CityNews 200827

GWYN REES No

PAUL COSTIGAN

MICHAEL MOORE

Doors of Canberra fall silent in covid campaign

KNOCK, knock, who’s there? No-one.

Don’t expect to be bombarded by teams of political door knockers this election season, with one notable ex ception, the Greens.

Candidates and political parties in this year’s ACT election are coming to grips with a changed environment, and are learning to navigate the campaign trail without some of the most basic building blocks of politics.

For as long as anyone can remember, turning up on doorsteps has been one of the most reliable ways for political hopefuls to sell their message. Territory campaigns are now facing a dilemma with most parties ditching or modifying door-to-door canvassing and other field campaigns.

ACT Labor secretary Mel James has been around election campaigns since she was six. She says covid has “forced” the party to become more “creative” in the way it communicates.

“A lot of what we are doing is trial and error because it’s so hard to replicate a good field campaign online, but it does provide candidates with an opportunity to be a little bit more creative in how they are connecting with people,” James said.

“Tara Cheyne, one of our candidates, does a daily update on government announcements which people have really embraced, we have had other candi-

INDEX

Arts & Entertainment 19-21

Canberra Matters 8

Cinema 20

Crossword 22

Dining 21

Gardening 23

Horoscopes 22

Letters 13

News 3-14

Politics 10

Political reporter BELINDA STRAHORN looks at the challenges covid has brought to election campaigning.

dates doing street stalls online, Zoom events and online discussions.

“While we are not door knocking, we are phone calling, but that has its limitations because we don’t have everyone’s phone numbers and it’s a bit different to being able to rock up on someone’s doorstep.”

Strategists refer to research suggesting that in-person conversations are powerful tools in winning voters, which may be why the ACT Greens are getting back to the in-person door knocking.

But this is door-to-door canvassing with a covid twist and the party’s campaign manager Clancy Barnard is pleasantly surprised by the reception Greens’ door knockers are getting.

“We go out in groups of two, we have hand sanitiser and masks, we put a mark on the ground, move back 1.5 metres and we don’t hand material to people,” Barnard said.

“We have found that more people want to talk this election campaign than ever before. People have more time and seem to be more connected because they are not travelling as much, so there is more of an interest in what is happening at a local level.

While Labor and the Greens have

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been more forthcom ing, the Liberals are not disclosing how they are engaging with voters.

A Canberra Liberals’ spokesperson said the party is “adapting to these unprecedented times, find ing new ways to tell every Canberra voter about our positive plan to reduce cost-of-living pressures, lower taxes and deliver better services to help Canberra fami lies and local employers get ahead.”

Prof

“You never quite know who’s going to be on the other side of the door.”

Candidate Tim Bohm…

“We are still handing out flyers, some people still want to talk to you.”

Perhaps the Liberals could take a leaf out of Tim Bohm’s book. The Can berra Progressives’ candidate for Kur rajong is transitioning to an all-digital campaign trail.

Bohm is a seasoned campaigner, running as an independent in last year’s federal election for the seat of Canberra. The advertising director has contested two ACT Assembly elections as Bullet Train for Canberra leader and Like Canberra party co-founder.

“Last time we did doorknocking and we are not doing as much of that this time but we are still handing out flyers, some people still want to talk to you and we are just making sure we

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“What covid has done is accelerate a lot of trends that have already been taking place over an extended period of time, so you will see much more remote contact with voters through social media, through phones, through leaflets and you’ll see much less per-

“What you can do with social media and the internet that you can’t do with door knocking is micro-targeting, because you never quite know who’s go -

“With micro-targeting through the internet you can identify the people you want to get hold of, so if you are a Greens candidate you can go out there on the internet and identify the young or, say, better educated young voters that are more likely to vote for you, so in that way your campaigning

Yerrabi MLA Deepak-Raj Gupta had to find new ways to spread his message when covid up-ended his campaign plans. Now, he’s relying on phone canvassing and a humble street stall,

ments in our electorate it’s getting harder to knock on doors.”

Ian McAllister, professor of Political Science at the Australian National University, has been studying elections for more than 40 years. McAllister argues that covid has hastened the move away from a focus upon face-toface communication.

“I’ve spoken to 15,000 people over the phone since covid hit in March. I set myself a goal of making 100 phone calls a day, yesterday I made 179,” Gupta said. “Sometimes I’m the only person that people have spoken to for weeks, that’s really sad, there are so many isolated people out there, if I get re-elected I really want to do something about that.”

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Never mind the heat, stay out of Rachel’s kitchen

AFTER weeks and weeks and weeks of mercifully covid-free days, ACT business leaders mustered the spine to dare suggest that maybe it’s time ACT public servants might like to help the crumbling economy and head back to the office.

As if that was ever going to happen. Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith flattened them in a heartbeat saying it doesn’t align with the current health advice from the chief health officer.

The ACT Property Council’s Adina Cirson says about 60 per cent of offices are unoccupied and the “low rate of workers back in the city is significantly impacting many of the businesses on ground floors of office buildings, in particular those who rely on public servants for trade.” Nothing.

Canberra Business Chamber CEO Graham Catt weighed in:

“When public servants and others are in the office, their daily spending provides an important boost to local cafes, shops, restaurants,

retail stores, transport providers and many other businesses.” Still nothing.

The Australian Hotels Association CEO, Anthony Brierley, had a go, too: “Returning to offices would provide a powerful economic boost for our city, and comes without any expense to the ACT government.” But the Health Minister was not for turning.

“If lots of people come back to their offices and then they’re mingling in the kitchen, they’re all touching the same surfaces, if one case comes into that workplace, potentially that becomes a significant cluster,” she says.

“Of course, if working from home is not working for people and employers, people are allowed to return and take those sensible precautions of hand hygiene, physical distancing and keeping their workplaces welldisinfected.” But not, it seems, the ACT public service.

A COUPLE of weeks ago “Seven Days” cast shameful dispersions on the diligent recyclers of Tuggeranong, accusing them of being incapable of hurling cardboard boxes into the local recycling centre’s cages.

The photographic evidence suggested people were capri -

ciously driving up and thoughtlessly tossing the unwanted boxes beside the cage.

How hard can it be to recycle a cardboard box? Well, frustratingly hard when one discovers the bureaucracy has welded the sliding gates of the cage mostly closed.

“A small opening is only available to get items through. Large items need to be crushed or cut apart,” bemoaned a regular recycler.

“Emptying the usual recycling box now needs to be ‘posted’ through the opening, thus people cannot get to the cage if large items are left near the openings.

“But why has this new method of welding shut been used?”

He reports the Woden recycling centre still has the sliding gates.

WHILE feet (‘) and inches (“) are so last century, the local plod always includes the imperial measurement in height descriptions. In a recent appeal to find a missing man, they described him as being 6” tall. At six inches (15cm), one imagines going missing would be a regular occurrence.

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

Here’s an amusing meme doing the rounds that highlights Labor’s record on health promises.

Happiness is…

IN research crossing the “Seven Days” desk this week we discovered:

• MOTORCYCLISTS are 27 per cent happier than the average motorist. The “Highway Happiness” study uncovered therapeutic benefits of motorcycle riding, with eight in 10 (82 per cent) riders agreeing riding makes them happy, compared to only half (55 per cent) of motorists.

• CLEARLY a new study looking into the most common secret behaviours of Australians when they’re home alone didn’t survey Canberrans during winter with the revelation that three in four Australians walk around the house naked. The study further revealed that nine in 10 enjoy a daytime nap and nearly half are guilty of spying on an ex-partner(s) social media profiles.

• ELSEWHERE, the Annual Alcohol Poll 2020 discovered that the home is where the majority (67 per cent) of Australians consume the largest quantity per occasion and drink most frequently, rather than at pubs, clubs or restaurants –and this was conducted in January/February just before the COVID-19 lockdowns.

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In crisis, ACT government fails private-sector jobs

JOSH Frydenberg has publicly declared small and medium-sized businesses the “engine room of the Australian economy”, but the ACT government’s approach to investment in job creation suggests it does not share the Treasurer’s esteem for the private sector’s contribution.

The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated the national and state and territory budgets and left millions of Australians underemployed or out of work.

As jurisdictions battle back from this precipice, they are doing so by firing up the small and medium-sized business engine room through a range of initiatives.

Unlike its counterparts around the country, the ACT has demonstrated a reluctance to support the private sector.

In fact, a recent analysis by the Grattan Institute showed the ACT had

A recent analysis by the Grattan Institute showed the ACT had the lowest rate of coronavirus stimulus spending in Australia –despite Canberra recording one of the nation’s highest falls in jobs across June and July.

the lowest rate of coronavirus stimulus spending in Australia – despite Canberra recording one of the nation’s highest falls in jobs across June and July this year.

When confronted with this finding, Chief Minister Andrew Barr pointed to the ACT’s high rates of public-sector employment as a reason. This seems well in line with the government’s history when it comes to investing in the “easy” creation of public-service jobs over supporting the private sector.

Between 2012 and 2018, the ACT government expanded the ACT public service (FTEs) from 17,196 employees to 21,792 employees. This was a leap two times larger than what Canberra’s population actually increased.

This additional burden, as suming the average ACT public servant earns $96,816, must add to the ACT government’s annual wage bill and cost taxpayers some $450 million a year.

While perhaps a safe tactic when it comes to employment figures, the rewards in terms of economic and jobs growth are limited. It would be more strategically savvy to use that money to support development of the private sector as other states and territories have been so quick to do.

highest in the nation.

The ACT government cannot create wealth, its money comes primarily from taxes that have increased at many times inflation in recent years and as recently outlined by the NAB Business report titled “Supporting Economic Recovery. What we can do for Small Business”, by looking to the public sector instead of the

This puts the ACT amongst the least business-friendly jurisdictions. According to the study by AlphaBeta, the ACT sits behind only Tasmania and the NT as the nation’s least favourable jurisdiction in which to start a business and is also in third last place when it comes to growing a business.

Rather than creating more public service jobs, which will cost the ACT taxpayer and businesses more, consideration must be given to tax concessions for business and workers in order to actually assist

Even the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has recommended the ACT should strive to have the lowest payroll tax in the country to boost local businesses.

Tax cuts, particularly for people on low or middle incomes stimulates the economy by leading to increased spending. This would be a practical economic policy as we work our way out of a covid recession as it will help every household and family.

In turn, they will patronise our local businesses, including shops, restaurants, bars, clubs

and cafes, helping them get back on their feet and hire more workers to meet the increased demand.

What we have presently is a two-speed covid job crisis, one where there appears to be greater emphasis by our government on public sector employment, rather than a focus on jobs in the private sector, particularly noted by our slower easing of restrictions than every other Australian state or territory, with the exception of Victoria. This must change, and change quickly if we are to address the ACT’s job loss numbers.

Jobs in the private sector are equally important. These workers, particularly those in retail and the accommodation and food services sector have been hardest hit.

As the urgency of the battle against the health-care challenge that is COVID-19 has hopefully eased in the ACT, it is time to turn our collective minds to restoring the health of our economy and the jobs of those workers most acutely affected by this crisis.

Gwyn Rees is chief executive of ClubsACT.

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CANBERRA MATTERS

No surprises, Mick waves through ‘flawed’ plan

WHEN, on August 7, Planning Minister Mick Gentleman made a rare appearance to call in the decision on the Common Ground Dickson development application, there was no surprise. This had been forecasted by residents’ groups.

(A call in means that planning assessments are by-passed and the only recourse is for it to be fought through the complex court system – think lawyers, money and time!)

The developer for social-housing provider Common Ground is the government, ACT Housing. The development application was so flawed it stood little chance of approval, and if it had been, would have been thrown out through an appeal.

For those who read the development application, the suspicion was that this was written with the expectation that the call-in powers were to be exercised. And that’s exactly what has happened.

The ACT Labor/Greens government continues to seriously underperform on social

As the towers appear, people will remember that it was the ACT Greens that enabled these insulting and disingenuous processes to continue and that the Greens have allowed the government to use the call-in powers as a final insult.

housing provision. The issue around Common Ground in Dickson remains the use of this community site for housing and whether the money could be spent more effectively to provide more housing for more people.

Local residents remain committed to more social housing being provided, but more needs to be done to have housing money better allocated for maximum benefit.

The image used with this piece is a collage of people involved with the announcement. Using their prepared talking points, the three of them put on an enthusiastic performance with loads of worthy words.

Their facial expressions were a study in pretence; such enthusiasm! They were there to win over a few of the local media and the usual rent-a-crowd, being aligned agencies and the recipients of the decisions, the Common Ground representatives. Local community groups were not in attendance.

It was also obvious that the announcement was rushed. This was the same week that ACT Labor had made its long-awaited election commitments to social housing. They were rubbished because people know how pitiful the so-called new commitments were on top of Housing Minister Yvette Berry’s bad record in the provision of social housing.

The perception was that the Planning Minister was given his talking points and told to grab some headlines in order to distract from the failures of the Housing Minister. There was a lot of very over-the-top effort to be caring and sharing and smiling. Really!

Things came underdone a little. Gentleman’s talking points did not prepare him to answer questions on related issues in his Planning portfolio. He batted away queries about the delayed Dickson supermarket development and tried to distance the Common Ground apartments from other towers proposed for the community zoned land on Section 72 Dickson.

What followed in the media was predictable. The ACT Greens were

outraged by the use of these powers. Seriously?

Trouble for the Greens is that residents have observed the party’s preference to sit on a fence as residents allocated hundreds of hours attempting to bring some intelligence and sense to the debates around Section 72 Dickson.

The residents aspire for this central site to be community open space with enhanced community and arts facilities. Social housing remains a priority elsewhere across the inner north.

As the towers appear, people will remember that it was the ACT Greens that enabled these insulting and disingenuous processes to continue and that the Greens have allowed the government to use the call-in powers as a final insult.

As for the ACT Liberals – not a lot to say – as with so many important

planning matters, they remain largely absent.

Among many issues going into the 2020 elections, this Labor/Greens coalition own the infamous Dickson land swap, the North Curtin Horse Paddocks/ West Basin exchange, the horror apartment suburb proposed for West Basin and have avoided scrutiny by calling-in the Common Ground project.

For these ACT politicians, it is a game to outsmart the electorate using the same machinations that got them on to their parties’ ticket and keeps them there in privileged positions. Are they proud of this behaviour?

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

When the covid jab comes, who goes first?

THE next game in town will be lining up for a COVID-19 vaccination. However, there are a couple of important questions that follow the Prime Minister’s announcement of a “letter-of-intent” deal with AstraZeneca: when will a safe and efficacious vaccine be ready? Who will be at the front of the line?

The announcement of the Australian deal came within days of the number of infections worldwide surpassing 20 million registered cases and more than 750,00 deaths.

It also followed a $2 billion deal done a month earlier by President Trump with Pfizer and BioNTech to supply up to 600 million doses of one of their four candidate vaccines to the US population.

At the risk of being a wet blanket, while we have treatments for HIV, we still do not have a vaccine. Granted, the coronavirus is quite different from the human immunodeficiency virus – and there are already human trials underway for a number of COVID-19 vaccines.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin claims his country will produce the first vaccine. Cold war prejudices make it easy to dismiss the Russians, despite their scientists being the first to put a dog and then a person into space. The major concern regarding the Russian vaccine is their reluc -

Having a vaccine available in the US and not available in Australia will put pressure on the Australian government. Public health is political and the race for a vaccine has intensified the politics.

tance to publish all of the data.

The data around different phases of these trials are critical. The worst thing that any government could do, would be to undermine all other vaccines by circulating a vaccine with serious side effects or introducing a vaccine that is not particularly efficacious.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified that, after clean water and sanitation, immunisation is the most effective method of preventing the spread of infectious disease.

Immunisation includes all of the processes leading up to vaccination (or the delivery of the vaccine to the individual). It includes such things as policy development, government commitment, training, logistics, purchase and access.

The rush for a vaccine is not just about the protection of populations. There are also election pressures. Despite his blustering, denials and distractions, the US response under Donald Trump has been particularly

poor. He has come under increasing pressure over his handling of the epidemic in the lead up to the November election.

Having a vaccine available in the US and not available in Australia will also put significant pressure on the Australian government. It is a similar story internationally. Public health is political and the race for a vaccine has intensified the politics.

Health workers, such as doctors and nurses, should be the first in line to access any safe and efficacious vaccine as it becomes available. The federal government has for years had an appropriate list identifying need. With COVID-19 being so challenging for the immune-suppressed, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and the elderly, particularly in nursing homes, we should hope that these groups are high in the order of priority.

Other frontline workers such as police and defence force personnel are also usually high on the list, as are our

Picture Dad-the-Pilot for Father’s Day

decision makers – our politicians. COVID-19 is an international issue. If developed countries hog the vaccines, despite already having appropriate preventive measures in place along with effective hospitalisation and intensive care units, it will leave others much more vulnerable.

A scientifically sound random study of more than 7000 people in Mumbai found that more than half of the slum dwellers (57 per cent) had COVID-19.

A virus like this knows no borders.

Mumbai represents a huge pool of infection amongst people who do not have a choice about whether or not they can go to work. Without work their families starve.

There can be little doubt that the same story will be repeated around the world in low and middle-income countries. Even from a selfish point of view, it is in the interests of Australians and other developed nations that such pools of infections be urgently addressed.

The global Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (chaired by former Federal Department of Health

Secretary Jane Halton) is concerned not only with the development of effective and safe vaccines as quickly as possible, but also with equity in the distribution globally. They are working with the COVAX group of the WHO whose aim is to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines.

More than 150 countries have been engaged to do just that – to work for development of vaccines as well as equitable vaccine distribution across the globe. While Australia has given in-principle commitment to join the WHO’s COVAX (with no money attached), it is time for a proper pledge.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He is chair of the International Immunization Policy Taskforce of the World Federation of Public Health Associations. The taskforce is made possible with an untied grant from Pfizer.

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Political reporter BELINDA STRAHORN shares tidbits from the race to rule the territory…

CANDIDATES contesting October’s election are an interesting bunch: there’s a car enthusiast, a jazz singer (or two), an ex-solicitor, an economist, a hairdresser (or two), an academic and even an author.

Greens’ candidate for Ginninderra Jo Clay has written a book called the “Carbon Diet”.

Binary Australia. I received their robo-call peddling offensive nonsense. Nasty stuff. Fortunately our city is inclusive and welcoming of LGBTIQ people,” Barr posted. The robocall followed Bills passed in the Legislative Assembly enabling 16-year-olds to apply directly to Access Canberra to change the gender listed on their birth certificate.

• Personalised gift vouchers

Jo admits she is “seriously freaked out about climate change” and conducted a two-year “low-carbon diet”, subsequently reducing her family’s carbon footprint by 77 per cent. Her book details how she did it, through “little” things such as bike riding, eating seasonal food and cutting down on plastic.

DUMPED Canberra Liberals’ candidate Vijay Dubey has re-entered the election race – some two months out from the ACT election – as a candidate for the Belco Party. Dubey joins Angela Lount , Chic Henry, Alan Tutt and party convenor Bill Stefaniak as candidates for the seat of Ginninderra. Dubey, a small-business owner who was dumped from Kurrajong in mid-July has wasted no time in announcing the party will push for the return of cracker night if elected in October.

Dubey says the public will be allowed to set off fireworks for three nights over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, but stressed the sale of crackers would be strictly regulated and only decorative fireworks allowed.

DID you receive a robocall from Melbourne based organisation Binary Australia? Chief Minister Andrew Barr did and took to Twitter to condemn the automated phone survey. “Can confirm a burst of robo push-polling in Canberra tonight – authorised by a deeply conservative Melbourne-based group called

THE Canberra Liberals have promised $15 million for school-maintenance projects over the next four years, if they form government. Shadow education minister Elizabeth Lee said most of Canberra high schools and nearly three quarters of Canberra primary schools were built more than three decades ago and in need of attention.

And the Libs will probe the lead-contamination saga at Yarralumla Primary School saying they’ll establish an “urgent inquiry” into the ongoing ordeal in a Liberal government’s first few weeks in office.

THE Greens are asking Canberrans to identify gaps in the city’s cycling network. The party is keen to shift gears and start a “cycling revolution” connecting every suburb in Canberra to a well-lit, off-road walking and cycling network. By boosting the walking and cycling budget for the next four years, if elected, the Greens can link up the cycling network, and give all Canberrans the opportunity to travel the way they want to.

LASTLY, candidate forums are set to follow new formats thanks to covid. Sanitise, skip the handshake and a limited audience. Not the usual face-offs we are used to. A digital debate will be the Inner South Community Council’s “back up plan” if its Kurrajong candidates’ forum earmarked for September 20 at the Harmonie German Club cannot go ahead. ISCCC chair Marea Fatseas is keeping a close eye on covid restrictions come September and has already started stockpiling hand sanitiser.

OPINION

Beware the wicked ways of free Wi-Fi

At a local shopping centre CHRIS MAC’s mobile phone picked up the free Wi-Fi and his digital life hasn’t been the same since...

IN an earlier life, I worked in the Australian Public Service, the ATO specifically (queue the boos). One morning in 1987, my then assistant commissioner needed a letter written urgently.

So urgently, he did not have the time to send the rough draft he had prepared to “the typing pool”. Yes, it was that long ago!

The computer revolution was just beginning to take hold as our embryonic “IT techo teams’’ were just putting their evil plans to hook us all up to each other in cyberspace.

Sitting in a corner, occasionally beeping and complete with greencoloured lettering and a dot-matrix printer was a PC.

In desperation, my boss looked at it, then at me and asked: “Hey, Chris, do you know how to use that thingo?”

He was relieved when he learned I could indeed use said “thingo”, which included a word-processing package known as “Multimate” and so the urgent letter was written and sent.

Since those salad days, we have all travelled to the point where we cannot function without any number of “thingos” to allow us to function.

One aspect is the introduction of telephones that double as a pocket-

sized summary of our existence. Such devices can operate either with the benefit of a SIM card that can connect us to the world or instead use that wonderful Australian invention, Wi-Fi.

Several months ago, I visited one of our local shopping centres, with phone in pocket, of course. Normally, having heard about the warnings of the dangers of free Wi-Fi, I would turn that link off and rely on the SIM-card connection. On this occasion, I forgot to do so and the phone duly picked up the free service.

From that day on, the email account attached to my phone has been receiving emails advising of bargains galore at several of the stores in that shopping centre.

Fair enough, I thought, I could merely ignore and delete them. However, along with those harmless messages, came an increasingly annoying number of emails that, inter alia, offered me the chance to invest in: • Bitcoin. Apparently the likes of Channel 7’s David Koch (“Kochie”), legendary adventurer Dick Smith and other luminaries simply cannot shut up about how much money they allegedly make from this joyous, brave new world of wealth.

• Something called Hemp Gummies, a supposed source of drug-induced pleasure, huh?

• Male assistance… let’s just say you can guess what that is about, with several iterations of that delightful missive.

• Other unsolicited gems for things such as “Chuck Gaines” for Tinnitus and surveys allegedly coming from various department stores (they don’t, hitting the reply button reveals that these messages and all the other emails like this, come from a dodgy source).

Also included are emails warning me that my accounts with Netflix, Stan, Disney (don’t have them) or with Telstra, Optus or various bank accounts, have been locked and if I just hit a magic

button in the email, all will be well.

The last bit is the ultimate sucker punch, hit that magic link and your internet profile is likely to be infiltrated and identity theft would likely follow.

As I write this, I have received more than 100 of these junk emails in three days, kept only long enough to use them as research for this piece. They have now been bulk erased.

I am not sure how to rid myself of this rubbish, “muting” the messages and referring them to a “junk” folder doesn’t seem to stop them, but here is a warning: unless you have to use it, switch off your Wi-Fi on your phone and you may avoid these dubious delights.

Chris Mac is a broadcaster with 2CC.

Call to join bird watch

THE Aussie Backyard Bird Count, said to be the largest citizen science event in Australia, will be part of BirdLife Australia’s National Bird Week (October 19-October 25). More than 88,000 people participated nationwide in the event last year and counted almost 3.4 million birds.

The public is invited to take part again this year – all it takes is 20 minutes, a favourite outdoor area and some keen eyesight. Register at aussiebirdcount.org.au

Trivia via Zoom

REGISTERED charity Diversity ACT is hosting a Zoom fundraising trivia night to support programs for LGBTIQ+ youth from 7.30pm on Saturday, September 5. The cost is $10 ($5 concession) and the link is on its Facebook page.

Senior sessions

THE Canberra Seniors Centre, in Turner, has three upcoming activities – “Ageing with Attitude”, Tuesdays, 10am-11am, cost $12; Apple technology classes, Wednesdays, 9.30am-10.30am, cost $7 and singing group Alma Latina, Mondays, 11am-noon, cost $7. Bookings and enquiries to 6248 9509.

Canberra Liberals lack the policies to govern

DEMOCRACY does require that governments change. So on the surface “Give Coe a go” (Letters, CN, August 13) does seem like a sensible move.

However, it is never wise to reward a political party with government when it has not done the basics needed to form a stable and workable government –and this applies especially as the ACT tries to rebuild its economy after a terrible pandemic.

The Canberra Liberals have not built a sound, experienced and balanced team to take the reins of government. Two candidates have been sacked.

They have not built a sound set of policies any new government needs. Opposition leader Alistair Coe has committed to a policy of planting one million trees. My research indicates that the cost of planting a tree and keeping that seedling alive for the first three years ranges from $18 to $26 depending on tree type and size.

That is perhaps a $10 billion hit to the annual Budget – though, of course, this labour-intensive project will create many jobs that will be needed in the COVID-19 recession.

A change of government may be good in any democracy, but it must be to an alternative government ready to govern, not one with an unachievable wish list of impossible promises.

Noel Baxendell, Macgregor

Leigh punches below weight

THERE are not many members of the Australian public who can claim to have an apparently significant academic economist as their federal member, a fact that would definitely have escaped public notice in the ad hominem (on the man) attack on the Liberal Party by Andrew Leigh (“Why are the Canberra Liberals so extreme?” CN, August 20).

Political figures are demeaned when they mount opposite arguments while apparently claiming to be on the moral high ground.

Andrew has attacked the NSW Police Minister David Elliott for trying to stop public protests (which was the public health advice) during this pandemic.

I happen to have some exposure to public health issues, and am also a civil libertarian but I do not think anyone would be advocating protests in Victoria at the moment as they would probably incur the wrath of Daniel Andrews (and rightly so).

The only difference between Elliott and Andrews is their political party, otherwise their actions are entirely consistent with sensible evidence-based policy advice.

It’s refreshing to read some serious analysis by Jon Stanhope and his colleagues on the state of public finances of the ACT. I note that Andrew has not added to this debate, or his silence implies support for the current state of things under his party in the ACT.

While Andrew continues to punch below his weight on this important economic issue, it has not stopped him in his punching below the belt in these gratuitous partisan attacks.

His academic grade might come with a helpful note about “able to do better”.

Martin Gordon, Dunlop

Appalling financial record

THE pattern is forming, Andrew Leigh’s “Why are the Canberra Liberals so extreme?” (CN, August 20) lists apparent right-wing positions upon various issues without explaining why the matter was opposed. This follows the Barr government’s constant “conservative” jibe. Desperate attempts in name-calling to offset the Labor/Green’s appalling financial record as set out by Jon Stanhope.

Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla

Gungahlin: crowded, noisy and unfriendly

ANOTHER perspective on Eddie Williams’ column (“Dormitory suburbs wake with a roar”, CN, August 13) is that Gungahlin was a great place to live from mid-late-’90s to the late ‘00s.

For 10 years it was a few suburbs large and was like a peaceful village; just a short drive or bus ride from Civic or Belco. There were only a few shops and that was all that was needed.

Early on there were none of the revolting junk-food franchises. Magnet Mart was in many regards a much nicer hardware store than Bunnings; also with it being locally owned.

And at the one large supermarket, you soon got to know the staff and it had the old-school, friendly Australian vibe that is rapidly disappearing amidst the frowns, glares and disdain of those who weren’t raised here and whose attitude seems to be one of hostility towards strangers. Going to the shops used to be like seeing friends. It’s become an awful experience; intimidating and unpleasant.

We knew it was going to happen eventually but it feels it happened too soon that Gungahlin has become a crowded, noisy, unfriendly and unpleasant place.

The same can be said for Canberra as a whole. It was MUCH better in so many ways until about 10-15 years ago. Many early/older Gungahlin residents have left and others like ourselves plan to do so soon in order to re-find the quieter, friendly, charming, country-town vibe that we once had – and miss.

Robin, via citynews.com.au

Touch of the Trumans

WITHOUT wandering too far down the prophetic road I nevertheless believe I have detected in recent weeks an ongoing factual criticism by Jon Stanhope of Andrew Barr and his government. His contributions remind me somewhat of US president Harry Truman, pictured, in retirement whose retort to the few critics he had was: “I never gave anyone hell, I just told the truth – and they thought it was hell”.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

Who’s to blame for Coombs?

WHO was responsible for passing the plans for the Coombs Shopping Centre? Blind Freddy could have seen that the building wouldn’t be big enough for a much needed supermarket to cater for the new, high density living population of Coombs and Wright.

I wrote a letter to Planning Minister Mick Gentleman suggesting the parking area should be turned into a supermarket, with underground or rooftop parking. Minister Gentleman kindly replied, but said the terms of the lease did not allow for government intervention to change the plan. Why was the poorly planned design passed by the ACT government in the first place?

Rewa Bate, Coombs

Why Canberra Libs’ diversity trumps failed Labor

I DON’T get to read enough fiction these days, so I’m always grateful when the Member for Fenner Andrew Leigh puts something to print, as he did in the pages of the “CityNews” last week.

Andrew has spent most of his time since coming into parliament disavowing virtually every policy prescription he once believed in during his time as an academic in an ill-fated attempt to climb the Labor Party ladder.

It must get tiring mindlessly defending Labor policies he doesn’t believe in, so it’s not surprising that Andrew is now using his time in opposition (having been dumped from the Labor front bench) to engage in some creative writing.

His latest piece focused on the fact that I and some members of the Canberra Liberals hold socially conservative views (shock horror!) on some issues.

With not a hint of irony Dr Leigh throws around terms such as “extreme” in a week when yet another member of the ACT Labor Party was photographed with the Communist symbol the hammer and sickle (a situation that appears to be becoming increasingly commonplace). This is to say nothing of the fact that the ACT Labor Party is a wholly owned subsidiary of the most extreme, militant union in the country, the CFMMEU.

But where he really starts to lose the plot and enter the realm of

It does not represent cultural diversity to have more and more Labor members photographed with Communist symbols! It seems the ACT Labor Party is much better at talking about cultural diversity whereas we in the Liberal Party simply live it.

fantasy is when he argues that the most democratic major political party division in the country, the Canberra Liberals, where every active member gets an equal say in policy and preselections, and which has produced the most ethnically diverse group of candidates of any party in the history of self-government somehow doesn’t value multicultural diversity.

With representatives variously of Korean, Italian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Pacific Islander, South African and Anglo-Celtic background, as well as the religious diversity in the team, this is a party that represents the cultural and religious diversity of the city (not to mention its gender balance, diversity of background and diversity of opinion) in a way that the Labor Party with its union apparatchiks chosen by union bosses from the CFMMEU couldn’t hope to match.

And no, Andrew, it does not represent cultural diversity to have more and more Labor members photographed with Communist symbols! It seems the ACT Labor Party is much better at talk-

ing about cultural diversity whereas we in the Liberal Party simply live it.

But we all know Dr Leigh’s absurd attacks are in lieu of attempting to defend the disgraceful legacy of failure of his comrades in the Barr Labor government.

Their repertoire of achievements include: overseeing dodgy data scandals and a culture of bullying and harassment throughout our hospitals, the highest emergency department waiting times in the country, cutting hospital funding in real terms, and a promised hospital expansion Canberrans have been waiting for since 2010 has been delayed so many times it beggars belief – and that is just in the Health portfolio.

Transport Ministers have overseen months of chaos in a failed revamp of the bus network, that has left Canberrans stranded and cut dedicated school buses for our kids.

Overcrowded classrooms, school walls painted with lead paint, the worst rate of violence against students, teachers and principals in the nation,

and falling academic outcomes are the legacy of 19 years of ACT Labor running our education system.

In 2012 then-Chief Minister Katy Gallagher declared I was a “master of spin” and the Canberra Liberals were perpetrating a “lie” when we declared Labor would triple rates.

Eight years on and the Canberra Liberals have been vindicated with ACT Labor having tripled their rates revenue, with no sign of the promised abolition of stamp duty. Ordinary Canberra families are paying the price for this massive Labor lie.

Canberra under ACT Labor is the worst place in the country to do business and the Government’s support for those doing it tough during the covid pandemic has been the most miserly in the nation, as Andrew Barr sends the place broke.

Equally distressing is our elevation to the least affordable housing market for young people, and the highest proportion of rental stress. Young Canberrans are forced over the border if they want any chance to own their own home as ACT Labor deliberately increases the price of land to prop up their rapidly failing Budget.

ACT Labor‘s high-taxing agenda pushes the cost of living up, hurts

business and jobs, and 19 years later, still can’t deliver the basic essential services Canberrans rely on.

Canberrans deserve better.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that Andrew Leigh doesn’t even bother to defend this shocking record – when even Labor’s longest-serving leader Jon Stanhope has become a forceful and cogent critic of his own party’s woeful record in office.

Andrew Leigh was also part of the federal Labor team that was comprehensively rejected by voters at the last election. A large factor in that result was Labor’s outrageous tax grabs on housing, investment, and retirement savings.

Another factor was the fact that Labor was also seen as having complete disdain for people of faith. Andrew Leigh, in his latest work of fiction, has again demonstrated that he and his party continue to have complete scorn for the millions of Australians and hundreds of thousands of Canberrans who fall into this category.

Zed Seselja is the Liberal senator for the ACT.

ZED SESELJA

WOMEN’S HEALTH WEEK

Week encourages women to focus on their health

THE not-for-profit organisation, Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, through Women’s Health Week, is encouraging women to not overlook their health and wellbeing, especially this year with the added stress that COVID-19 has placed on people’s lives.

The week, from September 7-11, will be a reminder to take time out, check in on women’s health and to keep making positive changes that can last a lifetime.

Now in its eighth year, Women’s Health Week will be asking women to go online and sign up for five days of free online health information that will be sent via email. The emails will contain podcasts, quizzes, videos, recipes and practical articles on a range of health topics such as mental and emotional wellbeing and heart health.

People can also sign up to a step challenge to collectively travel 16,500 kms or 22 million steps - the distance is equal to the circumference of Australia!

The “virtual steps” challenge can be walked, run, danced, wheeled, skipped or cycled anytime and anywhere, even indoors on a treadmill.

More information via womenshealthweek.com.au

Diagnosis distress: Women wait longer for answers

NOT only are women more likely to suffer from autoimmune diseases but they also tend to face longer wait times to receive answers from the medical system, when compared to men, says Arthritis ACT CEO Rebecca Davey.

“Men tend to get pushed through the drug and pathology system quicker than women,” she says.

“It’s a widespread issue that women’s com -

plaints are not considered to be as important as men’s, creating a lot more social and emotional distress for women.”

In addition to living with chronic health conditions, Rebecca says women’s caring responsibilities can cause them to put their pain or health to the side while they look after family members.

“Women also tend to develop autoimmune diseases earlier in their life, which affects their child-bearing and rearing years as well as their careers,” she says.

“Many women have to drop out of work at a younger age which leads to social disadvantage.”

Arthritis ACT supports women dealing with these issues through a number of initiatives including hydrotherapy classes and support groups.

“We now provide a full suite of pain support services as well as being the main contact for the myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) society,” says Rebecca.

“We find that women depend on each other to give advice and support. By giving them a network it helps make life a little easier for them.”

Arthritis ACT, SHOUT Offices, Collett Place, Pearce, and Building 18, 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce. Call 1800 011041, email info@arthritisact.org.au or visit arthritisact.org.au

Caring Vera helps with pelvic floor issues

VERA Chalneva is the newest physiother apist of Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, having started at the practice two months ago.

She prides herself on being empathetic, building a connection with her patients and helping them with a range of problems from musculoskeletal injuries to incontinence.

She says women should not be afraid to seek help with pelvic floor issues.

“After childbirth or as we get older, women should seek help for incontinence as there is a lot that physiotherapy can do to help improve function and get women back to doing the activities they enjoy,” she says.

Vera has a background in gymnastics and dance and has coached a lot of women in these sports, seeing first hand the specific injuries and problems that dancers and gymnasts experience.

The practice is headed by Greg Nash who has 35 years’ experience. Greg’s special interest areas are in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports injuries and occupational health and safety.

He says Vera’s arrival provides a fresh outlook and insight to the practice.

“It’s great to be able to give our patients the option to choose to see a female physiotherapist. It provides a good balance,” he says.

Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic. Call Manuka on 6295 6896 or Woden on 6281 1382 or visit manukawodenphysio.com.au

NDIS Applications – We will co-ordinate the reports you need as well as providing you with a detailed impact report to support your application.

Disability Support Pension Applications – We provide a detailed report outlining the impact of your disability on your daily life.

Home Modifications – We can assist you in the design of necessary modifications for your home to assist you to achieve your life goals; coordinating with builders and other building experts to ensure your home meets your needs.

Equipment Prescriptions – We can assist you to source the correct equipment to improve your life.

Your Health MATTERS

managing chronic pelvic pain, says Dr Uche Menakaya of Junic Specialist Centre.

“We have a better understanding of the changes that happen when people have chronic pelvic pain, in relation to the pelvic floor muscles,” says Dr Menakaya.

Dr Menakaya and his clinical partner, adjunct associate Prof Elissa O’Keefe, offer an obstetrician/ gynaecologist and nurse practitioner “combined practice” at their Coombs-based clinic. They work in conjunction with physiotherapist Tabitha Webb, who specialises in treating pelvic floor conditions. Together, they have more than 45 years’ experience in women’s health.

“I see a lot of patients with chronic pelvic

who is accepting new patients without the need for a referral.

“I focus on treating pelvic pain as well as bladder or bowel issues, sexual dysfunction and any pelvic problems relating to pregnancy and post pregnancy.” Tabitha also works with patients who have pelvic organ prolapse and can fit pessaries.

Empathetic and compassionate about pain and problems that women encounter, Tabitha encourages women not to put off getting help for conditions that might be causing pain and affecting their quality of life.

Junic Specialist Centre, Molonglo Health Hub, 110 Woodberry Avenue, Coombs. Call 6178 0470 or visit junicimaging.com.au

Tabitha Webb is our resident physiotherapist. She believes in collaboration with her patients, taking their experiences and needs into account, treating them with dignity and respect; and empowering them to be active and engaged in the management of their health and wellbeing.

Clinic works quickly to relieve pain

IT’S never too late for women to take care of their health, says Belconnen Physiotherapy Clinic’s senior women’s health physiotherapist, Shannon Mangin.

“Across the lifespan women may have challenges [and it’s] important to take good care of yourself because you are invaluable to so many others in your lifetime,” she says.

With 20 years’ experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, 15 of those years at Belconnen Physiotherapy Clinic, Shannon says the team strives to provide a continuum of care.

“Using our ‘pain to performance’ model, we work to quickly relieve pain and get people back to doing what they love – moving,” says Shannon.

“We offer many different classes such as small physiotherapy exercise groups, hydrotherapy, stability and mobility pilates, and functional strength and conditioning classes.

“People may attend for a period of time to gain confidence in moving again or enjoy it so much they stay in classes long term.”

She says she sees women for a number of reasons including stress and urge incontinence, overactive bladder, prenatal and postnatal care, ultrasound for mastitis, pelvic floor pain disorders and pelvic girdle pain and Sacroiliac (SIJ) dysfunction.

“Most women are unaware of the treatment we provide,” she says.

“They are pleasantly surprised by how quickly they improve when they follow the exercise programs. There is often a sense of relief when they discover they may not need surgery.”

Belconnen Physiotherapy Clinic, unit 1/20 Purdue Street, Belconnen. Call 6251 3487 or visit belconnen.physio

Kristen’s fun, affordable way of getting fit

MANY of the women who come to Capital Nordic Walking love the social side of exercising and going for a walk with a friend, says fitness instructor Kristen Pratt.

Kristen says Nordic Walking is one of the most convenient, affordable and fun ways to get and stay fit.

“We have found a lot of younger women have come to us when the gyms and pools were closed and they love the total body workout Nordic Walking gives them,” says Kirsten.

She says Nordic Walking strengthens the arms, shoulders and core muscles, while working the pelvic floor muscles, too.

“The firmer you push the pole, the more you activate the upper body and increase your heart rate,” says Kristen, who discovered Nordic Walking in 2011 when she was living in Switzerland.

“People can use the length of their pole to ensure they remain socially distant and walk ‘poles apart’ from others. The only item you have contact with is your own Nordic Walking poles and exercising in the fresh air is a safe place to be.”

Nordic Walking, Kristen says, is suitable for women at all fitness levels and ages and the community of Capital Nordic Walking is a supportive one, especially of those who are older or have mobility or health challenges.

Capital Nordic Walking, email hello@capitalnordicwalking. com.au, call 0499 993215 or visit capitalnordicwalking.com.au

Making Healthy Living Easier.

Initiative to reduce high rates of gestational diabetes

GESTATIONAL diabetes is more common in Canberra than any other state or territory, with one in seven pregnant women in the ACT having gestational diabetes, according to Rebecca McPhee from Diabetes NSW and ACT.

“On top of this, 50 per cent of the women who have gestational diabetes will go on to develop type 2 diabetes within the next 10 to 20 years,” says Rebecca.

To reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes, type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases, Diabetes ACT and ACT Health have launched Capital Chicks CANberra - an online health initiative empowering women in the ACT to make healthy living easier.

It’s a non-judgemental, supportive environment where women of any age can sign up for free. Featuring podcasts, recipes, stories and workouts, users can select their life-stage and then access the information that is relevant to them, says Rebecca.

She says Capital Chicks aims to be a credible source of information and inspiration for local women.

“While the statistics are scary, there is good news. While there are some non-modifiable risk factors such as genetics and age, in many cases gestational diabetes can be prevented through lifestyle choices,” Rebecca says.

Natalie Smith, general manager of Diabetes ACT says they’re here to support 18,500 people in the community living with diabetes and want to raise

awareness of diabetes by increasing early screening and detection as well as education about living a healthy lifestyle.

Diabetes ACT, 19-23 Moore Street, Turner. Call 6248 4500. For Capital Chicks CANberra, visit capitalchickscanberra.com.au

Capital Chicks haven’t got hours to spare at the gym or batch cooking but do deserve to look and feel their best for optimal health - reducing the risk of lifestyle conditions such as gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. So, Capital Chicks CANberra is providing practical tips, recipes and hacks developed by experts – for like-minded women.

Check it out online today. It’s free.

Manage weight, get fitter, reduce stress, connect with others and live healthier and happier. www.capitalchickscanberra.com.au

6221 9320 www.orthoACT.com.au

WOMEN’S HEALTH WEEK

Doctor says remaining active is key

A KEY message for women during Women’s Health Week is to maintain bone and joint health and remain active, says orthopaedic surgeon Dr Phil Aubin, pictured, from Orthopaedics ACT.

“Both osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are the main conditions affecting women’s health,” he says.

“It’s important to promote awareness of the importance of bone and joint health. This, together with a healthy diet and weight-bearing exercises are important to enable women in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”

Strong healthy bones and joints help us to stay active, and get more out of life, but nearly one third of Australians live with bone health problems. At Orthopaedics ACT we encourage Canberrans to use these three simple steps to improve bone health and reduce their risk of osteoporosis:

Enjoy safe sunshine for vitamin D • Do weight bearing exercise • Increase dairy intake for calcium

After the age of 60, 1 in 2 Australian women will have a fracture related to osteoporosis. Bones have two cells in them that are working together all the time - one called osteoclasts that break down bone and one called osteoblasts that build up bone. Weight-bearing exercise stimulates these cells to build new, stronger thicker and healthier bone, which along with a good diet, high in calcium and vitamin D as well as positive hormonal health, are crucial to prevent osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a condition of thinning and weakening of bones, caused by an imbalance of these osteoclasts and osteoblasts which increases the chance of broken bones (fractures). Some risk factors for osteoporosis include older age, menopause, certain medications, and a lack of vitamin D and calcium. Having a fracture of either the wrist, hip or spine after a relatively simple fall might be related to osteoporosis. Talk to your GP about a referral to Orthopaedics ACT. With our orthopaedic surgeons and our sport & exercise physician, we have you covered – head to toe!

WE DON’T JUST FIX BONES, WE FIX PEOPLE

Mondays 9:10am: Buff Bones Bone-strengthening & balance enhancing class

•

Tuesdays 7:00: Experienced Pilates

For those who have been doing Pilates for a few years

• Challenging and flowing mat class

Wednesdays 12:05pm: Foundation Pilates

For people with no or little Pilates experience

He says women often come to the practice with osteoporosis-related fractures, requiring surgical fixation and guided recovery plans by the experienced team, as well as joint arthritis.

“We offer education, non-surgical treatment plans as well as surgery for joint replacements,” says Dr Aubin.

The team at Orthopaedics ACT includes seven orthopaedic surgeons, each with their own sub-specialties, a sport and exercise medicine physician, a full time nurse-run clinic as well as two paediatric orthopaedic surgeons.

“We provide comprehensive care by integrating allied health care and non-surgical and surgical treatment,” says Dr Aubin.

“We hear positive feedback from a great variety of patients, whether it is about our caring and professional approach to each individual and their needs or simply about our great Woden location.”

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

The convenience of online Pilates classes

PILATES can be done any time and from anywhere, with the support of expert online instructors, says Pilates Canberra owner Lanette Gavran.

Once COVID-19 hit, Lanette acted fast and within four days had adapted classes to an online format.

Pilates Canberra at Hale Health Spa is now open again to restricted numbers, private or duet classes, though Lanette says they will continue with online instruction as it has been so popular.

“We had to completely close all our in-person classes and instead offered one-on-one support in real time, Zoom classes for groups and pre-recorded classes that people could do in their own time,” she says.

“We’ve found that it’s more convenient for many people, who are busy with work and families, or immunocompromised, and prefer to be able to do their class from home.”

With experienced instructors, who are able to watch students very closely and correct them online, Lanette says it’s been successful and she intends to continue.

“It was in the back of my mind to offer classes online at some point but it all happened sooner than I thought it would,” she says. “We do general strength and conditioning, as well as injury rehabilitation, and while some people have complex needs and specific conditions, it’s working out really well.”

Pilates training can also help improve flexibility and balance, and Lanette says mat work classes are just as worthy as using the equipment, for people who aren’t able to return to the studio yet.

“We have always had a significant focus on a high standard of hygiene and are following all protocols to create a covid-safe and spotlessly clean space,” she says.

Pilates Canberra, 14 Macquarie Street, Barton. Call 0412 022917, email barton@pilatescanberra.com.au or visit pilatescanberra.com.au

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Remembering the glory days of Aussie pub rock

By Helen MUSA

PUB rock is surely one of the great cultural phenomena of 20th century Australia – and Canberra for that matter.

Now the National Portrait Gallery is surfacing from the depths of lockdown with an exhibition celebrating the glory days of this egalitarian kind of entertainment through around 130 photographs that capture the energy, the sweat, the passion and the grunge of its performers – think Jimmy Barnes, Kylie, Midnight Oil and even the young AC/DC.

To Joanna Gilmour, lead curator on this project at the NPG, it’s been a welcome change from her usual work as a 19th century art expert, and it’s taking her back.

“We really wanted to mix it up to create a visual feast for the senses and the memories,” she says.

“It’s great to be opening with an exhibition that is so celebratory.

“It gets us thinking about things people haven’t been able to do – like going to gigs and pubs.

“It’s not a comprehensive history of rock ‘n’ roll, it’s more sensual stimulation and we’ve created a Spotify playlist of all the artists represented.”

Her own favourite portrait in the exhibition is one of Midnight Oil by Canberra‘s eX De Medici, of which she says, “it has so many layers of meaning, it’s evocative of that moment in history with Midnight Oil singing about things that as a young woman I was deeply passionate about.”

Yet another is a portrait by Rennie Ellis of AC/DC’s Angus Young and Bon Scott sitting off stage in Atlanta, Georgia with the dressing table and cans of Budweiser.

“We collect portraits of people who have contrib uted to all walks of life associated with Australian culture and identity and the Portrait Gallery collection allows us to tell a pretty rich story, but not the full story,” Gilmour says.

“So we got in touch with rock music photographers we’d worked with before and reached out to them to see if they could help us flesh out the story while using the gallery’s own collection… they’d been in lockdown too so it was a great opportunity to support photographers.”

The result was a mix of formal portraits with those taken from deep in the mosh pit by specialist music photographers such as Tony Mott, Bob King, Stu Spence and Wendy McDougall.

A welcome inclusion is the Canberra angle for, as Gilmour is quick to point out, the ACT had a consider able role as a rock ‘n’ roll byway.

“We felt strongly that we wanted to highlight the fact that Canberra is only a turnoff on the main highway be tween Melbourne and Sydney… all these bands would stop in Canberra on the way and we became an amazing music scene that people don’t even think about.”

Central to this section is work from the archive of the late Canberra performance photographer ‘pling (Kevin Prideaux) who died in late 2018.

A photographer with a special gift for capturing theatre, music and dance in action, ‘pling often featured in “CityNews”.

“People don’t think of Canberra as a place where there’s a music scene that was so thriving, with major bands coming to places like the Hellenic Club and the ANU Bar… We thought that this would create a lovely

Another “lovely surprise” in the show will be the focus on Aboriginal musos in the 1980s rock scene, highlighting groups such as the Warumpi Band, No

Gilmour is also proud of the fact that the show “speaks to the strength of women in the traditionally-male dominated scene,” with bands such as the Divinyls, Falling Joys, Do-Re-Mi and Flaming Hands and lead singers such as Chrissy Amphlett, her cousin Little Pattie, Deborah Conway and Marcia Hines.

There’s a special section about Australian artists who made it big overseas featuring Olivia Newton-John and, of course, Kylie Minogue, snapped by Matthew Sleeth at the 1999 “Tour of Duty” concert at Dili Stadium in East Timor. That concert was conducted by “CityNews” music writer Ian McLean, who recollects Kylie as “a delightful and humble young lady, it was a great thrill

“Pub Rock,” National Portrait Gallery of Australia, September 5-February 14. Entry free but timed bookings

‘Mulan’ emerges, but at a big price

THERE’S never a shortage of controversies in the ever more rapidly emerging medium that is streaming.

August has had quite the slew of news as competing platforms turn up the heat in their bid for the throne of what I believe will be the main and most widely spread way the world consumes entertainment.

Disney is back in the headlines for a choice regarding a new film that has its fan-base more than a little up in arms.

We’ve seen many of the biggest movies this year delaying their cinematic releases as studios have been eager to ensure they can get as many butts on seats as possible to get a return on their blockbuster investments.

One of the most anticipated – and most delayed – has been Disney’s “Mulan”, a remake of its animated classic from 1998 about a young woman who poses as a male warrior to fight in Ancient China.

This is another entry into the company’s conversion of its animated classics to live action, which although met with a bit of backlash, has also been wildly successful.

“The Jungle Book”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King” are just a few that have received the treatment, and each were among some of the highest box-office performers of their respective years. You can bet as a result that the house of mouse isn’t slowing down that cash train.

Here’s the thing though – all those movies didn’t release during a global pandemic. Having finally caved and wanting no more

As you can imagine, it didn’t go down well.

Cinema owners, too, are devastated about the decision. They were hoping that “Mulan”, along with “Dark Knight” director Chris Nolan’s new film, “Tenet”, would be able to get the movie audiences back out to the good old pictures.

Netflix has once again topped the pops with season two of “The Umbrella Academy”, smashing viewing records and becoming the most in demand show this month. According to the streaming search engine Just Watch, Netflix continues to be making all the right moves, with the platform being the market

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productions, Netflix is set to adapt a musical based on the life of Princess Diana, called, aptly I s’pose, “Diana”. The twist here? The filmed version will be out before the actual Broadway show.

These pieces of controversy are showing just how influential streaming is becoming. It’s not just television shows anymore, we’re seeing the beginning of entirely new

CINEMA

business models and means of taking in popular culture.

Netflix better watch out though, because there’s a new sheriff in town. Comedian and actor Ryan Reynolds, who you might know of “Deadpool” fame, released what he calls “the world’s most affordable streaming service ‘Mint Mobile +’”.

It only plays one movie. Yep, you read correctly – just one.

Log into “Mint Mobile +” and you’ll be greeted with what many have described as the intensely mediocre, “Foolproof” from 2003, of course starring Reynolds.

You’ll see it dressed up in all sorts of tabs and selections: “Original Originals”, “Kind of Originals,” “Unoriginal Originals”. Even hilariously, a trending top 10 section.

The platform is, of course, an elaborate joke by Reynolds, taking a swipe at the current state of streaming and particularly Disney+, but the awareness here of the market and its resonance with the internet community goes to show that people are certainly switching on to the “foolproof” tricks and trades of these streaming giants.

Uni drive-in for everyone

By Helen Musa

DRIVE-in movies are all the rage in Canberra, with news that the University of Canberra’s drive-in cinema is returning, this time for the entire Canberra community.

Originally staged just for students during O-Week, the drive-in is, the university believes, the only drive-in movie experience in Canberra until October, and certainly the only drive-in featuring an LED screen, which means a clearer image.

The public taste for the drive-in movie experience was whetted earlier in winter by the successful “Mov’in Car” outdoor car cinema in the parliamentary triangle.

Sarah Jennett, director of the UC eXperience (UCX) team, describes the initiative as “a socially-distanced event that can still bring people together during these tough times.”

There will be four movie screenings on campus from August 27-29 — “The Hangover” on August 27, “Easy A” on August 28, “The Lego Movie” (family-friendly) on August 29 and “The Hunger Games” on August 29. There is space for up to 70 cars, with food and drinks available for purchase. Tickets are $45 a car for the general public and $30 a car for students.

UC Drive-in Cinema, Carpark 22, University of Canberra, 6.30pm (gates open 5.30pm), August 27-29.

Young Sequin goes to an orgy

“Sequin in a Blue Room” (R)

THE opening credits for writer/director Samuel Van Grinsven’s film make no bones in declaring that what’s coming is a homosexual film.

The last entry in the closing credits is also significant. It acknowledges the film to be an AFTRS production. What’s AFTRS, do I hear somebody ask? It’s the acronym for Australian Film, Television and Radio School.

From that information, and an unproductive search of several internet resources for career information about Samuel, I conclude that this 88-minute film, with economical production (but not stingy) values, may well be his graduation piece. On that account, it evidences not only his prowess but also that of the school.

What’s its intended audience? People in search of distraction, laughter, excitement, fantasy, all those overworked elements of run-of-the-mill potboiler escapism, won’t find any of those here.

In a way, it’s a polemic examining an aspect of human behaviour on which so-called red-blooded men think it’s fun to pour scorn. It deals with an aspect of male behaviour that’s there from the instant of conception until death. No medical procedure or pharmaceutical nostrum can alter it.

In “Sequin in a Blue Room”, 16-year old Sequin (Conor Leach), so named for the croptop he always wears when having sex, is gay and comfortable about it. Indeed, he’s becoming a popular partner for older gay men, a sort of he-whore who, while still at school, hooks up with clients on his smart phone. His only rule is never to take the same customer more than once.

There’s a strong, but not explicitly

Conor Leach in the title role of “Sequin in a Blue Room”.

receptive end of sodomy. His family knows nothing about his behaviour.

The film’s visual elements never go south of the hip bones. The narrative develops when Sequin gets invited to an orgy. Here in a blue room, he meets older gay men seeking fresh meat to dominate. Later, he meets feminised male entertainers. Out of his depth emotionally and intellectually, he meets a married man who becomes a threat that won’t go away.

“Sequin in a Blue Room” seems unlikely to

make big money, which is the film industry’s end product. I commend Dendy for screening it. Those 2½ stars measure my assessment of its general audience appeal, not of its production quality. I hope that members and friends of the local gay and lesbian communities will patronise it. And I wonder where Samuel Van Grinsven’s career will go next.

At Dendy

ARTS IN THE CITY

Got to love a good dumpling! Map traces Braddon’s journey to cultural hub

By Wendy JOHNSON

I LOVE, love, love a good dumpling and every so often get a massive craving for them. Such was the case recently which led a friend and I to pop by the Chinese Kitchen Dumpling House, Corinna Street, Woden.

The extensive menu features hand-made dumplings, Chinese barbecue items and authentic Chinese dishes, covering all bases you’d expect, with some house specialties included.

From the outside of the restaurant, you can watch the kitchen in action through large windows. You’ll see stacks of bamboo steamers, rows of cooked ducks hanging (more on this in a tick) and a large team of kitchen staff whipping up dumplings with precision and at lightning speed (how do they do it?).

We hadn’t booked but kept our fingers crossed that if we rocked up soon after the doors opened for dinner that we’d be in luck. We were, but staff kindly asked if we could leave by a certain time, presumably so they could handle reservations or flip the tables often.

Knowing service would be swift, we had no problem with that. It’s only fair to respect restaurants these days, as they struggle to keep afloat during these crazy covid times.

Zeroing in on the specials, we chose the combination hand-made dumplings (15 pieces for $15.80), which come boiled, fried or steamed.

THEATRE

Combination steamed dumplings… looking pretty in the steamer – golden dumplings, green and orange.

It was steamed for us and the chicken, beef and vegetable dumplings did, indeed, arrive swiftly. They looked so pretty in the steamer – golden dumplings, green and orange. We got stuck in, dipping the dumplings in chilli and soy.

We hadn’t intended to order mains but seeing the duck through the front window, and smelling the duck as we entered, gave us no choice.

The barbecue roast duck ($21.80) was sensational – succulent, slightly sweet and so moist. It glistened on the outside. We’ll be back again to try the Peking duck.

For our hit of greens, we opted for the Chinese broccoli with ginger shallot (also comes with garlic, $15.80), which was super crunchy and beautiful with the delicate ginger.

Other special dumpling options include pork

The front doors of the Chinese Kitchen Dumpling House are ornate and the wood accents inside add warmth to the décor. Black and red accents form part of the interior and there’s a lovely cluster of red lanterns in the middle of the restaurant and a large, gorgeous, painted mural at the back.

We lost count of the number of people landing at the Chinese Kitchen Dumpling House for takeaway. Good to see the place so busy.

The Chinese Kitchen Dumpling House is BYO, but there’s a bottle shop just a few doors down.

The Bard on Christmas Island

By Helen Musa

WHEN last we met playwright Helen Machalias, she was an Arts NSW officer and working with The Street Theatre on her first full-length play that dealt with rape on a campus.

Cut to 2020 and she’s working at the YWCA Canberra as executive director, communication, advocacy and engagement, living in Canberra with her husband and the mother to 16-month-old son Alex.

She’s also back at The Street, with a developmental showing of “Barren Ground”, her dramatic exploration of the asylum-seeker experience in Australia.

The play begins in December 2010 with the SIEV 221 shipwreck at Flying Fish Cove off Christmas Island. That was real, with 48 asylum seekers, mostly from Iraq and Iran, perishing and 42 making it to shore.

We meet survivors Prospero, his daughter Miranda and fellow passenger Ariel, assisted by Caliban and other Christmas Islander locals.

Sounds familiar? Of course it does, they’re from Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” a play beginning with another boat in another ocean.

Politicians’ voices and media reports flood the airwaves and there’s even a shock-jock prize for guessing how many funerals were paid for by the government, but Machalias believes she’s been bipartisan rather than satirical in her commentary, since from 2010 to 2018 both main political parties were responsible for Christmas Island.

Act I dramatises the catastrophic shipwreck, with Christmas Islanders trying to help people by throwing them lifejackets.

Act II culminates in the death of a refugee but by this time Prospero has joined the other side and become a senior administrator responsible for the management of the detention centre.

By Helen Musa

A NEWLY launched street art map, developed by the resident community group, the Braddon Collective, reveals everything from large-scale murals to smaller eclectic artworks, all reflecting Braddon’s transformation from an industrial to cultural hub. The map is available from select outlets for $2.

THE 21st Italian Film Festival has announced it will be back, opening with a live-action adaptation of “Pinocchio” starring Oscar-winner Roberto Benigni as the woodcutter Geppetto. Other highlights are the crime drama “The Traitor”, the winner at Italy’s David di Donatello Awards, and the comedy “I Hate Summer”, in which three families accidentally book the same holiday rental. Palace Electric Cinemas, October 1-18.

THE ABC is in development on a new six-part drama series called “The Fires”, a project headed by Tony Ayres of “Stateless” and “The Slap” fame. Each episode is based around character studies of ordinary people caught in last summer’s catastrophic fires, including volunteer firefighters and families who lost homes. Filming is planned for next year.

NEWS from Four Winds at Barragga Bay that a new song responding to the bushfires has been made by the Koori choir, Djinama Yilaga, to the indigenous children at Bermagui Primary School. The choir joined singer-songwriter Lou Bennett for a creative weekend in Narooma just after the summer bushfires, and they worked with linguist Trish Ellis to identify words for the song, “Ganbi”, from a newly-developed Dhurga dictionary. The plan is for schoolchildren to learn and perform the song at the forthcoming Four Winds Youth Music Festival in November.

GUNNING Arts Festival has launched a short-story writing project, “FlashWrite”, focusing on stories of up to 1500 words that encapsulate local life experiences and relate to next year’s festival theme “Rejuvenation”. A selection of the stories will be published online in the lead up to the 2021 event. Submissions by February 8 to gunningartsfestival.com

MUSE Café’s Sunday chats are back live. Next up, podcasters Yen Eriksen and Zoya Patel will discuss Alexis Wright’s book “Tracker”, a collective memoir about Aboriginal leader Tracker Tilmouth. At East Hotel, Kingston, 3pm-4pm, Sunday, August 30. Book at musecanberra.com.au

new kingdom there…He is not a benign character and his

Miranda and Machalias goes in where angels fear to tread, repeating the plot-line from “The Tempest” where Caliban assaults Miranda. Given that Miranda is probably Iranian and Caliban Chinese or Malay, she’s game.

“I could never have guessed when I started writing that Christmas Island would be reopened for the Biloela family and now it’s being used to quarantine people during COVID-19, so I believe that it adds another layer to the play, the cruelty is still ongoing.”

And no, the famous final scene of reconciliation in “The Tempest” does not happen – there is no Brave New World.

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Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

With the Full Moon highlighting your humanitarian side, it’s time to re-connect with others and help those around you. An unresolved matter from the past could re-surface and demand to be addressed. Avoid rushing in with your usual Aries impetuosity! Try to view current situations from a much more subtle perspective. Your motto for the week is from birthday great, singer-songwriter Van Morrison: “There is no black-and-white situation. It’s all part of life. Highs, lows, middles.”

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

This week Mercury, Neptune and the Full Moon fire up your friendship and peer group zones. So don’t waste precious time wondering what a close friend is thinking… you’re probably way off the mark. A long-term relationship (of the romantic, platonic or business variety) could also be tested in some way but don’t worry too much Taurus. A solid partnership will emerge stronger and more resilient than before. The weekend is a wonderful time to have fun with your family.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

During the first few days of the week Mercury, Neptune and the Full Moon could throw some confusing ingredients into the celestial mix. So keep on your toes Twins – especially involving work and/or domestic matters. Think before you speak and – if you find yourself compelled to spread secrets – just zip your lips and say nothing! Things improve on Thursday and Friday, when Saturn steadies your quicksilver mind and Venus blesses a business matter or a family relationship.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

With tricky Mercury, nebulous Neptune and a loopy Full Moon, things won’t run smoothly this week (especially involving communication, education, travel or social media). If you adapt to changing circumstances, and accept mistakes and misunderstandings with good grace, then you’ll manage just fine. Heed the wise words of birthday great, entertainer Beyonce (who was born on September 4, 1981): “If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow.”

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

On Monday, Mercury and Neptune confuse your business acumen so get a second opinion before making a financial decision. On Wednesday (when Uranus links up with the Sun) be innovative and proactive, as you come up with a creative solution to a work or money problem. Then on Sunday, Venus vamps into your sign so get ready to sparkle and shine! Be inspired by birthday icon Freddie Mercury “I always knew I was a star. And now, the rest of the world seems to agree.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Energy and motivation levels will be low on Monday so slow down and pace yourself. Under the influence of Wednesday’s Full Moon, it’s a productive week to resolve a relationship issue with your partner, business colleague or best friend. Plus – with the Sun and Mercury visiting your sign – focus on formulating a practical new plan involving a personal matter or a work project. Tuesday and Thursday are particularly good for brainstorming, problem solving and serious conversations.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Wednesday night’s Full Moon highlights physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing, plus your humanitarian side. So it’s time to nurture yourself (via a healthy diet and a regular exercise routine), connect with friends and help others. Find a cause you believe in, and then contribute your talents and lend your support in creative and compassionate ways. Inspiration for the week comes from birthday great, Buddhist actor Richard Gere: “Everyone responds to kindness.”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Neptune, Mercury and the Full Moon shine a spotlight on how well you communicate with others (especially a child, teenager, lover or friend). If you don’t really listen to what they are saying, you’ll get your wires crossed. Tuesday’s Mercury/ Pluto trine provides a golden opportunity for you to influence people in a powerful and positive way, either in person or online. So it’s the perfect time to dive deep into a problem or cause and use your persuasive personality to get others onside.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

If you expect a work matter or domestic project to proceed at a cracking pace, you’ll be disappointed. Everything will take longer than expected, as Neptune and Mercury muddle proceedings and the Full Moon provides some detours along the way. Saturn demands that you develop the patience and persistence required to see your goals and dreams through to the very end. Draw inspiration from birthday great, actress Lily Tomlin: “The road to success is always under construction.”

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

Avoid being a gullible Goat early in the week, when Neptune opposes Mercury and someone could try to pull the wool over your eyes. Stay alert! Aim to channel Wednesday’s Full Moon energy into education, relationships, community projects or humanitarian pursuits. But the more you dig your heels in and refuse to budge, the more frustrating the weekend will be. So strive to be flexible; keep the lines of communication open; and use your can-do Capricorn power in positive ways.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

This week Neptune, Mercury and the Full Moon scramble your financial antennae. So it’s not a good time to borrow funds, invest, go on a shopping spree or lend money to others, as you’re liable to make financial decisions based on your emotions (which are fluctuating wildly under the full moonbeams). Wednesday’s welcome Sun-Uranus trine ignites your imagination and activates your inner voice, as you come up with an innovative new solution to a stubborn old problem.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

This week the planets confuse love and communication, so be careful you’re not viewing people through ridiculously rose-coloured glasses. Creative inspiration and intuitive insights are highlighted, but don’t get so carried away that you head into the realm of pure fantasy. When it comes to a major goal, are you and your partner on the same page? If you’re single, can you differentiate a dream date from a disappointing dud? You’ll start to see things more clearly as the week progresses.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2020

set apart for young children? (7)

10 Which person has ginger hair? (7)

11 To make someone servile, is to do what? (7)

12 What is an edible marine bivalve mollusc? (6)

14 What are companies of lions called? (6)

18

21

22 What is another term for a waterfall? (7)

23 Which site is used for dramatic presentations, etc? (7)

24 Who are the fastest shearers of a group? (7) Down

1 Name the eighth sign of the zodiac. (7)

2 What is a thorough examination and analysis of a particular subject? (5)

3 What is something provided

(7)

4 Which term describes a drinking spree? (6)

5 What are novices also called? (5)

6 Which nautical term relates to the point towards which the wind blows? (7)

7 What is a word agreeing with another in terminal sound? (5)

13 Name a large Australian desert in south eastern NT and parts of QLD and SA. (7)

15 What is an alternative name for a small stream, or a brook? (7)

16 What might we call a lawyer who uses questionable methods? (7)

17 What are useful things or qualities? (6)

18 Name another term for a trotter. (5)

19 Which device is used for moving heavy weights? (5)

20 What is strong, stern, or fierce anger, known as? (5)

GARDENING

SPRING is in the air and will quite possibly be the best one for years.

With all the rain over winter, deciduous trees and shrubs heave a huge sigh of relief as the new growth of leaves and blossoms appear.

Wattle Day on September 1 heralds spring with its brilliant, yellow flowers taking us out of the dull, winter days. Most exciting at our place is the arrival of our blackbird, right on time every year, deciding where to build its nest. Many native plants, with their amazing display of rich colours, are blooming such as Grevillea “Crackles”, attracting insects. It’s a great time to visit the Botanic Gardens, now open again with some exciting new areas such as the Banksia Garden.

NOW is the time to start applying mulch, one of the most important tasks in every garden. It may seem early, but we can have surprisingly hot weather, even in late spring. This leads to evaporation and drying out of the soil. As a reminder, our average annual rainfall is 619mm, with the evaporation a staggering 1800mm based on BOM figures. Mulch allows better entry of water into the soil, reducing run-off and retaining moisture around plants. It also lowers soil temperature and reduces weed growth. Soak the ground before applying.

There are many types of mulch available. Eucy chip packs down and is impervious to water; although it’s great for paths in a bush garden. Dyed red wood chips may look good but are really ineffective; mulch should be for the benefit of the plants, not for appearance. Mulch needs to be a minimum of 75mm thick, keeping it back from the stems and trunks of plants. Ideally it should be a mixture of coarse and fine material which will break down over a period of time. It needs to be topped up every few years.

bricks for a few weeks. I never use black plastic under mulch, but on a short-term basis it will get rid of a lawn and the space can then be used for garden beds.

LAWNS are hard to maintain, requiring a great deal of water, continuous weed control, feeding and mowing. Since the drought in 2003, followed by severe water restrictions, people have been encouraged to reduce lawn size. To kill a lawn organically, without using poisonous weed killers, spread black plastic over the grass when the weather warms up, and hold it down with

I’VE been asked to recommend a very small hedging plant, similar to buxus or box hedging. The perfect answer is Thumb”; with its compact growth of 50cm high x 30cm-40cm wide. The dark green leaves only need an occasional clip if you want it as a formal hedge. Alternatively, leave it to grow into its natural shape, perfect for containers or on a balcony. It is readily available.

OFTEN multi-grafted fruit trees are offered for sale with two or more varieties grafted on the one trunk. The varieties are chosen to cross pollinate. Two points to keep in mind. Firstly, if one of the varieties dies you will lose the cross pollinator. Secondly, depending on the variety, the two growth habits can be quite different, making it difficult to prune for maximum fruiting. If you have space, two separate trees are better.