which motor vehicle is used to draw farm implements?

21 Harrison Ford played the role of which Jones?

22 Mark Waugh is renowned as a what?

23 What describes a state of commotion or disturbance?

24 What do we call that which remains above what is needed?

Down

1 Which arrest relates to the heart?

2 Name a small ornamental mat, often placed under cakes, etc, on a plate

3 Which snakes kill by constriction?

4 What is a spiritualist meeting known as?

5 Name those imaginary beings considered to be dwarflike

6 What are woodchucks also called?

7 Which other term is descriptive of nozzles?

13 Name another word for an estate agent

15 What is the Canberra NRL team called?

16 To be prominent or distinguished is to be what?

17 What, in photography, are pictures made from negatives?

18 Name brass wind instruments of low pitch, equipped with valves

19 Name a member of Dravidian stock of southern India and Sri Lanka

20 What in southern US, is an outlet of a river, especially one that is marshy?

Chartered Accountants Insolvency Practitioners

RECOGNISING THE SIGNS

One of the hallmarks of an Insolvency Practitioner is his or her professional independence.

Once a company becomes, or looks like becoming insolvent, directors of that company owe a special duty of care to its creditors. Directors must then ensure that the interests of those creditors are put ahead of their own personal interests, and those of any related entity or person. To do otherwise places the directors, and those involved in the management of the Company, in a position where they may have breached that duty, and others, with potentially serious consequences.

There are always warning signs that indicate things aren’t right. An inability to access nance, debtors taking longer than usual to pay, creditors being paid outside of normal trade terms, franchise fees continually in arrears, employee superannuation obligations not being met, are all signs that cash is getting tight. These are just a few.

Most creditors and other business stakeholders are in businesses themselves, and appreciate early communication of a potential problem so that they may manage any adverse repercussions in their own businesses. Business people dislike surprises.

An Insolvency Practitioner is skilled in recognising the early warning signs of a potentially insolvent business and, if consulted early enough, may see solutions not apparent to the business owner. He or she will combine a high level of commercial expertise with the requirements of relevant legislation and can readily identify the stakeholders, their needs and identify the range of possible outcomes.

By bringing an independent perspective to the situation, an Insolvency Practitioner can assist directors, shareholders, nanciers, creditors and others to make informed decisions about the future direction of a business - the ultimate aim being not only to save the business and jobs, but assist in minimising any adverse consequences for directors and shareholders.

Planting hits purple patch

Cedric Bryant gardening

ERICAS or heaths make a spectacular swath of purple, beloved by visitors to Scotland.

They are also indigenous throughout the Mediterranean region and Southern Europe. They like the same growing conditions as other acid-loving plants such as daphne, azaleas, rhododendrons and most native plants.

Similarly they like a similar organic mulch such as Canberra Organic Mulch, from Canberra Sand and Gravel.

Alternatively, another favourite mulch of mine for acid-loving plants is rotted down pine needles. Simply scrape back the loose needles on top to get to the good stuff. Hence they make an ideal companion planting with native plants. Ericas grow happily either in full sun or filtered shade and, like most plants, prefer a well-drained soil. They will not tolerate heavy clay or water logging.

Here are some suggestions for your consideration. I say some because, for example, “Hillier’s

Manual of Trees and Shrubs” lists no less than 130 varieties.

Here are some tried-and-tested varieties that I know will grow well locally, starting with the long-time favourite Erica darleyensis pink form, pictured here, that I used at the front entrance when I designed the gardens at the National Film and Sound Archive.

It is a very compact form and is ideal for growing as a low hedge along the edge of paths. This makes a colourful alternative to the ubiquitous box hedging. I find the pink form flowers much better than the white form.

Other varieties include Erica cerinthoides with long stems topped with soft pink flowers. This grows to 60cm high with a similar spread. E. carnea “Pink Pearl” of a similar size and colour looks superb in a bold group combined with E. carnea “Ruby

Glow”. By bold, as with all shrubs, I mean that they look most effective in groups of three, five or seven.

The name of E. “Raspberry Ripple” was influenced by one of Britain’s favourite ice creams of the same name. In flower, it looks good enough to eat!

Possibly one of the most floriferous is E. melanthera that, when covered in its rich purple flowers, hardly a green leaf can be seen.

Certainly one of my favourites, but do not let that influence you, check it out at the garden centres.

I RECOMMEND the end of August as the ideal time to prune roses. Some look forward to the task with trepidation, especially if new to rose growing.

There is a solution – attend the Horticultural Society of Canberra’s free rose-pruning demonstration at

1 Spence Place, Hughes,1pm-3pm, on Sunday, August 11. This is open to the public and do wear warm clothes. This garden belongs to June and John Woodfield, one of Australia’s champion dahlia growers. You will see many other items of interest in this garden.

I OFTEN receive queries regarding leaf drop on evergreen plants. All plants whether evergreen or deciduous drop leaves. Interestingly, I also receive requests when designing gardens for plants that do not drop leaves. Well, plastic plants will solve the problem! On evergreen plants, as the new leaves develop the older leaves at the base of the stems turn yellow and drop. It is not caused by a disease or insects. I liken it to a snake periodically shedding its skin. This is particularly noticeable on Daphne plants.

Trenton Morrissey

Is The Allhomes Salesperson of the Year 2013

My focus is to provide exceptional customer service

Trenton Morrissey, Morrissey Property

The Allhomes Salesperson of the Year Award is based on feedback directly from buyers and sellers. Trenton achieved the highest standard of client satisfaction.

Contact Trenton to find out why both buyers and sellers rave about him…

Ph: 0433 622 600 43/21 Battye Street Bruce

property