150917 citynews

All Rhodes lead to The Lodge ROBERT MACKLIN Syria brings out the Samaritans

NICK JENSEN Neighbours, who needs them?

SONYA FLADUN

MAKING THE MOVE WITH ANDREW WINTER

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Ghost train steams into the unknown

By Kate Meikle

ON October 10, the Ghost Train of the Limestone Plains will pull out of Queanbeyan Railway Station and into the unknown…

Those brave enough to step aboard the three-hour tour will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the mysterious legend of the region through a unique and interactive tour.

Author of “Queanbeyan – City of Champions” and creator of the popular Mysterious Queanbeyan by Moonlight Tours, Nichole Overall has been working with staff and volunteers at the Canberra Railway Museum to research and uncover the legend of a ghost train and other spine-chilling stories, but she’s not saying where the train’s going.

“The legend dates back to the 1930s, but the railway line has been in Queanbeyan since 1887,” says Nichole.

“There has been a variety of stories about the ghost train – as well as sightings of mysterious lights and figures.

“There’s been many a tragedy on this line – from the scores of men

killed during its construction in the 1880s, to those who have fallen foul of it since.

“Amongst these are the likes of Cornelius Grady, riding his horse home late one evening in 1888 when he was struck by the Cooma Mail Train; his body carried all the way to the Queanbeyan Station.

“Any one of them then could be to blame for the plentiful unexplained events that are said to occur along these very tracks.”

Nichole has teamed up with her sons to create a unique tour and performance, leading passengers through the legend which is part mystery, part history.

“If people enjoy a good mystery and perhaps a chance to peek through the veil of the beyond, then this is the ticket. I’m certain it will be an evening of unexpected surprises because after all, every city has its secrets,” says Nichole.

The Ghost Train will depart Queanbeyan Station, 8pm, on October 10. Tickets are $98 (over 18s only) and includes supper and beverages. Tickets from qbn@qbncityofchampions.com.au

contacts

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

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

Journalists: Lorna Morris, lorna@citynews.com.au; Kathryn Vukovljak, kathryn@citynews.com.au

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

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Advertising account executives: Utpal Kelovkar, 0426 560200; Kathy Leigh, 0400 293991

Sydney advertising sales: Ad Sales Connect, 02 9420 1777

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Graphic design: Paulette Leo Photographer: Andrew Finch

Accounts manager: Bethany Freeman-Chandler

Well written, well read Cover: Performer April Dawson in Circus Oz’s “But Wait There’s More”. Story Page 20. Photo by Rob Blackburn.

Phone 6262 9100 Fax 6262 9111 GPO Box 2448, Canberra 2601 Responsibility for election comment is taken by Ian Meikle, Level 1, 143 London Circuit, Canberra.

Remembering caring Helen

HELEN Dengate was a dedicated nurse and her speciality was stomal therapy, helping thousands of patients in the ACT.

She died suddenly in 2012 and now her husband Gary, the Dengate family and the Australian Association of Stomal Therapy Nurses (ACT Branch) is offering two annual Helen Dengate Nursing Education Scholarships in her honour, with the first two recipients of the $500 scholarship being awarded by Annette Ellis at an inaugural ceremony at Araluen Village, Fisher, on September 23. The scholarships, funded by public donation and from family and friends, are intended to support nurses to gain knowledge or skills in stoma management and are open to all nurses or trainees in the ACT or adjoining NSW practising in stoma management areas.

Volunteers wanted

THE 2015 Volunteering Expo, featuring more than 50 exhibitors, will showcase the diversity of volunteering opportunities available across the Canberra Region at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden, noon-6.30pm, on Wednesday, September 23.

days

All Rhodes seem to lead to The Lodge…

Bill Shorten will be feeling the winds of change whipping around his own party room… the new favourite to take over the Opposition leadership is Tanya Plibersek.

THE sudden move on Tony Abbott from Malcolm Turnbull caught everyone on the hop – not least the former Oxford boxing blue himself.

Malcolm is also a Rhodes Scholar and his ascension means that no fewer than five of our last eight prime ministers have either been born or educated in England, or both. However, Malcolm brings a very different attitude to our colonial past than his predecessor. And where better could Tony serve his nation henceforth than in London as High Commissioner to the Court of St James. Such an appointment certainly help to clear the air in the Liberal Party

MEANWHILE, across the corridor

Bill Shorten will be feeling the winds of change whipping around his own party room. Word reaching your columnist suggests that the new favourite to take over the Opposition leadership is Tanya Plibersek One Labor insider said: “Albo could become the Arthur Calwell to Turnbull’s Menzies. But Tanya trumps Malcolm every time.”

THE POWER of the symbolic image to change minds – and government policy –was much on display this past week. The heart-rending picture of the little boy, Aylan Kurdi , washed up on a Turkish beach triggered a seachange towards the Great Syrian Exodus.

There was, of course, something wildly illogical about the government backflip from a stern refusal to take Rohingya asylum seekers pleading for refuge from persecution in Burma to its open arms for 12,000 Syrians, to say nothing of the $44 million offered to support their compatriots in border camps. And when you combine

dose of dorin

that with a simultaneous decision to bomb their homeland against the enemies of their presidential dictator, the egregious Bashar al-Assad, the mind simply boggles… and all

rObert MaCkLiN

Problems Challenges

because of a little boy in tiny plastic shoes.

ANOTHER case in point was the Liberals’ candidate in the Canning by-election, former SAS officer, Andrew Hastie . The image of our Special Forces operators as “super soldiers” resonates in the public arena. It matters little, apparently, that Andrew follows his family’s creationist beliefs that

the world began only 6000 years ago.

CLOSER to home, the picture of that “cage” in the south Canberra classroom to provide a refuge for an autistic boy, and perhaps a safety barrier for his classmates, showed why the principal lost her job. The other big loser was Education Minister Joy Burch, who still hasn’t learned that attempting to cover up such incidents only makes things worse.

AND what of that new species of giant trapdoor spider discovered by ANU scientists near Jervis Bay? Chances are we’d never come within cooee of one in a lifetime, but that didn’t prevent a shiver of apprehension at the photo…and it doesn’t help to learn they live for 30 years!

ANOTHER remarkable image was the new species of human discovered in South Africa. Dubbed Homo naledi, our long lost cousins are thought to have lived some where between one and two million years ago. Unless, of course, you’re Andrew Hastie.

FINALLY, many thanks to that puckish political pundit Mungo MacCallum for the delicious observation this past week on the name of the head of the operatically-clad Australian Border Force, Roman Quaedvlieg . Observed Mungo: “Its anagram is Avid Glamor Queen”.

robert@robertmacklin.com

PM Turnbull ends era

Tony Abbott has apologised again and again. He

asked for a second chance and then another and then seeking a final request for six months to turn things around. It did not happen.

THE short era of the Australian “presidents” has comes to an end. Hopefully.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s first public statement on winning his party’s confidence was to clarify our system of parliamentary democracy.

Kevin Rudd championed the idea of a presidential-style leader in the “Kevin 07” campaign. He seemed to believe he had been directly elected by the people. He was not. Nor was Tony Abbott.

If Labor is to provide a viable, long-term alternative government it should also learn the dangers campaigning

as it was for Rudd. The new prime minister will have to resist this temptation.

Responses from those opposed to the change of prime minister are effusive with “I voted for Tony Abbott” (as they were “I voted for Kevin Rudd”). With 150 Members of Parliament in the House of Representatives there is a roughly 95 per cent chance that they did not. The people of their specific electorates in Sydney or in Brisbane may even have voted for them as an MP – but not as prime minister.

Turnbull’s promise of a much more consultative cabinet and a more consultative government is admirable. It is needed. However, this must be balanced against decisive government and effective leadership. There is still a trust issue. Breaking promises was a fundamental weakness of the Abbott government. No cuts to education, no cuts to health; these were the mantra of the opposition. But the trust of swinging voters who took a risk with the Liberal Party has been seriously eroded under Abbott.

When Jeff Kennett launched a scathing attack on Turnbull as being an egotist just hours before the vote, he identified the real problem. He just pointed his finger at the wrong target. A strong self-confidence is important for any successful politician. However, it is a fine line from becoming arrogant and egotistical.

Bill Shorten and Labor must disappointed having been able to rely heavily on the ultra-conservatism of Abbott and his band of close cronies as well as their constant run of “trip-ups”. With Turnbull, these are less likely. While the policies may not change, to have any chance at the next election, the emphasis certainly will need to do so. Instead of the election being a lay down misere, there is now a real chance for the Liberal Party. The prime reasons behind the change of leaders of the Federal Liberal Party is that members in marginal seats and even semi-marginal seats could see the writing on the wall. Ministers could see government slipping away.

Since being Prime Minister, Abbott has apologised again and again. He asked for a second chance and then another and then seeking a final request for six months to turn things around. It did not happen. In politics, absolution can only be granted a limited number of times.

More smoke and mirrors?

AYLAN Kurdi’s body on a Turkish beach may well prove to be a similar catalyst to the iconic 1972 photo of the naked, nine-yearold girl, Kim Phúc, fleeing napalm bombing of her village in Vietnam.

It was followed seven months later by the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. The image of Aylan Kurdi and its aftermath has motivated many into action, including the Australian government.

Unfortunately, it coincides with the commencement of Australian bombing raids, which are likely to play their part in creating many more refugees.

It seems really commendable for the government to take an additional 12,000 refugees from Syria. There are around 60 million displaced people in the world.

Australia’s efforts to assist with this humanitarian crisis, though laudable, are like a drop in the ocean.

However, the announcement nearly doubles the intake of refugees in the humanitarian program from almost 14,000 to more than 25,000.

Or is there a game of smoke and mirrors as the government covers the start of bombing raids and hides an appalling humanitarian record in sending other refugees to detention camps (or prisons) in Nauru, New Guinea and Cambodia? Are these places really for additional migrants or will the numbers also be smoke and mirrors?

A Productivity Commission Report issued in May identified planning for more than 200,000 migrants across a number of programs. It is not clear that the number will be increased by the 12,000 or whether Peter will be robbed to pay Paul?

According to the Australia Institute, claims about our country being one of the top countries per capita for taking refugees are nonsense. In 2014, the country with the most refugees per head of population was Jordan with Australia ranking as 69th. The country with the largest absolute number of refugees was Pakistan with Iran in second place. On this scale, Australia is 49th. We are certainly not a generous country. Michael Moore was an independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly (1989 to 2001).

you know your neighbours? If you are anything like me, you might know them well enough to wave from a distance, but often little more than that.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Over the years, at various addresses, I’ve had all sorts of neighbours. Some became friends that, years after moving, you still send Christmas cards.

We’ve had neighbours who kept a watchful eye on the house when we were on holiday or who would water the garden and collect the mail.

However, some have been just that bit too friendly and others argumentative, sending menacing notes about leaves falling over their side of the fence or else complaining repeatedly when our dog barked (it was a tiny Pomeranian whose yap once or twice a day was barely audible).

Some neighbours kept to themselves, but received fairly regular visits from the constabulary.

Another neighbour once took aim at our house with a high-powered slingshot, eventually breaking a back window. His motives weren’t clear. We thought he was just plain crazy.

When I was a kid, we knew most of the people in our street, some more closely than others, but there was a sense of community that doesn’t seem

“When I was a kid, we knew most of the people in our street... there was a sense of community that doesn’t seem to be in our suburbs now.

to be in our suburbs now.

People appear more and more contained in their own little cocoons. Children, those great icebreakers of the past, now often stick to their own backyards or to the comfort of their couch and computer games. People don’t seem to spend as much time on weekends gardening and exchanging fertiliser tips over the fence.

Instead of talking to their neighbours, many folk are more likely to be picking fights on Twitter and Facebook with people they don’t know.

But good neighbours are worth their weight in gold. Over the years, wonderful neighbours have helped us move, minded the children in an emergency, caught the dog when he got out of our backyard, played Easter Bunny and deposited chocolate at the door, knitted scarves when the kids took up ice skating and been happy to have a bit of a chat when the sun is shining and the pace of life allows.

For older people it is important to keep

an eye out.

My mum had an arrangement with a neighbour to look for her kitchen blinds being up every morning to know she was up.

Perhaps it would be a good thing to slow down and say hello to the folk next door.

They may or may not reciprocate, but you might just spark up a lasting friendship or at least an acquaintance that will make life just that bit better.

Flowers and art

AINSLIE’S All Saints is welcoming spring with an indoor Floral Display and Art Show at the Cowper Street church over the long weekend of September 26-28. The work of local artists will be displayed for sale and the heritage-listed, stone church will be adorned with flower arrangements by the Canberra Flower Club, the Floral Art Guild ACT and the Horticultural Society ACT, with support from Poetry in Flowers, of Gungahlin. There will be flower arranging demonstrations, guided tours and musical interludes.

Syria brings out the Good Samaritans

I hesitate to even utter the words as they seem so fragile, but are we really in the throes of becoming a lessadversarial, more compassionate, just, and moral nation?

DESPITE a culture that is increasingly unaware of Biblical narratives, the story of the Good Samaritan is one that is still widely regarded and integrated into Australia’s foundations.

In the Gospel of Luke (10:30-37), Jesus tells a story of a man robbed and beaten and left for dead by the side of the road. He was ignored by several passers-by until a Samaritan man saw him, tended his wounds, carefully transported him to safety and then provided finance until he recovered.

The challenge of this story is not in understanding the principle, that is quite straightforward. The challenge is how to translate it into current situations. One man in our street needing help is one thing, but the situation we

we face many more questions than the original Samaritan needed to ask.

Which ones do we help first? How many can we take economically considering we are looking at providing permanent homes? What do we do about the robbers who are continuing to beat and steal? What can we do to support those left in the ditch?

I have a deep admiration for our leaders, those on both sides of politics and in the public services, who have been given the task of figuring out how this fundamental principle of loving our neighbour applies in these extremely complex situations. The challenges of identifying the most vulnerable, safest transport, ordered processing, global response, and community integration are all very genuine and difficult.

For the first time in many years, as a nation, we seem to be on the same page on the issue. We may disagree about numbers, authenticity, and priority, but ultimately what we are seeing is a widespread commitment to the desperate needs of others, despite a personal cost. It is not just looking to the government either, but even broader civil society that is offering support.

I hesitate to even utter the words as they seem so fragile, but are we really in the throes of becoming a less-adversarial, more compassionate, just, and moral nation?

NiCk JeNseN

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and we will have to see how this all plays out to test the proposition. It is easy to say you would offer accommodation, much more difficult to have a Syrian family camping in your lounge room for a year. It is easy to throw stones at leaders and claim you would do a better job, much harder to trust them to be wise with the power you have given them. It is easy click “like” on Facebook, much more painful to click that bank transfer button when it means you will go without. The reason Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan wasn’t simply because this is a nice thing to do. His final exhortation is that this example of mercy is one we should emulate because this is how we ultimately receive life. By looking into the face of those you help you begin to see who God really is.

Nick Jensen is the director of the Lachlan Macquarie Institute, which helps develop leaders in public policy (lmi.org.au)

Models, ahoy!

CANBERRA Model Shipwrights Society is hosting its annual exhibition of more than 100 model ships at Mount Rogers Primary School, Alfred Hill Drive, Melba, 10am-5pm, on Saturday, September 19, and 10am-3.30pm on Sunday, September 20. There will be exhibits by Taskforce 72 (naval ships), ACT Scale Modellers Society and ACT Model Boat Club.

Gardens galore

THE fifth annual “Down the Garden Path” fundraising day for Ainslie School’s productive food garden and school grounds improvement projects will be held at Corroboree Park Heritage Precinct, Ainslie, 11am-3pm, Sunday, September 20. Pre-purchase tickets ($10, children free) from Ainslie School, Donaldson Street, Braddon or from the ticket stall on the day. More information at downthegardenpath.info

What’s

in a name?

IN the social coverage of the Law Society’s annual dinner (CN, September 3) we misspelt vice-president Chris Donohue’s name.

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As the bodies pile up in the morgue

IN the space of 24 hours last week three women and a child died in unrelated domestic violence incidents.

The front page of Fairfax’s Brisbane Times website was filled with unassociated stories of horrible, often fatal, violence with only the news of Apple’s latest gizmo launch sneaking in to leaven the mix.

Domestic violence is becoming a leading cause of death in this country, but for some reason we do very little about it.

Earlier this year Annabel Crabb noted: “If a man got killed by a shark every week we’d probably arrange to have the ocean drained”.

You will no doubt be thrilled to know the ACT government has a plan.

If you were to look at the five key priorities of the ACT Prevention of Violence against Women Strategy you might be less thrilled:

• driving a whole of community and government action plan to prevent violence and create and anti-violence culture;

• understanding diverse experiences of violence;

• supporting innovative services and joined up service systems;

• improving perpetrator interventions so that men are held accountable and supported to change their

Domestic violence is becoming a leading cause of death in this country, but for some reason we do very little about it.

behaviour; and

• continuing to build the evidence base.

All nice things to do, or in some cases just aspire to (a bit like “Vision Zero” for road fatalities or “No Waste 2010” for garbage collection) but as the bodies pile up in the morgue there’s a hideous shortage of useful action there.

It looks to my eye a lot like tokenistic box ticking. A “say you’ve done something and adjourn for tea and biscuits” kind of lethargy to the whole business.

It doesn’t help that domestic violence is diabolically complex.

Victims will actively resist getting help. Even once they’re out of a relationship they will often drift back, in no small part because their self-esteem and social networks have been systematically demolished over years by their co-dependent abusers.

Why do they put up with it? In an excellent examination of the subject titled “5 Myths About Domestic Abuse Everyone Believes” the Cracked website (don’t knock it until you’ve read the article) made a striking observation:

“It’s easy to say you’ll swim for shore when you’re not in the middle of the ocean.”

We can, however, rather than whimsically hoping for “antiviolence culture”, throw some life rafts into the ocean, we might even bestir ourselves to send a rescue helicopter every now and then, too.

I’m talking about a serious investment in emergency accommodation.

Not years-long waiting lists for housing, not token little developments that instantly fill up, not shelters that are good for a few nights (and then head back to the abuser and hope they’ve calmed

down and sobered up).

It doesn’t have to be flash but it does need to have a lock on the door and room for kids and pets.

And we need a lot of it. So much of it that there’s supply sitting free and waiting for when it’s needed at an hour’s notice.

It will cost a bit, more than tea and biscuits and some leaflets.

But there will be some savings.

Police attendance, courts, emergency rooms and coroner’s inquests do not come cheap to our society either.

Or some might think it’s just the right thing to do.

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

Stuff light rail!

I WATCHED an item about the construction of a new building at the University of Technology Sydney on ABC TV tonight. The architect is living legend, Frank Gehry.

If only we had a town council with the foresight to engage such a visionary as Gehry to design a convention centre that would make Canberra. Putting it bluntly, stuff the light rail and more of the boring, boring buildings down Northbourne Avenue. We need a convention centre to bring business to Canberra, possibly more than any other building, to make this city the convention capital of Australia.

It could happen if only our illustrious leaders had the vision and Frank Gehry to design it.

Cedric Bryant, Watson

What about a flyover?

FOR years residents have complained about the traffic on Barton Highway and need for a flyover, yet TAMS keeps ignoring the issue.

Traffic lights will worsen traffic and the Canberra Liberals have correctly and wisely pledged to build a flyover, but Chief Minister Andrew Barr and company have no feelings or understanding of people’s daily commuting issues.

TAMS’ piecemeal and half-baked approach will waste money and not solve anything. Gundaroo Drive duplication should be through to Belconnen (end to end), but TAMS is just not bothered. The biggest joke is Palmerston as there are no exits to get out and no roads built (example Nudurr Drive, which leads to nowhere).

Paul Mcalister, via email

The wobbly Joy of being a minister

SO many listeners to my radio program have called for the sacking of Education Minister Joy Burch over the boy-in-the-cage saga. I think they’re a little hasty.

I don’t think Joy makes a good government minister, but I believe she’s doing her absolute best and she’s probably the government’s best option. There are only 17 members in this current assembly and eight of them are in opposition. With all respect to Joy Burch and others, the talent pool is wafer thin.

Being a government minister requires the same skillset as the CEO of a major corporation and those skills don’t grow on trees.

I played AFL for the North Coffs Kangaroos. I was their number one ruckman, which was laughable because I sucked, big time. But I was the only genuine “tall” they had. I rucked for them because they had no other option. I had no idea how to play in the position when I started, but I kinda grew into it. And that’s the way it works for most government ministers in a small jurisdiction like this one. They are placed in ministerial positions that are way above their ability and most of them grow into the role.

When you win a seat in the Legislative Assembly you’ve actually just won a popularity contest. It’s one step up from “The Voice” or “Survivor”.

Those who become MLAs are obviously well qualified to attend party meetings, knock on strangers’ doors and campaign at shopping centres, but for many that’s where it ends. Being a backbencher in our little tinpot

parliament is about towing the party line, dealing with constituents and parliamentary process. When you’re given a ministry, it’s a whole different ball game. Being a government minister requires the same skillset as the CEO of a major corporation and those skills don’t grow on trees.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr has admitted to me that when he entered the ministry he wasn’t fully across his brief. He just had to bluff his way through until he worked out what he was doing.

Andrew has very loudly supported Minister Burch because he knows she’s his best option, but I’m telling you now, I betcha he’s hangin’ for a 25-seat Assembly if for no other reason than the expanded talent pool.

For Joy, it doesn’t help that at that press conference she looked like a rabbit in a big spotlight. And whose bright idea was it to have her never utter the word “cage”?

For the minister it started off as a “cage-like structure” and eventually became an “inappropriate structure”.

For God’s sake, Joy, it’s a cage!

Mark Parton is the breakfast host on 2CC.

US IN TOWN SQUARE ON THURSDAY 24 SEPTEMBER FOR THE BRINDABELLA MARKETS IN THE PARK, WITH EVERYTHING LOCALLY HANDMADE OR GROWN. FOR MORE INFO VISIT

Naomi’s passion helps dreams

NAOMI Beaumont’s passion for finance and property comes from helping people to achieve their dreams.

With a strong following of loyal clients, Naomi is Canberra’s head property coach, as well as a national finance strategist at Positive Real Estate, a real estate investment agency that helps Australians and New Zealanders build security and wealth through real estate investments.

Ensuring her clients’ finance structure minimises risk, Naomi also helps them to build a portfolio, ultimately helping them to achieve the lifestyle they’ve always wanted.

She says: “At Positive Real Estate we specialise in property investment and we are one of the best at it.

“I love finance and what it creates for people. It can be up and down because you’re dealing with people’s lives, they feel fear and worry about the future. I ask them what they want and in what time frame, we then come up with a strategy that fits.

“Everyone is different and no strategy is the same, some people want to buy the house of their dreams, travel the world or retire comfortably. We build the foundations to get them where they want to be.”

With more than 150 clients in Canberra, Naomi has worked with Positive Real Estate for the past 10 years and uses her extensive knowledge to help them to achieve long-term financial goals.

“It’s not get-rich-quick,” says Naomi.

“I work closely with my clients and care about them very much. My clients usually have a timeframe of five to seven years, so, as a strategist I look at the bigger picture.

“It’s all about understanding how to move forward by looking at what that means to the client and what they are willing to do to get there.”

Investing in property at the age of 23, Naomi has since created multi-million dollar portfolios for her clients using the successful strategies taught in Positive Real Estate’s “Lifetime Mentoring Program” and also works as a national trainer for other investment coaches.

“My role is to guide, nurture, educate and free people financially,” she says. “Finance is something that people don’t know much about or have relied on others to do for them.

“We have built an amazing team of staff at Positive Real Estate who work together to protect the client’s assets and to stop them from making wrong decisions in the future.”

Dealing with a variety of financial issues, Naomi is keen to express the importance of seeking professional guidance when it comes to investing in property.

“There are many different problems we deal with, people buying in the wrong market or a market that is not going to move in the next five years,” says Naomi.

“The money gets stuck when it should be flowing.

“We help people who have no proper loan or tax set-up and who have not been doing good

due diligence.

“Life is continually changing and so are the financial strategies we create. Unexpected circumstance occur, such as divorce, illness and death. When that happens, I work with my clients to move forward, to regroup and go again.

“This industry can be cold and masculine, what I bring is a warmth and softness.”

Positive Real Estate ACT, call 0401 054905 or visit positiverealestate.com.au

Contact Naomi Beaumont on 0404 801222 or email naomi.beaumont@positiverealestate.com.au

PROPERT y INVESTOR NIGHT

POSITIVE Real Estate will be holding a Canberra Property Investor Night on Monday, September 21 at the Quality Hotel in Dickson. Starting at 6.15pm, the free event is a chance for Canberrans to seek professional advice on a variety of financial matters.

Guests are welcome to show up on the night without registering but there is also an option to register online before the event. Naomi says: “This life-changing event will teach you the principles of freeing yourself financially through property so you can live the life that you want.

“You’ll learn how you can pay your home off, increase your cash flow, and retire sooner with more money in the bank.”

Canberra Confidential

David strikes a discordant note

MILD-mannered and much-celebrated Canberra cellist David Pereira is grumpy: “Music may be alive in Canberra, but it is not flourishing.”

In calling for a “proud Musical Capital”, the former “CityNews” Artist of the Year says: “There is not much to be proud of.

“Despite the good and great musical endeavours of so many of us – players, teachers, students, administrators, commentators, governments, entrepreneurs, etcetera – we are not particularly successful.”

He grumbles that low importance is attached to our youth’s strong achievement in music; the role and fair pay for musical professionals; the cultivation of local nationally competitive musical assets and live music’s natural purpose, “to make a culture more compassionate, conscious, holistic, graceful, vigorous, enthusiastic and productive”. He says there is again media attention to the ANU’s “endlessly (mildly, sadly, laughably) embarrassing music school offering”.

“While its political intrigues occasionally serve to distract me from a less-than-ideal cup of coffee, they don’t conceal the school’s peculiar failure adequately to address my four points,” he harrumphs.

Andrew favours Frank

OUR digitally dextrous Chief Minister Andrew Barr, for a pollie oddly indifferent to the charm of AM talkback radio, tweeted that he was “In the studio with my favourite #CBR breakfast host” and to make the point took a snap of “Uncle” Frank Vincent on hits-and-memories 2CA. To ensure the influential and competitive AM talkback announcers Mark Parton (2CC) and Phil Clark (ABC 666) got the message, he tagged them into his tweet. And the point of taunting them is?

Something about Mary

LABOR MLA and three-election Ginninderra veteran Mary Porter has given the strongest indication that she might not stand at next year’s ACT poll. Principal guest on the “CityNews Sunday Roast”, she said she’d be 74 at the next election, her back was causing her pain and she was giving another four years a lot of consideration before the preselection rounds start next month. If Porter joins Simon Corbell in Labor’s retirement ranks, it sends Chief Minister Andrew Barr to the 2016 poll with an increasingly green team.

Labor bus-ter

DONATION-busting Liberal Alistair Coe had a super week exposing the aspiring Capital Metro builder bidder’s cash donations to the Labor Party’s trough. However, before that, he made the party’s most lucid argument against the tram set (beyond we can’t afford a billion coconuts to lay it) by exposing the government’s latest decision to introduce additional direct bus services from Gungahlin suburbs to the city as evidence that passengers want a single journey from their house to their destination (and who doesn’t, with our winters?).

The argument against the tram looks like this: Amaroo to Barton, 259 service: current , (1) bus to Barton; with light rail, (1) bus to Gungahlin, (2) tram to city, (3) bus to Barton.

Left right, left right…

QUEANBEYAN Mayor Tim Overall’s invitation to join the Canberra Business Chamber’s board has given CC the excuse to publish this picture of him as a crew-cut, apple-cheeked ANU graduate in 1969.

His heart may be over the border these days, but teenage Tim was conscripted to the army during the Vietnam War. He was allowed to finish his degree, but there wasn’t any time for post-swot partying.

“After the final-year exams, I was notified to attend the bus stop, which was just near the university,” he told the “ANU Reporter”.

“There was a whole busload of us being farewelled by mothers, fathers and sisters. We all got on the bus and headed off to Wagga Wagga.”

Officer material, he trained infantry platoons that served in Vietnam.

Tunks tells all

IRREPRESSIBLE creative director of Canberra’s terribly chic Bison homewares Brian Tunks is filling his Pialligo showroom with a continuously evolving display of spring flowers and throwing open its Beltana Road doors to a four-Saturday series of public presentations to celebrate his most recent collection of ceramic and glass design, Botanica.

“It will also highlight some of our friends in the local design community who make this city deserving of the title ‘Capital of Cool’,” he says.

The former ancient historian is taking the first Saturday (3pm-3.45pm, September 19) to discuss the relationship between classical pottery methods and the evolution of the collection.

Then, over successive weeks, restaurateur Gus Armstrong will share a recipe or two; floralista Lou Moxom will create simple, elegant arrangements and discuss the rules of proportion and a NewActon mixologist will explain how to perfect the ideal tipple. The events are open to the public.

scene / around canberra

Social event of the week / Latin American Flavours Festival launch

IT was the kind of party you didn’t want to end and as the food, the drinks and the entertainment went on and on, the thought of staying the night became an option. A rather nice one, too.

An honorary Latin American for the night, we were celebrating the launch of the Latin American Flavours Festival in the Hyatt’s subterranean Centenary Ballroom, which was akin to a Buenos Aires nightclub I remember. With 13 embassies contributing to the festival, they were determined to make it a typical Latin Americanstyle evening and succeeded admirably, especially as the guests wandered the room, watched the plate-up performed as part of the “theatre” created for the event, mixed and mingled and tried everything. The Mexican Hibiscus-Lemon Margarita was divine.

Exceptional assistance came from the executive chef to test all recipes and balance the flavours of each country with his culinary

SUNDAY ROAST

Stay in touch with the names making news on Sundays from 10am as 2CC and “CityNews” present Canberra’s only local weekend news and current affairs program.

It’s a revolving panel show that brings to the microphone great “CityNews” commentators and 2CC personalities.

Be part of the conversation and call 6255 1206 between 10am and noon.

At the opening of Queanbeyan Players’ 50th anniversary exhibition, The Q Performing Arts Centre

At the Youth Ambassadors of Taiwan performance, National Gallery of Australia

Behind-the-scenes tours of beautiful gardens and courtyards

An exhibition of stunning gifts presented to the Parliament Spring Tea in one of the picturesque courtyards

Garden-inspired gifts from The Parliament Shop

Bookings: canberraticketing.com.au or ☎ (02) 6275 2700

aph.gov.au/visitparliament

ISLAND

At the 2015 Meninga Medal presentation, AIS Arena

At the Albo Corn Ale Beer Launch, Civic

all about home improvements

The right people who make a big difference

products dedicated to making the task a little easier.

“CUSTOM Flatpack allows you to have a perfectly designed and manufactured kitchen that works with your room layout, at the price of an off-the-shelf kitchen,” says owner Mike Moritz.

“Yes, you can buy flatpack cabinets from the hardware store, but what if they don’t fit your room?” says Mike.

“We can either install for you, or you can put it together and have a kitchen you can be proud that you built yourself.”

Mike says that their exclusive mortise-and-tenon assembly method is fast to assemble, making for an accurate and simple installation process for novices and tradies alike.

“Our flatpack cabinets can be used for your wardrobe, bathroom vanity, garage storage, home office, computer room, bookcases or laundry, the choices are endless,” he says.

Custom Flatpack also supports the use of sustainable and renewable technologies, processes and suppliers across all their products.

Custom Flatpack, 1/11 Shropshire Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6298 1445 or visit customflatpack.com.au

FOR high-vis workwear, safety equipment and boots, Seears Workwear has the lot, says owner/manager Shane Seears.

“We’ve been based in Fyshwick for 12 years in the same spot, and it’s great because it’s the hub of business in Canberra,” he says.

Seears Workwear is family owned and operated, run by Pat Seears and his son Shane.

The 1400 square-metre store sells clothing and safety gear for pretty much every kind of industry and worker, Shane says – from building labourers, chefs, blue- and white-collar workers to hospitals, major companies, and government departments such as Defence.

“We also have a corporate section, where we provide a free measureand-quote and free delivery service,” he says. “We offer a full embroidery and screen-printing service, too.”

Seears keeps a huge range of stock on the premises, and sells online at seearsworkwear.com.au

Seears Workwear, 60 Barrier Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 4111 or visit seearsworkwear.com.au

Cabinet makers with a flair for special care

STEVE Milutinovic started his cabinet-making business in 1983 and, 32 years on, the company has grown into specialising in home renovations, extensions and new homes.

Bordeaux specialises in commercial fitouts and joinery and are also fully licensed builders in NSW and ACT.

“We pride ourselves in achieving the highest standard for our customers in design and workmanship,” Steve 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. Our custom-built, cabinet-making workshop can also build joinery items to suit your needs whether for home or office.

“We also recently received an MBA commendation award for ‘Special Care’ residence as we specialise in housing needs for the aged.”

Bordeaux Construction and Bordeaux Kitchens offer obligation-free quotes.

Bordeaux Construction, 8 Aurora Place, Queanbeyan, call 6299 4642. Visit bordeauxbcm.com.au or facebook.com/BordeauxBCM

• IAG & Baumatic “Studio Solari” appliances available

• Kitchens made to your specifications and colour choice – save money by installing yourself

• Tradesmen available to help

• Wardrobes – from boutique walk-ins to basic built-ins

• SOHO options – built in desks/workstations

• Filing solutions & storage units to keep your home office under control

• Full range of Blum, Grass & Hafele storage accessories and lighting

• Australian made to Australian Standards – not imported or mass produced

Kitchens • Bathrooms • Interiors • Exteriors

… by Bordeaux

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

all about home improvements

Growing interest in landscape design

W ITH a focus on sustainable and inspiring solutions that reflect an understanding of the unique characteristics that each landscape project brings, Amanda Evans, owner of Area Designs, says she loves the process of designing outdoor spaces and landscapes.

Since starting Area Design Consultants in 2006, Amanda has provided commercial landscape architecture, residential design, urban design and horticultural services to Canberra and surrounding southern NSW region.

As an AILA registered landscape architect and qualified horticulturalist whose family owned one of Canberra’s oldest nursery businesses, Amanda is an experienced design teacher and is currently the immediate past president of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.

Amanda has taught design at the University of Canberra and brings experience and passion for plants, design and positive outcomes to every project.

She says: “Along with the design service, the practice also offers a full horticulture consultancy service, which can range from providing a garden health check-up where we can offer advice on soil, site and plant issues to preparing a planting plan for an existing garden upgrade.

Rob’s utes do the job

FOR the past six years, Mitchell Rent a Ute has provided light commercial vehicles to the Canberra region.

After Rob Cunningham started the hire company as a side business with Premier Automotive, he has had a high demand from people wanting to improve their homes.

As a result, Mitchell Rent a Ute are often booked solid by the time Saturday rolls around.

He said: “People use them for building materials, it’s ideal for getting rid of rubbish, moving house or when you’ve demolished something.

“We hire out vehicles for as little as two hours at a time. Every weekend our vans and utes are booked out.”

Mitchell Rent a Ute offers a wide range of vehicles and are available seven days a week (early booking is recommended).

Mitchell Rent a Ute, 5 Winchcombe Court, Mitchell. Call 6242 8500.

“With more than 20 years of experience in the horticulture industry, and over 10 in the design industry, we choose our plants and materials based on the principle that the design aesthetic and desired sustainability outcomes will be defined and enhanced by the careful understanding of site conditions and existing character of the spaces they are to inhabit.”

Area Designs, call 0409 318213 or email amanda@areadesign.net.au

Looking after quilts

THERMA Quilts is a locally owned and family-run business that specialises in making and servicing quilts, eiderdowns, pillows and cushions and anything made from feather and down. Using quality German textiles, the seamstresses at Therma Quilts hand make every item on the premises, offering tailor customisations and providing top-up and recasing services for when quilts and pillows show signs of wear or loss of warmth and fluffiness.

With their unique cleaning process, which involves the feather and down being cleaned separately from the product casing in a specialised steamer and washing machine, the feather and down regain their loft and thermal resistance. Owner, Jennifer Kusa, says: “Our eco-friendly detergents mean that there are no harsh chemical residues on products. Using our cleaning process, we can clean quilts, sleeping bags, down jackets and more when they are in need of rejuvenation or before they are stored after winter.”

Therma Quilts also services silk, polyester, cotton and wool quilt underlays with eco-friendly detergents that have been modified and specifically formulated to clean each of these products individually.

Therma Quilts, 10-12 Kemble Court, Mitchell. Open 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday. Call 6241 6859 or visit thermaquilts.com.au

advertising feature

Windows as you’ve never seen them before

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

Recently moved to a new mega-store on Townsville Street, Fyshwick, Solace Creations joined with Ultimate Windows and offers new displays of uPVC double-glazed windows and doors, as well as aluminium windows and doors.

Announced as Canberra’s Business Woman of the year 2015, owner, Karen Porter says: “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 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.”

The company works with more than six preferred suppliers from Melbourne and all its products are Australian-made and tested.

Solace Creations, 17 Townsville Street, Fyshwick. Call 6260 1621 or visit solacecreations.com.au

Tiles of ‘affordable elegance’

TILEFLAIR has been supplying high-quality tiles to Canberra’s builders, architects, interior designers and home renovators for more than 11 years.

Owner, Peter Bonelli, says: “We pride ourselves on delivering the best customer satisfaction that we can and we’d really like to thank all our customers for their support over the past 11 years.

“We’re a family-owned, local business, and we have a great range of floor and wall tiles, including ceramics, porcelains, stones and glass. We are conscious of the changing trends and work towards suiting the customer’s individual needs.”

Peter has worked in the local industry for more

than 20 years and deals with Canberra’s leading tilers, architects, builders and interior designers.

He says: “The spacious, modern showroom is regularly updated with the latest releases.

“Unlike other tile shops, we are open seven days a week, including Saturdays from 8am to 3pm and Sundays from 10am to 3pm.

“It is a chance for busy, do-it-yourself renovators to find their own little pieces of ‘affordable elegance’.”

Tileflair, 22 Essington Street, Mitchell. Call 6162 3080 or visit tileflair.com.au

Furniture perfect for any home

W ESTLAND Furniture are specialists in custom-made furniture, offering a variety of styles and sizes perfect for any home.

Under new management, the Fyshwick store supplies home furnishing for bedrooms, dining rooms, home offices, living and lounge rooms.

Manager Daniel Gow says: “Using the customer’s measurements, we can custom-make to size and work on a design that suits their style preference.

“We can make TV units, coffee tables, bed suites, wardrobes, wall units, dining suites, study desks and more. We have a range of colours including walnut, maple and Melbourne, as well as a variety of features to attach, including handles and push-open drawers.

“The new Faust home theatre lounge suites are popular, they come in silver, grey or black with two recliners and storage.”

Open seven days a week, Westland Furniture also

offers a range of mattresses, as well as hardwood including chestnut, rosewood, jarrah and pine.

Westland Furniture, 5 Barrier Street, Fyshwick. Call 6228 1542 or 0423 645027. Visit westlandcanberra.com.au or email westlandcanberra@outlook.com

arts & entertainment

Roll up, roll up, there’s more to this circus

COVER STORy

By Helen Musa

ROLL UP, roll up, Circus Oz is coming to town, but this time instead of stars and spangles, it’ll look like they’re in an abandoned theatre.

Costume designer Laurel Frank, along with “senior clown” Tim Coldwell, is one of the last two remaining founding members of Circus Oz – a 37-year labour of love.

She does other work, too, “but I always keep at least one eye out for Circus Oz”.

Frank and the other creatives have had their work cut out with a show that looks back to an earlier tradition of TV vaudeville, while looking forward to newer conventions. Hip-hop artist Candy Bowers plays the crossover role of ring mistress.

Times have changed, with increasing professionalism meaning increasing specialisation. When Frank joined the legendary The Australian Performing Group at Melbourne’s Pram Factory, it was a case of all hands on deck. Luckily, with an electrician father and a dressmaker mother, she brought useful skills and got to help operate lighting and sound, gradually moving into costume design.

“It was a great training ground for skills, although I was never formally trained,” she says.

Frank quickly made herself the Australian expert on circus-costuming and keeps up-to-date, recently travelling the world and confirming that Circus Oz is still “at the forefront of the new circus form”.

New it may be, but some things never change in circus and audiences can expect to see a mix of stunt-jumping acrobatics, juggling, hoop diving, flying trapeze, impersonations and knockabout.

“In circus, costumes have to function with whatever skills are needed,” she explains.

“If acrobats have to climb down a Chinese pole, you need strength in the costumes, but for trapeze artists, you need something light,

tight and flexible… still, I always tried to make the costumes as beautiful as possible.”

This time there’s been an additional demand on her visual sensitivity. The production draws on the tradition of TV shows like Graham Kennedy’s “In Melbourne Tonight”, where high-selling commercial product-placement reigned supreme.

“Not much has changed in TV ads,” Frank says and, in the new show, “But Wait There’s More”, Circus Oz talks about what’s happening now with consumerism, drawing on the lurid colours and grotesque make-up used to register in black and white in early TV.

This time round there’s a new Chinese pole act with an acrobatic dance surrounding it, meaning that the fabrics must be tough for the pole work yet light and graceful for the dance. The conventional steel poles are now covered with Neoprene sheets, so sticky that sometimes the costumes get left behind!

“It may sound like a small thing, but it has occupied a huge number of hours to get the right combination of fabric tightness and elegance.

“I didn’t see that coming,” Frank sighs, “but hey, that’s circus, really.”

Circus Oz, “But Wait There’s More”, Canberra Theatre, September 23-26. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

Ultimate

girls’ night out

“MOTHER, Wife and the Complicated Life” is a new Australian musical set to counter the Hollywood version of marriage and motherhood. Chosen for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, it was written by Amity Dry, familiar from Channel Nine’s hit TV show “The Block”, who also stars in the show that they’re billing “The Ultimate Girls’ Night Out.” At The Q, Queanbeyan, until September 27, bookings to theq.net.au or 6285 6290.

“CANBERRA Botanical” is an adjudicated exhibition of more than 80 artworks running until October 5, daily from 10am to 4pm at the Nishi Gallery in NewActon. All are welcome to opening night, Friday September 18 from 6pm-8pm, when a silent auction will be held. The works are for sale.

CANBERRA bassoonist David Whitbread’s second solo bassoon recital will help “Save the Bassoon”, an international campaign that started at the Holland Festival this year. With backing music from rock bands, jazz combos, solo pianists and guitarists, swing bands and full orchestras, it will be

“exhausting but rewarding”, Whitbread predicts. At Wesley Music Centre, 2pm, on Sunday, September 20. Entry by note donation from 1.30pm. All proceeds to StreetSwags.org

AMBER Lawrence, country music’s Golden Guitar Female Artist of the Year, heads up the “Girls of Country” tour coming to the Canberra Southern Cross Club on Thursday, September 24. Lawrence will be joined by fellow country songstresses Aleyce Simmonds and Lyn Bowtell, in a two-hour show featuring their individual hits and some trios. Bookings to ticketek.com.au

TOBY Cole and the Canberra Choral Society are staging “Come and Sing Messiah” in Llewellyn Hall on December 12, but applications to join in close on October 12 and rehearsals start on November 2. “Wonderful” and “thrilling” are some other words the society is using of the experience. Visit trybooking.com/150139

THE 16th Italian Film Festival has 32 titles this year, opening with the smash comedy “God Willing” (Se Dio Vuole), starring Alessandro Gassmann, Marco Giallini and Laura Morante and closing with a new restoration of the Bernardo Bertolucci’s “The Conformist” (Il Conformista). At Palace Cinemas in NewActon until October 11, Bookings to palacecinemas.com.au heLeN

Musa

When volunteers take to the spotlight

By Helen Musa

WHEN watching a thriller in the theatre, with goodies, baddies and a dose of psychotic menace, you never expect to get caught up in it… unless you’re one of the six volunteer actors in “The Confidence Man”.

The show’s script is only the tip of the iceberg and the characterisation is created by the volunteer actors who don masks and take to the stage where they are guided through their parts via headphones as the plot thickens.

It is the work of theatre and film artist Zoe Pepper and is produced by the Perth company Side Pony Productions, which was set up in 2005 as a vehicle for Pepper’s work. “The Confidence Man” is coming to The Street Theatre later this month for eight, 45-minute performances.

Adriane Daff, as well as having co-written “The Confidence Man” with Pepper a couple years ago, “voices” one of the characters. The words and voices are set, but the actions are in the hands of the volunteer performers.

“We have a character Peter, a family man married with a daughter, who feels like he hasn’t achieved

much, but then everything gets turned on its head when he is visited by Sam, a rich, successful friend from his old school days who releases the cat among the pigeons,” she says.

The thriller-mystery has been billed as “Lantana meets Pulp Fiction”. The dialogue was recorded, the show was packed on to a truck and then, with just a couple of people to operate it, driven around Australia and unpacked into a “house within walls” built in the theatre.

Daff voices the character of Peter’s daughter Anita, but she won’t be travelling here, her job being done. She and the other creatives are well aware that many audience members dread being drawn into interactive theatre and is quick to assure “CityNews” that nobody is required to make up any original dialogue.

“Wearing a big mask of your character, you’ll get to remain nice

and anonymous,” she says.

So while the plot takes the same turn every night, the detail does not.

“The fun and joy of the piece comes from seeing how people interpret the guidelines laid down for them,” says Daff.

“You may be told to sit down at the table and put your head down and shake your shoulders, because you’re about to cry. Different people will do that differently. Some people bring something thoughtful into the role and some people bring something more sinister.”

The on-stage participants only get to listen to their own character, but the 50 or so audience members sitting out the front, each armed with a smartphone, can tune in as voyeurs. Pepper will be here with a technical assistant to set it all up. “We have a joke that working the show is like setting up rides in a theme park,” Daff says. Canberra audiences are about to be taken for that ride.

“The Confidence Man”, The Street Theatre, September 20-23, (post-show Q&A following 1pm performance on September 22). Bookings to thestreet. org.au or 6247 1223.

arts & entertainment / cinema

“Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” (PG)

THE plot of this sequel to last year’s futurist action fantasy based on a novel by James Dashner tries to answer the questions that its predecessor left hanging.

After surviving the Maze last year, the heroes get taken into durance vile that smiling villain Jansen (Aidan Gillen) manages for WCKD, which has divided humanity into those it wants to save and those it deems not worth saving. In time, chief scientist Paige (Patricia Clarkson) selects seven for their value as guinea pigs in trials for the cure of a malady that would wipe humanity out.

Here is the film’s only element of moral value.

Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) leads six other young men, picking up girlfriend Teresa (Kaya Scodelario) as they go, in a breakout involving much running, jumping and related violence.

Outside the facility, they find themselves in a devastated urban landscape. So they set off on foot across a desert toward the mountain range where they expect, even hope, to find a resistance group that has survived destruction.

Summing up, Wes Ball’s film is mediocre, boring crap offering spectacular visuals to distract attention from its otherwise chokingly-formulaic dramatic void. There’s scant development of either character or plot. It’s a drawn-out pursuit saga using resources that any apocalypse worth its salt would render inaccessible. Petroleum, for example.

God bless America. Without gas-guzzlers and guns, where would Hollywood’s vision of its future be? “The Scorch Trials” portends a further sequel.

At all cinemas

“Pixels” (PG)

IN 1982, schoolboy Brenner (Adam Sandler) was runner-up to Eddie (Peter Dinklage) in the world Pac Man championships. Today, a whole generation plays far more complex games on their mobile phones. Some call this progress. Leap forward to now time. Brenner installs

TV systems. Today he is working in the apartment occupied by divorcee Violet (Michelle Monaghan). There’s no way she’s going to show interest in a mere tradesman.

The US military base on Guam detects an unidentified threat coming from outer space. Military panjandrums led by Admiral Porter prepare to shoot it down. At school, President Cooper (Kevin James) and Brenner were buddies. When the invader is identified as a race of Pac Men created by computer-

game emissions three decades ago, who’s Cooper going to call? Why, his old buddy and Pac Man wizard Brenner and their mutual pal Ludlow (Josh Gad).

And when those two walk into the White House Situation Room, whom should they see but Violet. Wearing a colonel’s badges on her jacket.

The invading Pac Men are giant orange spheres that can be defeated only by obeying the rules of the computer game. Violet realises that beneath his humble exterior, Brenner conceals a nice-guy patriot with a good brain.

“Pixels” follows a predictable formula with gentle comedy values satirising American political, social, intellectual and military institutions. Who could ask for more?

At Hoyts, Capitol 6, Limelight “Life” (MA)

WHILE “Life” magazine isn’t the principal theme of Dutch filmmaker Anton Corbijn’s fourth feature, it provides a thread underlying a story about a Hollywood star that shone brightly in only three feature films in 1953.

James Dean’s influence on cinema grew out of the public’s need for someone to stand up for the disenfranchised young of the era, and the air of androgyny that he projected onscreen.

Luke Davies has written a screenplay for Corbijn that examines the friendship between Dean (Dane DeHaan) and freelance photographer Dennis Stock (Robert Pattinson) and the influence that Stock’s pictures, first published in a four-page spread toward the back of an issue of “Life”, had on Dean’s career.

Corbijn’s films challenge the filmgoer’s responses. The film flows at an unhurried pace through the period between the release of “East of Eden” and “Rebel Without A Cause”. Not a Hollywood exposé of how the studio system used to work (Ben Kingsley plays a ruthless Jack Warner), it concentrates on Stock’s ambitions and friendship between the two young men.

Much of the film takes place on the Dean family farm in Indiana, where Stock shot the candids that his agent John Morris (Joel Egerton) eventually sold to “Life” magazine. Many of those original shots background the final credits. But those that most delighted me were shots on the farm in winter. They’re truly splendid, shot for the film in colour but a reminder of the artistic power of still black and white photography.

At Palace Electric

arts & entertainment / dining

A diplomatic taste of Paraguay

WHEN you ask Esteban Bedoya what his favourite Aussie food is, he says good, old, meat pie, preferably lamb. yup, a meat pie.

He is the Paraguayan embassy’s chargé d’affaires. He admits he’s not a gastronomy expert but says his tastebuds dance when exploring foods from around the world.

Paraguayans and Australians love to socialise over food. The cuisines of both countries embrace many cultural influences. Both, for example, adore the notion of an asado (barbecue).

Born in Asunción, Esteban has a Masters in International Relations and is a published author with several literary awards. His diplomatic activity has connected him with many parts of the world.

“Gastronomy shows the cultural roots of a country,” he says.

“It enables a nation to gain recognition for its unique qualities.”

This is why he’s excited that Paraguay is part of the Hyatt’s first Latin America Flavours Festival.

Thirteen embassies have worked with executive chef Nitin Kumar on the festival, spending months researching, planning and designing menus. Diners will embark on an aromatic journey starting with Cuba and travelling through to Mexico. Paraguay’s special buffet is September 19.

As with Australia, Paraguay’s modern food combines unique origins with international influences.

“Paraguayan cuisine has much in common with the rest of Latin America, but our history led us to develop our own gastronomy,” says

WIN TICKETS

TO the Russian National Ballet Theatre’s performance of “Swan Lake” and “Sleeping Beauty” at The Q, Thursday, October 29. Waiting to be won at…

Esteban.

“The basic diet of the Indigenous Guaraníes consisted of wild game, wild freshwater fish and grains from their crops. They had 11 cooking methods.

“Mestizo food emerged in the 16th century – a fusion of Guaraní cuisine and that of Spanish colonisers, heavily influenced by the Arab culture. In the 19th century, waves of European migrants introduced cassava, maize, new recipes and new cooking methods.”

Today, Paraguay’s restaurants are innovative including local tropical fruits, the native Stevia – the sweetest of all sweeteners – and Yerba Mate, from the South American rainforest holly tree.

Esteban’s favourite dishes are of indigenous origin.

“I love Mbejú, a cassava starch

flat bread, for its simplicity and flavour,” he says.

“It’s eaten alone or with Yerba Mate brew for breakfast or soup at lunch.”

On the festival’s Paraguayan evening, executive chef Kumar will serve six to eight dishes, including Asado A La Olla (slow-cooked beef short ribs), possibly accompanied by a hearty cornbread (Sopa Paraguaya) or a cornbread cake (Chipá Guazú). The Paraguayan Embassy doesn’t have an official chef, but brought in a home cook from Sydney to work with the Hyatt. What other Aussie cuisine does Esteban love? The best kangaroo he’s eaten was in Uluru. And, do we need to say it? He adores prawns.

Latin American Flavours Festival, Hyatt Canberra, until September 22. Buffet style, $69 a head.

Paraguayan chargé d’affaires Esteban Bedoya… “Gastronomy shows the cultural roots of a country.”

Curtin Cat Care is a small family operated cattery, offering unique and specialised feline accommodation. Our over arching philosophy is that all living beings deserve to be treated with respect and sensitivity. We believe that cats are intelligent, beguiling, captivating, impish and lovable.

“The smallest feline is a masterpiece.” Leonardo da Vinci

Curtin Cat Care offers:

• Luxurious fully furnished and temperature controlled units to all its guests

• A high quality(Science Diet) menu along with daily playtime in our outdoor enclosures

• Over 15 years of experience

• Individual love and care to all our guests

Curtin Cat Care also provides specialty long-term accommodation at the ARCADIA VILLA, located in Mongarlowe, NSW.

Where the best for pets comes first

BE it a fluffy kitten, a loyal dog or a talkative parrot, for many people, pets can seem like family members. And while we always want the best for our loved ones, why not our furry, feathered or scaly friends?

Here are some great services from people who really care for pets.

Cuddles and care for feline friends

CURTIN Cat Care was established in 2001 to provide something unique for people wanting a safe, warm and loving environment for their special feline friend.

Directed by the Montagne family, Alice and daughters Jess and Dindi, Curtin Cat Care goes above and beyond to ensure the customer’s assurance and peace of mind that their furry family friend is happy and well looked after.

Jess says: “Outside daily play, along with a nutritional diet and copious amounts of cuddles will mean your cat goes home happy, healthy and relaxed.”

In 2010, Curtin Cat Care built the Arcadia Villa, specifically designed for long-term feline accommodation.

Arcadia offers an opportunity for cat parents wanting specialised boarding for their cat. Guests staying at the Arcadia Villa have individual rooms and 24-hour access to their own secure courtyard, with all rooms offering extensive views of the picturesque countryside.

“So whether your cat is looking for short-term,

Award-winning vet hospital

GUNGAHLIN Veterinary Hospital has been serving the pets of Gungahlin since 1995.

“We started with one vet and one nurse and rented space two hours per week, but we’ve grown with Gungahlin and now 11 small-animal vets, more than 20 nurses and ancillary staff work at our purpose-built hospital,” says practice owner Dr Michael Hayward.

“The hospital is accredited at the highest national level and we have won an award for customer service, too.

“We aim to provide compassionate veterinary care backed by the best equipment and up-to-date science.

“Your pet’s welfare is our first concern and we believe that preventative physical and behavioural medicine will keep your pet happier and healthier for longer.”

Gungahlin Veterinary Hospital, 21 Crinigan Circle, Gungahlin. Call 6242 7276 or visit gungahlinvet.com.au

weekend accommodation or a well-deserved break in the country, Curtin Cat Care will ensure they have a home away from home and a holiday to remember,” says Jess.

Curtin Cat Care, 1 Peacock Place, Curtin. Call 6282 1490 or visit curtincatcare.com

Curtin vet celebrates first anniversary

CURTIN Veterinary Clinic will host an open day to celebrate its first anniversary on October 4.

Visitors will have the chance to meet ARF (ACT Rescue and Foster) dogs and ACT rescue cats that are available for adoption, as well as tour the clinic, meet the rangers and the local dog clubs and trainers.

“The event will be held from 11am to 1pm and will have lots going on!” says owner Dr Jana Stevenson.

“Anyone can come along, we will be fundraising for ARF and ACT rescue with a sausage sizzle, cake stall, face painting and raffles.

“All the dogs and cats available for adoption are desexed and fully vaccinated as well as assessed behaviorally. When someone takes an interest, we assess the people, too, to see if they will suit the animal.”

Curtin Vet Clinic provides full veterinary and surgical care and, in addition to the free walking club, a puppy pre-school for dogs from eight-14 weeks.

Home-away-from-home for pets

“PETS have become very important in people’s lives and we like to create a home-away-from-home for them,” says Canberra Pet Care’s Jenny Greentree.

A family-owned business for 25 years, Canberra Pet Care offers an exclusive concept in animal care through pet-boarding services. The centre provides a selection of temporary boarding ranging from a pet motel with comfortable beds to luxury suites with TVs and airconditioning, as well as the option

for daily activities such as bush walks, “play time” and “cuddle time”.

“We focus on creating a comfortable and caring atmosphere that the pet and owner is happy with, we believe that the relationship with the client is just as important as with the pet,” Jenny says.

With free pick up and delivery available, all pet accommodation at the centre has monitored alarm security, fire and smoke detection, as well as veterinary services if required.

Canberra Pet Care, 143 Wickerslack Lane, Queanbeyan. Call 6298 1555 or visit canberrapetcare.com.au, enquiries to info@canberrapetcare. com.au

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• Pet supplies including Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet foods

• Arthritis management – is your pet getting stiff, lame or sore?

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gardening

The mighty power of mulching

MULCHING

As the days warm and evaporation increases, it is time to mulch.

Canberra’s average annual rainfall is 620mm, but the annual evaporation rate is a staggering 1800mm!

Without mulching the soil dries out at an incredible rate.

With no mulching, shallowrooted plants such as azaleas and rhododendrons simply cook.

While any mulch is better than no mulch, not all mulches are equal. Some of the traditional ones, such as pine bark (or tan bark) take forever to break down and are of no benefit to the soil at all. Likewise pine chips, which now come in designer colours of rich red or charcoal. Fine eucalyptus chips are great for only one use in the garden and that’s making paths. It packs so tightly it prevents water reaching the plant’s roots. It stops almost all weed growth.

Mulching keeps the ground moist and at a lower temperature and reduces run-off. In turn, by reducing the frequency of watering mulching reduces weed growth.

Keep in mind that with drip systems the lines are always placed on top of the soil and under the mulch. If the mulch has been down for a couple of seasons, I recommend lifting all drip lines above the existing mulch before applying a new layer. If nothing else, it provides a good examination of the system to check joints or pin holes in the lines. If mulch

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As an example in nature, I took this photo in the NT. Man has had nothing to do with these trees and yet, to retain moisture, they regularly shed leaves to the drip zone, which means that when it does rain moisture is retained for longer periods. We can learn a great deal from nature.

become compacted, it’s a good idea to give it a light hoeing to allow rain to penetrate more easily.

MULCH material should be a combination of coarse and fine material to allow good water penetration when it rains. If it is too fine, the mulch becomes hydrophobic and repels water rather than allowing it to reach to the plant roots.

To reduce weed growth, ideally it needs to be at least 75mm thick and, at the same time, kept back from the stems of trees and shrubs to prevent collar rot. Always thoroughly wet the soil before applying mulch. The mulch will break down naturally and from worm activity. Worms are the perfect indicator of a healthy soil.

Finally, the mulch must be economically viable. For a small courtyard garden lucerne, pea

straw or sugar cane mulch is ideal. However, on most blocks the cost would be prohibitive.

In all my landscaping projects, I

recommend Canberra Sand and Gravel’s Organic Mulch. It comprises organic waste put through a large commercial shredder, then composted for a period before passing through the shredder a second time. The resultant charcoal colour suits all plants and provides a natural appearance, particularly in bush gardens.

Jottings…

• Finish planting summerflowering bulbs.

• Prune winter-flowering Camellia sasanqua and a spring feed to encourage next year’s buds.

• If the worst of the frosts are over, citrus can be planted out in a sunny position. It is vitally important to plant into welldrained soil. Water in at planting with Maxicrop Seaweed Plant Nutrient.

• Plant globe artichoke suckers, Jerusalem artichokes tubers, asparagus crowns, lettuce, onions and English spinach seedlings now.

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Are you stuck in a rut? The stars encourage you to stretch beyond your usual boundaries. Adventure awaits! But if you make rash assumptions about people or situations – then you could end up in hot water. Try to burn off excess energy through sporting activities or outdoor endeavours. Expect the sparks to fly on the weekend, as the Lunar Eclipse fires up relationships. Slow down Rams, otherwise you’re likely to over-react and do or say something that you later regret!

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

It’s time to write, paint, play music or do other activities that draw on the richness of your imaginative world within. Attached Bulls – make sure you jazz up the relationship with some spontaneous romantic gestures. Singles – you could find love via an unexpected introduction from a family member. Be emotionally honest with yourself on the weekend. Feeling guilty about something you did in the past won’t help the current situation. Let bygones be bygones and move on.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Pluto and Mercury retrograde stymie your style, as a project stalls and you may feel as if you’re going nowhere. Don’t give up Gemini! The stars are testing your stamina and persistence, so pick yourself up, take baby steps, and keep on keeping on. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” Venus encourages you to contribute more of your time and talents to a worthy cause within your local community.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Cancers can be overly cautious. When it comes to a sudden opportunity, don’t sit on it for too long. A snap decision could turn out surprisingly well! Attached Crabs – it’s time to buy a special gift for your partner. Singles – love and money are linked, so look for a potential partner who is involved in the financial industry, or is marvelous at managing their own money. The Lunar Eclipse activates your work and home zones, so expect professional and/or personal dramas on the weekend.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Expect some intense encounters with others and for some single Cats – love and travel are linked in unexpected ways. But it’s not a good week to make witty wisecracks or pass on gratuitous gossip, as friends, family and colleagues will be easily offended. So strive to be extra discreet. If you are too hasty on the weekend, then you could find yourself headed for an argument or even an accident. Pace yourself, and take particular care when walking and driving – no distractions!

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

With Jupiter visiting Virgo (and Mars charging into your sign from Friday until November 12) it’s time to seize the day and get on your way! It’s true that proceedings will be slowed down by Mercury being retrograde (until October 9) but that’s no excuse to put things off indefinitely. Just make sure you allow plenty of extra time, as projects will be slowed down or even delayed. With a back-up plan and plenty of persistence, you can still achieve great things.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

It’s a good week to revise paperwork, revisit old research and tie up loose ends – but avoid starting any new projects until after October 9. Sunday night’s Lunar Eclipse (in Aries) urges you to get the balance right between being assertive and being cooperative. Unresolved problems from the past could also come back to test you. Don’t dither Libra! Make a commitment to resolve these issues once and for all. Love-at-first-sight is likely for some lucky single Librans.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

Resist the urge to obsess over situations and take yourself way too seriously this week Scorpio. Other people may criticise your plans or reject your ideas but try not to take it personally. They have their own problems to deal with so stop brooding and get over it. Inner compulsions and hidden obsessions are likely to go into overdrive on the weekend, as the Super Moon Lunar Eclipse stimulates your unconscious mind. So pace yourself and strive to keep things in perspective.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Are you interested in growing, learning and becoming a better and more mature person? With Saturn moving through your sign for the next two years, it’s the perfect time to eradicate bad habits and re-structure your persona into the updated version you’d prefer. It will take time, energy and discipline, but is well worth the effort. Be inspired by singer/songwriter/poet Leonard Cohen (born on September 21): “Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.”

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

This week your talent for criticism (constructive and otherwise) is highlighted, as you critique the efforts of those around you. Or a loved one or work colleague may criticise YOUR performance. They mean well so try not to be offended. Be prepared for some domestic dramas and family fiascos on the weekend, as Sunday night’s Lunar Eclipse stimulates your home zone. Your motto for the week? Maintain your Capricorn equilibrium, keep calm and carry on!

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

With Venus and Mars visiting your relationship zone, it will be easier to sort out problems now than at other times. Articulate your expectations, and make sure you understand what others expect from you. Uranus also gives relationships a dash of drama and a sprinkle of spontaneity. Attached Aquarians – has your partnership lost its pizazz? Do something spontaneous with your lover that gets the romantic sparks flying again. Singles – be adventurous and cast your net wide.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Mars moves into your love zone on Friday, so being passive aggressive (your specialty) is out, and being proactive is in. But money matters could come to a head later in the week. When it comes to shopping, avoid making expensive impulse purchases that you later regret. Up until October 9, think twice (or thrice) before you buy! If you have financial worries, talk things through with an accountant or money-savvy friend. Perhaps they can point you in the right direction?

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2015 Daily astrology updates at twitter.com/JoMadelineMoore

3 Name the animal emblem of NSW.

7 What is another term for a panacea?

8 What is a particular type of steamed coffee?

9 Name a largely arboreal, herbivorous Australian marsupial.

10 Which medicine is drawn into the lungs?

11 What is a motorless aeroplane?

14 To have in mind, is to do what?

17 What do we call those persons who have given up work?

18 To guarantee against risk of loss or harm, is to do what?

19 To which class of compound does quinine belong?

20 To join the army, is to do what?

21 What do we call one who devises fashions for decorative patterns and the like?

Down

1 What is an intoxicating, colourless, inflammable liquid?

2 To have lived, is to have done what?

3 Which NSW position did Neville Wran hold from 1976 to 1986?

4 Which term is descriptive of the natural features of land?

5 What is an indefinite portion of a writing, speech, or the like?

6 To be sullied, or blemished, is to be what?

11 What is a wreath of flowers also known as?

12 Which term describes numbers of people admitted at a given time?

13 Which piece of soft material is used to reduce noise?

14 Which type of trading is illegal in some countries?

15 Name a particular prickly plant.

16 That which is the closest is said to be what?

HEALTHY LIVING Kirra Rankin with

How do you disconnect to reconnect?

Do you have your phone on you 24 hours a day 7 days a week?

Do you check your emails every 5 minutes?

Do you check your phone as soon as you get up?

We are living in a fast paced world, and sometimes we forget to “disconnect”. It’s fatiguing for our brain to constantly be on alert - the brain needs a rest too.

How do you switch off?

Sometimes, we need to “disconnect to reconnect”. I’m not suggesting to run off to the mountains, and never look at your computer again. I am suggesting to turn off your phone every now and then. Go for a walk and listen to the birds (a daily 1 hour walk can cut your risk of obesity in half), dig in the garden or listen to people instead of thinking about the recent text message.

Try these simple tricks:

1. Have a TV free evening once/twice a week.

2. Set a specific time to check your emails. Eg: 9-11am and 3-5pm.

3. Keep your phone in the lounge room when you sleep. If you need it for an alarm...buy an alarm clock.

4. Walk regularly without your phone. Logging 3500 steps a day lowers your risk of diabetes by 29%.

5. Leave social media to set times, and log out on weekends. Live YOUR life - don’t read what others are showing off.

6. Try yoga, pilates, tai chi or hydrotherapy 2-3 times a week… to help balance your mind with your body. How do you disconnect to reconnect?