Canberra CityNews April 22-28, 2010

CityNews April 22-28 

  CityNews April 22-28

news

Music crisis: No-one’s listening THE Assembly’s Inquiry into Live Community Events has failed to attract submissions from all but a few hardcore scenesters and a lobby of angry apartment dwellers.

The inquiry, launched by Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur last year, had only 28 submissions at the time of publication and the due date extended for an unknown period due to increase prospects of further community contributions.

Gathering evidence to create strategies to balance growing residential developments with the need to preserve live music in the capital is proving difficult, chair Mary Porter said.

“We are concerned that we haven’t had as many operators of live music venues come to talk to us as we could have. We’d like some more submissions from them, we’d like them to talk about how they see the effect of what I’m describing [growing residential construction] on their business.”

The inquiry committee, including Porter, visited Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct in March, reviewing 10 nightclubs and examples of sound-proof apartment designs.

Porter could not tell “CityNews” why the committee has not yet visited Canberra’s own live music venues or why the owners of such venues have not been contacted directly to make submissions.

Online gig guide Faster Louder’s Canberra editor Karen Radford says the absence of submissions by many of the capital’s key players in the live music scene is an indication of Gen Y apathy and a product of the Government’s ignorance of the appropriate avenues to distribute information amongst a younger audience.

“I think it’s quite symptomatic of us, as Gen Ys, that we’re keen to campaign for something

INDEX April 22-28, 2010

Since 1993: Volume 16, Number 16

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

19-22 24 22 24 12 20 3-12 4 25-32 16-18 24 8

FRONT COVER: Sydney Dance Company’s “We Unfold”, story Page 19.

Photo by Tim Richardson

With the ACT Government intent on increasing inner-city urban density, Canberra’s live music scene could be facing a death of a thousand noise complaints, reports ELERI HARRIS

as long as we can just click on it, and not actually have to write something. Which is a bit of a shame, because I think there are so many people here in Canberra who do really care, but if they’re not making themselves heard now or not putting their view point across, then they’ll just whinge later that something’s closed down or you can’t have live music after 9pm.

“It’s [the Government] clearly not communicating with your target audience.”

Live music lover and concerned citizen Andrew Mottram created a Facebook group called “I Want to Help Shape the Future of Music in Canberra!” in February, to give the inquiry greater exposure and increase submissions.

But two months and nearly 1200 members later, the group has failed to translate into a submission storm.

“I find it disappointing that people haven’t made more submissions, it is a big issue for Canberra. If the Legislative Assembly finds in favour of residential developers it will really negatively affect Canberra’s music scene,” says Mottram.

“The Interim Report makes a lot of good points, but it’s wise to get involved and not to assume Governments will make the right decison by the community, it’s not a sure thing that the law will favour music establishments.”

Like Radford, Mottram has made his own personal submission, but is not surprised by others’ reluctance to put pen to paper, arguing that Assembly processes are disconnected to

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the cross section of Canberran community who would be affected by any legislative changes.

Le Couteur is keen to attract further submissions: “The local music industry still has time to engage with the inquiry process, as it has only given its interim report up to now. We’re keen to hear from local musicians and venues about their experiences.

“We know that many musicians are upset about the slow demise of the number of venues, and continuing difficulties in finding places to play.”

A notable submission from Transit Bar Manager Marc Grainger points to that venue’s trouble with residents of the Waldorf Apartments.

In his submission Grainger says: “Transit Bar strives for ‘harmonious co-habitation’ through compliance with the appropriate laws, proactive conflict resolution, supply of adequate sound proofing infrastructure in the venue and employing professional sound engineers to manage sound. It seems that, even with this attention to compliance for live entertainment, it is still not sufficient enough to compete with the demands and pressures of a populated city centre.”

The Inquiry into Live Community Events will have to provide recommendations on how the ACT can meet these challenges, but if the consultation processes fail to present all sides of the issue there isn’t much hope that ensuing legislation will adequately reflect the needs of Canberra’s live music scene.

City cafe in safety finals CAFE Pazzini, in Moore Street, Civic is a finalist in the national annual Safe Work Australia Awards, which will be announced at a ceremony in the Great Hall at Parliament House on April 28.

The cafe is a finalist in the category recognising “Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue”.

“Through regular safety monitoring, Café Pazzini identified safety deficiencies with its slicer machine which presented a potential hazard to the café’s workers,” said Safe Work Australia chairman Tom Phillips.

“Café Pazzini utilised the skills of suppliers to incorporate new design elements and established an effective and improved hazard control for the use of the machine in their workplace.”

The awards acknowledge the efforts of individuals and organisations in their efforts to reduce the number of work-related deaths, injury and disease in the workplace.

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 22-28

the macklin aftermath

Open about open space

Last week, columnist Robert Macklin rebuked the NCA for floating the prospect of ‘infilling’ the bushland that separates town centres.

In reply, Property Council executive director CATHERINE CARTER springs to the defence of Canberra’s future and, right, the authority’s chief executive GARY RAKE says there are no preconceived plans, he just wants to start a conversation...

Carter Rake

Now, just a moment…

‘CityNews’, April 15.

ROBERT Macklin’s “CityNews” column last week contained some frank and strong views on the National Capital Authority’s planned public forum on the National Capital Open Space System and that of building heights across the Territory.

He refers to the NCA as “myopic dunderheads”, accuses them of wanting to turn Canberra ugly and criticises them for wanting to review the possibility of future development on transport corridors between town centres. His reasoning is that technology has advanced so much that we will all soon be working from home and there will be no rush hour or commuter traffic to deal with, so this is unnecessary.

In an apparent misreading of Griffin’s original designs, which planned for it, he says “Walter Burley Griffin’s vision will have been trashed” if development along transport corridors proceeds.

The Property Council’s view is slightly less

are entitled to choice in their housing. Many want to live close to the action, with demand for urban apartments consistently outstripping supply.

Finally, increased building height, which is also being considered by the NCA, is not an automatic prescription for ugliness. Residential design has come a long-long way and apartments no longer have to be “horrible” and “boring”, as Mr Macklin seems to fear. If (and it is only an if) the NCA review concludes that residential height restrictions will be eased in certain areas, it will be because the ACT community wants it to happen.

I am sure that Canberrans don’t want a boring provincial town with a limited future. We don’t want an increasingly larger carbon footprint. We don’t want an increasing over-dependence on our cars to get around. And, like other Australians, we don’t want a national capital without Federal government involvement and support.

emotionally vivid than Mr Macklin’s and entirely different.

Firstly, the technology allowing us to work from home has existed for some years and considerable research money has been spent all over the world on studies as to why this hasn’t already happened. The conclusions are to do with human nature: It seems we work better in teams and stay-at-home workers will remain the exception rather than the rule.

A review at this time is quite proper and, as it involves public consultation, there seems to be no need to fear that the result will turn Canberra into “just another ugly, medium-sized city” unless the ACT community wants it to do so.

We need a sustainable transport system. The fact that our population is spread across such a wide geographical area is one of the contributing factors that makes our per capita environmental footprint so large. “Densification” in selected areas will help solve the current problem. And Canberrans

When thoughtless planning drives you mad CONTRAST the Australian Defence Force move of 300 of its workers to Mitchell and the impact it will have on Gungahlin, with the monolith that the intelligence services are building in the parliamentary triangle in Campbell.

The ACT Government has recently released a discussion paper wrestling with the influx of traffic into Civic. Concurrently, the area south of Constitution Avenue almost from Anzac Parade to the Kings Avenue Roundabout is being subsumed by the astronomical development of the intelligence services.

As if it wasn’t bad enough having the thenDepartment of Transport and Regional Services stuffing up planning around the airport, we now have to put up with the parliamentary triangle being botched by another Federal department.

It is not that the huge office structure is going to jump out and bite people – it is just that it adds to the city’s traffic problems when it could have made a major contribution to reducing them. Who gave permission for this gargantuan

CityNews April 22-28

Even political columnist MICHAEL MOORE wonders what’s happening to planning construction in the first place?

Imagine if there had been the foresight to move ASIO, ASUS and other intelligence service personnel to Gungahlin instead of co-locating them with Defence in the Russell office area. This would mean thousands of commuters heading against the current stream of traffic. It would mean placing workers in Gungahlin, where a high proportion would be able to live. It would mean a huge boost to a range of businesses operating out of the Gungahlin town centre.

Putting the intelligence services next to Defence makes a great strategic target.

Canberra was planned around a series of decentralised town centres. Every building that

undermines that concept also undermines the basic design of the city’s infrastructure.

Again and again we have seen opportunities lost that would make this city work much better for its residents, much better for the national capital, much better for the people of Australia and much better as a model of what good planning can do to alleviate traffic congestion, encourage walking and facilitate the use of public transport.

When Ros Kelly moved the then-Department of Social Services to Tuggeranong there was significant resistance from a range of public servants. In the long term, her consistency with the concept of the decentralisation of Canberra has withstood the test of time. It is a great shame that we have not had someone with her vision and understanding either in the political arena or within the public sector that could do the same for Gungahlin.

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

THERE has been much interest (and even a little scurrilous commentary) about the National Capital Authority’s recently announced plans to review building heights and the National Capital Open Space System.

Canberra is renowned as a fine example of a deliberately planned capital – a “city in the landscape” and “bush capital”. It is precisely because of the importance of these attributes that the five members (of which, I am one) of the NCA board decided to discuss these topics with the community.

While we certainly have some objectives in mind, there are absolutely no predetermined outcomes. The objectives we have are very open and are more about the process for conducting these reviews.

Our main objective is to have a multi-stage conversation with the community and to develop a shared vision for the future.

First, we would assess the reasons behind the building height and open space frameworks we currently have in the national capital. Then we would consider the modern relevance and priority of those reasons and their associated values. Next, define a vision for the future and, finally, develop an implementation plan for that vision.

It is important to note that the National Capital Plan was originally drafted around the time of ACT self-government and it has not been subject to a serious review ever since. Every year, the NCA receives around 300 applications for works approval (development approval) which we assess against the provisions of the National Capital Plan. From time to time, we also receive requests to amend the plan.

Without a contemporary review of the National Capital Plan, we could find ourselves making decisions which are based on outdated rationale. This will inevitably cause problems in the future. In conducting these two reviews, we will also be able to achieve a strategic and significant review of the city’s landscape framework and reflect that in an update to the National Capital Plan.

I encourage interested parties to embrace this as an opportunity to engage on the form and function of Canberra’s majestic landscape setting.

The conversation starts at the NCA Public Forum on April 29. RSVP via the NCA website www.nationalcapital.gov.au

–Gary Rake

CityNews April 22-28 

news

Big day for healing

By Eleri Harris THE annual Freedom Day celebration of South Africa’s first non-racial democratic elections on April 27 looks to be a big one with our Commonwealth brothers set to host the 19th FIFA World Cup later this year.

With more than 150,000 South Africans living and working in Australia, high commissioner Lenin M Shope told “CityNews” that Freedom Day events in the nation’s capital will bring together a fragmented diaspora and hopefully encourage expatriate reconciliation.

“It’s a day of national euphoria, South Africans try to restore our relations between each other and try to remind ourselves why we are one,” he said.

“It meant really monumental change in the country for the majority of the people. But I think, for black and white South Africans, it was finally we became South Africans and from that day onward we had a different level of acceptance internationally. The world looked at us differently. The sports sanctions and the cultural sanctions became a thing of the past. We hosted the rugby world cup in 1995, just a year after the transformation, our Freedom Day.” In 1994 South Africans rejected the apartheid regime of 46 years, legitimising entrenched racial divisions that, Shope says, are still visible in expatriate culture in Australia.

“Our diaspora here remains compartmentalised, representative if it were, of what apartheid was. Of what apartheid entrenched in South Africa, those divisions,” he said.

“If you look at most white South Africans here, they will be high up, very successful. If

CityNews April 22-28

South African high commissioner Lenin M Shope. you look at most Africans they will be nursing, teaching, in home care.

“So this is mainly racially divided and that makes it difficult to integrate the diaspora.

Because their kids won’t go to the same school, they won’t buy at the same supermarket, so generally speaking your white population tends to reside in certain areas; shop and socialise in certain areas. Your Africans tend to reside in other areas, shop and school and whatever. So it’s a difficult diaspora to deal with because it is so fragmented, but it is not easy to automatically put back together. It is very complex.

“On the Saturday following the national day, May 1, we’ll be having a diaspora day – a day for the South African diaspora. The theme is, of course, World Cup football. But it will be a day for the diaspora and if you come to the residence you will find people across the spectrum. In their normal day-to-day lives there is nothing that brings them together.

“We invite a cross-section of people – and a cross-section of people always come.”

the gadfly

Why the Anzac myth matters GALLIPOLI is an enigma at the heart of the Australian psyche. The initial idea – from Winston Churchill – was for a naval thrust through the Dardanelles and when that failed the hastily assembled “Plan B” was storming the slopes. The result was a disaster. Nearly 8000 young Australians were killed before British High Command called the whole thing off and the survivors silently stole away.

It was an ignominious defeat, yet we celebrate it as a vital element of what it means to be an Australian. And though I have written two books and edited another that touch on the Gallipoli campaign, the true meaning of Anzac has often seemed just out of reach.

As my generation was entering our 20s we used to celebrate the fact that each year the march attracted fewer participants and spectators. That was the 1960s when the threat of nuclear war made Gallipoli seem like ancient history. Our fathers never talked about World War II; and the non-nuclear conflict of the day was Vietnam which only added to our revulsion of war in all its forms.

But as the nuclear threat died away and Vietnam passed into history, Anzac reasserted itself and, to our astonishment, young Australians began flocking to Gallipoli’s shore to pay homage to the fallen. I simply couldn’t understand why.

Then I read a book by Canberra’s Bill Gammage, first published in 1974 by the ANU Press. Titled “The Broken Years”, it drew upon the letters, the diaries and

By Robert Macklin the memories of the men themselves, but gathered and edited in such a way that in the reading you were back there on those blood-stained, fly-blown hills sharing the horror, the terror, the rage and the blessed relief to be alive when the battle was done.

But of course, that was just the beginning of the nightmare. The Anzacs reformed their battalions, absorbed the reinforcements, farewelled Johnny Turk and headed for the real enemy: the Germans on the Western Front.

The edition I read was a paperback, which somehow seemed unworthy of its great events and powerful themes. Since then it has never been out of print and – despite the penny-pinching publishers – it has become a genuine Australian classic.

Now, at last, it has received the treatment it so richly deserves. Melbourne University Publishing has created an illustrated edition that is one of the finest examples of the publisher’s art that I have ever encountered. The photos are quite magnificent and beautifully displayed; the maps are a model of clarity, and the design will unquestionably win awards…and all for an astonishing $50.

But the real value of the book lies in the text. For the first time in my experience it

reveals the reason for the centrality of the Anzac myth in the Australian psyche – not in a single phrase or paragraph, but when you close the final page you just know.

In the epilogue, Bill Gammage writes: “The Great War brought change to the outlook of Australians… for while the boundless eagerness of August 1914 is a world removed from our present time, what began to happen on Gallipoli nine months later is with us yet.”

It is indeed. robert@robertmacklin.com

The ways Canberra will remember, Page 15

CityNews April 22-28

sport

Some won’t be helped TIM GAVEL gets annoyed at people who are quick to criticise sport for not doing enough to educate young players SPORTS clubs should be supported, not castigated, for their efforts in attempting to set wayward players on the right path.

I have a son and I hope he doesn’t make too many mistakes in the course of his life and will learn from any he does make. As parents, we do our best to guide and advise, but at the same time we are cognisant of the reality that only a portion of the advice offered may be heeded, particularly when it comes to boys.

Dealing with only one growing boy is difficult enough, but dealing with an entire group of young people would present many more challenges. Accordingly, I have some sympathy for sporting clubs that spend time trying to reel in wayward young players. I think the notion of a hard-and-fast policy of “one strike and your out” doesn’t work with everybody. It is not just football or cricket, amateur or professional; it is anything that involves young men.

It could be argued that professional football codes such as rugby league, rugby union, soccer and Australian Rules provide an opportunity for some who come from a disadvantaged upbringing. In other words, sport has provided a pathway out of a lifestyle that would otherwise have little prospect of change.

There are some young people who have no desire or ability to go to university, but can achieve through sport. Being part of a team also has enormous benefits, so much so that business falls over itself to tap into the machi-

CityNews April 22-28

nations of a successful sporting team so that it can be applied in commerce. Sport provides many positives.

Having said that, I am constantly at a loss to understand why some young men, such as Todd Carney and Ben Cousins, have done their best to throw it all away despite repeated attempts to curb their ways. The fall out isn’t just confined to the individual, but has a ripple-down impact on sponsorship, junior development and marketing.

Sometimes it appears that the message doesn’t get through.

Football clubs, in particular, work hard to educate players, but I have noticed a change in focus in the last couple of years where the emphasis has been on establishing a strong senior leadership group which can have an enormous influence on the younger players.

This, of course, applies to any sporting group with the senior members having a positive influence on the younger athletes coupled with an emphasis on personal responsibility for their actions. I know from personal experience that the Raiders and the Brumbies have put a lot of work into establishing strong leadership groups.

So the next time you see a sportsman in trouble for bad behaviour, spare a thought for the clubs, they can only do so much. It’s not as if the players haven’t been told that nothing good happens after midnight.

CityNews April 22-28 

news

Madge hops into the spotlight

By Eleri Harris

THE complicated relationship between the capital and our kangaroos is set to be the subject of a documentary for ABC TV. A wildlife film crew, working in conjunction with research supplied by the ACT Government, will follow mobs of GPS-carrying kangaroos around suburban Canberra for five months starting this week.

The infamous kangaroo “Madge” of Majura, well known in Canberra for her human relationships, is one of those currently wearing a GPS collar and is tipped to be a star in the program.

The documentary team is headed up by experienced environmental film-maker Sally Ingleton who told “CityNews” the sometimes controversial relationship between Canberrans and Eastern Grey kangaroos was emblematic of Australian wildlife and human clashes.

“I’ve been making a lot of environment, natural history stories recently, I’m interested in the connection between animals and people. We’re moving into habitats of animals and they’re moving into ours.

“In Australia, the Eastern Grey kangaroo is the one who’s doing the most and Canberra has the most Eastern Grey activity of any city.”

Ingleton says the film will look at culling.

“We realise it’s a really topical subject and some people have got very strong emotional views about it, we’re interested in both sides of the story and we want to explore it as a topic because it raises a lot of controversy.”

The work of TAMS Parks, Conservation and Lands senior ecologist Don Fletcher will

10 CityNews April 22-28

briefly

Community bank plan AN interim steering committee of interested locals has been formed to investigate establishing a Woden community bank branch of Bendigo Bank in Curtin following the decision by the Commonwealth Bank to close its branch at the Curtin shops on May 17.

Spokesman the interim committee‚ Nick Tsoulias said: “The success of the community bank campaign back in 2001 for Calwell and Wanniassa branches will be mirrored for a Woden Community Bank for Curtin.”

French triumph

THE NGA’s exhibition of 112 Post-Impressionist works from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris has easily smashed the attendance record for any exhibition in Australia with more than 470,000 visitors over its four-month season. The exhibition attracted people to Canberra from all across Australia as well as overseas, and is estimated to have injected $94 million into the ACT economy.

Thank you, Campbell

RESIDENTS of Cambell were singled out for their support following the opening of the $18 million eastern precinct upgrade at the Australian War Memorial, featuring new landscaped grounds, a cafe and functions complex and extensive underground parking. “The new development involved considerable community consultation, and I would like to thank residents of Campbell for their support during the construction period,” said director Steve Gower.

“Kangaroo Mob” producer Sally Ingleton and director Simon Target. provide science for the documentary, “Kangaroo Mob”.

Fletcher has put 27 GPS collars on kangaroos in different parts of the city and the film crew, including award-winning cinematographer Mark Lamble, will closely follow three to four kangaroos in separate mobs.

360 Degree Films is appealing to the public

for stories, videos and photographs of human interaction with kangaroos in Canberra.

“We’re keen to meet people who want to talk to us and might be interested in doing some filming for us,” Ingleton said.

If you can help, contact Kate Breen at 360 Degree Films on 03 9948 1922 or kate@360degreefilms.com.au

Targeting doctors

THE Government is targeting the UK to attract GPs to the ACT. Health Minister Katy Gallagher says that full-page advertisements will appear in the “British Journal of General Practice” over the next three months encouraging doctors to move to Canberra to achieve a better work-life balance. “The Live in Canberra campaign is working in partnership with the ACT Division of General Practice and ACT Health to get the message across.

news

Little Dusky on the comeback trail

THE Dusky Antechinus disappeared from the Namadgi National Park for five years after the Canberra bushfires in 2003.

However, the latest monitoring by researchers from the Department of Territory and Municipal Services has detected them at two sites last month and a separate study by CSIRO last year also found them at a third site in Namadgi.

Departmental senior ecologist Dr Murray Evans said that Dusky Antechinus is very susceptible to the effects of fire.

“A study by CSIRO back in the early 1990s in coastal heath found Dusky Antechinus apparently disappeared for several years following fire. The same pattern seems to have occurred A Dusky Antechinus... very susceptible to the effects of fire. in Namadgi, with populations recovering only when a suitable dense layer of leaf litter and soon afterwards due to the lack dense ground layer has devel- fallen timber which provides of habitat. oped, which can take several shelter and food,” departmen“We are finding good numyears after fire,” he said. tal senior ecologist Dr Murray bers of Agile Antechinus and “Small ground-dwelling Evans. bush rats at most of our monimammals such as the mar“Although a surprisingly toring sites. This is evidence supial Agile Antechinus and high number of these animals that populations of small mamDusky Antechinus, and shy na- miraculously survived the fire, mals in Namadgi National tive bush rats, are susceptible most subsequently succumbed Park are recovering well from to fire because it removes the to starvation and predation the 2003 bushfire.”

CityNews April 22-28 11

a dose of dorin

letters

Out trots vested self interest YET again, Chris Peters [Chamber of Commerce CEO] trots out the vested self-interest arguments of his business constituency (CN, April 1, “Help! We need some bodies”).

There is absolutely no acknowledgement of all the costs of population growth for a city already poorly served by important infrastructure and social needs. Peters makes the incredible statement that “while the success rate of Live in Canberra can not be evaluated, the program should be ramped up....”. Don’t worry about the negative impacts on housing affordability, water supply and urban sprawl, just go ahead blindly chasing some more skilled workers.

The expensive Live in Canberra campaign has given a few bureaucrats in the ACT Government a number of overseas junkets to desirable destinations at taxpayers’ expense and no definitive cost-benefit analysis to assess its worth. The ACT Government is clearly unable to build a road and public transport system befitting a national capital and which adequately provides for the current population, let alone thousands more. There is also an acute shortage of doctors. Housing, both to rent and to buy is expensive and will not change in the foreseeable future. Many new residents will get a shock with the level of taxes and charges imposed by this Government.

Mr Peters needs to examine the case of Norway with a thriving economy, despite an ageing economy and a much lower population growth rate than Australia. He might also look at Slovakia with a stable and ageing population, but a booming economy.

The ACT Government should consult experts in the social, environmental and economic costs and benefits of growth and not just the business community and other vested interests when making important decisions about population growth for Canberra.

Colin Lyons, Weetangera

Young life at risk

I NEED to comment on your brief paragraph (“Help for mental health”, CN April 15) in this week’s “CityNews”.

My son was involved in a very frightening incident on Monday concerning a friend. The friend had tried to cut their wrists. The friend was already on anti-depressants. After some hassle, my son got his friend into see a GP (that same day!). Here was a young, sick person obviously crying out for help and all the GP did was change medication. That GP is an absolute disgrace to the medical profession and I would hold him personally responsible for that young person’s life.

12 CityNews April 22-28

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.

Thanks to my son, that young person eventually went to the care of their father in Sydney.

Where was this so-called unit to help people like my son’s friend when the need is desperate? Where is the training for GPs to recognise people crying out for help? A pill does not take it away. I trust and hope that GP will not suffer from depression in his lifetime!

Kaye Cooper, Deakin

A foolish fantasy

NICK Jensen, the director for the Australian Christian Lobby, is spreading a foolish and ugly fantasy of secularism (CN, April 8). Despite his claims, the separation of church and state does not require the banishment of Christians from public life. Secularism ensures Christians are never banished from public life. Secularism is a welcome adjunct to democracy and human rights; safeguarding against any religion using the state to impose its views on all citizens.

Peter Robinson, Ainslie

Welcome back, Gary “Gary’s out there”, “CityNews” reported recently. Welcome back, Gary! We have gotten used to seeing Senator Humphries pop up every three years and make a range of empty statements before an election.

His impact in Parliament, however, has been totally unnoticeable. Recently Senator Humphries revealed that detailed work done by his own Liberal party on proposed major cuts to the ACT Public Service was not information that he was privy to. If his party won’t even give him the information, how can he be an effective representative for Canberrans?

Gary Humphries doesn’t prioritise policy work, and can’t point to a single achievement during his two terms in the Senate. But he can direct his taxpayer and Liberal party funded resources towards self promotion – now online.

So while the party he represents, and votes with, sharpens the razors to slash the ACT Public Service, Senator Humphries is online getting Canberrans’ feedback. Where does that feedback go Gary? No doubt, if re-elected again, he will then disappear, along with his website, for another 2½ years.

Elizabeth Kirk, Holder

Swanshell China

advertising feature

Fun of the (World) Fair without hassle SHANGHAI World Fair 2010 involves more than 56 countries and organisations showcasing their science, technology, culture and economics – and expects to see 70 million visitors, according to Evelyn Hou, owner and managing director of Swanshell China.

“Visiting the Expo, which runs from May 1October 31, is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to go to China or do business there, and Swanshell is well-placed to assist people with doing that,” she says.

“Swanshell can organise four five-day tours to allow visitors to experience a taste of China.

We can also tailor a tour for small groups to fit with your visit to the fair.

“We have identified distinct cuisines, so we can help make your trip a culinary experience as well.

“Swanshell Shanghai office can make all of your travel arrangements including airfares, airport pick-up, on-ground transport and accommodation.”

Swanshell was formed to provide direct and effective access to target projects between the People’s Republic of China and Australia, according to Evelyn.

Swanshell has been in China for 20 years and in Shanghai for 12 years. The company understands the culture and the ways of doing business with China. It can be difficult for Australian companies to do business overseas without a local representative office.

“Swanshell has advised many businesses

The Shanghai World Fair pavillion. over the years and can assist any Australian businesses to enter the China market,” she says.

“Accurate translation and interpretation are essential to hassle-free, cross-border business. Swanshell has professional translators and interpreters who work in the your best interest and who will interpret not only what is said but also what is meant or may be meant.”

CityNews April 22-28 13

14  CityNews April 22-28

Anzac Day feature

Sunday, April 25

The ways Canberra will remember WHILE 2010 marks the 95th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, Anzac Day services in the capital will commemorate more than just the legendary events of the World War I.

On Sunday, April 25, Canberra will remember all those who have served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations for Australia, some of whom will proudly walk in the 1600-strong march from the bottom of Anzac Parade to the War Memorial.

The Australian War Memorial, in collaboration with the ACT RSL, will host the Dawn Service followed by the Anzac Day parade and National Ceremony.

National Trustee of the RSL and organiser of the Anzac Day March in Canberra, Derek Roylance said while the number of marchers is stagnant crowds have grown.

Mr Roylance said the RSL is encouraging those who have served in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Soloman Islands to march, as these veterans have not been present in earlier parades.

“There are cosmetic changes year-to-year with the special anniversary groups that lead,” Roylance said.

“We’ve always, in Canberra, had the parade jointly lead by Australia and NZ. This year parade commander John King, the president of the ACT RSL, will be accompanied by the defence attache from the NZ High Commission, Air Commodore Peter Port.”

Anzac Day program Dawn Service at the Parade Ground, 5.30am6am. The memorial suggests participants arrive from from 4.30am onwards. The tri-service guard mounted at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier can be inspected 15 minutes after the

service concludes when the commemorative area is opened to the public.

The Hall of Memory will be open during this time, giving visitors the opportunity to lay a poppy.

Breakfast will be held in Anzac Hall, starting at

6.15am and will end at 8.30am. ($39 per person, prepayment required, for bookings call Emily Houghton on 6269 8901).

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commemorative Ceremony: Held at the Aboriginal Memorial plaque on the side of Mount Ainslie at 6.30am. This ceremony remembers indigenous Australians who served in the Australian forces since 1901. It is hosted by members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans and Services Association Australia and is open to the public.

The national Anzac Day ceremony march by Australian veterans of wars and peacekeeping deployments begins at 10.30am. Standing room will be provided on the day and members of the public are welcome to bring chairs or rugs. The memorial will open 15 minutes after the completion of the ceremony, and will remain open until 5pm.

Getting there: There is no parking available on site, the War Memorial advises the public to use the free park-and-ride shuttle service to get to the memorial for the Dawn Service. The ACTION website has information about Anzac Day bus services at www.action.act.gov.au/Anzac_day. html or call ACTION on 131710.

Roads surrounding the memorial will be closed from 4am until about 1pm. These roads include: Limestone Avenue and Treloar Crescent; Fairbairn Avenue and Treloar Crescent; Anzac Parade, from Constitution Avenue to the Memorial; No access from Blamey Crescent and Currong Street on to Anzac Parade.

Toilet facilities are provided by the National Capital Authority and water will be available for all those marching.

The Dawn Service and National Ceremony will take place regardless of weather.

CityNews April 22-28 15

scene

More photos at www.facebook.com/canberracitynews

At the accommodate Canberra cocktail party, Royal Canberra Golf Club, Yarralumla

Hosts Peter and Sue Maloney and Beatrix Nagy

Deborah Hicks, Marianne and Gary Robb with Katie Phelan

John Anderson, Moira Maloney and Dan Maloney

Kumudu and Anoma Ramasundara, Kylie Sutherland with Paul and Debbie Brealey

Cathy Tracey and Mary-Anne Struthers

16  CityNews April 22-28

Caroline Khalil with Pat and Barbara O'Halloran

Zarina and Mohammad Hasan with Mitchell Cox

Paul and Gemma Halliday with Careen Leslie

scene

Invite us at silas@citynews.com.au

At Rotary’s ‘Italian Opera Gala’ launch, Italian embassy

Hal Rossiter, Italian Ambassador Gian Ludovico de Martino di Montegiordano and Stephen Bramah

Alan Hicks and Christina Wilson

Bruce Harvey, Jim Mooney, Camilla de Martino di Montegiordano and Jonathan Lyall

Joseph Cardone and Margaret Atkin

Forlano Pier, Prof Adrian Walter and Gail Lubbock

At the ‘Other Side Art’ opening, Drill Hall Gallery

Antonia Lehn, Geoff Hill and Anita Preiner

Katrina Osborne and Clare Fetherston

Winnie Pelz, John McLeod and Angelika Tyrone

Stan Miller and Karolina Kilian

Gallery director Nancy Sever with artist Trevor Nickolls

CityNews April 22-28 17

scene

More photos at www.facebook.com/canberracitynews

At the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner, National Convention Centre, Civic

At Auto Italia reception, Italian Embassy, Deakin

Barbara Knackstedt, Elizabeth and Mike Taarnby and Michelle Bramston

Graham and Raine Gulson with David and Diana Berthon

Nicole Rogowski, Tracey Murray and Chelsea Van Zyl

John Marshall, Cathy Harding, John Knox, Rohan Richardson, Ayesha Razzaq and David Graham

Des Linehan, Paul McBow, MLA Vicki Dunne and Celeste McBow

18  CityNews April 22-28

Mike Kinniburgh and Chief Minister Jon Stanhope

Stephen Heppenstall and Carol Scott

Michael Costello with Chamber CEO Chris Peters

Tony Hanrahan with Italian ambassador Gian Ludovico de Martino di Montegiordano

MLA Brendan Smyth, Dominique Lalliard and Chamber chairman Brendon Prout

Diane Joseph, Allan White, Lyn Obara and Ron Smith

Karin Glocker, Sam Andrewartha, Peter Ricardo, Stephanie Tully and Toni Friend

Fernando and Barbara Moro

all about arts

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Unfolding an original dance By arts editor Helen Musa ALREADY famous in Australia as the choreographer of Kylie Minogue’s “Showgirl” tour, Rafael Bonachela was yet to make his mark before our audiences when appointed director of the Sydney Dance Company in late 2008.

But no longer. With the STC’s production “We Unfold”, due to hit The Playhouse in the middle of Australian Dance Week (May 3-9), we can now get the measure of his serious work in a box-office hit full of original dance and visual effects in video and costuming by Australian brother-artists David and Jordan Askill.

Bonachela emphasises that he is an artist who works in the medium of movement – “ultimately I make dance”, yet music has always provided the springboard for his work. And this is particularly so in “We Unfold”, which began with a Sunday lunch in London where Bonachela talked composer Ezio Bosso into letting him use his new symphonic composition Symphony No 1, “Oceans”, for cello and orchestra as the basis for a new production about journeying across the sea, not unlike his own journey to a new life in this country.

“This will not be a pantomime about travelling across the sea,” the choreographer explains.

Instead, by staying in tune with the music, it will reveal “a company about to unfold into the future, a blossoming”.

The dance is closely linked to the five movements of Bosso’s symphony. Bonachela has never choreographed to a symphony before, so he is elated by the fact that the STC has already been performing to Bosso’s work, recorded, although the live premiere by the Turin Teatro Regio Orchestra Filarmonica will not take place until May 24.

The first movement, he says, will see the dancers matching the madness and escapism in the music. The second will conjure up the feeling of nostalgia for things left behind in any journey. In the third movement, the dancers create a powerful line in the shape of a heartbeat movement across the middle of the stage. The fourth movement is inspired by the repetitiveness of prayer, as the worshipper-dancers, often down on the floor, confess to God their feelings of loneliness.

Bonachela is not going to tell us much about the fifth movement, except that it really energises him: “It’s what makes me excited when I wake up in the morning.”

“We Unfold”, The Playhouse, May 5-8. Bookings Sydney Dance Company’s “We Unfold”... revealing “a company about to unfold into the future, a blossoming,” says director Rafael Bonachela.

Photo by Tim Richardson 6275 2700.

ARTS IN THE CITY

By Helen Musa

When the air turns Purple NOSTALGIA will be the name of the game when Deep Purple appears at the Royal Theatre on May 1. Yes, these deities of hard rock are back in the country for a national tour. Deep Purple presently comprises vocalist Ian Gillan, guitarist Steve Morse, Ian Paice on drums, Roger Glover on bass and Don Airey on keyboards. Bookings 132 849 or www.ticketek. com.au LANDLOCKED as we are, you don’t normally associate mermaids with the ACT, but Canberra kids are currently being entertained by two stage versions of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid”, one by Tempo at Belconnen Theatre and the other by Free Rain at the Courtyard Studio. Sigh. I do wish our theatre companies would talk to each other. Bookings for both at www.canberraticketing.com.au or to 6275 2700.

MEZZO soprano Angela Giblin and pianist Margaret Legge-Wilkinson plan to sweep audiences away with the passion of Szymanowski’s early post-romantic songs and the delicacy of Debussy’s “Fêtes Galantes II” for Art Song Canberra’s 2010 “Season of Song” (Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, 3pm, May 2). They will also perform a new arrangement of Margaret Legge-Wilkinson’s “The Mountain”, composed to the poetry of former Canberra literary identity, Stephanie Green. Tickets only at the door.

STRATHNAIRN Arts Association’s overseas artist in residence, Parisian ceramicist Roseline Vedrines, is living and working at Strathnairn until late May and, until May 9, has an exhibition of raku-fired work at the Strathnairn Homestead Gallery, Holt, 10am-4.30pm Saturdays and Sundays.

“LOVE Cupboard” by Canberra playwright Emma Gibson is described as “part whimsical fantasy, part comedy and part drama”. It opens the Street Theatre’s initiative “Made in Canberra” (April 29-May 2), a six-month season showcasing new ideas in scriptwriting, music, dance, opera, hybrid work and live performance. Bookings to 6247 1223.

AND photographer Beth Jennings’ exhibition “Leaving Traces” is still at The Front Art Gallery and Café in Lyneham.

CityNews April 22-28 19

arts&entertainment

The underground heroes “Beneath Hill 60” (M)

‘CityNews’ winners CARLA Howman, of Braddon, is the winner of a VIP double pass to Warehouse Festival 2010 valued at $300. Not available for purchase, it includes VIP access to the event, access to a private VIP area (side of stage) and a private bar.

THE three winners of a book of 10 Dendy cinema tickets (valued at $165) are David Jepsen, of Hawker; Xin Yi Tan, of Braddon, and Laura Mitchell, of Gungahlin.

DIRECTOR Jeremy Sims’ admirable film tells how, in preparation for detonating the biggest man-made explosion before the nuclear age, the civilian miners of the 1st Australian Tunneling Company completed and defended a sap underneath a hill near Ypres, occupied

by German troops.

CEW Bean’s official World War I history records the work of this little-known unit.

The daughter of its mining engineer commanding officer, Capt Oliver Woodward (MC and two bars), recently made his diary available, providing writer David Roach with intimate and authentic source material.

Roach’s screenplay mingles military passages that Sims stages with impressive verisimilitude and frankness, with sequences dealing with Woodward and the Queensland grazier family whose daughter Marjorie (Bella Heathcote) he later married.

It’s a good mixture, generally (although not totally) free of dramatic cliché or sentimentality.

Brendan Cowell is impressive as Woodward. Steve Le Marquand as the no-nonsense NCO whom Woodward had to win over and Kenneth Spiteri as the German Babek, whose persistent listening came close to undoing the Australian operation, are both very effective. Chris Haywood, as always, does well as militarily punctilious Col. Rutledge (several members of Bungendore’s pioneer Rutledge family went to that war, including one colonel).

Australians may justifiably feel proud of

CINEMA

By Dougal Macdonald “Beneath Hill 60” for the tunnellers’ military achievement as well as the highly creative accomplishment of its film-makers, large cast and crew. Strategically and tactically, the action was a waste of men and treasure, but war does that.

At all cinemas

is not a film for people who object to having their intelligence insulted by devaluation of fundamental reality to intensify a drama that offers nothing novel, encouraging or of spiritual value.

At all cinemas

“Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky” (MA)

THIS is the second film released in recent months about Coco Chanel’s business and love lives. Which of them may be the better is irrelevant.

“The Book Of Eli” (MA) Jan Kounen’s film begins at the Paris THIS right-wing-Christian futurist acpremiere of “The Rites of Spring” when an tioner could have been a good movie if a audience expecting classical ballet caused a leaden screenplay by Garry Whitta had not riot (the film’s recreation of the occasion is combined with unimaginative direction by rather good fun). brothers Albert and Allen Hughes to drag it After World War I and the communist down to something pedestrian. revolution, Chanel offers Stravinsky, his ailing For at least 30 years since an un-dewife Katya and their children accommodation scribed apocalyptic cataclysm laid waste in her country house. Inevitably, landlady if not to the whole of planet then at least and tenant get contemporaneous carpet to continental America, Afro-American Eli burns. Upstairs, Katya may be blighted by (Denzel Washington), obeying a vision that cancer but she knows what’s going on when came in his sleep, has trudged west carrying the piano stops. the only surviving copy of The Book from Chris Greenhalgh’s adaptation of his own which he reads each night before sleeping. novel, exploring intellectual interaction and Today he is passing through the midillicit passion between two creative high western town governed by Carnegie (Gary flyers, works well. Mads Mikkelsen, the Oldman) whose ruthless henchmen might thinking woman’s lust object when stripped, have been teenagers when the cataclysm is powerful yet restrained as Stravinsky. struck.

Anna Mouglalis delivers Chanel as domineerCarnegie believes The Book contains ing, waspish and not to be crossed. Elena the secret of world domination. Eli has no Morozova is admirable as Katya. intention of letting anybody else see it. This At Dendy

Challenged and embraced MOVEMENT, acting, dance and visual interpretation of soundbites from interviews combine to depict generational and individual opinions on birth, death and everything in between as performers, ranging in age and artistic disciplines, come together in Force Majeure’s “The Age I’m In”.

The focus is on the spoken audio track and only a few lines are actually spoken on stage. It took a little while to warm up to the structure of the performance and the opening dance sequence appeared awkward and lacking purpose. But once warm, it was worth the wait.

Director Kate Champion doesn’t so much challenge our beliefs and stereotypes, but embraced them gently as the elderly rued the behaviour of young people today, and

20 CityNews April 22-28

PERFORMANCE

“The Age I’m In” Force Majeure, director Kate Champion; photography

by William Yang. The Q, Queanbeyan Season closed Reviewed by Samara Purnell children amused us with their imagination and innocence.

The dance sequence between two young lovers, high on drugs, to an electronica soundtrack was a highlight.

The performance invites contemplation about the life, body, challenges, family and relationships and its gentle warmth and humour encompasses the audience and leaves you feeling a little closer to the rest of humanity.

arts&entertainment

Singers win Rotary prizes

By Helen Musa TWO young singers from regional NSW have been the big winners in an unusual collaborative project between the Rotary Club of Canberra, the ANU School of Music, Melbourne Opera and the Italian Embassy.

At a function hosted by the new patron of the Italian Opera Gala, Italian ambassador, Gian Ludovico de Martino di Montegiordano, it was announced that Jazmin Wills, from Woolgoolga High School on the central coast, and Stephanie Phillips, from Shoalhaven Anglican School on the south coast, had won the inaugural Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise Regional Classical Voice Scholarships.

The scholarships will allow them to attend a 10-day program at the ANU from April 29-May 9 that has been specifically designed for young classical vocal students. Applicants had to be in years 11 or 12, from a regional area of NSW and had to be 19 years of age or younger at January 1, 2010.

Rotary Club president Jonathan Lyall said the selection of the students was made by representatives from the School of Music, Rotary and NSW regional conservatoriums and that the scholarships have been funded through last year’s inaugural Italian Opera Gala.

Scholarship Bookings for this year’s Italian winners Opera Gala, to be held at Llewellyn Jazmin Wills Hall on May 8 are open at 132 849 and Stephanie Christina Wilson sings “The Willow Song” from Rossini’s opera “Othello” at the Phillips.

Rotary launch.

Photo by Silas. or www.ticketek.com.au

Craft’s message in a vessel THE 2010 annual Craft ACT’s professional accredited members’ exhibition brief was to produce a vessel sized so as to fit two cupped hands.

The resulting 23 objects are in diverse mediums, including recycled wools, found clay, anodised aluminium, Blackwood crystal, hand-dyed silk, porcelain and stoneware.

All but one have produced essentially literal interpretations of a “vessel”; Sarit Cohen has taken a whimsical approach, creating a stainless steel and rubber whisk inside of which nestles a porcelain egg.

“Epidemic” is another in this year’s fine exhibitions of the work of ACT emerging artists.

In particular, Jen Fullerton has produced an extraordinary series of works, amongst them a

VISUAL ART

Gallery 1: “Epidemic”. Gallery 2: “Vessel”.

Craft ACT, Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Civic, until May 22.

Reviewed by Anni Doyle Wawrzynczak collection of milk cartons titled “Another year in paradise” (watercolour, fine liner, watercolour paper, 2009).

The seamlessly constructed one-litre cartons are exquisitely painted with contemporary Australian domestic architecture overlaid with pictures of extinct Australian animals: the carton’s use-by date reflecting the date on which animals became extinct. The last carton, poignantly white, awaits the next extinction.

review

Remarkable and masterful ‘Lear’ Theatre

“King Lear”

By William Shakespeare; directed by Marion Potts Bell Shakespeare, The Playhouse, until May 1 Reviewed by Joe Woodward BELL Shakespeare’s production of “King Lear’ is remarkable.

With only a few days’ notice, Yalin Ozucelik had to take on the demanding role of Edgar to replace Josh McConville, who was injured. George Banders was then flown in to play Oswald with only hours notice.

The fact that their performances were integrated so well into such a superbly crafted production is testimony to the very real strength of the company.

This strength is evident in the symbiotic relationship developed between Lear (John Bell) and the Fool (Peter Carroll). Carroll provided an outstanding “character” performance that demonstrated the true power of the actor as an artist. The creative partnership between these two icons of theatre is enough to stamp the production as a seminal contribution to contemporary cultural expression.

Marion Potts’ insightful direction allowed the actors to reveal the depths and mysteries of Shakespeare’s masterpiece – it was a seamless and clear-lined work without clutter. The actors took charge and played with a sense of joy and purpose. Seeing Lear weakening while between the vengeful bargaining of his daughters, Goneril (Jane Montgomery Griffiths) and Regan (Leah Purcell) was a masterful stroke of direction. Griffiths’ sudden switch from charm to venom in a single word was enough to alight the worst fears of the old man.

The music, by Bree van Reyke, provided the necessary undercurrents to effectively support the tensions in the story. However, at times the balance of the voices and the music needed some adjustment.

Nancy Tingey’s “Bird Net Nest”.

CityNews April 22-28 21

arts&entertainment

Art of the Golden Dragon DINING

By Wendy Johnson THE latest new restaurant to open in Manuka, where the dining scene these days seems to be constantly chopping and changing, is The Golden Dragon, which describes its point of difference as “fine dining and live seafood”.

There are several, large tanks in the middle of the front end of the restaurant and there can be no doubt that the seafood is fresh.

The promise of “fine dining” is not so clear cut. The menu is a step above your run-of-the-mill Chinese restaurant, but the operation is not what I would call fine dining. White table cloths, for sure, and designer chopsticks carefully lined up beside snow-white, contemporary tableware, but the lights at the front of the restaurant are too bright and the “ambience” isn’t quite there yet. The paper serviettes don’t help and the front door desperately needs fixing – we listened to it slam shut over and over during our visit as people moved in and out and shuddered at the blast of cold air that crept in every time.

But let’s get on to the food. The menu, which owner Robert Wong describes as a “traditional and contemporary interpretation of fine Asian cuisine”, is divided into several sections with some interesting dishes – so interesting we scratched our heads over what to order.

The Golden Dragon... a “traditional and contemporary interpretation of fine Asian cuisine”, says owner Robert Wong.

Photos by Silas Entrées kickstart matters and then you can order from the “Best of the best”, “House specials”, hot pots and so on. Robert is from Malaysia and started cooking up a storm around 20 years ago in Dickson.

The spring rolls ($8.80 for two) were lovely and the dainty Siew Mai (steamed pork and prawn dim sim) tasted fine, but were cold on arrival ($7.50 for four).

The menu says The Golden Dragon makes “the best” Mongolian lamb and we had to agree it was right up there, and a generous portion for the price ($15.80). The meat was tender and the sauce intense and bold.

The Peking dry chilli beef was our next favourite dish, with interesting flavours and crispy as promised, but the three of us agreed it was not a wow-factor dish

($15.80). The salt and pepper King prawns were huge and the presentation was impressive – a feast for the eyes. They were tossed in spicy salt in their shells ($21.50).

We wanted more spice and more of a salty experience, however.

Vegetarians may not feel entirely comfortable at The Golden Dragon. The odd dish would suit, but that’s about it. We thought the wine list was decent enough – small, but interesting and well priced.

The menu, when you first open it, tells you that “Eating is life. Eating is art”. I agree, but please fix the front door.

The Golden Dragon, Franklin Street, Manuka. Open seven days, lunch and dinner.

Call 6295 8863 or 6239 4789.

The brilliance of exciting ‘Bliss’ ONLY time, and a few more productions, will tell if “Bliss” is a great opera, but there is no doubt that Opera Australia’s premiere production is an exciting one.

With significant assistance from Brian Thomson’s LED-studded setting, complete with revolving turntable, Neil Armfield has devised a brilliant production which swirls through Peter Carey’s surreal story of Harry Joy, the managing director of an advertising agency, whose mid-life crisis sees him end up in an asylum, allowing his ambitious wife Betty to take over the business with catastrophic results. It’s a production which intrigues, fascinates and disturbs.

Stunningly orchestrated, Brett Dean’s music is given a detailed performance by conductor Elgar Howarth, and though it took a little while to get used to hearing Australian vernacular sung out loud, Amanda Holden’s libretto is remarkably successful.

There are confronting scenes and marvellous performances. Peter Coleman-Wright is superb as Harry Joy, a role written specially for him. He creates a flawed 22 CityNews April 22-28

OPERA

“Bliss” Opera Australia, at the Victorian Arts Centre until May 1.

Reviewed by Bill Stephens

but believable Everyman so compellingly that I felt slightly impatient when the focus of the opera moved to the plight of his wife Betty, despite an arresting portrayal by Merlyn Quaife.

Former Canberra soprano Lorina Gore is superb as Honey B, Harry’s call-girl lover.

She brings warmth and charm to a vocally dazzling role.

David Corcoran and Taryn Fiebig also find unexpected depth in their roles as Harry’s two wretched children.

The reviewer saw the production during its Sydney Opera House season.

Mother’s Day

Big day with an interesting history

Sunday May 9

Australia celebrates Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 9. Here we look at some of the historical theories and facts behind the important day we pay tribute to the role of mothers.

MOTHER’S Day festivities can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, wife of Cronus and the mother of all gods and goddesses.

The ancient Romans celebrated Hilaria, a three-day festival in honour of Cybele, another mother goddess.

During the 1600s, early Christians celebrated the Virgin Mary, mother of Christ, during the festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

When the holiday was expanded to include all mothers in England, it became known as Mothering Sunday. During this time many of the England’s poor worked as servants for the wealthy. As most jobs were located far from their homes, the servants would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday, the servants would have the day off and were encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers.

embarked upon a campaign to make “Mother’s Day” a recognised holiday. She succeeded in making this nationally recognised in 1914. It is said she was very specific about the location of the apostrophe in the spelling; it was to be a singular possessive, for each family to honour their mother.

Anna spent her family’s inheritance lobbying against the commercialisation of the day in the 1920s and died unmarried and in poverty.

She used to publicly express her desire that some day all children would honour and show more respect to their mothers, living and dead, and pay tribute to the contributions made by them.

The location of the apostrophe in the spelling... was to be a singular possessive, for each family to honour their mother.

Mother’s Day as we know it today, celebrated in Australia, the US and other countries around the world at different times of the year, has quite a recent history.

Anna Jarvis is generally credited as the founder of Mother’s Day, inspired by her own mother.

On May 12, 1907, two years after her mother’s death, she held a memorial to her mother and thereafter

CityNews April 22-28 23

your week in the stars With Joanne Madeline Moore April 26 - May 2 ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20) The Full Moon stimulates your intimacy zone, so it’s time to snuggle up with someone special. Single Rams – if you come on too strong, you’ll scare potential partners away. At the moment, slow and steady wins the romantic race. Don’t jump to half-baked conclusions on Sunday – make sure you find out the full facts first.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20) Taureans are fabulous flirters and this week, with the Full Moon activating your relationship zone, you’ll give those charisma muscles a workout as you radiate your sensual charms far and wide. Want more love and success in your life? Flutter those eyelashes (or flex those Bullish biceps) and you shall receive!

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21) Twins are rarely short of inspiring ideas and are masters at multi-tasking, but you can have trouble seeing projects through to a successful completion. With Mercury moving backwards (until May 12) it’s time to revise and re-do, plus complete unfinished projects and tie up loose ends. No excuses Gemini – what are you waiting for?

CANCER (June 22 – July 22) Pace yourself Cancer. If you can, avoid making important decisions as you’re liable to make choices based purely on your emotions, which are fluctuating wildly under this week’s full moonbeams. Your intuition is switched on big time, as you tune into those around you and uncover important information that others miss.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22) It’s not the best time to host a jolly family reunion or bring up sensitive childhood issues. The Full Moon falls in your home zone so be on domestic drama alert. Confiscate all sharp implements and choose your words carefully, as loved ones are liable to make mountains out of molehills. Creative communication is the catch-cry at work.

general knowledge crossword No. 258 ACROSS 4 What is a particular flavoured ice cream?

7 To be suave or stylish is to be what?

8 Which fraction is the total of two sixteenths?

9 One who has received a university degree is a what?

11 What are demands, by applause, for a repetition of a song or the like?

13 Name a major part of speech such as I, you, he, she, etc.

15 To fail to pay attention is to do what?

17 What is a written acknowledgment of having received money?

20 Which tablets are used to relieve some pains?

23 What is a three-legged stand?

24 What are reconditioned motorvehicle tyres?

25 Name the alloy consisting of copper and tin.

DOWN 1 One who inherits something is called a what?

1

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23) Have you been shopping up a storm when you should have been saving or paying off debt? If the answer is ‘yes’ then you can expect financial fiascos, as the Full Moon stirs up your money zone. Your motto for the moment is from Bertrand Russell: “To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)

2

Solution next week

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VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22) Villa Virgo is usually a place where efficiency reigns, routine is revered and surprises are unwelcome. This week you’ll find that life’s complicated, partnerships are unpredictable and the rules are constantly changing, as relationship difficulties (that weren’t resolved last September) come back to test you.

2 What is a ribbon worn diagonally across the breast as a badge of knightly order?

3 Name another term for magma.

4 Which colour lies between yellow and blue in the spectrum?

5 What is a large body of armed soldiers?

6 What is a distinguishing name of a book or such?

9 Name a western North American ground squirrel.

10 Those who hold houses and the like for rent, are called what?

12 What are sets of furniture of similar design?

14 What is an instrument for use in combat, war, etc?

16 Name an alternative word for a pantry?

18 What is a deviation from accuracy?

19 A military chaplain is known as a what?

21 Name the soft, spongy lining of the rind of oranges.

22 To be unclothed is to be what?

14 17

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Sudoku medium No.30

Solution next week

Things will be pretty full-on at Casa Scorpio this week as the annual Full Moon (in your sign) increases your magnetism – and your tendency to brooding, obsessive behaviour. So you’ll need to find appropriate ways to let off steam and challenging projects to channel all your intense energy into. Resist the urge to be sarcastic.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21) A Full Moon doesn’t usually throw you! You love the rush of energy it brings so use it to shine a spotlight on your hidden strengths and secret dreams for the future. You’ll hear some startling news this week that will make your ears burn but think twice before you pass it on.

Focus on bringing professional projects to a successful conclusion.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19) Saturn and Uranus are opposite each other again this week – the last time was back in September. Concentrate on the things that are working in your life and do all you can to solidify them, but don’t get stuck in a comfy Capricorn rut. People, attitudes and habits that have passed their used-by date will definitely have to go.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) There’s a tug of war continuing between Saturn (planet of the status quo) and Uranus (planet of change). You’re feeling super restless but don’t go overboard and throw the baby out with the bathwater. The Full Moon will also imbue you with a sense of urgency but gradual, structured modifications are what’s needed at the moment.

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20) It’s time to channel the intrepid explorer within and plan a weekend escape or overseas getaway (where you can be close to water and commune with nature). On Friday, don’t let a so-called friend lead you up the primrose path to Piscean trouble. If your inner voice tells you someone is not the real deal, make sure you listen!

24 CityNews April 22-28

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2010.

Solution Crossword No.257 S L A V E S A O T B R E W E R V E A B A L L O T A E M G E M P L O Y E I W A Y F A R D T E F O R E B E W D F

C D R A P E Z S L L T R U I X A S T E R H I E E G A V I A E R N E N D O A R I S N A I

V E S S S M E L Y

R Y O W S E L S

Solution Sudoku hard No.29

CityNews April 22-28  25

26  CityNews April 22-28

CityNews April 22-28  27

28  CityNews April 22-28

CityNews April 22-28  29

30  CityNews April 22-28

CityNews April 22-28  31

32  CityNews April 22-28