CityNews 180906

Time to let the cops loose on the bikies

MICHAEL MOORE Labor’s shameful preselection process

JON STANHOPE

What lies behind Morrison’s faith?

MrsDARIUS DARING

Skaidrite Darius forged a path for gender equality from the day she got a job at the ANU’s first computer-processing program

ROBERT MACKLIN Refugee writes an emotional knockout

HELEN MUSA

Injured in a motor vehicle accident?

Don’t delay call MEJ.

PAGES 6 ALL ABOUT QUEANBEYAN

Two funerals in, Ann gets some insurance peace

By Danielle NOHRA

DISTRESSED and stuck, pensioner Ann Crisp of Theodore, contacted “CityNews” complaining that she had paid for her own funeral twice over and was facing further price jumps after being drawn into what she calls an “unethical” funeral insurance policy 13 years ago.

then went up to $88 a month, which was manageable.

But, just around Ann’s 80th birth day in April, she received an “insult ing” letter congratulating her, which she thought was nice until she read the part about her premium cost rising to about $144 a month.

“Once you turn 79, you can’t get any other insurance,” she said.

Her husband died in 1989 and her only child, Lisa, who had said she’d take care of Ann’s funeral costs, was suddenly told she only had eight weeks to live in 2005.

Before she passed away, she told Ann to get some sort of insurance and Ann, who didn’t want to “be a burden on her family” – or so the television advertisement said – signed up for funeral insurance.

She chose Real Insurance because it was running ads at the time and while she didn’t know it then, she could now see how she was emotionally drawn in by the company’s targeted advertising.

“I’ve only got my two grandchildren, and I don’t want them to have to worry about paying for my funeral,” Ann said.

At the beginning, the monthly premium ($48) seemed like a reasonable price to protect her grandchildren. It

And, even though she’s already paid for her funeral two times over, in five years’ time her premium was due to drastically jump to $286 a month. If she stopped paying her premium would lapse.

“How am I going to pay for that?” she asked “CityNews”.

So we called Real Insurance for com ment to see what was amiss with Ann’s policy. Real Insurance’s response was conditional, so in the end none was forthcoming.

But that didn’t stop Real Insurance from tracking Ann down and initiating a settlement. While Ann is grateful for the help, she said the insurance company had now bound her to a confidential settlement to the extent she was constrained from any further commentary about the firm and its policy with her.

ethics of her situation.

And so did her granddaughter Gaynor Gibson.

Earlier she had also complained to the Financial Ombudsman, who said the insurance company was compliant in its conduct.

Ann admitted to missing the fine print, but said it was more about the

“[It’s] unethical, preying on the worries of the older generation and in this case making 100 per cent profit on premiums as the liability to the company will never increase over time,” Gaynor, 33, of Theodore, told us before the insurance company’s gag was applied.

“Real Insurance has essentially backed her into a corner where she either continues to pay the exorbitant

Since 1993: Volume 24, Number 33

Arts & Entertainment 26-28

Cinema 28

Crossword 29

Dining 28

Gardening 30-31

Horoscopes 29

Letter 8

News 3-12

Politics 8

Socials 13 Cover: Skaidrite Darius in 1988. Photo by Darren Boyd, courtesy of ANU Archives. Story Page 9.

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

Advertising manager: Greg Jones, 0419 418196

Senior advertising account executive: David Cusack, 0435 380656

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

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

premium or she lets the cover lapse and they walk away with $14,000 in premiums and she no longer has a safety net for her funeral expenses.”

Gaynor couldn’t understand why her grandmother was faced with increased premiums after having already paid off her benefit.

“I spoke with Real Insurance and the customer service representative explained that it was a really old product and that the new products (which she had never previously been offered)

offer far better terms than those of her current product,” she said.

“However, all money paid on the current cover would not be rolled over and she would have to start again, at a premium of $150 a month.”

On her original policy, Ann estimated that in 10 years’ time, at the age of 90, she’d be able to stop paying monthly premiums – but by then she would have also paid for more than five funerals.

Given that it was possible to pay more in insurance premiums than the cost of a funeral, aged-care specialist and director of Third Age Matters, Bina Brown said it was worth looking at other more affordable options.

“It may be that an existing lifeinsurance policy covers the cost of a funeral, which can be anywhere from about $5000 depending on the sort of send off you were hoping for, including whether you want to be buried or cremated,” Bina said.

“It is also possible to prepay your planned funeral expenses at today’s prices or invest in a funeral bond –paying only what you agree on with a funeral director.

“Both of these products have the added benefit of being exempt assets under the Centrelink and Department of Veterans Affairs means test for the age pension.

“Even simpler is to set up a savings account, leaving enough for your loved ones to follow your instructions.”

Vulnerable Zed’s happy to take the brickbats

ACT Liberal Senator Zed Seselja – a major player in the plot to dislodge Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull – emerged from the ugly skirmish with a more grown-up portfolio but politically vulnerable.

In an email to party members Seselja conceded he had a problem, admitting “last week’s events in Federal parliament were very difficult for all concerned”. Zed suggested to the faithful that “rather than relying on media reports” he was “happy to chat to you personally regarding decisions I took.”

MEANTIME in his weekly update, Canberra Liberals president John Cziesla also acknowledged damage to the brand admitting “there can be little doubt this week has been one of the more tumultuous weeks in Australian politics and the Liberal Party.”

But a past party president had a very different fella is something else.” Kent fell out with the local party some time ago but says he still meets with true Liberals, most of whom are

Mooney’s talent for mimicking the toffy tones and clipped speech patterns of Malcolm Turnbull has provided him with a handsome income over recent years. But Mooney may struggle now that Turnbull has vacated The Lodge for his harbourside mansion. The comedian is due in Canberra in November for “An Evening with Malcolm” at the Canberra

Theatre. Given Mooney’s resemblance to he may

Wes

short cut bacon has been placed third at the Australian Pork’s national awards. The operator of Elite Meats is also famous for the gags he posts on a sandwich board outside his Kippax Fair shop. And in honour of National Bacon Day, which fell on Father’s Day, a dad joke: Wes has admitted to an addiction to smoking hams. Apparently he’s

SPARE

a thought for Canberra house Nick Kyrgios,

23-year-old son again grabbed headlines after receiving “fatherly” advice from a chair umpire during a break in his second round game at the US Open. But ABC TV’s breakfast suggestion that Nick “needs a father figure” may have been a little

STILL on daddies and the granddaddy Mick Gentleman is proving he’s down with the latest technology by offering a Google offshoot space to spread its drone wings.

Micky G approached the drone delivery company Wing during a recent trip to California, offering it a Canberra base to further develop delivery trials over the capital. Though apparently there is no truth to a rumour that Gentleman offered to build

a drone take-off and landing platform in Civic, creating the world’s first Palindrome Drone Aerodrome.

Newly minted ACT Minister Chris Steel has put tradies on notice over a growing problem in the city. Taking calls on local radio, the Minister for City Services acknowledged that tradies’ dangerous and annoying parking habits will be met with penalties, warning those who park on verges and nature-strips that rangers would be out and will act.

PLEASE NOTE:

asked at a Canberra Writers’ Festival Q&A session was supplied by the Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh

The “Trainspotting” author’s conversation with former Canberra lad Richard Fidler was being recorded for radio, leaving no time for questions. But the writer shared the tale of a German woman keen to know how he wrote from a female perspective in his 2014 novel “The Sex Lives of Siamese Twins”. She asked how it felt “to slide into a woman”. The writer’s response of “quite agreeable” quickly broke an awkward silence in the room.

Built in 1968, Alexander & Albemarle are undergoing a rebirth. Repurposing much of the existing structure, the office towers are set to be transformed into residential apartments like no other — A&A.

With a European industrial warehouse aesthetic, A&A will offer a 3.4 metre ceiling height of raw concrete with exposed soffits, premium finishes of wool carpets, timber floors and double glazed windows. The ground floor will be activated by a brewery, gym, restaurants, cafés and other retail spaces making A&A a truly unique place to live.

MANY planning initiatives by the ACT’s Labor/Greens government are based on trying to fool people with political spin disguised as fact. The West Basin development is one of these.

This was formerly promoted as the City to Lake project based on the concept that Civic should not be separated from the lake and therefore a land bridge was to be built over Parkes Way. It was quickly realised that this was far too expensive. So, while no one was paying attention, this City to Lake project morphed into the West Basin Project. The original major (stated) reason for the project was to connect to the city. This will not happen. The West Basin is now under the radar while most residents and apparently many ACT politicians do not know what is really happening.

The West Basin is now simply about selling land and for developers to build a highrise suburb on the lakeside, alongside Commonwealth Avenue

The Chief Minister uses Marion and Walter Burley Griffin’s names to justify this development. It is laughable spin and is a corruption of the Griffins’ visions.

around into West Basin. This will seriously erode any chance of revitalising Civic.

Then there is the role of the National Capital Authority in progressing such a massive development on the side of Lake Burley Griffin.

The NCA statements on West Basin allow for development and contain little relevance to their role as custodians of the national landscapes. The NCA guidelines for West Basin were written by the NCA under the leadership of a CEO who subsequently became the CEO for the new City Renewal Authority – the new body charged to deliver this massive development on West Basin.

When it comes to what the NCA and ACT Labor/Greens demand as quality architecture and landscapes, keep in mind what they allowed as architectural designs for Kingston Foreshore. Next time you drive south across Kings Avenue look at the “toasters” that now shine in the afternoon light. If this West Basin project goes

ahead, this style of architecture (is it architecture?) will be hard up against Commonwealth Avenue most of the way between Vernon Circle and the bridge. So much for the bush capital image.

The Chief Minister uses Marion and Walter Burley Griffin’s names to justify this development. It is laughable spin and is a corruption of the Griffins’ visions. Statements about the area being mostly a car park are misleading. While there are car parks on part of the foreshore closer to Com monwealth Avenue, there are also hundreds of trees and other important lakeside biodiversity areas that will disappear. The Chief Minister’s motto to be applied here – as with so much of our bush capital – “I came, I saw and I concreted”.

had enough of dubious land swaps by this government?

There are plans to fill in parts of the lake to allow more of the foreshore to be available for sales. It is a folly that will result in another corrupted Labor/Greens project delivering something very boring and ugly at the cost of heritage and environmental values. And strangely there is talk of a land/lake swap with the NCA to get more land for embassies. Haven’t we

There is no comprehension within this Labor/Greens government for what an open-space, lakeside parkland is and how parklands should instead be enhanced to provide for biodiversity and to provide a place for people to relax without activation and being vibrant.

Sadly, West Basin is seen as a land bank for development – for developers to make loads of money and for funds to come back to help with the looming ACT Budget deficits.

The community voice has been

strangely muted on this project except through the hard work of the Lake Burley Griffin Guardians. This new version of the West Basin project is a serious threat to biodiversity, green spaces and the lake as a national heritage site. We really do not need another high-rise apartment suburb on the side of our cherished lake and alongside Commonwealth Avenue.

Paul Costigan is an independent commentator and consultant on the visual arts, photography, urban design, environmental issues and everyday matters.

10AM - 5PM

THURSDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2018

SOUTHERN CROSS CLUB, WODEN

Canberra’s biggest sustainability expo will feature keynote speakers, inspirational seminars, interactive and innovative workshops, exhibitors and networking opportunities.

Marketing your sustainable business

Hear from Todd Wright, director of Threesides Marketing about how to market your sustainable business and stand out from the crowd.

Smart solar storage

The ACT is a world leader in renewable energy, and we’re making our solar smarter through battery storage. Find out how your business or home can get involved in one of the largest rollouts of batteries in the world.

POLITICS / bikie gangs

Time Labor let cops loose on the bikies

ENOUGH is enough. Balancing personal freedoms, human rights and community safety is always a challenge. However, when it comes to bikie gangs there should be little tolerance.

Jeremy Hanson and the Liberals have it right. Labor are still sitting on their hands. Increasing police powers must always be done reluctantly – but the time has come.

There is another side. While Australia retains prohibitionist laws on drugs, criminal gangs will thrive. Both are needed: increased police powers and tackling the scourge of the prohibition of illicit drugs. Decriminalising all drugs and focusing on treatment has worked in Portugal – we could learn from them and deal with this major cause of crime. In the meantime, we must tackle the symptoms.

The ACT community cannot afford to become a mecca for bikie gangs. Laws that have been adopted in other states make ACT police operations much more challenging. Setting up in Canberra simply gives bikie gangs much more freedom to operate. We need systems in place to prevent organised criminal activity, even though it means interfering more than we would normally like with personal protections and freedoms.

Tolerance and respect for human rights are a hallmark of the way the ACT operates. Of this we should all be proud. However, experience in other states has certainly demonstrated that a complacent attitude will result in out-of-control violence and is likely to escalate to gang warfare. There are already at least four bikie gangs setting up in Canberra and the signs of conflict between them are becoming apparent.

In 2009 there were a series of bikie-gangrelated shootings and other violent incidents in NSW. The then premier, Nathan Rees, introduced legislation to “drive bikies out” of his state. Apart from shopping-centre shootings, the most notable incident was in the Sydney airport in broad daylight. In this incident Hell’s Angel member Tony Zervas was clubbed and then stabbed to death with scissors by a rival Comanchero during a melee involving at least 10 men.

There is little doubt that crime will continue. NSW laws did not stop the shooting death of the notorious and wealthy national leader of the Comancheros, Mahmoud (Mick) Hawi, in 2018. Hawi was the bikie leader found guilty of the murder of Zervas, but later had the conviction set aside on appeal. Laws are never perfect.

The Canberra Liberals have been calling for matching legislation in order to avoid having Canberra become the alternative home of bikie gangs because of “softer laws”. Rather than

LETTER

Hear about this global retailer’s sustainability goals and vision to create a better everyday life for the many people globally and locally.

Jeremy Hanson and the Liberals have it right. Labor are still sitting on their hands. Increasing police powers must always be done reluctantly – but the time has come.

having police responding after crimes are committed, other jurisdictions have anti-bikiegang laws designed to prevent and to disrupt organised criminal activity.

Legislation modelled on NSW was introduced by shadow attorney general Jeremy Hanson for the Liberals in 2017. It was voted down by Labor and the Greens. The bikie situation gets worse. ACT chief police officer Justine Saunders recently stated another bikie gang has moved to Canberra. She has been very public in raising her concerns about home invasions, shootings and even fire-bombing associated with bikie-related criminal conduct.

Police are taking action. In March the criminal investigation Taskforce Nemesis participated in a national day of action targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs. They executed several search warrants and seized firearms, ammunition, illicit drugs and large sums of cash. On that day Justine Saunders set the appropriate balance in a statement she released: “Whilst I fully support the principles of the Human Rights Act that we operate under here in the ACT, I will continue to pursue legislative reform that is proportionate to the threat that serious and organised crime presents to our community.”

Over recent months Jeremy Hanson has been calling for legislative action. Finally, when responding to the Budget in the Legislative Assembly he announced that he will be introducing “anti-consorting” legislation into the Assembly later this year. There are reasons why there is resistance to such legislation. However, on balance, it is appropriate for the Assembly to take action to protect the ACT from a growing burden of organised crime parading as bikie gangs.

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

When the doctor knows best

SENATOR Zed Seselja is a hardworking man of integrity.

He has always done everything in his power to select the best outcomes for the people of Canberra. He has also supported local charities. Zed is a man of the people.

In electing Zed voters knew that, unlike Labor, the Liberal Party allows freedom-of-conscience votes.

The electors also knew that Zed is

a Christian who, in good conscience, could not support murder, including “self murder”.

Despite what columnist Michael Moore might say (“Out-of-step Zed does us down”, CN, August 23), doctors do not allow anyone to die “in great pain and suffering”. Such people are given strong medication, which may cause them to lose consciousness or even die a short

time before they would have died without medication.

Elderly people should not be frightened into selecting premature death because they think they will suffer. Nor should they be made to feel guilty by constant references to the problems caused by the ageing population, nor by not wanting to be a burden on their families.

Rewa Bate, Coombs

COVER STORY BRIEFLY

The daring, undeterred Mrs Darius

TOMAS Walsh was seeking a copy of one of his grandmother’s payslips from the late 1970s for her 90th birthday. He wanted a meaningful item to connect her with fond memories of her time at the ANU.

These payslips were often a topic of conversa tion – they specified Skaidrite Darius’ gender as male because she was employed to develop and manage the electronic processing systems of the administrative functions of ANU, such as payroll, student records and employee records. This was a male-only job at the time.

Unfortunately, the payslips were long gone; however, once Skaidrite’s story surfaced, it was too fascinating not to explore.

From 1955 Skaidrite worked as an accounting machinist in the John Curtin School of Medical Research when her boss suggested she apply to join the university’s new IBM data-processing team.

“In those days, when they put ‘male’ in an ad vertisement it meant only males could apply –the job wasn’t meant for females and I thought, I’ll never get it,” she recounts.

Her boss continued to encourage her and after she was told 35 men had failed the test, she was curious and decided to apply. On the day of the test, Skaidrite walked from ANU to the IBM office in Civic.

Above: Skaidrite Darius pictured last year… “Just work out what you want and go for it!”

The test was scheduled to take three hours and she decided to miss the last bus and walk to Yarralumla. This split-second decision to walk home made a significant impact on her life – a short time later she acquired a major role in managing the electronic administrative systems, the university’s first female in such a job.

In this new role, she travelled to attend IBM courses in Sydney and Melbourne.

“I spent the whole year going from one place to another,” she says. “The first trip was to Sydney. Downstairs was the course for the punch operators and upstairs was for the programmers,” she says.

“I went upstairs and opened the door and the room was full of males. The lecturer didn’t even ask my name, he just said, ‘no, no, you’re in the wrong place – it’s downstairs, that’s where the punch operators, the girls, are’.”

However, Skaidrite was registered to attend so when she told him her name, he was shocked she was female. This became a common scenario as the years went on.

“I don’t know how many courses I went to, but it was always the same – all males and me –but I did reasonably well and I understood what it was all about,” she says.

The first computer at ANU was on the top floor of the Physics Building, which was reserved exclusively for academics during the day. Administrative functions could be processed only between midnight and 4am.

During the day, Skaidrite and her team would carry out the preparation, such as writing or checking programs and assembling the data to be processed. An operator would go in during the night to do the processing.

“However, if you did anything wrong during the day, like if you misspelt one word, then it wouldn’t work,” she says.

More often than not, Skaidrite was called when issues arose during the processing.

“I wouldn’t even get out of my pyjamas – I’d put on my dressing gown, drive to ANU, go up to the computer room, try to figure out what was wrong, correct it and go back home again,” she says.

“Sometimes the next morning I’d ask my husband ‘did I go out?’ It got to where I didn’t even notice it. It was not every night, but every third or so, and then in the morning I went back to work again. I didn’t mind it, I loved it, it was challenging.”

It was not only the work that was a challenge.

by Darren Boyd, courtesy of ANU Archives

Meetings and networking events were often held at a men’s-only members’ lounge or at a hotel bar where women were not allowed. Her colleagues worked to overcome this by negotiat ing access for her or choosing a location where she could be included.

Skaidrite made an effort, too. Her impressive cricket and rugby knowledge and love of the sports grew as she took interest in the things her male peers enjoyed. It seems Skaidrite and her colleagues would break down the invisible walls at every opportunity.

Despite the challenges, Skaidrite was not deterred and when her boss Patrick Wilson retired, she was appointed head of data processing at ANU.

In 1963 work-life became uncertain for Skaidrite. She was expecting a child but was told extended leave wasn’t available.

“There was no such thing as maternity leave at the time,” she says. “I asked if the job would still be there when I returned but I was told that only if it was free because they were going to employ someone else.”

A group of her male peers rallied behind her and she went nervously to a meeting to discuss the situation.

“They told me they could give me leave without pay,” she says. “I was very close to losing that job – that’s what it was like for women then.

“I took the maximum leave that I could which was five months. I enjoyed those five months with my daughter and after that, I got one babysitter after another – whatever I earned, I paid half to those ladies.”

Skaidrite retired when her daughter became pregnant in 1988. She wanted to help her daughter and son-in-law as they juggled their challenges of raising a family around work commitments.

However, Skaidrite still retains the principles she learned when working on the first IBM integration program at ANU.

“In one of the very first courses I did, we were told that whatever you do, you have to take a bird’s-eye view,” she says. “That is very important as you don’t see it as a whole otherwise. And that’s how I look at everything now – just work out what you want and go for it!”

Published courtesy of the “ANU Reporter”.

Discussing impacts of Canberra planning

THE impact of planning decisions on Canberra’s heritage values and urban form is the focus of a free public seminar at Albert Hall, 6pm-8pm, on Monday, September 10. Leaders of community councils will discuss the effects of development projects on Canberra’s public spaces and urban, environmental and heritage values, and whether there has been adequate consultation with the local communities. Journalist Jack Waterford will give the keynote address. The seminar is the latest in Jon Stanhope’s “Canberra Conversations” series on behalf of the University of Canberra’s IGPA and sponsored by the Lake Burley Griffin Guardians. Registrations to eventbrite.com.au

Albo to the fore

LABOR frontbencher Anthony Albanese is the keynote speaker at the Annual Australia India Address at the Hyatt Hotel, Tuesday, September 11. Organised by the Australia India Business Council ACT, tickets are $175 ($1500 for a table of 10) and bookable via secretariat@aibc.org.au

Downsizing help

ANYONE downsizing and struggling to begin the cull of possessions is welcome to attend a free, 90-minute seminar by practitioner Melissa Freasier. Part of the Weston Creek Community Centre’s 40th birthday celebrations, the seminar will be held from 2pm on Wednesday, September 12. Attendees will learn about techniques for selling, organising, distributing, donating and relocating excess possessions, as well as tips on identifying items which might be helpful to let go of during the downsizing process. Reserve a place at 6260 4679 or email caringtransitions@outlook.com.au

When the common good is nowhere

IT has been an ugly few weeks for democracy with politicians and the political class working overtime to justify the contempt in which the community in general holds them.

And I am not talking just about Australia and the ACT. In the US, the largest, most powerful and important democracy in the world, the President, who is pathologically loose with the truth, has close associates engaged by the criminal justice system and is supported by politicians without courage or principle, is sinking inexorably under the weight of his manifest unfitness for office.

I get the sense that here in Australia we find it hard not to look down our noses at the chaos being wreaked by President Trump and quietly sneer that it couldn’t happen here. I think that the majority of local sentiment is that our political establishment and democratic institutions have a stability and maturity that protects them from the excesses and turbulence of a Trump.

However, since the recent implosion of the Liberal government and the brutal sacking of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, the conga line of Australian prime ministers sacked in office and governments imploding would be increasingly concerning many Australians about the quality of our democracy.

The anger and frustration expressed by Australians at the events in the Lib -

eral Party was palpable and universal.

The level of anger this time round is far higher than the earlier coups against Rudd, Gillard and Abbott.

And not because Turnbull was loved or because it involved the Liberal Party, but because people simply could not believe it was happening again and are furious at the self-indulgent and self-focused behaviour on display.

The odious and destructive behaviour of Trump has nothing to do with the soundness of the political institutions of the US and is entirely a consequence of the character of the President and of those within the Republican Party who enable his behaviour.

Similarly, the issues that we face in Australia in relation to the working of our parliaments and the effectiveness of our governments are also, in the main, related to the competence, capacity and character of our elected representatives and has little to do with the structure or operation of our democratic institutions.

To the extent that our democracy might seem to be not working too well it has little or nothing to do with the organs of democracy and a lot, or everything, to do with the players.

One of the interesting aspects of the Turnbull coup was the media coverage

that such events accord little-seen backroom operators and never-heard-of backbench members.

I watched interviews with Liberal and National Party members I had never heard of and it became obvious very early why that was so. I am not being partisan here. The same could I’m sure be said of the ALP.

It is often said, and is accepted as a truism, that we get the politicians and governments we deserve. I have always felt that what is closer to the truth is that we get the politicians and governments that the dominant factions in the Labor and Liberal parties decide we can have.

The issues at the heart of the Turnbull sacking were a combination of factional ideology, personal ambition, ego, power and revenge. Policy and the common good were nowhere to be found.

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.

Labor’s ‘shameful’ preselection process

THE ACT branch of the Labor Party has been engaged in one of the most disgraceful episodes of its history – driven by factional bastardry and the pursuit of personal power and political office.

The preselection process for the new seat of Bean and the reconfigured seat of Canberra has been nothing short of shameful.

I received along with, I assume, all other ALP members in the seat of Canberra, the infamous dirt file on one of the candidates seeking preselection. In my 42 years of membership of the ALP in Canberra I have never been confronted by anything as disgraceful or despicable.

Not content to ensure that the low point represented by such cowardly behaviour was not repeated, the dominant left faction then used its numbers at the branch’s annual conference to overturn a decision of its credentials committee, which had declared that a candidate for preselection for the seat of Bean was not eligible under the party rules to contest the seat.

In my 42 years of membership of the ALP in Canberra I have never been confronted by anything as disgraceful or despicable.

This then led to the right faction inviting national intervention to restore the decision of the credentials committee and to uphold party rules. Which it did. What a circus! As far as I can see none of this has led to any embarrassment or any soul searching by anyone in a position of influence in the ACT branch. It is regarded simply as business as usual. However, I’m sure that what it has done is ensure that the legions of highly educated, experienced and passionate Canberra residents who share the core values of the Labor Party and who would be outstanding Labor members of the ACT Legislative Assembly or Federal Parliament have shaken their heads and thought to themselves “nah, not for me”.

THE GADFLY

What lies behind Morrison’s faith?

FROM the moment Scott Morrison entered Federal Parliament, he nailed his religious colours to the political mast.

Indeed, he devoted more than 750 words –about a quarter of the entire speech – to his deep devotion to his special brand of evangelical Christianity, known as Pentecostalism.

“I made a commitment to my faith at an early age,” he said. Indeed, it was within the faith that he met his wife Jenny, “and after 14 years of bitter disappointments,” he said, “God remembered her faithfulness and blessed us with our miracle child, Abbey Rose, on the seventh of the seventh of the seventh.’ (July, 7, 2007).

However, he was quick to scotch any suggestion that his “personal faith in Jesus Christ” was a political agenda. Instead, he quoted the American President Abraham Lincoln that “our task is not to claim whether God is on our side but to pray earnestly that we are on His.”

Of course, Abe Lincoln was no Pentecostal. Goodness knows what he would have made of the southern revivalists who invented it in the early 1900s, much less the Oral Roberts and Jimmy Swaggart televangelists who made their fortunes from it.

Morrison went further: “Australia is not a secular country,” he told the Parliament. “This is a country where you have the freedom to follow any belief system you choose.” Whether in these days of dangerous Islamic extremists he would stand by that assertion is rather doubtful. And rightly so.

Yet there are plenty who suggest that Pentecostalists are themselves on the extreme side of the religious divide. And my research rather supports it. They not only believe in a literal heaven and hell, the latter awaiting “all those who have rejected God’s gift of salvation in Jesus Christ”, but have a curious way of demonstrating their belief. They “talk in tongues”. According to Pentecostal theology this spontaneous gibberish “may be an unlearned human language which the Bible claims happened on the Day of Pentecost or it might be of heavenly (angelic) origin”.

Either way it is seen as an “Act of Grace” and referred to as a “prayer language” which only

Pentecostalists not only believe in a literal heaven and hell, the latter awaiting ‘all those who have rejected God’s gift of salvation in Jesus Christ’, but have a curious way of demonstrating their belief.

God Himself can translate.

Not all Pentecostals do it. A recent survey showed that only about half the congregations in the US and South Africa vocalise gibberish; while there are no figures given for Australia. No one yet seems to have asked Prime Minister Morrison whether he has been so blessed. And really, it probably doesn’t affect his running of the country all that much.

However, what is concerning is the literal belief in the very confused messages to be found in “The Bible”, particularly those that so blatantly contradict the scientific method which has been responsible for all human progress out of the darkness of ignorance and superstition.

The Genesis story, for example, is not only nonsensical, even as a myth it casts women as second-rate citizens and sees snakes (which some US Pentecostals handle in church as part of the “holiness movement”) as the embodiment of Satan.

By contrast, the acceptance of evolution by natural selection is the foundation of the whole science of biology. But these days, it is said, they don’t reject evolution directly. Instead, they teach the biblical version as an alternative. This usually goes under the name of “creationism” or “intelligent design”.

And if it was by “design” that ScoMo was elevated to The Lodge, who are we naughty secularists to say him nay?

robert@robertmacklin.com

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The positive power of putting kids on water

By Danielle NOHRA

MANY programs in Canberra help disadvantaged children build self esteem, but CEO of Canberra Yacht Club Matthew Owen says none are in such a unique environment as his.

“If they’re in the middle of the lake they can’t just say ‘I don’t want to do this anymore’ and walk to the sideline,” says Matthew, 48, of Weston.

The champion yachtsman’s been instrumental in developing the Buoyed Up with Tackers program, which was created after club member and Olympic bronze medallist Ian Ruff came to him in 2006 with the idea to help juniors in a scholarship type way.

Even though Matthew says sailing can be cheaper than some registration costs to sporting teams, they wanted to offer a scholarship to families who might not have the funds.

But one person led to 22 and they ended up with a class of people from a school in 2012. Since then more than 12,000 people have come through the program.

Matthew says Buoyed Up with Tackers, which he describes as “the coolest program”, doesn’t necessarily

together they have this bond.

“We’re finding the benefits in the classroom – according to the teachers – are very positive.”

With about six or seven schools this year Matthew says it’s going to be bigger and better.

abilities get involved in sailing.

“I’m sort of physically okay and seeing what these kids go through [in the Sailability program] gives me strength,” he says.

He wants to avoid “the grey-tracksuit syndrome” and says he could sit around and wait for the end to come or get out there and do something.

“I really enjoy getting out and helping people and sailing is my passion and job,” he says.

“We’ve had some great athletes who head off to special Olympics and a few people are going to do world championships in Hiroshima soon.”

The National Capital Authority is even building a jetty specifically tailored for people of all abilities to use, which Matthew says they’re all thrilled about.

“We’re starting to reach out to more schools who have children with disabilities to do more programs throughout the week,” he says.

“We love to get new people involved and love to see the smiles on their faces when they do.

He’s won more than 25 ACT championships in sailing and is the current NZ flying fifteen champion.

“It’s about giving back to the kids a three-time Australian national fly ing fifteen champion and a two-time national champion in keeled boats.

He has also finished in the top five of the world championships on two ocwith terminal gallbladder cancer.

Since then, there have been a lot of things giving Matthew strength, such as his amazing family, friends, a great medical team and his work.

And another program at work that inspires him is the Sailability program, which helps assist people of all

“The beauty of it is that people who are physically or intellectually disabled experience a sense of freedom on the water.

“We see them beaming and smiling and it gives us here at the office a real buzz.”

More information at canberrayc.com

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.

Aiming for a world connected and protected

R U OK? Day is Australia’s national day of action dedicated to reminding everyone that any day is the day to ask: “Are you okay?”

Although the day will fall on Thursday, September 13, it’s about inspiring people to start these conversations every day of the year.

And everyone is encouraged to come along to Federation Mall, start the conversation, participate in a barbecue breakfast, enjoy the tea station, enter activities and learn the four steps to ask R U OK?

Joining the event will be ambassadors such as John Schumann (ex Redgum), The Living Room’s Barry Du Bois and musician Nick de la Hoyde, as well as members of the ACT Legislative Assembly and Federal members of Parliament.

In 2018 more than half of Australians (57 per cent) in the last 12 months, wanted someone to ask them if they were okay.

Encouragingly, Australians are reporting asking the question more frequently, and 81 per cent said they had asked someone if they were okay more than once in the past 12 months.

But, the results revealed there is still work to do with 52 per cent of people having thought about asking someone if they were okay, at least once, but didn’t.

R U OK?’s vision is a world where everyone is connected and protected from suicide, and its mission is to inspire and empower everyone to meaningfully connect with people around them and support anyone struggling with life.

R U OK? Day, Federation Mall, Parliament House, Capital Hill, 8am-9am, Wednesday, September 12.

Month-long celebration of good mental health

IN any 12 month period, one in five people will experience a mental illness, which is why it’s important to raise awareness of mental health, says Simon Viereck.

He’s the chief executive of the Mental Health Community Coalition ACT – the peak body for non-government mental health services in Canberra.

“Our purpose is to promote quality, community-based mental health services,” he says.

The Mental Health Community Coalition ACT also co-ordinates Mental Health Month, which Simon says is a month-long celebration of good mental health and of the wonderful acts of people living with mental illness and their families.

“It’s an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health and the importance of looking after yourself and your own mental health,” he says.

The coalition will be raising awareness through its Mental Health Month Launch Event on Friday, October 5, and the Mental Health & Wellbeing Expo on Thursday, October 11.

Simon says the family friendly launch aims to promote positive mental health and wellbeing and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.

And the expo will see more than 70 local organisations join to encour age people to learn more about the mental health services available in the Canberra region and promote positive mental health and wellbeing.

The theme for Mental Health Month this year in the ACT is “Identity & Growth”, which Simon says means accepting the past and growing into the future.

“Mental illness should never define us, it is one small part of the person we are,” he says.

Mental Health Community Coalition ACT, room 1.06, level 1, The Griffin Centre, 20 Genge Street, Civic. Call 6249 7756, email admin@mhccact.org.au or visit mhccact.org.au

from tragic suicide

Charlie’s show brings hope and healing

THE best way to break the stigma around mental health is to disempower it through laughter and arts, says Charlie Wan, who has created a physical theatre piece called “S.A.D”, which does just that.

After struggling with her own mental health, Charlie decided to create a show that seeks to start an honest discussion about mental health.

“I found the hardest thing to overcome was the stigma around talking about it,” she says.

“Mental health is often marginalised and kept behind closed doors.

“‘S.A.D’ brings it into the light without stigma. [It’s] a show full of laughter, tears, truth and, most importantly of all, hope and healing.”

The show looks at the “seasons of mental health”, as its narrator, “Distracto”, guides the audience through moments and explores the lives of those affected by mental illness. Based on real experiences, Charlie says the show uses clowning and dance to engage and move the audience without dialogue.

“If we can reach one person with this show, change their thinking and make them be kinder, whether it be to others, or simply themselves, then we will have done what we set out to do,” Charlie says.

And while Charlie describes the show as “brilliant”, she does warn people that it explores themes of mental illness, grooming, childhood abuse, addiction and trauma.

“S.A.D”, Canberra Theatre Centre, October 9-13. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or call 6275 2700. More information at sadaustralia.com

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING EXPO

OCTOBER 11 2018

11:00am - 2:00pm

Garema Place - Petrie Plaza and City Walk, Civic

The Mental Health & Wellbeing Expo is a free public event bringing the ACT community together to celebrate positive mental health and learn more about the services available in the ACT

Join over 70 local organisations in a fun market day atmosphere with interactive activities, sausage sizzle and music.

MENTAL HEALTH MONTH LAUNCH CARNIVAL

OCTOBER 5 2018

4:30pm - 6:30pm

Garema Place, Civic

Come along and celebrate the launch of Mental Health Month 2018! See live circus performances, listen to music by local artists and grab a bite to eat under the city lights in a fun, laid-back carnival atmosphere!

Jesse wins top apprentice award

JESSE Reid is the first plant operator to win the ACT’s Outstanding Graduating Apprentice award.

He was named this year’s top apprentice at the ACT Regional Building and Construction Industry Training Council’s awards event at the Southern Cross Club on Friday, August 31.

Jesse is employed by DEEC Civil and Earthworks and the judges noted that his knowledge and commitment to not only his work as a plant operator but also to work, health and safety was outstanding.

The civil sector of the construction industry was also recognised in this year’s awards with two other apprentices/trainees winning their categories of Pipe Laying and Road Maintenance.

Due to the high-quality standard of apprentices, the judging panel also awarded a runner-up this year, another first for this event, naming systems electrician Adam O’Grady.

Thirty outstanding apprentices were recognised across 22 trades and eight first-year apprentices were awarded Encouragement Awards that recognised talented women across six construction trades.

CITC executive director Vince Ball told the award audience that there had been a significant increase in industry apprenticeships this year and highlighted the uptake by women across a number of different trades.

In thanking employers of all apprentices and recognising the contribution they made in training and mentoring, he said that once again, this awards event provided the opportunity to share some of the successes of the industry.

Mr Ball said the occasion recognised that, in today’s climate, it was extremely important and fitting that we recognised and rewarded outstanding performances by local and regional graduating construction industry apprentices.

This year provided an opportunity to recognise, for the first time, Solid Plastering, and Fine Furniture Making.

In thanking ministers Mick Gentleman and Rachel Stephen-Smith for their contribution to the awards, Mr Ball affirmed that the Construction Industry Training Council was committed to quality training and professional development.

He said the council would continue to encourage and work with employers to maintain their commitment to the employment and training of apprentices.

The ACT Regional Building & Construction Industry Training Council congratulates the finalists of the

2018 Graduating Apprentice & Industry Encouragement Awards

Gold Sponsors

OUTSTANDING 2018 APPRENTICE AWARD

Outstanding Apprentice of the Year 2018 – JESSE REID

Outstanding Runner Up Apprentice of the Year 2018

– ADAM O’GRADY

Bricklaying – MICHAEL WARNER

Cabinet Making – RANGSIT SONTHIRAK

Cabinet Making (Fine Furniture) – DOUGLAS KEITH

Carpentry – DALE TURNER

Civil Construction/ Diesel Mechanic – CHRIS WROE

Civil Construction/Plant Operations

Civil Construction/Pipe Laying

Civil Construction/Road Maintenance

– CHARLIE BUTT

Glass & Glazing – MATTHEW

Joinery – TIMOTHY BISHELL

Outstanding Indigenous Apprentice (Carpentry) – MARTIN SCOTT

award and makes history

AT THE AWARDS…

WINNERS

Operations – JESSE REID

– RYAN PLUNKETT

Landscaping – ROSS WADDINGTON

Meritorious (Cabinet Making) – ANWAR IBRAHIMI

Meritorious (Landscaping) – BRITTNEY FOLEY

Metals Engineering/Light Fabrication

– BEN WILLIAMS

Metals Engineering/Heavy Fabrication

– WILLIAM BREMER

Painting and Decorating – SCOTT NOLAN

Bronze Sponsors

Plumbing – THOMAS RATCLIFFE

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning

– ISAAC BISHOP

Solid Plastering – AIDAN GUY

Systems Electrician – ADAM O’GRADY

Wall & Ceiling Lining – BEN CARMODY

Wall and Floor Tiling – SEBASTIAN WILLOWS

Woman in Non Traditional Trade – HEATHER MACKIE

Supporters

More boys and girls come out to learn in CANBERRA GIRLS GRAMMAR EARLY LEARNING CENTRE TOUR DAY

Ivy, Pre-Prep

“I love playing with the boat - I drive it and we find treasure. We learnt about dinosaurs and the weather and all the different things that come from the sky. I know about the CGGS Way - be safe, be responsible and be respectful. I am respectful when I think about other people and am kind to them when we play.”

AN expansion to the Canberra Girls Grammar School Early Learning Centre (ELC) means more boys and girls can engage in its unique program, says director Kate Columbine.

The program encourages children to be creative and curious and that’s why Kate says she can’t wait to welcome 66 new students into its additional three classrooms and its new facilities in 2019.

Since opening in 2004, the ELC on Grey Street, Deakin, has been a nurturing learning experience for boys and girls from the ages of three to five in two separate year levels (reception and pre-prep) as well as before and after-school care, and holiday

“Since the beginning, we’ve always had a good number of boys and girls come through and that’s expected to continue,” Kate says.

“We really value the role of coeducation in this phase and we’re strongly committed to it.”

The ELC program is based on Canberra’s Early Learning Years Framework, in conjunction with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. “With these frameworks as a foundation, we really focus on tapping into children’s natural sense of curiosity and creativity, and providing them with lots of engaging experiences to help them learn about the world around them and their place within it,” she says.

The new wing being built will expand on these creative experiences, with a multipurpose art area coming off each classroom, which Kate says will provide a great space for messy science activities and group work.

“There are also two additional outdoor play spaces being developed as part of the expansion; one on the ground floor and one on the upper floor,” she says.

“These will provide wonderful outdoor classroom environments, meaning we can take learning outside and children can continue to explore, create and be imaginative.”

Unlike other childcare centres, each class has a full-time university trained early childhood teacher and a diploma-trained assistant because, Kate says, early childhood is a really important phase of development.

“Having these university trained early childhood teachers is something that really emphasises that educational focus,” she says.

“Early childhood is such an important phase and to have people who are passionate and trained in that area is fundamental.”

Each term, classes have a “unit of inquiry”, which focuses on a “big” idea to inquire into.

“This provides an element of structure to the program, but is very open to the interests and needs of the children, and they effectively guide the direction of the program,” Kate says.

“Last term, our pre-preps were looking at the idea of ‘systems’ and the idea that systems have different parts that have to work together in order to be effective.”

But the children don’t just learn about “inquiry” and the ELC ensures all areas of development are fostered such as literacy, numeracy, fine motor, gross motor, social, emotional and STEM.

“We have a strong focus on foundation literacy and numeracy skills, and seek to provide children with opportunities to develop these skills through

Seren, Reception

“I love doing painting and doing my mum some nice pictures. We do music with Mrs David.

My favourite is the giant’s song because we have to make the giant breakfast in the song and it is so fun!”

early learning centre boost

“We really focus on tapping into children’s natural sense of curiosity and creativity.

fun and engaging play based activities,” Kate says.

Children also get to experience library and music sessions with specialist teachers.

“They visit the library and music rooms every week, and love exploring the array of books and musical instruments they find in these spaces,” Kate says.

“They are introduced to French in pre-prep, and love connecting with the older students through buddy classes.”

Kate says there’s so many great reasons for children to experience their ELC program, which is why it will open its doors on September 19 so parents can come and have a tour of the ELC in person and learn more about what it has to offer.

“Alternatively, we are always happy to give parents individual tours,” she says.

“We’re really warm, welcoming and nurturing and we provide each family with an individualised experience where our teachers know the child and their family and their extended family.

“With our fee structure comparable to other long daycare centres in the area, we’re expecting a really high level of interest in the new places available and we encourage you, if you’re interested in a place in our Early Learning Centre for your boy or girl, to please get in touch as quickly as possible.”

ELC school tour, 9.45am-11am, Wednesday, September 19. Registrations to cggs.act.edu.au/tours

CGGS EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

Date: 20 September

Time: 6pm-8.30pm

Cost: $65

ALL ABOUT QUEANBEYAN

So near, the city of surprises

HOME to more than 57,000 residents, Queanbeyan is the largest city in south-east NSW.

Located adjacent to the ACT, the city grew from a squattage held by ex-convict and inn keeper, Timothy Beard, on the banks of the Molonglo River in what is now Oaks Estate.

The town centre of Queanbeyan is located on the Queanbeyan River, a tributary of the Molonglo River and about one mile east of Oaks Estate.

Queanbeyan was officially proclaimed a township in 1838 when the population was about 50. Its name is the anglicised form of “quinbean” – an Aboriginal word meaning “clear waters”.

Queanbeyan boasts a wide and comprehensive range of retailers and services.

We ensure that the monument created will be visible to family members for generations.

Our speciality is providing the best possible design, with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship.

We have the expertise and knowledge to create anything you have in mind.

Respectful and professional memorials

BASED in Queanbeyan, Oskar Memorials has been delivering respectful and professional memorial services to the region for 25 years.

“What means the world to us is when a customer has viewed the item and is happy with it because it will be an everlasting tribute to their loved ones,” says Steve, of Oskar Memorials.

“Unfortunately, we’ve experienced what the customer goes through, we have all lost family members, so we really empathise with them.

“We go the extra mile. If some people don’t have the money, we will work something out to suit their budget. There’s no job too little or too big, we treat everyone the same.”

Oskar Memorials provides services such as building monuments for all areas of the cemetery, it makes headstones out of all-rock materials and makes bronze plaques to be added to headstones.

The Royal Hotel goes up in the world

FOLLOWING the success of Royal Hotel Queanbeyan’s major face-lift in 2012, it’ll have three new function rooms upstairs available from November.

Events manager Naomi Chen says three new spaces will be intertwined with the outdoor atrium and courtyard, and will be available for events such as weddings and birthdays.

“We’re also looking at putting on shows and bringing the Canberra region out here, too,” she says.

As for the style of “The Upper House”, Naomi says it won’t be anything like the rest of the pub and will integrate contemporary with original architecture.

“Coming up to ‘The Upper House’ will be a laneway, Melbourne feel,” she says.

“And, we’ve already started taking bookings.”

While renovations continue, downstairs is business as usual, and Naomi describes the Royal Hotel as a family-orientated place with great food.

“We have chef specials and a very large menu, with lots of options,” she says.

“The majority of our meals are made in-house so you can rest assured that you are in for the freshest and highest-quality meal possible.

“We hold comedy nights, with good comedians, free of charge and we have trivia nights, too.”

The Royal Hotel, 85 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 1444, email functions@royalhotelqbn. com.au or visit royalhotelqbn.com.au

The local bank that benefits everybody

BENDIGO Bank Jerrabomberra is a bank that benefits everybody, says customer help manager Luke Verrier.

As well as offering all the main banking services such as transaction accounts, savings accounts, insurance and financial planning, Luke says Bendigo Bank Jerrabomberra, which is operated by Molonglo Financial Services, is run for the community.

major sponsor for the Jerrabomberra Tennis Club, which allows them to do maintenance and helps them with trophies and presentations.”

Bendigo Bank Jerrabomberra also offers a “PiggySaver” account that teaches children under 12 how to save.

For an obligation free quote phone 6299 7711 or 0414 940 836 or email oskarmemorials@netspeed.com.au 34 Waterloo St, Queanbeyan

Oskar Memorials offers free quotes and Steve says the company has a high reputation with all the funeral directors in Canberra.

Oskar Memorials, 34 Waterloo Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6299 7711.

“We’re really community focused, so a majority of our proceeds go back into the community,” he says.

“We put a lot of money back into sporting clubs, infrastructure and health.

“We do sponsorships as well and we’re a

“We hold a lot of accounts from children at the Jerrabomberra Public School and at the end of the term, the kids all get a little gift,” Luke says.

Bendigo Bank Jerrabomberra, 2a/2 Limestone Drive, Jerrabomberra. Call 6299 8357 or visit bendigobank.com.au

Cafe raises money for farmers

HOTCH Potch Cafe is raising money for struggling farmers with a table of cakes, slices and scones, says its owner Jim Murphy.

He says they’ve set up a table of treats, which people can buy, and the money will go directly to farmers.

It’s the cafe’s way of showing it cares, says Jim, who believes his cafe is part of the community, providing customers with an old-fashioned, country-style cafe, where they can take their time and enjoy good service.

“We don’t rush people out the door, we like them to hang around and talk to each other,” he says.

The cafe offers all-day breakfast to lunch meals such as hamburgers, steak sandwiches, fish and chips, salads and daily, specials such as curry, chicken and rice.

Jim describes his team as easy going people, who happily greet each customer and are always up

“They’re excellent and know our regulars by their name and also know their order,” he says.

Just off the main street in a little arcade, Jim says it’s a great, welcoming place to come in for a bite.

Hotch Potch Cafe, City Arcade, off Monaro Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6152 1737.

Primary school gets a big upgrade

A PROJECT at Queanbeyan East Public School will see new buildings and innovative multi-purpose spaces for interactive learning activities, says principal Fiona Senior-Conroy.

The upgrades, which will be complete in early 2019, will include 11 new classrooms, an upgrade on core facilities such as the library, and innovative multi-purpose spaces.

“The upgrade will enhance the curriculum through dynamic learning spaces and give students the opportunity to engage in outdoor learning,” Fiona says.

“Parents are also constructing a sustainable outdoor sensory garden.”

Fiona says creativity plays a role in preparing its primary-age students for the next generation of careers and that the teachers work together to help form creative and confident individuals.

“We also have a large robotics program and a large technology focus across the curriculum,” she says.

And with a new large STEM centre and performing arts centre, Fiona says Queanbeyan East will become an even greater place to learn a scope of things, which will help them into their future.

“I think Queanbeyan East is a great family school and it promotes our link to the community,” she says.

“Our parents are heavily involved in the school and students are at the centre of every decision we make.”

Queanbeyan East Public School, 10 Yass Road, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 2619, queanbeyae-p.school@det. nsw.edu.au or visit queanbeyae-p. schools.nsw.edu.au

advertising feature

Gallery that puts the artist first

FORM Studio & Gallery was estab lished in 2011 by gallery manager and artist Claire Primrose.

Conceived as a space where the artist is central, Claire says FORM Studio & Gallery provides a platform for exhibiting artists of all backgrounds and genres.

“Our guiding principle is that if we look after artists well, the rest will fall into place,” she says.

“We aim to work as partners with the artists who exhibit with us, as well as ensuring that every artist, established or emerging, young or old, friend or stranger, has an equal opportunity to show in the space, based only on the quality of her/his proposed exhibition.”

“My work can be described as abstracted landscapes that are inspired by the Snowy Mountains.”

Claire is a former local, high school visual arts and dance teacher with a passion for art.

“In addition to managing a gallery, I am also a visual artist, who focuses on drawing and painting,” she says.

FORM Studio & Gallery is a cross between a project space and a commercial gallery, showing contemporary art exhibitions that rotate every few weeks.

FORM Studio & Gallery, 1/30 Aurora Avenue. Call 0430 359776, email claire@formstudioandgallery.com.au or visit formstudioandgallery.com.au

Yass Road, Queanbeyan NSW 2620 Phone: 02 6297 2619 Email: queanbeyae-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au www.queanbeyae-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

THE UNVEILING OF RHQ’S ‘UPPER HOUSE’ EVENTS VENUE

The Royal Hotel Queanbeyan is undergoing a major renovation, creating the ‘Upper House’, the new benchmark venue for events in the region from November 2018. Boasting a collaboration of contemporary comforts and amenities, integrated with the original architecture; offering unique and memorable event spaces. All are complemented by a beautiful Atrium and outdoor bar overflowing into an open courtyard, allowing an abundance of natural light.

The Royal Hotel offers a range of packages designed to meet the requirements of any event, from weddings and special occasions, to conferencing and entertainment. Our professional team are dedicated to deliver an amazing experience.

To enquire or book your event, call our functions team today on 6297 1444 or email, functions@royalhotelqbn.com.au

Queanbeyan South Public School

Stand-out school’s a ‘hidden gem’

Once the vegetables have been harvested, Adam says they’re then taken into the kitchen where a specialist chef helps students prepare and cook the produce.

understand they can do this for themselves at home,” he says.

And, as an “early action for success school”, a specialist teacher from kindergarten to year two mentors and coaches staff to help improve literacy and numeracy outcomes, as well as the delivery

“It makes an extraordinary difference to the schools results and our teachers are delivering brilliant

Queanbeyan South Public School, 101 Cameron Road, Karabar, Call 6297 3043, email queanbeyas-p. school@det.nsw.edu.au or visit queanbeyas-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

The friendly store full of knick-knacks

sells a little bit of everything, says owner Victor Seisun.

Starting at the Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets about five years ago, the store found its new home on Queenbar Road one year ago where it remains selling new and pre-loved household goods such as vases, plates, furniture, books and CDs.

Victor describes the store full of knick-knacks as a friendly place with something for everyone.

“There’s a lot to have a look at, so people take their time walking

through,” he says. “Some of the things we sell from the ‘60s or ‘70s are better built and of great quality.

“A lot of it is handmade and I recently sold a table from the ‘60s that looked like it was a year old.” Victor is constantly picking up new and unique items for the store and says he recently got his hands on a set of beautiful old scales.

Save a Bob or Two, Karabar Mall, 30A Queenbar Road, Karabar. Call 0448 164315 or visit @SaveABobOrTwo on Facebook.

Steve’s got tyres, mechanics and more

NOT just a tyre store, Transtate Tyres and Mechanical Services in Queanbeyan does pretty much everything, says owner Steve Rowland.

“We do more than just tyres,” he says. “We do servicing, brakes, suspension work, wheel aligning, NSW rego inspections and, of course, we have leading brands of tyres that are budget conscious.”

Serving Queanbeyan and the surrounding regions for more than 23 years, the independent company is big on its “old-fashioned service”.

With a team of eight, highly

qualified, local people, Transtate Tyre and Mechanical Services makes sure the customer is always first and can tailor a service to suit their needs and budget.

“We have a big clientele who are all very loyal to us and we like to look after them,” Steve says.

“I am happy to be here after 23 years. It is a great business and we will be here for a lot longer.”

Transtate Tyres and Mechanical Services, 141-143 Uriarra Road. Call 6299 6747.

A passion for the perfect smile

THE perfect smile is possible with the help of Karabar Private Dental Surgery.

Located on the ground floor of Karabar Shopping Mall, Queanbeyan, the surgery is open for emergencies seven days and holidays (by appointment) to provide a full range of dentistry treatments – general and cosmetic – for adults and children.

Karabar Private Dental’s oral health therapist and hygienist Koco Clarke says they have a dentist on the team who is trained in paediatric dentistry and is able to treat children under sedation with an anaesthetist present.

“This is a good service for children who are nervous and can’t be treated in the chair or they need lots of work done and want to do it in one appointment,” she says.

“The price is affordable and people can use the $1000 Medicare Dental Voucher for children aged between two and 18, to go towards their dental fees.

“We’re available for consultation for this specialist service, without the long wait, too.”

Koco says the friendly and patient team at Karabar Private Dental is willing to make any trip, the best trip to the dentist, so in the future people, no matter what their age, feel confident coming.

And then, Karabar Private Dental’s focus on aftercare is just as important, so people will have fewer problems with their teeth in the future.

Karabar Private Dental Surgery, Karabar Shopping Mall, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 3760 or visit karabarprivatedental.com.au

Laura Murphy as Fiona, Joel Hutchings as Donkey and Max Gambale as Shrek in “Shrek the Musical”.

Can Shrek save Princess Fiona?

“SHREK the Musical” will be the perfect schoolholiday entertainment, says the director of marketing at Free-Rain Theatre Company, Louiza Blomfield.

The story about a “hulking, green ogre”, who retreats to an ugly green swamp to exist in happy isolation, will be at The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, from September 28 to October 14.

But, Louiza says what will be different in the musical will be Free-Rain’s use of a giant puppet for the dragon, which takes four people to manoeuvre.

She says Shrek will be joined by colourful fairytale characters such as Pinocchio, Cinderella, The Three Pigs, The Gingerbread Man, Humpty Dumpty and Sugar Plum Fairy, as they raid Shrek’s sanctuary, saying they’ve been evicted by Lord Farquaad.

“So Shrek strikes a deal: ‘I’ll get your homes back, if you give me my home back’,” Louiza says.

“But when Shrek and Farquaad meet, the lord strikes a deal of his own. He’ll give the characters their homes back, if Shrek rescues Princess Fiona.

“Shrek obliges, yet finds something appealing –something strange and different – about this pretty princess.

“Shrek the Musical”, The Q, Queanbeyan, September 28-October 14. Bookings to theq.net.au

It’s all about families, fun and friendship

THROUGH its many programs, Queanbeyan YMCA offers fun, friendship and belonging, says CEO Peta Virgo.

“The importance of our recreational programs within the Queanbeyan Palerang community is to give people the opportunity to not only remain fit but also have the social aspect of belonging,” Peta says.

Queanbeyan YMCA offers its “popular” school holiday program, which is coming up in October, and its before and after-school care.

“We offer a range of classes to suit all ages, and for our younger children aged one to five we offer Kindergym,” Peta says. “Our rhythmic gymnastics program remains very popular along with our ‘Get Up and Go’ program, which is a fitness program for adults.

“Our childcare gives our working parents peace of mind that their children are safe, being cared for and having a great time.

“[And] our school holiday program, run from Queanbeyan and Bungendore, gives the children opportunities

to learn new skills as well as meet new friends.”

YMCA Queanbeyan, 2 Southbar Road, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 2334, email queanbeyan@ymca.org.au or visit queanbeyan.ymca.org.au

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HYDRAULIC Doctors prides itself on being the number one hydraulic and crane specialist in the Canberra region, says director Paul Szell.

And, after Hydraulic Doctors recently became a sales agent for the largest truck-mounted crane manufacturer in the world, Palfinger, Paul says this makes them the only local crane dealer for the Canberra and Queanbeyan region.

“As the only crane dealer for the region, we are the one-stop shop for our customers from quoting the crane, to installation, handover and after-sales support,” he says.

But, as its names suggests, Hydraulic Doctors offers industrial hydraulic solutions at, what Paul says, is a premium service.

“We service and repair hydraulic equipment, source and supply hydraulic components, provide hydraulic design engineering solutions, carry out performance testing, laser particle oil testing and conduct fault diagnosis on customer equipment,” he says.

“We provide custom-made hydraulic cylinders, and have deep boring and honing facilities that enable us to manufacture and repair cylinders that are not readily available as standard, off-theshelf components.

“We carry out service and safety inspections on a range of fixed and mobile plant equipment including cranes, industrial shredders, tailgate loaders, winch trucks, hook loaders, EWPS, lifters, borers and balers just to name a few.”

Hydraulic Doctors, 54 Bayldon Road, Queanbeyan West. Call 1300 336336, email enquiries@ hydraulicdoctors.com.au or visit hydraulicdoctors.com.au

Kitchens to construction, Steve does the lot

OWNER Steve Milutinovic started his own cabinet-making business in 1983 and, 35 years on, Bordeaux Constructions and Bordeaux Kitchens now specialises in home renovations, extensions and new homes.

But that’s not all, Bordeaux also can complete commercial fitouts and joinery, with its fully licensed builders in NSW and the ACT.

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

“We offer full trade co-ordination and have our own experienced and reliable tradesmen and expert staff to assist you in your project.

“Our custom-built, cabinet-making workshop can also build joinery items to suit your needs whether for home or office.”

Steve says Bordeaux offers obligation-free quotes, competitive prices and will work with each customer to achieve their desired outcome.

New auto care centre with a social conscience

LANGE’S Auto Centre has been operating in Queanbeyan for more than 40 years but it now has a new look. Its owner Johnny Lange says Lange’s Auto Care now has a new workshop and workshop system as well as a new office facility.

Describing it as “first-class”, he says it matches their quality vehicle servicing and repairs of all makes and models.

“We do NSW registration inspections, too.”

Johnny says the family business has cemented its trust and commitment in the local community since opening in 1972.

‘‘It’s almost a daily occurrence that our clients would rather wait a day for Lange’s to service their vehicle than to have it done by somebody else today,’’ he says.

“We put a lot of money back in to the community, too, through sponsoring sports teams such as the Queanbeyan Junior Blues.”

Lange’s Auto Centre, 44 Yass Road. Call 6297 6969 or visit langesauto.com.au

Strength and conditioning coach Josh Strahorn trains sportspeople of all ages.

Coach Josh loves to see his clients succeed

AS A strength and conditioning coach and the director of Dynamic Athletic Performance and Rehabilitation, Josh Strahorn helps athletes reach their potential and be the best they can be.

Josh, who worked as a strength and conditioning and rehabilitation coach with the Brumbies for three years, saw an opening for athletic development services and started Dynamic Athletic about two years ago.

He mainly helps a range of sportspeople, at different levels and ages, improve performance but also offers a few classes a week for people looking at getting fit.

“At the moment I’m working with an eight-year-old sprinter, right up to a professional rugby player who’s coming back from injury,” he says.

“A lot of the work that I do is individual sessions, so giving them specific programs tailored to what they need.

“We do a variation of different things but initially, it’s usually about people’s functional movement.

“And then we work on strength and power development, specific to their chosen sport.”

Josh says everyone has the ability to reach their full potential and he gives them the tools they need to get them there.

“I find it really rewarding because they put in the hard work and you see people improve and achieve their goals,” he says.

Dynamic Athletic Performance and Rehabilitation, 1 Bass Street, Queanbeyan. Call 0449 926165, email josh@dynamicathletic.com.au or visit dynamicathletic.com.au

Working finance for any working equipment

WHETHER it’s new or used, from a private sale or a dealer, Oatram Finance and Leasing has the working finance for any working equipment, says its director Andrew Barmin.

He’s part of the family-run business, who have been specialist brokers in finance and leasing for working equipment such as trucks, earth-moving equipment, forestry equipment and recycling equipment, for about 35 years.

“We help everyone get excellent rates, from large well-known companies to individuals,” he says.

“We have a wide variety of lenders where we’re able to obtain finance from.

“We’re able to do older equipment as well as new and know how to handle private sales.”

But it doesn’t stop there says Andrew, who says they can find gear for people short on time, too.

As Oatram Finance and Leasing is independent, Andrew says they’re able to give their clients options.

“They can negotiate a better price with pre-approved funds or we can negotiate rates on their behalf,” he says.

“We offer finance on second-hand vehicles over 10 years old and say you want an engine rebuild on a truck, we will have a lender who can handle that.”

And, Andrew says it all comes with an excellent service from people such as himself and his dad, who are happy to travel to clients at a time that suits them.

Oatram Finance and Leasing, Shop 1, 78 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 8588, email andrew@oatram.com.au or visit oatram.com.au

Queanbeyan Art Society heads for Civic show

QUEANBEYAN Art Society is excited to return to Civic this month with its annual City Art Show, which will be bigger than ever, says the society’s secretary Rosanna Burston.

“This year, for the first time, we’ve organised to have local, creative makers, [such as jewellery makers], to exhibit their craft and be stall holders,” she says.

Alongside them will be more than 300 artworks, which Rosanna says can be viewed and bought, as well as demonstrations of makers at work.

“This 250-plus member-busy Art Society will create a City Walk Arts Hub over nine days to entice locals and visitors to Floriade by showcasing arts and crafts made in our local area,” she says.

Usually the Art Society raises money for a charity as

part of the show, and in the past has raised money for local charities such as Soldier On, but this year, Rosanna says, their cottage needs some new paint and some maintenance so the money will go towards the society.

“We’re having to spend the money on ourselves so we can maintain our community art hub,” she says.

The Queanbeyan Art Society is into its 51st year and Rosanna says it welcomes everyone down to the riverfront, to see them and join their passionate artists.

Or see them at the City Art Show in Civic from September 22-30, from 12.30pm-4pm.

Queanbeyan Art Society, 6 Trinculo Place, Queanbeyan. Call 0439 392709 or visit qasarts.org

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Refugee writes a thumping emotional knockout

By Helen Musa

BOXING has always arguably been the most theatrical of all sports and now, in a mighty blow for theatre, The Q’s Stephen Pike is bringing in one of the most successful productions ever to emerge from Brisbane’s La Boite Theatre – it’s set in a boxing ring.

With rave reviews from the Brisbane and Sydney Festivals, Future D Fidel’s play “Prize Fighter” is now on a three-month national tour with a cast of six playing multiple roles, except for the central character performed by Pacharo Mzembe.

It’s theatre all right, but it’s also real life, based on the true story of Fidel, who fled the Congo as a child, lived in a Tanzanian refugee camp for eight years, came to Australia in 2005 and was eventually granted refugee status here.

The fighter of the title is outsider Isa. Like Fidel, he’s an orphaned Congolese refugee living in Brisbane. In the play, his trainer Luke has labelled him “Steve the Killer”, but once in the ring, his anger management problems hold him back from his stab at the national title and in a series of flashbacks interspersed with the punches, his past is unfolded to the audience.

“You’re here to box, not fight,” Luke tells him. Audiences can expect to see real fighting, fake guns and knives as Isa comes to terms with the horrors of his past in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he saw his family killed by insurgents

who later forced him into service as a boy soldier. In boxing, Fidel found an apt metaphor for the complex experiences of being a refugee and this, his first play, has been judged to be “an emotional knockout”.

Playwright Bertolt Brecht used to say a play should be like a boxing match – the spectator should be enthralled at one moment and detached the next.

La Boite director Todd MacDonald has approached this production in a way Brecht would have approved of. There’s an exciting gym warmup scene to get the blood up, with plenty of haze, smoke and strobe lighting to help us first become excited ringside spectators, then we become observers/judges of how the talented young boxer is allowing his past to become his own worst enemy.

And what happened in real life? Immensely talented, once here, Fidel joined an African dance group and with other young refugees formed the Fimbo Boys, performing African modern dance and song. In 2011 he was part of a community theatre work “I Am Here”, featuring young people who came to this country following conflict. He graduated in 2013 as an electrical engineer and saw “Prize Fighter” premiered in 2015.

Billed as a “rare theatrical combo: engrossing storytelling paired with the visceral thrill of live boxing”, his play is suitable for young people aged 16+ and is being actively promoted to schools as a way of giving insight into Australian refugees.

“Prize Fighter”, The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, September 25-28. Bookings to theq.net.au or 6285 6290.

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PATRONS FOR THE ARTS

ARTS IN THE CITY

with ACT Scale Modellers Society, TaskForce 72, Canberra Model Boat Club

Mount Rogers Primary School Alfred Hill Drive, Melba ACT 30TH ANNIVERSARY EXPO 2018 CANBERRA MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS SOCIETY Sat 15 September 10am-5pm Sun 16 September 10am-3.30pm

GALA ART AUCTION 2018

By Helen Musa

IMOGEN Kelly, notorious as Australia’s “Queen of Burlesque”, performs in the “Decadence and Debauchery” variety night at The Abbey Function Centre, Gold Creek on Saturday, September 15. Bookings to eventbrite.com.au

“HORROR”, by physical theatre maker Jakop Ahlbom, will see audiences dragged into a surreal world of fright, using illusion, mime, movement and music to tell of a home haunted by a woman’s vengeful spirit. Suitable only for people over the age of 15. At Canberra Theatre Centre’s Courtyard Studio, September 11-15. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

AUSTRIAN actress Maxi Blaha will be here with the play “Beloved Muse – Emilie Flöge”, in which she plays the fashion pioneer and lover of fin de siècle artist Gustav Klimt. At The Street 2, September 13-15 (in English) and Sunday, September 16 (in German). Bookings to thestreet. org.au or 6247 1223.

CANBERRA Youth Theatre’s company ensemble is staging Melbourne playwright Laura Lethlean’s “Fading”, where she and director Katie Cawthorne draw on the cast’s individual and ensemble responses to transitioning from childhood to adulthood. It’s part of Canberra Theatre Centre’s education program. At the Courtyard

Studio, September 12-15. Bookings to cytc.net

POPULAR soprano Louise Page is inviting comparisons to Dame Nellie Melba as she bids farewell to the stages of Canberra. Next up she’ll be appearing in the Canberra Choral Society’s tribute to England in the “Roaring ’20s”, along with Phillipa Candy and Anthony Smith, conducted by Peter Young. At Albert Hall, 2.30pm, Sunday, September 9. Bookings to trybooking.com

AFTER that Page will sing Henryk Górecki’s “A Symphony of Sorrowful Songs” with the National Capital Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Weiss. At Llewellyn Hall, 7.30pm, September 15. Bookings to premier. ticketek.com

STEINWAY artist of 2015, the Neapolitan pianist, Julian Gargiulo, makes his Queanbeyan debut direct (as they say in showbiz) from Carnegie Hall. In 2001, he started introducing Woody Allen-ish wit into his performances, combining piano and humour, so audiences may be in for a surprise. At The Q, Queanbeyan, 10.30am, September 11. Bookings to theq.net.au or 6285 6290.

HUSBAND and wife duo, mezzosoprano Christina Wilson and pianist Alan Hicks, will perform the next Art Song concert, “What the Folk Sing”, songs by de Falla, Brahms, Dvorak, Grainger, Copland and Bartok. At Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, 3pm, Sunday, September 9. Tickets at the door, no bookings required.

At home with a good, normal ‘blackfella family’

By Helen Musa

LISA Maza is a larger-than-life personality with a rich sense of humour and she is playing an even more colourful personality in Nathan Maynard’s raucous homecoming comedy, “The Season”, soon coming to The Playhouse.

Last year it was at the Melbourne Festival, then Tasmania’s Ten Days on the Island and in Sydney. Now, with three new actors, it’s on tour nationally.

The confusing title has nothing to do with the Canberra Theatre’s season, except that it’s been programmed into it. It’s about the mutton-birding season on Great Dog Island in the Bass Strait. The Duncan clan normally live in Launceston, but get together each “season” to harvest mutton-birds off the north coast of Tasmania.

Maza gets to play Aunty Marlene, the rowdy aunty with a wandering eye, sister to Stella Duncan.

It’s an all-star cast that also includes Mathew Cooper, James Slee, Nazaree Dickerson, Maitland Schnaars, Della Rae Morrison and Trevor Jamieson, best known for playing the title role in “Namatjira”, but here playing a couple of outsiders.

the legendary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander theatre pioneer, the late Bob Maza.

“CityNews” catches up with Maza while she is on tour to Perth, about to perform the show in His Majesty’s Theatre. If her name sounds familiar, Maza is the daughter of

“Honest and heartfelt performances that ensure the fragments of memory gently question and shape the present.

Anne-Marie Peard SMH

She lives with her sister Rachael, the director of Ilbijerri Theatre Company in Melbourne, and like her, is proud to mention her father – “Besides, it’s opened quite a few doors for me,” she laughs.

Like Rachael, she is deeply embedded in the theatre, having played in the stage versions of shows such as “Coronation Road”,

“Radiance” and “The Sapphires” as well as performing with her sister in their own show, “Sisters of Gelam”.

And it continues to pass down the generations. While in Perth she’s spent lots of time with her nephew Ari Maza Long, Rachael’s son, who is now studying at the WA Academy of Performing Arts.

“The Season”, she believes, succeeds because it shows a real family.

“If you think about it, most of our audiences are middle-aged, middle-class white people and that’s fair enough, but this story is one they can all relate to because everybody has a family,” she says.

At the same time, playwright Nathan Maynard has taken the opportunity to show a good Aboriginal family and the dignity of culture.

“I’m sick of the way blackfellas are always

shown as drunks or getting into fights all the time,” she says.

“This play shows a good, normal blackfella family.”

To Maza the biggest thing about the play is that it shows a family of Tasmanian Aborigines.

“I was brought up thinking there were no Tasmanian Aborigines left,” she says.

“Everyone thinks that, but it’s a myth”.

In fact the rollicking Duncan family bears a remarkable resemblance to that of first-time playwright Maynard, whose observations have drawn critical praise for dialogue that is “sharp as a tack and blunt as a brick”.

His family were removed from the island to mainland Tasmania generations ago and only returned for “the season”. Like the character Clay, he’s been hearing about Great or Big Dog Island all his life, but only got to go there as a 15-year-old. To him the play is a way of saying: “We’re still here”.

It’s a classic homecoming story. The Duncans, headed by Ben and Stella, get together for six weeks at birding time but their daughter Lou has been away for 16 years and now brings her teenage son, Clay.

“This time on the island, it’s different… the older generations are teaching the young ones about their culture, the traditions, but there are lots of laughs and also all the secrets come out,” Maza says.

“The characters are great and Aunty Marlene is probably the best part I’ve ever played.”

“The Season”, The Playhouse, September 13-15.

JURASSICA

by Dan Giovannoni

Dan Giovannoni’s magical new play, Jurassica, weaves the past and present together, exploring what it is to migrate, to be displaced and to spend the rest of your life searching for home.

“ I am not fully Italian or fully Australian and despite ignoring my family heritage for a long time, I don’t think I can really understand my family unless I understand what they went through, how they were raised.

Dan Giovannoni

“ Jurassica has been patiently crafted, like Nonna’s perfect slow cooked pork!

Anne-Marie Peard SMH

WEDNESDAY 19 SEP 8.00PM • THURSDAY 20 SEP 8.00PM FRIDAY 21 SEP 8.00PM • SATURDAY 22 SEP 2.00PM & 8.00PM

Crazy, but there’s sneaky truth behind romance

“Crazy Rich Asians” (PG)

THE creeping onset of Chinese hegemony is a political, diplomatic, military and financial phenomenon that doesn’t need a serious, bleak movie to warn the rest of the world of its potential.

US-born and raised director Jon Chu probably understands that better than most. In this film written by Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim (who’s written a heck of a lot of US TV network series) and adapting a best-seller by Kevin Kwan, it underpins a romantic piece of puffery that wallows among Chinese upperclass wealth to tell a story of a romance conceived in America and brought to China for gestation and parturition.

It’s full of bling, fast cars, sumptuous meals, beautiful young women, parties and above all, a family that dare not cross matriarch Eleanor Young (Michelle Yeoh) whose political skills are formidable and whose cunning in a family squabble is something to behold.

China-born Nick Young (Henry Golding) invites his American-born economics professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) and lover to accompany him on her first travel outside America to his brother’s wedding

in Singapore. To accept youthful and freshly pretty Rachel as an economics professor requires a leap of faith but heck, that’s how things are in America.

The Singapore media are all over Rachel who’s unaware that Nick is the scion of one of Asia’s wealthiest families. The film leaps from that springboard to splash around among how Western influences are corroding Chinese traditions and explore their capacity to delight and terrify. Yes, readers, “Crazy Rich Asians” is a chick-flick, fair to average quality of its genre, also delivering sneaky truths about a country where the upper crust

comprising one per cent of the population controls a third of the national wealth.

The filmmakers have subtly set out to make us aware of that. But perhaps they’ve made the cream at the top tasty to disguise the inequality lying beneath.

At all cinemas

“The Insult” (MA)

TELLING of conflict between a Muslim and a Christian over a petty domestic issue may not betoken a box-office blinder but by golly, writer/director Ziad Doueiri’s film applies powerful creative muscle to illuminate the ability

of little disputes to inflate themselves to the edge of society’s ability to control and the unexpected consequences thereof.

Christian garage owner Tony (Adel Karam) and his pregnant wife live in an upstairs Beirut apartment on the tiny veranda in which is a leaky water pipe. Building management sends Muslim refugee Yasser (Kamel El Basha) to repair it. Tony refuses permission to enter the apartment but Yasser in a spirit of generosity goes ahead. When Tony gets home, he smashes the repaired pipe. That sets off a conflict that finishes in the Supreme Court.

The plot follows the development of the argument perhaps more than it warrants. Knowledge of Middle Eastern history involving conflicts between Muslim and Christian faiths might help in understanding where it’s going. But “The Insult” is definitely not a polemic about different faiths. Both men are honest and hardworking. Yasser wants Tony to apologise for a chance remark. Tony believes the heat-of-the moment sentence insults him and his faith.

When the argument comes before an appellate court, the film sparkles with forensic fire between counsel, two marvellous performances from prosecutor Wajdi (Camille Salameh) and his daughter Nadine (Diamand Bou Abboud) defending. Which side wins? Finding out is less important than getting there. Alone in a small cinema space, I felt very good about having watched the case progress.

At Place Electric

“The Flip Side” (M) No stars IN half a century of reviewing movies, I’ve left before closing credits from fewer than a handful of movies.

Add this one to the list. I sat for an hour waiting for something, anything, to hit the screen that might have persuaded me that “The Flip Side” offered anything to justify the average Aussie moviegoer buying a ticket to see it. Returning from a comfort stop, the answer developing in my head since meeting Adelaide restaurant proprietor Ronnie (Emily Taheny) and her vapid hunk Jeff (Luke McKenzie) on the day that everything worthwhile in her life had vanished down the gurgler, burst into bloom.

Into each life some ray of sunshine must fall. What fell into Ronnie’s life that day was a message from British movie actor Henry (Eddie Izzard) into whose bed Ronnie had willingly climbed five years previously when she was caterer on location shots for a movie starring Henry. Oh, joy! Oh, rapture! Henry has returned to claim her after five years of silence? Fat chance. Henry is in Adelaide with French popsy Sophie (Vanessa Guide) in tow. And bed. His new movie is premiering tonight and he’d love to see Ronnie.

By this stage, my hope of getting anything worthwhile from the film had followed Ronnie’s life down the same gurgler. Later, when I came to write this piece, a memory surfaced. Only once before had I walked out of an Australia-made movie so devoid of merit.

At Dendy and Palace Electric

DINING / rodney’s garden café Taste of spring at Pialligo

By Wendy Johnson

SPRING’S here. Time for colourful flowers. Time to plant fresh herbs and veggies. Time to visit nurseries.

That’s what we did on a sunny weekday, but we made it an outing and had lunch, too.

Rodney’s Garden Café has been open for more than two decades. These days, executive chef Nathan Kleinig is at the helm, having arrived at Pialligo after working in the kitchen at Parliament House (his most recent stint).

The café has its own vegetable and herb gardens in the nursery, so a great deal of produce is as fresh as it can possibly be. The kitchen team is committed to sourcing other produce locally also.

You can head to the café for breakfast, lunch, morning or afternoon tea. Business people gather for meetings, friends hang out having

The café has its own vegetable and herb gardens in the nursery, so a great deal of produce is as fresh as it can possibly be.

chats and mums and prams are comfortable (mums especially with the children’s menu).

We sat outside on the patio surrounded by beautiful gardens, plants and trees. The sun was shining and those sitting in the shade are welcome to pick up a blanket and cover their knees.

I have to say that the linguini with prawns was one of the best I’ve had in ages ($29). It was absolutely packed with flavour and featured a generous number of plump prawns. It was made with tangy preserved lemon, garlic, a good dose of chilli, peppery rocket and quality olive oil. The dish was finished off nicely with parmesan. I ate every bit and enjoyed every bite.

My friend was equally enamoured

with the fish and chips, especially the light yoghurt batter ($24.50). The beer-battered chips were crunchy and decadent. The side salad super fresh and crisp. A perfect plate for lunch.

It’s salads galore at Rodney’s Garden Cafe. On the main lunch menu is a warm, house-smoked chicken salad ($25), a five-spiced duck salad ($28) and a salad of roasted baby beetroot ($23).

We were intrigued by several other dishes, including the corn cakes, served with bacon, rocket, Spanish onion and goat’s cheese. They’re finished with a balsamic glaze and what the kitchen calls its “famous chilli jam”. The dish is $24.50 with bacon and $22 without. The children’s menu starts at $9 – spaghetti bolognaise, fish and chips or pizza with ham and cheese. A lunch box, which includes a sandwich, sultanas, cheese, a fruit box and a treat, is also $9.

Gluten-free bread is available and the café dishes up delights for vegetarians.

Rodney’s Garden Café, open seven days, 9am to 4pm. No split bills. BYO is $5 a bottle. Cakeage is $2 a person.

PUZZLES PAGE

Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Peacemaker Venus encourages you to repair a rickety relationship. Don’t skim the surface though – you’ll need to dig deep. Group activities, social media and friendships are favoured, as Mars (your ruling planet) moves into your peer group and networking zone. So, it’s a terrific time to connect with creative, proactive people and share your dreams for the future with friends. Others are looking for you to come up with the goods so get started and don’t disappoint!

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

With proactive Mars racing through your professional and reputation zone, you’ll be in the public eye in some way. Make sure you’re putting on a good show. Then Jupiter and Pluto boost love and friendship on Wednesday, when you link up with pals from home or far away. But avoid making an impulsive decision. Slow down and think things through. It’s time to be frank and forthright, as you examine the real reasons why a current relationship is experiencing problems.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

Restless Mars activates your knowledge and adventure zone, so start thinking about where you’ll go travelling next – mentally and physically. But expect some confusion on Thursday or Friday, when nebulous Neptune scrambles your communication antennae. Then Pluto and Jupiter kick-start your curiosity and revitalise your dreams. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, writer D. H. Lawrence: “Life is travelling to the edge of knowledge, and then going beyond.”

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

On Wednesday, Jupiter and Pluto increase optimism and help you reform a rickety relationship that’s been experiencing problems. Setting positive new patterns of behaviour sees the union move to a deeper and more satisfying level. On Thursday, nurture a loved one in practical ways. Perhaps you can help with shopping, errands, cooking, housework or homework? Whereas Sunday’s stars are super for getting your message across with extra power and passion.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

It’s one of your luckiest weeks of the year so prepare to pounce. Jupiter and Pluto boost confidence and self-esteem as you power through projects with renewed confidence and plenty of chutzpah. You’re also keen to make connections with others, as the planets highlight your family and work zones. So, it’s a terrific time to initiate ideas and make waves within your circle of influence. Positive and passionate collaborations are the secrets to future success. Get cracking Cats!

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

This week the Sun and Mercury are moving through your sign. So clear, careful, logical communication will help improve relations with other people, as you get your message out loud and clear. Jupiter and Pluto also encourage you to reach out and help others, both within your immediate circle of family and friends and within your local neighbourhood. You’ll find the close community connections you foster now will prove to be enormously beneficial in the future.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

A big and beautiful idea could boost your bank balance, as you commence a fresh chapter involving home, family or finances. Which could include buying or selling real estate, redecorating, renovating or relocating. Whatever happens, do your best to get the balance right between being spontaneous and thinking things through. The stars also bring a touch of magic to your world. As writer (and birthday great) Roald Dahl wrote: “Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Venus is now vamping through your sign. Which increases your romantic side and boosts your social life. So tone down your Scorpio intensity and have some serious fun! Then (courtesy of Wednesday’s wonderful Jupiter/Pluto connection) you’ll be given the opportunity to lead and/or impress those around you. Jupiter also motivates you to be more adventurous about the personal projects you take on. Lady Luck is knocking on your door so make sure you’re ready to let her in!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Wednesday’s auspicious Jupiter/Pluto link encourages you to transform your life by broadening your horizons (physically, mentally and spiritually). It’s time to expand your circle of influence and make positive changes (personally, within your community and further afield). Stay alert so you can capitalise on lucky opportunities that come your way. Inspiration for the week is from birthday great, writer D. H. Lawrence: “I want to live my life so that my nights are not full of regrets.”

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

Saturn and Pluto are both still transiting through your sign, which amplifies your drive and ambition. But these powerful planets also crank up your controlling side, which can alienate you from others. Try to balance steely determination with a deft diplomatic touch. Wednesday’s lucky Jupiter/Pluto connection certainly boosts your Capricorn charisma as you charm friends, impress professional colleagues or influence important people. A special dream could also come true.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Mars moves into your sign until November 15. So, strive to be more bold and brave as you initiate ideas, launch passion projects and zoom ahead in progressive new directions. Then prosperous Jupiter and strategic Pluto help you to prioritise current commitments and plan your long-term goals for the future. If you devise a firm direction forward, then financial luck is waiting in the wings via a new job, client, bonus or promotion. Volunteer work could also be extremely rewarding.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

Your involvement with a group, class, club or organisation has others looking to you for inspiration. So, use your networking skills to drum up support, and don’t be afraid to ask experts for help. International connections look particularly beneficial. Thursday and Friday are fabulous for creative pursuits but they’re not good days to deal with cold hard facts in a sensible way. Indulge your imaginative side, but leave practical projects and important communication for another time.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2018

Judith... (6)

9 Which renowned German politician was called "The Iron Chancellor", Otto von ...? (8)

10 What is the Italian title of respect for a man? (6) 11 What do we call the twelve disciples, sent by Christ to preach the gospel? (8)

14 Name a band of tissue that serves to connect bones, and hold organs in place. (8)

18 What is an object worn as a protecting charm? (6)

19 To be resisting something, is to be doing what? (8)

21 That which is impenetrable to light, is said to be what? (6)

22 What is any of a group of plasma proteins? (8)

23 Which planet has an extensive ring system? (6)

Down

1 What is an architectural support for a column, statue, or the like? (8)

2 Name an ancient Egyptian stone figure with the head of a human and the body of a lion. (6)

3 Which term describes any thin connecting layer? (8)

4 What is cot death known as? (4)

5 Who was the most prolific Austrian composer and musician, Wolfgang ...? (6)

6 Name a particular savoury custard tart. (6)

12 Which figures have eight angles and eight sides? (8)

13 In which hemisphere does Australia lie? (8)

15 Name an African antelope that can leap up to 9 metres. (6)

16 What is a microscopic, one-celled animal? (6)

17 Name an emirate in SW Asia, on the Persian Gulf. (6)

20 To be unemployed, or doing nothing, is to be what? (4)

GARDENING

Agapanthus... about to get the chop.

Seniors Information Service

I HAVE been writing a regular gardening column for more than 30 years and one request I receive from time to time is for me to share what I’m doing in our garden in downtown Watson.

I know of other writers who base their columns solely on happenings in their own gardens. My preference is to range far and wide, always with the camera in reach.

However, this request has become more frequent lately so this week I’m going to reveal what I’ve been doing at home.

Having been actively involved in designing and advising on gardens to others, also for more than 30 years, I seem to have had little spare time for my own garden with some areas sadly

But now that I’m not clambering through shrubs and trees measuring gardens or overseeing landscape contractors on frosty mornings, I have more time and one of the first tasks I tackled was to rebuild the compost heap.

The original hardwood, forklift pallets, which formed the walls of the heap, after 25 years had really started to rot.

This only took me a couple of days, so I headed to an area totally ignored for at least 15 years – the agapanthus bed.

I originally planted four Betula pendula or silver birch in a group about one and a half metres apart, despite my always suggesting odd numbers in plantings and in groups of three for silver birch.

If you are thinking about joining us at Calvary Haydon Retirement Community you can register to be on our waiting list. This is a good idea so we can contact you if something comes up that you would like to view Call 6264 7400 or register on our website www calvarycare org.au

agapanthus

Some years ago, in another place, I planted a group of three that grew magnificently for quite a few years and then one suddenly died. So I planted a replacement, but it struggled and was growing out away from the others at a 45-degree angle. It was never going to catch up with its sisters. When we came to Watson 27 years ago I thought by planting four, if one died, I would be back to the magic number –three.

In fact I planted a group of four in the back as well as the front garden and, lo and behold, they all grew magnificently and today the two groups of four are about 20 metres high.

Under the birch I planted en-masse blue agapanthus, also 20-plus years ago. They must have full sun or they will not flower is the regular advice. Going against the grain, as can be seen in the photo, they flower very well in the shade of the birch.

I had been putting off doing something about the serious overcrowding of the agapanthus for at least 10 years! Last weekend I got out the mattock and went to town.

I’d forgotten the stubbornness of the mass and great clumps of fleshy roots were compounded by roots of the birch. I dug out at least 100 plants, large and small, some only a few years old.

Jottings...

• Hold off planting citrus for another few weeks.

• More details on planting and varieties later.

Then I dug in plenty of compost, checked the irrigation (only chopping through the pipe once!) and replanted about 30 small ones. Believe it or not, this took me going solidly for the whole weekend.

• If dahlias were not lifted for winter this can be done over the next few weeks,

dividing the clumps and replanting.

• A hot summer is predicted, so mulch all garden beds now to prevent loss of moisture through evaporation.

• Finish planting the summer and autumn-flowering bulbs available now in garden centres.

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