CityNews 200227

“I was stunned... the audited statements showed that the ACT’s superannuation liability was $11.776 billion or 51 per cent higher than the amount reported in the 2018-19 Budget” –

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Pleas to help neglected Deakin park go ignored

By Danielle NOHRA

THE Deakin Residents Association is taking matters into its own hands after the ACT government failed to support its proposal to help beautify Deakin’s La Trobe Park.

Describing the park as being in a state of decay, the association had applied to the ACT government’s “Adopt a Park” program to turn it around, but the application was rejected.

“We put out the hand saying we’d like to set up some collaboration with the ACT government,” says committee member and ANU professor, Dr George Wilson, 73, of Deakin.

“We thought it was a pretty strong application for the community to work with ACT Parks and Conservation.”

But, in the absence of government assistance, the association is now calling for experts and community members to help them rejuvenate the park, whether it be by sharing ideas or providing volunteer work.

“I don’t think that we can do the amount of work that we need to do on our own,” says another committee member, Pam Core.

Concerned about the park’s dying trees, lack of amenities, such as a permanently closed toilet, dangerous

INDEX

Arts

and points out the irony of there being a Parks, Conservations and Land presence on the land of the park.

“Care and investment in the park would not only benefit residents nearby but it would also benefit the Scouts

he would also like to see community events being held at the park.

“We’d love to reinstate the barbecue. It just disappeared one day about three years ago,” he says.

“Before that, it wasn’t maintained

Since 1993: Volume 26, Number 8

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WHEN IT MATTERS

to protect the trees in your suburb. Deakin is one of the garden suburbs and yet the trees are dying – it’s crazy.

But the association stresses its desire to work collaboratively with the ACT government or any of its departments.

“It’s all been unilateral and there’s been no collaborating with the residents association or the residents,”

Then there’s the issue of damaged and dangerous pavement around the area, especially a bit of raised concrete on the border of the park, which committee member Peter Boege says is of

believes they could become a public liability.

“There are a couple of trees that are dead and one in particular that is a danger to the Scouts,” he says.

“There were some trees planted

“It’s a concern that something like that can go unremedied for so long,” says the 54-year-old.

“Someone walking at night, or jogging, could kill themselves.”

deakinresidents.asn.au

SEVEN DAYS

The Lobby turns into a blot on the landscape

WHAT a forlorn and shabby eyesore the former Lobby Restaurant on King George Terrace in Parkes looks these days as it seemingly sulks behind temporary fencing.

Over its five decades it’s seen all sorts of political intrigue and, in more recent years, been symbolically “invaded” by the Aboriginal tent embassy folk next door.

In December, 2017, restaurateur tenant Bruce Gibbs grumpily decamped when the National Capital Authority refused an extension of his lease.

By February, 2018, the NCA didn’t miss a blink and had the place on the market.

“Once sold, the NCA and the Commonwealth will remain committed to protecting and preserving the heritage values of The Lobby as well as the Commonwealth Heritage listed landscape, which it forms part of,” opined NCA chief planner Andrew Smith at sale time.

That suggests they don’t know much either, but they wouldn’t name names and suggested the ACT Land Titles Office. Sigh.

Minister Jon Stanhope’s incisive columns in “CityNews” will be unsurprised to see the wheels falling off the hospital performances.

Dunne says that in 2001 more than 80 per cent of urgent patients were seen on time and that Canberra Hospital has gone from having one of the top performing emergency departments in the country, to one of its worst.

By the way, it’s not Labor’s fault. Coronavirus? No, it’s all those NSW people crossing the border (which the ACT charges NSW for). How to fix it? October 17 might be a good place to start.

AFTER four years as ACT Rural Fire Service chief officer, Joe Murphy announced he’s hanging up his helmet at the end of the bushfire season in April. He says his 33-year career with ACT Emergency Services started by chance when he signed up as an SES volunteer with the south unit (Woden) in 1987.

THE 2A tram-plan spin was given another outing as Transport Minister Chris Steel fantasised with a press release headed “Light rail to Woden takes shape”.

to Commonwealth Avenue, finishing at Commonwealth Park.

To support wire-free, the trams need to be fitted with “onboard energy storage”. Expensive, said an academic in a TV interview; affordable, said the minister.

Meanwhile, architect Jack Kershaw has criticised stage two of the ACT light rail in an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, calling for more public debate and saying it needs more wide-ranging expert assessment.

“The tram is literally on the ‘wrong track’,” Mr Kershaw tells Scotty.

GOOD to see the 450 critically endangered Northern Corroboree Frogs and six koalas evacuated on January 30 and housed at the ANU during the summer fires have been returned to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

“We’re eager to see a revitalisation of the space, which has the potential to continue to be a successful establishment in one of Canberra’s most prominent locations.”

“Eager” has had to wait. It was reported sold on May 29, 2018, and settled (says the title search) on May 3 last year.

So who owns the eyesore?

“Seven Days” tickled up the NCA, who confirmed the sale, saying: “The new owners are working on plans for the future of this space and the NCA has been in touch with them as to the timings of the reactivation as

So $30 later, via a title search, “Seven Days” can reveal Burley Group Pty Limited, of Lonsdale Street, Braddon, acquired a 99-year lease on May 3.

Burley’s directors are Tristan Maddigan and William Honey, who operate the Walt and Burley bar and Bad Betti’s Carribean burger place on the Kingston Foreshore.

But the lads should get a move on, not only to please the “eager”, heritage-sensitive NCA, but there’s a mortgage to Westpac needing to be serviced and a blot on the landscape to erase.

As Stanhope has tracked, as recently as the edition of February 20 (“How the health budget cuts put the poor at risk”), the Barr government has been cutting the health budget by about one per cent a year since 2013, that’s about $100 million less every year.

The “Canberra Health Services Half Yearly Performance Report” reveals that four in five Canberrans requiring urgent medical attention at the Canberra Hospital emergency department are not seen on time.

Opposition Health spokesperson Vicki

No it doesn’t, Minister. Light rail to Commonwealth Park is certainly within your remit, but getting over the lake is an unsettled Federal decision and you know it.

For the 1.7-kilometre extension into the NCA’s domain, the ACT has to add wire-free track from the Alinga Street station, along the western side of London Circuit and on

Other threatened species, such as 24 eastern bettongs and 24 brush-tailed rock wallabies evacuated to Mt Rothwell in Victoria, and four other rock wallabies and seven platypuses sent to Sydney’s Taronga Zoo will be home soon.

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Revealed: ACT super liability out by billions

A FEW weeks ago I wrote in “CityNews” that along with the deliberate defunding and hollowing out of the ACT’s public health system the issue that concerned me most about the state of affairs in Canberra was the slow and inexorable disintegration of the ACT’s finances.

My fear about the state of the books was prompted by a quick look at the latest ACT Consolidated Financial Statements, which are audited by the ACT Auditor-General, and were tabled in the lead up to Christmas. Unfortunately, the recently released mid-year Budget review not only validates but has exacerbated my concerns.

My alarm was triggered by the Auditor-General’s assessment of superannuation liability.

I was stunned that the audited statements showed that as at June 2019 the ACT’s superannuation liability was $11.776 billion or almost $4 billion (51 per cent) higher than the amount reported in the 2018-19 budget, namely $7.804 billion as well as the estimate

The audited statements showed that as at June 2019 the ACT’s superannuation liability was $11.776 billion or almost $4 billion (51 per cent) higher than the amount reported in the 2018-19 Budget.

of $7.812 billion published in June 2019 as part of the 2019-20 Budget.

The Auditor-General explained the basis of the increase in liability from an estimated $7.804 billion to an actual liability of $11.776 billion, in the following terms:

“The higher than expected superannuation liability is predominantly due to the higher than estimated valuation at 30 June 2019 as a result of using two different discount rates for Budget estimates and actual. The discount rate of 5 per cent was applied in the 2018-19 Budget, compared to 1.92 per cent at 30 June 2019. This rate is required by Australian accounting standards, and referenced to the yield on a suitable Commonwealth Government bond.”

The two major questions begged by the Auditor-General’s assessment in relation to such a massive divergence between the ACT government’s estimated and actual superannuation liability are, firstly, how it occurred

and, secondly, the impact which such a large and serious “mistake” in a Budget estimate has on our understanding of the true state of the ACT’s finances.

As to how and why it occurred only the Chief Minister and his Labor and Greens Cabinet colleagues can answer that question.

The heart of the question is, of course, the possible motivation the government might have for using a discount rate, which is not consistent with Australian accounting stand ards, for estimating the quantum of its superannuation liability for inclusion in the ACT annual Budget, particularly when, as the AuditorGeneral has reported, it underestimates the extent of that liability by around $4 billion.

both the Treasurer and the Under Treasurer signed “Statements of Responsibility” to accompany the audited financial statement.

I will be interested in the answer, though I half expect the government will insist, as is its wont, that it is either someone else’s fault or will claim, as it did when revealing its massive Budget deficit, that there wouldn’t have been a problem except for coronavirus and the recent bushfires.

As an aside, it is fascinating that

The Treasurer confirmed in the statement he signed that the statement fairly reflected the financial operations of the territory while the Under Treasurer confirmed that the financial statement was prepared in accordance with the Australian Accounting Standards and the Financial Management Act.

However, it is clear to me from the

audited financial statements that the ACT’s actual financial operations and its financial position are markedly different than the picture painted through successive Budgets.

My colleague Dr Khalid Ahmed and I have just completed a detailed analysis of a range of key metrics sourced from the financial statements for the last decade which we have published on the University of Canberra Policy Space blog. The information above is a summary of a small part of that paper.

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How long should you wait for a doctor?

HOW long do you have to spend in a Canberra doctor’s waiting room before you can expect a smile and an apologetic: “Sorry for the wait. It’s been a madhouse here today”?

Twenty minutes? An hour? A fortnight? How about… forever?

GPs aren’t so bad. I’ve enjoyed three quite splendid members of the tribe; none better than my current chap. But I’ve also been through a couple of shockers, especially when they’ve sold their prac tice and joined a group. Suddenly you’re in a waiting room as big as a theatre, watching endlessly as they pop out and pick someone else from the crowd. But the real horrors are the special ists; and in an ageing community like ours they’re just impossible. Older people are more malleable than younger ones; more worried about their future; more grateful for the attention. So the specialists’ egos outpace even the radio shock jocks’, their arrogance grows positively Trumpian.

one of those things that you “keep an eye on” in case it might be a worry down the track.

Next day the receptionist called.

The other day,

“Doctor has a vacancy at 1pm Friday,” she said. “Okay,” I responded, “I’ll see you then,” and returned to the computer where I was running hard to meet a deadline for my new book.

Then came the smoke which, for a bloke with a long-term respiratory

exercise indoors while coughing and wheezing and typing like mad to meet the deadline… which I still hadn’t reached by 12.30pm Friday when I had to put the writing aside and set out for the surgery.

Made it in good time too, then waited… and waited… while the appointment passed and the next person was called. I tried to compose the missing elements of the final chapter in my head, but the words kept slipping away… then, just when I thought it had to be my turn, another couple were called… Ahh!

Finally, my name was

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cooed from some unseen place. When I reached the area, the specialist was inside his office, offering a quick handshake and sitting behind his big desk. That’s when I said the unsayable: “My appointment was for 1 o’clock.”

“So?” he responded.

“It’s now one forty-two.”

From my viewpoint, it meant I’d lost all the time since leaving home – one precious hour and twelve golden minutes.

And if he’d said: “Sorry for the wait, it’s been a madhouse here today”, I’d have happily given a tight smile and moved right along into the consultation.

But no. “So what?” he said.

“Other people have things to do as well,” I said.

Then came a back and forth between us, in which he said: “I’ve been dealing with sick people… patients”. And ended with him suggesting I go elsewhere. I was more than happy to comply.

As I walked to the lift I couldn’t help thinking of that word, “patients”. Maybe that’s where we all went wrong; they hear “patients” and they think “patience”, like the airlines thanking us for something that ran out hours (or years) ago. Or maybe they’ve forgotten that they’re not gods at all, but really wellpaid service providers who sometimes delay death a little, and occasionally a lot; and that our time – and even our work – is precious, too.

robert@robertmacklin.com

WITH proceeds going to bushfire recovery, the 5th Festa Italiana will be held in the Deakin grounds of the Italian embassy 10.30am-4pm, Sunday, March 1. Entertainment will include performances of sbandieratori (flag throwing), music, food (including pasta, pizza and pastries) and beverages, gelato and coffee, cooking demonstrations and Italian cars on display. Entry by gold coin.

Dinner for

St David

THE Welsh Society of Canberra holds its annual St David’s Day celebration with a dinner on Sunday, March 1 at the Weston Creek Labor Club. All with a Welsh background or interest in Wales are welcome. Bookings to canberrawelsh@gmail. com or call 0408 089235.

Lanterns shine again

THE Australia China Friendship Society’s postponed annual Lantern Festival will be held at Beijing Garden, Yarralumla, 5.30pm-8pm on Saturday, March 14.

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How fence-sitting Greens let Labor run amok CANBERRA MATTERS / the climate for change

BEFORE the 2016 ACT elections the Labor Party indicated that it was to make changes to how planning and development happened.

As part of that the Land Development Authority was to be shut down. There was a hint that things might get better. They didn’t.

One of the reasons that voters were looking forward to changes was that the ACT Greens had the balance of power and should have been in a position to bring some sense and humanity to decision making. What went wrong?

The ACT Greens signed a memorandum of agreement with Labor for the Greens to enable an ACT Labor/ Greens coalition government. The trouble was that agreement. It set out the things that should be done for the coalition to happen. By signing up, the ACT Greens were not to raise matters that went against government policy.

As residents have witnessed over the last couple of years, the ACT Greens have been silenced in

The ACT Greens have enabled this government to perform the way it does – with absolute arrogance towards residents.

responding to the atrocious decisions being made under the banner of planning and development. Add to that the way the Barr government has been running down the Woden Hospital –as well as stupid decisions about the Surgical Procedures, Interventional Radiology and Emergency (SPIRE) centre.

When the trees are threatened in Dickson, when Minister Yvette Berry bulldozes her way over residents in Dickson to inappropriately plonk a Common Ground in a corner of community ground, when the green infrastructure across Canberra continues to be shrinking, when high-rise developments along Northbourne impress no one with their aesthetics, when Woden keeps missing out on facilities and suffers because of the lack of planning, when residents in Molonglo keep spending time on ridiculous planning decisions that defy logic, and the list continues – where were the ACT Greens? Sitting

on the fence would be the politest term to be used.

In retrospect it may have been much more strategic for the ACT Greens not to have accepted a position in the cabinet. It would have been far better if they had agreed to support the ACT Labor government, but remained outside and not accepted a ministry and therefore remained free to speak out. They needed to be able to negotiate each piece of legislation on a case-by-case basis.

Caroline Le Couteur has remained a cross bencher – sort of. She is not a minister in the cabinet – as that is the role taken up by Shane Rattenbury.

Every now and then, when the subject matter was fairly safe, Caroline has attempted to speak out against some of the silliness of this government.

The trouble being the ACT Greens have enabled this government to perform the way it does – with absolute arrogance towards residents. It has always looked strange to see a member of the party that makes up the government speak out against the government. It is as if she is criticising herself – throwing stones from within the glasshouse.

the Liberals will remain the dominant parties after the October elections. However, many progressive voters are still looking for a way to moderate the party in power to have a more community focus and for the government and its bureaucracies to take matters such as planning and climate far more seriously than the ACT government does at present. This was to be the role of the ACT Greens. It has not happened. Through taking that ministerial position and signing up to such a restrictive agreement with Labor, the ACT Greens have lost the plot – they have reneged on their

with the voters.

Labor could change its ways –doubtful! The Greens could rethink how they work with the next government – a possibility. The Liberals could be more open about how they would work with residents if they were to win government – no sign of that yet. It’s the climate for change – hopefully before this year’s ACT elections.

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

Ken’s team lives and loves practising law

“WHEN you know it’s right, you just know,” say Ken and Rhonda Hubert, who know a thing or two about running a business together and raising four children.

Capon & Hubert Lawyers & Mediators, a legal practice located in Phillip, has just clocked up 32 years of operation – starting out as a suburban two-man practice of the now-retired Geoff Capon and Ken Hubert.

These days the practice has expanded to include three other experienced solicitors under Ken’s leadership: Ashilpa Khanna, Daryn Griffiths and Catherine Howard.

With Daryn specialising in property and commercial law, Ashilpa in wills and estate planning and Catherine working in family law, Ken says that the team is able to help people navigate their legal issues with confidence and compassion.

While each lawyer covers different areas of practice, they work as a team.

“We learn from each other and talk to each other,” says Ken.

“Clients will see different team mem bers, depending on what they need.”

Ken’s career has spanned 38 years and there’s not much that he hasn’t seen

It’s hard work on the hamster wheel!

“IF I’d had more fun I would explode like a firework,” exclaimed my brave, red-faced son after his first day of kindergarten. High fives all around the family. Five stars to the teacher!

We couldn’t have been happier by his response to his experience of big school, with his too-big backpack, fresh uniform and new shoes he seemed to have grown up literally in the space of one day. My eyes welled up with tears of love and pride.

But as the week went on the wheels started falling off the wagon.

By Thursday there were tears: “I hate school, mummy,” he cried.

“I get so hot and bothered and sweaty and I work so hard.”

He couldn’t wait for the weekend. He was exhausted and would cry at the drop of a hat. Five o’clock seemed to be the crying hour and bedtime couldn’t come soon enough.

Each night he asked me how many more sleeps until the weekend, a concept he hadn’t fully understood until now.

Welcome to the rest of

The first week of school felt like the longest of my life! I know I’m not alone in feeling the huge change to our family, all my mum friends have been checking in on how we are each managing the change as mothers.

your working life, my boy! It seems like a little bit of his childhood has just slipped away as he’s now on the hamster wheel of a Monday-to-Friday working week. That makes me feel a little sad.

“I hate school, mummy,” he cried. “I get so hot and bothered and sweaty and I work so hard.”

Power of singing

MONDAY mornings at St Simon’s Anglican Church, Georgina Crescent, Kaleen 10amnoon, is when the Bushlarks get busy. A singing group for people living with Parkinson’s Disease, together with their carers and supporters, the Bushlarks come together under the guidance of local musician Chrissie Shaw to have fun singing with others in a friendly and encouraging environment. More information at 0407 079748 or chrissieshaw@apex.net.au

Women’s day

And so it has gone, the highs and lows of each big school day. We were warned by the teachers to expect them to be tired, ratty and emotional but the onslaught of big emotions from our newly-minted six year old has hit us hard.

By the end of the never-ending school holidays I couldn’t wait for our ice-cream-addicted, routineabandoned kids to get started at school.

Starting kindy was months of waiting for, talking about and planning, although I was the slack new school mum running out to the shops the weekend before school started for lastminute stationery, shoes and searching for the perfect lunchbox. I am still in search of it, by the way!

The thing I overlooked with my boy starting big school was making certain he knew how to manage himself such as how to fill up his water bottle and splash water on his hot cheeks after running around at lunchtime. We are working on that now, and reminding him of what to do. It’s a big leap for the kids and also the parents.

The first week of school felt like the longest of my life! I know I’m not alone in feeling the huge change to our family, all my mum friends have been checking in on how we are each managing the change as mothers. But somewhere between fireworks and meltdowns is the sweet spot we are hoping to reach. Seeing his happy, flushed face run out of the classroom, finding wonderful colouring-in sheets in his bag, hearing about some of the things he’s been doing and knowing that overall school is a happy, exciting place for him will lead to more independence, learning and of course, fun.

T Seniors Week

23-29 March 2020

DON’T MISS THESE FEATURED EVENTS

Chief Minister’s Concert

Tuesday 24 March, 11am And 1pm

Join the Band of the Royal Military College for an unforgettable show.

Albert Hall, Commonwealth Ave, Yarralumla.

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ACT Seniors Week Expo

Thursday 26 March,10am-3pm

THE Southside Women’s Group and Diversity ACT are inviting same-sex attracted women to an International Women’s Day event at the Diversity ACT Community Hub, 8 Laidlaw Place, Kambah, 10am-3pm, on Sunday, March 8. The Southside Women’s Day will include activities such as yoga, pasta making, health and wellbeing workshops. There will be a formal launch of the Southside Women, the only social group for same-sex attracted women in south Canberra. RSVP by March 1 to info@diversityact.org.au or book a free ticket via eventbrite.com.au

Call out for craft

CRAFT ACT is seeking proposals for engaging exhibitions from craftspeople, designers, makers and curators, welcoming all levels of experience and all mediums of practice to join the artistic program in the organisation’s 50th anniversary year, 2021. Inquiries to craftact.org.au

One big day – entertainment and info on retirement, aged care, community and government services, legal, finance, travel and more!

Exhibition Park in Canberra.

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Positive Ageing Awards

Friday 27 March, 2:30pm

Recognise and celebrate the groups and individuals that contribute to the older Canberra community.

Weston Creek Labor Club, Teesdale Cl, Stirling. Bookings required - call 6282 3777

POLITICS

Freedoms wilt as Peter Dutton’s power grows

AFTER failing to trounce Malcolm Turnbull for the prime ministership, Peter Dutton has methodically gone about consolidating his power. His latest move is to provide the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) with the power to spy on Australians. Despite criticisms of interference with the freedom of the press through the police raid on the ABC, efforts are being made to increase powers. The warrants used were valid, however the inadequacy of protection of journalists and their sources has also been highlighted. The raid was carried out by the Federal Police following a formal ministerial direction by Peter Dutton personally.

Of concern is the constant whittling away of the freedoms of Australians. Australians have embraced social media and forgone much of our privacy. Allowing officials access to use this information to spy on individuals in a methodical manner ought not be allowed without the most careful of protections. Personal privacy

Australians have embraced social media and forgone much of our privacy. Allowing officials access to use this information to spy on individuals in a methodical manner ought not be allowed without the most careful of protections.

concerns were behind the rejection of the Australia Card in 1987.

Despite similar concerns, Peter Dutton has continued the consolidation of power. The Australian Signals Directorate, for example, was transferred out of the Department of Defence into Dutton’s mega portfolio of Home Affairs just last year. Dutton already has access to considerable investigative powers through the Federal Police and what was the Department of Immigration.

The Australian Signals Directorate monitors, hacks or spies on foreign cyber intelligence but is restricted from doing the same within Australia.

Minister Dutton argues this power could be used to track paedophiles if it could be used in Australia.

At first the argument was tracking paedophiles and stopping cyber-attacks. Within moments it

was broadened to pursuing “serious criminal activity”. Reassurance was the same as usual… these powers will be limited and, as in last week’s column, “if you have nothing to hide –you have nothing to worry about”.

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ASIO has the power to spy on Australians. It is their role. The powers have increased with the commensurate escalation in the threat of terrorism. However, the powers of ASIO are restricted with appropriate checks and balances. But for how long?

These checks and balances go back to the days of the “threat” of Communism. Many will remember the dramatic raid on ASIO by the Attorney-General Lionel Murphy in March, 1973. The raids were on his initiative alone and instigated the Hope Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security, which was concerned with the privacy of Australians and misuse of power. It recommended “the establishment of an

independent Office of the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security, in part to scrutinise ASIO’s operations and ensure… rigorous internal rules to protect people’s privacy”. The investigative powers of ASIO are contained. Section 26 of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 requires approval of the Attorney-General to issue a search warrant. There must be “reasonable grounds”, it must “substantially assist in the collection of intelligence” and it must be “important in relation to security”. These are important limitations on considerable powers.

However, restrictions on such powers have very different impacts when they are applied to electronic media. Monitoring the web, personal emails, Facebook and other social

media platforms are so much easier than surveillance of a person’s home or workplace.

The inspector-general is established under its own act and is in a position to monitor and report to the Attorney-General. Considering the moves that Peter Dutton has made in consolidating power, it is reasonable to wonder how long will it be before Inspector- General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 is also drawn under the influence of Home Affairs and its minister?

ACT residents are not immune from Peter Dutton’s influence. He recently described ACT laws legalising cannabis use as “unconscionable” and indicated that Attorney-General Christian Porter was considering legislation to override the ACT. Fortunately, Porter was not as forthcoming and played down the possibility.

Wendell Phillips reminded us “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”. What is less known is that he continued with “power is ever stealing from the many to the few”. In this context, it is appropriate to ask: when does consolidation of power cross the line to megalomania?

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

Hawke swoops on family’s scandalous secrets

The great-great grandson of one of Canberra’s pioneers has uncovered and told the true story of his ancestors in a book that exposes family secrets, affairs and hidden identities.

FORMER secretary of the Department of De fence, senior public servant and diplomat, Dr Allan Hawke AC has had an illustrious career, and his family history is just as notable.

A descendant of the Blundell family, Hawke’s family tree reads like a “Who’s Who” of early pioneer settlers.

His newly launched book – “Calamity and Conquest” – tells the story of Joseph Blundell, a convict who came to the Limestone Plains in 1842 as a pioneer settler with his common-law wife Susan Osborne, and their infant son John. Hawke’s book – 40 years in the making –reveals untold family secrets about Joseph’s convict origins and Susan’s desertion of her husband and young family.

The pair – who had 11 children – never married and Susan Osborne was a fake name, Hawke says.

“Susan Osborne’s entire history was ficti tious, and she and Joseph never told anybody… never,” Hawke said.

“Joseph was a convict and Susan didn’t want people to know who she really was because she was already married and had five other children.”

Susan Osborne’s real name was Mercy Bal combe, she was married to Robert Blanch and given assisted passage to the colony of NSW in 1838 to work for a family near Newcastle.

In 1842, she adopted her alias and ran away with Joseph Blundell, leaving four of her children behind.

“She absconded with Joseph from a place called Ash Island near Newcastle, and they came to the end of the known civilization at the time in the 1840s, which was called the Limestone Plains… what is now known as Canberra, the national capital,” says Hawke.

“Susan must have known in her mind that the fifth baby belonged to Joseph and not her hus band so once the baby was born, they took off.

“I found this out about 20 years ago, I thought well that’s interesting, but how are we ever going to know who the father was. Then along comes DNA testing and it’s crystal clear that the child was absolutely Joseph’s.

“They made up lots of stories and they used co incidences like they were living in a place called the Liverpool Plains, so the family folklore was that the baby (John) was born in Liverpool while they were on their way down here to work for the Campbells at Duntroon.

“None of that is true, not a single word of it but the family believed it.

“They also thought that Joseph built his house where the Canadian flagpole is at Re gatta Point, well that’s not true either. Most of the stuff in the family folklore is not true.”

Hawke, who spent time as former Prime Minister Paul Keating’s chief of staff, has relentlessly pursued the Blundell family past since the 1980s.

been fascinating.

“I’ve made some pretty amazing discoveries… there would be very few Canberrans who’ve got my lineage dating back from 1842, on my mum’s side.”

Hawke’s great grandmother Rosanna was

Blundell’s Cottage – one of Canberra’s oldest and smallest homes, built on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin – is named after Rosanna’s brother George Blundell, the third child of Joseph and Susan.

George was a long-term resident of the cottage, living there for more than 50

Hawke, who grew up in Queanbeyan, recalls stories told by great Aunty Violet – his grandmother’s – who lived for a time at Blundell’s Cottage.

“Aunty Vi took a bit of a shine to me when I was young, so I went to live with her for a few years,”

“Aunty Vi would often talk about the family and my ears would prick up… I didn’t ask her much at the time about it, it never occurred to me I would be doing this

“She was known throughout Queanbeyan as Aunty Vi, she went everywhere on her bike and everyone called her Aunty Vi, she was a

“Aunty Vi once said to me when I was going on about some achievement I was proud of: ‘Allan don’t go outside, or the wind will blow the

Such advice served one of Queanbeyan’s favourite sons well. The first of his extended

chancellor of the ANU and currently Canberra

“I’ve had a most fortunate life, with opportunities to serve Australia’s national interests in ways that I could never have imagined,” Hawke

“My father once told me to put my arm in a bucket of water and then remove it: “That’s the impression on life that most people make, son.” Hawke is four chapters into writing his second book – “Tragedies and Triumphs” – which tells the stories of Joseph and Susan’s 11 children, 75 grandchildren and more than 270 great grandchildren. The book, expected to be finished next

“John Blundell, the first son, married Sarah Anne MacKenzie from Lanyon and he had 11

“The fascinating story, which I haven’t proven yet, is that John’s younger brother Abraham fell off the steeple at St John’s, broke his back and

“John used to go and visit his younger brother Abraham and his wife Phoebe. Incredibly, John

“Sometime after Abraham died, John moved Phoebe and the children into his house with his wife and other children. His wife took exception

“That would have been a huge sensation at the

“Family histories are incredible things to do, you just have to be prepared for the secrets you

“Calamity and Conquest” ($30) via email to

This FREE public forum will discuss:

• What are the founding ideals of Canberra and are the still relevant in the 21st century?

• If so, how should they be adapted to suit our changing social, political, economic and natural environment?

• Can Canberra continue growing at the current pace without abandoning its founding ideals and identity? At Albert Hall, 6pm-8pm, Monday, March 23. Register at eventbrite.com.au

THE SPEAKERS

Jack Waterford AM, journalist

Prof Barbara Norman, director of Canberra Urban and Regional Futures at UC.

Prof Karl Fischer, a visiting professor in the Faculty of the Built Environment at the UNSW

Dr Jason Sharples, an associate professor in the School of Science, UNSW Canberra.

Fiona Carrick, president of the Woden Valley Community Council.

HEARING AWARENESS WEEK / March 1-7

Week highlights the big cost of hearing issues advertising feature

HEARING loss is costing Australia $15 billion a year in health system costs and lost productivity, which is why the annual Hearing Awareness Week raises awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world.

World Hearing Day is held on March 3 each year, and coincides with Hearing Awareness Week, which runs from Sunday, March 1 to Saturday, March 7.

Hearing loss affects 70 per cent of people over the age of 70 and it has a huge impact on quality of life, says a Hearing Awareness Week spokesperson.

Hearing loss is more common than heart disease, cancer and diabetes, and 500,000 hearing aids are bought every year in Australia.

“Ten thousand people whose first language is Auslan cannot be left behind and deserve better access to education, jobs and community life,” says the spokesperson.

Charity prioritises ‘better hearing’ help

CANBERRA has a significant hearing-loss problem, according to Bill Leane, chairman of the ACT branch of Better Hearing Australia.

He says 25 per cent of Canberrans are more than 55 years old and, of these people, 60 per cent would benefit from a hearing device – that’s 60,000 people.

“Ten thousand people have and regularly use a hearing device [and] 50,000 Canberrans and their families tolerate and accommodate life with a frustrating and debilitating hearing deficiency,” Bill says.

“Many of the frustrated 50,000 Canberrans also experience a second or third disability.

“In these cases, hearing loss is pushed lower in the priority for treatment.”

Bill says Better Hearing Australia is a charity with the mission to bring information, education, skills and proven management packages to anyone coping unnecessarily with the debilitating effects of progressive hearing loss such as isolation, loneliness, withdrawal and depression.

“Better Hearing Australia is here to help before, during and after the acquisition of hearing loss,” he says.

“We have a free outreach program through social and traditional media.

own resources and with access to public support.

“We offer coaching and mentoring for clients and network leaders.

“[And] we operate three weekly hearingloss management classes in Canberra, with a class complement of about 12 per class.”

Better Hearing Australia, COTA Building, 2 Wisdom Street, Hughes. Visit bhacanberra.org or call 6281 3962.

One-day event full of hearing advice

THE ACT Deafness Resource Centre’s Health and Hearing Expo on Thurs day, March 5, is a great opportunity for people to talk to various hearingloss experts at the one venue, says CEO Glenn Vermeulen.

Glenn says everyone is invited to the event, which begins at 10am at the Hellenic Club in Woden.

“We invite the deaf and hearing impaired, their families, friends and carers to take advantage of meeting with the hearing industry under the one roof on the day,” he says.

“A number of community organisations will also be present for you to meet, as well as special guest speakers.”

Whether someone has a Cochlear implant, a hearing aid, needs personal advice or cares for someone with a hearing loss, Glenn says this is the event for them.

“While visitors are there they can take the opportunity to chat with a host of community organisations as well,” he says.

“And importantly, Hearing Australia will be there too, providing free hearing screening tests.

“To take advantage of this free

service you must book first directly with Hearing Australia on 6232 3200.” Glenn says ample parking is available at the Hellenic Club on a first come, first served basis.

“It’s free to members of the club and at a reasonable rate to others,” he says.

ACT Deafness Resource Centre’s Hearing and Health Expo, Hellenic Club, Woden, 10am-3pm, Thursday, March 5. Visit actdrc.org.au

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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.

At the 2019 Sports Awards, Conder

Caring experts have the best for your pets

PETS are part of the family so why not give them the best?

From doggy day care, so dogs don’t get bored and lonely during the day, to special photo sessions to capture their personalities, and yummy, healthy treats, “CityNews” speaks to the experts who care about pets like they’re part of the family, too.

Dog treats that are fun and healthy

MORE tasty treats are on the menu for Rascals Treats, with a brand new variety added to its range as well as a selection pack for Easter, say owners Clare Guest and Susie and Ben Hanns.

Together, they have created a new flavour called “Bark-B-Q Bites”, which they say is a barbecue-inspired dog treat that features fresh carrot and capsicum to help keep the summer vibes going.

The team also has a limited-edition Easter selection of dog treats called “Chasing Tails”, which is a combination of its sweetest products “Date Night”, “Bark-B-Q Bites” and “Pump It Up”.

“We wanted to make sure the doggos are looked after with delicious and healthy treats this Easter,” says Susie.

The Rascals team say they wanted to feed their dogs what they preferred to eat them selves – whole, healthy, cruelty-free food with a low environmental impact.

Ben, Susie and Clare all follow a plant-based diet and share a passion for animals and the environment, promoting positive animal welfare.

Like all Rascals Treats, the new treat options will be available in compostable packaging.

“We all know the time is now to be aware of the environment, to consider what we’re creating in the world and to waste as little as possible in the process. We’re proud to be part of a smart, sustainable business,” says Ben.

Rascals Treats… whole, healthy and cruelty-free.

this year to share stories about our business and our interests; ranging from sustainability, nutrition, dogs and more.” says Clare.

The treats will be available at the Handmade Market on March 21-22, as well as online at rascalstreats.com.au. Find them on Instagram @rascals_treats or Facebook @rascalsdogtreats

Kylee’s photos capture a pet’s personality

FUR babies make a house a home and are an integral part of the family unit, says “PAWtrait” photographer Kylee Sharples, owner of Wilomark Imagery.

Which is why it’s so lovely to capture a pet’s personality in a photo, as well as the relation ship between them and the family, she says.

“We immortalise your pet, creating a legacy to show not only their unique personality but the love and connection you share,” says Kylee.

And it’s not just dogs and cats, Kylee says she’s snapped rabbits, rats and lizards, too.

“We recommend getting photos done before your pet is too old, as they are more likely to enjoy the session and we don’t want to stress the animal out,” Kylee says.

“I have a lot of experience with animal handling, and take care to read the pet’s body language and understand when they need a break.

“I’m very focused on cleanliness and ensur ing the studio is spotless before each shoot, as we don’t want to present a risk to any animal.”

Kylee recommends choosing between the pet’s own PAWtrait session, or get the entire family photographed with a “My Buddy and Me” session.

All shoots take place in Kylee’s relaxed, private studio and are low-pressure and fun, to allow the animal’s unique look and personality to shine through.

Imagery, Molonglo Mall, Unit 8, 105-119 Newcastle Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 4220, email kylee@wilomark.com or visit wilomark.com

Kate’s daycare gets dogs having lots of fun

WITH the chance to play, explore, learn and have fun, Dog’s Day Out Doggy Daycare gives dogs a fantastic day out and can make their lives better, says owner Kate Fleming.

“Owners can drop off their dog in the morning and head off to work knowing their pets will be happily playing, socialising and taking part in training sessions,” she says.

“We structure the day with calm play at first during the drop-off period, then more energetic play, nap time, training and repeat.”

While the service is great for dog owners who want to give their furry friend a day or two away from being home alone, Kate says it’s also popular with people who are travelling with their dog and might want to have a day sightseeing or shopping.

She says the daycare centre has a focus on small to medium-sized dogs, and the dogs are separated by temperament into sectioned off spaces.

Kates says she loves to see every dog going home happy, well exercised and behaving better.

“The dogs have so much fun and then the owners

Caring Isabel puts dogs’ grooming needs first

THE needs of the dog always come first, according to Isabel Haines, owner of Isabel’s Dog Grooming in Phillip.

“We offer a clean and secure environment where dogs receive time, patience and a compassionate, caring groomer,” she says.

“Dogs leave happy, confident and feeling loved. We love what we do and we specialise in happy customers.”

Isabel’s Dog Grooming also offers doggy day care from 8am to 6pm, at a cost of $15 a day for small dogs and $20 for larger dogs.

In addition, the team provides doggy first aid, as well as training so pet owners can learn to groom their dogs themselves, and information sessions on things like how to brush them, says groomer

get to pick up a happy dog who’s ready for cuddles at the end of the day,” she says.

Dog’s Day Out Doggy Day Care, 92 Phyllis Ashton Circuit, Gungahlin. Call 0432 662939 or email info@dogsdayoutdaycare.com.au

Tammara Haines.

Isabel, who has more than 18 years’ experience in the industry, opened the salon in December 2010, and her daughter Tammara has worked with her for the past seven years.

With experienced staff, the latest equipment and extremely high standards, Isabel says she personally checks all dogs before they leave the salon.

“Whether your dog needs a bath, a trim or a style, they will be completely comfortable at Isabel’s, which is heated in winter and airconditioned in summer,” she says.

Isabel’s Dog Grooming, Unit 1, 32-36, Colbee Court, Phillip. Call 6260 4262 or visit isabelsdoggrooming.com.au

WITH a love for all animals, Sandy Borgo, owner of gift store Charlie & Chums, says she loves to spread the joy that pets bring.

“It’s a lighthearted shop, and people are lifted when they come in, they love the little sayings and the cute figurines,” says Sandy.

Charlie & Chums sells a wide range of gift items, including jewellery, cards, tableware, metal and ceramic figurines, as well as collars and leads.

Sandy started the business in 2012 out of her love of dogs and animals, and how they bring joy, love and companionship.

“My favourite items in the shop are the Aurora Ceramistone caricatures [figurines], particularly one called Barney who reminds me of my labrador retriever,” she says.

“The caricature has a dog with its lead in its mouth, which is exactly what my dog does when he wants a walk.”

Charlie & Chums is an online store, with pop-up stores held at least three days a month in the Canberra area.

Charlie & Chums, Shop 1, 103 South Point Tuggeranong. Call 0402 097580, email charlieandchums@bigpond.com or visit charlieandchums.com.au

FYSHWICK

Business is buzzing in Fyshwick’s busy hub

NAMED after

Sir Philip Fysh, a Tasmanian politician who helped bring about Australia’s Federation, Fyshwick has been a suburb in Canberra since the 1920s.

The suffix “wick”, from Old English, means “dwelling place” – and, by extension, “village” or “district”. Its streets are named after Australia’s industrial towns and regions.

These days it’s a busy commercial hub well-known for the enormous range of different businesses that call Fyshwick home. Here are some of the leading ones…

Year-long sale celebrates 60 years of furnishing homes

FURNITURE store Sears Morton is celebrating 60 years in business with a storewide sale all year, says manager

Tony Ayres.

“This is our way of celebrating furnishing homes and serving local families over those 60 years,” says Tony.

“It’s a thank you to all our customers from Canberra and the region for the support.

“We have a lot of regulars, and much of our business is through word of mouth as Canberra is a big country town.”

Tony says the store has had to ride through changes over the years, though it’s always been a family business.

“We’ve always had a great, tight-knit team who are all incredibly knowledgeable about the products,” he says.

“We take the time to ensure our customers have made the right choice as they consider personal comfort, size, style, colour and more.

“We concentrate heavily on solid timber furniture, and are proud to work with Tassie Timbers who use solid blackwood, oak, myrtle, sassafras and red gum to create its finely crafted furniture,” he says.

Sears Morton also stocks a range of other furniture brands including Stressless, IMG, Molmic, Garstone and Brunstad.

“Everything we stock is carefully sourced and of premium quality and everyone who comes into the store can appreciate that,” Tony says.

“It’s a pleasure to be around such beautiful items.”

Sears Morton, 167 Newcastle Street, Call 6280 5587 or visit searsmorton.com.au

THE EXPERTS OF FYSHWICK

Metal shop’s offering vouchers for scraps

METALMART is a one-stop metal shop, says owner Belinda Reynolds, who, backed with experience in the construction industry, took over the business in 2019.

MetalMart is a steel and scrap icon and has been successfully trading for more than 30 years in steel retail sales and scrap metal recycling.

“We are popular with a diverse range of steel users including farmers, steel fabricators, artists and the backyard handyman,” says Belinda.

“Whether it’s for domestic, rural or commercial applications, MetalMart has the products you need and if we don’t have what you are after we will do our best to track it down for you through

our extensive range of suppliers.”

Belinda says they stock an extensive range of downgrade products available at substantially lower cost than the first-grade steel products. Customers can come in with any idea and MetalMart can make it, too, Belinda says.

As a special bonus, on Saturday, February 29, and Monday, March 2, MetalMart is offering a $10 Coles voucher for every $200 worth of scrap metal brought in, with a limit of three cards per customer.

MetalMart, 53 Collie Street, Fyshwick. Call 6239 2422 or visit metalmart.com.au

“It feels like this is the start of the year and people are venturing out to the shops, cafes and coffee shops.”

James says they have a lot of new stock, from office suites and desk setups, to colourful lounges, chairs and bookcases. With people starting on home renos now that the air is clearer, he says Ex-Government Furniture also has workbenches, garage shelving and cabinets ideal for

school students, too.

“Everything we have is good quality, it’s built to last and would have otherwise ended up in landfill.”

Ex-Government Furniture, 6 Yallourn Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 6490 or visit exgovfurniture.com or facebook.com/exgovfurniture

THE EXPERTS OF FYSHWICK advertising feature

WITH local ingredients and everything made fresh on site, The Muesli Bar can cater for all tastes and dietary needs, says owner Margaret Blyth.

“We sell pre-mixed muesli or you can create your own from the selection of nuts, oats and dried fruit here,” she says.

With nine different mueslis available, including honey toasted, natural (or half and half) oats, a porridge topper and trail mix, there’s a huge variety of options.

There’s a muesli for everyone, says Margaret, whether they have a vegan, paleo, FODMAP, grain-free, nut-free, fruit-free, gluten-free or sugar-free diet.

Margaret says it’s important to her to source local produce where possible, and support local businesses in doing so.

The fruit is air-dried on site and Margaret offers nitrate-free options if preferred.

The Muesli Bar offers refills if customers keep the bags, and offers a delivery service, too.

It’s open 9.30am-2.30pm, Tuesday to Friday, and has a stall at the Capital Region Farmers Market every Saturday at EPIC.

The Muesli Bar, Unit 5, 64 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 0433 954160 or visit themueslibar.com.au

Trophies and awards made with quality

THE Canberra Trophy Centre has been supplying Canberra and the region with awards and trophies for clubs, organisations and companies for more than 30 years, says owner Kylie Cawse.

It’s a family-run business and Kylie and her husband Kane have owned it for seven years, with her parents the owners before that.

“We’ve built our reputation over many years by providing our customers with friendly service and quality awards,” Kylie says.

The Canberra Trophy Centre has two laser engravers on site at its workshop in Fyshwick, as well as a sandblast machine.

“All our work is completed on site, which allows us to meet tight deadlines,” Kylie says.

“Our aim is to help take the stress out of organising a presentation by offering professional advice and services, helping customers create a memorable event.”

Kylie says they can provide a wide range of sporting trophies and corporate awards, as well as industrial engraving, personalised medallions, wall plaques, honour boards, bench plaques, memorials, name badges, perpetual shields and outdoor plaques.

Canberra Trophy Centre, 13 Molonglo Mall, Newcastle Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 6520 or visit trophycentre.com.au

WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO

Now’s the time to plan ahead for winter

SUMMER it may be, but in terms of home additions now’s the time to plan ahead for winter, says John Schmitzer from Heating and Cooling Services in Fyshwick.

As specialists in Lopi gas log fires, the company offers the latest in “direct vent” or “balanced flue” gas fireplaces.

Lopi gas fireplaces are available in a freestanding form for easy installation, as zero-clearance fireplaces suitable for installation in timber stud work and as gas inserts designed to replace existing open-masonry fireplaces or chimneys.

“Lopi fires are excellent quality, reliable and designed to suit any space,” says John.

“With our in-built gas log fire instal lations, we can manage everything from end to end. Once you have chosen your ideal unit, we can do everything from framing, gyprocking, installing, sealing, painting and tiling until you have the complete, finished fireplace set up.”

With more than 30 years in business, Heating and Cooling Services is a family owned and operated company and can provide personalised heating and cooling for any need.

Heating and Cooling Services, 80 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 7565 for more information.

. Freshly made in Canberra each week

. No preservatives

. $1 off on refills

. Order online and/ or pickup Fyshwick

. Available at Farmers Market, Showground

. $5 delivery Canberra wide

. Free delivery on Canberra orders over $100

Start your day right with The Muesli Bar’s granola or custommade muesli and porridge topping where you pick what goes into your mix!

Perfect for every nutritional goal or dietary requirement such as grain free, paleo, FODMAP, gluten & fructose intolerance, sugar free, nut free, sulphite free and vegan.

THE EXPERTS OF FYSHWICK

Barber Steve offers the best haircuts

WHETHER it’s a modern or classic cut, a relaxing hot towel shave or a beard trim, The Elite Barbershop offers traditional barber services, says owner Steve Carbone.

Steve has been a barber for more than 25 years and says he prides himself on offering the best haircuts he can.

“No gimmicks, nothing more than the best service and grooming,” he says.

The Elite Barbershop also offers a wedding service for the groom and groomsmen, by appointment only.

“We open the barber shop Monday to Friday and keep Saturday for weddings,” he says.

Steve says he also enjoys meeting the different people he gets to connect with in the chair.

“It’s a place for men to come and chat as much as for grooming,” he says.

“It’s like a pub without alcohol and you can get cleaned up for the week ahead at the same time.”

The Elite Barbershop, Unit 9, 64 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 9501.

Customising furniture to fit the space

IT can be hard to find a piece of furniture that fits, which is why Timberland Furniture in Fyshwick customises any of its furniture, so it can slot straight in to the ideal spot.

Owner Tony Purdy says they can customise the furniture for specific requirements such as changing the colour, size or adding or taking out a drawer.

“We will customise it for you to make it fit the space and with lounges we can make them to size, or you can choose your own material,” he says.

“We try to find things a little bit quirky and different because there’s no point having the same products as everyone else.”

And Tony says all products sourced by Timberland Furniture are good quality and affordable.

With about half the furniture in

store being Australian made, Tony says people will get value for their money with beautiful materials used to make the furniture such as Australian hardwood.

“We provide a personal service and are able to go to the customer’s home to assist them with measurements,” he says.

Timberland Furniture, Unit 7, 17 Iron Knob Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 7411, email timberlandfyshwick@gmail.com or visit canberracustomfurniture.com

IF someone is downsizing, decluttering, or moving house, and has any retro or vintage items they need to get rid of, owner of Down Memory Lane, Christine Lund, may be able to help.

“People have had a good clear out after Christmas and we have lots of new items in stock, including beautiful crystal and silverware,” says Christine.

“We’re always looking for collectables and can make house calls to collect items from customers.”

Christine says she grew up with her aunts having antique stores so it’s something she has always loved.

Located in Fyshwick, Christine says the family-run collectables store sells antique or retro crockery, glass and silverware, as well as kitchenalia, linen, lamps, pictures, mirrors, glass, silver, crystal, china, cameras, tools and radios, as well as furniture, clothes, jewellery, accessories, books and toys.

“We specialise in secondhand antiques that are usable as well as

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Invigorated Williamson maintains the rage

By Helen Musa

THE publicity for David Williamson’s play “Family Values”, coming to The Playhouse, has given the impression that Williamson might be embarking on a Nellie Melba-like round of farewells, so frequently has it been called his “last play”.

And Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre is billing his “Crunch Time”, playing until April, as “Australian theatre heavyweight David Williamson’s final”.

But when “CityNews” caught up with Williamson by phone to his Sunshine Coast home recently, he didn’t sound like a man about to retire.

Nor was there any sign that he has given up maintaining his rage. Within the past fortnight, a post titled “The Trump Card of the Right” appeared on John Menadue’s blog “Pearls and Irritations” in which Williamson writes of his first inkling that Labor was going to lose the last election (shades of “Don’s Party”) and his observation that “we’re more fearful and much more susceptible to emotional string-pulling than rational creatures ever would be”.

“Family Values” is pretty much a textbook illustration of that idea. Chock-full of the hi -

larious one-liners that have made Williamson our most popular playwright, he lays into everything – the ravages age wreaks upon left-wing values, Christian evangelism in our materialistic middle classes and the armchair idealism of bourgeois Australia.

It’s vintage Williamson. Retired judge Roger (Andrew McFarlane) and his wife, Sue (Belinda Giblin) are expecting their children to help celebrate his 70th birthday. Their son’s a born-again Christian, their daughter a Border Force officer, her partner, the captain of a Border Force ship and their other daughter, a left-wing activist. What could possibly go wrong?

Yes, it’s the “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” scenario, only this time the outsider is not Sidney Poitier but Saba, an Iranian asylum seeker fleeing Nauru. Sounds up-to-date to me.

Williamson says he’s chuffed that several of his plays, including “Emerald City”, are being revived around the country and praises the director of the production we’ll see, Lee Lewis, who staged it for Griffin Theatre but has now been appointed artistic director of the Queensland Theatre.

He’s also chuffed that the old Nimrod (Stables) Theatre where this play premiered was where his career took off many years ago with John Bell‘s 1971 production of “The Removalists”.

“When John Bell did his wonderful production in Sydney, suddenly I was on the map,” he says, hastening to add that he

“I’m not Nellie Melba, but I did have car diac arrhythmia in 2005. Luckily the miracle of modern medicine was able to cure this.”

“But I do ask whether after 50 years people will still come. I don’t want to be staggering around at 98 wondering whether I’m still relevant.”

There doesn’t seem to be too much danger of that. He has plenty to write about and has been asking himself of late: “What

Issues which especially occupy his mind include the inhumanity of detaining people in conditions where they suicide, the fact that born-again Christians like the character in his play have been not been up to the forefront on the refugee question, and the treatment of the family of Tamil asylum seekers from Biloela being kept in detention on Christmas Island. Ridiculous, he says.

“My play is based on a lot of real events. I

researched Nauru as fully as I could, I looked at the make up of the people there and the women too, and it is an attempt to depict the situation truthfully.”

His Iranian character Saba, is a woman of substance who has done two years of medical school before the mullahs in her home country decide to cut down the numbers of female students.

“I also depict a family coming apart at the seams,” he adds.

“There are lots of blackly funny moments based on the ideological positions of the children, which differ so widely.” An incongruous mismatch, we agree.

“While the family squabbles about minor details, in the same room is a person who has a real trauma to deal with. Saba has faced far worse and that’s the contrast I’m driving.”

Williamson says that despite his long career, it’s still not a piece of cake to write a play.

“I still do a lot of drafts,” he says. “I take on board suggestions from my wife and from the director and I’m always receptive to a good idea.”

He’s not sure if he’ll be able to make it to Canberra but would like to, because he describes the production as “classy with a top cast – I’d love to see it in a new context”.

David Williamson’s “Family Values”, The Playhouse, March 11-14. Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

A peep into Aznavour’s reel world

By Helen Musa

“I FILM, therefore I exist,” legendary chanteur Charles Aznavour once said of his favourite hobby.

It was not long before his death in 2018 that the great singer and film star, known as “the Frank Sinatra of France”, unveiled his private collection of reels and asked that it be shared with the world.

FESTIVAL MUSIC Super Rats score top festival gig

Deneuve plays a princess who must go into hiding as a scullery maid in order to fend off a really weird marriage proposal. It’s one of several films Platel believes are suitable for all the family.

La Deneuve also appears in the family reunion film, “Happy Birthday”, where she plays a 70-year-old matriarch.

The result is the 2019 documentary “Aznavour by Charles”, directed by Marc di Domenico, in which Aznavour reveals through his own film footage his rise to fame and travels to places as far afield as Bolivia and his family’s native Armenia, his evolving family over three marriages and the detail of the ordinary people he watched.

Aznavour is, post-mortem, di Domenico’s collaborator on this film, expressing a firm view that film and watching are closely linked.

“You are there behind my shoulder,” he says while filming men and women going about their business.

He never glosses over his own dark side, frankly narrating how he abandoned his first wife and baby daughter to go to Canada.

The documentary also cuts in filmed performances of his most famous songs, including “Formidable” and his British hit, “She”, a terrific excuse for the 2020 Alliance Française French Film Festival to hook up with the Canberra International

Music Festival for a special screening and gala night on March 17, where French embassy staffer and Canberra theatre identity, Jason Bensen, will perform some of Aznavour’s songs before the screening.

This is the fourth and last edition as artistic director of the French Film Festival for Philippe Platel, cultural attaché to the French Embassy, a job which was relocated from Canberra to Sydney around the time of the Olympics.

“The film is not exactly a documentary but more an edited version of the films Charles Aznavour made with his camera, it’s more a collage of films, holiday movies.”

And as for that camera, he explains, it was a gift from the singer’s long-time flatmate Edith Piaf, whose second gift to him was the advice, which he took, to have a nose job.

Piaf is also widely credited with having got Aznavour to develop his vocal style into his distinctive mixture of tenor and gravelly low register.

Platel is keen to talk up the rest of the festival, the biggest film festival in Australia, this year featuring 49 contemporary and classic French films across many genres – rom-coms, thrillers, animations, kids’ movies, farce and tragedy.

The opening night film will be “The Extraordinary”, a crowd-pleaser by renowned filmmakers Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano that closed the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. It’s about two men who train young people from underprivileged areas to be caregivers for autistic youth abandoned by the state system.

Alas, in this year’s selection Gerard Depardieu is conspicuous by his absence, although, Platel tells us, he very nearly made it in.

But not to worry, the equally luminous Catherine Deneuve appears in four films.

Easily the most famous of those is the 1970 movie, “Donkey Skin”, a wildly eccentric adaptation of a classic French fairy tale, with songs by Michel Legrand, where

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But the ones that interest Platel most are the 1981 drama, “Hotel America”, where Deneuve plays a woman struggling with social and cultural shock as she marries a man from the working class, and a kind of parallel, “Farewell To The Night”, in which she plays an ordinary grandmother who discovers that her grandson and his girlfriend are signing up to fight for ISIS in Syria. Such films, he believes, challenge Deneuve as an actor grappling with a range of emotions.

On a lighter note, the festival is keen to connect with Canberra arts organisations through special events involving screenings, entertainment and drinks, so has arranged “Writers’ Night” on March 31, where “The Mystery of Henri Pick” will be screened. The film shows how a deceased pizza maker’s lost manuscript becomes a literary success. But an acerbic Parisian critic determines to prove Henri is not the author – it’s a satire on the arts community, combined with mystery and great acting. Very French, very chic and very Canberran.

2020 Alliance Française French Film Festival, Palace Electric Cinemas, March 12-April 8,

By Helen Musa

SUPER Rats is a great name for a band and now the fiery Canberra group who’ve been wowing audiences here with their traditional Romanian and Roma (Gypsy) tunes has been selected into Australia’s top world music festival, WOMADelaide.

The quirky quartet centres around the cimbalom, and bandleader Tim Meyen, who tells us they’re heading for Adelaide on March 6 for their first gig that night, and is one of only a handful of Aussie musicians to have studied the instrument, described as “like the offspring of a honkytonk piano and a xylophone”.

Super Rats, which received a Canberra Critics’ Circle Award late last year, is a self-proclaimed “only-in-Canberra” mixture of next-door neighbours, bandmates from previous groups like the 1990s folkies “Closet Klezmer” and primary-school friends.

One such is Pip Thompson, one of Canberra’s leading classical violinists and a member of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra.

The authenticity of the Rats’ approach to Romanian folk music has been enhanced through visits to masters in Romania, and the group has just released a new four-track mini album “DA!” which can be heard at bandcamp.com.

And yes, Meyen says, they’re branching out of Canberra and more festival appearances are scheduled after WOMADelaide.

CINEMA

By Dougal Macdonald

“The Professor and the Madman” (M)

“THE Professor and the Madman” is set in Oxford University in 1884, when Professor of Letters, James Murray (Mel Gibson) asked people to help in the research project that led to publication of the first edition in its present form of “A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles; Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by The Philological Society”. The heirs of that project are alive and active to this day.

Does compiling a massive dictionary strike you as not the most exciting theme for a 125-minute-movie? If you don’t see it, you can’t know what you’re missing.

Based on a book by Simon Winchester, ”The Professor and the Madman” offers filmgoers conflict, passion, love, murder, an improbable friendship, a core theme about something that’s now a commonplace that we take for granted and, alas, abuse dreadfully particularly in the electronic media which should know better.

Its critical reception has ranged from great to

fiasco. I found it emotionally moving despite a few anachronisms that don’t detract from the narrative.

The madman was an American, Dr William Minor, who’d served as a military surgeon in the Civil War. The film starts with his commitment to Broadmoor Asylum for the Criminally Insane after murdering a workman. The screenplay by Iranian-born director Farhad Safinia (billed as PB Shemran for legal reasons arising from the film’s long and unhappy genesis) applies the same weight to Minor as to James Murray. As well it might, for Sean Penn’s portrayal of Minor’s mental health issue is brilliant, sympathetic and intensely moving.

Throughout the academic conflict attending Murray’s project, two women played significant roles. As Ada Murray, Jennifer Ehle is luminously lovely. Natalie Dormer plays Eliza Merrett, the widow of the murdered man who not only came to forgive Minor but also to visit him and bring him books.

Knowing about what may have been the world’s first appeal for crowdfunding led Broadmoor keeper Mr Muncie (Eddie Marsan) to connect Minor’s passion for books with Murray’s need for readers to send him information about new words. The rest is philological history. And a rewarding experience for people who like movies that engage their brains and their hearts.

The Italian tenors who go pop

ARTS IN THE CITY

By Helen Musa

THE Italian Tenors, Sabino Gaita, Mirko Provini and Evans Tonon, will be flying direct from Italy to Canberra to begin their Australian tour. The trio combines classical roots with Neapolitan music and its own blend of Italian pop. Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden, 8pm, Thursday, March 5. Book at abstractentertainment.net

THE Alliance Française and Canberra photography collective “For The Love of Canberra” will join forces to stage a fine art auction of photos showcasing Canberra landscapes in support of communities and wildlife affected by the bushfire crisis. At the Alliance Française, 66 McCaughey Street, Turner, 7pm, March 4. Register at afcanberra.com.au and enter “For the Love of CBR”. Free event, purchase drinks at the bar.

AUSTRALIAN-born writer and public figure, Kathy Lette, will be here sharing stories of writing novels such as “Puberty Blues”, “How To Kill Your Husband (and Other Handy Household Hints)” and “Foetal Attraction”, raising her family and mixing with celebrities including Prince William, the Queen and George Clooney. The Playhouse, Wednesday, March 4. Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au

THE Joseph Tawadros Quartet returns to Canberra with its popular blend of middle-eastern, classical and contemporary jazz. Tawadros is a much-awarded composer, improviser, storyteller and player of the Oud, the Middle Eastern lute. The other band members are percussionist brother James, bassist Karl Dunnicliff and jazz pianist Matt McMahon. The Street Theatre, 4pm, Sunday, March 1. Book at thestreet.org.au or 6247 1223.

MORE than 150 of Scotland’s finest musicians will be part of “The Year of Scotland in Australia 2020”, with more than 300-plus shows scheduled in more than 100 towns and cities nationwide by year’s end. Canberra will not miss out. Scottish acoustic duo The Jellyman’s Daughter, Emily Kelly and Graham Coe, will appear at Smith’s Alternative on March 12; then The Langan Band, credited with taking “traditional acoustic idioms and delivering with punk abandonment”, will also come to Smith’s on March 19. Book at smithsalternative.com

DINING Sharing the love with the south coast

WE all know the south coast needs support and if you’ve been down since the fires sped through, causing an unprecedented path of destruction, you’ll understand why. It’s simply heartbreaking.

I went down on the Valentine’s Day weekend with a couple of friends and a plan to spread some love.

Let’s start with breakfast at Crumb Café, Beach Road, Batehaven. It’s a sweet spot, open at the crack of dawn (5am) and they cook a mighty mean brekkie and serve up great coffee.

My smashed avo dish was loaded with ingredients. Here goes: pomegranate, beetroot jam, golden beetroot, poached eggs, beetroot labneh (as pretty as it was delicious), two poached eggs, cherry tomatoes, lemon, labneh for added interest and a thick slice of sourdough ($19).

My friend adored her field mushrooms, which came with spicy slices of chorizo, salty feta, basil oil, poached eggs, pistachio sesame sprinkle for texture and sourdough ($19).

Saturday we were off to Moruya markets, kickstarting our visit with a coffee at the groovy, and oh-so-serious-about-coffee, Alfresco Roasters. Then it was time to line up for slices of the pizza the Riverside Pizza stall is so famous for. My smoked meat pizza was amazing ($7) and my friend’s pepperoni equally so ($7). Another fan had just finished her rosemary potato pizza, with fresh lemon squeezed on top when piping hot.

Brunch was the name of the game another day, this time at the quaint Mossy Café at Mossy Point, which opened in 1937 as a post office and general store. Today it’s a hideaway café with a mega following.

Guerrilla Roasters has a presence on site and the kitchen whips up many products in-house using heaps of local produce and supplies.

My super healthy breakfast bowl ($19) was created with confit mushrooms, miso sweet potato, tomato relish, goat’s cheese, poached egg and mixed seeds. My friend’s smashed avo ($19.50) was perked up with edamame beans, romesco and salsa verde. More great coffee.

One dinner, a larger group checked out the relatively new renos at the Catalina Club. There’s now a massive deck out back, right on the golf course and under a massive awning (so when the rain started bucketing down we kept cosy and dry). The views are picture perfect. Club food is the name of the game here – super quick service and inexpensive meals. The seafood platter was great ($36).

Last was filling the empty esky at Deli on Perry, right in the Bay, with cheeses, gourmet goodies, pâtés, terrines and other deli items. Bayside Meats is part of the operation. You can also have a bite to eat while there.

Share the love mission accomplished.

find out more Visit lavenderartstudios.com.au Email elita.mackay@lavenderartstudios.com.au

PUZZLES PAGE

Joanne Madeline Moore

Your week in the stars – March 2-8, 2020

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Does life feel like all work and no play? With Mercury reversing into your hopes and wishes zone (plus serious Saturn sauntering through your career zone) there’s no escaping hard work and extra responsibilities at the moment. So stop complaining; make frustration your friend; roll up your sleeves and get to it! Be inspired by feisty Aries acting diva Bette Davis: “The key to life is accepting challenges. Attempt the impossible in order to improve your work.”

I’m heading towards my 12th year in real estate, and thought it was a good time to reflect, and pass on some things I have learned.

1. Any agent can sell any property for any price. Good agents (and yes there are a few of us out there) know that we are being paid by the seller to get the maximum return for their property. We are not being paid to get just any price, or collect numbers to win awards. At the end of a sales campaign, we need to be able to look an owner in the eyes and say we turned over absolutely every rock possible to find the PREMIUM buyer, not just any buyer. Our job is to ensure there is no other buyer out there who could say “I never knew you were on the market”. The phrase in real estate is that you are either “on” the market or you are “in” the market. You can’t be half-pregnant – and you can’t be half on the market.

2. Buyers never have any loyalty to any Agency brand. Buyers never wake up of a morning saying they will only buy from XYZ Agency – so boutique agencies have just as much chance as any other agency of finding the right buyer. Boutique agencies in fact don’t have any of the restrictions of franchises. Buyer databases to me have always been a misnomer. Fresh buyers enter the market every day, and an agency believing they have every buyer is simply untrue. At my 16 Tazewell Cct Nicholls listing sold last week, we had 116 groups and issued 25 contracts. It didn’t matter to anyone if they knew us beforehand – they came because of the marketing we did on the home we were selling. A network agency like ours has as much access to the research on every suburb sale as a local “suburb expert”, and you will still get as many potential buyers through the door.

3. Owners will be appalled to learn our legislation doesn’t stop an agent signing an Agency Agreement with a buyer who has visited your home, with the possibility of future business if they’re your successful buyer. Our legislation also doesn’t require your agent to tell you who they have signed an Agency Agreement with when they submit offers to you, or who in the crowd of your Auction have they pre-signed. Think about it – who’s interest is being championed here? Demand answers from your agent, and send your friends through to every open house to keep them honest.

4. Read the Agency Agreement – some are illegal. If your Agency Agreement says that the Agent has fulfilled their duty and the fee is payable when an offer is accepted, put a line through it as it goes against the legislation. An agent’s fee is only ever payable once a sale has been executed – and that means sold. Whether you are a seller or a buyer, due diligence between “offer and acceptance” and “exchange” means you can change your mind after you accept an offer, or have your offer accepted.

…. And if you’re thinking of selling, feel free to go to ratemyagent to see our reviews and how we are different!

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

A close relationship could go through a bumpy patch on Tuesday or Wednesday, when Saturn stifles affection and stymies communication. If you are compassionate and consistent, then you’ll sail through any temporary turbulence. Mercury also reverses into your career zone. So it’s not a good time to initiate a professional project, apply for a promotion or look for a new job. Instead, be a patient Bull and wait until after Mercury goes direct on March 10.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

This week Mercury (your patron planet) reverses from your career zone into your adventure zone. So a project could stall at work or a relationship with a colleague, client or customer may feel as if it’s going backwards. Plus travel plans, holiday options or educational matters could be sidelined. If you are patient and persevere, then your dreams will be delayed, rather than denied. It is a wonderful week to reconnect and reminisce with an old friend.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

When it comes to a problematic relationship with a significant other, avoid being a cranky Crab! There are no quick fixes or miracle cures. It’s a case of one step forwards and two steps backwards (or sideways) but if you are tenacious, you’ll eventually make progress. This week Mercury is reversing through your travel and money zones. So, if you are travelling (or planning a trip), make sure you doublecheck your itinerary and triple-check financial matters.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

With Mercury reversing into your partnership zone, expect a few frustrating relationship problems. And your usual Cat charm won’t work on family, friends and colleagues, no matter how hard you try! You’re keen to move ahead in all areas of your life but the current celestial message is patience and thorough preparation. So your mantra for the moment is from birthday great, inventor Alexander Graham Bell: “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Mercury (your ruling planet) is still in retrograde mode until March 10. Fear not Virgo! With a patient and intelligent approach you’ll muddle through. But if you expect people to be punctual and projects to run like clockwork, then you’re set for a week of frustrating delays and disappointments. So reset your expectations accordingly. Tuesday and Wednesday are terrific days to reconnect with an old friend or touch base with a former work colleague.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

You love your luxuries and Libran creature comforts but avoid getting stuck in a complacent and rather self-indulgent rut. If you reach out to others and stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone, then you’ll feel more useful, energised and alive! At first it will feel foreign and uncomfortable, but – after a while – you’ll feel reactivated and ready to take on the world. It’s also a good week to revitalise a long-term relationship or reboot your daily exercise routine.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

When Mercury is in retrograde mode, it’s a suitable time to revisit the past, review current projects and recalibrate future plans. But avoid getting stuck in the past, so you don’t recognise potential opportunities when they come along. Your motto for the week is from birthday great, inventor Alexander Graham Bell: “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

This week your self-esteem will be a bit shaky, as Saturn and retro Mercury confuse your mind and dent your confidence. You could also face a reality check when you find out that a perceived friend is actually a frenemy. Time to delete them from your daily timeline and stick with supportive friends who trumpet your talents and support your dreams. You’re enthusiastic about a creative project but make sure you check the facts, figures and finances before you proceed.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

This week it’s important to steer clear of criticism (especially online); avoid letting negative self-talk drag you down; and stop worrying about all the personal qualities you perceive you don’t have. With Jupiter visiting your sign (until December 19) you have to be your Number One fan. Confidence is the rocket fuel that will take you anywhere you want to go. The weekend is a wonderful time to re-affirm your commitment to a special person or a worthy cause.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

This week Mercury reverses through your personal and money zones (until March 10). So the more educated and thorough you are about money matters, the more your financial situation will gradually improve. But expect some annoying hassles and hiccups along the way. And avoid being too blasé about a confusing relationship issue (especially involving values, morals or possessions). Diplomacy and discretion are the secrets to stress-free partnerships at the moment.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

This week is flavoured by the magical Sun-Neptune connection on Sunday, so you’ll feel increasingly creative, compassionate and spiritually inclined. Time to break out the paint brushes, help someone in need or explore a new spiritual practice. But keep in mind that Mercury is retrograde until March 10. So back-up all your computer files; allow plenty of time to get to appointments or catch flights; and double-check everything as you carefully revise, reschedule and re-do.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2020

3 Who was the Australian Prime Minister 1983-91? (3,5)

7 What do we call a division of a government department? (6)

8 Which term describes a flat-topped mountain? (8)

9 Which gland secretes the hormone melatonin? (6)

10 To speed up the progress of something is to do what? (8)

11 Who are those that resist any authority or control? (6)

14 When one makes use of others’ rights, one does what? (6)

17 What describes bitterness of expression proceeding from anger? (8)

18 Name an alternative term for spectacles. (6)

19 What are rare green varieties of beryl, highly valued as gems? (8)

20 To be in high spirits, is to be what? (6)

21 What are clumps of growing grass? (8)

1 Name an alternative term for the epidermis. (7)

2 To die, is to what? (7)

3 Who are the head male servants of households? (7)

4 Whose comet appears to the view of earth about every 76 years? (7)

5 To be more amusingly clever, is to be what? (7)

6 What do we call a woman ruler of an empire? (7)

11 Which substance, on account of the reactions it causes is used in chemical analysis? (7)

12 Which tradesmen are humorously referred to as Tonsorial Artists? (7)

13 What do we call rheumatic pain in the muscles of the small of the back? (7)

14 What is the Latin name for Odysseus? (7)

15 Montevideo is the capital of which South American republic? (7)

16 Which instruments are used for breaking up and grinding substances in mortars? (7)

Truly time for holly to step up GARDENING

IN my 30 or so years of writing, I can’t recall ever discussing or recommending the Ilex or holly family.

In the UK it’s a favourite Christmas decoration with the bright-red berries set against the glossy, green leaves.

There are more than 400 genus with the famous Hillier’s Nursery (UK) listing nearly 200 varieties, almost all evergreen; although there are some less-interesting deciduous varieties. Ilex range from Europe to the East with some interesting varieties from Japan.

Years ago, I was looking for a columnar variety to give added interest and height to our garden. There are plenty of conifers such as pencil pines, but all these were too large for my purpose. Plus I also wanted this narrow, upright shape to grow in pots.

My search ended when I saw exactly the plant in an English garden magazine; Ilex crenata “Sky Pencil”. As the name suggests, this is a columnar and referred to as box holly with no prickles similar to Buxus leaves.

Growing to about 50 centimetres wide and two metres tall, the two I have in our garden retain their shape perfectly. Besides being a specimen plant, it also makes a great hedge.

Another favourite is Ilex aquifolium x angustifolia with tiny leaves growing to a rounded shape up top two metres tall with a spread of about 1.5 metres. To retain its shape, I have only to give it a light trim every few years.

The most common holly is Ilex aquifolium renowned for its red berries. This grows to at least five metres tall and, as a hedge, makes a perfect security screen. No intruder is going to attempt to climb through or over this one!

Evergreen hollies can add interest to any garden, especially in winter.

FOLLOWING recent rain, now’s the time to give plants an autumn feed. My usual suggestion is using liquid certified organic Multicrop Seaweed plant nutrient. With the ground now moist, this will be absorbed down to the

ARE we getting carried away about climate change? The Horticultural Society received an email from a Canberra print

journalist who was inspired by a story in the Ger man newspaper “Badische Zeitung” in Freiburg, that reported out in its botanic gardens in winter due to some unusually warm weather.

tions of the ‘Canberra Gardener’ will have to be updated for the changing climate of Canberra”?

gardener. Some plants have been flowering out of season for millennia irrespective of possible climate change.

I AM often asked about woodlice, those tiny in sects with grey, hard, tortoise-like shells. They are often considered pests, but in fact woodlice are crustaceans and feed almost entirely on dead and decaying plant material. They are often found in wood heaps or the drier parts of a compost heap. It is very rare that they will eat fresh leaves. So, please, don’t use sprays to get rid of them.

SNAILS are on the move, chomping on the emerging leaves of my polyanthus. I have always liked the comment of David Young, former ABC gardening presenter, suggesting the best way to

Like every tourism operator in the area, due to local and world-wide events we have experienced lower bookings for February and March. For a VERY limited time, ring 02 6287 8444 anytime between 7am and 7pm and if we have a vacancy and you book in the next 4 nights from when you ring, we will upgrade you from a uShaka Room to a Giraffe Treehouse or from a Treehouse to a Jungle Bungalow. Luxury themed accommodation with artefacts, 5 course gourmet dinner with Moet Champagne and fine wines, breakfast, two great tours, incredible visitors at your window….. WINNER - Best Deluxe Accommodation in Australia 2017 Australian Hotels Association Awards for Excellence

Please note that while the animals generally join guests as shown, no guarantees can be given as they are free to roam their entire area at all times.