03 August 2023

Saving the best until last.

The final stage at Boulevard in Denman Prospect is releasing this August.

Get ready for more breathtaking views and resort-style amenities from the Molonglo Valley’s leading property developers. This new release of 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments with high-end features, modern conveniences, and mid-century charm can be enjoyed with uninterrupted views for over 50% of apartments. Take the leap and invest in your future self.

Boulevard is a self-sustaining, amenity-rich, walkable urban neighbourhood within Denman Prospect. JUDD Studio is responsible for the architecture that promotes a diversity of uses to create a balanced, dynamic, and connected place to live.

Secure a property now with only 5% deposit. Completion is expected in mid 2024. Live on the Boulevard and discover the good life.

From the editor

Dear tossers, please stop using planet Earth as your rubbish bin.

Commuting to work one frosty morning, I was struck by the remarkable volume of litter on the verges and median strips, a blight on our beautiful natural environment.

Planet Earth is a treasure to be cherished and nurtured, not treated with contempt. We depend on Mother Nature for the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food that nourishes us (with input from human producers), so we simply must care for our environment in return.

Not littering seems to be an easy fix. Just hang onto your garbage for a while longer until you can

Free-Rain Theatre brings Monty Python’s Spamalot the Musical to The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre from 12 September. Photo: Kerrie Brewer. See cover story, page 20.

Stay active, be social

Former AFP federal agent signs up to The Traitors

Aformer AFP federal agent, whose core values for 17 years were integrity and trust, has been cast in reality TV show about deception - The Traitors - and whether or not you’re a reality TV fan, her psychological conflict is fascinating.

Canberra resident Camille has worked with the FBI and Scotland Yard and spent her entire career being honest, but she is about to deceive and betray on national television. It makes for riveting viewing.

“Here is my life, I’ve always been honest, the core values of federal police is integrity, trust – all the things that The Traitors isn’t,” Camille says. “Here I have permission to betray or deceive or lie.”

For the uninitiated, The Traitors is a game where some contestants are “traitors” who try and eliminate the rest while others are “faithfuls” and tasked to banish the traitors. Camille is sworn to secrecy and can’t divulge her status – or if she won the $250,000 prize.

The game not only tested her loyalties as a former federal agent – someone who has worked in counter terrorism, drug smuggling and fraud – but also saw Camille mimic the very criminals she locked up.

“I was a federal agent, locking up those who lie, cheat and betray and commit crime, and the skills I learnt from the criminals, I applied

when I was on the show,” Camille says.

“You learn about reading people’s body language, the indicators of lying such as excessive fidgeting and sweating. Their face, where their eyes look, not being open, your arms, legs and feet. I definitely had moments in the show where I went ‘oh my god, you are lying. You are lying through your teeth.’ It’s so obvious to me. Because I wasn’t 100 per cent truthful about everything about me, I would make sure that I always had a right balance about my arms not being crossed and making eye contact when you’re saying something.”

If you’re wondering why a former federal agent would apply to go on a reality TV show, Camille says after being a stay-at-home mum for 10 years, she wanted to know “have I still got it?”

“There was an ad on TV that they were casting for season two and my kids were like ‘Mum, you should do that, you were a federal agent, you’d be great at it’,” Camille says.

“You know how you’re an armchair expert when you watch something on TV and you’re like, ‘yeah, I know what to do, I could work that out’. When I applied for the show, I said I’m a former federal agent and I always got results. We talk about in the feds - fighting crime and winning - and I was just all about that.”

As a mum of 10-year-old twins and a six-year-old, it could also be said that Camille is excellent under

pressure. The federal agent background helps, too.

“If f was accused of something in the show, which I may have been, I was always calm under that pressure,” Camille says. “You have to de-escalate the situation, it only makes it worse, even in life. The biggest weapon for me in the AFP was being able to talk to people. Words are mightier than the sword.”

When I interviewed Camille for this article, it was like walking on broken glass because Camille could not divulge any TV spoilers and was also guarded about her federal agent past. It was a challenging but tantalising conversation to get answers.

After a while, it was hard to know what was true and what wasn’t, especially when Camille tells me; “I didn’t need to lie, backstab or betray that much, I played with as much integrity as possible in a game about deceit”.

She was really messing with my head and that’s what this entire game is about. The undisputed truth, however, is that Camille has had a fascinating career in law enforcement.

“I did a lot in the feds for different client types, so whether it was drug importation, major fraud, counter terrorism, a variety of things,” Camille says. “The most satisfying for me was investigating sexual servitude and crimes against primarily kids online. That was super satisfying for me because I really felt like I was getting real baddies off the street.”

Camille was also a body guard for members of parliament and foreign dignitaries. Her latest role, however, could win her an acting award because Camille’s competitors had no idea she was once a federal agent.

“I didn’t want the potential traitors to think that I would be a threat like a gun investigator,” she says. “For that reason, I didn’t tell them. My whole strategy was to be a little bit boring. I dressed down, I just wore jeans and trainers – mum outfits. I didn’t want to stand out.” And the Oscar goes to …

By the end of the wayward interview, I still have no idea whether Camille is a traitor or a faithful, or if she even won the game. I do know that although The Traitors is about befriending people and betraying them, Camille actually made mates out of the social experiment.

“I have actually made some friends in a place where you really couldn’t trust anyone,” she says. “You’ve got to have a bit of crazy to go on a reality TV show.”

Camille says she’s not motivated by money (I detect a lie), saying “I just wanted to go as far as I could in the show”. Sounds like a script from Channel 10.

Camille leaves us with this ambiguity: “Whichever team I’m on, I’m loyal to that team. I’m like a secret weapon in their back pocket”. The Traitors screens on Channel 10 on 13 August.

- Georgia Curry

A former AFP federal agent, Canberra resident Camille (left) has been cast in reality TV show, The Traitors, on Channel 10 on Sunday 13 August. Image supplied.

The skills I learnt from the criminals, I applied when I was on the show”

Missing Persons Week: Where are these Canberrans now?

Eight years ago, 56-year-old Robbie Jacob disappeared. He was last seen at the Civic bus interchange on Thursday 12 November 2015. His children and grandchildren have never seen him since. His disappearance was out of character, police say, and they have serious concerns.

He was vulnerable, suffered from health problems and addiction, and spent a lot of time around the homeless community; but he was also well-loved, generous, a larrikin, a poet. Where, his family and the police want to know, is he now? What happened to him?

Robbie Jacob is one of 14 longterm missing persons – missing for a period of three months or more – who ACT Policing hope to find. Some have been missing since the mid-1970s, but even after nearly half a century, police have not given up hope.

Missing Persons Week (30 July

to 5 August), an annual national campaign, highlights those people, and reminds the community to pass on any information they might have.

Police also want information about the following longterm missing people:

• Jean Policarpio: disappeared in 2017, would now be 27

• David Abuoi: disappeared in 2012, would now be 46

• Laura Haworth: disappeared in 2008, would now be 39

• Amelia Hausia: disappeared in 1992, would now be 49

• Megan Mulquiney: disappeared in 1984, would now be 56

• Elizabeth Herfort: disappeared in 1980, would now be 62

• Wendy Dalla: disappeared in 1975, would now be 78

• Kate Alexander: disappeared in 1974, would now be 111 Hopefully somebody will

remember something, and help find these missing people.

“We’re absolutely hopeful that we’re going to find some information that will help us locate the missing people,” Superintendent Scott Moller said.

“We do that because of our desire to help the community and to help the families that are involved, because they are still looking for the answers. They’ve got a lot of unresolved questions, as we do, so we’ll keep pursuing those investigations until we get an outcome.”

Every year, 55,000 Australians go missing; 99 per cent of them are found, almost all alive and well. More than half were teenagers. Last year in the ACT, 353 people went missing, and all were found, most within a week.

During Missing Persons Week, the GIO Stadium, Transport Canberra, the Westfield and South.Point shopping centres, and ACT Libraries have

advertised the campaign. Several buildings have been lit up in yellow, the colour of Missing Persons Week. For more information, visit the ACT Policing website: police.act. gov.au/crime/missing-persons. If you have information, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or email missing@afp.gov.au.

Full story online. - Nick Fuller

Robbie Jacob is one of 14 long-term missing persons ACT Policing hope to find. Image supplied.

COMFORT & Style

opinion fit the bill

Release the Sofronoff report, Mr Rattenbury. What are you hiding?

Readers may recall that I was pleasantly surprised to see Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury appoint a highly competent, well-respected jurist to head up the government’s quick inquiry into the Bruce Lehrmann/Brittany Higgins saga, instead of finding some government hack to do it.

Now it seems, having got the report, the ACT Government won’t release it. I wonder why. Didn’t it say what they wanted to hear?

I am patron of the ACT Victims of Crime Assistance League (VOCAL), which looks after victims who don’t qualify for the government Victims Support Scheme and who otherwise would fall through the cracks. VOCAL was set up in 1989, but has not had any government funding since 2011. I had the pleasure, along with the two fulltime volunteers who run VOCAL, of appearing at a special hearing before Mr Sofronoff to tell him about VOCAL and to offer whatever assistance we could.

Mr Sofronoff asked VOCAL to supply him with all the information about itself that it could. He was then going to contact the ACT Government and get their views. VOCAL believes it is of crucial importance to ensure all victims of crime are given the support they need. As a result of the Government now hiding the report, we may never know what, if anything, Mr Sofronoff recommended on that issue.

I make the above point to illustrate how forensic, thorough, lateral-thinking and decent Mr Sofronoff and his staff were, and the need for the ACT Government to release the report in its entirety so it can address the many systemic and individual weaknesses uncovered by the inquiry. The relationship between the AFP and the DPP cannot be left as it is. There is little trust left as a result of this saga. If individuals have to be sacked as a result of this saga, then so be it.

Mr Sofronoff handed down a damning report into the failed DNA testing in Queensland,

and within two days the Queensland Labor government accepted all 123 recommendations and announced $95 million funding to fix the problem. The report was very embarrassing for Annastacia Palaszczuk, but she took it on the chin and fixed the problem.

I’d say this to Messrs Barr and Rattenbury: rather than hiding it, release the whole report, warts and all. If you need to sack a few people, do so – and take on board the steps recommended to fix the problem.

If you do, you will probably come out smelling of roses. An independent coroner’s report into a sad death in custody at the Quamby Youth Detention Centre in 1996 allowed me as the responsible minister to get rid of five pretty ordinary custodial staff named by the coroner; seven others resigned as well, fearing the coroner would name them, too. It enabled Quamby to lift its game for the benefit of everyone – detainees and staff.

Don’t be afraid of the report, Shane and Andrew. Welcome it for the improvements you will be able to make to our criminal justice system as a result.

Volunteers at the heart of our community

One of the great privileges of being the Member for Canberra is the opportunity to meet and chat with so many Canberrans. I’m very proud to represent such an engaged, caring, and civic-minded community.

At the heart of our community is the invaluable contribution of volunteers. From schools to sporting clubs, charity organisations and environmental conservation groups, volunteers play an indispensable role in shaping and enriching Canberra. While our community benefits, volunteering also has its own rewards, including the creation of social bonds and fostering a sense of belonging and wellbeing.

Economically, volunteers contribute more than $1.5 billion to the ACT economy every year, and up to $290 billion nationally.

The ACT has one of the highest rates of volunteering in Australia – at more than 30 per cent of the population for formal volunteering and close to 39 per cent for informal volunteering. As your representative, I have the opportunity to hear firsthand about

the important work a number of organisations and their wonderful volunteers do.

Recently I met with volunteers with St John Ambulance CBR NightCrew – who brave the cold night and stay out into the early hours of the morning to help keep nighttime revellers safe in Civic every weekend. The volunteers spoke of being driven by the desire to be there to help others in a tough moment.

I’ve also spent time with the Vinnies Night Patrol, This Is My Brave, OrangeSky, OzHarvest, St John’s Care, Landcare, Friends of Grasslands, the Early Morning Centre (where I also used to be a regular volunteer) and so many others who work to support and improve the capital.

Volunteering connects our community and has been an important part of my life. My experiences as a volunteer with people experiencing poverty, homelessness, addiction, loneliness, and other issues are a huge part of what has driven me to ultimately be involved in politics.

When I joined the Labor Party in 2006, it was to be a volunteer and get involved in

fighting for change in our country, through letterboxing, doorknocking and having conversations on street stalls. As an MP, I am privileged to have the support of volunteers, who generously give up their time to campaign on important issues. Volunteers play a huge role in our democracy and will be crucial to the upcoming Voice Referendum.

I am proud to be part of a Government that is supporting the volunteers who give up their time to help improve their communities through an additional $4 million funding boost for Volunteering Resource Centres – which will assist up to 37 centres nationally.

The Albanese Labor Government is also providing $367,000 to Volunteering Australia to coordinate the implementation of the National Volunteering Strategy – which will work to improve support across the volunteering sector in Australia – and $240,000 over the next three years for National Volunteer Week.

Thank you to all Canberra’s volunteers for the work you do. Our city, environment and community could not get by without you.

SPICE extends quality of life for Canberrans with dementia

In the University of Canberra Hospital’s gym, Albert Green OAM walks backwards through an obstacle course, balancing a ping-pong ball on a racquet. William Simpkin and his wife Anne toss two balls back and forth, simultaneously throwing one and catching the other.

Messrs Green and Simpkin both have dementia. They are taking part in SPICE (short for Sustainable Personalised Interventions for Cognition, Care and Engagement), an active therapeutic intervention designed to help people with dementia remain living independently at home. More than two-thirds of Canberrans with dementia still live in the community.

“It’s really a program that’s been put together to help them to remain engaged in activities that are important for them, to keep them safe, and to build capacity for

carers to care for the person with dementia,” said Assistant Professor Nathan D’Cunha, a UC expert on non-pharmacological interventions for people with dementia.

The 12-week program combines cognitive stimulation therapy (activities that stimulate the mind, and improve memory, reasoning, and language) and physical activity.

SPICE also helps caregivers build better skills for providing care. Home-based occupational therapy and personalised advice on diet and nutrition are also given.

Dr D’Cunha is aware of only one other program in all Australia whose intensity and length are comparable to SPICE.

Neither Mr Green nor Mr Simpkin can speak highly enough of the program.

“I was going nowhere and doing nothing,” Mr Green said. “It

seemed like I was going backwards rather than forwards, but now I’m racing ahead… I’ve got more interests and I’ve got more people I know and am friends with. It’s all because of the course.”

Mr Simpkin said that a lot of people with dementia think: ‘We’ve lost; we’ll just sit down and read the paper.’

“But this has been an opening into something that we weren’t really thinking about… There’s nothing else like it for us at this time of our lives. … We would have been lost without them, particularly the people who were looking after us; they’re just wonderful for us.”

SPICE began at the UC Hospital in September 2022, and is run by an occupational therapist, a physiotherapist, a social worker, a psychologist, and an allied health assistant.

The program was designed by Michelle Bennett, then-manager of the Brindabella Day and Ambulatory Rehabilitation Service, and her team at Canberra Health Services.

SPICE is funded by the ACT Government, and is free for participants. Anyone interested in accessing the program can email Megan Sullivan at UCHSPICE@act.gov.au.

Full story online. - Nick Fuller

The SPICE program is designed to help people with dementia remain at home.

Complex made simple by Canberra Advice Financial Planning

Canberra photographer captures UFO image

An award-winning, experienced astro-photographer from Canberra has captured an incredible image of what appears to be an unidentified flying object (UFO) in the sky, which moved west to east for about 10 minutes before disappearing.

An internationally well-respected photographer (he recently judged one of the world’s most prominent photography events), Ari Rex has spent the past 10 years documenting our night sky for 20 days of each month from February to October.

On Friday 14 July at about 8pm, during a photoshoot far away from city light pollution near Gundaroo, Ari and five clients witnessed – and documented – an object in the night sky that he couldn’t explain.

“Clients came to this photography workshop, I was showing them the Milky Way and the regions of the sky,” Ari says. “As I was tracking, I’m looking at this white thing and I thought ‘okay, it’s a little cloud coming from the north west’. As I was moving, I was keeping an eye on it … I thought ‘what is that? That’s strange.’ I could see that it was moving.

“It looked like there was something in it because of its form, like something that is rotating inside. You could see the movement of that thing. It was moving from north-west

to north-east, then it disappeared.”

Ari says the object appeared in the sky for no more than 10 minutes and he is certain it wasn’t a cloud.

“This is the first time that I’ve seen something like this. I’ve seen many things in the sky,” he says. “My time-lapse has a lot of things going on in them; if it was a plane it would be a red light or any light – this one didn’t have any lights. You see meteors, satellites, the [International Space Station] – they look like stars.”

Ari posted his sighting on a UFO sightings worldwide website, and he’s been closely following the recent hearings in US Congress, where a former military intelligence officer claimed Congress had been kept in the dark about unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP or UFO).

When Ari photographed the object, his camera had a wideangle lens fitted so he captured the whole sky (this image has been cropped). Due to the camera’s exposure setting, Ari says the object appears slightly elongated. “Exactly what you see there is more or less what I saw with my naked eye.”

See photos of the UFO sighting on Ari’s Instagram account @arirex1 or visit www.arirex.com.au

- Georgia Curry

Serhan Mackey Principal Adviser/Founder

PSS, CSS, MSBS and DFRDB Specialist

“My practice focuses on providing advice to people nearing retirement, Australian public servants and anyone with a membership of government or military de ned bene t schemes”

What makes Canberra Advice different?

Uniquely Personal: Your life is your life, and nancial advice needs to re ect it. We’ll align your strategy and choices to your values and intentions. There is no cookie cutting here.

We are not af liated with any nancial products. It means you are our priority, and we aren’t incentivized to push products that you do not need.

Complex made Simple: No one wants to be overwhelmed with nancial jargon and the technicalities of De ned Bene t Schemes , SMSFs or investing with ESG considerations. We are obsessed with simplicity, so you are empowered and feel in control.

To arrange a 15-minute complimentary discussion email Serhan at serhan@canberraadvice.com.au or call 0422 354 617

Phone: 0422 354 617

Email: info@canberraadvice.com.au

Website: www.canberraadvice.com.au

Office: Level 8, 121 Marcus Clarke St Canberra 2601

Astro-photographer Ari Rex captured this object in the night sky at Gundaroo on 14 July. Photo: Ari Rex

Dr Damien Bezzina Skin Doctor

Expertise in the management of Skin Cancer, all lumps & bumps ranging from cysts, lipomas to anal skin tags and most things in between.

SERVICES:

• SKIN CHECKS (full body & spot checks)

• SKIN CANCER MANAGEMENT (surgical inc skin aps & grafts & non-surgical)

• LUMPS & BUMPS MANAGEMENT (cysts, lipomas, skin tags, anal skin tags, any other lesions)

• DERMATOLOGY (RASHES, HAIR LOSS, ALOPECIA ETC)

• BOTULINUM TOXIN FOR TEETH GRINDING/ CLENCHING/JAW PAIN

Appointments can be made via:

Ochre BRUCE 02 6180 8500 or HotDoc online

QUEANBEYAN GP SUPERCLINIC 02 6297 3311 or www.qgpsc.com.au/appointments/

@lbsc_clinic

to the editor

We’ve had ‘Electricity Bill’. Now it seems we have ‘Lite Bill’ (CW 29 June). His apparent unconditional and uncritical support for Israel disregards the plight of a people who have also lived in the area for millennia. No mention of encroaching Jewish settlements. No discussion of the disproportionate military response to Palestinian resistance (or as Bill might call it, terrorism) to this encroachment on land they’ve lived on for centuries. His lauding of Jewish democracy appears at odds with recent developments, chief among them Netanyahu’s attempt to disempower the court of the land to review and put a brake on his government’s decisions. Hundreds of thousands of Jewish citizens, including army reservists, have turned out in protest for months. Where’s this heading, Bill? On AUKUS, Bill’s uncritical view staggers. $400 billion today. I suppose it could come in cheaper. Bill loves the nuclear option but where are we going to put the seriously radioactive waste from these creatures? We can’t agree where to dump our slightly tainted gloves. We then flit to CW 20 July where he suggests Albo should take a leaf out of Xi Ping’s energy policy. Bill is fond of calling on Xi as an example we should follow, but isn’t it at Xi and what he stands for that these subs are pointed? Let’s save the rest of Bill’s opinion piece of 20 July for a future review.

- Algis Kusta, Deakin

There has been much debate regarding renewables and the land they are taking up. Farmers are not allowed to cultivate the ground within 500m, to create dust, or to have a metal fence near the power lines, cutting their field in half. Trees have to be cleared as they can be a fire hazard.

Nick Cater, Senior Fellow at the

Menzies Research Centre, advised that at Chullumbin, Queensland, great swathes of tropical forest will have to be cut down to accommodate 86 mega pylons, trees that would take carbon out of the atmosphere. Nearby, he discovered several dozen 20m turbine blades that had been decommissioned from a previous site and left in the forest for eight years, decomposing and leaving toxins to drain into the soil. Is this going to happen every time towers are decommissioned?

Then there is cost. Cater states that construction on steep and inaccessible sites is a major operation. This one requires more than 100km of new roads five to seven metres wide, carved through native forests.

The forest is home to vulnerable native species, including the Greater Glider and the Magnificent Brood Frog. It is also the hunting ground for the Red Goshawk, one of Australia’s rarest raptors. Their flight paths make them vulnerable to turbine strikes.

- Vi Evans, Macgregor

The letter ‘Culling is the lesser of two evils’ (CW 20 July) demonstrates why we need to save Canberra’s kangaroo “folk”.

Instead of wasting public money on killing kangaroos, the Chief Minister and Environment Minister are ignoring the humane and viable alternative. That is to build a series of wildlife corridors to connect Canberra’s Nature Reserve system and allow wildlife and people to move around the city safely without being hit by speeding vehicles. Currently the ACT Labor/Green Coalition’s poor road infrastructure is pushing the cost of vehicle repair back to Canberrans. Wildlife corridors will save Canberrans money.

- Robyn Soxsmith, Kambah

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.

Giulia Jones uses chemo head shave to raise funds

Breast cancer and chemotherapy have not quenched Giulia Jones’s determination to be of service to others. The former Canberra Liberals MLA, now CEO of Painaustralia, had her head shaved on Monday morning at Cataldo’s Salon in Civic. While her treatment was making her lose her hair, she turned it to good account to raise money and awareness for young women with cancer or chronic pain, which are often seen as older persons’ conditions.

“I would never have chosen this, but sometimes in life you don’t get to choose,” Mrs Jones said. “We all have to ask the question of ourselves: what are we going to do with each day of our lives? And how are we going to make a di erence? I was really raised to try to do something with my life.”

Having her head shaved means no more waking up to find her hair on her pillow, Mrs Jones joked.

“It’s a relief; it actually feels like a relief,” she said of her new look. “I’m kind of amazed I look okay without hair, as it turns out.”

Mrs Jones said she could not wait to see her children’s reaction. Her five-year-old daughter Liliana, who perched on her knee during the shave, has already told her she looks like a boy with lipstick. But Liliana still gave her “100 thumbs up”!

“I said to my [elder] daughter this morning: ‘Do I look like a mess?’ She said: ‘Yeah, but it’s marketable,

mum, so go with it!’ I’m actually really happy to look less like a mess, and my big boys will absolutely laugh their heads o , because for years I ribbed them about shaving their heads too short. I would say: ‘Don’t do that; that’s not a good look. People would judge you.’ Anyway, that’s going to be my joy now.”

Mrs Jones hopes to raise $30,000 for So Brave, Australia’s young women’s breast cancer charity, which is designing a better blood screening test; and for Painaustralia, the peak body for people with chronic pain, which is advocating for doctors to treat them more seriously.

Mrs Jones, who left the Legislative Assembly last year due to family and health reasons, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year.

“My chemo is really intense, and I’m sick for a week afterwards. It starts again on Thursday. So, we’ve planned this for a good day, and then I’ll just disappear into my family and my home for a week, and walk up into the hills above my house … I’ll go and touch some trees, and get in touch with nature, literally! And then I’ll emerge each time and I’ll get ready for the next one.”

Many of Mrs Jones’s former colleagues from the Canberra Liberals were there to o er their encouragement. Full story online.

- Nick Fuller

Former Liberals MLA Giulia Jones had her head shaved on Monday to raise funds for Painaustralia, where she is CEO, and So Brave. Photo Nick Fuller

HAVE YOU HEARD?

GIVIT donation of the week: Highchair

GIVIT has partnered with an organisation in the ACT that is working with First Nations families to provide accommodation services. They are requesting assistance for a single mother and her children who lost all their belongings in a fire. This family had been offered transitional housing, and the organisation is helping them fit out the house with furniture and other essential items. They are requesting two highchairs for the kids, one of whom has a medical condition. Your donation will mean a lot to this family as they try to get back on their feet. Canberrans can donate good quality used highchairs or fund this request with 100% of funds received by GIVIT used to purchase highchairs. To donate or fund, visit: givit.org.au/whats-needed, search Category: ‘highchair’; Location: ‘ACT’.

Building Affordable Housing

Local charity, Karabar Housing Cooperative has launched the next phase of its ambitious plan to build more homes for the Queanbeyan region’s low to moderate income earners. Local developers, architects, Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) and community benefactors (including an anonymous $1 million donor) are working in partnership with Karabar Housing to raise funds to build new properties for those experiencing extreme housing stress. One project will focus on key worker and essential worker accommodation in Googong. The money raised will help realise multiple building projects in the region, providing affordable housing at 75 per cent of market rent to everyday, hardworking individuals and families struggling to make ends meet. To donate or get involved, visit www.karabarhousing.org

Referendum information session

Confused about how to vote in the upcoming referendum? Come along to the Canberra Irish Club, Weston on Sunday 6 August 6-7.30pm to hear Professor in Law at University of Canberra, Kim Rubenstein, and ANU Wiradjuri academic, James Blackwell, share their knowledge and expertise about the Uluru Statement From the Heart and constitutional reform. The talk will offer a political and legal introduction on the Voice and referendum, and include an open Q&A session

VIEW Club

Belconnen Day: Our next meeting is on Tuesday 8 August 11.45am at the Raiders Club, Holt. Cost $32. Guest speaker: Matt Anderson PSM, Director of the Australian War Memorial, who will give us an insight into the redevelopment of the War Memorial. RSVP to Gaye on 0411 122 121 or gayeclarke.GC@gmail.com by Thursday 3 August 12pm.

Yerrabi: Our next meeting is on 17 August 11.30am at Eastlake Club, Gungahlin. Guest speaker: Catherine Adcock from COTA. If you would like to attend the meeting then join us for lunch at the Club Bistro, RSVP to Dorothy on 0419 698 091 or dotric65@gmail.com by 14 August. New members are most welcome.

Canberra Flower Club

The Canberra Flower Club extends a warm welcome to new members and visitors joining our activities. The Club meets the second Tuesday of each month 9.30am-12.30pm at the Downer Community Centre. Next meeting on 8 August features a demonstration by a visiting florist; Lets Rock and Roll is the title of her arrangements. Entry $5. Our club’s motto is ‘Friendship through flowers’ and we aim to share the enjoyment of learning the art of flower arranging through lectures, demonstrations and workshops.

Probus Club

Greenway: Our mixed club meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month 10.30am-12.30pm at the Vikings Town Centre Club, Tuggeranong. Our next meeting is on 8 August when two guest speakers from the Australian Federal Police will speak about ‘spam and scams’. You are then invited to join other members for lunch. Outside of our monthly meetings, we have an extensive program of lunches, visits and trips. More info: call Alan on 6294 7207 or visit the Club’s website. Ngunnawal Combined: We hold our monthly general meeting on the fourth Monday of the month 10.30am at Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club. Next meeting 28 August. Following the meeting, we usually have guest speakers covering various topics, then enjoy lunch at the Lakes restaurant. Join us in day outings and other organised activities enjoyed by our retired members. More info: email our secretary bharry1@bigpond.com or call 0402 513 304.

Back to Burg

Burgmann College at ANU is reconnecting with alumni and the broader Burgmann community across a three-day reunion weekend on 18-20 August. Since 1971, more than 10,000 ANU students have called Burgmann home and all are warmly invited ‘Back-to-Burg’ to join the festivities, together with former staff, volunteers and friends. Highlight events include a trivia night (18 August) and an awards dinner (19 August). Registrations are due by 6 August. More info: visit burgmann.anu.edu.au/back-to-burg, email alumni@burgmann.anu.edu.au or call 6125 2254.

social scene

ABOVE Peru National Day reception, Yarralumla. Photos: Ayu Srimoyo

BELOW Canberra Business Chamber Business After Business networking event, Ann Harding Conference Centre, University of Canberra.

ACROSS

1 Backup player (3)

3 Competitor (10)

10 Dozes (4,3)

11 Holiday destination (7)

12 Hallways (9)

13 Blue primary colour (4)

15 Rolling unit used by a young person (10)

17 Uncommon (4)

19 Drunk (4)

20 Pad of drawing paper (10)

23 Storm (4)

25 Rhythmic vibration (9)

27 Pours (7)

28 US singer, dancer and actor, Fred – (7)

29 Displaces (10)

30 Emergency rooms (abbr) (3)

PLAY UNLIMITED PUZZLES ONLINE

canberraweekly.com.au/puzzles

LEO JUL 23 – AUG 23

Venus in your sign may bring about a nostalgic, romantic or wishful phase. However, not everyone will necessarily be in the same mindset as you. You may receive surprising news this week, which will benefit careful appraisal on your behalf.

VIRGO AUG 24 – SEPT 23

This week you may need to think on your feet, and must rely on snap judgement due to unpredictable circumstances arising. Avoid dispersing your energy; seek to be selective and focussed instead. Someone you collaborate with may surprise you.

LIBRA SEPT 24 – OCT 23

You may be surprised by someone’s reactions to a change in a shared circumstance. Avoid being deterred by people’s inconsistencies. Seek advice from friends or an organisation. Be clear about your priorities and take steps from there.

BRAIN BUSTERS

1 Which actor played Bert in the 1964 film Mary Poppins?

SCORPIO OCT 24 – NOV 22

DOWN

1 Built by children on the beach (10)

2 Nightmares (3,6)

4 Dwarves’ song, 'It’s – we go' (3,2,4)

5 Protruding teeth (5)

6 Posture (6)

7 1988 animated Japanese sci-fi film (5)

8 Swarm (4)

9 Submissive (6)

14 People who holiday on Saturday and Sunday (10)

16 Make reprisals (9)

18 Blood type (1-8)

21 Cordial (6)

22 Postpones (6)

24 Fragrance (5)

25 Italian sauce containing basil (5)

26 Contraction for ‘is not’ (3’1)

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

2 Who reigned as German emperor from 1871 to 1888?

3 Which season is first in Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons?

4 Name the casino game involving a shooter, stickman, boxman and two base dealers.

5 Which US president died while in office in 1945?

SOLUTIONS

A change of direction or within your career may be tiring or require extra focus, so be sure to plan ahead and take time out when you can. Good communication skills will boost your circumstances, so seek clarification should some aspects of the week be unclear.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 – DEC 21

A change of pace or a surprise will test your mettle. You may need to attend to logistics and to adapt to a change of routine or a fresh environment. If some aspects of your circumstances are unclear or require change, be sure to do your research.

CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 20

Developments will require meticulous handling. Be strong and rely on your inner resourcefulness to maintain a calm attitude while changes unfold. For some, developments will revolve around finances and for others, on family.

AQUARIUS JAN 21 – FEB 19

Circumstances could cause restlessness or the sense that change is coming, especially within relationships, at home or with regard to a property. Avoid feeling distracted and edgy; a careful approach will enable progress. Above all, avoid impulsiveness.

PISCES FEB 20 – MAR 20

Be sure to plan travel well ahead and to be super clear with your communications this week to avoid delays and mix-ups as much as possible. Keep an eye on financial transactions; avoid making assumptions about investments and debt.

ARIES MAR 21 – APR 20

You may need to reassess a situation or change your perspective as developments may surprise you. A change of circumstance is likely to affect your home or a business or personal partnership. Establish a sense of authority to ensure progress.

TAURUS APR 21 – MAY 21

You may be surprised by news from the past or by an impromptu get-together. A change of schedule will benefit from careful adjustment. Be clear about your priorities and with communications, and all else will fall in place.

GEMINI MAY 22 – JUN 21

News this weekend or early next week may be unexpected and this will kickstart a fresh understanding of someone. Your involvement with a group or with a friend or organisation may require careful handling, so be sure to think before you speak.

CANCER JUN 22 – JUL 22

A change of circumstance may ask that you are better organised or that you research circumstances. A financial, career or personal matter is best approached carefully as developments may be out of the ordinary.

IN THE STARS with PATSY BENNETT

For personal readings, contact Patsy through her website to make an appointment, or call 0448 808 333. Facebook: facebook.com/patsybennettpsychicastrology Instagram: instagram.com/patsybennettastrology www.patsybennett.com

Experience Mongolian cuisine in a yurt at Naadam Restaurant

When it comes to Canberra culinary experiences, there’s a growing gastronomic repertoire to choose from. You can dine in a dome, on a tru e farm, and now, in a real Mongolian yurt.

Last March, restaurateur Mukhbilguun ‘Mugi’ Khishigbayar built a traditional yurt, or ger, for the first time – not in his home country, but out front of Naadam Restaurant in Phillip.

Insulated well enough for freezing climates, it remains toasty-warm during cold Canberra nights. For Mugi, building the yurt in Australia meant connecting with his roots in a di erent way. Since starting Naadam in 2022, his goal has been to showcase Mongolia through its unique food and culture.

As is tradition, Mugi greets his customers with a cup of suutei tsai – a salty savoury milk tea that warms you from the inside out – poured from an ornate decanter.

My dining partners and I tried the Buckle Up set menu ($89pp) and each dish can also be ordered a la carte

Our first course was Stu-Gen, or ox collagen jelly.

While collagen supplements are a lucrative industry in the West, Mongolians incorporate it in their diet straight from the source as part of their time-honoured ‘nose to tail’ philosophy, a key inspiration for the Naadam team in designing the menu.

Naadam beautifully balances the flavour with tangy sundried tomatoes and a creamy milk tea sauce derivative of suutei tsai

Their signature style of elevating the flavours of traditional Mongolian food is what Mugi calls “modern Mongolian”.

One of our favourite dishes of the night was also Mugi’s top pick, the lamb tartare (honinii tatar), with a sea buckthorn dressing, blueberries, and spinach dough crisps.

Sea buckthorn are the Indigenous berries of Mongolia. Both tart and citrusy, with subtle sweetness, their flavour created a perfect tangy tart for dessert.

Testament to the consideration put into the menu’s design, its main event encapsulates Naadam’s philosophy in a single controversial dish: Mongolian barbecue.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about

Food for thought

Max Brenner is opening a new chocolate bar at the Canberra Centre this week, letting Canberrans have first scoop of their exclusive chocolate gelato range. Free sweet treats, including wa es and chocolate, will be up for grabs on Grand Opening day, Saturday 5 August. The gelato, made from Max Brenner’s premium milk, white, and dark chocolate recipe, will be available for the first time in Australia. The store will also introduce a new savoury range, including the ‘To e’ - an ultimate cheese toastie wa e. A whopping 100 kilograms of chocolate will also be available to smash and share on opening weekend – a celebratory tradition for Max Brenner. More info: canberracentre.qicre.com

Local staple for authentic Indian cuisine, Daana Restaurant will be closing curtains at Curtin in mid-September as their lease expires and the property is set to be redeveloped. From humble beginnings out of a shipping container at Westside Acton Park and going on to win numerous awards, including Australia’s Best Indian Restaurant at the 2022 Restaurant & Catering Awards, Daana’s final service in Curtin will be on Saturday 16 September.

“It’s time to say goodbye to our home – Daana at Curtin,” wrote restaurant founders, Sanjay and Sunita Kumar in an announcement on 25 July. There are no plans for a second bricks-and-mortar restaurant, however, Daana will continue serving the Canberra community through their function and events venues The Abbey by Daana, The Curators Café Bar & Functions at NFSA, and their catering service. Read the full story at canberraweekly.com.au

Mongolian food right now,” says Mugi. “Mongolian barbecue and Mongolian lamb don’t have anything to do with Mongolia at all. It was invented in Taiwan.”

Part of his motivation in founding Naadam was to have Mongolians speak for themselves about their cuisine.

“Everybody else has been using our culture and narrative, so why not do it for ourselves?”

True Mongolian barbecue, or Horhog, is tender lamb briskets served over hot volcanic stones with pan-fried vegetables. Served in Naadam fashion, it’s brought to the table then drizzled with a barbecue emulsion that sizzles for your senses.

Mugi’s goal is to be at the forefront of the “Mongolian boom,” boosting the cuisine’s popularity in Australia, “turning into something that is part of their food lexicon”.

Nadaam Mongolian Restaurant, Corinna St, Phillip. Bookings: 6193 8339, naadam.com.au

- Anja de Rozario

Capital Region Farmers Market has announced the winners of its inaugural Market Munchies School Grants campaign. Market Munchies provides funding for local Canberra schools to run their own food or garden programs that educate students on the importance of healthy eating and supporting local farmers. Congratulations go to Majura Primary School, Margaret Hendry School, and Florey Primary School. The public voted onsite at the Market over four Saturdays last term. Due to the overwhelming response, the Market increased the total grants from $1,500 to $3,250 for the Term 2 nominated schools. It was such a close call between Majura Primary School and Margaret Hendry School, that both schools were granted $1,500. Florey also received $250. The milk bottle lids used to cast votes will be donated to local charity, Lids4Kids, following each grant campaign. For more information, visit capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au/ market-munchies-capital-region-farmers-marketschool-grants/

The latest in foodie news, events, wand products.

Spamalot promises a knight to remember

Ladies and gentlemen, hold on to your coconuts, because Free-Rain Theatre brings Spamalot the Musical to The Q in Queanbeyan next month, 12-24 September.

Described as “lovingly ripped off” from the 1975 motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot was written in 2005 by Eric Idle, one of the original Pythons.

Spamalot repackages some of the film’s most beloved sketches for the stage. The plague victim (“Not dead yet”) becomes an irreverent musical number while the Black Knight (“It’s just a flesh wound”) becomes a feat in physical

comedy.

Director Jarrad West, of The Q’s previous productions, Mamma Mia! and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, has taken a step away from jukebox musicals to orchestrate the impious take on King Author and his quest for the Holy Grail.

However, he says Canberrans can look forward to just as much musical variety as they would expect from a jukebox.

“You have some Latin dance, some Irish dance, some disco – it’s all across the board, which is really, really fun,” West tells CW

He calls Spamalot “deceptively” full of showtunes, tap dancing, and

all-around musical fanfare. “Which you might not think of since it’s Monty Python. [However] It does lend itself really well to becoming a Broadway show. I mean, it won a Tony, so they have to had been doing something right,” he laughs.

Spamalot first opened on

Broadway in 2005, with Tim Curry starring as King Arthur. It received 14 Tony Award nominations, winning in three categories, including Best Musical.

“It’s a big show and we want to try and be more interactive with it, which is why we’re doing this with

Free-Rain Theatre promises laughs aplenty in their upcoming production of Spamalot the Musical at The Q from 12 September. Photos: Kerrie Brewer.

the audience sitting on the stage.”

Indeed, good sir, West is making the most of the space allowed by The Q stage by offering 24 audience members “Courtside seats” to be in the centre of the action.

“My original concept was to have six tables on stage that were used for a variety of things, like the battlements of the French castle and the round table,” he says.

“Then I thought, ‘Well, why not put [some of] the audience at those tables and have them right in the middle of it?’

“Monty Python has a cult following – a bit like Rocky Horror in that people know the lines and they’re calling them out along with [the actors].

“We’re leaning into that interactive aspect to make it a love letter to the fans of Monty Python,” says West, “but also bring in those who might not necessarily know Monty Python but still want to have

a good time at the theatre.”

A longtime fan of not only Monty Python, but of the pre-existing radio show, I’m Sorry, I’ll Read That Again, West imagines that everyone of his generation remembers British comedy writers Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Cleese, and Bill Oddie.

“Those comedians were part of your life growing up. That style of English, ludicrous, absurdist comedy has always been appealing to me, I found it just ridiculously fun.”

With that in mind, he adds that the sheer ridiculousness of Spamalot can be appreciated across generations.

“We’ve got a cast of wonderfully young people who make me feel old,” he laughs. “The cast are all Monty Python fans, so they all understand how ridiculous they have to be.”

The talented Canberra locals bringing Spamalot to the stage are

a mix of new and familiar faces. King Arthur will be played by Michael Jordan, who starred in The Sound of Music last year, and played Lancelot in The Q’s previous production of Spamalot

The seductive Lady of the Lake will be brought to life by Hannah Lance in her first major lead role.

“With casting this one, it was all about who understands Monty Python humour, who can embody a little bit of the original performers, and give us a throwback, not only to the film, but to the original Broadway production,” says West.

“We’re Australian, we can do British accents while standing on our heads, so that does make things quite easier casting-wise,” he smiles.

“We still have that British sense of humour … We do still have a love of the absurd. We love to see hubris cut down in a comedy and Canberra is always crying out for a pantomime.

“If you love silly, if you love Rocky Horror, off-the-wall offbeat humour, and cracking songs from an onstage orchestra, come along!”

Tickets are on sale now at theq.net.au

-

Anja de Rozario

Spamalot is “deceptively” full of showtunes, tap dancing, and all-around musical fanfare.

Your local, independent bookshop in Kingston

Canberra’s newest independent bookshopstocking a large range of quality new books for readers of all ages.

We sell pages for all ages

Book talk

This week, Jeff Popple reviews three good books for a winter’s evening read. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com

None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

Century, $32.99

Lisa Jewell’s books skirt that fine line between psychological crime and domestic drama, and her latest novel, None Of This Is True, is a good mix of mystery, suspense and family tension.

Celebrating her 45th birthday at her local London pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair, who is also celebrating her 45th birthday. Josie convinces Alix to make a podcast about her, but as her story unfolds, Alix comes to realise that there is a dark and potentially dangerous side to Josie. An entertaining read that will keep you guessing to the end.

A Curious Daughter by Jules Van Mil

Macmillan, $34.99

Jules Van Mil’s A Curious Daughter is an engaging tale about life’s opportunities and regrets, set in the 1980s. The story moves from outback Queensland to Brisbane and London, as Joy Meredith, the curious daughter of the title, leaves her pre-planned life behind as she follows her singer boyfriend to the dizzying lights of London. Under the pressures of stardom, their relationship falters and Joy has to navigate her own way through life and back home.

This is an amicable story about an interesting set of talented and well-off characters. The writing is light, and there is plenty of emotion and angst.

The Caretaker by Gabriel Bergmoser

THE FAMILY BUSINESS

Harper Collins, $32.99

Gabriel Bergmoser has turned in another gripping thriller with The Caretaker

Charlotte is hiding out with a new identity in a small ski resort in the Australian alpine region. On the run from the police, and some nasty criminals, Charlotte has taken a job as an off-season caretaker. The lodges are empty, but Charlotte still jumps every time the floor creaks or the wind blows through the buildings. Charlotte thinks that she is safe and alone, but suddenly she is not. This tense and violent tale will have you feverishly turning the pages all the way to the final twist. Highly recommended.

Canberra Weekly competition winners

The winners in Canberra Weekly’s latest round of competition draws are:

#OPIxBarbieTheMovie: N Lowe, Googong; M Mula, Fraser; M Tee, Palmerston.

Fleurette Aromatherapy: R Ellison, Downer; S Gye, Watson.

Pilot Frixion: J Kartadinata, Lyneham; S Francis, Uriarra Village.

New Scott Leggo gallery showcases Australia to the world

With photographs captured while hanging out the side of helicopters over the Kimberley and Great Barrier Reef, landscape photographer Scott Leggo’s new gallery showcases Australia from an angle not many get to witness.

His iconic images, plus many recently captured photographs, are now on display in a new gallery in Kingston, a newly-renovated space with high ceilings and a clean layout, which allows hundreds of his images and larger-scale photos over 2m to be displayed.

Scott says the new larger gallery provides a better customer experience and is part of his goal to grow from a Canberra business to a truly national business.

“It’s a new gallery but for us as a business, the new location is about positioning us for future growth,” Scott says. “We are promoting Canberra and Australia and now sharing the beauty of our country with a growing audience.”

Scott was previously in the Royal Australian Air Force for 10 years and has recently returned to the air,

Now showing

Talk to Me (MA15+)

Mia (Sophie Wilde) accompanies her best friend Jade (Alexandra Jensen) and Jade’s brother Riley (Joe Bird) to a party, where soon the revellers start to pass the embalmed hand of a medium around for a possession hit.

This South Australian feature film directorial debut has caused quite a stir both locally and internationally for good reason. The concept is intriguing and serves as a metaphor for casual drug use: a simple token of acceptance leading to addictiveness and fatal consequences of such. Jade and her friends start their reckless supernatural shenanigans as a social pastime, which slowly morphs into something darker and increasingly uncontrollable. Our creepies from the other side spot traumas as vulnerabilities to be exploited for nefarious means. Like the Deadites from The Evil Dead (1981), our opportunistic spirits take incredible

using helicopters and drones to shoot incredible aerial shots of Australia from above.

“I’ve started doing more aerial photography, there’s been growing interest in my aerial abstracts in the last 12 months,” Scott says. “Spending time in the air allows me to capture a unique and different aspect.”

Beyond the gallery and the growing number of clients with Scott’s pieces hanging on their walls at home, Scott’s work can also be found in embassies and hotels around the world, promoting Australia’s beautiful landscape to diplomats and tourists globally. One of Scott’s iconic Canberra images of hot air balloons floating over the National Arboretum is being used by Tourism Australia around the world to promote Canberra.

Scott’s jigsaw puzzles, which kept the business going during Covid lockdowns, plus other Australian made gift options are available in the new gallery. The new Scott Leggo Gallery is located at 33 Jardine Street, Kingston ACT. Open 7 days.

glee in torturing the young bodies they possess, as well as (possibly) their souls for either a chance to reexperience life, or out of a sick sense of jealousy and the all-Australian tall-poppy syndrome. While the story is contemporary, set in a world populated with modern technology and social media, the ambience, mood and tone are firmly set in the old-school horror genre, utilising jump scares and gore while riffing on existentialistic, nihilistic dread with imagery of Bosch’s hellscape, hinting at an ancient evil stretching to the times of the Old Testament; something well above and beyond the capabilities of our group of irresponsible teens.

Verdict: An incredible career maker for its directors, writers and star, Sophie Wilde. 4.5 stars.

- Luke McWilliams themovieclub.net

Viewed at Dendy cinemas.

Special Olympics Canberra Come & Try Programs

Our Summer Sports Come & Try Programs are for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. Join us for 3 FREE Come & Try Sessions from August - September and have fun, learn a new sport, and make new friends.

We have a large range of sports available: Basketball, Bowling, Golf, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis

For more information or to register, please contact: act.membership@specialolympics.com.au 0407 263 694

Renowned Australian landscape photographer, Scott Leggo (right) with his wife and business partner, Phillipa Leggo, in the new gallery in Kingston, which was officially opened by the Governor-General on 14 June.

Scott’s new purpose-designed gallery in Kingston allows many more prints and larger-scale photographs to be displayed in style.

Photos Kerrie Brewer

HAY

FEVER

A chaotic family invite guests to join them on a retreat full of drama, secrets and wickedly fun revelations in this laugh-out-loud comedy. ACT Hub, Kingston, 3-12 August; acthub.com.au

THE SPOOKY MEN’S CHORALE

The unforgettable all male group bring their national tour to Llewellyn Hall, Yarralumla.

Saturday 5 August 7.30pm; ticketek.com.au

HAYLEY JENSEN

Former Australian Idol finalist and country music sensation, Hayley Jensen brings The Acoustic Experience to Queanbeyan. The two-time Golden Guitar Award winner will perform her hits in a stripped back, intimate show and showcase her brand new music.

BRADDON MERCHANT WINE DINNER

For one night only, Braddon Merchant’s Spain vs Australia wine dinner will feature a curated menu of individually plated dishes, carefully paired with fine wine from small-scale producers. In a guided evening, guests will explore the parallels between the two countries and their acclaimed wine regions. Braddon Merchant, Friday 11 August from 6.30pm, $170 per person. Tickets via OpenTable.com

JOHN CLEESE

After selling out his 8

GOOD WORKS

Would you ruin someone’s life, separate them from their soulmate and their only son, all the time telling yourself you’re doing the right thing? Leaping back and forth between the 1920s and the 1980s, Good Works follows the lives of two women and their two sons as they struggle to cram their complex lives within the narrow confines of religious morality. By turns angry, incisive, tender and tragic, Good Works is Nick Enright’s most complex and most personal play. Directed by Julian Meyrick, at Mill Theatre at Dairy Road.

Building 3.3, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick, until 12 August. 7.30pm Wednesday-Saturday, 2.30pm Saturday, 4.30pm Sunday.

Tickets: $50; $40 concession; $25 midweek; milltheatreatdairyroad.com

Find more listings at canberraweekly.com.au

To advertise here, contact Samantha on 0423 355 536 or samantha@canberraweekly.com.au

A touring exhibition of The Whitlam Institute within Western Sydney University

Photograph taken by David Porter, Sydney Morning Herald

How teens shop local

Here in Canberra, shopping local is a point of pride. Whether it’s to rep the Bush Capital, or to support local maker-centric markets and boutiques, we proudly sport our locally made treasures. See: Bus shelter earrings.

While worth the investment, buying locally made can come at a higher price point, but that’s not stopping Canberra teens, according to experts in local street fashion @canberra.core.

“There’s such a push with younger generations towards sustainability. They’re very into buying second-hand and buying from their friends as well, who are knitting, crocheting, making jewellery,” the street style photographers say.

Among these upcoming makers is Hiba Kennedy. Despite only recently having established her brand @p0ppingpearls, the 18-year-old jewellery designer has already sold hundreds of her pieces across Depop and Instagram.

“I’ve lived in Canberra my whole life,” says Hiba, who is currently studying architecture at the University of Canberra.

Hiba began making jewellery in early 2021, starting off simple by drawing designs on shrink plastic to create earrings. “When we went through our second

lockdown (August 2021) it spiked the creativity and I branched out, finding my own sort of style.”

Hiba believes that the boost in popularity of making your own clothes and accessories can be attributed in part to the pandemic – a formative event for her generation.

“Lots of people started new hobbies or projects because there was nothing else to focus on.” A study by Oracle showed that 54 per cent of Aussies started at least one new hobby during the pandemic.

Hiba’s signature more-is-more aesthetic also speaks to another trend popular among Gen Z: maximalism.

“I hate minimalism,” she smiles. “Why are we making everything boring? It drives me insane!”

Dopamine Dressing – a 2020 take on maximalism – rose to popularity during the pandemic as many turned to eclectic and eye-catching fashion to boost their mood.

While she agrees that young Canberrans’ penchant for wearing second-hand and handmade is in part due to a common passion for sustainability, for Hiba, both are products of being a young person in one of the most expensive cities in Australia.

“Everybody my age shops at thrift stores or creates

their own things. I know very few people who will shop first-hand.”

As well as sourcing her charms from Etsy, Hiba often creates her pieces out of recycled jewellery from op shops – turning dated pieces into fabulously Frankenstein-ed works of art.

Next on the horizon, she hopes to build her own website, where she can continue to sell her wild creations to both her national and local clientele. She often finds that she’s already met the latter at some point, “But that’s just Canberra for you,” Hiba smiles.

- Anja de Rozario

Hiba Kennedy, 18, is the creative mind behind @p0ppingpearls. Shot at Dirty Janes Canberra. Photo: Kerrie Brewer

Initial Consultation is Complimentary

Contact us

Professional Tattoo Artist in Eyebrow - Eyeliner Full Lip & Lip Blush Beauty Spot & Non-Laser Tattoo Removal artisticacosmetics.com.au artisticacosmetics@gmail.com 0431 223 098

WINTER SEASON FASHION AVAILABLE NOW Come and see a lovely range of shoes and boots.

Cosmetic Tattoo & Non-laser Tattoo Removal @debbiemareesfashion 234 CRAWFORD ST, QUEANBEYAN 02 6299 3335 Weekdays 9.30am - 5.30pm Saturday 9am - 3pm Sunday Closed @debbiemareesfashion

the look The heavy hitters: Fragrance-free heavy-duty moisturisers The fancy stu : Relaxing aromas and rejuvenating ingredients

Around this time of year, the Canberra climate can wreak havoc on our hands, leaving them dry, sensitive, and even painful for those of us who experience conditions such as psoriasis or eczema. That goes double if you are washing and sanitising constantly to try and avoid the various bugs going around! In the name of SOS (saving our skin), here are six tried-and-tested hand-savers for winter.

Natralus hand & skin shield liquid gloves, $14.99 Chemist Warehouse DU’IT Tough Hands, $9 Coles

Steal! Calscale, $15.50 calscale.com.au Wild kakadu hand & body cream, $45 retreatmentbotanics.com

Arden eight-hour cream skin protectant, $32 Myer

WITH

Does diet cola cause cancer?

Did you catch the news about aspartame, a popular artificial sweetener being declared a possible cancer risk according to the World Health Organization (WHO)? Aspartame is used in thousands of products including popular carbonated drinks like Coke Zero, Diet Coke, Pepsi Max as well as chewing gums and ice-creams. You can identify aspartame in drinks and foods by looking for additive number 951. The listing of aspartame as a possible cancer-causing substance is significant given the popularity of many of the products it is found in, however there are hundreds of substances more likely to cause cancer (be carcinogenic).

The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) places 127 substances into the

highest risk category referred to as ‘known carcinogens’. This list includes well-known risk factors like alcohol, tobacco smoke, asbestos and solar radiation, as well as the less well-known wood dust, salted fish and leather dust.

The slightly less lethal category, referred to the IARC as ‘probable carcinogens’, lists another 95 substances including wood smoke, red meat and 90 or so chemicals you’ve probably never heard of, plus a few you might have like glyphosate (found in the widely used weed killer known as Round Up) and creosote or coal tar, which used to be a common wood preservative.

Aspartame, by comparison, is one of a further 323 agents that are listed as ‘possible carcinogens’, meaning there is evidence enough

to raise concerns but not enough to describe them as probable carcinogens. That said, it takes years of research to build the evidence case before a substance makes any of these lists, so, if you’re looking to err on the safe side then avoiding aspartame looks like an easy call to make.

Keep in mind, just because a substance makes one of the IARC’s lists doesn’t mean everything on that category is equally likely to cause cancer. For example, you are much more likely to get lung cancer from infrequent exposure to cigarette smoke than you are to be getting liver cancer from regularly drinking alcohol, even though both alcohol and cigarette smoke are listed as known carcinogens. However, frequent high exposure to alcohol is a risk factor, albeit the safe exposure

levels seem a little generous to me, at one standard drink a day for women and two for men. For further reading, visit www.iarc.who.int

EXPERIENCE A GOOD KIND OF PRESSURE

feature Inspired Life Collective FLOWPRESSO® BODYSUIT THERAPY wi

Winter is here, and as the cold winds blow, wouldn’t it be wonderful to wrap yourself in a big, warm hug that soothes your mind and body? Imagine achieving better sleep, managing stress e ectively, and feeling energised and revitalised. Are you intrigued?

I am Jessica Read, an Alternative Therapist and Life and Wellbeing Coach from Inspired Life Collective (ILC). I am delighted to introduce a revolutionary technology, FLOWpresso®, designed to help you prioritise your wellbeing, right here in Canberra.

So, what exactly is FLOWpresso® and how does it work? It’s a breakthrough, non-invasive natural therapy that o ers a unique full-body suit

releasing toxins and entering a state of ‘rest and repair’ for optimal healing.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the constant hustle, leading to increased stress, anxiety and fatigue. FLOWpresso® provides a pathway to break free from this cycle of fight or flight, enabling your long-term holistic health, and supporting increased relaxation, improved sleep quality, and a boost in energy. FLOWpresso® may also assist in muscle recovery, weight management and mobility.

Don’t let your busy life dictate your wellbeing. Take the time to nurture yourself and experience the benefits that FLOWpresso® has to o er. Let it remind your mind and body what true rest, recovery and rejuvenation feel like.

As the only FLOWpresso® technician in the ACT, I extend a warm invitation to you this winter. Embrace this new technology and embark on a

journey towards a healthier, more balanced life. Follow the QR code to learn more and make a booking at www.inspiredlifecollective.com.au/ flowpresso

W: Inspiredlifecollective.com.au @jessica.read.ilc

M: 0435 826 086

Haven't run in decades?

Never run before?

Want to perform better?

Experience pain ?

WIN! Colgate Pulse Series 2 health+wellbeing

Aiming for a Fun Run?

10 week Running Program

28 AUG - 3 NOV 2023

The Higher Function Running Program

Combining a running plan with running specific agility and strength exercises as well as running drills, to improve your technique

See our Physio or Exercise Physiologist for a Running Assessment to evaluate your running biomechanics

Details

Tues 5:30pm Run - Running drills, interval runs, self paced (at Rond Terrace) Wed 5:30pm Strength class - Running specific strength class to prevent injury, improve biomechanics and performance

Fri 7:00am Run

Classes taught by a Physio and Exercise Physiologist - Claim from HICAPS!

For beginners or experienced runners who want to improve their performance!

The Australian Dental Association reports that an estimated 29 per cent of adults and 27 per cent of children in Australia are affected by oral disease, which can be detrimental to overall health and wellbeing. With Dental Health Week fast approaching, taking place from 7 to 13 August, it’s time to teach the nation how to brush again!

Colgate’s Pulse Series 2 connected electric toothbrush has been designed to fit into people’s busy lives to help them brush their best. Utilising sonic technology to deliver a superior clean, the brush pairs with an in-app personal smart coaching system that helps remove 50 per cent more plaque versus brushing with a non-connected electric toothbrush.

CW has 2 x Pulse Series 2 connected electric toothbrushes to be won.

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 11 August 2023 and winners drawn same day. One entry per person per giveaway. Entrants must be aged 18+.

Boho Luxe

Can’t seem to pull your home together?

Access help for the parts of decorating you need. We take your style, then pull it all together so you can move forward. Avoid big ticket mistakes and achieve the stylish, classic, forever home you deserve.

Scan to learn more about ‘Choose your Own Adventure Decorating Services’

www.journey-home.com.au

Boho luxe is the melding of the relaxed and free-spirited bohemian style with extravagant opulence. Key elements include mixed and matched luxurious fabrics, the tasteful incorporation of flora and fauna, and, of course, mementos from your travels.

WITH HOME EDITOR, ANJA DE ROZARIO

1 Zen plant stakes, $12 for pack, Target; 2 Chinois occasional chair, $779, Journey Home, Manuka; 3 Black bee pillow cover, $99.95 , Luxe & Beau, Fyshwick; 4 Moss velvet with fringe pillow cover, $99.95, Luxe & Beau; 5 Safari ginger jar, $202, Journey Home; 6 Lommaryd mirror, $99, Ikea; 7 Cheetah sitting table lamp, $84.95, zanui.com.au; 8 Clara ottoman, $749, zanui.com.au

Lommarp cabinet $799 Ikea

Vistas from a classic Macquarie home

Macquarie 31 Lachlan Street

This classic home has only ever had one owner, and the love and care invested into the property is evident.

“Each room is so well-sized and perfect to customise and make it your own,” says Agent Eoin Ryan-Hicks.

“We also love the garden – it’s a beautiful British-style oasis with multiple separate areas for outdoor entertaining, including a gazebo.”

For Agent Hannah Green, another favourite aspect of the property is the breakaway space with a separate entry. Perfectly suited as a teenager’s retreat, it’s set up with a lounge, bedroom, kitchenette and bathroom.

“The outlook over the hills also makes this home really special,” she adds. “You can enjoy them from the large, raised balcony and the

lounge room.”

The vibrant surrounding area of Macquarie offers a plethora of activities.

“Macquarie is sought after for good reason,” says Eoin. “A short walk up the road is Cosy T’s café and Kinh Do Vietnamese restaurant.”

“There are so many outdoor activities to enjoy, like walking with the kids to nearby parks, ovals, and bike rides around Lake Ginninderra,” says Hannah. “Mount Painter and the shady Cork Oak Forrest is great to explore as well.”

Living here means convenience is never at cost, with the nearby Fresh Food Markets and Jamison Centre.

“Belconnen is fantastic for shopping and dining, with variety of cafés, bars, waterfront pubs, and restaurants,” says Hannah.

4

EER 1.5

Auction Wed 16 August 6pm

View Thurs 3 August 5-5.30pm

Sat 5 August 12-12.30pm

Agent Eoin Ryan-Hicks

Mob 0424 042 419

Agent Hannah Green

Mob 0422 381 055

LJ Hooker Kippax | 6255 3888

real estate recent sales

6 Grant Crescent, Griffith $4,750,000 Blackshaw

13 Weld Street, Yarralumla $2,228,000 Blackshaw

17 Cobbadah Street, O’Malley $2,050,000 Civium

99 Gouger Street, Torrens $1,952,000 LJ Hooker

15 MacDonnell Street, Yarralumla $1,925,000 Blackshaw

8 Bobby Street, Googong $1,600,000 White Rhino

22/58 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston $1,575,000 Maloneys

5 Whitman Crescent, Taylor $1,485,000 Confidence

4 Clay Street, Bonner $1,350,000 Suburbia

32 Handbury Way, Forde $1,340,000 Property Collective

35 Courtney Street, Googong $1,279,000 Distinct

3 Berents Street, Strathnairn $1,186,000 Blackshaw

98 Maribyrnong Avenue, Kaleen $1,100,000 Michael Potter

64 Atherton Street, Downer $1,085,000 Ray White

46 Jorgensen Street, Moncrieff $1,070,000 Impact Properties

62 Greg Urwin Circuit, Casey $1,045,000 Area Specialist

20 Edkins Street, Downer $1,020,000 Independent

123 Nemarang Crescent, Waramanga $990,000 Blackshaw

24 Buckmaster Crescent, Dunlop $980,000 Timothy Road

107 Wunderly Circuit,

8 Barcoo Place, Kaleen $875,000 Suburbia

8 Keeling Place, Kambah $865,000 Ray White

1/43 Derrington Crescent, Bonython $865,000 Independent

72 Guthridge Crescent, Wanniassa $860,000 McCann

1/6 Tyson Street, Ainslie $850,000 LJ Hooker

23 Elizabeth Crescent, Macquarie $840,000 Ray White

19 Heydon Crescent, Evatt $832,500 Bastion

32 Symers Street, Kambah $825,000 Belle

5 Costello Circuit, Calwell $802,500 Belle

6/42 Fullagar Crescent, Higgins $790,000 MARQ

3 Mark Place, Queanbeyan $790,000

- Super-sized fully serviced lots ranging from 850m2 to 1,547m2

- The largest lots at the lowest prices within 30 mins of Canberra’s CBD

- Spend less on your land leaving you more $$ to build your new home

- Freehold Land with no time limit to build (save now, build later)

- Less than 30 mins to Canberra’s CBD and under 20 mins to Queanbeyan

- Secure your chosen lot with $0 initial deposit

Independent

30 /41 Hampton Circuit, Yarralumla $475,000 Impact Properties

622/45 Ainslie Avenue, Braddon $455,000 Town Residential

4/21 Majura Avenue, Dickson $450,000 Belle

139/98 Corinna Street, Phillip $450,000 Blackshaw

511/2 Gribble Street, Gungahlin $420,000 Stone

50/566 Cotter Road, Wright $415,000 Mainstream

37/301 Flemington Road, Franklin $385,000 Capital Partner

413/39 Braybrooke Street, Bruce $360,000 Independent

17c/62 Wattle Street, Lyneham $355,000 Home by Holly

11/127 Rivett Street, Hackett $310,000 Hayman Partners

Data is provided by agents. Source: Realestate.com.au

Aster is a contemporary mix of townhouses and apartments. Located in North Coombs, one of Canberra’s most nature rich suburbs, Aster provides picturesque vistas and outdoor opportunities all while being ideally located only minutes to local shops, parks and restaurants.

Be inspired by an attentive selection of spacious 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom layouts, designed to improve your lifestyle. Featuring open plan living, large courtyards, balconies, and well considered inclusions, these alluring residences will be a place you can call home.

Apartments from $430,000. Townhouses from $799,000.

Display Suite Now Open Saturday & Sunday 11am - 3pm

Cnr John Gorton Drive & Southcott View, North Coombs

For more information contact Andrew Ligdopoulos 0408 488 148

Artist’s Impression

4 Waterson Drive Surf Beach

MODERN LIVING – A LOVELY LIFESTYLE BLOCK

Stunning home on 1.4ha zoned R5 with subdivision potential (minimum lot size 5000m2 in this area. Features include ducted reverse cycle A/C, open plan, modern tiling, wood fireplace. Children’s retreat/study space and media room, Chef inspired kitchen with quality appliances, island bench and walk-in pantry. Spacious undercover alfresco, double garage with internal access. Large 2-bay shed with additional carport and side access.

4 2 5

For Sale $1,390,000-$1,420,000

View By Appointment

Agent Karen Van Der Stelt 0413 221 504 property.ljhooker.com.au/10kxf8f

batemansbay.ljhooker.com.au

LJ Hooker Batemans Bay 02 4472 6455

• Private residence totally renovated and immaculately presented • Four spacious bedrooms, two with ensuites • Modern kitchen with butler’s pantry, island bench, stone benchtops, masses of storage • Separate living spaces, plus huge glassed-in space that opens wide to outdoors

Enjoy eggs your way! Win the ultimate egg-citing bundle from Wiltshire to make the most of your morning meal. The stunning Easycook basil & gold aluminium non-stick 3-piece set includes 28cm frypan, 16cm saucepan with lid, and 24cm casserole with lid, making it the best companion for the whole family. Perfect the poach with the Poachies pack of 20 to make the quickest and easiest poached eggs. For those who love their eggs hard boiled, pair with the Egg Timer for exceptional eggs every time. No matter your choice of eggs, the White Stipple Embossed 12-piece dinner set adds a touch of glam to the family dinner table. With four dinner plates, four side plates and four bowls in a stylish embossed finish and crisp white hue, your family will be ready to indulge in their eggs in style!

One lucky CW reader will win this Wiltshire breakfast bundle valued at $294.