CityNews 190926

Spineless committee fails on petrol pricing

MICHAEL MOORE

Private-school girls make a crude protest

MIKE WELSH

Why all dogs need to be on a leash

LETTERS

Peonies, coming ready or not!

CEDRIC BRYANT Designer

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

PERCHED ON THE ROOFTOP OF THE AWARD WINNING BURBURY HOTEL, OVERLOOKING THE CITY, LAKE AND LEAFY BARTON IS CANBERRA’S MOST EXCLUSIVE HIGH TEA.

NEWS / Australian Breastfeeding Association anniversary

By Danielle NOHRA

DURING a time when breastfeeding wasn’t widely discussed and words such as “breast” or “nipple” didn’t appear in publications, a group of Canberra women came together to start an organisation focused around breastfeeding.

Established in the ACT in 1969, they wanted it to be called the Australian Breastfeeding Association (its name today) but were forced to call themselves the Nursing Mothers’ Association of Australia because it didn’t have the word “breast” in it!

Now, 50 years later, the national association is celebrating and Julie Smith, who has been involved in the association in many roles since the early ‘80s, says there have been a lot of changes around breastfeeding over this time.

Julie, 62, of Watson, first came in contact with the association as a struggling, single mum, who went back to work after 12 weeks, and says she’ll never forget the support from the association during that time.

“I have vivid memories as a young, unmarried mother of a newborn in 1981, finding an apricot chicken casse role on my front doorstep, delivered by a friend from my childbirth class who was involved in ABA,” she says.

In the ‘90s Julie joined as a member before becoming a community educa tor and then a breastfeeding counsellor.

During her time with the asso ciation, she helped get some local and Federal government grants, the Australian Breastfeeding Association program got accreditation and they rolled out “Breastfeeding Welcome Here” stickers in the ACT.

She also saw some big changes around breastfeeding.

“People were a bit precious about the word ‘breast’ but there was more of an understanding that you’re just feeding your baby and getting on with it,” says Julie, who researches the economics of breastfeeding at ANU.

“It used to just be pull your T-shirt up and stick the baby on. Now there are more social anxieties about it, I think.”

Julie says Australia now has an industry making money from “breastfeeding covers”, which also helps formula sales if women feel they are

embarrassed or restricted in breastfeeding when they’re out.

Another change Julie has seen over the years, is the pressure for mums to return to paid work within a few months as well as juggle babies and breastfeeding.

“Mostly, in the past, women who returned to employment could afford to take unpaid leave for the year as introduced by the Whitlam government in the 1970s,” she says.

“Now, wages are not as good for a

Since 1993: Volume 25, Number 37

breadwinner and housing is more expensive and women also don’t realise they have 12 months of job protection by law, they wrongly think they have to go back when their paid leave runs out.

“Parental ‘leave’ isn’t leave it is ‘work’ – we need to rename it.”

Megan Fox, the ACT/NSW branch office administration manager of the Australian Breastfeeding Association, has also seen a huge shift in mothers returning to work sooner than ever.

“When I first joined, there were quite a few of us that were stay-athome mums,” says Megan, 49, of Calwell, who joined 10 years ago when her first child was a few weeks old.

“Now, there’s pressure to get back to work, which is financial in a lot of cases. It puts a lot of pressure on mums to fit in everything. And if their focus is on getting back to work, sometimes it means they don’t get to enjoy their baby.”

Megan wants to celebrate the part every member, volunteer and supporter has played in helping to increase breastfeeding rates in the ACT.

“Breastfeeding is a learned skill and the mother-to-mother support provided by the Canberra community is worth celebrating,” she says.

“We’re trying to get people prepared for breastfeeding and have strategies around that.”

Megan says the Australian Breastfeeding Association groups and activities, which are run by qualified volunteers, are important for mothers who might not have family members to teach them these skills.

“We have discussion groups where we talk about topics that the mums want to talk about like sleep and returning back to work,” she says.

“We also run informal activities where mums can come and hang out.”

More information at breastfeeding.asn.au

Arts & Entertainment 27-29

Canberra Matters 10

Cinema 28

Crossword 31

Dining 29

Gardening 30

Horoscopes 31

Letters 12

News 3-16

Politics 6

Socials 17-20 Cover: Games designer Anna Tito. Photo: Holly Treadaway. Story Page 27.

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Four private-school girls make a crude protest

MOST students attending Canberra’s Global Climate Strike rally skipped classes with their schools’ blessing. But should those in charge at one northside private, Christian school be more engaged in students attending future protests?

In a sea of provocative signs, including one featuring Scott Morrison holding a lump of coal, captioned “Old King Coal was a Merry Arsehole”, four female students from the faith-based school in full uniform proudly held a placard which took the “make-love-not-war” mantra of their grandparents’ era to a new level.

FROM an oversharing generation to a member of one who should know better comes this pre-Midwinter Ball overshare story. Former ABC breakfast TV host Trioli tweeted: “Travelling from Melbourne to Canberra with a thousand yards of tulle on a nail-bitingly tight flight for the Parliament #midwinter ball. Hair and make-up will be done in the lav: Apologies to all on board”.

Within an hour “The Australian” was reporting an in-flight tantrum, alleging one ball guest had their knickers in a bunch en route about the placement of her $5000 dress. The paper later retracted its reportage and made a personal apology to Trioli.

THERE’S a booze ban at Bruce. As the city turns greener, Raiders players got “on the wagon” from Mal Meninga Medal night on wards in order to be clear headed for Friday’s preliminary final against South Sydney.

A “Sydney Morning Herald” piece on coaches’ eccentricities: “The traits that make the NRL’S coaching kingpins a cut above”, attempts to psychoanalyse Raiders’ coach Ricky Stuart . The article, by Phil Lutton , also speculates on Wayne Bennett , Craig Bellamy and Des Hasler, suggesting many “are deeply eccentric. Some are superstitious, others make a point of dispensing with the mystical and building their empires on relentless work and dedication”.

dog had a message for Canberra on press freedoms and walked from her home to deliver

Adrienne Carpenter says: “When I heard about [lawyer] Bernard , I just had to do

Adrienne and Phoebe pushed her “Freedom of the Press” baby pram 70 kilometres over three days, camping overnight in the snow at Lake

LAST September

Falun Gong practitioners assembled on Parliament House lawns highlighting the widespread practice of human organ harvesting in China.

Weaving and Rhys Muldoon in town, again, to lobby for more local content in the local film industry, as the Falun Gong, again, lobbied on the lawns in silence.

SEEMINGLY the country’s first human rights compliant correctional facility, the Alexander Maconochie Centre unofficially goes the extra mile on conjugal visits, with reports of male inmates penetrating the wall between them and the girls since 2017. An internal probe found a male prisoner had jumped into the women’s section in April and attempted to have sex with a female inmate but the action was scuttled after male prisoners watching became overly excited.

According to Lutton, Stuart falls into the paranoia group: “His team v the world when Ricky Stuart, master of the siege mentality, is on deck”.

manner of visitors, including a Peregrine falcon called Floyd . The bird came to the rescue of Parliament House horticulturalists who are again drowning in duck droppings and ducking dive-bombing magpies. Federal Parliament’s pristine gardens and forecourt are under attack and Floyd has been tasked with dispersing the menacing Maggies and ducks with diarrhoea.

A 77-year-old Collector woman and her

But their protest was thwarted as inside, political practitioners including senators Derryn Hinch and Pauline Hanson, were slobbering over visiting superstar Olivia Newton-John Ditto this week, only this time starstruck pollies were fawning over the likes of Hugo

THE ABC journalist reporting snow blocking the Hume Highway at Goulburn didn’t put much thought into his piece to camera after Tuesday’s unseasonal weather event. The young man confidently told his audience the “spring dump caused truckies to be severely backed up”!

POLITICS / Assembly Select Committee on Fuel Pricing

Spineless committee fails

FUEL companies must be splitting their sides laughing. The ACT Assembly Select Committee on Fuel Pricing has simply danced to their tune.

Did they bring multinationals to account for gouging of Canberra consumers? No. Instead the committee was hoodwinked by standard delay strategies.

Delay is a tactic adopted from big tobacco. Even when big tobacco knew that restrictions would be placed on their lethal product, they would challenge, undermine, take legal action and argue against inevitable regulation. For big tobacco, and now for fuel companies, better to get a couple of years more profit than to simply give up.

This is not a committee with a government majority. Liberals Mark Parton and Andrew Wall outnumber the chair, Tara Cheyne. Perhaps the Liberal anti-regulation ideology is to blame for such a wet-feather report.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr encouraged a more strident approach telling the committee that elected representatives should “stand up for them (Canberrans) against particularly big business who are gouging them in this city”.

The committee report starts with a spineless approach: “The committee stresses… it has been deliberately cautious and has taken a risk-averse approach”. Risk averse, seriously!

The committee report starts with a spineless approach: ‘The committee stresses… it has been deliberately cautious and has taken a risk-averse approach’. Risk averse, seriously!

Assembly committees should take courage in one hand, fortitude in the other and strike a blow for the community interest. The committee argument to avoid any possibility of a “measure which may result in higher fuel prices for consumers” is simple codswallop.

What about some spine? Although a long-time, strong supporter of the ACT Legislative Assembly’s Committee system, the wimpish recommendations in this report undermine so many previous reports.

The reality is that it is time for the big stick. Instead the committee argues the wish to arm “consumers with better choice and information in making fuel purchasing decisions”.

The forlorn hope of the committee is that arming consumers will have them “making behavioural changes” and it is the view of the committee that this will be the “greatest chance for consumers paying lower fuel prices, without risking unintended consequences”. Unintended consequences! Really! Multinational delay

tactic language.

Pathetic is not the role of a committee. If they must, let the government worry about threats of litigation or the like. The Chief Minister opened the door.

The old hoary argument has been recirculated. The problem is about “external factors” such as gate prices in Sydney and Melbourne. This hardly explains how almost all of country NSW invariably has lower prices than Canberra. I regularly refuel in Boorowa where, despite hardly any competition, the price is always considerably less than in Canberra.

The committee even identifies that Canberra consumers, on average, have been spending between 8 and 12 cents a litre more on fuel than is spent in Sydney. Apparently, this changes in times of adverse publicity. However, closing the gap on

Sydney prices has largely proved temporary.

The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission report in June was used by the committee to argue retailers have very limited control over price and then fail to introduce regulation that has an impact on these multinationals. They cannot have it every which way. Compare Canberra to NZ to understand multinational games. Over the Tasman, the price of diesel is about two thirds the price of the lowest octane petrol while here they are neck-’n-neck.

“It is apparent that the ACT fuel market is not meeting consumer

expectations”. Damn right. Committee recommendations also fail to meet consumer expectations. Shifting the responsibility back to the consumer in the hope of effecting “behaviour change” is not what is expected from the Legislative Assembly Committee.

The expectation is that the committee will make structural recommendations to assist the government in reining in the excessive gouging by multinationals on Canberra consumers. As the committee pointed out: “There appears to be a tangible link between the committee’s work and ACT fuel prices [with a] connection between widespread media coverage of the inquiry and a dip in fuel prices”.

If the committee hearing can have this impact on multinationals who are setting the prices – just think what a strident report might have achieved.

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

Friends grow life skills in Dili’s Canberra garden

By Kathryn Vukovljak

A PERMACULTURE garden

has been established at a school in Dili, with support from fundraising by the Canberra Friends of Dili (CFD) group and an ACT government grant.

Dr Stephen Utick, president of CFD, says the garden, located in the poor eastern suburb of Bidau Masau, is more than a vegetable patch –it’s a “living classroom”, where the kids can learn biology, maths, horticulture, cooking, nutrition, sustainability and traditional culture.

“These are core living skills in a country where food security will be vital to its future,” he says.

“An extraordinary amount of the population in TimorLeste are children, and our aim is that they learn to feed themselves and their families as part of an educational program.”

The garden was established to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Australian intervention in Timor-Leste as part of Interfet in 1999.

“This is such a wonderful benefit to the schoolchildren of Bidau Masau,” says Stephen.

“We see it as a portal for connections and a focus for the community. It’s Canberra’s garden in Dili, our Friendship City, and our commitment to people-to-people connection.”

Permaculture is included in all school curriculums in Timor-Leste, thanks to permaculturist and Timorese singer-songwriter Ego Lemos, who founded the NGO Permaculture Timor-Leste (Permatil).

Permatil has taken pro -

grams such as this to around 200 schools in Timor-Leste, and CFD worked with the group to make this garden happen.

Stephen says CFD visited the school in August, met with Ego Lemos, principal José Gusenão, and schoolchildren who are using the garden.

Already thriving are crops of beans, lettuce, parsley, onions, chili, bok choy, water spinach (or kangkung), hummingbird tree (with edible flowers) and amaranth.

He says they began raising money for the project in 2018,

The Aerie at Narrabundah

months, and the rest was made up by a one-off grant through Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

Stephen says the school has 200 students, as well as a network of three other schools in the vicinity with access to the garden.

“It’s our hope that the garden will inspire collabora-

Downsizing seminar

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East Hotel

Artist’s Impression

tive critical thinking and problem solving toward real outcomes, with better relationships between teachers and students,” he says.

A fundraising cocktail party for the garden and other CFD projects in Timor-Leste will be held at the Embassy of TimorLeste at 7 Beale Crescent, Deakin, on Friday, November 1. For more information, please contact CFD Secretary Robert Altamore on altmr@bigpond.com

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CANBERRA MATTERS

Idea that gives a real voice to community councils

OUR bush capital is a good place to live (no surprises there). Part of the credit for this goes to residents who, over decades, have put in time and energy to bring people together through neighbourhood groups as well as the larger combined community councils.

These community leaders encourage debates (usually friendly) and exchanges of information on a whole range of issues, with planning and development being the usual hot topics (thankfully, not always).

Residents benefit from the occasional successes of our community groups, but this happens despite the ACT government.

It takes an enormous effort to get things to change, for the community aspirations to be recognised and for community groups to be treated seriously.

Our community groups are constantly under siege from what the government calls “consultations” on issues identified by the government – being topics not necessarily what the residents want

There is a serious disconnect between what the residents are looking for and what the government and its agencies think are the priorities.

to discuss. Somewhere on government shelves sit stacks of now-ignored submissions that groups have submitted on far too many issues. The same stack of documents contains multiple lists of residents’ aspirations for their suburbs, their precincts and our city. Yet despite this, the government agencies keep coming back asking the same questions and asking people to respond to topics of the government’s choosing.

This government actually believes it consults by using endless online “Your-Say” forums – ones based on having the government bureaucracy chose the topics as well as controlling the choice of the community members.

The bureaucracy chooses who participates and sets the agenda. It is totally the wrong way around. People in community organisations regularly wonder whether it’s worth the effort to be constantly dealing with spin, bureaucratic alternative facts, barriers constantly put in place by government agencies and the consistent messaging

from government on its lack of respect for community associations.

There is a serious disconnect between what the residents are looking for and what the government and its agencies think are the priorities. Politicians and their bureaucrats don’t understand that this government is viewed as operating within a different reality to Canberra’s residents. It occupies its own universe. It has become answerable only to itself and its political systems.

The ACT government does not recognise that it has a seriously flawed approach to how it makes decisions and carries out its functions. It has been corrupted by a range of influencers and by a culture that persistently views residents as remote entities to be spoken to only when absolutely necessary.

Could this change? Yes. How soon? Right now (in theory) if government leadership wanted to be mature and to act like a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

On Monday, August 19, at a lunchtime forum, part of the Canberra Conversation Lecture Series, speakers were grappling with the unsettling issues around this ACT Labor/Greens

government’s governance problems.

The model being discussed as a solution comes from a Belgium province where the local government is to establish a chamber of residents to guide and monitor the government’s priorities. I suspect it would take an almighty effort to have the ACT government put forward changes to the legislative structures of government.

We could have a different model and achieve similar outcomes. There is no need for the second chamber because we have much of the framework in place waiting to be used effectively and intelligently.

With some tweaking of the structures that underpin the combined community councils, it would be

possible to have our seven community councils become a formally recognised combined entity configured with appropriate resources to directly advise on and monitor the ACT government’s priorities and actions.

This was hinted at by one of the speakers at the forum. It is a fantastic idea waiting to happen. Waiting for real and honest leadership from the government. Is there a political party that wants to pick up on this innovative concept before the 2020 ACT election?

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

LETTERS GRUMPY

Why all dogs need to be on leash

I READ John Miller’s letter (CN, September 12) about a Dogs’ Rights Council with both interest and a smile. I totally understand him wanting to walk his little eight-year-old poodle off leash around his suburb. However, there is a dark side to this idea and, having spoken to some other dog owners, I know I am not the only one to have concerns.

I, too, have a dog – small, black, a bitsa, maybe eight years old and adopted from the Queanbeyan pound a year and a half ago. Gentle and loving, butter wouldn’t melt in its mouth around people and I fell in love with her.

But something sinister must have happened in its past of which I was not aware, and around other dogs whom she doesn’t know, she becomes the Hound of the Baskervilles.

I have taken her to training, I have sought people to help, I have desperately tried to socialise her. And all have failed. I have had to accept that despite my best efforts, maybe you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

On our daily walks, I can divert the (sometimes) whirling dervish on the end of the leash and avoid other dogs if they, too, are on leash. But if I spy a dog off the leash and on the loose up ahead, I now quake in terror as the situation can get, and has got, out of control.

Other dog owners need to know

dose of dorin

that although their own dog may be well behaved in company, sadly some dogs have issues that have not yet been and maybe cannot be remedied.

These dogs, too, like to go for walks but it isn’t always good for anyone involved if there are other dogs around without physical restraint.

Jan Darby, Gordon

Moore’s metaphor for modern politics

MICHAEL Moore’s column (“When a conscience vote becomes

JOIN US FOR

blackmail”, CN, September 12) is a metaphor for modern politics.

The abortion Bill in NSW is a hastily a prepared ideological statement that would, among other things, sanction abortion on the grounds of sex selection, the destruction of a child right up to term, the compelling of medical practitioners and staff to be part of a procedure they quite reasonably consider is an abomination.

I am sure that few Australians would support this grotesque legislation if they knew what it entailed. If fighting this Bill is not worth crossing the floor and risking

your political career what is? Some things are above base politics.

Denzil Bourne, Jerrabomberra, NSW

Everyone can make a difference

I AM in favour of children being interested in climate change. Everyone can make a difference in what we do to the environment, especially around our schools and local area.

I collect two shopping bags of plastic bottles and takeaway containers every week around Kambah paths and bus stops.

Robert Doyle, Kambah

Any truth in the rumour?

ARE the rumours true that the ABCTV comedy program “Utopia” is based on the ACT government?

Cedric Bryant, Watson

Write to us

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

This year the ACT will be home to a remarkable array of over 35 Mental Health Month events which aim to maximize the wellbeing of individuals and the wider community and encourage people to live mindfully and seek help.

Graffiti sullies train painting

reader

ACROSS Mugga Way, from the end of Flinders Way, before arriving at the fence line at the bottom of Red Hill, on the left, is what looks like an electricity substation (a bunker in appearance).

For years it has been covered in graffiti. Several months ago, an artist covered the graffiti with artwork – a train coming out of a tunnel. Our grandchildren loved it!

Unfortunately, some irresponsible person with no respect has now tagged swear words on it. It is so disappointing.

There are a number of what look like electricity substation sheds covered in graffiti, two in my area, one on Murray Street, between Captain Cook Drive and Flinders Way (behind Mocca daycare), and one in the median strip on Canberra Avenue, on the corner of Eyre Street, that I am sure if paint was supplied there would be artists happy to display their work to cover up the graffiti.

MENTAL HEALTH MONTH LAUNCH COMEDY NIGHT

1 October, 2019 - 7pm The Dickson Tradies www.mentalhealthmonthact.org/launchevent

Come along to the official launch of Mental Health Month in the ACT! Help us promote positive mental health, break down stigma associated with mental illness and be entertained by some of the best club comedians in Australia! Purchase tickets online.

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING EXPO

10 October, 2019 - 11am - 2pm City Walk, Civic www.mentalhealthmonthact.org/expo

The integral Mental Health & Wellbeing Expo is a free public event bringing the ACT community together to celebrate positive mental health and learn more about the services available in the ACT. Join 80 local organisations in a fun market day atmosphere with interactive activities, sausage sizzle and live music.

MENTAL HEALTH MONTH AWARDS CEREMONY

29 October, 2019 - 3pm Bradman Room, Manuka Oval www.mentalhealthmonthact.org/awards

The Mental Health Month Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions individuals have made to improve the health and wellbeing of the ACT community. All are welcome to attend the official awards ceremony. Free but please RSVP online.

Statistically, it’s hard to be swooped by a magpie

Cable ties probably won’t stop magpie attacks – here are a few things to try instead, writes BILL BATEMAN

EVERY spring in Australia is heralded by reports of magpies swooping at people. While it is of little comfort to those at the receiving end of a surprise attack, such events are actually quite rare when one considers the number of magpies across Australia, and the fact that they love to share our urban habitat with us.

According to one estimate, fewer than 10 per cent of magpies swoop, and even fewer of these do so consistently. It is almost always males that swoop, and they only do so when they have chicks in the nest. Once the chicks are out the males seem to calm down; presumably they perceive nest-bound chicks as most vulnerable.

Swooping behaviour also seems to vary across Australia – at least according to Magpie Alert!, a website on which the public can report magpie attacks. Many more swoops have been reported in the eastern states than in WA, and fewest of all in Tasmania.

But regardless of their relative rarity, being the target of a swooping attack by a magpie can be frightening. It has resulted in injuries and, tragically this month, the death of a 76-year-old cyclist in Wollongong.

What can we do to avoid ending up on the receiving end? Is any of the advice meted out each year on avoid-

ing attacks actually worthwhile, or backed by evidence? As with just about everything involving biology, the an swer is “it depends”.

Some magpies never attack pedes trians but go for cyclists; others do the opposite. And some hold a deep animus against posties on bikes, and reserve their fury solely for them. Even more astonishingly, some magpies seem to really have it in for particular people, and will preferentially attack them.

Although Australian magpies are not related to true crows, they do share similar levels of intelligence.

US researchers have shown that American crows recognise people who have trapped them to band them, give alarm calls when they next see them, and even pass on that information to untrapped birds who also sound the alarm when they see trappers.

It seems likely that Australian mag pies do the same, effectively holding a grudge against particular people. Un fortunate posties, travelling the same route each day and meeting the same magpies, seem to end up on the naughty list through no fault of their own.

duce the chance of a determined magpie pecking a sensitive area. Turning to face magpies may also help – many birds do not appreciate being stared at, and as magpies prefer to swoop from behind, this may be a good tactic if you find yourself cornered in a park.

If you have magpies in your garden, perhaps the most appealing way of avoiding attacks is to become their best friend. Given that magpies have long memories, a few judicious offerings of mince or similar tidbits throughout the year can help you befriend them, making them much more amenable to your presence come spring.

But don’t overfeed them – it’s just a friendly bribe, not a full-blown de -

If all else fails, simply console yourself with the fact that swooping season only lasts a few weeks. For the rest of the year magpies are peaceful urban neighbours who delight us with their

Sadly, it seems that the classic tactic of attaching cable ties to your helmet does little to deter a determined magpie, beyond the fact that some strategic placing can help keep them away from

Cyclists do seem to invoke more extreme reactions than pedestrians, judging by the fact that magpies appear to pursue cyclists farther. It therefore stands to reason that the bike helmet, and as magpies swoop from behind, this will offer protection against its sharp beak.

of their nest, so once you have moved away you should be safe. If you become aware of swooping attacks in a certain area, the best thing is to avoid it – even just crossing the road should be sufficient.

If you can’t do that, at least wear a hat and sunglasses; these will help re -

Bear that in mind, and we can hopefully reach a détente with our feathered (and occasionally flustered) friends. In the meantime, if you are unlucky enough to be swooped, remember to help others avoid the same fate by posting the details to Magpie Alert!

Bill Bateman is an associate professor at Curtin University. This article first appeared in theconversation.com

Call goes out for frog watchers...

FROGWATCH is looking for volunteers to help next month with the community-driven annual FrogCensus, which monitors frog populations in the ACT.

This year the FrogCensus runs throughout the whole of October, to maximise opportunities to hear and record local frog species.

Frogwatch ACT and Region is run by the Ginninderra Catchment Group through funding provided by the ACT government.

Chamber wants to fete old businesses

WITH the average life expectancy of a business based in Canberra at only about five years, Canberra Business Chamber chief Michael Schaper is looking for the city’s oldest surviving businesses.

“This year marks more than 70 years that the chamber has been operating, and we want to celebrate

those individual businesses that have also been here for the long term,” Dr Schaper said.

“Some of our existing chamber members have particularly long life spans. These include Corkhill Brothers (established 1954), WR Engineering (1967) and Watson Blinds & Awnings (1969).

“These survivors have made it

against the odds. Most businesses only have a relatively short lifespan.“

The oldest businesses will be celebrated at the chamber’s annual

The group says participation is easy and requires a visit to one or more local frog-breeding sites (usually a pond or lake or wetland) on a few evenings during October to record the frog calls then upload them to the Frogwatch site.

There is a training event to be held at the Jerrabomberra Wetlands office, 2 Dairy Road, Fyshwick, 6pm8.30pm on both Friday, September 27 and Friday, October 18. All participants will receive a Frogwatch kit.

An introductory talk (6pm-7.15pm) will explain what frog watchers have to do and is followed by a practical session (7.15pm-8.30pm) of a walk around part of Jerrabomberra Wetlands to investigate frog habitat and

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

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

Age is no limit to exercise

By Danielle Nohra

IN an unusual but inspiring coincidence, eight members from Curves Weston celebrated huge milestones, with four turning 70, three turning 80 and one turning 90 this month.

“It’s not normal, we have milestones every month but never this many,” says the women’s gym owner Kristin Davis.

With most of the women exercising at Curves at least twice a week, Kristin, 53, of Kambah, says they’re setting a great example for the other members.

“I’d love to look half as good as them when I turn 70,” she says.

“There’s so many physical health benefits from continuing to exercise, too [such as] balance, good bone density and it’s good for

the brain.

“If you’re not exercising you start to seize up. This gives them a good quality of life.”

Pam Brown, who turned 90 on Sunday (September 22), is the oldest member at the Weston gym and the first member ever to turn 90. Pam works out at the gym about twice a week and has done about 1000 workouts since joining up in 2012.

“I’ve been active all my life,” says Pam, who was a yoga instructor for 20 years in Canberra.

“It’s important to keep fit, otherwise you sit down all the time.”

When Pam works out she says she likes using all the machines but especially likes to work on her quads because they keep her standing.

“As long as I can walk, I don’t want to stop coming,” she says.

“I think once you stop, that’s it.”

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THE GADFLY Sense the victim when sabres drawn

AS the sabres of war, both hot and cold, rattle in their Middle East and North Pacific scabbards, it’s probably worth a glance at the other side of the nationalist coin that’s funding the disruption.

Have you noticed, for example, how policemen in riot gear look and act the same the world over? It’s no coincidence. They have been selected and trained to be that angry person. When and if they get together no doubt they get along just fine. They talk the same language (albeit in different accents), and hold similar views about society and its values. They are not alone. The same could be said for many of our professions and vocations. Doctors, for example, barely recognise territorial barriers in their desire to heal the sick and wounded. Academics and scientists habitually combine their mental resources to crack the problems of their exploratory disciplines. They exult in the notion of standing on the shoulders of giants from all parts of the globe.

Leaders, be they royals, dictators or vaguely elected interlopers are part of the one club. They are only truly happy talking to each

Have you noticed how policemen in riot gear look and act the same the world over? It’s no coincidence. They have been selected and trained to be that angry person.

other. Look at Donald J Trump, for example, he’s so thrilled to have slid in the back door he can barely contain himself.

Journalists and authors in my experience are very similar the world over. They generally have an obsession with the truth of the matter though they might approach it in different ways. All journalists everywhere despise those who leave their ranks for the dark side (and all are addicted to gossip). While writers are big on schadenfreude as in Gore

Vidal’s famous line: “Every time a friend succeeds I die a little”; but underneath it’s us against apathy, the cliché and the mediocre.

True artists across the board are very similar in their values.

Indeed, I’ve often thought that the arts departments should swap personnel with Defence. In a trice, the arts community would get more funding and the world would suddenly become a much

more peaceable and entertaining place.

This supra-territorial approach also applies to tendencies in larger populations. The horrors of colonialism, for example, were perpetrated by most of the European powers in much the same manner. And the Chinese in Tibet and the Indonesians in West Papua today are heading in precisely that direction with identical excuses.

And so it goes for the fairytales that rejoice in the nomenclature of “religion”. The priestly class and their abuses haven’t changed their ways since the pharaohs, and their followers wipe away a tear and follow in their wake, chasing the tale that promises life after death.

You only have to hear the latest news from drought-wracked NSW, where the Anglican clergy are actually organising farmers to pray for rain.

What harm can that do? I hear you ask. Well, certainly not as much as the song we used to sing at Methodist Sunday School about us “Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before…”

Alas, war and religion are old bedfellows; just ask the generals who religiously embed them to somehow give heavenly permission for the slaughter.

But here’s the thing: in those armies on both sides of the trenches are policemen, lawyers, doctors, academics, war correspondents and putative novelists feverishly taking notes.

If the sabres are actually drawn many, perhaps all, would be wiped out.

Doesn’t really compute, does it?

robert@robertmacklin.com

NEWS Healthy options shine in canteens

A RECORD 91 per cent of public school canteens now provide more than 50 per cent of their menu with healthy “green” items and no unhealthy “red” items, according to a recent school canteen menu analysis.

Undertaken by Nu trition Australia ACT, the survey has found that the change has occurred since the introduction of the ACT Public School Food and Drink Policy four years ago.

“This is a huge improvement from the baseline menu assessments we first undertook in 2015,” says dietitian Leanne Elliston, program manager of Nutrition Australia ACT.

Leanne Elliston, program manager of Nutrition Australia ACT.

“Back then not a single canteen met the policy of majority ‘green’ and no ‘red’.” She says that across all ACT public school canteens, 54 per cent of menu items are ‘green’, which means children visiting their school canteen are now more likely to consume nutritious foods to support their growth, learning and mental wellbeing.

“We are so proud to see our schools making fantastic progress in providing healthier food and drink options to our kids,” says Leanne.

SCENE / around canberra

At the National Association of Women

in Construction Awards

Lauren tops the building awards

LAUREN Couter, project director of Construction Control was awarded the top “crystal vision” award at the annual NAWIC Crystal Vision awards that recognised the achievements of women in the construction industry.

In addition to her outstanding work in her chosen field, Lauren is a dedicated fundraiser for the Mother’s Day Classic Fun Run and was featured on the front cover of “CityNews” in May, 2016.

The National Association of Women in Construction ACT hosted nearly 400 guests at its annual awards at the National Arboretum, celebrating and recognising the achievements of women in the construction industry.

Other winners who were honoured on the night include: Elyse Howard, Jane Louise Alexander, Roberta Brosco, Sarah Carroll, Dulani Nanayakkara, Ntasha Krysti Gerebtzoff, Sarah Pollheim, Nadine O’Keeffe, Sarah Anne Duncan and Nichelle Jackson. Construction company, Manteena was recognised as the winner of the diversity and inclusion award.

“Our annual awards provide the opportunity for our members to showcase their professional contributions to Australia’s largest non-service-related industry, contributing $134.2 billion to the nation’s economy, and employing 1.1 million Australians,” says outgoing president Amanda Laverie.

NAWIC is a not-for-profit organisation formed to promote and improve the construction industry by the advancement of women.

It offers members an opportunity to expand personal networks, maintain awareness of industry developments, improve skills and knowledge, and make a contribution to women in the construction industry.

EXPERTS OF WODEN Growing valley’s full of skilled businesses

LOCATED 10 minutes from the centre of Canberra, the development of Woden Valley began in 1962, a year before its first residents arrived in 1963.

Planned as a series of 10 suburbs (there’s now 12), Hughes, Curtin, Chifley and Lyons were among the first built. At the time it was estimated that 90,000 people would eventually live in the area but by 2016 the population had only reached 34,760, according to the census.

Separate from Civic, Woden Valley was planned as a satellite city, with its own shopping centre, employment opportunities and suburbs located around the town centre in Woden. But that doesn’t stop residents from outside of the Woden Valley coming to explore the many experts spread across the region.

fundraising barbecue and discounting 20 per cent off all plants and paints on Saturday (September 28), says store manager Sandy George.

The fundraising barbecue, which Sandy hopes will be the start of many more community fundraising events, will support the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

“We want to be involved in our local community and help where we can,” she says.

“[We also want to] help support our customers as they support us.”

As for Home Timber and Hardware’s sale on paints and plants, Sandy says they’ve been popular with customers since the arrival of spring.

homes and gardens.

“We specialise in paints and have a large nursery in addition to basic general hardware and tools,” she says.

Staff members Darren and Michael look after the nursery and stock fruit trees, natives, roses and indoor plants, as well as the popular “potted colour”.

Carrying Wattyl and Dulux paints, Sandy says that on September 28, a Wattyl representative will be in store all day giving demonstrations and answering questions.

Home Timber and Hardware Phillip, 101-103 Hindmarsh Drive, Phillip. Call 6281 1744 or visit homehardware.com.au

Sisters thread a space for creation

WANTING to bring something new and different to Canberra, sisters

Emma Mason and Clare Lovell

established The Stitching Room, a boutique sewing, knitting, crochet and quilting retail shop, with a dedicated space for classes.

Clare, The Stitching Room’s sewer and knitter, sees sewing as an opportunity to be creative and spend time with like-minded souls.

Emma agrees with Clare and says they want to inspire their customers with their classes, whether it’s in giving people assistance who have already started a project, or whether it’s one of their specialist classes, which teaches people new skills.

“We want them to know that when they come into the store, they are our focus,” Emma says.

“We look after the little things so [our customers] can enjoy the time they spend with us.”

Emma says that The Stitching Room’s bright, inviting classrooms, combined with the hand-blended teas and gourmet snacks, reflect the care they take to ensure the boutique offers the creative escape Clare strives for.

“There are spaces to sit and sew

or knit, and spaces to spread out and lay fabrics together and gather together,” Emma says.

The Stitching Room, 53 Colbee Court, Phillip. Call 6282 4880, email shop@ thestitchingroomcanberra.com.au or visit their Facebook page @thestitchingroomcanberra.

Do you suffer with pain?

We

chronic pain.

Hydrotherapy at locations across Canberra

Exercise Physiology group classes and individual consultations

GLA:D Physiotherapy program for hip and knee osteoarthritis

Dietitian consultations for weight loss/gain and pain relief

Occupational therapy to improve daily living challenges

Individual counselling and health education

Pain Support programs, seminars and support groups

All programs can be incorporated into NDIS, DVA and My Aged Care

We accept GP Referrals for Medicare funded allied health services

closure of the pool at the Canberra Hospital, Rebecca says Arthritis ACT is pushing to keep facilities available there, while also running classes out of its second home at the University of Canberra hospital pool. Taking a holistic approach to treating pain, Rebecca says Arthritis ACT has a range of programs available such as hydrotherapy, tai chi, yoga, and strength and balance classes, to assist in an easier and worthwhile journey to living better with chronic conditions. Rebecca says they’re also concerned about the

And, in Woden and Weston, the most rapidly ageing regions of Canberra, Arthritis ACT has joined forces with Nordic Stride for Life, a community group aiming to utilise the benefits of Nordic walking to enhance quality of life, functional mobility and balance.

Arthritis ACT, SHOUT Offices, Collett Place, Pearce. Call 1800 011041, email info@arthritisact.org.au or visit arthritisact.org.au

Most chronic pain conditions respond to exercise and weight loss

Hydrotherapy is proven to lead to reduction in many kinds of chronic pain

People living with pain often suffer from being isolated and we have programs that will lessen this impact

Mild depression and anxiety will significantly increase perceptions of pain and our counselling, support groups and exercise groups will help reduce this impact

New home for ‘clowning around’

bigger, brighter and refreshed store to mark 24 years in operation.

What started out as a “gorilla-gram” business in the early days, now sees Just Clowning Around offering about 20,000 unique products such as party supplies, decorations and dress ups.

“We carry a large range of fancy dress costumes and accessories,” Brendan says.

“If a customer has something in mind and we don’t have it in stock, we can work with our supplier to get what they need, with some advance notice.”

With Halloween coming up next month, Just Clowning Around has a wide selection of dress ups, decorations, face paint and prosthetics to transform people into their favourite witch, ghoul or vampire, says Brendan.

He says balloons are also a popular item and the friendly team can arrange customised bouquets or table decorations, starting from $12 with hundreds of designs to choose from.

“We are also increasing our offering of party supplies,” says Brendan.

“Our customers are important to us and what sets us apart is our customer service and availability to let people see and touch their costume rather than purchasing it on the internet.”

Just Clowning Around, level 1, 19 Altree Court, Phillip. Call 6286 7100 or visit justclowningaround.com.au

Lawyers take the discomfort out of wills

WHILE death can be hard to think about, Capon & Hubert Lawyers & Mediators help take the discomfort out of making a will, says wills and estate planning lawyer Ashilpa Khanna.

When death occurs, a common misconception, according to Ashilpa, is the spouse takes control of the estate and its assets, which is not generally the case.

“If you don’t make a will, the state’s law effectively does it for you,” says Ashilpa, who urges people to create a will to secure a plan for the future.

Lawyer Ashilpa Khanna of Capon & Hubert Lawyers & Mediators.

“For families, a relative dying without a will causes significant strife, since a will names the legal guardians of the person’s children.

“The last thing you want to have if you die is a fight over who’s going to raise your children.”

But to better cushion any sudden tragedies, Ashilpa firmly believes everyone should have an estate plan and it all starts with a will.

At Capon & Hubert Lawyers & Mediators, Ashilpa says great care is taken into providing expert and honest advice, ensuring each client is aware of the legal process and disclosing any upfront fees.

“Our staff are experienced in their fields and we take pride in knowing our clients,” she says.

“We will always use common sense, respect, courtesy and good judgement when dealing with clients.”

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

and Hubert Lawyers we ensure that your estate goes to family or friends of your choice.  Having a valid and up-to-date Will can help reduce stress for your family and friends, limit administration costs, and lessen the possibility for dispute over your estate. We understand your situation is different and may require a unique specialist approach.

EXPERTS OF WODEN

Orthopaedists ‘fast track’ trauma patients

ORTHOPAEDICS ACT is the single largest group of orthopaedic surgeons in the ACT, covering all orthopaedic subspecialty areas including management of trauma, says practice manager Deborah Henry.

Located opposite Westfield Woden, Deborah says Woden is a central hub in Canberra and a convenient location for patients.

Bringing together the expertise of seven orthopaedic surgeons at the practice, as well as sports and exercise physician Dr Lari Trease, Deobrah says they’re committed to providing surgical excellence and care.

“We treat every part of the body, head to toe. We deal with sports injuries, trauma and joint replacements,” she says.

Due to the unpredictable timing of trauma and fractures and the need to treat with some expediency, Deborah says Orthopaedics ACT offers a “Fast Track Fracture and Trauma Clinic”. And, their trauma phone line is open between 9am to 5pm every day of the week

Lea uses movement as medicine

CAPITAL Rehabilitation

Professionals are passionate about the positive effects of using exercise as medicine, says the owner, Lea McKaskill.

“We believe that exercise is the most underutilised and highly effective treatment that can make an extraordinarily positive impact on both our physical and mental health,” Lea says.

to manage trauma injuries that don’t require a visit to the emergency department.

Orthopaedics ACT, Woden Specialist Medical Centre, Level 2, 90 Corinna Street, Woden. Call 6221 9320 or visit orthoact.com.au

Greg’s

Located in the Stellar Canberra building, Lea says they pride themselves on their safe and non-intimidating environment, which houses state of the art facilities for exercise prescription.

“We design, implement and monitor each program specific to the client’s fitness level, medical conditions, injuries and goals,” she says.

With a team of accredited exercise physiologists, the expert health service provides support in areas such as hydrotherapy, pre and post rehabilitation of all medical and orthopaedic surgeries, ante and post-natal fitness, cardiac rehabilitation and management of chronic conditions.

Capital Rehabilitation Professionals are proud of being the preferred providers for Defence and Department of Veteran Affairs’ injured or unwell clientele, and their affiliation with the national FearLess conversation on post-traumatic stress disorder.

Capital Rehabilitation Professionals, Stellar, Health and Wellness Building, 50 Launceston Street, Phillip. Call Lea on 0418 811156 or Hayley on 0421 759844 or visit capitalrehabprofessionals.com.au

holistic approach to physiotherapy

WITH two practices at Woden and Manuka, physiotherapist Greg Nash is bringing a holistic approach to as many Canberrans as possible. His experience goes back 35 years and as the principal of Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, Greg’s special interest areas are in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports injuries and occupational health and safety.

The Woden practice is located in the heart of Woden, alongside neighbouring specialists and health professionals that Greg says he regularly consults with to ensure patients receive holistic care.

“When I see a need I can cross refer and consult with others to treat the patient’s whole needs,” says Greg.

“We see clients who injure themselves through sport, work and car accidents, too.

“My job is to help people get back to normal and increase their exercise tolerance.”

To help support as many people as possible through physiotherapy, Greg says the Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic is open long hours, from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and by appointment on weekends and public holidays, to accommodate workers and students.

“We have a 24-hour number people can call for urgent requests or if they need to change an appointment,” he says.

Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, 3/48 Corinna Street, Woden. Call 6281 1382 or visit manukawodenphysio.com.au

Optometrists

go an extra step for clients

FOR more than 20 years, the independently owned business Curtin Optical has differed from large chain stores by giving the Canberra community a personalised service, says owner Corey Nicholls.

“We go that extra step to be helpful and provide excellent product knowledge,” Corey says.

From Tuesday to Saturday, Corey says the team of three experienced optometrists cater to all optometry needs, from general optometry services to express spectacle services and optical dispensing.

And, he says they offer a mobile optical dispensing service providing selection and delivery to those who are unable to get to the store due to age or disability.

This also includes spectacle repairs and adjustments and an after-hours service.

As a full workshop facility, Corey says Curtin Optical has a same-day turnaround for in-store services and a 24-hour turnaround for mobile jobs.

Stocking a wide assortment of eyewear, contact lenses and accessories, Corey says they cater to all tastes, offering affordable brands and well-known, more expensive brands, too.

And, as providers to the ACT pension scheme and the Department of Veteran Affairs, Corey says Curtin Optical can help a broad range of Canberrans.

Curtin Optical. Shop 1B, Curtin Place, Curtin. Call 6281 1220 or email looking@curtinoptical.com.au

Studio nurtures art enthusiasts

SINCE Lavender Art Studios opened in Phillip

20 years ago, it’s built a non-competitive and relaxing environment for people wanting to learn creative art techniques in a caring space, says art studio manager Elita Mackay.

“The stable, reliable and relaxing environment is a safe place for all artists who wish to learn creative art techniques in a peaceful, supported and caring setting,” Elita says.

Located above the Hansel and Gretel Coffee Shop on Townshend Street, the studio has class programs for adults, young people and children. In theses programs, Elita says students are able to explore a variety of art mediums.

“The art studio is completely resourced and presents a wide range of subject matter such as portraiture, still life arrangements, reproduction

work and landscape painting,” she says.

“Owner Greg Devenny-Mackay gives an extensive art demonstration at the beginning of each art class/art workshop and also extends one-on-one support to all students.

“Greg is assisted by a team of very skilled art class assistants. These accomplished studio aids have been trained for at least five years by Greg’s art program.”

The studio also offers art workshops such as its “Adult High Country Art Retreat Program” and its children’s fun thematic holiday art workshops.

Lavender Art Studios, first floor, 42 Townshend Street, Phillip. Call 6292 6339, email elita.mackay@lavenderartstudios.com.au or visit lavenderartstudios.com.au

POST STOCKTAKE SALE

EXPERTS OF WODEN

Hi-fi equipment that stands out

IN an ever-changing industry, Duratone Hi-Fi has survived more than 50 years by treating each customer as individuals with different priorities, says owner Fay Cull.

“When people shop at most major hi-fi stores they leave with the same system as their neighbour,” says Fay, who believes their service gives unique results to their customers.

Located in Phillip, Duratone Hi-Fi brings high-end audio systems and equipment, surround-sound systems and televi sions to the Canberra region.

And, with a wide array of skills and expertise from staff coming from technical and electronic backgrounds, Fay says customers are assisted by a team with a strong passion for sound.

As well as fitting homes with hi-fi needs, Fay says they offer trade-ins for older equipment and refurbishment services, too.

While new technologies generally appeal to the public, Fay says those after retro items such as turntables, amplifiers, speakers and a great assortment of vinyls can find it all at Duratone Hi-Fi.

“We have the best part of 100,000 vinyls, with everything from nursery rhymes to Russian melodia,” Fay says.

LEADING road safety training company

available in other found among the

Ascent Training Services, based in Phillip, has recently launched “Revolution Rider Training”, a new motorcycle training provider in the ACT, says CEO Stephen Lake.

“Priding ourselves on respectful and quality training, our ultimate goal is for riders to enjoy their motorbikes and be safe,” Stephen says.

“All our instructors hold a certificate IV in riding instruction and bring a high level of knowledge, quality and service.”

Stephen says people seeking to get their motorcycle licence can attend the eight-hour pre-learners and pre-provisional licence course and sit their written tests either on a weekday or weekend. He says Revolution Rider Training also offers a practice course for those wanting extra help to prepare for their provisional licence test.

Revolution Rider Training. Call 6109 0154, email info@revolutionridertraining.com. au or visit revolutionridertraining.com.au

When storytelling meets technology ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

COVER

STORY by Helen Musa

WHEN games designer Anna Tito was growing up in Michelago and studying in Canberra (at Melrose High), she thought she would become a modern-day Indiana Jones or a writer, so keen were her interests in archaeology, anthropology and the human story.

But then again, as a keen student of computer science at Narrabundah College she also wanted to do something in programming and headed for RMIT in Melbourne to do a BA in graphic games design.

She’s worked on multiple titles including Gameloft’s “Ice Age Village” and Kixeye’s “Vega Conflict”, and been nominated twice for the Game Developers Conference’s Women in Games Rising Star Award. She will be speaking at the exhibition’s “Local Heroes of Gaming” night on November 22, part of “Game Masters: The Exhibition”, coming to the National Film and Sound Archive.

Tito is an individualist among game designers, arguing that “the issue with technology is that we are not unplugging”.

But she knows how to. After an illustrious career with games companies in New Orleans and Austin, the “problematical” working culture in the US affected her health, so she moved back to be near family and now lives off the grid at Carwoola, in close companion ship with kangaroos. She splits wood,

Rambo’s

Jasper brings a theatrical coup for Kirsty

ARTS IN THE CITY

By Helen Musa

KIRSTY Budding has scored a coup in acquiring the rights to Kate Mulvany’s stage adaptation of the novel by Craig Silvey’s bestseller, “Jasper Jones”. Set in a small town in 1960s WA, the story sees indigenous teenager Jasper Jones blamed for a crime he did not commit. But bookworm Charlie and Jasper set out to solve the crime themselves. At Courtyard Studio, October 2-5, book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au

lazy understanding of the mythology, which is

is on the same track, saying: “There are deep connections between film, TV and videogames and this exhibition reveals how the world’s best designers approach storytelling, character design and playability in so many different ways.”

The exhibition first opened in Melbourne in 2012 and has since toured worldwide, including to museums in the US, Germany, NZ, Scotland and Sweden. Returning to Australia, it has been updated to include the latest gaming blockbusters as well as Australian creations.

future-focused world of independent game designers such as Rovio (“Angry Birds”) and Bennett Foddy (“Getting Over It”).

“Game Masters” also features the multiplayer dance stage for “Dance Central 3”, experiential music booths and classic arcade machines from the ‘70s and ‘80s, all still playable.

That’s what matters. In what the industry defines as “an attention economy”, Tito says: “You have to get the eyeballs on.”

ALL the excitement of a Parisian-themed revue will be seen in “Cabaret de Paris”, starring Australian-born Marissa Burgess, the longest-serving performer in the Moulin Rouge’s 120-year history along with a 15-strong cast. Billed as “a burlesque, hip-hop, circus mash-up”, the show’s at The Playhouse, October 4-5. Book at canberratheatrecentre. com.au

introduce nuance, ethics and morals; there’s

the Australian Centre for the Moving Image which curated “Game Masters”,

The show is in three parts: “Arcade Heroes” focuses on pioneering designers from the trailblazing arcade era, including Tomohiro Nishikado’s “Space Invaders”; “Game Changers”, which includes Blizzard Entertainment’s “Diablo III”, and the

“Game Masters: The Exhibition,” National Film and Sound Archive, September 27-March 9, daily (except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day), 10am–4pm. Book at eventbrite.com.au

Visitors with autism spectrum disorder or sensory sensitivities, should seek advice from the front-of-house staff.

CHILD Players ACT is celebrating its 15th year with “Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There”. The unique “Child Play” program, developed by artistic director BJ Anyos, gives children aged 10-16 the opportunity to learn all aspects of theatre with training provided in acting and backstage skills. Theatre@BCS, Belconnen Community Centre, Swanson Court, Belconnen, October 4-12. Book at canberrarep.org.au or 6257 1950.

CANBERRA student Estella Brown has been awarded a National Institute of Dramatic Art Open Equity Scholarship to train under the NIDA Open program, to be held late this month at Daramalan College.

Who is Canberra's oldest business?

CONVERSION SERVICE

Would

CINEMA Rambo’s last bloodied stand

“Rambo: Last Blood” (R)

IN two of his first four film roles, Sylvester Stallone went uncredited. Then in 1977, after 10 minor roles, he got nominated for an Oscar in “Rocky”, the first of three including one for writing a screenplay. The rest is history.

One of the most notable characters he has played in 69 subsequent films is returned soldier John Rambo, a man of little subtlety shedding his own and others’ blood doing things best described as corrective, to bad people who deserved everything he gave them. They’re formulaic in the best traditions of cinema action.

Stallone’s now 73. Few men could play a role like Rambo at that age.

This, reflecting a decision that denotes wisdom, is the last time we will see Rambo riding into the sunset with a heart wracked by grief at the loss of a beloved niece Gabrielle (Yvette Monreal) whom he has rescued from a Mexican sex-slave ring.

Coming to that point involves about two thirds of the film delivering a credible drama that works because of a screenplay by Matthew Cirulnick and Stallone. Gabrielle has been forced into slavery by the vicious Martinez brothers (Oscar Jaenada and Sergio Peris-Mencheta).

Rambo sets about preparing for the Armageddon he expects from the Martinez brothers and their loyal thugs.

About the last quarter of the film shows how effectively he has built his defences. It’s wild, angry, blood-smeared action, convincingly staged by director Adrian Grunberg, about as good of its kind as you might find.

Come to think of it, just about everything in the film, no matter how gruesome or brutal, is about as good of its kind as you might find.

At Dendy, Capitol 6, Hoyts and Limelight

“Good Boys” (MA)

THIS film is being promoted as a comedy. Oh yeah?

It’s about primary school boys in middle America. Here in Australia it’s beyond the reach of primary school kids of either sex. And the classifiers got that MA classification right. It sets very bad examples of juvenile behaviour, parental control and social responsibility.

Max (Jacob Tremblay), Thor (Brady Noon) and Lucas (Keith L Williams) are chums. In their last year of primary school, they yearn to explore that unknown territory that lies beyond puberty, where girls are unfamiliar objects of desires as yet known

only by repute.

The three are desperate to attend a party where there will be girls and games involving kissing. Max doesn’t know how to kiss and is desperate to learn before the party. What sets him apart from every other little boy about to meet his hormones?

The film sets the trio on a journey through a world of drugs, thugs, sex toys, beer, violence, spin-the-bottle and generally unschooled behaviour. If the screenplay’s attention to the boys’ plight had been better-informed, “Good Boys” might have delivered its message more effectively. But it wasn’t and it didn’t.

At Dendy, Palace Electric, Hoyts and Limelight

“Dora and the Lost City of Gold” (PG)

THIS little pile of juvenile nonsense comes from a long cinematic blood-line, from fantastic titles such as “King Solomon’s Mines” and just about every “Tarzan” movie starring just about every actor who ever played Tarzan. And a TV juvenile series running to 136 episodes.

Dora (Isabela Moner) lives in the Amazonian jungle with her parents (Michael Pena and Eva Longoria) whose profession when they’re not

educating their daughter seems to be explorers (a fact influential in Dora’s growth but not apparent in the film).

After a prologue involving Dora in early childhood, the film jumps a decade to reveal a pleasantly pubescent teenager who begins the film by travelling to civilisation to attend high school. Dora’s naivety is manifest. She meets her cousin Diego (Jeff Wahlberg), gets offside with older girl Sammy (Australian actress Madeleine Madden) and finds a kindred spirit in nerdy amateur astronomer Randy (Nicholas Coombe). By a process too complex to justify summarising, the four find themselves back in the Amazonian jungle, together with an older, somewhat too-jovial-for-comfort, explorer friend of Dora’s parents, questing for the lost Inca city of Parapata, famed for its hoard of gold.

The director is James Bobin, best known for directing “Muppet” episodes. His CV gets one unique addition from this film. He must surely be the first, the only, person to discover elephants in the Amazonian jungle!

At Dendy, Palace Electric and Limelight

More to Rizla than the menu

DINING

By Wendy JOHNSON

EVERY so often a dining establishment/bar bursts on to the Canberra dining scene that truly stands out in the field. Such as Rizla.

We landed on its third day of operation and walked away mightily impressed.

Share plates are the name of the game. If you want Rizla to select a full dining experience for you, it’s $60 a person. Or you can meander through the menu, like we did.

Riesling is Rizla’s specialty – Canberra’s best, new vintage and cellared rieslings but also iconic Australian and international producers.

The food is amazing, or “ridiculously amazing” as one of our party pronounced. And everything on the compact but impressive menu looked interesting.

The snapper ceviche was sensational (we would have loved slightly more chilli, but that’s total preference). The texture was silky, and fennel and radish made the dish super special ($16).

The skewered chicken thigh was moist and the plum and Japanese togarashi (spice mixture) an interesting combo ($6 each). Fig lovers should not go past the pickled figs on toast with walnuts and gorgonzola ($8 each). This is a classic example of simple ingredients that work perfectly together.

Larger share plates range from $30 to $36. Our fave was the melt-in-the-mouth pepper pork loin with perky pickled apple and beets served alongside ($30). The half spatchcock came with polenta, which we debated; some like it creamy and smooth and some more textured ($30).

We indulged with the parmesan fries (thin cut) that are best eaten piping hot ($9) and worshipped the brussels sprouts ($12), made with crunchy pepitas and kecap manis (sweet soy sauce popular in Indonesia).

We washed all the yummy food down with a bottle of Canberra district Yarrh 2018 Riesling.

THEATRE

It’s much ado about comedy and tragedy

By Helen Musa SHAKESPEARE’S

comedy,

“Much Ado About Nothing”, it is widely acknowledged, is full of brilliant repartee, but it lingers dangerously on the brink of tragedy and it’s all the Bard can do to pull together a happy ending.

catalyst rather than a real character to put in motion the bad behaviour of the others, so he’s more of a devious influence than a personality.

And does love really conquer all?

“Of course it is a comedy, signalled at the end when Benedick says: ‘Let’s have a dance ere we are married,’ but I’ve tried to imply that the ending could be about Claudio and Hero restarting a conversation.”

Rizla’s food is amazing, or ‘ridiculously amazing’ as one of our party pronounced.

Rizla has introduced something new to Canberra – “Cellar to City”, a partnership with local wineries. One winery is featured each Sunday and Rizla has free tastings to showcase its wines. Customers can complete an order form that Rizla sends off to the winery. Then, bingo, the wine is delivered to your door. It’s a magical idea. Wineries get to showcase wines in the city. Rizla gets to offer free tastings. Customers get to try new drops and have the convenience of ordering on the spot. On our visit, Lark Hill Winery was the cellar of choice (and, yes, we ordered).

Rizla holds a prime position on Lonsdale and Eloura Streets. The inside is small but Rizla has creatively made maximum use of every square centimetre.

It was a clever move to create enclosed garden-like settings at the front and side. The music was fabulous – right style, volume and variety. And guess what? Rizla has been smart enough to install bag hooks on its outdoor tables.

Rizla. 22 Lonsdale Street, Braddon.

James Evans has previously staged “Julius Caesar” at The Playhouse and has played a strong part in Bell’s educational work within the juvenile justice system but all that, in contrast with this full-on “battle-of-the-sexes” comedy, was a piece of cake.

Luckily, Evans (no relation to Bell Shakespeare’s artistic director, Peter Evans) says he’s had an ally in William Shakespeare.

“Shakespeare gives you a lot of help, he smashes comic scenes right up against tragic ones and the audience is taken on a rollercoaster ride through many crazy situations,” he says.

“Comedy and tragedy sit side-by-side in Shakespeare, he’s never content with writing either one or the other… and this play features some of the most awful things ever said on the stage to a young woman.”

That young woman is Hero, the daughter of Leonato and betrothed to the young soldier-count Claudio, who is persuaded by Don John, the bastard half-brother to the Prince of Aragon, that Hero has betrayed him. He determines to expose and humiliate her on their wedding day.

“In the source material that Shakespeare used, Don John had a motive – he was in love with Hero – but in this play he deliberately makes the villain ambiguous,” Evans says.

In his view, Don John is set up as a

But misinformation, false accusations and broken promises aside, we need to remember that the two leading characters in “Much Ado,” Beatrice and Benedick, are sought after by actors all around the world – their scenes are both hilarious and familiar.

At the centre of the play is the sparring pair of loudmouths, a complete invention by Shakespeare but in the tried and true tradition of lovers who hate each other – “every second Hollywood movie has the same thing,” Evans suggests. “I’m sure Jane Austen must’ve been influenced by this play when she wrote Lizzie and Darcy.”

Beatrice is played by Zindzi Okenyo, last seen here as Cleopatra.

“I wanted the right person – she is a fierce and powerful actor, perfectly suited to this role, she’s funny but she’s malleable,” Evans says.

He looked for a perfect match with her sparring partner, Benedick, and found him in recent NIDA graduate, Duncan Ragg.

As for sheer fun, that has come without ambiguity in the achingly hilarious scenes involving Dogberry the constable and Verges, his “compartner”, to whom the plot assigns the job of snaring the villains.

“The clowns bring the house down every time,” Evans promises.

Bell Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”, The Playhouse, October 11-19. Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Aged Composted Horse Manure

• Pick up by the bag $7 each

• Pick up by the trailer load $40 per trailer

• We deliver truck loads

GARDENING

Peonies, coming ready or not!

I‘M always amazed at the speed some plants emerge from the ground. For example, our herbaceous peonies were showing no signs of life and literally within a week the new shoots were 30 centimetres high.

There are two main types of peonies, herbaceous (lactiflora) and tree peonies (suffruticosa).

Peter Valder in “The Garden Plants of China” says: “No other flower in China has ever surpassed the tree peony in winning and holding public esteem”.

The tree peony (a misnomer as they usually only grow to about one metre) is also known as the “King of Flowers”.

Peonies are easy to grow by following a few basic rules. They really love the addition of garden lime or dolomite mixed in with composted leaf litter in the soil when preparing a well-drained hole.

Tree peonies will tolerate full sun, but the herbaceous varieties prefer filtered shade in high summer.

They sometimes take a year before flowering, so be patient and don’t disturb them once planted. Peonies have been grown in Northern China, Mongolia and Siberia for well over 1000 years.

It is not known how many varieties are now available; for instance, in Holland in 1892 one Dutch breeder was offering more than 500 varieties!

DESPITE the ever decreasing size of building blocks and the increasing concrete jungles of high-rise units, according to Yates, the sale of veggie seeds continues to increase.

Householders with sunny balconies are growing veggies and herbs in pots and hanging baskets. Also there’s no reason why veggies can’t be grown amongst other plants. Herbs, carrots, lettuce and English spinach can all be grown amongst the ornamental perennials.

VISITING the Farmers’ Market at Epic the crowds seem to get bigger by the week with the demand for fresh organic fruit and veggies.

Balanced against this are figures in the “AgJournal” that Australian households throw away 2.5 million tonnes of edible food every year.

On top of this, thanks to major supermarkets demanding perfect shape and uniformity of size of virtually every fruit and vegetable sold, 25 per cent of all veggies produced don’t leave the farm (including 31 per cent of carrots).

These figures combined equate to a staggering $20 billion lost to the economy through food waste!

WATER bills will rise rapidly the longer we receive no rain, mainly in the garden. Firstly, lawns use a great deal of water, so to repeat

previous advice, consider reducing lawn sizes and perhaps turn the area into growing veggies.

week? Let it grow longer, it will be softer for children to play on plus there are other savings such as mower fuel and pollution. Leave it for two or even three weeks between mowing, it will certainly need less water, but to get lawns growing strongly feeding is essential at this time. Rather than using organic pellets and waiting for them to dissolve (children, keep off the lawn!) use a liquid fertiliser.

TO be effective, mulch should be 50-75 mil -

the mulch came from, ie is it just from a particular garden full of weedy shrubs such as privet, cotoneaster or pyracantha? If so, that great, cheap mulch will soon start sprouting all those environmental weed seeds throughout your garden!

Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

This week the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars (your power planet) are all moving through the consultative and peace-loving sign of Libra. So avoid being an argumentative and drama addicted Aries! If you calm down and practice the gentle art of persuasion, then you’ll be surprised how much easier life can be. Draw inspiration from birthday great, peace activist Mohandas Gandhi: “Leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.”

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Bulls are often stubborn creatures, which can put others offside. You can also be jealous, possessive and materialistic, as your acquisitive side goes into overdrive. This week Venus (your ruler) is visiting Libra, which highlights your desire for harmony and balance in your daily life. So strive to be more adaptable, as other people won’t behave in predictable ways. Smart Taureans will choose compromise over confrontation, diplomacy over drama, and generosity over greed.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

The planets promise love, romance and convivial conversations as you socialise with fashionable and friendly folk who stimulate your creative Gemini streak. Mercury moves into Scorpio on Thursday, which boosts incisive thinking and secretive behaviour – from you or someone close to you. If you are flexible and adapt to changing circumstances, then you’ll have a lot of fun, games and shenanigans along the way. It’s all part of the rich celestial tapestry this week!

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

With the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars all moving through your domestic zone, it’s the perfect week to clean, de-clutter and beautify your Crab cave, as you hunker down and enjoy the cosy comforts of home sweet home. Things could become very intense (and complicated) with a loved one though, especially on Tuesday. So do your best to forgive and forget as you behave compassionately, calm troubled waters and de-fuse potentially fiery situations.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Languid Lions love to be pampered and preened and content. But it’s time to jump out of your comfort zone and shake up your usual routine! Revolutionary Uranus is moving through your public reputation zone, which encourages you to do things differently, as you banish boredom and initiate positive changes. So your motto for the moment is from birthday great, political and peace activist Mohandas Gandhi: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Mercury (your ruler) shifts into Scorpio on Thursday and Mars visits Virgo until Friday. Which boosts your discriminating eye, close attention to detail and micromanaging skills. But it also increases your tendency to be a carping critic, as you find fault with others and make mountains out of molehills. If you insist on sweating the small stuff, then it will be a long and exhausting week. So take a chill pill, slip into relaxation mode and adjust your approach accordingly.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Flirt alert! With four major planets powering through your sign, you’ll be at your flirtatious best as you charm the cynics and dazzle the doubters. (When luscious Librans are in full-on charm mode, you’re extremely hard to resist.) If you are already attached, then it’s time to reboot a tired relationship with some good old-fashioned romance. Singles – have you been looking for love in all the wrong places? Try searching for your soul mate in your local neighbourhood.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Scorpios are drawn to extreme views, black and white thinking and intense communication. Compulsive thoughts and bossy behaviour are certainly a danger this week, as Pluto squares Venus. But there are also four planets in Libra, which encourages a more balanced approach, as you contemplate the subtle shades of grey within each particular situation. You can also expect flashes of ESP, an insightful dream or a fateful deja-vu meeting with someone special.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Jupiter (planet of success, confidence and chutzpah) is jumping through your sign until December 2. But remember there’s a fine line between being proactive and just plain pushy. So strive to be much more considerate and cooperative. Sagittarians love to talk up a storm, but this week make a concentrated effort to listen closely to what other people have to say. As writer (and birthday great) Truman Capote reminds us: “A conversation is a dialogue, not a monologue.”

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

The Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars are all transiting through your career zone, so it’s a terrific time to improve the function and look of your work space; apply for a promotion or new job; or take on some volunteer work. Make sure you dress to impress! If you are proactive, creative and collaborative, then it will help you move up to the next level professionally. But resist the temptation to butt heads with a frustrated boss or authority figure (especially on Tuesday).

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Your involvement with a group, class, club or organisation has others looking to you for motivation and inspiration. So use your networking skills to drum up support, and don’t be afraid to ask influential experts for help. In fact, a joint venture with a foreign friend could turn out surprisingly well. You’ll find the more you collaborate with creative people from international destinations (in person and online) the more successful you’ll be. Travel and adventure also beckon.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

When it comes to work, career and/or your true calling, don’t settle for second best. If you surround yourself with accomplished colleagues, then you will learn heaps. And some of their success will rub off on you. But is a cherished dream taking a long time to manifest? Be persistent and have faith in the process Pisces! So your motto for the moment is from birthday great, singer-actress Julie Andrews: “Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.”

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2019

Across

3 What are dead bodies also called? (8)

7 To which animal group does a dog belong? (6)

8 Name an outer suburb of Adelaide, postcode 5160. (8)

9 What, in cricket, are no-balls, wides, byes and leg-byes known as? (6)

10 Thomas Edison is renowned as a prolific what? (8)

11 What are cut and polished precious stones called? (6)

14 To cover brickwork, etc, with a first coat of plaster, is to do what? (6)

17 Name a group of islands off the western coast of Scotland. (8)

18 To owe money, is to be what? (2,4)

19 What are convulsions also known as? (8)

20 Name an ancient ruined city in Upper Egypt, on the Nile? (6)

21 When one disregards something, one does what? (8)

Down

1 Name the principal ore of aluminium. (7)

2 What is an alternative word for a germ? (7)

3 Which scale of temperature does Australia use? (7)

4 To be morally strict, is to be what? (7)

5 Which term suggests that one is rapturously excited? (7)

6 What do we call a person who clips sheep? (7)

11 Name the Australian soprano who founded the National Theatre Movement, Gertrude ... (7)

12 Which woven material of hemp, etc, is used when strength is required? (7)

13 What is another term for free, or unoccupied time? (7)

14 When one strives against something, one does what? (7)

15 Which pointed instruments are used in sewing? (7)

16 What are items of food, fit to be eaten? (7)

COMMON GROUND DICKSON – HAVE YOUR SAY !

During the October 2017 Housing Summit, and many of the consultations in the lead up to that event, the community and service providers were very vocal on their demands for the Common Ground Gungahlin model to occur elsewhere in Canberra. There were also requests for a Woden model – and maybe inch by inch we will get there to end homelessness in Canberra.

Following the success of Common Ground in Gungahlin supported by the collaboration with Northside Community Services and Argyle Housing, ACT Government and the Board of Common Ground have now announced the development of our second Common Ground, on the old Downer Club site at Dickson.

This unique housing initiative provides supportive and sustainable housing to low income earners and those who face chronic homelessness. While Gungahlin has 40 x one bedrooms, the Dickson model will have a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts and assist women, families and children - and would also host a cafe, communal green space and social services.

Over 8 weeks from 12 September to 7 November 2019 the ACT Government is asking for your thoughts on the concept designs for Common Ground Dickson. www.yoursay.act.gov.au/common-ground-dickson You can share your feedback on the concept designs:

• Log in and comment using the Plans and Feedback tab on the Your Say part of the ACT Government website; and/or

• Email your comments to housingactrenewal@act.gov.au and/or

• Attend any of the multiple drop-in sessions being organised.

If you, or someone you know, would like to contribute to the discussion but can’t participate in any of the ways listed above due to accessibility issues or other restrictions, please call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 and they will help.

Naturally a huge shout-out and CONGRATULATIONS are deserved for Diane Kargas Bray and her Board for everything they do for our community every day.

The architects who have designed the consultation plans – Collins Caddaye –have certainly provided a fantastic vision.

Canberrans should be very proud of this initiative – and we hope it can be up and running in 2021!