CityNews 210513

CYCLISTS WANT THE GAP CLOSED BETWEEN CRIME AND FINE MAY 13, 2021

Well written, well read

Woden town cramming, can it get any worse?

PAUL COSTIGAN

Only a royal commission will fix the prison crisis

JULIE TONGS

‘Poison’... it’s just a matter of taste

TOO YOUNG TOO FIT...

RICHARD CALVER

WINNING

teams

At 44, GWYN REES survives a near-death encounter with the ‘widowmaker’

3D MAMMOGRAPHY (TOMOSYNTHESIS) Now available at both our Qscan Kingston & Macquarie clinics Qscan Kingston 110 Giles Street Kingston ACT 2604

Qscan Macquarie 3 Jamison Centre Macquarie ACT 2614

For appointments and enquiries call (02) 6126 5000

7

PAGES

vice NEW ser an at Qsc ie Macquar

Our specialist breast services also include breast ultrasound, FNA & core biopsy, breast MRI and PET-CT scans • All medical imaging referrals accepted

umic.com.au

L FICE L D A , OF EDS N I F ME NE HO GE R U RA YO STO &

EX-GOVERNMENT

FURNITURE Quality shelving with lockable doors

Bulk shelving in stock now!

Sit & Stand Desks

COME IN & EXPLORE OUR EXTENSIVE RANGE! BULK DISCOUNTS APPLY

6 Yallourn St, Fyshwick

• CHAIRS • WORKSTATIONS • STAND-UP DESKS • TABLES • SHELVING • FILING CABINETS • BOOKCASES • COMPACTUS • MAP CABINETS

FIND WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR IN STORE!

6280 6490

NEW STOCK ARRIVING WEEKLY

exgovfurniture.com

NEWS / dangerous driving

Cyclists want gap closed between crime and fine

By Danielle

NOHRA WHEN a video went viral late last year of a cyclist being knocked off a bike by a trailer, Pedal Power ACT discovered a major issue with the law.

The incident eventually saw the driver lose a small number of demerit points and fined $393 for negligent driving, however, the charge was in response to the driver travelling over an island, and not in response to it endangering the bike rider.

“They would have got the same fine had they not hit the bike rider,” says Pedal Power ACT CEO Ian Ross.

Since this discovery, Pedal Power ACT has been calling for urgent changes to the current road transport legislation to better reflect the seriousness of endangering cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists through negligent driving.

Ian says if a bike rider has been hit by a car and is not admitted to hospital, and the driver is at fault, the only action police say they can take is to issue a negligent-driving infringement notice to the driver. “[The legislation] should also include an offence provision for neg-

INDEX

ligent driving which causes injury – current legislation only recognises injuries at the very top end of the scale, where a person is permanently disfigured,” he says.

“We believe this is a significant gap.”

In regards to the incident in the video, Ian says a motorist could basically do that three times and they could still hold on to their licence.

“You could write off a $393 fine and not really worry about it if you’re a small business. So it just struck us that the penalties were not sufficient to deter people from doing those things,” he says.

It’s not uncommon for bike riders to get struck by vehicles in the ACT and Ian says Pedal Power receives at least one report a week about someone being hit.

“It is an ongoing issue,” says Ian, who also points to the data nationally, which reveals that bike-rider fatalities are on the rise.

“The most recent data shows that between 2008 and 2021, there’s been a 45 per cent increase in fatalities on our road.

“That’s just completely unacceptable. Cycle accidents are just not viewed as serious enough.”

Since 1993: Volume 27, Number 19

Arts & Entertainment 23-25 Canberra Matters 9 Cinema & Streaming 24 Crossword 27 Dining 25 Garden 26 Horoscopes 27 Letters 14 News 3-14 Politics 13 Seven Days 4

Cover: Gwyn survives a near-death encounter.

Photo by Holly Treadaway.

Story Page 12.

Well written, well read

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

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

Ian Ross… “We’ve had people die on our roads in Canberra, we have not seen a lot of prosecutions for dangerous driving for those people.”

Photo: Danielle Nohra One problem, according to Ian, is that many of the accidents don’t require people to be hospitalised (people can have broken bones and other things and not need to be admitted to hospital). However, because of that, it might not be considered to be grievous bodily harm and therefore doesn’t get referred to court. “[For the rider in the video], they had damaged their wrist, they had quite a bit of time off work and they reported that they had ongoing trauma,” he says.

Pedal Power ACT would like more serious penalties being given follow-

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: Douglas Lima Proof reader: Glenda Anderson

“ Who will benefit from your Will?”

Here’s a link to the video youtube.com/ watch?v=oFexFlQVsSs

Have you considered a pre-arranged funeral?

Take the burden off your loved ones and pre-arrange your funeral.

Pay today’s prices for the funeral you want, with a personalised payment plan.

A valid and up-to-date Will can help reduce stress for your family and friends, limit administration costs, and lessen Speak to the possibility for dispute over your estate.

Ashilpa Khanna We ensure that your estate goes to family Wills & Estate or friends of your choice.

Planning Lawyer

ing accidents where there is any kind of injury to a vulnerable road user.

“The police need to have the capacity to leverage that as a trafficinfringement notice so that there is a really clear connection between the crime and the fine,” Ian says.

“We would like to see a significant increase in points as well.

“We’ve had people die on our roads in Canberra, we have not seen a lot of prosecutions for dangerous driving for those people.

“I’m not judging any individual cases [but] people have to grossly break the law or already be doing ter-

rible things on the roads for it to be considered a significant crime.

“It’s really unfortunate that we do live in a community where it takes penalties to change behaviour but we know from drink driving, for instance, that it substantially changed behaviour as soon as police were able to start targeting those things and introduce serious fines.”

Pedal Power ACT also wants to see more road safety campaigning by ACT and federal governments, in particular in minimum passing distance laws, says Ian. “We would like to see better enforcement action by ACT policing, too,” he says.

“The minimum passing laws were finally introduced into law in 2017 and we are yet to see substantial work being done to enforce those laws.

“We’re aware that there were campaigns done late last year but we have seen no data or information about those. We would love to see ACT policing seriously test and prosecute minimum passing distance offences, too.”

Pedal Power ACT is currently in active negotiations with the ACT government to have the laws amended.

“We are pretty confident that we will get something moving in the next few months,” Ian says.

With 30 years experience, we are here for you every step of the way.

Ashilpa Khanna Wills and Estate Planning Lawyer

For the best outcome when it matters how it’s done call Capon & Hubert on 6152 9203 First Floor, 32-38, Townshend Street, Phillip ACT chsol.com.au | enquiries@chsol.com.au

Over 30 years serving Canberra

(02) 6253 3655 williamcolefunerals.com.au | 60 Nettlefold Street, Belconnen, ACT 2617 CityNews May 13-19, 2021 3

SEVEN DAYS

Tutus and ‘whore’ shirt, these blokes don’t get it “YOU’D have to wonder where these boys have been with all the attention given to gender matters of late!” Indeed one would, Helen Musa.

Our sharp-eyed arts editor was dining at a Monaro Street Thai restaurant in Queanbeyan and snapped this photo of young men in tutus and one, with his back to the camera, in a frilly number, sporting a T-shirt that reads “whore” with the number 18 beneath.

A player? Maybe not; a check of the “White Pages” reveals there are no Whores with hard lines in Canberra or Queanbeyan.

Helen surmises that the 30 lads (no girls) frolicking in shocking-pink tutus at a long table were a local footy club at “some kind of team celebration”. We couldn’t confirm that, despite the Tuggeranong Bushrangers going down 60-6 to the might of Queanbeyan that day.

So maybe it was a bucks night or something terribly innocent, such as the annual dinner of the Queanbeyan CrossDressing Club.

IT’S a miracle! Not a single driver has been fined for speeding since the introduction of urban 40km/h speed limits all over town.

Does anyone really believe that no one has nudged the limit in those areas for the past six weeks?

Transport Minister Chris Steel warned there was to be no grace period for motorists the day speed limits came into effect in Civic,

4 CityNews May 13-19, 2021

Boys just wanna have fun… tutus and Thai in Queanbeyan.

The sign obscuring traffic in Dalrymple Street, Dickson.

Braddon and Tuggeranong in March. But ACT police have not issued a single infringement since then. They say they’re still keen to issue a warning that speeds will be monitored and safe driving practices enforced for the benefit of the community. In the remote possibility they catch anyone, that is.

of our leading companies.

The northside parliamentarian, an ex-ANU professor of economics, has used an extraordinary number of fearless tweets to hound retailer Premier Investments to return the JobKeeper money.

“Premier Investments get half a clap for returning $15 million in JobKeeper,” Leigh tweeted. “But they may have gotten as much as $110 million, and they clearly didn’t need a cent.”

“Repaying $15m should be just the start.

Last year, Premier set a record profit, paid the CEO a $2.5m bonus and paid a stonking dividend. They don’t need a single dollar of corporate welfare.”

He’s also taken a bite out of Accent Group after the company, which owns Athlete’s

OUR local, Labor member for Fenner, Andrew Leigh, has been losing friends on the national corporate stage by naming and shaming big companies for effectively pocketing the pandemic-year’s JobKeeper subsidies.

The life-saving JobKeeper wage subsidies kept “CityNews” afloat for some months last year and I share Leigh’s disgust at the opportunistic and greedy behaviour of some

Foot and operates more than 400 footwear stores in Australia and NZ, was found to have used the benefit of its $45 million JobKeeper lolly to buy out other businesses.

“If it wasn’t bad enough that they used JobKeeper as #BonusKeeper & #BillionaireKeeper, they’re now entrenching their market power. Payback time!” Leigh said.

He also revealed that construction giant Mirvac, which has $24 billion worth of assets under management, has profited heavily from taxpayers.

“Property developer Mirvac just upgraded its earnings guidance on the back of high-rise sales. But it’s only returning half of the $20 million in JobKeeper it received,” he tweeted.

A DICKSON snout has been badgering the bureaucracy to get a large, temporary road sign (“Roadwork ends”) moved because it’s been obscuring the presence of traffic on Davenport Street since October.

He says the sign is a created hazard in that it obscures oncoming traffic when turning on to Davenport from Marsden Street and that “oncoming traffic on this busy road is invisible until very close”.

I went and had a look and he makes a fair point in asking if it isn’t the duty of sign placers to check that they don’t create such hazards.

AND in the inner-south, Liberal leader Elizabeth Lee has been exposing the fears of parents for the safety of their children over the impacts of increased traffic volumes and speed near family homes.

Residents of Red Hill, Narrabundah and Griffith have been pleading for ages for fasttrack solutions with government authorities over dangerous intersections.

The intersections at La Perouse Street and Carnegie Crescent, and also La Perouse and Dalrymple streets have been identified as the “most dangerous” locations.

A spokesperson for Transport Minister Chris Steel says a study into traffic flows around the inner-south is currently “in progress”, but that the minister won’t see it until July. And then? Why does it always seem to take so long to get sensible stuff done in this town?

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

Artist Impression

You’re invited!

Exclusive seniors’ living event Register now for our complimentary information afternoon: + Discuss your seniors’ living options and breakdown the financial costs with industry expert Rachel Lane

Best-selling author, Rachel Lane

+ Learn about how LDK is doing it differently with our unique One Move Promise®

Thursday 20th May (afternoon session) LDK Seniors’ Living Village, Greenway Views, Tuggeranong.

+ Sneak peek into our almost sold out, stunning 1, 2 & 3 BRM apartments overlooking the Brindabellas

Bookings are limited.

Register now via 1300 535 000 Artist Impression

LDK.com.au | 1300 535 000

NEWS / “Young Talent Time” 50th anniversary

‘Young Talent Time’ comes sparkling back to life

By Belinda

STRAHORN FOR many Aussie kids who grew up before iPods, Spotify and T-Swizzle, Saturday nights were family time, spent in front of the television watching “Young Talent Time”.

The variety show ran from 1971 until 1988 launching the careers of many child stars including Tina Arena, Dannii Minogue, Jamie Redfern and Debbie Byrne.

Created, produced, and hosted by Johnny Young, the show also found fame for the likes of Philip Gould, Jane Scali, Rod Kirkham, Vikki Broughton, Karen Knowles, John Bowles, Sally Boyden and Joey Perrone.

To celebrate “Young Talent Time’s” 50th anniversary, the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) has curated a digital tribute to the show that shaped young stars and musical tastes for a generation.

The NFSA digital content producer Beth Taylor said “Young Talent Time” fans are in for a “real treat” with the exhibition including 35 performance clips of some of the 40 children and teenagers who were team members on the long-running show.

Trawling the archives, the NFSA team has uncovered some hidden gems, such as rare “Young Talent Time” footage not seen in almost half a century.

“We found some black-and-white footage of the earliest ‘Young Talent Time’ team performing a medley of songs with Kamahl and John Farnham, as part of a tribute concert for late comedian Buster Fiddess,” said Taylor.

“We don’t think that footage has been seen since it first aired in 1972, it’s magical.”

Having grown up in NZ, Ms Taylor missed out experiencing the “Young Talent Time” phenomena first time around, but watching hours of show footage has allowed her to experience some of what Australian households were privileged to see during the show’s long run. “‘Young Talent Time’ was appointment television for families every Saturday night, it brought so much joy to so many people and continues to do so,” said Ms Taylor.

“It was such an important part of Australian culture for a couple of generations, it’s been such a privilege to work on this exhibition.”

While Debbie Byrne was “Young Talent Time’s” earliest star, Tina Arena – the longest-serving cast member (1976-1983) – was arguably its best known and most popular star.

Tina’s longevity on the show was matched only by her post-”Young

Johnny Young with the “Young Talent Time” team.

Photo: National Film and Sound Archive Talent Time” career. Although slow to take off, Tina is undoubtedly the show’s greatest success story.

“Tina’s talent shines through even as a nine-year-old,” said Taylor.

“There’s a clip of her singing ‘Ring, Ring’ by Abba, it’s amazing and worth a look.”

There was a time in this country when Kylie wasn’t the best known member of the Minogue family, her younger sister Dannii, who appeared on “Young Talent Time” from 1982 to 1988, was clearly the star long before

Kylie released “Loco-Motion” and got her break on “Neighbours”.

“The number one thing that people seem to be remembering from ‘Young Talent Time’ is Dannii and Kylie performing the pop duet ‘Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves’ from 1987,” said Ms Taylor.

The exhibition also includes a performance clip of an eight-year-old Asher Keddie, singing and dancing to “Fame”.

Keddie would go on to be one of the best-known faces on Australian TV as the star of many movies and

TV shows including “Offspring” and “Paper Giants”.

“There’s also a lot of concert footage to view as part of the exhibition, the ‘Young Talent Time’ team performed at World Expo 88 in Brisbane and there’s an episode that aired from Australia’s Wonderland in Sydney that same year, a lot of people have memories of those two episodes,” said Ms Taylor.

The first episode of “Young Talent Time” went to air on April 24, 1971, and was instantly loved by audiences of all ages.

It ran for 800 episodes, finishing on December 23, 1988.

The show’s reputation has grown over the years and attracted a lot of interest from well-known people across the world.

“Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Arquette has tweeted about the exhibition and Tina Arena, Dannii Minogue and Johnny Young have been great supporters, too,” said Ms Taylor.

“It’s thrilling to see how many people are watching the clips and taking time to watch their favourite stars perform.

“The 50th anniversary has certainly energised the show again, but Australians always seem to be interested in ‘Young Talent Time’, it’s an iconic thing.”

The digital exhibition is at nfsa.gov.au/ collection/curated

Book your personalised

Free Tea and Tour this May

Tea and Tour at a Retirement Village near you this May and enjoy refreshments, a village tour and a chat with the Sales Manager.

You may like to view available homes, see community facilities, learn more about what village life is like or chat about financial and contract details.

This appointment is tailored just for you.

Visit teaandtour.com.au or call 1800 550 550 to book your personalised Tea and Tour today Lendlease Retirement. Your place to live well.

6 CityNews May 13-19, 2021

NEW FEATURE TO EXPLORE CANBERRA FOOD SUSTAINABILITY

advertisement

Agrifood hub to focus on regional sustainability Welcome to our new segment featuring all things sustainable in and around the Canberra Region. The recent announcement of our plans to develop an Agri-Food hub in the ACT, has excited local farmers, artisan food, and beverage producers, agriculture investors and community groups all looking to enhance environmental and social sustainability across the Canberra Region. Each instalment will focus on new and innovative developments in the sector.

Enjoy reading.

Hamish Sinclair - Freshford Holdings.

A proposed new Agrifood hub based in the ACT has the potential to create hundreds of new jobs and assist Canberra’s drive towards food sustainability was recently explored at a briefing for Members at Parliament House in Canberra. Freshford Food Pty Ltd Managing Director Hamish Sinclair briefed local Member for Bean David Smith on the exciting plans they had for the Agri-Hub to be located on land west of Canberra. The Hub plans to incorporate large-scale greenhouses, aquaculture, and vermiculture, with an integrated zero waste production system and will be 100% solar powered. Mr Sinclair also plans to host a wide variety of artisan food and drink producers including cheesemakers, salami, cider and whiskey production. “The project will encompass an initial investment of $100 million, creating over 120 jobs and potential value to the ACT economy in excess of $390 million,” Mr Sinclair said. “The concept is an Agri-tech Food Hub, combining agriculture and innovation with food and tourism, supplying the city with locally sourced product in a sustainable way. What surprises local stakeholders is that innovation in the South has come out of the rural area. Our hub provides an opportunity to pivot the ACT economy and capitalise on its proximity to the Hume logistics centre and the airport.” Mr Sinclair added. The project will reflect current ESG investment parameters, encapsulating a triple bottom line approach, with acceptable returns on equity, accretion of social capital

and an environmentally sustainable project through the use of renewable energy resulting in a lower carbon footprint.

Freshford Foods MD Hamish Sinclair with Member for Bean David Smith

Conference to focus on food sustainability in the canberra region Following the successful initial Conference in November 2020, RDA ACT Food in the Capital sustainable food conference returns to Canberra this month. Government thought leaders, as well as educational institutions, food focused organisations, and forward-thinking investors will find out why Canberra is leading the way in innovation and the development of a sustainable food future that is essential to meeting the climate challenges of the future. On May 18, RDA ACT are hosting event 2 in the series, Food in the Capital 2. Held over two days, Day 1 will be the Conference component at the Hotel Realm Canberra - an exciting

FRESHFORD AGRICULTURAL HUB

exploration of urban and regional farming, logistics and social enterprises. Day 2 participants will see food in action, with a choice of either a rural or peri-urban tours showcasing local producers in the Canberra region. RDA ACT CEO and Conference convener Michael Claessens was excited about phase two of this important and timely program. “People interested in sustainability food trends and the opportunities it may bring to their business are converging on Canberra to hear about innovative solutions to sustainable food problems”. For more information visit www.foodinthecapital.com.au or em: foodinthecapital@rdaact.org.au

A new $100 million integrated sustainable food precinct Freshford will have large-scale greenhouses, aquaculture, vermiculture and a wide range of artisan food and drink producers. Freshford will be 100% solar-powered and will have zero waste.

For more information visit our website: www.freshfordholdings.com

NEWS / Alliance Française de Canberra

Alliance raises a glass of red to the art de vivre

By Nick

OVERALL THE Alliance Française has driven its Canberra CEO to drink.

The local arm of the worldwide organisation representing French culture is producing its own red wine for the first time this year.

Nancy Ford-Waites says it’s inspired by a French drop known as “Beaujolais nouveau”.

In France, the wine is harvested from a special type of grape and a festival, on the third Thursday of November, celebrates the harvest and gives people the first taste of their work.

In Canberra, she says, the Alliance will celebrate on the third Saturday of May as that date will represent the end of the harvest season here.

Anyone can get their own bottle of the wine, harvested from the Rosnay Vineyard in Canowindra, for $30.

Canberrans can also get tickets to the celebration festival itself to be held on May 22.

Nancy, a Francophile for as long as she can remember and CEO of the Alliance’s ACT committee, says the

Alliance Française is about celebrating the French “art of living” or “art de vivre”.

“Every year we have around 800 students come through the Alliance learning to speak French,” says Nancy.

“It’s the official language of 27 countries, but it’s an important language in around 80, and the Alliance celebrates all of these countries that make up the worldwide French presence.”

It originated in 1883 with author Jules Verne; one of the first vaccine biologists, Louis Pasteur and the developer of the Suez Canal, Ferdinand de Lesseps.

All three were pioneers of the now worldwide organisation that stretches throughout 138 countries with 850 committees, but its arrival in Canberra wasn’t until the middle of World War II. “It started here with a handful of people having the first AGM in a living room in Ainslie,” says Nancy.

“They’d only meet once a month and everything was always in French.

They’d only start teaching the language in the ‘50s.”

The early Alliance would bounce between different buildings in Canberra to hold its passionate gatherings, but by the ‘70s an enterprising attaché from the French embassy named Albert Salon would realise a dream to see an official French-English bilin-

Alliance Française de Canberra CEO Nancy Ford-Waites… “The more exposure we have to other ways of thinking and other cultures, the more we can encounter aspects of life that are fulfilling for us.”

Photo: Nick Overall gual school established in the capital.

“Salon was able to convince the ACT government to grant land the building could be constructed on and then went on to convince the French government to fund the construction,” says Nancy.

“We still use that building today.”

At 78 years, the Alliance is the oldest multicultural association in the ACT. “We want to continue to translate the traditions of France into an Australian environment through food and drink, art, history, music and much

more,” says Nancy.

The event which sees the Alliance most in the spotlight is the annual, Australia-wide French Film Festival, the biggest in the world outside of France.

“In 2021, even with cinemas still at 75 per cent capacity due to covid restrictions, we still sold 16,301 tickets,” says Nancy.

“People from all over Australia came to see the 36 new films and the one French classic that’s a tradition at the festival.”

The Alliance also always com-

memorates France’s national day on July 14, Bastille Day. Of course, at all of these events speaking to one another in French is encouraged, but Nancy says the Alliance welcomes anybody regardless of skill to come and learn.

“I think there’s a common perception that as an adult it’s too late to learn another language, but that’s not the case,” she says.

“I had only done a little at school, but when I was pregnant with my son 10 years ago I really committed to it.”

“Now I’m fluent enough to work in French, but I still get weekly lessons because you can always improve,” she says.

Nancy estimates the French presence in Canberra to be around 10,000 people and as CEO since August, her goal is to facilitate more interaction between native French speakers and Australians.

“The more exposure we have to other ways of thinking and other cultures, the more we can encounter aspects of life that are fulfilling for us,” says Nancy.

“Sharing a meal together, having a conversation, taking in a piece of art.

I think that’s what’s so beautiful about the French culture, living more in the moment.”

More information at afcanberra.com.au

INDIVIDUAL LIVING VILLAS & RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE ROOMS AVAILABLE – ENQUIRE TODAY 6288 0198 • Nursing Care • Personal Care • Independence • Safe home-life environment • Multicultural • Friendly • Family orientated • Quality in-house kitchen • Variety of quality activities Set amongst landscaped grounds, Adria Care in Stirling is a warm and welcoming community of people from all around the world. We pride ourselves on cultural diversity and celebration, and offer a wide range of activities to cater for all interests. We provide care for Croatian and all other nationalities.

Adria Care fosters individuality and independence, providing support and assistance to enable residents to live in a comfortable and secure environment. It offers residential care for 42 residents, incorporating 2 respite rooms and special care. All rooms are single rooms with ensuite.

The village also contains 36 independent living villas. All villas have 2 bedrooms, a courtyard and a garden, and residents enjoy a peaceful and welcoming community lifestyle.

Our aim is to provide a caring, safe, home-like atmosphere, reflecting your rights to dignity, respect, privacy, safety and the best quality of life.

Contact our friendly staff today to arrange a personal tour.

• Phone: 6288 0198 • Fax: (02) 6288 7635 • Email: admin@adria.org.au • Website: www.adria.org.au • Address: 89 Fremantle Drive, Stirling, ACT 2611 8 CityNews May 13-19, 2021

CANBERRA MATTERS

Woden town cramming, can it get any worse?

FOR the ACT’s Labor/Greens coalition politicians, planning is not something they worry about much despite it being something of major concern to residents.

Once elected, ACT politicians become busy people with meetings to go to, loads of busy words to write and photo opportunities to be taken up. They do not bother about planning until it becomes annoying around election time.

The last decade or so of the Labor/Greens coalition has made a significant impact on Canberra. Its laissez-faire approach has delivered a compromised and diluted built environment – fewer trees and more heat islands.

Rather than sensible and intelligent planning with an eye to climate change, the ACT planning directorate’s main outcome has been town cramming, reduction of facilities and green spaces. Despite the best efforts of the Woden Valley Community Council, this is what has happened to the Woden Town Centre precinct.

The council has produced many ideas for master plans and detailed submissions for particular sites. The ACT’s planning chief and his blundering bureaucrats have blatantly disregarded good ideas and well-researched facts. Their ideas for town cramming in Woden have come from friendlier industry bodies and developers.

The bad news for anyone who wants to access the Woden Town Centre is that the bureaucratic planners have come up with another unbelievable strategy to mess with Woden.

The bad news for anyone who wants to access the Woden Town Centre is that the bureaucratic planners have come up with another unbelievable strategy to mess with Woden.

The latest is about a replacement bus interchange. While the present one has attracted some types with dangerous intent for commuters, it is a very good layout as a bus interchange. It works well and people travel through it easily, provided the buses are on time.

The proposed new design sees the interchange relocated on to the street to make way for the new CIT building.

This building should be elsewhere, but the political decision was made based on the usual balderdash from within the government – not based on the views of the local community council. They live, work and shop there – what would they know?

Along with a couple of other

The planned Woden bus interchange… the proposed new design sees the interchange relocated on to the street to make way for the new CIT building. significant development applications, the locals have had to wade through mountains of paperwork in their attempts to make sense of what the government is proposing.

Never mind that some traffic modellers have said that the government’s proposals have serious problems – such as they will place commuters in danger.

Is this what they call “active travel”?

Such concerns, along with many other queries, were passed off as not being relevant according to Minister Chris Steel’s own advisers. Looking around the many traffic-planning blunders across the city, of course – they would know best.

There is not enough space here to

describe all the stupid things within the new interchange design. Buses will squeeze into stop-overs waiting for the one up front to move first, buses will do loops through neighbourhood streets to turn around and likewise to make room for others and to return in a different direction. Commuters will be crossing roads to catch buses as well as one day to hop on the tram.

All this was revealed by those at a Woden meeting by the few who spent countless hours working through the

complicated planning documents.

This was necessary as no-one from the government agreed to attend the Woden Valley April meeting to explain what was to come.

The word from one of the local Labor politicians was that such consultations and presentations were not necessary at this stage. There would be time for that once the “independent” planning authority had made its decision. Did she really say that? Does she still believe the myth that some mysterious independent planning authority hangs out in a Northbourne Avenue tower?

This government’s expertise in town cramming is worthy of an award. It has been a remarkable achievement to jam so many towers into the Woden Town Centre and now they are setting out to push the bus interchange on to the street – replacing a very good one that stands on land now required for the something else.

ACT government planning strikes again at Woden. Can it get any worse?

Don’t answer that!

Future

Artist

Inspired to bring joy to others

www.stcc.act.edu.au

CityNews May 13-19, 2021 9

OPINION / Aboriginal people in prison

Only royal commission will sort out prison crisis Indigenous leader JULIE TONGS writes that we have to face the awful truth, the worst-performing government in Australia, when it comes to locking up Aboriginal peoples, is the ACT government.

And enough is enough.

FOR years, I have been advocating loudly and regularly about the disgraceful over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in prison or otherwise involved with the ACT criminal justice system.

As painful as it is to have to face the awful truth, the worst-performing government in Australia, when it comes to locking up Aboriginal peoples, is the ACT government.

The latest data on indigenous incarceration in the ACT reflects the depth of the crisis, in fact an ever worsening and festering crisis, in the nature and extent of the over-representation of Aboriginal peoples in the justice system.

It was because of this that in July I wrote, in despair, to the then Attorney-General, Gordon Ramsay, and the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Rachel Stephen-Smith.

In my letter I said, among other things: “As you would be aware the ACT has the highest rate of increase in the incarceration of Aboriginal men and women in Australia and the highest rate of indigenous incarcera-

tion in Australia.

“In fact, in the last eight years there has been a 279 per cent increase in Aboriginal incarceration and the Minister for Corrections has advised that 90 per cent of Aboriginal detainees in the AMC have a prior conviction.

“It is clear that the policies and procedures purportedly in place in the ACT to address the disproportionate level of contact of Aboriginal peoples with the different arms of the justice system, whether it be the police, courts, prison, throughcare, community corrections or parole are quite simply failing to address the disproportionate levels of Indigenous incarceration.”

I concluded my letter by asking the ACT government to “initiate a detailed, comprehensive and independent inquiry into the effectiveness of all arms of the justice system in their contact with and response to members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community”.

To their credit, the now AttorneyGeneral, Shane Rattenbury, and the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Ms Rachel Stephen-Smith, in company with

the Minister for Corrections, Mick Gentleman and Minister for Justice Health, Emma Davidson, convened, on March 24, a roundtable meeting involving a wide range of representatives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

The meeting was to discuss, among other things, the desired form of a commitment which the ACT government had given in response to my letter to “a holistic review of the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the justice system, led by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community”.

The ministers went on to reiterate the government’s commitment to ensuring that the Aboriginal community would lead the work and further advised that: “We are seeking your expertise and guidance on how the government can facilitate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to lead a comprehensive review of these issues.”

At the roundtable I insisted that we had reached crisis point and that a piecemeal approach was not feasible, would not be effective and that only a Royal Commission-style inquiry would suffice.

The roundtable ultimately resolved that I should convene a follow up meeting with a view, as requested

by Ministers Rattenbury, StephenSmith, Gentleman and Davidson to

enrolling now For Term two 2021

Give your child’s educational development a head start ★ Parent classes for children 5 months to 2 years ★ Independent Pre-Preschool for 3 year olds ★ Preschool PLUS for 4 and over

65 Sternberg Cres, Wanniassa www.kidstart.com.au PhONE: 0422 406 622 10 CityNews May 13-19, 2021

★ Emphasis on development of motor skills, academic and social skills ★ Preparing children for formal schooling by introducing structure and routines in a play based fun and creative atmosphere

formalising the Aboriginal community’s preferred option for identifying and addressing the multiple issues impacting on the over-representation of Aboriginal peoples in the ACT with the justice system.

I convened such a meeting on April 15 attended by 16 senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leaders. It was addressed by Senator Pat Dodson and Prof Larissa Behrendt, who then also engaged in the ensuing discussion.

The meeting debated the issues before agreeing, unanimously, to the following resolution: “That the government be advised that it is the view of the Aboriginal community of the ACT that the most effective and best prospect for identifying and responding to the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT, in touch with the justice system or incarcerated, is by means of a formal Commission of Inquiry in accordance with the Royal Commission Act 1991.” The resolution was referred to ministers for endorsement in late April.

It was also decided at the meeting that draft terms of reference for the

inquiry be developed, in consultation with and under the guidance of legal advisers Ken Cush and Associates.

The draft terms of reference, which will focus on the multiple factors that lead to Aboriginal people coming into contact with the justice system and those which contribute to the Australia high recidivism rate of Aboriginal peoples in the ACT, are well advanced and once cleared by senior community leaders will be referred to the government.

I am accordingly looking forward to the government’s early endorsement, consistent with its many undertakings to support the community’s preferred model of inquiry, of a Royal Commission into the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ACT justice system and imprisonment in the AMC. Julie Tongs is the CEO of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.

JULIE TONGS

NEWS

Arabella searches for housing’s ‘missing middle’

By Belinda

STRAHORN THE days of the “McMansion” could be numbered and ACT Property Council’s new president Arabella Rohde said the solution to greater diversity in housing lies somewhere between a large home and unit – the “missing middle”.

Ms Rohde, the council’s first female president, argues now is the time to change our approach to where and how we live.

“One of the great things about Canberra is our diverse community, but I’m not sure that diversity is reflected in the housing, I’d like to see greater emphasis on the missing middle,” Ms Rohde said.

The “missing middle” – neither a tiny home, nor a typical suburban house; think terraces or townhouses built to fit into existing residential neighbourhoods, encouraging people to live, work and shop locally.

An example of that is in Crace, Ms Rohde said.

“It could be a townhouse in a complex or a townhouse on a single lot.

There are a few examples of that in Crace where you have a number of single-lot terraces, so similar to what you

would see in Sydney or Melbourne,” she said.

Ms Rohde, a Lendlease Development senior manager, said there are strong demographic drivers for a more diverse range of housing in the ACT. She said not all current and future households want single, stand-alone houses or multi-storey apartments.

A four-bedroom home on a block in the suburbs sounds like the Australian dream, but such homes are becoming unaffordable and unsuitable for modern life.

“One of the aspects from the missing middle is what is happening predominantly in Canberra where there is either apartment or single-lot housing,” she said.

“There are some great townhouse developments, but are they necessarily affordable? Where are they happening? Are they only happening in the inner areas and if so, where else do we need that style of home to be provided?”

Ms Rohde, who started her career as a town planner in the ACT, is also passionate about developing suitable housing for the city’s elderly population.

“The ageing population is not just a challenge locally it’s a national and international challenge and we need to think about how we are accommodating them so they can stay within their communities and have access to services and facilities,” she said.

Do YOU have QUESTIONS about PROPERTY MANAGEMENT? We are here to make owning a rental property easy, and can save you a lot of time, stress and money!

• • • • • •

Boutique Independent Agency Experienced Personal Service (Since 2001) No Hidden Charges (One flat-rate) No lock-in contracts Private Secure Portal to log in 24/7 from anywhere A synergy of Personal Service and Innovative Technology

ACT Property Council’s new president Arabella Rohde… “I made villages from Lego and was a big fan of SimCity, I guess that’s where my love affair for property began.”

Photo: Belinda Strahorn Ms Rohde takes on the role as president following a rocky year for the industry and said one of the ACT’s biggest challenges will be fast tracking approvals for residential development projects.

“It can vary on different projects, but the cycle from idea to on-theground can be anywhere between four to five years,” Ms Rohde said.

“One of the good things during covid was that the government responded positively to clearing out some of the blockage in the development application (DA) system; they put extra resources in so they could be processed efficiently, and so we need to ensure that continues and there’s a steady stream of approvals and a streamlined approval process.”

Ms Rohde has worked in property development and urban planning for 20 years and counts the Forde masterplan community, the 4 National precinct in Barton and Winyu House, a state-of-the-art ACT government office block in Gungahlin, as some of her favourite projects.

“It’s so rewarding delivering a project that successfully balances technical aspects, community aspects and design elements all together,” she said.

“And there’s strong linkages to how we feel in our community that’s driven by our built environment.”

Born and raised in Darwin, Ms Rohde said her passion for property started young.

“As a kid I loved building things, I had a cubby house that I remodelled every other week, adding rooms and creating different zones,” she said.

“Dad was an engineer and he would come along and inspect my work and would often fail it structurally.

“I made villages from Lego and was a big fan of SimCity, I guess that’s where my love affair for property began.”

She hopes her two-year tenure in the top job will inspire more women to take up careers within the property industry.

“You can’t be what you can’t see, so seeing a whole lot of female leaders means young women can aspire to those kinds of roles.”

A BETTER service in property management FIRST TWO MONTHS FEE-FREE (Conditions apply New clients only)

If you have questions regarding your rental home or investment property or are considering a change in service Call 02 62874577 or email info@realestateAustralia.com.au We look forward to hearing from you.

Real Estate Australia .com.au | W: realestateAustralia.com.au | E: info@realestateAustralia.com.au | P: (02) 6287 4577 | A: 39 Brierly Street, Weston, ACT 2611 CityNews May 13-19, 2021 11

COVER STORY / When the ‘widowmaker’ calls

‘You are back, you are okay. Stay with us.’ He did GWYN REES, well known in political and hospitality circles for his work with ClubsACT, was too young at 44 and too fit to have a heart attack.

But he did and this is what happened…

IN a light-drenched room, almost blinding, I lie on a gurney.

I am warm, pain-free, at peace and I have the sense that I am speaking with someone I know well, a friend maybe.

I don’t recall who with, or what the conversation was we were having, we were just shooting the breeze. But as I gather my bearings, the bleached curtains of that reality peel away rudely and I am staring at the men and women of the emergency ward.

“You are back, you are okay.

Stay with us,” a woman says.

Wide-eyed, confused, my head whips around as I take in the scene of hospital staff moving with urgency in the room. At the end of my bed, is the paramedic who brought me in, her hand raised covering her mouth in a gesture of concern. It isn’t comforting.

It is the evening of March 11, I have had a near-death experience triggered by a singular life-threatening event, a heart

attack. Specifically, a critical blockage of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, less affectionately referred to as a “widowmaker”.

Everything leading up to this point and the hour that followed was critical to my recovery and prognosis. It has meant I have limited and maybe, optimistically, avoided damage to my heart muscle.

In the recovery ward, my cardiologist later explained what we did right was get an ambulance, it saved my life.

This is because the LAD artery serves the heart nearly half of the blood it requires and a clot in this artery is particularly dangerous.

The chances of surviving this type of heart attack outside of hospital without support are very low, particularly if there is not someone on hand to provide cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. Time is, as they say, of the essence. Every minute the heart

Gwyn Rees and wife Lisa with their boys Thomas, 4, and William, 2… “I have been angry, frustrated and I have cried more times than I care to admit.” is not getting blood supply you are sustaining damage.

Fortunately, I understood my body well enough to know something was amiss. The discomfort in my chest and the tingling sen-

usic, M e r o M un...

More F

THE CLASSIC BREAKFAST with Holmsey & Jen

5.30AM TO 9AM WEEKDAYS How to listen: 1053 AM DAB Radio • www.2ca.com.au Smart speakers (just say “Play 2CA”) 12 CityNews May 13-19, 2021

sation in my arm, I now know are signs of a heart attack.

My wife, Lisa, called the ambulance.

The experience in the ambulance, quite possibly could have gone wrong but luck (while being unlucky) was on my side. I was able to get to the hospital and in surgery within those critical stages of a heart attack. An angiogram was performed, the blockage located and a stent relieved the obstruction.

The rest of this story is one of trepidation. I have been angry, frustrated and I have cried more times than I care to admit.

Feelings of anxiety, occasionally manifesting the feeling of pain in my chest, feeling elated to be alive and, simultaneously, fearful of recurrent attack have fueled a spectrum of emotion over the weeks that have followed. Cardiac blues are a very common after effect of a heart attack.

Canberra Region MSers

At 44, I thought I had had my share of life’s trials – raised by my father because of an absent mother, leaving home at 15, surviving cancer, my wife’s miscarriage and now a heart attack. I have struggled with this experience and unhelpfully, I don’t subscribe to feeling sorry for myself. Nevertheless, I have replayed that night more than once, deliberating over how any change to the order of actions meant disaster.

The guilt of leaving my two and four-year-old behind, with my 35-year-old wife alone, has weighed on me in the most oppressive way. In fact, the most agonizing moments were waiting for my wife to follow me to the emergency ward, following my cardiac event so I could tell her I love her and our boys.

After leaving hospital, I have been frustrated that there has been no check in by a social worker or counsellor, services that were available

when I had cancer.

Similarly, services that claim they are there to support are less equipped to help than otherwise advertised. The experience for the first time in my life of calling a major charity helpline to seek support but being asked to Google another website was frankly demoralising.

To call local psychology clinics and be told, “...yes, that’s the wait because of covid” is truly troubling for those who are suffering. If services are so stretched, then people must be falling through the cracks.

Serendipitously, maybe humorously, I am managing by following a great piece of advice from the “Mick Dundee School of Psychiatry”: I have told my mates. In fact, writing this is my version of telling Wally.

I’ve told everyone in town and I hope doing so will help me deal with my frustrations.

Every day I am getting better because I have been so lucky. I am accepting that, despite doing everything right like not smoking, not eating badly and keeping fit, I can still make meaningful adjustments to my life to ensure that the chances of this happening again remain minuscule, as my cardiologist has reassured me.

As cliché as it sounds, this was a life-changing event and my focus is shifting to what is most dear, my family. I will admit, I was never a father or husband without faults.

But I now find myself being focused on the present – I got around to fixing my son’s bike, that plumbing issue, I play a little more and maybe more importantly, there are a few more hugs.

In June, Gwyn is taking part in “The Pushup Challenge” to support better mental health and raise funds for Lifeline Canberra.

Donate at thepushupchallenge. com.au

Do you have multiple sclerosis (MS) or know someone who lives with MS? Canberra Region MSers is a new private Facebook group for you!

We share information on interesting research and tips for living well with MS. Join up for news on local in-person gettogethers as well as Zoom meetings and mindfulness and exercise activities. We also invite well-qualified speakers to discuss topics of interest.

No-one wants to join the ‘MS Club’ but connecting with other people with MS can be a very positive experience. Everyone understands! To join us, search ‘Canberra Region MSers’ on Facebook.

We love meeting new people, and we welcome new ideas.

BRIEFLY

POLITICS / intellectual property rights

MS group seeks new members

Stand up for lives over profits THE announcement by the US to support a waiver of intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines was a major change turnaround.

The original motion by India and South Africa requires a consensus decision by the 164 members of the World Trade Organization. NZ is onside and Australia must throw its weight behind the motion.

For decades the US has championed free trade and, in particular, intellectual property rights. In this instance, the Biden administration has prioritised the impact on human health over that of the profitability of big pharmaceutical companies. Australia really must follow suit.

The production and distribution of more vaccines internationally is the only way that this pandemic will come under control.

The challenge for governments will now be to stand up to big business. To stand up for just a temporary waiver on one element of vaccines. A strong argument put by some is that pharmaceutical companies need a return on investment so that innovation in medicine will not be severely stymied.

However, in this case in an attempt to deal with the pandemic, there has also been huge financial support from taxpayers. Governments are right in this case, therefore, to support a waiver of the international restrictions on the patents. Additionally, as nearly 4000 people a day are dying in India, there is a moral obligation to do all possible to control the disease.

Even from a selfish point of view, COVID-19 needs to be under control in developing countries to be under

control across the world. The time for action is now.

Australia should be supporting the stance announced by US Trade Representative, Katherine Tai and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) director-general.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted of the US move: “This is a monumental moment in the fight against COVID-19.”

The WHO has been working through COVAX in an attempt to secure an equitable distribution of vaccines. Australia has contributed. However, it is not enough. Wealthy countries have, by and large, been able to secure adequate supplies of vaccines to the detriment of many developing nations.

India has vaccinated 2.1 per cent of its population and Brazil around 7 per cent. Compare this to the US with 30 per cent fully vaccinated and the UK with 23 per cent.

In developing countries where some people live cheek by jowl in the slums of big cities, people are much more prone to infection and the spread of COVID-19. Poverty makes them more vulnerable. And yet they do not have access to vaccines to the same extent as people in the UK, Europe or the US. Dr Ghebreyesus also tweeted of the US commitment: “The waiver of IP protections on vaccines is a powerful example of leadership to address global health challenges”.

As Associate Professor Deb Gleeson, from the Public Health Association

In an attempt to deal with the pandemic, there has been huge financial support from taxpayers.

Governments are right to support a waiver of the international restrictions on vaccine patents.

of Australia, explained: “The 20-year monopolies over vaccines held by pharmaceutical companies don’t make sense when millions of people are dying around the world as a result of the pandemic – this is an emergency situation that calls for equally urgent actions by all countries.”

A series of public health organisations from around the world have signed on to an Immunisation for All Ages Manifesto that has been funded

by Pfizer.

The Manifesto has as one of its key pillars to “remove barriers to access for appropriate immunisation throughout life to ensure all people are protected and no one is left behind”.

Commitment to this key pillar should see companies such as Pfizer supporting this temporary waiver on intellectual property rights.

The Manifesto advocates to “reduce inequities in timely, appropriate and affordable access to immunisation throughout life”. Immunisation is not just for the “haves” – it has also always been fundamental to international community health that the “have nots” are also covered as quickly as possible.

Australia can assist in building the momentum for a temporary waiver of patents on COVID-19 vaccines in order to improve the chances of getting the pandemic under control by supporting India, South Africa and the US. Michael Moore is a former ACT MLA and an independent minister for health.

He is a member of the Immunisation for All Ages group.

CANBERRA Region MSers is a new, private Facebook group sharing information on research and tips for living well with multiple sclerosis (MS).

It holds local, in-person get-togethers as well as Zoom meetings and mindfulness and exercise activities. It also invites qualified speakers to discuss topics of interest.

To join, search “Canberra Region MSers” on Facebook.

Meanwhile, the group is marking World MS Awareness Day with a sandwich lunch at the Baptist Church Hall, Kingston, on May 28.

Jen Severn, a member who lives with MS, is the guest speaker and will talk about her recently published book, “Long Road to Dry River”.

Organisers say Jen’s story is about much more than her MS journey and her book explores a difficult childhood, her quest to find the place and people where she feels she belongs and her quest to come to terms with living with a chronic and progressive disease.

Nichole’s view of Queanbeyan

takingcontrolgroup@hotmail.com

Guest speaker talking strokes

Book sale ‘for all occasions’ THERE’S a sale of secondhand books “for all occasions’’ at St Ninian’s Uniting Church, Lyneham, 9am-1pm, on Friday (May 14) and Saturday (May 15). There will be fiction and non-fiction, cookery, gardening, manuals, children’s and magazines for sale, plus plants and jams.

Morning tea and lunch will be available.

And a book fair to help hospital THE Calvary Hospital Auxiliary is promising a “great selection of paperbacks, novels, cookbooks, children’s books, biographies and more” at its book fair in the main foyer, Calvary Public Hospital, corner of Haydon Drive and Belconnen Way, Bruce, 8am-4am, on Wednesday, May 19 and Thursday, May 20. There will be nothing priced over $2 and all funds raised go to buying equipment for the care and comfort of public hospital patients and staff.

Historian and “CityNews” columnist Nichole Overall will regale the ladies of the Tuggeranong Day VIEW Club with tales of early Queanbeyan at the club’s next lunch meeting at the Town Centre Vikings club, Greenway, 11am-2pm, Tuesday, May 18. Cost is $26 and RSVP to 6193 5398 or maleyjan@yahoo.com

The new VIEW at Gungahlin FIONA Hennig is talking about the work of The Smith Family at the next meeting of the new Yerrabi VIEW Club at Eastlake Club, Gungahlin, from 11.30am, on May 20. Visitors and interested ladies are welcome. To RSVP, become an inaugural member or just receive more information about the club email june3@iinet.net.au

by May 16.

ROBYN Pender, from the Stroke Foundation, is the guest speaker at the next lunch meeting of the Gungahlin Day View Club at the Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club, Nicholls. from 11.30am on Wednesday, May 26. Cost is $35 and visitors and interested ladies welcome. RSVP to 0458 012402 before 9pm on May 23.

Bandannas are back on the job RELAY for Life Team, the Bold Bandannas, is back at the Belconnen Fruit and Veg Markets, 8am-5pm, May 15-16, raising money for cancer research. Its charity stall will be selling beanies and scarves; homemade jams, pickles, chutney and preserves; a range of hand-sewn children’s dress-up clothes, hand-knitted dolls’ clothes, crocheted hand towels, and knitted and lace coat hangers.

Organising a community event?

Email details to: editor@citynews.com.au

SUFFERING FROM DIGESTION PROBLEMS? OVER 35 YEARS OF HELPING CANBERRA FEEL BETTER

WE DO TELEPHONE, SKYPE AND VIDEO CONSULTATIONS Eliminate illness: address the underlying cause of your poor health, not just the symptoms We can provide a safe and effective treatment for: • Bloating • Constipation • Diarrhea • Flatulance • Irritable Bowel Syndrome Luke Clews

SAFE • NON-INVASIVE • EFFECTIVE • CHRONIC CONDITIONS ARE OUR SPECIALITY

Kingston Natural Therapies

49 Jardine Street, Kingston | kingstonnaturaltherapies.com.au | Phone 6295 6660 CityNews May 13-19, 2021 13

LETTERS

What a cheek to say ACT has best drug policy I STRONGLY disagree with Michael Moore’s comments (“Finally, injecting some sense into drug policy”, CN April 29).

On the one hand, he says: “The ACT is leading the nation with drug and alcohol policies.”

A little further on, he writes that there is significant risk of further delay saying, as the minister pointed out a month ago, “additional scoping will be required before a decision is made on whether to proceed on a drug-consumption room in the ACT including community consultation, an assessment of the existing legislative framework and further development of an appropriate model”.

Given the same unpreparedness, the Vikings would never have gone to sea!

And what a cheek to say the ACT has the best drug policy, when a recent article in the daily paper reveals that vaping among teens is on the rise, backed up by the AMA’s ACT president Dr Antonio Di Dio, disclosing that up to 6000 different toxic chemicals enter the body from vaping that can lead to “catastrophic and fatal results”.

We give people COVID-19, flu and other vaccines to help cure their illness, not because they enjoy bed rest. The same common sense should permeate drug use.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

dose of dorin

Complacency bordering on sadism I AGREE with every word written by Michael Finck (Letters, CN April 29) about the absurd changes of speed limits on several Canberra roads.

Several years (and two speeding fines) ago, I had an issue with the sudden change in speed limits from 80km/h to 60km/h at Hindmarsh Drive, between Melrose Drive and Ball Street, with virtually no warning sign except a small one when you’re almost on top of the camera.

At the time, I wrote to more than one minister to no avail. Many Canberrans I know complain about the same thing – this sudden change and no easily seen warning – being blatant revenue raising. I must add that the

speed limit goes back to 80km/h only about one block ahead.

Another example of road-sign absurdity is the change in limit from 90km/h to 80km/h on William Hovell Drive in a non-built-in area.

It goes back to 90km/h again a few kilometres after this in exactly the same road conditions. Why? How this complacent government tries the patience of Canberrans borders on sadism not to say anything about ineptitude.

Vivien Munoz, Holt

Rising out of the political ashes THE ACT Liberal Opposition leader and her MLA colleagues may also be feeling relief

and a new-found sense of freedom as they start stepping out more on issues (“Lee ruffles Ratters as Libs’ sap starts to rise’, CN May 6).

The ACT Liberals are no longer directed

by Josh Manuatu, who parachuted in from federal energy minister Angus Taylor’s office early last year.

His long-term work associations with strong Liberal rightists, including Senator Eric Abetz, and his handling of the ACT opposition’s thighslapping, cringe-making election campaign last year must have caused considerable tensions and frustration for moderates in the party, despite the local party having welcomed Manuatu as “a highly experienced campaigner”.

Hopefully, the ACT Opposition can now show that it can tackle some key issues in depth and throw off the ultra-conservative ethos that some of its male power brokers have pursued and clung to for far too long.

Sue Dyer, Downer

Upset at athletes getting the jab I WAS perturbed to read that Australian athletes and their retinue of minders have been prioritised to receive vaccines ahead of more needy recipients.

Shame on the AOC and the government, as aside from not passing the “pub test”, it makes a mockery of our attempts to restrict the spreading of the virus. Japan’s infection and death rates are amongst the worst in Asia, yet our athletes and support staff are unnecessarily being exposed to infection.

And on their return, it has the potential to expose all Australian residents as well.

Sending our athletes to Japan is a frivolous action and, from a health point of view, should be stopped.

Mario Stivala, Belconnen

Hydrogen power gets closer I ENDED my letter about electric vehicles (CN April 22) with “then there is the hydrogenpowered vehicle... but that’s another story”.

The time to discuss the hydrogen-powered vehicle has come. The best-known methods of hydrogen production are extraction from natural gas (methane, CH4), and electrolysis of freshwater, but the latter technique is very energy-intensive and until recent times has been prohibitively expensive.

Now, with the extraordinary growth in the take-up of rooftop solar, the ACT often feeds more electricity into the eastern Australia grid than it uses. That excess electricity could be used to generate hydrogen, which in turn could be used to power vehicles with internalcombustion engines (with minimal adjustments) and electric vehicles that use hydrogen fuel cells to generate their electricity.

Both types use liquid hydrogen, which is much lighter than petrol or diesel, and increases the load-carrying capacity and the range of both types of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Expect to hear and see a lot more about hydrogen fuel in coming years.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

Fighting the muffled Budget HOW do you tick and flick a report card on the ACT government’s performance when measured against a Budget being muffled in a cone of silence.

Is it a matter of mum’s the word, do not excite the electorate, keep quiet and don’t get them thinking about issues outside their intellectual capacity because they need to be led and will be a menace if they all start thinking for themselves.

Or is it that our Budget’s just a guide, so keep spending until we hit the brick wall.

One has to ask what are government members thinking? And why aren’t all opposition members more proactive?

Canberra’s ratepayers deserve to be professionally informed on matters that will impact their standard of living. I do not see this occurring at present so the potential for a negative message at the ballot box should be self-evident.

We really deserve better.

John Lawrence via email

Start again on tram route FAIR descriptions of the Civic to Capital Hill section of the proposed Civic to Woden tramline, of which the first bit is from Civic to Commonwealth Park, include: • Knee-jerk, • bogged down, • unresolved, • massively expensive, • destructive, • disrespectful, • dangerous, • disruptive, • intrusive, • impractical, • congestive, • exploitative, and, • stultifyingly orthodox.

The National Capital Authority has still not fully approved the scheme; crossing the lake remains unre14 CityNews May 13-19, 2021

solved; and overhead wires are expensively banned.

An ACT government “study” of alternative routes was perfunctory, with one using Acton Peninsula, irresponsibly imposed on its protected northern shore.

Government must start again, and find the optimum route, truly befitting the Central National Area, via say, briefly: London Circuit’s north-west sector, Edinburgh Avenue (serving New Acton, Acton Foreshore and Commonwealth Park, in conjunction with upgrading the Parkes Way pedestrian bridges), Lawson Crescent west, or Liversidge Street (serving the ANU, and Acton Foreshore west), Lawson Crescent south on Acton Peninsula (serving the National Museum and AIATSIS), Griffin’s missing curved lake crossing (for trams, bikes, and pedestrians, and partially elevated for yachts), across Lennox Gardens at its narrowest point (with potential for Floriade, in and around a traffic-calmed Flynn Place), Flynn Drive, State Circle and beyond to Woden as currently planned.

This route readily accommodates sensible overhead power cables throughout some “land-value capture”.

Jack Kershaw, Kambah

Write to us Let loose to: editor@citynews.com.au

WINNING teams IMPROVEMENT DRIVES MIRKO TO SUCCESS SUCCESS is a team effort, according to Mirko Milic, who is very proud of the teams he leads.

Mirko is the dealer principal of Canberra Toyota and Lexus of Canberra, part of the Janrule Automotive Group, which also consists of Subaru Canberra, Rolfe Honda, Phillip Mitsubishi, Canberra Peugeot, Canberra Citroen, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car Canberra.

Mirko says the people and the culture of the team are an important part of what stands them apart.

Mirko’s own passion for the business is driven by the philosophy of “kaizen”, a Japanese term that is defined as continuous improvement.

“I am performance-driven and continuously looking at how we can do things better and am always improving what we do,” he says.

He says some of the 396 employees have been with them for about 40 years and the business invests in the team by creating training opportunities.

“We have up to 40 apprentices in our workshops. At any time, there are around 70 staff undertaking some sort of formal training – from business development, health and safety, leadership or administration,” he says.

“We also run a future dealer leaders program in which young people are identified as potential leaders of the future.

“We support them with monthly training and hope that one day they will take over from us.”

The results of this performance-driven culture at Canberra Toyota tells a great success story, Mirko says.

“We are the largest Toyota dealership in the ACT and south east NSW and the fourth largest in service customers nationally,” he says.

“We are the 12th best performing Toyota dealership in vehicle sales across the country and have made the ‘National Top 20 Club’ for the past nine years.”

And when it comes to customer service, Mirko says all teams have always prided themselves on customer service, with the aim to provide “unbelievable” customer service.

“From the car washers out cleaning the cars in -5C in winter, to the workshop team who get the cars ready, to the sales and service department – everyone plays an important role,” he says.

Being a good corporate citizen is another passion that Mirko and his team get behind with initiatives such as supporting St Vincent de Paul’s CEO sleepout for 10 years.

“We also sponsor the Vinnies Night Patrol, in which two vans go out into Civic and Dickson every night to provide homeless people in our community with blankets, food and support,” he says.

“Supporting community sport is another initiative that the staff enjoy. We sponsor the Canberra Raiders, Gungahlin Eagles, Belconnen Magpies and Canberra FC, to name a few.”

Canberra Toyota, visit canberratoyota.com.au

ADVERTISING FEATURE

I am performancedriven, communityminded and continuously looking at how we can do things better.

– MIRKO MILIC

WINNING TEAMS

When team effort drives the success for

General manager Lisa Gray.

Business and general sales manager Bin Xiao.

General manager Amir Hayati.

General manager Don Griffiths.

CANBERRA TOYOTA BELCONNEN

CANBERRA TOYOTA GUNGAHLIN

CANBERRA TOYOTA PHILLIP

CANBERRA TOYOTA FYSHWICK

DELIVERING easy, comfortable and friendly interactions with customers, Lisa Gray is proud to be the general manager of Canberra Toyota Belconnen and Gungahlin.

Both locations specialise in the selling of late model used cars, with Canberra Toyota Belconnen also selling new Toyota vehicles. Both locations have workshops that supply Toyota parts and service all makes and models, Lisa says.

“Our workshops are staffed by Toyota trained technicians with all the latest tools to ensure that vehicles serviced with Canberra Toyota Belconnen and Gungahlin are serviced as per the manufacturer’s guidelines, eliminating any warranty concerns,” Lisa says.

“We will even come and pick your vehicle up from your home or work place, drive it to the dealership, carry out the service and drop it back all at no charge. No one else offers that.”

With more than 50 years’ motor vehicle sales experience between the sales team at Gungahlin and Belconnen, Lisa says they know what they’re doing and are able to provide customers with accurate product information and advice that is relevant to their needs.

As a busy mum of two, Lisa also understands how important empathy can be and says her team adds an extra touch of empathy with everything they do.

“My team understands that we must provide a professional service, in a timely manner and ensure we make every interaction easy, comfortable and friendly,” she says.

No matter what service a customer is after, whether it’s needing a loan car from the service department or accessing its 24-hour breakdown service, Lisa says the locally-run businesses look after the community that looks after them.

THE team at Canberra Toyota Gungahlin, a business focused on used car sales including Toyota certified used cars, offers an efficient and professional experience for every customer, says business and general sales manager Bin Xiao.

Bin, who provides optimised finance and insurance options for every customer, works alongside Sachin, a highly experienced sales consultant who has more than 10 years’ experience in sales, and Jon, a current trainee with Toyota Gungahlin who has worked in dealerships for three years and has a deep understanding of how they operate.

“Everyone in the multicultural team is from different ethical and cultural backgrounds [which] helps [us] to build better bonds with the local, multicultural communities in Gungahlin,” Bin says.

“It is a winning team, because we speak customers’ language, [whether it’s] English, Chinese, and Hindi.”

When it comes to helping a customer buy a suitable and reliable car to meet their needs, Bin says the team provides a professional and friendly customer service.

“We also provide a complete vehicle life cycle valuation for a customer’s current car when they are considering selling or trade-in,” he says.

Canberra Toyota Gungahlin also offers 100-point mechanical inspections, extended warranty options, the convenience of delivery, a discounted loyalty service, and varieties of used car stock including Toyota certified used cars, which Bin says gives customers faith and trust in choosing a car from them.

CENTRALLY located in Phillip, the team at Canberra Toyota Phillip is full of experienced and knowledgeable technicians and consultants, says general manager Amir Hayati.

Amir, who is in charge of the four main areas of customer satisfaction – occupational health and safety, internal processes, manufacturer compliance, and profitability – says he works alongside a team of talented apprentices, technicians, sales consultants, customer service advisors, administration staff and department managers.

Together, they offer services such as new car sales, pre-owned car sales, and finance and insurance, as well as spare parts, car servicing, and after sales, roadworthy and pre-purchase inspections.

“We have service department veterans with 35 years of experience in servicing Toyota cars at the Phillip workshop,” Amir says.

“Many locals rely only on their advice when it comes to making important decisions about their Toyota cars.

“We have sales consultants who have gained exceptional levels of product knowledge and have also built a valuable client base.”

And Amir says the team is multicultural with many staff members who are bilingual, so language will most likely not be a barrier when people come to Canberra Toyota Phillip.

“We look forward to hearing from you or your team,” he says.

FOCUSING on retail and fleet sales, Canberra Toyota Fyshwick is the central location for Toyota’s retail, business, fleet and corporation operations for the ACT and its surrounding areas, says general manager Don Griffiths.

“We are ideally and conveniently situated within the main industrial and commercial area of the ACT. Albeit within 10 minutes of Canberra’s CBD,” Don says.

The team at Canberra Toyota Fyshwick encompasses Kim, Luke and Dusko in the new vehicle team, Geoff and John in the used vehicle team, a fleet team, which is headed by Brad, the service manager, who is joined by accounts managers Sergio, Louise and Kirsty, as well as a service team, headed up by service manager Brad, who works alongside service advisors Colin, Matt and Nik. Together, Don says their motto is to treat all customers like they are guests in their own homes.

“All the staff from sales to service to parts are exceptionally guest centric striving to always exceed our guests’ expectations,” he says.

Canberra Toyota Belconnen, 1 Josephson Street, Belconnen.

Call 6222 1700.

Canberra Toyota Gungahlin, 4 O’Brien Place, Gungahlin.

Call 6123 4600.

Canberra Toyota Phillip, 160 Melrose Drive, Phillip.

Call 6222 1800.

Canberra Toyota Fyshwick, 44 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 6222 1900.

At Canberra Toyota

At Canberra Toyota AtAtCanberra CanberraToyota Toyota

At Canberra Toyota

TOYOTA HILUX. AUSTRALIA’S #1 SELLING VEHICLE 5 YEARS RUNNING.

TOYOTA HILUX. AUSTRALIA’S #1 SELLING VEHICLE 5 YEARS RUNNING. TOYOTA HILUX. AUSTRALIA’S #1 SELLING VEHICLE 5 YEARS RUNNING. TOYOTA HILUX. AUSTRALIA’S #1 SELLING VEHICLE 5 YEARS RUNNING.

Canberra ToyotaToyota Canberra Canberra Toyota Canberra Toyota PhillipHILUX. | Fyshwick | Belconnen, Phillip | Fyshwick | Belconnen, TOYOTA AUSTRALIA’S #1 SELLING VEHICLE 5 YEARSOrder RUNNING. Online Phillip | Fyshwick | Belconnen, Order Online New Car Department Car Department Phillip | Fyshwick New | Belconnen, New Car Department Order Online T: 02 6222 1700 New Car1700 Department T: 02 6222 1700 T: 02 6222 Lic No. 20000105 Pty Limited 0220000105 6222 1700Janrule Lic No. Janrule PtyJanrule Limited Lic T: No. Pty 20000105 Limited canberratoyota.com.au Phillip | Fyshwick | Belconnen, Lic No. 20000105 Janrule Pty Limited canberratoyota.com.au canberratoyota.com.au canberratoyota.com.au New Car Department

Order Online

Canberra Toyota

Order Online

[F4]2.9% annual percentage rate available to approved business applicants of Toyota Finance to finance new & demo HiLux including WorkMate, SR and SR5 vehicles. Excludes Rugged, Rugged X and Rogue vehicles. Offer available to Bronze and Silver Fleet guests only. Finance applications must [F4]2.9% annual percentage rate available to approved business applicants of Toyota Finance to finance new & demo HiLux including WorkMate, SR and SR5 vehicles.

Excludes Rugged, Rugged X and Rogue vehicles. Offer available to Bronze and Silver Fleet guests only. Finance applications must T: 02Toyota 6222 1700 be received by 30/06/2021.

Maximum finance of term of 48 months applies.

Terms,new conditions, fees and charges apply.

Finance reserves the right toExcludes change, extend or withdraw anXoff er atRogue any time.

Ask yourOff local Toyota dealer more and information.

Toyota Finance, a division of Toyota Finance must [F4]2.9% annual percentage rate available to months approved business Finance finance & demo HiLux SR and SR5 vehicles.

Rugged vehicles. er available to for Bronze Silver Fleet guests only.

Finance applications [F4]2.9%by annual percentage rate available to approved business applicants of Toyota Finance to ficharges nance new &todemo HiLux including WorkMate, SR SR5WorkMate, vehicles.

Rugged, Rugged X and Rogue vehicles.

Off er available to Bronze and Silver Fleet guests Finance applications must be received 30/06/2021.

Maximum finance term of 48 applies.

Terms,applicants conditions, feesToyota and apply.

Toyota Finance reserves the rightincluding to and change, extend orExcludes withdraw an offer at any time.

Ask yourRugged, local Toyota dealer forand more information.

Toyota Finance, aonly. division of Toyota Finance Australia Limitedof ABN 48 002 435applies.

181, AFSLTerms, and Australian Credit fees License 392536.

Lic No. 20000105 Janrule Pty Limited be received by 30/06/2021.

Maximum finance 48applies. months conditions, and charges apply.

Toyota reserves the or right to change, or withdraw an off er atdealer any time.

Askinformation. your local Toyota ToyotaFinance, dealerafor moreofinformation. of Toyota Finance be received 30/06/2021.

Maximum term of term 48 months Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply.

Toyota Finance reserves the Finance right to change, extend withdraw an offerextend at any time.

Ask your local Toyota for more division Toyota FinanceToyota Finance, a division Australia LimitedbyABN 48 002 435 181, AFSLfinance and Australian Credit License 392536.

T2021-016474 T2021-016474 Australia Limited ABN 48 002 Australian Credit License 392536.

Australia Limited ABN 48 435 002181, 435AFSL 181,and AFSL and Australian Credit License 392536. canberratoyota.com.au

T2021-016474

T2021-016474

16 CityNews May 13-19, 2021 to approved business applicants of Toyota Finance to finance new & demo HiLux including WorkMate, SR and SR5 vehicles. Excludes Rugged, Rugged X and Rogue vehicles. Offer available to Bronze and Silver Fleet guests only. Finance applications must [F4]2.9% annual percentage rate available be received by 30/06/2021. Maximum finance term of 48 months applies. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply. Toyota Finance reserves the right to change, extend or withdraw an offer at any time. Ask your local Toyota dealer for more information. Toyota Finance, a division of Toyota Finance Australia Limited ABN 48 002 435 181, AFSL and Australian Credit License 392536.

advertising feature

car dealers, service centres and rentals LEXUS OF CANBERRA

VOLVO CARS CANBERRA

ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR

LEXUS of Canberra, which has its sales and service centres located in Phillip, is committed to making all its customers feel completely welcome, says general manager Mikkel Litonjua.

Established in 1990, Lexus of Canberra is one of three original Lexus dealers in Australia, and Mikkel says its commitment to customer service is second to none.

Its team embody omotenashi, the Japanese spirit of hospitality.

General manager “Our passion for Mikkel Litonjua. customer service and providing the best service we can is always at the forefront of why we do what we do daily, whether it’s new and used vehicle sales, finance and insurance, vehicle servicing, ACT vehicle inspections and tyre replacement,” Mikkel says.

“I welcome you to come to our dealership or if you can’t come to us we can come to you, so you can experience our service and passion for the brand first-hand. Let our actions show why you should choose us.”

Lexus of Canberra also serves the community and is proud sponsors of charities such as Ronald McDonald House Canberra.

VOLVO Cars Canberra is renowned for safety and their systems that provide care and consideration for people, says dealer principal Chris Mullins.

Located in Phillip, Chris says the team there sells new and used Volvo vehicles, and offers services such as finance and insurance, and are able to provide enhancements to vehicles they sell.

Chris says Volvo Cars Dealer principal Chris Mullins.

Canberra is a locallyowned business, and proudly sponsors a wide range of community, sporting and charitable events in the Canberra region.

“We enhance your buying experience by providing expert after sales service with courtesy pick-up and drop-off convenience, knowing your car is being treated with the care and professionalism you would expect in our large and modern workshop service area,” he says.

“We are a multi-award winning dealer group. Our awards are based on recognition for excellence in sales, service and customer satisfaction.”

CONVENIENTLY located at Canberra Airport, the locally-owned business, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, offers a superior car rental experience to all its customers, says branch manager Marwan Altalib.

The biggest car rental company in the world, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is able to offer car rental services to travellers and the local community due to its prime location at the airport, he says.

Backed by a diversified team in terms of cultural and educational backgrounds, Marwan says: “We have Branch manager Marwan Altalib. a winning team because we use our diversity to foster a great customer service experience that is rooted in our local Canberra community and blended with an international perspective.

“Our customers are choosing us because we can offer a superior customer service experience, since we are locally owned, and we are agile enough to ensure that our offerings are tailored to address our customers’ individual and business needs.

“Our pole position in Google Reviews among all the car rental companies at Canberra Airport is a testimony to our competitive advantage in offering a superior customer service experience.”

Marwan is also proud to say that the team there has not only stayed the same during COVID-19 but since January they’ve been able to increase their fleet by more than 83 per cent, and sales by more than 151 per cent. “[And] while rapidly improving its customer satisfaction rating,” he says.

Lexus of Canberra, 162 Melrose Drive, Phillip.

Call 6222 1888 or visit lexusofcanberra.com.au

Volvo Cars Canberra, 29 Botany Street, Phillip.

Call 6171 2885 or visit volvocarscanberra.com.au

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 2/35 Terminal Avenue, Canberra Airport.

Call 6248 9966 or visit enterpriserentacar.com.au

PHILLIP MITSUBISHI

SUBARU CANBERRA

PHILLIP Mitsubishi dealer principal Chris Mullins says Mitsubishis are renowned for their durability and reliability and are now backed with a 10-year Warranty and 10-year capped price servicing.

Located on Botany Street, Chris says the team there sells new and used Mitsubishi vehicles, and offers services such as finance and insurance, and are able to provide enhancements to vehicles they sell.

With experienced staff, Chris says Phillip Mitsubishi prides

SUBARU Canberra provides an outstanding customer experience by matching customer needs and wants to the appropriate new and used vehicles, says dealer principal Jon Dudok.

Backed by a balanced team of experienced automotive professionals, Jon says they can service and repair Subaru vehicles, get parts and accessories in, as well as provide finance and leasing options to customers looking to buy a new or used Subaru or vehicle of another brand.

Describing the team as

itself on good, old-fashioned service.

“We also have a comprehensive fleet team offering a full suite of corporate and novated leasing products,” he says.

“Come in and take advantage of our full range of courtesy loan vehicles to get you where you need to be easily, while your vehicle is being serviced.”

Phillip Mitsubishi, 29 Botany Street, Phillip. Call 6113 6000 or visit phillipmitsubishi.com.au

Dealer principal Chris Mulllins.

CANBERRA PEUGEOT & CITROEN

ROLFE HONDA

WITH about 42 years’ experience in the automotive industry, Robert Hush has spent 10 of those years with the Janrule Automotive Group.

He started as a sales manager for Toyota before becoming the general manager of Canberra Toyota Gungahlin, and working with a group of managers as a sales trainer with sales staff across the group.

Most recently, Robert became the dealer principal of Canberra Peugeot and Citroen.

Robert’s career achievements include being awarded “National

ROLFE Honda opened in Canberra on October 1, 1998, and 17 days later David Jameson joined the team.

Now, the dealer principal, David’s been there since, working his way up from service manager, to parts manager, to general manager, to dealer principal.

“When Janrule acquired Rolfe Honda on August 1, 2018, I stayed on as dealer principal,” he says.

Before working at Rolfe Honda, David, a mechanic by trade, started was an apprentice with Toyota for about seven years.

“I find satisfaction working

Sales Manager of the Year” and owning his own dealership, Robert Hush motors, which was dealing in new Toyota and used vehicles.

“After retiring, Toyota approached me and I was engaged for three months to set up used vehicle sales for Toyota. That was 10 years ago,” he says.

“My motto in business is 100 per cent respect for staff and customers. What you give in business, you can expect to receive. Show interest in people and you become an interesting person.

“I have clients today that I originally sold a car 42 years ago.

Dealer principal Robert Hush.

People are coming back today. This shows loyalty.”

It’s an end of an era for Janrule as it unfortunately will relinquish the franchise as of June 30, at which point Robert will retire.

customer-focused, he says: “The team collaborates on all decisions and we focus on continually improving our processes and the customer experience.

“We have a major focus on training. We strive to make sure our customers get the best possible experience whether buying or servicing their Subaru.

“We build lasting relationships with our customers. Service and repairs we use genuine parts with factory trained technicians ensuring your Subaru is always in great condition.”

in the automotive industry and working with Honda – a good brand, which has a good team,” he says.

“It’s a happy team that shows commitment and is excited to be part of a successful team.

“I treat customers how I would like to be treated. Even though Canberra is a city, it’s really a big country town and word spreads quickly so word of mouth is crucial and it’s important to get things right when you’re dealing with customers.”

Due to the restructure of the Honda parent company,

Dealer principal Jon Dudok.

Subaru Canberra, 142 Melrose Drive, Phillip. Call 6208 4333 or visit subarucanberra.com.au

Dealer principal David Jameson.

Janrule will officially relinquish this dealership as of June 30.

CityNews May 13-19, 2021 17

WINNING TEAMS

advertising feature

Program helps with chronic fatigue THE team at Arthritis ACT is now running tailored programs to help Canberrans living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, according to CEO Rebecca Davey.

Currently, Rebecca says the ACT lacks specialists who deal specifically with the disabling and complex illness, also known as ME/CFS, which means it is often difficult for people to get diagnosed.

As someone living with chronic fatigue syndrome, Robyn Harris, Arthritis ACT’s peersupport worker knows this all too well.

She helps patients realise that there is hope at the end of the tunnel, and through their range of support groups, face-to-face sessions and short online programs, can help them start to make improvements to their lives, according to Rebecca.

“We run a regular self-help program, which really concentrates on people just being able to break their lives up into little morsels of life, to be able to slowly reintegrate back into life and to do ordinary things again,” she says.

Located in both Bruce and Pearce, the team at Arthritis ACT run a wide range of programs targeting anyone who lives with chronic pain, says Rebecca.

Their holistic approach includes a variety of programs such as exercise classes, hydrotherapy, an on-site dietitian and even an art therapist.

Arthritis ACT CEO Rebecca Davey.

“This therapy is a form of counselling that greatly benefits those with disability, chronic with practical treatments.” pain or other debilitating physical and mental health problems through the medium of art,” says Rebecca.

Arthritis ACT, building 1, Colette Place, Pearce, and building “Our fully trained therapists help individuals find and 18, 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce. Call 1800 011041, email info@ understand their triggers, so that they can be targeted arthritisact.org.au or visit arthritisact.org.au

The team at Frawley’s Shoes, from left, Lisa Mudge, Gillian Rumball and Antoinette Nestler.

Family has a long history of selling shoes THE team at the “destination shoe store”, Frawley’s Shoes, has more than 150 years’ combined experience when it comes to selling shoes, says store manager Lisa Mudge.

One of Canberra’s longest family-operated businesses, Frawley’s Shoes started with brothers Thomas and Joseph Frawley who were selling shoes from a truck in 1927 when Canberra was building Parliament House (now Old Parliament House) before establishing a store in Garema Place in 1958.

Staying in the family, brothers John and Ted Frawley took over from their dad and uncle, and now Lisa, Ted’s daughter, is the third generation family member to run the store.

Stocking a range of shoes for all seasons, Lisa

WINTER SHOES HAVE ARRIVED IN STORE

Come in & feel the comfort of quality footwear!

26 Garema Place, Civic | 02 6247 9104 | frawleysshoes.com.au 18 CityNews May 13-19, 2021

says Frawley’s offers a range of brands such as Ziera, FRANKiE4, Klouds, Rieker, Remonte, Alegria and Slatters, in a wide range of shoe types such as walkers, boots, slippers, work shoes and sandals.

Shoes for orthotics are also a specialty at the store, Lisa says.

Being a long-established business, she says they often get people come in who remember getting their school shoes there.

“It is lovely to see customers who have been shopping with Frawley’s for many, many years and also all the new customers,” she says.

Frawley’s Shoes, 26 Garema Place, Civic. Call 6247 9104 or visit frawleysshoes.com.au

May is ME/CFS Month ME/CFS is a very poorly understood, hard to diagnose, and harder to live with disease.

ME/CFS ACT has recently amalgamated with Arthritis ACT and Pain Support ACT to form ‘Build a Better Me’ – although we’re really happy to be ME/CFS ACT to you. We amalgamated so that we could provide better services to people with, and people caring for those with ME/CFS in the ACT and region.

We offer many services including self-help programs, programs to help you link up with others who are in a similar situation as you, as well as a full suite of Allied Health supports for those of you who need assistance. We also have a program for teens and young adults who are living with fatiguing illnesses and a parallel program for their carers.

We offer many of our services online for those that cannot leave the home, we have practitioners that can visit you at home, and if you are feeling good, we have programs at both our Bruce and Pearce offices that you can attend.

If you are living with ME/CFS, struggling to get a diagnosis of ME/CFS, are a carer or friend of someone with ME/CFS, or would just like to know more about what we do, or speak to one of our peer support workers or Allied Health staff, call us, email us, or drop in and say hi. Living with or supporting someone with ME/ CFS is hard. We are there to help.

1800 011 041

info@arthritisact.org.au

mecfscanberra.org.au arthritisact.org.au

(Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)

END OF SEASON CLEARANCE

CANBERRA BAILEYS ARCADE 143 LONDON CIRCUIT CANBERRA CITY 2601 (PARKING AT PLAYHOUSE THEATER CARPARK) MON-FRI 10AM-5PM & SAT 10AM-2PM HELLO@GAUDYANDPRIM.COM.AU GAUDYANDPRIM.COM.AU

FREE CLASSES IN OUR OPEN WEEK MONDAY 24 MAY TO SATURDAY 29 MAY Come and attend classes for FREE and decide which class suits you best!

Choose from over 30 classes over the week including Mobility and Yoga to aid recovery.

WINNING TEAMS Clothing that’s well-known in the region WITH a long history of selling clothes in Canberra, Janice Bannerman is half of the dynamic duo at the helm of the clothing and fine wares boutique, Gaudy and Prim.

While Janice is based in the Canberra Gaudy and Prim store at Bailey’s Arcade, co-owner Claire Morice works out of the Melbourne shop, where she also designs and manufactures her clothing label Radha Rani Clothing.

After taking their clothes to years of pop-up stores at Floriade and local folk festivals, Janice, who is also the designer and manufacturer at clothing label Silk Sisters, says the pair have become well-known.

“The women in Canberra know our product, respect our product and keep coming back,” she says.

Made from natural fibres that are manufactured under Fairtrade International conditions, Janice says the clothing pieces at Gaudy and Prim take inspiration from Janice and Claire’s travels around India and Vietnam, and feature south Asian designs.

“We both know and have a personal relationship with the people that make our clothes,” she says.

“Before covid, we spent a lot of time in Vietnam and India where the clothing is sourced.”

They have dresses made from cotton or linen in a range of colours and designs, from checkered to pastel pinks, as well as cotton and silk tops.

Janice says the store is also stocked with homewares,

Claire Morice, left, with Janice Bannerman. jewellery and gifts, such as candles, wellbeing and garden products.

Many of them, from their soaps to hand creams, she says are made in Australia.

Gaudy and Prim, Bailey’s Arcade, shop 18, 143 London Circuit, Civic. Email hello@gaudyandprim.com.au or visit gaudyandprim.com.au

Studio opens for a week of free classes THE winning team at Pure Will Fitness Studio is preparing for an open week where people can come and try their fitness classes for free from May 24-29 before joining as a member, says owner Louise Wilson.

“We offer over 30 classes across the week to choose from, including mobility and yoga, to aid recovery,” she says.

Louise encourages people wanting to join in on the open week to call or email to book in their first class.

She says the studio caters to the health and fitness of every individual.

“We understand everyone has different bodies and different goals,” says Louise.

“We modify our exercises to suit each of our members though a welcoming, comfortable and non-intimidating environment.”

Offering services such as a group fitness studio, yoga classes, personal training, and senior and familyfriendly fitness, Louise says Pure Will Fitness Studio prides themselves on their special focus on technique.

“As members exercise, our trainers check and correct technique, and give cues to ensure the best possible outcomes from exercise,” says Louise.

She also says the fitness studio’s “Member of the Month” program allows members to choose what they’d like to focus on.

“We’ve had focuses like recovery, where we looked at different ways of preparing and recovering from

Pure Will Fitness Studio owner Louise Wilson with studio manager Matt Sanders. exercise, we’ve had core strength, and an important mental health focus.

“It’s all about making our members feel as comfortable as possible.”

Pure Will Fitness Studio, 69 Uriarra Road, Queanbeyan.

Call 0435 372369 or visit purewill.com.au

Commitment | Respect | Quality | Connection

Volunteers Needed!

Have you ever wanted to volunteer at Pegasus? Now is the time!

We are seeking volunteers to help in the following areas:

SIMPLY CALL OR EMAIL TO BOOK YOUR FIRST CLASS

BOOK YOUR CLASS TODAY 0435 372 369 Email: fitness@purewill.com.au www.purewill.com.au 69 Uriarra Road, Queanbeyan We promise to deliver all classes in an inclusive and non-judgemental environment 20 CityNews May 13-19, 2021

       

Horse-facilitated therapy programs Horse grooming Stables Fundraising, marketing and events Photography Administration activities Gardening Farm Maintenance tasks

Training is provided. For more information, visit pegasusact.com.au, call us on 02 6254 9190 or email: volunteers@pegasusact.com.au Riding for the Disabled ACT Inc. (Pegasus)

advertising feature Company promises to get any business noticed

Charity’s on the lookout for volunteers

THE father and daughter team at Canberra’s longest running, locally-owned promotional products company, Paddywack Promotional Products, promises to “put your name everywhere”, says general manager Alison Slocum.

That’s the positioning statement from Alison and her father, Bill, who advise on, and source, the most suitable and cost-effective products that are proven to bring instant brand recognition and loyalty to their customers, which include businesses such as private enterprise, government departments, schools and sporting teams.

“We offer professional advice The father-daughter team at Paddywack on thousands of personalised Promotional Products, Alison and Bill Slocum. promotional products that As a family-owned and operated strengthen brand awareness and business, Alison says they have a shared loyalty to any business,” Alison says. purpose, which has taken Bill about 25 “[And we’re] dedicated to delivering years to get right. the most valued products, based on a “His strong commitment to building wealth of knowledge gained from years a lasting family enterprise has required of experience within the sector.”

Alison believes Paddywack Promotional dedication as well as a great deal of extra Products delivers a winning team because time and effort, assuring customers of extremely personal service,” she says. nothing is too much trouble for them.

“We go out of our way to ensure our Paddywack Promotional Products, customers get the right products, at the best prices, [offering a] very personalised unit 15, 41-45 Tennant Street, Fyshwick.

Call 6239 2391 or visit paddywack.com.au and committed service,” she says.

PEGASUS Riding for the Disabled ACT, a charity that delivers therapeutic horse-facilitated programs to people living with disability, is always on the lookout for new volunteers to join their team, says executive general manager Matt Watson.

“The volunteers, staff and participants all work together to connect with the Canberra and region community through a vision of commitment, respect, quality and connection,” says Matt.

“Experience with horses isn’t necessary for volunteers at the charity either.”

All training, Matt says, is provided on-site, whether it’s horse-leading or stable care, and includes how to work with the differently abled. “[Volunteers] assist the child while they’re riding or learning to ride,” he says.

“They help to communicate the instructions from the coach, giving them guidance, making sure they are sitting on the horse properly.”

Other volunteers help out at what Matt calls Canberra’s “best-kept secret”, an “idyllic”, 100 acre farm, which is located about 10 minutes from Belconnen centre.

“But you wouldn’t know it when you’re on the farm,” he says.

Pegasus ACT is particularly in need of help on weekdays.

Currently the volunteers and staff make up a wide range of age groups, from teenagers to seniors, he says.

“People realise they feel good about helping someone achieve something like riding a horse, as well as the physical benefits,” he says.

Pegasus Riding for the Disabled, 119 Drake Brockman Drive, Holt. Call 6254 9190, email admin@pegasusact. com.au or visit pegasusact.com.au

Body Basics Health and Fitness co-owners Julian Everett and Margaret Stamatis-Everett with weight loss coach Mike Smith.

Working together to meet weight loss goals THIS month, weight loss coach and exercise professional Mike Smith is launching a new weight loss program called “Stronger Together” and it’s one he describes as a “revelation”.

More than 20 years ago Mike started taking the gym, exercise and nutrition seriously and says the key to weight loss is support, guidance and the weekly weigh-in.

“I’ve been overweight and it’s not easy to lose weight on your own, it helps to be with a group,” he says.

“There are three key elements to the new program: food and fluids, physical activity, and thoughts and feelings.

“Each week, [as part of the program], we look at a different topic [and I’ll give] tips and practical advice.”

Mike believes that people working together on their weight loss journey is

the ticket to achieving success.

“The group discussion is a revelation [because] we realise we’re not alone,” he says.

“We’re all thinking and feeling the same things.”

Mike will be teaming up with Margaret Stamatis-Everett and Julian Everett, the owners of Body Basics Health and Fitness in Queanbeyan, to bring the program to the community.

“We have long wanted to more directly help people achieve their weight loss goals,” says Margaret.

“Mike has had great success in this field. We are thrilled to have him on board.”

“Stronger Together”. Call 6181 3579, email mike@strongertogetheraus.com.au or visit strongertogetheraus.com.au

call us now BODY BASICS HEALTH AND FITNESS CLUB

Cnr Waniassa and High Sts, Queanbeyan East - Free parking

STARTS 22 nd MAY

15/41-45 Tennant Street, Fyshwick ACT, 2609

FIRST 10 ENROLMENTS

“

“

a day

GET FIT AND HEALTHY NOW

“WE’RE STRONGER TOGETHER” 02 6181 3579 strongertogetherraus.com.au

CityNews May 13-19, 2021 21

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

By Helen Musa

OVER the past year, a cloud of doom has hung over most people’s heads, and composer Paul Dean is no exception.

By Helen Musa

QUANTUM Leap Ensemble’s latest dance work, at The Playhouse later in May, is looking at revolution.

“These are not rebels without a cause…but the question is, are you going to stand up?” asks artistic director of QL2 Dance, Ruth Osborne.

Photo: Lorna Sim will have audience members “moving a bit in their seats as we bring them back to that era”.

Music plays a big part in it and partly because of that, Osborne admits the first part has been “total fun”, likewise the recreation of wildly colourful fashions from the era. But, she emphasises, checking the points off, “there were much deeper and more important issues that dealt with what motivated young people, like the Vietnam War, Women’s Lib, gay and civil rights – they’re the main ones”.

After that, she says, they jump to the “Now”, exploring where young people feel they are now and what they need to consider.

This section is choreographed by Jack Ziesing, and captures the feeling of what it’s like to be in a protest march and how to write a different story.

“But it’s not just black and white,” Osborne says.

“These are not rebels without a cause – Jimmy Dean came a bit before the era they’re thinking about – but the question is, are you going to stand up?”

The third part, the “When?” is choreo-

NOW TRANSFERS 8MM & SUPER 8MM

RICHARD CALVER

Dean brings light into ‘cloud of doom’

You say you want a revolution In the opening section there will be music from Earth, Wind & Fire, The Doobie Brothers, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, The Monkeys and Sam & Dave, since the rock ‘n’ roll part of the equation is revolutionary in nature.

Artistic director of QL2 Dance, Ruth Osborne, and her collaborator, Steve Gow, believe that change and revolution are still of intrinsic interest to young people, no less now than back in the revolutionary years from 1966 to 1970.

They’ve put together a dance piece, “REBEL: Then.Now.When?” looking at how culture and collective action can stimulate change.

Inspired by the Melbourne Museum’s 2019 “Revolutions: Records and Rebels” brought in from the Victoria and Albert Museum, their original plan had been to do the show last year, but as this was “an important one”, they carried it over.

“Those years were known for their activism and the monumental changes that were needed in society,” Osborne tells me.

“I felt it was time we looked at their historical basis and then jumped to the here and now to look at activism today.”

It proved the perfect subject for choreography and the result is a seamless whole, without an interval, although staged in three sections.

The opening part – that’s the “Then” – includes archival footage put together

by Canberra’s Wild Bear Productions and a fabulous soundscape that Osborne predicts

‘Poison’… it’s just a matter of taste

INSIDE

graphed by Quantum Leap regular, Jodie Farrugia, who looks at the idea of leadership, the powers that hold us back from an equitable society and the recent national conversations about gender inequality.

In parts two and three, the original music is by long-time collaborator Adam Ventura who, Osborne observes, “really understands how to collaborate with choreographers and has created a wonderful score”.

In these parts, the choreographers are playing with the Playhouse’s physical structure itself, so the dancers will have some quick changes to do to get into more sober, present-day costumes.

Looking back on the project, Osborne says she’s been inspired by Greta Thunberg and Black Lives Matter. Activism, she believes, went to sleep in the ’70s, but the 21st century has given young people cause to come out again in full force.

“We’ve been having a fantastic time, a very juicy time,” Osborne says.

“REBEL: Then.Now.When?”, Quantum Leap Ensemble at The Playhouse, May 20-22. Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

Dean’s new work, simply titled “Symphony”, is the commissioned centrepiece of three concerts by the Australian World Orchestra, playing under the baton of conductor Alexander Briger. It will see its world premiere at Llewellyn Hall in June, but Dean initially struggled to give it a positive slant.

Now the symphony is full of life and light, with the opening movement describing sunrise at his local park, as the birds, played by five of the wind players scattered throughout the hall, wake slowly but in full voice.

However, written during 2020 as Australia faced bushfires and covid, its genesis is not so optimistic.

“My thought originally was to call that piece “Symphony – Requiem For A Dying Planet”, Dean tells me by phone from Brisbane, where he heads up the winds department at Queensland Conservatorium.

“This stayed with me for quite a while, then after completing my first version I walked away for four days, went to the beach, and decided that what I’d written was absolutely horrible, with too many ideas and too much angst.

“I wrote nearly two symphonies worth of music and ended up abandoning much of it… I couldn’t expect anyone to listen to it or play it as it was,” he decided.

“There comes a point when you need

Composer Paul Dean. Photo: Trish Dean

light,” Dean says, describing how he went back to the score.

All the while Dean had in mind a favourite poem, “The Second Coming” by WB Yeats, written during the last global pandemic in 1919, which concludes, “And what rough beast, its hour come round at last / Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?”

In his revised and ever-so-slightly more optimistic version of the symphony, Dean pictures even the best of us doing just that – slouching towards Bethlehem, not going at it in a flying leap.

Another piece of writing which resonated with Dean was Charlie Chaplin‘s final speech from “The Great Dictator”, in which his character says: “I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor… I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone”. Not much of that sentiment around these days but it reminded him that “people come to hear music and they want to feel moved by it, not be dictated to”.

Dean is aware of the concept of The Doomsday Clock, signalling the likelihood of a man-made global catastrophe, and notes that even as the polar ice caps are melting, we don’t have real action from the government. ”We should be terrified and the end of my symphony is my opinion – it’s up to us as to what we’re going to do about the planet.”

“Symphony” will be performed by the 52 players (48 from across Australia and four from overseas) in the 2021 Australian World Orchestra line-up, alongside Schumann’s 2nd Symphony and Beethoven’s dramatic Coriolan Overture, and is the orchestra’s first tour in more than 18 months.

Founded in 2010 by Briger, the orchestra’s mission is to bring together Australia’s top classical musicians from ensembles at home as well as all around the world.

“Following 2020’s silencing of live music making, it will be more precious than ever to see musicians from across the country unite together in these performances,” Briger says.

“A number have returned to Australia by choice or necessity and for audiences and musicians alike, the thrill and joy of live music performances will be incredibly poignant.”

Australian World Orchestra, Llewellyn Hall, Wednesday, June 2, book at premier.ticketek. com.au

call us now

FILM ONTO DVD!

We’re open 7 days, or call us on 6293 4677 for a quote and YES we still transfer your old videos, cassette tapes and records too!

CALL FOR A FREE QUOTE OPEN 7 DAYS

CREATIVE BRANDING

PRODUCT SOURCING

STOCK SERVICE

OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

15/41-45 Tennant Street, Fyshwick ACT, 2609

Cooleman Crt, Weston Creek | 6293 4677 | songland.com.au CityNews May 13-19, 2021 23

CINEMA / reviews

The four minutes that changed France’s war “De Gaulle” (M) ON June 18, 1940, the BBC provided four minutes of airtime for French general Charles de Gaulle to address the people of France.

De Gaulle had recently been promoted to brigadier general and named as UnderSecretary of State for National Defence and War by Prime Minister Paul Reynaud during the German invasion of France.

There had been no advance notice of the broadcast (nor was it recorded) and few French citizens living in England heard it – at that time, few Frenchmen had heard of him.

Nevertheless, history regards the speech as a formative moment of the French Resistance that gave the occupying Germans so much discomfort until they went home four years later.

Its fabric embraces the political ructions in Paris that saw de Gaulle confronting defeatists Marechal Petain and, to some extent, Gen Weygand.

Its immediate fallout was on August 2, 1940, when a French military court tried and sentenced him in absentia to death, deprivation of military rank and confiscation of property.

Short of a brief coda telling about how Charles was reunited with his wife Yvonne and their children after a hazardous escape in the only one of three ships carrying refugees that left Brest on the same day that reached safety in a British port, that speech and the savage sentence form the climax of writer/director Gabriel Le Bomin’s film.

The film rightly sees Churchill’s wartime

Lambert Wilson as Charles de Gaulle speaking on the BBC... the speech was a formative moment of the French Resistance. relationship with de Gaulle as understanding and helpful (sadly, the words of actor Tim Hudson’s portrayal of Churchill are more convincing than the physical resemblance.)

I found the film profoundly interesting.

As long as I can remember, I perceived de Gaulle as a pebble in the shoe of Anglo/ French relationships. Lambert Wilson plays him with admirable conviction. As Yvonne, Isabelle Carré confronts adversity with great fortitude, not the least of which is her youngest child, 12-year-old Anne, born with Down syndrome. Playing Anne, Clémence Hittin is great. At the time covered by the film, Anne had only another eight years to live.

Being French or familiar with the history of those four months isn’t a prerequisite to finding “De Gaulle” satisfying, even rewarding.

At Palace Electric

“June Again” (M) WRITER/director JJ Winlove tries to get it right with this Aussie comedy telling what happens when June Wilton snaps out of the cognitive failure that has turned her into a veggie for at least five years that needs total care in a nursing home. From which she escapes.

The families of people suffering total cognitive failure might wish for some medical miracle to bring their loved one back.

Before the stroke bringing her calamity on, June ran a company making hand-crafted wallpaper.

Much has changed since then.

Her son Devon (Stephen Curry) hasn’t taken

the university degree that he had started at the time she lost her marbles. She has a daughter Ginny (Claudia Karvan).

Devon and Ginny have gone separate ways. The company has new proprietors and new product standards.

June takes over. She wants things to revert to how they were. And she will brook no interference with her effort to make it so.

Watching this movie, I found myself wondering how things might have been in June’s family before her stroke. Since her recovery, she’s a termagant, a bully determined to recover what she once had. I didn’t find her a pleasant person to be around.

There’s no rule requiring everybody on the planet to be sweet and affectionate. But in a movie about a bossy woman like June, presenting her as a bundle of laughs, gaiety and family unity is not easy.

And despite Noni Hazlehurst’s best efforts in the role, I kept hoping June’s recovery might be only a passing phase and that she’d go back to the nursing home. Which she does, none too soon, leaving gaps in her wake that need, but don’t get, repairing.

“Locked Down” (M)

At Dendy and Palace Electric

At Dendy, Hoyts and Limelight

COVID-19 is responsible for more than the mere pandemic currently blighting the planet. It was inevitable that people would make movies about it. I don’t know whether this comedy-crime-thriller movie leads the pack.

Linda (Anne Hathaway) and Paxton (Chiwetel Ejiofor) share an apartment in London. Linda is a marketing high-flyer. On pandemic furlough from his proper job, Paxton drives a delivery van. Were it not for the lockdown, they’d have gone their separate ways.

Most people may know that Harrods may well be the biggest shop on the planet, as well as its most expensive. Marketing colossus Harrods allowed filmmaker Doug Liman to shoot a crime story involving the theft of a very big diamond on display in one of its fish tanks.

The heist forms the latter part of “Locked Down”, preceded by days of garrulous interaction between Linda and Paxton that needs resolution. Linda knows about the diamond. Linda persuades Paxton to co-operate in the heist. Have they gotten away with the genuine stone? Or was the gem on exhibit a fake while the real one was in safe deposit?

The tension level rises a little during the heist sequence. But overall, the result of Steven Knight’s screenplay as Liman visualised it is as much a promo for Harrods as anything else.

WATCH IT! / streaming and stuff

sundayROAST

Winslet turns to crime and psychology

By Nick

town” might just help scratch that itch. It’s one of the best offerings to come out of the genre in the last few years.

OVERALL IN the compelling new crime drama “Mare of Easttown”, superstar Kate Winslet puts on a Pennsylvanian accent she said was so frustratingly difficult to learn it caused her to “throw things”.

IAN

MEIKLE Talking to the names making news.

Join the ‘CityNews’ editor and 2CC personalities Sundays, 9am-noon.

24 CityNews May 13-19, 2021

It was a challenge the actor herself insisted on perfecting, and it’s not the first time she’s put herself through the wringer to truly bring out a performance.

Take, for example, her ordeal filming the one from 1997 about the big boat and the iceberg (on Disney Plus).

On top of operating on about four hours of sleep a night, she chipped a bone in her elbow, but continued to swim in the tank of freezing water used to film James Cameron’s epic to the point she was legitimately concerned about drowning.

That’s some method acting, right there.

This commitment to her roles is undoubtedly part of what’s made Winslet a household name and why she’s been cast as the layered lead of HBO’s new detective series now streaming its first season on Binge.

That Pennsylvanian accent I speak of is put to use in the fictional locale of “Easttown”, where she, as the town’s detective, tries to balance the investigation of a vicious crime with the woes of her own personal life.

While the crime in the show indeed looms large, “Mare of Easttown’’ sets itself apart by

Kate Winslet in “Mare of Easttown”... The whole thing’s got a real “True Detective” vibe about it. reflecting a deeper than usual focus on its main character.

The dangerous world she’s embroiled in brings the inner nooks of her own psychology to the forefront of the plot, and Winslet’s performance makes it work a charm.

The whole thing’s got a real “True Detective” vibe about it.

For those who don’t know, “True Detective” was another breakout crime drama from 2014 (also on Binge) that dived as deeply into the philosophy and psychology of its two lead characters, played by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, as it did the twists and turns of its crime plot.

It’s a common experience to hear from a “True Detective” fan that seasons two and three, which feature different characters and plot lines, were unable to reach the bar set so incredibly high by its first instalment of eight episodes.

It’s a sentiment I agree with, but “Mare of East-

SINKING ships and small-town crime is all very doom and gloom, so let’s have a look at a lighter affair streaming on Stan called “Friday Night Dinner”, a British comedy about… well, what it says it’s about.

In each episode a dysfunctional, middle-class family attempts to enjoy a Friday evening meal together, but something always goes comically awry. The show works because there’s always something the real family watching the show can see in themselves, and hopefully laugh at.

“Friday Night Dinner” finished its six-season run last year, but it’s been in the news recently after the passing of star Paul Ritter, the actor who plays the show’s hilarious household father, Martin.

Despite Ritter also being known for his roles in “Harry Potter” and 2019’s renowned “Chernobyl” mini-series, his death seems to have flown a little under the radar, perhaps due to the death of another slightly more famous British figure recently.

However, a 10th anniversary reunion and documentary of “Friday Night Dinner” will be released this year and dedicated to Ritter, so if you haven’t given the show a go and want to, now’s definitely a good time.

As is often the case with great British comedy, the yanks can’t help but try to rip it off for their own version. So far they’ve had three cracks at “Friday Night Dinner”, and they’re more than likely still trying which is a true sign of the show’s influence.

It’s probably lucky that all have so far hit the proverbial iceberg.

WINE

ARTS IN THE CITY

‘Poison’... a matter of taste

An ‘unsettling’ play where the little girls are lost

A SNAKE slithered up to the bar and the barman asked: “What’s your poison?”

My neighbour came for drinks and brought with him a 2006 Voyager Estate shiraz. That clearly is my poison, bane and toxicant and boon and intoxicant.

While the label indicates that this wine could be stored for up to 10 years, after 15 years it displayed stunning characteristics of dark plums, a jammy fragrance and a smooth soft finish that belied its high alcohol content: 14.2 per cent. It drank like liquid velvet, a wine of finesse.

Sitting on my front balcony watching the rain fall in sheets into the garden at its greenest for years, breathing the fresh air that came with a drop in temperature, the world felt crisp and clear and the taste buds fully actualised.

My offering of herb flatbread and slices of avocado as a snack went well enough. But this is a wine that would have successfully matched with foie gras or smoked chicken or duck. It could take their strong flavours and hold its own.

My neighbour is usually a resident of Hong Kong but he is stuck in Australia while COVID-19 rages offshore. Nearly a decade ago, he left behind a wine collection when heading off for overseas

While the 2006 Voyager Estate shiraz label indicates that it could be stored for up to 10 years, after 15 years it displayed stunning characteristics of dark plums, a jammy fragrance and a smooth soft finish...

It drank like liquid velvet, a wine of finesse. adventures and job contracts, and now he is finding solace in the well-stored and ageing collection, as he enters the second year of being tied to this country.

His generosity in sharing elements of his collection is appreciated and the stark reality of his situation shows that we are indeed a lucky country where covid is under control, albeit that it has dented the economy.

Voyager Estate makes great wine. It is located in the Margaret River region of WA and Halliday rates it a five-star winery. Margaret River is a long, narrow stretch of land, hugged by the Indian and Southern oceans, where forests give way to vineyards that stretch to the sea, which provides a moderating influence and a climate ideally suited to growing cabernet sauvignon.

I am lucky enough to have in my collection a Voyager 2014 cabernet sauvignon which Halliday rates at 98

points. It was a gift and at a value of around $85 another act of generosity. I intend to share it with the giver at some time before 2028, when it will reach the recommended maximum storage period.

I have also tried their Broadvale Block 5 Margaret River chardonnay 2017 that, while expensive (the bottle I had nudged $70), was outstanding and resonated with both a citrus tang and an apple-peel taste.

It was high in alcohol but not moronically so, as one English critic described Australian chardonnay. It is the sort of chardonnay that naysayers of this varietal should drink so that they change their minds.

RICHARD CALVER

DINING / The Oyster Farmers Daughter

No better way to enjoy oysters

By Helen Musa MORGAN Rose’s unsettling play, “Little Girls Alone in the Woods”, is set in an ordinary town where girls have been going missing – maybe they’ve ventured into the bush themselves.

It’s a modern twist on “Little Girls Alone in Euripides’ “Bacchae” the Woods”, Canberra Theatre Centre, May and will be the 19-22. year’s first show for Canberra Youth Theatre. Suitable for ages 13 and up. Courtyard Studio, May 19-22. Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

THE National Capital Orchestra will perform a concert titled “Fate”, featuring Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, Mozart’s “Magic Flute Overture”, “The Blue Mountains” by Canberra composer Sally Greenaway and “Kol Nidrei”, by Bruch, featuring young Canberra cellist James Monro as soloist.

The Q, Queanbeyan, 3pm, Sunday, May 16, book at 6285 6290.

“THE Fringe of Squaredom” is a new musical partnership between ANU School of Music vocal teacher Rachael Thoms and saxophonist/music educator Tom Fell. They’ll be joined by musos James Luke, Chris Thwaite and Hugh Barrett in four Sunday afternoon concerts, ranging from the swing of New Orleans to the cool of modern jazz.

Tuggeranong Arts Centre, May 23, June 27, August 22 and October 17, book at trybooking.com AN exhibition exploring the history and site of the 1838 Myall Creek massacre through the work of indigenous artists is coming to the ANU from the New England Regional Art Museum.

“Myall Creek and Beyond” will also feature the Myall Creek gathering cloak made by members of the local community, working with artist Carol McGregor. At ANU School of Art & Design Gallery, Acton, May 19-July 9.

SINCE moving to Queanbeyan from Brisbane, pianist Sam Row has played for Canberra Philharmonic, Free Rain Theatre and Queanbeyan Players, as well as accompanying vocalists in classical recitals and cabaret. Now as part of the Wesley Lunchtime Concert series, he will perform Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition”, originally inspired by the works of Russian artist Viktor Hartmann. Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, 12.401.20pm, Wednesday, May 19. Book at trybooking. com or 6232 7248.

CANBERRA artist eX de Medici has been one of the most prominent figures in the NGA’s exhibition “Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 To Now”. In her first commercial gallery show in Canberra since 2003, she is examining the concepts of power through violence, geo-economic politics and environment in her new series of watercolours of hybridised moths and weaponry in “Double Crossed”. At Beaver Galleries, Deakin, until May 30.

CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE PRESENTS

By Wendy

JOHNSON IS there a better way to enjoy locally farmed oysters than direct from the farmer? There isn’t, and a new venture in Narooma – The Oyster Farmers “Luscious” oysters with housemade dips.

Photo: Wendy Johnson Daughter – knows this all too well.

Fresh oysters also come with room, we’d have road-tested the homemade dressings. We loved the fresh picked cucumber and mint ($31/dozen) and the Thai ($31/ dozen). On a second visit it was time to indulge in the Kilpatrick ($37/ dozen), which were smoky, spicy and sexy. Other options include gin-infused ($40/dozen) and oysters with local finger lime ($35/dozen).

Aside from the luscious oysters, The Oyster Farmers Daughter is passionate about supporting local, sustainable, small and unique businesses.

Fresh fish, sourced from local vessels, included flathead on our visit. The fried fish was crunchy and crispy, the fish treated with care and not overcooked, and the thin chips addicting ($22). The tartare sauce is some of the best we’ve had – creamy and perfectly balanced.

We indulged in Balmain bugs served cold with pepper, lemon and lime ($23). Had we had more tummy

grilled Australian green prawns marinated in chilli garlic butter and served with Asian salad ($28).

Cocktails are a specialty. It was a hot day and the refreshing ginger and apple white wine spritzer ($15) and blood orange and grape gin cocktail ($18) hit the spot.

Wines include Pete’s Pure Shiraz rose, sauv blanc and a prosecco (Murray River). Contentious Character wines (Wamboin) are for sale.

Allie’s cold-pressed juices are on the menu, as is batch-brew coffee (free top-ups) by the folks behind Guerrilla Roasters, a fast-growing Eurobodalla enterprise.

Live music makes for a great atmosphere. Kids are welcome (The Oyster Farmers Daughter has a small activity area) and so are leashed dogs.

The Oyster Farmers Daughter is three kilometres from the Narooma Bridge. Check the website for opening times and details on live musicians.

Music by BRYCE DESSNER performed live by AUSTRALIAN STRING QUARTET

PHOTOGRAPH: PEDRO GREIG

Natasha is the daughter of oyster farmer Brian Coxon, who has been farming exquisite Sydney rock oysters from the pristine Wagonga Inlet for more than 30 years.

BJ & HD Coxon Oyster Farmers have a large operation on Riverview Road and Natasha has erected a super cool, boutique food trailer on site.

It’s casual but fun. Vibrant yet relaxed. And the food is amazing.

An eclectic, retro-style collection of tables, colourful umbrellas and comfy bean bags are perched right on the stunning shoreline, and The Oyster Farmers Daughter has a team of friendly staff who are all too eager to please. Food is prepped in the small, funky trailer, carefully designed for maximum efficiency.

The menu features famous plump Coxon oysters, as scrumptious as quality oysters should be, and perfect plain with squirts of fresh lemon ($29/dozen).

CityNews May 13-19, 2021 25

GARDENING

Aged Composted Horse Manure • Pick up by the bag $7 each • Pick up by the trailer load $40 per trailer • We deliver truck loads

7 BELTANA ROAD, PIALLIGO Any queries phone Ivan 0413 949 900

Chris’ Trees • Tree pruning • Tree removal • Tree maintenance • Tree lowering • Hedge lowering

60p/h

$

$200 minimum charge

Chrysanthemums… easy to grow and providing a splash of colour well into autumn.

‘Mum’s the word for winter THE chrysanthemum is possibly the one plant, above almost all others, that symbolises winter.

Famous 19th century plant hunter Robert Fortune, who introduced so many plants from China to the West, wrote in 1844: “The plants which stand next to dwarf trees in importance with the Chinese are chrysanthemums.

“So high are these plants held, the Chinese gardener will cultivate them extensively even against the wishes of his employer, even risking his job”.

One of the main reasons for its popularity is ease of growing and providing not only a splash of colour (but not blue or violet) well into autumn but also providing cut flowers in the home.

Chrysanthemums are part of the Asteraceae family and are found

‘Good things take time’ MAXIMUM IMPACT!

Text or call 0468 695 561 Email cgsact@gmail.com Find me on gumtree.com.au

mostly in China, although there are some varieties native to the Mediterranean. The Chinese used this perennial plant for a wide variety of uses including medicines and wine making, where it was traditionally connected with longevity and immortality, especially when consumed on the ninth day of the ninth month.

Chrysanthemums have certainly stood the test of time (they are mentioned in writings as far back as the 7th century) and grow well in Canberra.

Incidentally, Peter Valder’s “Garden Plants of China” devotes a lot of room to chrysanthemums. Published in 1999, I consider it to be the bible of Chinese plants. It is one of the most prized books in my library and if you spot a copy in a second hand bookshop or book fair, buy it without hesitation. It’s also readily available online with reasonable prices for good second hand copies.

A SEASONABLE reminder regarding rose planting; it is vitally important if replacing roses in the same place, that you dig out a full barrow load of existing soil and replace with fresh soil, prefer-

Insured – AAMI Business Insurance

Internal and external painting services for residential and commercial properties.

Free quotes and seniors discount available.

Even the magpies think it’s real…

Synthetic grass stays green all year round Australian made for Australian climate standards Family owned business - 15 years experience Easy low maintenance & water free Up to 15 years warranty from manufacture & 8 years commercial use We do Landscaping and paving too!

For a FREE measure & quote

Phone 0451 031 550 info@taqwapainting.com.au ABN: 39617453237

26 CityNews May 13-19, 2021

call David 0410 682 457 or Nancy 0410 081 771

Keeping it green.com.au The synthetic grass solution

Now’s the time to plan to plant winter veggies. ably mixed with material from the compost heap. Don’t add fresh manures or artificial fertilisers. The reason for replacing the soil is roses are subject to a soil-borne disease called simply “rose sickness” that can transfer to the new roses. It’s preferable to plant in new soil in a spot that receives at least eight hours of sunlight a day. Typically, roses start arriving at garden outlets next month.

NOW is the time to move any deciduous shrubs up to, say, 1.5-metres tall that may be in the wrong place, ie too crowded with other plants or too close to paths.

Don’t worry about keeping any soil around the roots, but it is vitally important to keep the roots moist at all times.

With a sharp spade, dig at the

same time cutting through roots a reasonable distance from the stem/ trunk.

Once out of the ground, trim any curling or broken roots with sharp secateurs.

Decide in advance where the new location is to be and prepare the ground. As with roses, dig in rotted material from the compost heap, keeping all chemical fertilisers well away.

Once planted, form a bank around the plant to hold a minimum of a nine-litre bucket of water. Water the plant in with seaweed solution, which will encourage new roots.

NOW’S also a good time to see which veggie seedlings are on the shelves of the garden centre. This provides the clue of which winter veggies need to be planned for.

Restorations - Repairs - Remakes - Re-Setting Ring Re-sizing - 48hr Service Custom Design - for something Special Pearl and Bead Re-Threading and Knotting

Advance Jewellers A Family Business: 55 years experience

Southlands Shopping Centre – Mawson (about 50 metres South of the Post Office) 0408 310 063 Your Precious ‘Old’ Jewellery - well it used to be... now maybe... It’s just old - and a bit worn out, or costs too much to fix... probably never be worn again...

You keep the memories - perhaps, we could buy the goods?

PUZZLES PAGE

FREE PUZZLES EVERY DAY AT citynews.com.au

Your week in the stars

General knowledge crossword No. 781

By Joanne Madeline Moore

May 17-23, 2021

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

When it comes to professional and financial matters, make sure you are up-to-date with current news and avoid taking unnecessary risks. Strive to balance stability with small incremental changes. Slow and steady wins the race as you apply new knowledge within a conservative framework. Worrying about all the work you have to complete this week won’t help matters. Prioritise tasks and pace yourself.

Then you’ll get things done without having a brain snap!

Tax claims become a matter of records

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

With unpredictable Uranus moving slowly through your sign, take nothing for granted and avoid being an intractable Bull. The more you open your mind to new possibilities and accept change willingly, the less unsettled you’ll feel. Be inspired by birthday great, writer Bertrand Russell: “In all affairs it’s healthy to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.” Just make sure you obtain information and news updates from reliable sources.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

The Sun joins Mercury and Venus in your sign. So variety is the buzz word as you tackle a range of projects, juggle roles and multi-task like a real pro. On the weekend you’re keen to escape your weekday routine via daydreaming, reading, watching movies, socialising or travelling (in covid-safe ways). But don’t neglect serious responsibilities in the process. Keep your feet on the ground and do your best to steer clear of taboo topics and sensitive subjects.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

You’re keen to retreat into your cosy Crab cave as the Sun, Mercury and Venus activate your contemplation zone. So solo activities like yoga, meditation, reading and journal writing are favoured this week. But – if you stumble and make a mistake - don’t let negative self-talk drag you down. Be inspired by actress and birthday great Joan Collins: “Show me a person who has never made a mistake, and I’ll show you somebody who has never achieved much.”

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

It’s time to shine! Monday’s powerful Sun/Pluto link favours work matters, business partnerships and professional projects, as you combine dazzling creativity with powerful determination. Plus use your fertile imagination to help manifest your preferred future via goal setting, a practical plan and a patient approach So your mantra for the week is from human rights activist (and birthday great) Malcolm X: “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

On Monday you’re full of fabulous ideas but don’t overpromise and then under-deliver. You’re feeling curious and are keen to communicate about a wide range of subjects, but are other people in the mood to listen? Under the influence of nebulous Neptune and Mercury (your patron planet) it will be very easy to misinterpret what others are saying (especially on the weekend). So choose your words wisely and your conversation topics carefully, at home and work.

Down

1 Which machine converts mechanical energy into electrical energy? (6) 7 Scenic Shot won which cup in 2009? (8) 8 What might we call heathens? (6) 9 What is a notice of the death of a person, as in a newspaper? (8) 10 Name a roll of parchment, especially one with writing on it. (6) 11 Approximately how many gallons are there in a kilderkin? (8) 14 Which fish is valued as a source of caviar? (8) 18 Name a very low form of aquatic animal. (6) 19 What is an institution for the promotion of literary or scientific learning? (8) 21 Which African antelope is said to be able to leap up to nine metres? (6) 22 What do we call the tenderloin of beef? (8) 23 Name the mythological deity who is the herald and messenger of the gods. (6)

1 What do we call amounts of money put into bank accounts? (8) 2 What was the original name of the Mary Celeste? (6) 3 To have fallen into disuse, is to have become what?

(8) 4 Which term is affectionately used to describe a New Zealander? (4) 5 To be brusque or discourteous, is to be what? (6) 6 Which dish is served at dinner before the main course? (6) 12 What do we call a person who makes or repairs firearms? (8) 13 Which words express numbers? (8) 15 Name the Gold Coast NRL team. (6) 16 What, colloquially, is a marijuana cigarette called? (6) 17 Name the trade of a person who builds barrels, etc.

(6) 20 To engrave metals, etc, with an acid or the like, is to do what? (4)

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

It’s time to cultivate a relationship with a child or teenager, initiate a fabulous new friendship or take up a hobby you’ve always been interested in. But has an old friendship finally run out of steam? Or is a fair-weather buddy criticising your behaviour and holding you back? Venus and Saturn urge you to review your peer group, discard negative influences, and surround yourself with positive people who nurture your talents and support your dreams.

Solution next edition

Across

FREE SUDOKU EVERY DAY AT citynews.com.au

Sudoku medium No. 291

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Courtesy of Monday’s magical Sun/Pluto trine, transformation is the name of the game this week. But don’t worry about trying to change (or control) those around you. Focus on yourself first. Can you reinvent a close relationship, pivot professionally or transform your physical appearance? Your motto for the moment is from Taurus birthday great, entertainer Cher: “The only thing in the world you can change is yourself and that makes all the difference.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Have you got stuck in a rut when it comes to unhealthy eating choices and lack of exercise? It’s a good week to revamp your diet and reboot your fitness routine. The more you nurture and repair your body, the better you’ll feel – physically, mentally and emotionally. A close relationship is going through a bumpy patch but Venus encourages you to swallow your pride, slap on a smile, and hold out the olive branch of peace. Feel the love Sagittarius!

If you need guidance on what you can claim in your tax return for the 2021 year contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman and Co Pty Ltd on 6295 2844.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

On Monday, the Sun forms a fabulous trine with powerful Pluto (in your sign) so you’ve certainly got the passion and motivation to get things done. But don’t let your desire to micro-manage everything (and everyone) get out of control! Aim to be disciplined and organised, but not obsessively so. The best way to approach current challenges and difficulties is to tap into your inner reserves of patience, resilience and Capricorn creativity.

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.

Authorised Representative of Lifespan Financial Planning Pty Ltd AFS Lic No. 229892.

02 6295 2844

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2021

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

Solutions – May 6 edition

LISTEN TO OUR TAX TIPS ON 2CC

Sudoku hard No. 290

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

You won’t feel particularly energetic or motivated this week, as Neptune drains the gas out of your tank. Avoid the temptation to get carried away and make unrealistic promises. It will be very easy to over-extend yourself and find you’ve bitten off more than you can actually chew! Use the prevailing astro-winds wisely as you re-calibrate your expectations, pace yourself and look after your health.

Regular exercise and nutritious meals are a must!

Solution next edition

Crossword No. 780

Remember there’s a fine line between making smart decisions at lightning speed and making impulsive moves that land you in hot water. This week will work best if you do something out of character for an Aquarius – think before you speak and act! Hopefully calm Venus and steady Saturn will settle you down. Plus do your best to get the balance right between maintaining the status quo (with things that are working well) and hatching innovative new ideas.

I asked Tyler to call by to see me because I had an important update on his tax claims for the internet and mobile phone.

Last week the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia (AATA) handed down a judgement on claiming internet and mobile phone costs.

In that case, a person had tried to claim their home internet, mobile phone and car use without good records.

I had found the case very interesting and wanted to share the news with Tyler.

"The AATA said the taxpayer was making claims in 2017 using percentages calculated on 2020 usage and found that this was not acceptable," I told him.

"So it's really important to keep a log for one month every year in the year that you're claiming.”

The AATA also found that, in the case of the internet, it could be appropriate to check the records of the internet service provider to confirm how much use there was both by the taxpayer and other family members.

"So it's really important to keep records not only of your data usage but of all other members of your household," I said.

"If you don't do this, your claim will be limited to $50. I realise this is quite difficult, but it's only for one month of the year."

Tyler was philosophical, saying: "That's even more detailed than you had suggested before, but it does clarify what I have to do.”

The AATA also considered the question of mobile phone claims and found that the claim could not be based on the records of a prior year or a subsequent year, but only on records for the year in question.

"So if you don't have a proper record of your mobile phone calls, the best you can claim is $50 for your mobile phone," I told Tyler.

"I am often told that the phone company doesn't give records. If that's the case, then your claim is limited to $50, unless you can prove otherwise.

"If you are also claiming for data on your mobile phone, again you need a record. It is obvious from this case that if you are challenged, a tax auditor is likely to go back and check the records of your internet service provider to see what data you accessed and when.

"So it's really important that if you do use data you keep an accurate record of when you were using it. You also need an accurate record for your calls.

Interestingly, there were questions raised as to whether the taxpayer could have used a work phone. In the AATA case he was using his personal phone by choice and the tribunal held that it's perfectly acceptable to use your personal phone even if you do have a work phone and you can make a claim.

"However, you do need to be able to justify that claim. So if I could remind you about this and suggest you tell all your friends to make sure they have good records if they're claiming phone, internet, computer or car this year.”

Tyler said my update wasn't exactly what he'd wanted to hear, but was grateful for the reminders to keep records.

(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

Connect with me on Linkedin bit.ly/3bcXEZl CityNews May 13-19, 2021 27

Chilly Season plan.

30% OFF* gas usage PLUS 15% OFF* electricity usage.

Our hottest winter deal is back.

Get set to sizzle and save.

Get spicier! It’s online only at actewagl.com.au/chilly-season *Available online only for ACT residential customers. T&Cs apply – see website. ActewAGL Retail ABN 46 221 314 841, a partnership of Icon Retail Investments Limited ABN 23 074 371 207 and AGL ACT Retail Investments Pty Ltd ABN 53 093 631 586. Basic Plan Information Documents are available at actewagl.com.au/act-prices