141113 citynews

Running into turbulence

SONYA FLADUN

Of popular pollies, dead and alive

ROBERT MACKLIN

Lambie risks making an ass of herself MICHAEL MOORE

Advertising trumps bad social media

JOHN GRIFFITHS

Why tomatoes go slow in the cold

CEDRIC BRYANT

A voice of freedom

‘Voices

c risp seclusion

unriv A lled proximity

mum in the city

Running into airport turbulence Retune day draws closer

I HATE airports, where people are treated like cattle being herded into their pens and the prevailing ethos seems to be animal management rather than customer service and satisfaction.

Recently on arrival at the airport I encountered a man in a uniform blocking my way to the check-in counter. He was a serious looking fellow, obviously a bodybuilder and about as welcoming as Joan “the Freak” Ferguson from “Prisoner”.

He wanted to know my business. Self-evident, I would have thought, as I arrived with bag trailing behind me and a travel itinerary clutched in my hand.

“Unless you are flying international, you must use the automated check-in system,” he informed me.

Only a handful of people were waiting at the check-in counter, but the airline was determined to avoid any personal service for its local passengers.

“You can do all of that yourself,” he assured me as he turned to stare down another passenger hoping to approach the service desk.

I know that much information technology is designed to make

Only a handful of people were waiting at the check-in counter, but the airline was determined to avoid any personal service for its local passengers.

life easier, but more often than not it seems to be aimed more at the efficiency and cost-cutting for companies than the convenience of their customers.

After a struggle with “customer interface”, I did manage to print my boarding pass, but predictably the self-service baggage check-in procedure went horribly wrong.

After waiting what seemed like an eternity for assistance grudgingly provided by staff not well endowed with interpersonal skills, I was pretty grumpy by the time I had made it to the security checkpoint.

There, as expected, I had to remove my shoes and reveal to the world my mismatched socks in order to pass through the metal detector.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to explain the odd-shaped though harmless items my kids often leave in my handbag; nor did I get swabbed for explosives. Maybe the

security team weren’t at the top of their game that day because unpacking the entire contents of my handbag and being treated like a terrorist suspect are a normal part of my travel experience.

After a rush to the boarding gate, I breathlessly struggled into my seat and braced myself for the flight. Inflight entertainment amounted to an inaudible sitcom and a few unappetising biscuits were handed out with a choice of water and some rather strong smelling wine.

My husband nostalgically recalls the long-gone experience of the Ansett shuttles between Canberra and Sydney where even a short flight came with friendly and attentive staff, comfy lambs wool seats, real cutlery, edible food and a rather nice drop. As he says: “Those were the days!” I know that efficiency and

SONYA FLADUN

For

security are essential elements of modern air travel and that the more-relaxed world before September 11 will never return. But I do wistfully recall when arriving at the airport and boarding a flight was a rather less stressful and friendlier experience, even for people like me who absolutely hate flying.

Maybe, just maybe, our airlines and airports could give a bit more thought to once again treating their customers like people.

A NATIONAL retune program will see free-to-air television channels ABC and SBS change to different frequencies in Canberra, Queanbeyan and the surrounding area.

The retune will affect those who receive their TV signal from the Gunning and Black Mountain TV towers, from November 20.

Residents who receive their signal from the Mt Taylor and Tuggeranong Hill TV towers may also have to retune, after retuning earlier in the year.

Viewers will need to retune their digital televisions, set-top boxes, and digital TV recorders after November 20 in order to relocate the channels that have moved.

The retune is a move to free up the broadcasting spectrum for new services such as mobile broadband.

Retuning can be achieved using the remote, under the menu options. Settings such as “channels” or “auto-tuning” should provide prompts for retuning.

Temporary disruptions to all TV services may occur on retune day, and for several days before and after the retune, but it is unlikely to change TV reception or coverage. Anyone living in an apartment building may be using a shared antenna system, and should contact the property manager or body corporate if channels do not reappear.

More information, a video and a three-step guide to retuning can be found at retune.digitalready.gov.au or from 1800 201013.

Arts & Entertainment 34-38

Canberra Confidential 16

Cinema 36

Dining 38

Garden 42

Horoscope 43

News 3-15

Politics 15

Puzzles 43

Socials 18-19

Sport 10

contacts

Cover:

CEO: Greg Jones, 0419 418196, greg@citynews.com.au

Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au

Journalists: Kathryn Vukovljak, kathryn@citynews.com.au

Arts editor: Helen Musa, 0400 043764, helen@citynews.com.au

Senior advertising executive: Ernie Nichols, 0421 077999

Advertising sales executives:

Graham Spencer, 6262 9100; Rebecca Dann, 0431 042087; Charlotte Cuttle, 6262 9100

Advertising sales co-ordinator: ad@citynews.com.au

Sydney advertising sales: Ad Sales Connect, 02 9420 1777

Production manager / graphic designer: Janet Ewen

Graphic designer: Paulette Leo

Photographers: Gary Schafer and Andrew Finch

Proof reader: Glenda Anderson

Accounts manager: Bethany Freeman-Chandler accounts@citynews.com.au

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

Phone 6262 9100 Fax 6262 9111 GPO Box 2448, Civic 2601

Of popular pollies, dead and alive

“The evil that men do lives after them; Then good is oft interred with their bones.”

Never did Mark Antony’s famous speech ring less true than in the long farewell to Gough Whitlam that dominated the week.

To the parade of eulogists the great man could do no wrong. And, of course, the reforms he initiated were desperately needed after 23 years of conservative rule. They changed the face of Australia for the better.

However, he was an appalling manager. His ministry was a shambles. Indeed, they so trashed “brand Labor” that it took a decade of steady Hawke-Keating governance to repair, only to see it torn down once again by Whitlam’s devoted disciple, Kevin Rudd And now look what we’re stuck with. Indeed, the strongest asset of our own Katy Gallagher/Andrew Barr government is their businesslike, managerial approach. And that’s exactly what they’re endangering with the light rail project.

THE polls this week provided an interesting insight into the attitudes of the broad Australian community. On the Government side PM Tony Abbott would be quite relaxed about his awful 20 per cent popularity. His rivals, Julie

The strongest asset of our own Katy Gallagher/Andrew Barr government is their businesslike, managerial approach. And that’s exactly what they’re endangering with the light rail project.

Bishop (also 20) and Malcolm Turnbull (35), are anathema to the party room. Joe Hockey is history at 8 per cent, but the most telling result was the 3 per cent for snarling Scott Morrison Australians do have a heart after all. But former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope should tread very carefully in promoting the asylum seeker cause in Labor’s ranks. This is one for the people to lead and pollies to follow.

THE other big news was the new climate change report that toughened its warnings that inaction would cause food shortages, major flooding and mass extinctions.

Locally, the emergency services said more than 30,000 homes were at “heightened risk” from bushfires this season alone. But according to our

Defence boffins, many of whom I have interviewed for a forthcoming book, the really troubling prospect is a climate refugee crisis that would overwhelm national borders. Combined with the growing jihadist threat, global warming becomes a top-order issue.

Greg Hunt’s laughable “Direct Action” just doesn’t cut it.

IT now looks like many of us will be around to feel its effects. This week’s news that most Canberra men will join their womenfolk in living to at least 80 means we join Japan, Switzerland and Iceland in the longevity stakes. And in those cold holes it would seem much longer anyway.

IF the Greens’ Shane Rattenbury – and a cross-party committee – get their

ROBERT MACKLIN

way, the inevitable pains of old age will become much more bearable. Their recommendation to legalise medical cannabis is on the agenda for next year. Let’s hope they extend it to heroin for the final weeks of palliative care.

DESPITE our best efforts and plenty of public protest, we seem to have failed to retain the local Friday “7.30” show on ABC. “We think we’re for the high jump,” a staffer told us this week. Damn shame. On the positive side, it’s been a delight to watch the development of Aunty’s Siobhan Heanue from cadet to arts reporter and now stand-in newsreader. That young lady is going places.

robert@robertmacklin.com

Freedom

Take off whenever you please! No petrol required; not to mention you’ll be leaving the traffic behind wherever you go!

GET ON YOUR BIKE!

Fitness

Take your bike out to the trails in any one of Crace’s gorgeous natural reserves and work on your new personal best time and distance with a fantastic view!

Friends

An easy option for getting together with friends, taking a picnic lunch and riding to your chosen destination and relaxing in the sunshine.

FROM $309,900

To make securing your home at Newtown even easier, GEOCON is offering a $12.5k rebate to ALL homebuyers!* Not to mention for first homebuyers; in addition to GEOCON’s rebate, once paired with the ACT Government’s First Home Owner Grant, your rebate total equals $25,000!*

lowbrow Why advertising trumps bad social media ideas

LET’S get this out of the way: I work for a company that pays the bills by selling advertising. This article is going to be about why your organisation should pay for advertising.

Having said that, it’s an article I decided to write in the absence of any suggestion or direction from anyone else. Because this is what I genuinely think.

In a newsroom we are bombarded daily by highly paid PR people trying to get us to write about their bad ideas: “Pay for Brad’s holiday to Vietnam and he’ll try and raise some money for a charity you’ve never heard of”, “Local mother is starting ferret meat business”, “School children are flashmobbing for cetacean inclusion”... I’m only sort of making this up.

The money going to pay for these PR people’s cocaine habits could have bought advertising, and advertising money pays newsroom wages.

All media has a limited amount of space to run stories (even in online media you can’t overload the audience with fluff or they’ll spend their browsing time elsewhere) and is generally disinclined to expend it on snake oil merchants who are eating our lunch.

Even worse than the PR firm that doesn’t understand the importance of buying some ads for relationship-management purposes, is the paid social media expert.

Hoovering up hours of billable time, they lure the client into social-media engagement strategies generally less effective than standing on City Walk handing out fliers.

Let’s look for a moment at what the world’s most successful companies do.

Apple are generally thought of as the world’s most successful company.

Apple does not tweet. Yes, Tim Cook tweets, and specific parts of the company tweet, but @Apple does not.

Apple does spend more money on advertising than they do on research and development.

Apple generally spends in the order of 100 times what their competitors do promoting iTunes. In 2013 that colossal spend earned them an even more gargantuan $10 billion.

Social media expert – A selfproclaimed title by carpetbaggers and snake oil salesman to mesmerise unsuspecting people with their recipes of easy ‘1,2,3’ success in social media.”

– Urban Dictionary

Movie studios are the serious pros of brand development. Each film is an individual brand that has to be reaching an absolute crescendo of public interest on opening weekend.

Like Apple, their brands are much debated on social media, movie trailers in particular are a huge part of online discussion, but equally they spend enormously on buying advertising.

But, by all means, go to that seminar and get sucked in by stories about lucky people, presented in slick power points by salesmen who would not be giving the presentation if they really had the answer for how to make lots of money.

I’m not saying to ignore social media. I am saying social media communications have to be one part of a broader marketing strategy. And even if you go viral for a day, it’s rarely going to match the persistence in delivery of a regular advertising spend.

I’ve been involved in businesses that did well, and others that did not. For the failures, I can generally always look back and wish we’d included a bigger ad budget in the business plan.

John Griffiths is the online editor for citynews.com.au

JOHN GRIFFITHS

Rotary’s treasure from decades of ‘trash’

The iconic Jamison Trash’n’Treasure celebrates 40 years with a special celebratory market on Sunday, November 23. Reporter KATHRYN VUKOVLJAK looks at how the Belconnen Rotary Club’s small idea has grown and grown

FACED with fundraising efforts that involved chocolate wheels and chook raffles, the Rotary Club of Belconnen struck gold with the idea of a Trash’n’Treasure market in September, 1974.

There were only 22 stallholders at the first market in the Jamison Centre car park, but it raised around $200 for Rotary and seemed to hit a note with patrons and stallholders alike, says club president Des Walsh.

“The idea was brought to us by then-president Ron Morris, who saw a similar concept in Sydney,” he says.

“We all agreed it could be good, and by the second week the markets had raised $500.

“In three months it raised $6800, and in 10 months, $86,000. It was up and running.”

The Belconnen Rotary Club will be celebrating 40 years of the iconic Trash’n’Treasure with a special celebratory market on Sunday, November 23, featuring draws, lucky stallholder prizes, balloons, face painting, busk-

ers and entertainment.

To date, the markets have raised $5.5m, all of which has gone towards community projects, says Des.

“The markets are our major fundraiser and we support local, national and international community and related projects,” he says.

“Major activities have included the construction and extension of Rotary Cottage at Calvary Hospital, ongoing support for the Shepherd Centre for deaf children, Snowy Hydro SouthCare, hampers at Christmas for five

major charities, as well as supporting youth exchange programs.”

Other projects include donating a special bus and trailer to Black Mountain School, scholarships at ANU and UC, funding for youth, schools, artists and world causes, and $30,000 to build the Garden of Delights at Cranleigh School.

“Every dollar we earn, we spend,” Des says of the markets, which are run with help from the Rotary Clubs of Ginninderra, Canberra City and Woden.

The Trash’n’Treasure has had a very natural growth over the years,

says Des, and people seem to really like the concept, that you could come along for a fossick or have a stall instead of a garage sale.

“As with all the things you start, you live in hope that it will take off,” he says.

“The markets have become a social hub, and nowadays we get around 4000 patrons through on a Sunday.

“We like to think of it as part of the social fabric of Belconnen and wider area.”

“There are only two things we compete with – the proliferation of

other markets, and the weather!” says Trash’n’Treasure committee member Wal Cooper.

“There are so many other markets now, but we were the first of this kind in Canberra,” he says. “It has affected us somewhat, with less stallholders mainly, but not significantly.

“We usually go ahead whatever the weather if we can, but we know that if there’s a deluge people won’t come. There’s no protection from bad weather for the stallholders’ goods.”

People sell anything from CDs, DVDs, books, toys, plants, fruit and veg, tools, furniture and clothes – general garage-sale things, says Des, and the lovely thing is that the stallholders and Rotary volunteers have become friends over the years.

“Some people might take a stall once in their lives, whereas others have been coming every week for years,” he says.

“I like coming – though I may not be so thrilled when the 5.45am slot comes up on the roster in June, July or August,” he jokes.

“I like mixing with a range of diverse people and products, socialising with the visitors, seeing friends at the market while I’m on duty and enjoying the interaction.”

Rotary Trash’n’Treasure, 6am-1pm, every Sunday in the Jamison Centre car park, Macquarie. Stalls cost $20. Entry by gold coin donation.

Catherine Coles | Solicitor

Family Law is complex and you need an experienced law firm to guide you.

But what you need most is someone to listen to you. To hear your story.

At Watts McCray, we understand that.

The inspiration Jackie left behind

JACKIE Fairweather, an outstanding athlete and contributor to sport, was hard to get to know; she had an exterior that many people found difficult to penetrate.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of those who understood her well despite countless interviews during her outstanding running and triathlon career.

I say unfortunately because those who did know her well tell me that she was a different person once she allowed you into her inner circle.

They say she was self-effacing, incredibly supportive of fellow athletes, took great interest in the success of others and had an engaging personality with a sharp sense of humour.

The Jackie I knew was tough

In 1996, Jackie won the triathlon and the duathlon world titles in the same year, becoming the first to do so. This was an incredible feat.

and uncompromising; take no prisoners! Perhaps that was her way of dealing with her illness. It is becoming clearer now.

Her untimely death after a lengthy battle with depression was, on the surface, hard to comprehend. What led somebody who had achieved so much in life reach the point when it became too much?

She had continued to be a high achiever in sports administration with many athletes benefitting from her ability to “cut to the chase”.

There is no doubt that to achieve what she did requires a certain amount of mental toughness. In 1996, Jackie won the triathlon and the duathlon world titles in the same year, becoming the first to do so. This was an incredible feat.

She became an inspiration to the next generation of sportswomen and many have benefitted from her wisdom. I doubt though whether she fully understood the legacy she had created, such was her personality. We all will miss her.

THE Canberra Raiders need to make a decision about Terry Campese before next season.

While Terry has been a great player for the Raiders, his contribution to the community through his charity work has been one of his greatest achievements, which makes it all that much harder for the club to make a decision.

Injuries played a role. Last year, I suggest, the effort was definitely there but his body simply wasn’t responding.

But it’s obvious that he is not part of the Raiders’ on-field plans next season.

Coach Ricky Stuart copped flak for not dropping him earlier last season. He struggled when dropped to the NSW Cup and it is hard to see him finishing his career in the second tier.

His demotion, despite being club

TIM GAVEL

captain, then his absence from the first month of pre-season training, simply compounded the perception that he is on the outer.

Rugby League is a business these days and Ricky’s job is to win games. There is very little room for sentiment and he must back his own judgment.

Of course, there are two sides to this story and Terry feels as though he has shown loyalty to the Raiders in the past and has made sacrifices for the club.

I believe there needs to be some form of negotiated settlement between the

briefly

stars at the market

MOVEMBER will be the centre of attention at this month’s food and fashion collaboration market, Hustle&Scout and The Forage’s final event for the year on Saturday, November 22. To raise awareness and money for men’s health, the twilight market at Hangar #47, 8-10 Point Cook Avenue, Fairbairn, will take gold coin donations on entry and present a pop-up barber shop with all proceeds going to Movember. The barber shop will be run by Karan Khanna, of Barbero Canberra, at Hangar #47, 3pm-8pm. More information hustleandscout.com.au

Macgregor fete

THE Macgregor Primary School’s P&C fete will be held, 3pm-7pm, on Saturday, November 22. The school is nestled in a residential area and not being on a main thoroughfare is worrying organisers that it will not attract passersby on the day. We reckon our readers will find it.

Platter chatter

THE Canberra Blues Society’s Vinyl LP Records Fair will be held at the Harmonie German Club, 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah, noon4pm, on Sunday, November 30. Entry is free.

Jazz in the garden

THE Stuart King Jazz Trio are the stars of the community event “Jazz in the Garden 2014” at the Manuka Childcare Centre, 30 Flinders Way, Manuka, 5pm-8pm, on Friday, November 21. There will be free face painting, balloons, drinks and a sausage sizzle for children. Entry is $10, families $20. All welcome.

from $269,900

SQ1 is the first release in the emerging waterfront precinct of Southquay in Greenway.

Don’t miss out, secure your new address today.

Display office open

Monday-Friday 12pm-6pm and Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm Cnr Anketell Street & Limburg Way, Greenway

For more information contact Andrew Ligdopoulos 0408 488 148 or James Herbert 0400 853 501

women’s work

Work that’s never done

By Catherine Carter

THE TV show “Family Feud” might say cooking, cleaning and doing the dishes are “women’s work”, but women in Canberra’s highly-competitive and fast-paced construction industry know differently.

Many Canberra women are working on challenging and complex projects that are changing

the shape of our city. So, what do they think is women’s work?

As the area manager of GHD, Jo Metcalfe spends less time rolling up her sleeves to do the dishes than she does managing transformational projects such as pipelines and dams, sewage and water treatment plants, road duplications and some of the most significant buildings in

Are you over 35?

Are you a player or do you want to be a squash player?

Are you looking for a friendly, fun atmosphere in which to play the game?

Then WE WANT YOU.

Come and play Masters squash. All standards catered for.

We play 3 competitions a year in a mixed gender format. It is very social and lots of fun and is the cheapest squash in town.

Interested but not sure if you’d be OK?

Come and try it for free.

Sunday 30 November, 1.00 – 3.00pm Weston Creek Community Centre Squash Courts, Patterson Street, Weston. (Adjacent to Cooleman Court Shopping Centre.)

Our next competition starts in February 2015.

More information at www.squash.actmasters.org.au Or call 0430 244 569

the nation.

Jo freely admits that her projects are “not all easy, sexy or glamorous, but they are real and needed and have a lasting benefit for the region.”

Architect Cassandra Keller’s day isn’t spent with the ironing. She’s focused on designing schools and retirement living villages, heritage renovations and athletic track towers. For her, a woman’s job is leading a team of local engineers and builders to create practical and inspiring buildings that leave a permanent legacy.

Developer Maria Efkarpidis spends her days juggling a hectic schedule alongside board responsibilities with the John Curtin Medical Research Foundation and ACT Climate Change Council.

For Claudia Tong , who oversees the work of 60 people as GM for Kone Elevators, a woman’s job is “constant interaction with people”, while quantity surveyor Fiona Doherty spends her days number crunching to ensure realistic budgets are set for multi-billion-dollar construction projects.

And, for property developer Louise Morris , a typical day is “a rich tapestry of problem solving, negotiation, facilitation, promotion and too much email.”

While “Family Feud” perpetuates the old stereotypes, when you’re focused on building a world-class capital city, a woman’s work is never done!

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

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION AT DEAKIN

As part of a national infrastructure sharing project Optus and Vodafone plan to upgrade an existing telecommunications facility at Deakin Telephone Exchange, 107 Kent Street, Deakin, Australian Capital Territory, 2600.

The works will include:

• Replace three panel antennas with three panel antennas (each measuring no more than 2.8 metres in length); Installation of 5.5 bay outdoor unit (3.5 x 2.2 x 1.0 metres); and Associated ancillary works.

• Optus and Vodafone regard the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 1997 based on the description above.

• Further information can be obtained from Ben Davies, (02) 9300 1716, bend@ cpsglobal.com, and at www.rfnsa.com.au, RFNSA reference number 2600010.

• Written submissions should be sent to: Vodafone c/o CPS Global, Level 5, 55 Grafton Street, Bondi Junction, New South Wales, 2022 by 5pm, Wednesday, 26th November 2014.

Why buses are still best value

THE ACT Government’s 2012 submission to Infrastructure Australia estimates a benefit-cost ratio of 4.78 for investing $276 million in buses, combined with urban infill.

That equates to $1.3 billion in benefits. Spending an extra $338m on light rail would generate only an extra $117m of benefits. Buses will be more cost-effective than trams, over the range of discount rates from 4 per cent to 10 per cent.

Bus rapid transit will allow us to use that $338m to retire some of our $1 billion Mr Fluffy debt, or to invest in high-value projects. $1m would provide transit lanes along Northbourne Avenue. $2m would fix the bottleneck at the Federal Highway end of Flemington Road. $10m would fund 25 walking and cycling projects that will each be more cost-effective than the City Cycle Loop.

Some of the $338m could build cost-effective footpaths to enable more Canberrans to walk to local shops, schools, jobs and transit stops.

Light rail would deliver thousands of passengers every day on to the median of a dangerous 400 metres of road that accounts for 6 per cent of Canberra’s pedestrian crashes. Half of Canberra’s pedestrian deaths occur on roads such as Northbourne Avenue, whose wide medians encourage risky road crossings because pedestrian signals turn red while pedestrians cross the median.

Median rail lines would prevent narrowing the

median to allow pedestrians to cross in a single pass.

The business case estimates light rail’s benefit-cost ratio at only 1.2. Light rail’s costs may actually exceed its benefits, if that estimate contains even relatively small errors. For example, Canberra’s 2004 Sustainable Transport Plan projected that bus mode share would increase from 6.7 per cent to 9 per cent, but it only reached 7.9 per cent.

The business case fails to account for the thousands of tonnes of greenhouse emissions that would be caused in building light rail, or for emissions from the implied 38 per cent increase in car commuting trips. It assumes a 10 per cent reduction in journey time, even though tram users would spend more time walking to and from widely spaced tram stops, and would have to factor an extra three minutes into most journeys, to allow for waiting at pedestrian signals to cross to and from the median.

Until the Government publishes the workings behind the business case, we will not know if it was affected by errors like those in the 2011 Walking and Cycling Trunk Infrastructure Report, that underestimated the cost of the City Cycle Loop by 97 per cent, biased its ranking 9 to 1 in favour of projects near employment centres, and invalidated all of its “cost-effectiveness” estimates.

Leon Arundell, Downer

Mr Fluffy owners smell a rat

THE ACT Government went for the Feds’ throats to solve the Mr Fluffy problem.

“Sorry, stiff, whatever, can’t help, we are bigger and tougher than you, but here’s a lazy $1 billion you can borrow to fix it but we want it back in 10 years,” said the Feds.

“Hmmm,” said the ACT Government and its multitier “expert” committees. “If we move the goal posts

a little this is ‘winner, winner, chicken dinner’, too bad about the Mr Fluffy home owners’ wants and needs, but they will understand and forgive in a few years.”

Well they won’t, you know. They won’t because the Mr Fluffy owners smell a rat.

Michael Attwell, Dunlop

Tardy thinking towards Cup winners

I BELIEVE those criticising the Melbourne Cup riches going overseas are tardy in their thinking, and perhaps out of the barrier.

The Cup, at over $6 million, is now the third richest race in the world, so it is only reasonable to expect worldwide interest. And if overseas trainers are better at producing faster distance horses, then we should correct the situation by producing more of the Bart

Cummings line.

Racing in Canberra often occurs on Cup day and attracts a goodly number of interstate players who add to our local coffers. I’ve never read heavy criticism of the Kentucky Derby entrepreneurs for “foreigners” moving in on their race.

The unfair energy target rip-off

THERE are few certainties in life other than death and taxes. Death might be coming early for the Australian renewable energy industry if the federal government goes ahead and breaks an election promise it made to keep the current Renewable Energy Target.

Investors have spent over $10 billion on big renewable energy projects such as wind and solar farms under this policy, and now they face being ripped off if the government changes the rules halfway through the scheme and pushes through a cut to the target of almost two thirds.

This would mean a massive cut in the number of wind and solar farms in the future and the loss of thousands of jobs in rural and regional Australia. But it would also crush the viability of those projects already built in good faith, based on a policy that has been supported by all major political parties for the past 13 years.

And as the government’s own analysis showed, any cut to this policy would only drive up power prices for Australians so that a few old coal companies can make more money.

The federal Coalition supported the current Renewable Energy Target when it was passed into law in 2010. And it restated its commitment to that same target in July last year in the lead up to the last election.

Companies don’t expect calm seas and plain sailing, but they do expect a government to keep their word.

Kane Thornton, acting chief executive, Clean Energy Council

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

Lambie risks making ass of herself

Senator Lambie is a breath of fresh air. Her naïve approach is in marked contrast to the staid and controlled new senators of the major parties. However, there are some fundamentals that she is yet to learn.

A GREAT challenge for any cross-bench politician is understanding the use and abuse of power.

Senator Jacqui Lambie’s recent threat to simply oppose all government legislation unless she gets what she wants demonstrates the problem. She is zealous about ensuring the military get a fair pay deal, which is completely understandable and many will laud her stance. However, the technique she has adopted to coerce the government is an inappropriate and disproportionate use of power.

Cross-benchers who use their power wisely ensure more accountability in government. Without a balance of power situation, a majority government simply runs a three-year dictatorship with an opposition just carping on the sidelines through the media and in parliament.

In many ways Senator Lambie is a breath of fresh air. Her passion is undeniable. Her naïve approach is in marked contrast to the staid and controlled new senators of the major parties. However, there are some fundamentals that she is yet to learn.

Contrast the Lambie approach with that of the “most respected politician in Australia” (according to a “Reader’s Digest” poll), Senator Nick Xenophon, who served for eight years in the SA Upper House and is an independent senator for SA. He provides a clear warning of the risks of this type of negotiating technique for newly elected cross-bench senators.

In his inaugural speech to the Senate in August, 2008, Xenophon explained the misuse of power.

“I also do not believe in horse trading. Horse trading implies a willingness to vote for something you do not believe in in order to get something else you want,” he said.

“When people do try to horse trade they can end up with a donkey or, worse still, end up making an ass of themselves”.

Senator Lambie should heed the warning and avoid the risk of making an ass of herself. Even on this issue alone, it is not her first failure to understand the importance of context.

Initially she called for soldiers to hijack Remembrance Day and turn their backs on government MPs speaking in honour of Australia’s war dead. Rightly, this plea was widely condemned, including by the RSL, the government and the opposition. Understanding the context is critical for people in a position of power.

There will be many issues taken on by crossbenchers that do not receive support from the major parties. However, few will actually be condemned in this manner. Xenophon did not get support for attempts to restrict poker machine use – but his efforts were not condemned in this manner. Jacqui Lambie has been elected as one of 76 senators and should recognise her power in this context.

No doubt there have been many issues that have been supported by Lambie and other cross-bench senators. However, the media pays little attention to the majority of issues that pass through the Senate by agreement and focuses on areas of conflict.

There is a basic

complexity in this aspect of parliamentary negotiations. On issues of conflict, the major party in opposition regularly discards its own power. It deals itself out of the game, effectively delegating much of its power to the cross-benches.

There are two elements: other than with conscience issues, strong party discipline does not allow senators to take an alternative stance. This restricts the ability to negotiate. Secondly, the willingness to play oppositional politics often removes the opposition party from the negotiating table.

Having parliaments held accountable by the cross-benches adds another element of scrutiny to our democratic processes. The damaging part of horse trading is that this misuse of the balance of power puts at risk the very accountability that cross-benches provide. Xenophon pointed out in an article published in “Crikey” in July: “ABC elections expert Antony Green has confirmed that the 2013

election was a new high in a 30-year climb in support for non-major parties, recorded at 21 per cent support in the House of Representatives races and 32 per cent for Senate races”. Support has been constantly growing for minor parties and independent parliamentarians. However, if cross-benchers abuse their power, the voters will flock back to the major parties.

Christmas market

REGIONAL artists and producers will descend on Belconnen Arts Centre for its Christmas Celebration Market, 1pm-6pm, on Sunday, November 23. It will feature unique artworks, Christmas-themed products, local wines and craft in support of local artists and producers.

Eco elves abound

THE Canberra Environment Centre’s Eco Elves Night Market, featuring 45 stalls of local, handmade and ethical Christmas gifts, food, music and a local wine bar, will be held at the corner of Lawson Crescent and Lennox Crossing, Acton Peninsula, 5pm-9pm, Friday, December 5.

Celebrate with Dallas

ENTERTAINER Dallas Atkins will perform as the Woden View Club celebrates Christmas over lunch at the Southern Cross Club, from noon, on Tuesday. November 25. Cost is $24 and visitors and interested ladies are invited to call 6286 1009 by November 19.

Dinner meeting

DONATE Life is the dinner theme for the next meeting of the Tuggeranong Evening View Club, at the Town Centre Club, Greenway, 6.30pm, on Wednesday, November 26. Dinner costs $23 and visitors and interested ladies are invited to call 6286 7526 or email tuggeven@gmail.com

Annual toy run

MORE than 1000 bikes and riders are expected to gather at Old Parliament House on Saturday, December 13, for the annual toy run, organised by the Motorcycle Riders Association. The toy run marks 34 years of fundraising by motorcyclists bringing gifts for the charities of Canberra to aid those less fortunate during the festive season. It starts at 10am after an 8am breakfast.

Canberra Confidential

Power, at last, to the people!

CC is celebrating the threat of competition on the price of electricity and gas in the ACT. And you can, too.

Those nice interlopers Origin Energy have been helpfully sending out letters offering discounts on electricity of 14 per cent.

Which seems pretty tempting until you call the ACT Energy Rewards program on 131493 and the even lovelier people at ActewAGL will cut your power bill by 15 per cent and, there’s more, they take 10 per cent off your spiralling gas bill. No bundling, no tricks, no questions asked – you just have to make a commitment to love them for another year and they thank you for your loyalty. And it jumps to 16 per cent if you’re a business. Don’t miss out – call 131493.

Tough medicine

THE leviathan that is Defence Health has unhappily written to shocked fund members saying the Calvary hospital network has given them the flick. Defence Health says the parties couldn’t agree on a future contract because Calvary was proposing “unreasonable increases”, significantly higher than increases the fund had agreed with other private hospitals. They brought in the Private Health

Insurance Ombudsman, but Calvary hasn’t blinked beyond terminating Defence Health’s agreements with the Calvary John James Hospital, Deakin, and the Calvary Private, Bruce, from November 21.

Given the huge private-health clout Calvary enjoys in the ACT, shopping around becomes problematical for Defence Health members who will be exposed to “significant out-of-pocket expenses”.

Singer to the rescue

INXS frontman Ciaran Gribbin is “delighted” to be performing at a “cheeky boy’s” fundraising event at The Abbey, Gold Creek on Sunday, November 23 in support of a very special five-year-old local boy with an acquired brain injury.

“It’s so great to be part of an amazing gig for such a wonderful cause,” says Gribbin.

Little Shaye, pictured, has been living with the debilitating condition and hard-to-treat epileptic seizures since he was four days old. His home needs modifications and his ongoing treatments are great.

Doors open at 6.30pm. Tickets are $20 online ( through eventopia) or $25 at the door.

Parking priority

CLUBS are usually hypersensitive to the needs of disabled members, so this revelation of reprioritising in the carpark of the Vikings Club in Tuggeranong is astonishing, but there’s the photo.

“The most advantageous disabled car space has been painted over in favour of the poker machine technician,” writes an inconvenienced disabled member.

“The ‘supervisor’ defended the action saying the technician could never find a park. When I pointed out that they could have reserved a normal park just a few metres away, she said it had not been her decision.”

Hmmms...

LIBERAL pollie Brendan Smyth is commendably taking to the stage to sing in “Canberra Takes 2”, the SIDS and Kids fundraiser at Queanbeyan’s Bicentennial Hall on November 22. In being “twinned” with Lorena Quinlivan, he is described as “ACT Deputy Leader of the Opposition”, which will come as a surprise to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition of almost two years, Alistair Coe

“I HAVE always taken the view that people should pay the tax they need to pay,” the Chief Minister said in reassuring the community that Ikea got no tax breaks to build here. CC’s not convinced anyone ever feels the need to pay tax.

ACTEW’s Drinking Water Quality Report 2014 reveals that the average daily consumption per person is 314 litres. Take away a couple of litres for personal consumption and that’s a lot of Australia’s highest-quality drinking water disappearing down the loo and on to the roses.

BARTON’S Maple & Clove cafe has won the strangely titled “Women’s Health Fork of Approval” in being named in the inaugural list of “50 Healthiest Cafes and Restaurants in Australia”. Cool.

COMMENT from Michael Hermes, son of former chief magistrate Clarrie Hermes, whose name is enshrined on a Gungahlin drive that TAMS has managed to spell “Hermies” in a large road sign on the Barton Highway. “My father was a great team player. He would have loved this mistake as a chance to say: ‘There’s no “I” in Hermes!’

Social event of the week / The Cancer Support Group’s annual Hawaiian Ball scene / around

THE annual Hawaiian Ball for the Cancer Support Group works the party formula to make it a fun night, brilliantly. You can even wear thongs!

Everyone loves the casual but colourful dress opportunities, the mix of good music, dancing, food, fancy cocktails and the all important auctions and raffles that add to the ambiance as the MC – Cam Sullings – brings it all together so guests enjoy themselves while being gently separated from their money for the cause.

Paul Walshe has been the prestidigitator of this night for six years, conjuring up an event to support the Cancer Support Group with his wide network of friends, businesses contacts and colleagues showing their generosity in many ways. His genuine empathy and kindness is beyond compare and, as he stepped down from the role he has put his heart and soul into, there were tears, a gift and life membership of this organisation that helps those with cancer and their families with the necessities of life and good old-fashioned care.

Over the six years there have been many stories told of survivors, this year it was a night to reflect on that and encourage more people to step up to the plate to give of themselves for the Cancer Support Group.

New centre aims to empower patients

THEY’RE the ACT’s largest group of orthopaedic surgeons, and now they’re consulting out of newly refurbished premises at the Woden Specialist Medical Centre: Orthopaedics ACT not only brings together seven orthopaedic surgeons, it also has a focus on empowering its patients.

“Our surgeons all have different skills across the spectrum of orthopaedics,” says Dr Chris Roberts, who specialises in hand and upper-limb surgery.

“The new building lets us offer a full service in one area – and also in the building is physiotherapy and radiology.”

In 2013, a well-known medical group split up, and the seven orthopaedic surgeons now practising in the Woden premises moved into temporary offices in Turner while their new offices, at 90 Corinna Street, were refurbished to suit their patients’ needs.

“We found new premises that would go the distance, and last us for the next 10 to 20

years,” says surgeon Dr Gawel Kulisiewicz. Orthopaedics ACT is now in the new premises, and on Saturday, December 13, will celebrate the building’s grand opening along with Flex Out Physiotherapy and National Capital Diagnostic Imaging.

“Funds raised will go to Camp Quality and to Pegasus,” says business manager Angela Drayton. “All three organisations are very committed to community, and we wanted to do something for the community.”

The Grand Opening will run from 10am to 2pm, and feature Camp Quality face painting and barbecue, the Brumbies, a jumping

castle, Canberra Raiders ball toss, physiotherapy sessions and massage tables, and more.

The building will be officially opened by Chief Minister Katy Gallagher.

About orthopaedics

“Orthopaedic problems or injuries are very common – we do joint replacements, treat ligament injuries, manage fractures, tendon ruptures and so on,” says Dr Roberts.

“When we go into medicine, people divide into physicians and surgeons. Surgery is more on the practical side; we’ve all gone into orthopaedic surgery, which is even more so.

“People come in with a problem – an arthritic hip or carpal tunnel syndrome – and we’re able to treat them with an operation which cures them.

“And then they can go on with their lives. We cure people, and that’s a very satisfying part of the job.”

The surgeons at Orthopaedics ACT are:

• Professor Paul Smith, specialising in arthroplasty joint replacement;

• Dr Alexander Burns, specialising in arthroplasty and arthroscopy (investigating joint problems);

• Dr Damian Smith, specialising in lower limb arthroplasty and knee reconstruction;

• Dr Phil Aubin, specialising in arthroplasty and lower limb reconstruction;

• Dr Gawel Kulisiewicz , specialising in knee and ankle surgery;

• Dr Nicholas Tsai, specialising in spinal, hip, knee and trauma surgery; and

• Dr Chris Roberts, specialising in upper limb surgery.

An advantage is that the surgeons can work closely together, says Ms Drayton.

“They’ll discuss the various options together

– sometimes you get the benefit of multiple surgeons looking at your case. For unusual cases, we’re definitely the place to come.”

Orthopaedics ACT contains the surgeons’

private consulting rooms for elective surgery, but all of the surgeons can also be seen at Canberra Hospital, providing support to the public health system.

“My area of interest is the lower limbs, predominantly hip and knee surgery, and that’s the elective side of things,” says Dr Kulisiewicz.

“I’m also on call at the public hospital where we do trauma: car accidents, skiing injuries… when people injure themselves at the snow they come through to Canberra Hospital.”

Other benefits

Orthopaedics ACT offers two other unique benefits: a focus on patient education and full-time orthopaedic nurses.

“Our commitment to education includes any person getting a hip or knee joint replacement: they’re provided access, for free, to a two-hour education session,” says Ms Drayton.

“We’re empowering the patient to have ownership of the process and sharing our knowledge of what to do before the surgery and what to expect when you’re in hospital.

“Part of that presentation is about when you go home, what to expect, and what you can do to influence your outcome.

“And being able to offer the support of an orthopaedic nurse five days a week is great for patients who have a question that doesn’t require they speak to a surgeon.”

Grand opening: 10am-2pm, Saturday, December 13

Where: Level 2, 90 Corinna Street, Woden

Contact: admin@orthoACT.com.au or 6221 9320

Website: orthoACT.com.au

SucceSSful women SECRETS OF IN BUSINESS

“ ”

I

want to fight for what is right and lead the way for improved conditions and development for clients, carers and support workers alike.

Cara begins the fight for what’s right

Cara wants to put herself ‘out there’

CARA Hade is founder and director of All About Care (AAC), the region’s leading home care provider, committed to enabling people with disabilities, special needs and those who are ageing to live independently in their own homes.

Cara was recently named by the Canberra Women in Business group as its 2014 Business Woman of the Year and she wants to use this opportunity to pave the way for critical changes in an industry that, she says, has been unacknowledged and marginalised for many years.

“I want to put myself out there” she says.

“I want to fight for what is right and lead the way for improved conditions and development for clients, carers and support workers alike.

“This is all about community and how we care for each other, how we help each other face the challenges that life throws in our path.

“At AAC, we want to ensure that people can make the right choices for themselves and that they have the best support and advice to enable them to do this. Regardless of whether people choose us for the care provision or not!

“Finding the right care for you, a relative or a friend can be a daunting task. As a leading home care provider, All About Care offers first-class home care services committed to helping people live more independently in their own homes.

“We have qualified and skilled staff providing services to people with differing care needs such as older people, people living with physical disabilities or dementia as well as adults and children with specialist needs such as learning disabilities.

“We offer a range of solutions and can tailor a service specifically around the needs of you and your loved ones.”

From simple beginnings as an 11-year-old student on work experience in a Canberra nursing home, through nursing, then as a

clinical educator, a care co-ordinator, a case manager, operational manager and, finally, to starting her own company, Cara is handson and participates fully in the business on a daily basis.

She takes particular interest in case management, devoting a lot of her time to the development of people with disabilities to achieve their full potential.

She says owning and running All About Care has allowed her to make a difference.

“My methods are not necessarily traditional, are sometimes confronting and often take time to fully implement, but the results speak for themselves,” she says.

“From the housebound young woman with multiple mental health issues who was highly reclusive and is now catching public transport and holding down a job delivering pamphlets, to the young woman with violent behaviour who has flourished under our support.

“Or finding the key to unlock the mind of an individual suffering from dementia and giving a moment in time in which the individual recognises and acknowledges his wife of 42 years… these are the outcomes that matter.”

Cara’s immediate focus is to continue shaping the way that support work is delivered, particularly in disability care. She also wants to lobby governments for better support-worker conditions and improvements to support and development opportunities for clients and carers alike.

AAC has been approved as a provider to the NDIS.

Recently, the company became a sponsor of the Capitals basketball team. It also sponsors player Abby Bishop to assist with nanny services for her daughter Zala.

“Sponsoring Abby was an easy decision,” says Cara. “I may be investing in one player, however Abby will influence thousands of young girls and women in sports and personal areas.”

All About Care Pty Ltd, PO Box 435, Dickson 2602, allaboutcare.com.au, 6162 5155, cara.hade@allaboutcare.com.au

Ping Gan

PRINCIPAL

Ping Gan has been in the beauty industry for 18 years, and has been operating her own salons and lecturing in well-known beauty colleges throughout Sydney.

She has taught students from around the world and in 2006 published a revision workbook for beauty therapists, which is designed to meet the industry’s highest standards. Ms. Gan is the principal

of Australasian Beauty Therapy Academy, and holds an Advanced Diploma in Health Science and is an international CIDESCO examiner.

“We have designed diploma courses, certificate courses and short courses, which cover all areas of beauty that strictly comply with the national and internaational syllabus to ensure training quality is guaranteed”, says Ms Gan.

Australasian Beauty Therapy Academy, 3/53 Dundas Court, Phillip 2606, 6285 4255, principal@abtaedu.com

Renee Codina

SERVICE CENTRE MANAGER CANBERRA

The secret to my success comes from understanding my customers’ needs, future goals and what challenges they face. I like to work with my customers and show them that nothing is too hard. Equally, my success comes from understanding my team and coaching them to develop their skills. It’s important to understand what motivates individuals to help

them prosper and reach their full potential.

I also contribute my success to my continued learning. I believe it’s important to challenge yourself to go outside your comfort zone as this is where personal growth and development takes place. Overall, my greatest motivation comes from my family and wanting to make them proud.

bankmecu, Shop AG22, Canberra Centre, Civic 2600, bankmecu.com.au, 6120 5701, renee.codina@bankmecu.com.au

Nicole Poelzl

RESTAURANT MANAGER

Success comes from hard work and challenging yourself. I moved to Kangaroo Valley with my husband, an experienced chef, to help him realise his dream of owning his own restaurant. Having been a teacher, I didn’t have much experience in hospitality, but I have taught myself and undertaken courses to develop our business. In August, I was announced “Student

of the Year” with Quality Training & Hospitality after completing an Advanced Diploma of Hospitality. In hospitality and tourism, success comes not from just having customer service skills, but from having a great customer service attitude. Bistro One46 has won the Silver Award for best Tourism Restaurant in the South Coast Tourism Awards in 2013 and 2014.

Bistro One46, 146 Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley, NSW 2577, bistro146.com.au, 4465 2820, bistroone46@gmail.com

Alex Ridley

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT

There are many roads to success. Twenty years of people management and training has taught me that it helps to have a good “map” or guide. I encourage you to:

1. have constant faith, and confidence, in your potential;

2. connect with your purpose and stay focused around what you want to achieve (and why);

3. pay attention to your gut instinct

Michelle Mohr

HR MANAGER

My secret to surviving in business is being honest, two steps ahead where possible, organised and most importantly time management. I have been in the NRMA business for two years under a proprietor, and have been able to analysis the business thoroughly.

Lots of changes have been made, not only with staffing, but with how we do things, I delegate

and be aware of what your mind, body and spirit are telling you;

4. nurture positive, loving and giving relationships with others and 5. start something and finish it. Seeing my clients improve work performance, achieve goals, increase productivity and be happier and more driven at work, is very rewarding for me. Their success, is my success.

and make employees accountable for their goals, actions and successes, by always celebrating the good and supporting them when not so good.

The most important thing for me to do is always be at 100 per cent, and at the same time making sure I take time out. This helps me focus more and re-energise for the next challenge thrown my way.

Azzaru Pty Ltd (Trading as NRMA), Woden, Queanbeyan, Gungahlin, Cooma, Merimbula and Bega, 0417 870647, michelle.mohr@commisso.com.au

Jo O’Sullivan

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

The secret to my success comes from working in a role that I’m passionate about. I see my work as an extension of my own life values, contributing to a more equitable, just and sustainable world.

I have invested in relationships based on trust and respect and with a clear set of values that align with my own, and have sought out strong mentors during my

career that have provided me with wisdom and expertise from diverse networks. I also mentor young women to help maximise their potential, develop their skills and become the person they want to be.

Love what you do, have a clear purpose, and remember that family and your own wellbeing should always come first in your priorities.

bankmecu, Shop AG22, Canberra Centre, Civic 2600, bankmecu.com.au, 6120 5702, jo.osullivan@bankmecu.com.au

Kirstie Hardy

BUSINESS MANAGER

The secret to surviving in business is being organised but adaptable.

Successful businesses are usually busy businesses, meaning that you’re quite often juggling a number of things at once. It can be easy to let workload get on top of you if you’re not organised and time-wise!

In my job, priorities can

change quickly and demands can come from various places. The best way to manage the stress of this is to be flexible and adaptable.

Take a breath, accept the shift in direction, and then get back to being organised!

Bonsella is a wonderful workplace with a great supportive team, so that also helps.

Bonsella Business Solutions, Level 1, Ethos House, 28 Ainslie Avenue, Civic 2600, bonsella.com.au, 6257 4144, kirstie@bonsella.com.au

Tania Lee West

SENIOR

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

In Tania’s eyes, success comes from hard work, persistence, tenacity, resilience and being the best you can be. It is also about harnessing a great team with specialist skills.

Tania has had strong role models in her parents who have always instilled a strong work ethic, something she carries with her every day in her role as a Senior Account Director at CA Technologies, where she has been for 14.5 years and

received countless global, national and regional awards and accolades. Tania looks after Government IT clients and prides herself in providing exceptional customer service, listening and learning about client needs and challenges.

Tania says: “It is all about hard work, tenacity and a strong client focus and it helps if you love what you do, with these ingredients success will most certainly come”. CA

tania.west@ca.com

Jen Brown

YOGA INSTRUCTOR, CONFERENCE ORGANISER

Like many women, I manage more than just my work – I manage my life. This involves juggling my responsibilities not only to my businesses, but also to my family, home and self. And not necessarily in that order. In fact, one secret to success is looking after myself. If I am anxious, stressed, sleep-deprived and possibly unwell physically,

then I am of no use to anyone and my businesses will suffer. There will always be a long list of things to do. But before attacking it, I make an effort to walk my dog, practise yoga, meditate, exercise and eat well. I don’t do all of these things every day, but a bit of each keeps me balanced so that I can keep my business and personal life balanced.

Canberra Yoga Conference & Yogasana Fitness, PO Box 4715 Higgins 2615, canberrayogaconference.com.au, 0407 235622, jen@yogasanafitness.com

Jessica Montagne DIRECTOR

Determination and having a passion for what I do are the secrets of my success.

I started my business when I was only 18 years old and, 14 years later, my mother, my sister and I are now equal partners in our highly successful cat-boarding business.

We all share a true love of animals and genuinely care for their

wellbeing and happiness. Having a business where we are able to look after other people’s cats as if they were our own gives us real satisfaction. So we love what we do. Over the years our business has had its ups and downs and I feel that having a strong determination and drive to succeed is what has not only kept us going, but made us succeed.

Curtin Cat Care, 1 Peacock Place, Curtin 2605, curtincatcare.com, 6282 1490, curtincatcare@grapevine.com.au

Heather Reid

CHIEF

EXECUTIVE

I don’t think there’s any single secret to success. My achievements over 30 years in the business of sport have come from experience, education and capacity building. At the same time, success involves being authentic, honest, fair and rational as well as hard work and persistence. The tough part is maintaining focus and being resilient during

challenging times. In that regard, having a workplace that is supportive, inclusive, respectful and welcoming is important. I couldn’t do what I do without the help and encouragement from colleagues, mentors and family. And it’s always great to have a laugh and a bit of fun while getting over the losses and celebrating the wins along the way.

Capital Football, Football House, Phipps Close, Deakin (PO Box 50, Curtin 2605), capitalfootball.com.au, 6260 4000, ceo@capitalfootball.com.au

Dr Jana Stevenson

VETERINARY SURGEON / PRACTICE OWNER

Dr Jana has been a vet for over 20 years and in business for 10 years.

“I still love being a vet as much as I did when I first graduated,” she says. “Advising owners about their pets, helping to care for them, whether it’s medically, surgically or on a preventative level.

“Actually getting to know your

clients and pets, remembering their last pet they owned and having a history with them is what drives me. I love the interaction with owners and naturally that has made being in business fun and successful.”

Dr Jana has just opened up a new vet clinic in Curtin and the community spirit there is wonderful.

Curtin Veterinary Clinic, 31-35 Curtin Place, Curtin Shops, curtinvet.com.au, 6281 0990, jana@curtinvet.com.au

Why travel to Melbourne or Sydney if you can have the training here in Canberra?

I offer government approved training in laser and IPL safety. For only $650, you will receive the training information, hands-on practical training and a Laser Safety Officers Certificate.

We also offer Laser and IPL hair removal courses. This course will set you up to

You

start your own business or work at any clinic, spa or medical practice. You will qualify with a Government accredited Certificate and an ITEC international Certificate. Why would you do a workshop if you can get a qualification?

We offer hands-on training, and most classes will be run on Saturdays.

or for more information contact 6166 2265 or email: ihccentre@gmail.com

NO MORE BORING BLACK, BROWN OR GREY EYELINERS!

Colour stacking is a very popular technique to enhance your old eyeliners or to enhance your new look. This very popular technique started in America and is now a global talk-of-the-town conversation. You will apply less make-up, and save heaps of time!

COSTS:

Touch up on old eyeliner for only $185. Colour stacking procedure for only $250.

I also specialize in eye shadow, brow feathering, lip line, blend and full colour.

Beauty treatments available at Riana’s Clinic: Beauty, Dermal and Medical.

Curves’ making a success from motivation

Chris Conway

OWNER, Curves Wanniassa

THE secret to my success comes from an unending passion to help people reach their fitness goals using the proven Curves method of combining regular exercise and Curves Complete Weight Management Program in a welcoming, supportive and fun environment.

Curves Wanniassa is a community, not just a product. We draw upon the deep and broad resources of our franchise to enable our members to attain success. Their success is my success.

Unit 5, 7 Sangster Place, Wanniassa 2902, facebook.com/curveswanniassa, 6296 7415, curveswanniassa@hotmail.com

Anita O’Meara

OWNER, Curves Belconnen

CURVES Belconnen is a thriving successful gym because each team member is dedicated to strengthening women.

We work with women on an individual level, setting goals and working closely with members on a regular basis to achieve those goals. Over the last five years we have helped hundreds of women

achieve their personal goals whether it be a 40kg loss, the last 5kgs or improve flexibility. Many of our members feel a sense of community as soon as they arrive within the gym. We are dedicated in looking at the whole health of each of our members, which extends to community activities and social functions.

Curves belconnen 8 Bowman Street, Macquarie 2614, 6251 1111, info@curvesbelconnen.com.au

Julie Griffin

OWNER, Curves Weston Creek

KNOWING your member base and discovering what it is they want!

We set achievable and realistic goals and reassess on a monthly basis. Create and maintain records for all members so that we are aware of their goals, needs, challenges, likes/dislikes in our quest to help them achieve their goals. A cheery face to greet and assist regulars and newcomers is a priority. Staff focus is to remember, it’s the little things that make a BIG difference in a small business. For example, remembering names and to use them at all times and to create a FUN environment so they want to come back again.

Curves Weston Creek, Cooleman Court Shopping Centre, Brierly Street, Weston Creek, 2611, 6288 8333, admin@curvesweston.com.au

Raffy Borg

OWNER, Curves Gungahlin

THE secret to my success comes from creating a happy, safe, caring and welcoming environment, where they feel they belong and by knowing them by name.

They spread the word and bring their family, friends, neighbours and workmates to Curves Gungahlin.

Curves Gungahlin, 92 Phyllis Ashton Circuit, Gungahlin 2912, curves.com.au, 6255 5916, info@curvesgungahlin.com.au

Jessica Read

OWNER / DIRECTOR

The secret to my success comes from a passion and drive for what I do. From a young age I was planning things – parties and get togethers. It’s what made me feel happy and fulfilled. After eight years in a steady 9-5 job, I had to step out of my comfort zone and take the leap to create my own business. Since opening in May last year,

Dynamic Events has put together and co-ordinated many functions for happy clients and created Canberra’s Get Active Expo which is now in its second year. Important factors such as business skills, customer services, the need to please your client and the ability to listen to them come into play but, most importantly, if you’re not passionate about it, it won’t happen.

Dynamic Events Canberra, John Crawford Crescent, Casey 2913, 0421 250040, dynamiceventscanberra.com.au, info@dynamiceventscanberra.com.au

Gail Freeman

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

WELL known for the advice she gives regularly in “City News” and on the radio, chartered accountant Gail says that the secret of her success is being part of a great team coupled with extensive technical knowledge and a passion for her work and her clients.

Gail specialises in taxation,

business and all aspects of retirement as well as being a financial planner and specialist self-managed superannuation fund adviser.

In 2013, she was named one of the 100 most influential women in Canberra and she was thrilled to be feted among the Distinguished Alumni of Canberra University.

Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd, 9/71 Leichhardt Street, Kingston 2604, 6295 2844, gail@gailfreeman.com.au

Jennifer Kellett

PRINCIPAL PHYSIOTHERAPIST

IN my 24th year of private practice, I would have to say that there is no secret of success beyond hard work, commitment and quality of service. I take great pride in what I do and, like most people, try to surround myself with others who feel similarly – one thing I do know, again it is no secret, is that without the support of my family and my colleagues I would not have made

the decision to move into a larger premises and expand our service to include Clinical Pilates.

The last year has been challenging, but very rewarding and I feel a real sense of achievement going to work in our beautiful new premises, filled with kind and engaged staff, all of them dedicated to providing excellent care to everyone who walks through our doors.

Hawker Place Physiotherapy & Pilates, Playoust Building, 108 Hawker Place, Hawker 2614, hawkerplacephysio.com.au, 6255 2033, jenniek1111@gmail.com

Our designer collections are hand-picked by us, especially for you. Come in store and find your perfect fit at Escala

Jess Giampaolo

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

SUCCESS doesn’t just come down to one thing, but definitely start by surrounding yourself with smart people and be humble enough to learn off them.

Then develop your team and give them the freedom to learn. Create an atmosphere of innovation and positivity and let your employees thrive.

I also believe in giving back to the community that supports you. Give whatever you can, even if its simply your time, mentoring younger entrepreneurs, volunteering or on a bigger scale, kick-starting a grass roots campaign. This type of service will help to establish you within your community and pay off in the long run.

Energy Fitness, 90 Hardwick Crescent, Holt 2615, energyfitnesscentre.com.au, 6254 8848, info@energyfitnesscentre.com.au

Lauren Scifleet

SPA DIRECTOR

Mentoring loyal staff and investing time into their training in services and products is a must for surviving in business. Without the mentoring of an experienced spa director, I would not have reached the level to receive multiple beauty industry awards.

I go to great lengths to teach my staff respectful customer

service. It is very important to build personal relationships with our clients and adapt to their specific needs. When all of these factors fall in line you gain the respect of the community and local business around you – great word-of-mouth is the best advertising.

H2O SPA, 68/ 71 Giles Street, Kingston, h2ospa.com.au, 6295 7072, info@h2ospa.com.au

Julie Ford

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER

I help tradies, building company owners, engineers, civil contractors and technical services professionals to implement personal insurances that will provide the financial protection and security they, and their families need.

I’m there when you need me most, co-ordinating your claim for income protection, life,

trauma and accidental injury to ensure you receive your full entitlement as quickly as possible. That’s my commitment.

IA Finanical Services, Ford and Associates Pty Ltd, 54 Pridham Street, Farrer 2607, thefordgroup.com.au, 6288 3683, jford@iaa.net.au

Jacquie Tewes

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

As a career coach, my sense of achievement comes from the success of my clients. When they have an excellent experience working with Job Boot Camp and win the job they want, often they will recommend me to others.

I help clients build confidence through straight-forward job search strategies, including online and face-to-face network-

ing tools and methods in order to connect with employers. Together we polish the resume, write winning job applications and create stand-out LinkedIn profiles. These add to the client’s image to market themselves to employers more effectively. The process creates a sense of energy and drive to achieve great outcomes.

Job Boot Camp, jobbootcamp.com.au, 0466 385487, jacquie@jobbootcamp.com.au

Arety Krikonis

OWNER / FOUNDER

The secret to my success is my clients!

Building a rapport with my clients has allowed me to develop strong client relationships.

My clients know that when they come to me, my attention is solely focused on them, and I’ll go the extra mile to ensure they’re happy.

As my client base has grown, my business has gone from strength to strength.

I started as a small tanning shop specialising in tans for sensitive and allergy skins, like mine.

I now provide a range of beauty services and organic, natural and vegan beauty products for tanning, skincare and make-up.

Luscious Glow – Spray Tanning Canberra, Macquarie Shopping Centre, Lachlan Street, Macquarie 2614, spraytanningcanberra.com, 0431 796057

Merrill Vellenoweth

MANAGING DIRECTOR

My secret to surviving in business is to maintain a positive attitude, no matter what. Business, like life, is a mixture of ups and downs. It is essential to keep focused on the end goal.

My aim is to exceed the clients’ brief, delivering the “wow” factor. This ensures customer satisfaction and builds my reputation for innovative design solutions.

I treat everyone in a friendly respectful manner. Consideration for my suppliers and those I work with is paramount. A bit of old-fashioned courtesy is never out of place.

A good work ethic is essential. You need to put in the hours and deliver the projects on time. I love my business and maintain a passion for the creative process.

Merrill Design Australia Pty Ltd, PO Box 7, Fyshwick 2609, merrilldesign.com.au, 0409 903797, merrilldesign@netspeed.com.au

Becky Fleming

OWNER/DIRECTOR

The secret to my success comes from simply loving what I do, taking the steps to following my dream and being consistent, determined and hard working.

I feel lucky to have always known what I wanted, had the physical ability to do it and great people around me that have encouraged me and worked with me to improve the business over

the years. I believe being successful is being happy in what you do and prospering from it, and being able to make a positive healthy difference in other peoples lives and my own makes me really happy!

Kokoloco Dance Studio, Level 1, 9-11 Dundas Court, Phillip, kokoloco.com.au, 6282 9666 or 0421 798490, info@kokoloco.com.au

Deborah Rolfe

PARTNER

The secret of my success comes from working hard and knowing when to laugh! You need to have a sense of humour, an ability to delegate (tough at times when you want to micromanage things but necessary) and appreciate and respect your work colleagues, clients, family and friends.

I have been able to maintain a

great work/life balance – possible because of my very supportive husband and family and my business partners, Craig Edwards and John Little. They have also supported my desire to engage in numerous charitable and community activities, including the Canberra Hospital Foundation, a charity close to my heart.

Maliganis Edwards Johnson, Level 8, 60 Marcus Clarke Street, Civic 2600, 6257 2999, mail@mej.com.au

Karla Palombi

PROUD OWNER

The secret to my success comes from having positive role models in my life. I believe success is passion, drive and commitment in whatever you choose to do. I build strong relationships, manage any objectives that may arise by working effectively with a high degree of focus on quality and professional standards.

I’m committed to making all

my clients feel comfortable and to leave feeling 100 per cent satisfied with their treatment and their experience at my salon. My accuracy and attention to detail are most important. I like to demonstrate trust, respect, understanding and support of individual differences and diversity.

Oakton’s successful women in business

Diana Adams

CONSULTING DIRECTOR

The secret to my success comes from the rapport I build with colleagues and clients, my endless curiosity about the jobs that people do, how things work, how they could be improved and the perpetual quest for information and knowledge.

I engage in effective communication and knowledge-sharing strategies as I know they are paramount to how business and government operates. Life is more than just success at work, it’s also about a supportive, fun and loving family. diana.adams@oakton.com.au

Katherine Cymbalak CONSULTANT

The drive to learn and ask questions has been the key to my career as a consultant. Being comfortable to push your comfort zone is important working in business. Maintaining a level of confidence to hold conversations with a number of people and personalities helps build rapport.

Natalie Hart

SERVICE DELIVERY MANAGER

My success is attributed to my passion and love for the work I do, having an encouraging husband and family who supports my goals. As a service delivery manager/ business analyst, I am committed to understanding and prioritising the

Jenny Lees

PRACTICE LEAD

The secret to my success comes from being in the wrong place at the right time and taking advantage of opportunities that presented. Great mentors make a difference and being willing to work outside my comfort zone.

Nicole Simon

CLIENT MANAGER

Success is about having the courage to take risks. When offered a role in Canberra, I had to make a big decision to relocate from Melbourne in the face of many uncertainties. I took the opportunity to grow and reinvent myself. Having clear goals is essential to a

Business is a connected world, with the best way to grow through networking and gaining knowledge from experienced mentors. Never be afraid to learn something new, meet new people or think outside the box.

katherine.cymbalak@oakton.com.au

Bianca Bale

TERRITORY MANAGER

My mother taught me to: grow before you have a need, work in life with integrity, have a sense of humour and keep it simple.

I find that while my “to do” list,

Sonya Floyer

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT

The secret to surviving in business is to build teams focused on achieving quality outcomes. It means that as a program or project manager you can achieve success if you appreciate and respect the experience and expertise that exists in your team members.

multitasking, organisation and an adaptive/flexible nature are essential, those beliefs still ring true today.

bianca.bale@oakton.com.au

needs of my clients. Business success is never an individual journey it comes from working with a team who leverage off each other’s strengths to deliver the required benefits and outcomes. natalie.hart@oakton.com.au

Elena Ingram

SENIOR CONSULTANT

The secret to surviving in business is making a conscious choice to enjoy what you do, accept that you’ll always be learning and know that what you do doesn’t define you. Being an audit consultant allows me to add value to my clients by helping them improve on their processes.

True success comes from when positive outcomes are achieved through empowering my teams to create an environment in which they can work, achieve, sometimes make mistakes, raise issues and correct without fear of recrimination.

sonya.floyer@oakton.com.au

I enjoy talking to people, to understand their work, before recommending solutions for any apparent issues.

Work is only part of who I am, so it’s paramount that I have a work and life balance. It’s a survival tool! elena.ingram@oakton.com.au

Always consider opportunities that arise and be willing to take on new roles and responsibilities. ICT covers a wide field and is an exciting area to work in.

admin@oakton.com.au

Gabbi Mason DIRECTOR

Believing in yourself, your team, celebrating the small successes while having fun along the way.

Starting out as a consultant over 20 years ago was really confronting and I thought I was expected to have all the answers ready to go. I learnt that build-

ing trust and confidence by surrounding myself with the right mentors across the various stages of my career contributed to my success and gave me the freedom to learn, explore and expand. Personal brand is key!

gabbi.mason@oakton.com.au

successful career. It’s important to see where you can add value to the business and your workplace. Success comes from believing in your abilities, and realising it’s okay to make mistakes and learning from these rather than giving up.

nicole.simon@oakton.com.au

Lucy Skerlikova

CONSULTANT

Learning vicariously has been key for me and having some really good mentors is a great way to facilitate this. Despite this, I think it’s important to acknowledge that there are still many structural issues and misconceptions that hold women like me back from executive

and leadership roles particularly in ICT related industries, but I think that companies that work to address these stand to benefit from the greater variety of perspectives and mix of skills that a more gender-diverse workforce brings. lucy.skerlikova@oakton.com.au

Dana Spasenoska

TERRITORY & BUSINESS

MANAGER

The secret to my success comes from having a desire to make a positive contribution to clients by taking the time to understand their business, being able to respond to short-term requirements with a sense of urgency, while also committing the time and effort to

Hayley Tonkin

AUDIT

MANAGER

The secret to my success is working collaboratively with my team and clients with a focus on effective communication and building relationships.

Working in audit often means breaking down assumptions and defensive attitudes towards the work you’re doing.

fully understand the bigger picture and long-term strategy.

Keeping an active network is key in developing and building trusted relationships, particularly when I am results driven and I love what I do.

dana.spasenoska@oakton.com.au

By being genuine and honest, my clients trust in the work I do. Success also comes from learning from mistakes. Having work and life balance and making time for myself and my family means I am more focused and productive.

hayley.tonkin@oakton.com.au

Julie Stedman SENIOR CONSULTANT

The secret to my success comes from hard work and willingness to learn from others.

I make sure that I am prepared and patient when working towards developing an outcome, while still being focused and assertive to ensure

Sophie Wright CONSULTANT

The secret to surviving in business is to enjoy the work you do, work with great people and provide something of value.

Constantly challenge yourself, push yourself out of your comfort zone as much as possible.

Being challenged helps drive motiva-

the outcome is done in a timely manner and meets its strategic objective. Finally, I try to have fun and work with a great team.

julie.stedman@oakton.com.au

tion, and the sense of accomplishment is much greater when you’ve worked hard to achieve a goal.

Look to people who inspire and encourage you, and support your team as much as possible.

sophie.wright@oakton.com.au

Jacqueline Zwambila

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT

The secret of my success comes from my resolute belief in God’s love for me as my guiding principle.

Integrity and passion are attributes to the success of OnakoGlobal Consultancy, a business I started whose objective is to fly the flag for Africa in Australasia, specifically for business in sustainable development activities that specifically ca-

ter for gender equity for economic growth. Without the inclusion of half the population of Africa, who are women, on to the economic space there can be no hope for effective growth for the continent.

“You educate a woman, you educate a community” is a powerful saying that bears witness to the importance of empowering women and girls. That is my passion!

OnakoGlobal Consultancy, PO Box 6896 Charnwood 2615, onakoglobal.com, 6157 5003, info@onakoglobal.com

Felicia Darbyshire-Pirie OWNER

Balance is the key to survival in business for me. Finding the balance between working hard and having a break, being serious and silly, when to push on or pull back.

Balance is so important to being able to keep loving my profession, doing enough continuing education to keep fresh and ahead, but not so

much that we can’t consolidate. Balancing give with take. My instructors are wonderful; I support them and they support me. Finally, our wonderful clients; I get as much from their successes as they do!

Pilates Canberra – Tuggeranong, 43 Comrie Street, Wanniassa 2903, pilatescanberra.com.au, 6162 1793, felicia@pilatiescanberra.com.au

Julianne Brewer

FINANCE ADVISOR / MANAGING DIRECTORY

After almost 17 years in my business, I truly believe that the secret in surviving in business is consistency and customer service, but the one thing that is critical, you have to genuinely love what you do!

Provincial Home Loans, 42 Barracks Flat Drive, Queanbeyan 2620, 0417 685332, provincialhomeloans.com.au, juliannebrewer@provincialhomeloans.com.au

Sarah Boxall

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

“The secret to being a successful lawyer is in caring what happens to people”, says Sarah. Sarah practises exclusively in criminal law at Rachel Bird & Co and has been promoted to Senior Associate in short time. She is also an academic instructor at ANU Law School teaching advocacy to law students.

Sarah says: “People are very

stressed when going to court and it is important to realise most are good people who are having a difficult time and have made an out-of-character bad decision.

“It’s my job to assist them to get help if they need it and, most importantly, a good outcome in the criminal justice system.”

Sarah practises in both the ACT and NSW jurisdictions.

Rachel Bird & Co, 4th Floor, AMP Building, 1 Hobart Place, Civic 2600, rachelbird.com.au, 6248 6616, sarah@rachelbird.com.au

Claire Connelly

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

After seven years in business, there are three things I’ve learnt:

1. Most people still don’t see the value of good design, but the clients that do always return for more.

2. Hiring the right staff has been absolutely critical to my success.

3. Word-of-mouth is the most powerful advertising, especially in Canberra.

I believe in empowering people who work for me and setting up good systems from the start. Without my team and network of reliable suppliers, great clients and constant friends, I would not have survived seven years in business. Congratulations to all the Canberra businesswomen who are fundamental to the local economy and a great source of inspiration.

Papercut, 18 Bent Street, Turner 2612, papercut.net.au, 6162 4045, claire@papercut.net.au

Lanette Gavran

DIRECTOR

The secret to surviving in business is to be passionate about what you do (without being one-eyed).

Your passion will motivate and inspire you to strive to offer the best for your clients, and be the very best at what you do. Following your passion will also enable you to hear what your clients say and therefore push you to learn

more, evolve what you do, change direction when you need to. Passion can inspire staff to also follow their hearts in the business, which creates a happy and energised workplace. Being passionate about what you do enables you to work long hours and to recover from any unforseen blips that happen. After 18 years in business I am still passionate about Pilates.

Pilates Canberra, 3/21 Marcus Clarke Street, New Acton, and 58 Colbee Court, Phillip, pilatescanberra.com.au, 6281 7788, lanette@pilatescanberra.com.au

Rachel Bird

DIRECTOR/PRINCIPAL

SOLICITOR

In March of 2015, Rachel Bird & Co will be celebrating a decade of providing legal services to the Canberra and surrounding region.

Rachel says: “The secret to surviving in business, particularly in an area that is highly competitive, is to always provide a premium service to our clients.

“We pride ourselves on our

excellence and dedication to our client’s needs and individual circumstances.

After 17 years in practice, I’m proud of the standard of legal expertise I and other lawyers in my firm provide.” Rachel’s firm provides legal services in the areas of family law, criminal and traffic law, and personal injury matters.

Rachel Bird & Co, 4th Floor, AMP Building, 1 Hobart Place, Civic 2600, rachelbird.com.au, 6248 6616, rachel@rachelbird.com.au

Karen Murphy

LENDING SPECIALIST

The secret to surviving in business is: NEVER GIVE UP! Commit to what you’re passionate about, be genuine and keep going no matter what! Obstacles will inevitably present themselves – your attitude to those obstacles will determine how long they remain a barrier between you and what’s on the other side. The obstacle might be a personal one that’s stopping you from

achieving your goals, or maybe a challenge that’s standing between you and helping your client achieve their objective or dream. Find the way over, around or through and NEVER GIVE UP!

“Courage doesn’t always roar, sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering ‘I will try again tomorrow’,” – Mary Anne Radmacher.

Resi Canberra Southern, Level 1, 22 Strangways Street, Curtin 2605, resi.com.au/canberrasouthern, 0406 377866, canberrasouthern@resi.com.au

Riana Janse van Rensburg

OWNER

Through my passion for the health and beauty industry from an early age and being brought up with a family who owned a pharmacy in South Africa, I undertook relevant training and qualifications to enter this profession.

In 1989 I started my first clinic, which has evolved and relocated from South Africa to Australia in 2010, where I now own and man-

age Riana’s Health and Skin Care Clinic. This has provided clients with a diverse range of services. As a result of these initiatives, my client base also increased through excellent word-of-mouth referrals. In South Africa, in 2013, I took my passion further by achieving accreditation to train and teach for ITEC International and commenced my academy this year.

Riana’s Health and Skin Care Clinic, 111 Clive Steele Avenue, Monash 2904, riana-centre.com.au, 6166 2265, ihcentre@gmail.com

Lina Macor

SALON MANAGER – NICHOLLS

The secret to my success comes from loving the beauty industry. I strongly believe in doing the things that you love, and once you have found your passion, it continues to grow. Being in this industry for over 20 years, I have built a rapport and trust with our clients, and that is something very rewarding as a therapist. Our loyal clients have

been supportive and motivating, and without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. Working at Sibu Beauty and managing the Nicholls salon and a wonderful team, certainly makes my job a lot easier!

Sibu Beauty, Unit 27, 64 Kelleway Avenue, Nicholls, sibubeauty.com.au, 6241 4115, info@sibubeauty.com.au

Simone Stevens

ASSISTANT MANAGER – NICHOLLS

My secret to success is the love and passion I have for my career. Sibu Beauty has given me the opportunity to further myself in the beauty industry and, over the last four years, I have gained many skills and had thorough training through the salon. I enjoy every aspect of beauty therapy especially building relationships with our clients and

providing them with exceptional results. I believe Sibu Beauty is a successful business due to the motivation and dedication of our talented team – which always strives to give our clients the best experience possible.

Sibu Beauty, Unit 27, 64 Kelleway Avenue, Nicholls, sibubeauty.com.au, 6241 4115, info@sibubeauty.com.au

Tanya Herbertson DIRECTOR

THE secret to my success comes from having a profound understanding of our laws and their effective application, and creating a personal and empathetic bond with my clients. Also important is listening to, and understanding, my clients’ requirements, responding quickly to their questions and concerns, and keeping them well

informed.

Using my experience allows me to resolve clients’ matters as quickly, efficiently and effectively as possible, and being available, approachable and friendly is imperative. Having a family gives me a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of my clients’ needs.

Samantha Henderson

SALON MANAGER – CRACE

The secret to my success comes from my ability to be persistent when it comes to achieving my goals.

I work hard, always give 100 per cent and use creativity and innovation to achieve results.

I also appreciate and learn from each and every stage of the journey.

I thrive on the diversity of

beauty therapy and the way it pushes me to be better each and every day – for our clients. My success also comes from connecting with our clients, being dedicated to providing an amazing treatment every time, understanding their needs and adapting to meet those needs.

Sibu Beauty, Unit 4, 56 Abena Avenue, Crace, sibubeauty.com.au, 6162 0397, info@sibubeauty.com.au

Elissa Michel DIRECTOR

THE secret to surviving in business is passion, hard work, organisation and being selective about your team.

If you are not committed to working hard then you cannot expect your staff to work hard for you.

I try to lead by example, and instil important values in my staff such as dedication to

quality, friendliness and feeling privileged to work at a high calibre salon.

I believe that if you have happy, motivated and professional staff this will reflect on to your clients and make people want to return.

I am very lucky to have such a fabulous team to work with and such fantastic, loyal clients.

Sibu Beauty, Unit 27, 64 Kelleway Avenue, Nicholls (6241 4115) & Unit 4, 56 Abena Avenue, Crace (6162 0397), sibubeauty.com.au, info@sibubeauty.com.au

Rianna Macdougall

DIRECTOR

Passion has allowed me to develop my business while starting a family. A belief in my own capabilities, misguided or not, has allowed me to achieve things plenty of my friends have told me are a little optimistic.

I love to be challenged because I believe in myself and want to be proud of my achievements. I am pleased to have moved on from ri-

diculous hours, sleeping on a mattress right next to my computer, trying to get my first magazine issue out on time. That just isn’t possible now I have two toddlers hassling me for sandwiches. Now I focus on managing others’ talents to assist me in developing my cheerleading gym to provide the best possible program for happy and successful athletes.

Sirens Cheerleaders, Unit 1E, 5 Pelle Street, Mitchell 2911, 0419 366405, cheerleadersaustralia.com.au, rianna@cheerleadersaustralia.com.au

Karen Porter CEO

The secret of my success comes from my ability to see what the market needs and how to fill it. There is a real weakness in Canberra homes in terms of insulation and I am determined that I will be a driver in true energy efficient homes in Canberra. I love forming relationships with my clients and seeing the value that I can add to their

homes and their comfort levels.

The secret to surviving in business is to give the business everything that you have in the early years. Once the business is more mature, you can pull back a little and have some time out. All of your energy, drive and dedication needs to go into the business. Having a firm vision will also help so you can map your path.

Hanna Coady

DESIGNER/DRESSMAKER & OWNER

The secret to my success comes from listening to my customers, and assisting them to choose styles and fabrics for their handmade wedding gown or formal dress that will be uniquely theirs, made to the utmost quality and be delivered on time.

I have always had a passion for design and dressmaking, and loving what I do has helped me

to succeed in this industry over the past 35 years. I use my European heritage to inspire and influence my work, and source beautiful fabrics and materials on my travels overseas for my customers to choose from, including satins, laces, taffetas and chiffons. This ensures their dresses are truly individual and special.

Studio Moda, 1/41-43 Colbee Court, Phillip 2606, hannacoady.com.au, 6282 8003, studiomoda43@gmail.com

Deb Long OWNER

The secret to my success is to listen to clients to understand what they like, need and want. This allows me to find the right product and itinerary to suit them. This year I was recognised as the #1 Cruise Consultant in Australia by the Cruise Lines and #1 Agency & Consultant for Scenic Tours. I believe in old-fashioned

customer service. A downfall in the travel industry is mismatching clients to the wrong style of travel. Our team of consultants have first-hand knowledge of products and destinations, which allows us to guide clients to make the right choices for their travel arrangements. “Without a travel agent you’re on your own”.

Weston Cruise and Travel, Shop S002 Cooleman Court, Weston, ACT 2611 and Curtin Cruise and Travel, Unit 10 Carruthers Street, Curtin, ACT 2605, westoncruiseandtravel.com.au, 6288 4400, admin@westoncruiseandtravel.com.au

Julie Storer

BUSINESS OWNER

THE secret to my success is simple, I love what I do and I have the support of my wonderful family.

I have years of experience, honesty and integrity and a personalised service you can’t find anywhere else; this is my business and everyone sees me. My goal is to always to improve the lives of my clients

and I take that responsibility very personally. In this rapidly changing industry, it is also more important than ever to be in the hands of medical professionals using medicalgrade equipment and knowing that products are safe. With this, I achieve the greatest compliment of all, wonderful clients!

Your Skin, 1A/29 O’Hanlon Place, Gold Creek Village, Nicholls 2913, yourskin.com.au, 0408 007988, julie@yourskin.com.au

Kate Ticehurst

DIRECTOR

The secret to my success comes from persistence, confidence and belief in what you aspire to be. In a very corporate world like Canberra, wanting to make dance and entertainment a full-time job has not always seemed an easy venture, and people have a tendency to believe it is not a “real” career choice – yet, it is so much more

Dance has been my passion for 20 years (plus) and without persistence and belief in the many benefits of dance I would not be running the successful studio and entertainment company that I have now – and it is my full-time career. The other key ingredient is an amazing team. I have an exceptional studio manager and instructor/dance team.

Subsdance Dance, Entertainment & Fitness Studio, Monkeybar Lounge, 128 Bunda Street, Civic, subsdance.com.au, 0404 687806, kate@subsdance.com.au

Catherine Smith

PROPERTY ADVISOR & WEALTH COACH

The secret to my success is following my passion of helping people grow wealth. I have more than 20 years’ experience in all financial fields.

I advise clients “wholistically”. That is, my team at Wholistic Financial Solutions and I advise clients across the whole of their financial needs including

tax, business, superannuation, financial planning, mortgages, insurances and property investing.

One key speciality is assisting clients buy property in a selfmanaged superannuation fund. For a free copy of my book, “Wealth through Property”, email catherine@wfscanberra.com.au

Wholistic Financial Solutions, Suite 1, 1st Floor, Dickson Chambers, Dickson 2602, wfscanberra.com.au, 6162 4546, catherine@wfscanberra.com.au

Wanda Wojciechowska

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT/BUSINESS OWNER

IT is all about our clients. I think the secret of my success is being passionate about helping people, being able to help our clients: business owners, salary earners and potential business owners… big or small.

To get the best results in a stressful situation and, hopefully, making their lives easier; take the stress out of tax and help them to comply with ever-changing legislation. We try to look after the things clients don’t want to, leaving them to do the things they love to do. We do our best and always try to make a difference by keeping up with that old-fashioned service through meeting clients face-toface and maintaining the personal touch by staying in touch.

WWAccounting, PO Box 42, Red Hill 2603, wwaccounting.com.au, 0400 083938, wandaw@wwaccounting.com.au

With something for everybody the ANU Commons is the perfect place for your Christmas party for the

We have a wide variety of festive menus available, from casual canapé functions in our private courtyard, to festive buffet menus thru to more formal sit down lunches and dinners.

Enquire today, as spaces are limited.

OPEN 7 DAYS 10am - 6pm

Joanne Mercer

Diana Ferrari Villeroy & Boch CUE

Royal Doulton Oxford

Sunglass Hut

Latvian voice in the forest

Arts Editor HELEN MUSA speaks to Latvian soprano Inessa Galante, the headline performer in this month’s ‘Voices in the Forest’ concert

YOU may not instantly recognise the name, but you’ll certainly know the voice of Latvian soprano Inessa Galante, about to take the stage at the National Arboretum for “Voices in the Forest”.

Long hidden behind the Iron Curtain, where she was famous as a star with the Latvian National Opera and the Kirov, she swept to fame in the West during 1995 with her soaring but delicate performance of the Vavilov/Caccini “Ave Maria”, which rapidly became a cult hit.

Throughout the ‘90s after the fall of the Soviet empire, she performed at the National Theatre Mannheim and Deutsché Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf, Germany, where the 60-year-old diva now spends much of her time, as well as in Riga in her native Latvia.

Galante has been seen everywhere from the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées to La Scala, but now in the autumnal years of her career, Galante is giving back to her home country, to Europe and to the world.

“I can choose what I want to do… all my life I did things I didn’t like, so now freedom is very important to me,” she tells me by phone from Austria’s Tyrol, where “it’s real winter, like a fairytale”.

But she’s happy to come here. She remembers Sydney and Melbourne audiences being “absolutely fabulous”, with warm hearts, but hasn’t been to Canberra before.

In a program devised by director Chris Latham that includes arias from Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” and her “Ave Maria”, what Galante would really like to perform are some favourite songs by Russian composers – “I love them, they’re gorgeous,”

she says. Latham, take note.

Galante will be joined on stage by Opera Australia’s dashing baritone Peter Coleman Wright and by NZ tenor Simon O’Neill singing popular duets for tenor and baritone.

As well, in a lighter touch, Canberra mezzo soprano Christina Wilson will join former Canberran Tim Dal Cortivo in a set of love songs from Broadway and all will be supported by the Voices in the Forest Youth Choir

Galante is no stranger to such a mixed repertoire. Twelve years ago, she tells me, she had an idea for an event and this year she’s been celebrating 10 years of “Summertime – Inessa Galante and Friends”, an “inter-genre” festival held in the resort town Jūrmala on the shores of the Baltic Sea which sees 20,000 visitors annually.

You’d expect her festival to be all opera, but this year’s high spots included a jazz pianist from Russia, Balkan and Gypsy musicians, a flamenco group from Madrid, an African diva and Mozart’s “Requiem” performed to video projections. “Every day there is something different,” she says with some pride.

Recently she set up the Inessa Galante Talent Competition, specifically for young musical artists from Latvia in four categories with 12 winners. The 2014 winners performed in a major concert with international artists.

“It’s very gorgeous,” she rejoices, “and it’s not very often that they’d get a chance to perform in front of a real audience, I mean, not just their parents… that’s what our foundation is about… to give them a real public, to let them show what they can do.”

In March last year she formed the Inessa Galante Foundation, now administered by her daughter Diāna. It numbers on its board Latvian President Andris Bērziņš, and has wider aims than just competition.

“I want to give back to Latvia what I once received, love and knowledge,” she says.

Galante still tours the world as a soprano, but makes it clear to “CityNews” that nowadays she can pick and choose. Luckily, she’s picked us.

“My schedule was always very heavily booked,” she concludes, “I had no time to live or breathe.”

“Now I can think about what I do, I can say no.”

“Voices in the Forest”, National Arboretum, 4.45pm-8.30pm, Sunday, November 30. Free bus. Details at voicesintheforest.com.au and bookings to canberraticketing.com.au

Fun night of strut, mince and high-kick

musical theatre

“La Cage Aux Folles” Director, Garrick Smith; musical director, Rose Shorney; choreographer, Jacquelyn Richards. At ANU Arts Centre until November 22.

Reviewed by Bill Stephens

“WE are what we are” proclaim Les Cagelles, six dancers of indeterminate sex, who strut, mince, high-kick and tap energetically in grotesque make-up and a succession of tacky costumes at La Cage Aux Folles, a drag nightclub in St. Tropez, run by Georges (Jarrad West).

The club’s star is drag queen, Zaza, the alter ego of George’s effeminate partner, Albin (Ben O’Reilly).

Georges and Albin have lived happily above the nightclub for years, but their happiness is threatened when Georges’ son, Jean Michel (Alexander Clubb) suddenly announces that he is going to marry the daughter of the famously anti-gay politician, Edouard Dindon (Len Power).

How they deal with this predicament is the meat of Jerry Herman’s delightfully hilarious and tuneful musical currently enjoying its first Canberra showing in this exuberant production directed with panache by Garrick Smith. The linchpin of the show is Ben O’Reilly’s brilliant performance as Albin/Zaza. O’Reilly skillfully balances the silliness and pathos of Albin, with the confident glamour of Zaza in a carefully modulated performance of considerable depth. Jarrad West matches him with a strong and charming Georges. Both sing well and their scenes together are beautifully managed. Clubb is impressive as their headstrong son, Jean Michel, and Fraser Findlay makes the most of his scene-stealing role as the butler/ maid, Jacob.

Rose Shorney’s large, full-throated orchestra brilliantly captures the authentic Broadway sound to do full justice to Herman’s wonderful score. Steve and Susie Walsh’s setting with its spectacular use of LED lighting, Suzan Cooper’s often dazzling costumes, Jacquelyn Richards’ spot-on choreography, and Phil Goodwin and Peter Barton’s superb lighting and sound design all add pizazz and razzle dazzle to this hugely enjoyable production.

Festival expects record crowd

A STUPENDOUS line-up of more than 50 performers has the new Majors Creek Festival committee expecting record crowds when their “friendly little festival” returns from November 21 to 23 after a three-year break. Headliners include Candelo’s Heath Cullen and Queanbeyan’s controversial busker/singer/songwriter Owen Campbell, back from his US tour. It’s all just 10 minutes from Braidwood and free camping is available on site. All details and bookings to majorscreekfestival.org

CANBERRA Rep is exploring the occult, marital jealousy and other theatrical vices in Noël Coward’s hilarious play “Blithe Spirit”, to be

directed by Kate Blakehurst. Briefly, Charles (Peter Holland) invites the eccentric medium Madame Arcati (Liz St Clair-Long) to his house for a séance, but gets more than he bargains for when the ghost of his first wife (Anita Davenport) turns up. At Theatre 3, Acton, November 20-December 6, bookings to 6257 1950.

ARTIST and curator Suzie Edwards has alerted us to the new Ten Thousand Paces gallery space/shop, Springetts Arcade, 302 Bong Bong Street, Bowral. Her exhibition “Inner Necessity” is being opened by artist Cherry Hood, 2pm, on Saturday, November 15. Edwards says ACT artists should be getting in before this “quirky but charismatic little gallery” develops a long waiting list for exhibition space.

“THE Mannheim School” is the Sydney Consort’s last concert for the year, looking at early classical music from the birth of the clarinet in compositions of Stamitz, up to Mozart’s chamber works. Performing with the consort

HELEN MUSA

will be Lawrence Dobell, principal clarinet with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and versatile recorder player Hans-Dieter Michatz. At Wesley Music Centre, 7pm, on Sunday, October 16, bookings to trybooking. com/DVJL or tickets at the door 30 minutes before the concert.

IF you’re keen on The King, it’s time to register for the Parkes Elvis Festival’s 2015 busking competition or the rock ‘n’ roll dancing competition. The idea is to dress up,

sing and dance your way to prizes and trophies while you remember the way you were. Registrations to parkeselvisfestival.com.au.

THE next free concert at the High Court, 1pm, on Sunday, November 16, features Polifemy, a women’s vocal ensemble performing sacred and profane Renaissance music and the recorder ensemble Walking the Dog. Both are directed by veteran Canberra music director Robyn Mellor.

PULSE: Reflections on the body, incorporates the work of 27 Australian artists in an exhibition, a performance program, and a series of floor-talks and public conversations exploring shifts in our understanding of what it is to be human. Until Sun 22 February 2015

12pm–5pm

AUDITIONS

29 & 30 November

To book an audition and receive an audition pack

Contact: janette@webone.com.au

Director • Janet Tweedie

Musical Direction: Orchestration • Jenna Hinton Vocal • Emma White

Choreographer • Belinda Hassall

arts & entertainment / cinema

Woes of well-matched misfits

“Love, Rosie” (M)

THE source of this German/British co-production is a novel “Where Rainbows End” by Cecelia Ahern, about Rosie (Lily Collins) who at 18 had won a bursary that would let her accompany Alex (Sam Claflin), her best friend since they were five, now taking up a scholarship to Harvard.

‘Tis not to be. He goes, she doesn’t. They are wellmatched misfits. Twelve years later, he’s as selfish and immature as he was when he went to Boston.

Rosie was a sweet ditz of the first water, seeing the world through rose-coloured glasses. After an end-of-school-year party, where she drank too much and had sex with Gary (Art Parkinson), Rosie presented at outpatients to have the used condom

removed from her vagina, something any girl with half a brain could have, would have, done quick smart for herself.

To her credit, she raises the resulting daughter more diligently than that unpropitious begetting promised.

In director Christian Ditter’s film’s 12-year time span, Alex marries twice and Rosie once, all made in haste and repented even more quickly.

We know almost from the film’s first frame what will be happening in the final one. The journey between them is dramatically infantile. Lily Collins, quite pretty, plays Rosie with more flair than the role deserves.

At Capitol and Hoyts

Young and unforgettable

“Testament

of Youth” (M)

THREE weeks ago, James Kent’s film, based on Vera Brittain’s memoirs of 1914 to 1918 when she postponed her ambition to go to Oxford and instead became an army nurse, had a brief season at the British Film Institute’s London Film Festival.

“Interstellar” (M)

Forget the Oscar!

Here in Canberra on November 6, to commemorate the War to End All Wars that began a century ago, “Testament of Youth” opened a festival of British films at Palace Electric. This is apposite synchronicity to which the film delivers little accompanying serendipity.

THERE’S much brouhaha and conjecture going on about how Christopher Nolan’s 169-minute futurist astrophysical space-travel climate-change fantasy polemic will fare at the next Academy Awards.

Leading the cast, Matthew McConaughey is Cooper, widowed former spacecraft pilot turned corn farmer.

Late in the 21st century, when Earth is beset by drought, famine, land deterioration and pessimism, Cooper and his whizkid daughter, Murphy, solve a coded message directing them to the underground base where NASA engineers led by Prof Brand (Michael Caine) have built a spacecraft capable of transiting a space wormhole to search for planets able to sustain human life.

Brand’s scientist daughter Amelia (Anne Hathaway) will do the necessary studies.

Through the wormhole, one hour in the spacecraft equates to seven years on Earth where Murphy, raised by her grandfather, also becomes a scientist, a role for Jessica Chastain whose participation enhances whatever film she’s in.

What I found unacceptable about “Interstellar” was the same as I find objectionable in any film purporting to break free of Earth’s bounds.

It suspends or even repeals a number of immutable physical laws. I’m pessimistic about the probability of humankind ever reaching and surviving on another planet. We must make the best of the one we’ve got.

In 1968, with “2001: A Space Odyssey”, Stanley Kubrick came closer to obeying those laws than any film has so far achieved. In “Interstellar”, the doppelganger for Kubrick’s supercomputer Hal is TARS, smarter, more interactive, more mobile, more user friendly, than Hal. But not necessarily an Oscar winner!

At all cinemas

Hopefully, the film will get commercial release in Australia. It takes a constrained perspective of the war in which Vera (Alicia Vikander) lost her fiancé and several young men who were her childhood friends during an idyllic childhood.

It visits battlefields only briefly to portray their terrible effects on the young men about to rise from the trenches and charge into enemy fire. It lingers in a matter-of-fact style in the mud and blood surrounding the field hospitals where Vera learned her nursing craft and asepsis was a condition devoutly to be wished for but virtually impossible to attain.

The film sent the audience out in a misty-eyed silence palpably reflecting its statement. Admirably depicting the bleakness of the physical and emotional environments in which young women toiled and all too often watched their efforts come to naught, it’s not easily forgotten, for the best of reasons.

arts & entertainment A festival by design

By Helen Musa

DESIGN is all around us, but is it art?

After all, designers are not freewheeling creatives just doing their own thing, they have to address a brief, so just how imaginative can they be?

These and other questions are about to be addressed in a seriously big public event, the Design Canberra Festival, organised by CraftACT and running all around town from November 20-23.

There’ll be pop-up installations, design labs, exhibitions and shops, the “MODERN’ market, the Capital of Culture Tours and the DESIGN Buzz conversation and lecture series.

Helen O’Neil, the president of Craft ACT’s Craft and Design Centre, reminds us that Canberra has always been a city where designers and artists are being confident enough to “rethink, rework, renew and innovate”.

To her, the event will be “a challenge to us all to use our creative skills to make the most of the great opportunities and strengths of this city”, a city founded on an international design competition.

So, “change the way you think” is the theme of Design Canberra, captured in a beautifully simple graphic design by Zoo Advertising.

Proof that this is a city of design can be seen in the extensive program, which shows individual artists, major institutions such as the Museum of Australian Democracy and the National Portrait Gallery, the ANU and the University of Canberra, private firms such as Cox Architecture, who are running tours and a myriad of small design businesses pulling their weight with exhibitions and talks.

Highlights of Design Canberra include MoAD’s “Fusion: the art of eating” on November 19, where food and fine design come together, the $2500 “Design + Craft” award for participants, a guided bus tour of artists’ studios, workshops starting at Canberra Glassworks and a marketplace offering “something for everyone”.

First cabs off the rank were the Gallery of Australian Design with an unusual poster exhibition called “Do Good” and a multipronged exhibition at Craft ACT itself.

This is above all an optimistic festival and a sign, O’Neil says, “of confidence in our future and belief in our cultural strength.”

Design Canberra Festival, all around Canberra, November 20-23, for all details and bookings at designcanberrafestival.com.au

“I like to tell people that if you don’t know Angélique, you haven’t lived because there’s not one person who would be in her presence and not be changed.”

—ALICIA KEYS

ANNUAL FINE ART AUCTION

SUNDAY 23 NOVEMBER

STARTING 10:30AM DOORS OPEN 9AM

www.aarwungallery.com for catalogue Viewing from Wednesday 19 Including works by:

QUILTY | LEONARD LONG

| WENDY SHARPE

BROWNE | GORDON HANLEY KEN

| MAX MANNIX | GARY SHEAD

DICKERSON | KEVIN BEST

BARRIOS | JOSEPH FROST | TED LEWIS

DYER | CHARLES BLACKMAN

HONG | JUDY WATSON NAPANGARDI

FULLER | DAVID BROMLEY

8 APRIL 2015

THE CHAIRMAN & YIP

CHAIRMAN’S XMAS FEAST

LIGHT BATTERED GARFISH TOSSED WITH SPICY SALT, CHILLI AND LEEK

GRILLED KING PRAWNS WITH A CREAMY SPINACH SAUCE

STIR FRIED LOBSTER TAIL WITH GROUND GINGER AND SHALLOTS ROAST CHICKEN SALAD WITH A SESAME AND CASHEW DRESSING CAPE GRIM EYE FILLET OF BEEF SKEWERS WITH A HERB AND CITRUS SAUCE

SLOW ROASTED DUCK BREAST WITH ORANGE AND SWEET CHILLI SHANGTUNG STYLE SPICY LAMB

DESSERT OF THE DAY AND COFFEE

$79.5 per person $98 per person with 3 glasses of matching wine

*strictly minimum of 4 people, available 16th November to 24th December

108 Bunda Street, Canberra | chairmangroup.com.au

Reservations please call 02 6248 7109 or email thechairmanandyip@yahoo.com

arts & entertainment

Sweet dreams are made of this

WHAT would your palate love you more for? An out-there fitout with mediocre food or a laid-back fitout with awesome food?

I know what my palate wants and that’s what my palate got at Stand By Me at Lyons shops.

I was on my own, hungry and in the area, having heard about this homey café owned by brother and sister Ben and Phoebe Holland (with sister Alice baking, too). It’s the

COUNCIL OF SAVE THE CHILDREN – 2014 ANNUAL ADDRESS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19 – 12.30pm

Come and share the tears and joy as well-known Canberra sports broadcaster Tim Gavel OAM and wife Dr Jenny Andrew share the happiness and heartache of their remarkable family life.

I know what my palate wants and that’s what my palate got at Stand By Me at Lyons shops.

team’s first hospitality venture. So far. So good.

Stand By Me is a sweet place and you do feel at home when you walk through the front door. There’s the smiling barista greeting you warmly. Other staff say hello as you wander about deciding where to sit. Everyone is pretty cruisey.

The area out the front gets sun early in the day (this time of year, anyway) but offers shade at lunch. Out back is a large, sunny area with big wooden picnic tables and square white slat tables. I wasn’t surprised to see herbs growing in pots.

Lunch is served from 11.30am to 2pm with specials available each day. On my visit, the specials included pesto gnocchi, housemade sausage rolls and a dish featuring flathead.

The regular menu offers a meatball sub ($11), a chicken ABC sandwich (avo, bacon and chipotle aioli for $15.50), tomato bruschetta

with heirloom tomatoes and goat’s feta ($15), a blackened lamb burger with Cajun spices ($15.50) and toasted sandwiches, available only until sold out ($8.50 to $9.50).

It was a hot day and my palate instructed me to opt for the spring haloumi salad ($15.50). I’m glad I obeyed. The salad arrived in a snow-white coloured bowl, popped on top of a wooden serving board, and was as pretty as it was tasty.

The salad was created with peppery rocket, fresh pear, sweet strawber ries, cherry tomatoes and topped with a super generous serve of salty, grilled haloumi. A perfect combo of elements and a dish that was filling but not too heavy. And did I mention the walnuts that added a welcome “crunch”?

No doubt this spring salad is a favourite of vegetarians and those who are gluten intolerant.

The sweet cabinet is packed with tasty treats cooked in-house. Gigantic muffins. Super slices.

Decadent cakes. Perfect with a cuppa on any afternoon.

Stand By Me serves all-day breakfast on weekends (the place is packed, I hear) and while dining or enjoying a coffee you can groove to tunes on vinyl, such as Lionel Richie’s “Dancing on the Ceiling” or Chicago’s “Hot Streets” or Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. You can take your own records to listen to also. The café opened towards the end of June, but is already livening up the quiet Lyons shops.

Stand By Me, Shop 1, Lyons Shops, is open seven days for breakfast/brunch and lunch. Call 6282 2741.

La Scala Italian Restaurant

Celebrating 25 years of excellence and welcomed as an accredited member restaurant to The Academy of Italian Cuisine for accurately displaying Italian culinary traditions and innovations. Centre Cinema Building, Garema Place, Canberra City 6248 8338 www.lascala.net.au

Helping us to ‘SORT’ it out

ACTSmart Business accredited recyclers:

ACT Legislative Assembly

Ainslie Football & Social Club

Allbids Pty Ltd

AMC Training Centre

American Embassy Canberra

AMSAT International Pty Ltd

Atlas Business Services

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Australian Sports Commission

• AIS Arena

Barmco Mana Partnership

Bentleys of Canberra - Garran Biotext

Blueblood Solutions

Boston Consulting Group

Brindabella Hearing & Speech Centre

Brown Consulting (ACT)

Calvary John James Hospital

Canberra Aluminium Warehouse

Canberra Audiology

Canberra CBD Ltd

Canberra Centre:

• Andrew Watkins Optometrist

• Aquila

• Australian Choice

• Bloch

• Bounce Pharmacy

• City Markets Chemist

• Country Road

• David Lawrence

• Diana Ferrari

• Dicksmith

• Dimitries Jewellers

• Flight Centre

• Forever New

• Gazman

• General Pants Co

• G-Star Raw

• Harvey World Travel

• Healthy Life

• IMB Ltd

• Jacqui-E

• JB Hi Fi

• Jeanswest

• Jigsaw

• Jo Mercer Footwear

• Just Cuts

• Just Jeans

• Kathmandu

• Laura Ashley

• Lin & Barrett

• Lincraft

• Little Sprout

• L’Occitane

• LookSMART

• Lorna Jane

• Lululemon Athletica

• Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

• Marcs

• Mazzucchelli’s Jewellers

• McGlades Jewellers

• Michael Hill

• Mimco

• Nine West

• OPSM

• Oxfam Australia

• Parliament

• Pepe’s Paperie

• Platypus Shoes

• Price Attack

• QBD the Bookshop!

• R.M. Williams

• Rebel Sport

• Review

• Rodd and Gunn

• Roger David

• Shaver Shop

• Smiggle

• Sportscraft

• STA Travel

• Strandbags

• Supanews

• Supre Civic

• Swarovski

• T2

• The Body Shop

• Tree of Life

• Trenery

• ts14+

• Virgin Mobile

• Vodafone

• Witchery

• Wittner

• YD.

• Yes Optus

Canberra Equine Hospital

Canberra FM Radio Pty Ltd

Canberra Furnished

Accommodation

Canberra Netball Association

Queanbeyan accredited recyclers:

Brema Group

Ciao Cafe & Cakes

Coca-Cola Amatil

JJ Richards & Sons

KBT Overnight Express

Queanbeyan City Council

• Admin Building

Canberra Veterinary Hospital

Capital Region

Farmers Market

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Comcare - Marcus Clarke Street

Commerce & Works Directorate,

Shared Servcies

• Bowes Place

• Allara Street

• Callam Offices

• Eclipse House

• Macarthur House

• Mitchell

Communications Design & Management

Community Services Directorate

• Therapy ACT Holder

• Therapy ACT Swanson Plaza

Conference Logistics

Conservation Council - ACT

Region

Continuity Capital Partners

CrimTrac

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace

Relations

• 17 Moore Street

Department of Environment

• John Gorton Building

Department of Social Services

• Guilfoyle House

Director of Public Prosecutions

DUO Services Australia

Easycare Landscapes

Economic Development

Directorate

• ACT Gambling and Racing Commission

• Canberra and Region Visitors Centre

• Exhibition Park Corporation

• GIO Stadium

• Telstra House

Education and Training

Directorate

• Northbourne Avenue

• Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning

Effective People

Elections ACT

Engineers Australia

Environment and Planning

Directorate

• Home & Community Centre

• Library

Schiavello (QBY) Pty Ltd

Queanbeyan signups:

Airport International Hotel

Club Googong

Coca-Cola Amatil

Community CPS - Queanbeyan

Copper Kettle Café

• Dame Pattie Menzies

• Mitchell

Environmental Resources

Management Australia

Five Star Electrical (ACT)

Fringe Hairdressing

General Practice Education & Training

GHD Pty Ltd

Gold Creek World of Learning

Health Directorate

• Queen Elizabeth II Family Centre

Hireall

Hobart Place Dental

HorizonOne Recruitment

Indigenous Community Volunteers

IP Australia

JJ Richards & Sons

John James Memorial Foundation

Justice & Community Safety

• 12 Moore Street

• ACT Magistrates Court

• North Building

• ORS Canberra Avenue

• Public Trustee

• Victim Support ACT

KDN Group

Koala Playschool

Kowalski Recruitment

KPMG

Kwik Kopy Phillip

Labor Club

• Canberra

• City

• Ginninderra

• Weston Creek

Lavender Lane Gungahlin

Childcare

Legal Aid (ACT)

M & M Rolfe Cleaning Services

McMillan Staff Development

Meyer Vandenberg

Mooseheads

National Convention Centre

Canberra

National Electoral Education Centre

National Library of Australia

Go Kindy Furlong Road

Googong Township Realty

Herring & Associates

Jerrabomberra Village

Kindy Patch Queanbeyan

Kmart Tyre & Auto Service

Multi-Crete Australia

Northfork Chemicals (Australia)

NUTRI-Pro Fitness

National Rural Health Alliance

Neurospace Physiotherapy

Nicholls Early Childhood Centre

Norman Disney & Young

Norris Cleaning Company

Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment

PCA People

Power Protect

Reuse - Recycle IT

Richardson Child Care & Education Centre

Rolfe Property Services

Schiavello

Serco Immigration Services

Service One Members Banking

Shepherd Electrical

Shop Basics

Signs Letters N Lines

SOS Recruitment

Sparke Helmore Lawyers

Spectrum Graphics

Territory & Municipal Services

Directorate

• Dickson Motor Vehicle Registry

• Parks & Conservation

Service - Murrumbidgee Depot,

Casuarina Sands

• Macarthur House

The Firm

The RUC (ACT Rugby Union Club)

ThyssenKrupp Elevator Australia

Tuggeranong Hyperdome:

• Adairs

• Alterations Now

• ANZ Bank

• Australia Post

• Autograph

• Bakers Delight

• Best and Less

• Brew Bar

• Cotton On

• Donut King

• Dymocks Tuggeranong

• EB Games

• Flight Centre

• Go Vita Tuggeranong (Health & Harmony)

• Goldmark Tuggeranong

• Holy Sheet!

• Homeart

Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre

Queanbeyan City Council

• Depot, Parks Demountable & Pound

• Performing Arts Centre, Conference Centre, Council Chambers & RB

Smith Building

Queanbeyan Indoor Sports Centre

Queanbeyan Physiotherapy Centre

Riverside Plaza

Royal Hotel Queanbeyan

• Hungry Jacks Tuggeranong

• Hyperdome Pharmacy

• Ice Design

• IMB Ltd.

• Jardin Freshlife

• Jay Jays

• Jeanswest

• Just Cuts

• Khyber Pass

• La Cucina Too

• Little Ben Thanh

• Loot Homewares

• Lowes Menswear

• Medicare - Tuggeranong Branch

• Michael Hill

• Millers

• National Australia BankTuggeranong

• Nextra Hyperdome

• Noodle Bar

• Novo

• OPSM

• OPSM - Lower Level

• OPTUS World Tuggeranong

• Parliament Clothing

• Payless Shoes

• Price Attack

• Priceline Tuggeranong

• Rockmans

• Sanity Tuggeranong

• Shades & Sunnies

• Sheike Hair

• Soul Pattison Hyperdome

• Spec Savers Tuggeranong

• St George Bank

• Stardust Childcare Centre

• Strandbags

• Sussan Tuggeranong

• Telstra Tuggeranong (T-Life)

• Temt

• The Athletes Foot

• Top Bargain

• Trend Bags

• Trilogy Skateboard Co

• Vodafone Tuggeranong

• Westpac Tuggeranong

• Zelow

Vivid Print Services

Waste Away

Wisdom Learning

Xact Project Consultants

Secom Technical Services

Service One Members Banking

Systematic Cleaning Solutions

Warrigal Care Queanbeyan

Yellow Belly Café & General Store

Campaign for a cleaner, sustainable planet

NATIONAL Recycling Week, November 10-16, is an annual campaign that continues to educate and stimulate behaviour change, for a more environmentally sustainable future.

Founded in 1996 by Planet Ark, National Recycling Week promotes kerbside, industrial and community recycling initiatives. Since it was first launched 19 years ago, recycling items such as paper, steel cans and other packaging types have become part of everyday life.

As the range of recyclable packaging materials expands there is no time like the present to bring a national focus to the environmental benefits of recycling.

Take a bow, Canberra

“NATIONAL Recycling Week is a chance for Canberrans to acknowledge the great job they do in recycling, and to think about what can be done next,” says a spokesperson for the Environment and Planning Directorate.

As well as general recycling information and tips, the directorate provides programs designed to improve recycling practices across the ACT.

The ACTSmart Sustainable School program, the ACTSmart Business Recycling program, the ACTSmart Public Event recycling program and the ACTSmart Commercial Cleaner course are all designed to educate the public to put more efficient recycling and waste management into action, and to recognise those who actively recycle.

“National Recycling Week is an opportunity to acknowledge and recognise those businesses and schools that have successfully implemented the program,” says the spokesperson.

“Canberrans want to recycle, and they want to support businesses and schools that recycle.”

More information at actsmart.act.gov.au

The humble pallet transformed into inviting furniture that won’t cost you the earth.

Standard pieces: 2-week delivery.

Custom pieces: 4-week delivery.

Taking Christmas orders now.

TECHNOLOGY has improved nearly every aspect of modern life, but when it inevitably has to be updated and therefore disposed of, it becomes a “tremendous liability and an environmental hazard,” says James Falzon of Reuse-RecycleIT.

“The alternative we provide is to expend energy to extract reusable items that can be sold globally.”

Reuse-RecycleIT provides a complete service to those who wish to dispose of their IT and office equipment, such as computers, printers, photocopiers, scanners,

Recycling and refurbishing IT From pallets to furniture

keyboards, mobile phones and televisions, while maximising resources and minimising environmental impact.

The ICT disposal company collects unwanted IT and office equipment, then treats all functioning items they receive, including data sanitisation for security, removing any identification numbers and a complete refurbishment.

The treated equipment, and components that have been extracted from nonfunctioning items, are sold to global buyers for “optimal financial returns” that are then

Recycling is in the (pink) bag

AUSSIE Skip Bags are a hassle-free and user-friendly method for recycling on a large scale, says a company spokesman.

“The completely recyclable skip bags are not only for household and garden waste, but are an ideal way to manage large and small recyclable materials like cardboard, paper and steel,” he says.

“The bright pink canvas bags come in three sizes and can be purchased from most hardware stores, such as Bunnings, supermarkets and ordered online.

“When empty the bags, which come in a pouch, can be easily lifted by hand. When the bag is full, pick-up

forwarded to the previous owners.

“There is a strong market for used IT, especially in schools, aid agencies and offices in developing countries,” says James. Servicing government departments, offices and local businesses across the country, Reuse-RecycleIT is an internationally accredited company that has a reputation for “utilising the world’s best practice in efficient and effective IT asset disposal solutions.”

Reuse-RecycleIT, Unit 3, Football House, 3-5 Phipps Close, Deakin. 1300 136052.

PURCHASING products made from recycled materials is arguably just as important as disposing of recyclable items correctly, and new Canberra company boyandgirlco has found a way to incorporate both in transforming salvaged wooden shipping pallets into beautiful pieces of long-lasting furniture.

“Taking something that would be discarded and creating it anew is what drives us,” says co-founder Anita Jones. “We’re

can be ordered via the Aussie Skip Bags website, and the bag will be delivered to a facility where regular household waste and recycling can be separated.

“A convenient alternative to standard skip bins, Aussie Skip Bags have no time limits or hire fees, and the bag itself is completely recyclable.

“The flexible and easy to use process can be completed entirely online, and Aussie Skip Bags offers discounts for pensioners.

To order an Aussie Skip Bag or have one collected, go to aussieskipbags.com.au

helping the environment and offering clients something unique.”

The team at boyandgirlco has tackled close to 1000 raw pallets, de-nailing them, tearing them apart, tidying them up and transforming them into statement pieces of furniture for any purpose and space, using only pallets that have not been treated with chemicals.

The standard range of furniture and garden pieces includes coffee tables, an eight-seater dining table, office desk, light box with storage, and planter boxes. While “standard”, each piece has its own character. Custom designs are created for the home, office and commercial spaces. So far, boyandgirlco has created lockable storage units, seating, a bed and vertical gardens. Consultations are free. Pieces can be painted any colour or finish, including with natural oil, lavender cream and wax.

An added bonus is the quick turnaround with standard pieces delivered to the door in two weeks.

“We believe there is purpose in everything… you only have to look a little deeper to find it,” says Anita.

boyandgirlco.com.au, 0426 142848.

better equipment disposal solutions for government, education and business

Canberra based Reuse -Rec ycleIT is an Australian company specialising in re cycling and equipment, nationally.

Our clients’ IC T disposal needs are met

returns and minimising environmental impac t by :

• ‘working in par tnership’ with government, education and business

IC T asset lifecycle programs

• collecting from locations across Australia—we come to yo u

• meeting the stric t ISO:14001:2004

Environmental Management

Standard—this is our guarantee to you that we do it right!

• equipment into $$$

gardening Why tomatoes go slow in the cold

HOT, cold, hot, cold seems to be the weather pattern this spring, which makes it a challenge for gardeners and plants alike.

With regular winter rain at the right time, this spring has been one of the best for years. However, with continuing low temperatures at night, it is not only frost that kills tomatoes, but low temperatures generally.

Tomatoes are a tropical plant and exposure to temperatures below 13C can cause a severe physiological disorder such as cold-induced phosphorus deficiency.

At low temperatures tomatoes are unable to absorb phosphorus that is available in the soil, which can set their growth back.

Usually they recover as the days become consistently warmer, which is one reason why it is pointless planting out tomatoes too early, even if

you want to beat every other garden in having toms before Christmas!

CISTUS is a hardy Mediterranean plant that will survive in almost any garden.

A couple of years ago, the Yarralumla Nursery promoted the white-flowered Cistus “Gallipoli Rose”, which was believed to have been brought back by a soldier from Turkey and planted in a garden in Victoria.

Cistus is commonly referred to as “rock rose” due to its similarity to old-fashioned roses. But this

common name also refers to many other plants such as Helianthemum, which raises the warning that it is wise to use common names with caution or possibly end up with the wrong plant.

The grey leaves of Cistus are a useful contrast to other plants.

To varying degrees, its leaves are coated with a highly aromatic resin called Labdanum, which reduces evaporation enabling it to survive high temperatures with low water usage during a summer drought.

Numerous varieties are readily available here including Cistus “Nightfall” with pale mauve flowers, C. ladanifer and C. salvifolia both with white flowers, C. crispus and C. “Sunset” both with pink flowers. Anyone new to growing Cistus should not be disturbed if all the petals drop at sunset, by next morning it will be in full flower again!

“LE Potager Encore” will be a fascinating talk by Paul Kirkpatrick, of Estate Gardening, Jamberoo, at the next Horticultural Society of Canberra meeting at the Wesley Centre, National Circuit, Forrest, from 7.30pm, on Monday, November 17. All welcome.

THE Geranium and Fuchsia Society’s dazzling spring display is at St. James Church Hall, Gillies Street, Curtin, 9.30am-4pm, Saturday, November 22. Beyond demonstrations, teas and a plant stall, I talk on all things gardening at 11.30am.

Jottings...

• Always spray under leaves when combating insect pests.

• Apply Epsom salts to yellow leaves on Daphne. A heaped teaspoon to nine litres of water.

• Take the mower blades a couple of notches higher as the days warm.

• Prune Banksia roses after flowering.

puzzles page

Joanne Madeline Moore

your week in the stars – November 17-23, 2014

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Mars puts the pressure on at work or school, but it’s nothing you can’t handle. Plus Mercury increases your curiosity and your desire to keep up-to-date with current affairs and neighbourhood gossip. On the weekend the Sun, Moon and Venus activate your adventure zone so you’re in the mood to travel, explore and indulge your senses. Or you could go journeying in your mind via books, movies and music.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Many Taureans are struggling under the weight of relationship responsibilities and this week a loved one will be extra demanding, or disappoint you. Strive to keep the lines of communication open. The New Moon signals a fresh start for finances. Over the next few months many Bulls will benefit from an inheritance, divorce settlement, superannuation pay-out, bumper tax return, pay rise or lucky win.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Joint ventures or relationship issues are on the table this week Twins. You’re keen for companionship and your communication skills are firing, as you quiz clever colleagues and then respond with interesting insights and sparkling repartee of your own. Don’t overdo it though! You’ve got grand Gemini schemes but resist the urge to exaggerate, spread gossip or promise more than you can actually deliver.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Cancers are emotional creatures. Early in the week Venus stimulates your sweet tooth, plus your tendency to comfort eating. But, if you venture down the Venusian path of self-indulgence, you’ll be a super curvy Crab by Christmas! Fortunately the late week New Moon encourages you to focus on regular exercise and smart food choices. If you pair up with a ‘training buddy’ you’ll have more chance of success.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

The week starts slowly as Saturn squashes your usual enthusiasm, stymies a personal project or just drains you of much-needed energy. Mid-week is also mediocre. But then the fiery New Moon recharges your run-down batteries and so the weekend is a wonderful time to initiate an idea, participate in a sporting event, go horse riding, exercise, dance, study or head off on a heavenly holiday.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

There’s no substitute for hard work this week Virgo and no clever short cuts so roll up your sleeves and power through the pile of paperwork and bills on your desk. But are you viewing a loved one through ridiculously rose-coloured glasses? Perhaps they’re not telling you the whole story? Have you asked the right questions? Honesty and clear communication are vital, otherwise you may be misled.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

The Sun/Saturn conjunction shines an unforgiving spotlight on money matters. When it comes to your financial situation, don’t bury your head in the sand. A responsible and creative approach can turn things around. Your ruling planet Venus is now in Sagittarius, which increases your energy and enthusiasm, plus gives a welcome boost to your social life. For some lucky singles, love is waiting online.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

You may have to complete a challenging task on a very tight timeline. Just put your head down and get on with it! You’re in detective mode and the devil is definitely in the detail as you uncover information that other less observant signs miss. Come the weekend, your fluctuating Scorpio self-esteem gets a welcome boost when someone (finally!) congratulates you on a job well done.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Do you harbour wistful regrets about the life path you have chosen? The annual New Moon in your sign is the perfect time to reinvent yourself as you rejig your appearance, polish up your persona, rev up your creativity or reactivate your ambitions. Aim for the stars and go for gold Sagittarius! Be inspired by birthday great, the writer George Eliot: “It is never too late to be what you might have been.”

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Proceed cautiously this week Capricorn. The Sun/Saturn conjunction demands that you concentrate your energy, and complete old tasks before starting new ones. Forethought and planning are required, as you process information first – and then take action. Plus, as the New Moon passes through your soul sector, contemplate ways you can consolidate your strengths and work on your weaknesses.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Is a professional problem bugging you big time? A combination of clever research and old-fashioned hard work helps you come up with a smart solution that ticks all the boxes. Looking for employment? You have fabulous ideas about your career path, but thinking about something isn’t the same as actually doing it. Taskmaster Saturn challenges you to come up with realistic goals and a practical plan.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

When Neptune squares Venus you can confuse being true to yourself with pleasing others. And then you just end up in a complicated Piscean quagmire. So don’t let other people distract you from your chosen path. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, actress Goldie Hawn: “The only thing that will make you happy is being happy with who you are; not who people think you are.”

General knowledge crossword No. 478

4 Nassau is the capital of which W Indies group of islands?

8 What do we call one who seizes and holds office without right?

9 Which sea lies between PNG, Indonesia and northern Australia?

10 What was the nationality of Leon Trotsky?

11 Name a more common word for karma

12 What is another term for ethnology?

14 Who was the first wife of Henry VIII, Catherine of ...?

18 In horse racing, which gate keeps horses in line before the race start?

21 In Greek legend, who were the female warriors said to dwell near the Black Sea?

22 Name Australia’s prime minister 1972-75, Gough ...?

23 Who has the principal role of a bullfighter?

24 What is a sequence of rulers from the same family or stock?

Solution next week

1 What, in the US, is 25 cents called?

2 What is a sum of money offered as a prize?

3 Name another expression for elves, fairies, or goblins

4 Which spirit is distilled from the fermented juice of grapes, etc?

5 What are single divisions of races or other contests?

6 When handling roughly, one is doing what?

7 To be indistinct is to be what?

13 What do buzzards feed on?

15 What is an agreed portion of the proceeds from an author’s work?

16 What is a place where plants are raised for sale?

17 Which annual award is presented for excellence in recorded music?

18 To have curved downwards, is to have done what?

19 When a motor ticks over, it does what?

20 What is often the last movement of a sonata?

Enid and George bought an investment property about 30 years ago that their daughter has been living in.

Now in their 80s the couple thought it would be nice to transfer the house to her.

Enid called by just to “check that there is nothing that we have missed and it is an easy process”.

She was in for a surprise.

“As I recollect, your main source of income is the Centrelink pension,” I said. Enid confirmed this was the case and said the couple had a few bank accounts with about $20,000 in total.

“The first thing you need to think about is the impact of this on your Centrelink pension,” I said.

“Centrelink applies two tests when calculating pensions. The first is the income test. As you have so little interest income this would certainly apply to you.

“The Centrelink rules only allow you to give a certain amount away in any five-year period, that is $10,000 a year to a maximum of $30,000 over a five-year period.

“As you are planning to give your investment property to your daughter it would be caught within these rules unless she pays for it.

“Centrelink would probably then apply the second test, the assets test, rather than the income test, we need to think about the impact that selling the house would have on your pension.

“As a homeowner couple, you are entitled to have assets totaling $286,500 before there is any reduction in your pension. Once your assets reach $1,145,500 your pension will cut out completely.”

Enid was shocked. “Oh, dear,” she said. “We didn’t realise that it could affect our Centrelink and, as you might imagine, we rely on that as we don’t have much other income.”

I then explained there was also the issue of capital gains tax.

“If you purchased the investment property before September 19, 1985, any gain you make when you sell it is tax free. Do you remember when you purchased it, how much you paid and how much it is worth now?”

Enid said she couldn’t remember exactly when the property was bought, but thought they paid about $80,000 for it and it was worth about $550,000 now.

“Well, Enid, if you purchased it after September 19, 1985, it will be subject to capital gains tax,” I advised her.

“Without accurate figures it is hard to estimate how much that might be, but it should be no more than $40,000 each and may well be less.”

Enid said: “That’s awful. I just didn’t realise that this could affect our pensions and cause us to have a capital gains tax bill.

“I am so grateful, Gail. Without your help we would have had a huge problem. Thank you.”

If you need help with Centrelink, capital gains tax or income tax, contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd

WE ARE WHERE YOU want to be

Located in Canberra’s hottest suburbs

From the booming town centre of Belconnen, to the exciting new suburb of Wright: GEOCON has homes all over Canberra, providing you with a home, in the places you want to be! Visit www.geocon.com.au to find out where your new home could be!

BELCONNEN

WRIGHT O’CONNOR

TUGGERANONG CRACE

We know that not everyone is a first homebuyer so GEOCON is offering a $12,500 rebate to ALL homebuyers!* For first homebuyers, in addition to GEOCON’s rebate, once paired with the ACT Government’s First Home Owner Grant, your rebate total equals $25,000!*