CityNews 190530

Will ACT Labor suffer the federal party’s fate?

JON STANHOPE

Which universe do Barr’s ‘barbarians’ occupy?

PAUL COSTIGAN

Boo hoo, here comes the jab to fight the flu

KATE MEIKLE

Not such a bad election to lose

ROBERT MACKLIN

HOUSE PROUD

It’s all homes and selling houses for digital star DANIELLE HARMER these days

It’s all homes for digital Danielle these days

By Danielle NOHRA

FROM Canberra to Sydney to New York and back again, Danielle Harmer has been part of some huge projects around digital products for iconic news outlets such as “The New York Times” and “The Sydney Morning Herald”.

Bringing back a wealth of experience, Danielle returned to her hometown, Canberra, in 2016, and in more recent days has been appointed general manager of leading online real estate site Allhomes.

Danielle, 36, of Crace, started in the new role this month after returning from maternity leave.

The mum-of-three says she was excited about the role because she knew she’d be “walking into a job with a great team”.

But Danielle hasn’t always known what she’s been walking into; such as the time in her mid 20s when she moved to New York.

After finishing her degree at the University of Canberra she worked in Sydney at IBM for about five years before developing a thirst to travel.

She’d been to New York on a family holiday in the past and loved it so it

Arts & Entertainment 19-21

Canberra Matters 6

Cinema 21

Crossword 23

Dining 20

Gardening 22

Horoscopes 23

Letters 9

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was an easy choice.

“It was tricky for me to go because it was in the global financial crisis but everyone said just go over and try your luck,” she says.

Turns out Danielle was in luck because not long after moving, a recruiter sent her to interview for a business analyst job at a publishing company, which turned out to be “The New York Times”.

“They were using the same technol ogy I was using at IBM so I was really, really lucky,” she says.

“They took me up to the 21st floor where I had a really good four-hour chat with people like the head of mar keting and after I landed the role, I couldn’t believe it.

“I don’t think they’d met an Austral ian before. A lot of them were die-hard New Yorkers so a lot of the interview we talked about Australia.”

Within a few months in the role,

“The New York Times” decided to put up a paywall on its internet site and Danielle became product manager of the website.

“It was a huge cultural change there. We basically had to merge the print and digital sides of the business,” she says.

“It was an experience and a half when it comes to organisational change. A lot of people left. You kind of had to grasp it or run with it or step back.

“I remember sitting in meetings

where people would be yelling and crying.

“One of my biggest memories there was when someone had hit the paywall for the first time and everyone cheered,” she says.

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“When I left we had about 600,000 digital subscribers and now it’s well over a million.”

It was New York, at a gym, where Danielle met her husband, too. He was an American playing rugby union

there and she challenged him to play

They moved to Coogee where he played for Randwick and Danielle got

“I started with ‘The Financial Review’ as their head of product, then ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’ and ‘The Australian’ wanted to launch a paywall so I took my ‘New York Times’ experience to that project,” she says.

When moving back to Canberra in 2016 and landing a job at Allhomes,

Danielle says she first worked on getting the technology up to speed.

“I felt like the technology was a little bit behind. We had this amazing website, but it wasn’t mobile focused,”

“We’ve spent a lot of time in the past couple of years really pushing a

“People are on the road more looking for properties and they want to be

“It’s important for us to stay ahead and continue to be the place where people can find everything they need throughout their property journey.

“It’s only going to get more interactive and more interesting. There will be more tech support for the whole length of the journey.

“Right now there is so much investment and awareness in the property space. It’s a really fun and fascinating market.”

Build a bridge and get over the election loss

IF the city of mostly true believers is still disappointed by the election result it could always build a bridge and get over it. Speculation of a brand, spanking new structure spanning Lake Burley Griffin might just be the tonic.

The National Capital Authority has confirmed a study of completely replacing Commonwealth Avenue Bridge will begin, rather than building a separate structure to accommodate light rail to Woden.

AND if a new bridge doesn’t do it, a naked man walking across the existing one with a pumpkin on his head surely would. Thankfully we won’t be exposed to such a spectacle after Sydney journalist Eddy Jokovich reneged on his pledge to “walk nude from Sydney to Canberra balancing a pumpkin on my head” if the coalition won the Federal election.

Pumpkinhead Eddy’s copped a shellacking on social media in the days since, pathetically responding on Twitter: “To all those perverts with their binoculars out there expecting this to happen, if the Liberals can lie and break their promises, so can I. None of the polls predicted Morrison’s re-election, few expected it. People make mistakes. Go and have a cold shower, all of you”.

Given shrinkage and Canberra’s climate,

a nothing-to-see-here-folks headline has gone begging.

SCOTT Morrison’s miraculous victory has brought the “fast tracking” of Canberra’s light rail to Woden to a shuddering halt. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr must now explore other avenues of funding. Stage 2 was more likely under a Shorten government with its pledge of $200 million. A shellshocked Barr suggested the re-election of the coalition was “going to set back the time frame, there’s no

doubting that,” with 2025 “a more realistic time frame”.

IF the next ACT election takes on a Trump/ ScoMo presidential tone the Canberra Liberals will need Mark Parton as its leader. Armed with little, the local Libs won’t be able to resist a “Barr will tax you to death” version of the “Crooked Hillary” and “Shifty Bill” template which worked a treat for Donald Trump and Scott Morrison. Morrison is the consummate salesman. Parton is a very good salesman. Both have

extensive experience in media roles before entering politics and the skills to “buy and sell” career political types such as Bill Shorten and, locally, Alistair Coe. Political campaigns are now 100 per cent sizzle with no room for sausage.

WITHIN 48 hours of the first quiet murmurs of a Labor defeat turning into a loud roar, reinstated ACT Labor senator Katy Gallagher had put the bite on me. Late on Monday I received a “Don’t mourn, join” email from the former ACT chief minister. “Mike, Saturday night’s election was disappointing for Labor supporters and voters across Australia. But now it’s time to rally together and look to the fight ahead”. Before the signwriters had even reattached the shingle to her new/old office, Katy was asking me “to join our progressive movement and become a member of the ALP”.

THE once fierce resistance to Canberra’s annual kangaroo cull has dimmed over recent times, but the 2019 program targeting a record number of roos has reawakened protesters’ rage. Twenty four organisations, including filmmaker Creative Cowboy and British-based vegan charity Viva, have issued a statement condemning the killing of 4076 kangaroos and unknown numbers of joeys. The group claims: “When global scientists have issued the strongest call yet to reverse

‘nature’s dangerous decline’, the ACT government is overseeing the cruel mass slaughter of over 4000 kangaroos.”

STILL on activism; Manuka’s fashionable district is not known for its tree huggers nor is it traditionally a haven for those with a penchant for civil disobedience, which is a relief because such action is no longer necessary to save a mature London Plane tree in Franklin Street. A ruling by the Conservator for Flora and Fauna Ian Walker, has blocked the destruction of the tree standing in the way of a proposed Europeanstyle, neoclassical, seven-storey hotel near the Capitol Cinema.

THE good folk of Curtin have been very generous with donations to the recent Anglicare Pantry appeal. Volunteers spent the weekend outside the local Coles store and gathered around 5000 items. The supermarket manager says that takings were up $30,000 for the week and the food items donated during the weekend filled more than 40 trolleys.

CANBERRA MATTERS

Which universe do Barr’s ‘barbarians’ occupy?

IN among the multiple planning and development issues that residents have to deal with, one major conversation has emerged.

People have become convinced that this government operates in a completely different universe. This separation is having a huge impact on people’s lives.

Let’s start with Thursday, May 8.

On that day the ACT’s Chief Minister delivered his annual “State of the Territory” speech to the Canberra Business Chamber. It sounded like any other self-congratulatory speech that he has delivered many times before. There was nothing approaching a vision.

The speech was delivered days after the UN’s biodiversity experts delivered their wake-up call on the risks to extinction of one million species.

The Chief Minister must have missed that announcement, otherwise so many things he has encouraged would have to be put on hold. The most obvious being the

This cohort of Labor/Greens politicians and planning bureaucrats have entered the history books as the latest idiots who are doing their best to wreck the joint.

biodiversity of Lake Burley Griffin is now to be further reduced with his plans for West Basin. His justifications continue to ignore that West Basin contains huge parklands and important lakeside biodiversity areas. Every piece of biodiversity now needs to be guarded.

The more demoralising part of his speech was towards the end when he said: “Canberra isn’t like other cities – and we don’t want it to be. We want it to be better.”

As people with the most basic knowledge of Canberra know only too well, until recently the city was indeed planned not to be like any other city. That has changed thanks to Andrew Barr’s government and also thanks to the membership of the Labor Party who endorse the damage being done to the bush capital.

I could write pages on who and what has delivered the bush capital previously so admired internationally. Instead, I recommend that anyone

interested in the city’s heritage buy the second edition (2019) of Rosemarie Willett’s locally published book: “The National Capital in the National Interest”.

This book should be mandatory reading for this cohort of Labor/ Greens politicians and planning bureaucrats. They would then realise that they have entered the history books as the latest idiots who are doing their best to wreck the joint. They have joined the ranks of those who have interfered with good landscape architecture, complex integrated planning and human-focused design that until recently came together to deliver the basics of this city.

Despite their efforts and male egos, the good parts of the city survived these previous stupidities. Until now! The bad news is that the biggest threats have arrived in the form of the narrow-minded approach being taken to the city’s urban infill.

The Barr government continues to use the much-maligned neoliberal market approach to development. When it comes to planning and development, being about the health and wellbeing of residents and the

urban and biodiversity framework that makes up the city, this Labor/ Greens government is more akin to being a conservative group of fundamentalists. Their approach to development locates them in a remote part of the universe to the right of what progressive thinkers would regard to be the traditional Labor or Liberal commitments to equity and looking after constituents.

Instead of an evidence-based approach based on bringing together the expertise from within government and drawing on the best minds in Australia, Barr’s barbarians have outsourced planning and development to the market forces. There is a constant stream of statements from developers in the mainstream media that the current style of development

course, we believe them!

Unfortunately, this ACT government continues to do its best to ignore the founding vision for this national capital. The delivery of that vision requires a people-focused integrated planning and design approach. It requires an appreciation of heritage – something this government works against fearing it may hinder their development mates. Something needs to change. There will be more on the Barr at the end of the universe in a couple of weeks.

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

Boo hoo, here comes the jab for flu

I FOUND myself on my hands and knees on the pavement outside the doctor’s surgery, surrounded by a duo of children screaming in stereo.

Fighting back tears, I was frantically searching for wipes in the bottom of my backpack, but for anyone passing by, I looked like a mum who had totally surrendered.

We had (just about) survived our family’s annual flu vaccine.

Moments earlier, squished into the GP’s consulting room, we were debating the order of who would receive their needle first. Experience had taught me that the youngest will cry the hardest, so I had planned for us to go in chronological order.

Having an injection (especially if you are a wimp like me!) isn’t easy while smiling and waving to the kids who are in frightened fascination, reassuring them that it’s nothing to be scared about. Another glamorous part of the job they never tell you about before you become a mum!

The two-year-old boss baby then elected to go next, I was proud of her determination. She did great, after a little cry, it was nothing a chocolate bribe couldn’t fix.

But while I was preoccupied with the boss baby, our five-yearold started backing himself into

I want my kids to understand that we are a ‘nononsense’ family – that when it comes to unpleasant but important experiences such as vaccination we just get on with it. Yes, it will hurt, but it will be quick and, yes, we get a treat afterwards.

the corner. The one kid I thought would be easy surprised me… by completely losing it.

He screamed, pleaded and wailed. It was a difficult moment; as a parent, I’m programmed to protect and care for my boy, I would walk through fire to shield him from pain and distress. If only I could.

But I also want my kids to understand that we are a “nononsense” family – that when it comes to unpleasant but important experiences such as vaccination we just get on with it. Yes, it will hurt, but it will be quick and, yes, we get a treat afterwards. That’s my policy.

My boy clearly hadn’t read the memo and that day nothing was going to turn him around. I contemplated rebooking, but that would only increase his anxiety. My GP had my back and while I held him very tight, she administered the needle as quickly as possible and he had a new toy and chocolate in his hands within seconds.

After the hullabaloo, the boss baby decided that she hadn’t cried enough so she joined her brother in a chorus of crying. I led two screaming kids out of the room, apologising to the waiting room for taking so long and announcing that no one had been tortured, we had just had our flu vax. People smiled sympathetically, but I think they just wanted me to exit as quickly as possible.

So that’s how I ended up on my knees in the street, about to give up. Eventually they stopped screaming, we had loads of cuddles, went home and all was forgotten. My GP did give me a hug and told me: “Mum needs a treat, too!”

So I followed doctor’s orders and had a glass of wine that evening. A routine injection turned out this time to really push me to my

limits as a parent, staying strong, showing empathy and all the while trying to teach two little people the importance of having a flu vaccine and staying healthy this winter.

With ACT Health reporting a slow uptake in vaccinating young children in the lead up to flu season, I know other mums might also be dreading taking their little ones. With the ACT government funding free flu vaccines for under fives, I encourage parents to get it done, chances are it won’t be as hard as it was for me.

The next day, my boy proudly shared with his preschool class that he had had a needle. I was worried about what he might say next (I didn’t want him to scare the children) but he summed it up perfectly.

“It hurt a bit, but I got a treat. You have to have a needle so you can stay healthy in winter.”

He had been listening.

Nailed it, mum!

MY CLUB Speaking up for Rostrum

JANE SHELLING is a member of Rostrum. This is her club

YOU’VE probably heard that public speaking tops the list of things people fear the most. The trouble is that there are so many occasions when we may be called upon to “say a few words”.

Any occasion from a speech at a retirement dinner to a toast at a wedding or even just being called upon for an opinion at a work meeting, all have the potential to unnerve the most confident of us.

Rostrum is a club that practices public speaking and meeting procedure. Members join Rostrum to improve their speaking skills for work, a special occasion or simply for personal growth.

Rostrum offers not only a supportive, learning environment to members but also encourages informed discussion in a good-humoured and relaxed setting.

Rostrum runs a club Speaker of the Year competition and a debating competition amongst its members. It is also the organiser of the ACT Primary School Speaking Competition, an annual competition that involves more than 5000 students from 94 schools, encouraging young speakers across Canberra.

Rostrum Club meetings are held across Canberra and Yass and everyone is welcome. More details at rostrum.org.au

“My Club” is a column aimed at giving publicity to clubs and organisations that might be looking for new members. Contributions of 250 words or less are welcome to editor@citynews.com.au

THE GADFLY

Not such a bad election to lose…

By Robert MACKLIN

FOR the first couple of days after the election, my Labor mates wandered around in a daze. After years of anticipation bolstered by those now discredited opinion polls, they were utterly distrait. And Scott Morrison’s triumphant cries of “Miracle!” didn’t help one bit.

However, there’s nothing like a leadership contest to get their red corpuscles racing. And if they were honest, nary a one of them would say they weren’t a little relieved that Bill Shorten was denied The Lodge after his role in cutting down both former Labor occupants on his way to the top.

That was a sentiment I shared, together with the perfidious thought that with the economy in trouble, this was not such a bad election to lose… but that’s a classic case of being wise after the event!

Not surprisingly, Albo was in no doubt that this time he would take what he always believed was rightfully his after 60 per cent of the rank and file had backed him six years ago. His immediate declaration as a contender made him look a little too eager to claim the ultimate prize from his party when he’d been an enthusiastic campaigner on the policies that were so clearly rejected by the electorate at large.

Tanya Plibersek was more gracious, saying she’d speak to her colleagues before declaring, then deciding to give this one a miss. Her “family” reasons rang a little hollow. Truth is, she and Albo are from the left and would only have split that factional vote. That same problem will keep her from the deputy leadership. However, after Queenslander Jim Chalmers withdrew his threatened candidature, the only real excitement (if you could call it that)

LETTERS

Albo was in no doubt that this time he would take what he always believed was rightfully his... though his immediate declaration as a contender made him look a little too eager

devolved on the choice of deputy leader, a gift of the party room but heavily influenced by the putative leader.

Both Chalmers and another possible contender, Joel Fitzgibbon, former Defence and later Agriculture Minister in the Rudd governments, had long conversations with Albo before declining to run for the leadership. As member for Hunter, covering a big coal mining region as well as some Newcastle suburbs, Fitzgibbon knew how to win back regional Australia. He, like Chalmers, decided against running only when Albanese gave assurances that regional Australia will be well represented in the leadership group.

But the real issue for Labor is not really city versus the regions, nor even getting Queensland back on side. It’s “the economy, stupid” as Bill Clinton was told all those years ago in another place.

Truth is, there’s not much to choose between the major parties in economic management. It was Labor’s Hawke-Keating reforms that set us up for 28 years of growth and Rudd-Gillard who kept us out of recession when the rest of the world tanked. And that’s why, with all the signs pointing to big problems ahead, my perfidious thought about it not being a bad election to lose might just have hit the mark.

But that’s no consolation to the Labor faithful.

robert@robertmacklin.com

Scientists and their inconvenient facts

I HAVE to say I did enjoy John Smith’s contribution as a retired scientist on climate action (“Voters’ climate action ignorance comes at a price”, CN, May 16). He is a good illustration of scientists being the source of critical but inconvenient facts.

I have had similar themed discussions with engineers who have had to manage electricity production and distribution systems. Seeing China and India as number 1 and 2 coal burners in the world first hand, and clumsy European energy actions, there is an almost dystopic clamour for action and a lack of understanding of the logistics.

The ACT can be nation leading as we can buy up renewable energy all over the country, as we don’t have any serious hard-to-reduce, CO2-producing energy industries.

The clamour for climate emergencies seems to ignore reality and I am constantly struck by the wishful (and ill-informed) thinking of many. We do need to reduce carbon emissions with integrated energy systems, but do so without masses of surplus capacity and dysfunction.

We can only hope we see more climate action, but action that actually works as opposed to more and unhelpful hot air.

Martin Gordon, Dunlop

Vacuous zealotry trumps good science

WELL done retired CSIRO scientist John Smith on his article on climate change (“Voters’ climate action ignorance comes at a price”, CN, May 16).

I never cease to be astonished at the ignorance of normally intelligent people on this subject. It is a pity that we do not have more authoritative voices on this subject in public discourse.

I fear we will have to learn the hard way that alarmist views that would have us risk our prosperity in the futile hope of changing the climate is more about vacuous zealotry than good science or engineering.

Denzil Bourne, Jerrabomberra

New date for fool’s day?

I KNOW that governments decide when the seasons change, ie winter starts June 1 etcetera.

But I didn’t realise that Ms Sally Barnes, CEO of the National Capital Authority, can change the date of April Fool’s Day from April 1 to May 22 with the announcement of the consideration of demolishing Commonwealth Avenue Bridge to make a completely new bridge to accommodate the tram.

Cedric Bryant, Watson

POLITICS

Despite everything, our democracy does work

By Michael MOORE

THE election result should remind our politicians of three things: trust and respect are critical, their positions simply cannot be taken for granted and, most importantly, our democracy does work.

Trust is diminished when the Prime Minister attempts to perpetuate the notion that he single-handedly won the election. It is a brazen attempt at increasing his own power.

No-one in Canberra voted for Scott Morrison. No-one in Canberra voted for Bill Shorten. That was the prerogative of the voters in the electorates of Cook and Maribyrnong respectively.

The election was littered with porkbarrelling, lies, mendaciousness, distortion, misinformation and fake news, as I set out in my previous column in “CityNews”.

The Liberal Party, with the backing of the mainstream media, largely ran a presidential style election. It was rare to see anyone other than Morrison in the media for his party. Although Labor did put up a range of shadow ministers, the election was still framed as a simple leadership competition.

Social media has been alive with disappointed voters since the election. Winners don’t feel the need to comment as much. Some wonder if our democracy is serving us well and look for an alternative form of government. Some feel disenfranchised. This reveals the real challenge for all types of governments is not about how well the majority is served. The real challenge is how well the most vulnerable are served, protected, supported and nourished.

Recent Australian governments have not done this well enough. Things are improving for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a range of ways – although there are still many challenges. Having refugees who are indefinitely in off-shore incarceration is an international embarrassment.

The temptation is to look for a better form of government. Some argue for direct democracy as used in Switzerland and some states in the US. On face value, power is transferred from political representatives to the people. However, the risk is establishing a “tyranny of the majority”.

British prime minister Winston Churchill summed up the dilemma when he told the House of Commons on November 11, 1947:

Trust is diminished when the Prime Minister attempts to perpetuate the notion that he single-handedly won the election.

“Many forms of government have been tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all other forms that have been tried from time to time”.

I have regularly repeated in this column that in politics we are generally making the “least-worst” decision or choice. Even so, there are many things that can be done to lessen the problems of our democracy. Transparency in political donations is the first cab off the rank. A restriction on the level of donations would also enhance our democracy significantly.

An investigation by “The Guardian” in 2018 found up to 40 per cent of political donations for the previous year (around $62 million) were not declared.

Unacceptable! Perhaps attitudes to the use of water in the Murray Darling Basin, the enthusiasm for fossil fuels and reluctance to support renewable sources of energy might be better understood if it was clear where those donations originated.

The real lesson from the last term in politics and the recent Federal election is the importance of trust. A way must be found to get past raw political gamesmanship. Otherwise, trust in our democratic institutions, and particularly our parliaments, will simply wane.

University of Canberra Professor of Governance, Mark Evans, offered some dire warnings in an article published in “The Conversation” in February.

“By 2025, if current trends continue, fewer than 10 per cent of Australians will trust their politicians and political institutions. The result will be ineffective and illegitimate government, and declining social and economic wellbeing”.

He concluded: “Whoever wins the 2019 Federal election must address this problem as a matter of urgency”. I am not holding my breath.

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.

/ the lost election

Will ACT Labor suffer the federal party’s fate?

WELL, wasn’t that a hoot? Leading in the polls every day for three years except on one day. How cruel is that? It really doesn’t seem fair.

Tony Abbott, who in my opinion gave the most gracious, thoughtful and dignified speech of any delivered on election night, was the first to identify the phenomenon of swings to the Liberals in non-urban and outermetropolitan working-class electorates and swings to the Labor Party in middle and upper-middle-class, leafy, inner-city electorates.

I’m fairly sure that if one was able to drill down into the vote in Canberra, the theory would prove to be as relevant as across the rest of Australia.

The Labor vote in Canberra was consistently strong across all three electorates and mirrored the vote achieved in the ACT in every Federal election for the last 30 years. With respect to Labor’s candidates, Bill Hayden’s famous “drover’s dog” would have polled equally as well. It would be interesting to know within which demographic the 40 per cent of Canberrans who didn’t vote Labor sit. My instinct is that a large proportion would fall within the bottom two income quintiles. The Labor/ Greens base in the ACT is clearly the public-service-dominated middle and upper-middle-class who sit in the upper two income quintiles.

A majority of the people of Canberra

BRIEFLY

The announcement that light rail stage two is to be deferred for at least seven years is certainly the singlemost significant broken election promise since self-government 30 years ago.

are socially progressive and Labor’s policies on issues such as climate change, wage fairness, indigenous affairs and health together with its general support for the vulnerable and marginalised would have resonated with them. And Labor’s frankingcredit policy would have had less impact here than elsewhere because of the high proportion of residents who, as Commonwealth employees, benefit from one of the most generous superannuation schemes in Australia.

With an ACT election just over a year away, the question is reasonably being asked whether the strong Labor vote will be repeated. Labor is certainly dominant in the ACT, but the Hare Clark electoral system is an equaliser.

The Labor loss also means that Bill Shorten’s promise of $200 million for stage two of the tram is dead. Chief Minister Andrew Barr has rushed to defer commencement of stage two until at least 2025 or, in other words, until after the 2024 election.

On the face of it, this is quite bizarre. The 2016 territory poll was a light rail election. The most significant commitment made by Labor and

Here comes Barnsie

JIMMY Barnes, who has just released “My Criminal Record” – his first album of original music in a decade – will meet fans and sign copies of the new album at Songland Records, Cooleman Court Shopping Centre, from 4pm on Wednesday, June 5.

Album covers trivia

TEEN cancer support group CanTeen is hosting an album covers trivia night at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Phil lip, from 6.30pm on June 28. Tickets are $90 and include a two-course, sit-down meal and drinks. Book at raiseit.org.au/ event/album-covers-trivia-night access to spaces in the Cultural and Events precinct. Jimmy Barnes.

the Greens in that campaign was the construction of stage two of light rail immediately upon completion of stage one. The election was arguably won on the back of that promise.

The promise was not subject to the outcome of a business case or funding support from the Federal government.

The announcement that light rail stage two is to be deferred for at least seven years is certainly the singlemost significant broken election promise since self-government 30 years ago. However, I’m not the least surprised by the announcement it will be dropped, at least for the time being.

The parlous state of the ACT Budget is obvious to anyone who cares to look at it or who is dependent on a range of core services delivered by the government.

For example, look at the health system or the supply of land to meet the housing choice of residents. My colleague Dr Khalid Ahmed has calculated that hospital funding in the ACT has not kept pace with growth in demand and the increasing cost of wages and medicines to the extent of $483 million over four years.

NEWS

The government has also tailored its land-supply policies to maximise revenue at the expense of housing affordability. “Housing affordability in Canberra” has become an oxymoron.

It is quite likely that a majority of Canberra residents have not noticed the impact of these cuts. If you have private health insurance and a hospital of choice, then it is almost certain that you haven’t, unlike thousands of fellow residents, been waiting years for routine elective surgery.

And if you own a detached house on a large block, the fact that the government is using its monopoly control to strangle the supply of land means the value of your house has spiralled upwards, thank you very much.

The only two areas of public expenditure that have seen significant growth in recent years are public transport (light rail) and renewable energy. The increases in rates and charges and the cuts to services to fund them have negatively impacted thousands of not so well off Canberrans.

In my opinion, the bemusement (if not bewilderment) expressed across Australia that people could possibly have voted against Labor because of its support for climate change,

reticence in declaring its opposition to the opening of a new coal mine or seeking to more fairly distribute income devoted to franking credits is a consequence of not understanding the direct and negative impact those policies had on the lives of the people directly affected.

My prediction is that Labor could very well lose the next ACT election and, if so, it will be for similar reasons. ACT Labor gives every appearance of being oblivious to the impact that its policies are having on those Canberrans it purports to speak for – battlers and blue-collar workers. Another unfortunate similarity I am increasingly fearful ACT Labor shares with its just-vanquished federal colleagues is the personal approval rating of their respective leaders.

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

Friend’s death hits

THE trauma caused by the death of a close friend endures four times longer than previously believed, according to new ANU research .

The study shows the death of a close friend will significantly affect a person’s physical, psychological and social well-being up to at least four years.

Previous studies suggested the grieving period lasted for around 12 months.

The study analysed longitudinal data and indicators of health from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey of 26,515 Australians, of whom 9586 had experienced the death of at least one close friend.

Lead author Dr Wai-Man (Raymond) Liu said the study found people grieving a close friend suffered a significant decline in physical health, mental health, emotional stability

hard,

says report

and social life.

“These findings raise serious concerns with the way we manage the recovery for people dealing with the loss of a close friend,” said Dr Liu.

“We all know that when someone loses a partner, parent or child, that person is likely to suffer through a significant grieving period.

“Yet death of a close friend, which most of us will experience, is not afforded the same level of seriousness by employers, doctors and the community.

“The death of a friend is a form of disenfranchised grief –one not taken so seriously or afforded such significance.

“This is leaving people without the support and services they need during a very traumatic period of their lives.”

Dr Liu has called on medical practitioners and policymakers to rethink the way they approach dealing with people’s grief after the loss of a friend.

‘CITYNEWS’ SHOWCASE

EXPERTS around Canberra and its surrounding region have shared some exciting stories through the pages of “CityNews” this year; so exciting, they’ve decided to share them again. Here’s what they have to offer, one more time…

Nathan’s always ready to talk property

SINCE starting in real estate 22 years ago the director of Property Entourage, Nathan Giannasca, has always had a passion for the industry. He established Property Entourage four years ago and prides it on being accessible, diligent and reliable to all landlords and tenants.

“I have found there is so much appreciation when you can actually talk to someone who knows and understands your investments intimately and is contactable on a mobile anytime,” he says.

“There is nothing worse than not being able to talk to your property manager when you need them most.”

Because of this Nathan says Property Entourage has the desire to grow slow and steady with its clientele so they can build on relationships and not numbers.

“Being accessible to our clients and tenants is

a priority,” he says.

“You can’t beat personal relationships. It’s what actually underpins great ethics.

“Placing a major investment in the hands of someone you can trust and rely on should be a top priority.”

Nathan believes in working ethically, so if a client isn’t happy, they can transfer their business to another agent at any time.

“We don’t charge any exit fees,” he says.

“We are about people and property, not money, or lock in contracts.

“We love our boutique business model and are very grateful for all the support we have had so far.”

Property Entourage, Shop 2A / 39–41 O’Hanlon Place, Federation Square, Nicholls. Call 6262 4284, email admin@propertyentourage.com or visit propertyentourage.com.au

Daryn enjoys helping with property deals

DARYN Griffiths of Capon & Hubert Lawyers & Mediators enjoys helping anybody in the property sphere at all stages of life.

The property solicitor says he can help people who are buying or selling, or older people who might be downsizing and moving into a retirement village.

While Daryn covers all areas of commercial and property law, he says commercial property transactions for small businesses is his area of expertise, and it’s also what he thoroughly enjoys.

“I like to be able to get inside a client’s business knowledge and see how I can value add to that,” he says.

Being a former small-business owner himself, Daryn says he gives his clients more than just straight legal advice and can talk to them about their documentation, business set-up and monthly bills.

He describes it as a more holistic approach and as well as provid ing clients with a face-to-face service, he can use his background to help keep costs down.

“My services would be beneficial for anybody who’s in the property sphere, including commercial property purchases, such as property or business assets,” he says.

“Any small-business people who are acquiring or leasing assets or buying into business franchises.”

Daryn says he provides and enjoys providing his services to these areas, but his point of difference, and the Capon & Hubert point of difference is they keep their clients informed, every step of the way.

It’s also different because of its fixed-fee model, which he says is an affordable way for clients to be part of the entire process.

Capon & Hubert Lawyers & Mediators, First Floor, 32-38 Townshend Street, Phillip. Email enquiries@chsol.com.au, call 6152 9203 or visit chsol.com.au

EXPERIENCE MATTERS…

Working finance for any working equipment

WITH all the end of financial year sales, Oatram Finance and Leasing director Andrew Barmin says now’s the best time to get working finance for any working equipment.

“Lots of dealers have end-of-financial-year sales and having pre-approved finance enables you to be able to negotiate strongly on the best deal,” he says.

Whether it’s new or used, from a private sale or a dealer, the family-run business can help.

For about 35 years, Oatram Finance and Leasing has been specialist brokers in finance and leasing for working equipment such as trucks, earth-moving equipment, forestry equipment and recycling equipment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

•

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Conveyancing laws in NSW and the ACT have become quite complex in the last few months. At Capon and Hubert Lawyers we are up to date with the changes in Stamp Duty, Identity Verification, and Tenancy laws. Our Conveyancing Solicitor will apply these changes to your unique situation and work with you for the best result.

David has some ideas for the light rail commute

NOW the light rail is up and running, David Cook of Cookies Cycles says they have a large range of scooters and bikes that can help passengers get to and from the stops.

“They’re easy to take on and off the light rail and people can ride them to the station from home and then from the station to the office,” he says.

“We’re having a clearance sale for all of June, with discounts storewide on Cookies Cycles products but not Canberra Electric Bike products,” he says.

“It’s going to be up to 50 per cent off parts and accessories and up to 20 per cent off bikes.”

When it comes to scooters, David says he has Canberra’s largest range of street and park scooters.

“People are welcome to come in and go through all the options for adult and kids’ scooters, and give them a test drive,” he says.

Next door to Cookies Cycles is a second division of the shop titled Canberra Electric Bikes, which David says has Canberra’s largest range of electric bikes to choose from.

Cookies Cycles, 227 Flemington Road, Franklin. Call 6242 0338, email shop@cookiescycles.com.au or visit cookiescycles.com.au

Handcraft and platinum specialists

CLOVER Jewellery has an on-site jeweller and designer so anyone looking for something uniquely beautiful can have it tailor-made, says jeweller James Oh.

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

“We provide a range of high-end and unique handmade jewellery as well as fancy and beautiful silver jewellery,” James says.

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

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

Based in Manuka, Clover Jewellery makes custom and unique pieces and also offers a free quote for its design services.

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

domestic electric lifts to the region, says a spokesman of Personal Home Lifts Canberra.

“We intend to cater to all walks of life in the supply and installation of domestic home lifts to homes,” says the spokesman.

“We have done this in response to many comments passed from those citizens who love their double-storey homes and neighbourhood.”

He says some have lived in the same home for many years and prefer not to downsize or move away.

“In other circumstances ill health or injury makes an internal domestic lift a cost-effective method for mobility,” he says.

Personal Home Lifts Canberra

“Elegance Plus” caters for a wheelchair and carer, holding 240 kilograms.

“Designed purely for the domestic market these lifts only take one to two days to install and as they are a self-supporting domestic structure, they need no formal or costly plan,” he says.

“Quite unlike a stairwell chair lift these units are quicker, cleaner and safer than anything currently offered on the market.

“Packed with numerous safety features as well as remote controls these lifts will become a musthave for double-storey homes.”

Personal Home Lifts Canberra. Call 6147 5566 or email hello@ personalhomelifts.com.au

An elegant home lift, ideal for homeowners with mobility issues, giving independence within their double storey home.

cost effective choice avoiding the extra cost burdens & stress in downsizing

“WORKING FINANCE FOR WORKING EQUIPMENT”

OATRAM FINANCE are the Transport and Earthmoving Finance Specialists

Providing finance and leasing for equipment in the construction, mining and farming industry as well as services for the public on all motor vehicles. For professional service and decades of experience, call Andrew at OATRAM FINANCE on 6297 8588

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.

Owner of Colleen’s Lingerie and Swimwear Gillian Horton.

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

Trained therapists are there to help

WHETHER it’s before, during or after pregnancy, CARM Therapies’ remedial massage and acupuncture practitioners have post-graduate training in specific treatments, which are safe and effective, says founder and co-director Emily Avery.

Lingerie store helps women

make the right foundation decisions

SINCE opening more than 20 years ago, Colleen’s Lingerie and Swimwear in Garran has evolved and now specialises in bra sizes and styles that are hard to find.

Originally Colleen’s Lingerie and Swimwear was established to help women who have had breast cancer surgery with its post-surgery bras.

Gillian Horton, a former customer after having surgery herself for breast cancer, took over the store in 2014.

“What women don’t know is that anybody can come in and be fitted,” she says.

“We’re finding that women who have difficulty finding bras that fit well can come and get fitted.

“We cater for large cups, large backs, small cups and front closing bras.

“If you’re actually fitted in the

right bra size then you’ll be more comfortable. “The right bra will give you the right foundation.”

But Gillian says Colleen’s Lingerie and Swimwear doesn’t just sell bras and has other items such as underwear and swimwear.

In the past 20 years Gillian says the choices have increased and there are now different types of bras for all occasions.

“We also have very spacious fitting rooms to make women feel comfortable when they come in,” she says.

“And we make sure they receive an excellent customer service. Our focus is the customer.”

Colleen’s Lingerie and Swimwear, Shop 6, 22 Garran Place, Garran. Call 6285 1311 or visit colleens.com.au

“Acupuncture can seem like a scary concept to some people, but the pregnancy acupuncture points used at CARM Therapies are both safe and proven to be effective,” Emily says.

“All of the pregnancy protocols used are from evidence based research studies, and are used in clinics and hospitals around the world.”

Emily says both acupuncture and remedial massage treatments are great for women preparing for pregnancy, for women receiving IVF treatments, for general relaxation, or for musculoskeletal problems such as hip and back pain, which often arise during pregnancy.

“Acupuncture is also very beneficial for treating nausea (morning sickness), and massage can help to ease fluid retention,” she says.

CARM Therapies also offers one on one sessions for partners to learn how to do acupressure for labour.

“This is a one hour session where the expectant mum and her birthing partner learn the best acupressure points to use in the weeks leading up to the due date and during labour,” she says.

But no matter what treatment someone needs, Emily says CARM Therapies’ staff are both friendly and professional and understand that each person is unique in their pain experience.

CARM Therapies, 5 Higgins Place, Higgins. Call 6278 7302 or visit carmtherapies.com.au

Our team of highly qualified, experienced and friendly practitioners are all dedicated to helping you feel good before, during and after pregnancy.

With treatments for muscle and joint pain, relaxation, nausea, and other pregnancy related conditions, CARM Therapies will look after you during this exciting and special time.

Quilt care will ensure winter warmth

LOCALLY owned and proud of it, the familyowned Mitchell business, Therma Quilts specialises in making and servicing feather and down products such as quilts, pillows and cushions that have been keeping Canberrans warm since the ‘80s.

As the weather gets colder, it can even make quilts bigger or smaller to suit any changes in bed sizes since last winter.

Using quality textiles, the seamstresses at Therma Quilts hand-make every item suited to the customer’s needs and provide a top-up service when quilts and pillows show signs of wear or loss of warmth and fluffiness.

“Servicing of feather and down products is essential for keeping them in optimal condition for comfort,” Therma Quilts says.

“With time and usage, body proteins and lipids (natural oils and perspiration) are absorbed on to quilt casings and into the feather and down inside.

“Over time, this build-up dampens the down, which causes it to lose its thermal resistance. However, regular servicing of your quilts would ensure that your down is fresh, fluffy and keeps you nice and warm during winter.

“With time and usage, the fabrics on quilts wear out and get thin, but once holes appear there is no need to throw away your quilt.

“Whether you’re wanting to rejuvenate your quilt, customise it or buy a new custom-made one we can look after you,” Therma Quilts says.

Therma Quilts, 10-12 Kemble Court, Mitchell. Call 6241 6859 or visit thermaquilts.com.au

Alison reveals Dickson’s best meeting spot

LOCATED in walking distance from Dickson shops and only a five-minute drive to Civic is Canberra’s own south of France, says Alison Knell, who is the director of Canberra Parklands Central Apartment Hotel.

The south-of-France-inspired hotel opened in 2003 and now Alison is sharing Dickson’s best-kept secret to visitors coming to the area and to locals needing a conference space.

For visitors, the apartment suites, all equipped with kitchens, include studio apartments as well as one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

“The bedrooms are all modern and spacious and visitors have access to a huge, heated, indoor swimming pool and a gym,” she says.

“We also offer conference and meeting facilities too, which have accommodation and catering package options.

“And because of all the room configurations we have great, flexible options, which would be ideal for sporting groups or travelling groups.

“For people considering holding a conference or meeting here, they’re welcome to come and have a look beforehand.”

Alison says other great features are the hotel’s free street and free secured parking.

“You can park buses, cars and even horse floats for people heading to Thoroughbred Park,” she says.

“It’s a very peaceful and quiet spot just opposite the parklands and back from Northbourne Avenue.”

Canberra Parklands Central Apartment Hotel, 6 Hawdon Place, Dickson. Call 6262 7000, email reservations@canberraparklandscentral.com.au or visit canberraparklandscentral.com.au

Now’s a great time to double glaze

NOW is a great time to insulate the home by double glazing the windows, says the sales manager of TwinGlaze, Melanie Hugg.

“Thirty per cent of your home’s wall space is windows and doors. By double glazing you will make your home much warmer in winter, cooler in summer and reduce noise,” she says.

TwinGlaze is a recently launched Canberra-based business and provides an affordable double glazing option that fits into your existing window frames, says Melanie.

“There’s no construction and no mess. We work with your windows, by removing the glass and leaving the frames in place, so the installation of new TwinGlaze windows is quick and easy.

“Our clients say they have had a reduction in their energy bills of up to 40 per cent! They say their home feels more quiet and comfortable,” says Melanie.

Call TwinGlaze on 6190 1011 or email canberra@twinglaze. com.au

SCENE / around canberra

At the launch of the final stage of Campbell 5 At the Information Industry Association dinner, NGA

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Making an example of generous donor Meredith

By Helen Musa

CURATOR, arts lobbyist and craft expert Meredith Hinchliffe is a true believer in the arts – and she’s one of Canberra Museum and Gallery’s longest-standing donors, a model philanthropist in the ACT arts sector.

She is also the craft reviewer for “City News”, a role she’s been performing with different outlets since the 1970s in local, national and international publications.

Now CMAG has decided to make an example of her – a positive one – with a new exhibition called “The Art of Giving: Acquisi tions from the Meredith Hinchliffe Fund”.

The exhibition will be made up of selected works purchased for the CMAG collection (but chosen by CMAG curators) from funds donated by Hinchliffe. While she has also donated from her own personal collection, particularly in the area of Canberra studio ceramics and design, this display features just the works from the fund.

Hinchliffe has regularly committed funds for the purchase of artworks by Canberra and region artists that very nearly match the government-allocated budget and now amounting to works by more than 40 artists.

Also a generous donor to the National Gallery of Australia’s decorative arts collection, she decided to go in that direction after her father died and left her a substantial legacy.

Items include an extraordinary blown glass didgeridoo by Paul House with glass master Tom Rowney, made at Canberra Glassworks, and a hooked rug by Gail Nichols, who lives outside Braidwood.

While the CMAG’s annual acquisition

“I started quite a long time ago, in around 2004,” Hinchliffe says.

“I set out to give some money in January each year to assist in purchasing the work of Canberra region artists, with a focus on decorative artists, but not always so.”

“I thought, what am I going to do with it? Then I decided I wanted to support the galleries. I was already donating to the NGA and I’ve donated to the Canberra International Music Festival several times, so for me to do that wasn’t unusual.”

What is unusual is her almost Renaissancelike even handedness, as she has given to

and lobbied for enterprises right across the arts spectrum. She got behind the movement for the ANCA Studios in Dickson, took leave from the public service to join the Canberra Sculpture Forum committee and chaired Ausdance ACT for many years.

“Although I’m not wealthy, people like me can still make a difference,” she says of her giving, agreeing that it does provide a tax break but emphasising, “that’s not the reason I do it, I just believe in giving money to things that are really important, to support artists, I

know how tough it is for them.”

Even so, Hinchliffe wouldn’t mind playing a part in a planned specialist lecture by a wealth adviser to be staged during “The Art of Giving”.

CMAG staff are now working to produce a catalogue of works Hinchliffe has assisted in purchasing to be available from August.

“The Art of Giving: Acquisitions from the Meredith Hinchliffe Fund”, CMAG, Civic Square, until August 24.

ART CLASSES LESSON SCHEDULE

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

Nothing drag about me, says ‘showgirl’ Constantina

By Helen Musa

“I’M a showgirl, not a drag queen,” says cabaret performer Kamahi Djordon King.

Determined to show Canberrans “who Australia’s real queen is on the Queen’s Birthday weekend”, he’ll be appearing at Tuggeranong Arts Centre in the persona of the singing artiste, Constantina Bush.

Like his alter-ego Constantina, he’s from Katherine in the NT.

“Constantina entertains audiences in song and dance, with comic songs about her life’s adventures in Katherine prior to moving to the city,” he says.

“Adventures like falling in love with an army guy from Melbourne who’s up in the territory for the Intervention… Constantina follows him to Melbourne looking for love.”

“I don’t go over the top about politics, but I don’t mind putting the boot into the Intervention, what it really was… I’m not just a pretty face.”

Far from it. He’s also a visual artist and while here, Djordon King will be presenting a free painting workshop in which he’ll take participants through his self-devised process of masking out areas with latex and working in negative to create works on canvas. He also creates his own version of the camp dog sculptures initially made famous by Aurukun artists. “The camp dogs sell like hot cakes,” he says.

Studying in Perth in the Aboriginal Music Theatre Training Program, he later graduated in the first batch from Brisbane’s Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts. He played straight roles for years, including a stint playing The Fool in Malthouse Theatre’s indigenous

be respected.”

Kamahi Djordon King, free painting workshop, June 6, Hughes Community Centre (registrations essential). “Bush Reflections”, Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Friday, June 7. Bookings for both to tuggeranongarts.com or 6293 1443.

DINING / wollemi, civic

Ethical food… and clothing

WOLLEMI, a new ethical store and café in Civic, knows its place in the market. It’s dedicated to ethical food, coffee and clothing and is home to a small bookstore with titles such as “Waste Not” by Erin Rhoads.

Although its niche is clear, Wollemi welcomes everyone, not just those committed to a plant-based diet. It’s a great place for a meat-free meal (something we should all incorporate into our diets).

Owner Karen Rees aims to “make ethical choices easier”. Everything sold in the café or store is fair trade, handmade, organic, ecofriendly, sustainable, vegan, cruelty free or a combo. Whew! What it means is you can shop and eat while being kind to the environment.

But before we go shopping, let’s dine.

Wollemi’s all-day menu (specials board also available) includes a falafel wrap, with hummus and salad ($15 and gluten free available), a veggie bowl loaded with goodies such as roast pumpkin, marinated tofu, brown rice, kale, carrot, red cabbage, cucumber and nori mayo ($17.50). The burger is a veggie patty ($18.50).

I chose the brekkie burrito ($16.50). The tasty salsa and creamy guacamole sat pretty in a side dish. The burrito was tasty but could have used a bit of seasoning to bring everything to life.

I’ll return one day when in the mood for decadence to give the pancakes a go. They come with peanut caramel and chocolate sauce, peanuts, strawberries, coconut ice cream and raw choc peanut slice ($18). It’s just as well they’re “ethical”. Cold drinks include freshly squeezed juices, frappes, smoothies and organic drinks by well-known Daylesford and Hepburn Mineral Springs Co. Coffee is by Canberra’s Highgate Lane Roasters.

The pancakes come with peanut caramel and chocolate sauce, peanuts, strawberries, coconut ice cream and raw choc peanut slice; just as well they’re ‘ethical’.

Wollemi’s shop is towards the back. Items, all beautifully presented, include cotton clothing for babies and adults and beauty and skin-care products for men, women and little ones. Wollemi’s interior décor very much supports the ethical theme. Outdoors could use some TLC, but these are early days with the café having opened only six weeks when I arrived. The square, white tables outside look a bit lonely and the area lacks character.

It was service with a smile at the counter where I ordered and paid. No-one popped outside at any point to see if my meal was okay, even though the place wasn’t super busy. And the name?

The café and store are named after the majestic Wollemi Pine, one of the world’s oldest and rarest trees, discovered just 10 years ago in a national park outside of Sydney. It’s said that less than 100 adult trees exist in the wild.

Wollemi, 16-18 Mort Street (entry via Cooyong Street), open 7am-4pm, MondayFriday; 8am-3pm, Saturdays and 9am-3pm, Sundays.

Two decades on, does mankind make it through?

“2040” (G)

FOLLOWING 2014’s “That Sugar Film”, Australian documentarist Damon Gameau made this “hybrid feature documentary” to show his four-year-old daughter Zoe how her life might be at age 25 by suggesting how, in the coming two decades, technologies available in 2019 might help humankind avoid extinction.

Is his message capable of guiding humanity into a survivable reality? Or merely wishful thinking? Two decades hence, much will depend on how today’s single-digit-age cohort steers a tired generation of decision makers away from denying climate change. Only a complete curmudgeon would deny success in pursuing that outcome to him, Zoe and the children appearing in the film.

Let’s face it. Politicians are the worst imaginable people to make the kind of decisions that the world needs to steer our planet clear of the behavioural course on which it now seems hell bent.

Don’t believe me? Gameau’s film doesn’t venture to foresee how today’s vested interests will respond to the challenges it illustrates. But it is one of two made-inAustralia pieces currently considering how science and technology might forestall the looming environmental disaster.

The other is as scary a book as any I’ve ever read. Telling it how it is with hard data supporting convincing science in “Sunburnt Country” (Melbourne University Press, 2018), Dr Joëlle Gergis offers this

optimistic observation: “We are living in historic times that are asking us to imagine that another world is possible, to try to believe that there is a fundamental goodness in people that will rise to meet the greatest moral challenge in human history”.

In the wake of an election in which climate change was a significant issue, “2040” and “Sunburnt Country” make a forceful combination – her definition of the issues, his offering of 2019-model solutions.

At Palace Electric, Dendy and Capitol 6

ARTS IN THE CITY

“Brightburn” (MA)

DIRECTOR David Yarovesky and writer brothers Brian and Mark Gunn might have made a movie with more bite, less flab than “Brightburn” (the Kansas town where its shenanigans evolve) that some commentators describe as “a radical new genre: super-hero horror”.

Tori and Kyle have a small library of books about getting pregnant. No matter how hard

Helen’s ‘rumble’ with language

By Helen MUSA

LOGOPHILE (google it) Helen Zaltzman will “rumble with language” in a stage version of her hit podcast “The Allusionist” as part of the Canberra Theatre Centre’s season of alternative works, “Etcetera”. At The Courtyard Studio, June 7 and 8. Book at canberrath eatrecentre.com.au

MOCKINGBIRD Theatre’s Chris Baldock is directing what he believes to be an Australian first, “The Laramie Project” rotating with “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later”. The original play analysed the torture and death of 21-year-old gay student Matthew Shepard and the new one follows a theatre company studying the aftermath. At Theatre 3, June 7-22. Book at trybooking.com

“THE Rock & Roll Circus” is a two-hour concert featuring Scott “Buddy” Cameron as Buddy Holly, Matty Breen as Jerry Lee Lewis, James Nation-Ingle as Bill Haley, Simon O’Connor as The Big Bopper and Anthony Petrucci as Elvis Presley (crowned the Ultimate Elvis Presley Tribute at the 2018 Parkes Elvis Festival) that’ll be at Canberra Theatre, Saturday, June 8. Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au

PERISHER Peak festival, cleverly billing itself as Australia’s “coolest music festival”, celebrates the snow season opening with a talent line-up including blues artist Ash Grunwald, Sydney rapper Kwame and more than 30 other artists. Perisher Valley and Smiggin Holes, June 7-10. Book at peakfestival.com.au

THE Bushlarks is a new choir for people in the ACT living with Parkinson’s, their carers and supporters. Performing artist and musician Chrissie Shaw is the director and she says the name reflects the ability of “larks” to sing and to have fun. They meet in Room 1, Ainslie Arts Centre, Elouera Street, Braddon, on Mondays at 10am. Details at parkinsonsact.org.au

THE New England Ensemble and guests will perform an afternoon concert of classical favourites, with Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals” as the centrepiece. At Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 5pm, Sunday June 2. Young Canberra musicians will perform an opening concert at 3.30pm. Book at tuggeranongarts. com or 6293 1443.

THE Young Music Society has created three programs for the July school holidays – a generalist music course led by Jim Sharrock for children in kindergarten through to Year 6; a new music theatre and dance program led by Kai Mann-Robertson, Benjamin Samuel and Ella Luhtasaari; and “Wild Strings”, designed specifically for young string players. Register at youngmusicsociety.org.au

they try, they don’t. Then, hey presto, they have a boy-child Brandon (played at age 12 by 16-year-old Jackson A Dunn).

Kyle (David Denman) is an outdoors kind of guy who wants the boy to grow into one. The Brothers Gunn have written Tori (Elizabeth Banks) as obsessive about her little boy who can do no wrong and whom she must care for, nurture and protect like he was more fragile and valuable than antique crystal glassware. The decision to write her that way is the key to the film’s shortfall.

By the time various townsfolk have died with nobody having the least suspicion of Brandon’s role in their demise, the film had for me descended into a superior degree of silliness.

At all cinemas

“The Heiresses” (MA)

SINCE its release last year, Paraguayan writer/ director Marcelo Martinessi’s film has gathered 36 awards from festivals around the globe including Sydney.

It has very few male characters but there’s no way it could be classed as a chick-flick. It’s a tour de force wryly celebrating women whose biological destinies are behind them but who cling to life because that’s what people do in whatever circumstances.

Chela and Chiquita have lived in a shared

house as friends for several decades. With the money running out, they are now living by selling their chattels. Chiquita has signed a promissory note. When she defaults on payment, she is sent to prison, leaving Chela reduced to chauffeuring other women around the city of Asunción to and from afternoons at the card table.

It’s a lovely performance from Ana Brun, full of serenity. Waiting for Chiquita (Margarita Irun) to serve her time and come home, she engages a black servant Pati (Nilda Gonzalez). She visits the prison where she observes a different aspect of women’s reality. And she meets Angy (Ana Ivanova), a spectacularly handsome woman less a member of the group than an observer of their limited gossipy lives. When Chiquita comes home and puts the car on the market, Chela’s world begins to crumble.

There’s much more to the story than these few passages. By its end, we feel deep compassion toward Chela. Martinessi’s subtle screenplay invites us to store bits of information to which it will later return with another piece of the jigsaw. And it provides a beautifully-understated denouement.

At Palace Electric

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Time to sort out the garden GARDENING

WINTER is the ideal time to reassess your garden. It’s looking bare, the leaves have fallen and there will be few flowers until the bulbs emerge in spring.

Yet this is the time to take a slow walk around the garden.

There might be, for instance, some areas looking neglected with shrubs that have struggled for years. Stop hoping, if they don’t look good now they never will. So bite the bullet and take them out, even small trees that have struggled for years.

Once the clean out is complete, there will be open spaces begging for new plants.

Then there’s the struggling lawn that’s been battling weeds, lawn grubs and no rain. Muse about getting rid of it. Maybe borrow books from the library on landscaping for ideas.

I have illustrated the possibility of replacing the lawn with this mini mum-cost, Japanesethemed garden.

Replace the grass with small, 10mm, dark, glossy pebbles to give the idea of a stream. A stepping-stone path plus maybe the odd oriental stone lantern will complete the effect.

This photo was of a garden in the Bathurst Spring Spectacular (this year, the weekend of October 26-27). I highly recommend it.

A SUBJECT you will rarely see in garden articles is discussion of tree fungi. Not all fungi are bad such as truffles. However, some fungi growing on outwardly appearing healthy trees, feed on the tree and break down healthy wood.

submit a design for a “healthy garden” within their school grounds or community. Applications close on June 17.

One of the most informative advice is from a University of Massachusetts website. Entitled “Wood decay on living trees” (at umass.edu/ urban tree/factsheets/25wood decayfungi.html) it offers excellent advice on how to reduce the effect of fungi on living trees. Two key warnings on that site say: “Some fungi can attack and weaken the wood in living trees” and “decay fungi can create hazard trees with a great potential for harm”. If trees on your property have fungi growing on the trunk, I suggest you discuss this with a qualified tree arborist.

YATES has been at the forefront in promoting gardening for children and this year’s Life Education Growing Good Gardens Grants program is now open.

The 10, $1000 grants encourage young people to design and create their own gardens, promoting a healthy lifestyle and growing fresh fruit and veggies. Early learning centres, schools, youth and community groups are invited to

Jottings...

• Move houseplants away from heaters, heater ducts and away from cold windows. Reduce watering and feeding.

• When picking citrus always cut off with some stalk attached.

• Dahlia tubers can be lifted now. If you know the names write on the tuber with a waterproof texta. Then store in sawdust in a cool, dry spot. Polystyrene boxes are ideal for storage.

• Prepare lawn mowers now for spring. New blades, flush out fuel tanks, touch up rusted parts and new spark plug.

PUZZLES PAGE

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Rams are feeling restless, as Monday’s New Moon stimulates your spontaneous side. So your motto for the week is from Angelina Jolie (who was born on June 4 with Sun in Gemini and Moon in Aries): “I believe in living on impulse… I think you should live completely free.” Mercury and Venus crank up your communication zone but, if you stretch the truth in dubious directions, you’ll be caught out. So stick to the facts and figures, especially with family members.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Monday’s New Moon stimulates your money zone, so it’s the best week of the year to take stock of your financial situation and find fresh ways to boost cash flow. Bulls are also feeling mighty curious as Mars, Mercury and Uranus activate your travel and learning zone. So it’s a wonderful week to shake off the physical and mental cobwebs and get passionate about an exciting new trip, an online project or a local community connection. Knowledge is power!

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

This week the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus are all moving through your sign, which galvanises your very best Gemini traits. Like fast thinking, curiosity, congeniality, adaptability and versatility. So make sure you tap into the unique talents that you most admire and appreciate. Your mantra for the week is from birthday great, the actress, director and humanitarian Angelina Jolie: “Have a good life. Be a good friend. And try to be completely who you are.”

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Many Crabs will feel emotionally vulnerable this week, as the New Moon navigates its way through your self-sabotage zone. But don’t make things worse by being mysteriously moody or overly dependent. If you side-step issues and let other people set your personal agenda, then you’ll just end up feeling paralysed and powerless. With Mercury and Mars both charging through your sign, do your best to articulate and pursue projects in a confident, direct and decisive manner.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

The New Moon activates your hopes and wishes zone. Circumstances are constantly changing so your dreams for the future need to be regularly reviewed and updated to keep pace with outside events as well as your inner evolution. And don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have all the answers. If you are open to new information and unexpected experiences, then you’ll learn something of great value this week. On Friday, prepare for a brilliant light-bulb moment.

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Have you lost some of your Virgo vim and vigour? And is someone putting a lot of pressure on you to get things done, according to their schedule? This week’s stars encourage you to pace yourself, prioritise and learn to say no. The New Moon also points to a fresh professional chapter via a challenging project, a refurbished workplace or an exciting new job. Plus peacemaker Venus helps you smooth over problems with a student, colleague, client or customer.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

You’ll feel unusually restless on Monday, when the planets activate your freedomloving side. All types of exercise and outdoor activities are favoured as you channel energy into physical pursuits, go on a grand adventure or connect with friends from far away. Just make sure you nurture relationships with people who support your aspirations for the future. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great Angelina Jolie: “Life is a giant adventure, so much to do, to see.”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

The positive Venus/Pluto trine provides the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with loved ones. And you could find yourself drawn to a charismatic person who affects you in a powerful and transformative way. Monday’s New Moon also signals the dawn of a profound new way of seeing things. Whatever happens, you’re not in the mood for superficial relationships or light-hearted conversations as you dig deep and focus on the things in life that really matter.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Sagittarians are such independent souls… you don’t appreciate others cramping your spontaneous style. But with the New Moon, Mercury and Venus all visiting your relationship zone, there’s no getting away from close connections this week. If you’re attached, aim to be more present and available within the partnership. Are you unhappily single and searching for your soul mate? Look for lasting love with an amorous Aries, a gregarious Gemini or a lusty Leo.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

With serious Saturn and heavy-duty Pluto moving slowly through your sign, you’re probably dwelling on the people, possessions or places that are no longer in your life. Stop obsessing about the past Capricorn! One cycle has to end in order for an exciting new one to begin. It’s New Moon week so draw comfort and inspiration from birthday great, iconic entertainer and activist Josephine Baker: “The things we truly love stay with us always, locked in our hearts.”

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Monday’s New Moon lights up your leisure and recreation zone, so make sure you keep yourself occupied in entertaining ways this week. Creative projects and quirky Aquarian hobbies are particularly favoured. On Friday, think twice before you blurt out something controversial that you later regret. Instead, use the sparky Mercury/Uranus energy to brainstorm ideas. Then come up with an inspiring vision or a progressive plan that you can share and develop with others.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

It’s time to ricochet out of your usual domestic routine! This week’s stars are super for shaking up a dull home life, as you find creative ways to make daily chores more satisfying and enjoyable. You could also renovate, redecorate, relocate or celebrate a family addition or welcome a new housemate (of the two-legged or four-legged variety). Exploring an unusual topic is also favoured, as Mercury and Uranus pique your Piscean curiosity and stimulate your imagination.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2019

8 What is a data service provided by a TV system? (8)

9 Name a perennial grass that produces a thick growth of runners. (6)

10 What is a tank in which living aquatic animals are kept for exhibition? (8)

11 To be more vapid, is to be what? (6)

12 What is a ponderous volume called? (4)

13 When one supervises the preparation of a newspaper, etc, one does what? (5)

16 Name one of the hollow cavities in the skull, connecting with nasal cavities. (5)

19 What is a grave, or a mausoleum? (4)

21 What was the given name of Einstein? (6)

22 Name the principal ore of mercury. (8)

23 What is said to be the fifth largest country in the world? (6)

24 Which device controls the amount of fuel being fed to an engine (8)

25 To buy back, is to do what? (6)

Down

2 To have raised something, especially by some mechanical appliance, is to have done what? (7)

3 What was once a man's close-fitting outer body garment? (7)

4 What was the name of Alice Springs prior to 1933? (6)

5 Which term describes periods of ten years? (7)

6 What is another name for an inhabitant, or resident? (7)

7 What are primary linguistic forms known as? (7)

13 To teach, is to do what? (7)

14 Name another term applicable to hematite. (4,3)

15 What is a clandestine or surreptitious procedure? (7)

17 Which type of motor-boat engine is located within the boat? (7)

18 Kiev is the capital of which European republic? (7)

20 What was the profession of Figaro? (6)