131017 citynews

Why random drug testing has failed

MICHAEL MOORE

So, it’s goodbye to speeding

MARK PARTON

Keep calm and carry on!

SONYA FLADUN

Joys of cool, natural grass

CEDRIC BRYANT Pinup

Keegan lives for yesterday

news Loving tribute in cookbook sequel briefly

BEFORE she lost her battle with ovarian cancer in 2009, local businesswoman and publisher Zorana Grbic compiled “The Capital Cookbook”, a collective celebration of Canberra’s vibrant food culture and rich landscape.

Four years on, Zorana’s 26-year-old son Stefan has released the book’s sequel as a loving tribute to his mother.

Filled with more than 40 recipe contributions from local chefs alongside photography of Canberra’s iconic landscape, “The Capital Cookbook 2” is dedicated to Zorana and $2 from every sale will go towards ovarian cancer research.

Stefan, who works in Canberra’s hospitality industry and was also the landscape photographer for the book, says compiling the sequel was an “emotional” experience.

“Mum had put so much effort into the first book, and

Laura Edwards reports

it did so well around Canberra, selling around 3000 copies, so I hope it can live up to the original,” Stefan says.

“When mum passed, I just felt I had to do something, and wanted to link this project with ovarian cancer research.”

Stefan rallied 26 of Canberra’s most celebrated chefs, including Courgette’s James Mussillon and Aubergine’s Ben Willis, to put forward recipe contributions in the book, giving Canberra foodies the chance to recreate their favourite dishes at home.

“The book really captures Canberra’s journey with food, and reminds us that our restaurant scene is a thriving component of the city’s social fabric,”

Stefan says.

“I’ve made sure the recipes are varied at all levels, so everyone can do it.”

The book includes one of Zorana’s recipes – her much-loved osso bucco.

Stefan says donations from restaurants involved in the book have already amounted to $10,000 and he hopes to raise another $10,000 from sales to go directly towards ovarian cancer research.

“When mum told me she had stage

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Arts&Entertainment 21-23

Canberra Confidential 13

Cinema 22

Crossword 24

Dining 23

Garden 26-27

Horoscope 24

News 3-12

Politics 12

Socials 18-20

Soduko 24

Cover: Pinup fan Keegan Snow

Spence channels Jessica Rabbit.

Stefan Posthuma-Grbic…

“When mum passed, I just felt I had to do something, and wanted to link this project with ovarian cancer research.”

three ovarian cancer, I was pretty shocked as it can strike without warning – the symptoms are things that can be considered normal such as bloating and cramps, and there isn’t any early detection method,” Stefan says.

“It really is a silent killer in that way, so I hope to raise as much [money] as possible.”

“Capital Cookbook 2” was pub-

lished through Zorana’s company, Quicksand Publishing, which she founded in 2005.

“The Capital Cookbook 2” is available now at most bookstores or online at quicksandpublishing.com.au. The book will be launched at the Terrace of the National Library of Australia, 5pm, on October 17.

Celebrate the trail

“TRY the Trail Day” will celebrate the opening of the 145-kilometre, self-guided Centenary Trail, 10am-2pm, on Sunday, October 27. A loop for walkers and cyclists, it is divided into daily sections and walkers and cyclists are able to join or leave the trail at many locations.

“Try the Trail Day” will be held across five locations to help show different areas of the trail including: Hall School Museum, Victoria Street, Hall; John Knight Memorial Park, Belconnen; Cooleman Ridge, Chapman; Tuggeranong Town Park, Greenway and Remembrance Park, Campbell.

Cause to think

PARKINSON’S ACT is holding a trivia night at the Hellenic Club, Woden, 6.30pm, on Thursday, October 24. Part of the funds raised will assist Fiona Wilkes, the inaugural winner of the Parkinson’s ACT Inc Award at the ANU Medical School, during her eight weeks studying deep brain stimulation surgery in London early next year. Cost is $15 (maximum 10 per table). Register by email to parkinsonsact@gmail.com

Sister city anniversary

THIS year’s Canberra Nara Candle Festival in Lennox Gardens, Yarralumla, 4.30pm-9pm, on Saturday, October 26, celebrates the 20th anniversary of Canberra’s sister-city relationship with Nara, Japan. The event includes activities such as ikebana and drumming workshops, calligraphy, origami, lantern making, martial arts demonstrations plus an entertainment line-up including drumming ensemble Wadaiko Rindo, “Australia’s Got Talent” stars George Kamikawa and Noriko Tadano. More information at events.act.gov.au/nara

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Story Page 4. Photo by Sherbet Birdie; hair and make-up by Lucy Topp. Responsibility for election comment is taken by Ian Meikle, Level 1, 143 London Circuit, Canberra.

Bubbly Keegan lives for yesterday

SHE may look every bit the glamorous pinup now, but growing up on her parents’ farm in Wamboin, Keegan Snow Spence was a self-confessed “rough and tumble” tomboy.

“I’d love to get my hands dirty and I even studied as a mechanic for a few years,” Keegan, 22, says.

These days, the bubbly Macgregor resident “lives and breathes” vintage, from her music (Etta James and Shirley Bassey) to movies (“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Some Like It Hot”).

“My mum and I used to watch classical movies and I just fell in love with the glamour of that era,” she says.

“I started really getting into the style of make-up and hair and it just felt so comfortable to me.”

Keegan’s pursuit has paid off, as she has just been named one of eight “runner-up pinups” for the November/December issue of US magazine, “Pinup America”.

Laura Edwards reports

Keegan was pitted against hundreds of other pinup hopefuls from around the world, entering two photos from her June shoot with Canberra pinup photographer Sherbet Birdie, which will now appear in the magazine.

In one of the photos, Keegan recreates a famous 1950s advertisement by Nesbitt’s Orange Soda, holding a bottle of soda as snow softly falls.

“My parents bought me the pinup photo shoot for my birthday, and it was the first time I had ever done something like it,” says Keegan.

“I had always read the magazine and I thought I might as well submit the photos, I had nothing to lose. I couldn’t believe it when they emailed me and said I was runner-up, I couldn’t stop smiling. You really do that sort of competition just for the exposure, so I’m hoping to continue entering pinup competitions and add to my portfolio from here.”

When “CityNews” meets

Keegan, she looks every inch the 1950s pinup, right down to her hair scarf and the vintagestyle glass-bottle of diet coke she orders.

She says the pinup scene has “exploded” in Canberra over the years, thanks to fashion stores such as April’s Caravan and competitions such as Miss Pinup Australia.

Unlike most other pinups, Keegan still uses her real name onstage rather than a pseudonym – “but my initials kind of spell KISS so I play on that,” she says.

Keegan says being a pinup doesn’t stop with her day job, as a technical writer at the Civil Aviation and Safety Authority.

“Being a pinup is about being glamorous right down to the very last detail, so I’ll wear my vintage cardigans and 1950s-style dresses to work and everyone just embraces it and, in fact, that style is so classic it doesn’t really look out of place anyway,” she says.

“People have always said I’m an old soul. I think I’d have rocked the pinup style in that era, but I love rocking it in this era now!”

Dirt de Femme

THE 2014 Dirt de Femme (DdF) Mountain Bike series will be held at Stromlo Park on Sunday, February 13, March 30 and May 4 and women and girls were encouraged to enter as many races as they liked at the launch by Chief Minister Katy Gallagher this week. Organiser Raynie McNee, says the DdF’s vision is to create a fun atmosphere for females of all abilities to become involved in mountain biking. “The DdF distances are approximately 20-30km. Everyone is able to challenge themselves and finish with a sense of achievement.” More information at dirtdefemme.com.au

Dinner with Buddies

BREAST cancer support group, Bosom Buddies, will hold its annual dinner for Australian Breast Cancer Day at the Southern Cross Club Woden, on Monday, October 28. BB is a local, not-for-profit volunteer organisation that does not receive funds from governments nor from national breast cancer charities. Tickets or more information from 0413 861731 or email mrsnelson2@gmail.com

Mentoring forum

ANYONE interested in becoming a mentor, or finding out more about the mentoring programs that operate in Canberra, is invited to the Mentors ACT forum at the Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning, 51 Fremantle Drive, Stirling, 10.30am-2.30pm, on October 30. Mentors ACT was launched in 2011 to improve access to mentoring programs for volunteers and young people. Forum bookings to 6251 4060.

Mentoring Works

Bring your family and friends to explore the Centenary Trail on its opening weekend. ‘Try the Trail Day’ will be held at five different locations to highlight sections of the 145 km trail including:

> Hall School Museum, Victoria St, Hall

> John Knight Memorial Park, Belconnen

> Cooleman Ridge, Chapman

> Tuggeranong Town Park, Greenway

> Remembrance Park, Campbell.

Join a guided walk of the trail led by ACT Scouts and enjoy a Rotary Club sausage sizzle. Event partner, ACT Medicare Local, will provide a free trail map and fresh fruit to all participants.

Wear sturdy shoes and don’t forget your hat, sunscreen & water bottle! For more information or in case of wet weather call 13 22 81 or visit www.tams.act.gov.au

Learning to eat well on a budget

A NEW initiative is looking to take the cost out of healthy eating for disadvantaged Canberrans.

Launched this month, Communities@Work’s Community Kitchen Project teaches vulnerable individuals and families how to cook nutritious meals on a budget, and provides preprepared meals made by a team of volunteers each week using fresh ingredients from the charity’s Yellow Van Food Rescue.

The project, which will run at Tuggeranong and Gungahlin community centres, is combined with Communities@Work’s Care & Share program, a pantry of donated or rescued food available to disadvantaged individuals and families.

Project director Kim Bool says high-protein ingredients such as vegetables, meat and fish are usually too pricey for low-income earners.

“We have about 350 people coming through to the Tuggeranong Centre each week; mostly single mums and dads on low incomes, the homeless, elderly or young people… many of them have never had things like salmon or fish, and they can only afford vegeta -

Laura Edwards reports

bles once a week,” she says.

“It’s about providing a nutritious, well-balanced meal for people who can’t afford it or teaching them the skills to make it. Many of them say this is the best they’ve ever eaten.”

Volunteer Kerryl Bareja and her team spend about seven hours a week cooking up to 200 meals to be packaged and frozen for people to access from the Tuggeranong Centre five days a week.

“We try and be super inventive, using what ingredients we have – there’s always lots of soups, pastas and salads – and people have said they really enjoy the variety,” Kerryl, of Kambah, says.

“For most of these people, often the cheapest option is fast-food and this (program) is something they are just so thankful for. We ask them to simply take what they need, and they are all very honest, we rarely have people taking advantage.”

Cooking classes are also held once a week, with volunteers teaching basic skills and how to eat healthily on a budget.

“It’s about the social aspect, too; the volunteers and students

make it together and sit outside to eat the meal,” Kim says.

“They are then able to take what they need from the pantry and make it at home for their

families. To be able to do that, when most of these people haven’t had a decent meal in years, is very special.”

Donate at commsatwork.org

Say goodbye to speeding

MARK PARTON would be happy if there was a speed camera on every street

I BELIEVE we have the technology to stop speeding in this country overnight.

Over the years, I’ve had so many arguments on my radio program about speed cameras, but I love them and I’d be happy if there was one on every street. My handful of speed-camera fines over 30 years of driving forced me to stop speeding.

Most of us have smart phones with GPS-enabled chips in them. They enable Facebook to know where we are when we check in and Map My Ride to show how fast we went on that bike ride. It’s amazing technology.

So, why can’t we put a GPS chip in every motor vehicle that alerts the authorities any time the speed limit is exceeded? We could send the data from the chip to a central point. And the only data I’m talking about is in relation to a vehicle’s speed measured against the limit on a specific road. No speed cameras, no officers standing on the side of the road, no-point-to-point, but whenever you speed, you pay for it.

Driving above the speed limit would end overnight. Civil libertarians would scream because they all have this fetish that someone actually cares where they go on their day-to-day travels. Nobody does.

Obviously, if we set up this system, there’d still have to be an avenue of appeal and some discretion, but by and large, motorists would be aware that if they drive above the speed limit, they’ll be fined.

Who’s with me ?

Mark Parton is the breakfast announcer on 2CC

MASSIVE OUTDOOR SALE furniture

Help

Our crews have prepared the ACT’s electricity network for bushfire season. Help us keep you safe by preparing your property and keeping an eye out for bushfire hazards.

Make sure trees on your property are at least 1.5 metres clear of powerlines. For safety, an ActewAGL-accredited tree surgeon must be used to trim trees in close proximity to powerlines.

Stay clear of fallen or low powerlines and anything touching them.

Tell us if you see damaged or vandalised electrical equipment such as powerlines, substations, mini pillars or poles.

ActewAGL 24-hour emergencies and faults line 13 10 93.

If you see a fire or sparking call 000 immediately.

Garden takes to new shapes

HISTORIC Lambrigg garden, which often hosts Open Gardens Australia’s plant fair, will host the inaugural Sculpture in the Garden event, showing off the work of Australian artists.

Owner Peter Gullet, a fencing contractor, has even submitted a piece of work himself – large spheres formed from fencing wire.

There will be 27 other local, national and internationally recognised artists’ work on display, including Canberrabased ceramic artist Bev Hogg, long-standing artist Michael Le Grand, Murrumbateman-based steel sculptor Lee Tunks and ANU foundry manager Nick Stranks, who has exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea.

Works will be exhibited in a wide range of media, from Corten steel, woven wire, concrete and aluminium to stone, glass, silicone, acrylic and found objects. All works will be available for sale.

In the stunning Lambrigg garden, mature deciduous trees sweep down towards the Murrumbidgee River, framing a garden that blends

intimate formal spaces with wider views and provides a superb setting for sculpture. Works of varying scale will create a dialogue with the spaces surrounding them, suiting both large and small gardens and corporate collections, says curator Neil Hobbs.

Lambrigg is on Tidbinbilla Road, Tharwa. Sculpture in the Garden is on the weekend of 19-20 October, 10am to 4.30pm. Entry is $15 (under 18 free) Pay on the day, prebook online at opengarden.org.au or call (03) 5424 8061. The event will support Boundless Canberra and Kids Cancer Centre.

Canberra idea saves lives in Laos

A SMALL Canberra organisation is giving communities in developing countries a way to ensure their own supply of safe drinking water, using clay filters that are cheap and easy to make from common materials.

The organisation is Abundant Water, and running it has become a full time occupation for its passionate young CEO, Sunny Forsyth, since he gave up a well-paid engineering job about five years ago to help villagers in Laos live longer, healthier lives.

Starting small, he has methodically built the organisation in Canberra and a team in Laos that has been gently nudging the simple clay filters into the normal daily routines of rural communities dotted all over the mountainous south-east Asian country.

“I was first exposed to the technology during my engineering honours at ANU,” Forsyth says.

“I shared a laboratory with Tony Flynn, who was doing tests on his clay pot water filter. That was in 2001.”

Tony Flynn was a materials scientist and ceramics lecturer at the ANU who demonstrated how an extremely effective, long-lasting water filter could be made for next to nothing, mainly out of clay and used coffee grounds.

The coffee (or any other fine, combustible powder) is mixed into the clay

Stephen Easton reports

and burns away as the pottery is fired, leaving behind a network of tiny holes for the water to trickle through. Abundant Water’s model also uses a silver nitrate solution for extra assurance.

In 2007, Forsyth was working in Laos as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development and saw the scale of the problem caused by unsafe water first hand.

“I became aware of a need for clean drinking water, but more importantly, for a way to engage local communities to take charge of providing their own clean water, rather than just a ‘bolt on from the outside’ idea where you ship something in, which is quite common in aid,” he says, excitedly firing out words in a rapid stream.

In 2008, with $2000 in start-up funds donated by Canberrans, Forsyth took Tony Flynn’s idea for cheap clay filters to Laos and soon met a potter named Nukham. The pair spent the next year and a half experimenting until they had a version that fitted in with Lao pottery techniques.

Nukham has been making the filters full time since 2009, and her son Aiy is the production superviser in Abundant Water’s close-knit Laos team, which also includes operations manager La, pottery trainer Thai and her newest trainee, Keo.

With project manager Mac Maness at the helm, they have continued improving the filters, developed a new set-up that can filter 30 litres an hour for whole communities or schools, and given thousands of people access to clean water. The filters that went into use over 2012 can clean more than six million litres a year.

Quality is controlled by checking the flow rate is not too fast, and regular laboratory testing has also been used throughout development.

While Tony Flynn’s elegant solution is perfect for the developing world, Sunny emphasises that “the technology issues are really just the tip of the iceberg”; people have little desire for filtered water before they know what the benefits are and even when they do, old habits die hard.

“We could be working in villages

Water CEO

a

for clean drinking water, but more importantly, for a way to engage local communities to take charge of providing their own clean water.”

where the germ theory doesn’t apply,” says Sunny.

“They might see the world more in terms of [good and evil] spirits, for example, or they might just say: ‘We’ve always done this; why would we change now?’”

The answer, he says, is “horizontal diffusion”: when one family or village gets the filters, their neighbours want them, too.

The eventual aim is to encourage demand and make the filters part of the Laos economy, with Lao people making, selling, and buying them, and then do the same in other developing countries.

“We’re talking about generations here,” says Forsyth.

“In the short term, we will keep

manufacturing them in Vientiane, but in the medium term we could move to small vendors selling them on the side of the road. In fact, we’re trialling that at the moment in a little place where this old Lao guy has a shop on the corner of a busy intersection, and he’s saying he thinks he can sell them.”

Abundant Water has just raised over $4200 through an online campaign during September, enough to buy more than 160 filters and exceeding the modest aim of $2300.

“If we raise $2300, we’ve got enough for one village, but there are lots of villages and some of them are very remote,” says Sunny.

More information or to donate go to abundantwater.org

The avenue that’s going nowhere

By Catherine Carter

INFRASTRUCTURE is the bones and the arteries of every city. Some of the bones and arteries are always more important than others, and Constitution Avenue is one of Canberra’s special cases.

Not only is it the base of the federal triangle and a vital municipal roadway, but it is also potentially the best address in town.

Based on its study of “The Griffin Legacy”, the National Capital Authority says Constitution Avenue should be a “vibrant mixed-use grand boulevard” with broad tree-lined footpaths, outdoor dining and street parking.

A project agreement between the Commonwealth and the ACT gave the Territory $42 million as a gift to mark the Centenary of Canberra, replacing funding originally provided by the Howard Government, to upgrade “the existing road corridor and public realm space along Constitution Avenue”. The expected completion date for the first stage from Anzac Parade to Coranderrk Street is February with a second stage to City Hill in April. Yet, no final designs have been published for Constitution Avenue and construction has not yet started under the agreement with the Commonwealth.

It is time to finalise this essential piece of infrastructure. It will be lined soon enough with wonderful, new development – apartments, professional offices, retail outlets, restaurants and hotels.

The first of these new buildings is underway on the site of St John’s and more projects have been announced on the eastern side of Anzac Parade. Constitution Avenue promises to be a most attractive part of Canberra’s revitalised city centre. It should be of the highest quality and delivered as soon as possible.

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

Inside the deep world of uncrackable codes

Stephen Easton reports

INSIDE a laboratory at the ANU, Dr Thomas Symul works away, refining a kind of technology that could one day make information absolutely secure while it’s transmitted over the internet.

The technology is called quantum cryptography, and it relies on the utterly strange but nevertheless very important concept at the heart of quantum physics known as the Uncertainty Principle.

“Relying on that principle, we can ensure, at least in theory, that we can transmit information in such a way that an eavesdropper cannot see it without us knowing,” Dr Symul explains.

“They will leave a fingerprint, they will disturb the quantum state and this, we will be able to see.”

Practically speaking, this means data can be sent between two points and nobody can intercept it without being detected.

“There are different flavours of quantum cryptography; in our particular one, we are one of three or four groups in the world working on it,” Dr Symul explains.

“What is unique about ours is that we’re trying to build a system that is compatible with current telecommunications infrastructure.”

The technology is already being commercialised through a small company, QuintessenceLabs, which was founded by Dr Symul and CEO Dr Vikram Sharma, and based next door to the quantum optics lab where much of the experimentation takes place.

Earlier this year, Dr Sharma announced the Canberra company had been approached by “government agencies and some of the largest defence contractors in the world, such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing”, and invited to open an office at NASA’s Ames Research Park in Silicon Valley, California.

“At this stage, we’re going to test it on the ICON fibre network, which is a fibre optic network that runs all around Canberra, so really anybody with access to this type of fibre network could use the technology,” Dr Symul says.

“At this stage, the main limit is that the transmission

by Brent McDonald

distance is not that great. The record is about 80km but typically 20 or 30km is where the technology is working well, and we are working on it now to try to increase the distance.”

ICON, the Intra Government Communications Network, connects over 400 government sites around the ACT, sending about 2 terabits of data every second through some 150,000km of optical fibres.

Dr Symul says he can see the technology working fairly soon within the Parliamentary Triangle, where all the distances are compatible, but giving quantum encryption to the masses through, for example, the incomplete National Broadband Network, is a long way off.

“I do think it is likely, but I actually only started to think that in the last two weeks,” he says. “We just came up with a new scheme that seems to be very promising and hopefully we’ll sort that out, but there is still a lot of work and there are many difficult issues.”

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One revelation from this year’s explosive leaks by whistleblower Edward Snowden was that US and UK spy agencies are able to crack the “HTTPS” encryption used widely to secure banking, credit card and other information for all internet users.

They do this through “brute force” and few organisations have access to the supercomputers needed, but for how long?

“Secret information that we are transmitting nowadays could be stored by somebody on a hard drive, even if they can’t read it, then maybe in 10 or 20 years they get a computer to break into it,” explains Dr Symul.

“If one uses quantum cryptography, there is nothing anyone can do during the transmission. One cannot copy the information, or even if somebody is able to copy part of the information, even 10 years or a century from now, they won’t be able to break into it.”

Diplomatically speaking

A monthly column of diplomatic perspectives

This month we introduce three new faces on the Australian

diplomatic scene

ZHAOXU Ma is a career diplomat who was appointed Chinese Ambassador to Australia this year. He comes to Australia after two years as Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and has served variously in the UK, Northern Ireland, Belgium and the EC.

“As the two countries established strategic partnership based on mutual trust and mutual benefit early this year, China-Australia relations are now at a historical fresh start with new opportunities for further development,” he says.

Zhaoxu Ma

Ambassador

“The Chinese Embassy in Australia is committed to promoting friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and two peoples for an in-depth, sound and stable growth of China-Australia strategic partnership.”

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China

Born in Heilongjiang Province, he turned 50 last month.

JOHN Berry is the 25th US Ambassador to Australia. As Ambassador, he seeks to strengthen the US-Australia alliance, which has served as an anchor of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world for more than 60 years; to increase bilateral trade and investment; and to deepen cultural, scientific and environmental co-operation.

Ambassador Berry’s public service career spans more than 30 years. Prior to his nomination, he served as the Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management from April 2009 to April 2013.

John Berry

Ambassador

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of US

Hiring of veterans and people with disabilities reached record highs under his leadership.

He is a native of Maryland and holds degrees from the University of Maryland and Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Public Administration. He is the first openly gay US Ambassador to serve in a G20 nation. He and his long-time partner Curtis Yee wed in August.

SEM Fabrizi has been Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Australia and to NZ since September.

An Italian career diplomat, he served as Advisor for External Relations to the President of the European Council in Brussels (2010-2013), responsible for Asia and MENA regions and global architecture (G8/G20). Before then, he was Diplomatic Advisor for EU and Asian affairs (2008-09) and for Asian and African affairs (20062008) in the Italian Prime Minister’s Office in Rome.

He was Head of the European Parliament Office in the Italian Permanent Representative Mission to the EU in Brussels (2009 - 2010).

Sem Fabrizi

Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union

He holds degrees in International Law and International Economy from La Sapienza University in Rome, and completed the postgraduate program in diplomacy at the School of Government of Luiss University, Rome. He is married with three children.

No highs from failed random drug testing politics

It is now time to accept that the experiment of random drug testing in the ACT is a dismal failure, writes MICHAEL MOORE

HAVE two and a half years of random drug testing made our roads any safer? Or is this just a feel-good prohibitionist stunt that fails in its main aim?

The tests were introduced in May 2011 amongst much fanfare from the police and the ACT Government as a method of ensuring drivers were not in control of a vehicle while under the influence of drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy (MDMA) or amphetamines.

However, it is now time to accept that the experiment is a dismal failure.

The goals were laudable. Who wants to be on the road surrounded by drivers who are stoned out of their minds? However, this is not the outcome that is being delivered. The Government opted for a zero-tolerance approach. This was simply foolish. There is no evidence that there will be impaired driving from cannabis use, for example, when Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is still detectable in the blood from two weeks to 20 days later. THC is the active ingredient in cannabis.

According to a Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs in 2002: “Cannabis affects psychomotor skills for up to five hours after use”.

The relationship between testing and driving impairment is fundamental to the level of interference in civil liberties imposed by random roadside testing. There must be overwhelming evidence of a community benefit.

Driving when under “acute influence” of cannabis is a serious issue. A systematic review of the literature on cannabis and motor vehicle accidents by Asbridge and others published in the “British Medical Journal” in 2012 revealed: “Seven of the nine included studies found that the risk of a motor vehicle collision increased when drivers had consumed cannabis within a few hours before the crash”.

The paper concluded: “Acute cannabis consumption nearly doubles the risk of a collision resulting in serious injury or death”.

The ACT experiment on random drug driving is in marked contrast to the random breath testing for alcohol, which has undoubtedly changed attitudes and made our roads much safer.

With alcohol, there has not been a zerotolerance approach, but rather a system has been developed based on the most likely

driver impairment.

Had the same approach been applied to these illicit drugs, charging people at a level where there was likely to be impaired driving would have been rational.

The policy on random breath testing with alcohol is sensible while the very poor counterpart of random drug testing has achieved very little other than causing unnecessary anxiety, costing a fortune and failing to make the roads safer.

Our elected representatives have a responsibility to see that police powers are limited to where they are really needed and where they will have most impact. Evidence-based policies should be the bread and butter of our elected representatives. In arguing for continuation and support for more testing, it was revealed that in the first year of the random drug testing operation 20 people tested positively from saliva swabs in random drug testing. Just 2.6 per cent of those tested.

The question that must be answered is how many of those drivers had minute amounts of cannabis in their bloodstream that had no impact whatsoever on their driving and what percentage were under “acute influence”.

The ludicrous nature of the zero-tolerance approach was revealed recently when local magistrate Beth Campbell dismissed the case of a 37-year-old woman who had a detectable amount of THC in the blood. She told the police that she had not smoked cannabis for 15 years. It would appear that the hemp seed that she had with her muesli was responsible for the detectable, but minute, amounts of THC in the blood.

It seems that the detected amount of THC would not impair driving. But the evidence is still equivocal about where to draw the line on the level of cannabis intoxication that makes drivers dangerous. Pending having this issue sorted out and tests to determine “acute influence,” the trial should be suspended.

The alternative is as ludicrous as our current policy – ban hemp seeds from health food stores! Stop putting poppy seeds in orange cakes! Cut mushrooms from the diet!

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

Keeping calm and carrying on

Sonya Fladun mum in the

city

ACTING, faking it, painting on that smile and using one’s “please-pass-the-butter” voice even if it feels like the world is ending; sometimes you’re balancing on jagged glass, so tired you’re almost comatose.

As a parent, we all have those days. We might be managing a dozen big issues and dramas, from work and home, while at the same time dealing with a child who wants to talk about why flowers look like flowers or another who can’t decide between the merits of a bunny bedtime story or a pirate adventure.

Keeping calm and carrying on is just one of the many skills parents have to develop over the years, but it’s not always easy.

Talking to a friend the other day who is going through a bad patch in her marriage, the conversation turned to how difficult sometimes it can be to put on the brave face and pretend for the sake of the kids that everything is hunky dory and normal.

It got me wondering how much we should reveal to our kids about our inner stress and how much should we keep to ourselves.

Despite their difficulties, my friend and her husband are determined to keep everything as normal and stress free for the kids as possible.

The problem is kids have an uncanny ability to pick up on vibes, to form their own conclusions about why parents are behaving the way they are and these aren’t always accurate.

For instance, they might well think you are snapping because there is something wrong with them, or that dad is away a lot because he doesn’t have time for them anymore.

These days, particularly as our kids are getting just that bit bigger and more aware of tone and nuance, I try and confide in them much more. If nothing else, this reassures them that the day’s stresses and strains are not about them and also to show them that other things influence the way their parents react and behave, just like things that happen at school and in the playground can affect them.

Of course, you don’t want to take this too far. You want your kids to always feel secure and that somehow you are in control, but it probably doesn’t hurt to let them know you aren’t perfect and that parents do have bad days.

And if everyone is in the know, well, it can be a lot easier for all the family to deal with those bumps –big and small – that crop up as we trundle along through life.

Cedric springs for flowers

SPRING has sprung and our garden writer Cedric Bryant is bemoaning the absence of the beautiful beflowered hanging baskets around the city.

“Where were the plants during Floriade, the greatest flower show in the Southern Hemisphere, we are told?” he harrumphed. He sent in a photo from Northern Ireland saying: “This is the way to do it, Belfast style; that is what I call a hanging garden!

“Why did the city not rise to the occasion?” We’re rising a little later these days, it seems. A call to the Civic basket sponsors Canberra CBD Ltd. revealed that the flowers will be back, but not until November 15.

Don goes topless

THE only-recently-late Don Allan OAM had a relentless and varied working life that included would-be priest, policeman, sailor, hostel manager, electrical goods salesman, cinema manager, marketer, writer and, it was revealed at his funeral last week, a one-time strip club manager.

Our celebrated fellow citizen, who did so much for disabled people in Canberra, found himself as a “10-pound Pom” in Sydney in the late ‘60s, married, earnestly saving for a house and, for a short time, improbably running the Pink Pussycat club in King’s Cross. In an eloquent eulogy, friend Jeff House said that, faced with stiff competition from Whiskey A-Go-Go, Allan upped the artistic

ante and instructed his performers to partially abandon their modesty and, in doing so, became the man who “invented” topless dancing in Australia!

Dale’s departing

THE public face of the Salvos, former cop

Dale Murray, is moving on. After more than three years, Capt Murray says he’s off the comms job and next month the Army will deploy him, probably to Queensland. He says he’s loved living in Canberra and will depart the Territory at Christmas.

Count on Zed

SNIFFY note from an unhappy Liberal points out that at the previous election Gary Humphries was elected on Count 5, while Zed Seselja fell over the line on Count 39. Yes, but...

Open and closed

BURSTING with optimism, Canberra’s first Multiple Sclerosis Australia ACT community shop has opened at Tuggeranong, as the ACT Cancer Council has pleaded community indifference and closed its Sun Smart shop, unhelpfully located at Fairbairn. The MS shop will sell clothing, small house-decor items, children’s toys, books, DVDs and CDs six days a week at the Homeworld Centre.

Anyone home?

MAKES you wonder… back in July the new ASIO Building was opened with great fanfare by then-PM Kevin Rudd. Apparently, after the ceremony and the media had gone, everything was packed up, lights out and the spooks disappeared. CC understands that there is still no-one working there. Can that be possible?

Owner

Occupy in the

Level 8, Units 31 & 32, 28 University Avenue Canberra

• To be sold in one line or separately, adjoining units.

• Unit 31 – 306m2, unit 32 – 219m2. Total 525m2

• Full office fitout, covering all of top floor

• Ideal for a owner occupier

• Base building has undergone recent refurbishment

Snudging, anyone?

AH, Canberra, the city of snollygosters and snudgers!

CC was sent a list of unused words by a reader the other day and became entranced about this lost lexicon. For instance, snollygoster is a 19th century American word for “a dishonest or corrupt politician” and snudging is the art of striding around as though you’re terribly busy, when in fact you are doing nothing, which is up there with gongoozle, which is to stare idly at a canal or watercourse.

What fun, by George!

THOSE decent chaps at the Australian Monarchist League (ACT and District Branch) are inviting fellow forelock tuggers to drinks to celebrate the birth and baptism of His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.

The jolly jape’s at the Hotel Kurrajong, Barton, 6pm8pm, on Wednesday, October 23. Tickets are $30, bookings by Monday, October 21, to trybooking.com. au/DTDY. More information from aml.act@gmail.com.

In the bag

OVERRIPE bananas are a thing of the past.

CC has discovered a simple something called The Banana Bag that, its Australian distributor says, works by providing bananas with the exact amount of insulation and air needed to stop the flesh over-ripening, yet keeps the skin warm enough to prevent it from blackening. You can keep bananas in a Banana Bag in the fridge for a couple of weeks. A best seller in the UK, The Banana Bag is priced at $9.95 and available online at bananabag.com.au

How to win friends

THOMAS Xu’s firm approach to customer service is upsetting the breeding classes of Bungendore. The Sydney-based new owner of Kids’ Zone, the only child-care centre in town, is threatening parents that children will lose their spots if fees are not up to date by month’s end and, at the same time, withdrawing the convenience of Eftpos or credit card payments.

And if parents weren’t getting the hint, a menacing general missive from BKZ taunts them that there are 122 children on the waiting list “and Thomas has told us that if fees are not brought up to date by 31 October, your child’s place for next year will be in jeopardy.”

Worse still: “For those families whose child is going to school next year, Thomas has advised that your place will possibly become vacant from the beginning of next month.” Warming to his monopoly spot, Mr Xu is prepared to shame the childcare-dependent community into action with the astonishing revelation that: “We currently have 70 families in our centre and only seven of them are ahead with their fees and two families are at zero balance. This leaves a total of 61 families whose fees are in arears [sic].” Clearly, it’s time Thomas Xu had some competition.

STRETCHING FOR HEALTH

Shapemaster Global Ltd Research based on a number of variables states that proper exercise, especially stretching, is especially important as we get older. Many 55+ people want to do more exercise but not sure where to go.

Shapemaster Canberra invites you for a FREE trial of the best power-assisted exercise system money can buy. Cut out this coupon, give us a call and start stretching.

Who wants to have a better figure by Christmas?

Get your FREE “No – Sweat” body toning session:

Step1: Call 6247 6267 now and book your FREE “No – Sweat” Body Toning Stretch Session.

(Please are limited. We are a boutique studio & keep numbers low for maximum results)

Step 2: Cut out this coupon now, put it in your wallet and bring it with you.

Step 3: Come to Feel Good Studio at 5 McKay Garden, Turner. You’ll be glad you did.

Suite 11, 5 McKay Garden, Professional Centre, Turner. Phone: 6247 6267 www.shapemastercanberra.com.au

spring fitness When feeling fit and

As we begin to shake off winter clothes and get the singlets out, a lot of people come out of exercise hibernation, resolving to get their beach bodies back. The good news is that there are high-quality options for getting fit effectively and safely. Here are some of the best...

Stretching into great shape

THE importance of stretching to overall fitness cannot be underestimated, according to bioscientist Natasha Lukin, who runs Shapemaster Feel Good Studio in Turner.

“We start losing mobility very early, often without noticing the changes,” says Natasha. “By the age of 35, most men need stretching if they don’t want to look and feel 10 years older than they are. Women tend to be more flexible, but they too feel the effects of time and a sedentary life in their general flexibility and wellbeing.”

Natasha says lean, elongated muscles are the key to delaying many ageing processes in the body.

“It might surprise you, but there are multiple scientific studies that show that to build lean muscles you don’t have to struggle with weight lifting and endless cardio or aerobics,” Lukin says.

She explains that the Shapemaster system focuses on posture and flexibility using movements that are completely balanced and symmetrical.

Lukin says Shapemaster helps to re-align posture, reduce and relieve pain, prevent injuries and promote faster recovery, along with stimulating circulation and lymph drainage.

“It also increases mobility and flexibility, and protects you from pain, spasms and tension which could ultimately inhibit your movements, and there’s a bonus: a shapelier, leaner body,” she adds.

“Too often, people come to Shapemaster as a last resort, sometimes sceptical, but the results come quickly and easily.”

Shapemaster Feel Good Studio, 5 McKay Gardens, Turner. Call 6247 6267 or go to shapemastercanberra.com.au

Service sets club apart

THE Southern Cross Health Club was recently recognised with a Gold Level Award for Quality in the annual Australian Health and Fitness Industry Quality Awards, presented by Fitness Australia.

“We have always prided ourselves on providing high-quality service, with great equipment and classes in a safe environment,” says manager Mark La Brooy.

“It is our service that sets us apart and to be recognised for that by Fitness Australia is an honour.”

This is not the first time the club has been recognised for its service. It has won ACT Fitness Facility of the Year multiple times and in 2008 was the Australian Health Club of the Year.

“We continue to focus on welcoming members of the community who might not normally use a health club, through services such as our Transformation Challenge, Empower Women’s Fitness program and Seniors’ Fitness programs, on top of all of our other gym services,” says Mark.

“These programs help us to create a club community and really, we have to thank our great members for making the health club the place it is.”

SC Health Club, Irving Street, Phillip. Call 6283 7340 or go to schc.com.au

advertising feature

fabulous is just a call away

Discount on equipment

WHEN the weather starts to warm and people realise how pale and flabby they’ve become over the cold months, it’s the busiest time of the year for Daniel Rankin at Gymquip Fitness and Spas.

“You’ve got to shake off the winter clothes and get the singlets back out; a lot of people come in because they want to get their beach body back,” says Daniel.

To make it easier for those who favour do-it-yourself fitness, he’s taking 20 per cent off the price of all Body Solid equipment until the end of October.

“The Body Solid range is, without doubt, the best strength range equipment in the country,” he says.

“There’s home gyms, power racks, inclined benches and a lot of crossfit equipment, which is very popular these days, and a lot of commercial equipment as well.”

According to Rankin, Body Solid offers the most comprehensive range around, with more than 100 different product lines that cover all parts of the body and all aspects of strength training for the home, personal training studios and commercial gyms.

It’s been 20 years since the locally

owned business first opened its doors, and since then it’s grown into a huge operation.

“We’ve got a brand new showroom that we’ve just opened in a big, beautiful building, which is in Goolwa Place in Fyshwick, so people can come in and see us or they also can buy online from our website,” Daniel says.

Gymquip Fitness and Spas, 16 Goolwa Place, Fyshwick. Call 6280 4447 or go to gymquipfitness.com

Egyptian dance aims to energise

DANCE classes are a fun and creative way to get the body moving again after a bit of winter hibernation, and with a five-week introduction to Hilal Dance beginning soon at Belconnen Arts Centre, there’s no time like the present to learn this unique language of movement.

“It is quite good for fitness; one of the really great things about Hilal Dance is the body work that’s been developed to complement the dance form,” says instructor Rachael Hilton, who first met its creator, Egyptian dancer and choreographer Suraya Hilal, in the late ‘90s and has been running the Canberra branch of Hilal Dance Australia for 10 years.

“It involves a lot of adaptations from yoga, so it focuses a lot on breathing, stretches and really connecting with your body before we start dancing. People can come along and just have a bit of a groove or if they’re really serious, they can take it to more professional levels.”

Rachael explains that Hilal developed the unique modern form based on traditional dances from Egypt and the surrounding region.

“I find it very invigorating and energising, and a lot of that comes from the body work that we do,” she says. “We do breathing, postural alignment, stretching and integration exercises because quite often, people hold a lot of tension in their body, which can affect posture and how they move. All of those exercises are designed to remove all the blockages and get a good energy flow throughout the body.”

Hilal Dance Australia, various locations. Call 0418 226 540 or go to hilaldanceaustralia.com

spring fitness

Keep the goals realistic

IF you want to get back into moving and exercising, start by setting a realistic goal and then when you achieve it, keep setting the bar a little higher.

That’s the advice of pilates instructor, martial arts expert and massage therapist Brett Jenkins, from Ainslie Pilates and Yoga Centre, who has been a student of health and human movement for most of his life.

“People often say they want to lose a certain amount of weight in the next 12 months, then they get three weeks in and see they won’t get there, and they lose a lot of motivation,” he says.

“Also do a range of different things that you enjoy doing, and look at what you’re putting into the system food-wise, balancing that with the amount of energy you’re expending.”

The centre in Ainslie runs group classes from beginner to advanced level, as well as private and small-group sessions all year round, tailored to the client’s specific needs.

“A lot of clients are trying to recover a functional range of movement after major injury, but you can also lose your range of movement quite quickly without knowing about it,” says Brett.

“You get up one morning and try to do something you remember doing in your 20s and you can’t, or you end up with an injury because the body has lost its ability. One of the things we do is help people recover that ability.”

Ainslie Pilates and Yoga Centre, Ainslie shops. Call 0414 496 015 or email ba-jenkins@hotmail.com

Fit 4 two is a unique fitness studio that specialises in

and Post Natal Fitness. We provide pregnant women and mums with the tools they

to exercise safely and effectively throughout pregnancy, the post-natal

and beyond. We are passionate about making pre and post-natal exercise enjoyable, safe and accessible to all. For session times, and bookings, please contact us: 0404 831 554 fit4two@live.com.au

134/136 Gladstone St, Fyshwick ACT www.fit4two.com.au

THE spring weather is a great motivator for women to get outside and get exercising, says Rachael Bursell, whose business Fit 4 Two specialises in pre-natal and post-natal fitness.

According to Bursell, one of the major benefits of staying fit and healthy before giving birth is that it helps new mums recover more quickly afterwards.

“Some say pre-natal exercise means you’ll have an easier labour,” she says. “That’s not necessarily the case for all, but you’ll definitely bounce back quicker after the pregnancy if you’re active throughout.”

She also points out the well-known positive effect that exercise has on mental health, which is another big plus for mums.

“That’s pretty much why I started the business,” she explains. “I suffered from severe post-natal depression myself, after my now seven-year-old daughter was born, and I have no doubt that an exercise program played a huge part in my recovery. A healthy and happy mum means a healthy and happy bub.”

For pre-natal fitness, Rachael offers personal training only, instead of running group classes as she does for post-natal exercise.

“Personal training allows me to focus on any muscular imbalances expecting mums may have, and caters for varying fitness levels,” she explains.

For the group classes, she uses the term “post-natal” fairly loosely, welcoming mums who gave birth anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of decades.

“It’s more a focus on women’s fitness. I’m just very passionate about making exercise for pre and post-natal women safe, effective and enjoyable.”

Fit 4 Two, 5/134-136 Gladstone Street, Fyshwick. Call 0404 831554 or go to fit4two.com.au

Flaming the desire to succeed

MORE than 80 per cent of people who join a gym don’t attend for more than a month, according to Quinten Brown, owner of Flames Fitness.

At Flames, he says, the opposite is true, with more than 95 per cent of members using their full membership.

“We don’t like to consider ourselves a regular gym,” he says. “Every member, every session, has a trainer taking them through their program at Flames.”

For that reason, he says, it’s never crowded and the trainers are able to keep each member focused on their goals.

“We also call people if they’re not showing up, so the key thing with Flames Fitness is our members get value for money, because they use their

memberships and they get results.” Flames offers a range of different programs perfect for people motivated to get back into fitness for summer, including Shape Up, which runs for 12 weeks.

“The key ingredients to getting results are the exercise and the diet, and that’s what we focus on in that particular program,” says Quinten. “We’ve been established in Canberra now for 19 years, locally owned and operated, so we know our programs work; we’ve passed the longevity test.”

Flames Fitness, 2 Colville Street, Lyneham; 38 Reid Street, Greenway; 18-24 Townshend Street, Phillip. Go to flamesfitness.com.au

advertising feature

Striving for holistic health

WHEN it comes to exercise, the heart wants what the heart wants, according to Tanya Gendle, who runs Strive Holistic Personal Training.

“The biggest thing I recommend to people is to have a sense of fun in what they’re doing; if they go to the gym and don’t like it, they won’t keep going for very long,” she says. “I help people connect with what their soul or their body really wants to do; I’m just a coach who helps them trust what they already know.”

Tanya takes the concept of “holistic” personal training very seriously.

“What that means for our clients is we work with them on their thoughts, their breath, their hydration, diet, exercise and sleep to get all those things working in harmony together,” she says.

Strive offers personalised packages, which can include one-on-one personal training, yoga, pilates, education workshops and health consultations, with options for various budgets.

Tanya’s approach was good enough for former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who trained with her during the time she occupied

Tailoring a training experience

LOCATED within the Australian Institute of Sport complex, Australia’s premier sports training powerhouse, the Fitness Centre at the AIS offers state-of-the-art facilities that are open to the public.

“We pride ourselves on our service and the level of attention we give to assist you in reaching your goals, whether they be general health and fitness, training for a specific event or recovering from an injury or physical condition,” says manager Jesse McConaghy.

“Our range of programs are varied to enable you to choose the options that are best for you. Our comprehensive aqua program incorporates both shallow and deep water classes, whilst our group fitness timetable offers pilates, yoga, tai-chi, ‘Mission: Impossible’ style boot camp classes, Spin and more.”

McConaghy says that as the fitness industry trends towards providing less service and supervision, the AIS Fitness Centre is focused on providing greater levels of service, including a fitness assessment and exercise program included with your membership.

“For those that want an even higher level of service and guidance, our personal trainers provide tailored training experiences, with the aim of getting you to your goal as quickly and effectively as possible,” he says. “With no contracts or joining fees, join now and get fit with us; everyone’s welcome at the AIS.” AIS Fitness Centre, Australian Institute of Sport, Leverrier Street, Bruce. Call 6214 1281 or go to ausport.gov. au/swimfit

TRAIN WHERE AUSTRALIA’S FITTEST BODIES ARE BUILT

Our Fitness Centre boasts the latest equipment and over 35 fitness and group training sessions to choose from each week. Our qualified instructors work with you to ensure you get optimal results.

NO JOINING FEES AND NO CONTRACTS

The AIS has everything you need to reach your goals

» Gym — equipped with a comprehensive range of weights and cardiovascular training equipment.

» Group fitness sessions — including Pilates, Yoga, Boxafit, Spin, Mission Impossible and To the Core.

» Aqua classes — from gentle workouts to exhilarating ones with a range to suit your needs.

» Personal Training — 30 and 60 minute indoor and outdoor sessions ensuring you’ll stay motivated and achieve your goals.

» Pool — 50m and 25m swimming pools used for various fitness sessions and aqua recovery classes.

scene / around canberra

At Telstra ACT Business Women’s Awards, Rydges Hotel, New Acton

‘FLASHBACK’ WINNERS

HERE are the winners of a double pass each to “Flashback Films” at Palace Electric Cinemas: Touyana Salbieva, of Braddon; Maureen A Dawes, Hackett; Amanda Medcalf, Cook; Teresa Tu, Belconnen; Tara Powell, Isabella Plains powelltara@hotmail.com; Alison Kendal, Kingston and Kellie Baker, Ngunnawal.

SKI AUSTRIA

with the Lech & Zurs snow tour specialists

January 2014

There are still a few spots left in January for our Austrian ski trip, wonderful skiing and fine dining in one of the worlds top ski resorts Lech am Arlberg.

14 nights in on-snow accommodation , guided skiing, transfers to and from Zurich airport, ski pass, all breakfasts and dinners and a moonlit horse and sleigh ride. If you have a partner who doesn’t ski there is always lots to do in the beautiful village of Lech.

Join Hans and Tina owners of Arlberg Ski Centre on this prestige trip, nothing else compares.

arts & entertainment

A familiar face of rape

THERE’S a new play coming to Canberra and it has a singularly familiar ring to it, especially if you’re familiar with “Reclaim the Night” vigils or the more recent ADFA scandals.

“Is this specifically a Canberra play?” I ask writer and Arts NSW officer, Helen Machalias. After all, it’s set in a fictitious “prestigious” university college in the ACT.

It turns out that Machalias has brought her experiences of several campuses to her first full-length play, “In Loco Parentis”, soon to be seen as part of The Street Theatre’s “Made in Canberra” program.

Raised in Armidale, she’s studied at the University of New England, the University of Sydney and Deakin University. She even spent a short time at UC, so she knows a lot about how dangerous campuses have become for young people.

“Actually,” Machalias admits, “the idea was originally inspired by an incident at a Sydney Uni College when ‘pro-rape’ comments were posted on Facebook.” Later, in Canberra, she found that it was a huge issue here, too.

The “it” we are talking about – Machalias makes no bones about it – is rape, however much we might like to package it as “harassment”.

DVD WINNERS

THE five winners of a copy of “Power Games – the Packer-Murdoch Story” are: Kate Gemmell, of Lyneham; Pat Hambly, Yarralumla; Cathie Trotter, Ainslie; Julie Barnes, Ainslie and Sarah Walker, Campbell.

And “in loco parentis”? Isn’t that the term used to indicate pastoral care in schools among colleges and universities?

She’s writing about the tolerance of sexual assault on our campuses by those placed in loco parentis, in the place of a parent, safeguarding young students.

“Colleges have self-sufficient cultures”, she says, “often with a sense of entitlement among students in exclusive colleges, so they often deny knowledge of acts of violence, with people in power saying ‘we have dealt with this’.”

Briefly, her play, featuring four actors and a “chorus” of college students, looks at this issue through the eyes of Katy, a senior college resident who enjoys a close relationship with the president Mitch. That relationship is shattered when she accuses him of raping a fresher, and the whole university community becomes implicated. David Mamet’s “Oleanna” or Helen Garner’s “The First Stone” come to mind.

Sure, Machalias has read other such works, but they are more genteel than her play, which was written, workshopped and rehearsed in Canberra as part of The Street Theatre’s “The Hive” project, which she joined in 2010.

Hers is not a play of reconciliation, but rather one designed to get the public talking. “It’s more a provocation”, she says.

“In Loco Parentis”, at The Street Theatre, October 25-November 2, bookings to 6247 1223 or thestreet.org.au

Rhythm method that thunders with life

By Helen Musa

GRAHAM Hilgendorf and Masae Ikegawa have more in common than most married couples – they’re both drummers in TaikOz, due to hit Canberra Theatre soon.

You’ll see them on stage in “Crimson Sky”, a new work by TaikOz director Ian Cleworth based on a Japanese haiku that in English reads: Red dragon flies flowing like a ripple toward the crimson sky.

When I catch up with the pair by phone, they’ve got their hands full, with two little boys and an 18-month-old girl demanding attention.

Their eldest son, Seina, joined TaikOz’s student classes this year, but according to Hilgendorf, “all play at home on the many drums and instruments lying around the house”. It’s that kind of family.

Hilgendorf and Ikegawa are one of two married couples in TaikOz, and met in 1999 when Ikegawa visited Australia on a working holiday and was invited by co-founder of TaikOz, Riley Lee, to play with the group.

“Musicians marry other musicians because of the way music works,” Hilgendorf tells “CityNews”. “We have a good understanding.”

They’d need to. Ikegawa started playing drums at age five in a milieu where taiko (literally “drums”) are a part of the culture and the spirituality.

By contrast, Hilgendorf began playing drum sets when he was in primary school, later extending into ensembles and completing percussion studies at the Sydney Conservatorium in what he calls a “Western percussion culture”.

“When I first heard Japanese drumming [it was TaikOz]”, he tells me, “I thought, ‘wow’, that looks really interesting, but it took me many years to understand these instruments and the ceremonies more deeply.”

While Hilgendorf has visited Japan many times now and his kids speak fluent English and Japanese, he doesn’t pretend to be a “master” as Riley Lee is, from years of total immersion in Japanese culture.

But there are advantages in his

Western practice, too, he says: “I can play faster, but Masae plays with depth.”

So why does he think Australians so love the Japanese drumming and music in which TaikOz excels?

Three things impress Australians, he believes: the sheer size and structure of the instruments, which have very thick skins; the sound of the instruments which, after warming up, is “something else”; and the vibrations that people feel – some of the drums are carved out of tree trunks that “move a lot of air in the theatre”.

As well, he admits, it’s a visual art form that encompasses music and near-dance, too.

He puts Ikegawa on the phone.

Compared to the male drummers, she’s petite, but says: “I try to be big on stage”.

As a little girl, she didn’t encounter outright criticism for her drumming, but it felt “a bit weird, because no one else was doing it”.

Unusually, for a musician, she stopped for several years at age 13 when she felt it was becoming too embarrassing, returning in her early 20s to become a serious drummer with the Japanese group Manno Daiko.

She doesn’t develop her strength by doing running or push-ups.

“It’s not really about muscle, it is more about technique,” she says.

“And cultural depth,” Hilgendorf concludes.

“Crimson Sky”, TaikOz, Canberra Theatre Centre, 7.30pm October 26, bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

arts & entertainment

Diana’s secret love

BRITISH and other media have not been kind about Oliver Hirschbiegel’s biopic traversing Princess Diana’s romantic relationship with Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan (Naveen Andrews).

Playwright Stephen Jeffreys’ adaptation of Kate Snell’s 2000 book “Diana: Her Last Love”, a tie-in to a TV documentary, tries to explain Diana’s transition from royal cossetting into a woman needing to survive independently without basic skills for domestic survival or negotiating media and paparazzi feeding frenzies.

The result is a poignant portrait of a woman lacking guile or malice. What she was good at was giving love to disadvantaged people. The film’s emotional energy comes from her clandestine love of a man from a different culture committed to following his own agenda. Its crisis arose from her innocent enough attempt to relocate that agenda across the Atlantic without asking him if he wanted to.

Naomi Watts’ warts-and-all portrayal tells Diana’s story with affection and respect. Jeffreys and Hirschbiegel’s purpose is clearly to clarify the record about private aspects of a woman who wanted them to remain private and leave it to filmgoers to judge how well they succeeded.

At all cinemas

THE title of this action comedy is ambivalent.

One family has arrived to shelter in a Normandy village under FBI witness protection. Robert de Niro plays Fred, fleeing Mafia retribution for monetary misfeasances. Michelle Pfeiffer plays his wife Margie and Tommy Lee Jones plays Stansfield of the FBI in charge of the protection team. Fred and Margie have a teenaged daughter and her younger brother.

The other family is, not surprisingly, the Mafia.

Apparently devised to satisfy US audiences, the screenplay’s mixture of French provincial and American cultures never gets comfortable. The village streets are virtually deserted. The Lycee, where Belle (Diana Agron) and Warren (John D’Leo) are enrolled, looks like every campus cliché we’ve endured in the Hollywood product (hardly surprising; this is a Hollywood movie as the Franglais diction of the locals makes clear).

The drama develops through the family’s insistence on maintaining its American lifestyle despite Stansfield’s instructions not to stand out. Back home, from his prison cell, the Mafia Capo sends his minions to wipe them out, leading to a bloodbath with a predictable outcome.

Susanne’s dream comes true

CANBERRA pianist Susanne Powell has been invited to play the piano part in Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem” with Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in November at Sydney Opera House. “This is a dream come true for me,” Powell tells “CityNews”, “as my Dad (who died last year) used to play Ashkenazy recordings when I was a small child, and as a young teenager I was taken to a concert in the legendary Australian tour of Ashkenazy and Perlman in the Sydney Town Hall.”

CANBERRA-based vocal group, the Faumuis – Kashia (17), Salale (16) and Koebi (11) – have been performing together for more than four years. “Wherever they perform, whether here or overseas”, their dad Garry tells “CityNews”, “they fly the Canberra flag very proudly.” They’ll be launching their fourth album at the Polish Club, Turner, 7pm on October 24, tickets at the door.

ALSO on October 20, at 3pm at Wesley Music Centre in Forrest, the Sydney Consort will perform “Passion & Reason”, a tribute to Purcell, J.S. Bach, Buxtehude and Handel. Tickets at the door or bookings to trybooking.

com/DJLV

FRESH from its triumphant concert with the British and Irish Lions Choir at Sydney Town Hall, the Australian Rugby Choir is performing at the Corinna Room, Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden at 2pm, October 20, bookings to 6283 7288.

Helen Musa arts in the city

Festival and the Melbourne Fringe. You’ll next have a chance to catch it at Le Tres Bon, 40 Malbon Street, Bungendore, at 7pm on October 26, bookings to 6238 0662.

THE ANU Choral Society has a concert called “I Was Glad” coming to All Saints Anglican Church, Ainslie, 7.30pm, on October 26. In a swipe at “dead” composers, SCUNA boasts that it will perform a work by “living, breathing Canberra composer, Mark Chapman”. Tickets at the door or bookings to trybooking.com/61729

THOSE clever Griffyns – members of the Griffyn Ensemble – are performing Brian Eno’s “Music for Airports” and other works that explore travel in “the gritty yet lush acoustic of an industrial hangar” at TAMS depot, 255 Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick. Bookings to griffyn.iwannaticket.com.au or 0466 480104.

“BRUSHSTROKES for the Soul” is a community, dance, music, poetry and painting day on the themes of spring, food and conservation. At Playing Field Studio, 2 Kingsley Street, (Cnr Barry Drive), Canberra, Saturday, October 26. Inquiries playingfieldstudio.org.au or playingfieldstudio@ gmail.com

Have Luc Besson (writer/director) and Martin Scorsese (executive producer) designed the film to comment about current creative standards in mainstream American film? If so, they aren’t subtle about it.

At Dendy, Hoyts and Limelight

ICELANDIC director Baltasar Kormakur does a top job staging this action comedy with a screenplay derived from graphic novels.

Its dramatic energy comes from a web of US Government agencies each performing law enforcement in its limited field of interest. And the US Navy, not an outfit you’d expect to be running around doing law enforcement in the desert near the Mexican border.

The plot puts two good guys together on the trail of a big stack of dollars stashed away in a bank that needs robbing. How they came to join forces is never explained. What neither knows at the outset is that the other is an undercover good guy.

DEA operative Bobby (Denzel Washington) has been three years building a case against Mexican drug baron Papi (Edward James Olmos). Stig (Mark Wahlberg) is reporting to Lt Quince at the Corpus Cristi Naval Aviation base. Earl (Bill Paxton) represents CIA interests. These agencies don’t talk to each other. Films of this kind usually have a girl with loyalties often not what we expect, which is why we expect that to be the case. Deb (Paula Patton) adds decoration as a DEA field agent.

The comic chemistry between Bobby and Stig is one of the main structural members carrying “2 Guns”. The wickedness of Papi and his underlings is another. Shooting, car-wrecking, punch-ups, explosions, whackings with baseball bats, Russian roulette and angry bulls add to the mix. Mindless, but good fun.

At Dendy, Limelight and Hoyts

“REGIONAL Threads” will feature novelists Roger McDonald and Marion Halligan, non-fiction writer Kim Mahood, and poets Russell Erwin and John Stokes reading their work, at South Hill Heritage Estate, Garroorigang Road, Goulburn, 2pm to 4.30pm, on Sunday October 20.

“THE Black Cat – the small world of Aristide Bruant” is a new play by Rachel Hogan that’s been to Sydney Fringe

THE eminent ceramic artist, Hiroe Swen, will exhibit her works at Belconnen Arts Centre from October 18 to November 17. Her works, often bigger than the petite artist herself, are held in the NGA and in many other collections. There’ll be “meet the artist” sessions at 3pm on Sunday, October 20, in Japanese and at 3pm on Sunday, November 3, in English.

arts & entertainment

Tantalising for the tastebuds

NO matter how much blood, sweat and tears, opening a new restaurant can throw up nasty surprises.

My heart went out to Morks, which opened at Kingston Foreshore mid-September. During its first couple of days – bam – the exhaust system decided to cark it.

And so the restaurant was really smoky on my first visit. But the experienced team at Morks knows that a problem calls for a solution. They swung open the doors to let the air clear and didn’t skip a beat wining and dining customers.

Morks’ mission in Kingston is the same as it was in Florey (now closed): to tantalise the tastebuds of guests with original, unpredictable and exciting contemporary Thai food.

At this “double-the-size” location (which means more than double the work), customers are already returning over and over to experience the friendly front-of-house service, led by Benn Ratanakosol, and the exciting food dished up under head chef Mork Ratanakosol. Mork

Wendy Johnson dining

created this contemporary Thai food working alongside his father Adul, who the family says has been “cooking longer than he has been walking”.

If you want a great overall experience, opt for the eight-course tasting ($125 per person with wine/$90 without), so you hit all the signature dishes. If not, the four-course tasting ($75 per person with wine/$55 without).

Entrees start at $15 for zucchini fritters with roasted chilli, which we adored. Whatever you do, order the pan seared scallops and pig’s ear terrine, which might not sound attractive but it’s divine. And, now that I think of it, the wontons entrée – pan seared king prawns, pork and prawn wontons, with ginger and soy emulsion, and a pork master stock – are a must ($16).

Mains begin at $24 and top off at $28. The tender-braised pork belly with English spinach and boiled quail eggs is sensational. The small

crunchy bits of crackling aren’t so hard you lose your teeth and the dish is prepared with a fivespice pork reduction. Contemporary Thai for sure. Another favourite dish was Mork’s famous Monk fish poached in green curry.

This type of cuisine is perfect for sharing. Hint: this can be challenging at Morks unless your party is an “even number”, since most entrees come in twos or fours. Staff should ideally offer additional pieces, if required.

The memory of the first few days of opening will quickly fade in the minds of Morks’ staff. They know they have a winning formula with their innovative cuisine. They know they have decades of experience under their belts (the parents ran Yarralumla’s Sukothai Restaurant for 19 years). And they know they will feed thousands of happy customers over time at their new Kingston home, including me.

Morks, 18/19 Eastlake Parade, Kingston Foreshore. Closed Monday and hours vary other times, with brunch weekends. Call 6295 0112.

Gasps greet show’s danger and eroticism

WITH its cast of beautiful girls and muscular, handsome men performing breathtaking world-class feats of remarkable daring and audacity, “Empire” certainly delivers in spades on its promise to smash the boundaries of circus, cabaret, vaudeville and burlesque.

A sense of danger, decadence and anticipation is quickly established as the audience enters the smoky, mirrored interior of the Spiegeltent to be greeted by cast members dressed in exotic Andrew Strathie costumes, who pose, strut and flirt outrageously. Soon the lights dim and a huge transparent bubble containing beautiful contortionist, Lucia Carbines, descends from the lavishly draped ceiling. Carbines gracefully manoeuvres her body into ouch-inducing positions among thousands of floating bubbles. Next a couple perform a quick-change costume act which

cabaret

“Empire” Spiegelworld Civic Square until November 3. Reviewed by Bill Stephens

draws gasps from the audience, and ends unexpectedly when someone forgets to pack the next costume, resulting in even bigger gasps.

Extraordinary sexy, clever, funny acts follow each other in quick succession. Each act is superbly staged, skilfully executed, and performed on a miniscule stage in the centre of the audience, heightening the sense of danger and eroticism, enhanced by musical soundscapes performed live by singer Casey Jamerson and guitarist John Shannon. The show climaxes with a mesmerising balancing act involving 14 branches and a feather, which has to be seen to be believed. Much of the humour certainly pushes the boundaries of vulgarity, and one felt for the hapless audience member coerced into participating at one stage, but if you’re up for a superbly presented, sophisticated and clever adult show, don’t miss “Empire”.

At home with the Menzies

HEATHER Henderson has written a gentle book – “A Smile for My Parents” (Allen & Unwin) – that kept me reading till the small hours and chuckling all the while.

It is a charming memoir of her parents, Sir Robert and Dame Pattie Menzies, that will delight all long-time Canberrans.

“Bob” Menzies through his daughter’s eyes is wonderful company – witty, kind and absolutely no nonsense; and exactly the same can be said of his dear wife, who ended her eventful and vigorous life in a Canberra nursing home aged 96.

Heather captures their warmth and humour in the minutiae of life in The Lodge and among friends the world over.

She also evokes the informal bush capital of the 1950s in a perfect (if unintended) celebration of Canberra in this centenary year. If you buy it –which you must – just don’t plan to be up early the next morning.

Robert and Pattie Menzies.

–Robert Macklin

“Empire”... “breathtaking world-class feats of remarkable daring and audacity,” says reviewer Bill Stephens.

Taking the stress out of your property purchase

By Karen Murphy Home Loan Expert

Buying your first home can be an overwhelming experience but by doing a little bit of preparation upfront, you can make the whole process much easier. Here a few things to keep in mind:

1. Before you start searching for your dream home you should work out how much you can afford to borrow. Start by adding up all your income, as well as working out all your expenses, including any current debt.

2. Use online mortgage calculators to estimate your borrowing limit and repayments. Resi has a number of them, which you can find at resi.com.au.

3. Speak to your lender and get your finance pre-approved. Knowing what you can afford puts you in an excellent position when it comes to bidding on a property.

4. Enquire about the range of home loan features available to you, not just the amount you require.

Knowing your financial position prior to house hunting means you can act immediately when you find your dream property.

for more advice? Contact Karen by calling 136 126 today!

Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Risqué Rams - the Sun joins retro Mercury in your sex/money zone, so lust and loot are somewhat challenging at the moment. And serious Saturn reminds you to accept responsibility for the role you’ve played in any relationship rifts or financial fiascos. Your emotions will fluctuate wildly on Friday … so don’t make matters worse by playing petty power games.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

A romance goes through a rocky stage, as Mercury reverses through your relationship zone (from October 21-November 11). So tread carefully, steer clear of ridiculous rumours, and avoid making tactless remarks that unintentionally hurt others. Looking for a partner? It’s up to you to make the first move – but expect a few hiccups along the highway to love.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

When Mercury reverses, you can feel irritable and impulsive. So - between October 21 and November 11 - avoid using words as weapons. And don’t let an impulsive outburst ruin an otherwise wonderful relationship. With Venus visiting your partnership zone (until November 5) it’s time to stop arguing; be a gracious Gemini; and hold out the olive branch of peace.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Crabs are susceptible to flattery but don’t let someone sweet talk you into doing something you really don’t want to do. And, when it comes to a child, teenager or friend, avoid jumping to half-baked conclusions. Check the facts thoroughly first. Expect some tension between personal, professional and relationship responsibilities on Friday. Cool compromise is the key.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

With Mercury reversing through your domestic zone (from October 21 until November 11) family dynamics are frustrating at the moment. So it’s time for clever Cats to be unusually patient, communicate clearly and consult often. Saturday is your pick of the week, as the super Sun/Neptune trine motivates your inner muse and kicks your creativity into the stratosphere.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

It’s time to enjoy the simple pleasures of home sweet home! Venus is visiting your domestic zone (until November 5) which highlights activities like craft, cooking, decorating, gardening, spending time with the family, relaxing in front of the TV and entertaining at home. But, with Mercury going retrograde, expect some communication chaos along the way!

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

Have you lost your Libran mojo? Expect love and lust to improve as the Sun charges into your sign. But with Mercury reversing through your finance zone, money matters continue to be problematic. Your diplomatic skills will be called on, as loved ones or colleagues get embroiled in complicated misunderstandings. Play the peacemaker … but don’t get caught in the crossfire!

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

Avoid getting drawn into power struggles. If you’re an adaptable Scorpio (sounds like an oxymoron!) you’ll get through the week with less angst. Mercury is reversing through your sign, so it’s time for a late spring clean as you tidy, organise, revise, research, pay bills and plough through paperwork. Get out your fine-tooth comb – the devil is definitely in the detail.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Venus is visiting your sign, which makes you slightly more diplomatic than usual. But, with retro Mercury also in the mix, you still need to choose your words wisely. Saturday favours having plenty of frivolous fun, as the Moon and Jupiter make beautiful music together. Your motto for the week is from birthday great Pablo Picasso: “A day without laughter is a day wasted.”

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Don’t be a carping critic! Avoid becoming bogged down in nit-picking negatives. This week favours plenty of positive thinking as you appreciate the glass being half full, rather than half empty. Capable Capricorns are usually highly rational creatures, but don’t overlook the importance of your inner voice. Your intuition will point you in the right direction … if you let it.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Avoid buying things you really don’t need. Plus, with Mars marching through your shared finances zone, make sure you’re being proactive about joint accounts or business partnerships. By the end of the week you’ll have changed your mind about a job, colleague, work issue or your future direction. That’s life – especially when you’re an unpredictable Aquarian.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Having a positive attitude is great but make sure you’re not adopting a ‘Pisces Pollyanna approach’ as you put your head in the sand and avoid real problems in your life. Saturday is your best day of the week, when the wonderful Sun/ Neptune trine boosts romance, creativity and compassion. Some Fish will experience deja-vu, as you meet someone or go somewhere ‘new’.

Daily astrology updates at www.twitter.com/JoMadelineMoore

4 Which small explosive shell is thrown by hand?

5 What is the male of the domestic fowl?

6 In bookkeeping, what are account books of final entry ? 11 Name the Australian federal opposition leader 1960-67, Arthur ...?

12 To be set on fire is to be what ?

13 In “Advance Australia Fair”, our land abounds in which gifts of beauty, rich and rare?

14 What do we call one who obtains money by questionable means, especially in gambling?

15 Which sea lies to the north of Australia?

16 What are special natural aptitudes called?

home improvements / advertising feature

One-stop way to landscape

WHEN you’re looking at a major upgrade to outdoor areas that goes beyond the realm of do-it-yourself, it’s time to engage a professional landscaping service.

As well as stocking all sorts of useful home and garden products at its Pialligo store, Living Simply offers just that, according to managing director Graham Holbrook.

“We provide a complete, one-stop service for

Expanding choices

garden and landscape design, which means we do everything from building and designing to the carpentry, planting and bricklaying,” says Holbrook.

“From concept to completion, we hold their hand and take them through the whole evolutionary process.”

Led by designer Greg Clues, the team from Living Simply follow a three-step process that begins with an initial consultation, followed by a formal design proposal and quotation, before the construction phase begins.

Tough glass

METAL building products have expanded massively in terms of colours, shapes and uses since WR Home Additions first started building garages and carports in 1967, trading for most of that time under the name WR Engineering.

The well-known family business has moved with the times, too, says marketing manager Belinda Read, and now offers a diverse range of materials to complement homes from top to bottom, as well as maintenance, installation and project management services for all kinds of projects.

“We do roofing, fencing, screening, cladding and garage doors, as well as pergolas and patios and, of course, we’re still experts on garages and carports,” says Belinda.

For those looking at do-it-yourself, WR Home Additions can supply just the materials or an easy-to-assemble kit from a range of manufacturers, including the many innovative products now available in the Colorbond range.

WR Home Additions can also send out technicians to give automatic garage door openers their yearly service, and has an extensive display centre to fire the home-improvement imagination.

WR Home Additions, 10-14 Isa Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 5988 or go to wrhomeadditions.com.au

Holbrook adds that Living Simply stocks a huge range of home-improvement products including pottery, garden art, water features and unique, one-off pieces of furniture, both for inside the house and out in the garden.

“We have a great selection of outdoor plants, which tend to be balcony, courtyard and statement plants like maples and Buxus, and we also have the widest range of indoor plants in Canberra,” he says.

Living Simply, 104 Beltana Road, Pialligo. Call 6249 1552 or go to livingsimply.net.au

GLASS is easy to look after, as well as being easy to look at, and makes a durable and hygienic alternative to tiles, according to Erin Ryan, from Toscan Glass.

“You’ll never get any mould or mildew, so if you’re tossing up between glass and tiles in a kitchen area, glass is definitely a lot more user-friendly,” she explains, adding that there is no reason to worry about it breaking.

“The glass is all toughened after it’s cut so it’s heat-resistant and really, really strong. You could hit it with a sledgehammer and it wouldn’t break.

“All the colours and textures are done by hand, in-house,” she says, adding that Toscan Glass can match any existing colour from around the home.

“We’re the only company in the region that can offer such an extensive range of colours, textures and patterns.”

“Another thing that’s become popular is having photos or paintings printed on the glass, which looks really good.”

Toscan Glass, 5 Chapman Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6284 2255 or go to toscanglass.com.au

Cedric Bryant gardening

WHILE most folk still prefer some lawn, especially if there are small children in the family, it was almost impossible to maintain grass through the years of severe water restrictions of the recent drought.

cool, natural lawn

With greater storage in our dams, it is expected we will be protected from the water restrictions of the past. Although we still have water restrictions, with no sprinklers permitted between 9am and 6pm.

Many modern homes are on block sizes as small as 375-400 square metres, which leaves little room for ornamental trees, let alone shrubs, a lawn or, possibly, a veggie garden. They often have large, paved outdoor entertainment areas in addition to double driveways. Plus windows are increasing in size and, unless double glazed, when combined with large paved areas, create an enormous heat bank. The reflected heat can increase the inside temperatures considerably with the result of unnecessarily high electricity bills from air-conditioning.

Lawn areas around the home can have a real cooling effect. When I say lawn, I mean real grass as opposed to artificial grass that does nothing to reduce temperatures.

Without getting into a heated discussion on artificial grass, I will quote from a case study by the University of Missouri’s Division of Plant Sciences.

It found that rubber and plastic materials, as in artificial grass, absorb more of the sunlight’s heat energy than natural grass.

Typically, on a day of 37C the artificial grass temperature was 78C, whereas nearby the grass temperature was only 41C. Even at head level, the temperatures were 59C. Would you rather children play on soft natural grass with low temperature or end up with blistered feet?

Imagine these high temperatures of artificial grass reflected on to the home.

NOW is the perfect time to do some lawn maintenance before the heat of summer. It’s time to core lawns and, at the same time, it’s a good idea to add Maxicrop Liquid Ground Breaker to aid water penetration. This is essential if the ground is particularly “clayey”.

If you have a Buffalo-type grass, such as Sir Walter turf, use runners to repair bare patches of lawn.

For other grasses, repair with Canturf’s Hardy Green lawn seed, ideal for this purpose, being 75 per cent tall fescue and 25 per cent Kentucky Blue Grass. Canturf, a local turf company that has been operating for more than 40 years, has invested heavily in research and development for the ideal grass for our local climate.

To level off dips in the lawn and for top dressing, use course washed river sand rather than topsoil.

PEONIES, often referred to as the “Queen of Flowers”, are one of the most delightful plants in gardens, and so easy to grow.

The tubers grow centimetres every day, despite the huge variations in weather.

Jottings...

Peonies are often advertised in mail-order catalogues and it is a case of buyer beware. I have no problem with buying garden products online, but by buying from a local garden centre, you can be certain of selecting the best quality. There are many excellent plant suppliers who sell online, but I prefer to see the product before buying.

• Continue to protect tomatoes from late frosts.

• Treat mildew on roses with one part full cream milk mixed with eight parts water. Spray under as well as on top of leaves.

• Wait until Melbourne Cup day before planting Basil.

• Feed tuberous peonies with Maxicrop Seaweed Plant Nutrient as the new shoots appear.

• While well intentioned, do not accept strawberry runners from friends. Always buy “virus-free” runners from a garden centre.

• Get your mulching program under way without delay.

Daisy, daisy; come into the garden, do

A PEACEFUL spot among shady eucalypts, Janet and Andy Russell’s native Aranda garden is also a treat for anyone passing by.

“It’s a wildflower garden, a bit like an English meadow but with Australian natives,” says Janet.

“We wanted the sloping front area to be a sort of layered amphitheatre, which shows off the plants as people go by. The terraces and swales also slow the flow of water, so it’s attractive and functional.”

The garden, full of grasses, herbs, lilies, strappy plants, pink and purple flowering shrubs, annuals and perennials, will be open to the public on the weekend of October 26-27.

There’s always something in flower, says Janet, and with her love of all varieties of daisies, bursts of yellow and orange scatter the garden.

“The paper daisies seem to last for ages, until they’re well past the flowering stage,” she says.

The Russells moved in to the house in 2000, but didn’t tackle the garden for about a year.

“We decided to try doing exclusively natives, so we removed a lot of the vegetation,” she says. “Of course, when you do that the birds don’t revisit, so it’s taken a while to bring them back. We also have skinks and blue-tongued lizards that visit regularly.”

WORDS: Kathryn Vukovljak

PHOTOS: Brent McDonald

Experienced native gardeners Janet and Andy are active in the Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park, which has a forest at the National Arboretum.

“Andy has long had an interest in Australian natives and landcare, and we’ve applied sustainability techniques to our own garden, like ensuring optimum placement of plants and only watering on our dripper system if the plants need it,” she says.

“Many of our plants self-seed, but we’ve found they need to be quite wellestablished for that to happen.”

There’s a winding path that leads to a tranquil courtyard under a pergola draped with white-flowering wonga wonga vine.

“We eat lunch out here every day, and I love the dappled sunlight,” says Janet. “It reminds me of a Monet painting, and the view over the trees to the Brindabellas is just lovely.”

The Russell’s garden, at 6 Gidabal Street, Aranda, will be open Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27, 10am-4.30pm. Adults $7, children under 18 are free. Funds raised will go to the Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park and Open Gardens Australia. More information at opengarden.org.au.

landscapes, local shopping, large parks, and land under $230,000*

There’s so much to love at Springbank Rise, a spectacular new residential community from award winning developer Lend Lease. Located in Gungahlin, this beautiful new address is in a popular growth area of Canberra and offers an amazing lifestyle.

You’ll love:

• Over 30ha of open space, with 4 major parks, playgrounds, picnic and BBQ areas, hike and bike trails, plus the new Village Centre Park (Grand Opening Saturday 19th October)

• Future Village Centre with a local convenience and specialty stores

• Future childcare and medical centre, with a large choice of schools nearby

• The largest dedicated dog park in North Canberra

• Spectacular views to Canberra City and the Brindabellas

With many affordable lots offering beautiful views towards Civic and The Brindabella’s, you’ll enjoy an amazing outlook. Don’t miss your chance to buy in our latest release, with land under $230,000* and home and land packages under $330,000*.