CityNews 210603

IAN MEIKLE / WHAT SIMON SAYS IS ONLY FOR REBECCA TO HEAR JUNE 3, 2021

Well written, well read

POLITICS

When pollies pop a toe in the water

MICHAEL MOORE WHIMSY

A slippery slide down the razor blade of life…

CLIVE WILLIAMS STREAMING

Friends in need are ‘Friends’ indeed

NICK OVERALL GARDEN

Make the best use of fallen leaves

CEDRIC BRYANT

HE’S APPLES

At 99, founder of Beltana Grange Orchard BERT HAUPTMANN is living proof of the ‘apple-a-day’ adage

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NEWS

Boys face a rations challenge to help refugees

By Nick

OVERALL RICE, some sardines, and a few lentils and beans is all that a group of generous Marist College students will survive on for five tough days this June.

The boys are taking on the “ration challenge” where from June 14 they’ll only eat what a Syrian refugee does to raise money and awareness for those displaced by conflict or disaster.

“We want to walk in their shoes, see what they feel like then relate that into how we help them,” said year 10 student Myles Goddard.

“If we experience an idea of what struggles they face that allows us to have more of a purpose fighting for the cause.”

The boys are doing the challenge as part of the school’s Justice and Solidarity Program, a co-curricular group they all voluntarily put their hands up for.

Each student will be provided with a small emergency rations box from Act for Peace, an international charity organisation that started the challenge in 2014.

Friends, family and the community can sponsor the participants and the

INDEX

Marist College students holding all they’ll have to eat for five days. From left: Matthew Shea, Myles Goddard, James Wimhurst, Louis Ryan, Darcy Tobler, Michael Keating and teacher Tom Guinane.

Photo: Nick Overall money raised goes towards providing emergency food (the same that the boys are eating) to refugees, as well, as healthcare and support to the ones hit hardest by COVID-19.

Maths and religion teacher Tom Guinane discovered the ration challenge through his daughter and said he was “extremely proud” to see some of his students taking it on as well.

“I’m proud that they are aware of and care about other people in less fortunate circumstances,” said Mr Guinane.

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Cover: Bert Hauptmann at his Pialligo ordchard. Photo

by Holly Treadaway. Story Page 8.

Well written, well read

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“I’m happy for them, happy that they have opportunities to learn like this.”

The challenge will play out over the course of a normal school week, which has many of the boys wondering how they’re going to go with their sports training after school.

They also all agree that it’ll certainly make for an interesting conversation piece at recess and lunch.

Among the things the boys say they’re going to miss the most is KFC, however they will be able to work

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

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towards extra food rations by spreading the word. If they raise $125 they’ll be able to add some salt to their food, raise $500 and they’ll get to add 170 grams of a vegetable, $1000 and they’ll get a can of tomatoes.

“As teenagers we see a lot of these big, systemic problems and it’s easy to think I’m just a single person or we’re just a handful of boys at a school, what can we do?” said year 11 student Michael Keating.

“But we have to do something, and taking this first step puts us on the

right track. It can make us better leaders in the future because we’ve proven that we can start tackling it now and as we grow up our ability to tackle these problems will also grow with us.”

The boys’ efforts have not gone unnoticed. Already they’ve seen donations to the cause pouring in with over $1000 raised.

Chief fundraiser among them is Louis Ryan, a year seven student who himself has already raised more than $600.

Nationally, the initiative has pulled together about a quarter of a million dollars, enough to feed more than 800 refugees for an entire year.

The Marist boys aren’t heading into the challenge too nervous either, saying they’ve been excited by the support that’s been thrown behind them.

“We all have a sense of wanting to be able to help and wanting to be able to do something but it’s a matter of putting that into action,” said Myles.

“I think that in doing this you’re connecting and you’re understanding how other cultures live and what they go through and I think that should lead you to a future where you’re more aware.

“We want to make a difference and with this we feel like we are.”

To donate visit schools.rationchallenge.org.au

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SEVEN DAYS

What Simon says is only for Rebecca to hear SIMON Rosenberg is the Official Visitor (Homelessness Services).

An Official Visitor is an independent statutory officer who ensures service users’ rights are upheld and makes reports to the relevant minister about any issues of concern that they hear or observe, giving “valuable and direct insight into what is happening on the ground”.

Rebecca Vassarotti is the Homelessness Minister.

Simon’s first report, for the period October 1-December 31 can’t have been a terribly flattering look at homelessness in the ACT. We know this because the minister wrote a blah, blah, public (and patronising) letter to Simon thanking him for the report.

“Thank you for raising the issues around waiting periods for the allocation of public housing properties and information provided to waitlist applicants,” she grimaces.

Then slaps him down with a burst of boastful spin about how wonderful the ACT government’s record is in dealing with homelessness.

“Thank you for raising concerns regarding residents with Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) support needs,” she says, followed by more self-serving spin.

So, if you’re on the edge of the seat wanting to read Simon’s report, bad luck, you can’t. She won’t publicly release it. Her reply, yes. The report, no. Doh? Fear not, we have some dot points from the minutes of a meeting Simon addressed in which he gave a glimpse of what he’s

Gwyn Rees had a wry response to the news former Lib leader Alistair Coe was moving over the border and into the chocolate business: “Alistair’s putting the Coe into Coe Co.” Boom tish!

reported to Rebecca. And that will give you a glimpse of why the minister is sitting on what Simon says…

• Long wait for public housing.

• Need for increased cross-sector work (disability, mental health, AOD etc).

• Heard a lot of informal complaints and that service users are getting frustrated.

For example, women who cannot get custody of their children because of the long public housing waiting lists.

BUT there’s no housing shortage for endangered Grassland Earless Dragons. The ACT government has slung $60,000 at a purpose-built breeding facility and specially designed quarantine capacity that can house up to 80 dragons at Tidbinbilla.

It was launched following the arrival of six dragons from Melbourne Zoo. In opening the new resource, Minister Vassarotti, with her Environment hat on, said: “This facility and breeding colony will be critical to the long-term survival of the grassland earless dragon, which is found only in the ACT region.”

STOP the presses; an e-scooter survey of 1907 members of the ACT government’s YourSay panel, whoever they are, has shown 95 per cent found e-scooters “easy to find”.

I’d like to know how the remaining five per cent didn’t. They’re almost e-litter; dropped in gardens, lying on footpaths, at the shops, all over the place.

IN “Seven Days” on May 13, inspired by a

BEFORE: The road sign obscuring oncoming traffic.

AFTER: A smarter, sensible solution.

reader’s alert, I photographed and featured a badly placed, large, end-of-roadworks sign in Dickson that was obscuring a safe view for side street traffic turning from Marsden Street into Davenport Street.

Northsider and fellow columnist Paul Costigan reports the problem, which had been there since October, has now been fixed, sensibly with a smaller, less obtrusive sign. Well done, whoever sorted it out.

access and demand for sporting facilities at local schools.

Shadow education minister Jeremy Hanson was nonplussed.

“There appears to be a long-term reliance on demountable classrooms which not only puts increased pressure on infrastructure like bathrooms but leads to overcrowding in our schools,” he said.

But with eerily good timing, a government spinner said there was more than $114 million earmarked to upgrade public schools over the next four years, on top of the regular funding for repairs and maintenance.

GIVEN the state of our hospitals, it comes as no surprise to learn a school infrastructure inquiry by the ACT Legislative Assembly has confirmed overcrowding and poor maintenance in ACT schools.

Thirty-two submissions from ACT public schools, advocacy groups and individuals were made during the inquiry into capacity and maintenance issues, the adequacy of heating and cooling systems, disability

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www.logikhaus.com.au 4 CityNews June 3-9, 2021

READER and recent “CityNews” cover boy

ANOTHER recent “CityNews” cover story featured the travails of columnist Robert Macklin and wife Wendy who were robbed while they slept. Apart from snaffling a bedside watch and a handbag, the thieves took off with both the Macklins’ cars.

Wendy’s has been recovered, though wrecked. But during its life of crime, it got a speeding notice from the NSW cops.

“Her stolen car was clocked breaking the limits; and to prove it was hers they sent a photo of it – and the crooks are identifiable driving and sitting in the front passenger seat!” writes Rob. “We have passed it on to Const Jayden Serow, who was the first responder to the break-in and he’s on the job. Watch this space.”

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

ADVERTISMENT

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

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

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

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4. Hearing aids can be expensive.

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NEWS

Grant questions ‘fuzzy’ idea of reconciliation

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The acclaimed journalist and indigenous rights activist argues that Australia has never fully dealt with the “fundamental fact of the invasion” and the dispossession of Aboriginal people.

Grant has called into question the concept of reconciliation itself suggesting that it is not clearly defined.

“We talk about reconciliation, but what is that? It’s this fuzzy concept that has no real political meaning at all,” Grant said.

“There is no fundamental acknowledgment of the sovereignty of first nations’ people and there is no acknowledgement of the truth of our history.

“We have these gestures, and this convoluted language around reconciliation, ideas of healing and unity before we have even faced up to questions of justice.”

Grant will deliver this year’s Manning Clark lecture, at the Australian National University.

Its title is “An all historical fever: how history may yet be the death of us”.

The Walkley Award-winning journalist will point to the significant role that history continues to have in shaping our identity.

Grant draws inspiration from the works of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche who wrote about the resentful man, caught in a time warp, returning to the source of injustice that he cannot fix.

“Nietzsche talks about a historical fever that breeds resentment,” Grant said.

“It’s so difficult for us to let the past go, to forget or to forgive, and in the absence of justice that becomes even more difficult.”

In his lecture, Grant postulates how history “haunts us” and that the wounds of our past help to define us.

“I was very influenced by Polish poet Czeslaw Milosz. He talked about memory being the memory of wounds and if I look around our world right now that’s what you see, the conflicts of our world are rooted in some sense of historical grievance or vengeance.”

Grant sees a historical connection between our nation’s history and its identity, and cites examples around the world, current and historical, to add weight to his argument.

“China talks about the 100 years of humiliation, domination, exploitation by foreign powers, Vladimir Putin talks about the collapse of the Soviet Empire as the great catastrophe of the 20th century, Donald Trump who promised to Make America Great Again and restore it to some former glory,” Grant said.

“Look at this latest conflict between Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza. It’s rooted in history and identity and I think that history and our relationship with it is one of the big challenges of our age.”

He will also explore the concept of history, how we define it, interpret it and how it is valued.

“History is not simple, history is complex, there are contending and competing truths; who tells the truths, who owns the truth, is history just recorded back?” Grant said.

“What about historical memory, what about the things that were never written down, never recorded like the frontier massacres, the

Journalist Stan Grant… “There is no acknowledgement of the truth of our history.” killings here in this country that were never recorded.”

A Wiradjuri man, Grant was born in Griffith, NSW, in 1963. His mother is from the Kamilaroi people and his father is Wiradjuri.

Grant spent most of his childhood on the road living in small towns and Aboriginal communities across NSW. A fierce advocate for indigenous rights, Grant said that representation of Aboriginal people in Australia is still an ongoing issue.

“We have more indigenous people in our parliaments than we did before, we have more indigenous people graduating in universities, there is progress being made, if that’s what you call it, but at the same time so much of the other markers for health and Aboriginal lives are going backwards,” Grant said.

“Our people are still dying 10 years younger, people are still locked up in obscene numbers dying in police custody, more children taken from their homes and put into foster care, so it’s very hard to measure something and call it progress.”

A journalist since 1987, Grant has worked for the ABC, SBS, the Seven Network and Sky News Australia.

He argues that diversity in mainstream media is still narrow.

“I’ve been in the media for well over three decades now and I haven’t seen in any way a proper representation of our people. In fact, you are better off looking to National Indigenous Television (NITV) that does stories by and for indigenous people because it recognises a failure within commercial TV and a failure at the ABC, to an extent as well, to properly represent that diversity in our community more broadly,” Grant said.

“Again, it’s not something I can get disheartened about, it’s a cold, hard reality that you live with and I don’t expect anything more frankly.”

Stan Grant presents the 21st Manning Clark lecture at 6pm, Thursday, June 17, at Manning Clark Hall, Cultural Centre, Kambri Precinct, ANU, $30 ($20 members, $25 concession).

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CANBERRA MATTERS

One plus is that there are street trees and every house has solar panels.

Photo: Paul Costigan

Government fails its own rhetoric

By Paul

COSTIGAN ONCE upon a time, Canberra tourism included views of tree-lined suburban streets. That was Canberra as we knew it – a city in a landscape. The ambience was greenery and open spaces.

Take a drive to far west Belconnen and you will see what a new Canberra suburb is looking like. There’s not a lot of greenery nor is there much space for shrubbery to flourish.

One plus is that there are street trees. Every house has solar panels. And we can be assured that they will pick up a lot of solar as there are few trees at this stage to shade them.

When the first sod was turned there was a picture of the Minister for Photo-ops, Yvette Berry, in a high-viz jacket alongside the head of the Green Building Council.

The message was that this development was to meet a high level of environmental and climate standards.

Any criteria would have to be highly contorted to even pretend that what you see meets contemporary requirements. It takes a lot more than solar to be energy efficient and environmentally secure.

The ACT government became a partner in this large housing development that will stretch across the NSW border while it continues to extoll the questionable benefits of cramming apartment towers throughout the city. Having a bet each way?

Ginninderra Falls is to the west of the present development and remains within an environmental conservation zone. Requests from the Ginninderra Falls Association to ensure that there was a large

enough buffer were largely sidelined.

Instead, up pops a new body – the Ginninderry Conservation Trust. Its governing body includes the developers, the government and community representatives.

The important conservation management work along Ginninderra Creek and the Falls should be undertaken for the longer term by the ACT and NSW governments and not left to property developers.

This is a suburb being built in the style currently favoured by developers and approved by the ACT government. There is too much monotonous grey and off-white with nothing resembling a touch of an architect’s creativity. The houses are squeezed on to blocks with little room for gardens and shrubbery front or back.

We have seen this before in other recent suburbs. The Labor/Greens government, as it has done with new suburbs for years now, raised expectations that things would be so much better. They haven’t provided a main shopping centre yet. Where have we heard that before?

The situation is that the government is a partner in the development while also the agency that approves development applications.

In this situation, how can the government do the right thing about design, conservation issues or ensuring the highest 21st century standards?

There was one positive from the drive through and the shock of seeing what the ACT Labor/Greens government continues to deliver for housing estates. That was the visit to the café at the nearby busy Strathnairn Gallery and art workshops where the lunch was yummy and recommended (open Thursday to Sunday). There’s also a shop with locally produced goods – worth spending a few dollars.

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CityNews June 3-9, 2021 7

COVER STORY / Apple man Bert Hauptmann turns 99

He’ll be apples: the habit of a lifetime for Bert

By Kathryn

VUKOVLJAK THERE’S something in the “apple-a-day” adage – founder of Beltana Grange orchard in Pialligo, Bert Hauptmann has just turned 99 and says he still loves apples as much as when he was a boy.

He says he’s not quite himself on the day we meet, following a covid jab, but Bert, one of Canberra’s first apple growers, is always ready with a laugh and a story of the early days of the orchard.

When he first bought the Pialligo property in 1952, he grew veggies “down by the river flat, before the road came in”, he says, as well as raising a large flock of chickens, supplying eggs across Canberra for about 14 years, which “brought in a good income”.

He says his late wife Betty would collect and pack hundreds of eggs, twice a day.

“We used to collect the eggs at

11am and 3pm, and the morning haul was always the biggest,” he says.

“The eggs had to be sorted, weighed and packed in 30-dozen wooden cases. It kept us very busy.

“I started planting fruit trees, too. I thought they’d be good.”

He was on to something – nearly 70 years later, the orchard is still going strong in the hands of his son Michael and daughter-in-law Pam. “The orchard has been here so long, we get people coming in with their grandkids who say ‘I used to come here with my mother years ago’,” he says.

“Pialligo has changed, it’s very busy now. Sometimes I look out the window and see all these cars going past, and wonder where they’re all going.”

The other orchards in Pialligo started at around the same time, Bert says, with “five poultry farms, two dairy farms, and two big market gardens, Lloyds and Hills, right down the bottom”.

He started out growing lots of different varieties of apples, including Cleopatras and Spartans, “one tree of this, and one of that”, he says.

“Fruit inspectors used to

Bert Hauptmann... “We get people coming in with their grandkids who say ‘I used to come here with my mother years ago’.”

Photo: Holly Treadaway come round and check all the houses [which had fruit trees], to make sure they were spraying them properly to keep the bugs in check.

“This one fellow had come out and advised me; he said, if you want to make this a com-

mercial orchard, get rid of all these odd apple varieties and concentrate on the ones that people want.”

Bert followed his advice, and Beltana Grange still grows Fuji, Pink Lady, Jonathans, Granny Smith, Bonza, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Braeburn, as well as Beurre Bosc and Packham pears. Bert was also one of the first to grow Gala apples in Australia.

He and Betty, who went on to have three children together, met in Sydney through their love of music, when Bert “used to be a singer and Betty was a pianist”, he says. Musical talent runs in the family; several of his grandchildren are professional musicians.

“In those days there used to be little concert parties, or recitals, on a Sunday afternoon and we met at one of those,” he

says.

Moving to Canberra from Sydney, where only-child Bert grew up, came about through house-sitting for the in-laws.

He and Betty, daughter of Anglican Bishop of CanberraGoulburn, Ernest Burgmann, had been married a year when her parents asked the young couple to look after their house in Mugga Way while they were visiting the UK for the Lambeth Conference in 1948.

“I came to Canberra for eight months and I’m still here,” he laughs, adding that many Canberrans say something similar.

Fitter and turner Bert, then 26, soon started teaching metalwork and woodwork at Canberra Grammar School.

“I was there doing repairs, and at the time they had no hobby classes,” he says.

The orchard is still going strong in the hands of Bert’s son Michael and daughter-in-law Pam. Photo: Holly Treadaway 8 CityNews June 3-9, 2021

“There were about 114 boarders and 75 day boys in the senior school and most of them were young country fellows. They were interested in doing practical lessons and the school asked if I’d teach them.”

While working at the school, Bert bought the 2.4-hectare (six acres) property in Pialligo, despite his colleagues’ collective horror at how far away it seemed.

“It wasn’t even called Pialligo. The address was just Block 16, Fyshwick,” he says.

“There was no Beltana Road, I think it was in the ’60s they named it and sealed the road. It used to be gravel and when the cool breeze came up in the summer you’d get covered in dust!

“I lost about an acre, and 75 trees, when they cut the corner off and put the road in.”

He remembers the “very small” airport in those days, and dropping off his father-inlaw for a flight to Sydney on a DC-3.

“Everyone got into the plane, and suddenly about 12 men got out and the pilot came over and said: ‘We’ve got to get a rope because the starter motor is playing up’. It was like it was a lawnmower!” he says.

“They tied a rope around the base of the propeller but couldn’t get it going, so they got a jeep to tow it and it started, and they all got back in. The Bishop said to me: ‘Don’t tell mum!’.”

Bert still lives in the original house on the site and says the property has long been a family home as well as a business, with Michael and Pam having built a house and raised their family there. Bert’s other children, Elizabeth and Tim, also live in Canberra.

Today, the orchard has around 500 trees in dwarf varieties, which Bert says are easier to manage, pick and prune.

The fruit ripens on the trees between January and May, “apple season”, when Michael and Pam still hand-pick and sell them fresh, doing things the “old-fashioned way”, as Bert always did.

The orchard is kept netted to keep cockatoos out, Bert says, as they “only like the seeds and can destroy a whole tree of apples in 10 minutes”.

“Before we had netting we’d shout, ‘cockatoo alert’, and go out banging things to scare them off. They don’t like going under the nets because when they get frightened they panic and throw themselves upwards!” he says.

While he can’t work in the orchard any more, Bert still likes to keep an eye on things.

“I like to go all over the place,” he says. “I walk around the trees and see what’s going on.”

THE GADFLY

Students join with the people changing Australia IN Canberra this month the students in a regular secondary school began wearing their new uniform – a very colourful and attractive one it was, too.

And not just the usual pants and shirts for both boys and girls but T-shirts and hoodies incorporating the school colours.

I guess that’s happened before. But at Namadgi School, in suburban Kambah, the ensemble had been designed by a small group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with the help of a local business, Darkie Designs.

It not only looked great, it was replete with unmistakable Aboriginal motifs. And you didn’t have to be of Aboriginal heritage to wear it.

Indeed, that was one point of the exercise.

Year 9 student Tyreece Lewis told the local paper: “It makes you feel proud to be Aboriginal.

It’s a good way

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese’s commitments to action on climate change, to a Federal Integrity Commission and to Makarrata were totally believable. That’s no more than a community deserves, but it does make a welcome change. to represent our people.” Classmate Shannon Williams said the design showed “a meeting place to represent the school with various pathways leading to a good education and meeting new people, followed by an eagle representing the [local] Ngunnawal land.”

The initiative flowed from the principal, Tiffany Mahon, to the Aboriginal education officer and then to the students. And when they posted a picture on Facebook with a mixed bunch of kids wearing it they quickly drew 40,000 “likes”!

Students of Namadgi School, Kambah, show off their new Aboriginal-inspired uniforms.

It follows the path of sporting teams in the two big AFL and NRL codes to celebrate our Aboriginal heritage, but it demonstrates a huge communal leap from the days when Aboriginality was a source of embarrassment and denial.

And here’s the rub: the report hit the media three days after the big-spending Commonwealth Budget tossed no more than a few paltry coins to the indigenous community, all prettied up by headline figures.

For example, it offers $31.6 million

for a personal safety survey for First Nations women. But that’s over five years and “run through the Australian Bureau of Statistics to record how prevalent violence facing indigenous women and girls is”.

As if we didn’t know already.

There are other similar offers for statistical gathering and funding for housing in remote communities, but it was basically just more of the same old story and not a single mention of the national movement towards reconciliation and “closing the gap”,

much less a commitment to the Voice from the Heart.

It’s a little like the Morrison approach to climate change – do nothing unless forced, then make a splashy announcement and hope no one notices that it’s never actually implemented. Meantime, the corporate world and the people, unencumbered by political obsessions, get the job done despite the Feds.

It’s the people, not the politicians who are changing Australia. Anthony Albanese’s Budget in Reply Speech hardly set the pulses racing. He’s trimmed down and polished up, but his delivery is masticated, as though there’s a piece of Mintie stuck to a molar; and his “on your side” peroration was more repetitive than rousing.

But his commitments to action on climate change, to a Federal Integrity Commission and to Makarrata were totally believable. That’s no more than a community deserves, but it does make a welcome change.

As Namadgi student Shannon Williams said: “A whole bunch of people came together and we voted on which designs were the best. On the front it says, ‘One Mob’ meaning we’re all together at the school and one big community.’

Sounds like a pretty good way to start closing that gap. robert@robertmacklin.com

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CityNews June 3-9, 2021 9

POLITICS

Power of popping a toe in the water “A VERY courageous decision, Prime Minister” has come into the lexicon from “Yes, Minister” as Sir Humphrey discourages Jim Hacker from proceeding with a carbon tax.

The implication of significant adverse publicity resulting in the loss of an election is enough for the Prime Minister to back down from a decision that Sir Humphrey does not approve.

Mitigating against adverse reactions to “courageous” political decisions is an art form that governments practice when dealing with controversial issues. The ACT government is adept at such ploys across a range of issues. The introduction of harm-minimisation policies provides an example of the political tools used to moderate community concerns.

Michael Pettersson has built a reputation as a young progressive who gets things done. He has found ways around the political wilderness as a backbench MLA in the Labor Party. By taking on drug law reform he has become quite controversial and, as such, has been able to build a significant public profile.

It is very useful for the government to test community sentiment by having a backbencher putting a toe in the water on such controversial issues.

It is even better when the exercise is not cynical. Mr Pettersson is genuinely committed to drug law reform.

For nearly 30 years Canberrans have been living with cannabis decriminalisation. Pettersson has taken the next step by successfully moving to have the use of small amounts of cannabis made legal.

Additionally, in February he tabled the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021 which seeks to remove criminal sanctions for all current illicit drugs used for personal use.

In the meantime, the government has had a report from the Burnet Institute on the establishment of a Supervised Injecting Facility in Canberra and has received widespread publicity about the recommendations to proceed.

The Health Minister, Rachel StephenSmith, toured a similar facility in Melbourne last month while attending a health ministers’ meeting and has now decided to proceed as part of her overall “ACT Harm Minimisation Strategy” for dealing with drugs.

While the attention is focused on Michael Pettersson and the decriminalisation of all drugs, the government has moved forward to approve a supervised injecting facility, subject to dealing with the logistical challenges.

LETTERS

Be certain, Julianne, at least two of us do care I’m as mad as hell.

Progressive MLA… Labor’s Michael Pettersson.

Rachel Stephen-Smith has also used the opportunity to take any community flack at the same time by announcing the establishment of a static pill-testing facility.

The Assembly Select Committee examining the Pettersson Bill is chaired

by Liberal Peter Cain with Labor’s Marisa Paterson and the Greens Jonathan Davis as the other members. The committee is taking submissions until June 11 and, at time of writing, had received just four submissions, although it is not unusual for submissions to come into a committee close to the deadline.

The expected outrage has not occurred.

Nor has there been hugely negative media regarding the pill testing and safeinjecting facility. The constant efforts of Mr Pettersson have taken pressure off the government – which is now seen to be a little more moderate than their backbencher.

The submission by the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) to the Select Committee provides an insight as to why these moves are not as controversial as they would have been a couple of decades ago.

The ALA advocates for “a shift in drug policies across Australia from an emphasis on law enforcement, to a focus on the broader health and social issues associated with the harmful use of drugs”.

The ALA has released its own report “Doing More Harm than Good”. The argument put in its submission is “criminalisation of drug use has not worked. It has not stopped people from continuing to use drugs. It has not stopped people from overdosing. It has often exacerbated people’s disadvantage, resulting in further financial distress, mental illness, and difficulties finding and keeping housing”.

The toe in the water has been at least partially responsible for ensuring a sensible and thoughtful discussion on how to best handle drug policy. It has allowed the opportunity for people to express their views.

However, more importantly, it has allowed the government to assess the mood of the community.

“Yes, Minister” uses humour to expose the tactics employed in politics and in government. It should not be surprising that the tactics are alive and well in the ACT.

The expected outrage has not occurred. Nor has there been hugely negative media regarding the pill testing and safeinjecting facility.

10 CityNews June 3-9, 2021

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

First, columnist Robert Macklin’s disgust (CN May 27) at the ACT government and especially Chief Minister Barr’s deafening silence over the treatment being meted out to Bernard Collaery and also the imprisonment of Witness J at the AMC. As Macklin pointedly asks, did Andrew Barr know about it? The then attorney-general Shane Rattenbury claims he didn’t know anything about it. If he didn’t, that must also raise questions about his competency.

Second, in the same edition, Jon Stanhope’s utter dismay at Julianne Williams’ totally unacceptable treatment in being strip searched in front of male prison officers, also at the AMC. Jon is also understandably disappointed that there has been no reaction either from government or the public at large over what “CityNews” headlines as a “shameful obscenity”.

Julianne told Jon the lack of official or public reaction is due to her Aboriginality and criminal record and that no one “other than [her] people would care about anything that was done to “[her]”.

Julianne, I can assure you that I know at least two non-indigenous people who do care – very much, about you and the others above who have also suffered grievous indignity and loss of basic human rights while supposedly in the care of the ACT government.

My wife Jenny and I call upon the Chief Minister and all MLAs, Labor, Liberal and Greens to all state publicly and openly where they stand on these travesties and how they propose to right the wrongs that have clearly been perpetrated in the name of our alleged democracy. If any of them can’t or won’t, it says a great deal about their lack of integrity.

Eric Hunter, Cook

Rude shock of Coombs HAVING spent most of my married life in the leafy Sutherland Shire in Sydney, the latter half in a home which overlooked a native plant reserve, and even receiving a Keep Australia Beautiful Award for helping to maintain it, it was a rude shock to retire to the Bush Capital’s nonleafy suburb of Coombs, where even the birds don’t perch on the uninteresting street trees.

Consequently gardening writer Cedric Bryant’s article on Canberra’s trees really rang a bell (CN May 20).

In Australia’s “Bush Capital”, we aren’t permitted to plant anything but dirt, weeds and lawn in our “nature strip” without prior permission, although, apparently, grey metal, on soil first covered in plastic to stunt the growth of the street trees starved of moisture, is apparently acceptable.

Feeling caged in by a tall jail fence, I decided I needed to have a colourful garden in our mini plot in order to keep my sanity.

I know nothing about exotic plants (except that they die easily, or become

covered in black spot) and ferocious leaf-eating insects.

Consequently, the first article I turn to in “City News” (after the sudoku and crossword) is Cedric’s, with his excellent gardening tips.

Rewa Bate, Coombs

Government’s cynical spin THE Australia Institute recently released its report on whether Australia is really reducing its carbon emissions as claimed by the Morrison government.

In fact every emissions sector has been rising since 2005, except for electricity (due to energy efficiency and renewables) and, most strikingly, land use change and forestry. This was substantially due to Queensland banning large-scale land clearing after 2005 and a spike of clearing anticipating the ban that artificially lifted the base figure for emissions.

Cynical spin engaged in by this devious government.

Richard Johnston, Kingston

‘Grave’ risk of borders THE federal government is under growing pressure from several fronts to reopen its international border.

The border should only reopen when the vaccination program has reached the COVID-19 herd immunity level of a minimum of 70 per cent, which will give us the chance to dramatically reduce the infection rate.

Under the current circumstances, health advice must have priority over financial considerations. It would be a “grave” mistake to reopen the border prematurely.

Mario Stivala, Belconnen

WRITE TO US

The weeds are still there...

ON April 1, I wrote to “CityNews” about the inadequate progress made in attending to the numerous municipal problems around Deakin raised in a previous letter (CN March 4).

Progress is still either inadequate or inappropriate. Much of the ochre-red, brick-paved area at the rear of the Deakin shops has been replaced by “non-aesthetic” black asphalt, an effective heat sink – the last thing we will need in the next scorching-hot summer. The “ankle-high stumps” of the two dead trees have now been chipped down to ground level. A pothole in the nearby roundabout on MacGregor Street has also been filled in, and some dislodged concrete kerbing blocks have been cemented back in place.

But the metre-tall grass and weeds are still there, as are the sick-looking oak trees with their multitude of dead, blackened branch tips, and the rear halves of their canopies brutally sawn off, presumably by arborists working for ActewAGL. My street in this supposedly affluent, showpiece suburb still looks decidedly shabby.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

Weeds in Deakin… still there at the local shops says letter writer Douglas Mackenzie.

Let loose to: editor@citynews.com.au

WHIMSY / longevity

A slippery slide down the razor blade of life…

WHEN I was younger, I wasn’t much interested in life expectancy, but as I get older it’s becoming a more pressing concern – particularly with my time left for overseas travel being reduced by COVID-19.

Centenarians are regularly asked how they have managed to live so long. One Canberra lady recently said: “Porridge in the morning and a whisky at night”. I recall nonagenarian George Burns replying: “By not dying yet”.

However, evidence-based studies indicate that longevity is based on two major factors: genetics and lifestyle choices.

Ap-

I should have been killed many times over, but so far have managed to dodge death or injury. But we all probably know people who were killed unexpectedly, often through no fault of their own. proximately 20-30 per cent of the variation in human lifespan can be related to genetics, with the rest due to individual behaviour and environmental factors.

Even modest amounts of relaxation and physical exercise can extend one’s life expectancy by as much as four and a half years. Conversely, not exercising and being overweight will reduce one’s life expectancy (As one simple measure, your waist size should not be more than half your height).

Environmental risk factors include disease, accidents, poor diet, exposure to pollution and hazardous substances, poor hygiene, exposure to violence, and poor access

to health care. Exposure to microwaves and powerlines may also be a risk factor.

Those engaging in dangerous sports such as base jumping, tombstoning (as illustrated) and free climbing are more likely to suffer a premature death. Dangerous jobs such as being a war correspondent or deep-sea diver will inevitably reduce one’s life expectancy. Spending time in conflict zones – and I have been in several – is not a good idea if you want to live longer.

Where you live in the world can also affect your life expectancy. People in developed countries live from 77-90 years and in developing countries 32-80 years. Australians’ life expectancy in 2019 was 83.35 years. According to the ABS, life expectancy

usic, M e r o M un...

More F

Tombstoning in Plymouth, UK… the act of jumping in a straight, upright vertical posture into the sea or other body of water from a very high point.

Photo: Clive Williams at birth in 2017-2019 was 80.9 years for Australian males and 85.0 years for females.

Women generally outlive men because they have smaller bodies (with less stress on the heart) and a stronger immune system, and are less likely to engage in physically dangerous activities.

Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment was the oldest recorded person at 122 years while Japanese man Jiroemon Kimura was the longest-lived male at 116.

There have been other longevity claimants but their birth documentation has been suspect or non-existent. Immi-

WHEEL REPAIRS & ALIGNMENT

grants to developed countries from countries where there are poor or counterfeit birth records sometimes exaggerate their age to qualify earlier for aged pensions; this means they seem to live longer.

Attitude and quality of life are also important – I’ve known of people who died because they just gave up wanting to live.

Luck is a wild card. I should have been killed many times over, but so far have managed to dodge death or injury. But we all probably know people who were killed unexpectedly, often through no fault of their own. My best friend in my 20s was killed in an air crash.

There’s some doubt that current younger generations will live as long as the baby boomers, mainly due to their reliance on fast food, overconsumption of sugar and being overweight. But the UN has projected that by the year 2300 people in most developed countries will live between 100 and 106 years.

And no, consuming long-life milk won’t help you live longer!

Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.

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CityNews June 3-9, 2021 11

HOME IMPROVEMENT

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Turning the home into a space to be proud of THERE aren’t many feelings better than coming home to a space to be proud of.

But, whether it’s an apartment, townhouse, or house, residents might need some help to turn it into a comfortable place to call home.

That might mean putting in a heating system or insulated blinds for the cooler months, investing in some new furniture or renovating for a fresh, new look.

Whatever it may be, “CityNews” speaks to the Canberra businesses who know how to turn any space into a dream home.

Affordable storage just over the border

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

Statement furniture that’s affordable WHY spend big on furniture when “statement pieces” from Ex-Government Furniture can reinvigorate any space without breaking the bank, says owner James Fullerton.

With new stock arriving every week, James says there is always something new coming through the door at Ex-Government Furniture, Canberra’s leading dealer in surplus office furniture.

At the moment, he says there are a number of pieces that will make an impact in any space, including a number of leather and fabric couches, as well as “loads and loads” of popular white bookshelves.

But, it’s really the armchairs that James says are “going-off”.

“They’re kind of the big thing at the moment,” he says.

Their range features both leather and upholstered chairs, and aren’t just for the living room or home office,

with many, James says, destined for the bedroom, where they become a real “feature” piece.

“We offer a wide range of quality and designer secondhand products, meaning that customers get the top Australian and global brands without breaking the bank,” James says.

Customers can feel good about their purchase, too, with an environmental benefit from buying second-hand and reducing waste, he says.

“We charge fair prices and are often able to source the best, no-nonsense, quality furniture available, always with an eye for good quality,” says James.

Ex-Government Furniture, 6 Yallourn Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 6490 or visit exgovfurniture.com or facebook.com/ exgovfurniture

WITH a need for affordable storage options outside metropolitan areas, Self Storage Solutions, a family-run business, was established about 30 years ago to fill the gap, says manager Lewis Jones.

The Jones family saw the need for affordable storage options when they were running a removalist company that covered the east coast of NSW, which inspired them to open Self Storage Solutions, conveniently located on the Hume Highway near the truck stop at Marulan, only a one-hour drive from Canberra.

Lewis says clients love the savings they get by storing their items outside of the city.

“Our monthly storage costs are easily half the price of a storage unit in Canberra,” he says.

Self Storage Solutions offer three storage unit size options and Lewis says caravans, boats and trailers can also be stored, to keep them out of people’s home driveways.

Newly-installed automatic gates allow access seven days a week to the fenced facility, which has security cameras covering all entries, keeping the items stored on-site secure.

“We can also offer a removalist service, if required,” he says.

Self Storage Solutions. Call 9986 3618 or visit selfstoragesolutions.com.au

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

advertising feature Strategic renovations increase home values

Taking the stress out of home renovations BORDEAUX Construction and Management is a “one-stop-shop”, guiding renovation projects through the design process to the end of their construction, says project manager Michael Milutinovic.

A lot of the time, people like where they are living and prefer to renovate their existing house to create more space, whether that’s an extra living area, a new bathroom or maybe a renovated kitchen, says Michael “Really, the options are endless,” he says.

With an aim to make what can be a stressful process much easier, the family-run, Queanbeyan-based business can do it all when it comes to renovations, Michael says.

“We’re not waiting on anyone and we work with interior designers to guide [clients] through the colour and finishing selection, too,” he says.

The business even has in-house joiners that can provide renovators with custom joinery solutions for their walk-in robes, ensuites and vanities, says Michael.

With more than 14 years’ experience in the construction industry in Canberra and Sydney, Michael says the business doesn’t shy away from complexity.

“A lot of the time we can do an extension, but at the same time we’ll renovate the whole home,” he says.

“That makes the client feel more comfortable, because at the end of the day they are getting more or less a brand new home internally.

“We can really look at any type of construction. We have experience across the board.”

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

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RENOVATIONS that open up a home can provide more living space and maximise value during resale, according to Your Property Profits director Kim Persson.

Taking on the up-front cost of a styled renovation, Kim says the Your Property Profits team of experts such as tradespeople, stylists, real estate experts and photographers make a property look stunning before it goes to market.

“We have agents tell us that well-renovated properties get a lot more interest, and we work with the client’s timeframe and budget to achieve those results,” she says.

“Currently the property market is seeing an undersupply for demand, so now is a great time to sell.”

Whether it’s small fixes to the home or major extensions or structural changes, Kim says Your Property Profits can make the renovation process easy and effective.

They will also correct or remove unapproved structures or hazardous builds, as well as amend damage done over time, such as root damage to concrete.

“We understand people don’t have the time to renovate and want the process to be as quick and easy as possible [which is why we] offer a personally tailored service,” she says.

“We strategically renovate only where we believe it will increase the value of the home.”

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

advertising feature Curtains and blinds for every home OWNER of RiteWay Curtains and Blinds Allan Smith says their Luxaflex Duette Shades are the best insulating blinds on the market.

“The Duette Shades help to keep your house warm in winter and cool in summer by not allowing the transfer of heat energy to pass through the window,” says Allan.

“This helps reduce heating costs and improves the energy consumption in your home, helping you to save money on your energy bills.

“It also has a lovely wand operation (no chord) and can be motorised, which makes it a lot easier to operate. We can put it on the hub, too, which means you can [control it] on your mobile or computer.”

The Duette Shades are just the start of RiteWay’s extensive range of products that Allan says are suited

to homes both old and new and of every style.

A family-owned business since 1972, RiteWay Curtains and Blinds now has a concept store in Fyshwick, which Allan says is the first of its kind in Australia.

“The idea of the store is that it’s hands on and it allows people to come in and see what they want,” he says.

“We also have a display room in Yass, which caters for Boorowa, Gunning and other customers out that way.”

And, Allan says RiteWay Curtains and Blinds will take care of any installations at a time suited to the customer.

RiteWay Curtains and Blinds, 64 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick (6280 4762) and 163 Comur Street, Yass (6130 3030). Visit riteways.com.au

Skip bin hire makes waste removal easy WITH more than 40 years’ experience in skip bin hire for waste removal in Canberra, Corkhill Bros are now expanding the service to residential customers, says director Brian Corkhill.

“They’re perfect for helping with cleaning out the garage or the home, old furniture, appliances, home renovation, building waste, garden works, and you can put green waste in them, which we recycle,” says Brian.

“Customers can hire the skip bins online and we’ll drop it off and pick it up making it an easy process.”

It’s just another addition to Corkhill Bros’ extensive landscaping services, which Brian says include a range of products such as mulches, soils, sands, gravels and firewood.

“Our staff are always welcoming and happy to talk

customers through our extensive product ranges, and offer a large variety of truck sizes to help with each project,” says Brian.

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

Corkhill Bros also continues to host the green waste drop-off facility at the Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre, as well as receiving all the green waste collected in the Canberra kerbside green bins.

Corkhill Bros, 33 Darling Street, Mitchell (6241 8860), and Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre, Symonston (6239 7200). Call or visit corkhillbros.com.au

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

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Smart, Stylish and Stress Free “Claire and the team at the Bathroom Company did an incredible job completely renovating my bathroom including moving the shower, drains, vanity and some other changes to my house in one project.”

“Claire and the team at the Bathroom Company have delivered a beautiful new bathroom that is even better than we imagined it.”

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“THE roof is the most important part of the home,” says ISL Home Maintenance and Repairs owner Rory Martens.

A qualified roofer with more than 15 years’ experience, Rory offers a wide range of services such as work on downpipes, skylights, verandah roofs, patio roofs, roof guards, gutter cleans, roof leaks and old to new gutter replacements.

“Especially following autumn after the leaves have fallen it’s important to make sure gutters are in working order,” he says.

“I work one-on-one with clients to see what kind of work is needed and get the best outcome for them.”

Rory says it’s also vital to get on top of roof mainte-

nance and repair before any bigger issues can arise.

“If there are leaks in the roof or problems with the gutters then it can just cause a knock on effect where other parts of the house become badly damaged,” he says.

To stop that from happening, Rory says he can provide a full inspection and quote and works with customers to get a result they can put their trust in.

“If I start a job I’m there to the finish, I don’t come and go during,” he says.

“At the end of the day if the client is happy I’m happy.”

ISL Home Maintenance and Repairs. Call Rory on 0431 556307 or email rorymartens13@gmail.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Therma Quilts is able to re-case your quilts in ad-

dition to other services such as extending them into a larger size or reducing them to a smaller size according to your needs.”

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

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

Therma Quilts, unit 9, 10-12 Kemble Court, Mitchell.

Call 6241 6859 or visit thermaquilts.com.au

The feather and down experts for over 30 years SERVICE FOR YOUR QUILTS, PILLOWS & CUSHIONS

Looking after everything from start to finish including demolition, plumbing, electrical, tiling, painting, plastering, showerscreens and mirrors. We can also custom make vanity units, laundry and wardrobe cabinetry etc.

M 0437 222 631 E quotes@bathroomcompany.com.au W bathroomcompany.com.au 18 CityNews June 3-9, 2021

Eco-friendly cleaning and rejuvenation of: • All feather & down products • Woollen, silk, polyester and cotton blankets and underlays

Custom made products to your specifications: • repairing, resizing and re-casing services • add extra feather and down to your quilts, pillows or sleeping bags Monday – Friday: 9am – 3:45pm

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

advertising feature Bathrooms that make a difference “A GOOD bathroom can make your day,” says The Bathroom Company manager Claire Carroll.

“It’s often where you start the day and end the day so once you have a good bathroom you enjoy being in, it makes all the difference.”

Established in 1993, Claire says The Bathroom Company is a specialist in bathroom renovation and can work with a huge range of styles whether the look is glamorous, rustic, contemporary or classic.

“We’ve done 100 year-old houses in Queanbeyan and surrounds all the way up to houses in new suburbs that need a re-do,” says Claire.

With professional designers in-house in the Manuka office, Claire says they can help with all decisions, from

colour options to tiles and baths.

“We offer a 90 minute design consultation with our quotes where we work closely with the client to find out what they like and what they don’t like,” says Claire.

“Clients have two main contacts from the very start of the project to the very finish to make it easy and stress-free for them.

“It also gives a chance for us to really get to know our clients through the job.”

The Bathroom Company, 7 Murray Crescent, Manuka.

Call 0437 222631, email quotes@bathroomcompany. com.au or visit bathroomcompany.com.au

Solar air system’s big on savings ECOHEAT’s cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solar air system makes it possible to heat and cool a home for only a few cents a day, says Ecoheat managing director Ron Knight.

Proudly made in Cooma, Ron says Ecoheat warms living spaces by heating outside air that’s pumped continuously throughout the home.

“Say you’re away for a while, you can leave Ecoheat on while you’re gone because it only costs a few cents a day to run and the house retains its thermal mass,” Ron says.

“That means you can come back to a warm home ready to be lived in again.”

Ecoheat is also the only heating system which constantly brings fresh air into the home, he says.

“Lots of houses in Canberra are locked up all day because everyone has to work, which can lead to that dusty smell,” he says.

“Our system provides a fresh and natural feel to the air inside.”

And, he says the environmental benefits are huge.

“The whole system is run by a 50 watt fan. That’s like leaving half a light turned on even while producing a huge amount of heat,” says Ron. “It works out to save between five and eight tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, which is equivalent to taking three V8 [cars] off the road.”

Ecoheat. Email info@ecoheataustralia.com.au or visit ecoheat.com.au

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Warms in winter Cools in summer Reduce energy costs Sustainable and environmentally friendly Fresh air ventilation

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www.ecoheat.com.au CityNews June 3-9, 2021 19

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

INSIDE

Friends in need are ‘Friends’ indeed

NICK OVERALL

‘Kate’ takes on the plot of men behaving badly

By Helen

MUSA EVEN as the ghost of “Me Too” hovered in the wings, it was obvious at a recent rehearsal of the famous Cole Porter musical “Kiss Me, Kate” that the Queanbeyan Players were having a thoroughly good time.

“Kiss Me, Kate” is the 1948 Broadway hit musical written by Bella and Samuel Spewack with music and lyrics by Porter, but it’s actually two plays, not one. Set on a tour to Baltimore, the plot hinges on the consequences of casting the leading lady Lilli and her recently-divorced husband Fred as Katherine and Petruchio in the same play – Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”, where the wild and wacky Petruchio decides to “tame” the shrewish Katherine to enrich himself through marriage.

Director Michael Moore is well aware of the glaring problem – its perceived misogyny and mercenary quality.

Moore is adamant that Shakespeare was not misogynistic, and that, given that he had a queen for a monarch, he wouldn’t

have aired his views even if he had been.

“Clearly the play was intended by Shakespeare as a joke,” he said, noting that most people when they stage it leave out Shakespeare’s opening “induction” scene, where the drunken Christopher Sly is treated to an entertainment – “The Taming of the Shrew”.

In other words, the whole Katherine and Petruchio story is only the play-within-aplay.

I popped into Gowrie Primary School for a Sunday afternoon run-through to find veteran performers Dick Goldberg and David Cannell in gangsters’ hats busily working on their routine for perhaps the show’s most famous song, “Brush Up Your Shakespeare”.

Happily tinkling away at the keyboard in another corner was musical director Leisa Keen, very chuffed, she said, at having just lured musical identity (and “CityNews” reviewer) Ian McLean back on to the conducting podium for the show.

Keen said she’d pulled in a few favours, so that most of the 14 instrumentalists would be professionals. As for the music, she said, “it’s unusual in that it’s jazzy, with a kind of ‘Robin Hood’ medieval sound”.

Medieval? The song sheet is breathtaking, ranging from the humorous “I Hate Men” and “Always True To You In My Fashion”, to timeless love songs like “So In Love” and “Wunderbar”.

Inside, choreographer Lauren Chapman was putting three elegant hoofers through their paces while Adam Best sang the romantic number, “Were Thine That Special Face”.

Later, Janelle McMenamin, who plays the Kate of the title, was busy throwing Adam Best, who plays Petruchio, around the stage as punishment for his macho swaggering.

Moore loves “Kiss Me, Kate” because it represents the golden era of musicals, but he also sees it as an opportunity to bring it into the 21st century.

And, following the example of the 2019 Broadway revival, he’ll change the lyrics of the song “I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple” to “I Am Ashamed That People Are So Simple”.

“Setting it in the 21st century allows it to take away some of the bad male behaviour,” he says, adding that it’s not restricted to Petruchio, but also in a subplot about the lover of Kate’s sister Bianca and some very dodgy-looking gangsters.

There’s a cast of around 30, and in time-honoured Queanbeyan Players’ style, there’s a mixture of age ranges and experience.

“It’s a lovely combination of old heads and new heads,” Moore says.

“Kiss Me, Kate” June 18-27, book at theq.net.au or 6285 6290.

Front: Janelle McMenamin, Adam Best.

Back: Dick Goldberg and David Cannell in “Kiss Me, Kate”.

ARTS IN THE CITY ‘Songs and Sonnets’ go speakeasy

By Helen Musa LAKESPEARE & Co is back with “Songs and Sonnets’’ at Pialligo Estate Glasshouse, which is being transformed into a cabaret-style speakeasy for the three-course meal and show. Much of the evening is based on original compositions written and performed by Jay Cameron, a young Scottish composer who has moved to Canberra.

Pialligo Estate Glasshouse, Pialligo, June 10-11, 18-19. Book at thepialligoestate.com.au CANBERRA-raised soprano Lorina Gore is the CSO’s Artist in Focus this year. She will next be seen singing works by Poulenc, Mozart, Schubert, Lehár, Gounod, Liza Lehmann, Amy Woodforde-Finden and Stephen Foster, accompanied by pianist Alan Hicks. Gandel Hall, National Gallery of Australia, 2pm, Sunday, June 6. Book at cso.org.au/ lorina-gore-recital or 6262 6772.

“ANCIENT Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes” from the British Museum is coming to the National Museum of Australia in Canberra from December 17, after COVID-19 delayed its arrival last year. NMA director, Mathew Trinca, believes audiences will be mesmerised by the depictions of athletes and the stories of competition in the ancient Greek world, as well as the ceramics, sculptures, armour and jewellery featured in the show.

20 CityNews June 3-9, 2021

Soprano Lorina Gore in recital… NGA, June 6. Photo Martin Ollmann MUSICA da Camera, conducted by violinist Dan Russell, will present “Music for the People” covering music from the Baroque to the 20th century, with “Autumn” from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”, Saint-Saëns’ “Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso”, the “Chamber Symphony” by Shostakovich and a selection of Nordic folk tunes arranged by the Danish String Quartet. Holy Covenant Church, Cook, Saturday, June 12. Book at musicadacamera.org.au THE cult show, “Bluey’s Big Play” stars the Heeler family, Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli performed by brilliantly created puppets and with new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. They’ll be at Canberra Theatre Centre from June 12-13. Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

ONE of the world’s leading French horn players, Nicolas Fleury, alongside London violinist Emily

Sun and pianist Amir Farid, will perform a program for Musica Viva, opening with an arrangement of Mozart’s Horn Quintet by Ernst Naumann for piano, violin and horn, followed by the world premiere of “Sonata for Violin and Piano” by Australian composer Gordon Kerry, commissioned by Julian Burnside and finished with Brahms’ Horn Trio.

Llewellyn Hall, 7pm, Wednesday, June 9, book at musicaviva.com.au THE Song Company performs “Burden Of Truth”, the a cappella world première of Gavin Bryars’ new 32-part, choral anniversary version of his classic, “Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet”, along with a new 25-part choral motet, “Transiens”, by the company’s artistic director Antony Pitts, based on the music of the “Eton Choirbook” and inspired by a road trip from Uluru to Kakadu early in 2020. Canberra’s Oriana Chorale will feature. Albert Hall, 7pm, June 10.

Book at the.song.company

CINEMA / reviews

Gulpilil tells his story with simple stoic beauty “My Name Is Gulpilil” (M) A FORMER arts editor at a local newspaper once gently took me to task about describing a male actor as “beautiful” – okay for girls, but not for blokes! She’s long since gone, but her admonition hasn’t. And I’m unabashed about defying it when reviewing Molly Reynolds’ documentary about David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu.

“Beautiful” has many possible labels. In David Gulpilil’s case, the choice is easy. And simple. David is a beautiful human being, whether viewed from the outside or by his presence on film telling his story. Grog and tobacco have shortened his life to the point where it is likely that we may soon hear about his death from lung cancer, diagnosed in 2017.

The film doesn’t harp on about this. He knows it’s coming and is stoic about it.

David belongs to the only race and community of people occupying Australia’s land mass at that time. His life has followed two paths. The film gives about equal time to both. We know Gulpilil the actor in 21 feature movies and 12 TV series, some good, others less so. Watching clips showing him in his own movie made me wonder what was going on in his head in some of the roles.

Scary. The other path tells about how he coped with living in two communities still under a kind of truce. Discomforting.

He’s a versatile performer in a range of styles. A comedy routine showing him making a phone call to Ernie Dingo is wonderfully clever, funny and a tad scathing – what

David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu in “My Name Is Gulpilil”. kind of relationship does the pair have in private, I wonder. It contrasts powerfully with the film’s opening sequence – David walking along a bush road following an emu which follows him when he turns and walks back toward the camera. And for sheer delight, his story about dinner with the Queen is a tribute to the “sangfroid” of them both.

We shall not see his like again. Or, shall we?

At Dendy and Hoyts

“Cruella” (PG) THE billing for this movie puts Emma Stone at the top of the list. She does well in the

title role.

But in my book, the film’s real star is Emma Thompson playing The Baroness, as nasty a villainess as any you might find in this or any other movie from Disney. Or any movie from any production house capable of earning a PG classification in Australia.

How Ms T compares with Glenn Close (who in 1996 played Cruella de Vil and is here credited in a list of producers), I don’t know.

The genesis of “Cruella” is the 1961 Disney animation “101 Dalmatians”. In “Cruella”, the spottedy dogs are down to three – no director in his right mind would put 101 of that easily-excited breed in front of a camera.

The original animation came out before I got the first movie-reviewing gig ever, in any Canberra medium. Craig Gillespie directs this live action remake written by Dana Fox, Tony McNamara and three others. Set in London in the 1970s, this one acknowledges Dodie Smith’s original novel. I suspect that the resemblance ends there. I enjoyed it, although some of its bits were a tad off the mark. It’s the sort of movie in which credibility has to back off a bit.

This live action remake runs for 138 minutes, which might be wearisome for youngsters. For more mature viewers, including grown-ups, it’s a bit of a hoot that reeks of money. IMDb says there were 736 people involved in its production and even if some of them (lots of big crowd sequences) came cheap, others who did not would have made a sizeable hole in the estimated US$200 million budget.

At Dendy, Palace Electric and Hoyts

destructive response.

In this sequel, made four years later but telling what happens on the day immediately following its predecessor, the Abbott family (mum Evelyn, played by Emily Blunt, dad Lee, played by John Krasinski, who also wrote and directed both pieces, and their two adolescent kids) have escaped the depredation that the monsters were wreaking on their farm and come into town to seek safety. Fat chance!

Fans of this kind of cinema triviality won’t much care how well this sequel follows its origins. They’re entitled to their opinions.

It’s no secret that when each day’s shoot finished, the two people behind its brand (director Krasinski and lead player Blunt) would have gone home, probably in the same car, to the same dinner table and the same bed. For them, “A Quiet Place” looks rather like a family superannuation fund.

Part 3 is said to be in development!

‘Nuf sed!

“A Quiet Place – Part II” (M)

At all cinemas

IN THE first “A Quiet Place” movie, a bunch of ugly, nasty extraterrestrials are invading America.

They don’t see all that well. But by golly, they can hear any noise, no matter how low.

Then it’s smash-o or some other form of

WATCH IT! / streaming and stuff

Friends in need are ‘Friends’ indeed

By Nick

OVERALL A 30-second ad in the series finale of “Friends” in 2004 came with a $2 million price tag.

The episode was watched by more than 52 million people, making it one of the most viewed television events of all time, and the ending was considered by most viewers to have hit an emotional home run.

But for years that didn’t stop fans of the show that took the sitcom world by storm calling for just one more reunion episode.

Rumours, clickbait, fake trailers, interviews and social media posts all tried to point to the possibility of another instalment that would see the group get back together.

Hopes were dashed in a 2018 interview when Joey himself (Matt LeBlanc) said a reunion would never work.

But nearly two decades after the show’s ending it was announced a reunion was indeed in the works.

Billboards and buses have been plastered around the world, the Rembrandts’ “I’ll Be There For You” has been hammered on radio stations and on Thursday night (May 27) “Friends: The Reunion” or “The

The cast of “Friends”... reunited on a couch.

One Where They Get Back Together” aired on Binge in Australia in tow with the original 10 seasons.

Was it a reunion? Yes. Was it the one many viewers were hoping for?

Almost.

The episode isn’t a scripted glimpse into the future lives of the housemates, but rather the cast reminiscing on their time on the show in an interview with James Corden.

In fairness, the producers of the reunion had said this was the case, but the gargantuan marketing campaign also didn’t exactly ram the point home.

Regardless, “Friends” fanatics seem to have got quite the kick out of the cameos, in-jokes and the cast reuniting on the original set, which served up quite the emotional response.

As someone who watched

the show not religiously but certainly regularly, I found the reunion enjoyable, if at times a little overproduced, but ultimately one that nostalgically justified its existence.

The whole thing does leave the bitter-sweet question of what a new, original episode could have looked like though.

LeBlanc indeed posited some wisdom in his 2018 interview when he said a revival wouldn’t work due to it only being about one particular stage of people’s lives: that place in your 20s when the future is so rapidly approaching but also feels like such a mystery.

But what if you’re a 30-something single with a vague identity, no roots and a conscious indifference to morals?

That’s how the characters of the other mega ‘90s comedy hit

“Seinfeld” have been described and it just so happens that they’re also getting a new streaming home this month.

In an exclusive worldwide deal, Netflix will be getting all 180 episodes of the show about everything and nothing and, thanks to a new scan of the original film it was shot on, it’ll be watchable in an updated, crystal-clear quality.

It’s fascinating that both series were such huge successes in the ‘90s despite differences that couldn’t be greater.

On one hand, there’s the more sentimental and conventionally romantic atmosphere of “Friends” and on the other, there’s the meta and emotion eschewing vibe of “Seinfeld”.

And despite their differences, both hold such similar numbers in terms of viewership. It’s a testament to their success that even today they’re still as sought after in streaming as they once were on commercial television.

As for those wanting a reunion of Jerry, Elaine, George and Cosmo, it’s probably not worth getting hopes up for.

When “Seinfeld” ended Jerry was reportedly offered over $100 million

by NBC for a tenth season that, even then, he rejected to ensure the show could go out on a high.

“Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

sundayROAST

IAN

MEIKLE Talking to the names making news.

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

CityNews June 3-9, 2021 21

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Your week in the stars

call us now

General knowledge crossword No. 784

By Joanne Madeline Moore

June 7-13, 2021

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Rambunctious Rams are feeling restless, as the Solar Eclipse stimulates your spontaneous nature. But – with retrograde Mercury in your communication zone – if you stretch the truth in dubious directions, then you’ll be caught out. So make sure you stick to the facts and figures, especially when you’re connecting with relatives and members of your local community. Mars marches into Leo on Friday, which is fabulous for colourful friendships and heightened creativity.

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TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

The Solar Eclipse energises your money zone, so it’s a good time to take stock of your financial situation and find fresh ways to boost cash flow. Bulls are also feeling mighty curious as Venus and Uranus activate your learning and local travel zone. So it’s a wonderful week to shake off the physical and mental cobwebs and get passionate about a weekend getaway, an online project, a local community connection or a new study course. Remember – knowledge is power!

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

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Gung-ho Gemini – avoid the temptation to skim over important details. The Solar Eclipse is in your sign, so you’re keen to zoom ahead but remember there’s a fine line between making smart snap decisions and messy mistakes. The stars encourage creative thinking but nervous energy is also high. If you don’t pace yourself, you’ll be exhausted by the end of the week. You also need to steer clear of fake news, unreliable people and flighty friends, especially on Thursday and Friday.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Many Crabs will feel emotionally vulnerable this week, as the Solar Eclipse navigates its way through your self-sabotage zone. But don’t make things worse by being mysteriously moody or overly dependent. If you side-step issues and let other people set your personal agenda, then you’ll just end up feeling paralysed and powerless. With Venus and Mars both visiting your sign (until Friday) do your best to articulate ideas and pursue projects in a creative and confident manner.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

The Solar Eclipse activates your hopes and wishes zone. Circumstances are constantly changing so your dreams for the future need to be regularly reviewed and updated to keep pace with outside events as well as your inner evolution.

Mars moves into your sign on Friday, so have the courage and confidence to be the real you. Be inspired by movie star (and birthday great) Judy Garland: “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Thursday’s Solar Eclipse revs up your reputation zone so don’t hide your versatile Virgo talents! Be proud to show the world what you are truly capable of. And is a close relationship testing your mettle, and your patience? Habitual thinking and old solutions won’t help. Venus and Uranus encourage you to change your attitude and look at the situation from a totally fresh perspective. It may take a few false starts but (with a positive and persistent approach) you’ll get there in the end.

Down

4 What is a large area of open water, surrounded by sea ice? (7) 8 Name the income of a government from taxation, customs, etc. (7) 9 Which person is empowered to decide points at issue? (7) 10 What is a whole number, as distinguished from a fraction? (7) 11 Name another term for theft. (7) 12 What is a short descriptive summary, as of events? (6) 14 Which other word applies to a jail? (6) 18 What is something that serves as a reminder of what is past? (7) 21 Which name is popularly used to refer to the USA? (7) 22 What are wounds known as? (7) 23 What, in mathematics, is a statement embodying something to be proved? (7) 24 Which people patrol wildlife parks, etc? (7)

1 Which power-driven boat is adapted for pleasure trips? (7) 2 Name an Australian family prominent in the fields of law and politics. (5) 3 What is the transposition of the letters of a word to form a new word? (7) 4 Which masses of nacre are sometimes found in bivalve molluscs? (6) 5 Name an Australian political party. (5) 6 Which hard aromatic seeds are used as spices? (7) 7 What is an impressive group of things on exhibition?

(5) 13 Which large desert is in the NT, Qld and SA? (7) 15 Who presides over a boxing match? (7) 16 What are aluminium soaps also known as? (7) 17 Name another term for baked dinners. (6) 18 Which tooth is adapted for grinding? (5) 19 What is a hangman’s halter also known as? (5) 20 What is a jewelled ornamental coronet worn by women? (5)

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Mercury continues reversing through your education and travel zone. So you can expect continuing disruptions, delays, difficulties, misunderstandings or general shenanigans. Don’t let that deter you Libra! If you are flexible and adapt to constantly changing circumstances, then you can still have a week that is stimulating and satisfying. As actor/activist (and birthday great) Michael J. Fox observes: “Our challenges don’t define us, our actions do.”

Solution next edition

Across

FREE SUDOKU EVERY DAY AT citynews.com.au

Sudoku hard No. 292

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

The Solar Eclipse signals the dawn of a profound new way of seeing things.

Plus Venus and Uranus propel you into exciting new territory regarding a close relationship (of the romantic or platonic variety). Whatever happens, you’re not in the mood for superficial partnerships or light-hearted conversations as you dive deep into the well of creativity. Be inspired by birthday great Prince: “To create something from nothing is one of the greatest feelings… It’s heaven.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

CANBERRA LIVE Weekdays 3pm-6pm

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

A work colleague, client or customer won’t behave in predictable ways this week, so don’t even try to anticipate what they will do next. Avoid butting in, being a bossy Goat, and offering (well-intentioned) advice. Uranus reminds you that a teenager, friend or lover requires plenty of room to move and express themselves.

They need to make their own mistakes and follow their own dreams. So smart Capricorns will back off, calm down and go with the flow.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Make sure you keep yourself occupied in entertaining ways, as the Solar Eclipse lights up your leisure and recreation zone. Creative projects and quirky Aquarian hobbies are particularly favoured. On the weekend, think twice before you blurt out something controversial that you later regret. Instead, use the sparky Venus/ Uranus energy to brainstorm creative ideas. Then come up with an inspiring vision or a progressive plan that you can share and develop with others.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

@CanberraLive2CC

2cc.net.au

The Solar Eclipse encourages you to adjust your home/work ratio so it’s much more balanced and family-friendly. With Mercury reversing through your home zone (until June 22) do all you can to bypass domestic drama and repair family friction. It’s time for Pisceans to sit down and smoke the peace pipe! But a relative, housemate or close friend could bamboozle you with some confusing information.

So make sure you check the facts thoroughly before you respond.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2021

22 CityNews June 3-9, 2021

Solution next edition

Solutions – May 27 edition Sudoku medium No. 292

LEON DELANEY

Crossword No. 783

OPEN 7 DAYS Cooleman Court, Weston Creek | 6293 4677 | songland.com.au

Has a close relationship been going down a rocky road? Thursday’s Solar Eclipse encourages you to build bridges and start communicating again. You’ll have to be proactive and patient though, as you make the first move and are prepared to wait for long-term results. On Friday, Mars transits into your education zone (until July 29). So your motto for the week is from birthday great, writer William Butler Yeats: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

GARDENING

Make the best use of fallen leaves DECIDUOUS trees are shedding the last of their summer coat for brilliant autumn shades before they fall.

Even on the ground, the different colours can resemble a beautiful Persian carpet.

This week I was asked, “Should we rake leaves off the garden beds?

Will they smother smaller plants?” It depends on the leaves.

Most of the trees in our garden have smaller leaves, such as silver birch or Japanese maples. I have no hesitation in leaving these in the garden to rot down over winter, as they add valuable extra nutrients to the soil.

The larger leaves of plane or oak trees can cause a bit of a problem with their density. Oak trees are considered to have the highest nitrogen content of any leaf. I collect these with the mower, at the same time shredding them into smaller particles, which in turn go directly onto the garden as mulch. One problem with collecting oak leaves

is the acorns, which have a habit of germinating with ease. A warning if you have any difficulty walking; these can roll underfoot and cause a fall.

Larger leaves can also go in the compost heap. However, with the smaller leaves left on the garden beds, I spread a thin layer of composted horse manure and dig it lightly into the soil. I get the manure from the stables at 7 Beltana Road, Pialligo, where it’s available by the bag or trailer load.

When potting new plants or repotting, I use my special mix of one-third sieved compost out of my heap, one third of the composted horse manure, and one-third of cheap potting mix. I make sure no artificial/chemical fertilisers have been added to the latter. The plants will grow with the speed of lightning. The final boost: watering in the new plants with liquid seaweed fertiliser.

I’M still being asked, “is it too late to plant deciduous trees and shrubs?” as I usually recommend planting in autumn. Deciduous trees

Chris’ Trees Wow! The stunning autumn colour of Chinese pistachio. are now bare of leaves and winter is a perfect time to plant. I recall visiting the famous Salisbury Cathedral in the south of England just before Christmas with several feet of snow on the ground. The gardeners were busy shovelling back the snow to plant trees.

However, please check on the ultimate size of any tree. A favourite for autumn colour is Chinese pistachio, or Pistacia chinensis, but they can grow to 20 metres!

A few quick facts of this popular tree, planted on streets worldwide. The timber is valued for furniture making. In China, where it originates, the seed is used in the production of biodiesel.

counting from the base of the plant.

MANY lemons fruit in winter - ours, in a large pot, have been heavy with fruit for weeks. When harvesting, cut them off, leaving a piece of stalk, and store in a box in a dry spot between thick sheets of newspaper. Apples can be stored the same way, except keep them a few centimetres apart, not touching.

HYDRANGEAS can be pruned anytime over the next couple of months, taking out any older wood that has turned grey. Thin out the centre and healthy green can be cut back to three leaf nodes [joints]

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Adventureland playground

Rhino Encounter

an unforgettable

wild experience!

Canberra’s National Zoo and Aquarium features a combined aquarium, metropolitan zoo and easily walked open range section, as well as amazing up-close and personal animal encounters and tours.

Explore Adventureland, a truly unique playground featuring a total of 55 activities including various sized fibreglass animal sculptures for children aged 2-12 to explore and play on.

You can also experience the unforgettable with an overnight stay at the internationally recognised Jamala Wildlife Lodge. There is truly something for everyone at the National Zoo and Aquarium!

For your convenience, gift vouchers and memberships are available online through our website www.nationalzoo.com.au or you can purchase these over the counter.

Stay at jamala wildlife lodge

999 Lady Denman Drive, Canberra ACT Zoo 02 6287 8400 Jamala 02 6287 8444

www.nationalzoo.com.au www.jamala.com.au