Cinema

Gadfly 263—NEW YEAR RESOLUTION By Robert Macklin One endeavour above all others will be obsessing me in 2023 – a book full of surprises for Canberrans and, I hope, for a wider readership – on the real story of the men (and one woman) who laid the foundations for our National Capital. The biggest surprise, I suspect, will be the extraordinary contribution of someone who barely figures in Canberra’s official history. The working title sets the scene. We’ve dubbed it, CHARLES WESTON’S DREAM CITY – ‘poet, artist and tree planter’ after the phrasing in his obituary by the Sydney Morning Herald’s Horticultural Editor, John Gilmore Lockley. I say ‘we’ because I am working with Dr John Gray who in his retirement from the NCDC, completed his Doctor of Environmental Design thesis in 1999, a massive research effort on Weston’s life and work. And while it will be a central element of the narrative, the book will also bring his extraordinary achievement into the wider context of the British Imperial era – and the young Australian Federation in which it took place. Already, at this early research stage, it includes a cast of extraordinary characters from the worlds of science, religion, politics, architecture, officialdom, treasure hunters, royalty and even an appalling mountebank. (And the woman, is of course Marion Mahony Griffin whose brilliant work with her husband Walter might well have been the key to the winning Griffin design.) Weston, an international arboreal and horticultural virtuoso, according to former NCDC Commissioner, Malcolm Latham was ‘the man who breathed life into Griffin’s design for Canberra.’ John Lockley, went further: ‘It was Mr Weston who made Canberra the dream city she is today. His message to the nation, his melodies, his pictures, he pieced together with limb and leaf. Others did the planning and building leaving their finished work for time to discolour and perhaps to spoil. But Mr Weston set the growing beauty of Australian and exotic trees in places where old Mother Earth would guard and guide them. ‘This is not the place,’ he wrote, ‘to tell of how the magnificent work was done. That story can be told another day.’ With a bit of luck – and lots of late nights – that day will come in 2023. Weston’s remarkable contribution – the experimentation, selection and planting of many millions of trees and shrubs - is virtually missing from Canberra’s public chronicle. Many think the suburb and district of Weston and Weston Creek respectively were named in his honour. Not so. Even some of the official government publications wrongly identify the ‘other’ Weston who, it turns out, was a NSW Corps soldier and amateur illustrator, said to have published the first rendering of a didgeridoo. That might account for the oddity of the suburb’s streets being named after Australian artists. Weston Park is Charles’s only separate memorial. Walter and Marion Griffin provided the framework brilliantly, but it was upon their latticed canvas that Weston drew foliage from all the continents but Antarctica to give life to the Griffin concept. And though he was no futurist, the astonishing range of species he experimented and selected in his millions of plantings, provided a ‘fortress of foliage’ for Canberra in the struggle against climate change. While Sydney and Melbourne face the loss of up to 90 percent of their limited range of protective trees, Weston’s ‘green draperies’ will survive the coming arboreal pandemic. If for no other, that’s reason aplenty to tell the amazing inside story of a humble, but dedicated hero of our beauteous National Capital. robert@robertmacklin.com

Reading—A beer with Baz Bazza scanned the empty front bar and decided on a stool as Bella, the publican, greeted him and poured a schooner. “It’s all very quiet in here today, Bella. Anyhow, I’ve been meaning to ask how the writing is fairing? The young woman was striding away from the certainty of her life in Provence on my last reading. She seems an interesting character and I am keen to know what happens next.”

Bella stopped wiping the front bar, sighed and gently shook her head. ‘Ahhh….. Bazza. I’m stuck…… One week I had her on a plane home to Australia and the next week turning around and going back to the restaurant……. She is stressing me out.”

Bazza laughed and cupped his chin. “She does seem a complex character, Bella. Why not put your own confusion about her next move into the story?” Bella creased her eyes and pulled up a stool. “Send her to Paris, Bella. A multi layered city that offers culture and romance……..set her up in somewhere like Montmartre. She will love it; cobbled streets, cafes, nightlife and the stunning Sacre-Coeur basilica. Now, the ‘getting there’ is the key. I reckon it has to be a rail journey. I used to love a long train trip. You could set the story back a few decades when carriages were broken into compartments and passengers faced one another. Her interactions with others will allow us to get to know her better. And there is also the dining carriage with a sit down meal and table attendants. I could eat a whole chapter on French food.” Bella’s eyes widened. “I like it, Bazza. She can start the journey in the early morning. A thick fog can match her confusion and I can explore her swirling state of mind. As the fog lifts and the conversations with others relaxes….she may….perhaps….become more comfortable with the uncertainty of life…..even for a moment….embrace spontaneity…..or at least get to know it.” Bazza took a long sip of his schooner and grinned. “Or meet someone, Bella, a spark for a romance…..” Bella’s eyes shot skywards. “No…..no….no….Bazza. She is on a mission in life. I’m yet to define the mission but I know she is going to be passionate about it. Any romance will be a subplot. Anyhow….give me some ideas about characters on the train.”

Bazza rubbed his chin and took a sip. “Well, Bella, someone with a lot of lived experience from an interesting part of the world. A person that has seen the best and worst of humanity……. Perhaps a young person travelling for the first time who shares his or her frustrations about baby boomers. Oh…….there should also be room for an old bloke from the south coast of NSW. I would like to have a yarn to her on this train trip.” Bella smiled.

“Ahhhhh……that should kick the conversation along. I do need a passenger that annoys everybody. Someone with a contrarian view of the world to balance those characters, otherwise the whole compartment will be nodding in agreement.” They both spun round as Mick entered the pub.

Rodeos: Council wants to hear your views

Dear Beagle Editor and Readers The Moruya Rodeo Associa on wants a five-year renewal of its licence, and Council wants to hear your views. Rodeos involve distress, fear and poten al serious injury to the animals involved. Rodeos need a special exemp on from the NSW Preven on of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 to happen at all. Why? Because otherwise the people running them would be breaking the law and commi ng animal cruelty offences. Rodeos involve the following types of events (as described on RSPCA Australia's website): Bronco and bull riding: Rodeo horses and bulls buck repeatedly as an ins nc ve reac on to being repeatedly kicked with metal spurs and to the ghtened flank strap around their sensi ve underbelly. Horses and ca le are prey animals and their reac on to being ridden in this way is the same as their reac on to being a acked by a predator, a situa on where they experience increased fear, stress and panic. It is not uncommon to see horses and bulls hurl themselves at solid objects in order to rid themselves of the rider Calf roping: Injury risks include damage to the calf’s neck (so ssue, windpipe and spine), bruising, broken ribs and choking. A Queensland study has shown that rodeo calves experience stress. A further study by the University of Sydney has also revealed that observers who assessed s ll images of calves being chased could recognise that they were frightened, stressed and anxious. Steer wrestling: As well as the fear of being chased and forced to the ground in a rough manner, steers have had their horns damaged with deaths occurring due to their neck being broken. Other injury risks in steer wrestling include damage to the animal’s windpipe and muscle and ssue bruising. Animals Australia says: Rodeos are a cruel spectator sport, condemned by all animal protec on organisa ons, in which bulls, horses and some mes other animals are physically provoked into displaying ‘wild’ behaviour by the use of such devices as spurs, electric prods and flank straps. Animals suffer many kinds of injuries and are some mes killed as a result. PETA Australia says: In Australia and New Zealand, thousands of animals are used in hundreds of rodeo events every year. Countless animals suffer catastrophic injuries, and many die. The few regula ons that are in place at rodeos are not effec ve in preven ng injuries or deterring abusive treatment. Animals used in rodeos are physically provoked to ensure they’ll “put on a show”. Workers painfully twist horses’ and cows’ tails and jolt them with electric prods in order to make them bolt out of the chute. To make animals buck, they are viciously kicked and spurred, and straps are ghtened around their abdomens. Rodeos are banned in the ACT, the United Kingdom and in some states of the USA, and the above quotes show why. Eurobodalla Shire Council's decision on the renewal of the rodeo licence will be based on the submissions it receives (as stated in the resolu on carried at the Council mee ng of 22 November this year). I am therefore appealing to all Beagle readers to please speak up for the animals, and let the Council know that cruelty to sen ent creatures cannot pass as entertainment in the 21st century. A few minutes of your me could make a world of difference to many animals. Louise Webb

Imagine the year is 2056, 100 years on from the construc on of the first road bridge to span the Clyde River. Batemans Bay was a quiet pre y seaside village back in 1956, its residents quite sa sfied to ignore the noisier urban bustle and bluster of more ambi ous fellow Australians in ci es like Canberra and Sydney. ‘The Bay’ would remain low key for a further 50 years un l the iconic steel truss Clyde bridge, slowly decaying, was replaced by a sleek 4-lane bland but more efficient concrete span that brought more of the curious and party-minded into our area in ever increasing numbers. Many stayed, many bought holiday homes, most would return.

The Bay was about to rapidly change. Move forward another 50 years to 2056 and visitors and intending new residents would swarm into our region via the fast flowing 4-lane Princes Highway that now extends the length of the coastline from Sydney to Melbourne. Tracking this high volume highway is the recently completed coastal rapid transit train, an ambi ous and costly joint venture between the NSW, Victorian and Federal Governments. The Kings Highway Tollway, also 4-lanes, now sweeps into the southerly outskirts of the Bay a er cu ng across and through the eastern ranges south of Braidwood via Araluen. Transit mes from Sydney and Canberra had now been halved.

Batemans Bay is a defined city, designated as such by the NSW Government some 10 years earlier. Con nuous suburbs spread from Durras to the north, Nelligen to the west, Buckenbowra to the south-west and Broulee to the south. High density towering apartment complexes, so typical in Wollongong and Sydney, have taken over Beach Road from Orient St through to Hanging Rock. Similar high density residen al developments at Surf Beach and Malua Bay, thankfully limited to 3-stories, a racts cashed up buyers mainly from Canberra keen for a permanent coastal escape now just one hour away. Catalina Golf Course, courtesy of a generous developer, has relocated to the west of Broulee, its once much praised rolling fairways and greens now replaced by a combina on of mul -townhouse complexes and an up -market gated community. Malua Bay and Longbeach con nue to develop as satellite CBDs. Controversy over the Longbeach to Surfside direct road link across Cullendulla Inlet to link with the northern approach to the Clyde bridge seems to have se led down a er early construc on damage to endangered wetlands slowly recovers. Separate controversy, less likely to se le down any me soon, gains momentum despite Council’s determina on to press on with the development of a mul -residen al canal complex at Mcleods Creek near Smokey Point. Although Council has mandated Batemans Bay road transport be now fully electric, transport issues persist in and around the CBD, although night me access to the many popular clubs and pubs has eased with the introduc on of light rail from the expanded Wollongong University complex at Hanging Rock. This 2000-student highly acclaimed campus has brought yearlong colour and youthful vibrancy to the Bay that would earlier only come to life during holiday mes. In 2056 Batemans Bay is recognised as the fastest growing regional centre in NSW. Its future is now assured given that its popula on has reached a cri cal mass that creates its own momentum for further rapid growth. That may be the future for Batemans Bay in 2056 and beyond. But right now, 2022 suits me fine.

The Beagle Editor, At council's final mee ng of the year last Tuesday the Coastal Management Plan was adopted by 6 votes to 2. Residents had been figh ng for mi ga on against erosion of their beaches for 10 long years and the final outcome a er all this me was mi ga on for council infrastructure, not private property. Protec on will be added to the shore of the Big 4 caravan park and the corner of the roadway at the end of it. What is le of the land eastward of there will be allowed to erode un l it reaches the roadway which follows the sewer line into the suburb. There are also plans to raise the roadway in that area. The next spot that will be protected is the roadway at McLeods Creek (the dog beach) and an ar ficial low levee along McLeods beach and on the other side of the road to protect the pumping sta on from inunda on.

The main beach at Surfside has been promised "sand nourishment", proven to be a very temporary and expensive op on in the past but this me, this sand will only be supplied every 4 to 10 years when dredging takes place in the river mouth. Surfside does not have me to wait. Just last weekend 2 metres of dune was lost at the northern entry point of Surfside beach and again yesterday the swell is bi ng into the raw drop off or washing 10 metres into back yards. This is with an average high de of 1.3 metres so heaven help us if we get another east coast low along with des of around 2 metres or so.

The ban on protec ng our homes with sandbags s ll applies and will be enforced with huge fines. Imagine the outcry if people had not been allowed to use their garden hoses to protect their homes in the recent bushfires."

Rosemary Deadman

Teensafe is planning the next safe -driver course in the school holidays on Thursday 19 January 2023 at Moruya Speedway (weather and Covid permi ng).

Teensafe specialises in prac cal behind-the-wheel safe driver instruc on for L and P licenced drivers. To book a place and access a registra on form, email garys.home@bigpond.com or go to www.teensafemoruya.org for more info. The Teensafe team is considering a driver course for seniors who feel the need to refresh their driving ability and skills using your own vehicle with an instructor alongside at Moruya Speedway. Any enquiries or support for this road safety ini a ve welcome.