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The people who fear Christmas festivities

Reporter LAURA EDWARDS meets a group of people on the frontline of alcoholism, who know what can happen during the festive season

FOR most of “Annabelle’s” life, alcoholism has had an unrelenting presence.

At 15, she left home when her mother’s struggle as an alcoholic became too much to bear.

Years later, her teenage son started developing serious problems with drinking, leaving her “devastated”.

While her mother and son are now sober, others weren’t so lucky – her grandmother “lived and died” an alcoholic while her sister is still struggling to give it up.

But for almost as long as alcoholism has been in Annabelle’s life, so too has Al Anon – a self-help group for family members of alcoholics.

“My father first took me to a meeting when I was 18, to help us with my mother’s problems,” Annabelle (not her real name) says.

“There’s this feeling of powerlessness that’s there when someone close to you is an alcoholic – you’re in so much pain, because you know you can’t help them but you’re watching them destroy themselves.

“When I couldn’t help mum and left home at 15, I felt like a failure. Everyone knew there was a problem but noone could talk about it. These classes help you realise you are not alone and there is always hope.

“It meant when my son started drinking, going back to the classes seemed like the natural thing to do.”

While Alcoholics Anonymous is more widely known, Al Anon is a lesspublicised venture, designed to help people recover from the effects of living with someone whose drinking is a problem by holding meetings focused on “mutual support”.

Al Anon meetings have been held in more than 115 countries, and there are more than 24,000 Al-Anon groups worldwide, with meetings in every Australian state.

The Canberra groups have an estimated 100 members.

Al Anon Public Information Coordinator “Susan” (not her real name) says Al Anon’s program of recovery is adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous and is based on the Twelve Steps, the Twelve Traditions, and the Twelve Concepts of Service.

“It’s a way of focusing on yourself, rather than the person who is the alcoholic,” she says.

Susan says the devastating effects of living with alcoholism can be exacer-

bated during the festive season.

“I think there are occasions, when the family are all getting together for a birthday or Christmas, where those who drink in an unmanageable way affect everybody,” she says.

“For the people at Al Anon it’s good for them to be able to talk to others at this time, find some things that help you get through that period.”

Like Annabelle, Al Anon group member “Grant” (not his real name)

says alcoholism has always been “rife” in his family. He says Al Anon has given him “a life worth living”.

“I pretty much had one less symptom than the alcoholic – I had the grief, the anxiety, the dysfunction – I just didn’t have a compulsion to drink,” he says.

“I’ve made a huge adjustment from being at the mercy of dysfunctional issues such as anxiety and unresolved grief, to basically a situation where I could function independently.

“I had no idea what life was about, I had ceased to understand. By coming to Al Anon I now have a sound view, it’s given me a life rather than depression, anxiety or unresolved grief from the issues that occurred during growing up in an alcoholic environment.”

Annabelle says she will continue as an Al Anon member for the rest of her life.

“For me it’s like the child within, she was buried under this disease for so long but that child has been able to come back out and be confident again, with the support of all these people.”

An open meeting for professionals and members of the public will be held on December 11, from 7.30-8.30pm at the Griffin Centre, Genge St, Civic. Refreshments served. Contact 6249 8866 for more details or visit al-anon.org/ australia/

Arts&Entertainment 27-30

Canberra Confidential 18

Cinema 28

Crossword 26

Dining 30

Garden 31

Horoscope 26

Letters 12

News 3-13

Politics 10

Socials 15-17

Soduko 26

Cover: Christopher Latham, “CityNews” Artist of the Year.

Story page 27.

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by Gary Schafer. Responsibility for election comment is taken by Ian Meikle, Level 1, 143 London Circuit, Canberra.

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open saturday and sunday 10 am- 4 pm before christmas

Levy makes green cents

GREEN coffee may not sound too appealing, but at a Barton cafe, it’s become the daily grind for public servants after their caffeine fix.

Since 2005, Cafe Brindabella at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has had a 20c “greening levy” for customers who use takeaway cups to encourage people to bring their own mugs, with the money raised going towards local charity Greening Australia’s “Bridge The Gap” project, which assists landowners undertake restoration to restore vegetation.

Cafe Brindabella owner Skye Palmer says since launching the scheme the business has made almost $200,000 to go towards the project; which helped plant thousands of trees in the Cotter region alone.

“We started with about 40 per cent of people bringing mugs and now there’s over 65 per cent bringing them every day – I’m astounded more cafes don’t do it, because there’s been so much goodwill from customers,” Skye says.

“We’re only a small business, but it shows every small business can make a difference.”

Last year another cafe in the parliamentary triangle, at the Department of the Environment, followed Skye’s lead after Greening Australia made calls to convince other businesses to take on the initiative.

“I’d love to see this rolled out in every cafe, particularly public service buildings where there’s a cafe, because they are the prime places where people don’t usually have to leave the building to get coffee,” says Skye.

“All the governments have an environmental management policy, and this will certainly go a long way towards fulfilling the depart-

Laura Edwards reports

ment’s obligation – it’s just such a no-brainer.”

Skye says she initially decided to launch the scheme after getting sick of seeing so many disposable cups thrown away in bins around the building.

“There were so many workers just grabbing a takeaway coffee in one of the disposable cups then either going back upstairs to their desk or sitting at one of the tables, then just chucking them out each day,” she says.

“I decided to support Greening Australia in the initiative because they’re local, and they’re doing something good so we can show people where their money is going – we’ve even had a few DFAT workers go and plant some trees themselves, and we try and post photos in the cafe of the restoration that can happen from planting the trees, particularly after our bushfires, so customers can see where their money is going.”

Greening Australia donations officer Angela Kaplish says she will continue to approach local cafes in the hope more jump on board.

“I know Canberrans would be supportive because we’re such an environmentally conscious city. Even when we had the plastic bag ban, there was a bit of grumbling about it, but most people really got into it,” she says.

“This is just such a great and easy way for businesses to help the environment, and the money goes a long way.”

For more information visit greeningaustralia. org.au/community/capital-region

Our tulip star

FLORIADE head gardener Andrew Forster was the only Australian to receive the Order of the Tulip in recognition of his contribution to the celebration of the flower, at the World Tulip Summit in Istanbul, Turkey. More than 300 delegates from 11 countries attended the summit, which celebrates the history and beauty of the tulip.

PayMe wins

PAYROLL management company PayMe Australia has won the inaugural Canberra BusinessPoint Business of the Year award. Category winners are: Web & Mobile, SimplyShow.me; Clean & Green, Envirolove; Bricks & Mortar, Autolyse; Creative & Design, Handmade Canberra; Micro-enterprise, Ontong Patafta Bernal Football Academy and High growth, PayMe Australia.

Little beauty

THE Southern Sky – Crux Curved Coin Project, a deeply curved, full colourprinted, world-first coin (pictured) that has achieved international acclaim, has won the Royal Australian Mint the national Australian Engineering Excellence Award.

New dean

PROF Kiaran Kirk, who has been with the ANU since 1996, has been appointed as dean of the university’s College of Medicine, Biology and Environment. He will take up the role in April next year. He replaces Prof Andrew Cockburn, who is retiring but will continue his research as an emeritus professor.

Deep end

ACTEW Water’s managing director Mark Sullivan has been appointed chairman of the Water Services Association of Australia, the peak body that supports water and sewerage organisations across the Australian urban water industry.

YUM Yum Tree will soon have a new name, but that’s not the only change coming.

A very experienced barista and a new espresso machine will come too, along with a new variety of beans that will be roasted in Melbourne. The cafe is set for a facelift that will display how green it actually is.

“We’re going to have vertical gardens on two of our walls – all edible plants – and we hope to offer our customers the opportunity to use those as well,” reveals Ralph, who uses organic vegetables and eggs are from his own Gundaroo property.

Smoque

SMOQUE specialises in smoked meats, salads and buffalo wings.

“All our meat is smoked using hickory wood chips in our special smoker, which was imported from Texas,” says owner Grant Kells. “We also sell our meats and sauces that you can reheat at home.

We have a fully stocked bar and a wide range of American and Australian beers, milkshakes, and American-style sodas.”

However, be warned; Grant says lots of Canberrans have found that “ Smoque-ing is addictive”.

The iconic Bailey’s Corner arcade offers a range of eating experiences through its select group of cafes and restaurants

AFTER 20 years, a lot of Canberrans know they can rely on Australian Pizza Kitchen for consistently good meals with friends in a large downstairs venue, perfect for large groups and parties.

“We’re reasonably priced yet we still use really goodquality fresh food for everything we make,” says APK’s owner Ben Eveille, adding that the pizza menu hasn’t changed too much over the years.

Beyond pizza and pasta, the menu has evolved a lot recently.

“In the last two years we’ve introduced things like baked salmon fillet, a baked chicken dish, risotto or parmigiana, so it covers a pretty broad range,” says Ben.

Hog’s Breath Cafe Tosolini’s

CARLO Tosolini’s well-known restaurant on London Circuit has won many awards, most recently for best breakfast in town at the Restaurant and Catering Awards.

“Our weekends tend to be quite special, in particular the Sunday breakfast,” says Carlo, adding that the same high standards at lunch and dinner keep his customers coming back.

“We have a lot of regulars – that’s very important – and because we do breakfast, lunch and dinner, you know you can come in for a large meal or just a cup of coffee, and we talk a lot to our customers. They tell us what they want, and we listen.”

143 London Circuit, Civic.

Cnr London Circuit and East Row (bus interchange)

AT Hog’s Breath Cafe, food and fun come together every single day of the year, except for Christmas Day.

Hog’s Breath in Bailey’s Corner opens at 11.30am and has $9.90 lunch specials till 5pm, says Elliot Hunter, owner of the Canberra City franchise. “We even have kids eat free on Monday and Tuesday,” Elliot says.

“ Hogs Breath Cafe is the home of ‘Hog’spitality’, and offers a unique casual dining experience. We specialise in the famous Prime Rib Steak, slow cooked for at least 18 hours for maximum flavour and tenderness.”

There’s also chicken and seafood dishes, snacks, burgers, salads, pasta, desserts and kids’ meals on the menu.

Luke out to keep up with Canberra

LAURA EDWARDS meets Canberra’s newest talk-show host, who’s in the fast lane learning about the town

IT’S barely been a month since he took on the role as 2CC’s new drive host, but it didn’t take long for Luke Bona to work out what gets Canberra listeners riled up: parking and tailgating.

“I’ve never in my life seen a sign on the side of the road that says ‘don’t tailgate’, and there’s one in Canberra,” Bona laughs.

“Everyone’s in a hurry here. If you’re going even a fraction below the speed limit, these drivers will let you know.”

The effervescent radio host, formerly based in Sydney, has slipped neatly into his new gig as host of 2CC’s drive program, replacing longtime host Mike Welsh.

“So far, the response from the Canberra audience has been overwhelming,” Bona says.

“The phones have gone off the richter scale, the warmth I’ve had from the people in the ACT has just been wonderful. They’ve welcomed me with open arms and I appreciate that. And I admit I’ll get things wrong while I’m new to this city – I’m still working on the names, the pronunciations of words like Manuka.”

Born in Sydney to an indigenous mother, Bona was adopted as a baby.

Initially setting out to be a musician before realising he was “no good”, he discovered his talent for radio when, at 17, he picked up a shift as the “office boy” at Sydney station 2GB in 1978.

“As soon as I walked into the station I loved it, because 2GB was an entertainment station, there were lots of personalities, lots of excitement and presenters talking about the topics of the day – that interested me,” Bona says.

“What I loved about it was talking about the

news of the day, because it was different every day. And you never knew what news story was on the end of a phone line.”

Bona quickly went from the wide-eyed newcomer to taking on gigs behind the mic, with stints in small country towns such as Young and Bathurst, before returning to Sydney to work for Macquarie Radio Network and later, 2UE.

Some of his most memorable interviews have been with high-profile personalities such as Gough Whitlam and Pamela Anderson, and he has won four radio industry awards, including two for best talk personality and two for the Brian White Memorial Awards for Journalistic Excellence.

He says his secret is to “always be yourself.”

“If you try and put on an act, the audience will work you out,” he says.

“My dad used to say, ‘son, the secret to success in radio is sincerity, the moment you fake that, you’re laughing’. What I say is how I feel, I very much wear my heart on my sleeve. That’s just the way I am.”

Being in the realm of a fast-changing media industry hasn’t escaped Bona, who says radio has “changed so much” since he first started.

“The same rules as far as broadcasting and connecting to an audience are still there, but the market has fragmented so much, now you’ve got to be really smart and move with the times and offer clients so much more,” he says.

In his new role, he’s looking forward to taking on the groundwork Mike Welsh left behind, including lobbying the local government on issues he and his listeners are passionate about.

“When you do make a difference, or when you solve a problem for someone, it’s a fantastic feeling, and that’s what I enjoy most about the job,” he says.

When dad falls ill...

MARK PARTON is coming to grips with his father’s latest diagnosis and hates the idea of his parent growing old

I GREW up in a little country town in WA. I loved and adored my mum, but my hero worship was reserved for my father. Dad was everything that I wanted to be.

He ran a little supermarket on the main street of York and was the best country supermarket operator that ever was. He worked hard and was good to customers and staff. He knew how to make money and how to make you laugh. He was a cheeky villain who always had a sparkle in his blue eyes and a smile on his face.

My father has never been much for reading and writing. He finished school at age 13, but he taught me most of what I know about life. My childhood memories are of a staunchly proud, confident and strong man.

Mum and dad did well from the business. They sold it when dad was 50 and gave working away.

Since then, he has gone through some changes, suffering his first epileptic fit soon after retirement. And while he and mum – and the various health professionals – have battled to control it over the last 25 years, the condition and its treatments took a big toll on my father.

He’s aged much faster than mum and the confident and strong man is gone.

Last week, my father was officially diagnosed as having Parkinson’s Disease. There is no cure and it’ll just get steadily worse.

The diagnosis was no great surprise. To me, it seemed pretty obvious that dad was a Parkinson’s sufferer, but for years the health experts were coming up with different conclusions.

I should feel blessed to have both my parents still alive and kicking, but I don’t want them to get old. I don’t want them to change.

I miss the strong and confident man who helped me to grow up. I know mum misses him, too. He’s still a lot of fun. The cheeky grin is still there. He still makes me laugh.

I made calls to Parkinson’s groups here in Canberra and nationally to familiarise myself with the disease and its ramifications.

We’ve got a thriving Parko’s group here in Canberra. I spoke briefly to Michael Dwyer who is the president of Parkinson’s ACT and he soon let me know that you can live a very full life, despite this annoying condition. They run support meetings, a coffee club and even dance clubs and a painting group.

More information from Parkinson’s ACT at 6290 1984 or parkinsonsact@gmail.com

Mark Parton is the breakfast announcer at 2CC

Help typhoon victims

PROCEEDS from the Filipino Community Council’s Christmas Festival will be sent to help typhoon victims in the Philippines. The fair will be held at the Philippine Embassy, 1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, 10am-6pm, on Sunday, December 1. The all-day schedule includes food stalls, a cultural show, games for children and a visit from Santa at 2pm. More information at fccact.org.au

Christmas market

THE third annual Christmas night market will be held at the Canberra Environment Centre, Acton Peninsula, 5pm-9pm, on Friday, December 6. Stallholders will be selling eco-friendly, organic, handmade and fair-trade items. There will be food available, a pop-up wine bar and live music.

Come dancing

THE Monaro Folk Society is holding a free kids’ Christmas bush dance (suitable for all ages) in the Yarralumla Woolshed, 2pm-4pm, on Saturday, December 7. In the evening, there’s a BYO picnic tea at 6.30pm followed by bush dancing, 8pm-11.30pm, to the music of the Bush Capital Band. Tickets are $24 and there’s more information at mfs.org.au

Top hoppers

ARANDA Primary School has topped this year’s Jump Rope for Heart competition in the ACT, raising nearly $9000 for the Heart Foundation.

The Hon Bron’s wobbly start

THE new Speaker, the Honourable Bronwyn Bishop MHR, favours “honourable members of parliament” over the “pejorative term –“politicians”.

Bishop’s long-standing experience as a Senator and as a Member of the House of Representatives holds her in good stead for this important role. Furthermore, her understanding of the rules of parliament, the Standing Orders, combined with her extensive knowledge of the workings of both houses of parliament and her tenacious approach in parliamentary committees, provide plenty of reason to expect a highly successful role as Speaker.

Speaker Bishop has determined that she will participate in party room meetings – the Coalition equivalent to Caucus. At these meetings MPs and Senators determine the direction and approach of their role in government.

The Speaker argues that she should be able to participate as a way of looking after her electorate. However, she is now the Speaker and should take a page from the British system where, to ensure the Speaker will not be partisan, the practice is that no other party runs against the incumbent in their electorate.

In Australia, this is not the practice. However, the message should be about staying aloof from party politics. Secondly, with 150 members of parliament in the lower house and 75 senators in

the upper house, it is not apparent how Mrs Bishop will bring about influence within her party room meetings.

With the former government bringing the role of Speaker into disrepute on the appointment of Peter Slipper, there is an even greater need for the Speaker to be above partisan politics.

The real challenge of having the Speaker in the party room meetings is that the Government ministers and Coalition backbenchers will be able to use their time to influence the approach she takes to chairing the parliament.

In announcing the candidature of Mrs Bishop, the Prime Minister stated that he expected her to be impartial and, where necessary, to even pull him back into line.

However, her first test in the role does not bode well for her as Speaker.

The Prime Minister has been in the practice of referring to the Leader of the Opposition as “Electricity Bill”. It is a put-down attempt to continue the election tactic of using the hip pocket as an excuse for undoing Labor’s action on climate change.

The Prime Minister even conceded in a doorstop interview that he considered it would “probably be ruled out of order in the Parliament, I accept that, and obviously, when I am in the Parliament, I am subject to the Standing Orders as interpreted by Speaker Bronwyn Bishop”.

His Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne, was not fazed by his leader’s comment when he introduced the concept into the chamber. It was not ruled out of order by the Speaker.

Even when the Opposition countered with a motion of dissent in the Speaker’s ruling, she was unmoved. The Coalition backed their Speaker. On the first day of real parliamentary debate, the rhetoric about a fairer parliament simply went down the gurgler.

Perhaps Bishop has been born again and has turned a corner from her feisty, aggressive approach in committees and in the chamber, but she has a long way to go if she believes she can convert others to the same belief system.

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

Making room at the top

By Catherine Carter

IT’S not every day there’s the opportunity to sit down with four inspiring Australian business leaders, but a Canberra audience was recently treated to a conversation with a panel of leading female thinkers and business identities.

The panelists at a recent Property Council lunch – Carol Schwartz, founding chair of the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia; Deborah Page, chairman, Investa Office Fund; Annabelle Pegrum, director of PegrumJudd, and Lynne Pezzullo, director of Deloitte Access Economics – responded to questions across the wide array of issues related to diversity in the workplace.

Asked why there were not more women in leadership roles, the panel agreed that the system continues to be flawed.

“This is not a problem with women,” said Carol, noting that more than 55 per cent of university graduates were female. She supported the Business Council of Australia’s target for equal representation of gender in senior management roles, rallying against acceptance of the status quo. Targets were important, she said, because we’ve made so little progress in 30 years. She stressed that quotas and merit were not mutually exclusive – “there is no way that a board would appoint the wrong person just because she is a woman”.

Increasingly, flexible work arrangements were key to allowing women to reach the top.

Deborah recalled her experience of being 12 weeks’ pregnant when offered a partnership in a major accounting firm and the difficulties of having to return to full-time work just four weeks after the birth.

“When my daughter is in the same situation, I hope she can come back to work on her own terms,” she said, emphasising that time could be just as important as money.

More women in senior roles could give better commercial outcomes, said Annabelle.

“In my experience, working with creative multidisciplinary teams, you get the best outcomes when there is a diversity of ideas,” she said, also advising women not to lose their individual voice once they got a seat at the board table.

The panel agreed that mentoring and sponsorship were crucial tools that organisations could use to encourage women to achieve senior positions and each shared personal moments of where and how mentors had helped them.

“It’s important for women to have male as well as female mentors,” Lynne said. This provided women with a full spectrum of advice to fuel their path to success. Guidance needed to be coupled with positive affirmation. Women needed to be supported and told when they were doing a good job.

“Just don’t pat us on the head!” she said.

The answer lies in the soil, says Greg

A PIONEERING Canberra-based agricultural scientist says a key factor in solving a lot of tricky environmental problems has been overlooked for too long, even though it’s right under our feet.

We’re talking about soil, and according to Australian Soil Management chief executive Dr Greg Bender, it has a starring role to play in local efforts to improve Lake Burley Griffin’s water quality, national policies on land contaminated by petrol, and the international effort to address climate change as well.

“The treatment is carbon, so what we’re trying to do is increase the carbon content of the soil,” explains Bender, gesturing to the ground at Garran Oval, where ASM is experimenting and refining the techniques.

Living things are mostly made of carbon and Bender explains that organic carbon, like mulch or manure, is what “turns dirt into soil” by soaking up water, trapping nutrients and giving it the right structure for plants to grow in.

Petrol is also mostly organic carbon, so where it has leaked from underground tanks and contaminated empty blocks around Canberra, it could be converted back into something good for the soil, but instead it’s allowed to evaporate under the current guidelines for Australia and NZ.

“I guess most people never stop to think that the oil or petrol is organic carbon, so if you leave it on site and then use bacteria and normal soil organisms to break it down, you can break it down to below the [legal] threshold level, and then you can use that soil for something else,” Bender says.

“You may not want to grow food in it, but you can certainly grow things like turf, plants or trees for gardens.”

His colleague, ASM director Norman Marshall, says: “If the Government is serious about its environmental policy, instead of releasing more carbon back into the atmosphere, we should be holding it; that’s the change in Government thinking that is needed.”

From 2001 to 2006, Dr Bender ran a $10 million national research initiative for the Grains Research and Development Corporation, which looked to increasing soil carbon as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers.

“Now, at the end of all that, we’d learnt lots of

Stephen Easton

good things,” he says. “We’d learnt that carbon really is the answer… so we set up this business to deliver that knowledge, because it’s in the public domain but no-one’s doing it.”

He says data collected in the 1800s shows Australian soils were fine when Europeans first started farming here, but years of farming have depleted them and it’s time to turn back the clock.

Bender is also confident that ASM’s techniques to increase soil carbon levels can help with long-standing water quality issues such as blue-green algae blooms in Lake Burley Griffin, caused by excessive nutrients getting into the lake from surrounding areas.

Marshall says these are just a few public policy applications of the research behind the fledgling company, whose clients are more typically farms or golf courses.

“We’re very much in the startup stage so we’re concentrating on our home territory, which is the ACT and surrounding NSW, but the application is certainly universal… Even if we believe in it, we’ve still got to demonstrate to people that it works and that it’s cost effective.”

As for climate change, keeping carbon in the soil literally means it’s not in the atmosphere.

Marshall says that one per cent more carbon in the soil, across only two per cent of Australia’s land mass, would effectively take 15 times our annual net emissions out of the atmosphere.

It also lets it hold 144,000 litres more water in every hectare.

“Trees are all sucking in carbon dioxide at a great rate,” says Dr Bender. “It gets turned into biomass and doesn’t come back again until you chop the tree down or burn it, but the roots – and this is the thing most people don’t know – plants put, say, 20 per cent of the carbon they absorb back into the soil; they actually pump it out of their roots.”

He says the plants put the carbon into the soil to feed the microbes, which help the plants by dissolving nutrients for their roots to slurp up.

“All these scientific things are known and published; our business is trying to get that knowledge into practical results. It’s no good sitting in a book, or that’s our view, anyway.”

ACT Corrective Services

Many backgrounds. One rewarding career.

Are you interested in playing a crucial role in protecting the community and assisting in the rehabilitation of offenders?

ACT Corrective Services are holding a series of free information sessions for anyone interested in becoming a Correctional Officer. Information sessions will be held at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, Monaro Highway on the following dates:

• Tuesday 26th November 2013 @ 6pm; and

• Thursday 28th November 2013 @ 6pm.

For further details on these information sessions refer to our website www.cs.act.gov.au or contact us on (02) 6205 4910.

ACT Corrective Services is looking for mature people with demonstrated life experience, high personal integrity, self-confidence and good communication skills to become Correctional Officers. The ability to operate effectively as an individual and within a team, as well as having the capacity to deal with people from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds is essential.

Correctional Officers maintain a safe and secure environment for detainees as well as contribute directly to their well-being and rehabilitation. Working within our current highly skilled team, new Correctional Officers will perform duties at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, Court Transport Unit and at the Periodic Detention Centre, with each centre providing its own unique set of challenges.

Successful candidates will receive extensive paid training prior to commencing work as a Correctional Officer. Candidates who successfully complete this training will be appointed on a permanent or casual basis. ACT Corrective Services offers new Correctional Officers a generous salary ranging between $53,417 - $64,102 per annum, plus significant allowances (dependent upon work location) and between five to seven weeks annual leave following an initial paid training period. These allowances and conditions make ACT Corrective Services one of the best paid corrections agencies in Australia.

If you would like to be considered for the next training course commencing in April 2014 applications need to be submitted by Monday 23 December 2013. Applicants will be required to undertake pre-employment testing including psychological, communication and literacy tests.

Additional information and application kits can be downloaded from www.jobs.act.gov.au or to discuss this rewarding career opportunity contact the Workforce Development and Training Unit on (02) 6205 4910.

letters

‘Bizarre’, say monarchists

THE Governor General, Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO, who is the representative of the monarch in the Commonwealth of Australia and who has on many occasions sworn allegiance to the Queen had a sideswipe at the monarchy by improperly commenting that she “hoped one day to see a young Australian boy or girl grow to be the first Australian head of state”.

It is bizarre that the person who is the effective head of state in this country should so decry her position in this manner.

If Ms Bryce does not accept that she is Australia’s effective head of state, why has she been occupying that position for the past five and a half years?

One can only hope that the Prime Minister will take heed of the inappropriate action of this Governor-General in making partisan comments of this nature and will ensure that the person he nominates to be the Queen’s next viceroy will not seek to denigrate our constitutional values in this manner.

Philip Benwell, national chair, Australian Monarchist League

The idiots win at pool

YET again the majority have to suffer for the idiotic few.

If you planned to enjoy the Kambah Pool this morning you are out of luck because of idiots who think they have the right to abuse this normally peaceful, unspoiled environment.

Closing the pool signifies accepting this type of behaviour and means these idiots win. There has to be a better way to make those responsible accountable, e.g. user pays!

M Crowe, Belconnen

Hitting the nail on the head

I WAS reading your magazine today and was interested in Michael Moore’s column on Senator Seselja (“Zed fiddles as Canberra burns”, CN, November 21). In fact, I thought it rather well done.

He has hit the nail on the head. I have been trying to get a meeting with a Minister since February 2012; yes, the other mob was in power. All I got was excuses and sadly from the differing Ministers’ staff a bunch of out and out lies.

Still trying for the meeting, rang Senator Seselja’s, outlined the problem, was told to email them. Did so. Waited a week for at least an acknowledgement, none came, rang again yesterday and finally got the standard “we are looking into it” responses with the added “rider” that the Minister is busy getting acquainted with his new portfolio – read: nothing is going to happen.

Funny how it does not matter what side of politics you come from, once you are in power, the mantra by which you operate is: Stuff the voters!

Roger Laws, via email

Stone the crows!

STONE the crows, but Frederick Cook (letters, CN, November 14) gave me a serve in crowning me as Canberra’s Cliché King before agreeing with my point of view that enough is enough about the media frenzy over politicians’ expenses.

To be honest, it looks like I hit pay dirt which proves that all publicity is good publicity, that if you read between the lines I wasn’t barking up the wrong tree or trying to lay down the law – so I will stick to my view in the hope that laughter is the best medicine!

Len Goodman, Flynn

Behind the voice of urban gloom

MLA Giulia Jones has been on a mission of municipal maintenance, repeatedly raising examples of what she sees as urban decay creeping across Canberra. Does she have a point or is she just trying to score points, wonders STEPHEN EASTON?

IN March, Opposition MLA Giulia Jones quizzed the Government over its supposed “neglect” of local shops and in April, demanded information on 13 empty blocks where petrol stations once stood.

In August, it was playgrounds “in urgent need of an upgrade” and eight houses in Amaroo she says have been “unfinished and abandoned” for about 10 years.

“Canberrans... deserve better than to have dilapidated shops in their suburbs as well as derelict petrol station sites and overgrown grassed areas,” Mrs Jones said on September 19, when she raised urban decay as a matter of public importance in the Assembly.

Does she have a point? Or is she just trying to score points?

The next day, “CityNews” agreed to go to Jones’ own local shops in Rivett to see the problems, she says, that affect many older suburbs.

Rivett has a typical vacant petrol station site and one empty shop with some graffiti and a pigeon problem.

“This is owned by a Greek family,” explained Giulia. “Famously, the son was running a little mini mart in here and he died in the shop, but we’re talking about 10 years ago and the family still owns it, and it’s difficult to know how to get it going again if the family doesn’t want to sell it, so this is a big problem here.”

Life got harder for suburban shops – especially small supermarkets – when trading hours were deregulated in 1997. Increased use of cars and the entrance of stores like Aldi and Costco has not helped.

In a rough 2km radius of Rivett shops is Cooleman Court, plus two other local centres at Chapman and Duffy. Is it possible that Canberra has too many shops?

“It’s absolutely a possibility,” Jones conceded, before suggesting traders could survive deregulation as some did in Hobart, where she grew up.

“They became delis instead of

corner shops; the cafe became a luxurious cafe that you would travel two suburbs to go to, so there are ways of making businesses work and attracting people, even in an area that perhaps has too many shops.

“But I don’t think that’s the problem here. In this shop for example, the problem is there’s an owner who hasn’t done anything about this shop for a decade, and I think there should be some policy that puts more pressure on, to see an outcome for the community.”

Catherine Carter, whose job as executive director of the ACT Property Council is to “champion the interests of the property sector”, says urban decay is a growing problem “and unless some government policies change, it is likely to become an even bigger issue”.

“A dynamic city needs to constantly evolve and change to meet changing demographics, community expectations, location of employment and a myriad of other factors,” she says.

Carter says the “single biggest impediment” to this urban evolution in the ACT is the Lease Variation Charge, levied when the conditions of a 99-year crown lease are changed to allow a new and different use of the land.

For former petrol station sites, she notes the “extraordinarily laborious and expensive” soil and groundwater remediation process required by law and says that “to be fair, the ACT Government has introduced policies which will enable, over time, redevelopment to take place”.

Earlier in the year, “CityNews” asked Giulia Jones how the Government could improve its approach to contaminated blocks, or on the other hand, what the Liberals would do if they were in power.

She replied by email she “would be pushing for a resolution to these

sites being left derelict” if the Liberals were in power and ended her answers with a rhetorical question:

“The Government has spent thousands and thousands of dollars for the ‘City to the Lake’ plans, where’s their plan to fix these sites?”

That was on May 7 and when she brought her motion to the Assembly eight days later, the Government’s plan was right there, in the hands of Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Simon Corbell.

He gave a long and detailed account of the independently audited environmental assessment and clean-up process that must be followed, by law, before a former petrol station site can be redeveloped, due to a strong likelihood of contamination and health and safety risks.

“The Government takes the issue of long-term vacant sites very seriously and my directorate spends a considerable amount of time trying to resolve it,” Mr Corbell told the Assembly in his detailed response to Jones’ motion. “But we do so in the context of recognising the very difficult nature of these sites.”

Corbell went on to give updates on each of the 13 sites Jones queried, including the Rivett site, which was to be auctioned in late 2012 but was

held up because the directorate “required changes to the lease before any sale to a new lessee”, as well as one in Chapman.

The next month Jones told Chapman residents in a letter that the Minister had “refused to release specific details” about the site, but failed to report the information he had provided: a development application had been approved, environmental remediation would be undertaken shortly and it was anticipated that construction might occur by the end of this year.

The Opposition MLA has said that her main concern is not with details of the relevant policies and processes, but what she sees as a lack of interest in the issue from the Government.

“I just want to, at this point, highlight the problem, because I think you’ve got to be a squeaky wheel sometimes,” she explained during our visit to Rivett Shops. “... it just feels like it’s from an older time and an older place, and this is Canberra; this is not a backwater.”

Thanks to Claire Middleton from ACT Planners for her assistance with background information for this article.

Being called names, having stories spread about you, being the subject of major gossip at school can be absolute misery, says SONYA FLADUN

WHENEVER I came home from school in tears over some incident with a classmate, my mum would always quote the old saying: “Sticks and stones will break your bones but words will never hurt you”.

There’s truth in this, but we all know that words can really hurt.

I still remember being in grade five and confiding to my best friend that I was adopted. She promised, hand on heart, to tell no-one. It was all around the school within the hour and girls I thought were my friends, were calling me a bastard, saying there had to be something wrong with me if my own mother hadn’t wanted me, and that they didn’t want to play with me anymore.

I was devastated and alienated; and the bullying and abuse went on for months. I would go to the library every lunchtime just to get away from everyone. This experience did contribute to my love of books and reading, and eventually someone else became the target for bullying and my stigma faded. But I had learnt my lesson well –from then, I kept my secrets to myself.

These days, it’s even more challenging for our kids. Thanks to social media, many young people are putting more and more of their lives up on the internet. At the same time, cruel words once confined to the playground, can be posted on the web for the world to see.

A lot has been written about cyber bullying, especially in response to cases where victims have been driven to self-harm and, indeed, suicide. Part of it can be blamed on the anonymity of the web. Where once people just ranted and raved in the privacy of their own homes, now they can broadcast worldwide with little fear of consequences.

For parents, one solution might be to keep your child off social media, but as they get into their teens that’s pretty near impossible. Another, more realistic, path is educating your child or teen about the opportunities and risks of the internet and building their resilience. We also need to work hard at explaining the dangers of revealing too much personal information to strangers on the web.

Kids often like to keep secret diaries or journals. But putting the same thoughts and personal information in a blog or twitter feed carries real risk.

Most importantly, something ought to be done about the bullies. Shouldn’t the people responsible for cyber bullying be the ones named, shamed and stigmatised?

Shouldn’t there be some serious repercussions for people who feel free to publicly defame, intimidate or harass others? The social media phenomenon is still very new and society needs to build up some stronger expectations and, indeed, rules about respectful conduct and civility on the web.

EvenPay

BudgetPay

scene / around canberra

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“ In the event of my going out, you are to believe that I do so with only one regret, which is, the grief that this will bring to you and Burt and Mat. – For myself, I am prepared to take my chance … to win through safely would mean honour and achievement, on the other hand to fall would mean an honourable end.”

On the day before the landing on Gallipoli, Brigadier General John Monash wrote these final words for his wife, in case he did not survive.

Discover the First World War through the words of our first ANZACs.

On display from 29 November 2013 until 30 November 2014

Free entry. Open daily 10 am – 5 pm Treloar Crescent Campbell ACT www.awm.gov.au

Canberra Confidential

Trading in – and out

THOSE who can’t get enough of Lonsdale Street Traders are in luck, with the independent retail space reportedly set to continue on for now, despite originally being planned as a temporary shopping venture. We’re told when the warehouse is eventually demolished to make way for a six-storey building, the “Traders” will move to the Mode3 building, owned by the same people who own the warehouse.

But only the strong will survive, according to a source: “The rent is so high in the Mode building, so although some traders will be there, I doubt all of us will be moving over.”

Games waiters play

“CC” was bemused by a waiter at Braddon’s funky new restaurant, Eightysix, who proceeded to ignore everyone at the table apart from one lucky guest, who was lavished with plenty of attention, shoulder rubbing and constant refills while others on the table were left with empty glasses and unmet requests. Apparently, the wait staff pick a favourite to “play games” with their customers to make for an interesting experience.

‘Bad boy’ Benny goes to see ‘Grandpa’

CONTROVERSIAL ex- AFL star

Ben Cousins was photographed improbably at Hoyts Belconnen cinema as he emerged from a session of “Bad Grandpa” (one star, says “CityNews” reviewer Dougal Macdonald ). The gifted Cousins, who has had a stellar career of highs and drug-fuelled lows, has been reported as having lost direction since retiring from football a couple of years ago.

CC can only wonder what drew him to Belco – visiting relatives or talks with NEAFL clubs?

Lights. action… cut!

IMAGINE the misery of being an organiser of the abandoned Harvey Weinstein knees up at Parliament House?

All is set for the $440-a-seat, glitterati nightof-nights at the Great Hall, Harvey’s people have been nagging to know if there’s wi-fi on the plane and arranging for other film execs to fly down from Asia to meet up with the Hollywood movie genius, when the call comes through late Wednesday to say his surgeon won’t let him travel.

A viedo hook up will cost, what?, $80,000 and anyway, people will be disappointed if they’re coming to red-carpet with Harvey and he’s not here.

The brave Thursday morning decision was cancel and refund the tickets. Helpfully, Harvey coughs up what CC hears, but can’t quantify, “a pretty hefty amount to cover some of the costs”. CC is left wondering who picks up the shortfall? But the silver-lining quote came from CC’s movie snout who reckons “it will be better next year because more people now know about it”.

Lights, action… win?

ACT teenage filmmaker Oliver Levi Malouf, 15, has again made the finals of Trop Jr, this year with his short film inspired by girls’ coming-of-age called “Penelope’s Penguin”. It’s in the running for the $5000 top prize to be judged in Sydney on December 8.

Modelled on the world’s largest short film festival, Tropfest, Trop Jr is a short (no longer than seven minutes) filmmaking competition and a free, outdoor festival for kids aged 15 years and younger.

ABC gets its Phil

THE local ABC has settled on experienced radio personality Philip Clark , pictured, for its critical breakfast slot in the New Year.

Andrea Ho, the ABC’s local content manager, hails Clark as “an outstanding broadcaster and someone who has a knack for putting people at ease while conveying important issues.”

Clark, who says he can’t wait to start at 666, lived in Canberra for 13 years from 1977, is “a great fan of the city and has continued to visit regularly.”

“What I am most looking forward to is chatting with listeners about their region and what matters to them most.”

He replaces Ross Solly, who is heading to South-East Asia with his reporter partner Samantha Hawley.

Hmmms…

PETA Credlin, PM Tony Abbott’s chief of staff, is regarded as such a “micro-manager” that she’s now known in the Commonwealth Public Service as “PRudd”.

KILLJOYS at Hepatitis Australia have been warning schoolies of the risks of contracting viral hepatitis from unsterile tattooing and piercing equipment. Best years of their lives?

IN its annual “Members’ Review”, motorist support organisation NRMA reveals that it had to rescue 2296 babies from locked cars across Australia. “Can you believe that many idiots locked their babies in the car?” says our traffic snout.

THIS week’s stupid survey award goes to the boofheads trying to decide Australia’s official beer o’clock time. A national online voting poll amazingly concluded that 55 per cent of the almost 10,000 voters nominated beer o’clock at varying times between 4pm and 6pm. Sigh.

STAY calm, but the word is that Australia is in the grip of a pash rash epidemic, national kissing is in decline and breathless research for Gillette reveals women “fear” kissing men with stubble. Oh, no, the horror doesn’t end there, with the threat of the dreaded pash rash forcing almost two thirds of women to knock back a man with stubble.

Over 50 stalls including: Christmas puddings and cakes, cherries, gingerbread houses, women’s fashion, children’s clothes and accessories, ceramics, jewellery, condiments, original art, locally grown produce and many more. Enjoy a great day out with food stalls, entertainment and live music from Tuchasoul.

In the event of poor weather the markets may be postponed.

www.brindabellabusinesspark.com.au

What’s in store / Weston Creek advertising feature

By George, how Weston Creek has grown

IN 1831 a loyal son of the British Empire named George Weston was granted some land at a place called “Yarrow-Lumla Plains”.

In the 1960s, his surname was a lucky coincidence for those who named the new suburban district that was soon to be built on top of that land, on the western side of the ACT.

Since then Weston Creek has developed a strong sense of community and is now home to more than 22,000

people, while the actual Weston Creek – a tributary of the Molonglo – has concrete sides so as not to erode their backyards.

It is also home to a lot of friendly traders and service providers who go the extra mile and keep “the Creek” running with genuine customer care.

Court with a unique character

COOLEMAN COURT is Weston Creek’s central hub but also one of Canberra’s best places to get the shopping done. It’s just the right size and has its own unique character, unlike most larger malls, and there’s plenty of free parking so it’s easy to get everything in one go, from one-of-a-kind

local traders with truly special offerings. Weston Creek’s strong sense of community is reflected in Cooleman Court. It’s a place to meet friends, check the community noticeboard (which raises money for local causes), grab a quick coffee or sit down at one of Canberra’s most exciting restaurants.

Restaurant’s popular taste of success

LOCATED at street level in Cooleman Court, Kusina is the only Filipino restaurant in the ACT, jointly owned by impeccably qualified head chef Jonathan Ora and his sister Leilani Fox

Leilani’s excited that Kusina recently made the top five restaurants in the People’s Choice Awards being run by entertainment guide outincanberra.com.au, among tough competition.

Following on from their father, who opened Canberra’s first Filipino restaurant, she says the pair have carefully selected certain dishes and flavours to adapt for local tastes.

“The Philippines was colonised by the Spanish for 400 years so a lot of our traditions – our food, our language – are heavily influenced by that, and then we’re in the middle of the trade routes, so a lot of Chinese people settled and we have this conflux of difference choices, and Filipinos over time have truly made it their

own,” she explains.

“We’re from Manila, which is in the centre, on the island called Luzon, so most of those flavours come from there, but my brother is heading over there this Christmas and he’s going to tour around and pick up different regional influences, so now that we’ve introduced the cuisine, we’re introducing some different flavours.”

Jonathan did his training at the Hyatt and has an impressive resume including time spent in Dubai.

Leilani encourages diners to bring their kids by offering to feed them for free (ages 8 and under, 5pm-7pm, Tuesday to Saturday).

To understand Filipino food culture, which celebrates family and friends eating together, she suggests trying out the “Boodle Feast” on Sundays, where everyone digs in with their hands following a tradition started in the military, where the men would share a meal together and put their ranks aside along with the cutlery.

New salon more than just cuts

ONE of the newer additions to the Cooleman Court “family” is the Just Cuts hair salon opened by award-winning franchisees John and Monica Longmire in August.

The couple have taken out the chain’s Franchise Owner of the Year award for three years running, out of over 175 salons, which includes categories for community contribution and direct feedback from happily-hairstyled customers, and they’ve also been recognised by the Franchise Council of Australia against a range of different business types.

“We’re very focused on trying to provide great customer service to our clients and making sure the people that work for us really feel like they’re part of the team, so they can keep focusing on doing great haircuts, because they’re all great hairdressers,” says John. “The rest just flows on from there.”

The Just Cuts Monica and John opened in Belconnen almost 20 years ago was the first anywhere

outside of Sydney, and at one point they owned five before downsizing to spend more time with their kids.

The Cooleman Court salon welcomes customers in with a new

defined by clean,

styling, and offers the standard Just Cuts seven-day written guarantee on all Style Cuts, even for complete restyling.

Home GROWN MEATS

What’s in store / Cooleman Court

Giftware galore

JUST along from Kusina, inside the centre’s southern entrance, we find Cooleman Court Newsagency’s friendly owner Alison Medway inside her shop. She says the store has diversified from its traditional product lines so much that it’s almost become a “general store”.

“We do a lot of giftware, especially at this time of year,” says Alison. “We’ve got a huge range of Christmas stuff, as well as a really big variety of stationery and art supplies.”

The large newsagency also has a free Gold Card rewards program, which gives regular customers a chance to win weekly and monthly prizes including Scratchies, chocolates, manicures and massages.

“We always try and help out people if they’re looking for something specific… so we try to order what we can or offer something else,” says Alison. “You can’t carry everything, but we’ve got a good ordering system so we can often get it in fairly quickly.”

Fitness with a personal focus

through circuit training, and one-on-one coaching to stay on track.

Kathleen Whitbread prepares the Christmas display at Cooleman Court Newsagency.

Owner Julie

says the upstairs space is convenient for her clients who want to do their workout and go to the hairdresser or beauty salon outside on the same trip.

Julie and her staff help clients reach their health and fitness goals through the Curves Complete program: personalised meal planning, exercise

A store where the stars come together

ALSO on the upper level is Songland Records, one of the last proper independent record shops remaining in Canberra. Out the front are posters scribbled on by big name musicians such as Glenn Shorrock, Brian Cadd and Russell Morris at recent in-store appearances, and on a narrow pillar to their right is an amazing collection of photos showing Songland’s owner, Brian “Frog” Harris, with some of the biggest names ever, including Michael Jackson, Billy Joel and Alice Cooper.

“It’s a corner-shop mentality, so the whole idea has always been about rapport and relationships, and that’s what makes my job interesting,” says Frog, who is well connected after previously working for record labels and in the music media.

“Likewise, my 33 years of industry experience means I’ve got the relationships with some of the acts themselves, and that’s why we’ve done so many in-store appearances over the years –everyone from Leo Sayer to Lee Kernaghan to Suzie Quatro.”

This year he’s also hosted The Angels, Adam Brand and had Amber Lawrence launch her new album there.

“Songland caters to that demographic that really values music and movies, and treasures their physical purchases, and we only deal in areas that we’re experts in,” Frog says, introducing some key staff.

“Luke is an expert in movies, particularly horror movies, and in metal and alternative music, and

See what our diners have to say:

‘Had a delicious Filipino breakfast with

‘A little gem in Weston Creek’

‘I never write reviews but Kusina has to be an exception. It was delicious... Amazing.’

‘Kusina is another Canberra domestic gem’

‘Lovely service at this family restaurant where the staff obviously care deeply about the food and customers.’

“What’s so great about the Curves Complete program is it’s all online and it’s totally interchangeable, so the diet plan can suit the family as well,” she says. “We basically teach our members portions and to get a really good balance in their eating plan. They have to bring in their diet plan once a week and they sit with us to get the coaching – what worked, what didn’t work and what are we going to do next week?”

Fliss was formerly the manager out at Abel’s Music in Manuka, and she’s classically trained so consequently, with her support, we’re experts in classical music, and she’s also Australia’s leading soundtrack expert.”

What’s in store / Cooleman Court

Butcher Pat grows his own

TOWARDS the centre’s northern entrance is Home Grown Meats, a specialty butcher where the meat is literally home grown by owner Pat Marando on his farm near Murrumbateman.

“I’ve got cross-bred sheep and Black Angus cattle,” he says, adding that he also carries a large variety of gourmet meats and hard-to-find cuts.

“We make sure we’ve got a lot of variety and most of the meat we sell is grass-fed,” Pat says.

He says grass-fed meat tastes nicer and is normally softer because the animal is more relaxed, as opposed to their counterparts that grow quickly eating grain in feedlots.

Pat only opened the shop about four months ago, having previously sold his meat in Kaleen for 23 years.

“It’s really good here,” he says. “The customers are really, really nice people. It’s like a big family where you get to know all the customers, especially now with Christmas orders, we’re getting to know a lot of people by name.”

Guru with a passion for local flavours

BACK down the escalator on the centre’s ground floor is a Coffee Guru franchise owned by Yvette Molan, who became the store’s manager eight years ago before becoming a part owner three years later and buying our her partners 18 months after that.

“Apart from the core products of the franchise, we’re given free reign on what else we put in our stores so we can tailor it to our market, which is a freedom a lot of other franchises unfortunately don’t have,” Yvette says. “For example, I’ve been working with a local Canberra supplier called

Kitchen for our

She’s an incredibly talented baker, and there’s another small business I support called Kindle Cafe and Catering; they supply all our savoury focaccias and sandwiches.”

Yvette says Coffee Guru headquaters has just put on a new, award-winning roaster by the name of Dennis Wells, who has reworked the chain’s Premium Blend to make it even tastier.

“The actual community of Weston Creek makes Cooleman Court such a nice place to be, and such a nice place to have a business,” she says.

FREDDY FRAPPLES

“We ensure you receive the best quality available”

Freddy’s all about fresh fruit and vegetables

Cooleman

At Freddy Frapples Kostis Stavrakis keeps it all fresh.

A COUPLE of shops down is family owned greengrocer Freddy Frapples, one of the oldest and best known stores in Cooleman Court, and in Canberra.

Brothers Minas and Michael Stavrakis opened the shop in the 1980s, and now run it along with Michael’s sons Kostis, Thanasis and Nick . They are often found moving busily around the shop, pointing out good deals, cutting fruit and saying hello to their many, many regulars.

“Weston Creek a much closer community than others,” says Michael. “You get to know the people and they grow up, they have their own family, they have kids, and we’re still here!”

Pharmacy that likes to help

AS Cooleman Court’s pharmacist, Brad Butt and his team play a key role in the lives of many Weston Creek residents. He’s been in the profession for eight years and moved to Canberra from Armidale, NSW.

“Weston’s a really tight-knit community,” he says. “Everybody knows everybody, which is lovely, and coming for a small country town, that’s actually worked well for me because I can relate to that sort of close-knit feeling.

Cooleman Court Pharmacy runs the Easy Clinic Program every

month, providing free education on health topics such as breast self-examination or managing chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes, often featuring guest experts.

“I really love helping the patients out here and we’ve got a very interesting demographic,” says Brad.

“We’ve got a few patients over 100 or nearing 100 and there’s also been quite an influx of younger people, so young mums and bubs. It’s a very warm place and the patients are all very friendly and easygoing.”

With almost 30 years in the game, Freddy Frapples has the contacts to get the highest quality fruit and vegetables at amazing prices.

“It comes from all over NSW,” Michael says. “You have to try very hard to get cherries from the best farms in Young – that’s where we get them at the moment – and everyone sells cherries for $20 a kilo. We’re selling them for $10.”

Freddy Frapples is a lot more than just a “fruit and veg” shop. It also stocks specialty deli products and imported foods such as dips, smoked products, pickles and condiments, organic health foods and an extensive gluten-free range.

Dr Karin Elix opened rfg Dentistry on Brierly Street at Weston Creek’s main shopping area in 1999, but has been practising since 1986.

Dr Elix says she first wanted to be a dentist at age 9 and even at such a young age, she already thought it should be a nicer experience.

“And, of course, my dental surgery is different,” she says. “It doesn’t smell like a dental surgery, it doesn’t look like a dental surgery and it certainly does not feel like a dental surgery. It’s calm, clean and peaceful.”

Karin has worked hard to bring together a team of dedicated, skilled

Chiropractor with experience

ALSO on Brierly Street is Weston Creek Chiropractic Centre, owned and operated by Michael Badham, who moved to Weston Creek in 1975 after graduating from the Chiropractic College of Australasia.

He started practising from his Fisher home, before moving the centre to its current location opposite Cooleman Court, in 1980.

At first Michael was among six chiropractors in Canberra and since then he has also attained a Graduate Diploma in Population Health from the ANU as well as seats on the Chiropractic Board of Australia and ACT Medicare Local’s Primary Health Care Advisory Council.

Michael uses the “Activator Method” of chiropractic treatment and holds an Advanced Proficiency rating for the instrument this requires.

“The Activator is a hand-held device that delivers a consistent low-force, high-speed thrust to the joint,” he explains. “It’s preferred by many patients over other forms of spinal adjustment – sometimes known as

and compassionate people who share her vision, including Dr Robert Rider, who has 35 years’ experience and is well known to many families in the Weston district.

She feels it is important to use local technicians for things such as crowns, implants and dentures, instead of sending the work offshore as many other dentists do, and she is very protective of rfg Dentistry’s independence from corporate takeover or restrictive affiliation with any particular health fund.

“It is a joy to work with a team of highly professional and delightful people,” Karin says.

‘manipulation’.”

Michael says he gets so much satisfaction from helping relieve people’s pain and assisting with their health that he can’t imagine doing anything else, and he’s proud to say his practice is one of the most long-standing health services in his community.

Cali-dance

Cali-dance is an artistic team sport that combines the art of dance with the skills of gymnastics and apparatus manipulation (rods and clubs), and is performed in theatres. Canberra’s champion cali-dance club, Karilee Calisthenics, trains in Weston Creek and has vacancies for girls aged 3 to 10 years old to start in its Tinies and Sub Juniors teams in 2014.

Interested? Email karileepresident@gmail.com

For more info and how to register check our website: karilee.com.au

remedial massage

including sports, lymphatic drainage, relaxation. We have just taken on new therapists and now have many new times available.

What’s in store / Weston Creek

Massage with a Western touch

HEALING

hands of a different kind

Healing with energy Home of the champs

can be found a couple of kilometres away over in Fisher at Dr Wu Zhixing’s Chinese Therapy Centre, where Heather Johnson has very recently begun offering “energy healing”.

She says the gentle technique is particularly suited to very frail elderly people, chronic disease patients or people recovering from major illnesses like cancer, and is so relaxing it sometimes puts people to sleep.

Dr Wu himself began his career performing acupuncture in a Chinese hospital in the city of Hangzhou at the

beginning of the ‘90s.

“Then I went back to university and did a further three years of Chinese herbal medicine,” he says, explaining that traditional Chinese medicine is about staying consistently healthy over time, by looking at the body as a single system that must be kept in harmony.

“In China we see that everything is connected to health,” he says, explaining that his range of treatments like acupuncture, reflexology and tui na (Chinese massage) often come with holistic advice on diet and exercise to maintain health.

our professional team: Dr. Wu Zhixing 0432 039 368 or 6287 4133 Heather 0410 291 286 (Practitioner Energy Healing)

WESTON Creek Chiropractic Centre shares its premises with the Therapeutic Massage Centre, which was taken over this year by masseur Ian McDonald.

Before Ian bought the centre, it was where he worked for almost 10 years.

“Here we do Western-style massage,” he says, explaining the broad

separation between the Asian and European traditions, each of which are tied into very different understandings of human health.

“The Western style is based on Western scientific research and medicine, and it’s broken down into a number of groups, like relaxation massage, which is for de-stressing and general relaxation of the muscles, and remedial, which includes sports massage and special massages for things like pregnancy or lymphatic drainage.”

The centre’s highly qualified staff are particularly in demand among sportspeople – amateur and professional.

“People from sporting groups have come and obviously been very happy with the service they get here, because they tell all their sporting friends and we get a lot of work through word of mouth,” Ian says.

Club gets a new look

Over in leafy Stirling near the local playing fields, Weston Creek Labor Club has had a major interior redesign, which will be fully unveiled on December 2.

“The whole of the internal area’s been given a completely new look,” says venue manager Resty Fisher. “There’s new carpet, a new-look bistro and serving area, a new

gaming area and the TAB’s been redone as well.”

The small Weston Creek Labor Club is a friendly place in the suburbs to meet friends, have a meal, and try out one of Canberra’s best bowling greens.

Resty also has lots of good reasons for members and guests to come and celebrate the completion

of the renovations and enjoy the new facilities.

“We’ve got a lot of specials to come and enjoy for our opening week,” he says. “There’s menu specials in the bistro, free Monday bowls, cash giveaways every evening and it’s happy hour all day, every day for the first week.”

NEARBY Waramanga Primary School is used for training by Karilee Calisthenics, the ACT’s champion club for the past three years.

According to its proud president Malcolm Robertson , it attracts people from all over town because it’s number one.

“That just comes down to coaching, primarily, and I’m not sure how we ended up with the best coaches,” says Malcolm.

He says there is a push in Canberra to reinvent the unique Australian dance sport as “cali-dance” since everywhere else in the world, “calisthenics” refers to physical exercises like star jumps.

Canberra’s seven Australian Calisthenics teams compete regularly across a range of different dance, marching and gymnastic routines that combine flexibility, poise and grace, strength and agility, performance skills, rhythm, co-ordination and team spirit.

“It starts again in February when school goes back, and we’ll be recruiting during January,” says Malcolm.

By fashion editor Laura Edwards

CANBERRA women who all too often walk out of parties, weddings or the races with feet smarting and painful stilettos in hand, may just have their prayers answered.

A new line of French shoes, to be sold at luxury footwear store Escala in Manuka, can convert from staggering stilettos to practical kitten heels; all with the touch of a button.

Designed by Paris-based shoemaker Tanya Heath, the interchangeable shoes, billed as the world’s first multi-height heel, can switch seamlessly to three different heights, ranging from 3.5 to 1.5 inches.

Heath started with a simple idea: when shoes start to hurt half way through a party, wedding or workday, press a button in the sole, slot out a dressy high heel and replace it with a walking version.

Made from quality leather, the shoes are pitched at the high end of the market, starting at around $400 a pair (which includes two sets of heels.)

Escala’s Gail Lubbock says several different shoe styles can be ordered

from the store and there will be various options of heels available, including chunky and stiletto.

“I think it’s an amazing opportunity for our girls who like to look fantastic when they go somewhere, but have a practical touch – to be able to carry a spare pair of heels instead of a spare pair of shoes is a wonderful idea,” Gail says.

“It’s perfect for those Friday afternoons when you’ve got something on after work, or even just being able to walk to work in style, rather than having to wear

sneakers or ballet flats!”

Heath, who spent three years working on the technology with 14 engineers, three designers and three shoe technicians, has previously said she created the shoe so that it could reflect women’s multi-facets.

“Above all I want the notion of having to suffer to be beautiful to disappear and I hope my shoe will be as liberating as when women left the corset behind,” she said.

Where: Escala Shoes, 21 Bougainville Street Manuka.

Give up the fear of losing your job

– it’s killing you!

I know that there is this big scary cloud of uncertainty around job stability in Canberra at the moment. I know how it feels. I was a very successful public servant working in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry when the coalition got into power the last time in 1996. 28 000 jobs went overnight! The culture was toxic. I was in administration and people were stressing out to the max. I almost got caught in the river of anxiety, but before I jumped off the bank, I asked myself, and I can remember it as if it was yesterday. “What would happen if I just faked that I loved change? Or better still why can’t I just love a new challenge and if I lose my job, do something else? I also committed to immersing myself in training and got as much training as possible.

Guess what? I didn’t lose my job, in fact I got promoted (alot) then finally chose to quit in 2003 when my daughter was born. My beloved and I bought Om Shanti College in 2006 and I have loved every minute of it – even the lowest points (that’s another story)! Now I work with people everyday who want to broaden their options, leave toxic workplaces and help to heal people. It rocks! We are in the business of transforming people’s lives – not selling widgets or policy we don’t agree with, but provide amazing training and education in natural therapies. Oh and I haven’t addressed how the stress is killing you...enrol in any of our courses and find out and better still you’ll live a life you love!

ENROLFOR…

Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

A bored and restless Ram is a recipe for trouble this week! With the New Moon, Uranus and Mercury all activating your adventure and education zone, you need to stimulate your mind via reading, writing, researching and stimulating conversation. Plus get involved in plenty of challenging physical activities (preferably in the great outdoors). On Sunday, be proactive in partnerships.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

The New Moon signals an exciting beginning involving either lust or loot. Perhaps a passionate new lover, a rejuvenated relationship or a fabulous financial partnership? Some lucky Bulls will benefit from an inheritance, superannuation payout or Christmas bonus. But true love won’t flourish unless you are prepared to face responsibilities and sort out your priorities.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Christmas romance is in the air! Some Twins will move into a fulfilling new phase of a long-term relationship, while others will meet their future partner. Joint ventures are also favoured, as you combine your creative talents with others and make beautiful music together. When it comes to work matters get your facts straight, otherwise you could end up in a real mess.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

The focus is on health and fitness over the festive season, as the New Moon wakes up your wellbeing zone. You could also revamp your daily routine or work schedule. One-on-one relationships blossom, as Venus provides plenty of opportunities for sharing good times with loved ones. Coupled Crabs - it’s time to up the romance factor and make your partner feel extra special.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

With the New Moon energising your entertainment and leisure zone, it’s a great time to organise a Christmas party, play sport, study, exercise or go horse-riding. Your creativity is also at an all-time high so tap into the artist within as you play music, paint, write, dance, act or sing up a storm! A fun and flexible approach will help you sail through any challenges this week.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Are you overwhelmed by all the jobs that need to be done around your home? It’s the perfect week to hone your handyman/woman skills, as you tackle overdue DIY projects and get your place in ship-shape condition for Christmas celebrations. But are you viewing a relative through rose-coloured glasses? Clear and open communication is vital, otherwise you may be misled.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

You’ve got a pile of work that needs to be done but, with plenty of activity in your communication zone, you’re preoccupied with talking, texting, trading witty emails or flirting with someone special. But be careful that lighthearted banter doesn’t degenerate into garrulous gossip. And single Librans - make sure the person you’ve got your eye on is actually available.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

It’s time to nurture your inner and outer resources. If your finances are in a mess, be proactive about sorting them out. If your self-esteem has taken a battering lately, surround yourself with positive people who celebrate and encourage your talents. But beware making mountains out of molehills on Thursday, when your obsessive tendencies could go into overdrive.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

You’ve been running on empty but, this week, the Sagittarian New Moon recharges your run-down batteries. Expect to be full of energy and enthusiasm as you power through pre-Xmas projects with gusto and ease. But tread carefully with a stressed family member, as it will be very easy to say the wrong thing at the wrong time! So aim to talk less and observe more.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

If you combine inner resolve with outer confidence, then you’ll have a fabulous festive season. But don’t dwell on what might have been. Venus promises love, but you have to leave the past behind and be open to new ways of relating in the future. Moving onto fresh romantic pastures (in an old or new relationship) has you back in the saddle of love again. Giddy up Goats!

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

You’ll be at your wild and wacky best, as the New Moon revs up your eccentricity zone. It’s also time to nurture friendships, plus follow up promising new contacts. Look for mates who encourage your talents and understand the unique person you are. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great Jim Morrison “A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.”

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

With the New Moon visiting your work zone, have a long, hard think about any professional adjustments and improvements you need to make in 2014. The more you communicate with colleagues, the more rewards you’ll reap. But resist the temptation to be somewhat elastic with the truth on the weekend. You’ll find that 100% honesty is definitely the best policy.

3 What is a preparation for beautifying the complexion, skin, etc?

7 What does the “W” stand for in George W Bush?

8 The Ghan runs from Darwin, and terminates where?

9 To be deficient in

10

18 Which term describes an

mattress (3,3)?

19 What do we call an agent sent on a mission?

20 The joule is the derived SI unit of what?

21 In educational institutions what is a division of the academic year? Down

1 What is another word for a corpse?

2 Name a less familiar term for a frying pan?

3 Which little cots for infants are usually built on rockers?

4 What is a common, wild duck?

5 Name an earlier Communist Party newspaper

6 Mark Twain’s real name was Samuel ...?

11 What are lightweight jackets as worn by sportspeople?

12 Which metallic element is the basis of nuclear reactors?

13 What was the given name for the US Union General, ... S Grant?

14 What do we call one who evaluates mineral ore?

15 Where are cows milked?

16 Name the English explorer, author and favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Walter ...?

arts & entertainment

Latham tops the arts charts

COVER STORY

By arts editor Helen Musa

THE 2013 “CityNews” Artist of the Year is Christopher Latham, director of the Canberra International Music Festival.

At the ACT Arts Awards ceremony, at the Canberra Museum and Gallery, ceramic artist Hiroe Swen presented Latham with the magazine’s $1000 prize and a ceramic work of her own.

“I’m extremely touched, this is very meaningful,” Latham told “CityNews”.

“I have a strange compulsion to do what I do, but it is gratifying for people to say ‘you did it’ in such an ephemeral art form.”

Latham was singled out for his visionary directing of the music festival and particularly for his extraordinary ability to identify the essential features of Canberra’s architecture and lifestyle, creating a festival program using some of our most famous buildings, from the Shine Dome to the Australian War Memorial, to help broaden audience appeal.

The judges from the Canberra Critics’ Circle also commented on his practice of engaging young and emerging music performers in the program, enabling them to advance their careers by working in collaboration with respected composers and performers.

Trained as a classical violinist, Latham is also an active conductor and the musical director for the Gallipoli Symphony, travelling to Turkey each year to conduct this evolving work, commissioned by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

The founder and director of the Voices in the Forest outdoor concert at the National Arboretum, he is also an eloquent advocate for the musical use of the J S Murdoch building now known as the Ainslie Arts Centre.

The awards evening, hosted by the Canberra Critics’ Circle, also featured the Circle’s own arts

“CityNews” Artist of the Year 2013 Christopher Latham… “I’m extremely touched, this is very meaningful”.

awards and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance’s Green Room awards.

The 2013 Canberra Critics’ Circle awards went to: filmmaker Clare Young; writers Lesley Lebkowicz, Irma Gold and Robert Macklin; the Scissors Paper Pen collective; dance artists Elizabeth Cameron Dalman and Liz Lea; Jeff Wayne’s “War of the Worlds” by SUPA Productions; musical theatre artists Dave Smith and Anne Somes; musicians Adam Cook, Leisa Keen, Michael Sollis, Christopher Latham, Bradley Kunda and Matt Withers; The Musical Offering initiative; composer Sandra France and librettist

The ups and

“AND Then There Were 3” sounds like the title for a murder mystery, but it’s a love story/play dealing with a couple’s journey to pregnancy and birth, touching on the rarely-discussed topic of paternal postnatal depression. The highly theatrical show features a singing baby puppet and actors Craig Alexander, Caroline Simone O’Brien, with our own Raoul Craemer. At The Street Theatre, December 4-8, bookings to 6247 1223 or thestreet.org.au

CONGRATULATIONS to the two Canberra dancers, 21-year-old WA Academy of Performing Arts graduate Sam Young-Wright, of Wanniassa, and 19-year-old Tara Gower, of Monash, who have been chosen to take part in Sydney Dance Company’s inaugural Pre-Professional Year program.

SHORTIS & Simpson will present their 2013 Christmas show at Smith’s Alternative in Civic this year. Billed as “an evening of satire, song and silliness” it’s called “The Pollie and the Ivy” (get it?) and the pair promise that “turkeys abound as Canberra’s leading satirists sing of the foibles and follies of Abbotts and Bishops”. It’s on December 6-8, bookings to 6247 4459 or SmithsAlternative@gmail.com

THE Canberra School of Bollywood Dancing will stage “Aladdin” at Erindale Theatre on December 6 with no fewer than 60 performers. They’re telling us that it’s “a classic fairytale with a sub-continental

downs

Helen Nourse; visual artists Valerie Kirk, Anita McIntyre, G W Bot and Wendy Teakel, Jenni Kemarre Martiniello, Eleanor Gates-Stuart, Jo Hollier, Luna Ryan and Jock Puautjimi; Canberra Contemporary Art Space; theatre artists Chrissie Shaw, Jenna Roberts and Duncan Ley; the productions “The Book of Everything” by REP and “Pea!” by serious theatre.

The MEAA Green Room Award was presented by ACT Branch Secretary Michael White to performer Chrissie Shaw. The 2013 MEAA Peer Recognition Award went to dramaturg Peter Matheson.

of baby love

t wist”. Right, but don’t forget that it’s supposed to be set in China. Bookings to trybooking.com/65025

AMERICAN singer-songwriter Dale Watson will be at the Harmonie German Club from 7pm on Wednesday, December 4. Watson, famous for his drinking songs “I Drink to Remember”, “Thanks to Tequila” and “I Lie When I Drink”, which he performed recently on the “David Letterman Show”. Bookings to tombowler. oztix.com.au/Default.aspx?Event=38148

THE Strange Weather Gospel Choir will perform at a fundraising concert for disadvantaged children in Botswana. At the High Commission of the Republic of Botswana, 130 Denison Street, Deakin, 7.30 pm, Wednesday, December 4. Bookings to strangeweather.org

THE Song Company will soon be back in town to present “Of Birds and Angels”, billed as “angelic and magical Christmas music from Australia and around the world”. At the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, 15 Blackall Street, Barton, 5pm, Sunday, December 1, bookings to songcompany.com.au/ concerts

Top music award heads due North

By Helen Musa

ONE of Canberra’s most successful musical exports, the vocal ensemble

The Idea of North, was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the MAMAs –MusicACT Annual Music Awards, held in Albert Hall on Saturday.

Inducted before a packed house of music-industry practitioners and fans attending the second MAMAs, the world-famous a cappella group, founded in Canberra in 1993, also joined a huge line-up of ACT musical talent in playing to the crowd.

The opening showstopper, “Music is My Religion,” was a mixture of hip-hop, dance, physical and musical theatre staged by artistic director Chenoeh Miller, but as the night wore on, no fewer than 10 separate musicals across the genres were interspersed among the nine “rounds” of the awards that just kept coming.

In the independently-judged categories, the 2013 winners were: Best Folk Artist, Xavier Dunn; Best Heavy Artist (Punk, Hardcore, Metal), Revellers; Best Cover Band,

or Big Band, Canberra City Band; Best Rock Artist, Super Best Friends and Elisha Bones; Contribution to the Music Industry, Jim Cotter and Frank Madrid; Best Studio, Engineer or Producer, Dax Liniere; Hall of Fame Inductee, The Idea of North; Best Urban Artist, Big Dave; Song of The Year, Fun Machine – “Ready For The Fight” and Best Live Youth Band, The Steptones.

Winners in the public categories, decided on the night, were Best Artist, Fun Machine; Best Live Performer, Dylan Hekimian; Best Youth Artist, Dylan Hekimian and Best Live Music Venue, Zierholz@UC.

arts & entertainment

Birthday bonus for arts winners

By Helen Musa

IT was a happy 30th birthday party for CAPO, the Capital Arts Patrons’ Organisation, as it celebrated local artists and arts patronage in a gala cocktail and auction at Canberra Museum and Gallery.

Art fan and MLA, Chris Bourke, was on hand to announce that the 2014 CAPO Fellowship had gone to glass artist Matthew Curtis, of Queanbeyan. Curtis said he planned to use his fellowship to work with Tiwi Islands artist Jock Puautjimi.

The long-running collaboration between arts and business featured an exhibition of 150 artworks donated by Canberra artists.

CAPO can never predict exactly what the figures are until auction results are in, but the CAPO Fellowship is worth up to $15,000 and the Rosalie Gascoigne award up to $5000. This year, the CAPO board contributed $2000 for the 30th Anniversary Award for Established Artists and the other awards are sponsored by local businesses.

Alison Jackson, winner of The Rosalie Gascoigne Memorial Award, will use her grant to create new tableware objects, while Emma

Queanbeyan

Beer, who won the Reading Room CAPO London Exhibition Award, will travel to London to exhibit her paintings.

The Macquarie Wealth Award went to Andrew Townsend and Suzie Bleach to purchase equipment as they rebuild their studio following a fire. The new Fuji Xerox Sustainable Art Award went to composer and puppeteer, Marianne Mettes.

The Established Artists Award was presented to Marzena Wasikowska, who will travel to Niagara Falls to create images.

Alison Munro’s award from Sage Legal Services will support a residency at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, while Claire Primrose will use the Eckersley’s Materials Award to extend her range of paintings.

Players Presents

By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia. Exclusive agent for Music Theatre International (NY)

Director:

Musical Director:

Choreographer: Peter Smith Jennifer Groom Belinda Hassall

AUDITIONS

30th November & 1st December

Contact: janette@webone.com.au

Or phone Janette on 0419 406 702

Between 6.00-9.00pm

Cast required 14 years and over

Performances June 2014

Orca moments of heartbreak and grief

KEEPING orcas under environmental and social conditions that capsize virtually every natural principle influencing their lives in the wild is an exemplar of human awfulness.

Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s documentary, motivated by the death of whale trainer Dawn Brancheau when the orca Tilikum reacted to a break from his routine, offers as balanced a view as possible of the worldwide “industry” that entraps these free-spirited animals to entertain humans for money.

“As possible” highlights the film’s major omission. Zoos impose a huge moral obligation of care on their proprietors. The proprietors of Seaworld refused to be interviewed.

The film delivers a succinct and persuasive mix of archive footage, rostrum shots of press pages and interviews with “trainers”, spectators, officials of occupational safety agencies and cetacean biologists. And its quick course in Orca Biology And Lifestyle 101 can give us grief and heartbreak.

Sally Adair, who won the National Press Club’s Emerging Artist Award, will use it to pay for steel pieces and graduate study fees.

The Workplace Research Associates Award will help Alex Boynes with costs for his sculptural “stage” and the installation “Dark Matter,” and the King O’Malley’s Award went to Bettina Hill to help create an artwork for exhibition at CMAG.

Debra Jurss will use the Capital Insurance Brokers Award to help create 3D glass sculptures, while Katy Mutton will use the McGrath Woden Emerging Artist Award to create work around the stories of returned servicemen.

Finally, the Urban Pantry Award went to Nic McConaghy for an electro acoustic soundscape of Australia’s snow country.

The populist name for Orcinus orca is killer whale. The film reminds us that there is no record of an orca attacking a human in the wild. They kill to eat. When captivity becomes intolerable, they go feral, as the film shows.

What enables humans to persuade animals to step outside their normal behavioural boundaries is food. When Tilikum performed his closing routine, he’d already received all the fish in Dawn’s bucket. The combination of isolation, break in routine and denial of expected reward was enough.

At Dendy

IN the argot of Britain’s criminal brethren, “filth” is not merely dirt, grot and muck. It’s also the crims’ nickname for the cops.

Director Jon Baird with co-writer and novelist Irvine Welsh have confected a film in which comedy and drama jointly canvass a plethora of social and personal issues set in motion when a gang of Scots hoodlums kill a Japanese student. What they next see causes them immediately to flee. But we don’t get to see it.

James McAvoy plays Bruce, the DS assigned to track the hoodlums down. Bruce is host to just about every anxiety and social, chemical, hormonal, relational, behavioural issue that can beset any human.

CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CANBERRA LABOR CLUB PRESENTS

WEDNESDAY 4 DECEMBER 2013 11:00am & 12:30pm CANBERRA

He’s desperate to mend fences with his missing wife and daughter. He needs the extra salary that promotion to DI will bring. Bruce is not lovable now nor will he ever be.

Less a crime thriller than a study of a man already promoted beyond his moral level, “Filth” leads us among the city’s human dregs as Bruce abuses the people he is questioning, copulates indiscriminately with whores and colleagues’ wives (one played by that marvellous pint-sized ball of fiery wickedness Shirley Henderson), betrays friends, snorts illicit substances and drinks on the job.

This catalogue of human inadequacies presents both sides of the “filth” synonym with a sense of uncompromising delight at being able to shine them on screen unrestrained by dramatic and moral precepts. McAvoy’s performance is a traffic stopper.

At Palace Electric, Greater Union and Dendy

DERIVED from “The Grandmothers” by Doris Lessing, this beautiful film directed and co-written (with Christopher Hampton) by Anne Fonteyn could have been set anywhere. Seal Rocks, NSW, is felicitous a location as any. Australianisation adds a dramatic piquancy that anchors the plot not only geographically but also in its credibility.

Two women have been best friends since childhood. Widow Lil (Naomi Watts) is mother of Ian (Xavier Samuel). Roz (Robyn Wright) has Tom (James Frecheville). The boys in late adolescence are good mates, physically beautiful, keen surfers.

Consider then the dramatic factors that arise when Tom arrives home one night to see Roz, a grass widow while husband Harold (Ben Mendelsohn) works in Sydney, emerging carrying her jeans from the room where Ian is asleep. This is the catalyst for a story of relationships – Tom and Liz also become lovers – that the film follows through for perhaps more than a decade.

“Adoration” raises questions such as Doris Lessing was never reticent about raising. And its conclusion uses a beautiful image to leave unanswered the question: “Where does it go from here?”

At Palace Electric and Capitol 6

Farce and lots of fun

CANBERRA Rep’s “Fox on the Fairway” is a light-hearted, fun and unchallenging piece of theatre.

Ken Ludwig’s American take on the English tradition of farce is tightly written, well structured and satisfying.

The classic elements of farce: multiple exits and entries, misunderstandings, pace and slapstick humour are all present. The plot is predictable, but enjoyably so.

Director Liz Bradley set Rep’s version in a Melbourne golf club, in the present. In this, she wisely avoided any temptation to use American accents.

theatre

“The Fox on the Fairway” By Ken Ludwig.

Directed by Liz Bradley At Theatre 3 until December 7

Reviewed by Simone Penkethman

Seventeen-year-old Martin Hoggart was outstanding as the young golf prodigy, Justin. His pacing, dynamic, physical comedy and ease in his role were central to the show’s success.

Also pivotal was Rachael Clapham’s winning and resourceful Pamela Peabody who brought to mind Connie Booth’s Polly from “Fawlty Towers”.

ALL PROCEEDS TO SUPPORT: SPONSORED BY:

There could have been more comedy gained from playing on the status difference between the older, richer characters and the younger servant class. As it was, all the accents sounded like Canberra’s middle class.

Pop culture references to Voldemort and Mordor aside, the show could easily have come from the early 20th century. It’s timelessness, energetic action and warm-hearted charm make it an ideal outing for the whole family.

Dallas Green and the Colour of success

By Stephen Easton

THE last time Canberra heard the sounds of City and Colour – the codename for Canadian singer-songwriter Dallas Green – was when the Groovin’ the Moo festival rolled through town last year.

Speaking to “CityNews” over the phone, Green says he’s pleased to be coming back to Australia for a second proper City and Colour tour and his local fans are no doubt pleased that this time, Canberra is on the itinerary.

“I’m excited to come back there and play by myself, and see what the crowd is like, see the city, see the venue and all that,” he says, explaining that he didn’t learn a lot about Canberra or his local fanbase when he passed through with the GTM roadshow.

“That’s the thing with festivals, especially that festival,” says Green. “I mean, there were definitely people who were singing along and, I could tell, knew who City and Colour was, but because the lineup was so diverse, I feel like there was a lot of people who just went there for the event.”

He’s not saying festival crowds are a bad thing, but is looking forward to things being different when he comes back to Canberra on his own terms with a bunch of new songs from City and Colour’s latest album, “The Hurry and The Harm”, released in June.

“Going into [the album], I knew that I wanted the songs to be the way I was hearing them,” he says. “When I looked at the things that are popular these days, and I looked at the style of music I could lend myself to with my acoustic guitar and my voice, I knew that I probably could have manipulated my songs into more of what is popular, to sort of appease what I think people maybe like, but I didn’t want to do that.”

In the tradition of folk music, the lyrics on City and Colour tracks are honest, reflective and clearly intended to do more than just fit a melody.

“I read and listen to music and watch movies and observe what’s going on around me in my own life, and I’m just trying to write about that,” says Green, explaining how “Commenters” from the new album was inspired by the massive social change the internet has unleashed over a couple of decades.

“Most people nowadays, all they do is just write bullshit on the internet. They come up with a fake screen name and then they feel like it’s okay to just write something horrible… and that’s it for most people. That’s their contribution to society: incorrectly spelling a racial slur or whatever. It really troubles me, because it gives you a little insight into maybe how

people have always thought about one another, and now we just have a way to tell each other about it.”

The story behind “Thirst”, one of three songs from the new record released as singles, is even more interesting. Green says he wrote it under the impression it was for Kiwi songstress Kimbra, but when he met her at Groovin’ the Moo “...she said she’d never heard the song, and she didn’t even know the people who were supposedly asking me about it”.

“But it kind of worked out in my favour,” he adds. “I really love that song and it’s one of my favourite songs to sing every night.”

City and Colour, Royal Theatre, December 2.

New shot at cafe arts & entertainment /

“I WAKE up wanting to kiss you.”

This positive, inviting phrase, representing a great start to a great day, appears in white neon lights at the new and improved Double Shot café, Deakin Court.

Double Shot has been given a double shot at life with new owners Omar Muscat and Michael Nager.

The original cafe was sold many moons ago and the place became The Deakin which, sadly, didn’t make the grade. When they took over, Omar and Michael decided to once again use Double Shot.

“It was always strongly associated with Deakin,” says Omar. “We loved the name, loved the vibe and wanted to bring it back.”

The outside area has been extended and made over. Kumquat trees, fresh herbs, rosemary and lavender now stimulate the senses.

The feature wall in the main eating area inside was created with stacks of sawn-off wooden logs (glad I don’t have to dust them) and the second eating area, in the courtyard, features twisted ropes, hanging plants and a new mural.

Open for breakfast and lunch,

Double Shot takes good care of vegetarians and those who are gluten intolerant.

At lunch, soup with sourdough is $12 and bruschetta with prosciutto $17. Salads are $14 without protein and $23 with. You choose from five salads and six proteins, which makes for 30 combinations. Proteins include grilled barramundi, chicken breast, lamb loin, Teriyaki Angus beef, crispy calamari and King salmon gravlax.

I accepted the recommendation to go for barramundi, perched on top of a shredded green papaya salad with a heap of crunchy snake beans and peanuts, fragrant basil, and cucumber dressed in nam jim sauce. The barramundi was cooked “just so”, the salad healthy and the sauce dressed matters up nicely. Next time I’ll try the Kale salad – very much “on trend” – with toasted almonds, veggies, goji berries and chard with a pomegranate molasses dressing.

Pasta starts at $22 for homemade beef lasagne, made by Omar’s mum Maggie ($22), and tops off at $29 for seafood linguine. The Italian I dined with said the lasagne was “soft, buttery and authentic”. Also available is a steak sandwich ($20) and three types of burgers, including a black Angus beef and a Portobello mushroom (around $20).

I could not refuse the opera cake, made by pastry chef Tony Muscat. The slice looks decadent, but is actually light and delicate – almond sponge, coffee liqueur, chocolate ganache and coffee buttercream, all coated with a chocolate glaze and garnished with gold leaf. If you need (or, rather, want) something small, the macaroons are chewy, gooey and yummy.

Double Shot will serve dinner in the first quarter of 2014. It’s byo, with a liquor licence on its way. Shop 7, Deakin Court. Call 6162 2027.

home & garden

When feeding goes to pot

FEEDING plants is possibly one of the most misunderstood aspects of gardening, especially in pots.

Have you noticed, when using liquid fertilisers for outdoor pot plants, how much simply runs straight through the potting mix?

In reality, modern potting mixes are not the ideal medium for growing plants in pots. They have been designed to be lightweight and easy to handle and offer perfect drainage.

Quoting the respected garden writer, Nigel Colborn: “‘Feeds’ and ‘feeding’ are questionable terms. They imply that plants are sustained with regular feeds, like livestock.

“However, plants take most of what they need from the air plus water and tiny quantities of naturally occurring minerals in the soil.”

I believe that many of the hungry hybrids with outsized flowers, mainly bred for the show bench, are not what most gardeners want.

As Colborn goes on to say: “Surely, the aim is to achieve happy, long-lasting plants that are easier to look after, less disease prone and coping with adverse weather.

“This does not condone starva -

Cedric Bryant gardening

tion as plants that are short of key nutrients will look unattractive and perform badly.

“But if the soil is kept in excellent heart with regular dressings of rotted compost, a healthy earthworm population and good drainage, the plants will give much in return without the use of chemical manufactured food.”

Plus the use of organic mulch to minimise evaporation and keep the soil cooler.

IT is vital for our government and private schools to encourage productive gardens. Naturally, this involves the encouragement of parents with finding a space at home for their children’s garden.

In Britain, 17,400 schools are now registered with the Royal Horticultural Society’s “Campaign for School Gardening” with more than 100 achieving a five-star rating.

In the future, these “five-star gardening schools” must show they use teaching and learning across the curriculum, and to involve the wider community in growing and cooking activities.

To further show the school’s

curriculum has been advanced to make use of the garden in as many subjects as possible, from art through to maths and even religious studies discussing, for example, the plants in the Bible to those in Shakespeare’s works.

A prime local example of this is the Majura Primary School at Watson, which is linked to the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation’s promotion of skills for learning and for life. More information at kitchengardenfoundation. org.au

Jottings...

• Thin fruit, especially apples, for bigger fruit, less every second-year fruiting and less broken branches in strong winds.

• Remove suckers around the base of the trunk from fruit and ornamental trees such as crabapples. Tearing the suckers off lessens the chance of resprouting.

• Finish planting out tender veggies and sow seeds of French and runner beans.

• Sow a few lettuce each week rather than a whole punnet at once for successive picking.

• Finish trimming box hedging and similar plants before the real heat of summer.