Canberra CityNews March 4-10 2010

CityNews March 4-10 

  CityNews March 4-10

news

Budget push for cycle safety EXCLUSIVE

By Eleri Harris

THE Greens will seek funding of up to $200,000 in the 2010 ACT Budget for a “safe, friendly cyclist” project to improve relations between road users in an attempt to lower Canberra’s high rate of driver animosity and cycling injuries on public roads.

Off the back of an ANU study on road trauma in the ACT and a survey on driver/cyclist attitudes by national insurer AAMI, MLA Caroline Le Couteur has called for the Government to put more energy and funds into improving relationships between Canberra’s road users.

“We’d like to see the Government take cycling more seriously than it is at present.”

Le Couteur says the project would promote good cyclist/driver etiquette, distribute reflective patches and slap bands to improve cyclist visibility and open consideration for driver licensing tests to include specific training on vulnerable road users.

“Virtually all cyclists are car drivers as well and I don’t think the car drivers intrinsically hate cyclists, I’m not saying that at all, but we don’t seem to have a very good relationship between the two and I think it’s partly because some cyclists aren’t seen and cyclists blur the distinction between being a cyclist and a pedestrian and that kind of annoys the car drivers.

“I think both sides need to respect each other.

“A big part of that is for cyclists is to make

INDEX

sure car drivers can actually see them because most car drivers who go too close to cyclists, I think, didn’t actually see that cyclist, they’re not wanting to scare the cyclist or hit them, they don’t see them.”

Author of the ANU study “Amalgamation of Police and Hospital Trauma Data in the ACT 2002-2003”, Dr Drew Richardson, says Canberra will need a total infrastructure overhaul to improve safety for cyclists.

“It’s because of the seriousness of cases on roads that we need to have a debate about this.

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February March 4-10, 2010

Since 1993: Volume 16, Number 9

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Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur... “The Greens are serious about changing Canberra’s transport.”

Photo by Silas

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I believe that the forces involved are more detrimental to the cyclists than to the vehicle and you don’t want to put people who are dangerous to each other in the same space.

“We need a whole system approach and we need to examine our infrastructure.”

The ACT Greens agree and have outlined the need for further improvements to Canberra’s cycling paths as well as the creation of pedestrian priority and shared spaces, cycle highways, vibra-line markings and increasing information about sustainable transport routes through a wayfinding system in their December submission to the Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure Review.

Le Couteur, who questioned Chief Minister Jon Stanhope over the Government’s commitments to cycling infrastructure during the Assembly’s last sitting, says the Government is aware of the attitude problems on Canberra’s roads and that the “safe, friendly cyclist” project would be a small-scale start to increasing sustainable transport.

“This is just part of an ongoing campaign, the Greens are serious about changing Canberra’s transport and if we’re going to get more people cycling, we’ve got to get safer. If we’re going to get more people walking we’ve got to get it safer,” she says.

While the Government’s discussion paper, “The Greater Canberra City Area Draft Coordinated Action Plan”, is still being debated, Le Couteur says this is the ideal time to look into making the city’s transport sustainable to decrease road traffic and therefore emissions and fuel usages as well as promoting a healthier lifestyle.

briefly

Anzac Day pilgrimage LOCAL diabetic David Collison is preparing to tackle the gruelling 96km Kokoda Trail in an Anzac Day pilgrimage to raise funds for Diabetes ACT. He was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2005 and manages his condition through regular exercise, medication and challenges such as the Kokoda Trail. With three friends, David’s journey starts on April 21 to May 3. All proceeds will go directly to Diabetes ACT. David’s fundraising can be supported by buying tickets in the Diabetes ACT Car Raffle or by a tax-deductible donation. More information from www.diabetes-act.com.au

Green Assembly

THE Legislative Assembly has reduced its energy consumption by 5.5 per cent over the last financial year, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by 62 tonnes, says Speaker Shane Rattenbury. “The Assembly has demonstrated that making commonsense improvements in the way it manages electricity demand can deliver results, and shows that, with a little bit of effort, reducing the environmental footprint of an office building is achievable.”

Hot town

CANBERRA has had its second hottest summer on record, with an average temperature of 22°C – 2°C above the long-term summer average and just short of the city’s hottest summer on record in 2005/06 with an average of 22.2°C. Nights were especially warm during January and February, with the city recording average minimum temperatures 2.7°C above the average. “The southern track taken by ex-tropical cyclone Olga at the beginning of February contributed to unusually high humidity levels for Canberra, leading to a run of warm nights,” said Dick Whitaker, senior meteorologist at The Weather Channel.

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 March 4-10

news

The power of an hour

“THE Government is committed to the need to establish strategies to fight climate change and support sustainability, such as through our draft sustainable energy policy, electricity feed-in tariff and the proposed solar power facility,” Climate Change Minister Simon Corbell said while urging Canberrans to turn off lights for

Earth Hour 2010.

“These holistic approaches are important, but equally as important are the grass roots level actions and Earth Hour is a significant way people can make an individual contribution to tackling climate change.”

Earth Hour, an initiative of the World Wildlife Fund, is this year promoting the

need to address issues around sustainability, as well as climate change and carbon pollution.

“Earth Hour 2010 takes place at 8.30pm on Saturday, March 27 and while we want as many people as possible to take part in this, we must also take heed of the theme for this year – Earth Hour, Every Hour.”

briefly Another bubbler!

LOYAL readers of “CityNews” will be well aware of our little paper’s passion to have more drinking fountains around Civic. In the 12 months since the Chief Minister promised to provide four more we have cajoled, taunted and prodded the elephantine Department of Territory and Municipal Services to get the job done in time for summer. They almost did it. Happily, they report that the third bubbler has finally been installed at the bottom of City Walk near the flower bed.

The fourth is entangled in the Bunda Street redevelopment, which is expected to begin mid-March.

Energy campaign

ENERGY Minister Simon Corbell has launched “Monergy”, the ACT Government’s new campaign to reduce Canberra’s carbon emissions by highlighting different rebates available to make homes more energy efficient, appealing to both the hip pocket and a desire to act on climate change. “The message is simple – ACTSmart and save Monergy,” Mr Corbell says. More details go to www.environment.act.gov.au/actsmart

Visitors galore...

Photo by Silas

Gary gets the buzz LIBERAL Senator Gary Humphries gets scalped for a good cause. He joined members of the ACT State Emergency Service, the police and ambulance officers who offered up their heads for shaving at the launch of the ACT Leukaemia Foundation’s Canberra section of the World’s Greatest Shave campaign at King O’Malley’s Irish pub in Civic. The foundation is looking nationally for more than 125,000 people to shave or colour their hair from March 11 to 13 as it aims to raise $13.5million through its biggest annual fundraiser.

Register at www.worldsgreatestshave.com or call 1800 500 088.

CityNews March 4-10

THE French masters exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia has broken the gallery’s visitor record with more than 250,000 visitors and still more than a month left to run. The previous record was 241,770 visitors set by the “Rubens and the Italian Renaissance” exhibition in 1992.

... and more

TIDBINBILLA national park attracted record visitor numbers in January, with 19,098 visitors through the gate compared to 7627 in January 2009.

Just for kids

PRE-LOVED toys, clothes, accessories and furniture for babies and kids will be on sale at the Baby and Kids Market on Saturday, March 13, at the Fitzroy Pavilion, Exhibition Park, Flemington Road, Mitchell, from 9am to noon. Entry is $3 for adults. Children free.

CityNews March 4-10 

politics

Toughing it out is name of the game Despite the plethora of codes of conduct for ministers, it seems that the concept of ministerial accountability is all but a thing of the past, says political columnist MICHAEL MOORE NO more midnight toil for Peter Garrett. less the action which stands condemned was Toughing it out is the name of the game in poli- theirs, or taken on their direction, or was actics. It works for some and not for others. It half tion with which they ought obviously to have worked for the embattled Federal Environment been concerned.”

Minister.

Failure to act when information is in front He ought to be smiling instead of putting of a minister is often as serious as action taken on that long face for the cameras. Instead of resulting in harm. having to work every night through to the wee Toughing it out has also become the standard small hours, he now has only half the amount closer to home. Chief Minister Jon Stanhope of work to do. toughed it out despite the ongoing calls for The real responsibility has gone to the very his resignation over his role in the Canberra competent Greg Combet. What should get up bushfires. Had he applied the same standards Combet’s nose is that while he remains a non- to himself in 2003 as he did when he called for Cabinet Minister, Garrett is still on the front a vote of no-confidence in then-Chief Minister, bench and has had no loss of salary.

Kate Carnell in 2000, he would have resigned.

The protection of Garrett has In the Canberra bushfires Mr got to be part of the original deal Stanhope was in the media prethat he did with Labor to bring senting himself as the person in the environmental vote to them. control. Until it all went wrong!

Why else would they have put up Deaths occurred in the fire, homes with such incompetent handling were lost and “the action which by this minister for so long? Why stood condemned” certainly fitwould the Prime Minister and ted the standard set by the Royal other members of the Labor Party Commission. have backed him through weeks of However, he had the numbers sustained and successful scrutiny and he toughed it out. Since the by the Opposition and the media? fires there have been two elecRemember in 1984, the time of tions. The people have not held Mick Young and the “Paddington Katy Gallagher… in him accountable and so he no Bear affair”. No one died. Young the spotlight. longer has to answer for the failfailed to declare that he had (a ures of the time. rather large) Paddington Bear when he came Health Minister Katy Gallagher is now in through customs. The former shearer, Labor the spotlight. But the standards have been set. stalwart and minister resigned from the She will certainly not take responsibility for Hawke Ministry. Michael McKellar and John the difficulties at the Canberra Hospital in the Moore resigned from the Fraser Government obstetrics area even though she has known that with one failing to pay duty on a colour TV and there have been significant issues for some time the other attempting to it cover up. and she has taken no action until very recently.

Parliamentary standards have changed. It Despite the plethora of codes of conduct for is now better to tough it out rather than accept ministers and the constant promises of opposiresponsibility. If you have the numbers it can tions that things will improve when they come work. Ministerial responsibility should cover to government, it seems that the concept of omission as well as actions that go wrong. The ministerial accountability is all but a thing of Royal Commission on Australian Government the past.

Administration in 1976 stated that Ministers Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT “are not held culpable – and in consequence Legislative Assembly and an independent minis(not) bound to resign or suffer dismissal – un- ter for health in the Carnell government.

CityNews March 4-10

CityNews March 4-10 

news

Welcome to Canberra, Mr President This is how US President Barack Obama will see Canberra when he visits the national capital later this month.

His route from the airport to Parliament House is unconfirmed, but we sent photographer SILAS BROWN, minus a motorcade and police escort, to get some idea of what impression the most powerful man in the world would get of Canberra. Sadly, for whatever good reasons, we’re not going to be looking our best everywhere on the day.

The president, with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha, will be in Australia between March 22 and 24.

While most of the First Family’s time will be in and around Sydney, the President will visit Canberra where he is expected to address a a joint sitting of Parliament and discuss with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd a range of issues including global economic recovery, climate change and green energy, nuclear non-proliferation and Afghanistan.

The visit, the fifth by a US President, will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the US-Australia alliance.

CityNews March 4-10

profile

Nurse Rosemary wears many caps KATHRYN VUKOVLJAK meets Australia’s superorganised first chief nurse, who’s also the number one nurse in the world.

AS Australia’s first chief nurse and the 26th president of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), Rosemary Bryant happily admits she has two “full-on positions” and a lot on her plate – but wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s hard wearing so many different hats, but ultimately you just have to be super organised,” she says. “Not many Aussies have held the ICN presidency as we’re just so far away from everyone else – I’m actually the third Australian since it started in 1899 – but I don’t mind the travelling. It’s a great honour to have this role.”

Rosemary hasn’t been on the wards since 1977, having been promoted early in her career to a senior position and forging ahead ever since with a career in acute hospital and community nursing and government relations. She has worked as assistant director of acute health in the Victorian Department of Health and Community Services, director of nursing at both Royal Adelaide Hospital and a community nursing organisation and as the chief government nurse in Victoria.

She says she’s always looking for new

challenges – even if it means leaving behind her family and friends.

“I had gone as far as I could professionally in SA,” she says. “I’m in Canberra for the job, but I love it. I’ve become adept at managing most of my relationships long distance – and I don’t mind because it means I get lots of visitors, and entertaining and cooking is one of my favourite ways to relax!

“I travel a lot, even within Australia, so it can be a tough gig. But I manage all the dashing about just fine – I’m fit and well,” she smiles. “Plus I’ve been able to do much of my international work virtually – Blackberries are very helpful things!”

As chief nurse, Rosemary provides advice to the Department of Health and Ageing and Health Minister Nicola Roxon in all matters relating to nursing policy, including nursing workforce and education and training issues, primary and acute care services and aged care.

“Recent issues include mandatory indemnity insurance for homebirth midwives and nurses being able to set up practices in collaboration with a GP,” she says.

Rosemary says her role with ICN, the

Australia’s first chief nurse Rosemary Bryant… “I’m in Canberra for the job, but I love it.”

Photo by Silas international body for nursing which comprises 129 member nations and represents 13 million nurses, is to keep its profile high so nurses in developing countries can use the tools provided by ICN to help themselves. “It’s essentially about leadership for nurses,” says Rosemary. “Women need support in certain countries and so we advocate for them so they can help others.”

Rosemary says that each ICN president has a watchword that threads through their four-year term.

“Mine is ‘access’ – which applies to access to healthcare for all, among other things,” she says. “Nurses are key to providing access and equity in healthcare, so I’m also working towards access to education for nurses so they remain current, and access to the right resources so they can do their job, enabling them to reach their potential for the benefit of the community.”

CityNews March 4-10

planning

‘Something is rotten in the planning of this kingdom!’

THE National Capital Development Commission was created... in 1958 [and] Peter Harrison became the chief town planner advising John Overall who became the first commissioner; a commissioner with the supreme power to control the full annual allocation of funds for the development of Canberra and to choose the projects that, in the commission’s view, best suited the completion of the capital.

These were powers reminiscent of those given by the Roman Senate to a dictator in time of war!

The National Capital Development Commission lost popularity and in 1989 became the National Capital Planning Authority, after few years the “Planning” was considered redundant by the government and it became the National Capital Authority.

In 2007, the NCA, in the name of the so called “Griffin Legacy”: an internally produced document purporting to be privy to Griffin’s inner thoughts, proposed four amendments to the “Territory Plan”.

A Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee considered and disallowed the proposals raising concerns about: The lack of rigorous planning rationale, the scale of the development, loss of vistas of national significance, loss of green spaces, traffic and transport implications, and domination by development.

The Minister ignored the recommendations of the Joint Committee and approved the amendments.

This garden city will have now no central park! No civic place for protesters or preachers to speak! No place to dream under the trees! No vision!

In 2008, another Joint Parliament Committee inquiring on National Capital governance again recommended that no NCA

Distinguished architect and adjunct professor of architectural design and planning at the University of Canberra, ENRICO TAGLIETTI, recently gave the first ‘Canberra Series Lecture’ to the Friends of the National Library This is an edited extract from his presentation. proposals should be approved without final Parliamentary acceptance.

That was my fleeting moment of hope and glory. I thought that finally I had won a battle: “The committee concurs with the views of architect Enrico Taglietti who stated that the NCA should have ‘total freedom in submitting their professional beliefs’.

“Dr Taglietti also expressed the view that if the NCA is made accountable directly to the Parliament, the ‘balance between the independence of the authority’s planning decisions and its accountability for its operations’ will be a non issue.”

This suggestion was again disregarded.

We still have the same NCA that has allowed City Hill to be destroyed and has allowed the lake shore to be sold to private developers, allowing with impunity the monstrous ASIO building.

Parliament House has been demoted!

The ASIO complex is now to be the icon of our “democratic monarchy” successfully competing for prominence with Moscow’s KGB headquarters.

And all because every one of the outrageous decisions taken by the NCA were subscribed by governments, whether Liberal or Labor.

Governments that appear not to give a damn for the appropriate development of Canberra.

Governments that in refusing to invest Parliament with a meaningful guardianship of the Australian Seat of Government’s Plan are, in my opinion, shamefully and continually breaching the letter of Section 52 of the Constitution which gives exclusive power to Parliament, not Government, “to make laws for the peace, order and good governance ….with respect to the seat of Government of the Commonwealth”!

A few weeks ago James Weirick, director of urban development and design at the University of NSW said: “The National Capital suffers for its dysfunctional planning system.

“The Territory government and the uninterested Federal government planners are allowing a construction race that degrades the nation’s capital; there is no certainty in the process of development in the ACT. It’s a free-for-all.”

The criticism is totally deserved. It should be obvious, even to the most insensitive of planners, that something is intrinsically wrong; something is in fact rotten in the planning of this kingdom!

Why Civic needs care and attention MUCH of the comment of the ACT Government’s new plan for Civic criticises the draft for not being a master plan.

The “Greater Canberra City Area Co-ordinated Action Plan 2010-2016” certainly isn’t a master plan, but it acknowledges the major issues to be included in such a plan and provides a valuable opportunity for Canberrans to put forward their views.

A good master plan builds a vision by defining a possible future for the city. It includes specifics, such as maps and drawings which identify potential land-use options and choices. And it clearly identifies what needs to be done (complete with deadline dates for successfully doing it). It should also integrate the work of all government and private sectors. We need just such a good city master plan for Civic.

As the national capital, our city is divided into several distinct activity zones.

Naturally, much of the peak activity revolves around the Parliamentary Zone.

But Canberra has also developed as an important commercial and social hub. This hub not only supports our parliamentary

Property

By Catherine Carter prominence but facilitates the wellbeing and economic health of our community that, in turn, makes Canberra an attractive place for people to debate our national future.

So Civic should be the showpiece and entrance to our capital. A master plan that reflects Civic’s importance and facilitates communications and transport infrastructure, integrated Civic should be developed so that people are happy to live, work and play there. Providing the option for population density in key locations such as Civic has the potential to ease pressure on transport, parking and other infrastructure, while providing people who live close to the city with ready access to a range of amenities.

Many of the projects listed as priorities in the draft are already well underway; it contains no implementation program, but

our current situation has made continued land releases, infrastructure projects and transport tweaks necessary, and because they aren’t part of a master plan they become, as one correspondent noted, “ad hoc tinkering” – a process fraught with risk.

Any plan for Canberra must integrate national interests (through the Commonwealth via the National Capital Authority) with our Territory interests, particularly where it relates to Commonwealth-owned facilities and land.

The draft encompasses parts of Braddon, Turner, Reid and the lake’s northern foreshore, some of which designated land under the control of the NCA, but does not provide any sign of co-ordination between the two levels of government about future development of these areas.

Copies of the draft and details on lodging comments and submissions are available at www.communityengagement.act.gov.au

Catherine Carter is the executive director of the Property Council of Australia (ACT).

CityNews March 4-10 11

news

Peter and The Wolf

By arts editor Helen Musa

WE’VE all heard of sea changes and tree changes, but few people do such an aboutface as former Canberra defamation lawyer Peter Hohnen, co-author of “The Wolf (How one German raider terrorised the southern oceans in the First World War)”, destined to become an international bestseller, with a documentary and a US release coming.

I read the entire book at a sitting. It begins with an innocent San Francisco family, the Camerons, setting off on a Pacific voyage to Newcastle. Suddenly the 350-crew Wolf appears, the most notorious raider ship of the German fleet. It sinks the family yacht, the Beluga, and takes on board husband, wife and daughter Juanita, who becomes the pet of the Wolf crew.

Small wonder that this was a little-told story in Australia. As Hohnen and his coauthor, Walkley award-winning journalist Richard Guilliat, piece it together, the Germans come out of it quite well especially the captain, Karl Nerger. As the extraordinary 444-day journey wears on and The Wolf chalks up 64,000 miles, there are more and more colourful hostages crammed on board as the freighter wanders around Australasian waters.

Most disgraceful is the cover-up by Billy Hughes’s government, which leads to the

internment of Australians bearing German or Scandinavian names on suspicion of having carried out The Wolf’s mining raids.

“I got more and more angry,” Hohnen told me by phone from his new home in Bellingen, NSW. “It reminded me of what happened to Dr Mohamed Haneef.”

A former naval reserve commander and legal consultant to the Australian War Memorial, he was the grand-nephew of the chief engineer on the steamship Matunga, one of The Wolf’s victims.

Hohnen had lost his Chapman home in the 2003 Canberra bushfires. He left town, but flew back from Perth for the funeral of his relative Ross Hohnen, where family members pressed him, as the de facto family historian, to get The Wolf story down on paper.

Barely able to use a computer, he learnt how to Google. This led him to diver Mike Fraser in NZ, who had a translation of Capt Nerger’s own 1918 best-seller about the voyage.

Hohnen eventually found the captain’s family and Walter, the son of little Juanita Cameron, whom he introduced to the Newcastle family of Juanita’s mother Mary.

It all makes for a terrific yarn.

Former Canberra defamation lawyer Peter “The Wolf”, Random House, rrp $34.95.

Hohnen... family members pressed him to get The Wolf story down on paper.

Work? It’s just the job, thanks!

I WENT to see Rob Thomas at the Royal Theatre last month. It was an uplifting night. Rob so obviously loves what he does and still appreciates the magic of being an international rock star.

After his opening number, he spoke to us all as friends and told us that “for the next two hours in Canberra we will celebrate life” and, as corny as it sounds, that’s what we did.

I walked out feeling very upbeat and wishing I enjoyed my job as much Rob Thomas obviously enjoys his. Then I thought about it and concluded that I do. I’m one of the lucky ones who enjoys going to work every day.

It sounds really sad, but when I get to the end of Christmas holidays, I’m always really looking forward to going back to work. After a quarter of a century I still adore radio and I see every day that I get to spend on air as a great privilege.

12 CityNews March 4-10

Broadcaster MARK PARTON says he always looks forward to going to work How many people can genuinely say that about their job ?

Surprisingly, in this town there are quite a few.

Liberal MLA Alistair Coe is one of them.

The boy wonder who managed to buffet his way into the Legislative Assembly after the departure of Bill Stefaniak in ’08 is in his element. It’s all that he’s ever dreamed of doing, and although you may not see Alistair smiling much on the outside, on the inside he’s absolutely beaming.

There are those who are not in high profile roles who share this work passion.

I went shopping with my wife for a ball dress a couple of Friday nights ago. It was a long process which involved trudging into many different shops. She ended up buying from Myer in the Canberra Centre mainly because she liked the dress, but partly because of Bree, the young shop assistant who was just a bundle of enthusiasm and positive retail energy.

Bree seemed so happy to be at work helping customers. She went to amazing lengths to help us and did it all with a big smile.

She seemed to enjoy her night behind the counter as much Rob Thomas enjoyed his behind the microphone.

Life is so much better when you love going to work. Those of us who do are very lucky.

Mark Parton is the breakfast announcer at 2CC.

CityNews March 4-10  13

Advertisement

14  CityNews March 4-10

environment

Treasure that goes to a good cause IN a storage unit in Phillip, a small team of women sort busily through a treasure trove.

These women are from the Zonta Club of Canberra Breakfast Inc. and they’re hard at work preparing for their second sale of second-hand, or pre-loved, women’s clothing.

“It’s just amazing in there,” says Canberra district president, Penny Lucas. “There are Christian Louboutin shoes, a Dior jacket, loads of great clothes.”

The sale, which takes place on Saturday, March 6, at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural centre on Lady Denman Drive, will raise proceeds for “the advancement of the status of women”, both at home and abroad. As well as putting together “birthing packs” that go to mothers in India, they also provide breast cushions to local women who’ve undergone breast surgery.

“They are simple but very effective,” says Penny. The cushions, which are handmade by Zonta members, are slipped under the arm, between the breast and the armpit and prevent post-operative catching and rubbing. In return, Zonta get many donations for their breast cushions from the women who have benefitted from them. “We very often get money in an envelope and a note saying how much they appreciated it and found it useful,” says Penny.

The March sale follows last year’s successful experiment into the new area of selling highquality, second-hand fashion. Penny says: “We weren’t sure how it would work, but it was hugely popular. There were women everywhere trying on clothes. It was a lot of fun! It’s a great place to get 10 items for the price of one.”

And to enhance this year’s experience there will be coffee and cake served on the balcony.

Clothing will be well laid out and caters for all shapes and sizes. There are even a few pieces of designer menswear up for grabs.

The Zonta team include Penny’s daughter and grand-daughter and their monthly breakfast

By Tanya Davies

From left, Zonta workers Lesley Morrison, Jessica Cameron, Ceri Lovett and Stephanie Lucas. meetings are “a great place to meet, socialise and do something good,” she says.

They are also forging links within the sustainable community. All left-over clothes from the sale will be donated to Project Remake, a local initiative diverting clothes from landfill. The clothes are used in a variety of ways including being turned into rag rugs and public art.

letters

Dangers of imported beef TO reverse this irresponsible Australian Government “initiative” of importing beef from countries which have had BSE (Mad Cow Disease) there needs to be a public outcry which is too loud to ignore.

We can no longer be confident that the beef we consume is “safe” and free of BSE and a variety of cattle diseases.

Complacency is not an avenue for achieving change or challenging and halting the arrogance of a Government that has completely lost the plot insofar as what democracy is all about!

Where are our intelligent, outspoken Australian citizens? We must make ourselves heard not herd!!

Vida Thomson, Wanniassa

Need to be flexible

Surely you have misquoted personal trainer and Pilates teacher Catherine Lucas in stating that “...there’s no real need to be flexible.

There’s no health benefit to it”?

If you are not flexible then you cannot easily move, bend, or perform the functional activities of daily living. I am also a personal trainer, and find it hard to believe that a fellow fitness professional would make such a careless statement. The article also seems to knock yoga while promoting Pilates (and, coincidentally, her

own business). As a long-time yoga student, I would say that everything she says about Pilates, can apply equally to yoga. Yoga may not be to everyone’s taste (and nor Pilates, for that matter), but there is plenty of room within the health and fitness realm for both.

Elizabeth Dixon, Amaroo

A little too sensitive?

WE cheered and celebrated the Chooky Dancers [at the Winter Olympics] with their incredibly and entirely un-Greek rendition of “Zorba the Greek”. The Greeks revelled in the wonderfully unique interpretation of their dance.

A Russian pair used an Aboriginal theme for their ice dance, and are being castigated by our Aboriginal community.

I agree that the costumes look silly, and certainly the choreography was far from traditional. Yet to take umbrage with artistathletes trying – with best intentions, however innocently ignorant – to adapt the Aboriginal theme to ice... isn’t that a little over the top?

Judy Bamberger, O’Connor Letters are invited from “CityNews” readers. Let loose to ed@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.

CityNews March 4-10 15

Cover story: ISIS Fertility 1st birthday

Smoothing the ‘tough road’ for ISIS Fertility is celebrating its first birthday, after provide the best experience we can at an afforda successful year of providing a range of services able price. and help for couples who are having trouble “Despite recent changes to Medicare rebates, conceiving. the government does still cover the majority of the “Our fertility treatment really works, with cost of fertility treatment,” she adds. the statistics to prove it,” says ISIS business “This can be a really tough road for couples; we manager Jeanette Dyer. “After just 12 months, aim to make it as smooth as humanly possible.” we’re approaching our 100th They certainly seem to achieve that pregnancy.” aim, according to Jai Penson, who gave Tears welled Led by Dr Nicci Sides, with birth to baby Daniel three weeks ago. technological and scientific “Meeting Dr Nicci is like catching in all our eyes support from Monash IVF in up with an old friend,” says Jai. “She’s when news Melbourne, the ISIS philosophy excited to see you and genuinely keen is to start by enhancing the to listen to your feelings and journey came through couples’ natural ability to so far – just like good friends should!” conceive.

Jai says that Nicci has a strong of my positive “Many of our clients achieve belief in addressing issues holistically results! pregnancy without using and looking at couples’ diet, health high-tech invasive solutions, and well-being. using a combination of methods,” says Jeanette.

“There is certainly no ‘one-shoe-fits-all’ “We don’t automatically go to IVF but if that is the attitude,” she says. “Nicci personalised a program best option, we’ll help couples down this path with to suit our specific needs, and methodically the least stress possible. tracked our progress, exhausting all avenues to get “We focus on our couples’ needs and strive to results.”

The state-of-the-art, luxurious clinic in Barton is like walking into a day spa, according to Jai. “It makes you feel warm and comfortable even before the delightful, friendly staff greet you by name,” she says. “After a while I just wanted to visit simply to hang out with my new friends in such a lovely

16 CityNews March 4-10

The ISIS team, from left, Phil Au, Anne McLaughlin, Dr Nicci Sides, Jeanette Dyer, Sandie Jones, Chloe Wheeler, Sue Barton, Rebecca Mack and Ginny Walker. and positive environment.”

The state-of-the-art Capital Day Surgical Centre provides egg collection, ultrasounds are performed in Bundles Baby Ultrasound next door and blood tests and embryo transfers are performed in-house.

“Having these rooms just a few steps away

eliminates the stresses of unnecessary travel,” says Jai. “You don’t even have to put your cuppa down!”

Happily, Jai and her husband Johnny were successful on the first attempt at IVF. “Both Johnny and I were fit and healthy and moved through the process effortlessly,” she says. “The medications were easy to take, the nurses provided great

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couples

The ‘miracle’ of tiny Thomas

Isis would like to thank its dedicated team, and Bundles Baby Ultrasound, Capital Day Surgical Centre and Capital Pathology for providing a high level of service to its patients. Thanks also to its complementary therapy providers – doctors of Chinese Medicine Jan Jamieson, Tanya Graham and Alex Perry, Clinic of Herbal Medicine owner Michelle Kirby and dietitian Carole Richards. Also many thanks to Lisa Kelly Photography and Sage Photography, and Amanda Lucas, its clinical psychologist who provides extra support for its patients. support and the visits to the clinic were enjoyable and filled with humour – it was almost better than having sex anyway!

“Humour is your friend through a process like this. Embrace it and remember – it will happen.”

Jai says that the ISIS staff’s positive attitude seemed to increase their positiveness towards the whole process. “I really think it helps decrease stress, which probably helps the body work as it should,” she says. “Tears welled in all our eyes when news came through of my positive results! I can’t speak highly enough of the team.

“I would urge anyone needing guidance in preparing for a pregnancy to request an immediate referral to Dr Sides,” says Jai. “When my doctor referred me to her he said: ‘She is very, very kind to women.’

“The ISIS team are great ambassadors for assisted pregnancies in Canberra – they really do provide ‘the human experience’.”

Jo and Tim Davies with baby Thomas... “We still look at the crib in the corner of our room and can’t believe it, that we’re parents at last.”

NEW parents Jo and Tim Davies are clearly besotted with their eight-week-old baby Thomas.

“We just think we’re so lucky,” says Jo. “We still look at the crib in the corner of our room and can’t believe it, that we’re parents at last.

“It’s just amazing.”

Jo and Tim tried to conceive for three and a half years, visiting fertility specialist Dr Nicci Sides throughout that period for fertility treatment. “She suggested IVF in the end, and we were happy to go for it,” says Jo, 31.

Jo and Tim were fortunate enough to conceive on their first cycle. “It was the only embryo that survived the process,” Jo says.

“So it really does feel like a miracle.”

The ISIS facility is just gorgeous, Jo says.

“It’s very glamorous and stylish,” she says.

“It’s not clinical at all; in fact, it’s a lovely experience just walking in.”

Jo also says she appreciated how well she was treated by ISIS staff. “It made a real impression on us,” she says. “We really felt as though they were friends – everyone there always remembered us by name. I’ve heard from friends that in some Sydney clinics you just get a number. ISIS couldn’t be more different.

“You feel like you’re visiting friends, not

going for a medical appointment,” she adds.

“Even after eight months, when we dropped in to introduce Thomas, they still remembered us and our story. It’s such a welcoming feeling.

“In fact, they had already seen his birth announcement and cut it out of the newspaper, so there were tears in everyone’s eyes when they got to meet him in person.”

Thomas arrived somewhat dramatically, six weeks early, with Jo experiencing a bleed on Christmas Day while visiting her parents in Tasmania.

“It was a bit frightening but the baby was fine, and I was put on bed rest,” she says.

“Thomas eventually arrived on December 30, weighing 2.1kg.

“He spent some time in the special care unit, so it was actually good that we were with my parents.

“They looked after us, and we could concentrate on looking after Thomas.

“We didn’t have to worry about cooking, cleaning or shopping for weeks.”

Baby Thomas is thriving now, with his feeds increasing to three-hourly and in the process giving his parents a bit less sleep.

“It’s absolutely worth it though,” says Jo. Tim agrees. “I hated having to leave them to go back to work!” he says.

CityNews March 4-10 17

18  CityNews March 4-10

scene

More photos at www.facebook.com/canberracitynews

At the 10X launch, Leichhardt, Street Kingston

Darleen Barton and Dean Marinac

Katie Lee, Robert Blake and Tiffany Blython

Patricia Paterson and Mark Love

Candida and Llewela Griffiths, Ali Livernois, Brenda Dydack, Elisa Terry and Omar Sheriff

Jarrah Elliott-Moyle and Philpa Pullela, Alex Tokarczyk, Jules Bowett and Mike Iliff

Jenny Kerr, Irene Cassimatis and Anita Burgess

Roger Smith and Wayne Bolin

At the Pol Roger Bar, National Gallery of Australia

Sofia Majewski and Trevor Chilver

Carly Hayes, Paul Harris and Tim O'Connor

Penny Jones and Luke McWilliams

Tristan Solway, Lourdes Soriano Campos, Katie Sloan, Cameron Munro, Erica Laestander and Jordan Hartas

CityNews March 4-10  19

Kazar Slaven

advertising feature

Sponsorship means more than money WHEN Canberra accounting firm Kazar Slaven decided to become the major supporter of local community organisation Gift of Life Inc and help raise awareness about organ donation, the partners agreed they wanted to do more than just give money.

“Through events like the Terry Connolly ORGANised Walk, Gift of Life gets people thinking and talking about organ donation and encourages them to sign on to the Australian Organ Donor Register, so we’re glad to be able to help and support them in this work,” said partner Henry Kazar.

Kazar Slaven’s partners and staff could be found blowing up balloons, cooking bacon and stuffing show bags in the early hours of Wednesday last week for the Terry Connolly ORGANised Walk, Canberra’s largest community event during Australian Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week.

The walk celebrates the memory of former ACT Supreme Court Justice and tissue donor Terry Connolly, and encourages all Canberrans to talk with their family and friends about organ donation.

This year’s was the biggest yet with almost 2000 people from all walks of life joining in, including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Deputy Chief Minister Katy Gallagher and members of Terry Connolly’s family.

Kazar Slaven volunteers helped with everything from delivering equipment to marshalling the crowd, while the firm also donated staff time in the lead-up to Australian Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week to help get the walk and other events organised.

Mr Kazar said the firm was keen to support

Crowds in Commonwealth park on the the Terry Connolly ORGANised Walk.

Lyndell gets an award

The team from Kazar Slaven, including partners Henry Kazar and Michael Slaven, who gave their time to support the Terry Connolly ORGANised Walk.

Gift of Life and the Terry Connolly ORGANised Walk because organ donation was something which could help many people in the community and Kazar Slaven wanted to spread the word.

“Our firm helps people who are dealing with financial problems, but there are a lot of people out there who have even bigger problems because of their health, and we want to try and do something for them as well,” he said.

LYNDELL Kazar, of Kazar Slaven, was awarded the Annette Taylor Award for Community Service by Chief Minister Jon Stanhope at a reception to mark Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week in the ACT. He presented awards and certificates of appreciation to community members for their contribution to organ donor awareness in the ACT. Mr Stanhope paid tribute to the donors’ families for their decision to donate, often at very difficult times.

“There are approximately 1700 people on the waiting list for organ transplants nationally, including many ACT residents. Sadly, some of these people will die before an organ becomes available,” he said.

“Currently the ACT has 51,800 residents who have registered as donors. We would like to see this figure go higher.”

Kazar Slaven is Canberra’s most respected niche accounting firm, with a team of experts who specialise in business problem solving and insolvency issues.

We offer professional services and advice to companies and individuals facing financial difficulty, as well as specialist advice to creditors, banks and financial institutions. Led by partners Henry Kazar and Michael Slaven, our senior team has over 80 years combined experience in the industry and is committed to providing quality, independent advice to help you find the best way forward.

“Our team is focused on providing the best outcome for businesses and individuals that find themselves in difficulties.”

Michael Slaven Partner

20 CityNews March 4-10

We provide corporate and personal insolvency services as well as business advice and forensic accounting, so no matter what kind of financial difficulty you are facing, Kazar Slaven can help.

6285 1310 info@kazarslaven.com.au

www.kazarslaven.com.au

“Early intervention creates options and maximises outcomes.”

Henry Kazar Partner

scene

Invite us at silas@citynews.com.au

At Westpac’s cocktail party, ‘A Night at The Zoo’

Elli Hyde, Brian Acworth, Athena Rogers, keeper Jaki Alchin and Betty the Boa

Elenor Soh, Sally Sweeney and Amanda Douglass

Ginny Acworth with Robert and Bev Henman

At Locanda Steak House opening, Rydges Lakeside

Jluie Elliott, Bernie Farmer and Belinda Ayres

Karen Vitler, Leanne Ogden and Lloyd Jones

Hugh Cooke, Ron Coskerie and Ian Gash

Mardi and Michael Linke with John Twyford

Bethany and Oliver Giles

Julia Grieve, Di Smith and Suzi Jose

Alexandra Sawyer, Ellen Ram and Laura Armstrong

Donna Chalmers, Bart Geysen and Fran Tosen

Megan Coelho, Shane Schembri and Kris Bignell

Duncan Mitchell, John Cordie and Paola Milanesi

Peter Teo, Phoebe Moore and Louise Clarke

CityNews March 4-10 21

scene

More photos at www.facebook.com/canberracitynews

At the cocktail party fundraiser for the Fred Hollows Foundation, Duntroon House

Fiona Bush, Jade Shepherd, Zara Warne and Natalie Bush

Kris Leggo, Neale Emanuel, Jennifer Deas and Glenda Toffolon

22  CityNews March 4-10

Harry Notaras and Judy Ingle

Founding director Gabi Hollows and Rory Colquhoun

Gwen Norwood, Kay Collins and Anne Jenkin

Deanne Metcalfe and Leonie Branson

Verne Drew, Sanya Ritchie, Liz Matthew and Susan Drew

all about living

arts | dining | cinema | body | health&fitness | garden | puzzles

Zany flair as Flipart joins Festival By arts editor Helen Musa WHO knows what Canberrans really like for entertainment?

With such a finicky community, you’d be a millionaire if you knew the answer.

Now the Centenary of Canberra Unit, the ACT Chief Minister’s Department, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and many of our leading artists and entrepreneurs have joined together to sort this question out once and for all during the 97th Canberra birthday celebrations and the accompanying Canberra Festival (March 6-14).

The way the Canberra Centenary’s creative director, Robyn Archer, sees it, they really need to know. That’s why she put out expressions of interest for precursor acts, “unearthed some terrific ideas for the city’s journey towards 2013,” and have now got behind Frank Madrid’s proposal called “Flipart.”

Flipart is a zany mixture of physical and street theatre, aerial dance and circus intended to liven up NewActon, Civic Square and Garema Place from March 12-14. Local companies will include Janine Ayres’s JAAD, Highwire Circus, Warehouse Circus and the

Fool Factory. From out of town come Stalker, ZimboyZ, Dislocate, Chrome, Circus Monoxide and Erth and from New York comes the Grammy award-winning Latin dance band Los Amigos Invisibles.

The Brisbane-based ZimboyZ specialise in chair balancing, human pyramids and firehoops, performed to African house dance music. Spokesman Abiy Feleke told me how he and fellow Ethiopian acrobat Hassan had first come to Australia with the Ethiopian Circus in 1998.

They stayed on and teamed up with Zimbabwean acrobat Vusa Zimbabwe, wowing patrons for 18 months in their show “The Hidden Palace” at Jupiter’s Casino on the Gold Coast and then touring Japan, Malaysia and NZ. “People have not seen such a technique and style of performance in Australia before,” says Abiy.

Nick Power is directing “Elevate” for Stalker, probably Australia’s best-known physical theatre company. He describes it as “a combination of stilt-work, break-dancing and hip-hop”.

Power says “Elevate” is a colourful, fun show that involves “a five-metre catapult and lots of aerial stuff”.

Continued Page 24

Janine Ayres’s JAAD.

Flipart stars the Brisbane-based ZimboyZ... specialises in chair balancing, human pyramids and firehoops, performed to African house dance music.

Grammy award-winning Latin dance band Los Amigos Invisibles.

COMPETITION WINNERS WINNERS of a double pass to the members’ stand at Thoroughbred Park for its major Black Opal meeting on Sunday, March 7, are Kimberley Britt, of Watson; Terry Hanisch, Queanbeyan; Julia Ross, Wanniassa; Tara Collins , Belconnen; Andrew Gee, Ngunnawal; Craig Durbidge, Macgregor; Winston Gregory, Murrumbateman; Kay Martens, Gordon; Frank Waters, Bonython, and Christine Pawlicki, of Monash.

Jill Howard, of Theodore, has won a weekend double pass, valued at $378, to the roots and country music festival CMC Rocks the Snowys 2010.

CityNews March 4-10 23

arts&entertainment

Festival of flair Continued from Page 23 AS well as Flipart, there will be more familiar elements to Canberra’s birthday festivities, such as the Balloon Spectacular, the family-oriented Celebrate in the Park, the Canberra-centric short film festival “Lights! Canberra! Action!” and a new venture in the CSO’s closing-night concert at Stage 88 conducted by Guy Noble and supported by the 60-voice “Singers of Canberra” choir. As well there will be spin-offs around town such as Canberra Youth Theatre and Little Dove Theatre’s production “battlefield” – over 50 events in all.

To cap it all, Centenary adviser David Headon has produced a fascinating set of five magnificently-illustrated booklets exploring mostly undiscovered stories about Canberra’s early history. Journalist Ian Warden has written a sidesplitting account of the race for selection as national capital between rival spots Dalgety and Canberra, which included outlandish claims about Canberra’s “magnificent waterfalls” and the critical need for “a bracing climate”.

Headon’s booklets place the plans for Canberra within an international, utopian light, while former trade negotiator and diplomat Greg Wood looks at site-selection and pre-Canberra communities. The series is going into local schools and you can pick up copies by phoning 132281 or visiting canberra100@act.gov.au

24 CityNews March 4-10

Eskimo Joe.

Balloon Spectacular.

arts&entertainment

Duncans take on the Bard

By Helen Musa WHEN thinking of the name Duncan in association with Shakespeare, it’s the murder of a hapless Scottish king that probably comes to mind. Now Everyman Theatre is embarking upon a “suitablefor-children” revival of an equally bloodthirsty play, “Richard III,” to be directed by Duncan Driver and starring Duncan Ley as the anti-hero of Shakespeare’s early play.

I asked director Duncan Driver whether he agreed with Bernard Shaw’s notion that Richard of Gloucester was essentially “the Prince of Punches” – a comedy villain.

“I’m always interested in exploiting comedy,” he says, “and I told Duncan [Ley] ‘whatever you do, enjoy yourself’.”

The attraction of “Richard III” was that it was

by Shakespeare (Driver did his PhD at the ANU on the Bard’s work) and that it was achievable, unlike “Othello”, to which he was also attracted.

Driver toyed with the idea of taking on the leading role himself but, recognising that Ley possessed the superior “show-off qualities” needed for the role (he says that in the nicest possible way), they settled on the current arrangement.

He has cut the text to almost half and tightened the cast, while retaining all the strong women, including the ferocious Queen Margaret of Anjou, played by Alice Ferguson.

“I didn’t want it to be just ‘Richard’s Greatest Hits’,” he says. But he also didn’t want it to be like the Monty Python send-up of the Wars of the Roses where the list of warring lords becomes gobbledygook.

Director Duncan Driver... “I didn’t want it to be just ‘Richard’s Greatest Hits’.”

By staging the play in a “corridor”, with the audience on both sides, they can make the spectators become part of the action, as in the scene where Richard and Richmond harangue the troops the night before the Battle of Bosworth Field.

So, with luck, we’ll laugh along with Richard, and we will easily follow what’s going on.

“Richard III”, Everyman Theatre, at the Canberra Theatre’s Courtyard Studio, March 12-20.

Bookings www.canberratheatre.com.au

Countertenor Tobias gets top billing IT is no wonder that Benjamin Britten’s “Dream” is the most popular of all English-language Shakespeare operas. Full of dark glissandos and exotic instrumentation, this work almost outdoes Shakespeare in its brilliant juxtaposition of the human and fairy worlds.

I have never liked Baz Luhrmann’s interpretation of this opera, whose magic is of a menacing Anglo-Celtic kind and nothing to do with the glitter of the British Raj and the Hindu deities that Luhrmann conjures up. In this revival I constantly sensed the performers struggling with ridiculous costumes and endless stage business.

Despite this, several fine performances emerge. Lisa Harper-Brown as Helena and Sian Pendry as Hermia are well contrasted. Conal Coad has long made the part of Bottom the Weaver his own, combining absurdist

OPERA

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

By Benjamin Britten, a revival of the Baz Luhrmann production for Opera Australia, Sydney Opera House, until March 24.

Reviewed by Helen Musa ham-acting with powerful bass tones. He is matched and, at times, surpassed by the soaring coloratura of Rachelle Durkin as the lovesick fairy Queen Tytania. Here the surtitles were a boon, as we could clearly make out Shakespeare’s sensuous words in this, one of his earliest plays.

Top billing is given to Canberra’s countertenor Tobias Cole as the malevolent Oberon, vengeful king of the fairies. Cole’s voice is a very light one, but it doesn’t take long before

Tobias Cole as Oberon. its weird, otherworldly qualities insinuate themselves. There is a real sense of menace when he grabs Puck (Tyler Coppin) by the ear to berate him for his mistakes. You won’t forget Cole’s Oberon in a long time.

ARTS IN THE CITY

By Helen Musa

A Fringe, but light on details THE National Folk Festival has brought out its full program for this year’s Easter event and I found, under the section called “Daily Highlights”, a reference to “Other Exciting Things,” including “The Festival Fringe – slightly different but very familiar”. Tantalising but no details. Meantime, former Fringe Festival director Jorian Gardner launched an exhibition at Belconnen Community Centre of photos taken by ‘pling, Silas Brown and Cole Bennetts at the Fringe, which closed last year after withdrawal of ACT Government funding. You can still see them until March 12, 9am-4.30pm.

“THE Gershwin Project”, written and produced by Len Power at ArtSound FM, was inspired by a collection of rare material by local collector Bert Whelan. Narrated by “CityNews” arts critic Bill Stephens, the 26-part series has been accepted by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia for national broadcasting. You can catch it at FM 92.7 on Saturdays at 9.30am.

GOOD news that Canberra countertenor Toby Cole has been nominated for a Victorian Greenroom Award for singing Xerxes. Other nominees familiar to Canberra musical audiences are baritones Gary Rowley and Andrew Collis – all three sang for Victorian Opera, now directed by former Canberra Symphony Orchestra conductor Richard Gill.

THE Street Theatre’s Caroline Stacey has snaffled up one of the Australia Business Arts Foundation’s $10,000 Margaret Lawrence Bequest Scholarships and is off to the Melbourne Business School’s Mount Eliza Executive Education Program in May to take part in a strategic leadership course. AbaF has already awarded 58 scholarships with a total value of more than $517,000, and Stacey is the first ACT recipient. The next round closes on April 9. Visit www.abaf.org.au THE 2010 National Vintage Guitar Expo, which saw 500 people packing in last year, will be assembling vintage and rare guitars, guitar talks and demonstrations and a “vintage roadshow”. The Expo will be at the Statesman Hotel, Curtin, on March 13 from 10am to 8pm and March 14 from 10am to 6pm. A weekend pass will cost $10.

THE unsinkable Queanbeyan Art Society has been asked to be part of the one-day Government House Open House and Garden Party Art Show, on March 14 at Yarralumla.

Last year 8000 people turned up. Proceeds go to the Smith Family.

CityNews March 4-10 25

arts&entertainment

Feel-good film, with a real-life message “The Blind Side” (PG) CHINESE read Chinese ideographs – that’s clever.

Americans understand American football – that’s cleverer! You don’t have to be clever or American to get a good buzz from John Lee Hancock’s film about how Leigh Anne Touhy welcomed Michael Oher, a gigantic homeless black teenager, into her family and supported him through to university entry on a football scholarship that made him well able to support himself.

Oscar-nominated “The Blind Side” is a feel-good film that has brought Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne an Oscar nomination and Screen Actors’ Guild and Golden Globe Best Actress awards.

In a serious movie sending some sympathetic messages about social issues, Bullock makes Hancock’s sharp gags work admirably, standing with great one-liner practitioners such as Ros Russell, Eve Arden, Lily Tomlin and Whoopi Goldberg. In context, the best of many is Leanne reminding her husband (Tim McGraw) about telling him before their wedding that she’s good at multi-tasking.

Photos of the real Touhy family, including Michael, accompanying the end titles provide general quality assurance for the film’s authenticity. Although it does not portray them as committed church goers, their practising Christianity is palpable. But while Michael got the breaks, so many like him haven’t.

At Dendy, Hoyts

“The Hurt Locker” (MA) KATHERINE Bigelow’s film illuminates day-today tensions and emotions among US Army bomb disposal specialists in what could be any contemporary middle-eastern conflict.

Sgt Sanborn (Anthony Mackie), committed to the mission and protective of his men, leads a squad approaching the end of its tour of duty

26 CityNews March 4-10

CINEMA

By Dougal Macdonald when Specialist James (Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner) an adrenalin-driven loner who gets his buzz from danger, joins. The pair must learn to live, work and fight together. It’s a strained relationship.

Bigelow and writer Mark Boal invented new semiotic conventions for the structural and dramatic values in this powerful soldiering film.

Never comfortable with what the squad is doing, standing close to men who might die at any moment, it wastes little time developing characters.

Its conclusion doesn’t put finis to a structured plot but rather observes a continuing merciless military environment in a country where visitors and natives constantly suspect each other.

Ongoing subtexts support its Oscar nomination – human shields, streets cluttered with the detritus of poverty and destruction contrasting with immaculate supermarket shelves in the US filled with gaudily-packaged convenience food.

At Dendy, Hoyts

“A Single Man” (M) TOM Ford wrote, co-produced and directed this debut film adapting a novel by Christopher Isherwood, which spends a day with Stanford University lecturer George (Oscar nominee Colin Firth) whose partner of 16 years died eight months earlier.

George’s lecture takes an unexpected form and student Kenny (Nicholas Hoult) interacts with him about it.

Before dinner with long-time friend, divorcee neighbour Charlotte (Julianne Moore) whose chief comfort is G&T taken frequently, George experiments with the best attitude to hold his revolver in his mouth, a macabre whimsical wordless tour de force for Firth, hilarious were it not so expressive of George’s lonely anguish. While accepting that George is inextricably gay, Charley still wishes he’d fulfil her deeper needs.

After dinner when he and Charley pondered their friendship and her future, George is preparing for sleep when Kenny knocks on his door.

There’s no sudden burst of gay passion, merely a few beers and a moonlight skinny-dip. George looks fondly down on Kenny dossed down on the living room couch and prepares for his own sleep. Then fate steps in.

George apostrophises about special moments in his life. “I can never make these moments last. I cling to them, but like everything, they fade.

I have lived my life on these moments. They pull me back to the present, and I realise that everything is exactly the way it was meant to be.”

It’s a beautiful film, intelligent, poignant and compassionate.

At Dendy

dining

From left… Mixed entrée, Rendang Daging and Sambal Ikan Laut.

Photos by Silas

An easy, quick way to enjoy every bite WHEN Yetty Daly moved here from South Samatra province, Indonesia, more than 20 years ago, little did she know that she would be starting her own tiny café and dishing up lunch boxes for Canberrans working in the city.

But dishing up lunch boxes is what Yetty now does – with strong support from loving family members – and on a good day she feeds more than 200 customers with traditional Indonesian cuisine.

“I started cooking seriously when my husband was posted to Bahrain,” says Yetty. “Then I started catering and, in 1997, opened Indo café.”

When she talks about running Indo café, Yetty smiles with joy.

The operation is simple: Customers choose one of several take-away lunch box specials for $8 or a deal that also includes a drink and entrée for $10. It’s a steal for the quality and quantity of food. Then customers grab a seat at one of the tables out front, or another spot nearby or head

By Wendy Johnson back to the office and enjoy lunch there.

All dishes are served with white or yellow rice and you can call and order beforehand and not have to wait in line. Having said that, the line up, a regular feature of Indo café, moves quickly – Yetty’s team is highly organised and super efficient.

I tried the Opo – tender chunks of chicken breast made with fresh coriander, coconut and chunks of potato. As with all traditional Indonesian cuisine, this dish celebrates the wonders of the world of spices. It is a mild dish, but I was offered extra chilli for more kick. Loved every bite.

My friend enjoyed her lamb curry, again a mild dish but the right balance. Indeed, it was my friend who introduced me to Indo Café. She openly admits that she (and several of her colleagues) are addicted to the lunch box specials and they’ve tried most of them on the menu.

The Rendang, as you would expect, has much more heat, and Yetty says she only uses beef tenderloin. Sambal (hot stir-fry with chicken, beef or vegetables) is also on the menu, as is Nasi Goreng, (fried rice loaded with extras) amd Mie Goreng (fried egg noodle with chicken, vegetables and fried egg). Salad lovers often go for the tradtional Gado-Gado (vegetable salad and tofu served with peanut dressing) and vegetarians also delight in the Tahu Campur (tofu and seasonal vegetable stir-fry).

All up, Indo Café is a cute spot offering a delightful, easy, quick way to enjoy lunch.

Indo Café, open weekdays, 11am-3pm. Shop 1A, Waldorf Apartments, London Circuit, Civic. Call 6248 7701.

CityNews March 4-10 27

flavours of the world

28  CityNews March 4-10

flavours of the world

CityNews March 4-10  29

body

Hanging on to the salon look

By Kathryn Vukovljak IF you’re paying to have a good cut or colour, then it’s important to back it up at home with the right hair-care products, says Toni Goodyer, manager of Acacia Hair.

“A good-quality shampoo and conditioner will help maintain a salon colour at home and improve the longevity of the colour,” she told “CityNews”.

“It can help you go longer between topups, which will save money in the long run.”

A once-weekly intensive treatment will also help prevent hair from splitting and looking dull and dry. A serum smoothed on to ends after styling will help de-frizz, control flyaway split ends and give that salon-perfect sleek, shiny look.

Toni says that visiting the salon every four to six weeks is ideal for keeping hair in great condition: “However, if you choose to leave it for as long as three months before updating your colour, then a trim in between is essential to maintain the health of your hair.”

VO5 Hot Oil Moisture Soak, $4.99.

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration moisturising shampoo and conditioner, $6.49 each.

Andrew Collinge Shine On Salon Serum, $12.99.

Apivita intensive nourishing and repairing mask, $32.90.

30 CityNews March 4-10

Colourwear shampoo and conditioner, $19.95 each.

TRESemme Salon Silk No Frizz Serum, $7.95.

Mum in the city

By Sonya Fladun

Beware the wheels of the hamster!

THE triage nurse noted that the injury was sustained on school playground equipment.

Pretty common, she assured me with a smile, although I could tell from the amused glint in her eye that she was thinking: “You big Wally’’.

After all, it’s usually children and not their mums, she treats after a playground accident.

I’ve had one of those unfortunate moments that come when you forget that your over 40, out of shape and never had strong ankles and succumbed to the urging of one’s child to “have a go, mum, it’s easy”.

Thus I’m writing this from bed where my ankle, currently the size of cricket ball is resting on pillows. It’s black and blue, hurts like hell and is making the whole mum job just that bit more challenging this week.

The good news is that in a day or so I should be able to venture out on my crutches, and in about a week or 10 days I’ll, hopefully, be back to normal. But I don’t think I will be getting on the hamster wheel again in a hurry.

The hamster wheel (well, that’s what I call it) is a rotating barrel that you stand and run on while supporting yourself by your arms on metal bars. Children can run on this thing for ages, usefully burning off energy before returning to the class room. It took about two seconds for me to lose control and end up twisting my ankle, not once but twice!

I was lying on the ground in agony while my nearly four-year-old daughter, an old hand at this particular piece of play equipment, helpfully told me as that I just didn’t run fast enough. My husband, who has also tried out the hamster wheel, says the trick is to support yourself more with your arms.

The lady who did my Xray snaps said I was lucky because people usually fall on their faces with this piece of equipment and suffer severe facial injuries – colloquially called “face painting”).

Now, I know they say when you fall off a horse you should get back on, but I don’t think so this time. My other half asked if I was going to take this as a sign that I should “act my age” – the cheeky bugger! I think I’ll just stick to more gentle pursuits such as swings, slippery dips and the occasional jumping castle.

health & fitness

Healthy power of organic foods

By Kathryn Vukovljak “ORGANIC food has been shown to dramatically improve health,” says Susan Philips from home delivery service Aussie Organics.

“We have customers who are dealing with cancer and they tell us their doctors have recommended switching to organic.”

Here Susan shares six of the best low-kilojoule, nutrient-packed super foods currently in season:

Blueberries

These little wonders are about the best thing you can eat. Packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, dietary fibre and beta-carotene, blueberries can boost memory and brain function, protect the eyes from cataracts and glaucoma, improve blood circulation and protect the heart.

Kiwi fruit

Kiwi has so many benefits it’s impossible to list them all! Rich in vitamin C, folate, potassium and fibre, it also contains vitamin E. It’s another antioxidant powerhouse and great for protecting the immune system.

Blueberries… Packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, dietary fibre and beta-carotene.

Oranges

This delicious fruit is high in folic acid, dietary fibre, antioxidants and just one contains all the vitamin C you need for a day. It can also reduce the risk of developing bowel problems, heart disease and improves cholesterol levels.

Avocado

Rich, creamy and filling, these are jam-packed with essential oils and are great for the heart as they contain monounsaturated oils that lower cholesterol and cleanse the body.

Broccoli

A few of these florets provides over twice the daily requirement of vitamin C, and it’s top of the list for fibre, beta-carotene, folate, vitamin E, several B vitamins and minerals such as iron and calcium.

Red capsicum

Rich with antioxidant vitamins A and C, capsicum also increases metabolism, prevents cancers, blood clotting and can help with healing and pain relief.

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garden

A garden that flourishes in the dry BREATHTAKING views from a stylish outdoor space that appears to have naturally evolved around Phil Young and Zvoni Hodak’s contemporary home make this hilltop garden very special – particularly as it was created from scratch Brendan Moar...

by TV landscape designer at the garden all Brendan Moar. weekend.

The couple’s garden in Spring Range, near Hall, will open between 10am and 4.30pm on March 13 and 14 as part of Australia’s Open Garden Scheme, a not-for-profit organisation promoting the pleasure of gardening.

“Our location is exposed and harsh – we get cyclonic winds and bitter frosts in winter and unbearable heat in summer,” says Zvoni. “When we built the house it was just a flat, weedy

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WORDS: Kathryn Vukovljak PHOTOS: Silas Brown expanse. It’s been a huge transformation.”

The garden is divided into four areas. There’s the terrace, where Phil and Zvoni relax and entertain beneath a steel pergola with huge folding timber panels which provide protection from the elements wherever it’s needed. Next is the sunken area beyond, which was dug out by the design team from “Dry Spell Gardens” and features a natural sloping wall of granite, separated from the surrounding paddocks by a series of low walls. Tufts of native grasses provide a quirky interpretation of a lawn. Thriving native beds designed in “fingers” offer depth and texture, and a peaceful, Zen-like area sits just outside the guest bedroom.

With a predominantly native planting scheme, the plants went in 12 months ago as tubestock.

“This was always going to be a long-term prospect,” says Brendan. “Planting anything much

Phil Young and Zvoni Hodak... “When we built the house it was just a flat, weedy expanse. It’s been a huge transformation,” says Zvoni. bigger than tubestock in this kind of exposed site is just asking for trouble.”

The project appeared on Brendan’s show, with the bulk of the planting occurring just over a year ago in 40-degree temperatures. It celebrates its context and proves that exciting gardens can still be created in tough dry times.

“I love the way at the different elements are integrated yet each generates a completely different feeling and perspective,” says Zvoni.

The garden at 760 Nanima Road, Spring Range (near Hall), open 10am and 4.30pm, March 13-14, entry fee of $6 (children under 18 free).

your week in the stars With Joanne Madeline Moore March 8 - 14 ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20) Mighty Mars moves forwards this week so you’re set to get your mojo back. And, with flirty Venus in your sign, you’ll be at your amorous best as you attract admirers like bees to a honey pot. Attached Aries – it’s time to pamper your partner with plenty of TLC. Watch out world – risqué Rams are ready to rumble!

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20) You’ll have to take the rough with the smooth in relationships this week. Family and friends will be difficult to communicate with, which may activate your jealous and possessive side. The more you hold onto loved ones, the more they will try to escape your tenacious Taurean grip. Learn to relax and let go.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21) Work issues take centre stage. Imagination is your greatest ally and you’ll find the more confident and creative you are, the more professional success you’ll generate. Your inspiration for the week comes from birthday great, Albert Einstein “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”

general knowledge crossword No. 251 ACROSS

DOWN

1 What is a brood of chickens called?

8 Which agents supply oxygen?

9 To be getting older is to be what?

10 What do we call one who supports a motion?

11 To put an end to, is to what?

13 Name a disease caused by eating an affected rye preparation.

16 What, in cooking, is a strainer for draining off liquids?

19 Which chemical compound is present as a contaminant in certain herbicides?

22 Name a type of small shop selling fashionable articles.

24 In botany, what is a tubercle?

25 What is a substance for sticking things together?

26 That which is not done according to a pattern is done at what?

CANCER (June 22 – July 22) Is money too tight to mention? Mars has been reversing through your $$$ zone since December but, from Thursday onwards, it moves forwards again. So your financial situation should start to improve.

And, with Venus in your career zone, it’s a fabulous time to have fun on the job and socialise with workmates.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22) Attention all languishing Lions – have you lost your lust for life? Do you feel as if you’ve been treading water over the last few months? Mighty Mars powers forwards again this week – in your sign – so the pace will pick up, and you’ll feel back on track again. It’s time to crash through challenges with confidence and chutzpah.

Solution next week 1

2

3

4

2 Which science investigates the principles governing correct inference?

3 To sully or tarnish, is to what?

4 Name the keg that holds 52 imperial gallons of beer.

5 Brass consists essentially of copper and which other metallic element?

6 Which deep red transparent mineral is used as a gem and an abrasive.

7 What are high-spirited horses?

12 What is a "level playing field"?

14 One who grows flowers and the like is a what?

15 Name an Old World wild goat.

17 Egg-shaped things are called what?

18 What is a national song?

20 Name the US humorous poet (1902-71) ... Nash.

21 What is a dome-shaped Eskimo snow hut?

23 Name the colloquial term for a pre-decimal pound.

5

6

7

8 9 10 11

12 13

14

15

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22) Don’t lose your sense of perspective – especially when it comes to relationships. If you allow your obsessive/compulsive side to take over, you’ll just end up making mountains out of molehills. Saturday is a fabulous day for business negotiations, joint ventures, intellectual discussions and shared creative projects.

16

17

18 19

22

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

21

23

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23) Librans love to be in love. You dream of a blissful partnership where you are madly in love 24/7. However, real relationships go through tough times when hard work is required and romance is thin on the ground. Wake up – this week is one of those times when there is a large gap between fantasy and reality!

20

24 25 26

Sudoku hard No.26

Solution next week

It’s full steam ahead at work from Thursday onwards, as Mars releases the brakes on stalled professional projects, and your motivation returns. Indulging in jealous outbursts and possessive behaviour will get you nowhere fast on Friday. Remember Scorpio – there is a big difference between loving and smothering.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21) Archers are adventurous, restless souls but you’ll find home is where the heart is this week. Take the time to chill out and relax with friends and family – or to finish all those DIY projects that you started so enthusiastically many moons ago! If you mix friends and finances, you could have a fiasco on your hands on Friday.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19) Communication is the Capricorn buzzword this week. If you’re feeling frazzled from a long hard day at the office (followed by peak hour gridlock) avoid the temptation to take it out on loved ones. Use your clever Capricorn mind in constructive ways via reading, writing, studying, and stimulating conversation.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Aquarians are impulsive creatures but spontaneous spending sprees could land you in a heap of trouble. With extravagant Jupiter and reckless Uranus in your money zone, you’re inclined to buy now (and regret later!) If you’re smart you’ll avoid internet shopping, be financially disciplined - and hide your credit card!

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20) With no less than five planets visiting your sign (including lucky Jupiter) get ready for a large dose of Pisces Power. It’s time to be a feisty Fish as you take charge of your life and steer it in a positive new direction.

Your motto for the week is from fellow Piscean, Steve Irwin: “Whatever you want to do in this world, it is achievable.”

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2009.

Solution Crossword No.250 S B A T H I M B L E P R A T E L I E M D D E G R I G G E R U D R I F T E R N H O B E L I S V A N E N S I G N

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

Solution Sudoku medium No.26

R O R T S T H I E V E S

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