161124 citynews

MOVIE SHOCK / REVIEWER DOUGAL MACDONALD

AWARDS BRITISH

Conservatives play to tax-break greed

MICHAEL MOORE

Yikes! The end (of the year) is nigh

SONYA FLADUN

Rise and rise of the digital native CHRIS COLEMAN

Unbeatable ALPHA

Choral director ALPHA GREGORY wins ‘CityNews’ Artist of the Year

Wild Gifts!

mum in the city Yikes! The end is

IT’S not yet time to panic, but the end is coming. Not the end of the world, but the end of the year.

If you are anything like me with more family commitments than good sense or time should allow, then the pointy end of the year is fast approaching.

Organisation has never been one of my strong points and I have made progress with the aid of a large wall planner strategically located in our kitchen. But at this stage of the year the next six weeks look like they have been scribbled over by a mouse with Tourette syndrome because the human hand is not meant to write that small but you have to fit so much into what appear to be ever-shrinking text boxes.

Yep, the family calendar is absolutely packed. Final-term school assignments have mounted up with rapidly closing deadlines. At the same time our normal routines are falling apart, disrupted by end-of-year concerts, birthday parties, pre-pre-Christmas parties, final-term school fetes and sporting events that overload every weekend.

I am never ready for this time of year. Despite trying my best to get organised early, it always hits me like a tsunami and I end up tired and wrecked.

This year is obviously heading that way. Soon there’ll be frantic Christmas shopping, presents, cards, a turkey and everything else.

It’s really with a sense of dread that I anticipate doing battle with throngs of people increasingly desperate as they try to find that perfect gift, long

Bring on Boxing Day, I say. A day of doing very little… Best day of the year! If only one could hit the fast forward button to get there.

queues in every shop, sore feet, a depleted wallet, and fraught negotiations. Yes, that train is coming down the tunnel fast.

I wish I had words of wisdom or at least felt confident enough in my own abilities to survive the approaching maelstrom to offer some advice, but well, nothing much works for me apart from a good wall calendar, making use of the internet for Christmas shopping and delegating as many tasks as possible. After all, Santa has elves.

And the other thing to remember is that the pre-Christmas, end-of-year chaos does always run its course. Bring on Boxing Day, I say. A day of doing very little apart from snacking on leftovers and watching the start of the Sydney-Hobart yacht race on the telly. Best day of the year!

If only one could hit the fast forward button to get there.

SONYA FLADUN

Charnwood Shopping Centre

Building mums’ confidence, one cake at a time

By Danielle Nohra

A LOCAL charity plans to create a cake cookbook featuring iconic images that represent Canberra, such as Skywhale, the Belco Owl and Telstra Tower.

The idea, a fundraiser for PANDSI, which helps people dealing with post or antenatal depression, came from its president, Christine Spicer, who was inspired by the “Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book”.

Six months ago PANDSI held a cake-off, bringing the 107 recipes out of the cookbook and auctioned them off to raise money and awareness.

Christine says: “Through cake we can start getting people to talk about perinatal depression.

“Sixty per cent of attendees on the day had not heard of PANDSI; 70 per cent of people who made the cakes also hadn’t heard of us.”

The CEO of PANDSI, Polly McIntyre, wants to see PANDSI become a household name in Canberra.

“We’re not national, we are a state-based charity,” she says.

“If more people know about PANDSI there will be more people willing to talk about it.

“We need them to be more open. People see their friends’ Facebook pages where their lives appear perfect so they don’t open up.”

index

Arts & Entertainment 19-21

Canberra Confidential 14

Cinema 20

Dining 21

Gardening 22

Horoscopes 23

Letter 9 News 5-11

Politics 8

Puzzles 23

Socials 12-13

Ph 6262 9100 Fax 6262 9111

GPO Box 2448, Canberra 2601

Cover: 2016 “CityNews” Artist of the Year, conductor Alpha Gregory. Photo by Maddie McGuigan. Story Page 19.

To Christine, someone who previously experienced perinatal depression, raising awareness through cake is extremely important.

In the past she hadn’t opened up about her history of perinatal depression but is now more comfortable telling her story.

“I think there is a stigma out there, so I try and be honest and open now,” she says.

“At the time I had a lot going on. I didn’t pick up on what was wrong and neither did the GP. I didn’t talk about it with anyone.”

After realising that she was living with perinatal depression, Christine joined the PANDSI board to make sure that other families receive help immediately.

“I wanted to be part of the support to families that I didn’t get,” she says.

“I still have relapses of depression and I know my life would be very different if I sought help earlier on.”

Polly says it’s all about early intervention.

“Most people who experience PNDA for the first time have no previous history of depression and they are full of guilt about it, thinking: ‘This should be a happy time in my life’.” she says.

“They need to be told: ‘You’re doing a good job and parenting isn’t easy’.”

PANDSI recently launched a new program called a “Family Friendly Workplace”, which aims to pull down barriers in the workforce.

Since 1993: Volume 22, Number 44

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The program offers an in-house, one-hour training session that aims at increasing business support for mums and dads returning after having a child.

It is common for dads to experience increased stress when their new baby arrives or their partner is unwell.

PANDSI also offers confidential telephone support for dads as well as mums.

Christine says: “It doesn’t matter about a mother’s or father’s background or salary, we are here to help them.”

“The Canberra Cake Cookbook” will be published during the 2017 PNDA Awareness Week.

Call PANDSI on 6288 1936 or email services@pandsi.org

Growling pollies inspire a bit of gumption

Greens Caroline Le Couteur, bravely went where her leader and cabinet member Shane Rattenbury seemed unprepared to tread during the last Assembly.

A SMALL guarantee: this week’s “Seven Days” will contain no mention of the American President-elect.

Despite him, the week was punctuated with plucky pollies, especially the Greens’ recidivist MLA Caroline Le Couteur, returning to the Assembly as the recycled member for Murrumbidgee. She bravely went where her leader and cabinet member Shane Rattenbury seemed unprepared to tread during the last Assembly and has loudly announced she will refer an ACT government decision on the waiving of money and taxes during the sale of the Brumbies’ Griffith headquarters

pre-election promise of one. I heard that sigh!

THEN there was growling Gai Brodtmann, who took the Russians to task when two of its diplomats shamelessly tried bullying a young female motorist last month after one of them drove a dipo-plated car into hers in a Manuka shopping centre.

The member for Canberra upped the intimidation, forcing the Russian driver to agree to apologise (and sort out the repairs).

“For Canberra residents to be physically intimidated by diplomats hiding behind immunity is inexcusable, “the Labor MP said. “Diplomatic immunity is not licence to intimidate and threaten members of the community.” Go, Gai!

COURAGEOUS, too, is Queanbeyan boy and local NSW National Party member John Barilaro taking on the Deputy Premiership in Mike Baird’s highly unpopular State government. Within 24 hours, the good news turned to custard when affable “Bara” was bowled a curly question from Labor accusing him of accepting illegal political donations for

dose of dorin

three years from his wife, who the Opposition says is a property developer. He floundered in Question Time, but the Nats said later they’d looked at it and all was okay. Okay?

SAD news that the Australian Railway Historical Society’s railway museum at Kingston is running out of financial steam and will close. Subject to the possibility of help from the ACT government, it with be either for the short term or forever.

President David Sommerville says: “The closure of the museum will see some beautiful old carriages sold to pay off debt, some

removed from Canberra to other heritage groups interstate and some may even be scrapped with parts of Canberra’s heritage gone forever.”

THE ACT Budget and the risks of its persistent deficits returned to the spotlight after having been masterfully muted during the election campaign. Industry Super Australia chief economist Stephen Anthony said the ACT should tread carefully through what could be a difficult global economic environment, given the risks of its big reliance on the public sector.

“If the government isn’t exercising the requisite control over spending and doing everything in its power to maintain competitive growth drivers in the economy, then it is much easier to get in a very tough situation quickly,” he chided.

PRIMARY school teacher Brigitta van Reesch (now Brigitta van Deas) invited all her grade one students at Holy Trinity Primary School in Curtin to her wedding, straight after school, of course, at the Holy Family Church in Gowrie. “They are part of my life so I wanted to share the day with them,” she sweetly said.

LIKEABLE Craig Allen, who has been filling in since Virginia Haussegger resigned from the ABC’s local, nightly news bulletin last month, has been overlooked for the multi-talented Dan Bourchier. The former Sky reporter will not only read the 7pm TV news Monday-Thursday, but also host breakfast on ABC 666. Craig mops up with the Friday-Sunday bulletins.

AND giving away his job in the public service after almost 40 years, we say goodbye to the remarkable Nic Manikis, who has retired. His achievements in multicultural affairs are credited with changing the face of Canberra, especially his shepherding of the wildly popular National Multicultural Festival. Well done, Nic.

No deplorables were hurt in the writing of this column and Robert Macklin returns next week.

Owls take Pakao home

By Danielle Nohra

PAKAO Sorn left her family behind in Burma, arrived in Malaysia as a refugee and now lives in Canberra, sewing owls that remind her of her village back home.

With the help of Global Sisters, a non-profit organisation that supports financially excluded women start their own micro businesses, Pakao has begun a business of her own called Red Owl Handicraft.

Through her online store and at local markets Pakao sells natural soaps as well as handcrafted owl and dog toys, and doorstoppers made from traditional Mon fabric from Burma.

Pakao learnt how to sew and speak English when she was part of the Mon Women’s Refugee Organisation (MWRO) in Malaysia.

Pakao was the only person from MWRO to be sent to Australia, her friends went to America, so she was alone, all over again, in yet another new country.

She said: “I was all by my-

self, really scared. I didn’t know how to fill in the form at the airport.”

Pakao was living at the Companion House in Canberra at the end of 2013 when she started with Global Sisters.

Global Sisters Canberra business lead, Pranjali Palnitkar says: “Initially Pakao didn’t have a working visa. She had no permanent residency, no ABN, so she couldn’t start selling.”

Now Pakao has an ABN, a business and is completing a course at CIT in business administration, where she

won a scholarship in 2014 that provided money enabling her to buy two sewing machines.

But it hasn’t been easy. Pakao’s mother passed away in Burma.

“If I become a citizen I hope to go back. I miss my family so much,” she says Pranjali says two people started as Global Sisters in Canberra three years ago, now they are about to help 13 more women including refugees from Afghanistan.

Online shop via globalsisters. org/pakao-sorn/

WORK PROBLEMS?

Richard Calver EMPLOYMENT LAWYER

PHONE 0417 165 417 EMAIL calverr@bigpond.com

Are you over 35? Are you a player or do you want to be a squash player? Are you looking for a friendly, fun atmosphere in which to play the game? Then WE WANT YOU.

Come and play Masters squash. All standards catered for. We play 3 competitions a year in a mixed gender format. It is very social and lots of fun and is the cheapest squash in town.

Interested but not sure if you’d be OK?

Come and try it for free.

Sunday 11 December, 1.00 – 3.00pm Weston Creek Community Centre Squash Courts, Patterson Street, Weston.

(Adjacent to Cooleman Court Shopping Centre.)

Our next competition starts in February 2017. More information at www.squash.actmasters.org.au Or call Mark on 0407 406 249

politics Conservatives play to greed

ADMIRABLE aspirations of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will not be delivered by trickle-down economic policies.

“To overcome disquiet, we must ensure that the benefits of open markets deliver, and are seen to deliver for all Australians, not just a few,” he told the Business Council of Australia (BCA) at the same time as reinforcing a major tax cut to international corporations.

The 10-year plan of the Coalition government to cut corporate tax back to 25 per cent will cost Australia about $50 billion. The rich will get richer and the poor even poorer. The real growth will be in the disparity.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics identifies “the top 20 per cent of households, when ranked by their level of wealth, owned 62 per cent of total household wealth in 2013–2014. By comparison, the bottom 20 per cent of households, owned less than 1 per cent of all household wealth”. The pattern is similar in developed nations that have followed the trickle-down economics path.

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) also supports tax reform. However, it is working with a wide range of community groups in seeking the broad community good and has released key principles regarding tax reform.

Working with the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling at Canberra University, they modelled rais -

In his 10th anniversary column, popular political pundit MICHAEL MOORE fires a warning shot across the taxation plans of the “greedy” Liberals.

ing the GST to 15 per cent and providing a 5 per cent income tax cut.

“The results are stark: two thirds of households, on incomes up to about $100,000 would be worse off and the top 40 per cent would gain at the expense of the bottom 60 per cent,” they say.

Michael Bradley, managing partner of Sydney law firm Marque Lawyers, wrote in the ABC’s “The Drum” in May that “45 years of trickle-down experiments, promising that the rivers of money which have flowed to corporations and the rich will turn into ‘jobs and growth’ for all, have delivered one clear outcome: a massive and sustained increase in income and wealth inequality”.

The Australia Institute’s David Richardson explains where the real benefits will go: “A good deal of any company tax cut will benefit foreign shareholders and so foreign tax authorities are likely to gain at the expense of the Australian Tax Office”.

In the same paper, Richardson quotes the International Monetary Fund managing director, Christine Lagarde: “Our research shows that, if you lift the income share of the poor and middle class by 1 percentage point, then GDP growth

increases by as much as 0.38 percentage points in a country over five years.

“By contrast, if you lift the income share of the rich by 1 percentage point, then GDP growth decreases by 0.08 percentage points”.

In Canberra, the vast majority of public servants are paying over a third of their salary in tax. These are not the people who complain. These are not the people who constantly lobby government for a reduction in taxation. Most middle-income earners understand the importance of our hospitals, our roads, our social security system, universal health care and the role these play in a “fair go”.

The conservatives are playing to greed. There are some clues to the reasons. Big businesses operate on return on investment and they make sizeable donations to the election coffers of some political parties.

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

Depicting Muslims in an unflattering light

I NORMALLY don’t get “offended” and feel the need to write to the editor, but Paul Dorin’s cartoon in the November 10 edition showing the boat people irritated me.

Irritating because it is lazy, inaccurate and continuing the spread of lumping all Muslims (because everyone from the Middle East is Muslim) as a homogenous group and generally depicted in an ugly and unflattering light.

In this case the woman is wearing a burqa only worn in some parts of Afghanistan, the man could be wearing traditional Pakistani clothes, and has the beady-eyed, big-nosed look (which all people from Syria to Sri Lanka must have).

Sorry for sounding smart, but it’s just lazy and harks back to 1945 when I’m sure newspapers were running stories and probably highly offensive cartoons of hook-nosed Jews fleeing Europe, this is 2016 not 1945 and it’s Canberra.

I am Iranian and came here by plane with my parents in the 80s. The reason I’m sensitive to these sort of cartoons is because of the stupid questions I field on occasion from people who generally don’t know much about the world I came from and what they know is a gross and inaccurate stereotype a lot of the time. One of my friends’ fathers asked her “where is Ilnaz’s background from?” and when she replied “from Iran” she told me her father said “ ohhh but she’s really pretty”. (!!!)

I can’t help but think that the portrayal of Middle Eastern people in the media like this plays a small part...

At the end of the day, the people that came by boat to Australia from Indonesia don’t look like this- in fact no Syrians or Iraqis fleeing ISIS have come through this channel (I assume the cartoon is meant to represent these people). Even a basic Google image search shows this - in fact it is a heterogenous group, culturally, economically, ethnically and in faith (if any).

I accept that creating a cartoon on this issue is a difficult task, but this particular one didn’t get it right.

Ilnaz Roomiani, via email

Free squash

SQUASH ACT is marking World Disability Day with a free “Ambidextrous Squash Come and Try Day” at the Woden Squash Centre, 2pm-4pm, on Saturday, December 3. Participants will play with their non-dominant hand (ie right-handers will play with their left hand and vice versa). There will be a free barbecue and lucky door prizes. Enquiries to 0437 366552.

Christmas market

DECORATIONS, craft, gifts, jewellery and home cooking will be to the fore at Kangara Waters Retirement Village’s Christmas Market, Aikman Drive and Joy Cummings Place, Belconnen, 8.30am-2pm, on the weekend of December 3-4.

Hand-made gifts

THE Bold Bandannas’ Relay for Life Team will be raising funds for cancer research by selling a range of handmade Christmas presents (including children’s dress up and dolls’ clothes) plus secondhand books, bric-a-brac, plants, preserves, shortbread, Christmas puddings and cakes in the charity space at the Fyshwick Markets, 8am-5pm, on the weekend of December 10-11.

Leadership call

LANDCARE ACT, the not-for-profit peak body for the 60 local landcare groups in the ACT, is looking for an independent, unpaid chair from outside the organisation. Applications close December 2, enquiries to 0466 108432 and details at landcareact.org.au/

Rise and rise of the digital native

THIS is a significant month for me; it is 30 years since a skinny, bespectacled kid with a good knowledge of sport and racing sat behind a microphone at the then new, but now defunct, 2SSS-FM.

Amazingly, even though that same skinny, bespectacled kid spilt a cup of coffee through the broadcast panel less than six weeks into the station’s existence, I’ve managed to carve out a three-decade career in broadcasting.

Thirty years is a good time to look back. And what a journey it’s been. From the days of vinyl records and tape in copious quantities all over the place in radio studios to today, where there are almost no moving parts other than the buttons we press to make sounds.

In 1986, CDs were only just on the market, and when the first disc was acquired for the station’s music library, it was marked as the property of the station in permanent marker. On the shiny side... A bit of metho to remove most of the ink (although a stain remained) and it was still playable. Those who had done their radio exclusively on vinyl records were gobsmacked.

While CDs are still – occasionally –used in radio studios, there’s a whole raft of technology that has come and gone. And even though the word “digital” has gone from being a word used only in reference to clocks to relating to almost everything in broadcasting, it’s a funny thing how many “digital” innovations

Software has now been unveiled that can take a voice, anyone’s voice, and make it say anything else.

have gone the way of the dinosaur. Some of them seemed to be good ideas. A few years after the CD started its attack on vinyl records, someone unveiled the Digital Compact Cassette. I only ever saw one once. It was supposed to breathe a whole new life into audio on tape. It lasted less than five years. There was a competitor called DAT (Digital Audio Tape) which was a bit of fun but was gone in less than 20.

The idea of audio on any form of tape, digital or otherwise, was being smothered by the CD. But the marketing people had decided the CD needed competition. In the early ‘90s, the MiniDisc arrived. It was smaller than the CD, each disc lived in a little case to protect it. You could – with a bit of mucking around – edit on them, although the players never really gave you enough info on their screens to do it easily. They hung on to their marginal existence until three years ago. I remember when I worked in my first

fully digital studio. It was at a music station. We were amazed that we could actually do shows on to a computer in about a third of the time the show ran for and the machine would put it together for us. We didn’t realise at the time that for many radio stations that would be the future. Indeed, in many stations in country towns, the voices on the radio are not only recorded, they’re recorded a long way away from where they’re heard. Of course, those of us who managed to move into talk radio have congratulated ourselves on our foresight (or sheer luck) for years. Because after all, you can’t make a computer that does the speaking, right? For the first 30 years of my career, I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but just last week, I saw that software has now been unveiled that can take a voice, anyone’s voice, and make it say anything else. It doesn’t work for live talking situations yet. It might not be that far away, but I don’t know if I’ll make it to 50 years in radio!

Chris Coleman is the Drive presenter on 2CC

CHRIS COLEMAN

‘Thirsty’ teachers soak up the science

AN internationally recognised plant scientist and an ACT high school teacher packed together materials, knowledge and enthusiasm to deliver a science workshop to “thirsty” teachers in the developing region of Maliana, East Timor.

Describing it as “like kids in a candy shop”, teacher David Johns, who is principal of the Islamic School of Canberra, said: “The teachers were thirsty for all the things we have to offer, they wanted to try for themselves all the experiments, learn how to use the microscopes and how to encourage students to get a deep understanding of the topics.

Molecular biologist Dr Robert Sharwood and Johns, who met years ago as teacher and student, have just returned from an intense three days with 20 teachers from rural areas, experimenting with leaf disks, microscopes, a red cabbage juice indicator and algae balls.

“They were so enthusiastic and receptive, they couldn’t believe what they were seeing when we showed them the tiny bubbles of oxygen raising from leaf disks.”

Four of the 20 local teachers didn’t have formal qualifications; many of them worked in a semi-volunteer ca-

pacity and only three of the 20 schools had access to a microscope.

“Our main message for the teachers was that you can’t just do what you are told to do, you can’t understand things if you haven’t experienced them. By putting the teachers in the shoes of their students, we hope to inspire them to learn through experience,” said Johns.

“The strength of the program lies in our capacity to work together, as each of us has something to give; Rob, with his expertise in science and me with my experience in secondary education.”

Dr Sharwood, an associate investigator of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis at

ANU, said he learnt so much during this project.

“We have a profound respect for the teachers and the problems they face every day,” he said.

“They deal not only with the trials and tribulations of living and working in poor rural areas, but also with problems like the lack of resources and the challenge of keeping students engaged with topics they are not experts in and about.”

Every session started with an experiment, followed by an introduction to a scientific topic and finishing with a clear application to real life. They recreated an Australian educational

Family Lawyers at their best

environment with all sorts of educational materials, scientific posters and scientific equipment and covered topics such as photosynthesis and human physiology.

“We have made a strong connection with East Timor and the idea is to continue with an improved version of this program next year, now that we really know where the needs are,” said Dr Sharwood.

“We even have possibilities of interacting with a planned agricultural school in the area, which will link perfectly with my area of research with its focus on improving food security through agriculture.”

Filipino Christmas

A SANTA parade, flash mob carolling and Filipino crafts will feature at the Philippine Christmas celebration at the Philippine embassy, 1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, 10am-6pm, Sunday, December 4.

Hot to help

ANYONE overweight and suffering from sleep problems is invited to volunteer to be a part of ANU PhD student Hesah Aljarallah’s study of the role of body temperature changes in explaining sleep problems experienced by overweight people. More information at 0420 656132 or via hesah. aljarallah@anu.edu.au

Authors speak up

TWO, free ANU Meetthe-Author events in one week: comedian Paul Livingston, aka Flacco, pictured, will talk about his book, “DAAS: Their Part in My Downfall”, the inside story of the Doug Anthony All Stars, on Monday, December 5. His book documents the band’s rise, disappearance and rebirth, and interviews their fans, colleagues and famous peers and admirers. AND author Troy Bramston will discuss his new book “Paul Keating: The Big Picture Leader”, the first biography the former prime minister has co-operated with in more than two decades on Thursday, December 8.

Both events at Manning Clark 2, 6pm. Bookings at anu.edu.au/events or 6125 8415.

Unit 3, 80-82, Kembla St Fyshwick, ACT For your unique, collectible Christmas decorations

At Jamison Travel’s Solo Getaways night, Jamison

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

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

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

At the soiree of the friends of the CSO, Red Hill

Canberra Confidential

End of the village people

THE adults have taken over and mercifully unpopped the “pop-up” Westside Container Village, with the NCA declining not to prolong the eyesore any longer than another year, despite being petitioned by the ACT government for two and a half times that.

The widely loathed container park, sitting in a plum position on Commonwealth Avenue, has been dogged by opposition and commercial disaster over the past two years with Labor compliantly bailing it out at every setback to what must be a tidy seven-figure sum by now.

NCA chief Malcolm Snow said the authority concurred with the grumbles that Westside Village was not an appropriate design standard for a long-term presence on the site, siding with 42 of the 62 respondents to a public consultation that it was time for it pop off.

It will be interesting to see what this folly has cost the ACT taxpayer, if indeed we ever do, when its licence expires on November 19 next year.

Shades of economic saving

MEANWHILE CC can’t help but wonder at the parsimony, public liability or personal-safety wisdom of the NCA in having five of the nine lights in its long, dark pedestrian tunnel near Albert Hall that runs under Commonwealth Avenue turned off.

Cruelty to cactuses

THERE can be fewer sadder sights than a cactus cactus. This is the forlorn, if not already dead, cactus that once stood as a proud adornment at Smoque before the shock that the Bailey’s Arcade southern American barbecue restaurant had gone south, abandoned overnight by its owners. Clearly the parsimonious receivers couldn’t run to a drop of water to keep the asset viable.

Where Wright sees wrong

RELENTLESS resident John Wright is threatening to get the Human Rights Commissioner on to a problem he sees on the floor of the ACT Legislative Assembly.

Since 2011, he has approached three Assembly Speakers but no one seems interested. He is nothing if not dogged.

“When I attended the Older Persons Assembly in 2011, a bloke in a wheelchair could not access the Assembly floor, due to a step,” he says.

“I spoke to then-Speaker Shane Rattenbury, who seemed indifferent at best. I then spoke to Vicki Dunne, who was sympathetic. I pointed out the need to increase seating gave the perfect opportunity to right this wrong.

“l have just received an email from [new Speaker] Joy Burch, who said: ‘No changes are proposed for the steps to the members’ seating at this stage’ and ‘I will talk with Vicki Dunne to check if anything was put into place that I’m not aware of’.

“Sounds like she might not have looked at it.

‘I might try and go look at it myself. As a citizen of the ACT, I should be able to. Also, I will get on to the Human Rights Commissioner.”

The Russians are coming…

THE Communist Bloc near Lake Burley Griffin seems to be taking shape, comrades, with the new site for the Russian diplomatic delegation freed of trees and busy with earthworks.

Characteristically, the Russians are building, before much else, a wall on the State Circle side of the enormous block. It must be in their DNA. The site is opposite the Chinese embassy annexe in Yarralumla.

The dumb footpath

HOW does this work? They go to all the trouble to put in steps off Vernon Circuit, but that then leads to an unwalkable “footpath” made of larg cobblestones that sends pedestrians on to the road before leading to a regular

All about Weston Creek advertising feature

Captain George’s land is being put to good use

WESTON Creek was named in honour of Capt George Edward Weston, a former officer of the East India Company who arrived in Australia in 1829, and was superintendent of the Hyde Park Convict Barracks in Sydney.

In 1841, Weston was granted land that, by the 1960s, was established as a residential district as an offshoot of Canberra’s first satellite city in the adjacent Woden Valley.

Construction of Weston Creek’s eight suburbs started with Waramanga and Fisher in 1968, and was followed by Weston and Rivett in 1969, Duffy and Holder in 1970, and Chapman and Stirling in 1972. Each suburb has its own local shops, and they all share the larger district centre of Cooleman Court situated in Weston.

Each suburb is named after a notable Australian and the street names in each suburb follow a specific theme such as Australian rivers, native flowers, or names of surveyors.

Weston Creek, which is now home to more than 22,000 people, has developed a strong sense of community and is also home to many friendly traders and service providers. Here are some of the best…

Shopping centre’s community vibe

COOLEMAN Court, Weston Creek’s convenience shopping centre has been around since 1978 and currently supplies locals with many different services from fresh food stores to eye care.

Marketing manager Nicole Maguire says the centre has a strong community vibe, it’s quite intimate and friendly rather than hot and congested.

She says: “The people here tend to look after each other. If someone loses their wallet it will be handed in.”

Nicole has witnessed a change in the

Johanne’s got a sharp eye for colour and design

Hairdresser of 35 years Johanne Voigt, owner of Johanne’s Hair Dos, wants to give her clients an overall experience that suits their budget and personality.

“I don’t just do weird and wonderful stuff,” Johanne says, “I’m mindful of people’s budgets and what they can manage.”

She says if customers have a tighter budget, Johanne’s Hair Dos will devise a plan that will

result in longer, manageable hair.

“I love making my clients feel special, it’s not just about the money,” she says.

“It’s also about leaving hair in a better condition than what the client came in with.

“It’s about sculpting the hair to fit the hair type and what the client wants.”

Johanne says her service is unique: “I’m quite arty and the salon is filled with paintings I’ve

demographic at Cooleman Court, which she has attributed to the development of Molonglo Valley.

She says: “Due to the development still in its infant stages, we haven’t conducted formal research as yet to break down the exact demographic, however, we are noticing that it is quite multicultural, with a mix of young affluent families and single professionals.”

Cooleman Court, Brierly Street, Weston. Call 6288 8800.

created, especially lots of peacock artworks.” Her artistic side helps her with the ability to judge colours.

“I can look at a client and I know instinctively what will work and can match up colours really easily.I have the sharp eye for colour and design.”

Johanne’s Hair Dos, Fisher Shops, Kalgoolie Crescent. Call 0438 263728.

All about Weston Creek

Keeping sight of eye care

THE team at Optorica Optometrists, in Weston, have 50 years of combined experience in optical care.

Resident optometrist Chito Ricabo contributes to a large portion of this experience, working in and around Weston Creek since 1993.

“I decided I wanted to be an optometrist when I was 14 after a teacher of mine told me to get my eyes checked,” he says.

“There is no other way to find out you have an issue unless you get your eyes checked.”

Just like going to the dentist or doctor, regular eye testing should also be a fundamental part of your health care regime.

Retirement village with a touch of home

PROVIDING a caring, safe, home-like atmosphere, Adria Village in Stirling has been delivering low and high-level aged care for more than 22 years.

She says: “They often visit with the hostel residents and have high teas together, choirs come in to perform, and they also go on outings together.”

As well as organised social programs the village provides multilingual staff, bus services, regular mass, an on-site chapel, a psychologist, podiatrist, chemist, hairdresser and pharmacist.

Even if you think that you have perfect vision, a visit to Optorica Optometrist in Weston Creek could be all it takes to detect and treat a problem or eye disease that may lead to a permanent loss of vision.

Optorica Optometrists takes the time to listen to clients’ needs and discuss any problems or eye conditions people are experiencing.

Optorica Optometrists, Suite 17, 41 Liardet Street, Weston. Call 6288 3155.

• Freshly roasted coffee.

• Grown organically in the pristine conditions of the Highlands of Goroka, Papua New Guinea.

• The World’s best coffee is grown at our doorstep.

Established in 1989 by the Croatian community of Canberra and Queanbeyan, Adria Village provides support and assistance to enable residents to live in a comfortable and secure environment, while encouraging individuality, independence, and active participation in a broad range of cultural, social and religious activities within the village.

The village contains low and high-level residential care for 42 residents, as well as 36 independent living villas in a landscaped environment with mature trees and gardens providing homelike and natural surroundings.

Adria Village general manager, Iva Vujica, says the villa residents have their own independent community room.

Adria Village also provides special care units for residents with dementia and any other special needs, and has two respite care rooms for short-term care by arrangement.

“Adria Village is located 500 metres from Cooleman Court, and bus services connect it to Woden, Civic, Belconnen and Tuggeranong town centres,” says Iva. “It’s close to everything!”

Adria Village, 89 Fremantle Drive, Stirling. Visit adria.org.au or call 6288 0198.

advertising feature

Salon promises a first-class experience

WITH more than 20 years of experience, owner of Cooleman Court Beauty Salon, Teresa Teixeira, offers each of her clients a first-class experience.

She says that her professional staff at Cooleman Court Beauty Salon aim to leave clients not only looking great but also feeling relaxed and revitalised.

“It’s so important to have the right staff, it makes the difference in providing the best service,” says Teresa.

“Everyone deserves quality time for themselves and Cooleman Court Beauty Salon is a place where people can escape.

“Life is so demanding, so I’ve created a business that people can enjoy.”

People can access treatments seven days a week because Teresa understands there are customers who work during the week or have families.

Teresa has always had a passion for beauty and is constantly keeping up with the latest developments.

Cooleman Court Beauty Salon has an organic skin care line called Pevonia, which provides maximum

holistic wellness, rejuvenation and radiance.

For customers who would like to receive continuous discounts, they can sign up to the Cooleman Court Beauty Salon’s VIP membership, which also gives a client 25 per cent off on their birthday.

“The VIP membership is us giving something back and saying ‘thank you’ to our loyal clients,” says Teresa.

CC Beauty Centre, Shop 54, Upper level, Cooleman Court Shopping Centre, Brierly Street, Weston. Call 6288 5522 or visit ccbeautycentre.com.au or facebook.com/ccbeautycentre

Massages

Tinting

Ear piercing

Spray tans

Microdermabrasion

CURVES is not just an ordinary gym, according to owner Julie Griffin, who took over Weston Creek Curves eight years ago.

Julie says: “My desire was through its uniqueness compared to other gyms.”

Curves offers a complete weight loss program that includes weekly one-onone coaching, exercise, and a healthy eating plan that can be done online and is tailored to the individual’s own needs.

“Curves is not just a gym, it’s a place we can offer diet advice, coaching and exercise, surrounded by lots of happy people who do get results,” says Julie.

“It has grown from a women’s gym to

a complete solution to weight loss.” The gym now has 560 active members in the Weston Creek community.

After being a Curves member for two years, Julie decided to buy Curves in Cooleman Court “because I really believed in the concept”.

“I got the same results, if not better results, in 30 minutes than an hour and a half at a regular gym,” she says.

“We really tailor our circuit to suit everybody. Our eldest member is 86 and our youngest is 16.”

Curves, Brierly Street, T3, Cooleman Court Shopping Centre, Weston, 6288 8333.

CAFE Niugini Arabica, in Duffy, is on Canberra’s doorstep selling a “world best”, single-blend coffee from Australia’s own doorstep – Papua New Guinea.

One of Niugini Arabica’s store owners, Theo Levantis, says: “Pure product is the best product.

“The reality is, when you blend coffee you are making it worse. But all coffee is blended from different countries in order for people to own their own blend.

“Our product is a single-origin coffee from only one area in Papua New Guinea.”

Theo and the other two owners – Charles and Satish – were inspired to open up their cafe when working together in New Guinea. It was there that they decided to incorporate the locals’ own spelling of “Niugini” into the store name.

The coffee beans are grown in the fertile highlands, near the town of Goroka, at elevations above 2000 metres.

Theo says: “It’s here that some of the best coffee on the globe is grown.

“In Australia, we have a massive coffee culture, yet the world-best coffee next door is unnoticed.

“The beans end up in Europe and, for some reason, Australia hasn’t caught on yet.”

Arabica, Shop 4,

arts & entertainment

Alpha’s joy to the world takes the top prize

COVER STORY

By Helen Musa

A CONDUCTOR and mentor

credited with bringing the healing and comforting joy of music to thousands of young Canberrans has been named 2016 “CityNews” Artist of the Year.

Alpha Gregory was singled out by the Canberra Critics’ Circle judging panel for her 19-year contribution to choral music in Canberra, particularly through her inspirational leadership of the Woden Valley Youth Choir.

In a ceremony at the Canberra Museum and Gallery she was presented with a $1000 cheque and a F!NK vase designed by the late artist Robert Foster.

Known for her passion, energy and commitment, Gregory has shaped the musical lives of two generations of Canberra’s youth.

At least one ABC newsreader and many high-ranking public servants have passed through the three choirs that now make up the organisation.

Gregory was born in the town of Maple Creek, in Saskatchewan, Canada, took out two degrees in music and education, then taught in Barbados and at the famous Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, UK, before moving with her husband Gordon to Australia, eventually arriving in Canberra, where they raised their

four children.

Alerted by musical notables Nola Bermingham and Jill Bellchambers that local singers could do better than a visiting international barbershop quartet, Gregory became the founding director of the singing ensemble Sophisticated Swing in 1988, following in 1990 with the more youthful ensemble, Rhythm Syndicate.

When the patriarch of the Woden Valley Youth Choir, Don Whitbread, announced his retirement, he called on Gregory to take over and the rest is history.

A stern but respected taskmistress, she quickly became conductor, teacher, CD producer, administrator, yearbook publisher, choreographer and in-house music critic of her young charges, raising the international profile of the choir by touring interstate and as far as South Korea.

She commissioned original music for them from Australian composers, saying: “I think we should have more things that are Australian, not imported.”

“We’ve had fabulous experiences,” Gregory says, citing

Remembrance Day performances, where she advised her choristers, “soldiers might faint but we never will – wiggle your toes and wiggle your fingers so you don’t keel over.”

They’ve also sung for royalty, participated in “Voices in the Forest” and provided vocal back-up for Opera Australia.

“An absolute highlight was having the choir sing for Nelson Mandela at Llewellyn Hall in 2000,” she says.

Gregory is a true believer in the power of music for all ages and has long taught music to babies

through her own school Pied Piper Music for Littlies.

But she tells her bigger singers: “If you want to perform on the stage, you have to act like a mature person.” And they do.

The ACT Arts Awards evening, hosted by the Canberra Critics’ Circle at the Canberra Museum and Gallery, also featured the Circle’s own awards, which went to: dancerchoreographers Alison Plevey and Liz Lea; visual artists Avi Amesbury, Emma Beer, Denise Higgins & Gary Smith , Michael Taylor and Judi Elliott ; writers Josh Inman ,

Geoff Page , Niloofar Kanaiyan , Kaaron Warren , Zoya Patel and Robert Macklin; the makers of the film “Joe Cinque’s Consolation”; musical theatre artists David Cannell , Lucy Matthews , Alexander Clubb, Kelda McManus , Canberra Philharmonic Society and Vanessa de Jager ; theatre artists Pigeonhole Theatre, Katie Cawthorne , Dick Goldberg , Jenna Roberts , PJ Williams and Chenoeh Miller ; musicians Michael Sollis , Barbara Jane Gilby, Gary France , Leonard Weiss , Alpha Gregory and The Young Docteurs.

The good man tangled in a bureaucratic maze

“I, Daniel Blake” (MA)

KEN Loach holds the record (13) for directing films screened in Cannes Film Festival. His filmography doesn’t pander to fashionable, thematic, stylistic or other trends. He’s a humanist unafraid to confront uncomfortable social issues.

Five people plus me watched the first Canberra screening of “I, Daniel Blake”. Afterward we found ourselves in the foyer looking askance at each other. The common factor was tears.

One of us (not me nor aware of why I was there) opined that if you never saw another film, it should be this one, a story about a good man tangled in the bureaucratic maze guarding the paper he needs before he can apply for a job.

Daniel (Dave Johns) has recovered from the medical condition that put him off work. He’s 59, a carpenter who needs work not only to bring in money to feed himself and the young single mum with two kids whom he has found confronting a similar problem, but also to restore his self-respect.

So what’s the problem? The social security system is there to help. Well, isn’t it? Just fill in this form, attend that interview, fill in those other forms yada yada yada. The screenplay by Paul Laverty deftly weaves a web of obfuscation at the centre of which sits a much-mentioned invisible bureaucrat called the decision-maker behind whose anonymous authority the lower levels find safety in the forest of rules and procedures knowing they are only following procedures

set down in manuals written by distant law-givers.

Daniel Blake’s story resonates with a heartbreaking verity.

At Palace Electric and Dendy

“War On Everyone” (MA)

SOME call it the script. Others call it the screenplay. By whatever name, it’s the collection of a writer’s instructions about creating moving images for us to watch in a darkened room. Others may change the script as the enterprise progresses but if the instructions aren’t right, the film probably won’t be either.

Preceding the words sits the writer’s

TEATRO VIVALDIS PRESENTS

A NIGHT OF HILARITY WITH SOME VERY NAUGHTY NURSERY RHYME CHARACTERS

Featuring Grant Pegg, Kashmira Mohamed Zagor, Will Huang and Rachel Thornton

brain. Watching the result of the outpourings from John Michael McDonagh’s brain that constitute “War On Everyone”, my constant thought was, what the heck is this writer/ director trying to tell us.

In Albuquerque, police detectives Hispanic Bob (Michael Pena) and Anglo Terry (Alexander Skarsgard) are a law unto themselves. They take no prisoners, brook no interference with their unorthodox methodology. Petty crims get released after a thumping. Bad crims are at risk of never coming before a judge. Bringing a corpse before the court is pointless.

One of their favourite vil -

How Big is the Bad Wolf?

Who did Red ride in the Hood?

& SHOW

lains is Padraic (David Wilmot) whom they’re using as a snitch in their current major case involving a Brit (Theo James) whose higher than justifiable opinion of self exceeds reality. Big money’s involved. The boys’ jobs are on the line at headquarters. These elements and their sub-plots need competent writing. And that’s what “War On Everything” doesn’t have. Too overtly simplistic to be a message movie, it nevertheless conveys a notion of straining to say something worth hearing but never quite succeeding. Violent, cruel, obscene, comical, poignant and many other elements, it just doesn’t work.

At Palace Electric

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” (M)

WE’VE seen it all before, some might say too often. And the fact of its having been written by JK Rowling, also one of its producers, lifts expectations.

It’s fair to say that without the special effects and imaginative design of its imaginary creatures (my favourite is a mantis-like little green lockpicker that is both insect and plant!) “Fantastic Beasts…” would be just another potboiler, differentiated from the Harry Potter movies by destruction of the

kind that several decades ago wore out its welcome in movies showing extra-terrestrial ballyhoo and depredations on our fragile little planet.

This time it’s set in New York in 1926, where Hogwarts graduate Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has come to capture a specimen of the fantastic beast he needs to complete the collection he has spent the last couple of years accumulating. Clearing Customs, a clumsily-conceived version of the old wrong suitcase gag introduces Kowalski (Dan Fogler) who’s coming to the US to establish a continental bakery – if the bank will give him a loan. At the American wizardry office, Tina (Katherine Waterston) gets the gig of escorting Newt around the building en route to Arizona in search of that last fantastic beast. That trio is the film’s principal characters.

The opening passage shows newspaper headlines about a famous explorer presumed dead in some tropical jungle. This too is a well-worn movie gag. Right at the end, he shows up just in time to get arrested. I can reveal where he was. He was in Australia having imported two little dogs without correct quarantine documentation. At all cinemas

Bringing memory to life

By Helen Musa

IN its very newest show, the Canberra Museum and Gallery has engaged many of our national collecting institutions as it introduces Canberrans to “the memory of the world.”

That’s the kind of “memory” safeguarded in Canberra’s premier cultural institutions by Canberra’s librarians, archivists, curators and conservators.

In a kind of “Documentation-101” crash course, “CityNews” is introduced to a new idea of what a “document” is, so that film, music and dance, oral history and digital media can all be considered “contextual documents – anything that records info is a document”.

That means that, say, a film about the Kelly gang or a CinesoundMovietone newsreel can have equal weight with a diary or the Griffin drawings of Canberra.

and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.

Did Little Boy Blue blow his horn when Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet?

This is a significant exhibition, as CMAG’s senior curator in social history Dale Middleby and consultant Ros Russell, chair of UNESCO Australia’s Memory of the World Committee, are keen to stress as they take us on a tour around the “with-it” show.

They are particularly pleased to have drawn on collections in the Noel Butlin Archives, the National Archives, the National Film and Sound Archive, the NGA, the NLA

Little of the Australian experience is omitted in the 14 modules covered by the show – Enduring Culture, Our Pacific Neighbourhood, Australia on Film, War and Australia, First Encounter, Establishing Settlements, A Documentary Democracy, Planning the “Ideal City”, Artists and their Works, Workers in Documents, Australia’s Folk Culture, Digital Pioneer, First on the Stage and Canberra and Memory of the World.

Although as social historians Middleby and Russell take UNESCO’s precepts very seriously, they have been mindful of the demands that a heavily-captioned show like this can make upon viewers used to whizzing through a visual arts exhibition at the rate of 30 seconds a painting.

As well as all the fun, there are plain social documents, too, ranging from a kids’ “Sorry” book and Eddie Mabo’s diary to the huge “Banner of Pride” from the Butlin Archives. Using a plethora of devices and initiatives, young people are expected to flock to CMAG to access information through iPads, videos and the fantastic initiative Paradisec. That’s the ultra-awesome Pacific and Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures developed by Drs Rachel Hendry and Andrew Burrell which allows viewers to zoom into islands in the Pacific and hear songs and words from the 1500 or so languages of the region.

arts in the city

Oh, that every ‘burb had a lovely Duxton

AS we sat in the sun, sippin’ on wine and enjoying a mighty fine lunch, we decided it would be beautiful if every ‘burb in Canberra had a Duxton.

The Duxton has recently completed a major refurb. It’s modern, but comfy, with different zones downstairs and upstairs. The windows are massive and open wide, bringing the outdoors in. It still has the feel of a pub, but a mighty smart looking one.

The menu has also been “refurbed”, and we are delighted that it offers so much more than pizza and burgers. Intriguing is the woodfire grill section, featuring woodfired carrot salad ($20), barbecued wild caught king prawns with chilli and garlic ($24), steaks ($34 to $38) and half rotisserie chicken ($24).

My friend was stuck on the charcoal roast pork cutlet ($32) and she loved every bite. It was served with roast broccolini, caramelised apple, sage and anchovy – a wonderful combination. The cutlet was thick and juicy and the apple tangy and memorable.

“Why don’t all pubs dish up interesting dishes like this?” my friend wondered aloud. She’s right. Classic pub food has its place but can be sometimes tedious. The Duxton’s new menu showcases variety and great taste as well as classic fish and chips, chicken schnitzel and many other usual suspects. I was in for something lighter and so opted for the slow-roast lamb salad (gluten free and $24). In my mind, decent, delicious salads are a must on any menu and this one deserved an A+. The salad was loaded with tender lamb, labneh, spiced kumera, black quinoa, pepitas, chard and herbs. It truly hit the spot. If snacking is your thing, The Duxton offers dishes such as spiced bourbon glazed chicken wings ($14) and three cheese croquettes with jalapeno mayo ($12). You can share tantalising larger plates, such as whole rotisserie chicken with potato bake or slow-cooked lamb with cabbage slaw, mint yoghurt and milk buns ($36). The kids will delight in their

own section of the menu, which includes, as a sweet ending, vanilla ice cream with topping ($4). Indeed, The Duxton is a great family spot.

The Duxton is so much more than the main level. All up, there’s the Loft rooftop terrace, which will be uber popular in summer; the Oak Room, a gazebo area, the pub and sports bar and bistro. It sounds almost impossible to manage but The Duxton has it all covered. The kitchen is about four times the size and well designed for efficient prep and service. The charcoal rotisserie grill and pit is new and a great addition.

The Duxton, corner Macpherson and Sargood Streets, O’Connor. Open seven days, times vary. Call 6162 0799.

Jessie comes singing to town

By Helen Musa

JESSIE Vintila, from Byron Bay, is running a one-off singing workshop at Ainslie Corroboree Park Hall, 2pm-5pm, on Sunday, November 27. For the last three years she has been taking groups of lovers of walking and singing on a tour to Spain called “Sing the Camino” that covers a 220km stretch of the ancient pilgrim track, from Ponferrada to Santiago de Compostela. Workshop bookings to singthecamino.com or 0417 277211.

“HOW do you lift the curse of a witch?” is one of the questions canvassed by new experimental arts collective COUP: Canberra, which is staging “Vinegar Tom”, Caryl Churchill’s play about witch trials, directed by Cathy Petocz. At the Ralph Wilson Theatre, Gorman Arts Centre as part of the Ralph Indie program, November 29-December 4. Bookings to agac.com.au

ORIANA Chorale’s Golden Age series continues with Christmas music from 17th century Germany, directed by Peter Young. The star composer is Michael Praetorius, the first great composer of Luther’s time. Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, 3pm, on Sunday, November 27. Bookings to trybooking.com or at the door.

“HOT to Trot”, short works by

young choreographers from the Quantum Leap ensemble, can be seen at QL2 Theatre, Gorman Arts Centre, 55 Ainslie Avenue, Braddon, 6.45pm, on November 26-27. Bookings to ql2.org.au

CANBERRA Youth Orchestra, directed by Leonard Weiss, will perform Brahms’ Symphony No 1 in its final Llewellyn Hall concert for 2016 on December 4. It features young soloists Donica Tran and Lily Bryant. Bookings to ticketek.com

“NERVOUS” is the second full-length work from Canberra’s newest contemporary dance company, Australian Dance Party. An immersive sensory experience born from the curiosity of choreographer Alison Plevey in conjunction with ANU neuroscientist Greg Stuart and collaborating artists. It will be

performed at twilight inside the burnt-out Dome at Mt Stromlo Observatory, 7.45pm, December 1-3. Bookings to eventbrite.com.au

THE puppeteers of the movie “War Horse” have created the largest-ever performing African elephant, Queenie, and her calf. They’re likely to upstage the stars of “Circus 1903 – The Golden Age of Circus” – including a cycle artist from Germany, jugglers from France and a rola-bola artist from Russia. At the Canberra Theatre, December 1-10. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre. com.au or 6275 2700.

WARBLERS and funny girls, Sparrow-Folk, are throwing a theatrical party at The Street Theatre, December 1-3, with a cheeky festive show “A Very Nestie Christmas”. Bookings to thestreet.org.au or 6247 1223.

gardening At home with successful citrus

BUT for oranges, citrus trees, such as lemons, limes, kumquats and grapefruit, all grow well in our region.

Typically, oranges need the long, hot summers of the Riverina to sweeten properly, but there are always exceptions and some readers tell me they have a wonderful crop.

Possibly the best place to plant citrus is against a north-facing wall, particularly if the house is brick, which will provide added heat.

This was the traditional place to plant lemons in the early days of Canberra when every government home had a brick chimney and a Rayburn wood heater. The bricks in the chimney would heat up in the evening and stay warm during the night keeping frost from the lemon tree.

So, where is the home of citrus?

Seville in Spain immediately comes to mind. Actually citrus arrived there many hundreds of years ago from China introduced by the Arabs. The Romans, through their trade with India, had wellestablished orange groves certainly by the 4th century AD.

Citrus had been cultivated by the Chinese since at least 1000 BC.

Han Yanzhi writing in the first book of any language devoted specifically to citrus in 1178 mentions at least 28 kinds of citrus. Mandarins, sweet and sour oranges, pomelos and kumquats were all mentioned, together with his instructions for planting, cultivation, manuring, irrigation, grafting, storage and medicinal uses.

Citrus trees have been grown in containers for hundreds of years with elaborate orangeries still to be seen at such places as the Palace of Versailles. The huge potted terracotta containers were brought into these places in winter and moved outside in summer. Fortunately, we do not have to do this here and, except for newly planted trees, we don’t have to protect them from our mild frosts. Container-grown citrus are ideal on a sunny balcony.

TERRACOTTA containers are still considered the best for growing citrus:

• They should be no smaller than 40cm diameter across the top and preferably 50cm.

• Always use premium potting mix.

• It’s not necessary to place gravel or similar in the bottom of the pot, just a few broken tiles over the holes.

• Don’t use a saucer under the container as this encourages root rot. Raise the container off the ground with either specific pot feet or broken bricks.

Growing in the ground requires good preparation:

• If the soil is heavy clay, as it mostly is here, it is not necessary to dig a huge hole. The ground may be so solid it may be impossible to do so. In this case simply loosen the soil on the top 10-20cm then apply Multicrop Liquid Ground Breaker,

which will gradually break down the clay particles, soaking down and sideways. This is much more effective than gypsum.

• Before taking the citrus tree out of the container, give it a good soaking with added liquid seaweed plant nutrient. The fine roots tend to stick to the inside of the plastic pot. By this watering it will enable the plant to slide out of the pot, reducing root damage.

• Gently lift the plant out of the container and place in the hole. Fill in the space around the plant, firming as you go and water thoroughly to eliminate air pockets. Then make a soil mound around the tree to hold at least a nine-litre bucket of water for deep, summer watering.

Jottings…

• With substantial spring growth on fruit trees, they can be pruned

this month, especially if a winter pruning was missed.

• Fruit crop can be reduced by up to 30 per cent if weeds and grass aren’t kept from growing back to the drip line under fruit trees.

• Plant rue and marigolds around the veggie patch to control insects.

• Place a section of plastic agricultural drain pipe down the centre of the potting mix if growing strawberries in a container. It acts as an air vent keeping the soil sweeter and gets liquid seaweed plant food to the roots more

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

The New Moon activates your adventure zone so your motto for the next few months is from birthday great, writer Mark Twain: “Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” But resist the urge to be bossy and reckless on Tuesday and Wednesday. If you are too hasty, then you could find yourself smack bang in the middle of an argument or accident. Friday looks fabulous, as you do your own thing in your own highly individual way.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

Don’t accept things at face value. With the New Moon and Neptune stimulating your research/mystery zone, look beneath the surface (and do some background briefing) to discover what’s really going on. Group activities will also be confusing so make sure you pay attention to the finer details. Friday is fabulous for work and business matters, as your energy and confidence levels get a welcome boost from Mars and Jupiter. It’s a day when fortune definitely favours the brave!

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Get ready for a relationship renaissance, as the New Moon kick-starts your love life. Attached Twins shift into a serious new phase of a long-term partnership, while some singles will go on a promising first date. But with Neptune muddying the waters – it won’t be smooth sailing. Then Mercury moves into earthy Capricorn, which stabilises your quicksilver mind. If you methodically tick off the to-do list, then you’ll power through the weekend without the usual distractions.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Tuesday night’s New Moon highlights health and fitness over the next few weeks. But if you are undisciplined and overindulge at too many festive celebrations, then you won’t fit into your clothes by Christmas! Venus and Uranus also fire up some divine discontent in your house of love. If you are attached, you’re in the mood to rock the relationship boat. But is that the smartest thing to do? Singles – you could fall for someone who is way outside your comfort zone.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

The New Moon encourages you to tap into your inner muse and be the creative Cat you were born to be. As Madonna (a fellow Lion) sings, it’s time to: “Express Yourself”. But don’t let imaginative daydreams turn into escapist delusions, especially on Wednesday and Thursday. Do your best to separate fact from fiction, in your personal and professional lives. Cast off the misguided misconceptions of others; express the authentic you; and shine your true Leo light for all to see!

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Home-sweet-home is a veritable minefield this week Virgo! A relationship with a loved one could end up in a confused mess, as you misread each other’s words, actions and motives. So avoid jumping to conclusions and (when in doubt) don’t hesitate to ask for some firm clarification. Later in the week your ruling planet Mercury moves into conscientious Capricorn. This suits you just fine, as you concentrate on fine-tuning details and completing practical projects.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

The New Moon sends a social media or education opportunity your way. But don’t sit on the sidelines and limit yourself Libra! And don’t let negative self-talk stymie your upward trajectory. You are far better at what you do than you think you are. This week proactive Mars and confident Jupiter push you to shine like a star and dazzle like the divine Diva that you truly are. So your motto for the moment is from birthday great, writer C. S. Lewis: “We are what we believe we are.”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

Are you worrying about a money issue? This week, avoid being uncharacteristically rash with cash and credit. And don’t let a friend or family member bulldoze you into a financial situation that you really don’t feel comfortable about. Tuesday night’s New Moon urges you to start a new fiscal chapter as you swap spending for saving, and carefully nurture your nest egg for the future. Friday’s positive stars favour private musings, family matters and helping others.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Has a certain person been undermining your confidence? A close friend, family member or work colleague is unhappy with your current choices but you must formulate your plans to suit yourself, not others. So don’t worry about the mixed messages that will inevitably come your way this week. The New Moon encourages you to keep your mind firmly focused on the future, and the prospective path ahead. Friday is a fantastic day to give a speech or make a splash on social media.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Venus is vamping through your sign (until December 7) so aim to be the most charming and cooperative Capricorn you can be. Some quality solo time is favoured on Tuesday night, when the New Moon stimulates your privacy zone. Friday is a fabulous day to take a calculated risk, especially at work. If you are too cautious, you’ll miss a marvellous opportunity to make positive changes. Then Mercury moves into your sign, when you’ll be at your rational, rigorous and reasonable best.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Tuesday and Wednesday are the days to do something unexpected, as Uranus unleashes the adventurous Aquarian within. But if you are too impatient, distracted or even reckless, then you could find yourself involved in an argument or accident. You also need to think twice about posting controversial comments online. Lady Luck is on your side on Friday. So it’s a fortuitous time to initiate a personal project or make a bold move involving sport, travel, business or education.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

How’s your career going? With the New Moon activating your job zone, you need to have a long, hard think about creative adjustments that would improve your work experience in 2017. Have the courage to follow your intuition? It will point you in the right direction. And remember, as birthday great Mark Twain wrote: “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” But nebulous aspects make for a confusing Wednesday and Thursday, when others may question your motives.

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

1 What do we call the grounds of

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8 What is a raised path or road as across low or wet ground? (8)

9 Which person makes barrels, kegs, etc? (6)

10 Name the power or faculty of seeing. (8)

11 Which term applies to a member of any of certain professional societies? (6)

13 What are violent storms also known as? (8)

16 What are directions given as rules of action or conduct? (8)

19 Which term describes an unlisted telephone number? (6)

22 What is an approximate calculation, as of the value of something? (8)

24 To be joined, or brought together, is to be what? (6)

25 The mineral, mercuric sulfide, is also known as what? (8)

26 What do we call a nurse? (6)

Down

2 Name a sun-dried brick, in common use in dry countries. (5)

3 What is the expanding and contracting opening in the iris of the eye? (5)

4 Name a particular type of lid of a jar, bottle, or the like. (8)

5 During which month does the end of the financial year take place? (4)

6 Which term applies to those of the cat family? (6)

7 What is a small sealed bag, used for packaging a variety of goods? (6)

12 Name the third book of the New Testament. (4)

14 What do we call men who practise body kneading? (8)

15 What is an alternative name for a strongbox? (4)

17 Which horse won the 1946 Melbourne Cup? (6)

18 Name the N E Queensland town that was named after Sir William Wellington ... (6)

20 What are dens, or resting places of wild beasts? (5)

21 Which family relation is the daughter of one’s sister? (5)

23 Name a renowned Swedish pop group, formed in 1971. (4)

Family Law with Yeend & Associates

Yeend & Associates Family Lawyers is pleased to announce the opening of their new Barton office to service family law clients who live and work on the south side of Canberra.

This is the second office for the specialist family law firm who opened its first office in Gungahlin to service the needs of the growing northern suburbs.

Gillian Yeend, Director, said the opportunity to open a Yeend & Associates office in Barton had been planned for some time. “We have consciously operated our business to be responsive to the needs of clients for accessible and constructive family law services in a location convenient to them. We understand that it is often not practical due to work or parenting responsibilities to travel into the City for appointments and our locations reflect our continued desire to make accessing specialist family law services as stress free as possible. The family law process is often stressful enough.”

The Gungahlin Office has the facilities of free parking and both Barton and Gungahlin offer extended hours and an initial, free, no obligation consultation with a Family Lawyer. More information about the firm can be found on the website at www.yeendassociates.com.au

“We aim to provide specialist family law knowledge in your local environment.”

Both offices are overseen by Gillian Yeend an Accredited Specialist in Family Law who has significant experience dealing with high-level, complex family law issues. She is joined by Mary Burgess (Special Counsel), Holly Gunn (Senior Associate), Anna Kate Visser (Associate) and Amanda Di Placido (Associate).