Canberra CityNews February 4,-10 2010

CityNews February 4-10

INDEX February 4-10, 2010

Since 1993: Volume 16, Number 5

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42,001

copies a week Six-month audit to September 30, 2009

13-16 26 10 18-19 17 26 16 3-11 6 27-31 12 26

FRONT COVER: Dancing couple Alison Kemp and Vaughan Liddicoat. Story Pages 13.

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Phone 6262 9100 Fax 6262 9111 GPO Box 2448, Canberra City 2601 www.citynews.com.au General manager: Greg Jones, 0419 418196, greg@citynews.com.au Senior advertising executive: Melissa Delfino, 0415 137660 Advertising sales executives: Sebastien Kriegel, 0438 198701 Jonathan Hick, 0415 177 345 Advertising sales co-ordinator: Rebecca Darman, ad@citynews.com.au Sydney advertising sales: Ad Sales Connect, 02 9420 1777 Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au Political reporter: Eleri Harris, 0414 618 493, eleri@citynews.com.au Lifestyle editor: Kathryn Vukovljak, l ifestyle@citynews.com.au Arts editor: Helen Musa, 0400 043764, helen@citynews.com.au Design and photography: Silas Brown, 0412 718086, silas@citynews.com.au Designer: Joran Dilucian Distribution: Richard Watson, circulation@citynews.com.au Responsibility for election comment is taken by Ian Meikle, of Suite 1, Level 1, 143 London Circuit, Canberra.

CityNews February 4-10

too much information By Eleri Harris

Making sense of dollars THE 2008/2009 political party financial disclosure returns have been made publicly accessible by the ACT Electoral Commission, revealing a cash flow from the usual corporate or union suspects to a few random individual party donors.

ACT Labor received an unsurprisingly substantial smattering of donations from trade unions, raking in nearly $700,000 from their base – more than half of their total receipts for the financial year. The unsold, unloved Labor Club coughed up a handy $502,265.91. MLAs Joy Burch, John Hargreaves and Andrew Barr together gave nearly $27,000, with Dendy Cinemas, the Islamic Council, King O’Malleys pub, Australia Post and the Hyatt throwing in more than a grand each. NAB handed over more than $28,000.

The Canberra Liberals received a combined total of more than $50,000 from the 20 different companies clearly associated with the property development and building industry, along with a few grand from the casino and some financial groups. But it was now-MLAs Alistair Coe and Jeremy Hanson who brought home the bacon donating $30,000 and $29,000 respectively.

The Hellenic Club, Fyshwick Market Traders and Canberra Airport played both sides – only the airport gave Labor more!

The poor Greens submitted a handwritten document suggesting the only company to donate to their party was the free postcard company Avantcard – and they kicked in only a few grand.

They’re all there at elections.act.gov. au/parties/fad.html

Out come the pistols CHIEF Minister Jon Stanhope has whipped out the PR pistols a couple of times over the past week, firstly, on Liberal MLAs Alistair Coe and Vicki Dunne and the Greens’ Meredith Hunter for their criticisms of the Calvary hospital deal and then drubbing Coe and Dunne again for the Liberals’ opposition to a Federal funding application for a Civic-Belconnen busway.

The Government has spent recent months facing a hailstorm of concerns about the $77 million dollar deal, which would see Calvary Hospital bought from and Clare Holland House palliative care hospice sold to Catholic providers Little Company of Mary Health Care Pty Ltd. A press release said the Opposition “must explain to Belconnen residents why they intend to spurn the promise of 75 new hospital beds in the district, and why they are endangering a $200 million investment in public health in Belconnen over the coming years”.

All in the timing

WHEN questioned about having an average 72-day wait time for elective surgery, Chief Minister Jon Stanhope pointed to the Calvary hospital deal as a way of improving existing health infrastructure.

However Stanhope also said that waiting periods had remained relatively stagnant throughout his 12 years in the Assembly, but that the wait time had decreased to 63 days from the time the data for the report was collated. Opposition Leader Zed Seselja immediately called Stanhope out, saying the median ACT wait time for elective surgery in 2000 was 39 days.

For more detail check out the CityNews Blog at citynews.com.au/blog/

news

Driving force in safety As the Chief Minister bemoans the increase in speeding motorists, TAMARA SMALLHORN meets the passionate policeman with a message for bad drivers: ‘We will catch you and we will charge you’ MARK Colbran spends his working life dealing with bad news and yet the police traffic superintendent is optimistic about the progress that can be achieved this year in reducing the death toll.

“It’s what gets me up in the morning. If I weren’t optimistic about the future of the ACT road safety, I wouldn’t be doing the job I’m doing,” he tells “CityNews”.

This year will see a number of new and continuing initiatives to combat driving offences, Supt Colbran says.

“We’ll have a stronger presence on the main arterial roads, especially during peak hour since our research shows that this is when the majority of accidents occur,” he says.

“Just about every person we charge with a drink driving offence would have been seen by someone who could have stopped them before they got behind the wheel.

“If people are more vocal in making it clear that drink driving is not something they accept, then it will result in fewer offences and Supt Mark Colbran… “If I weren’t optimistic about the future of the ACT road safety, I wouldn’t be doing the fewer accidents.”

Photo by Silas.

Colbran, who was appointed to the role of job I’m doing.” traffic superintendent in late 2007, says that while the 2009 ACT road toll of 12 people is offences, we will catch you and we will charge devastating; it is heartening to see a reduction you. from previous years.

“We’re lucky in the ACT. We have a strong “Twelve people died on our roads last year and vocal support from the Government on road and that’s an incredibly bad thing. However, safety. We have an excellent road system. We in 2007 and 2008 the toll was 14 both years,” he have a supportive media. We have a population says. who understands the messages. We have road “There is no reason why this many people safety experts in TAMS who work very hard to have to die. If we can get the develop new policies. road toll down to say five, then “We have an excellent There is no that’s nine more people (comemergency services infrapared with 2008 figures) that structure and ambulance reason why this many can celebrate Christmas with service so that if you are people have to die. their loved ones. involved in an accident “We’re always looking at your chances of survival new initiatives. are better.”

“We recently had the Real Decisions, Real However, he says, it is the community’s active Consequences car-wreck display in locations involvement that is critical in helping to reduce across the ACT targeted at P-platers, and we’ll deaths even further. be increasing that this year.

“The challenge now is to get the community “We’ll also be focusing on sending the to help, and by helping us, they’re really helpmessage of enforcement – if you commit these ing themselves,” he says.

briefly

CDs wanted

ABOUT 35,000 old CDs are needed for the revamp of West Row Park in the city. Landscape architect Jennie Curtis said in developing the design for the $600,000 revamp she was keen not only to make the park more sustainable but also to recycle and reuse.

CDs will be shredded and crushed and inlaid in the concrete pavement. ‘‘The CDs may initially look grey, but they sparkle as different CD pieces reflect the sunlight,” she said. Unwanted CDs can be delivered to Canberra CBD’s office on Akuna Street, directly opposite the Myer entrance.

Road upgraded

A MULTI-MILLION upgrade to realign a dangerous section of the Barton Highway known as Capricorn Corner, located south of Murrumbateman and 28 kilometres north of the ACT has been completed. The realignment of the Gounyan Curves, to the north of Murrumbateman, is scheduled to get underway by the middle of this year.

New festival chief

FESTIVAL manager and musician Sebastian Flynn is the new managing director of the National Folk Festival, which is held in Canberra at Easter.

Mr Flynn, originally from Liverpool, England, has been involved in production of world music events since arriving in Australia in 1995, and was director of the Queensland Multicultural Festival in 2006.

CityNews February 4-10

news

When nurses step into the doctor’s shoes

THE ACT Department of Health has defended the controversial introduction of nurse practitioners to Revive Clinic at a Tuggeranong Pharmacy last month, disputing its connection to the Territory’s GP shortage.

In response to Opposition, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Australian Medical Association and ACT Division of General Practitioners concerns for patient safety, the department told “City News” the approval process for each appointment contained enough checks and balances to ensure the nurses worked within clinical guidelines.

“They [the criteria for assessing an application] also ensure that there are appropriate linkages to GPs, so if an individual falls outside of the scope of practice of the nurse practitioner, they can smoothly transition to the care of a GP if necessary.

“For instance, the Revive business case states that patients can provide details of their GP to the nurse practitioner to facilitate collaboration with their GP, in addition to the provision of a report to their GP at the end of each consultation.”

But AMA Federal vice president Dr Steve Hambleton says the nurse practitioners will be working outside current healthcare processes.

“AMA doctors have always embraced medical colleagues – part of our medical model is that everyone respects each other – but this set up is outside of the current model. It’s set up in parallel and that’s

Are too few GPs in the ACT spawning the demand for nurse-only clinics? And are nurse practioners an appropriate substitute for GP care? ELERI HARRIS reports…

where the risks arrive.”

Australian Nursing Federation Federal Secretary Ged Kearney said the implication nurse practitioners would harm their patients is insulting.

“On the one hand you have doctors saying they are over-stretched and on the other hand they refuse to share healthcare with capable nurse practitioners. This is an attempt to keep all rebates in doctors’ pockets.”

Opposition health spokesman Jeremy Hanson says the appointments are a misguided consequence of the ACT’s GP shortage, for which he blames long-term Government inaction.

“I’ve been very critical of the Government because, basically, in the eight years of the Stanhope Government they have refused to do anything about this,” he says.

“They say it’s a Federal responsibility, it’s not our problem, we’re not going to do anything.

“We’ve been saying we have to do something and there are some things that can be done locally.”

The ACT has the smallest percentage of GPs per head of population in Australia, but we are by no means far behind the pack, with 0.95 GPs per thousand compared to next State, Queensland’s, 0.97.

SA has the largest number of GPs in the

country with 1.23 per thousand.

Both parties agree the solution to the ACT’s GP shortage is a five to 10-year waiting game, dependent on the number of medical graduates willing to live here and baby boomer doctors heading into retirement.

Hanson says the Government could be doing more to up GP numbers now, accusing them of sitting on their hands, but a spokeswoman for the Acting Health Minister Jon Stanhope called for the Opposition to be pragmatic.

“This shortage cannot be solved overnight and we have to be realistic about the Government’s ability to pull the levers in relation to the regulation of general practice.

“Any gains in attracting GPs to Canberra may be partially offset by the expected retirements in coming years, however, over the longer term, we are expecting to see hundreds of students graduating from medical school in the next five to 10 years.

“The challenge will be enticing those graduates into general practice.”

The Government responded to a GP taskforce report in 2009 with unanimous agreement to recommendations ranging from creating more job opportunities for GPs over 55 to reducing red tape – and managed to do so without committing any further funding.

They want you only for your body ORGAN donations in the ACT are on the rise, but Australia still lags behind in the developed world donation stakes, according to the latest figures from the Australian Government Organ and Tissue Authority.

While ACT donations hit 14.1 per million people in 2009, the national average was just 11.3, a third of the world’s leading donor country Spain, which sits at an average of 34

CityNews February 4-10

deceased donors per million people.

Organ donation campaigner Anne Cahill Lambert, of Gift of Life, said the real problems facing the nearly 2000 Australians in need of transplants in 2010 are not due to infrastructure, but blasé cultural attitudes and misunderstandings.

“There’s this ‘she’ll be right mate’ routine here where people don’t talk about death,

but you need to talk to your family.

“While about 90 per cent of the community support organ donation in theory, when push comes to shove only 50 per cent of families agree to it.”

Although spiritual concerns are a leading cause for uncertainty about donations, Cahill Lambert said there are only two religions that oppose transplants, Romney Gypsy and Shinto.

For the 247 Australians who donated organs in 2009, there were 799 transplant recipients and with 1770 people waiting for transplants nationwide, you are more likely to need an organ transplant than to donate one.

For more information visit donatelife.gov.au or to register as an organ donor visit medicareaustralia.gov.au or call 1800 777 203.

CityNews February 4-10

politics

And so, there’s a spin for everything…

SPIN, spin and more spin: Why do our governments want to tell us how much of our money they have spent rather than what they have achieved?

Following the report of the Productivity Commission “Report on Government Services 2010” the ACT Government spin mongers were in full flight. It did not matter what the issue was – the aim was to gild the lily.

The best foot was put forward on hospitals, child care, policing, education, housing and a myriad of other areas. The media releases were thick with what the Government has done with our money. In a couple of places we even heard claims about government achievements rather than just expenditure – for example, ACT school learning outcomes lead the nation. Cynics would argue that this is much more to do with socio-economic factors as it is to do with ACT Government funding and management.

In a press release, Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, trumpeted: “The ACT performed extremely well in maintaining smaller class sizes (rating second overall for government schools)”.

He was extremely quiet about the number of teachers who are “non-active in schools”. In NSW, there are just 2.8 per cent of teachers who fit the “non-active” category. At 11 per cent of teachers being non-active in the ACT, we have the highest percentage by far. In similar jurisdictions, Tasmania has 6.2 per cent of teachers who are not in the schools and, despite its range of challenging issues around indigenous education, the NT has all but 8.3 per cent of its teachers in the classroom.

In the same media statement, the Chief Minister reflected on the 2008 electoral commitment to reduce class sizes to “an average of 21 across all years in primary and high schools, and to an average of 19 in colleges”. Well, hello; doesn’t this illustrate the problem? It is not just about spending money. Smaller class sizes are a great commitment, but it is not necessary to simply resort to spending more of our money. Look at

By Michael Moore the management of the Government teachers who are already on the payroll. With 11 per cent of non-active teachers, perhaps it is time to move a reasonable number of them back into the classroom. The solution is not always about spending more money.

This same spending solution underpinned the discourse of Simon Corbell’s response in last week’s “CityNews”. He asked why I ignored the efforts of the Government when I wrote about violence in our city. He points out that Labor has spent our money putting more police on the beat, more CCTV cameras in Civic and other places, more people to monitor them and more powers to the police regarding booze and anti-social behavior. We want to hear about achievements, about outcomes, about solutions.

If more money is spent on what seem like good ideas but they are not achieving the outcomes – then it is largely wasted money.

Is violence growing? Mr Corbell argues no.

My view is that we are seeing less reporting which is why I advocated the British volunteer police force model.

The Chief Minister argues that the Productivity Commission Report suggests: “Community perceptions of safety and of police integrity were also very positive, with the ACT performing consistently at or above the national average.”

We would certainly hope so. In fact, with a community of fewer than 350,000 people and significant socio-economic advantage we would expect much better results than almost all other jurisdictions which have cities of over a million people often exacerbated by complex social problems.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health in the Carnell government.

For us, the election’s over EVERY other State and Territory will decide who’s representing them in the next Federal parliamentary term sometime between late winter and spring when, say the pundits, the Federal election will fall.

In every other jurisdiction the voters will line up at polling booths and they’ll choose someone to be their Federal voice.

In Canberra, our “Federal election” is happening right now and most of us can’t participate.

I don’t know who pushed whom, or who nodded when they were supposed to wink…

I’m not sure if Bob McMullan (Fraser) and Annette Ellis (Canberra) chose to go when they did, but I do know that real electoral battle in their two seats is the pre-selection.

There is no chance whatsoever that nonLabor candidates will get within a bull’s roar of the ALP in either Fraser or Canberra. It just won’t happen.

Why? This is the city of the true believer. It’s still difficult to believe that Liberal Brendan Smyth snuck into the Reps for “a few minutes” back in the ‘90s in an amazing by-election.

ACT ALP Secretary, Elias Hallaj disagrees.

He told me “the ALP never takes community support for granted.” Yeah, whatever, Elias.

CityNews February 4-10

MARK PARTON says the next Federal election is all-but-over for Canberra voters He told me “whoever is pre-selected will be expected to work hard to gain the community trust and support required to win a public election.” In reality, he could put up one of the windscreen washers from Northbourne Avenue and they’d romp home.

So how does this “election” happen? Well, the ACT ALP branch will consult the national executive sometime this month to determine a timetable for pre-selection. Once that occurs, local Labor Party members will be notified about a timeline for nominations as well as the actual pre-selection ballot. There’ll also be a “credentialing” process based on how long the potential candidates have been party members and how many meetings they’ve attended in the past two years.

So, if you want to have some say in who represents you in the lower house, either dig up some diabolical dirt on Kevin Rudd or join the ALP! Mark Parton is the breakfast announcer on 2CC Talking Canberra.

CityNews February 4-10

briefly Judy’s mission ends JUDY Bamberger (pictured), the Canberra woman featured in “CityNews” (“Judy’s mission will need a miracle”, January 21) has successfully delivered seven 50-60kg boxes of school supplies to the Red Crescent (Red Cross) in Cairo, Egypt.

Bamberger was unable to take the supplies into Gaza herself so the Red Crescent will send them to Palestinian school children in El Arish and northern Sinai. Bamberger thanks all who donated to her “300,000 Pencils” project.

Shearer resigns

KATE Shearer has resigned as artistic director of Jigsaw Theatre Company after four years to next month take up the role of artistic director of the Big West Festival in Melbourne. Under her artistic leadership, Jigsaw has won two Canberra Critics Circle Awards, a nomination for an Australian Writers Guild Award, and its actors have received two MEAA Actor of the Year Awards. Jigsaw will begin a national recruitment campaign in coming weeks.

Market for bubs

THE Baby and Kids Market will be held in the Fitzroy Building, Exhibition Park, from 9am-noon on February 6. There’ll be more than 75 stalls offering pre-loved and new clothes, toys and equipment for the 0-7-year-old age group, as well as children’s entertainment.

Tupperware galore

A GIANT Tupperware party will be held at the Gunghalin Lakes Club, at 6.30pm on February 25, to raise funds to support Galilee’s work in helping local babies, children and young people in the ACT region. More information at www. galilee.org.au.au

Prize winner

CAMERON Ord, of Ngunnawal, is the winner of The Marketplace’s “$10,000 Off Your Mortgage” promotion. He was drawn from almost 10,000 entries in the competition.

CityNews February 4-10

news

Friends lost in Niki’s move to ‘dark side’ After 20 years in the press gallery, former political editor Niki Savva tells ELERI HARRIS about coming to Canberra as a young journalist and the worst career move she ever made

“THE only thing I really ever wanted to do was to be a journalist. I had a rush of blood to the head and I did something really silly,” says former newspaper journalist, now author, Niki Savva, describing her decision in the mid-1990s to quit her job as political editor of the Melbourne “Herald Sun” over “editorial differences”.

“It cost me quite dearly in a lot of ways – it was the worst career move I ever made,” she says.

Savva was then briefly political editor for the “The Age” before, in 1997, crossing to the “dark side” – to work as press secretary for Liberal Treasurer Peter Costello and then in Prime Minister John Howard’s Cabinet Policy Unit. She is no longer on speaking terms with either man, but she won’t be drawn.

The move to the Government “didn’t affect the way that I lived in Canberra. It did cost me a few friends,” she says.

Savva has just published her first book “So Greek: Confessions of a Conservative Leftie” (Scribe), an autobiographical account of her early life and her later careers in Canberra.

“I would have loved to stay a journalist forever, but it wasn’t to be,” she tells me over coffee in Civic.

She says that joining the Liberal Government cut her off from people – “you can’t be as forthcoming”.

“As a journalist I used to give my opinions very freely at length, whether people wanted to hear them or not, about everything. But when I became a staffer if someone asked me for my opinion I’d have to be very careful about what I said and it didn’t matter who was asking – whether it was a member of my family or a friend or a journalist. I had to watch what I said because people talk.”

She moved to Canberra from Melbourne as an excited young journalist with “The

Canberra author Niki Savva… “I would have loved to stay a journalist forever, but it wasn’t to be.”

Photo by Silas Australian” in the early days of the reformist Whitlam Labor Government.

“I loved it. I was only supposed to come up here for four weeks and then they said four months and then, when they asked me to stay, I agreed because I liked it so much,” she says.

“Old Parliament House was obviously a lot smaller, the press gallery was right on top of all the politicians offices.

“If you walked down one set of stairs, you’d be right outside the Opposition Leader’s office. If you walked down the opposite set of stairs you’d be outside the Prime Minister’s office. And then all along the corridors there were the various ministers’ offices … and everybody would have to [use] King’s Hall.

“So there was a lot of mixing that went on and it was very difficult for the politicians to escape the journalists – even if they wanted to and, you know, often they didn’t want to in those early days, anyway.

So it was a lot easier to get stories. All you had to do was do a little walk!

“In the new building it’s not like that.

There’s a lot of separation – physical separation. The press gallery’s a long way from where the politicians are and, certainly, where the ministers are. And the ministers are sort-of barricaded behind very thick, very heavy doors so it requires a lot more effort to get to people. And even if you can get inside their offices, there’s no guarantee you can get to see the minister – there’s a whole phalanx of staff!”

Reader wins makeover NIKI Jackson, of Braddon, is the winner of the “CityNews” All About You Ultimate Makeover, valued at $1910. Niki, 42, says that while it is 2½ years since she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she’s got her hair back but not “confidence in my appearance”.

Niki has won: A two-hour wardrobe audit with a stylist from The Lizzie Wagner Group, valued at $660; a $500 Canberra Centre gift voucher; a Bentley’s beauty package valued at $500, including a make-up session, Napoleon products, hairdressing session and hair-care products. And a $250 Escala Shoes gift voucher.

CityNews February 4-10

opinion

Early voters put strain on parties With a looming Federal election, former Speaker of the ACT House of Assembly, GREG CORNWALL, looks at the problems pre-polling creates for political parties.

PRE-POLLING originally was introduced to allow people to vote who would not be able to do so on election day and is an alternative to the more complicated postal procedure.

Increasingly, voters now pre-poll to avoid the parking, paper gauntlets and queues of election day.

Canberra, along with other expanding cities, has seen its pre-polling stations grow to six in the 2007 Federal election with the Australian Electoral Commission generously allowing two full weeks of 9am-5pm pre-polling Monday to Friday and 9am-4pm on the intervening Saturday.

This creates a major problem for political parties manning the pre-polling booth sites.

If, for example, party workers were allocated two hours duty per member over the period, which is in total in excess of 522 hours, more than 260 booth workers would be needed. Even if a worker was asked only for two hours each day for the entire two weeks it still represents 24 volunteers each working a solo shift of 22 hours. And this is at the exist-

ing six ACT pre-polling sites and does not take account of possible extra booths in future or workers’ other responsibilities, unforeseen emergencies and, crucially, age because prepolling occurs during business hours so most volunteers are elderly retirees.

However one looks at the problem, even manning the six current pre-polling booths is unsustainable. Fifty people or 52 hours each is only 10 per booth. A pool of at least 100 volunteers is needed.

It is important to appreciate the AEC doesn’t officially recognise party workers outside polling booths: their job is to make voting as convenient as possible. Politicians don’t care either, they simply want the booths manned in their eternal quest for votes, so there is no way agreement can be reached between political parties not to staff pre-polling booths.

The ACT already has adopted the Tasmanian Hare-Clark voting system and banned handing out how-to-vote cards in Assembly elections, so why not seek another progressive election approach: display po-

litical how-to-vote cards upon the walls inside pre-polling booths.

Too many parties? Not really. The three major parties and an ungrouped list would probably suffice. Positioning?

I doubt this would be contentious. Size of the how-to-vote sign? This could be negotiated – and anyway, have you been to a TAB on Melbourne Cup Day? People find what they want.

Also, do people really need paper-in-the-hand to cast a valid vote?

Placing party how-to-vote signs on the walls of pre-polling stations could be a precursor to extending such a simple change to election day itself, at least until we embrace electronic voting.

Think of it: No more running the gauntlet of party faithful offering glossy howto-votes – these could be banned – masses of paper saved and occasional arguments avoided.

Of course, it would require amendments to the Electoral Act so don’t hold your breath.

Remember how long it took for polling booths to close at 6pm?

letters

More water, less spin THE story “Age takes toll on Canberra trees” (CN, January 28) does not critically examine the ACT Government spin on its tree-killing and “death-bythirst” activities.

While you or I face a fine of $5000 for killing a tree, the draconian water restrictions imposed by ACT Government Ministers have meant the death of thousands of trees, not just in public spaces, but also in thousands of homes with gardens.

It is sheer nonsense to pretend that so many trees have reached a natural end. They are dying as surely as a prisoner deprived of water. There is nothing natural about it.

Once upon a time, trees and sprinklers meant that Canberra in high summer operated like a great evaporative air conditioner in the evening. We did not much need air conditioners. Now with trees and shade disappearing and lawns being replaced by heat- soaking pebbles, we have been forced to buy and run electric

10 CityNews February 4-10

air-conditioners.

So much for the ACT Government’s humbug about saving the planet and the environment! They are destroying the environment we actually live in.

John McCarthy, Water Our Garden City, Pearce

says he has been putting into policing, the general public sees very little return in terms of a safer environment for themselves and their families.

Throwing money and resources at a problem is useless if there is little or no change to the situation being addressed.

Notice that Corbell mentioned Simon says nothing nothing about reduced crime I REFER to the entirely levels, declines in anti-social predictable letter from Simon behaviour, response times, Corbell, Minister for Police and successful prosecutions and Emergency Services ("Moore the like. misses facts", CN, January 28).

It is very similar to the I used to see these kinds of ABC's headline in the news for responses far too often when January 29: "Little to show for working in the communication hospital cash boost", which and media areas of various commented that "a new reCommonwealth Ministers. port on government services Corbell has not answered the shows more taxpayer dollars key point of Michael Moore's are going to public hospitals article, namely why do people but there has been little feel the need for establishimprovement to key services". ment of vigilante-style groups The same appears to be the case for ACT policing that has in the ACT? Corbell has come up with so resulted in unfortunate calls many "facts" in his letter that for vigilante squads. it would be easy to miss them, More bang for our bucks is as they do not address the situ- what is required Mr Corbell if ation. The fact is that, despite we are to fend-off such calls. all the resources that Corbell Ric Hingee, Duffy

news

Judy keeps Fred in her sights

By Tamara Smallhorn

“I THINK it’s good to have at least one project in retirement,” says Judy Ingle, “and I’ve had lots.”

Indeed, Judy, a retiree living in Farrer, has a vitality that belies her advanced years. These days – when she is not playing tennis or golf with her husband Arthur, getting involved in her local Neighbourhood Watch, helping out the less-mobile members of her Probus Club, or pulling up weeds on Farrer Ridge as part of the Park Care Program – she’s championing the cause of the Fred Hollows Foundation.

It was founded by ophthalmologist Fred Hollows (19291993), who became known for restoring the eyesight of countless thousands of people in developing countries and his passionate plight to improve indigenous health in Australia.

“If it helps the Fred Hollows Foundation I’m willing to do it,” she beams, when I thank her for talking with me.

Judy Ingle… helping the Fred Hollows Foundation.

A passionate advocate for Fred Hollows’ work, she has been fundraising in Canberra for more than 10 years. At her last dinner in May, she raised $40,000 for the centre in Nepal.

Her next event is a wine and cheese evening for 200 guests at Duntroon House later this month. Proceeds will go towards the Fred Hollows Centre in Laos.

Having been a health care professional for most of her career – taking in nursing, mental health and counselling – Judy says she felt naturally

drawn to the work of the gruff but extraordinary philanthropist when she first saw him give a lecture at the University of NSW. “The Fred Hollows Foundation doesn’t place its own eye specialists in these countries.

We train the local eye doctors to enable them to do things like cataract surgery, and then they go on and train their own people so they can have their own specialists who understand their culture, their language, and their people,” she says.

Not only this, but by having their sight restored, villagers are transformed from being a burden on their communities to becoming active contributors who can help advance the needs of their people, she says.

Judy’s wine and cheese evening at Duntroon House will be held at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, at 6.30pm, Thursday, February 25. For more information or an invitation, contact Judy on 6286 5945 or by email at judyingle@home. netspeed.com.au.

CityNews February 4-10 11

scene

Invite us at silas@citynews.com.au

At ‘Business Connects with the Brumbies’

At the ActewAGL Royal Canberra Gold Classic Pro-Am dinner

Justine Beaumont, Denise Gration, Ning Hanson and Colette Mackay

Rebecca Vassarotti, Gill Cannon, Chris Barry and Verity Blackman

Karen Quinn, Sophie Walker, Nikki Garrett, Corinne Furnell and Judy Fleming

Numira Kuruppu, Mark Thompson and Claire Grogan

Terry Weber, John Mackay and Gerry Crisp

Ken Roberts, Brumbies CEO Andrew Fagan and Lesley Roberts

12 CityNews February 4-10

Belinda Bodman, Sarah Rea and Kate Baker

Dion Klein, Paul Stapleton and Elly Szkobel

Kristie Smith, Stephanie Na and Rebecca Flood

Glen Lloyd, Ashlee Claydon, Richard Job and Ian Muir

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David Hawes, Mary Weber and Tony Muckle

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Dancers with hope in their hearts

Mum in the city

By Sonya Fladun

Show’s over, school’s back!

cover story

KATHRYN VUKOVLJAK meets a local couple in love and with their hearts set on dancing success overseas.

THERE’S glitz, glamour, impeccable grooming and barely-there sparkly costumes – dancing can be sexy, but it also comes with a fair amount of hard work, beauty hazards and bickering behind the fixed smiles, say amateur ballroom and Latin dance couple Vaughan Liddicoat and Alison Kemp.

“It’s fun and rewarding but it can also be frustrating at the same time,” says Alison. “I do think it helped Vaughan and I get together though – you really get to know someone and the intensive training means you spend a lot of time together.”

The couple is about to move to London to train with top professional Latin American and ballroom dance coaches.

“This opportunity has been six years in the making,” says Vaughan. “We’ll be training every day and competing within the UK and around Europe.

Our aim is to teach and dance, but we may also get a part-time job if required – we’ll do whatever’s necessary to make this work.

“Ultimately, we want to establish ourselves in the amateur world rankings, then move to professional division.”

Vaughan and Alison won a Big Brother Movement scholarship of $14,000 for excellence in ballroom dancing, which enabled them to visit London for five weeks last May to train and make contacts.

The pair came seventh in Australia in the Adult Open Ten Dance at the National Captial DanceSport Championships, were semi-finalists for New Vogue sequence dancing and finalists for Adult Open Ballroom and Latin American last year.

Not bad for a bloke who went along to the Penny de Kauwe School of Dancing when he was

18 to meet girls.

“It worked, didn’t it!” he says, smiling at Alison. “Penny put me with Alison and we danced together from that first day.”

It took a further five years before the couple got together off the dance floor, though.

“Well, dancing can be very sexy,” smiles Alison.

“You really get to know what someone likes, and what might tick them off!

“It’s very athletic, however, so more often than not we’re concentrating on getting the moves exactly right, so it doesn’t feel like a sexy thing to us, does it?”

Vaughan agrees. “Particularly with all the fighting!”

“Dancing together can be testing for our relationship, but we don’t argue much – off the dance floor, anyway,” says Alison.

“On the dance floor we fight all the time!”

“But we’re lucky that we can leave that behind when we’re not dancing,” says Vaughan, who works as a sales consultant at real estate agency Peter Blackshaw.

“Dancing is our personal life, but we don’t talk about it when we’re not actually doing it,” Alison, a dental assistant, adds.

With training for ballroom – which includes the waltz, slow foxtrot, Viennese waltz, tango and quickstep, and Latin, which features the samba, cha cha, rumba, Paso Doble and jive – five nights a week, Vaughan, 25, and Alison, 24, say they’re committed to their sport and admit they’ve had to make sacrifices, both career-wise and socially.

“Time is against us and we have certain goals we

Vaughan Liddicoat and Alison Kemp… “Time is against us and we have certain goals we want to hit before we turn 30,” says Vaughan.

Photo by Silas. want to hit before we turn 30,” says Vaughan.

“We started dancing quite late, and at the start it never occurred to us that we could compete and do well at this. But once we started going up through the amateur levels we got totally addicted,” he says.

“I love that dancing is art and sport combined.”

One of the toughest things is the grooming, according to Alison. “Beauty is pain,” she smiles. “I’m often getting poked in the eye by a false eyelash, clipping myself with one of these massive earrings or having a fake tan disaster!”

Alison looks impeccable though, and her costumes are amazing, with beads and sequins and diamantes aplenty – and she says she loves wearing them. “You get to feel like a princess all the time!” she says.

“Yeah, her costumes are pretty hot,” Vaughan agrees.

“And look at him in his man lace,” jokes Alison, of Vaughan’s revealing Latin dance costume. “Eat your heart out ex-girlfriends!”

The couple has organised a masquerade ball as a fundraiser for the Penny de Kauwe School and farewell before they leave Australia. The event, which includes a Chinese banquet and dancing cabaret, will be held on February 19 at the ItaloAustralian Club. Tickets cost $60 and are available by contacting vaughanalison@hotmail.com.

THERE are few more terrifying words than: “Mum, I’m bored”. Seriously, it’s right up there with: “Are we there yet,’’ and “what are we doing today?” and I’ve heard them many times over the summer holidays.

These days, children seem to expect to be entertained all the time. Parents are cast in the role of entertainment director, if not the entertainment, and after six weeks of holidays, my repertoire has worn pretty thin.

In Canberra, there are many things to do and places to go. We are hugely fortunate to have great child-friendly venues such as Questacon, the zoo, the national museum and, my little boy’s favourite, the war memorial.

However, entertainment costs can seriously hit the hip pocket and, after a few weeks of taxiing children all over town, it all becomes a bit tedious for them and you.

This all got me wondering whether a bit of boredom for kids is, after all, such a bad thing.

I was certainly bored over the seemingly endlessly hot summer holidays of my youth. But boredom drove me and my friends to make our own fun. I remember spending weeks building a cubby house, playing in the streets and parks, and going on long bike rides.

These days, all this sounds a bit parentally irresponsible, particularly as many of us don’t know our neighbours, much less have any idea who the other families are in the street.

Things have changed and I think many parents, myself included, find peace of mind having our children tucked away in safe, highly controlled environments whether at home or when we are out and about.

As a result, many kids spend more time focused on indoor entertainment – experiencing life through their Wii’s or taking part in highly sterilised and homogenised (rather than ad hoc and spontaneous) sporting or social activities.

However, I can’t help but wonder that by buying much of their entertainment pre-packaged and not leaving them more to their own devices (particularly as children get older), I’m ultimately selling them short and giving them less?

Meantime, thank God, school’s back!

CityNews February 4-10 13

arts&entertainment

Toni stars in a burst of burlesque By arts editor Helen Musa

When Toni Lamond steps on stage in Finucane and Smith’s “Burlesque Hour” at The Street Theatre soon, she’ll be representing a great theatrical tradition.

The daughter of vaudeville entertainers Stella Lamond and Joe Lawman, half-sister to singer Helen Reddy and mother of “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” star Tony Sheldon, Lamond will do three guest spots in a show that she describes as “so offbeat it’s indescribable.”

The way Lamond tells it – and she’s one of the best raconteurs on the Australian stage – artist and writer Moira Finucane approached her to do “something like the Old Time Burlesque at the Tivoli”. Lamond pointed out that it wasn’t burlesque, it was vaudeville, but they still said okay.

“I do three numbers,” she tells me.

“The first is from Stella and Joe’s old material, then I sing a ballad and in my third spot I sing Stephen Sondheim’s ‘I’m Still Here’, with new words by Tony Sheldon.”

At first Lamond was apprehensive about joining such a young, energetic group when she did a stint for them in Melbourne, she was gratified – “it was a riot and got a standing ovation.”

The brainchild of Finucane and theatre creator and director Jackie Smith, the company, which features as regulars Finucane, Japanese butoh dancer Yumi Umiumare, circus star Azaria Universe and film actor Maude Davey, has been seen by 40,000 people in 20 sell-out seasons around the world since it started in 2005. In Lamond’s view, “it’s very offbeat but terribly funny, a bit like Cirque du Soleil burlesque style – with so many different ways of taking their clothes off!”

The troupe has enjoyed three seasons at the Sydney Opera House, won five

stars at Edinburgh and played to the masses on the Yokohama waterfront.

This year its “Salon of Live Ladies” will travel to Hong Kong, Japan, Shanghai, Britain and Europe. A curious mixture of burlesque, feminist performance art, sideshow and underground theatre, it’s all aimed at mainstream audiences.

“Be amazed by provocative new acts inspired by the nightclubs of Tokyo and Berlin,” the current publicity goes, “eighteenth century bodice rippers in fabulous ball gowns, desire dressed as death … marble skin under black raincoats.”

Toni Lamond wondered about her ability to communicate to young people who go clubbing, but, with her voice still strong, she’s been pleasantly surprised. “It brings me to a new audience,” she says.

The Street Theatre, February 11-16, with a Valentine’s Day special, Sunday, February 14 at 6pm. Bookings 6247 1223.

Toni Lamond… “it’s very offbeat but terribly funny, a bit like Cirque du Soleil burlesque style – with so many different ways of taking their clothes off!”

No pause for this musical ARTS IN THE CITY

By Helen Musa

LOVE it or hate it, there’s no doubting the wild success of “Menopause the Musical”, which – in an entirely new production – will tour for more than 40 weeks around Australia. This theatrical tribute to the hot flush will be returning to The Q, Queanbeyan, from February 2 to 6. Written by Jeanie Linders and directed by US director Patty Bender, the new cast features Maria Mercedes as Powerwoman, Andrea Creighton as Dubbo Housewife, Michelle Collins as Earth Mother and Jennifer Levy as Soap Star. Canberra School of Music graduate Judith Dodsworth is musical director. Bookings to 6298 0290.

LIZ Lea has been appointed artistic director of the 32-year-old Canberra Dance Theatre. At the same time, she will be working as one of three associate directors at the QL2 Centre for Youth Dance. Lea trained at London Contemporary Dance School and its Akademi that specialises in South Indian dance.

14 CityNews February 4-10

The “Menopause” girls battle over underwear at a sale.

OXFAM Australia is holding a photogthe Federal Government to intervene. raphy exhibition, “The Mekong – A River SNEZ is an independent singer/songof Life, ” from February 9 to 16 at the writer from Sydney, who will be in High Court of Australia. It is intended to town to perform and promote his new highlight the dependence millions have album “Gypsy Soul” at the Phoenix Bar on the river and to expose the conseon February 8 and The Front Cafe on quences of 11 proposed hydropower February 11. In the past, he has been dams. Exhibition photographers and named Best International Pop Artist by members of the “the Save the Mekong” the Toronto Music Magazine and winner coalition will be in town to raise public of the Blue Mountains Acoustic & Roots awareness of the issue and to encourage Competition.

arts&entertainment

Heaven-sent comedy fun

By Helen Musa AN original musical comedy called "The Department of Heaven", by local writer/composer Andrew Hackwill, is opening in the middle of a line-up of three other first nights ("Pennies from Kevin", the burlesque at The Street and “Singin’ in the Rain”).

The show, by a previously unheard-of theatre group called the Allen Key Collective, runs for three nights from February 10-13 at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre, where staff say it’s booking well. No wonder. Not only does Canberra musical theatre luminary Lainie Hart direct it, but also the intimate cabaretstyle show features historical costumes by Christine Pawlicki and choreography by Anne Timperley.

Many of the cast, including Tim Dal Cortivo, Daniel Wells, Jane Kellett, David Spence, and Dim Ristevski featured in a show co-written by Hackwill for Phoenix Players in 2008.

The plot for the show is pure Canberra: God wants to retire, so an A-list of 20 historical figures working together in The Department of Heaven stage a cabaret called “Act of God” to save the human race.

Orlie Beer will play Mona Lisa and Lady Macbeth and other highlights are Queen Elizabeth I singing a duet with

Andrew Hackwill as St Peter in "The Department of Heaven".

Casanova and Alexander, Julius and William Wallace singing about “Men Fighting in a Skirt”.

Hart says there was a degree of risk in putting on a new musical, but they felt they could attract and sell around four shows. The music ranges from big band to barber songs – "quite a chocolate box of music and characters".

Tuggeranong Arts Centre, February 10-13, bookings 6293 1443.

Male voices delight I WAS introduced to the zany antics and fine singing of the quirky Spooky Men’s Chorale in a vast National Folk Festival pavilion, so the prospect of hearing them in the intimate surrounds of The Playhouse was relished.

The wait was worth it – their performance was a delight. Apart from an initial nervous intonation problem, the Spooky Men took a capacity audience on a beautifully blended and balanced journey of outstanding male-voice singing.

While maintaining their grim, fixed-stare, on-stage exterior, these 15 “lumbering, black-clad” comics released their internal emotions in brilliant parodies of “Am I Not Pretty Enough” and “Dancing Queen” contrasted with a moving “Georgian Lament”.

Excited audience Fred Smith.

MUSIC

Fred Smith and the Spooky Men’s Chorale in Concert The Playhouse, January 29 Reviewed by Ian McLean interval buzz was full of superlatives, so it was always going to be difficult for Fred Smith to maintain the electric atmosphere when he and his fine four-piece band joined the Spookys after the break. It didn’t matter. Fred has observed more unusual aspects of life during his worldly travels and he relays those experiences through witty and poignant poetry incorporated into delightfully melodic tunes.

His lament about life as a Washington house-husband was pithy, while “Tension” was just that. In a concert of many delights special mention must be made of Spooky musical director, Stephen Taberner. He was a charming MC, played bass like a wizard and arranged and produced “Urban Sea Shanties”, the CD resulting from the collaboration between Fred and the choir.

CityNews February 4-10 15

arts&entertainment

Power and the pain “Precious” (MA) PERSEVERING with Lee Daniels’s disturbing, uncomfortable, somewhat disjointed film from a novel by the author known as Sapphire, offers significant rewards.

In 1987, New York education authorities move obese yet somehow beautiful 16-year-old Precious (a powerful portrayal

by Gabourey Sidibe), pregnant to her own father for the second time, to a special school in a class with other disadvantaged adolescents needing special education assistance.

Cinema vocabulary rules of their time constrained scope for “The Blackboard Jungle” (1955) and “Up The Down Staircase” (1967) dealing with disadvantaged adolescents in a similar social environment, to express the kind of raw energy, anger and pathos that drag, kick and generally bully “Precious” to the beginning of a life that we can only imagine, blazing with truth, inviting us to conjecture a slowly developing optimism.

In a film notable for powerful performances, Afro-American actress Mo`Nique plays Precious’s mother Mary with a frustrated fury that, combined with totally justifiable and terrible suffering in her soul, may well make the reasons for Mary’s unspeakable emotional cruelty toward her daughter a popular subject for future academic analysis. In a sequence worthy of a place in anybody’s collection of memorable moments in cinema, Mo`Nique’s performance more than deserves every award that comes its way.

At Dendy

“The Road” (MA) A LOVE story unblessed by reason or hope, John Hillcoat’s treatment of writer Joe Penhall’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s bleak post-apocalyptic survival novel never really explains why the Man (Viggo

CINEMA

By Dougal Macdonald

despite enduring such intense privations, diminishes the film’s ability to persuade us to take it seriously.

Few of the moderate-sized cast have significant dialogue. Mortensen ably projects the man’s fear and grief for the loss of his wife (Charlize Theron), but his obstinacy rings unconvincing. Smit-McPhee copes courageously with the boy’s character.

Robert Duvall as a nearly-blind, starving, terrified old man forever walking because he has not yet learned how to die, and Guy Pearce sounding the film’s one note of optimism, provide satisfying, albeit brief, performances.

At Greater Union, Dendy

“Law Abiding Citizen” (MA)

Mo`Nique in the role of Mary… a performance that deseeves every award the comes her way.

Mortensen) and the Boy (Australian Kody Smit-McPhee), carrying all their remaining possessions, are walking over a blighted landscape without sunlight, from a midwest farm to the Atlantic coast.

The man’s obsessive determination to deny the boy contact with other survivors underpins the film’s tensions and conflict.

We yearn for the man to overcome his fears and let his son find companionship.

But if McCarthy had written the story that way, its undeniable intensity and sombre sonority would be absent.

Despite Hillcoat’s careful attention to detail, seeing a plump-cheeked boy and an adult with undiminished physical power,

PROSECUTOR Nick (Jamie Foxx), seeking career advancement through a high conviction rate, makes a plea-bargaining deal with one of two men charged with murdering the wife and daughter of technology-whiz Clyde (Gerard Butler) who witnessed the crime and stands ready to give evidence.

Clyde is invited to witness the execution of the other (botched in a gruesome sequence). A decade later, Clyde comes to attention again when people involved with delivering public justice in the case suddenly start meeting violent deaths.

Clyde lets himself be arraigned for murdering the other robber and starts tying Philadelphia’s law enforcement in professional and personal knots.

It’s hard to choose a preference between ambitious Nick and distraught Clyde for whom death might be welcome if it focuses public attention on defects in delivery of justice and victims’ rights. Alas, films seldom lead to real-world change and “Law Abiding Citizen” probably is not one that will, although some may feel good about seeing those issues aired.

At all Canberra cinemas

OPERA WINNER Jessica Mentlikowski, of Jerrabomberra, has won a double pass, valued at $130, to the Underground Opera Company’s Valentine’s Day performance at Jenolan Caves on February 13. The company is performing selections from “Carmen”, “La Boheme”, “Turandot” and “Les Miz”.

16 CityNews February 4-10

home

Beware spiders under the water!

HOME swimming pools can become the summer hangout for many uninvited guests including mosquitoes, wasps and spiders, says Robert Short, owner-operator of Amalgamated Pest Control – and many nasties can even survive under the water!

“Don’t assume that a spider at the bottom of the pool has drowned,” he says.

“The funnel-web spider, for example, has the ability to trap a small bubble of air in hairs around its abdomen which aids breathing and floating – making it possible for them to survive up to 30 hours under water.

“Pools also offer an attractive

environment for redbacks, which form webs on the water side of pool edging,” says Robert.

Bees and wasps are other common poolside pests.

“They’re attracted to water which they collect to take back to their nests to control temperatures.

“Fruity drinks and sweet poolside treats can attract certain species of wasps, increasing the danger of a poolside encountered sting,” he says.

And don’t forget Australia is host to more than 400 species of mosquitoes, which breed virtually anywhere that water pools exist, says Robert.

“Poorly serviced swimming pools and surrounding left-over puddles can provide the perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” he says.

“Carefully monitoring chlorination levels in swimming pools this summer will help keep creepy-crawlies at bay.”

“Don’t assume that a spider at the bottom of the pool has drowned,” says Robert Short.

CityNews February 4-10 17

health&fitness

Enjoy the skin you’re in…

By Kathryn Vukovljak

PEER pressure, popular media and fashion continues to portray tanned skin as more desirable than fair skin – but why, asks David Wild, SunSmart services co-ordinator at the Cancer Council ACT. “Tanned skin shouldn’t be seen as attractive or healthy-looking,” says David. “I simply do not understand it. A tan is the result of your skin cells in trauma to protect themselves from skin damage that can lead to cancer. How is that attractive?”

A tan is created when skin cells are overexposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), producing more melanin and causing your skin to darken, he explains. “But the bottom line is that overexposure to UVR increases your long-term risk of developing skin cancer.”

So, is a fake tan the way to go? “The Cancer Council doesn’t promote the idea that tanned skin is more desirable than pale skin,” David says. “However, people who have a strong desire to change their skin colour would be better off with a fake tanning product in preference to sunbaking or solarium usage.

“But it’s important that users of fake tanning products do recognise that sun protection is still necessary and they should continue to adopt a combination of the five sun protection measures – wear cool, sun-protective clothing and a suitable hat, use an SPF 30+ broad-spectrum “Tanned skin shouldn’t be seen as attractive or sunscreen, protect your eyes with a close fitting wrap-around pair of sunnies and seek out shade.” healthy-looking,” says David Wild.

David says that Australia has one of the Because some people may have a skin type highest rates of skin cancer in the world and it that tends to tan more easily than other skin kills more than 1700 people each year. types, people should be aware that tanning “This is because we are predominantly faireven without the burning still contributes to skin skinned people who live and play in an environ- damage, premature ageing and increases longment with particularly high UVR levels,” he says. term risk of developing skin cancer, David says.

“In young Australians aged 12 to 24, melanoma This is because both UVA and UVB penetrate the is the most commonly diagnosed cancer, with skin and both cause irreversible cell damage. more than double the number of cases of “So, enjoy the summer and be active, just any other kind of cancer. In fact, Australian don’t overdo it in the sun, think about the effects adolescents have by far the highest incident of of tanning and happy with the skin you’re in!” malignant melanoma in the world.”

David says.

Challenge to office workers RUNNING legend Robert de Castella (pictured) and organisers of the Stromlo Running Festival are challenging local businesses and government departments to take part in Stromlo Running Festival Corporate Challenge at 9.30am on Saturday, February 20. The challenge, a time-based event held over 30 minutes and judged by the cumulative distance a whole team (minimum of 10 per 18 CityNews February 4-10

team) achieves, is part of the festival, the second at Stromlo Forest cross-country course.

Entries to www.stomlorunningfestival.com.au

Up the stairs

HUNDREDS of Canberrans will race up Telstra Tower’s 403 steps to the viewing platform to raise money for Camp Quality on Friday, February 26. There are divisions for everyone, from school aged to elite, individuals to teams.

Enter online at www. campquailty.org.au and click on the ACT link.

health&fitness

Back-to-school backache

Keep inhalers out of the glove box

the clips and they wear the packs hanging as low as possible.”

Dr Sim says that the “fashion factor”, which dictates the latest trendy way for carrying the bag, negates any inbuilt ergonomic features.

“The backpack should never be worn any lower than the hollow of the lower back,” he says. “Carrying it this way causes the head and shoulders to drop forward, leading to a slouch as the body compensates for the off-kilter weight.”

According to Dr Sim, a child should limit the weight they carry in a backpack to 10 per cent of their body weight.

While he recommends a fitted backpack, “That’s 4-5 kilos for a 40-50kg student, and with broad, padded straps, worn properly, it adds up when you throw in a few text books, over both shoulders with the waistband done pencil case, lunch box and water bottle,” he up as the best bet for a growing back, any said. mum knows, that just doesn’t look cool.

“I hope, one day, students just won’t have Marea Jelinic, public servant and mum of to carry so much, that they can keep all their two, says that she was so worried about how books on a USB drive or an iPad. Then all the much her kids were carrying that she bought kids would need a backpack for is lunch, so special chiropractic backpacks for her 13 and they could wear it any way they like!”

15-year-old sons for school, but they refuse to Mum-of-three and public servant Nathalie wear them the “right” way.

Hicks says she tried to save her sons’ backs by “The packs are supposed to be correctly buying them smaller backpacks. “They did actuadjusted for their height so they sit in the ally wear the packs properly, but because they middle of their backs, and clip across the chest couldn’t fit everything in them, they kept leaving and around the hips,” she says. their school books at home. It just didn’t work.

“Despite my good intentions, I shouldn’t “Unless the coolest kids in school wear have wasted my money – it’s just not cool to chiropractic bags, or even wear their bags the wear backpacks like that. My sons don’t do up correct way, no one will.”

KEEPING a back-up asthma inhaler in the glove box may seem like a good idea, but the extreme heat may render the medication ineffective, or worse still, some medication canisters could explode under the intense heat conditions that will occur in cars this summer,” according to Associate Professor Peter Wark, council director of the National Asthma Council.

Cabin temperatures in cars can rise to well over 50 degrees Centigrade – significantly higher than the under 25-30 degrees storage recommendation for some asthma inhalers, according to tests by the Royal Automobile Club Queensland.

People with asthma are at particular risk from bushfire smoke, and sufferers in bush-fire zones – or anyone planning summer holidays in the country – should ensure they have considered their asthma as part of their total summer survival plan, said Professor Wark.

“The best protection, where possible, is avoiding exposure to high levels of smoke and ensuring your asthma is well controlled from day-to-day. This means seeing your doctor to make sure you have an appropriate written asthma action plan to help you manage your asthma over summer as well as making sure you regularly take your preventer puffer,” Professor Wark said.

“If you live in a high-risk fire zone, you should also ask for a prescription for a second emergency inhaler, which you should have ready to take with you if you evacuate. Keep your back-up medication with your most precious papers or photographs to ensure it goes with you if you decide to leave.”

People who lived in built-up areas also need to plan for days of smoke haze as winds could move bush-fire smoke and harmful airborne particles over great distances, he said.

Bushfire smoke contained particles of different sizes, water vapour and gases, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which could trigger asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing or chest tightness, Larger sized air-borne particles, contained in burning debris, contributed to the visible haze when a fire was burning. They were generally too large to be breathed into the lungs, but they could cause irritation to the lungs, throat and nose.

Finer particles and gases, however, were small enough to be breathed into the lungs, he said.

More information at www.nationalasthma.org.au

By Kathryn Vukovljak

LUGGING a heavy backpack to and from school puts immense strain on children’s spines, leading to long-term back problems, says Dr Patrick Sim, chiropractor and national spokesperson of the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia.

Kids should wear backpacks the “right” way, not the “fashionable” way, says Dr Sim.

Television could be causing a health risk IS television bad for our health? That’s the suggestion from recent research that reveals that the more time spent watching television, the greater the risk to health.

Based on research into the lifestyle habits of almost 9000 Australians, Prof David Dunstan, of Melbourne’s Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, found that every hour of television watched increased the risk of dying earlier from cardiovascular disease.

According to the study, “Television viewing time and mortality”, published in “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association”, this may have serious implications when you consider that television viewing occupies a large proportion of free time in the domestic setting for the majority of Australian adults.

Prof Dunstan says it’s important to understand that it is not the television per se that is the problem – it is what people do whilst watching

television, which is mostly sedentary and that too much sitting has negative effects on health and that these effects are present even among adults who do sufficient amounts of exercise.

The researchers believe a major explanation for this link between television viewing (and possibly other sedentary behaviour that involves prolonged sitting) and premature death, may be the consequence of reduced energy expenditure over prolonged periods.

CityNews February 4-10 19

Valentine’s Day

advertising feature

So what will you do for your loved one this year? Jewellery, a romantic dinner for two or a pampering treat always go down well – here’s the “CityNews” guide to showing someone you care at the most romantic time of the year.

Plan your perfect day PLANNING is essential when organising the perfect Valentine’s treat for your loved one. Start by booking in for a couples’ pampering session, which is a wonderful way to reconnect on Valentine’s Day, according to Sue Stone, of mudd, The Spa at Hotel Realm.

Fan us on facebook Find us facebook.com/canberracitynews

All about Canberra

20 CityNews February 4-10

“It’s lovely to be able to have some time out together, sharing nice moments in beautiful facilities,” she says.

“People are just so busy. We offer couples’ treatments, with the opportunity to spend quality time together over a glass of champagne.”

Sue says they offer a beautiful experience, with little hidden treasures like soaking the feet before a massage, white crispy robes to wear, a gorgeous relaxation area and a complimentary spa, pool and sauna before any session.

“It also helps you relax and get in the mood for the evening!” she says.

For Valentine’s Day mudd offers the “Harmonise” and “Unite” packages for couples, as well as the Mother-To-Be package for the expectant mother in your life.

CityNews February 4-10 21

Valentine’s Day

Pearls are perfect Pearls make a great gift for Valentine’s Day, according to Jane Brown, from Jane Brown Pearls in Yarralumla.

“Necklaces, bracelets and rings are just the right sort of gifts that can help convey special thoughts and kindle romance,” she says “Pearls make an ideal Valentine’s Day gift because they reflect the personal relationship,” adds Jane.

“There’s a great range to choose from and you can pick a piece that conveys just the right message.”

Contemporary pearl designs are so versatile – they team well with casual day outfits, corporate clothing or more formal evening dresses, according to Jane, who also offers a personal service.

“If you need a little help that’s where I come in – I can generally steer people to a good choice!” she says. “And for those who are really not sure, there is always a Jane Brown Pearls gift voucher which can allow your Valentine the pleasure of choosing her own gift.”

Pearls, amethyst, jade and crystal multi-strand necklace.

How the day for lovers began FEBRUARY 14 is the day people all over the world send Valentine’s cards, flowers or chocolates to the one they love. But why is it our day of romance?

It’s generally believed that Valentine’s Day is named after two of the many early Christian martyrs called Valentine.

One Roman legend states that St Valentine was marrying young men and women secretly, despite emperor Claudius forbidding young men from tying the knot because they were better soldiers than lovers. St Valentine was put to death when the Emperor found

22 CityNews February 4-10

out. Another legend suggests that Valentine sent the first “Valentine” note to a young girl he fell in love with while in prison. The letter spoke of his undying love and signed off with “from your Valentine”.

It was around the 17th century that Valentine’s Day was celebrated on a mass level. By the middle of the 18th century it was taking on a commercial feel, with small tokens and handwritten gifts being exchanged between lovers and friends. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.

CityNews February 4-10 23

Valentine’s Day

Bringing out the romantic WHEN it comes to arranging the perfect evening, you can’t beat a beautiful dinner, an overnight stay in a spa suite and all those little romantic details taken care of, says Cathryn Hendrickson, business development manager at Rydges Capital Hill.

“We can make it so easy – we take control of the whole evening,” she says. “This year our Valentine’s package offers a decadent three-course dinner with sparkling wine, a single red rose and chocolates for your love.

“Our innovative executive chef Russell Evans is always coming up with new ideas – this year we have ever-romantic oysters with a coral and shallot vinaigrette, and some divine desserts, including macerated strawberries in a chocolate box, and a vanilla pannacotta with poached rhubarb and orange blossom Persian floss.”

Finish the evening in your own private spa. “Our stunning spa suites are the largest of their type in Canberra,” says Cathryn. “Our Valentine packages will bring out the romantic in anyone!”

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your week in the stars With Joanne Madeline Moore February 8 - 14 ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20) Rams pride themselves on their independence and ability to go it alone. However, this week’s New Moon urges you to find fresh ways to connect with those around you, whether at home, at work or at play.

The power of the group is on your side as you spark ideas off each other and pool talents to create something special.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20) How’s work going? Are you overdue for a pay rise or promotion? Is it time to look for a better job or change vocation? Maybe you need to work smarter, not harder? If you resist making changes, you’ll be left behind. Look for exciting ways to inject fresh energy into your career.

Networking with friends and colleagues brings benefits.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21) Restless Gemini – you’re incredibly busy, but are you actually achieving anything? If you tackle tasks in short, sharp bursts it will keep you interested and you’ll gradually get things done. You’re at your curious best on the weekend, as the New Moon stimulates your brain power.

So it’s the ideal time to study, read, research and investigate.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22) Crabs are sentimental creatures and can spend too much time in the past. Don’t brood over love gone wrong. This week’s stars will help heal your hurt feelings so you can finally move on. The New Moon signals a fresh start in the areas of sex or money. Perhaps a passionate new relationship or the overhaul of joint finances?

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22) Mae West, Mick Jagger, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez … why are so many major entertainers (past and present) also Leos? Because they relish being the centre of attention. With the New Moon in your relationship zone, the challenge is to share the spotlight with someone else, whether it’s a loved one, friend or business partner.

general knowledge crossword No. 247 ACROSS

DOWN

1 Warsaw is the capital of which European republic?

7 Name the horse that won the Melbourne and Caulfield cups in 2001.

8 Name an early stage in metamorphosis.

9 What is a state of well-being?

10 In golf, what do they call an angle in the fairway?

11 What are altar attendants of minor rank?

14 What is a headlong flight of a body of cattle?

18 Normal powers of mind are known as what?

19 Which cocktail is often taken as an appetiser?

21 Name the impelling force in living beings.

22 Which earlier aircraft resembled the helicopter?

23 Sending a telegram was known as what?

1 What were the knightly champions of Charlemagne called?

2 Name the heavy iron blocks used by blacksmiths.

3 What do we call a representative, as at a conference or the like?

4 Name an alternative term for a French-fry.

5 What is a large merchant ship, having a rich cargo?

6 What is an extreme and general scarcity of food?

12 Where did Banjo Paterson's Clancy come from?

13 What is the last work of a poet or such, before retirement (4,4)?

15 Name an acute infectious disease transmitted by lice and fleas.

16 What describes a dark brownish red colour?

17 Name the occupation of a "tonsorial artist".

20 What are playthings called?

Solution next week 1

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VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22) With the New Moon activating your health zone, it’s time to start a new diet and exercise program. Swap cream buns for carrot juice, and long TV sessions for power walks and trips to the gym. Virgos thrive on routine and a healthy lifestyle, so stop the excuses and start now!

Venus moves into your love zone so you’re ready for romance.

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LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23) The New Moon lights up your entertainment sector, so the weekend should be full of fun and frivolity with family and friends. Prepare to shake out your dusty dancing shoes and party like a pro! For quieter Librans, the stars favour creative pursuits and spending quality time with the special children in your life.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

21 22 23

Sudoku hard No.24

Solution next week

With Mercury visiting your domestic zone (until March 1) now is the time to speak up about family ‘issues’. You’re able to express yourself eloquently and loved ones are keen to hear what you have to say.

Make your home a heavenly haven and cocoon of calm, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy world outside.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21) With four planets in your communication zone, your chatter is more verbose than usual. But are all those words really necessary? Contemplate the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln (born on February 12) “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” Sunday’s New Moon highlights your restless side.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19) Show me the money! With the New Moon lighting up your cash zone, it’s time to take stock of your financial situation and initiate some smart new strategies. Abundance is all around – you just have to tap into it.

And don’t forget to do an inventory of your inner wealth too, which includes your self-esteem and core values.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Aquarians are twice as much fun – and twice as much trouble – as the New Moon and Mercury zoom through your sign. You’re feeling friendly, funny and fabulous; but also restless, reckless and rebellious as you re-model an important area of your life. You’re in the mood to shake loved ones out of their comfort zones so look out world!

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20) Pisceans are the masters of avoidance – never more so than now, with four planets in your ‘escaping’ zone. If you have a problem that needs to be faced, or a decision that needs to be made, stop procrastinating.

In the words of birthday great Abraham Lincoln: “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”

26 CityNews February 4-10

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2009.

Solution Crossword No.246 A B S Q U E E U Z B A S E M I L G I N S E A M I Y O U N G R S L I N E A O C S N I T C

O D G E E R B E N T I S N G G A M E R A D E R L T E M H S

R A F T S N U A S A L T E I O T O P E T N Z N E S T Y N M L A I D E M O P E S T S L S

Solution Sudoku medium No.24

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