CityNews 210401

APRIL 1, 2021

How does ACT Health get it so wrong?

JON STANHOPE

DAYLIGHT SAVING CLOCKS GO BACK SUNDAY, APRIL 4

Clock ticks on minister’s heritage credibility

PAUL COSTIGAN

Same sad question, where are women safe?

KATE MEIKLE

PASH RASH Portrait Gallery gets the hots for love

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ADVERTISMENT

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, problem is wax there is no licensing of people people, however 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

NEWS / time for action

Friends want better go for neglected Yerrabi Pond

By Nick

OVERALL THE Friends of Yerrabi Pond have a vision to breathe life back into Gungahlin’s primary water feature, saving it from years of neglect that’s caused cracked pathways, poor lighting, environmental damage and an outdated toilet block.

Eighty-nine years old, a proud Gungahlin resident, and a character if ever there was one, John Beagle started the Friends of Yerrabi Pond after he and his wife Kay discovered the area slipping through the cracks.

“The list of issues is as long as your arm,” says John.

“The pond and parklands are dangerous for many users, particularly the elderly and young. There’s no signage concerning the rights of pedestrians, there are only two unventilated, terribly outdated toilets.

Pathways and playground areas are cracked and have holes in them.”

“It’s time for action and it’s well overdue.”

John kick-started a series of initiatives to get more care given to the area, efforts that were quickly met

INDEX

with an outpouring of support from the community.

An online petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly has attracted more than 400 signatures. A Facebook page has quickly worked up near 200 followers. Local businesses have got behind it, and it’s seen cross-party support from Canberra politicians.

That’s only the start of John’s endeavours though. He also approached the Gungahlin Community Council with the issue, and treasurer Darron Marks, another resident passionate about seeing change in the area, enthusiastically came on board.

“One of the most concerning things is the very limited safety lighting,” says Darron.

“The Amaroo side of the pond has next to no lighting at all. You literally are walking in the pitch dark late in the evening.

“Nothing’s been done, and we’ve had to take it upon ourselves to do things that firmly lie in the responsibility of the ACT government.”

The area opened in 1999 when Gungahlin had a population of no more than 12,000 people.

Now, that number has reached more than 70,000 and Darron says the facilities can’t cater for the still rapidly growing population.

“Parking is a huge issue, there simply isn’t enough available,” he says.

“There’s a serious lack of bins that

Since 1993: Volume 27, Number 13

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The Friends of Yerrabi Pond, from left, John de Ridder, Darron Marks with Kay and John Beagle.

Photo: Nick Overall means rubbish makes its way into the lake. I’ve seen swans with plastic wrapped around their neck.”

These issues have inspired community spirited locals to take matters into their own hands.

John and Darron say a resident named Matt takes his kayak out on the pond to dig out rubbish before it can affect wildlife.

Another couple, Simon and Kulvadee, have decorated an alleyway near the pond’s business district with pot plants and other adornment to bring the area to life.

“If we can get just the basics sorted here, the weeds, the bins, the lighting,

Managing Director: James Anderson, 0404 077605, james@citynews.com.au Director: Kate Meikle, kate@citynews.com.au Senior advertising account executives: David Cusack, 0435 380656 Tracey Avery, 0477 939999 Advertising account executives: Damien Klemke, 0439 139001 Karen Davis, 0427 410442 Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au Digital news editor: Danielle Nohra, danielle@citynews.com.au Journalists: Andrew Mathieson, andrew@citynews.com.au Nick Overall, nick@citynews.com.au Belinda Strahorn, belinda@citynews.com.au; Nathan Schmidt, nathan@citynews.com.au Kathryn Vukovljak, kathryn@citynews.com.au Arts editor: Helen Musa, helen@citynews.com.au Production manager: Janet Ewen Graphic Designer: Benita Leung Proof reader: Glenda Anderson

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it could go a long way,” says Darron.

“From there we can work towards realising the pond’s true potential, consulting the clearly passionate community about what they want to see for a long-term plan.”

Another toilet block located in John Knight Memorial Park at Lake Ginninderra is soon to be upgraded with more than $600,000 of government funding, something John sees as a clear indication they could also be doing more for Yerrabi.

“The toilets in John Knight Park are out of date too, but they’re RollsRoyce compared to what’s here, and if they’re getting redone why are we still

For more information and to sign the petition visit the Friends of Yerrabi Pond Facebook page.

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putting up with out-of-date facilities from 1999?” he asks.

“We have people tell us they won’t use the toilet block at Yerrabi Pond because they’re unventilated, nonhandicap friendly, there are no baby changing facilities. When you close the door you can’t see your hand in front of your face.”

Despite their ongoing concerns, the Friends of Yerrabi Pond are optimistic, wanting to focus on proactive solutions rather than getting bogged down in negativity.

“There’s a big picture here, the place has so much potential,” says John.

“We’re not just talking a bunch of geriatrics pulling up weeds, we’re talking the possibility of botanical gardens, a dog park, better facilities for the thousands of people living in Gungahlin and surrounds.

“It has the potential to be a real showpiece for the city, a feature for Canberra.”

While the Friends say they’re happy to see other parts of the ACT being improved, they firmly believe it’s time to move past conversations and into real action for their home.

“This isn’t about egos, this is about making a future for the people living here,” says John.

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SEVEN DAYS

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot TREES have haunted me this past week, since I read that the Australian War Memorial is poised to log 60 more trees to elbow room for its unpopular, half-billion-dollar expansion.

As the city’s deciduous trees start to turn, after a summer of sun and soaking rain, I revel in the beauty they bring to Canberra every autumn.

Then came the never-ending earworm; Joni Mitchell’s 1970 hit “Big Yellow Taxi”, a song about the destruction of trees to make way for a parking lot in Hawaii.

Took all the trees, put ‘em in a tree museum, Charged a dollar and a half just to see ‘em”.

(That’s about $13.64 in today’s money.)

Reader Peter Sherman, of Aranda, wrote to say it would be an “absolute environmental and symbolic travesty” if the NCA approves the removal of every eucalyptus tree in front of the AWM. “I feel that this latest outrageous, shameless proposal

Gum trees at the Australian War Memorial awaiting the chainsaw. Photo: Paul Costigan confirms that the AWM’s decision-makers are highly unsuitable custodians of this sacred site,” he fumed.

In a bristling column on CityNews.com.au “Canberra Matters” columnist Paul Costigan wrote: “When Canberra city needs every piece of biodiversity and green infrastructure to deal with the coming climate crisis, how on earth did anyone at the War Memorial think it was okay to let the bulldozers loose on so many trees. In the end this could be 100 or more trees that will go.

“Included in this vandalism will be some very significant ones such as the massively beautiful ones to the west of the front to the memorial building.”

He got in touch with Stewart Mitchell, former head of Buildings and Services at the AWM. “Stewart can tell you how much the staff

used to put into the care and occasional replacement of their trees. They were important to the site and the staff were very conscious of their stewardship responsibilities,” Costigan says.

“Stewart and others have been gutted by this news. This is not the place they used to work for and were proud of what they achieved – the care of the Memorial’s trees.”

So that’s the NCA; now to the ACT government.

Before October’s poll, then Liberal leader Alistair Coe offered up a million trees over 10 years to get our neglected, faltering urban forest back. Could he do it? Probably not, but it was worth a try and politically it drew into stark contrast a party prepared to plant and a government guilty of turning a blind eye on the massive loss of municipal trees.

The pillaging of the Yarralumla dog park saw 90 trees felled, which one learned local described as a planning mess from the first decision to turn an historic established wooded area into a dog park.

Then came a letter to the editor this week

from Florey readers Glenys and Phil Byrne with the depressing news that at least 75 mature trees (including clumps of eucalypts and sheoaks) along Moyes Crescent, Holt, between Flack and Starke streets were all marked up and ready for the chop.

But now they’re not, with City Services saying the planned removal of the trees was an “administrative error”.

The Byrnes also wrote that the recent “Temperature Check” report prepared by the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub indicates that, of all capital cities in Australia, between 2013 and 2020, Canberra experienced the greatest reduction in “green infrastructure”.

“According to this report, from 2013 to 2016 the area of Canberra covered by vegetation fell from more than 60 per cent to around one third,” the couple writes.

“What is the Green Wing of the government doing to change the bad old ways of the Barr government?”

Don’t it always seem to go, That you don’t know what you’ve got, till it’s gone They paved paradise and put up a parking lot...

That bloody song!

AND this straight-faced reportage from Friday’s lead story in “The Canberra Times”: “The Finance Department is also preparing advice for an investigation into the lewd offences against office furniture by male staffers.”

Another cabinet problem, wonders my Weston snout.

Kristy McBain in her latest electoratewindow guise and her inspiration... Bugs Bunny?

HOW does the Member for Eden-Monaro expect to be taken seriously, wonders the Easter Grinch. First there was the jumbo photo of Kristy McBain in a gender-bending Father Christmas beard on the window of her Queanbeyan electorate office (that was still there in February). Now it’s Kristy looking more like Bugs than the Easter Bunny, replete with big, floppy ears and buck teeth.

Ian Meikle is the editor of “CityNews” and can be heard on the “CityNews Sunday Roast” news and interview program, 2CC, 9am-noon.

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CANBERRA MATTERS / the heritage of landscape

Clock ticking on minister’s heritage credibility HAVING been in government for four months, Rebecca Vassarotti, ACT Minister for the Environment and Heritage, should now have a firm view on heritage and comprehend that her role is about being a leader in the stewardship of Canberra’s environments.

This ACT Greens politician should be ensuring her government understands the city was designed as a landscape.

Decades ago the emphasis was not on buildings and architecture, but on creating a sense of place through elaborate landscape design including integrated plantings.

More recently, the city has been described as the bush capital and sometimes as being a garden city.

This city was not designed to replicate the surrounding countryside nor was it just about gardens. The approach was about establishing an integrated designed landscape character that included natives as well as introduced plants.

Gardens in their many

Minister Vassarotti is yet to understand the importance of ensuring that future generations should be able to enjoy what she did as a child in this city in a landscape. The clock is ticking loudly on her credibility... forms remain a key element to the city’s aesthetic. The city needs more well-designed and maintained public spaces and gardens.

Canberra’s heritage is more complex than being about bricks and mortar. The city’s heritage is the total fabric of the city, being the landscapes including the urban forests, the open spaces, the parks, the gardens, the biodiversity, the flora and fauna, the surrounding hills and the ever-present waterways and lakes. It is about views – being able to see the hills and the landscapes surrounding the city.

Those who grew up in or came to live in Canberra during the 1960s1990s would know that this is the landscape they embraced. Having a city that is about being a landscape is what sets it apart from other metropolitan centres that emphasise key historic buildings with landscapes filling the spaces in between.

This city’s design fundamental was about having a sense of place for

residents to enjoy a lifestyle within landscapes, greenery, lakes and integrated green infrastructure.

Understanding this concept, makes it easier to make the arguments for a higher recognition of the city’s green infrastructure and its landscapes as being its total heritage.

New suburban developments and the subsequent redevelopment within established areas should be assessed through this fundamental set of principles. It is about landscapes.

Minister Vassarotti grew up in this city during the last decades of the 20th century. It should follow, given this background and her portfolio responsibilities, that she would be a natural advocate for a whole-ofgovernment approach for the enhancement, maintenance and growth of the landscapes of Canberra – its heritage.

Having this overriding duty of care and stewardship responsibilities would assist her advocacy for placing the highest priority on the city’s heritage and the environment within the ACT’s Labor/Greens coalition government that she enabled and now must take responsibility for the city’s

Having a city that is about being a landscape is what sets it apart from other metropolitan centres that emphasise key historic buildings with landscapes filling the spaces in between.

Photo: Paul Costigan landscapes – its heritage.

But wait! I am writing this piece for Thursday, April 1 (April Fool’s Day). Have voters been fooled that this minister would be there for the city’s heritage and environment?

Were people wrong to think that this child of Canberra would embrace its landscapes and resist the forces of developers (keen to build towers and make more bucks) as well as her government’s own development agency, the folly specialist, the City Renewal Authority?

At a February northside community meeting this minister was questioned about her government’s role in the moves to have Lake Burley Griffin heritage listed.

Having no clear answer, she was going to get back on that. Sadly, it seems that she has not understood

that her government should be the leader in gaining heritage status for the lake – a key feature of the city she represents.

And where was she when it was time to stand up for West Basin and several other issues involving trees, parks and greenery?

This minister is yet to understand the importance of ensuring that future generations should be able to enjoy what she did as a child in this city in a landscape. The clock is ticking loudly on her credibility as an advocate for and as a steward of the city’s heritage and the environment.

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

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COVER STORY / love stories

In a word, it’s all about love and its meanings

By Helen

MUSA In its long-awaited exhibition “Australian Love Stories”, the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) explores that most contested of emotions, love.

Singer Jimmy Barnes and wife Jane in front of their roses photo at the National Portrait Gallery launch.

David’s uncompromising 2020 portrait of husband-and-wife John Bell and Anna Volska, and Peter BrewBevan’s 2020 portrait of former Australian ballet artistic director David McAllister and theatre director Wesley Enoch, shown back-to-back yet comfortable and relaxed.

Anna Volska and John Bell (2020) photographed by Harold David.

G?

“Australian Love Stories”, March 20-August 1, book at portrait.gov.au

IN

photo taken, so I wanted it to be about the place, it’s not just about love between Tracey and me but about the love of place,” Stan said.

“Australian Love Stories” might at first glimpse seem to be dominated by contemporary photographic portraits, but there are plenty of paintings as well, with works by John Brack, Charles Blackman, Albert Tucker and Del Kathryn Barton, a sign, director Quinlan thought, that “relationships where art, life and inspiration are intertwined often give rise to the most original and memorable creative outputs”.

Janet Dawson’s famous nude portrait of her late husband Michael Boddy is prominent, as well as Arthur Boyd’s portrait of La Mama Theatre founder, Betty Burstall.

Bruce explained that in the course of last year when they had to “delay and reinvent” to get around the COVID-19 restrictions, an exhibition had been put up as a “choose-yourown love adventure” where, at the end, viewers are given their own love profile.

In keeping with the wide interpretation of the word “love”, lifelong friendships are also celebrated, such as those between Judith Wright and Barbara Blackman, Davida Allen and Betty Churcher, and creative collaborators Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson.

There are also a selection of William Yang’s provocative photographs from the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and portraits of families, including John Brack’s images of his daughters and Vincent Namatjira’s series inspired by his great-grandfather Albert.

Theatre-lovers will be not be disappointed, with new photographic portraits commissioned exclusively for the exhibition, such as Harold

LL

Hugh Stewart’s photo of glamour couple, actress Asher Keddie and artist Vincent Fantauzzo, fits the passionate definition and “Jackie and Kerryn”, Jenny Sages’ painting of Kerryn Phelps and her partner Jackie Stricker-Phelps traverses several boundaries.

Recently, two of the famous Australian couples in the show, Jimmy and Jane (Barnes) and Stan and Tracey (Grant and Holmes) visited the gallery to view their images for the first time.

First to the Barneses, who had raised spirits last year with their online family singalongs during the 2020 lockdowns.

“That’s us,” Jimmy said on seeing the large photographic image, described by co-curator Bruce as “a sweet portrait”.

Taken by their nephew Jesse Lizotte, it features the pair lying on a bed of roses picked from their own garden.

Jane said the obsession with roses started with Jimmy’s 60th birthday a few years ago when everybody had to wear a rose, while nephew Jesse explained: “I wanted to show a bit of the softer side of Jimmy”.

Giving the nod of approval to the work, Jimmy told those present: “This wasn’t about portraying a rock image and you can only be this way with people you love – I’m very lucky”.

Broadcasters Grant and Holmes perused the moody photograph of themselves, possum-skin clad, by Nic Walker and carefully staged at the Yarrangobilly River in the Snowy Mountains on Wiradjuri country, close to where Tracey’s great-great-grandfather, a Chinese immigrant, had come to settle.

“I like the way Nic has taken this place, which is important to both of us, so that we blend into the landscape,” Tracey said.

“I don’t like having my

SE

The NPG team is way behind the Ancient Greeks, who had no fewer than eight words to cover its different manifestations – eros (passionate), mania (obsessive), philia (friendly), agape (universal), storge (familial), ludus (playful), pragma (enduring) and philautia (self-love).

But they’re giving it a good go, with a selection looking not just at Eros but “affection and connection, the enduring to the forbidden, romantic to platonic, the unrequited, obsessive, scandalous or creative”.

“Tumultuous”, “messy”, “joyous” and “heartbreaking” were some of the adjectives used by NPG director Karen Quinlan recently in unveiling the exhibition of more than 200 works, a timely show, she thought, considering the upheavals of the past year which had caused personal disconnection and the cancellation of the original exhibition from London’s National Portrait Gallery, “Love Stories”.

Gone are the planned images of international celebs such as John Lennon and Yoko Ono, or David and Victoria Beckham, replaced, after a feverish year of curating, by more than 80 real-life Aussie love stories.

The show has been co-curated in an accessible, intimate way by Sandra Bruce and Joanna Gilmour, who, Bruce said, had fun “deep-diving into the collection and pulling out tiny little vignettes”.

Gilmour says: “We were being constantly reminded of the importance of ‘staying connected’, which has had the effect of underlining for us the importance of the people and places who are closest to our hearts, but at a time when many of us have been isolated from our loved ones and from home”.

Many couples are identified simply by their forenames – no prizes for guessing who Bob and Blanche, or Ruby and Archie might be, although Rachel and Bryan (Ward and Brown) or Nick and Susie (Cave) could be harder to work out.

In a quirky twist, fitting into either the familial or enduring definitions, John Tsiavis’ 2011 portrait “Kath & Kim” is on the wall.

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LETTERS

Government ignores Canberra’s green losses THE recent “Temperature Check” report prepared by the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub indicates that, of all capital cities in Australia, between 2013 and 2020, Canberra experienced the greatest reduction in “green infrastructure”.

That is trees, shrubs and other plants in forests, parks, waterways, wetlands and gardens, and on green roofs and walls.

According to this report, from 2013 to 2016 the area of Canberra covered by vegetation fell from more than 60 per cent to around one third.

Even though we now have more Greens members in the ACT government, the current Barr government is still not prioritising investment in green infrastructure to counter the damaging impacts of increasing urban heat and greater risks of flash flooding.

What is the Green Wing of the government doing to change the bad old ways of the Barr government?

Glenys and Phil Byrne, Florey

All fine until it’s not WAS I in Thredbo Village without the snow, a tilted Surfers Paradise without the sea, or a Tuscan hilltop town without the stillness?

Actually, I was in all three, in Denman

Progress, but not enough

Prospect North, where transitory developers strain to outdo each other, apparently unbound by any stuffy old planning rules.

The overall result, I have to say, is exciting and amazing, but alarming. A 100-metre long, black, three-storey wall is punctuated with a few random windows. Shops, and swingin’ hot spots are tucked under a cliff face of beetling apartments. A terraced park clings to a rocky slope, too steep to build on, evocatively punctuated with the Pines of Rome.

Buildings shout at each other. Apartment

blocks fight for glimpses of a creek flowing in the foreground of stunning craggy bushland to the north. Youthful, or young-at-heart residents will thrive there, untroubled by the lack of privacy, while the inevitable noise of neighbours, cars and air conditioners, is suppressed by earphones plugged into mobiles.

Meanwhile, the waterproofing and structural problems of the hastily constructed buildings will lurk out of sight and mind – for the time being.

Jack Kershaw, Kambah

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SOMEONE with influence on or in the ACT government must have read my letter headed “My street is a mess!” (CN March 4): things have finally started happening.

First thing I noticed was two trees that had been dead for at least nine years had been lopped.

I was also pleased to see that repairs had been made to broken and uneven footpaths in and near the Deakin shops. Then the shops became a hive of activity, with workmen removing hundreds of small concrete blocks from a paved area that, over the years, had become dangerously uneven due to the activity of shallow tree roots.

I was told that the whole area was to be repaved and landscaped, including two shaped bench seats under the two shady trees.

On my way home, I noted that the two dead trees were now ankle-high stumps – but the metre or so tall grass and weeds were still there, along with two nascent but ominous termite mounds. Progress, but still not good enough, Mr Barr.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

Pollies need to catch up HOW heartening to read of the enthusiasm of the ANU students who are participating in the 2021 World Solar Car Challenge (“Solar cars race to prove the power of renewables”, CN March 18).

Travelling more than 3000 kilometres from

Darwin to Adelaide using just the sun’s energy was not dreamed of when I was their age.

And the event is popular. In 2019, there were 53 entries from 24 countries. Contrast that to the Australian 2019 Grand Prix for which there were only 20 drivers and 10 teams.

Young Australians know their future depends on switching from fossil fuels to renewables. Our politicians need to catch up.

Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Victoria

Why’d Jon be surprised?

IF the racism Jon Stanhope describes in his column (“The shameful politicians who don’t give a stuff”, CN March 4) really did happen, then there is something very wrong in the Alexander Maconochie Centre. Nobody should be treated like this regardless of their race.

Why is Jon so surprised at the Barr government’s behaviour, they never have “given a stuff” about the people of Canberra, they continually go against the wishes of the public and do what they want all the time. They keep spending on non-essentials and do not fix all the problems or keep their election promises.

If the people of Canberra keep voting them in, they only have themselves to blame.

Vi Evans, via email

Write to us

Let loose to: editor@citynews.com.au

Don’t blame the government ROBERT Macklin (“The Gadfly”, CN March 18) lists three dangers for Australian men following the women’s “revolution”.

A rearguard action could precipitate a bloody battle of the sexes which, with IVF, the males would lose. Secondly, hitting the booze and thirdly, opting out of all responsibility (America’s “Deadbeat Dads”) would not overcome, indeed may worsen, violence against women.

However, what can a government do, no matter how many demonstrations, to curb bad attitudes to females?

The cure-all (and sometimes cop-out) of education is a possibility, but no more than that if other teaching initiatives are examined that have attempted to raise standards.

Legal legislative steps should be avoided. Despite the honest and commendable behaviour of Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins in outing themselves, the law still allows anonymous verbal assassins to publicly name people – men and women – who, charged with sexual offences, subsequently are found not guilty: ADFA cadets and schoolteachers are popular targets.

However, ruining reputations is selective for how often have we read of charged (and guilty) adults having names suppressed “for legal reasons” (whatever that means), while professionals often enjoy similar privacy.

I sympathise with mothers fearful for their daughters, women victims and even those vindictive females whose lives, relationships and marriages have left them bitter and disappointed, but blaming a government will not solve this social problem.

Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla

Nets may be the answer...

CEDRIC Bryant’s columns in “CityNews” always include useful tips for the home gardener. In the issue of March 18 he wrote about caring for fruit trees and, as part of the article, he mentioned codling moth, which is bad news for apples and pears if not controlled.

We have grown apples and pears in our garden for

more than 50 years and I have demonstrated, at least to myself, that netting the trees is the answer.

Over the years I have used the pheromone baits and the available sprays, with mixed success.

A couple of years ago I put nets on two of my trees soon after flowering, and not on the third, while continuing with the baits and spray on all three trees.

The netted trees gave us beautifully clean fruit whereas the un-netted one had significant codling moth infection.

So, in the last couple of years, all three have been netted and no problems. And, I stopped spraying in February.

With the combination of good spring/summer rain and the protection of nets, we have had the best crop on record for our trees – clean and large-size fruit.

We always look forward to picking up “CityNews” at the local shopping centre and reading the various articles. Jon Stanhope in particular is worth waiting for!

Peter Forster, Curtin

Motorsport disappointment ANOTHER Easter long weekend in Canberra again devoid of any major motorsport due to the actions, read inactions, of successive ACT governments.

Canberra International Dragway presented Easter events generally featuring internaThe dragway today. tional entries and

Photo: Michael Atwell always featuring many top-notch interstate participants and supporters joining the ACT entrants and supporters.

Michael Attwell, Dunlop

OPINION

Same sad question, where are women safe?

ON April 17, two years ago, I penned a column headed “Do men know how scared we are of them?”

It’s one of my proudest. It outlines my personal experiences of constantly adjusting my behaviour in order to mitigate potentially unsafe interactions with men.

It challenges men to try to understand the constant threat we live in and for them to make adjustments too in order to support women (it’s at citynews.com.au/2019/do-men-knowhow-scared-we-are-of-them/).

Sadly, there’s nothing in that column that has changed for the lived experience of women over the past two years.

In my 2019 piece, I wrote about the then recent murders of women in Melbourne who were walking home at night. Now, we are tragically confronted with the horrendous murder of Sarah Everard in London when she was

Where are women safe? Not on the streets after dark, not at home with the increase in domestic violence over the past year and certainly not inside the hallowed halls of our national parliament. walking well-lit streets to her home.

It shows again that sometimes women don’t have a chance.

Be it walking across the street to avoid passing someone coming up ahead, holding keys at the ready as we walk to our cars at night, to politely maneuvering ourselves out of interacting with men who won’t take the hint – every day women are adjusting our behaviour – always careful not to shove men off or tell them off for fear of abuse or violence.

When I discuss this with the men in my life, it’s hard for them to fully understand why women do these things when they have generally been able to go through life free of prevailing threats to their safety, real or imagined.

Where are women safe? Not on the streets after dark, not at home with the increase in domestic violence over the past year and certainly not inside

the hallowed halls of our national parliament.

In response to what feels like a tired argument, “Enough” read many of the placards raised at the March4Justice protests across the country.

Women are angry like never before, as demonstrated by the numbers who flocked to the peaceful protests around the country. And yet, we should be grateful that we were not answered with bullets!

“My story was on the front page for the sole reason that it is a painful reminder to women that if it can happen in Parliament House, it can truly happen anywhere,” said Brittany Higgins in her address at the Canberra protest.

Ms Higgins and other brave women have revealed the toxic and dangerous culture of our national parliament. Those in leadership should be ashamed.

What can be done? Listen to women, believe victims, create fairer and safer workplaces and take responsibility. That’s a start.

Criminal arrests, independent in-

Sydney mother of three, Sarah Lander at the Canberra March4Justice.

Photo: Nathan Schmidt quiries, changed laws and influencing our entire culture from the very top is also another change we need to see.

Education, I believe, can influence gender equality from young ages.

Opening young minds beyond gender stereotypes that surround us, and calling out sexism can, in real time, role-model better ways to respect and understand diversity for the next generation. We can all play a part.

But action needs to be taken now.

This crisis will not go away.

I hope that in the next two years, I can look back at this column with some sort of pride that action has been taken.

Like the Prime Minister, I also have a daughter (he has two). I truly wish men and women can continue to work together for a future in which my daughter can move around this world, free from harm and fear. That she doesn’t have to constantly regulate her behaviour and look over her shoulder.

That she is safe at home and at work.

She should aspire to enter Parliament if she wishes, and if she does, I can only hope that the decisions our leaders make now have created a place and indeed, a country, where she can be safe, be respected, be herself and not look behind her shoulder wherever she goes.

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Over 30 years serving Canberra CityNews April 1-7, 2021 9

POLITICS

Ten is too young to be sending kids to detention TEN is too young to be in jail. The age of criminal liability in the ACT needs to be changed. The first question is just how old!

The second question is how hard will the government support vulnerable families and their children to focus on prevention.

It is an indictment on our community that the age of criminal liability in the ACT is just 10 years old and we have a system that countenances sending such young children to Bimberi, the ACT youth-detention centre.

The staff at Bimberi work as hard as they can to ensure the young people in their care are treated fairly. However, it does not matter how hard the staff at such a centre work to ensure the best outcomes for the young people who are detained – in the end these children are effectively in jail.

Recently elected Greens minister Emma Davidson is responsible for Justice Health and is Assistant Minister for Seniors, Veterans, Families and Community Services. She is keen to fa-

It is an indictment on our community that the age of criminal liability in the ACT is just 10 years old and we have a system that countenances sending such young children to Bimberi, the ACT youth-detention centre. cilitate a broad discussion on the age of criminal liability. She expressed a key concern, “once a child is in the criminal justice system, it is much more likely that the child will spend time in prison as an adult”.

She added: “As the Minister responsible for youth justice, I am interested in how we can make community and family support more accessible to young people in need and address the underlying determinants that tend to drive young people into the justice system.”

The ACT government has already committed around $800,000 to a vulnerable youth project in partnership with the local Rotary District. Following an approach from Alan Scandrett and David Marshall, from my own Rotary Club of Canberra, the government accepted the “Ruby’s Home” proposal

to help address homeless youth.

There is a crying need. In NSW, for example, on a given night in 2016 there were nearly 4000 homeless youth. This was up by 42.8 per cent from 10 years earlier when there were 2775.

There is no reason to believe the proportion of people in this category is much different in the ACT. These figures highlight the importance of addressing “the cause of the cause” of criminal liability.

“Ruby’s Home” follows a successful approach being used in SA and focuses on people younger than 17.

We can expect a suburban home with around six bedrooms and permanent staff rostered on 24 hours a day and managed by a qualified organisation such as Vinnies.

A key measure of success is demonstrated in SA where around 75 per cent of the children return to live full time with their families. Unfortunately, there are some families where it is not safe for the young person to

Bimberi youth justice centre… staff work as hard as they can to ensure the young people in their care are treated fairly. Inset: Emma Davidson. return home. However, the intention of the program is to engage with parents where possible and aim for reconciliation.

According to Minister Davidson, the government “has been investing in support services for young people and their families across ACT government including homelessness, mental health, family support and drug and alcohol services”. These investments in preventive measures are appropriate if there is to be a sensible discussion on the age of criminal liability.

Ten is clearly too young. What is the right age? The Minister explains: “The ACT government has begun work to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years”.

This proposed upper limit presents challenges. It is not difficult to picture a poorly behaved 14-year-old. The focus ought to be on addressing the

behaviour rather than incarceration.

“We’re in the process of consulting with the community about this in more detail”, Minister Davidson said. “It’s important that services are holistic and strength-based so that young people and families are supported, particularly when there are multiple complex issues”.

Incarceration is really to protect the community. The challenge for this discussion is whether the ACT community will be able to think beyond individuals to consider changing systems. If we can do that – chances are very high that in the future a safer, more respectful community will result.

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.

H A B I TAT WAY S O F L IV I N G This exhibition reveals ways of living in a variety of environments - from high-rise, high-end apartments, to suburban subdivisions and locations where inhabitants have endured the collapse of their communities. Contemporary artists reveal how the built environment responds to, and is influenced by, circumstance. The exhibition tells individual stories of the resilience of human spirit.

OP EASTEEN SAT S R MONUN

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Regular Hours: Mon – Sat: 10am – 5pm

Supported by The Gordon Darling Foundation Alex ASCH, Suburban Block, 2020, recycled timber, sumi ink and wax, sixteen elements, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist. (detail)

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w: cmag.com.au | p: 6207 3968 Cnr London Circuit and City Square, Canberra City

POLITICS / health figures

Targets missed: ACT Health gets it so wrong WE are all familiar with the regular, one-day-a-year exposure of the fact that, against most measures of timeliness and efficiency, the ACT’s public hospitals invariably report the worst outcomes in Australia in emergency department waiting times and for elective surgery.

To provide some recent context the 2019-20 ACT Health Annual Report advises, at page 64, that the outcome for the strategic indicator “Percentage of emergency department presentations whose length of stay in the emergency department is four hours or less” was 58 per cent against a target of 90 per cent.

In other words, ACT Health missed the target by more than 33 per cent despite the fact that overall presentations over the year had decreased by 6 per cent.

How could ACT Health have got it so wrong?

The answer is fairly clear from just a cursory glance at the latest Productivity Commission Report on Government Services.

What that report reveals is a consistent decline in performance in the ACT when compared to all other Australian jurisdictions.

It is notable, for example, that in 2016-17 the ACT outcome against this measure was 73 per cent compared to a national average of 72 per cent. In comparison to the 14 per cent decline in the ACT to 58 per cent in 2019-20, the national average declined by only 3 per cent to 69 per cent leaving the ACT with the largest decline and the mantle of the worst performing jurisdiction in Australia.

In seeking to explain away this failing, the government is wont to claim an increase in emergency department presentations.

However, the Productivity Commission reports that the increase in presentations in the ACT, in both admitted and non-admitted patients, is below the national average and, in many instances, well below a number of the states so, unfortunately, that explanation does not fly.

For example, the emergency department presentations in the ACT that end in an

ED non-admitted patients: expenditure per presentation

ED admitted patients: expenditure per presentation

Average annual charge 2015-16 to 2018-19

Average annual charge 2015-16 to 2018-19

admission increased by 5.2 per cent annually compared to a national average increase of 6.1 per cent. Interestingly, the increase in Tasmania was 9.3 per cent, Victoria 8.4 per cent and Queensland 7.4 per cent.

Likewise, the non-admitted patient presentations in the ACT increased at an average of 2.5 per cent a year compared to the national average of 3.5 per cent. The increase in Queensland was 5.4 per cent, SA 4.5 per cent, Victoria 4 per cent and NSW 3.1 per cent.

Since the increase in presentations in the ACT is below the national average and that of most other jurisdictions in relation to both non-admitted and admitted patients then it is simply not plausible to suggest that either the volume or complexity of those presenting is a factor in the ACT’s Australian worst performance in meeting this nationally agreed measure and strategic indicator.

However, the Productivity Commission Report does provide the only plausible explanation for the ACT’s poor performance. Namely, it reveals that the ACT government has consistently cut funding for emergency departments despite an increase in

demand and complexity while virtually every other government increased funding to meet the increase in demand and complexity.

The expenditure information published by the Productivity Commission is as revealing as, I think, it is alarming.

It shows that over the same period 2015-16 to 2018-19 that non-admitted patient presentations in the ACT increased by 7 per cent (an increase of 2.5 per cent a year on average) expenditure actually decreased by 8 per cent (a decrease of 2.5 per cent a year on average).

Nationally, expenditure increased by 15 per cent over this period. The Productivity Commission analysis shows the ACT to be the only jurisdiction in Australia where there is a significant opposing trend of increasing presentations and decreasing expenditure.

It is notable that compared to the cut in funding suffered

by Canberra’s Emergency Departments, expenditure increased in NSW by 13 per cent, Victoria 29 per cent, Queensland 16 per cent, WA 0 per cent, SA 33 per cent, with Tasmania at -2 per cent being the only jurisdiction other

The ACT government has consistently cut funding for emergency departments despite an increase in demand and complexity, while virtually every other government increased funding to meet the increase in demand and complexity.

than the ACT, in Australia, to cut funding in this vital area of health care need.

For admitted patients, over the period 2015-16 to 2018-19, despite the presentations increasing by 16 per cent, expenditure only increased by 8 per cent, or half the rate of growth in demand.

Over this period, nationally

the increase in expenditure on this category of presentations was 23 per cent. Relative to the increase in presentations, the ACT had the lowest increase in expenditure of all jurisdictions.

The published charts, derived from Productivity Commission data, illustrate the very different approach of the ACT government to the funding of healthcare in

comparison to the states.

In noting the difference in approach one needs, of course, to acknowledge that it is an approach that the people of Canberra clearly endorsed at the recent election and which ACT Labor and the Greens have a clear mandate to continue.

What area of health, I wonder, will be the next to be cut?

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EXPERTS OF CANBERRA

advertising feature

Skilled businesses with many services to share THERE’S no shortage of experts in Canberra.

Whether in quilts, IT, pain management, finance, property or office furniture, “CityNews” speaks with a variety of experts, all driven to share their skills and services with the ACT region.

Renovations maximise home sales

Affordable advice for all financial matters

AFTER more than three years renovating homes for sale, Your Property Profits knows how to help homeowners maximise the value of their property, say co-owners Kim Persson and Sophie McLean.

Fronting the renovation costs until the home is sold, Kim says the business was established to help people that are facing home repossession get the most out of the sale.

“We came up with the concept that if we renovate for [people who are facing home repossession] and they pay us at settlement, that would be a win-win,” she says.

“We go in and look at a house with a real estate agent. They know our standard of renovation, so they help us and say: ‘We think this is worth this much now, but you can get this much if you renovate it to our standard’.

WHOLISTIC Financial Solutions (WFS) looks after the “whole” of someone’s financial needs, all under one roof, says CEO Catherine Smith.

“The team at WFS aren’t just accountants, but also financial planners, mortgage brokers, property advisers, retirement consultants and superannuation specialists,” she says.

A property expert herself, Catherine wrote the book, “Wealth through property”, has been a regular contributor in the “Your Investment Property” magazine, and believes the property market is going through its biggest boom in 20 years.

“Some of the key reasons are interest rates at historic lows, buying being cheaper than renting, government incentives like first home buyers and the effect covid has had on people’s mindsets,” she says.

With so many factors affecting property finance, Catherine says the team at WFS can help people with navigating through them all.

“We understand how conflicting opinions from professionals in different fields can make the financial and property world a lot more complicated,” she says.

“At WFS we work as a team to answer all your questions simply and efficiently. The unique combination of our services also makes our advice very affordable.

“Come see us and sort out your whole financial

“Then we can say: ‘You should open this up, put in an extra ensuite here or put in another bedroom there’.

“We only renovate areas that will provide uplift, we don’t touch areas that won’t.”

The team of tradespeople that work on the renovations, such as cabinetmakers, carpenters and painters, are experts in their trades and work closely with Kim and Sophie, Kim says.

“We’ve found such a good group of guys [that] took a long time to find,” she says.

“And as we’re growing, we’re finding more [expert tradespeople].”

Your Property Profits. Call 1800 225597, email hello@yourpropertyprofits.com.au or visit yourpropertyprofits.com.au

Co-directors of Your Property Profits, Kim Persson, left, and Sophie McLean.

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EXPERTS OF CANBERRA

advertising feature Stephen’s raceway is driven by passion

A recent renovation in Griffith.

Karin loves bringing homes to life WITH more than 30 years’ experience in the interior design industry, taking her from Brisbane to Melbourne to Canberra, Karin McNamara says she knows how to bring homes to life.

Through her business, Karin McNamara Design, Karin says she strives to bring together both the vision of the architect and the homeowners, to make properties more functional, efficient and attractive.

“I believe getting to know clients, understanding what they want for their home and sticking to their budget are all really important things in the interior design process,” says Karin.

“Whether it’s a bathroom, a kitchen, a full internal renovation,

removing walls, making space or whatever else it may be, I love to help make homes more livable.”

It’s a passion of hers to be environmentally conscious during the design process, too, she says.

“I aim to make my renovations budget-driven, and environmentallydriven,” she says.

“Clients can come to me with questions or ideas and we can work together to make what they see for their home a reality.”

Karin McNamara Design.

Call 0414 404458, email karin@kmdesign.net.au or visit karinmcnamaradesign.com

CANBERRA’S only slot car raceway is the perfect activity to get children away from the computer and enjoying the fast thrills at Way2Fast Model Car Raceway, says owner Stephen Bywater.

It’s fun for the whole family, too, says Stephen, who, passionate about racing himself, sees parents and adults come in and become nostalgic of their childhood slot car racing days. “[It’s great to see] the enjoyment on people’s faces if they haven’t seen [slot cars] in a while and remembering back to when they were kids and being able to introduce it to their kids,” he says.

“Parents can relive their childhood. I got my first set when I was about seven years old and have had a passion for it ever since.”

The custom-built, handmade tracks have excited Canberrans for more than a decade and the raceway features tracks such as six-lane NASCAR-style courses, or more complicated courses like overlapping eight-lane ones, Stephen says.

“It’s the enjoyment and the challenge of getting around without crashing and getting around faster than anyone else [that everyone loves],” says Stephen.

Way2Fast Model Car Raceway also stocks leading brands of remote controlled cars, as well as accessories, he says.

Way2Fast Model Car Raceway, unit 2, 20 Essington Street, Mitchell. Call 0424 453544, email way2fast2@ yahoo.com.au or visit way2fast.com.au

Sonja’s passionate about interior design PASSIONATE about interior design, the director of Archertec Interiors, Sonja McAuliffe, loves being part of the journey that people take when building homes and interior spaces.

“I get so much joy seeing how happy people are when they get to move into their new home or the new space we have created,” says Sonja, who established Archertec Interiors in 1999.

“It can change the way people live and improve the quality of their lifestyle.”

Archertec Interiors offers in-depth interior design services such as interior architecture, design and space planning, interior and exterior colour coordination, product selections, kitchen and bathroom design and joinery documentation.

Sonja’s been in the industry since 1989 and says she’s worked on a diverse range of interior projects such as commercial and workspace design, and retail and hospitality.

But she says she specialises in creating homes for people with a focus on bathrooms and kitchens.

Sonja’s passion has even seen her win awards for bathroom and kitchen designs, and she was recently recognised by the Housing Industry Association and the Master Builders Association.

She attributes this success to aligning herself with industry professionals and quality builders, and gives credit to Terry Ring from Architects Ring and Associates, as well as Christopher and the team at Heiniger Joinery.

Archertec Interiors director Sonja McAuliffe.

“I’ve been very fortunate over the years to work with some of the best architects, builders, joiners and contractors in Canberra,” she says.

Archertec Interiors, 2/59 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston. Call 0416 172431 or visit archertecinteriors.com.au

“Designed to bring generations together.

A bold palette of off-form concrete, copper cladding and steel windows sets the tone for a home that both defends against the elements and embraces the views from its clifftop location. Its flamezone designation, bespoke palette of materials and harsh coastal location required a high level of detailing and craftsmanship that was successfully delivered by an enthusiastic and skilled project team.”

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WINNING WAYS WITH TODAY’S KITCHENS & BATHROOMS 6 Guise Place, Jerrabomberra A new home designed on the elevated hills of Jerrabomberra by Architects Ring & Associates was an exciting project to be involved with.

We ultimately came up with the right plans and selections and the contractors on the project went above and beyond to build and construct our vision into reality.

Sonja McAuliffe Archertec Interiors

The bathroom The client wanted something special and a little different than the usual bathroom design. The brief was to create a modern and unusual layout that filled and balanced the space.

Creativity was the key brief from the client, but the design for the main bathroom still needed to be functional and practical as well as sympathetic to the Architectural design created by ARAA. Thanks to the experience of Heiniger Joinery, many of the unique joinery design details where achieved through out the home, particularly the cantilevered vanity and mirror in the bathroom.

The kitchen The client’s brief was to design a kitchen that had a strong connection to outside and could comfortably entertain large gatherings with family and friends.

Being able to see out through to the pool and the outdoor living space was important to the client as well as being able to cook outside while having access to supplies inside.

A walk-in wine cellar was requested to be a part of the design. To be a strong feature in the kitchen and not hidden under the house as it often is.

A walk-in butler’s pantry behind the main kitchen was also on the wish list for the client to work in and hide the day to day meal preparations and for catering large family functions.

Architect: Terry Ring, Architects Ring & Associates Builder: Rosin Bros Joiner: Heiniger Joinery Interior Architect: Sonja McAuliffe, Archertec Interiors Photographer: Hcreations Photography Archertec Interiors, phone 6239 7177, archertecinteriors.com.au | Architects Ring & Associates, phone 6239 7177, araa.com.au | Heiniger Joinery, phone 6299 3500, heinigerjoinery.com.au

EXPERTS OF CANBERRA

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Now’s time to get a winter quilt

Diverse team treat pain in different ways

IN a world where online scams, malware and threats to cyber security are getting smarter and more common, OmniIT, a provider of IT support and managed IT solutions, can help protect businesses from scams, says owner Michael Warnock.

“These online threats have become better at targeting businesses and we can help protect against that,” he says.

“Businesses are safe in our hands. We work with you to develop and strengthen your IT environment, providing additional security layers and controls to ensure that you have the highest level of security that you need.”

But cyber security isn’t OmniIT’s only focus and Michael says their expert team can address all IT needs.

“Whether it’s data backup, cloud storage, or just day-to-day issues, we make it easy for businesses to upgrade their IT environment,” he says.

Michael says OmniIT is also one of a small group of businesses in Australia certified with silver certification from Microsoft, which recognises them as experts in training, performance, quality of service and customer care in helping clients use Microsoft Office.

“We want the best for businesses, it’s our goal to see them profit and expand,” he says.

“We promise fixed prices that work with a budget and suit the client.”

SPECIALISING in making and servicing feather and down products since the ‘80s, Therma Quilts recommends not waiting until it’s too late to pick up a new winter quilt.

Using quality textiles, a Therma Quilts spokeswoman says the seamstresses 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,” she 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 is 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 services feather and down products such as sleeping bags and down clothing as well as other textiles such as silk, polyester, cotton and wool quilt underlays.

“Whether you’re wanting to rejuvenate your quilt, customise it or buy a new custom-made one we can look after you,” she says.

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ARTHRITIS ACT has welcomed three new expert physiotherapists who each treat pain in different ways, says CEO Rebecca Davey.

“One focuses on osteoarthritis, which is great for people having trouble with their hips or knees,” she says.

“Another is a trained sports therapist, who can help with sports teams and physio classes.

“And our third takes a holistic approach, treating the entire body and not just the injured areas.”

Rebecca says that physiotherapy can be hugely beneficial in the lead up to surgery, and that Arthritis ACT’s team can help clients along that pathway.

“Physiotherapy treatment before any type of surgery can Arthritis ACT CEO Rebecca Davey. make the recovery much easier,” such as exercise physiology, disability she says. support and meal planning to help “[We] help clients get ready for people in managing their pain. surgery or even, if possible, help them “No question is too big or small for avoid it all together. us,” she says.

“Our diverse team interlink their specialties to support clients, and in Arthritis ACT, building 18, 170 Haydon particularly difficult circumstances they Drive, Bruce, and building 1, Collette Place, can even visit the homes of those who Pearce. Call 1800 011041, email need it.” info@arthritisact.org.au or visit Rebecca says that’s only the start, arthritisact.org.au with Arthritis ACT also offering services

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FREE PUZZLES DAY ATRelease citynews.com.au KNOWLEDGE 13 X EVERY 13 No. 775 PUZZLES GENERAL PAGE GRID A Your week in the stars

By Joanne Madeline Moore

April 5-11, 2021

Julie came to see me, keen to find out how much money she could contribute to superannuation in the light of changes from July 1.

I told her that until June 30 she could contribute $25,000 a year as a tax-deductible amount.

"That's called a concessional contribution," I told her.

"It includes your employer's contributions and any contributions that you personally make. If your employer contributes $10,000 you can contribute $15,000 before June 30 and you are still within the concessional contribution cap.

"You don't want to exceed this cap or you will have to pay excess concessional contributions tax. So always monitor the total amount that you have contributed. This cap will increase to $27,500 from July 1.

“There are two other good things that go along with this. Firstly, you can contribute without satisfying the work test until you are 67. Secondly, since July 1, 2018, you can make catch-up contributions.

"This means that if you did not contribute the full $25,000 in the previous year you can contribute the shortfall this year provided that your total superannuation balance is less than $500,000.

"I have checked your superannuation account and you have $45,000 available to you to use as a carry forward. These contributions carry forward for five years. At the end of five years, the first year drops off so it is a good idea to plan to ensure that you can maximise your concessional contributions until your total super balance reaches $500,000.”

Julie was pleased at the prospect of being able to contribute more in the future and use the historical shortfall of contributions to increase her super.

Then there are other changes, such as an increase to the amount Julie can put in as non-concessional contributions.

"Those are the contributions for which you do not get a tax deduction," I told her.

"The cap is $100,000 until June 30, increasing to $110,000 from July 1. "You can also bring forward up to three years of nonconcessional contributions. If you need to exceed the $100,000 you can put in up to $300,000. But then $0 for the next three years. From July 1, you can put in $330,000.”

Julie said she was thinking of selling an investment property and expected to have some surplus cash, and perhaps she should wait until after June 30 to put in a larger amount.

"Actually, you could put in $100,000 this financial year and then next financial year, $330,000,” I replied.

The total maximum superannuation balance is also increasing from July 1 from the current $1.6 million to $1.7 million.

"Your superannuation balance is well below this and you are not planning to retire at this point, but it is important to monitor going forward,” I said.

Julie was happy with my advice, saying: "I'm really pleased to find out that we can put more money into super and we can contribute from the sale of the rental property.”

If you need guidance on superannuation deductions, the balance caps, or any other superannuation related matter contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman and Co on 6295 2844.

Disclaimer This column contains general advice, please do not rely on it. If you require specific advice on this topic please contact Gail Freeman or your professional adviser.

02 6295 2844 Unit 9, 71 Leichhardt Street, Kingston ABN 57 008 653 683

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(Chartered accountant, SMSF specialist advisor and Authorised Representative of Lifespan Financial Planning Pty Ltd AFS Lic No. 229892)

info@gailfreeman.com.au | www.gailfreeman.com.au Follow us on Facebook @gailfreemanandco 18 CityNews April 1-7 2021

Connect with me on Linkedin bit.ly/3bcXEZl

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Restless Rams are ready to charge off in exciting new directions, as the New Moon lights up your sign on Sunday night. Even in the current Covid climate, it’s still a good week to percolate ideas, make plans and be proactive. But your ruler Mars squares nebulous Neptune on Friday and Saturday. So avoid losing your sense of perspective; getting carried away; and over-promising. If you fail to follow through on your fabulous intentions then everyone will end up being disappointed.

Auspac Media

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Toll Free: 1 800 652 284 GEMINI (May 22 – June Fax: 21) (07) 5591 5066

Mars and Neptune could throw some confusion into the weekly mix, especially Email: involving a personal project or a work matter. So think carefully before you speak and, if you find yourself compelledinfo@auspacmedia.com.au to spread salacious gossip, just bite your tongue and say nothing! It is a good time Visit to dream big site: dreams and set ambitious goals for our the next 12 months, as Sunday night’s New Moon activates your hopes and wishes www.auspacmedia.com.au zone. Group activities and catching up with friends are also highlighted.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

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TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21) The Features People

This week friends and finances are a dubious combination. The New Moon lights up Box 2585 your seclusion zone so you’re keenPO to meditate, contemplate, ruminate and rejuveQld to escape the challenges of nate. But don’t use it as an excuse Southport to hide away in order the world. With Uranus still charging through your sign, you need to be a bold Bull Australia 4215 and assert your independence. So your motto for the moment is from movie star Telephone: (07) 5591 5361 (and birthday great) Bette Davis: “The key to life is accepting challenges.”

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Solution next edition

Down

The late weekend New Moon charges up your career/reputation zone so prepare for a few changes. But the more you try to control those around you, the more they will tend to push back. So take a good long look at your motives. Perhaps you need to be a less clingy Crab? Perhaps you could give someone more freedom, so they can fight their own battles and make their own mistakes? Food for thought, as you transform the way you connect with family, friends and colleagues.

1 What is respect or reverence paid? (6) 1 What is a promontory extending into a large body of ACROSS water such as the sea or a lake? (8) 7 Name an island just north of Darwin, NT. (8) 1 8 Which What respect paid (6) 2 Which term describes experts? (6) part ofis speech modifies anotheror part reverence of speech? (6) an island just 3 What is an occlusion of a blood vessel, NT by a clot,(8) perhaps?

7 Name north of Darwin, instrument measuresof electrical 8 9 Which Which part speech (8) modifies another part of resistance? (8) 4 In jam making, what kind of fruit is a damson? (4) speech (6) 10 What is a horizontal supporting member 5 Name an alternative expression for a picture theatre. (6) LEO (July 24 – Aug 23) 9 Which instrument measures electrical above an opening of a door? (6) 6 What is a customer called? (6) With the New Moon falling in fellow fire sign Aries, you’re feeling feisty and resistance (8) inserted? 12 Name the Athenian political leader who initiated the 11 What are body grafts, surgically ready for adventure! But with social distancing and international travel bans still (8) great building program responsible for the Parthenon.

(8) 10 What is a horizontal supporting member above in place in many areas, do you feel like a Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? Remember that 14 Name a trapezoidal zither with metal 13 Which item of office equipment is used to destroy an opening of a door (6) hubris often comes before a fall. So the buzz word this week is humility. If you’re a strings struck by light hammers. (8) documents? (8) clever Lion, then you’ll be kinder towards other people and more tolerant of their 11 What are body grafts, unwanted surgically inserted (8) 18 What is another term for revenue? (6) 15 To open by loosening a curved piece of metal, is to do individual idiosyncrasies and particular circumstances.

1419 What Name a trapezoidal zither with metal strings is the art of prose in general? (8) what? (6) struck by light (8) 21 To be clear, or transparent, is to be hammers what? (6) 16 When one provides food and service, one does what? (6) VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23) Regwith Walker Name anotheris termanother for rolled oats. (8) term 17 Name term for keen insight.

What for another revenue (6) (6) Confusion and misunderstandingsCreated: are likely (especially loved ones and work 1822 colleagues) so straightforward speech is recommended this week. You’ll get the 1923 Who won theis Australian in 2003,of prose 20 The Royal Doctor Service is(8) represented by which Qxpress: Gaynor What thePGAart inFlying general Peter ...?

(6) clear, or transparent, letters? (4) is to be what (6) best results if you research something thoroughly (with your Virgo x-ray vision) 21 To be Checked: Noel and then tell it like it is. Other people will appreciate your direct and no-nonsense approach. It’s also a good time to read a detective story, uncover a secret, solve a 22 Name another term for rolled oats (8) 23 Who won the Australian PGA in 2003, Peter ... puzzling problem or get to the bottom of an intriguing mystery.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

(6)FREE SUDOKU EVERY DAY AT citynews.com.au

Is a close relationship stuck in a rut? This week the New Moon, Mercury and Venus encourage you to blast away the cobwebs and look at things from a fresh angle.

Attached Librans - are you doing all the giving, while your partner is doing all the taking? Singles – you could fall for someone who is creative and kind. But how well do you really know your nearest and dearest? It’s time to dig deeper and gain valuable insights into the inner motivations of a family member.

Sudoku medium No. DOWN 288 1 What is a promontory extending into a large body of water such as the sea or a lake (8) 2 Which term describes experts (6) 3 What is an occlusion of a blood vessel, by a SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22) clot, perhaps (8) Courtesy of Sunday night’s New Moon, it’s a good week to review your physical well-being and fitness levels. Can you introduce healthier food choices, stop bad 4 In jam making, what kind of fruit is a damson habits (like smoking) or reboot your exercise program? Get moving and make a (4) dynamic start! Avoid the temptation to operate on autopilot. If you shake up your daily routine, then it will put an extra spring in your Scorpio step. But a relationship 5 Name an alternative expression for a picture theatre (6) with a child, teenager or friend could veer off in a rather dubious direction.

6 What is a customer called (6) SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21) Sagittarians can be selfish, self-indulgent souls. With this week’s New Moon spot- 12 Name the Athenian political leader who Note to Editor: initiated the great building program responsible lighting your leisure zone, you’ll be preoccupied with your immediate entertainCreated in QUARK ment wants and personal pampering needs. However, over the coming year, you’ll for the Parthenon (8) shift your focus further afield, as you make some important decisions about your 13 Which item of office equipment is used to XPRESS. VER.4.03 place in the wider world. Jupiter and Saturn will teach you that social responsibility destroy unwanted documents (8) Items not needed and community involvement are just as important as individual for priorities.

15 To open by loosening a curved piece of metal, publication can be CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20) is to do what (6) erased aszone each in atime to This week’s New Moon activates your domestic so it’sis a good 16 When one provides food and service, one does texta family box.member or get declutter and tweak the feng shuiseparate at home, support what (6) stuck into a DIY project. Be clear and concise in the way you communicate with colleagues, clients or customers. And don’t be afraid to lead the way as you take 17 Name another term for keen insight (6) on professional challenges. Your mantra for the moment is from birthday great, 20 The Royal Flying Doctor Service is actress Bette Davis: “Attempt the impossible in order to improve your work.” represented by which letters (4) AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Are you ready for a local adventure? This week’s New Moon sees curious Aquarians ricocheting off in diverse new directions. Which is exactly how it should be, as you explore and experiment to the max. And don’t worry about making messy (or embarrassing) mistakes along the way. Keep stretching your wings and trying new things! Be inspired by acting legend (and fellow Aquarian) Jack Lemmon: “Failure won’t hurt you, but fear of failure will cripple you.”

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

WARNING !!!

Note to Editor:

Expect a rather chaotic week, as nebulous Neptune squares Mars which will drain energy, curb motivation and confuse direction. Then the New Moon lights up your cash zone, which signals a fresh financial chapter. So the more proactive and informed you are about money matters, the better your fiscal future will be. Strong self-esteem is also a priority Pisces. Be inspired by birthday great, actress Kristen Stewart: “I know who I am. I have a very strong sense of self.”

Solution next edition

Solution No. 775

Solutions – March 25 edition H O M A

Solution to this puzzle should not appear the same page Copyright Joanneon Madeline Moore 2021

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

Sudoku hard No. 287

Julie plans to make the most of super changes

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Crossword No. 774

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

General knowledge crossword No. 775

E M B O L I S M R F D S

P C E L V I L U N H M M E T M M P L A N E E R A I N C O I C U L I M P G E E S E N I

C L E I E R N T S H R M E D I D E O R

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

INSIDE

Quotas and quality don’t always mesh

NICK OVERALL

Catherine wears the trousers in ‘La Clemenza’

By Helen

MUSA “I’M NOT loving being inside a hotel. You can’t get any fresh air and it’s doing my head in – I’m an outdoor person,” says mezzo-soprano Catherine Carby, holed up in the Wentworth Sofitel under quarantine regulations.

Worse, her daughter turns 14 the day rehearsals start for Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” (The Clemency of Titus) in Canberra, but at least technology allows communication – “she’s all grown up these days”, she says.

Carby is no stranger to this town. A graduate of the Canberra School of Music in the heyday of vocal studies, she was deeply involved in the local music scene.

But after studying in the UK, then returning to Opera Australia as a principal for several years, she sang without a professional break until COVID-19 struck. “That’s the most time I’ve had off singing,” she says.

She, her husband and daughter have been living in England for 10 years, but

she’s in Canberra to play a key role in the debut production for the National Opera, directed by Peter Coleman-Wright, who’s supported by star conductor Dane Lam and a galaxy of creative Canberrans, including assistant director Ylaria Rogers, assistant conductor Leonard Weiss, Canberra Symphony Orchestra costume designer Fiona Victoria Hopkins, and lighting designer Mark Dyson.

“La Clemenza”, one of Mozart’s later operas, revolves around the clemency of Emperor Titus, known for completing the Colosseum, for relieving the suffering caused by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79 and a fire in Rome in AD80, and most of all, for forgoing acts of vengeance.

Vitellia, the daughter of the previous emperor, plots Tito’s assassination and enlists the help of her young admirer, Sesto. The plot fails, leaving Sesto wracked with guilt as he faces execution.

Carby gets to sing the plum “trouser” or “pants” role of Sesto – that’s where a female singer plays the man. In former times it would have been sung by a castrato, but nowadays it usually goes to a woman and it’s familiar territory for Carby.

“I’ve done the part before and it’s pretty well in my line – Mozart trouser roles, or Handel, or Rossini.”

True, she created a sensation with Opera Australia in 2011 and 2013 in the

trouser role of Arsace in Handel’s opera “Partenope”, and gave some hilarious interviews about it with the soprano who was her “love interest”.

In spite of the apparently complicated plot, once “La Clemenza” is set up, she reassures me, it’s pretty easy to understand.

“It’s a love triangle revolving around attempted revenge and it has a happy ending. The wrongdoers don’t get punished; they get forgiven.”

“Isn’t that a bit boring?” I ask.

Maybe, Carby says, “but Tito was famous for being clement and there’s no getting around that”.

“Besides, Sesto has some of the best music in the opera… the two biggest arias are pretty well-known, as are all the central pieces, particularly the lovely duet with my bromance friend, Annio.”

That’s another trouser role, played by fellow ANU School of Music and Royal College of Music graduate, soprano Eleanor Greenwood.

Carby’s become well-known for her trouser roles, having also sung Wagner, Hoffmann, Richard Strauss, all sorts of stuff, she says, with a strong track record at Covent Garden.

In fact, Carby was due to have sung there, in a role in “La Traviata”, before Boris Johnson announced the closure of theatres.

“We did the opening night and were

due to open on the second night… at 5pm I was on public transport when Boris made the announcement, so I went home and I haven’t been on a stage since,” she says.

“It’s nice to be coming back and particularly good to be coming to Canberra.

“I have a sentimental attachment to it because I went to the ANU to study and also, my in-laws live in Canberra.”

Her husband works outside the opera world and has no desire to be in the arts at all – a good thing, in her view.

There are still no theatres open in Britain and particularly where they live in Essex, for most of the last eight months they’ve been in lockdown.

She’s worked with director ColemanWright before and with his wife, soprano Cheryl Barker, even more, so knows them both well and feels very comfortable about the whole engagement.

When the season is over and she flies back to London, she’ll be going straight back into rehearsals for the Buxton International Festival – ”everything is opening up again”, she says.

But meantime, watch out, Canberra. As soon as her daily rehearsals are finished here, she’s heading straight for town.

“I want to go into a shop,” she says.

“La Clemenza di Tito”, Llewellyn Hall, April 10, 13,15, 17, book at nationalopera.org.au

Catherine Carby sings the plum “trouser” or “pants” role of Sesto in Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito”…

“Sesto has some of the best music in the opera.”

Photo: Bob Workman

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Director: Peter Coleman-Wright Conductor: Dane Lam Orchestral Partner: Canberra Symphony Orchestra Tickets: www.nationalopera.org.au/tito 02 6253 1454 CityNews April 1-7, 2021 19

WATCH IT! / streaming and stuff

When quotas and quality don’t always mesh

By Nick

OVERALL A MENTALIST, a senior crown prosecutor, an army lieutenant and a play-school presenter knock on the Prime Minister’s door wanting Netflix to make more Australian TV. What’s the verdict?

In reality it was actors Simon Baker, Marta Dusseldorp, Bryan Brown and Justine Clarke, who led a troupe of Australian film and television talent into Parliament House to lobby for major streaming platforms including Netflix, Stan, Disney Plus and Foxtel Group’s Binge to invest 20 per cent of their local profits back into “new Australian drama, documentaries and children’s content”.

It follows similar moves from France and Canada, which are also lobbying to have the streaming big guns put up to 30 per cent of local profits back into homegrown productions.

All sounds thumbs up in concept, but quotas and quality don’t always mesh.

For example, the current laws in place for the primary free-to-air channels such as Nine and Seven, where it’s enforced that 55 per cent of what airs between 6am and midnight must be Australian-produced content.

The objective of the laws is to “promote the role of commercial television services in developing and reflecting a sense of

Richard Roxburgh… worldwide audience thanks to Netflix.

Australian identity, character and cultural diversity”.

Does that suggest all Australians marry each other at first sight, routinely cook themselves into a frenzy and play extravagant mini golf then?

Many viewers have expressed worry the quota on streaming would see the quality of productions drop, saying they pay for their streaming service to get away from what’s on Australian free-to-air TV. That’s a fair sentiment. On one hand,

Aaron Pedersen as detective Jay Swan in Mystery Road.

there’s $10 a month to watch the world’s most popular, high-end programs. On the other, there’s a catalogue that’s become oversaturated with gimmicky, cheaply made reality programs designed to flog enough ads to double their run time.

However, Australian free-to-air TV does have examples of what some dedicated talent and some dedicated dollars can achieve.

Take the ABC’s production of “Glitch”, about a police officer in small town Australia forced to face six dead residents who’ve

come back to life in full health.

Generally the show was held to be a vast step up from other Australian drama and successful enough that Netflix actually cut a deal with the ABC to help produce and air the second and third seasons.

Netflix also paid for “Rake”, the ABC’s comedy about the sharp, yet self-destructive lawyer Cleaver Greene. Netflix had enough confidence to put Richard Roxburgh’s hilarious performance on show for their subscribers worldwide.

Stan has some fantastic Australian productions too, including western noir thriller “Mystery Road” and sharp horror flick “Relic” as a few examples.

Programs such as these show that Australia without a doubt has the talent to produce film and television on par with our international counterparts, if given the proper resources and opportunities.

While the quota system does have the possibility of seeing more fantastic productions pop up, it also treads on somewhat dangerous ground.

Considering Australia makes up only a small portion of Netflix’s global subscriber base, the platform could simply pull the old Mark Zuckerberg one-two and just walk away if it didn’t find the investment worth it.

The other concern is the move stopping or delaying new streaming platforms from hitting our shores.

Granted, the proposal outlines that the 20 per cent rule would only apply to streaming services with more than 500,000 subscribers, but this may still be enough for streaming companies to hold off coming to Australia in favour of producing in the country they make more money from. Totally couldn’t guess which one that might be.

Australia certainly needs a strong cinematic voice, especially as the streaming industry exponentially accelerates, but I can’t help feel the quota system is more of a Band-Aid solution than a real vision for Australian storytelling on the screen.

CINEMA / reviews

A portrait of forgiveness

By Dougal

MACDONALD “The Painter and the Thief” (M) NORWEGIAN filmmaker Benjamin Ree and the two people comprising this film’s title spent three years filming the material for this documentary with no idea of where it would take them.

They made it for people capable of acknowledging the emotive values of what they are watching uncluttered by expectations of beginning, middle and end that fiction films engender.

The challenging film that resulted is certainly not aimed at big box-office expectations. It begins with a robbery at the Nobel Art Gallery in Oslo. The thieves take two pictures by Czech painter Barbora Kysilkova.

The film doesn’t spend time canvassing the immediate consequences for Barbora or the Norwegian thief, Karl-Bertil Nordland. What it delivers is a compelling portrait of compassion and forgiveness.

Ree begins to document the story after Barbora unbelievably invites Karl-Bertil to sit for a portrait, capturing the unlikely relationship that ensues when two damaged people find common ground and form an inseparable bond through their affinity for art.

The relationship changed direction after Karl-Bertil was seriously injured in a car crash. He needed fulltime care during recovery. Barbora undertook a large share of that. The film mixes those sequences with footage shot in the prison where Karl-Bertil was jailed (if that is typical of Norwegian jails, it’s a wonderfully civilised approach to rehabilitation).

Ultimately, the film is about love between two people (not sexual – Barbora was in a comfortable 20 CityNews April 1-7 2021

relationship with a man called Øystein Stene who appears from time to time). It’s about how wonderfully beautiful paintings get created, almost photographic yet different enough to capture the soul of the subject (the stolen one, titled “Swan Song”, tells more than the body of a dead bird lying in marshland grasses).

The closest that “The Painter and the Thief” comes to fictional cinema elements involves that painting. When last seen, it’s safe and well.

We don’t know whether Barbora has sold it, but her joy at its recovery is quite wonderful to watch.

Karl-Bertil, the carpenter who became a thief, joins her building a new frame and stretching the canvas to it.

At Dendy

“Godzilla vs. Kong” (M) IN many years of reviewing movies, I can’t remember any as hard to deal with as this one. For all its noise and futuristic violence, I must confess to having slept through much of it.

Godzilla/Kong franchisers Warner Bros and Legendary Entertainment know they have an audience out there. Best of luck, people. Escape from life’s realities with 113 minutes of undiluted fantasy including a gigantic list of closing credits (including Australian inputs – apparently some of it was shot in Queensland.)

The IMDb estimates its cost at $US200 million. Before paying any dividend to sooth shareholder expectations of it, the producers will need to get that big money back and then some. Where the money went shows up on screen but where will the dividend, if any, come from?

From people who probably have seldom if ever watched a movie that invited them to think or to read a hard-cover book, that’s where.

At all cinemas

DINING / Rocksalt, Hawker

The much-loved local still serving in Hawker

By Wendy

JOHNSON I FIRST reviewed Rocksalt in Hawker in 2010. Then it was a fine dining restaurant working diligently every lunch and dinner to create amazing and innovative modern Australian cuisine. It was a “destination” restaurant with attentive service.

While many Canberra restaurants established more than two decades ago are no longer, Rocksalt is still steady. It has switched owners and is now a café, but still very much a loved local, as it was when it swung open its doors in 2000.

We were up for lunch on a weekend but could have ordered from the extensive allday breakfast menu (the shakshuka baked eggs with tomato, spinach and chickpeas caught my eye for $18).

Fish and chips… piping hot, crispy beer batter and two large Ricotta gnocchi… pleasant, but needed just a wee bit more pieces of tender fish.

Photo: Wendy Johnson seasoning to bring it to life.

Photo: Wendy Johnson Lunch starts with a soup of the day.

Rocksalt doesn’t offer entrées to share, so we ordered a Greek salad instead. It was a good size for $9.50 and there were plenty of olives and nice chunks of feta among loads of lettuce, slices of red onion and cherry tomatoes.

Rocksalt’s fish and chips arrived piping hot ($24). The beer batter was crispy, and the dish included two large pieces of tender fish.

The chips were crispy, too.

It was a cool, rainy day so I opted for the hearty lamb shanks, appreciating that at Rocksalt you can order a single shank ($22)

or two ($28). So sensible for folks who can never chow down on two massive shanks.

The meat fell off the bone and the Moroccan spices were exotic. The dish has a hefty hit of veggies. My only suggestion was to make the mash more velvety, creamy and decadent. It was a bit thin for my liking.

The ricotta gnocchi ($24) was pleasant, although it needed just a wee bit more seasoning to bring it to life. It looked lovely on the plate. The asparagus, roast pumpkin and pepitas got along very well together and the sage butter sauce was a great addition.

Other dishes for lunch include a beef burger ($24), pulled pork quesadilla ($24), calamari salad ($26), a falafel roll and steak sandwich (both $24).

Rocksalt’s wine list is short and sharp, and reasonably priced. The rosé we ordered to support local (Joshua’s Fault, Gundaroo) wasn’t available, so we settled for the Babich pinot noir rosé from NZ, only $36 a bottle.

The wine lineup includes several Australian options. Would be good to see at least one other regional wine available.

We sat in a small area at the back of Rocksalt, which is segregated by two large wine racks. It’s a perfect spot for a small function. Outdoor dining is also available.

Rocksalt doesn’t have a surcharge on Sundays and doesn’t ding you extra for using a credit card. No split bills, however.

ARTS IN THE CITY

Sculptures to return in September

By Helen Musa ENTRIES have re-opened for “Sculpture@Shaw” in September, after the 2020 award’s postponement due to COVID-19. Presented

by Shaw Wines in Murrumbateman in partnership with Belco Arts, it’s a successor to “Sculpture in the Paddock”. The top prize will be $15,000 with a $5,000 Cellar Door Prize for smaller works, a $3,000 Emerging Artist Prize, and a $2,000 People’s Choice Award. The Fields Murrumbateman will provide finalists with $1,000 each to transport and install their sculptures. Enter at sculptureatshaw.com.au by midnight, May 28.

TUGGERANONG Arts Centre’s next exhibition, “Deqolonise: The Erotic as Power”, is billed as an “unlearning” of how colonialism has distorted spiritual knowledge and practices shared among bla(c)k and brown queer communities.

“On The Wire” 2018 by Sian Watson, in the paddock at Shaw Wines.

Dance Theatre’s GOLD Company, which will celebrate a decade of dancing disgracefully on April 10.

Back in 2011, with the support of an ACT Health Promotion Grant, CDT began dance classes for people over 55, which resulted in the formation of a seasoned troupe of dancers ranging in age from 50s to 80s who have performed at dance, arts and community events and at Canberra’s cultural institutions.

There’ll be brilliantly-coloured self-portraits by Melbourne artist TextaQueen and a reimagining by Léuli Eshrāghi of the 2020 Biennale of Sydney installation, “Re(cul)naissance”, using neon, fabric and video. Curator Ono Chowdhury has commissioned Canberra artists, Sione Tuívailala Monu and Malcolm Fortaleza, to create work for the show, which will also feature work

by Jazz Money, Laniyuk, Roshan Ramesh and Basjia Almaan. April 9-June 5.

“STREAMED Shakespeare” tells us that for its first production of 2021 it will reach intergalactic heights with “Henry IV Parts One & Two” as a live-streamed, online space opera.

Director Haki Pepo Olu Crisden sets King Henry’s struggle for legitimacy, and Prince Hal’s coming of age against a backdrop of futuristic technology, galactic skirmishes, and interplanetary rebellion. Both plays will run on April 16-18 and April 23-24, book at trybooking.com

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CityNews April 1-7, 2021 21

GARDENING

Choose greys for colour contrast GREY and white foliage or flowers can play an important part in the garden as a contrast to bold colours.

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A completely white garden is beautiful too, from roses to other white-flowered shrubs, combined with perennials for year-round interest.

White flowers and silver or grey foliage can provide one of nature’s loveliest combinations.

There are a huge range of silver or grey-leaved plants available, such as lavender with its tiny grey leaves and bright purple flowers, and dianthus, known as “pinks”. This is a huge family, with tiny, silvery-grey leaves and a profusion of flowers, generally from the hotspots of the world, such as Greece, Crete, South and North Africa.

Plant Growers Australia, the largest wholesale growers of perennials in Australia, list 20 varieties of dianthus available at most nurseries.

One of my favourite plants, with a combination of grey leaves and white flowers over a long period, is silverbush or Convolvulus cneorum, pictured here in our front garden, but also ideal for growing in a container or hanging garden. It originates in the heat of North Africa.

The Teucrium family is from a similar area, with the popular T. fruticans, or germander, which have tiny glaucus leaves and a

Contrast between an acacia and a callistemon.

Convolvulus cneorum looks best in a group.

mass of lilac or blue flowers. Growing to about 1.5 metres, this can make a fast-growing, attractive hedge. Be prepared to trim it regularly or train it for topiary. Ours is trimmed into a large ball.

All these small, grey-leaved plants are perfect for our climate, particularly the heat and drought times. In general terms, the smaller the leaf the hotter the climate of its origin.

I LOVE plant names that seem perfectly appropriate, such as Helichrysum Hi Ho Silver and Icicles, describing the grey leaves. These Aussie plants, known as everlasting daisies, have now been reclassified as Xerochrysum. Our “everlasting” flowers are popular in Scandinavian countries for providing colour in homes during the long, snowbound winters.

ONE plant that has lost some of its popularity is lamb’s ear or Stachys lanata. The old name S. byzantina gives the clue to its origin in Turkey.

This one goes against the grain with its fluffy grey leaves, setting off its pink or purple flowers perfectly. Despite the size of the leaves, it’s very drought tolerant.

A GROUNDCOVER that will never go out of fashion is snow-in-summer, or Cerastium tomentosum. My 1939 edition of “Hortus Third”, a very large tome listing every known plant growing in America and Canada, lists an amazing 21 varieties of cerastium.

One of its popular uses is in rock walls. It’s so easy to grow and can be propagated by seed, cuttings or division. Its mass of tiny white flowers are perfectly set off against the grey leaves, originating from the mountains of northern Italy right down to Sicily.

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Merryl likes to mix it in her ‘blended’ garden SO-CALLED for its mix of natives and non-natives, as well as the seamless integration of old and new plantings, Merryl Bradley’s “blended garden” also combines veggie beds with striking foliage and ornamental shrubs carefully trimmed into curves.

“I’m not a native purist, I believe in plants coexisting alongside each other,” Merryl says.

“There are so many beautiful Australian natives and non-natives, and gorgeous variations in foliage, there’s no reason why not.”

The garden, which has an easy flow from front to back through rock-lined paths, ferns, shady white cedar and flourishing natives, will be open to the public on the weekend of April 10-11.

It’s part of Open Gardens Canberra’s “dual delights” event with Christine Gascoyne’s garden, located just 200 metres away, at $15 to visit both.

Merryl moved into the house 17 years ago and

Words: Kathryn Vukovljak Photos: Holly Treadaway says she’s been gradually reducing the landscaped lawns ever since, starting with the front, though she’s kept a tiny patch in the back.

A deciduous crabapple, malus trilobata, Merryl’s favourite, takes centre stage in the shady front garden and turns a beautiful deep red in autumn, planted next to a gleditsia sunburst, with mostly native groundcover underneath. Grevillea, correa, coprosma, camellia and creeping geebung line the surrounding beds.

Through a thick ficus hedge are raised veggie beds, a thriving blackberry vine, experimental potatoes and a laden kalamata olive tree, thanks to the veggie garden’s location in the full sun on the south side of the house.

Equally loved by Merryl are the garden’s formal touches; English box and Double Delight roses sit alongside lobelia and Japanese maples that were original to the garden.

“I think it’s a shame to pull out everything when

you take over a garden, and it’s possible to work with some of what’s already there,” she says.

“I like a lot of plants that might be considered old-fashioned, like the English yew and gorgeous little zinnias.”

Merryl also keeps an elderly, eight-year-old little bantam called Henny (her friend Penny is long gone) who is still laying.

“I’m a real composter, resuser and recycler, so all the garden waste gets mulched and thrown in the compost,” Merryl says.

The small garden is water-wise, too, with a total of 6000 litres of rainwater tanks.

Merryl’s mosaic art can be spotted all around the neat, structured garden, and she’ll be selling her mosaic plant pots and artworks on the open weekend.

The Blended Garden, 2 Corser Close, Fadden, April 10-11, 10am-4pm. Entry $10, children under 18 free. Bookings essential on Eventbrite. There will be no ticket sales or memberships available at the gate. Also open is Christine’s garden, 48 Weathers Street, Gowrie. Join Open Gardens Canberra for $25 and all gardens are free for a year.

Merryl Bradley… “I’m not a native purist, I believe in plants co-existing alongside each other.”

Photo: Holly Treadaway

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