140327 citynews

Eye spy, but don’t say you heard it here

ROBERT MACKLIN

Unhappy position on prostitution

MICHAEL MOORE

The sports that define Canberra

TIM GAVEL

Pollies rub tummies with the TV stars

LYN MILLS

Heat brings on pruning push

CEDRIC BRYANT

FASHIONABLE TASTE

A thread that runs through generations

By Kathryn Vukovljak

LEARNING to sew from grandma can be hard when she doesn’t live locally, as is the case with many kids in Canberra, says Lel Whitbread, organiser of the Young Stitchers of the local Embroiderers’ Guild.

Lel runs the Young Stitchers group on the second Sunday of every month, and says the lovely thing about it is the way the little ones learn so much from the older members of the guild.

“We get some mums who stay, too, who perhaps don’t have the skills or the patience to teach their children themselves,” she says.

“There was a time where needlework wasn’t taught at schools; so many of them are learning for the first time.”

As the children progress, Lel says the guild teaches them more complex knot stitches and drawn thread work, although only a few are up to this level.

Lel says that about 15 to 20 young ones come along every month, with five to 10 of the guild ladies who help teach them how to stitch.

Georgina Hermans, 17, says she’s been coming to the group since the start.

“It’s a great environment with everyone sewing, and we always get to make quality products from the kits provided,” she says. “I’m always

proud of what I make.”

Georgina says she has made pin cushions, needle books, elephants, an owl and she’s working on a bag.

Another young stitcher Claire Harvey, 10, says she’s just finished making her own dress.

“I love learning new stitches and making stuff,” she says.

Tovah Poole, 12, says she’s sewing an iPad cover for her dad.

“It’s great because we can do the kits or try something different,” she says. “I’m embroidering fruits and vegetables from the garden on the iPad cover as a gift.”

The ages vary from the under eights to a group that is around 10 and then a few in their teens, says Lel.

“Some of them are brand new to using a needle, so we tend to start off with really simple little feltie animals,” says Lel. “As they get more skilled we teach them the more classic stitches.

“It’s great to experience the fun of sharing our skills with others and keeping the enthusiasm going through the generations.”

The Young Stitchers, second Sunday of every month, 1pm-4pm, at Hackett Primary School. School holiday programs are also available. More information at embroiderersact.org.au/ young-stitchers/

Alanna wins award from Samaritans

DOMESTIC abuse survivor

Alanna Davis has been recognised by the Good Samaritans for using her experience to help stand up for and financially help enslaved women in Asia.

The Jerrabomberra mother and local practice manager for law firm Watts McCray was presented with the “International Champion for Women and Children” award at the society’s dinner at the Hotel Realm, alongside fellow awardees billionaire MP Clive Palmer and veteran ultra marathon runner and Australian icon, Pat Farmer.

Alanna was featured in “CityNews” earlier this year ahead of her February challenge when she cycled over 10 days with a group of other women from around Australia in a 400-kilometre ride across Cambodia to raise money and awareness for women victimised by human trafficking and sex slavery in and across Cambodian borders. The group raised $100,000.

The 33-year-old says she was inspired after reading the autobiography of Somaly Mam, a Cambodian woman who, at just 12, was sold to a brothel but eventually escaped, setting up her own foundation to help others.

Another driving force was Alanna’s own experience – she had been in two abusive relationships, starting from when she was 18. Alanna says she will continue to try to change perceptions that women who encounter domestic abuse are “weak”.

She is in training for her next project, a half-marathon fundraising run in Cambodia. Alanna Davis.

Since 1993: Volume 20, Number 11

Arts & Entertainment 19-21

Canberra Confidential 15

Cinema 20

Dining 21

Garden 22

Horoscope 23

Letters 9

News 3-10

Politics 6

Puzzles 23

Socials 17-18

Sport 10

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seven days

Eye spy, but don’t say you heard it here

THE discovery of that airliner wreckage in the Indian Ocean not only propelled PM Tony Abbott on to the front page of “The New York Times”, it also caused two governments – ours and America’s – to become very economical with the truth.

At first, officials deliberately omitted the source of the satellite imagery. Twenty-four hours later came a very odd statement from an American company, DigitalGlobe: “We have been informed by an Australian government official that it was our imagery Prime Minister Abbott referred to in his recent comments.”

Truth is, the likeliest source by far is the ultra-secret US/Australian space defence/intelligence facility at Pine Gap. But don’t say you heard it here.

ARTHUR Sinodinos’ banishment to the outer parliamentary darkness was starkly illustrated by his new place in the Senate Chamber – in the last row next to our own (previously invisible) Zed Seselja . Sinodinos was caught up in the greed, envy and corner-cutting that has warped NSW politics since the Rum Corps. Thank goodness it hasn’t slithered across the border to our fair city.

At first, officials deliberately omitted the source of the satellite imagery. Twenty-four hours later came a very odd statement...

SPEAKING of the Rum Corps, their sworn enemy, the saintly Alexander Maconochie, would have been appalled at this week’s $3 million expansion plan for the prison that bears his name. He actually released more than 900 prisoners from his Norfolk Island hellhole after they had earned their parole. Less than five per cent reoffended. Today’s incarnation is following Parkinson’s Law: prisoner numbers expand to fill the space available, and then some.

OKAY, Canberra’s not to be Sydney’s second airport but Plan B – using its curfew-free status to become the national freight terminal – makes a lot of sense. Except, of course, to the Greens’ Shane Rattenbury who says Canberrans “don’t want to inherit Sydney’s night-time noise”. Really?

The few who foolishly chose to live on the flight path knew exactly what they were doing. Sometimes the Greens are their own worst enemy.

AS the nation’s Sex Trade Central, Canberrans were naturally to the fore in the tour by parliamentarians to Europe, Sweden and South Korea where prostitutes are legal but their customers are not. Lib MLAs Vicki Dunne and Giulia Jones will take up the cudgels on the girls’ behalf. Ms Jones is seeking “exit programs” for the 89 per cent, she says, who want to leave the industry.

Is it really that hard to get another job in Canberra?

SEX slavery is quite another matter. But that perennial grandstander, mining billionaire Andrew Forrest this week pledged his efforts to end it worldwide. He even got the Pope on side. This follows his splashy campaign with Kevin Rudd to employ 50,000 Aborigines; his promise to endow the University of WA with $65 million; and 5000 tonnes of his iron ore to Chinese earthquake relief. Residents of Forrest, named for his illustrious

ROBERT MACKLIN

ancestor, will be bursting with pride.

WE could barely contain ourselves waiting for the return of “Downton Abbey”. But when it arrived courtesy of the Seven Network, it was so choked with commercials it became unwatchable. Greed, envy and corner cutting, it seems, are not confined to the Sydney push. The good news is you can get the entire season via Amazon for spare change.

robert@robertmacklin.com

Libs’ unhappy position on prostitution

PROSTITUTION is not causing major problems in the ACT.

We have world-leading legislation that empowers the workers, that has been in place for more than 20 years, and has been found to be working well through examination and report by the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety in February 2012. A committee chaired by the now Speaker, Vicki Dunne.

And now Dunne and fellow Liberal Giulia Jones are joining other conservatives in a study into prostitution in countries that have adopted the Swedish model. They claim it provides a feminist perspective by criminalising the purchaser of sexual services (in the vast majority of cases – the male).

When prostitution was legalised in the ACT in 1992 society did not collapse, moral attitudes were not eroded and the ACT did not suddenly become the haven for all things immoral.

Rather, the workers were empowered, the rights of consenting adults were not infringed and the risk of police corruption, a hallmark of other jurisdictions at the time, was avoided. The risks of the spread of sexually transmitted infections were minimised. Moral values were enhanced through tolerance and acceptance rather than making the most vulnerable into scapegoats.

The ACT Liberals have an even bigger problem with this ongoing campaign by Dunne and Jones as they head off to Sweden, South Korea and Europe with other conservatives from around Australia to reinforce their own view.

When will the Canberra Liberals be honest enough to call themselves the Canberra Conservatives?

The way our community handles sex workers is one issue where the Canberra Liberals had the opportunity to behave as a liberal party, as they had in 1992, rather than as a conservative party.

Dunne has a different perspective from the rest of the committee. She included a dissenting report in the assessment by the Justice and Community Safety Committee. Her comments advocate at least partial adoption of the Swedish model and concluded: “Far from ameliorating those harms, the recommendations of the majority of the committee to normalise prostitution; cut back on regulation [and] water down health safeguards will encourage the spread of prostitution and increase the harm to individuals and the community alike”.

As I argued when the committee was conducting its investigation, apart from being conservative, the other issue is about logic.

The idea is that the purchasing of sexual services should be criminalised. Purchasing sexual services from women is somehow “enticing” or “intimidating” the worker into providing sexual favours which must therefore be “exploitation”.

The same logic, of course, would mean that every employer, no matter what the industry, somehow “entices”, “intimidates” or “exploits” each of their employees. The “principle” is just nonsense.

This is the same tool that has been used to generate the Swedish laws that have driven prostitution underground at the risk of a significant increase in the spread of HIV infection and which former High Court judge Michael Kirby describes as “an overreach of the law”.

Moral attitudes are easily cloaked in pseudo academic arguments. A submission by the Catholic Church to the committee is cloaked in feminist arguments around the Swedish model. The irony is not easily missed. The bastion of male power is using a feminist argument to justify their moral position of wishing to interfere in people’s sexual lives –as they have in so many other ways.

The government’s response to the committee on the “operation of the Prostitution Act is that, overall, the Act and the agencies responsible for its administration have significantly raised the level of protection of the health and

MICHAEL MOORE

The FORUM is an opportunity to help guide the decisions that will shape the National Capital of the future. Chief Executive, Mr Malcolm Snow, Authority members and the NCA executive team will answer your questions regarding the areas of special national importance in Canberra. SUGGEST TOPICS BY REGISTERING AT

AND TOURS of the National Capital Exhibition will be available FROM 5.15PM

or calling 02 6271 2888. RSVP BY WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2014. Spaces are limited. THE EVENT WILL BE

safety of sex workers in the ACT and their clients”.

The government accepted changes that were suggested by the committee on issues such as ensuring the legislation covered the range of sex workers and that this be recognised in the title of the Act.

The question is when will the Canberra Liberals stop trying to deceive the community with its name and be honest enough to call themselves the Canberra Conservatives?

Michael Moore was an independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly (1989 to 2001) and was minister for health. He was chair of the Assembly Select Committee on HIV, Illegal Drugs and Prostitution and introduced the Prostitution

It’s the Beetles!

VOLKSWAGEN owners, past and present, are invited to join the inaugural Volkswagen Drive for the Community procession of Volkswagens through Canberra, on Sunday, April 6. There will be a mass gathering of enthusiasts from around Australia at Thoroughbred Park celebrating 60 years of Volkswagen in Australia. Proceeds from registration will go to the Canberra Hospital Foundation. Registrations to canberrahospitalfoundation.org.au

Snappers rejoice

PHOTOGRAPHER Hilary Wardhaugh is leading her 10th Photowalk, 3pm-5pm, on Sunday, March 30, this time around the National Museum peninsula encouraging participants to photograph the lake scenery and details of the architecture of the building. Photowalk is a free, quarterly opportunity for anyone, no matter what age or ability, to get together and meet other photographically minded people, irrespective of whether you own a DSLR, a compact or just a phone-cam. Meet at the carpark of the National Museum at 3pm.

So long, Saturdays

FALLING demand for extra weekend opening hours has influenced Medicare to cease Saturday trading at its Canberra shopfronts from March 29.

VISIT THE SALES SUITE ON THE CORNER OF REDRUTH AND HILLCREST STREETS BETWEEN

2:30 AND 4:30PM ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY 5:00 AND 6:30 ON THURSDAY

TWO BEDROOMS FROM JUST $309,000

Choose from one bedroom + study or two bedrooms

One or two car spaces

Choose your own colour scheme to reflect your personal style

Walk to Crace Central, Supabarn & Club Lime Express

Live 10 minutes from Braddon, Belconnen and Gungahlin

Car safety concerns ‘dismissed’

READERS might be interested in a recent problem I have had with a Hyundai i30 where the electronic steering failed five months out of warranty and which cost $2831 to repair.

I raised this issue with Hyundai as I also own an iLoad van and was concerned that if this was a problem with their vehicles, innocent owners, family members or other road users could be killed or injured. Hyundai’s response was to dismiss my concerns and intimate that their dealer network was only interested if the problem occurred during the warranty period and that they “cannot assist further in this matter”.

I certainly will not buy another and I would counsel all Hyundai owners to look out for any signs of steering problems with their vehicles, even if minor and intermittent as in my case, and not get brushed off by Hyundai Australia. Your life, or someone else’s, might depend upon it.

Ric Hingee, Duffy

Well done, Shane

IF the future of unicorns was left to people like columnist Mark Parton, it’s understandable why they are no longer around.

The law to ban factory farming of animals in the ACT is a welcome and humane step in helping create a world where animals matter and cruelty ends. Waiting until species are extinct to protect and value them is a matter of “too little, too late”.

Well done to Shane Rattenbury and his team for taking the first step.

Amanda Medcalf, Cook

Price of being drug-free

RECENTLY, the possibility of add-on costs by not having needles in our prison has been raised.

Realising that being drug-free, prisoner or not, means no illicit drug use costs to the taxpayer, the WA government has given recurrent funding for eight years (at present around $1.2 million annually) to the Fresh Start Program in Perth, which deals not in drug maintenance, but getting people drug-free as quickly as possible.

In 2011, the WA State Government gave a $1.5 million boost to that program. This money, additional to the $1.2 million, allowed for an extra 244 naltrexone implant treatments. The WA government is no less careful with funding than any other, and must be satisfied that the Perth program is not only getting patients back to drug-free lives, but is also significantly reducing drug costs to that State’s taxpayers. As long as the A.C.T. Government refuses to support this treatment Canberran incomes are haemorrhaging for no purpose.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

Welcome to Canberra

WE are a happy mixed-race family with a new baby, only recently having moved to Canberra. One of our family is a recovering burn victim, so life is sometimes not easy. Late last year when I bumped into one of our building cleaners he told me: “Your floor really smells… it’s the Chinese”.

While making this comment, he pointed to our neighbour’s apartment. I ignored the rest of his comments as the only Chinese person on our floor is my wife, and she certainly does not smell or cause any smell that he may have been referring to. This racial vilification is unacceptable in today’s society. Is this what Canberra has to offer? Why are foreigners not welcome? They are no different to you or me. I have made a complaint with the ACT Human Rights Commission and the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Name withheld, via email

Try a bit harder

THE reporter responsible for the item “Staying on script” in Canberra Confidential (CN, March 13) could surely have found a less demeaning way to refer to older ladies.

Age does not render women insensitive, nor does it mean they are less intelligent than younger people. Being referred to as “little old ladies” or “old darlings” is offensive. Perhaps your reporter could, in future, try a bit harder to find a more acceptable epithet.

Noela Nagle, via email

And harder still…

ALLOW me to draw your attention to Wendy Johnson’s dining review headed “A room full of beans” (CN, March 13). The fourth paragraph says: “...Costa Rica, Columbia, India, Cuba, Asia”. The correct spelling of that South American country is Colombia. The fifth paragraph contains the same spelling error. Not being familiar with Colombian cuisine, I cannot pass judgement on “The Columbian Potatoes”.

Lest you consider me a pedantic nitpicker, I can assure you from many years of experience that correct spelling is not just desirable, it is critical.

Vincent Mawson, via email

Tuggeranong Community Health Centre

Services temporarily relocated at Greenway Waters Suites have now moved back to the expanded and refurbished Tuggeranong Community Health Centre, on the corner of Anketell and Pitman Streets.

The Child and Youth Dental Program has returned to the centre. The Community Dialysis Service will become available in the future.

There’ll be children’s face painting and balloon art with The Gecko Gang, Rotary spin & win wheel, a sausage sizzle with Chef Heidi, Stella Bella Little Stars Foundation cake stall, Freddy Frapples 30th Birthday celebrations, ACT Rural Fire Service Display, Jumping Castles, Kenny the Koala, Nomad the Magician, Canberra School of Dancing and much more. When: Saturday 29 March Time: 10.00am – 2.00pm www.coolemancourt.com.au

Write to us

Letters are invited from “CityNews” readers. Let loose to: editor@citynews.com.au or write to the editor at GPO Box 2448, Canberra 2601.

sport Picking the sports that define the city

WHEN I was growing up in Condobolin, in the central west of NSW, we used to define nearby towns by the sportspeople they produced and the sports each area was dominant in.

For instance, Parkes seemed to be strong in hockey, Ungarie in Australian Rules and West Wyalong in rugby league.

Sometimes it is a perception that these towns are stronger than others, but it does create a sense of identity.

So what sports would you identify with Canberra? What sports set us apart? I am not talking about the professional sporting codes, which tend to cloud the issue.

It is more to do with sports that emerge stronger than others. There are three that come to mind when analysing sporting identity in Canberra.

The first and most obvious is cycling. Why is it that Canberra produces the likes of Stephen Hodge, Michael Rogers, Neil Stephens, Mathew Hayman, Michael Matthews, Jess Maclean, Gracie Elvin and Sue Powell?

Partly it has to be due to the culture. There is a strong cycling community which, if nothing else, provides encouragement to the next generation of cyclists coming through.

The second is hockey with Jack Pointon, Errol Bill, Mary Johnson (nee Manning), Graham Reid, Heather McKay (Blundell), Loretta Dorman, Christine Dobson, Anna Flannigan, Edwina Bone, Andrew Deane, Michael York, Ben Taylor, Lorelle Morrissey, Simone Brown (Wallington), Rachel Durdin, Paul Lewis, Andrew Stewart, Glen Kingston, Joshua Hawes, Aaron Hopkins, Nicole Arnold, Sarah Young (Taylor), Megan Staunton, Ben Bishop, Nathan Burgers, Daniel Hotchkis, Andrew Charters, Ursula Ditton, Catriona Bailey-Price, Anna Flanagan, Peta MacKinnon (Gallagher) and Glenn Turner making a name for themselves in Canberra hockey.

Some moved here from other towns such as Goulburn and Tamworth, but they represented Australia out of the Canberra system. Once again, the hockey culture in the ACT is strong, hence the strong national representation over the years.

The third sport, which I think identifies Canberra, may come as a surprise – softball, a sport that flies under the radar for a number of reasons. The first being that it doesn’t have a huge profile in Australia

TIM GAVEL

So what sports would you identify with Canberra? What sports set us apart?

and second, it is often overshadowed by baseball even though there are stark differences in the games.

In Canberra though, softball defies that national trend with strong participation levels and success beyond any other sport in the ACT on a national level.

The men’s softball side known as the ACT 89ers claimed their 13th national title in Perth earlier this month. They beat WA in the final 3-2.

Led by tournament Most Valuable Player Jesse Taws, who came out of semi-retirement, and two world-class pitchers in Andrew Kirkpatrick and Adam Folkhard, the ACT has now won eight national titles in the past 10 years.

The ACT’s prominence isn’t confined to the men, with the likes of Sally McDermid (McCreedy) and Joanne Brown starring for the Australian women’s team in yesteryear.

The final sport is orienteering. If ever there was a sport suited to the terrain around Canberra, it is orienteering, and it is reflected in results with the likes of Rob Walter, Nicki Taws, Jenny Bourne and Jo Allison prominent over the years. Much of the success of orienteering is due to the fantastic

Auto Italia / Sunday, March 30 advertising feature

Birthdays galore for beautiful Italians

THERE will be yet another centenary to celebrate when beautiful Italian vehicles take over the lawns of Old Parliament House once again for Auto Italia on Sunday, March 30. This year, the Italian vehicle display gives a

nod to “100 years of Maserati” in respect to the December 1 anniversary of the luxury marque’s founding in 1914, and celebrates 50th birthdays for the achingly beautiful Maserati Mistral, the very sensible Fiat 850 and the heart-pounding

IT’S TIME

Alfa Romeo Turbolare Zagato. The cars will be all lined up for a 10am start, with the prizes awarded at 1.30pm for the bikes, 1.45pm for the scooters and 2pm for the cars.

INTRODUCING THE ALL-NEW QUATTROPORTE.

After ample anticipation, the new Quattroporte is here. A harmonious blend of seductive design and innovation. The new Quattroporte GTS boasts a 3.8 litre V8 engine delivering 530hp at 710Nm of torque for blistering performance. Distinctly Italian and iconically Maserati, this sports saloon is now even more responsive offering luxurious comfort and intuitive control. The powerful new Quattroporte S with 410hp at 550Nm of torque, is also available for order. So, if you’ve ever dreamed about owning a Maserati Quattroporte, it’s now time.

*As per Australian Design Rule (ADR) 81/02.

Ferrari Maserati Sydney

862-874 Elizabeth St (Cnr Bourke St), Waterloo NSW 2017 02 8577 8100

www.fmsydney.com.au

Juan Manuel Fangio drives a Maserati 250F at the 1957 German Grand Prix.

A century of motoring power

MASERATI now lives under the umbrella of the Fiat Group alongside Ferrari, but was originally founded in 1914 on the engineering genius of brothers Alfieri, Ettore and Ernesto Maserati, who built and drove some of the fastest and most visually appealing race cars of their day.

A fourth brother, Bindo, joined the company when Alfieri died in 1932 and a fifth, Mario, came up with the company’s famous trident logo, inspired by an iconic Neptune fountain in Bologna, where Maserati cars were first produced.

tag, and a “masterstroke” that lays the foundations for a solid future.

“Maserati has kept all the features that made the previous car such a success, it has ensured that all the traditional Maserati values have been preserved and enhanced and yet, at the same time, it has produced an all-new car from the ground up that includes all the latest technology,” Mr Sealey says.

“The fact that the new Quattroporte’s platform provides the basis for the models that will complement it, the Ghibli and the Levante in coming months bodes extremely well for the company and, as it enters its second century, confirms that it has a bright, strong and secure future.”

More information at maserati.com.au or Ferrari Maserati Sydney, 8577 8100.

Their first racing car came out in 1926 and won on debut in the Targa Florio road endurance race, a result that set the tone for decades of racing success that reached its zenith with the Maserati 250F being driven to victory by Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1957 Formula One World Championship, a year after Stirling Moss used it to win the Australian Grand Prix.

The first Maserati passenger car was the breathtaking A6 grand tourer, and in 1963 the Quattroporte came out, giving the world its first luxury sports sedan.

Fast forward to 2014 and Maserati is looking ahead to its second century, with strong growth, new factories and a new Quattroporte that is already turning heads in Australia.

At Auto Italia you can check out the $320,000 GTS version, which is powered by a twin-turbo V8, hits 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and tops out at a death-defying 307 km/h.

Maserati Australia and NZ general manager Glen Sealey says the new Quattroporte is one of the few cars that genuinely deserves the “all-new”

advertising feature

Gulson’s winning ways

CANBERRA’S original Alfa Romeo dealer is Gulson Motors, which has introduced generations of locals to the wonders of European cars since the 1960s.

Run by dealer principal Graham Gulson since 1998, the business opened in 1963 under the name “Canberra Speed Shop” and was run by Graham’s father Ray Gulson, who drove an Alfa Romeo GTV to victory in his class at Bathurst in 1974, coming across the line seventh outright.

One of the mechanics who worked on Ray’s race cars can be found swinging spanners in the Gulson Motors service department, where he did his apprenticeship.

A lot has changed since the 1960s; Fiat and Alfa Romeo are now sold from the same dealerships and both have models at the affordable end of the market, but Gulson is still home to some of the best knowledge, advice and service around.

Sales manager Steve Cook says the Fiat and Alfa Romeo ranges complement each other as they suit people from different walks of life.

“The Giulietta is incredible value for what you’re going to get with an Alfa Romeo,” he says.

“The range starts at $24,000 drive-away for a base model in manual, but it also goes all the way up to the Quadrifoglio Verde (“the green four-leaf clover), which is basically a purebred, street-legal racing car.”

The little two-door Alfa Romeo MiTo, in its one-litre, two-cylinder turbo variant, gets by on under four litres of fuel for every 100km, Steve adds, and the Fiat Punto, a snazzy four-door packed with a surprising number of features that starts at $13,500 drive-away, has become popular with certain parts of the ACT Government, partly due to its own impressive fuel economy.

“We’re also the only dealer in the ACT for Fiat Professional,” says

ITALIAN CAR SPECIALIST

Steve, explaining that Fiat’s highly economical, diesel-powered vans are very high in quality and packed with great extras and clever design

features to make the driver’s life easier.

Gulson Fiat and Alfa Romeo. Call 6280 4440 or go to gulson.com.au

Scooters built to last Auto Italia / Sunday, March 30 advertising feature

ITALY has been the true home of the motor-scooter ever since the 1940s when brands such as Vespa and Lambretta refined the comfortable, step-through design, with its winning combination of affordability, convenience and ease of use.

“The Vespa was the first one that really brought that to the masses,” says Nico Wright, from Motorini, which specialises in scooter sales and repairs.

Of course, there will be plenty of classic metal-bodied Italian scooters to peruse on the lawns of Old Parliament House at Auto Italia.

Nico says it’s the savings on parking costs that make scooters so popular in Europe, which could mean Italian scooters are a more common sight near Old Parliament House all year round, after paid parking is introduced in the Parliamentary Triangle on July 1.

Motorini sells Korean and Taiwanese scooters, too, but Nico says the style and longevity of the Italian brands is second to none.

“The Vespa scooter is the iconic Italian one that people recognise,” says Nico. “There’ll be some on display that are 40 years old and older and there’s a lot of them still around, so you can see how they have always been well built.

“If you bought a new one, you could still be displaying it in 40 years time at Auto Italia; that’s the difference between the Vespas and the others.”

Motorini. 10 Botany Street, Phillip. Call 6282 6882 or go to motorini.scootersales.com.au

New face for Fiat and Alfa

THE newest place to enter the world of Italian automotive engineering is Richard Rolfe Fiat and Alfa Romeo in Phillip.

As dealer principal, Greg Newman has been at the helm of the latest addition to the Rolfe Group since it opened in January, adding even more depth to the extensive range of vehicles available on Melrose Drive from one of Canberra’s most trusted names in car sales.

“We see the new dealership as a complement to our other European marques, such as Renault and Audi,” says Newman. “Having all of the makes near each other in the automotive centre of Canberra, with Fiat and Alfa right in the centre of the Woden strip, makes it really easy for the public to compare them.

“We’ve already secured the services of a mechanic from Queensland who is trained as a master technician, and we have another gentlemen with 30 years’ experi -

ence working on Alfa Romeo and Fiat, so it’s a very well equipped service operation.”

As for the two Italian brands together – the wildly successful combination of style and practicality that is Fiat, and the sporty seduction of Alfa Romeo – Newman says they make a nice mix.

“Alfa Romeos are more of a prestige, unique, exotic driver’s car, whereas the Fiat range is designed as everyday vehicles for urban living,” he says. “They have three smaller models but there’s also the Freemont, which is a seven-seater SUV, so it’s quite a substantial vehicle and also a very, very affordable option for families; it’s under $30,000 including all the on-road costs.”

Richard Rolfe Fiat and Alfa Romeo. Call 6232 4333 or go to rolfefiatalfa.com.au

Canberra Confidential

Pizza queen of Civic says goodbye

AFTER 25 years, Civic’s pizza queen

Irene Paz is calling it a day.

Chilean migrant Irene arrived in Canberra in 1989 with her husband Rolo and started up Rolo’s Pizza in East Row.

In 1998 they opened La Posada in the Melbourne Building, which was sold in 2008 following a marriage split.

Irene worked casually for the previous owner, but when new owner Gianni Guglielmin took over in 2010, she started rolling dough full-time again.

“She’s the mother figure of the restaurant,” says Gianni.

“Some customers have been eating her pizzas since the ‘90s from the ‘Rolo’s days’, and they’ll ask for old pizzas, like the Jennifer, that we don’t even have on the menu anymore. Irene will always make them if asked.”

Irene, who’s just turned 60, will leave behind her children and grandchildren to move to Melbourne at the end of May with her new partner.

“I love everything about making pizzas, but I’ve been working hard enough for long enough,” she says. “It’s a little scary, but I’m ready for a new start.”

for long enough.”

Rock and rollering

PEOPLE of “all shapes and sizes” are promised a warm welcome from the “friendly and fun” Varsity Derby League, says president Melissa McEwen (aka Doc’d Marx).

She says Canberra’s only gender-inclusive roller derby league is looking for male and female new players, referees and officials and will be holding an information night at King O’Malley’s, Civic, 7pm, on Friday, April 4.

No experience with roller skating or roller derby is needed as all coaching and instruction is provided by the league. The only restriction is you have to be over 18, but “there’s no upper age limit!” she exclaims.

Delicious, if vinegary

“SINCE Fairfax precipitated the closure of my local newsagent by stopping supply of its printed papers, I have to make a round trip of about 70kms if I want ‘The Canberra Times’,” bemoans our Bungendore snout. “With the price of petrol, it’s not worth it. Except Saturday for ‘Panorama’, where, on March 8, the final title on the ‘Books in Short’ page was Number 96: Mavis and Me by David Sale

“I am indebted to reviewer Steven Carroll and a blind sub-editor for the following jewel: ‘(Sale’s) big break came after the ABC and bit parts in productions such as On The Beach where he learned to make a Caesar salad from Anthony Perkins and Ava Gardner ’.

“I imagine that the doyen of Canberra sub-editors, Michael Travis, would have made a meal of Carroll before that got to print. Don’t know about Perkins, but I suspect that Gardner would have been delicious if a little on the vinegary side.”

Bounded in blue

MEANWHILE, Pierre the Lair, also reports from deep in “The Canberra Times” that, on March 13, the Lifeline Book Sale received publicity.

“It seems they had a book ‘bounded in blue leather’,” he sniffs. “While it is obviously kangaroo hide, it is less certain that it was taken from a blue flyer.”

AND, finally, from our defence (of the language) snout, a call for someone to be “fired” for the howler in the daily paper’s “Gang Gang” column of March 24 where author David Ellery quotes a spokesperson at the Majura Field Firing Range as saying: “There is a high probability of unexploded ordinance being present”. There is a high probability he really said “unexploded ordnance ”.

Royals visit

LAST week social snout Lyn Mills, in her St Pat’s report from the Irish embassy, said ambassador and rugby tragic Noel White in farewelling the local Royals Rugby team off on a three-game adventure to Ireland, implored them to visit his brother, the local chemist in Carlow, after their game there for “all those fixin’s footy players need”.

And sure enough, as this picture confirms, the full busload of Royals poured into Paul White’s pharmacy, to the huge entertainment of staff and customers. That’s Paul, who has more than a passing resemblance to his brother, in the tie.

Roses wilts

WHAT was with that funny “shut-up” look on real estate personality Richard Luton’s face when Jason Roses was congratulating his daytime boss for top bidding a weekend in a luxury car in Sydney? The two were doubling as MCs and auctioneers at the Good Samaritans awards dinner at the Hotel Realm when Jason announced that the car prize was especially good because Richard spends every weekend in Sydney. No I don’t, says Luton; you do, says Roses, and if anyone saw Richard paddle boarding on Sydney Harbour… that’s where the funny look came in and Roses changed the subject.

Meet the people trying to tickle your fancy

THE inaugural Connect and Participate (CAP) Expo, the first of its kind in the ACT (and possibly Australia) brings together 90 groups representing sport and recreation, arts and crafts, music, leisure, cultural activities, performing arts, hobbies and special interest groups at the Kingston Markets, 11am4pm, on Saturday, March 29.

While research shows the adverse effects of isolation are comparable to that of smoking and diabetes, sometimes it’s difficult to break into established groups and clubs, which is why ACT Government has partnered with Belconnen and Woden Community Services to hold the CAP Expo, which encourages people to come along and connect.

One group that will be at the Expo looking for new members is The Pop Up Choir, formed last year with the aim of changing the nature of public space through sound and singing. It might pop up in tunnels, churches, foyers, museums, street corners, restaurants – anywhere there is a space that can be warmed by the human voice.

Choir director Rachel Hore says that participating in choirs “not only builds community and friendship, it taps into the secret desire so many of us have for singing”.

Rachel welcomes new members and is looking forward to the CAP expo on Saturday, where she can meet Canberrans who have a secret desire to take their voices “from the shower to the streets”.

Or maybe you fancy playing the ukelele?

Michael Rosenberg, from the Ukulele Republic of Canberra (URoC), says his group has made playing ukulele achievable for even those with no confidence in their musical ability.

Michael and other URoC members will be at the Expo to meet and encourage anyone interested in learning the ukulele and joining their group.

“Playing music together triggers something in humans that increases bonds between people” said Michael. “And it’s such good fun!”

Entry to the Expo is free, and there will be live performances, childrens’ entertainment, raffles and prizes, free transport from Civic and, of course, the Kingston Markets food stalls will be open.

Award-winning comedian Toby Halligan will be performing and Brumbies player David Pocock will be signing autographs and posing for photos from noon until 1pm.

Comedian Toby Halligan.

More information at connectandparticipateexpo.com.au

Who’ll be there

Martial Arts

CRAFT & WOODWORK Majura Men’s Shed

Canberra Quilters

Paperworks

Basket Weavers

OUTDOOR RECREATION

Association

Outward

Sailability

ENVIRONMENT & CULTURE

Orchid Society of Canberra • Friends of Grasslands • Canberra Ornithologists Group • Friends of Jerrabomberra Wetlands and Mulligans Flat • National Trust

COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

Lions Club • Volunteer Fire Brigade • Playgroups ACT • University of the Third Age (U3A) • Arts Inclusion • Contact Canberra (ex Citizens Advice Bureau) • Australian Breastfeeding Association • Nican • Belconnen Community Service • Woden Community Service • Northside Community Service (with drumming group) • Communities at Work • Imagine More • Autism Asperger ACT

scene / around canberra

Simon Pryce, aka the Red Wiggle, was keen to say ‘hi’ to his Aunty Jenny in Canberra via me.

IF there’s a Wiggle or a Banana in Pyjamas to be photographed with, pollies are quick to be front and centre, with the “just one for the kids” line as staffers manned the iPhones at the annual “ABC Showcase” at Parliament House.

Meanwhile, ABC luminaries worked the room with Fran Kelly lining up Clive Palmer for the next day’s radio,

Virginia Trioli catching up with former schoolmate Gai Brodtmann, Lee Kernaghan charming the girls from Dalby and Roma and Simon Pryce, aka the Red Wiggle, keen to say “hi” to his Aunty Jenny in Canberra via me.

Of course, the main game at this showcase is to reinforce how important the ABC is to all facets of broadcasting in Australia with a look back at the successes and forward to programming for the 2015 commemoration of the Gallipoli centenary.

All guests left with the first episode of “ANZAC Girls” to watch. It’s based on the letters and diaries of five real Australian and NZ nurses in a six-part series from the Middle East then to Gallipoli and on to the Western Front. Our ABC is in good hands.

LYN MILLS

arts & entertainment

Return of the Latin (film) lovers

Arts editor HELEN MUSA

previews the upcoming Latin American Film Festival

IT’S nearly time for the 10th Latin American Film Festival to open at the NGA and it’s hard to wipe the collective smiles from the faces of three keen film-loving Latin American ambassadors, assembled at the Peruvian residence to tell “CityNews” of the 2014 offerings.

Chief organiser this year is Luis Quesada, ambassador for Peru, chosen by his peers because of the big exhibition “Gold and the Incas”, which has given such a profile to Peru.

To Pedro Villagra Delgado, Argentine ambassador and dean of the diplomatic corps in Canberra, the link between the festival and the NGA – “Australia’s most important cultural institution” – is essential to its success.

As well, DFAT’s Council on Australia Latin America Relations supports them, allowing the event to be seen in other Australian cities.

Uniquely, Delgado explains, this festival is Australia-wide, but it begins in Canberra and sets its standards by Canberra’s highly educated population.

Ecuadorian ambassador, Raúl Gangotena, admits that while he’s always been a keen follower of Argentine and Mexican films, he had never, before Canberra, seen a film from either Paraguay or El Salvador.

Each of the 12 Latin American missions involved chooses its own film, usually from a list of top films

for which permission to screen has already been obtained by their ministries.

It’s not the usual way of curating a festival, but Daniel Reategui from the Peruvian Embassy, who is helping organise the event, assures “CityNews” that there is a full range of genres.

From Venezuela, for instance, comes “The Zero Hour”, an action movie, while Brazil has come up with a kind of romantic comedy involving science fiction and rock ‘n’ roll in “The Man from the Future” and Colombia, too, has a comedy in “Sofia and the Stubborn”. El Salvador has a historical documentary.

This year, Peru is the first cab off the rank with “Undertow”, shot in Cabo Blanco of Hemingway fame, about (of course) a fisherman whose sexual and emotional inclinations swing both ways.

“It’s not accurate to call it a gay film because it is a psychological piece,” Quesada asserts.

Gangotena jumps in to tell of Ecuador’s film, “The Name of the Girl”, cast with children aged 12-14, but definitely not a children’s film. Set on a farm, it is a story of enlightenment that, like many of the films selected, shows conflict between urban and rural traditions and superstitions.

“It’ll make a change from the horrible movies that are made in the States,” the ambassador says.

Argentina’s contribution, “The Water at the End of the World”, is about two troubled sisters who fall for the same accordion player and it may or may not involve a trip to Tierra del Fuego. The music is by real-life accordion maestro Chango Spasiuk.

Brazil’s romantic comedy “The Man from the Future”.

10th Latin American Film Festival, National Gallery of Australia, daily 2.30pm and 6.30pm, April 3-14. Free event, all films are subtitled in English. Full program at nga.gov.au/laff/

Singing star back for the ‘Passion’

ONCE you’ve heard tenor Christopher Lincoln Bogg sing, it’s hard to forget him. He’ll be back in his hometown on Saturday, April 5, performing for The Llewellyn Choir’s “St Matthew Passion”. Bogg, the son of Canberra singing teacher Lois Bogg, has enjoyed considerable success overseas and will be joined on stage at Llewellyn Hall by an all-Canberra team of soloists and more than 150 singers from our leading choirs. Tickets at the door, bookings to 132849 or ticketek.com.au

WHILE we’re on oratorios, we hear Australian composer Rob Davidson has set Julia Gillard’s anti-misogyny speech to music for performance by Gordon Hamilton’s choir, The Australian Voices. Davidson says it’s just the first of a series of prime ministerial oratorios, including Whitlam’s “Well may we say” and Keating’s Redfern Speech – maybe even, if Kevin Rudd agrees, “We apologise”.

“AS tasty as schnitzel, satisfying as Sauerbraten,” they’re saying of the coming Audi Festival of German

Helen Musa arts in the city

Films, April 1-6, at Palace Electric Cinema. Director, Arpad Sölter, has more than 50 films and glamorous German star, Nadeshda Brennicke, will do a Q&A at 6pm on April 3. Bookings to palacecinemas.com.au

THE 2014 Canberra International Music Festival, “The Fire and the Rose”, will feature works by composers who served on all sides of World Wars I and II. Retiring director and “CityNews” Artist of the Year, Chris Latham, who is also the conductor of the Gallipoli Symphony each year in Turkey, has slaved for years to uncover these works. Program at cimf.org.au

THE ever-resourceful Robert Stephens at Aarwun Gallery, in Federation Square, Nicholls, has secured original works, pencil on paper, ink on paper, oil paintings, etchings, signed limited lithographs and facsimile etchings by Donald Friend and Norman Lindsay. The exhibition and sale runs from March 28 to April 22, opening March 28, 6pm-8pm.

CANBERRA theatre identity, Trevar Chilver, founder of the former group, Canberra Dramatix, is heading to London, to “network in the theatre community in the hope that I will be able to make something of my playwriting”. As well, he’ll be developing the Eskada program with the Timor Leste Children’s Fund. Potential volunteers can contact him at trevar@chilver.net.au

MEZZO-soprano Prudence Dunstone and pianist Maryleigh Hand will perform romantic, poetic songs in English, Italian, French, German and Spanish, under the title “Love and Loss” in Art Song Canberra’s Season of Song, at Wesley Music Centre, 3pm, March 30. Tickets at the door.

arts & entertainment

Salsa, lovelorn weapon of choice

“Cuban Fury” (M)

WITHOUT performances by Nick Frost as engineering draftsman Bruce, in his youth an aspiring dancer until a gang of bullies beat him up for being a sissy, and Chris O’Dowd as obnoxious Drew, a salesman for the same firm, the feature debuts of director James Griffiths and writer Jon Brown after TV-based careers might have gone straight to DVD.

“Cuban Fury” gets by with a little help from Rashida Jones as Julia, American eye candy newly appointed as sales manager, English rose Olivia Colman as Bruce’s barmaid sister Sam and Ian McShane as dance teacher and promoter Ron, down on his luck and now seeking a better life in the vodka bottle.

Bruce and Drew compete for Julia’s hand hoping for full body access. The battlefield is the salsa dance floor. This gives Griffiths a chance to stage some energetic dance sequences which provide the film’s second-most-engaging passages.

Dougal Macdonald cinema

“Mr Morgan’s Last Love” (M)

“Wadjda” (PG)

BRAVO, Haifaa al-Mansour, the Saudi-Arabian writer/director who learned her cinema craft at Sydney University.

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What, I hear somebody ask, is its most engaging element? Nick Frost is the answer. This may come as a surprise to those who know him as a bigly-built lad of shortish stature, an improbable twinkle-toes. His dancing merits praise. So, too, does the single combat between Bruce and Drew using salsa as the weapon of choice.

British fluff, well-enough staged, sprinkled with quality gags, not demanding of audience engagement, “Cuban Fury” has no other apparent purpose than to divert us from life’s daily grind.

Much of Frost’s film career has been in company with Simon Pegg who here makes uncredited blink-and-you’ll-miss-him appearances.

At Hoyts, Dendy and Limelight

IT grieves me to report that while German writer/ director Sandra Nettlebeck has given Michael Caine a sensitive character in a film about the vicissitudes of growing old, it is not his best performance.

He plays retired philosophy professor Matthew, an American in his 80s living alone except for memories of his wife (Jane Alexander) now awaiting his arrival to join her in a Paris cemetery.

After three years without her interpreting services, his French is inadequate for even the most mundane tasks such as ordering a bread roll with ham, cheese and a pickle.

A father/daughter relationship develops with bi-lingual dance teacher Pauline (Clèmence Poèsy). The exchange between them of personal information is somewhat restrained. Matthew’s prickly daughter Karen (Gillian Anderson) and emotionally-damaged son Miles (Justin Kirk) arrive unannounced from America on learning that he has attempted suicide. Here are the dramatis personae for family conflicts that uncover suppressed emotions.

Writing Matthew as American was unfortunate. Caine’s attempts to emulate an American accent cloud his performance in a staccato rhythm that simply doesn’t fit.

Somewhat evoking “Amour” that explored similar country to more powerful effect, “Mr Morgan’s Last Love” is bleak, which is no reason to avoid it.

At Greater Union

Without rancour or compromise, her feature writing and directing debut dispassionately and subtly observes the condition and social status of women in that Muslim country.

Wadjda (Waad Mohammed) is 11 years old. Her father has abandoned her and her handsome mother (Reem Abdullah) for a woman who might give him a son. When visiting their house, he plays video games while waiting to be fed.

Wadjda and Abdullah (Abdullrahman Al Gohani) are friends of similar age. He has a bicycle. She wants one to have races with him. A beautiful green bike is on sale for 1000 riyals. Saudi society regards bikes as dangerous to a girl’s virtue. The film does not explain the origins of this but imagination might suggest a valid reason. There are many other restrictions; for example, a woman must not touch the Koran while menstruating

At school, devout Muslim Mrs Hussa (Ahd) enforces rules governing every aspect of girl behaviour. The prize in a contest for the best Koran student is 1000 riyals. Fun-loving Wadjda sets about assembling the necessary money.

You can absorb Wadjda’s film in two ways. As a discourse about women’s status or as a gentle story about a sweet girl-child pushing custom’s boundaries. Either alone is valid; both together form a rewarding experience.

At Palace Electric and Capitol 6

Where: St John’s the Baptist Church Hall, 45 Constitution Avenue, Reid ACT Featuring live music from NYC jazz pianist Gordon Webster and his band with vocals by the fabulous Hetty Kate

Eye popping performances from guest international swing dancers. Drinks and

email fallball@jumptown.org

music

“Canberra Voices, the Sound of our City”, Canberra Choral Society. At Belconnen Arts Centre, March 22. Reviewed by Judith Crispin

TOBIAS Cole and Canberra Choral Society are to be commended for their concert of music by 10 local composers.

CCS was joined by CCS Chorus, CCS New Voices, Kompactus, Luminescence Chamber Singers, Turner Trebles, accompanist Anthony Smith and soloist Brenda Potter. Ruth Lee Martin’s superb “Nunc Dimittis” began with CCS Chorus, delivering a serene pianissimo.

The talented Turner Trebles, supported by Smith and Potter, gave noteworthy performances of new works by Sally Whitwell and Sally Greenaway.

Promising composer Daniel Brinsmead conducted Luminescence in a performance of his own work “Come Sleep”. Often evoking Penderecki, Olivia Swift’s elegant “Snow” featured kaleidoscopic harmonic fields and wide dynamic shifts. Despite the mastery of Stephen Leek’s extraordinary choral pieces, “Ngana” and “Tabulam”, I admit to slight discomfort at hearing them. The practice of white composers drawing heavily on Aboriginal language and colour seems increasingly awkward.

A singing and tap-dancing Cole, in caterpillar costume, stole the show with his rendition of Martin Wesley-Smith’s “Caterpillar of Society”.

However, the highlight for me was Alistair Noble’s “Walk Upon the Wind”, a mature composition, with its harmonic shifts and layered polyphonic textures, performed perfectly by Luminescence.

CANBERRA is exploding with energy on the food and fashion scene and the latest idea belongs to Belinda Neame.

The Forage, a new community food event, will make its debut on April 12 at the Hustle&Scout Twilight Fashion Market, inviting visitors to hunt for great food and drink from the 20 or so stallholders participating.

“It’s a feast of Canberra’s local street vendors, wineries, cafes and other foodie outlets,” says Belinda. “It celebrates our ever-changing ‘foodie scene’ and is a way to bring more people and excitement to the market.

“The two events, held in neighbouring areas of the NewActon cultural precinct, are all about live music, fashion, delicious smells and great flavours.”

Stallholders participating include Chez Frederic, Dinner Rush, Mocan and Green Grout, Red Brick Espresso, Majura Winery, Muesli Bar, Sweet Bones Bakery, Four Winds Vineyard, Mr Papa and Lu’Mon Macarons.

“We’ll have hay bales, milk crates to

sit on and lots of street-style food to sample,” says Belinda.

At the market, Fashfest will work with The Forage and Haus Models to host a live food-themed photo shoot.

The idea was tested with model Ella Mathews who sat patiently through a styling session as Chad Wijayatilake, from Form Haircutters, and Tegan McAuley, founder of Hustle&Scout, delicately wrapped pieces of bright purple cabbage on her head to form an exquisite hat and wrapped a necklace of plump red raspberries around her neck.

Belinda is no stranger to hospitality having owned Cherry Seed at Gold Creek for some years (now sold). She also runs the lovingly restored “I Am Norma” vintage fibreglass caravan built in 1964 that is rented out for special events, markets and weddings.

While Belinda’s vision for The Forage is clear, the path to fulfil it may not be. The event is secured at Hustle&Scout, but the plan is to have it “pop up” at locations in and around Canberra throughout the year, including on streets, in venues, at

wineries and in parklands.

However, the plan has met with what Belinda describes as an “amazing amount of government red tape”.

“I get that Territory and Municipal Services has a job to do, but why can other cities, like Adelaide, boom with creative ideas and we can’t without such hassle?’’ she asks.

At the moment Belinda is negotiating with TAMS for The Forage to “pop up” every two to three months, but it might be that she’ll have to settle for doing so on private land, not in central public spaces as initially hoped.

WENDY JOHNSON

Creating Sustainable Gardens

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Heat brings on pruning push

WITH consistently high temperatures for this time of the year, it is shaping up to be something of an Indian summer, which can be a tricky time for gardeners.

I always recommend pruning spring and summer-flowering evergreen shrubs before Easter, but as the long weekend is late this year I am urging an immediate start to pruning. Hopefully, this will give any new growth (encouraged by the continuing warm weather) time to harden off before the first frosts.

It is important not to prune evergreen winterflowering shrubs such as Camellia sasanqua. Pruning at this time will cut off the flower buds.

ALL pruning is in effect wounding plants. While some trees, when pruned in the peak growing time, can detrimentally and profusely “bleed” sap, pruning now allows the wound to heal more rapidly, with a lower risk of infection. Wounds are best left to heal naturally and not by

Easter is late this year, so I am urging an immediate start to pruning.

applying bituminous type pruning paint. To avoid problems, it’s time to prune the following deciduous trees: Magnolia, Laburnum, Acer (maples), Morus (mulberry) and Tilia (ornamental lime).

BULB planting is now seriously under way. Troy Scott Smith, head gardener at Sissinghurst Castle, England’s most famous garden, makes a point of planting in sufficient numbers, especially with tulips.

Smith says: “Being too meagre with planting and the result will be a dotty effect with no cohesion or interplay between the bulbs and groups of colour.”

I saw evidence of this last year at the famous Keukenhof Gardens in Holland. The tulips were almost touching each other. Whereas, at our Floriade, the bulbs were spaced widely apart and the spaces filled in with annuals. This just does not work and as Smith rightly states “ends up with a dotty effect”.

IT’S also broad bean planting time and, if you’re growing Coles Dwarf variety, you don’t even need a garden! Growing to only one metre and producing a heavy crop of pods up to 20cm

long, they can be accommodated in containers. And because they are very easy to grow, producing pods in 80-90 days, they make an ideal starter veggie plant for children. Where space isn’t a problem, sow the taller Aqua Dulce.

WITH the recent rain softening the ground and lawns turning green again, it is coring time. After coring, top dress the lawn with washed river sand, not topsoil. The sand will penetrate the core holes aiding in improved water penetration to the roots. Coring machines can be hired. However, if you have not used one before, I urge caution. They are extremely heavy and I have known people to lose control as the machine charges into garden beds! If you do not know a lawn-coring specialist give me a call on 0418 620 424.

AUSTRALIA Post has released a new series of 60c stamps featuring Australian orchids likely to appeal to like-minded orchid lovers here and overseas.

THE range of plants at the Heritage Nursery in Yarralumla is worth checking out, with truckloads of plants arriving to fill the additional display space since it took over its next-door neighbour, the Yarralumla Government Retail Nursery.

I MIS-CAPTIONED a couple of last week’s photos. The most fragrant summer plant is Trachelospermum jasminoides and the most fragrant winter flowering plant is

Jottings...

• April is an ideal time to lay turf on to well-prepared and levelled ground.

• Plant up pots with springflowering bulbs.

• Gooseberries can be planted over the next few weeks. Dig compost or rotted cow manure in and plant them 1-1.5m apart.

• Shred leaves with the mower before putting on to compost heaps. After shredding I put half on to the heap and the rest on to garden beds.

CEDRIC BRYANT

puzzles page

Joanne Madeline Moore

your week in the stars – March 31-April 6, 2014

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

The New Moon’s in your sign so it’s the best week of the year to initiate pet projects, and turn pipe dreams into positive action. But, with mighty Mars in retro mode (until May 20) avoid procrastinating and starting arguments for your own personal amusement. On Wednesday you’re at your wild and witty best but Thursday’s Sun/Pluto square powers up your bossy, belligerent side.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Have you been bustling around like a Bull on steroids? Monday’s New Moon encourages you to make room for rest and recuperation. So activities like contemplation, meditation, journal writing, yoga and spiritual study are favoured, as you tune into the thoughtful Taurean within. Wednesday and Thursday are perfect for practical pursuits like cooking, crafting, gardening and DIY projects.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Are you surrounded by positive people who dream big dreams? Monday’s New Moon energises your networking zone so it’s a terrific time to pal up with some new friends; make fortuitous work contacts; join a group, club or organisation; or re-connect with overseas mates. As Anthony Robbins says: “People’s lives are a direct reflection of the expectations of their peer group.”

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

As Jupiter charges through your sign, your motto for the week is from actress (and birthday great) Bette Davis: “The key to life is accepting challenges.” The New Moon shines the spotlight on career plans and projects, so show the world what you are capable of. Work is unpredictable (but it’s certainly not boring) and there’s never been a better time to be professionally proactive.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Get set for a big week Lions, as you overdo just about everything. Under the influence of Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto you’ll be generous and garrulous; enthusiastic and exhausting; restless and reckless; passionate and pushy. Be warned that if you are too big-headed and self-righteous, others will bring you back down to earth with a thud. Cool compromise is the key to Cat contentment.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

It’s not a suitable week to enter into delicate financial negotiations as retrograde Mars stalls momentum, and your thinking is not as logical as usual. Be patient as you let ideas germinate and plans percolate! Saturday is super for talking, texting and social media. As Venus shifts into your partnership zone on Sunday, calm cooperation will get you a lot further than criticising others.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

With the New Moon and Uranus revving up your relationship zone, loved ones will continue to surprise you. Romantic sparks are set to fly but the course of true love won’t run smoothly so be prepared for a wild card. On the weekend you’re in the mood to help others but don’t feel you have to fix their problems. Providing a steady shoulder to cry on is what’s needed at the moment.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

The New Moon encourages you to improve your diet, plus find fun ways to boost your fitness levels. And resist the temptation to get stuck in a stultifying Scorpio rut … shake up your daily routine! The Sun/Pluto square amps up your stubborn side, as you get stirred up over things that you can’t control. But, the more you try to manipulate others, the more woeful the week will be.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Avoid jumping from the frying pan into the fire! People respond to your rambunctious and spontaneous Sagittarian nature, but too much impulsive behaviour this week could leave you full of regrets later on. With Venus moving into your home zone (from April 6 until May 3) find fun ways you can bring more beauty, creativity, compassion and harmony into your domestic environment.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

This week there’s a tendency to blow a family problem way out of proportion. Cool down Capricorn … and try to see the current situation from a broader and calmer perspective. Thursday’s Mercury/Saturn trine is super for fine-tuning travel arrangements, powering through paperwork, plus tackling mental tasks that require concentration and close attention to detail.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

You’re keen to break free from your usual routine, as you yearn for unusual and exciting experiences and – if you can’t find them elsewhere – then you’ll create them in your local environment. Use your abundant Aquarian energy to juggle projects as you multitask and get things done in record time. But your need for speed makes you more accident-prone than usual so pace yourself.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Security issues are centre stage, as you search for ways to improve your financial situation. Be patient Pisces and focus on long-term solutions – quick fixes just won’t work. Don’t believe everything you hear on Friday, as some information will be second-hand and hard to verify. So don’t make important decisions unless you are 100% certain about the reliability of your sources.

General knowledge crossword No. 447

1 Name the largest sand island in the world

8 Which term relates to an empire?

9 Name the organ in which the blood undergoes certain corpuscular changes

10 What do we call a member of a band of criminals?

11 Name another term for an optical illusion

12 Which western Germany river flows into the Rhine?

13 Which term, when accompanied by “vice”, means conversely?

16 What is a small piece of something?

19 What is a group of states, united by some common factor?

21 Name a NSW city associated with a Victorian city, Wodonga?

22 Which hooked pastoral staffs are carried by bishops?

23 What is a doctrine, contrary to the accepted religious doctrine?

24 To direct a ship on its course, is to do what?

25 Name an Australian species of the Acacia tree Down

2 To which animal class does the lizard belong?

3 Name the planks, balanced at the middle, used as children’s games

4 What do they call the fastest shearer in the shed?

5 What are account books of final entry?

6 Name an alternative term for a wine merchant

7 To burst out in sudden anger, is to do what (5,2)?

13 What is a modified virus used for preventive inoculation?

14 To rotate on an axis, is to do what?

15 To rewrite something on a smaller scale, is to do what?

17 Which term designates a night club?

18 Name a system consisting of particles dispersed in a gas

20 What is a small, edible, kidney-shaped nut?

Controlling eczema is so much more than dabbing on a bit of cream.

Delicate young skin needs to be nourished—naturally.

The Psoriasis and Skin Clinic helps your child’s eczema by tackling the triggers, not just the symptoms. No cortisone needed.

THE GUARDIANS OF STYLE

autumn winter fashion launch

Friday 28 March

12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 8pm

Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 March 12pm - 3pm daily

Join us as The Guardians of Style showcase the latest trends of the season from Canberra Centre’s collection of Australian and international fashion brands.

Fashion showings, live mannequin pop-ups, giveaways for Canberra Centre VIPs and fashion offers daily.

Reserve your seat today, email customerservice@canberracentre.com.au canberracentre.com.au