CityNews 190328

DON’T DARE SAY ‘YES’ UNTIL YOU READ OUR SEVEN-PAGE WEDDING

Toadying to not upset the minister

JON STANHOPE

Canberra’s fail for urban architecture

PAUL COSTIGAN

Sharing the power of preschooling KATE MEIKLE

FED UP WITH POLITICS?

So’s ANTHONY PESEC and that’s why he’s standing for the Senate as an independent.

NEWS / the empowered feminine festival

Female festival to empower ‘energy of the heart’

By Kathryn VUKOVLJAK

A ONE-day festival for women with a mission to inspire, uplift and empower will be held in April.

The Empowered Feminine Festival comprises a day of speakers, work shops and yoga, with 16 presenters and an evening of performances at InSync yoga studio in Griffith, says creator Nandini Medici.

Yoga teacher Nandini says the festival, which first ran in 2017, of fers women an opportunity for con nection, sisterhood, networking and sharing.

“Women can feel empowered on so many different levels, it’s a beautiful day to be celebrated and nurtured,” she says.

“At the festival, we look at empowerment through connecting with the heart’s desire, developing resourceful skills to enhance everyday life, learning to ask for support from community and sisterhood, bringing more joy and pleasure into our lives and loving our bodies and ourselves.”

Nandini grew up in Tahiti and says when she moved to Australia in 2002 she had trouble adapting.

“It was so different and looking back I think I shut down a part of me so that

I would be able to adapt,” she says.

“After a few years I realised I’d lost my joy, I wasn’t relating to people in a way that was satisfying and I felt I had shut down the feminine side of me.

“And I found that the feminine is quite shut down, individually, at a community level and globally.”

Nandini says she found yoga when she was 14, being taught in an old building in Tahiti, and that she began to teach when she was 19.

In Australia, she studied yoga in 2002 and started teaching in 2005.

Nandini says the idea of the feminine isn’t gender-based, though this particular festival is only for women, except in the evening.

“Men and women have both qualities, even though women are traditionally the custodian of the feminine and men of the masculine,” she says.

“The feminine is the energy of the heart, while the masculine is the en-

Since 1993: Volume 25, Number 11

ergy of the head – ideally they come together for balance. Both can be out of balance, if the feminine is out of balance it’s over-emotional, gossiping, bitchiness, and stuck in nonaction. The masculine out of balance is a lot of what we see in the world, that need to control, competitiveness, lost in the head and not seeing the interconnectedness of life.

“To create the festival I need my masculine or it won’t happen! We

can’t talk about one without the other, because the feminine doesn’t exist without the masculine and vice versa.

“The thing is we are way too much in the head, we forget what it’s like to be in the body, to bring presence to the body which is healing.”

The festival resembles ancient women’s circles, says Nandini, and will open up to men and children for the evening session of sound healing and kirtan.

“We will be discovering the gems of the feminine, there are sessions on defining your deepest desires, sisterhood and feminine leadership,” she says.

Nandini says there’s an undercurrent of feminine awakening in the world to support our communities and the planet.

“When the feminine is awake we cannot hurt the environment because we feel that connection,” she says.

“The feminine is healing, it’s transformation, connection, a deep instinctual knowing. The masculine is structure, action, goal-oriented and achievement-focused.

“When we bring them together it becomes inspired action.”

The Empowered Feminine Festival, InSync Yoga Studio, 2A Barker Street, Griffith, from 7.30am, Saturday, April 6. More at empoweredfemfest.com or email enquiries@empoweredfemfest.com

Arts & Entertainment 18-20

Canberra Matters 8

Cinema 20

Crossword 28

Dining 19

Gardening 30-31

Horoscopes 28

Letter 9

News 3-12

Politics 12

Socials 13

Open garden in Queanbeyan. Story Page 30.

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SEVEN DAYS

Canberra comes together against hate speech

CANBERRANS have strongly condemned Islamophobia and hate speech, supporting a series of local events in the wake of the Christchurch terrorist attack.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr thanked community groups for organising vigils and events “for people of all faiths” saying such events “demonstrated the strength of the Canberra community”.

A SOLIDARITY rally in Garema Place featuring speakers from Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities was followed by a memorial vigil at the Nara Peace Park where the peace bell chimed 50 times, once for each life lost. Later there was a No to Racism – No to Islamophobia rally at the ANU. Two days later, the campus hosted an event under the banner “Terror in Christchurch; What’s Behind the Rise of the Far

prominent Canberrans used Twitter

to respond to the massacre. Former ADF group captain, now transgender writer, Cate McGregor tweeted a message of support “to all my Muslim friends, especially my mates with whom I play cricket. May God bless all of you… You have stood with me always. I am with you. Proud to call you brothers”.

Meanwhile journalist Ginger Gorman posted an “I-told-you-so”. The author of a best-selling new book on cyber violence and bullying, chillingly tweeted: “Yes, my book

dose of dorin

massacre. Hundreds reportedly took up the free-range free-for-all offered by “Chaser” team member Charles Firth who supplied 1000 eggs.

A confusing back-to-the-future policy appears to be the preferred way forward in addressing the ACT’s uncontrollable school-violence problem. Education Minister Yvette Berry has appointed an advisory group to “look at management of the issue” but it’s “unlikely to hear directly” from the families or teachers impacted. Minister Berry says the panel will “examine existing processes, using past incidents as case studies to determine where systems may be failing”.

ceremonial only ribbon-cutting minus trams. A parallel could be drawn between it and the official opening of another costly and controversial project, the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

Locals still snigger at the September, 2008, official opening of the AMC, when the prison was unable to be functionally opened due to a technical glitch that prevented its gates being closed, which could be akin to a light-rail network without trams.

‘Troll Hunting’ does precisely describe the Christchurch killer. It also outlines dangers of @Facebook live (and quotes them saying they’ve fixed it). But goddamn it I wish 50 people didn’t have to die before anyone took notice of what I’ve been saying for years”.

ON the lighter side, life-size portraits of Senator Fraser Anning were hung around the Canberra Theatre for audience members of the Canberra Comedy Festival to throw eggs at. The controversial Queensland independent who was “egged” by a Melbourne teenager has become a political pariah since making anti-Muslim comments following the Christchurch

Just how deeply into “past incidents” the new group digs is unknown, but a call I took from a frustrated parent of a special-needs child in 2010 might be instructive. The man’s son had been forced to change schools several times due to violence (stabbed on four separate occasions at the same school with a box cutter, sharpened ruler and scalpel). The man’s complaints were ignored by incoming Education Minister Chris Bourke who was eventually punted, only to be replaced by another in a long line of education ministers who’ve continually placed the issue in the too-hard basket.

ACT Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris has announced April 20 as the day light rail finally rolls but quickly added a caveat that the third-party rail regulator could still derail the launch, creating a

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SEEMS old politicians never die, they just continue to hand out how-to-vote cards. Spotted outside the busy NSW election pre-polling centre in Crawford Street, Queanbeyan, was the retiring Federal member for Canberra Gai Brodtmann. The former career public servant skilfully jostled with other party volunteers, urging voters swarming into the centre to support Country Labor’s Bryce Wilson.

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OPINION / the canberra syndrome Shameful toadying to not upset the minister

IN the latest edition of the “Winnunga News”, the newsletter of the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, its CEO Julie Tongs commented on a recent case in which the ACT Court of Appeal found that four Aboriginal children, who had been removed more than five years ago from their mother by the ACT Care and Protection Services and placed in foster care, had been wrongfully removed and ordered that the children be returned to their mother’s care.

In commenting on the case and the almost certain damage that the children and family will have suffered as a result of their forced separation and the restriction of access by the mother to her children to one day a year for each of the last five years, Julie Tongs said: “I am often forced to wonder about what mainstream, non-Aboriginal Canberra thinks about the levels of disadvantage and poverty endured by their Aboriginal neighbours and fellow residents.

The response of the Canberra community to the wrongful removal of these young Aboriginal children has disturbed me greatly. What I have found most alarming is that there has, in fact, been no response. The lack of a response from anyone suggests to me that Canberra has digested this tragic incident as just another case of a poor Aboriginal family being forced to endure what

Organisations have been taken hostage, metaphorically, by the ACT government and, fearing retribution, have succumbed to the ‘Canberra Syndrome’ and chosen silence and subservience over openness and honesty.

Aboriginal families have endured because of their race for the last 200 years.

If you don’t agree with me, I challenge you to tell me you genuinely believe that if this had been a case involving the wrongful removal of non-Aboriginal children from a white, middle-class mother and the banning of that mother from access to her children for five years, that the response of the Canberra community, after a judicial finding that the removal was unlawful, would have been no different.

Julie Tongs is, of course, correct. With the notable exception of a comprehensive report of the case in the “Sunday Canberra Times” this scandalous case has not rated a mention or elicited a flicker of concern in either the broader community, within community sector organisations, or the ACT government.

The mother did receive generous pro bono support from the Canberra legal profession including from the Canberra Women’s Legal Service, barristers Philip Walker SC and

James Haddock and the ACT Legal Aid Commission. One bright spot in a sea of unconcern.

I have, like Julie Tongs, pondered our mainly silent, complacent and accepting response to the plight of battlers, the poor and marginalised within our midst and have concluded there is, in Canberra, a corporate or institutional form of the Stockholm Syndrome. I have named it the Canberra Syndrome.

I recently raised this theory at a seminar on the new ACT Affordable Housing strategy at which I made a presentation alongside Prof Peter Phibbs, of the University of Sydney, who is one of Australia’s leading researchers on affordable housing.

I have looked closely at the strategy and I think it is deeply deficient. I doubt it will achieve anything of substance and in particular will have little if any impact on the affordability of detached housing. Prof Phibbs also expressed serious reservations about the new strategy.

However, when the strategy was released it was warmly welcomed by

community and business organisations including from the planning, housing and business sectors.

At the time, I could not understand why these organisations felt the need to toady, as they did, to the minister and government. Hence my musing that, like the poor bank customers in Stockholm, these organisations have also been taken hostage, in this case metaphorically, by the ACT government, and fearing retribution and the loss of their annual grants or access to government have succumbed to the Canberra Syndrome and chosen silence and subservience over openness and honesty.

My fears were reinforced in the last week when I read the report of the ACT inspector of correctional services, Mr Neil McAllister, into the care and management of remandees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

I cannot recall having read a more excoriating report by a statutory officer about an ACT government operation. The report contains 39 formal findings. In just the first six findings the inspector suggests that a range of laws, including the Corrections Management Act and the Human Rights Act are being routinely breached by the government.

In Finding 5 he posits that the current induction regime “may increase… the risk of suicide” by AMC detainees. Findings 28 to 33 blast the treatment of female detainees, a majority of whom are Aboriginal. For example, the inspector reports that the treatment of female detainees in the AMC “exposes women with histories of domestic and family violence or sexual assault to the possibility of re-traumatisation.”

As far as I am aware, these dramatic findings have not resulted in any community based organisation taking the issues up publicly or with the government. Best not to risk upsetting the minister or the government, I guess. Which is, after all, one of the defining characteristics of the Canberra Syndrome.

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

CANBERRA MATTERS

Canberra’s big, fat fail for urban architecture

EARLIER this month, at a Woden Valley Community Council meeting, people spoke of how the main roads around the Woden centre are being dominated by an enormous number of towers and that the chances are diminishing of having greenery along street frontages.

Canberra is soon to be no longer the bush capital. While the reference was to street/landscape design, there is also the accumulated effect of the many towers proposed for Woden. Each is assessed with no realistic reference to how many other similarly designed structures will be in the neighbourhood.

Across Canberra the story is repeated. It is not a case of one machine architecture building among good ones, it is more that all these ordinary apartment blocks and towers are not making the city streets architecturally appealing. Our main streets are becoming harsh environments of tower blocks. When community groups meet or go online to

All these ordinary apartment blocks and towers are not making the city streets architecturally appealing. Our main streets are becoming harsh environments of tower blocks.

discuss the many new developments being proposed for the inner north, including in Civic, residents are not getting excited about the quality of the architecture. More likely they let fly with frustration at yet another missed opportunity for good architecture.

People agree that when it comes to architecture, Canberra has a mixed record as a city of good design. But with so much development being pushed on to the population, now is the time for the government to insist on good design both for landscape design in open spaces and for the architecture of apartments and towers that are now popping up everywhere.

Which brings me to a statement made in recent times by the City Renewal Authority. Apparently, we are to expect that they will oversee worldclass architecture along Northbourne Avenue and in Civic. So far none has appeared. So maybe we should think carefully about the use of that term

“world-class architecture”.

Looking around the world, the standards of metropolitan architecture are pretty ordinary. So to be accurate, we should adjust our expectations of the City Renewal Authority and get ready for its version of low-level, world-class architecture. Given what is being built and proposed recently, that is one outcome the government is going to deliver on.

There are several ACT ministers making a mess of planning and the delivery of urban renewal, and all of them speak of the improvement that will happen one day due to the use of a design review panel. The message is that we are to expect major changes to architecture and landscape design and the provision of better green spaces. Not happening.

The design panel is a committee and, like all worthy panels set up to comment on design, it gets it right sometimes and other times other agendas get in the way. The government’s design review panel is no different. It remains an interim advisory committee only and, as such, is not linked to any mandatory

requirements. That is, its recommendations to the developers can be and are being ignored.

Yet the politicians speak so positively about their role in bringing about change. A complete furphy!

It is yet again an example of a good idea in the hands of a government not wanting to do anything to improve Canberra’s landscape design and architecture.

At two meetings recently I have heard residents bring up the derogatory term NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) in the context of why is it that residents get called this?

When it comes to the levels of design and architecture now being presented through the development

processes as overseen by the ACT planning agencies, NIMBY is an accurate term to use for Canberra residents. Residents definitely do not want any more of that boring, bland and unappealing stuff built in their neighbourhoods. Enough is enough. If there are any ACT politicians with a passion for and who understand the benefits of well-designed landscapes and engaging architecture, now is the time for them to show some leadership.

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

NEWS

‘Radical’ tale of Hackett’s shared church

By Andrew Leigh

IN the mid-1960s, clergymen Don Erickson and Colin Rush were each in charge of building a new Canberra church. The plan was for Erickson to build a Presbyterian church and Rush an Anglican church.

The Federal government had given them separate parcels of land and both had engaged an architect to prepare plans. Then Erickson and Rush, who had done their theological training at the same college, discovered that they had hired the same architect, who had given them similar designs, both to be built in the same suburb: Hackett.

So they decided to try something radical: they would share a church, dovetailing their Sunday services. Rush took charge of building the worship centre, with Erickson doing the rest of the buildings.

LETTER

In 1967, Holy Cross Anglican and St Margaret’s Presbyterian (now Uniting) opened on the corner of Antill and Phillip Streets, Hackett. It’s the oldest and only remaining co-operative church venture of its type in Canberra.

I learned the story of how this delightful shared church came into being at the induction of Tim Watson, the new rector of Holy Cross. The service was attended by a plethora of clergy from different denominations and celebrated the many ways that Holy Cross and St Margaret’s serve the community, including through a foodbank outlet (Tuckerbox), a toy library (Meg’s Toybox), disability accommodation (Ross Walker Lodge) and more. It’s an impressive example of how much more can be achieved through collaboration than by working alone.

Andrew Leigh is the Federal Member for Fenner, and his website is andrewleigh.com

Did anything ever change?

READING Paul Costigan’s column “Party first, government second… voters a distant third” (CN, March 14) made me wonder whether the current ACT government had ever changed a decision based on any of its so-called “consultation”. Perhaps “CityNews” could run a competition.

Write to us

Maria Greene, via email

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

MAKE THE CALL ASK YOUR ENERGY COMPANY FOR A BETTER DEAL

As of January 1st, providers have dropped prices on their most expensively priced plans due to pressure from the Government.

But if you really want to save, simply call your energy company and ask them for a better deal. You could lower your bill by $250 a year. Visit our website for tips on calling your energy company.

Sharing the power of preschooling

THIS year, my boy started attending the local preschool. For 15 hours each week preschool is available to all children starting school the following year as part of the public school system in the ACT.

It’s just as you would imagine, a lovely little preschool with lots of paints, a cubby house, book library, sandpit and...his favourite, Lego! We are thrilled to see him run off to preschool each time and come home with a smile on his face.

I’m a big fan of the publicly-funded preschool system in the ACT because it is in stark contrast to our experience to living in Sydney where the year before school is very much a user-pays model.

Most children in Sydney I know continue to attend their daycare centre and do their preschool program there until they start school, the added drawcard is the longer hours of operation to allow working parents to, well, work. And that’s a great help!

Where we lived in Sydney, our local preschool charged about $140 a week (for 2.5 days of short school hours), so preschool was far from publicly funded.

Daycare is brutally expensive,

Right now, one in five children in Australia start school developmentally behind their peers, but attending preschool can reduce that.

even with subsidies, and I know a lot of people looking forward to all their kids attending fee-free public school; they dream of buying a first home with the extra cash or start to make a dent in their mortgages.

Most if not all of the mum’s wages goes to pay daycare fees, especially those with more than one child. It’s a bit depressing but the experts can tell you for a fact that having early learning or preschool for two years before starting school sets children up for the best transition into the school system.

Although it was emotional to let go and send my two to daycare (let alone surviving those first winters where they caught every bug known to man), I have been impressed by my children’s ability to learn new skills and knowledge at such young ages, as well as being genuinely cared for and loved by their teachers.

It’s certainly not “just” babysitting. Their play-based explorations have extended them in ways we have been blown away by. Their (biased, I know) grandparents

characterise our kids and their friends as being far more sophisticated, engaged and switched on than when my generation was tiny!

Early learning, daycare or preschool – whatever you call it – is certainly an educative experience that is important for all children. I believe it is a right.

More than 80 per cent of a child’s brain has developed before children start formal schooling and the greatest window of opportunity is between 3-5 years of age.

That’s why the Early Learning and Care Council is lobbying both sides of politics to support their “Launch into Learning” campaign to allow two years of government funded preschooling to all children.

The council says, right now, one in five children in Australia start school developmentally behind their peers, but attending preschool can reduce that.

With the user-pays model so prevalent, these kids tend to be those whose families do not have financial means to pay. This disadvantage follows them throughout their schooling.

An OECD study in 2016 revealed that 15-year-old children who attended more than one year of preschool were associated with a 33-point gain in test scores, equivalent to an extra year of schooling. Other studies indicate that disadvantaged children benefit the most from an extra year of preschooling before school.

It’s great to know that the ACT leads the charge on this issue with last year’s announcement to move to introduce universal preschool for three-year-olds, with the plan to start with supporting the most disadvantaged kids in our community.

BRIEFLY Helen heads the council

HELEN Oakey is the new executive director of the ACT’s Conservation Council. Ms Oakey worked for Greenpeace advocating on climate change, and oceans and forest protection in Australia and internationally for eight years, before moving to the ACT Legislative Assembly as a senior adviser on environment and climate change issues for the Greens.

Band tops the bill

THE Band of the Royal Military College Duntroon is topping the bill at the annual Anzac Legacy Concert in the Royal Theatre, from 2pm, Sunday, April 7. Hosted by Canberra Legacy and compered by Ian McLean, other acts include women’s barbershop quartet Debacle, Canberra City Pipes and Drums, young pianist Linus Hanul Lee and a combined Sing Australia choir conducted by Tim Bevitt. Entry is free for Legacy widows, their carers, Junior Legatees, Legatees and their families. Tickets from Legacy House, Geils Court, Deakin, and on the day at the theatre for $10. More information at 6285 1800.

Fashion sale

ZONTA Club of Canberra is having a preloved fashion sale at the ATSI Cultural Centre, 245 Lady Denman Drive, Yarramundi Reach, 9am-3pm, on Saturday, April 6, preceded by a preview evening, 5pm-8pm, on Friday, April 5 ($25 tickets from trybooking.com). The range will include a designer collection for all sizes, retro, plus sizes, accessories, evening and casual wear. Entry to the sale is free.

Canberra’s National Zoo and Aquarium features a combined aquarium, metropolitan zoo and easily walked open-range section, as well as amazing up-close and personal animal encounters and tours.

With the now recently opened Adventureland playground, a truly unique playground featuring a total of 55 activities including various sized fibreglass animal sculptures for children aged 2-12 to explore and play on.

You can also experience the unforgettable with an overnight stay at the internationally recognised Jamala Wildlife Lodge. There is truly something for everyone at the National Zoo and Aquarium!

POLITICS / theocrats

Clerical power finally comes a cropper

FORTUNATELY, we do not live in a theocracy. Fortunately, because when religion is above the law there is always someone who is willing to interpret a direct message from their god.

Worse still, theocrats believe they should be able to impose such views on others – whether they are in a minority or otherwise.

Guilia Jones is a Liberal MLA from the electorate of Murrumbidgee, which largely includes Weston Creek, the Molonglo Valley, Woden and Kambah. Mrs Jones argued in the ACT Legislative Assembly that the sanctity, or the seal, of the confessional should be protected from the law. She is not alone in this view. However, her argument perpetuates the notion that the church (in this case the Catholic Church) should be above the law.

She was joined by another ardent Catholic MLA, Vicki Dunne. Neither eventually voted against legislation requiring mandatory reporting by clergy of cases of sexual assault, including those who have information from the confessional. However, they both spoke against the legislation as a restriction of freedom of religion.

Human sacrifice in the name of freedom of religion would not be tolerated in our society. Female genital mutilation is, and should remain, against the law in Australia despite the beliefs of some. The freedom-of-religion argument is not enough to consider

Guilia Jones’ arguments deteriorated when she attempted to align the issue of faith and child abuse with the recent massacre of so many people in the Christchurch mosques.

that these examples are acceptable in our society.

Similarly, it is appropriate for the law to ensure every step is taken to protect our children from sexual abuse.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Sexual Abuse exposed what happens when appropriate controls are not in place.

Mrs Jones’ arguments deteriorated when she attempted to align the issue of faith and child abuse with the recent massacre of so many people in the Christchurch mosques.

In some kind of distorted thinking she argued: “It is a very bad precedent at a time when we have all been reminded how the targeting of particular religious communities can have devastating consequences.”

Her hypothesis was that specific mention of the confessional in the legislation was “divisive” and was “unnecessary and a demonising act”. Real demonising is conduct where children are sexually abused?

The list of professionals required to report child abuse is extensive from health care professionals through to teachers. There should be no exception for priests. In fact, the last few years of

the Royal Commission and the legal case around even very senior church men ought to have demonstrated, even to people of Catholic faith, the consequences of religion being considered above the law.

Committed Catholic leaders include Francis Sullivan, who was the CEO of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council of the Catholic Church in Australia, and former Premier of NSW and now Senator Kristina Keneally. These are just two who have spoken about “clericalism” – or the problem of clerical power within the church. Both identified how the church has lost its way as a “church of the people” while power has been concentrated in the hands of the clergy. And the clergy with such power are mere men.

Sullivan identified the issue of “clericalism” in late December 2017 writing in the “National Catholic Reporter”. He wrote: “The lack of accountability and transparency within the church’s culture, the propensity for clericalism to create a self-protective caste where

power and privilege are the operating principles for addressing conflict and personal promotion and, finally, where the image of the institution meant more than the welfare of children.”

Some Catholics are able to see clearly that putting religion above the law simply causes problems. These problems are at their worst when there is a higher priority than protecting children.

ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay responded appropriately suggesting: “This law is about doing whatever we can to keep our kids safe. Nobody is above the laws of our nation, no politician, no religious institution. This is about doing what is right, as we promised and we shall deliver on that promise.”

In the end the ACT Assembly rejected the arguments put by Guilia Jones and Vicki Dunne and passed the legislation without dissent.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health.

Nurse shares ship

stories

CANBERRA Hospital nurse Danniele Hunter will talk about her volunteering with Mercy Ships off the coast of Africa earlier this year at Woden Daybreak Rotary Club’s meeting at the Southern Cross Club, Corinna Street, Woden, 7.30pm, on Friday, April 5. Everyone is invited to this free, no-obligation evening. More from wodendaybreak@outlook.com

Tea for many tongues

MEET others with a love of languages and exchange information about raising children bilingually at the Latin American Cultural Centre, 28 Astrolabe Street, Red Hill, 2pm-4pm, on Sunday, April 7. There will be fun activities for all ages. It’s free, but booking helps with catering. More at Facebook@ACTBEA or email canberrabilingual@gmail.com

Calling all superheroes

SUPERHEROES ACT is hosting a charity screening of the blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame” in support of Camp Quality at Palace Electric Cinemas, NewActon, 6pm, on Thursday, May 2. There will be free popcorn and drinks plus raffles and lucky door prizes. Superhero fancy dress is strongly encouraged. Book at superheroesact.com.au or call 1300 788616.

Rally launch has the minister in a spin

By Rod Henshaw

IT’S unusual to see a government minister exuding anything resembling wild enthusiasm when he or she is tasked with the job of opening a project, or launching an event.

They do hundreds of them each year. But for ACT Emergency Services Minister, Mick Gentleman, the excitement was palpable, when he was launching the 2019 Netier National Capital Rally at Kowen Forest on the outskirts of Queanbeyan.

His high-octane level of glee is probably not surprising after you discover he has raced these rally beasts for about 40 years. In short, the Honourable Minister is a self-confessed rev head. Essentially it was a media event, where us plebs of the fourth estate were treated to a hair-raising, dust-encrusted lap or two of a specially selected course where the forces of gravity seemed to be an irrelevance.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Book now to be sure

SCHOOL holidays are almost here. And since it’s the last break before winter, “CityNews” is featuring a bunch of outdoor and indoor activities to keep the kids (and bigger kids) busy over the weeks off.

World-class programs for creative kids

AEON Academy is a cultural organisation and locally-based not-for-profit providing worldclass programs to creative kids for more than 15 years, says artistic director Teffany Thiedeman.

the best equipment, so we try to mitigate all the risk we can.”

This year’s rally, on May 11, will again see around 30 to 40 cars do battle on the challenging circuit through Pierces and Uriarra Forest. The organisers have decided to run the event over a single day this year, which they say will give spectators easier access to all four stages.

Molly Taylor is one of a growing number of women who have contributed to eliminating the “men’s-only sport” image of rally racing. She’s been either a co-driver or driver for around 12 years and is in her fourth year with the Subaru Rally Team. It’s also her fourth year behind the wheel in the National Capital Rally.

And how do mum and dad feel about their young daughter seemingly risking life and limb at the mercy of a rally course? Not a problem, actually. Both her father and mother are deep into the sport.

“Mum did it professionally. She’s a role model for me,” Molly says.

While the sport is very tightly regulated, there’s the ever-present danger component at play, which seems to fuel driver and spectator alike.

For Molly Taylor, it goes with the territory.

“There’s always an element of risk in motor sport, but the amount of technology and the amount of emphasis we have on safety is

Meanwhile, as the cars start revving up for the media joyrides, one can’t help observing Minister Gentleman, who looks like he needs to have the smile on his face surgically removed before he heads back to the Assembly to face Question Time in a few short hours.

“It’s fantastic for Canberra to bring tourists in for this sort of event,” he says.

“It really is a different sporting event for the ACT. We call it the ‘thinking person’s’ motor sport because it really is technical.

“It’s about the team effort of the driver, the co-driver, the whole team – the service team as well”

This does seem strange coming from the mild-mannered minister Mick – until he explains his rally car origins.

“Back in 1979, we raced through the streets of Macarthur and a couple of other suburbs in Tuggeranong before houses were there.

“I haven’t done any serious competition for a couple of years now because work just pulls you away.”

He reminisces about the adrenalin which undoubtedly courses through the body and one could be forgiven for thinking it never subsided for Mick Gentleman.

“You go from nought to 200 kilometres an hour in a few seconds. You’ll be turning left in front of a tree at 120 kilometres an hour.”

Maybe it’s not dissimilar to a day in the Assembly when things are tense, I venture.

“It’s probably safer in the car,” he replies.

“These autumn holidays, let your kids experience our specialised program streams available every day of our jam-packed holiday program,” she says.

“In the visual arts stream, your child can choose from a suite of exciting art workshops including artist-led printmaking, ceramics, mixed media sculpture and painting.

“For theatrical kids, the dramatic adventures program offers the opportunity to explore the diverse realms of history and fantasy through live-action challenges, improvisation, storytelling and dramatic make-believe,” says Teffany.

Aeon Academy also offers a foundation program for 5-13 year-olds, which combines art and craft activities, guided nature play, construction and active games.

“Three-to-six-year-olds will love our specialised program that includes imagination and nature play, dress ups and storytelling in a nurturing environment,” she says.

Enjoy the best of birds

More at aeonacademy.com.au Book via email to info@ aeonacademy.com or call 6132 4268. GET up close and personal with a range of birds at the Canberra Walk-in Aviary.

The aviary is a 1000sqm planted walk-in enclosure that has about 550 birds from about 60 different species.

“The aviary is great fun for all ages. You have the chance to get up close and personal with a range of birds,” says Mick Logan, owner and manager of the aviary.

“While not all birds will interact with you, you get the chance to observe, up close, species of birds that otherwise would be hard to see in the wild.

“We give you a small plate of food and a tub of mealworms and you can wander around and feed the birds.”

Mick says that people are welcome to take photos of the birds.

“Providing the weather is fine you can have a great time feeding the birds or just observing our feathered friends,” Mick says.

Canberra Walk-In Aviary, 8 O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls. Call 6230 2044 or visit canberrawalkinaviary.com.au

of school holiday fun

Limited spots for eggciting event

GUNGAHLIN Marketplace is running exciting and free activities for children over the Easter school holidays, says marketing manager Beth Gooch.

“Our main goal is to provide a really fun and welcoming spot for families to not just do the shopping but also be entertained over the school holidays,” she says.

“The activities will be super entertaining and are designed to be hands-on, which allows children to be creative.”

But Beth says the big event will be the Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 20.

Families can take part anytime between 10am and 1pm but Beth says it’s important ro register because it’s limited to 200 children.

“Children accompanied by a parent or guardian register with our event staff, and off they go,” she says.

“Children are given their clues at the front of Big W and at the end of the hunt, children receive a bag of eight chocolate eggs from the Easter bunny.”

For families who can’t make the big hunt, Beth says there’s something on most days between 10am and 1pm.

“It’s really flexible because we’re trying to make it easy for families,” she says.

“Gungahlin Marketplace is a community focused and family friendly place with great parking, stroller parking, a parents’ room and a free playground.”

Gungahlin Marketplace, 30 and 33 Hibberson Street, Gungahlin. Visit marketplacegungahlin.com.au

Canberra Walk in Aviary

Come along and see the friendly free flying birds that can be photographed and fed.

Walk amongst over 500 birds from 50 species from Australia and around the world!

Open 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm)

Time to plug in some energy policy, says aspiring senator

PEOPLE are frustrated with politics, says Anthony Pesec who, frustrated himself, has decided to run as an ACT independent candidate for the Senate.

He’s been frustrated about many government policies but what really sent him towards a political career was Australia’s missing energy policy, which he says hasn’t been there for more than a decade.

“We live in a country which is abundant with resources yet we have amongst the highest energy prices in the world,” says Anthony, 43, of Chapman.

“It’s absurd that it’s forced some Australian subsidiaries of businesses to shut down whilst their overseas operations flourish, particularly in the steel-making industry, because you just cannot work here with these sorts of energy prices.”

Anthony, who is the co-founder of Intelligent Energy Solutions, a company specialising in solar-power purchase agreements in Canberra, says it hasn’t been a lighthearted decision to run as a Canberra candidate for the Senate.

“It’s not easy to make that decision, to be prepared to shelve a lot of your business interests and ambitions and demands so you can focus on a political career,” he says.

It’s not easy to make that decision, to be prepared to shelve a lot of your business interests and ambitions and demands so you can focus on a political career”

But many of Anthony’s life experiences and passions have led him to this decision.

Born in Canberra, Anthony’s parents, both Croatian immigrants, came to the ACT in the ‘60s.

He did his schooling in the Weston Creek area at Chapman Primary, then Stromlo High, formerly known as Weston Creek High and then Stirling College, which no longer exists.

Anthony grew up on residential construction sites with his dad who was a home builder and, at 17, he went to Sydney and studied civil engineering at the University of NSW.

“That conveniently finished a few years ahead of the Sydney Olympics so that meant I was quite busy,” he says.

In 2001 he went back to university and studied for an MBA at the Australian Graduate School of Management, where he undertook two internships and studied on exchange in Barcelona.

“Following on from the MBA, I fell into investment banking. I got recruited by Barclays Capital (now Barclays Investment Bank) in London, which was pretty exciting,” he says.

Anthony wasn’t planning on moving to Europe but ended up living in London for many years before moving to Croatia for a decade, all the while coming home to Canberra to visit his parents every Christmas and escape the cold European winters.

“In Croatia I set up a corporate finance consultancy based on the

for the future generations because those arguments of the past are gone.’

‘Neither senators have done anything because they have a safe run in under their Liberal and Labor banners’

That’s been another reason that I’ve been compelled to do this. In the past we haven’t had an independent ACT senator, but I think now there is an opportunity for this given this push nationwide by independents and the continuous dissatisfaction amongst voters with the major parties. Many voters, like me, have been dissatisfied.

What is your main policy platform as a Canberra independent candidate for the Senate?

I’m concerned with climate change and a lot of my concern is about the Coalition, specifically Energy Minister Angus Taylor. We’re not meeting our Paris commitments, emissions are going up and they will continue to go up with the Coalition.

In this Q&A he discusses his reasons for standing and why the ACT needs an independent voice such as his.

Q: Why are you running as an independent for the

A: I just don’t think we’re being well represented here

representation voting system works for the Senate, it usually means that whoever the candidates for Labor or Liberal are, just walk on in. But things have changed as a result of a lot of turmoil last year within the Coalition Labor and Liberal parties drift away from the centre, it

anymore. Our Canberra-based senators are a little bit more focused on their careers as politicians and in both shelve a career that I already have to get into this. I have genuine intentions of what I think I can offer in terms of representation and I’m just not really sure that’s being

Why hasn’t Canberra been represented well by its

Decentralisation, for example, has been an issue that’s been happening for years. Barnaby Joyce notoriously

Canberra is after all the seat of government. This isn’t

What will you do differently?

Canberra’s had self government for over three decades now and what we’re seeing is Senator Seselja arguing against the territory having its own rights to legislate on certain matters and I think that’s quite disingenuous to approach politics that way. I’m talking about the issue of euthanasia.

To push for a restriction on territory rights is not true to being a representative of the territory. Seselja is trying to push through his agenda on an issue without actually respecting the view of the territory and that’s completely contrary to what a senator on behalf of the ACT should be doing.

If we look back at former Liberal senator Gary Humphries, he famously crossed the floor on these sorts of matters because he deemed them not to be for Canberra’s benefit. It’s been years since we’ve seen that sort of bravery in representation here in Canberra because of a career politician’s desire to pander to his own hard right supporters as opposed to representing the people of the territory.

I wouldn’t play politics with a matter in trying to restrict the territory’s rights to legislate. We are a democracy after all. I think it’s okay to have different views on matters.

The whole word parliament comes from the word “parlay”, which is to talk or to discuss. It’s good to have our representatives debating different opinions on matters but they must do so respectfully and I just don’t think that’s been done.

We had a broken promise to honour the territory’s view expressed through the postal vote on marriage equality where Senator Seselja promised to vote in line with Canberra’s views on the matter. He didn’t seem to have any problems breaking that promise. Why he made that commitment in the first place is beyond me. If he had an opinion on the matter then stick to that opinion. He should have known that the postal vote was going to come in overwhelmingly in support of marriage equality here in Canberra.

But I’m equally concerned with Labor policy. We’ve got a situation right now where Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is the most unpopular Opposition leader ever. The fear I have is that with a fairly comfortable lead in the polls against the Coalition, Labor feels that it can bring in any policy it wants. I think its tax policies will be bad for Australia.

My focus with everything is on economic and social sustainability. This includes renewable energy. It is being argued in an ideological way but it isn’t an ideological matter. It’s very much science-based and very much economics-based and when we have renewables, which are clean and are cheaper, then that should be the end of that discussion. Renewables are now at a point where, without subsidiaries, they are competitive with fossil fuel.

We have a whole fleet of coal-fired power plants in Australia, which will have to be retired eventually, yet we remain in this policy vacuum. Similar to the business I’ve got, which proves that you can have clean energy that is cheaper than the grid energy, I just don’t understand how government continuously bashes its head against each other and, in the meantime, achieves nothing. That’s been my primary reason to become a candidate for the Senate but there’s a lot more to it than just that as well.

What other policies will you focus on as a candidate?

A key issue for me is planning. We’ve got a lot of national capital areas within Canberra such as the Parliamentary Triangle and West Basin. There has been a lot of criticism about overdevelopment of apartments in Canberra, there’s been a bit of fear about the height of developments on Northbourne Avenue for example. That’s a Federal matter because Northbourne Avenue is a major point of entry into Canberra. Canberra should be iconic, it should be something that all Australians are proud of.

don’t think that either of our senators has really done

Be

These are all examples of the misrepresentation that we’ve had and whilst I do criticise Zed a little bit here, on the other hand, Labor’s Katy Gallagher hasn’t done a thing for the city, either.

These are Federal matters and ones that I hope to take to the Senate and represent Canberra’s best interests. I will also fight for more resources for aged care and mental health care, and I’ll fight against cuts to health and Medicare funding.

I stand for a strong economy, clean energy and defending the public service.

As the political parties become more extreme and out of touch, who will be there to ensure balanced opinions on vital issues?

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Potting Harry Potter pays off for hard-up actors

By Helen Musa

“IT’S fabulous to get paid for messing around,” English actor and writer Jefferson Turner, says.

He’s co-creator with Daniel Clarkson of “Potted Potter”, all seven Harry Potter books in 70 minutes, and coming to Canberra soon.

The title says it all. Devised by a pair of cash-strapped English actors in 2005 when they were asked to put together a little show for a bookstore to coincide with the launch of the sixth Harry Potter book, the West End and Broadway hit sensation has been playing for more than a decade all over the world.

It’s also won an Olivier Award nomination and made its astonished creators very comfortable indeed.

The show has never been to Canberra and English actors Scott Hoatson and Joseph Maudsley will play all the roles here, as Clarkson and Turner rarely take to the stage these days.

When “CityNews” catches up with Turner by phone to “dear old London town”, as he puts it, he’s keen to reminisce.

“Back in 2005, it was supposed to be five books in five minutes… actually it took about 15 minutes as we messed around with hats and silly voices… it was intended to be for one day,” he says. But then they decided to turn it into an hour-long show for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2006.

“It took us about six weeks editing words

from inside dad’s office and our parents’ homes,” he says. “Again, we were just messing around.”

Condensing all the “Harry Potter” books and a game of Quidditch into just over an hour, they’ve included all the well-known characters, a fire-breathing dragon, silly hats, songs, absurd props and a dose of magic.

“The format was a bit rough around the edges 13 years ago, but now we’ve presented it so many times and we found that there is a huge fan base out there and if we forgot a character we were in trouble,” he says.

That’s exactly what happened with Helena Bonham Carter’s character, Bellatrix Lestrange, so they finally relented and put her in.

Turner was about 16 or 17 when the first Harry Potter book came out but had a younger brother who could advise him.

“I’ve always enjoyed children’s books,” he says. “I watched a lot of cartoons as a child but my taste has matured and I love reading Roald Dahl, especially ‘Matilda’ and ‘The BFG”, which takes me back to when I was young.

“Potted Potter” is one of four “Potted” shows created by the pair – the others are “Potted Panto”, “Potted Sherlock” and “Potted Pirates”. Sherlock is his favourite.

Before this success, they were both doing it hard. Clarkson was a properly trained actor but Turner was more of a beer-drinking BA student.

“We had to work hard and the mere

are,” says Turner.

He put it down to the mania for “Harry Potter”, likening the phenomenon to similar crazes for Dickens, “Star Wars” or the Beatles.

play all the characters in 70 minutes of “Potted Potter”.

imagination” – have they ever met her?

Well, once. “She was doing a doorstop for her charity and her producer introduced us… she said: ‘Oh, you’re the “Potted Potter”

“Potted Potter, The Unauthorized Harry Experi ence, A Parody by Dan and Jeff”, Canberra Theatre, April 4-7. Suitable for ages six and above. Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au

DINING / public, manuka

Breakfast in the Public domain

By Wendy JOHNSON

I HAVEN’T dined in public at Public for yonks. I went through a phase when I wasn’t convinced the food was worth the visit, but happy to accept a friend’s invite to head to Manuka for breakfast on a beautiful, sunny morning.

Public’s outdoor spaces are huge and well designed. Loads of greenery, various zones (big communal tables, smaller tables), cushions, interesting light fixtures, attractive posters (often with a touch of humour). It commands a presence on the corner of Franklin Street and Flinders Way.

The breakfast menu has some quirky items that immediately caught our attention. It didn’t take long for us to choose.

We ordered at the bar and were greeted warmly by a young female member of staff who provided us with friendly and prompt service throughout our stay.

For breakfast, you can start with something small, such as the mini fruit loaf from Three Mills Bakery with beautiful cultured butter and spreads ($10). Health addicts will no doubt gravitate to toasted granola with fresh fruit ($14) and those looking for a hearty start to the day can dig in to the Big Breakfast ($23). We were after something different and found it.

The Green Breakfast Bowl looked stunning,

The avo was beautifully ripe and creamy, the baby carrots sweet and crunchy, the hummus smooth and not overly garlicky and the quinoa not overdone. It came with loads of greens and two poached eggs cooked to perfection. It was so pretty I didn’t want to disturb the dish by digging in. I felt healthier with every bite.

My friend’s dish was equally appetising and also a feast for the eyes. The zucchini and corn torta ($16) was packed with flavour and the coriander yogurt balanced nicely against the tangy romesco. Two more perfectly poached eggs.

We shared a serve of yummy crispy bacon. Next time (and there will be one soon) I may give the coconut panna cotta a go ($16), made with maple pumpkin, fresh berries and granola.

Hats off to Public for tantalising tastebuds at breakfast. One expects the usual suspects to be on the menu, which is totally fine –indeed essential – but when you’re not so keen on just eggs and toast, it’s great to order something refreshingly different. Sure, there are breakfast bowls in loads of places these days. The key is to get a great one and I did.

Our coffees were super, too – just the right temperature and prepared with love. I’ve had some run-ins with bad service lately, but not this time at Public. We weren’t pestered but not forgotten, which added to the experience.

Public, 1-33 Flinders Way, Manuka, open seven

MUSIC FOR EASTER

THEATRE

Monologues with a message

By Helen Musa

EVERYMAN Theatre is about to transform The Courtyard Studio at the Canberra Theatre Centre into a convivial English tavern with a bar, seats and tables for its latest show, “Queers”.

A series of monologues by British playwrights put together by Mark Gatiss, best known for writing and acting in “Sherlock” and “Doctor Who”, will see actors Chris Baldock, Pippin Carroll, Colin Giles, Cole Hilder, Alex Hoskison, Karina Hudson and Jess Waterhouse revealing what it meant to be queer during different years over the last century.

Commissioned in 2017 for the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act 1967 which decriminalised homosexuality in the UK, it was written by playwrights, Gatiss, Jackie Clune, Matthew Baldwin, Gareth McLean, Jon Bradfield, Keith Jarrett, Michael Dennis and Brian Fillis and staged at the Old Vic in London, which commissioned the work from funds provided through the TS Eliot Estate.

Co-director with Jarrad West, Steph Roberts explains that it was also conceived

Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm,

“Jarrad and I’ve been on the same page but we work in different ways, as we are two different people in the way we relate to actors.”

Roberts gives us a hint of what’s in store.

The opening piece by Gatiss is the evocative “The Man on the Platform” where we meet a soldier on leave from the trenches during 1917. He’s gay but that can’t be openly discussed – and he’s fallen in love for the first time.

“To me it seems like a theatre piece, you can and the language is quite poetic.”

“Before we embarked on it we sat down and talked about how we would approach it.

“Rehearsals so far have been one-on-one sessions with an actor rehearsing with either one or the other of us, and then we swap over.”

Roberts and West have adopted a most unusual approach to directing, with a division of labour at rehearsal time, although for the final weeks they’ll rehearse in the venue, all together.

“It’s really worked quite well as the cast gets to review their interpositions,” she says.

Book ending that is “Something Borrowed”, by Alan Cumming, set almost 100 years later, as a groom-to-be prepares for his gay wedding. It illustrates how far things have come, but it’s not smooth sailing. And, yes, there are pieces by and about women.

In “The Perfect Gentleman” by Jackie Clune, set in the 1920s, a woman dressed as a man longs to feel free. In “Missing Alice” by Jon Bradfield, set in 1957, a woman discovers she has become the respectable cover for her husband’s affairs with men.

“It’ll be an immersive experience,” Roberts says, with The Beards – Louiza Blomfield and Alex Unikowski – providing musical atmosphere as the audience and the actors sit together, united.

“Queers”, April 5-20, The Courtyard Studio. Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Spotty Kidman unlike anything she’s done before

“Destroyer” (MA)

CENTRED around Los Angeles Police Department detective Erin, “Destroyer” may not be the greatest thriller that ever came out of Hollywood, but inputs made to it by two women make it high-grade cinema for the right reasons.

The film’s structure segues seamlessly back and forth between young Erin full of enthusiasm about her work and contemporary Erin barely functioning after two decades of routine during which she has borne a daughter and drunk more alcohol than was good for her.

On a routine case, Erin discovers evidence that Silas (Toby Kebbell), a criminal whom she believed had disappeared early in her career, therefore presumably dead, is alive and well and back in LA after 15 years. Silas is a nasty piece of work. The film is about Erin’s efforts to build a case against him while also trying to protect her teenaged daughter Petra (Tatiana Maslany) from his pernicious influence.

In a recent interview director Karyn Kusama spoke of her surprise when Nicole Kidman asked if she might play Erin.

It’s Kidman unlike anything we’ve seen from her, a virtuoso performance of a complex character in situations that in most thrillers would be played by a male actor. The glamorous Kidman of yore here plays a woman uncaring of her appearance, with a spotty complexion, a gravelly voice and a gritty vocabulary, competing on level terms in a man’s world. Watching her with all these changes is a rewarding experience.

At Palace Electric, Dendy, Hoyts and Belconnen

“Fighting with My Family” (M)

THE acronym WWE gets frequent mention in graphics appearing from time to time in writer/director Stephen Merchant’s entertaining UK/US co-production.

“W” could mean “World”. Indeed, it does. Or it could mean “Wrestling” or “Women”. For neophytes like you and me, the “E” is hard to work out. It stands for “Entertainment”.

WWE is not the classic Greco-Roman wrestling style. About the only things that its rules seem not to allow are biting and kicking to the genitals. Some might consider the bouts to be contests. They’re big on series TV. Men and women compete.

I don’t say that results are rigged. But events in the ring are designed to please the audience no less than to win.

“Fighting with My Family” purports to tell the real-life story of Saraya-Jade Bevis, daughter of Ricky (Nick Frost) and real-life Julia who fought under the name Sweet Saraya (Lena Headey) and younger sister of Zak (Jack Lowden).

The Knight family has raised itself a little above the base of the working class in

Norwich. They’ve all been wrestlers.

The film’s producer is Dwayne Johnson aka “The Rock” who, before becoming a Hollywood action star, was in fact a WWE drawcard. Legend has it that watching a UK TV documentary about the family moved him to think about making a feature film about Saraya’s career under her fighting name Paige that saw her become WWE Divas Champion in 2014/15.

The film ends after Paige’s first of those championships. Playing her, Florence Pugh delivers an awesome performance. It’s unexpectedly good fun, interspersed with moments depicting what must have been excruciatingly painful to the players. Life was not meant to be easy.

At all cinemas

“Swimming with Men” (M)

ERIC (Rob Brydon) crunches numbers for a big company that takes him and his mathematical skills for granted. His life is blighted by the monotony of the daily routine. He adores his wife Heather (Jane Horrocks) but she’s just been elected to the local council. Eric thinks she fancies the mayor. When he moves out, the boredom accompanies him.

ARTS IN THE CITY

Eric swims in the local pool where he sees a group of men, mostly middle-aged, enjoying each other’s company. He finds them agreeable to be with. They decide to make themselves into a synchronised swimming team just for the fun of it. At the pool, Susan (Charlotte Riley) instructs a women’s synchronised group. A visiting Swedish swimmer fancies her. More importantly, he sees no reason why the men should not enter an unofficial world synchronised swimming competition in Italy in six weeks’ time. Susan agrees to coach them. They don’t win gold. But when they get back, they find a heroes’ welcome. And Eric goes home.

Aschlin Ditta’s screenplay provides director Oliver Parker with a story for a bunch of reliable British actors to deliver in this 97-minute somewhat soggy around the edges yet pleasant lightweight movie. Team members don’t look beautiful exposing all that pale skin and flaccid flesh. But they do deliver in the water.

At Dendy, Palace Electric, Capitol 6, Limelight and Hoyts Belconnen

Comedy’s colourful parade of characters

By Helen Musa

JIM Cartwright’s comedy “Two” sees Brian Meegan and Kate Raison playing a middle-aged landlord and landlady couple who met as children. Through flashbacks, they portray 14 colourful characters. Staged by artistic director of the Ensemble Theatre Mark Kilmurry, it’s coming to The Q, Queanbeyan, April 4-6. Book at theq.net.au or 6285 6290.

CANBERRA Big Band Collective will be performing swing music in “Around the World”, featuring the combined talents of local bands, In Full Swing and Spectrum. At Canberra City Band Hall, Phillip Avenue, Watson, 6pm, Saturday, April 6. Book at trybooking.com or tickets at the door.

CANBERRA director Chenoeh Miller’s production “Evangeline” won the Best Circus/Physical Theatre Award at Week Three of the Adelaide Fringe.

GRIFFIN Theatre Company has replaced star actor Kate Mulvany with Sheridan Harbridge in the role of Tessa for the June season of “Prima Facie” at the Courtyard Studio. Not even the Canberra Theatre knows why, but the director of Griffin, Lee Lewis, gives a clue when she says: “Kate’s exceptional talent has been recognised internationally and we wish her the best for this new endeavour”.

Orchestras, returns to Australia to conduct the 2019 Canberra Symphony Orchestra’s “Artist in Focus” concert featuring oboist Diana Doherty, in Nigel Westlake’s “Spirit of the Wild, Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra”. The concert will also feature Beethoven’s overture to “The Creatures of Prometheus” op. 43, Ross Edwards’ “Ecstatic Dance” and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 in A minor, op. 56. At Llewellyn Hall. 7.30pm, April 3-4. Book at cso.org. au or 6262 6772.

THE biennial festival of arts and activism, Two Fires is up and running again in Braidwood, with a free exhibition of fine artworks at the Braidwood Regional Arts Group Gallery, in Wallace Street, a new Aboriginal history exhibition at Braidwood Museum, selected words

March 29 and runs for two weekends.

NZ soprano Rebecca Ryan and Canberra pianist Anthony Smith will appear together for Art Song Canberra’s “Love and Life” concert featuring the masterpiece “Vier Letzte Lieder” by Richard Strauss. At Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest, 3pm, March 31. Book at trybooking.com or at the door.

MILENA Cifali (guitar and vocals) and Jim Horvath (bass and percussion) have collaborated on an album of songs, “Whose broken is this?” to be launched alongside a Ginninderra Press anthology of the same name by noted Canberra poet John Passant. At Beyond Q Books, Weston Arcade, 11 Brierly Street, Weston Creek, 4.30pm-6.30pm, Saturday, March 30. Free, but bookings advisable at 0421 208963 or milicifali@gmail.com

ALL ABOUT WEDDINGS

Be sure of making it a day to really remember

GETTING married should be one of the most memorable days in a person’s life.

But to be certain of making it unforgettable, planning is the secret. Whether it’s planning for glowing skin on the day, organising a fabulous meal or booking an elegant reception venue, “CityNews” speaks with experts from the region who love to help every couple achieve a wedding day to remember.

Big choices for the big day

WITH more than 30 years of experience, the Hellenic Club has mastered weddings and knows how to take the stress out of a big day, says operations manager Mick Douros.

The Hellenic Club will personalise the event by organising decorations, food, flowers, music and more.

“We can ensure your wedding guests are treated with a unique and appetising menu concept to complement the truly spectacular settings that the Hellenic Club offers,” Mick

The Hellenic Club in Woden offers grand

ballroom style with five luxurious and elegant wedding reception rooms for up to 600 guests, while the Hellenic Club in the City features city chic style for intimate occasions, with two newly refurbished rooms for 50 to 100 guests.

Mick says the award-winning venues have world-class staff who make sure that brides and grooms, and their guests, receive the love they deserve on the day.

The Hellenic Club, call 6162 6624 or visit hellenicclub.com.au

Naomi shares the region’s best wedding secret

CONTEMPORARY, rustic and historic is how

Naomi Chen describes what she believes is the region’s best-kept secret when it comes to weddings.

“The Royal Hotel Queanbeyan has a lot to offer in terms of our food and our venue,” says Naomi, the hotel’s functions and events manager.

Renovated in November, she says it’s kept its original historic feel but now has an atrium and rooftop area.

“It’s great for weddings because you get the entire upper house booked for the day and night,” she says.

Naomi, who is the dedicated events manager possible,” she says.

“We offer an extensive range of affordable menu packages, or we can work with you to tailor a menu that reflects your personal taste and style.

“Our professional events team is dedicated to deliver an amazing experience and our executive chef can also cater to dietary requirements including gluten free, diabetic, allergies, religious and lifestyle choices.”

And, she says ceremonies can be held on-site or as a wet-weather option in the beautiful atrium or rooftop terrace.

“We provide a green room for the bridal party to get ready in, too,” she says.

The Royal Hotel QBN’s brand new Upper House venue boasts a collaboration of contemporary comforts integrated with the original architecture, an abundance of natural light and complemented by a beautiful atrium bar overflowing into the rooftop terrace. The Upper House is suitable for 130 guests seated, and 250 guests cocktail style, offering a unique and memorable day to remember. (02) 6297 1444 I functions@royalhotelqbn.com.au I www.royalhotelqbn.com.au Royal Hotel Queanbeyan I @rhqbn

Reception with an ‘Italian flair’

AGOSTINIS in East Hotel recently hosted its first wedding reception and the hotel’s general manager, Todd Handy, says they can’t wait to help other couples on their special day.

“Agostinis provides an upmarket yet relaxed atmosphere where people can enjoy top quality food, which is made on site, that’s appealing to all taste buds,” he says.

Certified by the Italian Government for the food’s authenticity, Todd says everything is made fresh including the pizza dough and pasta but there’s other options, too, which he calls “Italian flair”.

“We have a very experienced event team that love working with our guests and make sure every detail is looked

after,” he says.

“The couples work closely with the operations team and executive chef to ensure that everything runs very well on the day so the bride and groom can focus on enjoying their event.”

Todd says the long-shaped restaurant fits up to 120 people inside and can be set up in a number of ways.

“Whether it’s individual tables or a couple of long tables to make it feel more family friendly to encourage people to mingle and share the day,” he says.

“Couples are welcome to come in to discuss options with the events team.”

Agostinis, East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston. Call 6295 6925, email stay@ easthotel.com.au or visit easthotel.com.au

Jasmin’s tips for the perfect tan

THE most important tip when it comes to getting a spray tan for a wedding is booking in for a trial tan about a month before the big day, says Faux Tanning Studio owner Jasmin Moore.

“Many brides and bridesmaids will opt to have a spray tan as part of their beauty preparations for their special day,” Jasmin says.

“We suggest booking your trial tan before any of your pre-wedding events, like a bridal shower or hens night.”

When it comes to spray tanning Jasmin says brides can be assured Faux Tanning Studio will do all the hard work to ensure they will walk down the aisle with the perfect, glamorous tan.

“It’ll be nothing short of what your most special

•

• Specialising in all event / special occasion tans.

• Prices start from $45.

• 25 most popular brands to choose from.

• Many shades from light glow to deep bronze.

wedding day deserves,” she says.

“[Whether] you are choosing to have a sun kissed glow or deep bronze, Faux Tanning Studio is the premier tanning salon you need to book your spray tan session with.”

Jasmin says Faux Tanning Studio has more than 25 brands of top quality solutions to choose from with accredited spray tan artists to give brides a flawless glow.

“For the most important day of your life, only the best will do, so give us a call and book your trial tan with Canberra’s favourite tanning gurus,” she says.

Faux Tanning Studio, Shop 7, Andrew Arcade, 42 Giles Street, Kingston. Email fauxtanningstudio@gmail.com or call 0424 190260.

Tanning Salon

• Various development times.

• Organic and vegan friendly for the most sensitive skin types.

• Very natural looking tan, no orange tones, no streaks, no smells.

Professional applications.

• Professional equipment.

• Individual skin analysis to choose a tone that suits you.

• Makeup and hair available.

• Tan packages available.

• Loyalty and VIP programs available.

• Very clean and friendly, comfortable environment.

• Unisex salon.

Planning’s the key for perfect skin

“PLANNING is the key to beautiful skin on your wedding day,” says a spokeswoman of Laser Clinics Australia Tuggeranong.

“If there is something about your skin that is worrying you, look no further. “We can help you take charge. We have helped create beautiful skin for heaps of people who never dreamed it possible.”

Laser Clinics Australia Tuggeranong has a number of skin experts who would love to help future brides or grooms with a treatment plan to ensure their skin is beautiful for their wedding day.

“[We have] treatments for uneven skin tone or pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, dry skin, acne scarring, enlarged pores as well as breakouts and blackheads,” she says.

“Poor skin can be holding you

back from feeling your best. Together we can tailor a skin treatment plan that can unveil fresh, lustrous skin with great texture and tone.”

Laser Clinics Australia Tuggeranong also provides services such as laser pigmentation treatments, skin needling, yellow LED light therapy, skin tightening and fractional RF, which is a five-step microdermabrasion.

“We also have a range of AHA enzyme and cosmetic grade peels,” she says.

“Come and see us at Laser Clinics Australia Tuggeranong and we will arrange a free skin consultation with our skin experts.”

Laser Clinics Australia Tuggeranong, South Point, Anketell Street and Reed Street, Greenway. Call 6140 3247 or visit laserclinics.com.au

Dale helps get the dance just right

SINCE 1997, Dale’s Ballroom Dancing offers a range of beginner and experienced classes from social classes, competition training, wedding groups and private lessons.

For weddings, principal Dale Harris says that couples can learn a unique style of dance, choreographed to any chosen song.

The most exciting dance Dale has choreographed for a wedding was a “wild poppy” one, where the bride and groom came down the aisle kicking and skipping to a Guy Sebastian song.

The studio specialises in a range of dance styles: Australian new vogue ballroom (sequence dancing); standard modern, which includes waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot and quickstep; and Latin American, which includes samba, cha cha, paso doble, rumba and jive.

“You don’t realise how much exercise you’re doing or how much fun it is. It’s a great way to meet people in a friendly, comfortable environment. You’re crazy if you don’t give it a go,” Dale says.

Call 6296 4009 or visit canberraballroomdancing.com.au

PROFESSIONAL, FUN TUITION IN Ballroom Dancing

– Individuals or Groups

for

• Adult Beginner & Intermediate classes every wednesday from 8pm

• Social Dancing every thursday at 8pm

All Classes are now held at:

The Tuggeranong Community Centre

Let's turn your dreams into reality

Clover Master Jewellery is a family run business with over 30 years experience.

Our company values are to deliver what you desire. We aim to realise your ideas and design a custom made piece to your satisfaction.

ALL ABOUT WEDDINGS

Making the ring the thing

WHAT makes the Clover Master Jewellers’ experience really special is that customers are able to create something that is unique and perfect, says Veronica Oh.

We specialise in engagement rings, wedding bands, handmade custom design pieces, repairs and laser engraving.

Clover Master Jewellery Unit 2/16 Bougainville Street, Griffith ACT 0262958545 | clover.manuka@gmail.com

“Whether it’s a gift, whether you’re treating yourself or it’s that perfect en gagement ring, our aim is to provide our customers with that priceless experience and we believe being able to deliver that is what makes us unique,” she says.

“When you are able to add a little bit of your own ideas, design or message it usually means that you are creating something that is unique and probably the only one in the world.”

Specialising in custom-made jewellery and laser engraving, Clover Master Jewellers is able to turn a piece of jewellery into something more personalised.

“This means that if the customer has a design or an idea that they’ve always wanted to put together or bring to life, we are able to do that and guide the customer through the designing procedure,” she says.

If people are looking for an intricate and sophisticated design, Veronica says the on-site jeweller, James, has more than 30 years’ experience of hand-making jewellery with a speciality in jewellery styles seen in Japan and Australia.

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

Iconic venue takes the stress out of weddings

AS one of Australia’s most iconic venues, the National Press Club has an outstanding reputation for its wedding receptions, according to function sales co-ordinator Angelique Carter.

As well as being nationally recognised she says the National Press Club is flexible and affordable.

“Our wedding specialist and dedicated bridal staff will accompany you along the journey and ensure every minor detail is given the appropriate attention,” she says.

“We remove the stress of planning your wedding at every step along the way and can assist with ceremony locations as well as contacts for florists, music, cake, cars and more.”

The venue, which fits about 230 guests, has a parquetry dance floor, chandeliers throughout the site and a sheer backdrop with choices of coloured lighting.

“We look after your guests in our refurbished lounge area for the pre-dinner beverages and canapes while the bridal party enjoys quiet time in their own private retreat,” she says.

Angelique says all weddings include complimentary canapes and couples can choose a one to five-course dinner.

“Our executive chef will work with the bride and groom to tailor a menu to suit their needs including fitting within their budget,” she says.

Interested couples can enquire over the phone, through the website or in person, which will be followed up by a site visit.

National Press Club, 16 National Circuit, Barton. Email functions@npc.org.au, call 6121 2199 or visit npc.org.au

W EDDIN GS Hellenic Club of Canberra

discover your perfect Wedding reception

Whether you prefer a grand ballroom style reception or an intimate inner-city location, the Hellenic Club has the venue to make your wedding day a complete success. Offering a wide range of catering and beverage packages set across multiple room choices we are sure you will find what you are looking for with us.

AND TWO STUNNING VENUES

HELLENIC CLUB WODEN

In Woden we have three beautiful function rooms to choose from including our opulent ballroom style room and two slightly more intimate rooms. And if your wedding party is on the larger side, our function rooms can be seamlessly combined to perfectly cater to up to 600 people.

HELLENIC CLUB IN THE CITY

At our City venue we have two lovely rooms to choose from for your wedding reception. Catering for up to 110 people, the Hellenic Club in the City offers a range of room configurations and packages perfectly suited to a smaller, more intimate wedding.

ALL ABOUT WEDDINGS

Dentist with a gentle touch

FOR more than eight years Canberra City Dentistry, on University Avenue, has built a reputation for providing caring and gentle dentistry. It strives to offer its patients painless, quality and affordable dentistry in a relaxed and caring environment.

Dr Vicky Pusnjak says that providing goodquality work is a hugely important consideration for her and that she has received incredible feedback through repeat business and referrals.

“I love it when people tell their friends, families or colleagues about us when they are looking for a dentist,” she says.

“It’s also great to see our regulars and new patients continue to come back from the very beginning.”

Canberra City Dentistry offers quality and affordable dental services including general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, implants, crowns and bridges, dentures, clear correct, teeth whitening and emergency appointments are always available, says Dr Pusnjak.

“We even have oral therapist Mrs Koco Clarke on site three days a week and Dr Michael Newman has all your cosmetic dentistry, implant surgery, wisdom teeth extractions as well as crown and bridge work needs covered,” she says.

Canberra City Dentistry, Level 4, 28 University Avenue, Canberra City. Call 6162 0880 or visit canberracitydentistry.com.au

Rooftop venue brings the outside indoors

THE Howling Moon, Canberra’s first rooftop bar at the Rex Hotel in Braddon, has hosted more than 20 wonderful weddings since its official launch only one year ago, says sales and events manager Kurt Hartmann.

He says that all ceremony and reception options can be customised to suit your needs and the team can cater for events up to 250 people, from a canape-style reception to a seven-course degustation meal.

“We offer a unique, fully enclosed rooftop environment that brings the outside indoors, with fabulous views of the Canberra skyline and the mountains as a stunning backdrop, especially in the winter,” he says.

“The Howling Moon’s persona is all about a relaxed, calm and cool atmosphere, perfect for celebrations. The colour scheme is high contrast, playful and edgy.”

The Rex Hotel can cater for larger numbers downstairs and Kurt says that some couples have had their wedding ceremonies and drinks at the Howling Moon, before moving downstairs for the reception. Guests can also stay onsite at the Rex Hotel, providing an all-inclusive wedding solution for the couple and their guests.

Visit the howlingmoon.com.au for more information or contact the events team for a tour of the spaces by calling 6248 5311.

The Canberra Rex Hotel has spaces that are perfect for both intimate and grand celebrations for your family and friends. We have an array of ceremony and reception spaces available for your special day with the ability to host intimate gatherings from 20 guests to celebrations of 600 guests.

Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

Will payroll changes upset the tax man?

Arnold was concerned about getting into trouble with the tax office for the number of payroll adjustments his company was likely to make when using the Australian Taxation Office's new Single Touch Payroll system.

"Often one of our staff forgets to hand in a timesheet so her pay is not correct. We have to make many adjustments during the year and I am concerned that if we keep doing this it will bring us to the attention of the ATO," he told me.

I said that it was my understanding that mistakes would not be reported to the ATO.

"Each payroll run you will report using ATO STP software, which is embedded into your payroll program," I said.

"You will lodge your payroll with the ATO each pay period on or before pay day. Each time you submit information to the ATO it is year-to-date figures and not the figures for individual pays. So if a change is made that change is not reported specifically.”

Arnold was relieved to hear that and asked if there was anything else he needed to be aware of to have the STP operational from 1 July 2019.

“All businesses need to use STP from 1 July, larger businesses have been using it since July last year," I told him.

"The most important thing is how you set it up so that it transfers easily to the STP program. You need an ‘AUSkey’ to send your payroll to the ATO. The web address to obtain one is abr.gov.au/ AUSkey/. If you need more help, just call and we'll get it up and running for you.

“I find Lightning Payroll to be a good program if you need a standalone program. It's very cost effective for a payroll of your size, easy to use and approved by the ATO.

"You can set it up and start transmitting to the ATO now if you wish. Every payday, you submit your payroll to the ATO.

"You will receive confirmation of your submission in your STP mailbox and you'll be notified of any errors. There's a 'submit' button in the program, you tick the relevant box and, provided that there are no validation errors, the payroll is sent to the ATO. "If there are validation errors you'll be advised of the errors and you will easily be able to fix them.

"It is important that your employees keep you up to date with changes of address because the address from STP will be used at year end. The ATO has advised that its acceptance of the payroll and amendments should generally be received within 24 hours of lodgement.”

I told Arnold that the major benefit for his company would come at the end of the financial year.

"Provided you tick the box saying ‘final’ when you've completed your last payroll for the year, you'll not need to provide payment summaries to your employees. They will be able to find the information required for the tax returns from their myGov account. If you have any questions about, payroll, tax or any other business issue contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd.

Disclaimer

The writer has received no benifit from Lightning Payroll. This advice is general advice please do not rely on it. If you require specific advice on this topic please contact Gail Freeman or your professional adviser.

PUZZLES PAGE

Joanne Madeline Moore

Your week in the stars – April 1-7, 2019

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

This week restless Rams are ready to fire off in exciting new directions! Mercury is well and truly moving forwards and Friday’s New Moon is in your sign. So its action stations for adventurous Aries. It’s certainly the best week of the year to hatch ambitious ideas, make plans and take steps to initiate bold new projects. But (with your ruler Mars in gung-ho Gemini) don’t get carried away; over-promise; and then fail to follow through on your fabulous intentions.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Are you stubbornly holding onto outdated ideas? Are you sticking to obsolete ways of thinking, as if you’re on auto-pilot? This week the New Moon and Uranus encourage you to let go of an old grudge, put aside preconceived notions or examine your beliefs in a philosophical and spiritual new light. So your motto for the moment is from birthday great, writer and activist Maya Angelou: “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

Thank goodness Mercury (your patron planet) has been moving forwards since last Friday. So communication, conversation, business, education and travel should all gradually improve as the week progresses. But the New Moon and Mars could still throw some chaos into the mix, especially involving a personal project or a work matter. So think before you speak and – if you find yourself compelled to spread secrets – just bite your tongue and say nothing!

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

This week’s New Moon charges up your career/reputation zone so prepare for a few surprises. But the more you try to control those around you, the more they will tend to push back. So take a good, long look at your motives. Perhaps you need to be less possessive? Perhaps you could give someone more freedom, so they can fight their own battles and make their own mistakes? Food for thought, as you transform the way you connect with family, friends and colleagues.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

With the New Moon in fellow fire sign Aries, you’re feeling feisty and ready for adventure! But hubris and over-confidence often come before a fall. So the buzz word this week is humility. If you’re a clever Cat you’ll be kinder towards others, and more tolerant of their individual idiosyncrasies. Your motto for the week is from birthday great, Maya Angelou: “The best part of life is thriving with passion and compassion, humour and style, generosity and kindness.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

You’ve got a tremendous amount on your plate at the moment but avoid getting into super-stressed mode Virgo! Mercury (your boss planet) has been moving forwards for a few days now, which will help a close relationship or a joint venture that has been somewhat stalled over the last three weeks. And Mercury also links up with Neptune and Saturn (on Tuesday and Sunday). So you’ll find kindness, creativity, focus and a practical plan will take you far this week.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Is a close relationship stuck in a rut? This week the New Moon and Uranus encourage you to blast away the cobwebs and look at things from a fresh angle. Attached Librans – are you doing all the giving, while your partner is doing all the taking? Singles – you could fall for someone who’s not your usual type. But how well do you really know your nearest and dearest? It’s time to dig deeper and gain valuable insights into the inner motivations of a family member.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

This week (courtesy of the New Moon) it’s a fabulous time to review your emotional wellbeing and physical fitness levels, introduce healthier food choices, and reboot your exercise routine. Don’t have one? It’s the best week of the year to start! The planets also solidify a relationship with a child, teenager or friend, as you finally get talking about a serious subject. Some single Scorpios will experience a strong attraction to someone who is passionate and proactive.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Sagittarians have big ideas, but you can have trouble walking your talk. This week Saturn steadies your mercurial mind and helps you get things done. So it’s a wonderful week to power through all those mundane tasks you’ve been putting off for a very long time. Like finalising paperwork, paying bills, making appointments and tackling overdue household chores. With Friday’s fiery New Moon in Aries, your motto for the moment is: “The early bird catches the worm.”

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

Saturn is sauntering slowly through your sign, which isn’t easy (in fact it can be a real pain in the neck). You’ll find hurdles are placed in your path, which will help you grow and mature – like a fine red wine. As birthday great Bette Davis said: “The key to life is accepting challenges.” But you must make sure you also learn from them. Friday’s New Moon encourages you to celebrate your strengths and work on your weaknesses, with plenty of passion and pizzazz.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Are you ready for a grand adventure? This week’s New Moon sees curious Aquarians ricocheting off in diverse new directions. Which is exactly how it should be, as you explore and experiment to the max. And don’t worry about making messy (or embarrassing) mistakes along the way. Keep stretching your wings and trying new things. Be inspired by acting legend (and fellow Aquarian) Jack Lemmon: “Failure won’t hurt you, but fear of failure will cripple you.”

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

The New Moon lights up your cash zone, which signals a fresh financial chapter. So the more proactive and informed you are about money matters, the better your fiscal future will be. Mercury and Saturn also send an important message your way on the weekend. When it comes to your social circle and peer group, don’t waste precious time on negative friends who criticise your dreams. Instead, nurture relationships with positive people who make you feel powerful and special.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2018

15

17

20

23 What is a

band of flowers left at a grave, etcetera? (6)

24 What is a temporary prevalence of a disease? (8)

25 Name another term for a solicitor. (6)

1 What is the space between the underside of a roof, and the ceiling of a room beneath it? (4)

2 Name the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. (6)

3 What is a heavy chisel-like steel tool, used to dress timber, etcetera? (4)

4 Which device is used for moving heavy weights? (5)

5 Name a naturally occurring radioactive metallic element, symbol Ra. (6)

6 Name a coarse wool cloth, hand-woven in Scotland. (5)

9 Which soft, silver-white metallic element oxidises rapidly in moist air, symbol Na? (6)

10 To be like a hideous monster, is to be what? (7)

12 Which type of insect-like arachnid is a daddy-longlegs? (6)

14 What is a place in which bees are kept? (6)

16 Patches of which fungus grow on rocks, trees, etcetera? (6)

18 Name the main trunk of the arterial system. (5)

19 Which highly volatile liquid is used as an anaesthetic? (5)

21 What is an elaborate melody for a single voice? (4)

22 Name a more common term for an egress. (4)

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OPEN GARDEN / Queanbeyan

Gentle wander through flowers and trailing vines

A QUEANBEYAN homestead with a rich

Words: Kathryn Vukovljak

Photos: Holly Treadaway

wander through flowers and trailing vines.

Owner Peter Renshaw says he loves to see colour year-round and has planted dahlias, clematis, fuchsia, salvias and hydrangeas, as well as groundcovers to protect the soil.

The Langdene garden will be open to the public on April 13-14 as part of Open Gardens Canberra, one of the last this season.

Peter says the garden has been subdivided several times from its original 428 hectares in the 1860s when the house was built, to the current 1900sqm.

Peter and his wife Judy bought the property in 1972 and say they have made many changes over the years.

“Ten years ago we removed the large lawn in the back, added the veggie patch and planted a variety of bulbs, shrubs and perennials,” says Peter.

“The lawn had been great for the kids, who loved backyard cricket, but we had so many broken windows that our house insurance company eventually refused to insure us – it was no great loss to take out the grass by then!”

Classic roses feature in the rose garden at the side of the house, including floribunda, David Austin and Delbard varieties.

Paths are framed by striking conifers, ferns, geraniums, kniphofias, succulents and cacti among tall shady trees and the many climbers that crowd walls and fences.

Sustainability is a focus for Peter, who has installed 38,000-litres of rainwater tanks that connect to the irrigation systems.

The front beds have rare shrubs including daphne,

skimmia, heatwave salvia, snowflake hydrangeas, viburnum davidii and butcher’s broom.

“We’re in a country town, so we’re glad to be able to connect the community through opening the garden,” says Judy.

Jazz pianist Wayne Kelly will play on Saturday,11am3pm, and Sunday, 12.30pm-2pm, with a sausage sizzle and Devonshire teas also available.

Langdene, 17 Donald Road, Queanbeyan, 10am-4pm, Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14. Admission $8; free to under-18s and Open Gardens Canberra members. Funds raised will go to Cambodia Care. It costs $25 to join Open Gardens Canberra and gain free entry to all open gardens until August 31. More information at opengardenscanberra.org.au/ members

Also open on April 13-14: Cambrey Farm, 18 Beltana Road, Pialligo, a two-hectare Pialligo farmlet established in the 1930s.

THE problem with cut flowers is they don’t last long, but among the odd exception is a remarkable Australian plant known the world over as the straw flower or everlasting daisy.

Its botanical name is Xerochrysum bracteatum, taken from the Greek xeros meaning dry and chrysum meaning golden that aptly describes its flowers. With modern breeding, the plant is available in numerous colours.

It is perfect for even the smallest garden and is in flower by December until late March. Introduced into Britain in 1791, it was followed by an extensive breeding program in Germany in the 1850s and proved a boon for florists.

The plant has papery bracts although resembling petals. This means it will retain its rich colours not just for weeks but for years.

Queensland adopted two varieties of this plant, namely Wanetta sunshine and gold nuggets, as its floral emblems to celebrate the Centenary of Federation in 2001. The plant is particularly popular in countries with long, cold, snow-bound winters. In Scandinavia, it provides colour in homes when no other flowers are available.

I RECENTLY photographed hibiscus

huegelii or lilac hibiscus at the Botanic Gardens. Alyogyne huegelii grows to about two metres and up to 1.5 metres wide with flowers up to 10 centimetres across. It needs room to grow, but if you have the space, try planting a group of three.

Authors Wrigley and Fagg in the book “Australian Native Plants” mention that, although from WA and SA, the plant is very hardy and floriferous. Suited to most soils in a sunny position, it may need protection from severe winter frosts.

THE last recommendation in my series of English gardens worth visiting in the

Exclusively over 55 Independent living units & village community

Completion 2019 Move in before Christmas

northern summer is Wisley, the jewel in the crown of Royal Horticultural Society gardens.

Located 64 kilometres south of London, it is the second most visited garden in Britain after Kew Gardens. Last year 1.2 million gardeners visited to explore and gather ideas around the 97-hectare garden. Besides the series of model gardens (examples for the small residential garden) is the spectacular Bicentenary Glasshouse.

The Portsmouth Trial Gardens assess hundreds of new varieties of plants aspiring to receive an Award of Garden Merit, which virtually guarantees huge sales for the breeder.

To receive this award a garden plant (tree,

shrub, perennial, annual or vegetable) may be exposed to the trial for more than one year when it is assessed by a committee of experts from the RHS and specialist plant societies. Although the trials are conducted amid the changing seasons of England, these plants can be grown with confidence in our local climate here.

With more than 7000 plants currently on the AGM list, all are assessed annually with many taken off because they are no longer available, have become disease prone, insufficient uniformity or are difficult to grow.

The Wisley gardens were established by GF Wilson, a Victorian businessman and RHS member in 1898. When he died in 1902 it was bought by Sir Thomas Hanbury, who then donated the gardens to the RHS in 1903. More at rhs.org.uk/wisleywhatson

Jottings…

• Now is a good time to prune evergreen climbers such star jasmine.

• Dig up and divide bearded iris rhizomes to fill in bare spots in the garden. Lightly trim the scraggly roots and, when replanting, don’t cover the top of the rhizome with soil or mulch. It is an exception to the rule and the rhizomes need to be baked with the sun to flower well.

• Plant bulbs of Dutch Iris for mid-spring flowering.

• I suggest not planting citrus trees at this time. Despite the continuing warm weather, frosts can arrive at any time. Leave planting until late September/October.