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Collaery

NEWS / World Curry Festival When it comes to curries, Arupa

By Danielle NOHRA

ARUPA Sarkar went from not knowing how to cook about 10 years ago, to now cooking for thousands of people under the not-forprofit organisation, ATN Canberra.

Arupa, 40, of Bonner, and other ATN Can berra volunteers are getting ready to cook Bangladeshi food for thousands of patrons when they hold a stall at the fifth World Curry Festival, in City Walk, from Friday, August 30 to Sunday, September 1.

But it wasn’t so long ago that Arupa would call her mum in West Bengal, a state in eastern India, between the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal, and ask her what to do when cooking.

“Even for a simple lentil dish but now I can cook for hundreds of people,” she says.

Her cooking journey really blossomed after she married Bangladeshi man Newton Muhury, 42, who she met when doing a masters degree in information systems in Melbourne. After her degree they married, both in West Bengal and Bangladesh.

The two moved to Canberra about 10 years ago when Arupa got a job with the Australian Bureau of Statistics, where she continues to work. In more recent years, Newton and two others founded ATN Canberra, which is named after its founders, Asik, Tarek and Newton and has a goal to share the Bangladeshi culture while giving back to the Canberra community.

“We organise a cultural event and then the money we get goes back to the Australian Cancer Council and the Kids with Cancer Foundation,” says Arupa, who now cooks for most of its events.

“We chose to donate money towards cancer research because it’s one of the diseases that we don’t know how to cure.”

While Arupa isn’t from Bangladesh, she says the food from West Bengal is pretty similar and so are the vegetables they use.

Newton says it’s more like comparing Australia with England.

“People think we’re part of the Indian culture but we do actually have a different culture in performing arts, socialising, cooking, eating – everything,” he says.

Confident in cooking Bangladeshi food now, Arupa is also excited to share the Bengali culture through its food.

“I love food. If you don’t, it’s hard to be a good cook,” she says.

Arupa’s favourite Bengali curry is a fish curry, and when it comes to making a good

curry she says people need a passion for cooking and they should also use whole spices.

“Start with whole spices and put them in hot oil to get a special aroma,” she says.

At the World Curry Festival, Arupa says visitors can expect curries such as mezbani beef, which is a hot beef curry in Bangladesh, but Arupa says they’ll be toning it down for the event, as well as smaller dishes such as samosas, lentil dhal and Bengali sweets.

Run by the Canberra India Council, the World Curry Festival is a way of introducing visitors and locals to a variety of cuisines and cultures, says festival founder and council patron Deepak-Raj Gupta.

“This year, we’re trying to bring more diverse stalls, more community stalls and more home cooking,” says Deepak, 53, of Gungahlin.

Like every other year, Deepak says people can look forward to its ever-famous chilli eating competition, which will be held from 1pm, Saturday, August 31.

SORSHE ILISH

fish curry with mustard sauce)

3. With this mixture, add cumin powder, Kashmiri chilli powder, turmeric powder and water to make a smooth paste.

4. In a non-stick pan add 4 tablespoons of cooking oil and heat the oil before frying the fish for 15-20 seconds on each side. After frying take out the fish from pan and keep the fried fish aside.

5. Add the rest of the oil in the same pan then add the rest of the mustard seeds and green chilli and sauté this for a while.

6. After 30-40 seconds add salt and the paste you made earlier then continuously stir to avoid overcooking it. Add some water (200ml) to make a gravy.

7. Once it boils, add previously fried fish, ensuring the cutlets are completely covered by the gravy. Then cook it for another 15-20 minutes over a medium heat.

paste with 3/4 of the 150g of mus tard seeds and 2-3 green chillies.

WHEN IT MATTERS

8. Add some mustard oil on top of the fish curry if you like the fragrance of mustard.

Lisa steps up to lead Hartley’s future

By Danielle NOHRA

IN an historic appointment, Hartley Lifecare has announced its first female to succeed long-time chairman Geoff Leeper.

Lisa Keeling has taken the chair of the not-forprofit organisation, which was established in 1962 to provide supported accommodation for people with a disability, their families and carers.

“I am proud, irrespective of gender, and I feel very privileged that the board has put their trust in me,” says Lisa, 40, of Hackett.

“I hope it inspires other women to speak out for what they’re passionate about.”

Lisa, who is a lawyer at the Department of Hu man Services, was appointed to the board in 2010 and, in 2018, was made deputy chair, a new position created because of the organisation’s growth.

However, her involvement in Hartley Lifecare started in 2006, when she became involved in the Hartley Cycle Challenge, one of its huge annual charity events.

She wasn’t a cyclist, but the law firm she worked at was sponsoring a team in the challenge and, at the time, Lisa decided they could do better, so she put together a participating team to ride the 450 kilometres from Canberra to Mount Kosciuszko and back.

“It was a very humbling experience for an ablebodied person to do it for people who, for some, every day is a challenge,” Lisa says.

“It really brought it to the forefront of our minds.”

The ride was a hard, long trek but what really drew Lisa to Hartley Lifecare was when some of its

clients came down to Jindabyne, where the cyclists were staying, and shared some of their stories about how the not-for-profit had changed their lives.

Having speakers as part of the challenge has become a regular event for Hartley Lifecare. Lisa, who has been a contestant in a number of these challenges, says one speaker always stuck with her.

“There was one person in the past. He had a really bad mountain-biking accident and had broken his neck. He was wheelchair bound and had to learn to breathe again,” she says.

“But what was really interesting was that this man, a qualified lawyer, found it extremely difficult to navigate hospital and welfare services.”

As a lawyer herself, Lisa says it was an eye-open er to hear how complicated it must be for people to deal with these services.

“Hearing these stories makes it real,” she says.

“It just takes a freak accident and suddenly peo ple are part of the disability community.”

Lisa, who didn’t even own a bike before the 2006 challenge, has since become a keen cyclist and says it can be frightening to hear stories of people who have had bike accidents. Especially since she has three young children.

“I’m more cautious than I used to be,” she says.

Lisa says most of Hartley Lifecare clients are born with a disability.

“Hartley supports more than 80 clients and their carers in 34 houses across the ACT,” she says.

“Most of Hartley’s clients have a range of severe and complex disabilities.”

To continue to support these people, Lisa says she has a list of projects she wants to focus on, including the rejuvenation of Hartley Court’s purpose-built houses in the inner-south.

“We’re also in the middle of planning and developing a dedicated respite facility in Chapman,” she says.

“And we will need to do more work on our office building because we have expanded four or five times the size of what we were when I started in 2010.”

Lisa’s also looking forward to the 20th anniversary of Hartley’s Cycle Challenge in November. They hope to raise $600,000 to mark the milestone.

The funds will go towards services such as running a respite bed which, depending on the level of support, costs Hartley Lifecare up to $750 a day.

Considering Dental Implants

Be informed before you start

Former managers of Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre, Maj. Don Gates and Maj. Isabel Gates, cut the Burrangiri cake.

Saluting decades of respite care

THE Salvation Army Aged Care recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre. National director of the Salvation Army Aged Care Richard de Haast said when the centre first opened on August 12, 1989, the respite model was a radical new concept for Canberra. It was created by Canberra academic, the late Prof Peter Sinnett.

Purple trivia

DIVERSITY ACT and Queer Youth Together stages its Wear It Purple trivia night at the Tuggeranong 55 Plus Club, 101 Cowlishaw Street, Greenway, 7pm-10pm, August 31. MC is drag queen Majikal MadB, who asks the trivia questions and presents a musical interlude. Entry is $15, concession $12, including snacks and beverages.

Working for the best possible solution

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How Gillian and her donated bras change lives

By Danielle NOHRA

GILLIAN Horton has been to Fiji twice, but neither trip was for holidaying. Instead, the Garran lingerie shop owner was there to fit women with donated breast forms and post-mastectomy bras.

There’s a big need, according to Gillian, who says Fijian women don’t have access to pocketed bras or breast forms after cancer surgery.

She says the need is even bigger because in Fiji women are more likely to undergo mastectomy because breastconserving surgery isn’t usually an option.

Gillian, who’s had a mastectomy herself, didn’t start the service but was inspired to get involved after hearing a woman named Heather Tait, from Bowral, talk about it on the radio about five years ago.

“She was asking for donations and I had just taken over Colleen’s Lingerie and Swimwear in 2014,” Gillian says.

“I thought what a great way to support the women in Fiji so I started collecting second-hand bras, in particular mastectomy bras, but we also collect any bras to give to the women there.”

Since then Gillian’s been gathering

bras and giving them to Heather who then takes the donations to Fiji twice a year. Last year Gillian decided to join Heather in Fiji to see where the bras go.

Gillian and Heather worked with the Fiji Cancer Society, which organises for recipients to be fitted in three locations: Suva, Lautoka and Labasa.

There were lots of tears and hugs on the trip, but what really left Gillian speechless was hearing about women leaving hospital after surgery without a proper mastectomy bra.

“We’d like to make sure every woman in Fiji leaves hospital with a post-surgical bra and what we call a ‘fluffy’, which is a light-weight breast form,” she says.

“There’s also a lot of cultural shame surrounding the women post surgery.

“After giving these women bras and breast forms, to see their faces and physical appearance, it’s incredible.

“Through my own personal experience I know the difference it can bring to your own wellbeing and your sense of worth and normality.”

When Gillian first got a breast form, she says it made her feel like her old self.

“Even my husband noticed something had changed, not just with my physical appearance but with my own demeanour,” she says.

That’s why Gillian is so passionate about the service and has been to Fiji last year and this year to help out.

She says the service changes lives,

“We’re training local women so they’ll be able to fit women after surgery,” she says.

While they were in Fiji, Gillian says they were also fitting women from the ages of 12 to 90 who haven’t had breast cancer.

“[For these women] even getting normal bras is either really expensive

“Many women do physical work as well, so not having a bra would be uncomfortable.”

This was the case with a young woman Gillian fitted this year. She had been struggling with chest and back pain.

“She was having all these issues just because she needed to be wearing a bra,” Gillian says.

Anyone looking to donate can drop off a bra, breast form, turban or wig at her Garran shop. Or they can purchase a bra and donate it.

She’s also accepting donations of soft fill, which is used in the lightweight breast forms.

“It’s these simple things that just make such a huge difference,” she says.

CANBERRA MATTERS

Planning’s brutal behaviour goes unchecked

TWO months out from the 2016 ACT election, Chief Minister Andrew Barr made a statement following his decision to kill the GWS Giants’ massive proposal for the Manuka Oval precinct.

What was reported and noted with some relief was that a panel of community representatives would be established in late 2016 to advise the government on a detailed master plan for Manuka Oval. The residents of Barton, Forrest, Kingston and others waited for the call... and waited.

Meanwhile, things happened within the oval (the giant broadcast box, for example). The Planning Minister justified his inappropriate decisions (he does this a lot). There was no master plan and no panel of community representatives to provide the advice. People around Manuka waited.

In April this year, the Inner South Canberra Community Council (ISCCC) ran a well-attended forum and workshop on what residents value about the area from

Manuka to the foreshore and what opportunities and challenges they see ahead. Following several informative presentations, the workshop produced several pages of well-informed ideas and aspirations.

A set of motions were then supported by the forum relating to the Chief Minister’s commitment to call a meeting to advise on the Manuka master plan, another about recognition of the complexities of heritage in the precinct and a third to call for better engagement on the Kingston Arts Precinct. Locals were definitely ready to discuss Manuka and related areas and issues. So when a notice announcing that the planning directorate was calling a stakeholder panel session for Monday, July 29, for consultation on Manuka and the inner south, people thought the Chief Minister’s commitment was about to be delivered. Yes, it was about three years late – but who’s counting?

And when I saw the 8.32am media statement the next morning, Tuesday, July 30, it was hard to work out what had happened. There was spin and more spin and loads of quotes from the chief planner, but nothing about what was happening with the master plan for the Manuka Oval precinct.

To the shock of the residents, the master plan concept was now history as were all previous master plans across Canberra. Despite the many years of work and all those taxpayers’ dollars, all master plans are now trashed. This is what the locals were told when they asked about the Manuka master plan.

So why was the meeting called?

The planning bureaucrats explained that the meeting was to discuss the chief planner’s new territory plan and the priorities for the whole of the inner south. But wait – the meeting was about Manuka, so except for the nearby residents’ groups, most of the others did not attend. The response was that people had got it wrong and had not read the notice correctly.

And then, despite the wellpublicised long lists of priorities and

no

and no panel of community representatives to provide advice.

aspirations produced by inner south residents in April and the mountains of submissions over the years, the planning bureaucrats produced their list of priorities and asked residents to work from those.

This was definitely not the meeting the Manuka community was promised by the Chief Minister. As you could guess, the locals are not impressed. They have been treated with disrespect yet again. This was reinforced by that early Tuesday media release as it is obvious it was prepared the day before and only

progress to meet the Chief Minister’s 2016 commitment. I don’t think so!

On April 17 this year I scored the chief planner against his own key performance indicators that he published two years earlier when he came into the job. He scored 19 out of 100. Given the deception and barbarous behaviour being continually used by his directorate, that score was far too generous. And the residents around Manuka continue to wait.

Paul Costigan is an independent commentator and consultant on the

Upselling hearing loss: retail hearing aids

Recently, I was approached by a patient looking for a second opinion. The week prior she had been to a retail hearing aid store in her local shopping centre, hoping to get some advice regarding her hearing loss. As a pensioner, she should have been able to claim free hearing aids as part of the Australian Government’s hearing loss scheme under the Office of Hearing Services, but when she inquired about the program she was told by the salesperson that the governmentissued hearing aids were of poor quality and inadequate for her needs.

”We need to speak out and about what is going on in the hearing aid industry if we want change.”

– Dr Vass

The salesperson insisted what she needed was one of their more expensive hearing aids, priced at over $7,000 for a pair. Anxious about not being able to afford what seemed to be a necessity, she reached out to a friend who suggested she make an appointment with me for a second opinion.

After consulting with the patient and looking over her results, it became

clear to me that the assessment from the shopping centre was completely wrong. The patient had had surgery on one ear 20 years ago which had resulted in worse hearing loss in that ear and not the other. Yet the “hearing test” from the shopping centre showed that her hearing was equal in both ears. Was this because the tester was incompetent or the equipment was faulty? Or was it just an attempt to cover up a medical condition that would have required the patient to be seen by a doctor before hearing aids could even be considered for her? It is likely we’ll never know the answer, but any of the above explanations would be unacceptable.

We need to speak out and about what is going on in the hearing aid industry if we want change. Anyone who has a similar story can report it to the ACCC.

If you would like to have a complimentary second opinion with Dr Vass please phone 02 6282 2717 to make an appointment.

THE GADFLY

Collaery battles on, but who

THERE is something about the Federal government’s court case against former ACT attorney-general Bernard Collaery and the former ASIS operative known as Witness K, that is not quite right. In fact, it feels thoroughly un-Australian. And what’s worse – much worse – is that hardly anyone seems to care. In simple terms, these two men revealed that their government was cheating in a negotiation with tiny East Timor (now Timor-Leste) over the division of funds from oil and gas deposits in the Timor Sea. The government had ordered its overseas spyforce, ASIS, to bug the East Timor side’s offices to learn their tactics and their bottom line.

At the time the chief Australian negotiator was Alexander Downer, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. And the Australian operator of the oil and gas treasure chest was the giant Woodside corporation.

Australia secured a 50/50 split despite the

Bernard Collaery, to his great credit, came through for the East Timorese. He assisted them in putting their case at the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

fact that the Greater Sunrise fields were 450 kilometres from Darwin and only 150 kilometres from East Timor.

Moreover, according to a recent report in the Australian “Guardian”: “Downer went on to work for Woodside as a consultant after leaving office… crossbench Senator Rex Patrick used parliamentary privilege [to assert that] the bottom line is that Downer and Woodside wanted to force East Timor, one of the poorest countries in the world, to surrender most of the revenues from Greater Sunrise… our plan was to deprive them of oil revenue.”

And we cheated. Yet it’s not the cheaters, but the two blokes who revealed it, who now face prison time for their actions.

Is this really the Australian way?

It’s impossible not to compare it with the so-called “Sandpaper-gate” of our cricketers in South Africa.

He assisted them in putting their case at the International Court

of Justice at The Hague, though the government prevented his client, Witness K, from leaving Australia to give evidence in the case. This meant East Timor had little option but to drop its case – Australia agreed to re-negotiate – and a revised deal gave them 80 per cent of the revenue.

Witness K last week pleaded guilty to sharing protected ASIS information, but according to “The Guardian”: “Collaery will fight on, facing a partially secret trial in the ACT Supreme Court.” He says: “Witness K has been put through six years of seclusion, harassment and questioning.”

A few brave souls, such as former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks and NSW Shadow Attorney-General Paul Lynch, have supported them. But in stark contrast to the outpourings over the relatively innocuous sporting scandal, the public has let this one pass through to the keeper.

And the keeper is a cheat.

The bugging occurred in 2004 when John Howard was Prime Minister. And Witness K blew the whistle in 2012 when Labor’s Julia Gillard was in office. Now it’s Scott Morrison at the apex of government. The question is, whose side is he on –the whistleblowers or the cheats?

Watch this space.

robert@robertmacklin.com

School geography students have taken the top spot in the Combined Territories division of the Australian Geography Competition, which attracts more than 73,500 entries from 792 schools nationally. Grammar’s Thomas Lin (Year 8) was equal first in Australia in his year group, Daniel McCormack (Year 9) won first place in the Combined Territories and Otto Power (Year 12) first place in the Combined Territories. Year 11 student Tyra Kuan was selected to represent the ACT at Geography’s Big Week Out on Kangaroo Island, SA, in early December.

Cast a spell

THE Abbey at Gold Creek will host The Great Wizard’s Ball on August 31 from 7pm. All profits go to The Smith Family’s children’s literacy program. Tables of eight witches, wizards and magical creatures at a discount. There is an afternoon-tea style family-friendly Great Wizard’s Ball from 3pm. Book at quizzicalley.com

Zero waste festival

CANBERRA’S first Zero Waste Festival, featuring talks and workshops about going plastic free, sustainable fashion, creative reuse and best practice waste policy living will be held at the National Museum of Australia, 11am-3pm, September 7. Entry is free.

1

SEVEN DAYS

Jaywalkers booked in bewildering police blitz

CYNICAL Canberrans are still scratching their heads over a police crackdown on jaywalking.

Few can recall such a pedestrian crime being so aggressively policed before. The “pedestrian safety” blitz conducted at Northbourne Avenue and Barry Drive reportedly netted several dozen victims. But if authorities are serious about jaywalking (and riding), a revenue-raising goldmine awaits a few blocks west. At any peak time the intersection of Barry Drive and Clunies Ross Street is a very dangerous jaywalking/riding free-for-all.

IT’S now obvious that Canberrans are NOT light rail ready. Rail Safety week came to a shuddering halt on day one after a 61-year-old pedestrian was hit by a tram at a crossing in Civic. The incident brought to an end a string of close calls involving motorists and pedestrians, oblivious to fast-moving trams bearing down on them.

Is it possible warnings by Transport Minister Chris Steel , who described the tram as a “rhino on a skateboard’, and Road Safety Minister Shane Rattenbury (“like getting hit by six elephants at once”) are too complex? One of the first rules of advertising is KISS (keep it simple, stupid). “Stop, look, listen” might be worth a thought.

ANOTHER chapter in the outstanding career of Dr Brendan Nelson closes in December when he retires as director of the Australian War Memorial. I’ve followed Nelson (we share an alma mater) since the late ‘80s when he was a dashing young Hobart GP and future president of the left-leaning AMA, sporting a diamond-stud earring and hooning around town in a hot Commodore.

I next encountered him in the mid ‘90s, campaigning on Sydney’s north shore in the seat of Bradfield, which he won for the Liberals. The party eventually chewed him up and spat him out, but Nelson reinvented himself spectacularly by putting the AWM firmly back in the national consciousness.

Opinion is almost unanimous that he leaves the AWM in far better shape and with a higher profile than when he came into the role seven years ago.

AUSTRALIA’S first (and only) female Nobel laureate has been in Canberra. It appears she and I have a few things in common. A tenuous link I know, but Dr Elizabeth Blackburn , awarded the Nobel prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2009, and I both spent our formative years in the same city (Launceston), and I was a patient of her figuratively and literally larger-than-life GP father. Now based in San Francisco, Dr Blackburn spoke at the Crawford Fund’s 2019 conference at Parliament House. Small world, but I’d hate to vacuum it.

FORMER Bruce bad boy Todd Carney certainly isn’t letting his penis artistry come back to bite him on the bum without a buck involved. He’s turned his infamous toilet party piece into a payday. The 2010 Dally M medallist features in a Sportsbet commercial ending with the tag: “Even whizz kid Todd Carney can use it” and Toddy agrees “Yeah, piece of piss”. The Goulburn-raised athlete has just released a book, “Hard Truth”, about his troubled times.

STILL loitering around the private parts of Raiders players and a local radio newsreader suffered an unfortunate slip of the tongue. Reporting the return of Raider Joey Leilua , Capital Radio’s Beth Rep tripped over “his first game back after surgery on a bulging dick… ah, disc ”. Within an hour the audio was being shared all over the country. Small things, they say, amuse small minds.

2CC’s Alan Jones’ directive to PM ScoMo to “shove a sock” down the throat of NZ PM Jacinda Ardern sent social media into a tizz with all the usual vile comments. However, one tweet cleverly fused the shock jock’s misogynistic comments with two of his other favourite pastimes, rugby and motivation. The post urged the All Blacks to use Jones’ “vile slur against the NZ PM” as inspiration for the weekend’s Bledisloe Cup clash. Apparently, Jones’ favourite Kiwi song is Split Enz’ “Sox Months in a Leaky Boat”.

National icons Canberra takes time to care for

Rare Daimler challenges conservators

A RARE 1948 Daimler landaulette, used by the Queen during her 1954 royal tour of Australia, has been the focus of one of the most complex conservation projects undertaken by National Museum conservators.

The conservation involved assessing more than 30,000 components, carefully deconstructing much of the car and then rebuilding it piece by piece.

The Queen’s 58-day tour covered seven states and territories and an estimated 75 per cent of the population witnessed the royal progress at least once.

The car is almost six metres long and weighs four tonnes. It is 1.8 metres high and powered by an eight-cylinder engine. Its internal fit-out included electric sunroof and windows, an intercom, airbag lumbar supports and a radio housed beneath a walnut dashboard.

Senior large technology conservator Nathan Pharaoh said: “The conservation project involved combining a range of innovative techniques, matching traditional trade skills with modern technologies and materials.

“Some of the more challenging components were recreated using techniques such as 3D printing of parts and reverse-engineering the vehicle’s intercom system.”

The Daimler is one of six originally commissioned by Prime Minister Ben Chifley for a tour of Australia by King George VI in 1949, which was cancelled due to the King’s ill health.

The Daimler was sold to the governor of SA. It was then owned by several pri vate collectors before being purchased by the museum in 2009.

New life for a famous old dog

ONE of Australia’s most iconic public artworks – Gundagai’s Dog on the Tuckerbox statue – has been given a new lease of life by Canberra sculptor Nick Stranks.

The Daimler is on display at the National Museum until September 5.

• Outreach program of knowledge, skills & strategies

• Workshops and drop-in centre consultation

• Plan execution and useful management tips and apps DURING

• Coaching for hearing loss clients and network team leaders in plan execution

• Managing common hearing loss ‘pinch-points’, and related seminars and practice sessions

• Managing help networks, (including family relationships)

• Hearing loss management classes (including lipreading)

• On call ‘One to One’ coaching

• Remedial or corrective ‘round table’ facilitation to resolve diversions & distractions

• BHA Events for meeting others in similar situations and celebrating success

An artist from the ANU, Stranks was tasked with repairing the 200-kilogram statue after it was vandalised last month.

“The work has a significant history. It’s over 80-years-old and it’s had a number of lives in that time,” he said.

“There is evidence that the dog has been vandalised and repaired in the past, it’s been moved, it’s been altered. For example, the original ‘droopy’ ears were apparently replaced at some stage. I thought it was really important that we recognise and respect those layers of history.

“Some of the most recent repairs were done locally in Gundagai and I thought it was important to retain those as well, especially considering it was a local artist who created the work in the first place.”

The repair was done at the request of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council.

The repair work involved several intricate steps in cleaning the work, repairing it, then colouring it chemically and sealing it with a museum-quality wax, which will help protect it in the future. Nick said the idea was to mask some of the really obvious damage, which was distracting.

POLITICS

Cringing at Morrison’s Pacific performance

AUSTRALIANS should all be cringing at the behaviour of our Prime Minister at the Pacific Islands Forum.

Scott Morrison’s willingness to undermine our Pacific neighbours in taking strong action against their proposal on climate change is duplicitous and embarrassing.

On the one hand, the Morrison government has argued Australia will easily meet our Paris targets on climate change. On the other hand, at this forum, he is prepared to walk away from the same targets. To do so at the Pacific Islands Forum shows an appalling lack of judgement.

Why would an Australian leader shove our lack of concern in the face of our near neighbours who are amongst those most vulnerable to climate change?

Ironically, it is also at a time when Australia is seeking to counter the growing influence of China in the Pacific. Just how successful that will be may be seen from the comments of the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Enele Sopoaga, who pointed out “no matter how much money you put on the table, it doesn’t give you the excuse to not do the right thing, that is cutting down your emissions, including not opening your coal mines.”

Malcolm Turnbull provided an insight into the problem in a tweet on the Forum: “It may be political to some, but it’s existential in the Pacific”.

The reality is that climate change is increasing temperatures, sea levels and the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and cyclones. These are already having a major impact in this region. In fact, the very existence of Tuvalu, and many other small, low-lying Pacific Islands, is in question. That really is “existential”.

The Communique from the Pacific Forum is a way of ensuring co-ordinated international action to support our vulnerable neighbours. Instead of supporting the inclusion of the Paris Agreement to this document, which aims to keep global warming to below 2°C and requires carbon neutrality (net zero emissions) by 2050, our Prime Minister refused to agree to include

Scott Morrison seems to be setting a Donald Trump standard for Australia. Truth and evidence is no longer important.

the Paris targets.

Scott Morrison seems to be setting a Donald Trump standard for Australia. Truth and evidence is no longer important. Our government is constantly telling us that they will meet their Paris obligations. It is an accounting trick – smoke and mirrors.

If it was not smoke and mirrors – Australia would happily support a strong statement to deliver on the Paris targets. What has been revealed in the Pacific is that the government itself knows that their own rhetoric is just that – rhetoric, “fake news” and lies. This is not the first time. Australia also worked to undermine the Nadi Bay Declaration that urged all nations to uphold their responsibilities as laid out in the Paris Agreement.

The World Health Organization has stated in different forums that climate upheaval translates to rises in vector-borne, food-borne, and water-borne diseases. Climate change places secure access to food, water and shelter under threat. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Pacific.

It is no wonder that Xavier Matsutaro, the national climate change co-ordinator of the Pacific Island of Palau, pointed out the ongoing attempts of Australia to dilute climate action. He added that the impact was to make the relationship with Australia “dysfunctional”.

In the most strident terms Matsutaro compared the relationship with Australia to one of domestic violence, “abused by your spouse but at the same time they feed you and clothe you… you could say it’s a bit of a dysfunc tional relationship.”

How much more embar rassing can this get?

NO WORRIES HOME LOAN

LETTERS Radiation fears from 5G rollout are ‘well

KATE Swan’s fears about the rollout of 5G are well founded (“Kate lives in fear of the 5G radiation rollout”, CN, August 15).

Even before the 5G rollout, the 2015 International EMF Scientist Appeal by 244 scientists from 41 countries raised serious concerns and called on the World Health Organization and the UN for immediate measures to reduce public exposure to artificial electromagnetic fields and radiation. Since then the exposure and evidence has only become stronger. A further group of scientists (245 signatories at this point) has called for a moratorium on the rollout of 5G until the potential hazards for human health and the environment have been investigated by scientists who are independent from industry (5gappeal.eu/).

Communities generally are also becoming more wary, with stop 5G groups forming around Australia, and some moratoriums already applied, as in Brussels and parts of Switzerland for example.

The “CityNews” article refers to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) “not [being] aware of 5G causing any health risks to humans”. This is hardly reassuring when research on the safety of 5G is minimal, and that which exists suggests considerable reason for concern.

For example, Israeli scientists have shown the higher frequency millimetre waves intended for use with 5G could be a risk for human skin, with sweat ducts in the skin acting as antennas. They have sounded an alarm. Non-thermal biological impacts on

the eye are certainly possible which could unleash an epidemic of eye disease.

ARPANSA subscribes to an outdated model that does not recognise “nonthermal effects” and is not committed to a precautionary approach. Further, ARPANSA “does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on [its] website”.

Those seeking further information should visit the US Environmental Health Trust website (ehtrust.org) and the Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association in Australia (orsaa.org).

Dr Murray May, Cook

Jon’s the one

JON Stanhope is a more effective opposition to the ACT government than the entire Canberra Liberal Party combined.

Kim Fischer, Florey

Drivel and distortion

THE letter from Vi Evans (“They’re no longer refugees”, CN, July 11) is utter misinformation and distortion.

The entire letter is incorrect. A refugee is a person who claims refugee status in a specific country and is fleeing persecution. They claim refugee status when they feel safe. It has nothing to do with the “first” country they arrive in.

The notion that anyone can think that a

person would come by boat for weeks and months at sea as an “economic migrant” beggars belief.

The absolute drivel that rape and beatings are assaults performed by fellow refugees is straight from the Peter Dutton book of political drivel.

Australia has broken every UN convention in regard to refugees, and to read this ignorant letter blaming the victim is another black mark on our national disgrace.

Gerry Gillespie, President, Rural Australians for Refugees Queanbeyan

dose of dorin

disruptive, hugely expensive infrastructure required on the bridge itself, as well as along, and especially at each end of the avenue.

The heritage administrators of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act must not allow themselves to be manipulated by proponents of the use of Commonwealth Avenue for the tram, so as to permit the wanton destruction of the nationally significant cultural landscapes and other heritage items along the avenue.

Save West Basin and Commonwealth Avenue, and get behind the concept of Griffin’s third central crossing for trams, bikes, and pedestrians, with a better, north-facing city-to-lake precinct around Lennox Gardens North and Flynn Place, accessed by tram from the city and Woden.

Jack Kershaw, via email

Supporters unite

Keep tram off bridge

A MAJOR factor in saving the important West Basin on Lake Burley Griffin from bad development (and it will be under the City to the Lake Plan) means not letting the Woden tram use Commonwealth Avenue in Stage 2 of the ACT light rail plan.

Even though the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge may have been designed for the possibility of a transport route slung in between the existing bifurcated carriageways, the route is a disaster for a tram line on so many fronts, eg superb trees on the median strip on the south side that will be lost; and the destructive,

BRAVO Ann Cooper for her Vote 1, Costigan! letter in “CityNews” (August 1).

She has written what I have been planning to do for months. I wait every week to read what Paul has brought to our notice and appreciate his views – with which I agree wholeheartedly. He certainly has his finger on the pulse and I, too, have been singing his praises to all who will listen.

We need some sanity brought to the ACT arena and I believe Paul could do that. So, Paul, I add my plea to that of Ann. You would have my vote.

Daphne Harding, Farrer

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The orphan girls who took a shot at life in Australia

By Helen MUSA

THEATRE director Jordan Best knows a rattling good story when she sees one, but she does not claim to be a historian.

Rather, as the director of Echo Theatre, a new company conceived in consultation with Stephen Pike and Jackie Richards from The Q, Queanbeyan, she is looking out for new audiences, new talent and, above all, new stories.

and was later developed at the National Theatre Studio, Best had never heard of the so-called “Earl Grey orphans”, the 4175 Irish girls who were given the chance to travel to Australia to find a better life under the British Secretary of State for the Colonies’ “Orphan Scheme”, but they were really intended as breeding stock and labourers.

Shipped out during the Irish Famine with the promise of a better life in Australia but destined to become cheap domestic labour, these were the “Belfast Girls” of a play that bowled director Best over for the suffering, wit and the fortitude of its five protagonists.

“I didn’t know much about this,” Best says.

“And I’m not religious, so I never really understood the English versus Irish issues until I read Jaki’s play.

“One in eight people died… I knew it was awful but I had no concept of famine… it was important for me and the actors in the play to understand the appalling conditions that led them to get on the boats.”

All the girls were expected to be ready to work and marry, she says, but when they got here what they found was bleak, dry and alien, and Irish women were usually dismissed as whores, thieves and lazy – fit candidates to form an under-class in Australia.

McCarrick’s play doesn’t traverse that territory though. Set entirely on board the ship – a real ship in history, “Inchinnan” –beginning in the Port of Belfast and ending as they’re about to land in Sydney.

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Full of the ribald humour for which the real-life Belfast girls were known, the script’s incisive dialogue means that while the emotions run high, the laughs run strong, too.

Praising the “lovely dialogue”, Best says that the characters sing and laugh, adding: “If you’re in trouble, it’s important to laugh.”

On stage at The Q, deep in coils of rope,

wood and scaffolding for Chris Zuber’s boat-like set, she explains that each of the five Belfast girls has a moment and her own secrets but her own strengths, too – Belfast girls were known to be the toughest of all the orphans, accustomed to fighting for themselves.

Judith (Isabel Burton) is part-Jamaican.

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Brought up in rural Ireland where she’s stuck out like a sore thumb for her skin colour, she’s been adopted by an oyster catcher but runs away to cosmopolitan Belfast.

Ellen (Joanna Richards) has grown up in Belfast and is a bit slower than the others and rather touchy.

Hannah (Natasha Vickery) comes from County Sligo in the west. “Sold” by her father, she’s come to Belfast to escape poverty and eviction.

Sarah (Phoebe Heath) has lived in the country for a lot longer, but far from making her more acquiescent, she’s become very angry.

Finally, there’s Molly (Eliza Jennings) who is a bit of a mystery – evidently better educated than the others and full of profeminist ideas.

While one of them has a brother in Australia, most know nothing about the new land that is supposed to transform their lives.

While it’s not primarily a political play, during the journey they tease out the causes of the famine and the awareness of women’s potential for freedom in a new country emerges.

Ultimately, theirs is a journey towards hopefulness.

“By the end, they are hopeful, but very afraid,” Best says.

“Belfast Girls”, The Q, Queanbeyan, August 24-31. Book at theq.net.au or 6285 6290.

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My Brilliant Divorce, by Geraldine Aron, is the radiantly witty and warm personal account of Angela. Dumped by her husband for a younger model, we follow her achingly funny story as she fumbles through the days and the dating scene, rediscovering herself and hoping to find the love of her life!

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Fact and fantasy in Tarantino’s Hollywood odyssey

“Once

Upon a Time… in Hollywood” (MA)

THE pre-release brou-ha-ha about what was called Quentin Tarantino’s ninth movie (actually, it’s his 12th) made frequent visits to all media.

That kind of persuasive campaign for any new movie makes me wonder whether its backers are unsure about how the public will receive it.

At least one of Canberra’s cinemas sent an email to the effect that people who didn’t book early mightn’t get a seat! I didn’t. But very few seats had bums on them at the session where I watched and enjoyed an intelligent, well-crafted reminiscence of once-upon-a-time Hollywood.

Tarantino’s screenplay combines fact and fantasy in telling a series of stories about events in and around Hollywood in February and August 1989. It depicts a city that has waxed fat by providing the world with brief escapes from life’s realities. It’s full of places and citizens drawn to it in hope of striking it rich. In fact, it was, and probably still is, the location of a commercial bloodbath in which the most successful are those with the moxie to do deals, fake credentials of talents and skills, fawn before the powerbrokers, and curry preference with dispensers of favours.

My only experience of LA was brief, en route to a further destination. So I can’t tell you whether Tarantino’s locating of his film in suburbs as much home to its working classes as where its rich and famous party on is a reliable indicator of how living there

actually feels.

But I bet it’s not far from authentic.

I enjoyed “OUATIH’s” 166 minutes. It tells about a time when TV was seeking escape from the pablum of half-hour series episodes depicting crime, comedy or family drama.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Rick, an actor who has played a bad guy hero in TV series.

Brad Pitt plays Cliff, performing the risky stunts that might damage Rick, chauffeuring Rick in the Cadillac. It’s a great relationship that drives the film. Sceptics might wonder about (unstated) sexuality.

Rick fears that there might not be a place for him in the renovated TV industry. He knows he hasn’t the talent to become a movie star. About two-thirds into the film,

he falls on good fortune, goes to Italy, and acts in four spaghetti westerns. Shades of Clint Eastwood?

Margot Robbie plays Sharon Tate, wife of Polish director Roman Polanski, a woman whose only talent was in being beautiful. When a film in which she has a supporting role is showing locally, she demands a free 75-cent ticket to watch herself. Bruce Dern plays George Spahn, owner of the movie ranch where the Manson family was hanging out. That’s one of the many

links to reality with which Tarantino has besprinkled his film.

Tarantino’s style always includes a mote of stylishly-staged violence. In “OUATIH” it’s a beauty, in Rick’s house that just happens to be next door to the Polanski-Tate residence.

Tarantino knows when the time has come to roll closing credits to best effect.

At all cinemas

“A Dog’s Journey” (PG)

IN February I gave three stars to “A Dog’s Way Home”.

“A Dog’s Journey” is director Gail Mancuso’s first feature film after spending 27 years making 109 TV series episodes and telemovies which might say something to cynics sensing that CV may have wired what her brain is telling her about how the world works.

W Bruce Cameron wrote the screenplay for both films, (adapting his own novels).

There’s nothing intrinsically wrong about dogs narrating stories. Dogs have their own points of view. Bruce Cameron clearly perceives them as good guys. If you want to see a movie in which a very big, good dog proves his merit by taking on a bad human guy, go see “Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood”. Some dogs aren’t good guys,

WINE

but nobody’s going to make a feature movie about one of those.

In Canada-made “A Dog’s Journey”, on a farm in a mid-western State, young widow Gloria (Betty Gilpin) with a toddler daughter CJ, is at odds with her parents Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and Hannah (Marg Helgenberger) with Buster, a large dog of mixed parentage, who is loved by and who loves them.

Lurking in the background is the payout from the life policy on Gloria’s late husband. Ethan and Hannah say it’s for CJ’s education when she grows up. By the time of Gloria’s departure, Buster has died and been reincarnated with another dog who is devoted to CJ. Three young women play CJ during the film’s 110 minutes, which turns out to be CJ’s story narrated by a series of dogs. Happy ever after. Life goes on, vicissitudes and all. It’s nature’s way.

Canine re-incarnation? Why not? But not without a healthy dose of willingness to suspend disbelief, of a kind that its predecessor didn’t need.

At all cinemas

Love, a decade in the making

ON the front balcony both kumquat trees are strangely fruiting despite the winter cold.

There is quite a lot of fruit and I decide to make a casserole that features about 10 kumquats, just cut in half, fennel, the bulb and some dried seeds, chicken and chorizo.

The wine to add to the casserole mix and to drink: an unfashionable semillon. I am a member of the Cofield Wine Club.

Cofield is a winery in Wahgunyah, near Rutherglen, in Victoria, and has well-made, value-for-money wines. In the most recent wine-club mix was a bottle of the 2018 Cofield Semillon. In my opinion, this is the white wine to drink in winter.

The casserole turned out to be delicious, slowcooked with the tang of the fruit and the cut-through of the anise-like fennel working well.

The balance of the wine was fresh and clean, with a citrus finish that complemented rather than detracted from the tart kumquat flavour.

The freshness of the wine was not expected given the lower acidity of the semillon grape compared with other varieties. Indeed, semillon is world famous as the main grape in sweet sauternes from Bordeaux or is oaked and often blended with sauvignon.

The “Wine Australia National Vintage Report 2018” shows the surprising statistic that the tonnage of semillon in the 2018 crush was almost double that of riesling. But that came with a 17 per cent fall in the quantity of semillon produced over the prior year. I decided to get a reality check about what was going on from the winemaker Damien Cofield and telephoned him. I started by asking about the clean finish on the 2018

I had tasted and how semillon is not generally a grape that is associated with Rutherglen.

“Well,” he said, “we get the grapes from a plot at the base of Mount Buffalo at Porepunkah. With the alpine climate, the terroir has influenced the characteristics of the style, it’s really fresh.”

I asked if he agreed that semillon seems to be unloved by consumers?

“It is definitely unloved in the marketplace. But look at the classics that are grown – it’s a beautiful, complex fruit. These wines start out fresh and light and yet they go through to a deep, toasty complexity. At around three to four years they are a bit nothing but after that they change and are great.

So what up to 10 years to cellar a good semillon?

“Definitely, but I wouldn’t keep it after that time, that’s what we are recommending, up to 10 years.”

The 2018 semillon at $22 a bottle seems good value, especially to trace the way that a semillon from a coolclimate area progresses compared with the traditional aged semillons from the Hunter Valley which is hot and humid.

I think that even though semillon is unloved by the market I am going to keep looking for bargains where there is the potential to have a truly excellent wine after putting it aside for up to 10 years. Who knows, it might be back in fashion?

Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it – Søren Kierkegaard

DINING

/ monster kitchen and bar, acton

Menu put to the test

THE large round fireplace in the middle of the dining room is massive and we scored a seat right next to it ensuring we were toasty warm on what ended up to be one of Canberra’s coldest winter days.

We were at Monster for lunch, Ovolo Nishi, which recently launched a new menu. We were looking forward to the adventure.

Local and seasonal produce is celebrated in all that Monster does and if you like the idea of sharing plates you’ll find intriguing dishes on the menu.

We started by sharing the Boxgum Grazing beef tartare. This multi-generational farm has named itself after the eucalypt woodlands in the Hilltop region of southern NSW. I love their philosophy: “Farming should co-operate with nature, not try to tame it”.

The beef was amazing and we mixed in the misocured egg yolk and dollops of avo placed here and there on the plate, enjoying the crunch of the black rice crisps ($23). While delish, we felt it could have used just a tad more seasoning.

Next up with creamy, soft buffalo mozzarella, accompanied with puffed rice for texture, bitter leaves, black olive and basil ($20). It also came with grilled bread but it was burnt so we returned it. Still, how wonderful is this cheese?

The dish of the day for both of us was the spiced lamb ribs. The meat just fell off the bone and the spices were a beautiful combo – not over the top, but not subtle either. The chilli jam was yum ($17).

To cut through we ordered the mixed-Asian-leaf salad, glad there was a simple offering like this on the menu ($10). The presentation was pretty, the greens nice and bright and the Yuzu vinaigrette delicate. Once more, we felt a bit more seasoning was in order to bring the dish to life. There was no salt and pepper on the table and we couldn’t, at that point during our visit, seem to find anyone to help.

Monster’s wine list is impressive. Extensive. Well thought through. Interesting options.

The décor is eclectic. Pattern city. Throughout that level of Ovolo Nishi are plenty of original and interesting artwork and furniture.

We had three people tend to our table; one very experienced and knowledgeable. We got off to a very slow start, even though the dining area was only half full. Eventually menus were brought. We had to ask for the wine list and then waited some time before the bottle of Lerida Estate Pinot Grigio landed at our table. You can order wine by the glass, half carafe, carafe or bottle.

No one asked us (not once) throughout our meal if we were enjoying our dishes.

Monster, Ovolo Nishi, 25 Edinburgh Avenue, Acton, open 6.30am-11, Sunday to Thursday and 6.30am to late on Friday and Saturday.

The humour of humanity

ARTS IN THE CITY

By Helen Musa

LIMBO Theatre joins Honest Puck Theatre in a co-production of “The Good Doctor” based on a series of short stories by Anton Chekhov and adapted by the late Neil Simon. Directed by James Scott, the stories are narrated by an unnamed author much like Chekhov, who is suffering from writer’s block. Perform Australia Theatre, 11 Whyalla Street, Fyshwick, August 28-31. Book at stagecenta.com

HIT Productions, fronted by the now-familiar team of director Denny Lawrence and performer Mandi Lodge, brings “My Brilliant Divorce” to Queanbeyan. It’s a funny, heartfelt story about Angela, who is trying to take charge after a divorce from her lying, cheating husband. At the Q, September 4-7. Book at theq.net.au or 6285 6290.

CANBERRA classical guitar virtuoso Minh Le Hoan will launch his national tour in Braidwood. Recitals will encompass baroque to modern composers. Braidwood Uniting Church, from 2pm, Sunday, August 25. Tickets at the door, cash only.

LOCAL singer-songwriter Katie de Veau, who won the Australian Gospel Music Award for best music in 2002, will be guest soloist, performing alongside choirs and singing groups at the sixth annual Hymnfest, Mosaic Baptist Church, at 18 Dallachy Street, Page, from 2.30pm, Saturday, August 31. Free community event.

PHOENIX Trio – Lina Andonovska, Alexina Hawkins and Harold Gretton, all of them ANU School of Music graduates – perform a house concert featuring the world premiere of “Sun-Opener” by Melbourne composer Sam Smith. 17 Astelia Place, Rivett, 2pm, Sunday, August 25. Book at phoenixtrio.com

CANBERRA artist Sukhvinder Saggu has won second prize in an experimental-art competition run by “International Art Magazine” earlier this year and has featured in the August edition of “American Art Collector” for his abstract painting “Push and Pull.”

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SCENE / around canberra

At the Menslink ‘Midweeker’, Griffith At the Canberra Wedding Fair, Bruce

At the Founders Lane launch, Braddon

Inspirational gifts

FATHER’S Day on Sunday, September 1, is a celebration honouring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds and the influence of fathers in society.

In Catholic Europe, the celebration of fatherhood is known to date back to the Middle Ages.

It was brought by the Spanish and Portuguese to Latin America where the date, March 19, also known as St Joseph’s Day, is often still used for Father’s Day celebrations through many countries in Europe.

Father’s Day is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May.

In Australia, Father’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of September.

This week in “CityNews” we feature an inspiring range of experiences and gift ideas for Father’s Day.

Float deal offers more zen

PURE Zen Flotation is offering more relaxation by offering two special deals.

“Customers can buy two floats and receive a third float for free, as well as a special deal on our float packages where a free float is included in any package that is bought,” says manager, Karen Bennett.

Karen says the dedicated float tank facility can help people with pain relief, stress, meditation, anxiety and depression.

get dads flying

TO celebrate Father’s Day, Jet Flight Simulator Canberra is offering “CityNews” readers a discount on any gift vouchers or experiences bought before September 1.

Jet Flight Simulator Canberra is a one-of-a-kind present for dads this Father’s Day, says owner Trevor Vickers. He says it provides the everyday person with the opportunity to sit in the most used plane in the world and experience what it’s like to captain the 737 using the replica 737 flight simulator.

Run by professional pilots, the Jet Flight Simulator is based on the Boeing 737-800NG, which Trevor says gives a sense of what it’s like to fly the world’s most popular commercial jet and become familiar with the primary aircraft controls such as engine throttles, flaps, elevator, ailerons and rudder.

“Lots of dads have always wanted to fly a large commercial plane,” Trevor says.

“It’s a very memorable gift because it’s very unusual.”

Jet Flight Simulator Canberra, 4 Montford Crescent, Lyneham. Call 0438 834026 or visit jetflightsimulatorcanberra.com.au

Relaxation is a big focus when customers are in the store, according to Karen, who says customers can continue to unwind in their dedicated relaxation rooms after each session.

“Our chillout lounge has leather recliners, candles, teas and salt lamps,” she says.

Karen says customers can experience Pure Zen Flotation’s “Dream Pod”, a cocoon-like pod, which is larger than other pods and is filled with 600 litres of water and 500kg of epsom salts, creating a mixture so buoyant it’s impossible to sink.

Each pod is in a separate sound-proofed room with its own shower and complimentary towels and toiletries.

Pure Zen Flotation offers memberships with weekly, fortnightly and monthly repayments.

Pure Zen Flotation, Unit 2, 10–12 Dundas Court, Phillip. Call 6281 0259, email contact@purezen.com.au or visit purezen.com.au

Come and test your racing skills TODAY!

make dad feel special this Father’s Day

Peter’s got wine for any occasion

THERE’s not much Peter Dietsch doesn’t know about wine, which is why he opened up his own independent, boutique liquor shop in Downer so he could share his knowledge with the Canberra region.

Now, at Peter’s Wine Shop, Peter’s excited to help customers find a bottle to suit any occasion, including Father’s Day.

After working in the liquor retail industry for most of his career, which has seen him judging, teaching and writing about wine, Peter says he loves chatting to customers and helping them find the perfect wine for them.

“Over the years I have built positive relationships with local wineries and we have a significant selection of Canberra wines,” he says.

“Being independent, I choose the product range and sell wines that you wouldn’t find at a larger, commercial liquor store. It allows me to offer something different.”

Another special offering is Peter’s selection of privately cellared wines. This includes iconic, award-winning bottles of wines that are “one-offs”.

Peter says that each of these wines

tell a story and would make a unique Father’s Day gift.

Any beer lovers can be assured Peter also stocks a great range of craft beer.

If readers would like to discover Peter’s Wine Shop, Peter says he’d love to meet “CityNews” readers and would be able to offer them a special price.

Peter’s Wine Shop, 2/2 Frencham Place, Downer shops. Call 6174 1912 or visit Peter’s Wine Shop on Facebook.

Racing tracks take dad back in time

IF dad grew up with a Scalextric set (a slot car racing set), then Way2Fast in Mitchell has Father’s Day sorted for a fun, family trip down memory lane, says owner Stephen Bywater.

On a much larger scale than the Scalextric set, Way2Fast has four different tracks available for hire, which range from four to eight lanes, making it the perfect place to take any dad that still loves racing cars.

“We have 1:32 scale electric motor driven car tracks, which are driven by a hand controller,” says Stephen who’s had a passion for slot cars since he was a child.

“I got my first set as a kid and really enjoyed it until I was a teenager,” he says.

“It wasn’t until my kids were old enough to enjoy slot cars that I rediscovered my passion for them and fell in love with it again.”

This passion drove him to take over Way2Fast more than seven years ago but the life of the store has been around longer and will be celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

“Kids will love bringing their dads here, we are happy for kids from five and up to have a go and it’s good fun for everyone,” Stephen says.

He says Way2Fast is also Canberra’s largest retailer for slot cars and spare parts, offering more than 20 manufacturers such as Scalextric, SCX, Ninco, Revell, Slot it, Pioneer, NSR, Carrera, Parma and MJK.

Way2Fast, Unit 2/20 Essington Street, Mitchell. Visit way2fast.com.au or call 0424 453544.

interactive experience at the Canberra Walk-in Aviary, says owner and manager Mick Logan.

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

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

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

“We give you a small plate of food and a tub of mealworms and you can wander

“And there’s no time limit, so you can really stretch your dollar.” Mick says that people are welcome to take photos of the birds.

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

On Father’s Day, dads can enjoy a free entry pass, when accompanied by a full-paying customer.

Canberra Walk-in Aviary, 16 O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls, call 6230 2044 or visit canberrawalkinaviary.com.au

Open 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm) Come along with Dad & see the friendly free flying birds that can be photographed and fed.

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

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GARDENING Walk this way – with a purpose

I’M often asked where I get ideas for my column. Well may you ask, having now produced more than 1600 of them since February,1986, initially in another publication.

Often I get ideas from being quizzed at the numerous talks I give to garden clubs, Rotary, Legacy, Probus and others. Or it may be simply driving down a street and seeing a particular tree or garden. Gardening is continually evolving with new plants and ideas.

Homebuyers, whether facing a bare block or neglected garden, will often ask: “Where do I start?”

Before even thinking about plants, a good

aspects of the garden: play areas, garden sheds, veggie gardens and clothes line. How do you get to them?

When homes were built in the past, they’d feature a rotary clothes line out back with a very narrow concrete path. The front garden had a straight path leading directly to the front door –hardly inspiring!

Paths need to lead somewhere; mark out lines in the garden to connect all those items mentioned before: clothes line, garden shed, etcetera.

Paths generally are far too narrow. They need to be at least 1.5 metres wide so that two people can walk side by side. While you may not have any residents with disabilities, there could be a time when a wide path is essential.

Next point to consider is the surface. There are many options including concrete, paving, compacted decomposed granite or even eucalyptus chips.

Concrete is possibly the cheapest option, but it has no character and is more or less permanent. I never use concrete in my own garden designs –boring, boring!

Paving looks more attractive and can be laid with a variety of patterns. If at a later date you change your mind or extend the home, pavers can be lifted and reused. Compacted decomposed granite, also referred to as Paddys River gravel, is another practical solution but I always recommend a paver edging to stop it spreading into garden beds. I have used this in some

designs to make a circular track through the shrubs for young children to ride their tricycles.

If it is an informal area, such as a bush garden, eucalyptus chip, usually referred to as euky chip, can be used. Over a relatively short period this will bed down and can usually support a wheelchair.

However, it is useless as mulch. If used on a slope, rain runs off without penetrating the soil.

A very natural path can be made of slate paving, with sections left out to grow thyme. There is no limit to the imagination, but keep in mind the width, particularly for paths leading to the front door.

Jottings...

• Garden centres can provide the necessary additive to change the colour of hydrangeas. Now is the time to start but it needs to be applied several times during spring and summer. White hydrangeas will not change colour.

• Don’t be in a rush to remove overnight covering of citrus; there are plenty of frosts to come!

• Start applying mulch to all garden beds to reduce evaporation. It is predicted to be another hot summer.

Joanne Madeline Moore

Your week in the stars – August 26-September 1, 2019

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Restless Rams are ready to rumble as the New Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars boost your energy levels. So this week all forms of physical exercise are favoured (the more vigorous and adrenalin-pumping, the better). You’re also full of enthusiasm about a work project or a domestic matter but don’t jump to half-baked conclusions. Take the time to check the facts thoroughly first. Impulsive behaviour now could just lead to unforeseen problems further down the track.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Your life is expanding in exciting new directions, as the planets energise your entertainment sector. So clear your throat, polish your maracas and find yourself a captive audience as you perform or party like a pro! You’re in the mood to fall in love or nurture and nourish close friendships, as you enjoy connecting via shared hobbies and common interests. Uranus also trines your ruler Venus, which helps you make pleasing progress in creative and innovative ways.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

The New Moon highlights your home zone so – over the next few months – you could buy or sell real estate, move house, get a new housemate or renovate your place to make more living space. Don’t let a slap-dash approach trip you up though! You’re also keen to help a family member in a practical and hands-on way. So your motto for the moment is from Mother Teresa (who was born on August 26, 1910): “Love begins by taking care of the closest ones – the ones at home.”

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Communication is the buzz word Crabs! So it’s a wonderful week to improve close relationships and community connections as the New Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars boost your conversation skills, creativity and concentration. Plus do your best to capitalise on any lucky opportunities that come your way (especially involving your peer group or social media). But be careful you don’t make a hasty comment (in person or online) that could be misconstrued.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

It’s an excellent week to expand your professional influence, as the planets boost your public profile. With Uranus showcasing your unique talents (and the New Moon and Venus enhancing your self-esteem) you’re ready to sparkle and shine! Money matters and business projects are particularly favoured, as long as you are financially astute and live within your means. Friday is a fabulous day to initiate a work project, launch a website or venture into innovative new territory.

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars are moving through your sign, so it’s time to be the vibrant and vivacious Virgo you were born to be. Confidence is the rocket fuel that will take you places. But don’t just focus on facts, figures and the minutiae of daily life. Strive to expand your creative horizons as you do your best to make the world a more beautiful place. Be inspired by birthday great Mother Teresa: “The world is hungry not only for food, but also for beauty.”

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

With five planets (including the New Moon) stimulating your self-sabotage zone, are you being your own worst enemy? Is the only person undermining your efforts actually you? Stop trying to please everyone else and instead, start focusing on what really matters for your future happiness and success. So your mantra for the week is from birthday great, singer-songwriter Florence Welch: “You should have high expectations for yourself, and others should come second.”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Scorpios are strong, sexy, passionate, powerful, resilient and resourceful. You’re also pretty good at holding onto grudges against other people, but then the only person that actually ends up hurting is you. So your motto for the moment is from birthday great Mother Teresa: “If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive.” Platonic relationships are favoured, as you gain useful insights into the previously hidden motivations of a friend or acquaintance.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Sagittarians are bright and breezy, but are you really confident enough for big time professional success? Don’t sell yourself short! The coming week is your time to shine, as the New Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars all activate your career zone. A friend or work colleague is enthusiastic about a project but make sure you check the facts, figures and finances thoroughly before you commit. With passion, precision and planning, you can make your dreams come true.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

Uranus sends an unexpected opportunity your way. Just make sure you are smart enough to recognise it, and enterprising enough to utilise it for maximum benefit. You’re feeling impatient but slow and steady wins the race. With Saturn still moving slowly through your sign, it will take a while to reach your goals. Stay keen and keep moving forwards! Draw inspiration from birthday great, actress and comedienne Lily Tomlin: “The road to success is always under construction.”

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

The New Moon indicates a shift of gear in an important area of life. This week the heavens signal a fresh start for adventurous Aquarians involving an intimate relationship, a trusted friendship or a joint financial matter. If you are attached, your partner could surprise you with an unusual request. Are you sick and tired of being single? Venus trines your ruler Uranus, which is fabulous for falling in love very fast or being attracted to someone who is not your usual type.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

This week Uranus urges you to get a personal project or a joint venture moving ASAP. Time to heed the wise words of birthday great, Mother Teresa: “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” When it comes to a close relationship, do you have ridiculously unrealistic expectations? Perhaps it’s time for a reality check. Attached Pisces – are you searching for love? Be on the lookout for a creative thinker who is a good talker.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2019

Across

1 What are musical dramas called? (6)

8 Name one of Australia’s most outstanding female swimming greats, Libby ... (8)

9 Name an Australian Test cricketer, noted as a batsman and Test captain, Allan ... (6)

10 What is a tuft of feathers arranged as a head ornament? (8)

11 Which other term describes a meal? (6)

12 What is a vaulted semicircular recess in a building? (4)

13 Which trophy is played for by England and Australia in Test cricket? (5)

16 Which part of a tyre bears on the road? (5)

19 What is used to supply air into a tube? (4)

21 To bestow with great abundance, is to do what? (6)

22 What is a flower stalk called? (8)

23 Which term describes fascination, or charm? (6)

24 What are musicals, given usually by a single performer ?(8)

25 What, in films, are persons hired by the day to play minor parts? (6)

Sudoku hard No. 249

Down

2 By which name is the South African cricket team known? (7)

3 To disseminate, as from a centre, is to do what? (7)

4 Under which title is a home unit, or the like, registered? (6)

5 Name a bright red colour. (7)

6 What is the common unit of land measure in the metric system? (7)

7 To have given audible expression, is to have done what? (7)

13 Name an alternative term for an airfield (7)

14 Which food fish is related to, but smaller than, the cod? (7)

15 Which small keyboard instruments resemble harpsichords? (7)

17 What is a stream called? (7)

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

20 What is a polite addition to a request, etc? (6)

ARCHIE is employed in the public service during the day and has set up a small business selling soy candles.

“I have been using a bookkeeper to prepare the accounts for me and, frankly, I don’t understand what they have done,” he bemoaned when he came to see me.

“I have these transactions in my Paypal account when I transfer them to the main account I don’t know how to code them in the software.” I looked at his ledger and couldn’t see a transfer account.

“The absence of this account has caused you to count your income twice,” I said.

“This is causing you to believe that you are making more profit than you actually are and also explains why your cash doesn’t agree with your profit.

“I can also see that you have transferred the gross sales to your business account effectively overdrawing your Paypal account and you have not accounted for the Paypal commissions.”

I suggested he take me through the selling process when he’s at the markets and go through the process of accounting for his sales.

Archie said: “When I get home, I enter each sale into accounts receivable, I only have details of first names, one at a time as my clients don’t want receipts. Then I transfer the total sale amount to the main business account. Then I enter all the bank transactions into the accounting software.”

I told him he was using features in this accounting system that he didn't require for a business of his size.

“Entering your sales individually is just not necessary and, as you receive cash through Paypal and the bank, you don’t need an accounts-receivable ledger,” I said.

“You obviously have a record of each sale so a bulk entry into your accounting program for that date is all that is required.

“I also note that there is a line in the accounts for GST. But you aren’t registered for GST and from our discussions it is unlikely that your turnover from this business will exceed $75,000 so there is absolutely no need to register for GST or to separate GST in the accounts.

All your expenses should be recorded GST-inclusive so we will need to remove the GST line and reallocate the GST back to the original transactions. It won’t take very long to fix up, I will show you how to do the entries in the future and we will just review it regularly for you.”

Archie said: “That sounds great, Gail. One other question: can I offset the losses against my public service income?”

I said: “There are rules about offsetting your losses. The one that will apply to you in your first year is that the business must have turned over more than $20,000, which you haven’t.

“So you have to carry your loss forward until you make a profit in the future. You can then reduce your profit by the amount of the loss which means you’ll pay less tax in that year. You also have to meet certain other conditions that we will look at when you turn a profit.” Archie left my office saying he felt comfortable that his accounts would be correct going forward and that he now knew how to claim his losses.

If you need help with your small business or your accounts, contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 02 6295 2844.

Disclaimer

This column contains general advice, please do not rely on it. If you require specific advice on this topic please contact Gail Freeman or your professional adviser.