CityNews 190516

Pollies take a new look at babies

MICHAEL MOORE

Shifty Meegan spins the truth about transport

MIKE WELSH

Climate ignorance comes at a price

JOHN L SMITH

BRAIN POWER

How

Brain tumour scare sends Colin to new heights

Colin McCulloch woke in intensive care to the news he had a brain tumour the size of an orange and his chances of surviving surgery weren’t great. He beat the odds and, as he tells KATE MEIKLE, he’s dedicated himself to raising funds and awareness for four brain cancer charities.

SURVIVING a brain tumour has given 46-year-old Colin McCulloch the determination to dedicate himself to raising funds and awareness for four brain cancer charities in the hope that no one else has to endure what he did.

On September 27, 2011, the day before Colin was due to have a CT scan to investigate his ongoing severe headaches, he collapsed getting out of bed.

The next thing he remembers is waking in the intensive-care unit in Canberra Hospital a day later and being told the shocking news that he had a brain tumour the size of a small orange, called a subependymoma.

The tumour was blocking the spinal fluid from draining in Colin’s brain which was causing dangerous swelling. He had been rushed from his home in Yass for emergency surgery to release the build up of fluid on his brain.

“When I woke up, I had no idea what had happened to me. I was very distressed as my family broke the news to me,” says Colin, who was 39 at the time.

Two days later, a team of six surgeons performed a 13-hour operation to remove the tumour.

INDEX

Arts & Entertainment 30-33

Canberra Matters 6

Cinema 32

Crossword 35

Dining 33

Gardening 34

Horoscopes 35

Letters 10 News 3-14

“I was told that there was a 50 per cent chance of death and a 70 per cent chance of permanent brain damage,” he says.

Despite the shocking odds, Colin says he kept a positive and upbeat attitude.

“I remember saying: ‘Yeah, cool, bring it on!’ I figured I could react positively or negatively and that’s how I wanted to face it, by keeping positive and fighting,” he says.

“Seventy per cent of the tumour was successfully taken out, leaving the last 30 per cent part remaining in my fron tal lobe, which I knew was a position that the surgeons weren’t going to be able to remove,” says Colin.

The road of recovery and rehabilitation was slow and heartbreaking for Colin and his parents as he learnt to talk and move his body again.

“It was unknown if the issues were permanent and my family were freaking out. I still had my mind so I knew what was going on with me. I had tears falling down my face but couldn’t express myself,” he says.

Gradually Colin’s speech and movement came back and he was able to

Politics 12 Socials 16

Ursula Yovich stars in “Barbara and the Camp Dogs”. Photo by Brett Boardman. Story Page 30.

Ph 02 6189 0777 Fax 02 6189 0778 9b/189 Flemington Rd, Mitchell 2911

taken by Ian Meikle, 9b/189 Flemington Road, Mitchell.

recover at his parents’ home and even start working on a part-time basis, six months later. It was a tough journey with lots of challenges and dark days.

“Working was hard initially, I felt lost and simple actions took me a long time to get my brain working again,” recalls Colin.

“I have a few ongoing mental deficits as a result of the surgery and pressure from the tumour pushing on my brain;

Since 1993: Volume 25, Number 18

Managing Director: James Anderson, 0404 077605, james@citynews.com.au

Director: Kate Meikle, kate@citynews.com.au

Senior advertising account executive: David Cusack, 0435 380656

Advertising account executives: Daniel Clayton, 0451 232129; Matt George, 0413 667699; Damien Klemke, 0439 139001

Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au

Assistant editor: Danielle Nohra, danielle@citynews.com.au

Journalist: Kathryn Vukovljak, kathryn@citynews.com.au

Arts editor: Helen Musa, 0400 043764, helen@citynews.com.au

Production manager / graphic design: Janet Ewen

Graphic designer: Karl Speller

Proof reader: Glenda Anderson

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

effects I have had to learn to live with,” he says.

“A close friend told me recently there is no such thing as a benign brain tumour. The impact from any brain cancer, malignant or benign, affects that person and their family and friends for the rest of their life.”

Although Colin has ongoing mental rehabilitation, he says he is fortunate to be able to make a difference by

driving fundraising and awareness through his charity partners and close network of local businesses he deals with through his work at Bartercard.

Colin now works with four charities – Brainstorm for a Cure, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, Brain Tumour Alliance Australia and Dainere’s Rainbow Foundation.

He says that over the past three years he has been involved with the raising of $2 million across the charities.

During May’s Brain Cancer Awareness Month, Colin is the “face” of a national fundraising campaign with One Light Charity Foundation to support all four of his charity partners and their different focus in areas such as support, research and paediatrics.

Colin says that the four charities are working together to fight brain cancer, which kills more people in Australia under 40 than any other cancer and kills more children than any other disease.

“Treatments and survival rates have hardly changed over the past 30 years. The five-year survival rate is only 22 per cent,” says Colin.

“Once you are diagnosed with brain cancer, you become aware of the statistics very quickly and they are just not good enough.”

Support One Light Charity Foundation’s brain-cancer fundraising campaign at onelightcharity.com

If you want to be in the 10% who achieve wealth, don’t miss our free Pathway to Wealth information sessions.

• 10 reasons most people fail to achieve financial success and what you can do about it

• The seven steps to achieving wealth

• The four keys to a successful wealth management plan

• The simple formula for beating procrastination

• Why property, shares and superannuation are all important

The presentation will take you through proven strategies for building your wealth. This is not a get rich quick seminar. However, if you want simple, effective and practical strategies for achieving financial success, then this is a must attend.

You will receive valuable information on property, shares, superannuation, negative gearing, debt management and more. You will learn how to put together a plan that is right for you and your individual circumstances and goals.

• How saving tax can help fund your wealth creation

• Whether you should increase your mortgage repayments or start investing

• How you can make efficient use of your cash flow

Seats strictly limited so RSVP essential.

Shifty Meegan spins transport truth

POLITICAL spinning has never been more hamfisted than around the fashioning and marketing of Canberra’s new public transport network.

In any other jurisdiction the successful launch of a major transport infrastructure such as light rail would have politicians basking in its glow.

Instead, ACT Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris’ continued shiftiness in “responding to customer feedback” only a week after the initial launch bewilders.

Fitzharris said: “There have been changes, but in terms of the network as a whole it hasn’t changed”.

Almost everyone in Canberra is either angry or knows someone who is and knows the latest round of “tinkering” is a direct response to patrons’ “white hot anger”.

THE “Daily Tele’s” attempted smear campaign of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten over his dead mother’s truncated CV backfired badly and also gave birth to a

trending hashtag. Via #MyMum, thousands have shared powerful stories of their inspirational mothers. One such testimony came from ACT Labor MLA Tara Cheyne: “#MyMum cared for her siblings from a young age. Left school at 15 to earn a wage. Finally went to uni at 38 when I went into grade 1. Topped her class. Became a leader in her industry. Ensured I had opportunities at an early age that she didn’t.”

dose of dorin

dilettante”, has been busy providing social media commentary on the Federal election campaign. Bagging the LNP’s official campaign launch for its lack of political star power, Quaedvlieg tweeted: “You have to ask yourself: if they can’t even put on a show of unity & solidarity ....”. The Canadian-born and Queensland-raised crime fighter is due to release his “raw political expose” memoir “Tour de Force” next month.

A BIG black attack truck is overshadowing the political candidates’ corflutes forest on our roadsides. The mobile billboard’s negative theme of “Labor will tax you to death” is crystal clear, but why is a grim picture of ACT Chief Minister Andrew

BRIEFLY

Knees-up for auxiliary

CALVARY Public Hospital Auxiliary will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a dinner at the CIT restaurant, Reid, on Thursday, June 6. All members past and present, their guests and friends are invited to salute an organisation that has raised more than $2.3 million for equipment to help patients and staff. Dinner is $40 and tickets and further information from 0407 835846.

Urgent help needed

MEANWHILE Calvary Public Hospital Auxiliary is urgently seeking new members to assist with its fund-raising activities. A membership drive will be held in the hospital foyer, Hayden Drive, Bruce, 10am-4pm, on Thursday, May 30. More information from 0407 835846.

THREE days before the Murdoch treatment of our prospective PM, former ACT police chief Roman Quaedvlieg quoted his mother in a tale of the reality of politics. Quaedvlieg modestly tweeted: “My mum is almost 87. She has the faculties of a 17-year-old. When I was that age she said ‘You’ve got everything it takes to be PM of Australia’... The more I’ve told her about the compromises I’d need to make to do it the more she’s vociferously said: ‘Don’t you dare’.”

MEANTIME, the former commissioner of the Australian Border Force who now describes himself as a “geo-political

ideal. The other, not surprisingly, has the same sticker proudly plastered on a vehicle reportedly owned by a staffer to ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja

Fiona has a View

FIONA Lester, of The Markets, Wanniassa, is the guest speaker at the next dinner meeting of the Tuggeranong Evening VIEW Club at the Vikings Town Centre club, Greenway, 6.30pm, on Wednesday, May 29. Dinner costs $27, RSVP to 6291 7716 or email tuggeven@gmail.com

It’s party time!

THE Corduroys will be leading the musical celebrations at the Weston Creek VIEW Club’s frocked-up birthday party meeting at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden, from 11am on Tuesday, June 4. Lunch costs $28. Guests welcome. RSVP to 0402 958535 by 5pm, Thursday, May 30.

Be part of the next chapter of the Ginninderry

Information

Session at The Link

Sunday 19 May from 10.30am

New residential blocks for sale by ballot 122

Blocks from $204,560

The next part of Ginninderry is now being released at one of its most sought-after settings – near the planned Community Recreation Park.

The park will feature 2.7 hectares of modern sporting facilities for netball, cricket, soccer and basketball, picturesque walking trails, modern playgrounds, ample picnic and BBQ spaces and an impressive amphitheatre. With the breathtaking Ginninderry surrounds on your doorstep, a home built to your specifications and easy access to Belconnen, it’s the perfect place to bring your story to life. Block sizes range from 250m2 to 810m2.

Register for the ballot now at ginninderry.com Or find out more by visiting The Link – 90 Stockdill Drive (turn right onto Studio Rd, Strathnairn)

CANBERRA MATTERS / woden town centre

Woden is being transformed, but into what?

THE Greens/Labor coalition ACT government is infamous for its cabal of ministers who are making a mess of Canberra’s planning and development.

The Liberals have not proposed an alternative approach. The outcomes from this universal lack of political interest in good development is very evident in what is happening to the Woden Town Centre.

The centre is being transformed. The question being – into what? The Woden Valley Community Council (WVCC) is throwing loads of volunteer energy into trying to influence urban development and to improve Woden as a wonderful precinct to work, shop and live. Despite the amazing commitments from WVCC, the cluster of ministers responsible and other ACT politicians remain perched like monkeys on the fence doing little to stop the multitude of rubbish development decisions.

The problems are endless and devastating. Looking beyond the governments’ and developers’ urban speak on how wonderful their developments will be, the reality is that the central Woden area is destined to become a concentrated mass of tall towers, ranging from the edges being up to 12 storeys, within that a cluster of 16 storeys and a central concentration of up to 24 storeys.

What the Woden Valley community needs is a champion to work with the residents’ groups to stop the central Woden precinct becoming a high-rise and very unfriendly jungle.

Does anyone remember agreeing that the Canberra skyline is to be this cluttered with so many bland box towers massed together? Unfortunately, the ACT government’s laissez-faire approach to development is what is encouraging this to happen.

The WVCC has been saying for a decade that the central area needs community, cultural and sports facilities – and more green spaces. Recently, the chief minister responded to this request from the WVCC by saying that facilities will come with the developments being undertaken. That is, the developers will be building these facilities into all these towers. This has not happened! And there is no prospect of it happening! In fact, there is now less facilities and less open spaces than previously.

Then there is the wonderful “Woden Experiment”. The government has delivered a mass of different seating and other diversions to the underutilised Woden Town Square. Despite all the colourful chairs and other things to bounce on, during

the day few gather there except over lunchtime when the workers pause to eat their lunches. So what is the future of this square? The experiment is for six months with no sign of anything after that. Meanwhile, the devastating news is that planning approvals are in place that allow for more concentration of high-rise towers around the square. Sometime soon there will be even less sunlight in this public space.

Most of the commercial outlets that front the square are either empty or do not make use of the open spaces on the square to attract people – there are no coffee shops. It is obvious that the future of this square is dependent on what outlets and facilities are encouraged to be there. And there is a very obvious opportunity that the government is ignoring.

On the western side is a three-storey empty building that is about to be redeveloped. Could the government deliver something to Woden by buying this building and developing it as a community, cultural and sports centre?

The challenge is how to get this government to see the sense in this community suggestion. If that particular building is not an option, then can this government show that they care for the Woden Valley communities and urgently settle on an alternative?

These facilities are overdue and the need is growing daily as people buy up to live in the central area.

What the Woden Valley community needs is a champion to work with the residents’ groups to stop the central Woden precinct becoming a high-rise and very unfriendly jungle.

Community focused leadership from within government is desperate -

ly being sought to bring on some good precinct planning as well as exciting architecture, thoughtful urban developments and people-friendly landscape design – and, yes – community facilities and green spaces.

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

The challenge of keeping children safe at home

By Deirdre Cheers

THIS week is National Families Week – celebrating the vital role that families play in Australian society. The theme “Stronger Families, Stronger Communities” goes to the heart of Barnardos’ work to protect vulnerable children.

By strengthening families and communities, we can keep children safe at home, prevent child abuse, and avoid the heartbreaking situation that occurs when children need to be placed into foster care.

Children don’t come with an instruction manual. Raising children can be very tough, especially without support. And today it is a job often made even harder by the fact that so many families live away from extended family and close friends. And access to supportive networks is often determined by economic factors such as poverty caused by unemployment and addiction, family violence and lack of safe and secure housing.

The Barnardos Children’s Family Centre in Downer connects struggling families with their local community. Families or young people in crisis only need to tell their story once to one worker, avoiding further stress caused by being asked to explain their situation over and over and over again.

A holistic approach means we wrap a range of different support programs

around our families in order to strengthen them, and avoid their children being taken into care.

And when situations are so severe that the children do need to be removed, we work one-on-one at our centres and in family homes, supporting parents to make lasting changes so their children can be returned to them as safely and quickly as possible.

The best place for a child to grow up, if it’s safe, is with family. About half of all children placed in temporary foster care with Barnardos are restored safely to the care of their parents, or with extended family and kin. We work hard to enable shorter time frames for children to stay in foster care because children can’t wait indefinitely in the care system.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, as at June 30 last year, 17,387 children in NSW and 45,756 children nationally, were unable to live with their parents due to safety concerns.

Children don’t come with an instruction manual. Raising children can be very tough, especially without support. And today it is a job often made even harder by the fact that so many families live away from extended family and close friends.

Building stronger community connections for families is the key to preventing children from becoming another statistic. We believe every family deserves a strong support network to usher them through the difficult task of parenting. Because children can’t wait.

experienced serious abuse and neglect. At Barnardos, we see the effect this can have on them for life – the damage that trauma causes to childhood development, and the scar it can leave behind.

For every child who comes to the attention of child protective services, social workers must ask the question: is this child safe at home? This is, of course, an important question to ask, but if it is the only focus of our childprotection systems in Australia then we

safe, but also to ensure that families and communities are thriving. Without support, parents are vulnerable and often overwhelmed; too scared to ask for help for fear of being judged, or neglecting their children, or worse still having their children taken away.

But we don’t need to wait until problems arise for vulnerable families. Tackling social isolation and connecting communities is a complex

often describe the relief felt by parents when they realise that our services are there to help, not to “check up” on them or report them for child abuse. It’s a misconception that can only be combatted with honest and genuine, one-on-one relationships based on trust.

Deirdre Cheers is CEO of Barnardos Australia and National Families Week Champion.

THE BEST SOLAR SOLUTIONS UNDER THE SUN

ActewAGL Solar. An energy cost saving solution plus complete peace of mind.

100+ years’ experience in the region’s energy arena.

Innovative solar + battery + smart meter solutions.

High quality components.

5-year whole-of-system warranty.

Exceptional support—before, during and after installation.

Competitive feed-in-tariff offer.

Various payment options including $0 upfront and interest free plans.

Trust lost in government processes

LIKE columnist Michael Moore (CN, May 2), I’m not voting for either of the major parties.

They take Canberra for granted and they have let us down on climate change. We’ve also lost basic trust in government processes. Who’s buying favours?

But there’s an option he’s missed. The Greens would ensure we get a federal ICAC, caps on party donations and total transparency on every lobbyist who meets our MPs. No one else is dedicated to complete integrity and transparency of government decisions.

I’ve looked at the websites of the independents running this time and there’s no policy detail, just motherhood statements. Who are they really?

And Zed won his Senate seat by default last time. He doesn’t represent our values and puts his own wishes above ours. I want to pull whoever wins government in the right direction, away from lobbyists, donors and new coal mines towards accountability and doing something real about the climate crisis. Canberra will have 19 per cent less rainfall by 2050 according to Prof Penny Sackett. We have no more time to waste on people who think this is a game.

Dr

Julie Kidd, Bonner

Working for Warringah

FORTUNATELY, the big question going around town about “Where’s Zed?”

(“Absent Zed the butt of meeting’s jokes”, citynews.com.au, May 6) was answered in a snippet in the May 9 edition: Zed Seselja has been busy door knocking for good mate Tony Abbott in the electorate of Warringah.

We can now appreciate that even the God-fearing can’t be in two places at once and that a meet-the-candidates session in Canberra will always lack added attractions, like soothing sea views.

Sue Dyer, Downer

Real cost of light rail

In the letters page (CN, May 2) Jon Stanhope cites a figure of some $200 million for the relocation of utilities etcetera in preparation for light rail.

While that may prove to be true, Smart Canberra Transport estimates of expenses by the government outside the PPP contract at $150 million comprise the erstwhile project office costs, consultancies (lawyers, engineers and others involved in preparation of documentation such as the business case) plus the Transport Canberra public servants and consultants who have been administering the PPP contract and spin doctoring.

The $150 million figure can be determined from Budget papers for the Stage 1 pre-commissioning budgets for financial years 2012-19.

Smart Canberra Transport’s estimate for the cost to the taxpayer of Stage 1 is $1.8 billion (in 2019 dollars), incurred over some 26 years (from and including pre-commissioning budgets 2012-19, plus 20 years of operations and maintenance.

If ever made public, the Stage 1 PPP contract price will prove to be about $1.275 billion. The non-PPP cost of $525 million is comprised of the $375 million capital contribution (payable upon commissioning) and $150 million project office costs.

Note that the government has not yet revealed any PPP contract costs, but Minister Fitzharris has promised to reveal them in a month or so.

M Flint, co-ordinator, Smart Canberra Transport

Not very nice, Michael

NOT nice, Michael Moore (“Use your vote to tell them Canberra counts”, CN May 2).

While extolling the virtues of Labor and an independent in the seat of Canberra and declaring it “up for grabs”, you then state “the Liberals have no chance”.

Five words. Not even Mina Zaki’s name. What is it: sexism, racism, migrant phobia? It’s not like you, Michael.

Greg Cornwell,

Yarralumla

Building trust in planning

WHEN Ben Ponton was appointed Canberra’s new head of planning in April, 2017, he told a local newspaper he wanted to build up Canberrans’ trust in the planning process by “being genuine, listening, engaging with key groups and by providing feedback”.

Since then, Mr Ponton has attended community council meetings, listened to focus groups and consulted with industry.

Fifteen thousand Canberrans were invited by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate –which Mr Ponton heads up – to comment on the future of Canberra’s housing.

The directorate is also reviewing the ACT Territory Plan to enable Canberra to move towards an outcome-focused plan, as opposed to a rules-based plan.

So it’s far-fetched for columnist Paul Costigan to allege Mr Ponton has not met “his own key performance indicators” (“Chief Planner’s quotes come home to roost”, CN, April 17).

Building a democratic and trustworthy planning system is an important and ongoing task, and if we’re to have informed discussion on this issue we can’t be giving credence to hearsay and “things said often by residents at community meetings over the past two years”.

David Williams, CEO, The Planning Institute of Australia, Barton

Promisers plastered on plastic signs

CEDRIC BRYANT, of Watson, is grumpy at the hypocrisy of political parties promising climate change but still spruiking candidates on unrecyclable corflute signs.

CORFLUTE sign time is with us again with every party pledging to do something about the environment and climate change.

And yet every party has no hesitation in using corflute plastic signs to try and influence the voter.

To the best of my knowledge, this product is not recyclable.

One person said they will reuse them, which is of course a nonsense as it is almost certain that the same candidates will not be seeking election again in four years.

I realise that many sporting clubs and other organisations use them to promote events and do reuse them.

Unfortunately, too much information is included and it is almost impossible to read the signs unless travelling at a walking pace. However, at this time there are hundreds out across the ACT as visual pollution of the environment.

I would be interested in what really happens to these signs after the election other than clogging up the tip. Mind you, if it was tomato-planting time many dozens would disappear for the wooden stakes alone!

Grumpy is an occasional column dedicated to things that get up your nose. Readers are invited to vent (no more than 300 words, please) at editor@citynews.com.au

Pollies take a new look at babies

By Michael MOORE

THERE is news beyond the Federal election. The negativity, fake news, accusations and impossible, populist promises will not be missed.

Politics can also look at issues sensibly. An ACT Assembly committee is inquiring into maternity services away from the glare of election spin and propaganda.

The Standing Committee on Health, Ageing and Community Services is due to commence public hearings on maternity services and models of care in June.

The quality and delivery of services will be the prime focus of an inquiry looking beyond the public sector to include examination of the private hospitals, home birth and supporting maternity services generally.

Submissions originally closed early in the year but are now being accepted into June. Unfortunately, there has been a significant delay in the work of this committee due to a matter of privilege and the focus of the committee on a different inquiry looking at the legalisation of cannabis.

Committee chair Bec Cody says of this inquiry: “a vital part of the work in this committee is ensuring the health of women and children. This is critical for improving health outcomes in the ACT”.

Efficiency and effectiveness of maternity services including “rostering policies and prac-

tices, staff-to-patient ratios, optimum staffing levels, and skills mix” are part of the focus.

Not surprisingly, submissions to the committee have raised a range of issues that may not have been expected.

Having a baby causes both trepidation and excitement. The first submission was from a new mother who was overwhelming in praise of her experience with the Canberra Midwifery Program describing “an exceptional standard of care” and taking “the time to respond to every concern I had”.

The Canberra Hospital was described as “another great surprise”. “The rooms are inviting and nonclinical, which made me feel so at ease in the hospital setting,” she said.

“And the homely feel of the Birth Centre… very conducive to the process of a natural labour”.

Other submissions were not so positive. One mother, who had given birth to twins, had to argue strenuously to be able to see both babies. She felt treated badly and was told that everything she did was wrong. Another woman was very concerned about treatment that has left her in severe pain and a dad was concerned he didn’t feel welcome in the followup sessions.

Nurses also had the opportunity to have their say. One nurse was able to list more than 10 issues that needed to be resolved including shortage of staff, bullying and poor orientation for new staff members.

Mental health of parents was raised with a number of submissions calling for careful consideration around prevention and appropriate levels of support. The Centre for

Let's turn your dreams into reality

Perinatal Excellence highlighted “the urgent need for an integrated, innovative and sustainable approach to perinatal mental health in Australia”. Others presented a similar view with the Ministerial Council on Women encouraging a “continuity of care” model. Submissions from Maternity Services and the ACT government attempted to respond to many of the issues raised. No doubt these will assist the members of the committee in understanding the context of the positive and negative messages from the submissions.

There were many contrasting stories. The members of the Standing Committee will need the wisdom of Solomon to sort out the issues and bring improvements for expectant mothers.

The ACT Assembly committees have been a major strength of the Assembly since the first sitting 30 years ago (on Thursday, May 11, 1989). They provide a place where MLAs can consider the issues in a calm manner, have the chance to engage with the community and can look for sensible, non-partisan specific solutions.

This is a far cry from the posturing and brinkmanship so common in the context of an election. The Assembly committees really illustrate what can be achieved when people compromise, look for the evidence, consult with stakeholders and work together for the common good.

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

POETRY Capital Punishment

CANBERRA poet John Paynter is moved to political commentary with a piece he calls “Capital Punishment”. A Canadian, John has lived in Australia since 1972. He taught psychology at Sydney University for eight years and it was there he met Mary Ann (“my soulmate”). She died in April, 2016, and is featured in the poem.

I’m scared she says shiny and clear; in her blue eyes, a single tear rolls down her cheek as they arrive… the icebergs, seeing if she’s aliveshine pencil lights, they all collide to see the agony inside.

We need more scans, the icebergs shout; The boatman comes and sails her out. An angel who is dressed in blue races past and yells hey you! She needs her drug to actuate the pain, but she has come too late.

The scans are done amid great pain the icebergs frosty - … all in vain Your wife is dying, nought we can do. She will suffer, so will you.

(Your cat and dog can die in peaceOne green injection, sweet release … They leave pain-free, with dignity.

It makes me think of my sweet cat, the one who died while in my lap, The kindly face of vets while sad. ensured my pal went while still glad to be with me and purring sweet … Instantly he is asleep.)

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.

GRUMPY / pre-polling

It’s time to stop the rite of pre-polling

Volunteer GREG CORNWELL is grumpy about the “ridiculous” rite of pre-polling.

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

WIND gusts knocking over A-frames and corflutes, kidneys aching from standing on cold concrete… yes, it’s pre-polling days again.

Isn’t it about time we stopped – or restricted – this ridiculous rite?

Pre-polling for the 2019 Federal election is three weeks.

Very convenient for the hundreds of thousands who have taken advantage and lucrative for the paid voting booth workers. Not so for the volunteers standing around outside distributing how-to-vote (HTV) tickets.

Why not erect large HTV signs for each party or independent, position provided by lot, upon the walls inside each polling booth and simultaneously introduce the 100-metre rule banning outside canvassing which works well in the ACT Legislative Assembly elections?

This would ensure pre-polling – currently under criticism for its length – could stay at three weeks and remove the challenge of finding volunteers, especially among independents, to carry out HTV distribution.

Would the need to avoid HTV paper and helpers encourage more

people to stand for election? Perhaps, but this could be controlled by increasing costs or number of people in support of nomination.

Undemocratic? No more than the existing situation which denies some candidates any volunteer help due to a lack of financial or other resources.

A considerable amount of paper would be saved and volunteer retirees and university students spared the boredom, physical discomfort and the occasional insult.

Of course, the system should be applied to Federal polling day itself.

Politicians, naturally conservative where their own interests are concerned, would be reluctant, however the Australian Electoral Commission could show some initiative.

Nevertheless this should be an interim measure. The sensible move would be to electronic voting, but as an electoral official explained to me, this would be “too difficult”.

Grumpy is an occasional column dedicated to things that get up your nose. Readers are invited to vent (no more than 300 words, please) at editor@citynews.com.au

And then the ones who deal the death, who come to take away her breath with eyes as dark as any nightand with no feeling for her plight take away her saline drip … a rule imposed by vicarship.

In a country ruled by fear (secularity is not here) the black-eyed icebergs cowards allbow to the serpent’s loathsome call. My beliefs take precedenceYou can not make your own sense. I hereby articulate you do my wishes, God is great.

And so, my sweet and loving wife (who never harmed a soul in life) lies in pain for days on end - … watched by children, me, and friend. All are victims of this actreligious terrorist attack

The blue-robed serpent, shameless brute blue tie matching his blue suit whose deity he lets decide on rules that we cannot abideand with him others of his kind whose humanity is surely blind … who cling to visions we deride and cast the public’s votes aside.

And in the place where death has reign blue angels fight to ease the pain while victims plead, eyes red with sorrow For God’s sake! End my life tomorrow! Why hast though forsaken me? You’ve stolen our democracy

OPINION / climate change

Voters’ climate action ignorance comes at a price

Retired Canberra

CSIRO scientist JOHN L SMITH

explains why the belief that wind, solar and renewables are going to be cheaper is flawed

POLLSTERS say that carbon emissions – climate change – is one of the most important issues in the coming Federal election. It seems that many voters want action without understanding the engineering issues.

For example, take the latest campaign commitment on electric vehicles. Labor strategists have put their money on a promise of 50 per cent of new-vehicle sales by 2030. Presumably the ramp up would begin soon after the forthcoming election.

The embodied energy (the energy expended in making an article from its component materials) is much greater for electric cars owing to the battery array and electronics. If the car-manufacturing industries in Japan and South Korea continue to use high-carbon emission energy sources it would take on average two to three years’ driving to compensate for the additional manufacturing emissions, depending on the renewable energy component of our electricity supply.

The situation is exacerbated by the strong preference of the Australian motorist for medium to large SUVs and utes over small cars. The embodied energy for batteries becomes very significant for the larger type of

vehicle. Social engineering the tastes of the Australian motorist is about as hopeful as winning lotto.

Technology developments will determine the statistics of new cars in 2030. With the prospect of driverless vehicle fleets emerging in the urban environment governments are more likely to be concerned with ridership issues that affect the demand for energy.

Another example of misunderstanding and misinformation is the belief that electricity would be cheaper if all coal generators were replaced by wind and solar.

It is claimed that renewable energy is cheaper than the marginal cost of coal generation. That is, it is better economics for an electricity generator company that is investing in new plant to invest in renewables. What this means for the consumer is not clear especially as there is no sign of cheaper electricity from the growth in renewables, rather the contrary.

One reason that consumer costs are still increasing is that the traditional base-load coal generators are being powered down in order to use the supposedly cheaper renewable energy when it is available. Thus, there is

more generator plant capacity being maintained than is needed and the coal generators are being used less efficiently. This is leading to a proliferation of roof-top solar, which is the most inefficient way to develop a national solar energy resource.

One thing is clear, renewables have complicated the infrastructure of electricity supply to the extent that not even experts agree on what should happen or what the cost will be.

The inaugural Integrated System

CONSTRUCTION • DEVELOPMENT • CUSTOM JOINERY

Plan published in 2018 by the Australian Energy Market Operator outlines proposed developments in the eastern grid until 2040 when the largest technology sector will be solar and most of the coal generators will have been replaced. Yet some experts predict that the dominant renewable source will be wind generators. Either way, for renewables to dominate coal and gas there has to be large-scale development of the grid transmission capacity and energy storage.

It is said that wind generators operate at higher capacity at night and so complement solar. However, there are periods lasting for days when the output of the wind generators on the grid is well below average. For the three days ending on March 10, the aggregate output from all wind generators was less than half the average output. If coal generators are replaced by renewables these shortfalls must be met by having very large amounts of stored energy.

Despite renewable sourced electricity being cheaper at the farm gate the prospects are that electricity will be more expensive, whether the consumer pays by government spending or supply charges. The latest example of government spending is the announcement by the Prime Minister in February of a $1.38 billion taxpayer contribution to kick off the Snowy 2 pumped-hydro project that

is expected to cost billions more. Yet the hydro-generator capacity of this investment will only be a small fraction of that required during peak demand periods when there is little wind and the sun angle is low.

Meanwhile the tenor of voter approval for more government action in the name of climate change suggests that some people think that Australia can actually do something to stop it, and the more government action the better.

In the real world there are five countries (China, US, India, Russia and Japan) that contribute 58 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions, while Australia belongs to a group of 15 countries that each contribute around one per cent for a total of 21 per cent. The balance of 21 per cent is contributed by about 170 small or developing nations.

It is a ridiculous course of action for Australia to outstrip other countries, especially China and India, in reducing carbon emissions. If China falls significantly short of the 26 per cent reduction from 2005 emission levels that Australia has committed to under the Paris agreement, it will have a massive impact on the amount of world emissions. On the other hand, if Australia were to increase its commitment to 45 per cent, as proposed by Labor, it will have negligible impact on world emissions.

BORDEAUX CONSTRUCTION & MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Total Design Consultancy and Project Management

• Home • Office • Extensions • Renovation

• Granny flats

• Sun room addition

• Build your new dream home

• Commercial premises

Retail

BORDEAUX BATHROOMS

• Designed with you with your budget in mind

• High standard of workmanship

• High quality finish

BORDEAUX KITCHENS

(Associated with Capital Cabinetmaking)

Specialise in custom-built design and joinery

• Kitchens • Vanity and laundry units

Commercial Joinery

• Shop/office • Home office

• Experienced tradesmen and full trade co-ordination available

• Completed on time, every time BordeauxBCM BordeauxBCM www.bordeauxbcm.com.au

Showroom Hours: Mon-Fri: 9.00am to 4.00pm, Sat: 9.00am to 12pm, or by appointment

School Banner Competition

SCENE / around canberra

Girls Grammar’s

sundayROAST

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

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

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

Monday 27 May 2019, 8 am – 9 am Reconciliation Place, Parkes

www.eventbrite.com.au

OPEN EVENTS

EARLY LEARNING CENTRES

Holy Trinity Early Learning Centre, Curtin

7 May Open Morning 9.30am – 11.00am Open Evening 5.30pm – 7.00pm

14 May Open Morning 9.30am – 11.00am

Holy Family Early Learning Centre, Gowrie

8 May 9.30am – 11.00am and 4.00pm – 5.30pm Information Night 6.30pm – 7.30pm

Holy Spirit Early Learning Centre, Nicholls

9 May 9.00am – 11.00am and 3.30pm – 5.00pm

Mother Teresa Early Learning Centre, Harrison

7 May Open morning 10.00am and Afternoon 4.00pm

14 May Open morning 10.00am

21 May Open morning 10.00am

St Anthony’s Early Learning Centre, Wanniassa

7 May Open Morning 10.30am – 11.30am

14 May Open Morning 10.30am – 11.30am Enrolment Information Evening 6.00pm

21 May Open Morning 10.30am – 11.30am

St Joseph’s Early Learning Centre, O’Conner

8 May 9.30am – 11.00am and 5.00pm – 6.30pm

13 May 9.30am – 11.00am

23 May 9.30am – 11.00am

St Judes Early Learning Centre, Holder

8 May 9.30am – 11.30am and 4.00 -6.00pm

St Thomas Aquinas Early Learning Centre, West Belconnen

8 May Open Day 11.45am – 1.30pm Enrolment Information Evening 6.30pm

17 May Open Day Session 9.00am – 11.00am

21 May Open Day Session 2.00pm – 3.00pm

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Good Shepherd Primary School, Amaroo

6 May 9.30am – 11.00am and 3.30pm – 6.00pm

16 May 9.30am – 11.00am and 3.30pm – 6.00pm

Holy Family Primary School, Gowrie

8 May 9.30am – 11.00am and 4.00pm – 5.30pm

Holy Spirit Primary School, Nicholls

9 May 9.00am – 11.30am and 3.30pm – 5.30pm

Holy Trinity Primary School, Curtin

7 May 9.30am – 11.00am and 5.30pm – 7.00pm

13 May 9.30am – 11.00am

Mother Teresa School, Harrison

8 May 9.30am – 11.00am

15 May 9.30am – 11.00am

22 May 9.30am – 11.00am

Rosary Primary School, Watson

8 May 9.00am – 1.00pm

Sacred Heart Primary School, Pearce

8 May 9.30am – 11.00am and 3.30pm – 5.00pm

St Anthony’s Parish Primary School, Wanniassa

8 May Open Morning and Tours 9.30am – 11.00am

Open Evening 4.00pm – 6.00pm

13 May Open Morning and Tours 9.30am – 11.00am

17 May Open Morning and Tours 9.30am – 11.00am

22 May Open Morning and Tours 9.30am – 11.00am

St Bede’s Primary School, Red Hill

6 -10 May Open Week

St Benedict’s Primary School, Narrabundah

7 May 9.00am – 11.00am

8 May 3.30pm – 7.00pm

9 May 9.00am – 11.00am

13 May 3.30pm – 5.30pm

St Clare of Assisi Primary School, Conder

9 May 9.30am – 11.00am and 4.30pm – 6.00pm

30 May 9.30am – 11.00am

St Francis of Assisi Primary School, Calwell

6 May 9.30am – 11.00am and 4.00pm – 6.00pm

29 May 9.30am – 11.00am and 4.00pm – 6.00pm

St John the Apostle Primary School, Florey

8 May Open Morning Tours 9.00am – 11.00am, Open Evening Tours from 5.30pm and Information Presentation from 6.30pm – 7.15pm

10 May Open Morning Tours 9.00am – 11.00am

15 May Open Morning Tours 9.00am – 11.00am

St John Vianney’s Primary School, Waramanga

8 May 9.00am – 6.00pm

St Joseph’s Primary School, O’Conner

8 May 9.30am – 11.00am and 5.00pm – 6.30pm

13 May 9.30am – 11.00am

23 May 9.30am – 11.00am

St Jude’s Primary School, Holder

8 May 9.00am – 11.00am and 4.00pm – 6.00pm

St Matthew’s Primary School, Page

6 May Open Day 9.00am – 11.00am

13 May Open Day 9.00am – 11.00am

St Thomas Aquinas Primary School, West Belconnen

8 May 11.45am – 1.30pm

14 May Kinder Evening 6.30pm

17 May 9.00am – 11.00am

21 May 2.00pm – 3.00pm

St Thomas More’s Primary School, Campbell

6 May 9.00am – 3.00pm

St Vincent’s Primary School, Aranda

8 May 9.30am – 11.00am and 4.00pm – 6.00pm

11 May 10.00am – 1.00pm

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Merici College, Braddon

2 May Be a Merici Girl Day

4 May Talk and Tours

6 May Be a Merici Girl Day

7 May Be a Merici Girl Day

8 May Open Day 2.00pm and 5.30pm (Includes Year 7 Information Session and Principal’s Address)

10 May Be a Merici Girl Day

16 May Year 11 Information Evening and Careers Expo from 2.30pm

18 May Talk and Tours 9.30am

St Clare’s College, Griffith

1 May Open Evening 4.30pm – 7.00pm

Information Session in College Hall 6.00pm – 6.30pm

7 May School Tours by appointment at 9.00am and 4.00pm

13 May Year 11 2020 Information Evening 6.00pm – 7.30pm

15 May School Tours by appointment at 9.00am or 4.00pm

St Francis Xavier College, Florey

7 May 2020 Enrolment Information Evening Guided Tours 5.00pm – 6.30pm and Information Session 6.30pm – 7.15pm

10 May Open Day 9.00am – 2.30pm

St John Paul II College, Nicholls

6 May Open Evening Tours and Information sessions will run every half hour from 4.00pm and the last tour will be at 6.00pm.

15 May Open Evening 6.30pm – 8.00pm

St Michael’s Primary School, Kaleen

8 May 9.30am – 6.00pm

St Monica’s Primary School, Evatt

6 May Tours 10.00am, 12.00pm, 2.00pm

22 May Tours 10.00am, 12.00pm, 2.00pm

Sts Peter and Paul Primary School, Garran

2 May 9.00am – 6.00pm

8 May 9.00am – 6.00pm

St Thomas the Apostle Primary School, Kambah

9 May 9.00am – 5.00pm

18 May 9.00am – 11.00am

St Mary MacKillop College, Tuggeranong

6 May Year 7 2020 Information Evening 6.30pm

10 May Try MacKillop Day

15 May Career Expo 4:00pm – 7:00pm Year 11 2020 Information Evening 6.00pm

CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOLS

Daramalan College, Dickson

28 April Open Day

Marist College, Pearce

5 May Open Day 9.30am – 12.30pm

13 May Open Morning Tour 9.00am

St Edmunds College, Pearce

12 May Open Day 11.00am – 3.00pm

Enjoy everything Merimbula and the Sapphire Coast has to offer

Stay centrally located at the 4.5 Star, The Palms Apartments, Merimbula.

We have six modern, large fully self contained two bedroom units for you to enjoy for the duration of your stay. Each apartment has a private balcony, some with wonderful views of Merimbula lake and beaches.

We are a short five minute stroll from both Merimbula’s town centre and our closest beach at Spencer Park. Book now for a relaxing time and a memorable holiday.

The Palms Apartments Merimbula

63 Main Street, Merimbula, NSW 2548 Phone 02 6495 1835 • www.thepalmsapartments.com

WINTER ESCAPES

A getaway is closer than you might think

EVEN though the temperature’s dropped, there are still lots of great choices for Canberrans to go for a short or long holiday this winter.

With about two hours to the beach and almost three to the snow, the ACT offers close holiday escapes for everyone.

For snow-lovers looking towards the snow season, now’s the right time to book for a snow-filled weekend away. But for others looking to escape the cold (a little), it’s also a great time to get away from the crowds and relax near the beach.

At home with the ocean and lake

WITH accommodation backing out on to the beach and a short walk to a lake, Merimbula’s Grandeur Apartments have everything the lake and ocean have to offer.

Manager Sharon Le Strange says guests can step out the back door and enjoy activities such as fishing, swimming, surfing, sail boarding and stand up paddle boarding.

Just 100 metres away there is also Mitchies Jetty, where visitors can take a fishing charter or go on a dolphin and whale watching trip, depending on the season.

Relaxing spot for a memorable holiday

LOCATED centrally in Merimbula, The Palms Apartments are a short stroll to the town centre and its closest beach, Spencer Park Beach.

Manager Sharon Le Strange says the laid-back beach town of Merimbula makes a relaxing and memorable holiday.

“We have six, modern, large, fully self-contained, two-bedroom units for you to enjoy for the duration of your stay,” she says.

With five standard apartments and one deluxe apartment, Sharon says they’ll suit any occasion whether it be family holidays, honeymoon, golf trip or fishing trip.

“Each apartment has a private balcony, some with wonderful views of Merimbula Lake and beaches,” she says.

“They are fully self contained with a fully operational kitchen. The master bedroom has a queen-size bed,

Sharon says Grandeur’s one, two or three-bedroom, self-contained apartments are in a quiet, sunny and north-facing position.

“All the upstairs apartments have water views and every apartment also overlooks the large heated pool, toddlers’ pool and barbecue area,” she says.

Grandeur Apartments, 4 Ocean Drive, Merimbula. Call 6495 1456, email stay@grandeurunits.com.au or visit grandeurunits.com.au

The Palms Apartments, 63 Main Street, Merimbula. Call 6495 1835, email contact@ptfcanberra.com.au or visit thepalmsapartments.com

Valhalla’s magical Yulefest escape

VALHALLA Perisher’s ski-lodge accommodation is looking forward to offering guests the fun and festivities of the Yule when it hosts its Yulefest celebrations between June 7 and July 7.

Kylie Langford, who helps run the family business, says Valhalla Perisher is a magical winter escape that captures the warmth of a northern hemisphere winter, especially over Yulefest.

During Yulefest, she says people can expect après by the fire, warm mead, delicious dinners, hearty breakfasts, fun times, friendships and the festivities of Yule.

“All combined with the natural beauty of the Snowy Mountains,” she says.

Kylie says Valhalla, which is a Viking term that translates to “Nordic Heaven”, has some of the most stunning panoramic views of Perisher Valley.

“We are perfect for nordic and alpine enthusiasts,” she says.

“We have 12 king or twin ensuite rooms with no bunk beds or TVs and three common guest areas; a spacious lounge, cosy dining room and separate TV room.

“Our focus is on our guest holiday experience, but it’s possibly the human interaction that helps set us apart.

“We have a warm friendly ambience and a great hosting team. Dining is fun and social and each afternoon we have après by the fire.

“Although we’re licensed there’s no physical bar so everyone feels welcome in all guest areas. We’re a guest-only lodge so there’s no members, public patrons or walk-through traffic.”

Camp or

cabin, it’s all about relaxing

VISITORS can heat up by a campfire when they stay at one of the BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park waterfront campsites this winter, says general manager Jaclyn Guerin.

“[Or] for those who don’t want to camp, you can still get away and stay in the comfort of a villa or cabin which has heating,” she says.

Situated on the Clyde River and Nelligen Creek, Jaclyn says BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park makes for a relaxing family holiday for Canberrans hoping to escape the cold of the ACT.

“There’s plenty for the kids to do but it’s got that relaxed holiday feeling, too,” she says.

“We’ve got a skate park, a tennis court, a bouncy pillow and a small

games room with a pool table, table tennis and arcade games.

“For campers, there’s a big camp kitchen and a large gas heater so you still have the ability to cook indoors.”

It’s also a great spot for people with boats, according to Jaclyn who says they have their own boat ramp and the perfect fishing areas.

“Nelligen is great because it’s close enough to Batemans Bay for convenience but at the same time away from the hustle and bustle as well,” she says.

BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park, 970 Kings Highway, Nelligen, NSW. Call 1300 784446 or visit nelligenpark.com.au

Snow stay that feels like home

THE cottage accommodation at Alpine Activity Centre in Jindabyne is like a home away from home, says centre manager Kirrily Olejniczak.

Centrally located within walking distance from Jindabyne township, and only a 35-minute drive to the ski resorts, Kirrily says the cottages are perfect for a small group or family holiday.

“The two cottages, which sleep about nine people in each, are well-appointed, three-bed, two-bathroom, self-contained cottages with modern facilities,” Kirrily says.

“They’re also warm, comfortable and affordable.”

But Alpine Activity Centre goes above good accommodation, according to Kirrily, who says visitors are greeted on arrival and have the opportunity to access her 20 years of local-area knowledge.

“We’ve got off-street bitumen parking and our centre management is on site 24/7,” she says.

“We always make sure guests have a really good snow holiday and that they’re well prepared and well informed so they can make the most of their trip.

“We’ve also got discounts available with a local ski hire for all their discounted equipment and clothes.

“This means they can pick up their equipment the night before their first day of skiing.”

Alpine Activity Centre also has a large dormitory-style building that can sleep about 100 people.

“It’s great for community groups, schools and corporate groups,” Kirrily says.

Alpine Activity Centre, 25 Barry Way, Jindabyne. Call 6456 2433, email alpine.centre@nsw.scouts.com.au or visit alpine.nsw.scouts.com.au

• Walking distance to Lake Jindabyne, local restaurants and shops • Close to ski fields and activities • Spacious airconditioned and centrally-heated cottages for year-round comfort • Group dormitory accommodation • Commercial kitchen • Drying room •

HAPPENING IN KIPPAX / HOLT

Howzat! Holt’s a big hit with sportspeople

HOLT, named after former Prime Minister Harold Holt, was gazetted on July 2, 1970.

Bounded by Southern Cross Drive, Starke Street, MacNaughton Street and Drake Brockman Drive, its streets are labelled after sportsmen and women.

Inside these borders is the town’s designated group centre, Kippax Fair.

It was named after NSW cricketer Alan Kippax, who was regarded as one of the great stylists of Australian cricket during the era between the two World Wars.

Alan overcame a late start to Test cricket to become a regular in the Australian team between the 1928–29 and 1932–33 seasons.

Doctors offer quality care with a family focus

DR Natalie Boulton and Dr Richard Evans have been working at Holt Medical Centre since 2015 and took over the practice in 2016 on the retirement of Dr Graham Dawson, who started the practice in 1973.

“We really liked the way Graham ran the practice, we really like the patients, the family focus, the individual focus and the location,” Dr Evans says.

“We’ve continued to run the practice as it is, except we’ve made significant improvements to the facility and the practice equipment.

“We have a really good relationship with the long-term patients but we’re also expanding the practice for new patients.”

Both Dr Boulton, who is backed with 25 years’ experience in the navy, and Dr Evans, who has 30 years’ experience in the army, are comfortable navigating through the Department of Veterans’ Aff airs system, as well as with normal general practice issues.

Nurturing environment for preschoolers

SINCE 2016, YMCA Holt Early Learning Centre on Starke Street has been providing children aged six weeks to six years with a nurturing environment, says centre director Michelle Johnson.

preparation for the all-important transition to formal schooling.”

“We’re comfortable in a range of areas including mental health, children’s health and chronic care,” he says.

And they agree that a key focus for the practice is around having a face-to-face

relationship with patients and having the time to listen to them.

“We’re a practice with traditional values and quality care,” Dr Boulton says.

Holt Medical Centre, 8 Holt Place, Holt. Call 6254 3324 or visit holtmedicalcentre.com

As an “Exceeding National Quality Standards”-rated centre, Michelle says it delivers high-quality education and care services which incorporate the practices and principles of Magda Gerber’s RIE philosophy: “Respect for, and trust in the child to be an initiator, an explorer and a self learner.”

“We provide an environment for the children that is physically safe, cognitively challenging and emotionally nurturing,” says Michelle.

“YMCA Holt also delivers a preschool program for children aged four to five, as

Michelle says the teachers and educators prepare the children by developing trusting relationships with them and families.

“[They’re] based on respect, communication and collaboration, with an emphasis on inclusion and equality for all children and families,” she says.

“YMCA Holt is a modern, purpose-built Early Learning Centre featuring an open-plan design concept that supports children as they develop family, peer and community relationships.”

YMCA Holt Early Learning Centre, 180 Starke Street, Holt. Call 6242 4040 or visit canberra.ymca.org.au

HAPPENING IN KIPPAX / HOLT advertising

Inclusive centre ‘unites’ community

FOR the past 20 years the all-inclusive and welcoming Uniting Care Kippax has been on a mission to create a healthy community, says CEO Steve Coster.

The charity was established about 20 years ago and at first ran a financial program and a playgroup. Today, it offers about nine programs and it continues to offer emergency support and financial assistance.

“We have a number of programs that look at families and children such as playgroups, but we also have quite intensive programs which help develop a healthier relationship between parents and children,” he says.

“They’re about breaking the cycle of unhealthy relationships. People find themselves facing many challenges with life and often it can go back to their formative years.

“We want to create a healthy community and we believe we can do that together.

“We’re about transforming a community so that everybody has a place belonging and a decent life, and everybody gets a chance to participate in the community, supporting and helping each other.”

Uniting Care Kippax also runs a social enterprise called “The Mower Shed” which provides casual employment for long-term unemployed people and disadvantaged youth.

“We also work really hard with them to get them job ready,” he says. “They’re with us for a time but then we have an excellent success rate with helping them get full-time or part-time employment beyond The Mower Shed.”

UnitingCare Kippax, corner of Luke Street and Hardwick Crescent, Holt. Call 6254 1733, email kuc@kippax.org.au or visit kippax.org.au

Pegasus ACT calls for volunteers

PEGASUS ACT is calling for more volunteers so it can get participants off the waiting list and into the classes, says general manager Stephanie Williams.

For decades the not-for-profit community organisation has been providing therapeutic horse-facilitated programs and activities for people with disabilities.

“We want to facilitate our horse facilitated programs to as many people as possible so they can experience the benefits,” she says.

“There are physical benefits of horse riding such as increased core strength, increased stability and focus, as well as the social and emotional benefits of bonding with a horse, such as learning empathy and responsibility.

“For riders, it’s about being able to give someone with disabili ties the opportunity to do something really skilled and special.”

Pegasus ACT is currently looking for leaders to lead the horses and side walkers to work in classes.

“We’re also looking for stable hands and people who might be happy doing farm maintenance or administrative tasks,”

“We want people who are enthusiastic, flexible and willing to learn. We’d also like people to commit time every week if possible and people who can potentially commit during a work day and on

KIPPAX Fair Shopping Centre is more than a shopping centre, says its centre manager Georgia Diamond.

“It’s a community,” she says.

“Our everyday customers range from young families to the elderly [and] our aim is to provide them with a relaxing and enjoyable shopping experience in a friendly and comfortable environment.”

Georgia says it’s also a place to find any household needs such as fresh food, groceries, liquor and homewares, with other stores such as a tobacconist and shops

Shed

The Mower Shed provides garden and rubbish removal services at affordable rates. Concessions available.

specialising in beauty, hair, jewellery and everyday professional services.

“All our shops and staff are very friendly and happy to help you and all your shopping can be done under the one roof,” she says.

“We also have a wide variety of dining and takeaway options. It’s great to see our customers catching up and enjoying time with their friends and family.”

Kippax Fair Shopping Centre, Hardwick Crescent, Holt. Visit kippaxfair.com.au

• Adults

• Families with children (0-12 years)

• Young people (12-25 years)

• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people

Migrants & Refugees

instagram.com/unitingcarekippax/ twitter.com/kippaxcare

Kippax Kids

Kippax Kids playgroups are a great place for children, parents and carers to have fun and make new friends. Playgroups are held every weekday.

Kippax Monster Garage Sale - June 22nd 2019

Come and grab a bargain. Find a special gift for someone or for yourself. Donations accepted at Kippax Uniting in the week leading up to the sale.

Kippax Uniting Church Services - SUNDAYS

9:30am to 10:30am (Traditional) 10:30am to 11:30am (Contemporary) “BILT” (every 3rd Sunday) –“Building Intentional Lives Together” for creative, multi-sensory and interactive worship

Volunteers Needed!

We NEED more volunteers to help get participants off the waiting list and into classes.

• Horse leaders

• Horse grooming

• Stables

• Fundraising, marketing & events

• Administration activities

• Gardening

• Farm Maintenance tasks

• Class side walkers

HAPPENING IN KIPPAX / HOLT

“It’s also affordable,” says Peta, who didn’t want to be like the other day spas which are well and truly priced beyond people’s financial grasp.

FCB Day Spa offers everything from basic beauty services through to advanced skin therapies, laser therapies, as well as massage and spa treatments.

“The entire feeling of the salon really does come down to his vision and expertise,” she says.

“He did an exquisite job. It’s perfect in every sense. He delivered a high quality experience.”

Even though they own separate businesses, Peta says they work together to bring the best to their clients.

“A lot of his clients are mine and vice versa,” she says.

Training is provided. For more information, visit: pegasusact.com.au call us on: 02 6254 9190 or email: volunteers@pegasusact.com.au Riding for the Disabled ACT Inc. (Pegasus)

“We offer all our treatments to male clients as well,” she says.

“Our highly trained staff are dedicated to providing the most caring customer service to every client.

“It’s a five star service. We have a drinks station so people can make themselves at home and help themselves to tea, coffee or sparkling water.”

Walking into YMCA Holt is a unique and special experience.

Firstly, you notice the centre is made up of open plan spaces filled with light, natural materials, busy sounds of children, cosy nests and comforting aroma’s from the central kitchen – it is a space in which you immediately feel welcome, wish to belong and want to explore.

OPENING HOURS: MONDAY TO FRIDAY – 7:30AM TO 6:00PM YMCA HOLT EARLY LEARNING CENTRE | 180 STARKE STREET, HOLT

“We’re really trying to build that community feel within Holt and bring that community vibe back.”

FCB Day Spa, Unit 9, 12-16 Hardwick Crescent, Holt. Email info@flawlesscomplexions.com.au, call 6100 1102 or visit flawlesscomplexions.com.au

Writer wanted

“CityNews” is looking for a confident, skilled writer with at least three years’ experience to assist principally with the preparation of advertising features and write news and features variously for the magazine and its website citynews.com.au CV to editor@citynews.com.au before sunset Friday, May 3.

Quality Fresh Flowers and Gifts including:

• Weddings • Plants • Events

• Everyday Flowers

• Gifts & Candles

Kayla’s story...

I have always loved nature and everything about it since being a little girl. So, when I started my floristry apprenticeship I was in absolute awe and so excited that I could create something so beautiful with a part of nature, flowers. I would take them home just to watch them bloom and grow day after day into these amazing artworks originally created by earth. That feeling is one of the reasons why I wanted to start my business and share it with the world.

Plan ahead for peace of mind

IT can be an uncomfortable reality, but planning funeral arrangements is an important part of life.

Pre-planning can give you and your loved ones peace of mind and in this special feature “CityNews” showcases compassionate professionals who can help arrange the details and minimise the burden to help make these difficult decisions easier.

Memorial experts keen to listen

WHEN it comes to gravestones and memorials, Avalon Memorials listens to the needs of its customers to design the appropriate memorial for their loved ones, says director Tony Larobina.

“We’re able to design something to people’s personal needs, at a fair price,” he says.

Tony says Avalon Memorials is backed by experienced professionals who have more than 20 years’ experience when it comes to crafting memorials such as full memorials, lawn memorials, and ornaments and accessories.

“We have a website with some of the work we have done, which people can get ideas from,” he says.

“We go out of our way to give people a headstone that’s modern, we’re fairly diverse in our range of products and we’re also capable of restoring old monuments.”

What really sets Avalon Memorials apart, according to Tony, is the time they spend getting to know the customer and, through their stories, getting to know the deceased.

“We try to listen rather than dictate,” he says.

Avalon Memorials, 11A Shropshire Street, Queanbeyan. Call Tony on 0427 180776, email sales@avalonmemorials.com.au or visit avalonmemorials.com.au

“We’ve done a lot of development over the past 10 years with pathways and various types of memorials, which are set in the beautiful bush setting,” he says.

Norwood Park has a chapel on site, memorial gardens and, Stephen says, Canberra’s only crematorium.

“The actual cremation and service is organised between the funeral director and the family, but the memorials are done through our staff,” he says.

“The families can then organise a plaque through us. We’ll get that

come and choose from and a range of beautiful urns if you wish to keep your loved one close.

“Customers are welcome to visit our display room with examples of traditional and contemporary urns.” It can be an emotional time when the staff at Norwood Park have to interact with customers, which is why Stephen says they always treat them with great respect.

Norwood Park Crematorium, 65 Sandford Street, Mitchell. Call 6241 3177, email info@norwoodpark.com.au, or visit norwoodpark.com.au

Monday-Thursday 8.30am-5.30pm • Friday- 8.30am-5pm Saturday 8.30am – 2.30pm • Sunday Closed 02 6286 6195

Heard Street, Mawson ACT

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

When the go-to actress is making plans to go

By Helen MUSA

URSULA Yovich has been the go-to actress for the past two decades when directors are looking for a strong, mature indigenous performer.

Originally from Darwin, she’s become a household name down south; unforgettably as the archetypal female figure, Dulla Djin, in “The Secret River” and most recently as the eccentric mother in Miranda Tapsell’s rom-com movie, “Top End Wedding”.

But Yovich has had enough and as she prepares for a Brisbane season of the play “Barbara and the Camp Dogs”, coming soon to The Playhouse, she tells “CityNews” she wants out.

The play has been a huge hit, the co-creation of Yovich, Alana Valentine and composer Adam Ventura, well-known here for his work with Ql2 Dance. Full of solid rock songs and tuneful ballads it was a sleeper for Belvoir Theatre in 2017 and is now on tour, with the current run

finishing soon in Wollongong.

Starring Yovich herself as the outspoken Barbara, leader of a rock band called The Camp Dogs, it becomes a kind of road movie when she and her sister and band member René (played by Elaine Crombie)

learn that their mum in Katherine is seriously ill. They set off on a motorbike adventure from Sydney to Darwin and onwards, where the home truths come out.

It’s been billed as “part madcap buddy comedy, part electrifying

rock gig”, but Yovich is adamant that it is not a musical saying: “I’m not a fan of musicals, although there are as many songs in this play as in a musical – it’s a theatre piece”.

“It’s a pretty simple set up… we are recreating an old pub with pub

carpet and a ‘stage on a stage’ for the band,” she says, adding that there will be a limited number of seats for audience members who want to sit on the stage for atmosphere – “people who love loud music”.

She’s got a great character to play.

“Barbara is a manager and she’s like a lot of women I’ve known from family and friends, but she always wants to let her hair down,” she says.

“She’s very strong and fast. She’s in charge of her own destiny but she makes a lot of mistakes, even so there’s something really charming about her.”

In the classical manner, the action begins in the middle of the story when the girls, living in Sydney, hear about their mum, but the real centre of the play is a journey.

“In Sydney they don’t have a sense of who they are… I wanted them to be urban, black girls who have to find themselves,” she says.

She’s been on the road performing and singing since February. Enough’s enough.

“I’m probably going to be stepping away from theatre after 22 years,” Yovich says.

“It’s been enough for me,

ART CLASSES LESSON SCHEDULE

it’s exhausting physically and emotionally.

“I’ll never say I won’t come back, but I’m moving away from it indefinitely.

“I’d love to do workshops in communities. I know how much theatre and the arts have given me as far as my confidence goes; I’m not afraid to speak up now, but when I was an 18-year-old with my mum coming from the Maningrida community and dad a Bosnian Serb, I was a shy thing.” When it comes to performance, she says, some traditional communities emphasise the concept of shame, but to her, “you can be humble but you don’t have to be shamed”.

Having grown up in the NT, she’s also homesick.

“I miss that kind of wild and free life,” she says.

“I look at my daughter, she just stays in the house because you can’t hang out in Sydney the way you could in Darwin. I miss that, children in Sydney probably miss out.”

“Barbara and the Camp Dogs”, The Playhouse, May 30-June 1. Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au

MARGARET HADFIELD – Budget / Senior’s Class DENNIS MORTIMER – Design/Visual Language

MARGARET HADFIELD – Painting in All Mediums

MARGARET HADFIELD – ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS CLASSES

MARGARET HADFIELD – Painting in All Mediums – Materials supplied for both classes

Duratone Hi-Fi PTY LTD

MUSIC FOR ALL OCCASIONS

CINEMA

‘Tis a labour of love, not lost

“All Is True” (M)

HOW did Will Shakespeare spend his last years after retiring in 1613 until dying reputedly on his 52nd birthday in 1616?

In Ben Elton’s screenplay for Kenneth Branagh’s film (directing and playing Will), he went back to the house New Place that he bought in 1597 outside Stratford-upon-Avon, there to build a garden, mourn his son Hamnet who died aged 11 and mend his bridges with Anne Hathaway, the illiterate wife whom he has often been accused of neglecting although he obviously supported her financially. Much of this is perhaps invention that as cinema works quite effectively.

The acting is on safer ground. Behind bearded features showing a serious similarity to contemporary drawings of Will, Branagh’s delivery of words stands high. Judi Dench, never less than wonderful, plays Anne. Ian McKellen is, as you might expect, a delight to the ear as Will’s friend and patron Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton (learned sources are divided about his sexuality).

“Bartlett’s Dictionary of Quotations” devotes 86 pages to Shakespeare, more than anybody else. Elton’s screenplay is serious stuff, far from sycophantic. In conversation after the screening, a gentlemen expressed some surprise that a comedian had written what we had seen. He agreed that comedians had to have a talent for mining life’s vagaries.

Dolly!

Elton had a mountain of artistic craft and subsequent scholarship from which to draw inspiration, but precious little hard information from contemporary records. He uses quotations respectfully. But at times, modern language creeps in that some may find unfortunate. Regret, then forgive. “All Is True” is unlikely to break box office records, but I doubt that its creators expected that it would. More a labour of love, not lost.

At Palace Electric, Dendy

“The Hustle” (M)

IN 1964, Marlon Brando and David Niven starred with Shirley Jones in “Bedtime Story”, a comedy about two confidence men preying on wealthy elderly women at a Côte d’Azur resort hotel with the aid of a corrupt police inspector.

In 1988, Steve Martin and Michael Caine starred with Glenn Headley in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, a comedy about two confidence

farce. Wilson in particular excels as a rough and tumble Aussie girl and Hathaway knows how to project style in whatever character she is playing.

Version 2019 was directed by Chris Addison to a screenplay for which Stanley Shapiro and others laid the foundations in 1964. Adapting it to gender reversal (apparently the work of Dale Launer) has, in my opinion, weakened the story’s dramatic energy a little. In the war between the sexes, women have more to lose because of fundamental anatomical imperatives which Hathaway and Wilson toil mightily to discount. Fortunately, they succeed only as much as necessary to restrain the classifiers.

At all cinemas

women no longer young who, to reject life’s sameness in

when atta-girl neighbour Sheryl (Jacki Weaver justifiably learns that at secondary school, Martha had been in a cheerleader squad but for family reasons dropped out on the eve of a big game.

From there, the film’s dramatic mixture follows a humdrum path. Village management puts obstacles in Martha and Sheryl’s path. A mixed coterie of residents tries out and gets selected. They perform in a local cheerleaders’ contest (yikes!) at which acrobatic young competitors pile scorn on them. Martha has health problems. A teenaged cheerleader becomes their coach. They compete again and are a hit with some new moves that take on all over the country.

Spoiler Alert: Martha’s ashes get sprinkled in space by an imaginative funeral director.

Elsewhere, life goes on. Like the film – same old, same old.

At all cinemas

The food was divine and that’s it, really

By Wendy JOHNSON

ARTS IN THE CITY Edna bows to ‘possum pressure’

By Helen Musa

CANBERRA audiences didn’t really think Dame Edna Everage was going to retire after she last appeared at the Canberra Theatre, did they? After all, she invited us all to come to her “next retirement” show. Now, forced back on to the boards by her adoring “possums”, she’ll be here in September with “Dame Edna, My Gorgeous Life”. The tour begins in Canberra with performances from September 17-19. Early bookings to tegdainty.com

MEG, the daughter of Thomas Keneally, will be coming to town to talk about her first solo book, “Fled”, which has already been optioned for a film. It’s based on the life of Mary Bryant, the only female convict to escape the colonies, and tells of her search for freedom. At the National Library, 6-7pm, Tuesday, May 21. Register at nla.gov.au

“IN Conversation with the cast of ‘The Sopranos’”, actors Steven Schirripa (Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri), Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and Vincent Pastore (“Big Pussy” Bonpensiero) will take audiences behind the scenes of the TV series. At the Southern Cross Club, Woden, 6pm, Thursday, May 23. Book at cscc.com. au or 6283 7200.

Goodwin and Andrea Katz. At Wesley Music Centre, 3pm, May 19. Book at trybooking.com or at the door.

dish another memorable blend of ingredients – lentils, pistachio and rhubarb ($29). We also adored the lamb ribs, nicely spiced (not too much, not too little). It married well with fennel, sumac and lemon ($17).

THE food was divine. Those four words sum up our visit to Lamshed’s, a new food and wine establishment in Yarralumla.

Three of us headed to lunch, thrilled there wasn’t an item we wouldn’t have ordered (this is a rare occasion). Be prepared to share and let your tastebuds dance, dance, dance. Don’t be shy – dishes are beautifully proportioned so you can graze without being overwhelmed.

The beetroot tartare, apple and walnut ($16) was pretty on the plate and loads of love goes into patiently cutting ingredients. The taste combo is sensational. What a tantalising start to our Lamshed’s journey. One friend isn’t an eggplant fan but was prepared to give Lamshed’s take a go. She proclaimed the dish a winner ($15). The tempura was light and the white miso – such a versatile paste with great umami flavour – injected its personality in a wonderful way. Lamshed’s treats eggplant with true respect.

We adored both protein dishes and the radicchio, oak leaf and herb salad ($8) which cut through without competing. Sometimes salads want to hold all the power, but this version is happy to shine as a side.

The duck breast was melt-in-the-mouth and the

We don’t normally order dessert, but staff convinced us to indulge with the dark-chocolate tart with fresh milk sorbet ($15). It was a perfect way to end a perfect meal.

Lamshed’s is named after one owner, Jeff Lamshed.

“It’s a funny last name and we thought it would be a bit of a laugh,” says Jeff who grew up with the Ottoman Cuisine operators, first in Manuka, then Barton and also Sydney.

Jeff has also worked at Canberra’s Silo, Water’s Edge and Mocan and Green Grout and in Michelin Star establishments including Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, in Cornwall, and Restaurant Martin Wishart in Edinburgh.

At Ottomon, Jeff worked alongside good mate Matt Afpland, who has over the years developed sophisticated knowledge of wines, including at Rockpool Bar and Grill and highly reputable Melbourne establishments.

“We’ve always talked about opening a small place with a true wine bar feel and so here we are,” says Jeff.

“Matt has added so much with a unique wine list.”

Lamshed’s offers a fabulous (and popular) $20 deal from 3pm to 5pm – six fresh oysters and a glass of wine.

The menu celebrates seasonal produce and changes as Lamshed’s feels it needs too.

Lamshed’s, 27 Bentham Street, Yarralumla. Open Tuesday, 3pm until late and Wed to Sunday, noon to late.

THIS year’s bands and orchestras section of the Australian National Eisteddfod, May 30-June 4, will include 87 groups, high school, primary and community concert bands, jazz and brass bands, orchestras and instrumental ensembles coming from Canberra, the Hunter Valley, Orange, the Snowy Mountains, Goulburn and Young. Book at nationaleisteddfod.org.au

THE German Film Festival will open with Michael Herbig’s “Balloon”, the true story of two ordinary families who escape from East to West Germany in a homemade, hot-air balloon. A highlight for art lovers will be “Bauhaus Spirit: 100 Years of Bauhaus”. At Palace Electric Cinemas, May 22-June 9. Book at palacecinemas.com.au

THE Celtic Tenors – Daryl Simpson, James Nelson and Matthew Gilsenan – will perform classics such as “Finnegan’s Wake”, “Song For Ireland”, “Danny Boy”, “Caledonia” and “You Raise Me Up” at Llewellyn Hall, May 21. Book at ticketek.com.au

ORIANA Chorale, conducted by Dan Walker, has built a concert around the seasons and includes works by Samuel Barber, Gustav Holst, Stanford, Gjeilo and other composers, including Walker himself. At Fitters’ Workshop, Kingston, 4pm, Saturday, May 25. Book at trybooking.com

Explore your creative side in our visual arts workshops. Suitable for beginners to advanced levels, workshops are led by professional artists who will guide you through techniques that hone your artistic skills and are lots of fun!

GARDENING

Got to love no-fuss perennials

don’t need constant replanting like annuals. They’re ideal for dividing for extra plants and most can be readily grown from seed.

One perennial that really brightens gardens for months on end is Gaillardias, which belongs to the Asteraceae family and is named after the 18th century botanist Gaillard de Charentonneau. Pictured here at the Horticultural Society of Canberra’s Trial Garden in Bruce is Gaillardia Fanfare, a native to north and south of the US. Its colours are featured on the flag of Texas.

ONE of the most popular hedging plants in Britain and Europe is Griselinia littoralis, and yet I have rarely seen it for sale here. Littoralis in the name means “growing by the sea”.

Originating in the extremes of climate in NZ, where it is known as Kapuka, it is a hardy drought-tolerant plant that can, in ideal conditions, grow to 10 metres tall and yet it will stand hardy clipping to keep it to two to three metres. Its small, greenish flowers of spring to midsummer are followed by black berries in autumn/winter.

WHILE the autumnal leaf colour of deciduous trees turns heads, there is one evergreen tree that puts on a magnificent show from midsummer through to autumn; namely Ceratopetalum gummifera or more commonly the NSW Christmas Bush. The gummifera refers to the large amount of gum extruded when the bark is damaged. It is native to Australia and New Guinea and

renowned for its red autumnal colours at that time, although it is not the leaves that change colour. The white star-like flowers in spring are followed by beautiful red sepals that enlarge up to 10 millimetres across after the fruit has set. It was first described by the English botanist Edward James Smith in 1793 in his treatise “A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland”.

AN early morning visit to Mount Ainslie will be rewarded with an unforgettable kaleidoscope of red, yellow and orange-coloured leaves. In Tumut they’ve just had the Festival of the Falling Leaf to celebrate the occasion; maybe we could do the same here as an added attraction for visitors to Canberra?

HERE’S a way to get extra plants for no cost. Plants that may be a few years old will have shoots that are close to the ground and may have taken root. Or you can purposely pin down branches close to the ground and cover with a layer of soil. They soon grow roots that can be carefully dug up in late spring and potted up. Alternatively, carefully dig up and plant elsewhere directly in bare spots in the garden. Lavender and rosemary lend themselves to this method.

THE twofold effect of the brilliant orange of ripe Diospyros, or persimmons, and their autumn leaf colour is nothing short of spectacular.

I am surprised at the number of people who tell me they have never tasted persimmons. Astringent persimmons need the fruit to be gooey soft before eating, whereas the non-astringent variety can be peeled, cored and eaten as an apple. Although there is nothing more delicious than eating the soft fruit of the astringent variety with fresh cream or ice cream.

Persimmons have been grown in China and Japan for millennia. During excavations, seeds were found in a tomb in China dating back to 168 BC.

My preference is for Persimmon “Fuyu”, a non-astringent variety with a sweet flavour. It is self-pollinating and a heavy cropper. Maturing in

late autumn, it’s important not to pick the fruit too early, although you will certainly know when you see the currawongs gorging on the fruit! Fruit is borne on the current season’s growth, so it is important to encourage as much growth as possible by cutting out laterals, which have previously borne fruit.

As with persimmons, Loquat, or Eriobotrya japonica, has been grown for more than 1000 years in Japan, although possibly originating in China. Grown as much for its ornamental uses as the fruit, there are now more than 800 cultivars in existence.

An evergreen tree of about 5 to 10 metres, with sweetly fragrant white flowers, its flowers unusually appear in autumn and winter with the fruit maturing in late spring/summer. The disadvantage with the sweet yellow fruit is the cluster of large seeds in the centre.

Many old properties grew persimmons with their large, evergreen leaves and drought hardiness, as a wind-break tree around the homestead.

Jottings…

• Heino Lepp will speak on mushrooms and other fungi at the next meeting of the Horticultural Society of Canberra, Wesley Church Centre, Forrest, 7.30pm on Monday, May 20. All welcome.

• When buying trees at garden centres it’s always a good idea to pick them up by the pot and not by the trunk.

• It’s an ideal time to select deciduous trees for their autumn leaf colour before the leaves fall.

• Leave old flower heads on hydrangeas through winter. They help protect emerging buds from frost. Prune back in spring.

• Last reminder to plant or dig up and relocate bulbs.

• It is a good time to dry herbs. The easiest way is to tie in bunches and hang in a cool, dry spot, ie the garage.

Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

The mid-week Mars/Uranus connection revs up your spontaneity, enthusiasm and motivation. So make sure you channel all of that fiery Aries energy into an appropriately positive and productive project. Then Thursday brings the opportunity to patch up a problem with a relative or neighbour. Think carefully before you speak though! Hasty comments will just inflame an already sensitive situation, whereas soothing words are the balm that will heal an old wound.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Uranus (the planetary harbinger of change) is transiting through your sign, which only happens approximately every 81 years. So avoid being a stubborn, stuck-in-arut Taurus! Make sure you capitalise on unexpected opportunities that come your way. And do your best to embrace adventurous new possibilities with both hands. Change doesn’t have to be scary. As singer-songwriter (and birthday great) Bob Dylan reminds us: “There is nothing so stable as change.”

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

It's action stations on Tuesday when the Sun and Mercury do a double act and charge into your sign. So you’re keen to tackle things at a lightning pace as you solve a problem, multi-task like a pro, study, travel, teach or just chat up a storm. Thursday is a wonderful day to forgive someone and let go of a grudge that’s been weighing you down. Then you’ll feel lighter and less encumbered by problems from the past, so you’ll be able to fly towards a creative new future!

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Are you feeling stressed? Help is at hand, as the Sun and Mercury move into your soul zone on Tuesday. So there is peace and quiet to be found via meditation, contemplation, creative visualisation, yoga, chanting or tai chi as you slow down and listen to your inner voice. As spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson observes: “Ego says, once everything falls into place, I’ll feel inner peace. Spirit says, find your inner peace and then everything will fall into place.”

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Work issues are in a state of flux, as Uranus throws you a curved career ball – but it’s nothing you can’t handle. If you are too slow though, you’ll be left behind. And are you looking for employment? The best way to attract the job of your dreams is to show prospective employers how confident you are about your unique talents. Be inspired by entertainer (and birthday great) Cher: “Unless you’re willing to look a little foolish, forget the possibility of becoming great.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

With the Sun and Mercury both lighting up your reputation zone, don’t hide your versatile Virgo talents! Be proud to show the world what you are truly capable of. And is a family problem testing your mettle (and patience)? Habitual thinking and old solutions won’t help. Jupiter encourages you to look at the situation from a totally fresh perspective. It may take a few false starts but – with a positive and patient approach – you’ll get there in the end.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Freedom, far-away adventures and glamorous escapades are calling as the Sun, Mercury and Jupiter stimulate your travel zones. Clever Librans will make it a priority to plan (and save for) an exciting dream holiday sometime soon. So your motto is from birthday great, philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” A chat with a student, teacher or mentor puts a current problem in perspective.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

This week other people will continually surprise (and flummox) you with their unpredictable antics, so don’t lose sleep trying to work out where they are coming from. And avoid being a cynical Scorpio who sabotages relationships. Nurture and cherish your close connections. If you’re unhappily single, keep pursuing your dream of finding your soul mate. Draw inspiration from birthday great, singersongwriter Stevie Nicks: “I live in the realm of romantic possibility.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Relations with a child, teenager or friend could be fiery this week so tread carefully. Jovial Jupiter is still moving through your sign (until December 2) which only happens every 12 years. So make the most of it! It’s a terrific time to expand, enthuse, encourage and explore. Be inspired by actress Joan Collins (who was born on May 23, 1933): “I’m very lucky; I seldom get depressed. Without question, I’m a ‘glass half full’ person. In fact, it’s three-quarters full!”

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

When it comes to close relationships, strive to be more proactive. This week Mars and Uranus encourage you to keep the partnerships that are working well or have plenty of potential. But is it time to turf a lover who’s been letting you down? Or part ways with a business partner who’s not pulling their weight? Or finally discard a friend who doesn’t have your best interests at heart? Don’t procrastinate Capricorn! If you are decisive and inventive, then you’ll reap the rewards.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Proactive Mars connects with radical Uranus. So, if you must be a rebel, make sure you’re a rebel with a worthy cause. Jupiter is also activating your hopes, dreams and wishes zone. So there is the potential for fabulous opportunities to manifest in the future, but you must have the self-belief to follow your true destiny. Confidence and authenticity are the keys. For extra inspiration, look to amazing Aquarian role models like Mozart, Bob Marley, Yoko Ono and Oprah Winfrey.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

With the Sun and Mercury moving into your domestic zone, it’s a wonderful week to entertain family and friends at home with an impromptu Piscean meal. Convivial conversation is a bonus. Being of service to others – with kindness, compassion and style – also brings much joy and satisfaction. So your motto for the moment is from birthday great, writer Ralph Waldo Emerson: “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2018

Across

1 Name a small loader used in trench work. (6)

7 Where were the Olympic Games held in 1952? (8)

8 To which animal family do cats belong? (6)

9 Which devices are used at sea in determining latitude and longitude? (8)

10 What is a short, light sleep? (6)

11 What was a trooper of the army of Oliver Cromwell? (8)

14 Which term describes shell fragments? (8)

18 Name a reddish-brown horse. (6)

19 Name a legendary member of Jason's band, in search of the Golden Fleece. (8)

21 To be rectangular, is to be what? (6)

22 Which arachnid has an abdomen terminating in a venomous sting? (8)

23 To make certain, is to do what? (6)

Down

1 Which spectacles have two portions? (8)

2 Name a town in NE Queensland, on Trinity Bay. (6)

3 What is a less familiar term for an actor? (8)

4 What may we call a small insulated electric cable? (4)

5 Name the Gold Coast NRL team. (6)

6 To have glided over ice, is to have done what? (6)

12 Name a particular fine-grained whetstone. (8)

13 What is a concluding part added to a literary work? (8)

15 Name the early Roman lyric poet and satirist. (6)

16 To be on a ship, train, etc, is to be what? (6)

17 In Scandinavian folklore, which beings inhabit subterranean dwellings? (6)

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

MARION HALL BEST: Interiors

Until Sat 15 June

Described as electrifying, vital and avant-garde, Marion Hall Best was the most flamboyant Australian interior designer of the 1950s through to the 1970s. Her schemes were unashamedly modern and she claimed that “gentle, soft colours…are not restful, but dreary, sapping the energy and the mind”.

Presented by CMAG, Marion Hall Best: Interiors is a travelling exhibition from Sydney Living Museums.

TOTAL DESIGN: Derek Wrigley and the ANU Design unit

Until Sat 15 June

Formed in 1954, the ANU Design Unit was initially tasked to design and arrange the manufacture of furniture and furnishings for the newly established Australian National University. Under the direction of Derek Wrigley from 1962, the unit embraced a concept of ‘total design’. This exhibition, celebrates the work and legacy of this unique group of designers and makers.

Developed by ANU Heritage and is proudly presented by Canberra Museum and Gallery.

FORM BEYOND FUNCTION: Nigel Lendon’s plastic cameras

Sat 6 April – Sat 27 July

Alongside his practice as an artist and arthistorian, Nigel Lendon has been an inveterate and purposeful collector of, amongst other things, conceptual art, Afghan War rugs and over 200 plastic cameras. Lendon’s plastic camera collection has remained cocooned in storage until now.