171005 citynews

WE’RE POWERING FORWARD MAKING ENERGY MORE AFFORDABLE

As Australia’s energy system transitions, the Australian Government is making energy more affordable. We’ve already secured agreements from retailers to offer consumers a better deal, and some households could save up to $1,500 per year on their power bills. We’re also ensuring there is enough gas for Australians before it’s shipped offshore.

To find out more search ‘POWERING FORWARD’.

It’s actions like this today that are powering a more affordable energy future.

Detective Lisa’s on the trail of good food

By Danielle Nohra

A DETECTIVE, dressed as a watermelon, who goes on adventures to uncover food mysteries was years in the making and now Latham’s Lisa Donaldson, 39, has an aim to get “The Food Detective” on television.

With a background in primary school teaching, a personal health battle and a career as a dietitian, Lisa wants to use TV as a vehicle to educate children.

“My big, hairy, audacious goal for ‘The Food Detective’ is to get it on to ABC for Kids,” she says.

As mum of fussy eater, Nathaniel, 3, Lisa says she’s blessed to understand what it’s like for many frustrated parents.

She practices her songs on Nathaniel, whose favourite is the “Traffic Light Song”.

“‘The Food Detective’ is an amusing show, it’s engaging and I feel like it’s capturing kids in a different way to be able to have fun while learning,” she says.

Lisa’s desire to entertain young children stemmed from her lengthy career as a primary school teacher.

While teaching she was diag nosed with coeliac disease, lactose intolerance, gastrointestinal upsets and a kidney condition and was forced to rethink her future.

At that time Lisa didn’t know what she could eat and, when re searching nutrition, decided to go back to university.

During her time at the Universi ty of Canberra, Lisa scored a place ment with Channel 9’s nutritionist Joanna McMillan and then later a job where she would commute to Sydney to work part time.

“The Food Detective” first emerged when Joanna suggested the character make an appearance at a children’s food fair in Randwick.

So, Lisa wore her university lab coat and a pair of glasses and sang a song on stage.

Soon after, she contacted her childhood friend from Bega, Tim Bevitt, who is a performing arts specialist and children’s comedian and asked him to collaborate on an album called “Takes Ten Tastes”.

The ACT government’s service, Fresh Tastes, funded the record ing, costuming and several stage shows of “Mr Tim & The Food Detective”.

Tim and Lisa went around the ACT and performed 10 pilot shows, where they went on an adventure might write a children’s book.

Arts & Entertainment 19-21

Cinema 20

Dining 21

Crossword 23

Gardening 22

Horoscopes 23

Letters 12

News 3-12

Politics 8

Socials 14-15

Wine 20

BRIEFLY Fighting for Alex

PROCEEDS from a trivia night at the Raiders’ Belconnen club on October 27 will go towards securing a rare treatment for a 27-year-old Canberra woman who has been diagnosed with inoperable stage IV metastatic melanoma. Organised by Team Alex, the event will include trivia, raffles and silent auctions and all proceeds will be directed to Alex and her family to ensure she has everything to assist in her health battle. Doors open at 6.30pm and tickets are $20 via eventbrite.com.au

Book sale

THERE’S a sale of secondhand books for all occasions at St Ninian’s Uniting Hall, Lyneham, 9am-1pm, on Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14. Books on sale include fiction and non-fiction, cookery, gardening, manuals, children’s and magazines. Morning tea and lunch will be available. More information from 6248 9198.

Greek Fest welcome

Since 1993: Volume 23, Number 37

CEO: Greg Jones, 0419 418196, greg@citynews.com.au

Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au

Journalists: Kate Meikle, kate@citynews.com.au; Danielle Nohra, danielle@citynews.com.au; Kathryn Vukovljak, kathryn@citynews.com.au

Arts editor: Helen Musa, 0400 043764, helen@citynews.com.au

Photographer: Maddie McGuigan

Advertising manager: Greg Jones, 0419 418196

Senior advertising account executive: David Cusack, 0435 380656

Advertising account executive: Liam Jones, 0400 092095; Damien Klemke, 0439 139001; Emily Lester, 0406 412462

Production manager / graphic design: Janet Ewen

Graphic designer: Paulette Leo

Proof reader: Glenda Anderson

Mitchell.

Accounts manager: Bethany Freeman-Chandler accounts@citynews.com.au

THE St Nicholas Greek-Australian Pre School & Childcare Centre is hosting a Greek Fest and Open Day at 1 Hill Corner, Yarralumla, 10am-2pm on Saturday, October 14. The event will showcase the centre’s facilities and children in traditional costume will perform Greek folk dancing. Attractions also include face painting, balloon sculpting, Greek music, Greek food, sweets and homemade cakes.

Beware that deep breath, warns Tess

By Danielle Nohra PSYCHOLOGISTS, yoga

teachers and meditation coaches may tell their clients to “take a deep breath”, but Griffith’s physiotherapist and author Tess Graham, 63, says deep breathing is creating more problems than good.

Her latest book “Relief from Anxiety and Panic: by changing how you breathe” debunks the deep breathing myth and instead retrains people how to breathe “physiologically normal”.

“I’ve lost count of the times people have told me they have quit yoga or pilates because it’s caused dizziness or a panic attack or an asthma attack,” Tess says.

“It’s never good for you to breathe more than you should because it tips people over who are already on the edge [such as people with anxiety].”

Tess says this is because people with anxiety are breathing twice the volume of air in a minute than the average person.

“Research shows that an overbreathing pattern is characteristic in people with anxiety disorders,” she says.

“The dizziness, light-headedness and confusion classically seen during panic attacks are consistent with low brain oxygen caused by over-breathing.

“A normal breath size is 500ml, that’s the size breath that we should take 10 times a minute.

“And it’s really, really simple. Breathing is the most primary thing we do that affects how our body functions.”

Even though “physiologically abnormal” breathing is a major and consistent contributor to anxiety disorders, Tess says it’s often unobserved or disregarded in medical management.

“The way you breathe affects your concentration of blood gases, which affects your blood chemistry, which affects every function of your body,” she says.

“Breathing retraining is a sciencebased, simple, practical, and easy-to-do process that has been used successfully by thousands of people to get rapid, profound and lasting relief from anxiety and other breathing-related conditions.”

Tess originally came across “breathing retraining” more than 25 years ago after watching two of her three children suffer from asthma.

For seven years she looked for a solution before finally finding something that gave them relief.

Tess says they soon became robust, healthy and symptom free, without requiring medication.

She then realised the broad method of breathing retraining would not only help people with asthma, but also people with anxiety, sleep disorders, nasal

problems, breathlessness and general wellbeing.

Tess became accredited in breathing retraining and then established Aus tralia’s first dedicated breathing clinic in Canberra, in 1993.

wrote the book following requests from former clients and also she wanted to get the information published because there are few people teaching it.

bring them out of a panic attack, but Tess says if people learn to breathe cor rectly they’ll never have a panic attack again.

the way calm people do,” she says.

ing to be out there so people understand what normal breathing looks like.

nose all day and all night, it’s silent and it’s regular in rhythm.

by sighing, or yawning or clearing of the throat.

anxiety calms down.”

“Relief from Anxiety and Panic: by changing how you breathe” will be launched at Paperchain, 34 Franklin Street, Manuka, October 11, from 5.45pm. RSVP to 6295 6723. The book is available at $29.99 from TessGraham.com.au

Physiotherapist and author Tess Graham… “It’s never good for you to breathe more than you should because it tips people over who are already on the edge.” Photo by Danielle Nohra

8.30am-noon, Tuesday, October 17. The expo will feature services such as Moneycare, NILS (No Interest Loans Scheme) and SalvoConnect, as well as several other ACT support agencies and organisations.

Here is your chance to recognise exceptional leaders working in public service who are making an important contribution and exemplifies personal drive and integrity.

Nominations are now open for the 2017 Leadership in Government Awards, where Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand will recognise leaders already established in their career and those who are just getting started.

Rewarding Exceptional Leadership

If you know a great leader who deserves recognition nominate them today at charteredaccountantsanz.com/lga

Space plans take Malcolm to a form of ‘Utopia’

THE hype surrounding the announcement that Australia was entering the aeronautical industry managed to drown out the many issues niggling the Turnbull government, but specifics of the project remained scarce.

Your average cynic might dismiss the news as a draft script for an episode of the ABC’s TV satire “Utopia”, which brilliantly takes the mickey out of how Canberra spins such projects. But the reality is we could eventually have our own national space agency and benefit from the billions of dollars and thousands of jobs that apparently come with it. The ACT government has already signed an MOU with SA boosting the possibility of Canberra playing a major role in the project.

A PROMOTIONAL boast on brewer BentSpoke’s website (“since opening its doors in 2014, BentSpoke has continued to move onward and upward in the Canberra beer market”) has taken on a whole new meaning. The innovative Braddon company has scored a contract to supply its Barley Griffin pale ale for Singapore Airlines’ flights between Sydney and Melbourne. The airline’s spokesperson, former Canberran Karl Schubert , says: “The craft beer additions are part of the airline’s ongoing dedication to a high-quality food and beverage offering, as well as supporting local produce in the destinations they fly to”.

FOR a small town that famously punches above its weight in churning out world champions, Queanbeyan is about to be exposed to a new and radical audience. David Campese, Heather McKay, Mark Webber, Ricky Stuart and thoroughbred Takeover Target make up just a minuscule list of locals who have kept the “something-

in-the-water-in-Queanbeyan” phenomena alive. But “Fardell”, a new documentary about champion Queanbeyan-born skateboarder Jack Fardell’s rise to international fame, takes the town’s sporting elixir mystique to another level. The 26-year-old Fardell, who is now based in LA, says: “I just think it’s a cool story about coming from a country town in Australia, pursuing your dreams and still having a love for home.”

A NEW report has revealed the CSIRO continues to grapple with low staff morale, but one former Canberra staffer says he’s moved on from his own highly publicised

dose of dorin

AFTER waiting 37 long, frustrating years, former Gungahlin AFL Jets president Joe Cortese was not going to miss the grand final action in Melbourne. Cortese was in yellow and black heaven for the traditional grand final parade through Melbourne’s CBD but baulked at a scalper’s offer of $1200 for a ticket to the decider. Another Canberra Tigers fan was undeterred by the premiership premium. The 25-yearold was prepared to pay a reported $3500 for a ticket to witness “the pride of Punt Road hoist a Premiership cup”.

A CANBERRA gay and lesbian choir is mobilising voters in the SSM postal survey via a new type of social gathering. Qwire, numbering about 80 members who perform at a variety of events in the capital, recently hosted a “Call Party”. Fifty members gathered at the Cook Hall to hit the phones and “remind people it’s time to vote”. Spokesperson Jes Chandler says from between 600 and 800 calls the tally was 220 for yes, 200 unanswered and the balance in the negative.

battle with the scientific research organisation. Banks man Jack Hoffman says he “was just another victim of abuse of power in the public service”. In 2012 the technician was sacked after being spotted at the Conder McDonalds drive-through buying a Big Mac. Problem was Hoffman was driving a CSIRO vehicle at the time and on a final warning after a series of breaches of company car use and other contentious workplace issues. Hoffman, a large man, also suffered from the hurtful tabloid headlines such stories automatically receive.

STILL on the SSM postal survey and the Yass Valley may have become an unwilling marketing tool for the “Yes” campaign. A corny meme that reads “Be Like a NSW Town and Vote Yass” has popped up on social media in recent days.

Elise scripts a win

WANNIASSA pharmacist

Elise Apolloni is the Telstra ACT Business Woman of the Year.

She was also named ACT Entrepreneur of the Year and ACT Young Business Woman of the Year at the National Gallery awards night.

“It is such a privilege to serve my community, and I am thankful to my supportive

team, mentors and family who have motivated me to be the businesswoman I am today,” she said.

Earlier this year she was named the Australian Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, and her pharmacy won the Telstra ACT Small Business of the Year award in July. Elise will represent the ACT in the national awards in Melbourne next month.

UV levels start their rise

DESPITE the cool, early spring weather, ultraviolet radiation (UV) levels are on the rise to levels that warrant sensible sun protection, for at least part of the day, says Cancer Council ACT’s CEO Sandra Turner.

“In Canberra, we start to see daily UV levels climbing, and reaching 3 or above,” she said.

“Regardless of the temperature and cloud cover, UV 3 or above warrants sensible sun protection behaviour. It doesn’t matter if it’s hot weather or cold, it’s the UV that burns.”

The Cancer Council ACT message is that when UV levels reach 3 and above, a combination of sun protection behaviour is required to protect against skin damage that can contribute to skin cancer later in life. The higher the UV level, the quicker unprotected skin can damage, sunburn or no sunburn.

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POLITICS / pill testing

MEEGAN Fitzharris has stuck her neck out in announcing an Australian first to test pills at a music festival. The political risk reflects her concern regarding harm to young people from pill popping.

There can be little doubt that the ACT Minister for Health will be bombarded with messages from those who will argue she should follow Nancy Reagan with a message of “just say no”. Her response has already been unequivocal: “The evidence is that by allowing this pill testing to take place at Spilt Milk we can help keep young people safe.” She points out that from music-festival pills in 2015 “several young people tragically lost their lives in Australia”.

The idea is not new. The Netherlands took this approach in the 1990s and there is now evidence of efficacy from NZ and Canada regarding pill-testing schemes. In practice, young people who are considering taking party drugs they believe to be “ecstasy” can know they are using methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) rather than a pill that is laced with other dangerous or more addictive substances.

Perhaps more importantly, the person using a drug such as MDMA will know the amount of the drug in the particular pill, thus lowering the risk of overdosing.

Fitzharris has looked at the evidence and applied a sensible solution. She pointed out results of a 2015 National Drug Policing Survey that found 65.3 per cent of respondents who regularly attend festivals used illicit drugs.

The Health Minister can rest easy having taken evidencebased action to keep young people as safe as possible.

The recent National Drug Strategy (2017-2026) has been agreed by all Australian jurisdictions and supports a harm-minimisation strategy that has three pillars: harm reduction, demand reduction and supply reduction. Pill testing falls into the first category. However, governments are not blind to the other two categories with demand reduction largely around health promotion and treatment while supply reduction largely concentrates on policing.

The most successful drug policies deploy all three pillars – although it is clear that Australia funds supply reduction much more heavily than the other two pillars. As a next step, governments can learn from Portugal about the success of moving large proportions of funding from policing to treatment.

The ACT Opposition continues to show how it has grown more and more socially conservative. Ironically, the Carnell and Humphries governments at the turn of the millennia supported a trial to provide heroin to dependent users as a harmreduction measure. The Canberra Liberals have changed. Shadow attorney-general

Jeremy Hanson was concerned pill testing undermined police and sent a message to drug dealers they could peddle drugs.

“The pill testing that can be done at festivals does not mean the pills those people are going to take are going to be safe,” he said, warning the government: “If there is a serious event or death, it will be on this government’s hands”.

ACT Policing is less conservative with Chief Police Officer Justine Saunders saying she is “supportive of working with the ACT government and stakeholders on harm-minimisation initiatives such as this one that has the potential to protect and save lives”.

No matter how much flak she takes, the Health Minister and her government can rest easy having taken evidence-based action to keep young people as safe and healthy as possible.

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

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Centenary arches in Queanbeyan in 1938.

YESTERDAYS

Lots to learn and enjoy

DURING Riesling week there are opportunities to build knowledge and enjoy tasting the world’s best Rieslings among experts from Australia, Germany, NZ and the US.

Jim Murphy Riesling Tasting

A commercial tasting featuring Rieslings from the Canberra District and our sponsor wineries.

Jim Murphy Market Cellars, Fyshwick, noon-6pm, Saturday, October 7. Bookings not required

Riedel Riesling Master Class, “Old and New, Rieslings from Germany and the Canberra District: Featuring Riesling experts who will guide participants through the current Rieslings’ styles and trends from Germany, and sub regions of the Canberra District. Enjoy the versatility of German Rieslings including conventional and innovative styles – dry to semi-dry to sweet, sparkling, natural, orange and aged Riesling.

Journey through the sub-regions of the Canberra District enjoying the Rieslings that are attracting the attention of the wine writers and understanding the differences between the sub-regions. Includes a session on biodynamic Riesling.

Hotel Realm, High Courtyard North, 11am-2.30pm, Friday, October 13. Convenors Steffen Schindler (Germany), Chris Carpenter and Ken Helm (Canberra District). Tickets $100. Bookings required.

Awards Presentation and Celebration of Riesling Taste the 2017 award-winning wines and others from a museum collection while the 2017 awards are announced. This is a cocktail-style event with canapes and fine Riesling.

Hotel Realm, High Courtyard North, 5.30pm-7pm, Friday, October 13. Limited number of tickets available, $80. Bookings required.

Hotel Realm Riesling Dinner

The Hotel Realm Chef will match five courses with current award-winning and rare Australian Rieslings

Hotel Realm, Buvette Restaurant, 7.30pm, Friday, October 13. Tickets $90. Bookings to buvette@domahotels.com.au

Canberra International Riesling Challenge ActewAGL Trade & Consumer Tasting

This is a unique opportunity to taste some of the best Rieslings the world has to offer. Many of these Rieslings are not easily obtained in Australia. Tickets are $50 and include a souvenir Riedel tasting glass and a copy of the official Challenge results catalogue.

Some of the 2017 judging panel and stewards will be on hand at the tasting to answer questions on Riesling.

Albert Hall, 11am-3pm, Saturday, October 15. Bookings not required, tickets $50.

Bookings and enquiries for these events to info@rieslingchallenge.com or call 6286 7515. Booking forms at www.rieslingchallenge.com/events

When Queanbeyan went for a song

“Queanbeyan, Queanbeyan, I always long for you…”

LAST week marked the 179th an niversary of the official proclamation of Queanbeyan as a township.

No, that’s not a typo and, coinciden tally doing the rounds at this time, is the rousing song penned to the town on the occasion of it turning 100 on September 28 all the way back in 1938, when Canberra was a mere bright, young thing.

The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) has been promoting “The Song of Queanbeyan” (hear it at nfsa.gov.au/ collection/curated/australia-song) and other localised musical tributes that were a bit of a thing during this period. The usual suspects of Sydney and Melbourne make the list, though also odes to places such as Cootamundra, Braidwood and, of course, the most well-known “Along the Road to Gundagai” – considered one of the most popular of all Australian folk songs.

“Canberra is Calling to You” was another product of the era, today more recognised for having been trotted out for the Centenary of our capital just a few years back.

Queanbeyan’s song, composed in the year of the sesquicentenary (150 years) of European settlement, was actually commissioned as part of a competition for its impending local Centenary celebrations. Six entries were received and the winner was the importantly-titled Madame Evelyn Grieg, of Sydney.

A musician, performer and vocal coach, Madame Grieg was no slouch when it came to patriotic and parochial ditties. Among her repertoire, the World War I ballad “Our Boys” (“Boys in khaki from the Southern Cross, gallant lads in navy blue”), and the musical arrangement for the World War II’s “Battle Cry Australia” (“We fight for the Boomerang-land!”).

Both the Queanbeyan and Canberra songs (rather harshly described some years later by another publication’s columnist, who shall remain nameless to protect him from rebuke, as having a certain “engaging atrociousness”), were recorded by radio personality Jack Lumsdaine, who also wrote the capital’s version. Interestingly, the record label also noted they were both “Queanbeyan Centenary Songs”. As such, it’s difficult to let go of the fact that Queanbeyan,

the raison d’etre, featured on the B-side (according to the “Urban Dictionary” –“the second and less important side, and therefore usually the less popular and worse song”).

The Queanbeyan Museum proudly boasts a copy of the “gramophone record” and states on its website that the muchvalued contribution was accompanied by an equally invaluable anecdote:

“Donated by Mrs Roffe (Ruth); Mrs Roffe’s first job in 1941 was at 2CA. Feeling against Queanbeyan was such that when leaving the job, she was handed this record and told “here, you might as well take this with you”.

Certainly the significant turn-out and celebrations surrounding the big occasion for Queanbeyan in 1938 would attest to something different.

The festivities, which stretched over the last three months of the year, included a “grand procession and military display” featuring more than 30 floats symbolising “the town’s progress during the past 100 years”, the “crowning” of a fundraising “Queanbeyan Queen”, and it wouldn’t have been Queanbeyan without a huge

sports carnival to round things out. Guests of honour for the Centenary Dinner were no less than Australia’s 10th Prime Minister Joseph Lyons and his wife Dame Edith, the Premier of NSW Bertram Stevens and Mrs Stevens, and various other highfalutin’ Federal and State cabinet ministers. The Mayor of the time, John Esmond, a popular local businessman with a car dealership people still remember, would no doubt have taken great delight in having “The Song of Queanbeyan” performed for visitors to the fair – and well-established – town. In the intervening years there have been other songs specifically dedicated to the heart of our nation, including another apparent Queanbeyan rip-off in the “Song for Canberra” in 1981: it was not quite so sentimental as those 1938 anthems though there may have been some dispute that the accompanying, somewhat twee video was, as suggested, “a community service”.

Not that it was quite as awkward as Judith Durham’s “Australia’s Canberra” in 2012, which opens to the sound of gleeful kookaburras before descending to lyrics featuring “kangaroos grazing round the monuments… platypi livin’ on the edge of Burley Griffin”, let alone wombats visiting the embassies!

Then again, there was also that civil rap war between Canberra’s Coda Conduct and Queanbeyan’s Macho Duck in 2015, but that’s a story for another day.

Nichole Overall is a Queanbeyan-based author, social historian and journalist.

THE GADFLY

Simple way to sort out the nuclear clowns

THERE is a very clear and simple alternative to the nuclear conflict that seems to be heading our way caused by the two worst haircuts on the planet: shoot one of them.

It really doesn’t matter which. They are a pair of irresponsible clowns who seem bent on a holocaust that could destroy hundreds of thousands of lives on the Korean Peninsula and perhaps even in Japan. But I suppose taking out Trump would still leave us with the problem of a Korean firing test missiles on his way to producing a nuclear “gift package” for the region. So, the elimination of Kim Jong-un is probably the more logical course.

So, why aren’t our SAS lads – or America’s Delta Force – haring over there on a submarine with orders to put him down? Well, here’s the really crazy thing – such an act is regarded as unthinkable because there’s a US Presidential executive order, signed by that very temporary president,

The sad truth is that there’s a kind of clubhouse rule among national leaders that says: ‘I won’t if you won’t’ and they all sleep sounder in their beds.

Gerald Ford after the disclosure that the CIA planned to take out Cuba’s Fidel Castro. It explicitly prohibits US government employees from engaging in “political assassination”. Then his successor Ronald Reagan made it even more explicit. According to his order, Americans were banned from even considering it.

The Geneva Convention calls such killings a “grave breach”. But hey, is it not just a littler “graver” to do nothing and thereby permit these nutcases from killing hundreds of thousands?

Of course it is and everyone knows it.

But the sad truth is that there’s a kind of clubhouse rule among national leaders that says: “I won’t if you won’t” and they all sleep sounder in their beds.

There is another side to the story. Once we started killing these undesirables, where would it end? What criteria would determine their having stepped over the line? And who would decide when they were for the chop?

For example, would it be okay if they kept their disgraceful activities within their country’s boundaries? But what if they sent mercenaries across the border but absolutely denied it? Would the good guys have to prove they were responsible for the evil deed? And who are the good guys sitting in judgement anyway?

That’s when it starts to get complicated. The International Criminal Court would be the natural body to decide but all the big guys – US, Rus -

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sia, China, India, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and many others are not party to the ICC, and certainly wouldn’t accept their ruling if, say, their leaders invaded the Crimea or Iraq or Tibet.

But we just can’t throw up our hands and say it’s all too difficult. We need to identify a group with a great sense of judgement, totally incorruptible and with the courage of their convictions.

Obviously they would have to be either Australians or New Zealanders. But one glance at an All Black scrum and you realise even the Kiwis are a bit sus. And committees, as we know, are always vulnerable to outside pressure and personality clashes. So it looks like it would have

to be a single person of unimpeachable virtue, immaculate judgement and the courage of a lion.

The only group I can think of with all the necessary qualifications are authors of non-fiction books of Australian history. And of them, only one really fills the bill – that chap who did those books on a prominent Australian explorer and, more recently, our relations with China over the last 200 years, “Kangaroo and Dragon” I think it’s called, you know the one…

robert@ robertmacklin.com

Festival pill testing isn’t definitive

THE ACT government has approved a pill testing trial at the Spilt Milk festival in November. Without doubt it will be found “successful” despite the fact our youth can’t be told definitively if their ecstasy pills, and probably others, are safe or not.

Recently an American pill-testing body noted that tablets sold as ecstasy in 2015 went through comprehensive lab tests. Published results found a total of 134 substances other than MDMA and that the reagent pill tests can at best distinguish between only eight of these chemicals.

A full suite of seven different pill-testing kits could only distinguish 16 chemicals in addition to MDMA. This means that any of the 118 other chemicals could be present but undetected.

Until all Australian health authorities agree that pill testing is truly safe none should be approved.

Colliss Parrett, Drug Advisory Council Australia, Barton

Failing duty of care

COLUMNIST Michael Moore (CN, September 21) wrote the Safe Schools Program is just about students putting themselves in the shoes of a more vulnerable person.

As one of the 998 Canberrans who signed the petition expressing serious concerns about the SSP, I ask why is it necessary for year 7 students to explore how a young lesbian feels sexual attraction? (“All of us”, p 22). And how does it increase student empathy to be told that a bisexual “may be having sexual or romantic experiences with the same sex and still be equally or more attracted to the opposite sex”? (“All of us”, p 27). Also how does it increase the comfort of all students to be told: “You can be attracted to a whole spectrum of masculinity and femininity…” (“All of us”, p 24).

The unedited, original classroom program “All of us” giving students links to an alternative sexuality culture, and hence the adult sex industry, is still available on the internet for Victorian schools.

It is appalling that the ACT government in its wisdom has developed new SSP resources for ACT schools in liaison with Victoria. This is not a duty of care for our school students.

Arthur Connor, via email

Not allowed an opinion

FURTHER to Michael Moore’s column on the populist dangers to feeling safe at school (CN, September 21): The Safe Schools Program has nothing to do with kids being bullied, it is about pushing the LGBTIQ agenda, and they are in the minority. Bullying could be countered far more readily and with no hidden agendas by simply reinforcing that bullying for any reason is wrong.

I have no problem with LGBTIQ; they are human just like everyone else. I do not try to change them so why can’t they let us be. If they want to be genderless or whatever, then that is their choice, but why should they make us part of their plan? Do we the majority not have a say in being called ladies and gentlemen, boys or girls. Do not the fathers have the right to celebrate Father’s Day and the mothers to celebrate Mother’s Day if they want to?

So Michael’s article about the minority is rubbish. Without justification, they are allowed to say we are bigots and homophobes for possibly voting “No” in the same-sex marriage survey, which means the “No” voters are not allowed an opinion. That doesn’t sound very democratic to me.

Vi Evans via email

Just answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on the form. Put it in the Reply Paid envelope and mail it back today. If you haven’t received your survey form, need a replacement or more information, go to www.marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au Your response will be completely confidential.

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.

MONDAY TO FRIDAY: 9AM-5PM, SATURDAY: 10AM-2PM

18, Bailey’s Arcade, 143 London Cct Canberra City p. (02) 6101 7406 e. stores@silksisters.com.au Park at Playhouse Theatre car park.

Actsmart offers a range of free programs for ACT businesses including:

• support to implement efficient recycling and waste management practices

• obligation free onsite energy and water assessments

• rebates of up to $5,000 (on a cost share basis) to upgrade inefficient equipment

More than 1000 ACT businesses have already signed up to Actsmart programs.

Sharing safety knowledge and experience

THIS Safe Work Month, Safe Work Australia has chosen the theme “sharing safety knowledge and experience benefits everyone”, and throughout the month will share tips on how to make a workplace safer and healthier.

Safe Work Australia was established in 2008 to develop national policy and guidance for workplace health and safety (WHS) and workers’ compensation.

Since then, it’s been running national campaigns, such as Safe Work Month, to raise awareness about WHS in the Australian working community.

Although Safe Work Australia has reduced the rate of work-related fatalities and workers’ compensation claims, it says there’s still work to be done.

Work-related injury and disease costs the Australian community $61.8 billion a year.

Safe Work Australia says no industry should be unsafe to work in and no death or injury is acceptable.

And, because the whole community bears the financial cost of poor WHS, Safe Work Australia knows that safe and healthy work benefits everyone.

This is why, during October each year, it asks workers and employers to commit to building safe and healthy workplaces for all Australians.

Visit Safe Work Australia on safeworkaustralia.gov.au/

All about getting home safely

THE main goal at Access Canberra, WorkSafe ACT is to make sure that all workers return home safely, says Work Safety commissioner Greg Jones.

But to achieve this, Greg says it needs to be a shared responsibility between employers, employees and the government.

During Safe Work Month, WorkSafe ACT will highlight high-risk areas in the workplace such as manual handling and “slips, trips and falls”.

“While we should focus on work safety every day, Safe Work Month is an opportunity to highlight key issues and what can be done to reduce the risk of injury in the ACT,” he says.

“With manual handling (meaning lifting things) if you do that incorrectly, that could result in lower-back, arm or knee injury.

“One of the other very common injuries which is easily preventable is ‘slips, trips and falls’.

“If a worker sees a hazard such as a frayed cable or an item that’s unprotected they have an obligation to report it and, at the same time, the employer has an obligation to keep the workplace safe.”

Throughout Safe Work Month, WorkSafe ACT will be teaming up with organisations such as OzHealth and R U Okay to run a variety of events focusing on physical and mental health.

Access Canberra, WorkSafe ACT. Call 132281, email worksafe@act.gov.au or visit accesscanberra.act.gov.au

Work Safety commissioner Greg Jones.

Real-life experience behind emergency training

“FERST in … Safely out!”, is the catchphrase that drives the team behind Ferst Training Solutions, which offers specialised emergency response training to workplaces in the ACT and NSW.

Since 2007, the family-run business has offered a range of courses to workplaces including: Training of Emergency Response Teams; Emergency Response Chief Wardens and Wardens; General Staff Training; Fire Extinguisher Use Training; and Building Evacuation Training.

“We endeavour to give people the skills that when something does go wrong, they have the tools to get out of that situation safely,” says Gary Cheeseman, director of Ferst Training Solutions.

“We’re not worried about property, but about keeping people safe.”

All trainers have been in operational positions, in fields including the military, fire services or emergency services, meaning they have real-life experience in dealing with many situations, Gary says.

“Our training is practical and procedural,” he says. Ferst Training Solutions. Visit ferst.com.au or call 1300 333778.

While injury rates are declining across the Territory, we all need to work together to reduce them even more.

Watch your step by:

• cleaning up spills

• wearing appropriate shoes

• avoiding wet floors

• keeping equipment and stock out of walkways.

Tips to help you lift

• use mechanical aids if available

• ask for help if something is too heavy or awkward to lift

• carry loads close to your body

• lift using your thigh muscles

• take regular breaks

advertising feature helps everyone

says Safenet RTO co-ordinator Lucinda Morgan. Safenet is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that specialises in the provision of safety training, which includes height safety and working in confined spaces.

Safenet’s courses address the requirements of those workers new to these two areas as well as the more experienced worker looking for a refresher course to maintain currency and meet requirements of the standards.

“The benefits [of these courses] are becoming aware of the risks and hazards when working at heights and in confined spaces,” Lucinda says.

says can result in an employee having days off and that could affect their income and ability to pay bills.

Since its establishment in 2009, Safenet has provided training and services to thousands of customers from a wide range of industries, such as building and construction, telecommunications, utilities and government.

“Based on our experience with our clients, Safenet recommends that organisations undertake refresher courses every 12 months,” Lucinda says.

Safenet, 31 Whyalla Street, Fyshwick. Call 137080, email info@safenet.com.au

TRAIN WITH THE EXPERTS IN HEIGHT SAFETY AND WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES

Safenet has provided training and services to 1000’s of satisfied clients in building and construction, telecommunications, utilities and government.

Safenet specialises in safety training for new workers and those needing a refresher course to maintain currency. A Statement of Attainment is awarded to those who have proven competency.

TRAINING DELIVERED 5 DAYS A WEEK

FLEXIBLE DELIVERY AT OUR TRAINING FACILITY OR ON SITE AT YOUR WORKPLACE

TAILORED TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR YOUR SPECIFIC AREA OF EXPERTISE

Working Safely at Heights – $330 per person

Enter and work in confined spaces:

• Introduction – $450 per person (2 day course)

• Refresher – $330 per person (1 day course – recommended every 12 months)

• A rebate may be available from the ACT Training Fund Authority

Other services include:

• WHS Consulting & Mentoring

• Safety Equipment Sales and Service for Gas Detectors, Breathing Apparatus, Fall Arrest Equipment and more

• Inspection, Testing/Calibrating and Tagging of Safety Equipment

Limited places available for the first half of October so contact us today to reserve your place

OPINION

EX- GOVERNMENT FURNITURE

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Jesus of Nazareth, about 30 AD

THE Chief Minister this week stated his desire of having freedom from religion. His point was that religion interfered with his life and his relationship, and he should not be forced to abide by beliefs he didn’t agree with. It is a sentiment we can all resonate with.

However, is it that simple? Our entire legal system is built in large part on JudeoChristian ethics and so, in many ways, we are all bound by the impact of others’ beliefs. Our foundational democratic document, the Magna Carta, was written by churchmen. The concept of human rights was founded in the idea of humans being made in the image and likeness of God. Heck, even our daily calendar is based entirely around the birth of a Jewish religious teacher (see above quote).

On the other hand, freedom to live our own lives as we see fit is one of the greatest features of Australia. The non-establishment clause in section 116 of the Constitution states that the Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion. This has been built into our very foundations, and this freedom to follow any god or no god is a key reason why Australia has flourished so.

In many ways, the concerns from the “No” sides of the same-sex marriage debate are similar to the Chief Minister’s. They want to know what freedom they will have from his beliefs being imposed on their lives and those of their families if a “Yes” vote is successful. Religious or not, ideas have consequences for the laws we make.

Indeed, this is perhaps the main difference between the arguments of the Chief Minister and the ones from those in the churches, mosques and temples. The organisations run by worshippers are in a separate sphere from that of governance and law making. Once religion did have widespread authority to make laws, but now we have figured out that a healthy separation leads to less conflict.

The Chief Minister on the other hand controls the long sword of the State. Therefore, if he wishes to impose his beliefs on the people, he has the force of law behind him to do so.

The main areas of concern that could affect

freedom in any redefinition of marriage are in education, business and the public sector. Some may view this question of civil society freedom as a “red herring” on the question at hand in the postal survey, but as in any policy we have to explore the broader impact of a proposed change. Just like the Adani coal mine is not simply about coal, we need to ask questions about the “environmental” impact. Education is the first freedom potentially impacted. Just this past week ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry criticised a Christian school after they supported a “No” vote for not being LGBTIQ+ inclusive. This same accusation has recently been used against a private Jewish school in London, which is facing closure from the government for not being willing to teach the new beliefs now enshrined in law. Will parents be unable to withdraw their children from LGBTIQ+ sex education classes as has happened in parts of Canada? Will university students be expelled from courses for posting their views on personal Facebook pages as has happened in the UK?

Business could be impacted as well. Currently in the US there are two small business owners who are appealing to the Supreme Court after the State imposed massive fines for not being willing to be involved in a same-sex wedding. Closer to home we see 18-year-old Madeline being fired for holding personal beliefs on traditional marriage. Will their freedoms be protected?

Lastly, it is worth asking what freedoms there will still be in the public services. If a teacher, nurse or department worker refuses to use the correct terms and chosen pronouns of a colleague, will they be sent for “re-training”?

A Commonwealth government employee recently faced discipline after asking to be unsubscribed from a “pride” newsletter that his department sent around, and this is before any law has been changed.

Freedom from religion is tremendously important, but the imperative certainly lies more with those who can enforce their beliefs with the long arm of the law.

Nick Jensen is the director of the Lachlan Macquarie Institute, which helps develop leaders in public policy (lmi.org.au).

The author’s views are not necessarily those of “CityNews”, a pluralist publication that invites debate or letters from all sides of the SSM issue.

NICK JENSEN

Anniversary lunch

THE Tuggeranong Ukulele Group will entertain the ladies of the Tuggeranong Day VIEW Club as they celebrate the club’s 24th anniversary. Interested ladies and guests are welcome to join them for lunch at the Town Centre Vikings Club, Greenway, from 11.30am on Tuesday, October 17. The cost is $30 and bookings to 6294 1384 by Friday, October 13.

Festival of wellness

WATCH Your Wellness, a celebration of mental health and wellbeing with a focus on young people aged 15 to 30 years, will be held at Eddison Park, Phillip, 10am-2pm, on Thursday, October 19. Activities include music, touch footy, drumming, art and cooking workshops. More information at wcs.org.au/services/ mental-health/watch-your-wellness

Spooky bingo

THE Canberra Sundowners Satellite Rotary Club is turning on a spooky night of Halloween bingo at the Hellenic Club in the City, from 7pm, on Friday, October 27. Funds raised will go towards the Hands On Project, which provides prosthetic hands for amputees in third-world and war-torn countries. Tickets via trybooking.com/320699

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

How sociopath Shylock really loses the plot

By Helen Musa

ACTOR Mitchell Butel is hot property, as they say in showbiz. He’s won three Helpmann Awards, two Green Room awards and has played in “everything from cabaret and opera to “Angels in America”.

Now he’s scored the dream role for any serious actor – Shylock, in Bell Shakespeare’s new production of “The Merchant of Venice”, and it won’t be a stereotyped interpretation.

“I’ve never played Shylock before,” he tells “CityNews”. Weirdly, a few years ago he was in Simon Stone’s deconstructed version of Gogol’s “The Government Inspector” playing someone who always wants to play Shylock.

“I’m truly grateful it finally happened, I’m glad the universe eventually brought it to me,” he says.

With his dark good looks he seems a shoo-in for the part. “I am what you call a character actor, so roles that are not normal leading man-parts start to come your way when you get to a certain age,” he says, “Fagin [in “Oliver!”] is a similar kind of role.”

But Shylock is no Fagin, and Butel is excited that the director, Anne-Louise Sarks, has the same vision of the play as his.

not a Jew eyes?” comes from the mouth of Shylock. It has been delivered as a tearjerker, but in this production Sarks has cut out some minor characters so it is spoken directly to the audience.

They’ve already had Q&As in which they’ve been asked whether Shakespeare was anti-Semitic.

“I wouldn’t consider it anti-Semitic, because the right of reply is given to Shylock – Shakespeare was looking at it from a different angle,” says Butel.

As for the second famous speech, in which Portia asserts in court that “The quality of mercy is not strained”, the apparent nobility of Portia is set by Jessica Tovey against moments in which she is shown as privileged and casually racist – as in her reference to the Prince of Morocco’s “complexion” – that’s casual related racism. And when does Shylock leave the stage? Well, ostensibly it’s after the judge asks him: “Art thou contented, Jew?” and he replies: “I am content”, admitting defeat. But in this production the director has insinuated a nonverbal final meeting with Shylock’s daughter Jessica, a comment on his loss.

“You’ll see me in another form,” says Butel mysteriously, “all will be revealed.”

“The Merchant of Venice”, The Playhouse, October 13-21. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

Sheehan shoots at teen stereotypes

By Helen Musa

CANBERRA Youth Theatre’s spring production, “versions of us” is an all-Canberra affair.

Co-directed by two talented locals, Jamie Winbank and Jess Baker, it’s been developed since May with a team of actors aged 13 to 16 and the playwright herself.

That playwright is Emily Sheehan, born and bred in Canberra, a Youth Theatre member from early days and a student of theatre at Narrabun dah College until she headed to the Victorian College of the Arts, where she took out a BA in acting and a masters in playwriting.

Sheehan describes 2017 as “a good year for me”, with commissions to write “versions of us” based on the cast members’ lives, and “Daisy Moon was Born this Way,” (a Lady Gaga reference) to be staged at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith during November.

“I was very lucky,” she tells “CityNews” as she prepares to go into a week’s intensive work with the cast and directors.

Since graduating, Sheehan has worked as a script reader and script assessor for Playwriting Australia, an intern with the Melbourne Theatre Company’s “Cybec Electric” program and dramaturgy intern at the National Script Workshop.

“After finishing at the VCA, my first play was given an opportunity by Playwriting Australia, fantastic people who championed my work,” she says.

And one of the directors she came into contact with was former Canberran Ian Sinclair, who was particularly encouraging. That first play, “Hell’s Canyon”, won the 2015 Rodney Seaborn Award and was shortlisted for the 2016 Patrick White Award.

So what was it about playwriting that grabbed her?

“I have always been quite a creative soul and a bit of a deep thinker,” Sheehan says.

“I started thinking about characters and what they do and then I created something from scratch… I was interested in the dynamic between two people and how that makes them act.”

Writing dialogue between two people is within her comfort zone, “but four or five people on stage at once is a real challenge,” she says.

But that’s exactly what she’s doing in “versions of us”, written around 12 actors.

“It’s a test to keep them all active, to ask what each person is doing, and to bring their energy in,” she says.

Sixteen-year-old cast member Electra Spencer, a company member since age eight, is peering over our shoulders to get a look at the new play. She is one of the 12 and has been in on the project since its earliest development.

She went to Sydney recently to perform with Youth Theatre’s touring of “Verbatim” but says this is the first real script work she’s done, as her time with the company has mostly been spent on physical theatre and self-devised plays.

Not to worry, Sheehan is familiar with this phenomenon and spent a week with the cast earlier in the year to learn “their vernacular and

It’s intended as an offbeat and non-judgemental look at adolescent life, not stereotyped but “in the moment”. Spencer describes it as “very raw, about teenage rebellion”.

“I am not trying to teach anything, I’m just trying to get inside the feeling of being young,”

By now Spencer is understandably curious as to what parts she’s going to play, since she hasn’t actually seen the finished words.

Sheehan fingers through the manuscript, reassuring Spencer that she’ll get to play the same characters she did in the early read-through. The characters don’t have names but hers will be in a science lab scene, a dressing-up scene and in what they call the “trolls scene”, the kind of trolls who inhabit the online world.

The play, Sheehan says, moves to a clear endpoint, which will see a subtle subversion of teen stereotypes.

“In the end they’re going to tread their own paths… although there’s darkness, I’m shining a light through it all,” she says.

“versions of us,” Ralph Wilson Theatre, Gorman Arts Centre, Braddon, October 12-14. Bookings to cytc.net

All your hi-fi needs under the one roof

Phone 6282 1333 | www.duratone.com.au

Cnr of Botany Street & Altree Court, Phillip

All Saints Anglican Church, and the Canberra Refugee Action Committee present:

JAM FOR REFUGEES

Magical moments of a dance star

“The Dancer” (M)

A day of music

FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER, 10.30 am to 8.30 pm

All Saints’ Church, Cowper St Ainslie

COME WHEN YOU CAN - LEAVE WHEN YOU MUST

ENTRY BY DONATION

Proceeds to Manus Lives Matter, Canberra Refugee Support & Companion House

WITH only three films since 1984, Stephanie Di Giusto isn’t a prolific filmmaker.

A screenplay by Thomas Bidegain adapting a novel by Giovanni Lista about the middle years of American Marie-Louise (stage name Loie) Fuller doesn’t attempt to cover all of her achievements as actress, theatrical technologist, author and friend to notable French artistic and political figures during la belle époque.

Instead, Di Giusto shows how Loie changed the face of dance as a theatrical spectacle.

Playing Loie, Soko delivers a woman confronting personal and career obstacles that might have deterred someone less resolute. How she dealt with them forms a prelude to dance passages occupying about a fifth of the film. And those alone are worth much.

Loie might rightly claim a place in the history of dance that changed much and is still leading to creative development. The film spends much time overcoming the obstacles confronting her. It touches on her career at the Folies Bergere from where she moved to the Paris Opera. It briefly suggests that Isadora Duncan (Lily-Rose Depp) might have been her lover. It implies that her professional and domestic factotum Gabrielle Bloch (Mélanie Thierry) would have liked to be her lover. To balance the sexual equation, it creates a fictional male lover the Comte D’Orsay (Gaspard Ulliel).

But while sex provides the film with a slowflowing undercurrent, it’s the magical moments of Loie dominating centre stage, swirling voluminous fabric around her body in tightlychoreographed, ever-changing patterns of movement and light, that make it totally worthwhile.

At Palace Electric

WINE

“Battle of the Sexes” (PG)

ON September 20, 1973, top-seeded woman tennis player 29-year-old Billie Jean King won $100,000 when she wiped the court in three straight sets in a challenge match against one-time world No. 1 tennis player Bobby Riggs then aged 55 and earning a living as a tennis hustler and gambler.

About 20 minutes into the screening, two adult and one apparently adolescent women walked out when Billie Jean kissed hairdresser Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Riseborough) for the first time. Did they find the moment offensive? Was one of them unwell? Whatever, they missed a movie offering value even to people who’ve never picked up a racquet or had a sexual experience of either kind.

There’s much more to “Battle of the Sexes” than married Billie Jean’s acknowledgment of her lesbian choice. It deals with gender equality in sport. It depicts intelligent adults dealing with powerful disruptions in hitherto stable relationships. It examines the politics of sport – is winning more important than gate takings and prizemoney? Does the staging of spectacular sporting events justify the wealth they generate for their promoters?

The film’s highlights of that epoch-changing match before an audience packing the Houston Astrodome reflect the acting versatility of Emma Stone as Billie Jean and Steve Carell as Riggs. Filmmakers nowadays can create convincing images from technical wizardry. Was that the case here? I don’t think it matters. But I did find them as exciting as what TV now offers in real life. At all cinemas

“Flatliners” (M)

IN 1990, Joel Schumacher’s contemporary sci-fi fantasy “Flatliners” told how five newly graduated medicos tinkered with reincarnation of newly dead people by timely medical intervention, using themselves as guinea-pigs! That idea is no more or less fantastic than any other sci-fi movies set on this or any other planet. Nor is it any more scientifically sound 27 years later. I found little to praise in this remake by Danish filmmaker Niels Arden Oplev (“The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”).

The only alumnus from the 1990 film, Kiefer Sutherland, this time plays a middle-aged medico reviewing professional standards of five new medicos before turning them loose unsupervised on an unsuspecting patient body.

The film staggers along with a full component of same-old same-old plot to a predictable conclusion, but not before principal character Courtney (Ellen Page) dies with no-one on hand to reincarnate her.

Surprise, surprise! “Flatliners” is a message movie! Its prelude is a spectacular car crash nine years earlier. A child dies. Her older sister Courtney was answering her mobile while driving. The film’s underlying presumption becomes apparent. Does the price of Courtney’s discretion reflect value for your ticket? You decide.

At Dendy, Capitol and Hoyts

Big larrikin meets a sissy aristocrat

IT was the best of times, it was the worst of times. For here are two very worthwhile wines each so different, so distinctive. Sitting in a friend’s new apartment at the Kingston Foreshore, looking at the glint of lights at the edge of the lake, I am asked: which do you prefer?

Frankly, I would just like to continue looking at the view and enjoying a taste of both but c’est la vie; pretension brings its own rewards.

The first is an Aussie larrikin. The second a descendant of an eighteenth century French aristocrat. I like big punch-in-the-face Aussie shiraz. I also like subtle, soft Bordeaux wines that are generally a blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot. In “Much Ado About Nothing”, Shakespeare gives Dogberry the line “comparisons are odorous”. I think he was barking up the wrong tree. But here goes.

The first is a Rick Burge, of Burge Family Winemakers, Barossa shiraz. The tongue-in-cheek name he gives to the 2010 vintage is a Shyrahz. He calls it a Mangalanga. The tasting notes on the rear label (that he has printed upside down to trick the drunkards) show the winemaker’s frustration with stereotypical winespeak and the hyperbole that seems to abound when wine is being described:

An ultra-super-uber-mega-premium red (OMFG) vintaged from cool and warm climate Shyrahz growing in the high altitude Mangalanga sub-region near Warpoo, in the southern Barossa. A potential, multi-award winner, being both iconic and artisanal, due to maximum intervention in our Triodynamic (in conversion) wine garden.

The tasting notes on the Burge rear label show the winemaker’s frustration with stereotypical winespeak and the hyperbole that seems to abound when wine is being described.

The label also proclaims that the wine is “dolphin safe”.

After reading that description, you are just dumbfounded about what to say about the wine. First, it is complex. It is a cigar-box, heady, highalcohol (14 per cent) red of unique flavour.

It is drinking well now although my host for the night thought that it was teetering on the edge of the downward slope. I reckon it will be good drinking for the next 2-5 years.

The wine complemented the strong flavours of the home-made pizzas that were served and the wine would have gone well with a cheroot. Alas, the days of sucking on cigars on a frosty Canberran evening are long gone, partly as a result of the political correctness that Rick Burge is having a crack at and partly because of those crushing tobacco headaches the next day.

The Bordeaux contrasted in a world of ways. The label tells us it is made by Chateau Lanessan, vintage 1999. The words Haut-Medoc then follow. This expresses that the wine comes from the Medoc along the Gironde river, one of the most famous parts of Bordeaux that became wine-

making regions from the 17th century when the Dutch drained the salt marshes in an attempt to create an area that would serve the burgeoning British wine market. And it has in spades. The words “Haut-Medoc” also follow an appellation, a sign of quality control: that the wine really is from the region shown.

The wine didn’t offer a lot on the nose, just a hint of strawberry. It was smooth and clean but nowhere as long in the finish as the larrikin Aussie. It was as if all of the fighting qualities in the blend had been knocked out, albeit the wine is not dogged by faults. It is a bit of a sissy. Contrast that with what Halliday and Johnson in “The Art and Science of Wine” say: “Few winelovers anywhere dispute the proposition that the greatest full-bodied red wines of all are those of Bordeaux, and above all of the Haut-Medoc.“

It’s enough to give you the crepes.

RICHARD CALVER

DINING / an nguyen vegan restaurant

Dishes delight the senses

I’M not a vegan but love wellprepared vegan dishes because they’re vibrant looking and super tasty. Deep down it’s likely more that eating in a vegan place helps me justify eating out. I am, after all, fuelling my body well, aren’t I?

The new vegan restaurant in Kingston, An Nguyen, is a pleasant and laid back place. The colours are bold and based around fruit – limes, oranges, lemons. Just in case you’re wondering, “an” is “inner peace from compassion” and “nguyen” is “a beginning”.

The restaurant encourages healthy food choices for the body, with everything prepared using solely plant-based ingredients. The menu is inspired by the traditional cuisine of Vietnam, says An Nguyen. Indeed, the restaurant declares that the food is designed to “delight the senses, uplift the spirit and instil a feeling of inner peace through compassionate, life-saving food choices”. That sets the scene

We started with the tasty mushroom

The restaurant encourages healthy food choices for the body, with everything prepared using solely plant-based ingredients.

fritters ($8.90 for five) and the restaurant kindly offered to adjust the number in the serve so we could enjoy two each. It’s a small gesture but makes sharing so much easier.

The curries are beautiful and the depth of flavours captivating ($19.50). The vegetable tofu variety was rich, but not overly so, and brimming with vitamin-packed ingredients. The same with the snow peas and mushroom dish ($19.50). Again, a generous serve of ingredients and who can go wrong with crunchy snow peas?

Our fave dish (not that we didn’t enjoy them all) was the eggplant hotpot ($19.50). It was divine and the combination of intense flavours superb (slightly sweet for some, perhaps, but not us). I’ve been craving it since the first bite. The dishes we avoided, only based on personal preference, were the “pretend meat” ones (created with soy meat). I don’t know if it’s psychological, but I’ve never been

ARTS IN THE CITY

able to get my head wrapped around the notion. Still, many do and An Nguyen has an impressive line-up (all $19.50), including chicken veg and cashew nuts, roast duck, satay beef and Mongolian lamb.

Soup fans can dig into a hearty soy seafood sour soup or soy beef sour soup ($19.50). Other full-meal soups include the deluxe noodle ($16.50) and the royal spicy noodle ($14.50).

If you’re confused about what to order, or can’t decide, the banquet options are a good bet. An Nguyen also offers lunch boxes for $12.50, which all come with steamed rice. And there are special deals on Monday and Tuesday that are worth checking out. Healthy juices and cakes are also on offer to round off your An Nguyen experience.

An Nguyen Vegan Restaurant, 54 Giles Street, Kingston. Call 5105 9888. Open seven days, 11am-2.30pm and 5pm-9.30pm.

Dining

out guide...

Strictly music and nostalgia

“LOVE is in the Air”, “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” and “Time After Time” are just some of the songs that will be danced to in “Strictly Ballroom, the Musical” when Canberra Philharmonic Society’s production of Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of the movie, directed by Chris Baldock, takes the stage at Erindale Theatre, October 12-30. Bookings to philo.org.au

THE Ositos Cool Frida Fiesta fundraiser event is to promote Latin American culture and to raise awareness of emotional health and wellbeing during the launch day of Mental Health Week. With a Frida Kahlo theme, the organisers have invited 21 local Canberra visual artists to help celebrate, along with stallholders and a mix of folkloric and Latin/Hispanic performers, such as Mexico Lindo, Tengo Tango and Capoeira Senzala. At the Fitters Workshop, Kingston, 10am-4pm, Sunday, October 8. All welcome.

Joel Hutchings as Scott Hastings in “Strictly Ballroom, the Musical”.

CANBERRA Mandolin Orchestra claims that the mandolin is Naples’ second most famous export after the pizza. Debatable, but the history of the former will be the subject of its next concert, which will include choro tunes from Brazil to ragtime and swing from the US and a Neapolitan piece by mandolin master Raffaele Calace. Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 2.15pm-3.30 pm, Saturday, October 14. Bookings to eventbrite.com.au and at the door.

ARTIST and painting teacher Michael Winters, an honorary citizen of the Greek island of Leros for his art activities, is wandering again, this time to the Orange Regional Gallery where his new exhibition “Dissected by Time and Space” will run from October 14 to December 20.

BUSKERS by the Creek will have 11 finalists, including Canberra’s Tessa Devine, competing for prizes worth more than $10,000 at “Battle of the Buskers” on the Gold Coast, October 13-15. Information at buskersbythecreek.com.au

THERE will be Anime, romance and a comedy called “Hamon: Yakuza Boogie” when the 21st Japanese Film Festival comes to Dendy Cinemas, October 13 to 22. The opening-night film is “Mumon: The Land of Stealth”, featuring the only known battle between ninja and samurai, bookings to japanesefilmfestival.net

CANBERRA’S brass, string, percussion and vocal musicians have joined with Limestone Consort to perform Baroque music at the High Court of Australia at 1.30pm on Sunday, October 8. It’s free, but registration to hcourt.gov.au

Aged Composted Horse Manure

GARDENING

Exciting time in the garden

SPRING is in the air, daylight saving has started and it’s an exciting time to be in the garden.

Before buying new plants, it’s worth planning where they’re to be planted, thinking about the available space and if it’s in sun or shade.

Make a list and try to keep to it, which I know is easier said than done when one is confronted in garden centres by so many wonder ful plants in flower.

It’s a good idea on hot days to take an old sheet and cover the plants when driving home.

And, once home, give the plants a thorough watering. With the best will in the world, not all plants get sufficient water while in the nursery and may be on the dry side.

Before planting, water the plants while still in the pots with Maxicrop Seaweed Plant Nutrient added. This is specifically for promotion of root growth, which is vital as the days heat up.

At planting time make a small mound of soil around the new plant to hold a minimum of a nine-litre bucket of water and fill this “moat” with water, to which more seaweed solution is added.

WITH spring comes the pests.

For example, aphids are starting to mass not only on roses but also on the emerging fresh leaves of maples. Using chemical sprays to kill the aphids will also kill ladybirds, whose favourite diet is aphids! I recommend the natural spray made from the pyrethrum daisy such as Maxicrop Long Life Pyrethrum, which will last up to 20 days.

WE often think of a bird bath as

an important addition to gardens, but forget about a shallow-water container, such as a plant saucer, for other inhabitants such as geckos, blue-tongue lizards and bees.

I recommend placing bird baths in an open position because when placed under trees and shrubs they quickly fill with leaves and, more importantly, birds can’t always see the friendly cat sitting in the tree waiting to pounce.

BUXUS or box hedging plants are now showing lots of new growth and flowers and this is one time to ignore the flowers and trim the plant into shape.

Normally the advice is to prune evergreen plants immediately after flowering, Buxus being the exception.

Years ago, the advice given for Aussie plants was not to feed, water or prune. The idea was that these plants have adapted over millennia to natural conditions.

However, those giving this advice did not take into account the huge variation in soils once we modern folk started developing gardens and amending soils.

So, today’s advice is to prune, feed and water Aussie plants the same as any other.

On pruning, the advice I like to give is prune immediately after flowering and do not take more than one third off at any one time. Many plants will respond to much heavier pruning with little ill effect. But some – in particular Aussie plants – can resent a too heavy hand with the shears or hedge clippers. So, up to (but not more than) one third off at any time. Apply a good organic plant food to the soil to boost the “take off” of new growth. Neutrog Seamungus, a combination of seaweed and chook poo (from free-range hens) is ideal and is classified as organic.

With glorious spring weather, the new shoots will soon start appearing. Pruning has the effect

of producing more branches, resulting in denser growth and with flowering plants, more flowers the following season.

OCTOBER is also the ideal month for pruning conifers (and in March). It is vital not to prune conifers too hard and never into the old wood. While most evergreen shrubs will bounce back if one gets carried away, not so conifers.

If you do cut into the old wood you will end up with a hedge of “old wood” with no greenery. It is important with all evergreen hedges, whether pittosporum or conifer, to shape the top narrower than the base. This allows for even sunlight to the whole plant. If the hedge bulges out at the top, dieback can result at the bottom half of the hedge.

Jottings…

• Mulching is of the utmost priority without delay. I use and recommend Canberra Sand and Gravel’s “Canberra Organic Mulch”.

• When feeding plants, remember to feed the plant not the ground. Neutrog’s Seamungus either in pellet or liquid form is ideal. This is a combination of chicken poo and seaweed. Spread around the drip line away from the stems of the plant.

• “Grow contented plants and you will find peace in your garden” –Beth Chatto, well-known English gardener.

PUZZLES PAGE

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Mid-week looks mighty frustrating, as the Mars/Saturn square stymies motivation and slows progress. So you’ll need to be patient – which is not one of your natural virtues! The good news? Prosperity planet Jupiter jumps into your ‘money-fromothers zone’. So (over the next 13 months) you could benefit from a pay rise, inheritance, loan, bonus, divorce settlement, insurance claim, bumper tax return or superannuation pay-out. Just make sure you spend any windfall wisely.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

With Jupiter in your partnership zone (until November 2018) aim to be more compassionate and generous towards loved ones. Plus try to view a troubled relationship from a more philosophical perspective. If you are single, you could fall for someone from another country or culture. So your motto is from birthday great John Lennon: “We’ve got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant… You’ve got to keep watering it. You’ve got to really look after it and nurture it.”

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Expect a week of intense communication and/or relationship challenges. You’ve got plenty to say but make sure you take the time to really listen to others. Jupiter wanders into your wellbeing zone, which is good news for your physical health and emotional wellbeing over the next 13 months. There’s one proviso though –you must be a disciplined Gemini. So aim to find a deliciously nutritious diet, a fun exercise program, and a relaxation routine that you really enjoy.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

A relationship looks problematic, as a loved one issues ultimatums. More compromise is needed (on both sides) if you want to avoid tears before bedtime. Jupiter visits your entertainment zone until November 2018. So many Crabs will take up a sport or hobby, start a romance, go on a holiday or welcome a new addition to the family. Creative projects are also favoured, plus expect a plethora of big celebrations (like engagements, weddings and milestone birthday parties) as well.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

The week starts with a challenging Sun/Pluto square. So pace yourself and do your best to avoid run-ins with authority figures. If you are the person in charge, then resist the urge to be bossy and over-bearing with others. Being a demanding Diva will get you nowhere fast! Over the next 13 months, Jupiter is set to expand your domestic horizons. So you could buy or sell real estate, move house, get a new housemate, or renovate your present place so you have much more space.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

On Monday your fussy and finicky OCD side could run rampant. If you let it. Instead take ten deep breaths, try to relax, and keep things in perspective. Your public profile really takes off over the next 13 months, as Jupiter blesses all forms of communication. So it’s a terrific time to start a blog, launch a website or promote your current business. One of your social media posts could even go viral. So make sure you have plenty of topical and shareable things to say.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

When it comes to a personal issue or a family matter, it’s time to ask some hard questions and take a firm stand. Don’t let a loved one walk all over you, and avoid the tendency to procrastinate! You won’t get far if you just sit on the fence. And have you been worrying about money matters? Prosperity planet Jupiter transits through your money zone (from Tuesday until November 2018). So make sure you capitalise on the lucky financial opportunities that come your way.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

It’s time to celebrate! Jupiter (planet of luck, happiness and prosperity) is moving through your sign until November 2018. And this only happens every 12 years. So make sure you are passionately proactive as you capitalise on the energy boost, positive mood and good fortune it potentially provides. Smart Scorpios will seize the moment, day and year, as you grab opportunities when they come along. You’ll find confidence is the rocket fuel that will really take you places.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Work will be frustrating this week, or a friend could surprise you by doing (or saying) something unexpected. So pace yourself. It’s definitely time for speedy Sagittarians to slow down and become much more philosophical, as Jupiter moves through your contemplation zone for the next 13 months. So you are likely to take up meditation or yoga (or some sort of metaphysical study) as Jupiter broadens your spiritual perspective. There’s always something new to learn!

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

This week is all about getting the ratio right between your busy public life and your private inner world. Be inspired by well-balanced Libran movie star Hugh Jackman (celebrating his birthday October 12): “The secret to modern life is finding the measure in time management.” It’s also time to make plans and set goals for the future. And don’t make them too safe and sensible! Go for gold, as Jupiter helps you envision ambitious dreams and creative schemes over the coming year.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Jupiter (planet of good fortune and prosperity) charges into your career zone. Which bodes well for a promotion, new job or lucky break coming your way over the next 13 months. But there is no room for false modesty! In order to truly flourish you must be passionately proactive as you promote your capabilities and trumpet your talents far and wide. If you tap into this Jupiterian reservoir of confidence and abundance, then professional success and accolades will follow.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Someone may pressure you to reveal information that was given to you in confidence. Hence your current moral and philosophical conundrum as you ponder ‘Is honesty always the best policy’? With Jupiter transiting through your travel zone, foreign shores beckon over the next 13 months. So start planning your itinerary now. It’s also important to keep up-to-date with your international contacts. Who knows where they may lead? With bountiful Jupiter on your side, the sky’s the limit!

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2017

1 Name a deep red mineral, used as a gem. (6)

7 Which social workers are attached to hospitals? (8)

8 Which common mineral is used as a refractory when opaque? (6)

9 Name an island in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Africa. (8)

10 Name the capital of Kansas USA. (6)

11 Which gaseous element forms about four-fifths of the atmosphere? (8)

14 What is a sheath for the blade of a sword? (8)

18 Name another term for a utility truck. (6)

19 What is the sounding of the notes of a chord separately and in succession instead of simultaneously? (8)

21 Which term implies extra space, time, etc? (6)

22 What is the principal ore in iron? (8)

23 What is a meeting of people seeking to communicate with spirits of the dead? (6)

Down

1 What are official government journals containing lists of appointments, promotions, etc? (8)

2 What, in the US, is a five-cent coin called? (6)

3 Dodoma is the political capital of which E African republic? (8)

4 What is a prophetic sign called? (4)

5 Which colour lies between violet and blue in the spectrum? (6)

6 Name a fatty substance, used as a lubricant. (6)

12 What are the aquatic larvae of frogs? (8)

13 Name an alternative term for a beginner. (8)

15 Who discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922, Howard ...? (6)

16 What is a standing rule, as of a society or the like, not in its constitution? (6)

17 Name an inflammatory disease of the skin. (6)

20 What is a grating of crossed bars? (4)

This is an important question that needs to be answered by the pilot citizens’ jury. They will be considering it over the weekends of the 14th–15th and the 28th–29th October.

Whether you’re an innocent victim in a motor vehicle accident, a cyclist or a pedestrian, you could be denied access to medical treatment, and experience loss of income, or suffer ongoing physical and emotional pain without fair compensation, as a result of this process.

Don’t lose your CTP rights.