CityNews 220901

Ed gets in the swing of a different kind of spin

By Nick OVERALL

AT first glance it may seem that a politician and a DJ wouldn’t have much in common.

But the newest member of the ACT Legislative Assembly would tell you differently.

While he’s now been elected as Member for Murrumbidgee, Ed Cocks was once upon a time disc-jockeying his way across Canberra’s nightclub scene.

“I went from high school bands and a lot of grunge music around the youth centres in Canberra into discovering electronic music and that’s when I found my way into nightclubs,” says Ed.

“It was this great, welcoming envi ronment. I performed live and promot ed my own events. It’s always been one of those things I’m passionate about.”

Cocks’ parliamentary ambitions stretch almost as far back as his musical ones.

While putting himself through university as a mature-age student and working in a public service mailroom, he says he resonated with the “fundamental freedoms approach” he saw embedded in the Liberal Party.

“Freedom of choice, freedom of

“I don’t think you help one group of people to get ahead by holding someone else back. You do it by breaking down barriers and I really saw that embedded in the Liberal philosophy.”

His eventual decision to throw his hand up for politics was largely inspired by the Mr Fluffy asbestos controversy.

“Some of my friends had to give up their homes because they found Mr

money out of the process rather than being able to put those people first.

“That seemed to be driven by the fact that we were running such a bad deficit that we didn’t have the reserve to be able to respond in a compassionate way and the legacy is still there, there are still people really struggling.”

Cocks’ passion to see change would lead him to unsuccessfully contesting

Since 1993: Volume 28, Number: 35

Arts & Entertainment 19-21

Canberra Matters 6

Crosswords & Sudoku 23

Cinema & Streaming 20

Gardening 22

Horoscopes 23

Letters 12

News 3-12

Politics 8

Whimsy 11

Cartoonist Paul Dorin gets in the mood for Father’s Day. Page 12.

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the ACT election in 2016 and 2020, as well as trying his hand at the federal seat of Bean in 2019.

He had all but decided to close the book on his political aspirations when he got the news a few months ago that former Murrumbidgee MLA Giulia Jones was resigning, triggering a countback for her seat.

“I had to sit down and decide whether I was still passionate enough to step up and thrust my family back into that political life,” he says.

“When it came down to it, I couldn’t step back from what I see as the need in the community for someone who’s going to advocate for them.”

With a heavy flow of preferences, Ed was elected to replace Mrs Jones and soon after given the shadow portfolios for mental health, jobs and workplace affairs and regulatory services.

Mental health has been a long-time passion for Cocks, having experienced the loss of a friend in high school to

“I spent about seven years in the federal government around mental health trying to find ways to make the system work better and I’m really looking forward to bringing that approach here in Canberra,” he says

“We need to make sure people can get the help they need. We’ve got huge workforce barriers. There just aren’t enough psychologists and psychiatrists in the Canberra area.”

In his inaugural speech, Cocks also threw his voice behind the establishment of a police station in Canberra’s west, construction of the Molonglo Bridge to help ease congestion and improvement of the Woden town centre.

When asked about where he’d place himself on the political spectrum relative to his colleagues, Mr Cocks says he doesn’t like the language that’s arisen around the word “conservative”.

“Look, if conservative means standing up for the little guy being able to get ahead I’m happy being called a conservative. If conservative is standing up for those really important freedoms and standing up for people who are just trying to make their way in life I’m happy to be called conservative.”

Cocks says his biggest inspiration comes from his wife, Nicole, and his two children, aged 10 and eight.

“They are an inspiration to get out there and to work and to make sure Canberra is the place that they can grow up and have a bright vision of the future and know they’ve got something great they can do here,” he says.

Away from the Chamber, Cocks also says he still gets around to playing music, too.

“Music has always been one of those things that helps my own mental health,” he says.

“I have a spare room with a bunch of electronic music gear; whenever I can, I’m in there making noises.”

Fatal doors that were ignored for seven years

“THERE are no bystanders – the standard you walk past is the standard you accept.”

That’s the quote, from former Chief of Army Lt-Gen David Morrison, that McAllister, the Inspector of Correctional Services, used to begin his uneasy report into the tragic death of a young man in his twenties, in his first day on remand, at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) earlier this year.

“The AMC is managed by a government we elect and by public servants employed in our names. The practices employed and the culture which dominates the AMC are ones we, particularly through our silence and disinterest, endorse.” That’s what Tongs, an indigenous leader well acquainted with deaths in custody, says in response to the report.

The tragedy that we have “endorsed”, is embedded in the shameful revelations in McAllister’s report that might have prevented this young man’s suicide death. He is not named at the request of his parents.

The inspector says: “Subject to any findings of the ACT coroner, it appears that the detainee used a bedsheet to hang himself from a horizontal bar on the rear door of the cell, which provides access to a small outdoor bricked courtyard.

“Most regrettably this risk had been identified and reported by AMC facilities management staff in 2015, but had not been addressed.”

That’s right. “Most regrettably” the bureaucracy had known about this flaw in the design of the prison doors for seven years. Seven years, but chose not to fix it. There was a further unaddressed design fault with the same cell doors that was

identified on May 13, 2020, which although not related to the death of the detainee, raised further serious concerns about the safety of the doors and ligature points. That incident involved an indigenous detainee who self-harmed by attaching a

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ligature to the cell’s external door. Following this incident, a brief was prepared by the then commissioner of Corrective Services and forwarded to the director-general of the Justice and Community Services Directorate, which advised, in part: “It has been identified that all of the high-security doors in the AMC’s Management and Crisis Support Units are no longer fit for purpose and present a safety risk to detainees… As a result up to 42 doors require urgent replacement.”

The brief sought approval for a publictender process to procure replacement doors, noting the replacement of the doors “has been deemed as urgent”.

So urgent was it that three weeks later the director-general approved the brief on June 2, 2020. What happened then?

“Due to budget constraints, the scope of work was reduced to the replacement of the front cell doors only,” the inspector of correctional services notes. “However, one might have expected that replacing the rear MU cell doors would have been the priority.”

The inspector went on to make, among his findings:

“That at the time of the detainee’s death in 2022, ACTCS was aware of a serious design fault in the rear cell doors, which had been known since 2015.”

“That in 2020 the director-general of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate

approved an urgent purchase of replacement doors for the AMC Management Unit due to “inherent safety risk identified with the current doors”. For reasons unclear to [the inspector], the rear MU doors had not been replaced at the time [the detainee] utilised the rear door as a ligature point.” Doubtless, as our slippery ministers hide behind the nearest enquiry to avoid comment, we will have to wait until the findings of the forthcoming inquest before we hear from them.

But inescapably, you’d have to wonder how something as important, as urgent, as fixing the cell doors when the risk was known for seven years could ever be subject to “budget constraints”. Unfortunately, the standard we, who elect and employ these people, walk past is the standard we accept.

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

C O R K H I L L B R O S M I T C H E L L

B r o w s e o u r i n t e r i o r r a n g e a t

3 3 D a r l i n g S t r e e t M i t c h e l l !

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CANBERRA MATTERS / planning

It’s ‘selfish’ residents holding back developers!

MOST mainstream media articles about developments in RZ1 residential zones regularly include developers or their loyal followers who will criticise Canberra’s elite NIMBYs.

This disingenuous criticism is levelled at the majority of Canberra’s population, residents who own RZ1 houses in around 80 per cent of the city.

Developers have convinced Greenslabor politicians that most of Canberra’s residents are selfishly holding up property investment. Their view being that houses are about investment and profit while most residents still cling to the healthy view that their house is their home – with a garden and backyard.

These lobbyists also bring up the vexed issue of affordable housing (which under normal circumstances is a valid conversation). Developers and their hangers-on pursue the spin that affordable housing is not happening because (you guessed it) those selfish residents are blocking changes of rules to allow multi-unit developments within established suburban streets.

Apparently, such changes would translate automatically to affordable housing rather than more profits for developers.

These voices deliberately ignore

the reality that apartments and units being built by the same, complaining developers in other zones are not affordable (it is about profits).

It deflects the blame for the lack of affordable housing from those responsible, being the ACT Greenslabor government who have squandered the last decade of opportunities to get this stuff fixed.

Following the dubious figures produced by Andrew Barr in the last ACT Budget, people are wondering if there’s not much to be spent on social services, social housing and affordable housing, where has all the money gone?

It is rare to hear about developers and the Rattenbury-Barr support groups making an effort to understand the views of residents who live in 80 per cent of Canberra. The government will get around this by quoting their versions of stuff submitted through their now

This government and its bureaucracy are skilled at cherry picking and misrepresenting statistics to back up their plans to abolish the RZ1 residential zone system.

infamous portal – Have Your Say (and we misinterpret your views).

This government and its bureaucracy are skilled at cherry picking and misrepresenting statistics to back up their plans to abolish the RZ1 residential zone system and to give free rein to the planning directorate’s laissez-faire developments.

To see what they prefer to be built in the inner suburbs, just search “CityNews: 18 Darke Street, Torrens”. To add insult to those who cherish this city, many suburban plots with social housing are being replaced by unit cramming with greenery bulldozed by the government’s developer – Housing ACT.

The government has also invested precious resources in not-so-innovative programs such as the Demonstration House projects to prove how these well-worn models will provide for the “missing middle” – a term invented as a solution to a problem that does not exist. These allow

favoured architects and developers to get a foothold in the RZ1 zones with very dubious blocks of flats.

Residents, when surveyed, respond with overwhelming support for detached forms of housing – including the option of well-designed townhouses.

Despite this evidenced-based data, the Greenslabor politicians roll out their own data that at least 70 per cent of new homes should be apartments, which means more towers (and maximum profits for developers).

Town cramming, with little in community facilities and greenery, is this ACT government’s priority – think Woden Town Centre.

Experience has demonstrated that the ACT Planning Directorate does not have the expertise to engage with residents to deliver well-designed homes that increase (rather than destroy) biodiversity and greenery. Instead of listening to those spruiking rubbish, the ACT Greenslabor politicians could do what people expect of them – listen to what residents are saying and read their submissions.

Residents generally know that architectural design, landscape design, biodiversity, energy efficiency, greenery and trees are possible if

there was an intelligent, creative and humane approach adopted for urban infill. What is happening now is the directorate’s preference for a hands-off, laissez-faire approach (let the developers do what they do).

Leafy inner suburbs are being transformed into boring heat islands. It is goodbye to backyards – with community land and open spaces on stand-by as land banks for residential developments.

It may come as a surprise to the wilfully ignorant politicians that many residents are aware that infill is necessary and there could be more townhouses and (strata-titled) dual occupancies where sites are appropriate for such redevelopments.

The point of difference is the residents’ insistence on good architectural and landscape design, doing no harm, aesthetics, being mindful of neighbourhood character and increasing the chances of dealing with climate change. Please stop listening to those who only have an eye for their investments and short-term profits!

Club’s half a century keeping everything in scale

By Lily PASS

PETER Davis’ obsession with scale models started when he was only five-years-old, when his dad introduced him to the ACT Scale Modellers’ Society (ACTSMS).

“Dad got me into the hobby. He mostly made military vehicles and cars, so my interests have grown from there,” says Peter, 34.

The Society, which started in 1972, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, as Peter enters his second term as president.

“I think it’s an honour and privilege to be president during our 50th anni versary, it’s been very touching and a nice thing to be a part of,” he says.

“There are a lot of people who aren’t familiar with the hobby and think it’s just building something and painting it, which it is for some people. But where it’s also beneficial is that it involves a lot of thinking and fine motor skills.

“We see a lot of people from emergency service backgrounds, defence backgrounds, that use it as an outlet and it’s very beneficial to do something constructive I think, it’s a good outlet.

“I guess some people read a book or

watch Netflix to unwind at the end of the day, I go out into the peace and quiet and paint or assemble something.”

Peter says he had a few years away from the Society when he worked in the Australian Defence Force, but moved back to Canberra in 2011 and got drawn back in.

He has now been a member for at least 25 years, and given his Defence background, it’s no surprise that military vehicles are his favourite models

to create – “I’m just passionate about Australian military history.”

Peter says a lot of the society’s 130 financial members are right into the history behind what they’re building, too.

“It’s a way of having a small piece of that history at home,” he says.

When he’s working on a model, Peter will try to dedicate 30 minutes each day to it, with one of his most recently completed projects – a Royal Australian Air Force, C-130H Hercules – tak-

ing him about six months to complete.

“I’m not as efficient as some; who will make between 16-20 models in a year, and I’m lucky to make three,” he says.

The society meets at the Hellenic Club in Woden, usually on the second Wednesday of each month.

The monthly meeting allows members to bring along their most recent purchases or models they’re currently working on to show off and discuss.

“Members are encouraged to bring their projects to display on the night,” he says. “We’ll do a people’s choice vote on the projects that are displayed around the outside of the room, which goes towards other awards later in the year.”

The society projects range across a variety of subjects, Peter says, from scifi, building robots, miniature figures, boats, cars and planes.

The society is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and is hoping to attract former members to its gala dinner at the Woden Hellenic Club on Septem ber 10, with a three-course meal for $55.

“We’re trying to get in touch with any former members who might be out there that have given up for various rea sons, or who might potentially want to come back, and it would be a good way to celebrate the last 50 years and their previous involvement,” says Peter.

The society is also hoping to attract new members, young and old.

“We don’t just want people that are at a high level and competing,” says Peter.

“We want members of all abilities and skill levels because I think that’s what makes a good community, a good society.”

Peter says model-making materials can vary; he started off with basic plastic kits.

“Now, to add more detail, most of my kits will involve using both plastic and metal parts. People can use metal, plastic, wood, resin and now there’s 3D printing as well.

“We’ll do workshops for people who are a little bit less experienced that want to learn how to improve their skills or are just starting out and wanting to learn the basics of building a scale model.”

ACTSMS Gala Dinner, September 10, Hellenic Club, Woden. More at actsms.asn.au. Anniversary dinner RSVPs to johnpurcell427@gmail.com

POLITICS / gambling

The goal is – like tobacco – to get kids hooked

THE Queensland government was certain it could keep Star Casino clean. Revelations by ABC Investigations are telling a different story.

Although the harms of gambling go well beyond criminal activity and money laundering, it seems that gov ernments cannot get the upper hand.

Australia has the highest per capita losses through gambling in the world. A few years ago pokies were the major problem with gambling addiction. Now there is online gambling. Prohibiting gambling will not work. However, there are things that governments can do to regulate the industry.

not even mentioned … “take it to the NED’s level” is just one example.

Let’s start with advertising. It’s gobsmacking that gambling businesses can advertise in a way that reaches children. Self-regulation has proven completely impotent. It does not take much watching of commercial television to realise just how insidiously the gambling industry reaches out to people – including children.

Maybe it was because we all watched more television during covid, but it certainly feels like our free-toair television has been swamped with the marketing of online gambling. These are such clever advertisements. It is all about the fun and never about the pain. Often the word gambling is

According to Gambling Victoria: “NieIsen research found an average of 948 gambling ads were broadcast daily on free-to-air TV in Victoria in 2021, an increase from 374 ads each day in 2016”. That is considerably more than doubled. They also point out that “an average of 148 gambling ads were broadcast on free-to-air TV between 6pm-8.30pm every weeknight, during the primetime family viewing slot”. The goal, like Big Tobacco, is to get kids hooked!

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare advised that “Australians lost approximately $25 billion on legal forms of gambling in 2018-19, representing the largest per capita losses in the world”.

Governments have the power to control advertising. Such controls worked effectively in reducing tobacco use – without introducing a prohibition on tobacco. Stopping the advertising of gambling is long overdue.

The Institute pointed out that: “The social costs of gambling – including adverse financial impacts, emotional and psychological costs, relationship and family impacts, and productivity loss and work impacts – have been estimated at around $7 billion in Victoria alone.”

Apart from lotto and scratchies, the most common form of gambling in 2018 was poker machines. However, although the transition to favouring online gambling was well underway, it ramped up very quickly during covid. According to the Statista Research Department, 62 per cent of gambling was online before covid and 23.5 per cent in clubs, pubs and similar venues. During covid this moved to 78 per cent online and down to just 8.1 per cent in these venues. Governments have the power to control advertising. Such controls

worked effectively in reducing tobacco use – without introducing a prohibition on tobacco. Stopping the advertising of gambling is long overdue.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) points out it started enforcing new, illegal offshore online gambling services in 2017. Since then 568 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked.

Online sports betting has not quite doubled between 2020 and 2021. The ACMA report published also pointed to 16 per cent of Australians who switched to online gambling were gambling more frequently than before the advent of COVID-19.

Not enough is being done; the marketing of online, and all other forms of gambling should be closed down and in particular, advertising on free-to-air television. This would be a major step forward, but would not stop those who enjoy an occasional flutter from indulging in this pastime.

Finally, governments have assured the community again and again that casinos can operate without the support of criminal elements. Again and again there are examples of money laundering by big rollers and involve -

ment of serious criminal elements. Since February 1973 when Australia’s first casino opened at Wrest Point in Tasmania, casinos have been open to exploitation by such elements.

The latest revelations by ABC Investigations indicate that Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, a major supporter of the new Queensland Star Casino, is linked to Chinese Triads. The journalists suggest that they have uncovered “long association with notorious organised crime figures”. This information has been referred by the attorney-general to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation. This is the very body that conducted the probity check in 2015.

Australia has the highest per capita losses through gambling in the world. It is time for effective regulation of this out-of-control industry.

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

Mike Lester is a self-taught artist who specialises in watercolours and ink drawings of mainly buildings and the like. Has exhibited locally and provided botanical illustrations for the Parliament House Gardens Walk brochure and other inhouse publications.

Mick Ashley has focused on Canberra ‘scapes’ for the past 12 years and since that time has made good headlines both nationally and internationally. With over 300 to choose from there’s certain to be something for everyone.

Winning ways of the top law-firm award finalist

FARRAR Gesini Dunn has been announced as one of the local finalists for the ACT Law Society’s 2022 ACT Law Firm of the Year Award.

With offices in Sydney, Melbourne and locally at their Civic office, Farrar Gesini Dunn was one of the first law firms in Australia to practice exclusively in family law, says family law director Kasey Fox.

The ACT Law Society has recognised Farrar Gesini Dunn as a finalist for its “innovative approach to family law.”

“We were early adopters of collaborative law, which offers clients involved in family law disputes an alternate pathway to resolve the dispute without going to court,” says Kasey.

“The parties and their lawyers sign a contract to commit not to go to court (or threaten court) and thereafter the lawyers and the parties work as a team to collectively resolve the dispute in a manner consistent with both parties’ interests.

“We were one of the first firms to start utilising collaborative law in Australia and we continue to advocate this process to our clients and to other members of the profession,” she says.

As part of Farrar Gesini Dunn’s dispute resolution options, they have an intensivesettlement process called “Settle by Sunday”.

“The concept is simple – a separated couple base themselves at the same location for a full weekend, along with the people they need to help them resolve their settlement amicably in a timeefficient way,” says Kasey.

The goal of the weekend is to “settle by Sunday”, therefore avoiding the negative effects of a drawn-out, adversarial and potentially acrimonious separation.

“We also have an in-house child and family specialist who can be involved in the process, to support the parties’ emotional needs and help bring the voice of the children into the discussions,” says Kasey.

CEO Jim Dunn says: “We understand that separation and post-separation par enting can be a traumatic and unsettling experience for everyone in the family.

“While we are confident that we provide exceptional legal service and advice, we wanted to connect with our clients on a more personal level, to deepen our understanding of them and their families and cater for their needs in a more complete way.

“This informed Farrar Gesini Dunn’s

“Our LGBTIQ legal service seeks to traverse the barriers facing the LGBTIQ community by providing a specialised service to LGBTIQ clients who are dealing with these issues or who would prefer to see a lawyer with experience in, and an understanding of, the unique issues and barriers facing members of the LGBTIQ community.”

The ACT Law Society has also recognised Farrar Gesini Dunn’s commitment to women in their workplace saying: “This focus is shown clearly in their staffing, with women making up 60 per cent of their director roles and 84 per cent of staff.”

Kasey Fox says: “One of our core values is to foster a work environment that supports our lives, sees strengths in our differences and values women.

“The number of women we have is a testament to the fact that we live and breathe that core value each day.”

She says that the firm greatly values the support it can offer to the community and local charities such as Karinya House through its annual charity golf days.

The winner of the Law Society’s ACT Law Firm of the Year award will be announced at the Law Society’s Annual Dinner and Awards Night on November 4.

Visit fgd.com.au

Fundraising for the love of Lego

BRICKS2022 features a large exhibition and display by the Canberra Lego User Group as well as various stalls, barbecue, raffles, Lego building competitions and face painting at the Woden School, 127 Denison Street, Deakin, on Saturday, September 10 (9am-4pm) and Sunday, September 11 (9am-2pm). It is the eighth BRICKS event and a major fundraiser for The Woden School, a secondary school and college for students with special needs. The school’s P&C group is raising funds for new equipment at the school. Entry is $3 for children, $5 adults or $15 a family.

Saddle up with Matt

MATT Watson will talk about “Riding for the Disabled” at the next meeting of the Narrabundah Probus Club at the Harmonie German Club, 11am, September 13. The club meets on the second Tuesday of each month and welcomes visitors and new members.

Foster care for kittens

RSPCA ACT is seeking foster carers for kittens. CEO Michelle Robertson says: “Foster care is particularly important for these homeless cats and kittens to ensure they receive the required socialisation, support and love they need to get them ready for adoption.” More at rspca-act.org.au/cat-foster

Community notices to: editor@citynews.com.au

Just becoming wild about Harry… oh,

“The music we listen to may not define who we are. But it’s a damn good start” – American writer Jodi Picoult

I’VE become increasingly conscious that I’m in a time warp when it comes to popular music. My September resolution is to bring myself up to date by listening to the top 10 records on the Australian hit parade and pay more attention to the lyrics.

Unfortunately, once your children leave home you are no longer exposed to contemporary music. Even before they leave you may not be aware of what they’re listening to because they’re plugged into earphones.

In April, I went to the Canberra Theatre to experience Bjorn Again. After the interval, the keyboard player did a great solo of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” from 1986 and, to my surprise, most of the audience knew the lyrics. Then this week I was at a pub where the band played “Pompeii” by Bastille – released in 2013. I hadn’t heard it before and, once again to my surprise, most of the audience knew the lyrics.

I realised belatedly that my mental playlist dates mainly from 1950 to 1980. This focus has been reinforced

by listening to radio stations that specialise in music from that era – such as 2CA, which targets an audience aged 55 plus. Since 1980, I have seldom listened to new pop music or the top 10. Occasionally, a “new” song will enter my consciousness. An example being Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill”, which has even become mainstream enough to be sung by the Brisbane Pub Choir. However, in this case it’s actually not a new song – it originally charted in 1985. It’s a reentry to the charts after it was prominently featured in the fourth season of “Stranger Things”.

The main Australian music sales charts are issued weekly by the Aus -

tion (styled ARIA). They’re a record of the highest-selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. The charts are released on Fridays at 5pm AEST. In March, ARIA an-

nounced that chart figures would also include YouTube streaming data.

Songs that have reached number one in Australia this year are Harry Styles’ “As It Was” (14 weeks in the top 10), Jack Harlow’s “First Class” (13 weeks), Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” (7 weeks), and Joji’s “Glimpse of Us” (4 weeks). Styles has had eight songs in the Australian top 10 this year. Who, some of you might ask, is this Harry Styles?

Well, Harry Styles, 28, is an English singer, songwriter and actor. He released his first “Harry Styles” solo album through Columbia Records in 2017. It reached number one in the UK and the US and was one of the world’s top-10 best-selling albums of the year.

Styles’ second album “Fine Line” (2019) saw the biggest ever first-week sales by an English male artist in the US. Styles’ third album, “Harry’s House” (2022), was widely acclaimed and he broke several more records (no pun intended).

Apart from his music and acting, Styles is known for his flamboyant dressing, and is the first man to appear on his own on the cover of “Vogue”. In 2021, Styles came second in “The Sunday Times” Rich List

of Musicians in the UK Under 30 with an estimated net worth of £75 million ($A130 million). First was Ed Sheeran, but he’s now over 30! Don’t tell me you haven’t heard of Ed Sheeran either?! Sheeran has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the world’s best-selling music artists. Globally, Spotify named him the second most streamed artist of the last decade. Only Canadian rapper Drake achieved more plays. I have to admit I knew little of all of this until recently, but am now looking forward to the Friday release of the ARIA top 10 to continue, like Doctor Who, to reinvent myself. However, listening to some boringly repetitive modern rap music, I am reminded of what Elvis Presley once said: “I don’t know anything about music. In my line you don’t have to.”

Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.

Refuting the dangerous myths of fossil fuels

I WRITE to refute several of the myths written by Ken Murtagh (“Break the renewable powerhouse fantasy”, Letters, CN August 18).

Before I start, I am a climatologist, who firmly believes from his own observations, research and reading of the literature over the last 40 years, that human-induced climate change is not only real, but is actively happening now.

Fossil fuels are not “clean” sources of energy any more than nuclear energy is. All will leave a mess for us, or following generations, to clean up whether it be the huge holes in the ground, the health-destroying pollution they create or the impact on the atmosphere, climate and the environment.

The other myth is that fossil fuel energy brings benefits to the millions of the earth’s population that have none. Most of the world’s poor could not even afford such a luxury, as it comes at a great environmental and economic cost.

The manufacture of the components of wind generators or solar panels, like the materials used in the construction and maintenance of fossil fuel power stations and nuclear plants, generate their own toxic ingredients. Because of cost, all components tend to be manufactured in China and other low-wage economies. Poor environmental law in these countries, aided and abetted by our Western-owned manufacturers, contribute to this environmental catastrophe – all in the name of profit.

I am not an engineer but I believe that most materials used in wind farms or solar farms can be recycled. It is rather hard, if not impossible to recycle the waste products of fossil fuels or nuclear waste – indeed radioactive waste has a life of thousands of years until it is safe.

I very much doubt that the AUKUS plans for nuclear-powered submarines in Australia will ever get off the ground. The cost alone should see it torpedoed!

No matter how compact a modular nuclear power station might be, it requires water as a coolant. Most of Australia’s water supplies are already over exploited.

While the current La NIna/IOD pattern is contributing to flooding rains, an El Nino-triggered drought is always around the corner.

I for one, don’t want my children and grandchildren saddled with the environmental cost of nuclear power, any more than

dose of dorin

I wish on them an uninhabitable planet, due to unbridled fossil fuel use linked to unrestrained consumerism leading to a “Hot house Earth”.

Gavin O’Brien, Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society, Gilmore

Don’t forget, horses also emit methane

VI Evans’ (Letters, CN August 25) defence of fossil fuels includes some outlandish suggestions and claims, such as refusing to have anything to do with steel if you’re serious about reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Thanks to people like Australia’s Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest and Mike Cannon-Brookes, there is a move to make steel with green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, rather than traditional metallurgical coal.

As for “getting rid of “all your plastics, your mobile phone, your computer”, after a moment’s thought Ms Evans would realise that the CO2 emitted in the manufacture of these items is a drop in the ocean compared to emissions from the fossil-fuelled transport sector, the construction sector (making cement and using concrete emit huge volumes of CO2), the mining sector (coal mines emit significant volumes of methane, a global warming gas 30 times more potent than CO2), forestry (which destroys natural carbon capture and storage systems), and stock farming (grazing animals, especially

will be met by ratepayers and not CIT’s student fees and other sources of income.

ACT voters recently showed quite clearly that they have little tolerance for secretive leadership and governance practices that could be construed as self-serving.

Sue Dyer, Downer

Investigate nature reserves management

IN reply to the letter “The roos are well fed and out bush” by Michael Collins (CN August 18) I can only say I wish that were true.

Unfortunately because of extensive investigations by many concerned citizens, the counting estimates and methods by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, reported in its analysis of each cull, are deeply flawed.

cattle, emit methane).

Solar panels do not “contain fossil fuels”, nor “nasty chemicals” and lithium has medicinal properties. Wind turbines do not “use litres of oil”, nor does it take simply “many tonnes of coal to make them”: renewable energy is also used.

And don’t forget, horses also emit methane.

Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

Integrity interest batted away too quickly

WHILE the CIT CEO is still on paid leave, the public is given no clue as to the timeframes set down for the finalisation of the investigations into CIT’s years of costly dependence on a purveyor of questionable systems “thinking” mantras and “complexity” interventions (“Steel hides behind integrity probe on CIT”, citynews.com.au, August 22).

Why shouldn’t the public be informed about progress being made against the timelines and whether the ACT government has beefed up agency resourcing to enable swifter than normal delivery of the reports for which the public has been waiting many weeks now?

The minister surely can’t claim that he is “prevented” from communicating and providing updates about such practical context issues, either inside or outside Estimates hearings, especially since the ongoing high costs of getting to the bottom of this saga

Farrer Ridge Reserve is an example. In 2021, a cull took place; the directorate’s count was 409 kangaroos over 202 hectares. The aim was that 317 were to be killed (not to mention the pouch joeys bashed to death), leaving 101 (0.5 kangaroos per hectare). Sadly, only 30 kangaroos remained and the swamp wallaby was nowhere to be seen.

Numerous people were involved in counting and no one could get past 30.

In July this year another count took place over the whole area and 40 were found, of which eight were joeys. There are now only two small mobs of around 12 roos and three groups of four and a couple of single females.

This is not healthy, the gene pool having possibly been destroyed. In nature predators will go for the weak but shooters have no way of determining the weak from the strong.

In the 2022 analysis of the culling, the directorate estimated there are now 144 kangaroos on Farrer Ridge. I have written to the Environment Minister several times, but she will not address how this could possibly happen. Does she honestly think I am lying and making it up? I am definitely not, it is a sad fact of reality.

I think an independent investigation should be undertaken into this terrible mismanagement of our nature reserves. Now with two and a half years of wellabove-average rainfall the vegetation will definitely be a fire hazard during hot weather.

Julie Lindner, Farrer

E-buses are absolutely

in our best interests

SHOULD Andrew Barr, Chris Steel, Andrew Leigh, Katy Gallagher, Alicia Payne and David Pocock act in the best interests of the people who elected them?

It is in our best interests to have “T2” or “T3” transit lane signs painted on strategic sections of traffic lanes on the approaches to intersections. That will cut travel times, for those of us who reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse emissions by travelling as car or bus passengers. It can lock in sub-20-minute Woden-to-Civic bus travel times, even in peak hour. That’s 10 minutes faster than light rail.

For about $50 million we can replace all of the polluting diesel and CNG buses on the Woden-Civic route with zero-emissions buses.

That will reduce the record-breaking 37,000 tonnes of CO2-e emissions that Transport Canberra produced in 2020-21.

For a third of the cost of stage 2 of light rail, Transport Canberra can replace its entire bus fleet with zero emissions buses. Meanwhile, the federal and ACT governments are spending $181 million of our money to replace one mile of bus routes with a light rail route.

Are our local politicians acting in our best interests, or are they acting in the best interests of foreign companies?

Leon Arundell, Downer

Beware of the chariot whisperers

IT is widely reported that some triumphant Roman emperors and generals often had a person (not always a slave) standing behind them in their chariot occasionally whispering in their ear, according to Tertullian: “Look behind you. Remember you are a man”.

Musing, one could postulate that the same whisperers could usefully be behind Putin and Xi.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

SPRING HEALTH & FITNESS

Goodbye winter, hello to a healthy start to spring

AS winter melts away, what better way to start fresh in spring than getting out in the warm weather with some exercise?

Whether it’s joining a class, getting a professional check-up or picking up a new hobby to stay healthy, “CityNews” spoke with Canberra’s health experts for some spring fitness ideas.

Workout system offers ‘compellingly good’ results

SPEEDFIT offers a personalised, all-over workout that only takes 20 minutes, says owner of SpeedFit Kingston Lanette Helene.

“SpeedFit is a fitness franchise using electro muscular stimulation (EMS) technology where you wear a suit with electrodes and are taken through a 20-minute workout that involves engaging muscles using only your own body weight,” says Lanette.

“The workout program uses a mixture of isometric (held) and slow isotonic (movement) exercises that are familiar to most people.

“In this way the workout will not load or aggravate joints, but because of the suit you will engage maximum muscle fibres similar to lifting heavy weights.”

Lanette says the EMS technology used in the exercise has been around for about 15 years in Germany, is huge in Europe and the Middle East and is gradually becoming better known in Australia and the US thanks to “compellingly good” clinical results.

“I’m very proud to be part of this fine community,” says Lanette.

“The staff mainly come from the University of Canberra with sports science and exercise physiology backgrounds – through my prior connections with the university, so you are in safe hands with my wonderful staff.”

Lanette says there are only two clients with an instructor per session, meaning the workout is personalised for each person.

“We have all the range of clients from young to

who have never exercised,” she says. “SpeedFit is something you need to try to appreciate.”

Lanette says they’re also offering a special for Father’s Day, where dads can try a session for free.

SpeedFit Kingston, 6/81 Giles Street, Kingston. Call 6190 8895 or visit speedfit.com.au/location/kingston-act

Low-impact way to turbo-charge a walk

A NEW, scientifically studied exercise technique called Nordic Walking is more effective than jogging, but as gentle as walking, and is the perfect way to get in some regular exercise this year, says Capital Nordic Walking founder Kristen Pratt.

The technique, which keeps European cross-country skiers fit during their off season, uses specially designed poles that are planted behind the user to propel them along using the power of the upper body as well as the legs.

“It doubles the number of muscles being used and strengthened compared to walking and running, making it easy to get a high-intensity cardiovascular workout,” says Kristen.

“It strengthens arms, shoulders, back and core while also massively reducing strain on leg joints.” Kristen says Nordic Walking is quickly growing in Canberra, beneficial to those who need some low-impact exercise and for those with a

competitive spark.

“The great thing about Nordic walking is you don’t have to go very fast to get a good workout, but competitive Nordic walkers can get up to speeds similar to running,” she says.

“For people who like walking, it can turbo-charge your walk and for people who are really fit, like runners and crossfitters, it’s a really good cross activity to build muscle because it is so low impact.”

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

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SPRING HEALTH & FITNESS

Doctor offers important exercise tips

WHAT better way to start fresh in spring than getting in shape, says Dr Saqib Zafar, of Orthopaedics ACT.

“It’s a good idea to take your cardio outside through walking, hiking, jogging and running,” he says.

“Yoga is also gentle enough for those who could not get a lot of exercise during winter. Cycling is a whole-body workout and is an excellent way to regain your fitness. Outdoor sports like cricket, tennis, soccer and more are not only good exercise, but also an opportunity to socialise with others.”

Dr Zafar says that during warm weather the team at Orthopaedics ACT not only see a different pattern of injuries, but also worsening of pre-existing conditions or development of new, elective conditions such as painful arthritis of the hip, knee, ankle, wrist, hand and spine.

He says that if you have a pre-existing musculoskeletal condition, a consultation with a doctor or physiotherapist will help you choose the best exercise program and prevent deterioration of your condition.

“It’s extremely vital to set realistic goals. Start slow, pace yourself and give your body enough time to get back into shape,” he says.

“Stretching helps to prevent injury and warm up your body for intense activity.”

Dr Zafar says that each person and their condition requires a personalised approach, something the sub-specialty trained surgeons at Orthopaedics ACT always focus on.

“Many of these conditions can be managed through activity modification, dedicated physiotherapy and pain management, while others require surgical interventions to help regain mobility,” he says.

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

Hemp store offers heaps of healthy products

SOUTH Pacific Hemp celebrates the time-tested health benefits of hemp and its multiple uses, says manager Sue Booth.

“It’s time we moved away from hemp’s old reputation – while hemp and marijuana both come from the cannabis plant and often get confused, hemp is most definitely not something that can get you high,” she says.

“Hemp has strength, medicinal and nutritional value, and was first cultivated more than 10,000 years ago.”

Sue says the store sells delicious salad dressings

produced, quick-fix shopping,” she says.

“All of our hemp oils, food items, balms and creams are carefully sourced and selected from small businesses and producers in Tasmania, SA, WA and NSW.”

The store also includes a range of clothing especially designed to protect skin.

“Our clothing is designed for wearability and versatility, is breathable, natural and easy to care for,” she says.

“Hemp protects your skin by naturally filtering UV light. It also resists bacterial growth and breathes

but greatly increases the chance of a break or fracture with a minor fall.

Exercise and fitness are well recognised in building and maintaining bone strength. So, let’s get ready for our Spring Fitness!!

We are here to keep you mobile and improve your bone health, so talk to your GP about a referral to Orthopaedics ACT. With our 6 orthopaedic surgeons, 2 paediatric orthopaedic surgeons and a pain management specialist, we have you covered- head to toe!

WE DON’T JUST FIX BONES, WE FIX PEOPLE

outdoors, says Higher Function physiotherapist Dominique Wood-Ward.

“It’s more motivating to get moving and return to the activities they may have avoided during winter,” she says.

“When returning to exercise after a break, people may jump back into their sport or hobby with the same load or intensity as they had previously been able to do, which can lead to injury if they have not maintained their strength, mobility, balance and dynamic control.

“Higher Function offers a range of clinical exercise classes as well as individual therapy and caters to different levels, ages and abilities.”

Dominique says Higher Function offers small

flexibility, Strong Bones for improving bone density, GLA:D for hip and knee osteoarthritis, Golf Fit and Barre,” she says.

“If group classes aren’t your thing, our therapists can create a program for you to use at home, in your usual gym or for use in our rehabilitation gym.

“We can help with more than just injuries. We treat a variety of patients including those who are recovering from injury or surgery, people looking to manage their weight, improve their athletic performance, improve their mental health and lead a healthier pain-free life.”

Higher Function Physio & Pilates, Suite 4, Level 1/23 Petrie Plaza. Call 6262 9664 or visit higherfunction.com.au

Feeling sore?

Talk to an expert.

Specific strength and stability are needed for all sports, for better performance and injury prevention.

Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists are the experts in the structure of the human body and it's movement and function. We can find out what's slowing you down or causing pain.

Wedding experts to help beat the big-day stress

THERE are so many elements that go into making a wedding a dream come true.

The venue, the hair and make-up, the music, dancing, catering and more. It’s no easy task organising the special ceremony.

Luckily, Canberra’s home to many experts who know how to bring dream weddings to life.

“CityNews” compiled their insights into this handy guide to help make the day you say “I do” unforgettable.

Make planning the wedding fun and stress free

WEDDINGS of Canberra launched in October and owner Michael Bower says supporting local vendors does not have to come at the expense of a dream wedding.

“Weddings of Canberra is Canberra owned. It’s bright, simple and easy to use,” he says, “and Weddings of Canberra’s goal is to make wedding planning more fun and less stressful.

“I love the wedding industry. Helping couples get married, find their wedding suppliers and sharing in their journey and life story is incredibly rewarding.”

Michael says Weddings of Canberra is a

one-stop shop.

“If you’ve just got engaged or are planning to in the near future, we have a whole range of fabulous vendors waiting to hear from you,” he says.

“From traditional to outrageous, summer to spring, our vendors have a wealth of experience in the industry so that they can help you with anything that you need.”

Weddings of Canberra. Call 0400 641106, email hello@weddingsofcanberra.com.au or visit weddingsofcanberra.com.au

One-stop shop for event styling

JOSE Ciminelli, CEO of YES Canberra, has a combined total of 30 years’ experience in the event styling industry.

“And we’ve never failed anybody yet,” he says.

“We understand how important a wedding is for everybody concerned. It doesn’t matter who it’s for, we realise the importance of the event to the individual.”

YES Canberra offers a spectrum of colours, choices and styles, as well as covering pretty much everything one might need for a wedding or event, says Jose.

“From simple chairs, covers and sashes, to the whole marquee. We can do a wedding on a remote property, with a portable kitchen, decorations, tables, chairs, glassware and centrepieces, or we offer our very own marquee at the racetrack.

“We can cater for 500 people with no problems at all, more even,” he says.

“We’re the one-stop shop for all your wedding needs.

“We can also do different configura -

tions and themes, such as a western theme with wine barrels.”

Jose also says they’re very competitive with pricing.

“If you’ve got a quote from someone else that you’re not happy with, run it past us and we’ll do our best to save you money.”

YES Canberra is located at 9-11 Huddart Court, but will move in a couple of months to Unit 3, 71 Vicars Street, Mitchell.

YES Canberra, 9-11 Huddart Court, Mitchell. Call 1800 761196, or visit youreventsolution.com.au

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Experience a country wedding

TUGGERANONG

“You can get married anywhere on the property, we’ve got every backdrop except the beach,” she says.

“We’ve got grapevines, we’ve got paddocks, country backdrops and rustic. We’ve got a choice between two arbours, dining tables and chairs, and we can set up the big machinery shed for the reception with cutlery, crockery and a water station.”

Ann says everything is included in the venue hire, and people just have to pay for catering.

“We’ve got on-hand expertise and great customer service as well,” she says.

“We are pet-friendly, too. We encourage it because

we’ve got Bruno – our working dog who looks after the chooks – to welcome you and your pet in.

“We’ve got 70 acres, so when you come in it’s very secluded, and you get complete privacy. Even when you’re doing personal speeches we have no floor staff, only Gerry at the bar.”

Ann says people are welcome to bring along their own live music, but they’re happy to supply a speaker system for music, too.

One of the biggest things people love about Tuggeranong Homestead is that guests can feed the cows on site, too, as a novelty experience.

Tuggeranong Homestead, 51 Johnson Drive, Richardson. Call 6292 8888, or visit tuggeranonghomestead.com.au

Tuggeranong Homestead offers a unique & private country setting for weddings

Tuggeranong Homestead’s convenient location, natural country setting and splendid gardens offers a tranquil and enchanting alternative venue for any special events.

Make-up to make women

‘feel complete’

OWNER of Deziner Beauty Louise McMahon is passionate about making women feel stress-free and special on their big day.

Having been a make-up artist for more than two decades, Louise says she loves to bring her skills to weddings.

“We have facials to transform the skin so that you’re glowing and fresh for your photos,” she says.

“We also offer waxing, tanning, teeth brightening and gems, and have all the latest treatments, every thing from anti-ageing of the body to anti-ageing of the face.”

Louise says she’s happy to travel to where weddings are held in order to make things as easy as possible.

“You’ve got to be able to work under high pressure at a wedding,” she says.

“It’s a big and emotional day with family members so anything can happen. “Some people might bawl their eyes out and you gotta be ready to fix them up again, which we can do, and I love being able to help with that.

“Hair and make-up are big factors in making a woman feel complete at her wedding.”

Deziner Beauty, Shop 16/18 Cassidy’s Arcade, 72 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6299 5792 or visit dezinerbeauty.com.au

DALE’S Ballroom Dancing offers classes to help couples and bridal parties impress the audience on the big day, says owner Dale Harris.

“Couples can choose their song, and we can choreograph something to suit them, the music, and their style,” she says.

“I have a private studio for teaching all types of dancing that people want to learn for the occasion.”

Dale has more than 20 years of experience teaching dance, having first started dancing herself at the age of six. She’s since received many qualifications in ballroom dancing and is also a championship adjudicator who travels interstate to judge ballroom competitions.

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From absolute beginners to those experienced in dancing, she says she can offer advice and techniques to help make that special dance one to remember.

“It’s always great to see messages come back through from people saying the dance was fabulous or that they had a ball,” she says.

“We have general classes on Wednesdays to practice so people can come and meet me first for a lesson if they like, or if they want to get in touch we can have a chat about what suits them.”

Dale’s Ballroom Dancing, call 0407 066110, email dale_harris@bigpond.com or visit dalesballroomdancing.com.au

A ‘perfect’ ring for a perfect partner

MATTHEW Hengge, a jeweller, designer and maker at Harlequin Jewellers, says his love of natural gemstones began when he was a young boy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thursdays from 5.30pm

All Classes are now held at: The Crystal Ballroom Canberra 6/38 Reed Street Nth, Greenway, Tuggeranong

Dale’s Ballroom Dancing

Phone: 0407 066 110 | Email: dale_harris@bigpond.com Web: dalesballroomdancing.com | Principal: Dale Harris

0402 913 503

matthew@harlequinjewellers.com.au

www.harlequinjewellers.com.au

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Giving youth theatre something to shout about

By Helen MUSA

CAMPUS politics is well-known for having produced some of this country’s most cunning and devious politicians – best not name names.

Now Sydney writer Julian Larnach, a former student politician himself, has written “How To Vote”, a play for Canberra Youth Theatre involving up to 30 actors and an opportunity, he says, “to write a really big play about what happens when the system breaks apart”.

The plot centres on three candidates in a student election and follows through the electoral campaign, a process he hopes will have the audience in and out of their seats as they are both drawn in and forced to look objectively.

“It’s mostly a comedy about people taking themselves far too seriously and I hope the audience will be having fun,” he says. “It’s a satire and it’s got a very silly plotline with a lot of roles… it’s very silly and very big, but there’s a bit of nostalgia there, too, for a time when student life seemed simpler.”

playwright at the Australian Theatre for Young People, knows the scene.

struck by the scheming that emerged when the SRC elections came around.”

made it, “on the cusp of becoming very important people”.

He sees parallels with theatre because, in student politics, he has noticed, “there’s a degree of acting… it’s a particular world where posters and T-shirts are suddenly very important”.

Once having been commissioned to write the play by Canberra Youth Theatre’s director, Luke Rogers, a relationship with the Museum of Australian Democracy began that culminated in an early reading in the Old Parliament House of Reps chamber.

“This experience was important to me… they took us on a guided tour around the place and we came to realise this place had been the endgame for a lot of people,” he says.

He also saw an exhibition about politician Cathy McGowan and the rise of independent candidates, raising the question of what happens if an independent-minded person gets interested in politics.

Larnach ended up volunteering for an independent candidate in the Federal election this year – “life becoming art and art becoming life,” he says.

Caitlin Baker, who plays Lizzie in the production, can vouch for its connection to real life.

The events in “How To Vote”, she says, “are 110 per cent what goes on at the ANU”.

“We are surrounded by people who know how the government works and most of those people are going to go into government,” she says.

“I have stayed away from student politics except when standing up for student theatre, but you can’t really escape when you’re on campus… if you’ve been to the ANU you can say: ‘I know that goes on here’.”

It’s a mixed-age cast, where they all get to work with more experienced actors such as Joanne Richards and Tracy Noble, instead of having kids pretend to be the older characters – it’s truer to life.

Larnach’ s play, she says, has a core cast of named characters. Three of them are the candidates in the student elections, but as well there’s a massive “moving ensemble”, a huge group of young people aged 18 to 25 who make up students drinking at the uni bar, marching in demos and so on.

“I play Lizzie, one of the candidates,” she says, “I’m the progressive poster girl… the others are the single-issue candidate and the right-wing candidate – like somebody who belongs to the Young Liberals.

Larnach, the literary associate at Griffin Theatre Company and formerly resident

“I went from student politics to being a playwright,” he says. “I first got involved in student politics at the Sydney’s University newspaper ‘Honi Soit’ and was especially

Recently invited back to speak at the launch of the ‘Honi Soit’ essay competition, Larnach found it fascinating to be back at university, seeing people before they’ve

A regular with Canberra Youth Theatre since age 16, she’s now studying arts/law at the ANU where every morning as she walks down University Avenue, she sees people handing out pamphlets on all kinds of issues.

“At heart it’s a satire and there’s comedy in making fun of how big we make all these things. Why do we make student politics the biggest thing in the world?”

“How To Vote!”, The Playhouse, September 7-10.

STREAMING Chef spectacle throws viewers into the frying pan

A COOKING show has never been as intense as what’s dished up in Disney Plus’ sizzling new drama series “The Bear”.

Think “Hell’s Kitchen”, double it, and it’s somewhere in the ballpark of the tension in this TV series being lauded as one of the best of the year.

On the outset one might think that the story of a fine-dining chef returning home to Chicago to work in his family’s sandwich shop couldn’t be that nail-biting. I certainly didn’t.

But it’s not long into this story before viewers find out there’s far more ingredients being stirred around in this pot than first appears.

Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) takes over the shop following the tragic suicide of his older brother, the former owner who leaves the place in a state of disarray and drowning in debt.

A cluster of intriguing characters played with some dedicated performances make “The Bear” easy to get sucked into, but what’s really making it stand out is how realistically it captures the stress of working in the heat of a kitchen.

Chefs from around the world have praised the series, saying the high-pressure environment is captured so accurately that it’s almost hard to watch.

The show’s eponymous city makes for an intriguing, and rarely-seen cinematic setting and its excellently timed twists and turns keep it engaging throughout the two seasons so far produced.

With a third season likely on the way, now’s a great time to jump aboard.

THERE’S something about a party gone wrong that people just can’t look away from.

Australians saw it in the headlines in July when “Splendour in the Grass”, one of Byron Bay’s most popular music festivals, got pounded with rain.

The disastrous weather caused havoc for people who had travelled hours to see some of their favourite artists. Festival-goers were stuck in traffic all night without food or water, performances were cancelled, those who did brave the storm were up to their knees in mud for the majority of the event and doing all they could to keep their tents upright against the deluge.

which saw the infamous American music festival fall completely off the rails. Extreme heat, piles of trash, violence, riots, assaults and more plagued the festival over the three days of insanity which saw it turn into a catastrophe.

Each of the doco’s three episodes covers one of these days of the festival, charting the deterioration of the event which by the end was nothing short of horrific.

Of course, Woodstock ‘99 was far more disastrous than what happened in Byron Bay in July, but it’s intriguing indeed how audiences do get so swept up in the spectacle of a failed festivity.

Take Netflix’s 2019 doco phenomenon “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened”, which recounted the true story of the infamous festival organised by a conman that saw people sleeping on dirt, unable to access food or water, and stranded for days without a way home. I wonder if anyone’s thought of a doco idea for what happened at “Splendour”. How about “Rain on the Parade” for a title? You can have that one, Netflix.

Whether viewers are interested in cooking or not, this is one series deserving of a taste test.

It’s streaming on Disney Plus. Bon Appétit.

It’s an area seen little in fictional drama television. Cooking has normally been a big-ticket item in the reality TV sphere like what’s seen in “MasterChef” or anything Gordon Ramsay, but “The Bear” proves that the setting is one more than worthy of a big-budget drama.

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AUDIENCES looking for some espionage action will find just that in “Tehran”, a subversive, Israeli spy thriller on Apple TV+.

This slick series follows Tamar Rabinyan (Niv Sultan), a Mossad hacker-agent who infiltrates the capital of Iran under a false identity to help destroy the country’s nuclear reactor.

Like a car crash impossible to look away from, the festival dominated news over the three days it unfolded as footage was plastered throughout social media apps. It might have something to do with why Netflix’s new doco, “Trainwreck: Woodstock ‘99” recently hit number one on the streaming platform in Australia.

This mini-series recounts the events

CINEMA / reviews Invitation, but you’ve been warned

“The Invitation” (MA)

ACCORDING to IMDb, writer/director Jessica M Thompson’s venture into the latest moving talking image foray into Bram Stoker’s legacy was available to Australian audiences on the same day as I saw it, which was a day after its absolute world-first release in France and the Philippines. Does that portend some marketing wizard’s judgement of skill of the Australian audience to judge a new release at first sight? I think not. The only other person when I sat down to watch “The Invitation” in a cinema capable of seating several hundred people was a young woman sitting several rows behind me. Nobody else came in. By the time it had finished, she had voted with her feet on its creative values. I saw the end alone. It was my job. It was also, to the best of my recollection, the first vampire movie I saw ever, or at least since I was a kid selling empty soft-drink bottles as a penny a’piece to raise the price of a ticket to the Saturday matinee to see the latest episode of the serial, a movie genre that TV killed.

Here’s what Ms Thompson told a publication called “Bloody Disgusting” about her reasons for making the film: “It was to me, the ‘Bride of Dracula’ origin story. That was what captivated me because we haven’t seen that. We’ve done ‘Dracula’ so many times; let’s do the brides.

“There are new stories we want to see and want to know about, and we use that as a jumping-off point. It’s more of an inspiration point than trying to stay true to the book or retell it.”

Shot at the Nadasdy Castle in Hungary playing an English country mansion, “The Invitation” shares a connection with the infamous bloodguzzling lady-killer Elizabeth Bathory, which Ms Thompson felt made it uniquely perfect for the vampire theme.

Here’s a quick summary of the film: as the unsuspecting young woman caught in a web of exsanguination [process of draining or losing blood] woven by a collection of old men, following her mother’s death and with no other known relatives, Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel) takes a DNA test… and discovers a long-lost cousin she never knew she had.

Invited by her new-found family to a lavish wedding in the English countryside, she’s at first seduced by the attractive aristocratic host but is soon thrust into a nightmare of survival as she uncovers twisted secrets in her family’s history and the unsettling intentions behind their sinful generosity.

Don’t say you’ve not been warned.

At Dendy

“Fire of Love” (PG) ON June 3, 1991, Japan’s volcanic Mt Unzen erupted. Among the 43 people who died were Katia and Maurice Krafft.

Earlier this year (2022), this documentary was released. As well as starring in it, Katia and Maurice filmed much of it, not only catching eye-popping visuals in shooting conditions that make you fear almost continually for their lives, but also, while taking a chronological approach to their work, happily going off on tangents to look at their equally passionate relationship. They were good people to meet for all those reasons. Knowing the risks better than most people do, they persevered with their work. People are alive today after local authorities had faith in their advice to evacuate an area before it was too late. And many died because that advice was ignored or dismissed.

The images the film shows are rare. I cannot find words to describe the colours and structures that the film of a volcanic eruption generates. Their terrifying shapes and colours are beautiful. Being equipped and on hand to record natural disasters this big as they happened is a coincidence that not many people would care to hang around to share much less film in motion. We should also give thanks that it is unlikely that most people now living will ever see an eruption close at hand or from afar. Surviving the experience can be only brief unless you’ve heeded warnings to be far far away while it is happening. If you’ve seen

“Fire of Love’’, you’ll be better advised than somebody who doesn’t.

At Dendy

A play-within-a-play, within

By Helen MUSA

GEORGE Barrington’s famous words: “True patriots all, for be it understood, We left our country for our country’s good” were spoken at the opening of a new theatre in Sydney in 1796, but that wasn’t the first theatre opening in the fledgling colony.

That honour goes to a king’s birthday production with a convict cast, of George Farquhar’s comedy “The Recruiting Officer”, staged as part of Capt Arthur Phillip’s “progressive” push to civilise the rabble.

Now Canberra Rep is staging “Our Country’s Good”, Timberlake Werten baker’s play-within-a-play-within-a-play on the same subject, with Karen Vickery at the helm.

It was the long-time director of the Royal Court Theatre in London, Max Stafford-Clark, who spotted the theatrical potential of the story, told eloquently by Thomas Keneally in his novel “The Playmaker”.

To link “The Recruiting Officer” with the notion of convicts leaving the old country for their country’s good seems

of a performance of Farquhar’s play and see where it went.

The end result was a play with 22 characters and snippets of Farquhar’s ridiculous comedy, looking at how the play came to be performed in the first place.

But it is, Vickery emphasises, very much a contemporary play that speaks about the power of theatre to redeem

In the earliest years, Vickery reports, there were only two play scripts to be found in the colony and of them, the

was a shoo-in compared to the sober alternative, “The Tragedy of Lady Jane

“Our Country’s Good” was written in England where the fascination with convict Australia still reigns supreme,

undoubtedly brilliant, it’s not done very often, Vickery says, because its lens is focused on the colonisers and it doesn’t deal with Australia’s first inhabitants, despite the inclusion in the cast of a stereotyped character simply called “The Aborigine”, played in London by a

“You can’t do that now,” Vickery says.

played by her formidable cast are based on real people, she reports, some of them have been tracing their characters’ histories, while others have been reading Robert Hughes’ “The Fatal Shore” or novels set in the period or the books by First Fleet officer Watkin Tench.

The general reaction of the cast has been to say: “Oh, my god, these people were real”, but Vickery admits that many of the characters are either inventions or a merging of characters.

The historical people onstage include Capt Arthur Phillip; Capt David Collins,

who became judge-advocate; Lieut Ralph Clark, who staged the play and First Fleet convict Robert Sidaway, who went on to build the very theatre in Sydney where Barrington’s famous prologue was proclaimed.

Another character who, Vickery believes, is “real” is the loquacious convict Dabbie Bryant, who escaped the colony by boat, made it back to Devon and was eventually given a medal by the king for her hair-raising adventures.

Even though it was written in the ‘80s, the play feels very contemporary, Vickery says.

“It’s very short, sharp and well-constructed, with a multi-layered gallery of characters who are so vivid.

“There’s a lot of humour in it, which is a good thing because in real life there was real blackness about the treatment of convicts,” she says.

During rehearsals, they did a reading from George Farquhar’s play, a load of fun because it’s a satire that sends up the contrast between recruiting for war and recruiting for marriage.

So how is this production a playwithin-a-play-within-a play?

That’s because Vickery’s staging as the Rep company putting on “Our Country’s Good” and within that, “The Recruiting Officer”, but you’ll just have to be there to see how that works.

“Our Country’s Good,” Canberra Rep Theatre, September 8-24.

By Helen Musa

KEITH Potger, former guitarist with The Seekers, performs two gigs at the Carrington Inn, Bungendore, on Friday, September 31 and Saturday, October 1.

The Seekers had chart-topping UK and US hits as well as at home, and were part of the London ‘60s music scene. After The Seekers, Keith performed solo concerts throughout the ‘80s as well as writing and producing music for stage and television. In the ‘90s, the group reformed and toured internationally to mark their silver jubilee.

His show will include favourites from The Seekers, a touch of Nashville, some original ballads from his solo CDs and Keith’s rendition of a few hits from the ‘60s to the ‘80s. The music is punctuated with anecdotes from his five decades on the international music scene.

“WORLDWIDE” is a new major display, drawn from the National Gallery’s collection, inspired by its original vision to be a “centre of art for the whole world”. The new hang will celebrate artists from Australia, Asia, the Pacific, the Americas and Europe, but its heart is the Aboriginal Memorial of 200 hollow log coffins from 1987-1988. Opens on September 10.

THE 2022 Youth Dance Festival will feature 44 original dance works and three dance films, under the theme of “Transience and Permanence”. The popular event has created a professional pathway for more than three decades of young artists who have continued on to careers in the arts industries. At Canberra Theatre, September 5-6.

ART Song Canberra’s “The Unusual Suspects” will see soprano Sarahlouise Owens and pianist Katherine Day look at works by composers, including Cornelius, Franz, Keel and Zemlinsky, whose work deserves to be heard more often. Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, 3pm, Sunday, September 4.

By Jackie WARBURTON

IT’S almost that time to fertilise the lawn in readiness for spring.

Dynamic lifter can be used as an organic option to improve the soil and encourage beneficial microorganisms to grow. Sprinkle lightly on to the lawn and water in. Our Canberra soils are generally acidic and lawns like a pH a little higher. Gardeners’ lime can be added to raise the pH to around 6-7, which will balance all nutrients and water absorption for the lawn to grow well.

Garden lime also provides calcium and magnesium to the soil

and helps with water uptake to plants.

Now’s also the time to tackle lawn weeds such as bindi weed, oxalis or crabgrass. Hand digging with a trowel or a weed digger can be time consuming, but well worth it in the long run. Remember “a year’s seeds are seven years of weeds”.

There are herbicides to control weeds in lawns, but knowing the lawn you are growing will help find the most environmental and cost-effective way to solve weeds in the garden.

Aerating the lawn with a coring machine is recommended where the grass has heavy foot traffic or there is soil compaction. To do this at home without hiring a machine, use a strong fork pushed in the soil and levered back and forth at 30-centimetre intervals.

RHODODENDRONS are coming into flower and, as an evergreen shrub, they can really put on a show. They flower until October and are tough and hardy when grown in the right spot. Like other shallowrooted plants such as azaleas, camellias and daphne, they all can do with a feed of compost or a little bit of cow or sheep manure now.

Camellias such as japonicas and reticulata varieties are starting to bloom with a range of colours from white to pink to red. Camellia japonicas have a much larger variety of double and single flowers to choose from.

The leaves are bigger than sasanqua camellias and make a really dense hedge for a large garden. Camellias need an acid soil and rich organic compost to grow well.

Good drip irrigation will be required in summer and, although slow growing, they make tough, good-sized shrubs for the garden and are suitable for putting under the powerlines. They also grow well in pots.

Reticulata camellias, which need space to grow, are beautiful with dinner-plate-size flowers. While they can take a while to reach maturity, it’s worth the wait.

A SWEET native flowering well at the moment is the qualup bell (pimelea physodes). Endemic to WA, it can grow successfully in Canberra though it needs protection from the cold weather and good drainage.

A small shrub to one metre tall, its flowers are clusters of large, drooping, bell-shaped leafy bracts and flowers.

If interested in growing a qualup bell, try to source a grafted variety as our clay soils are vastly different to WA’s sandy soil. Grafted plants will grow better in our conditions.

Grafted natives are a relatively new practice that allow native species to be grown away from their natural regions on rootstock that is more suited to our soil conditions.

Grafted natives can also improve disease resistance and plant performance.

Most, but not all, natives will still need soil conditions that are low in phosphorus and require native fertiliser. But most importantly, read the label for the correct growing conditions for the plant. I prefer to plant natives in early spring, so they get good growth through the warm months before winter.

jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au

HOROSCOPE PUZZLES

By Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

With Neptune and the Full Moon highlighting your humanitarian side, slip into Good Samaritan mode as you reconnect with others and help those around you. An unresolved matter from the past could also resurface and demand to be addressed. And Mercury starts reversing through your relationship zone on Saturday. So avoid rushing around with your usual impetuosity! If you want to avoid misunderstandings, then communicate clearly and listen patiently.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

The Full Moon fires up your friendship and peer-group zones, and Mercury turns retrograde in your job zone. So don’t waste precious time wondering what a close friend or work colleague is thinking… you’re probably way off the mark. A relationship (of the romantic or platonic variety) could also head off in an unexpected direction, but don’t worry too much, Taurus. A solid partnership will eventually emerge stronger and more resilient than before.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

This week’s Full Moon lights up your career zone and professional ambitions. But it may feel like one step forward and two steps back, as Jupiter inflates aspirations and then Saturn squashes them. Plus, Mercury (your patron planet) turns retrograde from Saturday until October 2. Don’t let difficulties and delays deter you from following your dreams! Be inspired by birthday great, writer D H Lawrence: “I want to live my life so that my nights are not full of regrets.”

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Saturday’s shiny Full Moon activates your aspirations zone. So – despite ongoing pandemic problems and economic challenges – you still need to dream big dreams for the future. With ambitious, sweeping strokes! As writer (and birthday great) D H Lawrence reminds us: “Life is ours to be spent, not to be saved.” But tread carefully with a fragile family member, as Mercury turns retrograde in your domestic zone and sends some surprises your way.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

The mid-week Sun/North Node trine is all about taking your fabulous creative sparkle and spinning it into your golden destiny. Professional projects and business matters are particularly favoured. So get off your cute Cat behind and get moving! Then Saturday’s Full Moon amps up your sensuality, spirituality and/or personality. Mercury also shifts into retrograde mode (until October 2), so make sure you’re communicating with extra clarity, passion and purpose.

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Venus and the Sun are visiting Virgo, which boosts concentration and sharpens your eye for hidden details. Mercury stations and then turns retrograde on Saturday, so it’s a good time to study, solve a puzzle, uncover a secret or find an item that’s been lost. And don’t worry if you make a mistake! Be inspired by movie star (and fellow-Virgo) Sophia Loren: “It’s better to explore life and make mistakes than to play it safe. Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life.”

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

With Venus moving into your subconscious mind zone – and Mercury turning retrograde in your sign – don’t take things too literally. Communicate carefully and check all travel arrangements diligently. You’ll have to read between the lines if you want to know what’s really going on. If you blindly follow the advice of a loved one or work colleague, then you could find yourself going up the garden path to trouble. So use your discretion and trust your instincts.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Scorpios love to be in control, however – with Mercury stationing and turning retrograde – the week will work best if you wield power from behind the scenes. (Being an iron fist in a velvet glove is smarter than scaring people away with your Plutonic intensity!) The Full Moon also fires up your romance and friendship zones. So you’re in the mood to party, entertain yourself and amuse others. But be careful that your dark sense of humour doesn’t slide into sarcasm.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Expect some domestic dramas this week, as the Full Moon stimulates your Sagittarian family zone. You could also face a tricky balancing act between growing responsibilities at work and constant commitments at home. Venus encourages you to approach challenges with a cooperative and consultative (and charming) approach. With Mercury switching into retrograde mode on Saturday, an important goal or dream needs to be revised and recalibrated.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

The mid-week Sun/North Node trine is terrific for friendships – especially with creative people from foreign cultures and far-flung shores. Saturday’s Full Moon amplifies your desire to communicate and your commitment to an important project in your local community. And you’re certainly going to need highly-developed communication skills over the next month (especially at work), as Mercury slows down and shifts into retrograde mode until October 2.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Aquarians can be real scatterbrains – all ideas and no action. But you have more chance of putting plans into practice, as Saturn transits through your sign until March 2023. Which is just as well because family, friends and colleagues are looking to you for less superficiality and more substance. So think things through and pace yourself – especially on the weekend, when Mercury turns retrograde. Appointments and travel arrangements also need to be double-checked.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

Courtesy of Venus, the Piscean Full Moon and Mercury turning retro, be careful you’re not viewing people through ridiculously rose-coloured glasses. Creative inspiration and intuitive insights are highlighted, but don’t get so carried away that you head into the realm of pure fantasy. When it comes to a major goal, are you and your partner on the same page? And – if you’re single and looking for love – can you differentiate a dream date from a disappointing dud?

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2022

1 Which term implies “at or near the North Pole”? (6)

8 To exercise influence over a person, is to do what? (8)

9 What was the occupation of Figaro? (6)

Name an active volcano in South West Italy, near Naples, Mount ... (8)

What is the unit of electrical current? (6)

What do we call the owner of a hotel? (8)

16 Name the capital of Belgium. (8)

19 What is an alternative word for an earthquake? (6)

22 What is a passage connecting parts of a building? (8)

24 Which term designates a style of printing in which the letters slope to the right? (6)

25 Name another word for a statuette. (8)

26 What is a seat for two or more persons, and usually upholstered? (6)

2 What is a royal domain or kingdom, known as? (5)

3 Name another term for a flat-topped article of furniture. (5)

4 Which warship ranges between a destroyer and a gunboat in size? (8)

5 Which stones are used in jewellery? (4)

6 What was the occupation of Henry Lawson’s Harry Dale? (6)

7 In grammar, which group of words contain a subject and a predicate? (6)

12 Lima is the capital of which South American republic? (4)

14 Name some particular rooms in churches. (8)

15 What is a standard, model or pattern? (4)

17 Which colloquial term describes a raw recruit? (6)

18 Name an escorting vessel to the First Fleet. (6)

20 To be precise, is to be what? (5)

21 What is a small oval drupe? (5)

23 What is a raised platform? (4)

WINNUNGA NIMMITYJAH ABORIGINAL HEALTH

AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

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

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

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

Our services include:

• GP and Nursing

• Midwifery

• Immunisations

• Health Checks

• Men’s & Women’s Health

• Hearing Health

• Dental

• Physiotherapy

• Podiatry

• Dietician (Nutrition)

• Counselling

• Diabetes Clinic

• Quit Smoking Services / No More Boondah

• Needle Syringe Program

• Mental Health Support

• Healthy Weight Program

• Healthy Cooking Group

• Mums and Bubs Group / Child Health

• Optometry Service

• Psychology and Psychiatrist

• Community Events

• Groups

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

CLINIC hours | MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9am-5pm

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