CityNews 251106

Well written, well read

Libs pull the pin… then swallow the grenade!

MICHAEL

KEEPING

Affectionate, honest and very helpful, but it

ANTONIO DI DIO

Men have always been attached to moustaches

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NEWS / loneliness

Bryant’s crew thrives on being sociable

By Elizabeth KOVACS

One in three Australians feel lonely, and one in six Australians experience severe loneliness, but that’s not for 37-year-old Bryant Evans.

He has created Canberra Social & Active, a social group designed to help Canberrans connect.

In 2023, an inquiry conducted by Ending Loneliness Together for Lone liness Awareness Week found Can berra, at 40 per cent of participants, had the loneliest people in the nation.

A 2024 inquiry by the ACT Leg islative Assembly into loneliness and social isolation recommended a Minister for Loneliness, a social con nection strategy, a public awareness campaign and a social calendar of community events.

“My underlying philosophy is that, when we are kids, we often have time to play and set aside time to hang out with a friend,” he says.

“When you get older, it gets very easy to forget about that and this group allows us to play again, meet new people and form friendships in a really natural way.”

With activities ranging from hik-

ing, bouldering, sunset drinks, coffee catch ups and dog walks, Bryant says they regularly try to mix up their experiences to give participants – an even balance of men and women –something new to enjoy.

“We almost always have 20 to 30 per cent of new people every time, so there’s never really an ‘in’ or an ‘out’ group,” he says.

“People have told me that their

mental health has improved due to the group, which is really great and fulfilling.

“[Creating social connections] is a part of being human that we often put to the side for other tasks that we see as more important.

“But, why are you alive if you aren’t forming connections?

“When I look back on my life, I won’t be thinking about how much I

saved on my fridge, I’ll be thinking about the experiences that I’ve had with people and the fun stories we’ve

Open for those in their 20s and 30s, Bryant says the organisation has

“People want something like this so badly that it markets itself,” he says.

Seeing anywhere from 30 to 50 people attending each event, Bryant says there has never been a problem with

Participants range from those straight out of university to those with children hoping to broaden their

“A lot of the time there are people who attend who are new to Canberra, so it’s a great way for people to start building their network,” he says.

Established in March, Bryant says it’s amazing to think there were so many people walking the same paths, entering the same buildings and getting on the same public transport as him that would later become close friends.

“I’ve met so many really cool people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise,” he says.

“If I hadn’t started it, they would still be strangers, and that’s reason enough.”

More on Facebook at Canberra Social & Active.

Japan gives Barr a gong

Chief Minister Andrew Barr has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in the Japanese government’s 2025 Spring Conferment of Decorations “on recipients for their outstanding contribution to their respective areas”.

The citation says Mr Barr has been awarded for his “contribution to promoting regional exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Australia.”

Mr Barr led a trade mission to Japan in July to promote Canberra at Expo 2025 Osaka and visited Japan and South Korea in 2023.

Day carers top nation

Communities at Work’s Family Day Care team has been recognised on the national stage, winning the Service of the Year Award at the Family Day Care Australia’s 2025 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.

The awards celebrate the exceptional quality, innovation and impact of Family Day Care services across the country.

Gavin gets the nod

Barrister Gavin Howard has been appointed senior counsel. He was called to the bar in 2010 and specialises in family law. He has appeared extensively in the Family Court , the Federal Circuit Court, the ACT Magistrates Court and the NSW Local Court. Mr Howard is the chair of the ACT Bar Association’s Family Law Committee and served on the ACT Bar Council in 2023.

Arts & Entertainment 35-38

Crossword & Sudoku 39

Dining & Wine 38

Gardening 34

Keeping Up the ACT 9

Letters 12

News 3-14

Politics 8

Streaming 37

Cover: Little Blake’s gone but the repeat offenders roll on. Story Page 6.

Road, Mitchell.

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Evans

When the ‘crime’ doesn’t fit the system

I think we can agree that active paedophilia in which adults interfere sexually with children causing trauma that can cripple them emotionally for the rest of their lives is a serious crime.

Or can we? Last week’s Four Corners program raised some engaging questions.

It gained worldwide interest in recent years, not least because some 6400 cases involving many thousands of children were exposed within the Roman Catholic priesthood.

A five-year Australian inquiry in 2017 found that “tens of thousands of children” were sexually abused in Australian institutions over decades, including churches, schools and sports clubs. And now they have descended upon our poorly regulated childcare industry. However, the issue did not fit easily into our legal system.

who first attracted them at the start of puberty, though some retain an interest in far younger children.

As reported by the New York Times: “People don’t choose what arouses them – they discover it,” said Dr. Fred Berlin, director of the Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic.

“No one grows up wanting to be a paedophile.”

According to James Cantor, director of the Toronto Sexuality Centre: “These [causes] are not genetic; they can be traced to specific periods of development in the womb.”

According to psychiatry’s diagnostic manual: “Over the past generation, psychologists, forensic specialists and others have studied paedophilia, a disorder characterised by ‘recurrent, intense arousing fantasies, urges or behaviours involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child’.

“These experts have interviewed patients in depth, piecing together life

attraction at one to four per cent in both men and women. Studies suggest that a small subset of male and female paedophiles have an interest in toddlers, or even infants.

Such activities are, of course, revolting. Indeed, the former intelligence officer, Witness J, whom I disclosed was secretly jailed with paedophiles at Canberra’s Alexander Maconochie Centre, told me it was a harrowing experience, as they claimed to “love” their victims.

But since their “crime” does not fit into the system we have created to punish malefactors, perhaps it would be preferable to remove them from the capacity to traumatise their victims until a “cure” for their condition is developed.

The result – imprisonment – would be similar, but at least they should be given the chance to live a productive life behind bars.

Khalid’s doing the numbers

CityNews columnist and former ACT Treasury official, Dr Khalid Ahmed is the guest speaker at a public forum titled ACT’s Financial Situation – Where are We Heading and Why.

Organised by the Inner South Canberra Community Council, it will be held at the Eastlake Football Club, Oxley Street, Griffith, 7pm, November 24. A Q&A session will follow. Register at trybooking.com/DGMHO.

Fair at Florey Primary

“Community, Culture, Connection” is the theme of the Florey Primary School Fair to be held at the school, 11am-3pm, on November 15.

Highlights include: food stalls, market stalls, entertainment, music, and cultural performances.

Money for jams

Relay for Life team, The Bold Bandannas, will sell jams, pickles, chutneys, marmalades and lemon butter

“One of the most outstanding artists of our time”

FEATURE / repeat offenders

‘Everyone makes mistakes, but it is those who keep making mistakes of a criminal nature that should concern us all’

Blake’s gone, but the repeat offenders roll on

Bereft father ANDREW CORNEY shares the tragic circumstances of losing his four-year-old son and his frustration at the criminal legal system’s failure to protect the community from the carnage caused by repeat offenders.

My four-year-old son, Blake Corney, was killed on the sunny morning of July 28, 2018, when a Canberra Sand and Gravel 7.5-tonne truck hit my car at about 69km/h.

We were waiting with a dozen others at the traffic lights on the Monaro Highway, at the intersection with Mugga Lane. We were on our way to Toys ’R‘ Us.

Blake loved life. He was energetic and seemed to find joy in just living.

He was in the back seat of our Ford Territory with brother Aidan (aged two at the time).

I was driving with my wife in the front passenger seat. It was a sunny day with no adverse weather or road conditions.

The traffic lights were clearly visible from at least 300 metres on a double-lane road. Police investigators would find there were no mechanical issues with the truck.

Blake was killed instantly and I was knocked out. Camille broke some ribs and, amazingly, Aidan had no damage.

What I saw that day was horrific. Blake looked like he may have broken his neck though otherwise unscathed but quiet, but his injury was far worse.

As I tried to move him in his safety chair, the

top part of his head came away in my hand and I looked down into an empty skull to the top of his spinal cord. Clearly a sharp object has sliced through his head a few centimetres below the top.

I still cannot get my mind around a happy four-year-old boy listening to his favourite music while travelling to a toy store with his family and the horror of what I saw next. I am trapped in this space.

Police ultimately charged the truck driver, a repeat offender named Akis Livas, with culpable driving causing death. Livas said he had fallen asleep at the wheel with a sleep condition that he was unaware of.

The DPP uncovered evidence that Livas was aware he may have sleep apnoea from a previous jail visit and that he had been referred for a sleep apnoea study twice.

On that basis he pled guilty on February 19, 2020, about two weeks before trial (a practice he did with his previous conviction for rape where he pled guilty just before trial).

Livas, who has around 50 offences with around 35 of them being for traffic violations, received a three year and three months prison sentence after a 12 per cent discount was applied for an early guilty plea. Livas was set a two year and three months non-parole period.

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crime has been oversold to those who want to believe. I have seen no evidence that this view represents the only, or even a substantial

This research seems to be intellectual dishonesty at worst and misleading at best. It does not offer wide-scale practical solutions and no solutions for those that cannot, or will not, be rehabilitated. It leaves soft-on-crime jurisdictions like the ACT with little room to correct criminal behaviour that is in the

, the ACT government does not consider the safety of its citizens a priority. Recent efforts by the ACT Liberals to introduce an amendment to bail laws like the Labor government in Victoria, was voted down by the rest of the ACT Assembly. This is despite continuing concern from sections of the community regarding offences by those on bail. Some of which have led to deaths. , the ACT government may be incompetent at introducing and running rehabilitation programs in the jail or in the wider community. The Alexander Maconochie Centre is in the news regularly regarding an apparent string of failures, despite being the highest cost-per-person prison in the country. I understand there are some programs at the AMC that are working, but nowhere near the goals of the jail when first built.

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they have made that stemmed from the coronial inquiry into Blake’s death.

However, while I would like to tell you that changes have been made to improve aspects of the criminal legal and correctional services systems that directly relate to Blake’s death, I cannot.

Sadly, I am not the only victim of serious crime in the ACT who is not comfortable with the lack of positive action. Particularly in relation to necessary changes to the criminal legal and correctional services systems to reduce the carnage caused by repeat offenders.

Everyone makes mistakes, but it is those who keep making mistakes of a criminal nature that should concern us all and indicate all is not well.

Everyone makes mistakes, but it is those who keep making mistakes of a criminal nature that should concern us all and indicate all is not well.

John Mikita, whose grandmother was killed in a violent home invasion in Canberra, now attempts to gauge community views on safety within the northern areas of Canberra because not enough is being done to protect his loved ones.

Tom McLuckie, driven by the death of his son, when a car on the wrong side of the road hit his son at some speed, has shown extraordinary leadership in producing statistics that highlight the problems within the criminal legal and correctional services systems. No one in the ACT government has countered Tom’s statistics, much less acknowledged them.

So why has nothing substantial been done?

I see three potential factors that may also work in combination.

Firstly, the academic research suggesting rehabilitation is the best way to reduce

I think the ACT government should make it clearer that they will protect citizens by adding a right to be protected to the ACT Hu. Perhaps symbolic, but before you can have a right to housing or employment you should feel you are protected. Secondly, introduce education in schools about appropriate behaviour that can cover gambling, respecting minorities, violent behaviour and dangerous driving. Record statistics on how well children understand these concepts and provide counselling for those who are drifting off the rails. This education should begin in primary school. Record more meaningful statistics on crime-related matters and whether current sentencing practices are effective in reducing repeat offenders. The glib term “jailing is failing” is too simplistic to be useful beyond shock tactics for partisan organisations. The AMC must include a better emphasis on skills and attitudes for those incarcerated. Lastly, too much emphasis seems to be focused on the court/ jail end of the process. The ACT must improve the education, employment opportunities, health and housing (especially public housing) of those who are likely to reoffend. However, such changes have been problematic for the ACT over the last decade.

Iacknowledge the new Attorney-General Tara Cheyne is attempting to address some of the issues in the criminal legal space by progressing a review of decision-making criteria in the Bail Act and proposing the introduction of indicative sentencing. However, given the last seven years, I have great trepidation that those in the Assembly, with no lived experience as victims, will smother this work.

We all deserve better from the Assembly; do not wait to see if you end up in my shoes.

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Libs pull the pin… then swallow the grenade!

The Canberra Liberals have not shot themselves in the foot. Rather, they have pulled the pin from a hand grenade and collectively swallowed it.

The suspension of Elizabeth Lee and Peter Cain from the Liberal’s party room for an indefinite period by Opposition Leader Leanne Castley exposes the deep rifts within the Liberal Opposition in the ACT Assembly.

Canberra needs a strong opposi tion as an alternative to the current government. A weak opposition, not focused on holding the government accountable, fails to keep a govern ment on its toes.

The move was taken quickly by Leanne Castley after the pair crossed the floor to vote against a motion that was backed by both Labor and the Liberals – but was opposed by the crossbenchers. On the surface crossing the floor appeared a matter of principle, to have more sitting time so the government could be held accountable more effectively. However, this was used as a catalyst to challenge the leadership.

the government. This is why the major parties conspired to reduce the number of sitting weeks.

Both major parties are concerned about the amount of time that the Greens and independents get to push their agenda, to introduce legislation, and to table motions and question

The major parties realise that dissatisfaction with their performance means that voters are looking for alternatives. Containing the impact of the crossbenchers just might help a little.

These rifts within the Liberal Party in the ACT are much more

The next ACT election is not for three years. Booting discontents from the party allows the full explosion now, and time for rebuilding of the parliamentary arm. But booting them is not so simple.

about personalities than they are

The split within the Canberra Liberals has been brewing for quite a few months. The discomfort began when Lee was deposed as opposition leader in favour of Castley. It continued when Peter Cain stepped down from the position of shadow minister to join Lee on the back bench. It was clear he was very unhappy with the leadership of the Canberra Liberals within the Assembly.

Castley has strong support from her deputy, Jeremy Hanson. However, we hear very little on this issue from other MLAs within the party. Being decisive is probably considered much less damaging than allowing discontent to brew and grow.

Disunity within any political party leads very quickly to voter dissatisfaction and poor outcomes at election time.

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However, the next ACT election is not for another three years. Booting discontents from the party does allow the full explosion now, and time for rebuilding of the parliamentary arm of the party.

Booting them is not so simple. They are currently suspended indefinitely from the parliamentary party. However, they cannot so easily be removed from the Liberal Party. Their removal requires a meeting of the full party. Such a meeting will be subject to significant lobbying and may well backfire for Castley.

If only it was clear what Castley wants. In her media release following the two members crossing the floor, she stated she would, “be seeking to remove them permanently”. The only way to achieve this is to have them excluded from the party.

In the cold light of the next day, she responded by saying “absolutely not” when asked by the ABC “if she wanted Ms Lee and Mr Cain expelled from the party altogether”. This is a party in flux.

When questioned by Ross Solly on ABC radio, Lee explained: “In the ACT, you don’t get kicked out of the assembly just because you’re kicked

OPINION / youth justice

out of the party.

“Obviously, that’s a hypothetical and I would hope that common sense prevails and that it doesn’t come to that”.

Both Lee and Cain explained they had foreshadowed to the Liberal Party their intention to cross the floor on this issue, but were not warned of any consequences, let alone “jeopardise (their) position in the party”.

If the Liberal Party does not get this sorted soon, they can expect even further demise. They will open the way for independents and small parties to replace them. A co-ordinated crossbench could well find a way to become the opposition and, it is not inconceivable in the ACT, forming government.

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.

‘Courageous’ inspector

Indigenous advocate JULIE TONGS says the ACT Inspector of Custodial Services is courageous for calling out the ACT government’s ‘lamentable’ response to her Bimberi report.

On reading the ACT government’s interim response to the Jumbunna Review, one is left with the distinct impression that the right hand is not entirely clear on what the left hand is doing.

It asserts in the opening sentences to its interim response to the report into the over-representation of First Nations people in the ACT criminal justice system that: “The ACT government remains committed to reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system including through meeting its targets under the Closing the Gap Agreement and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 20192028.”

In a happy coincidence the

ACT Inspector of Custodial Services, Rebecca Minty, has, since the release of the Jumbunna Review and the ACT government’s saccharine response thereto, released her annual report for 2024-25

In her opening remarks the inspector notes: “The reporting period started with a focus on youth justice, with the second Healthy Centre Review of Bimberi Youth Detention Centre (HCR24).

“This review considered the treatment and care of young people in detention but also looked at the role of Bimberi within the broader justice system in the ACT.”

The inspector went on to report on the importance of ensuring that the experience of young people in detention is as therapeutically focused as possible and providing effective throughcare and support before and after release to help prevent reoffending and to keep the community safe.

legislation may be needed to mandate government responses to reports in a timely manner.”

The inspector notes that the HCR24 was tabled in the Legislative Assembly in December and made 15 recommendations.

However, she goes on to advise that: “It is lamentable that more than nine months after tabling, a response to the recommendations is still pending.

“I am concerned that the ACT government has not responded with the urgency required to address the issues identified.

“The recommendations were made to improve outcomes for young people in custody, and delays in implementation risk further harm and undermine

public trust.”

The inspector commendably and, frankly, quite courageously concludes her summation of the consequences of the government’s lack of response by recommending that:

“Changes to legislation may be needed to mandate government responses to reports in a timely manner.” Over to you Fiona and Thomas.

She goes on to also note that: “Sadly, there were five deaths in ACT Corrective Services custody in the reporting year.” All of which are currently before the coroner.

The inspector also expresses concern that in an interim ruling of the ACT Supreme Court parliamentary privilege is attached to inspectors’ reports, which raises a worrying question about whether such reports are admissible in court proceedings. This is an issue that demands early resolution.

That there were five deaths in a 12-month period in the AMC, which currently has a prisoner population of less than 400, and which means that the ACT possibly has among the highest rate of deaths in custody in Australia, is deeply

troubling.

In addition to this overall very high rate of deaths in custody, there have been two Aboriginal deaths in the AMC to date in 2025.

Disturbingly, by way of example, the rate of Aboriginal deaths in custody in the AMC in 2025 is five times higher than the rate of Aboriginal deaths in all NSW prisons combined.

Julie Tongs is CEO of the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.

FEATURE / frustrating waiting

You’re on time, why are doctors running late?

You’ve turned up at the doctor’s on time. But you’re scrolling on your phone, watching the clock tick past your appointment time. By the time you’re called in, you’re running late for work or school pick-up, and you’re getting stressed…

It might seem like your doctor’s always running late. And, yes, it can be frustrating. But your doctor isn’t delayed because they disrespect your time.

There are many reasons for running late, some unrelated to your doctor or the clinic.

Let’s unpack what’s happening in your average GP clinic.

You might expect appointments to run like a well-oiled machine. You turn up, and are seen at your allotted time. In reality, patients can easily wait 20 minutes to see the doctor.

There are many factors why. We’ll call these “spanners in the works”, events or reasons why things don’t always go to plan.

There are reasons related to individual patients. These include a patient mixing up the time of the appointment or running late themselves. A patient can ask if another family member can fit into the same appointment, or they may suddenly want to discuss extra concerns.

On the clinic’s side, hold-ups can arise due to medical emergencies,

technology hiccups, or managing complicated cases or paperwork.

Apart from seeing patients, GPs need to perform a range of other tasks including: completing consultation notes; organising referrals, care plans or family meetings; checking daily pathology and imaging results; and liaising with specialists, pharmacists and hospitals.

The hidden impacts of running late

Running late isn’t just inconvenient. GPs can feel pressured to shorten consultations to catch up.

This can have multiple consequences: less history taking or examination time, over-ordering tests, less patientcentred care, and reduced shared decision-making. A late-running GP might also miss opportunities for preventative care.

What you can do

To help the day run smoothly you can:

• Book the right length appointment if you have a tricky issue or multiple things to discuss. Ask for a long consultation, or consider returning for a follow-up visit.

GPs need time to complete these tasks, which they normally squeeze into the slim space between each patient. So it’s easy to see how an unexpected urgent issue can quickly derail a doctor’s schedule.

All these issues add up over the course of the day and can cause significant delays.

A symptom of bigger issues

Running late is also a symptom of wider health-related issues. Australians are living longer with multiple, chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and mental health issues. So patients need more time with the doctor to manage these often

complex, long-term conditions. Australians are also seeing GPs more often – on average 6.2 times a year in 2024, up from 3.8 when Medicare started in 1984. This is due to a variety of factors, including an ageing population and higher rates of chronic disease.

Running late can be a symptom of bigger health system issues. Australia’s health department projects a shortfall of about 2600 GPs by 2028, growing to 8600 by 2048.

An ageing GP workforce, more GPs working part time, and not enough new doctors entering general practice to replace those retiring are all contributors.

All this means GPs will likely become busier, harder to book and yes, more likely to run late.

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But longer consultations are linked to positives such as less antibiotic misuse, lower referral rates to specialists for issues they could manage themselves, and fewer consultations for issues that could have been covered in an earlier appointment. What might help?

Some practices are using preconsultation questionnaires, which patients can complete online before their appointment. These include questions about their medical history, changes in symptoms and the reason for the appointment.

Studies show about 90 per cent of patients find these helpful, and doctors report completing their appointments faster while still being thorough.

Clinics could also inform patients in advance if their doctor is running late, and book patients with their regular GP wherever possible, rather than an unfamiliar one.

• Write down any questions in advance to make sure nothing is missed. Better still, give this list to your GP at the start of your visit so they can help prioritise your needs.

• Consider telehealth for issues such as test result follow-ups or script renewals. This may also allow both you and the clinic to be more flexible with the timing of the appointment.

• Try to attend without your kids if you can if discussing complex or sensitive issues. If you want to discuss your child’s health, book a separate appointment before or after yours.

• Try to build a working relationship with one regular GP. Visits tend to be more efficient and you will receive better overall care.

The authors are all from the University of Queensland: Lauren Ball, professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, David Chua, senior research projects officer, Centre for Community Health and Wellbeing, and Stephanie Chua, GP and senior lecturer, General Practice Clinical Unit. Republished from The Conversation.

DISABILITY / a sporting chance

Breaking down barriers

“While many priorities beg for attention in disability, there is a case for more focused attention to participation in community based sport and recreation that often runs dead last in a marathon against elite sport,” writes CRAIG WALLACE .

CityNews columnist and emeritus ACT health minister Michael Moore recently made a compelling case around the barriers and opportunities for participation in community sports in the ACT.

He argued that how well a current Assembly inquiry responded to those issues and then how the government deals with powerchair football will be a litmus test to determine success in breaking down barriers to sport Indeed. And we say that investment in community-based sport and recreation for people with disability should be elevated to match the resources directed toward employment services and elite sport programs and it’s also a litmus test for our rehabilitation and health programs.

In our submission, endorsed by the ACT Council of Social Service, ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability and the Health Care Consumers Association, we call for more investment in mainstream and disability specific programs, infrastructure and opportunities at the grassroots level as well as a focus on genuine inclusion for children and young people through local sport.

Along the way we note that the submission by Capital Region Powerchair Football is very well made and supports more investment on team sports including coaching and venues.

Beyond that we also see barriers across

community sport that includes rundown facilities, access barriers to grounds and venues, underfunded programs, challenges purchasing equipment, transport costs and a lack of focus on including kids and young people in mainstream sport with the benefits this brings.

While there are many priorities begging for attention in disability, including justice, education and health care not to mention the cuts to NDIS, there is a case for more focused attention to participation in community based sport and recreation that often runs dead last in a marathon against elite sport or money funnelled into services designed to direct people with disability in employment.

Instead, there is a case to be made that investment in community-based sport and recreation for people with disability should be elevated to match the resources currently directed towards getting people who have a disability into a job or mounting a podium at the Paralympics.

For people with disability, sport can be a path out of social isolation and loneliness, a tool to build skill development and confidence and a boost to physical or mental health and wellbeing.

Some rehabilitation hospitals in the US have built active adaptive sports programs and sponsor thriving sports teams which serve their patients and are also available to outpatients and members of the local community.

KINDNESS / feedback

Affectionate, honest and very helpful, but it hurt!

I got some feedback, almost all great, but a few Could Do Betters

It was a 360-degree exercise where team members rate their leader across many questions, and then said leader uses the incredibly valu able information to learn, grow and improve.

Supremely useful, unless you have the sensitivity of a full-bladdered dog on a croquet lawn and the emotional fragility of your nana’s good Royal Doulton, like me perhaps, and spend the evening having a sook, which I duly did.

I had a sook the day after, too.

I knew that it was affectionate, honest, anonymous and very helpful, but it hurt.

The email from the coach said that lots of people find this challenging and often react with all sorts of emotions, but have a look at your past, your formative years, as to why some of your staff may feel this way about how you react to things, and your answers might be there for a great starting point!

Well, bugger that – the hard, chiselled chin of Paul Newman in Cat on A Hot Tin Roof spoke to me from memory. Not a damn thing in your youth can explain this – just pick yourself up, figure it out yourself, do better.

On the second day of sulking I was at the medical practice, it being

“The hard, chiselled chin

Paul

spoke to me from memory… just pick yourself up, figure it out yourself, do better.”

seeing-patients day, and noted my own increasingly sore toe from a hole-digging accident a couple of days earlier.

Inspection revealed something that looked like my uncle Giuseppe’s fourcheese pizza, but did not smell quite so good, and my pal started me on some antibiotics. That night a fever arose, and possibly a little delirium…

Soon after, I was visiting the parents, and we were laughing and having a fantastic chat about everything and nothing.

Dad had dug out a box of my old school reports. He could not read them,

Kindness is so many things. But I never knew that it could involve reassembling all your atoms and becoming whole again, just for one night, to enter the dream of your struggling, sentimental son.

but was proud of the numbers that said my mark and position in the

But I could read them, and not having looked at them for decades, it all made sense.

There in those faded old ‘70s and ‘80s papers were carefully handwritten comments from each of my teachers, year after bell-bottomed, pastel-shirted year, that said the same things – eager to please, tries hard, attention span of a flea, always trying to impress mum and dad. Over and over.

Here was the answer that Ms 360 Feedback person was looking for, that explained my failings (and perhaps some good bits, too).

It was so interesting to see that young person emerging, and the reasons why that powerful desire to please those lovely, crazy, kind,

being able to have a go

Canberra United powerchair footballers... “For people with disability, sport can be a path out of social isolation and loneliness.”

For instance, The TIRR Memorial Hermann Adapted Sports and Recreation program has established a Junior Wheelchair Basketball, an Adult Wheelchair Rugby Team and a softball team. Other rehabilitation hospitals such as The Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program and The RHI Adaptive Sports Program provide a myriad of sports including Wheelchair Basketball, Adaptive Yoga, Adaptive Golf, Boxing and even Waterskiing!

Large rehabilitation hospitals in the UK such as Stoke Mandeville have sponsored adaptive sports for decades.

This hasn’t happened by accident and it’s

not purely an act of kindness either.

These rehabilitation settings, albeit some with the benefit of private funds and user-pay healthcare, see the fitness and wellness of people with disability as part of a sustained recovery mission that enables them to move beyond simply shuffling patients and ex-patients between acute settings, rehabilitation and then home (and often back again).

By contrast it’s a level of foresight that’s hard to imagine in a Canberra health system that often seems stuck in a narrow groove of crisis and disruption – overdue repair and replacement of disintegrating buildings, culture inquiries and resignations of orthopaedic surgeons and a seemingly futile quest to clear an ever growing “bed block”. Who on earth has time for adaptive sport?

Not surprising then, when I last visited a few weeks ago, the University of Canberra Rehabilitation Hospital offered a room with some jigsaw puzzles and board games as the extent of its competitive sport offer.

As much as I love working the brain with a good game of Scrabble, it’s a long way from getting the blood pumping through a spot of wheelchair rugby or water-skiing.

Like so much in our health system and the story of Canberra’s municipal and service infrastructure we can surely imagine more, aim higher and do a bit better.

Craig Wallace is head of policy for Advocacy for Inclusion.

wonderful people was so strong then and still is.

Dad must have asked me three separate times if there was anything I wanted to chat about, and we had just delighted in Paul Newman sticking it to the mean bloke in Cat on A Hot Tin Roof, and laughing at how neither of us would ever be a decent cowboy (he would have, of course). I said nah, there’s always tomorrow, and headed off to the car, a spring in my step.

Then as I walked further from the house, I got this strange feeling, and almost felt like weeping – that maybe dad wasn’t actually alive. It was so odd.

I called my wife and she confirmed that yes, your papa has been gone for 20 years and maybe you should come home soon. I hugged my briefcase to my chest and it turned into Rafa the wonder dog as I woke from the dream.

Wow, those antibiotics were something! And papa was many years gone. So what had that all been about? Kindness is so many things. But I never knew that it could involve reassembling all your atoms and becoming whole again, just for one night, to enter the dream of your struggling, sentimental son, remind him of forgotten things from youth to explain his troubles, then bugger off back to the big cowboy movie in the sky. Quite a man, my papa.

That Paul Newman flick dad and I loved so much may have involved a fancy big ending where Burl Ives explains to the hero that every bit of self knowledge he ever needed is unlocked by remembering those moments of youth with his father. Mine was so persistent he came this week with the necessary memories, just when I needed him.

Local GP and ANU associate professor, Antonio Di Dio says he’s been a bad influence on medi cal students since the late 1980s.

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Why feminists are angry for the wrong reason

Having read the article “Feminist warrior Virginia’s unfinished revolution” (CN, October 23)

I wondered whether today’s ageing feminist generation isn’t angry (“rage and anger poured out of me”) for the wrong reason.

Denial of opportunity has not been the real problem; they have been duped by technology.

It is not just that most women couldn’t drive a truck or heavy vehicle until the drive train had been automated and the steering powered. Participation in the economy, government and the whole financial industry has been made possible by the computer.

The underlying models, data analysis and the corresponding synthetic controls, replacing the old structures in which men were in leadership roles, have seen women move in large numbers into the top positions in these sectors.

But it is technology in the form of the contraceptive pill (post 1960s) and medical abortion and vacuum aspiration (post 1970s) that underlies the change in the primary role of modern women away from motherhood.

As a result, the fertility rate has dropped from a modern peak of 2.02 in 2008 to 1.48 in 2024.

Can a “Feminist Fightback” react to the absence of family and the unstoppable march of demography?

John L Smith, Farrer

Cease Roberts-Smith trial by media

May I remind readers that Ben RobertsSmith, VC, MG he has neither been found guilty nor convicted of the alleged war crimes supposedly that this highly decorated soldier may have committed during his six deployments with the Special Air Service Regiment in Australia’s involvement in the Afghanistan War 2001-2021.

I refer to readers and some detractors to July 26 1920 as directed by King George V to his private secretary Lord Stamfordham: “No matter the crime committed by anyone on whom the Victoria Cross has been conferred, the decoration should not be forfeited. Even where a VC is sentenced to be hanged for murder he should be allowed to wear his VC on the scaffold.”

I reiterate, Ben Roberts-Smith, VC, MG has neither been found guilty nor convicted of the alleged war crimes. Therefore, trial by the media and his detractors’ comments should cease forthwith!

Ross E Smith, OAM, JP, via email

Native birds lost to mynah ‘plague’

Swooping magpies is a common topic at the moment. We seem to have a plague of mynah birds in Canberra and they are equally as aggressive. Just step outside and you get dive bombed. A beak snap near your ear, they attack from behind.

They also have a very annoying habit of tweeting non stop for hours.

I thought the local government was supposed to be doing something about these non-native birds.

Many of the native birds in my area have disappeared thanks to these awful invaders.

Melanie Glover, Duffy

Busy enjoying the fruits of colonialism

Robert Macklin’s column “Three rousing cheers for the iconic ABC” (CN October 30) needs some correction.

“The truth is that we are all migrants in Australia” must also apply to indigenous Australians too, whose ancestors migrated from Africa around 70,000 years ago.

Mr Macklin claims the “No” result in The Voice referendum was partially the result of “voter ignorance of the Aboriginal story”. Apart from presenting no evidence to support his theory, it’s absurd to believe the “Aboriginal story” isn’t being told. Watch ABCTV for one hour and I guarantee you’ll see multiple Aboriginal stories broadcast and repeated every day.

“There’s no point acknowledging those 65,000 years if nothing happened during that time” he laments. What exactly DID happen, compared to the last 250 years of the Industrial Revolution, technology, art, medicine and literature thanks to the contributions of our colonial ancestors?

His stark and obvious distaste for “some

Yorkshire sea captain” (James Cook) smacks of the current anti-colonial sentiments smothering us all.

If Mr Macklin feels so strongly about the past transgressions of the British invaders, why doesn’t he give up his home and land to a needy indigenous family and return to the land of his ancestors?

We’re guessing he will do neither. Why? He’s too busy enjoying the fruits of colonialism!

F and M Norton, Kambah

Joyce driven by his own personal beliefs

Sue Dyer hit the fence post square on top when she speculated about Barnaby Joyce’s future (“Tempted by a six-year senate term?”, letters, CN, October 30).

For more than a decade, Joyce has taken an anti-science stance on climate change, second only to Tony Abbott in blocking Australia’s decarbonisation. He opposes clean, renewable energy while championing dirty fossil fuels and expensive, risky nuclear power. Although a member of the National Party, which claims to represent farmers and regional communities, Joyce has failed to support those whose water is threatened by coal and gas projects. He even opposed the Carbon Farming Initiative Bill.

Joyce is driven by his own personal beliefs such as, “The very idea that we can stop climate change is barking mad. Climate change is inevitable, as geology

has always shown.”

He is blind to the rapid changes we are experiencing. As Dyer concludes, we can be “eternally grateful” that, while Joyce may one day lead One Nation, his chances of holding a key leadership role in government again are negligible.

Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Victoria ‘Invasion’ definition is a nonsensical view!

Ian Pilsner’s views on whether or not Australia was “invaded” in 1788 are less than reliable, given that he appears to believe that the Japanese invaded Australia in World War II.

A few ships sunk and some air raids do not add up to “invasion” of any kind. Not a single Japanese soldier set foot on Australian soil except as a prisoner.

Australia needed to help to defeat Japan in World War II, but not because it had invaded Australia. On Pilsner’s definition of invasion, Germany “invaded” Britain because it too sank ships off the coast and attacked Britain from the air. What a nonsensical view!

If he wants an authoritative explanation of the so-called Battle for Australia, see my 2008 book, Invading Australia.

And whether Britain “invaded” Australia or not in 1788, surely no one can deny that British settlement was disastrous for the original inhabitants.

Prof Peter Stanley, Dickson

Why we need a national gambling strategy

Yes, Michael Moore, there needs to be serious action to phase out gambling advertising (“Parties make all the right noises, but no action”, CN October 23), and for the same reasons that action was taken to phase out tobacco advertising: it is reprehensible to promote a product that is designed to be addictive and which causes harm to users.

While Australia has the dubious honour of being the world’s biggest losers when it comes to gambling losses – and the total of $25 billion or more a year in gambling losses is staggering – that is not the whole story.

About half of these losses are from poker machines and, according to recent studies, more than 80 per cent of poker machine losses come from at-risk gamblers.

Studies have found that at least one in six people who play the pokies regularly has a serious addiction.

This should come as no surprise – we know that poker machines are addictive by design. They are deliberately and scientifically designed to manipulate the brain in ways that will keep people gambling for the longest possible time. These machines are incredibly accessible in the ACT, with 42 gaming venues spread throughout our suburbs, close to homes, workplaces and shops.

Ending advertising and promotion should be only the start of a multi-faceted strategy that takes a cultural and a regulatory approach to the most harmful forms of gambling.

Just as the National Tobacco Strategy aims to reduce tobacco use and its associated health, social, environmental and economic impacts, we need a comprehensive National Gambling Strategy that addresses gambling harm reduction and the sizeable detrimental impacts of gambling in Australia.

Karina

Morris, Weetangera

Head of state question raises more

Richard Johnston’s question: should we have a head of state? (letters, CN October 23) is a good one. Apart from a few ceremonial duties there is not much of a role.

More interestingly, how could we have a head of government that steps away from our inherited Westminster arrangements?

This and other matters Johnston raises such as multi-member electorates, particularly if MPs were chosen using a proportional preferential system like in the Senate, and some issues he didn’t such as how to select a head of government and how taxpayers might allocate their tax dollars were canvassed at a Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy session, available to see at https://youtu.be/lv3GuUXRx3I.

Peter Tait, convener, Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy

Subsidies should go to the passengers!

The latest Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) annual report reveals that public transport boardings fell from 19.9 million in 2024 to 13.2 million in 2025, and that in 2025 TCCS caused 35,224 tonnes CO2e emissions from transport fuels.

At 1.4 boardings for the average 12-kilometre passenger trip, that is about 300 grams per person per kilometre. That, in turn, is about 50 per cent more than emissions from car travel.

This year’s ACT budget included almost $65 million for healthy walking and cycling, and a whopping 14 times that much for polluting public transport. It can cost us more than $5000 a year to subsidise public transport for one student.

That $5000 could pay for a lot of walking and cycling, with plenty left over to pay for study materials.

At the instigation of The Greens, the government has decided to increase public transport subsidies by providing free public transport for students, seniors and concession card holders.

Students, seniors and concession card holders (and the environment) would be better off if the government paid transport subsidies direct to them, rather than to TCCS.

Leon Arundell, Downer

CARTOONS / opening up the impossible

Of clouds and coconuts, the art of endless jokes

CityNews cartoonist PAUL DORIN explains why he and his peers never tire of drawing laughs from the Pearly Gates and desert islands…

After decades, you might think cartoonists would have wrung out every last drop of humour from two of the most symbolic settings in the cartoon world – the Pearly Gates and the desert island.

Yet, somehow, they keep producing timeless comedy that continues to entertain readers finding fresh ways to make us laugh.

Maybe we draw the gates and the island because they remind us what cartoons do best – open up the impossible. Both are wonderfully spare in detail: a gate, a cloud; a palm tree, a patch of sand. But those empty spaces invite imagination.

Add a touch of the absurd, a dash of fantasy or a wink of the surreal, and suddenly the familiar becomes irresistible proof that even the simplest scenes can hold the boundless reach of imagination.

These two settings act as shorthand for everything cartoonists love – isolation and judgment, survival and redemption, humour and hope.

They’re not clichés so much as open canvases, ready to absorb whatever the modern world throws their way, giving the cartoonist the freedom to explore.

The Pearly Gates cartoon and the desert island cartoon are the twin pillars of endless humour.

One deals with the end of life; the other, with being stranded in it. One asks for judgment, the other for survival.

And between them lies the full spectrum of human comedy – the moral reflection, the ridiculous, and the eternal shrug that binds the afterlife or the middle of nowhere together.

There’s a certain genius in their simplicity. With just a few lines, an artist can drop a reader into an instantly

for

recognisable scene.

Everyone knows where they are. The setting does all the heavy lifting so the joke can take flight.

The Pearly Gates cartoon is greeted by St Peter, where heaven’s bureaucracy meets morality and souls wait patiently for their final interview.

The desert island cartoon, by contrast, is greeted by

loneliness, a single palm tree on a small patch of sand, surrounded by suspiciously calm water endlessly reinventing ways to make small talk about eternity and survival.

Cartoonists are drawn to these minimalism scenes not because they’re easy, but because they’re empty.

The lack of clutter gives plenty of room for ideas and the ultimate stage for

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in robust security measures is not just a precautionary step; it’s a necessity to safeguard against ever-evolving cyber threats.

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exaggeration, stripping away detail until only the essence remains: hope, regret, survival, isolation.

The fewer props you draw, the louder the idea speaks.

The Pearly Gates and the Desert Island are characters in their own right, perfect amplifiers that hum quietly while the punch line lands.

A gate is never just a gate. An island is never just an island.

They’re about perspective – about laughing at the absurdity of our limits and the persistence of our imagination. In the end, whether we find ourselves sketching clouds or coconuts, the joy is in the drawing.

The gates and the island remain perfect playgrounds for cartoonists. There are no last jokes, only new angles.

WHIMSY / a stiff upper lip

Men have always been attached to moustaches

“I

I once tried growing a moustache but ended up looking like blackmarket spiv Private Joe Walker in Dad’s Army, so shaved it off.

Moustaches have largely been confined to males and have for centuries been a symbol of masculinity, fashion, status, rebellion and cultural identity. They have varied widely in style, popularity, and meaning across different times and societies.

The moustache dates back to ancient times. Archaeological evidence shows that warriors in ancient Iran, Egypt and India often wore moustaches as part of their grooming.

In 300 BC, Alexander the Great reportedly ordered his soldiers to shave their beards to avoid enemies grabbing them in battle but told them they could keep their moustaches.

In European history, moustaches were often seen as a sign of nobility and sophistication. During the 19th century, especially in the British and Austro-Hungarian empires, elaborate moustaches were worn by army officers and symbolised

discipline and rank.

In contrast, in some Asian cultures, such as Imperial China, a moustache was associated with age and wisdom.

By the 20th century, moustaches had taken on more varied mean ings. In the early 1900s, they were fashionable among the elite. Later, in the ‘40s and ’50s, many men shaved them off in favour of a cleancut look. The ‘60s and ’70s saw a resurgence of moustaches as part of the counterculture and sexual liberation movements. Icons such as Tom Selleck and Burt Reynolds made the moustache a symbol of rugged masculinity in the ‘80s. There are many distinct mous tache styles, each with its own flair. Popular ones include:

• Handlebar: Curved upward at the ends, requiring waxing and grooming.

mucus, food and bacteria. Proper grooming enhances not just appear-

the downtown area.

Moustaches also carry symbolic weight. For instance, Movember, held each November, encourages men to grow moustaches to raise awareness for men’s health problems such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. This global movement has revitalised the moustache as a socially engaged style choice.

At times, moustaches have also been politicised. Adolf Hitler’s distinctive “toothbrush” moustache made that style largely taboo in the West. In contrast, revolutionary figures such as Fidel Castro or Che Guevara used moustacheand-beard combinations to project

In summary, the moustache is more than just facial hair – it’s a cultural artifact and a fashion statement that continues to evolve, shaped by modern trends and

Jake the hillbilly takes his girlfriend LuluAnn out in his new convertible to show off the car and drive around

Nov 8th-9th

After a while they stop at Maccas for a thickshake, where Jake forgetfully locks the keys in the car. Lulu-Ann says helpfully she will go look for a coat hanger or something to use to force the door open. Jake says, “You’re one in a million Lulu-Ann. Most gals would have been mad at me and wouldn’t have known what to do. But you’d better hurry, there’s a storm building and I left the top down.”

And: An elderly man is driving to Goulburn along the highway when his wife calls on his mobile phone. He knows he shouldn’t answer but can see it’s his wife calling so picks up the phone. She says: “I’m so worried John. You need to be careful – there’s a report on the news of a car driving the wrong way on the highway to Goulburn.

John replies: “Typical of the media – they’ve got it all wrong, it’s not just one car, it’s hundreds of them.”

Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.

IanMeikle

‘It’s publishing local stories and expert comment that keeps me moving’

I’ve bluffed my way on to this page in the guise of being the chairman of Macquarie Publishing, a company that celebrates its 20th year next month.

Macquarie publishes the weekly CityNews and the relentless citynews. com.au website. It also knocks out daily news bulletins and weekly digital magazine editions. And over the past couple of decades we’ve produced beautiful “custom” magazines for building and project home builders. We keep ourselves busy.

My day job is editor of the 32-year-old CityNews and its 15-year-old sister website, citynews.com.au. It’s a comparatively subdued role given my journalistic journey has taken me to the editor’s chair of the Adelaide Advertiser, The Australian in Sydney and director of news at Channel 10 in Adelaide managing hundreds and hundreds of media professionals.

More mainstream leadership gigs were as managing director of The Canberra Times, when it successfully ran a busy, new press centre in Fyshwick and held its head high in the community. After that, it was back to Sydney as managing director of Pacific Publications in Sydney, at that stage Australia’s second-biggest magazine publisher, where with titles such as That’s Life, TV Hits, TV Week, Home Beautiful and Better Homes and Gardens, we were punching out more than a million magazines a week. Apologies if this is starting to read like a curriculum vitae, however, the point I want to emphasise is there’s no substitute for running your own business. Certainly, you

Ian Meikle can be heard with Rod Henshaw on the CityNews Sunday Roast, 9am-midday on 2CC, and with Canberra Live host Leon Delaney Thursdays at 3.30pm.

don’t have to explain everything to the chairman! Likewise, there’s no substitute for being the editor of your own news organisation. Living my best journalistic life? Absolutely!

The euphoria of good weeks (lots of advertising and great stories and columns) or the bad weeks (we won’t dwell) is the driving force. That challenge of getting a coherent, professional weekly showcase of local journalism and expert comment to our loyal, motivated readers is what keeps me moving.

We have our detractors (the ACT government springs to mind), but imagine not having pains-in-theproverbial like us looking out for how your taxes are being spent (badly, if you hadn’t heard).

Free or not, we build CityNews to the same high quality as a paid reading experience. It’s not in my professional DNA to do anything less. We make our pages “sticky” (interesting), we don’t like the noise of page-flicking.

But this is a feature about leadership and throughout my career I have been exposed to untold management training from Harvard professors to the Australian Institute of Management. I hold a diploma in corporate management.

More importantly, I have led and worked with incredible, professional media teams – the current CityNews crew, under the general managership of talented Tracey Avery, for instance. But for all that, one of the first things I learnt as a young manager (features editor, Adelaide Advertiser) was the importance of dyadic relationships. What? Me too, but the dictionary explains it as the unique interaction and connection between two individuals.

The leadership message there is to take time to know your colleagues, one on one, and value the individual gifts they bring. That way it’s never lonely at the top, nor on the way down.

Driven by Excellence: The Sgrois’ Award-Winning Impact on Canberra’s Business Scene

Raffy and Charlie Sgroi don’t just run a workshop; they’ve built a movement out of Fisher. Car Mechanical Services has grown from a trusted suburban mechanic into one of Canberra’s most-awarded, values-driven small businesses, known as much for its people and community programs as for its precision under the bonnet. That reputation has been earned the long way: through decades of craft by Charlie, bold leadership from Raffy, and a culture that refuses to accept the industry’s old limits. The awards have followed locally, nationally and internationally. In 2023 CMS was named Small Business of the Year in the ACT Climate Choices Business Awards for its practical, whole-of-workshop sustainability push. The same year, Raffy was crowned Trade Services Champion at the Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards, the only ACT recipient, recognising not just commercial performance but the change she’s driving for women in the trades. In 2024, Car Mechanical Services and Raffy added international recognition through the Stevie Awards, including honours for automotive excellence and sustainability leadership. They’ve also featured as a Canberra Region

Local Business Awards finalist, reflecting consistent community and customer support. If the trophies confirm excellence, the day-to-day tells you why. Charlie recently recognised with a gold award for more than 50 years of service to Canberra motorists, sets the technical standard: a relentless focus on quality diagnostics, clear advice and getting it right the first time. That ethos, paired with Car Mechanical Services’ investment in modern tools and training, keeps the workshop busy with everything from logbook services to complex repairs on prestige and European cars. The result is that old-school, “my mechanic” trust, backed by contemporary capability.

But Car Mechanical Services’ biggest contribution may be cultural. Long before “diversity and inclusion” were common on industry award forms, the Sgrois opened their doors, systematically, so the workshop could be a place where more people belong. Car Mechanical Services has created paid pathways for women entering the trade, partnered with disability-inclusion recruiters, and worked with local colleges on structured 12-week skills and employability programs. Recent coverage notes the success of Car Mechanical Services’ free “My

Career Portfolio” initiative for young people, including neurodivergent candidates and those with different abilities, which builds confidence, job readiness and a realistic view of workshop life. That pipeline is now producing fully qualified technicians, including apprentices who have accelerated through to graduation ahead of schedule.

The community impact doesn’t end at the roller door. Sustainability is woven into Car Mechanical Services’ workflow: parts are dismantled and recycled, plastics and disposables are designed out of daily routines, and customers are encouraged to refill rather than add to landfill, habits that save money and the environment while modelling what “green mechanics” can look like in practice. It’s the kind of practical approach that helped clinch that Climate Choices award and shows how a small business can lead a sector from the ground up.

Raffy’s leadership extends beyond Fisher. Alongside Car Mechanical Services, she is the founder and CEO of Sage Advice (often referred to as Sage Consulting), a Canberra-based consultancy that helps purpose-led SMEs lift their strategy, leadership and networks. Sage convenes events, connects business owners with peers and policymakers,

and focuses on building resilient, values-aligned companies, the same playbook that’s propelled Car Mechanical Services. In short, Sage is the place where Raffy shares the frameworks and community she’s road-tested in her own workshop. What makes the Sgroi story resonate is how personal it remains. Charlie’s half-century in the trade anchors the business in craft and care; Raffy’s drive brings fresh energy, visibility and advocacy for an industry that should reflect the community it serves. Together they’ve made inclusion a habit, not a headline. At Car Mechanical Services, that balance is clear: a family-owned workshop, multiaward-winning yet unmistakably local, where the team knows your car, and sees you, too.

Recognition keeps coming, reinforcing both the model and the mission. From national smallbusiness stages to international juries, CMS and its leaders are being celebrated for excellence, sustainability and the way they open doors for others. It’s proof that a neighbourhood mechanic can be a force for change: fixing cars, growing people and strengthening Canberra, one service, one apprentice and one small win at a time.

JacintaMatthews

Turning Adversity into Empowerment

From hardship to leadership, how Jacinta Matthews built two purpose-driven ventures, M2T Training and MOC Apparel, to create pathways for women rebuilding their lives

For Jacinta Matthews, leadership isn’t about titles or turnover, it’s about turning pain into progress. As the founder and director of M2T Training and MOC Apparel, she’s proving that lived experience can be the foundation of meaningful enterprise.

Her path to entrepreneurship was shaped not in a boardroom, but through years of resilience. Growing up in Albury, Jacinta faced relentless bullying and struggled with self-worth. By her twenties, she had endured domestic violence, divorce, and mental health challenges that could have ended her story. Instead, they became the catalyst for everything that followed.

“Adversity taught me to find purpose,” she says. “Every setback forced me to ask, how can I use this to help others?”

After working in Sydney’s modelling industry and witnessing the toll of external pressures on mental health, Jacinta redirected her energy toward empowerment. Her first step was sharing her story publicly. Over time, she spoke to more than 3,000 teenagers across Australia, openly discussing resilience, self-esteem, and recovery.

Today, Jacinta’s message has reached beyond schools and communities. She’s become a soughtafter speaker at national forums and leadership conferences, where she challenges audiences to see

vulnerability as a strength. “People relate to honesty,” she says. “When I speak openly about trauma, it gives others permission to stop hiding theirs.”

That experience inspired her to formalise her advocacy into something tangible. In early 2025, she launched M2T Training, a program designed to help women affected by domestic violence gain skills, training, and confidence to enter or re-enter the workforce.

As Training Director, Jacinta is currently exploring government partnerships and grants to expand access for vulnerable women who may not have the resources to upskill.

“Many women want to rebuild, but they don’t know where to start,” she says.

“M2T gives them that starting point, real pathways, real confidence.”

She’s also working on a mentorship program within M2T that pairs women with business leaders and recruiters who understand trauma-informed employment. The goal is not just to train but to transform. “We don’t just hand out resumes,” Jacinta says. “We help women rebuild belief in themselves, that’s the real shift.”

Alongside M2T, Jacinta founded MOC Apparel, a clothing label inspired by her Polish heritage. The name “MOC” means strength and resilience, words that define both her journey and her message.

“MOC isn’t about fashion trends,” she explains. “It’s about identity, showing

women that strength can look stylish, that confidence can be worn.” Each piece is designed to symbolise empowerment and overcoming adversity, creating a brand that blends purpose with creativity. Every collection carries a story, messages embroidered or printed with affirmations like “rise again” or “own your power.” A portion of every sale funds M2T scholarships, closing the loop between her two ventures. “Fashion can be more than fabric,” she says. “It can fund futures.”

Jacinta’s leadership model is simple: authenticity, empathy, and accountability. She leads from lived experience, not theory. “You can’t fake resilience,” she says. “You earn it through what you survive.”

Her authenticity has earned national attention, including a nomination as a finalist for the 2026 Australian of the Year Award. Yet, despite recognition, Jacinta remains grounded. “Awards are nice, but the real reward is seeing someone stand taller because of something you helped them achieve.”

Looking ahead, Jacinta plans to expand M2T Training nationally and explore digital delivery for remote communities. She’s also collaborating with Indigenous women’s organisations to create culturally safe training frameworks. “Empowerment looks different for everyone,” she says. “Our programs

must reflect that diversity.”

Through M2T Training, Jacinta is also helping reshape how workforce development can intersect with social responsibility. By focusing on women’s re-entry into employment, she’s bridging a gap that traditional training providers often overlook.

She believes the key to long-term change is collaboration. “We need business leaders, policymakers, and training organisations to work together,” she says. “When we empower women economically, we strengthen entire communities.”

What began as a deeply personal recovery has become a professional mission, one that blends compassion with structure, and advocacy with action. Her ventures demonstrate how business can create social value without losing commercial focus.

Jacinta’s story is no longer one of survival but of strategy, a reminder that leadership can grow from the most unlikely places.

“My past doesn’t define me,” she says. “It drives me. Everything I build now is about showing others that they can do the same.”

As she continues to build and inspire, Jacinta’s legacy is already clear, a blueprint for turning hardship into hope and vision into action. Her journey proves that leadership rooted in empathy can not only change one life but ripple across thousands.

Email training@m2ts.com.au

Web m2ttraining.com.au | Web mocapparel.com.au

Dr

Sandra Cabot McRae

Integrative Doctor, Pilot, and Humanitarian

A Lifelong Commitment to Healing, Education, and Community Care

For more than five decades, Dr Sandra Cabot has embodied leadership that blends intellect with heart. She has led in medicine, product innovation and aviation, three industries demanding precision, courage and vision. Her philosophy begins with optimism and passion. “New ventures are usually high risk unless you have a lot of investors behind you,” she says. “You need to accept risk and wear the can if things don’t work out. When problems arise, consult the smart people you know, including trusted friends. Listen to your team to get perspective before making major decisions.”

For Dr Sandra, good leadership also starts with self-care. “To be a leader, you have to feel happy in your own skin, so keep your physical and mental state in good condition,” she says.

Cabot Health, the company she founded, has stayed relevant in a changing health market by grounding its products in science, not hype. “Our formulas are based on research,” she says. “We don’t exaggerate. People can measure the difference in their symptoms and blood tests after a few months.”

Customer care remains central. “We pride ourselves on guidance, support and compassion,” she says. “Many people with chronic health problems need a holistic approach that empowers them to heal.”

Dr Sandra believes mainstream medicine’s focus on “managing” chronic disease is outdated. “The idea that it’s all genetic makes people feel resigned to mediocrity,” she says. “Nutritional medicine shows that specific nutrients can reduce or reverse disease. People think they’re eating

well, but if gut health is poor, nutrients aren’t absorbed.”

With supplements now crowding the market, Cabot Health focuses on education and evidence. “Persistence is more important than motivation,” she says. “When you empower people with knowledge, they stay the course.”

For forty years, Dr Sandra has conducted seminars across Australia. “I do them because I love educating and inspiring people,” she says. “I’m in my seventies but still have the energy to travel and run full-day events, so I consider myself fortunate.”

While online platforms spread information widely, she says face-to-face seminars remain special. “Meeting an expert in person makes people feel valued.”

Her sessions attract 50–150 participants and cover liver, gut, thyroid health, energy, stress and menopause. “We charge $50 to $70 including lunch,” she says. “It’s affordable. We’re lucky if we cover costs. I have never been one for budgets, if I was, I would probably retire!”

Dr Sandra also visits pharmacies and health food stores across Canberra and nearby regions, providing training and free mini consultations. Following a sold-out seminar, she will hold another full-day event in March 2026 focusing on empowerment, slowing ageing and preventing degenerative diseases such as dementia. “People want to take charge of their health,” she says. “We give them the tools.”

She began studying naturopathic medicine at 18 while in medical school.

“I met some brilliant healers, rare in the late 1960s,” she recalls. In 1987, she published

Women’s Health, among Australia’s first books on bioidentical hormones. “There was no information on treatments that could help with endometriosis, PCOS and postnatal depression,” she says.

In the 1990s, observing a rise in fatty liver and autoimmune disease, she researched liver and gut health, blending Western and Chinese insights. Her work produced The Liver Cleansing Diet, a global bestseller. “Interestingly, my Citation Bravo jet has carried a few livers for transplant,” she adds, laughing.

Aviation became an extension of her career. “Flying light aircraft let me do seminars all over Australia,” she says. Her planes have also supported medical retrieval and charity Angel Flights. “Aviation and business are both about risk management,” she explains. “If you follow the rules and maintain quality, you’ll be successful and safe. It’s not highly profitable unless you’re an airline but it’s deeply fulfilling.”

Her approach to supplementation is measured. “I have never believed in excess,” she says. “We often see deficiencies in selenium, iodine, magnesium, vitamin C and D, nutrients vital for health. Supplementation must be tailored, not a shotgun approach.”

After 50 years in practice, she remains confident in nutritional medicine’s safety. “I’ve never seen a serious long-lasting reaction to quality supplements. It’s more dangerous to be deficient than to take too much,” she says.

Her integrative philosophy extends to pharmaceuticals. “People often panic after a diagnosis, which clouds judgment.

Integrative medicine treats the cause, not just symptoms, it’s epigenetic medicine. We can turn down bad genes and stimulate the good ones. Drug companies don’t profit from cured people.”

At a time of rising costs and digital disruption, she stays pragmatic. “I avoid debt and plan six months at a time,” she says. “Margins are lower, AI and big business are taking over. You have to adapt, offer specials and rely on volume.”

She’s frank about technology’s downsides. “Digital administration is costly and impersonal. It suits big business, not small. When I advertise for a warehouse worker, I get hundreds of applicants, people are being replaced by AI.”

Yet she uses technology where it helps. “Cabot Health runs a telehealth Weight Loss Detective program. AI can never replace compassion and trust,” she says. “Chatbots are useful, but humans are complex.”

Even after decades of innovation, she keeps expanding, collaborating with U.S. practitioners and exploring exports to Indonesia. “New markets are expensive to enter, but I enjoy the challenge,” she says. Asked about lasting success, she smiles. “For me, it’s staying alive and healthy, so far, so good! Only about ten per cent of my medical classmates are still practising,” she says. “I love helping people reach their best selves. I also like being a bit controversial, there are many myths in medicine that need clearing up. My books and YouTube videos will be my legacy.”

For Dr Sandra Cabot, leadership is conviction, the courage to chart her own course in medicine, business and life.

SophieMclean

Small Business of the Year awarded to Canberra mother supporting the ACT community through her renovation business

At a packed star-studded dinner last month, Your Property Profits Founder and Director Sophie Mclean won the coveted Small Business of the Year Award at the Canberra Women in Business Awards (CWA).

Founded in 2016, the Your Property Profits story is firmly rooted in Canberra-born Sophie Mclean’s passion for providing clients with a better future. Her vision for her clients’ success is so strong she takes on 100 per cent of the renovation risk, offering full renovations with no upfront costs.

Her radically generous approach has resulted in unprecedented returns for her often financially struggling clients, with some walking away with tens of thousands more in profit than expected. One of her first renovations – a family home in Flynn – resulted in a profit of nearly $350k for their elated client.

“When I started Your Property Profits, I wanted to give every day Canberrans a fair chance at creating a better financial future,” says Founder and Director Sophie Mclean. “We remove that barrier – no upfront costs, no added stress – just a fresh start and a fairer outcome.”

As a female-founded small business, Your Property Profits champions women in trades – engaging female floorers, electricians, stylists and painters wherever possible. Sophie also works

directly with many female real estate agents to help sell her client’s homes at the highest prices, enabling record profits. Something that was recognised by winning this recent award.

“Winning this award is an incredible honour, but the real reward is seeing our clients’ relief when they realise what’s possible,” says Sophie. “We’re proud to be a female-founded business that not only transforms homes but changes lives – especially for those doing it tough.”

Sophie and her team aren’t your typical home renovation specialists, they support homeowners experiencing financial hardship, who might need to sell before the bank repossesses the home; people who want to sell but don’t have the cashflow to fix up their home (pensioners, downsizers); and those going through the pain of selling their loved one’s estates.

The small business is also committed to sustainability, reducing waste where possible and donating a percentage of every project to humanitarian and environmental causes. To date, Your Property Profits has offset 520 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Your Property Profits is an awardwinning home-grown Canberra success story, founded by a Canberra-born mother of three.

Testimonials:

‘When I first called Your Property Profits, to say I was stressed would be an understatement. I needed to sell my property quickly and it was a mess - cluttered, dated and even leaking! None of this scared Sophie and I felt instantly at ease with her calm, thoughtful and considered approach to my circumstances, my property and my budget. I moved interstate, left the keys with Sophie and trusted her judgement. Sophie used her considerable experience, strong relationships with tradespeople and tremendous taste to ensure my property was repaired, refreshed, restyled and ready for market quickly.

In addition, the Your Property Profits Financial Assistance package meant all of this could happen without any upfront costs! My property sold at a competitive auction after less than 30 days on the market. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain calling Sophie and finding out how she can help you. I am so glad I made the call. I would highly recommend Your Property Profits!’

John - Homeowner, Chisolm ACT

“Following the death of our mother in June, my sisters and I were overwhelmed by what had to be done to manage and sort out her estate, whilst at the same time coping and processing our grief. Sophie and the

YPP team were a massive help. They handled everything, from organising the clearing out of the house, to necessary repairs, modernising the home and getting the house market ready. Sophie arranged everything, paid all our upfront bills and got us top dollar for the house on auction day. It was such a relief to be able to hand all this over and know we were in such capable hands. Sophie and her team genuinely cared and operated with such integrity – I would recommend her and her team to anyone looking to get top dollar for their home without lifting a finger or paying a cent. What a service. Can’t recommend them or thank them enough.”

Debbie - Estate Executor and Daughter Lyneham ACT

“Sophie and the talented YPP team did a truly amazing job with my parent’s house. They took a property that was outdated in design and very run down and quickly transformed it into a stunning, modern home. While their renovations are magnificent, what truly sets YPP apart from their competitors, is their refusal to adopt a one size fits all business model, instead providing an individualised service with all those personal touches. If you are looking to increase the value of your property and streamline the sale process, you can’t go past YPP! ”

Jo - Homeowner, Ngunnawal AC

Dr Henriette Macri-Etienne

“Compassion Meets Cutting-Edge Dentistry”

Patients Inspire Partnership to Deliver High Tech, Trauma-Informed Dentistry

Award-winning Canberra dentist and joint-owner of Integrated Dental Canberra, Dr Henriette Macri-Etienne, draws inspiration from her patients every time she steps into her practice. “The way that our patients put their trust in us –whether they’re anxious or in discomfort, wanting the best for their children, or seeking higherend cosmetic dentistry – lifts us always to do the best we can.”

Care for her patients has driven Dr Macri-Etienne to a process of continuous growth and improvement that has led to multiple awards and, recently, a partnership with leading cosmetic dentistry and dental implants business Smile On

The partnership is a blending of Integrated Dental Canberra’s (IDC’s) recognised focus on gentle, nurturing dentistry and customised approaches to dental anxiety and phobia and Smile On Clinics’ broader range of new, high-end services. Three years after establishing her practice in Moore Street, Civic, Dr MacriEtienne was driven to form the new partnership by both the needs she saw in her patients and a professional belief in

continual improvement and “not standing still” in any business.

She told CityNews that the partnership with Smile On Clinics (now in its third month) had successfully brought together IDC’s recognised brand of holistic dentistry – a multidisciplinary approach encompassing physical and psychological health and wellbeing – and a range of new complex cosmetic and other treatments.

In addition to empathy, compassion and human kindness, the practice offers a broad menu of “comfort” options including warm pillows, weighted blankets, noise-cancelling headphones, a full range of pain management options and a range of relaxation therapies.

“My passion has always been gentle dentistry with a focus on helping patients who may suffer from dental anxiety or dental phobia,” Dr Macri-Etienne said. “The partnership with Smile On Clinics has brought additional advanced technology and services into the practice, particularly cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics and implants.”

At the same time as the partnership with Smile On Clinics was being formed, Dr Macri-

Etienne was awarded a second annual gold “Making Waves” award by national business group Roar Success for her impact in the dental industry through innovation and change. Judges congratulated Dr Macri-Etienne on the way Integrated Dental Canberra blended “Clinical excellence with humanity”. The practice was not only commercially successful but was “socially and emotionally transformative”. The ripple effects of its trauma-informed, comfort first approach are undeniable”. Dr Macri-Etienne has since been shortlisted for an Australian dental industry award for treatment of nervous patients to be announced in December. Smile On Clinics has a range of locally run practices in NSW, Western Australia, Queensland and the ACT. The group’s founder, internationally recognised dental surgeon Dr Ned Restom, told City News the group was particularly pleased to be able to offer its services in Canberra through the partnership with IDC. The move meant Canberrans would have easy access to treatments for which they might previously have travelled interstate. Dr Restom, who

is also a co-founder of the Australasian Implant Academy, said that IDC’s philosophy of “dentistry without the dread” dovetailed with Smile On Clinics’ own approach of exceptional dentistry in a friendly, caring environment. IDC was now able to provide high-level surgical treatments ranging from single implants to “full arch” transformations. The practice also offered exceptional orthodontics, including through the use of Smile On Clinics’ custom brand of clear aligners and the use of AI technology. Higher-end treatments could be offered either at the practice in Moore Street or, if necessary, under general anaesthetic at Canberra Private Hospital. IDC also has access to the Smile On Clinics’ operating and other facilities on the NSW Central Coast which brings together some of the best implantology expertise in Australia. “Exceptional outcomes for Canberrans will be a logical extension of the services we’ve been able to provide elsewhere”, Dr Restom said. For both Dr Restom and Dr MacriEtienne, the partnership is an “exciting opportunity to grow and to add value”.

Turning Flexible Offices into Growth Hubs

With an engineer’s precision and an entrepreneur’s instinct, Swaroop Kaushik has built a workspace model that transforms flexibility into strategic advantage.

From the start, Swaroop Kaushik, CEO of JAGA, saw that most workspaces offered square metres, not momentum. His question, “What if the office removed friction instead of adding it?” became the foundation for JAGA Workspaces, a partner for businesses intent on growth rather than just a place to sit.

Founded in 2019, JAGA was built on three pillars: elite design, operational certainty, and a human-centred community. With more than a decade of global workspace experience, Swaroop set out to create flexible, highperformance ecosystems where teams can land, operate and scale confidently.

JAGA’s Canberra and Sydney sites are deliberately located near talent, clients and transport, not the cheapest rents. Each provides private offices, coworking spaces and meeting rooms on flexible terms, no long leases, hidden charges or build-out delays. Businesses move in ready to work.

Beyond design, JAGA’s simplicity is its strength. All-inclusive pricing covers furniture, utilities, cleaning, 24/7 access and on-site support. That structure lets leaders shift

energy from managing premises to growing companies. Clients, from startups to professional-services firms, describe JAGA as a destination, not a compromise.

Swaroop also engineered a community effect. Breakout zones, shared lounges and curated networking events create collaboration naturally. “If we remove the operational burden,” he says, “we free our members to build the relationships that grow their business.” The result is a network where companies evolve together.

Recognition soon followed. In 2024 JAGA received the Flexible Workspace Australia Design & Service Excellence Award and Gold in the Sydney Design Awards, plus multiple local-business award nominations. Yet Swaroop’s focus remains people, not prizes, seeing small teams expand and members proud of where they work.

At JAGA’s core is Swaroop’s belief that design should serve ambition. Each space reflects clarity and intent: refined aesthetics, intelligent layouts and service without compromise. That precision, paired with empathy for business owners, has built a brand clients both trust and champion. For those rethinking how and where they work, JAGA offers alignment, spaces that clear the path so leaders can lead and enterprises can grow. Swaroop Kaushik isn’t just building offices; he’s redefining productivity, culture and credibility in the modern economy.

Guiding Families with Empathy, Insight and Purpose

In the often-high-pressure world of family law, true leadership shows not only in technical skill, but in humanity. This year, Jacquelyn Curtis has again been recognised for the second year running in the 2026 Doyle’s Guide as Preeminent in Parenting, Custody & Children’s Matters and Leading in Family & Divorce, securing her place as one of Canberra’s most respected and trusted family law advisors.

Known for her grounded, relatable nature and steady presence, Jacqui has a reputation for balancing strategy and sensitivity. Clients describe her as calm in crisis, empathetic yet firm, and a fierce advocate.

For Jacquelyn, law has always been about people. Having navigated separation and coparenting herself, she brings insight, relatability and lived experience in addition to her specialist expertise.

“People experiencing separation and family conflict are adjusting to crisis or significant change. It’s a raw and testing human experience, one that can be deeply profound especially for children” she shares. “Respectful separation and cooperative parenting, whenever that is safe and appropriate, can change the trajectory for children and that matters deeply to me.”

This values-led vision of delivering legal services with compassion, care and choice was a driving force behind founding Parker Coles Curtis. Jacqui and

her co-directors, Debra Parker and Catherine Coles (both also recognised again in the 2026 Doyle’s Guide) saw a gap in the traditional family-law model, one that needed a more modern, client-centred and trauma-informed approach.

Today, Parker Coles Curtis is the largest female led law firm in Canberra, a team of family-law professionals, mentors and emerging practitioners who advocate for vulnerable families through significant committee and community work.

Jacquelyn’s specialty lies in complex parenting matters, including cases involving safety concerns, family violence and high-conflict dynamics. Clients say they ‘feel more at ease’ under her guidance and that she ‘consistently shows empathy and support and is a clear and skilled communicator’ bringing an ‘an approach that builds trust, courage and confidence’ during life’s most difficult moments.

Outside the office, you’ll find Jacqui reading, hiking a mountain, travelling with family or enjoying simple time with her children and close friends. She also follows her passion for giving back in many ways and this year she’ll be walking alongside other CEOs in the Menslink Great Walk, to raise funds to support young men in Canberra.

At the heart of her work is a simple belief: family law done well is not about battles, it’s about rebuilding lives. With her guidance, Canberra families continue to feel seen, supported and empowered to move forward.

Financial Expertise and trusted values at Gail Freeman & Co

For more than 35 years, Gail Freeman has been a trusted name in Canberra’s accounting community. As the founder and director of Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd, she has built a practice known for its depth of expertise, personal service, and commitment to helping individuals and businesses take control of their financial futures.

Since establishing the firm in 1987, Gail has combined technical excellence with a personal touch that clients value. A chartered accountant and self-managed superannuation fund specialist, she has guided countless businesses through the complexities of taxation, structuring and compliance. Her goal has always been to make financial management understandable, practical and empowering for every client she serves.

Gail welcomed her daughter Bethany Freeman-Chandler into a leadership role fifteen years ago, creating a dynamic partnership that blends generational perspectives and complementary skill sets. Bethany, a CPA and registered tax agent, brings a modern approach to accounting, one that integrates technology, systems design and efficiency improvements with strong strategic insight. Together, they offer a balance of experience and innovation that ensures the firm continues to meet the evolving needs of Canberra’s business community.

The firm’s reputation is built on

relationships. Gail Freeman & Co has long been recognised for its tailored service, working closely with clients across sectors including professional services, trades, hospitality and the not-for-profit community. The team assists with taxation, self-managed super funds, financial planning and business advisory, while maintaining a focus on clear communication and longterm outcomes.

Gail’s extensive experience in business and finance also informs the firm’s mentoring approach. Many of the region’s smallbusiness owners turn to her not only for accounting guidance but for practical advice on growth, structure and succession. Bethany complements this by helping clients implement digital systems such as cloud-based bookkeeping and payroll automation, giving them greater visibility and control over their operations.

As a family-owned practice, Gail Freeman & Co takes pride in continuity, integrity and trust. Gail and Bethany’s shared vision has created a firm that stands for professionalism with heart, one where clients know they are supported, understood and guided by people who genuinely care about their success.

Their story is one of tradition meeting progress, a well respected mother-and-daughter team leading a respected Canberra business that continues to help others build strong, sustainable futures.

ALL ABOUT CHRISTMAS Time to start end-of-year party planning

Bringing five-star hospitality to any party

Michael Sarino says the Hyatt Hotel Canberra can cater to all party sizes and themes.

The director of sales and marketing says the hotel offers elegant high teas in the heritage-listed tea lounge, gourmet, three-course lunch/dinners at The Promenade Cafe and festive garden parties in the courtyards with live stations, canapes and garden gnomes!

“Our unique venue spaces certainly creates an elegant and celebratory vibe for end-of-the year Christmas parties,” he says.

“Our guests always feel a sense of fun and occasion when attending events here, and our Christmas parties are often spoken about for years to come.”

Seeing a high number of their guests returning each year, Michael says they love the general “hum of anticipation and festivity across the hotel”.

There’s very little that needs to be prepared before booking the celebration, as the hotel’s in-house event co-ordinators look after all of the logistics to make any event pop.

“Canberra really comes alive over the festive season, and we love seeing guests dressed up and having fun in our gardens, over a high tea or at The Promenade Cafe,” he says.

“I love seeing our teams deliver five-star hospitality with genuine care and a sense of excitement for the season.”

After an event, Michael says he recommends guests take advantage of the heritage bar, Speaker’s Corner.

“Soaked in nostalgia, it’s a great way to end the day,” he says.

Hyatt Hotel Canberra, 120 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla, call 6270 1234 or visit hyatt.com

High tea at the Hyatt Hotel.

“We started as a small market stall selling homemade greeting cards that I started making when I retired,” says Monica.

“Now I have most of my Christmas stock and decorations in, and people need to get in early because they sell quickly.

“We have all of the Australian animals with little Christmas hats on, and nativity scenes with Australian animals, too.”

Monica says she loves what she’s doing and

“We have indigenous, dot-painting laser-cut animals that my granddaughter painted,” she says.

“I love the Australian animals, I just think they’re so unique and I love expressing my joy through the store. It makes me feel happy when people come in and see the products that we have.”

Wombat Cards and Gifts, Shop 2, 31/35 Nettlefold Street, Belconnen. Call 0423 786222, or visit wombatcardsandgifts.com.au

Christmas Festivities at Hyatt Hotel Canberra

Raise a toast to the festive season and celebrate your 2025 wins with five-star hospitality, excellent food and fine company.

THE TEA LOUNGE

Festive-themed High Tea with a glass of sparkling on arrival from $85 per guest THE PROMENADE CAFÉ

Three-course set menu with a glass of sparkling on arrival $145 per guest

THE GARDENS

Canapes, your choice of live station and garden games from $108 per guest (minimum 45 guests)

Hotel that helps celebrate the year that was

On November 28 and December 5, Crowne Plaza will hold its book-a-table festive feasts or private events, suitable for events up to 100 guests.

“Crowne Plaza is a great catering alternative for small teams and developments, up to the entire workplace,” says director of sales and marketing Tim Bruen.

From cocktail-style events to an Aussie barbecuestyle festive feast, Tim says bookings are now open and available online.

“Christmas Day dinner and New Year’s Eve bookings are also open,” he says.

against Glebe Park provides a garden vista or shady terrace, making it a standout location.

“For those looking to kick on in the city or swing by the casino in the evening, the Crowne is a great place to start the festivities with our location right in the CBD,” he says.

Bringing a “great atmosphere” to the event spaces and atrium, Tim says the hotel’s favourite part of the festive season is seeing guests “celebrate the year that was, or signal the arrival of summer holidays”.

Celebrate with your team at

Celebrate with your team at

“For larger or private events, fill out an enquiry form on the website, and one of our event planning team will be in touch to tailor your event.”

Celebrate with your team at Crowne Plaza Canberra

On New Year’s Eve, Tim says the hotel will host a family friendly buffet, finishing just in time to walk to the lake for the 9pm fireworks.

Crowne Plaza Canberra

Crowne Plaza Canberra

For daytime events, Tim says the hotel’s setting

Crowne Plaza, 1 Binara Street, Canberra, call 6274 5500 or visit canberra.crowneplaza.com

Make This Christmas Unforgettable at Crowne Plaza Canberra

Make this year’s festive season unforgettable with Crowne Plaza Canberra’s tailored dining experiences – perfect for corporate gatherings, team lunches and end-of-year celebrations.

Make this year’s festive season unforgettable with Crowne Plaza Canberra’s tailored dining experiences – perfect for corporate gatherings, team lunches and end-of-year celebrations.

The festive season is just around the corner — celebrate in style with tailored dining experiences designed for corporate gatherings, team lunches and end-of-year celebrations.

Make this year’s festive season unforgettable with Crowne Plaza Canberra’s tailored dining experiences – perfect for corporate gatherings, team lunches and end-of-year celebrations.

From sparkling buffets and elegant plated menus to festive canapés, summer BBQs and premium seafood feasts, there’s a package to suit every occasion. Enjoy flexible private or shared options, a glass of sparkling on arrival, and a live chef experience with selected menus.

Enjoy flexible private or shared options, a sparkling on arrival with buffet bookings, and live chef experiences on selected menus. Spots are filling fast — secure your celebration today!

From sparkling buffets and elegant plated menus to festive canapés, summer BBQs and premium seafood feasts, there’s a package to suit every occasion. Enjoy flexible private or shared options, a glass of sparkling on arrival, and a live chef experience with selected menus.

From sparkling buffets and elegant plated menus to festive canapés, summer BBQs and premium seafood feasts, there’s a package to suit every occasion. Enjoy flexible private or shared options, a glass of sparkling on arrival, and a live chef experience with selected menus.

As an IHG Business Rewards member, enjoy 10% off the master bill* when you book by March 4, 2026 for events held through August 30, 2026. Plus, register for this offer and you’ll also earn double points and 2 Bonus Elite Night Credits* for every USD $3,000 spent, up to 10 per booking.

*Minimum spend applies

Celebrate, connect and toast the season with a dining experience designed to impress.

Celebrate, connect and toast the season with a dining experience designed to impress.

Celebrate, connect and toast the season with a dining experience designed to impress.

(02) 6274 5500 eventscanberra@ihg.com canberra.crowneplaza.com

✶ Flexible private and shared options available

Flexible private and shared options available

✶ Sparkling on arrival included for buffet bookings

✶ Sparkling on arrival included for buffet bookings

✶ Flexible private and shared options available ✶ Sparkling on arrival included for buffet bookings

Live chef experiences for selected menus

The Presbyterian Church of St Andrew Forrest welcomes the public all year round, but holds a special place in its heart for Christmas time, says session clerk Sue Clerk.

“No matter what your denomination or faith, you are welcome,” she says.

“Christmas brings a brighter glow to the flame of our Christian love.”

Running an outreach program every evening for the 10 days before Christmas, Sue says they also provide supper for those attending their Christmas Eve service, often seeing up to 400 people.

“We sing carols and our minister delivers a Christian message.” she says.

“Ringing our manual bells is also very popular.”

Often chosen from the book of Luke, Sue says they tell the story of Christ’s arrival.

“Nine lessons and carols fill the church with wonderful music and sung praise,” she says.

“We hear the readings of the Lord’s word, as we do all of our Christmas services.”

A nativity scene will be on show, which Sue invites the public to reflect and remember the humbleness of Christ’s arrival of being laid in a manger in a cattle shed.

She says they also run youth programs, providing meals at their “messy church service”, a men’s breakfast and a ladies group to support their missions.

Presbyterian Church of St Andrew Canberra, 1 State Circuit, Forrest, call 6295 3457 or visit standrewscanberra.com

Church spreads joy and Christmas spirit

The best part of the Christmas season is sharing it with people, says All Saints Anglican Church parish secretary Elizabeth Dixon.

On Christmas Eve, Elizabeth recommends the Ainslie church’s children’s pageant at 4pm and the midnight mass at 11pm.

Congregation members can expect carols, stories, hymns and great company at both the pageant and the mass sessions.

“The pageant is a day for the whole family,” Elizabeth says.

“The children get dressed up and tell the story of the birth of Jesus.”

The church’s traditional high mass will be celebrated at 9am on Christmas Day.

“Part of church is getting together and enjoying being with a community of people,” says Elizabeth.

“Our activities aren’t limited by whether you’re a regular at the church. Anyone can join in on them. We get people from all walks of life.

“Just show up when you’re able.”

Elizabeth says the church is known for its music and urges visitors to enjoy the spectacular music.

“It really lifts your spirits,” she says.

All Saints will also be hosting a Christmas Fayre from 9am to 1pm on Saturday, November 29. The church was originally built as the first mortuary station to Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney, in 1868. The stonework was moved to Canberra in 1957. The church offers history tours to individuals and groups.

All Saints Anglican Church, 9-15 Cowper Street, Ainslie. Call 6248 7420 or visit allsaintsainslie.org.au

Christmas Services

CLUBS AND COMMUNITY AWARDS

‘Our CEOs and teams perform quiet miracles every week, delivering for their communities without the spotlight’

Awards shine light on how clubs enrich lives

With ACT clubs supporting more than 1000 community groups each year, the annual Clubs and Community Awards are about celebrating stories of connection, generosity and impact.

Clubs ACT say the awards shine a light on the many ways clubs enrich lives across Australia.

The awards, which this year were hosted by the Hellenic Club, Woden, reflect the strength, scale and social impact of the ACT clubs’ sector – not just in individual wins, but the collective contribution to the community, economy and employment.

A new award category was given this year Cook for a Cause, The Canberra Hospital Foundation’s fundraising award made its debut this year.

Each club created a feature dish and offered this for sale during the promotion.

“Clubs are the social fabric of our community, places where people come together, feel supported and belong,” said Clubs ACT CEO Craig Shannon.

“Over the past few years our industry has faced challenges with resilience and innovation, and this year’s clubs and community awards categories have evolved to reflect that journey.

“These awards tell our story – because our CEOs and teams perform quiet miracles every

week, delivering for their communities without the spotlight.

“If clubs disappeared tomorrow, Canberra would feel it immediately. What we do daily has been invisible for too long; these awards bring it into the light and remind us that clubs power social cohesion and the ACT economy.”

Across the ACT, clubs held $1.5 billion in assets and employed more than 9000 people,” he said.

“Our payroll tops $120 million, including $32 million in payroll taxes and superannuation.

Clubs maintain more than 500 hectares of public green space – more than 625 Bruce Stadiums – so families have places to play, train, and gather.

“We’ve invested $800 million in infrastructure over the past decade with another $400 million in the pipeline, contribute $66.9 million in taxes and levies each year, and deliver over $35 million to the community – because community comes before profit.”

“The awards celebrate leaders across the in dustry who simply do the right thing – by staff, by members, by their community – because values matter.

“Clubs are about something bigger than profit: connection, inclusion, and a hand up where it’s needed.

“Everyone, partners, members, CEOs, and staff play a part. Our members should be proud, I’m proud to stand with them.”

Triple treat for the Harmonie club

The Harmonie German Club has won

The Narrabundah-based club won the major Heart of the Community –

The club was highly commended in the Cook for a Cause competition

Its popular German markets also

pitality, community festivals, music events and authentic fare, says CEO

team, volunteers and members, and

club with a big heart, deeply rooted

COMMUNITY AWARDS

Clubs: The Heartbeat of Canberra

they don’t want us diversifying into childcare units. What we do is hospitality.”

Harmonie German Club, 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah. Call 6295 9853 or visit harmonieclub.com.au

Every week, clubs perform quiet miracles – creating connection, inclusion, and belonging. If clubs disappeared tomorrow, Canberra would feel it immediately.

More Than Venues – We’re Vital

Across the ACT, clubs employ 9,000 people, invest billions in infrastructure, and maintain 500 hectares of community green space. We’re Canberra’s quiet powerhouse – building jobs, sport, and opportunity.

Proudly Not-For-Profit

We do the right thing – by staff, members, and community – because values matter. Clubs are about people before profit and connection above all.

The 2025 award categories and winners

Celebrating Diversity & Social Inclusion

Recognising initiatives that foster inclusivity and connection for people of all backgrounds.

Winner: Vikings Group

– Breaking Barriers: Vikings Kids into Sport Program

Highly Commended: Canberra Labor Club Group

I would like to thank the board of directors, the staff, the volunteers and everyone that makes this club what we are today. I am very proud to be in this position and grate the custodian of this great club.

– Strength in Every Story: Building a Workforce That Celebrates Difference

Hospitality Innovation

Celebrating creativity and excellence in the delivery of club experiences.

Winner: Eastlake Group

– Dietary Inclusivity: Functions Fit For All

Highly Commended: Canberra Irish Club

– Blás Éireann: A Modern Irish Dining Experience

Education, Learning & Development

Highlighting investment in knowledge, skills and lifelong learning.

Winner: Canberra Southern Cross Club Group

– Learning in Action

Arts & Culture

Celebrating clubs that bring creativity, heritage, and cultural vibrancy to our community.

Winner: Canberra Southern Cross Club Group

– The Art of Connection

Highly Commended: Harmonie German Club

– Good Vibes, Great Finds & Genuine Connection – That’s Harmonie!

Sustainability & Environment

Highly Commended: Canberra Labor Club Group

– Lester Lam

– A Rising Star Within Our Organisation

Individual Service to the Industry

Honouring outstanding personal dedication and commitment to the club industry.

Winner: Canberra Labor Club Group –Arthur Roufogalis

– CEO Excellence: Collaboration, Community, Innovation, and People Development

Thank you for your patronage, because without you, our members and guests, none of this happens. Next time you are in the club, please reach out to one of our staff members and give them a heartfelt pat on the back for their contributions to what ultimately makes Canberra’s Small Club of the Year!

Contribution to Grassroots Sports & Inclusion

Honouring clubs that nurture participation and opportunity at every level of sport.

Winner: Vikings Group

– Backing Clubs, Building Community

Highly Commended: Ainslie Group

Recognising clubs leading the way in environmental responsibility and sustainable practices.

Winner: Canberra Southern Cross Club Group

– Cooking up a Greener Future

Highly Commended: Canberra Racing Club –

Thoroughbred Park

– The Worm Farm Initiative

Community Development & Wellbeing

Acknowledging programs that strengthen communities and support health, resilience, and connection.

Winner: Canberra Labor Club Group

– Supporting a Safer Future

Emerging Talent – Employee of the year

Paul Berger

Celebrating the rising stars shaping the future of our industry.

Winner: Vikings Group – Amanda Warburton

– An Absolute Star and Standout Leader

Highly Commended: The Mawson Club

Canberra Hospitals Foundation Fundraising Awards | ClubsACT Cook for a Cause

Showcasing culinary creativity with purpose, where great food supports a great cause.

Small Club winner: Harmony German Club

Large Club winner: Mawson Club

Club Service to the Industry

Winner: Anthony Ratcliffe – Eastlake Group

Heart of the Community

– Small Club of the Year

Winner: Harmonie German Club

Heart of the Community

– Large Club of the Year

The management and staff of CityNews congratulate the winners and highly commended recipients of the ClubsACT’s 2025 Clubs & Community Awards And salute the fine work all clubs do in supporting the community in so many ways

CityNews is a silver corporate partner

CEO

– Fostering Community Beyond the Fairway: The Rise of Gungahlin Lakes Women’s Golf Program

– Joanne Carney

– Shining at STAR Service

Winner: Vikings Group

Vielen Dank

Thankyou to our community

I would like to thank the Board of Directors, the staff, the volunteers and everyone that makes this club what we are today I am very proud to be in this position and grateful to be the custodian of this great club.

Thank you for your patronage, because without you, our members and guests, none of this happens. Next time you are in the club, please reach out to one of our staff members and give them a heartfelt pat on the back for their contributions to what ultimately makes Canberra’s Small Club of the Year!

Paul Berger

CEO

Red hot and ready to flower

By Jackie WARBURTON

vase as well as a low-water plant for the garden.

Pet-safe red hot pokers (not all of them are red) attract bees and insects when they’re in flower.

Now is the time to remove any tattered winter growth and allow light to get into the crown of the plant to prevent it rotting. It grows as a rhizomatous plant and will get bigger over time.

It needs good drainage. Plant on a slight mound to prevent crown rot. To ensure repeat flowering, water well in the hot months and

my garden and it is said to be the largest flowering of this species with thick, flowering spikes. It grows to at least 1.5 metres tall. It doesn’t self-seed and is a well-behaved plant in the garden.

NOW the soils and night temperatures are warm, the summer vegetables, such as zucchini, eggplants, capsicums and, of course, tomatoes, can be planted.

Zucchini plants are best grown in full sun and need a room to grow and spread out.

They have prickly plant hairs that can irritate the skin, so gloves should

be worn when handling them.

of their versatility in the kitchen, but there are many to choose from.

Golden zebra zucchinis is a hybrid squash and is bright yellow and worth a try. It grows to a nice bush-size plant.

Grow zucchini fast and pick when it’s no bigger than a hand, then move to cold storage as soon as possible.

Don’t plant it beside potatoes and other cucurbits (such as squash and pumpkins) to give them the best chance of growing.

Two plants a family is all that’s needed.

Eggplants, capsicums and tomatoes, all from the same family, all prefer the same growing conditions and don’t inhibit each other.

Tomatoes are the largest of these. So make sure that, as they mature, they don’t shade out smaller plants such as the eggplants and capsicums.

In a crop-rotation plan, plant solanaceae in the ground where the root vegetables and alliums were planted over winter.

FLOWERING now is the lilac, Syringa vulgarus, one of the most fragrant flowers of all. It is a supreme pollinator as well.

The fragrance from just a single

It’s an old-fashioned, droughttolerant plant that stands the test of time.

Lilacs not planted on root stock will sucker and can be hard to remove. Grafted lilacs will behave better. They’re usually grafted on privet rootstocks to ensure that the sion, the top part of the plant, doesn’t die.

Lilacs aren’t fussy plants; they don’t mind poor soil, but don’t like a lot of fertiliser. A good dose of lime in spring and autumn will keep the soil sweet and the pH high, which is what they like.

They flower on branches that grew last year so it’s important to lightly prune after flowering to keep them from getting leggy.

jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au

Jottings…

• Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around seedlings.

• Fertiliser all fruit trees and keep mulched.

• Prune azaleas after flowering.

• Plant lemongrass as an annual crop.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Off the Ledge and straight into a sharp and funny play

By Helen MUSA

For its debut production, director Lachlan Houen’s new company, Off the Ledge Theatre, has chosen Australian playwright Kendall Feaver’s work The Almighty Sometimes.

Already staged around Australia, the play, a sharp, funny paean to mental health in modern society, now appears in the Canberra region for the first time as part of The Q’s “Q the Locals” program.

Winner of the Judges’ Award at the 2015 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting – the largest competition of its kind in Europe – and the Victorian and NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, Feaver’s play tackles mental illness with what Houen calls, “some of the most biting humour I’ve ever read in a play”.

With the company’s avowed aim of tackling challenging and authentic narratives that “leave an impression long after the stage goes dark”, Houen says, Feaver’s play seemed like the perfect place for Off the Ledge to begin.

Winsome Ogilvie, who plays the central character Anna, is originally from Jindabyne and moved to Canberra to complete a degree in art history and curatorship at the ANU, where she acted with Houen in When the Rain Stops Falling.

She believes that although acting and the visual arts are very different, curatorial study helped her learn how to interpret creative works – a skill that now shapes her approach to character and script.

Describing The Almighty Sometimes as “not sweeping drama but very human”, Ogilvie explains that Anna is an 18-year-old living with her single mum Renee (played by Elaine Noon) and has been medicated for mental illness for at least seven years.

“She’s lost, like a lot of 18-year-olds,” Ogilvie says.

On the brink of adulthood, she rediscovers stories she wrote as a child and decides she wants to become a writer – but fears her medication will dull her creativity.

Her decision to stop taking it sets off a turbulent chain of events affecting her relationships with her mother, her boyfriend Oliver (Robert Kjellgren), and her psychiatrist Vivienne (Steph Roberts), who is not pleased with her decision.

“But at 18, Anna is independent. The shows reveals the up and the downside of what

happens,” Ogilvie says.

“It’s incredibly fast-paced, with most scenes played between two characters, Anna and her boyfriend, Anna and her and her mum and Anna and her psychiatrist.

“The dialogue jumps between conversations, often very complex, about mental illness and questions about the legitimacy of her original diagnosis.

“The play is quite accessible, very human and her witty character projects a lot of dark humour, even when the conversation gets very serious, making it even more accessible for the audience.”

While much of the play follows Anna’s struggle to write, it also explores the fragility of ambition and self-belief under the weight of doubt.

Ogilvie suggests that Anna’s illness is never clearly defined – possibly depression with bipolar symptoms – but what matters is how open-ended the story feels.

“The great thing about The Almighty Sometimes is that there’s not a clear and definite ending,” she says.

“That’s fitting, because mental illness itself is something people can struggle to talk about.”

The Almighty Sometimes, The Q, Queanbeyan, November 19-22.

The Almighty Sometimes

BY KENDALL FEAVER

A profound and compelling study of a young woman trying to discover where her illness ends and her identity begins.

19 – 22 November

Three star crime writers at the top of their game BOOKS REVIEWS / crime

Book reviewer ANNA CREER looks at three titles by crime writers at the top of their game.

Arnaldur Indridason is the most celebrated of all the Nordic crime writers.

He has won not only the Nordic Glass Key and the CWA dagger, but also the Premio RBA de Novela Negra, the world’s most lucrative crime fiction prize worth 125,000 euros ($A224,000).

pancreatic cancer. “Now every time Valborg came to mind he felt a deep pang of regret.”

The Quiet Mother (Harvill) is the latest in his series featuring the retired policeman Konrad. When a woman is found murdered in her Reykjavik apartment the police discover a note with Konrad’s phone number. Konrad is horrified as the woman, Valborg, had asked him to find the child she had surrendered at birth 50 years earlier.

Konrad torments “himself for not having done anything for her. Over and over, he’d thought of her in the weeks since their meeting… he wished he’d been more understanding, and more sympathetic to her suffering”.

His torment increases when he learns Valborg had been diagnosed with advanced

Konrad’s resulting investi gation, beginning with only one piece of information, that a midwife persuaded Valborg not to have an abortion, is as meticulous as it is persistent.

A warning that Indridiason’s style is quite distinctive, with echoes of the storytelling tradition of the Icelandic sagas. But the end result is a powerful exploration of shame, desperation and cruel destiny.

I’d finished with him because when he was on his own he was a bit miserable and he got me feeling a bit depressed with him and I didn’t really want to write any more about him… but then I wanted to know what happened” to him and Willow.

living in Port Silver, surrounded by family and friends.

But at the launch of his latest book, a true-crime expose of the Melbourne Mafia, the venue is bombed and snipers target Martin and his friends.

ASIO’s Jack Goffing reveals a contract has been taken out on Martin and advises him to escape into the outback, beyond Burke to the small town of Port Paroo. There he finds a pub and “not much else. There’s no school, no cafe, no stock and station agent. Just the pub and attached to it… a general store-cum-post-office-cum-petrol-station”. Population, 12.

ANNE Cleeves’ new novel The Killing Stones (Macmillan) marks the return of Jimmy Perez, who last appeared in Wild Fire (2018), which ended with Perez moving to Orkney with his partner, Chief Inspector Willow Reeves. Cleeves has said: “I really thought that

Perez and Willow now have a four-yearold son and Willow is expecting their second child.

After a violent storm, Perez’s closest friend Archie Stout is found dead at the neolithic archeological site of Noltland on Westray. The weapon is one of the Westray Neolithic story stones.

Perez is perplexed because Archie was larger than life and popular on the island. The police investigation reveals secrets and lies about the Stout family in both the past and the present, all set against a backdrop of

MUSIC

various famous Neolithic sites on Orkney. Cleeves spent time on Orkney before writing The Killing Stones and her love of the landscape is obvious. She describes it as gentler and softer than Shetland, but the crimes committed and the grief that follows are just as violent and bleak.

CANBERRA novelist Chris Hammer brings back Martin Scarsden in his latest novel, Legacy (Allen&Unwin). Martin is no longer “the anchorless foreign correspondent, the lone wolf, the lost soul”. He’s

It’s summer, “February hot: desert hot, where the air temperature doesn’t come close to explaining the force of the sun. Mad dogs and journalists. And fugitives”. However, the “old Geezer” who fills up Martin’s car tells him to stay in the pub overnight because rain is forecast and when it does, the police will close the roads.

Paroo is dominated by two great rural properties, the Carmichael’s Longchamp Downs and the Stanton’s Tavelly station. There’s been a feud between the families for generations over water.

When the Stantons tell Martin they can prove the Carmichaels are illegally capturing water before it reaches the flood plains, Martin can’t resist such an exclusive story. But then his cover is blown and his troubles escalate.

Legacy is tense and thrilling. You can almost feel the heat and sense the danger of an Australian desert in Hammer’s vivid prose.

Super-group performs in praise of reindeer

By Helen Musa

In an extraordinary coup for music-loving CEO Caroline Downer, Tuggeranong Arts Centre will soon host a Norwegian super-group – the first in its new collaboration with the Sydney Opera House’s Utzon Chamber Music Series.

The super-group, Morten Qvenild on piano and electronics, Mats Eilertsen on double bass and electric bass and Håkon Stene on percussion, vibraphone, electronics, is led by leading contemporary Hardanger fiddle exponent Benedicte Maurseth, also a noted writer, theatre artist and composer.

Hardanger fiddle? Originally a 17th-century instrument, it’s similar to the violin, but with eight strings, four of which are “sympathetic”, meaning they create extra resonance and possibilities for chordal playing.

Maurseth has toured internationally and composed for the Kronos Quartet, Prague Music Ensemble, Ensemble neoN, Marvel Studios and Norway’s National Theatre.

A prolific writer as well, her solo album Hárr was named by The Guardian as one of the 10 best folk albums in the world in 2022. That and her book Fiddlesisters, about female fiddlers, won her the Folkelarm Award and the SFF Prize for contributions to Norwegian folk music.

When I reach her by phone in Norway, Maurseth speaks of how her new album Mirra draws on the sound and movement of reindeer.

“I approach reindeer with imagination,” she tells me, dismissing any Christmas clichés and Rudolf jokes while reminding me that her new recording, Mirra, quite literally refers to the

reindeer’s movement in circles.

The title track for her new record is partly based on the actual sounds that reindeer make, which she describes to me as “a really deep, grunting sound, the noise of licking and the sound of their hooves, even on the soft snow”.

“Mirra refers to how reindeer move in circles –the deep grunting sounds they make, the licking, even the rhythm of their hooves on soft snow.”

In an ancient Hardanger dialect, Mirra describes how reindeer run together in a circling pattern, both to keep warm and to ward off predators.

The word was also used to describe a time when reindeer “teemed” in large numbers in Maurseth’s home area of Eidfjord in Hardanger, located on the shore of the Eid Fjord, about 150 kilometres east of Bergen.

“These animals have lived there for thousands of years – they are incredible.”

Her album blends natural rhythms with mini -

malist and traditional textures, and repertoire we’ll be hearing in Canberra will be largely music from Mirra, but she is quick to remind me that its compositional and performance style has its roots in traditional music, “so it will be pleasing to the ear”.

Maurseth is well known for her work in the theatre, so I confess with some timidity that my knowledge of Norwegian theatre is based on having directed two plays by Henrik Ibsen.

“Ibsen is a good start,” she says generously, telling me how she has worked with Norway’s Nobel Laureate Jon Olav Fosse for many years – she calls him “our contemporary Ibsen”.

“I played while he reads,” she says. “His writing, with its repetitions, commas and small variations, is just like Hardanger fiddle music.”

Polar Night and Midnight Sun, Tuggeranong Arts Centre, November 25.

Blessed, The Church returns

ARTS IN THE CITY

By Helen Musa

Fronted by Canberra’s own Steve Kilbey, Aussie rock band The Church celebrates its legacy with a new format in The Classic Singles Show, featuring 20 of their most iconic songs. Canberra Theatre, November 9.

The Museum of Australian Democracy will mark the 50th anniversary of the Dismissal with a program of exhibitions, events and free daily tours delving into the political, constitutional and human sides of this moment in Australian history. Museum of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House, until February 2026.

Another commercial art gallery bites the dust with news that Suki & Hugh Gallery in Bungendore will hold its final exhibition in November, showcasing the talents of local glass artist Kirstie Rea and Annette Blair. The show opens 10 years and one day since Susan Foxlee (Suki) and her husband, Sam Cooper (Hugh) established the gallery in 2015. 38A Gibraltar St, Bungendore, November 15-December 13.

Luminescence Chamber Singers reprise Red Dirt Hymns, music, words and imagery rooted in the Australian landscape. It premiered in 2024 at the National Museum and brings together the work of 16 writers, Luminescence, two instrumentalists, Roland Peelman, artist Sammy Hawker, and composer Andrew Ford. At The Q, Queanbeyan, November 15-16.

After a sold-out international tour, Aussie expat comedian Monty Franklin returns home with his new show Is That Your Mate? The Street Theatre, November 15.

Talented Canberra singer-songwriter Koebi Faumui launches his heartfelt new release Like You Don’t Know Me, exploring the challenges of reconnecting with the past. Dissent Bar, Civic, November 9. BlockSounds Recorders, under the direction of Robyn Mellor and featuring Greta Claringbould, Maartje Sevenster and Frank den Hartog, present The False Prophet, a concert of 17th-century spiritual works by Johann Rudolphe Ahle and his contemporaries. Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, November 9.

STREAMING Miserable Carol, new face of top writer

The creator of what is widely held up as the greatest show of all time has returned with a new series this month.

Vince Gilligan is famous for mastermind ing Breaking Bad, the story about a high school teacher turned meth kingpin that took out 16 Emmys and broke a world record for highest critical praise for a TV show ever.

Then Gilligan doubled down with Better Call Saul, a spin-off to Breaking Bad that many fans argued was even better than its predecessor.

Not a bad CV at all and doesn’t Apple TV Plus know it.

Gilligan’s previous work has been the main marketing drive for his new show Pluribus, which has just hit Apple’s streaming platform.

It’s not a gritty crime thriller this time though, but instead a sci-fi series.

Many of the plot details have been kept a mystery, but what is known is that Rhea Seehorn (also from Better Call Saul) stars as Carol, “the most miserable woman in the world who must save the world from happiness”.

Carol seems to be the only person on Earth immune to a strange virus that makes people insufferably optimistic.

Is she the bad guy here or is there something more sinister to this brave new world?

Like Breaking Bad, Pluribus is set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a city that Gilligan put on the international stage with his creation.

There’s a surreal nature to the city, a haunting quality to the desert that also makes it seem fitting for this new series.

Gilligan himself is no stranger to sci-fi. He earned his writing chops through working on some popular episodes of The X-Files back in the day. In some ways it will be a homecoming for him.

Of course, when you’ve created the most widely lauded show of all time there is more than a little hype about the follow up. No pressure.

ONE of pop culture’s favourite clowns is back this month and it’s not one that provides laughs.

Welcome to Derry, based on Stephen King’s horror masterpiece, has hit screens on HBO Max and is already delighting fans around the world.

Pennywise, the killer clown who stalks the storm drains of small town America, has

returned for this new series which is a spinoff to the two “It” films released in 2017 and 2019 that proved box-office blockbusters.

The new show winds the clock back to 1962 and follows a new group of teenagers haunted by the monster.

Like in the movies, the plot kicks off when the youth of Derry begin disappearing, triggering these teens to investigate.

What they discover will give new insight into what Pennywise is and where “It” actually comes from.

There are big plans in the works for this spin-off. Three seasons are in the pipeline,

each going back even further in time to another era of the clown’s terror.

But with two movies already down, on top of the 1980s miniseries adaptation of It, how much staying power does this story have?

Will audiences still be hooked three seasons down the track?

How long can this deadly joke stay running?

THE writer of Netflix’s hit mini-series Adolescence has turned his talents to a compelling new show called The Hack. It follows Guardian journalist Nick Davies (David Tennant), who exposed the News International phone-tapping scheme that became one of the biggest scandals of the century.

But this plot also splits its identity. Every second episode follows Detective Dave Cook (Robert Carlyle) and his inquiries into the murder of a private investigator who worked for a firm that dug up leads for News of the World, one of the outlets caught right in the middle of the controversy.

How these two stories interweave forms the plot of this seven-part series streaming on Stan. Jumping between both storylines can be a little abrasive to start with. It can almost feel like watching two different shows at the same time but when all the threads come together it makes for fascinat ing viewing with a great payoff.

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0458 807 882 admin@alpharoofingact.com.au

If you’re yearning for yummy yum cha, head to Oh No in Manuka. While you won’t see any push-carts trundling about, you’ll spot yum cha all-time faves.

They include pork buns, siu mai and har gow, created with Oh No’s special touch and served at the table. Plenty of diners have caught on, gathering at Oh No for a catch-up over the Chinese equivalent of “brunch”.

At Oh No, you book your spot for one hour and 45 minutes for an all-you-can-eat experience ($55). And if you want to “make it boozy”, you can go bottomless with a compact list of alcoholic beverages ($35) or pay as you go.

While somewhat flexible, Oh No reserves the right to charge $15 per dish for food that is untouched, partly to discourage over-ordering. And the restaurant politely declines modifica tions to the menu, so the kitchen is free to pump out dishes quickly.

I’m not a massive fan of pork buns because I often find them too doughy, but Oh No’s pan-fried pork version hit the spot with a perfect balance and texture. Ditto for the prawn and spinach dumplings, which were moist and soul-satisfying.

One of our favourite dishes was the prawn toast, formed into small spring roll shapes and fun to chow down on. Our salt and pepper crispy tofu was yum, and the chicken and ginger siu mai were gorgeous little packages of goodness, cooked so they were plump and juicy. We found the veggie dumplings a bit bland.

A special dish we hadn’t had before was the salted egg yolk lava bun – dark in colour, but glistening with gold on top. Some say this is a relatively new addition to yum cha menus, first introduced in Hong Kong in 2009. The bun was

items, wok items, fried items, dumplings and sweet things.

From the wok section, we enjoyed Dad’s Egg Fried Rice, a special recipe and a dish not to be missed.

With it, we indulged in wok-cooked barbecue pork belly, sliced into bite-sized portions with bright green spring onion sprinkled about. The pork was beautiful… crispy on top and cooked so the fat was perfectly rendered.

and flavour?

Last, but not least, was a smooth, silky and creamy mango pudding, made with condensed milk. It was delicious.

Oh No’s staff were a highlight of our experience –fun, attentive, entertaining and full of vim and vigour.

WINE / unwanted bubbles

Bubbles, where did they come from?

It was another lunch at the Kingston foreshore with the four of us choosing to take the BYO option: two of us brought white wine to go with the Thai food.

This repetition is a bad habit because it’s based on laziness: the lunchtime special is great value and the food is more than passable so why change?

Speaking of bad habits, I’m reminded of the problem gambler who told me his wife was leaving him because of his addiction. He mentioned that all he could think about was winning her back.

The first bottle was a 2023 Eden Valley Riesling from the Barossabased Burge Family Winemakers, which I’d bought direct from the maker at a very good price, $18.

The second was a 2024

Stadt Krems Grüner Veltliner “Lössterras-

sen” from Austria that mate Tom had picked up from a local wine store that morning for around $28. Each was very good.

The riesling was pale yellow in colour with a citrus nose and a good balance of sweetness and acid in the finish. The Gruner Veltliner was also light yellow in colour but with a very different bouquet, herbaceous. It finished sweeter than the riesling but with a complex palate ending with the expected pear finish.

The riesling sat in a bucket and had been chilled at home. The gruner veltliner was also pre-chilled. But as the wines came up to room temperature strangely both

developed secondary fermentation, with bubbles of carbon dioxide evident, more so in the riesling.

Secondary fermentation is often desirable: think the making of champagne or the making of natural wines that don’t include sulphites, which otherwise help to stabilise the wine.

In the first there is the process of dosage: this is a liqueur or sugary liquid, added to the wine after the first fermentation, that generally contains 500-750 grams of sugar per litre. This addition balances the acidity and gives it sweetness.

In natural wines fermentation continues in the bottle, often leaving them with a cloudy and bubbly appearance.

This process produces carbon dioxide which, unless the wine tastes bad, is not anything to worry about and can be assisted by decanting the wine. Decanting in restaurants though is often difficult.

That process would also have assisted the gruner veltliner in particular: it was labelled as vegan friendly and the last pour from the bottle contained a sludge of white sediment, showing that the wine had not been fined.

Fining is removing unwanted elements in the wine, such as some sediment or tannins and phenolics. It is often undertaken using animal products such as egg whites or casein.

A fish-derived substance is also used in particular to clarify white wines and bring out their fruit flavours: it’s stuff called isinglass, which is derived from the swim bladders of certain tropical and subtropical fish and therefore also makes the wine non-vegan.

But is eating or drinking nonvegan a bad habit? I think people who sell meat are disgusting; but apparently people who sell fruit and vegetables are grocer

In the wines we had at lunch, it was just the recurrence of the yeast eating the sugar in the wine, which was also aided by the warm temperature in the restaurant.

HOROSCOPE PUZZLES

By Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

On Monday, Mercury starts reversing through your travel and adventure zones. If you are going away (especially interstate or overseas) make sure you double-check your itinerary. And (if possible) avoid signing contracts and legal documents until after November 30. On Thursday, your ruler, Mars, links up with retro Mercury, so you’ll feel physically restless and verbally reckless. Some restraint is required, otherwise you could do or say things that you later regret.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Stubborn, slow-moving Bulls prefer things to proceed smoothly, with no sudden surprises along the way. However, with Uranus still transiting through your sign, life continues to be a series of ups and downs. Singer-songwriter-musician Neil Young (who was born on November 12, 1945) observes: “As you go through life, you’ve got to see the valleys as well as the peaks.” This week the focus is on close relationships, conversation and co-operation. Feel the love!

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

With Mercury (your ruling planet) in retrograde mode (from Monday until November 30), resist the urge to over-analyse, over-worry, overstress and overreact. By all means think things through, but avoid getting caught up in an endless, obsessive loop. Try to relax and let your creative side express itself. On Thursday, your body and mind will feel super amped up, so try to burn off excess energy with some vigorous physical exercise and plenty of mental stimulation.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

This week Mars and retrograde Mercury hook up in your daily routine and wellbeing zones, which encourages you to revise and reboot your work, diet and/or fitness habits. Nutritious food and regular exercise will help you bounce through the week with some extra pep in your Crab step. Plus find ways to reduce paperwork and streamline your output. But if you don’t communicate clearly with work colleagues, then misunderstandings are likely.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Hey, Lions… remember it’s Mercury Retrograde season. If you stir up grievances with an old adversary, you could find you’ve bitten off more than you can comfortably chew! When it comes to relationship problems, avoid quick fixes (especially with family members). You’ll come up with a satisfactory solution if you think things through and act on your hunches. Tune into the peace-loving influence of Venus as you learn to smile sweetly, forgive and forget.

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Mercury (your ruler) turns retrograde on Monday. It’s the planet of clear thinking, communication (talking, texting, writing), transport, travel, commuting, commerce, computers, media and the internet. So, it’s not a good time to gossip; sign contracts; start a job or business; buy a phone, computer, car or home; launch a website; install new software; go on an important business trip or embark on a big holiday. Be patient and wait until after November 30.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

On Monday, Mercury turns retrograde and – for you – education, communication, computers and travel will be especially affected. So, expect some of the following – dodgy deadlines, delays, disruptions, mix-ups, misunderstandings, backflips and breakdowns; reversals and recalls. A calm, careful, well-balanced Libran approach will see you through. Jupiter encourages you to shine brightly in the workplace, as you show others what you are capable of.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Is an ongoing financial problem bugging you big time? A combination of clever research and old-fashioned hard work will lead to a smart solution that ticks all the boxes. From Monday onwards, retrograde Mercury challenges you to reboot your thinking, revise your strategy and devise a practical plan. With the Sun and Venus both visiting Scorpio, it’s your time to sparkle and shine socially as you charm the cynics, persuade the critics and dazzle the doubters.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Most Sagittarians are happy, glass-half-full kind of folk, so Mercury Retrograde doesn’t usually throw you. You’re used to being disorganised and love it when plans change at the last minute! And you prefer to focus on the positives. This Mercury retrograde (in your sign) is a good time to do anything with a ‘re’ in front of it… revise, rehearse, review, remember, return, recover and reconnect –especially involving your appearance and personal projects.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

Don’t become so focused on the busyness and miniature of day-to-day life that you lose sight of the bigger picture. Look towards the horizon! Reviewing and resetting long-term goals, dreaming ambitious dreams and making time for meditation, contemplation and/or relaxation are the secrets to a successful week. Beyond that, your motto for the future is from birthday great, singer-songwriter Neil Young: “There’s something ahead worth fighting for.”

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

This week Mars and retrograde Mercury activate your hopes-and-wishes zone, so it’s a good time to reflect on your goals and dreams for the future. Do they need to be reviewed, revised and rebooted? Then it’s time to be proactive about making positive changes, and Thursday is the best day of the week to start. Be inspired by singer-songwriter Neil Young (who turns 80 on Wednesday): “One new feature or fresh take can change everything.”

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

Mercury starts reversing through your career zone on Monday, so relations with a work colleague, client or customer could be challenging. Over the next three weeks, smart Fish folk will pick battles very carefully and choose words very wisely. With Uranus spending the last few months in your education zone, stay curious about the world around you. Be inspired by birthday great, modernist painter Georgia O’Keeffe: “Happiness is temporary, but interest is continuous.”

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2025

1 Which substance is used as an insect deterrent? (7)

2 To be clever, is to be what? (5)

3 Name a system of writing for the blind. (7)

4 Which term suggests an affront? (6)

5 To grieve, is to do what? (5)

6 What are children’s nurses known as? (7)

7 What are artifices called? (5)

13 Shrove Tuesday is known as which Day? (7)

15 Who painted Bailed Up, Tom …? (7)

16 What might we call the beach? (7)

17 To tell fully and distinctly, is to do what? (6)

18 What is a metal device used for fastening things together? (5)

19 To be humming, is to be what? (5)

20 Name a form of silica. (5)

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

AI is good, but the skill is in the right question

I have recently been using an artificial intelligence program for tax research. I realise that the answers depend on the quality of the questions.

I remember at university being told there were open and closed questions. Subsequent research indicates that there are more types of questions than simply open and closed.

I see open questions referred to as the 5Ws – namely who, what, where, when and why. I also ask many questions starting with how.

An example of an open-ended question I asked recently is: "What records do I need to keep to claim working-from-home deductions.” The AI program I use is tax-specialist designed and it came back with a large amount of information. It also had five references and some potential questions to ask.

I did not accept the answers as being accurate without following them through and looking at all the other references that were there. This is so that I do not provide wrong information.

Sometimes the answers are not clear, so I need to ask another question for clarity. I am mindful that at the bottom of the research it says "AI can make mistakes".

In contrast, when I ask a closed question, I expect an answer of yes or no. For example: "Can I claim working-from-home expenses?" The possible answers are yes, no or maybe and maybe requires more information to come up with a definitive yes or no answer. When asked that question, AI came back with a much shorter answer with only one reference and stated that I had to satisfy certain criteria. The quality of the answers depends on the quality of the questions asked.

I might ask a reflective question so that I can satisfy myself that the AI is correct. It is basically a form of doublechecking.

In my field of tax, the answers that come back are not always clear and require further research. But if the starting point isn’t clear and accurate then the subsequent questions are not going to provide the answers I am looking for.

Albert Einstein once said: “If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask. Once I know the proper question I could solve the problem in less than five minutes”. This comment is very pertinent when framing questions for AI. Depending on the complexity of the question I'm trying to research, I often break it down into smaller chunks.

I read a news article a few days ago indicating that if a property is sold within 10 years it can be subject to tax in NZ. It is just not called capital gains tax. However, I asked AI, is there a capital gains tax in NZ? AI provided an answer that says NZ does not have a capital gains tax and then gave me a lot more information. So AI does not always give correct answers.

I don’t want to be the person named in the media who provided wrong answers because they took AI shortcuts. AI is powerful and useful, but you must check the output and ask the right questions.

If you need help with any tax-related matter, including using AI in your business, ask the experts at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 6295 2844.

Disclaimer

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

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