19 January 2023

From the editor

Although still in a healthy weight range for my height and age, a couple of unwelcome Covid kilos have made themselves quite at home and seem reluctant to budge. So, I’m continuing my quest for a healthy lifestyle that supports all aspects of my being –physical, mental, emotional, spiritual … the whole box and dice.

Around 2,400 years ago, Greek physician Hippocrates understood that diet and lifestyle are vital tools in a doctor’s kit. “Let food be thy medicine” is a maxim often attributed to him. He was also a strong proponent of walking as a natural exercise, especially after dinner. “It prevents fattening of the stomach,” he suggested. Fancy an evening stroll, anyone?

In 1848, German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach coined the famous phrase “We are what we eat”; meaning it’s important to eat good food to optimise your health – and to steer clear of that which has the opposite e ect.

In recent years, studies have shown that your brain a ects your gut health and vice versa. So, I’m striving to eat a wide variety of health-promoting foods to feed my gut microbiome and nourish my whole self. Santé!

Reasons to be grateful this week include the ever-helpful supermarket sta who assist whenever there’s an ‘unexpected item in bagging area’, an inspiring afternoon at the NGA’s Cressida Campbell exhibition, the Net Worth exhibition opening at Canberra Glassworks, daily constitutionals, delectable fresh cherries, and Gary’s homegrown vegetables. Thanks mate.

on the

Footage of Ngunnawal dancers, Justine Carla Brown and Lelaini Bosworth, will feature in Lights on the Lake, a water and light show on Lake Burley Griffin over four nights, 2528 January. Photo supplied by National Capital Authority. See cover story, page 18.

Martin Fisk reflects on his decade leading Menslink

Menslink’s former CEO, Martin Fisk OAM, left the mental health organisation for young guys last month, but the good work he and his staff and volunteers achieved still thrills him.

Earlier this month, he went to the wedding of a man whom Menslink helped through some difficult times.

“Both his parents had died early, and he’s come through,” Mr Fisk reflected. “It’s pretty cool to see this young man who’s had some significant challenges come through with absolutely flying colours.”

In his 11 years at the helm, Mr Fisk and his dedicated staff and volunteers helped thousands of young men turn their lives around – which he considers an incredible honour and privilege.

He estimates that Menslink has spoken to every young guy under 30 in Canberra, whether through free counselling (for 10- to 25-year-olds), its youth mentoring program (for 10- to 16-yearolds), or simply visits to schools.

“I think it’s made a difference to our entire society with young guys who go: Do you know what, before I disappear into my own shell, before I lash out in anger and hit somebody in the street or in my own family, before I go down a drugs or alcohol path, or even suicide, maybe I’ll just talk to somebody about stuff that’s bothering me, and I’ll be less embarrassed about it.”

Menslink’s clients come from every walk of life: all socio-economic strands, all abilities and disabilities, and all cultural backgrounds, Mr Fisk said.

“They all struggle in their way. If we can help them a little bit on their life journey, if we can make it less painful, if we can help them on a better path, we do.”

Some young men only need a couple of visits; Menslink has supported others for years. The organisation has turned people around from drug use or suicide – but the work can be emotionally gruelling.

“I have pretty much come across every crime, every level of challenge, and it can break your heart sometimes,” Mr Fisk said.

“In my career, I’ve been to more suicide funerals than I think anybody should ever go to in their life. To go to the funeral of somebody who’s only 19, that’s really tough.”

Young people on the streets stop him to tell him how a Menslink worker coming to their school helped them. Mothers tell him that their son disclosed something they were struggling with at school.

“Bullying, for example, is very common, but they didn’t feel they could put up their hand and ask for help, until we helped them realise it’s okay to,” Mr Fisk said.

One Father’s Day, a young man he had supported for many years rang him, and said: “Marty, I just thought you’d appreciate a call on Father’s Day, just to say thank you for all the work you’ve done.”

“That just made my day,” Mr Fisk said.

He became involved with Menslink when he left the public service at the end of 2010. Wanting to work with the community, and hearing that Menslink was looking for a CEO, he met his predecessor, Glenn Cullen, for what was meant to be a 20-minute coffee.

“Two and a half hours later, I was sold! It was just such a fantastic opportunity. I’d always thought that if Menslink or something like it was around when I was a teenager, would my life’s journey have been a bit easier? Would my life’s journey have been less painful? I just went into that job heart and soul, and it’s just been a wonderful opportunity and experience since then.”

When he was young, Mr Fisk had some mental health issues, compounded by loneliness and selfmedication.

“Now, I don’t regret my life. Clearly, my life experience has brought me to where I am today. But that really gave me the passion for the work

Last year, that passion was recognised when he received the Medal of the Order of Australia “for service to the community through social welfare organisations”.

“As I said at the time, if it was up to me, the OAM would stand for Order of All of Menslink, because at the end of the day, I was one individual. There are lots of people who have fundamentally contributed to the success of Menslink and the successful outcomes for young guys. So, not just me. I’ve been an important piece, but just a piece in that overall puzzle.”

But all good things come to an end. Long service last year gave Mr Fisk time to reflect. He knew that he intended to retire in 10 years – running Menslink in 2033, after 22 years at the helm, would not be the best thing for the organisation or for himself – and he realised that the best and least disruptive time to leave was now.

Mr Fisk is looking for another job, in the public, private, or community sector.

“I want to do something where I can make the most impact on this wonderful community we have here in Canberra,” he said.

Young guys who want free, accessible, and uncapped face-to-face support can contact Menslink via their online help form.

- Nick Fuller

Full story online.

I do.”

Martin Fisk OAM, former CEO of Menslink. Photo: Kerrie Brewer

From noisy protest to quiet persistence, explore the many ways people have achieved social change in Australia. Discover powerful stories of people and their actions, from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Learn about Australia’s progress in areas such as women’s rights, marriage equality, science and technological invention and much more.

This exhibition is supported by Visions of Australia and the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program.

National Archives of Australia Kings Avenue, Parkes ACT naa.gov.au

Classical Yoga apprenticeship WITH Bill Giles

ife can be full of suffering both physical and mental.

Yoga is based on a philosophy of acquiring and refining practical life skills to address all types of suffering. These skills increase quality of life, promote the alignment with noble and spiritual experiences and advance freedom from dependency on others (and social systems).

Yoga provides a solid basis for a life which balances contribution to self and others in the promotion of freedom of mind.

Yoga is far more than physical exercises using breathing techniques; it promotes the state of mind that nurtures self-value and the drive to obtain the most out of life.

To become competent in these yoga skills requires time to process, practise and integrate them. Most yoga teachers’ training courses are short and thus have to present yoga generalisations, leaving the refinement and applications to the student after the courses have finished. Many who do these courses find they have difficulty utilising the skills and revert to low level teaching of postures, stretching and basic breathing. Most can never utilise the hidden skills of yoga and, to compensate, some create romantic ideas around yoga. They become the blind leading the blind.

The opportunity

Bill Giles is once again offering to teach a small number of people the valued skills of classical yoga, hatha and raja yoga. These amazing skills are not being taught in standard yoga teacher training courses, and are refinements based on Bill’s 50 years of personal practice, inquiry and 35 years of teaching yoga weekly.

Learn from one of the most skilled and knowledgeable yoga practitioners in Australasia. In this apprenticeship, you will be offered more than 300 hours of personal contact with Bill (and extra tuition by other yoga practitioners of the Samyama Yoga School).

This is old school hands-on teaching, therefore you need to be able to regularly attend the three-hour classes every Wednesday night for a year. This means you must live in the ACT region.

You will also be required to attend at least two retreats to experience the charm and value of interrelating yoga with nature.

Who is eligible?

Ten apprenticeship positions are available, open to both males and females over the age of 25 years. People over the age of 50 years must have a background in yoga, either as yoga teachers or competent in hatha yoga, or skilled in martial arts or dance.

What do I do next if I am interested?

You enrol to attend a free yoga class (date to be arranged) held by Bill (and some tutors) to experience as many of these techniques as possible – along with having your questions answered. Then you will be in a better position to evaluate this wonderful opportunity of participating in this apprenticeship.

To book your place in this free yoga class, contact: The secretary of Samyama Yoga School

Desie Visovitis: 0424 228 578 Email: m.desie@gmail.com OR Bill Giles: 0437 276 447 Email: bill@billgiles.com

Twenty years since the 2003 Canberra Fires

Described by the firefighters fighting it as ‘Armageddon’, the devastating fires of 18 January 2003 will forever be etched into the minds of Canberrans.

We knew the fires were threatening, but we had never known fires like this. What initially started as four separate fires, a fusion of factors created something that we as a city had not faced before. Its ferociousness caught everyone by surprise; cyclonestrength winds and fire tornados: it was a firestorm. I remember that day well, coming over the crest of Hindmarsh Drive towards the Woden Valley to a sky that was black and orange on my way to assist my parents in Farrer.

By 19 January we knew the cost: 500 homes destroyed, hundreds were injured, and our local ecology was decimated. Worst of all, the families of Dorothy McGrath, Alison Tener, Peter Brooke, and Doug Fraser would be left without loved ones.

At the height of this crisis, our city’s brave first responders rose to the challenge. ACT Police were assisting with evacuations, fire crews from the ACT and NSW were in Morant Circuit in Kambah working to save houses, and ACT paramedics were on the streets conducting welfare checks of those who had stayed to defend their property.

My electorate of Bean covers areas that were affected, particularly in Duffy, Holder, Chapman, Kambah and Uriarra, and it does not take long for me to run into a resident who was affected.

Most recently, the 2020 Orroral Valley fire had many residents in the south concerned that the events of January 2003 were on the brink of being repeated. Emergency

services were well prepared and, thankfully, weather conditions kept the fires from our suburbs. That fire would take a month to be extinguished and leave 82,000 hectares of Namadgi National Park scorched.

However, the legacy of the 2003 fires lives on positively in our community, landscape, and our emergency preparedness. From the ashes in the Molonglo Valley, the National Arboretum arose. Newer suburbs in Bean, like Denman Prospect, Coombs and Wright, have benefitted from planning and other measures designed to ensure we are ready for the next bushfire event. And the Stromlo Forest Park is a community treasure, a special place of recreation and research. With the effects of climate change, we now must position emergency preparedness for future bushfire events as a case of when, not if. The worst thing that we as a city could have done after this disaster was not learn from it. The subsequent inquiry and report into the 2003 Bushfires were extensive, and because of this, the ACT Government, with assistance from Federal Governments, now stands well prepared with stateof-the-art surveillance, mapping, and prediction technology in its arsenal to ensure the best response is delivered for future fires.

On Wednesday 18 January 2023, the Canberra community will observe the 20th anniversary through a special evening ceremony at the ACT Bushfire Memorial. I would encourage Canberrans to take some time to visit the Memorial in Stromlo Forest Park, to remember lives lost and the many still affected, and immerse themselves in this place of peace and reflection.

Greens naivety over tram and hospital costs

The naivety of Greens government backbencher Jo Clay and her leader Shane Rattenbury in saying Canberra can have a world class health system AND transport system (tram) is breathtaking. It is correct to say that we can have a great transport and hospital system PROVIDED we can the tram. If the tram from Civic to Woden is not canned, the Territory will waste over $3 billion on a red elephant. If the tram is canned, the money saved can go into our ailing health system, boost police numbers by 200, and have $200 million spent on a modern efficient electric bus service to Woden which will be twice as fast, more environmentally friendly and 15 times cheaper!

By the Greens insisting on continuing with the tram, it ensures our health system, police numbers, and basic municipal services will remain the worst in the country. The electric buses are not only cheaper but more environmentally friendly and will save on the incredible amount of emissions that will be caused in building stage 2 from Civic to Woden.

People are starting to realise what a stupid money wasting idea stage 2 is. The ACT Opposition has come out against it for the very reasons I have articulated above, as has the Belco Party at an earlier date. No doubt other candidates and minor parties intending to stand in 2024 will too in due course.

Mr Barr is leading a government that has been in power for 22 years. The Liberal Party is now led by a leader

whom many in the community see as not only presentable but are warming to, and the 2024 election is shaping up into a real contest. If Mr Barr continues to be intransigent on this issue, he is facing a very real chance that he may lose the next election.

He does not have to slavishly bow to every silly Greens idea, and the tram is well and truly proving to be a dud. As my old friend and colleague Jon Stanhope knew well, the Greens will never vote with the Liberals and will be forced to accept the canning of the tram, or if they want a facesaver, an indefinite deferment of the project, perhaps with the further proviso of an independent detailed publicly available cost benefit analysis, which must include a detailed look at all further public transport options for the ACT. Face will have been saved and, who knows, a proper study may just point to a sensible way forward for a comprehensive transport plan for the next 50 years or so. A win-win for all of us. Then the ACT government can reinvest the money saved into our ailing health system and get those extra 200 police we so desperately need.

If they do that, it will probably ensure their re-election in 2024, even though 23 years in power is far too long, and the current opposition and whatever nonGreen/Labor independents get in deserve a go regardless.

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Canberra

Making life easier at

Canberra celebrates the Year of the Rabbit

Come celebrate the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rabbit (or the Year of the Cat, in Vietnam), with a 12-hour street party in Dickson, Canberra’s Chinatown, on Saturday 21 January.

“Lunar New Year is a celebration that’s so important to so many people in our community,” emcee Charlie Wan said. “It is a time where we come together to welcome the New Year, bring blessings to all, come together as a family, and honour tradition, culture, and connection.”

The event will take place in Woolley Street. A Zodiac Rabbit sculpture will be revealed; local businesses will host food and product stalls; there will be live entertainment from an outdoor stage; and a chance to learn calligraphy – or, for the kids, face painting and balloon Zodiac.

“There is going to be something for everyone,” Tara Cheyne MLA, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, said. “Colour, light, movement, community activities, artists, performances … did I mention the food?”

This is the culmination of three days of festivities that began last Friday, 13 January. Chinese lion dancers whirled and cavorted to the beat of drums; women danced immemorial dances, elegantly twirling umbrellas, flamboyantly waving red fans, and brandishing swords; and soloists thrilled the crowd with songs ancient and modern, Eastern and Western.

The event is organised by the City Renewal Authority, and supported by Dickson businesses, local cultural associations, SBS, and the Tradies.

Jen Ramsay, from the CRA, has this hot tip: “Book into a restaurant to grab a table so you can get something to eat, and you can enjoy DJs, comedians, local performers, interstate performers, people who’ve performed internationally.”

The Chinese community has celebrated the Lunar New Year for thousands of years, and shares the holiday with many Asian communities, said Chin Wong, co-chair of the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum.

“Dad isn’t ready for aged care”

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Water Rabbit is a symbol of prosperity. People born in its year – including 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 – are reputedly gentle, intelligent, and successful; though they can be reserved, they are also loyal and loving.

For the full program of activities, visit act.gov. au/cityrenewal/places/dickson/lunar-new-year

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Dad was lonely in the house by himself. He was still independent but needed a little domestic help.

Then we found The Grange Deakin Serviced Apartments. After a little encouragement Dad moved in and within days couldn’t stop thanking me.

Dad has his own apartment, he’s surrounded by company and regular social activities. The household chores are no longer a burden, the apartment is cleaned, and the linen changed weekly. Plus the pressure of the building maintenance is gone. Dad’s now out doing things he loves again.

I know Dad gets breakfast delivered in the morning and two home cooked meals. For added peace of mind there is someone there 24 hours a day in case of an emergency. The Grange isn’t aged care, but I know when the time comes, I can organise external community home care support to help Dad stay independent longer.

Now when we talk it’s without the worry and nagging. Dad couldn’t be happier.

Nick Fuller

Lunar New Year celebrations were held in Dickson on 13-14 January and continue again on Saturday 21 January.

Photo Nick Fuller

for Auditions open

eading the way for music and orchestral teaching in the region, Music for Canberra is inviting players under the age of 25 to come and try out for a spot in the Canberra Youth Orchestra (CYO).

Auditions will be held for one day only on Wednesday 25 January. Young musicians who have experience with the Australian Music Examinations Board are encouraged to apply.

“If they are about fifth grade or above, we would love to hear from them. If they aren’t quite at that level yet, we can find a place for them somewhere,” says Conductor Louis Sharpe.

Mr Sharpe says anyone who has picked up an instrument is welcome to come and give it a go, for the opportunity to be placed in one of the ensembles.

The Youth Orchestra provides a fun, energetic, and informative environment where students learn to play their instruments and work as a team

through classical music. Although he knows not everyone will go on to pursue a career in music, Mr Sharpe says the Orchestra hopes to ignite a lifelong passion for music through their inclusive program.

“We play a lot of Australian music, we champion work by female and under-recognised composers, but we also play the greats like Beethoven,” he says.

CYO plans to put on five performances in 2023 in a variety of settings, which exposes those involved to di erent types of practices. Mr Sharpe says this year they are hoping to include the community more in their shows and create innovative new ways to get out there.

“We want to change what the old hats used to do and do things di erently,” he smiles.

For those who aren’t confident enough for auditions or would like to learn to play for the first time, Music for Canberra o ers music classes for people aged from 18 months to 90 years and over. If you have any interest in playing music via instrument or your voice, they will be able to find a place for you. Enrolments for music classes are now open; check the website for more details.

For more information, visit musicforcanberra.org.au or contact the Music For Canberra team via info@musicforcanberra.org.au or 6182 0030.

Conductor Louis Sharpe invites young musicians to audition for the Canberra Youth Orchestra on 25 January.

Dr Emma Campbell leaves ACTCOSS, proud but frustrated

Kindness and empathy would go a long way towards solving the ACT’s problems of disadvantage and inequality, Dr Emma Campbell believes. As CEO of the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), the social conscience of Canberra, she lived by those principles, and held the government to account by them.

Dr Campbell’s three-year term at ACTCOSS’s helm ended last week. She steered her organisation and its cargo of vulnerable Canberrans through some of the most turbulent years in the ACT’s history – the COVID pandemic, the cost of living and housing crises –and leaves with pride in ACTCOSS’s achievements, sadness at bidding her team farewell, and frustration that ACTCOSS and its work are still needed.

She believes that she has taken ACTCOSS (which turns 60 this year) back to its roots as a “brave, outspoken,

uncompromising, social justice organisation”, and included everyone in Canberra in the debate about making the city better.

“I came into this job not for a career, but to actually make a difference,” Dr Campbell said. “I think that I’ve been able to encourage the community and the government to really pay attention to the issues that impact the most vulnerable in our community and the issues that we really need to address if we want to make Canberra fairer, more sustainable, and more just.”

While she says Canberrans are good people – open-minded, caring, and progressive – many are unaware of the inequality, inequity, and disadvantage on their doorsteps: 38,000 people living in poverty in Canberra, more than 9,000 of whom are children; struggling migrants and refugees; more than 2,000 homeless

people; and some of the worst overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the child protection and justice systems.

Many of these people often find themselves in difficult situations through no fault of their own, Dr Campbell believes; if government policies, systems, and practices understood that, and were kinder, they would achieve many of the outcomes that ACTCOSS hopes for.

ACTCOSS has worked with Aboriginal health groups to raise awareness of Indigenous disadvantage. While the ACT Government has committed to fix these issues, Dr Campbell believes this is happening too slowly.

The worsening housing crisis is another frustration. According to ACTCOSS, Canberra is the least affordable Australian city to rent in, and has the highest rate of rental stress. The ACT has an estimated shortfall of 3,100 housing properties, and 8,500 more social housing dwellings are needed by 2036, but there is less public housing now than in 2012.

“There has not yet been a significant shift in policy in the ACT Government to focus on the delivery of more social and affordable housing,” Dr Campbell said.

Dr Campbell said she was most proud of ACTCOSS’S pandemic response. The organisation passed information from frontline

workers and vulnerable people to the government, helping to shape policy; disseminated COVID information to more than 500 small, unfunded community organisations that represent migrants and refugees; and helped marginalised Canberrans to get vaccinated.

She was also proud of ACTCOSS and Canberra Community Law’s campaign against the government’s “deeply unfair” Growing and Renewing Public Housing program, which forced public housing residents to vacate their homes. Her campaign, she said, persuaded the government to put in place a robust appeals process that protected the most vulnerable from inappropriate forced relocations. Many people received reprieves through the appeals process, and will remain in their homes.

“It demonstrates why organisations like ACTCOSS are really important in bringing the voices of a number of people together to represent their issues to government,” Dr Campbell said.

Dr Campbell will take up a full-time position as director of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – a position she has held part-time since May – while she looks for her next substantive role, possibly in academia or with another not-forprofit organisation.

- Nick Fuller

Full story online.

After three years at the helm of ACTCOSS, Dr Emma Campbell leaves the Council feeling proud of its achievements but frustrated its work is still needed in the ACT.

File image Kerrie Brewer

Dr Damien Bezzina

Reflect on

as an Australian in Lights on the Lake

The National Capital Authority (NCA) invites locals and visitors to come and celebrate what it means to be Australian in Lights on the Lake –with market stalls, food vendors, and a laser light water show at Commonwealth Place, Lake Burley Griffin from 25 to 28 January.

Spread across the four evenings, the NCA hopes to bring the community together in a way that respects, reflects and celebrates what it means to be Australian in 2023. Before the sun goes down, attendees have the chance to purchase locally made goods and clothing or grab a bite to eat from a selection of multicultural food vendors. Bars and restaurants will also be in operation around the area.

Once darkness starts to set in, colours and movement bring Lake Burley Griffin to life with nearly 100 tonnes of equipment creating a oneof-a-kind liquid and light show. Using fountains, lasers and video projections, the 12-minute-long production will be played at different intervals from 9pm.

While the lasers and water elements may be able to be seen across the lakefront, Acting CEO

of NCA, Hamid Heydarian, says it is important for people to know the video projection will only be able to be seen from Commonwealth Place – not to be confused with Commonwealth Park.

“Because the light projections are only two dimensions, to show the picture screens, it is best on that side,” he says.

Mr Heydarian says the NCA are excited for locals to experience the event as whole, working with marketing team behind the popular Little Burley and Haig Park markets. However, the production aspect is particularly exciting as Canberra hasn’t seen something like this before.

“A piece of art combines light, sound and water. A collaboration between the National Australia Day Council and ourselves at NCA, designed to bring people together to reflect, respect and celebrate what it means to be Australian.”

Along with the show honouring people past, present, and emerging, in the water and light show, the National Carillion will show the faces of the nominees for Australian of the Year.

Together, the NCA and Australia Day Council agreed to hold the event over four days as an

opportunity for everyone to be included. Mr Heydarian says having it continue into the weekend means that visitors to the capital will also be able to include it in their Canberra experience.

Another important aspect of the project is the involvement of our First Nation people. He says they have worked closely with the traditional custodians of the land, the Ngunnawal people, to ensure the event appropriately respects their connection to country.

Dr Caroline Hughes, a Ngunnawal Elder and Executive Director, Collection Services Group, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), worked with the NCA on the project. She says as one of many Ngunnawal Elders, she was delighted to film a Welcome to Country for the production.

“Our welcome reflects our desire to invite the community to come together to reflect and enjoy the land and life here in the Capital. We hope that all contribute to voice, treaty, truth in the spirit of reconciliation.”

Dr Hughes was also involved in creating the water ceremony filmed for the show featuring

JobTrainer

Taster Program

SPARK in partnership with the Canberra Institute of Technology (RTO code:0101) and Programmed are delivering an innovative accredited training program focused on skills development, work experience and an introduction to a variety of Construction skill sets.

Specifically targeting people 17 years and over and living within the Australian Capital Territory, this program will provide participants with a number of units of competency and non-accredited training in the construction sector.

Commencing Monday 6 March 2023, this 8 – 10 week program will run 4 days per week (Mon – Thurs, 28 hours per week) and be a combination of theory, practical hands-on learning and industry work placement. All training will be delivered on site at a live training site in Holt, ACT.

“I don’t think I would be where I am today without the SPARK program” - Kaillum Machado 2021 participant

INFORMATION SESSION

First Nation dancers. The team behind the product says their movement flows seamlessly with the water in the lake, creating a breathtaking image.

“They’ve had dancers do this performance and we have projected this onto water screens … water shoots up in a peacock tail arc, we project the images so it looks like the dancers are also performing on the lake,” says Glenn Turner, Director of Oracle Liquid.

Mr Turner says they are the only company of their kind producing shows of this size and standard in Australia, and he is excited to share with Canberra something they would have only seen at a theme park like Disneyland.

He says each production the company creates is different, based on the brief the client gives them. Based out of Sydney and the Gold Coast, they travel around the country sharing their talents.

He was pleased to see this show pay respect to all Australians – from farmers to people who have given their life to look after Australia, including firefighters and first responders.

Catch the faces and images of Australia in Lights on the Lake at Commonwealth Place, Lake Burley Griffin, 25-28 January; nca.gov.au

Ginninderry Training + Employment Initiative

JobTrainer Women in Civil Construction Program

SPARK together with Master Builders ACT and our partners are proud to launch this innovative training program to encourage more women to consider a career in the civil construction industry.

Civil construction is an exciting part of the sector with interesting roles across the planning, design and creation of major infrastructure projects. This program will provide participants with specialised accredited training and employment pathways.

Commencing Monday 1 May 2023, this 9 week program will run five days per week and be a combination of theory, practical hands-on learning and industry work placement.

The information session will provide individuals with advice on eligibility criteria, program content and the commitment that is required to be selected as a participant on this program.

SPARK and Master Builders ACT acknowledge our program partners and thank them for their participation.

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When Tuesday 4 April 2023, 10:00am - 12:30pm

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- Jessica Cordwell

First Nation dancers are captured with water and light in Lights on the Lake at Commonwealth Place, Lake Burley Griffin, 25-28 January. Image courtesy of the National Capital Authority.

Funding

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We are seeking an experienced Media Sales Executive to work across our media platforms with a strong focus on our printed publications. The successful application must fit our growing and dynamic team, be motivated to grow, and develop your sales career, be enthusiastic, and able to work independently whilst in a team environment.

As a Media Sales Executive, you will be responsible for generating and establishing new customer relationships and maintaining these customer’s long term. You will be a motivated individual required to develop and retain clients through selling our full range of publications by creating solutions to our client’s marketing needs.

The successful applicant must have a proven ability to develop customer contacts from cold calling and looking for sales opportunities and prospects in the marketplace. A proven track record of achieving sales targets, meeting budgets and KPI’s. developed selling, influencing and negotiation skills are essential. Your primary goal is to identify sales opportunities and provide solutions to achieve successful customer outcomes.

If you believe you have what it takes to succeed in sales and help businesses achieve their advertising goals, please send your resume to Samantha Watson at samantha@canberraweekly.com.au

The future of farming in

Canberra: Rebecca Vassarotti

Canberra may be known as the political heart of Australia, but it is also home to a diverse and passionate farming community. To build Canberra’s agricultural landscape, the ACT Government is preparing the Capital Food and Fibre Strategy to safeguard and promote farming in the ACT. So, what is the future of farming here? CW journalist Abbey Halter reports.

ACT Minister for the Environment, Rebecca Vassarotti, is the politician leading the Capital Food and Fibre Strategy for the ACT Government.

Collaboration between the Rural Landholders Association (RLA) and Government is a high priority for Ms Vassarotti, and she sees the development of the Strategy as an “opportunity”. Towards the end of 2022, she sat down with the Association to discuss the draft Strategy.

The Minister said the dialogue was “fantastic” and echoed RLA president Fred McGrath Weber’s sentiment about the solid working relationship the Association has developed with the Government.

The strong engagement from the rural landholders was a positive sign, said Ms Vassarotti.

While their relationship remains friendly, she’s aware the RLA have issues they would like the Strategy to address.

there is the involvement of the Commonwealth Government, and I am really keen that we do move to resolve this issue.”

What is your opinion on cementing Canberra as the Bush Capital through unique agritourism trail experiences?

“It absolutely does excite me. I know that we have some fantastic producers, whether they are Mount Majura wines, we’ve got the truffle farm, we’ve got the work that Freddie’s doing at the Majura Valley Farms, we’ve got the fantastic businesses at Pialligo,” Ms Vassarotti said.

“We have actually already got some incredible experiences. I think there are great opportunities there and that is an area that I am particularly excited about.”

What do you hope the future of farming and agriculture in the ACT will look like?

“I really hope that farming and agriculture in the ACT is actually seen as an integrated part of our city,” Ms Vassarotti said.

“Yes, look, I have great sympathy … there are certainly a number of lease holders that haven’t got certainty around their leases,” Ms Vassarotti said.

“That is a conversation that we’re having with each other about how we could do that. In some instances, there is some complexity because

“I’d really like to see a whole lot of people involved in agriculture and farming in the ACT, whether it’s people growing tomatoes on their balconies, whether it’s a cultural community involved in their community garden …

“So, it’s a really important part of the life of this city.”

Do you support providing land security for the majority of ACT farmers who are on short-term leases?

I congratulate Tyrecycle and Revolve ReCYCLING for their bicycle tyre recycling initiative (‘Old bike tyres put the cycling in recycling,’ CW 14 January 2023).

We cyclists can also care for the environment by ensuring that our bicycles are fitted with tyres that can survive at least several thousand kilometres between punctures.

In 60,000 kilometres of bicycle commuting and a year of managing a bicycle fleet, I have found that normal road bike tyres puncture at average intervals of 500 kilometres. Some ‘puncture-resistant’ tyres seem to survive about 1,000 kilometres between punctures, while the best survive 5,000 kilometres or more.

Puncture-resistant tyres have slightly more rolling resistance than normal tyres. That means that you will travel slightly slower. But you will spend less time fixing punctures on the roadside, and you will more often get to your destination without unexpected delays.

- L Arundell, Downer

Want to share your opinion?

Email news@canberraweekly.com.au with ‘To the editor’ in the subject field; include your full name, phone number, street address (NFP) and suburb. Keep letters to 250 words maximum. Note, letters may be shortened if space restrictions dictate.

Shattered Kyrgios out of Australian Open

A shattered Nick Kyrgios has vowed to quickly bounce back from his Australian Open heartbreak, starting with surgery on the knee that dashed his hopes of a maiden grand slam.

The Canberran was forced out of his home slam on Monday as he has a cyst growing on his left meniscus that requires arthroscopy surgery.

It couldn’t have come at a much worse time, given the 27-year-old’s 2022 run to the Wimbledon final had him confident he could genuinely challenge at Melbourne Park this year.

“Trust me, my heart is broken,” Kyrgios said on Twitter. “But I’m on the table Monday to get fixed, I’ll be back!”

The knee injury isn’t a career-threatening setback, but Kyrgios made the “sensible” decision to withdraw to avoid suffering long-term damage.

Kyrgios’s scratching is another hammer blow to the Melbourne Park major, which was already ravaged by superstar

withdrawals and retirements.

Women’s titleholder Ash Barty, seventimes champion Serena Williams, her sister Venus, dual winner Naomi Osaka, and retired legend Roger Federer are all missing in 2023.

But Kyrgios’s absence is undoubtedly the biggest setback yet for organisers, with the 27-year-old one of the great entertainers in the sport.

AAP

Caps record first win of the season

The UC Capitals’ 12-game losing streak finally came to an end last week with a 92-85 victory over the Bendigo Spirit in front of a pumped up home crowd at the National Convention Centre.

Jade Melbourne (18 points, 11 assists), Shaneice Swain (22 points) and Rae Burrel (24 points) were the standouts for Canberra, while Nicole Munger also finished with a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds).

It was a great team effort for Canberra and gave head coach Kristin Veal her first win in the WNBL.

GIVIT donation of the week

GIVIT is working with an organisation based in Canberra that is assisting a family who fled Syria in 2021 and have been living in a caravan. They have finally found permanent accommodation and require household essentials to complete their home. They are requesting the donation of bedlinen, curtains and blinds and a dining table and chairs. To donate or fund, visit givit.org.au/whats-needed, search Keyword: ‘Syria’; Location: ‘ACT’. After you pledge the item, you will be contacted by the relevant organisation to arrange pick-up, post or drop-off.

CANCON at EPIC

The 43rd Annual Canberra Games Society CANCON Gaming Convention hosts gaming enthusiasts from around the country at EPIC on 21-23 January. Free for spectators; some tournaments and games have a fee to play. More info: conventions@cgs.asn.au

Braidwood Book Fair

Braidwood’s ever popular book fair will be open for 8 days, Saturday 21-28 January 9am-4pm daily, at National Theatre, Wallace St, Braidwood NSW. Known for the huge variety of books offered – all sorted, books for readers of all ages, reasonable prices, as well as CDs, DVDs, LPs. EFTPOS available. More info: email braidwoodbookfair@gmail.com or call 0418 291 141.

Friends of the ANBG

From February to November, the Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens arrange talks at the ANBG Theatrette every Thursday 12.30pm on a range of topics including botany and other aspects of the natural environment. On 2 February 12.30pm, Matthew Higgins will give the first talk for this year, when he will talk about four women who lived in the High Country: Charlotte Burston (nee Lane-Poole), Elyne Mitchell, Dorothy Brown and Miles Franklin. Book your seat at friendsanbg.org.au/calendar

Canberra Men’s Choir

With members aged from their 20s to 90s, Canberra Men’s Choir will host an open night on Monday 30 January 7.30-9pm at the auditorium of the Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah, for interested men to come along and get to know this non-audition choir, and hopefully join up.

Share your community event. Email news@canberraweekly.com.au with ‘HYH’ in the subject field. Deadline is 10 days prior to Thursday edition date.

HAVE YOU HEARD?

Chinese Lantern-making workshop

The Australia China Friendship Society (acfs.org.au) will hold its annual Lanternmaking Workshop on Sunday 29 January 1.20-3.30pm, at Cook Community Hub. Instruction and materials will be provided but please bring your own cutting board, scissors, ruler and pencil. Cost: $3, payable at the door. More info: call Jean on 6254 7732. Registration is essential via acfsevent@gmail.com

Free Pelvic Floor Workshops

Women of all ages are invited to attend this free workshop presented by a Physiotherapist from Canberra Health Services on Wednesday 1 February 9.30am-12pm at Belconnen Community Health Centre. This workshop will provide information, education and self-help strategies for women who are experiencing continence problems or wishing to prevent them. Bookings are essential: call the Community Heath Intake Team on 5124 9977.

Probus Club

Gungahlin: Our active club meets at the Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club on the 1st Monday of each month at 10.30am, including public holidays. After our meetings, we have a guest speaker followed by lunch at the club. Interesting and varied events and other regular activities occur monthly. More info: call Gloria on 0418 437 127 or Margaret on 0417 237 316.

Come & Try dragon boating

Canberrans looking to launch into 2023 are invited to give dragon boating a go, with Dragon Boat ACT hosting a ‘Come & Try’ day on Saturday, 21 January from 10.15am at Grevillea Park, Menindee Drive, Barton. All 10 local clubs will be taking part. Paddles and life jackets will be provided. Bring a water bottle, hat, sun cream, and shoes that can get wet. More info: email vicepresident@dbact.com.au

FreshOut – Fair Day Canberra

Nestled neatly amongst pride events across Australia, Meridian and SpringOUT have announced that this year’s FreshOut – Fair Day Canberra will be held on Saturday 11 March at Glebe Park as part of the Canberra Enlighten Festival. More info: meridianact.org.au or freshout.au

SPARK Women in Civil Construction Program

SPARK, in partnership with JobTrainer, Master Builders ACT, Civil Contractors Federation ACT and the Construction Industry Training Council, will be delivering another Women in Civil Construction Program in 2023 to encourage more females to consider a career in the civil construction industry. This program will commence on Monday 1 May and run five days a week (MonFri) for 9 weeks. More info: contact Shayla at Ginninderry on 1800 316 900 or email spark@ginninderry.com

Grill’d supports local volunteer heroes

Australian home-grown burger brand, Grill’d, has announced a national takeover of their Local Matters fundraising program for the month of January. Grill’d will donate $80,000 across key hero partners, Surf Life Saving Australia, St John Ambulance Australia and state-based Fire Brigades to say thank you for their contributions to keeping our communities safe. The donations will help with vital training and equipment to local first aiders, firies and surf lifesavers. To find out more, visit grilld.com.au/localmatters

what's on  must do  must see

Randy Goldberg, Warren Curry

Stephanie Rake, Gary Rake Sienna Grosser, Sergio Angileri, Cam Michael

Susan Buller, Aimee Frodsham, Jacqueline Bradley

Amanda Biggs, Elizabeth Rogers, Neil Doody Laurine Kelson, Richard Morrison Cat Evans, Megan Jones, Madisyn Zabel

Nicky Kavanagh, April Widdup

Net Worth exhibition opening, Canberra Glassworks, Kingston.

1

5

9

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PLAY UNLIMITED PUZZLES ONLINE canberraweekly.com.au/puzzles

CAPRICORN DEC 22 – Jan 20

Financially, this week could bring a turning point and, depending on the foundations you’ve laid, this could be a small windfall. For some, there may be an intense or impulsive feel to the week, so it’s vital you do not rush into decisions. Be prepared to welcome the new in your personal life.

AquARI u S Jan 21 – fEB 19

Sunday’s new moon supermoon will help kickstart a fresh phase in your personal life and, for many, in your daily routine. You’ll feel motivated to alter your approach to life, and to create something new. Be prepared to make a commitment to a work, personal or financial arrangement.

PISC e S fEB 20 – MaR 20

It’s time to move ahead with new ideas. The secret to progress will lie in your willingness to welcome fresh dynamics. A social or personal matter will encourage you to dig deep to socialise and network with a fresh circle; to move into fresh territory, or to endeavour to seek approval.

ARI e S MaR 21 – aPR 20

BRAIN BUSTERS

DOWN

2

10

11

3

12

20

25

27

28

29

30

Electronic novels (1-5)

Teaching period (4)

Slender support (4)

Stressed (8)

4

6

Discourse (10)

Put back (8)

Meanwhile (8)

i ntricateness (10) 16 a major city in Turkey (8)

17

2 i n which English county is Stonehenge?

3 i n the australian n avy, which rank is higher, captain or commander?

4 What were the first names of the authors known as the ‘Brothers Grimm’?

5 Mr Big is the male love interest of which Sex and the City character played by Sarah Jessica Parker?

SOLUTIONS

Prepare to be at your best – but you must also guard against temper tantrums and overwork. People around you may seem a little feistier too. Sunday’s new moon supermoon will kickstart a fresh chapter with your projects. Be willing to welcome long-range change into your life.

TAu R u S aPR 21 – May 21

When change arises, this can take you outside your comfort zone, especially when developments provoke a restless or unexpected response from those you love. While a fresh project, study, travel or even a legal agreement will appeal, you’ll find expert guidance invaluable.

gem INI May 22 – Jun 21

Be optimistic and prepared to turn a corner in a shared situation such as a financial agreement or even space at home. A fresh attitude will help you to look for solutions. A co-operative approach will facilitate a fresh undertaking or understanding with someone close.

CANC e R Jun 22 – Jul 22

Sunday’s new moon and supermoon will encourage a fresh perspective to those close to you. Look laterally at your options, as you may be surprised by out of the ordinary solutions to conundrums. Above all, avoid intense talks and look for steady progress into fresh territory at work or at home.

leO Jul 23 – auG 23

Sunday’s new moon will kickstart a fresh cycle where someone close will take a new path in life, or you yourself begin a new relationship or daily schedule. You may need to adjust to a new environment or receive unexpected news. Someone may ask for a commitment.

v IR g O auG 24 – SEPT 23

This week’s developments could spotlight a sense that your duties are taking over your life. Avoid allowing work or someone stubborn to run your life. Some Virgos may gain a commitment at work or a financial boost. A new chapter in your personal life will be a breakthrough.

l IBRA SEPT 24 – oCT 23

This is a good week to ask for a commitment from someone close. You may celebrate a fresh legal or personal milestone. Developments could lead to a great outcome, especially with family, creative matters and in your love life. Be prepared to make new agreements.

SCORPIO oCT 24 – nov 22

You may be surprised by news. A development early in the week may even signal a fresh horizon. For some Scorpios, new circumstances at home, with a property or family will ask that you consider your options and instigate a fresh approach to these areas in your life.

SAg ITTARI u S nov 23 – DEC 21

IN THe STARS with PaTSy BEnnETT

For personal readings, contact Patsy through her website

Summer harvest: what’s in season now

In-season produce that is locally sourced and naturally grown is more eco-friendly in comparison to importing or controlled-atmosphere storage and artificial ripening methods.

Out-of-season vegetables contain less nutrients as they’re often picked early to be stored or distributed, whereas seasonal vegetables are fresher, richer in flavour and have higher nutritional content as they’re picked at their peak time.

HelloFresh have put together a guide of in-season fruit and vegetables to help people make better choices when it comes to cooking and eating. Here are our top seven picks.

Asparagus

While August to December is the peak time to pick asparagus, a secondary crop can still be harvested in January or February. Asparagus is a great source

of antioxidants, has beneficial blood pressure-lowering properties and is high in insoluble fibre which may support your digestive system.

Asparagus is versatile – it can be steamed, boiled, roasted, grilled, sautéed, and is great for pasta or stir-fries.

Beetroot

Australians consume more beetroot per capita than any other nation in the world. Beetroot is at its peak for harvesting from November until April and is packed with nutrients with little calorie content. Fibre, protein, copper, potassium, vitamin C

and vitamin B6 are just some of the impressive nutritional content that beetroot is made up of. Beetroot may support brain health and digestive health, and may have several compounds that fight against cancer.

They’re a great addition to salads, roasted as wedges, and can be blended and used in dips.

Capsicum

Capsicums are rich in vitamin C, B6, B9, E and A, they are also packed with antioxidants which overall are good for eye health and may reduce the risk of cataracts. Additionally they’re packed with iron and can help prevent anaemia and iron deficiency. The best time to harvest them is from August to early January.

Capsicums are perfect for adding flavour and depth. They’re great for Asian, Mexican and Mediterranean dishes, as well as many fusion style recipes.

Cucumber

The best time to harvest cucumbers is between November and March. They’re high in nutrients and low in calories, with magnesium, potassium, and vitamin K – three nutrients that are essential for our cardiovascular system. They have a high water content and help with hydration, which allows many of our body processes to function as normal.

Cucumbers can be added to sandwiches, dips and salads.

may help reduce heart disease and control blood sugar levels.

Eggplants may seem harder to use, but they can be great in curries, roasted in pasta, and used in stir-fries and ratatouille, among various other ways.

Tomato

Whether you fancy tomatoes on the vine, oxheart or heirloom tomatoes, Australia has an abundant supply due to recent weather and are arguably at their tastiest this time of year. Tomatoes are one of the most easily accessible in western cultures due to their versatility, they can be used for sauces, soup, curries, eaten raw with salads, fried and countless other ways.

Eggplants

Eggplants are technically a fruit, with summer and autumn months being the optimal time to pick them. Considered a nutrient-dense food, they are high in antioxidants and

Zucchini

Spring and summer is the best time to have zucchini and it is at its best from September to March.

Zucchini is rich in nutrients, most notably vitamin A, which may help support vision, growth, cell division and may also boost your immune system. It is also packed with nutrients that may benefit your skin and heart and may reduce the risk of cancer.

Zucchini is one of Australia’s most loved vegetables as it’s versatile and is excellent in pastas, tacos, salads and can be made into a gluten-free alternative to noodles.

Lush lychees

Another summer favourite is the sweet and slightly floral lychee. If you can resist devouring a whole bowl at once (I certainly struggle), why not give these lush recipes a go?

Coconut, lychee & raspberry popsicles Lychee rose melting moments

Makes 8

300ml coconut milk

1 Tbsp maple syrup or sweetener of choice

2 cups (approx. 45) fresh lychees, peeled and seeded 1/2 cup fresh or defrosted frozen raspberries

Roughly chop 16 fresh lychees into small 1cm pieces. Set aside.

Add raspberries to a blender and puree. Divide evenly between 8 x 80ml popsicle moulds together with the chopped fresh lychees.

Add coconut milk, maple syrup and remaining lychees to the blender and process until smooth. Pour into popsicle moulds all the way to the top.

Take a butter knife or popsicle stick and swirl the raspberry puree and fresh lychees together with the coconut mixture.

Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for 4–5 hours or until frozen. Remove from the moulds and serve.

Hot tip: You may need to run moulds under warm water for a few seconds to loosen the frozen popsicles.

Makes 12-14 | Prep 40 mins | Bake 18 mins

250g softened butter

1 tsp vanilla paste

80g icing sugar

250g plain flour

50g cornflour

For the filling

80g butter

120g icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

2 tsp rosewater

Pink dye (optional)

8 lychees (peeled, seeded, halved or quartered)

Preheat oven to 180 o C. Prepare two cookie trays by lining with parchment paper. Place butter, vanilla paste, and icing sugar in an electric mixer bowl with the whisk attachment and beat until light, fluffy and pale in colour. Combine the flours, sift into the bowl and fold into the mixture.

Measuring 2 teaspoons of dough, roll into balls

with floured hands and place onto the cookie trays about 3cm apart. Press gently with a floured fork to achieve the classic melting moment shape. Bake for 18 minutes or until cooked through, yet still pale (like shortbread). Allow to cool.

For the buttercream, in a mixer with whisk attachment place the butter, icing sugar, vanilla paste and rosewater in a bowl and beat until light and fluffy. If too thick, add more water or milk. Add a small amount of pink dye (if desired) to acquire a pale pink colour and whisk through. The buttercream needs to be firm to hold the lychee in place.

To assemble: With your finger or the back of a spoon, smooth a small amount of icing as a protective layer over each flat side of the cookies (this prevents the moisture from the lychee seeping through). Place the rest of icing into a piping bag, pipe a ring around a melting moment, place a lychee in the middle (a half or quarter, depending on the size) and sandwich together gently with another biscuit. Chill in an airtight container. Best served the same day.

Recipes and images courtesy of Australian Lychee.

WITH TASTE EDITOR, ANJA DE ROZARIO

Take 5 with Julia Stone

A staple of the Australian music scene, Julia Stone and her brother Angus headline SummerSalt, which heads to Stage 88 on Friday 27 January. CW ’s Jessica Cordwell caught up with Julia before the tour kicked off to discuss family dynamics, gigs, and video games.

1SummerSalt is just about to kick off. How are you feeling about hitting the road?

Actually, really excited; it’s the first time in at least three years that Angus and I have had a run of shows together.

I think a big part of the reason we said yes is because Ben Harper is playing; the first song I learnt on guitar was a Ben Harper one. I can’t believe we are on the same line-up.

2

How do you navigate sibling arguments when working with your brother?

Initially, it was more challenging because we didn’t have any skills or techniques to navigate

our relationship; family relationships can be tricky.

We grew up in a tumultuous environment, seeing them communicate badly so we copied a lot of ways of talking to each other. We started to figure out there is a way of doing this … we are honest, patient, and kind.

3Your new album Life Is Stange is the soundtrack for a video game. Are you much of a gamer?

Angus is much better at games; he played a bit when we were growing up. I was so embarrassed, I went to the studio where they

make Life Is Stange; they asked me if I would like to play, I gave it a go, it just didn’t work very well.

4

Is there anything you like to do when you visit Canberra?

We are usually only in Canberra for 24 hours. My other brother lives in Canberra; he is in uni there, so seeing him.

5

What’s next for you?

This run of shows goes until midFebruary; during that Angus is pretty busy with Dope Lemon and I am recording a solo record. We have a few one-off shows, our solo projects have taken over for the time being.

I feel like playing together because it happens so rarely, it is pretty special. I sing harmonies with lots of different people but there is nothing like singing harmonies with Angus.

Julia Stone’s answers have been condensed for publication.

Catch Angus and Julia Stone at SummerSalt, Stage 88, 27 January; summersaltmusic.com.au

Angus and Julia Stone come to Canberra’s Stage 88 as part of Summersalt on 27 January. Getty.

what’s on

FEARED AND REVERED

This exhibition on loan from the British Museum explores feminine spiritual power throughout the ages in exquisite pieces from different cultures and countries. A not-to-be missed historic visual feast.

National Museum of Australia until 27 August; nma.gov.au

TWIST & SHOUT

The Williams Brothers bring the biggest rock ‘n’ roll hits of the 1950s and 1960s right to our doorstep. Relive one of music’s most definitive eras in Twist & Shout – a night of hits, swinging hips, and great costumes.

The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, 21 January 8pm; theq.net.au

Canberra gamers unite at CANCON at Exhibition Park, 21-23 January.

21-23 JAN

CANCON

The biggest gaming convention in the southern hemisphere offers a weekend full of retailers, interstate players, and a plethora of games including tabletop and roleplaying. Entry is free, however there may be a fee for gameplay.

Exhibition Park in Canberra, 21-23 January; cgs.asn.au

YOTAM OTTOLENGHI

The chef, restaurateur and much-loved author brings his Flavour of Life tour to the national capital. Discover the flavours, tastes and ingredients that excite him, while he shares his story of creating a great career from cooking.

Canberra Theatre Centre, 21 January 3pm and 7pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

UNTIL 27 AUG

Collage supplied.

CREATIVELY AGEING

Residents from the Calvary Haydon Aged Care Community recreate memories through art therapy classes. This, their first public exhibition, aims to prove age is no barrier to art.

Belconnen Arts Centre, until 5 February; belcoarts.com.au

Feared and Revered continues at the National Museum of Australia until 27 August.

Twist & Shout at The Q on 21 January.

Creatively Ageing is on display at Belconnen Arts Centre until 5 February.

That’s art and entertainment

Snap into Canberra Theatre Centre

Canberra audiences will soon be invited to get caught in an elaborate trap – The Mousetrap, that is – when the Agatha Christie classic comes to Canberra Theatre Centre in May.

Celebrating its 70th anniversary, the play was originally written for radio and titled Three Blind Mice, broadcast in 1947 as a present for Queen Mary. Guests are stranded at Monkswell Manor during a snowstorm not long after a local woman has been killed. Soon it becomes apparent that one of them is the killer. Will they make it through the storm?

Boasting the title of the longest-running play worldwide, it debuted in 1952 with a run in the same venue until 1974, when it moved just next door and continues to this day in London’s West End. Get caught in The Mousetrap at Canberra Theatre, 11-21 May; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

MoAD outlines Australian progress

The Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) has unveiled its newest permanent exhibition, Blueprint

What is Australian democracy? Is it fair, free, and accountable? This recent instalment outlines what makes our political system unique. Housing interactive elements, see if you would have been eligible to vote 50 or even 30 years ago. Listen to stories of the voices that may have gone unheard, like the 11-year-old who aspires to be prime minister when they grow up.

You can see how democracy was put into action with a ballot box that travelled 500km on the back of a camel, or a boomerang-shaped petition calling for constitutional recognition for First Nation People. One of the most breathtaking pieces is a gown that was hand sewn for the Federation Ball more than 120 years ago.

Remote polling ballot box, used 1890-1910. Designed to be carried by camel. On loan from the History Trust of South Australia.

Discover our rich history in Blueprint at the Museum of Australian Democracy; moadoph.gov.au

Sounds of us at NFSA

The National Film and Sound Archive’s Sounds of Australia registry again recently grew by 10 extraordinary moments that have shaped our nation.

Each year, audio is nominated for its inclusion on the registry by a public vote, which then goes to a panel of audio industry experts. The panel assesses the chosen snippets on their ability to reflect what life is like in Australia, and its cultural

CW Time Out editor Jessica Cordwell brings you the latest in arts and entertainment news from around the Canberra region. Highlights this week include music returning to Googong and mysteries on stage.

Photo Brenton McGeachie/MoAD

and historical relevance.

Some of the highlights to be inducted last month include Julia Gillard’s iconic Misogyny Speech from 2012, the Neighbours theme song by Barry Crocker (Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent), and Hallam Lord Tennyson’s Farewell address from 1904.

Listen to Sounds of Australia online at nfsa.gov.au

February music festival in Googong

Returning after a five-year hiatus, Googfest is set to bring some of our best home-grown performers to Rockley Oval, Saturday 4 February. Bring your dancing shoes and get down to the catchy tunes of Smooth Ops, The Faumuis, Chloe Kay, and the Crusade. Headlining the evening are the ever-popular roots-soaked rock sounds of Joe Camilleri and the Black Sorrows.

Don’t forget to bring a picnic rug to secure your spot for the firework show. Vendors will be offering a selection of delicious snacks, and free buses are available. The event promises to be a great night out for the whole family. Check out the beats and vibes in Googfest at Rockley Oval, Googong, 4 February 5pm; googong.net

Glassworks explores identity

Hot off the hot shop floor, Canberra Glassworks has opened its first exhibition for the year, Net Worth, on display at the Kingston institution until 26 February.

The exhibition showcases the work of four emerging artists as they try and navigate concepts of identity, social stereotypes, and technology in today’s climate. Each piece is engrained with the history and craftsmanship of glass making.

A commentary on worth, including self, perceived, and financial, exploring how it has

changed and may continue to change with evolving technology. Asking what the place of handmade arts and their artists may be in a digitised world.

See Net Worth at Canberra Glassworks until 26 February; canberraglassworks.com

Canberra Glassworks Net Worth exhibition, Jessica Murtagh, Centerlink Amphora, 2021, blown glass.

Googfest returns for the first time in five years to Rockley Oval, 4 February.

Photo Courtesy of the artist

Book talk

Jeff Popple reviews three new crime novels for a lazy summer weekend read. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com

Wild Card by Simon Rowell

Text, $32.99

Simon Rowell’s The Long Game was one of my favourite reads of 2021, and he has now followed it up with the equally good Wild Card. Once more featuring Detective Sergeant Zoe Mayer of the Victorian Police Force, Wild Card is a smoothly told tale about modern crime and old secrets. When the executed body of a bikie is found on the Victorian side of the Murray River, Zoe and her team are quickly dispatched and soon find themselves caught in the middle of a power struggle between competing criminal elements. Very well written with great characters and a nice sense of place.

Dead Tide by Fiona McIntosh

Michael Joseph, $32.99

Fiona McIntosh has enjoyed good success with her novels about London detective Jack Hawksworth, and now with Dead Tide she brings the charismatic policeman down under to her home state of South Australia.

Following the death of a young woman in London, Jack is on the trail of a cynical international crime consortium, which is exploiting the desire of couples to have babies, no matter what the cost. Mixing family drama with police detection, Dead Tide is a solidly paced novel with a wealth of detail and rich descriptions of the Yorke Peninsula. It is sure to appeal to McIntosh’s many fans.

In The Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan

Simon & Schuster, $32.99

Jo Callaghan’s slightly futuristic crime novel pairs a recently widowed, London police officer, Kat Frank, with an experimental artificial intelligence entity known as Lock. Together, the pair, and Kat’s team, investigate a series of missing persons cases involving young men. This is a well-crafted and engaging crime novel. The mild science fiction elements are lightly handled, and at the core of the book is a good police thriller plot that moves swiftly in its second half to a tense and unexpected ending. Callaghan shows good maturity with this promising debut, which I suspect will be the start of a popular series.

Canberra Weekly competition winners

The winners in Canberra Weekly’s latest round of competition draws are: What’s Love got to do with it? film passes: P Gately, Flynn; K Barba, Forrest; L Thompson, Dickson; Y Seebohm, Isabella plains; T Smith, Mawson; S Mostyn, Calwell; S Best, Crace; C Christopher, Canberra City; B McKay, Jerrabomberra; J Smyth, Conder. Frixion back to school: K Thompson, Throsby; J Hayes, Reid; L Beacroft, Ainslie. Cointreau: R Foster, Yarralumla; D Barber, Monash; D Leivesley, Ainslie; M Bauld, Queanbeyan; M Catley, Wanniassa; M Spralja, Hughes; G., Hackett; T Fitzgerald, Forde; A Routledge, Harrison; J Priestly, Cook. My Life is Murder S3 DVDs: I Foster, Yarralumla; B Bayes, Weetangera; A McGlew, Queanbeyan; C Fulton, Latham; S Shipp, Amaroo; A Boyd, Kambah; D Speldewinde, Holder; G Wolff, Kambah; J Pattinson, Weetangera; K Kelly, Downer. Circus Of Illusion tickets: V Frewin, Condor; A Hu, Barton; V Atkins, Macgregor.

Now showing

The Fabelmans (M)

In 1952, New Jersey, Mitzi (Michelle Williams) and Burt (Paul Dano)

Fabelman take their young son Sammy (Gabriel LaBelle) to his first-ever movie. Dazzled by a scene involving a train crash, Sammy, with encouragement from his mother, attempts to film his own 8mm version using his toy train set.

Steven Spielberg is one of the most successful and beloved movie directors of all time. His movies drip with sentimentality, nostalgia, and that elusive Hollywood magic. With his tales of whimsy celebrating yesteryear in Indiana Jones, or a collective childhood fantasy in E.T. bathed in the strings of John Williams, Spielberg is an intrinsic part of Hollywood cinematic history and our shared cinema experience.

The Fabelmans, then, is a semi-autobiographical account of the origin of Spielberg’s love of cinema and the family drama that he experienced for over a decade of his young life. The story is revisionist in that it seems Spielberg can’t help but improve on the story of his own life. Captured with the over-stylised tropes of a Spielberg picture, along with some awkward, over-staged acting via a widescreen lens, Spielberg’s family life is easily the least interesting thing about him.

The movie unsurprisingly shines, however, when young Sammy is embracing his love of film with his super-8mm camera, making miniature blockbuster films with his friends, experiencing joy when his films illicit authentic enjoyment from his slowly growing audience. Verdict: A personal story captured as a blockbuster. 2.5 stars.

- Luke McWilliams, themovieclub.net Viewed at Dendy Cinemas.

Angelina Jolie was born in the Year of the Rabbit, on 4 June 1975. Legend has it that the furry white animal is the pet of the moon god, embodying noble beauty, and possessing an a ectionate side.

Struggling to strike a balance between dressing for the sweltering heat, and keeping it professional?

CW fashion editor Anja de Rozario has you covered – just not too covered – with fresh celebrity fashion inspo for summer.

Vest + pleated pants

For a classic combo, pair a vest or a square neck tee with pleated pants, which are more breathable than suit pants, while still maintaining those crisp lines. Dress it up with your favourite heels, or down with chunky slides, as seen here on Victoria Secret angel Alessandra Ambrosio.

A short suit set

You can wear shorts to the office!

If they’re the right pair. A tailored Bermuda short is key to one of the most formal looks on this list, beautifully demonstrated here by America’s sweetheart, Julia Roberts.

Shirt dress + linen blazer

A button-up shirt dress is a staple for business casual in the summertime. However, depending on how short it is, a linen blazer may be what you need to finish off the look. Italian singer-songwriter, Levante’s adorable, oversized sunhat is entirely optional.

Trousers + crop top

A linen midi pant is another comfy alternative to suit trousers, with a high waistband that pairs well with a crop top. The always-gorgeous Sofia Vergara has the right idea, matching the shade of her pants to her heeled sandals for a cohesive look.

The

REAL ESTATE Modern country living

Murrumbateman NSW

Nestled in the picturesque rural township of Murrumbateman, lies 39 Middle Street – a substantial property with impeccable style, light-filled living spaces, and perfect for the avid entertainer.

This four-bedroom family home features a stylish gas fireplace, a luxurious kitchen boasting induction cooking, Caesarstone benchtops and custom cabinetry, heated towel rails and toilet in the large bathroom, along with a generous rumpus room your teenagers will love. This property has all the modern comforts you’ll require without compromising its classic country charm.

Agent Marcus Cataldo says the 1200sqm block gives the home a true country feel.

“The design of this home is well thought out and functional; the bedrooms are all on one wing of the house and you’re able to close it o and have a truly separate entertaining space,” says Mr Cataldo.

“The same goes with the o ce; you can isolate yourself from everything else that’s happening in the house and work in peace.

“There’s room in the backyard for the kids to run around and play, whilst still being functional with a large shed and raised veggie gardens, and the side access is also a bonus for anyone with a boat or caravan.”

Mr Cataldo is particularly impressed with the versatility of the Murrumbateman property, describing it as “fantastic”.

“It’s a family home and an entertainer’s home all in one! The addition of a home o ce adds to the versatility, and is a huge benefit given the increasing amount of people now have the luxury of being able to work from home,” he says.

“I love the friendliness of the neighbourhood and the pride that everyone takes in their home. It’s such a great community and it still maintains that quiet country ambience.”

This single-level property boasts an array of extra features including ducted and zoned air conditioning, temperature sensors in every room,

two sets of solar panels with an LG battery, and a security system with eight cameras.

4 2.5 2 1

Price $1,150,000$1,200,000

View Contact agent

Agent Marcus Cataldo Mob 0401 744 964

Agent Troy Thompson Mob 0408 694 917

LJ Hooker Gungahlin 6213 3999

TAYLOR 44 Everist Street

Tastefully designed and positioned perfectly to capture the northerly aspect, this outstanding opportunity in Gungahlin’s highly sought-after suburb of Taylor is extremely desirable. Boasting a free-flowing design filled with natural light and taking advantage of space at every turn, this opportunity

is not one to be missed!

Set ideally with street frontage and looking out onto a park, this large four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom, separately titled home effortlessly flows over two luxurious levels. Discover the super-spacious comforts of open plan living and dining, complemented by a

REAL ESTATE PROPERTY NEWS

deluxe kitchen featuring quality stainless steel appliances, sleek stone benchtops, and a large walk-in pantry.

Superbly located, enjoy easy access to the Casey Market Town, Gungahlin Town Centre, local schools, ponds, and all that Gungahlin has to offer!

EER 6.6

Price $850,000+

View Sat 21 Jan 10-10.30am

Agent Antony Damiano Mob 0473 444 666

Agent Sam Walker Mob 0434 962 490

LJ Hooker Canberra City 6249 7700

Construction costs in 2022 record largest annual increase ever

Construction costs in Australia hit record highs in 2022, according to the latest annual Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI) from CoreLogic.

Over 2022, national costs rose by 11.9 per cent – the largest annual increase on record (excluding the period impacted by the introduction of the GST).

In the ACT, costs increased by an estimated 11.5 per cent over the course of the year, slightly lower than the national average.

ACT data

ACT construction data was not included in CoreLogic’s report, but Canberra Weekly sought information from CoreLogic construction cost estimation manager, John Bennett, who was able to provide specific insight.

Mr Bennett estimates the increase in ACT construction costs in 2022 is 0.25 per cent higher than NSW, where there was an 11.1 per cent annual growth. The difference is based on factors relating to the ACT’s location, he said.

Most construction materials are nationally supplied from central locations and main regions,

not locally, so the added 0.25 per cent is due to the logistics of transport and storage costs.

Mr Bennett said labour factors must also be considered, but CoreLogic’s research didn’t include labour insights for the ACT.

“[The] ACT will have a quarterly increase of approximately 1.83 – 1.85 per cent, which is slightly higher than the NSW figure and an annual growth rate of 11.5 per cent,” he said.

Mr Bennett added that the ACT is not exempt from the impact that construction costs are having on the industry nationally.

“There have been extreme periods of volatility in pricing due to restricted domestic supply chains, material and labour shortages and although the annual CCCI remains high, on a quarterly basis we’ve recorded an easing in residential construction costs,” he said.

“This is likely to be due to a drop-off in building approvals and a pull-back from consumers and builders. This will eventually flow through to suppliers as projects are delayed or put on hold in the current economic environment.”

National data

Nationally, Australia’s construction costs blew previous records out of the water in 2022.

The 11.9 per cent annual rise was significantly higher than 2021’s 7.3 per cent. However, the December quarterly growth rate of 1.9 per cent shows an easing in the index compared to September’s quarterly increase of 4.7 per cent.

Mr Bennett said the December quarter figures reflect the hampering of rising rates and high inflation, and represent the post-Covid operating period.

He also said the past 18 months to two years has been a “very challenging” period for the industry.

The main issues causing the industry grief are periods of extreme volatility in pricing due to domestic supply chains being restricted, and material and labour shortages, he said.

But there’s hope on the horizon that costs will eventually drop – while the annual CCCI remains at a record high, the December quarter reported an easing in residential construction costs.

- Abbey Halter

Located in the heart of Deakin, just 300m from the shops and close to medical facilities, The Grange retirement village offers you independent living in your own private home without the hassle of the building maintenance, and the security of knowing staff are onsite 24 hours a day in case of an emergency.

Join the vibrant and welcoming community where you can live life your way. Enjoy lunch or dinner in the private dining room. Take part in the many social activities or interest groups in the village. Keep fit at one of the regular exercise classes, the indoor pool or the many walking tracks nearby including Red Hill. Indulge your passion for culture at the many museums and galleries close by.

Call 02 6282 1782 to book a tour

Call 02 6282 1782 to find out more www.thegrangedeakin.com.au

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It’s more than a home, it’s a community

Take a dip in the pool

While someone else does the mowing and weeding.

Display Suite open Monday to Friday. Book a private tour or join us at our Open for Inspections every Wednesday, 10am to 2pm.

Embrace the ease of a low maintenance brand new 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartment, selling now.

We believe a home is more than just bricks and mortar.

Over 50% Sold

It’s a sanctuary that allows you more time to do the things you love. At Marigal Gardens retirement village, you’ll enjoy access to fabulous facilities and services at your doorstep, and an already established and thriving community.

And, when you’re ready to unwind or entertain in the privacy of your own home, you’ll enjoy:

• generous open plan living areas designed to be practical and inviting

• spacious balconies or courtyards to enjoy the paper and a coffee, or dabble in some gardening

• well-appointed kitchens with all the modern conveniences

• reverse cycle air-conditioning for all year round comfort

• double glazing

• abundant light and ingenious use of space

• sophisticated neutral palette and subtle textures that create a timeless canvas to add your own personal touch

• internal access to a secure car space with a storage cage

• 24-hour emergency assistance at the push of a button for peace of mind. Experience convenient and comfortable living, where someone else mows the lawns and takes care of the extensive village gardens there for your enjoyment.

Ultimate lifestyle, this magnificent 4-bedroom residence boasts an exclusive waterfront location. Commanding the most spectacular 13.11 ha (32.4 acre) allotment atop a peninsular on the junction of Pambula and Yowaka Rivers flowing into Pambula Lake, approx. 1km fronts the waterway, fantastic fishing, swimming and great boating with ocean access. Private beaches and camping areas scatter along the frontage. The luxury 4 bedroom residence with ravishing views over the lake, river and Beowa National Park, northerly aspect. Featuring a striking and expansive design, bright interior and high-end finishes throughout. Heated in-ground pool. 26m x 15m shed. Detached self-contained 2-bedroom flat. The good life!

Fronting beachfront reserve to Tura Beach and Tura Golf Course, this landmark property offers both luxurious living and professional business/medical opportunities. 300m walk onto the beach or grab your golf bag. Flexible interconnected design as 4 bedroom residence with a self-contained 2 bedroom apartment OR a dual residence with professional medical facility with reception, offices and 3 consulting rooms. Magnificent Indoor 12m heated lap/ hydrotherapy pool & large family spa. The 1255sqm site is superbly landscaped. This unique masterpiece won design awards and is an opportunity to capture your own idyllic South Coast beachfront lifestyle and/or an amazing health/medical facility. Prior Offers Invited.

Unique and breathtaking 3.6 acre riverfront property is home to a classic timber cottage, the fully

Thanks to Scott Leggo Gallery, Canberra Weekly is giving one lucky reader the chance to brighten their home or office and win Scott’s beautiful ‘Wild’, freestanding acrylic desk block (value $350). Scott Leggo is a leading Australian landscape photographer who travels extensively to capture the beauty of the Australian landscape through photography. ‘Wild’ is a stunning Australian snow gum captured during high winds and passing fog in the Australian Alps.

Check out Scott’s full collection of Australian made artwork and gifts in person or online: Scott Leggo Gallery, 45 Jardine Street, Kingston; scottleggo.com

Enter to win

To enter, scan the QR code or visit canberraweekly.com.au and click on the ‘Entertainment’ tab to ‘Competitions’, find the competition you wish to enter and follow the entry instructions. Entries close 9am Friday 27 January 2023 and winners drawn same day. One entry per person per giveaway. Entrants must be aged 18+.

WIN! Scott Leggo ‘Wild’ desk block WIN! Drinkmate OmniFizz carbonator

The Drinkmate OmniFizz home beverage carbonator is the first and most versatile carbonator that adds sparkle to any beverage with a press of a button. Because Drinkmate OmniFizz carbonates the beverage directly, there is no dilution which is typical with competing home carbonators.

Drinkmate enables consumers to add fizz to bottled water, tea, juice, energy drinks, and other healthful drinks. It also allows for the creation of sparkling adult soft and hard drinks flavoured with popular essences like elderflower, lavender, rose, and ginger. The Drinkmate OmniFizz is available in four stylish colours including red, black, white, and arctic blue. $109.99 from drinkmate-aus.com.au

CW has 2 x Drinkmate OmniFizz carbonators to be won.

WIN! The Whale film passes

From director Darren Aronofsky and starring Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, and Hong Chau, comes The Whale (M), a film based on the acclaimed play by Samuel D. Hunter. A reclusive English teacher living with severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.

Brendan Fraser gives a virtuosic performance as Charlie, an English teacher living with severe obesity whose time is running out. As he makes a last bold attempt to reconcile with his broken family, Charlie must confront, with his full heart and fierce wit, long buried traumas and unspoken love that have haunted him for decades.

In cinemas 2 February.

CW has 10 x The Whale (M) in-season double passes to be won

SNOWBOARDING

My favourite winter hobby is snowboarding. On my spare weekends during winter, you’ll find me at Thredbo.

CARAMEL

My favourite flavour is caramel. Caramel anything is always my first pick if it’s something sweet.

SEA OTTERS

My favourite animals are sea otters! They are such cute and intelligent creatures. I spend too much time watching adorable otter reels on Instagram.

My favourite things

Julia Bedin

Electrician, NECA National Apprentice of the Year

An electrician with Canberra-based Martin Donnelly Electrical Services, Julia Bedin has been working in the construction industry for five years. Recently, she was awarded the ACT Apprentice of the Year, and the National Electrical Contractors Association’s (NECA) National Apprentice of the Year, and was the Tradeswoman of the Year at the National Association of Women in Construction Crystal Vision Awards. Julia loves her job and being able to break gender stereotypes to prove what a good sparky she is. Outside of work, she loves the outdoors and likes to spend time at the snow and visiting national parks.

VIVA L’ITALIA!

My favourite country is Italy. I have been fortunate to visit Italy a couple of times and love the culture and

history.

NINA DOBREV

My favourite actress is Nina Dobrev. I love everything about her!