140619 citynews by Canberra CityNews

JUNE 19, 2014

Weird, but it works: let’s swap Tony! MICHAEL MOORE Surviving the fracking minefield of profanity

SONYA FLADUN

Katy takes a hand in the broken ARM

ROBERT MACKLIN The Girl’s still got it

WENDY JOHNSON

QUICK DRAW Sharp-eyed cartoonist with a fast line for fun

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2 CityNews June 19-25, 2014

news / cover story

Andrew draws the line on funny faces IT’S been a long road, but cartoonist Andrew Hore is making a living from drawing funny pictures, and he got himself there by combining his lightning fast scribbling skills with social work. “What I do, it mightn’t appear it’s that serious, but I take it awfully seriously,” he says, explaining that the programs he runs have to be meaningful for each group he delivers them to, whether it’s schoolkids or prisoners, people with mental illnesses or those who simply want to learn how to draw cartoons. “I guess the advantage of finding my little niche is that no-one does what I do – touch wood – and I’m thankful for that, but I’ve got to do it properly and that means doing it so it adapts to each group.” Andrew talks fast and he draws fast, too, whipping up a caricature of yours truly in under a minute, looking up every now and then for a split-second glance at his subject, eyes wide, his face a maniacal expression of concentration. Readers can have the same experience at the yearly “Behind the Lines” exhibition of Australia’s best political cartoons, held at Old Parliament House, and various other events at national institutions such as the War Memorial or Botanic Gardens. On the walls of Andrew’s Gowrie

Reporter STEPHEN EASTON meets fast-drawing cartoonist Andrew Hore, who whips up a caricature in under a minute, looking up every now and then for a split-second glance at his subject, eyes wide, his face a maniacal expression of concentration... home are drawings, paintings and illustrations done by his maternal grandmother and her sisters, which he takes as evidence that drawing is in the blood. “I started drawing for money, here and there, when I was in my twenties,” he says, modestly listing a few highlights. “I did a bit of writing and illustrating for Australian ‘MAD Magazine’ in the ‘90s and I had a comic strip in ‘The Canberra Times’ called ‘Bubs the Country Bumpkin’, which was years ago and was very insignificant.” The self-described “youngish, middle-aged, still growing up fitness fanatic with a rural background” may have the same name as a former All Black but he’s a Rugby League fan and, for a while, drew a strip called “Victor the Viking” for the Raiders despite supporting their chief rivals the Dragons, working for free in the

hope of getting a foot in the NRL door. He started doing social work in disability support with Woden Community Service and helping out at the Youth Centre. At first it was a job and drawing more of a hobby, although in the late ’90s he started running school holiday cartooning workshops at public libraries. “I was doing [youth centre] outreach programs for years and I always kicked them off with a cartooning session. It’s an ice-breaker to ease the tension and they have a bit of fun, and then they can ease into the topic-based stuff and I’ve found it does work well,” says Andrew. “I diversified and at Woden School, the disability school, we had an outreach program there for some years and it was wonderful, we used basic images to relay messages because words don’t always have an effect... images are very powerful.” Using cartoons as a communications tool, he now delivers support programs and workshops in a range of settings including both youth detention centres,

Cartoonist Andrew Hore… “What I do, it mightn’t appear it’s that serious, but I take it awfully seriously.” Photo by Gary Schafer the Alexander Maconochie Centre and psychiatric wards in both hospitals, and has picked up a lot of other incidental work illustrating one-off brochures, books and posters along the way. Chances are most Canberrans have seen his work around town. “It’s a business, so I make money out of it, but the first thing is I love

doing it,” he says. “I feel very lucky to be doing it and I think the heart has to be in the right place, you know? You have to be genuine about what you do and that’s all that really matters. The money and all that? It’s fantastic and relieving to know there’s a need for what I provide and I like to think I provide it really well.”

briefly

Good morning, sir: fair cop, they’re doing their job

Dare to dash?

I WAS having a yak with an old radio friend the other day. Chris works at a Perth radio station and we catch up from time to time.

THE Leukaemia Foundation is daring local residents of all ages and fitness levels to “dash” the 1km or 500m route from King O’Malley’s pub in Civic on Sunday, June 29, wearing a sunflower and a smile. Participants in the Sunflower Dash will help support education and support programs and counselling to people with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders. Registrations to sunflower.org.au or call 1800 500088.

Author’s View AUTHOR Jennifer Barton will speak to the Woden View Club on her experiences in Mumbai at its next lunch meeting at the Southern Cross Club, Woden, 11.30am, on Tuesday, June 24. This is an activity to support The Smith Family and its Learning for Life Program. Visitors and interested ladies are warmly welcomed. Cost is $24 and bookings to 6281 2022.

He was ropable that he’d been pulled over on the way to work by police wanting to breath test him. “As if I’ve got time for that! I’m almost late for work!” Chris carried on as though his civil liberties had been violated, asking the officers why they “didn’t have something more constructive to do”. He blew into the machine, produced his licence and before long was on his way. By coincidence, I’d been pulled over, too, on the same day. It was 3.45 on a Tuesday

morning. I was on my way to work and the lights started flashing behind me on the GDE just past Ginninderra Drive. As one who spends a lot of time on the road in the dead of night, it makes me smile when I get pulled over, especially at 3.45am, because it’s such a positive, I feel safer. Yes, it might make me a bit later for work, but I’d prefer to see police being vigilant and doing their best to make the road safer. I got picked up one morning at the end of my street. Running late for work, I realised I’d left my laptop at home. So I did the U-turn at the Isabella Drive roundabout and headed back to Bonython to get it. When I re-appeared on the same streets, three minutes later, the police – who were on a routine patrol in my suburb – thought it

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suspicious enough to turn on the blue lights and pull me over. Why? Just to make sure I hadn’t stolen the car, wasn’t drunk and to find out why I’d doubled back earlier and then come back a second time. Yes, it made me later for work, but I’ll be so happy the day they do the same thing and find it’s some mongrel who’s stolen my car in the dead of night! When you see the blue lights flashing in Canberra, be happy that these men and

women are doing their job properly. Mark Parton is the breakfast announcer on 2CC.

MARK PARTON

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Physiotherapy • Pilates • Psychology CityNews June 19-25, 2014 3

index

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Arts & Entertainment Canberra Confidential Cinema Crossword Dining Garden Horoscope Letters News Politics Socials Sudoko

19-21 18 20 23 21 22 23 8 3-8 5 13-14 23

contacts

Katy takes a hand in the broken ARM Cover: Cartoonist Andrew Hore, a wide-eyed picture of maniacal expression as he whips up a caricature in under a minute. Story Page 3. Photo by Gary Schafer

CEO: Greg Jones, 0419 418196, greg@citynews.com.au Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au Journalists: Stephen Easton, stephen@citynews.com.au Kathryn Vukovljak, kathryn@citynews.com.au Arts editor: Helen Musa, 0400 043764, helen@citynews.com.au Senior advertising executive: Ernie Nichols, 0421 077999 Advertising sales executives: Graham Spencer, 6262 9100 Rebecca Dann, 0431 042087; Charlotte Hoy, 6262 9100 Advertising sales co-ordinator: ad@citynews.com.au Sydney advertising sales: Ad Sales Connect, 02 9420 1777 Graphic designers: Janet Ewen and Paulette Leo Photographers: Gary Schafer and Andrew Finch Proof reader: Glenda Anderson Accounts manager: Bethany Freeman-Chandler accounts@citynews.com.au Distribution: Richard Watson, circulation@citynews.com.au

Well written, well read

seven days

Phone 6262 9100 Fax 6262 9111 GPO Box 2448, Canberra City 2601

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

THREE cheers for Chief Minister Katy Gallagher in dubbing Australia’s royalists celebrity groupies; and in her rallying cry for real action from the Australian Republican Movement. The ARM’s pussy-footing approach has seen support drain away. Perhaps it’s time for some new brooms to replace the former politicians and diplomats now running the show. CANBERRA, it seems, was no safer than anywhere else from predatory paedophile priests as the Royal Commission into institutional child sex abuse continued its hearings here. And those “apologies” from the perpetrators rang rather hollow in the face of the shattered lives they left behind. The Marist College revelations were disturbing, but just the tiniest tip of the worldwide scandal. One can’t help wondering what would be the fate of the “institution” were it not religious. Outlawed perhaps? THE debate over light rail hardly set the city alight with conflicting costings from both sides. Not really surprising that the consultant hired by the Young Libs reckoned the figure was nearly a billion dollars while Sustainable Development Minister Simon Corbell

The Marist College revelations were disturbing, but just the tiniest tip of the worldwide scandal. pooh-poohed it without quite settling on his own figure. Perhaps the real question is why do we need it? And why now? SEEMS the new war in Iraq saved PM Tony Abbott from having to confront President Obama on climate change. The Sunni insurgency dominated the international news cycle during their Friday morning (our time) White House meeting. And if Australia is asked to contribute to a renewed US military intervention, it sounds like Tony is up for it. If so, he might take a leaf from his political ‘father’ John Howard who selected an area of operations as far from the actual fighting as possible. The result – not one Australian soldier in Iraq was killed in action. WARMEST congrats to fellow “CityNews” columnist Tim Gavel and his ABC colleague Virginia Haussegger

on their Queen’s Birthday honours. Both well deserved; in fact Virginia should get extra pay for having to wave those silly pieces of paper about in front of her as she begins the news each night. BRAVE words from Joe Hockey when he threatened a double dissolution this week to be met by delighted Labor, Green and Palmer Party cries of “Bring it on!” The only people he terrified were his backbenchers. Not exactly what he was hoping for.

other world series with a round ball in Brazil is a different kettle of fish. Everyone knows it’s a cheat’s game from the top of FIFA to the phoney fouls on the field. No wonder we’re rated stone motherless last. ON a warmer note, it’s possible the Feds have actually stumbled on to a good idea in deciding – in the Battlelines Budget – to move some departments to the Central Coast. Now that winter’s set in perhaps we should all move to Gosford (or Tuross) till September. Do I hear a seconder? robertmacklin.com

DID the RSPCA really sanction the “cull” (ie slaughter) of Canberra’s kangaroos this week? With friends like these… IT was a joy to watch our men and women hockey players giving their best – and with excellent results – at the world championships in the Netherlands each evening… but that

ROBERT MACKLIN

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION AT STROMLO As part of a national infrastructure sharing project Optus and Vodafone plan to upgrade an existing telecommunications facility at Existing Monopole, 388 Uriarra Road (adjacent to Coppins Crossing Road), Stromlo, Australian Capital Territory, 2611. 1. The works will include: Replacement of three panel antennas with three panel antennas (each measuring no more than 2.8 metres in length); Installation of mast head amplifiers (MHAs); and Associated ancillary works. 2. Optus and Vodafone regard proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-implact Facilities) Determination 1997 based on the description above. 3. Further information can be obtained from Ben Davies, (02) 9300 1716, bend@cpsglobal.com, and at www.rfnsa.com.au, RFNSA reference number 2611008. 4. Written submissions should be sent to: Vodafone c/o CPS Global, Level 5, 55 Grafton Street, Bondi Junction, New South Wales, 2022 by 5pm, Wednesday, 2nd July 2014. 4 CityNews June 19-25, 2014

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WINNERS

WINNERS of the “CityNews” double passes to see “Shadowland” at the Canberra Theatres on Saturday, June 21 are: Lauren Ogden, of Aranda; Diana Icasate, Amaroo; Narelle Anderson, Gordon; Holly Pither, Bruce; Monica Monroy, Belconnen; Bethany Higgins, Aranda; Christine Crosswell, Conder; Annette Viduka , Bonner; Pam Jones, Griffith and Kim Porozny, Narrabundah.

politics

Weird, but it works: let’s swap Tony!

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is available in the ACT from 1 July 2014

LET’S swap Tony Abbott for Barack Obama! A joke?

Obama knows this is not true – except for the wealthy. It is fairer distribution, more effective Of course, but think about it; in prevention and primary health care principle, it just might suit everyone. that delivers better health outcomes. The Abbott government yearns to Prevention and early intervention are be like the American Tea Party and better than cure. moulds itself on the hard right, small The small government approach is government and give no details until welcomed by so many across middleafter an election approach. America where any government Obama is at odds with the regulation other than in policing and same people, particularly when he defence is an anathema. To name attempts to reform health care and just a few, they resist health reform, US gun laws. changes to the gun laws and action He wants to deal with climate on climate change. change while Abbott wants to Obama would love to be able to pretend to deal with it. have Australian gun laws. He told a The emphasis of the Abbott govpress conference: “Australia had a ernment is on personal responsibility mass shooting, similar to Columbine and while Obama struggles for a fairer or Newtown. And Australia just… distribution of wealth, the Abbott imposed very severe, tough gun laws, government actively pursues a better and they haven’t had a mass shooting deal for the wealthy (the only tax since.” break in the Budget went to corporate Flushed from agreement with Australia). Canadian Prime Minister Stephen This is at a time when an ANU, Harper, that short-term economics is Australia21 and the Australia Institute much more important than effective report “Advance Australia Fair” find: action on climate change, Abbott ar“There is a growing gulf between rived in the US where Obama is using those in the top range and those his presidential powers to bypass a in the lower ranges of wealth and hostile Congress and Senate to impleincome distributions.” ment action on climate change. It identifies that the wealthiest 20 The President recently announced per cent of households now account a 30 per cent cut in emissions from for 61 per cent of total household coal-fired generation by 2030. The net worth. The poorest 20 per cent Abbott government is dismantling account for only 1 per cent. the single-most effective way of For the same 20 per cent it dealing with climate change – placing does not stop there. The Abbott a price on carbon. government has moved to undermine The difference between the two Australia’s system of universal men is that the American believes in a healthcare. The idea is simple – it does “fair go” while the Australian supports not matter how wealthy or poor, any the wealthy getting wealthier. citizen in Australia should be able to A swap would be great. Barack access the highest level of health care Obama might have to change his possible. citizenship. He could come as Obama has been attempting to a businessman and would be introduce his “Obamacare” universal welcomed – provided he does not health care system in the US. As it come by boat. stands, with a permanent job comes health care paid by the employer. Michael Moore was Having a job or being wealthy an independent provides access to some of the best member of the health care in the world. Too bad if ACT Legislative you are poor and do not have a job. Assembly (1989 The Abbott and Joe Hockey Budget to 2001) and goes in the opposite direction. It was minister increases barriers to access primary for health. health care and medicines through the co-payment. The Budget also means reducing better access to preventive measures and plummeting funding for hospitals. As Hockey told the Sydney Institute: “In health, it is more medical research combined with new technology and better global partnerships that will deliver better health outcomes.”

MICHAEL MOORE

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news

mum in the city

In the fracking field of profanity AS my children have grown up, they have got used to some idiosyncratic sayings from their mother.

Pardalote.

Photo by Geoffrey Dabb

Tawny Frogmouth.

Photo by Stuart Rae

Photo passion takes flight JUST over 50 years ago, members Stephen Easton of the Canberra Ornithologists reports Group (COG) first got together to tell a treecreeper from a honeyeater, talk turkey at the CSIRO’s Black or an Australian raven from its cousin Mountain facility and, since birds the little raven (it’s all in the sound are so photogenic, their celebratory they make). “Once you get a few tips about what centrepiece is a photo exhibition.

to look for it’s amazing how easy it is Club members have been entering and how much you can then learn for their three best shots and you, the yourself,” says Neil. “You don’t even public, will be asked to vote. The pho- need a pair of binoculars, you essentographer behind the people’s favourite tially just need a reference book that’s image wins $500 and the runner up $250, got pictures in it and then with a few with all who voted for the winner get- little tips about what to look and listen ting thrown in a prize draw of their own. for, you can see how simple it is to iden“We’ve said it’s not about having tify a lot of different species.” a shot of a rare bird, it’s not about To be fair, COG is much more than birds doing some unusual behaviour, a bunch of mad-keen bird watchers. it’s about having a picture which will It’s also a scientific society whose appeal to the public,” says COG’s enthusiastic vice president Neil Hermes, who owns a large collection of ties with birds on them, more than one for every day of the week, and has been stalking local avians with ears pricked and camera at the ready since his teens. “There’ll be some pretty speccy pictures on display,” he adds. “We’d love as many people as possible to come in and have a look at these pictures, just to get a sense of all the spectacular birds we have around Canberra.” Neil and fellow COG member Tony Lawson are also holding guided walks around the Botanic Gardens on June 21 and July 19 for beginner birders – The Canberra Ornithologists Group vice people who enjoy birds but can’t really president, Neil Hermes.

members promote the conservation of birds and their habitats, and actively practice ornithology, which involves collecting information about anything with feathers they spot in the ACT and surrounding areas. “In fact, here in Canberra we have some of the most detailed records of any city in the world,” Neil says proudly. The group started doing surveys in 1965 and its members have produced books, tapes and CDs from the vast store of information they have collected. According to Neil, we’re “extraordinarily fortunate” to have over 200 different species hanging around the ACT – more than any other Australian capital – from colourful rosellas, screeching white cockatoos and their rarer black cousins to backyard bower birds, blue wrens, red-browed finches and migrating world travellers like snipes and swifts, who spend the northern summer in the vicinity of Japan and eastern Russia. “It’s a very rich area for birds around Canberra and over the years it’s got better,” he says. “With all the plantings in the city and the lakes, and increasingly things like all the ponds they’re building out at Gungahlin, we’re actually building a city that really suits birds.” The Canberra Ornithologists Group’s photo exhibition will be in the Legislative Assembly Building, June 30 to July 5.

There is “oh sugar nuts” when an unexpected adverse development occurs. Something’s “totally fudged” when there’s really no hope of fixing it. At the end of a tough day at work I’m likely to declare myself “completely fracked” and slump on the couch with a gin and tonic. Another oddity is “son of a Bichon Frise” when something really hurts Of course, all these peculiar sayings are substitutes for profanity. Both I and my spouse are perfectly capable of swearing, but whatever the circumstances, there are some words we really don’t want our young children to hear. The problem is, no matter how good you are, or at least try to be, escaping swearing is pretty hard in this day and age. Profanity seems ubiquitous – on television, in the workplace, in popular culture – especially music videos. Some of the worst offenders are popular singers and bands, something I never really thought about until I had kids. Certain artists I used to love before we had kids I’ve had to ditch because I’ve belatedly realised they were singing about quite inappropriate things. Parents seem to have a variety of ways of dealing with swearing, some just give up the fight and let their kids go for it, some try to enforce a strict no swearing policy, while others try to teach what might be called “appropriate swearing”. I’ve tended to favour an absolute ban at home with inoffensive if idiosyncratic substitutes serving as parental safety valves in times of stress but, as my children have got older, I’ve realised this is not very workable and maybe not even fair for them not to know what a real swear word is or means. Not that my guys are fighting me on it yet. My eight-year-old daughter calls them “square words” and says they are “very uncool”, but they are being exposed daily,

No matter how good you are, or at least try to be, escaping swearing is pretty hard in this day and age. including in the playground, to more and more words that they know are bad but really don’t understand. Some kids think it is smart or cool to swear, that it makes them more grown up and no doubt this is encouraged by much media and popular culture. Parents, of course, freak out because socially what comes out of their children’s mouths is often seen as a reflection of them. I’ve tried to steer my kids towards inoffensive swearing, challenging them to come up with harmless alternatives. This probably seems pretty dorky in the playground. Ultimately, though, I’m not too worried as our kids have been growing up to be exceptionally polite and model citizens – most of the time. So maybe we’re doing something right, but I’m still not sure how to deal with profanity. Oh, bugger!

SONYA FLADUN

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lowbrow

letters

Public network a snooper’s dream

Mother Nature kicks a goal

THE internet is a fabulously insecure thing. Long years ago I was warned that email should be treated as a postcard. To the machines that move them around, and there are many of them, an email is a string of openly readable text. If your network uses hubs then every other machine on that hub can also see all the emails being sent by all the other users. In your Google “packet sniffer” there’s loads of free software that lets you see what’s actually being broadcast on your network. One part of the Edward Snowden revelations was they confirmed just how hard security agencies have worked to keep the internet insecure, to make their snooping easier. Normally this isn’t a problem because most people’s emails are not very interesting, and because most people on your network can be trusted. You should, however, be wary of giving your home WiFi password to people you don’t trust. Even in, for example, a McDonald’s, the shared WiFi (while generally less useful than half decent mobile data) is probably safe enough because the numbers of users are so low it’s not worth a crook’s time to watch the network in the hope of seeing an unguarded credit card number. Which brings us to the ACT Govern-

A tricked out mobile phone with a $30 solar charger could sit on the roof of any building in the centre of Civic and listen in to everything being sent on the free public wifi network. ment’s planned WiFi network, which had a test spin recently in Civic. The Garema Place hotspot worked well from Mort Street to just past the merry-goround, let’s say a radius of 100 metres. A home, or McDonald’s, hotspot has a range closer to 10 metres. So what difference does adding a zero make? For those readers who have been out of school a while, let me remind you that the area covered by a circle can be determined with πr2, so multiply the radius of the circle by itself and then (roughly) multiply by 3. A home network covers 300 square metres. The Civic hotspot was covering more like 30,000 square metres. Suddenly, the risk/reward equation for the bad guys slides over to “worth a go”. A tricked out mobile phone with a $30 solar charger from Supercheap Auto and waterproofing via an upturned soup

bowl could sit on the roof of any building in the centre of Civic and listen in to everything being sent on the free public WiFi network. Now, it is true that web browsing can be encrypted. If the website address you’re looking at is https rather than http at the start then it’s moderately secure. But how about the apps your phone is blabbering with on the internet? Do you know if they’re handshaking with the server and blurting your password and email address insecurely? Small-time app makers often don’t think of security when they’re getting started and can get wildly popular, like WhatsApp, before they’re forced to think about it. There’s no easy way for app users to know if data is being sent securely by their apps. Normally that’s not a problem either, because insecure networks tend to be small.

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8 CityNews June 19-25, 2014

The upshot is you get what you pay for and really need to think carefully about what you send on free networks that anyone can be listening in to. I’m not normally one for password paranoia but, for the love of God, make sure your primary email password is unique from all the other ones you use. If your app is blabbing your email (often used as a login) and a common password over an insecure network you’ve pretty much handed over your entire online identity to the guy running the sniffer. He’s probably not doing that for the love of humanity.

02 6242 5666

MY husband found an interesting shaped fungus in Deakin on Friday (June 13), which resembled the shape of a soccer ball. Over the weekend I took a few photos which I believe your readers may be interested The “soccer-ball” fungus in, considering the lleodictyon gracile. World Cup has Photo by Laura Copelin started. Mother Nature is absolutely incredible! Through Google I identified the fungus to be lleodictyon gracile (“Smooth Cage”) which is a stink horn fungus. The soccer-ball shaped structure pops out of an egg-like casing as can be seen in the photograph . Laura Copelin, via email

Guilty on both counts MICHAEL Moore, unsurprisingly, has jumped eagerly to the defence of Joy Burch and Jorian Gardner (“When the privileged few go feral’, CN, June 12). It demonstrates both monumental stupidity and abysmal ignorance of the murderous regime of the Third Reich to dress up in Nazi uniform in a taxpayer-funded festival. Burch and Gardner are guilty of both counts. Christina Faulk, Swinger Hill

‘Loonies’ slur inappropriate

briefly Thai radio show A WEEKLY, hour-long radio program focused on Thai culture, history and language can be heard from 3pm on Tuesdays on station FM91.1. The program is co-ordinated by Australia-Thailand Association committee member Krit Tankanarat, and presented by Venus Asawapoom.

Indoor gardening tips CANBERRA gardener Heather Wilkins will present a workshop on indoor gardening at the Canberra Environment Centre on Tuesday, July 8. Heather will focus on seed saving, seed starting and how to grow edible plants such as herbs indoors. Cost is $20.

COLUMNIST Robert Macklin in “Tony takes ’em on, young and old” (CN, May 29) in commenting on Canberra parents refusing to allow their “kids” (children, not goats) to be immunised, refers to such parents as “loonies”, which might not be appropriate at all or at least in all circumstances. Edward Corbitt, via email

Start the shows on time! TV dramas starting later than advertised means viewers have to keep switching stations, making following of plots very difficult. I’m now at the stage where Sherlock Holmes, briefed by Bones, has joined the Mentalist because they believe Red John is still alive – but may be dead within 24 hours. This makes him a person of interest, thereby attracting the attention of the Law and Order team which, co-operating with the CSI unit, discover that Red John may have been ex-navy, automatically bringing in the NCIS to determine whether they have a role to play... Please start the dramas on time! Colliss Parrett, Barton

Leasing at Majura Park advertising feature How a new address opens a ‘new era’

More room in less space

WHEN the national head office of Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) began working out of its stunning new Majura Park headquarters at the start of April, one could imagine the agency’s Canberra staff felt like they were walking into a new era for the organisation, which fosters indigenous financial independence.

One of IBA’s most important requirements, Rose says, was to capitalise on the relocation’s potential as an opportunity to enhance collaboration within the organisation, primarily by having everyone on the same floor, but also by employing the latest ideas in office interior design to provide a range of different spaces for staff to work together. There is no shortage of space in the open-plan environment of the agency’s new headquarters; quite the opposite, despite it being smaller in area than the old accommodation. This, coupled with its highly efficient, environmentally friendly heating and cooling systems, means savings on rent and utilities in the long run. It was a simple equation, according to Capital Airport Group’s head of property, Richard Snow, who was pleased to see his offering be successful in the competitive tender process that must be followed by government agencies such as IBA whenever they move offices. “They were able to save money by moving to new accommodation with a new fitout, and it’s next to a new subregional shopping centre,” he says. “It’s got Australia’s biggest Woolworths, Big W, 32 specialty stores, a full-service food court, Costco, Masters Home Improvement, a 25m indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, playing field, medical centre, conference centre, childcare centre, and IKEA is coming soon across the road, of course. “All the town centre amenity is there at Majura Park, so they weren’t giving anything away in that respect.”

The federal branch previously worked out of a space spread across three floors of Bonner House in Woden, and a move to somewhere fresh and inspiring with the potential to reinvigorate the organisation had been on the cards for some time. Two months later it is apparent from walking around IBA’s new digs, and observing its remarkable Aboriginalthemed fitout, that the A-grade office building at 15 Lancaster Place, Majura Park, has well and truly fulfilled this purpose and provided a vastly improved working environment. Employees going about their work in the state-of-theart building all seem happy and relaxed, but none more so than property and security manager Michael Rose, whose job it is to oversee everything to do with IBA’s facilities. “The relocation has resulted in a range of positive outcomes for IBA and its staff including a vastly improved working environment and access to a range of quality facilities,” says Rose, clearly proud to see his big project a success.

SPORTS & LIFESTYLE CLINIC

MAJURA PARK MEDICAL CENTRE ph: 6248 2600

ph: 6262 9442

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(located next to Costco) 25 Mustang Avenue Majura Park ACT 2609

CityNews June 19-25, 2014 9

Leasing at Majura Park

Looking out to Majura Park Shopping Centre from the Rainforest Hub.

Indoor plants divide the open-plan office.

Outstanding opportunity with ongoing support Moving a national office with about 120 staff and links to operations nationwide was obviously a complex task, and Rose says it carried with it a range of risks to the organisation. Now that it’s over, he couldn’t be happier with the decision to get in on some of the cutting-edge commercial real estate at one of the airport’s futuristic business and retail precincts. “I’d have to say that from day one, from our initial consultation with Capital Airport Group, they’ve shown a high level of professionalism that has flowed on, not only through lease negotiations but to postoccupancy support as well,” Rose says. “That support hasn’t changed and to me, as a property manager, there are a lot of things to think about when you sign a long-term lease. Each day that you’re accommodated there you’re assessing the success of that relocation and for me, the support that we get from CAG as a landlord and as a property management group goes way beyond my experience with other landlords.” Rose says he’s been particularly impressed with the responsiveness of the Airport’s property management staff compared to the usual situation with a real estate agency in between tenant and landlord, and the fact they are located only a short distance away at Brindabella Business Park with an in-house property management team on call 24 hours a day. “They’re here, they’re local and they’re able to respond to things quickly,” Rose says. “That ongoing relationship was another major factor in the decision-making process. I mean, it’s a 10-year lease; it’s not just a deal that’s struck and then you have no more need for contact, and they really understand that.” 10 CityNews June 19-25, 2014

A change is as good as a holiday

Michael Rose… “The relocation has resulted in a range of positive outcomes for IBA and its staff.”

A safe bet with a blank canvas Corporate property consultant Kieran McLaughlin, of 5m2 Corporate Property & Consulting Services, was the client-side project manager throughout the relocation, all the way from managing the competitive tender process to project-managing the incredible fitout that was brought to life by interior designers from Peckvonhartel and builders, Affinity Construction Management. He says that with its accessible location and new building stock, as well as a large and growing suite of nearby amenities, Majura Park was always a front-runner. “This building at 15 Lancaster was the one that stood out in terms of value for money, quality and low risk,” says McLaughlin. “With a lease expiring, timing was critical so with somewhere that was already built and ready to take a brand new fitout, there was much

less risk to the program for IBA.” Rose explains that Capital Airport Group offered the only viable option for IBA to move into an established “A-grade building”, whereas the other choices generally involved refurbishments, with more risk of delay, cost blowout or an otherwise unsatisfactory outcome. “What we had here was a tangible option; we were able to come out, have a look and it was just a matter of doing a fitout, whereas with every other place we looked at, we had to visualise a lot of little changes that would have to be done and there was always a question of how successfully that could be achieved,” he says. “It wasn’t the sole reason why IBA decided to take this option, but it was a huge consideration.” The fitout is a finalist in the MBA awards.

Rose knew the moving process would involve a degree of change management, but also recognised that the better the new accommodation, the easier the transition would be. “Nobody really likes change and for IBA, being located in Woden and connected to a shopping mall, breaking away from that was always going to be a difficult task,” he says. “We certainly had to make sure staff understood the reasons behind why we chose this as the best option for IBA, and for me, I reflect back and think about my initial perception of Majura Park itself. It’s not really until you get here and start working in such a professional environment that you really start to appreciate what it does have and what it does offer, the landscaping, the building itself, the amenities and importantly, the affordability and accessibility of parking.” At less than $3.50 a day to park, Richard Snow and the team from CAG was able to demonstrate that employees would each save about $2500 every year, compared to the going rates in other office locations. “It’s massive,” says Rose. “Some people have commitments with kids and things like that and may need to turn up to work a bit later, so to drive to work and not worry about whether or not you can get a car space makes life a lot easier and it’s much more affordable. “What we look forward to is when the weather starts getting better, so we can start promoting things like touch football games at lunchtime using the soccer field that’s just across the road there, or even just the outdoor barbecue facilities; it almost feels like you’re in a backyard out there. It’s going to be a great way to bring the team together and relax on a Friday afternoon, just to kick back and reflect on some of the things you’ve achieved during the week, which was an

opportunity that we just didn’t have where we were before.” One of the things identified in that change management process was a perception of isolation; that Majura Park is out in the middle of nowhere, when in fact it’s easily accessible for employees from all over town – Richard Snow says it’s under 10 minutes to the city – and will only get more so when the new Majura Parkway is completed. “I was able to overcome this perception of isolation myself quite early in the process because I had the opportunity to drive out to the precinct, but the key was to get that message across to other people,” Rose explains. “In terms of impact to myself and my family, I haven’t actually noticed the move in terms of travel time or anything, it’s almost identical. I live on the Belconnen side and it hasn’t affected my travel time one bit.”

Opportunity knocks “The main thing we saw in Majura Park was opportunity, and we’re very glad we took it,” says Rose; and his hired gun in the property market, Kieran McLaughlin, is equally pleased to see IBA’s vision come to life with an outcome that met or exceeded all expectations. “It’s a great product and you can deliver a great fitout to match the product – that’s the thing – and the commercial terms support all that, so it just ticks all the boxes from an occupant’s point of view,” McLaughlin says. Reflecting on Majura Park’s bright future – and IBA’s – Rose says it’s only a matter of time before other departments or organisations see the benefits of the precinct.

advertising feature Empowering indigenous people INDIGENOUS Business Australia (IBA) is an Australian Government agency that works to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people financially through home loans, joint ventures and other support to indigenous investors and business owners. “IBA’s vision is for a nation in which the First Australians are economically independent and an integral part of the economy,” according to the organisation’s recent Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which maps out how it will work to “close the gap” financially over the next two years. The agency’s Business Development and Assistance Program supports prospective and existing indigenous business owners with educational workshops, advice and guidance as well as help securing finance, while the Equity and Investments Program aims to promote self-management, self-sufficiency and economic independence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. IBA now manages about $1.1 billion in net assets and its Indigenous Home Ownership (IHO) program has led to $2 billion worth of wealth transfer to indigenous people that wouldn’t have otherwise occurred. IBA’s concessional home loans and ongoing support mostly go to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander first-home buyers who can repay a long term loan but have been unable to secure finance from the market, helping them buy existing homes, renovate them, or buy land and build on it. The level of support depends on individual circumstances; applicants

on higher incomes may need to get some of their loan from alternative sources. Historically, lenders have been unwilling to finance home ownership for indigenous Australians living on Aboriginal land where inalienable title is held by the community. The IHO program can now assist people in this situation in some jurisdictions where land tenure reforms allow them to buy their own home rather than being limited to renting social or community housing. “There is now an established program of co-lending with mainstream home loans, known as split loans, that has enabled IBA to leverage external capital and therefore deliver more home loans,” says the agency’s CEO, Chris Fry. “There is growing recognition of and support for the indigenous business sector. With this in mind, our RAP focuses on – among other things – increasing the capacity for indigenous businesses to supply goods and services to corporate and government Australia. “Another priority is building the capability of our people, including through improved representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at all levels with IBA. In this RAP we have developed a suite of initiatives that I believe will help IBA grow its cultural capability and form even stronger relationships with our customers.” IBA has more than 200 employees in 17 locations around Australia, with about half working in the Canberra head office at Majura Park.

The Kamberri Room, IBA’s biggest “meeting place”, features a painting representing people coming together by Duncan Smith.

Looking into the Rainforest Hub from a meeting room.

A place for space

Pukumani poles from the Tiwi Islands in IBA’s executive area.

lunchroom and multi-purpose collaborative meeting space filled with unusual decor that THE first thing you notice when you visit Indighosted 140 people at the office-warming party. enous Business Australia’s shiny new national This is one government office you couldn’t get office at 15 Lancaster Place, Majura Park, is the lost in. space. “It’s a fresh and colourful environment that There’s plenty of space to park a car and the staff love,” says Rose as we begin the tour, plenty of space as well in the glass-walled explaining that the plywood walls around the lobby, which features high ceilings, large lifts central core of the office are part of the desert and a luxuriously wide staircase leading up to theme. the second floor, where IBA’s equally spacious Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks reception area is located. abound in the IBA office but one pattern stands The second thing you notice is the sunlight, out as it is repeated everywhere, painted on which makes it a very calming place when it glass panels, etched into exposed plywood pours into all the open space, which continues and printed on the cover of a glossy brochure throughout the entire 2650 square metres now explaining IBA’s recent project, the Reconciliaoccupied by IBA due to the efficiency of the fitout tion Action Plan 2014-16. delivered by design firm Peckvonhartel. The third The design is by artist Jeremy “Mudgai” Devitt thing is the incredible design expertise applied and represents a wattle flower, Rose explains, throughout, which has left the people who have which is immediately obvious as soon as he to work there for the next decade looking happy, says so. This important plant can be used for relaxed and focused on their work. boomerangs and medicine, its yellow blossoms “We’ve been able to celebrate an indigenous coincide with the best season to catch mullet theme throughout, but a national, inclusive and it also grows widely across the continent, one because we’re a national organisation, so much as IBA works for indigenous people we’ve gone with the Rainbow Serpent and really anywhere in Australia. captured the saltwater, freshwater and desert Little informal meeting spaces are scattered environments,” says IBA property and security throughout the office – including one with a manager Michael Rose, as we take a seat on a set whiteboard covering an entire wall – to fulfil of funky blue couches in the middle of a wide IBA’s key requirement that the new office space open space called the Rainforest Hub, a kitchen, enhance collaboration between staff.

Kieran McLaughlin… “Value for money, quality and low risk.” “I heard the other day that some people complain they spend too much time in meetings, having meetings about meetings,” Rose jokes. “You can see we’ve left these spaces open, because we don’t want to over-formalise every little meeting.” “Another other change to reduce the clutter is we’ve taken our EL2s out of offices and replaced that with these ‘quiet rooms’ you’ll see around the place. There’s about five of these and they don’t get booked; basically when the executives need to lock themselves away and work on something, maybe join a videoconference or just make a private phone call, they use one of these rooms.” Executives and human resources staff needed their own spaces, Rose explains, and by using glass partitions they now have the ability to cordon themselves off without a sense of being segregated from the wider team. “It’s quite subtle,” says Kieran McLaughlin, a property consultant who assisted IBA throughout the process of selecting the accommodation and the fitout. “The brief to the architect was to have an indigenous theme, but not ‘in your face’, to present a corporate environment but not overly corporate, or the typical government office style, where you’re faced with a blank wall and you ring for someone to come and get you. That was certainly not on the cards here.” CityNews June 19-25, 2014 11

Leasing at Majura Park / advertising feature

“It’s planned out properly,” says Richard Snow. “You’ve got nice places to walk, the gardens are well maintained and you can access the shopping centre easily.”

Photo by Ginette Snow

The secret’s all in the planning CAPITAL Airport Group’s head of property, Richard Snow, says the ultra-modern office buildings at Majura Park offer spaces suitable for organisations large and small, from a whole Commonwealth department or agency down to spaces as small as 400-500 square metres. The parking is cheap and there’s also plenty of it, eliminating the daily struggle to find a space in the morning and the dread of going somewhere at lunchtime and being forced to leave your car in the next suburb. For those who prefer to travel by bus, ACTION services run to Majura Park every half an hour in peak times, while Qcity (formerly Deane’s) ferries people to and from Queanbeyan several times a day. “And it’s planned out properly,” Snow adds, “so you’ve got nice places to walk, the gardens are well maintained and you can access the shopping centre easily.” Majura Park’s comprehensive amenities include a shopping centre, childcare centre, 25-metre pool, gym and a large medical centre while right beside the office buildings are a soccer field and barbecue facilities. Next door to IBA at 11 Lancaster Place is the Majura Park Conference Centre, which boasts world-class facilities for big meetings including a 97-seat tiered theatre. What Capital Airport Group can offer those on the lookout for office space really is unlike anything else out there. “If you’ve got a building in the city, you’re just leasing those four walls and that’s it,” says Snow. “That’s pretty much where it starts and stops, whereas we’re about providing very high quality accommodation as well as the landscaping, the conferencing facilities, recreation facilities, shopping precinct, the ability to easily park your car and everything else as a package of environment and workplace, rather than just the tenancy.” He points out Capital Airport Group is also in the unique position to master plan its precincts such as Majura Park, applying a cohesive vision in the short, medium and long term. “Unlike the city, where you can’t control what building’s put next to yours, we have complete control over what we do and we manage everything down to the landscaping and facilities management, and we’re a phone call away; we can be in your building in five minutes to fix any problem you might have.” 12 CityNews June 19-25, 2014

“Wattle” by artist Jeremy “Mudgai” Devitt etched in wood.

The lobby of 15 Lancaster Place.

Photo by Ginette Snow

Where energy efficiency goes to work

A kid’s eye view from the childcare centre. Photo by Ginette Snow

ONE major benefit of moving into a cuttingedge building at Majura Park is the energy efficiency of such an environmentally friendly building. 15 Lancaster Place uses one of Australia’s first Tri-generation plants, which use natural gas to provide highly efficient heating, cooling and hot water while also producing electricity. The plant reduces carbon emissions to a point far below the requirements to achieve a five-star NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) rating, producing electricity about 45 per cent more efficiently than a coal-fired power station. The Majura Park buildings also have water recycling systems, used recycled steel and concrete in construction and meet the Green Building Council of Australia’s prestigious 5 Green Star standard in the Office Design v2 category, all of which were Australian firsts when achieved at Capital Airport Group’s Brindabella Business Park precinct.

“We’re just now working on an energy management plan, and it’s going to be really good to see the long-term benefits come in,” says IBA’s property manager Michael Rose, pointing out the lights, which automatically turn off as the light increases and turn back on as they are needed. “We expect to see our electricity and all those sorts of outgoings for utilities to be lower than in our previous accommodation.” The newer office’s green credentials not only mean lower costs but also healthier and happier employees working more productively as well as a lower environmental footprint. Rose jokes that air-conditioning systems, whether they’re malfunctioning or just baking some staff and freezing others, are usually the bane of a facilities manager’s existence. “I haven’t had one complaint yet about temperature; it’s really nice to be in a work environment where office temperature is not a major issue,” he says.

scene / around canberra

invite us / scene@citynews.com.au

Social event of the week / Russia Day reception, Gandel Hall THE formula for national days may vary, but putting on your best look is a must. And Russian National Day had a handsome bunch of young diplomats who make up the embassy list of all levels of secretary, counsellors and specialists mixing and mingling with multilingual expertise and disarmingly charming candour at their National Day at Gandel Hall. On display was a little girl’s treasure trove of babushkas, matryoshkas and decorated dolls with more

bling than a Tsarina and more make-up than a Bolshoi ballerina. There was also distinctive Russian artwork, newspapers and piroshkis probably good for a homesick Muscovite, with the continuous and impressive photo gallery on stage and that soaring Russian anthem, always sung by a formidable army choir. Then for the formalities, a well-researched Australian photo gallery and the “extended” Australian anthem with subtitles, and the ambassador’s short speech hastily getting us back to socialising. The vodka hit the spot. One must, of course, imbibe and, as ambassador Morozov suggested, finding a friend with plenty of lemons is the perfect accompaniment. Finding a way through the diplomatic niceties and expectations for the G20 summit is a work in progress.

LYN MILLS

El Salvador ambassador Manuel Gutierrez-Ruiz and Fernando Gutierrez

Russian ambassador Vladimir Morozov and his wife Elena

Adelaide Petrov, Larissa Ionina, Alex Kuznetsov and Igot Chibisov

Maria Teresa Cisneros de Davila and Ibelise Escobar

Esteban Melgarejo, Jason Shea and Paulina Duchicela

Patrick and Karla Bogaart with Victoria and Charles Muscat

Vincent Dubail and John Tuckwell

Elena Dmitrieva, Evgeny Lutchenko and Lilia Dzhumagalieva

A ‘blinged’ beauty

Ludmilla Larkina

www.facebook.com/canberrababyexpo

CityNews June 19-25, 2014 13

scene / around canberra At the ‘Henry V’ opening night, The Playhouse

Maddy Friend and Jess Griffiths

Steve Pyne and Jan Walker

John, Gillian and Robyn Unger with Sifu Kahonde

Maree Swann and Tamara Gervasoni

Sophie Hedditch and Billie Miles

Sarah Collins, Amelia Henty and Moya Collett

Pat Bourke and Jan Jolliffe

Barry and Constance Hurst

Photos by Andrew Finch

At the ‘Intimate Obsessions’ opening, CCAS Manuka

Chloe Wozniak and Caitlin Kozman

Thomas Arbaut and Hayley Thomas

Madeleine Ward, Adam De Cruz and Ana Mihoe

Anja Loughhead and Gus McGrath

Mitch Thompson and Nick Clarke

Stephen and Brenda Lander with Jennie Murray and Nicholas Gerhard

Hannah and Wendy Ross

Sarina and Mikhaila Jurkiewicz

At the Deloitte Discussion event, National Press Club

Walk in to treatment for MINOR INJURY or ILLNESS

OPENING SOON Located at the Tuggeranong and Belconnen Community Health Centres 7.30 am – 10 pm daily

Treasurer Andrew Barr and Chris Richardson

Louise Curtis and Vivien Mitchell

The Walk-in Centre at Canberra Hospital will remain open until the new centres are operational. Paul Kane and Graeme Swinton

14 CityNews June 19-25, 2014

Melissa Cabban and Denis Guglielmin

Rachel Peck, Steven Kartsonas and Lynne Pezzullo

Peter Matwijiw and Stephanie Burgess

Michael Costello and Paul Walshe

Adam Peppinck and Saxton Rose

Daniel Stewart and David Pembroke

You don’t have to be wealthy to invest, you have to invest to be wealthy

Local Property Experts Helping Canberrans Build a Safe, Secure & Successful Financial Future WE’VE all heard stories of ordinary working mums and dads, middle-aged people at the end of their careers and ambitious youngsters turning to property investment and racking up serious capital gains in only a few short years, but how do they do it? Australia’s Property “Straight Shooters” and Investment Experts, Peter and Tony from local Canberra business, Prosperity Property Advisors have more than 40 years’ experience in property investment between them. Tony and Peter have been in the property and construction industry since their late teens, Peter in electrical and project management, and Tony has a builder/development background. Peter says the key to investing in the right place at the right time is the right education. “Timing is crucial,” it’s like buying shares, you have to buy at the right time but most Australians buy the top of the property cycle, which is the worst time.” “Unfortunately, Australians are among the worst in the world at investing; super hasn’t gained very much and most people don’t have anywhere near enough put away for their future.” Tony says.

Prosperity is unique because they look at each client individually, because everyone has different wants, needs and goals. They are about finding the best solutions for each and every client. Through their proven property selection matrix, research professionals and connections, they help their clients invest Australia wide at the optimum time in a property cycle for that location. As many clients are looking to buy new, Prosperity Property has strong partnerships with high-quality builders and developers all around the country. Peter says “we advise our clients to purchase in locations identified as the next hotspots through cross referencing an extensive range of data and our on-site due diligence. We do not recommend locations we have not Peter Ingram, left, and and his business partner Tony Barber… will be dispensing physically inspected ourselves.” wisdom on Tuesday evening, June 24, at the Weston Creek Labor Club, Stirling. Tony says, “We look at the supply reasons such as saving thousands on critical elements which need to be met in the market and what infrastructure stamp duty, little to no maintenance for maximum returns: capital growth, is being constructed or planned. costs and stress, maximum depreciarental cash flow to start to replace Infrastructure drives growth – through tion and high rental demand. your income, tax benefits and through the upgrade of a town centre, a new “It’s easy to buy property, but the right financial structure Prosperity train line, new hospitals or schools hard to invest in property for highest clients can also eliminate risk and pay which in turn increases land values; returns.” Tony says “most Australians off their family homes much sooner, it’s a no brainer. Another key growth need to invest for their financial with no extra payments. factor, new infrastructure drives jobs futures and it’s not only timing in the When clients are looking to invest which drives population growth and property cycle, but time-in the market. in new, Prosperity’s ongoing relationin turn, drives housing demand. Therefore, you can’t afford to invest for ships with developers mean lower In Australia the average vacancy just okay returns.” rate is around 3.9 per cent so it needs purchase prices for clients than they You shouldn’t jump in and invest to be well under that, for us to consider could otherwise get, by as much as without the right education, a personal $50,000 in some cases, and adds for investment.” plan, research and due diligence, build “Whether you are looking at investing that building a high-quality new home also makes sense for a range of other quality control and surrounded by the in existing or new property, there are

right associated professionals. This is where Prosperity really excel with their tried, tested and proven property investment blueprint to a safe, secure and successful financial future. The Directors at Prosperity regularly host information evenings, corporate workshops, webinars, and tailored oneon-one meetings to provide the best information for all types of investors. Luckily for Canberra locals, Tony and Peter will be sharing such wisdom this Tuesday evening, June 24, at the Weston Creek Labor Club in Stirling. The free seminar on Tuesday night will also feature an introduction to financial structures that benefit the investor, not the bank, courtesy of David Thomas, Managing Director of Trilogy Property Funding. “We’ll also go through our property investors blueprint which explains the critical elements to property investing, identify the hotspots to get into the market before the masses. There’s no selling, no BS, no hype; it’s just straight facts on how to invest.”

Information night: 6:30 pm Tuesday, June 24 at Weston Creek Labor Club, Teesdale Close, Stirling.

Bookings to: prosperitypropertyadvisors.com.au/ safetynet Prosperity Property Advisors, Unit 8, 13-19 Botany Street, Phillip. Call 6162 1506

Is your Super and Savings Enough? Find out how to secure your family’s financial future sooner Property Investment Information Night LEARN ABOUT: • Our tried, tested and proven property investment blueprint • Australia’s hottest investment locations • Finding the right property solution for you – new, established, SMSF, NRAS, etc • Replacing your income in years, not decades • And much, much more

WHEN: Tuesday, 24 June 2014, 6.15pm for a 6.30pm start WHERE: Weston Creek Labor Club COST: Complimentary – Drinks and canapés to be provided

Register online and share your ticket to go in the draw to win a $250 Westfield gift card! All attendees will receive a *Future Investor Pack valued at $2,400. *Conditions apply

Croatia Statehood Day / June 25

Struggle proves CROATIA celebrates Statehood Day on June 25, marking the nation’s Declaration of Independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1991.

Dubrovnik on Croatia’s Adriatic Sea coast was listed as one of the World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO in 1979.

a very long history, stretching back well over 1000 years to the age of kings and emperors. Croatia first became a kingdom in the 9th Century AD and retained its sovereignty for two centuries before joining with neighbouring Hungary under the same monarchy. About a month earlier the people had This state of affairs lasted another 400 spoken with 93 per cent voting “yes” to years or so until 1526, when King Louis independence. It was a dream come true for II of Croatia, Hungary and Bohemia died many Croats – including those in Australia – without an heir. Threatened by the armies of but powerful Serbian-aligned forces inside the conquering Ottoman Empire, Croatia’s and outside the country were willing to fight nobles got together the next year to select to keep it from self-rule. a new king who could protect the country. Although independence did not take This brought Croatia under the protection effect until three months later on October of the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand I, a 8, which is now celebrated as Independmember of the powerful Habsburg Empire ence Day, the declaration on June 25 also whose older brother was Charles V, the Holy sparked the beginning of Croatia’s War of Roman Emperor. Independence, which lasted until 1995, and Croatia has always belonged in Europe, so Statehood Day is a solemn reminder of culturally, historically and geographically, this terrible conflict, too. and its accession to the European Union Local forces eventually turned the tide last July truly brought it back in from the against a more powerful, well-equipped cold and has shown the world this young enemy and at the end of the war Croatia was democracy is open for business. absolutely devastated, but it had defended “Becoming a member of the European itself and retained its territory. Union has widely opened the new business On their National Day Croatians express opportunities, profiling the country and its gratitude to all who took part in the creation prestige geographic position as the natural of independent Croatia, including its business gate for trade and the goods defence and liberation. incoming to 500 million people’s single Independence after the end of the Cold European market,” says ambassador Dr War was a new beginning for a nation with Damir Kusen.

- Escorted small group special journeys - Tours in English only - Unique highlights

Contact Croatia Tours: 1300 232 218 www.croatiatours.com.au

The statue of King Tomislav in Zagreb. Tomislav reigned from 910 to 928, first as Duke of Dalmatia and then as King of Croatia.

Croatia Deakin Soccer Club INC would like to congratulate the Republic of Croatia on the

23rd Anniversary of Statehood (Croatian National Day) and are proud sponsors of this feature

16 CityNews June 19-25, 2014

dreams come true “The main Croatian seaports along the sador says. “In recent years, Croatia has become deep Adriatic Sea have come into the focus a new home for more and more who recognize of foreign investors from around the world. A its potential as an attractive life destination.” highly developed infrastructure and thousands of kilometres of modern highways offer the unique opportunity to bring the goods to the European market faster and cheaper. Rapidly increasing export of the European goods to the world-wide destinations uses more and more the Croatian seaport facilities to do the business better.” Now the increasingly prosperous country of more than four million citizens looks to a bright future driven especially by tourism, and in this regard it’s very lucky. “The crystal blue Adriatic Sea with thousands of islands, numerous national parks and stunningly beautiful and preserved natural variety and biodiversity, as well as the rich cultural and historical heritage attracts 12 million foreign tourists per year to Croatia,” says Dr Kusen. “This is three times the population of the country. Numerous medieval, renaissance and baroque towns offer the unique experience to enjoy the beauty of the world cultural heritage.” More and more Australians every year are enjoying Croatia’s amazing natural beauty, its cultural heritage and of course its delicious food and wine. “Croatia is an open country welcoming all who would like to pay a visit, either a business trip or choosing Croatia as an enjoyable holiday destination and a place where it is easy to enhance the wellbeing experience,” the ambas-

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 Multicultural  Friendly  Family orientated  Quality in-house kitchen  Variety of quality activities Established in 1994 by the Canberra and Queanbeyan Croatian community. Created by the many selfless volunteers in admin and construction. Adria Village was named after the Adriatic sea where it is renowned for its unique landscapes, islands and history.

Adria Village has 36 independent living units and 42 low care, high care and dementia rooms incorporating 2 respite rooms with the very best of care provided by quality trained and caring nurses and care staff.

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Canberra Confidential

Know something? / confidential@citynews.com.au

Power to the people... WE loved the innocent spin to ActewAGL’s thumping price rise announcement last week. Coyly headed: “Changes to ActewAGL’s electricity and gas prices”, the company blusters about how the regulator has saddled them with a 4.3 per cent rise in electricity, then two thirds down the missive is the lumpy news that the unregulated gas price is leaping a staggering 14.5 per cent. But that’s not their fault, either; it’s the “increasing influence of international markets on Australia’s gas prices”. Perversely, for the nail-biting public servant clients, the only hope of price relief is if Tony Abbott reverses the carbon price, which ActewAGL promises “to pass on to our customers in full”. We’re all rooting for the PM, then?

No Joy on the net WE know tweeting isn’t her strong suit, but has Education Minister Joy Burch now let her personal domain name lapse? CC wondered after visiting www. joyburch.com.au to be confronted not with the anticipated spin of her good works as a member for Brindabella, but with a page headed: ‘Creation of Your Own Solar Power Panels”.

Paul Keating hmmms…

On tour at home

The Cup floweth over WORLD Cup fever seems to have disoriented journo Henry Belot, whose “Canberra Times” guide to where to watch the Brazilian event included “The Turner Bowls Club in Barton”. The Barton-based Rugby Union Club owns the Turner Bowls Club, but we understand they like to keep it in Turner. BUT if you can’t find the TBC in Barton, why not stay home and simulate all the World Cup excitement with table football? Pictured is the Teckell Cristallino table from UK luxury lifestyle store Chaplins, made with crystal

and polished aluminium with a sleek design and a snip at only £11,995 (around $A22,000) excluding postage.

ONLY days now until the Tour de Lounge starts, with cycling fans around Australia gearing up to pedal along with the Tour de France peloton from July 5. In aid of the Leukaemia Foundation, participants pick a challenge – Tour de Lounge, 1000kms; Rouleur’s Dream, 500kms or Sprinters Cup, 250km – saddle up their exercise bikes in front of the telly and get spinning. Participants can clock up their kilometres during the 23 days of the Tour de France in their lounge, on the road or in the gym. Sign up or donate at tourdelounge.com

Guilty secrets? IN Belconnen, the WeightWatchers’ franchise sits right next door to The Cheescake Shop.

“THE Book of Paul”, a waggish little volume devoted to the wit and wisdom of former PM Paul Keating, bounced into the in tray this week reminding CC of how much his turn of phrase is missed in today’s House of Reps. Remember when Keating had this to say: Of John Howard: “The old coconut’s still there, Araldited to his seat.” Of Peter Costello: “The thing about poor old Costello is he is all tip and no iceberg.” Of Andrew Peacock: “What we have is an intellectual rust bucket.” Of John Hewson: “[His performance is] like being flogged with a warm lettuce.” Of Tony Abbott: “If Tony Abbott ends up the Prime Minister of Australia, you’ve got to say, God help us.” Of Joe Hockey: “‘The Shrek’, whoever he was on the television this morning. What’s his name?” “The Book of Paul” (Black Inc.), rrp $9.99.

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18 CityNews June 19-25, 2014

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arts & entertainment

Wendy Johnson The Girl’s still got it

Factory that turns out comedy and tragedy IF you’re to believe Aleni Tufuga, Australia is the new New Zealand, “the new land of milk and honey”, with a large influx of Pacific Islanders enriching our cultural shore with their multifarious talents. I’ve noticed it, too. The most obvious ones might be huge hunky footballers, but I’ve interviewed a couple of huge hunky Samoan opera singers, too, and some of the canniest lawyers I know are Samoans, just like Tufuga. He’ll be seen here soon in the hugely successful Pacific Islander musical called “The Factory”, by Vela Manusaute, a mixture of “Romeo and Juliet” and “Sione’s Wedding”, the silly comedy film set in Auckland from a few years ago. Tufuga, a founding member of Kila Kokonut Krew and a never-out-of-work actor, was in that movie and has very

Helen Musa arts editor

successfully combined straight theatre, comedy, TV and film in his career. In “The Factory” he plays the Samoan father, Kavana, who like so many Pacific Islander families in the 1970s, brings his daughter Losa to NZ for new opportunities. There, sadly but inevitably, she falls in love with the factory boss’ “palagi” (white European) son, and the plot thickens. This kind of thing happened regularly in the ‘70s, Tufuga tells me, and it still happens. After his own carpenter dad brought him and his siblings from their idyllic remote village of Asau in Samoa, he dated a NZ girl and encountered an angry father just like Richard in “The Factory”, who regarded islanders as invaders. But while a story of migrant workers travelling to NZ may have some grim

and tragic overtones, on the whole this “migrant story” is a positive one, and Auckland is now rated the largest Polynesian city in the world. Entertainment is the object of the show, and as Tufuga predicts: “You’ll get to fall in love, you’ll get to have a laugh, and you’ll want to get up and dance.” That’s because it’s a musical, full of fantastic 1970s dance numbers (“real music”, he says, “not like the music now”) with a proper live band. And there’s plenty of comedy in it, as you’d expect from a member of Kila Kokonut Krew, which is staging the show. What’s not to like about this show? It’s got comedy, it’s got tragedy, it’s got revenge, it’s got violence, it’s got songs, it’s got a mixed cast including Tongans, Samoans and Niueans – no wonder it’s packing them in. “The Factory”, Canberra Theatre, June 24-25, bookings to canberratheatre centre. com.au or 675 2700.

Actor Aleni Tufuga… “You’ll get to fall in love, you’ll get to have a laugh, and you’ll want to get up and dance.” Photo by Andrew Malmo

A new Page opens on success By Helen Musa

WITH Hunter Page-Lochard’s antecedents, he could hardly have ended up anywhere but the performing arts.

“Henry V”... entertaining and thoroughly relevant theatre event. Photo by Michele Mossop

Inspired metaphor in wartime ‘Henry’ BELL Shakespeare revives theatre’s power to transform in its startling production of Shakespeare’s “Henry V”. The innovative collaboration between director, Damien Ryan, and designer, Anna Gardner, freed up a strong cast to play and release that pent-up energy so often constrained by Shakespeare’s texts. The production simply vibed with comic absurdity while not losing touch with a deeper almost sacred undercurrent of prevailing tragic consequence. The personal weaving of political power and its often petty motivations was highlighted by Michael Sheasby’s portrayal of Henry. He characterises with ease this idealistic, if not naïve, young man caught up by his own deceptions and hereditary forces. The clever Henry is never reconciled to the contradictions of his horrendous actions. And neither is the nation that still finds nostalgia in his success! The high level of theatricality

theatre

“Henry V” By William Shakespeare, directed by Damien Ryan, Bell Shakespeare At The Playhouse, until June 28. Reviewed by Joe Woodward is given some grounding by Keith Agius’ “Chorus”. As we listen to his well-articulated commentary we are invited to consider the playfulness of the show with the political and human reality that underpins so much of it. The image of people finding solace in great literature while trapped in a bombed-out building during wartime is an appropriate, if not inspired, metaphor to highlight the play’s theme. The youthful students of today are really of a similar age as the larger-than-life participants in history. “Henry V” is a most entertaining and thoroughly relevant theatre event.

His father is Stephen Page, the eminent choreographer and founder of Bangarra dance theatre. And Lochard is his mother Cynthia Lochard, one of Sydney’s top Pilates teachers and former dancer with the New York City Ballet and the Sydney Dance Company. I’m talking by phone to the eloquent 20-year-old actor – he’ll turn 21 on July 4 – about his role in “Around the Block”, which premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival with critics calling it “Aussie’s film triumph”. The film, which also stars Christina Ricci and Jack Thompson, will have a short theatrical window in June before being released on DVD and Canberra will get to meet Page-Lochard later this month at a Q&A. Needless to say, Page-Lochard was raised backstage and while, unlike his parents, he never undertook any formal theatrical training, he was always what he called “a quiet observer” from the wings.

“It’s what my father taught me to do,” he says, “and it was the best possible training.” It also gave him an edge on other young people as, armed with a course in screenwriting at the Australian Film Television and Radio School, he now defines his life objectives as “to be able to observe and to be able to write”. “I’ve got a lot of ideas, I’m only 20 but I’ve got a lot of things in place,” he tells “CityNews”. “Around the Block” is set in WA, but it could be anywhere. It shows what happens when a young boy (his role) encounters an American drama teacher who energises him and shows him how to escape the cycle of revenge initiated by his manipulative older brother after their father is unjustly jailed. “The boy wants to do good for his family but the brother wants revenge,” Page-Lochard says, suggesting that there are strong overtones of “Hamlet” in the film. “In the end, drama is inspiring to the boy,” he says. “Around the Block” Q&A and screening, Limelight Cinema, Tuggeranong, 6.30pm, Wednesday, June 25. Bookings to limelightcinemas.com.au

Hunter Page-Lochard in “Around the Block”... “The boy wants to do good for his family but the brother wants revenge.” Photo by Alina Gozin’a

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arts & entertainment / cinema

arts in the city

Unlovely ‘Rover’ leaves questions “The Rover” (MA) CO-WRITER (with Joel Edgerton) and director David Michöd’s powerful outback thriller hit the ground running with expectations of great promise. After a decade of economic stagnation accompanied by the abandonment of law and order, former soldier Eric (Guy Pearce), stopping for a drink at an outback village, sees three guys making off with his car. The film tells of the lengths he must go to get it back. We learn the nature of the obsession driving this plot about five seconds before the final credits roll, after about a minute in which inwardly to conjecture “a-ha, is that why we’ve endured all this killing and anger and social collapse?” “The Rover” delivers a large butcher’s bill. Eric is the last character standing. The explanation for his uncompromising behaviour is so simple that we may exit the cinema thinking, yes, moral restraint carries little weight when a world turned topsy-turvy by a monstrous economic cataclysm drives people to kill people they’ve scarcely met. Eric really doesn’t care what happens to him once he gets the car back. His emotional decline began when he shot his wife and the man he found intimately fingering her. Eric’s companion along outback roads is Rey (Robert Pattinson), the intellectually-incomplete younger brother of Henry (Scoot McNairy) who before fleeing in Eric’s car left Rey on the ground believing he was dead. These three are the film’s only characters with a continuing screen presence.

Michöd’s staging admires the SA outback between bouts of shooting people while telling a story devoid of humour and not overburdened by compassion. While “The Rover” isn’t lovely, it doesn’t explain how things got how it depicts them, but it’s not easy to pass by as insignificant. At Dendy, Capitol 6 and Palace Electric

“The Face of Love” (M)

IN his second feature, director and co-writer (with Matthew McDuffie) Arie Posin stretches credulity close to bursting point. Never mind. It just possibly might be possible. Annette Bening plays Nikki, living in the California house designed by her beloved husband of 30 years Gareth (Ed Harris), who drowned five years previously. She’s gobsmacked when a passing man looks exactly like Gareth. As well he might, “Blended” (PG) because Ed Harris also plays art teacher Tom. THIS family-based comedy is lazy film-making. Posin says he got the idea for the story from his Director Frank Coraci could have, should have, mother who thought she saw her late husband imposed more rigorous control over Ivan Menchell crossing the road one day. Nikki contrives to meet (after a career in TV sitcoms) and Clare Sera’s Tom. Love blooms. Nikki shares with us the secret screenplay. Coraci is also guilty of succumbing that she withholds from everyone else in her life, to that adage as old as cinema: “When in doubt, Tom most of all. show wildlife”. Much of the film is a bland observation of two The film opens with widower Jim (Adam people getting good things from love. Tom’s Sandler), father of three girls, on a doomed blind daughter drops his secret to keep us on edge while date with Lauren (Drew Barrymore) whose two we wait to find out which of the pair will reveal his/ boys’ father has left her for a trophy partner. her secret first. And what that will do to love. After a convoluted lead up, Jim, Lauren and Bening, now in her late their broods find themselves at a South African 50s, looks delectable. holiday resort (there are grounds for believing And she’s a damn fine that the resort sequences were actually filmed in actress. Harris has Buford, South Carolina). always delivered Barrymore and a gang of black men, possibly solid performances. real Africans, performing song and dance numbers Jess Weixler’s hissy fit at the resort, are the film’s most satisfying eleis fun and slightly scary ments. Not much value for nearly two hours ! to watch. At Dendy, Hoyts and Limelight At Palace Electric

DOUGAL MACDONALD

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“From Galaxies to Gumleaves”... cast members are aged 6-14 years.

Songs, animals and an alien... By Helen Musa PIED Piper Productions have “From Galaxies to Gumleaves”, a fantastic story about a spaceship crashing in the Australian bush, complete with bright songs, animal characters and one alien. Cast members are aged 6-14 years and the show runs for about 50 minutes at St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, Manuka, 10am, on June 25 and 26. All tickets $5 cash at the door. THE National Capital Orchestra Concert will join Igitur Nos Choir at 3pm, Sunday, June 22, in St Paul’s Anglican Church, Manuka, for an impressive concert. Vaughan Williams’ “Overture: The Wasps”, Finzi’s “In Terra Pax”, Strauss’ introduction from “Also Sprach Zarathustra” and Saint-Saëns’ “Organ” Symphony will be conducted by Matthew Stuckings. Bookings to nco.org.au IT’S time to enter for the choirs section of the Australian National Eisteddfod. The big change this year is that there is a new section on

the Saturday night – The Australian Choral Challenge – with prize money totalling $18,000. Entries close on July 4 and the syllabus is available at nationaleisteddfod.org.au SCHOOL of Music graduate, soprano Krystle Innes, has won a place in the Masters in Voice Performance course at the Royal College of Music, but before she goes she will head up a fundraising winter solstice concert of operatic favourites at Wesley Music Centre at 3pm on Sunday, June 22. Bookings to trybooking.com/EYAB and donations to https://fundly.com/ help-send-krystle-to-the-royalcollege-of-music-london YARRALUMLA Uniting Church Centre has its famous annual midwinter show at the centre in Denman St, Yarralumla on June 27-29. The official opening will be at 6pm on Friday, June 27, and includes a short fashion show with refreshments to follow. Over the weekend, there are free concerts each afternoon.

Queanbeyan Players Inc. Presents

Music and Lyrics by

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20 CityNews June 19-25, 2014

Perfect for the whole family, even parents! Giggle along as your children laugh-out-loud at this multi-award winning theatre show featuring six whimsical stories by children’s writer, Pamela Allen WINNER

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Musical Director Jennifer Groom

Choreographer Christina Philipp

dining

The Girl’s still got it IT had been ages since I popped in to dine at Soju Girl on Northbourne Avenue in the historic Melbourne Building and I kick myself for waiting so long since this continues to be an amazing food experience. Chef Derek Brown, who has worked in classy operations and lived in Thailand working with locals, creates exquisite dishes that are a feast for the eyes as well as for the palette, delicately combining ingredients on the plate to form individual pieces of art. And then there’s the flavour. No boring food here. None whatsoever. Soju Girl’s menu celebrates influences from all over south-east Asia, fusing Korean, Japanese and Thai cuisine. You’re encouraged to explore by sharing and plates come in two sizes – large and small. The restaurant is named after the Korean rice spirit – Soju – which was first distilled around the 13th century and means “burnt liquor”. Korea is famous for the signature cocktails it makes with Soju. The spirit will blow your head off if you’re not careful. We adored the Bibimbap of the day, a signature Korean dish, with this one featuring black sesame Tasmanian salmon, rainbow radish and pretty violas. My friend, who had dined at Soju Girl about a month earlier, wanted more of the cauliflower florets, a delicate dish served with

light horseradish foam. You can’t go wrong ordering this option. The chef is experimenting with a “rice bowl of the day”. Ask if it’s on the menu on your visit because it’s worth every mouthful. Ours was created with slow-braised pork, aromatic herbs, and chard kimchi. The flavours packed a punch. So did the smoked trout from the pristine waters of the Snowy Mountains, served with fresh green papaya, wasabi leaves and cashew chilli. This has got to be the bestquality trout available in this part of the world. Soju Girl is celiac heaven in many ways, with Derek offering many dishes to suit. The tofu is popular with the crispy chickpeas adding texture and the house-made, yellow-bean sauce adding a touch of glamour. Curries are equally popular with the kitchen using quality ingredients and putting heaps of tender loving care into creating them (if done well, curries are labour intensive). Soju Girl has a cocktail lounge as you walk in and then elegant dining

areas to the right and to the left – perfect spaces for larger functions. It was knowledgeable service with a smile throughout our visit. What a great place to dine. The restaurant is part of the 2617 Group, with other members being Ellacure and Versatile.

CityNews.com.au

Winter dining

Soju Girl, 41-43 Northbourne Avenue, Civic, open Tuesday to Saturday, call 6257 5328.

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65 Northbourne Ave, Canberra City - Phone: (02) 6262 6522 Located below the Novotel Hotel on the corner of Northbourne Ave and Rudd St. CityNews June 19-25, 2014 21

gardening

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For the love of lingering lilies ONE of florists’ favourite flowers is the lilium (or lily) because they can be delivered in bud and open slowly over one to two weeks. Equally so for those who love to have flowers in the home, now is the time to plant lilies. There are more than 80 recorded species belonging to this genus, all from the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. With the range of varieties and colours available, no garden is complete without them. The bulbs are easy to grow in a sunny spot provided the soil has perfect drainage. They will not tolerate heavy clay soils that can become waterlogged in wet weather. In such soils, mix in coarse washed river sand combined with other organic matter, such as rotted leaves, which are plentiful at present. Alternatively, plant in a raised bed for drainage. It is important not to plant the bulb too deep with no more than 2-3 cm of soil over the bulb. Lilies are synonymous with St Anthony, the wonder worker of Padua, always shown in pictures with white lilies. It is part of tradition in Christian art to use lilies as a symbol of purity when portraying Our Lady and the Saints. Lilies are of particular significance with this saint as they flower in Europe on St Anthony’s Feast Day, June 13. Lilies can be seen growing wild along the road near Mogo, out of Batemans Bay. It has been suggested that as they multiply so readily they should be classed as an environmental weed. You can guess my thoughts on that! LIRIODENDRON tulipifera, or tulip tree, with its flowers resembling big tulip-shaped flowers and distinctive leaves is a superb, large deciduous tree for shade even without the flowers. It is said that it takes seven years to flower. We had one in a previous house and, yes, it came delightfully into flower in its seventh year. A plant that takes up considerably less space is the climber Lapageria albiflora “White Cloud” or Chilean

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The winner of Cedric Bryant’s copy of “Grow Your Own Vegetables” by Alan Buckingham, is Karen Borchers, of Garran.

22 CityNews June 19-25, 2014

16/06/2014 4:07 pm

It’s lily planting time… no garden is complete without them. Bellflower. It has taken ours six years to reach 1.5m and produce one flower. And in the past week, in its seventh year, it has three flowers. Is it worth growing? A look at the flowers and the answer is a definite yes, especially as it flowers in winter. There is also a rose-coloured variety L.a. “Rosea”. I would be interested in hearing from readers who may be growing this delightful climber of their success or otherwise. “HOW do I get rid of ants on my shrubs?” is a frequent question to me. Do not be in a hurry to get rid of ants if you see them climbing up trees and shrubs. Ants are friends of the gardener. Often ants are an indicator of scale insects that suck all the goodness, especially the sugars, out of leaves. Ants, as we all know, love sugar and will attack the scale insects for that sugar. They also attack aphids for the same honeydew, protecting such other friendlies as ladybirds. They are only a nuisance when they get inside the home or build nests under paving. But treat them as friends in your garden.

Lapageria albiflora “White Cloud” or Chilean Bellflower… six years to flower.

DIARY date: The Horticultural Society will conduct rose-pruning demonstrations on Saturday, July 19 in the Woodfield’s garden at 1 Spence Place, Hughes, and on Sunday, July 20 at the society’s demonstration garden, corner of Battye Street and Weston Lane, Bruce. This will also include fruit tree pruning. Both from 1pm to 4pm and all welcome.

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your week in the stars – June 23-29, 2014

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21) Vivacious Venus gives you a much-needed confidence boost, as she vamps through your sign (from June 23-July 19) and you’re at your funny and flirtatious best. You’re keen to email, talk, text and tweet on Thursday, as the Gemini Moon hooks up with media planet Mercury. Do you have to make an important decision? If you combine logic and intuition, you’ll know what to do.

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22) Lions are restless! Slow your motor and cool your heels, before you do something that you regret. Dynamic communication will get you a lot further than disruptive behaviour. Aim to get the balance right between socialising with friends and acquaintances, and spending quality time on your own. For some Cats, quiet contemplation leads to a creative breakthrough.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22) Hey Virgo – Venus shifts into your career zone, which brings some benefits, but Mercury is still in retrograde motion, so you’ll have to soldier through computer hitches and communication glitches at work (up until July 1). In the meantime, shine a bright spotlight on your hopes and dreams for the future as you read, research, ponder, plan, discover and dream.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23) If you are having problems, don’t assume others will automatically come running to the rescue. It’s time to be independent and inventive, as the planets encourage you to stand on your own two feet. With mighty Mars moving through Libra (until July 26) your message for the moment is from blind and deaf birthday great Helen Keller: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”

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CANCER (June 22 – July 22) Don’t fall into the trap of undervaluing or neglecting your numerous talents. This week the New Moon and Neptune stimulate your Crab creativity, so it’s time to express yourself in a way that makes your heart sing. Be inspired by Carly Simon (born on June 25): “There’s always a creative side to me, even when it’s quiet musically, like painting or decorating or planting a garden.”

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20) Communication is the buzz word this week Bulls, as Venus (your ruling planet) visits chatty Gemini, and the New Moon lights up your conversation zone. So take the time to talk with people in your local community and connect with like-minded souls via social media. You have many talents to offer – and much to learn. Sunday is super for social events and group activities.

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20) Many Rams will feel irritable and impatient on Wednesday, as Mars and Uranus stir up your restless side. Take particular care when driving, and avoid blurting out things that upset others. Friday’s New Moon is a magical time of beginnings and the promise of things to come. When dealing with a family issue, resist the urge to jump to hasty conclusions. Check the facts first.

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Solution next week

1 Name the composer of Rhapsody in Blue, 1 Name the river in India, sacred to the etc, George ...? Hindus. 2 What is the kitchen of a ship? 7 Which is the principal ore of titanium, also called iron titanate? 3 Which other term relates to the left side? 8 Name the loose overcoat, the sleeves of 4 Name the flightless three-toed Australian which are cut so as to continue up to the birds. collar. 5 Which diminutive beings are said to inhabit the earth’s interior? 9 What do we call chronic sleeplessness? 10 What are seraglios known as? 6 What is another term for a courtyard? 11 Which crosspieces separate doors from 12 What is a short narrative of a particular fanlights above them? incident? 14 Which musical piece is appropriate to the 13 From which country did RL Stevenson night? come? 18 Name the red table wine of Bordeaux, 15 Which term is descriptive of a rectangle? France. 16 Name a red fruit, used as a vegetable. 19 What do we call a celebration of the 17 What are short film appearances by modern Games? celebrities? 21 Name a seaport in Ukraine, on the Black 20 Which term describes electrically charged Sea. atoms? 22 What is a natural aptitude for something? 23 To have followed in order, is to have done what?

Sudoku hard No. 128

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21) Watch out for stubbornly holding a fixed position in your dealings with others. You’re not seeing the full picture, so be more flexible. The New Moon activates your adventurous side, as you long for international interludes and exotic escapades. Connecting with overseas friends brings foreign shores closer, as you get out the travel brochures and plan a trip for some time soon.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21) Have you been having relationship hassles? Archers can be an argumentative lot, as you have a talent for turning casual conversations into fiery debates. With Venus visiting your partnership zone (until July 19) perhaps it’s time to bite your tongue, swallow your pride and hold out the olive branch of peace. It’s also a wonderful week to research a subject that has always fascinated you.

WINTER

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19) Expect volatility at work as deadlines shorten, pressure builds, and your patience wears thin. Attached Capricorns – find fresh ways to add passion and pizzazz to your partnership. Singles – with Jupiter and the New Moon in your relationship zone, love may strike while you’re travelling. Or you could find love closer to home, with someone who’s from a different country or culture.

It’s cold outside, perfect weather for wearing your gorgeous boots from Escala Shoes.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Solution next week

Solutions from last edition

Friendly Fish are in the mood to mix and mingle to the max, as the New Moon jump-starts your social side this week. Plus make sure you spend some quality time with a special child or have a long talk with a troubled teenager. Sunday’s Sun/Neptune trine favours being extra creative and compassionate, as you express your artistic side and help someone in need.

Daily astrology updates at www.twitter.com/JoMadelineMoore Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2014

Crossword No. 456

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

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Sudoku medium No.128

Boredom is a big no-no this week as you search out unusual people, places and activities. Think outside the square. Perhaps an adventurous new hobby or an unusual creative project will satisfy your curiosity. But Wednesday’s Mars/Uranus opposition increases your impulsive side, and makes you more accident-prone than usual. So avoid rushing, and try to pace yourself!

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