Coe wants to paint the town green with trees IAN MEIKLE
DANIELLE NOHRA discovers new police chief NEIL GAUGHAN’s priorities include room for a little fun
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NEWS / Canberra Homes Canberra
How Michael fought his way back from the gutter
By Danielle NOHRA
MICHAEL Smith, a formerly successful businessman, was left, broke, homeless and addicted to drugs, but now, a group home in Lyons has given him the help he needs.
After some false starts, the 54-yearold came across a Canberra Housing Canberra (CHC) group home, which is one of six CHC group homes in the ACT that offers affordable housing for people living with mental illness, people with disability and elderly residents.
Michael says he’s hit the jackpot with his studio bedroom but it’s taken him some time to get there, saying his undoing started around the time his mum, who had advanced Parkinson’s, died in 2007.
At the time Michael was running his own media consultancy business in Canberra but ended up having to move back to Victoria to look after his mum.
Her sickness took a huge toll and when she died, he says, it was like losing an arm or a leg.
Staying in Victoria, Michael, who
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Arts & Entertainment 23-25
Canberra Matters 14
Crossword 27
Dining & Wine 25
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Horoscopes 26
News 3-15
Politics 8
had let go of his business, for the first time found it hard to find a job, being told he was overqualified by potential employers.
“I found myself, really without any money,” he says.
“There was a time where I hadn’t eaten for several days. I had borrowed a lot of money from family and friends and after six months I still couldn’t pay them back.”
Michael never thought he would be someone to end up in a position where he couldn’t afford food. He was suc cessful in his career, he was the media adviser for three World Congresses, did a 12-month mission with the Aus tralian Red Cross as its emergency services adviser, was a journalist for 10 years, including five years at Lon don’s Old Bailey Criminal Court, he was the manager of the media unit at the Victorian Education Department in 1994, and was the media adviser for Education Minister Don Hayward. In 1996 he became the media adviser to the then federal Education and Em ployment Minister David Kemp.
“I was the media adviser to the Min ister for Employment in the Howard government and then there I was in the unemployment line at Centrelink,” he says.
“I didn’t want to sign on to Centre link because I kept thinking some thing will come up, and then, after
Seven Days 4 Wine 25 Canberra’s new chief police officer, Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan. Photo: Holly Treadaway. Story Page 12.
Arts editor: Helen Musa, 0400 043764, helen@citynews.com.au
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But the absolute lowest point for Michael was when he was drunk and unconscious in a gutter in Castlemaine. It was a taxi driver that Michael says pulled over and saved him. It was also the wake up call that Michael needed, and after he sold his house, cleared his debt and tried to get back
A few years ago Michael moved back to Canberra but found it hard to get
“I was paying $300 a week in O’Malley [in a shared home],” he says. That was when he came across the Canberra Homes Canberra advertisement, which he applied for and got
“I didn’t think I’d get it. I fell down on the floor and started crying because I realised I had a roof over my head at a base I could afford,” says Michael, who is now studying a personal training diploma at CIT and is a Weight Watch-
“I hit the jackpot. I know how much it costs, I know I have to go out and earn enough money to pay that bill
“I’ve got a foundation here and I can start building again. I was in the abyss
“There were a number of false starts but I haven’t touched alcohol for over a year now because that could lead to
Comrade Al wants to paint town green with trees
longer because someone cancelled) to get the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth from Deputy Commissioner Gaughan.
“He’s a pretty top guy; said all the right things, but seems like he’ll bring a bit of fun to the
The clock-watching police media managers, who taped the interviews (to be used in evidence against us?), clearly have no idea about the vagaries of writing face-to-face
shameless excuse to skite, I had longer when
Lt-Col Harold , who served from 1927 to 1943 while simultaneously holding the positions of director of the Commonwealth Investigation Bureau and superintendent of
MEANWHILE, one for Neil: what does it take to get the police to take some investigative action in this town, bemoans one major car dealership with a hostile ex-customer?
The angry man, already facing criminal charges for blatantly damaging cars on the lot, was allegedly caught, after hours, on security cameras hurling rocks over the fence and damaging another five for-sale vehicles. Are plod on site sussing things out? Nope.
The apoplectic dealer principal is running across the ceiling with frustration.
A CIVIC-based chiropractor of my acquaintance, working hard to breathe life into his battered practice, but deprived of his office-working clientele says he has trouble recognising clients these days. It’s not his eyesight, it’s the trackie-dak, ugg-booted, working-from-homers, out of their suits and in town for a quick crack. “They’ve given up on their appearance,” he says. “They’re loving that the boss can’t see them.”
Ian Meikle is the “CityNews” editor. He can be heard on the “CityNews Sunday Roast” 10am-noon on 2CC.
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Police chief Harold Jones.
THE GADFLY NEWS
Failure fans the fires of prejudice
RACISM is as old as humanity. It arose even before Homo sapiens became a recognisable branch of the evolutionary tree, a time when there really were distinct races. Today, however, there’s only one.
Sure, there are some cultural and trivial ethnic differences as any geneticist will attest. In fact, it’s the remarkable advance in genetic science allied to similar progress in paleo-anthropology that has exposed the various “races” that perished via natural selection until there was just one survivor. Us.
Unhappily, it’s the knowledge carried deep in our lizard brain of the struggle between those races that has persisted until today. But even it would have probably died away had it not been for one particular group who we can thank for the tragedy that besets America.
of religious warfare – the island nation developed a mastery of the seas and began to colonise distant lands.
Needing a cheap workforce, they absolutely dominated an horrific trading of less mechanised communities in Africa. In the centuries from 1640 their ships made more than 10,000 journeys from Africa to the European colonies of the Caribbean and America carrying 2.7 million slaves to be bought and sold at the whim of their (white) masters.
The evidence of failure is all around us in the fires of prejudice most recently lit by the orange man in the White House.
Until only 12,000 years ago the people of the British Isles and Northern Europe were themselves dark skinned. It was only their continual habitation in their cold, wet, environment that gradually bled the need for melanin from their DNA and made their skins pallid. And Britain was favoured with the arrival 2000 years ago of an invasion from swarthy southern Europe led by Julius Caesar who brought them their first written language. This allowed them to keep records in Latin and then their several vernaculars.
Gradually, through further invasions from Scandinavia and Germany – and centuries
So the lizard brain’s notions of race as the “other” to be feared and resisted was planted within the very nation born of a rebellion that declared: “All men are created equal; they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.
Add to that little moral dilemma the British industries, which demanded cheap cotton for their satanic mills, then spice it with the notion that poverty equals inferiority, and you have the perfect predicament for the American community to solve.
They tried civil war, a civil rights movement and even the election of a melanin-rich president in Barack Obama. Nothing worked.
The evidence of failure is all around us in the fires of prejudice most recently lit by the orange man in the White House.
Here in Australia, since 1991, some 432 melanin-rich First Australians have died at the hands of white men in another British colony still struggling to resolve a similar dilemma with an obdurate man in The Lodge.
The big difference is that the Aboriginal people were here first. It’s the whitefellas who brought white slaves here in 1788 and it’s their bastard sons with their British laws of property who tried to make them slaves, too. And when that and their contagious diseases failed, they tried to shoot them out and failed again.
Now with the great fires burning, the contagious diseases spreading, seas rising and the climate rebelling, the melanin-poor fellas are at last looking to them for at least some of the ways back to preserve and protect our land and our future. They hear the cry: “We’re all in this together.”
One race perhaps.
robert@ robertmacklin.com
SADDENED by racial violence at the hands of police officers in the US, Canberra’s new chief police officer, Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan, says dialogue with the community is really important to prevent that happening here.
“We’ve got to make sure that we don’t get to the situation here where those sorts of things take place and that’s why dialogue with your community really early on is really important. We’ve just got to keep those lines of communication open,” says Neil, referring to the violent death of African-American man George Floyd, who was killed by a white, Minneapolis police officer.
“We do police differently here than the US. We’re much more community focused but we’ve got to maintain that community focus and remember why we’re here.”
Neil believes the communication between the police and the community here in the ACT is good and highlights the co-operation between the community and police during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We haven’t given out an infringement notice, every other jurisdiction in Australia has,” he says.
“My officers have shown fantastic restraint and have education and awareness as being used over anything else and I think the community supports us with those endeavours.
“The fact that we haven’t had to do that shows that the community listens to us and the fact that we’re here for the betterment of all Canberrans is what we’re here to do.”
Police chief with a sharp focus and a sense of fun –Page 12
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Pork barrelling begins as opposition fights for air
THE announcement of upgrades to the Braddon and Dickson precincts demonstrates the advantage of electioneering from government.
There can be little doubt that this is the start of a series of taxpayerfunded announcements designed to put the government in the best light. The “pork barrelling” begins.
Without the theatre of the Assembly and the ability to question and expose government failings, the Liberal opposition has its hands tied. The pandemic has made it even harder with the opposition supporting the government in order to ensure the best interests of the community.
Door knocking is one of the most effective methods of campaigning –but the vulnerability of both the constituents and the candidates has, at least for the foreseeable future, ruled this out. Candidates are beginning to set up stands in shopping centres in order to reach their
In the meantime, the governmentfully planning to orchestrate announce -
The government will be carefully planning to orchestrate announcement after announcement across each of the portfolios. Many of the announcements will be about where our taxpayers’ money is going to be spent next.
ment after announcement across each of the portfolios. Many of the announcements will be about where our taxpayers’ money is going to be spent next. Experience teaches us that the announcements will specifically target areas of electoral vulnerability.
Illustrative is the resignation of National Party Minister Bridget McKenzie over the sports rorts affair where the targeting of specific electorates so blatantly misused taxpayers’ money to purchase favour for Scott Morrison and the Coalition Government.
Although ACT governments in the past have announced spending by drip feeding their good news, there has not been exposed such a blatant targeting of particular electorates. In many ways, the use of the Hare-Clark electoral system makes this approach to electioneering more difficult. On
the other hand, until now the ACT has not had the necessary checks and balances to expose situations where spending is not in the best interests of the community as a whole.
There have been some checks and balances including monitoring by Elections ACT. The ACT’s auditorgeneral has also done excellent work in ensuring appropriate use of money. However, that office has not had the power of a Royal Commissioner nor an Independent Commission Against Corruption.
The equivalent for Canberra is the ACT Integrity Commission, headed by QC Dennis Cowdroy. The CEO, John Hoitink, is responsible for advising the commission about operational and financial matters. Amongst other responsibilities, the Integrity Commission’s functions include investigating “conduct that is alleged to be corrupt conduct” and to “foster public confidence in the Legislative Assembly and ACT public sector”.
Unethical conduct as part of
Former Chief Minister Kate Carnell... led a Liberal Party that was socially progressive while financially responsible.
elections not only undermines confidence in the Legislative Assembly, it also undermines trust in politics. Deteriorating trust in our democratic institutions has been of major concern over the last couple of decades. Trust seems to have been re-established to some extent through the actions of governments at all levels in response to the coronavirus pandemic. However, such trust can be whittled away very quickly. While the government uses the drip-feeding technique to dominate air time in the traditional media, it will be difficult for the opposition, and
even more difficult for minor parties and independent hopefuls, to gain air time. Use of social media will assist. However, social-media platforms thrive best when they are also linked to traditional media stories.
The best part of two decades in government for Labor is enough reason on its own for constituents to look for a fresh alternative. However, the alternative has to be one that appeals to enough voters. As demonstrated by the Bill Shorten opposition at the last election, the old adage that elections are lost by governments rather than won, only applies when the opposition has appropriate appeal.
The greatest challenge for the Canberra Liberals will be shedding the ultra-conservative image of their leader and many of their elected members. Former Chief Minister Kate Carnell demonstrated the advantage of a Liberal Party that can appeal as socially progressive while financially responsible.
The election opportunity is ripe for the Canberra Liberals – provided they can adopt and sell themselves as a socially liberal and financially conservative party.
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.
Barr sullies recovery with pokie politics
WE have much to be proud of and pleased about in the way in which Australia has responded to the coronavirus.
While our relative isolation and small population worked in our favour, the response by the Commonwealth and state and territory governments has nevertheless, to date, been measured, sound and successful. We can be thankful for the leadership that PM Scott Morrison and all state and territory leaders have shown.
A feature of the Australian response has been the dominant role played by the respective chief health officers (CHO), health officials and relevant experts and all those who work in the health system. We owe each of them our thanks and gratitude.
The Commonwealth chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy and all of his state and territory counterparts, including Dr Kerryn Coleman here in the ACT, have played a significant, indeed dominant role in achieving public acceptance of and compliance with the range of restrictions that have been put in place.
The undoubted expertise and professionalism that each has clearly exhibited was an important factor in engendering the degree of trust within the community which has clearly been central to the success of our response to COVID-19.
The Australian response to the pandemic has been very different to the disastrous, and deadly, shambles that people of the US and Britain have had to endure.
drink separate from a meal and to lay a bet on the horses or play the pokies.
In responding to media questioning about the reason that the ACT had chosen to not mirror for at least a further six weeks the NSW policy, Barr responded with a diatribe about the evils of gambling and of poker machines.
Barr is, of course, entitled to his opinions about poker machines. However, his refusal to comment on or specifically justify the reasons for the different approach of the ACT in this instance raises a concern, rightly or wrongly, that the decision may not have been based solely on medical or scientific advice but reflected a particular personal or political bias of the Chief Minister.
Barr’s anti-gambling rant also puts the chief health officer in a difficult position in that it has generated a range of questions that those in the hospitality sector in the ACT and the thousands of people who are employed in it but currently sitting at home desperately trying to make ends meet are understandably asking themselves.
Andrew Barr’s hostility to poker machines has not extended to refusing to accept funding from the proceeds of poker machines owned by the ACT Labor Party or the CFMEU.
The major difference between the Australian response and theirs has been that in Australia it has been the decisions of health professionals that not only underpinned decision making but also dominated news cycles, rather than those of their political masters.
In my view, we have been fortunate that political considerations, at least at a domestic level, have in the main taken a back seat. An exception of sorts has been Scott Morrison’s attacks on China that were naïve and suggest a degree of obsequiousness to Donald Trump and his toxic agenda, which is not in our national interest and makes us look weak and needy. Too high a price to pay, surely, for an invitation to the G7. However, it was because of the role which the non-political and pleasingly bi-partisan approach to the pandemic has played in our, so far, successful response to COVID-19 that I was particularly disappointed that Chief Minister Andrew Barr chose to revisit his feud with Canberra’s community clubs in seeking not to explain why the ACT had chosen not to open clubs, pubs and gaming venues in the same way as the NSW government.
Since June 1, a hotel, bar or restaurant, including those located within clubs, in NSW could have 50 patrons in each enclosed space within a venue up to a maximum of 500 patrons. It is also possible to have a
Losses mount as Canberra virus plan falls out of step
By Gwyn Rees
Namely, what was the true basis of the decision to diverge from the NSW policy? Does the CHO have evidence that is at odds with that presumably relied on by NSW authorities that identifies the NSW approach as foolhardy, dangerous or unacceptable? What advice did she provide the Chief Minister about the decision not to adopt the same policy as NSW and will she or the Chief Minister make that advice publicly available?
It also raises the question, if the ACT government genuinely believes that it is unsafe to adopt the NSW policy, whether ACT residents who choose to cross the border should be advised to avoid all clubs, pubs, cafes and restaurants in NSW. Or indeed if the NSW policy is as problematic as the ACT government obviously believes it is then should we, having regard to the proximity of Queanbeyan, close the border until it is deemed safe to go to a café or club or to lay a bet, in NSW.
Andrew Barr’s hostility to poker machines has not, of course, extended to refusing to accept funding, for every election campaign he has ever been involved in, from the proceeds of poker machines owned by the ACT Labor Party or the CFMEU, which between them are the largest owner/operators of poker machines in the ACT.
Jon Stanhope was chief minister from 2001 to 2011 and represented Ginninderra for the Labor Party from 1998. He is the only chief minister to have governed with a majority in the Assembly.
THE fact that the ACT is a stand-alone territory has, thankfully, helped protect our community during the COVID pandemic. But as restrictions are lifted across the country, the ACT government cannot afford to forget that Canberra is an island within NSW.
The Chief Minister has recognised this, saying: “As a territory within NSW, it would be impossible for the ACT to have different arrangements than those in our surrounding region”.
Despite this, Canberra’s recovery plan is now out of step with NSW and it is costing our city millions of dollars and potentially thousands of jobs – not just in clubs and pubs but also in their supply chains; the butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker...
Last week a supplier representative who services Canberra licensed venues (and who is also a friend), called to ask whether I knew if we would follow the easing of restrictions in NSW.
I had to tell him we were not. The rep, who I will call John, is on a partial stand-down with reduced pay, as are other members of his team. He is a Canberran, his personal circumstances are challenging, he has children and the sooner things get back to normal, the sooner he can receive full wages. I appreciate his story isn’t unique.
as many Canberrans take a short drive to enjoy the higher occupancy and the more complete services. These are patrons who will be lost to local hospitality businesses for at least the next six weeks or perhaps longer if Chief Minister Andrew Barr persists with his plan to delay resumption of business compared with what NSW is doing –despite our being an island in that state.
Until the higher patron numbers and gaming are back in operation, many ACT clubs will remain closed. That is a fact. Most clubs have large footprints and it is more expensive for them to reopen without higher numbers and gaming, as they risk going further backwards, than to remain closed.
Every week that passes the clubs are collectively losing around $5 million in revenue and by failing to match NSW, the ACT government is preventing the 2000 employees of Canberra’s clubs from getting back to work. More broadly, the cost of this delay will have a serious effect on community, sporting and charitable groups – where we estimate a loss of between $3 and $4 million in community contributions from clubs over the coming year.
Every week that passes the clubs are collectively losing around $5 million in revenue and, by failing to match NSW, the ACT government is preventing the 2000 employees of Canberra’s clubs from getting back to work.
So, what are the differences between NSW and ACT?
From June 1, hospitality venues in NSW were able to open with 50 patrons; however, larger venues are permitted to increase occupancy based on other spaces inside their venues. NSW Health has also advised that the purchase and consumption of alcohol does not necessarily need to be with the purchase and consumption of food.
TABs and gaming are also permitted to operate in NSW clubs and pubs, reopening to the public over the weekend.
In the ACT, under our easing of restrictions roadmap, we are only able to have 20 patrons, alcohol can only be purchased with food, and the operation of gaming will not be considered until the middle of July.
This week, the carparks of clubs and pubs in Queanbeyan will fill with ACT licence plates,
The ACT chief health officer must explain why touching a poker machine is more dangerous than getting a massage, sharing video games in an amusement arcade, operating a self-serve terminal in a supermarket, using an ATM or using gym equipment in an environment where people perspire.
If NSW Health and its government were satisfied with a plan put forward by clubs, a plan that was reviewed and endorsed by an infectiousdiseases expert, it’s hard to understand why we are being treated differently. ACT clubs are proposing the same plan.
How is it that two CHOs have a different view of what is safe for club and pub patrons?
As American TV physicist Julius Sumner Miller famously used to ask: “Why is it so?” If there is a sound reason for the ACT to differ from NSW and put local jobs at risk, we need to have that reason explained and defended publicly by the ACT CHO or the government – somebody needs to.
Gwyn Rees is the CEO of ClubsACT
“Why is it so?” asks Prof Julius Sumner Miller in “Great Moments in Science”. And why is it that two chief health officers have a different view of what is safe for club and pub patrons, asks Gwyn Rees?
Photo: CBS Photo Archive
Police chief with a sharp focus and a sense of fun
By Danielle NOHRA
THERE’S no policing without the community, according to Canberra’s new chief police officer, Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan, who wants to reinforce that ACT Policing is there for the community.
“Sometimes we lose that. It’s not done intentionally, it’s done because we’re so bloody busy that we just lose the focus on what we joined for,” says Neil, who started out in community policing in 1984.
“Community policing is based on working with the community to achieve outcomes and we don’t police without the consent of the community.”
Inspired by some of his friends’ dads who were cops, Neil joined the Australian Federal Police just after high school, which saw him move from Sydney to Canberra to work for ACT Policing.
He’s been in Canberra since, working in a variety of ACT Policing areas such as the diplomatic protection unit, the accident investigation squad, the criminal investigations branch, and the sexual assault and child abuse team.
He did that for about 16 years and then hit a crossroads with his career.
“I wasn’t feeling as if I was progress ing and I needed a different challenge so I went and [worked for the Austral ian Taxation Office] for a few years and learnt some really good skills,” says Neil, who worked in fraud control planning.
He says it was heavily risk-manage ment based, which put him in a posi tion where he could work in leadership roles when he returned to the AFP.
Since returning to the AFP in early 2003, Neil’s worked in portfolios such as protection, high-tech crime, coun ter terrorism and organised crime, before being promoted deputy com missioner in April 2018 where he ran national operations for the AFP.
Now, though, he’s back in commu nity policing, a place where he says he had the most fun over his policing career.
“You actually serve the community and you actually do achieve great out comes,” he says.
While Neil says he’s inherited a po lice force that is going really well, he has a few things he’d like to focus on, including mental health, recidivism and family violence.
“My job as the chief police officer will be that if police officers need services to assist them with their physical and mental wellbeing then we get to them in a timely fashion, that we don’t allow red tape to get in the way,” he says.
“If you have police that are happier
Being in policing can be tough, says Neil, who led the counter-terrorism area in the height of ISIS, but has also experienced the tough jobs on a community level.
“I understand some of the challenges that the troops are going through,” he says.
“I’ve been through some of the challenges they have. I’ve attended fatal car accidents, I’ve had to pass
If they can listen to the scientists on pandemics, why won’t they listen to the scientists on climate change?
During this pandemic, the Prime Minister has shown he can listen to scientists and act on their advice. Now we need to call on him to listen to scientists and act on climate change.
The Morrison Government is not taking the action Australia needs on climate change. Join me in writing to ACT Liberal Senator, Zed Seselja to ask him what he is doing to get action on climate change for Canberrans. Email senator.seselja@aph.gov.au or call his office on 6247 6444.
The unprecedented summer bushfires demonstrate the need to take urgent action now. The ACT Government is leading the way, delivering 100% renewable energy for Canberra. As your representative in the Federal Parliament, I will continue to fight for ambitious climate action because it makes scientific sense and economic sense.
Sincerely,
Alicia Payne
me in a better position to advocate for change if I need to and advocate for their better outcomes.”
For Neil, he gets through the hard days by exercising and connecting back with the community.
“You’ve got to do something for your physical health but you’ve also got to try and get back to normal as soon as you can,” he says.
“I did a really stressful press confer-
ence a while back and that night I just went back and did my normal activity, which was sitting on a disciplinary tribunal for one of the local sporting facilities around here, connecting back with something outside of law
Another focus for Neil is working with the community on recidivist offending, particularly with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander com-
“I’ve already met with a couple of community elders and I’m meeting with some more,” he says.
“It’s important that whatever we try to change with recidivism [that] it is led by the community and the other directorates. It’s not just a policing issue, it’s something we need to work across the whole community with.
“There already are some really good recidivist programs in place but I think we need to really turbo charge those.”
And then, there’s family violence.
“I want to work with the other directorates on better outcomes for the victims of those and the families and the kids particularly that are subjected to that sort of stuff,” he says.
Overall, Neil’s looking forward to serving the ACT community as best as he can, and he wants to try to have a bit of fun along the way.
“Policing is a serious business but in life, life’s too short, you’ve got to have a bit of fun,” he says.
COTA ACT / Strength for Life advertising feature
‘This
program provides a connection that has been missing for so many people through the
Time to get out and get physical for the over-50s
STRENGTH for Life, an evidencebased strength training program to help keep adults over 50 independent for longer, is expanding its provider locations across Canberra, says Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT Strength for Life co-ordinator, Diane Percy.
The program is now featured at six service-provider locations in an independent retirement village, a fitness centre, physio clinics and a community centre.
The program aims to help older people who are inactive or not active enough to improve their strength, balance, coordination and flexibility, while socialising with like-minded people in their local community, Diane says.
The program is designed to help people over the age of 50, and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 40, to improve their strength and physical fitness.
“The benefits of the strength-based training program are huge, such as improving balance, strength and co-ordination, which in turn can help to reduce the risk of falling or reduce the severity of a fall if it does happen,” she says.
For older adults, Diane recommends that strength-training activities should include exercises for all the major muscle
groups, at least twice weekly, to achieve health benefits.
Diane says other benefits are the potential to improve posture, mobility and flexibility, and importantly, the opportunity to meet other people and remain socially connected.
“This program provides that connection that has been missing for so many people through the pandemic, and Strength for Life classes can help both body and mind in that regard,” says Diane.
While unable to provide face-to-face training during lockdown, the Strength for Life team has been looking at ways to continue to support participants to do physical activity from home.
COTA ACT has been offering a live class via Facebook on Thursdays at 1pm, and while it’s not an online version of Strength for Life, the exercise session showcases exercises that can be done in a face-to-face program. The online sessions have been very successful, with people from all over Australia and internationally joining in on the sessions, Diane says.
In person, Strength for Life classes can be accessed at Capital Rehabilitation Professionals in Phillip, LDK Greenway Views in Tuggeranong, SportsTec Clinic in Kingston, Alive Health Clubs in Narrabundah, COTA ACT in Hughes and at Higher Function Physio & Pilates in Civic.
Diane says the classes are affordable, on-
Enquiries? Please contact these providers:
Capital Rehabilitation Professionals – Phillip
Phone: 0418 811 156
Email: capitalrehabprofessionals@gmail.com
Contact person: Lea McKaskill
SportsTec Clinic – Kingston
Phone: 02 6156 1308
Email: admin@sportstecclinic.com.au
Contact person: Darcy
LDK Greenway Views – Tuggeranong
Phone: 1300 535 000
Email: moconnor@ldk.com.au
Contact person: Matt O’Connor
Alive Health Clubs – Narrabundah
Phone: 6295 9500
Email: info@alivehealthclubs.com.au
Contact person: Maddy
“We will all be complying with ACT government COVID-19 recommendations and, as we are working with older adults, it’s an extremely important part of how we deliver this program into the future,” says Diane.
“We want our participants to know that they are coming into a safe and supportive environment.”
The program offers two tiers for participants, Tier 1 classes are delivered by exercise physiologists or physiotherapists, for participants who may be at higher risk due to particular health issues, and Tier 2 classes are delivered by qualified personal
before starting the program and an indi vidualised program will be developed for each participant.
The Strength for Life classes are delivered in a group setting, with everyone participating in a group-based warm up, then each participant will be doing their own personalised program with supervision from their instructor.
“And just as important, we want it to be fun!” Diane says.
For more information, visit cotaact.org.au/ programs/s4l
Call directly to…
Capital Rehabilitation Professionals, Phillip
Contact Lea on 0418 811156, or email capitalrehabprofessionals@gmail.com
LDK Greenway Views, Tuggeranong
Contact Matt on 1300 535000 or email moconnor@ldk.com.au
SportsTec Clinic, Kingston
Contact Darcy on 6156 1308 or email admin@sportstecclinic.com.au
Alive Health Clubs, Narrabundah
Contact Maddy on 6295 9500 or email info@alivehealthclubs.com.au
Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT, Hughes
Contact Diane on 6282 3777 or email strengthforlife@cotaact.org.au
Higher Function Physio & Pilates, Civic
Contact Janet on 6262 9664 or email reception@higherfunction.com.au
Higher Function Physio & Pilates – Civic
Phone: 6262 9664
Email: reception@higherfunction.com.au
Contact person: Janet Fabbri
COTA ACT – Hughes
Phone: 02 6282 3777
Email: strengthforlife@cotaact.org.au
Contact person: Diane Percy
CANBERRA MATTERS
Maybe being polite fighting change is a mistake
IT seems that some of us sit at desks writing loads of stuff to bring about change while the barbarous politicians and bureaucrats just keep on doing what they do best – wreck the joint!
With the ACT election due in October, residents are not ecstatic about the state of the political process. When it comes to planning and development, the ACT Labor/Greens coalition government seems to have no shame in the shocking way it deals with residents.
Community groups and individuals have long suffered the pain of this strange culture that operates among the ACT ministers for planning and urban stuff, the charming Planning Directorate and now with the City Renewal Authority (that bureaucracy we did not want).
Residents with regular contact with these agencies have painful experiences of the ACT government’s undemocratic and unfriendly processes. Does this special charm come in a bottle to be applied
Depressingly for people who are proud of the national capital, the current leadership of the NCA has joined the ACT government in its rush to the bottom of how to conduct themselves.
before each contact with a resident?
The ACT Liberals have made little effort to define themselves as an exciting band of politicians keen to be the ones to deliver a people-friendly form of government. Having a leader who voted to privatise the ABC was not exactly a bright move.
A couple of independent candidates have emerged but no Jacinda Ardern or Sanna Marin (Finland) have appeared yet. Residents have little evidence that things would be different with any of the candidates and expect that a change of government would be more of the same. What hope?
The land-exchange deal between the ACT government and the National Capital Authority with the North Curtin horse paddocks going to the National Capital Authority (NCA) and part of the lake at West Basin going to the ACT government for the City Renewal Authority’s massive apartment developments, signalled how
democracy has been corrupted locally.
Depressingly for people who are proud of the national capital, the current leadership of the NCA has joined the ACT government in its rush to the bottom of how to conduct themselves.
Amazingly, the ACT government will most likely suffer little repercussions for another questionable land deal. This government has adopted the uncomfortable governance model that dirty and often secretive deals can be done because recent events have proved that the accountability systems are so tarnished that there will be little consequences for those involved.
All this energy draining stuff is what Canberra’s community councils and residents’ groups have to deal with constantly – it just does not stop. Residents’ groups continue to do research, undertake surveys and put together submissions to have a community voice recognised. Despite the high quality and high number of submissions, they know that this government pretends to be listening to residents. Most of the time the result is that the bureaucracy quietly ignores the community views and
carries on doing their thing – because in their reality what they do is for the greater good. What would people who live in the city know?
From the community point of view, opportunities are being lost daily that could have seen the city be enhanced to be something different to so many other cities that have allowed themselves to be lacking in good architectural and landscape design and dominated by bland box towers. Despite being regularly sidelined, residents’ groups have miraculously remained positive, and are usually polite and friendly in how they interact with this government and its bureaucracy. There’s loads of good work and advocacy being done – and heaps required between here and the October elections. Maybe more direct
action could be required.
Maybe being polite is a mistake. Should the equestrians of North Curtin be mounting a cavalry charge on the NCA? Should the Lake Burley Griffin Guardians be investing in a gun boat to defend West Basin.
The good people of Canberra have good representation through their community councils. Their leaderships are hard at work during this crisis. Changing the culture of this government can be achieved. It will take a lot of work. Join in. The future of our city depends on it.
Paul Costigan is an independent commentator and consultant on the visual arts, photography, urban design, environmental issues and everyday matters.
“People sit at desks writing loads of stuff to bring about change while the politicians and bureaucrats wreck the joint!” writes Paul Costigan. Artwork: Stephen Harris
57 Arthur Circle, Old Red Hill
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Graced in effortless beauty and elegance this immaculate residential estate draws upon family inspiration to enhance luxury and timeless appeal. Every space has been meticulously crafted to encourage an optimal lifestyle of family living and grand scale entertaining. The substantial 490sqm residence with separate apartment
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June 13th, 12.15 – 12.45pm
EXPERTS OF FINANCE
Finance help to get through an uncertain time
THERE’S a lot of uncertainty around how the coronavirus crisis will affect the economy going forward, but Canberra’s finance experts have advice and help to get people through the tough times. Whether it’s putting a financial plan in place, getting the best out of a tax return or making more from a house sale, “CityNews” speaks with some of Canberra’s finest in finance.
Time to plan a recovery strategy
THE impact of COVID-19 is broad, and the actual true cost to the economy is yet to be fully realised, says managing partner Frank Lo Pilato and associate director Daniel Bond of Canberra’s audit, tax and consulting network, RSM.
“Whilst stimulus packages and other concessions are helping businesses stay afloat, they will not be around forever and businesses really need to implement recovery strategies as soon as possible,” Frank says.
RSM has been working with local businesses to help protect the value of their assets and operations, implementing steps like undertaking a health check, including assessing cash flow needs, risks and access to stimulus packages/concessions.
The firm says it can help businesses in developing a plan,
determining options to current and future cash needs, negotiating with landlords and other key creditors, initiatives to cut costs, improve efficiencies and strategise alternate plans which could be implemented depending on key factors.
It also helps with monitoring and maintaining a structured review process to ensure the plan/s are maintained, monitored and amended without unnecessarily eroding the value of the business.
RSM says they can provide expert support and offer a no-obligation discussion to address any questions that potential clients may have.
RSM, Equinox Building 4, Level 2, 70 Kent Street, Deakin. Call Frank Lo Pilato on 6217 0348 or Daniel Bond on 6217 0358.
Helping home buyers through uncertainty
BUYING a home in uncertain times requires an experienced mortgage broker team, says Scott Cameron, director of Nectar Mortgages Canberra.
“We help clients through the entire process, from the initial consultation to settlement and beyond,” says Scott.
“This has been no more evident than the last few months where we have been available to our clients to answer questions through COVID-19.
“Where one funder may not have an appetite for a style of lending, another will. Our job is to help you find the lender that will, which is important in these uncertain times.”
Scott says all brokers at Nectar have more than 10 years experience in mortgage broking in the ACT.
“Our goal is to combine the benefits of a small business mentality and caring for our clients with the
power that comes from a nationwide group of more than 100 brokers,” he says.
Based in Canberra, Scott says they employ people from the region for all aspects of its mortgage broking process.
“We are proud of the team and proud to support the Canberra region,” he says.
“We want to be part of the client’s financial team working alongside the client and their other financial advisors as part of a long-term relationship.
“We pride ourselves on the fact that most of our clients return for further assistance and we are able to work with clients throughout their life changes.”
Nectar Mortgages Canberra. Call Scott Cameron on 0408 489883, email scott.cameron@nectarmortgages.com.au or visit nectarmortgages.com.au/nectar-canberra
The team at Nectar Mortgages Canberra.
Managing partner Frank Lo Pilato, far left, and associate director Daniel Bond of RSM.
What
30 other banks for starters.
With access to over 30 lenders, we have a way of making good things happen. No matter whether you're seeking investment finance, looking to refinance, or want to consolidate debt, we do all the legwork to find the right loan for you.
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Scott Cameron 0408 489 883 scott.cameron@nectarmortgages.com.au
Rajiv Michael 0423 410 007 rajiv.michael@nectarmortgages.com.au
Martin Zachara 0402 156 952 martin.zachara@nectarmortgages.com.au
Scott Lorkin 0418 660 454
scott.lorkin@nectarmortgages.com.au
*All loans are subject to suitability. All ACT Nectar Brokers are authorised credit representatives of QED Credit Services PTY Ltd (Australian Credit Licence Number: 387856). For individual credit representative numbers, see Nectar Mortgages website.
David Shaw 0402 902 155 david.shaw@nectarmortgages.com.au
Jessika Ahlgren 0423 679 912
jessika.ahlgren@nectarmortgages.com.au
Gary Rock 0418 224 413 gary.rock@nectarmortgages.com.au
Tim Hubbard 0402 640 621 tim.hubbard@nectarmortgages.com.au
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0409 987 044 paddy.okeeffe@nectarmortgages.com.au
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quickly and for more.
“By taking on all of the associated costs of the renovation, our clients are able to increase the value of the house without the financial burden and stress of a DIY renovation,” says Kim.
Along with a team of experienced and trusted tradespeople, stylists and real estate experts, Sophie and Kim organise and manage the renovation process, as well as style and prepare the home ready for sale.
“We recently completed a quick renovation for a dated apart-
During these unprecedented times, Kim says it’s even more important right now for owners to ensure their home appeals to the majority of buyers so it has the greatest chance at selling faster for a higher price.
“We’ll ensure you get the best possible price at sale and walk away with more money in your pocket,” says Kim.
Your Property Profits. Call 0411 648908, email hello@yourpropertyprofits.com.au or visit yourpropertyprofits.com.au
Doing taxes made fast and easy
ESTABLISHED more than 40 years ago, the Income Tax Professionals Canberra (ITP) have four convenient branches located at Belconnen, Phillip, Canberra City and Queanbeyan.
Belconnen-based tax consultant, Amanda Sheaves, says that ITP Canberra provides prompt service and value for money for its clients.
Amanda says that this tax-time the ITP team has made some adjustments to minimise face-to-face contact: “This year we have a number of low-contact options in order to attend to your tax affairs safely,” she says.
“We specialise in multi-year returns
and have a dedicated team that can guide you through the preparation and completion of deceased estates.” She says the ITP team makes doing taxes fast and easy for its clients and can assist individuals, sole traders or business owners with professional financial services.
Amanda says that ITP Canberra is a proud sponsor of the Canberra Raiders and ‘gets a kick’ out of supporting the community.
ITP Canberra. Call the ITP hotline on 1800 367 487 to connect to your local branch, or visit itp.com.au
and
the
with our
Kim Persson, left, and Sophie McLean.
Breaking out of isolation with fun activities for kids
GOOD news parents! As Canberra continues to re-open, so do businesses in the region who have a ton of fun things for children to do. So, why not take a well-deserved break from entertaining the kids in home isolation, and take them out for an exciting adventure.
Program builds fun and creativity
WEEKS out from the school holidays, Bricks 4 Kidz is back in business in two locations, but there will be social distancing and hygiene measures in place, says director Mark Jeffries. Groups will be capped at 16 and children will receive their own individual Lego kits, says Mark who co-runs the business with his wife Mary.
“There won’t be any sharing of Lego, but that might mean no arguments,” he says.
Mark says Bricks 4 Kidz is serious about making sure that its school holiday programs and birthday
“The Lego will be vigorously cleaned in between each use, and we have signs everywhere reminding kids of the importance of hand washing and using hand sanitiser,” he says.
“It’s nothing the kids wouldn’t already be familiar with through school.”
Bricks 4 Kids says building Lego models provides opportunities to learn, work collaboratively, be creative and have fun, and the workshops are designed for kids ages five to 12.
“The Lego sessions will still be themed and structured, featuring our Bricks 4 Kidz instructions and facilitated by our awesome instructors,” Mark says.
“It could be motorised models, free play, 3D or mosaics of superheroes, games characters and movie favourites.”
The school holiday programs will be held at Belconnen and Hughes from July 6-17.
Bricks 4 Kidz, 125/99 Eastern Valley Way, Belconnen. Call 0422 083883 or visit bricks4kidz.com.au
Interactive fun with free-flying birds
THE birds are back and ready to interact at the Canberra Walk-in Aviary, says owner and manager Mick Logan.
says things will look a bit different, with numbers limited to a maximum of 20 visitors at any one time.
Otherwise, he says, the aviary is open as usual, although it’s not taking bookings or reservations.
“The aviary is great fun for all ages, with the chance to get up close and personal with a range of friendly, free-flying birds,” says Mick.
“While not all birds will interact with you, you get the chance to observe, up close, species of birds that otherwise would be hard to see in the wild.
“We give you a small plate of food and a tub of mealworms and you can wander around and feed the birds.”
The aviary is a 1000sqm planted walk-in enclosure
our feathered friends,” Mick says.
Gold Creek Village has three other attractions, as well as cafes, gift shops and a garden centre, so it’s a great place for a day out after visiting the aviary, Mick says. The aviary is operating its winter trading hours of 10am-4pm, with the last admission at 3.30pm. It will be open every day, including public holidays, except Christmas Day.
Come along and see the friendly free-flying birds that can be photographed and fed. Walk amongst over 500 birds from 50 species from Australia and around the world!
Open 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm with the last admission 3.30pm
TIME FOR FUN advertising feature
Steve’s slot car fun’s back on track
PLAYING at the slot car tracks is back on at Way2Fast, ideal for kids who love cars or nostalgic parents who played with Scalextric as kids, says owner Steve Bywater. Way2Fast is operating pretty much as normal, says Steve, with hand sanitiser required before entry, disposable gloves provided and all controllers and cars cleaned after use.
Steve says kids aged five and up can enjoy racing with family and friends on four different tracks, which range from four to eight lanes.
for slot cars and spare parts, offering more than 20 manufacturers such as Scalextric, SCX, Revell, Slot.it, Pioneer, NSR, Carrera and MJK.
Its ready-to-run remote control cars include Traxxas, Team Associated, Tamiya, Team Magic, Ninco, Arrma, Losi and HPI.
“We carry parts and accessories for these and offer service and repairs, too,” he says.
In terms of slot cars, Way2Fast sells AFX cars, repair kits and tracks.
Birthday Honours – are from the Canberra region.
Just over the border, Mr William McFadyen CAMPBELL , of Sutton, NSW, was appointed for distinguished service to public administration and to international legal practice, through senior counsel and advisory roles.
Braddon’s Prof Bruce James CHAPMAN was appointed for his service to higher education, particularly in the field of economics and public policy, and to professional societies, while Mr Michael PEZZULLO, for distinguished service to public administration through leadership roles in the areas of national security, border control and immigration.
The fourth, Deakin’s Mr Francis John SULLIVAN, was appointed for distinguished service to the community, particularly through social justice and legislative reform initiatives, and to health and aged care.
Australia-wide, three people were appointed the top honour, companion of the order (AC), including former prime minister Tony ABBOTT, 200 people were appointed members of the order (AM), and 457 were awarded medals of the order (OAM).
Mr Scott Anthony SADDLER , Dickson, for significant service to public administration, and as a supporter and mentor of indigenous youth.
Dr Paul Nathaniel SMITH, O’Malley, for significant service to orthopaedic medicine as a surgeon, and to medical administration.
Ms Catherine Maria WOOD, for significant service to the superannuation sector, to women, and to trade unions.
MEDAL
(OAM)
OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Dr Walter Patrick Leopold ABHAYARATNA , Red Hill, for service to medicine in the ACT.
Mrs Alison Irene AITKEN, Deakin, for service to the community of the ACT.
Of these 40.85 per cent of recipients were women, which is slightly up from last year’s 40 per cent. The youngest recipient at the time of the nominations was 24 years old and the oldest nominations were over 90.
MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION
Mr Eric James CHALMERS, for significant service to the community through child accident prevention and road safety organisations.
Brig. Alison Margaret CREAGH, Hughes, for significant service to veterans and their families, and to rowing.
Mr Peter James EVEILLE , for significant service to the care and welfare of veterans and their families.
Dr Michael Ralph BANYARD, Red Hill, for service to veterinary science.
Mrs Margaret McRae CORNWELL , Yarralumla, for service to the community of the ACT.
Mrs Jennifer Louise CROSS, for service to children and families impacted by dyslexia.
Mrs Claudia HYLES, Kingston, for service to the community of the ACT.
Mrs Rosanna KOBIELA-HORN, Melba, for service to table tennis.
Mr Alfred William McCARTHY, Yass, NSW, for service to the community of Yass.
Ms Georgina May PINKAS, Aranda, for service to the community of the ACT.
Mr Lakshman PRASAD-ALLURI, for service to the Indian community of the ACT.
Ms Anna Kristina PROSSER , Forrest, for service to women, and the community of the ACT.
Ms Anne Francis WALSH, Chifley, for service to people with an intellectual disability.
Mr David Peter WATSON, for service to public administration, particularly to courts of law.
PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PSM)
Ms Jennifer Patricia CARLSON, Amaroo, for outstanding public service in supporting the Cabinet.
Mr Leo James HARDIMAN, Chapman, for outstanding public service through the provision of legal services to the Commonwealth.
Ms Deborah Lee McGUIRE, Belconnen, for outstanding public service to high level delivery of whole-of-government security risk management for special events.
Ms Coralie Anne McALISTER , Wanniassa, for outstanding public service to education in the ACT.
Prof Bruce Chapman AO.
Mr Michael Pezzullo AO.
Mr Francis Sullivan AO.
Mr Tony Abbott AC.
Mr Eric Chalmers AM.
Prof Christine Phillips AM.
Anna Prosser OAM.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Behind-the-scenes struggles for arts centres
By Helen Musa
WITH news that the arts hub Carriageworks in Sydney has gone into voluntary administration, multi-arts centres around the country are busily reinventing themselves.
Here in Canberra, three such facilities, Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres, Belconnen Arts Centre and Tuggeranong Arts Centre are designated “Key Arts Organisations” by the ACT government and they’re determined to survive, but it’s not easy.
While Tuggeranong and Belconnen (recently rebranded as Belco Arts) have been busy with online initiatives, CEO at Ainslie and Gorman, Joe Falsone, sees his organisation as falling into a different category altogether.
For unlike the other two more recent centres, known for their well-funded, socially-inclusive programs, the two older buildings in the inner north, the former Ainslie Public School, and Gorman House, were both designed by legendary Canberra architect JS Murdoch (who also designed Old Parliament House), and need to be looked after as part of the country’s heritage. Both buildings were built in the 1920s and require constant maintenance.
Falsone is not a happy man. While he concedes that the organisation Ainslie and
Gorman Arts Centres has some reserves and relief to tenants of ACT government-owned properties will continue as pledged until October, funds are fast depleting.
It gets worse.
“In a crisis you’ve got to coordinate, but there are things going on behind the scenes,” he says.
“We are told you’ve got to be self-sufficient, you’ve got to run like a business etc. etc., but the COVID-19 crisis is highlighting how unrealistic this is.”
“We’ve got insurance issues, public liability issues, people put their feet through floors, heaters fall off the walls, there are workplace health and safety issues and both artists and audiences need to be able to be in a safe environment.”
And while Tuggeranong and Belconnen have several small spaces available to let out, Falsone says rental is the backbone to Ainslie and Gorman’s survival, with 81 per cent of their income derived from individual artists and organisations as diverse as Ql2 Dance, Canberra Youth Theatre, Music For Canberra and the Canberra International Music Festival, all devastated by the COVID-19 restrictions.
“It’s fair to say that we are heavily reliant on earned income, so we are disproportionately impacted,” he says.
“The community demand for our facilities is very strong and we feel we’ve been doing 80 per cent of the heavy lifting work in the good times… it’s not an even playing field.”
Now he’s hoping that Ainslie and Gorman
ARTS IN THE CITY Into the moment with Cook
By Helen MUSA
THE National Museum of Australia is up and running at last with its big show, “Endeavour Voyage: The Untold Stories of Cook and the First Australians”, which, by contrasting the view from the ship and the view from the shore, takes visitors into the moment when First Australians encountered Lt James Cook and his crew. Social distancing measures will be observed. Bookings of free, timed tickets are advised at nma.gov.au
CANBERRA Museum & Gallery and Lanyon Homestead have now reopened to the public, with social distancing and hygiene measures in place and the number of visitors restricted. Lanyon’s Barracks espresso bar and eating house will also reopen, but Calthorpes’ House and Mugga-Mugga Cottage will reopen on June 27 and July 4 respectively, while CMAG café will begin trading on June 29.
BUNDANON (not Bundanoon), the Arthur Boyd property on the Shoalhaven, has reopened to the public, with a maximum of 10 people admitted at a time to the homestead and Boyd’s studio. Other features open are Treelines Track, created by artist Janet Laurence, and the Haunted Point loop walk, which takes visitors through the rock amphitheatre and pockets of rainforest. Access will be timed bookings at bundanon.com.au
WITH the idealistic themes of “dream, perform, achieve, inspire”, Sydney Eisteddfod has now launched “Stage At Home”, created for the Sydney Eisteddfod during COVID-19 restrictions. They’ll be releasing featured videos of classical and contemporary singing, choirs, piano, instrumental solos and groups, speech, dance and drama performances at sydneyeisteddfod.com.au and
Capt James Cook, portrait by Nathaniel Dance, 1776. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Greenwich Hospital Collection.
all videos will be available permanently on YouTube once released. Video submissions from anyone can be sent in via a link on the website until July 27 and the eisteddfod will upload them until July 31.
AFTER a terrific response to their first online concert, Joshua Robson Productions and host James Cutler will return to the spotlight with a new production, “Lights Up On The Arts Not Done Yet” via Facebook on Friday, June 19 from 7pm, crossing live to the homes of performers like Natalie Abbott (“Muriel’s Wedding”), Jayme Lee Hanekom (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”) and Caroline O’Connor (“Chicago”). This will be a ticketed event but you can pay what you can afford, at gofundme.com/LUOTA2
will get a share of the ACT government’s $1 million support package for “key arts and program organisations”, promised on March 11.
In light of its very particular business model, it’s not surprising, then, to learn Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres is preparing a three-step reopening of facilities in line with national cabinet and ACT government easing of restrictions, and moved to Step 1 from 12am on June 1.
Gorman Arts Centre has now partially reopened to the public, with its main office open 10am-4.30pm Monday to Friday. All visitors must be screened at reception and sign in with contact details.
Some venues in A, C, D, E, F blocks at Gorman are open for approved uses. No concerts, performances or gallery exhibitions
can be held live, so online arts programs will have to continue, but rehearsal and education programs can commence and the restaurant may open with a 10-diner limit. Bathrooms have been reallocated to achieve a balance between resident access and hirer/ guest access.
But while Gorman gradually eases restrictions, Ainslie Arts Centre will stay closed at least until October 1 for workplace health and safety upgrades. Falsone says efforts will be made to accommodate Ainslie Arts Centre residents’ needs at Gorman.
Falsone is on paternity leave and program manager, Adelaide Rief has been appointed to the role of acting CEO of Arts Capital Limited and acting director of Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres during his absence.
CEO at Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres, Joe Falsone.
Former public school, Ainslie Arts Centre... closed until October 1. Gorman Arts Centre… partially reopened to the public.
The big and the bold and the end of scrolling
IN this ultra-competitive streaming market, you gotta be big and bold to snap up the attention of viewers. Take Apple TV+, which came out in November and has taken the tack of what I believe to be “quality over quantity”.
At this stage, Apple’s catalogue of original series is nowhere near as large as its competitors. What it does have on offer though, has been crammed with as much star power as possible – in front of and behind the camera and which would certainly have cost a hot dollar.
Jennifer Aniston, of “Friends” fame; Reese Witherspoon, who’s been front and centre of the Emmy-winning “Big Little Lies” and Steve Carell just now making headlines in “Space Force”, make up a dynamite cast in the streaming service’s most popular series, “The Morning Show”. This taut and politically relevant drama is centred around break-ofday media and its power to inform, or more controversially, create and disseminate the infamously phrased “fake news”.
Drawing from real scandals such as what we’ve seen with the #metoo movement, it certainly has gained attention quickly.
This is only scratching the surface of the talent on offer. Whether it’s Aaron Paul, of “Breaking Bad”, star of “Hidden Figures” Octavia Spencer or “Aquaman” himself, Jason Momoa, Apple TV+ hasn’t pulled any punches in crafting an all-star line-up to get you viewing.
Its newest compelling breakout miniseries “Defending Jacob”, which just streamed its finale last week, has also become a hit. Based on a “New York Times” bestseller
from 2012, it’s another slickly produced drama featuring a star-studded cast. Where in recent years we’ve mostly seen him don superhero tights, Chris Evans brings a moody and serious performance to this series as an assistant district attorney, caught up in a case where his own son has been accused of murder. He’s accompanied by Michelle Dockery as his wife, who you might have seen in “Downton Abbey”. Central to it all though, as Jacob, is rising star Jaeden Martell, who got
FAST
his break in the hugely profitable, two-part film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel “It”.
COMPARE these blockbuster tactics of Apple TV+ to its penultimate rival: Netflix. That streaming giant does bring out the big guns for its most profitable series – think Winona Ryder of “Stranger Things”, but we also see it greenlighting as many “small” productions as they do major ones. The idea is that if you’re willing to endlessly scroll far enough, you’ll eventually get to something you’ll like.
SCROLLING though? Ha. Seems a bit five minutes ago.
Foxtel Binge’s big bold tactic is to “kill scrolling”. It wants you no longer stuck going through endless titles, overwhelming you with what to watch. Instead, it wants to make sure your viewing habits are so tailored that this all becomes a thing of the past. You finish one show and your next is right there primed up, ready to go, based on your preferences. “Binge on” viewers, “binge on”.
So, how does this work exactly? Well, we’re all at least familiar with the recommendations
MUSIC
our streaming services give us thanks to their all-seeing, all-knowing algorithms – watching us watching them watching us and bingo, here’s something we prepared for you earlier – but the system is far from perfect.
Think I spat a bit of my drink out at “Hi Nick, because you watched ‘Goodfellas’, here’s ‘Shrek 2’.” Thanks, Netflix, excellent segue.
Hey, we can’t resort to the old it’s “only human” now can we?
As it turns out, that’s exactly what Foxtel is turning to in order to “perfect” your recommendations. Not a robot choosing for you, but instead, human-curated viewing lists for users, apparently to give that extra bit of precision in how you watch.
Content selected by an actual human?
That’s begin ning to feel all “Stranger Things” or “Black Mirror” a little bit itself, isn’t it?
NICK OVERALL
Teaching teachers online teaching
By Helen Musa
IF you’re one of the thousands of people who, as a child, studied piano or violin, you’ll know exactly what the AMEB is – the Australian Music Examinations Board.
With its official centenary celebrated two years ago in 2018, its work actually began back in 1875 in Victoria and South Australia, so it has a long history of educating and more particularly accrediting musicians through the teachers.
Music studies were the backbone of the newly developing culture in colonial Australia and many households even in the remotest parts of the outback once boasted at least an upright piano.
And now, during COVID-19 isolation, there’s hardly a digital piano to be bought in Australia and guitars and ukuleles are flying off the shelves.
It’s hardly surprising, then, to learn that the AMEB is at the forefront of a move to ensure that music can still be taught all around the country during the COVID-19 crisis through a new series of webinars, called “Break the Isolation.”
I caught up with CEO Bernard Depasquale by phone to Melbourne, where he was busy implementing the board’s new courses.
With eight episodes already released, the webinars, open to everyone, feature interviews with musicians, teachers and other experts and cover topics like “Music in Times of Crisis” with conductor
Benjamin Northey and “Indigenous Language Alive through Song” with educator-composer Candace Kruger.
Based in Adelaide and a pianist by trade, Depasquale and his violinist wife Sarah met at the Elder Conservatorium and later formed the well-known Tea Rose Duo, performing around Australia for many years, often at the School of Arts Café in Queanbeyan, until Depasquale, who also has a law degree from Flinders University and a Graduate Diploma in Arts Administration from the University of SA took up his position with AMEB and moved to Melbourne.
“I grew up on AMEB exams every year, they were part of my upbringing,” he says. There are also Australian and NZ Cultural Arts, Trinity Guildhall Examinations, Australian Guild of Music Education Inc. and St Cecilia School of Music, but the vast majority of all exams in music, he estimates, come through the AMEB.
“So much has happened over the last seven or eight weeks,” he says. “We knew that teachers wanted to keep teaching and we ran our first webinar on how to teach on March 25.”
More followed, initially once a week but then twice a week, with a diversity of teaching techniques developed to take in different instruments, including brass and ensembles.
“Music is at its most powerful when experienced live and in person,” he says, but now he sees educators adapting and pivoting to new models that enable music to be taught remotely.
To be sure, there are technological problems like time-lag, which he says is a big issue because each internet server has a different capacity, “but that is a physics thing, not something we can fix”.
“We quickly realised online teaching was a way of expanding beyond our immediate community, so we made our online theory courses [Grades 1, 2 and 3] free until June 30 on YouTube and Facebook… The response was huge, with over 35,000 people redeeming that offer, far more than they would normally take in a year,” he says.
The webinars are free at the moment and he’s arranged a free licence allowing teachers to screen-share AMEB publications on their chosen online lesson platform, “to do the right thing in protecting copyright”.
The hope is that some of the new students will take their new-found studies seriously, go online for exams and get qualifications through the video exams available for students in lockdown and throughout the year.
As for would-be music students starting from scratch, in Depasquale’s view it’s still important for them to find a teacher and that’s why the AMEB’s first task is to help the teachers who provide the benchmarks throughout the country.
“We’re not doing this as a money earner, we want music teachers to keep teaching,” he says.
To access the free AMEB courses, visit ameb.edu.au/online-theory-courses and ameb.edu.au/breaktheisolation
“Defending Jacob”... from left, Chris Evans, Jaeden Martell and Michelle Dockery.
TAKEAWAY / Akiba, Civic
Smashing it with great takeaway
AKIBA in Civic is smashing it with takeaway. Even though restrictions are slowly lifting, the restaurant isn’t going to open until many, many more diners are allowed in. Can’t blame them.
The takeaway and delivery food menu is compact and each dish packs a punch of flavour. Akiba has nailed flavours and creates dishes that make you dance.
We ordered some share plates (mains), a bit conscious we were a 20-minute drive away and aiming to select dishes that would travel well.
Akiba’s food is inspired by the informal and exciting food halls and dining rooms of the East-Asia region.
The wok-blasted Asian mushrooms ($14) were sensational and the dish loaded with tofu, cashews and chilli for bite.
Our bite-sized chunks of chicken, deep-fried Japanese-style, were super tender and juicy and the coating pretty addictive ($16).
Love beef short rib? You’ll be ordering this dish more than once from Akiba. The tamarind caramel was loaded with flavour and had gorgeous depth. The dish is served with Asian greens.
WINE
Last, but not least, we opted for the king prawn fried rice ($18), a generous portion and not skimpy on the prawns either.
Akiba’s takeaway/delivery menu also features four styles of buns ($8 each), several styles of
dumplings ($9 or $10 for four pieces), two styles of pancake – including a kimchi and oyster ($8 for four pieces) – and a miso dengaku eggplant ($14).
A kids’ menu is available (except Friday and Saturday). Akiba also has “Quaran-tinnies” – readyto-drink 200ml cans made fresh inhouse, using premium spirits and mixers ($5 to $10). Options include a Sake Sensei and a Passionfruit Mojito. Our only concern was that the food was barely warm when it arrived so we popped it in the oven to heat it up (the crispiness of the fried chicken was affected slightly). We didn’t mind. Friday
night. Cold outside. Warm inside. Great food. We couldn’t really pick a favourite dish. It was all super tasty.
Akiba delivers free within 30 kilometres from the city (minimum order of $40). Note: there’s no system for pre-ordering (online or by phone). I tried earlier in the day to place an order for 7pm, thinking I was doing Akiba a favour by giving them plenty of time. I was told to call back and order at 5pm. I did but was then told to call back at 6pm for a 7pm order. The staff were super friendly and efficient and promised delivery an hour later. The order arrived bang on time.
Akiba – open seven days. Pick ups from 40 Bunda Street, Civic; phone orders to 6162 0602.
Looking for lovely legs of good wine
EXPECTATION failed to meet reality in our recent tasting of the 2014 Brand’s Laira Blockers Shiraz. This is a wine made in the Coonawarra. Halliday says that this is a five-star winery. A good terra rossa born shiraz should last for eight years and reach a peak just as we were drinking it at the six-year mark.
You would expect a wine from such a quality background to be exceptional. That is the case even though the price was amazing – I bought it for just on $20 a bottle. But it lacked legs. That is, it wasn’t a “big” shiraz that we were expecting to drink with the scotch fillet that had been marinating in the same wine.
It was pleasant enough but it had none of the complexity and grip that I had hoped for or the legs to make it a big wine of the kind that shiraz is classically known for in this country.
The issue of “legs” is mostly about alcohol content. You can look for it by holding the wine glass at an angle to let a stream flow up one side of the glass. Then bring the glass back to level and look for how the wine flows to see the viscosity and also look for the density of the legs that form.
If you see a lot of legs, the wine has a higher alcohol content that, in a nicely aged shiraz, you should taste as a warming sensation in the back pallet. Or perhaps not. The effect is not always a foolproof way of measuring whether the wine is of good quality: that should come through more in the depth and colour of the wine.
But the viscosity issue is quite fun to observe and one way to talk about a wine that disappoints in not being as “big” as you had hoped is to say it lacks legs.
Maybe the expression is so engaging because it prompts a part of the brain that likes the image. According to “Science Daily”, it has been
But the viscosity issue is quite fun to observe and one way to talk about a wine that disappoints in not being as ‘big’ as you had hoped is to say it lacks legs.
discovered that listening to metaphors involving arms or legs engages a region of the brain responsible for visual perception of those body parts. That would explain my obsession with the term!
2014 Brand’s Laira Blockers Shiraz… “pleasant enough, but it had none of the complexity and grip that I had hoped for,” says Richard Calver.
The truth of the phenomenon in the context of wine appreciation though is, as explained by Courtney Schiessl, that: “The ethanol in wine evaporates along the tiny rim of wine along the sides of a glass. Because it has a smaller surface tension than water, the liquid runs down the sides of the glass into the bowl due to a phenomenon called the Marangoni effect. Thus, the higher level of alcohol in a wine, the slower and thicker its tears will be.”
Ms Schiessl’s admonition is to the point: “Although they are often referred to as indicators of quality, wine legs actually tell the drinker very little about what the wine will actually taste like. Take that, wine snobs!” Ouch! Slower and thicker tears are falling all
right. But with the lamentation for the big Aussie shiraz that knocks your socks off with splendid tannins and complex bold black fruit flavours with leather and spice.
The St Hallett’s Old Block shiraz came to mind when I racked my brain for the taste I had been longing for. But when I went looking for where I might get a bottle, it seems that it sells for at least $100 a bottle. So perhaps with a $20 wine I got exactly what I should have expected.
“Blessed is he who ex pects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”
– Alexander Pope
Japanese fried chicken… super tender, juicy and the coating pretty addictive.
Asian mushrooms and king prawn fried rice.
Photos: Wendy Johnson
Duratone Hi-Fi PTY LTD
PUZZLES PAGE
Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
This week communication planet Mercury turns retrograde (from Thursday until July 12). So relationships will be challenging as loved ones are defensive and colleagues, clients or customers are more demanding than usual. Then the weekend Solar Eclipse shakes up your domestic zone, when you’ll be preoccupied with entertaining, redecorating, renovating, buying property, moving house or rebooting a troubled relationship with a family member.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
Disruptive Uranus is moving through your sign for the next few years, which will periodically shake you out of your cosy comfort zone. This week a relationship with a relative, neighbour or friend needs to be reviewed and recalibrated, as you discover new ways to relate, debate and communicate. Don’t be afraid of change! As birthday great Nicole Kidman observes: “Life has all these twists and turns. You’ve got to hold on tight and off you go.”
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
This week retrograde Mercury and the Solar Eclipse shine a bright spotlight on your current bank balance as well as money mistakes you’ve made in the past. If your finances are in a mess, then it’s time to sort them out ASAP. And Venus is still reversing through your sign (until June 25) which increases your tendency to indulge in a ‘comfort shopping’ spree that you later regret. Remember… good things will eventually come to Geminis who wait!
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
The current celestial cocktail includes retro Venus, retro Mercury and a Solar Eclipse in Cancer. So you’re in a sentimental mood as you revisit the past, reminisce about love and wallow in an ocean of emotion. If you overdo it though, it could be a depressing few days. Crabs are ruled by the silvery Moon so tune into the magic of those new moonbeams. Proactive Mars also encourages you to look to the future with fresh eyes, a curious mind and a full heart.
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
If you’re involved with a group, class, club or organisation, then expect power plays or personality clashes this week. An unresolved old issue could also resurface. If your inner voice tells you something (or someone) isn’t the real deal, then make sure you act on that information (in a smart, subtle and compassionate way). Then the Solar Eclipse activates your spiritual and privacy zone on the weekend, when it’s time to revisit your inner world.
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
Expect a disappointment, as you discover you’ve over-committed time, energy and enthusiasm to a project (or relationship) that’s going nowhere. It’s time to reformulate your goals for the future, as retrograde Mercury and the Solar Eclipse activate your hopes and wishes zone. Steer clear of negative thinkers and avoid talking yourself down. Try to surround yourself with positive people who promote your talents and support your dreams.
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
With your ruler Venus in retrograde mode (until June 25) don’t worry if you temporarily lose momentum and question your goals for the future. The dreams you dream now will manifest later in the year so you need to be patient and have faith in the process. Coupled Libra – it’s time to work on improving communication with your partner. Are you single and searching for your soul mate? You’ll have to be super patient because true love has been delayed.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
Expect some stress involving intimacy or money, as retrograde Venus stirs up your lust and loot zone. So be patient with your partner or be careful you don’t get carried away with impulse buys. And think things through before lending money to others because you won’t get it back in a hurry! Mars and Pluto boost motivation and confidence on Thursday and Friday. So make sure you do something fabulous that makes your spirit fly and your heart sing.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
You can look forward to a fresh start involving lust or loot, as the Solar Eclipse stimulates your intimacy and joint finances zone. But (courtesy of retro Mercury) there’ll be delays, difficulties and disruptions along the way. Your usual confidence and self-esteem could also take a temporary dive, as relationships are tempestuous and someone brings up an embarrassing incident from the past. Deal with the turbulent feelings that surface and then move on.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
With Venus still reversing through your job zone (until June 25) a work issue continues to be one step forwards and two steps back. The Solar Eclipse urges you to nurture family and friends with the time and attention they deserve. If you’re having ongoing problems with a loved one, let go of the past and be proactive about finding a solution. Forgiveness, focus, renewed commitment and plenty of affection are the secrets to relationship success in the future.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
You’re keen to rush things but don’t barge in with guns blazing! Saturn, retro Venus and retro Mercury caution you to focus on practical matters and finish details properly before you embark on exciting new projects. So it’s a suitable time to tackle daily chores and proceed with DIY projects. Self-sabotage is a potential problem though. Avoid repeating a past mistake. Learn from the episode and then you can move on with confidence and a fresh attitude.
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
An old issue could hold you back, as you worry about something that happened in your childhood or blame yourself for a family matter. Don’t dwell on the past Pisces. Let go, learn from your mistakes and move on. With Mars and Neptune in your sign, it’s important that you are proactive and follow your heart. Be inspired by birthday great, singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey: “No matter how many people give me advice, I do what my heart tells me to do.”
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2020
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22 Which officers are employed by sheriffs to serve writs, etc? (8)
24 What are feats of magic or legerdemain? (6)
25 What is the body of an aircraft known as? (8)
26 Which term describes surviving memorials of things past? (6)
A
14 What is one of the supports of a
a former contrivance for calculating. (6)
18 What, in earlier days, was the dole called? (6)
20 What is a small glass vessel for liquids? (5) 21 Name an Australian female professional tennis sensation, Jelena ... (5)
23 What is an authoritative decree, sanction, or order? (4)
WHY can’t all varieties of trees drop their leaves at the same time?
Leaves, especially when wet, are quite heavy. When accumulated on top of hedges and other small evergreen shrubs, they can actually cause dieback.
Likewise, keep lawns free of accumulated leaves. And don’t walk on a frosty lawn in the morning, as footprints will show the damage to the grass once the sun comes up.
Many folk curse the size and quantity of leaves from oak trees, but oak leaves actually contain almost the highest content of nitrogen of any leaf. Rake into piles and shred with the mower on its lowest setting. Then either put them on the compost heap, adding several good handfuls of garden lime to each barrow load, or straight onto garden beds as mulch. They’re considerably more beneficial than wood chips or tan bark,
which can actually rob the soil of nitrogen. For collecting small leaves such as maple, the Ozito mulcher/blower/vac works well.
MANY perennials have well and truly finished flowering and need to be cut down to ground level, like sedum spectabile “Autumn Glory”, pictured here near the end of its autumn flowering with its rusty-red flowers. Immediately the tall stalks die back after being hit with frost, it reveals at the base a mass of new shoots. One would think these tender shoots would also be hit by the frost, but not a bit of it. Throughout winter they continue to grow and by spring are at least 20-30cm tall. These will continue growing through summer to flower in the autumn.
If you’d like to grow more of them, now is the time to dig up the roots, complete with those new shoots, and divide. This may be for filling in bare spots in the garden or potting up for church/ school fetes. Dividing the clump is a real toughie. I use a pruning saw, or if it’s a large clump, a tomahawk, to divide them and then trim off the surplus roots. From this clump (pictured), I will get at least 10-15 new plants. The sedums clump up so fast that even after a couple of years, you should get at least 10. The sedums, often referred to as stonecrops, are a large family and most are
prematurely. Planted out and with the first good frosts, say goodbye to the new shoots. Today most garden centres pot up the roses and keep them in open, natural conditions. Also if bought in pots and not planted straight away, they will be fine. Lightly trim long roots before planting. Make the hole large enough so that roots are not curled round to fit the hole. Water well after planting with added certified liquid organic seaweed plant nutrients. Expect your first blooms around October/November.
