CityNews 200716

Caged people in search of ‘safety and hope’

JON STANHOPE

Political spinners give lie to the science

PAUL COSTIGAN

Alone in space… and feeling guilty

EDDIE WILLIAMS

THREE DECADES OF COMPASSION

Bill and Christine Cole mark 30 years of helping Canberrans through loss and grief

All our four clinics are open

Making plans to remember the resourceful Rats

By Kathryn VUKOVLJAK

VIVID memories of the siege of Tobruk have stayed with World War II veteran and ACT Rat of Tobruk John Fleming.

He recalls living in a hole he dug out with two others, deep enough that they could crawl about inside, but with ledges on the sides where they could lie, knowing they could get buried alive at any time.

“Once you were covered, if you lost air you were gone, you know,” he says.

“One place we were in, two blokes lay in a gully and there was an attack where they were lying, that’s how we lost them. They lost their breath.

“We dug them out, hoping it was quick enough, but it was too late. Doesn’t take long to kill someone’s breath.”

April 2021 will mark the 80th anniversary of the siege, with planning in the works for a “world reunion” of veterans and descendants in Brisbane.

Commemorative roses have recently been planted in Eddison Park, Woden by the Descendants of the Rats of Tobruk Association, so the flowers will be in bloom in time for

INDEX

Arts & Entertainment 19-21

Canberra Matters 6

Crossword 22

Dining & Wine 21

Gardening 23

Horoscopes 22

Letters 10

News 3-11

Politics 9

Seven Days 4

the anniversary.

Vicki Munday, representative of the Association, said the “No Sur render” roses, developed by Treloar Roses, Victoria, are “blood-red and sandy gold”, and the intention had been to plant them across all states at the same time, exactly a year before the anniversary on April 10.

“COVID-19 put a stop to that idea, and now each state is doing its own thing, but we’ve got ours planted at the Eddison Park war memorial ob elisk and we’ll put a plaque there on the anniversary,” she says.

The Siege of Tobruk started on April 10, 1941, when 14,000 Austral ians defending the Libyan town of Tobruk were surrounded by a German-Italian army commanded by Gen Erwin Rommel, in a siege that would last eight months until Octo ber 25, facing tank attacks, artillery barrages and daily bombings, living in dug-outs, caves and crevasses.

In that time, 749 were killed, 1996 wounded and 604 were taken prison ers of war.

Vicki’s late grandfather, Rat of Tobruk Clem Semmens, from SA, was a quartermaster and staff sergeant, and she says the group, active on Fa cebook, believes there are around 30 Rats still living in Australia, with two they’re aware of in the ACT: 96-yearold Holyoake, who helped to plant the

Time to look at garden furniture. Story Page 23.

birthday on June 29. John was born in Scotland in 1919, emigrated to Australia with his par -

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A dispatch rider with 9th Division Signals, John says his country upbringing seemed to have given him a

decent sense of direction, and in Tobruk, which he describes as “pretty busy” he’d often be sent out to find people who had lost their way.

“What I used to say to them was don’t do anything, just stay where you are, if you start running about

“It could be difficult to remember where to go, it was flat desert, so they’d wait ’til I’d catch up with

John says he wasn’t injured in Tobruk, but was shot “about 11 days in” to the New Guinea campaign, when his army career ended and he became

“My wife Mary was glad when I was back in the hospital in Australia, we’d only just got married when I got home from the Middle East.

“I didn’t want to marry her before that in case I got knocked off,” he

The couple went on to have three children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John says Mary passed away at 92 “when she was ready”, but he plans to keep on

“I seem to just go on and on, but I do want to keep living,” he says.

“I think the army started that sort of thing, if you’re in the army you just have to keep living. It sort of grows into you.”

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SEVEN DAYS

Our smugness tumbles as Melbourne shudders

I AM trying so hard not to write about coronavirus. The research says we’re sick of hearing about it, especially as we lulled smugly back to tummy rubbing and not washing hands beyond one verse of “Happy Birthday to You” while the world racked up record infection numbers.

Then came the cold shudder of Melbourne; the towers, the lockdowns, the border closures, the infection numbers. But we’re okay, right? Wrong. Then came Canberra. First, a sobering three new cases to smash our growing complacency, then another – something about a shop in Gungahlin, then another – something about shopping in Belconnen mall…

Then the about-to-start stage three restrictions were stopped. Suddenly things have turned serious again.

Hits to our website (citynews.com.au) started spiralling up as the frightened community gives lie to the research.

The fear, while never far away, is rising and so too is the testing with three more clinics opening this week at the COVID-19 Surge Centre in Garran, the West Belconnen Child and Family Centre and an additional drive-through in south Canberra.

“With the events occurring in Victoria and the onset of the influenza season, we will continue to see an upward trend in demand for community testing of COVID-19,” says

“significant stepping up” of monitoring compliance of quarantine and self-isolation arrangements as the number of people in quarantine or self-isolation in hotels or at home increases daily.

A third Territory Targeting Team is going to be doing more spot-checks and responding to calls from the public reporting non-compliance. The other two will continue policing Canberra’s nightlife district and enforcing social distancing.

Top cop Neil Gaughan said: “For people in quarantine or self-isolation, if you haven’t already seen a police officer at your front door, you are likely to see one soon”, which is code for “stay out of shopping malls”!

“CANBERRA Matters” columnist Paul Costigan has a weakness for French pastries, such as pain au raisin.

– best before 8th July.”

Which is unremarkable, save for the top label that states: “Made in France”.

Given these times of travel restrictions, fewer planes and international time differences, one could marvel that columnist Costigan was arguably eating it before it had even been “baked”.

Coles have some form in this having been fined $2.5 million in 2015 for making false or misleading representations and engaging in misleading conduct in relation to the promotion of its par baked bread products. The offending products were promoted as “Baked Today, Sold Today” and in some cases “Freshly Baked In-Store”, when they were in fact partially baked and frozen off site by a supplier, transported and “finished” at in-store bakeries within Coles supermarkets.

“Despite the mysterious origins, they were delicious,” says M. Costigan.

MOTHER doesn’t know best for one hapless L-plater nabbed for doing 98km/h in an 80km/h zone along Adelaide Avenue.

When asked for a reason for speeding when there was a supervising driver in the car, the learner dobbed mum in saying she had urged overtaking other cars because they were “driving dangerously”.

Nonplussed, plod stiffed the young driver with a $438 fine and three demerit points. “I hope our interaction with the learner driver taught a more valuable lesson – that is to follow the road rules and always obey the speed limit,” said Sgt Ivan Naspe. Oh, and ignore your mother.

IT will come as no surprise to know the perennial candidate Tim Bohm is standing at the October ACT election. “It’s official, I’m running as a candidate for the Canberra Progressives. Yes, I’m a sucker for punishment, but someone needs to do something about this arrogant Labor government,” he says, more aware than most of the wall he’ll be bangining his head against for the next three months.

MURRUMBIDGEE MLA Jeremy Hanson seems to have broken the cone of Lib -

eral silence over their position on high-rise development.

In his latest community newsletter he says he and his fellow MLA Giulia Jones are committed to protecting green spaces, such as the Curtin horse paddocks against high-rise development.

“Disappointingly, the ACT Labor and Greens government are planning to rezone 30 per cent of the green space near Curtin, Yarralumla and along Adelaide Avenue for high-rise development.”

THE ACT government has commendably stumped up $240,000 to keep local performers busy staging a new arts festival that will run around Canberra until September 11. It’s called “Where You Are”. “CityNews” arts editor Helen Musa worries that the enigmatic title is reminiscent of some other Canberra festivals, “You Are Here”, “I am Me” and “Art Not Apart”, with the potential to confuse rather than enlighten the public. “Better to keep it simple,” she says.

Ian Meikle is the “CityNews” editor. He can be heard on the “CityNews Sunday Roast”, 10am-noon on 2CC.

CANBERRA MATTERS

THERE’S not much new about politicians today. The ancient Persian rulers knew they could control their own image though propaganda.

When they overran a city, it was written up as a great achievement that benefited everyone – including the locals (if any survived). That propaganda was spin and its use is similar to the spin experienced by residents of Canberra.

The city continues to be degraded through ad hoc regulations, through loopholes that developers exploit and by planning regulators who are very good at the job they do – looking the other way.

Yet the government’s press releases state that great things are happening. For whom is another question!

What annoys residents almost more than anything else is that politically endorsed spin has permeated almost everything about planning and development in Canberra. Spin dominates. It is the common language of developers, their consultant

Canberra continues to be degraded through ad hoc regulations, through loopholes that developers exploit and by planning regulators who are very good at the job they do – looking the other way.

planners, the planning bureaucracy, local politicians and especially those politicians with an influence on development and planning.

Letters that residents receive from politicians (written by their communications officers) continue with avoidance tactics, denial of facts and with loads of disingenuous spin. These letters are so insulting. And they keep coming!

Sometimes the spin includes some skerrick of the truth, often it omits relevant facts while emphasising alternate facts and more often it is about setting up an alternative reality.

Far too often political spin is structured to undermine the truth – the facts – in short, the science. Thank God for science!

For those in the community sector who read through the many planning variations along with other planning and environmental strategies that have been published in recent years, the only conclusion to be drawn is that

all these worthy documents are fabrications pretending to be something serious. They are not. They are spin. They are published to engage the residents in time-consuming debates that serve no other purpose than to provide a veneer of credibility to the Planning Directorate and the ministers involved.

It is not hard to predict the result of the call for submissions on the North Curtin Horse Paddocks land grab, the mountain of submissions on West Basin, the current Geocon proposal for inner Kingston and the on-going objections to the games and deceptions being played over Section 72 Dickson. Don’t hold your breath waiting for those submissions to change the pre-set outcomes.

Facts, science and logic being used by residents means little to those in government pushing these outrageous schemes.

If the ACT government spent less on communication officers and less on generating spin, and reallocated those resources to looking after heritage issues, funding green infrastructure and biodiversity initiatives and ensuring

place to live, work and play – and to enjoy parklands and green spaces.

When people say: “Thank God for science” it is a statement that positive things can happen when facts and evidence are used to inform all manner of urban planning decisions.

It is so depressing to see that many of our current politicians seem to rejoice in ignoring science, facts and logic while relying on their communication officers to produce mountains of spin that annoys the pants off residents.

The Planning Directorate and the Planning ministers have used spin annually to announce that changes are being made. The sad reality is that real and significant change is not happening.

The Planning Directorate remains a dangerous self-serving bureaucratic

sional and facts-based directorate that actually does people focused urban planning.

None of the mainstream candidates for the 2020 ACT elections dare to commit to doing away with spin. All seem to be locked into the traditional games of point scoring.

None are committed to changing the shocking anti-resident culture that dominates the ACT’s planning directorate. The electorate desperately needs unaligned independents to use the balance of power to urgently bring about real changes to things that matter to Canberrans.

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

Caged people in search of ‘safety and hope...’

WHAT were you doing on July 19, 2013? Remember anything about that day? That it was a Friday?

I can remember where I was. I was on Christmas Island. I can also remember watching then-prime minister Kevin Rudd on television announcing that, from that day, every asylum seeker arriving in Australia by sea would be subject to indefinite, mandatory offshore detention.

Rudd reinforced his message with the words: “Asylum seekers who come here by boat without a visa will never be settled in Australia.”

I also recall that in announcing the implementation of this draconian new ALP policy Rudd was loyally supported by deputy prime minister Anthony Albanese.

Seven years later asylum seekers taken by Australia to Manus Island and Nauru and dumped there following the Labor government’s announcement are still there and are still in detention.

I understand that there are 189 asylum seekers still in PNG, 187 on Nauru and, following passage of the medivac legislation, roughly 200 in detention in Australia, mostly in lock down in the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel in Brisbane and the Mantra Hotel in Melbourne.

There are also about 1020 asylum seekers in community detention

Seven years on and asylum seekers taken by Australia to Manus Island and Nauru and dumped there following the Labor government’s announcement are still there and are still in detention.

across Australia.

One of the consequences of coronavirus has been the compulsory 14-day quarantining of people who are either infected or may have come into contact with an infected person.

The media has reported many people found this and the trauma they experienced in being isolated for two weeks as unbearable.

Imagine for a moment what it must be like to have been locked up by the Australian government for seven years for what, at the end of the day, is a purely political purpose.

Imagine that it was you who fled your country in fear for your life and arrived in Australia by boat on July 19, 2013 or thereabouts, sought to exercise a legal right, under international law, to protection and to be recognised as a refugee.

Imagine that you were, say, 21 years old at the time and that you left behind your family, including elderly grandparents and a pregnant wife and were part way through a university degree.

Imagine having formally applied

for asylum in Australia, that you were peremptorily deported to indefinite detention in a hell hole in a thirdworld country and have been detained there for seven long unrelenting and continuing years.

Now try, if you can, to imagine the emotional and mental torture you will have endured during those seven years and the hole it will have left in your life.

This may very well have included the birth of your child, who is now seven years old and whom you have never met; the death of your grandparents whose funerals you could not attend; a request from your wife for a divorce because she can no longer bear the pain and the loneliness or the lack of financial security; the loss of a dreamed about career and the onset of a debilitating mental illness.

Imagine, too, not being able to recite adhan (the first words that a child must hear) in your newborn child’s ear; imagine missing aqeeqa, a ceremony as important to a Muslim as christening is to a Catholic parent. Perhaps, rather than seek to simply

imagine these things why not listen to what they have to say about the way we have treated them?

A colleague and friend of mine, Dr Kirrily Jordan, an academic at the ANU, is in regular touch with asylum seekers still imprisoned by us offshore and in Australia. Last week she asked two of them to try and describe the impact and the personal loss of their seven years in detention.

This is some of what they said:

YG: We have lost a sense of meaning in our lives, we’re just breathing. The system keeps pushing us to go back to our homelands even though they know we can’t go back.

Imagine seven years – you can never think of one thing that might change for you. You’re surrounded completely by a cage and it just goes on and on like this. And it’s the same intense pain that you are still here and you can’t see any way out.

Moz Azimitabar: (Moz can be followed @AzimiMoz). We have been away from our families for seven years. We have lost our families for seven years. We’ve been tortured for seven years.

We are people seeking safety and

hope. We haven’t committed any crime. We sought help from Australia because we were in danger. We left our countries because we were in danger. But the Australian government imprisoned us and transferred us by force to PNG. After lots of torture, last year we were transferred back to Australia for treatment, but instead of treatment the Australian government is punishing us and we haven’t received any proper medication yet and now they are trying to pass a Bill in order to take our phones. I tell you our lives depend on this time we can talk to our family and friends.

Anyone up for a quick rendition of Advance Australia Fair?

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.

Canberra not immune to enemy of complacency

COMPLACENCY is enemy number one as Victoria’s second wave of COVID-19 demonstrates. Canberra is not immune. We may all be looking forward to getting life back to normal but we are running a high risk of the same thing happening in our city.

The coronavirus epidemic has provided many lessons that are applicable across society. The most socially disadvantaged in our country, and across the world, have been most vulnerable to the pandemic. Across the health spectrum, it is the same people who suffer most, who have more ill-health and have the shortest lives.

Social distancing is more challenging for those living in close quarters, as is illustrated by the pictures of the public-housing towers that were locked down in Melbourne. What chance of sensible social distancing when using crowded lifts or when the corridors allow less than one point five metres to pass

In a fair and equitable society, it would be reasonable to expect access to good health

Crowded pubs, close lines of people, casual attitudes in shops and recreation areas are all testament to complacent attitudes to the pandemic; the very things that will bring COVID-19 back to Canberra.

and good health care as a human right. If it was the case, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and refugees would have the same health outcomes as other Australians. Instead, the gap is significant.

“Closing the Gap in a Generation” is a World Health Organization report on the social determinants of health.

More than a decade ago this report pointed to the impact of inequality on health and urged governments to develop more equitable policies in order to improve health outcomes. The UN took the next steps with the introduction of the “Sustainable Development Goals”, which have been adopted by 293 countries.

Complacency regarding the current pandemic may well be driven by the hope of a new vaccine. Such a vaccine would provide a new dawn. However, it would not be without its critics. No doubt, the anti-vax movement will find a series of conspiracy

theories to encourage people to avoid the vaccine. A bigger problem will be that many people will not get around to having the vaccine. Complacency!

As much as we hope for the development of a safe and efficacious vaccine emerging from more than a hundred international projects, it might be a forlorn hope. How many decades is it since the advent of HIV/AIDS? There are treatments. However, despite the years of efforts, there is still no vaccine to halt the spread of this disease. There is a lesson in knowing that preventive behaviours had the biggest impact on HIV.

Compared to other policy areas, Australian governments have not been complacent on COVID-19. Rather, they have been vigilant in listening to advice, taking action, vigilant in contact tracing and vigilant in testing. These are key elements of handling a pandemic that is already on our shores. The same cannot be said for some in the community. Crowded pubs, close lines of people, casual attitudes in shops and recreation areas are all testament to complacent attitudes to the pandemic. This same compla-

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cency is the very thing that will bring COVID-19 back to Canberra. It really is something that we should all be taking seriously.

Even with the Victorian experience, there are still many individuals who are complacent about social distancing, hygiene and protection for themselves and others. In comparison, governments have been vigilant on COVID-19. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for other areas of government policy where complacency is rife.

In the case of the pandemic, governments have been vocal about supporting and listening to the evidence provided by academics and public health professionals. One

perspective is that they are avoiding the risk of blame for community deprivations such as “lockdowns” by stating they are following medical advice and evidence.

Why is the same attitude not applicable to policies on climate change, indigenous health or taxpayers’ subsidies to the fossil-fuel industry? After all, there is plenty of solid, high-quality evidence and advice for them to use, to quote – or perhaps to hide behind!

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.

Lamenting the concrete canyons of Canberra

FROM the deserts of Northbourne Avenue to the high-rise horrors of Woden, Canberra as the concrete capital of Australia is rising fast!

As a Curtin resident for nearly 40 years, I am horrified by the decimation of our local Curtin shops to provide a large number of small flats for rent only, and a few replacement shops as a token gesture!

Now, to add insult to injury, we learn that our beloved horse paddocks have been exchanged (without any community consultation) to provide an international housing estate. How is this possible in a so-called democracy?

Already there are many “containerarchitectural” new-builds swallowing up the spare blocks of Curtin released (with no building constraints) after the Mr Fluffy debacle! Much of this is to facilitate the inexorable advance of the “Toy Train” down Adelaide Avenue, with the Mint oval and surrounds doubtless the next to go.

Soon Canberra will be blessed with the same concrete canyons as Sydney and other “modern“ cities.

Goodbye the Bush Capital – what is left of you won’t be with us much longer!

Messrs Barr and Rattenbury must be so proud of themselves.

Colin Blair, Curtin

Common Ground not on a ‘green space’

A COLUMN by Paul Costigan in “CityNews” (July 2) about the proposed Common Ground development in Dickson is incorrect

in numerous respects.

Argyle Housing Ltd is not the parent body of Common Ground. Some years ago Argyle was appointed by the ACT government to provide tenancy services (rents, bonds, maintenance etcetera) at the Common Ground development in Gungahlin.

Northside Community Services provides welfare support to social-housing tenants at that same site.

The development at Gungahlin was built by the ACT government, part funded by the ACT and Australian governments, with strong backing from philanthropy, especially the Snow Foundation. The Common Ground Canberra organisation was a key player in lobbying for the development to be built.

Common Ground began in New York.

Some years ago its founder, Rosanne Haggerty, was a thinker-in-residence in Adelaide.

From there the model spread to other cities around Australia. Its approach to providing high-quality, safe and supported accommodation has been shown to work in ending chronic homelessness. It is not, as claimed in the article, Argyle’s model.

Other parts of the story are also inaccurate. The development is not in a green space – it is being built on a cleared block where a previous building was demolished. Costigan should visit the site – nothing could be further from “precious green spaces”. It is not eight storeys. It is not designed to lead to more apartment building. It will not lead to any loss of community facilities – quite the opposite, the Common Ground building will contain community

spaces and social enterprises that employ previously homeless people and serve the local community.

There is no “Common Ground management”. Everyone involved in Common Ground is a volunteer. Common Ground is a community based organisation that encourages partnerships between government, community organisations and the private sector to solve homelessness. Common Ground receives no benefit from the development and the previous land-swap deal.

Stephen Bartos, chair, Common Ground, Braddon

Political silence is deafening

THEY may well wish otherwise, but Common Ground is enmeshed in the government’s machinations to permanently undermine the decades-long land zoning that set up Section 72 as a central Dickson land bank for future community, cultural and recreational use (“Land-swap shadow hangs over housing project”, CN July 1).

The positioning, scale and mass of the planned six-storey residential edifice on a tight site within this irreplaceable land bank does not offer the ability to avoid or minimise a range of identified negative impacts on the surrounding environment and unmet community-use needs.

In addition the reasons for establishing the original zoning that would safeguard

Section 72 for non-residential community use are even more pertinent now.

Growing nearby residential densification and significant population growth increases means that the much-degraded and neglected spaces remaining in this section are precious and needed more than ever for broader public use benefit. If they are lost under more concrete, they will be gone forever.

The area calls out for the inclusion of large-tree-canopied parkland, for respite and outdoor socialisation opportunities that are accessible day and night especially during our ever hotter summer months. COVID-19 has intensified the need for such a public mental and physical health focus, too.

All Section 72 revitalisation activity should provide hard evidence of how it will counter the heat-trapping hard surfacing that is surging across the inner north.

There are certainly no clear, coherent government plans to reduce such negative impacts in nearby areas slated for infill building development.

Given the darkening shadow that hangs over Section 72, Kurrajong voters will expect to hear how all candidates standing for election and re-election in October will commit and work to deliver a visionary renewal of Section 72, in keeping with community expectations that have been clear since well before the 2016 election.

So far the silence has been deafening.

Sue Dyer, Downer

Bus service ‘controlled’ by union

FOR those in Canberra who use neither the buses nor tram it may come as a shock to know how much it’s costing you.

Canberra buses are the most heavily subsidised in Australia. Without the $200 million paid by taxpayers, fares would be considerably higher and fewer people would use buses. The subsidy is $5.76 a trip.

Subsidies are paid because, when it comes to public transport, the Barr-Rattenbury government is controlled by the Transport Workers Union. They call the tune.

Their members – the bus drivers earn more than most other bus drivers in the country – in the region of $100,000 a year. On top of that, they dictate when buses run. They had it written into their award that they could choose if they worked on weekends.

On top of losses on buses there is the cost of the tram. Last time I looked, it cost ACT taxpayers $1 billion.

When will this government come clean and tell us what we are really paying for is an inefficient, overpriced public transport system?

If the sheer cost wasn’t enough, there is the issue of buses running around Canberra completely empty – except for the driver. Who would think this was a good idea? What a waste! Not only are we paying bus drivers to drive empty buses – which is ludicrous, they are spewing out greenhouse gases. Why don’t the Greens object to the waste of money and greenhouse gas emissions?

Lucinda Spier, Campbell

Rattenbury wants to undo his own damage

Scandalous. There is no other way to describe the land supply and planning policy settings adopted by ACT Labor and the Greens that have resulted in the exclusion of Canberra families in the bottom two income quintiles (i.e. 40 per cent of all Canberrans) from access to the detached-housing market.

Opposition leader Alistair Coe is correct, the only realistic option now available to working-class Canberrans who aspire to live in a detached house is to move across the border into NSW.

Shane Rattenbury, in launching his campaign for four more years as a minister, has promised to invest $450 million in public and affordable housing.

Having worked with Labor as a minister over the last eight years to drive the ACT Budget over a cliff, Rattenbury chose not to explain where the money would come from to fund his sudden interest in the provision of affordable housing.

Neither did he address the question why, having participated in the emasculation of every affordable and community housing program in place when he became a minister eight years ago, anyone would believe for one minute that he has any intention or interest in undoing the damage that he has wreaked on affordable and community housing in his time as a minister. It is an interesting election pitch that Shane is making: “Give me another four years and I promise to undo all the damage I did in the last four years.”

Actions speak louder than words. It is clear to anyone that bothers to look at this Labor/Greens government’s record on housing that it simply does not care that the dominant housing choice of working-class families is for an affordable, detached house.

It is an aspiration that the government has chosen to callously ignore.

What will be interesting to see is whether homeowning, middle-class Canberrans care or whether they are perfectly comfortable about reaping the windfall spike in the value of their detached houses as a result of the deliberate strangulation by Labor and the Greens of the supply of land.

Jon Stanhope, via citynews.com.au

‘Win-win’ on paddocks

RECENTLY, I was approached by a concerned lady at the Kippax shops about the proposed land deal between the ACT and Federal governments to trade the iconic Curtin horse paddocks for a bit of the lake in West Basin

While the paddocks are not in the Ginninderra electorate, the Belco Party nevertheless cherishes Canberra’s bush-capital status, which is largely being eroded by the Barr/Rattenbury Government (I thought Shane was meant to be a Green).

The Belco Party offers a helpful suggestion. Why not build the new embassies at O’Malley where there are already lots of embassies and still lots of land (even if it means using some of the foothill areas) and keep the Curtin horse paddocks for horses and the little-known resident wombats that also call those paddocks home That would be a win-win for everyone.

Bill Stefaniak, co-ordinator, Belco Party ACT

Free course on budgeting

CAP Money Management, which assists participants to manage debt, budget, save and get more control of their finances, is offering a free budgeting and money management course on two Saturday mornings – July 25 and August 8 – 9.15am to 12.30pm. Our free seminar on “Age Pension and Your Choices” run by Centrelink a few months ago was a great success and there was considerable benefit for everyone who came.

The budgeting course will be held at the Tuggeranong Baptist Church, Wanniassa. Intending participants can register at capmoney.org.au or email to capmoney@tbcchurch.com.au or ring me on 0402 007551.

Robert Ardill, CAP money coach, Tuggeranong

THE GADFLY

Blind cabinet fails to learn lessons

AT first, one could only empathise with Dan Andrews as the Victorian Premier announced the most strident response to the sudden Covid-19 breakout in those nine towers.

Same with the decision to “ring-fence” and lockdown Melbourne in the hope of containing it to the Victorian capital. After all, Andrews had been the most determined of all the premiers to deal with the health issue first and only then to loosen the economic bonds and return his state to the new normal.

But then, as the state and federal authorities’ attempts to isolate Victoria and the towers became ever more glaringly shambolic, a new perception bullied its way in: for all their self-congratulation, the members of the so-called National Cabinet – Andrews prominent among them – had failed to see and heed the obvious lessons from a near neighbour.

No, not NZ, but another island state equally close to our borders, the Republic of Singapore.

The parallels could hardly be more obvious – a quick initial response made them an example to the world as they flattened their curve. But Singapore’s overwhelmingly Chinese govern-

For all their self-congratulation, the members of the so-called National Cabinet had failed to see and heed the obvious lessons from a near neighbour. No, not NZ.

ment had a blind spot: they simply didn’t notice – let alone embrace – the migrant workers from Indonesia and elsewhere living in crowded conditions and doing the menial work that put them cheek-by-jowl with the infection every day.

Australia’s blindness was twofold. It overlooked the potential disaster of the failed British experiment of the 1960s in housing the poor in ghastly tower blocks; and it failed utterly to heed the lessons from neighbouring Singapore.

The explanation is not hard to find and it goes to the heart of the Australian psyche in 2020, some 230 years since the British forced their settlement upon the great south land.

It’s a work in progress, not just to make amends for the horrors of an attempted Aboriginal genocide, but to incorporate the wisdom of their attachment to mother earth,

her flora and fauna. It’s not just to engage with our neighbours in the Asia-Pacific, but to become a genuine regional citizen.

Perhaps the first tentative moves are at last being taken to embrace the First Australians, but even that is a daily struggle.

The regional venture is just as intransigent. It’s taken the growling awakening of the Chinese giant to spur Defence Minister Linda Reynolds to touch bases with a few of her equally tremulous counterparts. Otherwise, we might as well be in the middle of the Atlantic for all we engage with our regional neighbours.

The Murdoch papers and commercial TV are worse than useless. They only report disasters. The ABC is not much better; it runs hugely expensive offices in London and Washing-

ton that add nothing of value to the news and views that pour out of both in a never-ending stream. Sure, there’s Bill Birtles in China (for now) but that only highlights the paucity of content from Port Moresby, Fiji, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila, New Delhi and, of course, Singapore. Just think how long it’s been since you heard anything from any of them in the nightly bulletins. Who even knows the name of the current Prime Ministers of Malaysia or PNG? Little wonder that Singapore’s second wave was not front of mind in the National Cabinet’s planning regime.

Alas, the ties that bind us to a white, colonial past are an ancient harness of reins and blinkers. The nine steeples of Flemington cry fair warning of the obstacles looming ahead.

robert@ robertmacklin. com

Walking the talk to top of the mountain

THERE’S lots to celebrate this year on Black Mountain – not only is it the 50th anniversary of its being declared a conservation reserve, but also the 20th anniversary of the official opening of the Summit Walk.

To mark the occasion/s, local plant ecologist Michael Doherty is guiding two walks up the north-eastern slopes of Black Mountain to the summit leaving from the visitor centre, Australian National Botanic Gardens, on Saturday, July 25 at 9.30am and 1.30pm.

He will talk about trees, shrubs and fire, and point out some winter-flowering plants.

Linda Beveridge, convenor of the organisers, the Friends of Black Mountain, says the two-and-a-half-hour Summit Walk has steep sections, so it is suitable for fit walkers (including children over the age of 12).

“Participants are welcome to walk up and back, but if you would prefer not to walk down, ask a friend to meet you at the top,” she says.

“Wear sturdy shoes, a hat, and sun cream… and winter woollies in layers in case it’s cold.”

Places are limited and bookings essential. Email your name and phone number to friendsofblackmountain@gmail.com, or call 6296 1936 or 0437 298711). Gold-coin donation.

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WILLIAM COLE FUNERALS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

‘People tell us they feel comforted and that arranging a funeral was less difficult than they had thought it would be.’

Three decades of tireless compassion

FOR many people, meeting Bill and Christine Cole for the first time is most likely during a time of grief and crisis.

This kind-hearted couple – principals of William Cole Funerals – has seen much of Canberra cry, and supported thousands of locals in their time of deep sorrow.

Their dependable, compassionate approach in arranging funerals has seen them organise more than 17,000 services for the loved ones of Canberra. This month, the former high-school sweethearts, with their children and grandchildren, mark the 30th anniversary of their Belconnen-based funeral home.

Proudly independent, it is run by Bill, Christine and their team, which includes daughter Judy and her husband Naithan, son David and more recently, their two teenage granddaughters.

It might not be a job that many of us could do, but for Bill, being a funeral director was a calling.

“I always wanted to be a funeral director, even when I was in high school,” he says. “But I didn’t know why.

“I read a book called ‘The Loved One’ by Evelyn Waugh, which was a satire about US funeral homes. I loved it and then started reading all I could find on the subject.”

“You had it in your genes,” says Christine, explaining that years later they discovered Bill’s great-grandfather was a funeral director in Laura, a regional town in SA.

As one of only two remaining family-owned funeral homes in Canberra, Bill says that what they offer is the personal touch and choice for families, which has by and large been lost at the multinational-owned funeral homes. Many may still retain their family business names but are under large corporate ownership with shareholders to satisfy, says Bill.

Stability is an important part of the business, and Bill says that he couldn’t do without his team of 15 who have been with them for many years, including funeral consultants Helen and Richard who have worked with the Coles for six and 12 years respectively.

The 30th anniversary is a testament to the firm’s ability to provide a personalised, empathetic and understanding service time after time for all different styles of funerals and farewells for civil services and all faiths.

Bill and Christine met as teenagers in their school performance of “Oklahoma” at Berkeley High School in Wollongong. Christine had recently emigrated with her family from the UK and remembers Bill as the “cute 16-year-old boy” who said hello to her during rehearsals.

They’ve been an item ever since, marrying in 1973 and moving to Canberra the day after their wedding to start work on their newly-acquired milk run. Bill and Christine delivered milk to households in the Holt area in the early mornings for many years, with Christine delivering up until she was seven months pregnant with their daughter, Judy. They worked hard with two jobs each to save up for their first home.

recalls Bill of their fledgling business, located at that time in Mitchell.

“At the beginning, I doubted if I could do it as I had never experienced a major death in the family,” says Christine.

But Christine says she found her passion by helping people in their time of grief, using her talents to provide an organised, calm approach to planning a funeral with the families she met.

“I learnt by watching Bill and when he was unavailable I would step in to arrange funerals with families. I have done hundreds of them over the years,” says Christine who now manages the front desk.

I always wanted to be a funeral director, even when I was in high school. But I didn’t know why.

Although there are many tears shed behind the scenes, and Bill confesses to being a “big softie”, Christine says that they decided early on that they would remain calm and supportive for the family members and refrain from crying in the services. They say it’s important to respect and honour their families’ experience of grief.

Friendships have been formed out of these strong connections that Christine and Bill have made over the years.

grew and they moved to their current premises on Nettlefold Street, Belconnen, in 1997, which features a light-filled non-denominational chapel, The Bluegum Chapel.

While new technology has allowed them to add more elaborate audio visuals to services, Bill says the basics of funerals have remained the same over the years and the way we grieve and experience the loss of a loved one hasn’t changed.

“We see a lot more civil services these days,” says Bill who has also officiated at many funerals as the celebrant over the years, including his mother’s funeral.

Bill and Christine love that they are able to work with their children and the family provide great emotional support to each other by being able to debrief together over a cup of coffee or go out for breakfast.

Judy, who, like Bill, knew her calling from a young age, joined her parents after finishing high school and completed her embalmer’s qualifications as the youngest female embalmer at the time.

Son David moved back to Canberra last year and rejoined the family business full-time as an assistant funeral director. Granddaughters Bronte and Ella help Christine on the front desk when their university schedules allow.

Bill’s calling to work in the funeral industry was still strong, and he finally landed a job at a funeral home, working there for almost three years.

But Bill believed strongly that he could do better out on his own and decided to start his own business, driven to give families better choice and service.

“He came home one day and announced he wanted to leave his workplace and start our own funeral home. At the time I was apprehensive, but I told Bill I would support him,” says Christine.

“It was just Christine and me in the early days,”

Christine says that 10 years ago, they worked with a lovely couple who had lost their teenage son to suicide. They became good friends and went on an overseas holiday together on the first anniversary of his death.

“We feel privileged that families put their trust in us,” says Christine.

“People tell us that they feel comforted and that arranging a funeral was less difficult than they had thought it would be,” says Bill.

“We want them to feel that they got more than what they wanted and everything was spot on.”

As Bill and Christine started conducting more funerals and receiving more referrals, their business

Always being available via phone at any time of the day or night, they know all too well the need to be on call for families no matter what time of day.

“People have always been able to reach me,” says Bill.

“A lot of acquaintances will call me directly when someone in their community or family has passed away.”

What has Bill’s experience taught him?

“Life can change in an instant. Some families go through a lot of tragedy but somehow I think to myself: ‘That won’t happen to me’. It’s a way for me to deal with what I do and have the strength to help others when they need me.”

As a family ourselves, helping your family with understanding and warmth comes naturally to us

Beauty services get you looking and feeling good

BEAUTY isn’t only about looking good, it’s also about feeling good. And there’s nothing quite like some self-care to get you feeling beautiful, inside and out.

This week “CityNews” speaks with beauty specialists who love helping clients look and feel amazing.

Helen’s beauty treatments combat dry skin

THE Queanbeyan-based beauty salon, Elements Face and Body, has undergone refurbishments and owner Helen Stevens says its new look enhances their welcoming atmosphere.

Helen says the team of highly experienced, knowledgeable therapists, including senior therapist Jana, who has worked at the salon for 11 years, continue to offer an extensive range of services and treatments such as specialised facials, make-up, waxing, massage, LED light therapy, collagen induction therapy, spray tanning and ear piercing. Brows, henna and lash treatments are also available.

During the recent closure, Helen says the team has taken the opportunity to upskill and train in specialised treatments such as peels, hydrabrasion and dermablading.

“We have been focusing and increasing our skills on Lira Clinical facial peels, targeting problems such as ageing, pigmentation and rosacea. Our clients have had great results,” says Helen.

Winter can be dehydrating and harsh on skin, causing it to become flaky and dull looking, which is why now’s a good time to book a beauty treatment to combat these issues, she says.

“We stock Lira Clinical, Ahava and Skinstitut cosmeceutical skincare ranges, which are all vegan and cruelty free,” she says.

Helen says Elements Face and Beauty is a covid-safe salon and their priority is the health

Elements Face and Body, 9/251 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6298 1226 or visit elementsfaceandbody.com.au

Relaxed salon gives clients confidence

HAIR Flair, located in the RSL arcade near the Bicentennial Hall has been a Queanbeyan institution for more than 20 years, says owner and experienced hairdresser, Sharon Mason.

“We offer all aspects of hairdress ing [such as] great cuts, colours and treatments like the popular Keratin smoothing treatments,” says Sharon, who loves making clients feel great and seeing them walk out of the salon feeling confident and happy with their hair.

Backed by a team of five accomplished hairdressers, Sharon says they’re always learning and keeping up with new trends.

“The team is highly motivated and talented. We are adaptable and really listen to our clients,” she says.

Full of natural light and next to easy parking, Sharon describes the salon as having a positive atmosphere that makes clients feel relaxed.

“Our team welcomes new clients who might be looking for a change or something new,” she says.

“We will help them feel comfortable, relaxed and love their new look!”

Hair Flair, 8/251 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 1113.

Total Body Contouring founders Danielle, left, and Suzie Heath.

TESLAFormer and TESLAChair.

“The TESLAFormer and TESLAChair use functional magnetic stimulation to stimulate muscle contraction which is much higher than what typically the body can achieve through exercise,” says Suzie.

“The TESLAFormer strengthens muscles such

By sitting in the chair for a painless and non-invasive 30-minute session, Suzie says males and females can benefit from an improved sex life due to the increase in blood flow.

Total Body Contouring, 3/22 Franklin Street, Griffith. Call 6239 7347 or visit totalbodycontouring.com.au

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About Face Beauty & Anti Aging Salon, 310 Anketell Street, Greenway. Call 0488 932883, visit About Face Beauty & Anti Aging Salon on Facebook or the about_face_tuggeranong Instagram page.

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Here at Total Body Contouring we are the Ultimate Body Specialists, we focus only on the very latest in the non invasive medical to create your perfect body. All our weight loss and toning treatments are non surgical, non invasive, and there is no downtime.

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Our new TESLAFormer and TESLAChair use very advanced Functional Electromagnetic Energy to stimulate the muscle contractions. This is much higher than what the body can achieve, and is equivalent to 50,000 full and complete muscle contractions in just one 30 minute session, which then utilisers the full 100% activation of our muscles total capacity and capability. All non surgical, non invasive, with no downtime and no pain management involved in the treatment. You will love what this technology can do for fast tracking the restorative care processes and your overall total body fitness and transformation.

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ALL ABOUT QUEANBEYAN

Growing Queanbeyan’s proud of its community

JUST over the border, Canberra’s rural neighbour, Queanbeyan, is one of the fastest growing inland cities in NSW, according to the QueanbeyanPalerang Regional Council.

Between 2016 and 2036, the population for the region is forecast to increase by 35.51 per cent, with Queanbeyan and Googong bringing in the highest number of new residents.

Over the next 16 years, the council expects the region to grow to a population of more than 78,000. It’s estimated to hit more than 61,000 this year.

In 2016, residents in the region worked in public administration and safety more than any other industry, followed by industries such as construction, health care and retail. But, no matter what the industry, one common theme amongst businesses in the region is a love for their community.

This week “CityNews” speaks to a variety of the retailers and service providers who are all proud to work there.

Matt’s cafe is full of community spirit

WITH its opening delayed for three months because of COVID-19 restrictions, Bean Central in Queanbeyan finally started welcoming customers a month ago, says owner Matt Morrissey.

“It’s great to be operating a cafe in Queanbeyan, highlighting locally-sourced ingredients in such an iconic position,” he says.

As a community cafe, Matt says it’s important to him that Bean Central can build an environment that ensures everyone is provided with an equal opportunity.

“This means we employ staff with disabilities, encourage learning and training of new skills and we love to see our community bloom,” says Matt, who is committed to creating a welcoming and positive environment for everyone that comes in, whether they are an employee or a guest.

“We want to be at the forefront of community spirit within Queanbeyan and being able to provide employment opportunities to people who haven’t been able to secure work within the hospitality industry because of their disability is something we are truly passionate about,” he says.

“At times, we realise and accept that this may impact the speed of service within the cafe, but with time and patience, we know that each and every member of our team will grow and become strong, independent members of the hospitality industry as a whole.”

Bean Central, 111 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan.

Call 6297 1040.

Neil’s quick to get quality windows to clients

SKYVIEW Windows was created more than 15 years ago in a small factory with a staff of five and a vision of supplying quality products in the shortest possible lead times, says managing director Neil Thompson.

“The company mantra from day one was ‘Quality Windows, Fast’,” says Neil.

Since then, Skyview has grown and seven years ago expanded to a 2500sqm factory in High Street, Queanbeyan.

Neil says part of Skyview’s success is being able to work closely with customers and suppliers to ensure consistency in quality and supply is maintained.

“All windows and doors are manufactured right here in Queanbeyan to Australian standards using dedicated local people from a mixture of local and imported raw materials to ensure cost competitiveness and, unlike the major window companies, all the profits stay right here,” he says.

“Skyview is the only window company able to supply any powdercoat colour with no cost premium involved.

“This allows our customers to mix and match colour schemes for their houses without having to stick to the six standard colours our competitors offer.”

Skyview Windows, 77 High Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6232 9977.

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John’s mechanic shop’s based on quality

FOR more than 35 years, John Res Mechanical Repairs says it’s been delivering quality services with personalised care to the Queanbeyan and Canberra region.

Led by husband and wife team John and Deb Res, John Res Mechanical Repairs specialises in automotive repairs, servicing, brakes, clutches, gear box work, air-conditioning repairs and servicing and auto electrical. They also do log book services and NSW registration and gas registration checks.

“Because we’re small, customers can talk directly to the owner, opposed to when you go to a dealership you speak to the service manager,” says Deb.

“When people come here they don’t feel like they are just another number.”

Deb says they have knowledgeable and experienced staff with their head mechanic backed with 40 years’ experience and their other staff with more than 10 years’ industry experience.

“It’s about quality not quantity,” she says.

“We tell our staff to do the work that you would want done to your car for our customers.

“Being a family business makes a difference, it makes it more personal and we try to give a more personal service for clients.”

For customers getting their car serviced, John Res Mechanical Repairs also has a courtesy car available for those who live outside Queanbeyan.

John Res Mechanical Repairs, 33 Kendall Avenue, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 8557.

BORDEAUX Construction and Management is a “one-stop shop” for all renovations, extensions and new builds, says project manager Michael Milutinovic.

“We pride ourselves on being able to offer clients a hassle-free experience from as early as developing a concept, through [to] design, construction and handover,” he says.

“We specialise in complex extensions and renovations but also do office or retail fit outs and new builds. We are open to discussing all types of construction.”

The family-run business has been in operation for about 37 years and offers obligation-free

quotes and competitive prices. Michael holds an unrestricted, “A”-class builder’s licence and has 14 years’ experience in the construction industry in Canberra and Sydney.

“We stand by every project and guarantee an efficient and easy process for our clients,” says Michael. “Everything we deliver is a high-quality product that we can stand by for the long term because our reputation and our clients’ needs are very important to us.”

Bordeaux Construction and Management, 8 Aurora Place, Queanbeyan. Call 6299 4642 or visit bordeauxbcm.com.au

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THOSE ready to return to exercise classes will love the challenge and motivating atmosphere of F45’s cardio and resistance training, says Queanbeyan F45 studio owner Pip De Vries.

In the F45 Queanbeyan’s spacious studio, Pip and her team have adapted the classes to meet the strict covid-safe practices.

“We have divided up the studio and separated each member’s workout space into 1.5sqms, which has all the equipment they need for the class, so there’s no sharing of equipment between others during the class,” she says.

“I know some people may feel nervous about return ing to a gym, so we have made sure people feel at ease.

“We have a really large space so people can spread out and still enjoy the fun and motivation of a class.”

Pip says F45’s small group, high-intensity, interval training is adjustable for everyone’s needs, including those returning to exercise post having a baby or from having an injury. Pip has received extra training in pre and post natal exercise and as a mum herself, she

TILE trends have turned to warmer colours and textures blended with classic chevron, herringbone and encaustic looks, says Rivoland Tiles general manager James Hibberson.

“Finishes often seen as traditional are making a comeback, with reinvigorated style and colour,” he says.

“Terrazzo and marble styles are available with so many great options and attributes that they can work with almost any space.”

With showrooms and trade stores in Queanbeyan and Mitchell, the flagship store in central Queanbeyan sits across from a beautiful park, close to cafes, restaurants and shops, servicing people from regional NSW and the coast, James says.

He says Rivoland Tiles is a proud family-owned business, built on a strong ethic of customer service

“We’re one of the largest stockists on the east coast importing unique and exclusive products from Italy, Spain and China, allowing our customers the best choice and competitive prices,” he says.

“If customers have found something they like online, ask us about it. We’re more than happy to help them source that perfect tile.

“Our customers make what we do, what we love to do. Working on all aspects of tiling from repairing a sill tile to supplying developments, no two days are ever the same.

“Best of all, the people of Queanbeyan are great!”

Rivoland Tiles, 100 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 4510 or visit rivoland.com.au

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A whole new, familiar world in Coolabah City

By Helen MUSA

A CANBERRA filmmaker-actoracademic who once taught a course at the ANU called “Being Human in the Information Age” has written a futuristic novel set in what looks suspiciously like Australia’s national capital.

“Ben: The Boy From Nowhere” is a work of young adult fiction by Ian Hart, well known to patrons of Canberra REP for his eccentric stage performances and at Screen Canberra, where he has participated in POD projects.

The book is set in Coolabah City, set around an artificial lake called Lake Gryphon, and featuring local landmarks like a water spout and a carillon on Aspro Island – Hart has even published a map. Where the Department of Defence offices sit is an edifice resembling Trump Tower in which the villain, developer/ hotelier Ghastly Gorgon lives, below which, feeding the urban myth that Canberra is home to an underground city, lies a web of tunnels and surveillance rooms.

As an educationist and sceptic, Hart does not subscribe to the latter theory, although it’s evident in his book that he’s had an enormous amount of fun horsing around with Canberra’s

history and architectural character.

He’s also had fun trying to capture the lingo of a bunch of teenagers at Coolabah High School who bully, text, and bandy around insults like “wanksta” or “greasy snowflake”, while exclaiming “amaze-balls’ at anything surprising.

At one level the book explores the bonds of teenage friendship and what it means to be human. The 13-year-old protagonists, teenage genius Tom Chan, and his neighbour Bethany ‘Biff’ Potts, a Taekwondo black belter with a sharp tongue and punch, are always getting into trouble at school. But when Tom tries to repair the 3D printer in his professor father’s lab, he accidentally clones himself.

The result is the “boy from nowhere”, his new “identical twin” Ben, who has an exceptional capacity for empathy and a photographic memory.

But villainy lurks in the streets of Coolabah City and Ghastly Gorgon, aided by a sidekick called Fräulein Doktor Schmerz, straight out of James Bond, plots to get hold of the 3D technology.

“The book was originally titled ‘My Brother Ben’ and it was told from the point of view of Tom, but now each part of the story is told by different people,” Hart says, proudly revealing that Biff, the petite martial-arts expert is modelled on his own granddaughter.

There are two other narrators, Ghastly Gorgon, the maltreated obese nephew of the villain and Biff’s fashionista cousin Pandora,

ARTS IN THE CITY

who turns out to be a bit better than her vacuous classmates.

Hart is a deeply theatrical person and a dedicated follower of the Goons who fine-tuned his skills as a drama student and campus star actor at UNSW, then studied education at Sydney University and film-making at the London International Film School, later working at Film Australia for five years.

His villains are exceedingly villainous, the heroes very brave and those in between satirical caricatures from consumer culture as Hart lays into everything from rampant development in Canberra to Chinese takeaway.

The deliberately wacky, over-the-top melodrama that ensues involves not just

Casting Kirsty’s Academy nod

By Helen Musa

CANBERRA-raised casting director Kirsty McGregor, brought up in a prominent Canberran theatre family, has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences, along with actor Ben Mendelsohn, Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) national president Ron Johanson and the ABC’s Sally Riley. The Academy has been widening its membership base since 2016, tripling the number of international members over the same time period. McGregor is president of the Casting Guild of Australia and among her casting credits are the Academy-nominated

agent

QUEANBEYAN-Palerang Regional Council’s Echo Theatre, directed by Jordan Best, has been named as a finalist in the community partnerships and collaboration category in the NSW local government excel -

lence awards. The company’s debut production, “Belfast Girls”, by Jaki McCarrick was staged at The Q last year with the aim of shining a light on female talent in the theatre.

WESLEY Music Centre in Forrest is all go with live concerts again, including a concert featuring works for solo violin by Eugene Ysaÿe and for piano trio by Beethoven to be performed by Wesley Music Tobias Chisnall on violin, Ella Luhtasaari on piano, and Julia Janiszewski on cello, on Wednesday, July 22 from 12.40-1.20pm. Book via trybooking. com or 6232 7248.

NEWS from Hereford is that Jonathan Lee, the brilliant young Canberra organist studying there,

has used his time in lockdown to fine-tune his keyboard and organ skills. Hereford Cathedral is about to open for limited hours each day and he has sent a link to his performance of the first movement of Bach’s first Trio Sonata, in E flat, Bach’s Trio Sonata No 1, viewable at youtube. com/watch?v=o7Rwa5EdnDY

THE Street Theatre is trying out a live opening on July 25, when the “faux-French” duo Baby et Lulu (musicians Abby Dobson and Lara Goodridge) will take to the stage of Street 2 with French songs, amusing banter and heavy French accents. Just to be on the safe side, they’re also streaming it, with separate bookings for the live and online version. Bookings at thestreet.org.au

A dead wife and the suggestion of a secret lover

“A White, White Day” (M) AUSTRALIANS don’t see many films from Iceland. The few that we have seen can be counted on one hand’s fingers.

That’s unfortunate, because Iceland’s film industry is remarkably productive.

Hylnur Palmason wrote and directed Iceland’s nomination for this year’s Best Foreign Language Oscar. Its fresh dramatic line doesn’t conform to the structural cliches to which mainstream movies defer. Not one of its delicate and beautiful images is superfluous.

Ingimundur (Ingvar Sigurdsson) has retired as a detective at a remote police station. He’s renovating the house. His closest companion is his eight-year-old granddaughter Salka. He plays football. He goes fishing with her.

He’s seeing a shrink to help him deal with his wife’s recent death in a road crash. The locals, while supportive, lead their own lives. Then his daughter Elin, Salka’s mother, delivers a carton of her mother’s things. And his detective’s mind is alarmed to find that it contains a strong suggestion that she had been seeing a lover.

“A White, White Day” left me with a short mental list of its elements that I particularly want to put before you. Foremost of them is Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir’s playing of Salka. It’s powerful, wonderful, fragile.

Then there’s its collection of visual moments betokening some very sharp camera work. It’s clear that no stunt doubles performed its uncomfortable or risky moments. It presents

some powerful homages to the beauty of the naked human body – male as well as female.

I leave you in Iceland with a strong recommendation – “A White, White Day” offers rewards to amaze and delight.

At Palace Electric

“Shirley” (M)

THE screenplay by Sarah Gubbins and Susan Scarf Merrell for director Josephine Decker’s mystery drama turns out to be a homage to horror and mystery novelist Shirley Jackson, who may have by now faded from the memories of all but her most devoted aficionados.

Newlyweds Fred (Logan Lerman) and Rose (Australian Odessa Young) arrive in

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Bennington, Vermont, where Fred is seeking a teaching post under Stanley Hyman (Michael Stuhlbarg) in the private liberal arts college’s English department.

The Hymans offer free board and lodging to Fred and Rose in exchange for Rose helping Stanley’s wife Shirley around the house. Not quite what she expected but, oh well, might as well agree.

Wrestling with writing her new horror novel, Shirley scents that Rose is already pregnant but hasn’t told Fred, a secret that Shirley is quick to betray.

This takes up the early part of the film, preparing Rose (and us) for its main purpose. Which is to watch Shirley’s prickly response toward her new protégé

– nasty, selfish, abusive and unkind.

As we get to know Shirley better, the film radiates a strong suggestion that she sees Rose as worth grooming as a sexual partner.

Shirley and Stanley verge on being alcoholics. She abuses him as fiercely and as wittily as she abuses most other people. But as the film’s end approaches, it rather suggests that it may be a beat-up that Shirley and Stanley have tried on other occasions with other young women.

Elisabeth Moss does the character proud.

At Palace Electric

“Waves” (MA)

ON learning that the running time for Trey Edward Shults’ film about an AfricanAmerican family is 135 minutes, you might be forgiven for approaching it with reservations and a little caution.

Don’t do that. In the BLM era, “Waves” may not be directly relevant. It does not depict black Americans as inferiors to be abused, despised, put down, killed because of their ethnicity. Its story tells how a middle-class, moderately well-to-do black family in Florida, deals with internal conflicts no different from those that might bedevil a white family.

Eighteen-year-old Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) lives under the parental care of his biological dad and the wife whom he married after

WATCH IT! / streaming and stuff

Tyler’s mom died of a drug overdose. His dad wants Tyler to grow reflecting typical manhood. But on his mobile, Tyler is having an SMS chat with white girlfriend Alexis (Alexa Demie) who’s just dropped a bombshell – “I think I’ve missed my period”. This establishes the conflict underlying the film’s first half – continue or terminate?

Tyler is a tortured soul who tries to reject his skin colour by bleaching his hair pure white. He’s not coping well as adulthood approaches. We last see him in the middle of the film, with black hair in the prison where he has been sentenced for life after unintentionally killing Alexis in a fit of rage.

Tyler’s younger sister, Emily (Taylor Russell), withdrawing from college life, takes the eye of a white boy. Their relationship is rather the opposite of Tyler and Alexis’ – mature, sensible, responsible. When oestrogen meets testosterone, their prospects are optimistic.

The film’s third relationship involving biological father Stan (Joshua Brockington) and stepmother Catherine (Renée Elise Goldsberry) has stresses of a different kind, no less needing careful negotiation to save.

At Palace Electric

Teasing ache of the unsolved mystery

WHO doesn’t love a good mystery? Not many, it would seem, with Netflix’s newest documentary show hitting number 1 in Australian streaming in the past week.

“Unsolved Mysteries” is a series with six short-burst stories you’d think would be more likely investigated by agents Mulder and Scully than any real journalist.

From eerie disappearances to UFO sightings, each episode focuses on a strange event that has, according to claims, occurred in the known world and remains unexplained.

No matter how much of a sceptic you are about the potential paranormal nature of such things (including me), the thorough evidence gathered from newspapers, police reports, eyewitness accounts and more, by the researchers is certainly enough to make you scratch your head.

“Unsolved Mysteries” is originally a program from the ‘80s that ran until 2002 and investigated hundreds of real-life cases of the weird and wondrous. It peaked in popularity during the ‘90s, (perhaps why is no great mystery itself considering the popularity of that other fictional show featuring the two FBI agents mentioned above).

Netflix has given it a slick, new, coat of paint to pull in modern audiences, presenting itself in the same manner as their ever-popular crime documentaries. It’s worked a charm, hypnotising viewers with tight production values paired with its naturally intriguing and bizarre scenarios.

Ingeniously, Netflix has gone one step further and reached for that next level of audience interaction. A few weeks back, I mentioned the power of using the internet to build a connection with the audience past the roll of the credits.

With “Unsolved Mysteries”, Netflix has raised the bar. At the end of each episode, anyone with information about the events covered is urged to visit unsolved.com and help solve the mystery. These strange stories that have people desperate for answers will undoubtedly get them clicking on the website to either contribute or to just read more of what could possibly have happened.

I guess it’s the very nature of an unsolved mystery that the climax, that grand reveal we always crave, lies just beyond our reach. We’re always left to chase it ourselves, entertain in our mind what might have happened or go searching for more clues wherever we can find them. This new series has capitalised on our insatiable intrigue for such matters and the ratings certainly prove that to be the case.

WHILE on the topic of documentaries, maybe a little more down-to-earth though, how about some attention for one of our lesser-known streaming platforms?

Docplay provides users with a curated list of the finest documentaries in the world. With more than 700 docos available, this platform has much more variety than what the bigger platforms offer in this genre.

For instance, don’t miss the acclaimed “Blackfish”, the story of Tilikum the killer whale that took the lives of several sea park employees. Disturbing and illuminating, it has the power to change your perspective on that industry and reveal the remarkable intelligence of those sea

This is only one of my personal favourites though – the service has so much variety you’ll undoubtedly find something you’re interested in. It’s also cheaper than the standard streaming price, with a subscription of only $6.95 a month, a cracker deal if documentaries are a “go to” for viewing.

Whether it’s things more grounded or you’re up for a deep dive into the mysteries and mayhem of stuff like Netflix’s new offering, this breadth of content is a representation of the way streaming is pushing forward mediums of storytelling into new and accessible territory. The truth is out there.

Morning Glory’s food comforts, satisfies and surprises, and the team knows it. It’s a refreshing approach to local and regional produce with intriguing flavours that are just… so…darn…good.”

Flavours are just so darn good

WHEN Morning Glory says “expect the unexpected”, they mean it. When I first visited in 2018 the restaurant was only open for breakfast. Now lunch and dinner are on the menu with exciting food, exemplary service, a lovely fitout and a laid-back vibe.

My second visit was as glorious as the first.

Morning Glory’s food comforts, satisfies and surprises, and the team knows it. This isn’t the same-old, same-old. It’s a refreshing approach to local and regional produce with intriguing flavours that are just…so…darn…good. New Acton is fortunate that Morning Glory has called the precinct home.

It was a Sunday and we were thrilled that breakfast is served all day on weekends. My friend was intrigued by the breakfast gnocchi ($21) and she was super glad she ordered it. The gnocchi was light and fluffy, the chorizo packed with flavour, the sugo sauce intense, the manchego cheese a lovely texture and the fried egg perched on top cooked to perfection. Morn ing Glory takes pride in its presentation – they have the art form down pat. It looked beautiful

WINE /

Michelton

I was in for lunch and struggled with what to order. The menu is compact but there wasn’t an item I wouldn’t have been happy to order. In the end I settled on the Terung burger ($20) which was gorgeous. The slice of eggplant was as thick

fast include truffle mushroom ($21), trout rillettes ($22) and an omelette with nduja, bocconcini, cherry tomatoes, coriander and enoki ($20).

When I say the service is exemplary, I mean it. We were warmly welcomed and served up a coffee while we waited for our table (we were early, the restaurant wasn’t late). There were loads of warm smiles and staff checked in to make sure all was well when we were dining (this often doesn’t happen). We were thanked for coming and invited to visit again soon. We certainly will.

Alone in space and feeling guilty

Solo diner EDDIE WILLIAMS worries about the space he’s taking up in restaurants!

SPACE is a precious commodity for our restaurants, as they welcome back as many customers as possible, while complying with coronavirus restrictions.

During a recent trip to Narooma, I found myself worrying that, as a solo diner, I was taking up more space than I deserved.

On a Wednesday night, I wandered over to an Italian restaurant near my motel, only to find a father and daughter lining up ahead of me. There were no free tables, so the waitress told them to come back in 15 minutes.

have accommodated Senator Zed Seselja’s whole family! This was when I started to worry. The restaurant staff were too nice to turn us away, but by taking in solo patrons, they risked wasting space. To compensate, I ate my meal at breakneck speed, ordered an extra drink, and got dessert. To be honest, I probably ate enough for two. But is there some other solution? Should the solo diners sit together? Probably not – it’s a health hazard and, for many people, it would remove the pleasure of having a night out on their own.

Morning Glory, NewActon Pavilion, 2/15 Edinburgh Ave. Open Sun-Tues, 7am to 3pm and Wed-Sat, 7am to 10pm. 6257 6464.

No whistle wetting for old time’s sake

I’VE been thinking a lot about absence. The whole world now seems like a giant hand of control, squeezing us as a means of protection.

The pandemic forces us to see life in a different way, and we are required to live it in a different way. Travel is limited and seems fraught. Research from Roy Morgan shows that more than 4.3 million people (32 per cent of working Australians) have been “working from home” during the last few months since the pandemic shut down large parts of the Australian economy.

Yet despite the constant admonitions to stay home, last month I went to visit friends in Euroa, Victoria (pre-Victorian hotspot status) and we planned to go to the Mitchelton winery in nearby Nagambie.

We checked the website and there was no indication of a need to book for wine tasting. But that was an error. We got there and space and time considerations meant that we were unable to taste the wine.

The young woman handling the cellar door was very polite and gentle about declining our entry but we retreated feeling foolish. My friends looked at me askance as I started humming “I Who Have Nothing” by Shirley Bassey. I explained the remembered lyric from this 1963 epic: You can take her any place she wants

To fancy clubs and restaurants

But I can only watch you with My nose pressed up against the window pane.

The climb to the top of the observation tower where we saw the majestic yet muddy Goulburn River and a horizon of bush one way and the 148 hectares of grape cultivation on the other side

owners of Jayco caravans, acquired the winery. In 2016 the Preece brand returned and it would have been good to wet the whistle to see how memory and current reality compared about this

part of the Mitchelton offering.

And a further blow: when I returned to Canberra, I went to Vintage Cellars in Manuka to see if they had any Mitchelton wines and none were stocked. Denied at every turn.

It made me think further about what other omissions I might regret or where I might have the parental hand of COVID-19 controls hold me back.

And a standout was when I was in China last year, I declined to purchase a bottle of Great Wall red that was on the list at a fine duck restaurant where the food was exquisite because it was the equivalent of $130 a bottle. I still haven’t tasted any Chinese wine and the prospects of a return to drink again in that country, which is riddled with suspicion against Australia and Australians, is unlikely.

I contemplated that where these thoughts were taking me was towards Dry July so that the absence of wine during this month would become a conscious choice. But then while I sat in front of my computer pondering whether to sign up for 31, 21 or 14 days and how much money I might raise for this exemplary charity, I decided that yet another absence was to be rejected and that I shouldn’t deliberately set aside something I love.

“Always obey your parents – when they are present” – Mark Twain

When I told her I was on my own, the waitress sent me to sit at the bar, order a drink and wait for someone else to leave. I was happy to oblige, and sure enough, a table freed up well before my vegetarian pizza was ready. The father and daughter returned and found another table free. Happy customers and happy, if slightly hurried, wait staff.

The next night, I lazily returned to the same restaurant, this time for pasta, and this time a little earlier to hopefully avoid a table traffic jam. There was a table free for me and another table for a second solo diner. But when a third ungrouped customer arrived, the only table left was a much larger one – so big it could probably

LOOK WHO’S TURNED

Can restaurants bring out tiny tables for single eaters? Should everyone have to make a booking? Or should restaurants crunch the numbers and consider avoiding solo diners?

Whichever way you look at it, things were looking up in Narooma. I asked the waitress if it was normally so busy. She said yes, but not on a weeknight. In fact, since the easing of coronavirus restrictions, there’s been so much demand on weeknights that the restaurant had to roster an extra staff member. And that news made this solo diner breathe a sigh of relief.

Eddie Williams is an award-winning producer at 2CC.

Duratone Hi-Fi PTY LTD

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Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

The New Moon shakes up your domestic zone on Monday night. So your mind will be preoccupied with thoughts of family, entertaining, redecorating, renovating, buying property, moving house or rebooting a troubled relationship with a relative. And some Rams will experience challenges involving work, unemployment, colleagues or your reputation. If you want to steer yourself out of a difficult situation, then try thinking in an innovative and creative new way.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Avoid getting stuck in a boring old Bullish rut – no matter how ‘comfortable’ it is. This week’s sparky planetary patterns encourage you to shake and stir things up. Plus, when it comes to education, a personal matter or a local community issue, are you being too tentative? Uranus and Mercury encourage you to balance being prepared with being much more spontaneous. So shift out of stubborn mode, put on your adaptability hat and expect the unexpected!

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

Tried and tested methods won’t work this week. You need to look at a persistent problem with completely fresh eyes. Then you’ll solve the puzzle and taste success. Emotions and energy levels will fluctuate so pace yourself. When it comes to a financial or business matter, it may seem as if Saturn is holding you back, which can be frustrating. But the Taskmaster planet is actually teaching you to be much more patient, which will serve you well in the future.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

A loved one requires your help but avoid being bossy and taking over. With Uranus linking up with Mercury (in your sign) you could blurt out something that you later regret or someone could make a cutting comment that annoys you. Resist the urge to retaliate. Instead, do your best to be diplomatic and keep your Crab composure. As birthday great Carl Jung observed: “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Mars is in fellow fire sign Aries and the Sun shifts into Leo on Wednesday. So it’s time for feisty Cats to really crackle and sparkle and shine! You’re also in the mood for excess. As birthday great Mick Jagger – who has four planets in Leo – famously declared: “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” But stern Saturn will rein in too much exuberant extravagance and unfettered frivolity. So pace yourself and make sure you honour all your responsibilities.

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

The New Moon encourages you to dream a dream, wish upon a star and set an ambitious new goal. Mercury and Uranus encourage you to forgive transgressions from the past and stop worrying about the future. Old solutions won’t help - you need to keep up to date with fresh ways of solving problems. So try to take each day at a time as you focus on enjoying the here and now! Be inspired by birthday great, guitar guru Carlos Santana: “The present is where everything begins.”

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

A professional matter or a family relationship looks strained on Monday or Tuesday, when Saturn stymies conversation and cooperation. With proactive Mars charging through your relationship zone, it’s up to you to step in and sort out problems ASAP! If you’re searching for smart ways to boost cash flow, don’t try to re-invent the wheel. Look to successful work colleagues, wise mentors or trusted family members for updated information and novel new ideas.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

The New Moon and Sun-Saturn opposition activate your adventure and communication zones. So you’ll feel like travelling but a planned trip could be disrupted or delayed. You’re also keen to connect with friends from near and far but be careful when it comes to social media. If you post a rushed message, then you’ll regret it later on. And, if you find yourself in the middle of a heated exchange, resist the Scorpio tendency to be sarcastic, temperamental or just plain paranoid.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Fiery Sagittarians are naturally spontaneous and can be somewhat foolhardy. But you need to slow down and choose wisely, especially when it comes to finances, business, income, taxes, loans and spending habits. The Sun-Saturn opposition cautions you to apply the brakes and think things through. As actress (and birthday great) Helen Mirren reminds us: “You write your life story by the choices you make.” From Wednesday onwards, it’s time to plan your next weekend getaway.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

This week the Sun is at odds with your power planet Saturn. So avoid being too brisk and brusque with others, as your business side swings into overdrive. People respect your professional approach but they also appreciate the personal touch. If you are overly critical of others, then they will oppose your plans. And don’t fret about a family situation! Changes are brewing on the home front which could lead to a sudden welcome backflip in the months ahead.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Are you hoping for a brilliant light-bulb moment sometime soon? If you’re struggling for ideas and direction, then look within for some divine inspiration. Which will take time as Saturn tests your patience and your stamina. Contemplation, meditation and rumination are favoured. As birthday great Carl Jung observed: “Those who look outside dream; those who look inside awaken.” From Wednesday onwards a creative partnership could really kick-start your creativity.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

If you are creative and original in the way you post on social media this week, then you’ll receive a surprisingly positive response. It’s also time to get circulating within your local community and add some fresh new faces to your peer group. But if you are careless with close relationships (or make controversial comments) then you could find yourself with a fractious friend or a livid lover on your hands. So think things through carefully before you speak and act!

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2020

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18 What, in electricity, is the transfer of one ampere in one second? (7)

(6)

21 Name the conventional Italian title of respect for a married woman. (7)

22 Which term describes one of the twelve disciples? (7)

23 What is a cause of affliction or calamity? (7)

24 What are afternoon naps, especially taken in Spain and other hot countries? (7)

1

2 What is a

3 To be turned upside down, is to be what? (7)

4 What is a characteristic style of pronunciation? (6)

5 Who were widely noted for their collection of fairy tales, the ... Brothers? (5)

6 To have passed away, as in time, is to have done what? (7)

7 What are natives of Edinburgh called? (5)

13 Name a sugar that occurs in many fruits. (7)

15 Myanmar is a current name for which Burmese capital? (7)

16 The presiding officer of the House of Representatives is referred to as Mr ... (7)

17 To dominate the thoughts, is to do what? (6)

18 What are some of the large various bivalve molluscs? (5)

19 What is a company of eight singers, etc? (5)

20 The fox is well known by which Spanish name? (5)

AS I write, it’s a miserable, cold,

Spring officially starts from September 1, although nature may decide otherwise. With regular rain and a relatively mild winter so far, and BOM predicting above-average rain until at least the end of September, this augurs well for spring. It’s easy to be complacent but in the next few weeks we will need, as per the Scout motto, to “Be Prepared”.

Start by getting the mower ready. It’s a good idea to flush the tank out, if there’s not too much petrol in it. Give it a good overall clean, getting rid of the oily parts and not forgetting to change the oil for four-stroke mowers. Touch up the rusty parts, change the spark plug and fit new blades if needed.

Now look at the tools, especially those with wooden handles. Give them a good sandpaper to prevent splinters and apply a coat of linseed oil. Clean the blades on secateurs.

You may have to use sandpaper on the blades to get rid of accumulated grime and rust. Oil all moving parts and sharpen the blades to the point where a man could shave the hairs off the back of the hand.

Then turn your attention to garden furniture. Timber outdoor furniture will almost certainly need a good sandpapering to get rid of splinters. Use good quality outdoor paint or wood preservative. Tighten up screws and bolts, as timber does shrink and the furniture can become wobbly.

OUR daphne and some azalea leaves are showing signs of yellowing, although they are otherwise covered in buds. If the leaves are a really bright yellow and at the base of branches, they’re generally shedding old leaves as the new ones appear. But if all the leaves on the bush are yellowing, this generally indicates lack of magnesium. To correct this, water with a good heaped tablespoonful of Epsom Salts added to a standard nine-litre watering can or bucket.

Time to look at garden furniture and daphne.

IT’S pruning time! Roses can be pruned at any time, especially with the to-date mild winter. Frosts are generally not going to kill off new shoots; it has been a few years since we’ve had severe enough frosts to do this.

time to prune fruit trees. Generally, apples and pears can be pruned now. Leave peaches, apricots, nectarines and other stone fruits such as cherries until after they’ve finished fruiting in late summer. The cuts will callous over quicker, preventing fungal problems entering the cuts. It’s vital to spray just as the first buds appear and before they burst into flower to combat brown rot and other fungal problems. Don’t spray once the flowers open because bees may be killed. Spray with Bordeaux or Kocide, not only the tree itself and the trunk, but also the ground under the tree and back to the root zone.

BRAND NEW WILD TOURS!

Canberra’s National Zoo and Aquarium has just released three of the most exciting animal interaction tours ever seen!

Only if you are game…… for 90 minutes, handfeed lions, a tiger, a bear, try to find a leopard in the rainforest, have a python wrap itself around you (definitely optional) and meet a hyena up REAL close! To bring your heartbeat back from racing to just fast, we will slow things down with an introduction to the meerkats and otters.

Discover the magnificence of the African animal kingdom – pat a rhino, hand feed a giraffe, meet the zebras, lemurs, cheetahs, antelope and ostrich on a tour that winds through our open range section for 90 minutes. You can book just one of these two tours or do both (either on the same or on separate days). Also check our all-day Wonders of Wildlife Tour (WOW).

Gift vouchers for animal encounters, memberships and Jamala are available online or at the zoo.

You can also experience Jamala Wildlife Lodge – there is something for everyone at the National Zoo and Aquarium. Stay at jamala wildlife lodge