180201 citynews

AWAKING THE NEW YOU

Six pages of experts keen to help readers keep those pesky New Year resolutions

Well written, well read

Mysterious case of the Michelago poisoner NICHOLE OVERALL Canberra women face some cold, hard truths TULITHA KING Adam gives Amanda another ‘Masterclass’ HELEN MUSA Plan now for autumn blooms CEDRIC BRYANT ACT

SEVEN DAYS

‘Frustrated’ that nothing has changed

LATE 2013 I left the Capital Radio Network – after more than a decade as a presenter – frustrated at the workplace culture. A “Canberra Times” front-page story suggests little has changed.

Journalists Tom Mcllroy and Tracey Spicer reported management’s alleged failure to properly address claims of sexual harassment brought by a young, female journalist against 2CA announcer Frank Vincent . Vincent –labelled by staff as “untouchable” – was sacked a day after management received a list of questions from the “Times”. Word from longterm Mitchell staffers is that the former breakfast personality is not the only one perceived to be “untouchable”.

“OUR Nick” may have finally won our respect. In losing to Grigor Dimitrov at the Australian Open “The Australian” sport reporter Will Swanton says that by having a “serious crack”, the Canberra superstar Nick Kyrgios “lost nothing but may have found something”. Swanton reports Kyrgios was “still telling his courtside box to f--- off. He was still chastising them, embarrassing them and ordering them to stand the f--- up. He slammed a ball into the grandstand and escaped a code violation. But all was okay. Why? Because he was giving 110 per cent”.

A YEAR ago “Seven Days” reported the “rare sight” of two men sitting in deck chairs on a traffic island at peak hour at Canberra’s most dangerous intersection. The pair of locals held grave safety

fears after the installation of traffic lights at the Gundaroo Drive/William Slim Drive/Barton Highway roundabout and took ringside seats to witness the “switching on” of the $10 million project. One year on it appears the doubters were wrong. ACT Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris says “between January and December 2017 a total of 47 accidents was reported compared with an average of 100 per year for the 2012-16 period”.

CANBERRA transgender athlete Hannah Mouncey, who made national headlines last year after being barred from playing in the national women’s AFLW competition, is gearing up for another season with the Ainslie club. The former Commonwealth Games handball representative

dose of dorin

who began “spruiking” at the age of two, was back on the box – for January only – in the silent-movie themed spots. For the record “little” Max – whose line was “call Blumers” – now stands over 183 centimetres (six foot) and is in year 12.

A SHORT piece in “City News” late last year plugging a reunion for staffers at the Australian Government Publishing Service has brought romance in the New Year for two single Canberrans. Ron and Angela were colleagues at the Kingston site and dated several times, but had not seen each other since 1973. Ron, now 71, claims to have no memory of the back-in-the-days dates, though Angela suggests Ron’s amnesia is “selective” for a good reason. The romance came to a shuddering halt when he over-indulged and left Angela to find her own way home from a party to which he’d taken her. But time heals all.

posted on Facebook: “Just re-registered for season 2018, now let’s see what happens”. Mouncey was blocked from playing in the inaugural competition being deemed “to have an unfair advantage” over the rest of the competition. Whether the goalposts will be shifted to include Mouncey this year is not clear, but the issue will certainly dominate coverage of the second season of the successful AFL initiative.

PERSONAL injury law firm Blumers has cleverly used social media to promote a decade-old TV commercial campaign that featured principals Mark and Noor Blumer’s five-year-old grandson Max. Max,

IS YOUR POOL DEFENCE -LESS?

CONVENTIONAL wisdom says “giving a dog a bad name” is not good but here’s a tip anyway. The good oil is that a young greyhound with the pedestrian moniker of “Nugget” but renamed “Community Values” by those lobbying the Barr government to lift a ban on the sport in the ACT – came second in its first race and shows signs of a promising career on the track.

Genevieve Jacobs, pictured, has joined the board of the Canberra International Music Festival. A dedicated volunteer and advocate for community engagement, Genevieve works with a wide range of organisations including the Tara Costigan Foundation, Gift of Life ACT and ACT Wildlife Rescue. The festival runs from April 27 to May 6 this year.

Free tennis festival

THERE’S a free tennis festival planned by the Queanbeyan Park Tennis Club on Saturday, February 3. Part of Tennis Australia’s #GetCourtUp open days, it will include activities for the family, tennis lessons, and giveaways. More information at parksidetennis.com. au/events

BE A BACKYARD LIFEGUARD AND KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE THIS SUMMER

Every year children under five drown in backyard pools – accidents we can help prevent. As a pool owner it is important to ensure your pool barriers meet the current minimum standards and are as safe as possible for young children.

Remember, while a vital safety measure, a pool barrier is not a substitute for supervision. Always watch kids in and around pools and know how to perform CPR.

HOUSING / Goodbye detached house dreams

Government snubs Canberra’s housing hopes and aspirations

THE “Housing Choices” discussion paper released late last year provides a fascinating, if very concerning, insight into how the ACT government is using the issue of housing to support an agenda to change the built form and plan of Canberra.

The Minister for Planning and Land Management, Mick Gentleman, in a “Message from the Minister” sets the scene and outlines the apparent rationale for the paper.

“This discussion paper on housing choices is looking at how we can better meet the needs of our residents, be they single, couples, families or groups. As I found out during consultation on my Minister’s Statement of Planning Intent, there is no longer the presumption that everyone aspires to a large block with a garden.

“People want different forms of housing in the suburbs, as well as in centres and mixed-use areas. This includes townhouses, terrace houses, secondary dwellings and apartments as well as a continuing demand for detached houses.

“While this is being driven by the younger generation it is also being sought by older residents who do not want to leave the suburb they may have lived in for 50 years, but no longer want, or are able, to live in a big house that can be better used by a larger family.”

The minister is quite clear. He is saying all the evidence available to him is that the once great Australian dream of an affordable detached house on a quarteracre block is over. People, the minister assures us, now want “townhouses, terrace houses, secondary dwellings and apartments” as well as, he says, almost as an afterthought, detached houses.

There have, of course, always been people in Canberra who have chosen to live in other than a detached house. For some it is a choice dictated by circumstances over which they may not have control including for example poverty or other disadvantage; or perhaps they fall within the rapidly expanding cohort of workers and families for whom the price of detached housing is simply unaffordable. For others the decision to opt for other than detached housing may have been

A staggering 79.3 per cent of the people of Canberra believe that there should be no more apartment buildings of more than six storeys built in Canberra.

a lifestyle choice or simply a question of personal preference.

The questions begged by the discussion paper and the minister’s assessment of a desire for greater choice in housing are, of course:

• What evidence has the minister relied on in forming his opinions?

• How great and widespread is the desire for housing other than a detached dwelling?

• What are the major drivers for change?

• What proportion of the Canberra community is looking to move from a detached house to other types of housing and what form should that housing take?

The discussion paper provides, on page 20, a hint of an answer to these questions by referencing the findings of a major and statistically sound community survey into housing choices, which the government commissioned in 2015, from Winton Sustainable Research Strategies. Unfortunately, the discussion paper includes only minimal information about the survey but the actual report, if you can get hold of it, is a gold mine of data on what the residents of Canberra really think about housing in Canberra.

A snippet of what the Winton survey of housing choices in Canberra reveals, for example, from those surveyed, is:

• That 85.5 per cent currently live in a detached house;

• Of those who have plans to move to a new dwelling in the future 91 per cent propose to move to a detached house;

• Of those who have plans to move to a new dwelling in the future none intend to move to a townhouse or dual

occupancy and a mere 8.3 per cent want to move to an apartment;

• Asked what form of dwelling they would like to live in, “in an ideal world”, 84.2 per cent of Canberrans say that they want to live in a detached house;

• The most prevalent reason (52.7 per cent) dictating people’s choice of dwelling is affordability.

The Winton report also provides a revealing insight into the opinions of Canberra residents on various forms of dwelling type. For example, according to the survey:

• A mere 4.6 per cent of people in Canberra think there should be more apartment buildings of more than six storeys and only 5.7 per cent support more apartment buildings of between four and six storeys;

• A staggering 79.3 per cent of the people of Canberra believe that there should be no more apartment buildings of more than six storeys built in Canberra. The two principal conclusions that can reasonably be drawn from the Canberra community survey on housing choices undertaken by Winton in 2015 is, first, that the housing choice most commonly denied to Canberra residents is an affordable house on a detached block and, secondly, that the ACT government has completely ignored the views of residents in relation to land supply and the built form of Canberra.

Continued Page 6

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

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

Canberra women face some cold, hard truths

By Tulitha King

FOUR Canberra women have been accepted into Homeward Bound, a global leadership program taking 100 women in science to Antarctica this month for training in leadership and sustainability.

Nicole Fetchet, Aparna Lal, Made line Mitchell and Susan Scott will be among 100 other women from all over the world travelling by boat for three weeks from Argentina to Antarctica on February 15.

The group will observe how climate change and human impact are chang ing the world’s most isolated continent.

“It’s an intensive three weeks, there will be 100 people on this boat for 22 days,” says Nicole.

“There will be a focus on leadership strategy and visibility, some science communication, content around cli mate change, STEM, gender and a few other themes,” says Madeline.

Homeward Bound began in 2015 with the support of several scientific groups from around the world. Over 10 years it aims to equip 1,000 women with a background in science to lead and contribute to policy and decision making in order to better protect the future of our planet.

aims to increase the visibility of women in science, “so that we have females as models and mentors,” says Nicole.

“There are women who have discovered the BRCA gene, and the link between HIV and AIDS, but we don’t hear about that.”

There is optimism, however, says Susan, who believes “we’re going to make a difference as a cohort.”

Climate change is a strong focus of the program, but Nicole says they’re not throwing around “climate change”

“It’s about the relationship between people and the planet, about protecting mother nature and the future,” she

“It’s emotive, but you should have an emotional connection to your planet and the environment that you live in.”

Like others in the program, Nicole, Aparna, Madeline and Susan work in fields that cover a range of scientific

Nicole is a science communicator, working at Questacon.

sustainable agricultural production.

Susan Scott was the first female professor in physics at the ANU and was part of the team that discovered gravitational waves in 2016. She says she now runs a research group funded by the Australian Research Council called OzGrav where they can consolidate and expand their research activities so that they can pursue other sources of gravitational waves.

“I’d hate to be working on something that I could totally, potentially solve, it’s good to be driven on toward something,” she says.

All four agree that there are still hurdles to women pursuing careers in science, saying that expectations to maintain full-time volumes of work while also raising children, supporting a partner and working part time are sometimes not accounted for.

“Working parents need more flexible pathways for career success that allow for competing demands,” says Aparna.

This trip to Antarctica concludes a year of leadership training with Homeward Bound as the program now enters its third year with a new intake of women for 2018.

While a range of sponsors provide inkind support to the program, participants are generally expected to raise funds to cover their time on the ship.

“We make up 50 per cent of the population but our voices aren’t given an equal voice. We can all relate to the stories being told of harassment, isolation or being marginalised.”

Nicole says that Homeward Bound

Homeward Bound’s slogan, “mother nature needs her daughters”, “resonates with a lot of us,” says Nicole.

Aparna has a background in ecology and now works as a researcher at the ANU where she says she examines the way extreme climatic events can affect health outcomes in affected populations.

Madeline says she turned to science as she “wanted to do something practical”. She works at CSIRO researching plants and says she’s interested in

FEE FREE FOR A YEAR! Reserve before 31st March and Live Fee Free for a Year!^

The women say their knowledge of climate change has expanded since their involvement in Homeward Bound, and “even if that’s not what we work on, it’s what we care about,” says Susan.

Homeward Bound can be found at homewardboundprojects.com.au. OzGrav can be found at ozgrav.org

Our

The part of ActewAGL that looks after the electricity and gas networks has changed its name to Evoenergy.

You’ll still talk to ActewAGL, or another retailer, about your energy bills. But Evoenergy will now deliver your electricity and gas through our networks to you.

This change was brought about from a decision by the Australian Energy Regulator.

While our name has changed, what hasn’t changed is our commitment to you.

We will continue to maintain the electricity and gas networks with a high standard of service, safety and reliability.

Energy for the future.

Contact Us

You can continue to report unplanned outages on the emergencies and faults lines.

Electricity 13 10 93

Gas 13 19 09

actewagl.com.au/evoenergy @EvoenergyACT @EvoenergyACT

Capital Chemist Kingston is saving over $4,000 per year in energy bills and feeling cool and comfortable with the help of Actsmart

Making energy-smart choices over the warmer months can have a big impact

By signing up to the Actsmart Business Energy and Water program, small businesses can receive:

a FREE on-site energy and water assessment a FREE tailored action plan up to $5,000 to install more efficient equipment including heating and cooling equipment *Full terms and conditions available on the Actsmart website

Alcohol ban a ‘disgrace’

THE organisers of this year’s multicultural festival, in their wisdom, decided to limit alcohol sales to people who already had a full liquor licence.

The small ethnic groups that usually provide food and alcohol from their regions have been told that they can’t provide alcohol.

Apparently, it’s to curb the problems of excess alcohol consumption. This surprises me, as three arrests last year out of a crowd of 280,000 visitors isn’t exactly a riot.

The poor volunteers who slave to raise funds for their cultural activities have wondered for some time how decisions are made by the organisers. There’s little transparency about the allocation of booths etcetera. This year is worse than most. The Tongans were asked to provide dance displays, but were refused permission to have a food stall. The ACT government is doing nothing, as usual. The whole thing is a disgrace!

Maria Greene, via email

Hands off Australia Day!

WHY do we Australians all seem so intent on everlasting divisiveness whether it be for political, cultural or personal reasons? Why are we so intent on dwelling on the past for dissention – irrespective of wrongs done or denying great achievement? Why do we ad infinitum try to rewrite history instead of accepting facts, build on advancements, learn for the future and, with vision and goodwill, atone for failures and wrongs done?

Unless we prefer to remain personally or ideologically blinkered, we have so much to celebrate for the nation Australia has become.

This constant bickering about Australia Day on January 26 does nothing but continue to divide and cloud the real need for togetherness – which is the responsibility of all Australians – irrespective of background, grievance, ideology or vested interest.

The Australian nation will never be cohesive unless and until we have the desire and the vision to harness goodwill over friction, accept success and failures and, instead of lamenting the past, get down and forge the future. And that will never happen until we all take responsibility that must accompany rights.

Hands off Australia Day – cast off dissention, join the majority, get positive, knuckle down, accept what has been, cast off inequalities and injustice by capturing some vision – and look to the future.

Len Goodman, Belconnen

We need more police

WITH a flood of media messages about the increased presence of police on our roads filling my mind, I drove recently the Canberra/Sydney/Canberra route.

Ever alert for roadside cops, I completed the 600 kilometres without seeing one ACT or NSW police car or motorcycle, even when especially alert for those parked inauspiciously.

I am convinced governments, for economic reasons, are slowly installing more cameras and roadside warn -

ings about double demerit points etcetera to virtually replace what was a deterrent police presence.

An often heard complaint in our cities is there are not enough cops to be seen on our streets. It has now spread to our motorways. Clearly our communities need more police.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

Time to move on, Max

IN response to Max McGregor’s letter, using the same flawed logic, the No “vote” was only 30.4% (80% X 38%). Time to move on.

Russell Noble, Hackett

Horrified by ‘hanging trees’

I WAS appalled by the idea of “hanging trees” described in the article by Heike Hahner (“Cruel horrors behind the grisly ‘hanging trees’”, CN, January 11) . I understand that foxes are a problem for farmers even though they are beautiful creatures. But to hang them out in the trees is not only archaic but sick.

I don’t believe it will deter other foxes. Is it just to show (boast?) how many were killed? But do we really need to know?

Vi Evans via email

Villains have more rights

HEIKE Hahner’s article on “hanging trees” in “CityNews” is the greatest load of myopic drivel I have read in a long time.

As is typical with left-leaning writers, the villains have more rights than the victims, this time feral animals over the farmers.

Hahner writes: “It allows severe animal rights and welfare abuses.”

I thought she was writing about foxes that kill baby lambs or crows that peck the eyes out of the same. What about the rights of the lamb to enjoy its short life without being maimed or blinded?

All the animals she writes about having a right of protection are FERAL animals that live by the survival of the fittest and have done so since long before animal husbandry came into vogue.

As for hunting pigs with pig dogs; I suggest history has shown us that, despite modern technology, it is the best way to reduce their menace.

I would also suggest using pig dogs is a more target-focused method than the randomness of using 1080 baiting on other vermin.

Mal Elliott, via email

Let loose to: editor@citynews.com.au or write to the editor at: 9b / 189 Flemington Road, Mitchell 2911

Housing hopes snubbed

Continued from Page 3

For more information: visit actsmart.act.gov.au email businessenergy@act.gov.au call Access Canberra on 13 22 81

The fact that the overwhelming first choice of a detached dwelling is simply not realisable for thousands of Canberrans is in major part a result of decisions taken by the Labor/Greens government to strangle the supply of land and abandon the Affordable Housing Action Plan.

Why it has done that has never been explained but we can surmise it is a response to a combination of factors such as the state of the budget, purported concerns about the spread of the city and the alleged paucity of developable land. What is becoming

increasingly clear is it is also a reflection of a pervasive neo-liberal ideology within government.

I agree that we need a conversation about housing choices. That conversation will be all but meaningless if the government refuses to be open and honest about its real intentions and continues to ignore its own research about community views.

Jon Stanhope was chief minister from 2001 to 2011 and represented Ginninderra for the Labor Party from 1998. He is the only chief minister to have governed with a majority in the Assembly.

Still jogging after all these years

By Danielle Nohra

AT a time when there were few female runners in Canberra, 10 women gathered in Stromlo Forest and ran the first women and girls’ six-kilometre Jogalong.

It was 1978, running was still very much male dominated and these women wanted to create a supportive and inclusive environment for female runners.

Forty years down the track, the YMCA Canberra Runners Club (YCRC) vice president, Carol Ey, says the group is still as relevant now as it was then.

“Even now that there are lots of women runners, there are still women who might be starting out and feeling self-conscious,” says Carol, 58, of Weston.

“This is a very supportive environment for those people. Mums can come and put their kids in childcare or their children can have a run in the ‘minijog’.”

Carol joined the group before having children and, because of the support, found it easy to continue to participate in the Jogalongs after having both her daughter and son.

It’s the community feel of the group, the support and the love of running that keeps her involved even now that her children are well into their adult years.

And she’s not the only one. Carol says it’s not uncommon to see members who are later joined by their daughters and then their daughters’ daughters.

She says people love being part of the community with one women, Linda Miles, who has been in 268 Jogalongs, while another 58 women have completed more than 100.

“It’s a considerable record for a monthly event, requiring at least nine years of regular attend ance,” she says.

“The advantage of running is you can fit it in with other things unlike team sports.”

Since it began more than 6500 women and girls have run the Jogalong and to mark its 40 years of existence YCRC is hosting a Jogalong with a “mini jog”, children and adult barrel draws and fundrais ing for Ovcan as part of ovarian cancer awareness month. The event will be held at Weston Park, 8am, on Sunday, February 4.

About four of the Jogalongs original runners will be there as well as YCRC’s members. Any new runners are welcome to come along.

“We would like to see as many former Jogalong participants as possible come along and help us celebrate this milestone,” Carol says.

“It’s a celebration to mark a significant day and it also encourages women to get into running.

“The Jogalong is all about participation and enjoyment. It aims to encourage women and girls to get out and get active by providing a physical challenge in a friendly and social environment and a regular opportunity to improve on their own personal best.

“The event caters to all women and girls from walkers up to Olympians. A handicap system is used so that the winner is the person who improves most, rather than the fastest runner.

“After the event, participants are encouraged to share a cuppa and some fruit.”

The Jogalong, Weston Park, near Pescott Lane, Yarralumla, 8am, February 4. Visit canberrarunner.org.au

Photo by Danielle Nohra

ACT scientist wins top senior gong

ONE of Australia’s most eminent scientists, Dr Graham Farquhar has been named as the 2018 Senior Australian of the Year. He was selected as the ACT Senior Australian of the Year late last year.

From his long-term base at the ANU, Dr Graham Farquhar is tackling some of the most profound chal lenges facing humanity and the environment by helping to solve the world’s food challenges. After growing up with a Tasmanian farming background, Dr Farquhar has used his love of science to deliver practical benefits to the agricultural sector. His study of mathematics and physics formed the bedrock of a career creating mathematical models of how plants work.

Dr Farquhar has received a string of accolades during his distinguished career for his research examining how water efficient crops can protect food security in a changing climate. Importantly, he has worked to improve world food security by developing strains of wheat that can grow with less water.

In 2017, Dr Farquhar became the first Australian to win a Kyoto Prize – the most prestigious international award for fields not traditionally honoured with a Nobel Prize.

Public health and work health safety skills are part of a growing sector offering diverse employment opportunities in the public, education and private health industries. Enjoy a mixed delivery of self-paced, online learning and flexibly delivered classes!

Start studying in Semester 1, 2018!

Certificate IV in Population Health (HLT46015)

Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety (BSB41415) Diploma of Work Health and Safety (BSB51315)

Apply now or drop in to our upcoming information and enrolment session!

Visit cit.edu.au/health, call CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188 or email infoline@cit.edu.au.

Trish discovers steam power!

By Kathryn Vukovljak

WRITING and self-publishing a steamy novel set in Queensland’s tropical north has been “a dream come true”, says local author Trish Ollman.

Trish will be signing copies of “Escape to Paradise Island” at Paperchain Bookshop in Manuka on February 10.

“I’ve given a copy to every girl in my doc tor’s surgery, chemist and the bank. People have said it’s pretty steamy and they can’t put it down!” she says.

Trish says the book is about three couples and a single lady who go on holiday to a luxury resort in an attempt to solve their problems.

“I’ve been surprised at how easy it’s been for me to sit and write, the words just seem to flow from my fingers and I always have an idea what’s going to happen next to each character,” she says.

Trish says she had to borrow “Fifty Shades of Grey” from the library to get a sense of how to write sex scenes.

“Someone said to me, sex sells, and there was none in the book at all. I’m 65, I don’t write about stuff like that!” she says.

“Escape to Paradise Island” is Trish’s first work of fiction and her third book. She had previously transcribed her husband’s grand father’s World War I letters to his wife Alice into the book “Dear Alice”, but says it was her autobiography “A Girl from Birkenhead” that ignited her confidence in her writing.

She says she started by sharing childhood stories on a Facebook group called Birken

Photo by Kathryn Vukovljak

Trish says that so many people on the Facebook page wanted her to write a book about her life that she decided she would.

“I put all my memories of growing up in a large, poor family in Birkenhead, plus my life after my husband Ian and I emigrated to Australia at the age of 21, into a 42,000-word autobiography and sent it off to Amazon and it sold 4000 copies in the first few weeks,” she says.

With four children, eight grandchildren and her 15-year-old granddaughter in her care, Trish says retirement is a lot busier

The sequel “Return to Paradise Island” is due for release in July and there’s a third book planned to complete the trilogy. “I’ve come from rags to riches, it’s been a hard, poor and interesting life,” she says.

“I’ve been to school with no shoes on crying, it was a very hard upbringing. And then having two small babies very close together at a young age and no money whatsoever, nowhere to live and no support from our

“My husband Ian and I have been married since we were 16, we have come so far and he’s my rock. We’ve taken every opportunity that

“I’ve sold almost 1000 copies of ‘Escape to Paradise Island’ in Europe, the US and Canada so I’m hopeful it will do well here, too.

Trish Ollman will sign copies of “Escape to Paradise Island” at Paperchain Bookstore, 34 Franklin Street, Manuka, 11am-1pm on

BRIEFLY

Temple celebrates

THE Lyneham Buddhist Temple, at 32 Archibald Street, is holding its annual Community and Family Festival to celebrate the Year of the Dog, from 7pm on Thursday, February 15. Between 7pm and 8pm there will be a vegetarian dinner. At 8pm there will be prayers for ancestors and the festival will be launched at 8.30pm with a lion dance and crackers. Celebrations will continue until midnight when there will be prayers for world peace. Entry is free and all welcome.

Girls get to network

THE Girls Leadership Network, a non profit ACT based initiative designed to empower girls to “Dream, Believe and Achieve” is accepting applications for the 2018 class until February 19. The program, which consists of a series of monthly workshops presenting inspiring speakers and interactive leadership activities, is open to all girls in years 11 and 12 in the ACT. Last year’s class had 35 girls from 13 schools across Canberra. Apply at thegirlsleadershipnetwork.org. The program is free and any questions to thegirlsleadershipnetwork@gmail.com

Water safety for grandies

A FREE, water-safety, “Grey Medallion Program” for grandparents and senior Australians will be held over four weeks at the Bungendore Swimming Pool, 9.30am-11.30am every Wednesday, from February 7. Royal Life Saving NSW is co-ordinating the course and participants need to be 60 years or over. Michael Ilinsky, from Royal Life Saving NSW, says: “If you look after grandchildren it’s an ideal program to get your skills up to scratch.” Bookings to 6238 1775.

World dance class

FOLK Dance Canberra is hosting a beginners’ World Dance Class at its hall at the Hackett Community Centre, 114 Maitland Street, 7.30pm on Thursday nights, starting February 8. Participants will be shown the Gypsy Polka, Russian “Ya Da Kalinushku”, Bolivian “Chilili”, Albanian “Valle Pogonishte”, Turkish “Hastayim” and the Romanian “Sarba de la Eninsala”. No partner necessary. All welcome. Bookings and enquiries to 0420 524412.

VALENTINE’S DAY Searching for the day

FEBRUARY 14 is the day people all over the world send Valentine’s cards, flowers, chocolates or gifts to the one they love. But why is it our day of romance?

It’s generally believed that Valentine’s Day is named after two of the many early Christian martyrs called Valentine.

Among the popular theories is that one Valentine was a third-century priest in Rome, who married young couples in secret after a decree by the Emperor Claudius that young men serve in the army instead of marrying.

Predictably, he was jailed and sentenced to death, but the story goes that he became friendly with his jailer’s daughter, writing the original “Valentines” to her.

The letters spoke of his undying love and signed off with “from your Valentine”.

Equally, another theory suggests it may not have been very romantic at all and that the chosen date may have been an attempt by the Catholic church to “Christianise” a Roman feast: February 14 was, in ancient Rome, a celebration of the goddess Juno, queen of the Roman pantheon.

It was around the 17th century that Valentine’s Day was celebrated on a mass level, and by the middle of the 18th century it was taking on a commercial feel, with small tokens and handwritten gifts being exchanged between lovers and friends.

Today, it’s a special day for sweethearts, young and old, in celebration of romance and love. So why not spoil your Valentine this year? Here are some ideas how:

A bouquet of beautiful… chocolates!

THERE’s no better way to make someone’s Valentine’s Day than with a Choc ‘N’ Lolly bouquet, says owner Anthea Bakavgas.

With a background as a florist, Anthea swapped flowers for chocolates over two years ago because, she says, everyone loves chocolate.

“And, with so many different products to choose from, we’re sure there will be something to suit,” she says.

“We do custom made arrangements so we can suit all dietary requirements,

or we can make them up to suit someone’s favourite chocolates.

“We’re also the only chocolate place in Canberra that does Nutella bouquets, which is a favourite, every one loves Nutella.”

Choc ‘N’ Lolly provides free delivery to Canberra and offers same-day deliveries if they’re placed before 12pm.

Choc ‘N’ Lolly. Call 0419 291887, email info@chocnlolly.com.au or visit chocnlolly.com.au

advertising feature

of love’s real meaning

WITH beautiful picnic spots all over Canberra, Schmicnics can help create the perfect picnic for couples this Valentine’s Day.

Schmicnics says it makes hosting a picnic a walk in the park with its amazing food, styling and service.

People can choose between Schmicnic hampers, which are prepared into boxes ready to be delivered or picked up from The Boat House, or Schmicnic parties, which are designed for groups of 25 or more and feature a large picnic grazing table as the centrepiece.

Schmicnic says people can also “schmic” up their party by adding in extra furniture, staff or beverages.

Schmicnics. Call 0455 742642, email picnics@ schmicnics.com.au or visit schmicnics.com.au

ADORE Tea is helping make this Valentine’s Day memorable with its “Summer High Tea” and its wide variety of flavours, says owner Naz.

“The food that is served at our tearoom is freshly handcrafted to ensure the food that our customers receive is fresh as well as delicious,” Naz says.

“So, why not spend an afternoon enjoying some delectable tea-infused food and drinks?

“High tea is something that everyone needs to experience at least once.”

But for those looking for a gift, Naz says

THE Teddy Bear Shop is settling in nicely and the bears are feeling right at home after its move to Majura Park, says owner Meg Cutler.

The bears are now getting ready to become a cuddly and memorable present for people this Valentine’s Day.

“They’re a lifelong present, which can be paired with a rose or a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day,” Meg says.

Adore Tea has a wide variety to choose from.

“There are over 200 teas that you could pick from but, if you’re unsure about what kind of tea, you’ll surely find something from our huge collection of teaware and tea accessories,” she says.

“Our ‘Sweet Treats’ tea pack can also make a great gift, which consists of six delicious teas for the sweet tooth.”

Adore Tea, 10/12 Cheney Place, Mitchell. Call 6134 6781, email warehouse@ adoretea.com.au or visit adoretea.com.au

The bears are all special in their own unique way and Meg says The Teddy Bear Shop can help Valentine’s Day shoppers choose one that suits the personality of the

CLOVER Jewellery has an on-site jeweller and designer so anyone looking for a special Valentine’s Day present can get it uniquely made, says jeweller James Oh.

Clover Jewellery is a family-run business that has been in Canberra for more than three years after it was in Japan for more than 25 years.

“We provide a range of high-end and unique handmade jewellery as well as fancy and beautiful silver jewellery,” James says.

“We have lots of samples for customers to try or they can bring in their own design and we can make it on-site by our fully qualified

person receiving the gift.

“People generally like to choose a bear because it has meaning to them, so gift vouchers are available, too,” she says.

“The bear chooses them, but we can show them a range of bears to start them off.

“Everybody loves a soft cuddly. And, when you get a dog and cat from us they don’t require any extra attention, just cuddles.”

The Teddy Bear Shop, Majura Park. Call 6257 6966, email hugs@theteddybearshop.com.au or visit theteddybearshop.com.au

jeweller. We have wedding rings and engagement rings for customers to try on, too.

“We are a handcraft and platinum specialist and we offer a laser-engraving and lasersoldering service, you can put a message in the ring along with a birthstone. It makes it very special and one of a kind.”

Based in Manuka, Clover Jewellery makes custom and unique pieces and also offers a free quote for its design services.

Clover Jewellery, 2/16 Bougainville Street, Griffith. Call 6295 8545, email clover.j@hotmail.com or visit @cloverjewellerycanberra on Facebook.

RICHARD CALVER

Musical Jewellery Boxes

To view our bears and gifts visit www.theteddybearshop.com.au or call 6257 6966 • Beautiful Valentine’s Bears

Special Bears for all occasions Now open at

Special occasion? Let us design and make your unique engagement or wedding ring exactly how you’d like it.

Need or desire a new piece of Jewellery?

We can design any piece of jewellery to your specifications and custom-make it in-house.

Complex repairs? Difficult repairs are not a problem –bring your repair in and we’ll discuss what can be done.

Feel like a change? We do remakes using your existing jewellery to give you an exciting one-of-a-kind creation.

NEWS / Teacher meets an untimely end

Mysterious case of the Michelago poisoner

Did she? Didn’t she? Ada Bunfield found herself in the dock after her teacher husband met his untimely end, the victim of strychnine poisoning, writes NICHOLE OVERALL

IT was the depths of winter, 1929, and the frail woman garbed in black quivered visibly as she stood in the dock of the Queanbeyan Coroner’s Court.

At the reading of the charge, the crowded gallery craned forward as one, watching on as the prisoner swooned heavily to the floor.

The “physically delicate” 45-yearold Ada Bunfield had recently lost her husband in a most harrowing manner. Now her own life was in peril, accused as she was of occasioning his death –through poisoning.

The sensational series of events, which saw an entire region gossiping, appeared in the headlines as the “Mystery of Michelago”.

After Sunday lunch on August 4, Alick Bunfield, the school master in the tiny hamlet for almost a decade, was found in the throes of an agonising end, his eyes bulging unnaturally, his limbs spasming and his body convulsing wildly. Finally, “in the act of attempting to vomit, he appeared to cease breathing”.

Just a day later, the teacher’s coffin was led on to what would prove not quite his final resting place, in the tiny cemetery just off the Cooma Road.

At the same time, an inquiry into the otherwise healthy 52-year-old’s sudden demise was opened. Quean beyan’s Dr Patrick Blackall, conduct ing the post-mortem, noted death was a result of asphyxiation caused by convulsions. What brought the fits on though, remained unexplained. Witnesses to the ordeal suggested “ptomaine”, or food poisoning, follow ing Bunfield’s midday consumption of some tinned peaches that he’d declared to have “a bitter taste”.

With the mystery deepening, Bunfield was rudely disturbed from his eternal slumber, his body exhumed for further analysis. The result? Traces of the highly toxic poison strychnine, normally used to kill rats, enough that, according to Dr Blackall, “a large quantity of the drug must have been consumed”.

It was, of course, the 1920s and along with its use as a pesticide, strychnine was quite commonly known as mystery novelist Agatha Christie’s murder weapon of choice in her first whodunit, “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”. Whether that was in the thoughts of any of the 13 witnesses called during the official inquest in Queanbeyan when it opened on

Making headlines… from “The Canberra

August 1929.

August 28 would not be explicitly addressed.

“An hysterical and neurotic person” was the manner in which Bunfield was said to have described his wife to one, grazier William Kelly. When the other man responded: “You don’t know what women like that might do”, Bunfield replied: “No, too right you don’t”, also noting that most of his money went to medical expenses for Ada’s ongoing, though undiagnosed, medical issues.

The couple’s distressed 18-year-old daughter, Mavis, confirmed her mother regularly suffered “fits and seizures”. She also revealed that

on that fateful day she had thought Bunfield’s behaviour “strange” as early as breakfast time, refusing food and complaining of a headache.

The evidential weight seemingly continued to mount against the new widow. While no poison had previously been kept within the household, Ada had not only received a package containing “an ounce of strychnine” – twice as much as required to kill a human – the day before her husband’s death, the preceding month there’d been another such delivery. Her explanation was to variously declare its intended use was to deal with rabbits or mice.

On two points, the witnesses agreed: that the family was apparently a happy one, and there was never any intimation that Bunfield would take his own life.

When Ada declined to testify on her own behalf, the coroner, Mr Forrest, delivered the damning verdict that the deceased had “come to his death by strychnine poisoning, wilfully administered by Ada Mary Bunfield”.

The middle-aged mother potentially faced a sentence of death – the last woman hanged in NSW, Louisa Collins, had been controversially subjected to the fate in 1889 when convicted of poisoning her second husband. For Ada, at the Central Criminal Court in Sydney three months later, senior prosecutor

for the Crown, Mr LJ McKean, KC, expounded it was “a case of murder, or nothing”.

Apparently, it was the latter. The trial would last less than the day and Justice Halse Rogers, perhaps loathe to see the situation of Collins repeated, discharged the jury, citing that while cause of death was beyond doubt, as was evidence of opportunity for foul play, there was no motive.

The situation then, was resolved? Hardly. No definitive explanation was provided as to how Bunfield ingested the poison which killed him. And what of his wife? Her symptoms of a non-specific illness were potentially similar to the effects of low-dose strychnine consumption – headaches, vomiting and fitting. Had either of the couple taken the poison knowingly or by accident, or could there even have been a third party involved?

Confirmed answers would, it seems, go to the grave with them both – Ada laid to rest just 11 years later, not alongside her husband, but in the Queanbeyan Riverside Cemetery. And so, a Michelago mystery it remains.

For more revelations, findings, and theories about this essentially unsolved case, see nichole2620.wordpress.com The Michelago School will celebrate its 150th anniversary on March 24th this year.

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU advertising feature

No better time to put yourself first

THERE’S no better way to kick-start 2018 than making a commitment and investment to well-being, fitness and health.

Here are some special ways to find a “new you” this New Year.

Traditional martial arts for the modern world

KARATE Canberra – Cummings Karate Dojo in Mitchell, gives people the opportunity to develop themselves physically, socially and mentally, while learning some self-defence skills, too.

Head instructor Reece “Kancho” Cummings says any time is a good time to take up martial arts, but the New Year is a particularly great time because students start their journey with other newcomers.

Reece says the non-profit centre is full of members, not clients, which is made up of a positive and enthusiastic bunch of people to train with.

“Our dojo teaches traditional martial arts for the modern world, which means there are a wide range of benefits from our karate programs, ranging from not only the dynamic self-defence skills, but also the ability to empower yourself through building confidence, self-discipline, fitness and respect,” Reece says.

“One of the most common things new students speak about is how the skills learned at karate roll over into all aspects of life, from school to the workplace.”

Karate Canberra – Cummings Karate Dojo. Unit 2, 38 Hoskins Street, Mitchell. Call 0429 392785 or visit karatecanberra.com.au

Just for women on a New Year mission

FERNWOOD Fitness says it’s on hand to help women who want to improve health and fitness in the New Year.

Whether it’s to lose weight, get fit, gain muscle or improve men tal health, Fernwood

Fitness says it can help women achieve their health and fitness goals.

“And, our women’s only clubs are more than just an ordinary gym,” says Fernwood Fitness.

“Members get the added benefits of free breakfast and toiletries, unlimited group fitness classes and being surrounded by a supportive women’s only environment.

“Members also have access to other services such as personal training, food

coaching and small group personal training classes.

“With so much variety in club, you’ll be sure to find something that suits you.

“You will also have the opportunity to join programs such as the very popular 12 Week Challenge, kick-starting on February 19.

“Come and chat to us in club today and see how we can help you become the best version of yourself.”

Fernwood Fitness, visit fernwoodfitness.com.au

Float away in a ‘healing’ bath

WADE Williams had always used Epson salts in the tub while growing up, so when an elite athlete told him about “floatation

“Supported by loads of medical studies, floating has been shown to offer relief for a wide range of illnesses and conditions as well as being an incredibly unique and relaxing experience for both the mind and

Wade says floatation therapy involves floating effortlessly in a tank or bath filled with a high-concentration, Epsom-salt

“The skin temperature, light and peaceful environment allow you to relax, soothe, provide relief from muscle tension, chronic pain, hypertension and arthritis, and heal the body from life’s daily pressures,” he

“Your biggest challenge in life is gravity, but in the tank there is no gravity, meaning there’s no pressure on your body.”

Rest and Recovery Centre, 17/19 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 8564 or 0438 206990, email info@restandrecoverycentre. com.au or visit restandrecoverycentre.com.au

and trail

where you pick what goes into your mix! Perfect for your nutrition goals, and people with dietary requirements such as: grain free, paleo, FODMAP, gluten & fructose intolerance, vegan,

Health support to ‘shine and thrive’

WITH an ongoing focus to help women become strong and healthy, Curves is ready to help Canberra women on their 2018 fitness journeys.

stronger women in our local communities.”

And now is the best time to join Curves Weston, Wanniassa, Belconnen or Harrison because, for only $1, its staff will work with women individually to achieve all their health and wellbeing goals, says owner of Weston Curves Julie Griffin.

“Staff at Curves love nothing more than to see our members shine and thrive in their health and well-being journeys,” she says.

“We help by providing our members with the support and guidance to become

Julie says Curves Weston, Wanniassa, Belconnen and Harrison are committed to help keep its members on track with ongoing support.

“We have a dedicated team of qualified staff whose role is to make sure you feel comfortable and confident with goals that get results,” she says.

“We set both long and short-term outcomes with all our members and we work together to have an understanding of why they are doing what they are doing.” Visit curves.com.au

Pilates in experienced hands

THE Pilates Centre Canberra offers the full Pilates studio experience with individualised training in private, duet or semi-private sessions, as well as group reformer and matwork classes.

The studio first opened in Tuggeranong in 2010, relocated to Phillip in 2016 and then became The Pilates Centre in 2017.

The Pilates Centre prides itself on offering high-quality Pilates instruction with safe, motivating and knowledgeable delivery.

All its instructors are qualified through the Pilates International Training Centre, the premium school for Pilates education in Australia.

The Pilates Centre Canberra, 58 Colbee Court, Phillip. Call 6162 1793, email info@pilatescentre.com.au or visit pilatescentre.com.au

KICK START

Get back into good, healthy habits

CARM Therapies has everything needed to kick-start anyone’s new year in a healthy and positive way, says founder and co-director Emily Avery.

“It’s important to focus on your health and well-being all year round, but after all the stress and running around that accompanies the end of year, it’s important to get back into good, healthy habits as soon as you can, and focusing in on ‘self care’ is a great way to do that,” she says.

“We specialise in treatments for pregnancy, chronic pain and general well-being, and offer acupuncture, remedial massage and naturopathy, as well as yoga and meditation classes.”

CARM Therapies will also be running a series of workshops throughout the year which aim to educate people about different aspects of health and wellbeing.

“From meditation to cultured food, to acupressure for labour and pregnancy, we want to give our clients ways to improve their knowledge about health as well as support them at times when they have special needs in their lives,” Emily says.

CARM Therapies. 5 Higgins Shops, Higgins. Call 6278 7302 or visit carmtherapies.com.au

Hands-on approach to pain

THE New Year can inspire people to become a lot more active, which could lead to aches and pains, says Hands-On Physiotherapy’s practice manager Liz Kell.

With the team’s “hands-on” approach, Liz says they’re committed to helping people manage acute and chronic occupational, musculoskeletal and sports injuries.

But, being one of Canberra’s original hand specialists, it also offers hand therapy following injury or surgery as well as management of Occupational Overuse Syndrome (RSI) and chronic conditions, including pain, osteoarthritis and

Yummier and healthier breakfasts

THE Muesli Bar in Fyshwick is making breakfast easier, yummier and healthier this year, with its custom-made muesli, granola and porridge.

Chief muesli mixer Lisa Fischer says The Muesli Bar caters to a range of dietary requirements and choices such as grain free/paleo, FODMAP, gluten and fructose intolerances, vegan diets, sugar free diets and sultana phobia.

“We also have a FODMAP muesli and trail mix put together and approved by a dietitian at the Healthy Eating Hub,” she says.

Lisa and her husband/co-owner Rowland started The Muesli Bar because of the lack of options in the stores, which made it hard for people with dietary requirements and for people who simply wanted more choice.

“To get some choice back into your day, simply pick what product you’re after, choose a base, select your ingredients and away you go,” she says.

Lisa says customers can order it online and get it delivered to their home.

The Muesli Bar, 5/64 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call Lisa on 0419 199567 or visit themueslibarcanberra.com.au

rheumatoid arthritis.

“We can treat or manage injuries including sports injuries, wrist and finger fractures, elbow fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome, joint replacements in the hand, wrist or elbow, nerve entrapment syndromes and osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritic conditions,” she says.

“We also fabricate static and dynamic splints for our clients as required by their treating surgeons or condition management.

“We have experience with Graded Motor Imagery in the management of phantom pain, chronic pain, CRPS and post trauma.”

Hands-On Physiotherapy, 1/43 Mawson Place, Mawson. Call 6286 6467, email admin@ hands-onphysiotherapy.com.au or visit hands-onphysiotherapy.com.au

A fun kind of high-flying

fitness

FUN is a huge focus at Aerial Sports in Mitchell and its owner Cher Albrecht says it’s the perfect place to add enjoyment into the New Year’s resolution of getting fit.

“It’s an alternative way to work out, it’s a fun kind of fitness and people are exhausted by the end without even realising how much work they’ve done,” she says.

Aerial Sports has a range of classes such as regular aerial, silk, lyra or trapeze, as well as classes that work on handstands and flexibility.

“Our aim is to teach you tools and give you the opportunity to discover what your body can do on and off the ground in a safe and supportive environment,” Cher says.

“They get a lot out of it because they’re training new muscles and moving in new, challenging ways.” Cher says students can progress at their own pace, taking classes as frequently or infrequently as they’d like.

“There is no prerequisite for flexibility or strength, you just learn as you go,” she says.

Aerial Sports, 17a Darling Street, Mitchell. Call 6262 0215, email info@aerialsports.com.au or visit aerialsports.com.au

Swimming skills for all year round

LEARN to Swim Calwell, which was formerly under the Kingswim brand, has had its own “New Year” transformation and is now a refreshed independent entity but with the same great staff, according to its co-owner Steve Clarke.

New Directions

‘Listen’ to your body in 2018

Pilates – Somatic Movement – GYROKINESIS® Method

Falls prevention/arthritis/osteoporosis

Pilates Circuit

Tuesday 11.45am-12.30pm

General Conditioning – Pilates Circuit

GYROKINESIS® Class

Tuesday 6.35pm-7.20pm

Thursday 6.35pm-7.20pm

Beginners GYROKINESIS® Class

Saturday 10.00am-11.15am

Somatic Movement – GYROKINESIS® Class

Thursday 11.30am – 12.45pm Join a class and enjoy the freedom of better body movement:

Call to ensure your place and restore your body • Class limit: 8 participants For registration/information: Deb 0414 865 430 • Email: pilates.deb@live.com.au

Shop 5 Scullin Arcade, Scullin Place, Belconnen

GYROKINESIS® is a registered trademark of GYROTONIC® Sales Corp and is used with their permission.

“We’re very family focused with a structured learning curriculum,” Steve says.

“Our teachers don’t make lesson plans up on the spot. They’re all accredited teachers and then we retrain them so all teachers are absolutely consistent and teach in the same way, which is critical for learning.”

While the New Year is a motivational time to get children involved in swimming, Steve says now is the best time for children to learn to swim.

“Drowning is the number one cause of death for children zero to five so we have a big focus on safety and survival skills,” he says.

“Aquatic recreation is part of the Australian culture and it’s important that children know how to swim, especially when many families holiday near pools, lakes or beaches.”

Deb’s diverse approach to rehabilitation

Deb came to Pilates, for rehabilitation from injury. Her background in dance, yoga and athletics supported her early training and interest in the rehabilitation process making for a natural progression into Pilates, Somatic Movement and GYROKINESIS®. Deb now offers Private and Small group lessons for injury prevention and rehabilitation with specific focus to the most appropriate Modality for each person, and classes in each Modality for general conditioning or maintenance.

With over 20 years of personal practice and teaching in these Methods and allied modalities and valuable experience in managing injury and chronic illness, Deb offers a diverse approach to the delivery of rehabilitation, using Pilates, Somatic therapies and GYROKINESIS® to provide a wholistic yet focused approach for injury rehabilitation, injury prevention and general conditioning.

GYROKINESIS® is a registered trademark of GYROTONIC® Sales Corp and is used with their permission.

young as three months right through to primary school children.

Steve says the water runs at 33 degrees and it’s ultraviolet filtered water, which means it has fewer chemicals and is good for children with sensitive skin.

Learn to Swim Calwell, 15 Webber Crescent, Calwell. Call 6292 0073 or visit facebook.com/learntoswimCalwell/

Get creative with art

ART classes at Lavender Art Studios on Townshend Street, Phillip, are a great way to spruce up the new year creatively, says director and art studio manager Elita Mackay.

“Being involved with creative art classes may very well be the right way for you to refresh your imaginative self, whilst you enjoy learning the easy-to-apply art techniques,” Elita says.

She says Lavender Art Studios’ diversive art programs offer the development of various art media and a range of carefully planned subjects that result in the development of a superior style of painting and drawing.

“The art classes are fun, wholesome and are offered in a very safe, supportive, non-competitive environment,” she says.

Exercise that sticks

GETTING fit as a New Year’s resolution is often a journey of fad diets, broken promises and dust-covered exercise equipment, but Kristen Pratt, of Capital Nordic Walking, says she has the solution.

It’s called Nordic Walking, which she says is one of the most convenient, affordable and fun ways to get fit.

“Nordic Walking is a perfect choice for people who are starting back to exercise or need to ease in carefully,” she says.

“It’s a very gentle and low-impact activity. It’s easy to learn and do but, best of all, it’s proven to be far more effective than regular walking, jogging or running and cycling.

“When you Nordic Walk you can burn twice as many calories as regular walk ing, strengthen your back, shoulders, arms and core, all the while building a beautiful upright posture.

“Do something extra special and inspirational for yourself this new year by enrolling in the really nice art class program at Lavender Art Studios.”

Lavender Art Studios offers term art classes for children, young people and adults such as a range of children’s holiday art workshops, high country art retreats and art/ yoga programs.

“These established art programs are known for the continual professional development of many artists, both nationally and internationally,” Elita says.

Lavender Art Studios, First Floor, 42 Townshend Street, Phillip. Call 6292 6339, email elita.mackay@ lavenderartstudios.com.au or visit

“It’s a total body workout. And importantly for many people it takes the load and strain off feet, knees and hips.”

Kristen Pratt of Capital Nordic Walking.

Kristen, who is an occupational therapist and has a Certificate IV in Fitness, has experience working with people with a range of health challenges and fitness goals.

“Everyone at any age and any fitness level can benefit from Nordic Walking – beginners, elderly, people with health challenges and the super fit,” she says.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Adam gives Amanda another ‘Masterclass’

By arts editor Helen Musa

WHEN “CityNews” catches up with theatre director Adam Spreadbury-Maher, he’s just about to get on a plane from Melbourne to attend the West End premiere of Queanbeyan playwright Tommy Murphy’s play, “Strangers in Between”, after enjoying an animated liquid lunch with his newest leading lady.

That’s Amanda Muggleton, one of Aus tralia’s true divas, mistress of the one-woman play and a household name throughout the country for her roles in “Prisoner”, “Shirley Valentine” and “The Book Club”. She’s shining again in Spreadbury-Maher’s production of Terrence McNally’s famous play, “Masterclass”, coming soon to The Playhouse.

In Canberra’s theatre circles, his too is a household name. An ANU honours graduate in operatic voice and drama, he left town in 2005 with a swag of Critics Circle awards and a Gold CAT under his belt, headed for London and by 2011 had scored a Laurence Olivier Award. He is now director of the King’s Head Theatre (once a pub) and the Hope Theatre, both thriving hubs of contemporary theatre.

A suitable pair to revisit a play that looks at the 20th century’s most dramatic diva, Maria Callas, superstar of La Scala and The Met, mistress of Aristotle Onassis and, in her waning years, invited to conduct master classes at the Juilliard School in New York. Even though he won’t be here when the show hits Canberra, Spreadbury-Maher waxes sentimental as he thinks of his formative years in Canberra, studying at St Edmunds with Murphy, training, carving out an audience for new work and enjoying the patronage of Canberra theatrical mother-hens, most particularly the late Stella Wilkie, after whom he has named an annual directing award in London. The nurturing effect of such support cannot be

“Previous productions have set the play in a plush environment, like Carnegie or even Llewellyn Hall, with a beautiful aesthetic and everything perfect including beautiful

PAUL DORIN CARTOONS

for it

play, so in my production the students come off the stage into the audience,” he says.

He did it with his stage version of “Trainspotting” and now he’s doing it with

the odd one missing,” he says.

Unsurprisingly Spreadbury-Maher, like the critics, has been bowled over by the performances she turns in.

but to have a colleague with such a wealth of we’re working on it,” he says.

“Masterclass”, The Playhouse, February 22-24. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

“Amanda plays the full spectrum, she’s is that veteran musical director Dobbs Franks

Ballroom Dancing

Join our classes and enjoy yourself in a fun and relaxed social environment at our studio

• Adult Beginner & Intermediate classes

8.00pm Wednesday’s

• Junior classes

6.00pm Monday’s

• Social DancE

8.30pm - 10.30pm Monday’s

• Private Dancing Lessons

Individuals or Groups

(perfect for wedding parties)

Adult classes are held at:

Tuggeranong Community Centre

245 Cowlishaw St, Greenway Junior classes are held at:

Isabella Plains Primary School Hall

130-140 Ellerston Avenue, Isabella Plains

Dale’s Ballroom Dancing

Phone: 02 6296 4009 Mobile: 0407 066 110

Email: dale_harris@bigpond.com

Web: dalesballroomdancing.com.au

Principal: Dale Harris

MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL

Belly dancing wiggles into view

By Helen Musa

THERE’s a booming underground Canberra belly dance scene and amidst the stalls, the talk and the food of this month’s National Multicultural Festival there’s space to bring it to the surface.

That’s the view of Rachel Reid, founder of #Jazida Productions, who’ll be staging the spectacular “Arabian Nights Belly Dance Showcase” in Civic on the first two days of the event.

“Arabian Nights” is already familiar to patrons of the Polit Bar, Manuka, where every three months Canberra’s top belly dancers interact with the audience in a small space. But now Rachel Bond, a professional belly dancer and teacher from Sydney, will join local teachers and performers, Kirsty Frances and the Buasavanh Tribal Belly Dance troupe, in taking the show to a wider audience on outdoor stages in Civic.

Bond is also planning workshops on Saturday where she’ll teach dance styles inspired by travelling up and down the Nile exploring the lands of the Saidi, Ghawazee and Nubian peoples.

The dancers are not the only people looking to the festival to open up a public space for them. This year’s program reveals a huge line-up of entertainment that begins with a ticketed “pre-opening” concert at the Canberra Theatre Centre on Thursday, February 15. In it acts will include sensational new Yolngu hip-hop talent from Arnhem Land, Baker Boy; singer Lucy Sugerman; Salsabor;

the Sarv Ensemble; Revontulet Nordic Folk Dance; Rondanihan Rondalla Ensemble; Mudrakar Kathak Dance School and Zagr.

But the festival’s real opening concert is a free event on Stage 1 at Garema Place, 5pm-11.30pm, Friday, February 16, where singer-songwriter (and these days, Australian citizen) Leo Sayer, and Baker Boy will entertain the crowds.

Good news is that parents can seek relief by visiting the Children’s Sanctuary at Civic Library on Saturday and Canberra Museum and Gallery on Saturday and Sunday, where children and their families can rest and take part in art making, craft, music, drumming and dance workshops, as well as activities involving different languages and storytelling sessions.

TV presenter, cookbook and children’s author and artist Poh, for instance, will read her story “Sweet Petite” at Civic Library on Saturday afternoon from 3.15pm to 3.30pm. Saturday’s back-to-back showcases, run ning from 10.30am to midnight, will include Happy Chinese New Year, US Showcase, Pacific Island Showcase, African Village, the Belly Dance Showcase as mentioned, ASEAN Village, India in the City, the Indigenous Show case and the festival parade, while Sunday will bring the Greek Glendi, the Latin Quarter and the Celtic Tattoo from 10am to 5pm.

The 2018 National Multicultural Festival, Civic, various venues, outdoor stage events free. “Arabian Nights Belly Dance Showcase”, Multicultural Festival stage, 11am-2pm, February 17, no bookings required. Information at multiculturalfestival.com.au

ARTS IN THE CITY

Hunting bears in Queanbeyan!

By Helen Musa

BRITISH director, Marc Parrett, is touring as the character Dad with his production of the children’s play “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”, which is based on the book written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. It’s coming to Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, The Q, at 10am and noon on Saturday and Sunday, February 11-12. Bookings to theq.net.au or 6285 6290.

NEWS is to hand that Shake speare by the Lakes’ production of “Much Ado about Nothing”, which will play on February 14-15 at Tug geranong Town Park Community Stage and Glebe Park Community Stage on February 16, will also be seen at Queanbeyan’s QEII Park River Stage on February 17. Gates open at 5.30pm and performances begin at 6.30pm. Free, but register at eventbrite.com.au

AUSTRALIAN National Capital Artists Gallery kicks off its 2018 program with “Urban Instabilities”, paintings by Phil Page and Katie Hayne that focus in two dramatically different ways on Canberra’s urban landscape. At ANCA, 1 Rosevear Street, Dickson, February 7-25.

ACT Writers Centre has received $100,000, two years of funding, from the Australia Council for its emerging writers development program “Hard-

the 2014 Australian International Chopin Piano Competition, will be at the Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, 7pm, Friday, February 9 with a harpsichord, clavichord and piano recital called “Renaissance to Russian Romantics”. Bookings to trybooking.com or at the door.

GOULBURN’S Australian Blues Music Festival has been rated by Tourism Australia as one of the “must-see events and festivals in regional Australia”. Three of Australia’s top blues guitarists, Lloyd Spiegel, Geoff Achison and Nick Charles, will join the huge line-up across various venues around Goulburn, February

In it she uses lace as “a vehicle to approach the withered nexus between the craft of lace and its design in traditional lacemaking”. At Craft and Design Centre in the North Building, Civic, alongside Craft ACT’s National Award Exhibition for early career artists.

JAZZ at the Village’s next concert features the Australian septet Wanderlust, led by Canberra’s ace trumpet and flugelhorn player Miro Bukovsky, in its 25th anniversary. At the ANU Pop-up Village, near The Street Theatre, Wednesday, February 7, music from 7.30pm. Bookings to gpage40@bigpond.net.au

Tragedy when Harry Henty came back for more

“Sweet Country” (MA)

ON August 3, 1929, the “Northern Standard” reported the trial, in the Supreme Court of Central Australia at Darwin before Judge Mallam and a jury, of Wilberta Jack, charged with murdering Harry Henty.

That report and the court transcript are the probable basis of a screenplay by Steven McGregor and David Tranter, on which director Warwick Thornton has overlaid cultural, environ mental and emotional elements reflecting his own Aboriginality.

Uncluttered by fashionable new film-faking technology, “Sweet Country” tells of outback oppression, brutality and racial prejudice, served with strong measures of compassion, excitement and verity. Its principal characters are exemplars for two white-fella groups, one disposed to accept Aborigines as fellow humans, the other which regards Aborigines as a resource to be exploited, abused at will and, some might say, enslaved for a meagre ration of flour, tea and sugar.

In his film debut, Hamilton Morris projects a powerful talent as a dignified Sam Kelly, the film’s doppelganger for Wilberta Jack. Sam Neill plays Fred Smith, grazier, returned soldier and committed Christian.

Sam Kelly and his wife Lizzie (Natassia Gorey Furber) are house-sitting Fred’s property. It comes down to who will pull the trigger first – Sam or Harry March (Ewen Leslie) who, having raped Lizzie a few days earlier, is at the front door threatening to shoot unless he gets anotherie.

Much of the film’s middle accompanies the team, led by Police Sergeant Fletcher (Bryan Brown), which sets out to capture Sam and Lizzie

“I, Tonya” (MA)

ANYBODY pursuing an obsession since age three and who by age 16 was sixth in the US, rising to national champion by age 19 and a leading international competitor before turning 21, is entitled to feel successful.

But growing up in a dysfunctional working-class, fatherless family under a domineering mother doesn’t offer many opportunities to acquire good life skills.

Tonya Harding’s passion was ice skating. She was very good at it, with Olympic ambitions. Off the rink, she had few other skills. Her early adult years unfolded between that rock and this hard place.

In 1994, a crony of Tonya’s manipulative husband Jeff employed a thug to take a baseball bat to the knee of US Women’s Figure Skating Champion Nancy Kerrigan to stop her competing at the Winter Olympics.

Director Craig Gillespie and writer Steven Rogers have used that as the core of a movie that now finds the women playing its two principal female characters in that group to which every movie industry person aspires –Academy Award nominees.

For Best Leading Actress, playing

Tonya, Margot Robbie shows impressive acting chops as well as ice-skating talent. Tonya was the first woman to execute a triple axel, followed by a double toe loop! It looks scary, even with CG augmentation.

For Best Supporting Actress, abusing Tonya when not pushing her to train harder, hand sewing her costumes, is the mother from hell. Playing a woman to be avoided except that you can’t, a gutter-mouthed chain smoker more prickly than any cactus, more abrasive than a gravel heap, Allison Janney’s virtuoso portrayal of LaVona is an acme for nastiness that’s great fun to watch.

“I, Tonya” is populated by people of low vocabulary behaving badly as a natural part of life. Its losers and dumbos generate hilarious comedy especially when they are being serious. Its examination of events and their reasons that the media avoided while Tonya was hot news is very entertaining.

At all cinemas

Margaret Hadfield-Zorgdrager

Margaret has been working as a resident artist in the ACT region for 24 years. Margaret paints in all mediums and her landscapes and portraits have featured in numerous art awards.

$42 (4 for $160)

$50 (4 for $190)

All materials included (except brushes). Brushes supplied for ‘Absolute Beginners’ classes only.

*Classes offer a broad taste of most mediums including Pastels, Inktense watercolour pencils, Watercolour, Oils, Acrylics, Pen, Inks, as well as a variety of surfaces. Only odourless oils and solvents are used, which makes for a much healthier solution to those who are sensitive to the regular paints/solvents (extremely sensitive people may still have problems). Classes stop for ACT school holidays.

GARDENING

AUTUMN, glorious autumn, the perfect time in Canberra!

Despite being the first week of February, it’s planning time for autumn planting time for annuals for winter colour such as pansies, violas and primulas, to perennials,

trees, shrubs and, especially, bulbs (Floriade starts planting bulbs in March).

When buying bulbs, it’s wise to get them from a local garden centre. While it’s tempting to order bulbs, or for that matter any plants, online from colourful catalogues, the purchaser has no control with the quality of the bulbs/plants and they can’t be sent back.

Whereas local garden centres have had their bulb orders in for months sourcing the best quality, which can be viewed and felt before buying.

Most bulbs like full sun, so don’t plant them under evergreen trees or shrubs. Deciduous trees are fine as they have no leaves when the bulbs are flowering in spring.

WHILE displays of autumn leaf colour is glorious in Canberra, nearby Tumut stole a march on us years ago with its Festival of the Falling Leaf. This year it will be in Bila Park on Saturday, April 28 with the theme “Tumut, Then and Now”.

This is always a great family, gala day with an amazing street parade, a full program of events, finishing with fireworks at night.

I had to share this photo of a Buxus sempervirens or box hedge plant in an English garden… to think we consider it a dwarf plant.

FEBRUARY is an ideal time to prepare the soil for autumn planting, digging in composted leaves and any other organic material. If the area has had no plants for a while, or worse still, if it is a garden around a new home and the ground is compacted, Multicrop’s liquid Groundbreaker is infinitely better than gypsum as it soaks deep into the ground. I use this product for all my planting in new ground. Available from most garden and DIY centres.

Jottings...

• Time to cut hellebores back to ground level to encourage new leaves and flower production for winter.

• Prune back long and leggy rose bushes to encourage a last flush of flowers later this month and early March.

• Keep tying up dahlias as they shoot skywards and come into flower.

• Remove old flowers from petunias and give a light trim to encourage the last flush of new blooms.

Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

With the Sun, Mercury and Venus in your eccentricity zone (plus Venus aspecting Uranus in your sign) rocking Rams are ready to rumble! Projects that were previously stalled suddenly spring into action, and you’re brimming over with innovative ideas and spontaneous schemes. Friendships are particularly favoured as you exchange news and views. But resist the urge to be rash on the weekend. If you think before you speak and act, it will save you from two days of drama.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

This week the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Uranus all urge you to shake things up on the career front. Some intrepid Taureans will change jobs (or take on a second job) but you could just jazz up your daily work routine. Whatever you do, avoid getting stuck in a boring rut! Expect a few relationship fireworks on the weekend, especially if you are being super stubborn. As Venus (your ruling planet) shifts into pliable Pisces, smart Bulls will strive to be much more flexible.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Wednesday is wonderful for socialising with local friends and networking with international connections. But are you feeling rather restless? Is the green grass of home looking pretty predictable and boring? Blame it on the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Uranus stirring up your adventure zone. Which will activate your Gemini travel gene and leave you dreaming of tropical trips, heavenly holidays and exotic escapades. So you’d better start planning (and saving) ASAP!

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

With three planets stimulating your sensuality zone, some romantic Crabs are in the mood for love and lust. If you’re attached, it’s time to spice up the relationship with a sexy SMS or an erotic email. Searching for your soul mate? Cupid has his arrows pointed in your direction, and love is likely with someone who is connected with your work, a volunteer organisation or a financial institution. Happily single? A secret may be revealed that suddenly turns your world around!

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Don’t limit yourself Leo! This week your creativity and originality are firing, as you form a new partnership or pursue a joint project. When it comes to your job, you may feel as if you’re going backwards – putting in longer hours won’t fix the problem. Do your best to work smarter rather than harder. On the weekend, a romantic relationship becomes feisty. Aim to be less selfish and much more sympathetic to the needs of your partner. Singles – look for a lover who is also a friend.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Hold onto your seat as Uranus and the Aquarian Sun, Mercury and Venus shake up your daily routine. It’s time to learn new techniques, revamp your office, start a business or even change your job. You possess many versatile Virgo talents but they won’t truly blossom until you nurture and develop them with the help of a wise mentor. When will the teacher appear? When the student is ready! The more proactive you are about sorting out a family problem, the better the weekend will be.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

Creative partnerships and joint ventures are favoured on Wednesday, when you spark ideas off each other and pool your talents to create something really unique. When it comes to close relationships, stop talking long enough to let others have their say. You may be pleasantly surprised by some unexpected news! On the weekend, money matters are on your mind but don’t make any rash moves. And avoid lending cash to an unreliable relative or a flighty friend.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

You’re feeling optimistic about the future as Jupiter (planet of prosperity and positivity) journeys through Scorpio. So your motto for the moment is from birthday great Bob Marley: “Love the life you live, live the life you love.” Wednesday is wonderful for fun, friendship and novel expressions of affection. But avoid getting carried away on the weekend; promising too much and then delivering too little. Especially involving a neighbour, relative or domestic matter.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

With the Sun, Mercury and Venus all visiting your communication zone you’ll feel like conversing, studying and/or travelling. If you’ve been waiting to get something off your chest, now’s the time to spill the beans and express yourself (in person or via social media). Then the pace picks up on the weekend, when you may feel rushed and stressed. Smart Sadges will find some inner peace via meditation, contemplation, yoga or tai chi as you slow down and listen to your inner voice.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

This week the focus is on business and/or financial matters. Capricorns are usually incredibly patient and persistent but, when it comes to a frustrating situation, you could find yourself ready to throw in the towel. Saturn and Pluto push you to keep on keeping on. So your mantra for the moment is from birthday great, inventor and businessman Thomas Edison: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Wednesday favours stimulating friendships and falling in love very fast! And with the Sun, Mercury and Venus all visiting your sign, you’ll feel restless, curious, and eager to explore radical new ideas. You’re also keen to show others how innovative and interesting you can be, as you shake a loved one out of their cosy comfort zone. Be inspired by fellow Aquarian, actress and activist Vanessa Redgrave : “Ask the right questions if you’re to find the right answers.”

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

With plenty of planets in your ‘helping others’ zone, concentrate on the pressing needs of those around you. You’ll also gain good fortune if you’re involved with projects from behind-the-scenes. On the weekend, peace planet Venus shifts into your sign (until March 6). So you’ll be at your quintessential Piscean best as your creative, compassionate and spiritual sides kick into top gear. But be careful you don’t retreat into a permanent fantasy world. Keep your feet on the ground.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2018

Across

4 What is invigorating medicine? (6)

7 Which plant has single, pale yellow flowers on long hairy stalks? (8)

8 Las Vegas lies in which US state? (6)

9 Which hormones are used by some athletes for body building? (8)

11 To have responded to a stimulus is to have done what? (7)

13 Name a German city whose name is renowned for a perfumed toilet water. (7)

15 Which item of machinery is a ring or eyelet of metal, rubber, etc? (7)

17 What is another name for a public park? (7)

20 Little Rock is the capital of which US state? (8)

23 To disentangle something is to do what? (6)

24 Which term describes that which is made up of what is selected from diverse sources? (8)

25 What is another word for fate, or destiny? (6)

Down

1 Name a written order issued in connection with a judicial proceeding. (4)

2 What is an organism in the earlier stages of its development? (6)

3 Which person practises Hindu religious philosophy? (4)

4 Which category of verb inflection implies past, present or future? (5)

5 What is a more familiar term for a tyro? (6)

6 To beg, is to do what? (5)

9 Which game is known as ‘association football’? (6)

10 Which machine is used for gathering objects from the bed of a river? (7)

12 Name the usually triangular alluvial areas at the mouths of rivers. (6)

14 To improve by alteration, etc, is to do what? (6)

16 In which French principality does Monte Carlo lie? (6)

18 What is an alternative term for boredom? (5)

19 What is a manservant also called? (5)

21 Which pleated skirt is often worn by men in the Scottish Highlands? (4)

22 What is another expression for an air or a melody? (4)

Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

Grandma starts a healthy tax debate

Ben and Nicole came away from a family dinner with a tax problem they wondered if I could solve.

"Nicole’s grandmother said that because we weren’t in a health fund we would have to pay a surcharge to the fund when we joined and tax at the top marginal rate on all our earnings. Is this correct?” asked Ben.

I replied that Nicole’s grandmother was partially correct and explained why.

"In July 2000 the then-government introduced a concept called Lifetime Health Cover," I said.

"If you have not joined a health fund by the time you reach age 30, you are charged a two per cent cumulative loading for each year that you're not in a health fund up to a maximum of 70 per cent. The loading is calculated based on the cost of the premiums”.

Nicole said: “Bother, I'm 31 and Ben is 27.”

I consoled her: “Nicole, if you decide to join a health fund now you will only pay two per cent additional premiums for a maximum of 10 years. Ben won't pay any additional premiums as he is under 30.”

Nicole replied said she thought they'd be better off if Ben didn’t join until he was 30 and she joined now.

"Well, that's probably not such a good idea," I told her.

"Let me explain the tax side of the health-fund rules and this may clarify things.

"From a tax perspective, if you are not in a health fund and your joint income exceeds $180,000 then you have to pay a surcharge of either 1 per cent, 1.25 per cent or 1.5 per cent of that income, which will be adjusted if you have more than one child. Your income is calculated using a special definition of income for Medicare levy surcharge purposes. It's calculated by adding your taxable income (from your tax return) plus any reportable fringe benefits plus any net investment losses and any reportable superannuation contributions. This amount is usually greater than your taxable income. Looking at your last tax returns you did pay the surcharge because your joint income exceeded this threshold.

“One of the other important things to note is that if only one member of a couple is a member of a health fund then both members of the family are treated as if they are not in a health fund.

"So your suggestion of waiting for Ben to reach 30 is not a good idea as it will cost you more by way of the surcharge than if he was also in the health fund.

"You need also to be aware that if you have children they will have to be covered by the health fund otherwise you will have to pay the surcharge to cover them.”

Ben said this was a lot to swallow, but he was glad Nicole’s grandmother raised the issue.

I said: “Yes, it is complex and confusing, but I think it would be a good idea if you both joined a health fund now to avoid any further charges by either the health fund or the Australian Taxation Office.”

Nicole said: “Thanks, Gail. We'll take your advice.”

If you require any taxation advice call the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd.

Choose an exceptional lifestyle

By the not-for-profit specialists in retirement living and seniors care, Goodwin.

Why would you consider living anywhere else?

· Generous floorplans

· No home maintenance

Indoor and outdoor living

Access to an exclusive Clubhouse No stamp duty

· Secure parking

· Adaptable to mobility needs

Home care available when needed

Close to shops & medical services.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER! UP TO $2,500 TO COVER YOUR MOVING COSTS

Relieves the pressure of moving. Use it for project management, styling to sell your home, gardening, waste removal, pack/ unpack and much more.

No stamp duty. No rates. No maintenance. To make a viewing appointment, please call 6175 5057 centralbygoodwin.org.au | 20 Galore St, Crace