FLAWED PARTON ‘MURDOCHED’ BY THE TIMES BEAT UP ‘The poor standard of The Canberra Times’ tabloid articles is illustrated by the lack of verification and taking quotes out of context,’ writes MICHAEL MOORE
AUGUST 20, 2026
Well written, well read
THE WRIGHT WAY MARGARET WRIGHT has spent her life giving to others. Now nudging 86, she’s still sharing her passion for music
KEEPING UP THE ACT
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NEWS / Project for Accessible Radio Telescopes
Students teaching students about radio science A student-led project is using self-made radio telescopes to inspire science among high school students, particularly those with limited access to STEM resources, reports DHWANI PATHAK. A group of Narrabundah College a 2026 Global Youth Action Fund-winning students is building low-cost project, which will radio telescopes with the aim allow the team to of taking them into classrooms, travel to regional NSW schools and share their giving regional students early technological creations exposure to science beyond in workshops with textbooks. students from years 8 The challenge, known as the Project for Accessible Radio Telescopes (PART), is to make advanced science more accessible, particularly for students in rural areas. The PART initiative focuses on building radio telescopes for under $500 and ensuring they are demonstrated in schools, particularly those with limited access to STEM resources. CSIRO says radio telescopes are used to detect and study invisible radio waves and microwaves coming from space, helping scientists map the universe and find distant stars and galaxies. Under leader Emma Enyu Zhang and classmates Narayan DwanHolland, Kevin Fang, Aliana He and Yanfu Fan the project evolved into
to 11. The student group will use the telescopes to demonstrate concepts such as waves, signals Part of the team of Narrabundah College students and data in real time. building low-cost radio telescopes, from left, Emma “It gives early Enyu Zhang, Narayan Dwan-Holland and Yanfu Fan. exposure to concepts for its ability to bring together physlike waves and vectors, and you can physically see changes in ics, engineering and mathematics in a practical way. While it is rarely readings,” says Emma. taught in schools, the students saw The team formed through the Science Mentors ACT program, where it as an opportunity to expose others they were first introduced to research to complex ideas in a simple, tangible format. and hands-on STEM learning. “It is a very niche field,” Narayan “Via this program, we came says. “But it is one of the higher-end into contact with STEM and felt an sciences that students can realistiextreme interest in science,” Emma cally engage with.” says. “We’re united by a love of Building the low-cost telescopes STEM.” was a complicated process, says The group chose radio astronomy
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Emma. “We explored a lot of designs, from 3D printing parts to building a horn telescope with cardboard and aluminium, before deciding on a parabolic dish using components from amateur radio astronomy.” They are also working towards making the telescopes more interactive, with plans to allow students to take part in assembling parts of the equipment. “We want students to participate in building parts of the telescope,” Kevin says. “It extends the outreach beyond just radio astronomy.” To fund their first telescope, the students raised about $300 through school fundraisers. “We sold baked goods and ice cream,” Emma says. “That was a really exciting moment.” Even after securing equipment, getting the telescope to function properly took time. Much of the work involved trial and error, with repeated testing and redesign. The team spent months trying to detect a signal from the sun before realising a key assumption was wrong. “We kept getting no signal,” says Kevin. “Then we checked if the sun was a strong source, which it wasn’t.” “If we don’t run into these mistakes, we won’t be able to test properly,” says Emma. The project is still evolving. “It’s
definitely not in a final stage,” says Yanfu. “We still have a lot of problems to address.” Despite the challenges, there have been some key milestones with the team already providing workshops to Crookwell High School in regional NSW and to a rural school in China. Workshops have also shown the impact of the project particularly in schools where students have limited access to hands-on STEM experiences. “That’s how we knew we made a difference,” Yanfu says. Balancing the project with school commitments remains an ongoing challenge. “We prioritise our studies,” Yanfu says. “But when we have time, we commit to the project.” While the telescopes themselves are modest compared to professional instruments, the team says the goal is not to make major discoveries. “It’s the scientists who make discoveries. For us, it’s about giving students that sense of discovery and hopefully inspiring them to see science as something they could pursue in the future,” says Kevin. Looking ahead, the team has workshops scheduled for at least three more schools by the end of the year. “Maybe one of the students we inspire will go on to make those discoveries,” Emma says.
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POLITICS / attack journalism
Flawed Parton ‘Murdoched’ by Times beat up A series of front-page features on a non-issue is simply tabloid attack journalism. It is reasonable to expect more serious reporting in the national capital’s daily newspaper. The poor standard of The Canberra Times’ tabloid articles, that were picked up by many other news outlets across the country, is illustrated by the lack of verification and taking quotes out of context. Even more telling was the number of other stories from the ACT, and around the world, that deserved frontpage treatment but didn’t get it. It was poor judgment on the part of Opposition Leader, Mark Parton, to send the “fuck my job is boring, wanna swap” text to anyone. It was probably intended as a joke. On reflection, it is a shame that it is getting harder and harder to crack jokes. Authors Andrew Dodd and Matthew Ricketson coined the term “getting Murdoched” in their new book Getting Murdoched: How Murdoch’s Media Wields Power and Punishment. The term refers to “being targeted, intimidated, or publicly attacked through smear campaigns, relentless criticism, or manipulative reporting”. In this case it appears that Parton was, at least for a relatively short pe-
4 CityNews August 20-26, 2026
Mark Parton… poor judgment.
The poor standard of The Canberra Times’ tabloid articles is illustrated by the lack of verification and taking quotes out of context… Canberra needs a daily newspaper that accurately reports, without stooping to the level of the Murdoch tabloids.
riod, “being Timesed”. Unfortunately, “Timesed” doesn’t have the same ring. So, who is the most culpable, the newspaper’s editor or the journalist who covers the Legislative Assembly? It looked like a spicy story when presented as though the opposition leader would be happy to trade his position for that of a sex worker. Even though prostitution has been legal in the ACT since 1992, it still seems titillating to some. One troubling aspect is the allegation about it being sent by Parton to a sex worker was never supported by reasonable evidence. And that allegation has never been substantiated since. The original message was circulated with a statement added making it look like Parton had done so… but
with social media, anyone could have adapted the original message to show it as pictured in the media. It may also have been intended as a joke! Although admitting to the message about being bored during Estimates Committee hearings, Parton denies vigorously that he ever sent it to a sex worker. On another tack, somehow the poor attempt at a joke has been construed as referring to his entire role as leader of the opposition as boring. This is pretty hard to believe. It was clear from the start that this misjudgment was never intended to apply to the whole job. The headlines and leading sentences simply lost this context. It is the case that the Estimates Committee process can be boring at
times. It is tough when some participants wait extensive periods for MLAs from other parties to ask their series of questions. There are not many jobs that do not have elements that are “boring”. It does not mean that the job itself is not meaningful, exciting or fulfilling. Former Supreme Court justice Ken Crispin, who is the Legislative Assembly’s Standards Complaint Commissioner, determined not to consider the issue. Mr Parton reacted appropriately to this decision because it is not something that ought not be regarded “in the public interest”. The reaction of the commissioner highlights the tabloid approach of The Canberra Times. A single story on the lack of judgment by the Leader of the Opposition made sense. But on the front-page? The follow up stories, such as getting reactions from other politicians and commentators, were just using Murdoch techniques. The Canberra Times has the banner “To serve the National City and Through it the Nation”. Exposing a lazy, disinterested MLA would certainly be in the public interest. However, even with personality quirks (don’t we all have them?), it
would be pretty hard to paint Parton’s record as opposition leader in this way. According to Dennis Altman in The Conversation, “ad hominem attacks characterise much of the ideological warfare of the Murdoch press”. He argues that the book Getting Murdoched is “a forensic account of how the Murdoch empire bullies, intimidates and destroys individual citizens and governments”. In my experience, this has rarely been the case with the local media in the ACT. This sort of tabloid approach really needs to be considered carefully and nipped in the bud. Canberra does need a daily newspaper that accurately reports, without stooping to the level of the Murdoch tabloids. 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.
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NUTRITION / frozen or canned fruit and vegetables
How healthy is cheap frozen and canned food? Frozen fruit and canned veg are cheap, but are they as healthy as fresh food? MARGARET MURRAY has the answers.
advances in canning technology are allowing the process to be done faster and at lower temperatures, meaning less nutrients are lost.
Amid a cost-of-living crisis, buying more fresh food may not seem like a budget-friendly option.
What to keep an eye on
Enter canned or frozen fruit and veg. These are usually cheaper and longer-lasting than fresh produce. But are they as healthy? Fruit and vegetables contain important vitamins, minerals and fibre. These support overall wellbeing and reduce the risk of illnesses, such as heart disease and some cancers. The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating recommends adults eat at least two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables every day. This includes frozen and canned options. For example, ½ a cup of frozen broccoli or ½ a cup of canned beans equals one serve of vegetables. One cup of canned peaches or one cup of diced, frozen mango equals one serve of fruit.
What about nutrition? Frozen and canned fruit or veg generally retains its original nutritional value – sometimes better than fresh produce. For example, the nutritional value
of most frozen and canned products is equivalent to fresh fruit and vegetables that have been in the fridge for a week. But the process of preserving certain foods may actually increase their nutrient content. Apricots are one example, with frozen apricots having a much higher vitamin C content than fresh apricots. This is Frozen peas... the nutritional value of most frozen and because vitamin C is canned products is equivalent to fresh fruit and vegetables used to help preserve that have been in the fridge for a week. Photo: Geri Tech the fruit. at risk of being contaminated with Freezing uses low temperatures to the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, delay food spoilage. Industrial freezing methods are effective at retaining which can cause food poisoning. But cooking fruits or vegetables before the colour and textural qualities of fruit and vegetables, while also main- eating them reduces this risk. The canning process involves steritaining their nutritional content. lising foods at high temperatures so However, freezing may damage they can be safely stored at room temthe structure of food if it causes ice crystals to develop. This can reduce the perature for long periods. However, being exposed to high temperatures nutrient content of fruits and vegetacauses some nutrients in the food to bles and make them mushy, especially break down, especially water-soluble if you thaw and re-freeze them. vitamins such as vitamin C. But Frozen fruits and vegetables are
There are some things to look out for when purchasing canned fruit or vegetables. Canned vegetables can have a high salt content, so it’s best to choose products that say “no added salt”. You can also check the nutrition information panel and look for options with the lowest sodium content. Draining and rinsing canned veggies before eating them can also help reduce the amount of salt you eat. For baked beans in sauce, the sauce may contain added sugar and salt. If you eat baked beans regularly, it’s worth finding a salt reduced option to help lower your sodium intake. To help reduce your sugar consumption, choose canned fruit options that are canned in juice rather than syrup. Some may also say “no added sugar” on the package.
How to use them Canned fruits can be eaten as a snack on their own, or with cereal or yoghurt. In many recipes you can often replace fresh fruit with frozen and canned options. Frozen veggies are great for whipping up a quick meal. For example,
frozen peas and edamame only need a few minutes to cook, so can be added last-minute to a stir-fry or stew. Adding a tin of lentils, chickpeas or beans can bulk out a stew or pasta sauce, while boosting your fibre and protein intake. Given they are already cooked, you can also toss them into a salad that will keep you fuller for longer. Just remember to rinse them first.
What about dried fruit and veg? Compared to tinned versions, dried beans, chickpeas and lentils – which are all excellent sources of fibre and protein – are even better value and also have a long shelf life. But they can take longer to prepare. Depending on the product, dried beans, chickpeas and lentils may need soaking prior to cooking or may be ready to add straight to the pot. If in doubt, check the instructions on the back of the packet. Dried fruits are not recommended as an everyday alternative to fresh, frozen or canned fruit. This is because drying makes them more highly concentrated in sugar. But you can enjoy them as an occasional snack. Margaret Murray, senior lecturer, Nutrition, Swinburne University of Technology. Republished from The Conversation.
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BRIEFLY / health
Complete your Census now. �t�s not too late. Australian scientists have created a revolutionary lightweight bionic arm. Photo: Christopher Hopkins/AAP
Nation-first bionic arm ready to go global By Eleanor Wilson
Melbourne engineer Xavier Vella was born with limb loss below the elbow on his left side. The 29-year-old adapted to life with limb difference fairly quickly, learning to tie his shoes and use cutlery with his right hand and residual limb. He trialled prosthetic devices as a child but felt they were heavy, painful and difficult to use for long periods, so he gave up. That was until he met senior researchers from University of Melbourne-led start-up Meablex, who have spent 10 years developing Australia’s first fully-integrated bionic arm. Senior research engineer Dr Alireza Mohammadi spoke to dozens of people with limb difference to help identify the key challenges the Meablex device could try to change. As a result, it features soft and
flexible materials that weigh about half what a conventional prosthetic does. It’s also been designed with an adjustable socket to make the prosthetic easier to fit, and is more reliable to control than others currently on the market. Special magnetic sensors developed by Meablex are designed to be less affected by sweat compared to electrical sensors. “Our technology combines a lightweight 3D-printed prosthetic hand with a new sensorised socket that detects subtle muscle movement, rather than relying only on traditional electrical muscle signals,” Dr Mohammadi said. He hopes the device can enter the market next year, following clinical trials and regulatory approvals later this year. The prosthetic is expected to cost about $10,000, or about one third of the price of some others on the market. –AAP
ACT specialist medical training faces strain The Australian Medical Association ACT says dermatology and intensive care face the greatest challenges in sustaining specialist training, while orthopedics has also reported concerns about maintaining its future training pipeline. AMA ACT president Dr Betty Ge said increasing clinical demand,
workforce shortages and service pressures were leaving senior specialists with less time to supervise and mentor trainees. She said the organisation would seek urgent discussions with Canberra Health Services and ACT Health to identify specialties at risk and strengthen long-term workforce planning.
Young people ‘brush’ dental health aside Three in five Australians say they’ve suffered wisdom-toothrelated issues, according to national research. Three quarters of the 25,000 Australians surveyed in the Australian Dental Association’s 2025 consumer survey said they faced barriers to accessing dental care, which could be forcing them to delay or avoid dental care. “Unfortunately, many are delaying dental visits until something goes wrong, and by then the problem is often more painful, more complex, and more expensive to treat,” association vice president Angie Nilsson said. Cost pressures outlined in the survey support a decades-long push citynews.com.au
to improve affordability of dental care by adding dental to Medicare. The association says social media is driving a surge in cosmetic dental procedures. Dr Nilsson urged young Australians to prioritise preventative oral healthcare and seek professional dental advice before undergoing cosmetic treatments or purchasing products promoted online. “We’re seeing increased interest in whitening, veneers, direct to consumer aligners and cosmetic trends driven by social media,” she said. “But dental treatment is healthcare, not fashion. Poorly informed decisions can permanently impact teeth and gums.” –AAP
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POLITICS / strategy
Folk out back matter as much as those in front In the modern era, a switchedon party should have a very, very close team of four to five key individuals who form the strategic and organisational core of the party. These are the ones who have as much and if not more power than the senior elected officials. For Labor, this team would be, for most levels, the leader, the leader’s chief of staff, the deputy (sometimes), the secretary, then heads of campaign/strategy and research. I’m looking at Labor first because they are simply the benchmark right now in Australian politics. National secretary Paul Erickson is perhaps one of the best in Labor’s history. His campaign of 2025 was not just about victory, it was aimed at a mandate. That you can only do after the painful lessons of defeats, but also knowing your party structure is well oiled and dissent is only heard when it can be constructive. It is a huge contrast from the Coalition and even some of the minors. That contrast is important – you need only look (if you are online) at the 2025 Labor Review and the 2025 Liberal one. These reviews highlight many things, but perhaps chief amongst them is just how well Labor run
The lesson is people out back are just as important in electoral success as those out front. They don’t just keep the show on the road, they ensure theirs is the one you want to watch.
National ALP secretary Paul Erickson… perhaps one of the best in Labor’s history. themselves at the party machine level. Finding a candidate isn’t that hard for most parties, but what is much more difficult is someone who can run a party and then execute strategy in a campaign. That is an incredibly rare talent. Which is why parties are doing a lot of hard work on what we so often don’t see: that tight band of four or five who run the actual party. Labor’s team has undergone some changes around some of those outside that inner circle, but that inner circle itself has barely nudged because Labor knows one of its nightmares is not an Angus Taylor
on a bounce, but losing Paul Erickson to a corporate gig. I’d have a guess that he could easily triple his pay from Labor in corporate land if he were to decide to go. That is a massive foregone pay packet. That is sacrifice. It is this type of person that other parties need to get. Lynton Crosby and Mark Textor served the Coalition for so long in that role, and local lad Andrew Carswell more recently. But there’s a gap and while there are some emerging and very sharp talents, I hear the Coalition are slow to secure them. I also hear rumours from down south of taps on certain individual
shoulders to head up a digital and brand team. But they would still be outsiders. To truly take on Labor they need to find those four or five brand-breathing but realistic operators with knowledge of politics and marketing to fight Labor on the party machine front. One Nation knows how important that is and the announcement, albeit quiet, of Chris Taylor as chief of staff for Pauline Hanson, and James Ashby as national director, signal they recognise the importance of getting this right, especially after negative stories out of Victoria of organisational hiccups and hurdles involving campaign methods and candidate support in the lead up to the November state election. I also hear rumours again about
outsiders being purchased to assist because they can’t complete that team in time for campaign 2028, which has just started. Even locally, you can see that difference. Ash van Dijk, 2024 campaign director, stepped down because he took a nice consulting gig but a good reason why Labor win here consistently is because of people like him. So readers, the lesson is people out back are just as important in electoral success as those out front. They don’t just keep the show on the road, they ensure theirs is the one you want to watch. Before we get to the massive election year that will be 2028, pay attention to the names of those running campaigns because that will tell you who is aiming for just a chance, a seat, or government. Dr Andrew Hughes lectures at the ANU Research School of Management, where he specialises in political marketing.
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COVER STORY / Margaret Wright
Margaret shares the Wright way to learn and give Hundreds of Canberrans have learnt to read music and play recorder thanks to Margaret Wright. DAVID TURNBULL continues his series of stories of remarkable Canberrans. Margaret Wright has spent her life giving to others. Even as a teenager, she voluntarily ran a playgroup and a teen club in Redfern two afternoons a week “to keep kids off the street”. And now, nudging 86, she is still sharing her passion for music as the conductor of the Canberra Recorder Orchestra. “I’ve always been keen to help people,” Margaret says. “In Redfern I had table tennis, chess, music, painting, anything that would get the young ones interested enough to come along. Outside, there was nothing.” Margaret was born in Gordon in Sydney in 1940 into a musical, artistic and literary family. Both her parents wrote in their spare time. Her father was a professional jazz saxophonist, who ran his own barber shop during the days to make ends meet.
Her mother was a poet. She wrote her entire life and Clingan Street, in the ACT’s poet’s suburb of Wright, is named after her. “Mum and dad always encouraged us to write, to draw and to play music. “We all learned how to read music and play recorder at an early age, and that love has stayed with me.” Margaret’s first job happened by accident when her mother noticed an ad in the Sydney Morning Herald for an illustrator in the Zoology Department at Sydney University. “I had to draw the tiny skeletons of Australian geckoes and was later elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London when my work was published.” Margaret studied to be a teacher at Sydney Teachers’ College and taught grade 6 in North Sydney and even today – 63 years later – she is still in contact with some of the girls.
6
Conductor of the Canberra Recorder Orchestra, Margaret Wright… “Some people might think that I do something special, but I just filled the classroom with enthusiasm.” Photo: Andrew Campbell Late in 1963, she sailed to England and played chess on the deck with the artist Jeffrey Smart, whose voice
pieces by Vivaldi and Bach. Margaret never spent any time in the staff room; she gave herself completely to her students. They had music lessons every day, and she also offered free music tuition before and after school and at breaks. To say it was successful is an understatement. The recorder group of about 20 children, the Urambi Consort, won every eisteddfod it entered. Dressed in elaborate Elizabethan costumes made by the parents, the Urambi Consort performed at ministerial events, at the Australian Society of Musical Education Conference in Alice Springs, and even at the Sydney Opera House. By then, of course, the children were playing much more complex pieces by renowned composers and audiences were stunned. What the Urambi children achieved was so highly regarded that Film Australia made a documentary about them entitled Music the Wright Way. In 1991, Margaret was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study the art of teaching recorders in the UK for three months. “You know, I travelled all over England, but no-one did what we did– set aside a bit of each day for music. “People forget, learning
I played recorder and violin in community groups and taught English to migrant women in their homes as part of the Ellnor Grassby initiative.
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she recognised from the ABC radio program the Argonauts. She also played with Bruce Beresford who was heading to London to start his film career. Like many young Aussies, Margaret went on a European adventure. “I hitch-hiked with another Aussie girl from London to Marrakesh and as far as Moscow, zigzagging across the continent, haunting art galleries on the way. “I met my English husband, a teacher of Classics, in London, and we had two daughters, before returning to Australia in 1969. They settled in Canberra and are still living in the same house. “We had a son, and even raising our three children, I was busy. “I played recorder and violin in community groups and taught English to migrant women in their homes as part of the Ellnor Grassby initiative. “In 1980 I upgraded my teaching qualification to B.Ed at CCAE and taught in Urambi Primary school in Kambah for 10 years. During those 10 years, as part of the daily timetable, just as her father had taught her, Margaret used the recorder to teach 7- and 8-year-olds how to read music and play. Yes, it was three-note nursery rhymes to start, but as they learned more notes they moved on to renaissance composers and more complex
music is learning another language, and you need to do it every day to make progress. “Some people might think that I do something special, but I just filled the classroom with enthusiasm.” But what is it that Margaret finds so special about the recorder as an instrument? It’s worth noting, of course, she did study violin at the conservatorium of music. “Everyone thinks they know recorders, that they’re just a child’s instrument. “But they’re wrong. “The recorder is a beautiful instrument with a fine repertoire by composers such as Bach, Vivaldi and Telemann. “There are 10 different sizes from the small ones that fit so comfortably into a child’s hands to sub-contra bass recorders taller than a man. “And the tone is so delicate.” In 1993, Margaret was forced to retire when her husband fell seriously ill. But when he recovered, she was straight back into it when the University of the Third Age (U3A) invited her to teach recorders to retirees. For 10 years she ran six graded music classes a week with people progressing from group to group. Today, hundreds of Canberrans have learnt to read music and play recorder thanks to Margaret Wright. The Canberra Recorder Orchestra grew out of the keenness of people to play more complicated music on all 10 sizes of recorders “We raised thousands of dollars to buy the huge recorders – the equivalent of double basses or tubas in symphony orchestras. “We continue to meet each week in a hall at the Woden Seniors’ Club and play Mozart, Vivaldi, Handel and Rachmaninoff, folk songs and sea shanties. “Composers in England write music especially for our Recorder Orchestra that is published with a dedication and sold worldwide.” The Canberra Recorder Orchestra has performed in the High Court of Australia, the Wesley Music Centre, and in churches, schools and retirement facilities all over the ACT. In 2011 Margaret Wright was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for a lifetime of giving to others, especially through music. Journalist David Turnbull is writing a series of profiles about interesting Canberrans. Do you know someone who deserves a moment in the spotlight? Share the name in an email to David via editor@citynews.com.au citynews.com.au
PLANNING / the National Capital Development Commission
When planning policy follows opinion not facts From the late 1950s to the early 2000s the location of housing in Canberra was guided by well-informed policies of the National Capital Development Commission. Since then “compact city” policies have been adopted to respond to major societal changes. Unfortunately, over the last decade there has been limited assessment of their ongoing efficacy. The NCDC chose, after detailed assessment of alternative strategies, to accommodate Canberra’s growth by the development of a series of new towns. In the 1960s and 1970s some 90 per cent of housing demand was for detached dwellings. Demand was primarily accommodated through greenfield development where shops, schools, recreation facilities, roads and public transport were provided soon after initial settlement. Infrastructure and services requirements were determined by annual assessments of population trends and community needs. A key issue identified was the population decline in inner Canberra and the associated underuse of infrastructure. In response, the Commission undertook several initiatives including the establishment of the Kingston-Griffith redevelopment area, proposed major infill (which did not proceed as a result
Swinger Hill in the ‘70s… to promote mediumdensity housing, the NCDC developed estates at Swinger Hill and Emu Ridge. of community opposition) and redevelopment of government housing stock in Narrabundah and the Causeway. To promote medium-density housing, it developed estates at Swinger Hill and Emu Ridge. By the mid-1980s higher-density housing represented 25 to 30 per cent of demand. To widen housing choice, dual occupancy was introduced. The Compact City: With self government in 1989, the NCDC was abolished and a territory planning agency created. Building on the legacy of past planning and in response to ongoing population decline, increased demand for higher-density housing, environmental concerns and a reduced ability to influence employment location, the planning strategy
The government, as in the case of light rail, has not undertaken the needed analysis and is paternalistically saying to the community we know what’s best for you.
was recalibrated to develop a more sustainable city. The redevelopment share of land release was increased to 50 per cent to reduce travel, better use infrastructure and reduce the environmental impacts of development. Higher-density housing zones were identified primarily in and adjacent major centres and along major transport routes. After being initially permitted, the subdivision and unit titling of dual occupancy were excluded in response to concerns over development quality and that benefits from its development would not accrue to the whole community. The 2008 Territory Plan identified zones (RZ1 to RZ5) of increasing density. Most residentially zoned land was designated RZ1 (Suburban) where dualoccupancy housing would be permitted,
but without separate unit titling. In RZ2 (Suburban Core) Zones, close to local, group and town centres, subdivision and separate unit titling of dual occupancies were permitted. The 2018 Planning Strategy ushered in a period where policy is increasingly based on opinion. Without analysis, particularly of housing preferences, the strategy increased the redevelopment share of land release to 70 per cent. Recently the multi-unit share of releases was increased to 90 per cent and “missingmiddle” reforms introduced. They included the unit titling and subdivision of dual occupancies in the RZ1 suburban zones, a guide to improve dwelling design and reductions in appeal rights, parking requirements and lease variation charges. The government argued the changes would increase the housing available to first-home buyers, renters, those on lower incomes and downsizers; reduce approval times and contribute to the achievement of compact city aims. There is no certainty they will greatly increase housing choice and supply given the high cost of developing dual occupancies and townhouses. There is no guarantee cost savings will be passed on to purchasers. If successful, the policies
could result in haphazard development, inadequate parking, substantially increase stormwater runoff and increased canopy loss (despite policy objectives to the contrary). The aims could possibly be better addressed by the construction of social housing and apartment design based on a housing choices survey. Ongoing restrictions on new detached housing releases will continue to reduce affordability and increase sprawl in surrounding NSW. No assessment has been made about the implications of increased redevelopment on the need to augment infrastructure and the extent of the environmental and travel benefits accruing. The government, as in the case of light rail, has not undertaken the needed analysis and is paternalistically saying to the community we know what’s best for you. When will the Assembly insist the government undertake the missing analysis? Mike Quirk is a former NCDC and ACT government planner.
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LETTERS / well written, well read
Let loose to: editor@citynews.com.au
How many are sick and tired of the status quo? Re-reading the various readers’ letters regarding serious systemic failures by and within the elected ACT Government and its senior directorate officers, is there an increasing deficit in our happiness economy? Call it what you will, but the emphasis on constant Big Build projects is not conducive to harmony with our natural environment and mental health. Surely, we can do better? Our constant daily pressures appear to be skewing our choices in happy community relationships, and personal relationships or to value our precious wildlife and remnants of habitat. The ACT Conservator says it plainly that we now have fragments of nature corridors and residents have differing and strong opinions on how to manage wildlife. Report cards on the success of spending huge amounts of our budget do not seem to help our happiness economy – our CBD is a disgrace. The lakes are sewers. Some of the scientific reports are difficult to respect as contesting evidence is clearly ignored on issues of wildlife and urban expansion. Changing the topography of our periurban areas is not helping low-cost housing but adding to infrastructure costs and new property values. How many of us are sick and tired of the status quo? There is definitely an outflow of
disillusioned people that should be considered against the offset from new arrivals. Ilona Crabb, via email
Barr’s done precious little for homeless I have been collecting stories for 20 years about the state of homelessness and the long public housing waiting list, and the cockamamie ballsup that is Housing ACT. I can say that Chief Minister Andrew Barr has done precious little to resolve these issues in the past 20 years. He could reduce the sale cost of land but, like our rates, has chosen to raise the costs to an extraordinary level and push us further toward bankruptcy. Canberrans are pro-Voice and antiPauline Hanson, yet they keep electing this mob for what? We are to blame, too! The government has a choice with the CSIRO land, which must be built with the homeless and public housing waiting list in mind before any further expenditure on a tram, or resign and hang your head in shame. Russ Morison, Theodore
Homelessness – we’re doing better Our housing crisis shames us all. No one in our wealthy country should be sleeping rough. Nevertheless, Australia is doing far better than most other countries in address-
ing a worldwide housing crisis. Forty-eight in every 100,000 Australians are sleeping on the streets on any given night. The equivalent figure for NZ is 217, and in the UK it is 56. Trump’s America has solved this problem by making it a crime to be homeless. There are only 20 rough sleepers in every 100,000 Americans. However, some 200,000 are in prison on any night merely for being homeless. Hundreds of thousands more are jailed for petty crimes in a country without a social security safety net. Noel Baxendell, Holt
Embarrassed for Katy Gallagher I feel sorry and embarrassed for the Minister for Women and ACT senator Katy Gallagher, who was clearly placed in the unfortunate position of having to publicly defend a prime minister, whose crass and infantile jokes, including a visual reference to a unique and culturally significant gift of prize melons as a metaphor for women’s breasts, in a recent media interview. I also feel sorry for the other Labor women who have obviously been pushed out to defend this prime minister, knowing full well that such comments are sexist and degrading – not only to the Japanese prime minister who gifted the fruit, but to women generally, including women within his own party. It is difficult to see how comments of this nature can be reconciled with a prime
minister, government and political party that claims to champion respect, equality and the advancement of all women. Darryl Johnston, Tuggeranong
Good bang for our tax bucks? Over the years, there have been articles about politicians rorting taxpayers’ money for travel. Remember Bronwyn Bishop’s $5000 helicopter ride from Melbourne to Geelong in 2015? And Sussan Ley’s 2015 jaunt to the Gold Coast to purchase an investment property on taxpayers’ time and money. Recently I’ve read media articles about Pauline Hanson’s supporters funding $860 a night for her swanky accommodation in London. And on to our chief minister; I have him travelling on 16 trips taking up 62 days in 2024-2025; this equates to two months away from his office. One must ask, are ACT taxpayers’ getting a good bang for their buck? If so, what is the bang? Janine Haskins, Cook
The true value for the ratepayer? When looking at benefits/extras for our elected members, some are warranted but others seem to be self-serving. For example, there is “sister city” travel, which is nothing more than a ratepayerfunded jaunt. On return to Australia we
are amazed to be told about transport and education studies justifying this nonsense. Existing privileges need better scrutiny and intelligent questions must be raised about the true value for the ratepayer because there is a sinking feeling we’re being dudded. On past form probably not, with them also being a benefactor! John Lawrence via email
We can now create clean energy In response to letter writer Anthony Hordern, I agree carbon is indeed the basic building block of life on earth. However, when we burn substances like coal, oil and gas, a substance called carbon dioxide is created. When released into the atmosphere, this helps to form a blanket around the planet from which heat cannot escape−hence global warming. Currently, there is a total of around 3380 gigatonnes of CO2 in our atmosphere. Our planet is sick. Painting your roof white can definitely help to reduce temperatures in urban “heat islands”, but unfortunately that’s not enough to fix the problem. The only real remedy is to drastically reduce our use of the pollutants that are fuelling global warming. The good news is, we now have the technology to create clean energy, using solar and wind power backed up by battery storage. Anne O’Hara, via email
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OPINION / racism
Labor’s awkward question: what to make of Asia? GWYN REES is bemused that what Labor calls ‘racist’ is common across Asia, saying: “Many of our neighbours pursue migration and citizenship policies far more protective of national identity than anything contemplated in Australia.” Anthony Albanese recently questioned whether One Nation’s Pauline Hanson could deal with Australia’s Asian neighbours. The prime minister was suggesting her record on immigration would make it difficult to engage with countries such as Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, China, South Korea and Japan to secure vital resource supplies during regional crises. Several Labor figures have gone further, reaching for the familiar accusation of racism whenever immigration becomes politically uncomfortable. It raises an awkward question. If concern about borders, citizenship and social cohesion is evidence of racism, what exactly does Labor make of much of Asia? I have a Malay grandfather, am in a mixed-race marriage and have spent enough time in Asia, including training and fighting in Thailand, to know the region through more than airports and resorts. Spend even a little time looking at the politics of our
neighbours and one thing becomes obvious, Australia’s approach to immigration, citizenship and national identity is not the regional norm. In fact, many of the countries Albanese named take a far more protective view of national identity than Australia does. Malaysia has Bumiputera policies that provide preferential treatment to ethnic Malays in areas such as education, housing, business and public-sector opportunity. Brunei is built around the national ideology of Malay Islamic Monarchy. Singapore is economically open but actively manages social cohesion and demographic balance. Japan and South Korea remain among the most culturally and ethnically cohesive advanced societies in the world with tight citizenship rules and strong expectations of assimilation. China grants citizenship exceptionally rarely and places national unity above any Western-style model of multiculturalism. These countries do not all pursue identical policies and their methods
Japan an ethnically cohesive advanced society with tight citizenship rules and strong expectations of assimilation. differ. But many appear to be seeking similar ends: social cohesion, cultural continuity, managed demographic change and the preservation of a shared national identity. Let me be clear, this is not an endorsement for Pauline Hanson. I don’t support a monocultural Australia. Nor do I suggest Australia should copy Malaysia, China, Brunei, Japan or South Korea. Australia has a different history and a different constitutional tradition. Nevertheless, the comparison exposes the shallowness of the rhetoric when many of our neighbours pursue migration and citizenship policies far more protective of national identity than anything contemplated
in Australia. Australia, along with countries such as Canada and NZ, is unusual in having a largely civic rather than ancestry-based immigration and citizenship framework. We do not give legal preference to people of Anglo-Celtic, Welsh, Scottish, Irish or broader European ancestry. We do not have a Korean-style diaspora preference or an Indian-style overseas ancestry framework. Whether that is desirable is a matter of political philosophy. When politicians lean into arguments of racism when discussions about immigration levels, integration, demographic change or national identity arise, they are not making a serious regional argument. They are making a domestic rhetorical one. It is self-evident that immigration levels affect housing, infrastructure, labour shortages, schools, hospitals, social cohesion and the character of communities.A mature democracy should be able to debate those matters without immediately reaching for moral denunciation. The question is how these policies are framed, whether they are fair, lawful, evidence-based and whether they serve our national interest. Hanson’s past comments about Australia being “swamped by Asians” understandably remain part of the political record. Albanese is entitled
to criticise that history and to disagree with her vision for Australia. We are equally entitled to test that vision or his, against the assumptions and policies of our neighbours. But if the argument is that concern for national identity, stronger migration controls or cultural cohesion makes a politician unfit to engage with Asia, then the prime minister has created a problem for himself. Many of the countries he invokes place a far higher value on precisely those things than Australia does. Albanese has stopped short of calling Hanson racist on this point, but many in his political orbit have not. For Labor, this might just need a “please explain”. If immigration restraint and concern for national cohesion are automatically racist when raised in Australia, what does Labor say about Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, China, South Korea and Japan? Are they all wrong? Are they all racist? Or do we simply accept that nations are entitled to pursue social cohesion and demographic stability in ways that reflect their own history and interests. If it is legitimate for them, why is even discussing it here treated as beyond the pale. Gwyn Rees is a Canberra-based business and social advocate.
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Leading Lawyers For Hassan, it’s about giving clients a voice
From left, Lorraine White, Tanya Nadin, and Richard Baker.
BDN Lawyers: generations of trust since 1861 Few local businesses can trace their history back more than 165 years. BDN Lawyers can. BDN’s origins date back to 1861, when Joe Scrivener established a legal practice in Queanbeyan. In 1923, that practice joined with Deane & Deane, a firm whose roots extend back to Sydney in the 1850s. While the names have changed, its connection to the Canberra and Queanbeyan region has remained constant. Today, BDN Lawyers operates from offices in Canberra and Queanbeyan, providing legal services in property, commercial, family law, estate planning, employment law, personal injury, criminal law and local court matters. The firm’s longevity is reflected in the relationships it has built with clients and the community. Many clients have trusted BDN for decades, with some families returning across multiple generations. The firm has
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Specialising in historical institutional abuse law, Turner Freeman counsel and lawyer Hassan Ehsan acts for survivors who have experienced abuse in institutional settings, such as schools, religious organisations or government run facilities. “It’s rewarding to be able to help people through some of the most difficult moments in their lives and give them a voice when they may have felt silenced for years,” says Hassan. “I enjoy the challenge of navigating complex legal issues while never losing sight of the human side of the work. “For me, making a tangible difference in someone’s life, even beyond just the legal outcome, is what makes the job meaningful.” Hassan also practices in broader areas of personal injury law, such as public liability, workers compensation and motor vehicle accident claims. This, he says, allows him to assist clients across a wide variety of matters where they have suffered harm or loss. At Turner Freeman, Hassan says their approach is personal. “We treat every case with the respect and attention it deserves, recognising that behind every file is a real person with a real story,” he says. “What drew me to Turner Freeman was its legacy of standing up for individuals.” Turner Freeman Lawyers Suite 6B, Level 2/28 Ainslie Place, Canberra. Call 6152 9800 or visit turnerfreeman.com.au
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TREASURE YOUR FAMILY MEMORIES
HOROSCOPE Your week in the stars By Joanne Madeline Moore
August 24-30, 2026
PUZZLES General knowledge crossword No. 1076 1
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This week hot-headed Rams are in a hurry! Fiery energy and enthusiasm are high, as you approach challenges with plenty of confidence and courage. But being bossy and promising more than you can deliver (especially at work and in your local community) is a danger. Don’t overestimate your abilities – or underestimate the amount of time you have available. Slow down! Do your best to combine spontaneity with responsibility, and passion with persistence.
Winter is ending... spring into action!
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GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
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LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
Colourful Cats – this week there’s a Lunar Eclipse in your intimacy/secrets/trust zone. And bountiful Jupiter (in your sign) is terrific for initiating creative ideas, making financial progress and having plenty of fun. So, it’s time for lively Lions to seize the day and make ambitious plans as you sparkle and shine! But – if you are too hasty – then the disruptive Sun/Uranus square (on Friday/Saturday) could see you veer off in an unpredictable direction.
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This week’s stars encourage nurturing a long-term relationship or starting a new romance that has the potential to last the distance. The Sun and Mercury are both visiting Virgo, so you’re feeling extra fussy and are in perfectionist mode. Don’t be afraid of making messy mistakes… and learning from them. As music diva (and birthday great) Florence Welch observes: “If you do something with your whole heart and it’s a mistake, you can live with that.”
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Solution next edition
Across
Down
1 What is worn around the neck? (6) 7 Name the male wedding partners. (8) 8 Name another term for a weasel. (6) 9 To be hard-hearted, is to be what? (8) 10 What term means opinions, principles or doctrines? (6) 11 When something roars, it does what? (8) 14 Which term describes that which is made up of what is selected from diverse sources? (8) 18 What are mothers’ brothers? (6) 19 What might we call a skilled manager? (8) 21 Name another word for a boarder. (6) 22 To injure or disfigure, is to do what? (8) 23 To be respectable, is to be what? (6)
1 What is an animal, as distinct from a human being? (8) 2 To linger idly, is to do what? (6) 3 What is a variable electrical resistor? (8) 4 To be second-hand, is to be what? (4) 5 What is detestation also known as? (6) 6 Who helps run a newspaper? (6) 12 To not be in ringlets, is to be what? (8) 13 Name an extinct Indic language? (8) 15 Which official is appointed to a sovereign state? (6) 16 What is a cure-all? (6) 17 To be sour or bitter, is to be what? (6) 20 Which word is an abbreviation of an examination? (4)
FREE PUZZLES EVERY DAY AT citynews.com.au
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
Calling all Librans – are you frustrated by ongoing problems, disruptions or delays at work? Mighty Mars is moving through your career zone (until September 28) so it’s time to take on challenges with a proactive approach and a courageous attitude. Also, Venus (your patron planet) is transiting through your sign (until September 10), so you’re at your uber charming and irresistible best. At the moment, fortune definitely favours the bold and the diplomatic!
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Expect a busy, bustling week when the planets stir up your curious mind and restless heart, and you want to soar and explore like an eagle. Energy and enthusiasm are high but don’t say or do something unintentionally hurtful. Hasty words can upset others, so think before you speak and self-edit along the way. Be inspired by birthday great, singer-songwriter Florence Welch (who has Sun in Virgo and Moon in Gemini): “I like the idea of taking off like a bird.”
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CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
Fresh is Best!
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The late-week Lunar Eclipse shines a bright light on daydreaming and goalsetting, so it’s a good time to write a wish list of your most cherished hopes and dreams for the future. You can’t hit a bullseye if you haven’t got one! Saturday looks unpredictable, though, especially involving finances and friends. Your motto for the moment is from singer-songwriter (and birthday great) Florence Welch: “I try to maintain a healthy dose of daydreaming, to remain sane.”
Courtesy of Mars and Venus, it’s a good week to step in and take the initiative with a housemate or family member who is facing challenges. If you offer a calm, considered solution (without being bossy or judgmental), then they might just accept your advice! The Lunar Eclipse (on Thursday night/Friday morning) looks tricky, though, as a friend or neighbour says something unexpected or makes an unpredictable move that really surprises you.
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TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
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ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
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Sudoku medium No. 425
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
You’re keen to connect, network, negotiate and socialise with like-minded souls within your sphere of influence. It’s not what you know but who you know! You could also be approached to contribute your talents to a group dynamic like a class or club. But Uranus and the Lunar Eclipse stir up your creativity and friendship zones, so projects and people will be hard to pin down. You’ll find the more patient and flexible you are, the better the week will be.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
As Uranus and the Lunar Eclipse stir up your work and home zones, expect a domestic drama or a professional challenge. So do your best to be unusually diplomatic with a cranky colleague or a recalcitrant relative. Blunt honesty isn’t always the best policy – communication will improve with some creative sugar-coating. A pinch of patience and a dollop of sensitivity (not your usual modus operandi) will help you sail through an unpredictable week.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
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AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
This week, unpredictable Uranus (your ruling planet) squares Mercury and the Sun, which increases your tendency towards rash words and hasty actions. So slow down and pace yourself, before you come a cropper. The Lunar Eclipse (on Thursday night/Friday morning) also stirs up your financial zone. So, it’s not a good week to: borrow a large amount of money; make an expensive, impulsive purchase; or lend cash to an unreliable relative or friend.
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
It’s a wonderful week to dream, imagine, create and innovate, as the Lunar Eclipse lights up your sign. Fish are keen to fly into the great imaginative and mystical unknown! Be inspired by singer-songwriter Florence Welch (who turns 40 on Friday): “I like the idea of not being afraid of letting your imagination rule you.” But resist the urge to slip into negative thoughts and sabotaging self-talk on Friday and Saturday, when Uranus upsets the domestic applecart. Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2026
Solution next edition
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The Sun (in fellow earth sign Virgo) boosts productivity and activates your aspirational side, so it’s a good week to dream big dreams and take plenty of positive action. Even in tough times – nothing ventured, nothing gained! Be inspired by Swedish movie star Ingrid Bergman (who was born on August 29, 1917): “I don’t regret a thing I’ve done. I only regret the things I didn’t do.” But resist the temptation to over-promise and underdeliver, especially at work.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
INSIDE
A hard life awaits Cal when he’s forced home
ANNA CREER
Lainie hears voices and moved to take the role By arts editor
HELEN MUSA When actor Lainie Hart first read Joanna Murray-Smith’s Bombshells around the dinner table at director Jordan Best’s home, she found herself unexpectedly moved. “I could hear the voices of all the women,” she says. “I felt moved, but not sad, because I could relate to their experiences on some level.” Now Hart takes on the role of Winsome Webster, the oldest of the women in Echo Theatre’s remount of its 2024 production before it heads off on an ambitious NSW tour. Historically, Bombshells, described as “the six ages of woman,” has been a one-woman tour de force. Caroline O’Connor created the role in the original Melbourne Theatre Company production, playing six vastly different women. Jordan Best has chosen instead to stage the monologues with just five performers. Hart’s role in the previous show, the glamorous, world-weary American
cabaret singer Zoe, has been dropped from this touring version. Sometimes the part of musical theatre hopeful Mary O’Donnell is dropped too but not in this case. Hart inherits Winsome, a role memorably played by Alice Ferguson in Echo Theatre’s earlier production. While Winsome is a widow, Hart is keen to challenge assumptions about ageing. “Yes, I’m playing an old woman,” she says, “but Jordan and I have been having very interesting conversations about what it actually is to be older.” She recalls that a decade ago her mother tried to introduce her to a man 10 years her senior. “I accused her of trying to fob me off on to an old man,” she tells me. “Now I’m the same age as that man and I don’t feel old.” Hart believes many women begin feeling invisible long before old age. When I tell her many women say they start to feel invisible at 40, she says: “I know what they’re talking about.” Having spent recent years training professionally in screen acting, she has often found herself auditioning alongside glamorous younger performers. “But older faces are more interesting,” I suggest, pointing to the remarkable later career of Jacki Weaver.
“True enough,” Hart replies. “It matters who’s in control.” For Hart, Winsome’s story is less about age than about reawakening. “There’s a sexual element,” she says, “but I think it’s really about longing and libido in terms of life energy. When you’re widowed you can fall into a repetitive pattern, a full life with a busy schedule but without pleasure, without really seeing beauty.” Winsome’s life changes through an unexpected encounter with a blind man. “He’s the one who actually sees something in her,” Hart says. “She’s been in a holding pattern for a decade and suddenly this unexpected longing appears.” Murray-Smith’s play remains one of Australia’s sharpest portraits of women negotiating the unreasonable expectations society places upon them. Across six richly contrasting characters, it explores motherhood, marriage, loneliness, ambition, ageing and reinvention. Newcomers to the line-up include Yanina Clifton as the exhausted young nursing mother Meryl (Amy Kowalczuk’s role in the earlier production), Louise Bennet as Tiggy, whose lecture on cactus growing gradually becomes a metaphor for a failed marriage,
Sally Taylor as schoolgirl Mary singing the CATS spoof showstopper “O’Shaughnessy”, and Ella Buckley as bride-to-be Theresa, whose romantic idealism fast evaporates. Hart declares herself excited by what comes after their Queanbeyan opening. The production will tour extensively through regional NSW, visiting centres including Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Dubbo, Griffith, Albury and Sydney. Already an Echo travelling veteran, having toured with Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage last year, she praises Best’s initiative in moving the company into the real, yet affordable touring world. “It’s such a wonderful opportunity to visit towns and places and perform for audiences where you don’t know a single person,” she says. “That took me by surprise. There’s a real freedom in it.” Touring with five women could have its challenges, she suggests, but Best has already laid down one important ground rule. “Jordan gave us good advice,” she says. “Let’s be an ensemble, a team together... and talking politics is probably not a good idea if we want to make it sustainable on the road.” Bombshells, The Q, Queanbeyan, August 27-29.
Lainie Hart as Winsome Webster in Bombshells…”There’s a sexual element, but I think it’s really about longing and libido in terms of life energy.” Photo: Ben Appleton
THE
FREE-RAIN THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION OF
SEPT 15 - OCT 11 THEQ.NET.AU
M u s i c a n d Ly r i c s b y K r i s t e n A n d e r s o n - L o p e z & R o b e r t L o p e z Book by Jennifer Lee Originally directed on Broadway by Michael Grandage Based on the Disney film written by Jennifer Lee and directed by Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Group Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia)
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MULTIMEDIA / Bonegilla – The Migrant’s Journey
‘Gutsy’ migrants tale set to strike emotional chord By Helen Musa
For many Canberra families, the story of Bonegilla is also part of their own story. Thousands of post-war migrants passed through the migrant camp near Albury-Wodonga, with many going on to work on the Snowy Mountains Scheme before eventually putting down roots in Canberra. So Bonegilla – The Migrant’s Journey, a multimedia work coming to Belco Arts on August 28, is likely to strike a particularly resonant chord with ACT audiences. Creator Simon Reich describes the migrants at the heart of the work as “gutsy pioneers who left everything behind and travelled to a country they knew nothing about”. The production combines filmed interviews with post-war migrants from across Europe with their photographs, home movies and personal documents. Two large screens dominate the stage, sometimes creating a screen-within-ascreen, while Reich performs his own original musical score on piano with Ukrainian-born violinist, composer and improvisational specialist Alex Burkoy. The stage itself is decorated with possessions migrants brought with them on the voyage or used during their early years in Australia, while a sea of LED candles helps create the emotional atmosphere. For Reich, the project is also deeply personal. His German-born father, Manfred, lived through the final days of World War II
The former Bonegilla migrant camp near Albury-Wodonga. in Berlin and was only nine when the war began. The family lived just 50 metres from Hitler’s bunker and waited in terror for the Russians to arrive. Manfred later spent time at Bonegilla and began working in nearby Wangaratta. Reich says his father’s wartime experiences left him with undiagnosed PTSD, something he came to understand more fully while creating the work. “I’ve had many descendants come up to me in tears after the show, realising what their parents had gone through,” he says. Reich himself grew up with the uncomfortable burden of a German surname. At school he was called “the Nazi”, while one
classmate famously announced at roll call, “Here comes the Fourth Reich.” His research has taken him back to Bonegilla itself, where museum staff corrected a common mispronunciation of the name. The original name, he says, is the Koori word “Bone-gilla”, rather than the often-heard “Bona-villa”. The production unfolds in six chapters, beginning with the journey to Australia and first impressions, moving through camp life and the transition into Australian society, and ending with “Home Sweet Home”. The darker experiences are not ignored. Migrants speak about war, displacement and racism, but Reich is careful to balance the
tragedy with humour, warmth and the often surprising details of starting a new life. The final chapter looks at what happened when the migrants left the camps and began building their lives in Australia. Many became homeowners within five or six years, either buying or building their own houses, despite having arrived with very little. “Many of them had left school by 14,” Reich says. “They took up trades and learnt on the job. They were a real inspiration.” And Australia, he points out, was not their first choice. Many had hoped to go to America, with Australia often an accidental destination. Yet for many, it worked out. Among their
descendants is federal politician Tanya Plibersek, whose Slovenian-born parents came to Australia after the war, passed through Bonegilla and whose father went on to work on the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Reich says the contemporary relevance of the work is becoming increasingly obvious as questions about multiculturalism and Australia’s identity continue to surface. He is also finding that the production is bringing families together. Some are booking multiple tickets so children and grandchildren can hear stories their elders have never shared. “It’s also healing families,” Reich says, particularly because the early part of the show allows migrants to talk openly about their wartime experiences and what motivated them to leave Europe. The production can be scaled for larger venues, where Reich uses a string quartet, but at the intimate Belco Arts Theatre the music will be created by Reich and Burkoy. The score moves between nostalgia and darker passages, with the musicians sometimes improvising in response to the images on screen. It is clearly a multimedia show with many moving parts, but Reich says audiences often respond viscerally, even wanting to take photographs in the theatre after the performance. “Everything works together,” he says. “It’s so topical.” Bonegilla – The Migrant’s Journey, Belco Arts Theatre, August 28 and 30.
STREAMING
Marriage or dreams? The My Brilliant Career is the latest classic story to get the streaming treatment, premiering on Netflix this month with six episodes.
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This adaptation of the Aussie novel by Miles Franklin is a true-blue production indeed. The majority of filming was done in SA and around Adelaide, with a cast and crew made up almost entirely of talent from down under. My Brilliant Career follows Sybylla Melvin, a young woman living in rural NSW in the early 1900s who dreams of becoming a writer. However, her family expects her to adhere to the social norms of the day. Off to the marriage market, have some kids, raise a family and so on. When a wealthy young landowner named Harry Beecham arrives on the scene, Sybylla actually begins to wonder whether it’s what she wants Choose marriage to the person she loves? Chase her dreams? Or can she balance both? It’s this still pertinent question that’s made the story resonate decades after it was first published in 1901 when Franklin was just 21. Many will remember the 1979 Gillian Armstrong film starring Judy Davis and Sam Neill that has secured its place as a classic (streamable on Netflix). In its shiny new television format though, this adaptation has spread the story across six hours rather than two and certainly benefits from it. THE White Lotus has popularised the cashed-up holiday-from-hell sub-genre in recent years, sparking a string of shows that also put humans on vacation under the microscope. Enter the latest show to do it: Two Weeks In August. It’s a new British drama series on Binge that follows Zoe (Jessica Raine), a school teacher and mother of two, excited by a dream Greek holiday.
Christopher Chung as Harry Beecham and Philippa Northeast as Sybylla Melvyn in the new television series My Brilliant Career. And what do you know? It’s not long before this idyllic getaway becomes more of a Greek tragedy. The trip away with extended family takes a turn when Zoe’s husband Dan (Damien Molony) is caught kissing their friend. Drama! Set in motion is an investigation dripping in jealousy, obsession and secrecy that burns this holiday to the ground. The inspiration is clear, but sometimes it feels like it’s trying a little too hard to be The White Lotus, which it most definitely is not. The biting satire in Lotus delivers those uncomfortable or shocking laughs that keep you watching. Two Weeks In August feels a bit bogged down in melodrama in comparison. There are still enough twists and turns here to keep its eight episodes engaging though. citynews.com.au
THEATRE / The Australian Theatre for Young People
Canberra’s Trusted
Brutal and deeply moving youth play By Helen Musa
The Australian Theatre for Young People has been giving young Australians a voice since 1963, creating theatre by and for young people that champions their stories, perspectives and potential. Now the company is bringing its production of Saplings to The Q, Queanbeyan, a work which has been described as authentic, raw, brutal and deeply moving. Playwright Hannah Belanszky spent a year travelling around NSW speaking with young people who had experienced the justice system through encounters with police, the courts or periods of detention. While Saplings is fictional, it is firmly grounded in their lived experiences, posing confronting questions such as: would you snitch on a mate to save your own skin? Premiering at Sydney Festival in 2024 at The Rebel Theatre, the play went on to win the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Production for Young People. Belanszky and director Abbie-lee Lewis now bring the production back to the stage, weaving together hilarious and heartbreaking stories developed through workshops with young people who have experienced the youth justice system across NSW. Structured as a series of interconnected vignettes and accompanied by music created by young people within the justice system,
the play paints a picture of lives shaped by forces often beyond their control where something as ordinary as a packet of mi goreng noodles or a broken mobile phone can become the difference between freedom and incarceration. A day can change in an instant, leaving hopes shattered. There is also the endless frustration of legal processes, unreliable lawyers and the boredom of waiting for decisions that will shape their futures. Yani wants to go to the Easter Show, Kai is searching for a sense of home, Shanika longs to have her mum back, and Lachlan simply wants his bowl of noodles. But when the justice system stands between these young people and the lives they hope for, the play asks how they can possibly grow when the system keeps cutting them down. Four actors, Talijah Blackman-Corowa, Maliyan Blair, Sam Harmon and Danny Howard, take on multiple roles, bringing to life the stories of young Australians battling a legal system that, the play argues, is stacked against them. Director Abbie-lee Lewis says the issues explored in Saplings remain as urgent as ever. “In 2022, Raise the Age Australia debated whether a child could be held criminally responsible at the age of 10. In 2026, some Australian states have implemented Adult Crime, Adult Time laws. The conversation continues, but it’s not happening with the people it directly affects, the young people,” she says. Saplings, at The Q, Queanbeyan, August 22.
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Danny Howard in Saplings… hilarious and heartbreaking stories. Photo: Daniel Boud
IAN
ROD
MEIKLE & HENSHAW
old story still resonates
Jessica Raine plays Zoe, excited by a dream Greek holiday that becomes more of a Greek tragedy in Two Weeks in August. Audiences who love getting caught up in the schadenfreude of a beautiful holiday gone bad will find plenty here. TAKE the producer of American Horror Story and Netflix’s more recent true crime Monster series and combine his talent with the imagination of the author of American Psycho. Quite a dark combo and the result is a twisted new series streaming on Disney Plus. Called The Shards, it’s a serial-killer mystery set in an elite Los Angeles primary school in the ‘80s.
The main character is a fictionalised, teenage version of Bret Easton Ellis (the author of American Psycho) who becomes obsessed with a mysterious new student who starts at his school. At the same time, a string of murders have been unfolding across LA. The culprit, named “The Trawler” by frightened residents, has people terrified and fascinated, including the young protagonist here. Eventually, he can’t help but begin to think the new student who has caught his eye has some kind of connection to the killings. This series is based on a novel by Easton Ellis, who injected a semi-autobiographical version of himself into the story. Much less known compared to American Psycho, which got its own film adaptation with Christian Bale, The Shards still seems like a story that was begging for a TV reimagining. Does Murphy pull it off? Stylistically there’s a lot to chew on – a glossy look at the 1980s and morbid teenage obsession. Beyond that though it, sadly, doesn’t seem to be much below the surface. Honing in on the drama of its young characters rather than using them to paint a more fascinating picture of the era, the show has great moments interspersed with a lot of tedium, leaving The Shards rather broken.
Speakers, live music, stalls, food and coffee van For more information: dirrumfestival.org | Tickets via Humanitix or QR code
Saturday, 22 August 2026 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Morison Centre - Radford College
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CityNews August 20-26, 2026 19
BOOK REVIEWS
A hard life awaits Cal when he’s forced home ANNA CREER reviews Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart’s new novel, which is set in the lonely remoteness of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Scottish author Douglas Stuart won the Booker Prize in 2020 for his second novel Shuggie Bain, which has since sold two million copies. The inspiration for his latest novel, John of John (Picador), came during a visit to the Outer Hebrides seven years ago, where he “learnt everything from psalm singing to sheep shearing”. He says: “I wanted to see Scotland for myself and sensed that I wanted to write about loneliness. By the time I got to Harris the story had started to form within me”. John of John begins with John-Calum Macleod (Cal) travelling to Harris and the small fictional village of Falabay. His father, John, has called him home because he fears Cal’s grandmother is gravely ill. Cal has graduated from art school in Edinburgh but has failed to find work since. Cal reluctantly returns to life in the small croft where he grew up with his father, a
sheep farmer, weaver and pillar of the Presbyterian church and his tough Glaswegian grandmother, Ella. Cal looks at the barren landscape around the croft and thinks: “It was impossible to look at the unforgiving beauty and not feel the hand of God albeit a God that cared nothing for your comfort, a God who expected you to struggle if you were to endure”. Life is hard in Falabay especially in the winter. The community is dominated by the church and “the word of God”. The church itself is simple and unadorned. “The interior was clad in smooth white plaster and the roof was lined in blonde fir wood, which bowed gracefully upwards like the hull of a capsized boat”. Its pews are of hard oak and deliberately uncomfortable while the congregation is segregated. “The senior churchmen sat at the front with their families. Behind them were the Converted, a smattering of those who had gone forward and declared their faith in Jesus. Behind them sat the Unsaved”. It’s a claustrophobic world of obedience and conformity, a world in which Cal has concealed his homosexuality since he was a teenager. Stuart reveals early in the novel that his father too has had to conceal his true nature, loving his neighbour Innes for decades.
Author Douglas Stuart… “I wanted to see Scotland for myself and sensed that I wanted to write about loneliness. John of John is on the longlist for the Booker Prize this year with the judges praising its “vivid sense of time and place” as well as its “beautiful imagistic detail and – unexpectedly but wonderfully – shades of hope”. AUSTRALIAN author Rebecca Lim is a multi-award winning author of young adult fiction, a book illustrator and a lawyer. However, she is appealing to a different audience with her debut crime novel, The Graduate (Affirm Press), which she describes
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as “a piss-take of colonialism, the Australian legal industry, 1970s career criminals and pedophiles”. Fei Fei Chou is one of the graduate intake into the prestigious Melbourne law firm of Eckersley Mapplethorpe Lincolne. They are told by the head of chambers that they are “the cream, the very cream of our law
schools, and each one of you is here because you were meant to be here”. However, Fei Fei is an outsider. Known as the “diversity hire” she is only one of two female graduates and the only Asian. She has the build of a malnourished 10-year-old boy” and “it was a huge turn off, how artificial and shiny she looked… she looked like a cartoon Asian woman… she was a collection of expertly shaded strong features, leaving the real person beneath rather hazy”. But Fei Fei isn’t there to progress her career in law. She’s there for revenge. Thirty years earlier three schoolgirls from the same Melbourne high school were abducted and abused by a man who has never been identified. Fei Fei knows that his identity is hidden in the law firm’s records. Lim has said, in an interview, that in The Graduate she is questioning “the canon – which, in the crime context, suffers from a lack of diverse Australian narratives and a tendency towards portraying an a-historical Australia peopled with a narrow subset of archetypes. Why can’t Australian crime novels also be set in cities and gleaming high rises, peopled by sophisticated, complex Australians?” (Some of Peter Temple’s iconic crime novels answer her question). However, Lim answers her own question with this novel, a thriller within a satirical look at lawyers and the legal system. Although her characters tend towards caricature, The Graduate is riveting reading, as secrets and plots are revealed and Fei Fei’s revenge is complete.
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Former Seeker Keith Potger joins Moya Simpson and John Shortis for 1966 and All That, a nostalgic and witty look at one of Australia’s most memorable years. Elizabeth Hawkes makes a special guest appearance. Smith’s Alternative, September 4; National Theatre, Braidwood, September 5. Canberra Girls Grammar School will celebrate its centenary with a gala concert directed by Wyana O’Keeff, bringing together more than 200 current students and Grammarians for an evening spanning genres and generations. Highlights include Arturo Márquez’s orchestral showpiece Danzón No. 2, the famous Eliza Aria from Elena Kats-Chernin’s Wild Swans ballet, and three world premieres, including Generations, a new school song commissioned from alumna Sally Whitwell. Llewellyn Hall, August 29. Comedian Josh Thomas brings his latest stand up show Jiggle Jiggle to Canberra after appearances at the Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth comedy festivals. Promising “an hour of dumb, happy, in no way important stand up”, Thomas says this year he simply wants audiences to have fun. The Playhouse, August 21. Former Canberra performer Catherine Crowley returns home with Tripping Up That Hill, an entertaining and relatable solo show exploring romance, reality and life’s mishaps through comedy and song. Best known as one half of Sparrow Folk, Crowley has spent more than a decade performing around Australia. The Street Theatre, August 27-28. Music for Canberra has appointed Dr Rebecca Rivera as its new general manager. Already well known to the organisation through her previous role as program and operations manager, Rivera steps into the position with a strong understanding of the community music sector.
From left, Keith Potger, Moya Simpson and John Shortis… 1966 and All That, Smith’s Alternative, September 4. Photo: Elizabeth Hawkes promises an expedition through one of history’s most fascinating civilisations in A Beginner’s Guide to Ancient Egypt. From pyramids and hieroglyphs to spells, mummies and curious burial rituals, Lamarque sets out to separate fact from fiction. The Street Two, two performances, August 29. Ginninderra Wind Orchestra returns later in the month with British Kaleidoscope, a free afternoon concert celebrating British music. Raiders Club Belconnen, August 29. Apeiron Baroque continues its 2026 Chamber Series with The Green Piper, featuring guest artist Simon Rickard, who combines his passions for gardening and early music, in a presentation alongside performances of works by Boismortier, Schop, Handel, Mascitti, Delavigne and others, with demonstrations of unusual Baroque instruments. Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, August 23.
Comedian and self confessed amateur Egyptologist AJ Lamarque citynews.com.au
DINING / World, East Traders Hall
A whole new World of flavours The world is open to diners big on flavour at the newest adventure by The Chairman Group. World is a casual eatery concentrating on quality ingredients, quality presentation of international, comfort foods and Asian-inspired plates, and quality service. It’s a welcome addition to Canberra’s new East Traders Hall, Constitution Avenue. Oreo is the mascot and this darling dog features on staff T-shirts and the menu. If you’re lucky, you might catch Oreo lounging in the sunshine after a morning walk. Seven days a week, World offers coffee, brunch and dinner. We were brunching it, exploring the many global cuisines on the menu. Starting with French, we shared a signature galette. Silky, smooth smoked salmon from Tasmania was sensational and the dish smashed it out of the park on flavour ($24). A generous portion of salmon was served on top of a thin, buckwheat pancake. Tasty were dollops of flirty dill mayo and salty capers. A small side salad featured a brilliant dressing created with caramelised honey and balsamic, providing a natural sweetness that helped cut through the rich salmon. Since sharing is caring, we moved to a Japanese dish with Chinese roots – oatmeal ramen with slices of tender chicken ($26). This is comfort food at its best. Perfectly balanced was the oat milk miso broth. The veggies, half egg and vibrant chilli oil all made their mark. A more intense dish, staying with Japanese cuisine, was the duck leg curry with perfectly executed Udon ($29). World’s friendly staff are super knowledgeable about all dishes and advised us to get the most out of this one by
Experience Modern Indian Dining in Griffith Step into The Lotus Indian, where bold spices meet contemporary flair Smoked Tasmanian salmon served on top of a thin, buckwheat pancake. Photos: Wendy Johnson
Oatmeal ramen with slices of chicken balanced with oat milk miso broth, veggies, half egg and chilli oil.
first adding curry to our bowls and then having fun coating the noodles before slurping away. The dish features a dipping sauce, more than a full broth, which coats the noodles well. Loved, loved, loved the super tender duck. To round out our meal, we celebrated a true Australian icon, the lamington ($9.50 each). These are a sweet collaboration between the famous Tokyo Lamington and The Chairman Group. I’ll openly admit that lamingtons aren’t always my favourite treat… I find at times the sponge cake is on the drier side, but World’s version (all with a twist) have converted me forever. We couldn’t get enough of the vanilla and miso
lamington, so soft and creamy. World also sells gift boxes (four pieces for $36) with other flavours including pandan mango, black sesame and, for a bit of Italian, tiramisu. From “the sip list” we enjoyed brunch with 2025 Twinwoods Estate Chardonnay from Margaret River ($68). World is the latest eatery Canberra’s The Chairman Group, which has also brought to the capital top venues Chairman and Yip, Lanterne Rooms, Mu, Cicada Bar and Karl Bar.
WINE / Shaw Estate
New owners, but still a Shaw thing Canberra District Wines brought together six wineries for an afternoon of ample tastings and antipasto at Easts Hotel recently. Part of the Fireside Festival, it also provided the chance to catch up with Shaw Estate and see how the winery has fared since its sale in 2024. I spoke with the charming Evelyn Everson, who now represents Shaw Estates as a director, about what had been happening since the sale of the Shaw Estate by the family in 2024. She indicated that the largest shareholder was a Canberra company, the Doma Group, and that the wines were still made by Calabria Family Wines based in Griffith; grapes are sourced from contract growers in Hilltops/Gundagai/Tumbarumba and Eden Valley. It’s interesting the Shaw family made all their wines at Calabria from 2009, but grew the grapes in Murrumbateman. Hence it’s the same winemaking team now as it has been under previous ownership. Plus, there is still a tasting room and restaurant in Murrumbateman. www.shawestate.com.au I recalled my regard for a mouth filling, lovely cabernet that Shaw produced a few years ago that won a trophy in 2021. When I got
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richness of the food, making it a food-friendly wine, one that goes well with stews and dishes cooked with spices. Plus minus that one glass, there was about half a bottle left after the elapse of three days and I couldn’t bear to throw it away. So, I made a small quantity of mulled wine, using orange juice and Cointreau to give the brew a real kick of flavour. Here’s the recipe that I adapted from an original one that uses tea. Instead, I added the liqueur:
It was good to revisit Shaw cabernet sauvignon and not waste a drop. Photo: Darcy Oliver home I checked my spreadsheet and I had rated highly the 2018 Reserve Merriman Cabernet. Evelyn kindly gave me a part-opened bottle of Shaw Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, which the next night I had a glass with my dinner of, I kid you not, pasta with a garlicky tomato sauce. This wine is made with Hilltops grapes and, while not as good as the award-winning 2018, has decent firm tannins and a blackcurrant middle palate that was a good complement to the rich pasta dish. Those firm tannins and acidity cut through the
• Half bottle of “left over” red wine, in this case cabernet sauvignon • One orange, sliced • One cup of water and of orange juice (not processed). • Cinnamon sticks (I had two left in my pantry) • Cloves – I used a half teaspoon of the powder not whole cloves as I find the taste overwhelming • Slug of Cointreau in the bottom of the serving mug
Put all of the ingredients in a pot and slowly simmer until it’s at a temperature you prefer for serving. When ready, place in a mug with the Cointreau already in the bottom. Drink straight away. This recipe can be doubled, except for the Cointreau I’d advise, if you want to use a full 750ml bottle of red wine. It was good to revisit Shaw cabernet sauvignon and not waste a drop. And, of course, my girlfriend is threatening to leave me because of my obsession with Italian food: I wouldn’t put it pasta!
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GARDENING
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Good time to tackle apple scab By Jackie Warburton
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Apple scab can be difficult to get rid of and now’s a good time to get on to any fungus spraying while there are no leaves on the trees. The fungicide can get into crevices and cracks of the bark and remove any overwintering spores waiting for the warmer weather. Apple scab can be difficult to get rid of. Affected apples are inedible and need to be thrown into the green bin or taken to the green waste tip. The fungus affects all parts of the tree, from leaves to fruit, and spreads fast given the right conditions. On a sunny, wind free morning, apply a copper-based fungicide or wettable sulphur every few weeks up until flowering to it in check for this season. The timing is also right to put boron and dolomite lime in the soil
as the buds and leaves are forming to get apple trees off to a good start. Apples like sweet soil, so keep the pH high to about 6-7 and add lots of compost and mulch to the base of the trees as well. Interestingly, the apple scab does not transport to pears, but they still get a fungal disease that masks the same conditions leaving large, brown, ugly lesions on the leaves. It can be treated the same way as apples. There are resistant varieties of apples and pears that can be grown if looking for replacements for infected trees, as well as preventive measures that can be taken against insects such as spraying with kaolin clay. Kaolin clay (or white clay) – a soft, fine silica natural material – forms a physical barrier that small insects cannot penetrate and can be a barrier for fungal diseases as well. The powder can be mixed up in a spray bottle and sprayed on apples, pears, grapes and smaller vegetables in the patch. The slight coating will also help with heat stress when summer comes. Repeat applications
may need to be needed every few weeks or after heavy rains. AT this time of year, citrus will look its worst if it’s been planted in the wrong spot. It really won’t like the cold and frosts that damage its fruit. The correct position in the garden will guarantee a thriving, long-lived evergreen fruit tree. Citrus trees like a northern wall to grow up against and plenty of winter sun. They like lots of organic matter and adding plenty of aged poultry, cow or horse manure in winter will get them growing strongly when spring arrives. The number of varieties is forever growing. The three ancestral citrus species, that originated from Asia and Oceania – mandarins, pomelos and citrons – have been cross bred to create oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits and many more new varieties. Yuzu, one of the latest new citrus, is suitable for Canberra. This prized citrus is cold tolerant, highly
fragrant and has a tart flavour. Its fruit should be peeled, chopped and added to meals, but not eaten in segments raw. Yuzu has yellow skin and is shaped like an orange. Its leaves can also be used in the kitchen to add flavour to curries and stir fries. MOSS can be a hazard in the garden and should be scraped away from paths to prevent the area becoming slippery. Moss on paving grows where there is moisture and the sun has not dried the area and so it grows on itself. There are moss-remover products, but if you want a home remedy use equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spray the paving area, let it sit for around 20 minutes and wash off. If there is moss in the lawn, aerate the area with a garden fork to allow better drainage or dig moss out gently and place on some rocks or somewhere you want it to grow. Keep it moist and it should stick and grow if the conditions are right.
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Apple scab… now’s the time to get on to any fungus spraying while there are no leaves on the trees.
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Moss… grows where there is moisture and the sun has not dried the area. Photos: Jackie Warburton
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GARDENING
Feeding bulbs now is important for giving them energy for next year’s growth. Photos: Jackie Warburton
The elm leaf beetle… they can defoliate a tree and cause stress over time.
Blooming bulbs putting on show By Jackie
WARBURTON Winter bulbs are putting on a show in the garden, with the fragrance of many filling the garden or a vase indoors. Feeding bulbs that are growing now is important. As the weather warms and the foliage begins to die back, they will have the energy stored for next year’s growth. Although many bulbs are dormant in summer, they can be prone to rotting if too much water is applied. Bulbs can be lifted and stored for replanting in spring. If clumps are not flowering as well as they have in the past, they can be divided, stored in a dry place out of direct sunlight, then replanted in autumn. While winter and spring bulbs are the most popular for our region, there are also summer and autumn bulbs that can be planted now. Summer bulbs such as Christmas lilies, tiger lilies and gladiolus can be planted, along with autumn bulbs including nerines, Colchicums and autumn crocus. Planting depth depends on the bulb. Most South African bulbs prefer to be planted just below
the soil surface, while daffodils, for example, need deeper soil. Be sure of the recommended planting depth to achieve the best results. WITH spring just around the corner, many of the region’s deciduous trees are waking from winter dormancy. One of the best examples is the elm tree. English elms and American elms are common in our region, valued as large, majestic, slow-growing shade trees that can live for up to 100 years. Unfortunately, elm trees are attacked by elm leaf beetles, which can defoliate a tree and cause stress over time. The beetles hibernate in the ground during winter. Once the trees are in flower and the sap begins to rise, they emerge from leaf litter or nearby buildings to lay eggs on the foliage. Their numbers can increase rapidly, causing significant damage in a single season. Adult beetles chew circular holes in the leaves, but it is the larvae that do the greatest damage by skeletonising the foliage in summer. By then, it is too late for treatment. Dutch elm disease has wiped out these trees in their native habitat. Australia is currently free of the disease and has the largest elm tree population in the world, making these trees well worth protecting. If you have an elm tree in your
garden, the best way to prevent infestation is to keep the garden well watered and maintain the tree in good health. Trunk banding can help stop some beetles from crawling up the trunk, but because they are low-flying insects it will not prevent all of them from reaching the leaves. Another option is to inject treatment into the tree. The treatment should remain effective for at least two years, is non-residual, affects only the elm beetle, and is safe for surrounding plants and other insects. More information at terrasolarus.com.au/elm-treetreatments.
although it leaves a gaseous odour for a day or two. Importantly, do not use lime sulphur on apricot trees, as it will cause severe branch dieback. Copper oxychloride is the only suitable treatment for apricots. All spraying should be completed before flowering to prevent damage to the fruit. Spray only when the weather is dry and there is no wind. jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au
STONE fruit trees will soon begin to show signs of growth in the orchard. They can be sprayed with copper oxychloride to prevent leaf curl on peaches and nectarines, and shot holes on apricots and plums. Lime sulphur can also be used,
Jottings…
• Divide rhubarb and replant crowns. • Spray citrus with oil to kee p stink bugs at bay. • Sow tomato, eggplant and capsicum seeds. • Fertilise lawns with urea to eradicate broadleaf weeds.
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CityNews August 20-26, 2026 23
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