ARTS EDITOR HELEN MUSA GETS A WORD
Two decades of pain is too long
MICHAEL MOORE
‘Disingenuous’ Barr dodges failure with the clubs
GWYN REES
Ricky’s brave Raiders come in from the cold
TIM GAVEL
Wine’s rising price of pleasure
RICHARD CALVER
Singer GLENN SHORROCK hits cruise control
LABOR LEADER BARR’S DEAL WITH CANBERRA CASINO IS THE LAST STRAW.
Over the last 4 years, 10% of ACT Clubs have been forced to close. This is a direct result of Barr and ACT Labor’s actions.
These decisions have increased operating costs by imposing unsustainable taxes and levies on our not for profit clubs.
Rate Increases UP over 300% in four years for some clubs.
Liquor fee increases UP and now the most expensive in Australia.
Tap water costs UP by over 400% and double the price of Sydney Water.
Gaming tax increases UP twice in ten years.
Barr and ACT Labor have made a decision to support the foreign-owned Canberra Casino over your local club.
This will be the last straw for many clubs, which will be forced to shut down if the proposal goes ahead.
The effect will be felt by our entire community.
Barr and ACT Labor’s decision to back the foreignowned Canberra Casino will cost ACT Clubs millions in revenue. It means they will no longer be able to fund local community groups and charities and will cost many people their jobs.
Our ACT clubs provide extensive support for our local community. Barr and ACT Labor is putting all of it at risk.
AT RISK: Over $11m in donations to sporting groups and charities every year.
AT RISK: Funding to over 1,000 community groups which rely on Clubs to operate.
AT RISK: The maintenance of over 400 hectares of urban green space for community and sporting use.
AT RISK: Over 2,300 local jobs
Arts & Entertainment 19-21
Canberra Confidential 13
Cinema 20
Dining 21 Garden 22
Horoscopes 23
Letters 9, 10
News 4-12
Politics 9
Puzzles 23
Socials 14-15
Sport 12
CEO: Greg Jones, 0419 418196, greg@citynews.com.au
Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au
Journalists: Freyla Ferguson, freyla@citynews.com.au; Kate Meikle, kate@citynews.com.au; Kathryn Vukovljak, kathryn@citynews.com.au
Arts editor: Helen Musa, 0400 043764, helen@citynews.com.au
Senior advertising account executive: David Cusack, 0435 380656
Advertising account executives: Kathy Leigh, 0400 293991; Liam Jones, 0400 092095
Production manager / graphic design: Janet Ewen
Ph 6262 9100 Fax 6262 9111
PM Malcolm Turnbull had a taste this past week of just how dicey life at the top of the political tree can be.
On the upside, he reversed Tony Abbott’s rejection of climate change as a prime concern of the CSIRO via his ever-accommodating Science Minister Greg Hunt . Then he saved the United Nations from Kevin Rudd who responded by throwing all his toys out of the pram. And to top it off he made the sensible decision to include former Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda, as a co-royal commissioner in the inquiry into the rotten NT juvenile detention system.
HOWEVER, when the banks refused to pass on the full interest rate cut ordered by the Reserve, his demand that their CEOs front a House of Reps committee to explain themselves once a year was no better than an empty gesture. And he
When the final Senate seats were declared he was faced with 11 fractious cross-benchers in place of the eight he’d tried to eliminate with his
double-dissolution election.
And then Senator Cory Bernardi – the stalking horse for his neo-conservative nemesis – announced he’d signed up more than 50,000 supporters for his Australian Conservatives movement.
Enjoy it while you can, Malcolm.
CLOSER to home, ACT Lib Leader Jeremy Hanson’s proposal for a defence industry taskforce within the Chief Minister’s office would be a tremendous asset to the ACT.
Unbeknown to most Canberrans, local companies already figure prominently in high-tech defence procurement. The $1.5 million taskforce would turn a very tidy profit for the ACT.
AT last, that drug-addled sportsfest in Rio got underway with 271 Russians admitted to competition. On the bright side – and fingers crossed – our athletes have so far been spared the gun-crazed hooligans that haunt the city streets… and that’s just the cops!
THE Royal Commission into child abuse delivered yet another shocking broadside to the conscience of all Australians with heart-rending testimony from the victims of Anglican priests in the Newcastle diocese.
Justice McClellan’s inquiry, established by the Gillard Government, has been running so long – and with such appalling revelations – that
it’s almost become part of the background noise in the national news cycle.
But last week’s evidence from a survivor detailing multiple rapes with a priest cutting his back to symbolise Christ’s blood plumbed new depths of depravity. Yet there was scarcely a ripple of community revulsion. Imagine the outcry if they’d been Muslim clerics.
SPEAKING of Muslims, there was a delicious irony in the way the parents of an American Muslim soldier killed in Iraq finally opened the floodgates of repulsion on Daffy Donald Trump
When the Republican nominee attacked Khizr
and
after
moving speech at the Democratic convention, even Trump’s staunchest defenders were silenced. In fact, Trump has proved so irredeemably toxic we’re beginning to wonder whether he’s not a devilish “plant” organised by the Clintons!
FINALLY, a delightful contribution from the inspector-general of intelligence and security, Margaret Stone, revealing that a “Senior ASIO officer” set his terriers on the wrong people because of his “fat fingers” on his computer keyboard. “Accidents do happen,” said Margaret.
Oh dear. Maxwell Smart would have been proud.
DEMENTIA needs to be front and centre as a major health factor in our community, says new CEO of Alzheimer’s Australia ACT Jan Chorley.
“I really believe that dementia needs a lot more focus,” she says.
“As a disease it’s already having a big impact here and is likely to have a bigger impact as the community ages.”
Jan came to Canberra from Adelaide for the role of CEO in January, with a background in the executive management of national and state not-for-profit organisations, including CEO of the Repat Foundation in SA.
“My experience in Canberra so far has been marvellous, I think it’s a wonderful city,” she says.
“I love the national element of it, that it’s the go-to place politically, but I also love the community and cohesive organisations that represent every walk of life.”
This particular role for Jan is personal, too.
“My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and it was such a profound learning experience that it galvanised me to look at this role,” she says.
“Mum died of the disease years ago, but it took a long time before I could talk about it because it was such a difficult experience to witness. And that’s largely because the support wasn’t there.
“As a whole, the aged-care sector has come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.”
Jan says that while we have much to learn about the contributors to dementia, there are risk factors that feed into the disease and things that we can all do to reduce our risk.
“They’re the things that we already know we should be doing, and they’re common to reducing heart disease as well, a neat parallel process – exercise, diet, being well socialised, strong community connections, being involved with things that you love, keeping the brain active – and that means more than just the daily crossword puzzle,”
she says.
“My passion is to ensure that every person living with a diagnosis of dementia and their families are connected into our work, so that we can support them throughout their life.”
Jan says the support can take many forms and is dependent on the needs of each individual, so she sees her role as ensuring that Alzheimer’s Australia’s many services are known across the ACT.
“We’re linked into national and
international research, and we’re an advocate for people who are living with dementia and their families,” she says.
“We’re here to provide education to everyone from post office workers to academics, because 80 per cent of people with dementia live in the community.”
Jan is hosting the Alzheimer’s Australia ACT Business Breakfast on September 2, where director of the Australian War Memorial Dr Brendan Nelson will look at the impact of war
and dementia.
“This will be a unique experience in identifying that some of our outstanding veterans who suffered PTSD have gone on to develop dementia. It’s perhaps a relationship that hasn’t been understood,” she says.
“That’s not to say that everyone who has PTSD will get dementia, but it’s another facet of the disease.”
Jan says she appreciates her role because she feels the organisation really does make a difference.
“We are making a difference in people’s lives and we get that feedback all the time,” she says.
“Our team here are extraordinary and the lengths they’ll go to ensure people get the best services possible is what attracted me and inspires me.
“We could be doing more though – we need to ensure that people are not alone in their disease process, that they are connected into the community and that they can live a full and meaningful life – we have so many examples of that.
“Our research demonstrates that people’s quality of life can be enhanced by these activities that we engage people in, walking groups, trips to the museum, social activities. And we want to build on that.”
Jan says the future for Alzheimer’s Australia ACT is dependent on donations and goodwill.
“Government support is important, but it’s not going to be the only way to take the organisation forward and provide the services that we would like to, which is why we’re wanting to enhance our fundraising efforts,” she says.
She says there is still a lot of misinformation about dementia, particularly that people think it’s part of getting old.
“One of the issues for us is younger onset dementia, in people under 65, which of course is of great concern,” she says.
“They may have children at home and a mortgage, and the aged care facilities available are not necessarily the best fit for someone who’s younger.
“There’s a lot of work we’ll be doing in that space as we go forward.”
The Alzheimer’s Australia ACT Business Breakfast, September 2, QT Hotel, London Circuit. Tickets are $75 and bookings via eventbrite.com.au
Akteo – This French brand of watch is back in Australia after a five year absence.
Many more models available. The only place in Australia with Akteo.
THE Daramalan Scholarship Dinner, where former students who have gone on to successful careers in hospitality are invited back to the school to prepare a signature menu for one night only, will be held on Wednesday, September 7, when Trevor McGrath (Trevs@Dickson) and recently-retired and long-time food science teacher Frank Djusic come together for the annual fundraiser. Ex-students and interested members of the public are invited, tickets are $150 (proceeds to the Daramalan Scholarship Fund) and bookings via daramalan.act.edu.au
THE public is invited to hear Dr Rebecca Parkes, pictured, speaking about the Googong Heritage Project at the Canberra Archaeological Society lecture at the ANU’s Manning Clark Centre, Theatre 6, Building 26A, from 6pm, on Wednesday, August 17. Her talk will provide an exploration of the archaeology of European settlement at Googong, south of Queanbeyan, and in particular Connolly’s hut, a late 19th century structure. Entry is a gold-coin donation for visitors. More at cas.asn.au
VIEW Club national councillor Jan Roberts is the guest speaker at the next lunchtime meeting of the Gungahlin Day VIEW Club, at the Versatile Restaurant, Gold Creek Village, Nicholls, from 11.30am on Wednesday, August 24. The two-course lunch is $35 and visitors and interested ladies are welcome. Bookings before noon, Monday, August 22 to 6166 2874.
FRIENDS of Old Parliament House Rose Gardens are staging a fireside chat and high tea with John and Edwina Macarthur Stanham, of Camden Park, at the Courtyard Restaurant, Mercure Hotel, Braddon, 2pm-4pm, on Sunday, August 21. Tickets are $40 and bookings to 0408 696109.
TACS – A new range of watches available in Australia for the first time.
Many more models available.
The only place in Australia with TACS.
By Kathryn Vukovljak
PUBLIC awareness of domestic violence is at an all-time high, says Susan ClarkeLindfield, executive director of Toora Women, and yet funding for support for women experiencing it is still critically low.
Susan says that Toora Women set up a counselling service a year ago, but only has funding to run domestic violence support one day a week for about four women, and that the waiting list is huge.
Toora Women is a not-for-profit organisation which has been delivering support services to women locally since the early 1980s, in a range of ways – emergency accommodation, outreach, day programs, counselling, treatment and support services for women experiencing addiction and homelessness, as well as domestic violence, and for those exiting prison.
Funded through a combination of ACT Government, Commonwealth and the National Partnership Agreement, Susan says Toora Women faces the ever shrinking funding dollar but is grateful that funding contracts were recently renewed.
“Nevertheless, our clients have difficulty in obtaining the counselling support they need to process their trauma,” she says.
“It’s difficult to move on and break the cycle of violence, but timely and relevant skilled counselling can make all the difference to the feelings of worthlessness, shame, self-blame, fear and helplessness that family violence can cause.
“We have the offices, infrastructure and the
demand in place – we just need more funding.”
Susan says that Toora has recently started streamlining its services.
“One of the major reasons that women are homeless in the ACT is because of domestic violence, and we were finding that many of our services were interlinked, like homelessness and drug and alcohol (AOD),” she says.
“We have our main areas of concern and a number of teams, but we’re working towards breaking down the barriers and making it easier for women to receive the support they need.
“Many women face one or all of these issues and have complex needs, so require a multidisciplinary team.
“Our new strategy is ‘one Toora, one team and one client journey’.”
With a background of 30 years in women’s services, Susan says she started working at Toora Women four years ago, and was drawn in by the diversity of the organisation and that it provides support for very complex issues, looking at the whole person.
“I like having the ability to work in grassroots
service delivery, and find it’s easier to be innovative and to respond quicker to changing client needs,” she says.
She says Toora started 32 years ago as a Toora Wimmins Shelter, a homeless shelter for single women, then added the Heira domestic violence service, which led to drug and alcohol becoming a third focus.
Susan says that all Toora Women’s services are run by women to support women, with the understanding that social and political barriers faced by women mean that they may not get adequate treatment and support in mainstream services.
“Our main areas of concern include the fact that 21 per cent of our clients are over 55 and this is increasing,” she says.
Susan says that other concerns are that 16 per cent of Toora’s clients are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and 25 per cent of AOD clients have an ice addiction, as do a significant number of homeless clients.
“Sixty per cent of our homeless clients have experienced domestic violence, as have a significant number of clients on our AOD service, while 21 per cent are migrant women who speak no English, do not have permanent residency and have no income,” she says.
Susan says that Toora works to an empowerment model that validates women’s journeys, encourages them to make their own informed choices regarding their treatment, and supports and respects women’s choices.
For support with domestic violence or homelessness, call 6247 2399. For support with drug/ alcohol addiction or counselling, call 6241 7233.
Jessica Wolski has practiced Family Law exclusively since joining the Firm in 2013. She was made an Associate of the Firm in February 2016.
Jessica has since finished her studies in a Graduate Diploma in Family Dispute Resolution Practice. She is also due to complete her Masters of Applied Law (Family Law) in November 2016.
Jessica handles a range of matters including the division of property, parenting arrangements, applications for divorce and domestic violence and personal protection orders. She also has carriage of matters involving applications for medical procedures under the Family Law Act 1975 including gender dysphoria.
Mazengarb Family Lawyers are very delighted to have Jessica as part of our team.
By Helen Musa
“I’M not at the sprinting age any more, I’m at the cruising age,” rock singer Glenn Shorrock tells “CityNews” by phone from Sydney, where he’s lived for 36 years.
Water, he says, suits him well and he’s watching the maritime traffic from his harbourside home even as we speak.
“Cruise ships are all the go these days,” he notes, and there are upward of 300 a year coming through Sydney Harbour.
“I do quite a bit of my work on those boats, I have a strong affinity with ocean liners – you know, I came to this country as a boy on an ocean liner,” says the English-born singer, who emigrated with his family to SA as a 10-year-old in 1954.
In his heyday, he knew the
highways of Australia and the US inside-out, but road trips are a thing of the past and he prefers short tours, like the one
that will bring him to the Vikings Auditorium on September 2, where he can assemble a band from musos in Sydney and Melbourne, friends and colleagues who’ve worked with him for the past 25 years.
Twenty five years is nothing to Shorrock, who grew up in the northern Adelaide city of Elizabeth and made his performance debut in 1958 miming to Elvis Presley’s “All Shook Up”.
He went on to a luminous career spanning Australia, England and the US, composing and performing as lead singer with The Twilights, Axiom, Esperanto, Birtles Shorrock Goble and, most famously, the Little River Band.
One of Australia’s most successful bands, LRB was the first to achieve major commercial success in the US. Shorrock wrote hits for them including “Emma”, “Help Is on Its Way” and “Cool Change”, the latter named by APRA as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time.
Road travel, he says, is “part of a showman’s life… but I don’t embark on any major long tours anymore.”
In the LRB period, for economic reasons, they had to stay “out there, while Ameri-
can bands could go to their homes”. They were stuck on the road constantly for a sevenyear period.
Shorrock finds it hard to comprehend that he is now 72 years of age, saying: “The business I’ve been in all my life has kept me reasonably immature.
“And I still like to work in America… after all, the Americans invented pop music and we just copied them.”
Another thing, American audiences are responsive. “Australians think it’s uncool to be demonstrative,” he says. Nonetheless, he enjoys Australian audiences, saying: “I have been heckled by some great people.”
Unlike Bob Dylan, who he describes as “the biggest enigma we have produced”, he connects with his audiences. He sees Dylan as “a square peg in a round hole… he doesn’t get along with audiences and it seems normal.”
Shorrock has written about this phenomenon in a recent song called “The Emperor’s Clothes”.
He’s still actively writing music and has a lot of his own new compositions on his new solo album, “Rise Again”.
“I hope it’s not ignored, but people want to hear all the old tunes – I suppose that’s my job and I’m lucky enough to have a body of work to perform each night with songs that mean something to people,” he says. Shorrock is known to be a great fan of the late Bobby Darin and still performs the hit song “Dream Lover”.
He’s sure David Campbell will be good as Darin in the new musical of that name soon opening in Sydney, but wishes he were young enough to play that role.
He’s happy enough to trade in nostalgia, Shorrock says, “until I break the ceiling.”
Glenn Shorrock, the Auditorium, Erindale Vikings, Friday, September 2. Bookings to ticketek.com or 6121 2131.
THE announcement made by Assistant Health Minister, Meegan Fitzharris, on the introduction of a medicinal cannabis scheme is long overdue.
It is interesting that the pronouncement was made by her rather than Health Minister Simon Corbell, who is not standing at the next election.
The issue of making cannabis available for the seriously ill and dying people has been a matter for consideration in the ACT since the early days of the Legislative Assembly.
Most recently, legislation was tabled by Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury and considered by a Legislative Assembly committee. His approach was rejected by the committee in favour of waiting for changes to be made by the Federal Government.
In 2011, Amanda Bresnan, the then-Greens MLA, led on the issue asking a series of questions of then-Health Minister Katy Gallagher. The questions followed work that had been commissioned by her Greens predecessor Kerry Tucker, who in 2004 tabled a Bill to allow medicinal cannabis. Rattenbury’s Bill is largely in line with Tucker’s.
A decade earlier than the first Greens’ Bill, an amendment to the Drugs of Dependence Act on medicinal cannabis successfully passed the Assembly in November, 1994, although it was opposed by Labor. This was my legislation.
Just a week later the legislation was recalled and defeated following a change of heart by the Liberal MLAs. The “offending” legislation attempted to develop a strong research framework by avoiding issues of growing and supply.
It stated: “Proceedings do not lie against a person in respect of the alleged commission of a simple cannabis offence if a medical practitioner engaged in medical research has certified in writing that the use of cannabis… is appropriate for the treatment of a physical or mental condition.”
Ms Fitzharris described her proposed new scheme as a “considered and consistent framework to support a medicinal cannabis scheme in the ACT as a priority for the ACT government, but we need to do it in a way that is evidence-based and that supports people when they are at their most vulnerable”.
In 1994 the rejected legislation was consistent with Labor Party policy of the time. Perhaps the difference lies in the fact that none of the current Labor MLAs were in that Assembly.
Why did it take more than two decades? Ms Fitzharris attempted to explain by referring to changes at the Federal level stating: “Now the Commonwealth has acted, we can establish a scheme in the ACT that will treat medicinal cannabis products in the same manner as we treat other medicines”.
Ms Fitzharris made the announcement just a few months away from the ACT election while concurrently explaining the change cannot be achieved in a tight timeframe. The approach allows the government to take credit before the election without having to wear any flak associated with anomalies that may arise in the introduction of the scheme that could be blown out of proportion in an election environment.
“At the moment, there are no clinical guidelines on what types of conditions medicinal cannabis can and should be prescribed for,” she explained.
“The ACT government will develop evidence-based guidelines to inform and support medical practitioners in how to best prescribe medicinal cannabis products”.
The Victorian government is already well under way with making medicinal cannabis available in its jurisdiction. The ACT government has cleverly carved out an area of difference with the minister outlining: “The ACT’s scheme will work to establish the ACT as a leader in the research and development of cannabis products here in Australia and develop a framework for the prescription, use and distribution of medicinal cannabis to those who need them on medical grounds”.
It is now more than two decades. Better late than never. People who suffer from symptoms associated with cancer or chronic pain have already waited far too long.
Michael Moore was an independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly (1989 to 2001) and was minister for health.
READING the edition of August 4, l was interested in seeing the article in the Tradies Health Month feature headed “Cultural shift helps building-site safety”. But then l felt slightly nauseous when l saw it was quoting Kirk Coningham, of the Master Builders Association. I recently had dealings with an MBA builder who, while taking six months to complete a six-week contract, was insulting, lied to me and overcharged me. When l tried to get some advice from the MBA they simply asked me: “What did l want them to do about it?”
My real insult came though when the work was supposedly “finished”. The builder walked away from the job deliberately and knowingly leaving it unsafe telling me: “l should not use it”!
When l contacted the MBA about this a letter from Kirk Coningham advised me that the builder’s actions were “appropriate”. So according to the MBA director it is “appropriate” for a builder to walk off a job leaving the clients in an unsafe situation, where they could be injured. If that’s the “safety culture” the MBA talks about, no wonder there are too many accidents.
Geoff Barker, Flynn
One down…
WITH Twitter increasingly being the crutch of media and Facebook reporting ongoing booming profits, to the point serious people start to wonder if it will eat all the media’s revenues, it’s worth stopping to think what it is these companies buy and sell.
(Taking a step back we should remind ourselves that these entities are in fact companies in the business of buying and selling, and not public services or even the air that we breathe.)
What they sell is dopamine in our blood chemistry. The same as poker machines and the same as the legendary world’s oldest profession of prostitution.
They provide a sense of reward which we associate with pleasure.
Poker machines flash lights and periodically give us small amounts of money in exchange for spending large amounts of money. Research suggests the flashy lights are at least as pleasing to us as the small amounts of money.
Similarly, Facebook gives us pleasing little rushes when other people are reported to like things we’ve posted.
The problem is that most of the things that most people want to post to Facebook are little loved.
It’s not hard to go viral if you’re posting funny things about “Game of Thrones”.
Even better if you happen to be
Compared to poker machines, a trip to the races or a brothel it’s an extremely cheap way to catch a dopamine buzz.
an attractive woman with an exhibitionist streak. Your phone will barely cease to vibrate with the affirmation of your peers and extremely creepy offers and requests from the men of your vague acquaintance.
The problem arises when your appeals to the wider world are of a more niche inclination.
If you’re a middle-aged plumber then not a huge number of people outside your immediate professional group are going to be too excited by that new rooter.
That’s where Facebook’s boosted posts come riding to the rescue.
For a handful of real dollars you can promote your post into receptive target demographics.
You might even be able to kid yourself that it’s legitimate business development. It might drive sales. It’s definitely tax deductible!
But deep down everyone knows what it’s really all about. That big blue thumbs up!
In no time your phone will be buzzing and blinking with people letting you know they think you are great.
Compared to poker machines, a trip to the races or a brothel it’s an extremely cheap way to catch a
dopamine buzz.
One has to admire Facebook’s genius. They sat upon the world’s greatest collection of personal data and asked themselves: “How do we turn a dollar on this before we burn through our venture capital?”
Most of the solutions were difficult, risked appearing creepy or were harmful to their assets (which is us, Facey users).
The solution, to charge a fee for driving content to receptive audiences that in turn produces simple happiness in their advertisers, is both simple and genius.
Selling personal data is a fast road to not having any data to sell.
But selling the happiness produced by billions of hairless apes around the planet plonking fat fingers on the “Like” button? Everyone’s a winner out of that.
John Griffiths is the online editor of citynews.com.au
AS an “old person” of this region, I take great offence to the generalised attack on seniors by columnist John Griffiths in his haphazardly constructed, and rather juvenile, diatribe on the supposed rudeness of the older generation (“Why are old people so damn rude?”, CN, August 4).
How he develops his argument against the penchant of “old” people to prefer to interact on a more traditional and personal level – in preference to hiding behind the cowardly and often socially destructive façade of social media – into his closing statement: “Having rorted the real estate and retirement income systems to the utter detriment of the wider nation, please excuse us if we don’t want to hear more about your moral superiority” is beyond me.
As someone who has spent a long and sometimes arduous working life putting into place the wherewithal for my retirement – so as to be fully self-supporting and no drag on the poor, young taxpayers like Mr Griffiths – this last statement is wholly offensive.
And, Mr Griffiths, if you would like to peruse an example of moral superiority in print, read your own column.
Clive Chapman, via email
CONGRATULATIONS to columnist John Griffiths for his article
“Shock win for dogs and decency” (CN, July 14). I and many others agree with everything he wrote. Greyhound racing is indeed a very cruel industry.
Sue Gage, via email
COLUMNIST John Griffiths, like a lot of people, thinks that because people see a problem and voice it they are bigots (“The problem with bigots”, CN July 28).
When is the world going to stop being so sensitive? When I arrived in Australia 44 years ago, I was subject to a lot of what he would call bigotry. I just took it on the chin and got on with life.
This was usually unfounded as I did nothing to deserve it apart from being a foreigner, even opening my mouth to speak incurred criticism – and I speak English.
However, there is justification against radical Muslims (note: I did say radical) who are infiltrating all around the world and causing mayhem. There have been attacks or attempted attacks here. Does there have to be bombings here before the likes of John Griffiths get the point?
CHIEF Minister Andrew Barr
appears to be providing a form email response to people who contact his office in support of clubs and, interestingly, it details how important clubs are in the Canberra community.
It is disingenuously attempting to paint a picture of a government supporting clubs.
Actions speak louder than words, and the failure of last year’s Public Accounts Committee Inquiry and the support for the destruction of the community club gaming model tell the real story.
One line in particular in this response warrants public challenge. It noteds clubs pay a lower gaming tax rate than hotels and taverns, which also operate electronic gaming machines.
While true, it is quite misleading. The argument ignores the community objectives of clubs and their maintenance of more than 400 hectares of green space for community sporting use.
It ignores the fact that, unlike hotels and taverns, clubs are not for profit. It ignores the fact that during that last reporting period, only two of a potential nine hotels and taverns actually
You only need to cast your eye at your own rates bill to understand that this is a government that, like the Sheriff of Nottingham, is unrelenting in its pursuit of taxation at any cost.
made a community contribution.
The tax line that has been developed leads local residents down the garden path, by suggesting that clubs don’t pay enough tax.
It is fallacious, and something I have discussed at length with those who have attempted to argue it.
A notable example of this was put forward by the Chief Minister’s adviser, who had instructed Treasury to divide the number of gaming machines in the ACT by the total tax paid by clubs.
Declaring it a matter of fact that clubs pay less tax, the example is flawed because it is not representative of the different thresholds applied in different states.
Despite this misleading information, what is fact is that during the 2014/15 financial year, clubs collectively contributed $33.01 million in gaming tax to the ACT government. Further, if we were to apply the NSW tax rates to the ACT, then clubs here would be nearly $4.4 million better off
every year!
Then there’s a payroll-tax argument. While the ACT benefits from a more generous system in principle, the grouped nature of clubs means that most do not benefit from the tax-free thresholds.
And despite the Chief Minister’s recent swipe at larger clubs, he actually benefits from them substantially, collecting in excess of $3 million annually from this tax.
In addition to the taxes outlined, ACT clubs are subjected to extraordinarily high water charges, and are not recognised in the same way they are in other jurisdictions. Ainslie Oval, for example, costs about $130,000 a year to irrigate. If it was located in Sydney, it would pay just half this amount! Clubs are among the very few large irrigators in the ACT, and the government receives its dividend from Icon Water as its shareholder. Effectively more government taxes by another name.
Our liquor-licence fees are also
the most expensive in Australia. A local sporting club here pays $5186 to operate to midnight, whereas if it were located in NSW this fee would be only $510. Of the just over $3 million recovered in licence fees, Canberra’s 50 clubs contribute $550,000 amongst a mix of 700 licensees – that is to say, clubs hold just seven per cent of the licences but contribute almost 20 per cent of the total fees.
The government argues that the charges reflect the cost to the community of policing and controlling licensed venues.
Given the quantum, a person might be led to conclude that a round of golf could be more dangerous than a night out in Kings Cross!
So when government suggests clubs are not paying their fair share, treat this with suspicion.
You only need to cast your eye at your own rates bill to understand that this is a government that, like the Sheriff of Nottingham, is unrelenting in its pursuit of taxation at any cost.
Like ACT home owners, clubs have also seen their rates rise, and collectively we estimate they are now
over $2 million annually.
The examples of these rises eclipse anything that resembles indexing over the last term of government. In fact, one small club has seen its rates rise from $14,000 to $55,000 in five years, and another from $35,000 to $115,000.
Imagine your local club explaining that it needed to raise your drinks or meal price by 100, 200 or even 300 per cent. It would be a quick recipe for going broke.
So, Mr Barr, mislead if you will but you are reminded that clubs contribute most significantly to this community through various taxes and that is without broader consideration for the $11 million annually in community contributions and support for 1000 community groups.
Gwyn Rees is the CEO of ClubsACT
Special occasion? Let us design and make your unique engagement or wedding ring exactly how you’d like
Need or desire a new piece of Jewellery? We can design any piece of jewellery to your specifications and custom-make it in-house.
Complex repairs? Difficult repairs are not a problem - bring your repair in and we’ll discuss what can be done.
Feel like a change? We do remakes using your existing jewellery to give you an exciting one-of-a-kind creation.
Centrally located in Canberra City and set amongst some of Canberra’s well known cafes and restaurants, the City Labor Club offers a unique blend of fresh and affordable dining, complimented with friendly, professional customer service. Visiting the City Labor Club is a must when you’re in the city, providing great value. The Club opened in 2006 and has established itself as a contemporary icon, rewarding Members and visitors to Canberra with a high-quality venue and service to match. Members, guests and visitors alike are always on the look-out for intimate and inexpensive venues that serve quality food, cooked and served by people they know and trust.
The Club is a part of the Labor Club Group of Clubs who have proudly supported the community for over 35 years.
Boasting state of the art lighting and contemporary music and an exhaustive menu featuring specials every day, the City Labor Club is at the heart of it all, centrally located adjacent to the historic Merrygo-Round in Civic and next door to the Westpac Bank city branch.
During the daytime, the dining area is bathed in natural light, a wall of glass making the most of a unique Club feature and enhancing the bright and welcoming atmosphere. At night-time a mix of natural and artificial lighting creates a lively, bright and informal atmosphere.
As a popular function and meeting venue, the City Labor Club is often called on to host small to medium sized events. Upstairs, the mezzanine level effectively transforms from a dining area into an ideal function area and has also become one of Canberra’s well known Cocktail bars after 9pm. The bars have a laid-back feel, a down-toearth approach and a fantastic drinks selection, served right in the heart of Canberra’s city centre
at reasonable prices. The Club is a fantastic place to start the evening when heading out to the Canberra Theatre just across the road or even for a pre-movie drink before a short walk to Canberra’s leading premier cinema complex, Dendy cinemas which the Club proudly offers $17.50 meal deals which include your choice of fish & chips, chicken schnitzel or sirloin steak all served with chips and salad and a movie ticket.
As we are 10 years old this month, we are celebrating with good old fashioned prices from years gone by during the week (Monday 15th to Friday 19th August) with food specials from just $8.00 and schooners of beer for just $4.00.
We will also have free giveaways to say thanks to our customers for the support over the last 10 years.
For early risers, the Club opens from 7.00am Monday to Friday for Coffees ($2.50 takeaway) or just a good old fashioned hearty breakfast from $6.90.
The Board and Senior Management of the Canberra Labor Club Group is proud of the City Labor Club and thanks our Members, contractors and suppliers for their continued support and hopes that you will be able to join us during our 10th year birthday celebrations.
TO suggest a city’s temperament is determined by the success of its sporting teams is an overstatement, but there’s no doubt the success of the Raiders, so far this season, has provided a sense of inspiration in the midst of a cold, wet winter.
The Brumbies provided that comfort from the late 1990s until the mid 2000s as the Raiders struggled to re-establish their identity in the wake of Super League.
Crowds for Brumbies’ games exceeded the Raiders and many found it hard to see a day when rugby league would again rival rugby union for the hearts and minds of the majority in Canberra.
Although GWS attracted a record crowd at Manuka Oval last month, I am yet to sense that the AFL team has had a major impact on Canberra’s psyche at the level of the Brumbies and Raiders at those “peak” times.
However, this year the Raiders have emerged as the sleeping giants after many frustrating seasons stumbling in the wilderness.
In contrast, the Brumbies defied their worst year off the field to make the finals, but there is still plenty of work to do in terms of re-connecting with the community.
At the moment, I think the Raiders are thriving on stability.
Ricky Stuart will say there’s still time left in the season for things to fall apart. So far as I’m concerned, this season has already been a success.
It took a tough decision by the board three years ago to dispense with one of their favourite sons, David Furner, and install another club legend, Ricky Stuart, to guide the team’s fortunes.
At the time, I was one who questioned if it was entirely the coach’s fault believing the players had to take more responsibility for what was happening at the club as we watched an Origin backline of Carney, Monaghan, Dugan and Ferguson given their marching orders.
In hindsight, the hard decisions were probably the best things the club could have done as it now represents a culture that’s strongly linked with the community and understands the commitment required on and off the field.
What I didn’t fully understand at the time was the vision Stuart had for the Raiders. He cleaned the place out and virtually started from scratch in rebuilding the club. The side he has now is virtually unrecognisable from the one he inherited two and a half years ago. Stuart has promoted a
family-oriented focus at the Raiders and it is paying dividends.
There have been few problems with off-field discipline, which is no mean feat when you consider some of the players who have come to Canberra had issues at other clubs.
One player I spoke to said the spirit within the club extends very much outside the playing arena, as families become a support network for each other.
There are plenty of strong leaders at the club showing the younger players what is required.
Ricky Stuart will say there’s still plenty of time left in the season for things to fall apart. So far as I’m concerned, this season has already been a success.
NO stiff upper lip for former army officer Jeremy Hanson when he gave a wide-ranging address to the party faithful and friends at the Press Club.
Beyond the expected tram/rates/Barr’s-mates blast, we got a glimpse of the ACT Opposition Leader’s softer side.
He described a September day in 2007, being a “jumble of nerves and emotion” as he flew into Canberra for nine days’ leave after eight months commanding an Australian Army unit training Iraq’s fledgling Army.
“With the demands of the job of keeping my soldiers alive, I had spent only a handful of days with my youngest son Robbie in the past year,” Hanson said.
“He was now 18 months old and I was afraid he wouldn’t recognise me,” Hanson said.
“As we descended, I looked out the window at Canberra below me and experienced a sense of belonging that I hadn’t experienced for 22 years.
“Approaching the terminal, I could see my wife Fleur holding Robbie.
“The fear that he wouldn’t recognise me was washed away when we met. He reached into my arms and hugged me without letting go for what seemed like an age. It was the greatest feeling of joy and relief I have ever felt in my life.
“And that feeling of belonging here in this city, of being home, is one that made me realise just how much I owe Canberra, how much I love Canberra and how much I wanted to contribute to its future.
“That was the day I decided to do something about it. That was the day I decided to fight for our city.”
ONE of the world’s top drummers is coming to Canberra. Gregg Bissonette has played with Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band, Toto, David Lee Roth, Joe Satriani, Maynard Ferguson’s Big Band, The Buddy Rich Big Band, Carlos Santana and many more.
But he’s not here to entertain, but to teach at what the host, Gary France’s Groove Warehouse, frothingly describes as “an AMAZING opportunity” for students of the pig skin to hang for one day only with good-humoured Gregg.
It’s at the Basement, Belconnen, over a couple of sessions on Wednesday, August 24. Bookings and details at groovewarehouse.com.au
THE ACT Liquor Stores Association has joined ClubsACT in another pre-election, very public campaign against Chief Minister Andrew Barr ClubsACT is well into its unremitting poster and coaster campaign in community clubs against tax imposts and the casino getting the Chief Minister’s nod for 200 poker machines. Now the bottle-os have singled out Barr in an unflattering poster campaign urging the territory’s 300,000 weekly bottle-shop patrons to “say no to higher taxes on your drinks”. The campaign is built around a petition against the ACT government proceeding with a 25 per cent increase in liquor licensing fees paid by bottle shops, which the association says are already the highest in Australia – currently 20 times higher than NSW. Despite their concerns about jobs and businesses, they say Barr has declined to meet with them.
CANBERRA-based Persian photographer and new-age nomad Parisa Applegarth, pictured, is a people person, but not in the conventional sense.
Her interest in photography lies with indigenous peoples, highlighting cultures, tribes and traditions and how they cope with the changes taking place around them.
For example, her latest exhibition
“Winter Wonderland” (at the Arboretum Village Centre until September 4), gives an insight into the lives of Sami reindeer herders in Lapland in the Arctic Circle, with her photos following the life of a
Sami man living and working with the reindeer in a harsh environment and with little contact with the rest of the world.
“Today there are just a handful of Sami people left who still follow the old ways,” she says. “The reindeer depend on the forest for their survival, but the forests are under pressure from logging, mining and tourism.”
Some of her latest work focuses on indigenous communities in Australia, and tribes of Papua New Guinea and India.
“I have my last exhibition for this year coming up, early September, on tribal women of South-East Asia,” she says.
Stay in touch with the names making news on Sundays from 10am as 2CC and “CityNews” present Canberra’s only local weekend news and current affairs program.
It’s a revolving panel show that brings to the microphone great “CityNews” commentators and 2CC personalities. Be part of the conversation and call 6255 1206 between 10am and noon.
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
Gym • Acupuncture and Massage
• Dru Yoga • Pain Education • Psychology, Counselling and Hypnotherapy • Diet and Nutrition
Photos by ANDREW FINCH
SUPPORTED by Gungahlin’s newer surrounding suburbs, Mitchell has more to offer than ever before.
Named in honour of Maj. Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, surveyor-general and explorer of NSW, all the suburb’s streets are named after Australian industrialists.
“CityNews” looks at some of the top businesses operating out of the northside’s commercial hub.
LED by an experienced team, Mitchell Tyres and More prides itself on going that extra step for its customers.
Safety comes first for Mitchell Tyres and More, which has serviced the Canberra region for more than 10 years, formerly under Pat’s Tyres.
“Our experienced staff find out exactly what you need. Every car and driver is different,” says director Tony Nazor.
“They listen to the customer and give them the best deal possible.
“They don’t just put tyres on cars – they diagnose whether there are any problems with the car.”
Part of the long-standing family business Marko Body Repairs Canberra, which has served the Canberra region for 35 years, Mitchell Tyres and More are experts in the industry for tyres and safety and offer free tyre-safety checks.
Its team is led by Dennis Hopper, who has more than 40 years in the industry and Justin Stone who has about 15 years’ experience.
They also pride themselves in being a community-based business that supports many community groups and charities.
Until the end of September, Mitchell Tyres and More are offering a free wheel alignment or double-move pass with every four-tyre purchase. Yokohama is also running a promotion until the end of August offering four tyres for the price of three on selected models.
Mitchell Tyres and More, 74 Hoskins Street, Mitchell. Visit tyresandmore.com.au or call 8033 9169. Marko Body Repairs, visit smashrepairscanberra.com.au
Stel Missikos… “I’ve travelled a lot in my time, so have many tips and tricks that can be useful to pass on to our clients.
MPS Travel and Tours is Mitchell’s only boutique travel agency offering a wide range of travel services to business and leisure clients.
MPS Travel manager Stel Missikos has been in the travel game for almost 15 years, starting out as a 10-year-old with his father’s Perth agency stamping travel brochures. He has had wide experience in several national travel agencies before joining MPS Travel and Tours.
His expertise is creating tailor-made travel itineraries for clients from cruises, flights, accommodation and more across the globe.
“I look forward to making MPS Travel the ACT’s best boutique agency,” says Stel. “I’ve travelled a lot in my time, so have many tips and tricks that can be useful to pass on to our clients. We are committed to crafting the most memorable travel itineraries providing the ultimate in client service and competitive prices.”
MPS Travel and Tours (located above the post office and Discount Pharmacy), 1st Floor, 141 Flemington Road, Mitchell. Visit www.mpstravelandtours.com.au, email enquiries@mpstravel.com.au or call 6123 0567.
for
of
GREEN Homes Australia is an energy-efficient design and construction business that gives ACT residents more options when it comes to energy efficiency.
ACT residents can now own homes that are up to three times more efficient to run without the expensive price tag usually associated with green building.
Owned and operated by father-and-daughter team, John and Elle Cobanov, Green Home Australia specialises in building comfortable, affordable and efficient new homes that can outperform the average new home by more than 60 per cent.
“By utilising the principles of efficient home design and green construction we deliver homes that are affordable to build and to run,” says John.
“We design homes from the ground up to suit each client’s block, climate, lifestyle and budget. This
“IF you have a Range Rover or Land Rover, you’d be mad to take it anywhere else,” says Richard Orchard, owner of Roverworks, Canberra’s leading Land Rover, 4x4 and off-road specialist mechanic.
Providing automotive repairs, parts and maintenance, the highly qualified mechanic team specialises in Land Rover and Range Rover models, in addition to servicing other types of cars. They also service cars under novated lease arrangements.
Richard says: “If you have a problem with your car we can fix it, we can do anything and we can do it better and cheaper than anywhere else.
“That’s our speciality, once you get good at something, that’s your point of difference.”
Roverworks now also encompasses Nuts, Bolts and Screws, which stocks fasteners for automotive, engineering and construction industries.
“We can get bulk orders for builders and construction companies at 70 per cent of the retail price,” Richard says.
“We can get the fasteners they need at decent price savings. We can do what some of the big Fyshwick suppliers can – and you don’t have to drive all the way there to get them.”
Roverworks, 38 Hoskins Street. Call 6241 8777 or visit roverworks.com.au Enquiries at info@roverworks.com.au Nuts, Bolts and Screws, call 1800 MYNUTS.
ensures that we make the most of every efficiency opportunity which results in lower energy bills.”
Elle Cobanov believes that all families would benefit from living in a home that uses less energy. She says:
“Unfortunately, up until now, only the very wealthy could afford to build this way.
Green Homes Australia is able to build energy saving homes for the same price as a standard home, making them much more accessible to everyday Australians.”
Green Homes Australia, call 1300 724661 or visit greenhomesaustralia.com.au
FOR anyone looking to purchase or rejuvenate feather and down products, Therma Quilts in Mitchell produces standard quilts, pillows, cushions and travelling products made from feather and down.
“Our items are not factory massed produced – every item in our store is diligently and lovingly hand made – the whole process from cutting the fabrics to sewing, filling and cleaning are all done on premise,” owner Jennifer Kusa says.
“We also offer post-purchase services to adjust, clean and re-case items, and we can tailor make and customise items to individual requirements.”
Proudly owned, run and made in Canberra since 1979, this family business uses only quality, 100 per cent cotton fabrics, ranging from japara (a standard downproof cotton) to a variety of organic Egyptian
cottons imported from Germany.
“The customisations that we make can be done to existing or new products and generally involve particular fabrics, lengthening, shortening, special shapes (for example, hearts), stitch patterns, and extra filling amongst other things that are not offered in the department stores,” Jennifer says.
“Many people also have sentimental fabrics, embroidery and clothing that they wish to be incorporated as a show piece on top of their quilt and cushions.
“We always work closely with all custom requests in order to achieve the desired look, feel and finish of the item.”
Therma Quilts, Unit 9, 10-12
Kemble Court, Mitchell. Open 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday. Call 6241 6859 or visit thermaquilts.com.au
Roverworks is the Land Rover specialist of choice for repairs, service, parts and maintenance. Our mechanics specialise in Land Rover and Range Rover models, and to servicing of 4x4s, off-road and other car variants. Take advantage of our minor servicing, for all other car types (non 4x4) starting from only $230.
Green Homes Australia are now building in the ACT and specialise in the design and construction of affordable & energy efficient homes, knock down rebuilds, renovations and extensions. We build homes using everyday materials that can save you thousands on your energy bills for years to come.
ALL Type Battery Solutions in Mitchell offers expert advice on all your battery needs.
The small, family business, owned and run by Peter and Michelle Macaulay who took over the shop 12 months ago, sells a wide range of quality batteries for cars, trucks, caravans, motorhomes, 4X4s, motorcycles, marine, mobile phones, deep cycle, mobility equipment, security, remotes, cordless phones and solar.
The business is also a Bosch battery dealership, offering a nationwide warranty on all Bosch batteries.
“Our aim is to ensure that people have the right batteries when they need them,” says Michelle.
“We are here to offer friendly service to help people make the right battery choices. We offer expert advice on what your options are. Our staff member has a tremendous amount of knowledge in the field –he is a very personable and helpful person to have around.”
All Type Battery Solutions also
has a call-out service that operates seven days a week plus a separate after-hours phone line.
Michelle says the Mitchell location is well located on Sandford Street and includes parking out front and a back entry into the workshop, which means customers can pull straight into the shop to get batteries changed out of the weather.
All Type Battery Solutions, 12-16 Sandford Street, Mitchell. Visit batteriescanberra.com.au or call 6241 1671.
BRUCE’S Motorcycle Repairs has been servicing the Canberra motorcycle community for nearly 30 years.
“With spring just around the corner, Bruce and his team are available to give your motorcycle a ‘kick start’ for the spring and summer riding season,” they say.
“If your motorcycle has been idle over the winter months, or just needs some mechanical care, now is the time to get your pre-summer service.”
“For professional and personalised service, call Bruce or Charlie on 6241 1175.”
Bruce’s Motorcycle Repairs, Unit 3, 44-46 Grimwade Street, Mitchell, open 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday. Call 6241 1175.
BEAUMONT Tiles is a local, familyowned business and its principals have been in the industry more than 35 years.
As the younger of the two Canberra outlets, the Mitchell store opened in 2011 and is under the management of Huw Jones, a qualified tiler who can help with advice on all aspects of the tile selection and installation process.
“We have an extensive range of tapware, bathroomware, vanities, under-tile heating and accessories,” says Huw.
“As an independent franchise within the Beaumont Tiles group, we have access to Australia’s widest range of ceramic, porcelain and natural stone tiles from all over the world.
“Our buying team is constantly in the marketplace sourcing the latest materials and designs from Europe and Asia. We are also the nation’s largest supplier of locally manufactured tiles and all our first-quality tiles are covered by our 10-year guarantee.
“Our exclusive ‘Scan and Play’ system can be accessed from a home computer to make a choice
from our extensive range of tiles in real room settings.
“These can be printed out and brought into the shop to see first hand, thus reducing the time taken in making a selection.”
THE “Chatty Man”, British comedian Alan Carr, is coming to town and he’s happy to chat about his stand up show “Yap, Yap, Yap!” until the cows come home.
I asked Carr by phone to London, where he was sitting on his settee watching reality TV, whether he’d always been a gasbag.
“Gasbag?” he replied, “Yes, I do like to gossip and have done since I was young, but when we say childhood what do we mean? I suppose it means being between three to 16…between ages three and nine I was annoying and a bit ‘la-la’ and then puberty set in and I became normal, then when I hit 16, I became ‘la-la’ again.” Yap, yap, yap. Raised in Northampton and with a degree in drama from Middlesex University, Carr tells “CityNews” he’d initially thought of himself as becoming an “action man”. “But that was never going to be as I didn’t have the range and I never got any parts… I ended up dressed in a black bodystocking moving furniture around on the stage.
“But when I was at drama school there was one module in which you got to write a comedy act and went to the local pub to perform it.
“When I did, everyone was raving on saying: ‘Alan you should do this professionally’.” More yap, yap, yap.
Fearful that he “might end up having to work at McDonald’s”, he headed for the bright lights of Manchester, home to comedy, surviving by working in a call centre, until fate intervened.
“The local pub was hosting a comedy night and my friend Sarah put my name up and I got to the semis and the finals, but I didn’t win because I forgot all the jokes, I got so nervous, but now here I am talking and making jokes all the time.”
Carr went on to win BBC New Comedy Award for Stand Up as well as City Life Best Newcomer of the Year in 2001, the Telegraph’s Critic’s Choice Edinburgh Festival in 2005, a stint with Comic Relief on BBC One in 2008 and most notably, his own television series “Alan Carr: Chatty Man” in 2009 with Channel 4.
“Gasbag? Yes, I do like to gossip and have done since I was young” arts editor HELEN MUSA gets a word in with television’s celebrated ‘Chatty Man’
Praised for his “pitch-perfect comic timing,” he’s interviewed everyone from Kanye West to Ivana Trump, usually offering them revoltingly coloured cocktails while engaging in a bit of extempore yap, yap, yap.
Not quite extempore. For comedy needs careful preparation.
“It takes me forever to write a comedy show,” he confesses.
He loves doing stage shows. Intimacy is a factor.
“I think when you can see the whites of their eyes it’s an intimate experience,” he says. “You can take a chance.”
“One of the problems with TV is that they give you a list of things you can and can’t talk about, so I like going on stage with the mike, I find it so pure and if they don’t laugh, it’s your fault.”
TV shows can have that intimate quality, too.
He often breaks the rules. “I think: ‘Why not just get it out in the open?’… so I offer them a blue or a green drink and some disgusting nibbles and they’re gagging to tell all,” he says.
“In big arena shows it’s different. Playing to 12,000 people talking about partners and family, you can’t very well take the risk of trying a new joke in front of an audience like that.”
He’s pretty sure the show touring to Australia and NZ, where he has many fans, will be successful. He’s done it about 260 times in the UK and Ireland, and even played in Scandinavia.
“I’m freshening it up, but it’s a lot of yap, yap, yap as usual,” he says.
“Yap, Yap, Yap!” Canberra Theatre, Monday, August 22. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.
Jean Kittson.
THE “Fearless Comedy Gala” is Australia’s first comedy gala for victims of family violence. The line-up of 10 top comedians, all donating their time for the cause, will be led by Jean Kittson and include Sammy J, Adam Richard and Canberra’s own comedy singing duo, Sparrow-Folk. At Canberra Theatre, Thursday, August 18. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.
KURT Phelan, star of “Dirty Dancing”, is not above punning, as can be seen from the title of his new solo cabaret act “Phelan Groovy”, coming to Teatro Vivaldi , August 19-20. The music, which traverses everything from Farnham to musical theatre, may feature songs with the word “feelin’” in the lyrics. Bookings to vivaldirestaurant.com.au or 6257 2718.
BILK Gallery people are just back from ATTA Gallery in Bangkok where they exhibited work by selected Australian jewellers. You can see the show “Interchange: Bilk in Bangkok” at the Palmerston Lane, Manuka,
We
gallery. Meanwhile, Argentine-Canberran pianist Marcela Fiorillo makes her Thailand debut with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra at Thailand Cultural Centre on August 11 performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 4 in G major, Op 58.
“INDIA Meets” will see a range of classical Indian dance styles performed by local dancers Jenny White, Mahesh Radhakrishnan, Suhasini Sumithra, Vanaja Dasika and Liz Lea, joined by guest artist Seeta Patel. At Belconnen Arts Centre, Saturday, August 20. Bookings to eventbrite.com
“INCONTRO” is a newish series of art and talks. The next will be an afternoon of Italian classical vocal performances, wine and antipasto. Young soprano Daphne Maddock, from the ANU School of Music, will perform, accompanied by Paul Eldon. At Muse Café, East Hotel, 3pm, August 14. Bookings to trybooking.com
THE 80-minute comedy-drama “Ghost Stories” is coming to town. Unlike “Macbeth” at Theatre 3, it claims to be blood and gore free. Despite more than 500,000 people having seen it, details are shrouded in secrecy.
We can say it’s unsuitable for anyone under 13 as well as “those of a nervous disposition” or pregnant. At Canberra Theatre, August 16-21. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre. com.au or 6275 2700.
THE National Capital Orchestra will perform Beethoven’s Overture to “Fidelio” and Haydn’s Symphony No 49 and, as the highlight, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with soloists Barbara Jane Gilby, David Pereira and Edward Neeman. Llewellyn Hall, Saturday, August 20. Bookings to ticketek.com
WEARING no clothes, Adelaide housewife and mother of three Taryn Brumfitt didn’t much enjoy her reflection. Did she set out to restore her pre-motherhood body image? Yes.
Was she happy with the result? Not particularly – high expense, physical discomfort.
Where to next? The decision was wonderfully rational – accept how she was and get on with life. Modest before-and-after selfies on Facebook scored 100,000,000 hits and turned her life around.
The film says 91 per cent of women hate their bodies. What an unhappy statistic! Women’s quest for bodies that they don’t hate supports a huge industry raking in money that could be better spent on more rewarding things. No amount of re-modelling trickery can change the reality that a woman gets only one body and it’s a whole-of-life deal.
Taryn went round the world filming women speaking about themselves. Two examples stand out. In California, women of assorted shapes, sizes and colours all wearing modest undies pose for a famous fashion photographer. One is congenitally misshapen. Is she angry about the bad deal she got from nature? She’s not.
At a nude Sydney Harbour fundraiser swim, two strangers form an unplanned friendship. They’ve each had a mastectomy.
Taryn’s film is passionate about its objective. I expect that every woman and every partner of a woman will find value in it. I certainly did.
At Palace Electric
ANTHONY Weiner served for 12 years as a congressman. In 2010, when current co-chair of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign Huma Abedin got pregnant, he married her. You could call that a politically savvy relationship.
In 2011 he resigned from Congress after having been caught out sexting, a relatively innocuous action for which he apologised. In 2013, he decided to run for one of America’s most influential public offices – Mayor of New York. During the campaign, a lush-bodied political groupie, whom he had never met, revealed he had sent her selfies of his penis!
Documentary makers Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg had generous, uncensored access to Weiner, his family, campaign staff, media organisations and personalities and political friends and opponents from which to distil 96 minutes of dissected ambition.
Politics American style is a grubby, vicious, no-holds-barred conflict as ambition meets public
perceptions. American media take an active role in covering it, influencing attitudes and making assumptions and judgements about not only issues but also candidates’ personal behaviour.
The film covers a broad field. Events dictated where, how, when and why material got included. The resulting film says much that will perhaps resonate especially in the Canberra community.
Is Anthony Weiner a good guy? Would you vote for him? He got only 4.2 per cent of the vote. But he and Huma are still together. And he’s thinking about running again. Is the film about him worth seeing? Well, it’s the third of its kind. He sure understands the value of the movies as an election tool, even if in this one he shoots himself in the foot.
At Dendy
“As It Is In Heaven 2: Heaven on Earth” (M)
THERE was me and two well-presented women watching Kay Pollak’s sequel to the little Swedish film that a decade ago ran for two years in Sydney.
As we rose to leave, one of them asked whether I had enjoyed it, whether it was as good as the original. I did not recollect seeing the original but while I thought this sequel had structural and narrative flaws, I found it agreeable enough.
They urged me to get the DVD of the original. In a remote community in Sweden’s north Lena sings in the local tavern. Her baby’s due in a fortnight. It doesn’t know that. It’s snowing. The midwife can’t get through. The nearest hospital is 180 kilometres away. Driving there, Lena finds Stig, pastor at the local church, lying drunk and morose on the road. It’s Stig who delivers little Jakob.
This prelude initiates a tale linking Jakob’s birth with the re-opening of the renovated church and the restoration of Stig’s battered soul. Lena wants to help him. What better way than boosting the size of the congregation?
So begins a saga in which the villagers decide to celebrate the restoration of the church by performing Handel’s best known oratorio number. We all know the Hallelujah chorus, don’t we? The film devolves into a struggle to recruit singers and instrumentalists to perform it under Lena’s direction (she may be musically illiterate but has a good ear), to put Lena into a relationship with the handsome young builder and generally make things better.
I like stories like this in which ordinary people confront and deal with adversity (there’s a lot of that to strengthen the film). It may have minor defects but they don’t detract from what, at heart, is a pleasant film.
At Palace Electric
I FOUND a new favourite café today and thank the friend who invited me to lunch for the discovery.
Well, not really a “discovery”, because Local Press Café, with its strong following, has been down on the water, at Kingston Foreshore, for a fair while now. However, it was my first time dining there.
We all know we should eat well. We all know we should treat our body like a temple. And we all know this can be challenging when in a café or restaurant, because sometimes it’s the extra sugar and salt that make café food so darn tasty. I won’t harp on; you get the point. Local Press Café is a wholefoods-based operation – a family affair, which adds a lovely touch.
The fit out is uber cool. Wood, exposed bricks, containers of fresh fruit, loads of colour and little posies of flowers on the table celebrating that spring is just around the corner.
A long, tall communal
Vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free dishes are available,
but
that
doesn’t
mean Local Press compromises on taste.
table is a feature inside and the outdoor area gets sun for a good part of the day.
But what about the food? We arrived for lunch. Vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free dishes are available, but that doesn’t mean Local Press compromises on taste.
Thoughts of my spiced chickpea curry still dance in my head and it’s well past dinner. The dish was packed with flavour and served on a bed of cauliflower couscous, basmati rice and quinoa topped with veggies, roasted almonds and a yum yoghurt dressing ($20). I ordered it on the recommendation of my friend who had heard from others that it was a winner. Gold trophy, I say.
My friend opted for the vegan pumpkin and coconut soup with lentils, pickled veg, marinated tofu and Sriracha cashews, for a bit of bite ($22). It was colourful, well presented, looked divine and received a big tick on flavour.
On the menu is a green-pea pancake, which I’ll try even though “green-pea pancake” might not be the most inviting description. It’s served with poached eggs, macerated avo, corn salsa, feta and chili jam ($21). The wild mushrooms sound amazing and so, too, does the banana, date and walnut loaf with labneh, honeycomb and rosemary ($11). Local Press offers whole, minimallyprocessed food, sourced locally as much as possible. Brunch is available all day (trust me, I’ll be back) and don’t hesitate to give the cold-press juices a go ($6). My “Essential Greens”, with kale, spinach, parsley, lemon and apple was delish and made me feel very healthy indeed. Smoothies and organic teas are also available.
9/81 Eastlake Parade. Open Tuesday-Friday, 7.30am-4pm; Sat and Sun, 8am-5pm. Call 6162 1422.
philosophers mistrusted and resisted the passions and advocated frugality. Spiritual joys may be more long lasting than the ephemeral pleasures of food and drink but the latter are more urgent and include the satisfaction of the base-line needs of man, as well as stimulating our cerebral pleasure centres.
That stimulation, in my view, had always arisen from the natural consequence of eating or drinking quality and of having the palette and the senses satisfied. Intrigued was I then when I read an item from “ABC Science” reporting that with an increase in the price of a bottle of wine the pleasure experience of drinking that wine is enhanced. As well as collecting evidence about what the subjects being tested said about the wines, the people doing the research also scanned the drinkers’ brains. The researchers presented a $90 bottle of cabernet sauvignon as a $10 bottle and an el cheapo as one worth $45. The volunteers (and who wouldn’t respond to an advert for free wine!) gave better ratings to the so-called more expensive wines. The parts of the brain’s cortex where pleasure is located showed greater activity when they drank the falsely labelled but higher priced wine; it was a measurable physical issue.
Frank van de Loo, the winemaker from Canberra’s Mount Majura Vineyard, says that this effect means people will think wine is better than it is but people aren’t silly. People will go for the wines that are good if they’re not led – they can rely on their palettes.
“There is truth in what the palette tells you but you can be led by prior expectations,” he said. “Some would say this has produced ‘label drinking’ that is drinking the wine just because of the expectation from the brand.”
I’ve only ever personally discovered this phenomenon in a more perverse way: the more expensive my friend’s (or enemy’s) wine that I’m drinking, the happier I am. Wine schadenfreude. I do attest to happily drinking cheap wine if it tastes good so the experimental results were a surprise.
The more expensive my friend’s (or enemy’s) wine that I’m drinking, the happier I am.
But the results raise a whole range of moral and, frankly, immoral questions. Do I get more pleasure from a woman when I spend more money on her? To what extent do the values we have and the perceptions we have about matters subjectively, especially their value as labelled, affect the way we perceive pleasure or the brain registers pleasure or pain?
Obviously if you believe this study, the answer is that this is a very weighty factor.
As Frank van de Loo says, the brain has shortcuts.
“If we think we already know the answer then we are more likely to be led by what is preconceived,” he says.
“That is why we have to be disciplined about the way we taste wine.”
The message is we must taste blind (not blind drunk) to be sure of its qualities.
The questions raised in the scientific study also reminded me of a law school story I heard while drinking wine at a faculty party when I used to teach law: a genie appeared at a law faculty meeting and offered the dean a choice of $1 million, wisdom, or beauty. Being an academic he, of course, chose wisdom. “Granted” said the genie and was gone on a hot air, law school breeze. Then all of the staff present at the meeting turned to the dean, waiting for the first words from the wisest man you could ever be in the law. They waited and waited for over an hour while the dean scanned the room and then fell into a state of meditation.
All of a sudden the dean opened his eyes, sighed, and said: “I should have taken the money.”
experience/ knowledge required, just over 18. Participation makes you eligible to win gift cards!
galore, what ever you want we have! dwarfs, tall, old world, nuts and many more. Berries and Asparagus, you name it we (most likely) have it.
THERE’S almost nothing better than a mass display of spring blossoms and as daylight hours become longer (and hopefully warmer) increasing numbers of blossom trees will come into flower.
Over the last few weeks we’ve seen the flowering apricot, Prunus mume, in flower and now’s the time for flowering plums, followed by cherries.
The botanical name Prunus covers a wide variety of spring-flowering trees, including plums, cherries, apricots, peaches and almonds.
It’s possible to have a continuous display of colour from June to December and one of the best places to see blossom trees in all their glory is at the Tulip Top Gardens on the Federal Highway, open at the same time as Floriade.
In a way, this is better than the ever-shrinking Floriade as there are no spring blossom trees in Commonwealth Park, which is surprising because the gardens were designed by well-known English landscape architect Sylvia Crowe in 1964, when Lake Burley Griffin was just filling. Crowe included other spring-flowering shrubs such as rhododendrons and exotic shrubs along with native plants, but no blossom trees.
the Royal Horticultural Society’s London show regularly exhibits more than 350 varieties displayed neatly in small hessian bags.
the best bulbs available now direct from the grower
lots of affordable hardy Cymbidium to decorate your home plus easy care orchids. A collectors heaven.
Discover the advantage of being a Diggers Club member at the Heritage Nursery
Banks Street, Weston Park, Yarralumla • 6281 7373 heritagenursery.com.au /TheHeritageNursery
As always, it’s important to allow for sufficient space. Grafted weeping cherries can have a considerable spread. For example, one planted in about 1964 in Hughes has a 10-metre spread.
IN the hope the risk of frost will be less this year as we head to spring, I suggest gardeners think about growing potatoes, one of the easiest crops in the veggie garden.
Most garden centres have a wide range to choose from, such as the popular Kipfler, Royal Blue, Desiree, Nicola, Kennebec, Ruby Lou and Otway Red. Or there’s the more traditional King Edward, which we used to grow on our farm 70 years ago, and Pontiac. One exhibitor at
Potatoes are an excellent first crop for anyone with a garden bereft of top soil. They work wonders in breaking up clay.
Having said that, potatoes prefer loose soil to which is added plenty of compost in the bottom of the trench. Sow the potatoes in the bottom of the trench about 20-30cm apart and fill in the trench with good soil. When the new shoots are about 15cm high start to build up soil around the green stem, continuing to “hill-up” both sides of the trench as the potatoes grow. Make sure the bed doesn’t dry out as the days become warmer. Potatoes can also be grown in raised garden beds, such as the Colorbond-type metal beds.
• Check out Mollis azaleas, one of the “wow” plants of spring with its brilliant orange, red and yellow flowers.
• Leave any pruning of rambling weeping roses and Banksian roses until after they have flowered.
• When planting hedges, dig a trench rather than individual holes. The roots will spread sideways quicker for a faster-growing hedge.
• Now’s the time to transplant, without delay, peonies growing in too much shade. Gently trim off leggy roots.
Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
The Sun is currently shining in your creativity zone, encouraging you to improvise and be as spontaneous as possible (particularly on Tuesday). Sometimes rambunctious Rams come on too strong and scare others away. You’re passionate about initiating changes – especially at work or college – but try to persuade people in more subtle ways. This week the best outlet for your fiery energy is via vigorous sport, extreme travel or passionate projects.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)
Obsessive or possessive behaviour could be on the menu this week… unless you control your jealous side. Just remember there’s plenty of love for everyone. So trust your instincts, be generous, and share the affection around. Thursday’s Full Moon lights up your Brilliant Career zone. But are you making the most of the numerous opportunities that are buzzing around? Don’t be a bashful Bull! It’s time to step up to the professional plate and show others what you are really capable of.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)
When it comes to your social media strategy, it’s time for an innovative approach that makes you stand out from the crowd. Thursday’s Full Moon urges you to focus on your goals and aspirations for the future, especially involving travel or further education. Plus involve a family member in your long-term plans. They have an alternative perspective that will open up your options considerably. You could also play gracious Gemini host to family or friends who come to stay from far away.
CANCER (June 22 – July 22)
A work situation (or professional relationship) is likely to veer off in a totally unexpected direction early in the week, so keep your adaptability muscles wellflexed and be open to change and experimentation. Do your best to avoid being a snappy Crab on Thursday, when the Full Moon magnifies your mood swings and heightens your emotional sensitivity. If you’ve been burying your head in the sand, then a financial problem could come to a head and demand to be addressed.
LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)
The stars encourage you to express yourself in your own totally original way! Be inspired by birthday great Madonna: “I stand for freedom of expression, doing what you believe in, and going after your dreams.” Loved ones will demand more of your time and undivided attention on Thursday. Attached Cats – is there a tug-of-war between you and your partner? Do you want more freedom, while they yearn for more commitment? The only satisfactory solution is to meet them half-way.
VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)
Mercury (your patron planet) is visiting Virgo, which boosts your Eagle Eye, your close attention to detail, and your micromanaging skills. But it also increases your tendency to criticise others and make mountains out of molehills. So take a chill pill! If you insist on sweating the small stuff, then it will be a long and exhausting week. When it comes to your family life, the hard work you put in now (and the sacrifices you make) will pay off handsomely further down the track.
LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)
Under the influence of the Full Moon, your current peer group is in a state of flux and you could find an old friendship suddenly ends, while a new one develops in wonderfully unexpected ways. You can be dazzled by outer beauty though, so make sure you’re not deceived by glossy outward appearances. Look beneath the surface to evaluate a person’s true inner worth. Plus put aside some special ‘me time’ where you can concentrate on the three R’s – rest, relaxation and renewal.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)
With mighty Mars charging through your cash zone (until September 27) look for proactive solutions to current money problems. If you develop a second stream of income, then you’ll feel much more secure about your financial future. Mid-week is the time to get up-close-and-passionately-personal with someone special. And home is where the heart is on Thursday, when the Full Moon fires up your domestic zone and you have fun with a favourite family member.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)
It’s time to patch up a misunderstanding with a child, parent or friend but don’t jump to hasty conclusions. Get all the relevant facts first. With Saturn in Sagittarius, resist the temptation to be too hard on yourself [and overly impressed by the outward trappings of material success]. Strive to be as authentic as possible … true to your talents and core values. Be inspired by birthday great Coco Chanel “How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone.”
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
Communication planet Mercury is visiting fellow earth sign Virgo, which suits critical thinking; research work; facts and figures; plus practical projects. But don’t let minor details blind you to the bigger picture. Venus and Jupiter encourage you to explore and experiment as you study, travel or venture into brave new personal territory. It’s also very important to capitalise on your current international contacts. With careful nurturing, who knows where they will lead in the future?
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
You feel like instigating some major changes but be careful you don’t throw the baby out with the bath water! Thursday’s Full Moon (in your sign) amplifies your avant-garde Aquarian nature and revs up your restless streak. But too much reckless haste could lead to an argument or accident so utilise your energy wisely and pace yourself. When it comes to a joint money matter, make sure your financial plans are based on a realistic appraisal of the situation and people involved.
PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)
With Mars and Saturn both visiting your career zone, dynamic and decisive action is what’s needed at work. If you procrastinate and dither around (in typical Piscean fashion) then lucrative opportunities and important connections will promptly pass you by. Are you looking for employment? You need to be uncharacteristically proactive as you search out jobs before they are advertised. If you are struggling for ideas and direction, look within for guidance and inspiration on Thursday.
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2016 Daily astrology updates at twitter.com/JoMadelineMoore
3 What are small spherical bodies?
7 Which structure is devoted to some saint or deity?
8 To be trustworthy is to be what?
9 What is another term for a courtyard?
10 Which ocean lies to the east of the USA?
11 Which Australian cruiser was sunk in 1941 with the loss of all hands, HMAS ...?
14 What is a more Australian term for gasoline?
17 What do we call an unmarried man?
18 Which aggregate of nations is ruled over by a powerful sovereign?
19 What is an eager desire for distinction, power or fame?
20 Name the claws of birds.
21 What are days of exemption from labour? Down
1 Name the Australian painter (1939-92), and Archibald Prize winner, Brett ...
2 As distinguished from an alien, what is a member of a state or nation?
3 The Mark was the currency of which central European republic?
4 What is a unit consisting of several regiments, or battalions?
5 Name a large, edible, marine, stalk-eyed decapod crustacean.
6 What is a thin sheet of paper, etc, cut through so as to reproduce a design, when colour is rubbed through it?
11 Which other term is used for Sunday?
12 Name a unit of sound intensity.
13 To have voted, is to have done what?
14 What do we call our mums and dads?
15 What is the immature form of frogs, toads and their like?
16 Which simple musical wind instrument is shaped like an elongated egg?
In a state of confusion, Chelsea and her partner Eric came to see me. She reckoned there was a $1000 tax reduction for small businesses, but couldn’t see it anywhere in her tax return.
“The good news, Chelsea, is that there is a tax reduction of up to $1000 for small businesses; the bad news is it doesn’t apply to you and Eric,” I commiserated with her.
“In order to get the tax reduction you have to be a small business, namely a business with a turnover of $2 million or less.
“In the 2016 Budget, the government proposed that the turnover limit would increase to $10 million, but that has not yet been passed by Parliament and so is not law.
“The other important consideration is that this applies to businesses that are operated as companies. As you don’t operate through a company, this tax reduction does not apply to your business.”
Eric said he thought that applied to all businesses and felt it was unfair to anyone not using a company structure.
I said: “Eric, there are other benefits that apply to companies and which could even give you a bigger tax reduction depending on your profitability.
“Effective from July 1, 2015, that is for the 2016 financial year, the company tax rate has been reduced from 30 cents to 28.5 cents in the dollar. A further reduction to 27.5 cents in the dollar is proposed to apply from July 1, 2016 for the current year. This is all part of the government’s proposal to reduce the corporate tax rate to 25 cents in the dollar from July 1, 2026. In addition, there is no cap on the reduced rate unlike the $1000 cap that applies to unincorporated businesses.”
“So, that means we could be better off operating through a company?” Eric asked.
“Yes that’s right, Eric. As you know, you can draw your profits by paying fully franked dividends to your shareholders who are Chelsea and yourself and you get the benefit of the tax paid by the company,” I said.
“On previous occasions when the company tax rate was reduced the franking rate was also reduced. On this occasion there will be no reduction to the franking rate so any dividend that is paid will be franked at the 30 cents in the dollar rate. This will make the franking account calculations easier, but it does mean that you will need to be careful not to pay out too much!”
On another matter, Chelsea wanted to know how many computers she could but and still be within the $20,000 small business taxconcession limit.
“Chelsea, there is a $20,000 limit per item on plant and equipment. This means that any item that you buy that costs $20,000 or less can be written off in full.
“However, there is no limit on the number of items that you can buy, so if you spend $30,000 on computers, each one of which costs less than $20,000, you would have a valid claim provided you don’t buy a computer system, then your claim would not be valid.” Chelsea and Eric left my office unconfused... and smiling.
If you require information on any aspect of your business or tax contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd.
