IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR AN OPPORTUNITY PARTY? ANDREW HUGHES ponders if the time is right for a new, centre-left party in Canberra SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
Whinge, be selfish and put our trust in One Nation
HUGH SELBY
The kindest thing is to keep a story to ourselves
ANTONIO DI DIO
Strike a light, Neil’s the man of many matches
DHWANI PATHAK
Those blue poppies are tricky to grow
JACKIE WARBURTON
Hold the unicorns
New AMA president DR BETTY GE’s not asking for a unicorn with a rainbow. She just wants to be heard.
Spend $50 with any retailer and receive an entry to win Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 September | 10am to 1pm | Centre Court
Dad a Cheetah walk at National Zoo & Aquarium
Proudly Stocking the Largest Range of Australian Native Plants in Canberra and Surrounds We specialise in local species as well as hardy, cold and frost tolerant natives, carrying a large range of native plant varieties, ranging in size from tubestock to 200mm, plus a growing range of advanced stock. Come out and see us at Pialligo and we will show you a range of plants that will be suitable for your garden soil type, to grow and enjoy an abundance of Australian Native plants!
5A Beltana Road, Pialligo, ACT 02 6257 6666 • www.coolcountrynatives.com.au
NEWS / million-piece collection
Strike a light, Neil’s the man of many matches Canberra collector Neil Abbott has spent more than five decades building a collection of more than a million pieces. And he’s not finished yet, he told reporter DHWANI PATHAK. That sorting job is still going. It started when Neil Abbott was “I’ve got a shed full of boxes of 15, with an interest that had a matches in there that I’m trying little help from his mum. to sort through, and all the good More than five decades later, the 72-year-old Canberra collector has more than a million matchboxes, matchbooks and labels, a shed full of boxes waiting to be sorted and a habit of checking every tobacconist he passes. The appeal was simple. “These matchbooks, you know, each are different, and you know, I just like the designs and the things they were advertising and that sort of stuff.” Abbott has never really stopped collecting. He was working in the public service while the collection grew, but retirement gave him something he had not had before: time to deal with it. “Before I retired, you could get the matches on eBay or something like that, or buy collections like that, and I used to get a lot of collections,” he says. “But when I retired... at least I could start sorting my collection out, bits and pieces of it.”
ones that I like are inside.” The collection spans Australia, the UK, the US and other countries, with much of it acquired through trades with fellow collectors. When matchbooks were commonplace in restaurants, hotels, clubs and casinos, finding them was considerably easier. “They were all free, of course. You help yourself. Casinos were the best place. We had lots of Matchbox, matchbook and labels collector them at the casinos.” Neil Abbott… he would visit businesses He also had a simpler method. around Fyshwick where he knew he might “Everywhere you went, I was find bowls of matches. looking at the ground because you know people used to throw Redheads Olympic matchboxes them away when they finished with produced in the 1950s. He says there them, and I used to pick them up in were roughly 40 in the set, although the ground.” he is not certain of the exact number. Abbott would visit businesses Redheads continued producing around Fyshwick where he knew he sets until the company was sold to a might find bowls of matches. Swedish match company in the 1990s, Then there were the sets, which Abbott says. gave collecting another dimension. The Redheads material remains He particularly remembers a favourite, but the fascination has
INDEX
Since 1993: Volume 32, Number: 34 General manager: Tracey Avery, tracey@citynews.com.au
Arts & Entertainment 21-24 Crossword & Sudoku
25
Dining & Wine
24
Gardening
Sales & marketing executives: Damien Klemke, 0439 139001 Ashika Nambiar, 0425 149860 Lisa Clarke, 0413 590811
26-27
Letters
9
News
3-11
Politics
4, 8
Streaming
22
Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au Cover: ACT AMA president Dr Betty Ge. Story Page 6.
could comfortably carry home, although he still wishes he had arrived with a couple of empty suitcases. For Abbott, the attraction is not simply collecting. The designs capture changing times. “The graphics really depict the era,” he says. “The ones from the ‘60s are very different from the ‘70s, early ‘80s.” Abbott’s local matchbook collectors have another milestone to mark this year: the 200th anniversary of Englishman John Walker striking what is considered the world’s first friction match. The club has been celebrating the anniversary alongside its usual swap meets and history hunts. He has also contributed pieces to displays and publications, including material connected to Canberra and the Academy of Science. And sometimes the pleasure is simply rediscovering what he already has. “I like sorting a lot of stuff out because there’s a lot of stuff there I forgot about.” However, there’s one question the couple have not completely resolved: what happens to the collection when Abbott is no longer around to look after it? “Betty might have a bonfire or something with the matches,” he says with a smile. “I always threaten,” she adds.
Have you considered a pre-arranged funeral? Pay today’s prices for the funeral you want, with a personalised payment plan.
Arts editor: Helen Musa, helen@citynews.com.au Production manager: Janet Ewen Graphic designer: Mona Ismail
Well written, well read
Ph 02 6189 0777 Fax 02 6189 0778 9b/189 Flemington Rd, Mitchell 2911
grown beyond matchboxes. His collection now includes umbrellas, director chairs, T-shirts, hats and caps featuring the brand. “Now I’m fascinated about the Redheads. That’s one big thing.” Some pieces also carry personal memories. Abbott and his wife, Betty, had personalised matchbooks made for their wedding in the 1970s, featuring their names and wedding date. “That was quite something done in the ‘70s,” he says. Betty has contributed to the collection herself, including a World War II shell that a soldier in New Guinea turned into a match holder. The couple have learnt that collecting matches can require unusual travel equipment, too. Abbott carries a staple remover so he can carefully open matchbooks without damaging them. After recently returning from Italy, the couple had visited “every little tobacconist shop that we walked past” to see whether they had matches. China provided an even more memorable haul. During a 2009 holiday, the couple visited Gulangyu, a small island near Xiamen, where Abbott stumbled across a shop called Match Paradise, packed with matchboxes. “I thought I had found paradise!” he recalls. He bought as many as he
Responsibility for election comment is taken by Ian Meikle, 9b/189 Flemington Road, Mitchell.
Distribution manager: Penny McCarroll
CANBERRA’S LOCAL WHEEL STRAIGHTENING SERVICE
With 36 years experience, William Cole Funerals provide excellence in funeral service.
Canberra Wheel Repairs has the latest wheel and rim straightening lathe, enabling us to successfully realign most damaged alloy wheels.
02 6280 5967 Visit us at
1/184 Gladstone Street, Fyshwick rallimaxwheelrepairs.au citynews.com.au
02 6253 3655 williamcolefunerals.com.au | 60 Nettlefold Street, Belconnen, ACT CityNews September 3-9, 2026 3
POLITICS / AI in the classroom
The hard lessons schools are learning about AI There are two sides to the artificial intelligence (AI) debate in education as there are in the community. However, the debate is intensified with school students as they will be the ones living with AI throughout their lives. Should parents and teachers be afraid of the use of AI in the classroom, or should it be used as a tool for improved learning? More importantly, can it be used effectively to enhance education? A report in the Sydney Morning Herald by Christopher Harris pointed out that in 2025 evidence indicated “the use of AI driving a sustained and elevated rate of misconduct in year 12 assessments”. In that year more than 1000 cases of cheating in HSC school-based tasks were recorded. It is a worrying statistic. As a response, NSW Education Minister Prue Car has written to her state Education Standards Authority (NESA) to ask for a “moratorium” on take-home assessment tasks. She considers this “an interim measure as part of a broader review on the impact of AI on learning”. The ACT Education Directorate has indicated that it is holding a watching brief on NSW.
4 CityNews September 3-9, 2026
Should parents and teachers be afraid of the use of AI in the classroom, or should it be used as a tool for improved learning?
Norwegian teacher Vilde Bjørgo, who studied at Burgmann Anglican School. Vilde Bjørgo is a one-time Rotary Exchange Student, who studied at Burgmann Anglican School in Gungahlin and is now a teacher in her home country of Norway. She completed a masters’ degree with her dissertation focused specifically on this topic. Her insights provide a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities provided by AI in the classroom. Her fundamental point is “using AI
as a tool for learning is not necessarily the same thing as using AI when learning is being assessed”. She argues that “AI has become such a significant part of society that it needs to be integrated into education as well. After all, one of the purposes of education is to prepare students to participate in society and working life, where AI will increasingly be part of everyday life”. Ms Bjørgo goes on to argue in the Norwegian case that “AI cannot be used effectively to support learning without a certain level of prior knowledge. If students lack the knowledge needed to critically evaluate what AI produces, it is very easy to trust it blindly and simply copy its answers”. This applies equally in Australia. Her major concern is that if students “don’t really engage with the material themselves, they are likely to learn very little”. This is the very anathema of the education that we would like to see for our children who ought to be challenged to think, to explore and to understand. “However, when AI is used more as
a sparring partner”, she argues “and the student has enough knowledge to recognise mistakes or delusions” they will be in a position to “question what it produces”. She adds “research suggests that it can have a positive impact on learning. The challenge is that, at the moment, this kind of use tends to be much easier for stronger students”. A teacher’s responsibility goes well beyond the stronger students, and this is where there are significant challenges for teachers. In response to Minister Car, Ms Bjørgo explains that she can understand why the minister wants to move away from take-home assessments. After all, the purpose is to ensure that students actually develop the knowledge and skills they will need later. This is even more important “when the work is being used to assess their competence and award grades”. Of course, it is not so simple. The flipside is, as she explains, if reducing take-home assessments also means reducing students’ opportunities to learn how to use AI, schools will need to compensate by explicitly teaching students how to use AI effectively and critically.
Drawing a comparison with Norway, “practices vary considerably between counties and schools”. At her own school, they have embarked on “teaching students how to use AI and actively encourage its use in certain learning situations”. There is a caveat, “when we need to assess a student’s actual competence, we generally don’t allow them to use it”. And emphasised the difference between using AI as a tool for learning in contrast to using AI when learning is being assessed. We can extrapolate from other places, rather than just copying what they do. Considering her experience with the education system in the ACT and in Norway, there may be some learnings for educators in Canberra. Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He was a high school teacher from 1972 until 1989.
citynews.com.au
OPINION / making Australia great again
Whinge, be selfish and put our trust in One Nation Wonderful news. One Nation, our government in waiting, is going to make smoking cigs affordable. About time. Every socially awkward, anxious member of our community will be able to light up and smoke themselves into poor health and an early, unpleasant death. Down goes life expectancy, up goes unfunded, long-term health costs, but who cares, providing they vote the right way? There’ll be a lot more smoking among those migrants who had plans to bring family members here. With the pollies raring to outdo one another on cutting down immigration numbers it’s going to be a long, anxious wait, with stained fingers clutching the cigs. But who cares about migrants? Working hard in aged-care, factories and on farms they’re not visible to the rest of us, especially to those who are gifted a plane to get around this wide, brown land. Out of sight, but not out of mind, because they are the perfect group to demonise. A year or so down the track, under the first Hanson-Joyce government, we will all be free to enjoy the smell of cigarette smoke in public transport, our classrooms and in our restaurants. Oh, the nostalgia. Bring back the
A year or so down the track, under the first Hanson-Joyce government, we will all be free to enjoy the smell of cigarette smoke in public transport, our classrooms and in our restaurants. Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce... One Nation’s Kool Aid is attractive, leading with the notion that it’s always the fault of someone else. Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP days of yore, being able to light up an expensive, foul-smelling cigar in a trendy restaurant and send smoke rings across the room – the trappings of power in motion.
But wait, there’s more It’s not going to end with lowering the tax on cigs. The equally awful tax on alcohol must go, too. No doubt that announcement is in the One Nation goodie bag for gullible voters. But before that, with cost-of-living pressures, housing shortages, lack of affordable dental services, stalled productivity and wage stagnation, there’s no better solution than letting
everyone dip into their super. I’m with Pauline and Barnaby. It’s criminal to stop people spending their retirement savings in their 30s, 40s and 50s on cigs, cheap booze, betting and whatever else they want to do, before the last piece of some minable mineral leaves our shores. Better to live now, because there is no hope, no tomorrow, once the quarry runs out. It’s hypocritical for our major party politicians to bang on about belt tightening and thrift, and saving for tomorrow, when they have signed us and our children up to a money-burning, obsolete red tram, and an even more absurd deal where we suffer to hold up the US and UK submarine industries. Encouraging smoking, using
retirement savings today: put those alongside the major party commitment to encourage, yes encourage, problem gambling. That’s because they are beholden to the gambling interests. Politics is a gamble. The odds are improved by spending bucketloads of money. The gambling lobby is generous and strategic with its full buckets. The gamblers and their families have holes in their empty buckets. Does anybody not understand how it works? CityNews has a wonderful cartoonist in Paul Dorin. I reckon he can create some One Nation Aussie Normies: family members aged from eight to 80 sitting around a screen showing some sport, but with the cameras spending more time showing the big ads for cigs, beer and place another bet; with empties on the lowboy table; the room enveloped in a heavy nicotine smoke haze; and, everyone pushing buttons on their phones to place bets. You gotta be in it to win it. Meantime, Pauline and Barnaby already have the votes of all those horrified by the un-Aussies who want to celebrate their weird lifestyles in this or that street parade or what do ya call it festival. When Pauline reportedly said that sex stuff is private and should stay that way, all right
thinking people said, “about time”. Behind closed curtains it’s all okay, all of it, except when the building decades ago was a Sydney church. Then it’s not okay. Pretty much all domestic violence disappears as an issue when in front of the curtains is the test for concerns. Make the refuges “user pays” to dissuade the escapees.
Pass the fish and chips One Nation’s Kool Aid is attractive, leading with the notion that it’s always the fault of someone else, and that selfishness is a virtue. The long wait is over. Together we can make Australia great again. All we have to do is whinge and whine, be selfish, and put our trust in One Nation. Just do as tens of millions of Americans have done: vote for your fears, not your dreams. Look at how well they’re doing these days. Gimme a tinnie or two. Pass the fish and chips please. And the sauce. And an ashtray! Hugh Selby is a CityNews columnist.
Make your windows and doors work harder for you Do you want to:
• feel warm in winter and cool in summer? • lower your energy bills? • reduce outside noise? • improve security and the value of your property? These are just some of the many benefits that home and business owners can achieve with our uPVC double and triple glazed windows and doors. Windotek Australia is a leading provider of double and triple glazed uPVC window and door systems for the Canberra region. We help you achieve a higher EER rating, with 100% customised solutions that meet your needs and complement the style of your home.
0451 727 517 www.windotek.com.au 13 Bedford St, Queanbeyan citynews.com.au
CityNews September 3-9, 2026 5
DOORS, WINDOWS & MORE!
Buyers and Sellers of New and Used Building Materials, Windows, Doors, Timber, Hardware, and more......all at a Handy Price!
(02) 6280 4036 | enquiries@handymans.com.au | 1/167 Newcastle Street Fyshwick | 6 CityNews September 3-9, 2026
citynews.com.au
COVER STORY / Dr Betty Ge
Hold the unicorns, Dr Betty wants to be heard “We’re not asking for a unicorn with a rainbow. We’re asking for a safe and efficient system. We know we can do better,” new AMA president Dr Betty Ge tells reporter DHWANI PATHAK. With Canberra’s health system under growing strain, the new president of the Australian Medical Association ACT, Dr Betty (Xiaoting) Ge, is stepping into the role with a clear message. She says the system is not working as it should and pretending otherwise will only make it worse. “I’m a very practical person,” says Betty. “If we know we’re not performing at our best, why don’t we look at ways to improve it?” Her appointment comes at a critical moment. The ACT has the lowest bulk-billing rates in the country, primary care is under pressure, and patients are increasingly feeling it in their wallets, in waiting times and in the lack of continuity in care. “We are under incredible strain,” she says. “Our population is growing, our population is ageing, and we’re getting more complex.” “We often call general practice the backbone to our system,” she says. “But there’s no real political
determination to put it in the centre.” She describes Canberra’s low bulk-billing rates as the result of “many years of neglecting general practice”. “The Medicare rebate has been on freeze for many, many years,” she says. “It’s not even keeping up with indexation. “The cost of maintaining ACT AMA president Dr Betty Ge… “We love our a practice has gone up, patients. We want to provide the care. But the whereas our Medicare system is not fit for purpose.” Photo: Dhwani Pathak rebate certainly hasn’t kept The consequences are already up. visible. “For a short consultation, the “A lot of practices are closing their recommended fee is around $120 to doors,” she says. “You’re also pushing $130, whereas the Medicare rebate is our trainee doctors out of general around $43. practice. “If you keep bulk billing, the “Medical students can see it’s a practice is not viable. Then it goes more secure future in other specialdown under the water. Then patients ties. They don’t have to have this will not have the care. argument on a daily basis.” “Doctors are often the scapegoat,” The pressure is not just financial. It she says. “We love our patients. We is personal. want to provide the care. But the “We lean on goodwill,” she says. system is not fit for purpose.”
“Doctors stay overtime, work those 18-hour shifts, exhaust themselves, and sometimes compromise their own physical health or mental health. That is not a sustainable strategy. “If you don’t make general practice sustainable, you won’t have a workforce. And then patients will have nowhere to go except emergency departments, which is not the right place for many conditions.” The risk, she says, is clear. “We’re moving to a two-tier system,” she says. “People who can afford the gap fee will be happy to see the same GP again and again and get better health outcomes. Those who can’t, end up in fragmented care. “They go to emergency, then a pharmacist, then a walk-in centre, then back to emergency. Ultimately our patients are going to lose.” As a leader, her focus is simple. “We must put our frontline workers to the centre of the consultation,” she says. “If we raise concern, we raise it for a good reason.” “I want to push for the doctor’s voice. If we can form a strong voice and be heard, that would be my biggest achievement. “Doctors are not trying to become businesspeople. We became doctors because we care about patients.” Betty began her career as a nurse in China before moving to Australia. She had her child while working as
a nurse, before deciding to retrain in medicine and become a doctor later than most. Along the way came the unspoken barriers of migration, language and culture. She does not volunteer this part easily. But when gently prodded, the picture becomes clearer. There were years of holding down a nursing job while studying medicine full time. Weekdays in medical school. Weekends at work. A young child in tow. Childcare bills to pay. A constant negotiation of time, money and energy. “It wasn’t a straight path,” she says. She shrugs it off. But the trade-offs are there. It speaks to a broader truth about women in leadership, particularly in medicine. Ask her about balance, and she quickly dismisses the word. “I don’t like that term,” she says. Instead, she describes it as juggling. Some balls are glass, she explains, and cannot be dropped. Others are plastic. It is an approach that mirrors how she now views the health system. She is not asking for perfection. “We’re not asking for a unicorn with a rainbow,” she says. “We’re asking for a safe and efficient system. “We know we can do better,” she says. “The frustration is that right now, we’re not.”
Sydney Symphony Orchestra Make their long-awaited return to Canberra with a high-energy program of music for – and inspired by – dance.
F R I D AY 2 5 S E P T E M B E R Book now at snowconcerthall.com Situated on Canberra Grammar School’s beautiful Red Hill campus at 40 Monaro Crescent, Red Hill ACT
Book Now
citynews.com.au
CityNews September 3-9, 2026 7
POLITICS
Is there an opportunity for an Opportunity party? As 2026 heads towards the final third of the year there are two elections left of interest to those in politics in Australia. Both fall on the same day – November 7. That night I’ll be in my finest lounge attire tuned in to see how each goes. The Victorian state election will be the most significant test yet for the invigorated One Nation. Can they take enough lower house seats to stake a claim for an alliance with the other conservative parties and perhaps even a seat in government? Or perhaps Labor under Ben Carroll can survive through minority government? It literally is too close to call right now. The other election is not in Australia. It is in NZ. The polls there are predicting a hung parliament. The interesting thing though about the NZ election is why they could be heading towards a hung parliament. And that is the rise of the Opportunity Party, literally the teals of NZ. But a party. One look at their website (opportunity.org.nz) and it is not hard to see why they have come from the clouds to get around 10 per cent of the vote: a charismatic but Gen-Y leader, centre-left policy platform clearly explained, and plain-speaking and
With identification being weak though, no one is that safe in Canberra at the next election. But it also means there is opportunity for a true centre-left party like Opportunity.
Independent Fiona Carrick… local-area focused first, Territory-wide second. well put together comms. As NZ runs a proportional system with a five per cent threshold that means they stand to get the balance of power. I can hear the editor saying, yes, Andrew, but how does that impact someone here? Our system in the ACT is ripe for Opportunity. There is no doubt disenchantment with the major parties, but if you look at research such as
the Australian Electoral Studies trust overall in our system is failing. That means identification is also weaker because it takes us longer to trust a party. So anyone new to the system will need to work hard to keep that trust. There are now three independents in the Assembly and each is very much aware of this. A much re-energised Leanne Castley says she’s relishing being independent, so each is working hard. No bored text-message sending here. With identification being weak though, no one is that safe in Canberra at the next election. But it also means there is opportunity for a party like Opportunity. A true centre-left party, the third (centre) way I discussed recently. The independents’ greatest strength, not being a party, is also their greatest weakness. It means uncertainty on policy positions in the voters mind. Being a party
means identification with an ideology, and that means for a voter not that engaged with politics locally an easier way to differentiate brands. While the independent brand is strong, it also raises questions on what each independent stands for. Fiona Carrick’s strategy here is one way around this: very much localarea focused first, Territory-wide second. But if you want to be seen as a contender and rival for the majors in terms of governing or being part of governing, and therefore winning more than one seat, then what Opportunity is doing is probably going to be a more effective strategy. I remember asking Thomas Emerson on 2CC’s CityNews Sunday Roast program after the last election if he worried about something like this happening. His reply, not verbatim, was no and, in fact, it would be good for our system. But I wonder if voters of the ACT feel the same way. I think this is where certainty comes into the equation. Politics in the minds of many who may only switch on to it on polling day, is becoming a set-andforget model.
We may not trust those in the system, but we do trust and expect the system to act with a significant degree of certainty and stability. There is no reason why we won’t see an Opportunity-style party in Canberra. And with identification weakening, perhaps we will see in the coming years dramatic shake ups locally that could see no one rule, but I feel uncertainty is something many of us don’t particularly embrace that well. It will be interesting to see how One Nation’s gain of seats at state levels will play into this as well. Will we truly embrace a fluid political market or will we run back to perceived safety of the majors? But could it be that what we may be seeing is just another chapter in the struggle between opportunists and those who want Opportunity. Dr Andrew Hughes lectures at the ANU Research School of Management, where he specialises in political marketing.
Redefine aged care on September 12 Arcare Wright Open Day Tour our beautiful new residence. Meet our team and chat over a barista coffee or tea. 10am - 2pm • Sat 12 Sept • 16 Harriott St 8 CityNews September 3-9, 2026
citynews.com.au
LETTERS / well written, well read
Let loose to: editor@citynews.com.au
Keep your hands off ‘perfect’ Adelaide Avenue! The ACT Government is calling for comments and submissions to their Southern Gateway and Design Framework on the corridor between Parliament House and Mawson encompassing Adelaide Avenue and Athlon Drive.
dose of father’s day dorin
Adelaide Avenue is beautifully tree-lined, green and tram free – in other words it is perfect. Come on, Canberrans, go on-line and tell the ACT Government to keep Adelaide Avenue exactly as it is – it doesn’t need “re-designing”. Peter Claughton, Farrer
If Victoria can do it, so can Canberra Ron Sait (Letters, CN August 27) says Canberrans would benefit greatly by stopping Light Rail Stage2B at Albert Hall. Money saved could be used to reduce debt and prioritise construction of much needed community projects. Poor financial management in Victoria is akin to what is occurring in the ACT. Reality has caught up with them. Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has announced $2bn in cuts to the first leg of the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) as criticism continues over the infrastructure project’s costs. If Victoria can do it, so can the ACT. Ideology driving the tram project in the ACT has so far been blind to the large financial implications for the ACT budgetary and debt situation. Murray May, Cook
Coincidences or cleverly staged? As a life long political tragic, I have been an habitual viewer of the ABC’s Sunday morning program Insiders since its inception 25 years ago. However, recently I saw something I can’t recall ever having seen before, a “newbie” backbencher, One Nation’s David Farley, occupying the “hot seat”. Farley spoke enthusiastically about his interactions with Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke, and praised them both for their financial support of the SunRice Mill in Leeton. I’ve not heard a PHON do that before. There was then a separate photo of each man with Farley taken on the floor of the chamber.
citynews.com.au
The three men would be acutely aware of the optics that were portrayed. The PM also knew that Farley was to be appearing on Insiders. Were these all merely coincidences, or was this cleverly staged managed? I await the answer. Ian De Landelles, Murray’s Beach, NSW
Worried parents, take heart There has been some discussion and concern recently about the NAPLAN results. As I am of migrant background, I was a slow reader. I did not see that as a handicap to still tackle all sorts of reading and pushed on regardless. Today, I am an avid reader. A family member didn’t pay much attention to subjects other than woodwork and metalwork at high school. He ended up top of the class in these subjects at TAFE, went on to do his building certificate and is now doing very well in his chosen career. Parents who worry about their children’s NAPLAN’s results, take heart. Your children may also end up being high achievers. Encourage them, keep a watchful eye, support their passions and never lose hope. But perhaps don’t let them read this! Herman van de Brug, Holt
Advance pushes against transparency Having an “informal” role in an activist organisation does not mean it’s an
insignificant or ineffective position. Particularly so when a very socially conservative right-wing former prime minister is welcomed into one by the equally conservative political lobby group Advance to advise on and influence organisational strategies, targets and programs (“Abbott’s ‘very informal’ role in right-wing lobby group “, citynews.com.au August 22). Especially also when this organisation’s goals already reflect what a staunch Catholic such as Tony Abbott, his church and other conservative religious bodies and their associated lobby groups want imposed nationally, in order to severely undermine, if not overturn, socially progressive and equitable reforms that support personal decision-making about private life matters. Advance’s chair, former ACT Assembly Liberal MLA Vicki Dunne and secretary Mark Spencer delivered what seemed quite a cursory and dismissive performance when asked about Advance’s organisational structure, party links, funding and widespread election time activities by the Australian Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters at its recent hearings into the 2025 federal election. Consequently, these two very senior representatives ended up taking away a lot of questions on notice. Hopefully, CityNews can call our attention to their formal replies when they are available, given the ACT’s early warning initiation into the world of Advance’s highly misleading and offensive stunts and dirty tricks in the lead up to the 2022 federal election. Sue Dyer, Downer
Desperate to build sales In its declining years, The Canberra Times seems to be even more desperate to build sales. Firstly, there was the News Limited-like attack on Mark Parton for a silly misdemeanour, that he fully owns. No reasonable citizen, who is not a political apparatchik, really cares. The Canberra Times has picked up on another Murdoch mission, to attack the Albanese government on its measures to make housing more affordable for young people, with changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax for new investors purchasing existing property, only. Grandfathering applies, so no one loses. The ranting editorial of August 21 is a direct take-off of the post-budget Murdoch print media pile-on, and coincides with a social media campaign being undertaken by the real estate industry, to try and kill off what is a perfectly good piece of public policy, passed with the best intentions, the consequences of which will not be known for probably a decade. Which begs the question – is The Canberra Times under some pressure from the real estate advertisers? And by the way, in the interests of accuracy, The Canberra Times might now state that the interpretation of the modelling cited from NAB and Ray White that rents will now increase significantly, have since been debunked by both those organisations, as being significant over-interpretation and simplification by the Coalition. WA Brown, Holt
Cutting off our nose to spite our face I’m really pleased that Anne O’Hara reads my letters (CN August 20), but I fear she has “drunk the Kool Aid” of believers in intermittent, sunlight and wind-dependent generation. Relying on politicians with neither technical qualifications nor industrial experience to create a new electricity grid is a failure. Conventional central generation provides a 24-hour, weather-independent energy source. Installing nuclear steam-raising at existing central generation sites would have avoided any “emissions”, using no more water than other steam-generation processes, and avoiding the clutter of widely distributed generation sites and technologies, while maintaining a simple, economic, reliable, one-direction,
alternating-current grid system. Satellites have shown that recent additional atmospheric CO2 has been taken up by increased bio-mass, providing additional food for expanding populations in Africa, India and South America. In Australia additional crop growth has increased farm income. Alternatives are complex and unreliable. Engineering experience shows that multiple, widely distributed, sunlight-and-wind-dependent generation with limited chemical battery and pumped-hydro storage systems are costly to build and complex to run. “Snowy 2” is one example. Anne O’Hara, Tomago Smelter and I experienced another outcome in our power bills. Spain and Portugal experienced another when their grid collapsed earlier this year. I’m surprised that so few homes and other structures have white roofs and lightcoloured facings, which increase Earth’s albedo and reduce urban heat-islands.Paint colour is effectively cost-free. Australia has significant uranium reserves, which 30 other nations use for emission-free generation, but has decided to cut off its nose to spite its face. Anthony Hordern, Jamison Centre
Board persistently refused an appeal The government expects light rail stage 2, contrary to Conservation Council policies, to increase car travel and reduce public transport travel. In 2023 I argued in CityNews that it would be better to build bus rapid transit. The council’s president responded by telling me she had decided to ban me from the council’s premises and from its working groups. Her reasons included her incorrect belief that the council supported stage 2. The council’s board has persistently refused to allow me to appeal her decision. After more than three years, I learned that the president had decided to expel me before my CityNews article. The reason for her decision was that I had told some people that changes to the council’s constitution had made some groups ineligible to remain as council members. Leon Arundell, Downer
Written from Sydney If only we had Clover Moore in Canberra. John Griffin, via email
CityNews September 3-9, 2026 9
SCRIBBLES / the Great Australian Tupperware Cupboard
First the container, now find the lid that fits it! There are few places in the Australian home more challenging than the kitchen Tupperware cupboard. Opening that cupboard door carried the genuine risk of a full plastic avalanche, says cartoonist PAUL DORIN. Every Australian family has had a kitchen Tupperware cupboard and most probably still do. A cupboard, usually above the fridge or next to the oven, packed tighter than peak-hour public transport with a colourful collection of containers gathered over decades. Some were genuine Tupperware. Others were suspicious home-brand substitutes that entered the system through Christmas leftovers and never left. Opening the cupboard became a test of skill and timing. You would slowly crack the door open, listening carefully for movement inside like a hostage negotiator. If one container shifted, the whole structure could collapse without warning. Often, the one you wanted was hiding at the very back behind all the others, so you would end up pulling everything out. Or, if frustration was getting the better of you and you were really game, you would rip in and pull the container free, quietly
10 CityNews September 3-9, 2026
letting the next person deal with the scrambled mess of Tupperware left behind. Restacking the Tupperware cupboard required engineering skills, emotional resilience and the patience of a saint. Lids seemed to multiply, yet somehow the real mystery was always the missing lids. Matching Tupperware lids disappeared with the same unexplained force responsible for single socks vanishing in the wash. Despite owning dozens of containers, I remember Cartoon: Paul Dorin struggling to ever find the the cupboard ecosystem and began correct lid. You would stand competing for shelf space. in the kitchen trying combinations Ice-cream containers, once like a contestant on a game show. destined for the recycling bin, found Too big. a second life storing everything Too small. from leftover spaghetti bolognese to Close… but not right. Then came the great invasion of the homemade soup. And somehow there were just as plastic takeaway container. many containers in the fridge as Chinese takeaway tubs entered
there were in the cupboard itself. Opening the fridge revealed another layer of confusion. Every shelf held a kaleidoscope of mysterious plastic containers, some with forgotten meals and others filled with unidentified leftovers. Most of our Tupperware had the family name written across both
the containers and the lids in thick permanent marker – basically for recovery purposes. Because lending one of your good containers was never a gift; it was a temporary custody arrangement. There could be absolutely no confusion about who owned it and where it needed to be returned. As a kid, I would often confiscate Tupperware containers to store my Plasticine, effectively removing yet another container-and-lid combination from circulation forever. Looking back, I probably contributed more to the disappearance of Tupperware containers than anyone else in the family. If mum thought there was a black hole swallowing missing Tupperware containers and lids, she didn’t need to look any further than my bedroom. Across the country, the Australian ritual continues. Kitchen drawers will be opened with misplaced confidence, only to reveal a tangled democracy of plastic containers stacked, wedged, while some lids have long since gone rogue. Some live under the fridge. Some have never been returned. Some have migrated to unknown cupboards. But the question will always get asked, “How do we have about 50 containers… and not a single matching lid in sight?”. Sorry mum!
Paul Dorin is the CityNews cartoonist.
citynews.com.au
KINDNESS / writer’s block
The kindest thing is keep a story to ourselves I’m not sure what it is when you’re not much of a writer but you can’t write anything. It’s not really “writer’s block”, really more like “fraudulent poseur block”, but whatever you call it, I got it.
Seinfeld made us laugh with 177 episodes ‘about absolutely nothing’. Let today’s piece be just that. Nothing to see here.
The only fiction I can come up with is my tax return and the tales that used to fly have slowed down shockingly. They got me thinking about some of the people I love and respect for the things they have not written. My friend Rodney has published literally millions of words about his passions, cricket and politics over the decades. And yet it seems clear to me some of the key moments that he has witnessed in a remarkable life will never be written down. Same with Tony. Same with Bill. Similarly, my neighbour, patient and friend who has recently published three fine books in the past decade about Australian politics has left out any number of stories. They all did so, losing a great story and acclaim, not for the slight danger of being sued, but because they are fine and honourable people. And they are kind. The one thing they all share is that kindness, which is the mother of good deeds, the father of integrity and the
After leaving his adopted Australia decades ago he found himself, like Graeme Greene, in a developing part of the world surrounding himself with the culture and life. Unlike Greene, he became so deeply immersed he could not help but form lifelong love and relationships with a family and a community. A number of them are fortunate to call him dad. Also unlike Greene, the unforgettable human canvas painted for him was, he decided, something Jim could simply not write about. There was too much to say in the story. He reckoned that, as a writer, he was up to the challenge of spinning a fine fiction from the gossamer strands of their experiences, a tapestry of their travails. But he cared for them far too much to make of their lives an adventure, a drama, a human comedy, or even a parable. More precious than their story was their privacy, their dignity. He could not stand the idea of hurting or embarrassing or even drawing attention to them.
Imagine if La Gioconda had sat for Da Vinci “only on the condition that nobody else sees it – I’m shy”. grumpy great uncle of discretion. I have a mate who is not called Jim, who was a wonderful teacher, sporting coach, family friend and, for a time, a local Canberra columnist. Like his admired Graham Green, he was a bright English graduate and a headmaster’s son with a quick wit and a beautiful turn of phrase.
There are alternatives, of course. Write twee puff like I do without bad guys or tension. Write vigorous pastiches with characters disguised like Greene himself. Write but don’t publish, and let time’s greatest gift work its magic – “not to opened for a hundred years”. Mel Brooks, recently passed from our lives at an even century, gave us the immortal moral mathematics that “tragedy plus time equals comedy”. Monty Python made careers of it. And yet, and yet. I stare at Gauguin’s masterpieces in a book and think with wonder at the thousands of studies and full works he set fire to before his death – as a kid I thought it could have been an arrogant “bugger you” to history, but now I wonder if he was protecting people from being immortalised. Imagine if La Gioconda had sat for Da Vinci “only on the condition that nobody else sees it – I’m shy”. “Not a worry, love,” said the languid Leo, paint-stained fingers crossed behind his genius back. You can’t unsay art. I had overcome the block today – it was exciting and a relief not felt since the Raiders clinched that minor
premiership last year. Not one but three stories came up and they were cool and funny and silly and full of love – my favourite ingredients. And all I needed to do was scribble something that might embarrass a few people just a little. Cancel that now. Seinfeld made us laugh with 177 episodes “about absolutely nothing”. Let today’s piece be just that. Nothing to see here. Sometimes the best thing to do as an artist is to smear the painful truth across the wall with your graffiti, your op-ed, your musical score, your excoriation of the cognoscenti. But I’m no artist, just a very simple human. And the kindest thing humans can do – a lot of the time – is keep a story to themselves. Antonio Di Dio is a local GP, medical leader and nerd. There are many more of his Kindness columns at citynews.com.au
There’s truly no place like home! At Euphoria Support at Home, we provide personalised support to help you stay independent and live comfortably at your home for longer. • Digital Impression • Dentist Referrals Welcome
Ph: 6239 2534 Fyshwick | Hawker | Jindabyne citynews.com.au
1300 367 551
stbasils.org.au
Wentworth Ave & Telopea Park, Kingston ACT 2604 CityNews September 3-9, 2026 11
REIACT Awards 2026
advertising feature
Excellence recognised across ACT real estate
The team at Someday Property.
More than 30 leading ACT real estate professionals and businesses have been recognised at the 2026 REIACT Awards for Excellence. The event brought 400 industry representatives together at the National Convention Centre Canberra on August 22, celebrating achievement, innovation and service across residential, commercial, property management, sales and strata. REIACT president Chris Wilson said professionalism, ethics and consumer trust remained essential to the industry’s reputation. CEO Maria Edwards praised the sector’s resilience and adaptability, saying the awards demonstrated how Canberra’s real estate professionals continued to support their clients, contribute to their communities and deliver outstanding work despite challenging market conditions.
Small by design, big on impact
At the REIACT Awards for Excellence 2026 held at the National Convention Centre on August 22.
Someday Property is so proud to have been named Small Agency of the Year 2026, a recognition that celebrates not just growth, but the people and values behind it. Founded by Grace Hooper and Jess Talbot, Someday Property began with a simple belief that real estate should feel more human. Five years on, the Canberra based agency manages and sells a number of residential properties across Canberra and surrounds with a growing team delivering a distinctly personal approach.
For Someday, success isn’t about becoming bigger at all costs. It’s about building something sustainable, meaningful and genuinely different. The team has maintained 100% staff retention since opening, while embracing a nine-day fortnight, Wellness Wednesdays, professional development and smaller portfolios designed to protect wellbeing and service quality. Their philosophy extends beyond clients and staff, from day one Grace and Jess wanted to ensure they were in some way giving back and established
2026 REIACT AWARDS FOR
an ongoing donation to ChildFund Australia, while continuing to support community initiatives and charitable causes. With 259 five-star Google reviews, Someday’s award-winning formula is clear, put people first, stay true to your values and let exceptional service drive the growth. Someday Property 5/59 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah. Call 0404 786 372 or visit somedayproperty.com.au
Excellence
S omed ay Pro p e r ty 0404 786 372 |
hello@somedayproperty.com.au
5/59 Boolimba Cres, Narrabundah ACT 2604
12 CityNews September 3-9, 2026
citynews.com.au
Little Bird PROPERTIES
Three Years at the Top for Little Bird Properties Little Bird Properties is celebrating an extraordinary year of achievement, after being named REIACT Property Management Team of the Year for the third consecutive year. The Canberra-based specialist property management agency has now taken home the prestigious team award in 2024, 2025 and 2026 - an achievement that Director Heidi says reflects the consistency, knowledge and commitment of the entire Little Bird team. Adding to this year’s success, Emily Clugston was named Property Manager of the Year, while Taye Burgmann received Leasing Agent of the Year, making it a remarkable three-award result for the agency.
(02) 6153 3173 | citynews.com.au
For Heidi, the individual awards are particularly rewarding. Having trained, mentored and supported both Emily and Taye throughout their careers, she says watching them develop into award-winning professionals is one of the most satisfying parts of leading Little Bird Properties. “They have worked hard & I am so happy for them” says Heidi Heidi has spent more than 23 years in the property management industry and established Little Bird Properties with a clear vision: to create a specialist agency where property management was the sole focus and where people were given the knowledge, training and
4/16 Bougainville Street Manuka |
support to build successful careers. Three consecutive team titles, combined with Emily and Taye’s individual achievements, are a proud reflection of that philosophy. For Little Bird Properties, the awards recognise not only outstanding results, but a team culture built around knowledge, development, consistency and genuine pride in property management. (02) 6153 3173 4/16 Bougainville Street Manuka heidi@littlebirdproperties.com.au
heidi@littlebirdproperties.com.au CityNews September 3-9, 2026 13
REIACT Awards 2026 Award recognises a trusted advocate for Canberra buyers Canberra buyer’s advocate Claire Corby has again been recognised among the ACT property industry’s leading professionals, winning Buyer’s Agent of the Year at the 2026 REIACT Awards for Excellence. The award adds to an impressive record for the founder of Capital Buyers Agency, who was inducted into the REIACT Hall of Fame in 2023 following three consecutive ACT Buyer’s Agent of the Year titles. She was also named Australian Buyer’s Agent of the Year at the 2021 REIA National Awards for Excellence. A third-generation Canberran, Claire founded Capital Buyers Agency in 2014 after moving from accounting into property. Her combination of analytical expertise, investment experience and detailed local knowledge helps buyers navigate Canberra’s many suburbs and micro-markets with confidence. Capital Buyers Agency works exclusively for purchasers, assisting with full property searches, off-market opportunities, due diligence, pricing, negotiation and auction bidding. The Griffith-based boutique agency supports local buyers, investors, families relocating to Canberra and clients purchasing from interstate or overseas. Claire’s approach centres on removing emotion and uncertainty from what can be one of life’s largest financial decisions. Her detailed understanding of school catchments, neighbourhood characteristics, emerging areas and investment locations helps clients identify properties suited to both their immediate needs and longer-term plans. She has previously described the buyer’s agent’s role as helping people reach a purchasing decision with confidence, knowing they have a trusted adviser representing them throughout negotiations. Capital Buyers Agency’s success has also been recognised at agency level. It won the 2025 REIACT Small Agency of the Year award, while team member Sarah King received the national Operational Support Award in 2025.
Claire Corby, founder and managing director, Capital Buyers Agency. The latest honour reinforces Claire’s standing as a highly trusted local advocate and recognises Capital Buyers Agency’s commitment to informed advice, careful due diligence and strong client representation in the Canberra property market. Claire’s commitment to buyers is also reflected in Capital Buyers Agency’s outstanding Google reviews, which illustrate the results and approach she is renown for. Anyone interested in Canberra property can also follow Claire’s free email newsletter for practical guidance, local market updates and valuable industry insights. Drawing on her extensive experience representing buyers, Claire shares clear, considered advice designed to help homebuyers and investors better understand the market, avoid common mistakes and make more confident property decisions. Subscribe through the Capital Buyers Agency website at capitalbuyersagency.com.au. Capital Buyers Agency Call 02 6295 0036 email office@capitalbuyersagency.com.au capitalbuyersagency.com.au
advertising feature
2026 INDIVIDUAL AND AGENCY WINNERS: Category
Winner
Agency
Community/Public Housing Sector Property Manager of the Year Business Development Manager of the Year Wellbeing Award Novice Auctioneer of the Year Marketer of the Year Residential Property Manager of the Year Commercial Salesperson of the Year Sustainability Leadership Award – Agency Strata Manager of the Year Leasing Consultant of the Year Small Residential Agency of the Year Hall of Fame Hall of Fame Auctioneer Franchise of the Year Conveyancer of the Year Operational Support Person of the Year Buyers’ Agent of the Year Innovation Award
Trisha Adams
Housing ACT
Kaylee Wang Carter and Co Agents Jackson White-Brettell Ray Moon Emily Clugston Michael Ceacis Grady Strata & Facilities Belinda Read Tayleah Burgmann Someday Property Jane Macken Michael Ceacis LJ Hooker Dannielle Priestly Natasha Colefax Claire Corby Community Housing Canberra Hayman Partners Cara Grady Dan Hawcroft Agent Team Resi Signs Australia Peter Walker Rochelle Roberts Chloe Mills Tyran Murphy Ray White Commercial CBR Grady Strata & Facilities Brianna Williams Team Souweid
Ruiz Property
Frank Walmsley Blackshaw Manuka
Auction Advantage
Community Service Award Sustainability Leadership Award – Individual Achievement Award Marketing & Communications Award Service Provider of the Year REIACT President’s Award Operational Leadership Award Solicitor of the Year Residential Salesperson of the Year Commercial Agency of the Year Strata Management Agency of the Year Allhomes People’s Choice Auctioneer of the Year Residential Property Management Team of the Year Auctioneer of the Year Large Residential Agency of the Year
LJ Hooker Kaleen Independent Property Group Nth Little Bird Properties Select Property Group First Choice Strata Little Bird Properties LJ Hooker Woden | Weston Select Property Group Convey Legal Hayman Partners Capital Buyers Agency
Grady Strata & Facilities The Property Collective
Ray White Canberra Hayman Partners Convey Legal Hayman Partners
Onyx Property Agency Blackshaw Manuka
Helping you buy the right home, at the right price • Auction Bidding • Price Advice & Negotiation • Full Search/Off Market Purchases
14 CityNews September 3-9, 2026
citynews.com.au
ADVERTISING
Hall of Fame honour caps a career built on trust
F
or Jane Macken, induction into the REIACT Hall of Fame is a significant milestone in a real estate career spanning more than 25 years, a career built on hard work, strong relationships and an enduring enthusiasm for helping people achieve the best possible result from their property. Jane began her real estate career in Sydney before moving to Canberra more than 37 years ago. After spending time working with special-needs students, she returned to real estate and has now been selling Canberra property for more than 25 years. During that time, she has achieved numerous street and suburb sales records and accumulated an impressive list of industry accolades, including being named Residential Salesperson of the Year for three consecutive years, as well as receiving national recognition. Yet Jane says one of the achievements she values most is the loyalty of her clients. “A lot of my business is repeat or referral, and it makes me happy to work with clients, their friends and family members multiple times over the years,” she says. “I truly love what I do. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is incredibly humbling. This recognition makes all the hard work worthwhile and, most importantly, shows that my clients are happy with the results.” Jane attributes much of her success to understanding that no two clients or properties are the same. Listening carefully and tailoring the selling strategy to each client’s individual needs and aspirations has remained central to her approach throughout her career. She is also quick to share the recognition with those around her. “My PA Emma is amazing and I wouldn’t have achieved what I have without her. My team is incredible and I’m a very lucky woman,” Jane says. Her greatest support, she says, has been her husband David. “He has been my rock through the good times and the bad. He deserves this award as much as I do.” For Jane, the Hall of Fame honour is ultimately recognition of the relationships she has built along the way. With clients who return and recommend her, colleagues who share in the successes and family who have supported her, Jane deeply appreciates the connections she’s made throughout her incredible career. After more than 25 years, her enthusiasm for real estate remains unchanged: she still loves the work, the people and the satisfaction of delivering a result that matters to her clients. 6a, 5-7 Townshend Street, Phillip ACT 2607 23 Brierly Street, Weston ACT 2611 westoncreek.ljhooker.com.au
Jane Macken WINNER HALL OF FAME
LJ Hooker Woden | Weston
Jane Macken
Franchise Owner, Licensee, Licensed Agent ACT/NSW 0408 662 119 | (02) 6288 8888
jane.macken@ljhwodenweston.com.au
Ask the Experts
advertising feature
More than managing pain: helping Canberrans move, live and thrive When chronic pain, arthritis or debilitating fatigue begins to interfere with everyday life, the right expertise can help people regain confidence, movement and independence. For almost 50 years, Arthritis, Pain Support & Emerge ACT has supported the Canberra community with practical, personalised care for people living with musculoskeletal conditions, persistent pain, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, Long COVID and other energy-limiting conditions. At the heart of the organisation is CEO Rebecca Davey, who has led Arthritis ACT since 2014. With a nursing background and experience across health foundations, Rebecca has helped design and develop programs that respond to what people living with chronic conditions actually need, while also assisting participants to navigate disability supports and services. That philosophy is reflected in the organisation’s multidisciplinary team of physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, exercise scientists and allied health assistants. Services include physiotherapy, exercise physiology and hydrotherapy, alongside specialised classes such as Pilates, Tai Chi, strength and balance programs and small-group exercise. For people with hip or knee osteoarthritis, the GLA:D® program combines education with supervised exercise to build strength and confidence, while tailored pain-management strategies can help people prepare for, or potentially avoid, joint replacement. The organisation also offers hydrotherapy and a free Long COVID support program. The goal is not simply to manage a diagnosis. It is to help people move more comfortably, participate in everyday life and feel supported by professionals who understand the complexities of chronic conditions.
Your local building and renovation experts Bordeaux Construction & Management is a Queanbeyan-based building company delivering residential construction and renovation projects throughout the ACT and NSW. Whether you’re planning an extension, a new bathroom or kitchen, a full home renovation or a larger residential project, our experienced team can manage the entire process from concept through to completion. If you’re unsure where to start, Bordeaux can coordinate and manage the design and approval phase, working with designers, consultants, certifiers and relevant authorities to take your initial idea through approvals and into construction. Alternatively, if you already have completed designs and approvals in place, we can step in to manage the construction phase and bring those plans to life. Our experience ranges from minor renovations and home improvements through to extensive alterations, additions and complete home renova-
tions. We understand that working within an existing home requires careful planning, communication and consideration for how you and your family use the property throughout the works. Alongside our residential experience, Bordeaux has successfully delivered commercial and government projects throughout the ACT and regional NSW, bringing professional project management, established systems and high construction standards to every project. From the first idea or an existing set of plans through to the finished build, Bordeaux can manage your project every step of the way. Bordeaux Construction & Management 8 Aurora Place, Queanbeyan. Call 02 6299 4642 or visit bordeauxbcm.com.au
Arthritis ACT CEO Rebecca Davey. Visit arthritisact.org.au or call 1800 011 041 to enquire, book or learn more about their services. Arthritis ACT 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce. Call 1800 011 041 or visit arthritisact.org.au
DESIGN • CONSTRUCTION • PROJECT MANAGEMENT … BY BORDEAUX Residential - New Build, Extension, Renovation Commercial Industrial QUALITY Design & Construction WORK FOR OVER 40 Project Management YEARS! Joinery Workshop
ACT LICENSE NUMBER: 2012505 NSW LICENSE NUMBER: 282102C
• • • • • •
Showroom Hours: Mon-Fri: 9.00am to 4.00pm, Sat: 9.00am to 12pm, or by appointment
CALL 6299 4642 TODAY FOR AN OBLIGATION FREE QUOTE
8 Aurora Place, Queanbeyan 16 CityNews September 3-9, 2026
•
bordeauxbcm.com.au
BordeauxBCM
BordeauxBCM citynews.com.au
MEET OUR EXERCISE EXPERTS Holly Hazelwood – Exercise Physiologist
Blake Dean – Exercise Physiologist
Holly is a former sports journalist who believed so strongly in the power of exercise to heal and nurture that she undertook her 4 year degree in Exercise Physiology. Holly is be able to work with people directly to support them through their pain journey and regain independence and a joy for living again. Holly provides one on one and group exercise classes both on land and at our hydrotherapy centres to support people to gain freedom from chronic pain.
Blake has expertise in improving clients mobility and decreasing their pain through appropriate exercise. Blake delivers our ‘My Exercise’ program, targeting the relief of lower back and sciatic pain, shoulder and upper body concerns as well as leg, hip and ankle interventions – for those who do not qualify for physiotherapy-led GLAD programs. Blake provides individual & group exercise for younger people with a disability. Blake treats clients in-clinic or via our hydrotherapy program as well as attending your gym with you.
Sophie Bullock – Exercise Physiologist
Sarah Solano – Exercise Physiologist
Sophie has post graduate qualifications in hydrotherapy, and as a non-sports centred Exercise Physiologist, helps clients who struggle with engaging in exercise due to a lack of sports participation. Sophie’s goal is to improve clients health via our hydrotherapy program, gym instruction and in-home visits. Sophie also is known for her passion for working with children.
Sarah believes that exercise is the best medicine. She is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with her degree in exercise physiology and rehabilitation. Previously Sarah was a swim teacher, personal trainer and an allied health assistant in the hydrotherapy field.
Nick van Diemen – Physiotherapist
Natasha Elword – Exercise Scientist
Nick (they/them, he/him) has returned to Canberra after completing a Master’s in Physiotherapy at the University of Queensland. Their passion comes from a love of science and helping people. With eight years in disability support, Nick brings broad experience and enjoys working with clients across a wide range of needs.
Tash discovered her passion for exercise after completing her Certificate IV in Personal Training in 2015, later earning a Sport and Exercise Science degree from the University of Canberra. She joined Arthritis ACT in 2019 and now supports group classes, exercise programs and administration. Outside work, she enjoys family time, running, hiking and cooking.
Liam Barber – Exercise Physiologist
Nat & Grace – Allied Health Assistants
Liam has a passion for working with paediatric and mental health conditions, as well as supporting people to pursue a better quality of life. He has experience working across a wide range of musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiovascular conditions across all age groups.
Nat has recently completed studies as an Allied Health Assistant and has returned from a hiatus, during which she worked with us in administration, to provide more hands-on support. Grace is a student exercise physiologist who brings enthusiasm and care to supporting our clients to achieve their health and wellbeing goals.
CALL US ABOUT OUR FREE LONG COVID SUPPORT PROGRAM • HYDROTHERAPY NOW AVAILABLE
EXERCISE CLASSES AVAILABLE • Pilates • Tai Chi
• Strength & Balance • GLAD for Hip and Knee OA
• Specialised Small Group Exercise Classes
• GLA:D® Program for hip and knee osteoarthritis. • Education and supervised group sessions to build strength and confidence. • Pain management strategies to reduce medication use tailored support including preparation for or avoiding joint replacement.
ALSO ACCESS OUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS WHO HELP MAKE YOUR EVERY DAY EASIER ALL CLASSES & OFFICE: 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce
www.arthritisact.org.au | e: info@arthritisact.org.au
Enquire or book today
1800 011 041
Ask the Experts
advertising feature
Where customers can find designer and one-off pieces
Don’t wait for tooth pain to tell you something is wrong Tooth pain has an inconvenient habit of arriving when you least expect it. But the team at My Dentist Canberra says many dental problems begin long before anything hurts. From its Bruce clinic, My Dentist Canberra takes a prevention-first approach, using examinations and professional cleans to identify concerns early, when treatment may be simpler and less invasive. Check-ups can reveal tooth decay, gum disease, damaged fillings, cracked teeth and other changes that are easy to miss at home. One of the practice’s standout technologies is EMS AIRFLOW®, used as part of Guided Biofilm Therapy. Rather than relying only on traditional polishing, AIRFLOW® uses warm water, air and ultra-fine powder to gently remove plaque, harmful biofilm and surface staining. It can be especially useful for people with sensitive teeth, orthodontic appliances, implants or gum-health needs.
That focus on comfort extends across the practice. My Dentist Canberra provides family, cosmetic and emergency dentistry, with AHPRA-registered clinicians offering personalised treatment plans and explanations of options, costs and timeframes before treatment begins. For Canberra families, convenience matters. The Bruce practice offers appointments seven days a week, including weekend access for people who find weekday visits difficult. The message from the team is simple: do not use pain as your reminder to see a dentist. Preventive care can protect your teeth and gums, reduce the likelihood of dental emergencies and help you make informed decisions about your oral health. My Dentist Canberra 36/21 Thynne Street, Bruce. Call (02) 6225 2855 or visit mydentistcanberra.com.au
For more than 25 years, James Fullerton and Taylor Radnell have each worked across all stages of Canberra’s commercial furniture cycle – clearing workplaces of furniture they no longer need, finding new homes for pieces that still have years of useful life ahead of them, and even building new custom sit-stand desks to order. Each week, Ex-Government Furniture is out across Canberra assessing and removing surplus furniture from offices, government departments and businesses. Much of it is high-quality commercial furniture designed to last far longer than its first fit-out. “A lot of furniture is removed because an organisation is moving, changing its fit-out or simply no longer needs it – not because the furniture has reached the end of its life,” Taylor says. “Our first thought is always what can be reused and given another life.” That constant flow of removals keeps the Fyshwick showroom changing, with particularly large volumes coming through at the moment. Customers can find ergonomic office chairs, sit-stand desks, storage, Australianmade furniture, designer pieces and one-off finds. Decades of hands-on product knowledge help customers make sense of those choices. “Our job isn’t just to tell someone that a chair is good,” James says. “We can explain what the different adjustments do, how the furniture works and what the differences between products are, so customers can make an informed decision about what actually suits them.” It is the circular economy in practical terms – helping organisations deal with surplus furniture, keeping quality products in use and giving Canberra customers access to commercial furniture built to last. Ex-Government Furniture 26 Molonglo Mall, Fyshwick. Call 02 6280 6490 or visit exgovfurniture.com
The Future of
Dental Cleaning
is Here.
Say goodbye to traditional scraping! My Dentist Canberra has advanced Scale & Clean with EMS AIRFLOW® technology uses warm water, gentle air, and fine powder to give you:
Ex-Government Furniture co-owners Taylor Radnell, left, with Tilly, and James Fullerton.
Now only
$319
Normally $435 Children under 16
$230
Improved gum health with guided Biofilm Theraphy A deep, pain-free clean A fresh, polished feeling you’ll love
The appointment typically takes between 60 to 90 minutes to ensure thorough care.
Gentle stain removal for a brighter smile
This includes: Comprehensive examination Professional clean using EMS Airflow® technology Fluoride treatment Two small x-rays
Book your appointment online or call us
02 6225 2855 18 CityNews September 3-9, 2026
mydentistcanberra.com.au
BOOK NOW
reception@mydentistcanberra.com.au 36/21 Thynne St, Bruce, Canberra ACT - 2617 citynews.com.au
W RE K E N ITU EE RN Y W U F ER EV
EX-GOVERNMENT
FURNITURE
exgovfurniture.com
sales@exgovfurniture.com
6280 6490
26 Molonglo Mall, Fyshwick
“PRICES FOR EVERY BUDGET”
VISIT US INSTORE FOR THE LATEST
Ask the Experts
advertising feature
Supporting patients through complex and ongoing health challenges
Unit. Residents have access to doctors and allied health professionals, personalised assistance, freshly prepared meals, housekeeping, laundry, hairdressing, outings and a varied activities program. Beautiful gardens, walking paths, shared spaces and an onsite chapel contribute to Adria’s calm, homelike atmosphere. Its greatest strength, however, is its experienced team and commitment to protecting each resident’s choices, privacy, comfort and quality of life. For families navigating an important decision, Adria offers more than support. It offers reassurance that someone they love will be known, valued and cared for as an individual. To discover Adria’s way of life, visit adria.org.au or call 02 6288 0198.
Canberra Family Health Centre’s founder, Associate Professor Dr Maryse Badawy, is the principal practitioner at her Deakin clinic, where she manages the clinical responsibilities of a practitioner and oversees the day-to-day operations of the practice. “There is no small amount of joy to be had from daily interactions with patients,” she says. “I’ve had the privilege of rejoicing with my patients whilst sharing their happiness and successes, and crying with them when sharing their sadnesses and crises.” A Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine in the Discipline of Family Medicine, Dr Badawy also holds a Master in Family Medicine and a Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine to complement her Bachelor Medicine/Bachelor Surgery degree. She is also a Member of the Australasian Menopause Society. Dr Badawy says she is committed to providing a patient-centred approach by taking the time to listen to her patients, understanding their concerns to develop personalised treatment plans with one-hour appointments. “I believe in being thorough and taking the time to get to know my patients and their needs,” she says. “Trust is a key foundation and it is a privilege knowing you’re trusted and that patients can come to you. “At Canberra Family Health Centre, we treat the whole person and cater to their entire needs.” Canberra Family Health Centre is accepting new patients.
Adria Care 89 Fremantle Drive, Stirling. Call 02 6288 0198 or visit adria.org.au
Canberra Family Health Centre Peter Yorke Building, Suite 6, Level 3, 173 Strickland Crescent, Deakin. Call 5133 7112 or visit cfhc.com.au
At Adria, expert care feels like home Choosing retirement living or aged care is one of the most personal decisions a family can make. Beyond rooms and facilities, people want confidence that they or someone they love will feel safe, respected and at home. At Adria Village in Stirling, professional care is delivered with warmth, dignity and respect for every resident’s individuality. Established by Canberra and Queanbeyan’s Croatian community and officially opened in 1994, the not-for-profit village has grown into a welcoming, multicultural community for people from all backgrounds. Adria offers 36 two-bedroom independent living villas, each with a private courtyard and secure garage, for retirees seeking freedom, connection and peace of mind. Residents enjoy their own home and lifestyle while the village team handles maintenance and creates opportunities to socialise, stay active and belong. For those requiring greater support, Adria’s residential care home provides 42 rooms, including respite accommodation and a dedicated Special Care
Dr Maryse Badawy.
EXPERIENCED FEMALE GP IN CANBERRA INDIVIDUAL LIVING VILLAS & RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE ROOMS AVAILABLE Set amongst beautiful grounds, Adria Care in Stirling is a warm and welcoming community. Cultural diversity is celebrated providing care for Croatian and all other nationalities. We offer a range of activities to cater for all cultures and interests. Fostering individuality and independence, we offer care and support for residents to live comfortably and securely.
Adria Care offers: • 42 residential care single rooms with ensuite • 2 respite single rooms with special care with ensuite • 36 independent two bedroom villas including courtyard & garden
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Located in the heart of Canberra’s medical precinct in Deakin At Canberra Family Health Centre, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive, patient-focused healthcare for individuals and families. Located centrally in Deakin, our centre offers a wide range of medical services designed to meet your health needs at every stage of life.
Associate Professor Maryse Badawy MB/ BS Degree, FRACGP, FHKAM (Family Medicine), Grad Dip Fam Med, Master Family Medicine, Member Australasian Menopause Society National and International Family Medicine and Academic experience.
INITIAL ONE-HOUR APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE
Come & enjoy a peaceful and welcoming home-like atmosphere! Enquire about vacancies & tours today!
6288 0198 Email: admin@adria.org.au | 89 Fremantle Drive, Stirling, ACT 20 CityNews September 3-9, 2026
5133 7112 Suite 6, Level 3, Peter Yorke Building, 173 Strickland Crescent, Deakin ACT citynews.com.au
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
INSIDE
Six of the best in local and global thinking
COLIN STEELE
Festival spreads across city in unexpected ways By Helen
MUSA From its inception in 2017 under the name Contour556, named for the height above sea level of Lake Burley Griffin, the Canberra Art Biennial has been driven by place. Originally conceived by landscape architects Neil Hobbs and Karina Harris, it brought artists into direct conversation with the National Capital’s landscape, commissioning site-specific works that have drawn on sculpture, architecture, horticulture, recycling and contemporary art. Now in its sixth edition, the biennial has expanded far beyond its original lakeside focus. From September 11 to October 31, more than 50 Australian and international artists will present work across 20 venues and public spaces, many responding to Canberra’s gardens, lakes, buildings and pathways in a city that was itself designed as a landscape. Among the most intriguing locations this year is the Botanic Gardens, where Canberra artist Jac Bradley and Sydney artist Anna May Kirk have each developed new projects after extensive collaboration with gardens staff,
Artists Anna May Kirk, left, and Jac Bradley at the Botanic Gardens. Photo: James Hiscutt researchers and each other. Bradley says neither artist arrived with a fully formed concept. Instead, they spent days exploring the gardens before developing their proposals. For Bradley, whose childhood
memories include visits to the rainforest gully, the experience became a deeply personal investigation of place and memory. A natural magpie, she collected things with her two-year-old son Rory as they
walked around the gardens, ending up with a wildly eclectic assortment of found objects including an old face washer, a Jatz cracker, sticks, stones and a cupcake. After discussions with gardens’ staff, Bradley cast the objects in bronze at Nick Shrank’s foundry in Carwoola and incorporated them into two separate sculptural benches. Of the two, the curved bench, built with the assistance of her father Kevin Bradley at Thor’s Hammer in Fyshwick, fits precisely into a wall in the rainforest gully, embedding traces of the landscape and its visitors into the work itself. “People won’t sit on the objects,” Bradley says. “They’ll sit alongside them.” Alas, these artworks will not stay there forever. Just like the megafauna installed recently, they’ll move on. Kirk’s project also draws inspiration from the Botanic Gardens, but from a scientific perspective. Installed in the Banksia Garden, her large seed-like sculptural forms explore seed preservation and climate resilience through a collaboration with the Botanic Gardens and the National Seed Bank, and with public art company Urban Art Projects. The resulting large-scale bronze and aluminium sculptures are modelled on native millet seeds. Some of the sculptures are waist-high and to Kirk, there’s a nice irony in the fact that although bronze is associated with permanency, “it is a living metal”. Plants selected by garden staff will be
placed inside the works and installed in the garden. Kirk likes to work with recycled materials such as waste glass and plastic, but in this instance she has chosen bronze, which though it has a reputation for permanence, is to her a living material. The sculptures relate to Kirk’s participation in a seed deposit at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in the Arctic during 2025 under the Christine and Stephen Procter Fellowship through the ANU School of Art & Design. While the Botanic Gardens projects highlight the Biennial’s engagement with landscape and science, the festival spreads across the city in unexpected ways. Opening weekend will see Canberra’s first art fair at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra, ARI BANAL(E), bringing together Artist Run Initiatives (ARI) from six independent galleries from Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. Other highlights include Takeaway: Tales from the Flavour Superhighway at Canberra Contemporary; a major new installation by Golden Lion winner Archie Moore at Reconciliation Place; Mia Boe’s glass commission The Aboriginal Robot; Jason Phu’s Dreams of a cicada, waking in the summer heat at ANCA Gallery; and The Landscapes of Andrew Sayers at Barton ArtBox. The Canberra Art Biennial, September 11-October 31. Entry is free. Information at canberraartbiennial.com
COMEDY / Multiple Skit-osis – The Relapse Skit-osis is playing it for the laughs By Helen Musa
Some of Canberra’s funniest actors, comedians and musical theatre performers are coming together for the second instalment of the revue Multiple Skit-osis, this year titled Multiple Skit-osis – The Relapse. While the word “relapse” has unfunny connotations for people living with MS, the show is designed first and foremost to make audiences laugh. However, behind the comedy is a serious purpose, raising awareness and funds for people living with multiple sclerosis. For 13-year-old Rosie Welling, a Year 7 student at Radford College and the brains behind the revue, the cause is particularly personal. Her mother Kath lives with MS, and Rosie’s aim is to help people understand what it is like to live with MS and ensure those affected know there is a community A scene from last year’s show with Rosie Welling behind them. under the table. Photo: Linus Wong Canberra’s theatre community has rallied Canberra’s theatre community has provided in giving strongly around the cause, with producer and playwright Kirsty Budding providing support and much up their time to be part of her show. Her commitment to raising awareness and funds of the script for last year’s show, while in 2026, Karen Vickery and Jarrad West have found room for the revue for people living with MS has also been recognised through a nomination for an Order of Australia Student in ACT Hub’s busy schedule. Citizenship Award; she will find out later this year Several performers are returning, alongside new whether she has been successful. additions from Canberra’s stand-up comedy, acting At the heart of Multiple Skit-osis – The Relapse is the and musical theatre scenes. Rosie’s only brief to the simple idea that laughter can bring people together. performers has been: “keep it under five minutes and Twenty performers are giving their time, the theatre make it happy and funny.” community is getting behind them and audiences will The formula seemed to work last year, with audiences responding with laughter and applause, and be supporting the cause by turning up. the response to this year’s call-out has been equally Multiple Skit-osis – The Relapse, September 12, ACT Hub, encouraging. Causeway Hall, Kingston. Bookings acthub.com.au Rosie says she is grateful for all the support that citynews.com.au
CityNews September 3-9, 2026 21
STREAMING
Mini-drama does justice to air tragedy By Nick
OVERALL
Pianist Lucas Krupiński… Llewellyn Hall, September 12. Photo: Peter Hislop
Crafting quality dramatised television that does justice to a tragic true story is no easy feat. The right balance between quality story telling while remaining accurate and sensitive to the real-life impacts can be rare to see. Netflix’s new drama series, The Bombing of Pan Am 103, thankfully strikes that balance. Based on the event, which came to be the UK’s deadliest terror attack, this new mini-series has drawn in millions of viewers and for good reason. The infamous disaster unfolded on December 21, 1988, when a passenger aircraft exploded over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. Around 38 minutes after takeoff a device hidden inside a suitcase detonated in the forward cargo hold. The Boeing 747 broke apart with debris falling across the town. Two-hundred-and-seventy people were tragically killed in the attack, including 11 residents of Lockerbie. Almost 40 years since the day 103 went down, a new drama series looks to tell the story of how it happened and the devastating flow-on effects. This six-part series produced by the BBC not only recounts the crash and how it impacted the tiny Scottish community, but also the elusive hunt that followed for those responsible. It’s well-produced, well-acted television that thrills while also remaining sensitive to the true story at hand and is one of the finest drama mini-series of its kind since 2019’s Chernobyl.
ARTS IN THE CITY
By Helen Musa
The Bombing of Pan Am 103… well-acted television that thrills while also remaining sensitive to the true story. AMAZON Prime Video is on a hot streak with young adult drama, just launching another hit on their platform called Sterling Point. This one follows 17-year-old Annie Jacobson (Ella Rubin), a New York teen trying to figure out her life while living with her twin brother and adoptive father. Life gets turned unexpectedly on its head though when their estranged grandfather suddenly dies and leaves them one hell of an inheritance: an entire island in Canada. There Annie not only finds a whole new group of friends but a whole new lease on life. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right? There’s always a catch. Annie soon finds her father is strangely hesitant about the twins moving and is afraid to let on why, setting the stage for a wealth of secrets that soon begin to unravel. Fans who loved The Summer I Turned Pretty (also a hit on Prime Video) will find similar vibes here.
From left, Georgie Parker as Rose, Hugo Weaving as Billy and Heather Mitchell as Dani in the comedy-drama Dalliance.
It’s a show that ticks all the teen drama boxes. In doing so there’s not much left for those who don’t fit firmly in the age bracket though. MEANWHILE Paramount Plus is trying to win over viewers with quite the opposite. Their new series Dalliance also features an ensemble of friends trying to navigate shifting relationships. The difference? This group are all in their sixties. It’s a demographic audiences see way less of in their streaming diet but a few recent hits are turning that around. Earlier this year Netflix launched The Boroughs, a sci-fi series about a group of retirees trying to solve a cosmic mystery. Essentially Stranger Things, but with seniors. Only Murders In The Building (on Disney Plus) also features a cast of characters in their sixties trying to crack open crime cases.
Dalliance, which features six episodes and starts streaming this week, takes that inspiration and plugs it into a new comedy-drama script set in and around Sydney. It stars Hugo Weaving as Billy, a retired and weary cameraman who believes his life is well past its peak. That is until one fateful harbour ferry trip in which he meets Dani (Heather Mitchell) a charismatic restaurateur that once again sets his soul alight. The problem? Billy has been happily married for 40 years. The sparks that emerge between the two go on to ignite a drama that puts relationships, friendships and families to the test. A very early twist in the story will help hook viewers who may otherwise be undecided. Much like the aspirations of its main characters, here’s hoping the story doesn’t get old quickly.
Canberra Theatre Centre and Soft Tread Enterprises present
Written by and starring Jonathan Biggins “Hiarliously funny, astute, inspiring show.”
Limlight Magazine
“A masterclass in biographical theatre.”
ArtsHub 22 CityNews September 3-9, 2026
Star to play with local orchestra Star Polish pianist Lucas Krupiński will perform Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2, alongside Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, Titan, conducted by The National Capital Orchestra’s artistic director Louis Sharpe in a concert titled Echoes of Humanity. Llewellyn Hall, September 12. The Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase tour features some of the annual event’s top acts on stage for two hours of solid laughter, provided by a line-up of veteran favourites and talents. The Playhouse, September 12. The Killer Queen Experience, which rose from a local Brisbane-based Queen cover band to become an international touring show, is heading to The B at The Q, Queanbeyan, September 12. John Bell will discuss his new book, Living Shakespeare, with Kate Flaherty, drawing on a lifetime of experience to explore Shakespeare’s stories, characters and questions about them, including the challenges of casting Hamlet and the Bard’s changing relationship with time. ANU Meet the Author, Lowitja O’Donoghue Cultural Centre Cinema, ANU, September 23. Luminescence Chamber Singers’ Particles of Light takes inspiration from its own name to explore the luminous qualities of six voices. The program features world premieres by Andree Greenwell, Patrick Baker and Frank Nuyts, alongside works by Elena KatsChernin, Andrew Ford, David Lang and Orlande de Lassus. The Vault, Fyshwick, September 11. Geoff’s Poetry at Smith’s Alternative will next feature Brendan Ryan, from Geelong, and Nicola Bowery, from Braidwood, on September 7. Featherfall, a poetry collaboration by Hazel Hall and Moya Pacey, will be launched there by Judith Nangala Crispin on September 10. Choristers of Flight! brings together Robyn Mellor, Polifemy women’s vocal ensemble and BlockSounds recorders for a spring concert of 16th century madrigals and music inspired by birds. This time Polifemy is joined by a group of male singers to create a musical chorus. Wesley Uniting Church, September 6. Ensemble Offspring celebrates Steve Reich’s 90th birthday with Reich: Rejoice: Repeat, a retrospective of the composer’s hypnotic rhythmic grooves and revolutionary phasing techniques. The program includes Clapping Music, performed by percussionists Claire Edwardes and Niki Johnson, a quartet and guest pianist Gabi Sultana from Malta. The Street Theatre, September 13. citynews.com.au
BOOK REVIEWS
Six of the best books in global political thinking Six books, whose authors featured recently in the Australian National University Meet the Author series, cover a wide range of important issues in Australian and global politics. Most reflect the increasingly fragile framework of democracy. Paul Kelly’s The Twilight of Exceptionalism – The Liberal and Conservative Era 2013-22 (Melbourne University Press, $59.99) concludes a magisterial trilogy on modern Australian politics, following on from Comprising – The March of Patriots (2009) and Triumph and Demise (2014). The latest volume, comprising nearly 700 pages of very readable text, incorporates much new material and interviews with key individuals, including with former prime ministers Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison. Kelly documents how “three temperamentally and ideologically divergent prime ministers” faced the challenges of economic performance, climate change, cultural polarisation, technological change and geo-strategic threats. He concludes this Liberal decade was essentially one of under-performance by the Coalition in meeting the nation’s challenges, glimpses of which have also recently emerged for Labor. JOSHUA Black also looks back at how the political story has been told in Performance
replacing blue-collar male workers and finally the volatile global political landscape. Megalogenis argues that these factors, along with growing societal inequalities, are dramatically changing the electoral status quo, so that we are moving to a multi-party system which could mean more minority governments at the national level in the future.
Politics: Australian politicians and the stories they tell (NewSouth, $44.99) since the 1970s. Black documents and analyses the personal political narrative, as revealed in political memoirs, autobiographies, documentaries, media coverage, personal papers and original interviews. He comprehensively reveals the power and frailties of key individuals in the last half-century of Australian politics as told through their personal narratives. JAMES Walter and Carolyn Holbrook in Australia Fair? Democracy, Bureaucracy and the Making of Modern Australia (Melbourne University Press, $39.99) provides another retrospective, this time since World War II, reflecting, in part, that policies rather than personalities change Australia. They chart the changing approaches in
Australia to three key policy issues, namely immigration, indigenous affairs and housing, documenting how social change, ideological differences and power dynamics over the decades have impacted Australia’s political landscape and society. The authors also examine how politicians received advice on these issues, how it was enacted as well as the changing nature of that advice. An analysis with much relevance to current debates. GEORGE Megalogenis in Three Shocks – Who We Are Becoming in the 21st Century (Penguin, $36.99) also examines three key issues, namely population changes in migration, Megalogenis noting that more than half the population today is either born overseas or has at least one migrant parent; the feminisation of the workforce, with professional women being the largest sector
THE volatile geopolitical global landscape is comprehensively detailed in Hugh White’s Hard New World – Australia’s Post-American Future (Black Inc $36.99), which realistically analyses Australia’s place in a world turned upside down by Donald Trump’s erratic diplomatic decisions on the one hand and China’s increasing trading and military power on the other. White concludes that Australian complacency in relying on the American alliance, including AUKUS, is no longer an option. White criticises both main political parties for abdicating their responsibility to confront American foreign policy and defence changes impacting on global geopolitical instability. TRUMP is a key figure in John Keane’s Demagogues and Despots: Democracies on the Brink (NewSouth $32.99), which covers countries such as Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as those run by popularly
elected “demagogues”, such as Erdoğan, Netanyahu and Trump. Keane argues the new despotism, which operates a pseudo-democratic type of government, is achieved by winning or enforcing public loyalty through government handouts, election-rigging, legal enforcement, media manipulation and focused misinformation distributed through social and commercial media. The author reflects on the global weariness of the electorate in the face of growing inequalities with the result that voters feel the major parties are increasingly self-focused and that democracy is no longer working for individuals. Keane and Megalogenis, in their ANU conversations, reflected on the current decline in polling for the two main parties, with voters emotionally moving further to the right, such as One Nation, or to the left, or centre left with the Greens and independents. Keane ended with a few green shoots of optimism on how to fix democracy in a fractured world, noting especially that more equitable economies are crucial, for a thriving civil society.
OPEN THURSDAY - MONDAY 10AM - 4PM OPEN FATHER’S DAY 257 Bannaby Road, Taralga NSW 90 minutes from Canberra
0419 014 540 citynews.com.au
CityNews September 3-9, 2026 23
FishCo
Fresh is Best! OPEN 7 DAYS Except Public Hols FRESH Fish & Seafood
Excellent choice Free cleaning!
fishco.com.au
6239 6415 19 Dalby St Fyshwick
WE UPHOLSTER COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL FURNITURE
- RE-UPHOLSTERY & REPAIRS - FABRIC PROTECTION - WALL UPHOLSTERY BESPOKE - CHAIRS MANUFACTU RING - OTTOMANS SERVICE - SOFAS - BED HEADS TWINSTITCHUPHOLSTERY.COM.AU twinstitch.upholstery
Like us on Facebook
Call or email us today! 0422 073 665 61813511 toni@twinstitchupholstery.com.au
TREASURE YOUR FAMILY MEMORIES
DINING / Urban Bar and Grill, Queanbeyan
Straightforward menu and food Restaurants come and restaurants go at a rapid rate in Canberra and surrounding areas. Recently, for example, we’ve seen the closure of special spots such as Peonee, Portia’s Place, Compa, &Sando, Onzieme, Muk Bar and Locale Pizzeria. Also bidding us farewell is Saint Malo, which will no longer operate as a restaurant but an event venue and catering service. Alia Bar will also no longer operate as a restaurant. Rumours of other closures abound. It’s mind boggling. Some, but not all, closures have been driven by local light rail disruptions. Nearby Queanbeyan is also feeling construction pain with Monaro Street still undergoing major infrastructure works, with many more months still to go. Feeling the pinch, but hanging in there, is Urban Bar and Grill, on the main drag. A friend and I happened to be in Queanbeyan and stopped by for lunch to lend a bit of support. Urban Bar and Grill has been open for more than two years and it offers a straightforward menu, specialising in steaks off the grill, burgers, and main meals with standard options such as schnitzel, parmigiana, pizza, and fish and chips. The bar offering is extensive, and we treated ourselves to cocktails. My Cuban Mojito was well executed with a refreshing balance of white rum, sweet cane sugar, tart lime, mint and soda ($18). My friend’s bitter-sweet Negroni was equally well executed ($18). Three mocktails are on the menu ($13 or $14). Lunch began with plump tempura prawns, light and crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside ($15 for six pieces). We dipped them into a sweet chilli sauce. For my main, I ordered herb spiced and marinated lamb cutlets, tender and cooked
Tempura prawns… with a sweet chilli sauce. Photos: Wendy Johnson
Marinated lamb cutlets… with mashed potatoes and a medley of steamed vegetables.
medium rare, just as I ordered. Cooked on the grill, the cutlets featured a welcoming smoky, savoury element ($32). The two cutlets arrived with mashed potatoes (not the best I’ve had) and a colourful medley of steamed vegetables, including broccoli, zucchini, green, red and yellow capsicum and carrots. I appreciated the combination of textures and flavours. My barbecue sauce was as tangy as promised. My friend’s scotch fillet (300 grams, $42) was also cooked to order. At Urban Bar and Grill, diners choose two sides and a sauce (from six
available). This dish came with the same medley of steamed vegetables I enjoyed. For dessert we shared a super generous, house-made crème brûlée, featuring a rich and creamy baked custard but missing the all-important “crack” on the thin layer of caramelised sugar on top ($14). Urban Bar and Grill’s wine list is acceptable and reasonably priced. We dined with a Reschke R Series Pinot Gris (2025) from the Limestone Coast ($42).
WINE / dreams
Bad dream (liver), good dream (foie de veau) It is usually boring when people share with you a dream that they recently experienced.
CONVERSION SERVICE – VINYL, SLIDES & ALL VIDEOS TO DIGITAL OPEN 7 DAYS • 6293 4677 songland.com.au Cooleman Court, Weston Creek
Fathers, Finals, Food: we can help with one
24 CityNews September 3-9, 2026
Prof Jim Davies writing for Scientific American says these are the reasons for the boredom induced in others, to you it might be fascinating, but it’s generally very ordinary. “We tend to think of dreams as being really weird, but in truth, about 80 per cent of dreams depict ordinary situations.” he writes. “We’re just more likely to remember and talk about the strange ones. Information we do not understand can often rouse our curiosity, particularly in the presence of strong emotion. “Just like someone having a psychotic experience, the emotional pull of dreams makes even the strangest incongruities seem meaningful and worthy of discussion and interpretation.” But at the risk of being boring, I want to talk about my liver dreams. Not the fact that wine consumption is very likely to be damaging my liver. Put simply, as the body cannot store alcohol, it must metabolise it at once. When large amounts of ethanol hit the liver, it damages the liver cells. Boom, long-term damage ensues if consumption levels remain high and the liver’s repair mechanisms are not given time to kick in: they
“As a schoolboy I’d never have imagined that a happy food dream would feature the hated liver… and wine”. Photo: Cottonbro call it the liver because without it you’d die. But my dream discussion intertwines unhappy schoolboy experiences with happy wine and food memories rather than aspects of anatomy. At the primary school I attended near where I lived as a child, in Tooting, London, they made us sit in front of our school dinner until we had finished it, every last morsel, or get the strap. When they served liver and bacon, I knew
that the strap was forthcoming. My strangely oft-repeated nightmare is of eternally sitting in front of a plate of congealing hard, overcooked English liver, tears falling and never being able to leave the table, ever. Strangely, even though the nightmare liver is decidedly cold and curling, it seems to feature when I am sleeping in an overheated room. On the other hand, a recurring happy dream is centred on the bicycle trip I undertook with a friend in the Loire Valley where in the hotel where we stayed in the charming town of Blois, I ate a superb meal of thinly sliced liver dipped in breadcrumbs and cooked with butter. This was foie de veau, or calf’s liver, frite or fried. With this dish we ordered a Sancerre pinot noir, 2010. Although famous for sauvignon blanc, Sancerre also produces lively pinot noir. The earthiness of the wine and the bright acidity went extremely well with the rich slightly metallic taste of the foie de veau. As a schoolboy I’d never have imagined that a happy food dream would feature the hated liver. The dream also features an almost effortless bicycle ride, as if riding on a cloud, to reach the hotel restaurant that served food on traditional checked tablecloths. The effort in the dream relates not at all to the actual effort we put in when cycling 50 or 60 kilometres a day. But that’s the beauty of dreams. Prof Davies is probably right: most people don’t enjoy hearing about other people’s dreams. But if mine encourages just one reader to swap memories of overcooked school liver for foie de veau and a glass of Sancerre pinot noir, then perhaps the risk of boredom was worth the effort. citynews.com.au
HOROSCOPE Your week in the stars By Joanne Madeline Moore
September 7-13, 2026
PUZZLES
FEATURE
General knowledge crossword No. 1078 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Impatient Rams are keen to share information and exchange ideas with family, friends and colleagues, but Mercury opposes Neptune (in your sign) which confuses communication. So slow down and take the time to listen carefully, absorb information, double-check details, and then respond with kindness and compassion. Friday’s New Moon is fabulous for powering through paperwork, updating your work routine or tackling a new exercise program.
9 10 11 12
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
Close relationships and joint ventures are set to improve, as Venus transits into your partnership zone on Thursday. But the nebulous Mercury/Neptune opposition could temporarily scramble your inner compass and blow you off course, especially involving your job, health or daily routine. You need to dream inspiring dreams and set long-term goals… and then draw up a practical plan to follow. Daydreaming will only get you halfway there!
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
13
14
15
16
19
17
18
20 21
Tinned tuna is a lunchbox staple for many people.
22
Gregarious Gemini – you love to chat, converse and communicate about your hopes, dreams and plans for the future. However, sometimes you can confuse talking about something with actually doing it! If you think things through and then act with passion and purpose, the week will go well. But if you don’t walk your talk, then expect delays, disappointments and uncertainty involving family, friends and/or colleagues (especially on Friday and Saturday).
23 24 25
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
On Friday, there’s a New Moon in earthy Virgo, in your communication and education zones. Then Saturday looks tricky, when Neptune stirs up confusion, secrets and dramas, especially involving work or family matters. Aim to speak clearly, check details often, and tell your nearest and dearest how much you love them. Be inspired by fellow Cancerian, His Holiness the Dalai Lama: “A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation of your life.”
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
Are you making the most of Jupiter jumping through your sign? The planet of good fortune is transiting through Leo for another 10 months. And then it won’t be back again for 11 years. So don’t rest on your laurels, Lions! It’s time to turn dynamic opportunities into productive, prosperous projects. Ultimately, it’s up to you. Friday’s New Moon signals a fresh financial chapter. On Saturday, make sure you communicate clearly and concisely.
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
It’s your annual New Moon in Virgo, so it’s a good week to plan, organise, clean, tidy, declutter and detox. Plus, it’s also the perfect time to update your wardrobe, get a new hairstyle or launch a personal project. But nebulous Neptune opposes Mercury (your ruling planet) on Friday and Saturday, so beware dubious information and fake news. Your motto for the moment? Be patient, do your research, and look to the future with a flexible long-term plan.
Down
1 Which trousers are worn in hot weather? (6) 8 What is a small box for holding tea, coffee, etc? (8) 9 To grasp suddenly, is to do what? (6) 10 Which train runs between Melbourne and Adelaide? (8) 11 What do we call the climatic event that rapidly warms the Pacific Ocean surface? (2,4) 12 Name the third Gospel in the New Testament. (4) 13 What are long overland journeys? (5) 16 What do staircases consist of? (5) 19 To be chilly, is to be what? (4) 21 What is exertion of power? (6) 22 What do we call those who knead the body? (8) 23 What are standards of perfection? (6) 24 Name a pale, bluish-purple colour. (8) 25 To slip by, is to do what? (6)
2 Name an Australian pioneer aviator, Bert ... (7) 3 To reconsider, is to do what? (7) 4 What is a place where instruction is given? (6) 5 What are daily records of one’s experiences? (7) 6 Name a junior member of an ambassador’s staff. (7) 7 Which structures span rivers? (7) 13 Which small fingercap is used in sewing? (7) 14 To be hard to express, is to be what? (7) 15 Which covered frames are used as partitions? (7) 17 Name a lustrous silk fabric. (7) 18 What are temporary releases of prisoners? (7) 20 To long for, or crave, is to do what? (6)
FREE PUZZLES EVERY DAY AT citynews.com.au
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
With Mercury and Venus both visiting your sign this week, you’ll find confidence and charm are a winning combination. It’s also a wonderful time to boost your self-esteem with a physical makeover, tap into your latent talents, and believe in yourself. Even when other people disagree with you and the going gets tough! So, your motto for the moment is from fellow Libran, Olivia Newton-John: “When things go wrong… focus on the positive things in your life.”
Solution next edition
Across
Sudoku medium No. 426
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
Friday’s New Moon heralds a welcome job offer or a fresh career opportunity. But the Mercury/Neptune opposition stirs up your friendship zone, so a close friend could frustrate you or an acquaintance could give you some confusing information. Avoid the temptation to jump to hasty, half-baked conclusions. Try to stay grounded, Sagittarius. Friday is fabulous for group projects, socialising with good friends and having powerful travel experiences.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
Resist the temptation to retreat inwards (and be moody and mysterious) to cover up your emotional insecurities. Clear and honest communication (with yourself and others) will get you a lot further than cranky Capricorn behaviour! Are you overdue for some creature comforts and a touch of luxe? Indulgent Venus slides into your hopes-and-wishes zone on Thursday. So, raid your piggy bank and treat yourself to a fancy restaurant meal or some indulgent body pampering.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
citynews.com.au
Solutions – August 27 edition B A D I S B U R S E R E A R I D D L E Z V C O L A N D E R M O L P A L A C E R N I C E B O U N D R C V L B O S E P T U M R E N E G E O L A A M O M A N D A R I N T P A S M D A H L I A W R N O T R O U G H C O U O K A Y E D Y S E X P I R I N G
Sudoku hard No. 425
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2026
Solution next edition
Crossword No. 1077
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
Neptune (your ruler) opposes Mercury, which encourages daydreaming. However, if you daydream the week away then you’ll just end up feeling dazed and confused. Channel your creative energy into relationships and joint ventures. You’re keen to pursue a particular course of action but is a loved one on the same page? Take the time to double-check, otherwise you could find you are veering off in different directions. Clear communication is the key.
Tinned tuna is cheap, convenient and nutritious, but what about the mercury? LAUREN BALL and EMILY BURCH explain how much is safe to eat. Tinned tuna is a lunchbox staple for many people. It’s affordable, high in protein and doesn’t need cooking, making it a nutritious and convenient option for busy days. But if you’re eating tuna most days, you might have wondered whether it’s possible to have too much. The concern usually comes down to mercury. Mercury can be harmful in high amounts, particularly during pregnancy and early childhood. But the amount of mercury in seafood varies considerably between species – and that’s where much of the confusion begins. For most Australians, the evidence on tinned tuna is reassuring. Let’s unpack this.
Why does tuna contain mercury?
Zealand (FSANZ) uses international safety guidelines to estimate how much mercury people can consume over time without increasing health risks. This limit is called the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). For most people, the PTWI is 3.3 micrograms (µg) per kilogram of body weight per week. To put this into perspective, a person weighing 70kg would have a PTWI of about 231µg of mercury per week. Limited research has specifically examined mercury concentrations in canned tuna products sold in Australia. So evidence from international studies is often used to indicate expected mercury concentrations. But levels may vary between countries, species and products. A 2025 Spanish study analysed 60 cans of tuna and found an average mercury concentration of 0.138mg/kg. Based on these findings, a small 95g can of tuna could contain about 13µg of mercury. For a person of 70kg, this means: • one can of tuna per week may provide roughly 13µg of mercury, or less than 6% of the recommended weekly limit • one can of tuna every day for a week may provide about 92µg of mercury per week, or approximately one third (40 per cent) of the recommended weekly limit. This means two to three cans of tuna a week, which is what you’d use to make a week’s worth of tuna sandwiches, is unlikely to be a concern.
Is all tuna the same?
The bottom line
Mercury is a naturally occurring element in the environment. It enters rivers and oceans through natural processes, such as volcanic activity and weathering of rocks, as well as from some industrial activities. In water, bacteria convert mercury into a form called methylmercury. Fish absorb it from the water and food they eat. When larger fish eat smaller fish, the mercury builds up inside them over time. Because bigger fish usually live longer, they often contain more mercury than smaller fish. This isn’t unique to tuna. Large fish such as shark (flake), swordfish and some marlin can also contain higher mercury levels because they are larger predatory fish.
Mighty Mars is activating your travel, adventure and higher education zones, so it’s a good time to be an enthusiastic student of life as you explore and experiment. With the New Moon lighting up your hopes, dreams and wishes zones, it’s also time to grab opportunities with both hands and make some bold, brave moves. Your motto for the moment is from writer (and birthday great) D H Lawrence: “I want to live my life so that my nights are not full of regrets.”
The New Moon activates your intimacy and intrigue zones, so it’s a good week to get up close and personal with someone special. And some adventurous single Aquarians could meet someone new. Plus, get your creative juices flowing in imaginative fresh directions, focus your busy mind, and sharpen your cerebral talents. It’s also the perfect time to analyse, study, research and dig deep as you uncover a mystery or solve a perplexing problem (or two).
Can you eat too much tinned tuna?
No. Most tinned tuna sold in Australia comes from smaller tuna species, such as skipjack and yellowfin. Because these are generally younger and smaller than the species commonly sold as fresh tuna steaks, they typically contain much lower levels of mercury. This is why health advice distinguishes between tinned tuna and larger predatory fish.
How much mercury is safe to eat? Food Standards Australia New
Tinned tuna is a nutritious, affordable and convenient source of protein. For most Australians, eating tinned tuna regularly, even every day, is unlikely to result in unsafe mercury exposure. Lauren Ball, professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland and Emily Burch, accredited practising dietitian and lecturer, Southern Cross University. Republished from The Conversation. CityNews September 3-9, 2026 25
Chris’ Trees • Tree removal • Selective pruning • Hedge lowering • Hedge trimming • Gutter cleaning
GARDENING
Quote range $200 to $600*
‘Brutal elegance’ MAXIMUM IMPACT!
Text or call 0468 695 561 Email cgsact@gmail.com Find me on gumtree.com.au
* $600 day rate (1 x clean shaven tree surgeon)
Lic # 1993 14963
PLUMBING GAS FITTING & DRAINAGE • No job is to small • Provide fast reliable service • Clear Blocked Drains | Hot water Installations & Repairs • Service & Install all Gas Appliances • All Plumbing & Gas Services • New Homes & Renovations • We care about our customers • We get it fixed right the first time
A Chinese Toon Tree… its spring growth appears in the most flamboyant pink.
Toon tree’s in the pink for spring By Jackie Warburton
30 Years Servicing Canberra
Competitive prices – No surprise fees
PAT MORELLA | 0412 628 538
• Complete yard makeovers • Decking and pergolas • Landscaping design and construction • Lawn installation and garden beds • Paving, edging and concreting • Retaining walls • Mini excavation CONTACTS
0437650099 dusttolawn.com.au contact@dusttolawn.com.au
Monarch Window Cleaning
does it attract bees and butterflies, but it needs minimal care when established.
The Chinese Toon Tree (Cedrella sinensis) is an ordinary looking deciduous tree most of the year, but in spring the new growth that appears is the most flamboyant pink. The leaves turn pink to green in the growing period then, in autumn, they turn a golden, butter yellow that’s just as spectacular. Its thin vertical branches can grow up to eight metres and can be used as a terrific backdrop tree, where garden space will allow. They grow best in moist soils and full sun. They’re frost tolerant and drought hardly once established. With age they can sucker to about four metres wide and form a thicket. Plant away from paths or building structures to give them room to put on a show. The suckering can be contained by removing young shoots and trimming the height in winter if you want to grow a small tree. Mine is about three metres tall and 10 years old. It’s been slow growing and hasn’t suckered over those years.
Arctotis Sunset… a great plant for a dry space in the garden. Photo: Jackie Warburton The leaves are edible and used as an onion-flavoured vegetable in Chinese cooking. LOROPETALUM shrubs have become popular over the last few years – and rightly so. They are tough, big or small and their lovely deep purple foliage is a strong contrast when planted in a garden with lots of evergreens. The Loropetalum is from the Asian woodlands and can be placed well in a themed oriental garden or
30 YEARS. 2,860 GARDENS. ONE TRUSTED NAME.
250
Average 3 BR Home From $ Free Flyscreen & Tracks Clean
COMMERCIAL CLEANING QUOTES AVAILABLE 0407 263 812 / 6259 3200 monarchservices@live.com.au New Website Now Live!
To know more & book instantly (Scan the QR Code) 26 CityNews September 3-9, 2026
Loropetalum Plum Gorgeous… not only do they attract bees and butterflies they need minimal care.
Canberra’s Award-Winning Landscape Design & Construction Team Call now for your free, no-obligation quote. ✓ 14 Landscaping Awards ✓ Free Quotes • Landscape design • Pools • Decks • Pergolas • Retaining walls • Garden transformations
02 6297 9040 dimensiongardenscape.com.au enquiries@dimensiongardenscape.com.au »» Servicing Canberra, Queanbeyan & surrounding regions ««
even a cottage garden. Its common name is Chinese fringe flower, and is a cousin of witch hazel. It’s a versatile plant for hedging, clipping and shaping. If grown into a large shrub, it can get up to two metres tall with the bonus of being an evergreen that provides structure in a winter garden. Loropetalum were only originally available in the white flowering and green foliage form. Along came Loropetalum Plum Gorgeous and its popularity exploded. Not only
FLOWERING now is the Arctotis Silver Dust series, which is a great plant for a dry space in the garden. There’s my favourite, called Sunset, which is a beautiful pink, but there are many others such as Glow, a lovely orange, or yellow Sunshine. They can grow to a metre wide (no pruning is required) and have lovely grey foliage. They’re a cousin of the gazania, but do not self-seed. Grown in the right spot, in a sunny area or rockery garden, they’ll thrive and flower for many months. And the more deadheading, the more flowers will come. They also grow well with Sea Lavender (Limonium perezii). Its everlasting, deep-purple flowers stand well above the foliage and fade to white with age. Its leaves are leathery and tough. It is drought tolerant, once established, but can be fickle to grow in Canberra winters. However, in a sheltered spot, it will grow for many years though it doesn’t like root disturbance nor too much water. It would survive very well in dry shade.
BATHROOM RENOVATION
LOCAL TILING ACT • Bathroom, Toilet & Laundry Renovation • All Professional Tradies • All Suburbs OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE CONTACT US FOR YOUR QUOTE 0475 000 528 | localtilingact@hotmail.com citynews.com.au
GARDENING
Getting the blues can be hard Now that spring has arrived, it is time to get any poppy seeds that were not sown in autumn into the ground. Poppy seeds are very small and can be difficult to sow, but mixing them with sand before casting them on to bare soil will help distribute them evenly. Water gently after sowing. The sand will also help with drainage, give the seeds some protection from being washed away during watering and, importantly, show where they have been scattered.
• • • •
Direct sow while the soil is still cool to help the seeds germinate. If sown from October, when soils have warmed, or in the shade, germination may be sporadic and the plants may not flower at all. Overall, poppies are better sown in autumn and are not bothered by frost. Poppies do not like root disturbance, so any transplanting needs to be done with great care. In many ways, direct sowing will give the best success. Most poppies are annuals, including Flanders, Californian and Iceland poppies. Oriental poppies and Himalayan poppies, Meconopsis baileyi, are perennials and will return year after year. Himalayan poppies are by far the hardest and rarest to grow, but with a few tips and tricks you should be able to grow them in our region. They like rich compost soil, protection from the hot afternoon sun and shelter from winds. Watering during summer is important, while a good organic fertiliser is needed during the growing period. In the first year, it is important to pinch off the flower heads to prevent the plants from dying. From the second year, the
Everything For Your Home,
From The Roof Down. Your trusted roofing specialists with over 20 years experience serving the Canberra area. Roof Gutter Cleaning & Vacuum Roof & Gutter Install & Repairs Roof Painting Solar Panel & Home Battery Installs Solar Panel Cleaning & Bird Proofing General Domestic Electrical
Himalayan poppies… the hardest and rarest to grow. flowers can be enjoyed. Snails can decimate poppies overnight, so a little diatomaceous earth sprinkled around young plants will keep snails and slugs at bay. The true rich blue colour of Himalayan poppies is a sight to be seen and worth a try. FLOWERING now in the garden are the sweet peas planted around St Patrick’s Day in March. While sweet peas like to be directly sown, they do very little all winter. At the first signs of spring they put on fast growth, flowering within a few weeks. Their spicy fragrance is what they are grown for, with just a few sprigs in a vase filling a room with a romantic scent in no time. Sweet peas are annual legumes that naturally provide nitrogen to the soil where they grow. When they have finished flowering, collect the seeds and place them in a paper bag for storage over summer. In mid-March, soak the seeds overnight in a light seaweed solution before sowing to ensure even germination.
gardens getting better each year. The first open garden of the season is Forrest Bower in Talbot Street, Forrest, on September 26 and 27. This garden is on a double block, beautifully designed and full of flowers. I know this garden well and it is not to be missed. This garden, along with all those opened to the public, is a testament to the hard work of the owners. Having them open for everyone to enjoy is a real treat. Open Gardens Canberra also funds many charities and grants, as well as sponsoring an annual horticultural scholarship at CIT Canberra. A committee of volunteers runs Open Gardens Canberra, and they are always looking for helpers to assist in any way they can. To find out about the other gardens open this season, visit the Open Gardens Canberra website. jackwar@home. netspeed.com.au
THIS month is the beginning of the Open Garden season, with the line-up of
Sweet peas… grown for their spicy fragrance.
Photo: Jackie Warburton
0452 667 744 service@cbrroofworx.com Electrical Licence Number 2026711
Raler EARTHWORKS let’s get to work TIGHT ACCESS Ideal for backyards and confined spaces.
VERSATILE Earthworks, landscaping light demolition & site prep.
PRECISION WORK Trenching, post holes, drainage and more.
EFFICIENT Get the job done on time and on budget.
RELIABLE Operated with care. Quality results you can trust.
MINIMAL DISRUPTION
0456 182 126
Powerful performance with less impact on your property.
ralergroup@gmail.com
Proudly stocking the largest range of Australian native plants in Canberra and surrounds We specialise in local native plant varieties: • Hardy, cold and frost tolerant natives • A large range of tubestock to advanced
Come out today and see us at Pialligo!
Refresh your garden for spring
Let our expert staff show you a range of plants suitable for your garden soil type, to grow and enjoy an abundance of Australian native plants.
5A Beltana Road, Pialligo, ACT | Phone 02 6257 6666
www.coolcountrynatives.com.au citynews.com.au
CityNews September 3-9, 2026 27