CityNews 220407

A second opinion on hearing loss

An elderly woman with hearing loss came to my clinic for a second opinion, after she had recently been to a hearing aid sales person. I found the cause of her hearing loss was simply the fact that she had build-up of wax in her ears, the salesperson had failed to inspect them. You might be surprised how often this happens!

Here are some things to do to avoid getting ripped off:

1. A visit to the GP may save you from being ‘sold’ something when your only problem is wax in your ears.

Recently I was told by two different patients that they were quoted $16,000 for a pair of hearing aids. This seems a ridiculous amount of money to pay and is most likely not appropriate for the majority of people (or possibly anyone).

5. If you are a pensioner or partpensioner, or a DVA gold or white card holder, you should carefully consider if you want to use the free-to-client government hearing aids or if you’d like to top-up to a different hearing aid.

“In an unregulated market there is a lot of opportunity to take advantage of people. Yes you have read correctly, there is no licensing of people who sell hearing aids.”

2. Look for someone who is independent and can offer you unbiased advice, not just give you a sales pitch.

– Dr Vass

3. There are a range of hearing aid prices. Finding the right hearing aid might save you money and it will also give you the best chance of success.

4. Hearing aids can be expensive.

The free-to-client hearing aids are appropriate for many people, however if you have great difficulty hearing background noise (for example in restaurants) then you might trial the top-up hearing aids, but only if you can afford them. There are a range of top up options and prices, if you are disappointed after a trial, you should return them and trial the free-toclient hearing aids.

If you get the feeling the person you’re dealing with is just trying to sell you something, then take a step back and get a second opinion.

NEWS / animals

Animals the ‘forgotten victims’ of domestic crises

By Lily PASS

DESPITE investigating 1133 animal cruelty complaints, the ACT RSPCA laid only 11 charges over the 2020/21 year.

“In the ACT we need stronger animal laws, that’s a fact, but the way we look at it, is charg ing someone always the right way to approach it?”, said RSP CA chief inspector Warwick Dunstan.

“There’s certain questions we’ll ask someone and we’ll get to the bottom of whether they’re legitimate hard-timers, or whether it’s just that they don’t care, and if they don’t care, that’s when we’ll pros ecute.

“If they need help, we will help as far as we can, and we pride ourselves on that. Education and helping is our first approach.”

ations occurring.”

In the 2018/19 financial year, Michelle said the RSPCA had only 35 spaces available in its emergency boarding facilities.

“We were then able to double it over the next financial year, and then again in the current financial year,” she said.

“We’ve built spaces where you can still come in and spend time with the pet, and I’m really happy about that.”

Warrick said: “People who do have mental health issues are still people, we do things in a respectful manner and we’re here to help.

“We’re starting to build relationships with people so they can come to us should they need help, and we do see a lot of return customers through the emergency boarding. They feel confident and comfortable to come back to us, and I think that’s important.”

people doing the wrong thing,” she said.

One of the other main issues for the RSPCA was overheating pets in cars, Warrick said.

“We’re sometimes talking about and seeing the same vehicle multiple times. There’s enough literature and advertising out there, people know they shouldn’t do it and they still do,” he said.

“The chances of us finding all this information on our own is very rare, so that’s why we encourage people to call and let us know.

“The only people who have your personal details are the inspectors themselves.

“I don’t see it necessarily as a complaint. I see it as an inquiry, and the most important thing is, if it doesn’t look normal, doesn’t sound normal, give us a call, and we’ll come and assess it.

“It’s hard on all fronts, bringing animals in that are emaciated and flea ridden and matted, it’s awful,” she said.

“Some people hoard animals, and it’s really confronting

RSPCA CEO Michelle Robertson said she knew people struggled sometimes as a consequence of mental health and it wasn’t something the community understood well enough.

INDEX

& Sudoku

38 Horoscopes 39

Letters 17

News 3-17

Politics 10, 14 Cover: Lawyers Timothy Nicholls and Emily Tighe.

because your senses get assaulted, there is filth and so you have to wear full personal protection gear.”

However, the RSPCA had developed “emergency accommodation” to help temporarily.

Photo: Holly Treadaway. Story Page 11.

“We have accommodation for pets while someone is going through a crisis. Whether it’s domestic violence, homelessness, mental or physical health, and we’ve started building capacity,” Michelle said.

Since 1993: Volume 28, Number: 14

“Animals are forgotten victims, and there’s more situ-

Michelle said she believed that with some mental health issues, people could still do basic things for an animal if it was a conscious decision, and if they’d put the right support networks in place.

“That’s the expectation, that it would be done appropriately, but unfortunately we still see

“The final message is, before you purchase any animal, make sure the animal’s suitable for its environment.

“Take the time, educate yourself on what will work before you do it, otherwise they end up coming back to the RSPCA or the inspectorate gets involved, and that’s what we’re trying to avoid.”

Managing director: Kate Meikle, kate@citynews.com.au

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Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au

Journalists: Belinda Strahorn, belinda@citynews.com.au; Nick Overall, nick@citynews.com.au; Lily Pass, lily@citynews.com.au

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SEVEN DAYS No surprises, here come years of traffic chaos

TENTERHOOKS no more. The NCA has surprised absolutely no one with its compliant approval for the ACT government’s batshit-crazy tram plan to blow up two bridges and burden the Commonwealth Avenue entrance to Civic with traffic lights on an “at-grade” intersection with an elevated London Circuit

“Is there anyone within the NCA’s world who thinks it is a good idea to insert another set of traffic lights on Commonwealth Avenue to allow the tram to enter every couple of minutes?” columnist Paul Costigan mused in January.

“There will be years of disruption by the ACT government’s Disruption Taskforce – a body that must exist within Chris Steel’s portfolio of things. Who else would implement such stupid decisions to mess up traffic flows around Civic?”

By February his tone had hardened: “This proposal continues the government’s now normal practice. It manipulates facts, provides very little evidence, uses meaningless urban speak, boasts about any greenwash and sidelines heritage matters.

“It knows that the NCA has become a compromised and compliant body when it comes to such irrational developments. There’s also a thesis to be written about

federal government for the ACT to get a fair deal,” he sniffed.

I think it’s clearer still that with Labor holding four out of the ACT’s federal representatives of five and no prospect of any of them losing, the Coalition wouldn’t be wasting money on us. It’s Liberal who should be complaining.

A DROLL snout wrote to say: “Last week, I saw an ACT government ad online begging me to not let leaves go down my stormwater drains. Okay. On Saturday, I saw the ACT government leave literally hundreds of kilos of freshly mown grass along the Ginninderra Drive median strip, most of it heading down the stormwater drains.”

There’s good old whatsisname… Lord Lloyd Webber to you.

the ACT government’s use of user-friendly consultants.”

Around 60,000 cubic metres of fill will be trucked into London Circuit to form an “at-grade” intersection with Commonwealth Avenue. Two of the existing cloverleaf ramps will be removed with work to get underway later this year and its most disruptive construction period likely in 2023 with the removal of the Commonwealth Avenue overpasses over London Circuit.

And that’s all before years of more disrup -

tion as the tram construction heads south over Commonwealth Bridge, while the world turns to electric buses.

CHIEF Minister Andrew Barr was all boo-hoo about the Commonwealth Budget saying the feds had “ignored Canberra again”.

He said Commonwealth infrastructure spending in the ACT was the lowest of any state or territory.

“It is clear that we need a change in

SO there’s “CityNews” arts editor Helen Musa at the opening night of “Phantom of the Opera” on Sydney Harbour, a production she wrote as being “no ordinary theatre experience” and “a night to remember”. She was queuing up for her seat and found herself standing next to a familiarlooking, middle-aged gentleman “I vaguely knew” and putting on her best ”I know you, don’t I?” kind of wry smile. Then it dawned on her. It was Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, who wrote the show’s music, in town for the theatrical fireworks.

Ian Meikle is the editor of “CityNews” and can be heard on the “CityNews Sunday Roast” news and interview program, 2CC, 9am-noon. There are more of his columns on citynews.com.au

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NEWS / slow sewing

Sew slow yet so wonderfully satisfying, says Amy

By Belinda STRAHORN

A FORCED lay up reignited Amy Watts’ passion for sewing by hand.

Confined to bed after snapping her achilles during a karate lesson, the Canberra mother took up hand sewing to pass the time.

Despite her lack of previous interest in the craft, Watts – who holds a black belt in karate – managed to hand stitch a dress for herself, and found unexpected joy in the process.

“I never liked hand sewing, but I was stuck in bed for three weeks and really wanted to sew so I created my own ‘recovery’ dress and I really loved the process,” Watts says.

“Seeing the stitches that I made with my own hands was really satisfying.”

The 42-year-old, who also machine sews and runs online shop Indy Bindy Fabrics, which sells handmade Japanese fabrics, says the experience had further promoted her interest in “slow sewing” – a movement that encourages sewers to savour the process of creating a garment

from start to finish.

“It’s about taking the time to enjoy the creative aspect of garment making, getting the fit right, choosing the right fabric and taking your time to finish it properly,” says Watts.

“Once it’s made, it’s then about looking after the garment, and taking care of it when you are washing or mending it.”

During the covid pandemic interest in sewing intensified, Watts says, with many people falling back on the craft to keep themselves occupied.

“We saw either sewers coming back to the pastime after having a break for some reason, or there were lots of new sewers that started making fabric masks and were looking for a socially distanced way to spend their time,” says Watts.

As the stay-at-home weeks wore on, novice and expert sewers found themselves with more time to work on their sewing projects.

“A lot of people have taken the silver lining of the last couple of years as a forced opportunity to pause and rethink the hustle of everyday life,” Watts says.

“Sewing is a chance to stop and be with your thoughts. In a busy and chaotic world, sometimes it’s just nice to slow down, relax, take

a few deep breaths, and enjoy the process of creating something.”

Since covid, Watts has witnessed a growing resurgence of people taking pride in making their own clothes.

She says time spent creating a home-sewn garment can bring great joy.

“When you put on a “Me Made” garment you want to wear it over and over again, and it becomes the thing that you reach for every time you open the wardrobe,” Watts says.

Australians are the world’s second largest consumers of textiles, buying on average 27 kilograms of new clothing and other textiles each year, wearing each garment an average of just seven times.

But sewing your own clothes can go a long way in limiting fashion waste, says Watts – whose wardrobe is mostly homemade.

“If you can find what you love in your clothes and appreciate all that time and effort that goes into making it, you are likely to hang on to them and take care of them, rather than passing them on and going on to the next thing,” says Watts.

Home-sewn clothes can help to take control of your wardrobe, Watts says, and not be dictated

to by the mass-produced fashion industry.

“The thing that’s great about sewing is that you’re not hindered by the trends in the shops, you can explore your own style and find your own groove,” she says.

Raised in Canberra, sewing has always been a long held passion for Watts, who grew up watching her mother sew.

“When I was two-years-old mum would make matching, frilly-bottomed outfits for me and my best friends,” Watts says.

“I watched her over the years and eventually started on my own sewing journey.”

Watts has lived abroad and worked in the humanitarian aid and development sector in Sri Lanka, Liberia, Malaysia and the Solomon Islands.

Watts, who falls back on sewing as a source of relief from daily pressures, wants to encourage others to have a go.

“Start with making a hair scrunchie or a reusable shopping bag, you can’t make a mistake because it’s all about the journey,” Watts says.

“Having something to show that you have made with your own hands is 100 per cent good for the soul.”

Amy Watts in her “recovery dress”… “Sewing is a chance to stop and be with your thoughts… sometimes it’s just nice to slow down, relax, take a few deep breaths, and enjoy the process of creating something.”

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SOLVING SCIATICA

Sciatica is caused by nerve pain that originates from the lower back and can cause pain from the point, right down through your bottom and down one leg to your calf.

Not the entire area may be causing you pain at any one time, but what the pain will certainly do is cause you frequent extreme discomfort that is often not relieved by pain medication.

Exercise is a key to dealing with sciatica. People who have lived with sciatica for some time will generally have some weakness of the muscles,

tendons and ligaments surrounding the joints and bones that support the sciatic nerve. This is largely due to not having used their body to the fullest extent due to the sciatic pain.

Sciatic pain will generally respond well to rebuilding the support structures surrounding the sciatic nerve. For some people surgery may be the only solution, but in most cases, even if surgery is required, building up the support structures either prior to or following surgery will still be necessary.

Arthritis ACT has a team of exercise physiologists that can improve your quality of life in relation to your sciatica. Both hydrotherapy and land based exercise techniques are useful, and for those who do not like water exercise, land based exercise is just as effective.

Do you want to solve your sciatica?

Call us today on 1800 011 041 and book your appointment with one of our exercise physiologists and scientists to solve your sciatica.

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CANBERRA MATTERS / The ACT Greens

Greens are the puppets of clever developers

IN the early 1980s, the environmental movements

An outcome of the 1983 federal election was that the Hawke Labor government legislated to stop the dams.

This national action against the entrenched forces of the Tasmanian establishment by the Wilderness Society and early greens movements eventually led to the formation of the national Greens Party.

Watching the party’s local leader Shane Rattenbury attempt to justify the tram going south during a recent Inner South Canberra Community Council meeting was a revelation on how much the ACT Greens have become the new entrenched establishment.

While his responses consisted of the government’s usual clichés used to justify the unjustifiable, a couple of his alternative facts need to be challenged.

A common response is that the Gungahlin tram has been embraced by commuters and the number of people using the tram proves it is successful.

The Gungahlin tram is successful for those along that corridor. It has

to be as the government removed the rapid buses and other suburban services so that anyone near the tram has little choice (besides private vehicles).

There are more people living along that Gungahlin corridor than when there were buses because of the subsequent massive residential developments. The numbers travelling by the tram had to increase over the years.

They boast that the people of Gungahlin have embraced the tram.

The people along that Gungahlin to Civic transport corridor are a fraction of the greater Gungahlin.

There are many older and new suburbs that are well away from the tram so those people are largely using

The image of Shane Rattenbury holding up the tram to Woden as being 21st century public transport for Canberra is akin to Scott Morrison holding a lump of coal to represent future energy for Australia.

their own vehicles out of Gungahlin –not the tram.

The unforgivable lack of transparency was the huge cost to other services that was not revealed till it was finished. People have now experienced how much the social, education, housing, hospital and health services were cut back and are no longer available at previous levels.

The 300 plus people in social housing (led to believe it was theirs for their whole lives) who received unsigned letters from Yvette Berry’s bureaucrats telling them that they are to be moved elsewhere are paying that price because of the high costs of the Gungahlin tram and other major projects such as West Basin and the Woden tram.

Part of the ACT Greens’ justification for the tram is that it is a more efficient mode of transport.

Researchers and advocates of 21st century public transport constantly highlight that the time has come for electric buses as rapid centre-tocentre transport systems.

The ACT Greens hold to their belief that they are more enlightened than public transport advocates and definitely more informed than pesky residents concerned not to have public monies diverted from important items of expenditure.

The ACT Greens have an established set of ideologies (need to have that tram and massive suburban developments) that are not to be challenged by facts or reason.

The ACT had a good bus suburban network till the mid-‘90s when public transport was then pushed down the priority list. Soon fewer people were using public transport.

About this time, the developer lobby convinced governments of the value of new transport corridors. The real motive in advocating for these corridors was the desire for massive developments. Local and state governments bought into these transport corridors that just happened to deliver huge profits for developers.

This rehashed transport-corridor concept was adapted by the ACT

Greens as the basis for their policy on the trams that they naively thought was revolutionary for Canberra.

The reality is that they are the puppets of some very clever building and developer lobbyists.

The image of Shane Rattenbury holding up the tram going south to Woden as being 21st century public transport for Canberra is akin to seeing Matt Canavan or Scott Morrison holding a lump of coal to represent future energy for Australia.

There’s an interesting paper about how the push for light rail had little to do with public transport at cbchristensen.net/papers (scroll down to December 5, 2014).

PS: How many ACT politicians travel to and from work on public transport?

Paul Costigan is an independent commentator and consultant on the visual arts, photography, urban design, environmental issues and everyday mat ters. Read more of his columns on citynews.com.au

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BRIEFLY

A busy time on Black Mountain

THE Friends of Black Mountain are busy over the Heritage Festival with three events. Ecologist Michael Doherty is leading a walk and talk about fire and plants on Black Mountain, from 9.30am, Saturday, April 9; orchid specialist Jean Egan is showcasing some autumn-flowering native terrestrial orchids from 9.30am on Sunday, April 10 and Mark Clifford will describe the features of lesser-known, autumn-flowering orchids found on Black Mountain at a talk in the Botanic Gardens theatrette, 11.30am, Tuesday, April 12. Bookings essential for all events. Email your name and phone number to friendsofblackmountain@gmail.com, or phone 0437 298711. Full details at environment. act.gov.au/heritage/heritage-festival

Quilts galore

THERE will be more than 100 quilts on display at the Queanbeyan Quilters 2022 Exhibition over the weekend of April 9-10 in the Queanbeyan Bicentennial Hall on Crawford Street. Last year’s exhibition was cancelled due to covid. More from emailing queanbeyanquilters@gmail.com

Meeting for the stars

ENTERTAINING astronomer Dr Brad Tucker, from the Mount Stromlo Observatory, is the guest speaker at the next monthly meeting of the Canberra City Ladies Probus Club, at Yowani Country Club, from 10.15am on Tuesday, April 12. New members welcome. More from emailing patchysue7@gmail.com

IN times of change and new chapters in relationships, the specialised legal team at DDCS Lawyers is here to help its clients.

Led by founding partners, Julie Dobinson, Phillip Davey, Lois Clifford and Di Simpson, who established DDCS Lawyers in 2007, the firm specialises in family law, wills, estates and business succession.

DDCS Lawyers say that these areas of law have one thing in common – they focus on people and revolve around relationships.

“Every matter is as individual as the client we are helping,” says senior associate and family law specialist, Emily Tighe.

“In family law, matters can be lengthy so we build long-standing relationships with our clients. I’ve always seen it as a privilege to be assisting people to shape the outcome of complex events in their lives. We are playing an important advisory role in the private lives of our clients, unlike any other area of the law,” she says.

As a senior associate who has worked at DDCS for five years, Emily graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws with Honours in November, 2013. She completed her legal training with a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice in May, 2014. Emily says that even as a young lawyer, she was aware of

Morrison’s cynical Budget sets

VOTERS should be irritated, angry even, over the Morrison federal Budget. It is not just the cynical timing of the Budget but the contemptuous attempt to use our taxpayers’ money to curry favour with certain elements of the population – particularly those in marginal seats.

Budgets are traditionally set in May. However, always with an ear to the marketing opportunity, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has extended this term as long as possible while, at the same time, setting up the opportunity to effectively purchase support for a return to government.

The disappointment from health groups has been a clear indicator that the Budget simply missed the mark. The government would like us to believe that the pandemic is over, health is under control and all is well in the world. And, moreover, would like us to believe that it was all due to the effective management of the Morrison government!

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) was sorely disappointed at the short-term approach and lack of vision of the government.

AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid pointed to the nearly 200,000 Australians languishing on hospital waiting

lists. He stated: “If you scratch the surface of this Budget, there is a lack of intent to address any of the issues that are affecting our healthcare system right now and which will be increasing problems in the future”.

The CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia, Adjunct Prof Terry Slevin, slammed the Budget by saying it “deserves an F-minus”. He described it as “another missed opportunity to invest in public health and prevention”.

The irony is that this criticism comes following two years of financial stress caused by decades of cuts to public health budgets and government failure to be appropriately prepared for a pandemic.

In Canberra, such a cynical Budget can only be countered by taking action in the Senate. It is time to get rid of our Liberal Senator and support a non-major party candidate such as Kim Rubenstein, David Pocock or the Greens.

The government launched a “National Preventive Health Strategy 2021-2030” as recently as last December with a commitment to raise preventions spending to five per cent of the health budget. According to Slevin: “This Budget’s continued focus on treatment, expensive drugs, and tertiary health care must mean that the current rating of 1.7 per cent will actually be even less”.

Rather than the government understanding the impact of the pandemic and increasing spending on public health and prevention, according to the PHAA, “every year, we are promised ‘next year, it’ll come next year’. It still hasn’t come”.

The rorts and inappropriate

expenditure that have plagued the Coalition since it came to power warrant serious investigation. It should not be surprising that fingers are already pointing towards government largesse designed to assist the government back into power.

The huge gap in this Budget is funding and serious commitment to establish a national integrity and anti-corruption commission. Such a commission frightens this government. They have had ample opportunity to fulfil the promise and establish an appropriate body to improve transparency, to root out corruption, to make integrity a key part of how politics is conducted in this country. But they have failed. Instead of integrity – Australians have foisted on them a most cynical, vote-buying exercise in this Budget. Instead of looking to the future, offering a clear vision of what Australia could become, the Budget offers a few handouts to those people who live in electorates that have the power to

swing governments.

As part of an election campaign Australians expect contesting parties to make promises and to let us know how they will be funded. However, using the Budget process as a tool for identifying short-term action that will appeal to the next election is hardly appropriate.

There is no better example than the halving of the fuel excise for just six months – until after the election. Hardly a single economist thought this was a good idea. No doubt political polling suggested otherwise.

In Canberra, such a cynical effort can only be countered by taking action in the Senate. It is time to get rid of our Liberal Senator and support a non-major party candidate such as Kim Rubenstein, David Pocock or the Greens.

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

Program offers rebates for rooftop solar

THE ACT government will provide rebates of up to $2500 to eligible low-income homeowners who install rooftop solar.

The newly launched Home Energy Support Program commits $50 million over four years in an attempt to improve sustainability for social and public housing, low-income owner occupiers and low-performing rental properties.

The government says that by mid-2022 the program will include additional rebates of up to $2500 for other energy efficient products, including heating and cooling systems, insulation and hot-water heat pumps.

“The program offers financial support to those in our community who need it most, including Pensioner Concession Card or Department of Veteran Affairs Gold Card holders,” said Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

“Lower-income households tend to spend a higher proportion of their income on energy and feel the impacts of energy price increases the most, but these households often cannot afford to purchase energy-efficient measures that will help them lower their costs.

“We want to ensure all households share the benefits of the shift to lower-emissions homes.”

Soccer drives

Elijah’s

goals to succeed in the US

By Lily PASS

ELIJAH Howe began playing soccer as an 11-year-old in Canberra. These days the 22-year-old plays in the US National Premier Soccer League as captain of the Jacksonville Armada and was its most valuable player last year.

Premier Soccer League as captain of the Jacksonville Armada.

“They have a really strong band of supporters who come to all the games, and they put on awards at the end of each year with some of the coaches,” he says.

“I was lucky enough to be voted most valuable player on behalf of the organisation and in the minds of the coaches as well which was really special and something I was really grateful for.”

AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMIC PLAN

Employment’s up, so we’re taking the next step.

There are now 260,000 more people in work than before COVID. And Australia performed better than major advanced economies through the pandemic. That’s why we’re taking the next step.

To find out more, visit economicplan.gov.au

advanced economies through the pandemic. That’s why we’re taking the next step.

“I think getting a little push from dad, because he played professional soccer for the Canberra Cosmos when he was younger. He loves it to his core and his love of it made me love it as well,” he says.

Eli is now looking for a school to do his masters degree.

To find out more, visit economicplan.gov.au

“The entire process is just so exciting because I’ve been working hard for four years academically and athletically to be able to give myself the best possible opportunity,” he says.

“And mum was obviously supportive of whatever I wanted to do.”

He’s played for Gungahlin United Football Club, Belconnen United and the Monaro Panthers, which he still refers to as his current Canberra club.

“I wanted to pursue soccer once I finished school and I also really cared about furthering my education, so when I heard that you could go over to the [United] States and play soccer, and in return your academic side is covered financially, it just seemed like a no brainer.”

In August, 2018, Eli started his bachelor of economics degree at a small business school in Wilmington, Delaware, called Goldey Beacom College, and in August, 2020, moved to Pensacola, Florida, to continue his degree, attending the University of West Florida.

“My college team had been in six of the last seven grand finals for our conference championships and hadn’t won. We weren’t expected to win anything, and we ended up winning the whole thing, the conference, grand final and our first championship in eight or nine years.”

Eli says that it was an unbelievable feeling, playing his fourth year of soccer in the US. He also spent 2021 playing in the National

While playing soccer and winning awards is a dream come true for Eli, he misses his life “back home in Canberra”.

“My family is the obvious answer.

“If I come back to Australia to live in the near future then I would certainly like to play for Monaro again. I would love to move back to Australia, but it will definitely depend on whether job opportunities present themselves.”

He also misses Australian food.

“You really don’t realise just how good the food in Australia is until you’ve been deprived of it for a long time. Same for the coffee!”

The main goal, as he returns to the US, is to play soccer professionally and he’d love to continue playing with Jacksonville Armada if the opportunity arises, but he knows everyone who plays soccer at his age wants a similar thing.

“I’d be really interested in consulting on the efficiency of businesses, and that’s why I chose economics. I’d love to go into some sort of consultancy job where I’d be able to advise companies on how to save money or if it’s a government department, how they could become more efficient and save taxpayers’ money.”

+260,000

More people in work than before COVID

March 2020 - January 2022

Data: ABS Labour Force, Australia

How much does the ACT government care about your health? Spoiler alert: not much given this shocking analysis of hospital funding by JON STANHOPE and DR KHALID AHMED who chart the devastating effects of Andrew Barr and Shane Rattenbury’s siphoning of hundreds of millions of health dollars to fund public transport.

IN what has become a regular occurrence, a recent report, this time from the Productivity Commission, confirmed yet again the ACT’s position as the worst performing jurisdiction in Australia in providing timely treatment in hospital emergency departments.

Waiting times for a range of elective surgery are also the worst, and overall, below the national average. We acknowledge, of course, that the ACT’s appalling record in delivering health services would be far worse if not for the dedication and professionalism of our frontline health workers.

A major concern about the continuing deterioration in ACT health services is not only that it is no accident, but that the community appears to have been so desensitised that our sub-par performance is now not only expected, it is accepted by many

in the community. We note, for example, that there has been no meaningful commentary or analysis in the mainstream media of the Productivity Commission report on healthcare to which we refer.

For the record, Table A provides a comparison of the ACT’s performance with other jurisdictions in treating patients in emergency departments within clinically appropriate times. It is particularly concerning that only 35 per cent of “urgent” patients presenting in the ACT are treated within the clinically appropriate time. The national rate is 63 per cent and NSW achieves a rate of 75 per cent.

or that the emergency departments are clogged up by people who should not be there, but should have attended a walk-in centre or seen a GP.

In recent years, when asked about the ACT’s poor performance, Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith has insisted that patients presenting in the ACT have greater complexity, and/

In other words, if only sick people would stop going to the hospital the problem would be solved.

With respect, the two explanations cannot both be true, as either the ACT has proportionately more patients in triage categories requiring

urgent treatment, in which case there would be relatively fewer patients in semi or nonurgent categories, or vice versa. In fact, neither of the Minister’s excuses are valid as evidenced by the Productivity Commission data.

In the ACT, 1 per cent of patients presenting required Resuscitation, the most urgent category, which is the same as every other jurisdiction.

plan developed under the guidance of the then Health Minister Katy Gallagher and endorsed by the then government in 2011 was abandoned when Ms Gallagher left the Assembly for the Senate in 2014.

funding for COVID-19, which varies across jurisdictions.

In 2020-21, 12 per cent of ACT patients were triaged in the Emergency category (Category 2), the lowest rate nationally along with Tasmania, while the national average was 14 per cent. The proportion triaged in the Urgent category (Category 3) was 41 per cent, which was higher than the national average of 37 per cent, but on par with Queensland and SA. Across all jurisdictions, Category 1 to 3 presentations ranged between 48 per cent and 56 per cent of all presentations. In the ACT, this proportion was 54 per cent.

Therefore, it is not true to claim that there are relatively more high-priority cases presenting in the ACT’s emergency departments than in other jurisdictions.

The converse applies for the proportion in Categories 4 and 5 presentations, which range between 44 per cent and 52 per cent across the nation, with 46 per cent in the ACT. In fact, NSW with 13 per cent Category 5 (Non-urgent) presentations, the highest in the country, could presumably claim that that influences its ability to treat patients within the benchmark times.

Yet NSW has the best times, as evident in the table above.

In the ACT, non-urgent presentations constituted 7 per cent of the total, confirming there is no basis for asserting that non-urgent presentations are to blame for the ACT’s poor performance.

The truth of the matter is that the hospital redevelopment

The planned increase in bed capacity, which was only one component of the redevelopment project, was repeatedly deferred by incoming Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Greens leader Shane Rattenbury in favour of investment in public transport.

The hospital redevelopment currently underway is on a vastly reduced scale to that initially proposed by Katy Gallagher and will clearly not meet demand. Access block currently being experienced, and which we are confident will continue well beyond 2024, can be directly attributed to the withdrawal of capital funding for the redevelopment of the Canberra Hospital precinct.

We have on several occasions since 2016, noted that the annual funding growth provided in ACT Budget forecasts was not sufficient to meet the costs of inflation and population growth or the increase in demand from ageing, and improvements in technology.

We have, in fact, shown quite clearly that once these drivers of demand and costs are considered, there has in each year since 2015-16 been a large reduction in operating funding for health services in the ACT, in real terms.

We note, with due modesty, that the latest Productivity Commission data on actual expenditure on public hospitals across Australia confirms everything we have said about cuts to the ACT health budget.

Table B provides a comparison of changes in expenditure per person from 2015-16 to 2018-19. We have not included data for 2019-20 as it includes emergency response

The table highlights an annual average cut in real terms expenditure per person in the ACT (ie, allowing for population growth and inflation) at the rate of 3.6 per cent while activity increased by 3.1 per cent per annum. WA is the only other jurisdiction that had a decrease in real per person expenditure, however, it also had an annual average decrease in hospital separations.

We estimate that if the ACT government had simply maintained per person expenditure at the 2015-16 level in real terms, public hospital services in the ACT would have received about $175 million in additional funding in 2018-19. If expenditure had grown at the national average rate, the additional funding, in that year, would have been in the order of $238 million. In similar vein if the hospital redevelopment plan sponsored by Katy Gallagher and endorsed by Cabinet in 2011 had not been abandoned by the Barr/Rattenbury government there would by 2018-19 have been an additional 132 public hospital beds in Canberra funded by the $175 million that was diverted to other uses.

However, as a direct consequence of the funding cuts in real terms, and withdrawal of capital investment, the proportion of patients treated in the ACT within the national benchmarks decreased from 62 per cent in 2016-17 to 46 per cent in 2018-19.

The government might seek to argue in its defence that the territory’s health system has become more “efficient” in delivering services as it has been able to manage an increase in activity while curtailing expenditure growth. However, there is a significant cost to any such claimed “efficiency”, which is not just in increased waiting times. We will discuss this in a subsequent article.

RSVP: REGISTER ONLINE (USE QR CODE) CALL LIZ ARNOLD 02 6281 0999 EMAIL: LIZ@KJBLAW.COM.AU

THE GADFLY

IN these desperate times of war, plague, flood and pestilence, it’s vital to have the occasional hoot of laughter.

In earlier days we turned on the British game show “Would I Lie To You”. It’s a great way to end an evening of the ghastly murders on Netflix serials, especially the Nordic noir varieties, which proudly advise you of the “blood and gore” to follow.

The format of murder shows does get a little tiresome. Invariably the murder occurs at the top of the show. Then comes the music and the titles; next thing there’s a grumpy, smarmy or ohso-clever forensic medico bending over the body as the (male or female, old or young) detective arrives and demands: “When did he/she die?” At which time the grumpy, smarmy or oh-so-clever medico replies: “I won’t know for sure till the autopsy, but between midnight and 6 o’clock this morning, depending on the weather.”

Detective: “It’s a rush job. This afternoon?”

Medico: Grumble, smarm, or clever quip.

That’s usually our cue to change channels. In fact, these days we’ve swapped them for the wide range of World Movies on SBS, all of which have been more thoughtful and poignant, especially the French ones. However,

in the lead up to the Mardi Gras, they were full of surprises. They warned us of “sex scenes” up front, but not in the boring, old meaning of the term.

wanted to see the biography of the great and terribly underrated amateur paleo-archaeologist Mary Anning, whose discoveries on the Dorset sea cliffs rewrote evolutionary history. But while she was splendidly portrayed by Kate Winslet in the movie “Ammonite”, the whole thing was about her tragic dalliance with the visiting Charlotte Murchison.

Not that I’m complaining; but it was so delicately handled that one felt like a bogan when guffawing at Lee Mack’s hilarious flights of fancy in the “Would

and the ABC satirist Mark Humphries.

Vladimir Putin goes to a Moscow school to do a photo op with the kids to soften his image a little. He talks about what a wonderful nation Russia is and how he only wants the very best for his people. At the end there’s time for questions.

Little Sasha puts up her hand: “I have two questions. Why did Russians take Crimea and why are our soldiers in Ukraine?’

Putin says: “Good questions…” But just as he’s about to answer, the bell rings and the kids go to lunch.

After lunch they come back and he’s still there. They sit down and there’s time for more questions. This time little Misha puts up her hand.

“I have four questions, Mr Putin.”

“Go right ahead.”

“Why did the Russians invade Crimea?

“Why are we sending soldiers to Ukraine?

“Why did the bell go 20 minutes early for lunch?

“And where is Sasha?’

freedom of speech to enjoy it. By contrast, I must tell you the latest I’ve heard from Russia:

robert@robert macklin.com

Winter jabs to counter covid

A WINTER dose of COVID-19 vaccination will be available from this month for certain Canberrans at ACT government clinics four months from their booster dose. Those eligible for a second booster are:

• Adults aged 65 and over

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and older

Residents of aged care or disability care settings

• People aged 16 years and older who are severely immunocompromised who have already had a fourth dose will also be eligible for a winter booster.

People who have had COVID-19 can and should still get a booster to provide them the best protection against further infections, says Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith. Book for boosters at an ACT government clinic online through MyDHR or by phoning 5124 7700 between 7pm and 7am seven days a week.

King’s view for lunch

JOHN King, president of the ACT branch of the RSL, is speaking at the next lunch meeting of the Tuggeranong Day VIEW Club, at the Town Centre Vikings club, Greenway, on Tuesday, April 19. Interested ladies and visitors are welcome. RSVP by Friday, April 15, to 6193 5398 or email maleyjan@yahoo.com

Why Housing ACT deserves all that’s

I REFER to an article by Nick Overall, “Another trashed hellhole ignored by Housing ACT” (CN March 24).

I have first-hand experience of complaining to Housing ACT, as a tenant about litter such as unopened letters at the letterboxes, rubbish “sorted” incorrectly, illegal dumping, syringes lying around and, in general, dilapidated buildings and a lack of maintenance, in order to keep the complex as an attractive place to live and visit. I don’t really like going outside my unit because I maintain the interior of my unit in a clean and tidy condition.

We still have no way of disposing of our green waste. Tenants are supposed to maintain gardens, but bad luck if you can’t transport green waste to the dump.

As far as I am concerned, the reputation that is hurled at Housing ACT is deserved because the ACT government does nothing except construct the light rail to Woden. That’s where taxpayers’ and homeowners’ money is going – not into public housing!

Here are outstanding maintenance requests I have placed recently:

• December 1, I notified them of the grass growing in the gutters. No sign of anyone with a ladder!

• February 25, I requested they replace a post so that the garbage truck doesn’t back into my brick wall;

• March 8, I reported external lights in the stairwell being on all day and a detached gutter of a carport. Nothing has been started!

All these external jobs have a priority period of 20 days.

The pink (!) paint is peeling off the gates of the hoppers and I requested maintenance for their repair well before covid struck. I would like to have my carpet replaced. It went down in 2002. Twenty years ago! The area manager checked with the superiors – no future date has been set. It probably has not even been listed let alone discussed. What is it about it – the state of maintenance? It must be the light rail.

Of course, the ACT government could be doing things much better in so many ways, in so many areas, and yet it is not. Yes, we have renewable energy but so what?

I picked up a flyer about the ACT Ombudsman (who doubles as the Commonwealth Ombudsman – different contact numbers) and did you know that the first suggested thing that you can discuss with this entity is Housing ACT!

The ACT Ombudsman can be contacted on 6276 3773; indigenous line 1800 060789; ombudsman.act.gov.au.

Name withheld at author’s request

What’s happening to the city I love?

I WAS in Sydney last week. On the way back, I was browsing the March edition of the “Sydney Star Observer”. I came across an article titled “Woollahra Council opposes City of Sydney’s Oxford Street revitalisation plan” and it set me to dreaming.

I dreamt of a place – I’ll call it Canberra –where there is genuine, public consultation on redevelopment proposals; where “revitalisation” isn’t a magic password that authorises everything, no matter how blunt and brutal; where developer interests can be challenged and set against the interests of those who will have to live with the consequences of being “revitalised”; where the concept of “community” is still respected; where the history and character of a neighbourhood are valid considerations; and where alternative proposals to those handed down by “the authorities” are aired publicly and stand a chance of influencing outcomes.

Then my train arrived in the Canberra of today, and I awoke to what is happening to the city I love.

John Griffin, via email

Four per cent use public transport

FIRSTLY, the problem with Canberra is it is a car focused city. Four per cent of the population use public transport, of which I am a dedicated advocate for improvement.

I asked Transport Minister Chris Steel at a public transport seminar recently what he would do differently to change those figures.

I got no answer.

In 2012, I chaired a Combined Community Council Transport Working Group, which recommended a number of ideas to fix the problem. None have been implemented.

I asked City Services about a linear rapid park and ride-terminus at Greenway; I got the answer: “We have no plans to do that” and had no intentions of doing so, despite saving 10-15 minutes’ journey time.

I asked why buses should utilise Woden and Athllon Drive instead of the Parkway or Yamba Drive and was told there was no spare capacity (?). The footprint of one bus vs 68 cars? Nonsensical!

One last comment. Having cycled southside, the condition of the on and off-road paths leaves a lot to be desired. Not only are they not fully connected, but some just stop in the middle of greenspace, are very circuitous (a bit like bus routes) and are invariably shared with every other person including walkers, prams etcetera. There must be a better way.

Perhaps, given our limited budget, we should scrap light rail, buy the tram bus (Brisbane Metro) or trackless trams (Perth) and put these transport funds into a redevelopment plan for active travel cycle commuting routes.

Russ Morison, Theodore

Then there’s the capital gains…

OF course, none of those opposed to the tram are opposed to the capital gains made to their properties since it was built.

Danny

Corvini, Deakin

Improve water, increase through flows

CANBERRA’S growth has contributed to water quality problems in our lakes, which some believe can be fixed by the (desirable) prevention of pollution from stormwater drains, and even collecting more fallen leaves (huh?).

Installing floating reed beds in the lakes has also been tried.

Looking at Lakes Burley Griffin and Tuggeranong, surely the best way to sustainably improve their water quality is to massively increase their through flows.

The large, expensive, but virtually permanently switched off (after the new Cotter Dam went in) solar-powered pumps on the Murrumbidgee at Angle Crossing in the ACT (upstream from Tharwa) are designed to top up the Googong Dam. It’s on the Queanbeyan River, a tributary of the Molonglo, on which Lake Burley Griffin lies. So seriously use the pumps to cleanse the lake.

Likewise, a valve on the Angle Crossing pipeline at Williamsdale could, from time to time, send copious amounts of Murrumbidgee water down to Tuggeranong Creek on which Lake Tuggeranong lies, using the descending railway line reserve as the pipeline route. The north end of Lake Tuggeranong needs a branch-line pipe from the creek.

The Molonglo River and Tuggeranong Creek both flow into the Murrumbidgee, so there’d be minimum loss of water in this arrangement, except between Angle Crossing and the Molonglo mouth, which could be compensated for by occasional releases from the Tantangara Dam on the upper Murrumbidgee (already agreed to under the Angle Crossing draw-out arrangement with NSW).

There’s a mini hydro electricity unit where the descending Angle Crossing pipeline joins the Queanbeyan River system. A similar one could be installed where the new pipeline joins Tuggeranong Creek.

Jack Kershaw, Kambah

Traders may be shortsighted

IN the wake of COVID-19, I can understand Braddon traders’ opposition to yet more change to trading conditions (“Braddon traders say loss of parking would ‘cripple’ business”, citynews.com.au, March 28). But I fear their opposition to removing on-street parking along Mort and Lonsdale Streets is shortsighted.

Studies of cities around the world have shown that economic activity increases when streets are redesigned to put humans, rather than cars, first.

This is not to mention numerous other benefits of people-centred design: lower levels of harmful air pollution, more active and public transport options, and more attractive city centres.

As a local inner-north resident, I often lament how unsafe our increasingly busy local streets are to navigate as a pedestrian or cyclist. Given there are still numerous opportunities to improve off-street parking in Braddon, it would be a shame for local businesses to miss this excellent opportunity to attract more visitors to our lively neighbourhood.

Matt Bowes, O’Connor

Barr’s quick to burden Canberrans

INTERESTING comments from Chief Minister Andrew Barr regarding being snubbed by the federal government’s Budget 2022.

He is not happy with what the feds give him, but he’s quick to burden Canberrans with rate rises and levies to suit his agendas. The current light rail and the proposed Woden extension is sucking up so much of the ACT’s finances just to appease

developers, the Greens and to retain power. Perhaps if the ACT finances were handled better, Mr Barr, then you will not have to complain of having insufficient federal funding.

Ray Zak, via emai

Good seldom comes from murder

I’m surprised that Dr Douglas Mackenzie has speculated on the odds of Putin being assassinated. While I agree with most of his writings, I wonder about such speculation, even if it was intended merely as an idle thought.

Aren’t we in danger of further undermining our democratic values by even musing about such actions, values that are already dangerously under threat from those who think that we must do “whatever it takes”? In any case, history tells us that good seldom ever comes from murdering a “troublesome” person, even if you think that’s what your leader wants – exemplified as far back as Thomas a Beckett.

Eric Hunter, Cook

Late promises won’t cut it, Zed

A FEW late promises and a scatter of handouts so close to an election will not cut it for the Coalition (“Will Zed survive? Maybe, maybe not“, citynews.com.au, March 26), especially when Canberrans can see where the scraps fall.

Just before what looks like the government’s “last-gasp” Budget, Senator Seselja took credit for the expected promise of some lollipops for a few Canberra suburban community and recreational settings, under a federal community and infrastructure program that claims to take into account ACT government requests for funding.

To what extent were the ACT Liberal Party headquarters and 2019 ballot box analyses also part of the selection process?

We have no idea to what extent the government has addressed the major shortcomings concerning decision-making for grants and other funding programs that have been exposed by the auditor-general on numerous occasions.

Yet Coalition members under threat want us to assume that the Budget hand-outs for their electorates are all high-level, wellthought through and “squeaky clean”.

Sue Dyer, Downer

Luke Clews

HOME IMPROVEMENT

The ultimate how-to in home improvement ideas

HOME isn’t built in a day, but there’s plenty of Canberra businesses that know how to make it one you’re proud to rule all the same.

From installing new carpet to picking up some designer furniture, this week “CityNews” gets the inside insights from Canberra’s homeimprovement experts. Here’s what they had to say.

budget items to really nice executive, designer items and everything in between,” he says.

“We’ve got sit-stand desks, chairs, upholstered chairs, ergonomic chairs and brightly coloured chairs in yellows and blues.”

He also says popular this time of year is their selection of hat stands and coat racks, as well as their

“We charge fair prices and are often able to source the best, no-nonsense, quality furniture available. We pride ourselves on our eye for good quality.”

Ex-Government Furniture, 6 Yallourn Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 6490, visit exgovfurniture.com or facebook. com/exgovfurniture

MAXIMISE YOUR PROFIT WHEN SELLING

Fix Up - Profit - Pay Later

Renovation Matters offers transformational renovations that add the biggest impact and value when selling your property

If you are not selling, we can help you renovate to meet your specific requirements!

Phone Kim on 0427 696 662 hello@renovationmatters.com.au

Kim’s passionate about improving your home

AS the owner of Renovation Matters, Kim Persson says that her love of renovating has seen her take her passion from a hobby to a successful business and with more than 30 renovations under her belt, she’s got the experience and know-how to transform homes to the best effect.

“We can help people renovate to sell or re-tenant as well as renovate to enjoy their home even more,” she says.

Renovation Matters offers clients a “fix up, profit and pay later” process in which they can cover all upfront renovation costs before settlement.

Kim says she works with specialised tradespeople who she trusts to bring their expertise and skill to clients’ renovation projects and provide advice.

“We provide a full service for clients. Some people might need to move interstate or have family responsibilities that means they need to hand over their home renovation totally to us.

“If we are needed to help a client,

there’s nothing we can’t do to help make the renovation a stress-free experience.” And Renovation Matters has a new “explainable video” on their website, says Kim.

Renovation Matters, visit renovationmatters.com.au or call Kim on 0427 696662.

“Our showroom is so great that other retailers

Taylor says they experience a good, old-fashioned or visit endeavourcarpets.com.au

Design that

‘da Vinci would be proud of’

OWNER of Duck Duck Goose Design Emma Miles believes interior design should create a space that reflects the charm and creativity that is an extension of you, your family and your lifestyle.

“We’re told to believe ‘your home is your castle’, right? But too often poor design, outdated decor and furnishings insidi ously rob us of the joy and happiness we deserve,” says Emma.

“If you’re looking to create a fresh or updated design, make the sanctuary you deserve and spoil yourself with the visual pleasures of fine furnishings, rugs, fabrics and a colour palette that even Leonardo da Vinci would be proud of, Duck Duck Goose Design is at your service.”

Emma says Duck Duck Goose is the ACT’s leading residential and commercial design company, proudly serving the Canberra community and beyond.

“With our team by your side, you will be guaranteed the most creative, colourful and clever people that work closely with each client,” she says.

“Together with creating timeless spaces, you will be one of the many happy clients to enjoy a uniquely tailored experience that is the cornerstone to the long-standing Duck Duck Goose Design success story.”

Duck Duck Goose Design, call 0402 054203 or visit duckduckgoosedesign.com.au

Duck Duck Goose interior design offers beautiful, practical and timeless spaces tailormade for your lifestyle.

0402 054 203 emma@duckduckgoosedesign.com.au ddg_interior Duck Duck Goose Design www.duckduckgoosedesign.com.au

Aaron offers service with a smile

CLARK Electrical & Air Conditioning in Mitchell was established in 2014, but director Aaron Clark says he has 28 years of experience under his belt.

“We have a great team, very well trained and up to date with the latest technology,” he says.

Clark Electrical offers electrical and air-conditioning services, as well as repairs and maintenance, says Aaron. He says he enjoys working in electrical.

“I enjoy fixing things or getting them installed, and seeing clients smile at the end of the job,” he says.

“We use a very good booking system that sends an SMS to clients when the tradesmen are on the way to a job.”

Clark Electrical is a family run company, says Aaron, and they’re local to Canberra.

Clark Electrical & Air Conditioning, Unit 5/12-16 Sandford Street, Mitchell. Call 1300 230462.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

50 years offering window-covering solutions

RITEWAY Curtains & Blinds are dedicated Luxaflex Window Fashions dealers servicing Canberra and surrounding areas.

“As part of a group of over 60 independently operated Luxaflex dealer stores nationwide and one of thousands worldwide, they bring you the latest in innovations in window covering solutions – from the market-leading window coverings brand, Luxaflex,” says a spokesperson for Riteway.

“This year Riteway Luxaflex is celebrating 50 years in

business and is proud to offer customers the full range of Luxaflex products.

“You can choose the window fashion to suit your needs from Duette Shades, Luminette Privacy Sheers and Pirouette and Silhouette Shadings, that can help reduce your home heating costs buy up to 43 per cent”.

Riteway Curtains and Blinds, shop 1, 64 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick (6280 4762) and 163 Comur Street, Yass (6130 3030). Visit riteways.com.au

Discounts for ‘beautiful’ furniture, says Tony

OWNER of Timberland Furniture Tony Purdy says he has a range of beautiful furniture that includes almost anything the home needs: bedding, dining suites, TV units, coffee tables, buffets and more.

Tony says he is currently offering customers up to 20 per cent discount for selected items in store.

Tasmanian Blackwood, a popular timber used in many items across the store, is one of Australia’s most beautiful and sought after timbers.

“Tasmanian Blackwood is a prestigious hardwood with a warm and natural colour,” he says.

Tony says size is often an issue for clients, so whether it’s a TV unit, bookcase or buffet table, Timberland Furniture can custom-make furniture to fit the space.

“We customise the size of a particular piece to meet the customer’s requirements and they choose the timber,” he says.

Timberland Furniture, 100 Barrier Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 7411, email timberlandfyshwick@gmail.com or visit timberlandfurniture.com

“It can adorn different rooms of the house, and can be complemented by any piece of furniture. You can’t beat it as far as I’m concerned.”

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Decades of flooring and window experience

HAVING operated in Mitchell for more than 20 years, Carpet One co-owner Leonie Gann says their experienced team know how to help customers with all types of flooring, from carpeting to timbers, laminates, vinyl planks, through to wools and polyesters.

“Under the same umbrella we do blinds and awnings including roller blinds, romans, verticals, shutters, outdoor awnings, retractable roofs and more,” she says.

Leonie, who runs the business with her partner Paul, says that together the team at Carpet One have more than 50 years of flooring and window experience.

“Our guys are the best when it comes to scenarios for your install,” she says.

“We do on-site measures so anything that may be an issue can be discussed with you first and we have an in-house magazine that offers a visual guide to help find the right style for you.

“We can help you match what’s in the showroom to what you’re trying to achieve in your home.”

Carpet One, 141 Flemington Road, Mitchell. Call 6241 5666 or visit carpetone.com.au/mitchell or cbiblinds.com.au

The place to go for renovation needs

TRADEWISE Renovations is Canberra based, and was established in 2015.

Managing director Angelo Nardi says TradeWise has a team with a complete set of trades, from plasterers to painters, carpenters, and electricians.

And, it’s a family business Angelo works alongside his son and business partner.

“I did my carpentry apprenticeship many, many years ago. I started off doing maintenance and it’s developed into what we’re doing now,” says Angelo, who has more than 30 years of experience.

“We specialise in interior renovations, we can do custom-built kitchens, custom-built bathrooms, anything inside we’ll do.

Angelo says TradeWise Renovations likes to provide a good service and a good product, and they aim to please.

“We’ve got a lot of experience behind us, and we just want to be known as the place to go for your renovation needs.”

“People tend to think that the best way to insulate is by using blackout curtains but there are so many great products available,” says Ben, who started BMAC Window Furnishings with his wife Allana more than a decade ago from a home office, which has since grown to a showroom in Queanbeyan with 10 staff.

“As well as curtains, honeycomb blinds do a great job, with hexagonal shaped cells that hold air in the pockets, keeping homes cool in summer, warm in winter and reducing energy bills [too].

“Verosol silverscreen blinds are [also] popular because the metallic fabric offers effective heat control [and] they’re translucent so people can still enjoy their outlook.”

“Folding arm awnings extend the outdoor living space and can be used over an outdoor area for shade when needed.”

Automation of blinds has been in high demand, too, according to Ben, who loves the Somfy smartphone application, which allows users to set timers and even close blinds from their phone while they’re away or at work.

BMAC Window Furnishings, 1/5 Penney Place, Queanbeyan East. Call 6285 1717, email info@bmacwindowfurnishings.com.au or visit bmacwindowfurnishings.com.au

With experience in the building industry, he says he wants to make his skip-bin business as uncomplicated as possible.

“Our focus is on being polite, courteous and accommodating.”

He also says Angel Waste has a focus on being clean, as hard as that may be, and eco-friendly.

“Angel Waste likes nice clean gear and skip bins. We like to keep our trucks and equipment clean, too, which is hard but that’s the goal,” Josh says.

“The way the world is going, we need to be more

“We have grand plans to create a recycling plant. That was part of the business plan and obviously you’ve got to start somewhere. It will take probably 10 years but it is still definitely part of the plan.”

And, Josh says they’ve implemented modern equipment and technology.

“We can track a skip bin from when we’ve dropped it off, to when we pick it back up.”

Angel Waste. Call 0448 989237, email sales@angelwaste.com.au or visit angelwaste.com.au

Choose from our huge selection of fabrics to customise your furnishing to your own personal style.

The Art of Frippery offers and eclectic range of soft furnishings ranging from casual in style to luxury designer brands. Many of our products are handmade in our local workshop.

Fabric library offers eclectic range of styles

THE Art of Frippery at Ebsworth Upholstery features one of the biggest fabric libraries in the Canberra region, with products ranging from casual in style to luxury designer brands, says office manager Robyn Ebsworth.

“There’s beautiful velvets, linens, heaps of different prints – we spend all day working with beautiful fabrics and have access to all the new release products and current trends,” says Robyn.

quality products such as lampshades, cushions, throws, rugs, furniture and bedding or can customise products to suit their own taste and ideas.

make most things,” she says.

fabric you like and you want to combine them, we can do that.

“This can be done with almost anything – cushions, a bed head, an ottoman, chairs, quilts – whatever you can think to apply it to.”

The range also includes products from Hides of Excellence, ethically sourced animal hides that Robyn says make for beautiful gifts.

“These include cowhides, reindeer hides, rabbit furs, sheep skins and more and the great thing is that they are all ethically sourced,” she says.

“We love to facilitate people’s creativity so that they

Upholstery Specialists

Servicing the Canberra and Queanbeyan region, Ebsworth Upholstery can assist you with any furniture restoration or re-upholstery project including repairs, custom made furniture and upholstery for commercial fit outs.

• PICK UP AND DELIVERY

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CANBERRA REGION LOCAL BUSINESS AWARDS 2021 advertising feature

Awards recognise best of the best in business

FROM butchers to florists, educators to mechanics, and everything in between, the Canberra Region Local Business Awards have once again showcased the businesses in the ACT and surrounds that have gone above and beyond in their service.

Judged on presentation, products, value for money and customer service, these traders were nominated by their community and voted on by judges as the best in their respective categories.

“CityNews” sat down with some of the winners to hear about their journey, their award and what lies in store for the future.

“Outstanding Business of 2021”.

“We’re so proud of our hard-working KJB Law team,” says principal and solicitor, Andrew Freer, who accepted the Professional Services category award for the company.

“They put everything they have into looking after our clients’ needs. This award acknowledges that.”

Andrew says that it’s a tremendous honour for KJB Law, made even more special, coming as it did after 18 hard months for the community.

“This is very humbling to all of us here

is an aspect that sets them apart: “We are a down-to-earth firm. We always communicate in plain English to demystify the law to our clients and treat them as equals.”

Jo Twible, principal and solicitor says that KJB Law is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year and prides itself on being there for its clients and working as one, collaborative team.

“We are here for our clients throughout their life journey,” she says.

KJB Law, ground floor, 10 Corinna Street, Woden. Call 6281 0999 or visit kjblaw.com.au

The Urban Education team at the awards night.

“That’s our purpose, different families, different children, different education. It’s acknowledging every individual for their differences,” she says.

It’s a principle that’s taken her and the Urban team to the Canberra Region Local Business Awards where they won the prize for Best Early Childhood Centre.

“I wouldn’t be able to describe in words how proud I am of my team. They’re exceptional individuals,” says Kylie.

“We provide the highest-quality

Kylie says the centre prides itself on a low staff turnover rate, saying that consistency and continuity is a very important thing for children.

“To have the capacity to have an impact on the future of these kids, that means the most to us,” she says.

Urban Education, 125 Strickland Crescent, Deakin. Call 5105 9279, email team@urbaneducation.com.au or visit urbaneducation.com.au or

CONGRATULATIONS TO KJB LAW

Monday May 2nd 2022

We know early education is the key to positively influencing development in the early stages of a child’s life and beyond. We believe each child is precious and unique and deserves to be nurtured to their full potential. We do things differently to make the most impact-for children, families and the wider community.

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CANBERRA REGION LOCAL BUSINESS AWARDS 2021

LMM Solutions, winner of Best Real Estate at the Canberra Regional Local Business awards, has a motto:

“For the client experience you deserve.”

It’s one that chief operations manager Jane Fennell says their dedicated team stands by, and believes it’s what helped set them apart in this year’s awards.

“On the night we were commenting about how much of an honour it would be to win an award such as this, to be recognised in this way, and that it would be something we could aspire to for 2022,” says Jane.

“Coming away with the win for the night was completely unexpected and so appreciated.”

While Jane says a lot of industries and companies are

becoming automated and outsourcing their services, she says the team at LMM remain strong as a family-owned and operated business located only here in the ACT.

“A happy team provides a positive and professional Strata experience for the client while we manage one of their greatest assets, their development,” she says.

“The owners have worked in other agencies and agreed that we could provide something different. Our key priorities are our team and our clients - each and every day.”

LMM Solutions, unit 231, 29 Braybrooke Street, Bruce. Call 5110 3200 or visit lmmsolutions.com.au

The butcher proud to do things ‘the traditional way’

FIRST opened in 1989, Griffith Butchery has sourced its meat from the same freerange farm for more than 30 years.

It’s resulted in a quality product the Canberra community has both come to know and love, says owner Richard Odell, and one that helped him take out the award for Best Butcher.

“Being grass fed without herbicides, pesticides or hormones is what makes our beef and lamb locally and ethically produced,” he says.

“What started me out as an apprentice was questioning the method of feedlot farming that was widely promoted. I knew right from the beginning that people cared about what was in the food that they buy.”

Today, backed by a team he describes as small, but experienced and trustwor thy, Richard says the butchery is one that’s proud to do things in a traditional way.

“Our smallgoods are smoked on site as well as making our own pies and sausages in-store, using natural ingredients,” he says.

“Every cut of meat can be traced back directly to our local breeders and producers.”

Griffith Butchery, 10 Barker Street, Griffith. Call 0408 887882 or visit griffithbutchery.com.au

Award Winners - Strata Management

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CANBERRA REGION LOCAL BUSINESS AWARDS 2021 advertising feature

Local florists go the extra mile

WHILE owner of Anthos Flowers

Drew Daskalakis says he was surprised his business won the award for Best Florist, their push to go the extra mile is what he believes got them across the line.

“We didn’t expect to win the award. It was definitely a surprise when we found out,” says Drew.

“Especially after the last few years of what we had to go through during the pandemic, we are so grateful to everyone that had voted for us.”

Having more than two decades of experience in the flower

A ‘perfect’ ring for a perfect partner

really nice,” says Matthew.

when he was a young boy.

“My passion came from my grandfather, he migrated here from Germany and he’s the one who got me interested in gemstones, that’s how it all started,” says Matthew.

Now, his passion has become a career, and Harlequin Jewellers has won the Canberra Region Local Business Award 2021 for Best Jewellery Store.

“It’s great, it was nice to be recognised. Me and my wife have put a lot of hard work into the business over the past seven years, so it was really

He says he loves working with col oured gemstones, “I like doing diamonds too but colours are just so unique.”

“My business is very different to a typical jewellery store, because mine is all handmade, it’s all done the old-fashioned way. No two pieces are the same.

“You’ve found the perfect person. Let me help you with the perfect ring,” he says.

Harlequin Jewellers, G18/27 Lonsdale Street, Braddon. Call 0402 913503, email matthew@harlequinjewellers.com.au or visit harlequinjewellers.com.au

industry, Drew says the focus on the business has always been making beautiful floral designs for any occasion.

“What makes us ‘us’ is the quality, fresh product, the extra mile we go to make sure our flowers last the longest time possible,” he says.

“We pride ourselves on our good value and outstanding customer service.”

Anthos Flowers, 46 Hibberson Street, Gungahlin. Call 6241 1249, visit anthosflowers.com.au or email anthosflowerscanberra@gmail.com

Word of mouth wins mechanical team awards

CAR Mechanical Services has won the Canberra Region Local Business Award for Best Automotive Services.

Owner Charlie Sgroi was “surprised, but very happy” with the result.

He says “the amount of work we do and how we look after our customers,” helped them win.

“We work hard, we’re truthful and understanding with the custom ers, and we work to help a lot of communities.”

Charlie, his wife and business partner Raffaella donate to charities.

“I’ve got a brother with down syndrome who lives with us, we’re his guardians, so we’re very involved in that community and we get a lot of customers through it.”

Charlie has worked in mechanics for 42 years, with “three or four years” experience beforehand, in helping his dad repair their tractor, where his passion began.

“I’ve done it all my life, never had another job,” he says, and enjoys working alongside family still.

“My wife knows I know how to run a workshop and I know she knows how to do office work.”

Car Mechanical Services, Unit 2, 82 Kalgoorlie Crescent, Fisher. Call 6162 4111, or visit carmechanicalservices.com.au

We are committed to being honest and reliable, providing you with a cost effective alternative to dealerships.

At Car Mechanical Services, we have been providing the very best in auto repair and maintenance.

Charlie has over 40 years first-hand experience in the motor vehicle industry.

At our family owned and operated car

centre, we believe our work is a reflection of our character. We always strive to uphold our reputation as a personable and reliable service.

Our factory-grade diagnostic tools and honest answers provided by our knowledgeable technicians, we are your cost-effective alternative to dealerships.

Providing the best auto repair in Weston Creek, means that our technicians understand that you want to preserve the quality of your car as much as possible.

Properly maintaining your vehicle will help you prevent complicated repairs and damage in the future.

We offer a variety of services to keep your car looking and running like new. If you are in need of general auto service, our expert technicians fix all makes and models of vehicles.

So whether you need a complicated brake repair or just an oil change, you can count on us to get you back on the road quickly and efficiently!

Haircuts with a royal touch

KHUSHWANT Dhanoa, managing director of luxurious barbershop TrueFitt & Hill says he was very grateful to be awarded Business Person of the Year in the Canberra Region Local Business Awards. Khushwant says that his award was only made possible by the support of his wife and business partner, Norma, and the hard work of their team.

“We have four master barbers who provide all our services which includes haircuts, shaving and grooming. We pride ourselves on creating a special environment for our customers by giving men a sophisticated as well as practical experience,” says Khushwant. Now a global franchise, the original Truefitt & Hill

Canberra after being a regular with his son at their local Truefitt & Hill barbershop where they lived in Malaysia.

“Before we moved to Australia, my son asked me where he and I would get our haircuts in Canberra because he enjoyed the experience of having a ‘father and son’ haircut and spending time together,” he says.

“When I found out there wasn’t a Truefitt & Hill in Australia at that time, I got in touch with London and the rest is history!

“We are passionate about bringing a personal service in a private space for men to kick back, relax and forget their troubles.”

The rock-star history lesson of Henry’s queens ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

By Helen MUSA

IT’S a tale of two Annes when I catch up with performers Kala Gare and Kiana Daniele, who’ll soon be at the Canberra Theatre in “Six the Musical”.

That, of course, is the sensational pop concert-style remix of the story of Henry the Eighth and his six wives – Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr – singing songs inspired by Beyonce, Lily Allen, Sia, Adele, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj and Alicia Keys.

Retold through the eyes of the wives, now somewhere in cyberspace, the show opens with a showstopper, “Ex-Wives”, and has been publicised with the tag “divorced, be headed, alive”, although the old schoolkids’ way of remembering them was “divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, alive”.

“Six”, now an international hit, was initially written for a UK audience, but Australian associate director Sharon Millerchip helped make the show accessible to Australian audiences by introducing Aussie accents.

Kala Gare plays Anne Boleyn, Henry’s

second wife, who spearheaded a political earthquake in Henry’s break with the Catholic Church, but when she couldn’t produce a male heir, ended up with her head on the block.

“We were given lots of material and we’ve

done our research,” Gare says. She was in the original Australian cast of “Six” and adds: “It’s wonderful to go over this for a second time… the show has been written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss to strip away the myth and look at the facts.

“These were real women and there are letters remaining that give evidence of what they were like. You see these women living, giving birth and rising to the highest levels

Anne Boleyn’s father, she explains, was moving up the ladder and she was a lady in waiting to Queen Claude of France, where she acquired her sophistication, and became maid of honour to Catherine of Aragon, Henry’s first wife. Her sister had an affair with Henry, but Anne held out.

“The family used Anne as bait to woo

“But I do believe they must have had insane chemistry at first, even though he fell

Gare believes there is evidence that Henry suffered some brain damage after a fall and that may have impacted upon his behaviour

She praises the show’s lyrics, which she describes as “so witty, but with so much history packed into them it’s crazy”. That’s not surprising, since creators Moss and Marlow studied history and English at Cambridge.

A favourite line is: “It’s not what went down in history, but tonight I’m singing this for me”, and her big number, “Don’t Lose Ur Head”, is very, very funny.

It’s mostly funny, but there is tragedy and all the six queens have truth in their characterisations as they step up to the microphone to tell their stories.

Anne, or Anna of Cleves, played by Kiana Daniele, also in the original cast, was one of the lucky ones. Not only did she survive Henry and all the other wives, but because she agreed to an annulment of their marriage she was richly rewarded with property and high status at court.

She’s probably most famous for having been so plain-looking that Henry couldn’t consummate the marriage, but the musical puts another slant on that.

According to one history of England, “the King found her so different from her picture [by artist Hans Holbein] that he swore they had brought him a Flanders mare.”

Daniele says the musical has fun with this, showing Henry swiping images of her on his device and there’s a big number, “Haus of Holbein”. That’s another area which is very up-to-date, as it tackles questions of body image.

Talking of which, in one song there’s even a reference to something very rarely discussed at court, the King’s small male member.

“Anne of Cleves found herself in a tricky situation at court and handled it very cleverly,” she says, “so my big number, ‘Get Down’, is a celebration of how it all worked out so well for me. I’m happy with who I am.”

“Six The Musical,” Canberra Theatre, April 23 to May 15. Book at canberratheatrecentre. com.au or 6275 2700.

STREAMING

Freeman on a new, confronting beat

By Nick OVERALL

AN alarm blares at five o’clock, ordering a dishevelled police officer to get up for work.

It’s not five o’clock in the morning, we find out as he draws his curtains aside.

He eats “breakfast” with his family as they eat dinner. Night sets in. He brushes his teeth, puts on his uniform and reads his daughter a bedtime story.

Soon after he’s roadside at a traffic incident, picking up body parts left in the wake of a brutal crash.

During the same shift he attends the scene of a natural death, attempts to track down a heroin addict and gets in the middle of violent neighbourly disputes.

This is his job, and just one night among an endless barrage of them. In “The Responder”, a British series set on the beat in Liverpool, we follow this police officer over the course of a few of these nights.

He is played to stunning effect by Martin Freeman. The unassuming hero we’re used to seeing Freeman cast as is manipulated into something far more bleak here.

In Chris, the police officer at the centre of the show, we see a man who was once good, who wanted to be that hero, but whose morals have been whittled down by the crushing reality he lives through each night.

We see glimpses of the more cheerful charm Freeman brings to the screen in his much lighter roles, but here

it’s contorted into that of a haunted man. We haven’t seen the actor like this before. It makes it all the more powerful.

In one scene he tells his therapist: “I feel like I’m playing whack-a-mole, except the moles wear trackies. Every night, there’s spit on my face and blood on my boots and it never stops.”

While “fictional”, the series was created and written by a former police officer, a revealing insight into its authenticity. It’s confronting television, but television worthy of being confronted by.

Catch it for free on SBS On Demand. It looks to be one of 2022’s best.

APPLE TV+ may also have an early contender for best show of the year with its Korean melodrama epic “Pachinko”.

Based on a book of the same name, “Pachinko” splits itself into three parts, spanning three generations of a Korean family who live through and feel the aftermath

of Japan’s occupation of their country.

It’s a chunk of history that’s rarely been examined in mainstream media, especially western, and while the scope of “Pachinko” is massive indeed, it does a remarkable job of always feeling intimate.

The Japanese occupation of Korea itself lasted from 1910 to 1945, but together the show’s eight episodes span the better part of the 20th century. They piece together a puzzle that offers an intricate look at family through a genre mix of romance, drama and thriller.

For those who don’t know, a pachinko machine is like a Japanese poker machine.

Like pinball, players watch as a small steel ball is cast around a board – its unpredictable fate hangs in the balance, somewhere between luck and the desperate whims of the one trying to control it. It’s a deeply fitting title for this series.

WHAT’S Netflix cooking up at the moment? Well in between season two of the raunchy hit “Bridgerton” and the upcoming final instalment of crime thriller “Ozark”, viewers can watch “Is It Cake?”

In it, skilled cake artists attempt to make everything from handbags to sewing machines out of, well, cake. So life-like are these creations that it becomes hard to figure out the difference between the dessert and the real thing.

In other words, what it says on the tin, really.

This has to rank among the most pointless television put to screen but, hey, sometimes after harrowing police procedurals and historical melodrama, a bit of pointlessness isn’t too bad. I’ll take a slice.

When the duke goes home with

By Dougal MACDONALD

“The Duke” (M)

MOVIE critics and reviewers around the globe have been almost universal in proclaiming satisfaction about this social comedy.

It is a fitting farewell to its director Roger Michell, who died in September shortly before the Australian release of “The Duke”, apparently before it came out in the rest of the world.

It’s based on a minor cause celebre in Britain in 1961. A portrait, now owned by the British National Gallery in London, suddenly went missing. Painted by Francisco Goya in 1812-14, its purpose

then was to memorialise the Duke of Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon’s French troops at Salamanca and victorious entry into Madrid in August 1812. Close-ups in the film of the painting may accurately represent the subject. To purloin and mangle a phrase, Arthur Wellesley is no oil painting! Except here.

So, to Roger Michell’s swan song

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ARTS IN THE CITY

A menacing night out with ‘The Boys’

By Helen Musa

A NEW local independent theatre company, Alchemy Artistic, has been set up by wellknown local performer Amy Kowalczuk (nee Dunham) with its debut show, “The Boys”, by Gordon Graham as part of the Hub Too for emerging directors.

The play, never performed in Canberra, was influenced by the 1986 murder of Anita Cobby, but Kowalczuk is well situated in 2022 with gendered violence, toxic misogyny and sexism finally having more of a national platform. Unusually, there’ll be Q&As after all shows, two of which are gender specific and a Q&A with playwright Gordon Graham and screenwriter Stephen Sewell will be held following the April 16 performance. ACT Hub, Spinifex Street, Kingston, April 13-16. More at alchemyartistic.com.au

CANBERRA Symphony Orchestra’s first big concert in the Llewellyn series for this year, conducted by Jessica Cottis, is “Redemption”. It features music from “Tristan und Isolde”, opening with Wagner’s “Tristan” chord and a suite from Herrmann’s Wagner-influenced “Vertigo” score. The program also features Mendelssohn’s “Reformation” Symphony and Margaret Sutherland’s Violin Concerto, with returning violinist Courtenay Cleary. Llewellyn Hall, April 13-14. Book at cso.org.au

Arthur

closing an impressive filmography. In 1961, taxi driver Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent), privately a supporter of socialist and feminist issues, who couldn’t stand the Duke, stole the painting and hid it in his council house away from his law-abiding wife (Helen Mirren).

He then held the painting for ransom and wrote to tell the government that the gallery could have it back if he got money to help old-age pensioners get TV licences for free.

His son Jackie (Fionn Whitehead), was on Kempton’s side, but things went pear shaped when the picture was found. Kempton later went to prison for a short time.

On this framework of actual events, writers Richard Bean and Clive Coleman have built a screenplay rich in warm humour,

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and

subtle in its observations of the characters and ultimately rewarding to people who have bought tickets to watch it.

The tensions don’t overwhelm its portrayal. A fair slice of the film’s 96 minutes takes place in a court where a West Yorkshire audience makes its expectations clear and a jury enjoys its task.

If the outcome of Kempton’s campaign is predictable, it’s not because of prejudice against the fact that in those days – and for all I know, still – unlicensed British TV viewers might feel the full weight of the law including time behind bars!

The mind boggles nowadays, but that’s how it was then. The film’s viewers get reasons more to smile than to laugh but that doesn’t diminish its satisfaction quotient.

At all cinemas

QUILT historian Annette Gero, who has been documenting and collecting quilts since 1982, will speak on “The Fabric of Society – Australia’s Quilt Heritage from Convict Times to 1960”. At Queanbeyan Bicentennial Hall, 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan, 11am-1.30pm, April 12. Book at trybooking.com/BXYMN

AUSTRALIAN high-selling independent artist, John Butler, will share stories from the road and play songs from his career, which spans almost a quarter of a century at Canberra Theatre, April 14, book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au

THE National Library, in partnership with donors, is offering a residency with access to the library’s staff and collection material, full office facilities including a designated workstation, and an honorarium to contribute towards travel and accommodation expenses. Applications close on April 26 at nla.smartygrants.com.au

ARTISTS from Networks Australia are exhibiting works in sculpture, drawing, textiles, painting and installation exploring changes seen on the site of the historic former hospital, Rusten House in Queanbeyan, from the Victorian era to the present day. At Rusten House Art Centre, Collett Street, Queanbeyan, until April 30.

MUSIC / Four Winds Festival Winds festival springs to life with creative coups

By Helen Musa

WITH the overarching theme of “Common Ground”, the Four Winds Festival at Bermagui is about to burst into life over Easter.

With a new administrative team at the helm and a line-up of musical coups for creative director Lindy Hume, now in her second and final year in the role, the biggest of which is getting Sydney’s Pinchgut Opera down to the bay for the first time.

They will perform the rare Handel opera “Acis and Galatea” in a ticketed performance in the site’s Sound Shell and open to, well, the four winds.

Up the hill in the Sapphire Lounge, where the Windsong Pavilion has been restyled to provide “conversations, cocktails and conviviality”, Mikelangelo and The Black Sea Gentlemen will perform a show built around their early album, “Journey Through the Land of Shadows”.

Other Sapphire Lounge stars will be Van Diemen’s Fiddles – Julia Fredersdorff, Rachel Meyers and Emily Sheppard joined by piano accordionist Dave McNamara – performing nostalgic folk tunes from around the world.

Continuing the innovative approach to what has sometimes been a rarefied classical festival, there’s even going to be some film.

Newly digitised by the National Film and Sound Archive, “Leonard’s Beautiful Pictures” are hand-tinted silent films promising extraordinary visions of faraway lands, stage magic and fantastical imaginings

from the collection of the late vaudeville entrepreneur Leonard Corrick, enhanced by Dean Stevenson’s new score, with effects performed live by an eccentric trio of musicians.

When I caught up with executive director Gabrielle Waters and artistic director for the umbrella organisation, Matthew Hoy, I find they’ve been busy coming to grips with the workings of Four Winds after the previous executive director, David Francis, left to work at the Wollongong Conservatorium and a new team was engaged.

“We are on the home stretch,” Waters tells me with relief, “Lindy’s got some great ideas.”

Hoy says it’s been a “pretty intense journey” coming into the organisation at short notice, and also having to navigate

DINING / Champi, Kingston

their way through lockdowns.

“So Gabby and I took the opportunity to have a look at the whole thing from the inside out and used the time effectively to consult with the public,” he says.

To that end, the festival will open on Friday, April 15, with a free world premiere event called “Home Stretch”, a musical love song to the Tathra-Bermagui Road, performed along the road.

As well, in a follow-up to a previous initiative, the Djinama Yilaga Choir will join musos from Candelo in another free event, “Songs from Yuin Country”.

While Waters, a former bassoonist who moved into music administration 20 years ago, is necessarily based in Bermagui, Hoy is still a working cellist based in Melbourne,

believes Melbourne is a suitable place from which to connect with people who might be engaged as performers.

The pair are especially proud of having been able to bring opera into the festival for the first time and, with the help of a whiz-kid sound engineer to assist in subtle amplification, they expect “Acis and Galatea” to knock the socks off patrons.

That will happen on the Saturday night in a ticketed event, but Pinchgut will return to the outdoor Sound Shell on the closing evening with “The Spiritual Forest,” liturgical works by Monteverdi, lighting up the Sound Shell as darkness falls.

Another innovation is the pairing of

Bursting with flavour and passion

By Wendy JOHNSON

THE story behind the new restaurant on Kennedy Street, Kingston, is charming. Champi is named after the chef’s beloved grandmother who lived in a small village along the Xadone River, in south-western Laos.

The menu is a journey back in time to simplicity of childhood and authentic food bursting with flavour and made with passion and love. Champi promises to thrill the taste buds and does just that. Dishes are vibrant, colourful and packed with herbs and chillies. This restaurant is exciting and unique.

We scoured the menu – starters, small munchies, soups, mains, curries, street wok dishes, salads and noodles. Take note of the menu’s numbering system for degree of heat. When Champi assigns a “Level 5 spice”, you’d better be ready.

The Moo Ping is memorable. Chargrilled pork pieces on skewers are juicy and succulent and the tasty tamarind sauce deserves to be bottled and sold ($12.90). These flavours sing at the top of their lungs.

Don’t go past “Teach Me How to Duck”. Tender shredded roast duck, with coriander and a triumphant Lao salad wrapped lovingly in soft roti pastry ($21.90). The dish arrives with thick slices of lime that we squeezed all over the duck. A super starter.

Another celebratory dish is the green chicken

Me

marrying Laos eggplants, bamboo strips and sexy Thai basil. We marvelled at the peppercorn beef street wok dish (Level 3) layered with garlic, shallots, chilli and green peppercorn ($21.90). Our initial temptation was the Spicy Jungle Stir Fried (Level 5) but wanted to road test Champi’s spice factor first. Wok dishes also come with a choice of tofu, chicken, beef, prawns or duck.

From the salad section we ordered Champi’s Signature Larb (Level 3), showcasing the flavours Laos pulls together so well in many dishes –coriander, mint, lemongrass, fresh chilli and lime juice. These are all absorbed by chargrilled finely

dipped it in the accompanying satay sauce. Champi is licensed and BYO (corkage $4.50/ head). Our floral Triennes Rose (Provence) was $19/glass and $55/bottle, 2020. It was too warm when it arrived at the table. Canberra wines have a presence, always great to see. Beer Laos (lager) is $11.50.

Desserts are light and refreshing. The panna cotta is $15.90 and the coconut ice cream with toasted coconut and cream $14.90. Noise was a concern and we suspect Champi may need to add sound proofing. One of our party had a phone sound meter, which indicated the equivalent of noisy traffic.

Jozeps for a guided meditation through contemplative works by Brahms, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Arvo Pärt and Pēteris Vasks. Before and after each piece, silence will be held, culminating in John Cage’s “4’33”

On the final afternoon, William Barton will perform two of his most powerful works, after which there will be a performance of Tan Dun’s “Prayer and Blessing”, created in response to COVID-19, with a message of community in its text by Chinese philosopher Laozi that Hoy believes gives weight to the theme of “common ground”.

Four Winds Festival, Barragga Bay, Bermagui. Details and bookings at fourwinds.com.au

GARDENING

A little frost has sweet rewards

By Jackie WARBURTON

IT’S almost apple-picking time and, hopefully, the codling moth has been kept at bay.

Long over-growth towards the top of the apple tree can be pruned now to allow better airflow for the fruit and get the last of the sunshine to colour them up.

Prune to a downward-facing bud to slow growth of these large shoots.

Granny Smith’s should be left on the tree until the first frost to sweeten their flavour.

Companion planting of marigolds and chives under apple trees is said to prevent apple scab, so it’s worth a try. Apples and potatoes are not good companions and don’t store well together.

RED-flowering gums, Corymbia ficifolia are in flower and putting on a show with the wet summer we’ve had.

They can be a little tricky to grow in Canberra and need a sheltered spot where the frost won’t damage them.

It’s a small, fast-growing tree that reaches 10 metres tall. An evergreen, it’s endemic to WA. I’ve never seen one in Canberra above four metres or so.

PLANTING choices for the veggie garden are waning as the weather cools. Broad beans can be started now but won’t produce pods until the weather warms in spring.

There still is time for open-leaf

lettuces and onions but, most importantly, it’s garlic-planting time in Canberra.

Planting garlic at the right time and establishing it before the winter’s cold will give them a good start.

Plant garlic where there’s been tomatoes and potatoes growing to maximise the soil nutrients and keep with a crop-rotation program.

Garlic needs a weed-free, wellprepared, quality soil to produce a good crop.

Purchase garlic from a reputable supplier at the local markets or Australian seed suppliers but, most importantly, don’t use the garlic bought from the supermarket as it’s been sprayed with a growth

inhibitor and won’t be successful.

There are two main groupings of garlic, and they are either soft neck or hard neck. Hard-neck garlic, such as red and purple garlic, mature quickly; the soft neck will grow slower and needs to be used fresh as it doesn’t store well.

Locally, the best to try are Red, Italian White and Monaro Purple. The yield should generally be a kilo to three bulbs of garlic planted, 10-15 centimetres apart.

This way you can work out how much needs to be planted for the kitchen without running out throughout the year.

If garlic is planted now, this crop should be ready for harvest around October/November. During winter apply nitrogen-based fertiliser to increase the bulb size before harvesting in spring.

Keep moist but not wet. A wet winter can cause the bulbs to rot, so protect them, if needed, from extra moisture.

BOX hedges need to have been trimmed by now to protect them from the cold weather.

They must be only pruned in dry weather to prevent any fungal diseases such as Buxus blight and to prevent them from going a bronze colour.

This fungal disease causes rapid defoliation, which begins at ground level and moves quickly up the shrub. It looks like they could be waterlogged, but white fungal spores on the leaves are a giveaway, too. The key to keeping this fungal disease at bay is to keep the plant in top health and good drainage. Buxus blight can be treated with a fungicide. Cut it out and dispose of diseased material into the green bin.

THE nights are now getting cool and frost is imminent. Potted plants that are frost tender will need to begin a transition to a sheltered spot under a tree or under the eaves of the house.

Creating a microclimate in the garden can help with disrupting cool-air movements around the plants and therefore minimise frost damage.

Jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au

PUZZLES PAGE FREE PUZZLES EVERY DAY AT citynews.com.au

By Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Saturday night’s Easter Full Moon lights up your partnership zone so, this week, focus maximum attention on a special person in your life. And you could decide to let go of a relationship that’s no longer working. It’s also time to get the balance right between independence and togetherness. Your motto for the moment is from Aries birthday great, actress and feminist Emma Watson: “All I can do is follow my instincts, because I’ll never please everyone.”

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Are you stuck in a rut? Have you been too stubborn to embrace change? This week’s Full Moon shakes up your daily routine zone and injects new energy and enthusiasm into your life. But make sure your plans are rooted in reality. At the moment you’re extra susceptible to suggestion – and flattery – so be discerning about who’s advice you take. Don’t let fair-weather friends lead you up the primrose path to trouble. Choose your confidantes wisely.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

With the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction lighting up your career zone, confidence and creativity will take you far at work. Saturday night’s Full Moon stimulates your friendship zones. So those around you can look forward to some amusing antics and manic moments from you and your peer group pals. Reading and relaxing are also highlighted. Your motto is from Emma Watson (who turns 32 on Friday): “My greatest relaxation is to sit with a book.”

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Crabs are the natural nurturers of the zodiac. But looking after a loved one won’t be easy, as you juggle your personal and professional lives. Saturday night’s Full Moon falls in your home zone, so stress levels will be running high (and self-control running low). This week is a good time to refresh your living space. Be inspired by Aries birthday great William Morris: “Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

The Full Easter Moon shines a spotlight on all types of communication and conversation. Expect some highs and lows in relationships, but that’s normal. The harder you work on smoothing out potential problems with loved ones, the better you’ll feel. So, your motto for the week is from Aries actress and producer Sarah Jessica Parker: “You have good days and you have bad days. That’s a marriage. That’s a friendship.” Education and local travel are also highlighted.

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

With the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction activating your partnership zone, the more generous and compassionate you are, the better your personal and professional relationships will be. Then the weekend Full Moon stimulates your self-esteem and money zone. So, if you want to do well financially, spending sprees are out and serious saving is in! It’s also an appropriate time to reflect on your personal values and reassess your current priorities.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

This week’s Full Moon is in your sign, so do your best to be fair and balanced, as you appreciate differing viewpoints. Is your love life stuck on autopilot? It’s time to blast away the cobwebs and look at things from a fresh angle. Singles – are you fed up with dating disasters? Steer clear of flirtatious charmers with frivolous values and dubious motives. On the weekend, flowers, food, fashion, personal pampering and a touch of luxury are favoured.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

The Easter Full Moon favours meditation, contemplation, prayer and investigation as you solve a problem or get to the bottom of a perplexing mystery. However, if you are a stubborn Scorpio who hangs onto the past and resists change, you’re in for a rocky ride. You need to be more flexible and adapt to constantly changing circumstances. Heed the wise words of Scorpio social commentator Will Rogers: “Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Generous Jupiter (your patron planet) and philanthropic Neptune join forces –which only happens every 12 years. The conjunction will increase your idealism and arouse your compassion for others. So you could find yourself helping a friend in need or becoming involved with a charitable organisation as a volunteer. Creativity and spirituality are also highlighted, as you express your inner muse and/or take up meditation, yoga, philosophy or a new religion.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

The positive Sun/Saturn link encourages sensible ideas and sound judgement. Saturday night’s Full Moon activates your career zone, so it’s a good time to bring a challenging professional project to a successful completion. However – with impulsive Mars charging into your communication zone – be careful what you say to a neighbour or family member. Hasty words could land you in hot water! Venus encourages calm over chaos and diplomacy over drama.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

With the Full Moon activating your travel zone, many adventurous Aquarians will feel bored, restless and housebound. So make sure you pace yourself, drive carefully, think before you speak, and pause before you pounce. Start saving your pennies so you can escape somewhere exotic later in the year. On the weekend you’ll communicate your innovative ideas with extra pizazz, as you connect with influential people and/or international contacts.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

Prepare for a burst of Piscean creativity, energy and enthusiasm as Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune all activate your sign. So lucky opportunities could magically manifest, especially at work. Then the Easter Full Moon brings things to a dramatic conclusion involving a close relationship, shared finances or a joint venture. Secrets and issues of loyalty will be placed under the microscope, as you discover whether your trust in someone has been well placed.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2022

General knowledge crossword No. 824

3 What, in Spanish America, do they call a cattle grazier? (8)

7 Name an Australian musician, conductor and teacher, Sir Bernard ... (6)

8 What is a bolo punch more readily known as? (8)

9 What do we call a child during the earliest period of its life? (6)

10 Which crude dolls are used in witchcraft? (8)

11 To officially evaluate the value of property etc, is to do what? (6)

14 What is an account book of final entry? (6)

17 What is a dried meat, pounded into a paste? (8)

18 Which term designates the native religions of Japan? (6)

19 What is a source of supply, support, or aid? (8)

20 When time slips by, what does it do? (6)

21 To have become separated, is to have become what? (8)

1 Which term describes female donkeys? (7)

2 Which musical direction means moderately slowly and evenly? (7)

3 Name a British news agency, founded in 1851. (7)

4 Name a woman’s loose-fitting shirt-like undergarment. (7)

5 When one is engraving metals etc, one is doing what? (7)

6 To be thicker, is to be what? (7)

11 When one is eager to do something, one does what? (7)

12 Who was “the man with the donkey”, John ...? (7)

13 Name an alternative term for a convulsion. (7)

14 What is the seed of flax? (7)

15 Who betrayed Samson to the Philistines? (7)

16 Which term describes overpowering emotion or exaltation? (7)

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

WORKING

FROM HOME? YOU MUST KEEP RECORDS

Briar has changed jobs and is working at home more and using her own equipment. She got in touch to check what new tax deductions applied to her.

In congratulating Briar, I said that I couldn't emphasise too highly the need to keep records as required by the legislation and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

"A case was handed down last week and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia (AATA) based its decisions around the lack of documentation. There was no substantiation for the claims,” I said.

“For example, let’s look at phone deductions. If you buy a new phone outright you claim depreciation on the phone and not the cost of the phone. That is you write off the cost over three years. And then you adjust the depreciation for the work use of the phone.

"So how do you calculate the work use of the phone? First of all, you do not estimate the percentage that you think is how much you use the phone as you cannot prove that.

"You need to keep a log for a one month period of both your work and personal use of the phone. Some phone companies make this easy as they give you an itemised listing of all calls, others you may have to request the listing.

"Then you need to apply that percentage to the full year. If you cannot come up with a percentage then your claim is limited to $50.

"Similarly, you need to apportion your data usage and if you can’t do this your claim for the data is also limited to $50. You also need to apportion use of all your equipment if it is not used 100 per cent for work.”

I told Briar that another area that could confuse was car and other travel that was not reimbursed.

"If you claim car use and you travel less than 5000 kilometres in a year your substantiation requirement is to keep diary notes that indicate your need to use your car. You do not need to keep a log book," I said.

"If you travel more than 5000 kilometres a year you need to keep a log book in the specified format. You can buy a log book in a stationery store and complete it each day and sign it.

"The other alternative is to use an electronic log book, which is my preference. In the recent case the AATA accepted that the taxpayer used his car for work purposes but he had not discharged the ‘burden of proof’ so his claim was limited." Another area of confusion was claimable travel costs.

"The ATO publishes a list of reasonable travel allowances," I told Briar. "That list is for employers who pay a travel allowance. So you will need to keep receipts for all claimed travel expenses when you are away overnight. If you are away for more than five nights, you also need to keep a travel diary which can be in any suitable format. So you have to prove your claims and an estimate is not sufficient."

Briar said: “Thanks again, Gail, I'm going home to devise a system for keeping my records."

If you need help with record keeping, tax deductions or any other related matter, contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 6295 2844.

Disclaimer

This column contains general advice, please do not rely on it.

WINNUNGA NIMMITYJAH ABORIGINAL HEALTH

AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

Winnunga Nimmityjah AHCS is an Aboriginal community controlled primary health care service operated by the Aboriginal community of the ACT.

In Wiradjuri language, Winnunga Nimmityjah means Strong Health. The service logo is the Corroboree Frog which is significant to Aboriginal people in the ACT.

Our aim is to provide a culturally safe, holistic health care service for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of the ACT and surrounding regions. The holistic health care provided by Winnunga AHCS includes not only medical care, but a range of programs to promote good health and healthy lifestyles.

Our services include:

• GP and Nursing

• Midwifery

• Immunisations

• Health Checks

• Men’s & Women’s Health

• Hearing Health

• Dental

• Physiotherapy

• Podiatry

• Dietician (Nutrition)

• Counselling

• Diabetes Clinic

• Quit Smoking Services / No More Boondah

• Needle Syringe Program

• Mental Health Support

• Healthy Weight Program

• Healthy Cooking Group

• Mums and Bubs Group / Child Health

• Optometry Service

• Psychology and Psychiatrist

• Community Events

• Groups

Winnunga AHCS is a national leader in accreditation, was one of the first Aboriginal community controlled health services to achieve dual accreditation under RACGP and QIC standards. Winnunga AHCS has been at the forefront of setting a national agenda for quality improvement in Aboriginal community controlled health and continues to advocate locally and nationally for best practice standards in operational and governance areas of Aboriginal health services.

CLINIC hours | MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9am-5pm

Ph: 6284 6222 | 63 Boolimba Cres, Narrabundah www.winnunga.org.au