CityNews 190131

YEAR

Heat takes toll on the tramway trees

CEDRIC BRYANT

The outsiders who guide our city PAUL COSTIGAN

Who’d be Aboriginal in Canberra?

JON STANHOPE

The professor wasn’t pushed HELEN MUSA

DOWN THE PAN!

Captain Hook, Tinkerbell and Peter scramble through a disastrous pantomime when ‘Peter Pan’ goes hilariously wrong

Laura won’t let ‘sleeping’ tongues lie

By Danielle NOHRA

WHEN Laura Rademaker was on international exchange in Chile she saw how passionate Quechua speakers were at keeping their language strong and she was embarrassed.

“They were so proud of their language,” says Laura, who was studying an undergraduate degree at the ANU at the time.

“And [when they] asked me about Australian indigenous languages I was embarrassed to admit that not only did I not speak one, I couldn’t say anything in any of them.”

She realised the ongoing survival of indigenous languages was an active struggle and she wanted to know what happened to Australian languages.

So when Laura returned to Australia she based a PhD on the history of languages following an honours thesis on missionaries.

In particular she wanted to know why Aboriginal languages are in such bad condition.

Now Laura, 31, of Holt, continues to share her research as a postdoctoral research associate at ANU’s Centre for Indigenous History.

“As of 2016, only 10 per cent of Aus tralia’s indigenous population spoke an indigenous language at home,” Laura says.

“They say there are about 13 lan guages thought to be surviving.”

But when Australia was first colo nised, Laura says it was one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world with about 250 languages.

“Australian languages did not simply fade away; they were actively silenced by governments, schools and missions,” she says.

“At most missions through the mid20th century, Aboriginal languages were to be replaced with English.”

According to Laura, the few Europe ans who learnt Australian languages were mostly missionaries.

And while it was positive that they learnt indigenous languages, Laura says it also had a negative effect on Aboriginal languages because mission aries separated Aboriginal children from their families by putting them in dormitories and English-only schools.

“In these places, missionaries would translate the Bible, not necessarily out of cultural respect, but to teach them the Bible and convert them,” she says.

“On the one hand, doing all these things damaged language but on the other hand, it also created a space where Aboriginals could keep their languages strong.”

Regardless, Laura was surprised to

see a lack of critical awareness and the assumption that the English language was superior.

She found surviving languages often came out of isolated places that weren’t

Since 1993: Volume 25, Number 3

Arts & Entertainment 17-19

Arts in the city 19

Australia Day Honours 12

Canberra Matters 8

Cinema 19

Crossword 22

Gardening 23

Grumpy 6

Letters 11 News 3-12

Cover: Connor Crawford in the role of Captain Cook in “Peter Pan Goes Wrong”. Photo: David Watson. Story Page 17.

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affected by intrusion.

“Meanwhile, many Aboriginal people quickly learned English, finding it brought them opportunities to defend their interests,” she says.

“They were often gifted linguists. Usually already multilingual when the colonisers came, adding English was relatively easy.”

But for English speakers, Laura says it’s a different story.

“It’s hard for English speakers because these are not Indo-European languages, their grammar is completely unrelated to English,” she says.

“But… it’s [particularly] hard because of the lack of resources on hand and the practical difficulty of spending time in language-immersion.

“In many cases, the language is no longer spoken as a first language by anyone.”

While many Australians speak a language other than English at home, Laura says those who speak English as a first language still tend to assume English is sufficient for everything because it’s a global language. “Ironically, by disregarding other languages, we’re actually limiting ourselves intellectually and culturally,” she says.

“These languages are unique to different parts of Australia so they’re really irreplaceable.

“Most indigenous languages are now ‘asleep’, waiting to be woken up by language revivalists.”

WHEN IT MATTERS

The ‘Subtle Art’ of success

OF the 2.6 million items borrowed annually from ACT public libraries, the most requested book last year was “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F---: A counterintuitive approach to living a good life” by Mark Manson. This was the second year the book has made the top five, moving up from third place in 2017, said Libraries ACT director Vanessa Little. The most requested books (fiction and non-fiction) in 2018 were:

• “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F---”

• “The Barefoot Investor” by Scott Pape

• “12 Rules For Life: An Antidote for Chaos” by Jordan Peterson

• “The Trauma Cleaner” by Sarah Krasnostein

• “Saga Land” by Richard Fidler and Kári Gíslason

And the most requested DVDs in 2018 were: “Big Little Lies”, “The Crown: The Complete First Season”, “Paddington 2”, “Thor Ragnarok” and “Blade Runner 2049”.

Trust seeks volunteers

THE National Trust of Australia (NSW), which looks after Cooma Cottage at Yass, is holding a free morning tea and information session for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer at the home of explorer Hamilton Hume. The tea will be held at Cooma Cottage, 756 Yass Valley Way, 10am-midday on Saturday, February 2. Enquiries to 0427 607111.

Shane drops a little ecstasy confession, but why?

JANUARY is the time when politicians grandstand in order to draw attention to themselves. ACT

Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury chose a risky vehicle for exposure by jumping on the “I’ve-takenecstasy-too” bandwagon.

Lobbying the NSW government to allow pill testing at music festivals, NSW Green Cate Faehrmann admitted: “Since my 20s, I’ve occasionally taken MDMA at dance parties and music festivals”. Rattenbury admits he tried MDMA once but “didn’t like the effect it had on me”.

RATTENBURY’S glibness has a familiar ring to it. A ‘90s disingenuous confession by a well-known baby boomer from Little Rock, Arkansas, to “experimenting” with weed but not “inhaling” springs to mind. Hopefully, Bill Clinton’s dope dodge doesn’t spread through the Assembly. We are not ready for screaming headlines “attributed” to Libs leader

: “I once snuck into Mooseheads on a school night, but I didn’t drink”!

STILL on the Clinton administration, a Canberra author has tweeted former White House intern Monica Lewinsky on the topic of internet trolls. @Ginger Gorman offered @MonicaLewinsky a copy of her new book “Troll Hunting: Inside the world of online hate and its human fallout”. Ms

dose of dorin

that it was “an ugly mess that some people in the media want to push against women of influence” including herself.

STILL in the women’s sports arena; when I was on radio in 2013 I regularly struggled to get a single taker for free tickets to a Canberra Capitals game. But that dark period for the outfit which had had a stranglehold on women’s basketball for the previous decade is finally over with the Caps WNBL Minor premiers. And, true to form, Canberra’s fair-weather sports fans are flocking back to Caps’ games at double the rate of last year.

Gorman told the activist: “I really admire the work you are doing in this area and would like to give you one”. Gorman also tweeted: “The world’s most notorious troll, weev, describes me as a ‘lying whore’, Is he right?”’

FORMER ACT football chief Heather Reid has been drawn into the ugly brawl sparked by the shock sacking of Matilda’s coach Alen Stajcic . Ms Reid, who joined a new-look FFA board late last year, has been forced to defend herself from media accusations she was part of a group that punted the coach. An angry Reid says the suggestion was “absolutely not correct” and

EDGY local animal protection activist group Anti-Speciesist Action Collective has pledged to ramp up the shock value of its public protests. Cleverly tapping into the barbecue theme of Australia Day, the group staged a “Babies on the Barbie” in Civic. A spokesperson tweeted: “We raised a lot of eyebrows and instigated some double takes in Garema Place. Bystanders were fascinated by the concept we were illustrating”.

A CHAMPION Canberra canine is going out on top, with some impressive letters to its name. Five-year-old chocolate border collie Jamie is now RO.CH Jamie CDX RAE RM and retiring from the sport of Companion Training after winning the prestigious ACT Rally Obedience Champion title. Jamie’s handler, Kaye Holder, from Higgins, says her pride and joy qualified

seven times in Masters with a pass mark of 85 and a further 10 times with a pass mark of 90 to gain its Champion Title.

I turned 65 on Australia Day. Unexceptional, I know, but importantly I’m no longer cranky. Five years ago I threatened to buy myself a birthday present – a pet monkey that I could train to rip the face off the next person who uttered the puerile piffle that 60 was the new 50.

Recently Jeff Kennett called for former PM Tony Abbott to leave politics. But Abbott’s reply: “The last thing we want to do is give the idea that just because you’re 60 or even 70 you’re necessarily over the hill”, still rankles. For the record, I didn’t buy the primate.

The death toll of trees being planted along the new tramway is rising, which is no surprise to horticulturist

CEDRIC BRYANT, who says high summer isn’t the time to be planting them

THE ACT government has appealed to residents in the heatwave conditions to water street trees. If only we could take this seriously and follow by example.

For our latest urban forest along the new tramway is dying. A couple of weeks ago I counted 10 dead Eucalyptus mannifera between Antill Street and Barry Drive on Northbourne Avenue. I haven’t started the count along Flemington Road.

On January 16, with two other witnesses, I counted 21 totally dead trees again in the same section of the tramway and two days later another 10 that have no hope of recovery.

By January 20, again with two independent witnesses, the tree death toll had risen to more than 50 between Antill Street and Barry Drive with the prospects of another 20 trees looking

I do hope there are a few hundred trees in reserve to keep replacing the dead because, as we well know, it is ratepayers who ultimately pay for these semimature, expensive trees.

I couldn’t but help notice the very large branch of the Eucalyptus mannifera that had fallen near the old visitor centre on Northbourne Avenue. It is the same variety, commonly known as Brittle Gum, as the ones being planted along the tramway and I can’t help but hope no-one is in a tram when they fall on it. Although the way things are growing, I don’t think any of the new plantings will ever get to maturity to cause a future problem!

Cedric Bryant is a horticultural consultant and “CityNews” gardening writer. He can be contacted at cedric@citynews.com.au

CANBERRA MATTERS / City Renewal Authority

Outsiders guide authority that guides our city

THE City Renewal Authority (CRA) has been with us since mid-2017 and has yet to make a positive impression on residents who are looking to see things change for the better in how the government does planning and development.

This new authority is very much bound to instructions of the planning minister, who in turn is very much a creature of the Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

It is not an independent authority. Would the city be better served if these resources were allocated directly to an appropriate section of the relevant ACT department of whatever?

Take for instance the announcement in December of the Dickson Place Plan – that made wonderful Christmas reading.

Being a local, I welcome attention to the many architectural, cultural, landscape and amenity issues that are overdue to be addressed within Dickson. Sadly, there are several that are ignored within this plan.

A key judgment for the City Renewal Authority is how well it is doing ensuring Northbourne Avenue is to be lined with fabulous examples of architecture and great landscape design.

But do we need a special authority to do this when a departmental project team could have easily taken up the challenge – as they have done since self-government and before – if given the resources?

Then there are equity issues. How does this special attention and subsequent allocation of resources to Dickson match those being allocated for other suburban shopping precincts throughout Canberra? Are all centres due to have their own Place Plans?

The City Renewal Authority has its own board that is answerable and takes directions from the planning minister. The board is made up of seven ministerial appointees, six of whom are not from Canberra.

Does this make sense? The answer must be that urban planning, architecture and landscape professionals based in Canberra do not know enough about urban planning, architecture, urban renewal,

landscape design and the list goes on. Because of this perception, Mr Barr and his planning minister have stacked the board with experts from Sydney and Melbourne.

And we all know how well those cities and their experts are doing with keeping up with infrastructure, roads, traffic issues, architecture, building codes (think Opal Tower), enhancing (not diminishing) greenery and dealing with pesky residents who want a sustainable and pleasant urban environment in which to live!

This authority follows the line –“people first” (don’t choke on that!).

For the Dickson Place Plan the authority worked out a way to have local involvement on terms that suit the government. It has worked around the annoying local resident associations and has set up and funds its own consultation team – called The Dickson Town Team.

There are many such nifty terms with the CRA documents, such as calling the Dickson shops – the Dickson Village. I guess with time we will see what that means.

A key judgment for the CRA is how

for the 2019 Positive Ageing Awards are now open.

Positive Ageing Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding older Canberrans and the people and organisations that work with, or for, them.

A 2015 artist’s impression of how a tree-lined Northbourne Avenue would look with the tramline replacing the median strip’s earlier trees.

well it is doing ensuring Northbourne is to be lined with fabulous examples of architecture and great landscape design.

On landscape, the image above is a 2015 impression of what was to come along Northbourne.

The last time I drove down Northbourne there were many dead newly-planted trees, scrappy woodchip and almost as many new weeds as new plants. We hope things will get better soon.

As for architecture, announcements have commenced on new apartment towers with many more to come. So far the impression is that they are machine architecture, look very much the same as each other and worse still are threatening to impact negatively on the established suburbs nearby.

To be kind we should wait just a little longer to see if this new authority and its board of imported experts could indeed deliver great things in architecture and landscape design. I would advise that you don’t hold your breath waiting!

So back to a question I posed late last year.

Do we need this new City Renewal Authority?

The report card reads – Dear Mr Barr, C minus for young CRA – it needs to pay attention to residents and to do much better.

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

OPINION / reports expose ACT failures

Shock reports: who’d be Aboriginal in Canberra?

THE release in late 2018 of two reports – “The Family Matters Report 2018”, which concerns Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care or in touch with the child protection system, and the Bureau of Statistics report “Prisoners in Australia 2018”– are a wake-up call for Canberra.

“The Family Matters Report 2018”, which measures the trends in overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in out-of-home-care is as depressing as it is distressing. The report includes a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction report card on the implementation of best practice in child protection as represented by the Aboriginal Child Placement Principles and the four building blocks of the Family Matters Roadmap. “The Family Matters Report” is a collaborative effort of SNAICC-National Voice for our Children, the University of Melbourne and Griffith University. In other words, it is rigorous and credible.

In summary, the report reveals (and not for the first time) that the ACT is among the worst-performing jurisdictions in Australia and, on a number of specific and major measures, the worst-performing jurisdiction in Australia when it comes to the care of Aboriginal children in contact with the child-protection system.

In relation to the Aboriginal Child Placement Principles, recognised nationally as of fundamental importance to the management and care of

My fear is that the ACT government has sensed the Canberra community doesn’t really care that much about the level of indigenous disadvantage and poverty in Canberra, and has decided that there is no need for it to either.

Aboriginal children in out-of-home care, the ACT is identified as the only jurisdiction in Australia that has refused to include in its child-protection legislation any of the recognised elements of self-determination or a human-rights-based framework for participation in child protection decision making such as consulting Aboriginal community controlled organisations and involving them in decisions about the placement or care of Aboriginal children.

In light of the ACT government’s practice of excluding Aboriginal participation in child protection it is no surprise that the ACT has the highest rate of Aboriginal children in touch with the care and protection system in Australia and the third highest rate of removal of Aboriginal children from their families in Australia. An Aboriginal child in the ACT is 14 times more likely than a non-Aboriginal child to be in out-of-home care.

Stunningly, despite these quite shameful outcomes the ACT has the lowest level of funding in Australia for intensive family support and the second

lowest level of family support generally.

Unsurprisingly, there are clear linkages between children who have been removed from their family by care and protection services and poverty, disadvantage and ultimately contact with the criminal justice system. The ABS report – “Prisoners in Australia 2018” – to the extent that it exposes and details the over-representation of Aboriginal men and women in prison in the ACT, confirms the depth of the failure of the ACT government and justice system to address either the causes of or appropriate response to Aboriginal offending.

The headline finding in the ABS report is that the ACT has the highest ratio of Aboriginal people in jail in Australia. An Aboriginal person in Canberra is 17.5 times more likely than a non-Aboriginal person to be sent to prison. The next highest is WA with a ratio of 16 followed by the NT where the ratio is 12. The ACT also stands out as the jurisdiction with the highest increase in relative imprisonment of Aboriginal people between 2008 and 2018, with an increase over the 10 years

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of a massive 100 per cent. In that same period WA and SA reduced the relative imprisonment rate by 9 per cent and 1 per cent respectively.

There is perhaps no single better illustration of the extent of inequality in Canberra than that the city with the highest median household income, the highest rates of home ownership and private health insurance, the fastest growing median house price and the highest mean income in the nation also has the highest rate of indigenous incarceration.

There is a range of other data reported by the ABS that is as equally shocking as the raw rate of indigenous incarceration. For instance the rate of prior imprisonment (or recidivism rate) of Aboriginal prisoners currently in the AMC is a mind blowing 90 per cent, the highest in Australia.

Of the 109 Aboriginal detainees in the AMC on June 30 a staggering 99 of them were recidivists.

Equally alarming is the rate of increase in the ACT in the crude imprisonment rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Between 2017 and 2018 the rate in the ACT increased by 12 per cent to produce an increase over the six-year period from 2012 to 2018 of 89 per

cent against a national average of 24 per cent. By way of comparison the growth in incarceration, over the same six years, in the NT, WA and SA was 8 per cent, 15 per cent and 18 per cent respectively.

That the rate of increase in the incarceration of Aboriginal people in the ACT, over the last six years, is 65 per cent higher than the national average and that the rate of relative imprisonment has doubled in the last 10 years is deeply alarming and demands immediate and independent investigation and an urgent response. However, for that to occur someone in government actually needs to care.

My fear is that the ACT government has sensed that the Canberra community doesn’t really care that much about the level of indigenous disadvantage and poverty in Canberra and has accordingly decided that there is no need for it to either.

Former chief minis ter Jon Stanhope is an adviser at Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Service.

NEWS Buddhist centre shares its culture

FOR nearly three decades Sakyamuni Buddhist Centre in Lyneham has been inviting the community to celebrate the Lunar New Year at its free, annual family festival.

From 6pm until late on Monday, February 4, founding Abbott of the Van Hanh Monastery (Sakyamuni Buddhist Centre), Thich Quang Ba says there will be a cultural celebration where people can make friends while creating happy moments.

The community and family festival will mark the Lunar Year of the Pig through food, performance and gifts.

Thich Quang Ba says there will be “tasty”, free, vegetarian noodle dishes served on the night, as well as food stalls where people can buy other delicious dishes.

There will be free books on Buddhism, which people

can take with them, as well as lion dances and crackers.

“New Year Day is the unique occasion for us all to arrange extended family reunion, as much as we can, particularly while we are in exile here,” Thich Quang Ba says.

“It’s a happy occasion where people can offer their heart, their mind and their friendship.

“Those who are Buddhists mostly arrange to spare few hours on New Year Day or New Year Eve.

“[There’s also] midnight services… [at the] temple for praying for world peace, family happiness and wellbeing.”

At Sakyamuni Buddhist Centre, 32 Archibald Street, Lyneham, February 4, from 6pm. Call 0412 224553 or email thichquangba@gmail.com

Gender no bar to helping kids in crisis

I ENJOYED reading Natalie Gately’s feature on unsupervised children (“Home alone, what could possibly go wrong?” CN, January 3) but was astounded when I got to the part that suggested children, instead of not talking to strangers, to look for a “mother” with children. Really? What sort of parenting message is this portraying? As a father of six and the usual shopper in our family, I would be dismayed if a child in distress in a community facility could not approach me just because I am male. This is the ultimate message that this part of the article is delivering. It’s very disappointing that this message is being put out there. We’ve got to get away from the gender thing here and accept that the world has good people and bad people – the gender of these is inconsequential.

Steve Elms, Canberra father, uncle, grandfather

IN thanking Steve Elms for his comments, author Natalie Gately, criminology courses co-ordinator at Edith Cowan University, writes:

I HAD this conversation with my husband at the time of writing and totally agree with your sentiments. However, mothers are more likely to be in places like shopping centres and parks during the school holidays than fathers as generally speaking, they do not work the same amount of hours as dads. This was not meant to be a gender issue, just statistically there are more mums at these venues at this time in school holidays. That said, the first priority is to choose someone with children (rather than a female or a male), whether that be mothers, fathers, grandparents, other caregivers, who would be sensitive to a child feeling vulnerable or unsafe.

‘Eyesores’ mar life in Weetangera

FOLLOWING on the excellent recent articles by Paul Costigan in “CityNews” about the dire state of planning in the ACT, I would like to cite a couple of examples of development that are ruining my suburb, in a similar vein to what is happening all over the city.

I would guarantee every targetable piece of community land has been surveyed by our so-called Labor government.

Time for a drug commission

In Shumack Street, Weetangera, at the Belconnen Road end, one house has been knocked down and replaced by four of the ugliest apartments you could ever see. They would be hard to beat for the Eyesore-of-the-Year award in Canberra.

A little further up the street, three adjacent houses have been demolished and replaced by nine apartments in two separate developments. Again, the visual result is most unattractive. The result of these ongoing, medium-density housing developments is detracting greatly from the amenity of this suburb. Unquestionably the same situation prevails increasingly throughout the city. The number of vehicles and traffic noise will increase commensurate with these developments. Furthermore, the footpath between these properties has been badly damaged in places.

There is no planning justification for such a massive increase in housing density along a sub-arterial road, which is not a major transport corridor. Clearly, developers in cahoots with the government are setting the agenda and the massive increase in rates is a powerful aphrodisiac for the government.

Minister Mick Gentleman went on an expensive junket to North America last year with one of his planners; is this dreadful development the dividend the community reaps from this gross waste of taxpayers’ money?

Colin Lyons, Weetangera

Housing threat to community land

This is a government that has driven up the price of land to a level that shuts out people on moderate incomes. It is also a government that has ruthlessly flogged off public housing units and left many homeless.

It is also a government angling for over $60 million of Federal money for asset sales.

To obtain this they have to replace the public housing they have sold. The way they have chosen to accomplish this is by building public housing on community land.

At the time when we were reluctantly forced into self government we had over 13,000 public housing units. Now we have just over 10,000.

Not surprisingly we have around 3,000 families or single people homeless or couch hopping or something in between.

I would like to think a change of government would alleviate their plight. However, every piece of legislation that has promoted sale of public housing has been supported by the Liberal Party.

Not least of which is the abolishment of third party appeals on projects in town centres.

In my opinion the only hope for the homeless is to have a cross bench of community dedicated, independent MLAs elected.

Howard Carew, Isaacs

Enough of petrol exploitation

THERE have been constant falls in the price of oil over recent months but the levels of decline in fuel prices at Canberra petrol stations have not mirrored them to any significant extent.

It is about time our do-nothing government did something about lowering the fuel prices for Canberra drivers, the costs to the wider community through higher transport charges on the products they purchase and lower disposable incomes.

We have been exploited for years by most of the petrol stations and it is time the ACT government provided incentives for independent stations to start up by providing cheaper sites, reduced rates and charges and the like in suburban areas rather than on the outskirts.

Similarly, it needs to look at imposing higher rates and charges on those stations that do not pass on savings to their customers.

The latest Liberal Party suggestion for a “fuel watch” program is next to useless. What is needed is practical government assistance to allow independent petrol retailers to operate successfully in the suburbs of Canberra. Even the threat of the government doing this might prompt the major fuel stations to address a long-term problem for Canberra consumers.

Ric Hingee, Duffy

MY single greatest New Year fear is that the biggest life problem for the youth of today and tomorrow is not getting a good education but avoiding being sentenced without trial to life in our personal drug prisons.

The ABS reported (2017) that in 2016 there were 1808 drug-induced deaths, the highest recorded over the past 20 years – and 500 more than road deaths. Another official source (2016) told us that over eight million people in Australia had illicitly used a drug in their lifetime.

I don’t speak uninformed, having been published in the same university periodical as Dr Alex Wodak; helped the banning of cigarette advertising from television; instigated the ban on smoking in aircraft and negotiated the introduction of low-alcohol beer.

We have undoubtedly reached the time for a royal commission into what is now a drug industry rather than a strategy.

Colliss Parrett, member, Drug Watch International, Barton

Apology to Matthew Cossey

IN a letter published December 18, I falsely asserted that “a quick internet search will show” that Matthew Cossey was wrong when he stated that “not one country around the world has a ban on the use of glyphosate”. I regret misleading the readers of “CityNews” about the status of glyphosate and apologise unreservedly to Mr Cossey and acknowledge he was completely correct.

A comment based on untrue facts cannot be fair, and I accept that my comments likening Mr Cossey to apologists for tobacco were completely unfounded, unwarranted, offensive and without any basis or justification. I acknowledge that Mr Cossey has conducted himself in a professional and ethical manner in his public statements and representations on glyphosate. I also acknowledge that Australia’s own independent expert regulator, the APVMA, along with Health Canada, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and NZ’s Environmental Protection Authority, the European Food Safety Authority, Germany’s Federal Institute for risk assessment (BfR), and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) found unequivocally that glyphosate poses no unacceptable risks either to human health or to the environment and all concluded glyphosate is safe to use.

I apologise to Mr Cossey for the distress that my ill-informed comments have caused him.

David Hobson

Locals shine, awards hit new high

PIONEERING Commonwealth

bureaucrat Helen Williams has been appointed a Companion (AC) in the Order of Australia in this year’s Australia Day awards.

She is joined in recognition by former ACT chief minister and senator Gary Humphries, who has been appointed an Officer (AO) in the General Division.

Retired ABC announcer and Canberran of the Year Alex Sloan has been appointed a Member (AM) of the Order and long-time 2CC “Gardening Guru” Paulene Cairnduff and Peter Munday, of Lennock Motors, are among the recipients of medals of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Nationally, the list is the largest in the history of the Order of Australia

– recognising 1127 Australians and it comprises:

• 19 Companions of the Order (AC)

• 71 Officers of the Order (AO)

• 282 Members of the Order (AM)

• 755 Medals (OAM) awarded.

Government House says women received 422 – or 37.4 per cent – of awards, the highest number and percentage ever and that the number of nominations and awards for women are trending up.

Almost 46 per cent of awards (516 in total) were for outstanding service or achievement in the community.

More than half of all awards in the Conservation sector went to women and female recipients in the Education sector received three awards for every two to men. Female recipients in Local Government outnumber men in this list, the first time this has occurred.

Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia at gg.gov.au.

Here is the list of this year’s outstanding local recipients in the General Division:

COMPANION (AC)

Dr Elizabeth Salisbury DENNIS, Yarralumla. For eminent service to science as a researcher and academic in the area of genomics and plant development, and to professional organisations.

The Honourable Justice Michelle Marjorie GORDON, Parkes. For eminent service to the judiciary, and to the law, to legal education and judicial administration, as a role model, and to the community.

The Honourable Justice Geoffrey Arthur NETTLE , Kingston. For eminent service to the judiciary, and to the law, to criminal and civil appeals reform, to legal education, and to professional standards.

The late Emeritus Professor Patrick Nicol TROY AO, late of Reid. For eminent service to urban and regional planning, to environmental sustainability and social justice policy, and as a mentor and role model.

Ms Helen Rodda WILLIAMS AO, Forrest. For eminent service to public administration through senior advisory roles, and to policy reform and innovative program delivery.

OFFICER (AO)

Ms Kathryn Jane CAMPBELL CSC , Sutton NSW. For distinguished service

to public administration through senior roles with government departments, and to the Australian Army Reserve.

Mr Mark Thomas FRASER CVO OAM , Griffith. For distinguished service to the Crown as official secretary to the Governor-General, and to international relations.

Mr Gary John HUMPHRIES, Kambah. For distinguished service to the Parliament of Australia, and to the Legislative Assembly of the ACT.

Emeritus Professor Brian Leslie KENNETT, Aranda. For distinguished service to the earth sciences as a leading academic and researcher, particularly in the field of seismology.

Ms Romilly Jane MADEW, NSW. For distinguished service to the construction sector as a change agent and advocate for sustainable building practices.

Mr Anthony Basil NUTT, ACT. For distinguished service to parliament and politics at the state and national level, and as federal director of the Liberal Party of Australia.

MEMBER (AM)

Dr Wilfred Louis ARMAREGO, Hughes, For significant service to biochemistry and molecular biology.

Professor Francis Robert BONGIORNO, Scullin. For significant service to tertiary education in the field of history.

Mrs Narelle HARGREAVES OAM , Latham. For significant service to children and young people in the ACT, and to education.

Dr Peter Thomas McCAWLEY, Griffith ACT 2603. For significant service to the Asia-Pacific region through economic advisory roles.

Ms Anne MARTIN, Chifley. For significant service to the indigenous community, and to higher education.

Professor Paul PAVLI, Forrest. For significant service to medicine, to patient care, and as a researcher and mentor.

Dr Kathleen Alice PRICE , Isabella Plains. For significant service to education, particularly through Indigenous teaching initiatives.

Ms Alexandra Mary SLOAN, Ainslie. For significant service to the community of Canberra, and to the broadcast media as a radio presenter.

Dr David Murray STEVENS, Karabar. For significant service to Australian naval history as a researcher and author.

Professor David Charles WIDDOWSON, Nicholls. For significant service to higher education in the field of international trade and customs.

For service to football.

Ms Glenys PATULNY, Kambah. For service to the community of Tuggeranong.

Ms Vivienne PEARCE , Giralang. For service to education.

Mr David Ian RICHARDS, Forrest. For service to the community through charitable initiatives.

Dr Margaret Ellen SHORE , Melba. For service to the international community of Indonesia through education programs.

Mrs Rose Mary SHORNEY, Kambah. For service to the performing arts through musical direction.

MEDAL (OAM)

Mr Stephen Edward ANDERSON, Forrest. For service to the air-conditioning and refrigeration industry through the development of environmental policy.

Mr Eugene Andrew BAJKOWSKI, Braddon. For service to business, and to the Polish community.

Air Commodore Philip Darcy BYRNE (Retd), Googong NSW. For service to the community through a range of organisations.

Mrs Paulene Mary CAIRNDUFF, Duffy. For service to horticulture.

Mr Michael John CLARKE , ACT. For service to the community through the preservation of military history.

Mrs Amanda May CURTIS, Tharwa. For service to the community through charitable initiatives.

Mr Ross DUNN, O’Connor. For service to the community through victims of crime advocacy and support.

Mr Frederick Peter FAWKE , Dunlop. For service to the community of Canberra.

Mrs Gail Olivia FORD, Kambah. For service to the community of Canberra.

Mrs Colleen Mary GRAHAM , Chapman. For service to public administration.

Mr Kevin Anthony GRAINGER , Crestwood NSW. For service to the community of Queanbeyan.

Ms Susan Adele HEALY, Hawker. For service to people with a disability.

Mr Colin Edward HOLMES, Deakin. For service to the community through a range of roles.

Mr John Robert IVE , Flynn. For service to the superfine wool-growing industry.

Ms Nicole Danielle JOHNSTON, Barton. For service to nursing.

Mrs Sue Margaret KOMINEK , Gundaroo NSW. For service to education, and to the community of Gundaroo.

Mr Peter Handley LANGHORNE , ACT. For service to parliament and politics at the state and national level.

Ms Mandy Lee LARSSON, Chisholm. For service to the community through Lifeline Canberra.

Mrs Elizabeth Margaret LAWSMITH, Mawson. For service to conservation and the environment.

Mrs Marion Ruth MEISCHKE , Gundaroo NSW. For service to education.

Mr Peter John MUNDAY, Mawson. For service to the community through charitable organisations.

Dr Holly Louise NORTHAM , Fadden. For service to medicine through a range of roles.

Ms Donna Maree O’BRIEN, Kambah.

Torrien’s the new YMCA chief

THE former head of disability service provider Focus ACT, Torrien Lau is the new CEO of YMCA Canberra. “My first encounter with the Y was at a holiday program in Canberra in the ‘70s and I currently swim at the Y as a member,” he said. “I am one of the many thousands of Canberrans that have a relationship with this very important organisation and feel blessed to have been given this appointment.” He holds post-graduate qualifications in business and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, accredited mediator, trainer, restorative practitioner and business owner.

Mrs Jane Newton SMYTH, Narrabundah. For service to the community of Canberra.

Mr Laurence Graham STROUD, Fadden. For service to the tourism and hospitality industry.

Mr Ian Raymond THOMPSON, ACT. For service to veterans and their families.

Ms Nancy TINGEY, Cook. For service to community health.

PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL

Federal

Mr Joseph Ernest CASTELLINO, Yarralumla. For outstanding public service in leading fiscal policy analysis and advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Dr Gary Stuart DOLMAN, Fadden. For outstanding public service in the leadership of research and contribution to national economic reform in the areas of infrastructure, transport and regional economics.

Dr Clinton Bruce FOSTER , Weetangera. For outstanding public service in the application of geoscientific information and data to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Mr John Peter LONSDALE , Fraser. For outstanding public service through improving the stability, efficiency and competitiveness of Australia’s financial system and increasing the robustness of Australia’s foreign investment framework.

Mr Jonathan James PALMER , Hall. For outstanding public service as the Deputy Australian Statistician, and through contributions to the international statistical community.

Mrs Lois Margaret RANSOM , ACT. For outstanding public service through the strengthening of Australia’s plant biosecurity system.

Mr Richard Geoffrey RICHARDSON, Chapman. For outstanding public service in the area of Indigenous policy and programs.

Mr Matthew Vincent YANNOPOULOS, Yarralumla. For outstanding public service through the leadership and delivery of reform to payments for Child Care.

ACT

Mrs Glynis Helen STEWARD, Ngunnawal. For outstanding public service to education in the ACT.

Ms Meredith Lily WHITTEN, Bruce. For outstanding public service to organisational integrity and capability in the disability sector in the ACT.

Alison’s new relationship

ALISON Brook is the new CEO of Relationships Australia Canberra and Region. She succeeds Mary Pekin who has held the role since 1999. Ms Brook joined Relationships Australia nine years ago and before then worked with the NSW Crime Commission and Charles Sturt University. She holds a master of management from the University of Technology Sydney and has participated in the not-for-profit strategic leadership course at Harvard Business School.

More Work for Lee

LEE Maiden has been appointed CEO of social enterprise group Communities@Work. Chairman Alan Greenslade said Ms Maiden was known for her collaborative leadership style and for “building teams that make a difference to the lives of Canberrans”.

“She brings a wealth of experience from several decades working within Communities@Work and most recently as acting CEO,” he said.

BRIEFLY

Irish for beginners

THE Canberra Irish Language Association is hosting an information night at the Irish Club, Weston, 6.30pm, on Tuesday, February 5 for a course of free lessons in Irish Gaeilge, a Gaelic language originating in Ireland. Classes will be on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings and the volunteer teachers will use the latest text books, CDs and DVDs. More information from 6251 4838 or or at cila.org.au

World dancing classes

HOSTED by Folk Dance Canberra, a new 90-minute beginners’ class in world dancing starts at 7pm on Thursday, February 7. Dances to be taught include the Gypsy polka, Russian “Ya Da Kalinushku”, Peruvian “Chilili”, Albanian “Valle Pogonishte”, Turkish “Hastayim” and Romanian “Sarba de la Eninsala”. Folk Dance Canberra is a community club promoting fitness and well being through world dance. No partner necessary. At the Folk Dance Canberra Hall, 114 Maitland Street, Hackett. Bookings and enquiries to 0420 524412.

Seniors go Latino

THE gentle move ments of the dance class “Latin Lines” are designed for eve ryone over 55. Led by a qualified Latin dance instructor, the movements can also be used at social dances. Adaptations can be made for those needing post-operative exercise. The classes are held Mondays, 10am-11am, at the Canberra Seniors Centre, 10 Watson Street, Turner. Call Pat on 6248 9509.

TRAVEL MAKERS 20th TRAVEL FAIR advertising feature

‘The Fair is designed to give travellers a unique opportunity to interact with our suppliers and our own expert travel consultants.’

Experts ready to share the best in travel advice

WELL-known for its innovative and individual travel itineraries, Travel Makers’ annual Travel Fair will be no different this year, with the best suppliers and resources around.

In its 20th year, the Travel Makers Travel Fair will be held at the Alliance Française Language School in Turner on Saturday, February 9, giving visitors a chance to interact with expert travel consultants.

“The Travel Fair is designed to give travellers a unique opportunity to interact with our valued suppliers and our own expert travel consultants,” says Travel Makers’ managing director, Phil Dalley.

“With today’s information overload it is difficult to get first-hand, expert advice.

“There are so many options online, it is so time consuming to filter all the choices that seem available to you without valuable guidance from an expert and we choose the best in the industry to answer your questions at our travel fair.”

Travel Makers is an independent, locally operated agency, with a group of widely travelled international and Australian travel specialists, who have been all over the world from Patagonia to Iceland.

Phil says everyone in the office has their favourite destination, but at the moment his are South Africa, South America and cruising. He says the travel fair will have a big

line up of suppliers to speak with, such as representatives from the two airlines that fly out of Canberra internationally – Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.

“There should be something for every traveller from independent journeys to small-group tours, cruising, as well as a selection of specialised cultural tours,”

Phil says.

On the day, there will be representatives from all areas of travel such as cruising (ocean and river), worldwide rail, car leasing and hire, individual touring and smallgroup touring.

Phil says there will also be specialist destination operators such as The African Safari Co, specialist in African travel; Back Roads Touring, Europe; Grand Pacific Tours, specialists in NZ; TripADeal tours, which offers popular holiday destinations at “unbelievable” prices and Chris Carter Tours to South America, Spain and Morocco.

The manager of the Italian Travel Bureau, which operates out of Travel Makers, Michael Perrone, will bring new and innovative packages for 2019 that will include golf and language tours, rail and walking packages and many more.

Michael says: “The idea is to show the versatility of the products, the knowledge of the territory and how to use both regardless of if you have already been there.”

Phil Dalley says that no matter where the destination is, Travel Makers and the experts at the fair will make sure every

client will receive the best advice and have the best travel experience.

For anyone who can’t make the fair, Phil has an invitation to aspiring travellers to call by his bright, comfortable office on the Kingston Foreshore for a coffee and a chat.

Travel Makers Travel Fair, Alliance Française Language School, 66 McCaughey Street, Turner, 11am-2.30pm, on Saturday, February 9. Free entry. Visit travelmakers.com.au, call 1800 838408 or email travmake@travelmakers.com.au

•

THERE’S no better way to kick-start 2019 than making a commitment and investment towards wellbeing, fitness and health. Here are some special ways to find a “new you” this New Year.

For women on a New Year mission

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

Whether it’s to lose weight, get fit, gain muscle or improve mental health, Fernwood Fitness says it can help women achieve their health and fitness goals.

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

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

Hands-on help with pain

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

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

But, being one of Canberra’s original hand specialists, it also offers hand therapy following injury or surgery as well as management of Occupational Overuse Syndrome

Deb’s diverse approach to rehabilitation

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

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

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

(RSI) and chronic conditions, including pain, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

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

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

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

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

“Members also have access to other services such as personal training, food coaching and small group personal training classes.

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

“You will also have the opportunity to join programs such as the very popular 12 Week Challenge, kickstarting in February.

Fernwood Fitness, visit fernwoodfitness.com.au

Pilates in experienced hands

THE Pilates Centre Canberra offers the full Pilates studio experience with individualised training in private, duet or semi-private sessions, as well as group reformer and matwork classes. The studio first opened in Tuggeranong in 2010, relocated to Phillip in 2016 and then became The Pilates Centre in 2017. The Pilates Centre prides itself on offering high-quality Pilates instruction with safe, motivating and knowledgeable delivery. All its instructors are qualified through the Pilates International Training Centre, the premium school for Pilates education in Australia.

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

Day when love comes calling

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

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

Among the popular theories is that one Valentine was a third-century priest in Rome, who married young couples in secret after a decree by the Emperor Claudius that young

men serve in the army instead of marrying.

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

The letters spoke of his undying love and signed off with “from your Valentine”. Equally, another theory suggests it may not have been very romantic at all and that the chosen date may have been an attempt by the Catholic church to “Christianise” a Roman feast: February 14 was, in ancient Rome, a

celebration of the goddess Juno, queen of the Roman pantheon.

It was around the 17th century that Valentine’s Day was celebrated on a mass level, and by the middle of the 18th century it was taking on a commercial feel, with small tokens and handwritten gifts being exchanged between lovers and friends. Today, it’s a special day for sweethearts, young and old, in celebration of romance and love. So why not spoil your Valentine this year? Here are some ideas how:

Handcraft and platinum specialists

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

And for romantics looking to propose around Valentine’s Day, Clover Jewellery has a wide range of engagement rings with a quick turnaround.

“We have had customers come to see us, in a panic that they need wedding bands before they travel overseas for their wedding, fearing that they have left it all too late,” Stella says.

“We were able to help them in one day, I even drove their rings to them as their bus was leaving to

“The customers were very happy.”

James says they provide a range of high-end and unique handmade jewellery as well as fancy and

beautiful silver jewellery.

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

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

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

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

There’s been some recent changes so Scott says 65 Northbourne is introducing more affordable food with the same excellent service.

“We’re launching a new menu around mid to late February,” he says.

“We’re moving to a modern Mediterranean style of food, with everything form Spanish food right through to Turkish food. We’re also moving towards shared plates.”

Overall, he says it’ll be different than everything else that’s in town.

But 65 Northbourne is keeping all its best bits such as its relaxing atmosphere, Thursday night cocktails and Friday night live music with fresh oysters, prawns and wine.

Valentine’s Day bookings will include a $99 degustation menu with French wine on arrival.

65 Northbourne, 65 Northbourne Avenue, Civic, call 6262 6522, email enquiries@65northbourne.com.au or visit 65northbourne.com.au

Cooking Indian food with love

ON Valentine’s Day, love won’t just be present between guests at Blu Ginger Indian Restaurant, it will also be in the cooking, says owner Reddy Manne.

“We cook with the same love and passion that customers would in their home, if they had time,” he says.

With more than 28 years’ experience, the chef at Blu Ginger Indian Restaurant draws upon the many culinary regions of India to create a modern and authentic menu, one that reflects the cosmopolitan India of today.

“At Blu Ginger we use only the freshest, locally sourced produce, combined with authentic spices imported directly from the sub-continent, to offer classic, traditional recipes with a modern twist, creating a unique and memorable dining experience for you,” Reddy says.

“Our service always comes with a smile and we listen to the needs of our customers and offer vegan, gluten free and coeliac options.”

Located in a large, openplan space along Genge Street, Civic, Blu Ginger’s high ceilings and edgy decor add character to the dining experience.

Blu Ginger Indian Restaurant, 5 Genge Street, Civic. Booking is recommended to 6247 2228 or visit bluginger.com.au

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Green’ for going to the Oscars DOUGAL

Too late, panto Peter’s going down the pan!

By Helen Musa

FIRST staged in 1904, JM Barrie’s story of Peter Pan, the “boy who never grows up” has been seen all around the world in pantomime and film, but never as in the show Canberrans are about to see –“Peter Pan goes Wrong”.

Scripted by Brits Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, of Mischief Theatre Company, from a text by Susie HK Brideswell, it has the familiar characters on stage – Peter, the perennially evil Captain Hook, the Darling children, Nana their dog, the princess Tiger Lily and Tinkerbell, that most jealous of fairies.

But as resident tour director Luke Joslin, who also gets to play several parts, says that’s about as far as the resemblance to the famous stage play goes. In this version, which is a play-within-a-play, it shows the fictitious Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society at work and anything that can go wrong does.

Joslin, who received a 2018 Sydney Theatre Award nomination for directing the musical “In The Heights”, has been working in Auckland with the original London director Adam Meggido to stage a farce where the revolving stage malfunctions, the

THE SAPPHIRES ARE ONE OF THE AUSTRALIA’S BEST-LOVED STORIES

Winning multiple awards as a play, film and soundtrack album, there was one challenge left, and that was to undertake a national tour of Australia. Bringing the raw energy, fun and emotion of this story directly to stages like The Q and across the nation, writer Tony Briggs will direct his work in a version he promises will be the most intimate telling of The Sapphires story yet.

flight scenes end up with a thud, the lights fall from the rigging and Tinkerbell’s fairy costume nearly electrocutes her.

Sounds familiar? That’s because it’s by the same team that performed “The Play That Goes Wrong” in 2017, another play-within-aplay, a murder-mystery being staged by the same Polytechnic Drama Society.

Joslin was in that show too, along with Canberra’s Jordan Prosser, Darcy Brown, Francine Cain, Adam Dunn, George Kemp and Tammy Weller. They’re joined by Tegan

Wouters, Matt Whitty and Jessie Yates, Jay Laga’aia as the narrator and Connor Crawford tripling as the Conley director, Mr Darling and the plum role of Captain Hook.

When “CityNews” catches up with Joslin by phone to Melbourne, he’s just back from a lightning trip to Sydney Opera House where “In The Heights” has opened to full capacity and excellent reviews.

“This is the next play after ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ and it’s very different, but equally ridiculous, and dangerous,” he says.

“And it’s even more for a wide audience – 8 to 80… there is something for little kids with plenty of visual gags and stock characters, but I would say adults get more out of it,” he says.

“The last play was pitched to an adult market, but because now there is the element of pantomime, it’s very different.

“In the previous play there were lots of elongated jokes… but ‘Peter Pan’ is snappier and more presentational.”

As well, he reports, when London director Adam Meggido came out to NZ, the first thing he asked the cast was whether pantomime resonated here.

“Not really, we had to tell him, it’s not really something we grew up with, not like the English,” he says.

With that in mind, they’ve come up with a pre-show section, a sort of “Panto 101”.

As the audience comes in, actors roam the auditorium giving lessons on pantomime, on what to do and when to call out, “look behind you” and suchlike.

So how, we ask, is “Peter Pan” dangerous?

“Well, there are technical malfunctions that throw everything into a chaotic spin, but I won’t tell you too much,” Joslin says,

“It looks dangerous and, as you leave, there’s something else that the audience won’t expect.

“The beauty of the panto format is that although it’s technical, there is an element of the home-grown, so you think it’s more

dangerous than it is… the actors have to make it feel like a terrifying experience, but if you go backstage, there’s really very little to it.”

Of course there are characters flying, something “Peter Pan” has been famous for from its first stage manifestation in 1904.

“But it never quite goes to play and it’s never the same each night. It’s pretty simple, pulleys and things, but you never know where it’s going,” says Joslin.

Mind you, he says the actors have to be incredibly fit and, luckily, acrobat Darcy Brown, playing Peter Pan, is.

The biggest fun is that apart from Brown in the lead, most of the actors play two or three parts. Connor Crawford, for instance, plays Captain Hook and Mr Darling, but also the insufferable director of the show, Chris Bean.

“I myself play Robert Grove, the co-director, very pompous and self-assured – he also appeared in ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’,” Joslin says.

But for him, the highlight is playing Nana the dog in a head-to-toe shaggy dog costume.

“I’m hoping for good air conditioning in Canberra because I sweat a lot, but people love seeing a six-foot-three guy in a dog costume – I’ve never heard laughter like it, it appeals to everyone.”

“Peter Pan Goes Wrong”, Canberra Theatre, February 6 -10. Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au

"A gem of a play. Briggs mixes fact and fiction to lay bare and flesh out his celebratory tale which, though political in patches, is focused on the personal. The Sapphires is heartfelt and joyous. Superb."

Bryce Hallett Sydney Morning Herald

"The Sapphires is a play fulfilling dreams and challenging stereotypes. It is a story about hope."

Kate Herbert The Age

Capt Cook’s words to the wise

By Helen Musa

WITH its summer exhibition, “Cook and the Pacific”, drawing to a close on February 10, the National Library is getting ahead of the pack in marking the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages.

Experts will talk about how people who sailed with Cook’s three Pacific voyages made lists of indigenous words that are now invaluable sources as present-day communities revitalise the indigenous languages of Australia and the region.

It’s a star studded line-up of specialist speakers covering everything from the origins of written Māori to returning cultural information to indigenous communities’ dilemmas around giving access to sacred or “taboo” material.

“CityNews” caught up with a newcomer to the library staff who’ll be speaking.

Dr Shirleene Robinson, senior curator of Oral History and Indigenous Programs since September, comes from Macquarie University, where she was the Vice Chancellor’s Innovation Fellow in the Discipline of Modern History since 2011.

The book she co-authored with Alex Greenwich, “Yes Yes Yes! The Inside Story of the Campaign for Marriage Equality in Australia”, used oral history to source information and she

views the question of indigenous languages through the same prism.

“Cook encountered many different indigenous languages and those languages have proved

OPINION / school of music

to be resilient… they play an important part in transmitting culture,” she says.

Robinson stresses the role of recorded singing, notably Samoan church-singing, in helping the restitution of language. As well, she says, oral history recordings of people speaking in Fijian and the Central Papuan Motu language of Papua New Guinea have been keen on reviving their languages, also praising the retention and recording of languages in western and northern Australia. Many indigenous people can and do take advantage of the National Library’s rich collection of such recordings.

“Anyone in Australia can have access to all this,” she says.

“We have the world’s oldest culture and a Pacific heritage.”

So what will the coming conference have for the wider public?

“We hope this will really appeal to people, it’s about music and talk and song and how culture is being presented and maintained.”

“Language Keepers: Preserving the Indigenous Languages of the Pacific”, National Library of Australia, February 9-10, fees apply, registrations to nla.gov.au

Free, unregistered public event, NLA, 4.30pm-7pm, February 10 includes extended-hours, final-day viewing of “Cook and the Pacific” and “Beauty Rich and Rare”.

Why Prof Ken Lampl wasn’t

The School of Music is again looking for a new head after the resignation of Prof Ken Lampl. Arts editor HELEN MUSA looks at what preceded the professor’s sudden decision

WHEN “CityNews” broke the news on January 18 that Prof Ken Lampl was stepping down from the headship of the ANU School of Music the phones started ringing.

Stories abounded – Lampl had been sacked by the university, Lampl and the ANU had disagreed, Lampl was leaving Canberra, Lampl was under a cloud for appropriating the Chicago Cubs’ song in the chant “Go Cavs Go!”

“CityNews” is accustomed to stories of operatic scale emanating from the music community, so took the tongue-wagging with a grain of salt.

Over many years this writer has been the recipient of many letters and phone calls, both anonymous and otherwise, from disaffected members of the ACT music community concerned about the school.

Long-considered a financial basket case by the ANU, which was uncomfortable with the one-on-one pedagogical model, things ramped up in May, 2012, when then vicechancellor Ian Young announced a spill which eventually led to a complete turnover of staff.

In 2016 the present vice-chancellor, Brian Schmidt, commissioned a community consultation about the school’s future from former public servant Andrew Podger, which recommended changes in focus and management.

But while well received by some

pushed

to Canberra, Lampl became head of school in February, 2017, saying: “I’m committed to building on the great strengths of the ANU and to position the School of Music as the premiere school for 21st century musical training.”

His tenure was marked by a dramatic increase in student numbers – last week the ANU confirmed a 195 per cent increase in first-year enrolments. He also saw it move into more popular music genres, aided by the unveiling of a sophisticated recording studio in 2017, which is

review following an allegation by music community members that the song had breached copyright law cleared him of any wrongdoing.

In February, 2018, it was announced that the “Music Engagement Programme” for young people, delivered by the ANU for two decades, had been dropped.

On September 5 students and staff protested the changes in front of the ACT Legislative Assembly, seemingly unaware that ArtsACT funding had stopped in July 2017, although the ANU had continued

later touring as conductor with the band and scoring numerous films. Lampl has declared himself proud of his record in restoring student numbers. He has no intention of leaving town and has committed himself to the region by buying property here. But, he says it had never been his intention to remain an administrator full-time and he wants to get back to teaching and composition.

He is not the first and will not be the last ANU professor to have forsaken administration for practice.

‘Green’ for going off on a drive to the Oscars

“Green Book” (M)

THIS Oscar-nominated film opens with a slide averring that it’s based on a true story. In closing, it shows another slide averring that, after the events shown in the film, its two protagonists became fast friends for the rest of their lives.

Both slides are partly true. Both are partly not true. And after watching Peter Farrelly’s film telling the story, the degree of verity in “Green Book” doesn’t really matter. By any measure, it’s a beautiful, heart-warming and challenging film that confronts an issue that America fought a bloody civil war to eliminate at the same time as it pays homage to a man who achieved much in the history of American music.

“Green Book” follows pugnacious, not well-educated Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), a bouncer at New York’s Copacabana nightclub whom Dr Don Shirley engaged to drive him on an eight-week tour southward on which his recording company had booked him and two supporting musicians. Shirley, whose doctorate was in music, psychology and liturgical arts, was a black American whose objective in venturing into southern States in 1962 was, so Google says, to “change some minds with his performances”.

The film’s title refers to the colour of a small booklet listing places in southern States which would house and feed black Americans. One of the film’s producers and author of the screenplay is Nick Vallelonga, who’s been in movies for several decades. I guess we have to accept

whatever truth “Green Book” conveys about his father, who later acted in several movies.

story with élan, affection, admirable realism and convincing credibility. Voted best supporting actor of 2017 for “Moonlight”, Mahershala Ali, wonderful as Don Shirley, thoroughly merits his nomination in that same category at this year’s Oscars. Viggo Mortensen has been nominated for Best Actor.

At all cinemas

ARTS IN THE CITY

Schenk’s “New York Times Magazine” article “The Sinaloa Cartel’s 90-Year Old Drug Mule”. Eastwood plays nurseryman Earl Stone, who at age 90 is persuaded to do what decades of travelling around the US selling daylily plants have resulted in distancing himself from wife Mary (Dianne Wiest) and daughter Iris (Alison Eastwood).

work for him. You bet he might. In pretty short order, Earl finds himself driving a topof-the range ute bought with the proceeds of driving cargos of cocaine to American clients. It’s still a solitary enough life, but the pay is real good and Earl can sing along to music on

the radio (including an American version of “I’ve Been Everywhere”).

“The Mule” doesn’t show Earl as troubled by the ethics of his new occupation. In time, his south-of-the-border employer dragoons him into larger cargoes and wider destinations. Inevitably the Feds start asking difficult questions. The local DEA area agent (Laurence Fishburne) puts agent Bates (Bradley Cooper) and his offsider (Michael Pena) on the case.

“The Mule” moves relatively slowly, spending a lot of time on the road. Its denouement comes relatively quietly, leaving Earl back in the garden (in the prison) and, since Mary’s death, reunited with Iris and her daughter Ginny (Taissa Farmiga).

We mere moviegoers are unlikely ever to know where “The Mule” ranks in Eastwood’s personal evaluation. It’s not a bad movie. I consider that Eastwood, who will next year be the same age as Earl is in the film, has made better. Forgiveness is a generous emotion that’s appropriate to remembering what he has given as actor and director to many movie genres since his first role in 1955.

At all cinemas

Jones makes a rare appearance

By Helen Musa

AS part of a sophisticated new lineup at the Royal Hotel, Queanbeyan, leading contemporary jazz vocalist, composer and trumpeter, Vince Jones, is making a rare appearance in the new upstairs performance room at the hotel on Friday, February 8. Book at oztix.com.au

“GET practising your English rep accent,” advises director Kirsty Budding, who is staging her own adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” in Canberra, with performance and audition dates to be announced soon. Expressions of interest to buddingtheatre.com

“VINCENT van Gogh: A New Way of Seeing” is a documentary directed by Australian director, David Bickerstaff. The film travels through Europe to the locations where Van Gogh worked and behind the scenes at Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum. In cinemas from Thursday, February 7.

RICHARD Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra will be joined by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir in an “ethereal and otherworldly” celebration of JS Bach and Arvo Pärt, with a little Sculthorpe and Grigorjeva to complete the impression. At Llewellyn Hall, Friday, February 8. Book at aco.com. au or 1800 444444.

DIRECTOR of the Canberra Bach Ensemble Andrew Koll tells us that the group has accepted an invitation to perform during June 2020 at the Leipzig Bach Festival in the University Church of St Paul, where Bach premiered some of his compositions. The theme of the festival, which will bring together Bach ensembles from all corners of the world, is “Bach – We Are Family” and Canberra’s is the only Australian group to be involved.

CANBERRA Wind Symphony presents “The Romance of the Flute & Piano”, celebrating favourite works from the Romantic era and beyond, with Sarah Nielsen playing flute and Emily Leong on piano. At Wesley Music Centre, 2pm, Sunday,

February 3. Book at eventbrite.com.au

SILVER Treads Seniors Tap Dancing group meet on Wednesday afternoons in Belconnen in school terms for fun, fitness and friendship, with classes for beginners through to the more experienced tapper. Inquiries to 0432 062379 or janetteos6@hotmail.com

SHORT+SWEET theatre festival will be back in Canberra this year after a glitch in 2018. As part of its tenth anniversary in Canberra, director Trevar Chilver is planning an “All Stars” program, bringing together writers and directors who have won an award at any Short+Sweet festival in the ACT. Proposals and new scripts should be directed to trevar@shortandsweet.org

By NEIL SOMERVILLE

THE Chinese New Year celebrations will be livelier than ever this year. Pig years have great energy about them with lots set to happen. It will be a year for doing, for striking deals and with plenty of initiatives.

For the individual, Pig years are also rich in possibility although there could be temptation to overindulge. A certain selfdiscipline and focus could be no bad thing. To find your sign and prospects, look up the animal ruling your year of birth. As each Chinese year begins late in January or early February, if you were born around this time check the actual year dates to find out which sign you were born under.

Neil Somerville is the author of “Your Chinese Horoscope for Each and Every Year”, published by Thorsons. ©2018 Neil Somerville. Distributed by Auspac Media . All rights reserved.

RAT

1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

With charm, style and a friendly manner, Rats get on well with most. They are great at spotting opportunities and have good skills and judgment. Rats like company and particularly value family and social life. A busy and constructive year ahead although, for best results, Rats should be careful not to overcommit or spread energies too widely. In work, Rats should use skills and ideas well and be proactive. Solid effort will be recognised with the chance for many to progress. If seeking a position, new and different openings could arise giving Rats the opportunity to develop in new ways. What is accomplished now can have future significance. Finances need careful management, especially with tempting chances to travel. Attention to self and well-being could also be to advantage with new interests attracting exciting possibilities. Domestically, a pleasing year with shared plans and projects proceeding well. Social life could also see an increase in activity with new friendships and, for the unattached, romance potentially significant. Overall a positive year and one with good opportunity but Rats need to manage time well, prioritise as well as give attention to self.

Tip for the year: Make the most of strengths and chances to develop. The good undertaken can leave a significant legacy. Enjoy spending time with others and aim for a good lifestyle balance.

It’s going to be a lively year for

OX

1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

Determined, reliable and hard-working, Oxen put much energy into what they do. They are thorough and well-organised and do not like to leave things to chance. Loyal to loved ones, Oxen are admired for their dependable, no-nonsense ways. A rewarding year with good chances arising. The Pig year contains an element of luck and once actions are taken, interesting developments could quickly follow. Often though, Oxen should draw on support from others rather than be too independent. Domestically special times are indicated with ambitious plans advanced and occasions to celebrate. New friends and contacts can be encouraging. This is a good year to develop and enjoy personal interests and, for any who have let lifestyle get out of balance, more “me time” and attention to self will benefit. In work, important headway can be made with chances for many to make more of skills and talents. For those seeking a position or looking to change, persistence will be rewarded, with many securing a role offering scope to develop. With a busy domestic and social life and some costly purchases, finances need careful management. There will be much to do and enjoy this year and Oxen need to be active and engaged as well as value relations and connections with others.

Tip for the year: Build on capabilities. The good done can help present circumstances as well as prepare the way for future possibilities.

TIGER

1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

Active, enthusiastic and interested in much, Tigers set about their activities with considerable energy. Full of ideas, they are creative and inventive. They are also prepared to take chances to get what they want. Tigers have widespread interests and enjoy socialising. Interesting times await, although to get the best from the year Tigers will need to stay focused and disciplined. Trying to do too much too soon could undermine efforts. Particularly in work, this is a year to make experience count and concentrate on objectives. Over the year, reputation and prospects can be considerably enhanced. For those seeking change or a position, important doors can open but these do need to be worked for. This is no year for Tigers to be lax. Similarly, in money matters, Tigers need to watch spending and be vigilant in dealings. On a personal level, Pig years can be lively with Tigers enjoying opportunities to go out and expand their social circle. Home life, too, can see much activity where sharing and good communication will be especially important. Pig years favour openness and acting together. Overall, Tigers can make good headway this year, but it will require effort and application. Tip for the year: Be vigilant and thorough. Results and successes will need to be worked for and when they come, be well-deserved. Value relations with others, sharing much and building support.

RABBIT

1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

Rabbits have a quiet, easy going manner. They enjoy company and conversation as well as appreciating the finer things in life. Rabbits are observant, careful and good at judging situations. Their views and advice are often highly valued. Rabbits can look forward to a fine year ahead with a lot going in their favour. When opportunities arise and ideas occur, they should act. Much happens for a reason with many well-positioned for advance. In work new openings can arise and, although these may come with a steep learning curve, many will have a chance to prove themselves in new ways and make good progress. Pig years also favour creativity and whether professionally or with personal interests, Rabbits should use and promote their talents well. This is a year to be bold with fortune favouring the active and enterprising. Progress can help financially but, with an often busy lifestyle and travel possibilities, this can be an expensive year with good budgeting essential. The Pig year can also see many social opportunities and, for the unattached, excellent romantic prospects. In home life there could be personal and family successes to mark and much practical activity, especially home improvements. Overall a year of scope and possibility with opportunities for Rabbits to progress and delight in many ways.

Tip for the year: Follow up ideas and chances and use creative talents well. By being active and involved, much can happen and be achieved.

DRAGON

1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012

Born under the sign of luck Dragons have great determination. They are resourceful, active and use their personality and strengths well. Dragons also have style, are sociable, enjoy many interests and have a mind of their own. Dragons are by nature, enterprising and their talents and drive will ensure this is a full and potentially rewarding year. There will be much to do though. To make the most of this time, Dragons need to watch their independent tendencies. By drawing on support and seeking appropriate advice, more can be accomplished. In work, advances can be made with chances to build on present positions or take on new challenges. Pig years offer scope and encourage many to further their skills and situations. Study and obtaining new qualifications may further these prospects. Financially, many could enjoy an upturn. Work, personal interests and mutual acquaintances can all help Dragons extend their social circle – although new romances should be allowed to build steadily rather than rushed. Home life will also be active and shared activities enjoyed although practical undertakings could be time consuming. Here pooling together will be to the advantage of everyone. Overall, an encouraging year when determination and personal skills can reward as well as lead to favourable opportunities.

Tip for the year: Make the most of support networks

to build social connections. This way more will become possible. Add to present skills and so help prospects for the future.

SNAKE

1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

Snakes are quietly ambitious. They know what they want and are prepared to work hard and wait patiently for the right moment. Snakes can be quiet and reserved but enjoy wide interests and are loyal to those close to them.

A busy and demanding year. Snakes will need to keep their wits about them and avoid rush or risk. This is a year requiring focus and concentrated effort. In work, additional tasks and pressures could frustrate but give a chance for many to prove themselves in new ways and gain valuable experience. Challenges can be important learning opportunities. For those seeking change or a new position, results will need to be worked for and here patience, persistence and self-belief can ultimately deliver. Snakes also need to be careful in financial matters and check anything that may concern them. With the busyness of the year, they should also allow time for interests, with creative pursuits favoured. Some activities could also have a good social element with chances to meet like-minded people and make new friends. Domestically, there will often be lots to do. Good discussion and early planning may lead to significant progress. Shared undertakings can be very appreciated. Pig years will challenge Snakes but what is accomplished can be a valuable platform to build on.

Tip for the year: Proceed steadily and draw on support. Despite pressures, keep life in balance, so preserving enough time for loved ones and developing personal interests

HORSE

1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

Strong-willed and hard-working, Horses have considerable style. They enjoy activity and have an adventurous, outgoing nature. They like company and conversation and present themselves well but, being independentminded, set about much in their own individual way. An important year ahead and although progress may be modest, Horses can get much value from plans and actions carried out. In particular, Horses would do well to give thought to current lifestyle and look to make improvements. Attention to self and lifestyle balance can make a noticeable difference. Instead of driving themselves, time set aside for interests, travel and sharing with others can lead to special moments. The Pig year also has good social opportunities, but any new romance should be allowed to build steadily. In home life, Horses will be in demand assisting loved ones and attending to much, including practical matters. In work, Horses may feel they are putting in major effort for little return but there will be plenty of chances to demonstrate strengths and enhance prospects. Finances can improve with Horses being fortunate

getting things done and striking deals

in certain key purchases. Although Pig years can be demanding, by rising to challenges and giving thought to lifestyle, Horses can further their capabilities and benefit from positive actions.

Tip for the year: Be aware, focus on tasks and adapt as necessar y. Give time to self and recreation. There needs to be a sensible balance this year, not all work and no play.

GOAT

1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

Observant, caring and sociable, Goats like company and have good understanding of human nature. They also attach much importance to home life. Born under the sign of art, Goats are creative and enjoy the finer things in life.

An excellent year ahead. Once Goats make their plans and get active, they may often find that circumstances are in their favour. For any who may have been disappointed with progress of late or are nurturing particular hopes, now is the time to redouble efforts. With a strong sense of purpose and good support, a great deal can now be achieved. In work many will have the opportunity to build on their position and take on greater responsibilities. For those seeking a position or wanting change, by keeping alert for openings and making enquiries, important chances can be found. Progress can help financially although Goats should watch spending. Goats will also enjoy the social opportunities of the year and for the unattached, excellent romantic possibilities. In home life, there will be proud moments as personal and family successes are enjoyed. However practical projects require careful planning and Goats need to be realistic about what is doable and affordable at any one time. Overall an encouraging year with Goats doing well and enjoying the year’s offerings.

Tip for the year: Take the initiative and act on plans and hopes. Much good can happen. Enjoy relations with others, for these too can help make the Pig year special.

MONKEY

1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016

Resourceful and good at spotting opportunities,

Monkeys like to keep active and have wide interests. They cherish good memories and with their sense of fun, enjoy company, conversation and an often busy home and social life.

A reasonable year although Monkeys will need to be alert and careful. To take risks or be less than thorough could undermine their position. In work, pressures could increase as more is asked and expected. However, while this can be an exacting time, by rising to challenges and focusing on tasks, many will usefully add to experience and enhance reputation. This is not a year to let standards slip. For those seeking change or a position, new roles could come with a steep learning curve but with an opportunity to develop further. Monkeys also need to be disciplined in money matters and wary of risk. The Pig year can see an increase in social activity

with interests having a pleasing interactive element. For the unattached, romantic prospects are good. Home life will be busy with Monkeys helping, advising and attending to loved ones. Here good communication will help as will advance planning. Overall, a busy year and while situations may test, by concentrating on what needs to be done, Monkeys can accomplish much and prepare the way for later successes.

Tip for the year: Be thorough. With commitment and focus much can be gained and useful skills acquired. Enjoy social opportunities and chances to build connections.

ROOSTER

1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

Roosters have considerable style and dignity. They enjoy company and conversation and are interested and widely informed. Roosters also like to be well-organised by planning ahead. An active year and with Roosters also blessed with a certain amount of luck. By taking the initiative and acting on plans, Roosters can make good progress as well as enjoying the chances that open up. In work opportunities can arise allowing them to further their position or, if seeking or feeling staid, securing a new role. This is a year favouring advance with Roosters often benefiting from fortuitous developments. Roosters should also look to develop skills, whether professionally or with personal interests. Again efforts can reward. Progress can help financially although Roosters should plan and budget for large outlays. Good management can make a difference. Social life can see an increase in activity, with Roosters in demand and widening their social circle. Pig years can be lively, with romantic prospects good. Home life can see celebrations and positive changes as projects and improvements are carried through. A great deal is possible this year and with a positive “can do” approach, Roosters can achieve much and look forward to some fine and well-deserved rewards.

Tip for the year: With a lot happening, keep lifestyle in balance and allow time for self and to enjoy accomplishments. Be flexible as new chances arise.

DOG

1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

favoured. A family success could also please. Social life can enjoy a fillip and, by following up invitations and activities that appeal, good times can be had and new connections made. Romantically, this too can be a significant year. In work Dogs will have chances to make more of skills and with opportunities to advance. While for those seeking new opportunities, these can often be secured with the potential to further advance. A year for moving ahead with Dogs helping longerterm prospects. Finances could also see improvement. Dogs can do well and enjoy much that happens this year. By acting on chances and using ideas and skills well, progress can be made with Dogs also delighting in times shared with others. A fortunate and favourable year.

Tip for the year: Take purposeful action. This is a year of good possibilities with effort and skills rewarding well.

PIG

1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Outgoing, kindly and trusting, Pigs enjoy good relations with many and with their home and social

life especially important. They also like their pleasures and the finer things in life. Pigs are hardworking and use their skills and opportunities well. A special and exciting year awaits. Aware that this is their own year, many Pigs will feel determined to make more of themselves and their situation with their efforts bringing important results. However rather than spread attention too widely, Pigs would do well to give thought to current objectives. With aims and focus more will happen. In work many will be well placed for promotion and/or securing a role offering greater scope. Pig years can re-energise the career of many although these chances need to be acted upon quickly. Personal interests can also bring pleasure with Pigs delighting in ways to use and extend their capabilities. With much happening, outgoings can be considerable and spending needs watching. Personal life can be busy, with special times (including possible celebrations) shared with loved ones. Pigs will also welcome the increased social opportunities of the year and for the unattached, romantic prospects are excellent and significant. A year of good chances and with many making excellent progress as well as enjoying much that the year offers and makes possible.

Tip for the year : Act with purpose. Make plans and follow these through. Enjoy relations with others. These can be special times so make the most of them.

Loyal and caring, Dogs are very protective of loved ones. They are also direct and straightforward in manner and prepared to stand up for their beliefs. Dogs have a tendency to worry but are dependable and much respected. A successful year ahead although to make the most of it, Dogs need to join with others rather than set about too much independently. With support, getting to know others and pooling ideas and resources, more can be achieved. Personal relations are especially well aspected and with home life busy and practical plans, shared interests and travel

Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

Sunshine for Ray as tax cloud clears

Ray works in the public service, runs a home business stringing tennis racquets and this year filed his tax return online. He came to see me after he received a letter from the Tax Office headed: “You need to check your work-related expenses". It ended by advising him that he had an opportunity to fix mistakes and avoid penalties "if you make any necessary changes by mid-February" and warned that were he audited in the future and had claimed something that he shouldn't have he could be charged a penalty.

Ray wanted me to check his return and confirm if it was correct. I spotted a large claim for home-office expenses claimed as a work deduction and asked if the claim was for work or for his business.

Ray said: “It's for both. My department encourages staff to work from home and tells us that we can claim home-office expenses on our tax. However, the bulk of the claim is for the business.

"I claimed electricity, gas, cleaning, rates, interest and insurance as I was told that I could by my supervisor.”

I told him that advise raises some issues.

"Last week the Tax Office put out a practice statement on claiming home running expenses," I said.

"It says that you can only claim interest, rates and insurance if you are using a part of your home exclusively as a place of business. Certainly, you can’t say that for your public service work at home days. More importantly, you have claimed all the deductions against your public service income which is not correct.”

Ray said that if he didn't do that he would make a loss on the business.

“Yes, that’s true, Ray", I said.

"However, you do have to put all your business claims against your business income and all your work claims against your work income.

"In the case of your work claims I recommend that you claim electricity and gas at the rate specified by the Tax Office, which is currently 52 cents an hour. The advantage of this is that you don’t have to apportion expenses based on floor area and hours of use. If you have an area set aside for work and business and keep a log for a month of usage you can claim a deduction against the relevant income.

“I also notice that you have claimed your car expenses against your employment income and I assume that these should be claimed against the business. So while most of your claims may be valid, they are in the wrong location on the form which has resulted in you getting a bigger refund.

"If you make a loss on the business and you don’t satisfy a few rules then you have to quarantine the loss and carry it forward until you make a profit or satisfy one of the other criteria to claim it.

“So we will prepare an amendment for you. It will result in a quarantined business loss and you will have to repay some of your refund without penalty.”

Grateful, Ray admitted to feeling really worried when he came in, but now felt confident claiming his deductions in the future.

If you have any issues with tax audits or tax office letters contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 02 6295 2844.

Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

The New Moon encourages your ambitious goals for the future, as you propel yourself into uncharted territory. With dynamic Mars and adventurous Uranus in your sign, it’s definitely time to be brazenly bold and dazzlingly daring as you initiate ideas, launch projects or make changes in your life. Be inspired by birthday great, writer Alice Walker. “We should learn to accept that change is truly the only thing that’s going on always, and learn to ride with it and enjoy it.”

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

You’ll be in the public eye in some way, as the New Moon stimulates your reputation/career zone. So you could shine at work, school or in a volunteer position. When it comes to your job, are you overdue for a pay rise or a promotion? Are you looking for employment or is it time to change vocation? The challenge is to make paid or volunteer work a pleasure, rather than a chore. As birthday great Bob Marley reminded us: “Love the life you live; live the life you love.”

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

This week Jupiter encourages good fortune, Mars boosts energy and motivation, and Uranus peaks curiosity. However, just because you’ve got a brilliant idea (and talked about it endlessly) doesn’t mean you’ve actually achieved anything. With Mars moving through your hopes and wishes zone, it’s time to be proactive about turning your dreams into robust reality. Attached Twins - Venus is visiting your intimacy zone (until March 1) so love and lust are on the menu!

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Have you been hiding away in your cosy Crab cave, hoping your day-to-day life will magically change? This week Mercury, Mars and Uranus rev up your reputation/life direction sector. So it’s time to bust out of your comfort zone, surprise others with some bold moves, and start making your dreams come true. Sick and tired of being single? Up until March 1 (courtesy of Venus and the New Moon) expect a plethora of potential partners to beat a path to your door.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

This week the New Moon helps you view a close partnership from a surprising new perspective. With a few strategic tweaks, the relationship can be turned around and transformed. You’re also keen to show loved ones how much you really care. Avoid being too overprotective though. All relationships need room to breathe and there’s a big difference between loving and smothering. Be inspired by birthday great, writer Charles Dickens: “A loving heart is the truest wisdom.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Prepare for a positive and productive week. Monday night’s New Moon encourages you to tweak your timetable, devise a new daily schedule or reboot a work relationship. The Jupiter/Mars/Uranus connections suit projects that require a curious mind, self-motivation and flexible thinking. So don’t waste the opportunity to communicate with colleagues, power through paperwork or learn something new. The weekend is a wonderful time for exploration and experimentation.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

pale yellow NZ cheese, with a strong, sharp flavour. (7)

9 What is a glass drinking vessel? (7)

10 What is another term for syntax? (7)

11 Name a volume of reprinted works by a single author. (7)

12 Name an Australian WWl army commander, Sir John ... (6)

14 To not be present, is to be what? (6)

18 What is the entire feathery covering of a bird? (7)

21 Which official government journal contains lists of government appointments, promotions, etc? (7)

22 What, historically, was a short rifle, for cavalry use? (7)

23 To have teased or heckled, is to have done what? (7)

24 To be allied by kinship, is to be what? (7)

Down

1 Brussels is the capital of which European country? (7)

2 Which colour is pale reddish purple? (5)

Your week in the stars – February 4-10, 2019 Sudoku medium No. 235

Quit sitting on the sidelines and being a wallflower Libra! The New Moon fires up your entertainment zone so shake your tail feather; party like a pro; and spend quality time with special friends who make your heart sing. Venus is visiting your domestic zone until March 1. So it’s the perfect time to patch up a rocky relationship with a frazzled family member, as you hold out the olive branch of peace. As birthday great Bob Marley sang: “Overcome the devils with a thing called love.”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Home sweet home is the place to be, as the New Moon and Mercury light up your domestic zone. Life is busy as family members come and go, plus expect stimulating conversations and contrasting points of views. It’s also time to be more proactive about improving your health and fitness via a more nutritious diet and a more flexible exercise routine. For some Scorpios, alternative medicine (like acupuncture, herbalism or hypnosis) could help shift a stubborn problem.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Adventurous Archers - with the New Moon and Mercury activating your travel zones, you’re feeling restless and are keen to take a trip somewhere soon. If you can’t jump on a bus, boat, train or plane, then go travelling in your mind via books and movies. All forms of social media are favoured, as you communicate your message to an expanding audience. Thursday and Friday are fabulous days when you complete a successful project or a lucky opportunity comes your way.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

Whatever you do, you’re in for the long run. But, if something isn’t working out, don’t be afraid to change horses mid-stream. Venus is visiting your sign, which encourages you to be flexible as you compromise and negotiate with plenty of Capricorn class and style. The stars also put you in the mood to nurture and reward yourself with some of life’s little luxuries. Whether it’s gourmet food, fine wine or prestige personal-care products, it’s time to pamper yourself to the max!

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Monday night’s New Moon is in Aquarius, so this week you’ll be twice as much fun – and double the trouble. Prepare to be wonderfully inventive … but also wickedly reckless and slightly rebellious. Attached Aquarians - aim to get the balance right between committed coupledom and invigorating independence. Singles – just when you thought it was ancient history, an old romance could be rekindled. But do you really want to go down that rocky road again?

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

This week, make sure you surround yourself with positive people who boost your confidence and encourage your dreams. But avoid getting drawn into complicated discussions about money or politics, as misunderstandings are likely. It’s a wonderful week to network with family and friends in a variety of stimulating ways. You have much to learn from a loved one who has a wealth of knowledge and life experience to share with you. There’s always something new to learn!

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2018

3 What are the dead bodies of persons preserved by the ancient Egyptian method of embalming? (7)

4 In the US it is called gasoline – what is it called in Australia? (6)

5 Name the particular kind of numerals, such as V, X, etc. (5)

6 To be capable of being dissolved, is to be what? (7)

7 Which cricket ground is the headquarters of the MCC? (5)

13 A country that refrains from taking part in a war is said to be what? (7)

15 Name an Australian federal Labor politician, Kim ... (7)

16 What, colloquially, might we call clothes? (7)

17 What is a person who has achieved fame in a particular field? (6)

18 Name another term for a pacer. (5)

19 To pasture livestock for payment, is to do what? (5)

20 What is a ringlike coral island? (5)

Cool ways to save water with ‘living’

EXCESS water bills will be the norm this summer with forecast, almost continuous heat-wave conditions. What little rain we’ve had will have evaporated within a few days.

But it’s mulching that reduces evaporation and some of the most effective ways of reducing evaporation is with “living” mulches. Most of them grow quite rapidly, so the sooner they are planted the better.

Interestingly, many ground-cover plants are from the hottest areas of the world, especially the Mediterranean. This makes them extremely drought tolerant.

Today I am concentrating on the carpet thymes growing to just seven centimetres. They tolerate light foot traffic, sun and shade and are perfect between pavers, as illustrated in a friend’s Ainslie garden.

Two of my favourites growing in our

garden are Thymus serpyllum “Pink Chintz” or “Magic Carpet”.

ANOTHER excellent range of hardy ground covers is the sedum family, many of which are also native to the Mediterranean region. Interestingly, besides ground covers, in the gardens of northern Europe they are used for environmentally friendly green roofs, providing the perfect insulation. Sedums range from the taller “Autumn Joy”, growing to 50 centimetres to the low five to seven-centimetre varieties used for ground covers.

A range grown by the wholesale nursery Plant Growers of Victoria, and available here, include the “Blob” range of sedums, because they look like tiny blobs of foliage growing so tightly together that no other plants readily grow through them. I have grown “Green Blob” in a large, wide but shallow container. I will divide and plant this sedum in our garden late in mid-autumn. I should get at least 15-20 extra plants from this one plant. Once growing well in the garden, I can then keep dividing them forever, the same as carpet thyme. Others in the extensive range of “Blobs” include “Chocolate Blob”, “Purple Blob”, “Silver Blob”, “Rainbow Blob” and “Gold Blob”, which are all

suitable for growing as a mulch on top of taller container-grown plants.

I NOTICE the wretched oxalis weed getting a grip in our garden. To spray and protect other nearby plants I cut the bottom off a 200mm plastic pot and placed it over the weeds to be eliminated. This stops the spray affecting other nearby desirable plants.

Then spray inside the plastic pot using Eco “Slasher”, an organic weed killer with the active ingredient nonanoic acid, made from natural plant oils. Leave for a few minutes until the spray has dried on the plant before removing the plastic pot on to the next weed. This is readily available from most garden centres and DIY stores.

Jottings...

• Look out for caterpillars on every plant from tomatoes to grape vines. Use Dipel, a natural bio-insecticide non-toxic to humans on the underside of leaves and around the base of the plant.

• Continue to plant English Spinach, so much tastier than so-called spinach or silverbeet with many more culinary uses.

• Deadhead lavender, cutting back only just into the old wood. Nothing too severe.

Right: Sedums… used in northern Europe for environmentally friendly green roofs, providing the perfect insulation.