Can’t we do better than this
PAUL COSTIGAN
Duck, there’s a bra coming at you!
WENDY MACKLIN
Too
…can
IAN MEIKLE
Jacqueline Agius spearheads
By Danielle NOHRA
THE appointment of Canberra’s new safety commissioner comes at a time where there’s lots of changes for WorkSafe ACT, but Jacqueline Agius says she’s up for the hard work ahead.
She started on April 28, replacing Greg Jones, who retired after five years in the job.
But she’s not the only new thing about WorkSafe ACT, which became a statutory body on April 30, following the 2018 “Independent review of the ACT’s work safety compliance infrastructure, policies and procedures”.
The review made 27 recommendations, and part of Jacqueline’s role as the commissioner will be to ensure these recommendations are implemented, she says.
“There’s lots of challenges and hard work ahead,” says Jacqueline, but she believes the changes to WorkSafe ACT will eliminate any outside influence.
“There’s been a view that because the commissioner hasn’t been the regulator, there’s been limited power to enact change.
“All the decisions can now be made by the commissioner. The good thing
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about this is there can be no influence by the government, no influence by unions and no influence by the busi ness community.
“The only influence there will be on decision making is the legislation and the regulations, which is an exciting prospect because application of the legislation must be the focus of the commissioner.”
But, she is a big believer in develop ing strong relationships with busi nesses, unions and government to achieve cultural change, which she thinks is necessary.
It’s something she has fought for during her previous job as the senior industrial officer with the Australian Education Union, ACT Branch.
“When I began working at the AEU I [was] exposed to stories of occupa tional violence that our members were sharing with us,” she says.
This was incredibly frustrating for Jacqueline who, as a teacher 26 years ago, was the victim of a “significant” occupational violence incident at the school she was working at.
“At the time, my employer’s focus was protecting their organisation rather than the wellbeing of the staff who were affected by the incident,” she says.
“I loved teaching and I loved the stu dents I worked with. It was traumatising because I found myself questioning what my chosen profession was.
“So I went and became a lawyer
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schools from when she was a teacher.
“It was incredibly frustrating because between the years of when I was a teacher and when I started working for the union there were significant
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help make that change she joined the Work Safety Council in 2016.
After making change in the ACT public education system, Jacqueline now wants to make cultural change as
the Work Safety commissioner.
“Cultural change is the hardest to achieve and requires a shared mind-
“Clearly in the ACT we’ve had some issues with work health and safety. We saw the two deaths earlier in the year at Denman Prospect. We know that the track history, particularly in the area of construction in the ACT is not good.”
Compared to other states and territories, in 2016/17, Jacqueline says the ACT had the most serious injuries in construction, healthcare services and
“It is concerning,” she says. “We need to be more proactive. Compliance and enforcement will be a real focus.”
Jacqueline, who has only been in the position for two weeks, says she’ll look at the organisation from the inside, and many of her remarks are as
But, she says: “I absolutely would like to see psychosocial injuries added from a work health and safety perspective.”
“I absolutely would like to see improvements in the construction industry in relation to work health and
“I would like to see compliance to work health and safety legislation in the people’s services industry. I think work health and safety has had a focus on construction because it’s high risk but it means other industries haven’t been as compliant as they should be.”
THERE’S good news and bad news in the news that people are reading more news.
University of Canberra researchers, surveying 2196 Australians aged 18 and older, found that 60 per cent are either very or extremely concerned about the COVID-19 outbreak, which is driving news consump tion, with 71 per cent of respondents saying their news consumption has increased during the pandemic.
Our own website, citynews.com.au, can vouch for that with day after day of dizzying numbers.
Hooray for journalism. So, how bad can that be? Apparently, people are also tired of news about COVID-19 and are avoiding it due to news fatigue. Half of respondents (52 per cent) say they feel tired of hearing about COVID-19 and 46 per cent say they find the news coverage overwhelming.
“We found that while news about the coronavirus provides an important topic of conversation, it is also making 52 per cent of respondents feel more anxious,” says lead author Dr Sora Park .
“Women are more likely to feel an increase in anxiety because of COVID-19 news than men, and compared to older generations, Gen Y and Gen Z are more likely to say news about the coronavirus makes them feel more anxious.”
GOOD to see the Chief Minister finally up on his hind legs braying about the state of petrol prices in Canberra and threatening
“It’s important to address cost-of-living issues for the community, and we’ve done so through significant tax relief and through the power of government to work for the good of our community,” Andrew Barr crowed incongruously at a COVID-19 media briefing.
“One practical example of this has been in petrol pricing, where we have been very clear to the big oil companies that they cannot gouge Canberra motorists in this period.
“Petrol prices have fallen from around $1.50 a litre to around $1 a litre over the last month. That is welcome relief for Canberra motorists but there’s still room for more.”
With the ACT’s petrol-discount anchor Costco at Majura Park closed until mid-June for expansion, we’ll see if other resellers have the gall to nudge up prices while Costco adds six more bowsers.
novelty of the show-stealing, sign-language translator had waned, their curiosity was piqued.
Off to the website, which is as one would imagine a peerless and professional representation of the Australian government and its important work.
Admittedly it takes a little meandering, but there’s a list of federal ministers that, oddly, includes ones long gone from their portfolios and from parliament. Christopher Pyne lives again in Defence; Steve Ciobo is still there in Defence Industries; Melissa Price is listed as Environment Minister;
Kelly O’Dwyer walks tall in charge of Jobs, Industrial Relations and Women. Sporty Spice, the National’s Bridget McKenzie, is still credited with Regional Communities.
It’s at “Media releases and RSS feeds by portfolio” under “News and Social Media”. See if Big Brother gets to it before you do.
TAXPAYERS may be pleased to know that Medicare is seeking public donations. That doesn’t sound right, and it isn’t.
It’s an email scam, but it looks the part using the green Medicare logo, the department’s postal address in Greenway and phone numbers.
“During this time of crisis, Medicare Australia will be there for you and your family. Now its our time to support all the Medicare staff providing that excellent care – and say thank you,” says the covering “Medicare” email.
No credit cards yet (they’re coming, apparently) but in the meantime you just make a bank transfer to help the harried public servants.
“I feel that this scam should be publicised. I can see a lot of people falling for it,” says wise Kingston accountant Gail Freeman
This is but one of more than 2000 coronavirus-related scams reported to the ACCC’s scamwatch.gov.au website. It says it has tracked more than $700,000 in reported losses since the outbreak of COVID-19.
THE Lotto people poised this burning question: does your first initial spell lottery success? Apparently, it might. Clearly under-employed, they’ve analysed the first-name initials of those who took home the most division one wins across all lottery games in 2019 and suggest if your first name begins with the letters J, M or P you might have a (superstitiously) better chance of winning. Players with a first initial of J made up 9.38 per cent of the winners, players with an M won 9.23 per cent of the big wins and P came in third with 8.9 per cent. The letter I (as in Ian, as in me) was up in lights only 0.58 per cent of the time. Can I join your syndicate? WHAT’S the world been listening to most frequently while in lockdown, I hear you wonder? Me neither, but after someone scoured Spotify for playlists with lockdown themes in their title here are the top five recurring songs from the top 500 playlists: “Toxic”, Britney Spears; “Stayin’ Alive”, Bee Gees; “U Can’t Touch This”, MC Hammer “Don’t Stand So Close to Me”, Police; and “I Will Survive”, Gaynor
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.
By Kate MEIKLE
MUMS need to look after themselves, even if that means spending longer in the bathroom to have some space away from their families, says author and life coach, Angela Bullock.
She says that mothers are experiencing an increase in stress, anxiety and frustration due to the social isolation impacts of the COVID19 crisis and has fast tracked the release of her self-help book, “Messy Mum’s Playbook”, to support mums who are struggling to do it all.
“A lot of us are juggling working as well as being teachers for our kids that we have never trained to do,” says Angela who has three children aged 16, 13 and 12.
According to Angela, there’s no shame in being a “messy mum”.
“Being a ‘messy mum’ is the reality for everybody. I say we need to own it and be proud,” she says.
Angela warns not to assume that women who might look like they have their lives together aren’t a
messy mum on the inside.
“On the inside, we are a red-hot mess! Everything is everywhere in our heads and we end up on the bottom of the priority list, when we need to be at the top.”
“It’s okay for mums to be messy and not feel ‘normal’. It’s okay to have dreams and important to chase them, to still have goals and a purpose,” she says.
Angela says that now, more than ever, kids are looking to their mothers for leadership.
“They are looking at us and seeing how their mum is dealing with this time,” she says.
“(The book) is about helping you to become calm, confident and empowered so you can be a better leader in the home and go on to achieve the goals that matter to you.”
Angela says it’s important to be real: “I want mums to own what is going on for them. If they hide their feelings, they are not comfortable. It’s okay to cry and let the kids know that.”
Angela says emotions take 90 seconds to pass and recommends that we give our emotions space and validate what we are feeling at the time because holding them in will only see them escalate and explode at the worst times.
“So have a cry, then wash your face and put on your favourite un dies and ask ‘what can I do now?’ We don’t need to have our shit to gether,” she says.
Having recently faced the stress of having her eldest daughter in quarantine after being stuck in South Korea on an international student exchange, only to have her youngest child hospitalised and di agnosed with type one diabetes the week after her arrival home, An gela says that she has been using every one of the tools in her book to keep calm and lead her family through this tough time.
“It’s the uncertainty of the crisis; that is a massive thing for mums. I recommend that we do something that we are certain of the outcome every day to create certainty, habits and feel a little more empow ered,” she says.
“Be kind to yourself, look after yourself and be the leader. If that means having a pajama day and doing no homeschooling for a day, that’s fine. Don’t put pressure on yourself and reach out when you need help.”
“Messy Mum’s Playbook”, via Amazon and Booktopia. More information at fireflylifecoaching.com.au
• Take longer in the bathroom to gain peace from the noise, because nobody’s going to bother you if they think you’re on the toilet.
• Create more joy in your day. You can find pockets of joy in your day by making time to get out of your PJs and dressing up, wearing your best earrings, shaving your legs, jumping on the trampoline (if your pelvic floor can cope) or stirring the spaghetti bolognese while dancing to your favourite song.
• At the end of every day, write down your feelings – the good, the bad and the ugly. This helps you validate your emotions.
• Create a gratitude practice by writing down five things you’re grateful for each day – things you’ve been seeing, feeling, watching or having in the past 24 hours. This helps you look for more things to achieve joy and connectedness in your day.
• Move your body every day. It’s not about body image, but about releasing feel-good hormones that are totally free.
Dr Vicky Pusnjak and Dr Edward Davies will be continuing the high quality of service that Dr Christopher Quoy has continually given at Ainslie Dental Care.
Dr Vicky and associates invite NEW patients to receive the highest quality dental care in Ainslie. Emergency
ME/CFS is a very poorly understood, hard to diagnose, and harder to live with disease.
The ACT ME/CFS Society provides regular self help courses and support groups for people living with from ME/CFS and their carers (parents in particular)
These can be attended in person*, online or through video conferencing.
The Society also provides regular health and wellbeing seminars as well as access to free counselling for members.
Online courses support health care providers with education regarding ME/CFS.
*Not currently under the Covid-19 restrictions.
The ACT ME/CFS Society works closely with Arthritis ACT and Society members have access to all the programs delivered at Arthritis ACT.
THERE are about five months to the next ACT election. There’s a lockdown in place. So how do ACT politicians get noticed if they cannot stand around crowded places to try to be noticed?
The Canberra Liberals have kept silent about things that matter, such as planning and development. We know little about what they stand for. They had probably planned to start campaigning about now, hoping that people would forget that they have been silent on urban issues. They have a huge challenge to be taken seriously if they want to take government away from the Labor-Greens coalition.
There’s no doubt that the Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, has been doing his best to build his leadership profile through this crisis. Someone commented that he has even been seen smiling (surely not). There’s not much to be said about the leadership of other ACT politicians. There’s little evidence that
The Planning Minister goes on pretending that he ‘knows nothing’ about the shocking treatment of community groups and individual residents. He sees no evil, hears no evil and does nothing.
people have confidence in the quality of this cohort of ACT politicians.
Take for instance a silly press release from Mick Gentleman, the sometimes-Planning Minister, who foolishly claimed that the ACT government was doing well with development and planning due to the innovative digital processes.
Local small builders think otherwise given the “all-over-the-place” responses to their DA applications (for house extensions etcetera).
The community knows, through experience, that planning is run badly with an ad-hoc approach to how things are decided. The Planning Minister goes on pretending that he “knows nothing” about the shocking treatment of community groups and individual residents. He sees no evil, hears no evil and does nothing.
Housing Minister Yvette Berry continues to blunder on. The school decisions are difficult enough given
the virus threat is here to stay for a long time yet. Let’s be polite, and mark her as “could do better”. She is also responsible for the disingenuous processes to have her DA approved for Common Ground in Dickson. Faith in her ability to be transparent was not helped by a planning bureaucrat’s comment that the normal appeal processes would not be allowed for the government’s Common Ground DA. That translated as a notice that Mick Gentleman has been prepared to use his call-in powers because everyone involved knows how many faults there are with this DA.
On the south side, the local member Chris Steel, Transport and City Services Minister, keeps on making questionable announcements. Take his proposal to turn a park south of Cooleman Court into a “temporary” car park. The reported overcrowding happens because people come over from Wright and Coombs as they do not have access to their own supermarket. That is, a shopping centre was built in Coombs five years ago but no-one in this government, including local member Steel, can get
New NAOT winter stock in store now at The Healthy Foot with Canberra’s largest range
it to open for business.
After some pressure, the “temporary” car park was reduced to 65 places. The Weston Creek Community Council, doing the job of the planning bureaucrats, has since worked out that with some rejigging of the car spaces around the shopping centre, that at least the same number could be freed up within the present arrangements. So bulldozing the nearby park is totally unnecessary. Not a good look for the local member Steel!
There are other stories about other ministers. Problem being that most residents would not have a clue who they are. They have little profile. Everyone knows the bureaucrats roll the decisions across the ministers’ desks for them to sign off on without much thought – then show up for the
photo – and the job is done.
This city with its higher-thanaverage collective intelligence, with its high interest in cultural and heritage matters, with residents active and interested in their urban environments and seeking more greenery (not less), has somehow managed to end up with very ordinary politicians. Too harsh? I finish where we started. It is five months to the ACT elections. Can we do better in electing people who residents can identify with and who have creative (not destructive) aspirations for this wonderful bush capital?
Paul Costigan is an independent commentator and consultant on the visual arts, photography, urban design, environmental issues and everyday matters.
WENDY MACKLIN says isolation is causing people to become quite weird especially when Judy whispered into the phone: “And do you know what? I haven’t worn a bra for a week!”
ALL over the nation, all over the world, a strange thing is happening. Women en masse are flinging away their bras. Off they come – relegated to the back of drawers, behind the bathroom door or into the bin.
Isolation is causing people to change and frankly, become quite weird. Some of us have gone mad and vacuumed under the beds, others are keeping chooks as pets. Honestly, don’t they know about Dynamic Lifter? (not the brand name of an undergarment).
But the bra toss is only now being publicly revealed. This is not a new occurrence but the burning years were long ago and nobody actually did set bras on fire; we just didn’t wear them for a day or two with nothing to lose (pencil wise) being young and perky.
I became aware of this phenomenon last week when Judy whispered into the phone: “And do you know what? I haven’t worn a bra for a week!”
Emails on the subject of isolation practices had the sentence: “And I must admit I haven’t...”
I was surprised at the levels of guilt but not at the news itself. Being
in the deepest isolation in a coastal village – where one can go whole days without seeing any living creature except rabbits and galahs – I had long abandoned constricting garments. I was also wearing my partner’s car cleaning T-shirts, which are so comfy and roomy, I could have two rock melons under there (dream on) and you wouldn’t know.
And if you’ve had a partner for a while, they don’t notice and you aren’t going out to work where you have to look good for both women AND men. Who notices anybody in the supermarket? And these days you could strut down the aisles wearing nothing but a large flower painted over your navel and nobody would be distracted from their relentless race to the paper goods.
I decided to do some deep and meaningful research and, of course, Google has everything you were afraid to ask on the history of the bra. Here are the important facts: women had a lot to do with the invention and development of the bra. So did the Germans until World War I when there was a lack of wire and corsets and other strait-jacket-like under
to choose one word to describe the bra and the winner was “uncomfortable”. Which might be because about 80 per cent wear the wrong size. There is no denying that women all look forward to putting on their nighties and PJ’s. Which reminds me that, long ago before marriage and childbirth – and influenced by magazine propaganda – I wore my Wonderbra to bed to encourage perky uplift. Ridiculous. I only lasted a week.
These days we are more sensible and going public. Last week, the gutsy Magda Szubanski went on the ABC’s “7.30” with a song and dance to encourage fitness and pay tribute to our wonderful health workers. She had some friends with her – not tiny, delicate ladies by any stretch of the imagination – but they sure moved. Everything moved. The television toppled off the bookcase. Leigh Sales signed off with: “And not one was wearing a bra!”
So there it is – public acknowledgement of what is happening in our modern world. Sisters, don’t feel guilty; feel proud that you are free at last and your least favourite garment is now tying up the door to the chook pen.
Anyone else have some notes from isolation they’d like to share? Short or long as you like (to 700 words) to editor@citynews.com.au
IT’S one of the oldest surviving newspapers in Australia, having even served the national capital, but “The Queanbeyan Age” may have had its final print run as one of more than 200 regional and rural papers throughout the country to have fallen victim to a virus.
It also comes in the face of the $50 million re gional journalism rescue package announced by the federal government in response to the COVID-19-induced shutdowns.
In 160 years of continuous publication, the “Age” has managed to stay afloat and act as district informer during other global disasters including two World Wars, the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-19 (Spanish Flu) and a decade of economic instability following the Great Depression in 1929.
As the third newspaper established in the wider area – “The Goulburn Herald” appearing in 1848 (absorbed by “The Goulburn Evening Penny Post” of 1870), followed by “The Yass Courier” in 1857 (until 1929) – it’s outlasted as many as five other Queanbeyan papers to variously report on local happenings (in the early 1900s, the town supported three at once!). It even survived the arrival of “The Canberra Times” in 1926.
Times though, “are a changin,” and in mid-April “The Queanbeyan Age” joined the vast number of “non-daily” titles suspended from appearing in print. One of a stable of mastheads owned by Australian Community Media (ACM), the former Fairfax holding sold just last year, new executive chairman Antony Catalano stated the measures would be in place until the end of June.
A door has closed on history, and what are the chances it will be reopened?
Trudy Taylor, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional councillor, former editor of the local press icon and granddaughter of the wellknown owner-editor from 1958, Jim Woods, is concerned by what the decision means for the
who’d become known names, including poet Victor J Daley, a contemporary of Henry Lawson. Gale – later dubbed the “Father of Canberra” for his role in seeing the national capital sited in
the backyard of his adopted hometown – also ran other newspapers throughout the area. Among them, “The Braidwood Independent”, “The Bungendore Mirror” and “The Captain’s Flat Miner”. The extensive operation was a family affair –as it would similarly become on its acquisition by Lial James “Jim” Woods (in partnership with Arthur and Jack Bradley) 100 years after its first editor settled in Queanbeyan.
Despite Gale’s conservative views – he was a strict tee-totaller, a stalwart Freemason and a man who didn’t believe in sport on Sundays – he gave his daughters opportunities that would have been revolutionary in the day.
Annie, Eva and Minnie, all still in their teens, became compositors (arranging text for printing). Given it was the 1870s, my research suggests they were some of the first women in Australia to be employed in such an occupation.
In addition, Annie (later, Mrs Fallick) became an editor – potentially the youngest female ever at just 18 – and proprietor of her own newspaper, “The Queanbeyan Observer” (I’m writing further about these remarkable women, so stay posted).
In the meantime, the original town paper assumed other local efforts, from “The Queanbeyan Times” to the “Queanbeyan-Canberra Advocate” and eventually joined forces with “The Observer”. At one point popular enough to be produced three times a week, it more-or-less remained a Gale-Fallick-Woods dynasty until its sale in 1994 to “the nation’s largest publisher to country Australians”, Rural Press Limited.
In 2016, it was incorporated with “The Chronicle” by Fairfax, and after 156 years, its Queanbeyan office closed, relocated to the Federal Capital Press building at Fyshwick. Today, vestiges of its legacy, including working printing presses, are homed in the Queanbeyan Printing Museum. Founded by Jim Woods, it’s one of only a handful of such treasure troves of history in the country. The Queanbeyan Library too, boasts a collection of bound copies of almost every issue of “The Queanbeyan Age”, making it still possible to thumb through the news of the day. Hopefully what comes next for a media grand dame with a masthead proclaiming it “the heart and soul of Queanbeyan and District since 1860” won’t see it exist only in the vast and impersonal reaches of cyberspace.
More at anoverallview. wixsite.com/blog
SINCE it’s already cold and only going to get colder, Roz and Lew Rebbeck, owners of Alexanders Furnishings, say it’s time to ensure the windows at home are wellinsulated with curtains.
“We’re all staying home more than usual with the COVID-19 restrictions, and as winter approaches, we’re using the heating more,” Roz says.
“Curtains that fit closely to the window are the most energy-efficient way to keep the house warm and cosy, and can save up to a third on heating bills.”
Roz says that Alexanders Furnishings has been open throughout the crisis, while observing all the required safety measures.
She says they are still receiving orders, making and installing according to the COVID-19 guidelines.
“We’ve reduced the amount of people in the showroom at any one time for social distancing, and provide hand-washing facilities and hand sanitiser,” she says.
“We are still hanging curtains and blinds in people’s homes, and maintain strict hygiene measures while ensuring we stay the correct distance apart.
“People can still borrow fabric from us, too, and when it’s returned we spray it with disinfectant.”
Alexanders is operating on reduced hours, closing at 4.30pm daily instead of 5pm, and closed on Saturdays.
“When the restrictions are eased, we’ll go back to our usual hours,” Roz says.
Roz and Lew recommend “EVO”, a curtain-heading system which they say is extremely effective at preventing loss of heat or cooling, whatever the time of year.
“You can choose any fabric you like, as the key is the EVO tracking system,” Roz says.
“It creates a track close to the window which helps keep warm or cool air inside and allows for a smaller stack when open, which lets in more valuable winter sunlight.”
Roz says EVO has developed new track sections that incorporate a sleek and “invisible” pelmet system, which means there’s no need to install a traditional bulky timber pelmet over the top of the curtains.
“It can also be used as curtains with sheers behind for added privacy,” she says.
Alexanders Furnishings, which has been in business for more than 50 years, provides a free measure and quote. Roz says they also offer other curtain systems to suit personal preferences, and a wide range of blinds and accessories.
Alexanders Furnishings, Shop 5, Paul’s Centre, Hindmarsh Drive, Phillip. Call 6281 1611.
THE Morrison government has passed its first test in putting the people before big business. However, the second test is somewhat more challenging.
Will the federal government stand up to the bullying tactics of China and the billionaires or will they put people first?
Calling for an independent international commission of inquiry to examine the origins of COVID-19 is a very sensible approach. This coronavirus had far-reaching consequences for all countries on earth and it is reasonable that a co-ordinated international effort be made to prevent a repeat. The first step is to identify the origins of the current virus.
Australia, along with most democracies, is familiar with independent commissions of inquiry in such circumstances. At first blush it seems clear that the style of government in China and some other countries is challenged by any inquiry that is not controlled by the state.
However, it can also be challenging for democracies. It is not hard to imagine the resistance of Donald Trump to any attempt at an international inquiry into his handling of the virus.
In calling for the independent inquiry, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has put the ordinary people first.
The reaction of China has been that of a bully. Do something we do not like and there will be serious consequences. For years China has been building its economic influence in the developing world as part of its “soft diplomacy”.
What is clear, especially with the latest threats, is that it is hardening its approach and is also prepared to use economic threats with Australia.
Economic threats from China should be no surprise. In 2017 South Korea suffered a dramatic two thirds drop in visitors from China. The government in Beijing was not happy with the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system and orchestrated a boycott reported to cost billions of dollars.
The reaction of Australia’s mining magnates and media moguls, such as “Twiggy” Forrest and Kerry Stokes, comes as no surprise. They believe they should be able to set the agenda –particularly for a conservative government. It is time for Morrison to put them in their place, to demonstrate that the government’s priority is with everyday Australians.
The leader of the Prime Minister’s COVID-19 Commission, Neville Power, also needs to be brought back into line. His support for Forrest is simply outrageous as was the behaviour of the mining billionaire himself.
Bringing an uninvited Chinese official to a government press conference was simply ap -
The Prime Minister now has a choice. He can be bullied by billionaires or he can continue to stand up for Australian sovereignty and ordinary people by refusing to back down to these threats.
palling; it was rude, presumptuous, arrogant and bigheaded.
The Chinese consul general in Melbourne ought to have understood how inappropriate it was to gatecrash the press conference with Health Minister Greg Hunt. What would have been the reaction of the Chinese government if an Australian diplomat had attempted the same stunt in Beijing?
The threats that Chinese people might boycott Australian exports by ambassador Jingye Cheng over the push for a coronavirus investigation is unprecedented. No wonder mining magnates who have concentrated on Chinese markets for decades are unnerved. This is exactly what China intends as the influence of the ultra-wealthy on government in Australia is well understood.
The ambassador went further in an attempt to threaten a much broader section of Australian business with “maybe the ordinary people will say: ‘Why should we drink Australian wine? Eat Australian beef?’,” and ‘why should we go to such a country that is not so friendly to China?’”.
The Prime Minister now has a choice. He can be bullied by billionaires such as Forrest and Stokes (and no doubt many other more subtle persuaders). Alternatively, he can continue to stand up for Australian sovereignty and ordinary people by refusing to back down to these threats.
China may wish to resist an international independent inquiry as part of protecting its own sovereignty. As part of their “soft diplomacy”, it has made a great deal out of its willingness to assist others and to share what has been learnt from their experience. For their part, supporting such an inquiry would really show good faith with the rest of the world.
Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legisla tive Assembly and an inde pendent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.
TWO-thirds of Australians say they feel anxious or worried about their own and others’ safety, according to a new study from ANU.
The study, which assesses people’s attitudes and experiences of COVID-19 before and during the pandemic, found that almost four-in-10 people say they feel it’s either very likely or likely that they will be infected with the coronavirus in the next six months.
Researchers Prof Nicholas Biddle and Prof Matthew Gray say the findings paint a picture of “hardship and distress, but also resilience”.
The study found that Australians are feeling extremely anxious about job security in the long run.
Prof Biddle says the findings weren’t all negative: “There were big increases in Australians’ confidence in the federal government, in state and territory governments and the public service.
“Between January and April the proportion of Australians who are confident or very confident in the federal government increased from 27.3 to 56.6 per cent, in the public service from 48.8 to 64.8 per cent and state/territory governments increased from 40.4 to 66.7 per cent.”
THE SPIRE project and now the tent hospital on Garran School oval only serve to highlight the inadequacies of the current site for Canberra’s main tertiary referral hospital.
The site is too cramped and does not allow for expansion, re-development without inconvenience, nor flexibility to respond to major challenges such as COVID-19.
The 2011 ACT government hospital planning exercise correctly identified the need to plan for a total relocation of Canberra Hospital.
But planning of public hospitals cannot be done on bed numbers (as per the 2011 approach) but must consider role delineation (vis-à-vis other referral hospitals); levels of care by specialty; rapid helicopter, road and public transport access; anticipated changes in technology and demographic changes.
Further, public hospitals are not just buildings with beds, emergency services, operating theatres and a helipad – they are more like small townships with a symbiotic relationship with private hospitals, private consulting rooms, tertiary education and research facilities – all businesses owned by other entities. Accordingly, very long lead times must be given to shift a major hospital.
If the current site cannot be expanded through acquisition of adjacent land, then I consider that a new site must be identified as a matter of urgency for Canberra taking account of two key factors currently impacting Canberra’s long-term future:
1. the demographic shift to the west associated with Molonglo Valley and, eventually, land development even further west; and
2. the public transport game-changer – light rail – which includes plans for light rail to Woden (but not to Canberra Hospital) and, eventually, Molonglo Valley.
Patients, visitors, staff and particularly hospital staff who work early and late shifts benefit from the convenience and security associated with light rail services at the hospital’s front door.
A future site for the Canberra Hospital needs to be identified now in the context of work currently being undertaken on public transport, demographic trends, land release and land use planning. An integrated approach is required so that a site can be found for the city’s tertiary referral hospital to be located near the demographic centre of the city and on the planned future light rail route.
Alison Hutchison, Coombs
THE attack on letter writer Ken Smith (CN, April 16) by political columnist Michael Moore (CN, April 23 ) is truly appalling.
dose of dorin
Mr Smith argued that public servants should share the pain with those in the private sector and take a pay cut. He suggests 40 per cent. Moore argues that thousands of public servants were working all day, every day processing applications etcetera.
Well, Mr Moore, thousands of private-sector business owners and employees have been working day and night just to stay in business! Thousands have lost their jobs.
Setting aside the extent of the cut, which seems excessive, why in principle should the public sector not be subject to a pay cut in the same way that the private sector has borne?
Does Mr Moore seriously suggest that senior public servants at least, many of whom are paid salaries well over $200,000 and up to $1 million and beyond should not incur a modest pay cut of say 10 to 15 per cent while the economic shutdown prevails? Politicians are very well remunerated by community standards also.
The PM and ministers in NZ set a good example by taking a pay cut and I believe that all Australian politicians at federal and state level should have demonstrated leadership and followed suit. After all, as the government says and Mr Smith reminds us, we are all in this together.
Colin Lyons, Weetangera
AN ACT education outcome that requires special attention is the revelation in the “2020 Closing the Gap” report tabled by Prime Minister Morrison earlier this year that the ACT did not meet the target for closing the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children in literacy and numeracy.
The target is measured by utilising the year 3,5,7 and 9 NAPLAN results for literacy and numeracy. According to the “Closing the Gap” report, the ACT failed in five of the eight cohorts measured.
I understand this may be the first time since the target was set over a decade ago that the ACT has failed to meet this particular target.
I may be wrong, but the absence of a media release or any comment from the Minister for Education or Chief Minister suggests otherwise. It does of course help explain why the ACT government is so keen to abolish NAPLAN testing.
Jon Stanhope, via email
IN reply to the letter from R Leister, of Amaroo (CN April 23): no, we are not in a “police state” and the Constitution allows for quarantine measures to overrule your “head-in-the-sand” attitude when the wellbeing of the citizens of Australia is threatened.
If the current situation does not fall into this category, then I don’t know what does! If the threat was a foreign army against which we lacked appropriate weapons,
would you just sit back and let them take over, or would you use everything you could think of to hold them back until we acquired the weapons needed?
The COVID-19 situation is exactly this. If we had closed both federal and state borders earlier and quarantined everyone arriving over any border, Australia – especially Canberra – would have even less COVID-19 than we do, and in the worldwide scheme of things, we’ve done exceptionally well. If we had banned or quarantined every person from any cruise ship as well, we may have got away with it scot free.
Having watched what was happening in Wuhan for weeks, we did not need to be told to “lockdown”. And after all, we are allowed out to shop and exercise. We panicked this time, but not for SARS, malaria or flu, because COVID-19 is not a normal “phlegmy” type pneumonia, where pus fills the air sacs in the lungs. This virus destroys the lung tissue, eats its way into the blood vessels and can move elsewhere in the body. It is not pneumonia alone that’s killing people, it is the breakdown of other vital organs, resulting in strokes and kidney failure. And people with a selfish attitude!
Arleen Stark, Kaleen
VIRGIN Australia is in administration because of a reported $6 billion debt and about 12,000 creditors. Its planes can’t leave Australia.
But in a matter of life and death, a cruise vessel that reportedly sourced scores of coronavirus cases, including some deaths, has brought on a judicial hearing. Nevertheless, in a confounding move, the vessel and captain have been allowed to leave our shores despite human lives being of extremely greater importance than money.
Any contradictions between the law of the sea and Australia’s sovereign laws must be clarified urgently.
Colliss Parrett, Barton
I REFER to exciting news (“CityNews”, April 9) that Bill Stefaniak is registering for the next election under the Belco Party and is looking for five other like-minded people with various life experiences and skills to join him. This is really great because we can have our very own Six Amigos ie Lucky Day, Dusty Bottoms, Ned Nederlander and Bill (lovingly called The Golden Parachute), with Colt 45 and Winchester 72 as enforcers. The only bummer is that it seems like a blokes’ club. I agree with Bill that something needs to be done to straighten out the city. The “amigos” will have a huge hill to climb because, as columnist Paul Costigan reckons, the government’s messing in Gungahlin (CN April 16), but how does that fit with Belco’s Steven King horror story?
Even political writer Michael Moore reckons Belco Bill’s in with a big chance of election (CN, April 16) –maybe it’s time for the Green Hornet to appear.
John Lawrence, Belconnen
PLEASE give us more and more opinion pieces, like one by Clive Williams (“Don’t fight it, head to the sunny side of the street”, CN, April 23).
UN Bhati, via email
LIFE is funny. My daughter, who is a teacher in Queensland sent me a text with a picture, which had the caption: “Some of you parents out there are about to realise that the teacher wasn’t the f@@#@#g problem!” On ABC’s “Q&A”, the comments flowing through on the underneath comments were full of praise and worship for teachers. Will it continue after this predicament is over?
Pete Mullins, Amaroo
WENDY JOHNSON
By Helen MUSA
WHILE many of us are slowing down during the COVID-19 process, Ausdance ACT is escalating its efforts.
The verb “to escalate”, only in common use since the 1930s, means increasing in intensity, and was derived from the invention of the escalator. It’s a perfect way to describe Ausdance ACT’s funded youth-mentoring program “Escalate”, where young dancers are paired with mentors to produce new and original work that will take them, well, to the next level.
“Escalate V”, its fifth iteration, had already progressed through an intensive summer workshop directed by Jamie Winbank and would have been performed live on May 1-2.
But with the virus crisis, Ausdance was forced back to the drawing board, first taking its sessions to Zoom format, then meeting regularly online to work out the technology and now, in a major effort by this year’s producer and leading mentor, Debora Di Centa, leading to a professionally-filmed production that will go live later this month.
her late grandfather, who emigrated here in 1951.
Di Centa has never looked back, leaping into the ACT dance community and getting behind dance initiatives with Ausdance, Belconnen Arts Centre, and even performing in a gully at Elizabeth Dalman‘s property Mirramu on Lake George.
Her enthusiasm is infectious.
She praises Canberra Dance Theatre for giving them studio space in NewActon for workshops and their work, as well as the Lonsdale Street studio, a new seven-by-five square metre space-for-hire equipped with lighting, sound-proofing and professionalgrade video and audio equipment, where they are able to use “green screen” visual effects via post-production editing.
When I catch up with her, she’s in the middle of a filming session with professional videographer Patrick Lindley, of Patorama Studios in Queanbeyan.
It’s been a busy two days, with Lindley doing the filming, working with new mentees such as choreographer Holly Flaming and her dancer, Ella Pausina, to experiment with angles and lighting that could “make them
In the dance world, the expressions “mentor” and “mentee” are common. The former is a senior dance artist who does the
By Helen Musa
CANBERRA Symphony Orchestra will launch an online mini-series later in May or early June, commissioning 14 short solo works by Australian composers.
mentoring and the second the person who is being mentored.
“Video and dance go well together, but not all dancers are used to being on the screen,” Di Centa says.
“We think this has been a special opportunity to explore and grow.”
“Escalate” alumnus, Nicholas Jachno, is choreographing and dancing as a “senior mentee”. After Lindley is finished, Jachno will edit his footage.
On the second day of filming the focus turned to Down syndrome artist Neave Darmody dancing to Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing”; very appropriate and very intense, Di Centa says.
“We are really happy with what resulted,” Di Centa says, lamenting that they lost two artists because of stress and anxiety over the current situation so that they had decided to “pause their journey”. She’d be glad to have them back.
The filmed concert will see four pieces involving five dancers with Di Centa as producer-mentor and ideas person, although she is quick to point out that the ideas for each work come strictly from the mentees.
The release date for the “Escalate V” film at ausdanceact.org.au and on social media has yet to be confirmed.
Partly a move to cement its profile as a national leader in programming Australian music, the series will be co-curated by composer and director of the CSO’s “Austral ian Series”, Matthew Hindson, and UK-based Australian conductor Jessica Cottis.
Cottis, the former organ graduate from the School of Music who’s best known here for conducting “The Gallipoli Symphony” was to have conducted the second Llewellyn Series concert in May, and is widely touted as the replacement for chief conductor and artistic director of the CSO Nick Milton when he leaves at the end of this year.
It brings us joy and it lifts our spirits. It is a beacon of comfort and hope during these times. It is nourishment for our souls.”
to play alongside CSO musicians in a short virtual performance.
By Helen Musa
AFTER 25 years of razzmatazz, the CAT Awards are closing.
In a message mooted by chair Dennis Martin during the online CATs announcements of April 18 and now circulated to 25 Canberra theatre companies, a meeting has been proposed to discuss whether to continue with an awards program and in what way.
registered company under the Corporations Act 2001 and, the board has decided, will be wound up by June 30.
to take in districts as distant as Dubbo and Merimbula. Busloads of fans descended on Canberra each year for the glitzy mini-Oscars ceremony at venues including The Playhouse, Llewellyn Hall, Canberra Theatre and once only in 2017, Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre.
A rotating panel of judges roamed the regions, an expensive enterprise eventually supported by the NSW government through Deputy Premier, Minister for
The mini-series will be just one part of a suite of digital offerings to be delivered before the orchestra returns as Milton puts it, “in its full glory to perform heavenly symphonic music”. Along with online recitals and curated playlists, there will be virtual orchestra projects remotely recorded in collaboration with the ANU School of Music.
“Without minimising the gravity of these circumstances for the entire creative and performing arts sector, we are embracing the opportunity to try some new things,” Milton said in a YouTube message to the orchestra’s “tight-knit family”.
Quoting Aldous Huxley, who once wrote, “After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible, is music”, Milton goes on to say, “Now, more than ever, music can play an important part in our lives.
Each work commissioned in the miniseries, he said, would be recorded by a CSO musician and premiered online.
As well, the CSO and the ANU School of Music would be inviting community members to record and submit their own parts for a community “Virtual Orchestra” event, to be made with artistic guidance from Milton and production by School of Music technical staff Matt Barnes and Craig Greening.
He reminded viewers that part of the opening Llewellyn Series concert, the Saint-Säens Organ Symphony, had recorded an empty Llewellyn Hall during a rehearsal with the full orchestra, and posted it on their YouTube channel to a rapturous response.
The new venture, he explained, would be additional to the joint “Side by Side, Byte Size” project announced recently, which is intended to give students the opportunity
The separate “Virtual Recital Series” will be showcasing soloists, starting with the CSO’s principal clarinet Alan Vivian.
The first Australian mini-series episode is expected to be released late May or early June. The “Virtual Orchestra” collaborations will be shared in June and information about the community special will come out via the above channels in the next week or two so that members of the public can submit videos.
The CSO will also be circulating regular playlists and Milton was quick to reassure the sceptics that his musicians had “eclectic tastes and a wide knowledge of the repertoire… I’m sure they will be revealing some unexpected surprises in an endless universe.”
The CSO’s free mini-series at cso.org.au/ newsletter-signup/. Its concerts at facebook.com/canberrasymphonyorchestra
spokesperson and a member of its judging panel, Ian Mclean, schools have not been included in the message, to prevent any initial meeting being overcrowded, nor have regional companies, so that Canberra interest could be gauged first, but either way, the closure would go ahead.
and performer-entrepreneur Kate Peters in 1994, the then “Canberra Area Theatre Awards” for amateur theatre quickly became a part of the theatre, dance, school, cabaret and musical theatre scene in Canberra and surrounding districts, self-funded on a fee-for-inclusion basis but never receiving ACT government funding.
and companies in the immediate region, the awards flourished, then rapidly expanded
WHAT could death look like in our digital age?
This is comedy, seriously. It’s the question the guru behind the likes of “The Office”, “Parks and Recreation” and “The Simpsons”, Greg Daniels, tackles in his new comedic sci-fi “Upload”.
Now streaming on Amazon Prime, it’s a premise that teeters on the other side of tomorrow about a virtual-reality afterlife where customers can upload and upgrade their lives.
Sounds like a deal you couldn’t say no to, right? Well, turns out not even “heaven” comes without strings in the technological age. Ads, “In-App Purchases” and social ratings are all there to remind us what we’ve left behind.
“Upload” cleverly taps into that evergrowing fascination and anxiety about our relationship with technology. It’s a darkly witty commentary on the way corporations make our lives “easier” as long as we shell out the bucks and the data and is played out on the grandest of scales.
Its light-hearted approach is opposite to the creepier exploration of a similar theme – Netflix’s “Black Mirror”, which leaves you more than a tad concerned about just what that very smart phone in your pocket is really up to.
Speaking of Netflix, “Extraction” exploded on the streaming service this week soaring straight to the top of the trending charts. Its marketing didn’t miss the opportunity to
proclaim it’s produced by the Russo brothers; if you don’t recognise the name, you’re bound to know their 2019 product, “Avengers: Endgame” – only the highest-grossing film of all time, albeit technically achieved through a cheeky second release of an extended cut.
“Gone with the Wind” fans may argue, but it seems the consensus is, “frankly my dear ...” (and of course, “Avengers” is to be found on Disney+).
The Russo boys have brought their “God of Thunder” Chris Hemsworth over for this action blockbuster. It’s essentially a ramped-
design of your local parkland
A micro-forest is a dense pocket of climate-ready vegetation that cools the landscape, provides habitat and enhances community well-being. Planning is underway to create a micro-forest on the banks of Sullivans Creek at the corner of Wattle St & Goodwin St in Lyneham.
up “Die Hard”, but they bring their own style to it. Its trend-topping is also impressive when you consider it didn’t get the chance to
IF you’re looking for something more “real”, the gritty Australian film “Animal Kingdom” is just now available on SBS On Demand. Jacki Weaver is fully in charge as a manipulating matriarch of a Melbournebased crime family. They’re all desperate to devour one another in a brutal and competitive hierarchy and it’s nerve-wracking stuff. If you’ve seen a television series of “Animal Kingdom” somewhere in all your Netflix scrolling, this is thanks to it getting American attention and them doing their thing of trying to “Americanise” it. Although that can wind up in disaster (honestly, were those aspirational bogans from Fountain Lakes, “Kath & Kim” ever going to breach the cultural divide?), “Animal Kingdom” translates better and is worth an “add” to
THIS whole staying at home thing has fast-tracked all kinds of questions about what was not so long ago the “future” of streaming. Now, an entire 10-day film festival, “We Are One”, will be completely streamed on YouTube at the end of this
month, free of charge after yet more COVIDcancelling of every film festival scheduled for this year.
The Academy, ever desperate to keep pace with the times, announced that “streaming only” movies, such as “Extraction”, will from now on be eligible for nomination for a coveted gold statue.
Not being able to go to the cinema for the last few months because of lockdown has given us a different peep behind the curtain at how we might continue to watch. Success in all this may see even more of a movement away from cinemas than was happening pre-virus.
Although it’s fantastic we now have more ease of access to such a wide range of different media through streaming, does anything beat the magic of sitting in the dark with a bunch of similarly-minded strangers, munching on popcorn, and seeing your heroes larger-than-life as they leap from buildings in a single bound?
A ONE-hour online broadcast of the 2020 Virtual APRA Music Awards will take place from 7pm on Monday, May 25. It was moved from May 26, which is Sorry Day. With one-off performances curated by musical director Kate Miller-Heidke, the host will be Australian rapper-writer-actor Briggs, mobbed in Canberra whenever he appears here. These awards are for all kinds of music and there are always Canberrans among the front-runners. Visit hyvio.com/apraawards
KYEEMA Gallery in Hall has an exhibition, “The World Around Us”, by well-known ACT artists Isla Patterson, Nell Anderson and Margaret Carr, showing from May 15. Capital Wines, where the gallery is located, will show art on its walls as usual, but there won’t be a formal opening. At 13 Gladstone Street, Hall, open Thursdays to Mondays, 11am-4pm.
SYDNEY Eisteddfod has created “Stage At Home”, a new venture in which the talent of the cancelled 2020 event can be seen at home. Absolutely everyone is welcome, whether they’re into dance, drama, music or song. All those who entered, or intended to, should submit new recordings of themselves at home, performing what would have been their competition piece. It’s not a competition though, and there will be no prizes or judging. Visit sydneyeisteddfod.com.au
THE ABC’s “TOP” scheme has been expanded to artists and arts scholars for the first time, to help train Australia’s next generation of researchers in the art of sharing their wisdom. Applications for this year’s media residencies with the ABC’s RN are open until June 1 to early-career graduate PhD arts scholars and graduate arts practitioners across the visual arts, performance, design, architecture and screen. Information at abc.net.au/top5
Palace in north London, with the audience flashing lights or honking horns instead of clapping.
IT takes blood, sweat and tears
to establish a new restaurant – a great idea, great menu, great testing and execution. Only then can the front doors swing open for business.
Ondine European Brasserie came oh-soclose to that glorious moment, but COVID-19 won out. Or did it?
The new restaurant, tucked behind the Deakin shops on Duff Place, wasn’t held back. The team quickly revised its menu around takeaway options that would trans port well, letting customers celebrate French classics in the comfort of their iso-homes. When I went to pick up, I was delighted to see a long row of dockets meticulously lined up on the front counter, a sign that many have already latched on to Ondine’s “official opening”. Good stuff.
We began our Ondine journey with the country pork and dried plum terrine ($16). Created with a traditional approach we agreed the terrine itself lacked flavour and were
which we lovingly spooned on top.
The Lyonnaise beetroot tart ($21) made up for the shaky start. It was colourful, vibrant and perky on the plate. Although designed as a main, we sliced and shared. The roasted heirloom beetroot packed a punch on flavour and married exceptionally well with
the soft, golden, tasty caramelised onions carefully arranged on delightful puffy pastry and topped with creamy herbed goat’s cheese.
Also soft and creamy was the polenta dish with roasted mixed mushrooms ($16). Polenta is so amazing and the moreish mushrooms completed the experience.
The whole roasted chicken ($39) arrived carved and complete with tarragon and onion stuffing. It was moist and full of flavour, but we would have loved crispy skin.
and completed with garlic and lemon ($9).
Totally luxurious and decadent was the very French and classic Gratin Dauphinois ($11). It was a to-die-for mix of sliced potato, cheese and cream. Sensational and we’ll be back for more.
Order direct on 6282 0026 or through Ondine’s website (it’s quick and easy) or through new Canberra Eats, an online delivery system that has signed up establishments that are far from fast-food in their
THE current hibernation has led to more books being read. Not library books, obviously, as libraries are closed but ISBN thinking about the treasure trove of knowledge locked away as I reluctantly purchase my next book.
I’ve just finished “Hiking with Nietzsche” by John Kaag, a book that is both accessible yet deep. It’s a story of two journeys into the Swiss Alps by the writer at different stages of his life and how Nietzsche’s philosophies can assist us in preventing modern life from distracting and deadening us.
Despite the sanguine advice it contains, I spent quite a bit of time this morning on Facebook.
The other hibernation-coping mechanism is to eat and drink well. It was my daughter’s turn to cook. As a challenge, I suggested opening the French cookbook “La Cuisine” at random and making the first dish that was sighted. She accepted and the book fell open on a recipe for farci saintongeais. In English it sounds much less exotic: pork and greens meatloaf. It requires the addition of a large number of fresh herbs to the pork mince and bread mix. It cooks at a high heat and comes out of the oven with a great crispy crust but remains moist because of the cabbage leaves that are folded into the mixture. The wine to have with it needed to be bold as the flavours of the meatloaf were loaded. I chose a 2016 Hedonist shiraz made by Walter Clappis wines from McLaren Vale. I acquired it about two years ago from a wine club that used to go under the name the Wine Gallery but is now called Good Pair Days. I know not
Shiraz is often thought to be Australia’s premium grape variety. That is certainly my opinion.
why. I discontinued my membership because I became tired of someone else choosing what wine I would drink/store.
In any event, the Hedonist label has a pig on the front and, well, irrationally, the thought of matching it with the pork-based dish seemed appropriate.
The link with hedonism is made on the back label where the winemakers say: “It may be a fine line but to increase pleasure and reduce pain is the aim of the Hedonist. With this in mind, we have let that age-old miracle of fermentation occur with the minimum of interference to produce this sensuous shiraz.”
I wouldn’t describe it as sensu ous. But it was certainly what you are looking for in a deep-toned, dark shiraz. It was full-bodied and slightly oaky with just a hint of tar. It matched well with the meatloaf given its fruit depth and full-bodied flavours. It is a good value-for-money midweek choice.
“Exorcist” thought.
Shiraz is often thought to be Australia’s premium grape variety. That is certainly my opinion. For example, Henschke‘s Hill of Grace is to me better than a Grange because it has layers of flavour and complexity that are head-spinning but in a good way – delete that
I haven’t had any of this varietal for years because it is very expensive. The Henschke Hill of Grace Eden Valley Shiraz 2015 has a recommended retail price of $865 a bottle. In a past life, I shared an earlier vintage of this fine drop with a bunch of lawyers at a sumptuous dinner; that was hedonism.
But I can’t side with the hedonists in thinking that only pleasure has worth or value and only pain or displeasure has the opposite of worth because if you embraced that way of thinking these times in hibernation would be particularly unbearable. As I’ve heard it put, many of the things we thought to be essential are in fact luxuries, like walking into a library to be confronted with a large choice of reading
“Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.” –John Adams (1765)
I was delighted to see a long row of dockets meticulously lined up on the front counter, a sign that many have already latched on to Ondine’s “official opening”. Good stuff.
approach (including Abell’s Kopi Tiam, Rizla, Saffron, Blackfire, Locale and Agostinis).
When ordering, select a time slot for pick-up. I arrived at the beginning of my slot and had to wait about 15 minutes before the meal was ready to whisk home. It wasn’t a problem – I just whipped up to the top of nearby Red Hill for a glimpse of the sunset.
Ondine, 7 Duff Place, Deakin (next to the Canberra Deakin Soccer Club). Open 5pm-9pm, Tuesday-Saturday, ondine.com.au or via canberraeats.com
Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Rambunctious Rams are feeling restless, as the New Moon stimulates your spontaneous nature. Mercury and retrograde Venus also crank up your communication zone but, if you stretch the truth in dubious directions, then you’ll be caught out. So make sure you stick to the facts and figures… especially when you’re connecting with relatives and members of your local community. Friday favours re-establishing contact with a former lover or an old friend.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
With unpredictable Uranus moving slowly through your sign, take nothing for granted and avoid being an intractable Bull. The more you open your mind to new possibilities and accept change willingly, the less unsettled you’ll feel. Be inspired by birthday great, writer Bertrand Russell: “In all affairs it’s healthy to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.” Just make sure you obtain information and news updates from reliable sources.
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
Gung-ho Gemini – avoid the temptation to skim over important details. The New Moon’s in your sign, so you’re keen to zoom ahead but remember there’s a fine line between making smart snap decisions and messy mistakes. The stars encourage creative thinking but nervous energy is also high. So, if you don’t pace yourself, then you’ll be exhausted by the end of the week. You also need to steer clear of fake news, undependable people and flighty friends.
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
You’re keen to retreat into your cosy Crab cave as the New Moon activates your contemplation zone. So solo activities like yoga, meditation, reading and journal writing are favoured this week. But if you stumble and make a mistake don’t let negative self-talk drag you down. Be inspired by actress and birthday great Joan Collins: “Show me a person who has never made a mistake, and I’ll show you somebody who has never achieved much.”
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
It’s time to throw procrastination out the window! The lingering Sun-Jupiter link favours work matters, business ventures and professional projects, as you combine creativity with a positive attitude. Plus use your fertile imagination to help manifest your preferred future via goal-setting, a practical plan and a patient approach. So your mantra for the week is from birthday great, activist Malcolm X: “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
The New Moon revs up your reputation zone so don’t hide your versatile Virgo talents! Be proud to show the world what you are truly capable of. And is a close relationship testing your mettle (and patience)? Habitual thinking and old solutions won’t help. The planets push you to change your attitude and look at the situation from a totally fresh perspective. It may take a few false starts but with a positive and persistent approach, you’ll get there in the end.
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
On Monday you’re full of fabulous ideas but don’t overpromise and then under-deliver. You’re feeling curious and are keen to communicate about a wide range of subjects, but are other people in the mood to listen? Under the influence of nebulous Neptune and retrograde Venus (your patron planet), it will be very easy to misinterpret what others are saying. So choose your words wisely and your conversation topics carefully, both at home and at work.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
Courtesy of retrograde Venus and the New Moon, transformation is the name of the game this week. But don’t worry about changing (or controlling) those around you. Focus on yourself first. Can you reinvent a close relationship; pivot professionally or transform your physical appearance? Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, entertainer Cher: “The only thing in the world you can change is yourself and that makes all the difference.”
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
Has a relationship been going down a rocky road? The New Moon encourages you to build bridges and start communicating again. You’ll have to be proactive and patient though, as you make the first move and are prepared to wait for long-term results. The winds of change are sweeping through your life (and the world) but don’t waste time worrying about all the ‘what-ifs’. As birthday great Bob Dylan observes: “There is nothing so stable as change.”
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
You won’t feel particularly energetic or motivated this week, when Neptune drains the gas out of your tank. Avoid the temptation to get carried away and make inflated promises. It will be very easy to over-extend yourself and find you’ve bitten off more than you can comfortably chew! Use the prevailing astro-winds wisely as you re-calibrate your expectations, pace yourself and look after your health. Regular exercise and nutritious meals are a must!
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
It’s time to cultivate a relationship with a child or teenager, initiate a fabulous new friendship or take up a hobby you’ve always been interested in. But has an old friendship finally run out of steam? Or is a fair-weather buddy criticising your behaviour and holding you back? Retrograde Venus urges you to review your peer group, discard negative influences, and surround yourself with positive people who nurture your talents and support your dreams.
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
The New Moon encourages you to adjust your home/work ratio so it’s much more balanced and family friendly. With Venus reversing through your home zone (until June 25) do all you can to bypass domestic drama and repair family friction. It’s time for Pisceans to sit down and smoke the pipe of peace! But a relative or close friend could bamboozle you with some confusing information. So make sure you check the facts thoroughly before you respond.
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2020
7 Which epidemic virus is a variety of H1N1? (5,3)
8 Which colour is reddish-brown, light brown, or yellowish-brown? (6)
9 What do we call a long lounge seat used for lying back on? (8)
10 Name a lively Spanish dance in three-four time. (6)
11 What are articles of clothing known as? (8)
14 To search among refuse for anything usable, is to do what? (8)
18 What do we call one’s sister’s son? (6)
19 Which term describes an insolvent debtor? (8)
21 Name a city area in which a minority group lives in poverty, overcrowding, etc. (6)
22 What do we call the fee charged per pound in weight or money? (8)
23 How many degrees in a right angle? (6)
Zn? (4)
5 To which animal family does the leopard
12 Who discovered x-rays in 1895, Wilhelm Konrad
(8)
13 Which person is capable of a polished performance, but lacks real substance? (4,4)
15 Name the mythological ferryman who conveyed souls of the dead across the Styx. (6)
16 Name an earlier unmanned US spacecraft, designed to explore Mars. (6)
17 Which highly vascular gland-like organ is also known as the lien? (6)
20 Salt Lake City is the capital of which US State? (4)
I’M often asked which is my favourite flower, and my standard response is “the one I’m looking at”.
So today I’m looking at callistemon, generally referred to as bottlebrush, literally in the shape of a bottle-washing brush.
Botanists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, as well as illustrator Sydney Parkinson, were on Captain Cook’s first voyage to the great southern land, arriving at Botany Bay in April 1770. It was here this now world-famous shrub was first seen; the variety being callistemon citrinus. Interestingly, although they carried specimens back to England, it wasn’t until 1789 that the first callistemon was grown from seed at Kew Gardens in London.
Callistemon is still one of my favourites for its variety of uses, from shrubs to hedges. I was involved with its promotion, along with other Australian native plants at a wholesale nursery in the south of England in the late 1980s. At that time, gardeners were seeing the potential of growing Australian natives. Over years of designing gardens, I’ve made frequent use of the “Endeavour” variety, appropriately named after Cook’s ship for its robust growth and taking readily to pruning.
In flower now is the “Captain Cook” variety, with a semi-weeping habit growing from one to two metres high by 1.2 metres wide, with bright red flowers, and “Harkness” with extra-large red flowers, growing to about 3.5 metres high by 2.5 metres wide. Allow sufficient space when planting, although this can be reduced when creating hedges. When pruning, reduce the size by only one-third at a time. This keeps them from getting scraggly and promotes more flowers the following season.
THIS information is from “Australian Plants for Canberra Region Gardens”, published by the Society for Growing Australian Plants (Canberra Region). This book is ideal for those fond of natives, particularly if new to the region, and is available from the Botanic Gardens bookshop or
I CAN’T recall where I bought my pot of miniature chrysanthemums, but from that small pot
several years ago I’ve produced dozens more, with many bold groups scattered throughout our garden. Each year after flowering, I dig up a few to fill in bare spots. In the photo (right) is just one group of its soft pink flowers. There’s another interesting perennial in the foreground, notable for its variegated leaves, pulmonaria
“Electric Blue”. During summer the leaves almost disappeared, then in the last couple of weeks they’ve grown abundantly. Some online information suggests it’s a woodland plant and prefers a shady spot, but I tried it in shade and it failed miserably. So planting another group of five in full sun, even with last summer’s heat, was perfect.
IF SHOPPING online for excellent secateurs, try the 2WP range. I use their ratchet ones, of which with several clicks of the handle can cut thick branches. Unfortunately these aren’t read ily available at retail outlets but the full range is available at 2wp.com.au
I’VE been asked several times recently where I find the photos used in my articles. More than 90 per cent are taken by me, using my Canon SX 710 HS camera.
...so I said to my keeper “I’m over the social isolation …GET ME SOME HOUSE GUESTS!”
…and for six weeks I’ve only had my sister to talk to!
AFTER 6 WEEKS OF ‘QUIET TIME’, CAN YOU DEAL WITH EATING AND SLEEPING WITH 200 ANIMALS?
Jamala Wildlife Lodge is having a restricted opening of some of its rooms, only for a few nights a week and for those living in the Canberra region*. Due to social isolation rules and the fact that the zoo is still closed to the public, it’s virtually just you and the animals (plus a few other guests and some staff )! However, it’s not total seclusion - your ‘roommate’ will visit your balcony or window (maybe a giraffe, a cheetah, 2 lovable sun bears, lions or tigers) and your sleep will probably be interrupted by the roaring of lions and tigers or the calling of monkeys. What’s worse is that your roommates may hang around while you are having dinner in your luxury African themed room, as for the first time our chefs will have a gourmet 3 course dinner hamper delivered to your room. (If prior to your booking date, Government regulations allow dining in our restaurant, you may have this option).
20 hours living with the animals, but only for a very limited number of couples or families and most likely only for a week or two* *opening days subject to bookings and to Govt restrictions. Travel subject to Govt regulations.
@jamalalodge
@jamalawildlifelodge
