Canberra CityNews April 8-14, 2010

CityNews April 8-14 

  CityNews April 8-14

news

Gary’s out there, and he’s loving it!

ELERI HARRIS takes a look at how the internet is starting to influence local politicians

THE 2010 Federal election date is yet to be announced, but ACT Liberal Senator Gary Humphries is already on the front foot, technologically speaking, having just launched a revamp of his home page to increase his stake in the Australian democratic system.

Humphries’ new site includes integrated social networking aspects and video, not unlike his Labor counterpart Senator Kate Lundy, famous for her tech cred, but the part he’s most keen on is an interactive “Question the Government” page, where regular-Joe can suggest points to raise in the Senate.

“I’m very aware that more than any other community in Australia this is the community that lives by its emails and its web-surfing,” Senator Humphries explains.

“We want to be a kind of a community hub, a place where people can interact with politics generally and with me specifically.

“People in this town are always posing very good questions about why the Government doesn’t do things in a certain way. I sometimes go away and draft a question and put on notice to the Minister to ask why is this so, why isn’t this suggestion being taken up? And I thought, why don’t I just make this a feature of the website?

“People can go straight online and say: ‘I think this question should be asked’ and then I can put it straight to the Minister and get back to the constituent with an answer. And we can paste the answer up on the website as well.”

INDEX February April 8-14, 2010

Since 1993: Volume 16, Number 14

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FRONT COVER: Speaker Shane Rattenbury. Story Page 4.

Digital photography and design by Silas

www.garyhumphries.com… “this is the community that lives by its emails and its web-surfing.”

Humphries’ idea is not entirely original, most MPs have email contact forms on their home pages to enable online communication with constituents, but what Humphries has done is explicitly label the purpose of communication between his office and those who vote for him.

Fellow Liberal, 25 year-old ACT MLA Alistair Coe has a similar function on his site called “Tell Alistair” where you can bring your problems to his attention.

“Alistair is committed to making Ginninderra and the rest of Canberra a better place to live.

To do this, Alistair needs to hear the views and concerns of Canberrans so he can take action to get results,” it says.

But Coe told “CityNews” it’s all about looking young and hip and online savvy to garner votes

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– arguing that older politicians using social networking tools and the like is simply not as believable or as important as it is for their more youthful colleagues.

“It [the internet] is a political medium for me, that I try to make as real as possible,” he says.

“I think if, particularly, an old politician came out and used Facebook, some people may say, you’re just doing that as a stunt.

“One of the most – well, perhaps the first – place a young person would look for information is on the web, whereas that may well be different for other generations. So I think it does make sense for young politicians to have some direct point of contact as opposed to other demographics.”

While at 52, Humphries is hardly an IT hipster breaking online boundaries, he points out that

the internet is the medium most Canberrans use as a first point of call with their members – age is not important.

“There is just so much communication through that medium that you just can’t help but keep it as close to you as you can,” he says.

ANU political marketing specialist Andrew Hughes told “CityNews” the trick for the ACT’s politicians is to balance branding with human connection.

“Using social networking tools like Facebook, Youtube and Twitter shows that they have a connection to the electorate.

“I think you need to have an online presence and it’s a sign of the ACT itself how IT-friendly our politicians are.

“Gary Humphries does a good job with his site in terms of community involvement, community connection – you can find out community information from his site and that’s really important – and Kate Lundy is cutting edge amongst all political types across Australia.

“But even if politicians don’t win, maintenance of community presence is a way of keeping those who do win honest, of relying on people in the local community to keep the Government honest.”

While Humphries gets his geek on Federal style, the next ACT election isn’t for another two years and you can tell, with many MLAs letting the content on their sites lapse into ancient history.

As Hughes says: “You’ve got to be very quick on the internet to put things up and take them down because if you don’t you can lose serious credibility.”

For an online performance review of all MLAs visit the “CityNews” Blog www.citynews.com. au/blog/

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 April 8-14

cover story

Trouble with Shane’s double life

Can Speaker Shane Rattenbury be seen to be independent when he’s also the Greens’ spokesman for four shadow portfolios? While convention is against him, ELERI HARRIS discovers that Mr Speaker likes to do things differently.

IN the last sitting week of the ACT Legislative Assembly, Liberal Brendan Smyth moved to dissent from Speaker Shane Rattenbury, accusing him of betraying democracy, and launching an intense debate that lasted two, drawn-out hours.

Liberal Vicki Dunne said it was the only time a dissent from a Speaker’s ruling had been moved during her nine years in the Assembly and Smyth says he took the move to dissent very seriously.

The issue was around Rattenbury’s ruling on a March 18 question where Opposition Leader Zed Seselja asked Treasurer Katy Gallagher about late Government payments to business, prefaced by a reference to the Greens-Labor Government Parliamentary Agreement.

Labor backbencher John Hargreaves raised a point of order, saying Gallagher had no ministerial responsibility for the agreement, Rattenbury ruled part of the question out of order and Seselja reframed it.

The ensuing debate stemmed from 2009 questions relating to the agreement that had not been ruled out of order, demonstrating, Smyth argued, holes in the ACT democratic system created by Rattenbury’s dual role of Speaker and Greens spokesman on Environment, Climate Change and Water; Police and Emergency Services; Tourism, Sport and Recreation; and Energy.

“What you are doing today is proving that you are, in fact, partisan, proving that you do play a political role and, if you let this stand, you prove Speaker Shane Rattenbury... “I think that the community gets better value out of me for it in the you cannot be an independent Speaker, hold sense that I’m doing more work.”

Photo by Silas portfolios for a party and serve the people of the ACT as is appropriate,” Smyth said. tion in the Assembly is in its best interests and “That he has active membership of his own “To say that we cannot ask questions about the it’s not doing the broader community any good. party at the time when they’ve got formal agreeagreement that puts the Government in place, “If you’ve got a Speaker who is also a spokes- ment with the Government does provide fodder that keeps the Government there, that will be the man for their party then obviously the impres- for his critics. basis of the Greens’ campaign at the next elec- sion of bias is going to be stronger out there in “The Australian practice is they [Speakers] tion and is funded through the public purse, is the community than if you have a speaker who are normally people who aren’t currently minabsolute nonsense. It is a disgrace. It is a betrayal is removed.” isters – but are members of the government who of the Westminster system, it is a betrayal of deANU Parliamentary Studies Centre director conduct themselves so that they are at arm’s mocracy and it is a betrayal of free speech.”

John Uhr says the issue of Rattenbury’s dual length from their party colleagues.

Former ACT Speaker Greg Cornwell says it roles was a fuse lit during the last election in 2008 “That said, having a Speaker from a party that is not feasible to be Speaker and have a shadow when the Greens and Labor formed government is not the governing party is not unusual. portfolio. and an explosion was inevitable.

“It’s up to him to demonstrate that he’s a per“The the size of the place is a problem, but “I think the traditional Westminster test is son of independence.” previous Speakers did not have portfolio respon- that they are not meant to be serving the governSpeaker Rattenbury says he makes a clear sibilities, it weakens the position of Speaker and ment, he’s not serving the government, and that distinction between his roles. leaves him open to these motions,” he says. they are a representative of the house, which he “When I’m in the Speaker’s chair I’m not a “I do not believe that Shane Rattenbury’s posi- is,” says Uhr. Greens member of Parliament – I’m the Speaker

CityNews April 8-14

Brendan Smyth.… “It is a serious issue of compromise.”

– and I am very clear in my own mind that I sit in that chair with no political affiliations, no political preference. My job is at that point to do the best job I can to ensure the Parliament is conducted in a way that’s fair and that has some decorum and is efficient.

“The ACT Assembly is a small assembly, every member in that place has multiple roles.

“Frankly, I think that the community gets better value out of me for it in the sense that I’m doing more work.

“No one in the community is expressing any concern to me about this, it’s the political parties, the two old political parties. They expect things to be done in a certain way and when things don’t happen that certain way, they get upset. In me taking on this role, I’ve challenged their usual way of doing things and I think some of those old practices do need challenging. There are better ways to do things sometimes, new ways to do things, innovative ways to do things – and why wouldn’t you want to, why wouldn’t we strive to do new things?”

Brendan Smyth told “CityNews” having a Speaker with portfolio responsibilities is not innovative, but “retrograde”.

“It is a serious issue of compromise: you can’t have a man who’s controlling the house to participate in it, it immediately opens him up to accusations of bias,” says Smyth.

“It’s not innovative in that regard – it’s retrograde because it takes away from the impartiality of the Speaker.

“I think it’s something we need to be aware of and to keep an eye on, because there is a growing body of evidence that at critical times he hasn’t been able to perform his role. Responsibility shouldn’t be flicked to the Deputy Speaker.

“I do have concerns with the future of his role in the Assembly in that regard. I think the Speaker should consider his position.”

CityNews April 8-14 

the gadfly

Greens enemy of the future When it comes to climate change, says ROBERT MACKLIN, the Greens are no better than political terrorists; they would rather tear down the temple than compromise their beliefs.

IT’S perfectly understandable that the Federal Opposition under Tony Abbott should oppose action to fight man-made climate change. He really does think that science is “crap”. He is at least true to his political credo. The real enemy in the battle to give our children a secure and predictable future is on the other side of the political divide: It is the Greens.

There was a time when I – and many like me – felt that Bob Brown and the political wing of environmental movement were our best hope for a sustainable future. But alas, when it came to the crunch they betrayed us. They chose to join the forces that voted down the ETS in Parliament prior to Copenhagen, then helped to turn that one great opportunity for change in the Danish capital into a debacle.

And why? Because they would rather tear down the temple than compromise their beliefs. In this, they are no better than political terrorists.

They know perfectly well that setting a price for carbon is the first necessary step in the enormous struggle that confronts us to transform the way we interact with our beautiful blue planet. If we are going to turn the great ship of civilisation around, we have to start with a call from the bridge to the engine room. That’s what Copenhagen was all about. The world’s political leadership was gathering to deliver the message and set a new course. But unless that cry was, “Full astern!” the Greens were perfectly content to let the leviathan charge on to the rocks. And that’s exactly where we seem to be headed.

I am not suggesting that it was the Greens alone who sabotaged the ETS and Copenhagen. The extremists on the right were just as culpable and Barack Obama’s America was still living in an arrogant dream world where they really believed they had some imperial authority to bend China and India to their will. But it was the Greens who worked with the African delegations to make their outrageous demands; and it was the Greens who chortled loudest when the

CityNews April 8-14

Ants... “Over the past month, antrelated calls have increased rapidly,” says pest controller Robert Short.

Ants march into town

Bob Brown... content to let the world do nothing? whole operation descended into chaos.

Indeed, if you listen to them in the Parliament these days they are sickening in their sanctimonious self-congratulation.

So where does that leave the great mass of people who look to our political leaders for direction in these big issues? Well, if people such as Bob Brown are content for the world to do nothing, perhaps there really wasn’t much to worry about in the first place. Indeed, the polls suggest that already climate change has lost traction as a mainstream issue. And as the drought breaks across the continent the Government seems unable or unwilling to pursue it, at least until after the election.

In fact, nothing has changed. The need for action is just as urgent. A great opportunity has been lost. But on the way at least one truth has been revealed: the Greens’ unbending ideology is more hindrance than help in the great political issues of the day. Their proper place is the pulpit, not the parliament. robert@robertmacklin.com

ANTS are marching into Canberra homes at full force on a quest for food and shelter, according to a local pest controller.

“Over the past month, ant-related calls have increased rapidly, indicating all Canberra households should be on the lookout for the pests,” says Robert Short, of Amalgamated Pest Control.

“People should be mindful of ants occupying any area of their home where moisture build-up occurs, such as laundries and bathrooms, but they should be extra careful inside kitchens where ants can wreak havoc on food stores and groceries.

“Common household ants such as coastal brown ants and black ants can carry diseases such as dysentery, and bacterial infections including salmonella.

“Ants are social insects and exist in colonies that work together to gather food, rear young and defend the nest.

“They can re-establish colonies quite quickly and these colony sizes range from a few individuals to tens of thousands.”

Recent advances in pest control indicate that ant infestations can be controlled with minimal impact on the environment, humans and pets, says Robert.

The management of ants can involve modifying the environment to help reduce infestations, plus various treatment methods including baits.

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Rolfe Classic BMW

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Invitation to the launch...

New BMW promises joy to driving

Rolfe Classic BMW is inviting the public to experience the joy of the all new BMW X1 premium compact sports activity vehicle at its launch on Saturday, April 10 from 10am at the showroom at 2 Botany Street, Phillip. Test drives are available and bookings (to 6208 4111) are recommended.

Cosmorex will provide a barista and espresso coffee on the day between 10am and 2pm.

CityNews April 8-14

AS the first premium compact vehicle in its segment, the BMW X1 makes a striking impression with its joyous driving pleasure, versatility, efficiency and safety.

It starts with the design: rising lateral lines lend the new BMW X1 a dynamic shape, while short overhangs and a sloping rear windscreen create a sporty, elegant silhouette.

At the front, the distinctively shaped bonnet and the three-eye look of the headlights make for a striking impact, while the L-shaped taillights in conjunction with the horizontal flow of lines visually broaden the rear.

The new BMW X1 stays always on track thanks to its suspension tuning, optimal axle load distribution of virtually 50:50 and low centre of gravity.

And while the sDrive model, with rear-wheel drive as standard, lets you enjoy typical BMW agility, the allwheel xDrive system enhances the already sure-footed traction and directional stability of the new BMW X1, even in adverse road conditions.

The new model offers a six-speed transmission, a choice of engines (including the acclaimed four-cylinder 150kW diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo in the BMW X1 xDrive23d) and the renowned BMW EfficientDynamics, with brake energy regeneration as standard on all models (excluding the BMW X1 sDrive18i).

Everything in the cabin of the new BMW X1 is geared towards intuitive operation with the maximum “feel-good” factor.

The entire cockpit is oriented towards the driver and, thanks to its clear lines, guides the eyes to the road ahead. The raised seating position provides a good overview.

The new model moves into the lead in the area of safety, too, scoring the maximum five stars in the most important crash test procedure in Europe, the Euro NCAP (new car assessment program) crash test.

The NCAP procedure is regarded as one of the most demanding tests required for new vehicles worldwide.

In the interior, front, side and curtain head airbags protect the driver and other passengers. Likewise, part of the range of standard equipment are the belt tensioners and belt-force limiters for the front seats as well as the ISOFIX systems for attaching children’s seats at the rear.

The standard equipment of the BMW X1 also includes a tyre damage display function which warns the driver when there is pressure loss in an individual tyre.

mum in the city

Puppy love taken to the point of breaking!

ONCE you get past the cuteness factor, there definitely are some issues with the newest addition to our family.

Thanks to him, numerous pairs of knickers, socks and some expensive bras have just vanished or else turned up never to be the same again. And he’s not shy about his underwear fetish, either.

The other day he raced out the front door to greet some visitors with a pair of my undies draped fetchingly over his head.

He also loves feathers. My four-year-old daughter’s dress-up feather bowers, my goose down pillow and one feather-filled quilt are now no more. Then there is the chewed corner of the Indian rug and the hole in a couch cush-

By Sonya Fladun

ion that was just too tempting.

He’s done for numerous toys. My little girl was recently horrified when she came home from school to a scene from “Barbie and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre” with dismembered and chewed plastic limbs flung about her bedroom.

But most seriously, he munched on two pairs of my favourite shoes which literally put him in the dog house.

Taking him out in public can also be a bit of problem. He’s very friendly, but lacks social graces. He always develops an urgent itch in an inappropriate place whenever he meets anyone.

Other than that, he is flatulent, snores, has serious hygiene issues and is a recidivist toe licker.

He’s got no respect for personal space and decidedly fishy breath when he scoffs the cat’s dinner Yes, our new puppy, a golden Cocker Spaniel, really has added a new dimension to our already chaotic family life.

But he is very cute, especially when he gives you that look, the one that promises butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. And it’s amazing how just stroking his ears always makes every-

one (even a weary parent picking up the pieces of his latest exploits) feel better.

He is amazingly like the children. He bounces everywhere and is always up for a game of hide and seek, soccer, tips or maybe a dip in the fish pond, and making mud pies in the veggie patch.

He does pay dividends. He keeps the kids busy for hours and gets me out for a walk even when I am beyond tired. And he’s nature’s version of a kitchen waste-disposal unit. No scrap of food is allowed to go to the bin in this household.

But when you tally it all up, that damn cuteness thing that has kept children and puppies in business for millennia, really does have a lot to answer for.

Kokoda trek to be won

Emily, Maddy, Kayla, principal Richard Powell, Jonas and Scott, from years 4 and 5 at Kingsford Smith School in Holt.

Stop, look, have fun DEVELOPING healthy habits, saving the environment and learning about road safety are important aspects of Walk Safely to School Day – but kids also really enjoy it, according to Kim Darcy, principal of Duffy Primary School.

“We’ve been involved in Walk Safely to School Day for a few years, and we also organise a walking school bus two days a week,” she says.

“We’ve heard from parents that kids just really look forward to it.”

Now in its 11th year, Walk Safely to School Day will be celebrated on Friday, May 7 to encourage children to lead a more active lifestyle by including a walk at the beginning and end of each day because children need a minimum of 60 minutes exercise per day.

Parents and carers are

asked to walk safely to school with their children, either all or at least part of the way.

The event also encourages parents to drive less and walk more, aiming to decrease dangerous vehicle congestion around schools and reduce carbon emissions from idling cars.

“I hope it helps,” says Kim. “I know it’s hard for parents who work – it’s just easier to drive and drop the kids off on the way, but this makes people stop and think about how much they rely on their cars.

“And in terms of safety, I think it’s a wonderful lesson to the kids. It’s important to teach pupils where it’s safe to walk, how to cross the road safely and how to stop, look and listen.”

–Kathryn Vukovljak

A CANBERRAN aged between 16 and 22 will be offered the opportunity to walk the 155km Kokoda Trail as part of the Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge in September.

The program, now in its sixth year, is sponsored by registered clubs across Australia.

“ClubsACT is calling for young people to apply who not only want a challenge, but who are willing to put in several months training to ensure they are fit enough to complete the Kokoda Track,” he said CEO Jeff House.

For former trekker 18-yearold Canberra resident Josh Mahoney “walking Kokoda is easily the greatest experience and greatest achievement of my life.”

“At the end of the trek, we visited the Bomana War Cemetery where we walked among the gravestones of 3819 Commonwealth burials.

I was shocked at just how many belong to Australians just a few years older than me,” he said.

The trek will run from September 27 to October 8. More information and application form are at www.clubsact. com.au or email kokoda@ clubsact.com.au

CityNews April 8-14

politics

Vultures circle on health THE baby boomers continue to set the political agenda. A short while ago it looked like climate change was going to be a key element in voters’ intentions. However, the politics of self seems to have come up trumps again. And when it comes to self, nothing is worrying baby boomers more than their ageing and their health care.

It would be difficult to miss that health is dominating the political agenda. In the ACT, there is a constant debate over the state of the Canberra and Calvary Hospitals as there is across Australia with regard to the performance of all public hospitals.

Additionally, there is public speculation about the purchase of Calvary and whether it is a better option for it to be superseded by a new hospital in Gungahlin. The Canberra community was up in arms over a threat to public ownership of the hospice. And the political vultures are circling.

It does not seem to matter whether it is the debate over hospitals, the shortage of doctors, primary health care or preventing illness – health issue are dominating local and Federal politics.

The ACT Liberal Shadow Minister for Health, Jeremy Hanson, gathered a wide range of community representatives together just before Easter in the first of four consultations on his health discussion paper – “The State of our Health”. Hanson started the discussions with the president of the local branch of the AMA Dr Paul Jones putting his perspective in a speech on primary care.

At a time when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is putting up proposals to “end the blame game”, Hanson (and others like him across jurisdictions) are deliberately challenging State and Territory governments in areas over which they have no control. General practice may be in the financial purview of the Federal Government, but that does

10 CityNews April 8-14

By Michael Moore not stop a local debate on shortages, competence and access.

Hanson understands where those financial lines are drawn, but he has also tapped into community concern. He is in the community, he is reaching out to people and he has proven that he is politically adept. When the Stanhope Government came to power, recurrent spending on health and community care was $480.9 million.

The amount has more than doubled to $973.2 million this year and Hanson rightly asks “what have we got for the money?”

Rudd is trying to convince the State and Territories that a spending ratio of 60 per cent to 40 per cent will end the blame game on hospitals. It will not. It is hard to understand why the States and Territories would agree to his proposals when he appears to be taking the GST money from them, adding no further dollars and attempting to take partial control.

Voters as a whole do not know which level of government is responsible for a particular part of the health-care continuum and, at the moment, polls indicate that the public seems to be strongly supporting the Rudd hospital takeover scheme.

However, it is much more likely that they simply want something done to improve hospital care.

Commentator Robert Gottliebsen and others like him have been questioning the capacity of the Federal public service to be effective in the areas of service delivery. Examples of failures include defence contracts, home insulation and school

briefly The eyes have it

CRIME prevention business liaison officers will trial three month program called “Eyes on the Street”, a co-ordinated intelligencegathering initiative, which encourages and enables employees from participating business or government agencies to identify suspicious people, vehicles and criminal activities and to report it to police. The aim of the program is to increase the number of reports to Crime Stoppers.

Cabinet heads west

ACT Government Ministers will hold a “Cabinet in the Community” at the Centre for Teaching and Learning (main hall), 51 Fremantle Drive, Stirling, on Saturday, April 17, 10.30am to noon. The public is invited to hear about community initiatives in Woden Valley and Weston Creek and to speak with Ministers over morning tea.

Smashing records Jeremy Hanson, left, and AMA (ACT) president Dr Paul Jones at the health forum in the Legislative Assembly Meeting Room. buildings. He does concede: “I must emphasise that there are many talented and hard working public servants in Canberra. The disasters tend to occur when they are asked to do something new or very large”.

The Victorian election will be held this year on November 17 and the NSW election four months later on March 26, 20011. The Federal election is likely to come before them. In the run up, it is a certainty that there will be much more debate, and much more confusion, around who is actually responsible for health care.

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

THE National Gallery of Australia has welcomed its 400,000th visitor to “Masterpieces from Paris”, smashing any previous record for an exhibition at any Australian museum or gallery. The gallery has also announced that, on the exhibition’s last Saturday, April 17, the gallery will be open for 32 hours straight.

Legacy concert

THE 14th annual Legacy Anzac Concert will be held at the Royal Theatre, National Convention Centre, on April 11 at 2pm.

Highlights will include the Royal Military College All-Stars Big Band, Sing Australia Choirs and four of Canberra’s most talented young soloists – Josie Dunham, Georgia Pike, David Spence and Daniel Wells. Tickets through Ticketek on 132849 or at the door. Adults $20, concessions $10 and children $5.

advertising feature

Westpac

Sharelle’s taking care of business “A CHARACTERISTIC of Westpac’s commercial banking is that most decisions on lending are made locally, by people with strong, first-hand experience of the Canberra business community,” says Commercial Bank senior relationship manager Sharelle Le Garde.

“Our aim in is to be proactive in working with our business clients and to deliver consistently a high standard of service to them.

“Credit approvals, for example, are generally made in Canberra, an arrangement which has worked well since it was introduced a little over three years ago.

“Although the head office in Sydney has a say on very large deals, most of the decisions are, in practice, made locally.”

Sharelle’s office, on the 11th floor of the Aon Building in Civic, is in Westpac’s Commercial Bank and it’s a part of the bank’s operations that is rarely seen by the public, but plays a big role in Westpac’s local presence.

“Banking is about relationships with clients; relationships in which we strive to achieve outstanding financial solutions that add value to their business,” says Sharelle.

“We strive to be the best business bank in Canberra and setting a standard for other Westpac commercial banks around Australia.

“Westpac’s Canberra Commercial Bank provides financial services to high-value business clients, most of it within Canberra.

Sharelle manages a large and varied portfolio of customers, ranging from accountants to veterinarians. Her task is to identify and assess business opportunities and to act as a co-ordinating point as they are assessed by Westpac.

Sharelle Le Garde...

“Banking is about relationships with clients; relationships in which we strive to achieve outstanding financial solutions that add value to their business.”

“Sharelle is an outstanding member of Westpac’s Canberra team,” says Ian Gash, head of Commercial Banking. “The breadth and variety of her business contacts, her outstanding business sense and her analytical abilities in areas such as cash-flow lending make her a highly-valued member of the Commercial Bank.”

Sharelle is supported by a team of three: Customer manager, Jane Moyle, is new to the team (but not to banking, she has been with Westpac for 20 years); Mariel Lapus, assistant relationship manager, has been with Sharelle for four years and assistant relationship manager Monique Bremer has worked with Sharelle for two years.

Sharelle is also supported by financial planner, Simon Moyle; international business manager, Peter Green; transaction business manager, Geoff Love; and equipment and finance manager, Tony Dunn.

Sharelle has been in the banking industry since 2000, in a variety of different roles, both business and retail. She has been a member of the Commercial Bank team since early 2005 and a senior relationship manager since 2006.

For the last three years, she has been Westpac’s Senior Relationship Manager of the Year (the 2008 award was shared with her colleague, David Jamieson). She is the current chair of the ACT Chapter of the Financial Services Institute of Australia.

Sharelle has qualifications in accountancy, and business, and also holds a Diploma in Financial Services (Financial Planning) and a Graduate Certificate in Workplace Training. She is currently enrolled for a Master of Business Administration in Management Accounting. She is a member of the Golden Key alumni – an international alumni for the top 10 per cent of students in their discipline.

Before entering banking, Sharelle worked in different positions, including as a sales and training manager for an international cosmetic company in Queensland. For several years, she worked overseas in various accounting positions, including management accountant, cost accountant and treasurer. She is degree-qualified in accounting and business.

Sharelle is proud to call Canberra home.

“Canberra is unlike any other community,” she says. “I have enjoyed every day of working here.”

CityNews April 8-14 11

news

Why women start to stray “Women are encouraged to seek that one special someone in order to find happiness, but in reality they’re no more monogamous than men,” the author of a new book on extramarital affairs tells KATHRYN VUKOVLJAK

BE it for excitement, revenge, a way out of an unhappy marriage or simply to have their cake and eat it, women are just as likely to be unfaithful as men – and can just as easily separate sex and love, according to Dr Zita Weber, who also suggests that guys wake up and do the maths – if all these men are out there having affairs, they can’t all be doing it with available women, can they?

The latest statistics show that 60-70 per cent of married women will have an affair at some point, says Dr Weber, an academic at Sydney University, who has researched female extramarital affairs; assessing why women are unfaithful and what constitutes an affair in this time of cyber-relationships, multi-partner relationships and gender blurring.

“The definition of an affair has definitely undergone a revision in recent times,” she says. “Now it doesn’t have to be about sex. It could be a cyber affair consisting solely of sexually charged interaction, or just a mutual respect and admiration with someone who understands you.

12 CityNews April 8-14

Statistics show that 60-70 per cent of married women will have an affair.

“But the key to an affair is forming an intense connection with someone other than your partner that involves being secretive and takes time and energy away from your primary relationship.”

However, she says the shock value in this statistic is a feature of social conditioning.

“Women are encouraged to seek that one special someone in order to find happiness,” she says. “But in reality they’re no more monogamous than men.

“And as men are generally expected to stray, they’re often blind to the possibility that women could do the same. It’s a form of denial and double standard,” she says.

Dr Weber, who has been a therapist and a couples’ counsellor, says that women being unfaithful isn’t a new phenomenon.

“Ancient texts depict adulterous women being punished – even executed,” she says.

“While we may have moved on from scarlet lettering, it’s still considered somewhat shocking if a woman has an extra-marital affair.”

Unfaithful women may well be seeking sex, according to Dr Weber, author of “Unfaithfully Yours”, which chronicles the true stories of 12 Aussie women’s affairs, but she says she’s found the common theme in female affairs is that something is missing in their primary relationship.

“Some may need a more sexual identity, or there might just be a lack of connection with their partners,” she says. “Most affairs seem to stem from the human need to be emotionally connected to someone.”

There tends to be a natural life cycle to an affair, she says, of around six months to two years. “Some women will lead a parallel life for many years, but most extramarital affairs just last a few months until the excitement wears off,” she says.

The really sad thing is that men are less likely to forgive an affair than women, according to Dr Weber. If found out, women’s affairs are more likely to destroy a marriage than if a man strays.

“Women forgive; they’re conditioned to do so,” she says. “From a young age, mothers teach their daughters to be empathetic, to consider the effect of their behaviour on others, to be more sensitive.

“For men, things tend to be more black and white. For example, when men have affairs, they’ll say it’s just about the sex – which let’s face it, may or may not be true!”

briefly Saintly mail

AUSTRALIA Post is marking the October canonisation of the country’s first saint, Mary MacKillop, with a commemorative prepaid envelope that features an image of Mary MacKillop with members of her congregation at Aotearoa (NZ) from 1895. The stamp area of the envelope features an image of a painting of Mary MacKillop, by Raffaele Gagliardi, of Rome.

Birthday bells

THE National Carillon, a gift from the British Government to the people of Australia, will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a series of free special events throughout April. Carillon manager Seona Doherty said: “There will be special recitals, a family picnic day, and public tours which offer the rare chance for people to experience the National Carillon from the inside. But the most exciting event will be the big open day on the 26th which will be a huge day of music, fun and celebrations.”

Tour numbers are limited, booking to 6272 2902.

Loud shirts

LOUD Shirt Day will be held on Friday, May 14 to raise awareness and funds for children with hearing impairments. An initiative of the “National Alliance – deaf kids talking”, money raised in ACT/NSW will benefit The Shepherd Centre, a not-for-profit organisation that educates deaf and hearing-impaired children from the ages of 0-5 years. For more information or to register, visit www.loudshirtday.com.au.

Calling for art

THE ACT Human Rights Commission has launched its 2010 Annual Art Award competition. The award asks young people to create a piece of art consistent with a particular human rights theme. This year, the theme is: “disability: inclusion through friendship”. All entries need to be submitted by May 27.

CityNews April 8-14  13

news

Property

By Catherine Carter

Keeping the cities moving

Ranger Brad Morrell… and (right) some of the things city rangers have recovered from the streets.

Photos by Silas

Brad’s at home on the range KATHRYN VUKOVLJAK goes on patrol with a man alert to hazards, dangerous litter and abandoned vehicles, and always ready to help little old ladies in distress. Superman? No he’s a Canberra city ranger.

“WE’RE the eyes of the city, really,” says city ranger Brad Morrell. “It’s not just about fines, although obviously we are in a compliance role.

And we’re not responsible for parking tickets!

“To me, it’s just about making the city a safe place for everyone to live.”

Brad, a newbie who has recently been made permanent after almost two years in an acting role, says he absolutely loves his job.

“It’s a passion, for sure, I’m always on the job really, always got my eyes open,” he says.

“If I see something while I’m out and about, I’ll try to do something about it, even if it’s not my role. We want to help.”

Brad is one of seven rangers who patrol Canberra. They’re rostered across seven days a week, with one ranger on call 24 hours a day.

“We’re a close-knit group,” he says. “I’m still relatively new, but I get so much support and advice from these guys. It’s really overwhelming how helpful they are. It’s good to get a different outlook, a different opinion. The job is still a learning curve for me, but these guys have made me a better ranger.”

Under Territory and Municipal Services, the city rangers help keep unleased Territory land safe by dealing with applications and com-

14 CityNews April 8-14

The safe removal of sharps is a significant part of Brad’s job. “We know exactly how to dispose of needles and associated waste,” he says. “We also train janitors and I’ve given talks to schoolchildren, emphasising what to look for and what they shouldn’t touch.” plaints about things such as advertising signs, abandoned vehicles, sharps and clinical waste, uncovered loads, overhanging foliage and approved or unapproved use of unleased Territory land.

They also provide approval of activities in

public places, including green and paved area bookings.

As such, the role is varied, with Brad – on the beat in his Ford Ranger – never quite knowing how his day will pan out. “Some of our jobs are reported through Canberra Connect, some are referred to us by the Government. And we’re always on the lookout, of course, scanning for any issues ourselves.”

Brad says that littering is becoming a big issue and that rangers do routine patrols, both to find anything potentially dangerous and to let people know they have a presence.

“We assess each job on its own merits. Our aim is to re-educate the public on their responsibilites and obligations,” he says.

“If it’s a small job, we’ll do it ourselves; for example, there was one incident where a little girl got her bike handlebars caught in some foliage and fell, and almost got flattened by a car.

“The garden was owned by an elderly lady who was devastated to hear what had happened, but she just wasn’t able to maintain her garden, so I just took out my loppers and did the job. It didn’t take long and we made a friend. I was almost welling up she was so grateful to us, and it was such a small thing, really.

“This is the sort of thing that makes me take the job to my heart.”

Brad’s sense of pride in Canberra is both heartwarming and reassuring.

“I feel we have a very important role and we make a difference every day,” he says. “I only have to think about my eight-year-old daughter Ashleigh getting hurt by some of the things we find, and it drives me.

“This job means a lot to me. I thrive on it, I take pride in it.”

IN a recent speech on the state of Australia’s cities Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Anthony Albanese said major cities were drivers of the nation’s economy, employment and prosperity, and that we must ensure that our cities are productive, sustainable and liveable.

“Three quarters of our population live in the 17 major Australian cities with a population in excess of 100,000,” he said. “Those major cities deliver nearly 80 per cent of our nation’s gross domestic product and the employment of 75 per cent of our workforce.” They are also the location for around 70 per cent of Australia’s businesses.

“Planned cities are central to the nation’s continued economic growth and to the well being of local communities,” he said.

“There was a lack of alignment within some jurisdictions between metropolitan land use plans and infrastructure proposals submitted for Infrastructure Australia’s consideration.”

His speech made several points worth considering in the planning the ACT’s future.

He pointed to recent research that showed that urban congestion was a major handbrake on productivity, and noted that the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics estimates that the avoidable cost of road congestion for the Australian capitals would rise to $20 billion by 2020 if left unchecked.

The Minister said he believed that getting infrastructure right makes the difference between a liveable and an unliveable city.

He quoted an annual world-wide “Quality of Living” survey of 235 countries. Our major cities have all slipped in the survey in the five years to 2009. Sydney from fifth to 10th, Melbourne from 12th to 18th, Perth from 20th to 21st, Adelaide from 24th to 30th, and Brisbane from 24th to 34th.

He said the report commended that the cities that supplanted the Australian cities were generally ones that had invested in infrastructure during that period.

COAG has already agreed that, by January 1, 2012, all States will have in place city plans that meet the criteria, and the Minister added: “We will not be shy about tying future Commonwealth funding to those city plans.”

Change, as he said, is already happening, with the Federal Government poised to intervene if we don’t get our integrated planning right. It’s time for us to really get to work.

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

CityNews April 8-14  15

16  CityNews April 8-14

opinion

Religion, State and the beliefs that bind LISTENING to the radio on the day of the “Atheist Convention” with Richard Dawkins, I was interested to hear some comments on the reasons behind the event. One of the organisers, when asked about its motivation, said the convention’s purpose was to counter the religious influence in Australia on political issues. Some members of our community also think religion and politics should not mix.

This excerpt from a recent letter in “CityNews” is a good example. “Now I don’t know about the rest of you, but I consider all religious people to be genetically, mentally disabled... Religious people must not be allowed to participate in politics on any level.”

Were it not directed at Christians, this excerpt

understanding of their life, identity, morality, meaning and destiny will always help shape their values and decisions.

By Nick Jensen Critics might say that even if politicians do have an inescapable world view, this should be kept may well be deemed hate speech by our human quiet as it not relevant to a secular democracy. rights watchdogs.

However, I would argue that every decision made But is the view based in this letter in any way in politics has an ethical dimension, or to put it reasonable? Besides the obvious problem of another way, our underlying values will always removing more than half of Australians off the affect the decisions we make. electoral role, should Religion and State really be Therefore, to demand that only atheists be separate with private beliefs not impinging on allowed to bring their value system to the floor of public decisions? a Parliament is an exceptional arrogance.

In reality, this is neither possible nor even desirIn this next Federal election, both our Prime able. A voter’s, as well as a politician’s, personal Minister and Opposition Leader claim to have

similar world views, specifically that of a Christian spirituality. If anything, this declared world view gives something additional that we as voters can hold leaders accountable to, and in my opinion this will always be preferable to a politician who has a lack of transparency and keeps their core beliefs hidden. I think it will be a fascinating debate to watch as our leaders discuss politics and ethical governance alongside their faith and values.

Rather than having this kind of engagement “eternally” banished from public life, I look forward to seeing how these underlying world views impact upon the future of our country.

Nick Jensen is ACT director for the Australian Christian Lobby.

Time to put some life on to our ornamental lake For just a moment, close your eyes and imagine motorised water sports on Lake Burley Griffin, because that’s about as close as you will get to seeing it happen, writes TIM GAVEL

DESPITE the current management changes that would see the ACT Government take control of all water resources on Commonwealth land including Lake Burley Griffin, the local government is likely to be restricted to extraction and use of water only.

My understanding is that the National Capital Authority would still regulate recreation on the lake. It is for this reason that I doubt that there will be too much change, although more activity on the lake could be great to see.

At the moment, the lake appears more ornamental than recreational, despite being used by the yacht club (although less so in winter), rowers in the western part as well as Yarramundi Reach and paddlers and windsurfers. But there could be room for more.

A proposal to have the rowing course

extended to 2000 metres won’t be happening and the lake is rarely used for swimming because of the water quality and the temperature.

It has been argued that there should be more motor sports to stop the growth of blue green algae. But is that really the answer? Admittedly, I am a temporary member of the yachting community but I don’t think there is enough room on the lake to cater for motor boats.

For the past 20 years there has been debate over whether Lake Burley Griffin should cater to motorised water sports.

We have occasionally had jet skis and

water skiing, but that is about it.

The skiing experiment in the East Basin failed because the conditions were not ideal and the chances of another experiment appear remote with the Kingston Foreshore Development likely to lead to even more resistance to the noise created by water-ski boats. Water skiing is currently confined to the Molonglo River.

However, there is a plan to move the growing sport of dragon boating to the East Basin between The Boat House restaurant and Kings Avenue Bridge. The sport has 3000 participants in Canberra and is running out of space next to the yacht club. A move to the under-utilised East Basin makes sense. There are also plans for a rowing club to establish itself in the same area.

The NCA is looking to create more usage in the western part of the lake with the establishment of open water courses. One would be near the ferry terminal, while the other would be around Yarramundi. It is, of course, dependant on the water being suitable to swim in.

It’s obvious that we need to encourage and grow more activities on the lake; although the future of motorised water sports in Canberra could be Ginninderra or Tuggeranong given that it is unlikely to be happening on Lake Burley Griffin any time soon.

CityNews April 8-14 17

scene

More photos at www.facebook.com/canberracitynews

Pecha Kucha Volume 7, CraftACT

At Schmooze and Canberra Business Point event, Legislative Assemby

Nadia Hooton and Chris Cooper

Steph Hawkins, Lyn North, Rebecka Hore, Walter Sauer, Callum Mann and Nina Allen

Irene Hazilias and Laurie McDonald

Katharine Campbell, Shellaine Godbold and Kerry Andrew John de Ridder, Natasha Vanzetti and Scott Malcolm

Clem Daw, Kathryn Hind and Anna Mackay

18  CityNews April 8-14

Rachelle O'Keefe, James Earle, Sue-Anne Kong and Giang To

Kate Canhaalen, Praveena Gunaratnam, Marina Lobastov and Rafe Morris

Rowan Johnstone, Amy MacCormack and Leon Buchanan

Socrates Mechanicos, Phil Gleeson and Susan Miller

all about living

fashion | theatre | dining | arts | puzzles | horoscope

When ‘Make Believe’ comes true

By Kathryn Vukovljak LOCAL artists Amelia Thompson and Anna Madeleine will present a mix of fashion design, mixed media and animation, entitled “Make, Believe”, at the ANCA gallery from April 14-25.

“I always knew in the back of my mind that I wanted to collaborate with Anna, I just really liked what she did and we always connected,” Amelia says.

The girls met when they worked together in the library at the National Gallery of Australia.

“We started talking about where we both were in our lives, how we’d both just moved out of home and were feeling a little bit lost in the woods,” she says.

“We also had nostalgic chats about classic fairy tales like ‘Alice in Wonderland’, the ‘Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, all with heroines that seemed to symbolise us – growing up, learning about the big, bad world and searching for our identity.”

The “Make, Believe” collection features cute capes, hooded dresses, pinafores and high-waisted skirts in bright, child-like colours and fairytale-inspired printed fabric

by Anna Madeleine.

Anna’s prints represent an adult’s longing for innocent escape, with

references to childhood games such as snakes and ladders and Scrabble, using a broad range of media, techniques and recycled objects to call into the viewer’s mind common childhood experiences, she says.

The show will include a combination of Anna’s mixed-media prints, mannequins and large photographs of Amelia’s designs. There will also be tote bags with Anna’s prints, and jewellery by Amelia on sale.

Amelia is the creator of fashion label “Grazed Youth”, stocked in itripiskip in Braddon, and the Department of the Exterior in Manuka.

Anna is a local visual artist who focuses on mixed media in digital print and animation.

“The reason behind why we are having an exhibition together is because we collaborated on some fabric print designs that she created for my current collection and we had such a great time doing that, we thought why not explore these themes further by having an exhibition of work together,” says Amelia.

“It’s rare for a collaboration to work this well and so exciting that we really wanted to celebrate that.”

“Make, Believe” ANCA gallery (April 14-25) opens with a fashion parade, 6pm Friday April 16.

Designer Amelia Thompson’s fantasy fashions... The “Make, Believe” collection features cute capes, hooded dresses, pinafores and highwaisted skirts in bright, child-like colours and fairytale-inspired printed fabric by Anna Madeleine.

CityNews April 8-14 19

arts&entertainment

Lear for the love of it

By arts editor Helen Musa WHEN it comes to playing Shakespeare’s gigantic tragic role King Lear, age doesn’t matter.

That, at least, is the opinion of 69-yearold John Bell, who will be here soon playing a part he has also done at age 43, when he played Lear to Judy Davis doubling as Cordelia and the Fool, and at 57, when he performed in the controversial Barrie Kosky version. That, Bell tells me, “was essentially Barrie’s response to ‘King Lear’ rather than ‘King Lear’ itself.”

But Bell Shakespeare’s publicity has stressed that the company turns 20 this year and that Bell himself will turn 70 on November 1, so we inevitably turn to the question of how old you have to be to play King Lear. “Well, Paul Scofield was only 39 when he played it,” Bell says and ForbesRobertson, the British actor, played Hamlet at 60 when he is supposed to be 30.

But just as with the question of whether a woman can play Shylock or a white person Othello, to Bell it’s a bit of a bore.

“We’ll soon get over this hump of political correctness and get on with performing,” he tells me. “Why should age or ethnicity come into it?”

But if pushed, Bell thinks maybe round about 60 is the ideal age. “I’m doing it on the cusp of 70 and it’s quite hard work,” he says. He is playing the role six, sometimes seven times a week and Ian McKellen reckoned you could only play it four at the most.

John Bell, as Lear, left, with Peter Carroll as the Fool.

He’s enjoying being directed by younger director Marion Potts, recently named as the new artistic director of Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre. She hasn’t done it before and he guesses “she will do King Lear many times after this and she’ll do it differently each time”.

Bell totally rejects contemporary interpretations of the opening scene where Lear divides his kingdom between his three daughters as evidence of senile dementia.

On the contrary, his flaws are to do with being wilful and autocratic. “I’m playing him quite virile, about to retire and have a good time.”

To Bell, the play shows a man who has

to lose everything to discover himself. “It’s a very exciting journey,” he says, and it’s real. He’s met many CEOs who get to a certain stage of their career and don’t know who they are. It’s much the same with the deluded secondary character Gloucester, played by veteran actor Bruce Myles.

One big treat in this production is that he is playing alongside his old colleague Peter Carroll as the Fool, often played as a very young jester. They work together so well and it’s nice, Bell reports, to be working with “an old fool – we are more like buddies.”

“King Lear”, The Playhouse April 15-May 1. Bookings to 6275 2700.

Hilary snaps a prize ARTS IN THE CITY

By Helen Musa

photographer Hilary Wardhaugh has just won the ACT Australian Institute of Professional Photography Portrait Photographer of the Year 2010 at the NSW and ACT Annual AIPP judged in Sydney. She tells me it’s been a while since she has won the award as these days she focuses on portraits of children and families.

To view her work visit www.hwp.com.au WHAT a great year it’s been so far for Canberra counter-tenor Tobias Cole! Not only did he star as Oberon in a “Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Sydney Opera House recently, but now, as we predicted, he’s won a Victorian Green Room award for his role in Xerxes for the Victorian Opera.

LAST week we were talking about Hans Christian Andersen and music. Now we hear “The Little Mermaid” is opening on April 15 at the Canberra Theatre Courtyard Studio as part of Free-Rain Theatre’s “Frolics” season.

NATIONAL Youth Week runs until April 18.

Focused on young people aged 12 to 25 the theme for 2010 is, “Live It Now”. For more information visit http://youthweek.com/2010/ and click on the ACT event search button.

PHOTOGRAPHER Glen Ryan’s show “Wildest Dreams” documents the experience of 10 performers both with and without disabilities who met every Thursday morning for eight weeks for workshops with Morgan Jai-Morincome, Bren Weatherstone, Min Mae and Andy 20 CityNews April 8-14

Photographer Hilary Wardhaugh explains her winning portrait: “The winner was one of a series of portraits of a friend who has since died. The work followed his journey through a diagnosis of cancer and finally his death, but also of his little dog who died a month after him.”

Heaney to share ideas, move, dance, make music and ultimately devise six short works for public performance. The process can be seen at the Front, Lyneham until April 12.

arts&entertainment

All that Italian is meant to be SOMEONE told me the pasta dishes at Italian and Sons, a new “happening” place in bustling Braddon, were all super expensive.

My most recent visit proved this to be untrue. These dishes do start at $25 and top off around $27 but this is real Italian, not just any old pasta cooked in a bit of salted water with some weak tomato sauce thrown on top. Let’s face it, many restaurants and cafés say they offer Italian food, but they don’t have the right to make the claim.

I’ve been to Italian and Sons, which has been open for around seven months now, more than once – most recently for a quick lunch.

The menu focuses on a smaller number of quality dishes, including half a dozen quality pizzas, all prepared using Queensland buffalo bocconcini, four regular pastas, a smallish number of antipasti dishes, and affettati platters of cured meats that can be seen hanging on hooks at the front of this open-concept restaurant. There’s also a dish of the day, four insalate and a small specials board.

Italian and Sons is the baby brother of well-known Mezallira Ristorante, owned

by The Trimboli Group. The funky fit out features dark wooden floors and two seating areas – one at the front and one at the back near the large wood-fired pizza oven. The bentwood chairs aren’t exactly cozy for a long stay and I’ve never been in love with paper table cloths.

My pasta selection was from the daily specials board and it was sensational.

A hearty, moorish, slow-cooked, fullflavoured lamb ragu, and pecorino cheese that melted through the hand-cut pasta ($26). My friend went quiet at she savoured every bite of her potato gnocchi with veal and marjoram ragu ($25). It was a rich dish which she couldn’t find fault with.

The wood-fired oven at Italian and Sons is used for much more than the pizza.

DINING

By Wendy Johnson

Italian and Sons... a new “happening” place in bustling Braddon.

On another visit, I indulged – and I mean indulged – in the beef fillet tagliata style cooked in the oven with braised red wine peppers and salmoriglio ($32). It was extraordinary.

For a grand ending the Dolci is all $12 and includes a Sicilian ricotta cannoli with rhubarb and mint marmellata and a flourless Amadei chocolate torte. Or you can head to he Formaggi section of the menu – an impressive selection of imported Italian cheeses ($12 for one, $20 for two

Photos by Silas

and $27 for three). Portions can be small, however.

The wine list is Italian-focused and a good range of different Italian beers are also on offer. The waitstaff are knowledgeable, friendly and obviously proud to be working in a restaurant that respects all that Italian food is meant to be.

Italian and Sons, 7 Lonsdale St., Braddon. 6162 4888. Open Tues to Friday lunch and Mon to Sat dinner. Fully licensed. No byo.

Dance and poetry out of the Pantry

By Helen Musa “BRASSY” is an outdoor performance to be staged by The Hall Village Brass Band, Mirramu Dance Company, The Lake Dancers and Harden bush poet Robyn Sykes, who is also editor of the “Yass Tribune”.

Billed as an outdoor family event, it will take place in the paddock outside Poachers Pantry in Hall at 2.30pm on Sunday, April 11.

The performance tells, in dance and poetry, stories from the lives of this region’s pioneering women, including writer Miles Franklin, who spent part of her life in the region. The Hall Village Brass Band, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, performs both band and dance music.

Poet Sykes will narrate incidents from the lives of Sarah, of the south-west plains,

a convict maid Ma Davis, Kate O’Meally and Bet Mayhew, two country women who dress in men’s clothes and are mistaken for bushrangers. Bushrangers Ben Hall and Johnnie Gilbert break the gender barrier by making an appearance, too.

Bookings to 6230 2487 or Yass Valley Council on 6226 2557.

CityNews April 8-14 21

22  CityNews April 8-14

advertising feature

careers & training

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Whether you want to start vocational training, kick-start your career or retrain in a new field, “CityNews” has gathered together the top training facilities in Canberra to help you make an informed choice.

Thinking on your feet

deliver on that promise. Fast! · Use structure; if you’re analytically inclined, EXCELLENT verbal and written communications structure your response into two or three Items. are still important to employers, but increasing Then walk the audience through the items value is now being set on the ability to think and succinctly. act professionally under pressure, says Eric Leape, · Bridge the gap. Master the art of “bridging” director of Berrico Consultants in Canberra. from question to answer.

“Most employers require candidates to “’Think on Your Feet’ workshops often get the demonstrate ‘excellent verbal and written comhighest acclaim for being practical and immedimunication skills’,” he says. ately useful,” says Mr leape.

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“Research by the Canadian company, McLuhan and Davies, shows that roughly 90 per cent of all verbal communication in business is impromptu, rather than by formal presentation.”

CIT Solutions offers organisations a wide range A series of two-day “Think On Your Feet” of learning and development services to enhance workshops is being held in Canberra and includes the capability of their staff. For individuals, it the following tips: offers courses designed to upgrade professional · Don’t waffle, get to the point, no one has time skills as well as access to the ACT’s largest selecfor a lengthy presentation of any kind. tion of recreational and hobby programs. · It’s okay to say you don’t know, but promise “Our skills in analysis, design and delivery to promptly get back with the answer. And provide clients with tailor-made learning and

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Online and accessible development solutions that can be readily applied in their workplace,” says Jacqui James, accredited training senior manager.

“These skills ensure that ongoing programs can be readily adapted to ensure that all training is relevant, up-to-date and practical.

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“Where clients require learning outcomes to be linked with qualifications, CIT Solutions is able to issue qualifications from the Australian Qualifications Framework under CIT’s Registered Training Organisation status (RTO 0101). This means all our qualifications are nationally recognised and portable throughout Australia.

“Our learning and development solutions draw on our nationally recognised learning design expertise and many years of experience in working with organisations in the public

“ALL our training courses are online, and can be accessed from anywhere,” says Jenny Everson, training co-ordinator at Distance Learning Australia.

DLA is a registered training organisation that specialises in providing quality online learning, and blended delivery training and assessment services in all Australian States and Territories.

The company’s courses include business, human resources, project management, marketing, communication services and health training.

“Courses are customised and designed to meet workplace needs, often with a particular employer who has specific needs, and we find that employers really like that flexibility,” Jenny says. “E-learning offers more flexibility, generally.

“An individual trainer is assigned to each student and gives personalised attention.”

While learners are expected to complete a course within its allocated timeframe, a student may complete earlier. This flexibility caters for those who have more or less time to study.

Distance Learning Australia, PO Box 6295, O’Connor, at 6262 2964

CityNews April 8-14 23

careers & training

advertising feature

Learn from industry leaders “WISDOM is a multi-award-winning local training provider offering programs for participants who want to learn from industry leaders,” says managing director Rod Hattch.

Located in a spacious learning centre at Fairbairn, near the Canberra International Airport, WISDOM is the only private registered training organisation in Australia to be accredited with Training Excellence – Gold under the Australian quality training framework training excellence criteria.

“We provide an innovative way to learn, which is accelerated to suit people’s busy lifestyles” said Mr Hattch. “Our courses are flexible, fun and engaging.”

He says WISDOM often accesses government funding to subsidise courses for clients, particularly to help those in small business. WISDOM provides training in a range of areas including business management, real estate, project management, training and management.

For more information visit www.wisdomlearning.com.au

– which is why our programs are offered after business hours.”

Programs are funded by the ACT Department of Education & Training; so eligible participants will not pay tuition fees (which range from $4900 to $8000). A small, tax-deductible administration fee applies.

Register at www.cmatraining.com.au or call 6163 9590. Course placement is on a first in, first served basis.

Digital design skills CMA TRAINING Group provides employed people with training to develop basic digital design skills, says director Deb Pobjey.

“Our program introduces design concepts, practices and techniques using the latest industry-standard software,” she says.

“CMA understands that working people are often ‘time poor’

Massage for a new career Om Shanti College offers full or part-time courses in massage therapy and aromatherapy in a nurturing environment that is conducive to learning, says Luciana Todd, owner and principal of Om Shanti College.

All of Om Shanti’s trainers are qualified and specialists in the field.

“Our students leave here with a new career – they can walk out and set up their own business,” she says.

Luciana says it’s a career that can be taken anywhere in the world. It suits those wishing to re-train, too, as the courses can be fitted around other commitments. “You see the outcome of your work instantly – clients arrive feeling tired and sore, and leave refreshed. There’s no better feeling than helping people and seeing tangible results,” she says.

For more information, visit www.omshanticollege.com.au

Update your image NEXT month, The Lizzie Wagner Group is offering a range of weekend workshops for adults and teens, including image update, modelling and drama and acting. Students of all ages will learn valuable life-skills, make new friends and gain a strong sense of self.

The company offers training to a large group of corporate, public sector and everyday individuals, alongside workshops for schools, universities, TAFEs, adults, children and teens.

It’s principal Lizzie Wagner has just released the book “Business and Social Etiquette” co-authored with Ralph Bain. Ms Wagner says her book is a “must for all businesses and employees” by teaching the do’s and don’ts of etiquette, with tips on grooming and wardrobe.

“Join the thousands of students, celebrities, CEOs, athletes, business people and all those individuals who just wanted to look and feel great,” she says. “Book in for a course, private tuition, corporate training or a personal styling trip and see the difference it makes!”

For more information visit www.lizziewagner.com.au or call 6299 8328 or 0412 098 435, or email info@lizziewagner.com.au

24 CityNews April 8-14

CityNews April 8-14  25

winter warming

advertising feature

Economic ways of keeping nice and warm As the balmy weather of autumn yields to the icy grip of winter, now is the time to get your home certain of being cosy and energy efficient over the cold months. In this special feature, we look at the value of window treatments, wall insulation and thermal testing in the war of keeping warm.

Cover those windows THE energy efficiency of your home can be greatly increased by careful choice of window treatments, says Mary Reilly, of Riteway Curtains and Blinds Gallery.

The greater the R value (combined measurement of the window itself plus the window covering), the better retension of indoor warmth and keeping rooms cool in summer, resulting in substantial and continuous savings in energy costs.

She says Luxaflex duette blinds are the best insulating blinds for homes and commercial space.

“Luxaflex has now gone one step further with

the Architella range which has a cell within a cell for even more insulation. The distinctive honeycomb pleat design traps air in the cells, creating air pockets which act as an insulator. The fabrics are available in a wide range of modern decorator colours,” she says.

“Window coverings, traditionally, have been the last word in the final energy rating of the home and lined curtains with pelmets are still a great way to achieve this.”

Riteway Curtains and Blinds Gallery showroom, 1/64 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick and Gallery at 3/66 Heffernan Street, Mitchell

Fix those heat leaks

AIR leakage can cause 40 per cent of the heat loss from a typical Canberra houses, according to Energy Imaging.

“That means that much of the money spent to heat a home in winter disappears through gaps and holes. It also means greenhouse gas emissions are much greater than they need to be,” says a spokesperson for the company.

“Locating and stopping this uncontrolled air leakage is the most cost-efficient, energy saving measure.

“Sealing air leaks, together with properly insulating, should be number one on any building-improvement strategy. And don’t worry – there is still plenty of fresh air in a well-sealed home.”

Energy Imaging’s technologies reveal the location of otherwise impossible-to-find air and insulation gaps. Sealing these air gaps and correcting insulation can be done by the homeowner or Energy Imaging’s retrofitting service.

26 CityNews April 8-14

“Thermal imaging is used to analyse the temperature of surfaces in your home and locate the areas of heat loss,” says the spokesperson.

“Pressure gauges, computer software and a powerful fan are used to measure how leaky the house is and find exactly where it is leaking.

“Our specialised duct-testing equipment tests that all the heat gets into your home, not into the roof or under the floor.”

Energy Imaging, 8 Wiluna Street, Fyshwick, 6100 4014

Warm those walls

BETWEEN 30-50 per cent of all heat loss is through the walls even, if your ceiling is adequately insulated, according to Just Rite.

“By installing cavity-wall insulation you can stop about 85 per cent of this heat loss or gain through your walls,” a company spokesperson says.

Just Rite sells Bradford Cavity Wall Insulation, a specially treated water repellent Rockwool insulation, made from molten rock, which provides thermal and acoustic insulation.

“A special high-performance blowing machine is used to pump the insulation into existing brick walls,” says the spokesperson. “Access to the cavity is gained by lifting a tile over the cavity and dropping a special hose to the bottom of the cavity.

The hose is gradually lifted as the cavity fills.”

Insulating existing walls will reduce energy bills, and increase the energy efficiency rating of a home in most cases by one star adding considerable value especially for resale purposes.

Wall insulation is also good acoustic insulation and will reduce noise entering the home from the outside.

Just Rite, 14 Whyalla Street, Fyshwick, 6280 5300

CityNews April 8-14  27

your week in the stars With Joanne Madeline Moore April 12 - 18 ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20) With the New Moon in gung-ho Aries, it’s the best week of the year to initiate projects and turn dreams into action. You are famous for lacking follow-through so make sure your fiery enthusiasm is tempered with discipline, application and persistence. As Plato reminds us “The beginning is the most important part of the work.”

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20) You don’t have to possess everyone (and everything) that you fancy.

If you hold on to loved ones too tightly, they’ll struggle to escape your tenacious Taurean grip! Have you been charging around like a Bull on steroids? The New Moon urges you to make room in your busy life for some well-earned rest and recuperation.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21) Geminis are brilliant at juggling the minutiae of daily life like a circus pro but this week will test your multi-tasking talents to the max. If you pace yourself – and prioritise – then you’ll get through without a major meltdown. It’s also a fabulous time to contribute your talents and expertise to a group, club or organisation.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22) The New Moon falls in your career zone so stop side-stepping problems (and people) at work and start facing them head-on. Don’t waste the opportunity to show others what you are capable of. Friday is a great day for salespeople (or any Crabs who work with the public in some way). Aim to be confident, bold and beautiful.

general knowledge crossword No. 256 ACROSS

DOWN

4 Name a glass drinking utensil without handle or stem.

8 What is a non-professional known as?

9 What is a small herring-like marine fish?

10 To make a temporary stay is to do what?

11 What is a soft bag of cloth etc, used to kneel or lie on?

12 Name another term for automatons.

14 Colloquially, what do we call persons of considerable importance?

18 Which dog is closely related to the greyhound?

21 What is German measles also known as?

22 Name a building designed to house stage entertainments or the like.

23 Which term means loss of memory?

24 What is a thick, firm cushion, used as a footstool ?

Solution next week 1

2

3

5

6

7

9

Is life in Leo Land becoming boring and ho-hum? With Mars in your sign and the New Moon activating your adventure zone, you’re feeling restless and ready for a mind-blowing new challenge. So start planning for that Timbuktu trek or Himalayan holiday now! For some singles, love and work are lusciously linked.

10

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)

12

11

With the New Moon stimulating your sensuality zone, mid week is the time to let your inhibitions run wild with someone special. Love and lust are definitely in the air, so make the most of it. Issues involving shared finances need to be dealt with (and updated) ASAP. When it comes to joint ventures, the devil is definitely in the detail.

18

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)

22

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

4

8

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)

Beginnings are highlighted in personal relationships. The challenge is to get the balance right between give and take. (Make sure you’re not doing all the giving, and others all the taking!) Venusian vibes are strong on Friday so plan an indulgence whether it’s a massage, beautiful meal, or romantic rendezvous with someone special.

1 Name a short-tailed, stoutbodied rodent, often kept as a child's pet.

2 What was A B Paterson commonly known as?

3 Which other word describes a legacy?

4 Into which state does a hypnotist plunge a person?

5 Name the staffs borne by officials as symbols of office.

6 To treat one as a celebrity is to do what?

7 What is a particular textile fibre?

13 Name the tanks used for storing hot water.

15 To manage with prudent economy is to do what?

16 What are extended instrumental compositions?

17 To run naked through a crowd of people is to what?

18 What do we call a woman who professes to practise magic?

19 Which area, adjoining a house, is used for outdoor living?

20 What are many windows, bottles and the like made of?

13

14

15

16

17 19

20 21

23 24

Sudoku medium No.29

Solution next week

How’s your diet and exercise routine going? If you don’t have one, this week may be the turning point. With the New Moon firing up your health zone, it’s time to shake out your running shoes, slip on the old swimsuit, plus increase your intake of fresh juices and salads. Sunday favours socialising with workmates or tackling a pet project.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21) You’ll be hard to ignore this week as you ruffle a few feathers with your impulsive ideas and spontaneous shenanigans. But too much haste could land you in hot water – especially when it comes to children and friends. Take on board some timely advice from birthday great Thomas Jefferson: “Delay is preferable to error.”

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19) Have you been burning the midnight oil? The New Moon encourages you to lift your nose from the career grindstone, enjoy the comforts of casa Capricorn and the company of loved ones. It’s also the perfect time for a domestic makeover (and it’s doubly important to tweak the feng shui if you work from home).

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) You want to save the world, feed the poor and initiate social changes – but don’t forget to nurture your nearest and dearest as well. Check your own backyard is in order before you run around fixing everyone elses’! Group activities are highlighted this week, as the New Moon increases your desire to be actively involved in your local community.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20) Does money run through your hands like water? This week is the best time of the year to commit yourself to a responsible new financial plan.

If you can’t do it on your own, then utilise the services of a professional. Your motto for the next seven days is from birthday great J. P. Morgan: “If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it.”

28 CityNews April 8-14

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2010.

Solution Crossword No.255 H Y A A N G S T Z W E A R L O O C H K

B R A O N S R O M L S U C I T F E M R

I D A Y M P K E R H E R R E R T I S C

D A K M B I E N C E T I Y A R T I S A N I E O U S E E T S E D G E G O L E G R E A S E E R M T E R E B U S T S N R S E T T E E

Solution Sudoku hard No.28

all about property

Boom days as space rivals Brisbane COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

By Tim Humphrey

DESPITE fewer, large commercial-leasing deals during 2009, Canberra’s office market has grown to more than two million square metres of space over the last calendar year.

It is now ranked as the fourth-largest market in Australia and in terms of size has surpassed growth centres such as Perth – and ranks on par with the Brisbane CBD. Analysis of the ACT’s top 10 officeleasing transactions, which commenced during 2009, shows that the top four traditional agents nationally (Knight Frank, Colliers International, Jones Lang LaSalle and CB Richard Ellis) achieved results on par with the supposed smaller, second-tier firms.

For example, LJ Hooker Commercial Canberra and Colliers International ranked equal first on this basis, each achieving three of these largest leasing deals for the 12-month period.

Top 10 office leasing deals - 2009 Rank

Occupier

Size

Locality

Rate per sqm*

Advocate

Successful Agency

1

Department of Defence

15,000

Reid

373

United

-

2

ACTEW AGL

7497

Canberra City

410

-

LJ Hooker

3

Medicare Australia

5407

Tuggeranong

374.09

JLL

CB Richard Ellis

4

CSC Australia

2536

Braddon

360

JLL

Ray White Commercial

5

Medicare Australia

2174

Tuggeranong

405

JLL

-

6

AusAid

1667

Canberra City

375

United

Knight Frank

7

Global Carbon Capture & Storage Institute

1530

Canberra City

440

PCM

Colliers

8

Medicare Australia

1363

Tuggeranong

300

JLL

LJ Hooker Comm. / Jones Lang LaSalle

9

Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology

1306

Canberra City

435

United

Colliers / LJ Hooker Comm.

10

Australian Reinsurance Pool Commission

1254

Canberra City

435

-

Colliers / LJ Hooker Comm. * Estimated rental based on market confirmation

They were closely followed by Knight Frank which was involved in brokering two of the deals.

Mark Thompson, managing director of LJ Hooker Commercial, is extremely pleased with the end result for the year.

“We have a really proactive leasing team and landlords have been happy

to appoint us because we get the job done” he said.

Bruce Norton, of Property Concept & Management, which represents office tenants in lease negotiations, confirmed that the leasing market is set to improve through to the end of 2010 from an occupier perspective.

“Tenants will see more choice avail-

able to them and rents will continue to come down,” he says.

Similarly, Brett Barton, principal of new-formed agency Barton Commercial Property, believes that there has already been a boost in commercial enquiries as economic conditions have improved.

“Tenants who are currently willing

to commit for a longer-term basis are seeing very attractive incentives being offered to them” Mr Barton said.

Tim Humphrey is editor of “Property Daily”, a market news and intelligence service focused on commercial property markets nationally at www. propertydaily.com.au

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