Canberra CityNews February 25-March 3 2010

CityNews February 25-March 3 

  CityNews February 25-March 3

news

Pension pain starts to bite Retired public servants across Canberra face a grim future as their pensions fail to keep pace with the cost of living – but the Federal Government isn’t listening, reports ELERI HARRIS AFTER 33 years working for the Department of Finance, the department responsible for administering Commonwealth superannuation pensions, 70-year-old Gavin Ford, of Lyons, has started saving his hard-earned dollars in an attempt to combat the growing gap between his pension and the cost of living.

Mr Ford, one of about 40,000 retirees in Canberra living on the Commonwealth superannuation pension, is not optimistic about the Government revising indexation.

The problem of the diminishing living standards of Australia’s senior citizens came to a head in 2008 with a national push to increase the aged pension, but two years on some 350,000 former pubic servants and defence force staff are still campaigning for fairer Commonwealth superannuation pensions.

Indexed by the CPI, a method which the Superannuated Commonwealth Officers’ Association says inadequately reflects increasing living costs, the Commonwealth superannuation pensions have crept along with 29 per cent growth compared to 51 per cent for other Government-funded pensions that abandoned the CPI a decade ago.

“I think everyone expects when they retire their standard of living is going to drop because they’re not earning any money, but I think everyone hopes or has the expectation that their standard of living will stay the same over time while they’re retired,” said Mr Ford.

“I don’t really think that with the indexation

INDEX

arrangement that’s in place now that will be so.

“So I feel the need to still save, to invest to generate income to replace the loss of income, the loss of a standard of income to the pension.

“If I died next year it’s nothing, but death is an uncertain element in your life.”

On the ABC’s “Q&A” program this month Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner was ambushed

by Peter Thornton, of the Defence Force Welfare Association, demanding to know why the pensions of those who have volunteered their lives for our country were not being shifted to a better indexation method.

Mr Tanner said the Matthews Review of Pension Indexation Arrangements in Australian Government Civilian and Military Superannuation Schemes released in 2008, recommended the arrangements stay the same and that the Government could not afford the “billions and billions of dollars” in costs at a time of deficit.

ACT Labor Senator Kate Lundy has been campaigning for different indexation since 2004 and argues that the Matthews Review over-estimated the cost of changing the indexation.

She says a change to the same indexation as the aged pension is only fair and estimates a cost of $42 million in the first year.

“I’m not impressed with the Matthews Review and not happy that the Government has supported the recommendations,” she told “CityNews”.

“One of the issues is extracting from the Department of Finance accurate costs, there’s no

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February 25-March 3, 2010

Since 1993: Volume 16, Number 8

GPO Box 2448, Canberra City 2601 www.citynews.com.au

Arts&Entertainment Crossword Dining Horoscope Letters Movie reviews News Politics Property Social Scene Sport Sudoku

General manager: Greg Jones 0419 418196, greg@citynews.com.au Senior advertising executive: Melissa Delfino, 0415 137660 Advertising sales executives: Jonathan Hick, 0415 177345 Sebastien Kriegel, 0438 198701 Mara Stroppa, 0431 245130 Advertising sales co-ordinator: Rebecca Darman, ad@citynews.com.au Sydney advertising sales: Ad Sales Connect, 02 9420 1777

11-13 18 13 18 4 12 3-9 4 19-23 15 9 18

FRONT COVER: ZOO managing director Clinton Hutchinson and operations manager Kate Robbins.

Story Page 10.

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Binge-dinking help THE Federal Government is providing $150,000 for a community-based project, GROG Watch, to tackle the problem of binge drinking among young people in the ACT. It will provide support and intervention to young binge drinkers referred by ACT Policing and ACT Ambulance services. The project will be run by CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn.

Safety grants

THE NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust is inviting submissions from individuals and community-based and other organisations to apply for funding for projects or activities under its 2010/2011 grant program. The Trust is seeking proposals consistent with the philosophies outlined in the Vision Zero/Safe System approach to road safety. Guidelines for applicants and the application form are at www.roadsafetytrust.org.au

Donation for research

CANBERRA builder Angelo Turcin has presented a cheque for $40,134 to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. He raised the money from the public through his company’s sponsorship of the Thoroughbred Park Melbourne Cup Race Day and from friends and associates.

Kids in the House Retired public servant Gavin Ford... “If I died next year it’s nothing, but death is an uncertain element in your life.”

Photo by Silas doubt it would be expensive, but not as expensive as they’ve made out if you take into consideration clawbacks.”

ONE hundred Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Youth Ambassadors aged three to 30-something, all with type 1 diabetes, will meet with nearly 100 MPs in Canberra on March 18 to plead for continued Federal Government funding for type 1 diabetes research.

They represent the 140,000 children and adults in Australia with type 1 diabetes, and the tens of thousands more who care for them.

Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au Political reporter: Eleri Harris, 0414 618493 eleri@citynews.com.au Lifestyle editor: Kathryn Vukovljak, 6262 9100 lifestyle@citynews.com.au Arts editor: Helen Musa, 0400 043764 helen@citynews.com.au Design and photography: Silas Brown, 0412 718086 Designer: Joran Dilucian Accounts manager: Bethany Freeman-Chandler accounts@citynews.com.au Distribution and circulation: Richard Watson, 6262 9100 circulation@citynews.com.au

42,001 copies a week Six-month audit to September 30, 2009

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Ian Meikle, of Suite 1, Level 1, 143 London Circuit, Canberra.

CityNews February 25-March 3

letters

politics

When politics of fear bites back The trouble with using the politics of fear is that it can come back to bite, as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is finding out, says political columnist MICHAEL MOORE JUST as Pauline Hanson broke through the political correctness barrier to provide a voice for those who were worried about immigration, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has been able to provide an outlet valve for those who have been unable to even voice their scepticism about climate change.

While I find the Abbot position as untenable as the Hanson position, the reality is that suppressing debate, mocking climate change sceptics and pillorying alternative views has simply invited a backlash.

Abbot understands better than most the use of fear, uncertainty and doubt in politics. He was part of the Howard team that lifted the skill to unprecedented heights using terrorism as a tool to implement conservative policies on crime, police powers and civil liberties. He employed these skills the moment he took leadership of the conservatives to frighten Australians with his mantra of “a great big tax”.

While Climate Change Minister Penny Wong is attempting to maintain the fear of what might happen if we do not implement a carbon emission scheme, Abbott just thumps the financial fear button.

An online Newspoll conducted recently found that Rudd’s emission trading scheme was favoured by only 29.59 per cent of those participating compared to the Abbott direct action plan which drew the other 74.41 per cent. Granted, this type of polling is open to all sorts of criticism. However, it does illustrate that Abbott really has given a voice to doubters.

Abbott was clever enough to look for an alternative way of dealing with the issue rather than being cornered as (God forbid) a “climate-

CityNews February 25-March 3

change denier”. His consummate political skills are now reflected in the polling that shows the rapid way the conservatives have closed in on Labor as the preferred government.

There remains the best part of a year to go before the election and there is still time for the debate to be considered sensibly. The conservatives will do everything they can to avoid a debate based on the science, while Labor has to contend with damaging revelations about scientific exaggerations and distortions.

Ten years ago the respected UK paper “The Independent” ran a headline on March 20, 2000, saying “Snowfalls are now just a thing of the past”. The prediction came from Dr David Viner, of the climatic research institute at the University of East Anglia, who argued that within a few years winter snowfalls will become a “rare and exciting event” and “children just aren’t going to know what snow is”. This sort of statement in the context of this year’s relentless northern winter tests the predictions of those who are seeking implementation of sensible climate change policies.

Effective policies will have to persuade voters that they are capable of both mitigating the impacts of climate change and adapting to what is happening around us. The frustration for those of us who believe we are facing a major international challenge, is watching the use of exaggeration instead of evidence, politics instead of science and exploitation rather than implementation.

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

Angling is cruel SHANE Jasprizza (Letters, CN, February 18) said that the main reason people go fishing is “to catch a fish to eat”. Not according to Recfishwest’s executive director who said three months ago: “Statistics show that over 50 per cent of recreationally caught fish are now released.”

Land hunters are compelled to kill animals quickly – they are not permitted to put hooks into their faces.

Shane would do well to read a document on his own Canberra Fisherman’s Club website titled “The rising tide of animal rights”. It states: “The stupidity of this [fish don’t feel pain] argument is mind boggling… anyone with an ounce of common sense would realise that if a fish couldn’t feel fear, alarm and pain, it would be lacking the most basic instincts to ensure its own survival”.

Recreational angling is no more than animal cruelty.

Mike O’Shaughnessy, Spence

Is that right?

IN regard to Robert Macklin’s column “Fears for cheers” (CN, February 11-17): Have the number of drug artists now increased in the ACT to warrant 42 meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous (that’s six meetings daily) for so many troubled individuals within the communiuty?

Alcohol is indeed the easy way out of accepting (and meeting) any problems that may arise during daily life.

Geoff Speke, Evatt

Disappointing response

IT is so disappointing when you see responses such as J. McDonald’s “Ric’s wrong” (Letters, CN, February 18). Such people have difficulty distinguishing between “bagging Canberra” and criticising government performance. In the process they allow government mismanagement to go unpunished.

My father came to Canberra in the late 1930s to help build the place. He was an engineer on all the dams, the central basin of the lake, the Commonwealth Bridge, the Administration Building, the Cotter Bridge, the Olympic Pool, to name a few. I and all my five siblings were born in Canberra as were most of our children. So I am not likely to “bag Canberra”, but am interested in making it a better place to live. I certainly do not like it being ruined through bad governance by any political party.

Not one item on my list of the ACT Government “failures” was invented by me.

If McDonald wants references for all the other statements I made in my letter, I would be happy to provide them for the cost of my time.

Ric Hingee, Duffy Letters are invited from “CityNews” readers.

Let loose to editor@citynews.com.au, use a form at www.citynews.com.au or write to the editor at GPO Box 2448, Canberra 2601. Letters of 200 words or less stand a better chance of publication.

news

THE GADFLY

By Robert Macklin

These days it’s more slumdog than millionaire

Matt Denham hard at work... “I just like to do a better job than everyone else so I get more money.”

Photo by Silas

Small change, big change to Matt IN the city with the highest average salary in the country, it shouldn’t come as any real surprise that our windscreen washers are also making a decent living – in the case of Matt Denham, usually $200 a day in small change.

Matt, a former landscape gardener from the Blue Mountains, has been working at the intersection of Northbourne Avenue and London Circuit for two years, six hours a day, five days a week – unless it rains.

“It’s nice when the weather’s like this, beautiful, and people are happy. It’s a bit harder after it rains and that, it’s just like any business, it’s up and down.”

Matt isn’t terribly fussed about payments for his services, “I’m just happy if they give you something, a dollar or two. Or sometimes people give you $20 notes or thirty or ten or five or stuff like that. It’s not as regular as coins, but it happens sometimes, especially around Christmas.”

When he started out window washing, Matt was homeless, he’s now staying with a friend and looking for his own place while he saves for a new construction licence to get him back into regular landscape gardening work.

With more than a touch of business savvy, Matt explains that both his location and innoventive use of a spray-bottle filled with water and Windex are delib-

erate strategies to create a monopoly as well as maximise and sustain profits.

“I had a mate who used to do it, Kerry, used to do it alongside me. But not lately. Not since I stopped leaving buckets down here and stuff. People stopped working here because I started using the spray thing with Windex and that in it,” he says.

“People are still using buckets, I just like to do a better job than everyone else so I get more money.

“I work this spot, the cops know I’m here. They know it’s illegal but they don’t hassle anyone if it doesn’t hold the traffic up or stuff like that or harass people.”

What Matt doesn’t realise is that window washing is not illegal. ACT Police and the Department of Territory and Municipal Services are happy to let the window washers of Northbourne Avenue go about their business.

And Canberra St Vincent De Paul Society CEO Bob Wilson says the window washers should be encouraged.

“Anyone that shows some flair for earning their own money to lift themselves out of poverty should be supported, it’s a good thing. It builds sel f- esteem and is a good thing for people who suffer mental illness or addiction because it keeps them occupied.”

–Eleri Harris CityNews February 25-March 3

SOMETIMES profound changes seem to take place in the world without your realising it. Then some small incident will throw a blinding light on the transformation.

For example, the other day I had to clean out my dressing room for renovations and in the process rediscovered my dinner suit. And a splendid piece of work it is, too – made to measure from a beautiful bolt of fabric with gleaming lapels and matching cloth buttons. Trouble is, the poor thing had been hanging in a corner gathering dust for months; nay years.

Indeed, it took me several hours of trawling through the memory banks before I could recall the occasion when I last wore it… to a fancy dress party!

Yet 20 years ago it – and its predecessors – saw service at least five or six times a year. I well remember donning it with a certain prideful panache each time I attended an opening night performance at the Canberra Theatre in the 1990s… though towards the end of the decade I do recall the then-Arts Minister Bill Wood and I seemed to be a very small minority in formal dress.

Today you’d be regarded as an eccentric if you turned up at the theatre in a black tie. You might get away with it at a dinner dance or a ball (just) but you’d have tagged yourself as a social reactionary.

But it’s not just the black tie that has fallen to the forces of aggressive informality. There was a time when overseas air travel was regarded as a special occasion.

You didn’t dress up exactly, but you did take the trouble to turn yourself out nicely. Indeed, as a young journalist I had an editor who used to take his kids to the airport for weekend outings. “I think it’s one of the most exciting places in the world,” he told me. “People dress up; millionaires mix with the hoi polloi; it has a wonderful sense of occasion.”

Today it’s more slumdog than millionaire.

There are still a few holdouts – gentlemen’s clubs, for example – where dress rules are enforced, but they are living on borrowed time. And who’s to say it’s a bad thing... except I think it goes much deeper than the clothes we wear.

I don’t mind, for example, when tradesmen call me by my first name, but I do get a little miffed when callow telemarketers and teenage bankers presume on my goodwill. They symbolise a social trend that spurns the forms and rituals of the past.

It certainly has its positive side – religious strictures with their threats of eternal hellfire have lost their power to cower and have mostly been quietly dropped. But with other institutions we used to take for granted also falling into disfavour, perhaps it’s time to take note.

Marriage, for example, is becoming a thing of the past. In our family – which is probably fairly typical – both sons are in stable loving relationships (together with children) yet the “m” word simply hasn’t arisen.

Perhaps this, too, is a healthy sign.

Certainly, it means fewer divorces. But what’s next, I wonder? The silly drug laws perhaps? robert@robertmacklin.com

CityNews February 25-March 3 

news

Citizens, they both love us!

ACT Liberal Senator Gary Humphries has defended his community credentials in the wake of newly confirmed Greens candidate Lin Hatfield-Dodds’ claim to represent a citizen-centered alternative in the Senate.

“I don’t believe she could possibly bring a closer contact with the community,” Senator Humphries told “City News”.

“I have to say the one thing you can never accuse anybody who represents the ACT of is not being in touch with the people.

“We have a very politically literate population here and politicians have a very high profile.

“Losing contact with normal people is impossible to do if you represent the ACT.”

Lin says she’s got it; Gary says he certainly has.

There’s an election in the air, writes ELERI HARRIS

But the national director of UnitingCare Australia and 2008 ACT Australian of the Year, HatfieldDodds is confident that the Greens could gain a Senate spot aided by her background in community welfare and social justice.

“I know we’ve got a fighting chance of winning the seat,” she said.

“Across the country the Green vote continues to rise, every election, every by-election, the Green vote has gone up right across the country and that’s a trend that continues.

“While the Greens have hugely and consistently strong environmental credentials, I think it is becoming increasingly well known as

the party for social justice and community and a party for the future and I think that I would strengthen that part of the story.

“It is important, I think, that we have people in our Australian Government, in the State and Territory governments and at a local government level who are citizen centered.”

In the 2007 Federal election Senator Humphries was touted to lose his seat to popular Green Kerrie Tucker and Humphries says he is mindful of the challenge the Greens pose in 2010.

“I always regard the Greens in the ACT as a challenge because they are the third force here.

CityNews February 25-March 3

‘express yourself’ – children took this up with great enthusiasm, painting canvases, themselves and each other,” a department spokesperson said.

Filming occurred at a variety of city and rural locations around the ACT, with families and individuals of all ages and many different cultures participating and encapsulating one of Harmony Day’s key messages, “everyone belongs”. Among the 20

Junior recyclers ACT and Queanbeyan primary school students have the chance to win one of seven $50 vouchers by telling ActewAGL about the best object that they have made from recycled materials, how they made it and provide a digital image of their creation by March 24.

Winning creations will appear on the ActewAGL education website. More information at www. actewagl.com.au/education

Handicraft market THE next Mathilda’s Market, which sells handcrafted and limited production baby and kids goods, will be held at the Hyatt Canberra, 9am-1pm, on Sunday, February 28.

Lin Hatfield-Dodds... “I know we’ve got a fighting chance of winning the seat” Photo by Silas “But, that said, I have the capacity to add something Greens never can – representation of government or opposition of the day.”

Kids rally in the name of harmony The excited children, pictured left, were some of the 70 people from diverse cultures and generations from around Canberra, who took part in filming a commercial for Harmony Day 2010.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s production team filmed the commercial to encourage all Australians to get involved in Harmony Day on March 21.

“The Harmony Day 2010 theme is

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countries represented by participants were Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Turkey, Spain, Ireland, Chile, Tonga, Kazakhstan and Lebanon.

The community service announcements will be broadcast nationally on free-to-air and pay TV channels from early March and the clip will also be available along with supplementary videos on the department’s YouTube channel, ImmiTV.

Calling all utes THE Hall Ute Competition and Family Day is being held on Saturday, May 8 at the Hall Polocrosse Ground. After the success of last year’s event, organisers are planning an even better day with different categories in the ute competition and lots of family activities. All profits of the day will be donated to Camp Quality, which provides fun therapy for children living with cancer. Entry forms and details available from the website www.hallutecomp.com

Stunt winners FIONA Ryans, of Yarralumla; Lauren Ogden, Aranda, and Deb Greer, Conder, are the winners of the three VIP passenger rides for one of the Toyota V6 HiLux Heroes performances at the Royal Canberra Show.

DVD winners Winners of the television series “Hope Springs” are: Cheryl Pech, of Campbell; Matt Tindale, Jerrabomberra, and Barry Rollings, Conder.

sport

Be nice or else!

If a sportsperson doesn’t want media attention, there can be interesting repercussions, says TIM GAVEL WHAT is it with the media? If you’re a sportsperson and you don’t play the “compliant media game” then watch out! The expectation is that if you are in the public eye then the media will become part of your life. Live with it as part of the consequence of success.

Should successful sportspeople comply with media requests? Must all sportspeople become media-savvy?

My comment follows the fall out from Dale Begg Smith’s reaction to winning the silver medal in the men’s moguls at the Winter Olympics. I say reaction loosely given that he had very little reaction to his success. He has been portrayed as a sore loser because he didn’t drape himself in the Australian flag or do handstands.

Like many in my profession, I have had trouble getting a handle on the psyche of Begg Smith because he gives so little away about himself.

Is it a major issue? In the eyes of the media it is.

What do we know about him, apart from the fact that he moved to Australia at the age of 16 with his brother following a falling out with the Canadian Ski Association? We also know about his role in the development of computer software which has made him wealthy. Apart from that, I must admit as a journalist, he really doesn’t reveal anything of himself except through the execution of his sport.

There have been times when he gives the

impression during interviews that he would rather be undergoing root canal therapy. If I was offering media advice, I would be suggesting that he be a little more giving in interviews to get the media off his back more than anything else. But I suspect that he really doesn’t cares about public sentiment. On the surface, it seems to be more an issue for the media than Dale Begg Smith. He really just doesn’t look as if he is interested in the media or what people think about him. Maybe he just likes perfecting and participating in his sport.

Of course, he is not alone: George Gregan didn’t play the game with the Sydney media and no matter how well he played, they managed to find fault in his performance. The more they criticised his demeanour, the greater his resistance to co-operate with them.

At times, Brumbies new recruit Rocky Elsom gives the impression that he would rather be somewhere else than undergoing a grilling by the Canberra media. He does occasionally provide insightful answers, but the question needs to be to his liking.

Do the media have a right to expect sportspeople to respond to their requirements or should sportspeople have the right to respond as dictated by their personality or needs? It’s a difficult question to answer. But whatever we think, to watch Dale Begg Smith in action shouts very loudly that he is a great competitor.

CityNews February 25-March 3

Cover story: ZOO

advertising feature

Managing director Clinton Hutchinson...

“Our new space has freshened our approach and our thinking. People like working here and like visiting. Changing spaces has given everyone a lift.”

Why did the agency cross the road?

OR HOW ZOO DEVISED A NEW WAY TO WORK… THERE’S a buzz around the new Kingston premises of advertising, design and digital agency ZOO. “We’ve only moved across the road on Wentworth Avenue, but in terms of our culture and the way we operate, we’ve come quite a long way over the last six months,” says managing director, Clinton Hutchinson.

He says it’s all about a new way of doing business; the advertising agency has always had a reputation for creativity, innovation and quality, but now collaboration has joined the list. The new office has been designed to allow the ZOO team – and their clients – to work together.

Hutchinson feels the changes at ZOO are not a revolution, but an evolution.

“In our business you have to keep changing and adapting. Finding new answers to old questions.

Our new space has freshened our approach and our thinking. People like working here and like visiting. Changing spaces has given everyone a lift,” he says.

The agency’s new approach is part of a two-pronged communication strategy, says Hutchinson. As well as strengthening the rapport between the agency and its clients, the team is able now to work more effectively with each other. Every aspect of the new office, from the design of the workspaces to the open-plan layout, has been conceived to make collaboration easier.

“The essence of ZOO is creativity. We work as a team to develop ideas that reach people and tell stories. Our new home in Kingston has been designed with this in mind and it’s working. We’ve

10 CityNews February 25-March 3

only been here for a couple of “In our weeks and already we can see the benefits,” says Hutchinson. business you have He is quick to point out the role operations manager Kate to keep changing and Robbins has had in making the adapting. Finding fit-out so successful. “From a process point of view, Kate has taking a more active role in our new answers to been absolutely indispensable,” partnerships.” he says.

Of course, ZOO’s new way old questions.”

Working together over the of doing business isn’t all “talk” last six months, Hutchinson and – according to Robbins, the ultimate Robbins have created a workspace goal is greater productivity and an with the simple aim of helping people to even higher standard of work. talk to each other.

“I suppose you can say that we’re a communi“Email and phone calls save a lot of time, but cations agency that has learned to communicate. there’s nothing like being able to see the person This new way of doing things allows us to you’re working with. The walls have really come produce better work at a lower price.” down at ZOO,” Robbins says.

Hutchinson, who can’t wait to introduce clients With the exception of two boardrooms, two to the new office, believes ZOO’s fresh approach private meeting rooms – and, of, course, the will speak for itself. bathrooms – the office overlooking Wentworth “Great work is definitely on the horizon, with Avenue is completely open plan.

TV campaigns coming up for national bedding She says the result is one, single, committed brand Sleepy’s, EPIC and the Canberra Theatre team, instead of a traditional office divided by Centre. And our work on the National Gallery of divisions and job titles. A space designed to make Australia’s ‘Masterpieces from Paris’ campaign the ZOO team – and their clients – feel at home has helped them achieve over 220,000 visitors so from the moment they walk out of the lift and far,” he says. into the generous reception area.

“It’s up to others to judge how much we’ve “We want our clients to think of our new home really changed. What I can say, though, is that as their home, too,” Robbins says. we’re productive and accountable. We’ve taken it Hutchison agrees: “We’ve always had a lot back to basics and simplified our approach; 2010 of fun working with our clients. We like spendpromises plenty. It’s up to all of us at ZOO to make ing time getting to know their businesses and it happen.”

all about arts Swiss watch Caitlin Crooning with news | reviews | cinema | dining | crossword | horoscope | sudoku

ARTS IN THE CITY

By Helen Musa

Campbell girl Caitlin Stawaruk,18, is home from Switzerland after winning one of the richest dance scholarships in the world.

Created in 1973, the Prix de Lausanne, an international competition for 15 to 18-year-old dancers saw 70 young people making it to Lausanne in January for a gruelling round of workshops and classes. The biggest contingent came from Japan and the majority of entrants were boys.

The dedicated Stawaruk was seen on YouTube smiling bravely as she joined finalists on the stage of Lausanne’s Theatre de Beaulieu to showcase works in contemporary and classical ballet. She preferred doing the classical piece because she “felt more nervous.”

Stawaruk has been home to visit her family, cats, dogs and many

friends, so it wasn’t easy to catch her.

Twice Australia’s national champion in calisthenics, the former Girls’ Grammar student attended the Kim Harvey School of Dance in Canberra in Year 7 to strengthen her body, but quickly fell in love with ballet , which she realised would also provide a longer-term career than calisthenics – “more of a hobby”. She joined the Australian Ballet School in 2008 and then won a valuable scholarship and moved to the Zurich Dance Academy in 2009 after finding Melbourne too expensive.

Prizes awarded to the seven best finalists consist of scholarships granting the equivalent of about $16,000 towards tuition or an apprenticeship and she’s still deciding. Her ultimate aim is “definitely return to Australia – I just love Australia.”

So how did it feel to be a dance laureate, as the Swiss call a prizewinner? “Winning any prize is an honour,” she says.

–Helen Musa

Diana Krall

Dancer Caitlin Stawaruk... “Winning any prize is an honour.”

Photo by Jean-Bernard Sieber.

Director Kate always plays it straight By arts editor Helen Musa

WHEN you are talking to Jigsaw Theatre director Kate Shearer, you are in no doubt as to what she’s thinking – she tells you straight.

Dynamic and ebullient, Shearer has spent the last four years in Canberra writing her own scripts, adapting novels for the stage and directing 12 shows, eight of them new works, for our young audiences.

Now she’s off to Melbourne to take up the artistic directorship of the Big West Festival in Melbourne, a biennial contemporary arts festival for the western suburbs. But we’ll still be seeing plenty of her as she has professional commitments in Canberra and has it in her new three-year contract that she may continue to practice as a director and writer.

To Shearer, her new job at Big West means making “intellectual and creative challenges” and, like her Jigsaw job, it will mean working with professionals. “I want to grow,” she says.

One very serious problem that Jigsaw has had to grapple Kate Shearer. with is the loss of ACT Department of Education funding of the company – still, after a 35-year-long history, Canberra’s only full-time professional theatre

company. Shearer says Jigsaw is “a precious part of the ACT’s cultural landscape”. While it retains ArtsACT funding, she explains, it has meant a drastically reduced program and an increase in ticket prices.

She is re-staging “Walk the Fence” her awardwinning collaborative production with Buzz Dance Theatre from WA. With a cello score by singer/songwriter Melanie Robinson, Perth dancer Keira Mason-Hill and Canberra actor Chris Palframan leap, fly, rollerblade and dance in a play about a young girl called Rachel who is “so angry her feet cannot touch the ground.”

“Walk the Fence”,Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre, until March 6. Bookings to www. canberraticketing.com.au

GRAMMY-winning pianist and pop-jazz female crooner extraordinaire Diana Krall will be performing from her new album “Quiet Nights” at “A Day on the Green” in Centennial Vineyards, Bowral, on March 7. It’s the first time she’s been in Australia since 2005, having since given birth to twin boys, released four albums and produced and performed on Barbra Streisand’s new album.

Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot and Katie Noonan will also perform. Bookings 1300 657559.

TALKING of Noonan, she and her new band The Captains can also be seen and heard at the ANU Bar at 8pm on March 3, where they will launch her “Page One” EP, the title song of which she wrote as a wedding gift to Captains’ keyboardist Stu Hunter and his partner. Noonan recently won her fourth ARIA Award.

IT’S an annual cinematic treat, so it’s good news that the 6th Latin American Film Festival is returning to Canberra from March 1-5 at the National Museum’s Visions Theatre. Everything is free (just turn up) and there will be two films a day at 6pm and 8pm. This year’s opening film is “Manue la Sáenz” from Venezuela, a hit at Venice. There are also recent releases from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay.

EVER-trendy, the National Gallery will soon sparkle with “Starry Nights”, nocturnal viewings of the French masterpieces, music, activities and art talks, funded through the ACT Government. You can tipple at the Sculpture Garden’s Pol Roger bar to Renée Geyer on March 5, The Black Sorrows on March 6, Clare Bowditch Trio on March 12 and Tim Rogers Band on March 13. Tickets at 132849.

I POPPED into the Belconnen Centre’s Arts Lounge recently to see the one-day-only exhibition of artist Martin Paull’s new suite “Death of a Swearword”. He was commissioned (anonymously to the public) to paint 14 Stations of the Cross in tiny, exquisite square canvases. He uses his experiences of the Ash Wednesday bushfires of 1983 as the inspiration for his innovative interpretations.

THAT army boot-wearing, punk violinist Nigel Kennedy will be at the Royal Theatre on March 4 playing Bach and Duke Ellington accompanied by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

CityNews February 25-March 3 11

arts&entertainment

Island of screams “Shutter Island” (MA)

DESPITE some thoughtful moral and ethical observations, this film from Dennis Lehane’s novel is below director Martin Scorsese’s best, not for its demands on our willingness to suspend disbelief in its plot but rather for the numerous assumptions it insists we make about the validity of its staging.

In too many credibility-defying plot moments, Scorsese’s direction delivers constructs screaming “contrivance” additional to those which later revelations confirm as deliberate for plot reasons.

US Marshalls Ted (Leonardo di Caprio) and Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) travel to investigate a patient’s disappearance from a Federal institution for the criminally insane on an island near Boston. Ted, a World War II veteran, was present at the liberation of Dachau. His wife (Michelle Williams) died when an arsonist fired their apartment building. The missing patient, Rachel (initially Emily Mortimer, later Patricia Clarkson), was institutionalised for murdering her three children.

Head medical officer Cawley (Ben Kingsley) and his deputy (Max von Sydow) are disinclined to help Ted and Chuck conduct their enquiries.

Are we watching reality or psychiatric delusions?

The film takes the best part of 130 minutes to offer an answer. It’s a doozy, but not impossible. Limit your expectations to avoid disappointment.

At all Canberra cinemas

CINEMA

By Dougal Macdonald bowling alleys and bars across the south-western states, emphysemic, overweight, but above all lonely beyond imagination, sneaking out of the motel before last night’s woman awakes. Bridges’s singing is powerful. So are the lyrics which Cooper has written Bad as having composed.

Bad falls powerfully for single mom Jean (marvellous Maggie Gyllenhaal) who comes to interview him in hope that the editor of the local paper will publish it. Late-50s and mid-30s make poignant romantic chemistry. Perhaps Jean will not be Bad’s salvation, but she becomes the guide who puts him on that path.

“Crazy Heart” is a package of goodies worth sampling.

At the Dendy

“From Paris With Love” (MA)

REESE (Jonathan Rhys Myers), the gofer for the US Ambassador in Paris, also performs clandestine low-grade functions for an anonymous US enforcement agency.

Reese loves Caroline (pronounced Caroleen) and Kasia Smutniak is very pretty in the role. One evening, Reese’s controller sends him to the airport “Crazy Heart” (M) to collect Charlie Wax and drive him around. Charlie (John Travolta) satirises every super-hero secret THE foundation for writer/director Scott agent ever filmed, smart, invincible, keeping tally Cooper’s debut feature from Thomas Cobb’s of his hourly kill rate. novel is a screenplay that is intelligent, literate, Writer/director Luc Besson carts his audience on dramatically credible, compassionate, vigorous a frenetic ride around Paris, with Charlie joyfully and, above all, deeply sentient of its duty to the terminating bad guys and showing Reese what human condition. he must become to get promoted. It’s delightfully Both its leading actors are Oscar nominees. Jeff stupid, often hilarious, occasionally quite exciting Bridges is stunning as “Bad” Blake, once a C&W star, and unlikely to wear out any little grey cells. now an alcoholic getting gigs with pickup bands in At Hoyts

Top CAT Lyn wins regional award DIRECTOR-actor-choreographer Lyn Townsend, from the Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society in the central west of NSW, has won the Gold Cat award at the ActewAGL Canberra Area Theatre awards ceremony.

The full list of CAT winners is:

Set design, Russell Brown, Bill Deveril and David Todd; Lighting design, Adam Boon; Magic Moment of Theatre, Lyneham High School and Kinross Wolaroi Preparatory School Orange; Community Theatre Award, SFP Productions, Wagga Wagga; Technical achievement, James McPherson; Costume design, Rebekah Cartwright, Candy Burgess and Coty Farquhar; Best original work, Joshua McHugh; Best original work for a school or youth production, Canberra Girls’ Grammar School; Best ensemble/play, University Theatre Ensemble, Wagga Wagga; Best actor/actress in a school or youth play/musical, Ben Kindon, Jessica White, Blake Appelqvist,

12 CityNews February 25-March 3

Lucy Ridge, Roscoe Walker, Joanna Richards, Bill Bourchier and Caitlin Dickson; Best production of a school or youth play/musical, Canberra Grammar School, also Marist College; ACT Government best contribution on or off stage by an ACT senior, Oliver Baudert; Patricia Kelson Encouragement Award, Sarah Wall; Best variety performance, Dick Goldberg and Ian Croker; Best ensemble in a musical, The Cast, Don Hillam Entertainment, Wagga Wagga; Musical director for a school or youth production, William Moxey; Best actor/actress in a featured role, Ian Hart, Allyn Smith, Kiki Skountzos, Christine Forbes; Best actor/actress in a leading role, play/ musical, Duncan Driver, Tony Falla, Bill Jayet, Naone Carrel, Jacinta Le and Meredith Adams; Best director of a play/musical/variety, Brandon Martignago, Mark Grentell; Best musical director, Lucy Bermingham; Best choreographer, Lisa Buckley; Best production of a play/variety show/ musical, Canberra Repertory Society, The Milton Ulladulla Entertainers, Don Hillam Entertainment; The ActewAGL Gold Cat Award for outstanding achievement simultaneously in many categories, Lyn Townsend, of Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society.

arts&entertainment

Beat those Sunday blues THE Sunday blues. They can happen in Canberra to those wishing to end their weekend with a nice meal out. Some restaurants are open as usual, but others close their doors.

So we were pleased when meandering through Kingston on a stifling hot summer’s evening to see Vasco’s on Giles Street open.

A perfect option, we thought, because the restaurant offers an intriguing racion menu inspired by the owner’s travels overseas. We thought sharing a series of smaller dishes rather than ordering a heavier main each would suit.

The racion list is an interesting read, with around 18 options (ranging from $6 for the house marinated olives up to $22 for the slipper lobster, with most dishes averaging a reasonable $14).

Our request to sit outside was immediately accommodated.

DINING

By Wendy Johnson Let’s start with the highlight – the 24month aged Iberico jamon with fresh melon.

The dish was simple but elegant and the cured ham a delight. Made in Spain from big, fat black Iberico hogs, the jamon deserves the reputation it has gained in many quarters of being the finest cured ham in the world.

The round balls of fresh melon were pretty to look at and delicious with the ham.

We drooled over the idea of the slipper lobster (not the type with big claws), with Baltic caviar and bay leaf cream. It sounded divine but Vasco’s wasn’t serving it during our visit.

We settled for the Portuguese sardines in saffron ecabesh and found the dish disappointing. It was a large and generous serve and the sardines were strong tasting, but that wasn’t the issue. We both agreed the sardines were overcooked by a long shot and too dry as a result. We didn’t finish them.

Racion aside, Vasco’s serves a fairly large range of other dinner options (averaging mid-$20), including the flame grilled piri piri chicken the Portuguese are so famous for.

Other mains include goat kid with carrot and mint ($28), whole baby snapper grilled ($35), and an interesting sounding charred lamb backstrap created with cognac and served with sweet potato chips ($28). Mixed platters and banquets are also on the menu.

Vasco’s, 46 Giles Street, Kingston, call 6232 7034.

reviews

Of elegance and refinement

THERE are occasions in theatre where you know from the obvious good feeling in the space on arrival that it is going to be an enjoyable experience. “Lloyd Beckmann, Beekeeper” was just such an occasion.

The character was introduced outside the VISUAL ART theatre. Without any stage make-up Stitz Jude Rae: “Still Lifes” used a very precise physicality and speech CMAG, until June 6. pattern convincingly to portray the elderly Reviewed by Anni Doyle Wawrzynczak Beckmann while giving the audience a lesson in the mating habits of bees. Stitz was very THERE is much to consider in this selection of comfortable in alternating between set oil paintings, watercolours and drawings that span the decade from 2000 to 2010. Rae is a script and responding directly with audience gifted, multi-awarded artist whose portraits comment and reaction.

“Still life 146” (2003), oil on linen, and still lifes are held in many private and Once inside the theatre, the space became Artbank collection.

Photo by Judy Rae a home where the audience were guests. public collections.

The oils-on-linen works are very much fire extinguishers and gas cylinders. In “Still Old lounge chairs, cushions and seating about the act of painting itself. The applicaof various descriptions were set amongst Life 146”, oil on linen, 71cmx92cm, three gas tion of paint is considered and deliberate, cylinders of various dimensions occupy a bookshelves, cupboards and miscelresulting in subtle gradations of highly comdreamy space, meticulously placed points of laneous household and personal objects. plex colour mixes. There is an economy of paint lending metal shimmer and shine.

Everyone was offered a drink. Wine, juice brushstroke that assists the perfect balancing The four drawings show the fine and beer (for the blokes) were distributed of line, colour and form and a tremendous draughtsmanship skills that underpin the by members of the audience co-opted by intellectual rigour is applied to the composipaintings. Five deliciously fluid watercolours, Beckmann. tions throughout. Nothing is left to chance from 2009, provide a marvellous and startling Stitz and Somes avoided sentimentality in here and yet the effect is not of contrivance contrast to the structured oils. sculpting a memorable identity who forged but of an intense meditative silence. The eye an understanding of life through observation is drawn to rest, the mind to contemplate, the of bees. The connection with nature, family whole effect one of elegance and refinement. and something larger than himself raised Rae’s objects are not drawn from the faas many questions for the character in old miliar, decorative, still-life tradition. Amongst age as it provided a sense of balance while the marvellous renditions of commonplace younger. Yet no matter how hard he tries domestic items (the ‘50s electric jug, brown to explain things to his grandson, his own THEATRE and green bottles, modernist vases), there motivations and experiences become even “Lloyd Beckmann, Beekeeper” are cubes and rectangles whose weighty gemore obscure and difficult to define in words. ometries act both to anchor the compositions Performed by Tim Stitz, directed by Kelly The work is very engaging and entertainSomes, Courtyard Studio, season ended. and to inject a note of abstraction into the ing while still allowing room for more Reviewed by Joe Woodward domestic. Lovingly rendered also are home venturing into the soul of an inspiring life.

Lloyd and the love of bees

Free passes to CMC Rocks the Snowys WIN a weekend double pass, valued at $378, to the roots and country music festival CMC Rocks the Snowys 2010. Held at Friday

Flat in Thredbo, March 5-6, it features Americans Phil Vassar, Jack Ingram and Nanci Griffith, and Australians Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers and Guy Sebastian.

Entry details at citynews.com.au/competitions

CityNews February 25-March 3 13

14  CityNews February 25-March 3

scene

More photos at www.facebook.com/canberracitynews

At the Canberra Area Theatre Awards, Civic

Ross and Rose Shorney with Pat and Bill Stephens

Naone Carrel and Tim Ferguson

Narelle Downing, Stephen Pike and Jackie McGuirk

At the Pol Roger Bar, National Gallery of Australia

Allan and Anne Wright with Dennis Martin

Ian de Landelles, Marie Rolfe, Lynne McLean, MLA Mary Porter and Mark Rolfe

Phoebe Haglen, Erinn Hartshorne and Juliette Mitchell

Julie Lovell with baby Jasmine, Jeane Lynch, Jane Gordon and Anthea van Leent

At Franco Calabria’s portrait unveiling, Civic

Jon Hook, Angelique and Dimitra Angelou and Markos Lekkas Franco Calabria and Carlo Tosolini

Sam Calabria and Margaret Reid

Trish Smith, Lisa and Michael Calabria, Garry Smith and Ann Calabria

Josh Calabria, Richard Read with Teresa, Anthony, Emily, Georgia and Tony Lopilato

Jess Whiteside and Sam Read

Scott Jeffery, Nicole and Stuart Martin and Craig Hill

Renae Shepherd and Seya Onitiri

CityNews February 25-March 3  15

Black Opal Stakes

Classic and the crazy A crazy costume competition has been introduced as part of Fashions on the Field in time for the 2010 Kamberra Wine Black Opal Stakes on March 7, says Briony Young, sales and marketing manager at Thoroughbred Park.

Free passes to CMC Rocks the Snowys WIN a weekend double pass, valued at $378, to the roots and country music festival CMC Rocks the Snowys 2010. Held at Friday

Flat in Thredbo, March 5-6, it features Americans Phil Vassar, Jack Ingram and Nanci Griffith, and Australians Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers and Guy Sebastian.

Entry details at citynews.com.au/competitions

16 CityNews February 25-March 3

“What has become a tradition chosen by some is to wear fancy dress to the races,” says Briony.

That’s not to say that classic racewear is over – quite the opposite, she tells “CityNews”.

“Ask the thousands of female racegoers who pass through the new gates of Thoroughbred Park each year – they’ll say one of the main drawcards of attending the races is the chance to get dressed up,” she says.

Briony says a hat or fascinator is essential to enter Fashions on the Field.

“For autumn, we’re seeing a shift from feathery and flowery to more structural and abstract shapes. Bows, brooches and gemstones are becoming popular as features on hats.”

Go for glamour, style and amazing accessories, says Briony. “No mini-skirts, no denim and don’t flash too much flesh.

“We’re seeing the cape reincarnated in various forms, fabrics and styles,” she says. “For the races you may want to consider a cropped capelet worn over a dress or suit. It’s a fashion-forward alternative to the good old pashmina.”

Briony adds that leather is back.

“Consider pairing a leather pencil skirt with a cute ruffle blouse and tailored jacket,” she says. “Leather leggings and hats such as berets or pillboxes will also be chic trackside.”

For the past season, sheer fabric and lace has been a huge trend, according to Briony. “For autumn we will see a lot more sheers, mixed with contrasting textures – such as leather and lace, or organza and tweed. Don’t be afraid to mix up fabrics and textures.”

The prizes on offer in the Myer Fashions on the Field competition have raised the stakes – with a $13,000 prize pool up for grabs, including an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Dubai for the winner of the Classic Ladies Racewear competition, it’s sure to be well contested, says Briony.

The Millinery Award will be judged at the same time as the Classic Ladies Racewear category, with competitors being judged on their overall interpretation of the Classic Ladies Racewear with particular attention paid to the headpiece, says Briony.

For the guys, Briony suggests going all

Glamour, style and amazing accessories will win on the day – no mini-skirts, no denim and don’t flash too much flesh. out with matching cufflinks, hankerchief and tie.

“A jacket and tie is vital, and guys should consider a hat or lapel flower, too,” she says. “The official lapel flower for the Black Opal Stakes Day is the white rose, so bear that in mind!

“The judges will also be looking for a high standard of overall grooming and deportment.”

All ladies, providing they are wearing a hat or fascinator, and gentlemen attend-

advertising feature

at the races ing Thoroughbred Park’s race meetings, are eligible to enter the Classic categories.

Roaming fashion officials will also be inviting fashionably dressed race goers to enter the competition in all categories. Winners from Classic Mens Racewear and Classic Ladies Racewear competitions are ineligible to enter Classic Couples Racewear section.

Entrants should register between the times advised at the Fashion Stage.

Entrants will be given a numbered card for the preliminary judging, which will take place in the same area. Entrants will be asked to stand on stage with each entrant doing a catwalk while the judges make their decision.

A minimum of two heats for the Classic Ladies Racewear will take place and finalists from each heat will be called to take part in the final judging process.

Myer Fashions on the Field is open to entrants over 18 years of age. Registration is on the day.

Visit www.thoroughbredpark.com.au for the full prize list and terms and conditions of entry.

“What has become a tradition chosen by some is to wear fancy dress to the races,” says Briony.

CityNews February 25-March 3 17

your week in the stars With Joanne Madeline Moore March 1 - 7 ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

general knowledge crossword No. 250 ACROSS

DOWN

Get ready for domestic dramas and career chaos! This week’s Full Moon sees Gemini gadflies running around doing 10 things at once and causing havoc on the home front. With Venus and Uranus joining forces in your job zone some Twins will be surprised by unexpected changes at work – professionally and romantically.

4 Name the Australian pioneer aviator (1892-1933), Bert ...

8 Which small metal cap is worn on the finger of those sewing?

9 What is a thin vesicle on the skin?

10 Which alternative word describes the studio of an artist?

11 What is another term for foes?

12 A dogman is also known as a what?

14 Name the more archaic word for silver.

18 One who wanders aimlessly is called a what?

21 What is a hydrous copper carbonate blue mineral known as?

22 What is a monolithic, tapering, four-sided shaft of stone?

23 To inflict capital punishment is to what?

24 What are standard-bearers?

CANCER (June 22 – July 22)

Solution next week

Is your day-to-day routine in sync with your night-time hopes and dreams? If the answer is no, then perhaps there are creative (and innovative) ways you can bring the two closer together? Take extra care of your health as you nurture body and soul with good food and regular exercise. And are you up-to-date with your medical checks?

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20) Be sensitive to the moods of children and friends, as the Full Moon triggers temper tantrums or emotional meltdowns. On Thursday, Uranus jolts you out of your cosy complacency and injects spontaneity and surprises into your day. It’s time to form exciting new friendships with a totally different kind of crowd.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Whether you are reading, writing or catching up with friends, it’s time to communicate and exchange ideas with others. You’re at your capricious worst on Thursday, when your moods oscillate from crabby to charming – and back again. Saturday is your pick of the week as you attract more love, success and excitement into your life.

1

2

3

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

6

7

10 11

12

18

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

22

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

5

9

This week’s stars urge you to be more experimental and adventurous in the way you express yourself and relate to others. Move beyond your comfort zone and try something you’ve never done before. You might surprise yourself! Singles – love is likely with someone from a totally different background.

There may be some friction this week between your need for time out, and the unexpected demands of loved ones and workmates. Librans love to please others and can have trouble saying ‘no.’ You need to be firm and set boundaries, otherwise you’ll end up tired, emotional, overworked – and no use to anyone.

4

8

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22) Lions like to live in the lap of luxury but, with the Full Moon activating your $$$ zone, splashing cash around could lead to money meltdowns, especially if you are involved in a financial partnership. Don’t be too set (and stubborn) in the way you approach an intimate relationship – you’re in the mood for novelty and experimentation.

1 Which other term describes an ocean liner?

2 What is a two-footed animal?

3 To rewrite on a smaller scale is to what?

4 Name the language of Israeli Jews.

5 What describes one who is unsophisticated?

6 Which other word means trellis?

7 What are incidents involving suspect behaviour by officials?

13 Until decimal currency, what were values of 21 shillings called?

15 What is one who seeks political asylum?

16 Larcenists are also known as what?

17 What are male ducks?

18 To steer stock over long distances is to what?

19 Which anagram of "night" is also an inanimate object?

20 Name one of the hollow skull cavities connecting with the nasal cavities.

13

14

15

16

17 19

20 21

23 24

Sudoku medium No.26

Solution next week

Is your social life erratic at the moment? Heaps of invitations and entertaining things to do one week; and nothing the next? Feast or famine is also the name of the game for many singles. This week’s stars promise romantic surprises as you find yourself attracted to someone who is the complete opposite of your ‘usual’ type.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21) This week’s Full Moon lights up your Brilliant Career zone, so you’ll be raring to get ahead professionally. However it’s not a good time to make long-term decisions. Wait until you are more organised at work, and more settled at home. Family members won’t behave in predictable ways this week – and neither will you!

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19) Have you been burning the midnight oil to complete professional projects? Too much work can make Goats grumpy – and ghastly to live with! This week favours doing less work, and having more fun and adventures. Impromptu trips are highlighted so pack your bags, jump in the car (or onto a plane) and enjoy a well-earned break.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) It will be a real juggling act this week, with money unexpectedly coming in – and just as quickly going out again. If you can discriminate between what is essential and what is superfluous, then you’ll enjoy yourself without breaking the bank. When it comes to love, hold on to your hat and enjoy the bumpy ride!

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20) Mercury moves into your sign (from March 1-18) so it’s the perfect time to make the most of your creative mind, fertile imagination and colourful inner life. Your quote for the week is from birthday great Dr Seuss (born on March 2): “Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living … it enables you to laugh at life’s realities.”

18 CityNews February 25-March 3

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2009.

Solution Crossword No.249 A B U E F F L A L M O U M M C I F I Y

S E P F I T T H E A T V O C U A D D O

I L A G Y E E R S S T O U B B B L E E

F D A V E R S I O N E S I X C E R P T S W U E U V A T E Y I E L D M B C E A G E N C Y I N R T I R I S E S R S N R H I K I N G

Solution Sudoku hard No.25

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20  CityNews February 25-March 3

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22  CityNews February 25-March 3

CityNews February 25-March 3  23