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NEWS

Son’s poetic salute to memory of Steve Doszpot

By Lily

PASS “I THINK it will be poetic in some ways, that I’ll be able to do this in honour of my dad,” says Adam Doszpot, 47.

After two years of covid-related delays, Adam is ready for the Shitbox Rally to begin, raising money for the Cancer Council along the way.

“Through my late father, Steve, I have a personal connection to the Cancer Council. He died from liver cancer about four years ago and it is not a pleasant disease,” he says.

Steve Doszpot OAM was a popular member of the Legislative Assembly from 2008 to 2017. He represented the electorates of Brindabella (2008-2012), Molonglo (2012-2016) and Kurrajong (2016 to his death in 2017). He had previously fundraised with the Cancer Council himself.

“I was very close with my father. He was a very passionate person around community and family, and was passionate about doing the right thing in raising money for charity, so I feel that this is a good way to honour my dad’s legacy.”

The Shitbox Rally will begin on

Steve Doszpot. a month since 2020.

“But we chat multiple times a week on the phone and via text. There is a long list of things to do before you go away,” says Adam.

Phillip has been in the automotive industry for almost 16 years, “but that Charity rally driver Adam Doszpot... “It was quite challenging finding the car.” Photo: Issy Doszpot doesn’t necessarily make March 26, travelling from Hay, NSW, time with a friend doing the rally, havme a car person,” he says. to Adelaide via William Creek, finish- ing fun travelling Australia; to me, it’s “I think I’m most excited about ing up on April 1 and travelling a total a perfect combination.” the challenge of completing the rally of 3500 kilometres.

Adam, and co-driver Phillip Fairh- safely and with the car, hopefully, “It’s mainly in outback SA, a lot of all have named their team “Poo and a mostly intact.” red dirt, potentially a lot of wildflow- Half Men”, and will drive the course in The rally vehicle price limit is a ers this time of year,” says Adam. their fittingly “poo brown” 1998 SAAB maximum of $1000.

“It’s actually one of the other rea- 93 – “SAABastian”.

Unfortunately, Adam says, secondsons I wanted to do the rally. I’ve never Phillip, 40, lives in Sydney and, apart hand car prices have gone up signifiactually been to that part of Australia, from lockdowns, has been planning cantly throughout COVID-19. so raising money for charity, spending with Adam, in person, for one weekend “It was quite challenging finding

INDEX

Since 1993: Volume 28, Number: 11

Arts & Entertainment 31-33 Canberra Matters 15 Cinema & Streaming 32 Crossword & Sudoku 34 Dining 33 Garden 35 Horoscopes 34 Letters 19 News 3-20 Politics 8 Sport 16 Whimsy 17

Cover: Bonnie and Steve Carter with baby Evie.

Photo: Holly Treadaway.

Story Page 6.

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.

Managing director: Kate Meikle, kate@citynews.com.au Sales director: Tracey Avery, 0477 939999 Senior advertising account executive: David Cusack, 0435 380656 Advertising account executives: Damien Klemke, 0439 139001 Tim Spare, 0423 381691 Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au Journalists: Belinda Strahorn, belinda@citynews.com.au; Nick Overall, nick@citynews.com.au; Lily Pass, lily@citynews.com.au Arts editor: Helen Musa, helen@citynews.com.au Production manager: Janet Ewen Graphic Designer: Issy Doszpot Proof reader: Glenda Anderson

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the car. You’re mechanically allowed to maintain it, but any major improvements or fixes, unless they’re for safety reasons, are considered part of the $1000,” he says.

“We have to have additional fuel, carry additional water, we’ve put a roof rack on top and we’ve got an awning out to the side. We’ve also got to take all our camping equipment with us as well, so it’ll be a tight fit.”

If worse comes to worst and the car doesn’t make it, “the rally doesn’t end there. We get to ride in a bus, but it’s really a ride of shame; ideally, you’ll make it to the end.”

Adam and Phillip have raised more than $11,000 of their $15,000 target.

“Phillip and I are friends through our children. Our kids went to the same school together and we’ve kept a friendship going for about five years now.

“Phillip asked me to do the rally and the rest is history.”

They’ve started a Facebook page to give updates and are posting content regularly with the promise of daily updates from the rally.

At the end of the rally the cars are auctioned for final donations, but Adam and Phillip intend to buy their already beloved SAAB back with the intent of doing at least one more rally.

Donations to 2021spring.shitboxrally. com.au/poo-a-half-men

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SEVEN DAYS

For this is what Stephen calls the muppet show IN Australian slang, a “muppet” is defined as an “incompetent or foolish person”; the UK definition colourfully expands this to “idiot” and “plonker”.

Breakfast radio announcer Stephen Cenatiempo, on 2CC, is no wilting violet in his use of angry adjectives and prickly verbs, and is given – frequently – to dismissing the ACT government collectively and individually as muppets.

It was confronting when I first heard him use it, but as the months since the last ACT election grind interminably on and we live with this cloth-eared government’s nation-leading worst hospital waiting times, shocking levels of homelessness, heartlessness in social housing, the toxic prison and its cruel treatment of indigenous people, I’m starting to see Stephen’s point.

For instance, in recent days Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith was veritably spinning with excitement at the presence of two cranes on the site of the long-overdue $624 million Canberra Hospital Expansion.

Careful reading of former chief minister Jon Stanhope’s relentless columns in “CityNews” on the abysmal state of ACT health spending remind us that this expansion is already undercooked for the future needs of the territory. The government is building a sop to a problem it shamefully sidestepped for a decade, more recently reefing millions out of our health system, to throw at their obsessive tram plans.

There was the usual forelocking tugging to the unions with the minister blah-blahing about 500 construction jobs “helping to turbo-charge the territory’s economic recovery from COVID-19”. Stop laughing.

And the muppet moment, Stephen?

Rachel says Canberrans can help “Name the Cranes” (seriously) by voting on the shortlist of 10 suggestions (Crane McCraneface, anyone?).

To be fair, the competition is something those poor bastards stuck in a public-health surgical queue or sleeping in the back of their cars could use their time thinking about, Minister. The rest of us would like less muppetry.

FOR months I have been taking photos of new-age, covid litter – the face mask.

I’ve snapped them in Lake Burley Griffin, in parks, suburbs, roads and footpaths, always

transfixed by the two things that have consistently occurred; one, they’ve been discarded and two, they are always socially distanced from any other litter.

But here’s a sobering statistic: in 2020, more than three billion single-use masks were thrown out across the globe every day.

However, locally, Clean Up Australia Day volunteers have been tallying the number of face masks removed from the environment to give us some idea of the problem’s size in Australia.

Pip Kiernan, chair of Clean Up Australia, says there’s no doubt the amount of plastic waste has been surging because of the pandemic. But there’s no data to confirm the number of face masks in the environment.

She says plastics in disposable masks can take up to 450 years to break down and that research tells us littered single-use masks could be releasing chemical pollutants and

29 Mar - 3 Apr

nano-plastics into the environment. “Over the past two years there have been disturbing cases of seabirds and wildlife found tangled up in carelessly discarded single-use face masks,” she says.

“We can’t cover up the problem – now is the time to act. Our environmental issues have not gone away because of covid, rather they have escalated because of the mountain of rubbish we’ve created.”

IN a poignant collision of circumstances, I need to share a background story about the piece on Page 3 (“Son’s poetic salute to Steve Doszpot”). Adam Doszpot is raising funds for the Cancer Council by entering, with a

mate, in the upcoming Shitbox Rally through outback SA. His father, Steve, a good friend of mine, was a dedicated MLA from 2008 until he sadly died from liver cancer in 2017.

A couple of months ago, Steve’s Issy Doszpot. granddaughter, Issy Doszpot, a talented graphic design graduate, joined the “CityNews” team.

Through her, I heard about Adam’s plans and set reporter Lily Pass on to the story.

Issy was assigned to take the accompanying photos of her dad and the car, which is unusual in this business.

More unusual was that Issy also made up the page featuring her father, her picture and her grandad. She did it perfectly.

Ian Meikle is the editor of “CityNews” and can be heard on the “CityNews Sunday Roast” news and interview program, 2CC, 9amnoon. There are more of his columns on citynews.com.au

"a flurry of excitement, nostalgia and laughter…"

MOTHER AND SON Written by Geoffrey Atherden AM

THEQ.NET.AU 4 CityNews March 17-23, 2022

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NEWS / cover story

Couple turns baby losses into help for others

By Lily

PASS HIGGINS couple Bonnie and Steve Carter decided to try and start a family but their first baby, Grace, was stillborn at 19 weeks.

She was diagnosed with a severe heart deformity and while Steve and Bonnie knew they had a sick baby, they didn’t understand the extent.

“We were pretty naive,” says Bonnie, 35.

This was in 2016 and the couple were in steady jobs, Bonnie as a public servant and Steve as a tradesman, and prepared to do anything to bring Grace home safely.

They were sent to Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney with the hope that it could be fixed.

“Grace had hypoplastic left heart syndrome. She had half a heart, and the right side of the heart was messed up too, with leaky valves.”

Bonnie was induced at 19 weeks and the doctors told her it was just bad luck, they were right to try again.

“We started trying again a year later, gave ourselves time to grieve and we fell pregnant. You just don’t think anything bad can happen again,” says Bonnie.

Steve and Bonnie Carter with their “rainbow” baby Evie.

Their second baby, Matilda, had a perfect heart at the 18-week scan, and they were excited.

“At 23 weeks, I went to hospital on my own for a standard appointment.

I’d felt Matilda kick earlier that day so I wasn’t worried,” says Bonnie.

The midwife couldn’t hear a heartbeat and brushed it off as machine error, so Bonnie was moved into the sonography room.

“They did the full scan and that’s when they said there’s no heartbeat. It was just like that and I screamed the place down,” she says.

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Photo: Holly Treadaway

Matilda was stillborn at 23 weeks, and the autopsy showed that she was perfectly healthy. The possible issue was a poor placenta that stopped her from growing.

“We were in the minority of minorities again,” says Bonnie.

Throughout the losses, Steve said the support was primarily for the mother, and he felt helpless.

“You feel so helpless. Everyone was fussing over Bonnie and I was just in the corner. What could I do to help? Who was going to help me?” says Steve, 41.

Since then, the couple, who have been married for eight years, have had two more losses, early miscarriages.

After the loss of Grace, Bonnie and Steve worked hard to create change and raise funds, beginning with the City2Surf. They raised $2800.

Through Bears of Hope, 28 teddy bears and packages were tagged with Grace’s name, to be given to families going through a similar loss.

Bonnie and Steve have worked with Bears of Hope since, hosting events such as a bereaved mothers’ high tea, as well as raising money for different charities through events with a focus on fathers.

“We bought a race car just after we lost Grace and Steve participated in the HeartKids HillClimb, that was a way of Steve regaining his sense of self again, and giving back at the same time, and then we did the Father’s Day car show as well,” says Bonnie.

The Father’s Day car show was small because of COVID-19, so Bonnie and Steve have plans to make it a bigger event as the pandemic settles.

“It’ll help men realise they’re not alone. If Steve gets up there on a microphone and says a few words and one of the dads in the audience goes home feeling a little bit better, that’s what it’s all about,” says Bonnie.

She says she’s grateful for all the awards she has won, most recently the medal of the Order of Australia, but

she feels guilty.

“Steve is just as much part of the journey. He should be up there getting a medal with me. When I won the Lifeline Rising Woman of Spirit Award I told Steve he was the Rising Man of Spirit.”

When they lost Matilda, they wanted something different for her funeral, so they asked for donations for the Canberra Hospital Foundation.

“It was Steve’s idea. I can’t remember how much we fundraised, but it was enough for us to renovate a whole room in the Fetal Medicine Unit.”

They repainted it, put in new flooring, furniture, shelving and plants.

“We don’t do it for recognition,” says Steve, and Bonnie agrees.

They have worked on bringing an Early Pregnancy Loss Certificate to the ACT. On October 15, for International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, they have organised for buildings around Canberra to be lit up in pink and blue, and they have spoken at a Senate enquiry into stillbirth research and education, which became the National Stillbirth Action Plan.

And, in 2021, they got their rainbow baby Evie.

“A rainbow reminds you that there was a storm before, but now the sun is out again,” says Bonnie.

“We’ve made the most perfect baby.

Maybe we’ve taken our bullets for society and it’s our turn,” says Steve.

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Here they come, despite no date

By Michael

MOORE EVEN though the election date has not yet been selected by the Prime Minister, there is no doubt that the campaign is in full swing. Independents have not waited, with David Pocock and Kim Rubenstein formally launching their Senate campaigns in the last couple of weeks. Meanwhile, the Labor and Liberal leaders are dashing across the country grabbing as much publicity as possible.

The floods in Queensland and NSW may have distracted from the election campaign along with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, this has not stopped the Liberal party leaders Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton’s attempts to paint Labor, and leader Anthony Albanese in particular, as inadequate on defence issues and soft on China which have not really been successful.

In SA, where there are fixed four-year terms, the election is well underway with that State’s constituents overloaded between state and federal issues. South Australians go to the polls on Saturday, March 19. At least this leaves time for the concerns to separate a little.

However, it does raise the issue as to why the members of the federal parliament have not yet adopted fixed four-year terms. This is now common across the other jurisdictions in Australia.

As the independents contemplate what influence they might have in the case of a minority government, one of the key issues should be this change.

The outcome of the federal election is really unpredictable. Even when disagreeing with Scott Morrison, it is hard not to admire the skill he brings to marketing himself and the Liberal Coalition.

Labor identifies the spin, lack of complete honesty and misrepresentation by the Prime Minister again and again. But he seems coated in Teflon.

Labor has sat on its laurels long enough. The early tactic of sitting back and allowing the government to destroy itself has not proved effective.

Heaven knows that there were enough scandals.

However, it is now time to offer a genuine alternative.

Even though looks ought not be a factor, the first attempt is to improve the image of the leader. Anthony Albanese

March 29 is so important. The federal government will bring down its Budget. With the Budget presented to the parliament, the stage will be set for an election that will be a contest of ideas. looks so much fitter and ready for a fight. He has revealed that he has hit his target of 80kg after losing 18kg by cutting alcohol and carbs.

It is not enough to look the part. A promise of spending two per cent of GDP on defence has foiled this issue for the Morrison government. Just how Labor achieves the goal remains to be seen. Appealing to its own heartland, Labor has promised to spend the best part of half a billion dollars on improving education.

There is an overlap with health. Half of the money will be spent on upgrading ventilation in schools to minimise the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses. The rest will be earmarked to support the mental health of students, many of whom have struggled after returning to school following two years of disruption through the pandemic.

It remains to be seen just how fundamental the issue of climate change will be in this campaign. Labor has it as a central issue for the election.

The independent and Greens candidates in Canberra are pushing very strongly for serious action, arguing that neither major party goes far enough on the issue.

Education, health, defence and the environment are sure to be issues that will influence voters. There will also be issues such as aged care and infrastructure that will have an impact.

However, being able to pay for them underpins the campaigns of the major parties. This is why March 29 is so important. The federal government will bring down its Budget. Two days later Labor will have the opportunity to reply.

With the Budget presented to the parliament, the stage will be set for an election that optimistically will be a contest of ideas rather than falling into the sort of divisiveness that, unfortunately, marred the most recent election in the US. More of Michael Moore at citynews.com.au

NEWS

Exhibition where the trains always run on time

By Lily

PASS RON Geeves, 80, has been a member of the Canberra Model Railway Club for 22 years and he is busy helping to prepare for its upcoming exhibition.

The club was founded in 1960, with only 12 train-enthusiast members as part of the group. Now, the team of 50 is preparing for the club’s 33rd Canberra Model Railway Exhibition at the University of Canberra High School, Kaleen.

“All up, we expect to exhibit approximately 30 layouts, modelling a variety of scales and showing landforms from Australia, the US, the UK and Japan, plus Lego trains,” says Ron. In his younger years, Ron caught a bus and three trains to and from school every day, for four and a half years.

“I got used to train travel and learnt to like anything about trains and rail travel.”

Ron worked as a school teacher across NSW and the ACT for 52 years, before retiring at 70.

But his love for trains dates back to his father, a railway worker who fired and drove steam locomotives, and die-

Chris Neil, 75, left and Ron Geeves, 80… “I remembered that I’d been a model-train kid, so I decided to try it again. I came along and I was hooked,” says Chris.

Phil Felstead, 95… became interested in trains when he was only 17.

sel and electric trains.

Ron’s passion grew as he helped restore 1923 vintage railmotors at Cooma on a tourist railway. He eventually became a qualified guard and driver of those trains.

At the Model Railway Club he continues to share his love of trains.

“The club is a welcoming environment to develop skills in modelling, to learn how to build and operate a model railway, learn electronics and layout wiring, as well as building realistic scenery,” he says.

model-train kid, so I decided to try it again. I came along and I was hooked.”

Phil Felstead, 95, feels the same. He became interested in trains when he was only 17.

“It’s not always about railroads.

Everybody’s got something that they are pretty good at,” says Phil.

He points out that many people say they “play trains”, but Ron clarifies saying there’s an important distinction. “We operate them”.

“Neither of my wives were interested, and we’ve got quite a few members

But there’s also companionship.

Vice-president Chris Neil, 75, says the club is really a men’s shed.

“We find that a lot of members come along and instead of actually doing anything, they sit down and they talk and eat biscuits and drink coffee,” he says.

Chris has been a member for six years, after retiring from aeronautical engineering.

“Once I retired, I was looking for things to do so that I didn’t get bored, and I remembered that I’d been a

who don’t have space at home, but we know we can come here,” says Phil.

The Canberra Model Railway Club is a hobby group, but the members agree, it’s also a social group with a sense of humour.

“One day I was here at the club and I said to Chris, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to do a railway layout of the Lithgow Zig-Zag, and next bloody thing you know he’s on the computer taking over,” says Phil.

“I just supervised and told Chris what he was doing wrong.”

The Zig-Zag layout will be present at the exhibition, along with their main layout the “McEvoy Junction”, “Hybrid” and their U-shaped layout “Charlestown”.

Ron says there will be five information displays and modelling clinics, including Magnorail and Canberra Railway Museum.

“Underneath a Magnorail there is a motor and a track with little magnets on it, and under the vehicle there’s a magnet also, and it follows around the path. We have a bus, a cyclist and a boat going around,” he says.

The exhibition will also have 15 modelling and hobby equipment suppliers, including model trains, scenery items and modelling items for sale.

Canberra Model Railway Club Exhibition, March 26-27, 104 Baldwin Drive, Kaleen. More at cmrci.info

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SOCIAL HOUSING

Where’s public housing’s promised $500m gone?

That such a deterioration in the provision of social and indeed affordable housing of any description, has occurred in Canberra under a Labor/Greens coalition, and Labor and Greens ministers, is as remarkable as it is disappointing,” write JON STANHOPE and Dr KHALID AHMED. IN a previous article, on December 1, based on data published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), we noted that the ACT government had, in the period from 2011 to 2020, reduced the number of units of public housing by 874 while the territory’s population increased by 63,000.

Two months later the Productivity Commission released its annual Report on Government Services (ROGS), which reveals that the number of public housing dwellings in the ACT reduced by a further 126 in 2020-21.

The Productivity Commission has also reported that, in fact, the number of households in social housing in the ACT decreased over the last year by 1.8 per cent, the largest decrease of all jurisdictions at a time when the ACT also had the least affordable rents in Australia.

The ROGS and its dataset comprise 45 tables and are sobering

reading. It is difficult to find any aspect that sheds positive light on the ACT’s performance in the provision of public housing over time or compared to other jurisdictions.

Unsurprisingly, the report shows a significant increase in the number of greatest need applicants. From 2017 to 2021, the number increased by 118 per cent, which is the second highest after Victoria (139 per cent).

However, the Victorian government has responded by increasing its expenditure on public housing, while expenditure in the ACT decreased.

In 2020-21 alone, net recurrent expenditure on social housing in the ACT decreased by 3.1 per cent, while nationally it increased by 3.4 per cent. Victoria recorded the largest increase (30.6 per cent), followed by the NT (19.9 per cent) and NSW (6.2 per cent).

Going forward, there are further cuts to social housing

Growing and renewing public housing? Between 2011 and 2020, the ACT’s population increased by 63,000 while public housing stock declined by 874 dwellings.

Photo: Paul Costigan embedded in the ACT Budget.

As we have previously pointed out, the 2021-22 Budget forecasts a decrease of 4.1 per cent per annum on average in expenditure on Social Protection, which includes among other things, expenditure on public housing.

The ROGS data shows that public housing allocations in the ACT are indeed highly targeted with 99.1 per cent of the households on low income in 2021, an increase from 98.7 per cent in 2018, and are the second highest behind NSW (99.3 per cent).

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12 CityNews March 17-23, 2022

While this may reflect an “efficient” use of existing stock, it also points to a higher need for support services. However, the government’s recent budgetary allocations do not respond to that need.

The Productivity Commission’s reporting framework is comprehensive, encompassing access, amenity, dwelling location, customer satisfaction, match of dwelling location to household size etcetera, besides the usual measures on expenditure and stock numbers.

In 2021, the overcrowding rate in ACT public housing was 4.8 per cent compared to a national average of 4.2 per cent, and an increase from 4.5 per cent in 2017. SA (2.1 per cent), NSW (3.2 per cent) and WA (4.3 per cent) recorded lower rates of overcrowding.

Overcrowding rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households in public housing are much higher across all jurisdictions, ranging from 5.3 per cent in NSW to 12.8 per cent in the NT. In the ACT this rate increased from 6.8 per cent in 2017 to 7.5 per cent in 2021.

On the other hand, the proportion of stock which is underutilised increased from 17.4 per cent in 2017 to 18.4 per cent in 2021, the second highest of

all jurisdictions. The increase in overcrowding together with the increase in underutilisation highlights an increasing mismatch between tenants’ needs and stock allocation.

The ROGS data also highlights a significant deterioration in “dwelling condition” in ACT public housing which is defined as: “The proportion of households living in houses of an acceptable standard. A house is assessed as being of an acceptable standard if it has at least four working facilities (for washing people, for washing clothes/bedding, for storing/preparing food, and sewerage) and not more than two major structural problems.”

In the ACT dwelling condition declined from 80.2 per cent of households in 2018 to 73.4 per cent in 2021. The declines in dwelling condition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households was more significant from 76 per cent in 2018 to 60 per cent in 2021.

Likewise, for households with a member with a disability, dwelling condition declined from 82.3 per cent in 2018 to 69 per cent in 2021.

Not surprisingly, customer satisfaction in the ACT, as reported by ROGS, has also dropped significantly in recent years. In 2016, customer satisfaction was 74.8 per cent compared to the national average of 72.1 per cent. In 2021, this had dropped to 63.2 per cent (the lowest of all jurisdictions) compared to the national average of 71.9 per cent.

It is perplexing that the decrease in public housing stock and the decline in performance in the ACT have occurred despite a raft of “flagship” announcements and promises by the ACT government on investment in public housing in successive Budgets over several years totalling more than $500 million in relation to its Public Housing Renewal Program.

The ROGS data does not reveal

any such investment in public housing in the ACT. In reality, as we noted previously, the program was clearly aimed at freeing up land for sale and redevelopment, which has certainly boosted the government’s coffers, but has resulted in enormous distress and dislocated tenants from their communities and services.

In the following note to one of the performance measures, namely, the turnaround time for vacant stock, the ROGS report alludes to the renewal program being a cause of the deterioration in turnaround times of 25.9 days in 2017 to 81.2 days in 2020, and 49.9 days in 2021: “For the ACT, the increase in turnaround time for 2019-20 has a number of reasons including the capital redevelopment program, longer allocation times for new dwellings to ensure they meet both housing and community needs of applicants, and time taken to determine management arrangements for new dwellings (eg properties to be managed by NGOs)”.

Coincidentally, at the time of writing, Emma Campbell, CEO of ACTCOSS, blasted as “heartless, cruel and callous” a decision by ACT Minister for Housing Yvette Berry to evict more than 300 public housing tenants from their homes in inner Canberra in order that the houses could be sold on the open market.

It is quite clear that public and/or social housing is an increasingly low priority of the current ACT government.

Investment in such housing not only reflects the values of a government, but also has well established substantial economic benefits.

That such a deterioration in the provision of social and indeed affordable housing of any description, has occurred in Canberra under a Labor/ Greens coalition, and Labor and Greens ministers, is as remarkable as it is disappointing.

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BRIEFLY An open day in the air CANBERRA Airport Open Day will be held 9am-3pm, on Sunday, April 3. Entry is free, however tickets are required. A free park-and-ride shuttle service will operate every 15 minutes from Russell Hill and Civic bus station. The day is supported by the Historical Aviation Restoration Society and visitors are invited to go to the western side of the airfield and climb aboard a modern aircraft or enjoy aerial displays from Paul Bennet and the Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes.

Free taste of croquet THE Queanbeyan Croquet Club is holding a free come-and-try session, 10am-noon, on Saturday, April 2. The club says everyone is welcome and players should wear flatsoled shoes and a hat. All equipment will be provided and there’ll be tea and coffee.

The club is at 28 Farrer Place (opposite the showground). More at queanbeyancroquet.org.au

Book fair returns AFTER two years of covid cancellations, the Woden Seniors’ popular BIG Book Fair will return to 12 Corinna St, Woden, 10am4pm, over the weekend of March 25-27.

The club promises to be full of pre-loved, quality books, as well as magazines, games, jigsaws, vinyl records, CDs and DVDs and beautiful watercolour paintings.

The vast majority of fiction and non-fiction books will be $2.50 each and children’s books, DVDs, and CDs at $1 apiece. Entry is by gold-coin donation.

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Foster Care Subsidy available with additional supports to be considered. *Name changed and model used for privacy

COME AND CHEER JACK ON IN LIFE! For a one on one information session, please call WEFOSTER (1300 933 678) or enquire via acttogether.org.au ACT Together is a consortium of: • Barnardos Australia • Australian Childhood Foundation • Oz Child ABN 18 068 557 906 | A Company Limited by Guarantee | Registered Charity | ACTT_22_13352

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A Step Up for Our Kids Out of Home Care Strategy 2015-2020 is an ACT Government funded initiative

CANBERRA MATTERS

NCA propaganda spin is as simple as ABC WHEN a government exercises significant influence over media outlets, propaganda and alternative facts easily become the message that people hear.

Knowing how easy it is to manipulate favoured media commentators makes it easier to make spin sound credible.

On February 23, the local ABC radio morning program became, I believe, part of the propaganda by the National Capital Authority to justify the ACT government seriously messing with Commonwealth Avenue and off ramps and to allow the West Basin tram to be built.

The interview with the NCA CEO, Sally Barnes, commenced by asking when was the NCA going to approve the raising of London Circuit. That question brilliantly set the tone for the interview. What followed was mainly a discussion of side issues.

This 10 minutes of NCA propaganda was premised on the fact that they had already approved the ACT government proposals.

The NCA avoided completely the awkward questions that I believe many of the ABC audience would like to have been asked – how the NCA justifies approving this major road

The ABC studios in Dickson.

Photo: Paul Costigan infrastructure and whether it was happy with another set of frequently changing traffic lights being introduced to Commonwealth Avenue?

The main approval being sought is technically not about whether there should be a tram to West Basin or the massive apartment towers that will follow along most of the west of Commonwealth Avenue. This first stage of the larger proposal is about this major road infrastructure re-alignment of London Circuit and the introduction of traffic lights on to this part of Commonwealth Avenue.

However, the implications are clear. Everyone who knows anything about what is going on understands the real motives at play here. It is about the subsequent over-development of the former West

The NCA avoided the awkward questions that I believe many of the ABC audience would like to have been asked – how the NCA justifies approving the road infrastructure and whether it’s happy with more traffic lights on Commonwealth Avenue?

Basin open spaces. Follow the money!

Taxpayers’ money and public open spaces being privatised. None of this was discussed during the interview.

The discussion then veered on to several matters, and while important to any urban project, were not the main topic. Time was spent debating the proposed lighting of Commonwealth Avenue, how the urban spaces would be designed and a mention of cyclist paths. The interviewer went along with these side matters, allowing most of the time available to be spent on these – rather than serious questions.

During the latter part of the interview, a small comment was made by Sally Barnes that implied that these changes were formerly approved

in 2006. She was not questioned on what she meant by this. This would be that infamous NCA’s “The Griffin Legacy” document – launched at the time with much fanfare as if it was a celebration of the Griffins. That weighty document contains the NCA’s interpretations of those visions to propose questionable developments in key areas around the lake.

The Griffins’ early 20th century plan had the city centre where Capital Hill (Vernon Circle) is today. That city centre was to spread out to areas near the lake – with parklands beside the lake. Thanks to later planning decisions, the city centre, Civic, is to the east of where the Griffins placed it. Due to later 20th century road decisions, it is unlikely to ever be joined to the lake. This reality is glossed over by the NCA and the ACT government in their spin.

The ACT government’s new West Basin developments will be a separated apartment-tower suburb.

This development will be more of the tired late 20th century developerdriven model with little innovative design to align with the complex 21st century heritage, social and environmental issues. A massive

missed opportunity.

This blatant manipulation of the Griffins’ visions and early plans to justify West Basin and Commonwealth Avenue developments, the tram, the messing up of London Circuit and Commonwealth Avenue, and the new traffic lights is yet another cherry-picking exercise by the NCA and ACT government.

These issues were not raised on air by the ABC interviewer. That February interview with the NCA broadcast the clear message that all this expensive stupidity is justified and there is nothing to be questioned.

There are many reasons why people do not bother with local ABC radio – this piece of what seemed to me like propaganda pretending to be an informed interview confirmed that view.

Paul Costigan is an independent commentator and consultant on the visual arts, photography, urban design, environmental issues and everyday matters. Read more of his columns on citynews.com.au

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SPORT / Paul Goriss

Coach Goriss wants to win flag before he goes AFTER coaching the Capitals to two WNBL titles and serving as an assistant coach for the Australian national team, there isn’t much Paul Goriss hasn’t achieved in Australian basketball.

He is still as passionate as ever about his role here in Canberra and has the Caps in the mix to capture a third this season.

When the chance to test his skills in the US came up, Goriss knew he had to take the leap and seize a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I am not the type of coach or person that plans anything out because you never know where your coaching journey is going to take you,” said Goriss.

“My advice has always been: Don’t plan, do your best job, coach to your best ability, learn and do the best thing by your players.

“The WNBA is the best league in the world for women’s basketball but also it is the next step on the pathway when asking ‘what is next after WNBL?’ “It was an aim but I never thought it would come to fruition.”

It won’t be the first time the Capitals’ mentor has coached WNBA

Coach Paul Goriss… “Don’t plan, do your best job, coach to your best ability, learn and do the best thing by your players.”

Photo: Davey Barber players, as the Canberra club has previously signed US import players including Brittney Sykes and Mistie Bass.

Goriss wouldn’t be surprised if feedback from some of those former Caps featured in the decision to offer him the WNBA role, at a still unidentified club.

“I did an interview with the general manager and the head coach, but I know some players and other people have told me they did their due diligence,” said Goriss.

“They spread their net far and wide speaking to a lot of people about me as

a coach and as a person.

“It is nice to know that people must have said some nice things about me! It is always about the players for me, they are number one. It is how I approach my coaching and the game, and how I build relationships.”

Goriss won’t be the first Capitals coach to take their skills to the US. He’ll be following the path set out by former Caps coach and current University of Canberra director of sport Carrie Graf.

Graf coached the Phoenix Mercury in 2004, after spending four years with the

franchise as an assistant coach in the late ‘90s and early 2000s.

Goriss says Graf’s experience, guidance and support to leave the Capitals to chase the American dream has been invaluable.

“I spoke to Graffy when this opportunity came up about WNBL v WNBA and what some of the good and the bad that could come from being in that position,” said Goriss.

“I’m also lucky that I have also had some good imports here over the last couple of years to be able to get a real insight from them about what the WNBA is like.”

Goriss will be on a flight to the US to begin his new role whenever the Capitals’ season ends, but given his team’s form this year it may be a case of later rather than sooner.

The coach says securing that title is his number one priority while he is still at the club.

“That is still my focus and what we are working towards here, even though I’ll be taking off as soon as we are done with the finals series – whenever that may be,” said Goriss.

“My number one priority is preparing this team and helping these play-

ers and doing the best job that I can to go out winning a championship.”

Win or lose this year, Goriss will leave the Capitals with an impressive record including the back-to-back WNBL championships in 2018/19 and 2019/20. He is proud to have helped make the Capitals regular contenders after the club went more than a decade without a title.

“I didn’t like using the word ‘rebuild’ when I first came in. I think I used the word ‘refresh,” said Goriss of the early days of his tenure.

“The club had great history from Graffy’s days with their championships that they had won previously, so I knew the club had seen better days and could get back to that past glory.

“For me, rebuilding the program respectfully and doing it the right way with recruiting good people who are hard workers, the right character fit and going to fit our chemistry and our culture that we have built here over the last couple of years.”

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WHIMSY

There’s a word or three for foreign invaders I WONDER if those who complain about the British invasion of Australia are aware of the number of times Britain itself was invaded?

My particular interest is the influence of invasions on the language spoken by the inhabitants.

Invasion has certainly had a major impact on the development of modern English – both from Britain being invaded and then invading other countries in turn – and explains why English contains so many “foreign” words.

In turn, English has affected most other languages. Sometimes you can even pick up the gist of a foreign conversation from the number of English words used, as with modern Hindi.

Before the Roman invasion in 55 BC, the inhabitants of Britain spoke a Celtic dialect. Although the Roman commanders spoke educated Latin, most soldiers in the Roman Empire came from Africa, France, Germany, Spain and the Middle East and their common language was a basic pidgin Latin.

Classical Latin did not spread widely in Britain until St Augustine arrived in 597 AD to promote Christianity.

That’s where we get such terms as

As the British Empire expanded, it brought in words from other languages such as Indian ‘taboo’ and ‘pukka’, and Egyptian ‘elephant’ and ‘ebony’.

Here come the Normans… a scene from the Bayeux Tapestry depicting mounted Norman soldiers attacking Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. per se (in itself) and inter alia (among others).

Later, the Angles, Saxons and Jutes invaded Britain from northern Europe. The language they spoke formed the basis of old English. They gave us the 100 most commonly used words in the English language, including man, child, love, etcetera.

The Vikings began to raid Britain from Scandinavia from the eighth century on, and many stayed, bringing words such as egg, husband, law, and knife.

In 1066 AD, the Normans invaded Britain from France and stayed on as well. They brought French words such as court, parliament, justice,

sovereign etcetera. In more modern times, the English language has borrowed other French words, such as chauffeur and bourgeois.

As the British Empire expanded, it brought in words from other languages such as Indian “taboo” and “pukka”, and Egyptian “elephant” and “ebony”.

When Capt Cook arrived in Australia in 1770 on a Cook’s tour, there were hundreds of indigenous languages – possibly as many as 400. It’s estimated there are now only 46 indigenous languages with 42,300 speakers.

Of the 46, 11 have fewer than 100 speakers while 11 have more than 1000 speakers.

English has absorbed many Aboriginal words, such as: bilby, billabong, boomerang, cooee, coolabah, corella, corroboree, currawong, dingo, kangaroo, koala, kookaburra, mulga, numbat, quokka, quoll, waratah, witchetty, wombat, woomera and yabby.

The end result of all this linguistic mixing is an English language that is very flexible with umpteen ways of saying anything, and a lack of consistency when it comes to rules about grammar.

To close with a Polish anecdote: A Polish farmer is tilling his field when suddenly his plough hits something solid. Upon inspection he sees it’s a golden lamp. He opens the lid.

A genie billows out and says to the humble farmer: “Thank you for

awakening me. I have been trapped for a thousand years and as a reward I will grant you any wish”.

The farmer ponders and says, “I wish for China to invade Poland!”

Perplexed, the genie asks: “But this is Poland, is it not?”

“Yes”, replies the farmer.

The genie can’t figure out why the farmer wants such misfortune brought upon his own people, but works on the wish and, days later, China invades.

Before leaving, the perplexed genie asks the farmer: “Why do you hate Poland so much?”

The farmer responds angrily, “How dare you?! I love Poland more than my own family and life itself.”

Confused, the genie asks: “If that’s the case, why did you wish for China to invade Poland?”

The farmer beams and says conspiratorially: “Because, they had to go through Russia first!”

Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.

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THE GADFLY

Hey, James, the world has a job for you SO, where is James Bond when we need him?

Who better than JB, with his licence to kill, at a time when an unbalanced dictator is threatening the world with a nuclear holocaust? Why doesn’t “C” send him off to the Kremlin to do his stuff?

But since he’s not actually with us, surely our real-life assassins – be they singular or gathered around a drone monitor in the desert near Las Vegas – can do the job for us.

Of course, it probably won’t happen for two main reasons. First is the leader’s club, an agreement of sorts that makes them mutually immune from such direct action.

It’s okay for the US to proudly send the Navy Seals to assassinate Osama bin Laden, who commanded the loyalty and affection of a massive following, but not Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, who bombed and gassed his own people.

They executed Saddam Hussein after a show trial when he wasn’t president anymore, but only because an American president attacked his country with a demonstration of “shock and awe” after some made-up fibs.

The second reason is, we might miss. And if Putin knows he’s a goner he might just order that nuclear holocaust so we all go down together.

But he might do that anyway; and for that we have the authority of no less

Who better than Bond, with his licence to kill, at a time when an unbalanced dictator is threatening the world with a nuclear holocaust? a personage than Dennis Richardson, former Secretary of Defence, head of ASIO and as secretary of DFAT, privy to the operations of our overseas intelligence gathering.

On the ABC TV program “Q&A” he confided that his Russia specialist friends who have been watching Putin on TV are concerned about his “mental health”, especially since he is not restrained by a Politburo as were his predecessors.

Richardson is not alone in having such friends. Others, such as the former British Foreign Secretary, David (now Lord) Owen attributed the Russian President’s recent hostile actions to his abuse of anabolic steroids, which generate aggression in

the abuser. And you need only to recall Putin’s bare-chested horsemanship to catch a glimpse of his testosteroneinduced behaviour.

“That would explain a lot about his demeanor and his rhetoric in the past few months, “Lord Owen’s friends say.

“His brain is reacting to a chemical stimulant that is potentially lethal to himself and makes him a danger to other people.”

So, what to do? What does ethics say about our appropriate response?

Our best guide, perhaps, is the

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classic “Trolley Problem”: There’s a runaway trolley barrelling down the railway tracks. Ahead on the tracks there are five people tied up. You are standing some distance away but next to a lever. If you pull the lever, the trolley will switch to a different set of tracks; but then you notice that there is one person on the side track.

You have only two options – do nothing, in which case the trolley will kill the five people on the main track; or pull the lever, diverting the trolley on to the side track where it will definitely kill one person. Which is the ethical option? What is the right thing to do? Pull the lever or do nothing?

Of course, you and I, dear reader, don’t have to make that choice.

But each time I see the wreckage after a Russian missile has crashed into a Ukrainian apartment building, or a terrified young child and her weeping mother are holding each other in an underground bomb shelter, I can’t help thinking: “Bond…

James Bond”. robert@robertmacklin.com

BRIEFLY Autumn’s antique fair is here THE Rotary Club of Canberra East’s autumn antique and collectables fair, now in its 34th year, will be held at Albert Hall, on Friday, March 18 (6pm9pm), March 19 (10am-5pm) and March 20 (10am-4pm). There will be more than 20 antique exhibitors offering furniture, jewellery, dolls, china, pottery, clocks, watches, military collectables, glassware and artwork. Entry is $10 and $8 concession. Children under 14 are free. Proceeds from the fair will support My Home, a charity providing safe and supported accommodation for people with an enduring mental illness who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Craft and remnant sale THERE’S a craft and remnant sale at St Ninian’s Uniting Church, Lyneham, 10am-2pm, Saturday, March 19. On sale will be handmade items as well as sewing fabrics, yarns, haberdashery, beads, and books. Workshop on Hoshi folded decorations and help with knitting and crochet. Refreshments available.

Hospital plant stall CALVARY Hospital Auxiliary is holding a plant stall featuring a range of succulents, perennials and more at the Jamison Centre, 8am to 4pm, on Thursday, March 31. All funds raised go towards the purchase of equipment for the care and comfort of Calvary Public Hospital patients and staff.

LETTERS

Write to us: editor@citynews.com.au

Tram responsible for the Third World conditions “Neither the opposition nor independents dare to oppose the white elephant responsible for Third World conditions in this wealthy city,” says letter writer ROBIN UNDERWOOD. THANK you, Paul Costigan, for reporting on the rising opposition to the extension of the light rail to Woden at the Woden Valley Community Council public meeting (“Such is life with little transparency in government!”, citynews.com.au, March 5).

People elected a Labor/Greens government because Labor has a tradition of caring for those at the bottom of the income scale and the Greens for caring for the environment.

Instead, this government is running down all essential public services to pay for the light rail, providing slower and, for most people, badly accessible transport, plus creating a large amount of greenhouse gases from building the infrastructure and importing carriages from Spain.

Hardly a week passes when we don’t hear of understaffing of essential services: the latest is the Auditor-General’s report that prison mental health care is “ineffective” due to a lack of psychologists. Our police force is so understaffed that it can no longer attend break-ins, teachers resign because they are totally overworked and we have the longest waiting time in the whole country for hospital emergency treatment, again because of the lack of medical staff.

For those who can’t afford private health insurance, the wait for treatment of so-called non-urgent but often very painful conditions is well over a year, and the continuous rise of our rates is so exorbitant that pensioners have to sell the house they have lived in for most of their life because they can no longer afford these rates.

“But we have won three elections on the tram!” Labor and Greens argue and neither the opposition nor independents dare to oppose the white elephant responsible for Third World conditions in this wealthy city.

The cost of the light rail extension to Woden has appeared in the media as $2 billion without the government contradicting the figure, but most experts expect it will be over $3 billion.

The contract with the private, mostly foreign-owned consortium running the light rail is “commercial-in-confidence” and will never be revealed. But we can be sure that the consortium would only have signed the contract if a good profit for its shareholders was guaranteed, regardless of the number of passengers.

The answer of the Greens when asked

about the massive greenhouse gases produced during this climate emergency by the infrastructure of the light rail extension and importing trams from Spain is that new roads and road repairs produce greenhouse gases, too.

They conveniently overlook that no extra road is required for the extension to Woden or any other tram line, because they always run in the middle of existing main roads. To the contrary, placing the tram tracks and stations in the middle of these roads will damage them.

And, of course, so will the 5,000 heavy trucks required to carry the soil for the raising of London Circuit from an as yet undisclosed location.

Since any half-way intelligent individual – which no doubt our MLAs are – must be aware that now we have electric buses, the expense for the tram is unjustified, some people are starting to wonder who is profiting from it. Surely, the very small percentage of Canberrans living within walking distance of a tram station doesn’t justify the expense all Canberrans have to bear.

Robin Underwood, via citynews.com.au

Here come the trucks IT was recently reported that the former federal Transport Minister, Darren Chester, when last year chairing “a broad-ranging Joint Standing Committee Inquiry into Road Safety”, drew attention to the “second stage of Canberra’s light rail project, which will bring thousands of heavy truck movements into the busiest part of the city”.

So what does the ACT Transport Minister tell us about this quite critical issue? Nix. Richard Johnston, Kingston

No complaints from north I NOTED this morning that the tram I saw pulling into Civic just before 9am was completely full, which is an impressive sight after the dread of lockdown.

So it’s doing its job in a sleek and efficient manner. I’ve never heard anyone from the inner north complain about having this horrible transport option available to them.

Danny Corvini, Deakin

Drones: who’s in charge?

THE article “Drone grocery delivery takes off in Canberra” (citynews.com.au, March 3) makes Coles’ new partnership with drone company

Wing sound like progress.

Not at all. On December 19, 2019, columnist Paul Costigan pointed out in an excellent article in “CityNews” (“Residents’ screams lost against noisy drones” – available online), that delivery drones are a serious intrusion into suburban ambience and character.

The highly invasive character of highpitched drone noise was highlighted in the large bulk of submissions to the ACT Legislative Assembly Inquiry on delivery drones in 2019. These drones made life intolerable for many people in the trial suburb of Bonython, and led to the departure of wildlife including birds. Groups greatly concerned with the bad impacts of drone noise on horses and dogs also submitted to the inquiry.

The grocery delivery service by Wing for Coles will expand to include two new suburbs – Kaleen and Giralang. This is in addition to services already offered in Crace, Franklin, Harrison, Mitchell, and Palmerston.

This is exactly as anticipated by Paul Costigan in 2019. He stated that Wing, a subsidiary of Alphabet, the company that owns Google, is not a small start-up, but a serious player committed to being in Canberra long term.

An earlier report done for Wing by economists at the AlphaBeta consultancy estimated that by 2030 there would be more than 10,000 drone flights daily in the ACT. Adding to the sheer problem of numbers, is the fact that there is no government agency responsible for regulating the noise of these drones. Drone noise levels are well above noise levels allowable at community level such as an air conditioner next door. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s key role is the safety of air navigation, and it is not responsible for aviation impacts on general amenity.

As anyone who has tried to tackle aviation noise will know, drone noise is another case of “pass the buck” in terms of regulatory control. Canberra’s quality of life is now at risk, particularly if this trend is not checked.

Murray May, Cook

The cab didn’t come I RANG Canberra Cabs on the Saturday to book a pick-up for the following Tuesday at 5am to catch a flight to Hobart. The person at the other end of the call assured me that “Priority” had been put next to my name and I would be first off the rank. But come Tuesday morning, nobody showed.

I started to panic. Missing the flight would mean no fare refund and the hotel bookings were non-refundable.

At 5.15am I rang the company to be told in no uncertain terms that, yes, I was on the top of their list with priority, but I’ll have to wait as they were very busy as a lot of people were going to the airport.

When I tried to explain that I was one of those wanting to catch the early flight, she hung up on me. At 5.20am, I took my own car and raced to the airport where, luckily, the flight was running late. Long-stay parking cost me $155. It is no joke.

I wrote to the cab company on my return.

They replied with excuses galore and even had the cheek to offer me a $20 cab voucher for next time I use Canberra Cabs.

I politely told them what they can do with their voucher and now have become an Uber user.

Errol Good, Macgregor

Keeping suburbs cooler IN his column “Politics in small steps to suburban diversity” (CN March 3), Paul Costigan described a “micro-forest” in Downer that consisted entirely of “shrubbery”.

He went on to argue that the key to the biodiversity that the Downer “green thumbs” were trying to encourage was the preservation or planting of large tree species.

Mr Costigan is quite right about this, but he could, and perhaps should, have also argued that establishing micro-forests of large trees in Canberra’s green spaces is the key to keeping our suburbs and our city cooler as global heating progresses relentlessly and as our present federal government supports the burning of still more fossil fuels and the creation of still more greenhouse gases.

of becoming a republic or what would be involved? For a start, most other countries that are republics end up as dictatorships, so why would this be any different?

Becoming a republic would not be just a case of tomorrow we wake up as one, there will have to be a lot of very costly changes.

The laws would have to be changed, the government and its workings would have to be changed, the public service would have to be changed, in fact everything that is based on the Westminster system would have to be changed. If it does not need to be changed then why become a republic?

How do we transition?

In the Queen’s 70-year reign, how many times has she told us what to do or interfered with our government’s running of the country? None that I am aware of. Contrary to popular belief, she did not interfere in the Whitlam debacle (he brought all that on himself).

Vi Evans, MacGregor

Totally agree with Sue IN reply to Sue Dyer (“Planning contributes to Gang Gang Stress”, Letters, CN March 10).

I totally agree with her letter.

I was planning to publish a full page advertisement in “CityNews” in this edition.

However, I decided to delay it until March 24 to, hopefully, give me a chance to get a photo of an extremely rare red robin that I’ve seen at Yarralumla Brickworks site.

There are also gang gang cockatoos there and many other species of small woodland birds. Take photos before they get wiped out. They need bush biodiversity for food, breeding and shelter.

Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

Michael Calkovics, Lyons

Who needs a republic?

The toothless tiger

HERE we go again! The republican movement takes every opportunity to try to make Australia a republic, even though we have three failed referenda on the subject (Robert Macklin, “God save the Queen; she really needs the help”, CN February 24).

Could anyone of the movement give me a logical explanation as to why they feel we should be a republic and what would it achieve? The usual answer is it would give us more pride in our country. But then, if we need to become a republic to have pride in our country then we are in a very sorry state and becoming a republic can’t fix that.

Has anyone thought of the consequences

UNSURPRISINGLY, Russia as a permanent member of the UN , has vetoed a Security Council resolution that would have demanded the immediate withdrawal of its troops from the Ukraine.

This begs the question: if a substantive resolution such as this can be vetoed, what is the point of the UN’s existence?

Surely, it’s time for the farcical veto rule to be reconsidered or alternatively abolish the UN altogether, as in its present format it has become an undemocratic, monolithic toothless tiger not serving any real purpose in today’s world.

Mario Stivala, Belconnen

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OPINION / small business

Why I’m sick of ‘oh, you’re in small business’ HAVING a business shouldn’t be damaging to one’s mental health! In fact, why should it be worse than a job?

Why are business owners all suffering and often trapped? Anyone else would just look for a new job, yet owners cannot.

There is a bigger culture here, which needs to be addressed. Some of the systemic distrust of business owners and the total lack of support once you are past the start-up phase is horrible.

The eyebrow-raising “Oh-you’rein-small-business” response instead of, “Wow, you run a business,” is something everyone knows.

I work with more than 30 small businesses and it seems to me the entire workplace model is very broken in so many ways, irrespective of industry/sector. But we are divided by industry lines and told it is “perhaps just your sector” or just your experience, others have a different view; I mean, how gas lighting is that?

Most small businesses have a tax debt from GST/payroll accrued and the way the ATO manages those debts is appalling. No other creditor

“The bigger you grow the more you fall into the valley of darkness,” says small business owner VICTORIA PEARCE, who says she knows many business owners who have cut all staff and are now back working alone. “Now, surely, the model is broken when there are systemic disincentives for growth.” can run on the terms they do, which guarantees the debt becomes systemic.

It doesn’t matter what industry or trade, all small businesses are being told it is tough, hang in there.

No-one is actually being told that, irrespective of what you do, the model is broken, because there are the exact same failure points irrespective of your management or industry. The bigger you grow the more you fall into the valley of darkness. I know so many business owners who have cut all staff, contracted and are now back working alone, because they make more.

Now, surely, the model is broken when there are systemic disincentives for growth.

Oh, and when was the last time anyone heard of a husband-andwife family business where both could afford to work in the business without external income? Or where both were actually paid properly for the work they do?

Those families are taking a huge

risk with their family assets and their extra risk and struggle is not recognised or supported.

The folly of banks making, say, large housing loans to my staff based on them having a job, but business owners can’t get a home loan is just stupid. More distrust and more systemic poverty for the owners.

Do banks really think we are not going to fire staff before we lose our income? Or do they know that, actually, most really do pay their staff even if they aren’t getting paid themselves. So if everyone knows this (even our banks) why aren’t we talking about it?

Oh, and do not get me started on insurance and workcover... it is a model destined to break a business.

The idiocy of small business in Australia is just so silly and everyone is made to feel they just need to buck up and that it is their own personal failure.

Just double down and

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deliver the fake smile, and pretend everyone is making money so no-one knows it is disgustingly backward in business in Australia.

It would be great if there was a longer view about business support.

It was so sad when the nurseries had to all close in the drought because they got no exemption for water use. It was sad when businesses were impacted by fire and staff traumatised and now with hail disaster, flood and covid there seems to be a model of funding business or support on their size or employee advantage.

Little is considered in these very economic rationalist models regarding the value of certain businesses or their social impact, the environmental value, or the longgame social value. No consideration is given to the knowledge base and irreplaceable skills business may have.

The additional community service a business provides informally, the interns or student support it gives is not getting a business more support or recognition. It

would be amazing to see a survey of the contribution to our informal economy that business in Canberra contributes to.

I think the “value” of a business and the social impact, environmental impact and other gains need to be considered before more taxes are thrown at businesses, which may just not be viable or have the value the community needs.

I love my job, love my team and love my city and, mostly, do not suffer from depression. In fact I remain pretty happy, but my mental health is good because I was married to an economist for 25 years and I know it is the Australian model... not me.

Victoria Pearce is a fine-art asset consultant and director/conservator at Endangered Heritage

Because of a spelling error, 12-year-old Jaxxon has just been elected president of the whole country.

He has big plans.

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WEDDINGS

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Making the day you say ‘I do’ a dream come true GETTING married can be one of the most exciting days of a couple’s life, but also one of the most stressful to organise.

From finding the perfect venue, to appropriate catering options, to a celebrant that suits the ceremony, there’s plenty of planning that has to go into the big day.

Don’t panic though, this week “CityNews” speaks to the experts of Canberra who know how to make the day you say “I do” unforgettable.

Make planning the wedding fun and stress free

A memorable location for the memorable day “WHETHER you want to hang glorious flowers from the rooftop or just want to place simple and stunning centrepieces on the tables; our venue offers a setting to suit all styles,” says events manager of the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan, Bianca Paquay.

She says the venue has the “unique and memorable” collaboration of contemporary comforts and amenities, integrated with the historic architecture of the original Royal’s 1920’s brick walls.

“And as a great addition to holding a reception onsite with us, we have our Royal Suite which is the perfect place for the wedding party to get ready on the morning of their big day,” or there’s the Bead-

man Room if you want to keep things traditional and not see each other before the ceremony.

The most rewarding part, she says, is seeing the couples getting ready in the morning, “hearts in a flutter in nervous anticipation; and then returning later to our reception venue with the biggest smiles on their faces – ready to start the party as newlyweds.”

Royal Hotel Queanbeyan, 85 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 1444, email functions@ royalhotelqbn.com.au or visit royalhotelqbn.com.au/ weddings/

WEDDINGS of Canberra launched in October and owner Michael Bower says supporting local vendors does not have to come at the expense of a dream wedding.

“Weddings of Canberra is Canberra owned. It’s bright, simple and easy to use,” he says, “and Weddings of Canberra’s goal is to make wedding planning more fun and less stressful.

“I love the wedding industry.

Helping couples get married, find their wedding suppliers and sharing in their journey and life story is incredibly rewarding.”

Michael says Weddings of Canberra is a one-stop shop.

“If you’ve just got engaged or are planning to in the near future, we have

a whole range of fabulous vendors waiting to hear from you,” he says.

“From traditional to outrageous, summer to spring, our vendors have a wealth of experience in the industry so that they can help you with anything that you need.”

Weddings of Canberra. Call 0400 641106, email hello@weddingsofcanberra.com. au or visit weddingsofcanberra.com.au

E Y LIN OR ON ECT R DI

At WeddingsofCanberra.com.au, we believe wedding planning shouldn’t be stressful.

But just to be safe, a freebie staycation wouldn’t do you any harm, right?

Book with one of our vendors by the end of March, and you’ll go in the draw to win 1 of 2 Date Night Packages at one of our favourite Canberra hotels.

To enter: Once you’ve booked, email us at hello@weddingsofcanberra.com.au to share the news. An initial deposit must be paid to a vendor listed on the Weddings of Canberra website to be eligible. Winners will be contacted by 1 April 2022 by phone or email. In the event that the winner can’t be contacted within 7 days, another winner will be drawn. Date Night Package inclusions are subject to change.

WEDDINGSOFCANBERRA.COM.AU CityNews March 17-23, 2022 21

Professional, fun tuition in Ballroom Dancing

WEDDINGS

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DALE’S Ballroom Dancing offers classes to help couples and bridal parties impress the audience on the big day, says owner Dale Harris.

“Couples can choose their song, and we can choreograph something to suit them, the music, and their style,” she says.

“I have a private suite for teaching all types of danc-

Dale’s Ballroom Dancing Phone: 02 6296 4009 | Mobile: 0407 066 110 | Email: dale_harris@bigpond.com Web: dalesballroomdancing.com.au | Principal: Dale Harris

CREATing HEARTFELT WEDDING FILMS Local Canberra business creating high quality films for couples.

We are a fun-loving husband and wife team – Kouyou and me, Julia. Kouyou’s 16 years of videography experience has seen him film and edit over 1000 films and together we just love weddings.

0411 294 626 Text enquiries accepted https://motionreelfilms.com

LIGHT UP YOUR SPECIAL DAY WITH OUR LIGHT UP LETTERS 6242 7722 WWW.HAPPYDAYS.NET.AU ENQUIRIES@HAPPYDAYSPARTYHIRE.COM

22 CityNews March 17-23, 2022

advertising feature

ing that people want to learn for the occasion.”

Dale has more than 20 years of experience teaching dance, having first started dancing herself at the age of six.

She’s since received many qualifications in ballroom dancing and is also a championship adjudicator who travels interstate to judge ballroom competitions.

From absolute beginners to those experienced in dancing, she says she can offer advice and techniques to help make that special dance one to remember.

“It’s always great to see messages come back through from people saying the dance was fabulous or that they had a ball,” she says.

“We have general classes on Wednesdays to practice so people can come and meet me first for a lesson if they like, or if they want to get in touch we can have a chat about what suits them.”

Dale’s Ballroom Dancing, call 0407 066110 or email dale_harris@bigpond.com

Wedding videos to match the wedding vibes JULIA and Kouyou Watanabe have been married for nine years and have been running their wedding videography company, Motion Reel Films, in Australia for the last six years.

“We really see what the vibe is like on the day, and then we choose the music for the film after the day,” says Julia.

“We see what kind of energy people have and we just sort of try and encapsulate the mood and the vibe of the day.”

What’s really special, says Julia, is creating that happy memory for people.

“I like watching the speeches again. You learn a lot about a couple in a very short space of time. We get a really special insight into a couple and their relationship,” she says.

Julia says Motion Reel Films puts a lot of time and effort into their final piece.

“We’re Canberra locals and we don’t outsource anything. The whole experience is very personalised.”

Motion Reel Films. Call 0411 294626, email hello@ motionreelfilms.com or visit motionreelfilms.com

Wedding items that create lasting memories HAPPY Days Jukebox Party Hire has items for weddings that are different, fun and ones that will create lasting memories, says owner Natalie Calvani.

“We have three types of jukeboxes with over 7000 songs available,” says Natalie.

“There’s music from the ‘50s all the way through to today’s pop charts, and we update them every month with the latest music.”

“Our most popular, the white bubbler, comes with two microphones as well, perfect for speeches.”

Natalie says Happy Days also has a selection of 1.2 metre-high, light-up lettering with a range that spans

the entire alphabet and numbers.

“They’ve become an incredibly popular choice – they’re bright, fun and they make a statement at any wedding,” says Natalie.

“We also have a selection of stylish neon lights available.”

Natalie also says Happy Days takes care of delivery and pick up of all their items, offers DIY options or can help style the day so that it’s a “dream come true”.

Happy Days Jukebox Party Hire, unit 4/66 Dacre Street, Mitchell. Call 6242 7722 or visit happydays.net.au

it was

everything we hoped for and more...

he hidden gem of Queanbeyan...

T

Steeped in history, RHQ’s Upper House rooftop venue boasts a collaboration of contemporary comforts with the original architecture of the building. All event spaces are complemented by the Atrium and the outdoor Terrace Courtyard, with their Japanese maple trees and an abundance of natural light.

With a venue that can hold up to 120 guests for a reception dinner, every turn provides a picturesque background making it the perfect spot for such a special day. The Royal offers you an unforgettable experience which will be cherished for many years to come.

ROYALHOTELQBN.COM.AU

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functions@royalhotelqbn.com.au

|

02 6297 1444 CityNews March 17-23, 2022 23

WEDDINGS

advertising feature

Mellabella owner Melany Batley.

‘Heart and soul’ gelato for the special day MELANY Batley worked in finance for 20 years, but decided to take a leap of faith, and it changed her career.

“I had a bucket list of courses I wanted to take, so I enrolled at the Carpigiani Gelato University and thought I would give it a crack,” she says.

Now, Mellabella Gelato, her very own business, is in its third summer of service, “from Bungendore and Canberra, to Bowral and everywhere in between.”

Melany offers Mellabella’s customised gelateria experience for weddings, birthdays and corporate events, and their cart hire packages are all inclusive.

“We put our heart and soul into making the gelato and we create and present the experience,” she says.

There’s more than 30 flavours to choose from with dairy free and gluten-free options available, and she offers two colourful cart options, “mint green and blush pink.”

“I just love seeing the smiles on people’s faces. The whole experience is just so much fun and everyone just loves it.”

Mellabella Gelato. Call 0432 323982, email melany@mellabella.com.au or visit mellabella.com.au

Traditional church has a lot to love

Breathtaking gowns for every bride

AT the All Saints Anglican Church in Ainslie couples can commemorate their special day in a beautiful and historically significant building, says parish council member Betsy Dixon.

“The heritage-listed building has a fascinating history, first being built as a railway station for the Rookwood Cemetery and then being converted to a church in 1954,” says Betsy.

“Today the church features an organ and incredible acoustics, wonderful photo vantage points and is backdropped by a beautiful stained-glass window from Sheffield in England.”

Betsy says that the church is also delighted to help plan and organise the big day.

“We can help with music and prayer choices, flowers or decoration of the church itself, We are happy to help make the day as memorable as can be,” she says.

“People can feel free to get in touch about when and how they would like their service to be held, and we can work with them to make that happen.”

She also says the church is proud to be an inclusive place to host a ceremony.

“We welcome all people to our services and to discuss their wedding, whether it’s bride and groom or perhaps it’s just brides or just grooms,” she says.

ANNABEL’S Bridal Studio has gowns to make any bride’s walk down the aisle completely breathtaking, says owner Misty Annabel.

With more than 16 designers and more than 200 styles in-store, Misty says they strive to make brides feel confident, happy and beautiful on their big day.

“I make sure the process from choosing the gown to the collection of the gown is as organised and as enjoyable as possible,” she says.

“We pride ourselves on listening closely to brides, there’s diversity in our range from design as well as size.”

The business, which is coming up on its 17th anniversary in May, was first started by Misty after seeing a gap in the Canberra market for a luxury bridal boutique.

“My mother has been in the design and tailoring industry since I was four-years-old, I grew up under the cutting table,” says Misty.

“Today she’s our experienced inhouse tailor, and helps brides create their personalised dream look.”

Misty also says the business has two events coming up that brides-to-be

All Saints Anglican Church, 9 Cowper Street, Ainslie.

Call 6248 7420 or visit allsaintsainslie.org.au

KINGSTON 6295 3984

www.annabelsbridal.com.au

24 CityNews March 17-23, 2022

may like to check out.

“In our trunk shows designers send exquisite gowns and clients then choose what they want from those designs,” she says.

“This week we have gowns arriving from NZ designer Hera Couture and the week after we have designs coming from our Spanish designer Rosa Clará.

Annabel’s Bridal Studio, at “The Kennedy”, suite 2, 28 Eyre Street, Kingston. Call 6295 3984, visit annabelsbridal.com.au or email misty@ annabelsbridal.com.au

Create the dessert of your dreams with a vintage gelato cart from Mellabella

Mellabella Gelato is a mobile gelateria based in Bungendore. We bring delight to your day with our delicious handcrafted gelato and sorbet, made with love using traditional techniques and the finest ingredients available.

Our gelato cart hire packages are all inclusive - so you don’t need to worry about a thing. Simply choose your favourite flavours and we’ll take care of the rest.

Whatever the occasion - be it a wedding, birthday, or corporate event, Mellabella would love to be there celebrating with you. Get in touch to find out how we can turn your wildest gelato dessert dreams into a reality.

melany@ mellabella.com.au

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0432 323 982

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www.mellabella.com.au

I

@ mellabellagelato CityNews March 17-23, 2022 25

WEDDINGS

advertising feature

Celebrate your wedding at

All Saints’ Anglican Church, Ainslie Marriages at All Saints are celebrated in the breath-taking beauty of one of Canberra’s most prestigious and historic churches. You and your family and friends will be surrounded by a sense of beauty, awe, tradition, and history, as you exchange your vows. The Rector of All Saints, the Revd Lynda McMinn will be happy to talk through the ceremony with you.

For more information contact the church at:

Phone: 02 6248 7420 Email: admin@allsaintsainslie.org.au

Live streaming of the service available

A beautiful location for an intimate day MAXX Wei and his wife, Sherry, have been operating Redbrow Garden since 2017, and say you won’t find another place like it, especially with their lake, “and it is running water, it’s not just a dam”.

Maxx says it’s a rustic, rural retreat, and “it’s really beautiful.”

“We’re a homely wedding place, it’s beautiful and we know getting married is such a big thing. We’re there for the most intimate time of people’s lives and it’s very, very close to the heart.”

He says meeting people and being able to offer them something special and catered to what they need

Lakeside accommodation surrounded by a wildlife oasis?

A beautiful manicured lakeside garden and lawn for your vows?

A lakeside deck and firepit for the party afterwards?

What more could you want?

BOOK TODAY

6226 8166 www.adedra.com Redbrow Garden Guesthouse Accommodation - Venue - Events

1143 Nanima Road, Murrumbateman 26 CityNews March 17-23, 2022

is the most rewarding experience.

Redbrow has accommodation on-site, where everyone from the wedding party can stay.

He says he has seen bridesmaids and mothers stay up until “very late,” making handmade decorations for themselves.

“People just like to get into a lot of DIY stuff here, and it’s always beautiful to be a part of the community.”

Redbrow Garden, 1143 Nanima Road, Murrumbateman, NSW. Call 6226 8166, email redbrow@adedra.com or visit adedra.com

FAMILY BUSINESS

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Skills and specialties that span generations THERE’S something special about a family business, where skills and legacy are passed between generations.

Canberra has no shortage of family businesses either, with some having started as far back as the 1920s and are still operating today.

Meet some of the family businesses and family-friendly businesses who proudly share expertise both in their family and with the Canberra community.

Music school welcomes students of any age or experience “FAMILY is at the heart of BMS Academy,” says owner Bronwen Mackenzie.

Originally founded in 1982 by Jill Bellchambers (as Bellchambers Music School), Bronwen bought the business in 2016, which today teaches music to people of any age who want to pick up an instrument.

Bronwen says she always BMS Academy owner Bronwen Mackenzie and assistant wanted the school to be a director Dr Rachel Campbell. place where families felt like “Learning music at any age is so beneficial part of a community, and where her son could sit and do homework while not just for the brain, but for the soul, too”, Bronwen says. waiting for his own music lesson.

“We’re known for our group classes for one to “It was important to me that we welcome not only our students’ families, but also the families seven year-olds, but it’s so lovely to see adults returning to lessons in retirement, or parents of our teachers and staff,” she says.

“This skill and passion is evident in the sound having a bit of ‘me time’ each week in their lessons.” of laughter and learning which spills out of the “We don’t teach the bagpipes”, laughs rooms.”

Bronwen, “but we teach pretty much everything It’s never too early to start learning music at else.”

BMS Academy, says Bronwen.

The academy welcomes their tiniest musicians from the age of one, and their current BMS Academy, 38 Colbee Court, Phillip.

Call 6281 6270, visit bmsacademy.com.au oldest student is Barry, who at 84 has been or email hello@bmsacademy.com.au learning piano for more than 10 years.

Pat’s got more workwear than ever before WITH more than 30 years of providing quality work clothes to the Canberra region and a team that’s backed with more than 90 years’ combined industry experience, Seears Workwear knows what working people are after, says owner Pat Seears, who runs the business with his son Shane.

Seears Workwear has extended its Seears Workwear owners Shane and Pat Seears. floor space to cater for its largest range of winter workwear stock shoes and steel-toed canvas shoes, from brands such as Puma, Rockport and Dunlop. ever – the biggest in the region, says Pat. Seears Workwear can also assist The store also has workwear for chefs, companies through their corporate uniform paramedics and firefighters, says Pat, who services, which provide customised embroiknows the needs of local businesses and dery services for promotional clothing and supplies many Fyshwick businesses with business uniforms. their work uniforms.

Seears Workwear also has stores in NSW Stocking work apparel such as high-vis and Queensland, and Pat says they deliver all workwear, jackets, jeans, shoes and hats, he says: “Everything is the best quality from the over the country. best manufacturers.”

Seears Workwear, 60 Barrier Street, Fyshwick.

Located on Barrier Street, he says their Call 6280 4111 or visit seearsworkwear.com.au stock includes safety work boots, leather

DC05454AA

14.5x6

Family Business Feature B and A Mackenzie (BMS Academy 50060-01

CityNews March 17-23, 2022 27

FAMILY BUSINESS

advertising feature Neil wants to share a wildlife experience

Store celebrates the benefits of hemp SOUTH Pacific Hemp, Canberra’s first all-hemp shop, opened in March last year and is run by Darren Steinhardt and Brett Walker, who also own South Pacific Hydroponics next door, a family business in Canberra for more than 30 years.

Manager Sue Booth says the store celebrates the versatile benefits of the plant.

Located in Fyshwick, she says the store supports Australian small businesses and producers who work with hemp, an eco-friendly, sustainable material that can be used in a myriad of products.

“Our clothing is designed for wearability and versatility, is breathable, natural and easy to care for,” she says.

“Hemp protects your skin by naturally filtering UV light. It also resists bacterial growth and

breathes excellently, preventing odours, has four times the strength of cotton and it won’t weaken when washed.

“Our selection of products extends to a unique collection of hemp foods, hemp seed oils, with gorgeous balms and skin creams, babycare, homewares, bags and accessories, fabrics and pet products.”

Sue says the team is always excited to help customers explore the extensive range.

“Come ask us about what the hemp plant offers, from the benefits of CBD oil to the selection of skincare and beauty products.”

FOR those wanting to see the best of what the winter months at sea have to offer, Neil Hermes says his upcoming “Albatross Watching Tour” from Jervis Bay will be a “paradise.”

“There will be viewing opportunities for many species of albatross, petrels, prions, whales, turtles and dolphins,” he says.

It’s “absolutely a family friendly cruise, as long as kids are interested in watching albatross” and is about six hours long.

It will leave from Jervis Bay Wharf in Huskisson on August 13 at 7am.

“Early bird tickets are $245 per person if booked before May 1, otherwise it’s $275.”

On board will be “a group of knowledgeable biologists and bird experts to help you make the most of the day, and the vessel has some great viewing points.”

Neil is encouraging people to bring along their camera and binoculars, as well as a hat, spray jacket and snacks.

“Albatross come close to the coast at this time of the year. We should see flocks of these magnificent birds up close to our vessel and those on board will get a once-in-alifetime wildlife experience.”

Neil Hermes Safaris. More information and bookings through neilhermes.com.au

South Pacific Hemp, 84 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 0431 318898, visit southpacifichemp.com.au or email sthpacifichemp@gmail.com

Family with a flair for kitting out cars DIRECTOR Gerry Marotzek says Wizard 4x4 is a local, small, family run business that has been in Canberra for more than 20 years.

“We take pride in sourcing Australian made and manufactured 4WD accessories,” says Gerry.

“Wizard 4x4 believes you should have no limits in kitting your vehicle out to suit your lifestyle and not be limited by the standard accessories.”

He says with a long list of suppliers around Australia and major distributorship for them, Wizard 4x4 stands out from any other 4x4 store.

“All products are fitted professionally and to a high standard.

Wizard 4x4 are firm believers in quality over quantity and aim to

deliver the perfect additions to your dream vehicle.”

Gerry says the Wizard 4x4 family are passionate about having the best of the best equipment on their vehicles and want to share that, “because who, honestly, wants a standard vehicle without the bling?”

“There are no limits with how your vehicle can be customised and Wizard 4x4 loves bringing that dream to reality for their customers,” he says.

Wizard 4x4, 12 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick.

Call 0437 563922, email info@ wizard4x4.com.au or visit wizard4x4.com.au

Neil Hermes Safaris Sunday 3 April 2022 Beginners Bird Watching Walk Two hour local Canberra bird walk guided by Neil Hermes

Sunday 1 May 2022 Beginners Bird Watching Walk Two hour local Canberra bird walk guided by Neil Hermes

Sunday 5 June 2022 Beginners Bird Watching Walk Two hour local Canberra bird walk guided by Neil Hermes

For these and other walks, tours and safaris check out

www.neilhermes.com.au

Email hi@neilhermes.com.au 28 CityNews March 17-23, 2022

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The Bordeaux team, from left, Jamie, Steve and Michael Milutinovic.

‘One-stop-shop’ for construction projects BORDEAUX Construction and Management’s team of trained professionals can help with any building project from design to handover, says project manager Michael Milutinovic.

“We’re a one-stop-shop for construction, renovations, extensions, residential and commercial projects,” says Michael, who holds an unrestricted “A” class builder’s licence and has more than 15 years of industry experience.

“We understand a lot of people, especially career professionals, can be time poor so we can manage the entire project from start to finish and simplify it for our clients.”

Originally established as Bordeaux Kitchens in 1983, Michael says the family business has grown over the decades to offer large building works throughout Canberra and NSW.

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“One of our recent clients was building a new home and they weren’t quite sure where to begin, but they had an idea of what they wanted to achieve and we’ve worked closely with them throughout the entire process.

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He says Bordeaux Construction and Management also has an in-house joinery shop, another advantage of its committed projects.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

INSIDE

Gory stories of Dr Adam’s diary

NICK OVERALL

Revealing indigenous art of south-east Australia

By Helen

MUSA THE National Gallery of Australia’s fourth National Indigenous Art Triennial is almost on us, and this time there’s a difference, with a focus on the art of south-eastern Australia.

The first triennial, “Culture Warriors”, opened in 2007 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum and the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC and was followed by “unDisclosed” in 2012 and “Defying Empire” in 2017.

But the curator of the Triennial, Hetti Perkins – the daughter of legendary civil rights activist, Charles Perkins, and sister to film and television director/producer, Rachel Perkins – has her own slant.

One of Australia’s leading curators, who co-curated Australia’s pavilion at the Venice Biennale and the Australian indigenous art commission for the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris with Canberra’s Brenda L Croft, she will be showing that artists have been practising in south-east Australia, not just in Central Australia, the Kimberley and the Torres Strait.

Curator of the Triennial, Hetti Perkins.

Paul Girrawah House working on a Scar Tree.

To do that, she and her team have commissioned new artwork especially for the triennial, and she says it took people a while to think about what they wanted to do.

She praises the gallery and its director Nick Mitzevich, who has willingly accepted a show with what she calls “a fairly unknown content”. And as Mitzevich told me recently outside the gallery’s big light installation, a lot of the work in the fourth triennial is installation or process-based.

A perfect example will be several ceremonial “scar trees”, executed by Paul Girrawah House in the gallery grounds and around the Parliamentary Triangle in consultation

with his mum, Ngambri-Ngunnawal elder, Matilda.

That is particularly moving to Perkins who says: “I know dad was good mates with Matilda” – that goes back to the time her father spent working at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

“It’s really amazing to have such surprising works as a part of the triennial and to have the NGA acknowledge that Canberra is in a place that is politically contested.”

The theme of the ceremony, she says, is also intricately connected to country, community and culture and gives a strong message of concern with the climate emergency.

But, Hetti stresses, it was never meant to be prescriptive and she didn’t attempt to do it that way.

“I have been primarily interested as a curator in the south-east part of Australia, an area that deserves more of the spotlight,” she says.

“These artists have not been previously featured in national exhibitions and it brings a cohort of new voices.”

Those voices range from the Karna people of the Adelaide Plains, but are mostly from NSW, from the large nations of Gamilaroi and Wiradjuri to the local Ngambri-Ngunnawal people and the lost culture of the nearby

Walgalu people.

“In fact, we show that Canberra is in the middle of a cultural heartland,” Hetti says.

“We know so little about this, about the dynamic cultural practice happening right around us.”

Seamlessly, she says, the focal artists have created a narrative that sometimes takes in the wider First Nations community.

Wiradjuri artist Nicole Foreshew, for instance, has created beautiful ceramic bowls as a kind of ceremonial offering, but her work also reveals a relationship with an elderly Gija woman from WA, whose paintings are exhibited.

Another unusual inclusion is the work of Wiradjuri writer-artist SJ Norman who engraves sheep and cattle bones – “the two the totemic beasts of colonisation,” Hetti says – with extinct languages, especially the nearby language and culture of the Walgalu people.

One of the highest-visibility inclusions comes from Yawuru artist Robert Andrew who, working with Walgalu/Wiradjuri curator Aidan Hartshorn, the NGA’s Wesfarmers indigenous assistant curator, has installed ochre-covered walls on which his cuttingedge “writing machine” works, removing the outer layer of the ochre to show the art.

4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: “Ceremony”, NGA, March 26-July 31. Free to the public.

KING OF PIGS 24 - 26 Mar

Powerful, visceral storytelling that speaks to the urgent issues of our time.

THEQ.NET.AU CityNews March 17-23, 2022 31

STREAMING

CINEMA / reviews

Gory stories of Dr Adam’s diary Cliches come with A SHOW about health workers exhausted to breaking point could perhaps not have come at a more relevant time.

Binge’s newest medical drama “This Is Going to Hurt”, based on its identically titled non-fiction book inspiration, is the gory story of obstetrician and gynaecologist Adam Kay. Kay, while a medical trainee for six years, was recommended by a senior doctor to write a diary as a “reflective practice” in which he could log any “interesting clinical experiences” he should encounter.

“Interesting” is putting things lightly. Kay’s book, subtitled “Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor”, was compiled with these diary entries which recounted confronting, brutal and at times scary moments in the British National Health Service.

It became a number-one best seller, and now, Bond star Ben Whishaw plays Kay in what could be a younger and more British version of Hugh Laurie’s “House”.

He’s a doctor with a brilliant, yet bitter medical eye, one whose skill is a resource desperately needed, but who’s ever on the brink of passing out on his feet.

Weariness is omnipresent. Whishaw exudes exhaustion as he delivers wall-breaking lines to the camera with private thoughts unfiltered by the Hippocratic Oath.

These monologues are stitched together with a droll and cynical sense of humour, a respite that seems to be the only thing holding Kay, and the audience, upright through his gruelling day-to-day.

Any show depicting the goings on of an

obstetrics and gynaecology ward is bound to bring with it a string of heated takes.

Some critics have slapped the show down as misogynistic, one exploiting Ben Whishaw. important women’s issues for laughs, whereas others have praised its realistic depiction of childbirth as something unseen before.

From the get-go, “This Is Going To Hurt” looks to confront its audience with the messy reality of its subject matter in a way that lives up to its title.

That approach can make things hard to stomach, but the very ethos of the series is to illustrate the extreme pressure put on medical staff and that pressure hits home even more when considered next to the health crisis the world has lived through for the last two years.

That’s especially the case in light of the nurse strikes we’ve seen unfold in Australia in the last few months. It makes “This Is Going to Hurt” even more illuminating in its depiction of a health system on the edge.

OVER on Disney Plus is “The Dropout”, another drama series based on the true story of biotech fraudster Elizabeth Holmes.

In 2015, “Forbes” magazine had named Holmes the youngest and wealthiest self-made female billionaire in America. Her

company Theranos got international attention when it had apparently revolutionised bloodtesting technology.

Holmes’ idea to extract huge amounts of data from samples of blood as small as a finger prick had investors pile in. If it worked, it would change the world of medicine.

But early on in her entrepreneurship Holmes was told by a professor that such ambitions were impossible. Turns out they were.

In reality, she manipulated the government and investors alike out of hundreds of millions of dollars to build her empire based on false promises. This eight-hour miniseries details how she did it and, to some extent, why.

Amanda Seyfried brings a brilliant performance to a script that eagerly demands it of her.

She holds together this gripping, if straightforward recount that’s hard to swallow as true.

Like “This Is Going To Hurt”, “The Dropout” is also dashed with some surprisingly funny moments amidst its otherwise dark subject matter.

The humour is well timed though and helps cast a spotlight on the utter absurdity of just how far Holmes was able to run away with her ploy before being caught.

While they may cast a rather bleak outlook on the medical world, both “This Is Going To Hurt” and “The Dropout” are sure to stand out among the best shows 2022 year will have to offer. We’ve certainly come a long way since “ER”.

girls off the leash

By Dougal

MACDONALD “Off the Rails” (M) I WAS under no deliberate pressure to review this girls-off-the-leash travelogue ahead of “Book of Love” seen on the same day. They just hit the screen in that order to fit into a tight timetable.

Both movies cover narrative ground similar to the same kind of auteurial trash, to much the same effect.

Q. What’s auteurial trash made from?

A. Cliches. Aspiring screenwriters take note.

Even before the front credits roll, Diana (Judi Dench) who can make reading from the Yellow Pages a joy to see and hear, is delivering an eulogy.

Who’s dead? Her daughter Anna. Will we see Diana again? Not until the closing credits are about to roll and then only briefly.

Three mature-age mourners Liz (Sally Phillips), Kate (Jenny Seagrove) and Cassie (Kelly Preston, in her final role) in not quite a front pew sing along to Anna’s adolescent daughter Maddie (Elizabeth Dormer-Phillips) at the church organ playing a song composed

by Anna thereby raising a few eyebrows

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‘Pigs’ promise a powerful night

By Helen Musa

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“KING of Pigs” is the unforgettable name of Steve Rodgers’ new play exploring the lives of multiple women in familiar and terrifying situations. Directed by Blazey Best, it promises to be a powerful night in the theatre. At The Q, Queanbeyan, March 24-26. Book at theq.net.au

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?

HUNDREDS of precious artworks housed at Lismore Regional Gallery have been damaged by the catastrophic floodwaters, including Geoff Hannah’s masterwork “The

Advance Jewellers A Family Business: 55 years experience

Hannah Cabinet”, which was long housed at Bungendore Woodworks and “I Weave What I Have Seen: The War Rugs of Afghanistan,” a travelling exhibition from the ANU Drill Hall Gallery curated by Tim Bonyhady and the late Nigel Lendon and seen here last winter.

THE musical comedy “Schapelle, Schapelle” is coming to the Canberra Comedy Festival. A satirical exploration of Australia’s weakness for media sensationalism told through the life of Schapelle Corby after her arrest for drug smuggling in Bali in

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“Schapelle, Schapelle”... The Street Theatre, March 23.

2005, its rollicking musical score and book are partly written by former Canberran, Tim Hansen.

The Street Theatre, 7.30pm, March 23. Book at thestreet.org.au or 6247 1223.

THE Friends of the ANU Classics Museum are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the museum, which holds more than 600 items, while welcoming as the new head of the Centre for Classical Studies at the ANU, Associate Prof Caillan Davenport. At the Museum, 6pm-7.30pm, Thursday, March 24. Inquiries to classicsfriends@ outlook.com CHRIS Latham will direct Musica da Camera in “The Triumph of Imagination”, music written by and for prisoners of war, including first performances of three works

by World War I composer Frederick Septimus Kelly. Pianists Edward and Stephanie Neeman and saxophonist Jaime Grech join the ensemble for music accompanied by images. At the chapel, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Barton, 2.30pm, Saturday, March 26. Book at trybooking.com

among congregation members who’ve never heard it.

Judi’s two brief appearances bracket the front and tail of a sort of plot. Anna has left Interrail tickets for Liz, Kate and Cassie to repeat a nostalgia trip the group made in their 20s, with a plus one for her teenage daughter. They have five days to get down to Mallorca to catch “God’s disco ball”, a twice-yearly occurrence when the sun shines through a cathedral’s stained-glass window – which they missed last time.

And its heigh-ho and away we go, for about 90 minutes of menopause chat, fallings-off the wagon, romantic dalliances and Italian mayors. If it’s featherheaded women (that coterie doesn’t include Kate or Maddie) compounding blindingly silly behaviour and scattering cliches as they go, then this is your movie.

I saw it in an otherwise empty cinema. Had “Off The Rails” heralded its arrival ahead?

At all cinemas.

“Book of Love” (M) “STILL, who couldn’t use a little amusing, energetic fluff these days as a passing tonic to the real world around us?”

That comment, winding up the gently acerbic take by the “Los Angeles Times” on Mexican writer/ director Analeine Cal y Mayor’s fourth feature, implies a mild regret that this rom-com might have been more effective if had bitten its theme a little more confidently.

Publisher Jen (Lucy Punch) finds that England won’t buy Henry’s (Sam Claflin) novel, “The Sensible Heart”. When she learns that an unauthorised Spanish translation is selling like hot cakes in Mexico, she sends him, much against his wishes, to promote it south of the border. Shock, horror; clichewarning on the horizon.

The translator is housemaid Maria caring for Diego, her cute little son (Ruy Gaytan) from a failed marriage with musician Antonio (Horacio García Rojas) whose relaxed style and ponytail are a world away from Henry’s up-tight aspiring man of letters.

Eventually, Henry will realise Maria’s worth (but not too quickly – in matters of the heart, he’s a slow learner) but first he has to deal with the mild shock of learning that she has completely rewritten “The Sensible Heart” and turned its sexless story into a lusty, passion-filled romance that has set libidos racing nationwide.

Mexicans needing literary stimulus to activate their libidos?

You’ve gotta be joking!

The “Book of Love” cliché-rate per minute of run time may be a tad higher than that of “Off The Rails” but it’s more intelligently designed.

At all cinemas.

DINING

PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF CANBERRA

with the active support of the ACT and Districts Coin Club

Food trucks take a little time

CANBERRA STAMP & COIN SHOW

ENLIGHTEN is as famous for its noodle markets and food trucks as it is for the lights and entertainment.

Food trucks aren’t everyone’s scene, but they can dish up amazing street-style food, covering the flavours of many cultures.

Our destination? The Night Noodle Markets.

We were gobsmacked by the number of people lined up. It was the markets’ last night and it was dinner time, but we estimated at least 1000 waiting to get in. While the line seemed to be moving somewhat steadily – and we were impressed by the popularity (and success) – we changed tack and headed for the Bentspoke Beer Garden.

Absorbing the live music on the Garden Stage, we did a lap and discovered Boss Burgers, Meat Wizard, The Italian Traveller, a donut truck and more.

I selected the Tsuru Food Truck. On the menu were bao and chips ($22), snack packs and chips ($22), Korean Corn Dog ($8.90 to $17.50) and chips and kewpie mayo ($12).

Bao won the day and service was quick. Options are barbecue chicken teriyaki, barbecue hot and spicy pork belly or tofu teriyaki and shitake, and you can mix matters up since you get two buns.

The pork belly was a taste sensation and fulfilled the hot and spicy promise. While the tofu wasn’t teriyaki intense, the strong, earthy flavour of the mushrooms shone through.

Although this style of mushroom is meant to be pleasantly chewy, mine was more on the tough side. As for the fries? Thin and loaded with a spicy salt.

My friend opted for Indian from the Tikka

T​​ ikka Nest… barbecue chicken atop fries with salad, cheese and sour cream.

Photos: Wendy Johnson Stand – fresh and authentic with 100 per cent halal meat.

The flavours of the Tikka Nest were sensational ($19). The barbecue chicken was served on top of fries with salad, cheese and sour cream. It’s a signature dish, and with good reason – moist meat, punchy tastes and vibrant colour. The fresh coriander yoghurt sauce was sensational. Equally tasty was the vegetable samosa and the crispy pastry filled with boiled potatoes and spices (one for $4). The snack (two pieces $8) didn’t disappoint, with the crispy fried patties made of lightly spiced cottage cheese and potatoes.

Our only issue was the wait, which was much, much longer than Tikka Stand promised. When her name was finally called, only the Nest was served. My friend waited longer, but eventually left to start eating. By then, the Nest was stone cold. I had finished my meal so went to fetch the

Vegetable samosa… crispy pastry filled with boiled potatoes and spices.

When: 18th - 20th March 2022 Where: Thoroughbred Park, Lyneham Time: 10am - 6pm Fri & Sat, 10am - 3pm Sun Cost: $5 entry fee, free for 15 & under Interstate and local Stamp and Coin Dealers will be in attendance for established collectors and new collectors.

An auction of Stamp and Coin items will commence on site from 6:00 PM Friday.

A Lucky Door prize, will be drawn on Sunday afternoon. Souvenirs and Memorabilia will be on sale.

The theme of the Show is ‘Resilience and Recovery’. Resilience to master and overcome the problems and disasters which befall us as a nation and as individuals. The ability to maintain our composure and equanimity in the face of severe adversity. The ability to assist each other. Recovery to find the energy, the resources and the resourcefulness to rebuild and return to our normal lives.

0414 622 531 www.canberrastamps.org

Tofu and pork belly bao… a taste sensation and fulfilled the hot and spicy promise. samosa and snack. They were piping hot at least.

Patience is the name of the game in the foodtruck lane at major festivals.

Next year we’ll be more organised and arrive earlier at the Noodle Markets and even order online in advance.

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Your week in the stars

By Joanne Madeline Moore

General knowledge crossword No. 821

March 21-27, 2022 ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

30 Years Servicing Canberra

This week the fiery Sun’s in feisty Aries, and impulsive Mars (your power planet) squares unpredictable Uranus. So you’ll feel like a firecracker ready to go off! But reckless behaviour could land you in a heap of hot water so tread carefully. You’re keen to get things moving but don’t be in such a rush that you start an argument or cause an accident. Slow and steady wins the Ram race. Do your best to be courageous and independent, rather than bossy and impatient.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Competitive prices – No surprise fees

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Are you being too subjective and short-sighted about a current issue? It’s the Equinox on Monday when day and night are of equal length. So take a step back, adjust your focus, and strive to view the situation from a much broader and wiser perspective. Balance is the key. With capable Saturn still visiting your career zone, it’s time to get serious about your professional ambitions. Roll up your sleeves and get to work, as you power through projects and tie up loose ends.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

With no less than five planets stimulating your hopes, wishes and aspirations zones, your motto is from this week’s birthday great, feminist writer Gloria Steinem: “Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.” But, with hot-headed Mars squaring impetuous Uranus, there’s a tendency to jump in and say things you don’t really mean. So think carefully before you open your mouth!

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CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

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Sensitive Crabs are capricious creatures, constantly buffeted by the many phases of the ever-changing Moon. This week we celebrate the Equinox (when day and night are of equal length) which will help to stabilise your temperamental moods and balance your brooding nature. Attached Cancer – remember there’s a fine line between ardent affection and clingy obsession. Singles – you could find yourself drawn to someone with a powerful personality.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

If you’re trying to get an ambitious project off the ground, make sure you cover all bases – from family and friends to colleagues and international connections.

It’s also a suitable time to plan your next holiday, as the Sun and Mercury move into your travel zone. Make your goals and aspirations as creative and innovative as possible. Be inspired by this week’s birthday great Gloria Steinem: “The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn but to unlearn.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Some routine-obsessed Virgos can get stuck in a daily rut. This week it’s time to ricochet out of your usual routine and do something completely different. Variety is the spice of life, as you experiment with exciting new activities – and welcome sudden detours and disruptions. But the more you try to control others, the more they are likely to resist. So, if you want to avoid ongoing problems and power struggles, then learn to diplomatically let go and move on.

Down

1 Name musical wind instruments. (6) 8 Who was the first writer of Cinderella, Charles ...? (8) 9 What is a diamond-shaped pattern of two or more colours? (6) 10 Which drink is often taken as an appetiser?

(8) 11 Which Russian coin is the hundredth part of a rouble? (6) 13 Name an elementary particle of an atom. (8) 16 To have estimated or evaluated, is to have done what? (8) 19 A mixture of red and yellow produces which colour? (6) 22 Name an alternative term for a controller.

(8) 24 What are warning sounds also known as?

(6) 25 What is a yellowish-green honeyeater? (8) 26 Name a spotted, leopard-like cat of the Americas. (6)

2 Which musical direction suggests “in a slow and solemn manner”? (5) 3 Name a plant of the mint family. (5) 4 Which people preside over houses of representatives? (8) 5 Name the southernmost and shallowest of the five Great Lakes. (4) 6 What might we call an ethnic bigot? (6) 7 What term describes in or of the month preceding the present? (6) 12 What are plays on words? (4) 14 Name a legendary treasure city of South America.

(2, 6) 15 Which soft, flexible, sheepskin leather is used in bookbinding? (4) 17 What is a social gathering, often for a particular purpose? (6) 18 What is another term for uniformly? (6) 20 To be vigilant or alert, is to be what? (5) 21 Which stew is also known as okra? (5) 23 What is hard and continuous work? (4)

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

A child, teenager or close friend could unsettle you by making a surprise move. So be prepared with a few fast moves (and choice words) of your own! Is your love-life stuck on autopilot? Mars and Uranus push you to blast away the cobwebs and look at things from a fresh angle. Attached Librans – get talking (really talking) with your partner. Singles – look for someone who’s not your usual type. Perhaps a fun-loving Leo or a gregarious Gemini?

Solution next edition

Across

FREE SUDOKU EVERY DAY AT citynews.com.au

Sudoku medium No. 311

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Do your best to be extra sensitive to the needs of others this week. Mars and Uranus stir up relationship insecurities on Tuesday and Wednesday, and you may have to handle a loved one with kid gloves! Keep your Scorpio cool, as you participate in some difficult conversations and then deftly steer the subject matter onto safer ground. Short trips, education, creative projects, social media and local community connections are favoured on Saturday.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

You’re fired up about making something big happen ASAP. But the planets caution you about taking shortcuts and relying on others. Don’t expect influential people to drop everything and hand you your dream. There is no substitute for hard work and thorough preparation. It’s also Equinox week so stop rushing around and overdoing things! Smart Sagittarians will calm down and recalibrate to a slower, steadier and much more sustainable pace.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

With Venus, Mars and Saturn (your power planet) transiting through your $$$ zone, financial matters are about to improve. Monday and Saturday are particularly auspicious days to brainstorm creative, proactive ways to save money and boost cashflow. This week’s fiery planetary aspects will also help you communicate your innovative ideas with extra passion and pizazz, as you link up with like-minded friends and supportive family members.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

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34 CityNews March 17-23, 2022

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2022

Sudoku hard No. 310

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

With three planets visiting your sign, you’re the quintessential Piscean at the moment – creative, compassionate, imaginative and inspirational. But you’re also more inclined to be passive, procrastinating and impractical! Make the most of active Jupiter jumping through Pisces (until May) as you tackle challenges with plenty of passion and turn abstract ideas into productive projects. Be a fearless Fish, as you swim into unchartered waters and embrace adventure.

Solutions – March 10 edition Crossword No. 820

Expect a rollercoaster ride! Impulsive Mars (in your sign) is at odds with unpredictable Uranus (your ruling planet). So – if you are too hasty – you could be headed for an argument or an accident. Taking risks is fine… just make sure they are calculated ones. Astute Aquarians will be restless rather than reckless, and inventive rather than irritable. Your motto is from avant-garde Aquarian artist Yoko Ono: “You can be very wild and still be very wise.”

Solution next edition

GARDENING

Winter iris… doesn’t like too much water or fertiliser, likes it dry, is Four o’clock flowers…a tough, old-fashioned plant that makes a happy with poor soils and thrives on neglect. Photos: Jackie Warburton hardy summer plant for a partly shaded spot in the garden.

Iris offers flowers over winter

By Jackie

WARBURTON WINTER iris (Iris auricularis) is a tough evergreen plant with leaves that grow at least 50 centimetres long and their winter flowers are only about 30 centimetres tall.

A good hard prune of all the foliage this time of year will be beneficial for when they are in flower. Winter iris can be grown under deciduous trees, or a low-growing border in a hot spot.

In shades of blue and mauve with unusual stripes in the petals, this iris doesn’t like too much water or fertiliser, likes it dry, is happy with poor soils and thrives on neglect.

Flowering is from May to September and a welcome addition to the winter garden when very little is in flower. Also known as the Algerian iris, over time it will form a clump and can be dug up, divided, transplanted and shared with friends.

AS we head into autumn, we’re unlikely to get enough hot sun to finish ripening tomatoes. If there are a lot of green tomatoes on the vine, pull the entire plant and gently hang upside down, roots and all and place on a hook in a dry space,

such as a backyard shed or pergola.

In the past, I have removed half the foliage to increase the airflow around the tomatoes and, within a week or two, they will ripen to red but won’t grow any bigger, so keep that in mind in picking the right time to pull them out of the ground. There are also many green tomato relish recipes that are worth a try as well.

SUGAR snap peas can be planted in early autumn for winter picking and further planting of peas throughout autumn will give a harvesting in spring.

Peas like a little lime, so dig some dolomite lime in the soil a few weeks before planting seeds. Protect flowers from frost and grow in a protected area.

Final planting of seedlings, such as winter lettuces, cos, oakleaf, butterhead, mignonette and Asian greens, should be planted now in free-draining soil with mulch.

IT’S also a good time to plant sweet peas. Soak the seed overnight to help with even germination and plant directly into rows in soil with a pH of 7-8.

They will need a trellis or frame to grow up and to keep the flowers off the ground. I grow bushy Bijou sweet peas, which grow only to 45 centimetres tall and don’t need staking. They’re great for hanging baskets and small gardens. Its spring flowers are dainty, with a beautiful fragrance that make a welcome addition to a vase in the house.

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FOUR o’clock flowers (Mirabilis jalapa) is a tough, old-fashioned plant that makes a hardy summer plant for a partly shaded spot in the garden. Blooms open late afternoon and evening and are highly fragrant.

The colour ranges across white, yellow and pink. They attract bees and butterflies and sometimes we have bees that cross pollinate to create interesting flower colours, and bi-flowers are common.

Once flowering has finished, I recommend deadheading before black seeds are dispersed into unwanted parts of the garden. They are herbaceous, which means once the frost comes, they die down and resurface the following spring.

They can be a bit like weeds, so any unwanted young plants should be pulled out by the tuber when the soil is moist.

AUTUMN is the best time to add a Japanese maple to the garden. They can be planted now, before they lose their leaves. Any pruning of maples should be done when the leaves are still on the tree and not when it is dormant as this can cause fungal diseases and blackening of the stems.

There are more of Jackie Warburton’s gardening columns at citynews.com.au Jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au

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