151119 citynews

Time to wake the world’s politicians

MICHAEL MOORE

Idiot’s guide to a Twitter lynching

JOHN GRIFFITHS

Tall sporting tales, depressingly true

TIM GAVEL

M MYSTERY of istress

‘Conjuress’ Jinger Leigh talks to arts editor HELEN MUSA

Well written, well read

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Hats off to ‘Fireworks’

MILLINER Cynthia JonesBryson admits that she is still in shock after winning the coveted Crown Oaks Day Millinery Award at Flemington.

The award-winning headpiece entitled “Fireworks” features intricate feather work shaped into three spheres. Thousands of gold beads were stuck to the tip of each part of the feather to give a sparkling effect.

“I was inspired by this year’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display in Sydney,” she says.

“I thought as I watched the fireworks: ‘That would make a great hat!’ From there, I started sketching then spent 100 hours creating it. Because it is made from feathers is it soft and not heavy to wear.”

The country’s top milliners are invited to enter the annual competition. Following a catwalk presentation of the hats, a panel of judges awarded the top 10 hats and invited the milliners to accompany their models to the stage. Cynthia’s entry was modelled by Alice Anderson.

“They announced the third, second and then the first prize. I couldn’t believe it when they called my name!” says Cynthia.

“One of the judges was the esteemed UK milliner, Stephen Jones. It was an absolute thrill to have him see my work.”

A CIT fashion design graduate, Cynthia says that her interest in millinery started 15 years ago when she lived in London and worked for a theatrical milliner.

Stokes to chair AWM

BUSINESSMAN Kerry Stokes has been appointed as chairman of the Australian War Memorial Council. He succeeds Rear-Admiral Ken Doolan. Mr Stokes has been a council member since 2007.

“We will ensure those men and women who served this country and continue to serve will never be forgotten,” Mr Stokes said.

“The values they represent are called Australian values. In so many ways those who serve define us.”

Free concert for seniors

“SUMMER Holiday” is the theme for the Rotary Club of Canberra’s annual free concert and afternoon tea for ACT seniors at Albert Hall, 2pm, on Sunday, November 29. Anyone wanting to attend should register with the Council on the Ageing, call 6282 3777, by Wednesday, November 25, for catering purposes and to indicate whether they require help with transport.

New discounts for card

THE new ACT Seniors Card Discount Directory, offering discounts up to 50 per cent on food and drink, travel, computing services, entertainment and more, is now available from any shopfront or library within the ACT. To qualify for an ACT Seniors Card, an applicant must be a permanent resident, aged 60 or over and work no more than 20 hours a week in paid employment. The directory will be available soon or via link on cotaact.org.au. More information from 6282 3777.

Christmas lunch

Dame Quentin Bryce was a client during her time as Governor-General.

Cynthia’s prize includes flights to London, and she

On her return to Canberra, she started her own business, which she now runs out of her studio in Jerrabomberra.

hopes to tie it in with a trip to Ascot or the Dubai races, as well as a workshop in Ireland.

Cynthia also plans to create a few “mini versions” of her stand-out “Fireworks” design.

WESTON Creek VIEW Club is welcoming visitors and guests to its Christmas celebration lunch at the Southern Cross Club, Woden, on Tuesday, December 1. The theme is “Glamour” and there will be a trading table and prizes. The fun starts at 11.30am, the cost is $26. Acceptances to 6281 3110 by Friday, November 27.

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Responsibility for election comment is taken by Ian Meikle, Level 1, 143 London Circuit, Canberra.

People like us, killed for just being out

By comparison with the horrors of Paris, the week’s benign, half-million-dollar Royal visit seems but a faint memory of no moment.

THE global revulsion of the Paris terrorist atrocities seemed, in a heartbeat, to eclipse the issues of the preceding week as the disgusting reality of the unspeakable horror of scores of innocent people, people like us, being capriciously killed, at a concert and restaurants, sunk in.

As France slammed its borders closed in a state of emergency and imposed curfews — the nation’s first since the 1940s – French President Francois Hollande promised the perpetrators no mercy. Amid the all-toofamiliar chorus of world leaders’ dismay and support, from Berlin, PM Malcolm Turnbull condemned the terrorist attacks as an assault on all humanity and declared Australia’s solidarity with the French people.

BY comparison, the week’s benign, half-million-dollar Royal visit seems but a faint memory of no moment. It rained and

rained as HRHs Charles and Camilla spent the day doing the ceremonial Remembrance Day rounds in republican, soggy Canberra.

A loyal gaggle of about 150 monarchists stoically withstood the rain to experience a moment with the royal couple at the AWM. The duchess accepted bouquets from kids then legged it back to the dry, black Beemer. To his credit, the prince lingered a little longer.

Mind you, he needs the love after a perfectly timed, ratbag poll from the Australian Republican Movement told the prospective King Charles that 51 per cent of his antipodean subjects would prefer an Australian head of state when he succeeds his dear, old mum.

“construction site” for eight or nine months, says CEO Malcolm Snow. Nor is he happy about the two or three mature trees dying each year as a result of heavy vehicle damage.

CHIEF Minister Andrew Barr isn’t giving up on Commonwealth Park as the Floriade venue, despite the prospect of next year being the last there.

The National Capital Authority doesn’t like its postcard public park being treated as a

IAN MEIKLE

The NCA wants a smaller area locked up long term for direct plantings, with more mobile planter boxes.

But Andrew says negotiations were continuing to find a “viable footprint” in Commonwealth Park beyond 2016, admitting there was “no easy alternate site”.

“None provide the totality of experience and proximity, transport, accessibility and the like that Commonwealth Park does, so it has been pleasing to hear a reassurance from the National Capital Authority that it is not

their intention to boot Floriade out of Commonwealth Park,” he says.

DISTINGUISHED backbencher Tony Abbott cycled back into the headlines when a female Canberra driver took honking umbrage at the early morning peloton he was part of was in her way. The former PM promptly called for the assistance of a nearby AFP (protection?) officer who, it appears, gave her a good talking to.

AND Abbott’s former deputy, the current Liberal Deputy Leader Julie Bishop, ended the Parliamentary week trying to convince us that there was nothing unusual about her chief of staff attending a September meeting in Queanbeyan of Turnbull plotters on the eve of the leadership spill. Murray Hansen was there on a reconnaissance mission and not working to oust Abbott, she says as Liberal Senator Eric Abetz suggested accounts of her actions in the lead-up to the spill may not have been entirely accurate.

AND in the week Canberra is named the nation’s most dog-friendly city, the foster owner of three dogs cruelly poisoned by a suspected baiting in Kambah, in which two of them died miserable deaths, gave us the quote of the week: “I hope the cops find that scumbag”. And likewise, the gendarmes.

Regular columnist Robert Macklin is on leave

The Silk Road Gallery

politics / climate change

Why we need to wake the world’s politicians

PEOPLE power has challenged governments, brought down dictatorships, stopped wars and changed governments.

People power is now needed to awaken governments globally and get real action on what Kevin Rudd once described as the “greatest moral, economic and social challenge of our times”.

Ordinary people in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne will have the chance to demand more from governments on the last weekend in November. These will be among the first cities in the world to set the stage for an international weekend of community action leading to the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, the 21st meeting of the UN Conference of the Parties.

Our former prime minister was unable to meet the challenge of action on climate change. The attempts of his successors have been, at best, limited. It is time for community action!

Lining up across the world to march for action are doctors and other health workers, farmers, firefighters, emergency services volunteers, police and defence forces, people on the frontline of dealing with the impact of climate change.

They won’t be on their own. Churches, cultural groups and other NGOs will march along with older people and youth. Anyone who understands that the Paris meeting provides a catalyst for international action on climate change ought to join the march.

Australia and NZ will set the standard. The more people who march, the more decision makers around the world will feel the pressure to take real action.

Canberra has a real claim for leadership. We are one of the few jurisdictions that has shown genuine leadership on this issue.

“On the eve of the Paris talks, people from all walks of life across the Canberra region want to demonstrate that national leaders are out of step with the community,” says Phoebe Howe, spokesperson for the Conservation Council.

“Canberra is a leader in climate action, from community projects to reduce emissions to the ACT Government’s climate policies. If the world was

The more people who march, the more decision makers around the world will feel the pressure to take real action.

matching our climate action we’d be on track to halt climate change.”

The march from Parliament House to Reconciliation Place from midday on Sunday, November 29, will be followed by a community festival.

The need for an international show of action comes on top of a report released recently by the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) that examined action being taken by countries across the world.

The health impacts of climate change are one of the most significant public health risks facing the global community.

The survey found developed and developing nations lacked comprehensive national climate change action plans and policies. However, developing nations appear to be less prepared, with 70 per cent of respondent countries reporting that either their national climate policies did not address health or there was no national climate action plan.

Of those respondent countries with National Climate Change Action Plans, less than 30 per cent included analysis of projected climate change for their country, the majority (71 per cent) did not include comprehensive assessment of health impacts, and around 60 per cent had done little towards identifying vulnerable populations and infrastructure, developing public health adaptation responses, assessing coping capacity or gaps in knowledge.

Apart from the drive to reduce carbon emissions to slow climate change, action is needed to reduce the likely impacts that are the result of limited international action to date. When our leaders are slow to act, it is simply up to us.

More information at peoplesclimate.org.au/canberra

Michael Moore was an independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly (1989 to 2001) and was minister for health. He is the vice-president and president-elect of the World Federation of Public Health Associations.

property The CBD heads for the sea

By Catherine Carter

WHILE it would be foolish to slavishly imitate ideas from other cities, we can certainly look elsewhere for inspiration.

For instance, Newcastle is kicking a lot of goals as it works to reposition the Steel City as a world-class, harbour-front destination.

One of its biggest challenges –one we well understand in Canberra – is to reconnect the city centre with its waterfront.

The previously industrial waterfront is separated from the CBD by a rail line, in much the same way Parkes Way is a barrier between Civic and the lake.

In a transformation that will

establish a new city edge, a procession of public plazas will take pedestrians from the heart of Newcastle’s city through to the harbour. Active recreation and leisure spaces – from a skate plaza to a water maze, splash pad to urban installations – will attract the young and young-at-heart.

Conversations are well underway to establish a new National Indigenous Cultural Institute with the ambition to house the largest collection of indigenous Australian art and artefacts anywhere in the world.

While a survey of Canberra residents this year found a new national attraction in the city centre is not needed, there is a strong appetite for

a new national convention centre. Another excellent project being driven by Renew Newcastle is finding homes for artists, cultural projects and community groups in buildings that would otherwise lie empty.

Targeting distinct precincts as the building blocks for revitalisation is a smart strategy. Large-scale urban renewal can’t happen all at once – but the people of Newcastle have a vision for their city, which they hope will position it as Australia’s first regional city. And that means, Canberra, we’ve got competition.

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

A WINNING COMBINATION

The Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club is the winner of the 2015 best small Club in the ACT. We also won the prestigious best restaurant award.

Find out for yourself, upstairs at our Yacht Club restaurant, downstairs at Snapper by the Lake or in one of our three function rooms all with views of the Lake and surrounds.

The Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club. Great food, great service, great views. A winning combination.

HEALTHY LIVING Kirra Rankin with

Thriving with chronic inflammation.

Do you suffer from chronic aches and pains?

What strategies do you put in place to manage your pain?

Hydrotherapy?

Massage?

Nutrition?

Naturopath?

Gentle exercise?

Here are a few options to help manage your Chronic Inflammation (or Auto Immune Symptoms):

• Attempt to get at least 20mins of sun a day.

• Relax (stress is a huge cause of auto immune problems).

• Breathe properly (in through the nose for 2sec, out through the mouth for 4 seconds). Practice this 10 mins a day before the day starts in a quite comfortable environment (bed, shower, garden)

• Reduce caffeine (increase green tea, and lemon, ginger and organic honey hot drinks)

• Reduce (or eliminate!) sugars, breads.

• Eat organic (if possible)

• Increase eggs (organic), salmon (omega 3 is amazing for inflammation); organic meat

• Drink lots of water (with fresh lemon)

• HEART RATE EXERCISE – at least 30 mins 5 days a week

– walking, or hydrotherapy, or cycling (no hard gripping – stationary bike is best). Avoid heavy repetition type movements – no heavy lifting in the gym.

• Be consistent with your exercises from your Exercise Physiologist or Physiotherapist. If you’re too sore from the exercises, drop back the sets by ½; and see if that improves your pain.

• Plan your days – plan R&R into your days.

• Diary – pencil in lunch breaks.

• Think about tomorrow – backing up and pacing your day is best.

• Do 60% less than what you THINK you are capable of doing – it’s not about NOW – it’s about TOMORROW, and the NEXT WEEK, and the NEXT MONTH.

• Think about what you can do – not what you can’t do!

• Surround yourself with positive people; who understand your situation.

Do you know someone with chronic inflammation and aches and pains? If so, let them know these simple tips; even if it helps 20% of their pain….20% over a year is a lot of pain relief!

Andrew rises to the challenge of baking quirky, tasty cakes

BRINGING in home-baked treats for morning tea at the office started public servant Andrew Ivens on a new path.

“Initially, back in 2009, I became interested in baking, so I decided to see if I could make chocolate-chip cookies. It turned out I couldn’t,” he says.

“But I tried again and brought them into work, and people liked them, so I carried on trying out new things.

“It went from cookies to cupcakes, biscuits and cakes to macarons – I just learned as I went along.”

After some years of this, one of Andrew’s appreciative workmates asked if he’d make a cake for his son’s birthday party – which was the following day.

Andrew says the cake was a success though; a two-tier, red velvet cake covered in black fondant and a red skull to represent the video game “Gears of War”.

“It was a hit at the party but yeah, I plan ahead a bit more now,” he says.

By February last year, Andrew says he had a logo and a business name, Sweet to

the Bone, and launched his Facebook page and website.

“Until then I hadn’t considered baking as anything more than a hobby, but I started getting lots of orders and I do about a cake a week now,” he says.

“Mostly it’s word of mouth, and it’s always good to hear that my cakes are tasty – I’ve been chosen by a client based on my lemon cake in the past, which is nice to hear.”

Andrew, who works full time, attended a recent wedding expo and says it’s possible he may have stood out from the crowd with his red, crushed velvet tablecloth, gothicstyle cakes and black, fondant roses.

“I think there’s a certain type of bride that my cakes appeal to,” he says.

“The bride I made the football cake for hired me at the expo, and said to her mum: ‘That man will get it’.”

Andrew says he will try any cake once, and has made them in the shape of a Tardis, Minions, Muppets and the Octonauts, as well as traditional wedding cakes – and some that are a little more quirky, like the football cake.

“That was important to the couple because they had met through the sport,” he says. “It’s kind of cool being involved in people’s weddings and creating something that is unique to them.”

With no formal training, other than a cake-decorating course, Andrew says he’s studied at the university of Google and YouTube.

“I’d love to write a book one day; I’m self-taught and I’d encourage people to have a go, crack a few eggs,” he says.

Andrew says he likes to make fancy cakes, lemon cheesecakes and apple pies for his parents, and has just made his first croquembouche for a friend’s 40th.

“I love being creative, and seeing the look on someone’s face when I give them the cake and they realise it’s theirs – it’s really nice,” he says.

“It sounds corny, but it’s a cool feeling, it makes the hours of work and stressing over it worth it.”

It’s also important to him that the cakes taste amazing, Andrew says, with the idea that they should look too good to eat but taste too good not to.

“I enjoy making and decorating cakes, so I don’t see it as work,” he says. “It’s lots of fun, but it’s hard work, too. There’s also lots of: “Oh my God, how?’

“But I just think, I can do that – and somehow I do.”

To contact Andrew, email sweettothebonecakes@gmail.com or visit sweettothebone.com.au

sport

Tall tales but depressingly true

IT is a testing time for those passionate about sport.

If it’s not the Russian track and field team systematically doping its way to success, it could be FIFA doing its best to destroy any faith you had in a “level playing field”.

The choice extends also to the cricket match-fixing trial underway in London or the media stories about the French soccer players’ sex tapes blackmail plot.

The exploits of Lance Armstrong and Mike Tyson are beginning to sound so passé!

Sport itself is doing its level best to destroy its supporter base and credibility.

Over the past year or so I have been considering writing a fictional book based around corruption in sport, but every time I undertake research to set the plot and dream up some outrageous scenario unlikely to ever come to fruition, there it is front and centre in the media somewhere in

In fact, it has got to the stage where

When it appears as though sport has no moral compass, it’s worth remembering what some at the highest level are doing in the Canberra community.

reality has outdone fiction. You couldn’t make up some of the goings on with the Russian doping scandal nor FIFA for that matter.

But when you think the negatives are starting to overtake the positives in sport, a quick look at the Canberra sporting landscape provides some hope.

Where else in Australia, per head of population, do we have people involved in such a positive way in the community, using sport as a vehicle?

Former Raiders’ skipper Alan Tongue is doing incredible work doing his best to ensure prisoners in Canberra have the confidence and skill-set to make a contribution to society before their release.

He is also discussing issues such as domestic violence with detainees with the view that positive understandings will lead to a better future.

Then there’s his work with the Aspire leadership program backed by Matthew Herbert and the team at LJ Hooker.

Alan is a great role model for all people

TIM GAVEL

in and out of sport.

Three days after arriving home battered and bruised from the World Cup, Wallabies’ and Brumbies’ flanker David Pocock was hosting a fundraiser at the ANU for his charity eightytwenty Vision, which is focused on improving health and education in Zimbabwe.

Ricky Stuart is looking to establish a second respite centre for families with autistic children in Canberra.

This past week I witnessed first hand the impact Capitals’ coach Carrie Graf can have on the lives of young women seeking role models in leadership.

Despite her busy schedule, she still manages to give time and effort to the community.

There are others, among them Robert de Castella , whose Indigenous Marathon Project has changed the lives of many throughout Australia.

So when it appears as though sport has no moral compass, it’s worth remembering what some at the highest level are doing in the Canberra community. These people use their position and sport for the good of this community and beyond. They are worth our attention, support and admiration.

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Secure your place for 2016. Enrol now for study in: events management international hotel and resort management hospitality travel and tourism.

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After separation most parents are able to reach agreement about arrangements for their children, but for some it takes longer than others. Unless there are Court orders in place, both parents continue to have parental responsibility for their children after separation. This means that there is an obligation on both parents to consult with one another and to attempt reach agreement about arrangements for their children.

Mediation is a good start

There are a range of services available to assist parents in reaching agreements including organisations such as Relationships Australia, the Conflict Resolution Service and the Family Relationships Centre. There are also private mediation providers that often have shorter waiting lists.

What if you can’t reach agreement?

If you cannot reach agreement you will be issued a certificate that permits you to commence Court proceedings. The certificate can only be issued by a qualified Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. In urgent circumstances you may be able to commence proceedings even though you do not have the certificate.

Do you need to document any agreement reached? There is no formal requirement to document any agreement reached, but it is often a good idea to think about entering into a Parenting Plan. A Parenting Plan is a written document which sets out arrangements for children and needs to be signed by both parents. It can be updated at any time by agreement. A Parenting Plan is not enforceable like Court orders, but a Court must take into account the terms of any Parenting Plan that exists if it is asked to make orders about children the subject of a Parenting Plan. For this reason, you should consider obtaining legal advice before entering into a Parenting Plan. What else does the Court take into account?

There are many factors the Court considers in determining what is the best interests of children when it is asked to make parenting orders and these are outlined in Section 60CC of the Family Law Act 1975.

If you would like advice about your options, rights or obligations about parenting arrangements after separation please contact Kevin Robinson or Sally McGuinness.

Idiot’s guide to a Twitter lynching

IT’S always nice to see someone get eviscerated by an online lynch mob, unless, of course, you’re on the receiving end of the mob.

Last week in Victoria social media experts Ellis Jones gave an absolute masterclass in world’s worst practice in their chosen field. This went so badly it will be taught around the world for generations.

As anyone who’s run a public meeting of any size knows, it’s very important to keep control of who has the microphone.

When the Victorian Taxi Association engaged Ellis Jones to start a “@yourtaxi” Twitter conversation it should not have taken a genius to predict the river of vomit they would soon find themselves swimming in.

Offering some free rides to members of the public who “shared a story” it began with vapid enthusiasm:

“Tell your taxi story! #YourTaxis #PeopleOfMelbourne #TaxiYourWay #Melbourne”

The problem, redolent with the wisdom of hindsight, is that when the ideal taxi journey is utterly unremarkable, the only stories left to tell are going to be negative.

In my experience something like 99 per cent of taxi drivers have been okay, which makes them probably a better group of people than an

Do not encourage negativity on the internet. There’s going to be plenty of negativity no matter what you do.

average sample of humanity.

But ask me to tell a story and it’s going to be about the 1 per cent.

Having moderated tens of thousands of internet conversations, the first thing I stress when asked is “do not encourage negativity on the internet”. There’s going to be plenty of negativity no matter what you do.

It’s normal for ad agencies to tell their clients what they want to hear.

No doubt this happened here with Ellis Jones telling the Victorian Taxi Association they were going to get lots of heart-warming stories about their lovely taxi drivers.

Normally these social media campaigns disappear without a trace and a bunch of garbage “reach” metrics are trotted out to make it look vaguely like a success.

They bear some resemblance to the old “Potential TV Audience” we’d hear about at major sporting events.

It might be true that if everyone in the US is up at 4am and tuned into ESPN8, then 300 million people are watching. More likely no-one is watching at all.

If someone off the street had tried to gather taxi horror stories it would have been another unremarkable corner of the internet, but in this process the taxis themselves created a central dumping ground of awful narrative about their own operation. Things got worse when they tried to tie driving veterans to medical services (for a fee) in with “Rememberance [sic] Day”.

This lead to hapless public blithering for mercy: “We are trying so hard to get this right and we’re so sorry for our mistakes today. We think there is hope.”

Finally, last Thursday the Taxi Association came to its senses: “We take full responsibility for the

campaign and will be undertaking a full review of our strategy,” said VTA CEO David Samuel.

“As a result we have made the decision to part ways with our agency.”

Uber could not have asked for a better free kick, delivered by their rivals, at those rivals’ own expense.

The previous world record for a social media disaster was the singer Susan Boyle’s people trying to get fans excited for her album launch with “#Susanalbumparty”.

Even that, at least, would have helped get word out of a new album, after the tears of laughter dried.

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

letters

Let charities fulfil their purpose

Email: cw@dvcs.org.au (8am to 11pm

Why Canberra deserves a new casino

CANBERRA deserves a first-class casino, new hotels and venues within which to enjoy entertainment and fine dining.

Last week fellow columnist and former MLA Michael Moore wrote that Hong Kong-based Aquis Entertainment bought the Canberra Casino in the knowledge it would not get poker machines and the government should not kowtow to Aquis, dismissing as a “carrot” its plans for a $300 million redevelopment, creating 200 full-time new jobs and 420 ongoing jobs in exchange for 500 poker machines.

I disagree with him. Speak to any of the nearly one per cent of the population affected by problem gambling and they’ll tell you the kind of venue doesn’t matter and this would remain the case even if the casino development was approved. Problem gambling is a serious social issue, but so is alcohol, tobacco and road carnage. Do we ban grog, ciggies and halt the manufacturing of vehicles? Of course not – we regulate them, and governments receive significant amounts of funding from taxes.

Of course, there is the ridiculous conflict of interest from the Labor Party’s ownership of hundreds of pokies through the various Labor Clubs, which should mean the government is in no position to dictate where residents gamble.

LAST week the Community Council of Australia stated there are too many charities being set up and called for charities to merge.

What is important to remember is charitable organisations form because people want to come together for mutual and wider benefit to grow resources for a cause, advocate for change, create new offers of goods and services, and share interests and resources. These organisations form for purpose, not for financial reasons in and of themselves.

It is not appropriate for commentators, funders or regulators to determine whether and how many of these organisations exist.

For-purpose organisations provide essential social infrastructure through which the community can reflect its diversity, express its collective will and shape its social and economic priorities and circumstances. These organisations do face challenges in remaining relevant and viable, but the best way to deal with these challenges is not for them to disappear into merged entities.

Partnerships are and have always been core business for community organisations, including charities. The foundation for partnerships, including mergers, should be sustaining and strengthening of purpose.

Susan Helyar, director, ACT Council of Social Service Inc.

Who’s the buffoon?

MARK Parton (CN, November 12) refers to Mark Latham as a “buffoon” and then says he is “with him” agreeing “that the rider shouldn’t have been so critical of those owners who wanted to take her off the horse”. Well, Mark, by agreeing with Latham you are also a buffoon. Every great winner has a right to say: “And they thought I couldn’t do it”!

Let Michelle have her glory and find something else to whinge about!

Edward Corbitt, Farrer

The economic benefits notwithstanding, the capital deserves a better standard of entertainment and the argument we don’t have the population is silly (if that’s the case why is it so hard to find a room during Federal Parliament sitting weeks?).

We are also pushing hard for international flights in and out of Canberra, particularly targeting the Asian market, which could provide an on-going clientele for any decent casino and hotel development.

Many of the callers to my radio program agree and it’s time for Canberra to lose this tired old mentality of “we’re not big enough”.

There’s a sense out there that Canberrans have had enough of the “dinosaurs” preaching to us what we can and can’t have in this town.

If light rail, Uber, IKEA and Containers-on-the-Lake are all a part of Andrew Barr’s vision for Canberra – so, too, should be a new convention centre and a decent casino.

Marcus Paul is the drive announcer on 2CC.

‘It’s only the second year we’ve done the street party, which was fabulous last year’

The Gift weekend that keeps on giving

THE 16th annual Queanbeyan Gift weekend, in conjunction with the NSW Athletics League, will be run in Queanbeyan Park on the weekend of November 21-22.

“Queanbeyan has a rich sporting history; the community is sport mad and they love to come out and support local events,” says event organiser Tracey Lamont.

Tracey says that for the past two years, the event has won a national award from the Australian Athletic Confederation for Event of the Year, since it was changed from a one-day event to the two-day format in 2013.

“This year’s event is shaping up to be the biggest and the best yet, with our enthusiastic partners and supporters on board, the introduction of new races and family activities,” says Tracey.

The Gift includes the third richest prize money for a Gift event in Australia with a $45,000 prize pool up for grabs.

“The Gift itself attracts some of the nation’s fastest runners, both professional and amateurs from all corners of Australia,” says Tracey.

“Last year’s Women’s Gift winner, Brittany Brymer from Perth, will be back to defend her title, bringing over a number of WA athletes with her.

“The winner of the Men’s Gift last year was Thomas Newman. His twin brother Jack came second so it will be interesting to see what happens this time around!”

Tracey says the fun will be off the track, too, with the Gift Calcutta making a comeback and being held at Hotel Queanbeyan at 6pm on Friday, November 20

On the Saturday morning, November 21, the official opening of the Gift will start from 9am, with kids’ clinics with Olympians and heats all day.

From 6pm-9pm there will be a family-friendly street party on Crawford Street, with food stalls, jumping castle, face painting, a scavenger hunt, street performers, mascots, a visit from Santa and lighting of the Christmas tree at 8.45pm. Local band Night Train will headline from 9pm and the event will finish at 11pm.

“It’s only the second year we’ve done the street party, which was fabulous last year,” says Tracey.

“It’s an opportunity to have fun, it’s only six weeks to Christmas and people can kickstart the celebrations, meet and greet the athletes and support the community.”

The Family Fun Day will run on Sunday, November 22 from 10am, with lunchtime novelty mascot races and the inaugural Queanbeyan publican charity race, with the winner donating the pool of money to the charity of their choice.

“It’s a very community focused weekend, culminating in the finals at 3pm on the Sunday,” Tracey says.

“More than 16,000 people leave Queanbeyan to work in Canberra every day, so we’re excited to be hosting such a great event in their own backyard.”

More information at queanbeyangift.com

Canberra Confidential

Singer’s lost beats to the Barr

IT appears the managers of Andrew Barr’s Facebook page are thin-skinned when it comes to criticism.

“Should you express even the most polite disappointment on this page… you are likely to be silenced!,” grumbles singer Little Mac , who had written on the Chief Minister’s Facebook page to complain about the way land owners are being treated to accommodate the new Whitlam sub-division.

“Comments will be hidden, deleted and you will be blocked from even liking anything on the page,” she says.

“This means the public are denied transparency, knowledge and understanding of how this will affect us in a number of ways. If there is such willingness to hide information on the matter of this development, then what else?

“The issue of taking land without consultation, without warning, without due compensation and where the current land owners are notified by way of a Facebook post along with the rest of us... that’s one concerning matter (actually that’s more than one). Silencing people is yet another. “Both of these matters are disrespectful to the public, and to anyone who wishes to publicly and politely express a legitimate concern.

“Mr Barr suggests that offensive, abusive and off-topic posts are deleted, and that spammers and trolls are blocked. Myself and others I’ve seen weren’t any of these things and yet we were silenced and have been blocked. We weren’t rude, we weren’t abusive, we weren’t spamming or off-topic – yet we were silenced for having valid concerns.”

GLORIA in excelsis

“CITYNEWS” occasional columnist Nick Jensen and his wife Sarah were among the winners of the “unglorious” 2015 Gay and Lesbian Outrageous, Ridiculous and Ignorant comment Awards (GLORIA), taking out the religion category for earlier this year declaring they would divorce if marriage equality was legislated in Australia.

They were in good company, joining NSW Premier Mike Baird, TV host Sam Newman and Golden GLORIA winner, feminist and author Germaine Greer

The awards – hosted in Sydney by journalist David Marr – attracted only 800 votes nationally.

Back to the future

NONE of us are perfect in publishing when it comes to getting the date on the front page right. Shamefully, a few weeks ago we managed to have ours a week out, despite three people checking it. But the “Canberra Times” the other Sunday knocked our lapse into a cocked hat with a dateline (“November 8, 2014”) that was a year out.

Strange agenda

YOUR taxes at work: At a recent meeting in an unnamed public service office the participants filed into the board room, sat for 15 minutes waiting for the chairperson until everyone’s

phones lit up with a “meeting cancelled” entry into the diaries. And they all filed out, none the wiser.

A door closes...

AFTER a tireless decade at the ACT Property Council, executive director Catherine Carter is closing the door on her career there on December 11, taking an overseas holiday before putting up a consultancy shingle in the New Year.

“It’s a cliché, but it’s true; all good things must come to an end,” she wrote in a surprise missive to friends and colleagues.

“I suspect that relatively few people can say they are inspired every day by the people they work with. But I can.”

She says she’ll be taking on private consultancy work “with some exciting new projects already in the pipeline for 2016”.

Michael strikes silver

ON Saturday, November 21, Strathnairn Arts is celebrating, among other things including its annual Christmas exhibition, the contribution of its property manager Michael Sainsbury, pictured, who has lived and worked for the past 25 years at the arts hub, located on the western edge of Canberra near the Murrumbidgee River, more formally at 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt. The fun starts at 4pm.

Why John said yes

CANBERRA business identity John Mackay, pictured, has accepted the role of inaugural patron of the ACT AIDS Action Council.

No big whoop, until you realise why.

“Part of my own understanding of HIV and AIDS issues has been through the prism of experiencing the death of two of my younger brothers – David and Stephen – who died of AIDS within six weeks of each other in the late 1980s,” he says.

“My brother was one of the first 10 people in Australia diagnosed, so it was seen as a punishment from God for taking drugs or being homosexual.

“Unfortunately while society’s views may have progressed since in many areas, people with HIV and AIDS and their families and carers still face discrimination, so part of my responsibilities as patron will be to reduce that discrimination and increase awareness.”

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scene / around canberra

Social event of the week / Starlight ACT dinner, O’Malley

SOTIRIA Liangis is “Mrs L” to the members of the Starlight ACT Committee and their respect and admiration for her was evident with the final flurry of finishing touches for their second fundraising dinner.

Musicians were setting the tone on the back terrace as trays of welcoming drinks – Bollinger, of course, for this “Ab-Fab” occasion – and canapés were served for arriving guests. There were 100 guests who paid $1000 each.

What a night it was. An open house at the O’Malley home that Mrs L built for just such an occasion and raising money for whatever it takes to help sick children at the Canberra Hospital, with her absolute intent to make sure every dollar goes there. She pays for everything to make the guests feel special and her choice of catering is part of that with a gourmet dinner from the Ottoman Cuisine team headed up by owner Serif Kaya with the best of wines to accompany the feast. Dessert was in the hands of Dammika Hatharasinghe who created a magical raspberry, Belgian chocolate mirror finish mousse mould with signature sugar work and accompanying treats.

Intentionally generous and quietly supportive in many extraordinary ways, Mrs L is a philanthropist and a businesswoman, a mother and a grandmother with the Starlight ACT committee her greatest admirers.

For all your

DOWN the front steps is hairdresser Franco of Canberra, which has been based at the arcade since 1956. With a young and enthusiastic team of talented stylists, come and have a blow-dry, get your formal hair done or just try a change for spring, says James Calabria.

“We also offer hair treatments and a head massage, to put the bounce and shine back in your hair,” he says.

Franco’s caters for men and women, and are taking Christmas bookings right now.

“GORGEOUS floral arrangements and gifts are available further down the arcade at Janines Florist , where you’ll also get friendly and prompt service.

“We always go the extra mile to make your floral gift perfect, and customer service is important to us,” says Janine Batley. She says they have a host of ideas about how to make any gift occasion something special for you and the recipient. They also offer a wedding bouquet and function flowers service.

Innovation Showcase, Civic

FOR skilled and qualified watchmakers, you can’t go past AJ Watch Repairs – it’s a unique shop with the largest selection of cuckoo clocks, grandfather clocks, barometers and weather stations in Canberra.

Owner Krzysztof Jakubaszek says they service all makes and models of watches and timepieces, including every major brand, with two qualified watchmakers on site. “We can restore old timepieces where possible, and can help with any timepiece that needs work,” he says.

”CELEBRATING 42 years of shoe-repair services, Civic Shoes can offer key cutting, bag and luggage repairs, shoe colouring, boot adjustments, general repairs and orthopaedic adjustments.

Owner Milton Vassiliotis says he took over from his father at the shop 12 years ago.

“We’re now the most well-known shoe repair shop in Canberra and attract customers, who know our work is of the best quality,” he says.

IT can be an uncomfortable reality, but planning your will and funeral arrangements is an important part of life.

Pre-planning can give you and your loved ones peace of mind and in this special feature “CityNews” showcases compassionate professionals who can help arrange the details and minimise the burden to help make these difficult decisions easier.

Why wills are important

“IF you die without a will, there are some automatic provisions which determine how your estate is divided and these may not be in accordance with your wishes,” warns Capon and Hubert solicitor Lee UsherClarke.

“It may even be possible that if you have no family your estate could be forfeited to the Crown!

“Making a will provides for those you care about and enables you to include people who would not otherwise receive anything from your estate. It also means you can appoint someone you trust as your executor, whose job it is to put your wishes into effect.”

Lee says there are some technical

Simple choices, dignified care

requirements for a will to be valid.

“Sometimes these can be fixed but this can increase costs and cause difficulties for your executor, she says.

“Wills can also be challenged and so it is better and safer to have your will completed by a solicitor.

“In addition to a will, everyone should have an enduring Power of Attorney. This is a document that allows a person you have selected to look after your interests and make important decisions (financial, lifestyle and medical) on your behalf if you become unable to do so due to accident, illness or advancing age.

“You should always obtain legal advice and guidance if you propose to make a will or Power of Attorney,” she says.

Call 6286 1977 to make an appointment with Lee Usher-Clarke. Capon & Hubert, 32-38 Townshend Street, Phillip.

CARING, professional and committed to offering simple choices, dignified care and with an honest approach to funeral service, Toscan Dinn Funerals has been in Weston Creek since 2005.

Director Peter Dinn is a qualified embalmer and has more than 24 years of funeral experience, serving Canberra families.

“It is an honour to be part of a local community and take care of families during their time of need,” he says.

Toscan Dinn Funerals offers many options, including Complete Care Packages, which clearly outline all aspects of the funeral arrangements.

The information given to families by Toscan Dinn Funerals is always clear and simple to understand, says Peter.

“You can always talk to us, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and no additional fees are charged to families who require assistance outside regular working hours.”

Toscan Dinn Funerals offers pre-paid funeral plans where the individual wishes of the client are recorded and the cost of the funeral is set, providing a sound, longterm financial investment.

The money is invested with Life Plan Australia in the name of the client and is only released after a death occurs. One funeral plan contract can be set up to cover two individuals. A funeral plan can be paid as a lump sum or paid off over 12, 24 or 36 months with no interest or administration fees applying.

Toscan Dinn Funerals is a member of the Australian Funeral Directors Association, promoting excellence in funeral service.

Toscan Dinn Funerals, 10 Liardet Street, Weston. Call 6287 3466 or visit toscandinn.com.au

advertising feature

for peace of mind

125 years of simple, respectful service

WITH 125 years of experience in arranging funerals in the Canberra and Queanbeyan area, M.H. O’Rourke branch manager, Jason says they “always strive for simple, respectful and honest ways to honour the individual.”

Established in 1890 by Cornelius O’Rourke and relocated in 1929 to its current Queanbeyan location, M.H. O’Rourke Funerals has maintained the traditional values of service and caring for families in times of need.

M.H. O’Rourke provides pre-paid, pre-arranged and at-need funerals, offering full mortuary care, transport for the deceased and the family on the day of the funeral and liaising with government departments, venues, the crematorium, members of the clergy and officiators.

“Our pre-paid funerals ensure that everything is arranged exactly to your personal choice and takes the burden off your family. It’s peace of mind knowing that it’s all paid for and your

wishes will be carried out,” says Jason. Not only do they connect families with all the people involved in arranging a funeral, depending on the person’s background, they can also arrange cultural services that include religious and cultural customs, rituals, extra services and viewings. While they primarily provide services to Canberra, Queanbeyan and the surrounding area, M.H. O’Rourke Funeral Directors can organise repatriation of deceased persons interstate and overseas.

M.H. O’Rourke Funerals has a resident manager on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide quality after-hours support and assistance.

M.H. O’Rourke Funeral Directors, 113 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Call 1800 386372 or visit orourkefunerals.com.au

At Capon and Hubert Lawyers we ensure that your estate goes to family or friends of your choice.  Having a valid and up-to-date Will can help reduce stress for your family and friends, limit administration costs, and lessen the possibility for dispute over your estate. We understand your situation is different and may require a unique specialist approach.

the Canberra, Queanbeyan &

arts & entertainment / the illusionists music

‘Conjuress’ Jinger aims to thrill

WHEN “conjuress” Jinger Leigh, “mistress of the occult and master of the mystical”, and her magician husband Mark Kalin do the old catching-the-bulletbetween-the-teeth act, their 14-year-old daughter makes it quite clear that she absolutely hates it.

That’s unlikely to be the reaction of audiences when they appear at the Canberra Theatre soon in “The Illusionists 1903”, but you can see her point.

The bullet catching, Leigh explains to “CityNews” by phone from the Dubai World Trade Centre, where she is about to perform in three shows back-to-back, is absolutely real and about 12 people have died doing it in recent memory, but though dangerous, most of the show is pure illusion.

This version of the famous magic show is quite different from its predecessors, “The Illusionists” and “The Illusionists 2.0”.

“It’s very clever and vividly historical,” she tells us, as it goes back to a “golden age” of magic around the beginning of the 20th century when magic and variety were seamlessly interwoven, a period when magic was “very colourful, very rich and very theatrical”. For instance, superstar escapologist Harry Houdini performed his most famous escape act in London during 1904.

As well as The Conjuress, you

can expect to see characters such as The Eccentric, The Showman, The Escapologist, The Clairvoyants and The Charlatan as they levitate, mind-read, juggle and perform sleight of hand.

As day jobs go, performing in “The Illusionists 1903” is plain hard work. They travel from city to city performing for three or four days each week, Leigh and Kalin always look forward to getting back to their

home in suburban Reno, Nevada, no longer, she assures me, famous for divorce and gaming but rather “a lovely place to live”, with beautiful clean air and drinking water.

Still, she’s not complaining. Unlike many of her fellow magic artists whose fathers were magicians, she only came into it about 24 years ago when she met her husband.

“I specialise in large stage illusions,” Leigh says, and that fits the troupe well.

“Sleight of hand acts don’t necessarily work in large-scale venues, as they require intimacy, but we try to create the same theatrical environment whether we play to 100 or 1000 people.”

Specialisation is the norm in the world of magic as artists discover their basic nature and realise it on stage.

“My background is in dance and theatre,” Leigh says, “so large-scale illusion was natural to me… as soon as I understood the psychology behind illusion and magic it became second nature to present it.”

So what does “The Conjuress” actually do? Her favourite piece involves a floating orb that dances across the stage into the audience, “all under my control – a beautiful piece,” she says.

As for the bullet-catching act, she’s been practising it for more than two years with Kalin, who plays The Showman character, doing the catching – “obviously, it’s a nail biter,” she says.

“The Illusionists 1903”, at Canberra Theatre Centre, December 8-16, bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

The musical ‘deli’ of many cultures

By Helen Musa

A MOST unusual performance will be at The Q at the end of November when the Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra performs the original work “Three Sides of Love and Death”.

The 14-piece orchestra represents the culturally diverse musicians now found all over Australia, who have worked together to create “a symphony of musical and spiritual collaboration”.

Led by Richard Petkovic, the music director of Parramatta’s exciting South Asian Festival, Parramasala, it features Asim Gorashi (Sudan), Shohrat Tursun (East Turkestan), Yaw Derkyi (Ghana), Bukhu Gamburged (Mongolia) and Mustafa Karami (Iran).

The unique string sections derive from instruments played on the Silk Road and the choral section ranges from Mongolian throat-singing to a tenor vocal from East Turkestan.

Funded to the tune of $9000 by Musica Viva’s regional initiative, Southern Tablelands Arts (STARTS), and the Goulburn Regional Conservatorium, the visit will also feature Saturday workshops on

empowering the female voice, percussion and a masterclass for bowed-stringed instruments.

STARTS CEO Susan Conroy has been keen to see music explored as an agent for change and says she found a kindred spirit in Goulburn Conservatorium director Paul Scott-Williams, whose focus is on personal development for primary school teachers.

Although Conroy suspects purists might not much approve, she describes the style as “a kind of delicatessen of cultures”, noting that the ensemble includes a Mongolian throat singer and horsehead fiddler, a Mexican harpist and musicians from Aboriginal, African, Arab and Spanish-speaking communities – “Christians and Muslims, Buddhists and non-faith people working harmoniously together”. Conroy’s hope is that people in the immediate region will hear about this venture and say: “I want to go to Queanbeyan to see that performance”.

“Three Sides of Love and Death”, Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra, The Q, Friday, November 27, bookings to theq.net.au or 6285 6290. Workshops at Jerrabomberra Community Centre 9am-noon, Saturday, November 28. Inquiries to starts.com.au or 4823 4407.

Putting hall to the test

JS MURDOCH’S acoustically-perfect hall in Ainslie Arts Centre will be a test for Canberra Opera when it stages Puccini’s “La Bohème” from November 27 to December 6. Director Elisha Holley has set it in 1840, the time of the original story, depicting the characters as “an eclectic group of Bohemians”. Bookings via eventbrite.com.au

FORMER chief Minister Jon Stanhope is everywhere these days, including in these pages. He will launch Marsden Art Group’s 2015 exhibition of works by 13 Canberra artists at Watson Arts Centre, Aspinall Street, Watson, 6pm, on November 26, after which the show will run until December 6.

SELBY & Friends will present its fifth and final concert for 2015 with “Basically Beethoven 2”. Director/pianist Kathryn Selby joins fellow Beethoven devotee, cellist Timo-Veikko Valve and violinist Dale Barltrop. At the James O. Fairfax Theatre, NGA, 7.30pm, on November 23, bookings to selbyandfriends.com.au

IT’S the silly season already: “The Great Pretenders” will revisit hits from the ‘60s on, with artists such as Queen, Beyonce, and Kiss as well as a bit of Christina Aguilera’s “Burlesque”. At the Vikings Club Erindale, November 27-December 6. Bookings to via premier.ticketek.com.au

THE 75-strong Warrani Chorale (Women’s Voices from the University of the Third Age Canberra) presents “A Gift of

Song”, at Weston Creek Uniting Church, 16 Parkinson Street, Weston Creek, 10.30am, on Wednesday, November 25. It will be the last concert for accompanist of 17 years, Barbara Hall. Admission by gold coin donation. Light refreshments included.

PLAYING Field Studio holds classes and arts activities in the city and invites interested volunteers to attend its AGM at 6pm, Tuesday, November 24, in its premises at 2 Kingsley Street, Canberra.

RHYTHM Syndicate choir will mark its 25th anniversary with a performance of songs from jazz, gospel, classical, Broadway and pop genres. At Belconnen Arts Centre, 4pm, on Saturday, November 28, bookings to belconnenartscentre.com.au or 6173 3300.

ART Song Canberra’s Season of Song sees soprano Louise Page heading up “Dance, Sing, Love, Live!” featuring the music of Strauss, Berlioz, Mahler, Bowman and Canteloube. Wesley Music Centre, 3pm, Sunday, November 22. Tickets only at the door.

HELEN MUSA

ART AUCTION 2015

Sunday November 22

Federation Square, Gold Creek Viewing from 9am, Auction starts at 10.30am

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Dooley lands musical ‘Tardis’

By Helen Musa

“A MUSICAL Tardis” is how Canberra composer Michael Dooley sees his coming concert, “Anachronisms”, a virtuoso line up of Canberra pianists playing 11 of his compositions. Aimed at instantly transporting concert-goers from the Baroque era to the tango halls of Argentina, its high point will be the fiendishly difficult etude “In Pursuit of a Mouse”, Dooley’s homage to “The Flight of the Bumblebee”. All the works are written in the “pastiche” mode he adopted after walking away from the atonality of contemporary classical music.

Rising star on the Canberra piano scene, James Huntingford, plays the “Mouse” piece. He’s joined by a similarly luminous line-up, including pianist/composer Sally Greenaway

(whose album has just been longlisted for the Australian Music Prize), pianist/ entrepreneur Andrew Rumsey, Whitworth Roach People’s Choice-winner Aaron Chew and Emily Leong, a recent performance master’s graduate from Melbourne Conservatory. Dooley, who released an independent jazz album with his duo In2Deep earlier this year, originally studied classical composition at Sydney Conservatorium, but turned to writing pop songs and jazz while never losing his passion for classical music.

“I love lyricism and harmony in

music and am striving to blend that into a voice that is contemporary”, Dooley tells “CityNews”, and writing music in earlier styles seemed a way into that. Bach, Mozart and McCartney did it, so why not?

SUNDAY ROAST

When listening to Dooley playing one of his pieces, a colleague had once commented: “That Bach is sounding good”, and that inspired him to create his 11-piece “temporal sonic scrapbook”.

Describing the works as “fun and fiery”, Dooley doesn’t take himself too seriously and to prove it, he’s planning a piano encore called “Tango in Chic”.

“Anachronisms – a composer’s journey through time”, at All Saints Church, Ainslie, 8pm, November 28, bookings to mikedooleymusic@ gmail.com or tickets at the door.

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.

Mr Bond faces that same old spectre of fear

“SPECTRE” (M)

IN 1961, in “Thunderball”, Ian Fleming invented the Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion, the evil organisation controlled by Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

Fifty-four years later, the Broccoli family, mega-wealthy from its choke-hold on the James Bond film brand, has raised Blofeld from the grave and re-birthed SPECTRE. World domination, that’s SPECTRE’s business aspíration. And sending James Bond to his grave continues to be Blofeld’s personal crusade.

For “SPECTRE”, producer-in-chief Barbara Broccoli engaged four scriptwriters to fashion a plot created by three writers using motifs and themes from past Bond films into a script for director Sam Mendes to follow in creating the travelogue-cum-action thriller bearing number 25 in the Bond collection, the twelfth to which Fleming contributed little more than the hero’s name.

How good is this collage of action, scenery from three continents, political intrigue, inter-agency rivalry, moles in Britain’s secret world, imaginative violence, spectacular derring-do defying several basic laws of physics and fewer beautiful women than we have come to expect from Bond-films?

Actually, better than most of its post-Fleming predecessors. Christoph Waltz brings the right combination of humour and evil to Blofeld. Lea Seydoux is strong, fragile and vulnerable as Madeleine whose blood

lines make her a target for “SPECTRE’s” goons. Successor to behemoths like Oddjob and Jaws, Dave Bautista (never heard of him? Neither had I) roughs Bond up big time. Ralph Fiennes is M, Ben Wishaw is a fresh-faced Q.

“Casino Royale” birthed James Bond in 1953 fully fashioned and ready to kill for Mother England, making him now nearly a centenarian. In his 47th year, Daniel Craig continues to convince us of his credibility.

At all cinemas

“He Named Me Malala” (PG)

DAVIS Guggenheim’s documentary (in 2006, his “An Inconvenient Truth” delivered Al Gore speaking persuasively about global warming) is a gentle, sweet observation of the 17-year-old Pakistani girl who in 2014, together with an Indian girl of similar age, received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Malala Yousafzai’s family owns schools

in Swat Valley in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of northwest Pakistan, where the local Taliban had, at times, banned girls from attending school. Malala should have died on October 9, 2012 when a Taliban bullet struck her head. Guggenheim’s film contains archival footage of her resuscitation in British hospitals. Those events have their place in history. What’s now important is what’s happening since her rehabilitation. It’s heart-warming and encouraging.

The film introduces us to Malala’s loving and supporting family in passages inviting us to conjecture about the between-the-lines meaning of whatever parable awaits.

At Dendy, Palace Electric

“Knight of Cups” (M)

THE significance of the Knight of Cups in the Tarot offers wide variations, no more surprisingly than would any other cabalistic practice.

Writer/director Terrence Malick’s seventh film since “Badlands” (released in 1973 and to my way of thinking, his best) is a puzzle.

Like all good puzzles, it challenges those seeking its solution. For many people, “Knight Of Cups” is likely to transform puzzlement into bafflement.

Does bafflement signify a good puzzle? Short on dialogue, graced by intermittent narration by Ben Kingsley, it presents a strong documentary ambience that relies heavily on images to tell us what’s going through Malick’s mind.

Christian Bale plays Hollywood screenwriter Rick, wandering among people – people working in film, wannabee film people, cultured wealthy people, uncultured wealthy people, beautiful people dependent on their bodies to raise them to the position they aspire to on fame’s ladder, homeless and displaced people sleeping rough on footpaths.

Juxtapositions such as these, together with visual statements offering a range of behavioural and environmental contrasts, probably deliver messages to Tarot believers. The film does indeed deliver messages, but they need no Tarot augmenting. What I see will likely not mean the same as the meaning you get. I enjoyed the film’s challenges. But I found their intentions baffling. Christian Bale has been quoted as feeling similarly!

At Palace Electric

Search for soul-satisfying schnitzel

EVERY once in a while, my most frequent dining partner craves a schnitzel. And when she craves a schnitzel, she craves a schnitzel.

While it’s not hard to uncover an eatery that serves such a dish, it’s challenging at times to find one that serves a soul-satisfying schnitzel. The veal is not always as thin as it ought to be, or as nicely breaded as it ought to be, or too greasy if overly pan fried.

So when we entered the Schnitzel Haus in Braddon, we had our fingers crossed that we wouldn’t be disappointed.

First you choose your meat (chicken, veal or pork) and then the style of schnitzel. Some varieties threw us for a loop. We weren’t expecting a

Hawaiian (bacon, grilled pineapple and coleslaw), a Thai curry (prawns and red curry), or a gym variety (avocado, sweet potato mash and slivered almonds). After wiping the puzzled look off her face, my friend firmly announced she was going to give the “original schnitzel” a go… with gravy.

Not being a “schnitty” expert by any means, I opted for the Mexican, liking the idea of jalapenos with bite, spicy tomato salsa, smashed

avocados and sour cream.

Our massively sized schnitzels came with chips and a generoussized, super-fresh and delightful garden salad ($24.94).

So what was the verdict, you ask?

My friend, looking at me over her glasses, confidently but quietly declared that this was the best schnitzel she had ever had in Canberra aside from the ones her dad makes.

It was crunchy on the outside

(the Schnitzel Haus oven bakes their schnitzels), the meat moist on the inside and the gravy a decadent addition.

I had to return mine for several reasons, including dry veal and cheese not melted. In doing so, I switched to the Italian with chicken. The staff had no problem replacing the dish. The Italian looked much better on the plate and the pancetta was nice and salty, the chicken tender, the cheese beautifully melted and the tomato salsa pleasantly tangy.

The colour scheme at the Schnitzel Haus is a very bright yellow, black and white (I felt like I was dining in a beehive). There’s nothing subtle about the lighting at night either, which we found a bit over the top for a dinner at the end of a long day, but the Schnitzel Haus has selected its décor and ambience for more buzz than calm and quiet. The kids’ menu includes a main and dessert ($12). Adult-sized desserts are $12.95.

The Schnitzel Haus is licensed and has a big outdoor dining area. The staff were friendly, but the service was hit and miss. We had to put too much effort into being noticed and served, even though the place was far from packed out.

Schnitzel Haus, shop 2, 5 Lonsdale Street, Braddon. Call 6248 7999. Takeaway available.

Joanne

Madeline

Moore your week in the stars – November 23-29, 2015

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

This week’s stars boost your rambunctious and restless Ram nature. You certainly have the passion to get projects off the ground – now all you need is the persistence to finish them. If you don’t adopt a more practical and long-term view, then your enthusiasm for a current project (or person) will gradually evaporate. Attached Aries – your partner may do something that completely surprises you. Single Rams – when it comes to a burgeoning romance, expect the unexpected!

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Are you stuck in a boring daily rut? This week’s stars shake up your Taurus comfort zone – which is a good thing, as it forces you to view a current situation from a totally different perspective. Then you can do something about it. Wednesday night’s Full Moon fires up your money zones, and a financial matter may become increasingly complicated and confusing. Bulls have a good business brain, so aim to get the balance right between being fiscally creative and conservative.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Geminis are full of fabulous ideas, as the Full Moon lights up your sign and your enthusiasm for projects goes into overdrive. But, if you take a sharp detour into fantasy-land, then Saturn will bring you back down to earth with a thud. Projects need to pass the practicality test. So try to balance being idealistic with being realistic and don’t make commitments if you know you won’t be able to keep them – especially when it comes to work and relationships. Keep it real!

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Expect an emotional rollercoaster this week, as the Full Moon unsettles you and stirs up unpredictable moods. So avoid making important decisions until things settle down. And don’t expect to achieve much of practical value, as you’re in the mood to daydream the hours away in your cosy Crab cave. You’re keen to retreat into your own private world but make sure you can differentiate between fact and fantasy, otherwise you’ll end up in a real mess – especially at work.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

It’s time for Cats to get cracking! When it comes to relatives, neighbours, social media, study and travel, the more proactive and positive you are, the better the outcome will be. However, on Wednesday and Thursday a lack of focus, direction and discrimination could temporarily side-track and confuse you. And don’t let a dubious acquaintance lead you down the primrose path to trouble. Lions are trusting creatures but this week, make sure your “bull detector” is working well.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

This week, Mercury (your ruling planet) conjuncts Saturn and then squares Neptune, which could prompt you to be very self-critical and somewhat confused. Believe in yourself Virgo! With Jupiter jumping through your sign, have confidence in your unique and varied talents. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, Bruce Lee: “Do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it. Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself.”

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

Librans love things to run efficiently and smoothly. But there’s unpredictable Full Moon energy about this week, so drop the perfectly planned schedule and just take things as they come. Some possible scenarios? A relationship with a loved one (or business partner) could veer off in an unexpected direction. Or something you post on social media could be completely misinterpreted and it will then take your deft diplomatic skills to calm down a delicate situation.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

The Full Moon shines a spotlight on financial matters, especially the resources you share with others. Money matters look complicated and confusing, as extra expenses surface or cracks appear in a financial partnership. If you can’t sort it out yourself, then find a professional who can. Whether it’s money, property or relationships; all joint endeavours need to be closely examined and carefully reassessed. And how much do you value yourself Scorpio? Food for thought.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Dubious daydreams will get you nowhere and promises are cheap! Under the influence of Saturn, make sure you keep yourself grounded and walk your talk. The Full Moon falls in your relationship zone, so you can expect dramas in Sadge Love Land. If you’re attached – are you making assumptions about your partner? Singles – you’re drawn to someone special but are you seeing them clearly? Time to take off your rose-coloured glasses and take a second (more realistic) look.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Life looks tricky this week, as the Neptune/Saturn square confuses communication and you are driven by strange, irrational moods. The best way to handle this disorienting transit is to adopt the “KISS” principle – keep it simple, sweetheart. The more you complicate matters, and take on too many commitments, the more woeful the week will be. So take a chill pill and realise that no-one, not even a ridiculously responsible and capable Capricorn, is indispensable!

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

At the moment there’s a fine line between being spontaneous and successful and being hasty and foolhardy. Also, a cherished goal or dream may require much more planning than you originally thought. That’s okay. Concentrate on enjoying the long and winding journey, rather than just focusing on the destination. Attached Aquarians – one of you requires a lot of freedom this week. Singles – you’re ready to fall in love very fast with someone who is not your usual type.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Prepare for a reality check, as Saturn squares Neptune. When it comes to a project, plan or current situation, it will suddenly dawn on you that; 1 – you haven’t done all the preparation required; 2 – your idea or attitude was completely unrealistic to start with or; 3 – your confidence has disappeared. It’s time to give dubious dreams and unrealistic schemes the boot! Saturn demands that you simplify your life so you are better able to cope with the practical daily tasks that must be done.

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

General knowledge crossword No. 527

Bart, a government vet, was getting information for his tax return together and came to see me because he was unclear about some of his claims.

His first question concerned his home office claim.

He said he worked at home for about 20 hours a week and wanted to claim his entitlements.

“Bart, there is often confusion about home office claims,” I told him.

Across

1 What are places of interment?

8 Name an edible N American freshwater turtle.

9 Which dish is served at dinner before the main course?

10 What is the diligent and systematic investigation into a subject?

11 Name a style of art, architecture and decoration, of the 18th century.

13 Which term describes equality of measure?

16 What is a deep cleft in the ice of a glacier?

19 Which elastic material is derived from latex?

22 Which small cutting instrument was originally for making and mending quill pens?

24 Name a sweet that is made of boiled-down sugar or treacle.

25 What do we call a person who changes party or principles?

26 A racehorse’s birthday falls on the 1st day of which month?

Sudoku hard No. 163

Down

2 Name the drummer for the Beatles, ... Starr.

3 Which zodiacal constellation lies between Leo and Libra?

4 Name the hormones used by some athletes for body building.

5 Who was the Greek god of love?

6 Name a Japanese system of unarmed self defence.

7 Name a particular type of military movement.

12 Which solid product is the result of distilling coal in an oven?

14 What is a short opera, commonly of a light character?

15 Name another term for a mausoleum.

17 Which term describes feeling sorrow or pity?

18 Name a Scandinavian rover of earlier times.

20 To involve in obscurity, is to do what?

21 Name an alternative term for sharp-pointed duelling swords.

23 Which metallic element has the symbol Fe?

“I like to differentiate between home office and home study in order to clarify deductions.

“If you are self employed and work exclusively from home, you probably have a home office claim. You would be entitled to claim on a floor area basis such things as interest on your home mortgage or rent, rates, body corporate, electricity and gas. This would also be adjusted for the hours the room is used.

“The thing that’s often forgotten is that using your home as a home office can result in part of your house being subject to capital gains tax when you sell, whether you make the claim or not.

“This contrasts with a home study claim where you claim heating and lighting at a rate specified by the Tax Commissioner. This rate is currently 34 cents per hour.”

I explained to Bart that he was not eligible to claim for a home office, so he would be restricted to a home study claim.

Bart then asked about some courses he’d done, including a short course in veterinary science and a short course in Myer Briggs type indicator.

“This is also an area that required differentiation,” I told him. “It is necessary to determine whether a course is personal development or professional development.

“In the case of the veterinary science course, Bart, this is clearly professional development. It will assist with your profession and, as such, it should be deductible in full. It contrasts with self education in your chosen field which would normally result in a formal qualification.

“In the case of the Myer Briggs type indicator course, this would more correctly be classified as personal development.

“It is not a requirement of your job that you understand your personality type and while it will assist you on a personal level, it’s not a requirement of your job.

“I know that your boss advised you to do it but that does not change its tax deductibility. If your employer required that you do the course, I would have expected them to send you to relevant training.”

If you need guidance on your tax claims, contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd.

Beyond the exotics, the bush calls

A SECRET garden welcomes visitors to Peter and Lyn Woodbury’s Googong property, with camellias, rhododendrons, peony roses and other exotics tucked away around curved paths under a shady hakea tree.

However, the rest of the garden is predominantly native with a dry creek bed, kangaroo paw, golden correa, forbs, grasses, grevilleas, mountain devil, native frangipani and other local indigenous plants.

“Being out of town, we didn’t want to introduce too many things that aren’t native to the area,” says Lyn.

“We feel the garden looks how it’s supposed to look and blends really well with the surrounding bushland.”

With a large, 16-hectare block that’s slowly regenerating, Peter and Lyn’s attention is focused mainly on the 0.4-hectare area of garden that surrounds their solar-passive-designed house.

Words: Kathryn Vukovljak

Photos: Andrew Finch

Their relaxing, bush-style garden will be open to the public through Open Gardens Canberra on the weekend of November 28-29.

Peter says he has a particular love of banksias and has many varieties behind the house.

“I like natives as they flower for a much longer period of time, and they attract so many birds,” he says.

Lyn’s domain is the neat veggie patch, with a potato garden designed by Peter for easy harvesting, grapes, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, peas, beans, capsicum, eggplant, herbs, cucumbers and corn, root vegetables and asparagus, and the vast productive orchard, which she says provides most of their food, including a lemonade tree, lemons, nectarines, mandarins, tangelos, cherries and pears.

“It’s so well-organised that it doesn’t require too much work, but I’ve taken over this aspect of the gardening since I retired and I love it,” says Lyn.

“It’s nice to be able to think, ‘what’s for tea?’ and go and pick it from the garden.”

Peter and Lyn say that as they mulch heavily, the care of the garden isn’t huge.

“We don’t need to weed much – it’s designed to be easy care,” says Peter.

“The garden has changed over the years as we do, and from season to season, but we enjoy giving our time to it.”

1048 Old Cooma Road, Googong, open 10am-4pm, on Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29. Admission $8; free to under-18s and Open Gardens Canberra members. It costs $25 to join for free entry to all open gardens until August 31. More information at opengardenscanberra.org.au/join

CAN you imagine a greenonly garden, with no flowers? Increasingly green is the go, if nothing else for low maintenance.

Listening to attendees at my garden talks, it’s interesting to hear them say how much they love the shades of ever-changing green such as the bright, fresh greens as trees emerge from winter hibernation, changing to their adult green.

Looking out of my window as I type I see Viburnum japonicum, with its bright glossy green leaves, and the deep green of Euonymus europa

How many shades of green are there? A Wikipedia check lists 43 colours resembling green for all varieties, not only shades in the technical sense.

I have had clients who request a green garden without flowers, and one perfect example was Polly and Peter Park’s amazing garden in Red Hill, open for many years before they moved interstate. It was a green garden with a wide range of plants including Kurume and gumpo azaleas, which had all the buds cut off before they had a

chance to flower.

Weird maybe, but what a garden!

IT is important to plant bulbs for summer and autumn colour now.

In the word bulbs, I include rhizomes, tubers and corms. One great example are nerines, the most popular being the pink Nerine bowdenii

They come in a variety of colours and last an incredibly long time as a cut flower. Plus they have a delicious fragrance.

Always plant nerines with the neck above ground. They will grow equally well in sun or partial shade.

The whole variety of bulbs will be in local garden centres now.

I am often asked when is the right time to plant various plants, especially bulbs and veggies. Quite simply, just go to your local garden centre and if they are in stock it is time to plant.

IT has been seriously suggested that Glebe Park is an ideal place for any future Floriade, but I don’t think the general public has any idea of the implications. Firstly, the available space is

considerably smaller than Commonwealth Park, unless they continue to make the displays smaller and fewer bulbs planted.

Secondly, this would mean the public would be deprived of the only real, large, green space in the city for much of the year. The start of preparation commences in February/March, ripping up large areas of grass for the importation of soil to form the garden beds.

It is obvious that all the flower beds will not be left in place permanently, as has been suggested. So, do they re-grass the area as at present at the end of Floriade in late October only to be ripped up again in February before it has become properly established? There are more questions than answers in this idea of Glebe Park.

Jottings…

• Cover plants between the nursery and home with an old sheet to prevent the heat through the car windows cooking them.

• If daffodils flowered poorly they are possibly too deep. Dig them up now and store in an orange strip bag (the one oranges come in) and hang in a cool, dry spot.

• Spread pea straw or similar under strawberries to keep them clean and discourage snails.