CityNews July 29-August 4
news
Time to grow up, says Lin ON their 21st birthdays Australians are typically thrown a party. The celebrations are often childish, but by and large it is accepted that at 21 you are all grown up and ready to make your own decisions. Greens Senate Candidate for the ACT Lin Hatfield Dodds thinks that after 21 years of selfgovernment the ACT is big enough, old enough and ugly enough to make its own decisions and wants to overthrow the Commonwealth’s right to veto Assembly legislation if it doesn’t like it. “I think the ACT’s come of age in terms of Governance and it came of age quite awhile ago,” Hatfield Dodds said. “We’ve been electing ‘State’ governments in the Territory for well over two decades and it’s time the Territory had the capacity to make and enact into being its own laws and its own legislation.” The Commonwealth has vetoed legislation only twice, in 1997 over the “Medical Treatment (Amendment) Act” (legalising voluntary euthanasia) and in 2006 over the “Civil Unions Act”. In 2006, ACT Liberal Senator Gary Humphries crossed the floor, voting against his party to show support of the Territory’s right to make its own decisions, but he says it is impossible for anyone to overthrow the Commonwealth veto. “The Commonwealth might be able to delegate that power, it can’t give it away,” Humphries told the “CityNews”. “Disagreeing with the way it’s used doesn’t mean I can stop it being used any more than Lin Hatfield Dodds can. “This particular promise by the Greens is another illustration of how unreal their approach
INDEX July 29-August 4, 2010
Since 1993: Volume 16, Number 30
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FRONT COVER: Lone sailor Jessica Watson. Story this page.
Isn’t 21 old enough to make your own decisions? Two out of three ACT Senate candidates seem to think so, writes ELERI HARRIS
Kate Lundy...
It’s fair and right.
Lin Hatfield Dodds...
It’s time. Gary Humphries...
It’s just a stunt.
is to issues facing Canberra. I think what she’s talking about is futile and really just a stunt.” But Labor Senator Kate Lundy supports the ACT’s right to legislate free of veto and says if the Greens’ Bill got up she would argue for it in the Labor caucus.
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“My approach has been to lobby my colleagues not to use the right to veto and not legislate to remove it. I would argue within my party that it would be reasonable, it’s certainly the position of the ACT Labor,” she said. “My personal view is that we ought to have a stronger level of independence. I think that’s fair and right: after 21 years of self government that’s not an unreasonable request.” While Hatfield Dodds agrees that it is a complicated issue, she says resistance to Commonwealth big brother is not futile and is making the Commonwealth veto one of her campaign issues in the upcoming Federal election. “The veto issue is tricky. There is a section in the constitution that has the veto powers enshrined in it, but in the ACT’s Self-Government Act, there’s powers there that enshrine the executive of the Federal Parliament can override our Act as well. So the Greens have a Bill that [leader Bob Brown’s] been trying to introduce into the Senate for a while that would actually take away the ministerial and prime ministerial powers to veto, but leave the ones in the constitution. “What we’re saying as a party is if either the NT or the ACT enact law in a properly constituted way, we would not stand in those laws’ way when they’re going through the upper house, whether or not they’re Green policy. For us the principle that governments are able to be self-determining is a very important one.”
MICHAEL MOORE: Pop polling destroys principles, Page 4
cover story
Jessica sails into town LONE, record-breaking, teenage sailor Jessica Watson will sail into Canberra on Wednesday, August 4, to meet and greet fans. The self-styled “ordinary girl”, who this year became the youngest person to sail non-stop unassisted around the world, will be at Dymocks, Canberra Centre at lunchtime to sign copies of her book, “True Spirit”. She left from Sydney Harbour on October 18, sailing east on “Ella’s Pink Lady” across the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. She returned on May 15, 2010, three days before her 17th birthday, to be greeted by a huge crowd that included former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. In “True Spirit”, Jessica talks about how she and her team prepared for the voyage and the battles she fought along the way during the journey; the sleep deprivation, gale-force winds, mountainous seas and, of course, solitude. “Somewhere along the way I learnt that if you truly want to live life, you have to get involved, pursue your passions and dream big,” she writes. Jessica’s journey covered more than 24,000 nautical miles in seven months. She suffered six knockdowns (when the mast goes underwater) during the trip, including four during one particularly bad storm off the Falkland Islands with 70-knot winds and 10m waves. More information on www.dymocks. com.au or call Dymocks Canberra on 6257 5057.
Jessica Watson... “If you truly want to live life, you have to get involved, pursue your passions and dream big.”
CityNews July 29-August 4
politics
Pop polling destroys principles CAN you remember back to when political parties stood for matters of principle? You know the sort of thing – Labor stood up for the workers, while the conservatives wanted to be fiscally tight, minimise taxation and look after business. At election time they went to the people to get a mandate. Now there is party polling and then there are the focus groups. Polling makes it so hard for political parties – you just have to feel for them. It is no longer good enough to develop policies, show leadership by persuading people of the importance of those policies, and then employ evidence and persuasion to win an election. The new approach is to find out what people are thinking – doesn’t matter if policies and principles need to be modified – and then to promise to deliver it. With recent improvements in polling and focus-group techniques, the party machines have become adept at finding out what people are thinking, especially at tapping into their biases and prejudices. The challenge for the parties is to deliver the populist view while appearing different from their opponents. When challenged their response is that they are listening and are tuned into the people, to the electorate or to their constituents. There is nothing new about the stupidity of getting politically too far in front with policies or ideas. In this way the party machines are Machiavellian.
CityNews July 29-August 4
There was a time when it was easy to distinguish between the political parties, says MICHAEL MOORE
In 1513 Machiavelli described such political challenges in “The Prince”: “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things”. Even more Machiavellian is the focus on marginal seats. Such manipulation becomes even more important because it is where elections are won or lost.
Just next door to Canberra is the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro. Guess where most polling and most of the focus-group efforts take place in this region? Some of the blame can be laid at the feet of former Liberal leader John Hewson. While others were reading Machiavelli, he was reading economics. When he failed in his bid to challenge Labor for government in the 1993
Federal election he did so by declaring that he would be responsible for taxation reform and would introduce a 10 per cent goods and services tax. His failure at an election, when he was upfront with the community, honest in his approach and open in his goals seems to have frightened majorparty politicians. Since then, neither side has ever brought such admirable characteristics to an election. Instead, they feed us a diet on most of the major issues which is ever harder to distinguish between the parties. Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s dive in popularity may, in part, be attributed to his failure to stand strong and upright on climate change. Giving up leadership on “the greatest moral, economic and environmental challenge of our generation” was simply a disaster for him. Ironically, when Malcolm Turnbull was standing up and showing leadership for what he believed on the same issue he was also dumped. Both leaders gone over the same issue – one for standing up on principle and one for not! Politics is invariably a balancing act between naivety and practicality. At present, it is safer for the parties to listen to Machiavelli and avoid the pitfalls of real leadership. In the end, it seems that populist polling simply pisses on principles. Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health in the Carnell government.
briefly Mike’s up again
2CC’s “Drive Show” host Mike Welsh is again a finalist in the Best Talk Presenter (Provincial) at the 2010 Australian Commercial Radio awards. He has won the award for the past three years. His producer Monica Masters is a finalist for the Best Talk Show Producer (Provincial) against the station’s breakfast show producer, Matt Mitchell. The winners are announced in October in Melbourne.
Running for life
LYNDELL Kazar has managed to convince staff from accountants KazarSlaven and members of the Canberra business community, plus runners from Goulburn, to participate in the City-to-Surf run in Sydney on August 8. The team will wear the Gift of Life and Donate Life livery to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation. Details to join the event are at www.giftoflife. asn.au
Soccer dinner
THE Weston Creek Soccer Club is holding a 40th anniversary “Black & White” gala dinner dance at the Hellenic Club, Woden on Saturday, August 7. Dress is formal, the cost is $55 per ticket (including a threecourse meal and a drink) and the entertainment is by Annie and the Armadillos. Tickets from www.westoncreeksoccer.org.au
news
Scholarship silver bullet misses student target THE ACT Government’s Bonded GP Scholarship Scheme has hit a road block, with the ANU dean of medicine Prof Nicholas Glasgow admitting that students have raised significant issues with key aspects of our health care system’s scholarship-sized silver bullet. The scheme was designed to help the ACT secure the 75 extra GPs the Territory needs to adequately service the population. In exchange for two $15,000 cash installments over their fourth and fifth years, the 10 ANU medical students annually awarded the scholarships would commit to a three-year contract of employment in the ACT following graduation. The first round of scholarships were meant to be dealt out at the start of this financial year, but have been pushed back to an as-yet-undetermined date, with students suggesting this is because the scheme just doesn’t appeal to them. “We are still continuing with the initial round of applicants,” Glasgow said.
ANU medical students appear to be turning their noses up at an ACT Government scholarship, reports ELERI HARRIS “As with any new process we are making sure we got it all right. “Students had raised issues like taxation, the impact of benefits they get. Students are interested, but they’re being asked to sign a contract about future work obligations with serious implications if they change their mind.” ANU medical students have flagged the taxable nature of the scholarship as a key issue. As it stands now, the scholarship funds would count as income to Centrelink and immediately reduce entitlements by up to $7000, meaning the students would actually receive half of the scholarship. ACT Greens Health spokesperson Amanda Bresnan supports the idea of the scheme, but says it clearly needs work to be viable.
“My first thought was surprise that ACT Health didn’t do their work on this,” Bresnan said. “If you’re researching this, income is something you should look at and that they hadn’t talked to Federal agencies about this is very surprising. “Now there needs to be some serious discussions at a ministerial level, otherwise this program isn’t going to work.” Liberal Health spokesperson Jeremy Hanson says the scheme is just another example of the ACT Government’s failure to address the critical GP shortage in Canberra. “It’s a continuing failure by Katy Gallagher and the Labor Government to address the crisis of GP numbers we have in the ACT,” Hanson said. “The Government has done nothing in the last 10 years.
Meal deal helps the hungry By Shereen Charles
BY December, one million plates of food will be placed on the tables of the less fortunate in Asia Pacific, if Canberra’s Zambrero Fresh Mex Grill chain owner and philanthropist Dr Sam Price has his way. The new “Plate for Plate” program, which begins in August, is in line with Zambrero’s core value of being global citizens and to encourage its patrons to think about issues outside Australia, Dr Price said. Every time a Zambrero patron buys a meal they automatically put a plate of food in front of someone in the developing world. “We just felt that a lot of our patrons basically thought like global citizens, however there wasn’t any direct way to actually help people. ‘Plate for Plate’ allows them to see exactly how they are contributing,” he told “CityNews”. What sets “Plate for Plate” apart from other forms of donation is that there are no “hidden costs”. “The fact is that as a patron of Zambrero, you don’t have to pay anything extra to do something. It’s almost as though it’s a two-for-one here every day,” he said. “This is something we take out of our costs to make sure it happens.” At the end of each business day at Zambrero, the number of plates of food served will be tallied, and that figure will correlate to the donation made. Dr Price is no stranger to humanitarian efforts. In 2003, he founded the emagine Founda-
“This is policy on the run that isn’t going to make any tangible difference if students aren’t going to take it up. And you have to wonder why that is, we know there are issues with Centrelink payments, but also support for GPs in this town. The Government has an appalling attitude to supporting GPs. “It’s very disappointing, not only for the students, but for the community for the Government’s failure to implement a program that should be simple. “You would expect with the fanfare of the announcement, the program would be ready to be implemented and should have been properly planned. “They’re very good on spin, but when it comes to the practical implementation they’re found wanting.” Despite repeated calls over days to ACT Health Minister Katy Gallagher’s office, no response was forthcoming before the “CityNews” deadline.
briefly Valuing antiques “WHAT’S it Worth”, Canberra’s own “Antique Roadshow”, will be on again at the Albert Hall, 10am-4pm on Sunday, August 1. There will be a contingent of 15 local and interstate valuers providing estimates in categories including art, porcelain, glass, banknotes and coins, gems, jewellery, stamps, toys/collectables and wine. Entry is $5 and $5 per item valued. Funds raised go to local and international community service projects by Rotary. For more information email whatsitworth@emailme.com.au
Green expo
Zambrero’s Dr Sam Price... “As a patron, you don’t have to pay anything extra to do something.” Photo by Silas tion, a non-profit organisation that provides information technology infrastructure to rural and remote areas in developing nations. Zambrero has been funding the work of the emagine Foundation on a project-by-project basis where all funds raised through the projects go directly to the foundation. While emagine and its projects focus more on long-term solutions to the problems faced in de-
veloping countries, Dr Price says that “Plate for Plate” takes a more immediate approach. “The concept of the ‘Plate for Plate’ program is more of relief work, so it’s not a sustainable answer as is the other two arms of the emagine Foundation, being education and healthcare. It’s just something that’s needed because two-thirds of our world’s poverty lives in the Asia Pacific region, and they are hungry,” he said.
EVATT Primary School is staging an environmental expo and fete on Saturday, August 28, 10am-3pm. Funds raised will be used for extra education and sporting resources. The school, in Heydon Crescent, Evatt, is “Waste Wise & Water Wise” and has 51 solar panels installed on its new building. In addition to its environmental showcase, the fete will feature traditional amusements, games, raffles, cake stall, hot food and coffee stalls.
Photography treat
PIONEER of Australian panoramic landscape photographer Ken Duncan will tell the story of his life behind the camera with a 45minute audio-visual presentation at a dinner at The Auditorium, Vikings Club, Erindale, on Saturday, July 31 in aid of the Salvation Army. Tickets are available at 6121 2131, or the Salvation Army on 6293 3262.
CityNews July 29-August 4
mum in the city
When raising kids becomes a health hazard! RAISING kids can involve some serious occupational health and safety issues. The other day I was multitasking to the max – nothing unusual in our house. I was simultaneously cooking dinner, loading the dishwasher, cycling over the washing and drying and helping my son draw a diagram showing how satellites relay mobile phone signals (thank God for Google!). Amidst all of this, I made the mistake of tastetesting some way-too-hot beef stroganoff. Unfortunately, as I shot over to the kitchen sink to get a glass of water, I discovered the massive spill of olive oil that one of the children had failed to tell me about. I slid (dorky Mr Bean-style) across the tiles and the stroganoff went the wrong way down
By Sonya Fladun my throat. As I lay flat on my back, gasping like a half-dead fish on a river bank, I reflected on the frequent occurrence of such dangerous incidents of late. From falling over bikes, school bags, skates and a particularly painful incident involving a remote-control robot, to getting diecast planes and bits of Lego wedged in the soles of my feet; they all had one thing in common – the children were involved. Hopefully, my kids aren’t actively working on my early demise. They just get distracted and leave whatever project they’re doing behind
when they move on to the next thing. But is picking up for them the answer? You do momentarily bring order to their chaos, but you’re not teaching them to clean up after themselves. I know this firsthand because there is some karma at work here. I was a very untidy child and a messy teenager with a totally overachieving mum who always came to my rescue when the great mass of clothes on my bedroom floor became just too scary. It’s only as an adult I learnt the art of tidying up. Anyway, a friend offered some timely advice. She makes tidying and cleaning fun for her children – no small achievement in my book. She sets an alarm clock and gives the children a room apiece. The kids get half an hour to tidy up
their designated room and the person with the best room gets a treat. I gave it a go the other day with our children’s chaotic bedrooms and, sure enough, both were enthused and the rooms were spotless. But then I made the mistake of opening one of their wardrobes, whereupon an avalanche of debris that had been hastily stashed came crashing down on me. So it’s not the perfect solution. And it doesn’t solve the problem of undisclosed oil leaks on kitchen floors because “we just forgot to tell you, Mum” and, of course, their rooms soon returned to their usual disaster-area status. But for a little while they were so proud of themselves and their tidy rooms, and I figure that’s probably a pretty good start.
Here comes the super trolley Jus for the the gadfly
A TROLLEY that flashes up store specials and lets shoppers keep track of how much they’re spending, will be launched at a supermarket at Hawker on August 6. Supa IGA Hawker customers will be the first Australians to have access to the technology, which has already undergone a trial period at the supermarket. John Krnc, spokesman for the Krnc family, which owns the store, says the trolleys feature a computer screen on the nose and a control panel on the handle. Relevant store specials appear on the screen as shoppers walk down each aisle. Items can also be scanned as they go along, allowing shoppers to view a running tally of the cost of their shop. “Based on the US trials and early feedback, we believe that Australians will embrace the technology as it makes their life easier by saving money and time,” John says. “Shoppers there would wait in line if a VIP Trolley wasn’t available – they had become so used to having their shopping list available on the screen and scanning products as they shopped!” John says it will be easier for customers
CityNews July 29-August 4
fun of it!
The VIP Trolley... Hawker shoppers will be the first in Australia to use them. to stick to pre-written shopping lists. “You could create a list and give it to someone else to do the shop for you. It would have
everything you need and, as it appears in aisle order, as each item is scanned, it ticks it off the list.”
By Robert “Masterchef” Macklin THANK God it’s over. I speak, of course, of “MasterChef”, the reality television phenomenon that for some of us came far too close to reality itself. You see, I’m the “babbling brook” at our place; have been for the last few years while writing full-time. It’s no hardship. In fact, I quite enjoy planning the menu, shopping among friends at Cooleman Court and taking my time over the preparation each evening. Or I did till “MasterChef” came along. The change occurred slowly. At first my dear wife and I would chuckle over the foul-ups as Alvin or Luke went haywire (or Jimmy did yet another curry). And when they were doing an elimination test, we’d shout: “No, they’re chestnuts!” or, “It’s saffron, saffron!” with the rest of the country. But then, when I dished up my latest creation of stew a la mode I’d notice a quizzical look. “What?” “It’s not really plated, is it?” “Plated?” So soon I stopped “dishing up” and started “plating”. Didn’t mind. Not really. But then when I put up a perfectly “plated” steak, she said: “No jus?” “Orange? Pineapple?” “No. Jus!” Next night we had lamb cutlets and jus. Not bad, either. The next week, when I was planning a feast of rissoles, she suddenly announced: “It’s a pressure test. The Fotheringales are coming; they’ll be here in 40 minutes.” “But there’s eight of them and they’re vegetarians.” “So, go to it,” she said, sounding suspiciously like George. “You’ve got 35 minutes left!” Ahhh!! The following week was even worse. One morning, just when I thought she’d settled down and would appreciate an old favourite – corned beef and carrots – she said: “Guess what?” “Oh no.” “Rupert and Tiffany are coming over tonight.” “Not Rupert, the king of the pumpkin scone?” “That’s the one,” she said. “You’re going head-to-head. If you win, you get immunity for a week.” “Bring it on,” I said. “Piece of cake.” Ah, if only... my batch was more like a piece of rock. The ladies oohed and aahed over Rupert’s effort. “It’s the texture,” said Tiffany. “Oh, and the flavours,” said my traitorous spouse. “You can’t beat those flavours.” There was a moment when I had the awful feeling I was about to be shown the door, my time in the house over forever. I did, however, have one last trick up my sleeve. Next day I said: “If you’d prefer, you can always take over yourself.” “Oh no,” she replied. “I think my job here is done.” No idea what she meant. Anyway, tonight we’re having zucchini flowers filled with minted ricotta and almond gazpacho followed by a coffee brulée with just a touch of Grand Marnier jus...
CityNews July 29-August 4
news
sport
Raining rats and mice By Megan Haggan THE ACT has more rats and mice roaming about than usual this year, says pest control expert Rob Short – with numbers increasing by up to 30 per cent. “We’ve had a big increase in particularly commercial work compared to other years,” Rob told “CityNews”. His company has installed hundreds more “rodent stations” – hard plastic installations which contain a chemical toxic to rats and mice, and are fitted to external areas – than usual this winter, he says, “to cope with such a big influx.” Due to heavy rains in autumn,
CityNews July 29-August 4
Push the Kanga magic
Football Federation Australia should include footage of the Kanga Cup in Canberra as part of its bid for the 2022 World Cup, says TIM GAVEL
Rats ahoy... Photographer Silas Brown caught this picture of a swimming rat in Belconnen.
insect life, grasses and seeds in the region increased, Rob says, which meant more food for rats and mice. “They’re scavengers. So when their food sources increase, their population goes up as well. “We’ve had rodents come from parks and waterways into buildings. Ideally, we want to intercept them before they get in. “Unfortunately, buildings have a lot of little holes and gaps. Basically, if you can fit your finger into a gap, a rat or mouse can get into the building through that gap. “Once they’re in the roof cavity they chew on absolutely
everything – like wires, which is of course pretty hazardous. They also carry diseases.” Once rodents move in, they can be difficult to eradicate, Rob says. “The problem with baits is that they won’t always kill a mouse. And rats and mice are actually pretty smart – if they get sick from eating something, they’re not likely to go back again. So you have to make sure that whatever you do works.”
Keeping vermin at bay
• Trim overhanging trees and plants to no closer than two feet from the roof, attic, vents, eaves and utility wires. • Keep compost bins sealed. • Elevate items stored outdoors, as well as woodpiles, to at least 45cm above the ground, and 30cm from walls and fences. • Remove animal droppings. • Close all openings larger than 5mm around exterior and interior walls. • Seal gaps around pipes entering walls with hardware screen, or fill gaps. • Weather strip exterior doors. • Don’t leave pet food out overnight. • Store dry food and goods in containers with tight lids.
AS the past has shown, it’s easy to construct stadiums if you have the money, but it’s difficult to create the social benefits that are so evident with our own Kanga Cup. This past week, the five-person FIFA delegation inspected stadiums and facilities to be activated if the Australian bid for the 2022 World Cup is successful. Any country, with government support, is capable of building stadiums even if it means creating a lifetime of debt. Costs associated with redeveloping and building 10 stadiums suitable for the World Cup have blown out to $3.5 billion. When South Africa originally won the bid in 2004 the cost was estimated to be $300 million. There does need to be more to a bid than simply the promise of bricks and mortar. This is why the FIFA delegation should be looking at other aspects to the sport in Australia, such as spending a Saturday morning in any city or town around the country watching junior soccer. To me, that should be the essence of the Australian bid, not who can build the biggest stadium. If they had only come to Canberra a couple of weeks ago. The Kanga Cup, which has emerged into one of the biggest youth football tournaments in the world, is a perfect example of the growth in the sport at
the grassroots. It showcased soccer at this level in the best-possible fashion. The match officials were professional; from my observations there were very few, if any, disputes over decisions and spectator unrest was almost non-existent. The matches started and finished on time. At the end of one game I was watching, the parents supporting a rival Sydney team shook hands with parents from a local Canberra team after the match was decided by a penalty shootout. I have a theory that if players and spectators believe that officials have control of the game and there is an even-handed approach it keeps dissent at bay. I have just had a look at the Football Federation Australia’s “Come Play” bid brochure and there is a reference to soccer’s growing popularity in Australia with grassroots participation going through the roof, sports sponsorship and ever-increasing television viewers, but no specific reference to the Kanga Cup! This event should not only be highlighted because it has remained true to the fundamentals of sport; it’s not just about winning, it’s about how you play the game, how you can enjoy your sport in a competitive environment and how you can learn through being around other people with a common interest.
just for fun
The Wordle on Canberra
OVER recent weeks “CityNews” via Twitter has been collecting tweets with the hashtag #ILikethisaboutCan to find out what the Canberra Twitterati appreciate about our nation’s capital. More than 100 tweets have delivered a significant body of data and we plugged it into online word art creator “Wordle”. This is the surprising result, with the words
appearing larger the number of times it was tweeted. For those not living their lives on the interwebs, “wonk” is a term used to describe political geeks, “tubular snack food” includes burritos, subway-style sandwiches and kebabs and the “Phoenix” is a pub in Civic. –Eleri Harris
The face of art success
10 CityNews July 29-August 4
THIS is this year’s $10,000 National Youth Self-Portrait Prize, a double-headed digital photograph titled “masculine/feminine”, by 25-year-old Sydney artist Bridget Mac in which she digitally manipulated two photographs of her own face to hint at two different genders. A project of the National Portrait Gallery, supported by the Tallis Foundation and the Association of Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Societies, the competition is now in its third year and saw 230 portraits entered by artists aged 18 to 25. Among the 14 short-listed works in many media were oil paintings “Karmel” by ACT artist Robbie Karmel and “A portrait of the sandwich artist as a young man” by Joel Arthur, also from the ACT, as well as “Self,” an animated short film by former Canberran Sarah Firth.
All finalists’ entries will be exhibited at the Portrait Gallery until September 12.
–Helen Musa
CityNews July 29-August 4 11
Monarch Building Solutions
■ MBA House of the Year
■ Custom Built Home ($600,000-$1m)
Winning house of the year MONARCH Building Solutions’ display home in Yarralumla has just won three of the Master Builders Association of the ACT’s prestigious building awards. It is very different to the average display home, setting a new benchmark for environmental sustainability and innovation and was awarded House of the Year, Display Home of the Year (more than $300,000) and Custom Built Home ($600,000-$1 million). “We won the awards for our workmanship – it’s everything to do with how we brought together a range of materials, fixtures and features into a wonderful finished project,” says Monarch principal Marco Galeotti. The awards were presented at the 2010 Master Builders & Boral Excellence in Building Awards held at the National Convention Centre. The team at Monarch Building Solutions were recognised with the Home of the Year for their dedication to top-quality workmanship, meticulous attention to detail and a great command of materials and construction technique. This exquisite home also claimed the awards for Custom Built Home ($600,000$1m) and Display Home (more than $300,000). In total, Monarch Building Solutions took out six awards this year between residential and commercial categories. The executive director of Master Builders Association of the ACT, John Miller, said Monarch Building Solutions was to be highly commended on the Yarralumla home. “This is a flawless construction job exhibiting exceptional quality in workmanship,” he said.
“The end result is a luxurious home, demonstrating Monarch Building Solution’s commitment to high-quality construction. “The home is packed full of creature comforts, including automated landscape lighting, C-Bus home automation including a sound system individual to each room, heated flooring, a solar hot-water system, reverse-cycle heating and cooling.” Mr. Miller said that the House of the Year Award was highly sought after and awarded to homes of the highest-possible standard; this home being an exceptional example in achieving high standards. Monarch principal Marco Galeotti said: “It’s not like an open display home where everybody comes through all the time – we take people through by appointment only,” The display home is a custom-built house – “we’re not selling three-bedroom homes with studies, we’re selling the quality of our workmanship,” he said. “We take interested people through the whole house, showing them the difference in the way we’ve constructed the home compared to other builders, and the latest innovations which can be used in a premium house. “It’s absolutely not the kind of house that gets built every day. It’s something very special.” Monarch’s residential component is a “boutique service”, where the principals work closely with clients to create unique houses.
House of the Year… Monarch’s display home in Yarralumla.
Commercial credibility MONARCH is also renowned for its commercial work, and has won several awards since it went into business only five years ago. Canberrans might recognise their work at Belluci’s (Dickson/Woden), Xchange on London, the Ironbark Cafe, Manuka and Sydney IVF Clinic and King Street. Recently, Monarch Building Solutions fitted out Zoo Group’s new open-plan offices in Kingston, using unique materials to define different areas. The fit-out features a ceiling in reception made using pressed metal sheets, and energy-efficient lighting with day and night modes. 12 CityNews July 29-August 4
The entire house is driven by a touch screen on the kitchen bench.
advertising feature
■ Display Home of the Year (more than $300,000)
is house of the future
There is a huge range of premium materials used in the display house. The door frames, skirting boards, mantelpiece and bookcase are all solid rosewood. Other timbers we’ve used are brushbox and blackwood. The wallpaper in one room has been imported from Germany, and the outdoor kitchen is stainless, with a commercial range hood. The appliances are all Miele. The house has a significant number of environ-
Imported wallpaper from Germany.
mentally-friendly features and is also high-tech. It is a complete C-bus home and a mobile phone has the ability to act as a remote control for a whole lot of systems in the house. The C-Bus system is used to control electrical systems such as lights and appliances. The entire house is driven by a touch screen on the kitchen bench, allowing control of lighting, temperature, security, fans and some doors. There’s a TV that drops out of the ceiling; the
fireplace is ignited with the touch of a button and the irrigation of the gardens is controlled through a complete program whereby you can control how much water plants are getting. Motion sensors in several rooms control the lights, which means that lights come on and off as people come and go in the house – an important energy saver. Lights can be programmed remotely to turn on and off at specific times, as can air-conditioning and heating. The house boasts a 10,000-litre underground water tank, with all run-off directed to the tank as a water-saving measure. The brick feature wall in one room was designed for the benefit of its thermal mass. By leaving the curtains open, the sunlight warms it up over winter. Efficiency is even incorporated into the air-conditioning, with all four units run from a single core outdoor module. So, every time you turn on an additional unit, that outdoor turbine turns on. “It’s very, very energy efficient,” says Marco. “People are starting to come a long way with wanting to be energy efficient. The products on the market are starting to catch up with what people want, and it’s becoming more affordable to start using more products that are more sustainable. And I think Canberra’s leading the way. “Monarch is going down that path, and I think that’s very important.” Marco says he’s proudest of the kitchen/family/dining area: “It’s an open-plan area, but you can also open it up to outside and have a great indoor/outdoor entertaining area.” Marco says the company prides itself on its relationships with employees and contractors. “We have our own carpenters, plasterers, painters, labourers... we train our own apprentices and really nurture our guys. “So, there’s not the issue of multiple contractors – everyone’s working together.” Monarch Building Solutions’ display home will close in October.
Award-winning ways • Master Builders Association of the ACT 2010: Home of the Year. Yarralumla display home. • Master Builders Association of the ACT 2010: Custom Built Home – $600,000 to $1 million. Yarralumla display home. • Master Builders Association of the ACT 2010: Display Home of the Year – more than $300,000. Yarralumla display home. • Master Builders Association of the ACT 2010: Commercial and retail fitout, refurbishment or alteration – $1 to $3 million. • Master Builders Association of the ACT 2010: Commercial and retail fitout, refurbishment or alteration – $300,000 to $1 million. • Master Builders Association of the ACT 2010: Best Interior Commercial Finish. • Master Builders Association of the ACT 2009: Commercial and retail fitout, refurbishment or alteration – less than $300,000. • Master Builders Association of the ACT 2009: Commercial and retail fitout, refurbishment or alteration – $300,000 to $1m. • Master Builders Association of the ACT 2009: Commercial and retail fitout, refurbishment or alteration – $1 to $3 million. • Master Builders Association of the ACT 2008: Commercial project exhibiting technical difficulty or innovation. • Master Builders Association of the ACT 2006: New Commercial Builder (winner). CityNews July 29-August 4 13
letters
Macklin misses the point I WAS disgusted to read Robert Macklin’s article “Should lives be ruined for just watching?” (CN, July 15). He has entirely missed the point. Those people that view online child pornography (and indeed ANY
Mapping crime ACT Policing should copy the Townsville six-month, online, pilot program which engages the media and empowers the public by telling them about crimes in their area. Currently it maps online street by street property crime including break-and-enters and thefts from shops and homes. The Queensland Police Commissioner is reported to be considering expanding it State-wide next month, possibly incorporating other forms of crimes. Any negatives are seen as being outweighed by positives such as engaging important help from the public and media in catching offenders and taking personal responsibility for improved security. The commissioner said: “The reality is that most crime is solved because the public give police information.” Can we innovate in Canberra?
Colliss Parrett, Barton
Cartoon misleads
DORIN’S cartoon (CN, July 15) is misleading. If someone spoke to the man, he’d remove the scarf from his face in order to reply. In summer, he’d probably be wearing shorts and a t-shirt. The woman would have her face covered regardless of the social situation or the season.
Patricia Saunders, Chapman
Carbon targets
RE carbon targets for the ACT (CN, July 22): Glad to see the Greens are taking the lead and pushing for targets. Unhappy to see the Liberals obfuscating, yet again, because they can make a short-term buck out of doing nothing. Then, no doubt, make another,
type of child pornography) are the very people that keep this vile industry going. It is a case of supply and demand – if there was no-one willing to pay for such filth then there would be no point
making it and selling it. These children have suffered abuse (at the hands of adults) in order for these pictures to be taken. Shame on you, Mr Macklin. Danielle Neale, Amaroo
a dose of dorin
fixing the inevitable train wreck, knowing that they personally won’t be held accountable by the all-forgiving, short-memory public.
Peter Breis, Yarralumla
I resign, Ric!
I HAD decided that I had more important things to do than legitimise Ric Hingee’s contributions with a reply, but I think he has had one of his rare victories and will worry it to death like a dog with a bone if given the opportunity. Ric states that “his letter has come to fruition” (CN, July 8) pertaining to the alteration of the proposed super-profits scheme as proposed by the Rudd Government and goes on to rant about minimal consultation by the Government. Could it be that the Government waits impatiently for the next issue of “City News” so that they know which way to advance from Mr. Hingee’s contribution? Now, Mr. Hingee, do you honestly think that the Government of this country should
go cap in hand to the industrialists and ask permission to raise taxes to a level that could be “negotiated”? When Mr. Hingee replied to my first missive (CN, July 1) he concluded with the speculation whether I was man enough to apologise. Well Mr. Hingee, I have no problems with that – but not to you. After reading some of your submissions, I tender my apologies to the residents of the ACT for being one of the names submitted to the Electoral Commission that enabled your political party [Community Alliance Party] to become legitimised. You may consider this to be my resignation.
Alan P. May, Isabella Plains 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.
Cartoonist wins popular prize
14 CityNews July 29-August 4
“CITYNEWS” cartoonist Paul Dorin (pictured) has again won the People’s Choice Award for the most popular painted jeans at the annual, glittering Jeans 4 Genes gala auction in Sydney. His jeans, painted for cricket captain Ricky Ponting, also raised the second-highest bid on the night, earning $5500 for the Children’s Medical Research Institute. It is the 13th year Paul has painted the jeans of celebrities for the charity. Needless to say, we’re very proud of him. Jeans 4 Genes Day is on August 6.
Cartoonist Paul Dorin with his prize.
scene
More photos at www.citynews.com.au
At Chamber of Commerce cocktail party, Snowy Hydro Base, Monaro Highway
At Egyptian National Day celebrations, Yarralumla
Marie France Roussety, centre, with daughters Valentine, left, and Charlotte
Renate Cusch, Ross Triffitt and Kate van Haalen
Dr Kelvin Grove, Steve Gregory and Chris Peters
Bill Campbell and Jo Madsen
Nola Shoring, Hydro Man and Jo Powell
Anne Plunkett with Egyptian ambassador Omar Metwally
Bilal Adhami, Olivia Nasser, Hani Adhami, Faisal Sheikh, Amro Ali and Yasmine Abdelkawy
Andre Habib, Shaden Kraishan and Mustafa Abousenna
Sam Andrewartha, Greg Schmidt and Carolyn Mowbray
Roger Murphy, Jenny Swanson, Julian Barrington and Trevar Chilver
Peter Ricardo and Sarah Golding
Pai Waldron, Maisie Howe, Sanya Kibukamusoke and Yetty Daly
Louisa Richey and Hugh Robilliard
CityNews  July 29-August 4  15
AHA Hospitality Awards
Peter’s got the luck of the Irish KING O’Malley’s Irish Pub proprietor Peter Barclay has been recognised as the Australian Hotels Association’s ACT Member of the Year, at the 2010 AHA Hospitality Awards, held at Rydges Lakeside Hotel. “His involvement in charitable causes is well known, but he has also been a strong supporter of the AHA over a number of years, since King O’Malley’s opened in 2000,” according to AHA general manager Steven Fanner. “Peter has been a member of the AHA ACT board since 2001 and is a former ACT vice-president and member of the AHA national board. “King O’Malley’s has enjoyed tremendous success in its 10 years of operating, and has been able to maintain its popularity over an extended period despite the significant changes in this time in the Civic trading landscape,” Mr Fanner said. “Peter’s willingness to use the popularity of his venue to support charitable causes such as Movember and the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave is worthy of recognition.” Mr Barclay, who was awarded a medal of the Order of Australia in 2007 for his support of local charities, is involved with the Rotary Club of Canberra, the Salvation Army Shield Appeal, Canberra CBD Limited, Exhibition Park
16 CityNews July 29-August 4
All smiles… Peter Barclay. in Canberra, and the Canberra Business Council. King O’Malley’s also took out the prize for Best Live Entertainment Venue, and was nominated in the Best Pub Bistro section. The pub features bands every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, plus Irish music on Sundays and Tuesdays; Special events throughout the year include the Movember gala party.
Ha Ha gets last laugh
Clifton’s suite success
GOOD service and teamwork were important factors in Belconnen bar and café, the Ha Ha Bar, being awarded the Out in Canberra People’s Choice award for Favourite Nightlife Venue at the 2010 Australian Hotels Association Hospitality Awards, says owner Aaron Ridley. Ha Ha also won the award for Best Pub Bistro; It’s a relative newcomer to Belconnen, but also won an award in 2009, its first year of operation, for Best Outdoor Entertainment Area. Aaron said that this year two of the three People’s Choice Award categories were won by Belconnen venues, which was a “really pleasing result for punters in North Canberra”. “We’re absolutely thrilled with the award win; It’s great recognition for the level of service provided by our brilliant team,” he says. Aaron also believes Belconnen is becoming a popular night spot, with a rise in quality hospitality venues in the area. Ha Ha Bar will celebrate by hosting a party on Sunday, August 8.
CANBERRA’S multi-award-winning city hotel the Clifton Suites was also recognised at the awards; “A previous AHA National Award winner for Best Suite/Apartment Hotel, the Clifton Suites was again winner in this category, and will aim to regain their national crown at the AHA National Awards in Sydney in September,” said Steven Fanner; Clifton Suites also won the award in 2007, 2008 and 2009, the national Best Suite/Apartment Hotel award in 2007, and the AHA Awards for Excellence ACT 2008 Hotel Operations Clifton crew members Employee of the Year. pick up their prize.
Ha Ha Bar owner Aaron Ridley.
Tosolini’s top cafe TOLSOLINI’S was named Best Cafe-style Restaurant at the Awards. “Tosolini’s in Civic is also a worthy winner of the title of Best Cafe-style Restaurant for its mix of quality meals and a casual drop-in Senator Gary Humphries atmosphere,” said Mr congratulates the Tosolini’s team. Fanner. The restaurant has been providing Mediterranean-style cuisine, from pasta or risotto to tiramisu, for 20 years.
advertising feature
This year’s awards winners Member of the year: Peter Barclay, King O’Malley’s; John Press Award: Gil Miller, George Harcourt Inn; President’s Award: Shanthini Naidoo, National Gallery of Australia; Best Suite/Apartment Hotel: Quality Suites Clifton on Northbourne; Best Mid-range Accommodation (3 to 4 star): Quality Hotel Dickson; Best Mid-range Accommodation (3 to 4 star) Commendation: Hotel Heritage; Best Superior Accommodation (4; to 4;5 star): Novotel Canberra; Best Deluxe Accommodation (5 star): Hyatt Hotel Canberra; Best Front of House (Hotel) Employee: Luke Everett, Rydges Capital Hill; Best Bar in a Hotel: Ostani, Hotel Realm; Best Restaurant in a Hotel: Konoba Restaurant, Hotel Realm; Best Environmental Initiative: Crowne Plaza Canberra; Best Meetings and Events Hotel: Hotel Realm; Best Redeveloped Accommodation Hotel: Novotel Canberra; Best Family Restaurant: Caphs Restaurant and Coffee Lounge; Best Cafe-style Restaurant: Tosolini’s; Best International Cuisine: Italian and Sons;
Best Restaurant (Overall): Rubicon; Best Prestigious Dining Venue: The Chairman and Yip; Best Wine List: Locanda Italian Steakhouse; Best Restaurant Service Employee: Vikram Rai, Flint Dining Room; Best Apprentice Chef: Duncan Mitchell, Rydges Lakeside; Best Apprentice Chef Commendation: Haydon Kremmer, Hotel Realm; Best Restaurant Cookery Employee: Beau Ridgers, Novotel Canberra; Best New/Redeveloped Venue: Italian and Sons; Best Sporting Entertainment Venue: Olims Canberra Hotel; Best Local Pub: George Harcourt Inn; Best Cocktail Bar: Knightsbridge Penthouse; Best Bar Presentation and Service: Sub-Urban; Best Outdoor Entertainment Area: Ostani, Hotel Realm; Best Live Entertainment Venue: King O’Malley’s; Best Late Night Entertainment Venue: Meche; People’s Choice Award, Favourite Cafe: Cream Cafe Bar; People’s Choice Award, Favourite Restaurant: Ellacure; People’s Choice Award, Favourite Nightlife: Ha Ha Bar; Best Tourist Exhibition: “Masterpieces from Paris”, National Gallery of Australia; Best Tourist Attraction: Questacon (National Science and Technology Centre).
CityNews July 29-August 4 17
about the courts of phillip
18 CityNews July 29-August 4
advertising feature
CityNews July 29-August 4 19
about the courts of phillip
20 CityNews July 29-August 4
advertising feature
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Henry takes to bein’ a Cockney “HALPERN & Johnson”? It sounds like the name of a British comedy duo. And, in fact, the origins of this play by former London hairdresser Lionel Goldstein are not all that far from stand-up, as I find when I talk to actor Henry Szeps. Szeps is a household name in Australia because of his role as the oily dentist brother to Garry McDonald in the long-running ABC TV series “Mother and Son”, later captured in his one-man travelling show “I’m Not a Dentist.” Now he’s back on stage with his old sparring partner, “Gaz”, in a role he played two-and-a-half years ago at the Ensemble, but which has taken until now to get up for touring. It tickles him that he gets to play the part of the Cockney Jewish widower Halpern, played by Laurence Olivier in 1982 with Jackie Gleason as the (Catholic) London toff that Garry McDonald now plays. “It’s a fabulous story and very lifelike.”
Choirs raise their voices
By arts editor Helen Musa Briefly, Szeps plays a man who is surprised to find he is not the only mourner at his wife Florence’s grave. Szeps plainly loves Goldstein’s dialogue, but says it was hard enough to learn in the first place and all the more irritating to have to learn it again. “It’s such an unusual play where people don’t always finish their lines… the actors and directors have to do a lot of hard work to find out which part of the play it actually comes from, it’s breathtaking,” he says. “The situation is that this elegant toff with a bunch of flowers comes and wants to put the flowers on the grave of my wife. I tell him to move on but he says: ‘I do know your wife’.” The two end up having a picnic.
Henry Szeps, left, and Garry McDonald… together again. Szeps says that the level of misunderstanding in the play is “quite Shakespearean”, but more he will not reveal. “Buy a ticket!” Szeps advises. Szeps has played on stage with McDonald once before, briefly, in the Mamet play “Glengarry Glen Ross”, coincidentally during the week in 2002 that Ruth Cracknell
(the mother in “Mother and Son”) died. Weird, he says. “Our relationship is not as two brothers, but I feel a similarity… I see the men vying for mum’s attention, in this case that of my dead wife Flo.” “Halpern & Johnson”, The Playhouse, August 3-7, bookings to 6275 2700.
By Shereen Charles THE Australian National Eisteddfod does more than just bring choirs from all over Australia together in competition, said director Dianne Anderson. It also empowers the young and rising talents with self-confidence, she said. The annual Australian National Eisteddfod choirs division will light up the stage at Llewellyn Hall on August 13 and 14. “Primary school students get a thrill entering the competition. A lot of the time, students may not be good at sports, or academics, while in school, so they don’t have self-confidence,” she told “CityNews”. “But, when they take part in the Eisteddfod, to be able to perform, it gives them a new-found confidence.” To date, the competition has 23 choirs including choirs from all over Canberra and interstate such as Canberra Girls Grammar School, Sunbury Divas from Victoria, The Canberra Chordsmen, and Radford College. Anne Williams returns this year with Dr Debra Shearer-Diriéas to adjudicate. The primary school sections will be held on Friday, August 13 from 9.30am, while the championship sections for participants 12 years and under and 19 years and under will start at 6pm. On the Saturday, the competition will feature championship sections for the open choirs. “Each year, we get so many different choirs coming to join the competition. I hope that we will be able to hold the competition over more than two days in the future,” she said. “My aim for the Eisteddfod is to make it the best choral in Australia.” The Australian National Eisteddfod, Llewellyn Hall, August 13-14, tickets at the door.
CityNews July 29-August 4 21
arts&entertainment
Challenging but never boring “Inception” (M) “I’D lost it after five minutes,” I heard the young woman leaving the cinema tell a cinema employee. Like David Stratton, I find summarising the plot of writer/director Christopher Nolan’s thinking-person’s actioner impossible after only one viewing; 148 minutes of powerful production values, breathtaking special effects, challenging ideas and spectacular visual quality, it’s high cinematic art and inventiveness in which the reality of dreams drives vigorous action to thwart an attempt to monopolise control of our planet’s energy resources. The film delivers truly challenging ideas about the nature of dreams through fine performances from, among others, Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger and Michael Caine. It may be confusing, but it won’t bore you. While dreams are its foundation, they project realism more than fantasy, and will likely send you out thinking about how your own dreams work. An intelligent actioner to challenge your waking mind, delivered with imagination that surpasses “Avatar”, dismissing “Inception” on grounds of plot complexity would be a great mistake. At all cinemas
“South Solitary” WRITER/director Shirley Barrett’s film of isolation, courage and mordant humour in a raw, violent yet beautiful environment unfolds in 1927. The previous head light-keeper on South Solitary Island, the last southward land until Antarctica, has committed suicide. Replacement keeper Wadsworth (Barry Otto) arrives with an orphaned sheep and his 35-year-old niece Meredith (Miranda Otto), who keeps his house and types his reports. Awaiting him is bored assistant keeper Stanley (Rohan Nichol) with three almost feral children and a wife (Essie Davis) whose emotions and libido take no sustenance from her situation. Few passing steamers need warning. The lighthouse service ship or pigeon post are the only communications with the mainland. South Solitary provides a haven from mainland life for taciturn, gravely damaged junior keeper Fleet (Marton Csokas). The story’s core protagonist is Meredith,
CINEMA
By Dougal Macdonald her fiancé dead in war, her uterus useless after a termination, suppressing her beauty, intelligence and unfulfilled yearnings, is wounded prey for Stanley to pursue. With this characters like these, you might expect “South Solitary” to be depressing. Wrong. Very wrong. By turns dramatic, wild, compassionate, aggressive, often very funny, always challenging, gripping us from the first frame until its similar closing, it demands our involvement and sends us away well satisfied. It comfortably accommodates its title’s geographic fiction (South Solitary Island is actually off the central NSW coast) and has a Canberra connection. In childhood, Mary Finsterer, composer of its impressive musical score, lived next door to me in Dickson. At Dendy
“Greenberg” NEW Yorker Roger Greenberg, recently out of a psychiatric institution and former user of addictive substances, is now seeking the truth of his own persona, while house-sitting his brother’s Los Angeles home. You can’t help wondering how he will react if he ever finds it. The screenplay, by Jennifer Jason Leigh and director Noah Baumbach, examines Roger’s internal conflict in coming to terms with the change of location and the freewheeling culture of young California adults, and the acquiescence of his brother’s family assistant Florence in matters where a more assertive woman might want to apply the brakes. Roger and Florence muddle through the uncertainties of deciding whether they might be able to work out a shared future in an unconventional romance functioning at a level more intellectual than physical or emotional. Florence’s sexuality has disappointed her before and will again. Ben Stiller plays Roger with agreeable restraint, but Greta Gerwig as Florence leads the film’s invitation to ponder relationship difficulties besetting people who lack the skills for dealing with them. Despite leaving unanswered questions, “Greenberg” offers an agreeable window through which to study their efforts. At Dendy
“Tango Inferno”... begins with classical tango rhythms then into more daring, modern tango.
Inferno’s hot tango By Helen Musa HUGO Satorre is the virtuoso bandoneon player with the Tango Fire Company of Buenos Aires, due to hit town soon with its latest inferno of dance, costumes, lighting and music. The bandoneon is the accordion-like instrument that gives bite and emotion to tango music, though Satorre will be backed up by more conventional instruments. He says the company of 15 on-stage artists is embarking on a daring move of staging open “milonga”, social dancing with audiences 30 minutes before each performance. The idea is to recreate the atmosphere of the latenight dance halls in Buenos Aires, but be warned – no stilettos are allowed. “Tango Inferno” will begin with classical tango rhythms from the golden age of the ’30s and ’40s, moving via the music of Astor Piazzolla into more daring modern tango. Satorre may be a musician, but in his spare time he likes to tango, and believes this is what sets true Argentine tango apart from staged versions you might see in dance competitions – it’s a genuine social exchange. “So nice,” he says. “Tango Inferno – The Fire Within”, Canberra Theatre, August 7, 8pm. Bookings to 6275 2700.
Fill your seats... advertise. * McNair Ingenuity Research 2006
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arts&entertainment
Turkish delight in Chisholm DINING
By Wendy Johnson IN days gone by, local shops scattered across Canberra offered no more on the food front than a good old takeaway and a friendly bakery. But my, how things are changing. The Fig and Olive, which opened around nine months ago at the newly renovated Chisholm shops, is part of the Canberra-wide trend to spice up things for those living and working in the suburbs. It specialises in modern Turkish cuisine (it’s part of the Little Istanbul family). The fit out is perky, with crisp, white chairs, smart tables, and lime green as the feature décor colour. Windows stretch floor-to-ceiling and the outdoor dining area is quite large and gets sun for a good part of the day – we felt cosy even though it was a cool winter’s afternoon. This is casual dining that won’t disappoint and hats off to the young woman who served us. She was proud of her job, by her own admission had sampled most of what was on the menu and talked knowledgeably and confidently about the dishes. My eyes focused on the pidés – Turkish pizzas (13 all up, with five vegetarian, and most either $14.50 or $15.50). It was a toss-up between the vegetarian Kabakli, with baby roasted pumpkin mixed with garlic, feta
The Fig and Olive at Chisholm... casual dining that won’t disappoint. Photo by Silas and herbs, or the Peynirli, stuffed with feta, spinach, parsley and cheese. Our friendly and efficient waitress swayed me to the Peynirli, saying it was one of her favourites. After tucking into the piping-hot pizza I could see why. The pidé was fresh and loaded with yummy melted cheese. It was rich and, for me, way too much for lunch. While I loved the cheese oozing out of the pizza, my bet is some would find it a bit over the top. My friend went for one of the 11 kebabs, the range of which includes a vegetarian platter for those who like to share and taste a bit of this and a bit of that ($14.50). Her lamb kebab roll was generous for the $8.50 price
Duo honours Dusty
“Tales from Heaven and Hell,” Griffyn Ensemble, Belconnen Arts Centre, July 24 Reviewed by Helen Musa
By Helen Musa
HUNGRY ERcafeS. AD RE your rtise adve advertise. * McNair Ingenuity Research 2006
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Ensemble’s varied visions MUSIC
ARTS IN THE CITY FOUR years after “Dusty: the Original Pop Diva, The Musical”, Tamsin Carroll and Deni Hines get together in a two-hour concert at the Southern Cross Club on August 5. In authentic ‘60s costumes Carroll, who was Dusty and Hines, who was her girlfriend, perform the hits songs of Dusty Springfield. Carroll is here from the West End for a break after performing in “Oliver”, and Hines has just returned from charity work in Kenya and Papua New Guinea. Bookings to 6283 7288. THE ANU Drill Hall Gallery has a long-overdue exhibition of new works by ChileanAustralian artist Juan Davila titled “The Moral Meaning of Wilderness”. A fiery, committed artist, he is probably best known for his terrifying images of refugees with their lips sewn up, but he now turns his attention to the increasing fragmentation and consumerism in art today. On show until August 15. BELCONNEN Arts Centre is showing “Transitions” by local artists Katrina Barter and Alana Sivell until August 8. Barter brings together paper and photographic constructions, while Sivell uses thread and glass to “contain the fluidity of time and transform it into a static state”. THE Embassy of Spain and the ANU School of Music will present Ricardo Gallén in concert at Llewellyn Hall at 7.30pm on August 5. He will also give a four-hour master class the next day at the school. Gallén studied guitar and ancient music at the Universities of Saltzburg and Munich and has given recitals and played in concerts under conductors such as Leo Brouwer, Monica Huggett and Jordi Savall in Europe and America as well as the Middle East. Bookings to 132 849.
tag and high on taste. The Fig and Olive also has lunch boxes (three types) for just under $10 and a range of packs including a special one for $23.50 (minimum four people) that’s made up of lamb and chicken skewers, doner, chicken, two dips, rice, salad, garlic bread, pidé and a sweet element. Be prepared to have a kip afterwards. The eatery offers a good coffee brand and a largish range of the popular Australianmade T2 teas. My lemongrass and ginger tea hit the spot and helped me cut through the cheese on my pizza. The Fig and Olive, open seven days, shop 4, Halley Street, Chisholm. Call 6292 8188.
Tamsin Carroll and Deni Hines... singing the hits of Dusty Springfield. “CARDS on the Table” is another of the Agatha Christie plays beloved of Tempo Theatre. Described by the company as “a great whodunnit”, the murder-mystery will be at Belconnen Community Theatre from August 13 to 21. The plot centres on an evening of bridge with four murderous suspects and two crime experts. Bookings to 6275 2700. LOCAL artist Maryann Mussared has won the $2000 Capital Chemist Art Award for her work “READ X,” a recycled book which she has folded to create a new object that makes a comment on “unstoppable advances in technology”. The exhibition is at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, which has co-ordinated the competition since 1999, until August 14.
THIS important concert continues the Canberra-based Griffyn Ensemble’s practice of staging challenging contemporary musical work in the lakeside surroundings of the Belconnen Arts Centre at sunset with food and wine. Themed around diabolical and heavenly visions, the varied repertoire included a lively set of songs and dances made famous by the New York Yiddish group The Klezmatics, the demonic element being a revengeful spirit, the Dybbuk, who invades the spirit of the bride, sung with abandon by soprano Susan Ellis. Performance of three lush madrigals by George Crumb provided an equally powerful moment. Henryk Gorecki’s “Good Night”, a near-silent lament for director of the London Sinfonietta Michael Vyner, saw the alto flute by Kiri Sollis and harp by Laura Tanata subtly set the elegiac tone. But the centrepiece was “Perelandra Piccolo Concerto”, a suite written by Griffyn director Michael Sollis for his wife Kiri and now expanded for a full ensemble. Taken from C.S.Lewis’s “Voyage to Venus”, the work sees Adam and Eve in outer space and in danger of re-seduction by Satan. The high point was the second movement “Ransom,” where Kiri Sollis’s piercing piccolo reflects the relentless verbal attacks of a satanic professor and the exhaustion of the pursuit. The piccolo will never sound the same again.
home
Busy hub of the house By Megan Haggan THE kitchen has become a real hub in the home, says Greg Thompson, manager of Kitchen Connection, Fyshwick. “Many homes are being built around the kitchen as a focus, as opposed to the old way of having the room pretty much fill in a gap,” Greg says. “Real estate agents tell us that there are three things which can really add appeal to a property: the street view, the bathroom and the kitchen. “Our lifestyles have changed, and cooking is such an important part of life – you can’t turn on the TV without seeing a cooking show!
Ilve Domino Series Mix and Match cooktops, from $899. “Twenty years ago, cooking was a necessary evil. These days, people spend a fortune on appliances. The rationale is that the home is the nest.”
Chauvel kitchen with lime splashback, from Kitchen Connection.
Trends in kitchens are moving towards helping people express their individuality, he says. “Multiple colours and thicknesses in bench tops, as well as big, chunky bench tops, are back in,” says Greg. “There’s also a very strong trend towards horizontal lines: you have the big horizontal line of the bench top and now we’re seeing a trend to vertical bi-fold cupboard doors which preserve that horizontal line.” FAB28 Smeg fridge in orange, $3990 and BLV1 Smeg dishwasher in red, $3990.
57 per cent of our readers are women.* advertise. * McNair Ingenuity Research 2006
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fashion
Lexington gloves, $190 from Furla.
Caparrini Firenze shoes, $349 from Furla.
Browned off, happily Brown – it’s associated with stability, with dependability and friendliness. Less harsh than basic black, brown’s a welcoming colour that brings out the warm tones in our skin – just look at the popularity of chocolate tones in winter hair! Spring fashions now in-store feature a resurgence in lighter brown shades, from beige to taupe, tan or cream, in pretty dresses, feminine tops, layers and ruffles; meanwhile, tan and cream are still a big part of winter dressing. Accessorise with your favourite shade of brown, whether it’s a chocolate shoe, a pretty beige bag or accessories in smart shades of cream and tan.
Serenade Leather h50 bag, $240.
Missco bag in Blush, $19.99.
Senna suede bag, $995 from Furla. Tan “petal” bag, sale price $39.95 (normally $49.95) from Bags to Go.
“Isabella” in tan and cream, $230 from www. bellamoda. com.au.
CityNews July 29-August 4 27
your week in the stars
With Joanne Madeline Moore August 2-8
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Attention rambunctious Rams – boisterous, bossy behaviour will get you into trouble this week, especially at work. You’re ambitious for success but think twice before you challenge authority figures and arouse the opposition of colleagues. Diplomacy is not your natural forte, but it’s exactly what you need at the moment.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)
If you are being jealous and possessive, then your partner (or potential partner) may decide that being single and free is much more fun. Is it time to change your attitude and give your lover a lot more space? As birthday great Andy Warhol said: “They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change things yourself.”
GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)
Are you trying to get closer to a teenager but they are pushing you away? Patience (not one of your virtues) is the key. Avoid the temptation to be a gossipy Gemini this week. If you pass on information that was given to you in confidence, you may end up feeling foolish and friendless. Zip your lip and find something constructive to do!
CANCER (June 22 – July 22)
You may be thrust into the spotlight at work. Keep your cool Cancer! Jupiter is giving you a confidence boost so polish up your professional persona. With no less than six tricky transits, Saturday will be a difficult day so perhaps you should give it a miss and stay in bed. Things improve on Sunday, when you’ll feel more social and settled.
general knowledge crossword No. 272 Across
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Solution next week 5 6
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8
Leos are proud people who love to pontificate, but heaps of hubris will land you in heaps of hot water this week. If you are too full of yourself, others will cut you down to size. Try a little humble humility instead! Venus moves into your communication zone on Saturday which favours conversation, companionship and cooperation.
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VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)
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Financial matters are on your mind and your favourite word at the moment is “thrifty”. If someone else is managing your money, then make sure you have your finger on the pulse and know exactly what’s going on. If you can balance rational reasoning with intuitive insights, then you’ll have a surprisingly satisfying and successful week.
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Sudoku medium No.37
Solution next week
Thinking you have all the answers could attract an angry response from others. Compromise will get you a lot further than confrontation. With the Sun shining in your career zone, all eyes are on you at work. So make sure you are putting on a good show! If you’re looking for employment, cast your net far and wide.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)
Keep your ego (and enthusiasm) in check this week. If you impulsively jump on your Sagittarian high horse, you’ll arouse the opposition of others. Friends and finances are also a messy mix at the moment, so try to keep the two separate. Spontaneous shenanigans could backfire, so take the time to think things through.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
Moderation and compromise are what’s needed this week Capricorn. A condescending attitude will only lead to a fraction too much friction, especially with work mates or family members. It’s the ideal time to repair, restore or rebuild something at home. Don’t expect everyone to like the finished product though!
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
With Venus, Mars and Saturn activating your aspirations zone, it’s time to dream big dreams for the future. They won’t materialise overnight though - you need to be patient and persistent. Be inspired by Barack Obama (born August 4); “It’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realise your true potential.”
PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)
Impulse buys now could lead to serious problems later on. So avoid making major purchases or important financial decisions, as you may be biting off more than you can comfortably chew. In the present economic climate, slow and steady wins the money race. Pay attention to your dreams – are they trying to tell you something? Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2010. 28 CityNews July 29-August 4
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LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)
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1 What do we call one who flees for safety to a foreign country? 2 Those who hold or supply money for others are known as what? 3 Name an old kind of small-bore trumpet. 4 In anatomy, what is another term for the kneecap? 5 Name the ribbon placed about the crown of a head covering - just above the brim. 6 What is an alternative term for lunges or forcible drives? 11 What are liveried manservants known as? 12 In the military, to have raised the right hand to the side of the headgear, is to have done what? 13 Which word describes a person who expels a tenant? 14 What is another term for a sunshade? 15 The most unsophisticated person could be referred to as the what? 16 To make louder is to what?
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LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)
Venus (your ruling planet) vamps into your sign on Saturday, which usually signals a time of heightened romance. But Uranus throws a curved ball into your love zone and a relationship heads off in an unexpected direction. It will be hard to balance your need for constant companionship with your partner’s need for independence.
Down
3 In golf, what is a short wrist motion tap used in approaching the green (4,4)? 7 The sale of commodities to household consumers is known as what? 8 Which part of the washing machine moves the clothes, etc? 9 Name a member of the "Society of Friends". 10 What do we call natives of Rome? 11 To depreciate, is to do what? 14 Which Chinese mammals are bearlike and black and white? 17 What is an appliance used on limbs to provide support, or correct deformities? 18 Name another term for blacksmiths' blocks. 19 What do we call things that have a real existence? 20 To turn into bone, is to do what? 21 Which word is descriptive of what is determined by the stars?
Solutions
Crossword No.271 D A M A S C U S
U F F E R A H U N I O R G U E T O M E A P A R K S T A L O A A P I N S T E R G L U P A R A D I S E G N D S B U T C H E R S E E S E
U M T S M A N H N L E T T E R R I S M A N O O C A R R E T I U E E K E R N N N T R E E
Sudoku hard No.36
property
Is parking a metaphor for inner-city fears? AS a mother with two young children, I am aware of the complications caused by being unable to park near a destination. Single drivers, and those whose only passengers are healthy adults, can easily walk between car and destination when faced with a parking dearth. Those of us with small children or elderly or frail passengers find a distant parking spot much more complex and challenging. I can understand the objections raised by some Canberra residents to increasing density in inner-city locations, which cite expected parking problems as the reason. But, given the benefit increased density can bring, rejecting future development, rather than
By Catherine Carter finding a way around the parking problems, seems rather like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. If the problem is insufficient parking for old and infirm people, seek more disabled spaces. If it’s children, let’s add some “parents with prams spaces” to the list. If shopping and patient spaces are being taken up by staff cars, let’s aim for a staff parking area within walking distance of the workplaces.
But let’s not sacrifice a childcare facility because of parking. Let’s not do without cafes, public meeting rooms and amenities because of parking. Let’s not lose a beneficial addition to the community because of parking. It may be that the real issue is deeper than parking, aesthetics or even “nimbyism”, as some have claimed. Increasing density can change the feel of a place, and while Canberrans can claim to be adaptable to change, we are still prone to what Alvin Toffler christened “Future Shock” – when that change is happening right where we live. Dealing with future shock is relatively simple. Acknowledge it for what it is, and look for ways
to make the change more acceptable and less unsettling. After all, things change anyway. Show me a static society and I’ll show you one in, or about to be in, decline. Canberra is a young community, and still growing. If people stop wanting to come here, if businesses are no longer able to hire extra staff, if young people can’t start up their own enterprises here, if families find no new jobs or living space for their children when they mature, then our growth will stop. And when that happens, there really is something to worry about. Catherine Carter is the ACT executive director of the Property Council of Australia.
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R E F F O R E UND
30 CityNews July 29-August 4
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32 CityNews July 29-August 4