ORDER of Australia recipient Frances Rose couldn’t understand why there was so many extraordinary women in the community, yet the number of men being recognised still far outweighed the women.
So Frances, with her friends Dr Bill Maiden and Narelle Hargreaves formed a sub-committee of the ACT branch of the Order of Australia Association and together have been encouraging the Canberra com munity to nominate its community-focused women.
They’ve written to the heads of organisations, they have been to see the Office for Women, and now, they want to get the word out to the community.
“There’s some absolutely fantastic women who are working so hard and they should be recognised,” says Narelle, 76, of Latham.
It’s no secret that men recipients outweigh the women every year, and Narelle says even the governor-general has outwardly said he’d like to see more women nominated.
similar amazing things, too.
“I’d like to see younger women and men getting awards as well,” she says.
“It’s sad that a lot of amazing women [and men] have to wait until they’re older to be recognised.”
And, Narelle jokes: “If I want somebody to really listen to what I have to say, I put [the OAM title] in emails and letters.”
She calls herself a “lifelong volunteer” and believes that people who belong to something should be an ac tive participant.
“I always made sure I was doing something in the community,” she says.
“In my view I believe you should not be getting a gong just for your work.
“I like to see that there is something more to that person. I’d like to think that the person was involved in contributing to the community as well.
“That’s the sort of person that should be given the
Narelle and the ACT branch of the Order of Australia also want people to know how easy it is to apply online.
“People have this misconception that you have to write all this stuff,” she says.
For example, if people don’t know four referees connected to the person they’re nominating, they can write down organisation or business names and Government House will cipher out the missing information.
“It’s not hard, it just takes a little bit of time and a little bit of thought and away you go,” she says.
Boxes of donated music awaiting the Songland sale, October 6-7.
Music sale to help animals
“I’m not really into quotas because I like to think people got the award on their ability and capability,” she says.
“But then again I’m into affirmative action for women, so I want to see really outstanding women nominated, because there’s many of them.”
Narelle and the committee still want to see men continue to be nominated because, she says, there’s some fantastic fellows doing some great stuff, but she wants people to be more aware of the women doing
INDEX
Narelle, who received the medal of the Order of Australia in 2008, says the award is a real honour and privilege.
“It’s provided me with opportunities to speak at different groups,” she says.
She even believes it opened many opportunities for her and led her to other achievements such as being named the Canberra Citizen of the Year in 2016 for her commitment to vulnerable children and young people in the ACT through various roles.
Since 1993: Volume 24, Number 36
Managing Director: James Anderson, 0404 077605, james@citynews.com.au
Director: Kate Meikle, kate@citynews.com.au
Senior advertising account executive: David Cusack, 0435 380656
It’s even easier with the help of Narelle, Frances and Bill, who are always happy to have a chat about the nomination process, especially if it means more women will get nominated and more women will be successful in receiving the award.
“Let’s join together and we can all promote women,” she says.
For nomination help contact Narelle on 6254 4209 or by emailing chindit@ozemail.com.au
“FROG” Harris, owner of Songland Records at Cooleman Court, is calling for unwanted vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and cassette tapes to add to his upcoming RSPCA fundraiser. For the last seven years Songland has been holding a charity sale with all proceeds from the sale of donated music, sheet music, movies, TV sets and sound systems going directly to benefit the animals at the Weston animal centre. The sale has evolved into a twice-yearly event.
He says: “Over the years, the many thousands of dollars raised has bought everything from toys, to a dog-training area to sterilising units.”
Songland is accepting donations now and the next sale is on the weekend of October 6-7.
Narelle Hargreaves… “I’d like to see younger women and men getting awards,” she says. Photo by Danielle Nohra
SEVEN DAYS / health inquiry
No witnesses protection, says bullied ex-staffer
A FORMER ACT Health employee pushed to the brink of suicide after being bullied, doubts the effectiveness of an independent review called by ACT Minister for Health Meegan Fitzharris . The minister launched the review into workplace culture at ACT Health despite AMA concerns the probe does not go far enough. The staffer says institutional bullying and expensive legal tactics employed to frighten whistleblowers will continue unless a royal commission is conducted into the department’s culture.
THE Barr government’s mid-year optimism heralding a new public transport system seems dead in the water. “A citywide integrated public transport network”, “designed to deliver shorter, straighter, more regular and reliable services to connect people” which “prepares for growth and ensures we remain one of the most liveable cities in the world” were some of the polished
statements floated. But the people have spoken; they just want buses to run and to run on time.
MEANTIME, sales of Action bus-shelter coffee mugs are expected to spike after exposure on the ABC drama series “Rake”. The third and, mercifully, final season sees the crumpled and shambolic lawyer Cleaver Greene (Richard Roxburgh) unexpectedly land in Canberra as a senator. Social media posts of Greene using the mug featuring the iconic shelters join comments from lawyers picking holes in the script. Local pedants also love to challenge the series’ continuity department when filming ventures outside in the capital.
STILL on public transport and in an effort to determine whether our new tram’s clangers sound anything like those that characterise the cacophony of Melbourne’s CBD, I conducted a study by posting a video of an LRV on Facebook. While hardly a comprehensive or scientific study the result was a clear no, but close. One “submission” was that it was like comparing the whistle of a rugby union referee with that of a soccer umpire.
LIBERAL member for Brindabella Mark Parton has stepped outside the square
dose of dorin
to highlight flaws in the Barr government. Parton’s facetious LinkedIn piece “What Labor does really well” chronicles a range of the government’s shortcomings including setting a new “benchmark in losing documents” and “watching Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris stand bravely at the wheel of the good ship ACT Health assuring us everything is okay”. But the real stinger comes at the end of the 750-word piece with MLA Mick Gentleman in the crosshairs...“writing to Mick is like writing to Santa as an eightyear-old. You’d like to believe you’ll get a response, but in your heart you know
nobody is even going to read the letter”.
THE man in the red bandana Peter FitzSimons made a triumphant return to the capital reportedly “connecting” with a large slab of Canberra’s movers and shakers. The former Wallaby was guest speaker at the sold out Menslink business breakfast. The raconteur, famous for his “Sydney Morning Herald” column “Fitz Files”, recycled a few jokes, including one from 27 years ago. At a Sydney arts function, feeling out of place the author slipped into the conversation that he’d “just finished his first book” to which a snobby type replied:
“Well, read another one”.
NRL Legend Johnathan Thurston has credited Raiders’ coach Ricky Stuart for having a “massive influence” on his brilliant career. The recently retired Cowboys and origin star spoke of a time when he was 19 and playing with the Canterbury Bulldogs. Miserable and wanting to return home, JT says he was caught crying in the locker room by Stuart. Thurston says he was convinced to stay after Stuart put his arm around him and said: “You’re homesick, we’re a family here, we’ll look after you”.
AFTER weeks of political skulduggery and stunts giving Canberra a bad rap, the city can focus on one of its greatest achievements, Floriade. Replacing muppets and strawberry topped pavlovas, the best and biggest celebration of spring has finally bloomed with visitors and locals pouring in. Tamworth photographer Nita Read is back for her second Floriade.
DISCOVER YOUR DREAM HOME
An exclusive over 55’s community featuring a modern clubhouse, indoor pool and gym, close to local shops and amenities you’ll fall in love with The Grove Ngunnawal! With all villas now complete and over 90% sold, don’t miss your chance to find your dream home today.
Grove, 1 Monty Place Ngunnawal ACT 2913 Visitthegrove.com.au
Tamworth visitor Nita Read.
Photo by Mike Welsh
A PASSION FOR LIFE
Work, life and play collide in DKSN, Canberra’s new, carefully curated lifestyle precinct. Complemented by exceptional restaurants, vibrant retail and state-of-the-art office buildings, DKSN’s 1, 2 and 3-bedroom designer Cape Apartments are now selling.
REGISTER FOR AN EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW 1300 789 609 — DKSN.COM.AU
The lots of little joys of Justine Clarke
By Kate MEIKLE
CHILDREN’S performer Justine Clarke loves being recognised by her little fans.
“Kids are usually in a state of wonder that I am out of the TV and I have to convince them that I am real!” she says.
The acclaimed home-grown performer, actor and writer brings her “Silly Songs” tour to Canberra Theatre on October 6 as part of a national tour coinciding with the launch of her sixth children’s music album.
In addition to numerous smallscreen roles and writing children’s books, Justine has been a regular presenter on “Playschool” for the past 19 years and recently created her live action TV program, “The Justine Clarke Show!” on ABC Kids.
“Music needs to be enjoyable to everyone in the family,” says Justine.
She encourages parents to foster a love of music with their kids as early as possible as it’s great for kids’ development, pattern recognition, language and comprehension.
“Music unites everybody and kids are naturally musically creative,” she says.
“When you play music to a baby, you see their eyes widen and they go still as they listen or their bodies could even
Justine
you play music to a baby, you see their eyes widen and they go still as they listen or their bodies could even start to move.
PLEASE NOTE:
favourite songs all the time, much to their parents’ frustration!
“As a parent you will never hear an album more than the ones your preschoolers will insist you play for them
“Even your favourite album in the world if you listen to it so many times, you will take a break from it. But kids
Justine says she strives to write complex songs to appeal to grown-ups as well.
“Some parents have told me that they find themselves singing along to
my songs in the car even after their kids have got out!” she says.
“Songwriting for kids allows me to step into the minds of four-year-olds and, as a professional actor, I have never really strayed from doing that.”
Justine says that audience participation will be the focus of the “Silly Songs” show, with Justine and her band helping the audience rehearse a dance and sing a silly song together.
She says that after 10 years of touring, she can see the value of taking children to live performances, with many of them experiencing a live show for the first time at her performances.
“There are a lot of firsts; it might be the first time a child has been into a theatre or seen and heard so many people together in one room. I am very aware of that,” she says.
“It’s part of the joy of performing to kids. I like that they will call out to make requests, answer questions when you ask them and they can even heckle me!”
Performance was always part of Justine’s childhood, as both her parents worked in the industry, it was part of her world and was a natural pathway for her.
“I never really had to ask ‘what do I want to do when I grow up?’ I just never stopped performing.”
“Silly Songs”, Canberra Theatre, October 6. Tickets from 6275 2700 or canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Woodcraft exhibition
THE ACT Woodcraft Guild is holding its annual exhibition and members’ competition at the Crosbie Morrison Building, Botanic Gardens, October 4-8. On display will be members’ work; a sale of quality, locally made woodcraft and demonstrations of a range of woodcraft activities. More at woodcraftguild.org.au
Calling all cricketers
THE Western District Cricket Club, which has been part of the ACT Grade Cricket Competition since the 1969-70 season and currently fields five men’s teams and one women’s team in the ACT Premier Cricket competition, wants to get in touch with more than 1000 former players and administrators to attend the club’s gala 50th anniversary dinner at Eastlakes Football Club, Gungahlin on Saturday, February 2. More information at wduccricket.org or by emailing wduccc50th@gmail.com
Spring lapidary show
THE Canberra Lapidary Club’s Spring Gemcraft & Mineral Show is back at the Mallee Pavilion, Epic, 10am-5pm, over the weekend of November 10-11. There will be displays of members’ collections, demonstrations of cabbing, faceting and jewellery making. Dealers will sell jewellery, rough and cut gemstones, fossils, rocks, mineral specimens, opals, beads and beading supplies, and lapidary equipment and supplies.
Clarke… “When
Educator Twilight Tour
We believe in sharing knowledge and the value in learning from each other, which is why we are inviting all Early Childhood Educators from across ACT to come and explore Guardian Early Learning – Bruce on Thursday 4 October!
We’d love to show you our environments and ateliers, as well as to share ideas about learning programs and experiences – at your centre and ours. We hope it will be an inspiring night where we can all learn from each other and broaden our network.
Guardian Early Learning Centre - Bruce 22 Thynne St, Bruce Thursday, 4th October 6:00pm-8:00pm
OPINION / the planning revolt
People, planning and deaf ears of government
CAMPBELL is one of Canberra’s oldest suburbs and yet its planning, developments and design were well ahead of its time.
Planning in the 1950s worked to provide a diverse community with equitable access to services such as schools, shops, green parkland and recreational open space.
Harry Seidler, a prominent Australian architect of the late 20th century, built what has since been recognised as one of the most effectively laid out, medium-residential projects of its time, the Campbell Group Housing. The suburb planned for housing choices well before urban densification became a local government priority.
Today, Campbell looks very different. Its characteristic green infrastructure has given way to extensive development, including about 1000 new apartments built along Constitution Avenue. In inner-Campbell, RZ2 zones have resulted in single-dwelling homes being rapidly replaced with multi-dwellings. Medium-to-high density housing now dominates our suburb.
It wasn’t always this way. When the ACT government introduced residential zoning, it was with the aim of regulating land use and to control development. For established areas, like Campbell, zoning was put in place to manage redevelopment and
More than 450 concerned Canberrans gathered in Albert Hall this month, brought together to discuss the impact of planning decisions on Canberra’s heritage values and urban form. Campbell Community Association president LUISA CAPEZIO was one of the speakers. This is what she said...
protect the character of the suburb, (I quote) “by enabling a limited extent of change with regard to the original pattern of subdivision and the density of dwellings, to make a positive contribution to the neighbourhood and landscape character”.
The RZ2 zoning category worked well until 2015 because redevelopments did not exceed two dwellings per residential site. This encouraged sustainable design using natural light, preservation of Campbell’s green infrastructure, and was in keeping with the character of this historic suburb. This combination of low-, medium- and high-density housing served the residents of Campbell well.
However, since 2015, relaxation of development limits permitting multiple dwellings has caused permanent damage to the environment, resulted in unsustainable development and has changed the intended streetscape and character of Campbell forever. Developers have been able to bypass zoning codes via applications for land lease variations and merit tracks. Applications appear to have gone
unchecked by relevant government authorities and, most disturbingly, the local authorities have not listened to concerns and recommendations repeatedly expressed by residents and community associations.
In short, over the last three years, applications have been swiftly approved allowing residential blocks to be denuded of all vegetation, void of any permeable space and to be replaced with concrete surfaces and multi-dwelling buildings.
This is far from the original intention of zoning designed to preserve the character of suburbs like Campbell.
As a community, we are very concerned about the future of Campbell. So much so, that a quarter of the total written submissions responding to the current Housing Choices discussion paper came from Campbell residents.
In their responses, residents called for the Minister for Planning, Mick Gentleman, to undertake an immediate review of development applications within Campbell and for RZ2 developments to be capped at
12th Annual General Meeting Notice
Canberra Multicultural Community Forum Inc
Tuesday 23rd October 2018 at 6:30pm for 7:00pm
Venue: Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre
Function Room, Level 2, 180 London Circuit, Canberra City
For more information contact: secretary.cmcf@gmail.com
two dwellings (as it was before 2015). Sadly, these requests appear to have fallen on deaf ears.
Of course, it’s not just our local authorities who aren’t listening. Frankly, so-called community engagement by developers is often farcical, a fact which I know is not unique to Campbell. As well as bypassing local re-zoning codes, developers also minimise and otherwise avoid engaging in any meaningful community consultation.
For example, a community engagement meeting was recently organised by a group of architects on behalf of the developers. The land in question was zoned for commercial use, with a maximum allowable build height of two storeys. On the day, I and others were approached by an architect who said (and I quote): “Hi, thanks for coming. We have two plans to share with you. You have a choice of a sixstorey apartment block or four-storey apartments with three shops on the bottom”. And that was it. THAT was the sole extent of their community engagement. In a similar experience with the Hindmarsh group, residents were simply informed that the building would be exceeding the permitted
build height. Other developers go directly to the DA process in lieu of any attempt at community engagement.
Again, these examples are not unique to Campbell. It is a common trend developing in Canberra, which is impacting on the natural environment of our region and the intended character of our established suburbs.
That’s why meetings such as this one are so important.
At a time when we are faced with accommodating more people in less space while trying to reduce the drain on our limited resources, a strategic and wholistic approach to planning is crucial. And who better to inform such plans than the local residents and community associations that live there?
I just hope that by working together we can find a way to ensure we are listened to more effectively, before the damage done is truly irreversible.
LUISA CAPEZIO
GRUMPY / red hill history
Lots more to
Vancouver
READERS may have noted an article in “The Canberra Times” on September 15 on the history of what real estate agents have claimed over many years as Canberra’s most desirable street; Vancouver Street, Red Hill.
Unfortunately the reporter missed out on a lot of the history of Vancouver Street because she did not interview anyone who actually lived in the street from its inception.
My father Bill Hingee, a civil engineer who was responsible, or partly responsible, for many landmarks around Canberra including the Olympic Pool and its diving tower, the Administration Building, Scrivener Dam and the now submerged Cotter Dam, the Central Basin of the lake etcetera bought 4 Vancouver Street as a block of land.
In front of us was Sir John Eccles, across the road Sir Hugh Ennor (both Nobel prize winners), and behind us the Ogilvie’s house and orchard (and large German shepherd dog).
The Russian ambassador’s residence was on our back fence and the Brazilian embassy cornered our back corner. Sir Patrick White was up the road. At some stage we rented out the house to the Cambodian and Laotian embassies and we moved to another great street, Grant Crescent.
Our house was sold to numbers of people and I understand was the first house to sell for $1 million in Canberra. As the reporter noted, the house also sold at a record price of $1.75 million in 1996. It had also been bought by Dr Fleming and by the owners of the then
Street
Reader RIC HINGEE, of Duffy, is grumpy about a journalist missing a lot of the history around his childhood home
Mawson Garden Centre.
The paper’s journalist talks about developer Barry Morris fulfilling a lifelong wish to own number 4 Vancouver Street, but he was beaten to the punch by designer and builder Gary Willemsen who also had a lifelong ambition to live at number 4. He used to practise hockey with me on our front lawn once we had all the large potato crop removed and the Shoobridge’s two cows and our two sheep banned from the play area for a time.
There are many other stories to tell of our neighbours. Despite some of the comment in the article, we were not a monied family, but I did have the pleasure of mixing with Nobel Prize winners and their children and having tea and scones with the delightful Lady White, even though I was yet to become a teenager. Those who read the recent article might be interested in this additional information on supposedly Canberra’s most desirable street.
Grumpy is an occasional column dedicated to things that get up your nose. Readers are invited to vent (no more than 300 words, please) at editor@citynews.com.au
QUEANBEYAN, NSW Est. 1838
Sept 28 until Oct 14 qbn@qbncityofchampions.com.au 180Mementos.wixsite.com/qtown
the finest quality in all
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.
The spectre of dictatorship is not far away
THE novels “Brave New World” and “Nineteen Eighty Four” were last century’s warnings of the need to protect one of our most precious assets – our freedoms.
Aldous Huxley and George Orwell may have been half a century out in their timing and predictions of how technology would develop. However, they certainly raised the right warning bells regarding the rise of authoritarianism.
The spectre of dictatorship is not far away. It is not so long ago that Turkish citizens and ex-patriots were singing the praises of Mustafa Atatürk for the protection of the secular Turkish state. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has certainly put an end to any such pretence since he has become president. There has been a rapid transition to authoritarian rule as he rebuilt the judiciary and the armed forces in his own image. The failure of the July 15, 2016 coup simply provided him with further opportunity to continue reframing his own dictatorial vision of civil society, universities and schools.
Perhaps Scott Morrison’s greatest contribution will simply be to keep Peter Dutton and the ultraconservatives from ruling.
all. Its greatest strength is in addressing disempowerment of the marginalised and the most vulnerable.
Scott Morrison is the “James Hacker” of Australia as the compromise candidate to be Prime Minister. Perhaps his greatest contribution will simply be to keep Peter Dutton and the ultra-conservatives (the reactionaries) from ruling.
However, there can be little doubt that MPs from the ultra-conservative faction such as Tony Abbott, Zed Seselja and Eric Abetz still exercise considerable power.
Malcolm, best leader Labor never had
MALCOLM Turnbull needed a few more days in The Lodge, thinks columnist Robert Macklin (CN, September 20). Really?
Why? So he could destroy, irrevocably, the Liberal Party he purported to lead?
Fortunately rank-and-file members persuaded senior Liberals to vote him out – and, displaying (for the second time) that he wasn’t going to stick around, he petulantly upped and flew to his $US3 million, New York dwelling (“Mr Central Park Mansion”?) leaving Australian taxpayers to pay for the upcoming Wentworth by-election.
Malcolm was the best leader Labor never had. Fortunately, most Liberals agreed and tossed him out. It doesn’t matter that Robert Macklin thinks Prime Minister Morrison looked uncomfortable in Jakarta – he’s comfortable here at home and the majority of Australians are comfortable with him (just ask Bill Shorten).
Christina Faulk, Swinger Hill
What’s not said
MUCH has been said about pill testing and its implications for our youth. But much has been left unsaid.
For an obligation free quote phone 6299 7711 or 0414 940 836 or email oskarmemorials@netspeed.com.au 34 Waterloo St, Queanbeyan
Christopher de Bellaigue, writing in “The Guardian”, pointed out the growing wave of authoritarianism: “Turkey under Erdoğan may be compared with Putin’s Russia, Modi’s India and Netanyahu’s Israel. In all these places the forms of democracy have been suborned by majoritarian nationalism, bolstered to varying degrees by the security state.”
He was also concerned about the United States of Donald Trump where, “American pluralism could soon be washed away by a demagogue whose conception of democracy consists of a soapbox and a baseball bat”.
The ABC’s “Foreign Correspondent” TV program recently examined the use of technology to rate the behaviour of citizens of China. It is truly frightening how this approach is able to be used to reward compliant behaviour or punish what is seen as aberrant. Orwellian.
Australia is not exempt. Many of us are nervous about the “opt out” system of medical records but at the same time spend very little time ensuring safeguards on our other social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and even our humble emails. The current impact is being bombarded by sales and business advertising. However, the same sales tools and techniques are able to very easily be used in a much more sinister manner.
I have regularly made the point that protecting our freedom ought to be about protection from domination rather than protection from interference. The distinction separates the “liberals” from the libertarians. A libertarian protection from interference will favour the strong and the wealthy while a “liberal” approach that protects from domination provides a much more sophisticated platform for freedom for
The “religious right”, as described in the “Saturday Paper” by former WA MP Mal Washer, exercise their power in the belief that they absolutely know what is right for the community.
The danger of the religious right is what they “know”. They frame within their own belief systems and believe this framing should dominate. This is not so far removed from Turkey’s Erdoğan. It certainly fails to take account of the most recent ABS survey identifying the largest religion in Australia as “no religion”.
It is sobering that Peter Dutton has demonstrated, through his Border Protection Department, that he is willing and able to use a wide range of technology without counting the costs to individuals and to our sense of a fair and equitable society.
Fundamentals of freedom that have been embedded in our culture are simply swept away. Incarceration for an indefinite period without a trial – whether on Nauru, Manus or in Australia – is an affront to our long established jurisprudence and to our sense of “fair play”.
How government deals with “them” should be a warning to the rest of the community. The scapegoats, for the time being, may well be marginalised groups that think differently. History teaches us how quickly this can spread more widely. The price of freedom from domination by any faction is eternal vigilance.
Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an inde pendent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.
For any government to approve such testing is akin to replacing the Therapeutic Goods Administration with a government directive on what substances can be ingested, when toxicologists and other professionals have said the testing equipment is unreliable and can give false results by failing to detect some dangerous substances.
Colliss Parrett, Barton
Trams without tracks
I HAVE again heard on radio about trams that don’t have to run on a light rail.
It’s a Chinese-tested invention of a tram-like vehicle that runs along a road, not on an expensive dedicated light rail. It is controlled by satellite and runs on rubber wheels.
No need to disrupt businesses on the light rail construction route. Is has been costed at less than the old-fashioned type of rail we are going to be given.
Townsville in Queensland and WA are looking at taking up construction of such a system. If we wanted to extend such a system we merely buy more vehicles, not spend on the present destructive, expensive, time-consuming system. Why are we waiting for others to overtake us?
Lesley McGrane, Watson
Changing view of planning
COLUMNIST Paul Costigan should not be surprised that our chief planner or his directorate should change their minds (“Is working with residents that hard?” CN, September 20).
Here are some other examples:
• He increased the number of elements in the Territory Plan from 95 to more than 300. Now he says the Territory Plan is too complicated.
• He may be right. The directorate rejected a development application for two new Dickson supermarkets. Then it approved it. Then ACAT rejected it.
• Before he became chief planner he created 60 new Precinct Codes. Then he realised that the Planning and Development Act requires codes to include rules or criteria. Oops!
• In Notifiable Instrument NI 2012-622 he said that Technical Amendment TA 2012-06 amended Zone Development Tables, created Precinct Maps, created Precinct Codes, created a new Development Code and relocated Territory Plan provisions into both Precinct Maps and Precinct Codes. Did he realise that the Act requires major Territory Plan changes to be referred to the minister and to the Planning Committee?
Leon Arundell, via
PLANNING / West Basin
First the lakeside parks, then the development
Planner and CEO of the City Renewal Authority MALCOLM SNOW replies to columnist Paul Costigan’s published concerns about the future of West Basin
HAVE you visited the new public park next to Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and wondered what is planned for the car parks on the lake foreshore?
Or maybe you’ve heard people talking about West Basin but don’t know what is actually planned for the area?
The construction of Henry Rolland Park is the first stage in the improvement of West Basin foreshore being led by the City Renewal Authority. The authority was created last year to provide people-focused and design-led renewal of the heart of Canberra.
A major element of this work is the creation, in the city centre, of a new urban waterfront shaped by highquality design, offering increased public access and amenity.
The City Renewal Authority is committed to creating
a precinct that prioritises people. It will be a precinct with great design, attractive buildings and plenty of exceptional public space.
To start this process off on the right foot this new city location will have more than three hectares of lakeside public area: a mix of playgrounds, green spaces, urban plazas, walking and cycling paths, aquatic facilities and other public spaces.
These are being built first, ahead of any other development. Connecting the lake to the city centre is a non-negotiable element of improving public access. Private development will not begin until a solution has been agreed to bridge the barrier that is Parkes Way.
The ACT government’s ongoing planning for Parkes Way and Light Rail Stage 2 will heavily influence the decision about how the connections with Civic will be built and it is a fundamental element of the City Renewal Authority’s urban design vision for West Basin.
This project is not just a City Renewal Authority and ACT government priority, it is a planned development conceived by the Australian Government and controlled by the National Capital Plan.
MALCOLM SNOW
The strict planning rules set in the plan’s West Basin Precinct Code state that development must “extend the city grid of streets and paths from city to West Basin, maintaining the connectivity and accessibility of the urban block pattern” and also “create a land bridge over a section
of Parkes Way for streets to extend to the lake”.
The City Renewal Authority is already improving the lakeside public areas, starting with the next 500 metres of boardwalk, which realigns the lake edge to the Griffins’ original design. This is a superior place –making outcome for the city centre and is a National Capital Authority requirement for the area.
The next stage will see the creation of an urban park – a unified series of contemporary landscaped spaces the length of the basin foreshore.
This will be a public environment Canberrans will use and be proud of. It will be a national attraction people will visit Canberra to see, and it will bring those people right into our city centre.
It is critical these new public spaces are woven into the form and fabric of Civic. The authority will begin this process by releasing land over the next two decades, progressively, from London Circuit down to the foreshore. Each release to the market will be guided by a comprehensive and exemplary place strategy.
West Basin will not be taken over by “high rise” buildings. The National Capital Plan allows for new buildings to a maximum of six storeys south of Parkes Way, with a maximum of four storeys permitted along the length of the new public areas.
Staged development between Civic and the lake over the next few decades is vital for our city as a whole. It will help us meet the housing needs for our growing population and will complete the intended city form to meet Lake Burley Griffin. This will create a better city centre, a city heart that is more appealing and more sustainable. It will be a new city neighbourhood and a destination people will enjoy for generations to come.
Malcolm Snow is the CEO of the City Renewal Authority.
Henry Rolland Park… The authority will release land over the next two decades, progressively, from London Circuit down to the foreshore.
PARK AVENUE CANBERRA
Bespoke apartment living in the centre of the city
PLANS to knock down what is believed to be the tallest Canberra building ever demolished will see in its place a high-end residence in the heart of Civic, says Morris Property Group director Barry Morris, who is heading development of the new apartments.
Celebrating 40 years of delivering quality developments, Barry says this latest one adds to Morris Property Group’s long history of developing new places for people to live and work in the city centre.
Positioned alongside premium retail and office space, Park Avenue Canberra, at 20 Allara Street, will have one, two and three-bedroom residences featuring superior inclusions, luxurious finishes and stunning views.
“Developments like these are vital to increase the activity and vibrancy of the city,” Barry says.
“Chief Minister Andrew Barr has outlined a vision to have 20,000 residents living in the city within five to ten years and we are committed to helping achieve this target.
“Bringing more residents to the city means activity both during the day and
at night, and at all times of the week, rather than only during office hours. “This is important in encouraging new businesses such as cafes, bars and retail shops to the city and ensuring they thrive.”
But, Barry says the development has been a huge undertaking and one that’s required many months of careful planning.
“Being in the middle of the city presents some significant challenges such as traffic management and a lack of space for access and site servicing facilities,” he says.
“We have also needed to consider the possible short-term impact on surrounding businesses and residents and take measures to limit these effects.
“The building is being built by Morris Property Group’s integrated construction arm, allowing quality and risks to be carefully managed throughout.”
With a particular focus on appealing to live-in buyers, Morris Property Group has a range of sizes available from 60sqm one-bedroom apartments right up to 161sqm, three-bedroom penthouses.
All options, including the 70sqm to 91sqm two-bedroom apartments, are expected to be available for residents to move into in mid-2020.
And, with Lake Burley Griffin, Glebe Park and the Canberra Centre a short walk away, Barry says the location, which sits at the eastern end of City
Walk (directly across from Casino Canberra), is unbeatable.
“The views to the lake are absolutely spectacular and we built what was perhaps Canberra’s best display gallery on level 13 to showcase these to prospective buyers,” he says.
Barry says the apartments feature a striking minimalist European design, with each space, from the living room to the bedrooms, being a truly bespoke living.
“Floor-to-ceiling glass windows invite abundant natural light and stunning vistas,” he says.
“With a complete suite of deluxe finishes including stone benchtops and superior floor-to-ceiling tiling, apartments also include abundant storage space and secure car parking.”
And then, he says, Park Avenue’s communal spaces will boast modern recreational facilities that cater for all.
“Imagine starting your day in a state-of-the-art gymnasium, then ending it with a family barbecue,” he says.
“Featuring extensive areas to relax with a book or play with the family, these spaces are surrounded by contemporary landscaped gardens and are designed to promote a thriving community.”
More information at parkavenuecanberra.com.au
‘Imagine starting your day in a state-of-the-art gymnasium, then ending it with a family barbecue.’
Professionals who give their best for animals
BE it a fluffy kitten, a loyal dog or a talkative parrot, for many people pets can seem like family members.
And, while we always want the best for our loved ones, why not our furry, feathered or equine friends?
Here are some experts who really care for pets.
How horses help people with disabilities
ESTABLISHED in 1973, Pegasus Riding for the Disabled is an iconic not-for-profit charitable organisation operating on 40 hectares in Holt, says executive officer Matt Watson.
Serving the ACT and local NSW region, Pegasus provides specialised horse-facilitated therapy programs and activities for people living with disabilities – from mounted riding and unmounted programs; Hippotherapy (physiotherapy on horseback); school holiday programs; a riding scholarship program; and a day program for young adults.
“All of our programs and activities are delivered by our nationally-accredited Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia (RDAA) qualified coaches,” Matt says.
“Apart from being fun, the interaction between people and horses provides many powerful and varied benefits.
“The horse’s walk stimulates movement in the rider,
Debbie’s living her dream of pampering dogs
WITH a lifelong love for animals, Debbie Hart wanted to work with them full time so she started BarkRoyal Dog Day Spa & Day Care in June last year and has been living her dream, working with dogs every day since.
Located in Nicholls, Debbie, who is the owner and head groomer, provides doggy day care as well as grooming services.
“It’s important to groom long-haired dogs in particular because if they’re not properly groomed their hair becomes matted and it’s painful for the dog,” she says.
“Also if you have your dog groomed by a professional, you’ll have much less hair around the house.
“They also need their nails clipped on a regular basis so they don’t cause all sorts of problems.”
And as a proud owner of four rescue dogs, Debbie offers any
Dr
which aids muscle development and joint mobility; helps with balance, core strength and co-ordination; and improves concentration and communications skills. The gentle nature of a horse as teacher also helps the rider to build confidence, trust and leadership skills.”
Pegasus has a herd of 15 horses – geldings and mares – and they range from the smaller Shetland and Welsh ponies through to Quarter and Stock Horses and the larger Clydesdales.
“They are all specially-trained, with lovely personalities, quiet temperaments, and are absolutely adored by their riders,” Matt says.
Pegasus Riding for the Disabled, 119 Drake Brockman Drive, Holt. Call 6254 9190, email admin@pegasusact.com.au or visit pegasusact.com.au
owners who have recently adopted a dog from RSPCA ACT, Yass or Queanbeyan a free wash, dry and tidy.
For people who want to give their dogs a social experience or they need them out of the house, Debbie says they can get dropped off in the morning for a day of free play.
“Dogs need to socialise with other dogs,” says Debbie, who has a diploma in dog training psychology and dog care behaviour.
“It stops aggressive behaviour and makes it easier to take your dogs places where there will be other dogs around.”
BarkRoyal Dog Day Spa & Day Care, 9 Eve Place, Nicholls. Call 0419 446163, email barkroyaldogs@gmail.com or visit barkroyalgrooming.com.au
Jana’s your pet’s personal vet
SINCE opening four years ago, Curtin Veterinary Clinic’s main focus has always been to become part of the local community, says its owner Jana Walsh.
And along with the slogan, “your pet’s personal vet”, Dr Jana’s community involvement goes beyond her services in the clinic.
Not long after the clinic was opened she started free Saturday morning group walks, which began with about four people and now sees about 30 people come every week.
“I wanted to get to know people and their pets better in a more social setting,” she says.
“For most people, dogs and cats are part of their family. We don’t want people to ever feel like they’re just another number.
“The Saturday walks are also good for the dogs
because they love it and now associate the clinic with something fun.”
The clinic also runs “puppy preschool”, which Jana says uses the positive reinforcement method to cover topics such as dog psychology and pack behaviour, socialisation, house training, discipline, obedience training, fleas, exercise requirements, grooming, what to do in emergencies and dentistry.
Run by one of the few professional trainers in the ACT and Jana herself, she says they’re a great way for pets and their owners to get started on the right foot.
“It also gives the puppies the confidence to come back to the clinic,” she says.
THE saying “there’s always room for improvement” is as relevant in the home as it is in many other areas in life.
A house is likely to be a person’s biggest single investment, so it makes sense to make the most of living in it and, at the same time, adding value through professionally guided improvements or DIY repurposing.
Here “CityNews” showcases the goods and services of local experts who can help you achieve those objectives…
Landscape
supplies and lots of them
GUNGAHLIN Landscape Supplies has been providing Canberra with quality landscape supplies for more than three years in Mitchell.
But its director Alan Butler has been in landscape construction for more than 20 years, which is why Alan, alongside his team, are able to provide people with the right advice to suit both residential and commercial jobs.
“We’ve got all your landscape products such as soils, mulches, sands, gravel, rocks and bag products,” he says.
“People can come and pick up products in their utes and trailers or we can deliver and we have a prompt delivery service.”
on their high-quality products and
that, alongside their friendly service, makes Gungahlin Landscape Supplies a great choice for public, trade and commercial use.
“We also have a green waste dropoff centre for the ACT where people can bring garden waste such as clippings, branches and leaves,” he says.
“Then we mince it up and make it back into compost.”
People only need to pay a gold-coin donation for this service and 25 per cent of any donation goes straight to a children’s charity, which this year is the Starlight Foundation.
Morisset Road, Mitchell. Call 0488 015285
Knights Window Fashions has been in the community for decades.
The company has been selling curtains, blinds, awnings and shutters since 2009 after two wellestablished Canberra businesses merged. Husband-and-wife team and co-owners Blandine and Martin Smith understand buying window furnishings for a home is personal and says the staff are sensitive to this and are there to listen and achieve the customer’s desired outcome.
“This means asking a lot of questions and listening to what the customer is wanting,” he says.
established the customer’s desired outcome then, Martin says, they are in the position to offer advice and provide the pros and cons of each product.
The newly renovated showroom, which they believe is the best in Canberra, is “a great place for customers to see ideas come to life”.
“We get a lot of good feedback about the showroom and it gives people a good idea of what the end result looks like,” says Martin.
Regency Knights Window Fashions, Unit 1, 60 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 6147 0426 or visit regencyknights.com.au
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Where landscaping materials are a family affair
FROM a humble beginning with a few trucks in 1954, Corkhill Bros, Landscaping Supplies Canberra, has since grown and now provides wholesale landscaping materials to the public and green waste recycling services.
The family owned business started with co-founder Brian and his brother Patrick, who both decided to establish Corkhill Bros after losing the family dairy farm to Lake Burley Griffin.
Brian says Corkhill Bros aims to incorporate the family ethics and values in day-to-day business operations.
“We strive to create a workforce of hardworking, committed, trustworthy and loyal employees that
the company’s intention is to successfully extract, process and deliver its products to meet the needs of varied target markets; both residential and commercial.
Corkhill Bros’ commercial operations include chipping, screening, grinding, processing, bulk production and special blend production as requested.
Then its waste side has services such as the hire of skip bins of various sizes and recycling of drop off and kerbside garden organics.
Corkhill Bros’ landscaping supply outlets are located at Mugga Lane, Symonston and Darling Street, Mitchell.
Designer items and ideas
WITH its designer furniture at a fraction of the price, Ex-Government Furniture in Fyshwick can help achieve people’s home improvement dreams without compromise, says owner James Fullerton.
“Everybody wants designer stuff but nobody wants to pay the price,” he says.
“When you come to us, you get the designer item, second-hand, at an affordable price.”
James says they also get a lot of people coming in who want to repurpose furniture for their home.
Ex-Government Furniture’s cabinet maker Taylor is an expert in repurposing and can talk with customers and give them ideas.
“Recently we’ve had a few people using just the drawers of shelves as display items and storage in the
home,” James says.
“We’ve had a lot of people turning metal filing cabinets into planters.
“Our guys here are all into repurposing and we’re always happy to share different ideas.”
Ex-Government Furniture gets weekly shipments of furniture, with everything from the vintage to the modern, so James says there’s always something interesting coming through the doors.
“We charge fair prices and are often able to source the best, no-nonsense, quality furniture available, always with an eye for good quality,” he says.
Taylor Radnell, left, client relations manager Lady and James Fullerton.
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
BORDEAUX KITCHENS
(Associated with Capital Cabinetmaking)
Specialise in custom-built design and joinery
• Kitchens • Vanity and laundry units
Commercial Joinery
• Shop/office • Home office
• Experienced tradesmen and full trade co-ordination available
BORDEAUX BATHROOMS
• Designed with you with your budget in mind
• High standard of workmanship
• High quality finish
• Completed on time, every time
BORDEAUX CONSTRUCTION & MANAGEMENT PTY LTD
Total design
Hot news about floor heating
SPECIALISING in floor-heating
P.A.P. Heating Solutions has the experience and expertise to provide the floor-heating system for any application Australia wide.
From commercial to domestic buildings, the company offers a full design, quotation and installation service for in-slab heating and under-tile heating.
The company says: “No other heating system provides the all-round benefits of floor heating.
“It is efficient to install and run and is generally maintenance free as it doesn’t require cleaning or replacement of filters. Floor heating is absolutely silent and is also versatile, it can be incorporated into almost any building product.
“There are floor-heating systems perfect for carpeted, tiles and polished concrete floors and many timber floors.”
P.A.P. Heating Solutions is the Australian importers,
that is installed on top of an existing floor in a cement screed or self-levelling compound of about 6-8mm thick and can be installed under many different floor surfaces that radiate heat easily, such as tiles, slate, stone, low-pile carpet and some wooden floor panels.
“The ELEKTRA DM20 is a ‘quick response’ heating system and if the room has effective thermal insulation
in 1983 and 35 years on, the company has grown into specialising in home renovations, extensions and new homes.
Bordeaux Construction offers commercial fit-outs and joinery and are also fully licensed builders in NSW and ACT.
“We pride ourselves in achieving the highest standard for our customers in design and workmanship,” Steve says.
“Our prices are competitive and we work with you to achieve your desired outcome.
“We offer full trade co-ordination and have our own experienced and reliable tradesmen and expert staff
making workshop can also build joinery items to suit your needs whether for home or office.
“We also recently received an MBA commendation award for a ‘Special Care’ residence as we specialise in housing needs for the aged. Come talk to us about alternative living such as granny flats or self contained units,” says Steve.
Bordeaux Construction and Bordeaux Kitchens offer obligation-free quotes.
STORAGE is a great way to improve the home or backyard, as it helps declutter, tidies it up and creates more space, says Courtney Durran, who started ACT Outdoor Structures with her dad Colin in 2011.
Colin had already been installing garden sheds for more than five years before the opportunity arose for him to start a family-run business with his daughter.
“Everyone needs garden sheds and there’s not many Canberra businesses that actually put up little sheds,” Courtney says.
Together, she says, they install sheds and sometimes even cubby houses across the region in materials such as colorbond, steel and timber.
“Everything you can think of – people do need storage.”
Courtney says they can even put sheds in car parks for people in apartments.
“We get a lot of calls from people who want a more secure, lockable storage space,” she says.
And no matter what the shed, whether it’s quite small, a corner shed or a larger two-storey shed, Courtney says they install it all from the concrete up.
“We’re a one-stop, local family business,” she says.
“We try to have a quick turnaround from the time it’s ordered to the time it’s installed in the backyard.”
Storage solutions and customised furniture
TIMBERLAND Furniture in Fyshwick not only has all storage needs for the home but it also customises any of its Australian made furniture, so it can slot straight in to the ideal spot, says owner Tony Purdy.
Tony says they can customise the furniture for specific requirements such as changing the colour, size or adding or taking out a drawer.
“We will customise it for you to make it fit the space and with lounges we can make them to size, or you can choose your own material,” he says.
As for Timberland’s storage-designed furniture, Tony says they have items such as buffets, chests of drawers and office furniture, which are made from Australian hardwood or pine such as Tasmanian oak or blackwood.
“We try to find things a little bit quirky and different
because there’s no point having the same products as everyone else,” he says.
And Tony says all products sourced by Timberland Furniture is good quality but also at an affordable service.
With about half of the furniture in store being Australian made, Tony says people will get value for their money with beautiful materials used to make the furniture.
“We provide a personal service and are able to go to the customer’s home to assist them with measurements,” he says.
Timberland Furniture, 7/17 Iron Knob Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 7411, email timberlandfyshwick@gmail.com or visit canberracustomfurniture.com
Courtney and Colin Durran of ACT Outdoor Structures.
of ‘78 reunion, Dickson
sundayROAST
Stay in touch with the names making news on Sundays from 10am as 2CC and “CityNews” present Canberra’s only local weekend news and current affairs program. It’s a revolving panel show that brings to the microphone great “CityNews” commentators and 2CC personalities.
Be part of the conversation and call 6255 1206 between 10am and noon.
Evie Sharman and Hugh McClure
Helen Kon and Lady Gobbo
Patricia O’Hare, Beryl White and Kaye Mongan
Jo Aubrey, Enid Manning and Enid Vance
Vicki Sawyer, Shirley Percival, Joy Easter and Genevieve Jacobs
Judy Rule, Ann Varley, Annette Sadler and Sue Collins
Dale Thomas, Jenny Conolly, Michelle Glanville and Nikki Travers Athina Kallinis, Neridah True, Rita Velona Pelle and Dom Fabbo
Ian Frame, Leanne Kelleher, Glenn Hodgson and Leanne Cowie
Jane Tong, Helen Ferrara, Nicola Read and Marie-Louise Williams
Tim Levy and Louise Cooper
Brian McGlynn and Colin Chilvers
Jane McMahon and Candace Richards
Julie Novis and Graeme Brown
Melinda Conrad and Sir James Gobbo Tracey-Anne Leahey and Jennifer Donoghoe Norma Davis and Corinne Cullen
Alanna Simmons, Jai Tongbor and Nik Wansbrough
Craig Ritchie, James Milligan MLA and Ewan Brown
Elfi Shand and Kathleen Zantuck Alf Jaugietis and Barb Wain Dawn Laing and Brig. Kahlil Fegan
Esther Davies and Coralie Amos Margot Firth and Dr Joan Robson
Lorna Stansfield, Marjorie Garrido, Soledad Arcauz and Gloria Leon
Carlos Pena, Jenny Osorio, Maria Ramos and Paola Mendez
Carla Schnettler and Felipe Orellana
Perez, Francisca Castillo, Veronica Perez and Maria Teresa Andrade
Guillermo Olmos, José Ramos, Patricio Powell and Gonzalo Olmos
Photos by ANA STUART
Dr Alison Wain and Dr Bernard Brown
Col. Patricio Amengual and Lt- Col Dale Parker Sonja and John Otero
John Davies and Prof Peter Radoll
Associate Prof Craig Campbell and Dr Geoffrey Burkhardt Derek and Deirdre Trow
Peter and Prof Barbara Pamphilon with Hakim Abdul Rahim Prof Margot Hillel, Justine Power and Christian West
Could caffeine be masking a sleep disorder?
The blanket that cuddles you!
DESIGNED to be heavy, the Neptune Blanket gives users the feeling of being hugged or cuddled – and who wouldn’t fall asleep to that, says its founder and director David Koh.
Based in Taren Point, Sydney, but predominantly online, David says the Neptune Blanket was established a year ago to help people sleep well.
“A Neptune Weighted Blanket is a Therapeutic Goods Administration approved class one medical device,” he says.
“It weighs approximately 10 per cent of the user’s body weight and is designed to be used all year round.
“Through deep touch pressure stimulation the evenly distributed weight activates your body’s pressure points which may help to increase serotonin and melatonin levels.
“This can help the user relax faster and sleep deeper.”
David says the way people feel when they awake comes down to how they sleep at night.
“To be the best you that you can be, you need to give yourself the best chance to restore your mind and body,” he says.
“To get their sleep back, there is no price too high for a person with sleep conditions.”
Neptune Blanket. Email info@neptuneblanket. com.au or visit neptuneblanket.com.au
The Neptune weighted blanket is designed to help adults and children with stress, anxiety and sleep issues.
• When under the blanket you get the great feeling of being hugged or cuddled.
• Helps you settle down from stressful situations, relax faster and sleep deeper.
• The blanket is designed to be cool and breathable in summer, and warm and cosy in winter. To find
DURING this year’s Sleep Awareness Week, October 1-7, the Sleep Health Foundation is highlighting the
Caffeinated drinks can be associated with pleasure and positivity but the foundation is asking: “Could caffeine be masking a sleep disorder?”
Found in tea, coffee, chocolate, soft drinks, energy drinks and some medications, the foundation says caffeine is a naturally occurring substance that affects the brain and its behaviour.
There is no recognised health-based guidance value for caffeine, but a Food Standards ANZ (FSANZ) Expert Working Group analysed the available literature in 2000 and concluded that there was evidence of increased anxiety levels in children at doses of about 3mg of caffeine per kilogram of bodyweight a day.
The anxiety level for children aged 5-12 equates to a caffeine dose of 95mg a day (about two cans of cola) and about 210mg per day (about three cups of instant coffee) for adults.
And, as well as links with anxiety there are effects on sleep.
The important role of down pillows
THERMA Quilts in Mitchell are experts in tailoring feather and down pillows and quilts, so they’re the perfect fit for a perfect sleep, says a company spokes woman.
“Having a quilt that is comfortable for you ensures that you sleep better,” she says.
“But often, the pillow aspect is seen as more important because if you’re a bit too hot or a bit too cold, you can add or remove blankets, but you can’t change the comfort of your pillow.
“Which is why we sell down pillows that can be adjusted until they’re just right.
“They’re really a lifelong investment.”
After purchasing these investments, the company’s unique cleaning process, which involves the feather and down being cleaned separately from the product casing in a specialised steamer and washing machine, helps the feather and down regain its loft and thermal resistance.
Sleep Health Foundation recommendations:
• The SHF recommends no caffeine at all for children under 12 years old.
• High doses of caffeine can make it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep.
• Some people are more sensitive to caffeine’s effects on sleep quality than others.
• If you are sensitive to caffeine or have sleep difficulties use caffeine cautiously.
• As a general rule avoid caffeine in the evening before bed.
• Understanding and controlling your caffeine use is important for good quality sleep.
“Our eco-friendly detergents mean that there are no harsh chemical residues on products,” she says.
“Using our cleaning process, we can clean quilts, sleeping bags, down jackets and more when they are in during winter.”
Therma Quilts, Unit 9, 10-12 Kemble Court, Mitchell. Open 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday. Call 6241 6859 or visit thermaquilts.com.au
• add extra feather and down to your quilts, pillows or sleeping bags.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Ringing out war’s individual toll – one sad bell at a time
By Helen Musa
WHEN 62,000 bells toll as part of “The Diggers’ Requiem”, there will be a special meaning, for each bell signifies the life of one dead Australian soldier in World War I –62,000 bells for 62,000 souls.
It’s an extraordinary idea for an extraordinary requiem.
Co-commissioned by the Australian Depart ment of Veterans’ Affairs and the Australian War Memorial, it’s the brainchild of musical artist-inresidence at the memorial Christopher Latham and the culmination of his mighty “Flowers of War” project that has been commemorating the Great War in music for the past four years.
With an idea as bold as striking 62,000 bells, Latham was quick to engage Veronica Bailey, clas sical percussion teacher for the ANU Open School of Music and principal percussionist with the CSO, to make it happen. He praises her technical brilliance and has put her in charge of the entire percussion section of the newly-formed Austral ian War Memorial Orchestra.
Together with carillonist and lecturer at the School of Music, Thomas Laue, they’ve been working with the school’s rarely-used set of handbells that Latham calls “the Stradivarius of bells”, recording the substance of the bell part, although some will be played live.
A shorter version of “The Diggers’ Requiem” was performed in Amiens, France, just before Anzac Day, by Australian and European soloists, the French Orchestre de Picardie and the German Jenaer Philharmonie. Latham, a FrenchAustralian, reports that the audience had “that stunned-mullet look.”
Latham never does things by halves and his requiem will be presented in the style of “Total Theatre”, complete with music and projected images of Australian soldiers’ iconic battles on the Western Front, including Fromelles, Pozières, Bapaume, Bullecourt, 3rd Ypres and Passchendaele, Villers-Bretonneux, Amiens, Péronne, Bellenglise and Montbrehain. In France, he tells “CityNews”, many people were shocked to see these images.
Like the symphony, this requiem departs from convention in that it is the work of many composers. Latham has talked the assembled might of Australia’s composing talent – Nigel Westlake, Elena Kats-Chernin, Richard Mills, Graeme Koehne, Ross Edwards, Andrew Schultz and Latham himself – into writing movements.
There are now two separate versions, one for brass suited to a military setting and the fully orchestrated version we’ll be hearing in Llewellyn Hall on October 6, set for trumpet, soprano, mezzo, accordion, bagpipes, piano, choir and orchestra.
“The Diggers’ Requiem” is the bookend to “The Gallipoli Symphony”, premiered by Latham and his artists in Istanbul in 2015 and later that year performed in the Queensland Performing
As well, George Frideric Handel gets a look in with the “Dead March” from “Saul” and so does Australian composer FS Kelly, whose “Somme Lament” was written two weeks before his death in 1916.
While “The Gallipoli Symphony” was commissioned from scratch, Latham started with a huge advantage with the requiem, as the central movements were already in existence in the form of Nigel Westlake’s “The Glass Soldier Suite”. That
blinded by mustard gas at Villers-Bretonneux, who returned to teach art in Victoria after the war, later receiving a corneal transplant and restored vision.
“The Diggers’ Requiem” is a formidable concept and a good deal of it is in Latham’s own head. Despite the appalling casualties, the blood, the mud and destruction on an industrial scale in the Great War, he sees light at the end.
Not content with one “Pie Jesu” (Merciful Jesus) written by Graeme Koehne, Latham plans to leave us looking as stunned as the townsfolk of Amiens, so he has written “Pie Jesu II”. And who will sing that? We will.
“The Diggers’ Requiem”, Llewellyn Hall, ANU, 7.30pm, Saturday, October 6. Bookings to ticketek.com.au
COVER STORY
Classical percussion teacher Veronica Bailey…working with the School of Music’s rarelyused set of handbells. Photo by Graham Tidy
Special day as iconic building turns 30
By Helen Musa
PARLIAMENT House is busy
celebrating its 30th birthday this year so this year’s free open day, planned for Saturday, October 6, is expected to be special.
The anniversary of the building’s opening in 1988 seems to have called for some heavyduty statistics and staff members rejoice in telling us, for instance, that enough concrete was used to build 25 Sydney Opera Houses and that the turf on the roof would cover the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Improbably, the event will kick off with a refreshing yoga-on-the-lawn session at 8am, then from 9am to 5pm, the doors will be flung open to the public for that rare chance to get behind-the-scenes – on to the chamber floor and into the Cabinet room and the Speaker’s office. For kids fired up by democratic ideals, there is a chance to wear the robes of a parliamentary officer or give a speech from the prime minister’s lectern.
For children of all ages there’ll be on show a commissioned 3.5m x 2.5m Lego model of the building, unveiled for the first time on the open day.
For music-lovers there’ll be entertainment from the Paverty Bush Band, the Music for Canberra Choir and others, and for political tragics there’ll be the Speaker’s 30th Anniversary Lecture from Paul Kelly, not the singer, but the veteran political journalist.
For craft-lovers, there’ll be a display of commissioned chairs and fabric weaving and,
FESTIVAL / Contour 556
one for the especially curious, the “Integrated Pest Management Display”.
And for everybody, there is a chance to get up close and personal to the lovely police dogs in the Australian Federal Police “Capability Display”.
Everything is free, but a novel enticement is the launch of the “Golden Ticket” – 15
double “gold” tickets that will allow a deeper penetration of Parliament House, with a rare visit to the art store.
Justine van Mourik, director of the Parliament House Art Collection, will be one of the key figures in the celebrations.
Many of the 6500 contemporary and indigenous artworks are integrated into the general circulation areas, but many others are not.
Recent acquisitions include the sought-after “camp dogs”, made in Aurukun on the Cape York Peninsula, and the “Warakurna Superheroes” series made during Tony Albert’s time with the Warakurna Artists and community for the “In Cahoots” project.
Van Mourik tells “CityNews” about the rotational process by which the priceless artworks, when acquired, are first shown to the public and then released to hang in senators’ and members’ suites. After election changes they gather up the artworks and re-allocate them to newcomers.
“We have 4900 works to choose from,” she says of the works available to parliamentarians. “We like to keep it nice and fresh.”
Parliament House open day, 9am-5pm, Saturday, October 6, free. Information at aph.gov.au
Lake art festival is back with more to see
By Helen Musa
LANDSCAPE architects Neil Hobbs and Karina Harris are again staging a public art festival called “Contour 556”, taking its name from the water level of Lake Burley Griffin.
It’s the second time round for Harris and Hobbs and now they have announced that “Contour 556” will go biennial, at least in the short term.
Hobbs says this year the scale would be larger and it would have a “bigger footprint” with more artists, more off-site fringe events, a display at the airport, a forum on public art and public space at Brindabella Business Park, artist talks, poetry readings around the lake and education resource packs sent to all local schools.
Hobbs and Harris, known as generous art patrons in Canberra, don’t attract Australia Council funding but “Contour 556”, Hobbs is quick to note, is very much a Canberra thing, now supported with $30,000 from the ACT Event Fund, $30,000 from artsACT’s 2018 Activity Funding and $21,600 from the City Renewal Authority.
The idea is to enliven the lake or, as Hobbs put it, “to trans-
form how viewers remember or recall the Canberra landscape after seeing the artworks or performances”.
Forty-nine works by 60 artists from Australia, NZ and Hong Kong will be temporarily exhibited on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin from Henry Rolland Park in West Basin, along the southern lake shore from Commonwealth Avenue Bridge to the Kingston Foreshore and on Aspen Island.
If that sounds staid and traditional, it’s not. There’s nothing quite as quirky as David Capra’s 2016 performance “Eau de Wet Dogge” last year, but there are some less-than-conventional gambits.
Dancer/artist Dean Cross is installing a three-person dome tent and solar lights with the Aboriginal flag, in the middle of the lake. Mariana del Castillo’s “A Rare Occurrence” will see five feather-clad figures on the shores. Michelle Day’s “Uncertainty” will float fibreglass, polyurethane, expandable resin and reflective film. And, particularly weird, Gary Deirmendjian’s 60 rubber gloves will breach the waters.
Fiona Hooton and Catrina Vignando, of “Localjinni”, will take on twilight video walks filled with poetry, visual art, videos, animations and screenings on to footpaths.
The inaugural 2016 “Contour 556” recently won the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects 2018 ACT Award of Excellence, Tourism Category. There’s one significant initiative this year – one week of the festival will coincide with the last week of Floriade. While Hobbs’ focus is more on trees than flowers, he’s optimistic this will give interstate visitors the opportunity to see Canberra at its best.
“Contour 556”, around Lake Burley Griffin, October 5-28. All program details at contour556.com.au
Sounds like a garden party
ARTS IN THE CITY
By Helen Musa
ARTSOUND FM is throwing a garden party to raise funds to assist with the renewal process at the station. It’s at Reid House, a Quean beyan property renowned for its fine gardens and the home of ArtSound board member and presenter Ursula Reid. There’ll be garden tours, a raffle, art and craft for sale, musical entertainment and light refreshments. At 7A Thorpe Avenue, Queanbeyan, 10am-4pm, Saturday, October 6. Entry by cash only at the garden gate. All welcome.
HEATH Franklin is the star of TV’s
“The Ronnie Johns Half Hour” and “Chopper’s Republic of Anzakistan”. Now, in “Chopper Bogan Jesus”, the stand-up comedian – famous for his comedic impersonation of real-life criminal Mark “Chopper” Read, gives hell to the Almighty while setting himself up as a new “mo-ssiah” for a new age. Canberra Theatre, 7.30pm, October 5.
THE Friends of Chopin Australia is holding a commemorative concert featuring Peter de Jager, winner of the first Australian International Chopin Piano Competition in Canberra in 2011. The event will remember 18-year-old, Bega-born Lance-Cpl Charles Frederic Giles Chopin, reputedly a nephew of the famous composer, on the 100th anniversary of his death. At All Saints Anglican Church, 6.30pm (doors open 5.30pm), October 3. Admission by gold coin donation with proceeds to the Legacy Club of Canberra.
BRAVISSIMO Productions is bringing “an incredible ensemble of the world’s most amazing ballet dancers” to the Canberra Theatre on October 2-3.
IAN McLean, a “CityNews” writer, will conduct “Shrek the Musical” at The Q, September 28-October 14. Bookings to theq.net.au or 6285 6290.
CALLUM Henshaw, a leading Australian young classical guitarist and an ANU graduate, performs music from 17th century Scarlatti through to Australian composer Nigel Westlake’s “Mosstrooper Peak” at Cooinda Hall, 2 Joy Cummings Place, Belconnen, from 2pm on Sunday, September 30. Tickets, cash only, at door.
An open-day visit to the Parliament House art store.
Comedian Heath Franklin… Canberra Theatre, October 5.
Gary Deirmendjian’s rubber gloves… particularly weird.
Loving look at the ladies living the Goode life
“Ladies in Black” (PG)
BRUCE Beresford directs and wrote, in collaboration with Sue Milliken, this adaptation of a novel by Madeleine St John about the staff of the fashion department of a major department store of distinction (played by the building that originally housed Mark Foy’s).
This is a meaty, lovingly-created portrait of 1959 Australia, set in Sydney. Structurally, it’s a bit bitty, hopping between locations and social environments, but that turns out to be its heart.
Lesley Miles (Angourie Rice) lives with her mother (Susie Porter) whose career is domesticity and her “Sydney Morning Herald” compositor father (Shane Jacobson) whose home life focuses on betting and beer and is determined that no child of his will go to university among all those commos and upper-class twits.
At Goode’s department store, Lesley is Lisa, a more appropriate name. Her ambition is to get a Commonwealth Scholarship.
One of her colleagues is Patty (Alison McGirr) whose husband (Trent Baines) doesn’t come home after work the day after Patty initiated a sexual event. This is perhaps the film’s most poignant dramatic line. Keep watching for what lies at its other end.
In the other major dramatic thread in a story with many dramatic threads is Hungarian immigrant Magda (Julia Ormond) who manages the high-fashion side of the department. She’s survived a war and a Communist regime. Sweetly tough and uncompromising, her influence on Lisa’s personal growth
and the relationship between Fay (Rachael Taylor) and Stefan (Vincent Perez) is a strong metaphor for the assimilation of post-war refugee migrants.
“Ladies in Black” moved me in a manner that I didn’t expect. Thanks, Bruce and Sue for making it.
At Dendy, Palace Electric, Capitol 6, Hoyts Belconnen and Limelight
“The House with a Clock in its Walls” (PG)
THIS gothic supernatural thriller merits its PG classification for all the best reasons.
The story is not too complex for young
DINING / caphs of manuka
minds to comprehend. The film’s dramatic environment is not too spooky to damage them emotionally. Its visual values are simple without descending to a kindergarten level. Its issue doesn’t deter a small but well-formed cast.
“The House with a Clock in its Walls” is pure entertainment for all double-digit ages.
After his parents die in a car accident, 10-year-old Lewis travels to a small town to live with his uncle Jonathan. It’s a strange house, filled with clocks, assorted bric-a-brac and books about magic, with a lion-shaped topiary gryphon keeping guard at the front steps.
Lewis’ life is divided into school,
Defiant cafe rolls on and on
By Wendy JOHNSON
DOZENS of eateries in Manuka have opened and then closed; some after a short stint and some after a long stretch.
Caphs, on the other hand, is still going strong after 45 years, or 92 years depending on how you interpret the story.
The Caphs building – reconstructed in 1926 and now heritage listed – opened as the Liberty Café in 1926. After several ownership changes, Caphs was born with the name representing the initials of each partner (Chris, Anthony, Philip, Helen and Steve). In 1990, the business was sold to the Notaras family, with son Manuel and his wife, Belinda, running the place.
Caphs is the first restaurant I dined in when moving to Canberra many moons ago. I had a steak and thought it would be a hoot to pop by for a steak a couple of decades later.
Caphs’ menu has something for everyone. Entrees include salt and pepper calamari ($19), bruschetta ($16) and a Spanish tapas plate ($16). Mains include pastas ($20 to $28) and the usual suspects such as schnitzel ($24), parmigiana ($26) and fish and chips ($26).
I didn’t have a hope of finishing the sirloin because it was a whopping 400 grams ($36). It was thick, juicy and cooked just as I love it. The steak comes with steamed vegetables and potatoes or mash or fries.
My friend ordered from the specials menu – grilled barramundi fillet with lemon, parsley garlic sauce ($32). It was also cooked to perfection and looked delish on the plate.
Caphs certainly got the protein right. We couldn’t say the same with the veggies and fries that accompanied both dishes. The veggies were stone cold and the fries not far behind. Staff dealt with the problem promptly (replacements were hot).
The wine list is reasonably priced. Whites start at $7 and top off at $9
where initially he has a tough time until he, and we, begin to see him develop powers that normal kids just don’t naturally possess.
Eventually, Jonathan recognises that like him, Lewis is a warlock. And what better place than this eccentric old house to hone the skills that every warlock needs.
Naturally, there’s a back story, of evil and danger, depending on the clock hidden somewhere in the house that ticks and ticks and ticks… Why? Finding out is great fun for all ages to discover.
Leaving the best for last. Jonathan has a partner, the witch Florence, of indomitable strength of character. Playing her is a luminously lovely Cate Blanchett as the backbone of an ensemble cast together with Jack Black as Jonathan and Ówen Vaccaro as Lewis. It’s an unexpected mix of performers that works well.
At Dendy, Palace Electric, Capitol 6, Hoyts Belconnen and Limelight
“Johnny English Strikes Again” (PG)
THE International Movie Database is often wobbly in the order it lists a movie’s cast. Its listing of the cast of director David Kerr’s feature debut begins with one of Britain’s most wonderful actresses, Emma Thompson,
here in a supporting role as the Prime Minister and, in the process, strutting a breathtaking view walking away from the camera. But the promotion for the film says that Rowan Atkinson plays the principal character. I agree with IMDb, not the film’s promotion material. Atkinson is indeed one of Britain’s great comedians. Think Blackadder, Mr Bean. But William Davies’ screenplay serves him ill in this, the third film featuring gormless, analogue-age, secret agent Johnny English. I saw the first, missed the second and wished I didn’t have to see this one. It’s a truism that movie sequels suffer from comparison with their predecessors. In this one, Johnny English is called out of retirement when somebody steals the top-secret details of every other one of MI7’s field staff. It’s a spoof of all of 007’s Bond films. Fair enough. Every box-office success spawns sequels. Every success deserves a spoof. In the beginning was the word. Not this time. This flatulent mish-mash does no honour to any of what went into its production, especially the writing.
After a day seeing two commendable films, this one left me seri ously disappointed. At all cinemas
and are sourced from quality wine regions such as Margaret River, Yarra Valley and Clare Valley. Reds range from $7.50 to $10 and hail from areas such as the Barossa, Coonawarra and McLaren Vale. We couldn’t spot any local wines on the menu.
The staff are super eager at Caphs. We were asked three times if we knew what we wanted before barely settling in. And, despite the glitch with our dishes, no one stopped during our meal to ask if everything was okay. We also had to flag someone down when finished to get the bill. Sigh.
Caphs, Franklin Street, Manuka. Open seven days, 8am until late. Call 6295 9783.
Set in Sydney in 1959, “Ladies in Black” stars, from left, Rachael Taylor (as Fay), Angourie Rice (Lisa), Julia Ormond (Magda) and Alison McGirr (Patty).
Grilled barramundi fillet with lemon, parsley garlic sauce… cooked to perfection and looked delish on the plate. Photo by Wendy Johnson
GARDENING
By Cedric BRYANT
larger flowers. However, those flowers will be fewer and open later than an unpruned bush. The earliest blooms appear on roses that haven’t seen secateurs for several years.”
ROSES can be pruned at any time, it doesn’t have to be traditionally at the end of August/early September.
Some readers, who have attended rose-pruning demonstrations, have been told timing is very important; prune too early and frosts will burn off leaves. Not so. Roses are dormant in winter with no leaves, unless it is very mild. I pruned ours at the end of March when they had finished flowering. This was after changing fixed ideas on pruning that I’ve followed for more than 40 years. This is in line with modern thinking confirmed by advice from one of the world’s greatest rosarians, Charles Quest-Ritson, the author of the Royal Horticultural Society’s “RHS Encyclopedia of Roses”.
He says: “Pruning is no more than an option. For the really timid or novice gardener both ground cover [carpet] roses and modern shrub roses can be left completely unpruned or dead-headed without the slightest twinge of conscience.
“A complete beginner can enjoy a wide spectrum of different roses without pruning. To win prizes at the flower shows then pruning produces
“Likewise, people grumble about mildew and black spot. These do no lasting damage and will not affect the flowers. We were not put on this earth to support the chemical industry.
“The secret to growing good healthy roses is to feed the plants, they respond splendidly, especially if fed regularly”.
WATTLES are now in full bloom and are getting the blame for all sorts of respiratory problems. However, the pollen is too big and the culprit in nearly all cases is fine pollen on many conifers and grasses, a situation made worse by this year’s low rainfall and dry grasses in abundance.
NOW’S a great time to plant clematis with most garden centres already having a wide selection.
According to some online advice, they are easy to grow providing a few simple measures are followed:
• Dig as deeply as possible a patch at least 60cm across.
• Add compost worked well into the soil, but not animal manures.
• Add a dusting of garden lime.
• Plant clematis at least 4cm deeper than it is in the pot.
Jottings...
• Hold off tidying up frost-affected leaves on evergreen shrubs. Late frosts can cause real damage to newly emerging leaves. A few years ago we received a minus 6C on November 6, which cost the Pialligo orchards their flowers and fruit.
• Dig and divide bearded iris, lightly trim scraggly roots. Replant rhizomes facing north and south.
• Citrus can be planted now, however be prepared to cover if frost is forecast. I prefer to wait until mid-November before planting.
• Complete cutting conifer hedges, shaping the top narrower than the base to allow even sunlight on the whole hedge. Conifers will then not generally need to be trimmed again until March.
Clematis… one of the most spectacular climbers.
Conifer hedge.
PUZZLES PAGE
Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Rams are in the mood to connect with others! Mars (your boss planet) activates your networking zone and you’re keen to communicate with a wide range of creative people, covering an eclectic range of topics. But a budding romance or a close friendship could encounter some turbulence, as an old problem rises to the surface. You’re hoping for a quick-smart solution but with Venus in retrograde mode (from Friday until November 16) you’ll have to be extra patient.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
Are you making the most of professional opportunities? Mighty Mars encourages you to show others what you are really capable of. Tuesday and Wednesday will work best if you are a flexible Bull, because things won’t run according to your preconceived plans. So keep your adaptability muscles well-flexed! Then love planet Venus goes into retrograde mode (from Friday until November 16) and you’ll find some relationships will be rocky over the next few weeks.
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
You can light up a room with your quicksilver energy and gregarious Gemini nature. On Tuesday and Wednesday you’re keen to communicate with others, as you catch up on the latest news within your local community. But resist the temptation to spread salacious gossip about a relative or friend. Then retrograde Venus urges you to review your health and fitness and reboot your food choices, so they are much more nutritious. Kale smoothies, kimchi and kombucha anyone?
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
Singles - the search for your soul mate takes a temporary nose-dive, as Venus stations and then reverses through your romance zone for the next few weeks. So expect to spend numerous nights at home, as potential dates cancel or it’s just hard to find anyone who remotely rings your bell. Attached Crabs – is your partner annoying you and/or cramping your personal style? Stop obsessing about their perceived faults and instead, start focusing on their positive qualities.
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
On Tuesday and Wednesday, avoid becoming too obsessed with one thought, idea, activity or person. Then Venus starts reversing through your home zone on Friday. So do your best to be diplomatic with stressed family members, as dramas increase and domestic harmony is hard to find. If you live with your lover, then expect some arguments over domestic duties, or a disagreement about a sensitive and complicated family matter. So strive to be super patient.
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
This week it will be almost impossible for any mere mortal to meet your super high expectations. Remember – ‘Perfection is a goal, not a destination’. With Venus reversing through your communication zone, be careful what you post, text, tweet and email. And be extra cautious on dating sites, otherwise you could pick someone you’d normally run a mile from! Are you having problems with your partner? There’s no substitute for sitting down and having a long chat with them.
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
Many Librans have a natural elegance that is hard to ignore. With Venus (your patron planet) in retrograde mode (from Friday until November 16) it’s time to re-define your personal style and make it as simple and striking as possible. Get rid of gimmicks plus fancy flourishes; find your individual fashion voice; and Keep It Simple. So your motto for the moment is from birthday great, writer Gore Vidal: “Style is knowing who you are, what you want, and not giving a damn.”
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
On Tuesday and Wednesday, resist the temptation to make mountains out of molehills. Attached Scorps – is there a tug-of-war between you and your partner? The best solution is to compromise and meet them halfway. Singles – with Venus reversing through your sign (from Friday) your usual Scorpio charm will be hard to summon over the next few weeks. You’ll also feel less sociable than usual, as you hunker down at home and spend a lot of time on your own.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
You’re firing on all your Sagittarian cylinders, as mighty Mars speeds up your thought processes. So it’s a wonderful week for sparky repartee, jovial joke-telling and zingy one-liners… as long as you don’t upset others by being insensitive. And with money planet Venus turning retrograde (from Friday until November 16) avoid making sudden money moves that you may regret later on. Slow down and take the time to think things through in a more meticulous manner.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
When it comes to your social circle, current associations are in a state of flux. Some friendships could end suddenly, while others develop in wonderfully unexpected ways. So do your best to extend your peer group to include positive people who are capitalising on their talents and are going places! Stop worrying about money and instead, be thankful for the things you do have. If you want to improve your financial situation, then you need to be passionately proactive.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
With your ruler Uranus (and then Venus) in retrograde motion, it’s a case of ‘Back to the Future’ as you dip into your Bag of Fabulously Innovative Ideas from months (or even years) ago. Yep, it’s time to revisit, review and reboot your wonderfully weird ideas and bohemian thought bubbles. Most importantly of all, be patient Aquarius. With Mars in your sign you feel like rushing, but it will take the rest of the world quite a while to catch up with your progressive plans!
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
On Tuesday or Wednesday a situation involving a group, class or club could become complicated and intense. Then Venus starts reversing through your philosophical and aspirations zone on Friday. So make sure your thoughts, words, actions and dreams are all compatible and consistent. Your mantra for the week is from birthday great, politician and peace activist Mahatma Gandhi: “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2018
4 What do we call a small object of curiosity, beauty, or rarity? (7)
8 Name a N European republic on the Baltic sea. (7)
9 What is a breeding place of penguins, seals, etc? (7)
10 Name a suburb of Canberra, postcode 2602. (7)
11 Name a rare green variety of beryl, highly valued as a gem. (7)
12 Which substance appears as quartz, sand, flint, and agate? (6)
14 Which term describes confidence in a purchaser's ability and intention to pay? (6)
18 What is a penitential discipline, imposed by church authority? (7)
21 Name a statement embodying something to be proved. (7)
22 What is an alternative word for sluggishness? (7)
23 What is a position from which there is no escape? (7)
24 Which is the fifth brightest star in a constellation? (7) Down
1 What, in the US, do they call the mudguards of a motor vehicle? (7)
2 Which type of insect is the carausius morosus? (5)
3 Name an early sect member who claimed to have superior knowledge of spiritual things. (7)
4 Name the popular Australian rock singer who helped form the group Cold Chisel, Jimmy ... (6)
5 What, colloquially, do we call alcoholic drink? (5)
6 Which nautical term describes the point towards which the wind blows? (7)
7 To have acted without seriousness, is to have done what? (5)
13 Name a form of quadrille. (7)
15 What is a written acknowledgment of having received money, goods, etc? (7)
16 Name a musical wind instrument with a penetrating powerful tone. (7)
17 To keep possession of something, is to do what? (6)
18 What do we call a company of lions? (5)
19 Which term suggests a relationship to birch? (5)
20 What is a unit consisting of twelve dozen? (5)
Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
What's this balance, why should I care?
Antonio, who will retire in the next five years, came to see me about his options and was confused about what his "superannuation transfer balance account" is.
“There were a lot of changes to superannuation from July 1, 2017 and the transfer balance account was one of these," I said.
"I'm sure you're aware that there is a maximum amount that you can transfer into a tax-free pension which currently has a cap of $1,600,000. "You are in PSS which has a deemed value and this also counts towards the $1.6 million cap together with your other superannuation accounts. "The transfer balance account comprises the amounts that you either transfer into or hold in your pension accounts when you move into pension phase.
"However, you can have unlimited amounts in your accumulation funds, which are not counted towards the transfer balance account. At this stage all of your superannuation money is held in accumulation phase, it is only when you start to draw a pension that your transfer balance cap will come into play.”
However, to add complexity to Antonio's situation, he also has a total superannuation balance account that's the total amount he's holding in superannuation, in both the pension and accumulation phases.
"This is important in that there are restrictions on the amount that you can make as non-concessional contributions, namely non-tax deductible contributions, once your balance is close to $1.6 million," I told him.
"Looking at your current position, you are within the $1.6 million total super balance. However, we will need to monitor it regularly as you approach retirement."
Antonio said it was starting to look clearer and that he hadn't realised that he had two accounts showing his balance with different but similar names, but why did he need to worry about this?
"There is a new reporting regime for transfer balance accounts so that your transfer balance is monitored on a regular basis," I told him.
"When you begin a pension, the value is credited to your transfer balance account as are other specified transactions.
"Self-managed superannuation funds also need to report the same specified events. The annual increase/decrease in value of the fund is not counted nor are pension withdrawals. It simply shows the value or the deemed value of the pension when it commences. You don’t need to do anything. The relevant figures are reported by your superannuation fund generally on a monthly or a quarterly basis depending on the fund and the Australian Taxation Office records the balance.
“I should add that even if you are unable to make non-concessional contributions because you have exceeded the $1.6 million threshold, you can still make concessional contributions that are tax deductible. These can be superannuation guarantee contributions made by your employer, salary sacrifice contributions made by your employer or personal contributions that you make.
"The total of these contributions cannot exceed $25,000 per year currently, otherwise you will have to pay excess contributions tax so careful monitoring is necessary.”
Antonio left my office promising to monitor his superannuation very carefully to ensure he keeps within the relevant caps.
If you require any information on your superannuation contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman.
Solution next edition
Infrastructure Support and Cloud Services for Business
BluePackets offer a range of support services and tailor our support agreements to suit your business. The broad skill set of our team means we can provide you with a total IT solution or complement your existing IT resources.
