SONYA FLADUN Funnyman Phil Scott jumps from the Wharf HELEN MUSA
Chris & Gai rise in the power-couple stakes
MIKE WELSH
Space Kitchen takes the tastes of childhood into sophisticated desserts.
Sitting in a Phillip car park, the playful and experimental fit out of Space Kitchen also shines through in its fabulous, fun food. Nominated for best patisserie and best breakfast awards, many of Space Kitchen’s ideas for the amazing flavours and crazy creations come from fond childhood
memories, including a cartoon-like bomb, a “Golden Gaytime” and a “Hubba Bubba” cake! But, it’s not just creativity in the desserts. Space Kitchen’s got innovative breakfast and lunch choices, too – the delicious pulled pork croquette comes shaped like an ice-cream. And there’s a big open kitchen where the whole family can watch the busy chefs cooking up a storm.
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/ Harry Bink, freestyle motocross champion
The world is wild about high-flying Harry
By Tim Gavel
IN Canberra, we tend to profile those who achieve in sports in which we are familiar: the four football codes, basketball and cycling come readily to mind.
What if I told you that Canberra was the home of a world champion in the sport of freestyle motocross?
His name is Harry Bink, he is 23 years of age and he grew up in Canberra. He went to Gold Creek Primary, then Gold Creek High School before being part of the first intake to Gungahlin College.
He started a school-based apprenticeship in carpentry, but in the back of his mind he was thinking about becoming a motocross champion since seeing the Showtime FMX riders at the Royal Canberra Show when he was just four years of age. It ignited a passion for the sport that still exists.
He practised doing flips on wood chips at Palmerston. He rode motocross in the ACT as a junior. In fact, he was Rider of the Year for the ACT Motorcycle Club in 2010.
Harry and school mate Ty Botham built their own ramp using metal from a local scrap yard on a farm on Spring Range Road near Hall. His father Paul says at that time he thought Harry’s goal was a pipedream.
“I let him take the initiative and build it and, once I saw how keen he was, I gave him a hand,” he says.
Harry’s family has a motorsports background and is well aware of the costs and pitfalls.
Paul says he made sure Harry had something to fall back on if the motocross dream didn’t eventuate. As such, Harry started a schoolbased carpentry apprenticeship before convincing his family that he was able to make a living in motorsport.
At 17 he was doing backflips on his bike and, by 18, performing at the Royal Canberra Show. At 19 he was offered a job performing at Movie World on the Gold Coast before clinching a contract to strut his stuff for Nitro Circus.
The Nitro series is big business, a madefor-television event, taking riders throughout the world performing seemingly impossible tricks on a motocross bike. It is hard work; planning needs to be meticulous, you must be incredibly fit coupled with the ability to maintain control while flipping an airborne motocross bike.
To say it’s dangerous probably doesn’t do the sport justice. To complete a jump and win a rider needs to perform what appears to be a gymnastics act or platform diving while attached to a bike high in the air.
The language used in this sport is not familiar but becomes self explanatory. There’s the “no handed front flip” in which Harry was the first in the world to complete, he was also the youngest ever to do a “double backflip” and the first in the world to do “a rock solid front flip”.
At this year’s Nitro World Games, in Salt Lake City, Harry approached the start line hav-
Harry was thinking about becoming a motocross champion since seeing the Showtime FMX riders at the Royal Canberra Show when he was just four years old.
ing finished fourth the year before. He crashed on the first attempt. The second went exactly to plan and Harry won the FMX Best Trick world title with a move described as the hardest ever attempted in freestyle motocross.
The focus for Harry was clear: “I wanted to win, I had a vision, I had a goal and I did my homework, and I figured if I did a ‘rock solid front flip’ it could win it,” he said.
At the start of the second and final run he says: “I took a deep breath, gave it everything I had and pulled it off”.
He became the first rider to complete a “rock solid front flip”, a manoeuvre that sees the rider, propelled in the air after riding at speed up a giant ramp, complete a somersault while holding on to the bike and landing without crashing.
The danger of the sport is not lost on Harry.
“It’s dangerous, you have to pick your battles. There are times when you have to be very smart and ride to the conditions, there are so many things that can go wrong,” he says. It would appear not too much is going wrong for Harry at the moment as he pursues a dream ignited at four years of age at the Royal Canberra Show.
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Motocross champion Harry Bink… “There are times when you have to be very smart and ride to the conditions.”
Photo by Predrag Vuckovic / Red Bull Content Pool
Harry Bink in action in Madrid… “There are so many things that can go wrong.”
NEWS of Chris Uhlmann’s ascension to Channel Nine’s chief political editor – replacing the legendary Laurie Oakes – has almost certainly catapulted the one-time trainee priest and his wife of 20 years, member for Canberra Gai Brodtmann, to a loftier spot on the Canberra power couples index. Uhlmann and Brodtmann were ranked at five on the 2016 list, which was headed by a well-known power couple who occasionally flop in a freshly renovated Adelaide Avenue residence.
MEANTIME Ms Brodtmann’s Canberra comrade, member for Fenner Andrew Leigh, has been the butt of some “weird” national name-calling. Speaking on 2GB, Immigration and Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton slipped uncharacteristically into “hip” lingo to describe Dr Leigh as “a weird cat” and “a weird dude”. Dr Leigh said he was “more concerned over Minister Dutton’s treatment of the people on Manus Island than any schoolyard bullying”.
CANBERRA may well be the gay capital of Australia if the stats published in “The Weekend Australian” are any guide. The piece profiles Canberra couple Emily Jehne and Ellie Filler who are among 31 same-sex couples who married when gay marriage was briefly legal but ruled unconstitutional by the High Court days later in
time being): “Katy Gallagher is not now and never has been an Ecuadorian citizen. End of story.”
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the capital in December, 2013.
Canberra has a large LGBTI community with a ratio of one same-sex couple to 179 residents compared with Sydney (1-198) and Melbourne (1-219).
And an estimated crowd of 3000 turned out for the weekend marriage equality rally in Civic, with organisers declaring it the “biggest LGBTI rights rally in Canberra’s history”.
The rally heard speeches from politicians including Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Andrew Leigh.
DESPITE being under a dark dual citizen cloud, Labor Senator for the ACT Katy Gallagher is maintaining a sunny disposition by swathing her office in the rainbow hues of the LGBTI community.
The former ACT CM has been sucked into the constitutional farce after information surfaced that her mother – a British subject – was born in Ecuador. Labor Senate leader Penny Wong has had the last word (for the
THE colourful R U OK? Convoy rolled into the capital to promote R U OK? Day (Thursday, September 14). After travelling more than 15,000 kilometres through the NT, WA, SA and Victoria, the convoy of four, yellow, Audi SUVs set up camp on the grounds of the Department of Treasury with a message “for all Australians, regardless of their location, to check in with anyone in their world who might be struggling with life”. Later in the day the Convoy was hosted by Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove at Government House.
CANBERRANS are being invited to be part of a project aimed at making the city more carer friendly and improving the lot of an estimated 40,000 unpaid carers. But potential volunteers may be spooked by a verbose explanation of the Carers Voice Panel concept.
In a press release Community Services and Social Inclusion Minister Rachel StephenSmith succeeds in totally complicating the message, out-Humphreying Sir Humphrey Appleby of “Yes Minister”: “The ACT government will use deliberative democracy processes, which embrace collective decision
WHILE the Raiders’ season is officially dusted, former Green Machine stars continue to dominate headlines. Besties Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson face fresh allegations of trashing a hotel room in the lead up to Origin 11. And there is talk of the original Bruce bad-boy Todd Carney heading back home to the NRL. The Goulburn-bred star has been in the UK playing Super League since being cut for bad behaviour by the NRL in 2014.
OUT Gungahlin way the sisters are doin’ it for themselves and in the process humiliating the men around them. The Gungahlin Jets AFL women’s team fell short of winning back-to-back flags in the local comp going down to Queanbeyan by 15 points at Tuggeranong on Saturday. Statistically speaking the “Jetettes” have won more matches this year than the men’s Division 1 and 2 sides combined in the past three years!
O ering resort style living for the over 55’s and having recently opened its doors to a brand new clubhouse, The Grove Ngunnawal is thrilled to host celebrity gardener Don Burke as he talks all things gardening and shares his tips and tricks to get your small garden growing.
With new 2 and 3 bedroom villas now selling, it’s the perfect time to visit The Grove, Ngunnawal. For more information on this event or the village visit: visitthegrove.com.au
September,
Crowd members at the equal marriage rally in Garema Place, Civic.
Photo by Mike Welsh
E-cigarettes, they’re here to help!
TOBACCO, when used exactly as directed, kills two thirds of its users 10 years earlier than those who do not smoke.
Australia should remain a world leader in tobacco control; just 12.2 per cent of our population is addicted and recent surveys show only 2 per cent of our 12 to 17-year-olds taking up smoking.
Big Tobacco does not seem worried. It is simply moving to new markets. The developing world is one with electronic cigarettes, of which they are by far the biggest suppliers is another. Tobacco companies love to emphasise that they sell a legal product. Sure, they make money – but how does anyone in this industry selling such a lethal product sleep at night?
Electronic cigarettes have been marketed as a tool to assist quitting. Although true for a tiny minority, the evidence is incredibly thin to support such claims.
The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council explained: “There is currently insufficient evidence to conclude whether e-cigarettes can assist smokers to quit”.
It went further: “There is currently insufficient evidence to support claims that e-cigarettes are safe and further research is needed to enable the long-term safety, quality and efficacy of e-cigarettes to be assessed”.
Remember when the wool was pulled over society’s eyes with “just filter it”!
Electronic cigarettes have been marketed as a tool to assist quitting. Although true for a tiny minority, the evidence is incredibly thin to support such claims.
The “filter it” ploy set back tobacco regulation by years as scientists and health experts were put on the back foot to prove filtering did not make cigarettes safe. The new ploy is “but electronic cigarettes are 95 per cent safer than ordinary cigarettes”. Don’t believe it.
Prof Stanton Glantz, from the University of California, traced this claim to a “single consensus meeting of 12 people convened by DJ Nutt in 2014”.
The report of the meeting even admitted there was a “lack of hard evidence for the harms of most products on most of the criteria”.
A “Lancet” editorial in 2015 identified a number of the people who were at the meeting had strong connections to tobacco and electronic-cigarette companies.
Evidence of increasing harm of electronic cigarettes has been accumulating since 2014. There are now more than 500 brands and nearly 8000 flavours available.
Knowing what is in e-cigarettes is difficult. However, the inhaled vapour contains lead, cadmium and nickel, and that the electronic cigarettes themselves contain formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, propanal,
acetone, o-methyl-benzaldehyde, carcinogenic nitrosamines and fine and ultrafine particulate matter.
Many advocates argue for little or none of the restrictions applying to conventional smoking. Fortunately, in Australia we have a system that puts the shoe on the other foot when it comes to the safety of such products.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is responsible for ensuring safety and efficacy of such products. We rely on it to protect us from unhealthy products claimed as therapeutic.
After an exhaustive examination of the case presented in application, the TGA determined that there was not enough evidence to make the nicotine available in this form.
The advocates then chose a political path with Liberal Democratic senator David Leyonhjelm as their champion who, like the National Party, is tobaccocompany funded. The senator is a libertarian favouring an approach of let everyone do whatever they want, when they want, however they want. There
are like-minded colleagues who have established separate inquiries in both houses of the Federal Parliament. The inquiries have been flooded by short, sharp submissions from current or would-be users who want no restrictions.
The big push is that electronic cigarettes are a harm-reduction method.
However, for years Australian drug policy has combined harm reduction with demand reduction and supply reduction. To minimise harm requires adequate treatment to reduce demand and enforcement to reduce supply for a system of controlled availability.
Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport ought to apply this successful approach as the least harmful way to have electronic cigarettes available in Australia.
Michael Moore was an independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly (1989 to 2001) and was minister for health. He is CEO of the Public Health As sociation of Australia and president of the World Federation of Public Health Associations.
Kirk calls it a day
KIRK Coningham, ACT executive director of the Master Builders, has resigned after two and a half years leading the organisation through, he says, one of its most turbulent times, including the association’s response to the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption, the re-establishment of the Australian Building and Construction Commission and through sustained attacks by local construction unions against the MBA’s apprenticeship training program.
“We’ve achieved a great deal – particularly reclaiming our industry from the thugs and bullies who once sought to control it”, Mr Coningham said.
Deputy executive director Michael Hopkins will act as CEO until a permanent appointment is made.
Big, red appeal
CANBERRA’S Big Red Kidney Walk will start from the Patrick White Lawns in Parkes at 10.30am on Sunday, September 10. Participants on the five-kilometre walk are urged to wear red to support Australians affected by kidney disease. Online registrations to kidney.org.au/walk Kirk Coningham.
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Queanbeyan top-park award
QUEANBEYAN’S recently trans formed Queen Elizabeth II Park has been awarded the Parks and Open Space Award at the 2017 Landscape Architecture Awards – its third accolade.
More than 70 projects were entered in the NSW Awards, across categories including civic landscape, urban design and infrastructure.
Reopened by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove in December, the park has previously shaken off competition as tough as Centennial Park in Sydney to win the NSW Park of the Year at the 2017 Parks & Leisure Australia Awards for Excel lence and is the first recreational park to achieve an “Excellent” rating from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia.
Spring carnival
PROCEEDS of the Majura Primary School’s annual P&C Spring Carnival will continue the next stages of the school’s “naturescapes” playground. Carnival-goers will be tempted by the coffee cart and cake, a sausage sizzle, Dutch pancakes and a multicultural food stall offering a selection of sweets and savouries. There will be handmade items, homemade jams, pickles, cakes, and baked goods on sale, plus a plant stall, trash and treasure, face painting, a petting zoo, bouncing castle
and pony rides. At 101 Knox Street, Watson, 10am-2pm, Saturday, September 16.
Outback stories
ENID Niven will share with the ladies of the Tuggeranong Day VIEW Club stories about her time spent teaching with Volunteers for Isolated Students’ Education in outback Queensland at the club’s next lunch meeting at the Town Centre Vikings club, Greenway, from 11.30am on Tuesday, September 19. Lunch is $26 and guests are welcome. RSVP by
Friday, September 15 to 6294 1384 or 0409 747017.
Wattle walking
LOCAL plant ecologist Michael Doherty will lead a wattle walk of fascinating insights on Black Mountain, 9.30am-11am, on Friday, September 15. Look for the balloons at the Belconnen Way entry to Black Mountain Nature Reserve. Intending participants should leave a name and contact number with friendsofblackmountain@gmail.com or call 0437 298711. Gold coin donation.
New memorial dedicated to peacekeepers
ANZAC Parade will be closed for the morning when the Governor-General dedicates the new national memorial to Australian peacekeeping on Thursday, September 14.
Only the second national memorial to peacekeeping anywhere in the world (the other is in Canada), it has been built with funds from state and federal governments, private individuals, community groups and industry.
The design, by Sydney-based architects Bennett and Trimble, was chosen after an Australia-wide competition and is a simple representation of the efforts of peacekeepers.
The names of the 62 peacekeeping operations to which Australia has sent military, civilian and police personnel over the last 70 years are listed on a large beam suspended across the rear of the courtyard on which the monoliths stand.
September 14 is the 70th anniversary of the first Australians to deploy on a peacekeeping mission. Since that day in 1947 in Indonesia tens of thousands of Australians have served in trouble spots around the world.
The public is invited to attend the dedication and is asked to arrive at 9.30am, ahead of the 10am formalities. Limited seating will be available.
Queen Elizabeth II Park from the air… three accolades for Queanbeyan.
Paul finds a way with words
By Danielle Nohra
GROWING up with, what was then called Asperger’s Syndrome, made it hard for Chapman’s Paul Jordan, 33, to make friends or even talk to other children.
As an adult, determined to break out of his social isolation, Paul found answers in “the art of conversation”.
And, in particular, “scripts of thinking”, which uses 65 simple words that break conversations down and help people on the autism spectrum think of what to say.
Not wanting others to be ostracised like he was, Paul published a book titled “How to Start, Carry On and End Conversations”, which is designed to help 12-16-year-olds on the autism spectrum.
The book, which functions like a script, can be learned and applied to everyday life.
“It’s designed to be used for role playing with teenagers and their parents or guardians,” Paul says.
He says the book touches on complex ideas and puts them into simple words that anyone can understand.
“The idea is that young people on the autism spectrum can learn social skills with the aid of a thinking and speaking framework known as the Natural Semantic Metalanguage, or NSM,” he says.
“The NSM is based on the idea that all languages have a shared core of 65 simple words.”
Since Paul remained undiagnosed until
he completed a university degree at the age of 29, he is eager to give younger people on the autism spectrum tools to fit in.
“I was trying to interact with some of my uni classmates and family friends, but it was quite limited and I preferred interacting with adults,” he says.
“I was sick of being remarkably different from other people.”
So, after studying language and linguistics at the ANU, he went on to study a Master of Translation and came up with a simple way to tackle a difficult problem.
“We think about everything differently
from other people, and that’s where we can get into trouble,” he says.
“We have to ‘learn’ how to get along with others.”
But it didn’t just affect Paul’s social life. Even at university he struggled to interpret the ambiguous language in exams or assignments, so in 2013 he successfully lobbied for assignment questions to be written using straight-forward language.
“You have different ways of thinking about things, ways that are different from the ways that people who are not on the autism spectrum think,” Paul says.
“Autistic people tend to take everything literally, without knowing whether something is said seriously or as a joke.”
People on the autism spectrum usually have high IQs but, because of their naivete, Paul says they’re often viewed by their peers as “odd” and are frequently a target for bullying and teasing.
He says they want to fit in socially and have friends, but have a great deal of difficulty making effective social connections because they can’t do social “chit-chat” and often can’t “read” faces or expressions.
“From my experience, any kid in school who is different and doesn’t fit in will get bullied,” he says.
But this book teaches teenagers how to socialise to avoid being bullied, which Paul says will improve their mental health and boost their confidence.
“How to Start, Carry On and End Conversations” ($19.99) available from jkp.com
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Author Paul Jordan… sick of being “remarkably different”.
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TALK about “The Truman Show”! That’s our new suburbs to a tee, with every aspect totally planned, controlled, and marketed, right down to the minutest detail in the infrastructure, landscaping, block size and configuration, and dictatorial dwelling design, all to satisfy the misguided, wasteful greed of a rampaging hydra-headed “market”.
It’s social engineering; it’s retailing gone mad and it’s destroying individuality, self-reliance and population health. I hope millennials reject this pernicious disease that’s sapping the resources of our young families drier than the Nullarbor.
Thanks to this creeping syndrome, housing affordability is no longer a social issue for the needy – it affects practically everyone. We’ve got to empower owner-occupiers, curb the banks and ban speculators and investors from this sick “industry”.
Expensive, stupid, dangerous and impractical “linear parks”, and other pretentious infrastructure doodads in new subdivisions have got to go, so saving land.
Well-supplied, decent-sized blocks of land have got to be made available for purchase directly to bona fide owner-occupiers only. They can then be free to procure the design and construction of a dwelling wholesale, to suit themselves, completely or in affordable stages.
Group owners can be encouraged to procure designs and builds, as preformed body corporates, eliminating costly, sad, image-driven developers who get unqualified operatives to dumb down their foolishly sacked architects’ original designs.
The ACT government is in a great position to implement these measures and maybe save society.
Jack Kershaw, Kambah
I’ll give you discrimination
I AM sick and tired of Andrew Barr shoving his personal marriage equality and LGBTIQ personal agendas in my face on a daily basis.
I am sick and tired of his moaning
driver ✔
followers crying discrimination when the best they can do is get 250 troubled souls to a meeting at a time when marriage equality is the hot topic again.
I quite frankly don’t give a tinker’s cuss about your love life and its ambiguities, but I do give a tinker’s cuss about and challenge your moaning of discrimination. Discrimination in the ACT is genuine family motorsport participants and supporters, who have engineered race cars, many valued at tens of thousands of dollars in their sheds or business houses, having to travel interstate on a regular basis spending money that would be spent in the ACT to enjoy a sport that has been discriminated against by successive ACT governments controlled by Green and nimby personalities. That, my LGBTIQ people and your supporters, is REAL discrimination.
Michael Attwell, Dunlop
What about the QE11?
I READ Danielle Nohra’s article on Karen Faulkner (“Finding sleep behind the baby’s tears”, CN, August 17). No mention of QE11, a residential hospital in Curtin for mothers and babies in Canberra which does and has done wonderful work at getting babies and infants to sleep for 80 years plus. The staff there are all “gurus”. I also was a staff member for 15 years and saved many families. How about an article on QE11?
Susan Salvi, via emai
MUM IN THE CITY
When the world calls our kids
TIME flies when you have kids and, once again, one of those big parenting decisions crept up on me. When and in what circumstances do you let your child go out on their own?
That was something I didn’t face while the kids were at primary school but now, with one at high school, it suddenly became a live issue.
My parents let me run around much more freely and at an earlier age than I have ever let my kids, but the times and circumstances I grew up in were very different. Suburban Adelaide and the rural Adelaide Hills many years ago were pretty calm and quiet. We didn’t have mobile phones to keep in touch, but everyone was pretty confident you were in a safe place – provided you didn’t go down Hindley Street on a Saturday night, Adelaide’s notorious but by today’s standards very tame night time entertainment scene.
I admit to being a bit over protective. These days there just seem to be so many more dangers and traps for the young and naive, but that doesn’t stop kids from chafing on the leash.
Recently, our eldest decided it was time to push the boundaries. He rang me from school to say he wanted to go out with his friends on a Friday night. They were going to hang around Civic, grab some dinner and then head off to the movies. He assured me that he would be sticking with his friends, that they would mainly be in the Canberra Centre and my
We’ve embraced becoming a surveillance family, but with that comes extra peace of mind.
husband could come and pick him up once the movie finished.
Reluctantly, I agreed but I was worried my precious son was going to be out and about and, in my mind, anything could happen.
My anxiety wasn’t helped by Google, which quickly took me to a newspaper article a few months earlier that cited police figures saying that on average at least one person is assaulted in Civic every day.
As it happened, the evening passed incident free and my boy had a great time with his friends.
But it got me thinking about ways of protecting kids when they are out and about. Discussing risks and things to avoid is vital. Mobile phones are essential, as are contingency plans for the possibility that a phone is lost or gets a flat battery. Encouraging kids to feel free to ring home and provide updates on what’s happening is always a good thing. A strict curfew seems like a pretty good idea and arrangements for pick-ups need to be firmly agreed and understood beforehand.
Not everyone is comfortable with phone-tracking apps, but we have found such things are enormously useful. Not only do apps such as Life360 enable all members of our family to know where we all are (and between two workplaces, two schools, sporting commitments, shopping and other activities that can be pretty complicated), they also greatly aid the search for the phone that has been left at home or wherever. Arguably, we’ve embraced becoming a surveillance family, but with that comes extra peace of mind.
As a parent, it’s hard to let our precious children go and take increasingly independent steps out into the world – first a Friday night in Civic, a few years ahead it’ll be that first solo overseas trip.
But step out they must. I just suspect that I’ll be tracking them for a long time yet.
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Making a trip to Queanbeyan
JUST over the border into NSW is Queanbeyan, a prospering river city and the largest in south-east NSW. The word Queanbeyan is the anglicised form of Quinbean – an Aboriginal word meaning “clear waters”.
Big school with a small-school feel
JERRABOMBERRA Public School is a vibrant, progressive school which services the local community with excellent education, says principal Chris Hunter.
Chris, who has been principal since the school started 15 years ago, says it’s a true kindergarten to Year 6 school, and despite being a big school, has a small-school feel.
“We have a high level of peer support with everybody from kindergarten to year 6 looking
after each other,” she says.
Jerrabomberra Public School has a computer room, a laptop program, a performing arts room, a school garden and a community kitchen.
“Students make a school veggie patch and they also use the kitchen to use the products,” Chris says.
“Through this they learn about healthy eating habits and about sustainability.”
Chris says Jerrabomberra Public School also has an extensive music program.
“All children receive special music lessons and we have three successful choirs,” she says.
“We also have a proud tradition of sporting excellence, both inside and outside of the school.”
But overall Jerrabomberra Public School has a core focus on its numeracy and literacy programs.
Jerrabomberra Public School, Coachwood Avenue, Jerrabomberra. Call 6299 8860, email jerra-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au or visit jerra-p.schools.nsw.edu.au
Feel-good show worth singing about
QUEANBEYAN Players’ upcoming show “Guys and Dolls” will see the audience go out singing, says director Jude Colquhoun.
“It’s a lot of fun, a lot of great big-band type tunes and a lot of people will know the theme song to the movie with Frank Sinatra,” she says.
Set in a mythical broadway in the ‘50s, “Guys and Dolls” is a musical romantic comedy involving the unlikeliest of Manhattan pairings, a highrolling gambler and a missionary, and a showgirl dreaming of the straight-and-narrow and a crap game manager who is anything but.
“There’s new love and there’s love that’s been going on for a bit of time,” Jude says.
“The ladies want to change their men and the men don’t want to settle down but the women don’t change the men and the men settle down.”
“There’s comedy, there’s nothing in there that would make people go away feeling sad.
Home to more than 42,000 residents, Queanbeyan is also home to a great range of retailers and services that make a visit to Queanbeyan an easy and enjoyable one. Rehearsals for “Guys and Dolls”.
Why houses are selling well in Queanbeyan
IN recent times, there’s been a lot of first-home buyers from the ACT coming over into Queanbeyan because of its attractive market, says the Ian McNamee & Partners Pty Ltd director, Darren Bennett.
“Sometimes we need a feel-good musical to brighten us up.”
“Guys and Dolls”, Queanbeyan Players, at The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, from November 3-12. Bookings via theq.net.au
“We’ve had a 100 per cent auction rate since the beginning of the year,” Darren says.
“The auction market is more prevalent now because of the amount of people in the market place.
“Anything we’ve listed for auction we’ve sold either before the day, on the day or within the industry period.”
Darren says what first-home buyers particularly find attractive is they don’t have to pay for stamp duty in Queanbeyan.
Also, he says the price of houses are more appealing than in Canberra.
But, Ian McNamee & Partners doesn’t just hold auctions, it specialises in helping people buy, sell and rent across is suburbs of Canberra and Queanbeyan.
Ian McNamee & Partners PTY LTD, 2-4 Rutledge Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 5555, email admin@mcnamee.com.au or visit mcnamee.com.au
Director Darren Bennett from Ian McNamee & Partners Pty Ltd.
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easy to enjoy
Cabinetmaker Steve has a flair for special care
STEVE Milutinovic started his cabinetmaking business in 1983 and, 32 years on, the company has grown into specialising in home renovations, extensions and new homes.
Bordeaux specialises in commercial fit-outs and joinery and are also fully licensed builders 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, cabinetmaking workshop can also build joinery items to suit your needs whether for home or office.
“We also recently received an MBA commendation award for ‘Special Care’ residence as we specialise in
housing needs for the aged. Come talk to us about alternative living such as granny flats or self contained units,” says Steve.
Bordeaux Construction and Bordeaux Kitchens offer obligation-free quotes.
greenest course in the Canberra region, says general manager David Doyle.
“It’s set alongside the Queanbeyan river in spectacular bushland with an abundance of native fauna,” he says.
“Visitors are always welcome both on the course and in the clubhouse.
“Our staff can plan corporate golf days and our function facilities can cater for all training needs with catering to match.”
The Bread and Putter Bistro, which is part of the golf club, is open seven days and serves a full range of meals from pizza to steaks and after-golf snacks.
“There is no better venue for a family or business get together,” David says.
And, anyone can enjoy the Queanbeyan Golf Club, not just golfers or members.
Queanbeyan Golf Club, 5 Brown Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 1669 or visit queanbeyangolf.com.au
Conveyancing with clients in mind
PROVIDING great services in Queanbeyan, AMS Conveyancing NSW is dedicated to delivering affordable, flexible conveyancing with a great service, says proprietor John Riley.
John brings 40 years’ experience in the industry and is assisted by paralegal Kim Soukieh who was awarded Law Honours in 2012.
“We’re a client-focused business and aim to provide good service and information to help clients through the process,” John says.
“We have well-developed systems in place, which means we don’t miss a thing.”
He says as a licensed conveyancing business, AMS is totally focused on conveyancing and clients are guaranteed a trained specialist is looking after their contracts the whole way through the process.
“We are focused on providing solutions to our clients’ problems,” John says.
And if clients would like to move further past NSW, AMS Conveyancing can easily help with its sister company in Queensland.
“AMS Conveyancing is useful for people who want to move between states because it’s one group of people looking after them the whole way through,” he says.
AMS Conveyancing NSW. Visit amsconveyancingnsw.com.au or email service@amsconveyancing.com.au or call 1300 556939.
BUYING OR SELLING IN NSW OR THE
John Riley from AMS Conveyancing has over 40 years industry experience.
AMS Conveyancing is a small firm providing an upfront affordable price, a fixed fee and is able to provide flexibility with personal service all over NSW and the ACT.
• 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
BORDEAUX CONSTRUCTION & MANAGEMENT PTY LTD
Total design consultancy
• Home • Office
Shop
• Commercial premises
• Extend or Renovate existing homes
• Build your new dream home
Showroom Hours: Mon-Fri: 9.00am to 4.00pm, Sat: 9.00am to 12pm, or by appointment
Queanbeyan Golf Club
$12 SCHNITZEL WEDNESDAY from 5.30pm Plus a FREE schooner of beer /soft drink or glass of house wine ALL YOU CAN EAT PIZZA AND PASTA THURSDAY NIGHT from 5.30pm
$15 per Adult and $10 for kids 12 & under
$12 ALL PIZZA TUESDAY Daily Chef’s Specials available from the Blackboard
Enjoy our full range of meals from juicy steaks to our mouth-watering
“You will find there is no better venues for a family or business get together!”
ALL ABOUT QUEANBEYAN
Steve’s got tyres, mechanics and more
NOT just a tyre store, Transtate Tyres and Mechanical Services in Queanbeyan does pretty much everything, says
“We do more than just tyres,” he says.
“We do servicing, brakes, suspension work, wheel aligning, NSW rego inspections and, of course, we have leading brands of tyres that are budget
Serving Queanbeyan and the surrounding regions for 23 years, the independant company is big on its
Mowers that come with full service support
BAYLDON Ag is dedicated to supplying the Queanbeyan and Canberra region with the very best in agricultural and commercial mowing machinery, says general manager Paul Nicholl.
“We take pride in the products we sell,” Paul says. “We’re very particular about what we sell – we want to get the right machinery for our customers’ needs.”
Bayldon Ag is the Toro commercial dealer for southern NSW, they are also dealers for Massey Ferguson and Kioti tractors for the Canberra region.
“Primarily we’re an agricultural machinery supplier,” Paul says.
“However in mowers we stock an entire range from push mowers through to the 16-foot-wide mowers we supply to the ACT Government fleet.”
Paul says you get the full service at Bayldon Ag, with its fully equipped workshop, two mechanics and two mechanical apprentices.
It also has three mobile service vehicles that can carry out prompt and reliable on-site servicing and repairs.
“We have the abilities to do fabrications,” Paul says. “This includes adding extras to a Polaris –like a tool box holder or other accessories.”
Paul says very good customer service is the key.
“Customers always come first, we pride ourselves in our customer service and they always get preferential treatment.”
CONVENIENTLY located in the Crawford Centre, on Crawford Street, Cartridge World has easilyaccessible, free parking, says owner Shirley Arrow.
And even more conveniently, it has an online store too. However, Shirley says she always enjoys seeing people come through the door.
Shirley and her husband Noel opened Cartridge
“Our core business was to refill ink and recharge toner cartridges,” she says.
“The idea is that people would save money but also the environment would benefit.”
While Cartridge World still has these services, it also has its own brand of compatible cartridges, which is a cartridge that isn’t manufactured by a certain printer brand but will still work the same way.
Cartridge World stocks top-quality inkjet and laser toner printer cartridges that are compatible with all of the leading printer brands such as HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark, Brother and Samsung.
“We’re always looking for the best value for our customers,” Shirley says.
Cartridge World, Shop 6, Crawford Centre, 166 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6284 4344 or visit cartridgeworld.com.au
With a team of eight, highly qualified, local people, Transtate Tyre and Mechanical Services makes sure the customer is always first and can tailor a service to suit their needs and budget.
“We have a big clientele who are all very loyal to us and we like to look after them,” Steve says.
“I am happy to be here after 23 years. It is a great business and we will be here for a lot longer.”
FOR about 32 years, John Res Mechanical Repairs has serviced the Queanbeyan and Canberra region maintaining its quality service with personalised care.
Led by husband-and-wife team John and Deb Res, John Res Mechanical Repairs specialises in automotive repairs, servicing, brakes, clutches, gear box work, air-conditioning repairs and servicing and auto electrical. They can also do log book services and NSW registration and gas registration checks.
“Most of our customers are from Queanbeyan, but some live and work in Canberra,” says Deb.
“Because we’re small – customers can talk directly to the owner – the person who owns and runs the business, opposed to when you go to a dealership you speak to the service manager.
“When people come here they don’t feel like they are just another number.”
Deb says they have knowledgeable and experienced staff with their head mechanic backed by 21 years’ experience and two others with about 10 years’ experience.
“It’s about quality not quantity,” she says. “We tell our staff to do the work that you would want done to your car for our customers.
“Being a family business makes a difference, it makes it more personal and we try to give a more personal service for clients.”
For customers getting their car serviced, they have a courtesy car available for those who live outside Queanbeyan and can do drop-offs within Queanbeyan.
John Res Mechanical Repairs. Visit 33 Kendall Ave, Queanbeyan West or call 6297 8557.
Bayldon Ag general manager Paul Nicholl.
Friendly school that’s big on community
FOR nearly 50 years Queanbeyan East Public School has been providing strong academic programs to the community, says school administrative manager Fran Fisher. The medium-sized school brings together a mix of urban and rural children, which Fran says allows an environment where teachers, students and parents are well known to each other.
“Queanbeyan East has endeavoured to develop a true kindergarten-to-year-6 ethos with a warm, friendly and welcoming environment where students, staff and parents feel valued,” she says.
“The culture and atmosphere of the school is characterised by a strong sense of pride, open communication and a strong commitment to working as a
supportive, positive team.”
Queanbeyan East Public School has an established library, a computer room, as well as classroom computers and interactive whiteboard markers.
It has a strong emphasis on literacy, numeracy, the performing arts, technology and sport.
“We also offer a free Transition to School Playgroup for children 0-5 years to help build important skills for starting school, meeting other local families and connecting with our community,” she says.
Queanbeyan East Public School, 10 Yass Road, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 2619, queanbeyae-p.school@det. nsw.edu.au or visit queanbeyae-p. schools.nsw.edu.au
Debbie to showcase her new-season range
DEBBIE Maree’s Fashion Boutique on Crawford Street is a true boutique experience, says owner Debbie Maree Carvolth.
With casual wear through to occasion wear, Debbie has a diverse range of brands for women in their late twenties right through.
She describes the clothes as having an edgy twist and goes to lengths to find items that are unique.
“It’s all selected by me to suit the customers we have and the anticipated new customer,” she says.
“We also like to support Australian labels, as well as some international brands.
“And, we can complement all sizes, from a size eight right through to a 22.”
With a new season underway, Debbie Maree’s Fashion Boutique will be showcasing some of her new spring and summer collection in-store on Saturday, September 16. Featuring one of Debbie’s “big labels”, she says everyone is welcome to the event, which will run from 1pm-3.30pm. However, she urges people to RSVP by phone before September 12.
Hotel is the premium venue in Queanbeyan and a great choice to hold your next function or engagement. With Christmas coming fast, itís time to lock in your Christmas party bookings now to avoid not being able to fit your group into the best choices available – or even missing out on getting a place to party and celebrate the festive season! The hotel offers a choice of spaces that can suit groups of varying sizes, with capacity to seat up to 100 guests or we can do great cocktail parties also! Our upstairs function room, the Menzies, can accommodate seating for 40 people or up
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Practice offers plenty to smile about
THE perfect smile is possible with the help of Karabar Private Dental Surgery. Conveniently located on the ground floor of Karabar Shopping Mall, Queanbeyan, the surgery is open for emergencies seven days and holidays (by appointment) to provide a full range of dentistry treatments – general and cosmetic – for adults and children.
Oral health therapist and hygienist Koco Clarke says: “We offer bleaching and whitening for $450, where the customer can come in, we clean and freshen their teeth and they go home with a kit, which is very easy to use. They can have perfect teeth in a non-harmful way and not spend a fortune”.
With 20 years’ experience, Karabar Private Dental Surgery has developed a friendly, approachable service that helps relieve the anxiety of visiting the dentist.
To add to the perfect smile, the surgery also offers anti-wrinkle injections that it says are “composed of natural, purified protein and when injected into specific facial muscles, wrinkle-causing muscles are relaxed to reduce dynamic lines and create a younger, softer and natural-looking appearance”.
A great range of function menus are available to select from, starting from cocktail party suggestions and building to more substantial offerings including pasta & pizzas, ribs & rump and our new Churrasco menu which are guaranteed not to leave your guests hungry!
If you really want to impress we can also offer two or three course gourmet dinner menus. Round tables with linen and/or chair covers can be provided.
We have a beautiful hotel, winner of the AHA Best redeveloped country hotel in 2012, which has enabled us to offer attractive options to please a diverse range of tastes and requirements.
Koco Clarke from Karabar Private Dental.
Fitness with ‘world-class’ features
FORTITUDE Human Performance was launched six months ago by a group of business partners who grew up playing multiple team sports, with a passion to stay fit.
“Well before Fortitude was even an idea, I found myself naturally engaging in deep conversations with people about their fitness and personal goals and sharing advice,” says part owner and gym manager Jordan Bennett.
“This is what really inspired me and the others to band together, get creative and produce a world-class, 24-hour facility.”
The “world class” features include cardio machines with access to Netflix and social media, a members-only underground carpark, an in-house store, on-site remedial massage and equipment imported from the US and Italy.
“On top of this we never want our members
to feel trapped into a contract, we offer flexible contracts with the ability to cancel or pause at any time and no joining fees,” Jordan says.
“As soon as our members walk through the doors they will be greeted with a friendly, inviting and motivating atmosphere.
“Our members can enjoy panoramic views over Canberra, while training to upbeat modern music in a training space filled with lots of natural light from our many external windows.
“The culture at Fortitude is very welcoming and supportive, with staff and members working together towards achieving their own personal health and fitness goals.”
Fortitude Human Performance, 181 Gilmore Road, Queanbeyan West. Call 6297 9915, email info@fortitudehp.com.au or visit fortitudehp.com.au
Louise’s passion for people and beauty
GROWING up Louise McMahon loved getting compliments for her “easy-to-talkto” customer service when she would help her mum at her hair salon.
“I ended up getting paid more in tips than what mum paid me to work there,” she says.
“That’s when I realised I like to make people happy and feel better about themselves.”
Inspired by that experience, Louise has now been in the beauty industry for about 19 years, and even has her own store in Queanbeyan, Deziner Beauty.
Deziner Beauty provides beauty services and treatments with a clinical focus combined with a welcoming and warm atmosphere.
“We are welcoming, warm and, above all, knowledgeable on any skin type or condition,” she says.
“Our facials are our signature treatment and we love transforming people’s faces, through face lifts, body contouring, make-up or waxing.
“We can take 10 years off your skin with all the amazing treatments and products we have, including a non-surgical facelift.”
Deziner Beauty also offers make-up, waxing, tinting and teeth-whitening services, and is the only local salon to have the Elizabeth Arden Pro Skin Care range.
Deziner Beauty, Shop 16-18, Cassidy’s Arcade, 72 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan. Visit Deziner Beauty on Facebook or call 6299 5792.
Fortitude Human Performance gym manager Jordan Bennett.
Respectful funerals come with experience
WITH 125 years of experience in arranging funerals in the Canberra and Queanbeyan area, MH O’Rourke branch manager, Jason Codey says they “always strive for simple, respectful and honest ways to honour the individual”.
Established in 1890 by Cornelius O’Rourke and relocated in 1929 to its current Queanbeyan location, MH O’Rourke Funeral Services has maintained the traditional values of service and caring for families in times of need.
MH O’Rourke provides pre-paid, prearranged and at-need funerals, offering full mortuary care, transport for the deceased and the family on the day of the funeral and liaising with government departments, venues, the crematorium, members of the clergy and officiators.
“Our pre-paid funerals ensure that everything is arranged exactly to your personal choice and takes the burden off your family. It’s peace of mind knowing that it’s all paid for and your wishes will be carried out,” says Jason.
Not only do they connect families with all the people involved in arranging a funeral, depending on the person’s background, they can also arrange cultural services that include religious and cultural customs, rituals, extra services and viewings.
MH O’Rourke Funeral Services has a resident manager on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide quality after-hours support and assistance.
IN the last few years Eurotune Motorcycles has changed its focus and now features a combination of art, clothing and bric-a-brac, says owner Anders Mykkeltvedt.
But Anders, who is also a motorcycle technician, still has a workshop at the back, where he does a lot of specialist work on older motorcycles.
Also at the back is an art studio where Anders creates artworks that are then featured in the store.
The clothes designs at Eurotune Motorcycles came about through his art, which he has practiced his whole life and even attended an
art school in Canberra in the late ‘70s. He describes his artwork as contemporary, influenced by his Norwegian heritage and he says there’s a solid indigenous influence, too.
The passion for bric-a-brac comes from Anders’ partner, Helen, who picks up a lot of stuff such as old tables and garden fittings, which are then sold in the shop.
AS spring approaches The Q, the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre will bring a selection of quality entertainment leading up to the launch of its 2018 season, says program manager Stephen Pike.
In late September an Australian classic, “Summer of the Seventeenth Doll”, will be presented by local company Pigeonhole Theatre, which recently returned from Monaco after performing an award-winning drama “Playhouse Creatures”.
Stephen says lovers of “The Doll” can expect a highly charged production and, for people looking to entertain children, “Horrible Harriet” will be live on stage on September 9 and 10.
The prestigious and quality facilities of ‘The Q’ – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre provide a range of unique spaces for performing and visual arts, social occasions and corporate events. Experienced staff are on hand to assist with all your requirements. Whether it is a touring or local production, art exhibition, large scale gala opening night party, a wedding or a corporate evening of entertainment, you’ll find the ideal venue and service at ‘The Q’- Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre.
The spacious, light and elegant surroundings are enhanced by a program of professional and amateur productions, changing art exhibitions and displays. The facilities are available for you to hire to create your ideal occasion – suitable for weddings, cocktail parties, and corporate functions – creative opportunities abound.
‘The Q’ Box Office is located in ‘The Q’ building at the rear of 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan.
Box Office and Exhibition Space hours are:
• Monday to Friday 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
• Saturday 10.00 am – 2.00 pm
• Closed on public holidays.
The Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre opened in November 1961 as a result of strong community action. The centre is situated on 1.3 hectares of land in a triangular plot formed by Crawford, Campbell and Antill Streets known as Moore Park.
FACILITY
• 25m indoor pool (open all year)
• 50m outdoor pool (open Oct to Mar)
• Shaded toddlers’ pool (open Oct to Mar)
• Free electric BBQs (Oct to Mar)
• Shaded grass spectators’ bank
• Free solar hot water showers
• Kiosk facilities
• RLSSA 5 Star Rated
OTHER PROGRAMS
• Adult Classes • Private Lessons
• Inclusion Program • Multi Cultural Program
• Schools Program • School Holiday Program
• Aqua Fitness Classes
OPEN TIMES
Monday to Thursday 5.30am to 8.00pm Friday 5.30am to 8.30pm Saturday to Sunday 7.00am to 7.00pm
*6.00pm Winter Public Holidays 10.00am to 5.00pm
Anzac Day 1.00pm – 5.00pm CLOSED Christmas Day & Good Friday
“Then, for those who enjoy comedy and great singing, on October 6 comedian Paul Martell will be joined by his wife, Jane Scali, to present a ‘Morning Melodies’ that is guaranteed to delight its audience,” Stephen says.
“Many will remember Jane from one of Australia’s original talent shows ‘Young Talent Time’.”
To end the season, Stephen says a glittering fusion of
the team leader of sports and aquatics, Sara Wightman.
It features a 50-metre outdoor pool, which is open from October to March, a 25-metre indoor pool and an upcoming wet play area for children under the age of 12.
“It’s a place where families come in and connect, participate in classes and make friends,” Sara says.
Q-One Aquatics has a range of services such as the Little Nippers Swim School, adult classes, aqua fitness, lane hire, school programs, swimming carnivals, birthday parties and school holiday programs.
Q-One Aquatics is also inclusive with its multicultural and disability programs.
people over the age of 60.
“It’s adapted for their ability to teach them water safety and survival skills,” Sara says. And, although it might be a cliche, Sara says learning to swim is a skill for life.
“It can improve co-ordination, increase flexibility, body strength and has mental health benefits as well,” she says.
Q-One Aquatics, corner of Crawford and Antill Streets, Queanbeyan. Call 6285 6346, email q-one.aquatics@ qprc.nsw.gov.au or visit q-one.com.au
Mention this ad when you book a 1 HOUR FACIAL and recieve a FREE Buff & Polish on your toes worth
“Summer of the 17th Doll” coming to The Q… from left, Dene Kermond, who plays Barney and Craig Alexander as Roo.
Photo by Shelly Higgs
Q-ONE Community Facilities offers a place for people and organisations to meet and gather for both corporate and private functions, says community facilities co-ordinator Amanda Tomlinson.
“Hirers are able to hire the facilities by the hour or for the day or evening,” she says.
“Parties and functions are organised either by yourself or we can organise it for you.”
Self-catering and BYO beverages are allowed and Q-One Facilities offer personal, intermit facilities, which Amanda says is just like having a function at home.
Hirers have a choice from Jerrabomberra Community Centre, Letchworth Neighbourhood Centre and Karabar Community Centre.
Jerrabomberra Community Centre is a multi-purpose function centre with two buildings, which can cater for up to 100 people.
“The rooms can be partitioned off to make for smaller more intimate rooms to suit any hirer,” Amanda says.
Letchworth Neighbourhood Centre located at 28 Miller Street, Queanbeyan has the capacity for up to 50 people.
“It is small, out of the way and backs on to sporting fields,” she says.
And Karabar Community Centre is located at 183 Cooma Road, Queanbeyan.
“It’s the perfect location for meetings, forums, craft classes, small social gatherings and family get gatherings,” she says.
Q-One Community Facilities. Call 6285 6993, email q-one.communityfacilities@qprc.nsw.gov.au or visit q-one.nsw.gov.au
Make friends while staying active
Q-ONE Indoor Sports has a range of different services that enable people to make friends while staying active, says centre co-ordinator Adam Johnston.
“It is important to keep active for a number of reasons, but mainly to improve health and ensure a higher standard for your quality of life,” Adam says.
“It allows you to play in a non-competitive social league with your friends, and also lets people who sign up individually find teams and become socially active, too.”
Q-One Indoor Sports has adult social sports such as soccer, netball, floorball and volleyball, junior sports such as futsal and In2Cricket, and sport for beginners, which focuses on children aged 2-6.
It can be a place for birthday parties, with entertainment packages that include activities such as bubble football, archery tag, a giant inflatable obstacle course and a jumping castle.
Q-One Indoor Sports also has school holiday programs, schools programs, home school programs and court and facility hire.
Currently there are two multi-purpose courts, but there will be an extension in the new year, which will include three additional multi-purpose courts with a viewing mezzanine, two squash courts, an upgrade to the reception and bathrooms, a new car park and the return of an indoor cricket pitch.
Q-One Community Facilities seeks to serve the community by providing a diverse range of venues and services.
Venues range in size, services and location. This allows our team to customize our services to meet the needs of individuals through to large corporate organisations. Common Services;
• Meetings and Seminars • Birthday Parties • Weddings and Engagement Parties
• Seniors Programs • Christenings • Art and Craft Classes/Exhibitions • Concerts
GOOD health does not belong to a single entity, says podiatrist Allan Donnelly, which is why Qcity Podiatry and Health Care has a podiatrist, a diabetes educator and a dietitian.
“Allied health means just that. An alliance with different allied health practitioners,” Allan says.
“Good communication is enhanced when the communicators see and talk to each other.”
For this reason Qcity Podiatry and Health Care offers a comprehensive and personalised range of services, which Allan says will continue to grow.
And, since opening 10 years ago, Allan says Qcity Podiatry and Health Care has already developed a close relationship with medical centres from Braidwood though to Bungendore, Jerrabomberra, Queanbeyan
Qcity Podiatry and Health Care also provides a close relationship with its clients because, Allan says, everyone and everything matters.
“Our practitioners take the time during your consultation to assure you of the treatment options and management strategies available to you with the best possible outcome,” he says.
“Our relationship with our patients reflects the service we want to give and the service our patients wish to receive.”
Qcity Podiatry and Health Care, Cassidy’s Arcade, Shop 13, 72-74 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6147 1616, email admin@qcitypodiatry.com.au or visit qcitypodiatry.com.au
Auto electrical, mechanical and much more
TAUNTON’s Mobile Auto Electrical and Mechanical does a lot more than auto electrical services, says co-owner Stefani Rossiter.
Taunton’s Mobile Auto Electrical and Mechanical offers auto electrical and mechanical services such as servicing, key programming, vehicle fit outs, as well as work on cooling systems, ignition systems, alternators, air conditioning and batteries.
And, to make things easier for its clients, Stefani says Taunton’s Mobile Auto Electrical and Mechanical does 24-hour mobile repairs around Canberra and Queanbeyan region.
“We can also help customers with their business vans, trucks, caravans and trailers,” she says. Discounts are available to seniors cardholders, public servants, defcom cardholders, protector cardholders and student cardholders.
Taunton’s Mobile Auto Electrical and Mechanical, 46 Yass Road, Queanbeyan. Call 6297-2180, email office@tauntonsautoelec. com.au or visit tauntons.com.au
• All aspects of podiatry care including high risk, paediatric and aged
• Established 10 year relationships with GPs and medical centres in the region
• Allied Health care for chronic disease specialising in Diabetes including Diabetes Educator and Dietitian
• DVA and Medicare referrals welcome
• A member of the Advanced Practicing Podiatrists High Risk Foot Group
For appointments phone 6147 1616 or email admin@qcitypodiatry.com.au
Deborah keeps clients looking young
OWNER of Elements Face and Body, Deborah Olde is always striving for the best possible treatments for her clients.
And, she’s excited to announce that Elements Face and Body is in the process of adding services such as a skin scanner and dermal needling.
“People need to keep looking after their skin,” Deborah says.
“This machine takes an image and shows any damage to your skin so we can diagnose and then slow down the ageing process.
“You can’t turn back time but you can slow down the process and rejuvenate.”
“You will be a valued guest from the moment you book your appointment, right through to the end of your treatment and beyond,” she says.
“I offer a high standard of service and care that everyone should have the opportunity to experience.”
She offers an extensive range of services and treatments including specialised facials, make-up, waxing, hot rock massage, microdermabrasion, permanent hair reduction and skin rejuvenation using cutting-edge technologies such as Energist Ultra VPL and Dermacell microdermabrasion.
Elements Face and Body, 9/251 Crawford Street, call 6298 1226 or visit elementsfaceandbody.com.au
Podiatrist Allan Donnelly.
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Super clinic offers multiple services
CELEBRATING its 60th anniversary Queanbeyan GP Super Clinic continues to grow and has expanded its team by adding two new doctors and one new specialist.
Dr Sujith Kamath says that although Queanbeyan GP Super Clinic is a private, non-corporate, family orientated medical centre it has evolved to have the availability of multiple services under the one roof. These include radiology, pathology and pharmacy, as well as visiting specialists, allied health professionals, a diabetes educator, podiatrists, a dietitian, an Aboriginal health nurse and an in-house physiotherapist.
Sujith says Queanbeyan GP Super
Clinic tackles a range of health issues through excellent, evidencebased clinical care by well-trained doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
Sujith was drawn to a career into a general practice, such as Quean beyan GP Super Clinic, so he could help a larger number of patients with wide and varied health services.
“The gratitude of patients and the improvements one can see from one’s actions are extremely satisfying,” he says.
Queanbeyan GP Super Clinic, 150 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 3311 or visit qgpsc.com.au
Childcare and more at the ‘Y’
YMCA Queanbeyan is a non-profit organisation, which has been providing programs and services for its community since 1975.
CEO Peta Virgo says its main “need” at the moment is before and after-school childcare.
But YMCA Queanbeyan also offers programs and services such “Get Up and Go”, which is an elderly fitness program, “Kindergym” and gymnastics.
The programs can have future opportunities, too, with a rhyth -
mic gymnastic group heading off to the National Clubs Gymnastics Carnival in Bendigo. Peta says they will run a school holiday program in Bungendore.
During the program there will be in-house activities and excursions, which Peta says are always exciting for the children.
service and decades of experience, call Andrew at OATRAM FINANCE on
Dr Sujith Kamath from Queanbeyan GP Super Clinic.
Queanbeyan, is nothing like a gym, says Bernadette Lind, who co-owns it with her husband Will.
“We are a local, family owned, fitness business and we wanted to be different, we wanted to provide the type of service that genuinely put people and health before profit,” she says.
“We’re not about body shape. At all. We’re about wellness and longevity.
“All our services are open, coached fitness sessions that are focused on good technique.
“Sessions are not choreographed but prepared by the trainer for that specific session, which means every session is different.”
Starting from nothing, Bernadette and Will were inspired to begin Pure Will after Will’s own weight-loss journey.
building physical capacity to tackle life’s challenges head on,” Bernadette says. “That’s the message we coach to our clients.”
Bernadette describes the Pure Will community as strong, but down to earth, with activities, which range from bootcamps and classes to bush walks, mud runs and social dinners.
“We’re small, independent and while we help the individual, we also build clusters of fitness groups that can help support each other through the roller coaster that is general health, weight loss and fitness gains,” she says.
Pure Will, 69 Uriarra Road, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 0121, 0435 372369, email fitness@purewill.com.au or visit purewill.com.au
Pure Will crew on a bush walk up Mt Coree.
advertising feature
High School puts the spotlight on its students
KARABAR High School is a proud comprehensive public high school located in Queanbeyan, with an enrolment of 870 students, says principal Andrew Turvey.
Academically recognised by the NSW Department of Education, Andrew says Karabar High School provides a challenging education where students develop deep thinking skills by working with likeminded peers.
With a focus on performing arts, Karabar offers a selective performing arts program, which has a competitive audition process that mirrors the professional performing arts environment.
“Students are challenged to develop their performance skills and many students go on to careers within the creative and performing arts fields,” Andrew says.
“In 2018 we will also be teaching classes in our
brand new, state-of-the-art performance centre, which is due for completion in October.”
Also looking into the future Karabar High School’s partnership with the Monaro Panthers Football Club will commence a selective football academy program in 2019.
And, Andrew says Karabar High School has a highly successful agriculture program which has competed and won ribbons in shows such as the Royal Melbourne Show.
“If you are seeking academic success along with being exposed to a diverse range of opportunity in many fields Karabar High School is the school for you,” he says.
Karabar High School, Donald Road, Queanbeyan. Call 6298 4333, email karabar-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au or visit karabarhigh.com.au
Lawyers who like to keep things stress free
BEVAN & Co Lawyers and Conveyancers gives specialised attention to its clients and treats them individually, says licensed conveyancer Rachel Bevan.
“We don’t just treat clients like a number, we form good relationships with them,” she says.
“To me, you don’t leave people waiting days and
specialist in personal injury law and an accredited specialist in criminal law.
“He’s one out of three in the Queanbeyan and Canberra region, who has been accredited by the Law Society in those areas,” Rachel says.
As a family run business, Rachel says the staff at Bevan & Co understand people needing their services can be stressed, so they try make it as stress free as
Bevan & Co Lawyers and Conveyancers, Suite 1, City Arcade, 69-71 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6298 1333 or email rachel@bevanco.com.au
Aaron tops the sales charts
AFTER trying a career in hospitality and another as a plumber, Aaron Papahatzis stumbled into a real estate job five years ago.
And, it seems like he stumbled into the right industry because he was recently awarded the “2017 Peter Blackshaw Top Salesman”.
Aaron, who’s the sales manager at Peter Blackshaw Queanbeyan & Jerrabomberra, says it’s nice to be recognised.
“I’m always making sure I can do the best for my clients by achieving the ultimate goal to get their house sold,” he says.
“I’m very hands on through the whole process and I believe on being available through it all. It’s a big thing that a lot of clients appreciate.”
Aaron, who was Canberra-born but now works and lives in Queanbeyan, is very proud to work and sell houses in the area.
“The Queanbeyan market is going from strength to strength, especially since a lot of first-home buyers are coming across the border,” he says.
Peter Blackshaw Queanbeyan & Jerrabomberra, Suite 109A, Riverside Plaza, 131 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan. Call 0419 683599, email apapahatzis@peterblackshaw.com.au or visit peterblackshaw.com.au
Karabar High School provides opportunities for all students to reach and extend their learning potential. We are proud to be a NSW Department of Education Partially Selective High School. We also offer a Selective Performing Arts program and, from 2019, a Talented Football (Soccer) Program
For more information visit: https://www.karabarhigh.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/karabarhsdec/
This year, Aaron rece i ved the Peter Blackshaw Real Estate Top Salesperson Award.
We’d like to t ake this opportunity to t hank all our clients for their support and loyalty which has contributed towards this phenomenal achievement.
We l ook f orward to helping more clients achieve their p roperty goals
winning a gent.
Peter Blackshaw sales manager Aaron Papahatzis.
ALL ABOUT QUEANBEYAN
Service leaves customers with a smile
THE team at Comprehensive Dental Care aims to provide quality dental care centred on prevention, restoration and cosmetic dentistry.
Comprehensive Dental Care utilises modern techniques to provide an efficient service in a relaxed and friendly environment.
The team focuses on cosmetic dentistry that offers various procedures that are designed to improve the appearance, function and health of your smile, including; porcelain veneers, bridgework, implants and crowns to name a few.
“Our practice believes in keeping our patients
informed about any treatment they receive,” says the Comprehensive Dental Care team.
“We hope to provide you with an informative overview of our practice in order to give you some insight into the quality of dental care we provide.
“We look forward to welcoming you to our dental practice and making your visits as pleasant and comfortable as possible.”
Comprehensive Dental Care, 32 Lowe Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 1303 or visit comprehensivedentistry.com.au
SECURE
We are committed to providing long-term care for your teeth! All General, Cosmetic, Preventative and Restorative Dentistry
Taking new patients
Book an appointment today
“Suppliers of the Year” at the 2017 Master Builders Excellence in Building Awards, says general manager James Hibberson.
“We were nominated for our quality and range of products, our value for money, exceptional service and for delivering on time,” he says.
James says Rivoland Tiles has supplied tiles of all styles and budgets to help create dream homes in the region for more than 30 years.
“Our comprehensive service provides a great knowledge of tiles, we have the latest products sourced
“We keep up to date with trends and fashion, and can access pretty much anything.”
With an experienced, reliable team, Rivoland Tiles also provides fixing materials, tools and technical advice to achieve the best-possible outcome, whether it be for a project home, boutique development or a large-scale development.
If you arrange an appraisal with us during September, we have a special incentive for you. Simply mention the code below to one of our sales team members at the time of arranging an appraisal to be eligible to a free gift when selling your home.
If you arrange an appraisal with us during September, we have a special incentive for you. Simply mention the code below to one of our sales team members at the time of arranging an appraisal to be eligible to a free gift when selling your home.
CODE: SPRINGTIME
CODE: SPRINGTIME
Established in 1976, Ian McNamee & Partners Real Estate have built a reputation as the regions leader in property sales & marketing.
Established in 1976, Ian McNamee & Partners Real Estate have built a reputation as the regions leader in property sales & marketing.
When selling your property this Spring use your local agent that sells more than any other agent in Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra or Googong* *Allhomes data 5th September 2017
When selling your property this Spring use your local agent that sells more than any other agent in Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra or Googong* *Allhomes data 5th September 2017
At the Diplomatic Business Connections Gala Dinner, Hyatt Hotel, Yarralumla
At the Women in Racing Spring Racing Charity Lunch, Woden
sundayROAST
Stay in touch with the names making news on Sundays from 10am as 2CC and “CityNews” present Canberra’s only local weekend news and current affairs program.
It’s a revolving panel show that brings to the microphone great “CityNews” commentators and 2CC personalities.
Be part of the conversation and call 6255 1206 between 10am and noon.
At the ACT Project Management Achievement Awards, Barton
Shelton, Kelly Yu, Prabir De and George Azumah Minghua and Rongyu Li
Andrew Rowe and Sonja Jacobsen Sanja and Iain Slatter
Bryan Clark and Thippawan Supamitkitja
Emma Brokman and Patina Farnham
Deep and Rani Saini with Jason Duarte and Rob Fisher
Sarah Rajic and Marg Wade
Robyn Carroll, Helen Joyce and Anne Hand
Kristy Nightingale and Juli Poole
Anthony Aloe and Graeme Hollands
Photos by MADDIE McGUIGAN
Koula Notaras, Lesma Wood and Mary Louise Willheim Jill McDonnell and Di Griffiths Kelly Roff and Terina Bruhn
Valerie Sellers, Jan Palmer and Rosemary Harrison
Bill and Sandra Pettitt with Susan Cronk
Franca Reddin and Linda Treharne
Maxwell Hudson and Sarah Polsen
Brian Cannell, William Chpargala, David Williams and Alana Burgess
Alex Lee, Leesa Mountford and Andrew Fox
Alex Taylor and Amanda Purdy Terence Ingram and Michael Young Maryam Mustafa and Mustafa Afzaal
David Pembroke and Petra Masinova
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Funnyman Phil Scott jumps from the Wharf
By Helen Musa
IT’S time for change at The Wharf Revue which, co-founder, musician and comedian Phil Scott suggests, could be dismissed by younger people as a lot of old blokes pointing at things and whingeing.
But, as Scott prepares to take off his comedic boxing gloves he notes: “Whoever takes over needs to have an idea of who does what in the political scene”.
“CityNews” catches up with him the day after the revue has opened its newest season, “The Patriotic Rag”, in Wollongong, where they often do early, try-out performances.
“This is our 18th year, but some years we have done two shows so it’s more like 25 or something like that,” he says.
“This is my last one, I’ve given notice and, after this one, it will be going on without me,” he says.
“I still rate the show with the boys, but now I’m going to do different things. It’s time to move on… but there’s no animosity.
“The new director of the Sydney Theatre Company, Kip Williams, is only in his 30s and he’s got an idea he’d like young voices to come through, without wrecking it, I hope.”
But, “CityNews” asks: Isn’t the Wharf Revue intrinsically curmudgeonly?
“Yes,” Scott replies with a chortle.
Canberra Theatre followers will recall that Scott was behind a cabaret show about Mario Lanza a couple of years ago and now is working on a rags-to-riches-to-rags show
THEATRE
about English dancer Lionel Bart, who wrote “Oliver!”.
And what is a patriotic rag? Not a newspaper, we think, but it certainly provides the impetus for a 1930s Ragtime opening number that Scott’s written, which sets the show in the pre-war era.
“Jazz was pre-war and we might be pre-war now, and don’t forget what they say about patriotism being the last refuge of the scoundrel,” he says.
So what of the many scoundrels does Scott play?
Easy, he says: “I get to perform one of the biggest songs as Kim Jong-un singing “You Can’t Stop the Kim”. Besides, it gives him a chance to wear a different wig to his favourite Kevin Rudd one.
But he has competition. Fellow ‘Wharfie” Jonathan Biggins, in one of the finest impersonations of his career, plays Donald Trump as variety show host in which Scott appears as Boris Johnson, guest artist Blazey Best appears as Angela Merkel and Ivanka Trump and Drew Forsythe enters at the end as “best mate” Vladimir Putin.
But they, too, have competition. Forsythe reprises his role as Pauline Hanson, with Best playing James Ashby –“they balance quite nicely” – and then Forsythe returns as Malcolm Roberts in a kind of Don Quixote role.
Scott plays Ahn Do in a brush with fame involving Peter Dutton and in their “Heaven” piece for the year (last year it was Bob Ellis), Biggins does “an extremely good John Clarke”.
The 2017 Sydney Theatre Company Wharf Revue, The Playhouse, September 12-23, bookings to canberratheatrecentre. com.au or 6275 2700.
The many lives of licentious Lola
By Helen Musa
FACT and fiction are inextricably linked when talking about the infamous 19th-century danseuse and libertine, Lola Montez.
Born in Limerick, Ireland, but self-styled Donna Lola Montez, she married often and bigamously, was given a title by her lover, King Ludwig of Bavaria, shocked the diggers on the Ballarat goldfields with her disgraceful “Spider Dance”, had a musical written about her and horsewhipped the editor of the “Ballarat Times”, Henry Seekamp, after a bad review.
That last story, according to Caroline Lee, “feels absolutely true” and indeed “The Age” in Melbourne at the time reported that Seekamp, a Eureka hero, retaliated by trying to tear her hair out.
She should know. Lee plays La Lola in a show touring Victoria and coming soon to Tuggeranong Arts Centre. A four-time Victorian Green Room awardee, she is a successful novelist, a burlesque and straight theatre performer and an expert trainer of health professionals in the art of therapeutic improvisation. She knows all about Montez,
when it comes to the exact nature of the notorious spider or tarantula dance, other than that it involved a frenzied on-stage search through her undies for a spider.
“Nobody knows, but a lot of people have done different interpretations and we definitely do our own interpretation as well,” Lee says mysteriously.
The idea for a show came when her colleagues Moira Finucane and Patrick White Playwright Award winner Jackie Smith were doing a burlesque show in regional Victoria and locals said: “This is the raciest
Smith got researching and became intrigued not only by the social life of the goldfields where “all sorts of things were going on” but by the fact that while people knew the name, they knew zero about Lola Montez.
What she found was extraordinary – a kind of pre-feminist tale of fiction mixed with fact that merited a full-length play, now directed by Finucane. It was true, for instance, that Montez was a female libertine and the mistress of Franz Liszt, Alexandre Dumas and King Ludwig, but she also went on
tour in Britain and the US to deliver a series of moral lectures written by the reverend Charles Chauncey Burr. Even after her death, many different tombstones were claimed to be hers.
“Jackie did the research, but it was my job to bring this character to life – she’s funny, she’s witty and the play traverses a number of different times,” Lee says.
But, she stresses, it’s not a strict biography, although there is “a chronological underpinning in the sense that it’s storytelling… but the first scene is not necessarily the beginning of her life”.
The style of the show involves singing and dance, and she is working with Parisian dancer Holly Durant, who becomes “in a sense another incarnation of Lola… we see different aspects of Lola rather than just listeing to me for one hour and 10 minutes – it’s well structured”.
In Lee’s view, the way Smith has written the script, the audience gets drawn into her personality and her charm, and there are even moments when it’s quite moving.
“The Exotic Lives of Lola Montez”, Tuggeranong Arts Centre, September 13. Bookings to trybooking.com
OFF TO THE THEATRE...
Winners of the three “CityNews” double passes to see the 60th anniversary performance of the acclaimed musical “My Fair Lady”, directed by Julie Andrews, at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney are: Christine Highmore, of Gowrie, Tara Mcintosh, of Conder and Carmel Smith, of Forrest
Caroline Lee in “The Exotic Lives of Lola Montez”... “It was my job to bring this character to life – she’s funny, she’s witty and the play traverses a number of different times.”
There’s something about mathematical Mary
“Gifted” (M)
THE core of this gentle drama is not the mathematical genius of its seven-year-old central character, Mary (Mckenna Grace), but who has the right to custody of her.
Shortly after Mary’s mother bore Mary by a father whose name nobody in her family knew, her mother gave the baby into the care of her brother Frank (Chris Evans) then suicided.
We first meet Mary and Frank living in a rented cabin in Florida. In a violent outburst, Mary who’s just started school there tells class teacher Miss Stevenson (Jenny Slate) that it’s not challenging her intelligence. This is a level of performance skill that might make a sensitive viewer wonder where the film is going from that point. Mary reinforces that concern when she breaks a model zoo over the head of a bullying boy. But have no fear on that account. Mckenna Grace is a child prodigy in the acting department. As the film develops, Mary confronts not only the school authorities but also her formidable maternal grandmother Evelyn (British actress Lindsay Duncan, in her late sixties not holding back from close-ups filming wrinkles and all of a face that was never less than beautiful).
Evelyn took a degree in mathematics from Cambridge. Tom Flynn’s screenplay proposes that Mary’s mother not only inherited that window into genius but also passed it on to Mary. Accept that possibility or reject it, as you choose. For the film’s purposes, it’s a given element of the drama that works well enough. By the time the dust has settled around
“Gifted’s”
Evelyn’s determination to take possession of Mary and send her to a special school for gifted kids despite Frank’s determination that Mary will grow up in normal social and intellectual environments, the film has evolved into a warm account of a child’s needs for access to both those growing up paths. The whole cast is first-class. The screenplay comes to terms with complex issues. And Mary fills a blackboard with mathematical symbols leading to an undeniable QED. If you don’t know what that means, your education may well not have included pure mathematics, which is regrettable.
At Palace Electric, Dendy, Capitol 6 and Hoyts Woden
(Don Hany) is imam at a Melbourne mosque. Osamah Sami not only plays the film’s central character. The screenplay he co-wrote with Andrew Knight is more than an account of life as an Australian-born Sunni Muslim. It’s a parable of his own experiences.
“Ali’s Wedding” is not an Osamah Sami vanity movie. It’s a warm-hearted wartsand-all romantic comedy drama that shines a sometimes discomfiting light on being a Muslim
MUSIC
RICHARD CALVER
who’s an Australian citizen by right of birth in an era when some very nasty characters are promoting Islam’s most revolting elements.
The screenplay evolves around a trio of lies, chief of which is Ali’s concealment of a low mark in a test for entry to Melbourne University’s Medical School. His father’s congregation is proud of Ali’s apparent acceptance. His mother is over the moon about it and has arranged a marriage for him. But Ali has fallen hard for Dianne (Helana Sawires), daughter of a Lebanese fish-andchip shop owner. Her entry score is among the top group.
I hope that “Ali’s Wedding” will bring satisfaction to a wide Australian audience and in overseas markets. It’s not a polemic for Islam. It’s a warm, credible, look at a segment of Australian society which, for better or worse (and let us all hope for the former), is here to stay and offers cultural customs that go beyond cuisine.
At Palace Electric, Dendy and Capitol 6
“God’s Own Country” (MA)
AFTER a substantial acting career in some favourite British TV series, and writing and directing short films, Francis Lee has entered into the real world of writing and directing
with this feature debut.
On a Yorkshire farm where the weather is bleak and the work demanding, Deidre (Gemma Jones) and Martin (Ian Hart) and their son Johnny eke out a tough existence. Partially disabled Martin assigns farming tasks until he has a stroke. Keeping house doesn’t fill Deidre’s life with fun. Johnny spends his money at the pub and has perfunctory sex wherever he can get it.
Martin employs Romanian farm-hand Gheorghe (Alec Secareanu) to help during lambing season. The development of a relationship between him and Johnny is intercut with sequences frankly depicting less-than-delicate farming tasks – preg testing a cow; skinning a stillborn lamb to make a jacket for an orphan lamb so the ewe will allow it to suckle; mucking out sheds and paddocks.
Nor does Lee shrink from frank treatment of the core element of his film’s plot. For Johnny is comfortably gay whose attention Gheorghe is prepared to accept. The film treats those passages without compromise. And with delicacy that stops just short of an X-rating.
At Palace Electric and Dendy
Gruelling week awaits Chopin players
By Helen Musa
THE ANU School of Music will soon echo to the sounds of the Third Australian International Chopin Piano Competition, and it has the reputation of being just about the most gruelling of its kind.
Book-ended with a spectacular opening concert on September 10 and the finals on September 17, when concerti by the famous Polish composer will be accompanied by the Acacia Quartet, the opening rounds, semi-finals and finals combine to make up an unmissable series of recitals for connoisseurs.
The competition begins at Llewellyn Hall on September 10 with a gala performed by one of the judges, Prof Ewa Pobłocka from the National Institute of Fryderyk Chopin in Poland, who will also be giving a public masterclass with three students.
It progresses through rounds one and two to the semi-finals in Llewellyn Hall and finishes up with the finals, jury deliberations and prizegiving in Llewellyn Hall on Sunday, September 17.
The winner of the $25,000 first prize, donated by the Pratt Foundation, will later perform at the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Parliament House, back in Canberra and at St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane, while the second and third prize-winners will stay here to provide masterclasses for piano students in the region.
To Alexander Yau, a 22-year-old pianistic prodigy and honours student at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the daunting sevenday competition ahead is grist to his artistic mill.
He’s one of 16 finalists from Australia, Europe, the US and Asia who will be in town to compete for their share of $40,000 in prizes.
Last year he won the $10,000 Theme & Variations Foundation Award, but this year has been
concert earlier this year.
Mind you, he played at the European Chamber Music Summer School in Verona and performed with the NSW Youth Orchestra, but mostly it’s been head down, learning the big Chopin Concerto No 1 in E minor Opus 11, while completing his honours year.
“Mine is a practice-based degree which involves playing a 50-minute solo recital at the end. And I also have to write a 10,000-word thesis,” Yau tells “CityNews” by phone from Sydney.
As a full-time student, he counts himself lucky that he won the Theme & Variations award, which helps young musicians with application fees, airfares and hotels needed to attend interstate and overseas competitions and auditions.
Probably the most testing ordeal he faces in this final year of studies is the Chopin Piano Competition.
He explains how it works: In the early rounds competitors have to play solo works by Chopin, including a mazurka, two etudes, scherzo, polonaise and ballade, as well as one other etude by either Szymanowski or Debussy and a piece by Lutowski.
“Those Polish composers are not played very often so it’s good that people can hear them.”
In the semi-finals, competitors must perform either a sonata or the complete cycle of preludes. He’ll do all the preludes – 40 minutes long. As well they must play Busoni’s “10 Variations on a Chopin prelude” and a work by the Piano Competition’s winning composer, Chris Williams, based on a Chopin fugue nominated by Larry Sitsky who, with Geoffrey Lancaster, Poblocka, Charles Bodman Rae, Lucinda Collins, Anna Sleptsova and Stefan Cassomenos, is one of the judges. If chosen as one of the three finalists, Yau will get to perform his concerto at Llewellyn Hall, accompanied by the Acacia String Quartet, joined by bassist Max McBride.
But that’s a long way off.
“It’s not just the big piece,” he says. “I have to play a lot of short works – you have to make each work special by itself.”
Lexi Sekuless Helen MacFarlane Zach Ra an Tim Sekuless
Australian International Chopin Piano Competition, ANU School of Music, September 10-17. All program and booking details at aicpc.org.au
Chopin Piano Competition entrant Alexander Yau… “It’s not just the big piece. I have to play a lot of short works – you have to make each work special by itself.”
central character seven-year-old Mary (Mckenna Grace)... a child prodigy in the acting department.
DINING / Circula, Kingston Foreshore
IF you’re reading this review, do so to the end to see how I come full circle with Circula at Kingston Foreshore.
We love the location. The massive outdoor area. The comfy interior. The intriguing menu. But our weekend lunch visit wasn’t full of hugs and kisses.
It all began with the Oysters Rockefeller (three for $12). The staff person – cheery and excited with the new restaurant – simply didn’t know what Oysters Rockefeller were, although she kindly offered to ask the kitchen. Awkward.
I love a hearty steak frites and at Circula you’re dished up 200 grams of Wagyu beef skit, with kipfler potatoes and béarnaise sauce ($22), on a large wooden board. The beef was tasty and tender but cold. So cold the poor béarnaise sauce sat in a lump on top of the meat trying its best to melt. Sadly, it remained as firm as a scoop of ice cream. I returned the dish. The substitute arrived. The meat was lukewarm. No melting of the béarnaise (we weren’t charged for this dish in the end).
Circula doesn’t have side salads at lunch (how hard is it to offer a simple leaf salad to cut through carbs?). Instead, they offer four main
We love the location. The massive outdoor area. The comfy interior. The intriguing menu. But our weekend lunch visit wasn’t full of hugs and kisses.
salads ($17 to $19) and we shared the classic Caesar served with decadent duck-fat croutons. The problem this time was the poached egg, so overcooked it was hard. When we politely enquired as to the state of said egg, the staff member announced they thought it was to be this way. This dish was returned with the substitute better.
The winning dish of the day was the kfc chicken burger, which would make Colonel Sanders grin from ear-to-ear. The buttermilk crispy chicken, kimchi, vermeil noodles, miso aioli and fresh coriander ($18) was yum.
We didn’t order dessert, having witnessed the table next to us being told there is no such thing at lunch.
Only Byron Bay cookies. Really? Before I go, let me put my position as a reviewer on the table. Many in hospitality (for obvious reasons) passionately oppose a reviewer coming in to a new establishment, feeling they deserve
ARTS IN THE CITY
plenty of time to test systems and food in a live environment. I get that, but my view is that when a restaurant swings its doors open for business and charges full rates for the privilege of dining customers have the right to expect good food and service. Do other service industries feel they have the right to charge full rates for less than a full experience? I think not. But enough moaning. Circula is on to something. Although execution was suss, the flavours were exciting and I’ll give the restaurant a second go (if I’m allowed in).
Circula, 17/19 Eastlake Parade, Kingston Foreshore, call 6260 8075. Lunch and dinner seven days, 11am to 9.30pm. Breakfast, Friday to Sunday, 9am.
The Italians are coming
THE 18th Lavazza Italian Film Festival will showcase a huge program of Italian cinema, opening with the comedy “Let Yourself Go!” and closing with Roberto Benigni’s Oscar-winning film “Life Is Beautiful”. At Palace Electric, September 14 to October 8. Program and bookings to palacecinemas.com.au
THE inaugural Floriade Twilight Concert offers patrons a chance to see the 2017 flower-bed designs before the gates officially open. The concert is an open-air performance by Perth’s David Bowie Tribute Show Band and the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. At Commonwealth Park, Friday, September 15. Bookings to ticketek.com
AARWUN Gallery at Nicholls is transforming itself into a Parisian café from September 9 to 30 for its exhibition “Paris and Other Stories” featuring works by former director of the Sydney Art School, Bernard Ollis.
THE 2017 Canberra Short Film Festival, September 13-17, is screening across four venues, Dendy Cinemas, Belconnen Community Centre, Tuggeranong Arts Centre and Smith’s Alternative. Program and bookings to csff.com.au
YASSARTS’ “Sculpture in the Paddock” will be held at Cooma Cottage, September 15-October 8. Works from schools in Yass and the region will be on display at the cottage, too. Opening and prize announcement, 5.30pm, Friday, September 15. All welcome.
FLAGS and streamers are strongly recommended for the Canberra Choral Society and Canberra City Band’s joint Night-of-the-Promsstyle event, “Pomp”, featuring soprano Livia Brash and works by Verdi, Aaron Copland and Elgar.
Donations will go to the Alzheimer’s Australia ACT Dementia & the Arts Program. At Albert Hall, 2.30pm, Sunday, September 10.
STRANGE Weather Gospel Choir joins forces with aChoired Voices, from Castle Hill in Sydney, for a free concert at the High Court at 1.30pm on Sunday, September 10. Registrations to hcourt.gov.au/ about/concerts
THE Resonants, directed by Helen Swan, will perform traditional songs from countries as far flung as China, Hungary, France, Samoa, Japan, and Cyprus in “Kaleidoscope,” at Belconnen Arts Centre, 5.30pm, Saturday, September 16. Bookings to resonants.org or tickets at the door.
Italian Film Festival opener “Let Yourself Go”.
By Helen Musa
GARDENING
The same hedge six months later in all its spring colour.
Keep hedges under control
in urban
In Canberra’s older suburbs front hedges were almost a standard feature and, believe it or not, the Parks and Gardens Department used to maintain them. Those were the days! Hedges, however, can quickly get out of control including, for example, excluding light to a property or reducing the width of footpaths. The control of hedges is ongoing. Neglect them too long and all the growth is at the top with the base bare wood, which defeats the whole purpose of a hedge when used for privacy.
An overgrown hedge is not a job for the faint hearted. The stems could be very thick with nothing less than a chainsaw to deal with the problem. This can present a daunting challenge to prune a hedge to such a degree for fear of killing it, as seen in the photo from our Watson garden. In many cases I would recommend the help of an arborist (tree surgeon).
EQUALLY so when it comes to trees. Most people would be reluctant to spend money before buying a home on an inspection of large trees on the property, but it could be money well spent.
A tree can look perfectly healthy providing wonderful summer shade and yet a qualified
arborist may paint an entirely different picture, especially with trees near power lines. I can give many instances of clients who, having bought a new home with an established garden, found they had to remove trees with problems. This expense can be increased considerably if there is no easy access to the rear garden. In some instances we have had to resort to using a crane to lift large trees over the home. As shown in the picture, the tree here looked
perfectly healthy and yet when examined from the top or crown it indicated rot right down the centre of the trunk.
I may have painted a frightening picture and, in many cases, it may only be some judicious pruning to make a tree safe.
However, I am recommending that any homebuyer not be taken in by the lovely, shady cottage garden look without getting advice before raising a hand at the auction.
Jottings...
• Frosts can continue well into November and draw moisture from the soil. Check how well either rain or your irrigation watering has penetrated the soil. Dig a few holes at least 15-20cm deep to check.
• Plant roses and all deciduous trees and shrubs without delay.
• Don’t rush to plant citrus trees, wait until the weather warms.
The inside of a seemingly healthy tree on the outside.
A ruthless but necessary hard prune of a photinia hedge.
Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Unhappily single? This week, finding love is linked with holiday travel, a business trip, a foreign friend or an international connection. Attached Aries – Monday and Friday are fabulous days to up the romance factor and enjoy each other’s company. Then the weekend can go one of two ways. You can think with lightning speed and make a super-smart decision that leaves everyone amazed. Or you can barge in (like a Ram at a gate) and mess everything up. The choice is yours!
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)
With Venus (your ruling planet) visiting your domestic zone (until September 20) it’s time to enjoy home sweet home, as you cocoon in comfort or entertain in style. So your quote for the coming week is from philosopher Goethe: “He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.” However, if you’re expecting money from others, don’t hold your breath. With the Sun and Saturn stirring up your ‘money-from-others’ zone, you could be in for a long wait.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)
Geminis can be real scatterbrains – all ideas and no action. But you have more chance of putting plans into practice at the moment, as your ruler Mercury moves through the practical sign of Virgo (until September 30). Which is just as well because family, friends and colleagues are looking to you for less superficiality and a lot more substance. So think things through and pace yourself, especially mid-week. Whereas the weekend is the time to work with precision and speed.
CANCER (June 22 – July 22)
Early in the week is the best time to work hard and make some extra money, as Saturn blesses your business acumen and Venus boosts negotiation skills. Pace yourself on Thursday, otherwise you’ll be a cranky Crab. Hasty remarks or sudden actions could land you in a heap of hot water on the weekend. Words have the ability to hurt or heal, so choose your comments and conversations wisely. And avoid making a rash decision, as you don’t have all the relevant information.
LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)
Vivacious Venus is visiting your sign (until September 20) so you’re in Lion razzledazzle mode, and are primed to make the most of lucky opportunities that come along. But don’t let your enthusiasm for a project overtake your ability to knuckle down and actually get the job done. Attached Leos – put your partner first, and lavish them with some extra TLC. For some single Cats – Cupid pays a visit to your workplace, as you fall for a colleague, client or customer.
VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)
The Sun, Mercury and Mars are moving through Virgo, so you’ll be extra bold and brainy this week as you dazzle others with your methodical mind, broad general knowledge and close attention to detail. So it’s the perfect time to analyse, research and problem-solve in proactive ways. Plus, with the power of positive thinking on your side, you can climb any mountain and sail any stormy sea. But proceed cautiously (and be super patient) with a frustrated family member.
LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)
Have you been getting carried away with extravagant promises, vague dreams and pie-in-the-sky schemes? It’s time to walk your talk! This week Saturn brings you back down to earth with a thud, as you reassess your plans and then head off in a much more sensible (and productive) direction. It’s also a week when preparation meets opportunity. So – if you’ve done the previous hard work required – then you’ll be able to capitalise on a lucky break and reap the rewards.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)
This week the Sun and Saturn could exacerbate an already stressful situation, especially involving a financial matter or a friendship. So strive to be at your resilient and sensible Scorpio best. Fortunately, the planets also give your fertile imagination a welcome boost (especially on Friday). So don’t waste the opportunity to put your creativity to productive use. Be inspired by birthday great (and movie legend) Lauren Bacall: “Imagination is the highest kite one can fly.”
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)
On Monday, revisit your current goals and take steps to make them your reality. But, when it comes to controversial conversations, keep your cool and avoid the temptation to over-talk and over-react. You can’t control what others say but you can control your response. There could also be some tension between shining brightly at work and fulfilling your personal responsibilities to family and friends. Remember, if anyone can juggle and multi-task, it’s a versatile Sagittarian!
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
This week – when it comes to love, work and money – the devil is definitely in the detail. So keep your eyes and ears wide open, as you search for important (and clandestine) clues along the way. And make sure you favour a magical sense of wonder over mundane complacency. Accordingly, your motto for the moment is from birthday great, writer Roald Dahl: “The greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
You love being independent. But this week favours nurturing partnerships, seeking out joint ventures and stabilising your support network, as Venus moves through your relationship zone. If you’re single, sparks could fly with someone who you have known for a long time. On the weekend, avoid making an impulsive financial move that could lead to over-spending. Getting into more debt is a recipe for disaster at the moment. By all means have fun, but don’t break the bank.
PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)
Courtesy of Saturn, a close relationship looks complicated mid-week. So tread carefully and choose your words wisely. When it comes to work, career and/or your true calling, don’t settle for second best. If you surround yourself with accomplished colleagues, you will learn heaps. And some of their success will rub off on you. Be inspired by movie legend Lauren Bacall (born on September 16, 1924): “I like to work with really good professional people – anyone with real talent.”
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2017
1 What is an official list showing the duties imposed on exports, etc? (6)
8 Name an alternative term for a lift. (8)
9 When one fails to hit something, one does what? (6)
10 Name the horse that won the 1974 and 1975 Melbourne Cup. (5,3)
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12 What is a stratagem, or artifice? (4)
13 What are imaginary or fictitious things? (5)
16 Name the Russian born US violinist, Isaac ... (5)
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24 Name another term for steers. (8)
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