There’s something rotten in the state of our prison JON STANHOPE
Plastic ban last straw for people with disabilities CRAIG WALLACE
Tall tales but true, the hero behind a portrait CLIVE WILLIAMS
Beware of KEEPING UP THE ACT reveals the Empire’s mission to evict inner-city, public-housing grannies.
A new production of the murderous farce ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ is bound to get up a few noses, says HELEN MUSA
Arthritis, Pain Support and ME/CFS ACT is a charity that supports people living with any chronic pain, fatiguing condition or disability. It really doesn’t matter what your condition is, we have a service that can help you. We provide services to people who need:
• A Physiotherapist – especially for osteoarthritis of the knee or hip.
• An Exercise Physiologist – exercise is an essential ‘medication’ for all chronic conditions, but in fact, for anyone at any time in life.
• An Occupational Therapist – to help you sort out how to make the hurdles you face life easier, including assisting you with disability applications, and to assist you if you have driving problems related to your age or disability.
• A Dietitian – food is nature’s medication.
• An Art Therapist – to assist you to explore your thoughts, feelings and improve your wellbeing.
• Support for people with NDIS support needs.
Arthritis, Pain Support and ME/CFS ACT have operated in Canberra for 45 years, supporting our most vulnerable people from the region to gain the care and support that they so desperately require. There is nothing that is ‘sexy’ about living with chronic pain and fatigue. It’s also not an area that grabs the community’s attention because the majority of people that need our support are ‘invisible’. They are older, they are stuck at home, they are lonely. They feel like no one cares. That’s where we come in. We care, we understand, many of our staff have and do walk in the same shoes as our clients. The last two years have been hard on our clients and they’ve been hard on our service. We had built up a service that allowed people to access lower cost care, and our care always came with extras. For instance, when you come to see the exercise physiologist and you find it all a bit too confronting, there’s a nurse there to sit with you and hold your hand until you feel you can face the world again. When you come to see the physiotherapist about the chronic pain you’re living with, you find there’s a range of free education seminars that will help you understand all the factors in your life that impact your pain.
We need your support to help this vital work continue.
You can support us in many ways:
DONATE – As a registered charity, your gift to our work will be used to directly support those living in our community who cannot afford the support that they desperately need. It allows us to provide services to refugees, to people living in poverty, to people who have no one left to help them.
SPREAD THE WORD – You can tell your networks about the work that we do, and you can come and use our services.
COME SEE US – Every person that comes and uses our services helps support another person to access our service who might not have had the financial means to do so. Doing something good for your health actually helps someone else gain the support they need. It’s win win!
ADVOCATE – You can talk to your elected representatives about the great work that we do and you can help to advocate for better services for all people living with chronic pain or fatigue. Tell them your story, tell them how service like ours can help change lives.
To help us support your community, call us on 6251 2055 to donate, to make an appointment to see one of our specialists, or to just find out how we can support you.
In Sincerity, Rebecca Davey CEO Arthritis, Pain Support & ME/CFS ACT
By Nick OVERALL
THE Australian Monarchist League has called a decision to ban the public from two major Queen’s Jubilee events in Canberra an “absolute disgrace”.
The organisation, made up of more than 50,000 members nationally, was “deeply disappointed” to find out that last week’s Beacon Lighting Ceremony and Aspen Island Renaming Ceremony had been changed to inviteonly events just days before they were set to go ahead.
The ceremonies were in place to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s II’s reign, ahead of the long weekend celebrating her 96th birthday this week.
National chair of the Australian Monarchist League Philip Benwell said the decision to exclude the public, made by the newly elected federal government, was “disgraceful”.
“That the Australian people were excluded at the last minute from celebrating their sovereign’s Platinum Jubilee at the heart of these national events is shameful,” he said.
“This will be the nation’s most lasting tribute to a sovereign who has self-
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The government subsequently al lowed people to view the Beacon Lighting Ceremony from distant vantage points, a move that Mr Benwell said simply “wasn’t enough”.
Mr Benwell believes the decision to exclude the public may be linked to the federal Labor Party’s support of a
Minister for the Republic, a move sparking some speculation the government could call a referendum on the future of the Royal family’s reign
As the Queen “comes to the twilight of her reign, it’s a good opportunity for a serious discussion about what comes next for Australia,” Mr Thistlethwaite told “The Guardian” last week.
Mr Benwell says Canberra’s Jubilee events should have been “above politics.”
“It’s about honouring the Queen for her service to her people. It should have nothing to do with the monarchy, republic debate.”
The Diamond Jubilee in 2012, commemorating the Queen’s 60th year on the throne, took place in the Parliament House forecourt, which the public at the time were able to attend.
“Prime ministers Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott attended [in 2012], meaning there can be no excuse for the public being excluded,” said Mr Benwell.
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“In the words of former prime minister Julia Gillard: ‘The Queen is a vital constitutional part, not a guest’.”
The decision also meant the public as unable to attend the Aspen Island Renaming Ceremony held on June 4.
The event saw the island on Lake Burley Griffin, on which the National Carillon stands, renamed Queen Elizabeth II Island and the Queen Elizabeth Water Gardens dedicated.
“Given that the island is an open-air venue with a great deal of space for members of the public to stand or sit, the fact that they were denied access and ignored indicates where the sympathies of political elites and bureaucrats lie,” said Mr Benwell.
“On every one of her many visits to the nation’s capital, the Queen has been welcomed by thousands of eager well-wishers and admirers from all walks of life, including on Aspen Island itself. The Queen officially opened the National Carillon there on April 26, 1970.”
Mr Benwell says the Monarchist League, which was also excluded from invitation to the events, was particularly disappointed that it was unable to fully commemorate the Queen’s service given ongoing fears for her health.
“Under normal circumstances, there will never be another Platinum Jubilee in the lifetime of anyone alive today,” he said.
TIM Bohm is Canberra’s biggest loser. I mean that affectionately.
Over 10 years, he’s fallen short at more elections and stood for more parties than anyone I can think of.
Federally, he’s been a candidate for Bullet Train Australia (2013 and 2016) and an independent (2019 and 2022).
In ACT elections, he stood in 2012 (Molon glo) as a Bullet Train for Canberra candidate, in 2016 (Yerrabi) for Like Canberra and 2020 (Kurrajong) for the Canberra Progressives.
Nuts? Hardly. Tim’s a family guy, contributes at a community level and runs a successful graphics business.
And he faces the electorate every time with unerring, optimistic enthusiasm and good humour, undaunted by inevitable failure.
On May 21 he squared off against Labor’s sitting member in the seat of Canberra, the unassailable Alicia Payne, and the unrelenting Greens candidate Tim Hollo
“As I’m running in a very safe Labor seat, it means I have a better chance of being hit by a meteor than I do of winning the seat,” he said philosophically at the time. Neither things happened, though he did manage a credible 5.1 per cent of the primary vote and third place, a personal best.
“I’m calling it one in 20 people in the electorate voted directly for me. Not bad for a 31-day campaign. Plus some of my best dad jokes to date,” he says.
To wit: “My wife tells me I have two major faults. I don’t listen – and something else…” So why bother?
“I feel independents are the best chance we have of fixing our broken political system.
Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean we shouldn’t,” he says.
History sent his ambition down the laundry chute once again. And the prospect of October 19, 2024 – the next ACT election – is beckoning like a siren on an electoral rock. Will he, won’t he? He says “no”, but that might be the wily politician in him or Mrs Bohm has finally put her foot down.
And the point of all this? During his campaign, Tim expressed concern for the future of Black Mountain Tower, fearing Telstra will tear it down. I’m pretty sure that won’t bother the Friends of Black Mountain, but Tim had some ideas that would mortify them.
“Black Mountain Tower has become one of Canberra’s most recognisable landmarks in the country,” he proclaimed.
“Like the rest of Canberra, the tower has been ignored and neglected. Did you
know it is currently closed with no plans to reopen it. Such a wasted opportunity.
“Can you imagine Canberra without the tower? We might have to if our federal and local politicians continue to keep their heads firmly in the sand. “Ignoring Telstra Tower and issues around its maintenance and ownership could see it go the way of the Sydney monorail.” I’m not sure that’s a compelling analogy, Timbo.
“If we don’t find a solution to get it back open and maintained, it will get torn down and be gone forever.
“One scenario is Telstra, the current owners, let the tower deteriorate to the point that it becomes a danger to the community. The government could be forced to foot the bill for it to be torn down. There are unconfirmed rumours that it’s full of asbestos.” Whoa! Was that a scare campaign?
I went up there and he’s right. It’s closed to the public with a barely visible sign below
the trumpeting “Welcome to Telstra Tower” banner saying, unsurprisingly: “Telstra Tower is closed until further notice. We do apologise for any inconvenience.”
There was a small, desultory passing of irritated tourists: park car, press nose against window, peer, sigh and push off down the hill. The place didn’t look especially neglected, more a sense of deserted indifference at being locked up and unused. Undaunted, Tim offered up some ideas that, I’m guessing, probably contributed to his not being elected. Friends of Black Mountain brace yourselves: Create Australia’s highest and most terrifying indoor/outdoor rock climbing centre.
• Australia’s highest luxury hotel or even Australia’s most unique youth hostel, cafe and bar.
• Open the stairs to “very fit visitors”, and challenge kids to “climb up the tower”.
• Add a tourist cable car (with mountain bike racks) linking the tower to the back of the Botanical Gardens and CSIRO.
• One floor could be Australia’s highest and most unique escape room.
There’s more: “Sounds crazy,” (you think?) “but maybe the simplest solution is the best; how about a tourism centre and restaurant/ café, imagine that?
“If we don’t do something now, it will continue to be neglected and ignored until
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there will be one option left, and that will be to tear it down. I can’t imagine a Canberra without the tower in it.” There were almost 4500 voters who thought he had a point.
FOLLOWING the column piece (CN May 26) about the demise of the Pretty Woman brothel in Mitchell, Steve wrote to say Michael Moore, who led a Legislative Assembly investigation that reformed the ACT sex industry in 1996, probably didn’t recall that particular establishment because in the mid-’90s it was called Aphrodites, “which would also explain why they had so many Greek statues in the foyer”.
“Now how do I know this?” Steve teases. “As a Pizza Hut delivery driver in Dickson, Mitchell was part of our delivery and you would meet some of the nicest people.
“And, yes, I will admit to going to Pretty Woman and Aphrodites, but only ever to deliver pizzas and garlic bread.” And we absolutely, totally believe you, Steve.
Ian Meikle is the editor of “CityNews” and can be heard on the “CityNews Sunday Roast” news and interview program, 2CC, 9am-noon.
I RECENTLY re-read several documents about justice and corrections, issued not so long ago by the then Minister for Justice and Corrections, ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury.
The documents reflect a determination to transform the administration of justice and the management of corrective services in a significant way.
I have no reason for thinking that Mr Rattenbury was anything but sincere and genuine in his stated aims. It is because I am sure that he was genuine, that he sincerely wanted to transform the Alexander Maconochie Centre to ensure that it did reflect the visionary charter that was the genesis of its establishment, that I feel so sorry for him as he reflects, as I am sure he does, on the dysfunctional shambles of a corrections system that he bequeathed, just over a year ago, in what must have been deep despair and embarrassment, to the current minister, Mick Gentleman.
At the apex of the myriad apparent failings associated with the management of the AMC and corrections more generally, are the recent allegations made by a retired senior prison officer, and reported in “CityNews”, of drug use by prison officers and fraternisation by officers with female detainees and ex-detainees.
It is asserted by that retired senior officer, who is now resident in NZ, that these issues were not given the attention by management that he believed they warranted (he says, in fact, that they were simply ignored) and that they are currently under consideration by the ACT Integrity Commission.
It is concerning that neither the current or immediate past minister for corrections, or for that matter the Chief Minister, have responded to the allegations, let alone provided assurances that the issues raised are deemed of sufficient importance to warrant the attention of the Integrity Commission or the ACT Police.
It’s
Agreement”, Press Release Feb 2018 –“Nation-leading justice reinvestment focus as Canberra moves to ‘build communities, not prisons’” and the ACT Greens’ Aboriginal Affairs election manifesto for the 2020 ACT election.
It is not unkind to assert, it is simply the truth, that barely a single promise or commitment to change or improvement in outcomes in corrective services, contained in any of these policy documents has been achieved.
concerning that neither the current or previous corrections ministers, or for that matter the Chief Minister, have responded to allegations of drug use by prison officers and fraternisation with female detainees and ex-detainees.
If these allegations are not being vigorously pursued by the Integrity Commission or the police, then why not and if not, then the Commission may as well be disbanded. If the matter is being pursued by the Integrity Commission, why not say so. The cat’s out of the bag so why the secrecy?
But I digress. Some of the documents I refer to above are “Reducing Recidivism in the ACT by 25 per cent by 2025”, “Parliamentary and Governing
For example, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has recently reported that the recidivism rate of Aboriginal peoples imprisoned in the ACT is currently 94 per cent and is higher than last year. The ABS has also reported that the ACT now has the highest rate of indigenous incarceration in Australia and in the 10 years from 2011 to 2021, when Rattenbury was corrections minister, the ACT had the highest rate of increase in indigenous incarceration in Australia.
In addition, Rattenbury’s much publicised “Building Communities Not Prisons” initiative came to an unexplained but shuddering halt
when the government reluctantly confessed that the centrepiece of the initiative, an $80 million rehabilitation focused “reintegration centre” at the AMC has been abandoned. Along the way there have, in recent years at the AMC, been riots, fires and sundry other disturbances.
Underlying the policy failures and poor outcomes, ACT Corrections is facing a growing barrage of lawsuits by current and past AMC detainees alleging the breaching of their human rights. In just the last few weeks the ACT Supreme Court ruled in favour of one of the growing number of plaintiffs suing the ACT government, in finding that his human rights had been blatantly and repeatedly breached.
It would not be surprising to see some of the matters currently before the Supreme Court morph into class actions.
Moreover, the AMC suffered, just three months ago, the death of an inmate. A young man on remand who, it appears, committed suicide in his cell at the prison on the day of his incarceration. There are several very serious questions to be answered in connection with this tragic death. What this all suggests, to borrow
a phrase, is that there is something rotten in the management of the AMC. The allegations of drug use and ill discipline among prison staff at the AMC remain, as far as we know, as no more than allegations.
However, they are of a very serious nature and surely any suggestion that senior ACT government officials were briefed on the matters alleged but that no action ensued, requires an immediate and full response from the relevant ministers and the Chief Minister, including the extent and nature of their involvement. The community is surely, as a minimum, entitled to that.
Assuming the Integrity Commission is looking into this matter it would also be of interest to the community to know which ministers, if any, have been summoned to appear before the Commission and if their cross examination will, a la Gladys Berejiklian, be publicly broadcast.
Jon Stanhope was ACT chief minister from 2001 to 2011.
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.
By Belinda STRAHORN
ONE of Queanbeyan’s most stately homes is nearing its centenary.
As “Kinkora” – at 5 Stornaway Road – closes in on its 100th birthday, its history is being pieced together by owners Susan Warner and Michael Milligan.
“Everyone knows about the house and most Queanbeyan people have memories of it,” Susan says.
“It’s had many different lives and incarnations over the years.”
Having served for a time as a ma ternity hospital, the impressive home was originally built as a private resi dence for builder and developer Walter Henry Mason.
“We know the house was built in 1925 by W. H. Mason – who built the Hotel Queanbeyan – and he built it as his home to live in,” Susan says.
“But he never got to live here because he went bankrupt and so the Resch’s family used to stay here.”
Starting life as a private home, it then became a “lying-in” birthing hospital run by Sister Eva Darmody, who had operated a maternity home at Sutton.
“We are not quite sure how long she was here, but there are advertisements for her up until the early ‘30s for obstetrics here at the house,” Susan says.
ing that period and most of them were named,” Phil says.
Sister Darmody had previously run a “lying-in” hospital at 25 Campbell Street, upon moving to 5 Stornaway Road she took the name “Kinkora” with her, says Phil.
Susan and Michael would like to know more about their home including how many babies were delivered there.
“What’s really lovely is thinking of all the babies that were born in this
Photos: Belinda Strahorn
“He had her birth certificate with him and she was from Sutton. We’ve often imagined how she got in here because not everybody had a vehicle back then,” Susan says.
Susan’s husband Michael also shares her passion for the home and enjoys spending time delving into its history, a history which also includes a period served as a mental health facility.
“If you look at the plumbing there are old terracotta pipes going every which way obviously for all the different incarnations the house has had,” Michael says.
“At one point there were flats out the back for people to rent Les Robins the shopfitter had his workshop there. It’s had lots of lives,” Susan says.
While Susan and Michael have discovered the house is an inter-war Georgian style, they have been unable, so far, to identify its architect.
“That’s another mystery…one possibility is James Wallace Sproule,” Susan says.
interest in the property and its history.
“There are not too many stately homes in Queanbeyan so when it came on to the market in 2020 we had a look, put an offer in and it was accepted,” Susan says.
One of the most unexpected events from their time in the house was a gentleman who turned up with his mother’s birth certificate wishing to view the place where she was delivered into the world.
Susan herself descends from a long line of local residents with her grandparents owning a poultry farm on Cooma Street.
“When we were growing up there were virtually no houses on Cooma Street. We roamed about a lot and fished at Googong. It was a beautiful childhood.”
Susan’s uncle, the late Jimmy Warner, was a well-known Queanbeyan resident and Paul Keating’s former driver when he was treasurer and then prime minister in Canberra.
Sproule, the first architect to receive a licence in the capital territory, worked as a draughtsman on the plans for Old Parliament House, according to Queanbeyan historian Brendan O’Keefe.
He lived in Queanbeyan for a time and designed many important buildings in Queanbeyan including the Town Hall, and the School of Arts.
“Kinkora” recently hosted an art exhibition and Susan and Michael have plans to hold similar events in the future to showcase local art and share what they have learnt about their beautiful home.
at community desk near ALDI 9am to 5pm
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THE politics of co-operation has been a hallmark of pronouncements by Anthony Albanese during the election campaign and since becoming Prime Minister.
However, the challenge ahead of him will be to get the Liberals under Peter Dutton to play politics accord ing to his rules.
It takes two to tango. It was not so long ago that Kevin Rudd called for a “kinder, gentler” politics when he was sworn in for his second stint as prime minister. History has taught us that over the previous years, when he was grumpy about being displaced by Julia Gillard, he was prepared to play a game of hardball rather than practicing “kinder and gentler” politics.
into Australian politics for a number of decades. The losers through the period were the Australian people.
As opposition leader Albanese did not have the sort of “head-kicking” reputation that was assigned to Tony Abbott when he was liberal leader of the opposition. Under Abbott, the coalition government adopted the Tea Party approach from US politics to oppose for opposition’s sake and take every chance to challenge the government.
The downside was that the interests of the nation and the people of Australia were not the priority. Unfortunately, this hardline approach crept
A co-operative approach was used as part of the Labor Party campaign. Albanese and his senior party members indicated on a number of occasions their willingness to support good ideas presented by the Liberals. This was true, for example, on national security and border protection.
It is time for political parties to put the wellbeing and best interests of Australia first rather than to prioritise them over the best interests of the political party that they happen to represent.
The approach of “what is in the best
As many of us who have used Access Canberra will attest, a system that was originally designed to provide better access to government has become a money saving device.
interests of our party is in the best interests of the people” needs to be assigned to the incinerator of history.
With Labor having a slim majority in the House of Representatives, and a likely fairly supportive Senate, the temptation for Dutton will be to follow in the path established by Abbott.
However, this is a different political era, as has been demonstrated by the outcome of the election, with both major parties failing to secure anywhere near the sort of support that they would have expected.
PUTTING the interests of the people above the party also has lessons for the ACT Legislative Assembly. There
is an opportunity for the Canberra Liberals to introduce legislation and seek support from either the Greens or Labor (or both) in order to serve the best interests of the community.
Retiring MLA Giulia Jones, in her valedictory speech, pointed to her “unfinished business”, releasing an exposure draft of a Bill that will deal with the issue of Post Traumatic Stress Injury amongst frontline workers in the Territory.
The Public Sector Workers Compensation Fund Amendment Bill 2022 – Exposure Draft, for example, has been made available on the ACT Legislation Register and requires the minister to set a code of practice for any claims managers the territory uses to manage claims.
As she retires from the Legislative Assembly, Jones has demonstrated the importance of focusing on the needs of particular groups within the community.
If Chief Minister Andrew Barr wishes to be supportive of the approach taken by the new Labor prime minister he ought to move quickly to find a way to support such legislation and give credit where it is due.
For too long the interests of the
party and special-interest groups, such as large developers, have been put ahead of the interests of Canberrans.
IN a similar way, as many of us who have used Access Canberra will attest, a system that was originally designed to provide better access to government has become a money saving device. The reality is that Access Canberra has made it harder and harder for Canberrans to reach government.
The recent federal election has demonstrated that the style of politics of the first two decades of this century is on the nose. Trust has deteriorated and the interests of the community have been put on the back burner. Hopefully the message, that this is unacceptable, will get through to all of our elected representatives.
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.
ELIZABETH Burness will speak about her role at the Tuggeranong Schoolhouse and share memorabilia at the next morning tea meeting of the Canberra City Ladies Probus Club at the Yowani Country Club, 10.15am, June 14. Guests and interested ladies welcome. More from patchysue7@gmail.com
Club with a view
INTERESTED women are invited to the next meeting of the Yerrabi VIEW Club at Eastlake Gungahlin, from 11.30am on June 16. RSVP to 0412 617085 or email june3@iinet.net.au by June 13.
word to the wise
PAULINE Bryant, visiting fellow, linguistics program at the ANU, is the guest speaker at the June 21 meeting of the Narrabundah Probus Club. The title of her talk is: “How we talk in Australia”. The club meets on the third Tuesday each month at 11am in the boardroom at the Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah. Visitors and new members always welcome.
CITY Services minister Chris Steel has announced the ACT government’s next set of singleuse plastic bans, including a ban on the sale or supply of singleuse plastic straws.
Plastic straws have been delayed till this tranche of the plastics ban because the government is aware some people with disabilities require them.
The reasons people with disability need straws are complicated and not well understood. This makes the straws an easy, populist target for waste-reduction initiatives when compared to bigger but more challenging targets such as abandoned commercial fishing equipment or, closer to home, the slew of rubbish degrading Canberra’s lakes and catchments.
The reality is that single-use plastic straws are an essential accessibility tool for people who cannot lift a glass to their mouth or have motor control, chewing or swallowing issues.
For some people they are the only safe way to drink. Paper and bamboo straws crumble under stress. Glass, bamboo and metal straws can cause serious injury if you spasm and bite down on them and reusable straws, made of silicon glass or metal, need to be cleaned thoroughly after use, which is difficult to do due to their size. Trust us – we know.
straws clean is a nightmare for those of us who already have problems carrying stuff due to mobility issues. We don’t ask able-bodied people to traipse around Canberra with a drinking glass, a sponge and a bucket of dishwashing liquid.
The ban does include a welcome exemption for healthcare services. It also trumpets exemption provisions for cafes and restaurants responding to concerns raised by the disability community but, in reality, these are meaningless with straws only being available on request with no requirements to stock them.
Canberra is abuzz with local cafes, yet for people with disability
toasty already requires planning most people would associate with a military operation.
There is a long checklist before we peruse the drinks menu. Is there a drop off point? How steep is the ramp? Are there disability toilets? And – in 2022 – is there an outdoor option that won’t leave us with a life-changing infectious disease?
Now people with disabilities who require plastic straws to safely consume a glass of water will also have to negotiate drinking equipment. For some people already struggling with the logistical barriers of moving through the world that could be the last straw.
And how many businesses are really going to want to stock a second line of product behind the counter and risk arguments and discrimination complaints between customers and junior serving staff if they can’t find them or run out? It will be simpler not to bother.
The hyped “consultation” process should also worry those who see a concerning trend in ACT government consultations towards a predetermined outcome.
In the case of straws members of the disability community clearly told the ACT government that we did not support a ban, but we were asked to fill in a survey that said this is what we’ve already decided and which model did we prefer anyway. Shades of the Planning Review?
Most people with disability I speak to support action on climate change and waste. The experience in Australia and internationally has been that we are among the first impacted by severe temperatures or violent storms with limited capacity to shield or evacuate.
However, responses require a “just transition” which recognises vulnerabilities to climate change and in our
efforts to prevent and mitigate it.
Climate measures involve tradeoffs and here we’re weighing the ability of disabled people to have a glass of water in a cafe without choking to death against harm caused by plastic straws.
And yes, plastic straws are harmful especially to marine life. However, unless the ACT government has suddenly carved a channel between Lake Tuggeranong to Batemans Bay via Braidwood straws are far from being the most egregious threat to a beleaguered ACT carp population tangled in a sea of lost shopping trolleys amidst a foam of blue green algae.
The announced ban falls short of a just transition with a bad trade off against a small but highly impacted group of people and also doesn’t pass the pub test for authentic consultation on a complex issue. It should be overturned.
Craig Wallace is the new head of policy at Advocacy for Inclusion.
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WAS Frederick Burnaby the model for fictional Victorian hero Sir Harry Paget Flashman VC, KCB, KCIE?
I had not heard of Frederick Gustavus Burnaby (1842-1885) before I went to the “Shakespeare to Winehouse” exhibition at the Canberra National Portrait Gallery (showing until July 17).
The exhibition of more than 80 portraits is on loan from the British National Portrait Gallery. The London gallery is currently undergoing renovations, which has allowed part of its priceless collection to travel to Australia.
One of the portraits loaned to Canberra was by James Jacques Tissot (1870). It shows Frederick Burnaby relaxing in the splendid uniform of a captain in the Royal Horse Guards. But Burnaby was not just the military equivalent of that infamous social dilettante, Bertie Wooster.
Burnaby was an intelligence officer, Victorian hero, and largerthan-life figure. Burnaby’s adventurous spirit, pioneering achievements, and swashbuckling courage earned him great affection in the minds of Victorian imperial idealists. He entered the Royal Horse Guards in 1859, aged 17. Finding no chance for active service at that time, his spirit
of adventure sought outlets in ballooning, and travels through Spain, Russia and what is now called the Middle East, often with his faithful servant, George Radford.
To add to his image, he was 193 centimetres tall, weighed 127 kilograms and was said to be the strongest man in the British Army, able to lift a pony with each arm.
Burnaby spoke several foreign languages, including Russian, German, French, Arabic and Turkish, and was an accomplished observer and writer.
In the summer of 1874, Burnaby accompanied the Carlist forces in
“Your
Spain as correspondent for “The Times”. He also wrote for “Punch” and “Vanity Fair”.
He wrote five books. They include “A Ride to Khiva: Travels and Adventures in Central Asia 1876” and “On Horseback Through Asia Minor 1877” – both free to read on Google books.
Burnaby stood for parliament twice, in 1880 and 1885, and was admired and feted by the women of London high society. His popularity was legendary, and he appeared in a number of stories and tales of empire.
On March 23, 1882, he crossed the English Channel in a gas balloon. Having been disappointed in his hope of seeing active service in the Egyptian Campaign of 1882, he participated in the Suakin campaign of 1884 (in Sudan) without official leave and was wounded at El Teb when acting as an intelligence officer for his friend Gen Valentine Baker. All of this reminds me of the “Flashman” stories by George MacDonald Fraser. Unlike Flashman,
Burnaby does not mention his sexual exploits, but he clearly had an eye for the ladies. In Mongolia he saw one young woman whose mother had been captured by a Tartar raiding party. She was classically beautiful by European standards – but to Tartar men she was unattractive. Burnaby observed that Tartar men particularly prized women with round moon faces. Being practical, Tartar men also preferred an unattractive woman who could cook to an attractive one who couldn’t.
Col. Burnaby died as he lived – on another adventure; this time a British military expedition up the Nile. During the battle of Abu Klea, he ran forward from the British line to rescue a wounded British colleague and was struck fatally by a Mahdist spear that passed though his neck and throat. He was 42 years of age when he died.
There are two memorials erected to his memory – in Holy Trinity Garrison Church, Windsor, the first by the officers and men of the Royal Horse Guards, and the second, a privately funded memorial from Edward, Prince of Wales.
I thought I would end with some witticisms dating from the Victorian era:
• “Why are circus horses the slowest breed?”
“Because they are taught horses.”
• “Who was the greatest chicken-killer in Shakespeare?”
“Macbeth, because he did murder most foul.”
• “Doesn’t it make you dizzy to waltz?” “Yes, but one must get used to it, you know. It’s the way of the whirled.”
• “If all the seas were dried up, what would Neptune say?”
“I really haven’t a notion.”
• “What would contain all the snuff in the world?”
“No one nose.”
And the descriptive:
“Pawnbrokers prefer customers without any redeeming qualities.”
“There’s a man at Camberwell so fat that they grease the omnibuswheels with his shadow.”
Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.
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THERE was news in May that a new supermarket is to open in Canberra. Harris Farm Markets are to build a new store at Majura Park on the northern end of the site occasionally used by the circus.
For people such as myself who enjoy supermarket shopping, this is good news. Another supermarket is very welcome in Canberra.
I am familiar with Harris Farm Markets, both in Leichhardt in Sydney and in Bowral (they have 30 stores). Whenever travelling to Sydney and back, we often make a stop at Bowral – for the food at Café Russo and to wander through Harris Farm Markets next door.
Last time it was to top up with their home-brand, three-fruit marmalade – one of the best around. And a few other things, chocolates, cheeses, their yummy lemon myrtle and spiced hot-crossed buns and some honey – a Tasmanian Leatherwood honey –wonderful stuff!
The announcement of another supermarket for Canberra reminded me of the push by former chief minister Jon Stanhope for there to be more choices in Canberra when it comes to supermarkets. Back then the dominant two were – very dominant!
It was also the time of the growth of ALDI with their larger stores. Things on the supermarket front have definitely improved for Canberra shoppers – IGA has flourished, Supabarn has a few more and there’s even a Friendly Grocer or two. It was the attraction of going shopping in Harris Farm Markets that was the extra incentive for a day trip to Bowral just before Easter. The main reason was to have a look at Ngununggula, the new Southern Highlands Regional Gallery. This is situated on the eastern edge of Bowral alongside some of the new suburbs. The gallery is in a repurposed
I enjoy supermarkets and searching for what is new or what particular branches offer that others may not… for me, going to a supermarket is akin to browsing a bookshop, you never know what you may stumble upon.
dairy building on the Redford Park property – the former home of the late James Fairfax.
This is a great gallery space – with some beautiful exhibition spaces and it looks like having high-class exhibitions to bring people to Bowral. When we visited, the exhibition was John Olsen’s “Goya’s Dog” – being eight decades of Olsen’s practice, from the ‘50s to the present. We did not try out the gallery’s café. It looked okay – but the other reason for going to Bowral was calling.
This was to have lunch at Café Russo – attached to the Harris Farm Markets. This has fabulous Italian
food – and the coffee is okay. While I find it hard to resist their A4 shaped, thin-crust pizzas, it is their delicious pastas that are to die for. For the last visit I had Ravioli Di Zucca while previously I enjoyed their Pappardelle con Ragu Di Anatra. (Google “Café Russo menu”). If the Canberra Harris Farm Markets has a café anything like Café Russo – then it will soon become a destination.
One attraction of Harris Farm Markets is that they are very much a supermarket and fresh-food market. There are loads of local and Australian products as well as some stuff that they specialise in.
It is one of the places you wander around looking for that something to cook or that something to enjoy as one of those “guilty” pleasures. There’s always too much to choose from. Their prices are not necessarily the cheapest – but hopefully what we pay means that the suppliers are getting a good price for their labour and products.
As you may have gathered, I enjoy supermarkets and searching for what is new or what particular branches offer that others may not. I suspect I will never be a shopper who orders
online and either has it delivered or goes to a pick-up point to have it loaded into the car. This is a great service for those families that need to ease the efforts to get in their supplies – but for me, going to a supermarket is akin to browsing a bookshop, you never know what you may stumble upon.
I would encourage some of our politicians and arts bureaucrats to travel to Bowral to see this new regional gallery. The population of the Southern Highlands is around 50,000. That means this city with a population of 400,000 could easily have a couple more well kitted-out galleries. If there’s a café in Canberra with food akin to Café Russo – please let me know. And, meanwhile, I’ll be visiting Harris Farm Markets in Bowral a few more times yet before we have the pleasure of the new store in Canberra in late 2023.
Paul Costigan is a commentator on cultural and urban matters. There are more of his columns at citynews.com.au
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
ON reading “The years pass and the gums are dead” (Letters, CN May 19), I couldn’t help thinking that one person’s trash is another’s treasure.
Dr Douglas Mackenzie, of Deakin, appears to consider dead gum trees as trash (ie “these eyesores” and “unkempt ugliness”).
In contrast, I consider them to be treasure –ecological treasure.
Gum, or eucalyptus, trees support our native biodiversity and are native to Australia. The interdependence between them has evolved over millennia.
In particular, the hollows in gum trees offer homes, nesting sites and food for a range of native mammals (marsupials and bats), birds, reptiles and insects.
However, small hollows in eucalyptus trees take about 100 years to form. Larger and deeper hollows, that are more suited to bigger animals and birds, take considerably longer at 200 years or more.
Scientists have reported that about 20 per cent to 50 per cent of mammal, bird and reptile species found in south-east Australia use gum-tree hollows. This includes many threatened species. Therefore, each dead gum tree, along with its hollows, constitutes an ongoing ecologically significant habitat.
Thinking local, I am heartened that the ACT government seems to have recently recognised the value of these older, hollow-bearing dead gum trees, and may be making efforts to retain at least some of them – if they are deemed safe to the public and are appropriately managed.
Thinking global, Australia is currently in the midst of an extinction crisis and our native wildlife, found nowhere else in the world, is rapidly declining. If deemed safe, we can’t afford to lose dead gum trees. Our wildlife doesn’t have another 200 years to wait.
Dr Gina Newton, Hughes
DR Mackenzie might stop wondering if “the Barr government… may not even be aware of them” and simply log a job to have his neighbourhood dead gums attended to (Letters, CN May 19).
We did that last year regarding a dead tree on our nature strip and a team of rangers attended the site within the week.
Had I written to “CityNews” instead, I imagine we might still be looking at a dead tree.
John Noble, Braddon
YES, the killing of kangaroos must stop and if it requires the Queen to stop it, then so be it.
I intend sending a copy of this letter and the newspaper article (“Stop the killing”, CN May 26) to the Queen so she becomes aware of the barbaric treatment of one of Australia’s national symbols because the killing must stop.
Her Majesty has visited Canberra many times and delighted in viewing kangaroos in their natural state – even the mob who live on the grounds of Government House.
I am 89 years old, Canberra born and bred, and proud of it until this hideous culling began. Twenty years ago I rehomed to a small complex of five houses built specifically for the aged, located opposite a small park and near the base of Mt Ainslie Nature Reserve, with much bird and animal life.
My suburb was one of the older places and many original inhabitants still live here. During the drought, with food and water shortages, it offered refuge to kangaroos placing water bowls on nature strips and many trees for shelter.
It quickly became an early morning ritual to open curtains, to look on to the frosty grass of the park to see the kangaroos and maybe later to compare notes with neighbours – sometimes just one or two, sometimes a family with joeys hovering close to mum, or just laying about until traffic noises tell them to adjourn to Mt Ainslie for the day to return perhaps at dusk.
Now somebody has decided to end this calming start to my day. It is very distressing and unnecessary to me and probably every person I know to have this cull occurring every year. THE KILLING MUST STOP!
Ruth
Aylott, Ainslie
THE esteemed Jack Kershaw (Letters, CN May 26) offers an alternative to the proposed route for Light Rail Stage 2. However I have a better idea that is shared by the vast majority of Canberrans – just don’t build it!
It is a complete and diabolical waste of money that will hardly be used and is only being built to appease the idealist Shane Rattenbury who has held the ALP (and therefore all of us) to ransom for many years now. He is clearly the most powerful person in the ACT.
Mr Kershaw offers a more aesthetic, least disruptive and more practical solution, but from a perception management point of view it will fail as it will add to the already time-consuming trip for time-poor people. Light rail is madness. Currently it is barely used but the dark, tinted windows on the trams prevent us from seeing they are nearly empty most of the time.
I have a better solution for Canberrans. Come out of your auto-tribal-along-partyline mode and stop voting for the ALP and the destructive Greens.
They have been in power for over 20 years and are now taking us for granted. Start voting on merit, for goodness sake. By doing this, democracy will actually work here in Canberra rather than being non-existent under the current totalitarian ALP government.
Michael Collins, Banks
IT was a fair point made by Mario Stivala (CN Letters, June 2) that one doesn’t necessarily need to cast a vote on polling day.
However, I would suggest that if Scott Morrison and the Liberal National Party coalition had been re-elected, there would be little, if any discussion about compulsory voting being undemocratic and useless.
Greg Cornwell also made some excellent points in his letter about small parties and independents not being able to have a presence at polling booths, although there was one independent well and truly represented at all booths on election day and at pre-poll, and he has every chance of success.
Chris Doyle, Gordon
I AM writing this letter to the citizens of the electorate of Bean in Canberra, I am in complete bewilderment by the people in this city at how they can vote in great numbers for a candidate that is invisible and by all accounts does not exist.
He never appeared during the run up to the election, did not appear after he had won the seat and I only know he existed by the corflutes that lined the sides of the major roads around Canberra.
So if we in Bean get nothing from the new federal government during the next
term, then don’t be surprised; for the rest of us that did vote for real candidates, sorry!
Athol O’Hare, Kambah
SOME time ago there was a dragway (strip) near the Canberra airport. Many young people visited there on weekends and it was used during Summernats.
Canberra identity Chic Henry, the founder of Summernats who sadly recently passed away, was instrumental in providing a place for young people to not only display their motor vehicles but also to engage in some form of motor sport.
At Chic’s memorial at EPIC, hundreds of friends attended to farewell him. A number of Canberra politicians attended, including Shane Rattenbury.
Sadly, a venue for young people to perform some type of motor sport is lacking. The venue near the airport could be resurrected by the government or by private companies, perhaps from the Motor Vehicle Traders.
If so, it could provide a supervised venue where young enthusiasts could enjoy their modified or standard motor vehicles.
If this were possible then perhaps much of the racing and foolishness on Canberra’s streets could be limited and may, in fact, save lives. I’m sure some of Canberra’s car clubs would be on board with this suggestion.
Ray Zak, via email
OUR drug policy largely explains why illicit drug use has found its way to upper levels in the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
Inferring or telling a community there’s nothing illegal or wrong with using illicit mind-altering toxic drugs doesn’t align with doing what is right.
And limiting the aims of drug policy to basically “reducing the harmful effects of drugs” is to capitulate to illegal drug trafficking and to accept that drugs have come to stay in our societies.
Limiting the harmful effects of drugs is one part of the efforts made in drug-use care on behalf of persons who have become addicted to drugs, but if a strategy is formulated and implemented essentially in
terms of alleviating the situation of those who have already become dependent/addicted, the role and effectiveness of primary prevention is severely reduced and results in growing numbers of first-time users who feed expansion of use.
Colliss Parrett, Barton
I AM “chuffed” that the ACT government has recognised the seriousness of the chromophobia pandemic, removing all coloured corflutes from its streets after my letter (CN May 12) was published.
However, the warnings may have come too late. The huge green and teal corflute signs from Advance Australia, so prominently promoting David Pocock for the Senate, have obviously weakened the immune systems of the presenters at Sky News.
The monkeypox pandemic has struck, leaving them howling at the empty airwaves. I thank your reader John Lawrence (Letters, CN May 26) for his kind wishes and am extending my visit to your green and cultured capital city.
Herman Safransky, via email
I WALKED through our ‘burb on a day that could be better, past trillions tied up in modest houses, sequestered through the dastardly deeds of late ‘80s real-estate push marketeers.
Good for rates, to spend elsewhere, like wrecking City Hill or propping up developers, whacking up lousy flats.
There are grand old gum trees along the way, but the African Lovegrass is winning, and can’t be stopped. Cheap concrete paths crack, lift, and separate, and then get ground down, like a too-late facelift, to just about avoid civil cases being brought.
You can tell the investment properties, some deliberately kept vacant and shuttered, mostly decrepit and sad to see. You can tell the gardener-occupiers, and those aggressively against the idea. Life in a neglected town, ah he ma ma…*
Jack Kershaw, Kambah
*With apologies to “Life in a Northern Town” by The Dream Academy.
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COMPARED to women, men visit doctors and health specialists less frequently, have shorter visits, and only attend when their illness is in later stages, according to the Better Health Channel. They have also found that Australian men are more likely to suffer from serious health problems than Australian women. The research organisation says awareness is the key to helping men lead happier and healthier lives, and this week “CityNews” spoke to a number of local experts to get their health tips.
Jimmy (Scott) Niggles, founder of Skin Check Champions.
THIS winter, King O’Malley’s is encouraging men to grow a longer or new beard, or sponsor other men growing beards, to raise awareness about skin cancer, says owner Peter Barclay.
“We are supporting a charity called Skin Check Champions, which encourages men and women to have a look at their skin, look at what protection they’re using, and make sure they don’t have any skin cancers developing because they’re so prevalent in Australia,” says Peter.
Raising awareness about skin cancer is important for Peter, whose late father had skin and prostate cancer.
“He didn’t complain much about the
pain,” Peter says.
He says there will be a pop up clinic inside the pub for people to get advice about skin cancer and have a skin check.
“We’ll be having a few pop ups where people can come into the pub and have a chat with doctors,” he says.
King O’Malley’s will host a beard competition on August 28 to show off “Canberra’s finest beards”.
King O’Malley’s, 131 City Walk, Canberra. Call 6257 0111, or visit kingomalleys.com.au
THE highly trained team of physiotherapists and exercise physiologists at Higher Function, use the latest scientific research in their evidence-based treatments and classes, says CEO Janet Fabbri.
“We’re the best place for helping people reach their higher functioning goals,” says Janet.
“We offer sport specific Clini cal Exercise Classes like Golf Fit, Snow Fit and Running Strength, as well as other classes to improve bone density, stability, strength, flexibility and reduce pain and risk of falls.
“At Higher Function we try to empower people by educating them,” she says.
“In our classes we talk about why we’re doing a certain exercise.
“We help our patients perform better physically, reducing pain and stiffness, by giving them the science behind their exercise, specific physio and exercise physiology treatment, and ongoing support and care.”
Janet, who’s been in the industry for more than 35 years, says one of the most
popular forms of exercise for staying healthy is walking, but to keep walking and enjoying other activities, people also have to be strong and have good balance.
She says the team at Higher Function have the expertise to help maintain that functionality.
“Things won’t happen overnight, consistency is key, but really seeing people improve over time is wonderful,” she says.
Higher Function Physio & Pilates, Suite 4, Level 1/23 Petrie Plaza. Call 6262 9664 or visit higherfunction.com.au
• Stop binge eating and break depression cycles
• Kiss goodbye to the diet mentality
• Rewire your brain so you can enjoy losing weight effortlessly
• Breakthrough resistance to exercise and find real enjoyment in it
• Move beyond past traumatic experiences
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• Personalised care, online or in person
ORTHOPAEDICS ACT has been helping people live an active life since 2013, says practice manager Deborah Henry.
According to the highly trained team of specialists, resistance training is an excellent way to help people maintain strength and mobility.
“The Australian movement guidelines state that moving for 30 minutes, five days a week is ideal, but this can be an effort as short as 10 minutes at a time,” says the team.
“It doesn’t have to be sport but could be gardening, housework, taking the stairs instead of the lift or getting off the bus one stop early.”
According to Deborah, Orthopaedics ACT brings together the expertise and skills of nine surgeons, one pain management specialist, and a clinical nurse that work as a team with a number of physiotherapy and hydrotherapy providers to keep patients as active as possible.
MICK Andrews runs The Men’s Group, where men can get together to talk about things that are “more than pub talk.”
“A lot of guys still think that they’re not allowed to cry and they’re not allowed to show emotion,” says Mick.
But Mick says The Men’s Group gives men a chance to talk about whatever is on their mind.
“During one of the men’s group sessions, a guy opened up about losing his dad. We started talking about grief and how people handle it differently,” he says.
Mick, who started the Bungendore Men’s Shed in 2009, says there’s not many places men can go to talk about their problems.
“There’s not a lot out there for guys,” he says.
“It’s nice to sit around, have a hot chocolate, a cup of
For people with early arthritis, Deboarh says Orthopaedics ACT’s surgeons and sports physicians recommend an exercise program called GLA:D which is run by physiotherapists and strengthens the knees and hips, and can reduce pain and medication requirements.
When necessary, whether due to age, trauma or sporting injuries, Deborah says that Orthopaedics ACT can improve quality of life through surgical intervention.
“Whether minor or major surgery, it’s aimed at allowing our patients to resume a healthy, active lifestyle,” she says.
“Having nine surgeons means we have all parts of the body covered, head to toe. [But] we can’t just fix bones, we fix people.”
Orthopaedics ACT, Woden Specialist Medical Centre, Level 2, 90 Corinna Street, Phillip. Call 6221 9320 or visit orthoact.com.au
and trustworthy, says
“What the men talk about isn’t going anywhere, and they won’t be judged.”
The Men’s Group, Pearce Community Centre. Call 0417 212261, or visit coachingwithmick.com
welcome men who:
• want to develop their relationship with themselves and others
• enjoy helping others
• want to share their life experiences and learn from others
SUE Oliver says her “Care For Yourself Weight Loss Program” focuses on helping male clients struggling with weight issues, to lose weight effortlessly and permanently.
An expert in the industry, having worked as an energy healing therapist for 20 years, Sue says her guidance for beginners is to “always remain curious as to why someone is having weight issues”.
“If it were straightforward to solve, no one would have weight issues.”
She says her business stands out because it’s not about being on a diet or restricting food intake, but about seeing each client as an individual with habits, beliefs and experiences that have created who they are today.
“During the 12-session program I discover the reasons they are struggling with weight issues and use a range of techniques to clear them,” she says.
“There are 12 weight blockers or reasons the body holds on to excess weight, and they all need to be addressed to help a client lose weight and keep it off.”
Sue says she does this work because she loves the challenge of discovering how she can help someone be the best they can be.
“The most rewarding part is renewing clients’ hope and motivation about their future, thinner selves and sharing in their excitement as they achieve their weightloss goals,” she says.
Care For Yourself. Call 0403 145976 or visit actenergyhealing.com
Learn what it feels like to beat your best. Get used to surprising yourself and surpass who you once were.
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DIRECTOR of Evo Health Club Jason Barry says their small, but expert team of trainers and coaches take a different approach to fitness.
“We use sound methods and the latest technology to help you reach your goals,” says Jason.
“Focusing on your abilities and taking account of where you need development, we want to train your body so you have the strength to sustain your busy life.”
Featuring an extensive variety of exercise facilities, including a 25 metre lap pool, Jason says Evo is a gym that brings people “life satisfaction beyond their fitness goals.”
“Coming into winter and those colder months, it’s nice to come inside to exercise in an indoor heated pool,” says Jason.
“We also have a sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy spa as part of that offering.”
Jason says members can book the pool at a time suited to them through a mobile app which makes the process much more convenient, and that there are many membership options that people can choose from to suit their goals.
“Some members do one on one personal training sessions once a month, other members do up to two or three a week, it’s really up to them,” he says.
“Our group fitness classes are small and intimate which is great because it means the trainers get to spend most of their time with the members, give them cues on form and really focus on each individual.”
Evo Health Club, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton. Call 6162 0808 or visit evohealthclub.com.au
get up to 30 hours contributed to their logbook out of the 100 they need to get their P’s, all while becoming more aware of the risks they’ll face while driving.
“The first course we have is called the ACT PreLearner Licence course. It’s a 10 hour course that drivers can take before they do their knowledge test to get their L plates,” he says.
MITCHELL is home to a growing variety of businesses and services. The suburb was named after Maj. Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, surveyor-general and explorer of NSW, and all its streets are named after Australian industrialists. This week “CityNews” meets some of the diverse businesses operating out of the northside’s growing commercial hub. Matt
“After they’ve got their L’s, our Safer Driver course provides a two and a half hour workshop. Then learners get to go out on the road in an instructor’s vehicle for an hour and get 20 hours counted toward their log book.
able Road Users course. It’s a two hour workshop
Steve says courses can be taken both online and in person, and can be booked together for convenience.
“A lot of young drivers come out of the courses surprised at how much space they need to keep in front of them when they drive,” says Steve.
“They come out feeling more confident and aware of what hazards to be looking for and what responses to implement.”
Road Ready Centre, 4/54 Hoskins Street, Mitchell. Call 6103 0463 or visit roadreadycentre.com.au
BROTHERS Matt and Maz Shajiee are saving hundreds of washers, dryers, and other appliances from landfill by fixing them up for sale again.
The co-owners of Preowned Appliances in Mitchell say the idea behind their business is that everything deserves a second chance.
“There are about a million tonnes of appliances people send to landfill every year and our idea behind this company is to prevent those potentially good items being wasted,” says Matt.
“We gather them up, fully test them, repair them, wash them, sanitise them, and we put them in our showroom for sale.”
Matt says the duo keep a keen eye on the market and try to keep their products at a third of the price of what they’d cost brand new.
“We sell them with warranty, we usually do same day delivery and all our stock is also on our website,” he says.
“People can see details, photos, designs online and they just confirm it and next
and we can install.”
Matt says they also strive to give back to the community, offering discounts on their products to local charities like the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
“We’re providing more affordable prices on these products and doing the best we can to help the environment,” he says.
Preowned Appliances, 1/4 Pelle Street, Mitchell. Call 6156 3709 or visit preownedappliances.com.au
3 We usually can do same day or next day delivery & install
which] makes selecting tiles an enjoyable experience.”
Staying abreast of design trends, James says Rivoland Tiles is also proud to offer one of the biggest tile ranges in eastern Australia.
“There is always something new and different to look at and explore,” says James, who is proud of his expert, friendly staff.
complete solution for every project.”
And, James says, the Mitchell location is close to new developments and established suburbs where many redevelopments and renovations are taking place.
Rivoland Tiles Showroom, 55-57 Darling Street, Mitchell. Call 6241 1557 or visit rivoland.com.au
Canberra is an exciting indoor play centre, offering a modern collection of safe, imaginative and engaging play equipment to suit children of all age groups, says a
“We have created an environment to keep the busiest of children happy and entertained, while parents and friends can gather and enjoy our delicious selection of food and beverages from our cafe. We have a huge range to choose from including a healthy
choice range,” they say.
Families are encouraged to relax and enjoy Funland Canberra, which is open 9.30am5.30pm every day of the week.
The team at Funland also specialise in hosting birthday parties or group functions and welcome any enquiries.
Funland Canberra, 1/181 Flemington Road, Mitchell. Visit funlandcanberra.com.au or call 0487 880805.
FAMILY business Corkhill Bros aims to incorporate the family ethics and values in its day-to-day business operations, says co-founder Brian Corkhill.
From humble beginnings with a few trucks in 1954, Corkhill Bros now provides wholesale landscaping materials to the public, as well as green waste recycling services.
Corkhill Bros’ commercial operations include chipping, screening, grinding, processing, bulk production and special blend production as requested.
Then its waste side has services such as the hire of skip bins of various sizes and recycling of drop off and kerbside garden organics.
And now, at the Mitchell depot “there is a new and exciting range of exterior gardening pots,” says Brian. The family-owned business started with Brian and
his brother Patrick, who established Corkhill Bros after the family dairy farm was removed to make way for the construction of Lake Burley Griffin.
“We strive to create a workforce of hardworking, committed, trustworthy and loyal employees that promote this culture,” Brian says.
Through its multi-faceted operations Brian says the company’s intention is to successfully extract, process and deliver its products to meet the needs of varied target markets; both residential and commercial.
Corkhill Bros’ landscaping supply outlets are located at Mugga Lane, Symonston and Darling Street, Mitchell. Ordering is also available online.
Corkhill Bros, 33 Darling Street, Mitchell. Call 6241 8860 or visit corkhillbros.com.au
Since 1954
By Jackie WARBURTON
rule of thumb is the shadier the garden, the lighter the flower.
Planting white-flowering
camellias in full sun and full frost is a disaster and causes unsightly petal blight in the flowers. Unfortunately, once camellias get this fungal disease it’s hard to get rid of.
THERE’S very little to be planted in the veggie bed for June, but anyone growing a green manure crop should be getting good growth by now.
Keep root vegetables and garlic weed free and spraying liquid seaweed over the leaves would be beneficial. Watering should be done in the morning to allow leaves to dry before the cold weather comes in at night.
This year, my crops of spinach and snow peas are growing fast and above the height for most snail
damage. I have topped up the mulch with sugar cane and bedded them in for the cold weather. The brassicas I put in the ground in March are powering on and in the garden I have cabbages, cauliflower and broccoli under netting to keep cabbage moths and white butterflies at bay.
APPLE trees suffering summer’s woolly aphids should be treated now by spraying with neem or a horticultural oil to keep the infestation down for next season.
Cottony cushion scales on apple trees look like white bumps and when squished between your fingers are red.
These insects suck the sap out of leaves, stems, branches and even roots of trees. Although their eggs hatch in spring they can produce many generations in one season.
POME fruit trees, such as apples, pears and quinces, can be pruned once the leaves have fallen from the tree.
There’s no rush as the trees are dormant for a few months. Pruning before the end of August will have things ready for spring. Generally,
apple trees are long-living trees and don’t like to be transplanted, so choose their garden spot wisely. Researching which apple to grow can be challenging… then trying to fit all the apple trees from the wish list to the garden is the next challenge! Add boron to the soil at fruit formation, keep the pH high and around 6-7 with dolomite lime.
Heritage apples flower and fruit on spurs and a variety of other apples flower and fruit on the tips of the branches, which means there are different pruning techniques required. There are some terrific websites to give instructions on how to prune correctly.
NOT all oxalis plants are weeds and there are some little rockery plants that flower this time of year and are relatively easy to care for. Oxalis purpurea’s flowers open up fully when the sun is shining and close in the cool of the day. These slow-spreading plants are quite small and can be used as a decorated plant around stepping stones in a path.
jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au
By Helen MUSA
A NIGHT of horror on Black Mountain is at the centre of a new play soon to be staged by Canberra Youth Theatre as part of its 50th anniversary season.
Written and directed by Cathy Petocz , “The Initiation” sees six teenagers psyching each other up in a dare to spend the night in the darkness of the mountain that overshadows central Canberra. As night thickens, so does the plot and they wonder if they’ll ever get out alive.
Black Mountain was also the location for the 2017 dystopian film, “Blue World Order”, but this, as Petocz is quick to point out when we catch up at Gorman Arts Centre, is theatre, not film and horror is rarely performed on stage.
Petocz is a well-known ACT theatre artist, but this is a “first” for her, as Currency Press will be publishing her script.
The play had its genesis in a Youth Theatre program where Petocz was devising a short performance showcase.
“To me being a teenager was completely horrifying,” she thought, then it occurred to her that horror as a genre might be
“I brought the idea to the kids and they were excited,” she reports, then the pandemic hit and workshops migrated to Zoom, where they needed a substantial goal. She pitched a scenario to Youth Theatre
Supported by JobKeeper, Petocz wrote the first draft in 2020, showing it to friends, family and peers. Then in 2021, after a further draft, which developed the horror imagery, was given a showing, the adults
who attended not only liked the blood and guts but wanted more, so she wrote it.
“Horror is all about fear,” she says, “about breaking taboos… teenagers have been known to slice each other… also it’s to do
“It’s dark, but it’s funny, too I’m not an artist to take people on a dark journey and spit them out. It gets to the heart and it’s a
In the process of writing, she watched a lot of teenage horror movies and concluded genre does not treat teenagers well, but she also found herself walking more often on Black Mountain, close to her home, finding that it had an “interesting energy”.
To get the sense of country right, Ngunnawal poet Ethan Bell was engaged as dramaturg and cultural adviser.
“It’s my first chance to work with Ngunnawal people,” she says with some satisfaction and it taught the cast, who have walked on to Black Mountain to stick to the walking paths, respecting country.
Thinking about country led Petocz to working around the idea of teenagers finding something magical as well as terrifying in the mountain, and she called to mind American poet Langston Hughes’ words: “Let us take a knife / and cut the world in two – / and see what worms are eating / at the rind.”
Tara Saxena, who plays the character Chris, is on hand to confirm Petocz’s own apprehensions of teenage life, saying: “I’ve
been imagining my future I’ve been thinking I don’t want to have kids anymore, with all natural things endangered through climate change.”
Chris is a stubborn person, an amateur private detective, opinionated and adamant, Saxena says.
Another cast member, Juniper Potter, joins us to talk about the role of Amelia, a 14-year-old loner who pretends to be uncaring, but is struggling with an inner sense of self.
Then there’s Latsamy Carruthers, who plays Eris, “a mean, snarky girl” seen as a freak who, important to the play, proposes the idea of going up the mountain. They’re not about to reveal too much, except to say that they find a knife in the forest and it keeps turning up.
Petocz is happy to call the play “a supernatural slasher with a restorative element” since, by going into the darkness, they also find themselves “moving through a liminal space to a new beginning”.
Parents are likely to enjoy the show, the cast chorus, “because it’s cool, you see characters go to extremes. It’s set in a place we know and there’s no ‘cringy romance’”. But, Petocz hints mysteriously: “It gets a little bit gay.”
“The Initiation”, The Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre, June 15-19, book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au
By Helen Musa
CANBERRA Rep’s latest extravaganza, the murderous black farce, “Arsenic and Old Lace”, is bound to get up quite a few noses.
Director Ian Hart has transferred the famous play/film from Brooklyn, New York, to Queanbeyan, “the Brooklyn of the ACT”.
The play burst on to Broadway and the West End in 1941 and has been in production somewhere in the world ever since. It was adapted for the screen directed by Frank Capra in 1944, starring Cary Grant and Boris Karloff.
It’s always been an extravagant piece, full of playwright Joseph Kesselring’s take on different kinds of psychopathy, exemplified in the Brewster family, all of whom delight in taking lives.
That’s except for Mortimer (the Cary Grant role), a theatre critic who hates theatre but who is also getting increasingly worried about the genetic dispositions of his relatives.
At least his fiancé Elaine is sane and even woke to the #MeToo movement. And anachronisms are no problem in this version, including the use of mobile phones.
It’s all pretty zany for Hart, who once staged the Spike Milligan-themed show, “Ying Tong – A Walk with the Goons” at The Street Theatre with two of his 2022
cast in the line-up.
Mortimer’s two, sweet, old aunties Abby (Alice Ferguson) and Martha (Nikki-Lynne
Hunter) live in an old house in Quean beyan on which bits and pieces have been built, a joy for Rep designer Andrew Kay.
a dash of arsenic, strychnine and cyanide, will produce the desired effects on their guests. Hart is publishing the recipe in the
There are bodies galore.
According to Hart, a retired film director and producer who is busy writing his second novel, the show is packed with Queanbeyan and Canberra jokes, including several tasteless ones about theatre
Among the kaleidoscope of psychopathic characters is Bobby, played by Robbie Matthews. In the original he’s Teddy, who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, but here thinks he’s Sir Robert Menzies and obligingly digs holes to bury “snakebite victims” when the aunts require it.
Then there’s the female cosmetic surgeon, Dr Swann, who replaces Dr Einstein, Peter Lorre’s hit part in the movie, and the demented Jonathan Brewster (Rob de Fries) who, instead of looking like Boris Karloff, a running joke in the movie, now looks like Freddy Krueger.
Hart has had fun changing some of the male characters into females – why shouldn’t there be a female constable O’Hara? Now she’s an ex-vice squad police officer, but who is at heart a sensitive would-be playwright.
The old ladies, Hart says consolingly, are almost the same as in Kesselring’s rather lengthy play, which he’s trimmed back dramatically. Originally descended from the Mayflower pilgrims, now they become CWA ladies, experts in making pumpkin scones and of course, their famous mulberry wine.
Anna Senior is working on the costumes and while there may be a twinset and pearls for one of the aunts, there’s a hippie look for the other.
For anyone who hasn’t seen the film or the play, here’s a spoiler alert: very late in the plot, to his incredible joy, Mortimer Brewster discovers that he’s not related to anyone else in the family but has been adopted. Elated, he reveals to his tolerant fiancé Elaine: “I’m a bastard!” Quick as a flash – and this is pure Joseph Kesselring –she responds, “I knew that”.
“Arsenic and Old Lace,” Canberra Rep Theatre, June 9 (preview) to June 25. Book at canberrarep.org.au or 6257 1950.
EIGHTYSIX South is smashing it and with good reason. Service, presentation of food, taste of food, wine list and décor. Who could ask for anything more?
We adored every element of our late lunch. The menu is concise but innovative. Each dish is designed in line with the age-old saying: “You eat with your eyes first”. Eightysix South’s dishes explode with flavour, are served with pride and are sensational for sharing.
How amazing did the ocean trout with horseradish cream look and taste ($22)? Five out of five and that was where the excitement began. For our second starter we indulged in the sensational beef carpaccio ($18), sliced ever so thinly and every bite melt-inthe-mouth.
juicer and we dipped pieces into the luxurious pecorino cream.
By Helen Musa
“A MIGRANT’S Son” by Michaela Burger pays tribute to the artist’s Greek migrant family and hard-working, fun-loving larrikin father, traversing 100 years and featuring six of Burger’s original songs and a live band. At Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18. Book at tuggeranongarts.com
THE 13th year of the “SoundOut” explorative sound, film and visual art festival is coming up at ANU, Drill Hall Gallery from June 17-19 , this time with funding. Leading the unconventional line-up will be percussive artist from Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre, Vanessa Tomlinson, on vibraphone in the duo Clocked Out with Erik Griswold on piano. Book at eventbrite.com.au.
The wow factor continued with the mains (can you tell I’m excited?). From the four pastas we chose the corn and taleggio tortellini, agreeing it was one of the best we’ve ever had. The tortellini had a lovely bite, the taste was tantalising, and we were delighted with the sexy fermented chilli butter ($28).
Three other mains featured – a swordfish, chicken and beef. We opted for the latter two. Again, the presentation was thoughtful, with the chicken Milanese carved into slices for ease of eating. The chicken couldn’t have been
The beef received full marks and on top of the perfectly placed slices of meat was a perky mound of fresh, peppery rocket. We squeezed fresh lemon all over and got stuck in ($55).
Speaking of lemon… it’s one of my all-time faves and, since we were on a roll, we ordered the lemon tart ($16 and had two of them, to be exact). The lemon was smooth and tangy but not over-the-top with pucker power.
We were also craving the salted chocolate and caramel tart, but Eightysix South had run out. The staff, after seeing our disappointment, arrived a
bit later with a newly found slice of what is a truly decadent dessert. The chocolate was creamy but not overly sweet ($18).
The visual sensation that is Eightysix South continued with the action behind the long, open kitchen, where the chefs work away making pasta and shaping tortellini before your very eyes. Such entertainment value.
Eightysix South also has a tasting menu ($86 per person) with six savoury offerings and two sweets.
recommending matching. Eightysix South’s decor is smart and similar in many ways to the Braddon location (now officially Eightysix North).
Last, but not least, hats off to the fabulous staff. They were knowledge able, engaging, not overbearing and fun. We’ll be back to say hello.
CANBERRA-Gunning creative producer, Dianna Nixon, has now launched the official website of Music Theatre Projects Ltd, which is behind the Millicent Armstrong play project and an original new musical called “Camelia”, exploring the life and times of an Egyptian actress. More at musictheatreprojects.com
NATIONAL Opera is returning with a “pocket” version of Mozart’s comic opera “Così Fan Tutte”, with Canberra Sinfonia playing. Erika Tolano gets the plum part of conniving servant Despina, while Don Christopher, best known for his roles with Deborah Cheetham’s Short Black Opera, plays Don Alfonso. Albert Hall, June 16 then 2pm and 6pm, June 25.
CANBERRA Qwire is holding its mid-year concert, “Let the Rainbow Sing”, led by new musical director Lachlan Snow. At The B, Queanbeyan, Saturday, June 18. Book at theq.net.au
MUSICA da Camera returns with harpist Elizabeth Alford for a concert of romance and meditation conducted by Lizzy Collier. At Holy Covenant Anglican Church, Cook, Saturday, June 18. Book at trybooking.com
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ONE might think driving a speedboat through a CGI whale would be just about as far as any TV show could push the limit.
If not that, what about a court hearing where heads explode? Or a baby that shoots lasers from its eyes being wielded as a weapon?
If there’s a line to how far audiences are willing to go, Amazon Prime’s hit series “The Boys” hasn’t found it yet.
Fans of this jet-black superhero satire will know all too well that laser-eyed babies and whale explosions are only surface scratchers of the diabolical debauchery that’s made the series a wild success, and a show which, despite continuing to push the limit, keeps bringing people back for more.
They might also be delighted to know that the series has doubled down on this madness in its third season, which has just started streaming.
The show poses the question of what superheroes get up to behind the scenes of their showy righteousness. In this universe, not-so-subtle spoofs of Superman, Wonder Woman and other heroic icons spend their spare time snorting drugs, visiting strip clubs and using their powers for far worse when they’re not out saving the day.
The heroes are owned by a power-hungry corporation called Vought, which banks
Would you like to watch those old family videos once again, or listen to your favourite records on CD?
We can take your vinyl records or
and put them onto
and we transfer
billions from the branding of these super powered individuals who are worshipped by the general public.
One of these worshippers is a young tech store employee named Hughie, a boy who’s grown up with posters of these heroes on his walls and action figures in his hands. He’s given a shocking wake up call when his girlfriend is accidentally killed by a hero resembling The Flash who’s out on a drug-fuelled, soundbarrier-breaking afternoon jog.
Hughie is soon after recruited by “The Boys”, a rag-tag group of superhero haters who want to do everything they can to bring them down. The “bad guys”, if you will. They’re led by Butcher, a Cockney crook charmingly played by Karl Urban who is undeniably a stand out and who’s back more insane than ever in season three. Amazon Prime Video has dropped the first
three episodes of the new season for fans to get stuck into, with more to follow weekly.
While the show is indeed about caped crusaders and is inspired by a comic book, viewers who are sick of the superhero craze that continues to sweep entertainment may actually find some solace here.
“The Boys” is parody dialed up to 11. It not only satirises the superhero phenomenon, but uses it to gut punch this generation’s political and pop-cultural preoccupations.
In season one and two it held nothing back in tackling modern political issues such as the “#metoo” movement, white nationalism, the exploitability of social media and far more.
Its no-holds-barred style has resonated with audiences because it cuts through the oft censored conversation around these issues like a hot knife through butter. Viewers who can roll with the punches have found “The Boys” a brutally refreshing social commentary of the age.
There’s a method to the madness here. It wants to make its audience question both the people and the establishments they glorify in real life, and doesn’t care who it offends in the process. The result is a show that’s been described as “inappropriate in all the right ways”. It is fascinating indeed that every time the series seems to go just a bit too far, the controversy actually becomes a drawcard that pulls in even more viewers.
Season two of “The Boys” became one of the most streamed shows of 2020 and even saw it score an Emmy nomination for best drama, an award category normally reserved for the upper echelons of high-brow TV.
It’ll be interesting to see whether the Emmy selection panel can stomach a third season of “The Boys” which promises to care even less about the sensibilities of viewers.
“Mothering Sunday” (MA)
THE basis of this drama directed by Eva Husson is a novel by Graham Swift adapted for cinema by Alice Birch.
Jane (Odessa Young) has ambitions to be a writer. She presently works as a housemaid in the country residence of Mr and Mrs Niven (Colin Firth and Olivia Colman).
Husson’s film explores Jane’s conflicting feelings about her life as a maid, and how reading became a way out that was both temporary (losing herself in a good adventure story) and permanent (quitting her job with the Nivens to work in a bookshop).
On Mothering Sunday, 1924 (four weeks after Lent), the Nivens, still grieving for their sons killed in World War I, have given their staff the day off to visit family. An orphan, Jane spends the day enjoying the best that life can give with the Nivens’ neighbours’ son Paul (Josh O’Connor), who’s engaged to someone else. And she’s also more than a little fond of Donald (Sope Dirisu) whose African heritage may raise eyebrows not so much at such blatant miscegenation as for the actor’s sheer masculine strength.
The story slowly boils down to Jane enjoying happy carnality with Paul and exploring his family’s house and, in a different environment, Mr Niven, whose wife is no longer the source of affection and pleasure that she may have been. The locations are classic English country mansions and gardens. The action jumps from one time to another but not so hard to follow as it might have been.
And in an important minor role, Jane in
her 90s with her book at last published, Glenda Jackson at 86 still delivers the performance clout that earned her two Oscars in earlier days.
At Dendy and Palace Electric
“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” (PG)
WHERE is Bhutan? It’s a pocket-handkerchief country squeezed between China and India. In 2020, “Lonely Planet” named it the best tourist destination in the world. We don’t see too many movies made there. This one may well be the first. Since its release in 2019, its list of nominations for awards and wins is impressive.
With limited electricity but no indoor plumbing, Lunana is a remote village set 4800 metres up in the foothills of the Himalayas.
In writer/director Pawo Choyning Dorji’s Oscar-nominated film, Ugyen, a young man in Bhutan’s capitol Thimphu, falls out of favour with his family. He yearns to follow the advice in a battered travel pamphlet extolling the benefits of coming to Australia. His mother thinks otherwise. First he must get some personal development in Lunana –population 56, and considered so isolated that the school is referred to as the world’s most remote.
For eight days wearing unsuitable footwear, Ugyen trudges in the general direction of up,
behind two villagers leading three heavily-loaded pack-horses to Lunana where the “schoolroom” has no supplies but the children are eager to learn. There he gets a lesson in humanity from the villagers and a poignant interaction from the handful of children as well as the yak which arrives as a gift to provide not only companionship but also warmth in Ugyen’s house as well as fuel for the stove – nothing in Lunana that can be used is wasted; go figure.
The spectacular scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. The villagers are charming and the story offers a sweet optimism that develops into a coda in an Australian pub!
Dorji keeps his film simple. Its plot is comfortably loose. It has no grand gestures or revelations, just Ugyen interacting with the locals. Its connection with the schoolkids may be plain to see (and, of course, it works vice versa), but it’s done without cloying or artificial drama. Its very lack of pretentiousness is its charm.
The occasional straying from Bhutanese language to English may at first seem incongruous but it’s easy to accept and not really a problem.
“Lunana” sent me back into the daylight with a good feeling. It deserves to be seen by as many people as possible, including you.
At Palace Electric
By Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
This week’s stars are all about travel, conversation, education and exciting plans, as the Full Moon motivates you to be adventurous and dream fabulous dreams for the future. With Mars and Jupiter charging through your sign, it’s imperative to strike while the iron is hot! Be inspired by music pioneer (and fellow Aries) Diana Ross: “You can’t just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You’ve got to get out there and make it happen for yourself.”
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
Venus is visiting your sign, which highlights your natural charm and sociable nature. So it’s the perfect time to communicate with a wide range of people from a wide variety of places. Plus party like a pro at a special public event or entertain guests more privately at home. Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy yourself and have lots of fun. But be extra careful on Thursday, when someone could pass on fake news or dubious information that is not to be trusted.
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
Mercury (your power planet) moves into your sign, where it joins the Sun. So it’s time to be the best, most creative, most gung-ho Gemini you can possibly be. As birthday great Paul McCartney (who turns 80 on Saturday) observes: “You’ve got to believe in yourself… it really is true.” And then the Full Moon revs up your relationship zone. So it’s a wonderful week to fall in love, do something special with your sweetheart, or finalise a fabulous joint venture.
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
Strive to get the balance right between your professional persona and your more private side. Some quiet time for rest and relaxation is just as important as networking widely and burning the midnight oil. On Thursday, don’t let your Crab curiosity (and fertile imagination) cloud your better judgment. Step back and view a complex situation from a wider perspective, and a more realistic angle. If something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
This week you’ll feel your Lion’s roar returning! Saturn trines the Sun, so – if you play your cards right – you’ll charm the cynics, dazzle the doubters, and show others what you’re really capable of. You’re keen to talk about your grandiose goals, divine dreams and spectacular schemes for the future. But don’t get lost in a quagmire of possibilities. Make sure you walk your talk, and put those plans into productive action. Fortune favours proactive Cats.
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
Is your professional life progressing well? Are you overdue to retrain or apply for a promotion? Is it time to take on a second job or even change vocation? Avoid resting on your lovely Virgo laurels. With Mercury and the Sun/Saturn trine energising your career zones, you need to initiate some positive changes. Plus look for practical ways to manage your stress levels, otherwise you’ll find that home and work responsibilities will be in constant conflict.
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
Tuesday’s Full Moon activates your travel zones, so a heavenly holiday is likely sometime soon. But it won’t happen if you’re a lackadaisical Libran! Take action ASAP via a spontaneous booking (if you’ve got the money) or a smart savings plan (if you’re currently cash-strapped). Plus take a good, long look at your secret hopes and wishes for the future. Do they need a radical shake-up? Make sure your dreams are creative, innovative, flexible and fun.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
It’s time to take stock of your financial situation and find fresh ways to trim expenses and boost cash flow, as the Full Moon fires up your money zones. The more creative your thinking is, the better the outcome will be. But this week’s stars could also stir up your jealous side, as you become increasingly demanding towards a child, friend, lover or family member. With Venus visiting your relationship zone, consultation and compromise are the keys.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
Tuesday’s Full Moon highlights the tenuous balancing act between Sun in Gemini sociability and Moon in Sagittarius independence; between being together and being on your own. Attached Archers – talk through problems with your sweetheart. Singles – look beyond the exterior package that a potential partner presents. Killer curves or bulging biceps may seem enticing but – if the two of you can’t communicate well – then it’s just not going to last.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
Venus (planet of peace and pleasure) encourages you to build bridges with a teenager, initiate a fabulous new friendship, start a romance or take up a hobby you’ve always been interested in. Tuesday’s Full Moon highlights your humanitarian side. Being of service to others (with kindness and compassion) brings much joy and satisfaction. Plus take the time to savour and enjoy the simple things in your everyday life… like a kiss from a child or a walk in the park.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
It’s a good week to entertain family and friends at home, as Venus and Uranus stimulate your domestic zone Convivial conversation is a bonus. But has an old relationship finally run out of steam? Or is a fair-weather friend criticising your behaviour and holding you back? The Full Moon urges you to review your partnerships and peer group, discard negative influences, and surround yourself with positive people who encourage your talents and support your dreams.
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
The Full Moon stimulates your career zone, so socialising with colleagues will help improve workplace relations. If you’re looking for employment, then put the word out amongst friends. Jupiter and Mars encourage you to be financially knowledgeable and proactive. But your carefully planned week could be turned upside down when the Sun/Neptune square throws some confusing issues into the mix, especially involving a family matter.
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2022
2 Which term is applicable to a military or naval chaplain? (5)
3 Name the interval between sunset and sunrise. (5)
(8)
Which instrument is used for breaking up and grinding substances in a mortar? (6)
13 What is a gem, cut in a long rectangular shape? (8)
16 What are overtures to operas? (8)
19 Name a famous English university founded in the 12th century. (6)
22 Lisbon is the capital of which European republic? (8)
24 What is a pendent tapering mass of frozen water? (6)
25 Which sporting official assists the referee? (8)
26 Name an alternative term for an exit. (6)
4 Which small, flask-shaped body is in the epithelium of the tongue? (8)
5 Which chemical compound reddens blue litmus paper? (4)
6 What is a sudden interruption to the supply of blood to the brain? (6)
7 What is a special natural aptitude called? (6)
12 Name a term for a profoundly wise person. (4)
14 What is another name for petrol? (8)
15 Which term describes a group of three? (4)
17 What is a colloquial name for a raw recruit? (6)
18 Which turning machines are used in working metal, wood, etc? (6)
20 What is a brother of a Christian religious order? (5)
21 What are actors’ parts known as? (5)
23 Which precious stones are used in jewellery? (4)
There are so many real estate agents to choose from – my business philosophy is very different to any other. My time in social policy in overseas aid and refugee/humanitarian sectors solidified my core way of life.
After the honour of being appointed on the Deputy Chief Minister’s Consultative Group for Affordable Housing and Homelessness, and the Housing Summit in October 2017, I knew I could contribute more.
I had an idea of incorporating the ethos of social enterprises and community organisations and adapting these principles to a pre-existing sector. With huge thanks to Cindy Mitchell at The MillHouse, she helped define my business idea as a “social impact model”. Those who are successful should give back as we all know the gap between the “haves” and the “have nots” is expanding.
I am guided by Diane Kargas Bray and Peter Gordon at Hands Across Canberra as they know where the money is most needed with their 250+ community organisations.
My raison d’être is affordable housing – helping those facing homelessness. The United Nations has decreed that having a roof over your head is a basic human right.
My Investors Can Help project with the Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services shows Canberra has a big heart. Last year, I was the top female fundraiser for Vinnies CEO Sleepout raising over $20,000.
Next time you’re looking to sell, contact me on 0405 135 009 for a very different selling experience, and make a difference.
In the meantime, look up my RateMyAgent reviews to see what others say.
