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Kathryn Vukovljak reports
HIS signature, filled doughnuts are a hit on social media and have been regularly selling out early at markets around town since March, but the founder of Bombolini, Geoff Whittall, is keeping it humble.
“I wanted to start a business, focusing on one thing and do it really well,” says the former chef.
“My focus became creating the perfect bombolini, an Italian-style fried doughnut, and I just wanted to make the best doughnuts I could.
“One of my favourite things is breadmaking, so I was always interested in dough. I did a lot of research and trial and error to work out how to make the dough amazing in itself – the secret is to make it a day or so in advance and leave it to prove longer to allow for depth and a sourdough-like flavour to develop.”
With flavours such as blueberry and violet, vanilla and wildberry, white chocolate and cherry, and salted caramel popcorn, Geoff says he aims to provide new flavours
weekly and is constantly dreaming them up.
“I’m always in cookbooks and playing with new combinations, and I keep a database in my head of possibilities,” he says.
“I get inspired by the seasons, what’s available at the markets.”
Geoff, 31, is from Morecombe in the UK and moved to Canberra in 2014 with his Australian girlfriend, who he met while working in Edinburgh.
He started Bombolini in March and says that while the months since have been crazy, he’s found his confidence and has built up a reputation.
“I was wondering how many we’d sell on our first market,” he says.
“I brought along 250 and they were gone by 9am. At one stage I was bringing more than 1000 to the farmers’ market, and it was up and down, but now I’m set at around 500 and I know they’ll sell.”
Geoff sells the doughnuts for $5 apiece at the Farmers & Foodies market, the Capital Region and Southside Farmers’ Markets, and in recent months he has expanded to cover the Southern Highlands markets in Bundanoon, Berrima, Bowral and Mossvale.
“I love it, I love doing this for myself and knowing it’s an opportunity to do something really good and
have a positive influence,” he says.
“I’ve taken on a new business partner, ex-teacher and foodie Will Cowie, who takes the doughnuts to the regional markets.
“I make the dough on a Wednesday or Thursday, then work in the kitchen from Friday, 10pm, until they’re fried.
“Then I fill them before the markets so they’re fresh and ready to go.
“I still make all the doughnuts and fillings myself, and while it’s been a bit mad I’m used to the rhythm of it now.”
Geoff says he has thoughts of opening a cafe and getting back in the kitchen.
“I’m looking at creating vegan and gluten-free doughnuts, and trying the Sydney markets. And I’d love to open a really hospitable cafe with good coffee, bring a bit of life to it and plenty of doughnuts!” he says.
Geoff says an insane amount of attention to detail goes into each doughnut, from the dough to the blend of flavours and the garnishes.
“My mum’s an artist and my dad’s a scientist, and I think that has influenced the way I do things,” he says.
“I want the doughnuts to look aesthetically pleasing and I approach everything I do in the business with a scientific mind to make it work.”
Arts & Entertainment 13-15
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Tim.
by Andrew Finch. Story Page 6.
CEO: Greg Jones, 0419 418196, greg@citynews.com.au
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Journalists: Kate Meikle, kate@citynews.com.au; Danielle Nohra, danielle@citynews.com.au; Kathryn Vukovljak, kathryn@citynews.com.au
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Photographer: Andrew Finch
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By Danielle Nohra
WHEN a friend sent conductor
Brian Triglone a YouTube video revealing a choir of people with dementia in Minneapolis, he was instantly inspired to start one in Canberra.
And when Brian went to the Alzheimer’s Australia ACT branch to discuss this, he found out that they were also thinking about starting a choir for people living with dementia and their carers.
Since then, in a partnership between Brian and Alzheimer’s Australia ACT, there have been a few months of choir get-togethers as well as public performances.
“The important thing, from my point of view, is that it’s a choir for people with dementia and their carers,” says Brian.
The 50 members of the choir came up with the name, the Alchemy Chorus and recently received gold scarves to represent “alchemy”, which is defined as the transmutation of base metals such as lead into gold.
In the Middle Ages alchemists sought a substance that could transmute metals, believing it would cure all diseases.
While the choir doesn’t necessarily represent this traditional “sub -
stance”, research from the Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation shows that people with dementia taking part in regular singing sessions illustrate improve -
ments in brain function.
Brian says: “Someone came up to me recently and said, ‘It’s the first time I’ve seen my husband smile in as long as I remember’.
“It’s something for them to look forward to each week.”
Michelle Chaplin, communications manager for the local Alzheimer’s branch, agrees.
“What we have seen is people smiling within the first couple of weeks,” she says.
“One said: ‘I couldn’t remember the last time I smiled’.
“Some members’ speech has improved because singing has stimulated that side of the brain.
“The carer can come along and sing, people don’t need any experience either. It’s a wonderful opportunity to build self-esteem and there’s a safe solidarity singing as a group.”
But, Michelle says, it isn’t just about singing. Through the choir Alzheimer’s ACT is hoping to form a connection with people in the community who live with dementia.
She says the organisation wants to communicate with people who have been diagnosed and who might be feeling vulnerable and in need of further support.
The Alchemy Choir is part of the Alzheimer’s Australia ACT’s Dementia and the Arts Program and this year it will be running other social groups such as dancing, swimming and political discussion.
More information at 6255 0722.
JON Stanhope has contributed significantly to Canberra’s future, but I am deeply disappointed at his approval of the distribution of needles (“Handing out needles, I know it’s time for reform”, CN, December 15). Like all VIPs, he is entitled to change his mind – but not without sound reason and logic.
As Chief Minister he told “The Chronicle” in November, 2005: “Needles are potential weapons and corrections staff are entitled to have concerns about any proposal to arm prisoners with potential weapons.
“The aim of the ACT government is to have every inmate drug-free by the time they leave prison… it is hard to see how the provision of needles could fit in with this overarching philosophy.”
In his “CityNews” column, Mr Stanhope made the amazing statement “that marijuana should be regulated in the same way as tobacco and alcohol”. Seriously? Approving of needles, would he include other illicit drugs in regulation, a step which means legalisation, as a government can’t regulate without a legal basis. Tobacco and alcohol have had that status for several hundred years with the result they kill about 18,000 Australians annually. Do we really want more highly dangerous drugs regulated to make them easier for our kids to use?
Colliss
Parrett, Drug Advisory Council Australia, Barton
The home swimming pool is the most common location for injury and drowning death for children under five. We can all work together to protect children in our community.
Closely supervise kids at all times
Learn how to resuscitate
Check your pool barriers meet the current safety standards
Keep your barriers clear of objects and plants that kids can use to climb into the pool area
Teach your kids to swim and be safe around pools
Ensure your pool gate is shut at all times
By Kathryn Vukovljak
Ray came bumbling into my office laden with lots of files, saying: “Gail, I’ve got all these superannuation funds and I thought it would be a good idea to merge them into one, what do you think?”
I opened the first file and saw that the balance was about $2500, it was dated 2010 and was sent to his old address.
“Ray, this is an old notice and, as it’s the last one you received, that suggests to me that your fund may have already sent the balance of your monies to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO),” I told him. The law requires that if the member was “uncontactable” and the balance less than $4000, then that balance must be sent to the ATO.
“There is a definition of ‘uncontactable’ which includes ‘that written communications have been sent and returned unclaimed’.
“As you have moved around quite a bit that’s the most likely thing to have happened. I will explain later how to recover the monies from the ATO.”
Then I told Ray there was also a “lost members” category and that he could be regarded as a lost member rather than an uncontactable one because his account balance was less than $4000.
“In this case, your super would also be transferred to the ATO,” I said.
“I don’t think it really matters why the super was transferred, the important thing is that’s probably what’s happened.”
Ray said he hadn’t realised his money could be transferred out of the superannuation fund and asked if he could get it back.
“Yes, of course you can,” I told him.
“Either you can apply for it yourself online or I can assist you to transfer the monies into a different fund.
“From January 1, 2018, the threshold for claiming back unclaimed and lost super will increase to $6000. That means it’s really important for you to roll over all your funds before then so that no more goes to the ATO.
“It’s much easier to rollover super than it is to claim back lost super and with the number of funds that you have, you are paying a lot in unnecessary charges.
“Plus you don’t earn the same amount from the ATO as you would in the fund. The ATO pays interest at CPI, which is currently around 1.5 per cent compared with average earnings for a balanced fund, which range from 6 per cent to 9 per cent. So it’s in your interest to make sure that all your monies are rolled into one fund.”
Surprised and grateful, Ray said: “I’ve been lax with my super because I believed it still to be in the fund, so I get the message that it’s important to roll everything into one fund. Would you find all the monies for me and then roll everything into the one fund? Thank you so much for your help.”
If you have any queries on your superannuation contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd.
WITH feathers in his hair, boundless energy and an instinctive way of making music fun, performing arts specialist and children’s comedian Tim Bevitt has many strings to his bow.
They range from creating kids’ concerts in primary schools in four days to performing and recording with his band Mr Tim and the Fuzzy Elbows and bringing families together with his venture Mr Tim’s Family Choir.
“There’s not a lot of activities that parents can actually do with their kids,” he says.
“You can go and watch your kid do sport, drop them off and go. But there’s not many extra-curricular things you can do together, except maybe bush walking or the movies.
“But even then it’s not a skill that you build together and there is something very powerful in seeing how a family interacts and what it does for them. I love the parents that come for the kids but they all help each other and work together.”
Currently run at Hughes Primary School, Tim is taking his family choir northside this year and, while the location is undecided, he says it will be held at 6pm on Thursday evenings. He says the choir covers a mix of songs, including his original songs as Mr Tim, pop and rock classics, and rounds.
“The idea is to keep it entertaining for kids – you’ve got to be more entertaining than an xBox and faster than a computer,” he says.
“I’ve always been exuberant and excited, and I can bring that crazy energy which carries people along. I’m doing what I love.
“Singing together can bring back the joy of childhood, to help parents reconnect with that part of themselves and to have fun with their kids.
“It’s important for your child to see you having fun with them, being silly, seeing the child in you.”
Along with his wife, Nathalie Bevitt, who he met in Canada while teaching tai chi, Tim also runs Unexpected Harmony, a choir for grown-ups, and this year will sing at Summer Sounds and produce a kids’ food detective show to promote healthy eating in the ACT.
As for his skills in getting 400 kids to perform on cue after only four days in his school “Extravaganza” program, Tim says it involves a little bit of magic, works every time but doesn’t sell well on paper.
“I come to the school, we rehearse for four days then put on a show. People don’t believe it until they see it,” he says.
“But then they see the kids, even the shy ones, performing on the stage and loving it – there’s a magic to it. They know they’re going to have fun, they are very directed but they don’t feel it, and they are very engaged very quickly. And once parents and teachers see what’s happening, they’re gobsmacked at what can be achieved. It’s the quality of the performance but also the process involved – the kids are just having so much fun.”
“Tim comes in knowing for sure that they can do it,” says Nat.
“There is a true confidence in them and they can feel it. Kids will give you their best when they feel that you are believing in them. That’s a part of the magic that we miss – they’re actually capable of amazing things from a very early age.”
While studying at the ANU School of Music, Tim, 38, says he became involved in accompanying a children’s choir, helping at the Music Society summer school and conducted the youth choir, and found that he loved working with children and later went on to study a diploma in education.
“I have a large family, I’m the eldest of a lot of cousins, so I grew up herding children and I’ve always had a good sense of fun and games,” he says.
“I didn’t like school though, I found it miserable, I was bored and had a bit of a Trunchbull as a teacher, who was actually scary and made me fear school. I loved the end-of-school concerts, though I never got the main parts. Which is why I generally don’t give individual solo spots, just group solos, which gives the kids confidence
because they’re up there with their mates.
“I don’t want anyone to have a negative performing experience.”
Tim says he started to write his own music in 2003 because he was running into copyright issues through his choir work.
“I thought, if I write it, I’ll own it,” he says.
“I get inspired by kids, and songs like ‘Scabs are Irresistible’ came from a child who walked up and randomly said that to me. Kids surprise me all the time and I still laugh my head off. And that’s where my energy comes from. I know what makes kids tick and what’s actually funny to them.
“Being a kid is awesome. I love it and I feel like I’ve never lost that feeling of not wanting to grow up.”
Mr Tim and the Fuzzy Elbows will perform at the Summer Sounds series at the Botanic Gardens on Saturday, February 4. Visit mrtimblog.wordpress.com for more information
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By Paul Dorin MEN,
it seems, are becoming a more common sight in supermarket aisles, busy checking things off their list.
I’m one of those guys with an increasingly bigger role at home and decided to give myself the title of Chief Grocery Shopper.
Chief Grocery Shoppers need always to have a list because it definitely cuts down on the impulse buying.
When we get the opportunity, minus the kids, my wife and l enjoy grocery shopping together. Her list can be a mile long and I have noticed her shopping trolley looks very different to mine. She buys all those essential cleaning products and likes to read the labels. Grocery shopping feels like being in a bookstore with her.
Then there’s shopping with toddlers. Forget asking for a price check, when you take a toddler shopping you probably need to be asking for a reality check!
Being buckled into the trolley’s uncomfortable metal seat, unable to
move very much and surrounded by food that can’t be reached, even I’d be bored and grumpy.
Then there’s arriving at the checkout and finding all those unwanted items the little critter has grabbed along the way.
As the kids have become a little older, supermarket shopping is less of an ordeal for them – and me.
I’ve found engaging the kids makes things a little more fun. Before setting out, we sit down and go through the supermarket brochure and circle a few items we need and that becomes their job to find those items as we journey up and down the aisles. It makes the time go faster –except for the toys aisle.
What really tests me is the selfservice checkout and the octopus of eager young hands keen to help swipe things past the barcode scanner.
I get paranoid listening out for the beeps, trying to limit the times an item gets scanned and constantly annoying the shop assistant asking for items to be removed.
And the moment l hate most usually comes with a half-full trolley and the little voice from around my knees announces: “I need the toilet!”.
I have a couple of supermarket strategies; zoom down the lolly aisle reminding the kids of their recent visit to the dentist and l never go in just to purchase just one item, l have a bad habit of walking out with my arms loaded. Now, where’s my list?
By Kate Meikle
OUR little family embarked on a recent pre-Christmas holiday to Fiji.
It was originally meant to be a “babymoon” of sorts much earlier in the year, before our second baby arrived in June.
However, the devastation of cyclone Winston in February made us re-think the trip, so we decided to push it back to December and go as a family of four.
Travelling with the toddler and a five-month-old is something I’d prefer not to remember, but before we knew it we were all splashing about in the resort’s beautiful lagoon style pool.
The resort was a bit like Disneyland – far, far away from reality. There was everything I needed to relax. But could I? Not really. Not completely.
The incessant thinking, anticipating, worrying (did the kids splash bath water into their mouths and drank the water?) not to mention keeping track of feeds, naps, nappy changes and sunscreen application started to do my head in. I just couldn’t relax!
It felt like the more pressure I put on myself to relax, the more tense I felt. Had I lost the ability to unwind now I’m a mum?
I remembered fondly the pre-kids holidays when reading poolside, sipping cocktails was the preferred way to while away the day.
This was just not possible any more with two small kids whose needs are much greater and more pressing than my own.
I decided to stop giving myself such a hard time and told my husband to quit telling me to “relax”.
I began to accept where I was in space and time.
I watched my little boy gain confidence in the pool and smile so brightly while he splashed about. I saw how our baby took so much of the change in her routine in her stride, despite teething. I also managed to sip on a cocktail or two during happy hour and, miraculously, both kids had naps at the same time.
And sure enough, by the last night as I watched the sunset over the Pacific, I realised I was relaxed, in my own way.
So for those new mums taking on a holiday this summer, my advice is to take any help offered, take some “me” time and don’t put pressure on yourself to relax. With a bit of luck, you’ll be able to bring some relaxation into your routine.
By Heike Hahner
SO many of us these days live in air-conditioning, which makes it easy to forget that high summer temperatures can cause harm or death to our pets and other animals.
Animals left without adequate water and shelter, are exercised too hard in hot weather or are left in an environment that overheats (such as inside a car, plastic housing or metal cages) may suffer substantially or die if exposed for prolonged periods to hot temperatures.
Unlike humans, dogs may suffer in the heat because they can only cool their bodies by panting and experience only some mild sweating via the paws.
Many materials such as metal, rocks and cement radiate heat when exposed to hot temperatures for prolonged periods and can contribute to an animal’s heat stress.
Plastic containers for water or as housing soften in hot temperatures and can leak harmful chemicals into an animal’s water or air. Ceramic bowls are generally healthier and
stay cooler longer. Wood stays more temperature neutral than metal or other materials and provides better shelter in summer for animals.
It is crucial that we don’t over-exercise animals when the temperatures exceed the mid-20C.
Many animals will know to use the hottest parts of the day to rest but dogs can be tricky to read in this respect, especially active breeds such as border collies or kelpies.
Be careful when exercising these breeds during the hotter season as they would rather die than to stop chasing a ball! Its always best to exercise a dog during the cooler parts of the day to avoid the risk of overheating.
If travelling with a dog, ensure that the car is parked under a tree or other sun shelter and always the windows open to provide air flow. Birds can also suffer greatly in high temperatures. They can be seen with open beaks, panting and their wings held away from the body to reduce their body temperature.
Again, providing shade in the form of trees, bushes or even just shade cloth can help.
A bird bath or a shallow bowl
with a rock placed in it to prevent smaller birds and reptiles from drowning may help save the life of our local wildlife.
We often think that animals such as sheep, horses and cattle do not mind the heat as much as we do because we see them often standing in bare paddocks. But
the bottom line is that they also will seek the shelter of trees or a building if available.
If the temperatures are predicted to be high, it’s kind to move livestock into paddocks or yards with shade and where they have free and easy access to water.
Reader SONIA PERTSINIDIS, of O’Connor, is grumpy about dogs roaming wild in the suburbs…
DEAR dog owners, I have two very young children in my care (a preschooler and a toddler) and we find large dogs intimidating and threatening, especially when you let them off the lead around playgrounds, public parks and common areas.
Often these areas are clearly designated as “dog on leash” zones. Common sense would suggest to put your dog on a leash if you see young children playing, walking or pedalling nearby. A large dog can be terrifying to a young child and a dog bite or dog attack is not a farfetched possibility given the number of dog attacks that have been reported in Canberra and elsewhere; there was a dog attack on a guide dog in Civic.
I’m sick of dog owners saying to me (as their four-legged beast bounds up to me and my children) that he is ever so friendly and loves children. You might think so, but we don’t know your dog and he doesn’t know us.
We have been terrorised
numerous times in local playgrounds by large (and small) dogs that have escaped from yards or are being allowed to run free in the streets by careless owners; almost daily, we see very large dogs let loose in Haig Park with little thought for pedestrians or children who might be sharing that space; we have witnessed dog owners barely able to control dogs on a leash as they dash across roads towards another dog or some poor unsuspecting pedestrian.
We have dog parks in Canberra (I know of at least two, one in O’Connor and one in Yarralumla). Dog owners should use them – we have all paid for these facilities after all and if you can’t get to a dog park, be responsible, keep your beast on a leash and make Canberra streets and parks safer for our children.
Grumpy is an occasional column dedicated purely to things that get up your nose. Readers are invited to vent (no more than 300 words, please) at editor@citynews.com.au
By Robert Macklin
WHILE traditional newspapers are going the way of the dodo and social media like Facebook and Twitter are clustering into political echo chambers, a new form of news and views is suddenly on the rise.
Actually, it’s a very old form but in bright new clothes. And you are reading these words in a fairly typical example. “CityNews” is part of a new wave that really does believe the old journalistic maxim that “all news is local”.
Indeed, the legendary American investor, Warren Buffett, has bought up hundreds of local papers across the US. They are delivering the news in various combinations of hard copy and on-line systems and making a workable profit in the process.
Slowly but surely, Australia is getting the message. And one of the brightest new riders of the wave has recently been established in Canberra’s coastal playground – the “Beagle Weekly”.
It is owned and run by Tuross identity, Lei Parker, and as an exclusively on-line operation its readership leapt from an initial 7000 to more than 10,000 in only three issues. And the trend continues.
Eight years ago Parker established the “Tuross Giant” that concentrated on that one small area of the Eurobodalla Shire and gained a loyal following of 2500. The experience allowed him to establish the systems and programs needed to expand his operation across the shire from Durras to Tilba Tilba, incorporating Batemans Bay, Moruya, Narooma and Tuross. This gave access to 40,000 permanent residents – many of them retired Canberrans – and triple that figure during the holiday season.
“The community is news hungry,” he says. “They want it available 24/7 irrespective of whether they are at home or abroad; and they want it for free.
“An online news provider can also access detailed data on the popularity of news items. This information directly helps in establishing the audience demand and assists in improving presentation and advertising.
“The ‘Beagle Weekly’ is just one example of where regional newspapers might be in the future.”
“CityNews” can also be enjoyed for free in weekly hard copy and digital formats, and is complemented by a pro-active website that also offers daily bulletins and story-bystory alerts (at citynews.com.au).
Robert Macklin’s weekly “CityNews” column also appears in the “Beagle Weekly”.
The controversial choice of trees for the impending tram line are off to a bad start, writes ‘CityNews’ gardening expert CEDRIC BRYANT
A THOUSAND or more Eucalyptus mannifera for the tramway have arrived at the Yarralumla Nursery. They are potted in rigid, 400mm plastic pots, of which I understand will be progressively potted into larger pots for eventual planting in 2018.
I’m not going to discuss here the poor choice for this project, but why when they decided to contract the growing of these trees, are they being grown in rigid pots?
Some years ago, Yarralumla Nursery found a better way of growing eucalyptus. Because of the nature of the eucalyptus root system, they started using Spring Rings to overcome the problem of trees becoming root bound in rigid pots.
In a rigid container there is no alternative but for the roots to grow in circles. When planting out, either the circling roots have to be disentangled or pruned and neither is a good solution.
Circling roots provide no stability with the result, particularly in a wet year, of the possibility of trees toppling over.
A Spring Ring is a length of heavy duty plastic of various widths, perforated by hundreds of holes with the undulating surface raised, similar to an egg carton. The plastic is formed into a circle and held in position with clips, but no base.
The Spring Ring is placed on plastic sheeting and filled with potting mix into which the tree is planted.
As the fine roots develop they grow through the myriad of holes to the outside of the container. These shrivel in contact with the air, known as air pruning.
and enjoy a cup of tea and nibbles.
It’s all free – why not?
Rather than thick roots circling inside the pot, a mass of fine roots develop evenly throughout the potting mix.
The mass of fine, healthy fibrous roots means a better uptake of nutrients leading to faster growth and healthier plants.
This growing method has been acknowledged by expert wholesale tree nurseries around the world and, for example, only trees grown this way were specified for the landscaping of thousands of trees at London’s Olympic Park. They have been used and specified for more than 10 years by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens.
From Holland to Germany and Italy the major tree growers all use Spring Rings.
One of the largest growers of advanced trees in the UK is Majestic Trees, which grows thousands of advanced trees from one metre to a massive 12-metres tall, weighing up to eight tonnes. Their trees are grown in Air-Pots. When advanced trees are provided for such projects as the Thames Embankment in London, they cannot be allowed to fail by being grown in the wrong container.
So the question is, with all the expert advice available, did the Yarralumla Nursery not specify these eucalypts to be grown in Spring Rings?
They have in the past made extensive use of Spring Rings and yet all these eucalypts were grown in rigid pots? Travelling in the tram could be a hazardous ride!
Political columnist MICHAEL MOORE reviews a thoughtprovoking new book for “political tragics” or anyone interested in recent political machinations within the Coalition parties.
EDITOR Chris Aulich has pulled together an outstanding team in his book “From Abbott to Turnbull: A New Direction?”.
It provide a series of different perceptions around policy, machinations, personalities, styles, influences, leadership and public engagement supported by fluent writing styles dealing with tough issues, difficult relationships and democratic fundamentals.
Michelle Grattan assesses the revolving prime ministership as “the high level of churn reinforces the already high level of public cynicism”. This is just one of many insights in the book regarding the impacts of political actions which are “bad for the political system”. This is the twelfth volume in the Australian Commonwealth Administration Series produced for the Institute of Governance and Policy and the University of Canberra.
Operation Sovereign Borders, health and education policies, the economy, foreign relations and the environment are amongst the policy issues examined. Providing
grist to the mill are the contrasting personalities and approaches of the conservative Tony Abbott compared to the much more moderate Malcolm Turnbull. The chapters provide fascinating perceptions of this volatile time of capriciousness and political intrigue.
Editor Aulich calls for a “fourth branch” of the democratic process to sit alongside the legislature, the executive and the courts. He suggests this to restore integrity in politics with a description of how both the Abbott and Turnbull governments have undermined oversight and integrity. These are critical in combatting cynicism in politics and maintaining faith in government and the democracy. His fourth “integrity” branch includes the Ombudsman, Auditor-General, Human Rights Commissioner, Electoral Commissioner and the Parliamentary Budget Office, which he sees as being protected through parliamentary oversight and funding.
The fiasco of Abbott and Turnbull climate policy is highlighted where collectively, “state renewable energy targets will deliver twice as much as
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Australia’s national target”. It also provides an insight into the relationships with the other jurisdictions under both these prime ministers. Similarly, John Butcher analyses health and social policy in the Hockey “age of entitlement” and the “fiscal discipline” under Abbott. He also considers the failure of Turnbull to devolve hospital expenditure (and taxation) to states and territories as well as caving in to the “Mediscare” campaign when conceding to protect “every element” or “every aspect” of Medicare.
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The prime ministerial transition
is examined to include “Abbott’s appetite of alarmist posturing” such as “the ‘death cult’ of IS” and how it “alienated and insulted Muslim communities”.
In contrast, Turnbull’s foreign policy approach noted that “the world did not need an American empire”. The “more nuanced debate” by Turnbull is described in terms of “distribution of global power” and protection of “national interests” along with “a calmer manner” and avoiding “wild exaggerations”.
However, a “willingness to move back to the policy centre” has failed to
address growing disparity in wealth as described by Fabrizio Carmignani
The extremely tough first Budget of the Abbott government was “only partially reversed” in the transition. He sees both prime ministers as deficient in strategic vision around structural reform, dealing with inequality and effective use of fiscal policy to ensure community good.
The book concludes wrestling with leadership issues such as the presidential focus of prime ministers, the current political dynamic and the “revolving prime ministership”. It also contemplates a destructive context to our democracy where “sectional and special interests are privileged over the national interest” and “media struggle to reconcile longterm policy with relentless polling and media cycles”.
This book provides a brilliant opportunity to really understand current politics in the Abbott-Turnbull era.
“From Abbott to Turnbull: A New Direction?” (Echo Books, $29.95) edited by Chris Aulich, available at any bookshop or online direct from the publisher at echobooks.com.au/bookshop/from_abbott_to_turnbull.
Michael Moore was an independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and is an adjunct professor at the University of Canberra.
By Helen Musa
STEPHEN Pike, artistic director and program manager at The Q, Queanbeyan, seems to have more of a clue than most of knowing what works on stage.
“What I go for is gut instinct,” Pike says, pointing to a new play he’s just encountered dealing with Shakespeare’s private life about which he has “a very good feeling”.
“My experience gives me natural instinct,” he tells “CityNews”.
“I try to cover different genres, to appeal to broader audiences, but also I guess I’ve tried to mix it up so I always look for something a little bit edgy and controversial.”
And with the Canberra Theatre, The Street and REP nearby, it’s the question “Where do we fit in?” that keeps him awake at night.
Children’s theatre is to the forefront but Pike cautions: “I’ve got a bit of a theory that venues worry too much about getting young people in.” Schools are now more proactive in drama than they were when he was a child, so students will probably “grow into” theatregoing, but there’s no getting away from it, “the biggest demographic for theatre is always 40-55, it never changes”.
Sure, he’s had some bombs, usually when he’s put his trust into hyped-up marketing
material, but he thinks 2017 might be an exceptional year, with a mix of popular pieces such as “Shirley Valentine”, international shows, local plays and even a musical about Julia Gillard.
A mixed passion for singing, animals and the theatre has combined with a natural knack for management to make Pike the
Readers can imagine what the teachers and kids at his primary school thought of that, so he confined his singing to the shower for some years until he took lessons with top professional teacher Lois Bogg. He’d never been to the theatre until he was over 20.
By chance, Charles Oliver, “hairdresser to the stars” and president of Tempo Theatre, heard him sing, got him into the chorus for “Calamity Jane” and Pike was hooked, moving up the ladder into solo numbers and eventually scoring the central role of Claude in “Hair”.
Many starring roles followed for him, which he combined with directing cabaret shows, starring in stage musicals, running businesses in Kippax and Jamison and even a stint managing Canberra REP. He was also a CAT Awards judge for 15 years.
ideal programmer.
Once famous for his theatre restaurants, The Bellows, The Hippo and Tarzan’s in suburban Kippax and for his pure tenor voice in roles such as Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables”, Pike has also been a keen tennisplayer, raced pigeons, worked in the zoology department at the ANU, opened a pet shop in Kippax and worked in his family’s boarding kennel business at Hall.
AIMEE Frodsham has been busy curating an exhibition of combined works by “glassies” Matthew Curtis and Harriet Schwarzrock, which captures moments in the Queanbeyan husband-and-wife team’s careers through their own works, images, photographs and stories. Curtis was the inaugural Canberra Glassworks Fellow in 2015 and Schwarzrock shares the 2017 Fellowship with Steven Ciezki, of Phoenix, Arizona. “Defining Moments”, at Canberra Glassworks, January 26-March 26.
THIS is a different river, but equally an asset. Eurobodalla’s “River of Art” festival seeks expressions of interest from artists, performers and community groups to become part of the 10-day feast of events along the far south coast of NSW between Durras and Bermagui in May. The festival attracted 20,000 people in 2016. All details at riverofart.com.au
CANBERRA can’t get enough of “The Nutcracker”. This time the Australian Ballet is bringing a special experience for children aged three and up as part of its “Storytime Ballet” venture. It’s billed as live, interactive and narrated ballet and lasts just under an hour. Part of the fun is to dress up. Canberra Theatre, January 21-24. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.
AVANT-pop outsider Jack Colwell joins indie/folk songwriter Julia Johnson, of Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens fame, with the band Oranges, in a gig that, in part, celebrates his new single “Seek the Wild”. Gorman Arts Centre, Saturday, January 28. Bookings to eventbrite.com.au
QUEANBEYAN-Palerang Regional Council administrator, Tim Overall, was over the moon when announcing that the Canberra Symphony Orchestra will be coming to the new stage next to Queanbeyan River on March 4. Describing the revamped Queen Elizabeth II Park as “a brilliant asset”, he said: “The new stage and amphitheatre are perfect for relaxing by the river”.
THE National Multicultural Festival is not far off and the plan is to open with the Chinese Orchestra performing “Treasures of a Nation” at Llewellyn Hall on February 16, joined by kora player Miriam Lieberman with violinist Lara Goodridge, cellist Kate Adams and Salar Ayoubi’s Iranian-style Sarv Ensemble. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.
PERISHER’S snow season is a bit further off, but the Peak Music Festival, billed as “the Snowy Mountains’ coolest music festival” is offering Super Early Bird Tickets at $99 for the event held on the June long weekend. Bookings to peakfestival.com.au
THE ever-inventive Child Players ACT is staging an original adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” by director BJ Anyos and Georgia Pike at Theatre 3, Acton, 11am and 2pm, January 18-21. Bookings to canberrarep.org.au or 6257 1950 or at the door.
“Mum said I sang before I talked,” Pike always tells people. He’d moved to Canberra with his family at age nine, sung in church until his voice was identified by influential singing teacher Max Constance, who wanted him to audition for the Vienna Boys’ Choir.
“Thirty years in the business has given me a natural instinct,” Pike says, and one of his gut feelings is that “while Canberra is a beautiful city, it is still a big country town – and Queanbeyan is a big country town,” so when it comes to controversial programming, he hastens slowly.
Despite initial hostility to The Q in 2008 from some quarters in Queanbeyan, he has seen most of its “enemies” turn into staunch supporters and the venue has become part of the town’s landscape.
“There are a few people who haven’t heard of The Q,” he says.
Arts editor HELEN MUSA previews the entertaining goodies heading our way in 2017
A COLLECTION of the world’s most ravishing jewels – diamonds, emeralds, rubies – is coming to the National Gallery with “Cartier: The Exhibition”, opening in March.
The fashion for blockbuster art shows and high-selling musicals shows no sign of abating in 2017 and Canberra will enjoy its fair share of them.
The NGA continues with the third National Indigenous Art Triennial: “Defying Empire” opening in May and “Hyper Real: Sculpture 1973-2017”, on display from late October.
Across the lake, the Canberra Theatre will bookend its subscription season with Tim Finn’s David Jones-inspired musical “Ladies In Black” in late March-April and the Australian premiere of a completely new production of “Mamma Mia” in November. Here Canberra Theatre director Bruce Carmichael is hoping to attract audiences from interstate and surrounding regions.
For those who like their theatre tough and confronting, the West End smash-hit adaptation of George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984” by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan will tour to Canberra in July.
Bell Shakespeare’s Peter Evans tells us we’ll be seeing “Richard 3” in April, controversially starring Kate Mulvany as the Machiavellian manipulator who charms us,
even as he slaughters his family, marries his victim’s widow and betrays his allies.
Music at the refined end of the spectrum will be brought to us by Musica Viva, with four-time Grammy-winning ensemble Eighth Blackbird coming in February and pianist Angela Hewitt continuing her mission to perform the complete solo keyboard works of Bach in May.
You can fairly predict packed houses when Bangarra Dance Theatre presents a new work based on the life of Woollarawarre Bennelong, choreographed by artistic director Stephen Page, highlighting, they say, “the extraordinary curiosity and diplomacy that led an Aboriginal community to survive a clash of cultures”.
Canberra is home to many smaller arts festivals, but the biggest of them all is the Easter National Folk Festival, which is embarking on “an exciting new edgy initiative, “FringeWorld”, supported by Events ACT.
The biggest ticket number on the local theatre scene is surely Caroline Stacey’s staging of the world-premiere season of “Cold Light”, adapted by Alana Valentine from the novel by Frank Moorhouse, a project commissioned by The Street Theatre. Sonia Todd will play the fictional protagonist Edith Campbell Berry.
The 85-year-old Canberra Rep traverses the theatrical genres with everything from Arthur Wing Pinero’s famous 19th-century play “Trelawney of the ‘Wells’” to Arthur Miller’s tough play about immigrants,
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.
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Be part of the conversation and call 6255 1206 between 10am and noon.
“A View from the Bridge”. For some Canberra arts organisations, the big question for 2017 is going to be funding, with drastic cuts at the Federal level that have left many floundering and looking at new ways, sadly usually involving more unpaid work for artists. Canberra Contemporary Art Space’s laudable practice of paying its exhibiting artists will doubtless come under pressure. You can fairly bet the funding drought will lead to smaller, more intimate ventures, but we were pleased to hear that the very entrepreneurial choreographer and dancer Liz Lea is staging “Big Bang” with 60 hip hop artists and drummers for Dance Week , 2017.
And will Canberra artists be reaching out to the rest of Australia?
Canberra Youth Theatre certainly is, with plans to tour its “The Verbatim Project”, created by CYT teens and Canberra Dance Theatre’s GOLD troupe.
A DOUBTFUL verse that I have never been able to attribute to a particular poet shows the Australian tradition of excoriating bad service:
“What will you have?” said the waiter, reflectively picking his nose.
“Two boiled eggs, you bastard. You can’t put your fingers in those.”
But the tussle with a wine waiter that I recently experienced is relayed more in sadness than in anger, sadness that no one taught him even the basics of the service of wine.
The waiter concerned was serving in a restaurant where one of the reviews I read said it was the kind of place where you saved up to go for a special meal. It was not the sort of place where I expected to be confronted with a basic mistake, especially as it is fully licensed.
I ordered a glass of 2014 French chablis – the wine is named after a town in the northern-most region of Burgundy. The region produces a mineral, flinty greenish coloured wine. I wanted to match the chicken dish with something unusual and this seemed the best bet by the glass. There was no glassware on the table, but I didn’t expect a poured glass of white wine with a hand wrapped around the glass like it was a
I didn’t expect a poured glass of white wine with a hand wrapped around the glass like it was a brick to be thrown to be suddenly plonked down in front of me.
brick to be thrown to be suddenly plonked down in front of me without a by your leave.
It didn’t taste as I had expected. It seemed overly acidic and over-chilled. And when the waiter finally returned to the table I asked a pertinent question, pointing at the glass of wine: “How am I to know I’ve received what I ordered?”
He looked startled.
“You ordered the chablis.”
“Yes, but that’s not an answer to my question. Could you bring the bottle that you poured it from, please?”
“But you have a glass of chablis.”
“So you say; could I see the bottle that you poured my glass of wine from, please?”
The bottle was reluctantly brought to the table and thrust towards me to inspect. I did so. The label matched the wine’s description on the list. It was the first glass from the bottle so, I thought, the acidity should ameliorate. And it did. But I was nonplussed that the basics of serving wine had been ignored and I’d had to stretch my own sense of manners (well, when sober, at least).
The pouring out of a sip to taste, even when ordering wine by the glass, is much
more than good manners, much more than civility. It is entirely practical. It enables the customer to assess whether the wine is corked or in some other way damaged perhaps in these days of screw caps, determining whether the wine in fact as well as in name is screwed?
If there is a smell of vinegar or damp blankets when you smell and swirl then send it back, especially where the place is fully licensed.
The other courtesy is showing the customer that the wine he or she is being served is in fact the wine that was ordered and of the vintage on the list. Please show vintages on wine lists! There is a world of difference between wines produced in 2012 and those produced in 2013 or later.
The customer should be permitted to taste the wine and even though this takes time, it is part of being treated properly, part of an experience that is beyond the everyday, and therefore worth caring about. This is especially the case in a restaurant where the cost of a meal with good wine is beyond the budget of a number of households.
“Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.”
– Laurence Sterne
The “CityNews” holiday guide to happenings and attractions around Canberra compiled by DANIELLE
WITH so much to celebrate on January 26, Canberra’s Australia Day events will start bright and early, says Adam Stankevicius, director of Events ACT.
The day will begin at 7am with an ActewAGL Great Aussie Day Breakfast and a kids’ concert at Commonwealth Park.
“At 10am, we officially welcome our newest Australian citizens, at the Citizenship and Flag Raising Ceremony hosted at Rond Terrace,” he says.
After 4pm kids can join in cricket activities, picnic games, a jumping castle, a giant slide, glitter tattoos and face painting.
This year, Events ACT is even bringing back the main stage and concert celebration at Regatta Point.
“From 4pm-9pm there will be loads of music, entertainment and fun for the whole family,” says Stankevicius.
“Topping off the celebrations, watch as Canberra’s skies come to life with a spectacular fireworks display at 9pm.”
Stankevicius says it’s important to join together and celebrate the diversity, uniqueness and strength of all Australians, for the growth and vision of our city and country.
“In Canberra, we take pride in hosting events to engage, inspire and bring the community together with positive spirit.
“The atmosphere at the Australia Day celebrations is fun, safe and family friendly.”
Canberra Australia Day schedule via act.australiaday.org.au
THE National Museum continues to explore the history of humanity through its major international exhibition “A History of the World in 100 Objects from the British Museum”. It questions, through two million years of human history, how people have shaped the world and how the world has shaped people. The exhibition runs until January 29. FREE exhibition at the Museum of Australian Democracy in Old Parliament House, titled “Ajit Ninan: Cartoonist to the World’s Largest Democracy”, features provoking and influential political cartoons. Ajit Ninan is one of India’s best known cartoonists for his “Centrestage” series in India Today magazine and “Ninan’s World” in “The Times of India”.
“ATHOL Shmith Fashion Photographs” will be on display at the National Library until July. Melbourne photographer Shmith was best-known for his elegant and bold, black and white prints.
THE National Gallery illustrates the horrors of World War I through the exhibition “Artists of the Great War”. It explores wartime propaganda, front-line experiences and remembrance through paintings, drawings and prints by war artists, with a special focus on Will Dyson. Free entry.
NOHRA
FOR the first time, a collection of more than 130 treasures from the Palace of Versailles is featured in the National Gallery of Australia.
“Versailles: Treasures from the Palace” will be on display until April.
AUTHOR-artist Jeannie Baker’s original works from her book “Circle” will be on display at Canberra Museum and Gallery until February 12. The book follows the migratory route of the Godwit from Alaska to Australia and NZ. Baker is well known for addressing a diverse range of issues in her work, such as sustainability and environment.
DAILY, the National Portrait Gallery will be running a free 30-minute tour of its collection from 11.30am. The tour explores the building and reveals background information on specific works and artists.
THE National Film and Sound Archive is in conversation with the Canberra Museum and Gallery’s “UNESCO Memory of the World” exhibition by complementing it with a daily screening of films. Each film has national and international significance, such as “The Story of the Kelly Gang” or documentaries on Eddie Mabo, James Cook and NZ’s Treaty of Waitangi.
AT the “Velocity: Vintage racing bikes” exhibition postman and cycling enthusiast, Peter Taylor, shares his large collection of vintage racing bikes. It ranges from rare post-World War II European bikes to an Australian bike used at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. The exhibitions will be at Canberra Museum and Gallery until March.
OVER the summer holidays Questacon will be challenging the world of maths and computational thinking through hands-on experiences for the whole family. “Mathamazing” uncovers maths that underlies the world we live in and “Byte Wise” explores how computational thinking rules the modern world.
FREE over the school holidays, families can drop by the National Archives of Australia and play board games, complete puzzles or read books from the selection of Australian stories, until January 25.
THE National Library will host a daily family activity space called “Wordplay” until January 29. Children over the age of four and their carers can drop in and read, write, illustrate and imagine.
TUGGERANONG Library and Kippax Library are inviting children aged 10 and above to join in at their free “Lego brick one scoop challenge” on January 19. The challenge will test thinking skills when put under pressure.
THE Women’s National Basketball is up to round 16 with the University of Canberra Capitals playing the Sydney University Flames at Southern Cross Stadium on January 26.
FOR baseball fans, Canberra Cavalry will be playing Brisbane Bandits at Narrabundah Ballpark, January 26-29.
A LONG, hot summer maybe, but now’s the time to think about the autumn garden.
In the excitement around spring bulbs, the wonderful bulbs for colour in the autumn and early winter can be overlooked. Combined with autumn-flowering perennials, we can rival the spring display.
A good starting point is the local garden centre where, if there are bulbs and perennials in stock, it’s time to get planting.
For autumn colour, let’s start with bulbs:
• One of my favourites is Nerine Bowdenii with its spidery pink flowers, which last at least seven to 10 days as a cut flower.
• Colchicum, generally referred to as autumn crocus, is originally from the Middle East and Mediterranean. One of the most popular is Colchicum autumnale, which produces an abundance of flowers in the autumn.
• Schizostylis coccinea (or winter ixia) flowers from autumn into winter. Similar in growth habit to gladioli, the leaves remain green all year.
The range of perennials is vast, but to name a couple, Campanula persica, or Canterbury Bells, with its bright blue flowers is a delight, and how can we forget chrysanthemums? From miniature varieties to just 20-centimetres tall to the larger, bold flowers of those growing to a metre, chrysanthemums look great in a group.
Asters, or Mich -
aelmas daisies, are also valuable, hardy autumn flowerers and are perfect for every garden.
And lastly, one of the showiest flowers for autumn is the Dahlia family, but you’ll need to get the tubers in as soon as possible.
EXCITING news for home gardeners and farmers in the arrival of a new weed killer registered for use in organic farms and gardens. Marketed as “Slasher”, it has been developed by the well-known producer of certified organic garden products, Organic Crop Protectants. “Slasher” kills weeds and algae with rapid action, desiccating plants on contact and being 100 per cent biodegradable within days. Its active ingredient is drawn from genetically modified, free plant oils.
Importantly, it is completely free of the traditional weed-killing ingredient glyphosate, which is great for gardeners and the numerous community gardens trying to remain fully organic.
• Set the mower blades high to avoid scalping the lawn and exposing the roots to burn off.
• Dead-head roses and, at the same time, reduce the height of the bush to encourage more shoots and flowers for a second flush of flowers in a few weeks’ time.
• For great garden information join Yates Garden Club to receive a monthly personal email. Go to yates.com.au/garden-club.
• Now out of print, but if you ever spot a copy of “A New Zealand Handbook of Bulbs and Perennials”, buy it. Equally applicable here, it’s one of the best books on the subject.
THE start of the Chinese New Year will be celebrated by many millions around the world and, with this being the Year of the Rooster, in style, too. Roosters are flamboyant, colourful and like to put on a good show.
The Rooster year also promises to be an interesting one. It can be a time of change and for addressing key issues of our time. There will be volatility, some uncertainty but it will also be a time of great possibility. A lot of effort and dialogue will be needed, but the effects of the year can and will be far reaching.
Roosters are busy birds, with this being a year when individual efforts can deliver. To see how you will fare, look up the animal ruling your year of birth. As each Chinese year begins late in January or early February, if you were born around this time do check the actual year dates to find out which sign you were born under.
1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
A busy year ahead and with much happening at a fast pace. Personal life can be especially active with Rats in demand, enjoying many good times with others. In home life there will be changes of routine to adjust to and some ambitious plans to carry through. Although disruptive, with all co-operative and pooling together, a lot can happen and be gained. Personal interests and travel can also benefit with unexpected chances opening up other possibilities. A feature of Rooster years is that they can surprise, encouraging
Rats to broaden out much they do. In work, changes could bring additional pressure but with opportunity for many to move forward in new ways. April, May, and October could see important developments. To help situation and prospects Rats should aim to work closely with others, with support and connections made of considerable value. With a busy lifestyle and some substantial purchases, spending will be high and outgoings need to be watched. An active year, but one offering scope and good chance.
Tip for the year: Remain focused and use time and energies well. With commitment a surprising amount is possible, with developments to build upon.
1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Oxen can fare well this year with many plans and activities going forward. Once actions are started, helpful influences will often come into play with an element of good fortune to the year. In work, experience and recent skills gained can lead to many taking on a greater role or securing a more fulfilling position elsewhere. Rooster years can re-energise the career and prospects of many although, throughout the year, Oxen do need to be careful in their relations with colleagues. An issue or some awkward office politics could concern. Oxen take note. Care is also needed in financial matters. A lapse or risk could disadvantage. Some lifestyle changes and personal interests can bring considerable benefit and with social life seeing an increase in activity. Romantic prospects, too, are promising. Home life will see many positive developments and with individual successes enjoyed and practical projects making a difference. June, August and September could be busy and often personally pleasing months. A constructive year.
Tip for the year: Take determined action on key wants. Much can be accomplished and go well but be thorough and committed. The end results will be well worthwhile.
1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
A fairly good year but there is a “but”. Tigers can be rebellious, and being independently-minded, often set about their activities in their own way and style. However, to make the most of themselves and their situation, this year Tigers will need to join with others, valuing
and building on support. In work, by raising profile, networking and showing themselves a good team member, important advances can be made with many taking on new responsibilities or securing a new position. March, May and November could be significant. Progress made can help finances but, with many temptations, spending needs watching. Some improvements made to lifestyle, including general level of exercise and time reserved for personal interests, could bring considerable benefit with Tigers inspired by chances and ideas. Busy times at home and by joining with others, many plans can be advanced and enjoyed, including a holiday or special family event. Social life can be lively and with new friends potentially important. An active and rewarding year.
Tip for the year: Join with others and be a part. Great times and prospects await, but do draw on support and goodwill available.
1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
A demanding year with Rabbits not always comfortable with the heady pace of developments. Plans and activities could be subject to rethinks with bureaucracy or awkward situations troublesome. However, problems can highlight strengths and with Rooster years excellent for personal and professional development. Attention to self and lifestyle balance, too, can be of considerable benefit. In work, training or new responsibilities taken on can widen scope for later with situations to build on usefully. March, June and September could see important developments. In money matters, care is needed, particularly if lending to another. Home life will be busy with a mix of activities to enjoy and loved ones supportive. Quality time together can be a real tonic for many. Rabbits will appreciate the year’s social opportunities with the friendship and advice some offer to be of great value. On a personal level, Rabbits will very much gain from their good relations with many, and while not an easy year, what is achieved can have long-term value.
Tip for the year: Use chances to add to knowledge and skills. The good done will be an investment in self and future.
1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
An exciting year ahead with Dragons benefitting from some good chances and a certain amount of luck. In work, openings will arise enabling many to progress or, if currently unfulfilled or seeking a position, finding an
attractive opportunity elsewhere. Inspired and keen, their qualities can bring some notable successes with May, September and November key months. Personal interests are also favoured and with ideas developing in encouraging ways. Finances can improve with many enjoying carefully considered purchases and travel chances. However, while busy with much, Dragons do need to balance commitments, including giving time to others. If preoccupied or not giving sufficient attention, some strains could result. Here shared domestic activities and plans can help lead to some pleasing occasions and outcomes. Similarly, contact with friends can be important yet again, Dragons need to be aware and give time and attention. In a rewarding year with much happening, a good lifestyle balance can make an important difference, including relations with others.
Tip for the year: Build on skills and ideas and look to advance. These are progressive times but do consult and listen well to those around.
1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Snakes have a good sense of timing and this year they will sense opportunity. It is a year to act on hopes and plans and look to advance. With a positive, can-do approach, Snakes can now do and succeed in much. In work, Snakes should actively pursue opportunities and act quickly on emerging chances. With initiative, good headway can be made with new responsibilities capable of developing further. February, May and November could see interesting developments. Rooster years also favour personal growth with personal interests and special talents rewarding well. Progress can help financially, but spending could be high and needs watching. In home life there will be pleasing news to celebrate and by joining with others, some ambitious plans can be realised. Travel with loved ones, too, is favoured. For the unattached, romance can help make the year special and with Snakes also grateful for the support and advice of close friends. Snakes have much in their favour this year with their skills and actions bringing good results.
Tip for the year: Enjoy strengths, ideas and what opens up. With a positive approach, much can be accomplished and deserving progress made.
1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
A demanding year with Horses needing to put in much effort to get results. However, while Horses may be challenged, Rooster years can help bring out their strengths as well as usefully extend experience. In work, changes and new pressures will be a feature although by
focusing on what needs to be done and taking advantage of training, Horses can do their reputation and prospects much good. Rooster years require effort and application. Horses also need to be careful in money matters and keep watch over spending, with this no year for rush or risk. Social life can bring some lively occasions although a friendship issue could concern. Here tact and increased awareness could help. Home life will be busy and by joining together, some useful plans can be advanced and family achievements celebrated. March, June and August could be lively months. Time set aside for personal interests and recreation can benefit with new activities opening up good possibilities, some of which could be taken further. A year for care and adapting well to developments.
Tip for the year: Be aware and make the most of arising situations. What is undertaken and proved can be usefully built upon.
1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
A year of interesting possibility and by acting on chances and ideas, some good outcomes can be enjoyed. This is a year to make things happen. In work, there will be opportunity to make more of strengths and by looking to advance and following up openings, important headway can be made. A good year, too, to network and raise profile with April, September and October active and encouraging months. Some financial fortune can be enjoyed, though with expensive plans, spending needs to be watched. Socially, Goats can see an increase in activity with a varied mix of things to do and enjoy. New friends could prove helpful, especially in encouraging personal interests and with romantic prospects promising. In home life, Goats should draw on the support of loved ones and be helped well during times of decision and change. Some domestic plans and family news could particularly excite, with a move possible for some. An active and encouraging year with determined
actions rewarding well.
Tip for the year: Set ideas and plans in motion. With support and willingness, many plans and hopes can be realised and good progress made.
1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
A reasonable year although during it Monkeys will need to keep their wits about them. To risk, rush or be less than thorough could cause problems. In work, Monkeys should focus on duties and where their strengths lie with many successfully building on their present situation. For those seeking change or a position, by keeping alert and remaining determined, positions secured can often have potential for growth. April, June and November could be active and significant. In money matters, care is needed and Monkeys should not proceed with plans or key purchases unless fully satisfied. Travel can bring considerable pleasure this year with personal interests developing in encouraging ways. With an active lifestyle, Monkeys need to make sure their busyness does not impact on home life and with time together and shared undertakings of particular value. There may be some good social opportunities so when in company, Monkeys need to remain attentive. As with much this year, extra attention and awareness is key.
Tip for the year: Be thorough and think actions and decisions through. The greater the care and effort, the better many an outcome.
1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
For Roosters, their own
year has great possibility. It is a year to act determinedly on wants with fortune very much favouring the bold. In work, important strides can be made and for those dissatisfied, unfulfilled or currently seeking a position, chances explored could lead to exciting developments. Those pursuing a career could also benefit from promotion with this not a year to stand still. February, April and July could be busy and favourable months. Roosters should also use chances to further skills and whether professionally or with personal interests, new knowledge gained can open up additional possibilities. Creative activities could particularly inspire. While income could increase so could outgoings therefore Roosters need to watch their spending. Home life will be busy with individual successes to mark and practical projects and domestic changes making a difference. An active lifestyle will lead to a widening of social circle, although for the unattached romance should be nurtured rather than rushed. A year of considerable potential and some deserving successes
Tip for the year: Make the most of the now. Act on plans and follow up chances and ideas. This year, great things are possible.
1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
A mixed year with Dogs sometimes concerned by developments or finding themselves in frustrating situations. However, Dogs can take heart. Next year is their own year and with skills and experience gained of often long-term value. In work, changes could impact bringing uncertainty and increased pressures. However, by making the best of their situation, what Dogs do and take on can highlight skills and prepare the way for later advance. In view of pressures and their busy lifestyle, Dogs should also attend to self, including considering well-being and allowing time for interests and recreational pursuits. Spending levels could increase and need watching. Care, too, is needed in relations with others with this a year for openness and good
communication. While sometimes reserved, Dogs should also make the most of social opportunities and make helpful connections. In home life, certain plans could be protracted, but by joining with others there will be occasions, surprises and travel that will please. June, July and December could be busy and personally special. A demanding year but with far-reaching significance.
Tip for the year: Take note of developments, adapting as required. What happens can be important and often occurs for a reason.
1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
An encouraging year with actions and chances rewarding well. This is an excellent year for personal development and by furthering self, skills and interests, benefits could soon start to filter through. In work, positions can open up allowing many to take on greater responsibilities and interesting new challenges. By acting well on developments, important headway can be made with February, April and October seeing good chances. Finances can see improvement, but a busy lifestyle can make this an expensive year and outgoings need watching. Social life will also see much activity with a good mix of occasions to enjoy and with Pigs in demand. However, should a strain or difference with another arise, Pigs should look to resolve rather than ignore. Home life will be busy with Pigs enjoying shared activities and the realisation of key plans and projects. Pigs can do and enjoy much this year but need to pace themselves and work steadily towards the outcomes they want. With purpose and some luck, a good year.
Tip for the year: Give time to self, building on skills, capabilities and talents. There is much to do and considerable benefits to be gained.
Neil Somerville is the author of “Your Chinese Horoscope 2017” (published by Thorsons). Horoscope distributed by Auspac Media
