160721 citynews

Barr’s cynical move into dubious politics

MICHAEL MOORE

Local Libs go the Pokémon distance

JOHN GRIFFITHS

Dancing into HISTORY

Bridge story that spans the centuries NICHOLE OVERALL PAINNATIONAL WEEK 6 PAGES

Return of those lovable egos and eccentrics

Diminutive Brendan Smyth did little to enhance his stature with his shock departure from the Lib team to become Barr’s ‘Commissioner for International Engagement.’

NOW that the longest election in human history is at last behind us, national politics have returned to the parade of ego and eccentricity that we love so much.

The Nats scored a couple more ministries despite boisterous Barnaby being butted by a sheep; Bill Shorten completed his Tour of the Triumphal Loser; and the putative Senators burst on to the stage with more colour and movement than “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”.

PM Malcolm Turnbull gave his rendition of Winners are Grinners as he picked the ministerial team that he fondly hopes will keep the grumbling conservative wing flapping in time with the liberals on the left…

and Tony Abbott bound and gagged. Good luck with that one, Malcolm. The best thing to come out of the whole exercise was the agreement by both major party leaders for electronic voting.

OTHERWISE, both light and very fast rail leapt into focus with yet another scheme to connect Melbourne and Sydney (with a link to Canberra). This one would involve the creation of half a dozen provincial cities along the route, a massive decentralisation scheme that would transform southeast Australia. The cost: $200 billion and counting.

BY comparison, Canberra’s own light rail project is small beer indeed. However, CM Andrew Barr really hit below the belt when he attacked the Libs for threatening our AAA credit rating “by tearing up contracts signed in good faith”. But Andrew, you knew that they opposed the scheme. No contracts should have been signed till after the election!

ROBERT

SPEAKING of small beer, diminutive Brendan Smyth did little to enhance his stature with his shock departure from the Lib team to become Barr’s “Commissioner for International Engagement”.

MACKLIN

Does your business want to save money and be environmentally responsible?

dose of dorin

THE Barr-Rattenbury government was quick to follow NSW Liberal Premier Mike Baird in ridding the territory of the atavistic dog-racing “industry” on grounds of manifest animal cruelty, particularly to the hundreds of dogs “put down” because they couldn’t run fast enough. But then they chose to “cull” no fewer than 2000 kangaroos, proud bearers of Australia’s coat of arms. That will bring the slaughter to 6000

over the past two years. Shame, Shane, shame!

OVERSEAS, there was very little to like. The new British PM Theresa May showed promise till she appointed batty Boris Johnson Foreign Secretary to the despair of the Europeans who reacted accordingly. But even that faded to insignificance for French President Francois Hollande in the face of yet another shocking ISIS atrocity on Bastille Day.

THE Turkish military staged a coup against the egregious President-cum-dictator Tayyip Erdogan

IN America the alienation between white and black seemed increasingly unbridgeable, especially as Daffy Donald trumpeted his bellicose brand of politics. It all makes our troubles seem picayune.

IN fact, as our senior federal bureaucrats declined to be suborned by government “bonuses” for cutting regulations; and as Canberra-born Graham and Louise Tuckwell poured $200 million of their own money into the ANU, purely as a gift; and as our own SES sped through wind and sleet to help Canberrans affected by the wild weather, it was easy to feel that ours is a special place to be.

Even “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” had a happy ending.

robert@robertmacklin.com

Actsmart offers a range of free programs for ACT businesses including:

• support to implement efficient recycling and waste management practices

• obligation free onsite energy and water assessments

• rebates of up to $5,000 (on a cost share basis) to upgrade inefficient equipment

More than 1000 ACT businesses have already signed up to Actsmart programs.

Designer René likes to keep it simple

DESIGNING homewares for himself and for uni assignments has brought success for recent UC industrial design graduate René Linssen, who has reached the finals of a national design competition.

His latest designs, a folded aluminium coffee table and pendant light, were successful in the furniture concept, lighting concept and colour award categories in “Vivid”, a design and innovation competition open to emerging designers and design students.

“I wanted to make a lighting piece and a furniture piece for myself anyway, then I thought I may as well enter them in Vivid and so I sent them a render,” he says.

“I like things that are well thought out, that have a clear process and a reason for every detail – I like to pay attention to the thinking behind it.”

René says that the light, titled “Bloom”, is minimal and elegant, created from folding a single piece of laser-cut aluminium. His coffee table, titled “Benton”, is functional and sculptural and he says it’s also made by folding one piece of aluminium.

“I like that the user can interact with it in their own way and it can be used for storing magazines or other small items,” he says.

“It’s practical and beautiful in its simplic -

ity. As I’m bending the metal there is only one process, so there is less waste and less cost to produce. I went through a few variations before I decided on the final designs; it was a learning process.”

René says he’s looking forward to seeing his designs on display at the Decor + Design trade show in Melbourne from July 21-24, but that he has no plans to leave Canberra.

“I reckon Canberra is a nice place to live and you can really make a name for yourself here,” he says.

“I like the lifestyle here, the nature and the country town feel. There are a lot of talented people here and I want to support my hometown by staying and working here.”

Last year René, 22, won the inaugural Emerging Designer prize for his mortar and pestle design, “Pod”, based on a star anise seed. He is also currently designing a bike rack.

“I enjoy designing things that solve real problems, are meaningful, beautiful and make a difference,” René says.

“I feel like I’m always learning new things. I like to keep up to date with trends and processes, I think it keeps me curious. I’m more in tune with the process, and I’m always thinking, ‘how did they make that’?

“Design doesn’t feel like work for me.”

Right: René Linssen... “I reckon Canberra is a nice place to live and you can really make a name for yourself here.”

Photo by Andrew Finch

Bangarra –Kaine Sultan Babij. Story Page 17. Photo by Edward Mulvihill.

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Life without plastic

AS part of Plastic Free July, the Canberra Environment Centre invites the public to meet a panel of three Canberrans who have taken up the challenge of living a plastic-free lifestyle. The panellists will discuss environmental issues caused by plastic consumption and share the lessons learnt from making the switch. At the Food Coop, 3 Kingsley Street, Acton, 6pm-7pm, on Wednesday, July 27. It’s free but rsvp to ecoaction.com.au

Taking a long walk

THE Canberra leg of the Bloody Long Walk, the national fundraising series of the Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (AMDF), will be held over 35 kilometres on Sunday, October 30. Mitochondrial disease is a debilitating, potentially fatal genetic disorder that robs sufferers of the ability to walk, run or even just stand up. Foundation CEO Sean Murray says it’s the walk’s first time in Canberra and the proceeds will help the AMDF support affected people, fund research, education and advocacy initiatives. The disease has few treatments and no cure. Registrations for individuals or teams at bloodylongwalk.com.au

Talking Alzheimer’s

JILLIAN Brown, education officer, Alzheimer’s Australia, is the guest speaker at Weston Creek VIEW Club’s monthly lunch meeting at the Southern Cross Club, Woden, 11.30am-2.30pm on Tuesday, August 2. If you would like to join us or need more information please phone Lyn on 62887625 by Thursday, July 28th.

MAJOR YARRALUMLA HOME CONTENTS AUCTION

ITEMS OF INTEREST: Outstanding major art collection including Indigenous Art, Australian Artists and European & American Artists including – Indigenous, Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, Michael Nelson Tjagamarra, George Ward Tjungurrayi, Minnie Pwerle, Emily Pwerle, Gloria Petyarre, Walala Tjapaltjarri, Barbara Weir, Sarrita King, Emily Kane Kngwarreye, Barney Ellega, Dr George Tjapaltjarri, Ngoia Pollard, Napaltjarri, Linda Syddick Napaltjarri, Kathleen Petyarre, Lily Karadada, Jeannie Pitjara and others. Australian Art by Brett Whiteley, Robert Dickerson, Norman Lindsay, Charles Blackman, Christabel Blackman, Sidney Nolan, Joyce Robal, Hugh Schulz, David Boyd, Pro Hart, Kenneth Jack, Wendy Sharpe, David Rankin, Jack Absalom, Leonard Long, Eric Mincin, Louis Kahan, Rick Amor, Jeffrey Proud and others. European & American Art by Andy Warhol, Henry Matisse, Roy Lichtestein, Pablo Ruiz Picasso, Salvador Dali, Marc Chagall and others. Porcelain & Ceramics including vases, bowls, plates, pots and figurines from the Song Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty – plus Ancient Artefacts, Fine Furnishings, Garden Furniture, Large Garden Pots, Bronzes, Rugs, Suit of Armour, Dive Helmet, Crystal, Coins, Stamps, Antiques & Many Collectables, Jewellery, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Mercedes

Barr’s cynical move into dubious politics

BRENDAN Smyth has counted the numbers and done the calculations in accepting the sinecure offered by Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

Rather than another four years in the political wilderness, he has decided to jump ship to take up the newly announced role of commissioner for international engagement. If the Liberals win government at the October election, Smyth will have no chance of replacing Jeremy Hanson as leader or even being his deputy. He will never be Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister. If the Liberals lose, he is banished to opposition for yet another four years.

Barr has deployed a most cynical manoeuvre to pull a popular MLA from an electorate where the Liberals stood a very good chance of winning three seats.

Barr has also done his calculations. Indications from the last election would suggest that (without Zed Seselja in the electorate) Smyth was capable of pulling a quota on his own and providing a leg up for a third Liberal to be elected in Brindabella – as happened at the last election.

Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson is not fazed.

“Brendan’s vote is largely a Liberal Party vote,” he told “CityNews”. “I remain optimistic about winning a third seat in Brindabella”.

Although thanking Brendan for his service in a gracious manner, Hanson did not mention the position of ‘commissioner for international engagement’ the Chief Minister

Andrew Barr has deployed a most cynical manoeuvre to pull a popular MLA from an electorate where the Liberals stood a very good chance of winning three seats.

has created.

It is ideal for Smyth as a former minister in the ACT government, a long-term and effective member of the Assembly, and a fomer Federal MP who has an appropriate background in business.

This is dubious politics – the ethics are questionable. How could Smyth resist the Chief Minister’s offer of a role that entails “finalising the strategy governing Canberra’s international engagement. This international plan will focus our efforts to build enduring international relationships, supporting jobs and cultural exchange”.

The Carnell government set the precedent when Kate Carnell appointed her predecessor, Rosemary Follett, as a Commissioner for Discrimination. Most unbiased observers would argue Rosemary served the position well. Labor’s Terry Connolly was appointed as Master of the Supreme Court and later as a judge. He was an outstanding performer in government and in opposition when he was appointed by the then Liberal Attorney General, Gary Humphries. The appoint-

ment considerably weakened the Labor Party. Connolly was later appointed to the ACT Supreme Court by Chief Minister Jon Stanhope.

When Liberal Bill Stefaniak was made appeals president of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal by Stanhope, the Labor leader understood the impact it would have in the electorate.

I wrote at the time that the motivation was clear. Removing Stefaniak, who had a big personal following in the electorate of Ginninderra, provided a considerable advantage for Labor. However, as happens from time to time in politics, it was the Greens that capitalised on the gap that was created.

The third Saturday in October this year promises a very close election in the ACT. Opposition Leader Hanson has a team that’s pulling together.

His ACT Liberals have fought an effective long and sustained campaign on two main issues: increasing rates and light rail. Both are scare campaigns. However, there is

enough truth in the assertions to ensure considerable impact on voter intention. In every electorate, including Brindabella, it is the third seat that’s up for grabs and will determine who takes government.

It is difficult to unpick the motivation of all of the players, but there is no doubt that one less seat in the next election will have a significant influence on the outcome. However, after 18 years’ service to the community, as one of the longest-serving MLAs, it would be churlish to argue that Smyth isn’t deserving.

It is a different story with the process. It remains unclear whether or not the commissioner for parliamentary ethics, Stephen Skehill SC, has been consulted on this appointment. I doubt it. He should have been. Political appointments of this kind, no matter how well they turn out, really ought to be done through proper process.

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

local history / queanbeyan bridge

Queen’s Bridge story that spans the centuries

THE 10-year-old girl with the pageboy bob holding the shiny pair of scissors had a pedigree reaching back to the earliest days of European settlement on the Limestone Plains.

It was July 21, 1975, and Charlotte L. Faunce, the great-great granddaughter of the man charged with bringing law and order to this district in 1836, Captain Alured “Iron Man” Faunce, recreated history when she cut the ribbon to declare the “new” Queanbeyan bridge open.

It was the fourth structure to assume the position and young Charlotte was following in the footsteps of her namesake, Miss Charlotte Faunce, the eldest daughter of the good captain, who opened the first graceful timber bridge in 1858 – incredibly, 20 years after Queanbeyan initially took hold on both banks of that picturesque but often troublesome river.

And while a sigh of relief was heaved at the time by a collective of patient Queanbeyanites, it also much delighted all those Canberrans hankering

for a quicker escape to the south coast.

Built at a total cost of almost $800,000 (today equivalent to around $5.2 million), the latest incarnation of the Queen’s Bridge also took out the problematic “dog-leg” at its eastern end, which had seen the road veer right, then left into the main street of old, Macquoid, the Jack Brabham-like skills required often leading to traffic standstills in peak periods (read ACT school holidays).

Responsible for stumping up the not inconsiderable funds for this much-agitated project was the imposing, handsome fellow seen at young Charlotte’s side in “The Canberra Times” photo of the day: the Honourable Wal Fife, then Minister for Transport and Highways in the Askin state government, soon to jump the fence and become part of the Fraser Federal crew following the disposal of Gough Whitlam and co. by the end of that year.

Observing this most auspicious event and resplendent in robes, chains and moustache, was Mayor Fred Land, the city’s longest-serving head official – almost 18 years at the helm and himself from a local dynasty: his grandfather Edwin Land, the

youngest ever mayor at only 32 and his uncle Henry Land also serving in the role in the 1920s.

Like any local government politico worth his salt, Mayor Land didn’t miss the chance to hit up the minister for a few more pieces of silver for his community, advocating the future need for a second bridge, “a four or six-lane structure [that] would be necessary further downstream to carry through traffic”.

Apparently the mayor was politely, but pointedly, ignored; with 18 years under his belt as a local member and minister in a variety of portfolios (and which would be extended to a further 18 years at the Federal level), Wal was well regarded for his poker-face abilities.

It was reported that thousands attended the opening ceremony and the official party travelled across the now concrete edifice in a “borrowed ACT limousine” no less!

NICHOLE OVERALL

Because they like to do things a bit differently in Queanbeyan and as the 41st anniversary approached, through an opportune happenstance, Charlotte Jr, now a Sydneysider, and Wal, usually of Barton, in the colder months also of Sydney, agreed to a request to come together with the last mayor of the Queanbeyan City Council, Tim Overall (yes, here I declare an interest), to reproduce that moment in time.

Alas, the weather was more inclement, the crowds rather thinner and there was certainly not a limousine in sight, but the occasion was nonetheless equally historically charged; after all, it’s not every day you get to witness the rededication of one of this region’s most

significant pieces of infrastructure by some of the very people involved in both its creation and the backstory of the city – as well as the wider area – which has grown around it. Timing, as they say, is everything. Nichole Overall is a Queanbeyan based journalist and historian.

Local Libs go the Pokémon distance

The ignorant Pokémon players of the world are united in their thanks of the Canberra Liberals’ uncaring approach to electoral law and simple distances.

WHILE Pokémon Go is taking over the world and hordes of players descend on Canberra’s public places to wait for the servers to work, it is pleasing that our own Canberra Liberals have played a small part in the game’s meteoric rise.

In 2008, I was moderately incensed that the Liberals were flouting the ACT’s laws about electoral signage within 100 metres of a polling place. For a party that campaigns on locking other people up for breaking the law, I expected better.

To demonstrate the true distance I went down to the Dickson oval running track with my housemate, turned on a video camera while facing her and walked backwards to the end of the track.

It’s a crude and simple video but it does demonstrate the distance. While at the time it attracted no more than a few hundred views, over the years it has become Google’s first result when asked: “How long is 100 metres?”.

This question became a lot more pressing when Pokémon Go launched and started informing its vast legion of players that rare pocket monsters were within 100, 200 or 300 metres of them. The traffic spike on the video is near vertical.

The ignorant Pokémon players of the world are united in their thanks of the Canberra Liberals’ uncaring approach to electoral law and

simple distances.

If you’re still doubting the impact of the game, head down to Questacon of an evening. There in near complete silence you’ll see hundreds of faces lit only by the screens in their hands waiting for prize rare Pokémon to appear.

While the game is only a couple of weeks old, and for much of the time the servers are down due to the insane demands of the players, it already has legends.

One of those is that a rare dragon appears at the top of Black Mountain at midnight.

An acquaintance of mine duly attempted to collect it, sat for half an hour at the top of the mountain and decided to head home.

That was when he discovered he’d run his car battery flat. While waiting for the NRMA to come and jump start him the dragon finally appeared and was captured.

While much is being made of the way the game forces players to get outside and interact with the real world, occasionally discovering dead bodies or getting mugged, it is following in the footsteps of an earlier augmented reality game “Ingress”.

A point of sadness for players prone to mild naughtiness is that where Ingress was largely unknown to police, one definitely does not want a game of Pokémon Go to be visible on the dashboard as one is driving.

If you haven’t yet succumbed to the craze but are thinking about it here are some things you’ll be needing for yourself or your kids:

• An external battery pack. Your phone is going to go through juice faster than you can believe playing

this game.

• A beefed up data plan. If you haven’t played an AR game before you’re not ready for the amount of data you’re about to blow through.

• A second device with mobile data. Playing on one while the other is charging is the only way to go.

There’s also a reality that you’re going to have to accept. Just as being really good at pool is a sign of a misspent youth, great success at Pokémon Go is a function of having lots of free time.

The homeless guy plugged into a powerpoint outside Pilgrim House is going to be playing rings around anyone trying to manage responsibilities in their life. I have strong suspicions that Canberra’s leading players have not slept in weeks.

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

JOHN GRIFFITHS

Still crazy after all these years…

I MISSED out on the Pokémon craze the first time around. My kids didn’t, they had the trading cards, the hand-held game, and watched the cartoons.

At times it was a struggle to get them away from their imaginary monsters to go outside, but more often the lure of playing football or cricket would win in the end.

So to the Pokémon Go craze that has been sweeping the world for the past two weeks. I’m not the first person to point out the irony of it actually getting players outside to semi-engage with the world – albeit a world with cartoon characters superimposed on a smartphone view of it – thus overcoming one of the major criticisms levelled at the games of 20 years ago. Instead, I ask you to think about the devotion thousands of Australians are showing to their chase for these virtual creatures.

same gamers about our Federal parliament or closer to home our Legislative Assembly. How many of the 226 Upper and Lower House Federal members do you reckon they could name? Or of the 17 ACT MLAs?

Across the country over the past few years, we’ve lost the knack of engaging a lot of young people in the political process. During the election campaign estimates that up to half a million people, aged between 18 and 24, weren’t even enrolled to vote and another figure of up to one million eligible people in total not being on the roll at all.

Make bus trips more efficient

WE have been informed that to improve the Canberra bus service we must build a light rail network, but there is another initiative –build more interchanges i.e. make it easier to move between the suburban bus networks and the Blue Rapid networks.

I live in Chifley and want to go to Tuggeranong. I have two options: the first, I catch the 22 bus at, for example, 10.30am and go to Woden interchange and then catch the 313 and arrive in Tuggeranong interchange at 11.04am – 34 minutes for my journey. The second is to catch the 21 bus heading south at 10.49am and get off two stops after Torrens shops to catch the 314 bus arriving in Tuggeranong at 11.14am – 25 minutes for my journey. Or rather it would have been 25 minutes but I have to walk 400m to catch the 314 despite the fact that the route 22 bus crosses the 314 bus route.

This simple change of allowing suburban buses to have common bus stops with the Blue Rapid network outside the existing interchanges would greatly improve the overall efficiency of the Canberra bus system.

Aldo Bongiorno, Chifley

Get over it

There are apparently somewhere north of 700 Pokémon. And if you talk to some of the Poképlayers they can name dozens, even hundreds, of them. They can probably also tell you whether they evolve from eggs or other Pokémon creatures and what special powers the creatures may possess.

But ask many of these

And then there’s the disengagement between those who are on the roll and the political process. I don’t profess to have the solution, but perhaps there is a glimmer of hope. One of the things Pokémon Go relies on to plonk its imaginary creatures on displays is that it goes to popular locations. The places people take lots of pictures of with their smart phones.

We can be subversive here. Take your phone to Parliament House and snap lots of pictures then share them on social media. It might be a long shot, but there’s just the chance that catching a Gyarados underneath a portrait of Robert Menzies could engage an otherwisedormant political curiosity.

Now pardon me, there’s a Venomoth somewhere outside my office. Apparently, they’re worth a fortune.

Chris Coleman presents drive on 2CC.

CHRIS COLEMAN

ROBERT Macklin (Seven Days, June 30) certainly has a hate thing going against the British, which makes his sneers about their alleged xenophobia and racism hypocritical and ironic. Not to mention inconsistent, because according to his take on history the Aborigines must have been xenophobic to oppose the settlement of British boat people. He should try to get over his unnecessary guilt complex.

Pam Lai, Weston Creek

Housing idea

I READ John Griffiths’ column (“The woeful world of homelessness”, CN June 30) regarding housing in the ACT.

I know how hard it is to get a foothold in the housing market. When I wanted to buy a house in 1980 for $28,000, the manager of the CBA told me I had to have a man as co-signer as I would need a man’s protection one day!

There are affordable houses for sale if you think outside the square. I have a three-bedroom house at White Ibis Holiday Park, 15 minutes from the centre of Canberra on the Federal Highway. It cost $195,000 and is currently rented. I own another house as I saved so much from living at White Ibis that I am mortgage free.

Ann Clifton, via email

‘It’s as though the timepieces have personalities and we have to

Watch experts

TRADITIONAL watchmakers AJ Watch Repairs is expanding its range of timepieces.

Watchmaker Krzysztof Jakubaszek says that although AJ’s is primarily a watch-repair shop, it already sells brands exclusive to Canberra and some that very few places in Australia have.

“We will soon be the sole national distributor and importer of exclusive brands such as Tacs, Akteo, and a major Swiss design label Alfex with a national service centre right here in Canberra,” he says.

“These are popular international brands, and we’re proud to be able to stock them here in the nation’s capital.”

AJ’s also sells German brands Mühle and MeisterSinger, Australian Adina, which uses Swiss parts, with other, well-known Swiss brands such as Glycine and Classique also displaying in their showcases.

German cuckoo clocks, barometers, weather stations fill the walls at AJ Watch Repairs and through the glass partition customers can see the watchmakers at work.

Krzysztof says they repair any timepiece, dealing directly with companies such as Omega, Tag, Raymond Weil, Rado and Tissot , Seiko and Citizen to name a few.

“It could be anything from removing or adding links to changing batteries with pressure testing or a complete overhaul,” he says.

Akteo – This French brand of watch is back in Australia after a five year absence.

Many more models available.

TACS – A new range of watches available in Australia for the first time.

Many more models available.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, AJ Watch Repairs was established in 1996 by Krzysztof’s parents Andrzej and Stella Jakubaszek.

Trading for the last 18 years at Bailey’s Corner, Krzysztof says AJ Watch Repairs is a family run, locally owned and operated business with a long history of traditional watchmaking.

“My father Andrzej is a master watchmaker and he learned the trade from his grandfather,” says Krzysztof.

“As a watchmaker, you do a five -year apprenticeship, which dad did at the European Watchmaking School. I did my training at the Australian Watchmaking School, which is part of Ultimo TAFE in Sydney.

“Before opening our own store, dad has worked with Goldmark and Prouds as their watchmaker, and we have also done work for large institutions like the Australian War Memorial, the Department of Defence and the ACT Emergency Services.

“Originally, my dad was trained as a mechanic but grandmother convinced him that it would be better to work on smaller gears in a heated or cooled environment rather than in the cold with ice and snow-covered cars, so he switched to watchmaking.”

Krzysztof says the thing he loves most about his job is that: “Every day is something different, something new comes across the bench, a new puzzle to solve.

Father-and-son watchmakers Andrzej and Krzysztof Jakubaszek... “Every day is something different, something new comes across the bench, a new puzzle to solve,” says Krzysztof.

“Even with watches of the same type, the problems are always different and we have to work out what the customer is trying to tell us, but also what the timepiece is trying to tell us.

“It’s as though the timepieces have personalities and we have to figure out exactly what’s going on with them.

“We come to know each timepiece intimately and there is a lot of work that goes

into seeing it come to life again.”

AJ Watch Repairs, Shop 33, Bailey’s Arcade, 143 London Circuit, Bailey’s Corner, Civic. Call 6262 5900.

IF ever there were an example of the quintessential Canberra sportsperson, in my mind it would be Caroline Buchanan.

Caroline pedals on to Rio dream Big answer behind census question

Born and bred in Canberra 25 years ago, schooled at Weston Creek, Merici and Erindale College, her family home in Duffy burned to the ground in the 2003 fires leaving the family with little more than a couple of bikes.

From this beginning, Caroline emerged as a five times world champion in BMX and mountain bikes.

The Olympic dream can disappear in a matter of seconds or it can live with you for a lifetime.

The fact that she won her first mountain bike world title in 2009 at Stromlo Forest Park, a park established after the 2003 bushfires, simply adds depth to her personality. At 17, Caroline was too young to compete in the Olympics in 2008. By 2012 she was the favourite to win the gold medal in London only to falter and miss out on a medal altogether. It was heartbreaking, but given what she had been through in 2003 Caroline realised it wasn’t the end of the world. She says she has learnt a lot from the Olympic final in London and it has made her stronger ahead of Rio.

Speaking to her from her training base in California as she prepares for Rio, I gained the impression that she is as motivated to do well at these Olympics for herself as well as for the people of Canberra. This is especially for those who have supported her in the journey thus far.

While many athletes see coming to Canberra as a sacrifice for the betterment of their sporting careers, it is refreshing to speak to an athlete who believes she is making a sacrifice by training away from Canberra.

The BMX race at the Olympics, on a 450-metre track, is over in around 40 seconds with riders jockeying at high speed in a bid to cross the line first. The Olympic dream can disappear in a matter of seconds or it can live with you for a lifetime.

Caroline is confident it will be the latter.

WHILE we celebrate the selection of a number of Canberra athletes, it is worth taking time out to support those who have missed out.

TIM GAVEL

Rebecca Wiasak is a world champion in the individual pursuit, yet failed to make the team for Rio. Her event is not in the Olympics and

BMX star Caroline Buchanan… learnt a lot from the Olympic final in London.

she couldn’t win a place in the team’s pursuit.

Anna Flanagan is another who is doing her best to remain upbeat despite missing selection in the Hockeyroos. She paid the price for failing to tell officials about a DUI charge. After being left out of the Champions Trophy team she found it hard to win back a place in the side for Rio.

Both Rebecca and Anna have vowed to fight their way back.

By Nick Jensen

A campaign has formed to encourage people to tick the ‘no religion’ box in order to lessen the ‘undeserved’ influence of religion and increase the lobbying power of the faithless.

“God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed Him.”

FRIEDRICH Nietzsche wrote these words in 1882 in the “Parable of the Madman”. This narrative revolves around a local man who informs the gathering crowd that they have killed God. He claims that they did this unknowingly and without any realisation of the consequences of such an act. He finally concludes that no-one understands what he is talking about, and that this truth is far beyond them. Thereby he is ultimately dismissed as a madman.

briefly

Improving bus timetables

TRANSPORT Canberra’s new ACTION Bus, weekday timetable, which starts on August 29, is promising better bus services to some of Canberra’s growing suburbs with timetable changes that include new services to Weston Creek and the Molonglo Valley, Crace, Florey and Latham, and the extension of Blue Rapid 300 services to Kippax.

Jump forward 134 years, and suddenly it doesn’t seem like such a mad idea. Atheism is on the rise in Australia, with more people than ever before in our history declaring a symbolic “death of God”. So much so, that the ABS has decided that the term “no religion” should now take pride of place in our August 9 census. Indeed, a campaign has formed to encourage people to tick this box in order to lessen the “undeserved” influence of religion in our society and increase the lobbying power of the faithless.

What I love above Nietzsche is his honesty. He recognises the ultimate significance of his statement. Once God goes, Nietzsche explains, then morality, meaning, and truth go with Him. It is simply foolish to dismiss the notion of God, yet still live in a way that is fundamentally attached to His existence. Put simply, if chaos is all that runs the universe, then speaking and acting as if there is anything “good” is inauthentic.

More information, including routes, timetables and maps from transport.act.gov.au or call 131710.

Dementia at war

AUSTRALIAN War Memorial director Brendan Nelson is the keynote speaker at Alzheimer’s Australia ACT’s business breakfast, at the QT Hotel, London Circuit, Civic on Friday, September 2. Dr Nelson will speak of the impact of war and dementia. Tickets are $75 and bookings via eventbrite.com.au

Marist golf day

THE Marist College Canberra Foundation Annual Golf Day, at the Murrumbidgee Golf Club, on Friday, August 12 is open to all levels of golfers, from beginners to accomplished players. Prizes include a limited-ticket raffle with a first prize of a NZ golf package to the value of $7000. All proceeds to the Br Mark May Bursary Fund, which assists financially disadvantaged families. Bookings via maristc.act.edu.au/ community/news

To quote Nietzsche: “Is there still any up or down? Are we not straying, as through an infinite nothing? Do we not feel the breath of empty space? Has it not become colder?”

His solution of course is that we have to create our own meaning, our own individual truth, essentially become our own gods. We can be and do whatever we want on one proviso – that we have the power to do it. Why does the eagle swoop down and eat the lamb? Because he can. Good and evil do not come into it.

In essence, the question on the census is probably the most significant one that could ever be asked (though ironically an optional one to answer).

It is the question of whether we hold something to be transcendent and bigger than ourselves, or whether we declare, with a stroke of a pen, there is no higher mind than mine. Indeed, this question affects everything in our society from our laws, our work and even our motivations and actions towards each other.

Although some may see this census question of one’s religion as no more than a power struggle for influence, I honestly have a different attitude. No matter which box people pick, it is a wonderful opportunity to ask ourselves, at least every five years, what do we believe? Our understanding of truth, purpose, human identity, right, wrong, life, death, and indeed the very nature of reality all hang on our response to this one question. For me, the beauty, love and goodness I see in this world can draw me to only One conclusion.

Canberra Confidential

Life, death and climate change

“OTHER than life and death, climate change will be one of the only collective experiences in our lifetime to touch every human on the planet,” opine the organisers of art exhibition “2°”.

The show, at Gorman Arts Centre until August 20, looks at climate change by using “humour, seduction and intrigue”. Curated by Alexander Boynes, the exhibition features Daniel Bonson, GW Bot , David Buckland, Søren Dahlgaard, Jacky Green, Annika Harding, Timothy James Johnson and Andrew Styan

Scooperama

ONLY a Swiss ice cream maker could be “delighted” at giving away scoops of its frozen product in the depths of a Canberra winter.

What’s driving the madness of parting company with 250 free scoops of premium ice cream on August 1? The Swiss national day, of course.

It’s not absolutely free. Recipients of a Mövenpick scoop are expected to kick the tin with a gold-coin donation to support the Swiss-founded Red Cross. But they shouldn’t expect to see

MikeT at the Kingston Foreshore store. He loves the ice cream but tells Tripadvisor that the scoops are pretty miserable for the price (two for $7.50). He puts the parsimony down to the area’s high rents.

Specs that see and hear

SCIENTISTS have developed ordinary looking glasses, complete with a discreet microphone, that help visually impaired wearers read news-

papers or text on a computer, a smartphone or any other product as well as recognising faces, telling the wearer who they are.

How do we know this? Because the glasses will be among the other revolutionary equipment on display at the Royal Society for the Blind’s annual adaptive technology, equipment and low-vision aids expo, Overview 2016, at the Griffin Centre on July 29-30.

RSB Canberra co-ordinator Rebecca Rawlinson said: “The advances in technology, especially in computers that can see and speak, are absolutely extraordinary and

completely revolutionising for people who are blind or vision impaired.

“Overview celebrates these achievements, but it’s also about education – adaptive technology, equipment and aids give the gift of independence to people of all ages and abilities and from all walks of life.”

Radio Rod takes a quiet bow

FORMER top-rating Brisbane broadcaster Rod Henshaw, pictured, who has returned to live in Canberra and is regularly heard these days on 2CC, marked his 50th anniversary in radio this week. He started at 2GN Goulburn on July 19, 1966.

But the smooth-voiced one greeted the good-natured chiacking from friends, bemused that the home of the Big Merino wasn’t having a Rod Henshaw Day, with little more than a resigned shrug. Both he and the doubtless unwitting station let the anniversary slip quietly away.

Cedric smashes the record

CEDRIC (“The Pedant”) Bryant , pictured, guru of all things green, writes to argue that the region’s rain

statistics hailing June as the wettest on record are wrong.

“Records to the best of my knowledge did not start officially in Canberra until about 1939,” he says.

“However, an official weather recording station was established at the Queanbeyan Bowling Club, Station Number 070072 in 1870.

“A few years ago they gave me all the rainfall figures, month by month and year by year since 1870.

“The wettest June on record was in 1891 with 161.6mm. There is overall little difference between rainfall in Queanbeyan and Canberra”.

Remembering grandma

INSPIRED by the experience of recording his grandmother’s stories after she was diagnosed with dementia, local documentary filmmaker Simon Cunich has launched Heirloom Films, dedicated to making films for families, to preserve the life stories of their elderly loved ones.

Already, he says, “there are some moving examples of how it has helped families capture precious memories of their elders before their passing.”

Cunich’s last film “Maratus” was awarded the Audience Award at the Stronger Than Fiction Film Festival in Canberra last year. More information at heirloomfilms.com.au

Hope and help for chronic pain sufferers

“PAIN… the invisible challenge” is the theme for this year’s National Pain Week, which aims to give hope and help to people and their loved ones who suffer with chronic pain.

Run by Chronic Pain Australia, National Pain Week will run from July 25 to 31.

“Over three million Australians are living with chronic pain every day, an often overwhelming condition that can have a negative impact on all aspects of a person’s life,” says Dr Coralie Wales, president of Chronic Pain Australia.

Dr Wales says the week is dedicated to raising awareness of the impact of chronic pain on the lives of Australians.

“Our aim is to reduce the unnecessary suffering and isolation caused by chronic pain in our communities, and change the culture that surrounds people living with chronic pain,” she says. Visit nationalpainweek.org.au for information and resources.

‘Single-visit’ pain solutions Network welcomes new Casey clinic

FOCUSED on building a strong patient rapport, Canberra Health Network offers patients a holistic approach to pain management as soon as they walk in the door.

Formerly known as Canberra City Osteopathy, Canberra Health Network will open its new clinic in Casey on August 1 to join its long-standing clinic in the city.

As part of its growth, the Canberra Health Network now offers pilates classes at its Casey clinic and has an exercise physiologist and psychologist on staff.

This is in addition to the osteopathy, physiotherapy, remedial massage and hydrotherapy already on offer.

“We are a team of highly trained professionals dedicated to treating a diversity of conditions promptly with helpful service,” says practice manager Emma Benfatto.

“Building a strong patient rapport is important to us as is giving people holistic care from when they walk through the door.”

Emma says their clinicians also offer real time ultrasound services to help view and assess specific key muscles on screen in “real time” and make sure patients are performing the relevant exercises correctly and recruiting the right muscles.

“We are experienced in a range of different areas from paediatrics through to prenatal to sports injuries,” she says.

Visit canberrahealthnetwork.com.au or call 02 6247 0733.

JUNIC Specialist Imaging and Women’s Centre is a “single visit” ultrasound-based model of care that offers women assessments and diagnosis of painful conditions such as endometriosis.

“JUNIC Specialist Imaging and Women’s Centre has pioneered the concept of a ‘single-visit’, ultrasound-based women’s health service in Canberra,” says Dr Uche Menakaya, who runs the centre alongside women’s health nurse practitioner Elissa O’Keefe.

“Our ‘single-visit’ model of care involves a routine specialist consultation as well as a detailed gynaecology ultrasound assessment performed by myself.

“Information derived from these assessments inform our recommendations for your management and treatment.

“All this is done at your ‘single visit’ with JUNIC. With this unique model of care, women spend less time attending multiple appointments with their specialists and have more time available for family and loved ones.”

Dr Menakaya, an Australian-trained, specialist obstetrician, gynaecologist, advanced laparoscopic surgeon and sonologist, says one in 10 women suffer from endometriosis

Exercise programs to reduce pain

ARTHRITIS ACT offers a range of exercise programs that aim to reduce chronic pain in a social and fun environment.

CEO Rebecca Davey says Arthritis ACT’s programs are available for people of all ages who have received a chronic pain diagnosis and a medical clearance to take part.

“We concentrate on how exercise helps with pain management,” Rebecca says.

“With arthritis, when you keep moving you actually reduce the pain.”

Arthritis ACT offers warm-water exercise and strength and balance programs both run by their in-house physiotherapist.

“What science has discovered is if you exercise in water at a temperature of 34C it can reduce the pain a person is suffering from,” Rebecca says.

“People who can do warm-water exercise two times a week show signs of a decrease in pain.

“Exercise in water takes the stress off joints and

and of those women 8-12 per cent with endometriosis in Canberra also have their bowel affected by endometriosis.

“At JUNIC, we are determined to continue to provide this subgroup of women the best possible pathways to achieve an improved quality of life despite these challenges,” he says.

JUNIC also offers general gynaecological and obstetric services including management of high-risk pregnancies.

“We are a global leader in the preoperative diagnosis of endometriosis using ultrasound,” Dr Menakaya says.

“The centre is also recognised as a centre for advanced minimal invasive (laparoscopic) surgery in Canberra. JUNIC Specialist Imaging and Women’s Centre is the only early pregnancy assessment centre in northern Canberra and provides bulk-billed colposcopy services and management of abnormal pap smears.”

JUNIC Specialist Imaging and Women’s Centre, 20 Cartwright Street, Charnwood is within the premises of the National Health Co-op.

Visit junicimaging.com.au, email info@ junicimaging.com.au or call 6178 0470.

helps to make it easier to move them.

“It also increases how well a joint functions and strengthens and improves the health of the joint.”

The warm-water exercise program is offered in five hydrotherapy pools in Canberra.

The strength and balance program focuses on strengthening joints and core and its dietetic program focuses on keeping people in their weight range.

“Every 1kg of weight that you’re over your recommended healthy weight range adds an extra 4kg of weight on your joints,” Rebecca says.

“Our dietitian helps you make more informed food choices. She encourages pleasure through eating and not making it burdensome.”

Arthritis ACT is a not-for-profit organisation that provides a range of resources to encourage selfmanagement of musculoskeletal conditions.

Visit arthritisact.org.au or call 6288 4244.

Opening in Casey! 1st

August

Appointments are now available for • Osteopathy • Physiotherapy • Hydrotherapy • Remedial massage • Pilates • Exercise Physiology • Psychology

Phone 6247 0733 A professional setting in two convenient locations

Monday–Friday 8am–6pm Saturday 8am –4pm

CITY: Level 1, 71–73 London Circuit

CASEY: Casey Market Town, 15 Kingsland Parade

E: enquire@canberrahealthnetwork.com.au

W: canberrahealthnetwork.com.au

OSTEOPATHY

We take the time to understand your pain and help your recovery

At Step into Health Care we work with you to treat your pain and assist you with ongoing self-management, helping you to feel better and get your body moving again.

Osteopaths – Kieran Step and Stefanie Villinger pride themselves with personalised treatment and care Stefanie has experience in the treatment of a comprehensive range of conditions as well as back and pelvic pain during pregnancy, running injuries, neck pain and headaches.

Take a step in the right direction and call us today on 02 6247 8000.

To make an online booking and obtain further information visit www.stepintohealthcare.com.au

Kieran takes time to explain your condition, treating your pain with osteopathic techniques. A former Australian cross country ski champion, he has an interest in treating sporting injuries and a range of other musculoskeletal complaints. Osteopathy is covered by most private health funds and by Medicare’s Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Plans. Osteopaths are registered providers for DVA patients, Comcare, workers’ compensation schemes and motor accident insures.

Elegant and relaxing treatment rooms, centrally located in the city Suite 6, 6 Lonsdale Street, Braddon.

National Pain Week / July

The precise role of imaging

UNIVERSAL Medical Imaging was established in 2009, providing personalised ultrasound sports imaging and interventional techniques. Headed by local radiologist, A/Prof Rajeev Jyoti, UMI now features ultrasound, x-ray, CT, mammography and MRI.

Personalised imaging consultations are a vital part of the preparation for patients undergoing procedures aimed at reducing pain. At UMI, the radiologist examines each patient in conjunction with previous scans before proceeding with any therapeutic procedures.

“In many cases, patients experience a significant improvement in their symptoms following guided imaging procedures, but it is important to make sure that the therapy reaches the precise source of the pain,” says A/Prof Jyoti.

“This can be tricky, especially in the spine as there can be multiple causes, so each case requires a detailed review if we are to achieve the best outcomes.”

UMI recently commenced Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections for tendonitis and offers a range of other interventional techniques to treat ongoing pain conditions. These are often favourable when conservative treatment has failed.

“Radiology has evolved from just diagnosing pathology, to a point where we are also often involved in the treatment, in co-ordination with the managing referrer,” says A/Prof Jyoti.

“The success of these therapies is dependent on the treatment reaching the source of the pain.

“Often, we have only millimetres to play with when targetting a tendon sheath or nerve root, so imaging plays an important role.”

Post-treatment management is highly recommended via allied health professionals.

UMI accepts all imaging referrals and is located in Kingston Foreshore.

Visit umic.com.au or call 6126 5000.

Clinic offers lots of options for relief

CAPITAL Pain and Rehabilitation provides a combined and co-ordinated multi-disciplinary approach to rehabilitation and pain management. The clinic’s range of allied health professionals are supported by medical specialists who together work closely towards each patient’s treatment and recovery.

“The first phone call to our clinic can open a lot of options,” says Dr Geoff Speldewinde, who is also director of Rehabilitation at Calvary John James Hospital and president-elect of the Australian Pain Society.

“This is a single centre – a one-stop therapy centre that offers combined and co-ordinated service led by a team of equal standing.”

The clinic has exercise physiologists, psychologists, a soft-tissue massage therapist, acupuncture and Chinese medicine practitioners, physiotherapists, three medical specialists, a dietitian and a pain counsellor on hand.

Pain counsellor Jude King, who is available to discuss any questions on the clinic’s painmanagement program, offers a two-hour information session on “Functioning with Pain”, a program to help patients decide whether they want to undertake any of the multi-disciplinary treatments or get a GP referral to see one of their doctors.

Medical procedures, including spine injections, are also available onsite. As is a large, boutique gym, which is used as part of therapy and supervised by a physical therapist who can help patients develop a customised gym program.

Visit capitalrehab.com.au or call 6282 6240.

advertising feature

Pilates, the active piece of the pain puzzle

PILATES is the active piece of the puzzle when it comes to pain management, says Felicia Darbyshire-Pirie, of Pilates Canberra.

“It’s a very well-researched fact that movement helps a lot with pain,” she says.

“We’ve got a very methodical, scientific way of training for people who are dealing with pain.

“From gentle movements to big movements, we’ve got thousands of exercise choices they can make. If they can’t do an exercise one day, we can alter it on the day and try something else.”

Canberra Pilates has been operating since 1996 and has two studios – in New Acton and Phillip. Its highly-qualified instructors offer individualised Pilates training using the entire studio of

Steps in the right direction

TAKE a step in the right direction with personalised care at Step into Health Care.

According to osteopath and clinic director Dr Kieran Step, he and Dr Stefanie Villinger, osteopath and coclinic director, take the time to explain your condition, why it is painful, how osteopathic techniques work and how they may help treat your pain.

“Osteopathy is a form of health care that uses a variety of hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat structural and biomechanical dysfunction along with other conditions of the body,” he says.

Osteopathic treatment uses techniques such as stretching and massage for general treatment of the soft tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments) along with mobilisation of specific joints and various soft tissues.

Stefanie also uses the technique of dry needling for many acute and chronic muscular pain problems.

equipment as well as group classes in matwork and Reformer classes.

Felicia says they can help people recovering from a range of different conditions, from plantar fasciitis to sciatica through to post-surgery recovery.

She says they have built good relationships with physiotherapists, massage therapists and other allied health professionals to help clients work on their pain management.

“We can’t just fix them, they have to come on the journey with us,” Felicia says.

Visit pilatescanberra.com.au or call New Acton on 6281 7788 or Phillip on 6162 1793.

“Stefanie has experience and a keen interest in treating back and pelvic pain during pregnancy, running injuries, as well as neck pain and headaches,” Kieran says.

“During pregnancy, as many as three-quarters of women experience back pain at some point.

“Almost half of the global population suffers from a headache, and approximately 15-20 per cent of those headaches are cervicogenic, meaning that the headache is actually coming from the neck.”

Kieran, a former Australian cross-country ski champion, has an interest in sporting injuries.

“I also enjoy treating a range of other musculoskeletal complaints,” he says.

Step In Health Care is set in elegant and relaxing treatment rooms, which Kieran says complement the transformation of Lonsdale Street, Braddon.

Visit stepintohealthcare.com.au or call 6247 8000.

Tailored approach to relieving problems

PROVIDING relief from physical and emotional pain, Capital Mindset provides a tailored approach to a range of different conditions.

Led by Gaye Morgan, a clinical hypnotherapist, Master NLP practitioner and certified coach, Capital Mindset not only specialises in management for chronic and acute pain but relieving anxiety, lifting depression, healing relaxation, trauma, mindfulness, stress, insomnia, habits, addictions, weight management, smoking cessation, confidence and self-esteem, personal and relationship coaching.

“Everyone is unique and my approach will always be tailored to your specific needs,” Gaye says.

“I use a combination of specialised therapies and techniques, with certified training in psychology, counselling, coaching, clinical hypnotherapy, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), ACU-Meridian Therapy (also known as Emotional Freedom Technique or Tapping), conflict resolution and relationship coaching.

“My combined therapies approach will assist you to experience life in a new way: a way of life where you stop trying to control how you feel and instead take control of what you do, living in alignment with your values to ensure a rich, full and meaningful life.”

As well as individual sessions, Gaye also offers group therapy sessions.

Visit CapitalMindset.com or call Gaye on 0409 814664.

Dr Geoffrey Speldewinde and Dr Keith T Chan, specialist pain and rehabilitation physicians, along with our multidisciplinary team provide the highest level of service for:

• Chronic persistent pain

• Rehabilitation – reconditioning after injury, surgery and neurological conditions

• Medical Pain and Rehabilitation

Procedures such as blocks, neurotomy, discography, stimulators, Botulinum toxin injections all to the highest International Standards

• Diagnostic and therapeutic injections seen rapidly with GP referral

Richard goes the ‘extra mile’

WITH a high level of experience, the personal-injury team at lawyers Baker Deane & Nutt can help with workers’ compensation, motor vehicle accidents, occupiers’ liability, medical negligence and comcare claims.

The firm has provided legal services to Canberra, Queanbeyan and the surrounding regions for 150 years.

Partner Tanya Nadin says: “Our personal injury partner Richard Baker is based in the Canberra office and can provide a personalised service to people who have been injured in the ACT so they can get their life back on track.

“He goes that extra mile for his clients.”

With a free consultation, Baker Deane & Nutt offers a “no win, no fee” service to most claims and says that anyone who has suffered an injury should contact a solicitor as soon as possible to find out about any applicable limitation periods.

Baker Deane & Nutt. Call the Canberra office on 6230 1999 or Queanbeyan on 6299 3999. Visit bdn.com.au

Treating the whole person

KINGSTON Natural Therapies not only provides a holistic approach to the treatment of pain but gets to the bottom of why it’s occurring.

Led by naturopath and herbalist Guy Clews for more than 30 years, Kingston Natural Therapies can treat acute and chronic pain as well as a wide range of general health problems.

“We treat the whole person not just the circumstances,” says Luke Clews, a naturopath and Guy’s son. “Our focus is on a person’s health as a whole, our idea is to improve the body’s ability to resolve itself, opposed to just stopping the process that causes the pain.

“It’s about educating patients and giving them a good idea on how to manage the problems before they arise.”

Guy and Luke use herbal medicine, nutritional medicine, dietary modification, massage therapy and Bowen therapy to treat their patients’ pain.

Luke says it’s never a one-size-fits-all treatment when it comes to pain.

Visit kingstonnaturaltherapies.com.au or call 6295 6660.

Physiotherapist with an experienced touch

MANUKA Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic is a general physiotherapy practice that can treat a wide range of injuries from sports-related and work-related injuries through to motor vehicle accidents.

Led by physiotherapist Greg Nash, the largely musculoskeletal practice can treat patients of all ages suffering from neck and back pain to problems with shoulders, knees, ankles and feet.

“The treatments we do are widely accepted – it’s about restoring movement and improving overall health,” Greg says.

“We do thorough assessments and work closely with treating medical practitioners, GPs and specialists.”

Greg says he’s committed to education and ensuring his skills are up to date and best practice.

“Over my 30 years of experience I have gained knowledge and skills that you can only gain over time from seeing lots of patients,” he says.

Greg says a referral is not needed and the practice offers an after-hours service from either its Manuka or Woden locations.

“Because we’re a small practice, we know our patients and you’ll always see the principal,” he says.

Visit Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic at 26 Bougainville Street, Manuka, or 48 Corinna Street, Woden, or call 6295 6896 (all hours).

• Community based specialist women’s health centre

• Pioneering the ‘one stop’ model of care for quality women’s health services

• Global leadership in the pre surgical diagnosis of endometriosis using ultrasound

• Bulk billed Colposcopy Services

arts & entertainment

The other side of Macq’s massacre

COVER STORY

KNOWN to schoolchildren as the “Father of Australia”, the lustre on the name of Governor Lachlan Macquarie has been tarnished of late.

He was the mastermind of government departments, integrator of freed convicts into the community and initiator of significant buildings.

But now we know that he was also the author 100 years ago, in April 1816, of the Appin Massacre, when at least 14 Aboriginal men, women and children were shot and/or driven over the Cataract Gorge south of Sydney.

Now, as part of a triple-bill, “Our Land People Stories”, Bangarra Dance Theatre

takes up the story in “Macq”, choreographed by Jasmin Sheppard.

Sheppard, who will also be dancing in each of the three works, is no stranger to Australian history and dance, having performed the title role in Bangarra’s “Patyegarang” in 2014.

In 2013, artistic director Stephen Page invited female members of the company to take part in “Dance Clan 3”, a studio season of original choreographic works and the result was “Macq”, a revisionist look at the famous governor.

“Stephen was very excited by my story and how I told it, so he asked me to remount it as a 27-minute piece in 2016,” Sheppard tells “CityNews”. She hopes he’ll give her another such chance in the future.

“The image of Lachlan Macquarie is different nowadays,” Sheppard says.

“This is precisely what I wanted to capture. I’d heard about the Appin Massacre when I lived in Liverpool about 10 years ago and I

thought: ‘This is interesting’.

“I do feel it’s the same with a lot of Australian history, we hear one side of the story, but not the other side.”

True enough. The “Australian Dictionary of Biography” dismisses the event with the words: “When the natives showed signs of ungrateful hostility, he organised a military drive to chasten them.” But an eight-year-old boy witnessed the event and three skulls from the massacre have been repatriated to the National Museum of Australia.

“The voice of the Dharawal people must be heard,” Sheppard says.

“Don’t we all deserve to know the truth?

“I don’t think Macquarie was an evil person… I saw him as someone caught in the middle, someone who really only acted out of his limited view of what a perfect society would look like.

“I do have a tiny bit of a soft spot for Macquarie and it comes from the fact that he

seems a little bit all over the shop.”

Former Canberra dancer Daniel Riley plays the governor.

“We talked about the complexity of his character and the breakdown in communication between white and black,” says Sheppard.

“We really wanted to show the grappling of the two worlds.”

Costume designer Jennifer Irwin supported the theme with traditional feathers and furs for the Aboriginal people and contrasting uniforms for the officers, including Macquarie.

It moves and impresses Sheppard that, of about 30,000 Dharawal people, only 130 remained, “and yet 100 years later, they’re still here and still surviving – isn’t it a miracle?”

Bangarra’s “Our Land People Stories”, Canberra Theatre, July 28-30. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

In praise of Mr Quentin Crisp The singing sisters celebrate

By Helen Musa

“I AM preparing to transform myself into Mr Quentin Crisp,” actor and cult cabaret star Paul Capsis announces by phone from his dressing room at the Seymour Centre in Sydney.

“I’m only at my hair follicles so far – it’s all about the hair you know – and it’s a bit out of control, it needs some direction.”

At this stage of his extravagant maquillage, Capsis hardly knows whether he’s Paul or Quentin and, as we talk, he switches in and out of the voice and persona of the notorious Crisp, one of the 20th century’s most acerbic personalities and author of “The Naked Civil Servant” and “How to Become a Virgin”. Crisp is the subject of the 1999 play “Resident Alien” by Michael Fountain, now heavily edited by director Gary Abrahams, to be performed by Capsis in a show coming to The Street Theatre. From his disgustingly filthy East Village apartment, the stage Crisp tells us how to be happy and shares his views on everything from Oprah to oral sex.

The similarities between Capsis and Crisp are obvious, both having successfully grappled with effeminate homosexuality from an early age.

But unlike him, Capsis tells me, Crisp could live without personal relationships and was not politically motivated – “he didn’t believe it made any difference”.

Vitriolic he was, but not entirely antisocial.

“Mr Crisp was extremely free with his time, he was listed in the phone books in both New York and

London,” Capsis tells me. Crisp, as the play will show, was notoriously slovenly, but had nearly $1 million in the bank when he died.

“He lived like a pauper because he knew how to,” says Capsis.

“I wish I could be a bit more like Mr Crisp; it’s my Maltese/Greek upbringing, I’m terrible, I can’t be without order, even in my dressing room.

“But I don’t remember the last time I’ve enjoyed myself so much, I spent months and months studying and researching him. His unusual philosophy and his epigrams are to die for.

“He spent all his spare time thinking them up and he was ready to quote himself up to the time of his passing at 91.”

Comparisons to Oscar Wilde infuriated Crisp, who believed that Wilde showed off in court, wrote “dreadful poetry” and, worst of all, was not an “authentic stylist”.

“Resident Alien”, The Street Theatre, July 27-August 7, bookings to thestreet.org.au or 6247 1223.

By Helen Musa

WHEN country trio the McClymont sisters hit town on July 30 to celebrate “10 years of Hits”, they’ll be playing to a crowd of devoted fans.

Winners at this year’s Awards in Tamworth of two Golden Guitars for Best Group and Highest Selling Album, the sisters have performed many times in Canberra where, trio member Sam McClymont tells “CityNews”, they always find “a wonderful crowd, so supportive of us”.

Sam is talking from Sydney where she’s lived since leaving their home town, Grafton, after completing school in 2003.

“It was time to move to the big smoke,” she says, conceding that these days it doesn’t matter where you live when you’re in showbiz –“you can hop in the car or on a plane to anywhere”.

The spectacular success of the

three sisters sounds like the subject for a good, meaty country song.

Sam, for instance, married pilot Ben Poxon after meeting him while performing in Iraq during 2006 and, artistically, the result was a song we’ll be hearing, “Forever Begins Tonight”, written for her wedding as “a personal expression”.

The arrival of daughter Tiggy for Brooke and husband, country singer Adam Eckersley, was well-document-

ed in the album “Here’s To You & I”. Then Mollie met and married Aaron Blackburn via Tinder and they have a new baby to consider while on tour.

“Life does change and you’re not writing about the same thing all the time,” says Sam.

The McClymonts had a flourishing international career for a time and put down three of their four records in Nashville, but since Brooke and Mollie had babies and Sam got

married “it’s been much easier to stay in Australia than take those big flights”.

But travelling around Australia can be demanding and during their 10 years they’ve been to every state and territory, with only central parts of Queensland, the NT and SA remaining to be explored.

Sam’s schedule is packed. A TV presenter on the lifestyle program “Getaway” and, more recently, the reality television program “The Farmer Wants a Wife”, she “somehow magically” fits these in between tours.

ACT, NSW, Victoria and Queensland audiences can expect a 10-year journey through the McClymonts’ music.

“We chat to the audience, that’s what country music is all about,” she says. “People want to get close to us and love to interact.”

The McClymonts “10 Years of Hits”, Vikings Club, Erindale, Saturday, July 30. Bookings to themcclymonts.net.au

Ballroom Dancing

Join our classes and enjoy yourself in a fun and relaxed social environment at our studio in Isabella Plains

• Junior classes – Monday’s from 6.30pm

• Adult Beginner & Intermediate classes – Wednesday’s from 7.30pm

• Social Dancing

• Private Dancing Lessons –Individuals or Groups (perfect for wedding parties)

All Classes are now held at: Isabella Plains Primary School Hall 130-140 Ellerston Ave, Isabella Plains

Dale’s Ballroom Dancing

Phone: 02 6296 4009 Mobile: 0407 066 110

Email: dale_harris@bigpond.com Web: dalesballroomdancing.com.au

Principal: Dale Harris

Discover Folk Dances of the World

Morning Classes Tuesday & Friday from 10am Evening Classes Wednesday from 6pm • Thursday from 7.30pm Children’s Classes Friday afternoons from 4.15pm

Social Dance Class First Saturday of each Month

Social dance focusing on a different country and culture each month on a Saturday afternoon

Fun for everyone No partner necessary

Folk Dance Canberra Hall 114 Maitland Street, Hackett 02 6286 6401 www.folkdancecanberra.org.au folkdancecanberra@gmail.com

come dancing Dancing for the fun, the fitness

DANCING’S for everyone, whether it’s folk, ballroom, belly dancing, hip hop or contemporary. And it can be a fun way to meet new people or an opportunity for people to develop their technique. “CityNews” looks at the movers and shakers in the varied Canberra dance scene.

Newcomers get help to make the right moves

DANCE Central’s New-to-Dance level is giving those who are new to dance or have never danced before the chance to learn from some of Canberra’s best in a welcoming and fun environment.

New to Dance is available in the dance classes – contemporary, hip hop, tap and jazz funk.

“If you’ve ever felt too self-conscious or worried you won’t pick up the moves, we’ve found the classes for you,” says Julie Scheer, director of Dance Central.

“Particularly for people who have never danced before. Our teachers are brilliant. They are professional with many years’ experience and were specifically chosen to teach classes because of how comfortable they make people feel.”

“Dance is so good for switching off, it’s so much fun and you don’t even feel like you’re getting a workout.”

Dance Central offers more than 100 classes in contemporary, ballet, lyrical, tap, hip hop, jazz and funk for all ages and levels. This includes the Blueberries program – for ages 21 months to five years, junior and teens program, adults program and elite program for hip hop crews and Eisteddfod troupes.

Visit dance-central.com.au or call 6282 7609.

Classes for all ages

WHETHER you’re looking to dance to socialise, earn medals or enter competitions – Dale’s Ballroom Dancing can help you get the most out of ballroom dancing.

Led by principal Dale Harris since 1997, Dale’s Ballroom Dancing caters for all ages from six to 60 plus and offers a range of beginner and experienced classes from social classes, competition training, wedding groups and private lessons.

Dale says children from ages six to 16 years attend their medal classes, which is a great way for young dancers to perfect their technique.

“They enjoy medal test day,” she says. “We have one every six months and a judge comes from interstate to examine each student and, along with their medal, they receive a written report.”

The studio specialises in a range of dance styles: Australian new vogue ballroom (sequence dancing); standard modern, which includes waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot and quickstep; and Latin American, which includes samba, cha cha, paso doble, rumba and jive.

“You don’t realise how much exercise you’re doing or how much fun it is. It’s a great way to meet people in a friendly comfortable environment, you’re crazy if you don’t give it a go.”

Visit canberraballroomdancing. com.au or call 6296 4009.

The benefits of bellydancing

BELLYDANCE not only offers a chance to have a lot of fun but allows you to build up body confidence, says Samina Amar, principal and instructor at Ghawazee Moon Bellydance.

“The real focus is on what the body can do and building up self-confidence and body confidence,” she says.

Ghawazee Moon Bellydance offers classes in folkloric middle-eastern dance, traditional folk style through to fusion style and dubstep fusion style.

It’s aimed at all ages, men or women, starting from pre-school age.

“For many women it’s their mental-health hour – away from the kids and work – to dance,” Samina says.

“It’s a really social form of dancing. What we mainly want is for dancers to enjoy themselves.”

Ghawazee Moon Bellydance’s annual showcase

CELEBRATING its 25th year, Folk Dance Canberra continues to offer a range of world dance classes for people of all ages.

Folk Dance Canberra, which has been running out of the Hackett Hall since 1999, is a recreational dance group run by qualified teachers who cover the traditional dance styles of countries including Greece, Romania, Poland, Russia and South America. They run beginner to advanced classes each day of the week with children’s classes on Friday in two groups – ages four to seven and ages eight to 12.

“You don’t need to have dance experience and you don’t need a dedicated partner to join – as we mostly do circle dancing,” says teacher Lesley Rose. Throughout the year, Folk Dance Canberra also runs mid-year and end-of-year parties, social events and workshops – its most recent workshop was run by international guest teacher André van de Plas, from Holland.

“You can do it at your own pace, and can put as much energy into it as you want.”

Visit folkdancecanberra.org.au or call 6286 6401.

will be held on July 23 - which Samina says can give people a good opportunity to see what they are all about.

Visit ghawazeemoon.com.au or call 0403 020796.

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and the technique

Developing young dance skills

QL2 Dance, situated in the Gorman House Arts Centre, runs programs for ages 8 to 26 that focus on igniting and developing young people’s creative energy and dance skills.

It runs diverse, challenging and rigorous dance and choreographic development programs and brings together community and professional practice so young people can develop as artists producing provocative, high-quality performances for adult and young audiences.

QL2 Dance is also home to Quantum Leap – an auditioned youth dance ensemble.

Its latest production, “Connected”, was created by the Quantum Leap ensemble which worked with renowned dance artists Sara Black, Kristina Chan and Lingua Franca to create three works about connection. “In exploring different forms of connection, we’re

breaking away from those little screens,” says artistic director Ruth Osborne.

“And getting in touch with ourselves, with others, and the environment we inhabit. Each work shows a lot of maturity: these choreographers have collaborated with the dancers to draw out a subtlety of expression you might not expect from young dancers.”

Ruth says the Quantum Leap ensemble has some amazing alumni — including two of the dancers touring with Bangarra.

“Connected” will be performed at The Playhouse on July 27-30 at 7pm and July 30 at 2pm. Tickets from canberratheatrecentre.com.au or call 6275 2700.

QL2 Dance Inc, Gorman House Arts Centre, 55 Ainslie Avenue, Braddon. Call 6247 3103 or visit ql2.org.au

Holly Diggle Artistic Director/Owner

Written & Directed by Julian Hobba

NEED MORE DRAMA IN YOUR LIFE?

Become an actor

“Ghostbusters 2”... banging, howling and animated mayhem.

If you’re gonna call, maybe don’t bother

“Ghostbusters 2” (PG)

WHEN Ivan Reitman’s paranormal comedy fantasy arrived in 1984, we welcomed it as silly fun, no better than it might be, the slogan “Who ya gonna call?” the only reason to remember it.

Paul Feig’s 2016 remake tries to be different by adding two letters to the sign on the toilet door. While there’s no reason why women can’t be physicists or brave or successful in dangerous jobs to no less degree than men, the screenplay by Feig and Katie Dippold, in effect, tells this remake’s four main characters that while they are delivering a similar collection of shenanigans to those of their male predecessors, the exigencies of the marketplace expect them to assert their femaleness.

Those four characters find themselves in relational situations that none of them wants. Davis and Chris form a scratchy alliance. Karen won’t have sex with Davis but the rest of friendship is negotiable. Davis starts demolishing his house with a sledge hammer and other tools. Chris comes to help. Filmgoer watching all this unfolding wonders what the heck it’s about. Bryan Sipe’s screenplay offers no simple explanation. Which is a good thing. We need films that insist that we think outside the envelope. Jean-Marc Vallée’s direction takes no prisoners.

At Dendy

“Our Kind of Traitor” (MA)

Join an acting course with Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art – and add a little drama to your life!

10197NAT Certificate IV in Acting for Stage and Screen Full or part-time study. Austudy accredited.

CUA40513 Certificate IV in Musical Theatre

Full and part-time study from 2017. Audition this year on July 30.

Auditions: Making Them Work For You (Accredited as CUAPRF304 Develop audition techniques)

A weekend course in how to audition. September 10-11.

Enrol online under ‘Short Courses’.

Hollywood’s male-driven concept of femaleness is boobs and butts. Even though this sequel tries to suppress that shibboleth by dressing its heroines in dungarees and kick-ass boots, when they’re not out defending New York from an invasion of malevolent ectoplasms, at other times cat fighting and shriekysquealy girly clichés dominate the film more than they should or need.

Playing scientists with paranormal credentials, Melissa McCarthy has top billing followed by Kristen Wiig. Leslie Jones plays a bored subway ticket seller for whom a ghostbusting gig provides a welcome change. But the best fun comes from Kate McKinnon as McCarthy’s lover and the team’s most skilled inventor.

The rest is banging, howling and animated mayhem taking up a disproportionate amount of the film’s time without adding the teeniest whit of freshness to its flavour.

At all cinemas

“Demolition” (M)

WANT a film that’s really going to make you concentrate hard to uncover its meaning? Try this one.

Banker Davis (Jake Gyllenhaal) grieves for the wife who died beside him in a car crash. Her father (Chris Cooper) never liked him anyway. When a vending machine refuses to disgorge a paid-for candy bar, Davis writes to the company requesting a refund. Customer service executive Karen (Naomi Watts) is having difficulties with her marriage. Her son Chris (Judah Lewis) is not coping well with puberty.

IF the end of the Cold War deprived John le Carré of the fields from which he harvested the novels that propelled him to fame, waiting in the background were other malfeasances in high places, any of which might make a rewarding film.

In “Our Kind of Traitor”, le Carré sends left-leaning English lecturer at Oxford Perry (Ewan McGregor) and his barrister wife Gail (Naomie Harris) on a holiday to celebrate an unexpected inheritance. Russian Mafia member Dima (Stellan Skarsgard) pleads with Perry to courier to MI6 a computer stick containing evidence that a Conservative MP (a variation on a favourite le Carré ploy that somehow keeps its freshness) is involved in a plan to establish a new London bank for laundering the proceeds of crime.

On that simple-enough foundation, le Carré and Hossein Amini provide director Susanna White with intelligent tensions and conflicts in a masterly-told story of friendship, crime, moral ambivalence, political duplicity, and the shadowy secret world of intelligence where under-resourced MI6 operative Hector (Damian Lewis) is trying to persuade his masters that they must block the project.

It’s not difficult to imagine how an American filmmaker might have treated this story – guns blazing, punch-ups in which muscley lead characters inevitably thrash bad guys, black cars with shrieking sirens. The film cleaves well enough although not slavishly to the book, with a softer ending.

At Dendy, Palace Electric and Capitol 6

Teams, screens, burgers

IF you’re a fanatical sports fan, boot it to Hale + Mary in Kingston. With wall-to-wall, high-quality sports screens (fabulous resolution) you won’t miss any game, across any sport.

I hear there’s more than 20 flat screens. You can even see sports, sports, sports in the reflections of the windows.

The bar is well stocked with local, national and international wines and beers so you won’t die of thirst waiting for your favourite team to score that top goal.

It’s an American sports bar-inspired menu, so the line-up of burgers is no surprise with choices from house-made sour dough, charcoal or a cornbread bun. We asked what the charcoal was and were told: “Ordinary bread, but black”. A bit more staff training needed?

Undeterred, we explored the burger options ($18 to $24), intrigued by the one featuring a chickpea pattie topped off with a sweet chili sauce, fried haloumi, baby spinach, onion jam and a balsamic reduction.

My maple-and-soy-cured salmon burger was beautiful and the sweet, crunchy and fresh apple slaw, and hot sauce mayo, delightful. My only recommendation would be to crisp up the salmon skin (I removed it). The salmon was succulent; I had backed a winner.

My friend ordered the “Hale + Mary Burger”, motivated by the three-line description of ingredients. It’s a double beef, bacon and tater tot burger (deep-fried, grated potatoes). You’ve gotta brace yourself before diving into this one. The tater tots were bland, but

arts in the city

You can even see sports, sports, sports in the reflections of the windows.

the remaining ingredients made up for it – smokey tangy relish, pickles, aioli, melted cheese. The only bummer was that I felt the patties were dry.

Burgers come with salad or chunky chips. We opted for chips, but next time will order salad. The seasoning was great, but the chips were a bit limp.

Other American-inspired dishes include smokey barbecue ribs that looked finger-lickin’ good (a serve passed by us) and Kansas wings.

The venue has been overhauled and serious thought put into the theme, including the massive colourful mural of a nun with striking blue eyes (and the most immaculate eyebrows ever), holding an American football.

Hale + Mary prides itself on being a restaurant, with full service. Tables are set with water and wine glasses and gold (yes, gold) cutlery.

While the staff are super keen and friendly, the service was erratic. My bet is it would be better to order at the bar, grab a number and enjoy streamlined service that way. We waited for some time before we could flag someone down to order a second glass of wine and then had to grab someone to get our bill. Then we waited too long for the privilege of paying.

Hale + Mary, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days. 9/15 Tench Street, Kingston, call 6239 4455.

‘Poles’ head off to the Old Dart

JACKSON Pollock’s “Blue Poles 1952” is temporarily leaving the NGA for the first time since it was loaned to MoMA in New York 20 years ago. This time it will travel to London to be exhibited in the Royal Academy of Arts exhibition “Abstract Expressionism”. It goes off display on July 25 for cleaning and conservation.

GAIL (daughter of Eddie) Mabo, from Townsville, will exhibit under the title “Zogo Zogo Teter Mek” (Sacred Footprints) at 8 Townshend Street, Phillip, July 22-August 15. Opening 5pm-8pm, July 22, all welcome.

“A CLASS Act” is a show by 30 of Michael Winters’ students enrolled in the ANU Centre of Continuing Education’s visual arts access program classes, which are conducted at the “off-campus” venue, Strathnairn Arts Centre, Stockdill Drive, Holt. And that’s where the show runs, Thursdays to Sundays, 10am-4pm, July 21-August 14.

SACRED choral and trumpet music will be the focus in the next free concert at the High Court of Australia when Igitur Nos Chamber Choir joins Zach Raffan and the Trumpet Club at 1.30pm, on Sunday, July 24. Bookings essential to hcourt.gov.au/ about/concerts

“AN Evening Inspired by Bean” will see the opening of an exhibition about historian Dr

Charles Bean, followed by a film, a panel discussion and performances by the Burgundian Consort and the Gabriel Choir (from the Canberra Girls’ Grammar School) of compositions by Ian Munro and Dan Walker based on Bean’s poem “Non Nobis”. Academy Library, Building 13, UNSW Canberra at ADFA, Northcott Drive, Campbell, from 4.30pm on Friday, July 29. Registrations to eventbrite.com.au close on Monday, July 25.

CANBERRA’S documentary film festival “Stronger than Fiction” is back, July 28-31, for the fourth year and among the top choices, according to co-directors Deborah Kingsland and Simon Weaving, are Amy Berg’s new biopic of Janis Joplin, “Janis: Little Girl Blue” and Werner Hertzog’s musing on the internet, “Lo & Behold, Reveries of the Connected World”. Bookings and details to palacecinemas.com.au

FRIENDS of the ANU Classics Museum are combining Dr Estelle Lazer’s talk on July 28 about the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD with the launch of the ANU Classics Museum app, which gives an overview of some items in the collection. Launch at 6pm in the museum, then a quick dash to the lecture, at 6.30pm, in Theatre 2 of the Manning Clark Centre.

gardening Tall tales but true with trees

WHEN either starting a new garden or renovating an older one, the sizes of plants need to be carefully taken into account.

Buying plants in small containers, ie 150mm pots, while suiting the budget is often a better buy. These will, more than likely, be less prone to being pot or root bound.

As always, beware of plant labels not giving the ultimate size of the plant.

Most trees and shrubs, if allowed to grow naturally, will reach a height equal to their width. For example, the popular Viburnum tinus in a 150mm pot will easily grow to 3m tall x 3m wide. Naturally, it can ultimately be pruned to keep it to the required height and spread.

However, trees are a different matter and simply cannot be lopped off if getting too tall. Although I have seen this practice far too often, particularly with Betula pendula (or silver birch) for some reason. More often than not, such drastic action can kill the tree.

Before planting, it’s vital to know where services are located, ie gas, water and sewer.

If a tree grows to, say, 10m tall it will normally have a 10m spread and this is the minimum distance to plant from the home.

You may recall a previous photo of me in front of a display home with my barely outstretched arms touching two trees planted just 2m apart.

One is a liquidambar, which will easily grow to 12m with a similar spread, and the other a Pistachio, slightly smaller at 8m x 8m! Always check the ultimate size of the tree before planting and if you are unsure about the label, doublecheck it on the internet.

I SEE plenty of overgrown, neglected Wisteria on my travels. Pruning them at this time is similar to summer pruning; cut all last season’s growth to six leaves. This controls the plant’s growth and promotes flower-bud formation. This starts as the weather warms in August.

At the same time, cut off any dead or diseased branches. It will be easier to see the structure of the plant to decide what additional pruning is required. It might require some ruthlessness to remove overgrown, misplaced or tangled thick

that “how-not-to-plant-trees”

branches on older plants by cutting them back to a suitable fork or side shoot.

AN alternative edging for paths, lawns and gardens is a method called “Link Edge”, a flexible aluminium edging. I have used this in our garden as a lawn edge and to retain pebbles in conjunction with pavers, as illustrated here. Held in place with metal pins, it is flexible and can easily be installed around quite sharp curves.

Jottings…

• Summer and autumn-flowering bulbs are now in garden centres and ready for planting, along with tubers and rhizomes.

• Get on with planting roses; buds will start forming over the next few weeks.

• Clear leaves from lawns and tops of hedges (such as Buxus and Osmanthus) because they can cause die-back and mildew.

Unlike some similar plastic products, which crack or break or can’t stand the weight of mowers, the edging can be used to hold mulch in place around trees planted in lawns. It won’t deteriorate, is considerably cheaper than cement or paver edging and the beauty is that it can easily be lifted if parts of the garden need to be redesigned.

Available in 2m or 3m lengths, with easy slide-in joiners, Amber Paving in Yallourn Street, Fyshwick, stocks it.

• Float Helleborus flowers in a bowl of water to enjoy inside.

• Membership of the Yates Garden Club (yates.com.au/ gardenclub/join) is a great source of free garden information.

Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

The stars favour friendships and hobbies, so it’s a wonderful week to indulge in pleasurable leisure activities with like-minded mates. Creativity and innovation are highlighted (especially on Wednesday) when you express your artistic side or have an inspiring lightbulb moment. But sharp words or cutting comments could lead to a feisty and fiery Friday, unless you strive to be much more diplomatic. On the weekend, being pushy is out, and being persuasive is in.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Avoid getting stuck in a boring old rut Bulls – no matter how ‘comfortable’ it is. This week’s sparky planetary patterns encourage you to shake things up, especially on the home front. Plus, when it comes to friendships, sporting activities, hobbies or creative projects, are you being way too tentative? Mercury and Jupiter encourage you to balance being prepared with being more spontaneous. So shift out of stubborn mode, put on your adaptability hat, and expect the unexpected!

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Tried and tested methods won’t work this week Twins. You need to look at a tricky long-term problem with completely fresh eyes. Then you’ll solve the puzzle and taste success. Emotions and energy levels will fluctuate on Friday so pace yourself. When it comes to a close relationship it may seem as if Saturn is holding you back, which can be frustrating. But the Taskmaster planet is actually teaching you to be much more patient, which will serve you well in the future.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Early in the week a friend, colleague or loved one requires your help but avoid being bossy and taking over. Old solutions won’t help – you need to keep up-to-date with new ways of solving problems. Later in the week, someone makes a cutting comment that annoys you. Resist the urge to retaliate. Instead, do your best to keep your Crab composure. As birthday great Carl Jung reminds us: “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

You’ll tend to go to extremes this week Lions, as the planets press your ‘Let’s overdo everything’ button. (So your motto for the moment is from uber-Leo birthday great Mick Jagger: “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.”) But resist the temptation to be a right royal bossy-boots, especially when you don’t get your way. And – if you don’t pull your weight with domestic chores – then expect some feisty fireworks from disgruntled housemates or family members.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Privacy and self-reflection are paramount early in the week, when your motto comes from birthday great Kate Bush: “There’s an awful lot you learn about yourself when you’re alone.” The pace picks up on Wednesday, as Uranus stimulates your curiosity and sharpens your research skills. Your multi-tasking talents will be on show on the weekend, when you juggle jobs and take care of business all over the place. Mercury and Jupiter also give you a welcome confidence boost.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

One-on-one relationships and group activities will be extra lively this week Libra, as people enjoy debating a wide range of views and calm cooperation goes out the window. Life and love certainly won’t be boring! But it’s not a good time to hit the shops, as you’re inclined to spontaneous spending sprees. If you can separate your wants from your needs, then it will shorten your shopping list and help you avoid making hasty money moves that you later regret.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

Is a work or personal matter going pear-shaped? Don’t point the finger at others! With Mars in your sign, perhaps you have no-one to blame but yourself? If you are proactive about solving the problem, then you’ll make real progress. But – if you sulk or blame others – then you’re in for a troublesome week. Strong feelings could re-surface on Friday, when someone pushes your buttons. Calm down, otherwise you run the risk of turning a minor matter into a grand obsession.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Marvellous mid-week Mercury aspects favour education, travel and social networking as you connect with friends from faraway shores. Who knows where your international contacts may lead? But can you be extra diplomatic and oh-so discreet? Later in the week you’ll be told something in strict confidence, so make sure you keep it to yourself. Blurting out secrets is a recipe for family or friendship friction, so resist the urge to divulge and zip your lip instead.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Don’t worry about a family situation, as changes are brewing on the home front which could lead to more personal freedom. But avoid being too brisk and brusque with others on Friday, when your business side goes into overdrive. People respect your professional approach but they also appreciate the personal touch. On the weekend, Mercury joins Jupiter in your international zone so foreign business, travel, study and friendships are all favoured over the next few weeks.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

If you are creative and original in the way you post on social media mid-week, then you’ll receive a surprisingly positive response. It’s also time to get circulating within your local community and meet some fresh new faces. But, if you are rash and reckless with relationships [or make controversial comments] on Friday or Saturday, then you could find yourself with a fractious friend or livid lover on your hands. So think things through carefully before you speak!

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

If you’re searching for smart ways to boost cash flow, don’t try to re-invent the wheel! Look to successful colleagues, mentors or role models for updated information and novel new ideas. And, if you have a problem that’s bothering you, let your intuition be your guide. Wisdom for the week is from Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung (born on July 26, 1875): “Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.”

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2016 Daily astrology updates at twitter.com/JoMadelineMoore

General knowledge crossword No. 557

1 To which floral species does the shamrock belong?

8 What do we call one who tests the knowledge of a student, etc?

9 To have behaved theatrically, is to have done what?

10 Which term describes a native?

11 What is a person who fishes?

13 Which trader sends commodities to other countries for sale?

16 What could the echidna be called?

19 Name a NSW city on the north bank of the Murray River.

22 To have acted as chairperson is to have done what?

24 Name an Australian pop entertainer, Frank ...

25 What are elaborate showy singing passages?

26 What is an aggregate of nations, ruled over by a powerful sovereign, or the like?

2 Name a yellowish acid fruit.

3 That which is of critical importance, is said to be what?

4 To send on elsewhere, is to do what?

5 What was Captain Thunderbolt’s name, Frederick ...?

6 Name an affectionate term for an Australian returned soldier.

7 What is a meeting of people seeking to communicate with spirits of the dead?

12 Name an Australian footrace, held annually in Victoria, the Stawell ...

14 What is another name for heaven?

15 What is a short, full ballet skirt?

17 Name a N Queensland river, rising in the Gregory Range.

18 Which Christian festival is observed on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after March 21?

20 What is another name for a small, nonrigid dirigible?

21 Name an alternative term for a sovereign.

23 To sleep lightly, is to do what?

Sudoku hard No. 178

Save up to 30% on running costs and claim a $500 eftpos gift card when you upgrade your natural gas heating system. Plus with a range of manufacturer incentives and finance options there is no better time to upgrade to a new more efficient system and make natural gas heating the life of the party.