140417 citynews

Trust tumbles for politicians

MICHAEL MOORE

Curse of Mr Fluffy’s haunted houses

MARK PARTON

Getting the bite on ‘The Burmo’ JOHN GRIFFITHS

Beware the ‘big tree’ surprise

CEDRIC BRYANT

Goodbye to glum, says film festival

HELEN MUSA

IN THE DEEP END

Fashfest celebrity model

ALICIA COUTTS holds her breath

How Betty brings out the best in Mick

AS a veteran with 20 years in the Navy, military chaplain Roger “Mick” O’Donnell is a regular at the War Memorial’s Dawn Service on Anzac Day, and for the past six years, he’s had his special friend Betty by his side.

She wasn’t in great shape when Mick first met her about eight years ago in Berrigan, NSW, but he gave her a backyard makeover with the help of some mates and now she’s a real looker who never fails to turn heads and bring smiles to the faces of older veterans.

Betty was born the day before Anzac Day in 1945 and is a Ford GPW, one of the US military’s little drop-top workhorses that were built by several carmakers and given the moniker “jeep” as a nickname, not a brand name.

“Each Anzac Day, I assemble Betty with the marchers, and then transport older, frail diggers around the circuit of the march, past the saluting dais, and drop them off near the seating stands,” Mick explains.

“You see these old diggers on their walking frames, and their medals hanging off them, and they’ve got this look in their eyes like: ‘Oh gee, I wish I could march like the rest of the guys,’

Stephen Easton reports

so we just pick one out and say: ‘You want to hop in?’

“Often these men and women are very old, but you would be amazed when they come past the saluting dais, how they suddenly spring up and they hang on to the windscreen and proudly salute, then they fall back down into their chair.”

The feedback he’s received since first getting Betty involved in Anzac Day convinced him it was worth making her appearance an annual tradition.

“Some have said it was one of their greatest moments on this special day; rather than just standing on the sidelines, but to actually do the circuit in a vehicle that they are very familiar with,” says Mick.

“I think it’s a lovely gesture that all the work we’ve put into the restoration can be put back into assisting the frail diggers.”

Betty is quite a sight to behold, fully restored, resplendent in the insignias of the 2/7th Armoured Regiment (Mick’s dad served with them) and complete with all the accessories including a genuine antique military radio, similar to the kind Mick used as a “sparker” in the Navy.

Mosaic

He recalls his minor obsession with the near-indestructible, drab-coloured vehicles beginning to germinate in his teen years.

“When I was young I came from the Newcastle-Maitland area and there were a lot of old military jeeps still

around up there when I was a kid in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, and there were several up at a place called Seal Rocks, where we went for holidays,” he explains, recalling the thrill of getting to drive one of the old World War II leftovers around the beachside

holiday spot.

“It belonged to an old digger up there called Moses, and I just loved it. I was hooked on them.”

Less than a decade later Mick served in the Vietnam War, where our side still drove the same trucks, albeit a more modern version.

“I joined the Navy and spent two years on Manus Island – long before it became a detention centre – and the Americans used it as a base for satellite tracking. They used to come out of Guam, and they brought a lot of these old jeeps with them and, of course, my love affair with these things was relit.”

The final catalyst to actually go and buy one of the trucks was finding an old picture of his father sitting in one near the end of World War II on the Pacific island of Morotai.

“I thought, that’s it, I’ve got to have a jeep.”

Mick then became a military chaplain and was employed most recently with the Australian Federal Police in East Timor and the Solomon Islands, where he found “jeeps and bits and pieces of them everywhere”.

Putting Betty together took a lot of afternoons with a lot of friends providing whatever expertise they could.

“It’s a bit like a Meccano set,” says her proud owner.

Baptist Church

Good Friday Services

Belconnen 8:45am & 10:30am, Gungahlin 9:30am Easter Sunday Sunrise Service 7:00am, Diddams Close, Lake Ginninderra

Belconnen 8:45am, 10:30am & 6:00pm, Gungahlin 9:30am www.mosaicbaptist.org.au 6254 6565 • All Welcome

Since 1993: Volume 20, Number 14

Arts & Entertainment 25-28

Canberra Confidential 16

Cartoon 10 Cinema 26

28 Garden 30-31

Horoscope 29

10 News 3-10 Politics 10 Puzzles 29 Socials 17-19

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Missing bits in Santa’s free-trade stocking

WOULDN’T it be great if all the economic marvels claimed by PM Tony Abbott and Trade Minister Andrew Robb for those agreements with Japan and South Korea came true. At first blush it sounded like Santa Claus was making a special trip Down Under.

Alas, the reality arrived when we opened our stocking next morning and discovered what was missing: no dairy, no rice, and the beef and wine deals simply mimicked those already done with some of our competitors while others waited in a queue behind us.

But we will get $1500 off each imported Japanese car formerly made by our own workers here. Whoopee!

KATY Gallagher and Andrew Barr were also travelling with Tony and scoring points with potential investors from Shanghai. This is the real achievement of the PM’s mission; and a nice poke in the eye from Abbott to those anti-Chinese investment zealots in the Coalition.

YOU would not have heard any of this from Opposition Leader Bill Shorten who was still coming to terms with his party’s drubbing in WA. “Big changes are needed,” he lamented.

St John Vianney’s Primary School

We will get $1500 off each imported Japanese car formerly made by our own workers here. Whoopee!

Too true Bill, and they should start right at the top. Trouble is, under the new rules the leadership is virtually impregnable… Kevin Rudd’s final legacy to Labor. Abbott should have a word to his mate George Pell and get Kev canonised.

ASTONISHING to hear that the Departments of Immigration, Defence, Centrelink and Social Services have been secretly “monitoring” their public servants’ activities on social media.

It’s not only an egregious intrusion but an exercise in futility. And who’d want the job when 90 per cent of it is organising office parties and gossiping about who’s doing what to whom? But most interesting was the Department that did not indulge: Attorney-General’s under whose umbrella ASIO operates. By law the official agency operatives have to get a signed approval from the A-G himself to intercept an Australian citizen’s chat.

And it’s strictly policed.

SPEAKING of ASIO, Director-General David Irvine, who announced his September retirement this week, will be a hard act to follow. In his 11 years heading ASIS and ASIO he has walked that fine line between winkling out trouble-makers and maintaining democratic freedoms. Such personal attributes are very thin on the ground. Perhaps it’s time a woman was given a go. Suggestions, please.

AT the other end of the character spectrum this week was the selfaggrandising Foreign Minister-inpassing, Bob Carr. The skinny kid from the fibro backstreets of Maroubra has become so precious that business class travel is no longer appropriate for his delicate sensibilities. He must have first, complete with his own jimjams and menu a la carte. The media has not been kind, but the Maroubra boys have a word that sums it up best: ‘Wanker!’

ROBERT MACKLIN

ON a more pleasant note, for that perfect Anzac Day present you really can’t go past Canberra author Elizabeth Brenchley’s “Stoker’s Submarine”. It was originally written with her late husband Fred on the amazing Aussie Sub AE2 that nearly turned the tide of battle at Gallipoli. Now Elizabeth has added the mystery of its sister ship “AE1” lost off the New Guinea coast. It’s a great read.

robertmacklin.com

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World traveller goes nowhere

Stephen Easton reports

LOCAL author John R Brookes has been making his way through country after country for the last five years and he’s only about halfway through a very unusual world tour.

“I’ve just finished Africa, which has been an amazing journey in itself... it’s given me a sense of what it’s really like, on the ground,” he tells “CityNews”.

“Now I’m just starting on the Middle East; I’m in Saudi Arabia at the moment.”

In fact, Brookes is at home in Downer, where’s he’s lived since migrating from England two years ago as a permanent resident.

His book, “Reading the World: A Global Journey Through Literature”, is an ambitious project to experience travelling the whole planet by reading a book from pretty much every country on it, rather than actually visiting them in person.

When he says he’s in Saudi Arabia, he means he just started reading “Girls of Riyadh”, Rajaa Alsanea’s bold exposé of the hidden world inhabited by Saudi women such as herself.

It’s his second stop on the Arabian peninsula; he arrived on March 10 after putting down “Yemen: Travels in Dictionary Land” by English ex-pat Tim Mackintosh-Smith, one of the few books on his list written by an author foreign to the country it’s about.

Five days earlier his journey through Africa had ended after two days immersed in the words of Hannah Pool, an Eritrean woman who was adopted by an English family in 1974 and only later discovered her

long lost family and the country of her birth.

And on they go, one after the other, a different book set in each country, stretching back to 2009 when the journey began, when Brookes still lived in the UK.

“I’m never going to be able to travel to every country in the world, and even if I could, just for a couple of weeks, well, you’re only going to see the little bits that you see,” he explains.

“Now, at least with a book, you’re in the mind of somebody who’s lived there, so you’re getting a certain insight. It’s never going to be the whole country, it’s always going to be subjective, but it’s like visiting there, in the mind of somebody that lives there.”

Volume one is already published and available online, covering the first two years of his journey crisscrossing Europe from England to the border of Russia.

“This year I’ll be bringing out volume two, which will be Russia to probably as far as the north of Africa,” he says, explaining that he split up large federated nations into their separate states.

“...I read about eight books for Russia, right across to the far east, and then back again through Mongolia and northern China towards the Middle East.”

He hasn’t begun his literary tour of Australia yet but has already picked out the books he’s going to read for each State and Territory.

“For Canberra, I’ve gone for ‘Dead Cat Bounce’, which was only published last year and is actually about a series of political murders,” he reveals. To segue between each book, he writes as though he is actually travelling to the next country, taking account of the latest information on things like transport, visas and border crossings. He also visits countries that are not recognised as nations within the international community, like Taiwan and a list of more obscure examples.

“One of the most interesting ones was a place called Transnistria, which doesn’t technically exist,” he says. “It’s a tiny sliver of land which seceded from the USSR and Moldova, and I’ve got two books for it. Anyway, I actually had an email from the ministry of public affairs in Moldova, asking me to take the link down, because they regarded it as sort of secessionist, almost terrorist, and said I was spreading propaganda.”

He notes “it’s a big commitment” to commit a decade or more of his life to the project, which he expects to continue until 2020.

“In all that time there’s all these other books I’ll quite want to read, but can’t, because I’m focused totally on the journey.”

More information about “Reading the World”, including excerpts, and to order the first volume, at readingtheworld.co.uk

Curse of Mr Fluffy’s haunted houses

THERE are probably people reading this column who live in a “Mr Fluffy” house. They may live next door to you. You wouldn’t know that their home potentially has the deadly Mr Fluffy fibres somewhere within it, but they certainly do.

Mr Fluffy was Canberra man Dirk Jansen, a thinker who in the early ‘60s had the bright-spark inspiration to insulate homes with 100 per cent pure loose asbestos. Luckily, he was the only person in the world to have this idea.

Before we knew any better, he’d insulated 1100 homes in Canberra and Queanbeyan.

The Canberra homes have now gone through an asbestos removal process of sorts that cost $100 million.

Despite that, Mr Fluffy house owners still have a tough choice to make, a predicament not made any easier by the words of the man in charge of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication program nationwide, Peter Tighe, last week.

When quizzed about the Mr Fluffy homes, Peter suggested that there’s no way he would let his family live in one of them.

“You just wouldn’t take the risk,” he told me, suggesting that no amount of cleaning could decontaminate these homes and the only responsible course of action was to demolish them.

It may not be economically practical to do that, but is it morally responsible not to?

Simon Corbell is the minister responsible for all this in the Legislative Assembly and has warned Mr Fluffy homeowners that there is no guarantee the clean up removed all of the asbestos fibres and that it’s likely there are still some lingering in wall cavities and under the floor.

If you owned one of these houses, what would you do? If you make full disclosure, nobody is going to want to buy your house, but it seems irresponsible not to. The Government isn’t going to take it off your hands. Do you just walk away and leave it? Money does make the world go around, but

If you make full disclosure, nobody is going to want to buy your house, but it seems irresponsible not to.

it can also make it stop.

Minister Corbell reminded me that his Government has carried the can for the remediation of four homes that were missed by the initial clean up. The total bill has been $2 million.

Despite signing an agreement to indemnify the Territory from all future claims arising from the Mr Fluffy debacle, the Feds have been very slow in coughing up any further cash.

Simon’s other argument is: “Well, at least we’ve done a lot more than the NSW Government over the border in Queanbeyan.” He’s right. What has NSW done? Bugger all! God help those involved at any level if someone from our town died from mesothelioma after living in a Mr Fluffy home. Do you reckon the asbestos fibres will hit the fan then?

Peter Tighe reminded me in very simple language that when people contract the disease, it’s never pretty.

“It’s a mongrel of a way to die,” he said.

MARK PARTON MARK PARTON

Olympic swimmer Alicia Coutts is to be a guest model at this month’s Fashfest extravaganza with three appearances on the catwalk over the four nights. Reporter KATHRYN VUKOVLJAK discovers that the champion also has a passion for fashion and dressing up… ‘it’s all so much fun. Boys just don’t get it!’

OLYMPIC swimmer Alicia Coutts loves fashion and dressing up.

“I have so many clothes – really, a lot of clothes,” she admits. “I recently extended my two-door wardrobe, basically doubled it, so it now covers the whole wall in our bedroom. The spare room is also full of my clothes!”

Alicia’s love of dressing up makes her well-placed to model at Fashfest, Canberra’s annual fashion event, where she will wear a fabulously dramatic black dress by Vicky KiddGallichan of local label Rockstars and Royalty.

“I’m really excited to be involved in Fashfest and to see all the local designers’ work,” she says.

“The Rockstars and Royalty dress is amazing; so much work has gone into it. I’ve never worn something so original; it’s a complete one-off. It looks hard to get into, but the front is detachable, and it has boning in the neck which gives great posture.

“The catwalk is something I’ve never done before but I’m looking forward to it. I just hope I don’t do a Carrie Bradshaw and fall on my face!”

Alicia, 26, will take to the catwalk –and stay upright, we’re sure – on the Wednesday night of the four-day local fashion event, but that won’t be the end of her model moment.

“I’m also modelling Mont adventure wear on the Thursday night, which will be a bit more sporty, and then on Saturday night I’ll be wearing another designer, but I don’t know who yet. I’m looking forward to finding out – I’m so excited,” she says.

Alicia says she enjoys getting glammed up for formal events, particularly if she gets to wear a designer gown.

“I go to things like balls and awards ceremonies quite a lot, and I’ve been lucky enough to borrow two Alex Perry dresses, and also a Collette Dinnigan gown,” she says. “I’ve also

Alicia dives into fashion’s deep end

bought a stunning Rachel Gilbert dress for an event.”

For day-to-day wear, Brisbane-born

Alicia says she’s been loving highwaisted shorts all summer, but now that it’s getting cooler it’s all about jeans, blazers and coats.

“I can always justify a new coat because it gets so cold here,” she laughs.

“I may need one with buttons, one with a zip, or a hood, and then I need scarves, belts, handbags, and I love sequins and sparkles... it’s all so much fun. Boys just don’t get it!”

After eight years in Canberra, where she came to train at the AIS and subsequently met her fiance, she says she still loves her adopted home.

“It’s not so hectic and busy, and it’s spread out but small enough that everything’s nice and close,” she says.

“And the different seasons give me so many opportunities to shop...”

Alicia says she likes Forever New for its good styles and reasonable prices, but that gorgeous evening gowns and serious glamour will always be her favourite style.

“I can walk quite well in high heels, so I should be okay on the catwalk – as long as I’m not put into massive platforms!”

Fashfest, Canberra Airport, April 29May 3. Tickets at fashfest.com.au

CREATIVE CREDITS

Photos: Andrew Campbell Dress: Vicky Kidd-Gallichan, of Rockstars and Royalty. Make-up: Kylie Kotzur Hair: Form Haircutters

New cafe gets the bite on ‘The Burmo’

FOR some years the gold standard of cheap luncheoning in Civic has been the directly named “Burmese Curry Place” at the bus interchange. “The Burmo”, as it’s fondly known, has been churning out $7 lunches with the precision of a military junta and a degree of crowd self-management that would make Seinfeld’s “Soup Nazi” blush.

But showing what a big town Canberra has become, there’s a competitor for the Burmese lunch dollar. The “Golden Myanmar Cafe” has opened on Allara Street, just off City Walk.

Our Burmese Quality Assurance Team certifies that the staff are authentically Burmese (or Myanmarese, if one prefers) and the food is equally delicious albeit very different, which goes to show the culinary depth of that part of the world.

WAR nerds have been thrilling this past week to pictures of the soon-to-be “HMAS Canberra” at sea before its commissioning later this year.

However, to those who follow these things more casually, it has been a bit confusing. We keep hearing it will be a wonderful troop carrier and perfect for humanitarian missions. But, despite being labelled unthreateningly a landing helicopter dock (LHD), it does look rather a lot like an aircraft carrier, what with the ski ramp on the front for flinging planes into the air.

Truth is, an LHD is an aircraft carrier that can also drop an unwelcome mechanised battalion on to a neighbour’s beach.

The name’s a bit of a giveaway, too. A troop carrier would have a name like “HMAS Amiens” or “El Alamein”, whereas the previ ous two “HMAS Canberra” were both the fightiest ships in the fleets of their time. The first going down fighting Mikawa’s heavy cruisers off Savo Island in 1942.

FOOLS may indeed rush in where angels fear to tread, but I can’t help noticing that the already fraught signage in toilets around town has become increasingly complicated.

There was the ever present risk of walking into the wrong ablution, made all

Showing what a big town Canberra has become, there’s a competitor for the Burmese lunch dollar.

the worse by trendy joints expecting us to decipher their non-standard iconography.

Now what used to be a simple men’s bog is signed “Male Ambulant”.

Having never self-identified as “Male Ambulant”, it required a moment of reflection under extreme pressure, before realising that it was probably safe to run into.

CHIEF Minister Katy Gallagher has been in China showing them that our ad agencies can make whizzy videos as well as anyone, and signing things agreed to long in advance.

However, it did seem like a bit of a shame the Canberra delegation didn’t get out of Shanghai where all the low hanging fruit of Western advantage was long since plucked. Doubly so when one considers our sister city of Beijing apparently didn’t make the cut. The Chinese would probably be too polite to say anything but, personally, I get pretty miffed when I hear my English cousins have been in Sydney but didn’t bother to say “hi”.

JOHN GRIFFITHS

www.sallyberesford.com.au www.sallyberesford.com.au www.sallyberesford.com.au

www.sallyberesford.com.au

The tumbling trust for crumbling politicians

TRUST in our political institutions has taken an extraordinary dive. “The lowest level of trust was in trade unions, the federal parliament and political parties.

Just seven per cent of respondents indicated a “lot of trust” in Federal parliament and three per cent in political parties, according to a report conducted by the Scanlon Foundation with the support of Monash University. As long as the point scoring continues, along with the vicious attacks based purely on political opportunism, rather than on issues, trust in all our politicians will decline.

Tony Abbott, supported by leaks from Kevin Rudd, set the pattern of attack, attack, attack during the prime ministership of Julia Gillard. So far, Labor has not picked up on this as a continuing tactic. However, the temptation must be great and it will be interesting to see if Labor is able to stick with the issues and if, in turn, that will assist in building trust in the institutions.

Ironically, it was the Labor Party in the ACT that started the attack pattern with Jon Stanhope’s merciless pursuit of Liberal Chief Minister Kate Carnell. Perhaps even more ironic is that while the Liberals in Federal parliament were mercilessly pursuing vicious and personal attacks on our first woman prime minister, the Liberals in Canberra did not adopt an approach of constantly deploying the same tactics on ACT Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher. Hopefully, Canberra is somewhat more mature and gender is not an issue. After all, the ACT has had women as chief ministers for the majority of our years since self-government.

The loss of trust is not just about governments and oppositions. The cross benches also have an important responsibility to hold governments accountable and to be seen to do so. When the Greens Minister, Shane Rattenbury, recently refused to support an amendment to Yvette Berry’s motion on “digital Canberra” he illustrated he is getting a little too close to Labor in government.

The amendment to the motion moved by Steve Doszpot was not particularly confronting. It simply called on the government “to provide to the Assembly in the forthcoming Budget an indicative timetable and a detailed Budget outline for delivery of the plan”. In other words, not more hot air – include the money and indicative timing for a proposal that was floated at the last election.

Being a little too close to Labor became even clearer when support was forthcoming for a very similar amendment that was moved by his ministerial colleague Andrew Barr that would “provide the Assembly with regular updates on the delivery of the plan”.

However, loss of trust in our institutions is not just about

As long as the point scoring continues, along with the vicious attacks based purely on political opportunism… trust in all our politicians will decline.

individuals and political parties. It is a complex, multifaceted set of issues that undermine the social cohesion that is so important in building social capital in communities. All politicians have some responsibility.

The Scanlon Report also identified a major loss of trust, for example, in the trade unions. Another aspect is the concentration of the media, with Murdoch papers dominating print media in almost all the capital cities (see Robert Macklin, “CityNews”, April 10). It allows a one sided approach and editors have been quite open about how they deliberately pursue specific agendas.

The extraordinary level of decline in trust of our federal institutions, for example, should shock.

“In 2009, 48 per cent of respondents indicated that the government in Canberra can be trusted ‘almost always’ or ‘most of the time’. In one of the strongest shifts recorded in the Scanlon Foundation surveys, in 2010 only 31 per cent indicated trust, a fall of 17 percentage points. Since that time there has been further marginal decline, so that in 2013 only 27 per cent indicated trust (4 per cent ‘almost always’, 23 per cent ‘most of the time’).

Politics is just one aspect of the Scanlon study. However, the findings should be a major flag for every member of parliament in Australia to examine their behaviour.

The Scanlon Foundation’s Social Cohesion Research Program: scanlonfoundation.org.au/research.html

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

letters

The hotel room boom

AS the leading voice of Canberra’s licensed hospitality and tourism sector, the Australian Hotels Association ACT has welcomed a raft of new hotel accommodation developments and renovations across Canberra.

The exciting new accommodation properties include the Little National Hotel featuring another 120 rooms in the Realm precinct in Barton and a new Canberra Airport hotel to be managed under the Vibe brand.

Several well-known hotels have also received a facelift including the innovative, trend-setting QT Canberra (formerly Rydges Lakeside) and the historic Kurrajong Hotel in Barton.

Over the past 18 months, Canberra has enjoyed a hotel room boom following the opening of several other new accommodation hotels including East Hotel, Hotel Hotel and surrounding venues in the emerging New Acton precinct and a number of new Abode hotels.

This large-scale investment creates employment, vibrancy and much-needed economic growth in the hospitality and tourism sector, which has been under intense pressure.

The hotel, hospitality and tourism sector is crucial for the ACT’s economy as it generates more than $1.3 billion a year for the local economy and employs 15,000 people.

Occupancy levels have recently increased to an average of more than 70 per cent for February and March, according to an industry-wide AHA ACT monthly trend survey.

There are currently more than 5000 hotel rooms (ranging in star-rating levels) available across the ACT – with more hotel rooms expected to be opened in late 2014 and early 2015, including in the Belconnen area.

Brad Watts, general manager, Australian Hotels Association, ACT

‘Currawongs and a Crescent Moon’

Anzac Day Dawn Ceremony in Canberra

By John F Janke

Dawn’s soft light breaks the eastern sky

As stars begin to fade

A thousand candles vigil Glows on Anzac Parade

The hymns are soft and solemn

As the band begins to play

As currawongs and a crescent moon Break dawn on Anzac Day

The crisp cool air of April dawn

See moon and stars eclipse

As thousands pause in reverence Beneath the eucalypts

Their hearts and minds hold memories of diggers far away

As currawongs and a crescent moon Stand to… It’s Anzac Day

As Venus holds the crescent close To the moon’s thin arc of light

The early sounds of nature Of Australia’s bushland flight

Echo through the dawn’s dim light

A century of service

THE centenary of Red Cross in Australia this year marks 100 of fundraising by tens of thousands of Red Cross members and volunteers in local towns and suburbs throughout Australia.

One volunteer reportedly wore out four pairs of shoes walking house to house to collect money to purchase a Red Cross field ambulance that was later sent to Egypt.

Today Red Cross runs a huge, diverse range of programs with a network of 90 regional offices, 180 shops and first aid training all dedicated to helping vulnerable people.

Each year in March, Red Cross Calling relies heavily on the generosity of individuals and community groups to raise vital funds for our everyday work.

This year, as we celebrate the centenary of Red Cross in Australia, we hope everyone can make a difference for vulnerable people in our local communities by supporting Red Cross Calling.

Joan Hughes, executive director ACT/SE NSW, Australian Red Cross

To donate or to find out how to get involved, visit redcrosscalling.org.au or call 1800 008831.

In a sacred holy way

As currawongs and a crescent moon Give rise to Anzac Day

The silhouetted dome of Canberra’s Anzac Shrine

Looms like a Turkish Citadel Defiant at Lone Pine

Like choirs at the ceremony

The winged angels play As currawongs and a crescent moon Salute an Anzac Day

As Islam’s holy symbol

The crescent moon’s transfixed Above Gondwana’s forests In a strange iconic mix

As thoughts go back to the Dardenelles And an unforgotten fray

As currawongs and a crescent moon Bring Peace on Anzac Day

Emmadale Projects / sponsored feature

‘Someone will come in with a plan and say: ‘No-one really wants to touch this,’ and I love sinking my teeth into those sorts of projects.’

Builder with an eye for quality over quantity

ROD Jenkins, from Emmadale Projects, loves creating special homes that stand out from the rest and it’s clear from a quick browse through the photo gallery on his website that he’s extremely good at it.

“It’s not just me,” the experienced builder tells “CityNews”, referring to his wife Julie, who runs the accounts side of things, and office manager Amanda Jaram.

“Amanda and Julie are both extremely supportive and passionate about where we’re going and what we’re trying to achieve as well. They’re very like-minded and I think that’s very important in our success.”

Flicking through a few snaps from past jobs, two houses in Yarralumla that Emmadale built from scratch stand out as good examples.

“My passion is to build worthwhile, meaningful, well designed and constructed homes,” says Rod, explaining that he undertook the knockdown-and-rebuild projects under his own steam to pursue that passion.

“We bought the blocks of land, designed everything ourselves, constructed the homes, and then put them on the market and sold them. We did that initially, as a company, before we diversified into custombuilt homes.”

He adds that Emmadale often takes jobs that others turn down.

“Someone will come in with a plan and say: ‘No-one really wants to touch this,’ and I love sinking my teeth into those sorts of projects.”

The builder’s crowning achievement so far is a stunning mansion in Sutton with stables and equestrian facilities that won a merit award in the NSW Master Builders Association’s 2012 South East Region Building Awards.

The judges lauded Jenkins and his team for producing a functional residence with a feel of pure luxury, despite “considerable obstacles” to the construction of the home.

“That was an amazing project and I felt very, very lucky to be given the opportunity,” Rod says. “It was very complex, from the hydraulics through to all the ground works and the actual house construction, but everyone was very, very happy with how it turned out.

“I would think most builders would probably work a lifetime and be lucky enough just to get their hands on one project like that, so it was a very significant thing for us.”

Emmadale was also named Emerging Residential

Builder of the Year in 2012 by the ACT Master Builders Association at its own Excellence in Building Awards event, and while the company specialises in producing unique, high-quality work, that doesn’t mean they only do the million-dollar jobs.

“Our work could range from a really nice extension or a $300,000-400,000 home, all the way up to a high-end custom built home,” Rod explains. “Currently we’re doing some restoration work at Bungendore on a homestead that’s about 150 years old, so the work that we do is pretty diverse.”

The builder says he’s in the local construction sector “for the long haul” and hopes his son will work beside him in years to come and share his commitment to quality over

quantity, and customer satisfaction over making the biggest possible profit in the shortest possible time.

“Money comes and goes, but people’s perception and the quality of work that we leave behind will be our legacy,” he says, adding that the company only takes on about three to five projects at a time so they can “control every aspect” of each.

“That personalised service is extremely important to me and I think it gives a lot of confidence to the client that they are getting a quality job and that it’s all under control. I mean, when people are spending that much money, you’d like to think they have that confidence in the people that they’re working with.”

When the job’s done, Emmadale aims to have exceeded all of their client’s expectations.

“The feedback that we’ve had thus far has been extremely positive,” says Rod.

“I think building or renovating a house can be very confronting sometimes, so for me it’s about creating a positive experience. When it’s over, the client should feel like it hasn’t been a real chore, it should be a journey they’ve enjoyed.

“When it’s all finished and people say: ‘We love the house; we love the space,’ that, for us, is the most important thing.”

Emmadale Projects, MBA Information Centre, 1 Iron Knob Street, Fyshwick. Call 6175 5917 or go to emmadalegroup.com

Your safety is our priority

Maintaining a safe and reliable network is our priority. To do this, we need your help.

When you’re out and about, keep an eye out for damage to gas or electricity equipment.

Damaged equipment includes the following:

• open or damaged substation doors

• covers removed from mini pillars

• damaged electricity poles and wires

• bent or broken gas meter pipes.

A little help from you could make a big difference to everyone’s safety.

For emergencies and faults call 13 10 93 for electricity and 13 19 09 for gas – 24-hours.

The run around looking for childcare is driving us all mad. But there’s a solution. With more than 200 places available in Goulburn, you and your child are in the driver’s seat. And all just a short drive to Canberra.

But it’s the feeling you will have on Friday afternoons that will seal the deal. The anticipation of all the open spaces to play in.

goulburnaustralia.com.au

‘We

Star broker kicks goals for his clients

WHETHER in his working life or a few years back on the soccer field, mortgage broker Craig Russell has always strived to play his part to the best of his ability.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve always had a really strong desire to make a difference to people’s lives, and by doing this you can make a tangible difference to people’s lives every day,” says the owner of Priority One Mortgages.

As a father of two young boys, Craig’s most recent position on the pitch was as coach, but he’s still kicking goals when it comes to his clients; in February, he was named 2013 Broker of the Year by his aggregator, the Australian Loan Company.

“An aggregator negotiates a lot of agreements with lenders; it gives brokers options,” he helpfully explains. “The Australian Loan Company is a very good one and there’s a few hundred loan writers throughout the country that work to this group. I’m number one of those few hundred.”

Understandably proud of the achievement, he says last year was “150 per cent better” than any of the firm’s previous years, and puts that down to “sheer effort” from the small team.

“We’ve achieved some pretty big things in 2013 without a lot of staff, because we do things well. We get on very, very well with our clients and they then make the effort of referring us on because of that personal touch. Our clients know that we’re going to do ridiculous things for them in terms of going the extra mile to get things done quickly.”

Craig first tried his hand at writing loans nine years ago after an old friend offered

him the opportunity. He found he enjoyed the work, which is based around building relationships, and was getting good results so he struck out on his own to establish Priority One in 2007.

“Building the business, to be honest, has just been through building good relationships. Good relationships with our clients, as well as good relationships with people like accountants, financial planners, real estate agents and solicitors that we know are really good like-minded people who want to do the right thing by their clients.”

Building relationships was also a key skill required in his previous role in the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services, which included jointly managing the successful Family Homelessness Prevention Pilot, a $10.4 million project that ended in 2004 having achieved its aims and resulted in recurrent funding for an ongoing program.

“It was definitely one of the more interesting jobs in the public service and once we’d created that I felt I needed a career change,” he says.

Priority One grew solidly for the first few years, he says, but building a network of trustworthy associates turned out harder than he thought it would be. People he thought he could rely on didn’t work as hard for his clients as he had hoped, and then life got in the way of business.

“I had a couple of years in 2010 and 2011 that were intentionally very slow on the work front,” he recalls.

“There were some serious family and personal issues that needed my attention, including a cancer scare for myself, and for those reasons I had to make the choice between family and work. Obviously, family wins.”

At that point, if he didn’t want to be in

mortgage broking, it would have been a good time to throw in the towel, but Craig knew it was where he wanted to be so he refocused his attention on the business in 2012, leading to Priority One’s stellar year in 2013.

“The driver, for me, is really to help people, and my own young family,” he says simply.

“It’s easy to say I guess, but we do have a genuine interest in every person that

walks into the office. We make an effort to really understand each individual client’s circumstances and we don’t just do what so many other brokers do, which is just pick their favourite lender and send everybody there. That’s not our job.

“Our job is to look in detail at our clients’ situation, not just now but in the future, and then place them with the lender that is best suited to what they want to do, not to what

the bank wants to do.

“We don’t only do home and investment loans, but also business/commercial lending and vehicles and equipment loans. This helps to set us apart from a good deal of other brokers, who are only comfortable to do home loans.”

Priority One Mortgages. Level two, Jamison Centre, Bowman Street, Macquarie. Call 6251 0555 or go to priorityonemortgages.com.au

Canberra Confidential

Trieu believer crosses to the other side

DASHING Canberra-born

actor Andy Trieu has scored star billing in Australia’s first “kung fu comedy”, a new ABC TV series to air later this year called “Maximum Choppage”.

It will allow Andy, a three-time Australian champion, to show the full range of his martial art skills. He is currently in the top 50 “Cleo” Bachelors of the Year.

Filmed in Cabramatta and other Sydney locations, the first season of six 30-minute episodes will screen in October. Andy, whose parents are ethnic Chinese refugees from Vietnam, will break with his usual heart-throb parts to play the villain, Fury.

“It’s a great part,’ he told “CityNews” writer Robert Macklin . “All actors love playing villains. You can really get your teeth into them.”

Andy can be seen currently on the Nine network as the Kitchen Ninja co-hosting the “Kitchen Whiz” program. He has also had parts in “Rescue” on Nine and two top ABC programs “Crownies” and “Rake”.

Earlier this month he played the Chinese bushranger Sam Pu in the trailer of the feature film “Aodaliya Gold” shot mostly at the Gooromon Riding Centre.

Scalping vouchers

THE time-honoured courtesy of winding down the car window and freely proffering what’s left of an unexhausted parking voucher to a stranger at the pay machine seems to have ended.

A man offered a friend of CC a two-hour voucher the other day, which she cheerfully accepted, to discover only that his hand was outstretched for $3. Shocked, she paid him for more time than she had intended to park for!

Proper Charlies...

No. But we are deeply affected by the fact the Legislative Assembly can’t spell the southern suburb of Conder, named after Charles Edward Conder (1868-1909) the English-born painter, lithographer and designer who was a key figure in the Heidelberg School, arguably the beginning of a distinctively Australian tradition in Western art.

Budget crisis solved

ACROSS the border, in mysterious Queanbeyan, the visionary council has implemented a new approach to “user pays” by withholding an important public amenity subject to the community getting off their collective bums and literally earning it.

The recently announced “Queanbeyan Steps Up” is part of the council’s laudable 10,000 steps a day public health program, designed to encourage local lardbottoms to increase their walking.

However, are they seriously going to withhold the amenity if the great unwashed decide to sit it out? Although, if that logic were used here we could probably say goodbye to the underused ACTION buses, half the library service and most of ArtsACT’s esoteric arts funding. What Budget crisis?

Bright and gloomy…

LOVELY irony in this picture from the storm-swept Civic skyline last week. The old CPA Building in London Circuit has been rebranded by Bright Consultants and the canny eye of reader and media man Mike Welsh caught the moment perfectly.

Roasts are toast

LOOKS like it’s goodbye meat and three veg and hello wok world as the new “Australian Eating and Cooking Habits Study” breathlessly reveals that 49 per cent of Australians prefer to cook Asian cuisine at home over any type of international food.

Only 15 per cent of Australians cook traditional roasts and 66 per cent of the population has cut down restaurant visits to save money.

scene / around canberra

Event of the week / ‘Gourmet at the Gallery’ for Affirm, at Gandel Hall

Virginia Hansen is a masterful manager of a dinner that keeps it simple but stylish, encourages participation in the auctions and offers and entertains guests.

AFFIRM is the Australian Foundation for Mental Health Research and its gourmet event, whether lunch or dinner, is a highlight of local fundraising for the foundation.

The venues have been such fun with a meandering long table style for the original “Gourmet in the Botanical Gardens”, a summer lunch on the walkways at the back of Old Parliament House, a special event at Kiribilli House and, more recently, magnificent Gandel Hall at the National Gallery of Australia, a venue that suits the long table style perfectly.

As deputy chair of the Affirm board, Virginia Hansen is a masterful manager of a dinner that keeps it simple but stylish, encourages participation in the auctions and offers and this year entertains guests with the gorgeous voice of Grace Knight, former lead singer of the Eurogliders, jazzing up some classic favourites.

One of the most successful fundraisers is the lucky envelope prize collection of goods and services where for $50 or $100 you will be assured of a smart black envelope with a valuefor-money prize.

Affirm is a foundation where research into mental health issues is making a difference with innovation particularly in e-health applications.

LYN MILLS

At ‘Celebrate Lyn Mills’ soiree, National Press Club, Barton

Public consultation about the Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT)

The ACT Law Reform Advisory Council (LRAC) has been asked by the ACT Attorney-General to inquire into the scope and operation of the Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT).

A Consultation Paper is now available at www.lawreform.act.gov.au

You are invited to provide your feedback and comments at one of the following information sessions:

> Tuesday 6 May, 2 pm, Gungahlin Community Centre

> Wednesday 7 May, 5.30 pm, Woden Community Centre

> Thursday 8 May, 10 am, Tuggeranong Community Centre

> Thursday 8 May, 5.30 pm, Majura Community Centre

> Friday 9 May, 10 am, Belconnen Community Centre

Alternatively, you can make a submission:

> Online: www.lawreform.act.gov.au

> Email: lrac@anu.edu.au

> Phone: 02 6125 7514

> Mail: ACT Law Reform Advisory Council, c/- ANU College of Law, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200. The deadline for submissions is 30 May 2014

Further information about the inquiry

Please contact Laura Sweeney, Executive Officer, ACT Law Reform Advisory Council on 02 6125 7514 or by email to lrac@anu.edu.au

Wonderful ways to getting

Be.you.tiful Therapy takes you back in time to a place where beauty parlours were part of the community and social scene.

Our salon is a 1950’s inspired boutique where women come not only to be be.you.tified but to sit back, relax, have a chat, and enjoy a coffee and cake or a cheeky champagne, or indulge in our naughty lolly bar.

Our clients see our salon as an excuse to come in early and relax before or after their treatments, they are never rushed out the door!

Be beautiful, inside and out, with the “CityNews” guide to getting gorgeous. From healing massages that will help you unwind, unknot and and melt away stress, to indulgent spas that will pamper you to bits and the ultimate healthy juice cleanses, we’ve got the inside sorted. Not to forget your outer beauty – here’s where to get your eyebrows threaded, find a personal trainer, have a spray tan, get your make-up done, or enjoy a relaxing mani/pedi with a friend. You’ll be your most beautiful you...

and sugaring services.

also offer a private nanny facility on Wednesdays and Fridays by appointment.

Beauty in a ‘glamorous, girly space’

THE ultimate old-school beauty parlour, be.you.tiful therapy in Fyshwick is a retro-style environment with vintage furniture and a homely feel that owner Sommer Deaves says her clients just love.

“In the ‘50s, getting your hair or nails done was a real social event, where people would come and have a chat and stay all morning,” she says.

“We’re aiming to bring that back, encouraging our clients to socialise together in a glamorous, girly space.”

be.you.tiful therapy offers a childminding service twice a week with a professional nanny, says Sommer.

“Having a childminding service was a must so I could still be with my babies, but also my clients could bring their little ones and have some time out for themselves,” she says.

Serene and restorative healing

KaHuna is a healing and restorative form of bodywork, says Debra Namara, who runs Canberra KaHuna Massage and Reiki in Canberra’s south.

“A KaHuna massage will alleviate stress, help with digestion, improve circulation and aid detoxification,” she says.

“It will also relieve tight or sore muscles and can vastly improve your range of motion.”

As well as feeling relaxed after a treatment, Debra says you will also feel thoroughly nurtured.

“It’s a hard thing to quantify, but anxiety will melt away leaving a deep sense of calm and serenity,” she says.

Debra is a qualified KaHuna massage therapist as well as a level 2 Reiki healer. She has also led women’s circles and workshops, and carries out life celebrations and rites of passage.

“I provide a safe and healing sanctuary for you to escape from the madness of the world, to recharge your energy while restoring balance to your body, mind and spirit,” she says.

Canberra KaHuna Massage and Reiki, call 0410 359965 or email debra.namara@live.com.au

CARM and relaxing

CARM Therapies (Corrective, Alternative and Relaxation Massage) is a remedial massage and movement clinic that offers a variety of massage therapy options and stretching classes.

Located at Scullin shops, the clinic has expanded from a single room in Deakin 12 years ago, to a multidisciplinary allied health clinic while maintaining a friendly and relaxed environment.

CARM’s philosophy is simple – to help people to get the most out of their bodies by improving functional

Find your juice fix

JOVAN Pejic and his wife Lucianne Attard create and deliver a range of cold-pressed juices to Canberrans, with a firm belief in the healing power of plant-based nutrition.

The Fix offers a detailed juice menu, and has also created a range of cleanses that are made up of locally sourced vegetables and fruit that have been squished, squeezed and pressed.

“A juice cleanse is a natural way to promote detoxification and healing in the body,” says Jovan. “It can be as simple and quick as replacing one meal with a juice tailored specifically for a specific goal, or as long as our five-day program.”

The Fix offers three main cleanses, he says: the Noobie is designed for those who like the idea of juicing but don’t want the experience to be a shock to the system.

The beauty parlour offers eyebrow shaping, eyelash extensions, sugaring, spray tans and make-up, using products that are natural and vegan friendly.

be.you.tiful therapy, 2/107 Wollongong St, Fyshwick. More information at 0431 336342 or beyoutifultherapy.net

Warm and friendly changes

WITH a focus on being friendly, warm and approachable, Matisse Hair and Beauty is in the heart of Belconnen, says co-owner Caterina Giugovaz.

“We bought the salon as an existing business, but we’ve made a lot of positive changes,” she says. “We renovated the space, changed the menus, prices, added new services, suppliers and products.”

Caterina says they have added warm timber elements to the decor, as well as a large colour table where clients are encouraged to sit around and chat.

“We want to provide a family friendly atmosphere, where you can really get to know your hairdresser and form a bond,” she says. “We have a great clientele who have been coming to Matisse for years and who say they love the changes we’ve made.”

Well-loved local hairdresser Paul Boundy is another co-owner, who joined Matisse from Karina Salon in Woden, says Caterina.

Matisse offers waxing, mani/pedis, massage, facials, spray tans, tinting, brow bar and day spa treatments.

Matisse Hair and Beauty, Shop 3 Lakeview Square, 21 Benjamin Way, Belconnen. More information at 6251 9999 or matissehairandbeauty.com.au

movement and reducing pain. Remedial massage has great results for musculoskeletal imbalances, chronic pain, neck and back pain, headaches and overuse injuries, to name a few.

The clinic is open for massage treatments Monday to Saturday. Gift vouchers are also available.

CARM Therapies, Scullin Place, Scullin. Call 6162 1800, email carmtherapies@gmail.com, or visit carmtherapies.com.au

The 9 to Fiver is for caffeine-dependent people with busy and stressful lifestyles, who lack access to fresh fruit and veg. This cleanse is particularly good for your digestive system, Jovan says.

In the hands of the ‘best threader’

THREADING is an ancient Indian hair removal technique that takes a long time to learn, says Aeshlyn Geer, owner of Absolute Shape.

“We focus primarily on eyebrows, and threading is an incredibly effective way of shaping and giving a really clean look,” she says.

Aeshlyn says it takes years to perfect the skill, which uses a thread that’s twisted and rolled to grab the hair cleanly from the follicle.

“It also doesn’t damage the skin and is a great way to create clean lines. It also lasts longer than waxing.”

Aeshlyn says she was trained by an Indian lady 15 years ago, and has trained therapists in the UK, Europe and the US.

“My clients tell me I’m the best threader this side of Sydney, and I have several who drive from the coast and as far as Ballarat for the service.”

Aeshlyn’s home salon also offers facials, waxing, sugaring, tinting, spray tans, MYscara, lash extensions and NSL inch-loss wraps.

Absolute Shape, 23 Axon Street, Monash. More informtion at 0414 596123 or absoluteshape.com.au

Striving for holistic health

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

“The biggest thing I recommend to people is to have a sense of fun in what they’re doing; if they go to the gym and don’t like it, they won’t keep going for very long,” she says.

“I help people connect with what their soul or their body really wants to do; I’m just a coach who helps them trust what they already know.”

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

“What that means for our clients is we work with them on their thoughts, their breath, their hydration, diet, exercise and sleep to get

spa beside the Foreshore

WITH a range of spa rooms that are more of an “experience” than treatment areas, Lauren Scifleet, owner of H20 Spa on the Kingston Foreshore, says her priority is building relationships with her clients.

“I’ve treated people with disabilities, during sickness and for wellbeing purposes, and I make sure that no one feels like a number,” she says.

Therapist Lauren says she opened H20, her dream spa, in Kingston 16 months ago.

“It’s a very white and fresh space, and our rooms are very special – there’s the Cleopatra room, the ScenTao room and the Khanya room, each offering a different experience.”

all those things working in harmony together,” she says.

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

Tanya’s approach was good enough for former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who trained with her during the time she occupied the Lodge and, we’re told, gave a fantastic reference.

Strive Holistic Personal Training, Level 1, 10 Thesiger Street, Deakin. More information at 0424 405344 or strive-training.com

H20 also offers couples’ treatments, waxing, dual mani/pedis so you can come with a friend, spray tans, tattoo removal, facials, make-up and lash extensions.

The salon recently won an award for Outstanding Salon 2013, a national award given by Babor Cosmetics.

“I was pretty overwhelmed to win, but so excited for the prize, which is a trip to Germany in May to see behind the scenes of the brand we use, to meet the scientists and receive three days of intensive training,” she says.

H20 Spa, Shop 68, 71 Giles Street, Kingston Foreshore. More information at 6295 7072 or h2ospa.com.au

BOUTIQUE salon Natural Beauty Centre is a small, intimate salon which aims to offer a personalised service, says owner Lindl Rowe. “I’ve owned the salon for two years, having bought it off a friend who had a loyal following of clients,” she says.

The salon is warm and homely, with a different wallpaper in each treatment room and chandeliers to create an elegant atmosphere.

Natural Beauty Centre uses Dermalogica, Jessica GELeration soak off gel polish, Essie Polish, Catalina Geo Cosmetics, Bodyography Cosmetics, Naked Tan and many more professional products in its services.

The salon provides waxing, tinting, spray tans, mani/pedis, facials and brow tints.

“The Bodyography make-up range is exclusive to us in Canberra at the moment,” she says. “It’s a really wonderful mineral make-up that’s cruelty-free.”

Natural Beauty Centre, 1st Floor, Garema Centre, Garema Place, Bunda Street, Civic. Call 6248 0490.

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

gold creek Little village blessed

A day out at Gold Creek Village has plenty to keep the kids enthralled all day and, conveniently, the little shopping centre in Nicholls has plenty of useful services, too, right beside one of Canberra’s best golf clubs.

Golf course for everyone

GOLD Creek Country Club’s state-ofthe-art facilities can accommodate golfers of all levels, including an 18hole, par-72 course, a first-class driving range and three practice holes.

The course is open to the public every day of the week, at $40 for 18 holes, and midweek memberships are available from $90 a month.

“We have 65 motorised golf carts available along with equipment hire and a fully stocked pro shop with equipment, apparel and accessories,” says golf manager John Hair.

“Matthew Millar, our PGA golf professional, is available to provide lessons.”

The course was completely relaid with drought-tolerant couch grass about four years ago and the pure bentgrass growing on its greens provides some of the best playing surfaces you’ll find anywhere, says Hair.

“Combine this with the Bruce Devlin designed championship layout and you have a course to satisfy everyone from the beginner to seasoned professional,” he says.

Gold Creek Country Club, 50 Curran Drive, Nicholls. Call 6123 0601 or go to goldcreekcountryclub.com.au

Walk in and meet the birds

A TRIP to Canberra Walk-in Aviary at Gold Creek involves strolling through about 1000 square metres of gardens filled with about 500 birds from more than 50 different species, both natives and their beautiful cousins from overseas.

Visitors can spend a few hours in the colourful company of free-flying wrens, finches, doves, quail, pheasants and parrots, including cockatiels, budgerigars and every type of Australian lorikeet.

Owner Mick Logan says the crowd favourite is the big flock of rainbow lorikeets that flash around the spacious enclosure.

“They’re obviously very bright, but it’s also their personalities; they’re pretty outgoing and boisterous,” he says.

You can even take a young lorikeet or cockatiel home with you for a new pet, as long as the aviary has some that are old enough.

“We give you a small plate of apple and some of the birds will come and take the food from you,”

Mick explains. “It’s an interactive experience with the birds and it’s suitable for all ages. We get people from infants right up to... well, the oldest was 101.”

Babies are fascinated by all the squeaks and squawks, bright colours and flapping of wings, and the aviary is a safe environment where slightly older kids can run around and have fun.

“It’s a rewarding and interactive experience,” Mick says. “Some of the birds will come and land on you, but others are more interested in having a taste of what you’ve got to offer than interacting with you.”

Canberra Walk-in Aviary, 13/26 O’Hanlon Place, Gold Creek Village, Nicholls. Call 6230 2044 or go to canberrawalkinaviary.com.au

Chemist with medicines and more

GOLD Creek village didn’t have a chemist until a couple of years ago when Nader Ibrahim opened his Pharmasave store.

A pharmacist with almost 10 years’ experience in the profes-

sion, Nader says the little centre is unlike anywhere else in the capital.

“Gold Creek just has a different feel to the rest of Canberra; it’s a little bit like a local holiday, I think, because people can come here just for a day trip on the weekend,” he says.

“We’re here to provide healthcare to all those people that are tourists or visiting from other parts of the city, but we’re also here to serve Nicholls and Hall, and we’re the closest pharmacy to Casey and Crace as well.”

The full-service chemist shop carries an extensive range of skincare products, including the popular Australian-made brands Moogoo and Sukin.

“Apart from filling all prescriptions and providing professional medical advice, we have a range of other programs like a seasonal flu shot clinic, we’re a Diabetes Australia agent and we have all the equipment hire that people expect, like crutches,” Nader says, stressing that despite the Pharmasave branding, he is the store’s independent owner.

“We’ve only recently set up a baby clinic, too, because a lot of mothers’ groups come through the village, and we also hire out breast pumps for new mothers.” Gold Creek Chemist, shop 3-4/39, O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls. Call 6253 9702 or go to goldcreek. com.au/gold-creek-chemist

Having fun with reptiles

CANBERRA reptile zoo has always been a fun day out with the kids, and it got even better when reptile experts Antony Pezzella, Karen Williams and Peter Childs took it over about 18 months ago, doubling the number of animals on display and then some.

“You don’t have to come at a certain time for scheduled shows here,” says Antony. “We try and make it the same experience for everybody who comes through the door.

Gungahlin’s ‘best-kept secret’

TREVINO’S Restaurant at Gold Creek Country Club has been known as “Gungahlin’s best-kept secret” since it opened about two years ago.

“A lot of people think it’s a private restaurant that’s only for members of the club, but it’s definitely open to the public,” says restaurant manager Rohan Teer, explaining that a lot of the diners who have eaten at Trevino’s have done so on the strength of recommendations from friends who’ve had dinner or attended a function there.

“It’s a modern restaurant with brilliant views over the mountains and a nice terrace where people can sit outside, and we’ve got a bit of everything on the menu, really – steak, seafood, pastas – it’s not just one specific type of food,” he adds.

There’s also a big fireplace to welcome diners on a cold winter evening, and function facilities for all kinds of weddings, parties and conferences.

“We’ve also got a cafe called Divots joined on to us,” says Rohan. “They do coffees, drinks and light meals like really nice burgers and wood-fired pizzas.”

Trevino’s is open for lunch from Wednesday to Sunday, and dinner Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm.

Trevino’s Restaurant, 50 Curran Drive, Nicholls. Call 6123 0659 or go to goldcreekcountryclub.com.au

“We let people touch the snakes, goannas, blue tongues, bearded dragons and things like that, and we have staff available so if people do have questions they get the opportunity to help the keepers and the volunteers. It’s more than just coming and looking at things through glass.”

Antony says the Reptile Zoo’s new outdoor area full of big statues is a big hit with kids and perfect for birthday parties.

“We’ve got a giant Megalania, which is about six metres long –that’s a prehistoric goanna and it’s life-size – as well as a water buffalo, a big dragon, snakes and crocodiles. It’s not a playground, but it’s a really good space for the kids to run around and play on the statues.”

Canberra Reptile Zoo, 29 O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls. Call 6253 8533 or go to canberrareptilezoo.com.au

Canberra Walk In Aviary Feed the Birds!

Unit 13 Federation Square, O’Hanlon Place, NICHOLLS Phone 6230 2044 micklogan@iinet.net.au canberrawalkinaviary.com.au

Pharmasave Chemist Gold Creek, offers an extensive range of products and services including:

• Prescription & Advice

• Competitive Prices

• Free Baby Clinic

• Medela Breast Pump Hire

• Medication Packing Service

• Free Blood Pressure Checks

• Crutches for Hire

• Diabetes Australia Agent

• Large Selection of Skin Care prodicts (inc the highly regarded MooGoo and Sukin Range)

• Perfumes and Fragrances

Open 7 days a week & parking at the door.

Pharmasave Chemist Gold Creek… for all your pharmacy needs.

Shop 3-4/39 O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls 6253 9702 goldcreek.chemist@frednet.com.au

The Canberra Walk-In Aviary is a huge privately owned walk-in aviary where the friendly free flying birds can be observed, photographed and fed. The Walk-in Aviary’s owners developed the aviary as a way to enjoy and share their extensive collection of feathered friends. It is our mission to allow people to interact directly with the birds. Visitors to the aviary walk amongst approximately 500 birds representing 50 different species from Australia and around the world.

Trading hours

• Autumn/Winter (May – August)

• Open every day except Christmas Day

• 10am to 4pm (last admission at 3:30pm)

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• Understand the risks and rewards across the project and property lifecycle

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Morning Tea provided 9:00 – 11:30am Wednesday, May 7

Registration at 8:45am

Members: $150. Non members: $225

Principal Sponsor To register go to www.propertyoz.com.au/act or phone 6248 6902 by Friday, May 2

First aid help if holiday trouble strikes

HERE’S a list of first-aid tips to survivng the Easter break from the Red Cross, which says the first step is to make sure every family and car has a basic first aid kit.

Road accidents

SHOCK is one the most common conditions associated with road accident trauma, says Red Cross National First Aid, Health and Safety advisor, Dan Coad.

“When approaching the scene of an accident, always remember the basic life support process,” he says.

D – check for danger

R – check for response

S – send for help (000)

A – open the airway

B – check for normal breathing

C – Start CPR

D – attach an automatic external defibrillator as soon as possible and follow the prompts.

“It is common to find one or more people involved in an accident to be suffering from shock. To determine if someone is in shock, look for restlessness or irritability, nausea or vomiting, drowsiness, confusion or loss of consciousness; or pale, cool or moist skin. If you believe someone is in shock call for help immediately,” says Dan.

“Dial 000 and provide the operator with as much information you can including your exact location.

“As you wait for help to arrive, leave the injured person lying flat, control any external bleeding, try to prevent them getting chilled or overheated, and do not give them

anything to eat or drink. The most important thing you can do is to provide comfort and keep them safe until assistance arrives.

“If you find someone with a head injury, call 000. Ask them to rest and apply a cold compress to the injury if you have one.

Common signs of concussion include blurred vision, loss of consciousness, headache, confusion, no memory of the incident and dizziness.

“Also check for any clear fluid or blood coming from the ears or nose as this will indicate a serious head injury.

“If the person starts to become confused or drowsy, or vomits, move them into the recovery position, wait for the emergency services to arrive and continue to observe them. Always make sure that the person’s airway is clear and they are breathing normally.

“A first aid kit should be an essential item in every car.”

Stings and bites

DAN says if you suspect someone has been bitten or stung first look for a bite mark or stinger, and any swelling.

“Remove the stinger with flat card making sure you don’t inject more venom. Wash the wound with soap and water and cover with a clean dressing and apply an ice or cold pack.

“Call 000 if the person appears to be

having an allergic or anaphylactic reaction,” says Dan.

“If it’s a snake bite, the person who has been bitten will usually feel pain. Look for fang marks or swelling.

“Call 000 immediately if you suspect the person has been bitten by a venomous snake.

“Ensure you calm and reassure the person and keep them still. Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage to the affected area. Start by covering the bite and moving the bandage to the edges of the bite area, and then back up to the top of the limb marking the bite site on the outside of the bandage and immobilise the extremities. Keep the bitten part still and try to lower the person’s heart rate by keeping them calm and still unless it is absolutely necessary to move them.

“Contrary to popular belief, do not apply ice or a tourniquet to a venomous snake bite, do not cut the wound and do not apply suction to try and remove venom.”

Drownings

IF someone appears to be drowning do not enter the water unless you are specifically trained to perform water rescues, says Dan.

As with other first-aid emergency incidents always follow the basic life-support process. If you are on your own, always call 000 first to ensure help can be sent as soon as possible.

“If the person is breathing, tilt their head back and place them on their side in the recovery position. It is important to tilt the

head back as it moves the tongue out of the way,” he says.

“If the person is not breathing, immediately commence rescue breaths and chest compressions with 30 pushes on their chest followed by two steady breaths into their mouth or nose, ensuring you have a suitable seal and have closed the other opening.

“For children under 12 months old, seal your mouth around both their nose and mouth. Continue this cycle of 30 chest compressions and two steady breaths until help arrives.

“If you do not want to give mouth-tomouth, hands-only chest compressions should still be administered until help arrives as this is the most important way to get blood pumping and oxygen flowing to the brain.

“A common mistake is to not administer compressions or breaths for fear of using the incorrect method when, in fact, any effort is better than no effort at all.

Sprains, strains & broken bones

Easter weather usually means lots of fun and family time in parks, but this can sometimes result in sprains, strains or broken bones.

“If you find yourself, or someone else injured remember the basic principles of R-I-C-E-R,” says Dan.

Rest – don’t move or straighten the injured area.

Compression – apply a compression bandage if available to stabilise.

Elevate & Refer – elevate the affected limb if it doesn’t cause the person more pain, and refer them for further medical advice “If you believe someone has broken a bone, encourage the person to support the injury with their hand or some other cushioning item, and prevent unnecessary movement. Make sure the injured limb is supported until medical assistance arrives.

“If a bone looks unnatural or dislocated don’t try and put it back in place as you may cause further damage. This is a hospital job.”

Burns

“THE faster and longer a burn is cooled using cool running water, the less damage is done,” says Dan.

“For severe burns that require further medical assistance, cover after cooling with plastic wrap or a clean plastic bag. Do not use dressings as they will stick to the wound. Butters, creams and ointments will add further heat to a burn so they should be avoided altogether.”

First-aid hints are downloadable via a Red Cross first aid mobile app through Google Play or the App Store. To purchase a Red Cross first aid kit online, or to book a first-aid training course go to redcross.org.au/firstaid or call 1300 367428.

Ice – apply ice to injured area to reduce swelling and pain. If you don’t have any ice you can use some frozen veggies wrapped in a dish towel. Never place ice directly on skin as it is too cold and don’t apply ice for longer than 20 minutes at a time.

arts & entertainment

about the discovery of love.

Goodbye to grim, says film festival

THIS year’s Spanish Film Festival will be nothing if not entertaining, its director Genevieve Kelly promises.

Yes, she agrees, maybe Spanish film has too often been overshadowed by grim stories of the Franco era, but as she says, “that’s a perception we would like to break”.

Curiously, the very entertaining film she’s chosen for opening night, “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed”, is set in the late 1960s part of the Franco era, a time when John Lennon was writing “Strawberry Fields Forever” in Spain. Believe it or not, Lennon looms large in the story.

Kelly is unapologetic about her pursuit of popularity this year. While the French Film Festival’s been around for 25 years and is the most popular of the big ones, with its Italian counterpart not far behind, the Spanish event (Palace Electric Cinemas, May 1-14), now 17 years old, has the potential to catch up.

“Every year it has grown exponentially in attendance,” she says, “Spanish cinema has just as much appeal as the others”. All three festivals are managed by Palace Cinemas, for whom Kelly works.

“The entertainment factor is overriding,” she says, and the news that “X Men” supervillain, Álex González, will be in

Easter @ St Peter’s Weston

Saturday April 12 2-5pm Easter story, egg making and decorating

Maundy Thursday 8pm

Good Friday • 9am

Sunday • 8am and 10am

www.stpetersweston.org.au

Phone 02 6287 1193

“Zip and Zap and the Marble Gang”... Zip and Zap are sent to a summer school for misbehaving children where the motto is “no play allowed.”

town for a Canberra-exclusive Q&A on May 4, confirms her focus. González stars in two of the films, “Scorpion in Love”, an urban drama about neo-Nazis, and “Combustion”, an action film about illegal car racing.

Kids are often short-changed in our film festivals, I suggest, but she’s thought of that too, choosing one movie based on two enormously popular cartoon characters.

In “Zip and Zap and the Marble Gang” the two friends, Zip and Zap, are sent to a summer school for misbehaving children where the motto is “no play allowed”.

“I was exposed to foreign-language films from a very young age,” Kelly says, “It allows

young people to relate to other cultures.”

The festival has romantic comedies, drama and documentaries, but it’s the psychological thrillers such as “To Kill a Man” from Spanish-speaking Chile, that really haunt her.

And it’s the Romanian-French-Spanish, co-production “Cannibal”, starring Antonio de la Torre, that’s blown her mind. Set in the historical city of Granada, shy tailor Carlos (de la Torre) is a serial killer by night.

“It may sound gory,” Kelly says, “but it’s just the opposite, it’s about the discovery of love – I could watch that film again and again.”

Bach and beyond...

dance

“Interplay”

Sydney Dance Company

At Canberra Theatre, season ended.

Reviewed by Samara Purnell

THREE dance works formed “Interplay”.

In “2 in D minor”, artistic director, Rafael Bonachela continues his love affair with Bach and collaborated, one-on-one, with his dancers. The result was an uplifting, chic and crisp performance, at once edgy and elegant.

In an impressive display of skill and stamina, violinist, Veronique Serret, performed Bach’s partitas on stage.

The classical performance was interspersed with a spliced electronica version of the same composition. Complicated pas de deux and pas de trois allowed transfers of kinetic energy, with the dancers intertwined and playing off one another.

Sleek and sexy “Raw Models”, created by Italian choreographer Jacopo Godani, combined seven dancers clad in semi-sheer, black costumes, with strobe lighting, and heavy, thumping music by 48nord. Downlights outlined the muscle definition of each dancer, which created the feeling of looking on in an underground club.

The smoothly choreographed and faultlessly performed pas de deux between Charmene Yap and Andrew Crawford was a seductive standout.

Gideon Obarzanek’s “L’Chaim!” (Yiddish for “of life”) was formed around a disembodied voice following a train of thought, a line of questioning one might ponder whilst watching a dance performance. With origins in folk dance, this colourful piece incorporated the symbolism of gestures.

Obarzanek himself performed a surprise guest role and while the work may not entirely satiate choreographic expectations from the SDC, as a performance this humorous and joyful exploration was executed with enthusiasm and polish.

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It’s time to get things started

“Muppets Most Wanted” (G)

THEY’RE having a good time touring Europe until Constantine, a criminal doppel-ganger for Kermit, joins forces with their agent Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais) in a plot to steal the crown jewels from the Tower of London.

That necessitates, at the beginning of a tour westward through Europe, getting Kermit sent to the Gulag on a trumped-up charge to replace Constantine. Easy enough for Badguy to arrange.

This Muppet adventure, like its predecessors, is great fun. Their franchise is now in the Pixar stable under the Disney flag. Technical and creative skills are not an issue.

There’s no reason to consider Muppets as being strictly for kids. Indeed, while adults will enjoy deciphering, remembering and deriving pleasure from themes, allusions, familiar faces and historical references from a range of cinematic, historic and reality sources, kids may enjoy those embellishments to the core plot without understanding their full relevance, if indeed relevance exists.

Cameos by human characters invite a game of “Who’s that one?”. Tina Fey is delectably domineering as the Gulag commandant. Christoph Waltz waltzes. Lady Gaga, Salma Hayek, Danny Trejo, Frank Langella, the list is long and the satisfactions from their participation are undeniable.

Take your youngsters along and enjoy keeping them company. I did observe one playing a game on his iPhone toward the film’s end. That’s no great sin nor particularly aberrant for a film that runs for 113 minutes.

At Hoyts, Dendy, Palace Electric and Limelight

“Divergent” (M)

THIS futurist drama originates from the pen (keyboard?) of Veronica Roth, who has two more “young adult” novels (“Insurgent” and “Allegiant”) in the pipeline for cinema release in 2015 and 2016. I hope they deliver a little more sparkle than “Divergent”.

Following a cataclysmic war a century hence, behind a high fence around Chicago the law-givers have established a system for young adults to decide which of five ethical/intellectual disciplines they will follow for the rest of their lives – Erudite, Candor, Dauntless, Abnegation and Amity.

Tris (Shailene Woodley) chooses Dauntless, which seems a tad improbable for a well-bred young woman who might have chosen a less challenging career path than law enforcement in a society gravely damaged by war.

Neil Burger’s film follows Tris undergoing arduous physical and psychological training and investigation at boot camp in the unit led by the mysterious Four (Theo James). Smarter and more resilient than most of her colleagues, she slowly comes to an awareness that the system isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. She is in fact a divergent, one of a rare group of social types considered to be dangerous.

Cinema staff tell me that “Divergent” has found favour more among young adults than older age cohorts. I reached a similar conclusion before its turgid 139 minutes had finished.

At all cinemas

“Any Day Now” (M)

LIFE hasn’t done any favours for 14-year-old Marco (Isaac Leyva). His mother (Jamie Anne Allman) is a junkie sex-worker servicing clients in a run-down apartment. Marco has no friends. Marco has Down syndrome.

Along the hall, Rudy (Alan Cumming) faces eviction for unpaid rent. Rudy earns a pittance as a member of a cross-dressing trio performing karaoke in a gay bar.

In the local DA’s office, Paul (Garret Dillahunt) is having difficulty coming out. He and Rudy strike up an acquaintance. When Rudy finds Marco wandering the neighbourhood after his mother’s client ejects him from the apartment, he takes him in and gives him shelter. Rudy needs legal advice. His new lover provides it.

Examining attitudes toward gay men in a parenting role, writer/director Travis Fine’s film is perceptive, uncompromising and heart-warming. And frustrating, because while Rudy and Paul conduct their romantic lives quite separately from that shared role, the DA’s office presents a persuasive argument that Marco is at risk if it continues.

The forensic dispute before Judge Myerson (Frances Fisher) between Paul, now dismissed from the DA’s office, black attorney Lonnie (Don Franklin) whom Paul engages to plead his case, and prosecutor Lambert (Gregg Henry), forms the film’s main body. It’s uncomfortable and frustrating, thereby making the film all the more rewarding.

At Palace Electric

Window into shadowy past

visual art

“Scars of a Ritual Past” by Mariana del Castillo At Canberra Contemporary Art Space Gorman House, until May 10

Reviewed by Anni Doyle Wawrzynczak

“SCARS of a Ritual Past”, an installation of found objects, wood, metal, paint, hair and neon lights, comprises 12 freestanding individual works, which collectively provide a window into the shadow world of the artist’s complex Ecuadorian childhood.

Her passion for incorporating recycled and up-cycled domestic items, that retain the subtle emanations of their previous owners, is well known and this work marks a significant change from smaller to much larger works.

Elements include a sister’s long black wedding wig, wrought iron children’s beds, deer antlers, religious/ritualistic tokens, a collection of sewing machines (including that of the late Rosalie Gascoigne, gifted to the artist by the family) and the patterns, pins and props that reference her mother’s dressmaking trade.

A number of the works incorporate oblique messages in custom made neon signage, including the beautifully realised “Te Perdono”, (in English, I forgive you), first seen in “Bad Girls” at CCAS in 2013. “Unquiet” juxtaposes a stilled treadle sewing machine against its slow-flashing neon title referring perhaps to the usually “unquiet”, but now silenced machine that provided the aural soundscape of her childhood as well as the various undercurrents of domestic “unquiet” that marked the lives of her large matrilineal family group.

Also represented in the exhibition, Samantha Small’s marvellous, transformative installation “Sour Castles” and Pat Hoffie’s breath-catching continuation of her decades-long political manifesto, the “Fully Exploited Labor” series. A must see CCAS exhibition.

arts & entertainment / arts in the city

Artists transform Griffith park to garden for party

WITH the theme “Griffith’s Party is Our Garden Suburb”, M16 Artspace tenants and other community members are transforming the garden area now known as Blaxland Park, located between M16 Artspace and the Griffith shops, into a “garden” with large ceramic flowers, forged and welded mild steel critters, “bonsai” sculpture and perspex puzzle cockroaches. The Griffith Butchery will ensure everyone is well fed with organic sausages. All welcome, 12.30pm-4pm, on May 3.

CANBERRA Theatre Centre and the Canberra Labor Club, working together, have this financial year distributed 600 free tickets to local charities, including Barnardos, Beyond Blue, Lifeline and Camp Quality, with more confirmed for shows later in the year. Labor Club vice-president Tony Luchetti says: “It’s all worth it to see the

smiles on the faces of those who come to the shows.”

GOOD news for the Australian National Eisteddfod Society is that scientist and arts philanthropist, Sylvia Tulloch, has joined the new board as its president. Tulloch was for many years co-sponsor of the National Aria

HELEN MUSA

Competition and combines a good business head with sympathy for the arts.

ROBERT Foster, of F!nk Design, and artist Marie Hagerty are currently exhibiting at Olsen Irwin in Woollahra, Sydney. Though both live and work here, and know each other well around the Canberra arts traps, this is the first time they’ve collaborated in what proves to be an exciting mix of metal art and painterly concepts.

ARTIST-inresidence at Belconnen Arts Centre, Cadi McCarthy, pictured, is staging a “first stage” showing of new contemporary dance-theatre work, “That Place in Between”, on April 25 and 26 at 6.30pm. Somewhat dauntingly, it is said to examine “the many faces we use to keep relationships ‘healthy’, to stay in ‘control’ and keep functioning during pivotal moments of transition”. Tickets at the door.

NEXT up in the High Court’s free Sunday music program is the Latin/gypsy jazz duo The Night Café (flautist-singer Leila Gato and guitarist Michael Dalvean) performing “Manouche et Tango” – tango, salsa, bossa

In praise of a ‘Grumpy’ night out

By Helen Musa

FANS of the BBC hit comedy, “Grumpy Old Women”, will doubtless be in a lather on learning that a trio of NZ theatrical Grumps will be at the Canberra Theatre in early May, performing in the show “50 Shades of Beige!”

The show was written as part of a Grumpy trilogy by British actress Jenny Éclair and Judith Holder, the scriptwriter known for “Grumpy Old New Year”. According to director Geraldine Brophy, it covers most of the essential Grumpy topics, such as anger management, middle-aged drinking, voluntary euthanasia and beards for women.

But if you think it’s only for women, you’d be wrong. Imagine, she says, asking comedian Billy Connolly whether people would be interested in an ill-dressed old Scottish man!

“We’re like Billy Connolly with a uterus and a much nicer dress,” says Brophy, who lives in Wellington and also acts in the show with Lynda Milligan and Jude Gibson.

They’ve already performed the first in the trilogy, which had people saying, “oh my goodness, I say that”, on hearing some of the Grumpy comments.

The three performers use their own names and, apart from playing some little character vignettes, Brophy says: “We are not hiding behind characters, this is a very real experience.”

Styled “a celebration of the pre, peri- and postmenopausal female condition,” the initial stage show, “Grumpy Old Women Live!”, enjoyed a sell-out national tour and two runs on the West End in 2006, but “50 Shades of Beige!” conveniently aligns itself with the current fad for a certain

The “Grumpy” cast of “50 Shades of Beige!”... “We’re like Billy Connolly with a uterus and a much nicer dress,” says director Geraldine Brophy.

notorious novel, about to be turned into a film.

The play taps into the wider popularity of shows such as “Menopause the Musical” that speak to women of a certain age. Brophy is adamant that you don’t have to be either old or female to be a Grumpy Old Woman.

I note that the London “Times” went so far as to suggest: “Some of the meditations on mortality and the fading of desire could almost

have been lifted from a Beckett play.”

But if there’s a dark underlying note, as Brophy sees it, the antidote will be “healing laughter”. Oh, yes, and if you want to read the program, the producers advise: “Don’t forget your bifocals”.

“50 Shades of Beige!”, Canberra Theatre, 7.30pm, Saturday, May 10, bookings to 6275 2700 or canberratheatrecentre.com.au

nova, chanson and gypsy swing. Sunday, April 20 at 1pm. Free entry.

CURATOR and choreographer James Batchelor’s latest work, “Island”, is being developed in partnership with Dancehouse in Melbourne and will be seen in The Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre, April 30-May 4. Unusually, entry is by donation (“pay as you feel”), but places are limited, so register at canberratheatrecentre.com.au

St Paul’s EASTER SERVICES

Maundy Thursday of the Last Supper, April 17th

7pm Eucharist with washing of feet, stripping of altar, & Vigil before the Blessed Sacrament (until 10.00pm)

Good Friday, April 18th

9am Good Friday Liturgy (with Proclamation of the Cross & Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament)

Easter Eve, April 19th

7.30pm Eucharist with Lighting of the New Fire and Baptism

Easter Day, Sunday, April 20th

7amEucharist (The Book of Common Prayer)

8am Eucharist with hymns 10am Sung Eucharist

St David’s

Good Friday, April 18th

8.30am Good Friday liturgy

(Holy Communion from Reserved Sacrament)

Easter Day, Sunday, April 20th

8.30am Eucharist with hymns

is now serving Dinner

Wednesday to Saturday 7–10pm Happy Hours on Thursday and Friday 5–6pm From Wednesday 23rd April

Phone | 02 6257 0605 for bookings. Please visit our site for a sample menu @ www.ivy-cafe.com.au

arts & entertainment / dining

Taste of class, touch of quirk

QT Hotel (formally Rydges Lakeside) describes itself as offering an eclectic mix of design and art; style and luxury; a touch of quirk.

It’s true. I’ve checked it out. This is no ordinary hotel. It’s been transformed from head to toe –lobby, restaurant, bar and rooms – and is very stylish indeed.

Each of the five designer hotels in the family has its own distinct personality. QT Port Douglas, for example, is themed Mad Men-meets-theHamptons and QT Gold Coast is a mix of nostalgic surfer chic meets Miami swim catwalk. And QT Canberra? You guessed it … Australian politics and all that entails. I’ll say no more ‘cause I don’t want to spoil the fun for when you visit.

“CityNews” was invited as a guest to a media dinner so we could get the full experience, including the food offerings of the Capitol Bar & Grill.

QT Hotel is bold enough to call this a “concept restaurant” and the menu has been designed by chef Robert Marchetti, who has been cooking since he was 14. He’s been in the kitchen in big-name restaurants and is now QT Hotel’s

This is no ordinary hotel. It’s been transformed from head to toe and is very stylish indeed.

creative food director working his Italian magic on many dishes.

I’ve declared I was a guest, but can put my hand on my heart and declare that the food is damn delicious.

The bistro menu is extensive and if you love to share, which I do, then you’ll love the seasonal antipasto (small $19, medium $26 and large $33). It was sensational.

The main course pasta line-up includes a spanner crab, garlic, brandy and tomato passata baked in a paper bag ($37) and a saffron risotto with seafood and finished off with a dash of Pernod ($39). The grill department includes a grain-fed rib eye on the bone (100 per cent Black Angus) for two ($78) and a mixed grill with garlic bone marrow ($38). Fish options feature baked, whole, line-caught rock flathead (market price) and from the farm is chicken and quail and the menu proudly presents some classics such as meat loaf, osso buco (which Italians do so well) and veal chops.

If I was forced to pick a favourite from the feast presented to us, it would have to be the Mac n Cheese, with black truffle, white parsley, and a cheese sauce to die for, including Reggiano, Asiago, Taleggio and Gruyere. A moment on

the lips and a lifetime on the hips, but did I care? No, I did not.

The Pollies Pie was a close second – dry-aged beef, braised in Italian wine, tiny champignons, a pea and mint mash floater and a superb wine gravy ($32).

After dinner we all tumbled into Lucky’s, the hotel’s prohibition-style bar.

QT Hotel. It’s worth checking out.

QT Hotel, 1 London Circuit, Civic. Call 6247 6244.

WENDY JOHNSON

Cello concert on Anzac eve

CELLIST and former “CityNews” Artist of the Year, David Pereira, with Tamara Anna Cislowska on piano, will perform at the “CityNews”/Canberra International Music Festival preview concert, “Lest We Forget”, in the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, 15 Blackall Street, Barton, 7pm, on Anzac Eve, April 24. The concert will feature works with a wartime connection from England, France, Spain, NZ, Hungary and Switzerland. Bookings to trybooking.com/ Booking/BookingEventSummary. aspx?eid=7891B

puzzles page

Joanne Madeline Moore

your week in the stars – April 21-28, 2014

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Prepare for a challenging week full of inconvenient disruptions and dramatic surprises. Being a rambunctious (or rude) Ram will just land you in a heap of trouble, especially with authority figures like your boss or the police. So simmer down, before you say or do something that you later regret. You’ll find cool cooperation will get you a lot further than fiery confrontation.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Mercury moves into your sign (from April 23-May 8) so keep two-way communication going Taurus. If you are too stubborn and unyielding in your opinions, then others will just stop listening to what you have to say. Friday’s fabulous Venus/Saturn trine helps you sort out a partnership problem. Single Bulls - look for a long-term lover who has depth and staying power.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Expect some turmoil this week Twins, especially involving children, teenagers, friends or finances. With a flexible approach and a diplomatic demeanour you’ll manage things just fine. You’re in a hurry to get ahead but be especially cautious when it comes to money matters. So your motto for the moment is from birthday great Charlotte Bronte: “Look twice before you leap.”

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Avoid using manipulation to force people to do what you think they should be doing. Let others make their own choices and their own mistakes. It’s also time to initiate career and relationship changes before Uranus and Pluto do it for you! With Jupiter in your sign, draw inspiration from birthday great Shirley MacLaine: “Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. It’s where all the fruit is.”

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

It’s a volatile week so keep your cool Cats! Avoid spreading unsubstantiated gossip and blurting out things that you’ll later regret. Take the time to check the facts first. Plus be extra careful when driving. You’re keen to teach or instruct others, but don’t assume you have all the answers. Hot-headed hubris will put others off. The more humble you are, the better the week will be.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

With Mercury (your ruling planet) moving into fellow earth sign Taurus, you’re keen to tackle practical tasks like cooking, gardening, building and DIY projects. Plus education, study, reading and research are also favoured. You need to keep up to speed with what’s going on in the world. As birthday great Jack Nicholson said: “The minute that you’re not learning I believe you’re dead.”

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

You want everything to run smoothly this week but it’s just not going to happen. Work relationships will be tricky and loved ones unpredictable, so try to relax and take things as they come. With Jupiter activating your career zone (until July 16) look for ways to expand your influence at work. The more you help others professionally, the more successful you’ll be.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

What a dramatic week! Pluto opposes Jupiter; then squares Uranus and Mars. Trying to control others and manipulate outcomes will get you nowhere fast so consider swapping Scorpio sarcasm and temper tantrums for cool, clever compromise. It’s also time to examine your life in forensic detail; keep what’s working, and change what isn’t. The trick is knowing which is which.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Cutting corners could lead to unfortunate consequences. And, if you are less than 100% honest, then the Jupiter/Pluto opposition increases your likelihood of getting caught out. Enthusiasm is high but don’t jump to hasty conclusions, and then pass on incorrect information. Get your facts straight, otherwise serious stuff-ups are likely - especially involving financial matters.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

The more intently you micro-manage close relationships early in the week, the more loved ones will distance themselves from you. Emotional power struggles are likely, unless you can be more cooperative. Friday’s fabulous Venus/Saturn trine boosts your communication skills and your Capricorn charisma. So don’t waste the opportunity to make a memorable impression.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Uranus sends disruptions in your direction, plus Pluto demands that you shed your old skin and start afresh. So the only certainty at the moment is change! You’re feeling restless but try to modify your reactions, otherwise it will be a long and tiring week. With Venus visiting your finance zone, the more you respect and conserve money, the more cash will come your way.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Pliable Pisceans are keen to please others this week but avoid the temptation to say yes to everything, you may find you’ve bitten off more than you can comfortably chew! Sunday should be super as Neptune blesses creative projects, and your intuition helps you find a solution to a long-term problem. Plus put aside time to get lost in a fantasy novel or favourite romantic movie.

Daily astrology updates at www.twitter.com/JoMadelineMoore

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2014

General knowledge crossword No. 450

Across

4 Brewarrina NSW is situated on which river?

7 Name a poisonous alkaloid also known as racemic hyoscyamine

8 What is another name for an integer?

9 Which title of respect is applied to a member of the clergy?

11 Which term is used for “in the customary manner”, (2,5)?

13 What is a knightly or heroic champion called?

15 What is a position from which there is no escape?

17 Name a re-usable rocket-propelled spacecraft

20 Name a fibrous amphibole used for making fireproof articles

23 What is an angle in the fairway of a golf course?

24 What is a temporary prevalence of a disease?

25 Name a person who lends money at an exorbitant rate of interest

Sudoku medium No.

125

Down

1 What is an inflammatory swelling on the edge of the eyelid?

2 Name a devotion consisting of prayers on nine consecutive occasions

3 What, in the US, is a ten cent piece?

4 Which sometimes fatal disorder is known as Caisson disease?

5 To be negligent or careless, is to be what?

6 Name the last letter of the Greek alphabet

9 Which part of a river is also called whitewater?

10 What is an alternative term for governesses?

12 What do we call commercial ships?

14 To be more vapid, is to be what?

16 Name another word for a reply

18 What are jockeys sometimes called?

19 Name a German type of beer

21 What is the compartment of a ship where prisoners are confined?

22 Columbus is the capital of which US state?

Chad walked into my office last week saying he needed to look at the fringe benefits tax obligations for his employees in the light of changes he’d heard about.

“Well Chad, there are always changes to tax. Fringe benefits tax (FBT) can be a bit annoying because it has a year-end of March 31 and not June 30.

“The major change is that from April 1 the FBT rose from 46.5 per cent to 47 per cent.

“You will probably remember that a ‘gross-up rate’ is applied to the calculation of fringe benefits. So you will either be paying more FBT or making a higher employee contribution.

“There are two gross-up rates, namely type 1 and type 2. When the employer is entitled to an input tax credit, the type 1 gross-up rate is used. This increases from 2.0647 to 2.0802 and when there is no input tax credit available the type 2 gross-up rate is used, this also increases from 1.8692 to 1.8868.”

Chad said he was surprised because he didn’t recall income tax rates increasing.

“It’s not the tax rates that are increasing,” I told him. “It’s the Medicare levy rising from 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent. The reason for grossing up fringe benefits is that income tax is not charged on them, so grossing up has the effect of charging income tax and medicare levy on the benefit as if it were salary.

“So if you currently pay $10,000 of type 2 fringe benefits, the grossed-up figure would increase from $18,692 to $18,868. The tax payable would then be 47 per cent of $18,868, that is $8868, whereas in the prior year, it would have been $8692. So it’s an increase of $176.”

Chad said that while the $176 was not a large amount, it might be time for him to review his FBT position.

I said “just as a reminder changes were made to the FBT on cars in 2011. For new cars purchased after 20 May 2011, a new regime for calculating the FBT came into play and, for existing cars, new FBT rates were applied on sliding scale. From April 1, the sliding scale has now come into line with the new scale enacted in 2011. So all employees using the statutory formula will use 20 per cent for the calculation regardless of how many kilometres the car travels.”

“I should also mention that there were changes to livingaway-from-home allowances and FBT in 2012 and the transitional periods for some of these end soon, too.”

Chad replied there was plenty of food for thought and was keen to get together again to clarify FBT for my company.

If you need help with FBT or any other tax issue, please contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd.

open garden

When autumn colour comes to Burra

Words:

DESPITE being at the mercy of the weather, Monica and Allan Schmidt are opening their beautiful established garden in Burra to show off its spectacular autumn colour.

“Some of the trees are turning, but most are quite protected in the garden,” says Monica. “I’m not normally keen on cold weather, but we need a frost for the colours to come out before the open weekend!”

Monica says the garden always has the most amazing show of colour at this time of year, with shades of yellow, red, orange and purple taking over the 3.6-hectare property.

Woowoolahra will be open for the long Anzac weekend (April 25-27) as part of Open Gardens Australia.

This will be Monica and Allan’s eighth year living at the property, and a year they’ll never forget – they built a huge rose arbour on the banks of the dam near the house, while still working full time. Construction finished in December.

“Allan designed the arbour himself, and we built it all from scratch,” says Monica. “We didn’t know what to do with ourselves when it was finished, as it had been pretty much our whole lives for nine months!”

The build even resulted in Monica needing a shoulder reconstruction, which she’s remarkably cheerful about.

“It was probably a combination of old war wounds as well as nine

months of back-breaking labour,” she says. “I’m just about getting back to normal now.”

Monica says she wanted a pale pink rose to go over the arbour, and selected the Nahema variety for its colour and amazing perfume.

“I heard about the incredible fragrance of the Nahema rose – Guerlain has made a perfume based on it, so I did some research,” she says.

“Wagner’s Rose Nursery in SA was amazingly helpful and had some great advice, and now the roses are just stunning, and should still be in flower on the open garden weekend.”

Woowoolahra also has a hectare of garden rooms separated by stone walls, a cypress woodland with paths winding through to the dam, a berry garden and wildlife around every corner.

Monica and Allan say they couldn’t be more thrilled with how the arbour turned out. Monica says their favourite spot is sitting on the 3m-squared pier they built in the middle of the arbour.

“We’ve got the Adirondack chairs out there now, and it’s the best place in the garden to sit and turtle-spot!” she says.

Allan and Monica Schmidt’s garden, 6 London Bridge Road, Burra, will be open between 10am and 4.30pm on April 25-27. Entry is $7, children under 18 are free. Proceeds to Open Gardens Australia, ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group and Burra Community Association.

Also on throughout the open garden weekend will be:

• A café serving lunch, morning and afternoon teas, including a Polish dish in honour of Monica’s heritage, and cold drinks

• Dog agility demonstrations at 11am each day

• Vintage and antique jewellery for sale

Beware of the big-tree surprise!

ANYONE buying a new home that has been landscaped by the builder and/or developer, beware.

It would appear that trees are often purchased without the builder/developer having any idea of appropriate plants for these gardens, thinking that putting a few random trees and shrubs in constitutes landscaping and will help to sell the home.

Super large trees could cause serious damage to the home in not that many years and roots can damage driveways, paved areas and retaining walls, which can be extremely costly.

I am sure tree surgeons don’t mind this, as in a relatively short time they will be removing these troublesome trees.

The real concern is the size of the trees in relation to the block. It is particularly important to select the right trees for the available space, not forgetting underground services, gas, water, sewers etcetera.

Homeowners seek professional advice from a landscape architect/ garden designer or even the local garden centre.

Illustrated here is a classic example of a display home with inappropriate trees. I am standing with my outstretched arms just 1.8 metres apart.

On the left is a Liquidambar styraciflua, which can easily grow to 13 metres tall with an 8-metre spread. The other tree is a Pistacia chinensis growing to 10 metres tall and a 6-8-metre spread. And they are both planted just 1.8 metres from the house!

To me, this approach to landscaping makes about as much sense as building a home without plans.

If you are unable to identify trees

and there is no label, take photos and some leaves to your local garden centre for identification.

In many instances, I would be recommending removal before the trees get established. This equally applies if you have purchased an older home with mature trees that may also cause problems.

A NEW hi-resolution map of global forest losses and gains has been created using Google Earth. This is based on 650,000 satellite images and is now publicly available. It charts the world’s tree canopies between 2000 and 2012.

In that time the Earth lost a combined “forest” the size of Mongolia or enough trees to cover the UK six times.

More at tinyurl.com/n2srxb9

AFTER recently discussing crabapples, some readers have said parrots love crabapples and, in particular, the red fruit. I understand birds do not touch the yellow fruit of M. “Golden Hornet”. Let me know if this is the case if you are growing this particular crab.

ANYONE intending to plant deciduous shade trees, especially for their autumn leaf colour, should visit a local garden centre now to select the best colours.

Not all trees of the same variety will necessarily have the same leaf colour. For example Acer palmatum, or Japanese maples, are usually grown from seed rather than grafted and the leaf colour will vary considerably. However, if the leaf colour is seen at its best when you buy the tree, it will be the same as it matures.

LOOK for the new Dianthus “Memories” at your local nursery. Its pure-white, long-lasting flowers,

exquisite fragrance and low maintenance is perfect for every garden. Join Ita Buttrose and lend your support to Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation with a dollar from the sale of every plant donated by Plant Growers Australia to support the cause.

Jottings…

• Keep fresh animal manure or pelletised chook poo away from emerging leaves of bulbs.

• When potting up containers place a layer of wood charcoal in the bottom of the pot. This acts as drainage and, more importantly, keeps the soil sweet.

• Cut back leaves now of Iris stylosa (winter iris) to allow sunlight into the plant for flower production.

• Be very aware when walking under oak trees. The acorns are very slippery, especially if you have walking difficulties.