180208 citynews

Bill promises while Barr prevaricates

MICHAEL MOORE

Mystery of Canberra’s disappearing stadium

TIM GAVEL

Don’t it always seem to go…

CHRIS COLEMAN

Flats are not the place for children LETTERS

‘Acid-bomb’ wine from cold climes

RICHARD CALVER

FISH OUT OF WATER

It’s been tough for Olympian ALICIA COUTTS since retiring from competition swimming, but she has a plan for the future. Well written, well read

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

Blind couple keep a positive eye to the future

By Danielle Nohra

MORE than half of Canberra is fearful of sight loss, believing it means becoming dependent. But for Jo Weir and many other blind people that research from Guide Dogs NSW/ACT couldn’t be further from the truth.

Jo was 18 when she started to lose her eyesight and, more than 20 years later, she lives on her own in Yass and works for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT in Canberra.

Her fiance Justin Simpson, 48, of Macgregor, started to lose his eyesight in his 20s and only in recent years retired from his job in the public service.

“There’s an assumption that you need someone to look after you, which you most certainly don’t!” says Jo, who in an earlier life ran a llama farm.

“Often the barriers are what other people put in front of you rather than something tangible.”

The pair owe a lot of their independence to their guide dogs, Mr Wiley, who has been with Jo for more than five years, and Yarrin, who’s been with Justin for seven.

“I was an independent mobile person, but Yarrin just enhanced that life enormously,” Justin says.

“He also makes the whole experience so much more comforting.”

Jo and Justin are part of the lucky

INDEX

Arts & Entertainment 18-21

Cinema 19

Crossword 23

Gardening 22

Horoscopes 23

Letters 10

News 3-11

Letters 10

Politics 5 Sport 11

Dining / Wine 21

minority who have a guide dog, because a lack of funds is depriving 75 per cent of eligible people from having one. While being a guide-dog handler comes with amazing benefits, Jo and Justin say there’s also a lot of misunderstanding.

“You’re very much a team, a partnership. You can’t have one without the other,” Jo says.

“The handler is making the decision to cross the road, but if someone is running a red light the guide dog can be that back-up that lets you know not to go.”

Like any relationship, Justin says, it takes time to become a team.

“Guide dogs don’t walk straight out of a box ready to go. The dogs get training before you get them and then, once you do, it’s another six to 12 months of hard work with them,” he says.

“It’s an investment. They don’t magically improve your life straight away but you get the pleasure to work and grow up together.”

Jo says she and Mr Wiley are at that stage where they know what each other is thinking and feeling and work as a team.

“It’s like any relationship, it is built on trust and respect,” she says.

And while the main relationship is between the handler and the guide dog, there is also some trust given to the public.

Jo says it’s important people don’t distract or make the dogs the centre of attention, even though they’re gorgeous

Coutts and eight-monthold Noah. Photo by Andrew Campbell. Story Page 9.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Ian Meikle, 9b/189 Flemington Road, Mitchell.

and hard to resist.

“I’m appreciative of people coming up to me and asking questions but at an appropriate time,” Justin says.

“Not while I’m crossing a major road, which would distract Yarrin and put both of us in a dangerous position.”

Another crucial thing to remember is to keep pet dogs under control when they’re around a guide dog.

“If a guide dog is attacked, it can lead to the early retirement of the dog,” Jo says.

“It’s heartbreaking, they cost $35,000 to train and then to have it prematurely retire. It’s also a very traumatic experi ence for the handler.”

And while Jo and Justin are break ing down misconceptions of guide dogs, they also want to point out some about sight loss.

“A lot of people are surprised that a lot of [blind] people still have some func tional vision,” Jo says.

In fact, according to the research from Guide Dogs NSW/ACT 81 per cent of people in the ACT believe a blind per son is someone who cannot see anything at all, even though many suffering vi sion loss are able to see various shapes, lights and shadows.

And, 28 per cent of ACT residents be lieve those who are blind have superior hearing.

“You become quite efficient at using your hearing, but I wouldn’t say I’ve developed supersonic hearing,” Jo says.

Since 1993: Volume 24, Number 3

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Do you want to be a part of my Youth Advisory Council for 2018? Or, do you know a young person aged 13-17 who you think would make a good contribution to my council?

My Youth Advisory Council is designed to challenge and motivate students to think broadly about the world around them and public policy in Australia, as well as make sure I understand and hear the issues that affect Youth in Canberra.

If you are interested, or you know someone who is, please send your details to senator.seselja@aph.gov.au by COB Friday 16 February.

SEVEN DAYS

Revealed: nothing from forgotten filing cabinet

EXPLOSIVE revelations of government filing cabinets filled with classified documents ending up at a Fyshwick op-shop have sparked a few yarns from longretired Canberra public servants.

One involves a filing cabinet idly gathering dust since the ‘70s due to a lost combination. Finally, in the mid-’90s a manager asked if anyone knew the code and received a negative reply with the reminder of the government’s two full-time locksmiths.

Tradesmen were summoned and the dusty relic was opened in less than five minutes. Nothing inside except an amusing, five-page “report to the minister” dated 1975. The original briefing was identical to one written 20 years later, taking 50 pages to articulate the

IS Transport Canberra re-defining the job description of the humble lollipop lady? Signs have been erected at the busy bike/pedestrian crossing in front of Turner Primary School proclaiming “TRAFFIC MUST STOP when directed by the Traffic Supervisor”. A lollipop lady/person should be a sufficiently, universally recognised and totally non-negotiable signal for traffic to STOP. Why the need for heavy-handed signs posted all around the site? A prudent practice to protect the kiddies or just another example of pandering to the ever increasing demands of the pedal push?

THE capital continues to punch well above its weight in yet another aspect of hospitality – the hipster hop. Eight Canberra-brewed beers have been included on a prestigious list of craft beers. The GABS (Great Australasian Beer Spectacular) Hottest 100 Craft Beers for 2017 lists Bentspoke’s “Crankshaft” at number three. The brewer was also recognised for its “Sprocket” (24th) and “Barley Griffin” (27th). Fyshwick’s Capital Brewery’s products were also recognised (25th, 28th and 68th). While Pact’s “Mount Tennent Pale Ale” is in at number 50.

STILL at the bar and choosing a “watering hole” for a catch-up beer with a former colleague proved problematic. Nailing the locality (Kingston) was the easy part, but the venue? What about Hale & Mary or The Dock or Walt & Burley or the Beef & Barley? Couldn’t help wonder how a “fruity but caramel-centred” craft beer would have gone down in the smoke-filled front bars of bloodhouses such as The Commercial, The Railway or clubs in which I (mis)spent most of my youth.

CANBERRA dominates the national rental shortage conversation. Arriving students are increasingly forced into couch-surfing after failing to find suitable housing. Stats suggest house and apartment rentals in Canberra have shot up to be third highest in the nation behind Darwin and Sydney. Students report queueing with dozens of others at property inspections. A group of four young professionals looking to share are still without a roof after applying for more than 25 rental properties since early January.

THE TGA’s ban on over-the-counter codeine products to curb overdoses has created new problems for those who need to manage pain. The Canberra Endometriosis Network has been swamped with comments from frustrated women

who say the ban exacerbates the already widespread problem they face in having endometriosis recognised.

One woman wrote: “Being an apprentice hairdresser, I have to spend $75 to try and get stronger drugs so I can still work. I’m so sick of the judgement looks at the pharmacy as I have tatts and my hair is purple and, apparently, I look like a drug addict.” Another says: “I can’t afford to spend $80 a month to explain to my doctor who is already aware of my pain.”

A HUMOROUS guide to what’s going down in the capital – using acronyms – is flying around the twittershire. For newcomers and old-timers alike @realcanberra posted a list of acronyms under the banner “Is Your Child Texting About Canberra?” Here are some of them: AMA – Ascent Mt Ainslie; BRB – Belconnen Rocks Bruh; LMAO: Lucky Mooseheads is Always Open, and the odd abbreviation, IDC – Ideal Date Carillon. But no WTF? Wasting Time in Fyshwick!

before 31st March and Live Fee Free for a Year!^

Bill promises while Barr prevaricates

A BILL Shorten Labor government will deliver an integrity commission for all of Australia in its first year. That’s the promise. The very first year. For all of Australia. How will he be able to achieve such an outcome when the Andrew Barr Labor government in the ACT is taking more than two years to think about what might be suitable in this small jurisdiction?

The Federal Opposition Leader told the National Press Club that good government “starts with more transparency, greater accountability and rebuilding trust in our public institutions, rebuilding trust in democracy itself”. Motherhood! But who is going to disagree? And the move is about principle rather than politics – “I have no knowledge of any corruption, if I did I’d report it”.

An ACT Assembly committee, chaired by Greens’ Minister Shane Rattenbury, tabled a report recommending an integrity commission with a wide remit to deal with “serious” or “systemic” corruption. The committee recommended an AntiCorruption and Integrity Commission (ACIC) to cover all public officials and parties delivering contracted work or services on behalf of government. It will include oversight of police working for the ACT. It will also include all MLAs, their staff and judicial officers. Bill Shorten has a similar plan.

It is just possible the Barr government is planning to delay an integrity commission to minimise any impact on the next election.

The ACT committee called for the establishment of the ACIC before the end of 2018. Two years to establish the ACIC despite its widespread support at the last election and concern in the community about transparency and integrity in the political system. Why delay? There are three methods of dealing with policy implementation. The first is to support, drive and make the policy happen. The second is to oppose; to raise doubts, to place roadblocks to ensure as many barriers as possible. The third is to delay. Delay is the most common tool and is used when an individual, a party or a group is opposed on an issue but has doubts, or opposing will be unpopular.

Sometimes delay simply provides an interim solution. For example, tobacco companies globally encourage delay despite knowing the inevitability of more control measures. Delaying for a year means huge profits flow from their deadly product even if only for an extra year. It might be cynical – but it is just possible the government is planning to delay an ACIC in the ACT to minimise any

impact on the next election.

A key difference between the ACT and the Federal jurisdictions is that the ACT has embedded protections as a “human rights jurisdiction”. The Assembly’s ACIC committee pointed out “that the ACT is a human rights jurisdiction and that there needs to be appropriate safeguards in the enabling legislation of an ACT ACIC to ensure procedural fairness and to guard against abuse of its investigative and coercive powers”.

There are dangers for Shorten in establishing an integrity commission, which he describes as a “standing Royal Commission” for the Commonwealth. Such bodies have had tremendous power. The Fitzgerald Royal Commission brought down the Bjelke-Petersen government. Nick Greiner lost his position as NSW premier to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) – with the courts later clearing his name and determining that the ICAC had

exceeded its powers.

The Shorten integrity commission will have “a broad jurisdiction” with investigative powers into serious and systemic corruption in the public sector. The commitment is to deliver in the first year and “if the Liberals and Nationals want to work with us to get it done sooner”. Like the ACT ACIC, the Shorten commission will report annually to parliament and, by doing so, operate at arm’s length from the government of the day.

Shorten may not be aware of specific issues of corruption. However, current parliamentary inquiries into political donations should be raising the red flag for him.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health in the Carnell government. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.

Talking solutions to affordable housing issue

CONCERN at the deterioration in housing affordability across Australia, particularly in capital cities, is the focus when geographer, planner and social economist Prof Peter Phibbs, from the University of Sydney, joins former chief minister Jon Stanhope for the first of this year’s public “Canberra Conversation” lectures.

Prof Phibbs has researched the housing market for more than 25 years and his most recent work involves the evaluation of government housing affordability strategies in an October report from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute titled “Governmentled innovations in affordable housing delivery – Inquiry into increasing affordable housing supply: evidence-based principles and strategies for Australian policy and practice”.

As chief minister and treasurer, Jon Stanhope commissioned the ACT Affordable Housing Action Plan and was responsible for its implementation. The strategies and responses to housing from governments have varied across jurisdictions over time.

The seminar, at the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, 180 London Circuit, Civic, 12.30pm-1.30pm, on Thursday, February 22, will discuss those responses and key elements that would make such strategies more effective.

Entry is free, but registrations to eventbrite.com.au

Eager schoolgirls learn a lot about leadership

By Kathryn Vukovljak

HIGH-school girls with leadership potential are eligible for an initiative that connects them with relevant speakers, leadership workshops and a network of local peers.

Applications are now open for up to 50 girls to join The Girls Leadership Network, which encourages year 11 and 12 girls to learn about themselves and develop the skills to lead others, says founder Ritu Clementi.

“I had previously run a similar pro gram, which had been successful in the US, and when I moved to Canberra I saw there was nothing similar geared to the same age group,” she says.

“We were surprised at how success ful it was and thought it would be more of a test!

“It was so well received and we think it’s because this isn’t about how to get from A to B, but a much broader set of resilience issues like how to fail, dealing with feedback and learning that the path ahead isn’t linear.”

Ritu says the girls who participated last year praised the welcoming and genuine atmosphere, the balance between listening and participating, friendships formed and learning how to communicate ideas for different people.

Courtney Mattick, of Canberra College, was accepted into the program

surprised at how successful it was and thought it would be more of a test!” says Ritu.

last year and says she gained life skills and met people who shared the same beliefs and opinions about women in powerful positions.

“I’m hoping to make an impact on Canberra, Australia and even possibly the world by standing up for what I believe in and making sure that people look past my gender before they assume what I can do,” she says.

Imogen Brewer-De Nicola, of Dickson College, says she has enjoyed expanding her network.

“I hope I can help support the people I meet in being a leader and

strong female, as well as being able to potentially work with some of them in future projects,” she says.

“As a leader, I want to learn how to support, encourage, and empower oth ers. I want to be efficient when work ing, and become more resilient to my failures as they are inevitably part of success. By becoming more resilient and knowing myself better, I will not only be able to lead better, but help oth ers better.”

Maddison Green, of Merici College, says she loves being able to see what shy and less-confident people can

with a Great Ydeas Grant in 2016, and now has corporate sponsorship from public-sector consulting firm Callida Consulting. Ritu’s daughter Asha Clementi co-

will be six evening sessions over five months from February 28. More information at thegirlsleadershipnetwork. org/get-involved/ Questions to admin@thegirlsleadershipnetwork.org

Adria Village was named after the Adriatic sea where it is renowned for its unique landscapes, islands and

Adria Village has 36 independent living units and 42 residential care beds incorporating 2 respite rooms with care provided by quality trained multilingual

Let’s CELEBRATE the LUNAR YEAR of the DOG

7pm-Late, Thu 15 Feb 2018

Come & Go at your own pleasure!

LYNEHAM Buddhist Temple

[Est. since 1984, the first temple in the ACT]

7-8pm: Annual Vegetarian/ Community Dinner

[All are cordially invited - Services stop exactly at 8pm]

• Gourmet Vegetarian Food Stalls (6pm-late)

• 1000s of Buddhism books for FREE collections

• New Year Gifts to all Guests & Participants (Lucky Fruits & Personalised Blessed Messages)

• 8pm PRAYERS FOR EVERYONE’S ANCESTORS

8:30pm Official Start by LION DANCE & CRACKERS

9pm-Late: Cultural performances [Folk Songs & Dances] New Year Welcoming Program

[intertwined]

• New Year Messages from Invited VIP Guests,

• Buddhist Patriarch & Abbot Thich Quang Ba

• New Year Gifts presented to all Children & Adults

11:50pm LION DANCECRACKERS

• 12am PRAYERS for WORLD PEACE& for Australia’s Prosperity, Security & Harmony Venue: SAKYAMUNI

BUDDHIST CENTRE 32 Archibald Street, Lyneham, ACT 2602 Mob: 0412 224 553 Email: thichquangba@gmail.com

sundayROAST

Stay in touch with the names making news on Sundays from 10am as 2CC and “CityNews” present Canberra’s only local weekend news and current affairs program.

It’s a revolving panel show that brings to the microphone great “CityNews” commentators and 2CC personalities.

Be part of the conversation and call 6255 1206 between 10am and noon

ONE MAN’S CANBERRA

Don’t

it always seem to go...

“HOW very Joni Mitchell!” said the editor of this fine journal when I quoted that fine songstress’s lyrics “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone” in a recent on-air exchange about what I might miss, having decided to depart the radio game after 32 years.

I’m not game to label what I will or won’t miss just yet, but I know some things are going to be different. I’ll still be involved in the media, albeit at arm’s length, helping out our fine ACT constabulary with their media operations, but it will take a bit to adjust to not being in a studio and in control of the program (apologies to the many fine producers I’ve worked with over the years. You may have thought you were in control, but that was a nice little fiction I let you get away with).

When you work on the radio, you’re always on duty. Even in social situations. You’ll have a conversation at a party where someone mentions a problem with getting a pothole fixed on their street or they tell you about their neighbour’s cat that can play the piano.

These stories are the bread and butter for local radio stations, but after three decades it’ll be nice to turn off at parties and similar events. Or at least I hope it will be.

There’s also the expectation that because you talk for a living that you’ll be willing to get up in front of a crowd at the drop of a hat and do some impromptu MC work. It’s rare that radio people will say no, but here’s a tip, most of us will initially be petrified at the thought of addressing an audience of strangers that we can actually see. And to do it unprepared? That’s the nightmare. It would probably be only marginally worse to have to do it naked.

And while most of the people you hear on your radio are pretty good

Award-winning

2CC drive-time announcer CHRIS COLEMAN has hung up his headphones after 32 years for a career outside radio

with trivia, it doesn’t mean we really know all the bits and pieces we say. There’s a lot of research that goes into a radio show, before and during the broadcast. I’ve lost count of the number of times over the years I’ve been introduced to somebody as “Chris Coleman from the radio station” and within two minutes been asked: “You’d know this, who sings that song? The one that goes da dum-dum da-da la la la bading!” Or “Who won the 1975 Formula One World Championship?” And there are the almost automatic invitations to be on teams for trivia contests! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about it, it’s some sort of honour to be thought of as a font of knowledge, but as someone who’s made a living from knowing a little about a lot, the fear of not having those answers will subside fairly quickly.

However, one thing I can state with certainty is that my life won’t be the same without the daily interactions with people. Whether it’s the people who’ve been an active part of the shows; from talkback callers to prime ministers, or the audience who have (I hope) enjoyed what I’ve put out there. It’s been a true privilege and honour to share a large part of my life, the good times and the bad, with you.

And for that, I thank you.

Lt-Gen John Sanderson.

Onward John, the Christian soldier

THE former Chief of Army and Governor of WA, Lt-Gen John Sanderson AC (Ret’d), will share highlights of a lifetime as a Christian soldier and his passion for a just and peaceful world at the Friends of St John’s service, 11.15 am, Sunday, February 11. The Friends extend an open invitation to their first service for 2018 followed by a light lunch.

Free money course

THIS month’s Christians Against Poverty “Money Management Course” is designed to help people get more control of their finances, so they can budget, save and prevent overwhelming debt, says CAP money coach Robert Ardill. The free course will be held at the Wanniassa Connect Shopfront, Sangster Place, Wanniassa, 9.15am-4pm, on Saturday, February 24. Register at capmoney.org.au or email capmoney@tbcchurch.com.au or call 0402 007551.

Republican book launch

MP Matt Thistlethwaite will launch the book “This Time: Australia’s Republican Past and Future” by ANU historian and Australian Research Council Fellow, Dr Benjamin Jones, at the China in the World Auditorium, Fellows Lane, ANU, 6pm, on Thursday, February 15. It will be followed by a conversation and book signing. A free event but bookings to anu.edu.au/events or 6125 4144.

Secrets of the stone

UNIVERSITY of Sydney archaeologist and conservator Dr Wendy Reade is the guest speaker at the next meeting of the Friends of the ANU Classics Museum. Her free, public lecture, entitled “High in the Hindu Kush: Afghanistan’s King of the Blues”, will explore the trade, use and significance of the deep-blue, semi-precious stone lapis lazuli from early times until the Renaissance. Dr Reade’s talk will be preceded by a brief AGM. At the Larry Sitsky Room, ANU School of Music, 6.15pm, Thursday, February 15. All welcome, no bookings required.

or call 6257 6966 • Beautiful Valentine’s Bears • Musical Jewellery Boxes • Special Bears for all occasions

Call out from choir

THE Canberra Celtic Choir, which sings great old Irish, Welsh and Scottish songs in two and four-part harmonies, is inviting new members. There are no auditions. Practice nights at Canberra Irish Club, Parkinson Street, Weston, 7.30pm9.15pm, on Mondays. Call 6296 3375 or just come along.

Alicia takes a clinical approach to her future

Olympic swimmer Alicia Coutts tells reporter DANIELLE NOHRA that the going’s been tough since she retired from competition, but she has a plan for the future

FORMER Olympic swimmer Alicia Coutts went from doing 10 swim sessions, three gym workouts, multiple ab exercises and three six-kilometre runs weekly, to looking after eight-monthold Noah.

Does she miss it? To an extent. But mostly she misses being fit.

Alicia, 30, retired last year after coming fifth in the final of the 200m

Olympics in Rio, but jokes that she was ready to retire after winning five medals in the 2012 London Olympics, which was her ultimate career highlight.

Alicia now spends most of her time in her Macgregor home where she takes care of little Noah.

“It’s definitely been a big change, life revolves around Noah now,” she says. “I’d love to be able to get fit again but it will get better once he’s older.

“The biggest struggle was the financial side. Not that there’s a lot of money in swimming but when you’re a stayat-home mum, we’ve had to adjust.”

Alicia’s husband, Steve, works full time teaching high school students, while Alicia works part time at a club to help keep on top of things financially.

It can be a bit of a juggle for the pair, who have family in other states, lacking that desired support network.

Alicia’s family is in Brisbane, which is where she moved from 12 years ago to attend the AIS, and it was there that she met her husband, who was working there at the time.

Over the years she also met Rosemary Goode, who was the program co-ordinator for swimming at the AIS and “resident mum”.

Rosemary, who says she is more like an “older sister”, is now helping Alicia transition into her life post athlete.

Alicia says retirement was good for her because she was pregnant and had that to focus on.

“But a lot of others don’t have that distraction,” she says.

“I definitely think people do need to concentrate on what they do after sport. “I know a lot of athletes don’t work or study, all they do is train, and then they have no life skills.

“Unfortunately being an Olympic swimmer, as cool as it is, doesn’t give you the skills to get a job when it’s over.”

But in retirement Alicia has been missing a big passion of hers, swim ming. So together, with Rosemary, they have designed the Alicia Coutts Swim Clinic, which aims to coach and inspire young swimmers of the future.

“I feel like I have so much knowl edge and experience that I can pass on,” Alicia says.

“It would be such a waste to not be involved in swimming at all.”

Throughout the Alicia Coutts Swim Clinics, she will be giving them tips and pointers on things such as stroke correction, starts, turns and drills.

Alicia wants to encourage young people to swim and would like to see passionate young swimmers stick to it and represent Australia.

“I found when I was 15 or 16, a lot of

because they wanted to focus more on a social life,” Alicia says.

“So many people say to me: ‘I could have been a really good swimmer but I quit’.

“I want to pass my experiences on to the next generation of swimmers of my life.”

Alicia hopes to run her swim clinics all around Australia with sessions coming up in Belconnen on March 24 and 25.

Bookings via goodemanagement.com.au

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.

Flats are not the ideal place for children

MORE than 50 years ago, when we were married, we moved into a two-storey block of flats reasonably close to Melbourne’s CBD.

When our first child arrived, I quickly realised that the flats were not an ideal place to bring up a young family. With some financial difficulty and thanks to a credit union and a building society we were able to purchase a modest, three-bedroom, one-bathroom house on a good-sized block some 22 kilometres out from the CBD.

I resolved never to again reside in a dwelling without a backyard.

On moving to Canberra in the ‘80s we borrowed

again to purchase a detached house on a decent-sized block of land in West Belconnen. Today our two greatgrandsons really enjoy running around safely playing in our backyard. I totally agree with Jon Stanhope’s views on the poor housing choices now available in Canberra (ACT government snubs Canberra’s housing hope”, CN, February 1) and note that many young couples are now choosing more affordable, detached housing in surrounding NSW. I wish Mr Stanhope was still our chief minister.

Jon for Opposition Leader!

READING Jon Stanhope’s informative and constructive column in CityNews (“ACT government snubs Canberra’s housing hopes”, February 1), prompts me to suggest that he would make an ideal Leader of the

Opposition in the ACT Legislative Assembly. Let us hope that he seeks Liberal Party endorsement at the next ACT election.

Land out of reach for battlers

THE feature article by Jon Stanhope (“ACT government snubs Canberra’s housing hopes”, February 1) will have interested many. It is the second or third article by him on the same theme.

The present ACT Labor government reflects the opinion of Kim Beazley. He said: “Labor used to be represented by the cream of the working class. Now it’s run by the dregs of the middle class”.

Over the last two decades our public housing stock has decreased by over 3000 units. Where land was available for over-the-counter sales it is now predominantly bought by land auctions, which are dominated by developers. This has more than trebled the price of land. This, in turn, has put land out of the reach of the battlers. The actual price of building a house has only

moved in line with inflation.

We should move to over-the-counter sales for those on a moderate income. The land should be made available to them on a low-interest, long-term loan.

The ACT has the second highest number of homeless people of any Australian capital. St Vinnies and other like services are being pushed to the limit.

One representative of a church organisation currently helping around 20 homeless people said: “The ACT government does not help with food. The only service we get from them is a free needle exchange.”

The future cost of not helping people into housing will be high. Every one of us deserves a comfortable place they can call home.

Howard Carew, Isaacs

Stanhope should know better

THERE always seems to be another opportunity for Jon Stanhope to scold his successors in the ACT Labor government, through the medium of the local press.

In the most recent (“Government snubs Canberra’s housing hopes”, CN, February 1) he claims that the survey commissioned from Winton Sustainable Research Strategies undercuts the government’s policies on housing.

The report states that 85.5 per cent of the Canberra population currently live in a detached house, while 84.2 per cent would prefer to live in a detached house “in an ideal world”. You would think that this suggests that the balance is pretty right, but to Mr Stanhope it points to the opposite conclusion.

Mr Stanhope seems to deplore the fact that housing

choices are primarily dictated by affordability. Given that housing tends to be a positional good, this is hardly surprising. And how his complaints fit with his frequently stated commitment to affordable housing, heaven knows.

He concludes with a completely unsubstantiated statement that the government has a “pervasive neoliberal ideology” and an implication that it is involved in a secret conspiracy.

I have no problem with Mr Stanhope’s record as chief minister. But his experience should lead him to know better than constantly impugn the motives of those who took the job after him.

Dangers of bushfire complacency

THE anniversary of the Canberra bushfire of January 18, 2003, has just passed and our local daily paper did a reasonable job of covering some victims’ recovery from that disaster.

However, what the paper did not do was to cover action designed to prevent or mitigate future fires despite my request for it to do so.

A number of people who lost their homes in the fires contacted me to explain that they were upset by the suggestion from Joe Murphy, of the ACT Rural Fire Service, that there was “complacency among residents”. This is so, but numbers of residents who lost homes are definitely not complacent and are more concerned about complacency by government and its authorities.

When I gave talks to various groups of ANU Masters students studying disasters, I provided a raft of examples where complacency flourished among the government and its authorities ranging from the lack of suitable buffer zones on urban fringes, lack of fire-resistant housing on those same fringes, no improvement to electricity and water supply in impacted areas, right through to planned housing for the aged in bushfire designated zones. It would be as well for Mr Murphy to take a good look at these areas of concern and address the complacency being shown by the Barr government.

Mysterious case of the disappearing stadium

WALKING through the entry gates at Melbourne Park for the tennis, it becomes obvious that major sporting venues are lifting their game when it comes to enhancing the overall sport-plus-other-entertainment fan experience. It’s not simply about watching live sport; it has to do with the perception that you are part of an event that cannot be replicated through the prism of television. Tennis has shown that people will go to live sport if the overall product is memorable.

So with Melbourne Park and the new Perth multi-sport facility representing the benchmark, where does that leave dated venues such as Canberra Stadium?

The proposed indoor stadium seems to be continually on the backburner. The goalposts are constantly changing while the existing facility at Bruce gets the occasional coat of paint to give the appearance of change. At first it appeared to be all-systems-go with forecasts the Raiders and the Brumbies would be playing at the new stadium within the next five years. However, from the moment it was proposed hurdles began appearing. There were plans for the Civic Olympic Pool to be relocated to a new aquatic facility closer to Lake Burley Griffin but that disappeared into the ether. Then financing the new stadium became an issue due to the unexpected expenditure associated with Mr Fluffy. The final nail was the assertion that the stadium wouldn’t be viable without an A-League team playing there as well. As I have speculated earlier, the likelihood

With Melbourne Park and the new Perth multi-sport facility representing the benchmark, where does that leave dated venues such as Canberra Stadium?

ity from the Commonwealth Government. If that were to change and the ACT assumed ownership, it could result in Canberra Stadium being demolished to make way for housing. The funds could then be used to finance a new stadium.

The hurdles appear endless.

It has left many asking if there is any desire to build a new stadium at all. In the end it may transpire that a privately funded facility, incorporating a new convention centre, could eventuate.

There has been speculation that a group, independent of the government, is looking into such a proposal. Ultimately, this may be the only way the new stadium will be built. But if such a proposal is underway, those involved need to make sure they have the support of the community. The proposed redevelopment of Manuka Oval provides a recent example of an idea going off the rails through a lack of trans parency, particularly in the early stages.

Charity disc sales help RSPCA

SONGLAND Records’ owner “Frog” Harris has presented the ACT RSPCA with $4500, proceeds from the sale of donated cds, dvds and records throughout the past year. The Cooleman Court store will hold its next charity sale on Record Store Day, Saturday, April 21, and welcomes donations of cds, dvds and vinyl discs.

Clothing sale

THERE will be a sale of good, clean pre-loved clothing for adults and children, linen, bedding, shoes and bags at St Ninian’s Uniting Church, corner of Mouat and Brigalow Streets, Lyneham, 9am-1pm, Friday, February 16 and Saturday, February

scones baked on the premises.

Lesson in Learning

THE Smith Family’s Learning for Life co-ordinator, Lisa Gibbons, is the guest speaker at the next lunch meeting of the ladies of the Tuggeranong Day VIEW Club. Visitors welcome to join them at the Town Centre Vikings club, Greenway, 11.30am-2pm, Tuesday, February 20. Lunch costs $26 and RSVP to 6294 1384 by Friday, February 16.

Big bike ride looms

PEDAL Power ACT is holding the annual Big Canberra Bike Ride on Sunday, February 18. Timing for the 120km and 68km rides has been introduced. More information and registrations to bigcanberrabikeride. com.au/

Big new run for Red Hill

CANBERRA Grammar School is staging a new community event this month – the Red Hill Run.

It’s open to everyone –running enthusiasts, tranquil joggers, mountain bike riders or even casual walkers – and consists of three routes:

• A timed run up the Red Hill steps for the fit and enthusiastic runners, plus a 5k and 10k run for those who prefer distance.

• A casual walk along the gravel tracks to the top of Red Hill.

• A mountain bike time trial ride around a Red Hill route.

The Red Hill Run will be held at 10am on Sunday, February 25, and the Whole School Family

Picnic entertainment begins at the CGS oval at 11.30am. The event is to raise awareness for the CGS Foundation and launch the 2018 community engagement calendar, alongside the Annual Giving Appeal.

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Expert help with home ideas and inspiration

WITH the New Year well underway, what better time to spruce up the home than with some changes?

A house is likely to be our biggest single investment, so it makes sense to make the most of living in it and, at

the same time, adding value through professionally guided improvements or DIY repurposing.

Here “CityNews” showcases the goods and services of local experts who can help you achieve those objectives…

Experts in reducing energy bills

SINCE 2013 Power Saving Centre Canberra has helped homeowners and businesses in the ACT and its surrounding regions reduce their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.

Power Saving Centre Canberra prides itself on its excellent customer service, product knowledge and affordable prices.

“Our friendly staff will take the time to share their knowledge and innovation with you, assessing your individual needs and guiding you to the products that

best suit your lifestyle and budget,” says Power Saving Centre Canberra.

Power Saving Centre Canberra also has a team of renewable energy engineers who design customised power saving solutions for each individual customer, providing the best quality and return on investment.

Power Saving Centre Canberra, 1/44 Hoskins Street, Mitchell. Call 6154 5444, email info@psccan.com.au or visit psccan.com.au

The feather and down experts for over 30 years

SERVICE FOR YOUR QUILTS, PILLOWS & CUSHIONS

New range of winter quilts! Eco-friendly cleaning and rejuvenation of:

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• Woollen, silk, polyester and cotton blankets and underlays.

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• repairing, resizing and re-casing services

• add extra feather and down to your quilts, pillows or sleeping bags.

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS

JOINERY

every week in... just loves Ben’s all about service without stress

Creations’

Townsville Street, Fyshwick ACT 2609

Phone: 02 6260 1621

www.solacecreations.com.au

UNDER Ben Sainsbury, Shaped Kitchens and Detailed Joinery, which was formerly Solid As Joinery and Fine Furniture, has undergone a facelift but has kept the same great service.

Specialising in commercial, residential and high-end projects, Shaped Kitchens and Detailed Joinery works on areas and items such as kitchens, laundries, buffet units, wardrobes, display cabinets, seating areas and offices.

Ben says Shaped Kitchens and Detailed Joinery also offers a range of quality materials from sustainable plywood or bamboo to melamine and particle board.

For clients feeling daunted by the process, Ben’s wife, Brittany is on hand to guide them through the process before meeting with Ben.

“We take a lot of pride in ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of our clients,” Ben says.

“If the job is large and requires a lot of multiple trades, we will put our hands up to manage the project from start to finish purely to minimise the stress on the client and ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.

“We are also now certified to fabricate our own solid-surface benchtops in-house.”

Ben says instead of waiting seven to 10 days after a kitchen or vanity installation for someone to come, measure and then fabricate a bench top, it’ll be fabricated by them at the same time as the kitchen and installed at the same time.

Shaped Kitchens and Detailed Joinery, 189 Gilmore Road, Queanbeyan West. Call 0422 219158, email info@shapedkdj.com.au or visit shapedkdj.com.au

Furniture for all kinds of spaces

TIMBERLAND Furniture in Fyshwick has a combination of imported and Australian ready-made furniture, as well as furniture customised to fit any space.

Owner Tony Purdy says they can customise the furniture for specific requirements such as changing the colour, size or adding or taking out a drawer.

“We will customise it for you to make it fit the space and with lounges we can make them to size, or you can choose your own material,” he says.

With about half of the furniture in store being Australian

made, Tony says people will get value for their money with beautiful materials used to make the furniture such as Australian hardwood.

“We provide a personal service and are able to go to the customer’s home to assist them with measurements,” he says.

Timberland Furniture, 7/17 Iron Knob Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 7411, email timberlandfyshwick@gmail.com or visit canberracustomfurniture.com

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homes.

Bordeaux Construction offers commercial fit-outs and joinery and are also fully licensed builders in NSW and ACT.

“We pride ourselves in achieving the highest standard for our customers in design and workmanship,” Steve says.

“Our prices are competitive and we work with you to achieve your desired outcome.

“We offer full trade co-ordination and have our own experienced and reliable tradesmen and expert staff

“We also recently received an MBA commendation award for ‘Special Care’ residence as we specialise in housing needs for the aged. Come talk to us about alternative living such as granny flats or self contained units,” says Steve.

Bordeaux Construction and Bordeaux Kitchens offer obligation-free quotes.

Bordeaux Construction, 8 Aurora Place, Queanbeyan, call 6299 4642. Visit bordeauxbcm.com.au or facebook.com/ BordeauxBCM

Furniture experts help create the perfect ‘look’

JUST Looking Furniture has an interior designer, a colour consultant and a range of great furniture to help customers create the perfect look for their house, says director Craig Kerkin.

The interior designer, Sharon, can make suggestions on things such as furnishings, colours and fabrics, either in-store or at a customer’s house, while colour consultant Helen can advise on colour co-ordination for furnishings, modifying existing designs and drawing up sample floor plans to shape a room or home.

“Our interior design service can ensure your choice of furniture will suit your surrounds and provide many years of satisfaction,” Craig says.

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“We try to keep it simple and work within customer expectations, budgets and ideas as best we can.”

Just Looking Furniture focuses on affordable dining, lounge and bedroom suites complemented by a wide selection of mirrors, prints, lamps and decorative items that complete the picture.

Not only does Just Looking Furniture modify furniture to fit a larger home, it also customises items for customers who downsize.

“Customer service is critical in this industry and our small team of dedicated people strive to meet the needs of all those who walk through our door,” he says.

Just Looking Furniture, 6 Collie Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 6443 or visit justlookingfurniture.com.au

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Richard Calver

Maude’s high-flying art of picking a winner

By arts editor Helen Musa

AUSTRALIA’S most artistic sulphur-crested cockatoo, Maude, is preening herself in rural Coolac, NSW, as she prepares to assess the notorious Bald Archy Prize, which opens at Watson Arts Centre this week.

According to the founder of the Archys, Peter Batey, the awards are now in their 25th year and these days Maude prefers to waft around in the gum trees and descend once a day to carry out her judging duties.

The aim will be to fly in the faces of more respectable art prizes such as the Archibald in a competition that singles out the ridiculous aspects of Australia’s high fliers.

We’ll have to wait until later in the year to hear who’s won, but suffice it to say that the cream of Australia’s satirical portraitists have entered work in the show that pokes fun at our politicians, media stars, sports personalities and artists, as in satirist Dave Ross’s cheeky impression of “Pitch Perfect” star Rebel Wilson, who successfully

sued Bauer Media for defamation in Melbourne’s Victorian Supreme Court.

Batey told “CityNews”: “It looks like a record number of entries this year coming from as far afield as WA and the NT, with around half a dozen previous winners entering – that’s fairly rare.”

He has good cause to exult. He and Maude have struggled to raise the prize money over the years, but in 2018 for the first time, they’ve received sponsorship from the Sydney Brewery, which

provides first and second cash prizes.

The sponsorship was offered after Batey wrote to millionaire plastic surgeon and hotelier Jerry Schwartz, once the subject of a Bald Archy entry, who immediately and to his astonishment, responded with the offer.

Batey confided to Schwartz that he was having trouble with venues in Sydney and was offered a space at the recently opened Sofitel Darling Harbour Hotel, where the winner will

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be announced on March 20.

Schwartz owns a number of hotels around Australia and the deal has also opened the doors to new exhibition venues in Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle and Leura.

It’s been 20 years since the Archy has been exhibited in Melbourne, “because of the arts snobs there,” Batey says, and it’s never been to Newcastle, home to two Archy winners.

Although he was also offered a new location in the ACT, Batey says Watson Arts Centre has been so helpful in selecting and hanging the show that he preferred to stay there.

This year’s Bald Archy will travel to 10 venues over a period of 10 months.

As if this weren’t enough, The Museum of the Riverina in Wagga Wagga has this week opened a retrospective called “Best of the Bald Archy,” running until mid-May.

And Maude? Reportedly over the moon about the sponsorship, she says, Batey assures us: “Judging is always hot work… a couple of schooners of Paddo Pale will be just the thing to see me through the task of choosing the finalists.”

The 25th Bald Archy Prize, Watson Arts Centre, 1 Aspinall Street, Watson, 10am4pm daily, until March 12.

Christanto paints pain and beauty

By Helen Musa

WHILE artist Dadang Christanto’s most famous works demonstrated subversive power, he now says he is trying to be more subtle.

The large-format paintings of his new Canberra exhibition are almost dreamlike, conjuring up the endangered cultures to our north.

In titling the exhibition “Lost”, Christanto has gone back to reflect on the ancient “pawukon” calendar, full of significance and mystery to the Javanese.

In this exhibition, conceived in conversation with artisan friends in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, he focuses on issues of heritage and collective memories as they are seen to sink beneath modern belief systems or, as he puts it, are “sunk into the depths of the ocean”.

To some viewers, the paintings will seem simply beautiful, evoking the age-old aristocratic figures from the Javanese “wayang kulit” puppet theatre; to others, the pleasure will come from the exquisite detail of suppressed nature seen in the deities, fish, head, animals and underwater plants. It is likely that his exhibition will arouse a sense of pain and beauty all at once.

Christanto has been enjoying a few short days in Canberra, staying in the artists’ flat in Gorman Arts Centre, in what’s been a sentimental journey south for the peripatetic Indonesian-Australian painter, performer, sculptor and installation artist who became famous by transforming suffering into provocative art.

Born in central Java, he trained at the celebrated Indonesian Institute of the Arts in Yogyakarta, where he found himself in the midst of a vibrant political art scene not always appreciated by the Suharto regime.

In 1999 he moved to Australia with his family as part of the diaspora that followed the fall of Suharto.

Christanto has enjoyed a long association with the ANU, where he took part in two human rights-related exhibitions and, as artist in residence, conducted outdoor art performance pieces. In 2010 he was the subject of a retrospective exhibition “Dadang Christanto: wounds in our heart,” at the Drill Hall Gallery, co-curated by Canberra academic Caroline Turner and the then Drill Hall director, Nancy Sever.

He has lectured at the University of the NT in Darwin and at the College of Fine Arts at UNSW and exhibited in Tokyo, New York, Havana, Bangkok, Venice, Sao Paulo, Osaka, Jakarta, Gwangju, Korea and cities in Australia and NZ.

He has now bought an old school in the Lismore district, from which he works as an independent artist. Christanto is not only famous in Canberra. His mighty sculptural work “They give evidence,” in which 16 male and female represented displaced victims, mutely carrying the bodies of innocent men, women and children who have been killed, was a central feature in the opening of the Art Gallery of NSW’s new Asian galleries in 2003 and has been reprised twice.

Christanto,

When love seams to bloom CINEMA

“Phantom Thread” (M)

A TRIFECTA for Paul Thomas Anderson – writer, director, cinematographer. With an estimated $US35 million budget, “Phantom Thread”, his eighth feature, has gathered a sextet of Oscar nominations. But its box office takings to the end of last month total only $US11.388 million.

The enigmatic title leads to the esoteric world of 1950’s couture. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Reynolds Woodcock, dressmaker to the rich and noble, although not necessarily famous. In an atelier on the top floor of his London home, a team of seamstresses ply their skills turning his designs into gowns all by hand – not a sewing machine to be seen.

Reynolds is a bachelor of strong, some might say finicky, habits that his business partner and sister Cyril (Lesley Manville, OBE and Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominee) endures patiently.

Stopping for a meal while driving to a weekend at the pair’s country house, Reynolds is gobsmacked by a waitress. She isn’t averse to his approach. Very soon she’s ensconced in his home, learning about managing a couture house, keeping Reynolds at arm’s length, not difficult because he’s so focused on his work and the habits of a lifetime that he doesn’t have time for bedroom delights.

based on Molly’s book. Molly’s parents gave her the same name as the principal female character in James Joyce’s path-breaking 1921 novel “Ulysses”. Kevin Costner plays her father, whose involvement in the screenplay may be contrived.

Alma (Vicky Krieps) knows opportunity when she sees it. And she is quick to plot a course to her desired outcome. The plot evolves into the resolution of the relationship between three strong characters and a business dependent on women with access to wealth.

Anderson’s writing of those interactions is masterly, as much for its observations of personality and character as for its manipulation of situations and issues. The dialogue is sharp and intelligent. He deftly introduces a variety of minor participants, clients of Woodcock ranging from European royalty to an unattractive heiress desperate to find a husband interested in her more than her money.

“Phantom Thread” runs for 130 minutes, time that observers of the human condition may well consider well spent.

At Dendy, Capitol 6 and Palace Electric

“Molly’s Game” (MA)

THE game is high-stakes poker, with a six-digit entry fee. And the game’s owner is a statuesque redhead who had been a Winter Olympics aspirant before a back-breaking accident.

“Molly’s Game” is the directing debut of Aaron Sorkin, who also wrote the screenplay

A master of dialogue and situation, Sorkin’s not bad at directing either, although “Molly’s Game” tends to be a bit flicky timewise. He’s not greatly concerned about the morality of gambling because neither are the story’s characters.

Playing Molly, Jessica Chastain dominates the screen. She’s built that way. As well, a very long list of nominations for awards and awards received for 50 roles in only 13 years bears testimony to her acting chops.

When the FBI arrests Molly for offences that took place two years earlier, Molly is going to need a good lawyer. Idris Elba plays Charlie Jaffey for whom Sorkin has written strong dialogue.

High-stakes poker is a major character throughout the film. A committed player may feel comfortable trying to follow its game sequences.

The rest of us must be content with the tensions that develop less with the hands played than with the bets. And the debts. It all works well enough.

At all cinemas

“Father Figures” (MA) No stars

THIS is cinematographer Lawrence Sher’s directing debut. Its writer Justin Malen’s third feature.

The TV and feature film productions on which this pair have cut their teeth (not together) are best summarised as unmemorable potboilers.

Ed Helms plays Peter, a GP who makes me appreciate my GP all the more. Owen Wilson plays his ne’er-do-well twin brother Kyle. Today their mother Helen is getting married. She tells the twins that the father whom they believed dead is in fact still alive.

The film follows the twins seeking out the men who might have sired them, guys with fond memories of teenaged Helen’s sexual enthusiasms and performance qualities – nudge, nudge, wink, wink. But they deny being responsible for siring the twins.

At the beginning of her eighth decade, Glenn Close still looks good and playing Helen doesn’t stretch her skills. Playing a petty crim, one of the putative fathers, the usually admirable JK Simmons was a disappointment not because of his performance but of the quality of the writing to which he was trying to bring to life.

After 70 minutes, having seen nothing in “Father Figures” to admire or that made me laugh or even smile, I did the sensible thing and went home.

Until three months before release, this film was called “Bastards”. ‘Nuf said.

At Hoyts Belconnen

• Adult Beginner & Intermediate

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

Email: dale_harris@bigpond.com

Web: dalesballroomdancing.com.au Principal:

“OPERA DIVA’S CLASS HITS BRILLIANT NOTE”

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN, 21 NOV 2017

“AMANDA MUGGLETON IS ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S GREAT ACTORS” OUT IN PERTH, 19 NOV 2017 “A WONDERFULLY IMMERSIVE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE”

STAGE WHISPERS, 20 NOV 2017 “THE AUDIENCE RESPONDED WITH A STANDING OVATION.”

LIMELIGHT, 20 NOV 2017 “A PERFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER.” AVENOIR, 19 NOV 2017

Ticketssellingfast

Canberra AREA THEATRE AWARDS

Gala Evening

Canberra Theatre

Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra ACT 2601

Saturday 17th February 2018 – 6pm

Hosts Simon Gallgaher and Ian Mclean ON SALE NOW

Canberra Theatre - 6275 2700 • www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Coralie Wood Publicity - 0418 249 658

A night of glitter and glamour showcasing the brilliant performances of non-professional groups in Canberra and the Regions. Dress black tie and sparkles! www.catawards.com.au

Griffith’s insightful script permits truly outstanding and convincing performances. He includes a poignant moment of comic relief to dissipate the volatile emotions filling the room.

Lyn Zelen Theatre people 4.5/5

ARTS IN THE CITY Family ‘Tree’ of secrets

“THE Magnolia Tree”, written and directed by Michael Griffith, aims to shock and confound as it deals with issues surrounding dementia. Filled with family secrets and fractured relationships, the play sees a family gathered in the living room of their mother’s house where Jack tries to convince his two sisters to take the life of their mother. At The Q, Queanbeyan, February 14-17. Bookings to theq.net.au or 6285 6290.

THE Australian String Quartet’s national season begins with an eclectic concert including Philip Glass’ String Quartet no 3, “Mishima”, Brett Dean’s String Quartet no 1, “Eclipse”, and Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in D major op 44 no 1. At Gandel Hall, National Gallery of Australia, 2pm, Sunday, February 11. Bookings to ticketing@asq.com.au or 1800 040444.

ANDREW Pike’s “right-hand person” at Ronin Films, Sue Faulkner, has retired after some 33 years with the company. She was the graphic artist who gave Ronin a public face through her collectible DVD covers, leaflets, posters and through press advertising for releases such as “Strictly Ballroom” and “Shine”. Before she left, she helped with Ronin’s move from Civic to Mitchell.

THE St Kilda Festival is back in Melbourne on Sunday, February 11, and Canberra act The Ians will feature. They’re a group of self-styled hotheads who go by the single names of Nic, Matt, Tim and Dan (but not Ian). They’ve capitalised on the rise of the “lemon-rock” genre, a combination of jangle-pop, punk, rockabilly, grunge, country, hard rock, British Invasion and blues-rock.

THE Canberra Opera Recital Series begins its inaugural recital with local singer Keren Dalzell as the featured artist and with accompaniment by regular music director Kathleen Loh. They’ll be joined by Katrina Wiseman and Clare Hedley in a range of arias with the theme “Handel to Barber”. At Wesley Music Centre,

20-22 National Circuit, Forrest, 7.30pm, Wednesday, February 14. Bookings to trybooking.com

CARL Rafferty’s “Opera by Candlelight”, now in its 10th year, returns to Albert Hall with European and Aussie singers Ivana Janosevic, Kate Rafferty, Maria Slavova, Anna Razumovsky, Nicola Jelinkova, Marta Nowicka joined by Jane Millward, Anna Rafferty, Fraser Findlay, Shane Treeves, Matthew Phillips, Diana Tulip and Megan Hobson on February 16-18. Bookings to operabycandlelight.net

A PRE-Multicultural Festival “Mother Tongue” performance offers multilingual poets a chance meet and have a practice run at reading poems to a small and supportive audience. At Smith’s Alternative, 76 Alinga Street, Civic, Monday, February 12. Bookings to smithsalternative.com or at the door.

BY MICHAEL GRIFFITH

IF YOU LIKE A SOLID SCRIPT AND WANT TO EXPLORE THE DEPTHS OF YOUR OWN MORALITY — THIS IS THE PLAY FOR YOU.

Griffith crafts an ingenious script that shocks and confounds. The drama will exasperate and empower you, leaving you to deliberate the eventual outcome.

WINE DINING / baked, braddon Bagel + brioche = bragel

An ‘acid bomb’ from cold climes

The Carpenters, who founded Lark Hill, are reputedly the first to have planted gruner veltliner in Australia. It does well at the altitude of the Lark Hill winery.

GRUNER veltliner sounds like a competitor for the German airline Lufthansa. But let me tell you, it is a grape variety. It produces a fresh, acidic white wine that is grown in the cold climate areas of Austria and Slovakia. And in Australia. But the variety and its history exemplify the European.

It was not a varietal high on my list of priority drinks. However, the Wine Gallery recently sent me an Austrian Domane Wachau Terrassen 2015 as part of a monthly mystery three wines (at $23 each) that are linked to a taste profile I filled out when subscribing. This time they got it right. I really enjoyed this wine.

The only other occasion when I had tasted this varietal was when I attended a Canberra District Wine Industry Association dinner in 2017 and sampled the award-winning Lark Hill, which was memorable and a perfect food wine. The Carpenters, who founded Lark Hill, are reputedly the first to have planted gruner veltliner in Australia. It does well at the altitude of the Lark Hill winery, 860 metres, level with the observation deck on Black Mountain Tower.

A friend in NZ, who I visited in late 2017, has a Slovakian background. Austria is close enough right? So I took the Domane Wachau as a

present and so we could compare it with a Margrain Vineyard gruner veltliner when we visited Martinborough, a mere 82 kilometres from Wellington where she and her husband live. I should have taken a Lark Hill as well to make it a tri-nation competition but it is close to $50 a bottle and I already spend too much money on wine.

The third day of my visit, we drove from Wellington over the steep Rimutaka ranges and down into the Wairarapa. It took about an hour and twenty minutes to reach charming Martinborough where the town is now geared to wine tourists. I told my friends a few of my jokes on the way. They liked the one where the past, the present and the future walked into a bar: it was tense.

Anyway, we got to the Margrain Vineyard tasting room and I ran through my approach to tasting, starting with holding the wine to the light. I held the glass aloft and up to the light.

“Oh,” I said, “you can see the finger marks on the tasting glass.”

This honest outburst was a mistake. The service then became quite cold, unlike the wine on taste, which had started to heat up with the day. The Kiwi gruner veltliner was an acid bomb. It was very sharp at the back of the mouth. My friends agreed. It was more expensive than the Austrian wine at $NZ30. We moved on to other Martinborough wineries. It was a splendid day.

That night when we returned to Wellington, we tasted the Domane Wachau. It was a world away from our earlier tasting. Fresh, the acid a zing not a punch, the crisp finish

complementing the garden salad with leaves straight from, well, the garden. Speaking of which, the interesting conversation piece is that the Terrassen in the name is derived from the fact that the Austrian vines are grown on sloped terraces. Apparently, this provides greater exposure to sunlight during the growing season. This method of planting is a means to get more even ripening and is the signature of the UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley, an area of European beauty.

My friends also liked my European bar joke.

A Greek, an Irishman and a Spaniard walked into a bar. The German paid.

RICHARD CALVER

IT’S a new food invention that was created right here in Canberra.

The term “bragel” has been trademarked and work is underway to do the same with the recipe.

“Bragel”, you ask?

Abel Bariller, of Baked, the newest bakery in Braddon, says it’s an original cross between a bagel and a brioche.

“When we opened Baked we wanted to offer something unique that would make a difference in the food market,” says Abel. “We know bagels are popular around the world, but personally find the texture too dense and the product a bit dry. We believed we could fix that.”

The bragel is, indeed, softer and more fluffy than a bagel. And more buttery like a brioche.

Abel’s business partner, chef Clement Chauvin (the two also own award-winning Les Bistronomes), says it took some experimenting to get the bragel “just so”, but he never wavered in his confidence.

“We’re French and the French love the brioche,” says Clement. “We believed blending the techniques behind the brioche with the techniques behind the bagel had potential. We conducted five trials and then, voila! “We had a new recipe for an insanely good bragel and, as far as we know, we’re the first in Australia to do this.”

Baked creates sweet and savoury bragels, including a black version made with edible charcoal.

“We can take them in any direction and the fillings, too,” says Clement.

All-day breakfast options include a fave called “The Swedish”, a charcoal bragel packed with house-cured salmon gravlax, dill sour cream, rocket lettuce and a lemon dressing that is perky but not overwhelming ($16).

The bragel is softer and more fluffy than a bagel. And more buttery like a brioche.

“The Waldorf” is a vegetarian bragel served with witlof, pear, blue cheese and honey dressing ($16).

If a more traditional brekkie is what you’re after, never fear. Baked has an egg and bacon bragel ($10), a “Bragel Eggs Benny” ($18) and the “Hell’s Kitchen”, with bacon, avo, fried egg, lime, chili sauce and chili flakes ($16).

Lunch bragels are served with chips and vary from $10 to $17, with options to add extras. The line-up features American, Italian and Thai versions. The “Big Kahuna” is delish – pork belly, bacon and pineapple all served in a soft, fluffy, buttery bragel.

Salad lovers are taken care of with three hearty salads on the menu, or you can choose housemade sandwiches and quiches.

Everything is made daily, including a stunning-looking (and tasty) line-up of sweets. Think tartlets, slices, danishes, eclairs and cakes (go for the triple-chocolate fudge version). Freshly baked breads also for sale.

Baked has great coffee, non-alcoholic beers and ciders, smoothies, cold press juices, milkshakes and mocktails. Abel says they’re working on a liquor license.

Baked. 38 Mort Street, Braddon. Open daily, 7am to 3pm.

Thyme management is made for ‘living’ mulch

MULCH, mulch, mulch… that’s the constant message with our extreme evaporation rate that starts in late spring and lasts to late autumn.

Besides the many varieties of regular mulch, there are alternatives such as possibly the most effective mulch of all – “living mulches”. While it’s not the time to plant

living mulches, it is a good opportunity to prepare the ground for them.

Living mulches that are easy to maintain and provide colour in the garden, include the prostrate varieties of the Thymus family, commonly referred to as carpet or creeping thymes.

Pictured are just two examples in our garden now in flower. There are many other creeping thymes such as T. “Orange Peel” T. “Jekka” and T. “Silver Posy”. When buying

carpet thymes it is possibly cheaper to buy a single 140-150mm pot and cut the thyme into three or four sections like a cake, rather than buying three or four 100mm pots.

As the carpet thymes spread, it is easy to cut out sections with a sharp knife and transplant to other bare areas in the garden. I could divide our carpet thymes to produce at least 100 extra plants. Once established you will never need to buy another thyme.

Almost all thymes are from Europe and the Mediterranean region, tolerating extreme heat and not concerned with the cold. Good drainage is essential, so if you have heavy clay type soil mix in coarse, washed river sand (not builders’ sand).

Other prostrate ground covering plants ideal for a living mulch include the canescens variety of the Phyla nodiflora. It spreads rapidly by means of its lateral stems that root on contact with the soil to about a metre wide and five to 10 millimetres high with scented, small, pinkish-white flowers through late summer and autumn. The flowers are a good source of honey. For larger areas Rosmarinus officinalis prostratus with the lateral stems growing with lateral shoots similar to Phyla. Growing on the top of a

wall, this rosemary will hang down presenting a floral image of blue flowers. Plus it can also be used for cooking.

Viola labradorica is an absolute delight with small, violet flowers late summer to autumn and mauve-tinged leaves growing to about 10 centimetres. Originating from Labrador to Alaska, despite its origins, this grows very well in Canberra.

Then there’s the Australian Pratia pedunculata, a prostrate creeping plant with tiny, round leaves with light blue or white flowers, growing to about two centimetres tall.

This is just a small selection of evergreen ground covers which, with the exception of the rosemary, are ideal for small areas, such as courtyards, although our carpet thymes have now spread to one metre by two metres wide.

Finally, for a floral display from spring to late summer, look for the range of Convolvulus. C. “Moroccan Beauty” gives the clue to its origin. Growing in straight sand in the heat of the desert, it is ideal for our heat. It spreads easily to two metres with a height of just 10 centimetres.

Jottings...

• Carry out a summer prune of excess growth on apples and pears.

• If English lavender has finished flowering, cut back the flower heads, but not into the old growth.

• Don’t over water in the extreme heat. For dripper systems if the temperature is up to 25C-30C, it only needs to run for an hour once a week. When temperatures exceed this, increase the time to two hours once a week. Container plants will need watering every couple of days.

Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Romance is in the air on Wednesday, but the energy is behind the scenes suggesting a private, magical Valentine’s Day. Singles – mysterious synchronicities could lead you to your soul mate. Thursday night’s Solar Eclipse encourages you to contribute your considerable talents to a group, club or organisation. On the weekend you’re keen to move ahead with an ambitious project. But are you seeing things clearly? Be careful you don’t charge off in a totally unsuitable direction.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)

With Venus in your aspirations zone on Valentine’s Day, find a dream you can share together. “Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but of looking outward together in the same direction” – Antoine St Exupery. Don’t be complacent at work. Is it time to look for a better job or change vocation? Are you overdue for a pay rise or promotion? If you resist making changes then you’ll be left behind, as the Solar Eclipse encourages you to explore fresh professional pastures.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

With mighty Mars charging through your relationship zone, when it comes to love you need to be strong and brave. So your quote for Valentine’s Day is from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu: “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” Thursday night’s Solar Eclipse activates your adventure zone. So it’s time to stimulate your mind, sate your curiosity and satisfy your restlessness via reading, learning and travelling.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

With Saturn sauntering through your romance zone, your love life is a serious business at the moment. So your quote for Valentine’s Day is from writer William Barclay: “Love always involves responsibility, and love always involves sacrifice.” But resist the temptation to brood over love gone wrong. The Solar Eclipse signals a major shift in the areas of intimacy or money. Perhaps a rebooted relationship, a passionate new liaison or the start of an exciting financial partnership?

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Mick Jagger, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Lawrence… why are so many major entertainers also Leos? Because they relish being the centre of attention. But this week’s Solar Eclipse encourages you to share the spotlight with another person, whether it’s a lover, relative or close friend. And on Valentine’s Day, some Lions will launch a new romantic relationship (or rejuvenate an old one). Single Cats – sparks could fly with someone who is smart and oh-so-sexy.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

Focus your attention on your lover, as you give them the right royal romantic treatment this Valentine’s Day. Single? You could meet your soul mate via a loved one or a work colleague. If you’ve been neglecting your health, then it’s the best week of the year to swap fast food for home-cooked meals; cream buns for carrot juice; and TV marathons for power walks or gym sessions. Virgos thrive on a regular routine and a healthy lifestyle, so stop the excuses and start ASAP!

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

Romantic Librans love to be in love, and so Valentine’s Day is very special for you. If you are single, don’t sit at home and fret about a former partner. Get out and about and do your usual thing. With Venus in your everyday routine zone, you could meet your soul mate while working, shopping or walking the dog. The Solar Eclipse energises your entertainment zone. So it’s a wonderful week to host a party, attend a concert, see a movie or go to a major sporting event.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

When it comes to matters of the heart, resist the urge to be a controlling Scorpio. With Jupiter in your sign, be spontaneous and open to new possibilities. As actress Loretta Young said: “Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you.” It’s a good week for a domestic clean-up and de-clutter, as the Solar Eclipse highlights your home zone. So do your best to make Casa Scorpio a cocoon of calm, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy outside world.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

On Tuesday the planets trigger your tendency to jump to conclusions and put your foot firmly in your mouth. But before you jump in and judge others and make inappropriate comments, take a close and considered look at yourself. And then hold your tongue! You’ll have a wonderful day on Wednesday, as long as you don’t expect everything to be 100 per cent perfect. So your Valentine’s Day quote is from fellow Sagittarian, Taylor Swift: “The perfection of love is that it’s not perfect.”

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Don’t take your partner – or potential partner for granted! “Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone. It has to be made like bread, remade all the time, made new” –Ursula Le Guin. With the Solar Eclipse in your cash zone, take stock of your financial situation and initiate some smart new strategies. And don’t forget to do an inventory of your inner wealth, which includes your self-esteem and core values. Remember – you are more than your job, what you earn and what you own.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Your quote for Valentine’s Day is from Aquarian birthday great, artist Yoko Ono: “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” Thursday night’s Solar Eclipse is in your sign, so you’ll be twice as much fun – and twice as much trouble. You’re feeling avant-garde and adventurous, and are keen to revamp an important area of your life. But you’ll also feel restless, reckless and rebellious as you shake loved ones out of their comfort zones.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

With Venus visiting your sign on Valentine’s Day, it’s the perfect time to flutter your eyelashes (or flex your pecs) and ask for what you want. Then sit back and reap the romantic rewards. On Thursday night the Solar Eclipse energises your ‘escaping’ zone, and on Saturday Neptune squares Mars. So (if you have a problem that needs to be faced or a decision that needs to be made) resist being distracted by other people’s agendas, and side-tracked by dubious schemes.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2018

Across

1 Name the Australian Liberal politician who was Prime Minister on three occasions between 1903 and 1910, Alfred ... (6)

7 Which doctors are skilled in the examination and treatment of the eyes? (8)

8 Name the conventional Italian form of address for a man. (6)

9 Dodomo has been designated to become the new capital of which east African republic? (8)

10 What is delivered by an orator? (6)

11 The echidna is known as the spiny what? (8)

14 What are rootlike subterranean stems called? (8)

18 Name the ground under the ocean. (6)

19 Which aquatic bird has a long neck and pinkish to scarlet plumage? (8)

21 What is a private meeting of the parliamentary members of a political party? (6)

22 What describes that which was used against armoured vehicles? (8)

23 Which ferruginous earth is used as a pigment? (6)

Down

1 What is a sudden or great misfortune? (8)

2 Which horse won the 1987 Melbourne Cup? (6)

3 Name a Sunshine Coast town about 20km north of Nambour. (5,3)

4 What is one of five children born at one birth? (4)

5 Which insect is often referred to as a locust? (6)

6 What is Australian English, humorously and affectionately regarded? (6)

12 What are clumps of growing grass? (8)

13 What was the former name of Zimbabwe? (8)

15 Name a US volcanic mountain in Washington state, Mount St ... (6)

16 Lusaka is the capital of which land-locked African republic? (6)

17 Which substance is used for fertilising the soil? (6)

20 To be close by, is to be what? (4)

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