Facing the future in fear and trepidation
MICHAEL MOORE
Home is where the internet is
CHRIS COLEMAN
Why we have to teach kids to swim
TIM GAVEL
Dripping a way through summer
CEDRIC BRYANT
Gina Ciancio’s passion for interior design wins her a big prize
AFTER experiencing an extreme trauma reaction in 2009 while working as a social worker at child protection services, Kristen Holzapfel suffered an eating disorder.
She slowly recovered and published a book, “Selfless”, about her experiences in a bid to support other helpers.
As part of her recovery, Kristen says she fell into pet sitting and it became animal therapy for her.
“The animals were just so patient with me and I remember spending an hour just lying there stroking a dog’s tummy. It was so enormously therapeutic,” she says.
Kristen says that pet sitting came about at the point where she realised she couldn’t go back to work the traditional nine-to-five in an office anymore.
“Because my trauma was a work issue, the work itself was a trigger for me,” she says.
“I haven’t successfully returned to the workplace and I’m living on poverty-line wages now. But I’m happy.”
Kristen says she wanted to tell her story as a way to help other support workers.
“We need to make changes – it’s so hard for people who have experienced trauma as a helper to get compensation,” she says.
“I personally experienced a nasty trauma reaction, which came on very suddenly but was the result of longtime exposure to a lot of heady issues.
“I responded by not eating, which started overnight, and it didn’t fit my preconceived ideas of what trauma looked like. I didn’t think people my age experienced eating disorders, I thought it was the domain of teenage girls. And it wasn’t a body image thing at all, it was about control.
“Initially, I had no appetite because I was so focused on something else. The issues at work were never resolved, so there wasn’t a moment where I could say: ‘Okay, I feel safe now, I can start
eating again’. It was prolonged and I never really went back to eating properly. Food became associated with fear and I thought I could somehow keep myself safe by not eating.”
Kristen says her weight dropped drastically after that, but says that no one at work stepped in or noticed.
“Everyone’s so busy and they don’t have time for problems or big challenging things, but it was a cry for help from me,” Kristen says.
“I was hoping that I was part of an organisation where I felt supported, but I felt really uneasy. I worried that I’d come unstuck and that it made me a risk to my clients.”
Kristen says she found it very hard to leave, particularly without having another stable job to go to.
“I wanted a smooth transition to another job, but it was hard and I spiralled down again and lost more weight, I was yellowy pale, not keeping up with conversations, I was malnourished and I wasn’t well. I was admitted to hospital for three weeks in 2009.”
Writing “Selfless” was tough, she says, but she pushed through it because she recognised that it was hard to find any stories like her own.
“There seemed to be a lot of stories out there about trauma and PTSD but they tend to be military focused,”
she says.
“There’s so many more that come under that banner of emergency responders. Not just fire, police and ambulance, but domestic violence crisis workers, sexual assault counsellors, child protection officers. I think most people would agree they offer a 24-hour crisis service and they also respond in emergency situations. And yet there isn’t the same recognition and support for what they do. They’re not resourced in the same way and I really hope we can improve the support that’s available to our helping professionals because if we don’t, there’s dire consequences.
“First they’re going to leave so we will have a smaller pool of experienced helpers and also having a smaller pool of people who aren’t so good at what they do means we have less resources for the most vulnerable people in our society.
“It affects all of us, and we need to make sure that our helpers, in particular our front-line workers, are being supported better than they are.”
Kristen says she has experienced symptoms including anxiety, chronic nightmares and fear of places or situations that may trigger her.
“Writing the book was so enormously hard because it forced me to go to places I didn’t want to go. But finishing it was one of the most liberating things – there were no more secrets. This is who I am, this is how I experienced it, and it’s out there.”
Kristen says that she’s been technically homeless for the last two years or so, living out of her van and travelling from house to house to stay with pets when their owners go on holiday. However, she is planning to move into an apartment and is looking forward to having her own small space.
“I felt I should go in the direction my heart was telling me, which was spending time with animals – an integral part of my recovery,” she says.
“It’s been hard to start a small business but I’ve learned so much in the process and, as hard as it can be, I know I’m in the right place.”
“Selfless” is available at kholzapfel.com Kristen’s new website that includes self-care tips and support resources
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IN skiting last week about newly gonged "CityNews" writers Michael Moore AM and Bill Stephens OAM joining columnist Jon Stanhope AO, editor Ian Meikle AM, arts editor Helen Musa OAM and sport columnist Tim Gavel OAM in making the paper probably the most-gonged media outlet in Australia we forgot someone. Music reviewer Ian McLean is also a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to music and the community and, better yet, he has a Conspicuous Service Cross from leading the Band of the Royal Military College and a Centenary of Federation medal for his “outstanding contribution to musical life in Canberra”.
In launching next month’s annual Enlighten Festival, Chief Minister Andrew Barr predicted it would “easily surpass” our most famous festival, Floriade.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s dressing down of our PM provoked a couple of Canberra wireless talkers into questioning his business ethics.
FM104.7’s breakfast duo Ryan and Tanya wanted to know if Trump’s immigration ban on refugees from certain Muslim countries carried over to his extensive business interests.
Ryan, posing as Osama, an Iranian student visiting Washington, rang the local Trump Hotel to book a room for he and his Iranian mates. “Not a problem, sir” said the accommodating man at the D.C. end. Clearly, business and politics can be comfy bedfellows.
THE Enlightened city is set for a heightened level of enlightenment this year
according to CM Andrew Barr
In launching next month’s annual Enlighten Festival, Barr predicted it would “easily surpass” our most famous festival, Floriade.
Barr’s bold claim was backed by Singapore Airlines coming on board as a sponsor. The airline’s representative and former Canberra boy Karl Schubert says Asian visitors were keen to take advantage of the Capital Express flights to see Canberra’s buildings “in a different light”.
A WORRYING trend (for pedants, at least) is IUOTA (inappropriate use of the apostrophe); this past week I spotted a very green example at the Kippax Raiders’ club promoting the special meal deal “Coastal Combo’s” and there’s the take-away food shops often advertising “fish ‘n’ chip’s”.
STILL on fish ‘n’ chips, a near catastrophe has befallen the local fryers. Unseasonal weather, battering potato crops in southern
states, has created a potato famine (of sorts) causing hardship for those partial to the thin slice of pomme de terre cooked in batter and called a potato scallop (in Tassie, it’s a potato cake).
The thousands of Canberra connoisseurs of the potato scallop are reportedly “getting by” on the frozen but vastly inferior variety. Might be unhelpful though to suggest they eat (potato) cake instead.
dose of dorin
According to the NGA’s Lucina Ward: “Visitors expect to see it in Canberra... it is one of the National Gallery’s most famous paintings.”
TWO men sitting in deck chairs on a traffic island during Monday’s peak hour watching traffic flow through a large roundabout was a rare sight. And one that runs the risk of compounding the belief in that ignorant national myth that there is nothing more exciting to do in Canberra than watch traffic.
Apparently the pair of locals held grave safety fears after the installation of lights on the dangerous Barton Highway/William Slim Drive/Gundaroo Drive roundabout, but at last report, after a relatively smooth transition, had given it the thumbs up. Sadly though for the reputation of the capital, the story went national.
NICE to see that abstract still makes the art grow fonder with the return from a rare trip overseas of Jackson Pollock’s “Blue Poles”, one of Canberra’s most valuable assets.
One of the world’s most recognisable pieces, the painting is safely back on the wall at the National Gallery after a trip to London.
Apparently the controversial painting, purchased by the Whitlam Government in 1973 for a “tad” over $1 million, was “missed”.
MARAUDING MAMILS (middle-aged men in Lycra) and their attitude is an issue brewing to a head more powerful than an inexpertly tapped keg of the Braddon brew. The fair dinkum practitioners of the pedal in all their yellow/pink flexible splendour were targetted yet again in an article asking the question: “Why are Canberrans so unkind to cyclists?”
Responses on social media, ranging from: “Canberrans are a loving, kindly people who delight in the social benefits of bike riding” to “I’m glad I have a bullbar on my car” might suggest we have a long ride ahead.
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Remember back in the day, you would celebrate with your friends at street parties and have a chat with your neighbours on the front porch? Well you can enjoy all of that and more once again at The Grove, Ngunnawal offering resort style living to over 55’s.
Join us at our upcoming Open Day and take a wander around the streets of our wonderful community. You will have the chance to view display villas, see where our new Clubhouse is being built (which is currently under construction) and get information about our upcoming stages. Our Open Day is the perfect chance for you to experience this fantastic lifestyle firsthand and learn more about our community.
OPEN DAY
Saturday 18 February, 2017 | 10.00am to 1pm The Grove, 1 Monty Place, Ngunnawal
2 bedrooms start at $438,000*
3 bedroom start at $619,000*
Parking on the day will be available at St John Paul’s College at 1021 Gungahlin Drive, Nicholls 2913.
A complimentary shuttle bus will be available to escort you to and from The Grove Ngunnawal from 10am to 1pm.
To RSVP and for instructions on parking for the day please call Arvy on 02 6230 6253.
Award-winning
By Danielle Nohra
CANBERRA design blogger Gina Ciancio didn’t grow up in traditional houses; in fact, with an architect for a dad, living in a house with a tree in the middle of her childhood home was completely normal.
And this normality, of being surrounded by strangely creative things, was something that helped Gina win an international award last year.
Gina says her father’s career and her mother’s creativity are influences that encouraged her to begin her now awardwinning blog, Style Curator.
“It’s such a crazy, rewarding and [a] million other amazing feelings all rolled into one to win the award,” Gina says.
The UK Amara Interior Blog Awards celebrate and engage the most authoritative and well-respected bloggers in the vast interior blogging industry, naming Style Curator the “Best Australian Interior Blog”. But before winning, stylecurator.com.au was among 586 nominated blogs.
Knowing these statistics and busy with
her first child, Patrick, Gina didn’t attend the award ceremony in London.
“There’s bloggers working full time with a team behind them. I thought, there’s no way I’m going to win,” Gina says.
“When I did, it was really exciting and I got non-stop messages of support and congratulations.
“It was two years ago when I had just started the blog that I discovered a UK Amara award winner and I recall being inspired by her gorgeous blog and the diverse work she was doing as a result, but also feeling a sense of surety about it all, like I finally found my path.”
Before coming across UK Amara, Gina was feeling uncertain about her career path as a social media adviser.
“I wanted to do something for myself, I was helping friends and family start sites, but I didn’t know what my own passion was,” Gina says.
“Me and my husband were at a planning stage of our new home and I thought, that’s what I want to do, I’ll start a blog about interior design.”
So Gina began Style Curator with the theme of contemporary Australian styling, a space that shares Gina’s passion for inte -
riors and home decor, tips and advice, DIYs and design news.
Gina has also shared her personal journey of building and styling a home here in Canberra.
“Since I started Style Curator, there has been a lot of hard work, late nights and a steep learning curve into website creation, search engine optimisation and the like, but it’s been the most personally fulfilling time of my life.
“The thing I love most about design is its creativity and that it’s endless. People are always reinterpreting and putting their own spin on it. It keeps me interested because there’s always something new to discover.
Gina says that if anyone is in the process of designing a house, it is crucial to be organised.
“The most important thing is to be clear on the direction you want to take. When you’re trying to wing it, it doesn’t really work.
“Designing the rooms separately might not flow. Gather as much information as you can, there’s so many websites and blogs, print them out and put them out in front of you and plan.”
Hi,
I’d like to know when you’ll be switching the NBN on at my new place.
‘Thank
you, Mr Coleman, at present, your residence doesn’t exist.’
THERE’S nothing quite like the joy of being handed the keys to your own house.
You leave the solicitor’s office, often having committed yourself to a debt with more zeros on it than you’ve ever seen in your life.
The thought: “One day, all this will be mine, not the bank’s” may have crossed our minds, but any trepidation was immediately overcome by finding the right key, opening the front door and walking into the sight of the cleanest carpets we’d ever seen and the lingering smell of freshly dried paint.
Then the fun began...
“Hello, I’d like to get the internet and a phone connected.”
“Okay, sir, let me check the address for you. Just a moment... ah, yes, I’m sorry, your place is listed as not serviced by us. You’ll have to speak to the NBN Co.”
Moments later...
“Hi, I’d like to know when you’ll be switching the NBN on at my new place.”
“Thank you, Mr Coleman, at present, your residence doesn’t exist.”
“Really? Can you tell me what I’ve just arranged hundreds of thousands of dollars of finance for? And where my furniture is about to be moved to? And where there is one of the NBN boxes installed in the garage?”
actually means, but I doubt it’ll be a good result. Utility connections were also interesting. We signed up for one of those “we’ll-doit-for-you” mobs. Yes, they got the electricity on, with our previous supplier, but to maintain our previous discount required calling them ourselves anyway. Gas? Yeah, it was easier to make the call ourselves. Pay TV? It’s not exactly heartening when the installation guy walks in, takes one look, mutters the word “impossible”, and disappears back to his van for 20 minutes.
Rallimax has the latest wheel and rim straightening lathe, enabling us to successfully realign most damaged alloy wheels.
“Um... Just a moment, Mr Coleman.”
Eventually, after they stopped debating the actual existence of my house, I was informed that connection could indeed be arranged. Probably in a few weeks. Once the development had been connected to the NBN.
A call to NBN Co on the “expected date” revealed that there is now massive confusion between them and the developer so the connection was back “on hold”. I’m still waiting to find out what that
Go out for dinner and get an Uber home? Yep. Great. Their mapping software has decided our place is on the other side of the street. And more than a kilometre down the road. In the next suburb. With 5000 people choosing to move to Canberra every year, not to mention the number of people moving out from their parents’ place as they get old enough to, surely there has to be enough corporate knowledge gleaned from their experiences to make it easier. And if there isn’t there should be. The lessons to be learned? If you’re moving into a newlybuilt place, ask questions. Ask the obvious question during construction. Ask lots of questions as the builders finish up. Get the answers in writing wherever you can. It’s too late for me, but hopefully it’ll save you some time.
Chris Coleman is the drive announcer on 2CC.
SUNDAY, 05 MARCH 2017
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The wholesale disregard of evidence in favour of a certain type of belief helps to explain so much discussion and trepidation around the political phenomena that is Donald Trump.
US President John F Kennedy described myths as “the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought”. Those myths, in today’s presidential terms, are called “alternate facts”.
The wholesale disregard of evidence in favour of a certain type of belief helps to explain so much discussion and trepidation around the political phenomena that is Donald Trump.
On a recent holiday in Hawaii I only heard one American defending the new president. In every other case they, his countrymen, were apologising for his behaviour and invariably pointing out that he did not win the popular vote. The Hawaiians I spoke to were particularly keen to point out that their state had a 70 per cent vote in favour of Hillary Clinton. Even on a walking track high above Maui, people would stop to talk about the new president, to apologise and to express their fear for the future. The first week of the Trump executive orders had seriously reinforced their concerns for Americans and
for all of those who come under American influence.
Canadians argued that the executive order excluding people from selected majority Muslim countries, the wholesale rejection of the Trans Pacific Partnership and the Mexican wall were indicators of the treatment Canada could expect if not kowtowing to the whims of Trump. Ironically, what a marked contrast was the tweet of Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau: “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada”?
There are important lessons for Australia. The US electoral system that delivered this result is clearly faulty. Although women will march in their millions to demonstrate concern about interfering with their autonomy – I doubt if there has ever been a demonstration on electoral systems. With a preferential voting system instead of “first-past-the-post” Donald Trump would not have been successful even in the first round of the Republican Primaries. American presidential elections are
conducted on a system of first-past-the-post using Electoral College votes to make the final decision. The system is two centuries out of date. Less than 25 per cent of voters supported him… without even considering the masses that have not registered to vote. A president was elected despite being around three million personal votes short of his opponent. There is a clear message that change is needed.
The ACT can be proud its elections are one of the most recent, advanced and fairest systems in the world under Hare-Clark.
However, electoral reform only occurs when the major parties are either too embarrassed to do otherwise or, more commonly, there is mutual interest.
Our Australian federal systems are not perfect. However, preferential voting at the electorate level in the House of Representa-
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tives and optional preferential voting based on proportional representation in the Senate does deliver a much fairer outcome than the American system.
Another improvement for Americans would be to mirror Australia’s compulsory attendance at the polling booth. This is widely referred to as “compulsory voting”, which is inaccurate as the secrecy of the ballot box allows a voter to simply submit an unmarked paper. Combined with a requirement to register, the American system would be much fairer.
Fear and trepidation are still the hallmark of the Trump era. When George W Bush engaged in the Middle East for the second Gulf War, the commitment was not done based on evidence. Rather the invasion, with Australia’s support, was under the pretence of “weapons of mass destruction”. Over a decade of commitment to war is the result of action based on myths rather than evidence.
All indications are that this will be commonplace with Trump as president. Already evidence is regularly being replaced by myth. The appointment of so many members of his cabinet who, in the past, have made pronouncements similarly based on myth rather than evidence does not bode well for the future.
And back to fear and trepidation. This man who does not have “the discomfort of thought” has the keys to a nuclear arsenal that has the capacity to destroy life on earth as we know it.
Michael Moore was an independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly (1989 to 2001) and was minister for health.
I REJECT outright the criticism of me by M McConnell (letters, CN, February 2).
Correctly, I put before the community the wholly contradictory statements made in 2005 by the then Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope and, more recently, in “CityNews” (January 17) initially rejecting needles and then giving support.
The needle issue is part of the harm-minimisation virus causing increasing mortality and morbidity, specially for our kids.
The community doesn’t have to believe me. In 2008 the UN Office on Drugs and Crime conducted a study of 180 countries using serious drug problems as the principal benchmark, 180 being the best, and 1 the worst. Australia came in at 6. Sweden came in at 162.
Not convinced? After 30 years of minimising harm, the UN’s 2014 World Drug Report listed Australia top in the world for per capita illicit drug use, meaning its harm minimisation.
Colliss Parrett, Barton
I ALWAYS find Michael Moore’s column a worthwhile read. His view is always sensible and original, not especially tarnished by the constraints of association with either major party. However, today my eye lingered on the description of him as “independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly, 1989-2001”.
A look at the 1989 ballot paper suggests his first four years in the Assembly were as part of the Residents Rally. This was a successful party, having as many people elected as the Liberal Party (ie four) and one less than Labor (five). On that ballot paper, on the right hand side, there were nine “independent candidates”
listed, Michael not being one of them.
Given Michael’s association with the Residents Rally and later the Michael Moore Independents, it would seem more accurate to describe him as nonmainstream/minor party member of the Assembly than simply “independent”.
Declan King, Braddon
“Declan is correct that I was elected in 1989 with Residents Rally. I had a major falling out with Bernard Collaery from very early in the Assembly when he was negotiating with Trevor Kaine to form government despite our promise to not do so with either of the majors.
I left the RR with just less than 50 per cent of its members less than five months later to sit as an independent. It is therefore correct to say that I was an independent from 1989.
For subsequent elections I was very clear for the elections that we were forming a grouping of independents. This was to deal with an electoral system that favoured parties.
When Helen Szuty was elected on the same grouping in 1992 she and I both sat as independents. Most importantly... the Hansard shortly after my swearing in after elections in 1992, 1995 and 1998 will show that I informed the Assembly that I would be sitting as an independent.”
I am grappling with the reasons why it is not mandated that every Canberra child needs to be able to swim at least 50 metres before they leave primary school.
IS there a more disconcerting image than high-school-age students struggling to swim 50 metres during a school swimming carnival?
In fact, some of them battle to show any semblance of being able to swim at all.
This summer, every time the radio is turned on, it seems another drowning is reported. These are tragedies that can really be avoided.
These drownings have occurred under a variety of different circumstances with one report suggesting that there have been 22 in NSW since December 10.
The unfortunate total includes an increase in the number of people drowning in inland waterways. It is a statistic that is
starting to rival the road toll, yet we don’t seem to have the same sense of urgency in addressing the problem.
I acknowledge, in some instances, alcohol has been a factor and that is a totally separate issue.
Deaths have also occurred in very shallow water bodies, such as backyard ponds and wading pools. And, yes, rips and currents also play their part in a number of deaths, with many individuals not seeing the danger until it is too late.
Given our proximity to the coast, there needs to be a surf lifesaving component in learn-to-swim programs that also helps individuals “read” the conditions as well as understand how they should respond in difficult situations. Additionally, our own waterways need to be understood.
With this in mind, I am grappling with the reasons why it is not mandated that every Canberra child needs
Swimming lessons exist in the ACT school system, but columnist Tim Gavel says it appears to be ad hoc at best. “It is virtually up to the individual parent or school to decide if children are going to be taught how to swim,” he says.
to be able to swim at least 50 metres before they leave primary school.
Swimming lessons exist in the ACT school system, but from my observation it appears to be ad hoc at best. It is virtually up to the individual parent or school to decide if children are going to be taught how to swim.
Some parents have cited the cost of lessons as one of the reasons why they haven’t enrolled their children in learn-to-swim programs. Another reason is cultural.
The Victorian government has mandated that, from the start of term one this year, every child will have to swim 50 metres before they leave
Treatments
Skin conditions - acne, rosacea, pigmentation, scarring
Vascular - capillaries, venous lake, cherry angiomas, veins
Aesthetic - fat reduction, hair reduction, wrinkles, skin laxity
primary school. It will be an integral part of the curriculum.
It has created a headache for schools though, with the cost of the lessons estimated at around $80 a year per student to be absorbed by the school without any additional funding from the government. This cost per student doesn’t include bus hire and the additional burden on school staffing and timetabling.
It is not an easy task, but it is an important undertaking that could save lives.
If the same program is to be used in Canberra schools it really needs the support of additional government
funding. It is surely a life skill that can’t continue to be overlooked.
Raiders on a roll
THE Raiders’ juggernaut continues through the off-season. Membership is at an all-time high with the club on target to reach 15,000 before the start of the season.
So far 13,282 have signed up to become members; a massive increase on this time last year.
It is not unexpected given the success of the team last season, which has given the Raiders’ membership team something to sell.
What is acne and is it treatable?
Yes, acne is something we regularly treat at The CAPS Clinic and occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells causing pimples. It commonly a ects the face but can also occur on the neck, chest and back.
We have found that with education and constant monitoring, acne and the scarring often accompanying acne can be controlled. Early diagnosis and treatment are important in order to reduce the occurrence and severity of breakouts but also to prevent or minimise the possibility of scarring. For severe acne a referral to a dermatologist can be arranged.
For mild to moderate acne, our quali ed Dermal Clinicians utilise a number of techniques including: - medical grade skincare - dietary and lifestyle modi cations, - peeling/exfoliating procedures, - IPL and/or laser applications including LED phototherapy (blue light).
What treatment do you recommend to help clear acne prone skin?
At The CAPS Clinic one of our most e ective tools in treating acne is Healite LED phototherapy. Healite is a completely pain-free, no-downtime treatment which stimulates your skins own healing process. Utilising di erent wavelengths, including blue light, Healite kills bacteria to clear acne-prone skin. Healite can not only treat acne but a range of concerns such as ne lines and wrinkles, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea as well as help with wound healing and scar reduction.
What type of products should I apply to my face?
Unfortunately, most supermarket or over the counter products and treatments do not contain su cient active ingredients to be e ective at controlling acne. At The CAPS Clinic we do not recommend products containing arti cial fragrance or preservatives, which we know irritate and clog the skin. During a comprehensive skin analysis our Dermal Clinician’s will customise and prescribe an active yet a ordable skincare regime including an e ective treatment program to help control your acne.
To discuss how our Dermal Clinician’s can help you achieve clear skin call The CAPS Clinic today on (02) 6282
WHEN Dr Kylie Ireland looks back at her time in Laos, where she took part in a volunteer project on food security, what stands out most was breaking down hierarchical barriers and building up confidence in local female volunteers.
With the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Saturday, February 11, the postdoctoral research scientist with the CSIRO says the importance is not to forget gender diversity.
“Less than 50 years ago a female scientist at CSIRO would have to resign after getting married, seriously! That’s not that long ago,” Kylie says.
During the Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program Kylie spent 18 months assisting plant pathologists from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to address the threats associated with pests and diseases in food crops.
“There are some really strong female scientists in Laos, but there are very few plant pathologists,” Kylie says.
She mentored three young, female
trainees during her volunteer assignment, who Kylie now calls “my girls”.
“I think that my biggest contribution was simply in acting as a role model, as a young female scientist with
valid skill and knowledge to share, and in breaking down hierarchical barriers with the staff I worked with.”
Although having a doctorate was a huge advantage for Kylie and without
it things might have been different.
“This qualification meant that even older men, who would ordinarily be a higher social standing than myself, would listen to my advice and would do so without fear of seeming ‘weak’.
“In science, you need to leave your ego at the door; gender, age, and social standing aside, we are all equals and we need to act as such, so we can question ourselves, our results and the ideas of others, in order to truly address the questions at hand.”
And the question at hand, in Laos, was food security.
Kylie says they were teaching people biosecurity, to expand basic agriculture systems, but what came with large-scale crops was an increase in issues.
“We provided tools that taught them to recognise the problem and figure out the cause,” she says.
“Using applied research to improve management of plant diseases not only contributes to our knowledge of the world around us, but can protect our natural environments and biodiversity, and in the case of applying it in development settings, can improve livelihoods through increased yields, incomes and nutrition.”
She says something small like this can make a huge difference.
Kylie first became passionate about plant sciences in year 12 during a biol-
ogy plant collection assignment.
She loved it so much that she would even teach her younger cousins when they came to visit.
Now, at the age of 33, Kylie still has that passion and does e-mentoring from her computer in Canberra.
But it isn’t always easy with the language barriers. And it was the same when she was in Laos.
“With my little bit of the Laos language and their little bit of English we found some middle ground.”
Kylie learnt some of the Laos language and she also communicated through drawings.
“It’s interesting, I look back and a lot of the success was from the relationship side,” Kylie says.
“Things are really improving for female scientists globally, there is now a large cohort of successful female scientist role models and workplaces are doing their best, in some places, to employ and retain great female scientists.
“Hopefully, it will get to a point where it’s based on equality, the focus should be on equal skills in the workplace, hopefully diversity will push that.”
Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID).
Visit volunteering.scopeglobal.com or call 1800 995536 or email info.volunteers@scopeglobal.com
WITH the New Year well underway, what better time to spruce up the home or the garden than with some changes?
A house is likely to be our biggest single investment, so it makes sense to make the most of living in it and, at the same time, adding value through professionally guided improvements or DIY repurposing.
Here “CityNews” showcases the goods and services of local experts who can help you achieve those objectives…
MANUFACTURING beds since 1975, Makin
Mattresses is proud to sell the most mattresses, not the most expensive.
A Makin Mattresses spokesperson says: “These days all we seem to hear about is manufacturers in Australia closing down and jobs going offshore.”
This doesn’t seem to be the case for Makin Mattresses who says they’re “reversing that trend”.
“For many years Makin Mattresses have sourced components from around the world in order to make the best-quality mattresses in their Australian factories.”
Makin Mattresses has a large range, from innerspring to premium Bellissimo micro coil and latex mattresses.
“Five years ago our customer surveys told us that one in three people who purchased from Makin Mattresses had done so before or been recommended by a friend. Now it is one in two,” Makin Mattresses says.
“Makin Mattresses offers you exceptional after sales service, we carry out all warranty issues in our stores so you don’t have to send the product away to have it looked at.
“One of the many benefits at Makin Mattresses is that our sales team works closely
with the production team and therefore possess superior knowledge into the quality manufacturing procedure of each product.
“If you have a question – we’ll know the answer!”
BORDEAUX KITCHENS
(Associated with Capital Cabinetmaking) Specialise in custom-built design and joinery
• Kitchens • Vanity and laundry units
Commercial Joinery
• Shop/office
Home office
• Experienced tradesmen and full trade co-ordination available
BORDEAUX BATHROOMS
• Designed with you with your budget in mind • High standard of workmanship • High quality finish
• Completed on time, every time
CONSTRUCTION & MANAGEMENT PTY LTD
Makin Mattresses, corner of Wollongong and Gladstone Streets, Fyshwick. Call 6280 5445 or visit the website makinmattresses.com.au for more locations.
STEVE Milutinovic started his cabinet-making business in 1983 and, 33 years on, the company has grown into specialising in home renovations, extensions and new homes.
Bordeaux specialises in commercial fitouts and joinery and is also a fully licensed builder in NSW and ACT.
“We pride ourselves in achieving the highest standard for our customers in design and workmanship,” Steve says.
“Our prices are competitive and we work with you to achieve your desired outcome.
“We offer full trade co-ordination and have our own experienced and reliable tradesmen and expert staff to assist you in your project. Our custom-built, cabinet-making workshop can also build joinery items to suit your needs whether for home or office.
Bordeaux Construction and Bordeaux Kitchens offer obligation-free quotes.
Bordeaux Construction, 8 Aurora Place, Queanbeyan, call 6299 4642. Visit bordeauxbcm.com.au or facebook.com/BordeauxBCM.
THERMA Quilts is a locally owned and family-run business that specialises in making and servicing quilts, eiderdowns, pillows and cushions and anything made from feather and down.
The company’s unique cleaning process, which involves the feather and down being cleaned separately from the product casing in a specialised steamer and washing machine, helps the feather and down regain its loft and thermal resistance.
“Our eco-friendly detergents mean that there are no harsh chemical residues on products,” says owner Jennifer Kusa.
“Using our cleaning process, we can clean quilts, sleeping bags, down jackets and more when they are in need of rejuvenation or before they are needed for the winter months.”
Jennifer says if people wait until winter to get them cleaned they will really miss their quilts during that time.
She says the servicing of feather and down products is essential for keeping them in optimal condition for comfort.
“With time and usage, body proteins and lipids (natural oils and perspiration) are absorbed on to quilt casings and into the feather and down inside,” she says.
“Over time this build-up dampens the down, which causes it to lose its thermal resistance.
“However, regular servicing of your quilts would ensure that your down is fresh, fluffy and keeps you nice and warm during winter.
“In addition, if your quilt is not warm enough or too warm, we are able to adjust it to your requirements.”
Therma Quilts also services silk, polyester, cotton and wool quilt underlays with eco-friendly detergents that have been modified and specifically formulated to clean each of these products.
Therma Quilts, Unit 9, 10-12 Kemble Court, Mitchell. Open 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday. Call 6241 6859 or visit thermaquilts.com.au
THE team at Solace Creations is passionate about energy-efficient and sustainable homes and is on a mission to double glaze Canberra.
Business owner Karen Porter says Solace Creations has the largest double-glazing showroom in Canberra.
“I can’t understand why we have a code in place that says we must insulate our walls and ceiling, yet there is no rule to insulate our windows or doors,” Karen says.
“Windows and doors make up about 30 per cent of our wall space and putting in a single piece of glass does not provide any insulation value.”
Solace Creations has won several awards over the last couple of years and is a locally run family business.
Karen says your investment into replacing windows is not immediate, but you will notice that the house has more consistent temperature, less draughts and you will see a saving on your heating and cooling.
Solace Creations works with a range of preferred suppliers from Melbourne along with a Canberra manufacturer and all its products are Australian-made and tested to the Australian Standard.
Karen says: “We can help you create solace in your home. And solace means comfort.”
Solace Creations, 17 Townsville Street, Fyshwick. Call 6260 1621 or visit solacecreations.com.au
EX-GOVERNMENT Furniture co-owner manager, James Fullerton, has been impressed by the repurpose work customers are doing on their range of office items.
Ex-Government Furniture sells desks, chairs, bookcases and filing cabinets but recently people have been buying them and creating something new.
“Heaps of people come through to repurpose items and they do some really cool stuff,” James says.
“We’re always interested in what people are doing, we like to pass on ideas to future customers.
“If you want to do something different, then come in and have a chat.
“Our customers have told us that they like our friendly service and the fact that we like to help them solve their problems, whether they end up buying from us or not.
“We charge fair prices and are often able to
source the best, no-nonsense quality furniture available, always with an eye for good quality, Australian-made stuff.”
Ex-Government Furniture even offers free furniture pick-up for businesses and government and its Yallourn Street location provides convenience for customers.
“We are just off Canberra Avenue, making our showroom easy to get to as we’re close to the city and next to the main roads going to industrial areas,” he says.
James says they turn over furniture very quickly and stock changes weekly. He recommends customers follow their website, Facebook page and Instagram to learn about the latest stock in store.
Ex-Government Furniture, 6 Yallourn Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 6490 or visit exgovfurniture.com or follow them on Facebook via facebook.com/exgovfurniture/
There is no doubt that a well considered, professionally designed garden will add value to a home and be a joy to own.
Dinah Meagher, landscape architect of Canberra Gardens, has specialised in garden design for more than 25 years.
“Some people feel unsure about spending money on employing a professional designer. They think it can’t be that hard and they have plenty of ideas themselves,” Dinah says.
“Then, when they do bring me in, they find I can use all my experience to pull the elements together in ways they never could have thought of”.
Dinah’s designs begin with a response to the site combined with her architecture expertise of understanding how the garden can be used.
Her signature style is one of “ordered chaos” using a blend of more free form plants mixed with more structured plantings of hedges and trees.
“Every site has its own challenges as well as the client’s own vision and budget,” Dinah says.
“Invariably the selection of plants will be suitable for our region.”
Dinah offers a full professional service from initial consultation, preparation of the landscape plan, selecting a reputable landscape contractor and overseeing the work under construction.
Dinah says the initial consultation will open clients’ eyes to the possibilities. Call 0422 628190 or visit canberragardens.com.au
By Helen Musa
WHEN the old Persian poets wanted to describe a dropdead-gorgeous princess, their favourite poetic comparison was with the Sarv – the cypress pine tree; tall, refined and elegant.
“Sarv” is exactly what Canberra musician Salar Ayoubi has called the ensemble he’s been building for the past 10 years and now Canberrans will see them as one of the three headliners at the Chinese New Year concert that kicks off this year’s National Multicultural Festival.
To Ayoubi, best news of all is that their featured performer, visiting from Iran just for this concert, is the drop-dead-gorgeous vocalist, Maliheh Moradi. A graduate in Persian language and literature as well as music, she’s been studying the traditional song repertoire since age 10 and has performed publicly in Spain, Turkey and Poland.
Sarv is a dream come true for Ayoubi, by day an events manager for the ACT Office of Multicultural Affairs. In a demographic change that has seen an influx of expert Persian musicians migrating to Australia, he’s at last been able to engage a team of professionally trained artists from Melbourne, Perth and Canberra who now perform together regularly. Like Ayoubi, several have been through the Tehran Conservatory of Music. As well, one was a professor of music
and another a string player with the Tehran Symphony Orchestra.
Ayoubi is proud to be putting a female Iranian musician to the forefront, saying: “I try to encourage the female artists from Iran, the males get exposure but it’s the women who need support.”
In Iran, he says, a woman can only sing solo in front of all-women audiences.
Moradi will be here for less than 10 days, but Ayoubi has persuaded her to return in June to rehearse for a national concert tour he’s preparing for Sarv in July.
Festivals are important to Ayoubi. He first came to Australia in 2000 to perform at the National Multicultural Festival and the National Folk Festival, eventually emigrated, married and started working on projects for the festival, later joining the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
“They are very flexible about my musical arrangements, they have always tried to accommodate me and I’ve been very thankful,” he says.
Forming the band has been difficult financially but after 10 years he feels he’s there, with Sarv’s reputation established through performances at quality venues in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. A trip to Perth now beckons. Here they’ll be performing a combination of classical music and folk melodies that will have some audience members singing along. A typical highlight will be the famous song “Sabzeh” from north-east Iran.
Ayoubi is pretty sure that the concert will appeal to Canberrans, who have the reputation of being the most open of all Australian audiences to the classical traditions of other countries.
We’ll soon see, in the festival’s Llewellyn Hall concert when Sarv performs alongside the distinguished Chinese Orchestra conducted by Hong Xia and kora player Miriam Lieberman’s ensemble, a hit at last year’s National Folk Festival.
“Treasures of a Nation: Chinese New Year Concert 2017”, Llewellyn Hall, Thursday, February 16. Bookings to ticketek.com.au or 132849. Sarv will also perform at the Multicultural Festival’s Stage 6 at 8.30pm on Friday, February 17, and Stage 1, 5.30pm, Saturday, February 18.
By Helen Musa
AMERICAN singer Patsy Cline died in a plane crash in 1963, aged 30, after giving the world songs such as “Crazy”, “I Fall to Pieces” and “Sweet Dreams” that still pull at the heartstrings today.
Now a smash hit musical play, featuring no fewer than 27 songs, is coming to The Q.
Created and originally directed in the US by Ted Swindley, it’s been remounted for Christine Harris’ touring company HIT Productions by Denny Lawrence, with Bendigo actress Courtney Conway in the lead.
Late last year I ran into Lawrence, a wellknown Australian director who now divides his time between Manhattan and Sydney. He was talking up The Q’s idea of staging the show cabaret style in the Bicentennial Hall, next door to the theatre.
The Q’s artistic director Stephen Pike says the show has played around Australia in all kinds of venues and much smaller halls than the Bicentennial Hall, which he says is undergoing considerable refurbishment. His idea is that people should bring a picnic
dinner or nibbles and sit at tables while enjoying the show.
“But it’s still a play,” he says. “A play with songs and a definite story.”
Pike believes the show will appeal to a broad range of people. Obviously country music lovers will be flocking to it – when Deborah Conway (no relation to Courtney) performed her Patsy Cline show some years ago at the Canberra Theatre, it was packed to the rafters. But as Pike correctly points out, Cline broke down the barriers between country music and its more mainstream counterparts, so he’s betting it will hold more general appeal.
The show is based on a true story about Cline’s friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger, played here by Mandi Lodge, who met the star in a Texas honkytonk in l961, then continued a correspondence with Cline until her unexpected death. The show’s title was inspired by Cline’s letters to Seger, which were signed “Love always…Patsy Cline”.
“Always...Patsy Cline”, at The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, February 15-18, bookings to theq.net.au or 6285 6290.
• Junior classes – Monday’s from 6.30pm
• Adult Beginner & Intermediate classes – Wednesday’s from 7.30pm
• Social Dancing
• Private Dancing Lessons
– Individuals or Groups (perfect for wedding parties)
All Classes are now held at: Isabella Plains Primary School Hall 130-140 Ellerston Ave, Isabella Plains
“Go to see Always…Patsy Cline to hear the memorable songs and you’ll discover a heartfelt story that will lift your spirits.”
Chicago Critic
15 - 18 February 2017
By Ted Swindley
The Q-Club is our new FREE to join loyalty club! Anyone can join The Q-Club, giving you the opportunity to stay up to date, receive special offers & participate in competitions.
Adult $52 | Concession & Groups 8+ $47
To join simply follow these steps: Step 1 - Download & logon to the Rewardle App, click the blue button in the bottom right corner of your screen, this will open up a scanner.
“They’re creepy & they’re kooky, mysterious & spooky. They’re all together ooky...”
Step 2 - Scan the QR Code on this page, it will take you directly to The Q Club registration page for you to sign up.
23 - 25 March 2017 3 - 19 March 2017
We were told they were out of the Big Ben brekkie and pancakes. My mind boggles. How can a kitchen be out of basics such as flour, milk and eggs?
WHEN I think of Canberra’s dining scene, I think of a popcorn machine in full swing. Places to eat and drink popping up like crazy. So if you didn’t stuff yourself over Christmas and New Year, don’t fret; you won’t starve in the capital in 2017.
This year’s line-up of reviews starts with the relatively new Milk Crate 2, a cool-looking place featuring a sunny yellow and sky blue colour palette, some furniture built out of plastic milk crates and fascinating artwork. The outdoor area is massive and includes a bench bar, lounge seating areas and tables of different heights, some with button-shaped tiles forming the surface.
Milk Crate 2 gets a tick for serving all-day brekkie on Saturdays. However, we were told they were out of the Big Ben brekkie and pancakes. My mind boggles. How can a kitchen be out of basics such as flour, milk and eggs? Perhaps the pancake mix comes pre-packaged?
The main lunch menu is about burgers and salads, all $18. It was a burger burst for all of us.
We smiled at how Milk Crate 2 presents its burgers. They arrive in a stunning, branded wooden box, made by the owner’s joiner, with sauces in colourful bowls with pretty patterns. Instead of regular old fries, the burgers are accompanied by yum, well-seasoned, roasted-type potatoes. Vegetarians are well loved with salad starring falafel and marinated tofu.
The cured salmon with mango and young coconut slaw and hot-sauce mayo was a fave, with a
winning combo of fabulous flavours. The brioche, so popular with burgers these days, wasn’t too sweet (thankfully).
Another fave was the brisket burger, with mushroom, capsicum, provolone and lettuce. It was filling and satisfying, with the brisket beautifully tender.
The only loser was the chicken burger. It sounded exotic, with rum, chili and lime chicken, avo, corn, lettuce and mayo. How can you go wrong with that
Caribbean theme?
The issue was the salt. Far, far too much salt. So much so, two of us couldn’t stomach it. The burnt brioche bun didn’t help. We mentioned it to the wait staff who said they’d let the chef know. We didn’t hear back. Instead we were charged for the privilege of not being able to eat it. Sigh.
Coffees are beautifully served in intriguing vessels and on wooden boards, some shaped like meat cleavers (also by that clever joiner).
Cocktails are $18 to $20; wines start at $8.50 a glass ($26 to $52 a bottle).
Milk Crate 2 transforms into a bar until midnight on Fridays.
Signage said the place was open until 3pm but by shortly after 2pm the furniture around us was all packed up. Time to go perhaps?
Milk Crate 2, 16 Marcus Clarke Street, Civic, is open Monday to Saturday, various times.
By Dougal Macdonald
“Manchester by the Sea” (M)
WRITER/director Kenneth Lonergan’s gently powerful tale of ordinary people making sense of life’s vicissitudes ticks the right boxes and has, for good reasons, garnered six nominations at the coming Oscars.
Casey Affleck plays Lee, first seen playing with eight-year-old nephew Patrick on their grandfather’s fishing boat. When next we meet Patrick (Lucas Hedges), he’s 16 and his father has just died. As the boy’s oldest relative, it falls to Lee to mentor him as well as arranging the minutiae of matters needing attention following a death.
Lee, carrying a heavy emotional burden for reasons that Lonergan’s in no hurry to reveal, has a short fuse that too often explodes in tavern brawling. Patrick, coping with hormones, has a girlfriend anxious to have an adult experience without her mum’s knowledge, while that lady is coming on to Lee whose ex-wife wants to make amends for rejecting him.
There’s much more in this gentle, comfortably-paced story in which credible characters make credible responses to credible events.
At Dendy, Palace Electric and Capitol 6
“Gold” (M)
THE screenplay by Patrick Massett and John Zinman for Stephen Gaghan’s film purports to reconstruct the real-life, early-1990s Canadian Bre-X Minerals Ltd affair that caused unrestrained cupidity in stock exchanges all around the world.
In fairness, the film’s three creators and its two principal actors have made a satisfactory fist of moving it back a decade and tweaking its tail just a little bit. Finding out what that involves introduces Matthew McConaughey as prospector Kenny, desperate for a find
(which is what prospecting is all about, isn’t it?) who joins forces with Mike (Edgar Ramirez) to investigate the geological so-called ring of fire surrounding the Pacific Ocean for a likely place to find gold.
The film pulls no punches dealing with those who got on those bandwagons. A suave Wall Street bunch skilled in finagling laws are its villains, together with Indonesia’s ruling Suharto family, whose youngest son needed a job to keep him out of mischief and inform daddy when the time would be right to move in and take possession of the venture.
“Gold” respects the facts as far as necessary and embellishes them with well-crafted fictions. Uncovering its real villain provides a useful coda. It’s good fun, well performed, handsomely mounted and a timely reminder, if any be needed, that the gold business can send men mad for the worst of reasons.
At all cinemas
WHERE it’s not using archival footage made on the day, director and writer Peter Berg’s retelling of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing replicates it right enough for we who weren’t there.
Providing the film’s narrative backbone, Mark Wahlberg plays Boston PD sergeant Tommy Saunders, awaiting transfer to the detective division. On April 15, 2013, he’s in charge of crowd control at the finish line.
Scripting of the Tsarnaev brothers Dzhokhar (Alex Wolff) and Tamerlan (Themo Melikidze) is probably improvised but the general trend of their behaviour on and after the bombing is probably not far from authentic.
Dzhokhar died in what the film presents as a demolition derby involving police and civilian vehicles and a lot of gunfire. Tamerlan awaits execution after his appeals grind their slow way though the justice system.
At all cinemas
By Helen Musa
“LENNON Through a Glass Onion”, John Waters’ and Stewart D’Arrietta’s postscript to the Beatles era, is a story and 31 songs, including “Imagine”, “Strawberry Fields Forever”, “Revolution”, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and the like. It’s still on the road after many years, appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe last August. Now, in what they’re calling “an emotional trip down memory lane”, it’s returning to the Canberra Theatre on Friday, February 17. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700
CANBERRA Symphony Orchestra’s Prom Picnic Concert has a distinctive Canberra flavour this year with guitar whizkids Guitar Trek as guest artists. Formed 30 years ago by ANU guru Tim Kain, the present-day group also includes Minh Le Hoang, Matt Withers and Bradley Kunda, who plan to lead the band in specially arranged classics and favourites. At the lawns of Government House, 6pm, Saturday, February 18. Bookings to cso. org.au or tickets at the gate from 4.15pm.
THE Canberra String Quartet is a veritable line-up of luminaries and now Barbara Jane Gilby, Pip Thompson, Lucy Carrigy-Ryan and Alex Voorhoeve will perform “The Antipodean String Quartet 1912-2002”, music by Alfred Hill, Peter Sculthorpe and Graeme Koehne, in the Wednesday Lunchtime Live Concert at Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, 12.40-1.20pm, Wednesday, February 15. No bookings required, entry $5 or by donation.
LEANNE McKean, the musical director of the Canberra Men’s Choir, will lead “All Men Aloud”, a workshop for the male voice, at Downer Community Centre and concluding with a gig at the National Arboretum, from March 3-5. Registrations by Friday, February 17 to cmchoir@tpg.com.au or 0407 909602.
Be
WOW, what a storm; I thought the roof of our carport was going to head skywards.
It stopped almost as soon as it started, but the damage was unbelievable.
Usually it’s the eucalypts that crash, but on this occasion trees were mostly okay around me, except for an extremely large eucalypt that came down in the children’s playground at the Majura Primary School in Watson.
The wonderful rain last winter and early spring led us into a state of complacency about the weather. Summer has hit us and our plants hard with record high temperatures that are, seemingly, going on forever.
Gardens with drip irrigation systems have survived very well. But memories are short in good seasons. For those who water by hand or overhead sprinkler systems, most of the water is lost to evaporation. These methods of watering may make you feel good, however the chances of sufficient moisture reaching the roots of the plant is almost nil.
It is never too late to install a dripper irrigation system given that Canberra’s average annual rainfall is 620mm but, frighteningly, the average annual moisture loss from evaporation is a massive 1800mm plus almost certainly an equally big water bill!
AUTUMN is planting time. By planting in the heat of summer, especially this year, plants battle heat and desiccating winds. Below ground, bulbs, corms and tubers are unaffected, but above ground the larger the leaf, the more a plant is affected.
Unlike other places in the world, where permafrost can freeze soil up to a metre deep, Canberra soils freeze only to a depth of about 5cm, with the soil staying relatively warm.
As a result, with regular watering, the roots of plants continue to develop all through winter. Once spring arrives new growth really takes off.
Bulb planting can get under way right now until the middle of April, but given February is traditionally our hottest month, it might be wise to prepare the soil, but delay planting shrubs until the weather cools in late March or April.
WHEN planting trees, dig a decent size hole, ideally dug square rather than round. This discourages the roots becoming root-bound.
When planting or relocating trees, it’s also vitally important to know the location of underground services, ie gas, water, electricity, phone and power. For a new home, plans should indicate these services. Otherwise, access the
free national referral service Dial Before You Dig to prevent expensive damage to services at 1100. com.au or call 1100.
SILVER-leafed shrubs provide a wonderful contrast against green foliage of flowers in the garden. As an example, Acacia convenyi has been combined with the fire-engine red of Callistemon “Endeavour”.
By pruning, the convenyi can be kept as a medium shrub of, say, 3m or allowed to grow as a small tree 5-6m tall.
Golden-yellow flowers are on axillary sprays in spring presenting an even more spectacular sight against the silver foliage. The foliage is in popular demand for floral arrangements. It is native to most of NSW and is frost and drought hardy.
Other silver or grey foliage plants include Cistus “Sunset” or the very hardy rock rose, with pink flowers, all of the lavender family, especially Lavendula “Hidcote” or the dwarf Lavendula “Munstead”, which flower in summer and have the most fragrance of any lavenders. They are perfect for making pot pourri.
ANY silver or grey-leafed plants, or those with very small leaves, are very drought and sun hardy, losing little evaporation through the leaves, such as rosemary and thyme.
front of the garden bed.
• Keep the bird bath topped up for birds to drink and wash. Relocating an existing tree… it’s vitally important to know the location of underground services.
In the grey-leafed theme Thymus lanigerum or grey woolly thyme combined with members of the dianthus family make ideal plants for the
Dianthus “Doris” comes to immediate mind with possibly Convolvulus cneorum with silvergrey foliage and white flowers planted behind. A popular silver-leaved, border plant is Santolina chamaecyparissus with its tiny, yellow-button flowers en masse. It grows to about 40cm-50cm tall. The only disadvantage is that once it comes into flower, all the stems go into a swirl.
Once the flowers finish it is necessary to cut it back hard leaving the plant slightly unsightly for a month or so until the new growth starts.
• Now’s the time to cut hellebores to ground level. This may seem drastic, but this allows plenty of sunlight to the base of the plant, so important for flowering in winter.
• Likewise, although not quite so severe, cut back leaves now to about 75-100mm long of iris unguicularis winter iris for winter flowering.
Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
With Venus and Mars vamping through your sign, it’s the perfect time to flutter your eyelashes (or flex your pecs) and ask for what you want. Then sit back and reap the romantic rewards on Valentine’s Day. Singles – don’t settle for second best. Be patient and wait for your perfect match to appear. As Aries actress Keira Knightley observes: “I think every girl is looking for her Mr Darcy.” Thursday is fabulous for communicating with others in proactive and exciting ways.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)
Romance is in the air but the energy is behind the scenes suggesting a private, magical Valentine’s Day. “Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze,” says Carolyn Gold Heilbrun. Single Bulls – amazing signs and unexpected synchronicities could lead you to your true love. So keep your intuition well-tuned. A work project or job prospect has real potential. But it will take plenty of hard work and patience to turn it into a long-term success.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)
When it comes to romance, marriage and close partnerships, Saturn is constantly reminding you about your current duties and responsibilities. But this week, when it comes to love, make sure you have plenty of fun. Your quote for Valentine’s Day is from writer George Sand: “There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.” Thursday favours commerce, social media, group activities and international connections, as you initiate projects with passion and enthusiasm.
CANCER (June 22 – July 22)
At the moment, with purposeful and passionate Pluto moving slowly through your relationship zone, love is a deadly serious business. So your quote for Valentine’s Day is from writer William Barclay: “Love always involves responsibility, and love always involves sacrifice.” Single Crabs – it’s time to give superficial suitors the flick. Instead, look for a lover who has real character, depth and substance. Someone with a romantic soul who can last the distance.
LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)
Coupled Cats – find a dream you and your partner can share together. Then put time, effort and hard work into making that dream come true. “Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but of looking outward together in the same direction,” says Antoine St Exupery. Single Lions – with romance planet Venus visiting your travel zone, love is likely with someone from a foreign country or culture. Alternatively, you could meet them while you (or they) are on holiday.
VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)
Whether you are attached, searching for your soul mate, or happily single, Valentine’s Day is an appropriate time to reflect on the fact that love really does make the world go around. And love is definitely the glue that binds us all together. Thursday’s marvellous Mercury/Mars connection highlights your natural ability to think of a fabulous idea, do the research that’s required, and then act on it. When you walk your talk (with Virgo style and versatility) you are unstoppable!
LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)
With Mars and Venus both travelling through your partnership zone, prepare for a bold and beautiful Valentine’s Day. Coupled Librans – why not organise a special romantic rendezvous with your partner? Singles – in order to find true love, you need to be brave and step out of your comfort zone. So your motto for the moment is from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu: “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)
Focus your attention on your lover, as you give them the right royal romantic treatment on Valentine’s Day. Singles – love and work are linked in surprising ways. When it comes to money matters, are you feeling less than abundant? The positive Sun/Saturn link encourages you to work towards a financial goal with passion and persistence. Be inspired by birthday great Michael Jordan: “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)
Have you got a pile of projects that you’ve started and never completed? This week the Sun and Saturn boost motivation and concentration, so you can bring a project to a final (and fabulous) conclusion. Don’t waste the opportunity! And with Venus and Mars both visiting your romance zone, you’re set for a sweet and sexy Valentine’s Day. Romantic music, stylish surroundings and gourmet food are calling. Singles – sparks could fly with an amorous Aries or a lusty Leo.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
When it comes to finding (or maintaining) true love, resist the urge to be overly controlling. Coupled Capricorns – avoid the temptation to be bossy at home. Give your spouse more space. Singles – stop looking for love in all the obvious places. Write a wish-list of all the important qualities you desire in a dream partner. Then sit back and wait for the magic to happen. As actress Loretta Young observed: “Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you.”
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
Don’t take your partner (or potential partner) for granted! If you do, then your neglected lover may go looking for attention elsewhere. “Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone. It has to be made like bread, remade all the time, made new,” says Ursula Le Guin. So take the time to plan something uniquely special this Valentine’s Day. Single Aquarians – it doesn’t really matter what a potential partner looks like, or how much money they make. You need a romantic mate who is also a friend.
PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)
Attached Fish – you’re feeling extra romantic as you lavish attention (and money) on your partner; wear your heart on your sleeve, or play out a secret fantasy with your lover. Single Pisceans – don’t base your self-esteem on whether or not you have a partner. You have a multitude of talents, and a compassionate nature. Finding your soul mate is just the icing on an already spectacular cake! When the Sun moves through your sign (from Saturday onwards) it’s time to shine.
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2017
Across
4 Which horse won the 1979 Melbourne Cup? (7)
8 What is an altar attendant of minor rank? (7)
9 Name particular muskmelons, having a yellow rind and sweet, juicy flesh. (7)
10 Which stabbing instrument is attached at the muzzle of a rifle? (7)
11 What are spotted, leopard-like cats? (7)
12 What is another name for a door-to-door salesperson? (6)
14 What are said to be the disembodied spirits of dead persons? (6)
18 Name the TV role played by the raincoat-clad Peter Falk. (7)
21 Which modified virus is used for preventive inoculation? (7)
22 To inflict capital punishment on someone, is to do what? (7)
23 Name another term for a newborn child. (7)
24 Which long-shafted golf clubs are used for making long shots, as from the tee? (7)
Down
1 Name a Shakespearean tragedy about a king of Scotland 1040-57. (7)
2 Which seaport is the capital of Japan? (5)
3 Name an extremely poisonous compound. (7)
4 What is the more readily-known given name of the composer, Berlioz? (6)
5 Which compound is a mixture of flour and water? (5)
6 What are woven strips of fine material, as silk, rayon, etc? (7)
7 What is a fertile place in a desert region? (5)
13 Name a prehistoric pine, recently discovered in 1994. (7)
15 Which term describes days of peace and tranquility? (7)
16 Name globular masses, shells, or their like. (7)
17 What are gatherings of witches called? (6)
18 What is an accepted system of religious belief? (5)
19 Which computer device controls the cursor? (5)
20 Name an alternative term for a rector. (5)
You have noticed a change in your hearing and would like to seek some advice.
On average people wait 6 years before doing anything about their hearing loss and in that time their hearing not only deteriorates but it also affects their quality of life and connections with others. Taking action is daunting and can be very confusing; once you begin your search for help you are bombarded with the promise of a ‘free hearing test’ or ‘free trials’ and ‘free services’ not to mention a discount on your hearing aids. You may actually be paying more in hidden costs that are bundled into supposedly free services. Here are a few things to consider before deciding on taking the next step and before seeking advice:
• Ask others for a recommendation – Who do your friends see and are they happy?
• Get to know your hearing professional – What qualifications do they have? How long have they been in the industry? Are they locally owned?
• Get to know the practice – Are they independent? This is important as an independent practitioner can offer you unbiased advice on hearing solutions, they are not owned by a multi-national company.
• Are they receiving commission on sales? Sadly, many hearing professionals do receive commission on hearing aid sales and this can shift the focus from the best outcome for patients to making their sales target each month. There is no requirement to tell you a clinician is receiving a commission but you should ask the question.
• Are they offering a free trial on hearing aids? A free trial is common practice in the industry but the free trial is often bundled into a higher cost for the hearing aid.
• Don’t rush. Get a second opinion and work with someone you feel deserves your trust.
Some of these ‘free’ things may sound enticing but really at the end of the day your hearing is something that you don’t want to compromise on.
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