CityNews 201112

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Red Cross hungry for leftover food donations

By Belinda STRAHORN

NOT-for-profit charity Red Cross is calling on Canberra’s hospitality sector to consider donating leftover meals as the major aid organisation recovers from a loss in food donations.

The charity’s Roadhouse program dished up around 19,000 free, hot meals to Canberrans in need last year. In 2020 amid a global pandemic, demand for meals didn’t drop off, but donations did.

Red Cross ACT regional manager Bianca Russell says the charity lost more than half of the regular food donors it relies on to feed some 90 in-need Canberrans every night.

“Covid put a fair bit of strain on us,” Ms Russell said.

“A lot of businesses that were providing us with food closed down and weren’t serving meals any more so it meant we had to find alternative ways to feed clients and we had to start purchasing food ourselves.”

Roadhouse, at the Griffin Centre in Canberra’s CBD, has been offering a free hot meal to the homeless or disadvantaged for the past seven years.

This year the charity, like many, was forced to adapt and change the way it does things.

“We carried on through covid and still provided a hot meal but as a takeaway service,” Ms Russell said.

“Something we found challenging during covid is that we haven’t been able to provide seating space for peo ple so they can come together and have a chat.”

Whether it’s a family dinner or a meal with strangers, Red Cross com munity engagement co-ordinator

Karlya Parnell, says eating together can make life better.

“People don’t always come for the food, they come for the mates as well,” said Ms Parnell.

“If you think about the role that food plays in our lives, it brings us together, it’s a time to stop and sit down, it’s more than just the food, it’s a reason to bring people together.”

Given that much of the ACT has now resumed normal trade, the Red Cross needs more food partners.

“Any food establishment that could make extra meals or might have leftovers at the end of the day, instead of throwing out its perfectly good food, we would love to use it and serve it to our patrons,” said Ms Russell.

“We get some really tasty, hearty meals donated to us each night – stews, casseroles, soups and pastas – heart-

Red Cross community engagement co-ordinator Karlya Parnell, left, and regional manager Bianca Russell… “People don’t always come for the food, they come for the mates as well,” says Karlya.

warming food that everyone enjoys.

“We don’t want to pressure the businesses who were supporting us before to come back, but if they are ready to start supporting us again, that would be great.”

Roadhouse is a beacon not only for the city’s homeless in need of a regular meal, but those needing a hand up.

Since 1993: Volume 26, Number 45

Arts & Entertainment 23-25

Canberra Matters 12

Cinema & Streaming 24

Crossword 22

Dining 25

Garden 26-27

Horoscopes 22

Letters 12

News 5-12

Politics 9-11

Seven Days 6 Cover: Jan Nelson’s “Walking in tall grass, Shelby 2” (2011). Story Page 23.

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“We had a lady whose family was affected by the bushfires on the south coast, they lost their home and her family moved to Canberra to access services, but are struggling to find a place to live,” Ms Parnell said.

“A whole range of people come along for a meal, there are those who are working and need extra food, or

people sleeping rough, some people come in even if they don’t need the food, they just want to chat, they like the camaraderie and the chance to get

Having spent time volunteering in Africa recently, Ms Parnell said the view that Canberra was a wealthy city and immune from the effects of poverty needed to change.

“The poverty that we can’t see in Canberra happens in the home where families are eating two-minute noodles six nights a week, it’s not poverty that we see on the streets it’s hidden behind someone’s front door,” Ms Parnell said.

Helping others was a selfless act and being able to help others felt good.

“The pressure that we can take off a family having to provide a meal might mean they can afford to pay for the heating or school uniforms or books so the flow-on effect of one small meal that may have otherwise gone in the bin is enormous,” Ms Russell said.

“That one meal could be the only hot meal that person gets in a week or it could be that someone’s child gets to eat a nutritious meal they normally would not have.”

Businesses wishing to partner with Roadhouse should contact roadhouse@ redcross.org.au or call 6234 7600.

Greens spin shadow boxing on the crossbench

THE post-election Labor-Greens love-in was consummated with a parliamentary agreement that handcuffs the happy couple to the bedposts for another four years.

No matter how you spin it, the Labor and Greens backbenchers are hobbled by the agreement from having a public view about anything much.

But spin it they did with the three Greens who didn’t make the ministerial cut being given consolation shadow portfolios to create a sort of phoney crossbench, when they should be hunkering down with their Labor comrades.

Apparently this is to give the government Greens MLAs and the “community a strong voice in the Legislative Assembly”.

Andrew Braddock , Jo Clay and Johnathan Davis, each with at least six portfolios, “will play an active role as a conduit for their constituents, their stories and concerns, and bringing those issues to the

parliament”. Isn’t that what all members of all political stripes are there to do?

As political columnist Michael Moore points out in his column this week: “The agreement is that backbench Labor and Greens’ members restrict the amount of freedom they have within the committee system to be responsive to community views and to maintain checks and balances on government and the administration.”

Don’t expect the green Greens “crossbench” to be opposing anything on the floor of the chamber.

THOSE who might make more of a noise got their team jumpers when former lawyer and Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee allocated the Liberal shadow portfolios, swapping her former education spot with former leader Jeremy Hanson, for attorneygeneral. The other former leader Alistair Coe was appropriately kept in the forward line with the senior responsibility for watching the Treasurer.

MEANWHILE, Chief Minister Andrew Barr was handing out the real spoils of power – ministerial portfolios to his now nine-member, female-rich cabinet, that also includes three Greens.

Greens leader Shane Rattenbury, the party’s sole frontbencher in the last admin -

istration, has been joined by colleagues Rebecca Vassarotti and Emma Davidson in cabinet.

He’s jumped into defeated Gordon Ramsay’s Attorney-General seat, finally ending his controversial term as Corrections Minister (welcome Mick Gentleman).

Talented second-termer Tara Cheyne took the ladder up to Minister for Business and Better Regulation, while Labor colleague Suzanne Orr was down the snake and on to the backbench.

I counted 38 ministries across the nine-member cabinet, which didn’t thrill citynews.com.au commenter Palmerston’s Lament , who sniffed: “I think that list highlights just how many useless ministries there are in the territory and explains the default need to undertake busywork to demonstrate relevance. I’d be cutting back that list from ministries to departmental branches to be honest.”

BUT they did cut back, as the Liberals’ Nicole Lawder spotted – the government has abandoned Gordon Ramsay’s seniors portfolio.

She’s asking the new Labor/Greens government what this means for Canberra’s seniors?

“Continuously throughout this pandemic, seniors’ organisations and stakeholders have been pleading for better consultation and communication from the ACT government,” she complained.

“Shuffling the portfolio into another is not the answer and it’s simply not good enough.”

a funeral director.

At the “Who are you rushing to meet?” campaign launch, traffic Marcus Boorman said:

“This year already, ACT Policing members have had to deliver tragic news to six families whose loved ones have died in road collisions.

“Driving at excessive speed is a death wish. When you speed, you show a complete disregard for not only your own life, but the lives of

WITH Melbourne Cup Day racing untroubled by crowds this year, the traditional fashions on the field looked a lost cause. No so.

Fashionistas took to their fascinators and frocked-up at home to take part in Thoroughbred Park’s virtual fashions on the field.

inset, Luke Signor.

“WHO are you rushing to meet?” is the question police will be asking as the November traffic focus turns to what they call the “Fatal Five” – alcohol or drug-impaired driving, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, intersections and driving while distracted. But what they really say is that by messing up you might be meeting members of another fatal five – police, fire brigade, ambulance officers, trauma surgeons or even

Judged by Canberra identity Kristen Davidson and Melbourne Cup Carnival Oaks Day Fashions on the Field winner Brittney Tamou, the first snap-and-send virtual competition attracted entries from 73 ladies and gentlemen.

Judge Davidson said: “I’ve been involved in Fashions on the Field for over five years and some of these outfits were the best yet!” Cobie Sheehan was crowned the Local Lady winner and scored more than $2000 in prizes. Top Local Lad was Luke Signor

Ian Meikle is the editor of “CityNews” and can be heard weekly on the “CityNews Sunday Roast” on 2CC, 9am-midday.

It’s sharing caring Combat Wombat to the rescue

By Kathryn VUKOVLJAK

A WOMBAT saving other animals from a bushfire?

Sounds familiar, but marine biologist, ecologist and children’s author Gina Newton’s latest picture book “Combat Wombat to the Rescue” wasn’t directly inspired by the accidental-hero wombats that made headlines earlier this year for sharing their burrows during the bushfires.

Though it’s undeniably serendipitous that the book’s being published now.

Gina, whose background is in marine biology, ecology, zoology and science communication, says she wants to get kids interested in conservation, wildlife and the environment.

“I feel it must have been shocking for young children to see the images on the news of bushfires, people losing their homes and animals in danger,” says Gina.

“I’m hoping this book can help them talk about difficult topics like this in a more gentle, nature-based way.”

Written six years ago, the story centres on Combat Wombat, who first appeared as a supporting character in Gina’s 2013 book “Blossom Possum and the Christmas Quacker”, as he summons all his brains and brawn

during a bushfire to lead his buddies over a river to safety.

“Wombats really are the most intelligent creatures,” she says.

“They’re also excellent diggers and very strong in their bum, where they have a cartilaginous plate that they use to strengthen the walls of their burrows. They can also crush the skull of invaders, by squeezing them against the wall.”

Which makes it all the more fascinating that they allow animals to share their burrows in times of danger, Gina says.

“Animals did shelter in wombat burrows during the fires,” she says.

“It’s much cooler down there, one to three metres below the surface, and with a network of up to 10 burrows, of which wombats only ever use two to three at a time, there’s a lot of empty space.

“There would have been koalas, snakes, rabbits, wallabies even, birds sometimes, sheltering there. I wouldn’t say a wombat led them in, but when a fire is raging, it won’t chase them out. It’s almost like they understand that ‘we’re in this together’. They’re quite territorial though, so if there wasn’t any danger they’d be less generous.”

Initially commissioned by Scholas tic Press, it’s now Melbourne-based publishers Ford Street that have brought “Combat Wombat to the

books “Amazing Animals of Australia’s National Parks” and “Hold On: Saving the Spotted Handfish”, Gina, who’s worked in science policy in the public service for more than 25 years, plus two years at the Australian Academy of Science, and is a past national president of the Australian Marine Sciences Association, says she wants to continue writing entertaining children’s books about Australia’s

She’s also created notes for schools to accompany “Combat Wombat to the Rescue”, that cover how different animals deal with fire, the importance of wildlife carers and rescuers, the ecology of bushfire and how fire used to be managed by First Nations

“I realise now that my science, creativity and conservation have all come together, and writing children’s books is the perfect avenue for me to express that,” she says.

“Even though I went on to be a scientist, by the age of six I was writing and illustrating stories, and when I was about 10 I got really engaged in saving the kangaroos.

“As well as my own creative need, I’m writing to engage kids so they’ll grow up to understand the world they live in and hopefully look after

“It’s not happening now, that’s for

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How much does it really hurt to lose an election?

By Belinda STRAHORN

TO the casual observer, politics might seem like a game at times, but the outcome of elections can be instant and extreme, not least for those MLAs who lose their seats.

Just weeks since the ACT election, what is it like to lose, clear out your office, dust yourself down and move on?

“CityNews” spoke to the six defeated MLAs about being made redundant, what they consider their greatest Assembly achievements, challenging moments and what to do next...

ANDREW WALL

former Liberal MLA for Brindabella

“When things change in politics, they change quickly. Going from an MLA one day to absolutely no-one the next day, it’s rough. I don’t think any of us that missed out expected to lose our seats at the election.

Personally, there’s a little bit of shock, but that’s politics. Politics is a contact sport, you take someone’s seat when you run and every election someone is trying to take yours.

The election was on the Saturday and my office was empty by the Monday. There was no ambiguity about it, it was over. Rip it off like a Bandaid and get through it. The result I got in Brindabella [were I to get] in any other electorate would have got me elected. The disappointing bit in it is there are some people in the Assembly that I got a higher personal vote than, but the nature of Hare Clark wasn’t enough for the fight that I was in.

I think I was more devastated by the result overall on the night, when it looked like we were only going to pick up eight seats.

People put their lives on hold to run and it was overwhelmingly disappointing to see we didn’t achieve what we set out to do or even come close. Politics is more than a job, it’s a lifestyle. I never anticipated winning in 2012 when I ran, so actually getting in was a real joy and a real excitement.

I’ve got two young kids and I think my wife is happy to have me home a little more than normal now. I came out of the construction industry so I’m looking for something that might blend my experience in building and construction with my eight years in politics.

Every day is different in politics. Sometimes it’s the small things, that no one sees or hears about, that are the most satisfying. A local charity lost all their funding and needed about $20,000 a year to keep their doors open and they only had a couple of weeks of funding left. Through the business contacts I had we were able to help get sponsorship for them, I never got my name up in lights, never got a headline for it or public recognition but the association

is still running and providing care for families who need it.

I’m 36, I’ve had nine years in professional politics, I’ve got so much out of this. Gratitude is the biggest feeling I’ve got at the moment, it’s been a remarkable journey.”

BEC CODY

former Labor MLA for Murrumbidgee

“It’s disappointing. It was an amazing opportunity to be a member of the Legislative Assembly and particularly representing the area that I grew up in.

Since leaving, I’ve had my first proper relaxation time in many years, I’m not very good at taking holidays or having down time, so it’s been quite nice. I have watched a lot of Netflix, spent a lot of time with my beautiful new rescue dog Rocky, and I’m going to travel to Queensland to spend some time with my father who is unwell.

For me, the most memorable thing about the job was including workers’ rights in the human rights act, we are the first jurisdiction with a human rights act and it gives us certainty that we can look after workers in the future.

Post politics I’d like to continue to stand up for workers and continue advocating for people, I’ve always enjoyed that and think I’m good at it. But, I need a little bit more downtime so that I can go into my next role with as much enthusiasm that I took into the Assembly.

I will miss the social interaction of politics but it’s also the thing I might not miss... it’s a double-edged sword. I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me, supported me or helped out on my campaign.

In parting wisdom, my advice to new MLAs is enjoy it. It’s an honour and a privilege to be elected to the

outside. People need a listening ear and I have that, I will continue to listen to people’s issues, that journey will not stop.”

JAMES MILLIGAN

former Liberal MLA for Yerrabi

“I’m just trying to get on with things and making sure I’m able to pay the bills. I cleaned out my office the Monday following the election, I decided the best thing to do was get in and clear it out, and not think about it too much.

Assembly and I think sometimes we forget that when we have our head down, bum up, focused on doing the right thing, but it should be fun, too.”

DEEPAK-RAJ GUPTA

former Labor MLA for Yerrabi

“It’s a time of grief. I’ve accepted the outcome but it’s something I wasn’t expecting. After working so hard in the Assembly and in the campaign, this wasn’t the result I was expecting.

It’s not the greatest feeling, to be honest. This is a bit of a soulsearching time for me and my party, who were equally disappointed.

The Liberals were targeting me from day one, they knew the fifth seat in Yerrabi was very crucial for them, that’s why they put two community members from my community as candidates, which is not a very smart strategy because they knew that those two people would not win, but they would divide my vote and that’s exactly what happened.

My background and my name must have played a role. I’ve lived in Australia for 32 years, I am an Australian, my kids are Australian, why should I be looked at through the lens of my race, my colour, my name, my accent.

Perhaps it’s not time for people in migrant communities to move into the political scene, we might need to wait another five or 10 years when the second generation [of migrants] are mature, it’s not the time for first-generation [migrants] to cross the line.

I was doing a good job as an MLA, I was doing what a local representative should do for the community. I honestly couldn’t have done anything more, I put in so much effort. Nobody could say: ‘Deepak didn’t do a good job’. Being in the Assembly is one way you can raise your voice but you can still raise your voice from

and achieve good outcomes.

My greatest and proudest achievement was the campaign we mounted against the government’s cuts for school buses and we did get a significant number of cuts reversed.

The greatest joy of the job is the people you meet. There are so many incredible people working so hard on causes they are passionate about. I loved that the position gave me the opportunity to meet those people, that’s the part I will miss the most.

This isn’t the end of my political career. I feel I have a lot more to offer and I will still endeavour to push forward if an opportunity presents itself again.

I feel what I did in my first four years in the Assembly hadn’t been done before. I was changing the way we look at politics and how we deal with it. We developed a suite of policies within the indigenous portfolio that was really revolutionary because no state, territory or federal government has really done that from opposition.

Every issue I dealt with, I thought about it considerably before I acted, I think sometimes people just rush into things and don’t give the consideration it needs.

To do the job well, you need to be honest, transparent and consult with the community and stakeholders. What’s next? I’m working on reestablishing the publishing company I had prior to going into politics, we do all sorts of publishing, printing and graphic design and I’m adding business consultancy as well.

Being an MLA was an extraordinary experience and I absolutely loved it. This is a tough time, and a tough time for my staff, too. I want to acknowledge that they worked so incredibly hard and they need to find new jobs, too.”

CANDICE BURCH

former Liberal MLA for Kurrajong “I’m doing okay. It’s very disappointing and disappointing we didn’t win government because that’s what we set out to do.

You go into politics knowing that this is the game you are in and this is sometimes the way that it goes. At least I’m getting some much-needed rest. I think it’s been a bit easier for me because I wasn’t in the role as long as most of the MLAs, I’ve only been in the job for two and a half years [elected to replace the late Steve Doszpot in 2017] so my office clean up didn’t take that long. I also had a week watching the postal votes coming in, which gave me time to come to terms with the way the result was going. The result wasn’t what anyone was expecting but that’s what we are seeing with covid elections, you don’t know what’s going to happen, that’s politics. Coming in on countback was a steep learning curve, I didn’t get as much training and support as everyone else, but the nature of politics means you have to have a thick skin and you need to figure out how you can be effective in opposition

At the moment, I’m most excited about having time off and getting back to my reading list, taking a break and figuring out what I did with my Saturdays before politics.

Politics is a lifestyle... it’s a huge demand on your time. My advice to new MLAs is to enjoy the experience, it’s tough, it’s a steep learning curve but enjoy the adventure.”

GORDON RAMSAY

former Attorney-General and Labor MLA for Ginninderra

“The results of the election were obviously deeply disappointing, it isn’t what I had hoped would be the outcome.

But Hare Clark is always a very difficult system for people involved and it was always going to be extremely close. That means it is difficult, not only for me, but for family and for staff, I feel very much for them at the moment. I’m taking a little bit of time to rest and refresh. I will then look forward to continuing to be part of the way we can work towards a stronger, more cohesive society in this wonderful city.

I spent 20 years in Canberra before being in the Assembly doing that from the community sector. I will always be proud of the work that we did in relation to the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse. Our community, our institutions, our court system are all places that are better positioned to support survivors, and more prepared to prevent the abuse happening again.

And the work, both nationally and locally, in supporting older Canberrans, addressing elder abuse, is something I believe will have longterm benefits for many people.

Some of the most challenging times have come in the past six months. The covid emergency bills were essential for us as a community, but there was so much more that placed great pressure on people, including me. One of those areas was our arts and creative industries being impacted by the covid restrictions. I was very pleased we implemented the speedy and substantial support for individuals and organisations, but it has been both challenging and painful to hear and respond to the stories of so many people whose livelihoods were substantially impacted overnight.

The creative sector recovery is going to be so important, not only to people in the sector, but to us as a community. The last four years have been the most amazing privilege. Thanks to everyone who has worked alongside me.”

Policy promises evaporate in post-election pact POLITICS

I WROTE in “CityNews” last week in praise of the ACT Greens’ suite of First Nations’ policy commitments for the recent election.

The praise was warranted and I have no doubt the policy would have had an influence on the voting decisions of people for whom the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents of Canberra is a priority issue.

Therefore, I was surprised and a little concerned on reading the “Parliamentary & Governing Agreement” entered into by the ALP and the Greens to formalise their coalition and also set out their individual as well as the government’s agreed priorities for the next four years, that a significant number of the Aboriginal-specific election promises made by the ALP and the Greens do not rate a mention.

The relative paucity of Aboriginalspecific commitments is even more surprising, in light of the claim in both the agreement and the joint press statement from Andrew Barr and Shane Rattenbury, which accompanied it, that “closing the gap for First Nations peoples” was one of the “fundamental challenges” that the government would focus on in this term.

Appendix 1 to the agreement is prefaced as being the outcome of “detailed discussions” between Labor and the Greens that the parties held

There are promises made by the coalition partners before the election that are either not mentioned in the parliamentary agreement or are given no priority.

“to agree on particular policy issues of interest” to the parties.

It contains a total of 63 policy issues that Labor and the Greens jointly identified as of “particular interest”. These are presented as the government’s “core” or highest priorities for this term of the Assembly.

Of these 63 core policy issues of “particular interest” to Labor and the Greens only one is Aboriginal specific, namely that at Part B (1) (vii) : “In close partnership with the community and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, supporting the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-controlled community housing provider.”

There it is. The one and only Aboriginal-specific “core” commitment in the parliamentary agreement – the establishment of an Aboriginal community-controlled housing corporation. Hardly, I would have thought, a commitment reflecting a determination, as claimed, to close the gap.

Appendix 2 to the “Parliamentary & Governing Agreement” sets out the “priority legislative, executive and administrative reform agenda over

the coming term”, subject to budget funding.

Appendix 2 contains a total of 35 such priority reforms. Of the 35 areas of priority legislative, administrative and executive reform none are Aboriginal specific.

Appendix 3 to the agreement contains, to quote: “The key priorities ACT Labor will progress this term” from the totality of the promises and programs it included in its 2020 election manifesto.

Appendix 3 contains a total of 74 of Labor’s “key priorities” that while not, apparently, considered by Labor or the Greens as worthy of inclusion in Appendix I as items of “particular interest”, Labor will nevertheless seek, time and budget etcetera permitting, to progress over the next four years. While these issues have been characterised as “key priorities” they have nevertheless been assigned secondary status. John Howard would, I am sure, have labelled them “non-core” promises. Of the Labor Party’s 74 key priorities five are Aboriginal specific.

Bizarrely one of the Labor Party’s key priorities is a promise to not

So much more than an Electrician! ELECTRICAL – AIR CONDITIONING – PLUMBING

Reliable:

Qualified:

abolish the ACT Reconciliation Day public holiday. I trust that the fact that this particular commitment has been described as a key priority does not mean that those public holidays that have not been so identified, for example Christmas, are in danger of being cancelled.

Appendix 4 to the parliamentary agreement mirrors Appendix 3 in providing the detail of the key priorities that the Greens will seek to progress over the next four years. It contains a total of 111 “key priorities” or as I note above non-core promises. Of the 111 priorities 12 are Aboriginal specific.

To its credit, as I acknowledged last week, a number of the Greens’ Aboriginal-specific priority commitments are of significant import and I, for one, sincerely hope that they are in fact progressed. Having said that there are a number of promises made by the coalition partners before the election that are either not mentioned in the parliamentary agreement or are given no priority.

One such example is the Greens’ promise to: “Fund a dedicated community controlled medical withdrawal service for First Nations people in Canberra.” So far as I can see, this

promise has disappeared.

The six elected Greens are part of the ACT government and constitute one third of the cabinet. Their promise to fund an Aboriginalspecific detox centre should they gain government was unambiguous and unequivocal.

Unfortunately, anyone reading the parliamentary agreement has no option but to conclude that this promise, and others, have within two weeks of the election, and for five of the Greens a mere two weeks since first being elected to the Legislative Assembly, been broken.

It would, therefore, be helpful if both Labor and the Greens would publicly confirm that they will keep their word and honour all their promises.

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.

Less accountability is the price of cosy coalition

THE Labor and Greens’ political parties have signed an agreement that has evolved from previous government arrangements into a true coalition.

This transition provides for a strong, progressive government and, it may be argued, reflects the outcome of the ACT election. The price will be less accountability.

The “Parliamentary & Government Agreement” even identifies this coalition as a “Labor-Greens government”.

Signed by all Labor and Greens’ MLAs, the agreement commits the coalition to a close working arrangement with “a strategy to address the major social, economic and environmental challenges society faces”. Chief Minister Andrew Barr retains responsibility for allocation of portfolios for all Labor ministers and the three Greens’ ministers.

The guarantee to support supply and confidence in Andrew Barr as Chief Minister provides for stable government. There are provisions for dissent on other issues, including room for moving amendments in the cabinet process and also on the floor of the Assembly. However, there are serious restrictions regarding the extent of dissent.

The context is within agreement that “this effective coalition is built on trust, mutual respect and our many shared values and goals”. And later, acknowledgement that “this may

Decades of Labor government have seen Canberra transitioning to a Melbourne-like downtown with leadership from developers rather than planners. Unfortunately, under this agreement, the ability for the Greens to manage this accountability has been severely constrained.

involve compromise on both our parts and will require innovative approaches to reach agreement on occasion”.

The restrictive approach looks like, say, an election campaign. For example, announcements in the media must include a given text: “This initiative [fulfils/progresses] a commitment of the parliamentary agreement of the 10th Legislative Assembly by the ACT Labor-Greens government”. Included in the agreement as an appendix, and therefore presumably part of the restrictions, are the election platforms of both parties.

The committee system of the ACT Legislative Assembly has been a key feature of accountability since self-government. The agreement is that backbench Labor and Greens’ members restrict the amount of freedom they have within the committee system to be responsive to community views and to maintain checks and balances on government and the administration.

Decades of Labor government have seen Canberra transitioning to a Melbourne-like downtown with lead-

ership from developers rather than planners. Despite significant failures in this area, the electorate has not been prepared to trust the Liberals with planning. Unfortunately, under this agreement, the ability for the Greens to manage this accountability has now been severely constrained.

An Assembly committee ought to be carefully providing oversight, an opportunity to understand community concerns and be in a position to make recommendations on how to improve planning in Canberra. It is of concern that the commitments in this agreement so strongly undermine that ability.

The positive side of this LaborGreens coalition government is a serious commitment to implement the policies that were taken to the election by both parties.

Fundamental is protecting the ACT economy while also protecting the environment. The agreement supports “the government’s economic and fiscal strategy, as set out in the August 2020 ‘Economic and Fiscal

The Greens’ Shane Rattenbury, left, and Labor’s Andrew Barr sign the new parliamentary agreement.

Update’, of strengthening the ACT economy to protect Canberrans’ jobs and the community as we emerge from a global economic crisis, protecting the ACT’s strong credit rating and ensuring sound public finances and balance sheet over the medium term”.

Environmental protection includes, “building on our achievement of 100 per cent renewable electricity by taking the next steps necessary to reduce our city’s greenhouse gas emissions, and show other jurisdictions what is possible to achieve in a short period of time, while supporting all Canberra households through the necessary transition”.

If things go awry there is an “out” for either party. However, the exemp -

tion is only in “instances of proven corruption, conduct that threatens public confidence in the integrity of government or public administration, gross negligence, or significant and intentional non-adherence to this agreement or the Ministerial Code of Conduct”.

The governance of Canberra over the next four years has been clearly set out in the “Parliamentary & Government Agreement”. At times this tight coalition will prove challenging, particularly for backbench members of both parties.

It will be interesting to see if this coalition delivers on its promise “as a two-party government to govern with, for and in the best interests of Canberrans” as “the most progressive and reformist administration in Australia”.

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

CANBERRA MATTERS

Pigs totally fly when it comes to planning spin

IT could be said that residents and community groups have been a little foolish.

Foolish in that they listen politely to presentations by the City Renewal Authority, the Planning Directorate and the developers and their spin doctors, the planning consultants.

These developers and bureaucrats come to residents’ meetings to present proposals that are supposed to be absolutely wonderful – they will be vibrant, promote active travel, save the planet, not clog up the nearby suburbs with parked cars and have fabulous green spaces. So apparently, pigs do fly. They make their presentations because the ACT government (and the NCA) pretends that this is how professionals conduct consultations (don’t laugh just yet). Anyone with experience knows that these consultations are a complete sham. More often than not, they are about announcing that this is what the developer/ government is about to do in your suburb or on important urban spaces or parklands

Anyone with experience knows that these consultations are a complete sham. They are about announcing what’s about to be done in your suburb or on important urban spaces – and now you know, consider yourself consulted.

– and now you know that, consider yourself consulted.

The trick is that commercial and government developers (eg City Renewal Authority) and their planning consultants know this is all that’s expected. The boxes are ticked according to the rules set by the Planning Directorate and then it’s all systems go.

In subsequent meetings and media statements the Planning Directorate and complicit politicians proudly boast that the community has been consulted, so what’s their problem? Or in the case of the City Renewal Authority, that the Canberra community is over-consulted.

Full credit to them as they say this straight faced without any hint of sarcasm. Full credit as they have been getting away with this sham for a decade or more – especially since the days when Andrew Barr was the ACT’s planning minister. And full credit for knowing how to play residents.

The government and developers know that residents are polite, are considerate and are open to consider some changes. The presenters have no qualms about disguising what they intend to do.

Presenters use the values of the residents as tools knowing that the politeness will ensure a quiet reception to questionable development proposals. It is rare that a residents’ meeting will be honest and just say that the presenters are having them on and are talking rubbish.

Having presented their proposals, developers (including government agencies) will later push through amendments some of which are beyond the pale. New storeys may be added, features disappear and arguments put to shrink promised amenities. The view of residents is that the completed development may bear some resemblance to what was originally presented if you can be creative in what you are confronted with as the finished apartment block or tower. This really is that all talk and presentations of being concerned

with parked cars and have fabulous green spaces”.

about the future of the city is thinly disguised misinformation.

Some residents chose to take decisions by the Planning Directorate to the appeals tribunal. The frustration is that as residents drill down into the detail of approved developments all manner of faults are identified. Residents are left to wonder just what planning bureaucrats do besides have meetings and attend functions. Do any of them do any planning?

Politicians stated during the elections that Ben Ponton’s Planning Directorate is undergoing a planning refresh and that things will be better in the future. Should we anticipate that the ACT Greens in government will honour their commitments to do something real about planning and development? Asking too much?

Let’s not talk of a refresh, it’s time

LETTERS

for a completely new planning system with new leadership.

It was probably a little harsh to say that residents are foolish to take on the monstrous government’s complicated planning and development regimes. The rest of us should be grateful for the dedication of our community leaders. But maybe there is a better use of time, energy and resources.

Maybe they should cease participating in such blatant sham consultations. There must be something better to do than banging heads on the unforgiving walls of the ACT’s opaque Planning Directorate.

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

No more of the same, please

IN the pre-election candidates’ forums, all ACT main parties finally acknowledged the existence of considerable community angst about the poor and lopsided management of the city’s planning and design processes.

They also acknowledged the numerous calls for significant, visible and timely improvements to residential settings and their public surroundings, including facilities provision and real action needed to counter climate-change impacts across our suburbs.

Yet, on the whole, they shied away from specific commitments and goals that would avoid systemic planning debacles and unbalanced land use repercussions over the next four years (“Talking to voters happens only during elections!”, Paul Costigan, CN, November 4).

The new Labor/Greens agreement now reflects both parties’ selective election patter on planning, by relying on the belief that entrenched development, urban densification and renewal problems can be overcome, somewhat magically, by “improving community consultation and involvement”.

Yet the Chief Minister, when announcing the new ministry, remarked that achieving “consensus was impossible” in relation to planning. Does this suggest that he prefers not to face up to the deep-rooted causes of community disquiet?

Will significant planning changes and public betterment outcomes not be allowed to emerge despite having two ministers burrow into the morass of planning-related deficits, power-plays and poor information sharing that has mounted up for far too long?

And what outcomes might the government and its advisers already have in mind for the ongoing review of the Territory Plan, which is also touted as a handy planning solution in the new agreement?

Any more demurring from ministers and time wasting by many Canberra community volunteers will only undermine the agreement’s broad planning aim of boosting “community confidence”.

Too many are sick and tired of being left to identify

planning shortfalls and to battle for sensible long-term public interest improvements that go well beyond addressing the inadequacies of the latest high-rise complex, concrete plaza, set of potted trees, new traffic bottlenecks and overdue yet still poorly designed piecemeal upgrades of some footpaths, lighting, kerbing and public use spaces.

Yet developers have been quick to rev up the usual “consultation” mechanisms since the election. Will the new government and its authorities be willing to act in good faith by starting to ensure that even some small yet meaningful and better integrated, quality-driven planning outcomes appear “on the ground”, not in two years’ time but in the near future?

Sue Dyer, Downer

A question of consultation

AS an office holder in a Conservation Council member organisation, I was surprised to learn from Paul Costigan (“Talking points taking over the planning debates”, CN, October 20), rather than from the Conservation Council itself, that the Council had made a submission on the proposed West Basin development.

To the best of my knowledge the submission was made without consulting with the Conservation Council’s member organisations.

Leon Arundell, Downer

Jon for Foreign Affairs

READING former ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope’s knowledgeable and insightful column in “CityNews” each week would indicate to readers that he should enter federal politics – and aspire to become the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs.

John Milne, Chapman

Escape the city life in peaceful and historic Hall

BETWEEN wide, open country and the bustle of Canberra, historic Hall offers a serene escape from city life. Sitting along the banks of the Hall Creek, the village, initially called Ginninderra in 1882, was renamed in honour of the town’s first landowner, Henry Hall, following protests from residents.

George Southwell.

While Canberra has grown to become a modern city, Hall has kept its rural character and is home to some of Canberra’s oldest history.

JANINE YOKOM

Authorized Celebrant for all Celebrations

Relaxed & fun ceremonies are my speciality 0414 797 211 | hey@janineyokom.com.au www.essentialelementscelebrancy.com

St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Church, for example, built in 1910 with help from the Hall Catholic community, is one of the ACT’s oldest churches. In more recent years, Hall has a population of about 271 people, according to the 2016 Census, and continues to be labelled as a rural getaway from the city, with plenty to do and a variety of passionate businesses to visit.

part of the world given the turnover rate is so slow. It’s also very beautiful,” he says.

Licensed in the ACT and NSW allows Ray White Rural to service the whole of the ACT and the surrounding NSW region, and George says the team is known for its knowledge and dedication to the region.

“We started working in Canberra before it was Canberra,” says George, whose family have owned property in the region since 1863.

“I’m the sixth generation of my family from the area. I believe it’s about understanding the district.”

Ray White Rural, 93 Comur Street, Yass. Call 0429 838345, email george.southwell@raywhite.com or visit raywhiteruralyasscanberra.com.au

Celebrant Janine marries

IT’S the best job in the world to marry people,

Celebrancy, who’s been a celebrant since 2015.

“A wedding is a ritual that we still keep, and I love nothing more than to witness couples

Janine says her focus is on the couple and getting to know them in the lead-up to the wedding, whether they’re planning a small, intimate

“It’s all about them and I’ll do whatever I can to ensure their ceremony is exactly what they want,”

Janine’s open to almost anything to make that happen, and says she’s even officiated at a “Game of Thrones” winter-themed wedding, complete with mulled wine and artificial snow, where she committed to the theme and dressed up in a cape.

Janine says she’s been lucky enough to officiate for friends and family in the “generous, friendly community” in Hall, including two of her children, and had lived on a farm there for 14 years.

“When I first started as a celebrant I would come out to the paddock and practice on the cows!” she says.

Essential Elements Celebrancy. Call 0414 797211, email hey@janineyokom.com.au visit essentialelementscelebrancy.com

‘Karanya’, 20.26ha* (50* acres), Capital Region via Hall Village / Canberra

• 10min* Daughters at Hall Coffee Shop & 1882 Bar & Grill, 20min* Brumbies & Raiders, 12min* golf course, 30min*

Canberra International Airport, 15min* Winery & Poachers Pantry, 12min* Casey Market Town, 25min* Canberra

CBD. Executive 5 bedroom home with panoramic views towards the Nation’s Capital

• Sealed road & driveway access to garage, man cave / workshop, secure fencing, dam & 150,000L water tank storage

• Equine infrastructure, estate inspired garden with easy care, flowing lawns

• Convenience of the city without the sacrifice, owners upsizing in the district, sale required

raywhiteruralyasscanberra.com.au

Auction Sun 6 Dec 2020 2pm On-site

View Sun 15 Nov 11am–12pm, Thur 19 Nov 6–6:45pm, Sat 28 Nov 10–11am, Tue 1 Dec 6–6:45pm, Sun 6 Dec 1:30–2pm George Southwell 0429 838 345

*approx.

BRINGING together wine, food and art, 15 minutes from the heart of Canberra, Hall is the perfect location for Capital Wines and Kyeema Gallery, says co-owner Bill Mason (pictured).

Bill, who describes Hall as “a hidden treasure in many ways”, took over Capital Wines, and in turn Kyeema Gallery, which operates in conjunction with Capital Wines Cellar Door, about a year ago with three other people.

As for the wine, it’s all from the Canberra wine district, according to Bill, who says: “They are good quality, value for money wines, winning various medals and positive reviews.”

“Our labels all have a connection with the capital. The thinking was to make a rye commentary on life in the capital and while we take our wines seriously, we don’t take our politics too seriously,” he says.

Visitors can try the wine at the cellar door, where Capital Wines offers groups as large as 25 its wine

SPECIALISING in Bio Sculpture gel nails, Endless Beauty owner Simone Stevens says the product provides a healthier, more gentle manicure that her clients love.

“Bio Sculpture gel is vegan, crueltyfree and contains no harsh chemicals, and I have clients that come here specifically for this brand,” she says.

Bio Sculpture also contains no dehydrators, primers or bonders, with more than 300 high-quality colour gels to choose from, she says.

tasting, food and art experience, Bill says.

“We have an epicurean, which matches four of our wines with four dishes presented in the gallery and in the cellar door,” he says.

When it comes to the gallery, Bill says the art they show is diverse. Currently, he says the gallery features paintings from “Different Strokes Art Group”, which will be on show until November 22.

In the past Bill has shown Aboriginal art from Enrico Saccardo’s collection and still life paintings by local painter and photographer Brenda Runnegar.

Capital Wines and Kyeema Gallery. 13 Gladstone Street. Call 6230 2022, email info@capitalwines.com.au or visit capitalwines.com.au

Having always wanted to open her own beauty salon, Simone, 28, took over Endless Beauty five years ago.

“I love Hall because it reminds me of Harden, the country town I grew up in, before I moved to

Canberra to study beauty therapy at

Simone’s mum, Annette Stevens also works at the salon, travelling from Harden twice a week to do waxing and tinting. Simone says the team, including beauty therapist Emma Allen, is skilled and passionate about what they do.

Endless Beauty also offers tanning, make-up, general manicures and pedicures, eyelash extensions and shellac. The salon offers facials using Dermalogica products, and is a Dermalogica stockist.

Endless Beauty, Shop 3, 2 Victoria Street. Call 6230 9703 or visit Endless Beauty on Facebook.

WHEN it comes to care and expertise, Better Blades owner Ian Brodrick is unrivalled in blade sharpening, says wife and business partner Lee-Ann Brodrick.

Ian’s been sharpening blades in the region for more than 20 years and is known for his blade sharpening expertise but his claim to fame is restoring and renewing antiques, Lee-Ann says.

“People will bring 80-year-old dressmaking scissors [that] they never think will work again,” she says.

He also goes the extra mile for customers, according to Lee-Ann who says he provides the good old customer service that people used to do.

“He’s been doing it for many years and he’s seen a lot of cowboys coming into the market putting things on Facebook and then doing nothing,” she says.

“Once you’ve had someone sharpen your knives properly, whether you’re a professional chef or a veterinarian people are amazed by [the] difference that makes.”

As for being located in Hall, people love the location out here, Lee-Ann says.

“Since covid it’s been an opportunity to have a coffee while they are having some equipment sharpened,” she says.

Better Blades, 21 Gladstone Street. Call 0415 483089, email bblades7@bigpond. com or visit betterblades.com.au

OBITUARY / Alfreda Betty Beaver AM, June 30, 1924 – October 15, 2020

Farewell to a Canberra arts and music champion

By Meredith Hinchliffe

CANBERRA arts and music champion Betty Beaver has died. She was 96.

Born in Brisbane in 1924, from a young age Betty had wanted her life to be in the field of design, but as this was not possible, she took to music. She studied piano and cello from the age of seven, which led to a double scholarship in those instruments at the Sydney Conservatorium.

At the age of 12, she was performing with her sisters in a group called the Woods Trio, often giving concerts to raise money for storm victims and charities. The sisters and their mother travelled extensively, performing in eisteddfods.

In 1942, the family – without her father who had died of blood poisoning when she was 11 – moved to Sydney so that two of the sisters could take up their scholarships.

In 1944, she met Ron Beaver, who had just returned from service in Egypt. They were married the following year and had four children.

During Army and Defence postings, the Beavers lived in 28 houses, while Betty maintained her interests in music and design. She commissioned furniture for a house they built in Killara, which remained when they moved as the pieces were designed to

They arrived in Canberra in 1960 where she studied design with Derek Wrigley at the Canberra Technical College.

Cultural life in Canberra was limited in those times and Betty threw herself into redressing that absence. She taught piano and studied ceramics and design. She was heavily involved in the establishment of the Craft Association of the ACT (now Craft ACT), becoming the foundation honorary secretary.

With oldest daughter Karen, Betty opened Narek Gallery in Narrabundah. Their main interest was to help people understand the pleasure that can be gained from living with craft objects. They wanted people to appreciate welldesigned and well-made objects.

This was the beginning of what became known as the craft movement in the mid-’70s. For the first time, individual craft artists – potters, weavers, other textile artists, jewellers, furniture designers and makers, wood craftspeople and others – were able to see their work professionally exhibited as were painters and sculptors, in a formal, commercial gallery.

By 1975 Betty had established Beaver Galleries in Red Hill, which over the following 26 years saw remarkable growth, including the establishment of a link with the Freelands gallery in London.

Betty was integral to the development of crafts in Australia, through the gallery and the exhibition program she developed over nearly 30 years.

As a way of introducing new media to the Canberra audience, and to encourage young and emerging artists, Beaver Galleries initiated its annual Award Exhibition in 1979.

The first Award Exhibition, “Soft Sculpture”, encouraged serious textile work in Australia. In 1985, Beaver Galleries showed the “Furniture Exhibition”, which drew attention to contemporary Australian furniture designing and making, and Australia’s magnificent furniture timbers.

Soon after Beaver Galleries opened, Betty held an exhibition of handcrafted clothing, called “Second Skin”. This became a regular part of the gal-

lery’s annual program and was held for 11 years. She bought many of the clothes featured in these exhibitions and donated the complete catalogue and three garments to the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.

The ambitious gallery program grew too large for the Red Hill premises and, after prolonged negotiations with the then-National Capital Development Commission, the Beavers’ architect son designed the current gallery complex in Deakin, still one of the very few purpose-built commercial galleries in Australia.

During this time, Betty maintained her strong interest and support of music in Canberra. She was a founding member and later president of the Canberra Recorder and Early Music Society Baroque Ensemble. The group cultivated local interest in renaissance and baroque music played on instruments of the period.

Betty collected early musical instruments and played one of her instruments at every performance of the group over a period of 22 years. Her ability to make things happen was unparalleled and her vision, musical knowledge and passion were key to this group’s success.

She was a founding member and past president of the committee that runs the Canberra International Music Festival. The festival has been held annually since 1997 to much national and international critical acclaim and is

now a major event on the ACT calendar. As well as offering her time and financial sponsorship, she commissioned a work from renowned composer Elena Kats-Chernin titled “Beaver Blaze”, which premiered at a festival and has been performed regularly, with adaptations for different instruments and voice ensembles.

Betty frequently made her home and extensive network available to showcase the talents of Canberra’s young musicians. She also was involved in many fund-raising events for numerous Canberra organisations.

In 2004 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, the citation acknowledging her service to the arts through promotion of Australian contemporary crafts, support for young and emerging craftspeople, and the performing arts in Canberra.

Narek Gallery and Beaver Galleries were important focal points of the early development of the crafts movement in the ACT and Australia. The music community of Australia acknowledged her active involvement with a number of major music organisations. Local, national and international music bodies have benefited significantly over many years from her contribution.

Betty Beaver is survived by her four children, Karen, Ross and twins Sue and Martin, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

NEWS REPORTER

“CityNews” is looking to immediately appoint an energetic, self-motivated general reporter.

It’s a full-time, contract position for a reporter with at least two years’ experience to write for our independent, quality news magazine and website.

Duties include:

• Working to deadlines and responding to breaking news.

• Writing accurate, balanced and fair copy for the “CityNews” magazine and website.

• Updating social media.

• Creating online newsletters.

Do you have?

• Minimum of two years’ experience.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Self-motivation, confidence and energy.

• A sound knowledge of the Canberra region.

Weekend work will be required on a rostered basis. The role is a full-time, contract until June next year. Beyond then will be by negotiation.

To apply:

Email a cover letter, CV and examples of your work to Kate Meikle, Director, Macquarie Publishing at: kate@citynews.com.au

/ swimming lessons

Taking the reluctant plunge back into the pool

“SWIMMING is my least favourite children’s activity to take my three kids to,” shared a fellow mum in a low voice, who was sitting next to me at my children’s swimming class.

I couldn’t agree more with her, when she outlined her reasons. It’s an uncomfortably hot and noisy indoorpool environment. You feel rushed, sweaty and never quite on top of how best to get the kids out of the pool and into the car with all their wet gear and dripping hair.

Everything from the chlorine smell to the damp bench seats makes me cringe with sensory overload.

I know how important swimming lessons are for water safety and such a life skill for our children, but sometimes if they aren’t loving it, it’s a hard sell to get them to the pool.

I was surprised to learn about a house with a pool, on the market in Weston Creek, that my friend was interested in buying, that it was being sold without a legal pool fence around it.

I couldn’t

I know how important swimming lessons are for water safety and such a life skill for our children, but sometimes if they aren’t loving it, it’s a hard sell to get them to the pool.

quite believe that a house in 2020 could be sold without the requirement of bringing the pool fencing up to regulation and, while my friend was budgeting for installing one should she have been successful, it makes me wonder how many home pools don’t have the right fencing and shudder at impacts that would have on small kids in our community, should they visit or live in a home without a decent fence.

After a lull in loving my kids’ swimming lessons I decided to give the weekly lessons a temporary skip at the beginning of this year, but the covid closures and a cautious winter made sure it was a lot longer stretch out of the water than I had wanted for the kids.

Coupled with travel restrictions and work commitments, we haven’t been out of the ACT since January, and certainly haven’t seen the sea, that is until the recent long weekend,

when we finally went to the coast. It really was a treat to get to the beach and feel the sand between our toes. Since we moved to Canberra from Sydney two years ago, my kids have been fascinated by “the coast” – that catch-all local phrase that Canberrans use whenever they talk about going anywhere that has a shoreline. They couldn’t wait to get to the illusive “coast”.

Living in a landlocked city, it’s in teresting to identify the water babies amongst us who long for a refreshing dip in saltwater and to clear their heads, gazing at the horizon. They say that going regularly to the beach is so important for their mental health and I reckon about half of my friends are in this camp.

Our trip to the coast came with some surprise as to how our cautious master six-year old’s swimming skills had regressed. This is the boy who was confidently swimming laps last year, now clinging to us in the water. We tried not to react, but it worried me that he could “forget” how to swim.

I suppose a nine-month swimming

About Hundreds for Thousands

Hundreds for Thousands is a Christmas fundraiser aimed at helping families in need across Canberra, Queanbeyan, Yass, Cooma and Goulburn. With your help, our goal is to raise $100,000, allowing us to provide 1000 families with a $100 grocery gift voucher. This voucher will give each family the freedom to choose the food that they like to eat and help to make their Christmas day lunch or dinner special.

10 Salvation Army centres (listed on the website) are involved in the fundraiser, each with a goal of $10,000 which will contribute to the overall $100,000 target. You have the freedom to choose which centre to support so donate today and GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE!

Somehow dealing with the dripping

AWARDS 2020

Home wins where coastal and luxury living meet

A SOUTH coast property has won the Housing Industry Association’s (HIA) 2020 Home of the Year for bridging the divide between coastal and luxury living.

Steve Andrea Architecture, Smith and Primmer, and Karin McNamara Design, designed and built the Guerilla Bay home, which took out the award at the HIA ACT and Southern NSW Housing and Kitchen and Bathroom Awards on October 30.

When announcing the award, the judges described the home as setting a coastal/ luxury-feel by defending against the elements of its location, while embracing the views.

ACT and southern NSW executive director Greg Weller said: “The 2020 Home of the Year highlights the extremely high standards of this year’s entries, with modern architecture and workmanship of the highest quality”.

The design, according to the judges, used a bold palette of off-form concrete, copper cladding and steel windows, and the project team included a high level of detailing and craftsmanship that makes the property truly unique.

“Every room in the home has been

placed in an ideal position, taking advantage of the stunning coastal location,” they said.

When speaking about the HIA awards in general, Mr Weller said they bring together the top builders and designers in new home construction, renovation, and kitchen and bathroom projects.

“They vie for the chance to win awards across a range of categories that are judged by a panel of industry experts, and ultimately go on to represent our region at the Australian Housing Awards,” he says.

“Designed to bring generations together.

A bold palette of off-form concrete, copper cladding and steel windows sets the tone for a home that both defends against the elements and embraces the views from its clifftop location. Its flamezone designation, bespoke palette of materials and harsh coastal location required a high level of detailing and craftsmanship that was successfully delivered by an enthusiastic and skilled project team.”

HIA 2020 HOME OF THE YEAR BY

WINNING WAYS WITH TODAY’S KITCHENS & BATHROOMS

6 Guise Place, Jerrabomberra

A new home designed on the elevated hills of Jerrabomberra by Architects Ring & Associates was an exciting project to be involved with.

We ultimately came up with the right plans and selections and the contractors on the project went above and beyond to build and construct our vision into reality.

Sonja McAuliffe Archertec Interiors

The bathroom

The client wanted something special and a little different than the usual bathroom design. The brief was to create a modern and unusual layout that filled and balanced the space. Creativity was the key brief from the client, but the design for the main bathroom still needed to be functional and practical as well as sympathetic to the Architectural design created by ARAA. Thanks to the experience of Heiniger Joinery, many of the unique joinery design details where achieved through out the home, particularly the cantilevered vanity and mirror in the bathroom.

The kitchen

The client’s brief was to design a kitchen that had a strong connection to outside and could comfortably entertain large gatherings with family and friends. Being able to see out through to the pool and the outdoor living space was important to the client as well as being able to cook outside while having access to supplies inside.

A walk-in wine cellar was requested to be a part of the design. To be a strong feature in the kitchen and not hidden under the house as it often is.

A walk-in butler’s pantry behind the main kitchen was also on the wish list for the client to work in and hide the day to day meal preparations and for catering large family functions.

HIA AWARDS 2020

Mel worries about JobKeeper status

Mel has received a letter from the tax office about JobKeeper and is worried because she doesn't know what it means.

"The letter says the payments made to me are not wages because I'm an eligible business participant (EBP) and not an employee. I have always believed that I am an employee of the company,” she told me.

I told Mel not to worry. When JobKeeper was first announced an EBP was defined in the legislation as someone who was not employed by a company but either a shareholder or director or both and actively engaged in the business without being an employee.

“So why do they think I am not an employee?” Mel asked.

I replied: “There could be many reasons, but the most likely is Single Touch Payroll (STP). Most employers are now transmitting their payroll to the Australian Tax Office using STP, which means it has information every pay period for every employee.

"There is an exemption from STP for employees who are classed as ‘closely held’. That is they are directors, shareholders or family members. So until July 1, 2021, you will not have to report your pay or that of your other family members. In your company all your current employees fit the definition of closely held so the ATO would not have any details on them in STP.”

But, said Mel, she lodged a Business Activity Statement every quarter, which showed the wages paid to all employees. I said: “Well, that'll make it easier for us to explain to the ATO that you are an employee. Yours is not the first letter from the ATO that I have seen to closely held companies.

"Once we explain the position and can prove that you are in receipt of regular wages that should satisfy the ATO. At present the ATO is sending out many of these letters because they are checking that people didn’t just start paying wages in March to take advantage of the JobKeeper program.

"In answer to your question, STP is where the checks are being made and you will be asked to produce evidence of your wages payments, but we will help you with that.”

“Also the JobKeeper paid to an EBP does not have to be paid out as wages so does not need to be included on the BAS.

"Also worth mentioning is that as payments to an EBP are not wages there could be a saving to the government in terms of the cash flow boost.

"The cash flow boost above the minimum is based on wages paid, so if a person is incorrectly classified as an employee when they should be classified as an EBP excess cash flow boost will have been paid to the company so it's reasonable for the ATO to follow up.”

Mel said she felt better and looked forward to hearing of the outcome with the ATO.

If you need guidance on dealing with ATO queries on JobKeeper or any other matter, contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co on 6295 2844.

Disclaimer

This column contains general advice, please do not rely on it. If you require specific advice on this topic please contact Gail Freeman or your professional adviser.

PUZZLES PAGE FREE

Joanne Madeline

Moore

Your week in the stars – November 16-22, 2020

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Thank goodness Mars (your boss planet) has been moving forwards for a few days and will continue to pick up speed. So it’s time to be bold and brave as you take a smart calculated risk and morph into the adventurous Aries you were born to be. Nothing ventured, nothing gained as you break down barriers and charge at life with plenty of fiery abandon! Current restrictions and challenges require dynamic solutions so put on your problem-solving cap and be a proactive Ram.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

A delayed dream or a frustrating work problem should gradually improve. But there could be misunderstandings involving an intimate relationship, a joint venture, an educational matter or a proposed trip. Avoid being uncharacteristically impulsive. Charging in like a wounded Bull will only make matters worse. So do your best to be decisive and diplomatic – which is an interesting juggle! The weekend looks rather romantic, as love planet Venus shifts into your partnership zone.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

Your ruler Mercury joins the Sun and Venus in your wellbeing zone. So the fitter and healthier you are, the more you’ll be able to capitalise on romantic opportunities when they appear. Best aphrodisiacs? Foods like figs, avocados, oysters and chocolate will put some extra pep in your Gemini step. When it comes to relationships, strive to get the balance right between being reliable and being spontaneous. Singles: you could find your soul mate via an introduction from a colleague.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Crabs: are you going through a bumpy patch with a family member, friend, colleague or frenemy? This week the Sun and Saturn encourage you to shine a bright light on the problem and then work on finding a constructive solution. Don’t put your head in the sand and hope the problem will magically disappear! Your motto for the moment is from film director (and birthday great) Martin Scorsese: “There are times when you have to face your adversaries, sit down and deal with it.”

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

The focus is on family relationships, domestic responsibilities and work matters. Expect unexpected developments and stressful moments, and there may be a big decision you need to make. Saturn links up with the Sun (your ruler) on Thursday, which will ground your fiery energy and calm your mind. So your motto for the week is from actress (and birthday great) Goldie Hawn: “The ability to remain calm and focused in stressful situations is central to making positive decisions.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Money matters should gradually improve, as prosperous Venus visits your financial zone until Saturday. But expect some dramas with a child, teenager or close friend, when hidden tensions bubble to the surface. Be extra diplomatic and try not to take criticism personally. Social media is also a potential minefield this week, as Mercury and Uranus stir up your communication zone. So be very careful that you don’t send the wrong message to the wrong person at the wrong time!

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Stylishly elegant Librans appreciate quality and adore living in the lap of luxury, but don’t overdo it or you’ll end up being the most beautiful bankrupt on the block! This week the Sun, Mercury and Venus are all visiting your money/selfesteem zone. So it’s time to get your finances in order, plus be true to the authentic you. Draw inspiration from birthday great, actress/producer Goldie Hawn: “I want to dig deep and ask – Who am I? What do I have to offer? What do I have to learn?”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Have you been lacking energy and inspiration? This week the Sun, Mercury and Venus visit Scorpio, and Mars is charging through your ‘get-things-done’ zone. So it’s full steam ahead as your motivation and passion start to return in spades. On the weekend, spend some quality time savouring the splendour of the natural world as you go walking, hiking or biking in the local parks, bush, mountains or open plains. As entertainer (and birthday great) Bjork observes: “Nature is our chapel.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

If you blurt out the first thing on your mind on Monday or Tuesday, then you could spend the rest of the week soothing the egos you’ve bruised and patching up the problems you’ve created. So avoid raising sensitive subjects, strive to be more strategic, and think (carefully) before you open your mouth. Remember – your first thought isn’t always the best one. The Sun shimmies into fiery Sagittarius (from Saturday until December 21) when it’s your time to sparkle and shine!

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

This week (courtesy of the positive Sun/Saturn connection) you’re at your powerful and persuasive best, as you make a presentation or influence your peer group in an inspiring way. But don’t let negative self-talk sabotage your plans (and confidence) over the next few weeks. You could also be surrounded by intrigue and gossip, as secrets that were previously hidden rise to the surface. Make sure you handle any sensitive information with typical Capricorn style and discretion.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Uranus stirs up your restless Aquarius side on Tuesday, when you could surprise others with an unpredictable move left of field. You’re keen to explore and experiment but don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater! On Thursday, Saturn encourages you to think things through, especially when it comes to a romantic relationship, a work colleague or a joint venture. Then you won’t miss an opportunity when it comes along. But tread carefully with a temperamental relative.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

Have you been feeling like a listless and lonely Fish? Has a dream or a friendship been stuck in a frustrating funk? The positive Sun/Saturn connection provides a welcome energy boost that will banish procrastination and fire up your aspirations. Love, lust and/or loot should also gradually improve as Venus moves through your money and intimacy zone. Saturday onwards is your time to wow them at work, as you express your creativity and show others what you are really capable of.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2020

(8)

7 To which animal family does a jackal belong? (6)

8 Gary who, is known as Angry what? (8)

9 Which electricity is produced by friction? (6)

10 Name an evergreen shrub with handsome flowers. (8)

11 What might we call towels or handkerchiefs? (6)

14 When one acquires knowledge, one does what? (6)

17 Name a renowned English poet, Elizabeth ... (8)

18 When one makes another defenceless, one does what? (6)

19 Name the more familiar term for a wire. (8)

20 What is a doll, or crude representation of a person? (6)

21 Which term describes a club’s second team? (8)

(7)

3 Name church officers with variously defined duties. (7)

4 Which term describes an introductory part of a speech? (7)

5 What is an illegal type of trading? (7)

6 Name the conventional Spanish title of respect for married women. (7)

11 Who was the renowned US lexicographer, Noah ...? (7)

12 Which intelligent pet dogs have thick curly hair, often trimmed? (7)

13 What might we call one who goes back on one’s word? (7)

14 From which family of table vegetables do beans and peas belong? (7)

15 Name another term for lucerne. (7)

16 Which aromatic seeds of the fruit of an East Indian tree are used as spices? (7)

INSIDE Afghan food is all about flavour WENDY JOHNSON

From out of art’s shadows, women with names ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

COVER STORY

By Helen Musa

IN 1939 “The Australian Women’s Weekly” ran a story about the noted portraitist Nora Heysen headed, “Girl Painter Who Won Art Prize is Also Good Cook”.

That’s the kind of thing that really irks cura tors, Elspeth Pitt and Deborah Hart, now deep into the eight-week installation of the NGA’s massive summer exhibition, “Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now.” Heysen, whose work appears among more than 350 works of art including new commis sions, performances and works, was in 1938 the first Australian woman to win the Archibald Prize and in 1943 she became the first woman to be appointed as an Australian war artist, but as daughter of the famous landscape painter, Hans Heysen, she shared with other artists represented in “Know My Name”, the misfortune of living in the shadow of a man. Not any more, if Hart and Pitt have anything to do with it. For the coming show, likely to be a serious perception-changer, Hart says, “certainly the most complex and biggest exhibition of art by women ever seen in this country”, one that has demanded of them “a great big burst of energy”.

According to Hart, they pitched the idea of the exhibition to NGA director Nick Mitzevich in February, 2019, as they were all looking at a big slide of portraits by women of women.

Naturally Mitzevich knew who the artists were, but he got wondering whether other people did too, and from that time the practical idea took off – how to make the women’s names as well known as those of male artists.

The good news is that history has been taking care of that, as the landscapes of the famous Dead White Males recede into the

background of the public imagination.

At least in Australia, Stella Bowen’s reputation far exceeds that of her polyamorous partner, writer Ford Madox Ford. The show doesn’t cover her war art but does have beautiful nudes by Bowen which the curators describe as “a bit racy”.

Heysen’s ravishing portraits are nowadays seen as widely as her father’s gum trees, despite what Hart calls “the extraordinary burden of having a famous father”.

In her lifetime, post-Impressionist Ethel Carrick’s reputation was eclipsed by her husband, Emanuel Phillips Fox, but critics today consider her work more adventurous than his and her brilliant colourism has an international name.

ARTS IN THE CITY Local dancers leap for awards

By Helen Musa

CANBERRA dance artists are well represented in nominations for Ausdance National’s Australian Online Dance Awards (2018 and 2019) coming up on Tuesday, December 8. QL2 Youth Dance’s “Filling the Space”, the Australian Dance Party’s “From the Vault”, and “High Kix for Frou Frou to Fruition”, choreographed by dance teacher and 2018 Canberra Young Business Women of the Year Kym Degenhart, are up for 2019 awards. Former “CityNews” artists of the year, Elizabeth Cameron Dalman and Liz Lea, are 2018 nominees, while Anca Frankenhaeuser has been nominated for “Mist”, performed blindfolded for the 40th anniversary of Canberra Dance Theatre. Also on the list are Canberraraised artists Laura Boynes and Mark and Clare Dyson.

CANBERRA Short Film Festival is up and running again, with six screening dates in what it’s calling the “covid-modified first stage” of its 25th anniversary event running on Friday, November 20-22 and 27-29. The evening screenings will be run twice, at staggered times, and the festival hopes to return in March with 12 more screening events including the Red Carpet Night, a 25-year retrospective, the awards and screenings across Belconnen, Gungahlin, Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan. Information at csff.com.au

TUGGERANONG Arts Centre presents the creative results of the 2019 Craft ACT and ACT Parks and Conservation Service Spring Residency in the exhibition, “Double Vision: Corin Dam Residency”. Annika Romeyn worked at Stockyard Spur and Mt Gingera while Elizabeth Paterson created 3D works looking at the role of the Corin Dam with paper, cardboard and glue. Timed openings at the centre, 2.30pm-3.30pm and 3.30pm-4.30pm, Saturday, November 21, book at trybooking.com/BMKFK then the exhibitions continue until December 18.

One thing that really excites both curators is the new commissioning undertaken for the show.

First and foremost is an installation by the Tjanpi Desert Weavers showing an episode from the Seven Sisters narrative where seven life-size figures underneath a giant canopy are overseen by a peeping Tom. The artists from the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) lands were unable to fly to Canberra, so they coordinated the installation by Skype.

Art reflects a broader history, so it was easy, Pitt says, to identify key works of art and key moments in time when women brought about change.

“The show will say something about how society functions,” she says.

“The way the movement towards equal pay for equal work matched the movement of women who said, ‘we would like our stories to be recognised’.”

One unexpected element emerging in the show was the way in Australia, unlike other countries, it was largely women who pioneered modernism and abstraction.

“Also a move into colour, early in the century, with Ethel Carrick at the forefront,” Hart cuts in.

Choreographer Kym Degenhart… nominated for “High Kix for Frou Frou to Fruition”, a colourful and energetic cabaret set in Lucky’s Speakeasy.

intended to liberate the person of Jesus from traditional images and increase his relevance for modern living. Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, 15 Blackall Street, Barton, November 12 - December 5, Saturday/Sunday, from 10.30am-3.30pm.

A NEW online Russian film festival is available on Hyvio’s streaming platform until November 30, free and ad-free, with local subtitles. Eight Russian movies will feature, including the comedy “Another Woman”, the dramas “Core of the World”, “Ice”, about the rise and redemption of a figure skating champion, “The Story of an Appointment”, a biopic about Leo Tolstoy, “The Bolshoi”, set in the world of ballet, and the animation “The Snow Queen 3: Fire and Ice”. Accessible at hyvio.com/russianfilmfestival

The curators reflect that the Aboriginal art of Australia has been successfully led by women artists, including giants such as Queenie McKenzie and Emily Kame Kngwarreye, but also in newer media like Tracey Moffatt’s first major series of photographs, “Something More”, 1989.

Appealing to more youthful viewers are painterly photographic portraits by Jan Nelson in the series “Walking in Tall Grass” which capture the way teen girls use fashion to express individuality.

In this exhibition, there is a visible presence of Canberra artists such as GW Bot, eX De Medici, Marie Hagerty, Alison Alder, Brenda L Croft and Vivienne Binns, who has gifted her installation “Tower of Babel” to the gallery. A whole wall of posters refers to Canberra’s art history.

“Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now”, NGA, November 14 -July 4, 2021, free.

Radiating public and private life of Marie Curie

“Radioactive” (M)

DESPITE, or perhaps because of, having Lauren Redniss’s book “Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout” as a source, Jack Thorne must metaphorically have sweated a certain amount of blood when writing the screenplay for this filmic account of the private, public, professional and family lives of the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person to win two of them.

Essentially paraphrasing Marie’s life from 1893 until her death aged 66 in 1934 from aplastic anaemia caused by years of exposure to radiation, “Radioactive” may pose problems for filmgoers unfamiliar with her name and the intellectual issues and complex scientific challenges confronting her and Pierre in studying the chemistry and physics of substances and their behaviour that, for good or for bad alike, are now commonplace.

From applying Wilhelm Röntgen’s 1895 Nobel Prize-winning discovery of what he called X-rays as a medical diagnostic tool that saved lives on World War I battlefields and became commonplace, along a line of direct connection to the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, the film treads a difficult line through an awesome assembly of facts, science, personal tragedies and glories, and French political shenanigans.

Most of the burden falls upon Oscarnominee Rosamund Pike as Marie. She’s up to the task. It does the film no harm that she is a classic English beauty, perhaps more so

than the real Marie.

The supporting cast includes Sam Riley as the unfortunate Pierre who didn’t get out of the way of a horse-drawn vehicle in Paris. Aneurin Barnard plays physicist Paul Langevin, friend and colleague of Einstein, reputedly Marie’s lover after Pierre’s death.

And there’s a big bunch of bewhiskered gents too numerous to list playing members of French learned societies that Marie found herself confronting to get her achievements recognised.

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I enjoyed “Radioactive” despite director Marjane Satrapi’s penchant for sprinkling it with soft-edged, low-key images that don’t advance the narrative in any perceptible manner.

At all cinemas

“Brazen

Hussies” (M)

THIS documentary tells how courageous Australian women contributed to one of the 20th century’s greatest social movements by defying the status quo, demanding equality and creating profound social change.

I watched it in a cinema deserted except for six women of ages that might very well have taken part in it. I know only one of them. We meet by chance only at the cinema. Before COVID-19, she would occasionally give me a hug. I don’t know why, but neither do I complain.

After the film ended, the six women began to applaud. Movie audiences don’t often do that. I found myself joining in.

Writer/director Catherine Dwyer has compiled archive footage from quiet beginnings in Brisbane in 1965 until Gough Whitlam appointed Elizabeth Reid to advise him and beyond, examining the status of Australian women and redressing the obvious imbalances and inequities. And, for balance, interviews with men.

In a wonderful, bloodless way, women’s liberation was a war waged by heroines protesting a male-dominated society. Totally justifiable. And not yet totally won.

It’s not about sex (although boys-andgirls-come-out-to-play type sex does get balanced treatment). Most of all, it’s about

WATCH IT! / streaming and stuff

changing attitudes. Wage differentials. Equal pay. Reproductive rights. Affordable childcare. Prevention of family violence and rape. Tensions over the inclusion of lesbians. Relevance of the movement to Aboriginal women. And more.

As the story unfolds, these issues go from being dismissed as outrageous demands of a few “brazen hussies’’ to take places on the platforms of major Australian political parties.

Things may be better now. But not surprisingly, there’s still scope for improvement.

Meanwhile, “Brazen Hussies” deftly illuminates what happened to bring equality this far.

Good stuff, delivered with style, wit and good common sense, and wonderfully entertaining.

Parents would do teenaged sons a favour by seeing it with them and then a bit of dinner-table talk about it. Daughters, too, will benefit, whether or not mum and/or dad also tags along.

At Palace Electric and Dendy

Small problem beleaguers streamers

NEVER mind that the new Bond and Marvel films have been delayed until next year, streaming services are firing up hard and fast.

Foxtel Group’s Binge has had ads for its new series plastered throughout the news over the last few weeks and with solid reason considering it stars – Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant.

It’s a new thriller called “The Undoing” about an estranged wife and husband caught up in a head scratcher of a criminal case. Might be best to leave it as vague as that; I went into it blind and think it’s probably the most beneficial way to experience it.

It’s a bit stock standard, but there’s just enough to its strange “Eyes Wide Shut-esque” atmosphere to hold some intriguing promise. At the time of writing there’s only one episode out so it’s a weekly waiting game for more… a bit of a novelty itself by today’s standards.

TO compete, Netflix has rising star Anya Taylor-Joy starring in “The Queen’s Gambit”, which follows the life of an orphan chess prodigy throughout the Cold War era in a quest to become the greatest player in the world.

A fictional story, but from there are certainly influences of real-life figures. Beth Harmon, the lead character played by Taylor-Joy, seems like a female Bobby Fischer, the

American world champion of chess, winning a game dubbed “the match of the century” during, yep, the Cold War.

Such was the international attention on Fischer’s talents as he faced-off against the Soviet Union’s greatest player, the countries engaged in some intense one-upmanship, hoping their player would be tactically supreme.

If you’re interested in that story, Tobey Maguire plays Fischer in the film “Pawn Sacrifice” detailing his life and the battle of a different kind – though no less fraught – with the Russians. Who would have thought watching chess could be so riveting?

“The Queen’s Gambit” has received near universal acclaim and rocketed to the number one spot on Netflix’s trending charts over the last week.

AMAZON Prime has been taking as much ad space as possible on traditional television screens with its new, big show “Truth Seekers”, a comedy about a team of ghost hunters who stumble across a

What Amazon is really riding on with the series is the comedy duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. They’re renowned for their work in the modern classics “Shaun Of The Dead” and “Hot Fuzz”, which of course have pride of place in Amazon Prime’s catalogue, too.

So why the simultaneous release of three big shows trying to soak up as much attention as possible? Well there’s a very good reason; they’re going up against the current king of streaming, Disney’s “The Mandalorian”, its “Star Wars” Western spin-off.

It only took two weeks after the release of its first season last year to become the most watched show across all platforms by a long shot, and now season two has just fired up for more of the story the world’s been craving.

The platforms competing against Disney+ may stand a small chance in getting the November views rolling in, but the house of mouse is undoubtedly the winner with this one. It’s got a streaming monster on its side, and its name is #BabyYoda.

Duo sits in seven-show heaven

By Helen Musa

IF you want to see the next Shortis and Simpson comedy show in Canberra, forget it, your chances are Buckley’s or none.

The popular Bungendore satirical duo, who will be appearing at the Artists’ Shed in Fyshwick until November 29, still have such a loyal following that all seven shows have been booked out for weeks.

“We started out agreeing to do three shows, then it was five and then it was seven,” John Shortis says, as he and partner Moya Simpson rejoice over a coffee at the Queanbeyan Riverside Cafe.

“The last thing we did was a fundraiser at Cobargo after the fires – after that, lockdown, not a gig in sight,” Simpson says.

It’s been a testing time for the duo, for whom performing is easy but creating original material much more demanding.

Nonetheless they’ve come up with a show called “Going Viral”, a satire for the new normal.

Fans can be sure all the obvious targets will be covered – “socialist” ScoMo and “chairman” Dan, panicbuying of toilet paper, sanitising, social distancing and lockdown.

“Gladys is trying to save koalas, and herself, and nothing will save John Barilaro. The only good news is that we have got our own back at the Poms by sending Tony Abbott back where he came from,” they say.

Naturally one song is about Zoom and another about the Covid app, which the self-confessed “Luddite” pair eschewed until they heard Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce were doing the same.

To provide a pandemic perspective, Shortis has been reading copies of “The Sydney Morning Herald” of 1918-19 to come up with a special song about the Spanish flu. But fun as it sounds, as surreal images mounted of main streets empty,

DINING / Bamiyan, Braddon

garbage spilt and foxes moving back into town, Shortis and Simpson looked around for an occupation and decided on autobiography.

“I asked myself how to survive, so I decided to get into writing, but I’m not the writer,” Simpson says.

“I quickly turned my writing into a story of voices, which is what I do well.”

“Moya Simpson’s Voices (72 years in 90 minutes)” is now on Soundcloud, recorded professionally in Kimmo Vennonen’s sound studio.

“I like the brevity of it, I can cover 17 years in 20 minutes… I’m British, so mine is divided into the British half and the Australian half. It’s for people who know me, who like my

accents and my mimicking.”

Shortis, by contrast, is very much the writer and says: “I can’t read aloud, anything I read sounds like a reading”. But with no deadline, he fiddled with words. His dad had written an autobiography so there were things he wanted to tell his own children, too. But it was getting out of hand.

Then Shortis realised it would work better if he were interviewed by long-time colleague and former Canberran, Peter J Casey, the piano man and wordsmith who’s been writing satirical sketches for Queenie Van De Zandt and other artists from his home in Wagga Wagga.

While they appreciate the satirical end of the burlesque spectrum in artists like Meow Meow, their understanding of satire is, they feel, “an older style, from another era”. Young satirists are more “in yer face” and may never have heard of the songs they parody.

Politics is never too far from the minds of Shortis and Simpson and right now they’re looking at the way the federal government is treating artists, with the Prime Minister focusing on tradies while ignoring the creators. It makes them hopping mad.

“Moya Simpson’s Voices – 72 years in 90 minutes” is on Soundcloud. soundcloud.com/user-409137638231456742

Afghan food is all about the flavour

WHENEVER I head to a restaurant and see “chef’s special” or “Mum’s recipe” I go on high alert.

On our visit to Bamiyan in Lonsdale Street, Braddon, we ordered a banquet and were greeted by some of these specialty creations, all with intriguing flavour combinations.

Bamiyan is a modern Afghan restaurant. It’s named after a city in the Hindu Kush mountain range and the restaurant has been featured on the mouth-watering SBS show “Food Safari”.

We weren’t too familiar with Afghan cuisine but soon discovered, with great delight, that it’s all about flavour. Vegetables are key and the combo of spices frequently include cumin, cinnamon, cardamon, chilli, coriander, mint and black pepper. Bamiyan’s dishes reflect the ethnic and geographic diversity of the area, which no doubt attracted SBS.

Banquets are available, including a vegetarian option with three entrees and three mains for a reasonable $35 per person. We opted for banquet #2, with four entrees and three mains ($42 per person).

We were on a roll with dishes by the chef, Haseeb Miazad (“Michael”) and his mum.

The Mantu (lamb) steamed dumplings were perfect parcels bursting with flavour, the lamb moist and tasty.

We all adore daal and “Mum’s recipe” didn’t disappoint. It looked and tasted sensational – yellow lentils cooked with special spices and herbs, all pounded with crispy bits of fried garlic. Chargrilling is a wonderful way to prepare food, enhancing flavours in an exciting way. The chargrilled chicken and

lamb were perfect. The chicken thigh fillet, which we love for the way the cut absorbs flavour, was marinated with lemon, herbs and more of those secret spices and then simply chargrilled, which is so often all you need for extra flavour. The lamb mince was marinated with onions and herbs and also simply chargrilled.

One chef’s favourite (and we can see why) is the Banjan boranee. This traditional Afghan dish features fried eggplant cooked in tomato gravy sauce finished with onion, tomato and capsicum, topped with yoghurt and mint. It’s no wonder it’s a chef’s top pick.

All Bamiyan’s dishes were loaded with colour and more colour, and flavour and more flavour. We didn’t hold back in soaking up all sauces with fresh, soft Afghan naan and fluffy Kabuli pallow rice, another traditional dish with sweetness added by caramelised carrots and sultanas, and crunch from a dose of almond nuts.

Bamiyan’s wine list is reasonably priced. We enjoyed the La Vieille Ferme, a 2019 French wine produced in the sunny region of the southern Rhône.

OPEN GARDEN / Bungendore

A DENSELY planted, shady cottage garden framing a 1925 pink weatherboard cottage in Bungendore will be open on the weekend of November 14-15, along with three other nearby gardens.

Owner Suzanne Clubb says that when she moved into the home in 1989, the garden was “a bit of a mess” and the westerly sun felt like a “blast furnace” on the old house.

“I planted birch trees and a liquidambar for shade, then the garden evolved with fragrant plants I liked and some that were gifted to me,” she says. There’s also lots of pink, which matches the house, but Suzanne says that wasn’t planned.

With a fondness for an “unrestrained” look in the garden, Suzanne was inspired by landscape designer Edna Walling’s naturalistic style, which gave her the idea to create rocky outcrops, and Cheryl Maddocks’ book “Let the Garden Go”.

She says a friend suggested creating a cottage garden around the trees and the idea appealed.

“I mapped out some paths with an old hose, moved the front gate so there was a more winding way up to the house instead of the existing straight concrete path, and started planting,” she says.

Many of the shrubs will be in flower at the open garden, Suzanne’s first

Words: Kathryn Vukovljak

Photos: Holly Treadaway

ples, lilacs, camellias, pomegranates, wintersweet and dahlias.

Deciduous tallow, pistachio and elderberry provide shade and privacy in summer and light in winter.

Suzanne’s 0.2 hectare garden also has a large chicken run and fruit trees, with an old blacksmith’s forge at the back. The plantings at the rear frame the house, with a courtyard, three water tanks and plenty of the scented plants that Suzanne loves.

Suzanne’s next-door neighbour’s garden, “Emily’s Cottage” at 86 Ellendon Street can be accessed via a gate connecting the spaces, with sunny, open areas, vegetable and berry garden beds and a flower meadow garden.

“Bob’s Garden” – he’s Emily’s dad – at 72 Ellendon Street features a large, woodland area full of deciduous and evergreen trees. “Marklow” at 10 Donoghoe Place is a very new, native garden showcasing a range of native shrubs and trees that suit the region’s climate.

Suzanne’s garden, 89 Ellenden Street, Bungendore, will be open on Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15. It costs $20 to visit all four Bungendore Open Gardens, children under 18 are free. All four gardens will be open from 10am-4pm. Bookings essential on Eventbrite. There will be no ticket sales or memberships available at the gate. Join

GARDENING

The golden garden surprise

WHEN visiting a friend’s garden, I was fascinated by a bright-yellow bush, which at first glance I thought was a variety of buxus.

On closer inspection I realised it was berberis, also known as Japanese barberry, yet I can’t recall having seen one with such rich, lemonyellow leaves. This variety is known as Berberis atropurpurea “aurea”, which means golden.

The most popular variety is Berberis thunbergii, a deciduous plant with bright-green leaves in spring and summer. It’s recommended for its combination of rich, autumn-coloured leaves and masses of bright red berries, which tend to hang on well into winter and are loved by birds. Berberis usually grows to about one-metre tall with a similar-sized spread. Prune to half a metre in winter.

RHODODENDRONS are flowering like never before. There are many dwarf varieties available, from one metre, perfect in pots or small gardens. Ideally suited to the easterly side of the house and not the full heat of midday or westerly sun. Generally, the smaller the leaf, the smaller the plant. They’re in flower at nurseries now.

LAWN root growth has increased this year, thanks to frequent rain, which lawn grubs love. If

they’ve infested the lawn, large sections of grass might come away when raking, leaving bare patches. An earlier indicator is the sudden increase in magpie activity as they feast on the grubs. It’s possible to spray for these grubs, but I use Coochie lawn care specialists. Take action now, rather than trying to repair bare patches later.

Magpies, the perfect indicator of lawn grubs.

RHUBARB is so easy to grow. A fruit rather than a vegetable, enjoying rhubarb with custard immediately comes to mind. It likes to be in the same spot for years, so get the soil right. It won’t tolerate heavy clay soils, preferring it to be friable, well-drained, with plenty of composted material. Years ago it was generally accepted to dip the newly bought crowns in a solution of Bordeaux or Kocide if planting in autumn, to prevent rot through the first winter. Although, this year with the amount of rain I’d suggest do -

ing that anyway. Regular feeding is vital through the growing season.

Patience is a virtue and with rhubarb it’s best not to harvest for the first 12 months, giving it a chance to establish a strong root system. Cut off any flowers that appear, as they slow down crown development. When harvesting, wait until the stalks are a good red colour, then harvest with a sharp downward pull so they come away from the crown. The only real pests are snails and powdery mildew.

WET, warm weather is the perfect recipe for mildew, which could be a problem for roses and many other plants this year. This old-fashioned solution is still effective today; one-part fullcream milk, none of this ‘lite’ stuff, mixed with eight-parts water. Spray under as well as on top of the leaves.