CityNews

SEPTEMBER 3, 2020

Well written, well read

The government’s suddenly working (for your vote)

MICHAEL MOORE

Kids wait years, but it’s not the Health Minister’s fault!

LEADING LAWYERS 7 pages

JULIE TONGS

Libs have barely opposed trashing of the city

PAUL COSTIGAN

FEAR of

FLYING

The magpies are swooping again.

Be prepared, writes DANIELLE NOHRA

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A second opinion on hearing loss – you need professional advice, not a sales pitch An elderly woman with hearing loss came to my clinic for a second opinion, after she had recently been to a hearing aid sales person.

I found the cause of her hearing loss was simply the fact that she had build-up of wax in her ears, the salesperson had failed to inspect them. You might be surprised how often this happens!

Recently I was told by two different patients that they were quoted $16,000 for a pair of hearing aids.

This seems a ridiculous amount of money to pay and is most likely not appropriate for the majority of people (or possibly anyone).

5. If you are a pensioner or partpensioner, or a DVA gold or white card holder, you should carefully consider if you want to use the Here are some things to free-to-client government do to avoid getting hearing aids or if you’d ripped off: “In an like to top-up to a unregulated market different hearing aid.

1. A visit to the GP may save you there is a lot of opportunity The free-to-client from being ‘sold’ to take advantage of people. hearing aids are something appropriate for many when your only Yes you have read correctly, people, however problem is wax there is no licensing of people if you have great in your ears. who sell hearing aids.” difficulty hearing background noise (for 2. Look for – Dr Vass example in restaurants) someone who is then you might trial the independent and top-up hearing aids, but only can offer you unbiased if you can afford them. There are advice, not just give you a a range of top up options and prices, sales pitch. if you are disappointed after a trial, you should return them and trial the free-to3. There are a range of hearing aid client hearing aids. prices. Finding the right hearing aid might save you money and it will If you get the feeling the person also give you the best chance of you’re dealing with is just trying to success. sell you something, then take a step back and get a second opinion.

4. Hearing aids can be expensive.

Dr William Vass Suite14, John James Medical Centre, 175 Strickland Crescent, Deakin Phone: 02 6282 2717 • Email: williamvass@bigpond.com • Website: drvasshearing.com.au

COVER STORY / swoop scoop

W-H-O-O-S-H… here come those damn magpies!

WITH magpies out and actively swooping, DANIELLE NOHRA has compiled a swoop scoop on why magpies swoop, when they swoop, what to do when they do, and what not to do.

CANBERRA cyclists, walkers and runners have already started to report swooping magpies in the territory, some since late June.

According to magpiealert.com, Canberrans have reported more than 70 swooping magpies since June 29, with four people saying they’ve been injured.

One person, a cyclist, reported to have been “quickly swooped” on an unnamed path in between Lady Denman Drive and the Molonglo River. He was only swooped once, but said the magpie had clipped his ear and cut the skin on the side of his head.

Another cyclist reported an injury from a magpie on Ratcliffe Crescent, Florey, saying the bird had scratched the side of their face. The wound, which was described as small but deep, was bad enough to see a doctor, the cyclist said (ouch!).

Why do magpies swoop? ***WHOOSH*** Wind brushes over the top of your head and you turn just in time to see black and white feathers making a u-turn, back your way for a second go.

Yep, it’s mating time for the Australian magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen, which usually means that male magpies will be protecting their nests from about August to October. Described as Australia’s most accomplished songbirds, magpies suddenly don’t seem so musical, when they’re clicking their beaks making another attempt to swoop.

But the good news is that only about 10 per cent of breeding males swoop humans, and a majority don’t come close to physical contact. When they do, though, it’s because they might see a human as a threat, and will usually swoop them within a 50-metre radius of their nest. Swooping lasts about six weeks and magpies will stop when their chicks leave the nest.

More to magpies than swooping

How to avoid swoopers?

The Australian magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen… at its worst during mating time.

The best way to steer clear of swooping magpies is to avoid any areas where magpies are known to swoop. It’s easier said than done, and often, cyclists, walkers and runners don’t know there’s an aggressive magpie nearby until they come face-to-face with one.

So, what then? Here are some of the top tips to avoid swooping magpies: • T here’s safety in numbers. Magpies

often target individuals, so if there’s a choice to walk in a group, it’ll likely deter a swooping magpie.

• Bike riders beware! It might seem easy to quickly speed off when under attack while riding, but advice says otherwise. Experts recommend getting off the bike and walking (never run), saying magpies will usually stop swooping if you do.

INDEX Arts & Entertainment 27-30 Canberra Matters 10 Cinema & Streaming 28 Crossword 31 Dining 30 Gardening 26 Horoscopes 31 Letters 11 News 5-14 Politics 9 Seven Days 6

even sew eyes on the back of hats, or wear their sunglasses on the back of their heads to scare off magpies.

• Don’t aggravate them. Magpies will see you as a threat if you wave your arms and shout at them. They also have great memories and are said to be able to remember a face for up to five years, which is more of a reason not to get on their bad side!

• The food dilemma. Often people try to win over swooping magpies with food, but organisations such as PETA recommend against feeding magpies and other wild birds. Magpies are good at finding their own food and can become sick if they eat old seed or processed foods such as bread.

• P rotection is key. Wear sunglasses and a broad brimmed hat (or helmet for cyclists) to protect your eyes and your face from brave magpies that are willing to come close. Umbrellas work, too.

• Make eye contact. Magpies are said to be less likely to swoop if you make eye contact while quickly walking away from the area! Some people

Magpies are a lot more interesting when they’re not flying, at speed, towards you, and magpies, like most Australians, love the sun and will often sunbake when they get a chance.

They’re also territorial all year round, not only during spring. They’ll usually find a patch of land with plenty of grubs and worms, spending much of their time listening to them moving under the earth.

When they find a good spot, they’ll stay there for life, which is usually about 20 years. magpiealert.com

Since 1993: Volume 26, Number 35

Overgrown verges, cracks in footpaths, clogged drains, banged up street signs, residents of Belconnen have had enough. Story Page 8.

Well written, well read

Ph 02 6189 0777 Fax 02 6189 0778 9b/189 Flemington Rd, Mitchell 2911

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Ian Meikle, 9b/189 Flemington Road, Mitchell.

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williamcolefunerals.com.au | 60 Nettlefold Street, Belconnen, ACT 2617 CityNews September 3-9, 2020 5

SEVEN DAYS

Everything’s hunky dory, just read the signs ANYONE else feeling exuberant about the dizzying municipal fizz around the town?

Roads are being resurfaced, pavements refurbished, there seems nothing that’s too much trouble as the government cushions the arrival of those lumpy annual rates envelopes across the city.

While 10-year treasurer Andrew Barr confirms a billion-dollar dive this financial year, “CityNews” readers already know that the accumulating debt load of a decade of Labor-government deficits made the ACT ill-prepared for the bushfires let alone the covid crisis.

And deep in the figures (Page 46) the weary resignation of a predicted $7.7 billion shortfall by 2023-24.

Nevertheless, the Deficit King was in full, shameless spin: “We have benefited from the strong local economy that we built leading into this global health and economic crisis.

This position allowed the ACT government to invest heavily in our community to protect jobs and inject immediate cash into our economy.

“It is from this strong foundation that we will drive the ACT’s economic recovery.”

Opposition Leader Alistair Coe begged to differ and was on his hind legs in the dying hours of the Assembly before the October election.

“In 10 years since he became Treasurer, Mr Barr’s economic mismanagement has taken the ACT Budget from $473 million in the black to a projected $4 billion in the red,” said Coe.

day on October 17. Pre-polling opens on September 28. Time we saw some policies.

THE government seems to have put the optimistic cart before the horse with the announcement of a light-rail stop for the new Woden interchange. Building’s starting mid next year ahead of the tram feasibility study, costings or federal government clearances.

Promises, promises… the government’s billboards.

“And all this before covid hit.

“Every year this Labor-Greens government takes more and more from Canberrans through staggering increases to rates.

“At the very least you would think that just some of this money would have been put away for a rainy day. To help Canberrans when they need it most. That is what responsible economic management would look like.”

Does it look something like the sudden arrival of those mischievous and huge government signs? I’ve included three. One promises to upgrade the road. When? Who knows. Another is planning to “signalise” an intersection. When? Not disclosed. The third is outside the Gungahlin cemetery and oddly proclaims a new crematorium is “coming soon”, hopefully not an eternity.

Clearly these (arguably illegal) vacuous billboards are intended to alert the community to the great things the government

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WITH the Assembly rising, Liberal stalwart and Ginninderra MLA Vicki Dunne has effectively retired, but not before she shone some light on some shameful treatment of disadvantaged children in the ACT. As the shadow health minister she managed to drag out of the government the scandalous revelation that Canberra families are waiting more than four years, on average, to get their children into an initial health appointment and that there are nearly 4000 children under the age of 16 years on the list.

Four years!

As at June 30, the median wait time for

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is planning to do (presumably not any time soon, but probably on the other side of the election). Surely, this can only be seen for what it is: taxpayer-funded re-election advertising. Political columnist Michael Moore shares his lacerating view on Page 9.

an appointment was as long as 1490.5 days, according to data released to Ms Dunne in response to questions on notice in the Assembly.

More than 1000 children are waiting up to 606 days for an ear, nose and throat appointment, while 13 are waiting as many as 874.5 days for a gastroenterology appointment.

“Young children waiting more than four years in some instances for a health appointment is evidence of a system in breakdown,” Ms Dunne said with a large degree of understatement. Aboriginal leader Julie Tongs is less subtle in a column on Page 12.

THE ACT Election Commission estimates that as many as four in five people will cast their vote before polling

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MY snout in darkest Downer reports dismay at receiving a Liberal candidate’s flyer in which a commitment was made to “ensure that everyone in Downer lives within 10 minutes of well-maintained green space, now and in the future”.

She writes: “Given how existing and potential green spaces for non-sport community use and respite by residents of all ages and levels of mobility is disappearing or left neglected in parts of the inner north, it is not surprising that electioneering flyers for Kurrajong are read carefully and with suspicion by some jittery voters”.

Ian Meikle is the “CityNews” editor.

He can be heard on the “CityNews Sunday Roast”, 10am-noon on 2CC.

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NEWS / suburb resembles the ‘wild west’

Residents bridle against government’s ‘neglect’

By Belinda

STRAHORN OVERGROWN verges, cracks in footpaths, clogged drains, banged up street signs, residents of Belconnen have had enough.

Alison Chapple remembers a time when her local suburb was well maintained but the long-time Macquarie resident says the area she had grown to love now resembles the “wild west”.

“There is graffiti everywhere, unmown verges and public spaces, roads left far too long before repair, broken footpaths, clogged storm water drains, weeds everywhere and street sweepers a rarity,” Chapple said.

Chapple’s long list of unkept and unsightly areas includes overgrown verges along Kingsford Smith Drive, clogged drains in Bennelong and Liverpool Streets, Macquarie, and unsightly graffiti along Luxton Street, Belconnen.

But the ACT government maintains it “regularly” conducts a variety of maintenance activity across Canberra.

Chapple says she’s lodged countless “Fix My Street” requests via the ACT government’s Access Canberra website for mowing and weeding, street sweeping, fixing footpaths and clearing clogged drains. Basic requests for upkeep, she believes the ACT govern-

ment should already be on top of.

“I’d like to see the government do away with the obvious reliance on ‘Fix My Street’ requests before fixing drains, weeding median strips, fixing bent signs and graffiti,” said Chapple.

“The onus is on the government to maintain public land, not a few caring residents who in exasperation, have to fill out an online form for what should be general maintenance.

“This is general maintenance and should be undertaken by the government on a regular basis.”

The Barr government’s focus on trams, sports stadiums, population growth, and “break-neck development”, Chapple says, has come at the expense of suburban maintenance.

But Minister for City Services Chris Steel says the ACT government “regularly” conducts a variety of maintenance activities across Canberra according to the use and profile of an area.

“Typically, public open spaces are mown every four weeks and arterial roads every five weeks during peak growing periods,” Minister Steel said.

“Due to the winter conditions, suburban mowing is being undertaken on an as-needs basis, with teams targeting areas that require mowing.”

Minister Steel said the ACT government has accelerated a number of infrastructure and maintenance projects in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and employed six new staff

Alison Chapple on Luxton Street, Macquarie… “There is graffiti everywhere, unmown verges and public spaces, roads left far too long before repair, broken footpaths, clogged storm water drains and weeds.” to increase weeding.

“As part of the stimulus package the ACT government provided additional money for more weeding, an enhanced cleaning program for our gross pollutant traps, and asphalt patching.”

Minister Steel said service level standards are applied consistently across the city in accordance with regional plans of management, whereby “higher use” and “high-profile areas” are managed and maintained to a “higher standard” than “lower-use” areas.

Belco Party convenor and candidate Bill Stefaniak says it shouldn’t matter where you live for suburb mainte-

nance to be a priority.

“You don’t see such neglect in the trendy inner-city areas where Messrs Barr and [Shane] Rattenbury live,” said Stefaniak.

“It’s the fundamental duty of a local government to keep the suburbs clean, free of long grass, broken footpaths, blocked storm water drains, potholes and excess rubbish buildup in front yards.”

Stefaniak feels many areas of Belconnen are left in a neglected state, he says that poorly maintained housing properties are also increasingly becoming a big issue in Belconnen.

“Residents do not want Belconnen to

look like a pigsty and it’s unfair to residents to have to put up with excessive junk in vacant lots and nearby houses.

“These scenes are unfortunately typical of how the current Labor/ Greens government has allowed a lot of areas of Belconnen to become very run down.”

Belconnen residents aren’t the only ones concerned about the state of their suburb.

“We conducted a survey of 550 respondents whose top concern was the maintenance of street trees, verges and parks, municipal stuff that councils usually do,” Inner South Community Council chair Marea Fatseas said.

“A lot of people feel those municipal functions have not been looked after very well.”

Shadow Minister for Urban Services Nicole Lawder says the Labor/Greens government has neglected Canberra suburbs.

“Despite receiving record revenue from slugging Canberra families and households with record rates and taxes, this long-serving Labor/Greens government has neglected Canberra suburbs,” she said.

“This used to be a beautiful city in the CBD and the suburbs, it is nothing like that anymore,” Chapple said.

“We implore this government to lift its game and maintain our suburban environment to the standard that the nation’s capital deserves.”

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POLITICS / signs of the times

Suddenly working for votes?

CALL me cynical! The quadrennial busy-bee of minor works. Strange thing, but about this time every four years I notice a sudden rush of activity in minor capital works.

Even stranger – the timing precedes an ACT election by just a few months. Footpaths, potholes, school upgrades and improved traffic control are suddenly identified as urgent.

Is this expenditure of your taxpayers’ public money on electioneering? Are you grateful to the ACT (Labor/Greens) government?

How many footpaths suddenly have those tell-tale paint marks around broken or rising concrete? Repairs are on the way! Indeed, some have already been done! Near PM&C in Barton is a new section of about 10 metres or so. And the signage! “The ACT Government is building a new path here to improve connections and keep Canberrans working”.

What’s missing? Perhaps it is “and to improve the ACT (Labor/Greens) government’s chances in the coming election”.

Roads, rates and rubbish!

These have always been at the heart of winning an ACT election. The heavy rain, after so many years of drought, has exposed potholes all over Canberra’s usually pristine roads. Getting enough signs near every pothole… very challenging!

“Your ACT (Labor/ Greens) Gov-

Signs designed to tell drivers that the ACT government cares.

Photos: Michael Moore ernment will be fixing this pothole soon”. Can’t be done!

Minister Chris Steel has the answer. There it is, on his Facebook. He was quick to reassure Canberra voters of the high priority: “Our road crews have been working long hours in the cold, repairing 80-120 potholes a day” and “over four tonnes of cold-mix asphalt and 38 tonnes of hot mix has been applied”.

Education institutions are in the mix. A very minor upgrade of the Ainslie North Primary School sports a large sign identifying how lucky we are as Canberrans. It must have been hard to contain themselves from extending the reference to the ACT Labor/Greens government!

There is also the big news.

Just released – the Canberra Institute of Technology is going to have a new campus in Woden. The University of NSW has been consulting with residents for months and months about its new campus in Reid.

The consultation included an explanation that the CIT was moving to Woden. However, this does not stop an appropriately timed announcement.

Traffic control has joined the long list of capital works that the government is doing to win us over. Erecting cheap signs in the older suburbs may not actually be capital works.

But they are designed to tell drivers that the ACT (Labor/ Greens) government cares.

The signs read: “Slow down.

People are cycling and walking on the road”. Additionally, “Canberra Stronger Together” and “For updates visit transport.act.gov.au” Call me cynical – but lowering the speed limits to 50kp/h in our suburbs a decade ago provided a clear reminder.

Let me think! Was that just before an election, or was their concern that it may be construed as a negative?

Signs in Yarralumla identify a roundabout that will be replaced and the intersection “signalised”. Not a common word. However, it does exist in my 1968 “Shorter Oxford Dictionary”. The message is clear. Your (Labor/ Greens) government is doing everything it can to ensure smooth traffic flow. And, you need to know this before the election.

However, top of the list for what really concerns voters goes to (wait for it) signs for a new crematorium. Not sure when! However, there will be a new crematorium at Mitchell.

A large sign tells us so! Thank you. Thank you so much ACT (Labor/Greens) government.

Is there anything else the government could be doing with our taxpayers’ money?

Liberal Health Shadow Minister, Vicki Dunne, has identified that children’s health is on the backburner. The answer to her “question on notice” revealed the median waiting times for some children to access specialist care was more than four years. And nearly 4000 children under the age of 16 years are waiting for an initial health appointment.

But then, looking after the health of our children for the ACT (Labor/Greens) government, does not have the same visibility as a plethora of minor capital works.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.

TRAIL MIX

There’s an election coming, ready or not Political reporter BELINDA STRAHORN looks at what’s happening on the ACT election campaign and discovers… not much!

IS anyone really thinking elections this year? Besides candidates mulling around shopping centres freezing their backsides off and the odd poster here and there, there’s not much happening on the ground to indicate there’s an election looming.

Meanwhile, the major parties know time is slipping away. The ACT government has hit the accelerator churning out media releases spruiking their achievements, such as the two dozen new Neighbourhood Watch signs in Wright and Coombs, free music courses for public college students, new landfill gas generators to power households, the opening of a nurse-led walk in centre in Dickson and approving plans for a shiny, new $300 million Woden CIT campus that critics say won’t do anything to revitalise a sad Woden town centre.

Oh, and a new tram stop in anticipation of light rail stage 2.

PAID parking on weekends could be a thing of the past, if the Belco Party has anything to do with it.

The party has vowed to ditch paid parking on the weekend and on weekdays after 5.30pm, if elected

in October. The party’s parking plan will see paid parking only in public car parks from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. It also proposes to reduce car and trailer rego fees helping Canberra to have the “nation’s lowest vehicle registration fees”.

WHILE “Belco Bill” Stefaniak seems to lay claim to be the founding father of the Belco Party, a bit of digging reveals that the party was in fact the brainchild of two “rusted-on” Labor supporters, keen to keep a political focus on practical and grassroots issues this election. The dubbed “disrupter” party is emerging as an interesting party to watch, if anything it can claim to be the only party with a full ticket of colourful characters.

AS Liberal senator for the ACT Zed Seselja pointed out in his opinion piece in “CityNews”, the Canberra Liberals have fielded one of the most diverse pools of candidates seen for a while in an ACT election, with many of the party’s candidates born overseas. Labor’s line of candidates, in comparison, appears to be plucked mostly from the public service, the unions and are less culturally diverse.

75th Anniversary of the Second World War

Commemorating our WWII Veterans

Thank you to all of Canberra’s WWII veterans and their families. Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

To mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, commemorative medallions and certificates of commemoration are available for veterans of the Second World War. If you or a loved one would appreciate receiving a certificate and a medallion, please contact my office on 6247 8475 or by email at alicia.payne.mp@aph.gov.au

Tel: 1300 372 300

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ALICIA PAYNE MP - MEMBER FOR CANBERRA Authorised by Alicia Payne MP, Member for Canberra. 221 London Circuit, Canberra ACT 2601.

CityNews September 3-9, 2020 9

CANBERRA MATTERS

Liberals have barely opposed trashing of the city PLANNING is important to Canberrens because they like living in this bush capital and want future generations to benefit from what the city has to offer.

With the ACT October election now a happening thing, people are seeking visionary leadership rather than the soul-destroying approach to urban development offered by Andrew Barr’s Labor/Greens coalition.

Having a profitable development industry and ensuring that the city is a fabulous place to live are not outcomes exclusive of each other.

Both are possible through political leadership.

People are pondering whether the alternative must be a government of Alastair Coe’s Liberals. The Canberra Liberals have not exactly been the voice of opposition to the trashing of the city. A change of government could be business as usual with the planning continuing to do what it loves to do – inventing complicated and unworkable regulations that promote bad

10 CityNews September 3-9, 2020

The outstanding reason why people seem to favour Alistair Coe to form the next government is because he is not Andrew Barr or Shane Rattenbury. But that may not solve the planning issues and much of the other woes. design and ad-hoc planning decisions.

But there is another factor to consider when looking at what drives Coe and his style of conservatism. Zed Seselja was the leader of the 2012 ACT opposition with a campaign screaming about rates and negative messages. He lost and then manoeuvred himself into the Senate.

The Liberals ran another unsuccessful campaign in 2016. Again, it was about screaming negatives (mostly about the tram). Following that loss, leader Jeremy Hanson was replaced by Alistair Coe, who is seen to be aligned with Team Zed. The circle was completed. Zed never really left. He looms large over Coe and his conservative faction.

He proudly shows up in photos of favoured conservative candidates.

The more moderate and socially aware Liberals have taken a back seat to these conservative forces. Why they have done this is another story.

Coe is taking the ACT Liberals into

the 2020 election with another negative campaign on rates and taxes. Is he channelling Zed? The Liberals’ media messaging is mundane and amateurish – and that’s being polite. Then in mid-August there was the dropping of a Kurrajong candidate who had been 48 hours earlier listed as a star candidate.

This chaos focused attention to the Canberra Liberals’ dominating fringe – being Team Zed. There’s little about Zed’s influence on the Liberals that indicates that they would be replacing the ACT’s city-wrecking planning system with one based around the aspirations of residents. Being nice to people and doing no harm would be welcomed as a vision for this city’s Planning Directorate. But is that what Team Zed and Coe are about?

Alistair has not endeared himself to progressive ACT voters with his commitment to privatise the ABC (as does Zed), he was against marriage equality (as was Zed) and has not clarified how an ACT Liberal government would deal with the Planning Directorate’s ad-hoc, developerinfluenced planning mess.

Zed Seselja looms large over Alistair Coe and his conservative faction, says Paul Costigan.

Cartoon: Stephen Harris While the Canberra Liberals go into the election with their vague plan to slash the cost of living, fix the health, transport and education systems, and plant one million trees – there has been no clear signal about where the money is to come from.

The outstanding reason why people seem to favour Coe to form the next government is because he is not Barr or Shane Rattenbury. But that may not solve the planning issues and much of the other woes.

There is an absence of detail about how Team Coe, with Zed watching every step, would deal with the challenges of the future – huge Budget

deficits, complex public transport decisions, health and hospital matters and climate change, to name a few.

What a choice! Which is why people may have to consider voting for independents such as Fiona Carrick (Murrumbidgee). If elected, it would be politicians such as Fiona with her community background who could provide a reality check on whoever forms the next government.

Paul Costigan is an independent commentator and consultant on the visual arts, photography, urban design, environmental issues and everyday matters.

LETTERS / election 2020

Rates, the greedy gift that just keeps on giving THE reason rates have doubled in Canberra in the past 10 years is because this kleptocracy we call government knows no-one can stop them.

If they chose, they could increase rates by 100 per cent every year!

However, it didn’t have to be that way. In 1994 there was an opportunity to limit rate increases to CPI. This was part of the Liberal platform that never happened – another broken promise by a politician (who would have thought). And here we are today with a government totally unrestrained by limits as to how much it increases rates.

As far back as 1994, I was alarmed at yearly rate increases and could see it getting out of control, so I started up a ratepayers association to make rates an election issue.

I subsequently joined the Liberal Party, was preselected and ran as a Liberal at the 1995 election, on a rates platform – ie to limit rates to CPI just as in neighbouring NSW. The Liberal Party won that election but did not honour its promise.

This licence to print money was not changed by subsequent governments; it is the gift that just keeps on giving. In fact, rates have jumped exponentially during the Barr-Rattenbury government. This govFormer chief minister ernment is shameless Trevor Kaine. in its greed for rates.

There is no way of stopping any government in Canberra increasing rates. There is no mechanism to limit increases. To remedy this we need legislation. If we don’t, there will be more and more increases and many people will be unable to pay rates and could be forced to sell their homes.

While the government is raking in massive amounts of money from rates, one group always applauds rate increases and that is ACTCOSS. Clearly it doesn’t pay rates, but rates money is redirected to ACTCOSS by this government.

To add to the pain on property owners let’s not forget what Liberal Chief Minister Trevor Kaine did – he introduced the highest land tax in the country.

Economists call this tax “efficient” and it is – you can’t avoid it!

Lucinda Spier, via email

End discrimination of alcoholics IN 2018 the WA Cancer Council announced that almost 6000 Australians died from alcohol-attributable disease in a single year. National hospitalisations attributable to alcohol exceeded 144,000 in 2012-13, an average of about 400 a day.

The 2020 ACT Greens’ plan for Canberrans states that the most harmful drug in our society is the legal drug alcohol, and adds: “We want to ensure people can access the services and support they need for substance use, including legal substances such as tobacco and alcohol.” The services include having medically supervised injecting centres for those wanting to use ice and heroin etcetera. This allows the possibility for illicit drug users to continue using (some under medical supervision).

Why then discriminate against drinkers whose mortality and morbidity are greater than for illicit drugs?

They should receive the same alleged harm-reduction facilities for what the Greens hold as the most harmful

drug in our society.

The problem doesn’t revolve around whether alcohol is legal or not. It revolves around certain people in the community choosing to use a drug(s) of choice. So there should not be discrimination against alcoholics.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

Candidate’s in the wrong party!

IF Labor candidate Dr Marisa Paterson (Murrumbidgee) believed in everything she said on the flyer she left in my letterbox, she’d be voting Liberal for sure.

I told her as much in an email. She replied very politely, I’m sure she’s a lovely person, but she couldn’t see that the party she is standing for does exactly the opposite of what she wants for Canberra.

Four more years of this off-Green/Labor government and the only green space left in Canberra will be the arboretum which, ironically, is Jon Stanhope’s wonderful legacy.

How long before they dig that up and build apartments on the site? Don’t worry, Jon, I’m sure with your permission they’d name the suburb Stanhope.

Neil, of Fisher, via citynews.com.au

Roll on the election GOOD news that the Chief Minister plans to inject a $1 billion economic stimulus package to create a lasting legacy. Then, knowing that a new convention centre has the capacity to generate significant business opportunities, a fourfold return on investment , why is this not on the shopping list?

Ah, I forget the toy tram gets pride of place with a very low 80 cents in the dollar return on investment.

Andrew, haven’t you learnt after 30 years, you have not changed people’s attitude to public transport? Try investing in capital projects that earn money, not lose money. While you are at it, the AFP needs some new buildings, too. Heaven help us.

Roll on the election.

Russ Morison, Theodore

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Government fails poor families UNDER the dictatorship of the ACT government many people are living in a state of uncertainty for their future.

It is difficult to argue convincingly that this longterm government is doing enough for households of very low incomes.

Basic public infrastructure such as transport links are of very low quality. Canberra must be the only capital in the world which does not offer transport from Mawson or Woden to the airport.

Potentially important is the spiralling rise of land rates and the huge numbers of high-rise apartment buildings that only the wealthy can afford.

Apart from the fact that greedy developers have been allowed to destroy Canberra’s beautiful environment, considering the high cost of most of these apartments, it seems quite possible to surmise that half of them are empty.

M. Amar, Phillip

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CityNews September 3-9, 2020 11

OPINION / children

Kids wait years, but not Health Minister’s fault I WAS deeply concerned by the revelations by ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith that almost 4000 children under the age of 16 are currently on waiting lists for an initial appointment to see a specialist.

Is this really the sort of society you are happy to be part of? A society where a child’s access to life-defining health care is dependent on their ability to pay for it.

Minister Stephen-Smith advised, in answer to questions from shadow minister Vicki Dunne, that the median wait times for a dermatology appointment was four years while some children with urological issues were waiting three years for an initial consultation.

There are more than 1000 children in Canberra waiting to see an ear, nose and throat specialist with wait times up to 606 days. A child in Canberra with chronic hearing issues is waiting on average for a year to see a specialist.

The minister advised that some children with a gastroenterology issue had been waiting for as long as 874 days.

I simply cannot imagine what it must be like to be the mum or dad of a toddler with a urological issue or a gastroenterological problem serious enough for a GP to refer the child to a specialist and to be then told that your baby or child would have to

wait three years for an appointment.

Think about that for a minute.

When we talk about the nearly 4000 children in the ACT waiting up to four years for an appointment to see a specialist it needs to be understood that this is for an initial consultation and that if, say, that consultation results in a recommendation from the specialist that the child requires surgery the child then goes on to the waiting list for surgery.

It also goes without saying that children left to wait for years for an appointment are children whose parents cannot afford private health insurance, ie they are children from working-class or low-income households and most pertinently, for me, Aboriginal children.

My concern about the implications for and impact of extreme wait times such as those acknowledged

by Minister Stephen-Smith, on Aboriginal children is heightened by recent revelations that when waiting times for elective surgery in Canberra are disaggregated by Aboriginal status that Aboriginal people in the ACT, including I assume Aboriginal

children, wait far longer for surgery than non-Aboriginal people.

Without wishing to be personal or judgemental I can’t help wondering what all those middle-class people in Canberra that whiz their children off to a specialist the minute there’s a health issue think about the fact that thousands of other Canberra children, without the benefits and privileges their children enjoy, wait for years to be seen by a specialist.

Is this really the sort of society you are happy to be part of? A society where a child’s access to life-defining health care is dependent on their ability to pay for it.

When asked to explain why Canberra children dependent on the public health system wait years for the care and treatment they need the minister said, in effect, that it wasn’t her fault.

Meanwhile, it was pleasing to see the ACT Legislative Assembly express support for a change in the age at which a child can be charged with a criminal offence from 10 to 14 years of age.

The vote taken in the Assembly

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was in addition to a decision taken in the last few weeks by all Australian attorneys-general to pursue a nationally consistent approach to such an increase in the Supt Jason Kennedy. age of criminal responsibility.

An increase in the age of criminal responsibility is of particular importance to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community because of the extreme levels of contact Aboriginal children have at a young age with the justice system and are ultimately arrested and incarcerated.

The fact that the ACT has the highest rate of incarceration of Aboriginal people in Australia is testament to the importance of a root and branch overhaul of every aspect of the operation of the justice system in the territory.

In this regard, I am pleased ACT Policing has undertaken to embrace

a new and enhanced model of community policing.

Unfortunately, it is a fact that the Aboriginal community has historically had a problematic relationship with the police.

In my opinion, it is unarguable that efforts to address the nation-high rates of indigenous incarceration in Canberra must involve building a new relationship between police and Aboriginal peoples.

I look forward to working with Supt Jason Kennedy, who is held in high regard by me and members of the Aboriginal community and has been appointed to lead the new Canberra Community Police unit, to build a new relationship between the Aboriginal community and police.

Julie Tongs is the CEO, Winnunga Nimmityjah Health and Community Services.

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THE GADFLY

Why towering McEwen should be honoured THE news that one of the towering figures of Australian government in the 20th century is to be honoured with a statue in Canberra’s Parliamentary Triangle triggered a squeak from one of the lesser known academic historians of the 21st century.

Dr David Headon who, we are told, “worked at the National Capital Authority during the 2000s and assisted in the installation of Reconciliation Place and the Menzies Wall”, said: “Quite simply, it is impossible to make a credible case for McEwen, and for half a million taxpayer dollars to be spent on it is unconscionable”.

As Sir John McEwen’s press secretary for the last four years of his parliamentary career – 1967-71 – I’m happy to take up the challenge.

I should mention that I was a beardless youth when I joined him as the only other male on the six-person staff. I had met Mr McEwen (as he then was) only once when researching a story on his idea for a Resources Development Bank designed

Truth is, Dr Headon, it was John McEwen who provided the engine that powered the Menzies government through those days of plenty as our country grew towards adulthood. to fund the downstream “valueadded” potential for our mining and agricultural industries.

Billy McMahon and the laissez faire Libs killed that one in Cabinet; and today it remains a great gap in our economic armoury, with Labor still making vague promises of something similar.

At the time McEwen was 67 and had been in the parliament since 1934. A combination of unceasing work and a torturous dermatitis had taken a physical toll and the likelihood was that he’d retire in a year when his successor – either Doug Anthony, Ian Sinclair or Peter Nixon – was ready to take over.

I’d returned to “The Age” having had the good fortune of working with one of the few genuine statesmen we’ve produced. So we had a meeting which ended with his firm handshake and, “Welcome to the family”.

By then, Dr Headon, this is what

he’d already achieved: As Minister for External Affairs and Minister for Air in 1941, he knew that with the Vichy French running New Caledonia, Japan could secure a foothold within bombing distance of our east coast. He devised a scheme involving Menzies, Churchill and Charles de Gaulle to raid Noumea, extract the Vichy governor and his staff, load them on to a Norwegian freighter and dump them on an IndoChinese beach. The territory then became an important Allied base. He regarded this as his most significant achievement.

After the war, as Minister for Trade and with Britain an economic basket case, he braved the ire of the returned men in the Liberal and the Labor parties and negotiated the Australia-Japan Trade Agreement that transformed our export economy, thus laying the foundation for today’s excellent relations with that country.

In the early 1960s with the UK retreating from its “Far East” in favour of the European Common Market, he not only fought for a

Sir John McEwen… unceasing work and a torturous dermatitis had taken a physical toll. special deal on primary products for Australia, he allowed NZ to piggyback on it, thus earning that government’s (but not the All Blacks’) everlasting gratitude… for a month or two.

In 1967, when shipping containers were transforming the carriage of Australian trade, he created and forced our own fleet into the British “shipping conference” that monopolised the market, thus saving Australian exporters and importers millions, and earning that government’s deep and permanent respect… for a week or two.

And throughout it was his policies of industrial protection, via the tariff, that provided the jobs for a massive influx of the migrants that has made our country the thrilling place to be, even with the wretched pandemic that

has sundered other countries.

So Dr Headon, is it really “impossible to make a credible case for McEwen” and is it really “unconscionable for half a million taxpayer dollars to be spent on it”?

Truth is, Dr Headon, it was John McEwen who provided the engine that powered the Menzies government through those days of plenty as our country grew towards adulthood.

He was not perfect. Some say he and protection policies stayed too long.

But he was old fashioned; he thought real wealth came from making things such as cars and widgets, so that in emergencies we’d have the capacity to retool to meet the new demands.

Now, where have I heard that lately? robert@robertmacklin.com

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LEADING LAWYERS

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Trusted lawyers get the best results for clients WHEN things go awry and legal services are needed, people want to find a lawyer they can trust to get them through what is often a difficult and emotional time.

Whether it’s criminal law, commercial law, property law, family law, wills and estates law or personal

injury law, the ACT is full of trusted and leading lawyers to help them overcome any legal matters.

This week “CityNews” speaks with some of these local lawyers who, no matter what their area of law is, share a common interest in getting the best results for clients.

Ken Hubert and Ashilpa Khanna of Capon & Hubert Lawyers & Mediators.

Two-man practice grows into an experienced team FROM humble beginnings as a suburban two-man practice, Capon & Hubert Lawyers & Mediators has grown over its 32 years, but continues to provide a friendly service, says Ken Hubert, who started the practice with the now retired Geoff Capon.

Best-known as a family lawyer, but experienced in all areas of law, Ken says the practice is now very much a team.

“We have specialist lawyers in commercial, property and estate law and by working as a team, it allows us to offer so much more than I could have by myself,” says Ken. “We’re friendly, approachable and, as a team, we each work in areas that complement each other.”

There’s not much that Ken hasn’t seen or experienced, practising primarily in family law, civil law and criminal law.

He served on the professional standards committee of the ACT Law Society for many years as well as the ACT Law Council’s Access to Justice Committee. Over the years, Ken has also dedicated a lot of time to Legal Aid work in the Children’s and Family Court.

As an accredited family dispute resolution provider and mediator, Ken says his approach is to find what is important to each party and work out a mix that deals with that.

“You can argue about your rights and entitlements, but at the end of the day, what’s most important to each party?” he says.

Capon & Hubert Lawyers & Mediators, first floor, 32-38 Townshend Street, Phillip. Email enquiries@chsol.com.au, call 6152 9203 or visit chsol.com.au

Working with you for the best result Ken Hubert Family Law and Mediation

Ashilpa Khanna Wills and Estate Planning Lawyer

Daryn Griffiths Property and Commercial Solicitor

Experienced in all areas of Family Law, including adoptions. Ken is an accredited business and family mediator.

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chsol.com.au | enquiries@chsol.com.au CityNews September 3-9, 2020 15

LEADING LAWYERS

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Confident market keeps legal team busy THE experienced team at WMG Legal has seen a recent and significant increase in their property conveyancing services, says its director and solicitor Chris Malfone.

He says government incentives have injected confidence in the property market and the WMG team has been busy working with both property developers and home buyers.

Chris, with fellow director and principal solicitor Wayne Warton, offer a range of legal services such as property conveyancing, transactions, commercial matters, wills and estates, work and motor vehicle accident injuries, litigation and dispute resolution, and loan agreements.

They say the firm deals with more property matters on the northside of Canberra and clients can

be assured of a smooth, professional experience with WMG Legal.

“Our senior conveyancer, Andrew Cha is soon to become a solicitor and we have a well settled team that have been working together for a number of years,” says Wayne.

“We recently celebrated the opening of our 10,000th file. It speaks to the fact that when people see us, they see experienced lawyers who have been doing the job for a number of years and are sympathetic to guiding people through what can be complex processes.”

WMG Legal, suite 4, 75 Gozzard Street, Gungahlin.

Call 6253 9766, email office@wmglegal.com.au or visit wmglegal.com.au

Anna Neilan, left, and Lucy Stramandinoli of Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law.

Leading the way in family law

WMG Legal directors Wayne Warton, left, and Chris Malfone.

INTENSE emotions that often accompany family law cases can exacerbate already difficult times – whether you’re going through a separation, negotiating a custody arrangement or preparing a prenuptial agreement, says Anna Neilan and Lucy Stramandinoli, of Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law. Anna says family law disputes among couples or spouses can be especially challenging, particularly when it comes to arrangements for children and financial matters, which is why it’s important to choose lawyers who specialise in family law.

Together, Anna and Lucy have more than 30 years’ experience specialising in family law and last year they welcomed Bridget Madigan to the team, bringing her own experiences in family law, estate law and general practice matters.

“We have experience and expertise in all areas of

family law such as parenting arrangements, division of property, entitlements, binding financial agreements and family violence,” says Lucy.

Anna says the firm and its lawyers have been nominated as a leading family law firm for four years running

by Doyles Guide, an organisation that recommends law firms based on peer reviews.

“This year, Bridget was nominated as a ‘rising star’ in family law,” says Anna.

“We want to focus on continuing to provide that individual service to the clients. The lawyer you have from the beginning is your lawyer all the way through the process.”

Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law, suite 2, ground floor, 11 London Circuit, Civic. Visit nsfamilylaw.com.au or call 6152 0493.

PROVIDING CANBERRA WITH THE BEST VALUE LEGAL ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION Conveyancing and Property Law | Business and Commercial Law Estate Planning and Administration | Litigation and Dispute Resolutions Work and Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries

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9766 | Email office@wmglegal.com.au | wmglegal.com.au | Suite 4, 75 Gozzard Street, Gungahlin ACT

16 CityNews September 3-9, 2020

Working for the best possible solution At Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law, we pride ourselves in our proven track record, our commitment to excellence, and expert knowledge of family law. We understand how difficult and emotional family law matters can be, we are compassionate and empathetic, guiding you towards the best possible solution for you.

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For a fixed fee initial appointment phone us on 02 6152 0493 Email: info@nsfamilylaw.com.au Suite 2 Ground Floor 11 London Circuit, Canberra City, ACT 2601 nsfamilylaw.com.au We adhere to Covid 19 community safety measures

LEADING LAWYERS

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Problem solver Craig puts clients at ease WITH a varied background as a fitter and turner, a secondary school teacher and basketball coach, Farrar Gesini Dunn director Craig Painter says he brings extensive life experience to his law practice.

“I enjoy helping people by way of problem solving and my experience comes into that,” Craig says.

“I look at the best way to solve problems, starting with the end result that all parties want, and working backwards from there to make it happen.

“The way I see it, people are coming to me with an issue, and they don’t want anything to add to it.

“I always tell clients to let me worry about things, they are paying me to solve their problems so I want to take their worries off them in that process and put their minds at rest.”

Craig focuses on business law, dispute resolution, conveyancing (buying and selling property), estate planning (drafting wills and power of attorney), and estate administration.

Farrar Gesini Dunn, based in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne, has been in business since 1995 and can help with all issues related to family law, estate planning and wills, business advisory and accounting, and commercial law.

Expertise is the focus of the firm, with an aim to be at the forefront of problem solving and technology to support its clients.

Farrar Gesini Dunn director Craig Painter.

Farrar Gesini Dunn, level 1, 10 Rudd Street, Civic, and 3/18 Bentham Street, Yarralulma.

Visit fgd.com.au or email fgd@fgd.com.au

Advising road victims through legislative changes RECENT changes to the “Road Transport (Third-Party Insurance) Act 2008” has had a huge impact on injured road victims and their ability to pursue their rights, says Maliganis Edwards Johnson (MEJ) partner Craig Edwards.

Craig advises anyone who has been injured in a car accident prior to February 1 this year to come forward as they can still pursue their right to compensation under the previous system, even though they might have been advised differently.

Supporting the Canberra community since 1985, the MEJ team of 16 local lawyers are specialists in litigation and have extensive experience in gaining fair compensation for their clients, says Craig, who has 36 years of legal experience.

“The areas of compensation that we work in include medical negligence, industrial accidents and workplace accidents, public liability, motor vehicle accidents and institutional abuse,” he says.

“The Canberra community is a great one, and we are proud to be based in Canberra and play our part in our society.”

MEJ also supports the community through sponsoring sporting teams, charitable causes, the arts and mentoring law students through their clerkship program, says Craig.

He says MEJ has been around so long that they now act for their previous clients’ children and even their grandchildren.

“This is an indication of the faith our clients have in us and our role in helping them,” he says.

Maliganis Edwards Johnson, 60 Marcus Clarke Street, Civic.

Call 6257 2999 or visit mej.com.au

YOUR LOCAL SOLICITOR We specialise in estates, conveyancing and commercial law.

In addition we offer expert family law advice.

We provide timely, high quality and personalised service from our office in Yarralumla or the city.

Please telephone our Welcome Team on 02 6115 9000 should you require legal assistance.

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18 CityNews September 3-9, 2020

Canberra Email fgd@fgd.com.au Phone 02 6115 9000 Fax 02 6257 4382 Level 1, 10 Rudd Street Canberra

Maliganis Edwards Johnson partner Craig Edwards.

Personal Injury Lawyers

There is still time to make a claim!

If you or someone in your family have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, and it occurred prior to February 1 this year there is still time to make a claim.

But you must act now as time is running out!

More than ever, don’t delay. Call MEJ.

02 6257 2999 | mej.com.au

LEADING LAWYERS

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There’s more to estate planning than a will A WILL alone is not enough when it comes to estate planning, says KJB Law’s estate planning special counsel Kerstin Glomb.

“When addressing estate planning, we need to cover every possible situation and include not just plan A, but plan B and even plan C, if we can,” says Kerstin.

“A proper estate plan should address all aspects of a person’s wealth, including superannuation, jointly owned assets and assets in a company or family trust.

“We also need contingencies for who is nominated as a beneficiary, should any of them no longer be living at the time, and in relation to executors and guardians of minor children, should any of them no longer be living, or should they be unwilling or unable to act.

“I can also help people to prepare their enduring power of attorney, which in my view

is a major part of a proper estate plan.

“The person is taking charge in a practical sense and can nominate someone they trust to look after their financial matters, personal care, health care, and medical research matters, should they no longer have the capacity to do so themselves.”

With vast experience in helping clients with parental loans, self-managed super funds and complex estate planning involving blended families, Kerstin is also able to give advice in German succession law.

Kerstin says KJB Law, and its principals, Andrew Freer, Des Moore and Jo Twible, help people with a range of legal affairs, including grant of probate, family law and property law, and review of retirement village contracts.

KJB Law, ground floor, 10 Corinna Street, Woden.

Call 6281 0999 or visit kjblaw.com.au

The team at Meyer Vandenberg, from left... Archie Tsirimokos, Alisa Taylor, Christine Murray and Tanya Herbetson.

Law firm always puts people first IT’S people first for Meyer Vandenberg, and with a strong focus on supporting its clients, partner and chair Archie Tsirimokos says the firm thrives on its strong relationships with clients, colleagues, local boards and community organisations.

Archie provides a general advisory role, offering highquality, broad business support, with consideration given to business planning and long-term guidance through his wide-ranging legal expertise.

“While issues like insolvency and bankruptcy might not be affecting some businesses yet, in this current climate we can help with how to avoid them and look at how things could play out,” he says.

Archie says he’s been with Meyer Vandenberg for his entire career, having joined in 1985 when it was Vandenberg

Reid Pappas and Macdonald, and is recognised as one of Canberra’s most experienced commercial lawyers.

He’s been in this or similar leadership roles at Meyer Vandenburg for 20 years.

“I want to help clients and solve problems, and even if I don’t immediately have the answer, I know where to get it,” he says.

“Having a clear understanding of what clients want is critical to supporting them effectively.”

Along with partners Christine Murray, Alisa Taylor and Tanya Herbertson, Archie says Meyer Vandenberg will continue to focus on what they’re good at – “supporting our clients with whatever it is they need”.

Meyer Vandenberg, EY Building, level 2, 121 Marcus Clarke Street, Civic. Call 6279 4444 or visit meyervandenberg.com.au

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For successful results in a cost effective manner call or email kjblaw@kjblaw.com.au Ground Floor, 10 Corinna Street, Woden 20 CityNews September 3-9, 2020

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No matter the project, “CityNews” speaks with experts available from the Canberra region, who are ready to help improve any home.

Landscape supplies for any job WITH more than 65 years’ experience in landscape supplies and green waste, Corkhill Bros staff can help with any project, whether residential or commercial, says co-founder and director Brian Corkhill.

“Our staff are always welcoming and happy to talk customers through our extensive product ranges, and offer a large variety of truck sizes to help with each project,” says Brian.

Corkhill Bros’ products range from mulches and soils to sands and gravels.

“We extract and process all of the soil mixes within our range [and] we get these soil mixes tested bi-annually to ensure our customers only receive the highest standard of products,” says Brian.

Corkhill Bros continues to host the green waste drop-off facility at the Mugga Lane Resource Management

Centre, as well as receiving all the green waste collected in the Canberra kerbside green bins.

“We are highly committed to ensuring all green waste that’s received at our facility re-enters the Canberra community as a beneficially reusable product,” says Brian.

“After progressing through a threeto-four-month process, the green-waste derived product can be purchased as a mulch or soil conditioner (coarse forest litter or fine forest litter) from our Mugga Lane or Mitchell depots.

“The composted green waste is also incorporated into many of our soil mixes as an organic component.”

Brian says Corkhill Bros is committed to expanding its service range, having recently added a “bulka bag” truck to its fleet of vehicles.

“This allows us to deliver landscaping products in a cubic metre bag, which is suitable for projects with restricted site access or those that cannot have loose material tipped on site,” he says.

Corkhill Bros, 33 Darling Street, Mitchell, call 6241 8860. Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre, Symonston, call 6239 7200. Visit corkhillbros.com.au

Ex-Government Furniture owners James Fullerton, left, and Taylor Radnell.

James has bright ideas for home offices OFFICE furniture can look cool, says Ex-Government Furniture owner James Fullerton, who has brightly coloured office chairs and desks in wood grain or timber, which can all help create a home office that’s ergonomic, comfortable and fun.

“Improving the home is all about the home office now, but no one wants to feel their home looks too much like their workplace,” he says.

“We’ve got a range of colours and finishes in store, with a designer look that will fit in with people’s home decor.”

Ex-Government Furniture has a large range of office chairs in stock, from Formway, Matic, Thinking Works, Okamura and Haworth.

“Chairs with wheels are popular, as it makes it easier for people to move location for a meeting to a more quiet spot,” James says.

“It’s the same for mobile drawers on wheels,

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where people can store all their work items and tuck them away at the end of the working day.

“We know people need flexibility while working at home and may have to work from a corner of a main room.”

It’s all about tweaking things to create an environment that doubles as both office and home, James says.

“We have a range of small, height-adjustable sitstand desks, which fit easily into a corner and with natural, timber finishes, look more homely,” he says.

“Many people are not heading back to the office this year, but we all need to be ready to work at home at a moment’s notice these days.”

Ex-Government Furniture, 6 Yallourn Street, Fyshwick.

Call 6280 6490 or visit exgovfurniture.com or facebook.com/exgovfurniture

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS Growing business offers plumbing services AFTER providing the Canberra region with quality and reliable electrical services for about three years, Clark Electrical and Air Conditioning has expanded, and now offers plumbing services too.

Owner Aaron Clark, who has been an electrician for almost 30 years, says the business is now a “one-stop-shop”.

Aaron, and his team of nine experienced tradespeople, service the whole Canberra region, helping with problems such as toilets, drains, gutter work, LED lighting, or switchboard upgrades.

“Our airconditioning department can meet all your heating and cooling needs, especially if you are

looking to upgrade your gas system to electric, which is cheaper to run and can incorporate with solar,” says Aaron.

He says the showroom in Mitchell is open for people to visit and see products on display such as wifi air conditioning systems, which allow users to operate them remotely.

“It’s a great feature for people wanting to turn on their air conditioning before they get home, or switch it off if they forget to,” says Aaron.

Clark Electrical & Air Conditioning, 5/12 Sandford Street, Mitchell.

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We call ourselves electricians, but we are so much more, handling a wide variety of jobs, tasks each and every day!

Specialising in quilts since the ‘80s

THE most energy-efficient way to insulate the home is by fitting curtains that sit close to the windows, say Roz and Lew Rebbeck, owners of Alexanders Furnishings.

Roz and Lew recommend “EVO”, a curtain-heading system that is extremely effective at preventing loss of heat or cooling at any time of year.

“You can choose any fabric you like, as the key is the EVO tracking system,” Roz says.

“It creates a track close to the window which helps keep warm or cool air inside and allows for a smaller stack when open, [letting] in more valuable winter sunlight.”

Roz says EVO has developed new track sections that incorporate a sleek and “invisible” pelmet system, meaning there’s no need to install a traditional bulky timber pelmet over the top of the curtains.

“It can also be used as curtains with sheers behind for added privacy,” she says.

Backed with more than 50 years’ experience, Alexanders Furnishings also offers other curtain systems to suit personal preferences and a wide range of blinds and accessories.

Roz says they are open, receiving orders, as well as making and installing products according to the COVID-19 guidelines, and are back to their usual hours of 8.30am-5pm, MondayFriday and 8.30am-1pm, Saturdays.

LOCALLY-owned and proud of it, Therma Quilts says it has been specialising in making and servicing feather and down products such as quilts, pillows and cushions since the ‘80s.

Using quality textiles, the seamstresses at Therma Quilts hand-make every item suited to the customer’s needs and provide a top-up service when quilts and pillows show signs of wear or loss of warmth and fluffiness.

“Servicing of feather and down products is essential for keeping them in optimal condition for comfort,” Therma Quilts says.

“With time and usage, body proteins and lipids (natural oils and perspiration) are absorbed onto quilt casings and into the feather and down inside.

“Over time, this build-up dampens the down, which causes it to lose its thermal resistance. However, regular servicing of your quilts would ensure that your down is fresh and fluffy.

“With time and usage, the fabrics on quilts wear out and get thin, but once holes appear there is no need to throw away your quilt.

“Therma Quilts are able to re-case your quilts in addition to other services such as extending them into a larger size or reducing them to a smaller size according to your needs.”

With its eco-friendly cleaning process, Therma Quilts service feather and down products including sleeping bags and down clothing as well as other textiles such as silk, polyester, cotton and wool quilt underlays.

Alexanders Furnishings, Shop 5, Paul’s Centre, Hindmarsh Drive, Phillip. Call 6281 1611.

Therma Quilts, 10-12 Kemble Court, Mitchell.

Call 6241 6859 or visit thermaquilts.com.au

Alexanders Furnishings owners Lew and Roz Rebbeck.

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Unit 9, 10-12 Kemble Court, Mitchell • www.thermaquilts.com.au Phone: 6241 6859 • Email: shop@thermaquilts.com.au

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advertising feature Delivering quality windows, fast

Family business builds projects to be proud of BORDEAUX Construction and Management is a “one-stop shop” for all renovations, extensions and new builds, says project manager Michael Milutinovic.

“We pride ourselves on being able to offer clients a hassle-free experience from as early as developing a concept, through [to] design, construction and handover,” he says.

“We specialise in complex extensions and renovations but also do office or retail fit outs and new builds. We are open to discussing all types of construction.”

The family-run business has been in operation for about 37 years and offers obligationfree quotes and competitive prices. Michael

holds an unrestricted, “A”-class builder’s licence and has 14 years’ experience in the construction industry in Canberra and Sydney.

“We stand by every project and guarantee an efficient and easy process for our clients,” says Michael.

“Everything we deliver is a high-quality product that we can stand by for the long term because our reputation and our clients’ needs are very important to us.”

Bordeaux Construction and Management, 8 Aurora Place, Queanbeyan. Call 6299 4642 or visit bordeauxbcm.com.au

FIFTEEN years ago, in a small factory, with a staff of five, Skyview Windows was created with the vision to supply quality products in the shortest possible lead times, says managing director Neil Thompson.

“The company mantra from day one was ‘Quality Windows, Fast’,” says Neil.

Since then, Skyview has grown and 12 years ago expanded to a 2500sqm factory in High Street, Queanbeyan.

Neil says part of Skyview’s success is being able to work closely with customers and suppliers to ensure consistency in quality and supply is maintained.

Using dedicated, local people, Neil says all windows and doors are manufactured to Australian standards.

“All windows and doors are manufactured from a mixture of local and imported raw materials to ensure cost competitiveness and, unlike the major window companies, all the profits stay right here,” he says.

“Skyview is the only window company able to supply any powdercoat colour with no cost premium involved.

“This allows our customers to mix and match colour schemes for their houses without having to stick to the six standard colours our competitors offer.”

This season, Skyview is launching the “Texturer” colour range. Starting with “black” and “monument”, the Texturer colour range significantly reduces marks and blemishes on the powder coat finish.

Skyview Windows, 77 High Street, Queanbeyan, call 6232 9977.

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BordeauxBCM CityNews September 3-9, 2020 25

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GARDENING

In praise of kangaroo paws

ANGUS Stewart is possibly the bestknown plant breeder of Anigozanthos or kangaroo paws and it’s easy to see why gardeners in Australia here and, increasingly, overseas are fascinated with this Aussie plant.

A look at the intricate detail of the flowers shows why it is also a favourite of botanical artists and for floral art arrangements.

Kangaroo paws are a summer feature in the Botanic Gardens, but are they easy to grow? The simple answer is yes.

I will use the common name, kangaroo paws as the botanical name can be a tongue twister. They are classed as a strappy-leaved perennial with a rhizome root system similar to the tall, bearded iris.

Due in particular to Angus Stewart, there is an ever widening range of varieties and colours growing from 50 centimetres tall to 1.5 metres.

Choosing a particular variety will depend on the size of the garden.

No garden? No worries: they can be grown in pots using the newer dwarf varieties.

Two essential points to successful growing are good drainage and preferably full sun, although they will tolerate some shade for part of the day.

They die back in winter and, like hellebores, the old flower stalks and leaves can be cut back to ground level after flowering in the autumn. In addition, they are great for attracting birds to the garden.

WITH the ever decreasing size of suburban gardens, there is a constant demand for lowgrowing, evergreen, flowering shrubs.

Here are some of my favourites, which I have grown in our garden for more than 25 years – and I know they are tough.

As an example, Escallonias, originally from the Andean region of South America, have to be tough to survive there! Some grow to more than two metres, but here I am discussing the dwarf varieties such as red knight, which has glossy evergreen leaves and rich cerise flowers.

It grows to 1.5 metres tall, although can be clipped after flowering to keep it to one metre as a low hedge.

Similarly, pink pixie (also sold

The oh-so-delicate blooms of kangaroo paws.

Escallonia red knight... for a dwarf hedge. under the label of “Hedge with an Edge”), which grows naturally to only 80 centimetres.

Then there’s the large Osmanthus family, which grows to more than three metres. For smaller gardens, heaven sent’s tubular white fragrant flowers are set off against its dark green leaves. While this can grow up to 1.5 metres tall, I have kept ours as a dwarf hedge to just one metre tall and half a metre wide, growing in front of camellia sasanqua Sarah. Osmanthus

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Just how long will hellebores last in a vase?

In the garden, in general, the flowers tend to hang down and yet, when placed in a vase, they rise up to show off. How long do they last as a cut flower? This vase of hellebores in our dining room (with ducted heating) is now well into its fourth week, with regular changes of water. originates mainly in China, where the climate can range from drought to heat but certainly has no problem with our climate here.

Camellia sasanqua can be given a haircut now to encourage more flowers next year. I recommend up to a third off. This will not cause any harm and they start forming buds for next year’s flowers almost immediately.

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26 CityNews September 3-9, 2020

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

INSIDE

Putting pinot gris to the taste test RICHARD CALVER

Archibald artist takes Einstein to the canvas

By Helen Musa

WITH the forced delay of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes at the Art Gallery of NSW, Canberra painters have been using the time to put extra finishing touches to their work.

But later in September the winners will be announced and, around the country, artists are on tenterhooks.

To enter that most notorious of prizes, the Archibald, portraits should be of “men or women distinguished in art, letter, science or politics”, but over many years of covering Canberra entries into the prize, a parade of politicians, artists and writers, never before this year have I covered one dealing with a scientist.

John Lamb, of Deakin, retired architect, Masters Games enthusiast, Japan expert, landscape gardener and author, has good reason for being the exception.

The subject of his mixed entry “Re-Conceptualising Relativity” is his own identical twin brother, an Oxford-trained physicist.

Dr Peter Lamb, of Deakin University, has been busy making himself unpopular with his peers by reconceptualising Einstein’s theories of Special and General Relativity into one Artist John Lamb… that removes the assumpchallenging Einstein tion of invisible dark matter with “an image of in dark energy. intense vision”.

Yousuf Karsh’s famous 1948 portrait of Einstein… and John Lamb’s Archibald entry of his twin brother Peter, a physicist challenging Einstein’s theory.

Not an easy subject to capture you would think, but John Lamb, the arty one among five scientific and medically-inclined brothers, has revisited his early years as a cub architect by returning to painting and has, provocatively, referenced Yousuf Karsh’s famous 1948 portrait of Einstein, held in the National Portrait Gallery.

Lamb is adamant that his portrait is neither a copy nor a different head on the same shoulders but one that challenges Einstein himself with an image of what he calls “an image of intense vision, almost a plea for understanding”.

To him, the painting’s background is full of significance, with both the Southern Cross and the Seven Sisters of Pleiades a tribute to country, the centre showing the California nebula cutting through the

background and the flames, which could represent our recent bushfires, the burning ambition of a physicist or, John likes to say: “the stake on which an enraged scientific community would have him [Peter] burned.”

An extraordinary lifetime of cultural experiences has informed John’s painting. Halfway through a degree at Melbourne University he joined the then Department of Works as a cadet, went on exchange to Japan, then returned to Australia to do his honours while taking Japanese as an extra subject, with calligraphy thrown in.

He got one of the famous Monbusho scholarships offered by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, headed to Waseda University in Tokyo and bumbled through whatever

lectures he could understand while getting his language up to speed. He extended his masters to a third year, met his wife Naoko and married there.

Back in Australia, there were stints in Perth and Melbourne, then the department took him to Canberra for the design of ADFA. Lamb found it wanting from the low-energy point of view, which was his area of expertise, but made Canberra his home.

Always incorporating his artistic inclinations in architectural presentations, he became principal project officer to the Joint House Department which had oversight of the new Parliament House. He was for a time the CEO of “Life Be in It” and then joined the Ebara Corporation engineering company in Kobe, keen for his children to gain some knowledge of their heritage.

Back in Australia he felt like a fish out of water, so took out a Dip.Ed. at the University of Canberra, ran a Kumon learning centre, taught Japanese at Narrabundah College and Orana school and led groups on trips to Japan.

Setting himself the challenge of capturing his brother’s high-energy, querying mind, John took to painting again.

Peter proved a testy subject, showing no confidence in his brother’s ability to sketch, so it was a slow process until John hit on the idea of the Einstein pose, which he sees as “a visual quip”.

He adjusted the height of the hand to make it “almost a prayer”, not the relaxed confidence of the Einstein picture, but rather a way of saying to the scientific community: “Are you listening to me?”

“We reckon he’s on to something,” he says of Peter’s controversial research.

The finalists in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes at the Art Gallery of NSW will be announced on September 17 and the winners on September 25.

CityNews September 3-9, 2020 27

CINEMA

End of the world comes early with Nolan shocker “Tenet” (M) FOR several months, local cinemas have displayed publicity for writer/director Christopher Nolan’s behemoth sci-fi, fantasy, actioner, end-of-the-world movie with overtones of wealth-based class distinction.

It’s arrived. Imagine a lemon chocolate sponge cake full of fruit and nuts, cooked by deep-frying in hot oil. Eergh!

The IMDb estimates that it has cost Nolan’s backers $US205 million. If you look at it hard enough, it’s possible to discern a sort of, kind of message about the future of our planet.

But you’ve got to look really hard among its complex elements. In particular, you need to work out whether what’s going on is now, in the past, or yet to happen.

It’s not completely without merit. A long sequence involving a gaggle of heavy trucks led by a splendid fire engine along a freeway is exciting and sets some sort of benchmark for future action movies. Where would movies be these days without cameras mounted on drones?

Who’s in it? Probably not as many actual people as are actually visible rushing about the screen in various military-style manoeuvres.

Playing the principal good guy, known only as The Protagonist, is John David Washington. As Andrei the baddest baddie, Kenneth Branagh shouts a lot. As Andrei’s much put-upon wife Kat, Paris-born to a Polish dad and an Irish mom and Melbourneraised Elizabeth Debicki looks delectable.

“Tenet”... Imagine a lemon chocolate sponge cake full of fruit and nuts, cooked by deep-frying in hot oil. Eergh!

IMDb lists her first of an essentially male cast. IMDb got it right.

Nolan directs with a fondness for destruction – characters, cars, buildings, a Boeing 747, once the queen of the skies but now fit only to taxi into a disposable airport building. He shows wrecks of other buildings then runs the film backwards to show them before demolition. It’s a trick that quickly begins to pall.

The dialogue is muffled and garbled, to the extent that it really was hard to figure out just what the film was trying to tell us aurally that its images couldn’t do.

If you simply must see “Tenet”, I suggest you empty your bladder before it starts and

bring a cut lunch. It runs for 154 minutes.

I’ve seen longer movies but none of them as ultimately disappointing.

At all cinemas

“Les Misérables” (MA) A DECADE ago, Mali-born writer/director Ladj Ly filmed local cops in the Paris suburb of Montfermeil.

At a press conference at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, he spoke about its conception and gestation: “The starting

point… was a police blunder that I filmed 10 years ago. For five years, I filmed scenes in my neighbourhood – we filmed the cops – it was a neighbourhood where a lot of things happened and I started to film the cops and then I actually filmed a cop blunder…”

From that, it should be apparent that Ly’s 104 minutes movie isn’t going to try to encompass Victor Hugo’s massive (655,478 words in the original French) novel. The only direct reference to the novel is a passing reference to Montfermeil, where the dialogue suggests that it was written – in the novel the Thénardier family keeps an inn there.

In Ly’s film, Montfermeil has a significant Muslim population. The most appropriate description for both is a toss-up between underprivileged and impoverished.

Today’s the first day there for experienced cop Ruiz (Damien Bonnard). In the car with local veteran cops Chris (Alexis Manenti) and Gwada (Djebril Zonga) of Paris’s Anti-Crime Brigade, he’s going to learn the territory, its people and its problems. And how the local cops do things to keep a lid on a community that could boil over into violence and riot at any time.

Like today. It starts routinely enough.

Ruiz meets the mayor (Steve Tientcheu).

And the proprietor of a popular café. Among the teenagers who roam the streets, Issa (Issa Perica) stands out for no particular

reason – yet. A van full of roustabouts from a local circus turns up demanding the return of circus property. What is it? It’s improbable, not impossible, and a delight to see when it finally makes an appearance. I won’t spoil the pleasure for you.

“Les Misérables” is about adolescent energy, social tension, the plight of people there because there’s no other available place to live. The mayor tries to keep a lid on things while looking after his own interests.

Tensions build. Not least between Ruiz, who wants to do his job by the rule book, and Chris who has his own way of confronting issues.

It’s exciting, vigorous, confronting, sympathetic, a day in the life of people abandoned by society. And fresh, optimistic, doing their best, following one faith in a location surrounded by folk of a different faith. The film pays little or no attention to religious differences. But the undercurrent is always there, “Les Misérables” was voted best film at this year’s Césars (France’s equivalent of the Oscars). I left it delighted and refreshed after the disappointment of what I’d seen earlier that day.

At Palace Electric

WATCH IT! / streaming and stuff

‘Streamtember’ coming to screen near you!

SEPTEMBER is going to have a streaming surplus, with a bunch of new stuff to binge coming as different platforms fight to get viewers locked in as they approach the end-of-year holiday season.

sundayROAST Stay in touch with the names making news on Sundays from 10am as 2CC and “CityNews” present Canberra’s only local weekend news and current affairs program.

It’s a revolving panel show that brings to the microphone great “CityNews” commentators and 2CC personalities.

Be part of the conversation call 6255 1206 between 10am and noon

28 CityNews September 3-9, 2020

Here’s a few of what I reckon will be worth looking out for.

“The Devil All the Time” is Netflix’s newest big-budget movie that’s been rustling up quite the hype. It’s a psychological crime film with a star-studded cast: Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Bill Skarsgård and Mia Wasikowska.

Or, in that order, we might know them at their most recognisable: Spiderman, Twilight Vampire Dude, Pennywise the Clown and Alice from Wonderland (fun side note – Mia Wasikowska grew up in Canberra and studied drama through Karabar High School’s distance-education unit).

That’s only the beginning of the massive cast and the ensemble is certainly fitting for the lineup of characters to be portrayed: a false preacher, a pair of husband-and-wife serial killers and a disturbed war veteran, just a few of the moving pieces of this intricate plot.

It’s based on a bestselling 2011 book of the same name and has sparked enough interest to get the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal coming over to produce.

Such talent is sure to secure Netflix a whole bucket of viewers – I’ll definitely be one of them.

It hits the streaming service September 16.

Stan is set to stir the already well churned political pot with its new series “The Comey Rule”. This one stars Brendan Gleeson who’s rather boldly playing an interpretation of a man you might have heard of: Donald Trump. He’s accompanied by Jeff Daniels as FBI director James Comey, probing the 2016 election and particularly the controversy

Tom Holland in Netflix’s “The Devil All the Time”. about the Russians having some involvement.

I may be spit-balling here, but the timing of this two-part drama seems more than a little deliberate given a presidential election set for not two months after its release. What statements it makes, and how it handles its delicate subject matter will be fascinating to see. It’s on Stan from September 27.

Moving from the cheery matters of serial killers and intense political conflict, Disney Plus is going down its well-trodden wholesome route with a new documentary series – “Becoming”.

Each episode follows a different celebrity back to their hometown where they explore their childhood, their influences and what set them on the path they chose.

These real-life stories include musicians, athletes, entertainers and everything in between. All episodes of “Becoming” will be out on the platform from September 18.

Over on the platform a little more forgotten about in Oz, Amazon, is the second season of

“The Boys”, about to drop September 4. It seems that in the current supreme reign of comic-book adaptations every streaming service needs their own group of caped crusaders. Amazon’s effort quite cleverly mixes up the formula.

“The Boys”, unlike what’s generally seen in the genre, is a dark comedy. Like, really dark. This one is definitely only for the adults.

It’s about a multi-billion-dollar mega corporation that acts as a management-like business of superheroes, and covers up any of its dirty secrets.

The Boys, a group of vigilantes, seeks to try to expose the company and the corrupt superheroes they represent, making it a series that quite cleverly subverts the genre we see so done to death.

So that’s September; there’s certainly no shortage of variety being generated in our ever-growing streaming superverse.

MUSIC

Bob feels the buzz for emerging School of Music

By Helen

MUSA EYES widened in the arts community recently when the ANU announced the formation of a new advisory board for its School of Music, to be headed up by former politician Bob McMullan.

McMullan said at the time: “The Community Advisory Board will both be a voice for the ANU School of Music to the community and ACT government, as well as a way for our community to directly engage with the School.”

Some scoffed. After all, Kate Carnell’s government had defunded the schools of art and music in 2008 then partially refunding them on the condition that they incorporate community development into their curricula, creating confusion about objectives.

Then there was the debacle of 2012 when the ANU attempted to sack the entire faculty in a clean-sweep approach that forgot about staff entitlements and student courses.

In 2016 incoming vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt commissioned a report on the school from former public servant Andrew Podger.

Sceptics supposed that report has

The School of Music’s Community Advisory Board chair Bob McMullan… “To be a voice for the ANU School of Music to the community and ACT government, as well as a way for our community to directly engage with the School.” disappeared into the capacious filing systems of the university, but as it turns out, they couldn’t have been more mistaken, as we discovered when we caught up with McMullan last week.

An enormously popular but short-lived Federal arts minister in the Keating

government from 1993 to 1994, he’s lived in Canberra since 1981, becoming the first person to represent the ACT in both houses of federal parliament and retiring in 2010.

He most definitely calls Canberra home and, after a five-year stint in London on the overseas board of the European Bank, he and

his wife are back for good.

“When I left parliament, people assumed that we would immediately leave Canberra, but it never crossed our minds… This will be our home forever… our children and grandchildren are here and it’s where we want to live and be involved in the culture,” he says.

“I’d been doing some volunteering in film-industry organisations for a few years but gave up 18 months ago,” he says.

“Then Andrew Podger approached me regarding a community-based council. I don’t have much musical ability, but I love the School of Music and when later someone from Brian Schmidt’s office approached me, I said I’d love to.”

He believes the school had to make sure that reforms were working before they set up such a council.

“We had one meeting before shutdown and it seemed to me the place was really buzzing,” he says.

“I don’t really have the breadth of knowledge of other conservatories and musical schools but it seems to me that it’s on the way back… and Brian [Schmidt] has renewed the ANU’s commitment to the School of Music and the School of Art, too.”

He describes the head of the school of music, Kim Cunio, as “inspirational”, praising his ideas as ones that, in time, will have real national impact.

“The first thing we have to do is to reach out, to talk to the CSO and the festivals, but the school’s got to get its foundations right

before any advisory board can start to make some contribution,” he says.

McMullan is aware that the arts are not at the forefront of political consciousness in Australia, but says: “I was lucky, I was arts minister when Paul [Keating] was PM, perhaps it was similar under Gough [Whitlam] but I wasn’t around then.”

Interest in the arts, he says, rises and falls with the leaders and slips down the ladder pretty quickly, evident at the moment in the paucity of relief packages for arts people.

If McMullan is right and the School of Music is buzzing, then that’s coming from the top. Kim Cunio is keen to talk up the resurgence of the school, with 260 enrolments now – the most it ever had was just over 300.

He hints at a new music-for-health program that will be launched later this year, to be overseen by flautist and neurologist Prof Eckart Altenmüller from Hannover, who was here last year.

As well, a planned partnership with NIDA in Sydney, which is now doing postgraduate studies in creativity, may lead to a collaborative musical neuroscience and creativity program.

Cunio hopes the new advisory board will help to tell the good news stories, but notes that change must come slowly, as the school is first and foremost an educational institution.

Anyone interested in joining the advisory board should email kim.cunio@anu.edu.au

ARTS IN THE CITY

Broadway ‘Chill’ set to thrill

By Helen Musa BUDDING Theatre has secured the rights to the teen musical “Be More Chill”, to be staged for the first time in Canberra next year. The 2018 Broadway hit is billed as “a rocking new sci-fi musical about growing up, high school, and what we will do to get what we want” and shows what happens when dorky teenager Jeremy discovers a supercomputer inside a tiny grey pill he swallows.

CANBERRA Strings is presenting two performances of Schubert’s String Quintet, one of the bestknown works for the combination of two violins, viola and two cellos.

The sought-after ensemble is led by Barbara Jane Gilby as first violinist and also includes CSO players Pip Thompson, Lucy Carrigy-Ryan, Samuel Payne and Julia Janiszewski.

At Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, 2pm and 3.30pm, September 13.

Book at trybooking.com “EDGE” is an exhibition by the Marsden Art Group of painters, established in 2003 by Barbara van der Linden. It’s visiting the theme “edge” with inspirations from nature, nurture and plenty in between as part of “Create”, the Ginninderry arts program. At the Link, McClymont Way, next to Strathnairn, Holt, until September 13.

THE “Poetry on the Move

“Be More Chill”... to be staged in Canberra next year.

Festival” is online during September, October and November, with opportunities for poets to submit work in English and other languages and also participate in free, week-long workshops hosted by poets Owen Bullock, Subhash Jaireth, Lucy Alexander and Melinda Smith. All workshops are limited to 20 participants each. Book at poetryonthemove.net MEGALO Print Studio + Gallery is now showing its 40th anniversary exhibition, “The Return of the Archive”, featuring work from the archive, with works by 33 artists. At Megalo, Kingston, until November 30.

SEMI-finalists for the biennial Rob Guest Endowment Award have been announced and, among familiar names, are Canberraraised actor Mitchell France and

Wagga-raised performer Stephanie Wall. At $50,000, it’s the largest single musical theatre scholarship in Australia, with the second prize of $5000 and four runners-up receiving $1500 each. The endowment was created following the sudden death of musical theatre performer Rob Guest in 2008.

FROM the ashes of the Mallacoota New Year’s Eve bushfires is a timely book by singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet Milena Cifali who, along with her partner Jim Horvath, lost her home, instruments and parrots in the fires. “Mallacoota Time” will be launched at Muse in Kingston, 3pm, September 5, to be followed by a show and book signing at Artists Shed, Fyshwick, 5.30pm on September 6. Free, but bookings to artistsshed.com.au CityNews September 3-9, 2020 29

WINE / pinot gris

Putting ‘always pleasant’ to the pinot taste test Dull and boring, I’m afraid, has been my experience with a number of pinot gris: they are anodyne. But...

IT was a confected experience. It was also an attempt at empathy. There’s always more than one point of view. But it’s easy to forget that your own point of view is not the only way to look at things, especially when you are as opinionated as me!

A friend’s favourite wine is pinot grigio or, if pressed (pun intended), pinot gris. The difference? According to “Wine Folly”, (the reference work my daughter purchased as part of getting a certificate in wine appreciation) there is none.

The “Good Food” website though explains the difference is based on region, which makes sense given grigio is Italian and gris is French for “grey”: The short explanation of their difference is that gris is based on the French Alsace style, riper and richer, with more alcohol and sometimes a little sweetness; grigio is based on the Italian model, lighter and simpler with less alcohol.

Figuratively, grey connotes dull and

boring and that, I’m afraid, has been my experience with a number of pinot gris: they are anodyne. But my friend said that this varietal was “always pleasant” and was surprised by the number of taste differences from the one varietal. So, I invited her and a mate who knows a lot about wine to taste two pinot gris.

One was from my adoptive homeland, NZ, and the other a local wine; both 2019, and both at around the same price point.

The first is a Church Road Hawkes Bay pinot gris, a vineyard I visited last year where I tasted its 2018 pinot gris, in fact most of its range. The second: a Mount Majura vineyard Canberra District pinot gris, a vineyard I have often visited but whose pinot gris I have not previously tasted.

When I purchased a bottle of the Mount Majura from Jim Murphy’s in Fyshwick, the seller told me that this was the winery’s most popular wine. It was $23.49 because I bought

five other wines at the same time, one of which was the Church Road at $22.98. The Kiwi was higher in alcohol at 14.5 per cent with the local at 12.5 per cent.

I served rye bread, smoked ham and capers as well as water to ensure that we had some food with the wine and water to clean the palate.

And my mate then threw a curveball: he said that we couldn’t just taste from the New World and produced a 2018 Dopff au Moulin pinot gris from Alsace. I rudely asked him the price (for reasons of comparison) and he said it was a nudge over $20 a bottle at Dan Murphy’s. It is also 12.5 per cent alcohol by volume.

We started with the Kiwi. On the nose there was pear and a sweet spice, not quite ginger.

The first mouthful presented a good balance of sweetness and acid and was long on the finish although leaving a slightly gravelly taste. It was pleasant but not extraordinary.

The Mount Majura had a similar nose with pear dominant but a more nutty, almond character. On taste it was much more acidic than the Kiwi and had a greater intensity. When

we had the food each of us thought that the Mount Majura opened up and became the hero of the two, losing the acidic bite on first taste and complementing the ham and bread.

The French interloper was a surprise: it was a great deal sweeter than its southern hemisphere rivals. It was rich and full with a honeyed flavour. It complemented the capers with their salty tang. For my tastes, it was the winner but my friends were still murmuring praise for the local as it changed so markedly and evolved so well as a food wine.

I won’t be stocking up on pinot gris but the experience was rewarding and made me appreciate another perspective.

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.” – Ansel Adams

DINING / Bolt Bar, Aranda

Wine bar’s smokehouse flavour THERE’S a lot to love about the Bolt Bar in Aranda – its unique vibe, dedication to local wines and produce, and its skill in smoking a delectable range of products on site.

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30 CityNews September 3-9, 2020

It was our first visit and won’t be our last.

Named after the architect who designed the building, Dirk Bolt (the history features as a piece of art on the wall), Bolt Bar’s menu features snacks, 12-inch pizzas, gourmet burgers and mains.

Wines from regional producers are displayed, forming a feature of the bar, including top drops from Wily Trout Vineyard, Lerida Estate and Four Winds Vineyard (you can buy bottles also, and we did at 30 per cent off). With our meals we enjoyed a 2018 viognier from Tallagandra Hills and a 2017 Three Lads Barbera.

The on-site smokehouse has yum items for sale, including smoked garlic. Some items need to be ordered in advance (space issue), and I must give the salmon gravlax a go.

We kicked off our Bolt Bar experience sharing starters, all exceptional. The salt-and-pepper squid ($12) was super tender and one of the best I’ve had. The three smoked starters were intriguing and not overly smoked. They included apple-smoked camembert (from the specials, $15), stuffed olives

Salt-and-pepper squid… super tender. ($10) and feta-stuffed peppers ($10).

The gourmet burger offering is well thought through and not your typical line up (all $17). My smoked pulled-pork burger with apple sauce was to-die-for and I loved that the bun wasn’t so massive.

Sometimes with burgers I feel all I’m doing is eating bread.

The Bolt Burger was also super delicious and a house fave we were told – house-ground smoked beef, served with caramelised onion and “the lot”.

Rare was the way the char-grilled eye fillet was ordered, and rare was the way it came, with creamy mash and veg and a rich red-wine jus ($34 and other sauces available). The barramundi also earned a big tick.

Bolt Bar offers specials every day of the week and if we lived in Aranda we’d be there all the time,

Photo: Wendy Johnson

including on Sundays to enjoy dinner for two and Eden Road wine for $55.

As a regional wine bar and tap house, Bolt Bar is part of the revitalisation of the Aranda shops which had been empty for a couple of decades before Two Before Ten moved its roastery there in 2014.

The derelict building slowly transformed into a bustling community hub. Now Bolt Bar, the Aranda café and the roastery all form a family – different personalities, but united.

The décor is relaxed and the staff can’t do enough for customers.

At Bolt Bar you can dine indoors or out (heaters available).

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General knowledge crossword No. 749

FOOD TO LIFT YOUR MOOD

Your week in the stars – September 7-13, 2020 ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Resist the overwhelming urge to be an impulsive and impetuous Ram! Your boss planet Mars turns retrograde (from Thursday until November 14) so you need to apply the brakes and think before you speak and act. Otherwise you could upset others with your hasty words and reckless actions. When it comes to your Aries aspirations for the future, the main quality you need to cultivate at the moment is patience, as you slow your motor and cool your heels.

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TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Retrograde Mars and Chiron are both hiding in your seclusion zone. So it’s time to help those around you (especially family members) in a quiet, behind-the-scenes kind of way. The Sun and Jupiter could also send some welcome news, especially involving a child, teenager, close friend or foreign connection. Wise words for the week are from author and fellow Taurean, Deepak Chopra: “The less you open your heart to others, the more your heart suffers.”

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GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

Hasty words and ambiguous comments will only lead to drama and confusion (especially on Thursday and Friday). Jumping to conclusions is definitely not recommended! So slow down and listen carefully to what other people are saying.

A cherished goal or an ambitious dream could also be delayed, as Mars reverses through your hopes and wishes zone for the next two months. Be extra patient!

Good things will eventually come to Geminis who wait.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Your communication and partnership zones are activated by the Sun and Jupiter.

So it’s time to exercise your brain as you talk, text, tweet, post, publish and converse as creatively as possible. Having a fruitful conversation with a loved one is also favoured. However, with Mars reversing through your career zone, it’s not a good week to start a business, initiate a work project or look for a new job. Instead, be patient and bide your time in tenacious Crab style.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Prepare to sparkle and shine, as Venus vamps through Leo and the Sun (your power planet) links up with buoyant Jupiter and glamorous Neptune. Cat confidence, creativity and compassion are highlighted. So make the most of it and do something special, as you tackle a pet project or help someone in need.

But beware the tendency to be financially misled or susceptible to false flattery (especially on Friday). Keep your trusty Truth Detector set on high!

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

This week Neptune and retrograde Mars mess with your sensitive nervous system, so do all you can to wind down, worry less and relax more. Your ‘to-do- list’ can wait. So your mantra for the moment is “I want to be alone” (famously declared by Virgo movie star Greta Garbo) as you withdraw from the busyness around you, tap into your intuition and receive wise guidance from within. Plus pay attention to the rich symbolism in your nightly dreams.

CONVERSION SERVICE Down

1 Who created the comic strip Ginger Meggs, James ...? (6) 8 What is an agent, sent on a mission? (8) 9 Bizet was best known for which opera? (6) 10 Which enlarged masses of lymphoid tissue often prevent nasal breathing in children? (8) 11 To banish someone from a country, is to do what?

(6) 13 What is an orchestral composition forming the prelude to an opera? (8) 16 Name a well-known tax worker. (8) 19 To treat a corpse with chemicals in order to preserve it from decay, is to do what? (6) 22 What are limbs of a tree also known as? (8) 24 Name a white ductile metallic element, symbol Ag. (6) 25 What is a short interesting narrative of a particular incident? (8) 26 Which NW European kingdom is bordered by Finland and Norway? (6)

2 To become less in strength, is to do what? (5) 3 What is a short appearance in a play or film by a celebrity? (5) 4 Who are members of the upper house? (8) 5 What is a high-pitched flute, much used in military music? (4) 6 Which term describes a person accompanying another to a dance, party, etc? (6) 7 Which bladed vehicle is used for levelling roads? (6) 12 What are plays on words? (4) 14 What are exits also called? (8) 15 Name that one of the two bones of the forearm which is on the side opposite to the thumb. (4) 17 Name Australian English, humorously and affectionately regarded. (6) 18 Which man is employed as a harem attendant? (6) 20 What is the lowest portion of a ship’s interior? (5) 21 What is a lord, entitled to allegiance and service? (5) 23 Name the entire foot of a horse, donkey, etc. (4)

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

This week’s stars encourage you to join a group, class or club that will help develop a latent Libran creative talent – whether it’s writing, singing, dancing, painting, performing, photography or playing music. Don’t expect relationships to run like clockwork though, as Mars reverses through your partnership zone (from Thursday until November 14). If you respond to problems deftly and diplomatically, then things will soon be back on an even keel.

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Across

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Sudoku medium No. 275

Retrograde Mars reminds you to reboot your exercise routine so it is more sustainable. Wednesday’s lucky Sun-Jupiter link encourages you to broaden your horizons (physically, mentally and spiritually). It’s time to expand your circle of influence and make positive changes (within your peer group, local community or further afield).

Be inspired by birthday great, writer D. H. Lawrence: “I want to live my life so that my nights are not full of regrets.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

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AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

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The Sun and Jupiter activate your knowledge and adventure zone, so start thinking about where you’ll go travelling next – physically and/or mentally. But expect some confusion on Friday when nebulous Neptune scrambles your communication antennae. And don’t let anyone dim your curiosity or diminish your dreams.

So your motto for the moment is from birthday great, writer D H Lawrence: “Life is travelling to the edge of knowledge, and then going beyond.”

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

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You’re keen to express your ideas and enjoy plenty of stimulating conversations with a wide range of interesting people, as Jupiter revs up your curious and social side. But be careful you don’t write (or say) the wrong thing to the wrong person!

Make sure you use your considerable communication skills to motivate and inspire others in positive ways. So your motto is from Sagittarian writer George Eliot: “Blessed is the influence of one true loving soul on another.”

The Sun and Jupiter bless romantic and platonic relationships, joint ventures and group activities. You’re bursting with ideas and are keen to help, but don’t disappoint others by being disorganised and promising more than you can actually deliver. Sunday’s Venus-Chiron trine activates your creative, compassionate and contemplative sides. So it’s the perfect time to lose yourself in an artistic project, help someone in need or meditate on the meaning of life.

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SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Magic and mystery are around you this week Aquarius! If you’re looking for answers then keep your eyes and ears wide open, as you search for important (and clandestine) clues along the way. And make sure you favour a sense of wonder over mundane complacency. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, writer Roald Dahl: “The greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

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