150402 citynews

Punky Monkey

Transport yourself to another place and let the world fade away lazing in the plunge pool.

Satisfy your inner fitness freak with a fast and furious workout to get you going or to wind down after a busy day.

Champs looking for a little cheer

CANBERRA City Cheerleading, Canberra’s longest-running and most-awarded cheerleading club, doesn’t have much to smile about right now.

It started the year facing an uncertain future with its long-serving coach leaving for Adelaide and the loss of its training facilities.

The group is now calling for new members and coaches to help save the club, a not-for-profit organisation offering girls and boys from the age of five the opportunity to perform recreational and competitive high-energy routines made up of stunts, gymnastics, tumbling and dance set to music.

Jacinda Stewart, mother of two cheerleaders and administrative manager for the club says that while times have been tough for Canberra City Cheerleading, training is now back on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons at the Erindale PCYC in Wanniassa.

“We are a small club but not exclusive. We welcome anyone who would like to have fun and build their fitness, no matter their skill

level or previous experience,” says Jacinda.

Jacinda’s daughters Eleanor and Madeline have been cheerleading for six years and last year competed in the Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation’s National Competition at the Gold Coast.

It is the world’s largest cheerleading and dance competition held outside of the US, and with more than 7500 athletes competing, Canberra City Cheerleaders brought home three awards including a first place.

“Cheerleading is a growing sport with 2,000 new entrants in the competition each year,” says Jacinda,

“It is for every age and parents have even joined in the fun!”

Canberra City Cheerleading is seeking experienced gymnastic or cheerleading coaches to help the team build on their recent competition success.

“The biggest benefit you can get from the cheerleading is increased fitness,” says Jacinda.

“My daughter’s rheumatoid arthritis has greatly improved since joining the club, and seeing her achieve her goals and enjoy cheerleading with her friends makes me very proud.

“I would love people to realise that all children, no matter their disability, can participate in sport.”

Discover a world of fitness outdoors

A NEW website has been launched by the ACT Government aimed at encouraging users to locate outdoor fitness opportunities and share their experiences.

The ‘Find fitness outdoors’ website includes a mapping function to direct users to sites with outdoor fitness opportunities, which include fitness stations and walking trails as well as things people may not normally use to get active such as play equipment that could be used to break up a walk or run or for parents to use while children are playing.

Short instructional videos demonstrate how to use the equipment. TAMS Minister Shane Rattenbury says the videos highlight a great range of the many locations and fitness opportunities across Canberra.

“We want the ACT community to share its own outdoor fitness experiences to encourage others to get fit and active while having fun in Canberra’s beautiful natural environment,” he says.

“We want to see more people using the great outdoor fitness facilities available and hope this new website encourages more Canberrans to lead active lifestyles while also creating a great opportunity for people to enjoy the outdoors.”

Free outdoor group training sessions will also be held at:

• 10am, Saturday, April 11, Crace Recreation Park, Narden Street, Crace.

• 5pm, Wednesday, April 15, neighbourhood oval, off Chifley Place, Chifley.

• 10am, Saturday, April 18, Angas Street road verge, Ainslie.

Visit act.gov.au/outdoorfitness

Locked in an Anglophile past

AUSTRALIA is constantly changing, in some areas more than in others. For example, where once Easter was considered even more “sacred” than Christmas, these days it’s more often the last long weekend down the coast before winter’s chills.

But while popular social attitudes are on the move, there are other spheres where our leaders seem stuck in the colonial past. And nowhere is this more obvious than in defence, where religious fanatics now threaten our security.

This was brought home powerfully to me in the last two years as I’ve explored our Special Forces history since World War II for my magnum opus, “Warrior Elite”, to be published in July.

Though I’d been a personal staffer to a prime minister, a war historian and the biographer of three former SAS operators, I was unprepared for my induction into the world of military security and civilian intelligence as part of the research and writing of the book. I discovered that our defence strategy is approaching a dangerous intersection; and the decisions facing us have special implications for the

There are spheres where our leaders seem stuck in the colonial past. And nowhere is this more obvious than in defence, where religious fanatics now threaten our security.

traditional “five-eyes” relationship that has both served and shackled Australia’s priorities since Federation.

Our alliance with Britain, the US, Canada and NZ is based upon “shared values”. But whether it should continue in its present form is becoming food for debate.

Australia’s defence priorities are very different from Britain’s. This became glaringly obvious in World War II when both nations were fighting for survival. Prime Minister John Curtin’s plea to America “free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom” was a dramatic assertion that national self-interest trumps “shared values” in defence of the realm.

Nevertheless, it was to the US, another member of the Anglosphere, that he turned for rescue.

But America’s subsequent,

ill-judged military endeavours in Asia and the Middle East have provided battlegrounds for Australia’s forces over the last half century. And it is America’s imperial pretensions that have created serious complications in Australia’s relations with China and arguably affected the development of open-hearted, neighbourly relations with the Muslim nations of Indonesia and Malaysia.

This is not America’s fault. Australia has an untrammelled right to an independent foreign and defence policy. It is also a proudly multi-cultural community. But the cosmopolitan nature of its population has yet to be reflected in its political and defence establishment. Their firm attachment to an Anglophile past has largely calcified to a choice between Indonesia and China as potential threats. But in the last two decades any

ROBERT MACKLIN

perceived threat to the homeland became less urgent than the political need to march in step with America in the Middle East as ISIS rose and metastasised. And as the contagion spreads, alliances are in flux worldwide. But Australia remains locked in its Anglophile past.

Perhaps it’s time we asked whether it’s wise to persist in seeking our nationhood at Anzac Cove, and in the shadow of a foreign monarch who is also the head of a Christian church. Perhaps now is the time to embrace our cosmopolitan population, our secular values and our geographical good fortune in a new notion of defence and security in this brave new world of the 21st century. robert@robertmacklin.com

Clubs welcome enquiry

CLUBSACT has welcomed the Legislative Assembly’s decision to establish a wide-ranging inquiry into the future of Canberra’s community clubs. CEO Jeff House says it’s a welcome step and will provide an opportunity for a sensible discussion about all issues affecting clubs. “Clubs are much more than just venues for gaming machines and for too long the debate around clubs has been had almost exclusively through the narrow prism of poker machines,” he says.

St Clare’s wants you!

ST Clare’s College, which is

celebrating its 50th anniversary, is inviting all past and present community members of the college to its gala dinner at the National Convention Centre on May 30.

Bookings to stcc.act.edu.au

The new old inn

A PUB since 1857, the the Old Canberra Inn, Lyneham, is under new management and is beginning its new era with a “Rockabilly Relaunch” on Saturday, April 11 which includes live music (including The Fuellers) and, in its beer garden, from 11am, there’s a retro market.

politics

Making the most of ‘minority policy’

THE Senate is frustrating the Abbott government, the Greens hold the balance of power in the ACT and the Upper House in NSW is poised to test the re-elected government of Mike Baird... minority government is a good thing for healthy public policy, it provides the opportunity for “minority policy”.

The term “minority policy” has been coined in a recent book by two Canberra academics, Brenton Prosser and Richard Denniss. They point out that “for 27 of the last 30 years, Australian Governments have needed to engage a crossbench or convince the opposition to pass any legislation”.

Senators such as Nick Xenophon, Ricky Muir, Jacqui Lambie and Glenn Lazarus have a keen role to play as do the Greens both in the federal parliament and here in the ACT.

Prosser and Denniss have long experience as political advisors and now, as academics, bring a different understanding regarding the exercise of power. “Minority Policy: Rethinking Governance When Parliament Matters” critically examines the role played by cross-bench members and minority governments in influencing policy outcomes within parliaments.

Prosser suggested to me that one of the most interesting differences in the mastery of “minority policy” was the great skills exercised by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard compared to the rudimentary efforts of the current PM Tony Abbott. Gillard regularly achieved support for her policies and her legislation even though she did not have majority support in either of the houses of the federal parliament. In marked contrast, Abbott struggles to secure support from the cross-benches for some of his most fundamental ideas.

Even when a government does have majority, the authors point out how power can be exercised by those who they describe as “marginal members”.

There are times when “marginal members” can delay, block or reject a Bill. However, there are also times when other action can be taken to significantly influence public policy. For example, moving amendments can be used as a tool to modify policy, to

When major parties decide not to deal with the alternative party marginal members’ power increases significantly.

No doubt there will always be the argument that the prime minister, chief minister or premier has a “mandate” to deliver on their own agenda. It is simply a crude attempt to bully cross-benchers (or marginal members). Katy Gallagher and Andrew Barr have not stooped to this. With only one majority government in the ACT since selfgovernment, the local MLAs have learnt the importance of working with the cross-benches.

Indeed, a close working relationship was embraced when I became a minister in the Carnell Liberal government and when Greens Shane Rattenbury was appointed by Labor as a minister. This is in marked contrast to Kevin Rudd and Abbott who attempted to drop the “mandate” card. Cross-bench members have as much a mandate as any other member. They exercise a single vote earned at election. When major parties decide not to deal with the alternative party marginal members’ power increases significantly. When Abbott, as Opposition Leader, decided to oppose almost all government legislation he handed significant power to the cross-benches in both chambers.

About half of Australians think a minority in the Senate is a good thing (48 per cent), according to a survey conducted by the Australia Institute that is reported in the book. This far outweighs the 22 per cent who think it is a bad thing. 60 per cent of people think “negotiating compromises with independents and minor parties is an important part of being a responsible government” and only 13 per cent expressed the opposite view.

The final words on the value of the book and on “marginal members” belongs to former federal independent Tony Windsor who nails the policy outcome when reflecting on his time with the balance of power: “Nothing comes to mind that gives us a minority view imposed on the majority of the voters”.

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

“Minority Policy: Rethinking Governance When Parliament Matters” (Melbourne University Press), order through tai.org.au

Why the Northbourne flats have to stay

The fact that some of us may not find the Northbourne flats attractive or architecturally appealing or of any apparent value in no way diminishes the inherent heritage significance of the buildings.

THE debate about the quality of the built heritage on Northbourne Avenue and the importance or otherwise of its preservation suggests a degree of confusion within certain quarters, including the Legislative Assembly, about heritage values.

To the extent that there is some heat and urgency in the debate it has been generated almost entirely by the apparent importance of the future redevelopment of Northbourne Avenue, including the area of extensive public housing within the precinct, to the business case supporting light rail.

The business case relies heavily on the economic stimulus, which it is assumed light rail will generate in its corridor, especially along Northbourne Avenue. This may

be an issue in itself but it also raises questions about how we compute the “value” of heritage and perhaps even the extent to which an economic value has or should be attributed to the heritage within the corridor.

The same question can also be asked about the overall amenity of the avenue, for example the open spaces incorporated into the public housing and the magnificent avenues of trees growing between Civic and the showground which will be removed to make way for the tram.

I am not familiar with the detail of the business case for the light rail project but I assume it gives detailed consideration to the values, including perhaps even an attributed economic value, of the heritage that will be lost and the amenity which will disappear when the light rail is built and the anticipated development occurs.

This begs the question of what is heritage, how it is assessed and why is it important.

Our heritage is aspects of the past that have contributed to society in some significant way and which, because of this contribution, should be preserved. The contribution can be aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or even spiritual value for past, present or even future generations.

Buildings are a large part of a continuum of history and the retention and preservation of buildings is very important in telling the story of our history, lifestyle, taste and custom. There are, of course, a range of criteria set down and accepted for establishing our heritage and assessing its significance. These include creative achievement, innovation in design, techniques in construction and rarity of style.

Mosaic Baptist Church

Formerly known as Belconnen Baptist Church

Good Friday Services

Belconnen 8:45am & 10:30am, Mitchell 9:30am

Easter Sunday Sunrise Service

7:00am, Diddams Close, Lake Ginninderra Easter Services

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

These criteria, when applied to the Northbourne Housing Precinct, reveal just how significant a part of our heritage it is. These flats were an extremely important part of Canberra’s public housing development post World War II, especially in the early years of the NCDC and in a time of rapid expansion of Canberra.

This precinct was one of the largest, earliest and most innovative of the NCDC and reflects its determination to provide public housing which at the time reflected best practice in planning and design.

The flats were innovative in the planning and mix of housing types and landscape qualities. The planning reflected the Radburn Planning Principles, which involved the separation of motor vehicles and pedestrian access and involved a composition of buildings and spaces which had not been previously attempted in Canberra.

The location and statement of the housing at the entry to Canberra was a deliberate and important attempt by the NCDC in the 1960s to portray Canberra as a modern and innovative city that was being developed to world standards. The architect of the flats is Sydney Ancher, a leading exponent of the Post War Modernist style of architecture and recognised nationally for the Northbourne Housing Precinct.

Taste and customs change but there are aspects of our history including the suite of public housing in Northbourne Avenue that are unique, show innovation for the time and were initiated, designed and built by people of significant reputation and by

the NCDC, who together were instrumental in setting Canberra on the path to its place among the most outstanding planned cities in the world.

The fact that some of us may not find the Northbourne flats attractive or architecturally appealing or of any apparent value in no way diminishes the inherent heritage significance of the buildings.

It is critical that we preserve our heritage including the Northbourne Housing Precinct. It would be a major loss to Canberra if the housing or a majority of it was demolished to facilitate the redevelopment of the land in order to validate the business case for light rail.

I cannot imagine the Government would proceed with the project if the business case was so fragile as to require the destruction along the route of irreplaceable heritage. On that basis, I would hope that the merits of retaining the housing will be considered separately from the needs of the light rail project.

Jon Stanhope was Chief Minister from 2001 to 2011 and represented Ginninderra for the Labor Party from 1998. He is the only Chief Minister to have governed with a majority in the Assembly. He is also a member of the National Trust (ACT).

JON STANHOPE

Time for hard and fast decisions

By Catherine Carter

AFTER years of topping the table of state and territory economies, the ACT has recently fallen to sixth of the eight economies.

Last week, CommSec’s chief economist Craig James was in Canberra to present his annual overview of the ACT economy and the prospects for the property industry.

The second largest employer in the national capital, the property and construction industry is also the largest contributor of taxes.

Building approvals are down, unemployment is trending upwards and Canberra has the highest office market vacancy rate on record. And the ACT Budget has been blown by the Mr Fluffy buyback scheme.

While the times may be challenging, James points out that the ACT’s 4.5 per cent unemployment rate means

that 95.5 per cent of people are working.

“Businesses are hiring again and consumers are spending – although cautiously,” he says. He argues that we need “hard and fast decisions” from our governments to restore confidence and provide the conditions to enable the economy to flourish. But the places we need to prosper aren’t provided by politicians or governments. They are built by developers. The local economy is underpinned by developers and the construction jobs that they create, but it’s not enough for us to rely on attracting investment from this small pool. We need to attract outside investment from other people – some of those foreign investors – who also want Canberra to reach its potential.

• Big blocks from 810m to 1242m

• Prices from $270,000 to $310,000

• Share our Village lifestyle while enjoying our urban amenities.

• No building time limits (secure your block now and build whenever you like)

• Walking distance to existing village shops

• Adjacent to the new village centre with a wide range of facilities including child care

• Established community with recreational facilities

• Open between 12 and 3pm Saturday and Sunday.

A quick ‘flix and how the world was changed

THE bright day has dawned; Netflix has turned on its Australian service.

To give you some idea of what a big deal this is, consider three datum:

• As of this month, 36 per cent of American households have a Netflix subscription.

• Thousands of Australians have been going to the trouble of piping their internet through trans-Pacific VPNs and then committing fraud to set up and use American Netflix accounts.

• Australian media companies have been scrambling to

Make no mistake, Netflix has already dramatically improved the market in Australia.

set up similar services ahead of its arrival.

If you’re not familiar with it, Netflix is a system where, for a low monthly fee, you get access to thousands of movies and TV shows over the internet.

I was wavering on launch day but then my ISP sent me an email reminding me they weren’t metering the data used (1 gigabyte an hour for standard definition) and offering me the first month free.

Compared to the nightmare of Foxtel Play (which when I set it up on my xbox had me near tears with three devices running to try and please all its requirements to set up –think a bad flat-pack installation with missing

parts), the account setup was utterly painless.

I went home and my Apple TV (a little hockey puck box which puts iTunes content on to my TV) already had installed Netflix of its own accord.

Punch in my email and password and I was away. Up on the O’Connor slopes the ADSL2+ is on the anaemic side but Netflix has invested in some nifty tech that downsamples the pixels rather than buffering.

The next bit was completely unexpected.

Netflix runs on a vast plethora of platforms. But it’s seamless between them.

Start watching the movie on your TV with the booming surround sound. Get a bit weary? Retire to bed with your tablet. Pause the movie to sleep? Watch the rest on your phone on

JOHN GRIFFITHS

the bus to work in the morning with a pair of headphones. The apps keep track of where you are in the show.

All this for $8.99 a month.

By way of comparison, as a content creator I’ve never been comfortable with torrenting.

So I’ve bought shows and movies on iTunes and Google Play.

Buying a season of a show can be around $30 and a movie is $5.99 to rent for 48 hours.

You don’t need to watch much for the flat fee of $8.99 to be worth it.

Sadly, it’s not all roses in the brave new world. All the rival services (Foxtel alone has two competing offerings; Foxtel Play and Presto) are trying to lock in exclusive contract deals so they can compete on something other than price.

Back in the 1980s I walked into a video store where the VHS tapes were organised in sections according not to genre, but to production house. Sony here, Universal there, Paramount, on a separate shelf. It was almost

Punky Monkey goes west

COVER STORY

By Helen Musa MONKEY!

With a twitch of his nose he can make himself small enough to creep inside an ear; the twirl of his magic staff and he can become tall as a mountain, and he can summon up a cloud to fly around on.

In short, as the song from the cult Japanese TV series goes, he’s “the punkiest monkey that ever popped”.

At age 29, Filipino-Australian actor Aljin Abella is definitely too young to have seen “Monkey” on TV when he was a kid, but he knows about it.

That’s good, because he plays the mischievous simian in Theatre of Image’s stage adaptation of Wu Cheng’en’s 16th century novel “Journey to the West”, and we’ll see him performing his tricks in Canberra soon.

Abella’s a bit worried, because he knows that Monkey absolutely hates bureaucrats because, as the story goes, he was imprisoned under a mountain for flouting the bureaucratic rules of Heaven before being released by the young monk Tripitaka on the condition he travel with him to return the sacred Buddhist scripts from India. They’re joined by two other “monsters”, the over-philosophical Sandy and the gluttonous, lascivious Pigsy.

“Such a famous story… I seem to remember that I knew of these iconic characters,” Abella tells me. He seems made for the role.

A child TV star in the post“Monkey” era, he graduated from NIDA in 2006 and starred in everything from the TV series “Power Rangers Jungle Fury” to “La Cage aux Folles”, where he acted Todd McKenney off the stage.

Abella has landed on his feet in “Monkey”, co-directed by Kim Carpenter and John Bell.

“But I needed to get fit in a hurry… so I got into gym and long-distance running,” he says. He also had a go at learning Kung Fu. Good move, he shares the stage with three members of the Fairfield parkour group Team 9 Lives.

Carpenter, the designer and founder of Theatre of Image, conceived “Monkey” years ago and travelled to Hong Kong to study original sources. In early rehearsals Carpenter and Bell stood side by side.

Carpenter explained the aesthetic and philosophy of “Monkey”, introducing the design, the puppets and the size of the space. Then Bell, the classical theatre master, took over for the acting side of things.

“It was a bit strange being co-directed by two different people, but after a couple of days we got into the groove,” he says.

Abella has read the whole 1500 pages of “Journey to the West”. Monkey, he explains, “as a semi-divine creature with incredible powers, is never wanting for anything, but when he enters the Jade Palace he finds himself trapped in by bureaucracy –and he rebels”. Canberrans take note.

Monkey is arrogant, bold and cunning, so resorting to magic is the easy way out. Pigsy is greedy and lustful and Sandy

is given to philosophical rants. He won’t give away the ending (in the book Monkey finds enlightenment) but says: “We try to create the whole journey, from start to finish, taking in some of the 99 trials of the pilgrims.”

So is there a message in “Journey to the West”? After all, in the TV series a voiceo -

ver regularly reminded us of the moral. Well, Abella says enigmatically: “The wonderful thing about Buddhism is that it can be applied practically.”

“Monkey: Journey to the West”, The Playhouse, April 23-25, bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

impossible to find a film I wanted to see. It’s much the same with the new streaming services. There are a bunch of production houses that sensibly deal even handedly like BBC World. Netflix has its own shows, and Disney. Stan has a deal with Sony. The Foxtel offerings have a lock on 20th Century Fox. The 900lb gorilla in the game is “Game of Thrones”, which won’t show on any streaming video on demand service in Australia, possibly because its maker HBO is planning its own SVOD play (however, it will be available on the more expensive Foxtel offering “Foxtel Play”, but only as a streaming channel at set times, I’m planning a weekly “Game of Thrones” party every Monday at 7.30pm). None of this is ideal to consumers who just want to pay a fair price to watch shows they like when they want to watch them. But make no mistake, Netflix has already dramatically improved the market in Australia. John Griffith is the editor of citynews.com.au

Enough is enough, say the people

“WE’VE had enough” was the single message of the thousands of people, from all walks of life, all age groups and from both sexes, who snaked their way in protest around Lake Burley Griffin.

Enough of domestic violence in any form, enough of children being left without a mother; enough of our legal system letting down victims and enough of the recent spate of horrific incidents.

The courts will have their say – but what is clear, ACT police allege three people were murdered over 20 days in domestic situations.

One of these victims – 28-year-old Tara Costigan had only just given birth to a baby girl and seven days later she was dead. She also leaves behind two other children, young boys whose pain was there for our city to see at their mother’s funeral.

It has struck an emotional chord in this city, the likes of which I have not seen before. So far, thanks to the love and support of family, friends and the general community, financial support for the children has reached $120,000 and rising. However, there is so much more to be done.

One of the only positives borne of this tragedy is the Tara Costigan Foundation, which will work to highlight the scourge of domestic violence in our community.

The statistics are horrific: since the age of 15, one in five Australian women have experienced sexual violence; one in six experienced physical or sexual violence from a current or former partner; one in four experienced emotional abuse and one in three experienced violence.

Shockingly, these ABS figures also show 61 per cent of women involved in a domestic assault had

It has struck an emotional chord in this city, the likes of which I have not seen before.

children in their care at the time. And these figures do not even mention deaths. It’s believed two women are killed each and every week in Australia as a result of a domestic or family violence-related incident. With only around 42 per cent of women ever contacting police after becoming a victim – and even less (24 per cent) not ever seeking any kind of advice or support, it’s now time to speak up – LOUDLY! And the 6000 or so Canberrans who walked somberly around the lake was a great start. Another is, for all the blokes reading this, repeat the White Ribbon Oath after me: I swear never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women. This is my oath.

Domestic Violence ACT Crisis Line, 6280 0900 (24/7).

Marcus Paul is the drive announcer on 2CC

Bum alert from Caboolture

THE “Caboolture Times” is very sniffy with the National Gallery’s decision to offer naked tours of the celebrated James Turrell exhibition.

Caboolture is a satellite city of 47,000 people 44kms north of Brisbane, and its weekly paper’s columnist Damian Bathersby, a man who apparently says taking cheap shots at life is the only thing that keeps him sane, came to the National Gallery once. “Not really my cup of tea,” he tells his readers.

“Apparently some bloke called James Turrell is about to open an exhibition where you can get your gear off and wander around.

“Take it from a bloke who played tunnel ball at the 2001 Nude Olympics… you don’t get many supermodels at nude gatherings.

“What does interest me about the concept could be summed up in one word. Why?

“I mean, what’s the point of getting your gear off to look at art? If you’re going to get naked, why not do it at the beach? Or in a wine bar?”

He quotes the tour organiser, the “aptly-named” Stuart Ringholt , as saying clothing “materialises the spectator” and overwhelms the direct relationship of light-on-body – “The nude viewer is reduced to just themselves, because there is no second skin.”

Unconvinced, our Caboolture correspondent ends with a flurry saying: “I reckon he’d be singing a different tune if he’d spent any time bent over with some fat guy’s bum in his face and the creepy bloke behind him breathing just a little too heavy.”

Turning theatre inside out

CANBERRA Theatre is to be transformed into the round next month when “Le Noir – the Dark Side of Cirque’s” world tour makes it to town.

The theatre promises that the transformation will give “audiences an exhilarating 360-degree view of the show”, though CC isn’t sure that’s physically possible. No matter, the audience will find itself on the stage “in the centre of the action with the heartpounding action only inches away”.

The performance features 24 circus acts, and many of the performers are former stars of Cirque du Soleil, boasting displays of balance, contortion, stamina and aerial artistry.

Producer Simon Painter says: “Part of the concept is to make the audience experience the show rather than just watch it and a number of sophisticated special effects are employed to make this possible.”

Canberra Theatre, May 6-10. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

Friends indeed

LOOKS like the Arboretum is in the throes of dispensing with its original community members if we’re reading a recent email from marketing co-ordinator Lynne Sealie correctly.

Writing to “Dear Arboretum Member”, Lynne breaks the news that the person’s membership has recently expired and that the Arboretum’s membership program is being phased out.

There are two options to renew; be passed to the arms of the Friends of the National Arboretum (which

offers a discounted parking pass) or buy a stand-alone annual parking pass for $45.

Ken’s big anniversary

KEN Loft recently celebrated 30 years of supported employment with Koomarri, the wonderful organisation that’s been providing Canberrans with disability access to employment opportunities for 60 years.

Ken’s been working at Koomarri’s Pack ‘n’ Post part time, five days a week and also works at DTZ every morning in administrative support.

“I have worked at DTZ for 17 years,” he says. “I catch the bus to Civic in the morning and then to Woden to come to Koomarri.”

Ken knows the birth dates of everyone in the Koomarri office and prides himself on getting them the perfect birthday card. His favourite task at Pack ‘n’ Post is to “pack the Qantas headsets for the people going on planes”.

“We are lucky to have organisations such as DTZ working with us to create employment opportunities and we continue to seek more corporate employers for our clients,” says says Koomarri CEO,

Diving takes a plunge as Civic pool closes

Being involved in the swimming community, I can tell you first hand we don’t have a facility capable of hosting major swimming meets.

CANBERRA’S diving community faces an anxious wait with the city’s only springboard facility in danger of permanent closure.

The diving pool is losing a staggering 46,000 litres of water a day; that’s about 19 million litres a year; or the equivalent of an Olympic swimming pool every two weeks over summer.

It will be closed shortly in a bid to find the source of the leak and, if it’s deemed to be too expensive to repair, it will be closed permanently.

The facility has been on borrowed time since the ACT government announced plans to build the proposed indoor sports stadium on the site.

The much-needed new aquatic facility slated as part of the City to Lake plans seems light years away.

The Molonglo pool is part of the ACT’s plan for swimming facilities and it is likely to be built at Stromlo before the City to Lake project is up and running.

With the ACT government intent on City to Lake, I find it hard to accept that it would spend a lot of money on fixing the leak at Civic Olympic Pool if it is planning to knock it down in the future anyway.

In the meantime Canberra’s divers face the prospect of being without a facility for the foreseeable future.

Canberra used to host a round of the Southern Cross series but the facility has become antiquated and can’t be used in winter. This means Canberra’s top divers have to travel to Sydney or Lightning Ridge to train and compete in the winter.

Can you imagine many other sports that have to do this in the nation’s capital?

Track cyclists have had to do it over the years because of the state of the Narrabundah velodrome before major repairs.

It’s time to bite the bullet and build a major indoor aquatic facility similar to the one in Adelaide with a separate diving pool, a water polo facility, and an Olympic-sized and 25-metre pool, complete with the ability to host major competitions.

We had the chance to do it at Gungahlin but opted for a scaled-down version. It was the

same with CISAC at Belconnen. Being involved in the swimming community, I can tell you first hand we don’t have a facility capable of hosting major swimming meets.

The AIS is adequate for medium sized meets but struggles to respond to major events.

We need to get all stakeholders involved in swimming, diving and water polo meeting with the ACT government to decide on the best course of action.

There will be plenty of room to build it at Molonglo with the capability of catering for the size of the facility and parking.

We can’t afford to again let an opportunity pass.

Cost will be a major factor, but if it can be proven that Canberra will attract major meets in diving, swimming and water polo, it should be a no brainer.

Pocock was right

I CAN’T believe the adverse reaction from many on social media to David Pocock’s stance on homophobia in the game against the Waratahs.

Perhaps we have become used to sportspeople being a stereotype where they don’t have an original thought. We crave for somebody to speak their mind on an issue they are passionate about, and then we jump on them as soon as they speak about anything other than their chosen sport.

Sport needs personalities such as David Pocock; good on him for the stance he took. It wasn’t acceptable, Pocock wasn’t grandstanding for the sake of it, and it has been something he has been passionate about for many years.

As a community we should be proud that we

Market says

WITH its largest event to date, Hustle&Scout is back this season at Hangar 47, Fairbairn on Saturday, April 11.

With more than 60 fashion designers from around Australia, 32 food and drink vendors, as well as live music, roving models and dance performances, this will be the last time the seasonal boutique fashion market will be held in the aircraft hangar at Fairbairn, says the market’s Tegan McAuley.

She says Hustle&Scout will once again run alongside The Forage – a pop-up foodie event that showcases local and regional cafes, restaurants, food trucks, wineries and breweries.

Tegan came up with the idea for Hustle&Scout when she returned to Canberra after five years studying in Queensland.

She says: “Hustle&Scout is an immersive dreamscape market showcasing independent designer fashion from around Australia.

“I returned to my hometown to discover how much the creative culture had evolved. It felt only right to jump on the bandwagon and create something for Canberra that would help spotlight our talent and bring people together.

“It was a lack of opportunities for Canberra’s designers that sparked

the idea. After seeing many of the designers at the inaugural Fashfest in 2013 and wondering why I had never seen or heard of any of them before, it got me thinking that Canberra needed a space where its designers could showcase their work.

“As a born and bred Canberran, I felt strongly about injecting a bit more ‘cool’ into our capital, and started developing an idea for an event that would put a fresh spin on the traditional ‘market’ format”. Since the first event, Hustle&Scout outgrew its original New Acton venue and moved to the aircraft hangar in Fairbairn.

“This season’s Hustle&Scout and The Forage will be our last hurrah in the hangar until we reveal our new home in a few months,” Tegan says.

“We are encouraging all of Canberra to join us on April 11 and help us say farewell to the hangar in style.”

Hustle&Scout, Hangar 47, 8-10 Point Cook Avenue, Fairbairn from 2pm-7pm on Saturday, April 11. Entry and parking is free. Stall hire details at hustleandscout.com.au

THE Forage will celebrate its first birthday with the biggest line up of food gatherings.

Showcasing street food (and other food products) by local cafes, food trucks, wineries and breweries, the past year has seen

The Forage develop from an original 14 vendors to 33 vendors at Hustle&Scout.

Creator Belinda Neame says:

“It has been a massive success, everything grew so rapidly.

“We have a wide range of local vendors, breweries, wineries, all types of food from Peruvian to Asian and sweet baked goods as well.

“It is a platform for local cafes and restaurants to showcase what they do and this works as a trigger to remind customers of where they are.”

As well as vendors from across Canberra, The Forage will also showcase a live music lounge with three big music acts.

“It is a showcase of what the town has to offer in the way of food, all in a festival environment. I have seen a lot of cool stuff in other places, like Melbourne and Adelaide specifically, and I wanted to provide that platform for businesses in the food industry to get noticed.

“Hustle&Scout is a chance to celebrate the community we have built up and the great journey we have experienced in such a short time.”

farewell to Fairbairn Hangar

Stand out clothing and accessories Out there with streetwear

PROVIDING a unique range of handmade clothing and accessories, Zilpah Tart specialises in bold colours and one-of-a-kind prints, all with a feminine flair.

The label, which was named after the owner’s late grandmother, started as a hobby in 2007 and has since evolved and appears at markets across Canberra.

Owner and designer Yumi Morrissey says: “The garments aren’t trend based, they’re designed to make you stand out in a crowd.

“This will be my third time at Hustle&Scout, I will be making autumn/winter dresses with unique, Canberra-based prints.

We have a dress that has a design of Parliament House on it.

“I think a lot of sales are done through markets, but Hustle&Scout is a great platform targeted at fashion, customers can look for local designers’ one-of-a-kind pieces”.

Yumi says that her upcoming collection is based around the idea of the modern woman as a modern warrior and will use ancient armour designs with feminine shapes.

Zilpah Tart, call 0401 883269 or visit zilpahtart.com.au

Melbourne labels re-use unwanted fabrics

PLANET Fab and Sheesh Handmade are two Melbourne-based labels that specialise in re-using fabrics or clothing remnants no longer required by commercial or private owners in order to create new items.

The owner of Sheesh Handmade, Suzie Lambert, uses her background in occupational therapy as inspiration to create Australian-sourced, comfortable, day-to-day clothes that fit all body types, particularly specialising in A-line skirts.

She says: “Both our businesses are similarly structured and compatible in that we both use remnants of clothes to create something new.

STITCH Apparel, the fresh new streetwear label which was created 10 months ago by a trio of young Canberrans, provides a range of shirts, jackets, hats, tank tops and tees in a variety of prints and colours.

Co-owner, Tim Thorley, says: “The clothes are for people of any age who are interested in streetwear. We have done a few one-of-a-kind projects, if someone wants two colours mixed together or a different pattern on a top we can do that. Hopefully, in the future, we will have a big enough range that will suit everybody.”

With a unique “living room” set up

“I was frustrated with what was available in shops, good quality was hard to find. I am obsessed with looking for and collecting interesting fabrics.

“We love the celebration of colours and fabrics, we like face-to-face interaction and are good at fitting people. We know our product really well.”

Being from a family with a long history of fashion, owner of Planet Fab Penny Cawrse creates coats for men and women sourcing 90 per cent recycled fabrics.

This season will be Planet Fab’s first time at Hustle&Scout where it will showcase more than

as its stall at Hustle&Scout, where there will be a couch and a lamp amongst their items, Stitch Apparel sees the fashion market as an opportunity to expand its brand.

“It is a chance to reach people that might not have heard of us and meet new people to show them who we are and what we are about,” says Tim.

“We are trying to create a bit of us on a shirt, a piece of us that people will want to represent. So, come over and support local designers and help create something awesome.”

Stitch Apparel on Facebook or email stitchapparel@hotmail.com

100 different coats and a large variety of vests for men and women in a huge range of sizes.

Penny says: “I am excited about Hustle&Scout, I have been hearing so many good things about it throughout the summer so I am thrilled that we are finally coming in to winter and I can be a part of this groovy new scene.

“My biggest buzz comes when all the work is done and the coat finally meets its owner.”

Planet Fab, call 0425 798166 or planetfab.com.au Sheesh Handmade, call 0425 639989 or visit sheesh.com.au

Natural materials and designs Craft workshops with fun

RANCHO Designs incorporates simple and classic Scandinavian styles with elements of nature.

A former design teacher, Michelle Smith created Rancho Designs in 2009 and, inspired by her home in the Hunter Valley, designed a range of jewellery and accessories based on her original artwork.

“Living in the Hunter Valley, the inspiration is always there. I use a lot of natural materials and my designs always relate to nature, so there’s always trees, birds with beautiful green and sage colours of the Australian bush,” says Michelle.

“Technology has allowed me to digitally print my designs on fabrics and make them into bags, belts and

even iPhone cases”.

Hustle&Scout will be a chance for Michelle to showcase her new designs in a solely fashionorientated market.

“Visitors can expect to see a lot of matte finishes of gold, silver and rose gold. There will be a lot of triple feature designs, three sequences such as dots, crosses and triple squares.

“I have been involved with Hustle&Scout since the start, I just create what I like and hope others like them, too,” Michelle says.

Rancho Designs, visit ranchodesigns.com.au or email ranchodesigns@optusnet.com.au

SINCE 2012, the Macquarie-based Makers’ Collective has specialised in short, taster workshops (usually two to four hours) aimed at beginners to learn such skills as candle making, sewing, crochet, jewellery making and more.

Creator, Mikaela Danvers, says: “Don’t be afraid to get involved, we run workshops in anything you can think of and you can have a fun time while doing it.”

The self-taught “craft-hopper” got involved in crafts from a young age and says that it is all down to trial and error.

“I get obsessed with learning how to make or do something and I do a lot of research. I wanted a way of

sharing my knowledge,” Mikaela says.

The Makers’ Collective will be at Hustle&Scout teaching workshops and selling a range of items.

“Our workshops will teach embellished headpieces, fabric-covered earrings, beaded wire jewellery and more,” she says.

“We will also sell fashion-related items and kits to help you make things like necklaces at home.

“Hustle&Scout is such a fun market to go to, it is really appealing to a new market of people who wouldn’t normally know you.”

The Makers’ Collective, themakerscollective.com.au

Go-ahead Gungahlin finds a lot to celebrate

WITH live music, dance, food and activities, the first Celebrate Gungahlin festival invites its 50,000 residents to celebrate their community.

The festival will be held on the corner of Gozzard and Hibberson Streets, 11am-4pm, on Saturday, April 11.

Themed around the town centre’s iconic bunyip sculpture, which is a large mythical creature from Aboriginal folklore and a tribute to Michael Salmon’s popular book “The Monster that Ate Canberra”, the festival will celebrate the sculpture’s fourth birthday.

Celebrate Gungahlin, Saturday, April 11 from 11am to 4pm. Visit celebrategungahlin.org.au

Beauty salon with a warm welcome

GLOWW is a beauty salon that provides a warm, welcoming, professional and personalised service, says owner Lucy Jessup.

Located in Gungahlin Marketplace in the Big W Centre on the Level 1 Commercial Suites, Gloww offers a wide range of beauty treatments specialising in waxing, spray tanning, facial and body treatments, eyelash extensions, tinting, manicures, pedicures, shellac and special occasion make-up. Lucy, who has owned the salon for one year and was a loyal customer before taking over, says that the great reputation and the quality of staff attracted her to the business.

She says: “The salon had such a great reputation before I took over and I want to keep that up. I think it is all about the staff, we have a group of five girls who are diploma-qualified

with up to seven years’ experience. We want to build relationships with the customers and for everyone to go away happy with their experience”.

Lucy says that eyelash extensions and waxing are the most popular treatments at Gloww.

“We are well known for waxing and the feedback we have received is that the wax seems to be a lot gentler than other salons,” she says.

“Our prices are a lot more competitive than other salons. Due to the location of the salon, we are not that well known and we want to get our name out there”.

Gloww is open 10am-6pm on Monday to Friday and 8am-4pm on Saturday.

Gloww, call 6162 0048 or visit gloww.com.au

on the

Thriving in the world of 3D illustration

FOR 10 years ProjectWorks3D has provided professional, high-end 3D architectural illustrations such as animation, floor plans and scale models for new developments in Canberra.

With an office of young staff based at Flemington Road, typical clients include architects, real estate agents and developers but the company also works on new residential and commercial projects.

Owner, Kevin Price, says: “We have done a lot of high-profile projects around Canberra. For example, Observatory Living in Wright.

“At the showroom we have a team of officers who love to meet with potential customers to discuss their needs.”

ProjectWorks3D also offers full marketing packages assisting clients with strategic marketing planning as well as management of brand development, social media strategy, design and development of communication tools.

The 3D rendering specialist also provides brochures and places advertising in local papers.

“It is essential now in the real estate industry to show images of proposed developments, creating an architectural illustration,” says Kevin.

ProjectWorks3D, 172/148 Flemington Road, Harrison. Call 6162 2014 or visit pw3d.com.au

8am-4pm Mention this advertisement and receive 20% off your next treatment!

10am-8pm

Celebrate Gungahlin, Saturday, April 11

Snapper with a sharp eye to success

WITH its eclectic portfolio and years of experience, Eddison Photographic Studios has been Canberra’s premier photographic studio since 1992, says Eddie Misic, who established the business at the young age of 18. The diplomacertified photographer says: “I am doing something that I love, I followed my dreams and I have never looked back. I mostly enjoy photographing people, it is so interactive but I also love photographing landscapes.

“I totally switch off and go into my own zone, it is so relaxing”.

The studio, which is based in Forde, caters to

all types of photoshoots from portraits, food and houses to pets, sports and weddings.

Eddison Photographic Studios also offers an editorial option that gives individuals a chance to promote their businesses and an option to capture corporate moments at PR events.

“There is an eclectic mix and I do a big range of work that is always changing. That’s what makes it so fantastic, it is so different,”

Eddie says.

Eddison Photographic Studios, call 02 6242 5096 or visit eddison.com.au

Chic cafe with a curious name

FOR a quality service in an industrial chic setting, Blind Dove Cafe is a community focused cafe that is family owned and operated.

It opened in January and offers a wide range of coffees and food.

Owners Sandra Nielsen and Timo Jalkanen named it the Blind Dove after their family pet, an albino bird, which Sandra says brings a sense of individuality to the cafe.

“It’s a good conversation starter, people want to know more about the cafe,” she says.

“Our signature blend 5 Bean Coffee is sent over from Sydney and has a beautiful, smooth taste and we have gluten and dairy free food. We make the sandwiches in front of you which creates an interactive experience.

“It is good quality for a reasonable price.

“I have had 10 years’ experience developing a passion for coffee, it has been a long dream but it is finally true and it has been a wonderful journey.

“The community of Harrison have been

people.”

Blind Dove Cafe also offers a variety of Turkish melts, cakes and slices, including gluten-free products, and has disability access as well as being dog friendly.

Blind Dove Cafe, 173/148 Flemington Road, Harrison. Call 0473 384904.

A modern take on Christianity

FUSION City Church is celebrating their seventh year as a church and has chosen “Seven” as its theme.

Led by pastors Matt and Gill McGaw, together with their team of pastors, the church provides a modern take on Christianity for people from all walks of life in the Gungahlin area.

The couple warmly welcome everybody who comes along to the services at Palmerston Primary School, regardless of their background, or how they choose to dress.

Matt says: “Usually, our Fusion Sundays (morning and evening) consist of some singing, some community time updating you on what’s happening – communion, prayer and a talk that delves into the word of God and addresses practical life and spiritual issues.

“After each of the services there is a range of baked and savoury nibbles together with coffees made by our baristas and specialty teas in our cafe area. We use multimedia as an integral part of our Sunday meetings and aim to do all this in a contemporary manner,” he says.

On Friday nights, Fusion’s Ignite youth group meets to get fired up about making Canberra a better place for young people and are encouraged to take an active role in the community and in their schools.

“I think there’s a big need, particularly in Gungahlin, for a safe, fun place for young people to hang out,” says Matt.

Fusion also has a thriving kids program that runs every Sunday morning as well as a young adult community group that includes a number of students and young professionals.

Fusion City Church, Gungahlin. Sunday services, Palmerston Primary School, 10am and 6pm. Call 6253 8672 or go to fusioncitychurch.com.au

scene / around canberra

Social event of the week / The ABC Showcase evening, Parliament House

THE ABC Showcase is an annual event in the salubrious surrounds of Parliament House with the requisite number of parliamentarians, ABC personalities, management and stars.

Yes, the real stars come out for this event with those two bananas doing “nana sandwich” with all and sundry, Eddie Perfect – and, yes, he is – posing perfectly, Lee Kernaghan with hat, an “Outback ER” nurse keeping Charlie Pickering’s pulse steady as he is a tad anxious about his new show that starts in 27 days, and the hirsute Greek gardener Costa Georgiadis catching up with his local member Warren Snowdon

It is a fun night with the serious news and comment brigade mixing it with the on-air presenters of radio and television and the photo opportunities keeping everyone busy especially staffers armed with the ubiquitous iPhones.

But the little pig that helped MD Mark Scott tug the heartstrings of those who would pull the proverbial from under the ABC got due credit for its impact on the changing viewing of the littlies. Do not, I repeat to all parents and particularly grandparents, get in the way of a small person who wants to watch Peppa Pig… now!

Thunderland of drums

By Helen Musa

of drums.

As he straps me into a stair lift – all abilities are catered for – I see historic photos of American drummers on the left and Australian drummers on the right.

Once upstairs, it’s time to gasp at the handmade Calypso steel band that’s just arrived from Trinidad. France leaps to the steel drums to give me a foretaste of what’s to come in the ACT’s first percussion-specific centre.

France just manages to restrain himself from performing on the Javanese gamelan installed, the same one he brought to the ANU School of Music where he worked for two decades, for a time heading up the faculty.

Maybe not all that noisy, for in his state-of-the-art drum laboratory, loosely modelled on piano labs where students can study simultaneously, you put your headphones on and drum for your life, but only you and your tutor can hear the full sound.

The Groove Warehouse is now open to students and, in what France believes may be a first, sessions cost only $16. They’ll be subsidised by The Groove Store, which is already packed with new percussion instruments and rare historical drums collected over a lifetime. He’s hoping the low tuition rates will see pupils coming back for many classes each week.

Initially France himself will do much of the tutoring, but soon Emma Zen, of Rocking Horse Music, will join him for the “Kiddiecussion” initiative, classes for adventurous mums and bubs.

SAD dance-lovers have farewelled retiring Ausdance ACT director of eight years, Neil Roach. When we say “retiring”, Roach finds himself without a job and Ausdance without a director after cuts to the community dance budget by the ACT government. Bitterest pill to swallow is that the schools and colleges’ dance festival has been deemed outside artsACT’s philosophical remit.

JAN Brown, the artist responsible for kangaroos at Commonwealth Park and her “Icarus” sculptures in Petrie Plaza, has her “birds” on show at Beaver Galleries in drawings, works on paper and sculpture dating from the mid-1960s. At 81 Denison Street, Deakin, until April 14.

Drums are the lifeblood of the ebullient Americanborn drummer from Syracuse, New York, the son of a band trumpeter who took him to see jazz drummer Buddy Rich when he was a kid and set him on the stairway to percussion heaven.

Trained at that jazz-centric institution, the University of North Texas, he came to Australia in the late 1980s to teach at the WA Academy of Performing Arts, later moving to Canberra. He has been an Australian for 27 years.

Now France has joined his Australian wife Sandy, composer of the Canberra bushfire opera, “From a Black Sky”, in purchasing and fitting out a huge warehouse in Hume destined to become the noisiest place on the block.

The excitement is palpable, but drums can be meditative too, France says, as he tells of the gong set ordered from China.

At 57, France loves playing everything from the marimba to the vibraphone, often dressing up to match the culture. He plays jazz, classical and popular. He plays bongos, Indian tabla and xylophone instruments that make melodies and gestures towards drums from the “big five of drumming” – India, Africa, Indonesia, Cuba and Brazil. He also finds time to edit a drumming magazine, “PERCUSscene”.

Right now he’s cooking up an open day on April 11, with Cuban music group El Son Entero doing a workshop the day before, April 10. It’ll be a chance to show off the airy space lit with natural skylights, the stage with seating capacity for 59, the Drum Lab, The Groove Store and The Groove Café where tired parents can sit.

It’ll be fun, France says, “I’m saying it’s okay to be a musician – look here, I could have you playing ‘Billie Jean’ in five minutes,” France threatens.

It’s a tempting thought.

The Groove Warehouse Open Day, at 5/1 Sawmill Circuit, Hume, April 11, 10am-4pm, all welcome, bookings and info groovewarehouse.com.au or 6260 2847.

CHRIS Latham, former “CityNews” Artist of the Year and director of The Gallipoli Symphony, has “Re-sounding Gallipoli”, a free concert, at the High Court, from 1.30pm, on Sunday, April 12. It’s the first in his “Flowers of War” series of 25 concerts on how music sustains people in times of conflict. WORKS of Australian architectural photographers including John Gollings, Christopher Frederick Jones and Dianna Snape will be on show under the title “Site Seeing” at the Gallery of Australian Design, 47 Jardine Street, Kingston, until May 15. Gollings will visit Canberra for related events on April 30. Details at aila.org.au/act_events

THE late Eleanor Houston was a founder of the ACT Lieder Society, later Art Song Canberra, and for many years its president and patron. Art Song will stage a tribute concert in her name in Wesley Music Centre at 3pm on Saturday, April 18. All welcome.

BILK Gallery in Palmerston Lane, Manuka, has work by eight contemporary Thai artists on show until April 25. The show, “A New Negotiation”, was curated by Bow Wasinondh for ATTA Gallery in Bangkok, whose director Atinuj Tantivit is a contemporary art jeweller, collector and advocate who wants to bring the work of Thai artists to a wider audience.

“Leviathan” (MA)

IN

town on the Barents Sea coast, Kolya, second wife Lilya and teenage son Roma, from deceased first wife, live in a timber house overlooking the sea. There is no tree visible in any direction. Nor too many weeds or blades of grass.

Spectacular rock formations all around partly offset those environmental inadequacies. The only apparent reason for the town’s existence is the fish cannery.

Local panjandrum Vadim wants to build a tourist resort on Kolya’s land. Kolya invites his lawyer brother Dimi to come from Moscow to contest Vadim’s application. On that dramatic framework, writer/ director Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Oscar-nominated (foreign language) film hangs a brilliant, satirical cinematic parable about 21st-century Russia.

“Leviathan’s” excitement levels aren’t high, but its 140 minutes deliver a boredom-free ride through emotional highs and lows packed with subtle and clever humour as ordinary Russian folk ease the pain by consuming vodka as if it were water (why do you think they call it that?) and chain-smoking. The implied damage that those addictions cause to health and longevity is a metaphor for Russian attitudes toward staying alive – even after democratisation, life in Russia’s outback offers few other pleasures.

Civil court procedures get special attention, serious material that’s blisteringly funny. How common Russian folk view their country’s oligarchs gets a hefty comical serve. Vadim’s campaign to achieve a financial outcome of questionable merit achieves a pinnacle of corruption. The Orthodox Church plays its own corrupt game.

You’ve gotta admire a subtitled film that generates laughter while marvelling at people’s survival in that bleak place and leaving corruption free to thrive.

At Palace Electric

“Dior and I” (M)

BELGIAN Raf Simons, newly-appointed creative director at Paris fashion house Dior, doesn’t draw designs. He gives written briefs which atelier staff will convert into maquettes for expensive gowns.

Other people’s docos about couturieres follow the designer from tabula rasa through design drawings to cutting and machining fabrics to the obligatory closing shots of skinny young women with forward-thrusting pelvises striding the catwalk wearing the gowns.

Frederic Tcheng’s documentary, telling how Raf met the challenge of creating a complete collection for a major show scheduled for a mere eight weeks after his appointment, is something of a radical innovation in making such films.

It observes long-time Dior staff manipulating swathes of toile into a shape that, when complete to Raf’s satisfaction, becomes a template for a garment to charm and enhance the wearer (whose own or her husband’s deep pockets keep Dior going), dazzle her social peers (the competition among whom is the engine powering haute couture), stimulate the fashion media (whose ability to make or break a collection is out of proportion to its real importance in a turbulent world) and attract vultures waiting to hit the market with knock-off copies.

Raf Simons comes across as a shy fellow uncomfortable on centre stage, committed to translating designs and fabrics into beautiful and wearable garments, unconcerned about the cost of renting a vacant Paris mansion to show them and lining its walls with fresh flowers. His team’s fondness for him looks sincere on film. They work hard. No sewing machine was visible during the making of this collection.

At Palace Electric

Dougal’s review of “A Little Chaos” (M) is at citynews.com.au

Photos by Andrew Finch

Set lunch really sings

IT’S hard to get a decent meal for $50 these days, even at a café, never mind a fine dining restaurant and for three courses at that.

At Pod Food, in Pialligo, you do – at least with the set lunch menu – and you dine, at no extra cost, in beautiful surroundings.

Pod Food is nestled among established gardens. Outdoor dining, on one of the deck areas, places you in the middle of gorgeous flowers and trees. Indoor dining is quaint in Pod Food’s 1930s cottage.

It was a friend’s birthday. While very special, Pod Food isn’t just a special-occasion venue. It’s exceptional value, especially with the set menu (two courses for only $40). The chef understands that we do eat first with our eyes and so great care is taken with plating.

My house-made salmon gravlax was delicious. It was served with bright red, fully ripened tomatoes packed full of flavour. The dish came with fennel and asparagus, a super start.

Next was the ricotta gnocchi – up there with the best I’ve ever eaten – accompanied by fresh peas, salsa verde, Italian taleggio cheese and walnuts.

The textures were great and flavours fabulous. I was surprised at the chicken, since the menu didn’t mention it. Vegetarians wouldn’t have been happy, but I’m not a vegetarian and so dived in.

I was almost, thanks in part to the surprise chunks of chicken, too full for dessert, but managed to almost finish my chocolate brownie (a few pieces, cut into smaller chunks), caramel banana and creamy ice-cream. It was rich, but not overly so.

My friends didn’t go for the set menu, but wished they had. For entrée, two of our party selected the passionfruit kingfish, which sounded better than it tasted – a “bit bland” was the consensus ($20). The

The chef understands that we do eat first with our eyes and so great care is taken with plating.

dry aged beef loin, with mushrooms, onion rings and polenta chips – the main ordered by the “birthday gal” – was slightly disappointing with the meat seeming to me a bit dry.

What was a hit was the side of chilli and rosemary baked potatoes, served with aioli, which we shared ($9.50). We were initially taken aback by the rustic presentation, thinking that for a fine dining restaurant the dish should have been more refined, but this was quickly forgotten. The potatoes took us to another planet.

The other dessert ordered received a gold star. The coconut mousse, strawberry jelly, meringue, basil and lychee sorbet ($16) was yet another great combination of flavours and a light (and satisfying) end to a lovely lunch out.

Pod Food isn’t byo, but has a massive drinks and wine list, well over 20 pages.

Pod Food, 12 Beltana Road, Pialligo, call 6257 3388.

Joanne Madeline Moore

your week in the stars – April 6-12, 2015

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

The pace picks up as the Sun, Mercury and Uranus all connect in Aries and turbocharge your fiery energy. Activities with a fast tempo suit – from travel and sport to social media and entrepreneurial projects. So the week looks wonderfully positive, with one big proviso – be careful what you blurt out. Words have the ability to wound and if you don’t self-edit then you could end up with a messy misunderstanding.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Calling all languid Bulls. With this week’s spontaneous stars (ditto Mars in your sign and Venus zooming into gung-ho Gemini) if you don’t pick up the pace then you’ll just be left behind in the dust. Use it as an opportunity to initiate ideas, create new streams of income or power through personal projects you’ve had sitting on the backburner. Utilise your imagination and intuition to boost productivity or help solve a family problem.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Don’t think small! This week’s marvellous mercurial aspects are all about expanding your mental horizons, innovative ideas and attracting fabulous mentors into your world. Avoid the temptation to get stuck on one topic. Keep your mind constantly moving in exciting new directions. Venus vamps into your sign on Sunday, so it’s the ideal time to indulge in some body pampering, fall in love or call in a few old favours.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

All eyes are on you as the planets boost your public profile. An unexpected opportunity could open up involving education, business, paid employment or volunteer work. Be proactive about following your dreams. No more side-stepping – it’s time to be a confident Crab! Avoid using emotional blackmail to coerce a loved one into doing what you think they should do. Let them make their own choices and mistakes.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Don’t let over-confidence and over-exuberance trip you up this week Lions. With six planets in fire signs, you’re amped up and ready to perform as you let your hair down and overdo just about everything! Your head’s full of ambitious dreams and spectacular schemes, but they’ll only work if you can persuade other people to contribute. Creative collaboration will take you a lot further than working as a solo operator.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Your talent for observation, research, puzzles and ferretting out secrets is highlighted this week, as the stars super-charge your mercurial mind. But be careful how you communicate with others. Strive to criticise less and encourage more as you support a child, teenager or friend who is going through a difficult patch. Not sure what to say? Jupiter urges you to listen to your inner voice Virgo – it will point you in the right direction.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

A loved one, friend, business partner or rival could stun you by making a surprise move, so make sure you’re ready with a few fast moves of your own! Is your love life stuck on auto-pilot? Uranus encourages you to blast away the cobwebs and look at things from a fresh angle. Singles – are you fed up with dating disasters? The planets urge you to look for love in unusual places, as you pair up with someone who’s not your usual type.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

Feeling bored? It’s time to ricochet out of your usual routine and do something completely different. Variety is the spice of life, as you experiment with exciting new activities involving sport, publishing, politics, travel or education. But the more you try to control others, the more they are likely to resist. If you want to avoid ongoing problems and power struggles, then you’ll have to graciously let go and move on.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

This week’s fiery stars are fabulous for romance, children, friends, hobbies, sport, entertainment and creative projects. Situations involving education, publishing, legal matters, travel or international connections that have been in a holding pattern since December should start to improve as Jupiter moves forwards mid-week. With your sparky Sagittarian mojo and momentum back, you’re ready to rock and roll!

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Capricorns are conscientious and ambitious, but you can also be a carping critic of yourself and others. As Pluto transits slowly through your sign, it intensifies your tendency to be obsessive and focus on perceived failures before you finally get to the stage where you can transform your life, like the butterfly emerging from the chrysalis. This week it’s time to count your blessings – especially involving home, family or health.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Avoid being a lone wolf. This week’s electric planetary aspects help you communicate your innovative ideas with pizazz, as smart Aquarians connect with like-minded souls via influential people. Make sure you leverage the power of social media to get your message out loud and clear. Are you still searching for your soul mate? Don’t dismiss the offer of an introduction from a relative, as love and family are linked.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

When it comes to a work project, it will take time and effort to expand your knowledge base. Do you have a financial issue that’s worrying you? Look at the situation with a completely fresh set of eyes. You may need someone else to help you do this, as you can’t fix entrenched problems with old solutions. As fellow Piscean Albert Einstein said: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

1 What was the occupation of Henry Lawson’s Young Harry Dale?

8 Name the Australian physicist and Governor of SA, Sir Mark ...?

9 To be negotiable, a cheque must be what?

10 What is the process of digging a dead body out of the earth?

11 Which wide-sleeved robe is characteristic of Japanese costume?

12 What do we call the father of a horse?

13 Which unit consists of twelve dozen?

16 Name another term for a long lock or curl of hair

19 What do we call any of the large brown seaweeds?

21 Which is the seventh major planet in order from the sun?

22 Which stand supports a street light, etc?

23 What are tenth parts of things?

24 Which term is applicable to the cosmos?

Sudoku hard No. 147

Solution next week

25 That which is the most uncommon, is the what?

2 Who was the former ruler of Monaco?

3 Name another term for sellers

4 What are exhibitions of the skills of cow hands, riding horses, steers, etc?

5 What is an ornamental shoulder piece worn on uniforms?

6 Which term describes the diameter of a bullet?

7 What are marks of disgrace?

13 Name the English actor and stage director (1904-2000), Sir John ...?

14 Which US city is the capital of Washington state?

15 Name the master, or captain, of a ship

17 Which nuclear device is the subject of controversy?

18 What are the small, round, shallow dishes, used for holding cups?

20 Name the golf club used on the green

Doris, who plans to retire in five years, “likes the idea” of setting up a self-managed superannuation fund.

She’s 62 and is married to Bob, 60.

She called by with some questions because, as she said, “there are some things that Bob and I would like to do within the fund”.

They are thinking about moving to Queensland and thought they might buy a house in the fund, rent it out and later move into it themselves.

“Well, Doris, the first issue is that you can’t rent the house to yourselves,” I advised her. “If it is owned by the SMSF, this is a breach of what is known as the ‘in-house asset rule’. You may be able to transfer it to your personal names later, but this could breach the sole-purpose test.”

To buy the house, Doris said she and Bob may need to borrow a little.

“It used to be that you couldn’t borrow money in a SMSF to buy property, but that has changed, so it is possible to do so now,” I told her.

“If you do want to do so, it requires another company and a trust, contracts and other documents, so the cost of setting it up is quite high.

“I know that a lot of firms are promoting this for an SMSF, but only recently the Commissioner of Taxation put out a warning as many funds are getting it wrong.”

Doris said it all sounded a bit daunting.

“I agree, Doris, and my opinion is that it would be best to buy a property that you rent out unencumbered in the SMSF and rent it out for the next few years,” I said.

“It can be anywhere, but it must be a good investment. When you are ready to move to Queensland and you sell your home in Canberra, then you should have enough money to purchase your new home there outright.”

Doris then wanted to know about shares and whether she could sell the few they held into the SMSF?

“Yes, you can do an ‘off-market transfer’ and pay capital gains tax in your personal returns, this is probably the best way to go.”

Doris said: “Oh dear, this is so complicated. I need some time to digest everything you’ve told me and then we can then make our final decision.”

If you want information on self managed superannuation contact Gail Freeman, a self managed superannuation fund specialist on 6295 2844.

Inspiration and ideas build

Here is a selection of contemporary suppliers offering attractive, innovative and often energy-efficient ideas and inspiration for new home builders and renovators.

Building for a healthy lifestyle

NATURA Homes is a sustainable living company that custom builds homes aimed at providing a healthy living lifestyle.

As leading healthy home specialists, Natura Home projects come with the HRV direct home ventilation and purification system that works to fill the home with fresh, filtered air helping to reduce mould, excess condensation and odours.

“A lot of builders don’t use eco-friendly building products, these release gases in an area where there is no ventilation,” the company says. “So when you walk into a freshly furnished house, that ‘new-house’ smell

of paint is actually the smell of gas.

“Our emphasis is on everyone’s health, we have HRV ventilation and water purification. We select ecofriendly products for healthy living.”

Natura Homes says that as most people spend more than 90 per cent of their time in a building, a healthy home will decrease the risks of allergies, asthma, sinusitis, eczema and hayfever.

Specialist architects and expert engineers are used to build homes of the highest standard.

Natura Homes, call 6255 0325 or visit naturahomes.com.au

CREATING energy efficient and sustainable homes is the passion of Solace Creations.

Owner Karen Porter said: “I can’t understand why we have a code in place that says we must insulate our walls and ceiling, yet there is no rule to insulate our windows or doors.

“Windows and doors make up about 30 per cent of our wall space and putting in a single piece of glass does not provide any insulation value.”

Solace Creations recently won the 2014 ACT Telstra Micro Business Award and was rated in the top eight Australian Micro Businesses.

“If you incorporate double glazing into your design, the investment that you make upfront will be about $450 a year in mortgage repayments on a standard home,” she says.

“Your energy savings will be about $1400, which provides an annual savings of $950 from the first year.”

advertising feature

for home builders

Total solutions for renovators

A TOTAL solution for any renovation, extension or new-build, Bordeaux Kitchens also specialises in custom-built design and joinery, ranging from kitchens, vanity and laundry units to commercial joinery including shop/office joinery and fit-outs, and home office joinery.

Owner Steve Milutinovic started his own cabinet making business in 1983, and 31 years on the company has grown into a total design consultancy for home, office, shop or commercial premises, extending, renovating or building your dream home.

“We pride ourselves in achieving the highest standard

for our customers in design and workmanship,” he says.

“Our prices are competitive and we work with you to achieve your desired outcome.

“We offer full trade co-ordination and have our own experienced and reliable tradesmen and expert staff to assist you in your project.”

Bordeaux Kitchens provides an obligation-free quote.

Bordeaux Kitchens, 8 Aurora Place, Queanbeyan. Call 6299 4642.

Showroom hours: Monday-Friday, 9.30am-4pm; Saturday, 9am-noon, or by appointment.

Green building advantages for everyone

GREEN Homes Australia is an energy efficient design and construction business that gives ACT residents more options when it comes to energy efficiency.

ACT residents can now own homes that are up to three times more efficient to run without the expensive price tag usually associated with green building.

Owned and operated by father-and-daughter team, John and Elle Cobanov, Green Homes Australia specialises in building comfortable, affordable and efficient new homes that can outperform the average new home by more than 60 per cent.

“By utilising the principles of efficient home design and green construction we deliver homes that are affordable to build and to run,” says John.

“We design homes from the ground up to suit each client’s block, climate, lifestyle and budget. This ensures that we make the most of every efficiency opportunity which results in lower energy bills.”

Elle Cobanov believes that all families would benefit from living in a home that uses less energy. She says:

“Unfortunately, up until now, only the very wealthy could afford to build this way. Green Homes Australia is able to build energy saving homes for the same price as a standard home, making them much more accessible to everyday Australians.”

Green Homes Australia, call 1300 724661 or visit greenhomesaustralia.com.au

Energy Efficient Custom Built Homes and Renovations

Green Homes Australia are now building in the ACT and specialise in the design and construction of affordable & energy efficient homes, knock down rebuilds, renovations and extensions. We build homes using everyday materials that can save you thousands on your energy bills for years to come.

BORDEAUX KITCHENS

(Associated with Capital Cabinetmaking)

Specialise in custom-built design and joinery

• Kitchens • Vanity and laundry units

Commercial Joinery

• Shop/office • Home office

• Experienced tradesmen and full trade co-ordination available

BORDEAUX BATHROOMS

• Designed with you with your budget in mind

• High standard of workmanship

• High quality finish

• Completed on time, every time

BORDEAUX CONSTRUCTION & MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Total design consultancy

• Home

Office

Shop

• Commercial premises

• Extend or Renovate existing homes

• Build your new dream home

Creating Sustainable Gardens

Glenbog Nursery and Landscaping

The Canberra region’s largest range of locally-grown plants – grown on site for local conditions.

• growers of drought tolerant and frost resistant plants

• new garden creations and garden makeovers

• sustainable garden design and advice

• providing a value for money solution

NURSERY OPEN: 9am to 5pm Wednesday to Friday 10am to 4pm Weekends

314 Plummers Rd, Burra NSW (20 minutes from Queanbeyan) Ph. 0402 024 204 – 0408 119 160

glenbog@skymesh.com.au Like us on Facebook

We grow them hardy so you can watch them grow

gardening Walter wanted lots of cork oaks

IN 1917 Walter Burley Griffin brought acorns of the cork oak, Quercus suber, from Spain with the vision that the new capital would be self-sustaining and a cork oak plantation was part of the plan.

The plantation of about 4500 trees was planted by Charles Weston and is the largest commercial plantation of cork oaks in the southern hemisphere.

Cork from the oaks is used in wine bottles, floor tiles, life vests and shoes.

Its bark has been used for thousands of years and, in fact, an article on cork oaks in “Smith Journal” notes that “in 77AD Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder referred to the cork oak in his writings”.

If one removed the bark of any other tree it would die. But the outer bark of a cork oak can be completely stripped once every 10 years once the tree is at least 25 years old. Cork oaks can live for more than 500 years and Portugal is considered its home.

THERE is a huge cork oak outside All Saints Church, on the corner of Cowper and Bonney Streets, Ainslie.

I have tried unsuccessfully to find out when and why this huge specimen was planted. Was it a commemorative tree?

the church and its grounds.

WITH continuous, fairly high temperatures and little rain for many weeks, deciduous trees are rapidly changing into their magnificent autumn mantle of colour.

Super rare, available now and limited quantity

Banks Street, Weston Park, Yarralumla • 6281 7373 heritagenursery.com.au /TheHeritageNursery

It certainly predates the church and perhaps a reader may be able to shed some light on this tree? If you have any information please let me know (cedricbryant@grapevine.com.au) as a revised conservation plan is being prepared for

This gives us the opportunity of gathering leaves for composting. In some of our surrounding streets we have a huge amount of leaves. I continually hear that one should not put eucalypt leaves on the compost heap or that oak leaves do not break down. With both of these trees I use the mower to shred the leaves and put half on to the garden as mulch and half on to the compost heap. I get strange looks when it appears I am mowing the street gutters.

A couple of reminders: don’t sweep leaves into the gutters as these simply clog the stormwater drains and it is prohibited to burn leaves or any other materials.

For every few barrow loads of leaves on the compost heap add a few handfuls of garden lime. Multicrop’s EcoBoost is also excellent at speeding up the decomposing process.

If you don’t have a compost heap, simply make a circle of chicken wire about a metre and a half across held in place with tomato stakes.

NOXIOUS weeds cause millions of dollars of damage to our farming lands and nature parks.

In Canberra, our government actively encourages gardeners to remove weeds. Possibly the worst of these is privet, pyracantha and cotoneaster. The ACT Weed Swap Group of volunteers from the Australian Native Plant Society will be in action on the weekend of April 11-12. Located at Corkhill’s site, near the Mugga Lane tip, and Canberra Sand and Gravel landscaping yard, Parkwood Road, Macgregor, 8.30am-4.30pm. Bring those nasties along and they will swap for non-invasive native plants.

Jottings…

• Shrubs can be given a last feed over the next few weeks before winter. Neutrog Seamungus, a combination of seaweed and chook poo, certified organic is good.

• Think about removing plastic water timers. Don’t be caught out with a sudden frost that can burst them apart. Likewise, don’t leave sprinklers on the end of hoses.

• Select trees for autumn colour before they lose their leaves in the garden centres.

• Sow sweet peas now in ground well prepared with compost.

A young garden grown from ‘love and intuition’

NESTLED in the hills of Wallaroo, with the beautiful Brindabellas as a backdrop, “Terroux” at Hall is a lovely nine-year-old garden created with “love and intuition” –and plenty of hard work – by owners Peter Fletcher and Barbara Baikie.

The garden, part of the Open Gardens Australia program, is open to the public on April 18-19.

“Peter started putting rocks from the house excavation together to build the first garden beds. There was no real master plan, but it has grown in stages with a number of distinct rooms or areas enhanced by the natural environment and art,” says Barbara.

The garden is an eclectic mix of natives, ornamental trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, bulbs and roses. There is also a secret garden surrounded by a bottlebrush hedge.

“We see our garden as an adventure that is full of surprises,” says Peter.

“One of our favourite features is the dance floor on top of the water tank surrounded by bottlebrush, with the music speakers hidden in two rocks!”

There is also a pond, a dry creek bed with a bridge, a gazebo, a reflection pool, and garden beds tumbling with colourful pansies, lavender and roses.

Peter is passionate about restoring the land to a place of beauty and thereby creating an important and lasting legacy – and, to that end, he’s planted more than 6000 trees in eight years.

Two grants from Greening Australia have helped develop bird corridors and riparian planting to control erosion gullies.

88 Rochford Road, Hall, open 10am-3pm, Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19. Admission is $8 (under 18 free). Devonshire teas will be available.

Queanbeyan’s month of heritage celebrations

QUEANBEYAN will celebrate its heritage with a month-long festival from April 9 to May 9. The Queanbeyan Heritage Festival will feature a range of exhibitions, meetings, discussions, tours and museum openings.

“Many people may not realise, but Queanbeyan was settled long before Canberra, in fact, many residents of Queanbeyan played a major part in building our capital city,” says

Queanbeyan Mayor Tim Overall.

Some highlights are: PeaceKnits Pop-up Event and Open Cottage Garden, 10am-4pm, Saturday, April 11, at the Boab Book Cotta, 36 Crawford Street. Cost: free.

Mysterious Queanbeyan Moonlight Tour, Friday April 17, 6.30pm-9pm, bookings to Nichole on 0413 671123. The Riderless Horse: An Australian

Impression of World War I in Song, the Queanbeyan Museum, 1pm, Saturday, April 18. Cost: free. Stop the Presses! Queanbeyan Printing Museum Open Day, 20 Farrer Place, 12.30pm-4pm, Saturday, April 18.

The full program, including further details on all of the events and activities, is at qcc.nsw.gov.au