CityNews 220324

M AC HR 2 4 , 2 0

REVEALED:

Another trashed hellhole ignored

by Housing ACT Well written, well read

ACT government drives young buyers into units

MICHAEL MOORE

What if Brittany and Grace had been black?

JULIE TONGS

I share the things I love with others, some laugh

ANTONIO DI DIO

Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!

ROBERT MACKLIN

Different folk for different folks

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NEWS / public housing 1

40 years her home, but Housing tells Yvette to go

By Belinda

STRAHORN A CANBERRA grandmother could be forced out of the public housing residence she’s called “home” for 40 years.

Yvette van Loo’s Cowper Street home in Ainslie has provided a lifetime of memories, and the prospect of leaving the place she has raised her two children in is distressing.

“It’s disgusting,” Ms van Loo says.

“I feel as if I’m being treated like a cow that’s being made to change pastures.”

The 74-year-old is one of more than 300 social housing tenants – including elderly people, people with disability and people with chronic health issues – that received letters from Housing ACT saying they would have to move from their homes as part of the territory government’s “Growth and Renewal” program.

The retired musician, who has a piano in her living room, loves her home and neighbourhood, and is finding it difficult to comprehend why she’s being moved on.

“You can relocate a bus stop, a garden bench or a rubbish bin, but you don’t relocate people,” Ms van Loo says.

“I know this is not my house, but it

Yvette van Loo in her Ainslie home… “I know this is not my house, but it is my home, and when it was given to me it was on the understanding that it was for good.”

Photo: Belinda Strahorn is my home, and when it was given to me it was on the understanding that it was for good.”

Ms van Loo’s own family history is one of displacement, having relocated from Algeria to France, before emigrating to Australia half a century ago.

She is happy and settled where she lives, and doesn’t want to move.

“I was kicked out of my birth coun-

INDEX Arts & Entertainment 23-25 Canberra Matters 12 Cinema & Streaming 25 Crossword & Sudoku 27 Dining 24 Garden 26 Horoscopes 27 Letters 16 News 3-16 Politics 10

try and now I don’t want to be kicked out of my home, just so the government can make money out of us,” Ms van Loo says.

Ms van Loo says the unsigned letter she received in February – advising tenants they would have to move because their homes had been earmarked for sale or redevelopment as part of the public housing renewal program

Since 1993: Volume 28, Number: 12

Cover: Katie Noonan, artistic director of the National Folk Festival. Photo: Peter Hislop.

Story Page 23.

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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– caught many residents unaware and did not keep to Housing ACT’s earlier correspondence that the program would be on a voluntary basis.

She is critical of the lack of sensitivity and compassion Housing ACT displayed in notifying her of their intent to relocate her from the home she has lived in for more than half her life.

“This is despotism,” Ms van Loo says.

The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has criticised the housing department’s heavy handed approach to the relocation of some of its oldest and most vulnerable tenants, and has called for a review of the program.

“It’s so callous and cruel,” says ACTCOSS CEO Dr Emma Campbell.

Dr Campbell says the welfare organisation and other community groups had been overwhelmed with calls from “distressed” tenants, many of whom were older women and longterm residents of their homes.

“Some have lived in their homes for 20, 40, even 60 years, many have mental and chronic health issues and the majority of them are struggling to understand what their rights are and who can advocate for them,” Dr Campbell says.

“It’s difficult to take calls from people who are so frightened by what might happen to them, and who feel they have no control or power against the government.”

While ACTCOSS recognises the need for new and improved social housing options in the ACT, it has questioned the handling of the program.

“We don’t disagree with the ‘Growth and Renewal’ program, the issue we have is how it’s being implemented,” says Dr Campbell.

“We just want to make sure that vulnerable people are placed on an equal footing when they are engaging and negotiating with Housing ACT, and that there are proper processes in place to take into account the individual situations of tenants,” Dr Campbell says.

Dr Campbell says organisations have not received any additional resources to cope with the greater demand for their services arising from calls from concerned tenants.

But she’s hopeful for improved outcomes for residents facing relocations following a meeting with the ACT Housing Minister Yvette Berry scheduled for this week.

In the meantime, Ms van Loo has joined forces with other social housing tenants and started the Housing ACT Tenants Facing Relocation Association, in the hope of fighting back.

This isn’t the first time Ms van Loo has stood up to protect her home. The 1930s dwelling was facing demolition in the 1980s and she mounted a successful campaign to prevent it from happening.

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SEVEN DAYS

The good luck of being overheard at a club bar I PROGRESSIVELY squirrel column ideas to one side through the week.

When I sat down to write this one, I realised they were all linked to writers and contributors to “CityNews”.

It was one of those weird things, and so is this: a couple of months ago “CityNews” reporter Nick Overall broke a story of an abandoned and trashed social housing apartment in Wright.

Nick Overall.

Tenants had fruitlessly complained to ACT Housing about the terrible state of the unlocked unit being used by squatters and drug addicts. Nick’s scoop went national and, suddenly, everything was locked and sorted.

So, it’s Saturday night, he bumps into a mate at a club he hasn’t seen in a while. In the conversation, Nick says he’s become a journalist. An hour later he’s gingerly approached by a guy who admits to eavesdropping, curious to confirm Nick’s career choice and keen to share a story of a chum who lives in a hellhole public housing apartment in Braddon. Is this the sort of stuff you cover, he asks Nick. Hell, yeh!

And bingo, he’s exposed another shameful example of Housing ACT’s failure to manage taxpayers’

aged-care home. She attributes her longevity to a teaspoon of whisky in her bedtime cup of tea.

“I have a deep affection for Madge,” Jon says. “She is the most constant and important link I have, as the son of migrants, to the country of my parents and ancestors.”

Jon’s mother’s younger sister Pat died just over a year ago, in England, at the age of 102.

“If genes have any relevance, I anticipate I’ll still be writing for ‘CityNews’ until 2050!” he says. Happy birthday, Auntie Madge.

Jon Stanhope with Auntie Madge at 105. She’s just turned 109. property nor give a fig for the wellbeing of tenants.

The story’s on Page 6; if you know of any more, nick@citynews.com.au is listening.

COLUMNIST Jon Stanhope’s Auntie Madge has just had her 109th birthday, an achievement that makes her the 22nd oldest person in the UK. His father’s sister, she was born on March 9, 1913, in Yorkshire, the daughter of a publican. Her earliest memory is of a German Zeppelin flying over on a bombing raid during World War I. Madge’s husband died more than 40 years ago and she has cared for herself in a council flat in Bath, until a year ago when she reluctantly moved to an

DOYEN of whimsy, columnist Clive Williams says he normally goes twice a day to Manuka pool to swim. “Now I do both visits at the same time to conserve petrol”.

Canberra thespian Peter Clive Williams.

Robinson, from Ainslie, wrote to say he was so “smitten” by seeing Prince Andrew’s “Grand Old Duke of York” verse via Clive Williams (“Seven Days”, March 10) that he wrote a second verse. So I’ve repeated the original verse with Peter’s contribution in bold: The grand old Duke of York, He had 12 million quid.

He gave it to someone he never met For something he never did.

And when he’d sweat, he’d sweat, And when he didn’t, he didn’t, And when she said he’d dance and sweat, He hadn’t ‘cause he couldn’t, so he didn’t.

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

4 CityNews March 24-30, 2022

GARDENING writer Jackie Warburton wrote, in passing, about the great response she gets from readers. One comment that made her day was: “I live believing that you write your column especially for me – every issue addressed from caterpillars on the nasturtiums to beetle infestation of the hibiscus flowers and much more.”

She also got a lot of enquiries following a mention of her zucchini relish, based on a recipe from Sally Wise’s “Out of the Bottle” book. So here it is:

Zucchini Relish 1 kg zucchini finely chopped 2 large onions, peeled and finely chopped 1 red capsicum deseeded and finely chopped ¼ cup salt 2 cups sugar 2 cups white or cider vinegar Plus 2 tablespoons extra 2 teaspoons of mustard powder 2 teaspoons turmeric 2 teaspoons corn flour Place zucchini, onion and capsicum in a large bowl, add salt and mix well. Leave to stand for three hours. Drain well.

Combine sugar, vinegar, mustard powder and turmeric in a large saucepan over medium heat and bring to the boil. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Add the zucchini mixture and bring back to the boil. Simmer for 25 minutes.

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NEWS / public housing 2 ‘You start to think it’s normal, you get accustomed to the screams, to the drugs, to the depressive state that you’re in’

Another trashed hellhole ignored by Housing ACT Two months ago, reporter NICK OVERALL revealed the shocking state of a public-housing unit in Wright, where tenants feared for their safety. Here he reports on another trashed unit, this time in Braddon, where for three months Housing ACT has ignored pleas for help.

NOT five minutes from the city centre, a new complex of public-housing units in Braddon is in such a state of disrepair that residents are scared for their safety.

Syringes, some half-filled with blood, lie in drains. Graffiti is scrawled on walls throughout the building and in its parking lot. One unit on the ground floor is empty, being used by squatters, and is in such a mess that it’s hard to make out the floor, which is covered by litter.

Having seen nothing done about the mess for about three months, and having watched the complex “deteriorate” over the course of three years, it was enough for one resident of the complex to speak out about the state it’s in.

“It’s really bad because it was such a nice place,” said the resident.

“It’s not like we’re barking at Housing ACT, we know the pandemic doesn’t help things, but sometimes we just don’t feel safe. This has to be improved.”

The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, first moved into the com-

plex in 2019.

Like many people in public housing he’d faced homelessness and struggled to find a place to live before he was taken in by Havelock Housing.

After moving into temporary accommodation he had his house broken into, the event, he says, that put him into the housing system.

Since, he’s been moved between multiple housing units, including from his last residence after the government sold the block to a private developer, before coming to the Braddon complex.

“I do consider myself lucky for getting this spot. This is such a great location to be in Braddon, central in Canberra, but you have to deal with this lifestyle around it,” he said.

“Things get broken into, crime, robberies, just recently within the past couple months someone had their house broken into while they were asleep.

“They’ve tried for more than a year to get out of here because they have kids, but haven’t been able to.”

Trashed… “There was a person who got kicked out, but since then they’ve been back squatting in the place. There are others that come and go and do drugs.”

Graffiti sprayed throughout the parking garage.

Photos: Nick Overall

The resident initially moved in by himself but was soon after joined by his elderly mother.

He said he’s even more concerned for her safety, noting that while living conditions are tough for him, it’s worse for older people. He said he also worries for kids that live in the complex, including a newborn.

“You start to think it’s normal, you get accustomed to it, you get accustomed to the screams, to the drugs, to the depressive state that you’re in.

“Sometimes you sit there just thinking what can I do?”

While the resident said he’s noticed the state of the complex gradually deteriorate since he first moved in, it was

makes it incredibly hard to get something done,” he said.

“If there was one that stuck with things it would be different.”

While the resident was eager to express he understands the difficulty facing housing, he, his mother and other residents of the complex want something done just so that they can feel safe in their own home.

“We know things are getting tougher, but at the same time this has to improve. It can’t be left to get to this,” he said.

“It’s like going to the doctor, you have to get to the cause of the problem, or the symptoms will just keep showing up.”

the mess on one of the ground-floor units that finally pushed him to speak out about it.

“It’s been like this for about three months,” he said.

“There was a person who got kicked out but since then they’ve been back squatting in the place.

“There are others that come and go and do drugs, in the garden and in the parking garage, too.”

He said that the time it takes to get anything done leaves residents feeling unsafe.

“What I’ve found is that, in the three years I’ve been here, there have been six or seven housing managers rotated, which I think is part of what

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Please lodge a protest vote against Labor

By MICHAEL CALKOVICS, Environmentalist WHY? Because the local Canberra Labor-led coalition is destroying our beautiful city.

• •

Yet its they that have declared a “Climate Emergency”.

Then why have they: • Allowed the destruction of our urban tree canopy on rezoned Mr Fluffy blocks. I wonder how many former Mr Fluffy landowners are happy with the outcomes. Basically, it seems to me like a land grab. Nothing much voluntary in compulsory property acquisition, eh? And my question: Is this even “constitutional”?

• Ripped out dozens of trees at West Basin, on Lake Burley Griffin, and are now using hectares of our lake

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bed as a rubbish dump.

Planning to rip out mature vegetation in Latham to install a “stink pipe”. So, are you residents happy?

Proposed trashing of the Yarralumla brickworks site. This woodland and vegetation is home to many endangered small-bird species. My impression was that endangered and native birds are protected.

Obviously, not here in Canberra.

What about this area to be protected to help our climate! So, are you residents happy with this?

The light rail project to Woden is going to be an ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER! This project needs to be canned. Reason being it was planned before the climate emergency declaration by the local Labor Coalition.

If Climate Change is real. Then CAN THE TRAM. Also, save our National Heritage trees at Albert Hall.

• The list goes on… and our National Capital Authority also needs to lift its game. As Indigenous site at Campbell is also vandalised, I blame the consenting authorities.

Heritage destruction by other Labor Party states WA – This state Labor government allowed the destruction of Juukan Gorge in 2020 by a mining company.

This site was not just of indigenous value, it was also world heritage for humanity. Trashed and vandalised; I’m not impressed. Are you? Yet also the federal government MUST do more to legally protect our heritage.

VICTORIA – The alleged illegal logging of old forests continues. David Lindenmayer AO, is a respectable and well renowned scientist from the Australian National University, has been desper-

ately trying to save the Leadbeater’s Possum that only resides in old growth forests.

Mr Lindenmayer, through some awesome and clever research using satellite imagery and Slope Analysis appears to show illegal logging in Melbourne’s water catchment, according to a report on ABC News 24.

Victoria is a Labor State. So what’s going on? Isn’t it time for a protest vote?

Footnote: Just in is the news that Victorian Environmental Group(s) are taking ‘Vic Forests’ to court over questionable logging.

FEDERAL LABOR – If Australia’s Labor states and territory are actively engaged in environmental and heritage vandalism, then what will happen to Australia if Labor wins the next federal election. But who else to vote for? That choice is yours.

1) Looking north-west from Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, this photo shows what’s left of West Basin. And the sign says it all: “PAY HERE” and pay we will with the loss of environmental, heritage, aesthetics, recreational, historical and climate. Photos: Michael Calkovics 2) Pictured are the heritage trees on the median strip outside Albert Hall and Canberra Hyatt.

If the Local Labor/Greens coalition have their way they will all be bulldozed to make way for concrete and steel. The destructive tram. I kindly ask our National Capital Authority to protect our National Heritage. These Cedrus trees can live for another 400 plus years. If a tram is needed, then let it run behind Albert Hall.

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3) This photo shows a very well structured grassland, woodland and forest comprising many species. And I found an astonishing amount of native bird life. From a Red Breasted Robin, sitting on the dead branch in the photo, to Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos chewing up pine cones.

Then a pair of rare Gang Gangs in the oak trees.

Therefore, I would like to test and challenge the ACT Greens and its leader (and Attorney-General) Shane Rattenbury to go visit this woodland site, which is part of the bush over the fence of Yarralumla brickworks. I’m asking the Greens to urgently save this site. If not, then extinction of many rare woodland birds is a certainty, including endangered Gang Gangs and... the credibility of Greens will be questioned.

TO BE CONTINUED... Michael Calkovics – Environmentalist Authorised by Michael Calkovics at PO Box 127, Curtin ACT 2605.

OPINION

What if Brittany and Grace had been black?

Indigenous leader JULIE TONGS, an ‘increasingly angry black woman’, feels deserted by the sisterhood when it comes to issues around Aboriginal women and children.

SOUTH African writer, activist and political analyst Sisonke Msimang says there has been a lot of talk this year, of a reckoning, of Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins as the faces of the future.

“Some of these words have been hard to hear; not because I don’t wish them to be true, but because of how tone deaf they are,” the Perth-based activist wrote in a feature in “The Guardian” on March 6 titled “Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins are supremely admirable and the acceptable white faces of Australian feminism”.

“There is most definitely a reckoning, but it is one that does not include covering the stories of angry black women,” she writes.

From long and increasingly bitter personal experience, I relate to and agree with everything she has said.

“There is no reckoning for Australian women if the media and the public aren’t able to listen and relate to the stories of Aboriginal women, women in hijab, women whose skin is far ‘too’ dark, and women who live on the wrong side of town, who can’t go to university and who will never report from parliament or file stories in newsrooms,” the article says.

“While I have been full of admiration, each time Tame has earned the spotlight, I have imagined the response if I had behaved that way, or if any number of black and indigenous women in the public domain had dared to do the same.”

Msimang says that Tame has had her critics, but her actions sparked a national conversation that has been carried out with the kind of care she only wished was on hand when angry black women were in the spotlight.

“I am yet to see black women’s anger greeted with the same kind of public solidarity or sympathy,” she writes.

“And yet black women have been expressing anger for years as they address racist police and education systems, as they try to create opportunities for themselves and face the double burden of sexism and racism.

“It is obvious that white women’s anger follows racialised lines, and that the media follows the stories journalists can relate to. Angry white women herald a new frontier in feminism, while loud black women are considered rude and uncouth.”

Like I said, I agree with Sisonke Msimang and to illustrate my

Sisonke Msimang. point, I will mention just two of the many issues that I, an increasingly angry black woman, have raised loudly, publicly and repeatedly over a number of years.

However, the depth of the silence with which my entreaties for the scandalous treatment of Aboriginal women and children in Canberra to be addressed can, in my opinion, be best explained by reference to the fact that these issues are being raised and agitated by a black woman on behalf of other black women and their children. Frankly, what other explanation can there be?

Despite the lengths I have gone to, I have not generated any meaningful response from the ACT government or more than a scintilla of interest, concern or serious response from local

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8 CityNews March 24-30, 2022

media including the ABC, the Canberra community or the sisterhood.

Those two issues are the rates of incarceration of black women and the number of Aboriginal children subject to care and protection orders in Canberra, the national capital and alleged haven of progressivity.

The latest data available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that the crude rate (total number of cases divided by the resident population for that cohort) of imprisonment of Aboriginal women in the ACT in 2019-2020 was 632.7 compared to a non-indigenous rate of 9.4. The ratio of Aboriginal to nonAboriginal women incarcerated is, therefore 67.3 which is the highest in Australia and more than three times higher than the average ratio across all other Australian states and territories, which is 21.4. (ABS document “Prisoner numbers and Prisoner Rates by Indigenous Status and Sex, States and Territories, 2006-2020”).

I would be surprised if this is not the highest crude rate of imprisonment of indigenous women in the world.

Similarly, the latest ROGS reports from the Productivity Commission reveal that, despite the hype and political grandstanding associated with the Our Booris examination of the ACT care and protection regime, the Our Booris recommendations

remain to be implemented.

Meanwhile, the rate at which Aboriginal children in Canberra are placed under care and protection orders is 89.8 per 1000 children compared to a rate of 6.9 per 1000 non-Aboriginal children. The rate at which Aboriginal children are placed under care and protection orders is increasing and is currently the third highest in Australia.

A final word from Sisonke Msimang: “Over the past year I have watched the exaltation of angry white women who have finally understood the limits of respectability.

“I have watched as a narrative emerges of white women as fighters, as eloquent challengers of the status quo, as upholders of the feminist legacy with little or no reference to black women who have been doing this for years. As with many other issues, the racial double standard is stark.

“Higgins and Tame’s stories were well received for many reasons, but surely one of them is that for many journalists, Tame and Higgins are relatable.”

Sisonke Msimang’s full “Guardian” article can be read at theguardian. com/commentisfree/2022/mar/06 Julie Tongs is the CEO of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.

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CityNews March 24-31, 2022 9

POLITICS / stamp duty cuts

ACT government drives young buyers into units THE Australian dream to bring up a family in a home with a yard is rapidly disappearing in Canberra. It is simply too bad for those who do not have huge financial support from the family or elsewhere.

Rating the ACT government on access to housing is really challenging, but it certainly is not a pass grade. The recent introduction of further cuts to residential stamp duty for entry level, first-home buyers and those seeking to downsize barely address accessibility to housing.

Ironically, the government is going to introduce these cuts from April Fool’s Day. In a “double-speak” media release it becomes clear that support for these entry level, off-the-plan purchases are really designed to support major developers and to drive people into apartments.

There will be no stamp duty applicable to a property of a maximum value of $600,000 when it is an off-the-plan purchase. This is up from the previous threshold of $500,000.

How many properties in Canberra that are not in apartment blocks can be purchased for less than $600,000?

There is an ideological drive from the Greens and Labor to move people into apartments rather than have homes

of residential land, which, combined with an overall cut in residential stamp duty, would make home purchases more accessible.

Too bad if you’re caught in the rental squeeze in Canberra. As Hannah Gill, of the Real Estate Institute of the ACT said in February: “Average rents continue to climb both for housing and for apartments, in fact Canberra is the most expensive city to rent in Australia”.

At the time, the data from Corelogic suggested “the median price for renting houses rose in the December quarter to $714 per week while the median cost of units climbed to $541.”

Too bad if you need to rely on public housing. As Jon Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed explained in last week’s “CityNews”, there are around a thousand less public houses available in Canberra over the last decade while the population increased by 63,000 people.

They argued: “It is difficult to find

In a ‘doublespeak’ media release, it becomes clear that support for these entry level, off-the-plan purchases are really designed to support major developers and to drive people into apartments. with a yard.

According to the government, the savings on a purchase of $600,000 will be $15,720. Providing a carrot does help drive this agenda for some.

However, the ability to influence those who are much better off is pretty limited.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr argued “on the supply side, it’s a signal to build more properties under $600,000”.

He explained that although there is “product available” at this price “it’s not chasing existing housing stock – it’s requiring new housing to be built”. The winners under this purchase-off-the-plan scheme are the bigger builders and developers.

Too bad for those who wish to buy their first home as a detached dwelling! There are no free-standing houses being built in Canberra on a reasonable size block of land for less than $600,000.

Too bad if you have a young family.

This is why the Master Builders ACT CEO Michael Hopkins suggested “to provide equity across the new residential market, stamp duty should be cut for all residential purchases, including vacant land for detached houses”.

By constraining land release for detached housing the government has pushed the prices on residential land. He called for adequate supply

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an aspect that sheds a positive light on the ACT’s performance in the provision of public housing over time or compared to other jurisdictions”.

The Chief Minister has once again proffered his choice argument: “I think so much of the debate is skewed as if no-one ever wants to live in a town centre.

“Obviously tens of thousands of people do, and it is a viable and quite legitimate choice for people to make.

And this initiative does support that choice.”

Too bad, however, if you want to make the alternative choice of a detached home. There are other tens of thousands of people, Andrew Barr, who want to make this alternative choice. Where are the initiatives that support the choice of these people?

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006. There are more of his columns at citynews.com.au

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NEWS

Personal treasures found between donated pages

By Belinda

STRAHORN A QUEANBEYAN bookshop has collected some of the odd, intriguing personal treasures left within the pages of preloved reads.

Assorted ticket stubs, business cards, a love letter, newspaper clippings, and an itemised bill for hats and hosiery from Winns Department Store in Oxford Street, Sydney, circa 1959.

Not surprisingly, bookmarks and photographs are also a common find in secondhand books, says Queanbeyan Lions Community Bookshop volunteer Karen Abbott.

“We’ve collected all sorts of interesting things,” Ms Abbott says.

“Sometimes you get quite excited by what you find.”

Having slipped out from between the pages of books, volunteers have collected random selections of postcards, boarding passes, school identification cards, an expired British passport and photo-booth snaps from the ‘40s.

The volunteers have also unearthed more juicier finds.

“There was a collection of photos once and the clothing that the young

Queanbeyan Lions Bookshop volunteers Karen Abbott, Julia Smith, Karen Carrick, Max Carrick and Lucy Clarke with some of the items they’ve found between the pages of donated books.

Photos: Belinda Strahorn woman had on – some of the time – might give away her occupation. She was obviously at home and had set the camera up in the lounge room,” says Queanbeyan Lions Club vicepresident, and bookshop volunteer Max Carrick.

Some things found are lucky.

“There was $80 in one book, and another time two $100 notes were hidden within the pages,” says Karen Carrick, another bookshop volunteer.

“People have put them away for a rainy day and forgotten about them.”

Other finds are unusual.

Perhaps the best-case scenario is when volunteers picked up novels and found the author’s signature inside.

“It was David Attenborough’s book,

‘Living Planet’, signed by the author himself, but someone bought that,” says Mr Carrick.

Some of the more intriguing treasures are handwritten notes tucked inside donated books.

“It’s likely they’ve been used as bookmarks and then forgotten about,” says 82-year-old bookshop volunteer Julia Smith.

“There’s a letter from a father to his son Herman, written in German, and sent from Berlin in 1968,” Ms Smith says.

But the “sweetest” find is a love letter, hand-written on a notebook page which reads: “Hey baby, hope you have a great day. Thank you for the time you’ve spent

A closer look at what the volunteer workers at the Queanbeyan Lions Bookshop have found between the pages of donated books. with me. You make me happy by just being with me. I love you all the way up to the sky. I can’t wait to see you, my love, my darling and my favourite. I miss you and I’ll see you real soon. All my love, Timmy.

PS I left a hug and a kiss for you with Jimmy Junior.

Since its inception, almost four years ago, the Queanbeyan Lions Community Bookshop has raised more than $130,000 for community projects, from the sale of donated books.

Sometimes entire family photo albums get caught up in bulk donations, Ms Abbott says.

“We get a lot of deceased-estate material,” says Ms Abbott.

“When the families go into their loved ones’ homes and pack up all the old books, they are often not looking

properly and I think that’s where a lot of the old photo albums are coming from.

“We had a very old family photo album dating back to the 1860s. It was in a leather cover and it came from England.

“I posted about the album on Facebook and eventually, a lady from Perth believed it was her great-great grandfather’s, and so I posted it to her.

“When she received it she said she could see her family’s resemblance in the photos, so that was a lovely ending for that one.”

Ms Abbott is also trying to track down the owner of the Ghoury family photo album from 2018, and a collection of one family’s Santa’s photos taken between 2014 and 2019.

Some of the more special moments are when volunteers discover that a book contains an inscription.

“We had a pile of books from 1895-1905. They had inscriptions in copperplate handwriting in the front, and people had won the books as prizes for Sunday school,” said Ms Carrick.

“Finding these kinds of personal things puts a human element into the book, and makes you realise that it actually once belonged to someone,” Ms Abbott says.

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CityNews March 24-30, 2022 11

CANBERRA MATTERS

Of lost owls and trees and government neglect THERE used to be the sound of owls in the inner north of Canberra at night time. I didn’t really appreciate the beauty of their call until, one day, I realised it was no more.

Given that owls, such as the powerful owl, make their nest in the hollow of older trees, the evidence points to a lack of suitable trees. Did someone chop down some local significant trees?

The North Ainslie Primary School proudly displays its logo outside the school. It is a gang gang. Again, in earlier years these fabulous creatures would often be seen in this area. Not so much now. They also like hollows in older trees. How many local, older trees have been removed in the last decade or two?

A couple of years ago, a group of Weston residents took on the challenge of regeneration of their local park, Fowles Street Park. They converted large parts of this weedinfested and neglected area to being a native woodland meadow. They researched the older trees to discover that they were 200 to 300 years old.

With all this activity to regenerate the biodiversity around these older trees, the gang-gang cockatoos and tawny frogmouth owls have moved in. It was that simple – plus a lot of

Stop chopping down the trees.

Stop approving developments and other suburban activities that result in the loss of our older trees – especially the gum trees that encourage birds to be part of the city. and the associated biodiversity, urgent actions are well overdue to return the owls and other endangered birds, such as the gang gang, to Canberra’s suburban areas.

Top of the list of actions has to be – stop chopping down the trees. Stop approving developments and other suburban activities that result in the loss of our older trees – especially the native trees such as the older gum trees that host the biodiversity and encourage these birds to be part of the city.

The ACT Greens should have been the game changer for actions on biodiversity and bringing back the birds – especially the powerful owl. They have been part of the ACT

Fowles Street Park, Weston, where local residents converted it to being a native woodland meadow and now the gang-gang cockatoos and tawny frogmouth owls have moved in.

Photo: Paul Costigan back breaking work!

In the last few years there have been many government announcements about trees. There have been policy announcements about urban forest strategies and other useless titles. With both the local anecdotal evidence along with the many studies undertaken it is probably time for the ACT’s Labor/Greens government to stop having meetings, stop making announcements and stop talking about trees. After many years of being responsible for the urban forests

government for over a decade and still they talk about these issues – but achievements are few.

We do not need to wait for more research on the loss of species, it has been done. Residents also have their experiences. It may be anecdotal and based on observations, but these line up with the research. Ad hoc developments in older suburbs, as approved by the planning bureaucrats, have reduced biodiversity and are sending birds on to the endangered list.

When questioned, the ACT Greens and their Labor colleagues will rattle on about how much they are spending and how many trees they are going to plant – one day – maybe. Meanwhile, the trees are coming down on public lands for any number of reasons – some reasonable and some because that’s what they do!

Meanwhile, residents have been very polite in asking the planners and politicians to stop the land clearances that happen too often when developments are approved within older suburbs, with most trees and shrubs and the associated biodiversity gone.

This would be the planning bureaucrats at work – being those

with the direct say over heritage and environmental issues and how the government handles these matters.

Their motto must be “no care, no responsibility – bring on climate change and who cares about the birds!” Can we get powerful owls to visit the planning bureaucrats who allow older trees to be chainsawed?

Have we in this city any politicians and influential and intelligent bureaucrats that care about climate change, about aesthetics, about sustainability and biodiversity, about looking after the planet? Then they would be the ones who would now commit to having the sound of the owls and gang gangs being heard constantly and frequently in our suburbs – soon. Know anyone?

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

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

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Email hi@neilhermes.com.au 12 CityNews March 24-30, 2022

BRIEFLY Targeting abusers SIMON Henderson, Save the Children Australia’s head of policy, will examine how Australia should frame its laws to ensure that human rights abusers are held accountable in a presentation for Marcus Clarke House at the Baptist Church Hall, 34 Groom Street, Hughes, from 2pm, Saturday, April 2. There will be light refreshments after the talk. Book via trybooking.com

Pelvic-floor workshop A PHYSIOTHERAPIST from Canberra Health Services will be leading a free pelvic floor workshop for women of all ages. It will offer information, education and self-help strategies for women experiencing continence problems or wishing to prevent them. At the Gungahlin Community Health Centre, 57 Ernest Cavanagh Street, 1pm4pm, Monday, April 4. Book on 5124 9977.

Theatre helps hospital CALVARY Hospital Auxiliary is the featured charity at the Canberra Theatre Centre’s “Music at Midday” concert featuring the Band of the Royal Military College Duntroon, on Tuesday, April 12. Entrance is by gold-coin donation. All proceeds go towards medical equipment for the care and comfort of Calvary Public Hospital patients and staff. Free tickets can be booked by phoning 6276 2700. All welcome.

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KINDNESS / Share what you hide and maybe don’t hide it, either

I share the things I love with others, some laugh I CAN’T consider the peregrinations of Proust, Camus or even that cheeky half back Leo Tolstoy without recalling the Macksville High English staff room of the early ‘80s.

Looking back they were probably just a lovely normal group of people, and some of them even stayed up as their kids and I returned late from pubs wearing pastels or paisley, but to me in 1980 they were the pantheon of deities who, like those blokes in dresses at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, interpreted divine words and explained them without the Latin to us mortals.

Mr Klein, who was all three (a parent of my best mate, a priest and an English teacher/librarian), was to me the Pontiff, and his humility would have made Francis of Assisi look like Donald Trump.

He taught me the Dewey decimals and where the grown up books were kept and if I read Dostoevsky at the same time as “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” no harm was done.

Another hero was Mr Blain, Ian to his friends and Sir to us terrified minions. Despite being a Rabbitohs supporter and with a sulfuric acid sarcasm, he was amazing.

In this allegedly underprivileged

Frederick Forsyth, left, and Wilbur Smith… who are these people? public school equidistantly distant from anywhere, he started with: “Listen, young clowns. Before you become older clowns, you will write me an essay weekly and hand it in every single Friday. And FURTHERMORE”, he silenced the howls, “you will read the following books now. For no reason. There will be no assessment.

There will be no reward. You will read them in and of themselves for the pure unadulterated joy of following a skilled narrator skilfully narrating.”

The horror of it all. I slinked home that first Monday to my cave at the back of our house and fumed at the injustice of having to read a Wilbur Smith. And a Frederick Forsyth. Who were these people?

Blainey was no fool though. He knew that Dougie Walters’ century against the Kiwis would not get him picked in the ’81 Ashes squad. He knew the silent corners a harried educator could sneak a cheeky smoke. He knew that the Rabbitohs would have to wait a long time (2014!) for glory. He possibly even knew that the Blair kid would one day father the necessary Greg Inglis to make it happen. And he knew that Andy would become a journalist, Tim a poet psychologist and that I would spend every day of my life reading from that day on.

Some people whittle chess sets.

Some invent barbie recipes and write cookbooks. Some play music and paint and draw and create. Some watch footy and drink for Australia.

Some, like my eldest, do all those things. Some people sing Puccini in the shower. Some dance when no one is watching. And so many of them do it in secret, embarrassed. I should know.

I collected comic books and cricket magazines and footy cards and Old Penguin classics and Enid Blytons and, for the first 20 years, hardly told a soul. And then… I did. Bugger it, why not?

In the next 25 years I have shamelessly shared the things I love with others. Some laugh. But others reveal the same passion, kindred spirits who can tell a 1975 Artie Beetson card

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from a 1977 Changa Langlands from 20 metres.

And amazing things happen. My buddy Richard and I started The Lee Falk Memorial Bengali Explorer’s Club for lovers of the Phantom years ago for a laugh, and 20 years later (and tens of thousands of dollars to charity collected) we are still going.

I’ve met hundreds of people, here and overseas, live and virtual, many who have become the dearest of friends, through the sharing of the nerdiest passions.

And I reckon it wasn’t just the introduction to those wonderful books that was Mr Klein and Mr Blain’s gift to us all. And it wasn’t the hundreds of hours diligently marking weekly essays that taught us Year 8 kids to read and write better. It was, and it took me a long time to figure it out, their courage in saying: “This is what I love to do and I’m telling you and don’t bloody laugh at me for it. I read. You should try it. Here’s how it works”.

Science tells us that reading is good for you (true) and writing as well (true) and that 73.4 per cent of our character and personality is developed from our hobbies and

passions (made that one up, but it’s true anyway).

If you love something enough to do it in our increasingly precious spare time – share it with people. Share it with people who may laugh at you about it. But honestly, unless you’re Jeffrey Dahmer your hobbies are probably harmless and wonderful and your passion may create a lifelong joy for another human being. And that’s definitely worth having your cricket team mates laugh at your “Secret Seven” hardcovers.

Thanks to those lovely men, and their incredible colleagues, for their kindness that led to so much joy in my life. I assure you the chain will continue.

Antonio Di Dio is a busy GP in Canberra who longs to live three doors down from Kogarah Oval, specifically 1956-66 inclusive, although turning up to the Raiders every year has its moments. There is more of his “Kindness” at citynews.com.au

THE GADFLY / the fake Bard?

BRIEFLY

Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!

*

CANBERRA’S National Portrait Gallery is an excellent institution and a popular tourist attraction.

Its reputation for probity in its displays is an important asset, not just to the gallery, but to the national capital itself.

And it has been unimpeachable… until now.

Its current star exhibition is from London’s National Portrait Gallery while that institution is closed for refurbishment until 2023. It is called the “Shakespeare to Winehouse” exhibition and, according to its promotional spiel, “one of the most significant artworks on display is John Taylor’s portrait of William Shakespeare, painted in the 1600s and thought to be the only portrait the writer ever sat for”.

Indeed, the portrait is said to have been the London NPG’s “first acquisition in 1856”.

Trouble is, the idea that it’s really a portrait of the Bard would be laughable were it not so obviously an attempt by the vast British Shakespeare industry to foist a fib on the colonials, and indeed the rest of the world. For the “provenance” of the Chandos portrait (so called because the Dukes of Chandos once owned it) is an exercise in legerdemain [sleight of hand].

Indeed, it begins with an acknowl-

William Shakespeare by John Taylor, from the 1600s.

Martin Droeshout’s 1623 engraving of Shakespeare.

edged fraudster, one George Vertue, an engraver who in 1737 published what he falsely claimed was a map of London executed in 1560, and in the exposure it was revealed that: “Vertue crowned his pretended copy with the date 1560 in Roman numerals… and took other unwarrantable liberties with the object of disguising the fraud. The unhappy result of this tinkering of the original design was that numerous subsequent antiquaries were victims of the deception”.

It was this Vertue who claimed – without any supporting evidence – that the “Shakespeare” portrait was the work of one John Taylor, though no other painting by him is known to exist.

There was a boy actor of that name among the Children of Paul’s acting troupe in the 1590s and Vertue – again without evidence – says that he was an

The idea that it’s really a portrait of the Bard would be laughable were it not so obviously an attempt by the vast British Shakespeare industry to foist a fib on the colonials.

“intimate friend” of Shakespeare. In the 1620s there was a Joseph Taylor who was a member of the Painter-Stainers’ Company but, of course, Shakespeare died in 1616.

It is, in short, a fantasy.

But why, you ask, would the London National Portrait Gallery accept the portrait as even a contender for authenticity? And there’s the rub.

For such is the power of the worldwide Shakespeare industry, that they will do almost anything to promote and package their money-spinner. And the so-called “Chandos” portrait actually looks much more like the character

they want him to be than the traditional engraving by Martin Droeshout on the title page of the First Folio of the plays published in 1623.

The Droeshout Shakespeare looks rather fey, not at all the manly chap with a piercing look and sturdy frame of the John Taylor (?) creation. Indeed, it is far more likely to have been a selfportrait of Joseph Taylor or the work of one of his six apprentices.

But that, of course, is hardly the point. The real issue is that the world today is riven between truth and the “fake news” so beloved of Donald Trump and the dictators such as Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and others travelling a similar road. It’s spread through the advertising industry and become a tool for the powerful lobbies at the heart of the political process.

The arts, by contrast, have always been a bastion of truth-telling, even when a white lie might keep the turnstiles spinning. That’s worth preserving, don’t you think? *’Henry IV, Part 1’ (1597) act 5. robert@robertmacklin.com

Easter theme to mini market THE residents of Kangara Waters Retirement Village in Belconnen say that after having to cancel two of their annual fetes due to covid, they’re fighting back!

The idea is for six, themed “Mini Markets” for 2022. The first is an “Easter Market”, at 2 Joy Cummings Place, Belconnen, 8am-12.30pm on Saturday, April 2. It will feature Easter chickens, chocolates and novelty items.

Cash sales only.

Charity stall moves BELCONNEN Fruit & Veg Markets charity-stall regulars the Bold Bandannas will raise money for cancer research at a new spot in The Piazza (near the toilets) selling jams, pickles, chutney, lemon butter, sugar-reduced preserves and hand-made items. But they will be at the new spot only on Saturday, April 30, 8am-5pm.

Dancing with Ruth RUTH Osborne, artistic director at Ql2 Dance, is the guest speaker at the next lunch meeting of the Weston Creek VIEW Club, at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden, from 11.30am on Tuesday, April 5. Lunch costs $35 and interested ladies and visitors are welcome. RSVP to 6286 4626 by 5pm, Thursday, March 31.

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CityNews March 24-30, 2022 15

LETTERS

Write to us: editor@citynews.com.au

‘Your trusted news source’, but trusted for what?

AS Peter Morgan (Letters, CN March 10) noted, the accurate nailing of ABC Radio 666 in “Keeping Up the ACT” (CN March 3) deftly hoisted a flag of complaints.

Still angry about Genevieve’s treatment

I feel the need to add a warning pennant – all is not well upstairs in the newsroom, “Your trusted news source”.

Trusted for what? I’ve often wondered, as the time signal each morning prompts me to quickly make the switch over to BBC World News (thanks DAB+!) or risk copping an ABC 666 news headline like “The Mutant Virus is Here!”. That was the 7am newsreader’s droll attempt to inform us – mock click-bait style – that Canberra’s first case of the Omicron variant had been detected.

Did he know that the host of that time slot had been asking listeners to share their anxieties about Omicron reaching the territory? This “sharing and caring” is, of course, just a rhetorical segue to introduce the latest sociologist promoting their self-help book on dealing with the impact of the relentless media focus on COVID-19 fears, uncertainty and doubt.

When ABC 666 News lost their 15-minute “flagship” 7.45am bulletin, “hope sprang eternal” in me that with just five minutes at 8am, sports would have to get cut back to local results or dropped altogether.

Alas not; to preserve its sacrosanct sports report, news has been squeezed to mere bullet points. Even these get blasted through, like Canberra’s roundabouts, in the mad dash to reach sport “the precious”. Speaking of which, is there some obligation to the Raiders that ABC Canberra listeners are subjected to a minimum of at least one, post-match Ricky grumble grab?

Surely News can be stripped of sports completely – especially the weird obsession with the English Premier League results. There’s normally a whole segment devoted to the local “ABC Grandstand” reporter anyway.

Peter, it wouldn’t take much to restore ABC Radio 666 from lazy infotainment programming back to a station of substance. I suggest we start with “your trusted news source”.

Michael A Crowe, Hawker

PETER Morgan (Letters, CN March 10) laments the state of our local ABC radio station and the lack of interesting and thoughtful discussion by presenters.

I have not listened to ABC Canberra or 666, as it was known, for many years since the day management decided to axe Genevieve Jacobs, who had to be among the very best of some excellent presenters at that time.

I was horrified at the shabby way she was treated and vowed not to ever listen to ABC Canberra ever again and, indeed, I have not.

ABC Radio National and ABC Classic are now my ABC stations of choice.

Christine Tutty, Page

I’ve stopped listening to local ABC I CAN’T help commenting on Peter Morgan’s letter about the often vacuous drivel on our local ABC (Letters, CN March 10).

Truth be told, I’ve stopped listening to it when presenters like the ones he mentions left. And to be fair, there was another excellent female presenter before Genevieve Jacobs, but her name escapes me.

Every now and then I do turn it on and find they’re interviewing an interesting writer or artist. But on the whole, the content quality is just as your correspondent said.

Late at night it was a delight to listen to a well spoken and knowledgeable presenter like Tony Delroy, but no more for many years now.

You wonder why our national broadcaster – taxpayer funded, may I add – can’t find more engaging announcers.

Vivien Munoz, via email

Chaos may cost ACT Labor “CANBERRA Matters” columnist Paul Costigan (CN March 17) suggests the NCA is probably, stupidly, moving to approve raising London Circuit (if they haven’t already).

URGENT MESSAGE TO THE ACT GOVERNMENT (if anyone’s listening): It’s not too late to walk away from this crazy project! My fairly confident prediction is that once the resultant traffic chaos and mayhem gets well underway (thank you, Disruption Task Force!), this will become a major political millstone, nicely in time for the next ACT

election! (Confidential aside to ACT Labor – if you play this smart you can blame it all on the silly Greens and maybe win back some seats! Happy to help.)

Richard Johnston, Kingston

Electric buses, the only way to go THE “Canberra Matters” column by Paul Costigan on March 10 (“Tram gives developers a free infrastructure ride”) is one of his best so far, and really hits the nail on the head.

I hope the Greens of the ACT had a good read and thought to themselves, “How old-fashioned we are”.

We complain about the environment, governments and big business doing nothing, when the ACT Greens look to create more pollution by trying to fool the ratepayers of the ACT that a $1.3 billion, old-fashioned transport system is good for us. I say humbug to the Greens and those who support them.

Electric buses are the only way to go.

Errol Good, Macgregor

The government couldn’t care less DANNY Corvini (Letters, CN March 17) has not heard of anyone from the inner north complaining about the tram. Well, I have.

A retail assistant in Woden told me she used to travel to work from the inner north via a fairly direct suburban bus route to Civic, then an express bus to Woden.

Following the introduction of the tram, the suburban bus route was changed to slowly meander through several suburbs before eventually reaching Civic, making it too time consuming to be useful for commuting.

She now has to get a bus which takes her to the tram, where she then continues her trip to Civic and Woden.

The lack of choice in transport options probably explains why the tram is completely full. People realise it’s no use complaining, the ACT government couldn’t care less.

Deb Edwards, Weston

Paying through the nose DANNY Corvini (Letters, CN March 17) is right to say that there would be no complaints from commuters able to use the tram. Why should they complain when 95-97 per cent of Canberrans don’t use it but have to pay through the nose for it?

In case you plead that these commuters pay fares, that is true too but, at an average of about $3 for at best 4.3 million passengers a year, revenue is about $13 million a year.

Not bad you say? Well, at $1.3 billion cost over 20 years, taxpayers are paying $65 million a year for the privilege of a few happy northside commuters.

And, Stage 2 will cost about $3 billion over 20 years for fewer passengers a year. Do your own maths and wonder why Tuggeranong residents, in particular, who are never likely to see a tram but are expected to pay for everyone else’s tramlines, are not very happy about the vast waste of taxpayer funds.

Max Flint, co-ordinator, Smart Canberra Transport

Unhinged Vlad has to be stopped ROBERT Macklin’s column “Hey, James, the world has a job for you” (“The Gadfly”, CN March 17) reminded me of a recent discussion with a close relative. The subject was Russian President Vladimir Putin and his unprovoked and totally unjustified invasion of Ukraine.

After canvassing several options, we concluded that the only way Putin’s undeclared war could be halted was by his assassination.

Given the impenetrable security we concluded that it would have to be an inside job.

I speculated that a Mossad agent might succeed. However, on reflection, Robert’s suggestion of James Bond would likely have a better chance of ridding the world of an unhinged, dangerous man who has made thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons.

This man must be stopped, whatever it takes.

Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

What ‘catchment area’, Andrew?

THE Chief Minister talks about the undesirability of building in “the catchment area” when defending his Greens coalition partners’ sanctimonious but misguided policy of a “compact city” (cruelly depriving families of backyards).

If he’s referring to long-time planned Tuggeranong expansion to land across the Murrumbidgee River from the town centre, for instance, then it’s not in any current, or likely catchment area.

The only ACT water sourcing point in the

Murrumbidgee, north of Tharwa, is a “well” in the river, opposite the Cotter Dam pumping station. That emergency draw point was installed before the Cotter Dam was raised, and is now not required.

We don’t have “urban sprawl” blight and associated congestion/pollution problems, because of our wonderful dispersed and well interconnected town centres; and cars becoming mostly electric or hydrogen powered, and more people working from home, will also help.

Jack Kershaw, Kambah

What’s the longest rifle shot?

DESPITE the world situation, the following should not be interpreted as anything other than a piece of history. Following a recent news item on my phone about a Canadian described as an elite sniper entering Ukraine, I was intrigued to find out what is the longest civilian or military rifle shot ending in death.

I was stunned to discover that In 2017, a sniper from Joint Task Force 2 (JTF-2) neutralised an Isis target in Iraq at a distance of more than 3540 metres. The reported kill shot was corroborated through video footage and subsequently confirmed by Canada’s Armed Forces.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

Who still wants Dutton as PM? THE PM’s worsening poll results would seem partly explicable by recent leadership research that revealed: “The more a leader is seen to represent us, the more we’re inclined to trust and follow them.” (“Scott struggles with being one of us”, citynews.com.au, March 12).

At the local level ACT independent candidates for the Senate in the forthcoming election have the opportunity to show authentic and transparent leadership qualities without being beholden to trust-destroying dogmas, directions or control.

Let’s not forget that in August, 2018, Senator Zed Seselja was a key member of a close coterie of rightist Coalition colleagues, who were confident their behind-the-scenes lobbying would swiftly install Peter Dutton as prime minister. Would this ACT Liberal senator do the same again?

Sue Dyer, Downer

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GUNGAHLIN AND MITCHELL

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Fast-growing district has a selection of services ONE of the fastest growing regions in Australia, the district of Gungahlin is one of the original 18 districts of the ACT used in land administration.

Made up of more than 17 suburbs, its lightindustrial focused suburb, Mitchell, has become a known destination for locals’ everyday needs.

Home improvement, body art, transport, recreation and more, here’s a guide to Gungahlin and Mitchell’s wide variety of services.

Motorcycle champion store in Mitchell

Tranquil site for ceremonies NORWOOD Park Crematorium and Memorial Gardens has provided a beautiful and tranquil setting for memorials and ceremonies since 1966, says managing director Stephen Beer.

Norwood Park has a chapel on site, and a variety of memorial gardens and walls.

“We’ve done a lot of development over the past 10 years with pathways and various types of memorials, which are set in the beautiful bush setting,” he says.

“The actual cremation and service is organised between the funeral director and the family, but the memorials are done through our staff. The families can then organise their plaque through us.

“We also have about 50 different plaques on hand for families to choose from and a range of beautiful urns if you wish to keep your loved one close.

“Customers are welcome to visit our display room/ wall with examples of traditional and contemporary urns.”

It can be an emotional time when the staff at Norwood Park have to interact with customers, which is why Stephen says they always treat them with great respect.

Norwood Park Crematorium and Memorial Gardens, 65 Sandford Street, Mitchell. Call 6241 3177, email info@ norwoodpark.com.au, or visit norwoodpark.com.au

HAVING represented Australia in several motorbiking world championships, owner of Moto Central Don Murray enjoys sharing his knowledge with new and experienced riders.

His store sells a range of road bikes, off-road bikes and scooters with brands such as CFMoto, Benelli, Crossfire, Sherco and Beta, as well as Kymco and Lambretta scooters.

“Currently, our most popular adult bike is the CFMoto 150 NK, which is proving to be a big hit with the commuter and delivery crowd,” says Don. “For the kids, you can’t go past the Sherco Electric kids’ balance bikes in two popular sizes: EB12 and EB16.”

Don says the store also has a fully equipped service centre with the latest, state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment that can service most makes and models of motorcycles and scooters.

“Log-book servicing, tyres and brakes are our specialty,” he says.

Don has been riding motorcycles since he was a kid, and says it was a dream to be able to represent Australia as both a rider and a team

manager at multiple Australian championships.

“I love the freedom of being out in the elements. Meeting interesting people and exploring new places always seems better on a bike,” he says.

“We are more than happy to get people started on their first bike as well as help them with where to get their licence and help with all the right gear like helmets, jackets, gloves and more.”

Moto Central, 12 Sandford Street, Mitchell. Call 6248 0229, email sales@ motocentral.com.au or visit motocentral.com.au

The CFMoto 150 NK from Moto Central.

NORWOOD PARK CREMATORIUM & MEMORIAL GARDENS Since 1966, Norwood Park has provided a beautiful and tranquil setting for memorials and ceremonies in the ACT. The landscaped grounds sit elevated above Canberra and are one of Australia’s most established memorial parks.

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phone: 6241 3177

www.norwoodpark.com.au info@norwoodpark.com.au CityNews March 24-30, 2022 17

GUNGAHLIN AND MITCHELL

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Gungahlin is home to a welcoming tattoo shop TWO 9 Tattoo has an open-plan environment where they try to eliminate that old-school intimidating aspect of tattoo shops, says owner Lucas Bass.

“We cover all popular styles of tattooing, while we also specialise in custom unique pieces to suit our clients’ individual wants and needs,” he says.

“Our artists specialise in different aspects of art so we can assign an artist to a client for best results.

Lucas has been tattooing for seven years in Canberra, and Two 9 has been operating for two and a half years.

“The most rewarding thing is representing a customer’s idea accurately; translating personalised art on skin is always satisfying,” he says.

“Gungahlin has a good environment with high traffic and plenty of local, small businesses. It is also constantly improving and growing, which is nice to witness and be a part of.”

Two 9 Tattoo, 427/1 Anthony Rolfe Avenue, Gungahlin. Call 0421 973019, email bookings@two9tattoo.com or visit two9tattoo.com

Decades of flooring and window experience

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HAVING operated in Mitchell for more than 20 years, Carpet One co-owner Leonie Gann says their experienced team know how to help customers with all types of flooring, from carpeting to timbers, laminates, vinyl planks, through to wools and polyesters.

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able roofs and more,” she says.

Leonie, who runs the business with her partner Paul, says that together the team at Carpet One have more than 50 years of flooring and window experience.

“Our guys are the best when it comes to scenarios for your install,” she says.

“We do on-site measures so anything that may be an issue can be discussed with you first

and we have an in-house magazine that offers a visual guide to help find the right style for you.

“We can help you match what’s in the showroom to what you’re trying to achieve in your home.”

Carpet One, 141 Flemington Road, Mitchell.

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SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Birds to bricks, there’s lots of holiday fun to be had WHETHER it’s seeing a live show, getting up close to some friendly birds or learning with Lego, Canberra and the surrounding region have plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained these school holidays.

Here’s the “CityNews” guide to what’s on during the break.

Take a ‘thrilling’ scientific tour of the alphabet

Aviary offers a great time amongst birds

FAMILIES can enjoy a thrilling voyage through the alphabet in the Queanbeyan Performing Art Centre’s upcoming production of “The Alphabet of Awesome Science”.

In it, “Professor Lexi Con” has curated a curious collection of her favourite words (one for every letter of the alphabet) with each word providing “Professor Noel Edge” with a jumping off point for 26 quirky scientific demonstrations.

Together, this dad-joke quipping, prankpulling pair of polished professors strut their stuff in a performance that’s described as equal parts explosive, messy, spectacular, hilarious, fascinating and gross.

And, every show is completely different, with audiences determining the order in which the letters are revealed and explored.

The professorial pair have just 52 minutes to complete their alphabetical, scientifical countdown, that’s just two minutes for each experiment.

“The Alphabet of Awesome Science”, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, April 5-6.

Tickets at theq.net.au

“Professor Noel Edge” performing in “The Alphabet of Awesome Science” at The Q.

PARROTS, finches, doves and quail are among the birds ready to interact at the Canberra Walk-in Aviary, says owner and manager Mick Logan.

The aviary is great fun for all ages. Now is the best time to get up close and personal with a range of friendly, free-flying birds, he says.

“While not all birds will interact with you, visitors get the chance to observe, up close, species of birds that otherwise would be hard to see in the wild,” Mick says.

“We provide a small plate of food and a tub of mealworms and you can wander around and feed the birds.

“Providing the weather is fine, you can have a great time feeding the birds, taking photos or just observing our feathered friends.”

The aviary is a 1000sqm planted walk-in enclosure that has more than 500 birds from about 65 different species from Australia and the world, Mick says.

Gold Creek Village has three other attractions, as well as cafes, gift shops and a garden centre, so it’s a great place for a day out after visiting the aviary.

The aviary is open every day, 10am-5pm, with last admissions at 4.30pm.

Canberra Walk-in Aviary, unit 13, Federation Square, O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls. Call 6230 2044 or visit canberrawalkinaviary.com.au

5 - 6 April

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20 CityNews March 24-30, 2022

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Walk amongst over 500 birds from 50 species from Australia and around the world!

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The Australian War Memorial’s new temporary public entrance.

War Memorial still open as expansion works continue WHILE work is ongoing to expand the Australian War Memorial, it’s still welcoming visitors to come and experience the historic Canberra landmark and its exhibits.

The memorial has a new, temporary public entrance that will operate for the next three years, which is located on the eastern side of the main building opposite Poppy’s Café.

Visitors can experience the Aircraft Hall, which is home to the Hawker Sea Fury FB11, North American P-51D Mustang, and Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero Fighter.

There’s also the Hall of Valour, honouring Australians who were awarded the Victoria Cross and the

nine Australian Defence personnel who have directly received the George Cross.

The memorial’s World War I and II galleries allow visitors to explore the memorial’s dioramas and diverse collection of items, including the steel lifeboat from the troopship Ascot that landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

The War Memorial is encouraging visitors to book tickets online at awm.gov.au before visiting galleries or attending The Last Post ceremony.

The Australian War Memorial, Treloar Crescent, Campbell. Visit awm.gov.au or call 6243 4211.

Open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm with the last admission 4.30pm

FREE ADMISSION FOR KIDS UNDER 4 When accompanied by a full paying adult

Social distancing rules enforced

COME ALONG & VISIT THE WALK-IN AVIARY & THEN ENJOY THE GOLD CREEK VARIETY SHOPS & ATTRACTIONS OPEN EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR (EXCEPT DEC. 25) Unit 13 Federation Square, O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls Phone 6230 2044 | canberrawalkinaviary.com.au

OUR DOORS ARE OPEN We continue to welcome visitors while we work to expand our galleries. Plan your visit and book free tickets online.

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CityNews March 24-30, 2022 21

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

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A ‘living museum’ of ex-military aircraft

Let your kids get creatively educated these school holidays BRICKS 4 Kidz is a Canberra institution that has entertained thousands of children since it was established in 2017, says owner Mark Jefferies.

“Our holiday workshops are unique: we run full-day programs where children work at a number of different Lego stations to give them variety, which includes motorised Lego Technic, traditional Lego bricks with instructions and bags of free play where they are encouraged to use their own imagination.”

What sets Bricks 4 Kidz apart, says Mark, is its amazing instructors who love teaching kids.

“We have a passion for providing a fun and nurturing environment for all of our little builders,” he says.

And, the workshops are customised to the age of the children and are educational.

“Children will learn basic STEM concepts through the use of motors and gears with our LEGO Technic.”

Bricks 4 Kidz. Call 0481 240311, email act-northside@bricks4kidz.com or visit bricks4kidz.com.au/act-northside

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THIS school holidays kids and parents alike can experience a “fully working” aviation museum with more than a dozen historic aircraft that still fly.

Deputy CEO of the Temora Aviation Museum Peter Harper says their collection of planes tells the story of multiple wars, as well as that of the Temora Airfield training base, which more than 10,000 personnel passed through during World War II. “We have 14 aircraft in the collection, which range from heavy bombers to trainers used to train the pilots right up to the frontline fighter of the day, the Spitfire, an iconic aircraft used in the European and Pacific theatres during World War II,” says Peter.

“We have events and air shows where people can see the planes fly, with our next one on April 9, and people can find all our scheduled flying days on our website.

“Even on ‘static’ days where the planes are grounded we have a mezzanine viewing level which overlooks the workshop where work is being done on the planes.”

While Peter says the aircraft are “truly awesome” to see, the primary purpose of the museum is to share the history and tell the story of the men and women who served our country during times of conflict.

“We work really hard at telling those stories through a number of different ways,” he says.

“We have audio-visual displays, we have a video that tells the story of the museum and wonderful volunteers who will take people around on a guided tour.

“We’ve also stepped into the world of virtual reality, with a VR tour on our website.”

Temora Aviation Museum, 1 Tom Moon Avenue, Temora.

Visit aviationmuseum.com.au or call 6977 1088.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

INSIDE

Taste of class open in Civic

WENDY JOHNSON

Folk’s what you want it to be, says festival chief COVER STORY

By Helen Musa

THERE’S an overwhelming sense of relief that, after two years of postponements, the National Folk Festival will go ahead over Easter, but along with relief come apprehensions, too.

For the high-profile artistic director Katie Noonan, a polymath musician, five-time ARIA award-winner and former music director of the Commonwealth Games and Queensland music festivals, is not exactly a folkie.

Noonan, who has performed jazz, opera, symphonic music and pop/rock for over two decades, admits she came to folk late, but on her appointment she told “CityNews”: “I’m fiercely proud of Australian music. I want to remove the cultural cringe across the arts… we really are world-class leaders and it’s time we believe we are.”

She’s plainly been aware that in taking on one of Canberra’s (and the nation’s) most popular festivals, she has to find a balance between the more traditional view of folk music, which is rooted in the community, and her own professional instinct to look at a higher-profile cohort of musicians.

In a venture made possible by Australia

Emma Donovan.

Kate Ceberano.

Artistic director Katie Noonan.

Council and federal funding, Noonan has gone to the biggest music agencies in the country and engaged First Nations stars such as Archie Roach, Emma Donovan and Yothu Yindi.

Surprisingly, on the list is Kate Ceberano, better known as a popular singer but whose Filipino father immigrated to Hawaii and through that connection inspired in her an interest in Hawaiian folk music.

Other A-list appearances will be Lior, Justine Clarke, Jeff Lang, John Williamson’s daughter Amy and country music artist, Catherine Britt.

Daily curated concerts devoted to the

Archie Roach.

music of musical legends Don Walker, Joni Mitchell and Australia’s Judy Small will see familiar faces of Robyn Archer and Queenie van de Zandt, also not known as folkies, back in town.

Certainly, there are dozens of familiar faces, such as the Paverty Bush Band, shakuhachi player Riley Lee, kora player Miriam Lieberman and WA/Noongar musicians Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse and a host of local artists.

As well, Noonan has striven to put her stamp on this festival with two large-scale community choirs, the National Folk Family Choir conducted by Tobias Cole, which will

Yothu Yindi. sing at the opening concert and the National Folk Festival Choir, conducted by Stephen Taberner, of the Spooky Men’s Chorale, playing at the closing gig.

Questions of what constitutes “folk” have arisen, to which Noonan has said it depends on your definition. She has engaged Canberra’s Hauptmann jazz trio and Phoenix Quartet, who mostly play classical music, but do dip their toes in elsewhere.

With criticism from the broader folk community licking at her heels, at the launch Noonan was keen to talk up the broader aspects of the festival. The popular session bars will continue, along with dances, balls,

storytelling, poetry, a village square marketplace, busking, art installations, circus and a children’s program, all intended, she says, “to inspire the next generation of folkies”.

Whereas in the past, 5000 people have camped at Exhibition Park, this year the organisers only just managed to get permission for any camping at all and most spaces are already booked out under restricted conditions.

The elephant in the room is the funding question. Last year under the federal government’s “Rise” funding, intended to combat the negative effects of covid, the Folk Festival received $900,000, broken down over two years of $450,000 a year, but previously ran on minuscule funding and a huge team of volunteers – this year about 1000, board president Stephen Gallacher estimates.

The worry is that after the $900,000 runs out, the core organisers of the festival may be back to square one, with little to show for the 30 years since the event came to the national capital.

In the end, at the heart of “The National”, is music and as Noonan has said: “Music is home, it is a safe place where everyone is welcome. It is a tool to explore our identity, to ask questions and to better ourselves as humans.”

National Folk Festival 2022, April 14-18, Exhibition Park, book at folkfestival.org.au

"a flurry of excitement, nostalgia and laughter…"

Herald Sun

From the writer of the hit television series comes this side-splittingly funny adaptation for the stage!

29 Mar - 3 Apr

MOTHER AND SON Written by Geoffrey Atherden AM

THEQ.NET.AU

CityNews March 24-30, 2022 23

MUSICAL THEATRE

Journalist tells her stories… in song

By Helen Musa

WITH an election just around the corner, it’s not all that surprising that Shortis and Simpson have got together with political journalist Karen Middleton to put on a show.

A part of the series “Under the Influence” – several months ago we reviewed their Braidwood concert with former Seeker Keith Potger – the satirical duo have come up with a format where their musical influences overlap with a guest’s and will bring in their own stories.

Why else, they asked rhetorically, would Moya Simpson be singing in Vietnamese, Bosnian and Bulgarian?

What is less well-known is that Middleton, although a familiar television identity who’s also done Q&As for Chris Endrey’s “In Canberra Tonight”, is a seasoned theatre tragic, and one who got a grounding here in Canberra.

When I catch up with her she seems fairly sanguine about the possibility of a clash between their shows and the time when the election will be called, even though “Under the Influence” will be at the end of Budget Week.

“Good timing,” she says, tongue in cheek.

Middleton can always be seen at theatre opening nights around town and she reports that she’s been passionate about the art form both at high school and at the University of Canberra.

As well, back in the mid-1980s, she did a

John Shortis with, centre, Karen Middleton and Moya Simpson… “It’s quite exposing and I’m a bit nervous,” says Karen.

Photo: Elizabeth Hawkes short summer school at the Canberra Theatre where she met the late theatre identity David Branson.

“I did a bit of theatre with David, but when I started working, there was less time for that and it dropped away,” she says.

Not entirely.

“I helped Chris Endrey with ‘In Canberra Tonight’ doing some interviews and I really enjoyed that.”

She’s also sung for friends’ weddings, two in Australia including that of journos

Lenore Taylor and Paul Daley and one in New York City, where she beat the movie “Love Actually”, by jumping out of the congregation to sing the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love”.

Once up in the House, she was part of the a cappella group The House Howlers, a bunch of press gallery journalists who became regulars at the Mid-Winter Ball at Parliament House. They survived for more than a decade, then underwent a hiatus that is about to be broken at this year’s National Folk Festival.

It was through the Howlers that she met

John Shortis and Moya Simpson, who were working with the other well-known vocal group, The Shiny Bum Singers.

About a year ago, the satirical duo contacted Middleton and they started talking about a new show based on a clever idea of mixing music that had a role in their guest artist’s life with their own music.

She’s very excited about the upcoming performance but says, “it’s quite exposing and I’m a bit nervous”.

From her teens, Middleton had an ongoing love of musical theatre, so audiences can expect some Abba and “Grease” and things like that. And given that she travelled three times as a journalist to Afghanistan and has been a significant advocate for Afghans wanting to flee the country in the past year, she’ll be singing one of Fred Smith’s songs from his “Dust of Uruzgan” album.

She, like Smith, was there when Australia lost some personnel and will sing his “Sapper’s Lullaby”, the story of which took place on one of her trips.

That sounds sombre, but Middleton assures me that “this show has a lot of light, although there are some reflective moments in the storytelling”.

She says: “Moya and John have done a brilliant job to weave in their stories in an amazing set of crossovers, where they seem to have been going through similar things… this contributes to the layers of the show.”

“Under the Influence with Karen Middleton,” Smith’s Alternative, 9.30pm, April 1, book at smithsalternative.com

DINING / Brunello, Civic

Taste of class opens in Civic

By Wendy

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This European-style bistro draws you in on so many levels. Fresh local and seasonal produce carefully sourced. An impressive walk-in cheese and charcuterie room. More than 400 wines from around the world (Brunello’s has an Enomatic Wine Dispenser so diners can indulge in mighty fine international and national wines).

The shared plates are tantalising and we explored this section of the menu on our lunch visit, starting with the stunning-looking and subtle but interesting beetroot salmon ($26). Carefully placed on top of the mouth-watering salmon, sliced ever so carefully, was a dollop of creamy smoked goat’s cheese. Surrounding the salmon was a delightful and vibrant dill oil.

What an introduction.

We then moved to bolder dishes, including the tender lamb meatballs served in an intense tomato sauce with herb whipped feta on top ($22). Trust me... there was no choice but to order a side of bread to soak up that delicious sauce.

Sizzling garlic king prawns were next, cooked in a terracotta dish with chardonnay and Birds’ Eye Chilli ($28). Worth every bite and the quality of the prawns testament to head chef and Michelin-star Nacho Castells Rusiñol’s devotion to quality in every element of every dish.

Quality shone through also with the chorizo shared plate ($24). The smoky and slightly sweet chorizo was barbecue slow cooked and accompanied by a confit of

ARTS IN THE CITY

By Helen Musa “DECEMBER”, coming to the Canberra Theatre in early April, is a solo show by Canberra physical theatre artist Jake Silvestro. A reflection on the 2019/2020 Australian bushfires, Silvestro will use acrobatic movement to inform the creation of a series of large-scale drawings and paintings on stage. At The Playhouse, April 1-2.

Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au Jake Silvestro. or 6275 2700.

CANBERRA arts identity and radical social advocate, Bill Tully, who died in October, will be remembered in a gathering at Manning Clark House, 11 Tasmania Circle, Forrest, 2pm-3pm, Saturday, April 2. Speakers will include historian Humphrey McQueen and actor Peter Robinson.

Light refreshments will be served, but BYO drinks. Registrations essential at trybooking.com/BYCXU CANBERRA Sinfonia’s 2022 inaugural all-concerto program will feature soloists Lucy Macourt (violin), Alison Mountain (flute) and Rowan Phemister (harp). It will showcase two of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218, and Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra in C major, K. 299. Mozart Concerto Gal. At Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, 3pm, Saturday, April 2. Book at events. humanitix.com ACT Embroiderers’ Guild is running a mini exhibition of the work of its members over the last few years.

Embroidery and crafting supplies will be on sale, as well as embroidered items. At Yarralumla Guide Hall, 16 Newman Street, Yarralumla, 10am4pm, March 26-27.

JOHNSON BRUNELLO has added a true touch of class to the city – interior design, mindblowing wine list and creative cuisine. On the former St George bank site, City Walk, Brunello is destined for great things.

Jake gets physical about fires

A shared plate of beetroot salmon… mouthwatering salmon topped with a dollop of creamy smoked goat’s cheese. Photo: Wendy Johnson Rome Beauty apple with fresh watercress decorating the dish. More bread to soak up more sauce.

Those looking for larger meals can check out dishes like the Tuscan pappardelle with wild boar ragu ($34), what I suspect would be an amazing paella (minimum two, $68) or the charcoal oven and grill section. This includes a lamb shank ($48), Wagyu flank (marble nine plus, $65) and catch of the day (market price).

The Mediterranean theme is evident throughout Brunello, including the beautiful décor and, finally, the desserts.

Our Spanish sugar-coated donuts, with a sexy warm chocolate dipping sauce, were a perfect ending.

They were super soft and, although they looked it, not overly sweet.

Cheese lovers won’t be disappointed (three for $24 and five for $45, served with Marcona almonds, quince and lavash.

Brunello offers casual outdoor seating facing the Canberra Centre and the large windows along the front open wide up, bringing the outdoors in. A curved bar forms a centrepiece and do take time to observe the finishes – beautiful attention to detail.

As with most new dining establishments, service needs a bit of polishing, but I’ve no doubt Brunello is on top of that.

THE “Stronger Than Fiction” documentary film festival survived heroically through 2021, but had to reschedule one film, Jennifer Abbott’s “The Magnitude of All Things”, a look at climate grief. Poets will read after the screening at Dendy, 3pm, Sunday, March 27. Book at dendy.com.au and other details at strongerdocs.com ORIANA Chorale, directed by Dan Walker, is kicking off with “Chansons Françaises,” a journey through centuries of French song from a song by a 12th century troubadour, to Janequin, Rameau and others, then 20th century masterpieces

by Debussy, Poulenc and Ravel. At the Canberra Girls Grammar School chapel, Deakin, 7.30pm, March 31.

Book at trybooking.com/BTBNV “THE Gentleman’s Companion” is a new work for a new venue, created

by Dianna Nixon and Christopher Samuel Carroll. With a few rock standards, it will celebrate the cocktail, and is inspired by Charles H Baker’s 1939 book of the same name.

At Louie Louie Gin Bar, upstairs at Verity Lane Market, Civic, Thursday, March 31. Book at 123tix.com.au

STREAMING

Never mind history, feel the romance

By Nick

OVERALL WITH all the hair feathers and puff sleeves of a Jane Austen story, one would be forgiven for thinking the Netflix hit “Bridgerton” was a polite and mannerly sorta deal.

That would be right up until around three and a half minutes into the first episode.

The costume drama romp set in a sparkling 19th century London is filled to the brim with swearing, bonking and rakish, romantic politicking. In other words, not quite your Colin-Firth-waist-deep-in-alake-type business.

Nonetheless, it’s worked its charms. The show’s first season pulled in a record-breaking 82 million viewers in under a month of release, and fans have now flocked back for a second season of episodes out this week.

Those returning will get to see more of the well-to-do Bridgerton siblings in their quest for love, or quest to avoid it, amidst London’s social season.

Daphne Bridgerton, who struck up a pretend romance with a duke to throw off a plucky scandal-sheet writer, entertainingly voiced by Julie Andrews, now faces a whole new overhaul to her high-society lifestyle heading into season two.

Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton… faces a whole new overhaul to her high-society lifestyle heading into “Bridgerton” season two.

For those intrigued but not yet in the party, “Bridgerton” comes with a heavy disclaimer. While its inspirations are clear, the show doesn’t consider itself a historically accurate period piece.

Instead, its baroque British estates allow for a peep at the Regency era through a modern lens.

That repeatedly comes right from the mouth of Julia Quinn, the author of the books the series borrows from: “‘Bridgerton’ isn’t a history lesson, it’s for a modern audience.”

Indeed, while the Bridgertons themselves are a fictional family, the 19th century marriage market that the young women in the show are thrown into certainly wasn’t.

These fictional characters give a modern crowd a magnifying glass to examine 1813 England in new and entertaining detail.

One of the changes most commonly chewed over is the show’s approach to race. In its alternate history, “Bridgerton” imagines a racially integrated London, one where people of colour are also members of high society.

Queen Charlotte, a real historical figure, is depicted as mixed race – a nod to the controversial, real-life claims that the Monarch may have come from some African descent.

Though denounced by many scholars, the claims have never been disproven and served as a lightbulb moment for series creator Chris Van Dusen.

Arguably, part of Van Dusen’s idea here was to make the show as accessible to as wide a modern audience as possible, and based on the numbers Netflix is raking in, it seems to have worked.

The style is not dissimilar to the “anti-history” antics seen in “The Great” (on Stan) which loosely retells the story of Russia’s last reigning empress in the back half of the 1700s with a wickedly comical twist.

The shows aren’t looking to disrespect history so much as they are injecting new interest – the fun is in giving a modern audience the chance to contrast traditions of their own time with that of a wildly different period.

All this parading around parks and fraternising at balls does seem rather absurd in an age where many people prospect possible romantic suitors via a left or right swipe, or if one is feeling extra scandalous in their courtship, maybe even with a super like.

What it proves is that the romantic repartee found in an Austen novel can still strike a chord with a mainstream audience, especially with a few shrewd tweaks here and there. Clever stuff.

For those looking for something a little more faithful it is possible to find the BBC ‘90s mini-series of “Pride and Prejudice” on Stan by the way, as well as the 2005 American one that cast Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet.

If all this is a little slow for some I did also stumble across “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” on Stan which 100 per cent delivers on what its title promises.

Something tells me that even Ms Austen, with her good sense of humour, would have got a laugh out of it.

CINEMA / reviews

Story of the flesh as much as the spirit

By Dougal

MACDONALD “Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time” (M) THIS is Hungary’s nomination in the Best Foreign Language category at this year’s Oscars. How will it fare on the big night?

For me, and the couple sitting a row down at its first Canberra screening, the consensus was not optimistic.

When the lights came up after it was over, we enjoyed recognising each other after a few years. And we agreed that it is not the easiest of movies to classify or comprehend.

Neuro-surgeon Marta (Natasa Stork) is waiting on a Budapest sidewalk for the man with whom she made a date a month earlier in New York, where she had been working in a major hospital.

Janos (Viktor Bodo) may be there at the appointed place and time, but he denies having ever seen her. This is the first unexpected moment in writer/director Lili Horvat’s gentle but uncompromising film.

The drama unfolds at a leisurely pace. It offers no excitement as we

Natasa Stork who plays neuro-surgeon Marta. meet Marta’s colleagues and friends, each with their own agenda. It calls a spade a spade, yet delivers no simple resolution of any of the conundrums that it dangles before our eyes.

In her early 40s, Marta’s needs may be simple, but how she fulfils them brings their own problems. They are of the flesh as much as of the spirit.

The film’s 10-word-long title may sharpen our anticipation that its words and images on the screen will resolve our curiosity about what it’s trying to tell us. But there’s no rule that it must eventually deliver a cogent explanation. Which, in a way, it does.

At Dendy

“Escape from Mogadishu” (MA) THIS is not a “nice” movie. But it pulls no punches as it provides a commendable view of its discomforting topic.

Korean writer/director Ryu Seung-wan’s staging of events in the Somali capital Mogadishu early in November 1991 tells how staff at the embassies of South and North Korea set their differences aside and joined into one group while escaping from two feuding Somali groups. Geography, ethnicity and some history may unite them, but the divide between the diplomats

of South Korea and North Korea living and working there was deep and seemingly irreconcilable.

The story’s point is less about the causes of the actual war than about the effects, seen against the horrors of violence on the city’s streets, of the conflict in general on a foreign country’s representatives for whose safety international law holds the host country responsible.

As much as any cinematic re-creation of an historical event can do, Ryu’s film cleaves to actual events. While candidly setting out the shared cultural values of two embassies with irrevocably divided political positions, the staging of domestic and diplomatic conflicts is powerful and uncompromising, with some bias in favour of the South.

“Escape from Mogadishu” gets all those stars because of its determined telling of things like they were as much as might be remembered three decades later. History’s funny like that – both ha-ha and peculiar.

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Kangaroo paw. Photo: Jackie Warburton

Stand by to pick the pumpkins

By Jackie

WARBURTON PUMPKINS are going to be ready for picking and ready for storing this month.

I have grown Queensland Blue pumpkins this year along the top of my Colorbond fence and grown sunflowers close by for maximum pollination.

So far, it’s 13 metres long and now I’ve run out of fence and the vine is still growing!

Pumpkins will be ready for picking when the vines start to die back and the leaves turn pale and brown on the edges.

Knock on the pumpkin and if it sounds hollow then it’s ready for picking, but leave them for as long as you can. Some pumpkins

varieties benefit from late picking when we get a light frost, typically next month. Exposing them to frost is said to harden their skins and make for sweeter pumpkins.

When picking pumpkins, snip them off the vine with plenty of stem still attached. Make sure there are no blemishes on the skin and they have full colour around the skins. Leave outside in full sun for a week for the skins to harden, then store them in a cool, dry place and on their side to prevent moisture collecting.

TURNIPS are a brassica (along with broccoli, cauliflower and cabbages) and so the soil needs good drainage and lots of organic matter.

Turnips are fast to grow and can be ready in eight weeks and are not bothered by the cold. Plant the seeds now while the soil is still warm. It’s useful to sow seeds where

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beans, pumpkin and corn have been planted so the root vegetables can make the most of the nitrogen left in the soil.

Thin out seedlings to make sure there is room for them to grow.

Remove any weak seedlings and keep the strongest ones to grow.

Turnips can be grown for greens as well and can be picked when they reach 10 centimetres tall and more leaves will grow. Don’t pick the centre root structure as this is the growing point.

All parts of the plant can be eaten raw while young. Harvest when the roots are golf-ball size and not bigger than a tennis ball.

Larger turnips are woody, tough and lose flavour.

IT’S time to cut back kangaroo paws and divide established clumps, if it’s needed. Place all the pruned foliage in the green bin.

Leave about 10 centimetres of growth from the rhizome and clean out the centre of the clump so new shoots have room to grow.

Once the leaf fan has flowered it needs to be removed as its rhizomes only flower once.

There’s a new variety of kangaroo paw called Masquerade with the most amazing teal and purple flower. I’ve never seen

anything like it.

I saw it while on a tour of the breeding program at Kings Park, in WA, in 2019. It’s the only blue-flowering Anigozanthos (kangaroo paw) in the world and a really exciting breakthrough in the breeding program of native Australian plants. Bred over 10 years, it’s disease tolerant to ink spot and rust, which are common issues with these natives. Look out for it in the nursery and let’s hope it can survive our cold winters.

AUTUMN is well and truly here and there will be a considerable amount of green waste that can be composted and, when broken down, can be put back on the garden in spring.

The smaller the green waste is cut up, the quicker it breaks down. The pile will need to be at least a metre wide and tall to get the microbes working, and start the composting process.

Adding manures will also help with the decomposition of green waste and encourage worms to help with the breakdown process as well.

Keep the compost moist and aerate with a fork or composting tools sold at hardware stores.

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PUZZLES PAGE

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Your week in the stars

By Joanne Madeline Moore

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General knowledge crossword No. 822

March 28-April 3, 2022 ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

Restless Rams are ready to charge off in exciting new directions, as the New Moon lights up your sign on Friday. So, it’s the best week of the year to percolate ideas, make plans and be proactive. But the week starts with the Venus/Saturn conjunction in your hopes-and-wishes zone. So, avoid the temptation to get carried away, over-promise and then under-deliver. If you fail to follow through on your fabulous intentions, then everyone will end up feeling disappointed.

MAKING PLANS FOR AN EFFECTIVE RETIREMENT

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Paul and Steph are working on an effective plan for their retirement. They contacted me for information about their superannuation caps.

The New Moon lights up your seclusion zone so you’re keen to meditate, contemplate, ruminate and rejuvenate. But don’t use it as an excuse to hide away and escape the challenges of the world. On Monday and Tuesday, taskmaster Saturn hooks up with your patron planet Venus in your career zone. So, there are ambitious goals to set and professional standards to reach. Which will require hard work, patience and persistence. No snoozing on the job, Bulls!

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

The current planetary aspects help you communicate your ideas with extra passion and power, as you link up with like-minded friends and influential people at work and within your peer group. But don’t get so stirred up and side-tracked that you lose sight of the authentic Gemini within. Be inspired by singer Celine Dion (who turns 54 on March 30): “What do you need to stay grounded, in touch, in love, connected and emotionally balanced? Look within yourself.”

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Avoid being a lonesome Crab! This week professional projects and creative collaborations with colleagues are favoured, as you spark ideas off each other and pool your talents to produce something special. The New Moon and Mercury increase enthusiasm and encourage rebooting a rickety work relationship that’s been experiencing problems. Venus and Saturn also help a union move to a deeper and more satisfying level. Close consultation is the key.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Are you in the process of making an important decision? A parent, teacher, mentor or close friend has some wise advice for you. Listen closely to what they say and then let your intuition be your guide. Coupled Cats – Venus and Saturn hook up in your romance zone, so work hard to make the relationship even better. Single Lions – you will find your soulmate, as long as you are realistic. (Remember, the ‘perfect’ partner doesn’t exist – everyone has flaws!).

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Some interpersonal challenges are likely (especially with loved ones or work colleagues) so straightforward speech is recommended this week. You’ll get the best results if you research something thoroughly (with your Virgo x-ray vision) and then tell it like it is. Other people will appreciate your direct and no-nonsense approach. It’s also a good time to read a detective story, uncover a secret, solve a puzzling problem or get to the bottom of an intriguing mystery.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Is a close relationship stuck in a rut? This week the New Moon and Mercury encourage you to blast away the cobwebs and look at things from a fresh angle. Attached Librans – are you doing all the giving, while your partner is doing all the taking?

Singles – look for someone who is creative and kind. But how well do you really know your nearest and dearest? It’s time to dig deeper and gain valuable insights into the inner motivations of a friend or family member.

Solution next edition

Across

Down

4 Which four-wheeled loader is used in trench work? (6) 7 Which young woman works on a sheep or cattle station? (8) 8 Name one of Australia’s golf greats, Greg ... (6) 9 What was the former name of JFK International Airport? (8) 11 What do we call the workers of an aeroplane?

(7) 13 Who is appointed to rule a country as the deputy of the sovereign? (7) 15 Which newspaper is about one half the ordinary page size? (7) 17 Name another term for a violent storm. (7) 20 Which communication was once transmitted in morse code? (8) 23 Which colour lies between violet and blue in the spectrum? (6) 24 When one prepares something for a second use, one does what? (8) 25 Name the goods thrown overboard to lighten a vessel in distress. (6)

1 Who was known as the Swedish Nightingale, Jenny ...? (4) 2 Jason and the Argonauts were in quest of the Golden what? (6) 3 Which acronym describes a cold? (4) 4 Name a renowned Sydney beach. (5) 5 What is the given name of Mr Obama? (6) 6 To overwhelm with surprise, is to do what? (5) 9 What must one do with money, to make a profit?

(6) 10 What is a complete outfit for a newborn child?

(7) 12 Which term describes scholarly knowledge, or learning? (6) 14 Which studs on the soles of boots give the wearer greater leverage on the ground? (6) 16 Name an Australian organisation that helps those in need. (6) 18 What is the given name for our Mr Ding? (5) 19 Which NRL team won the 2009 premiership? (5) 21 Name another term for good fortune. (4) 22 Which word often follows a prayer? (4)

FREE SUDOKU EVERY DAY AT citynews.com.au

Sudoku hard No. 311

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Courtesy of the New Moon, it’s a good week to review your physical well-being and fitness levels. Can you introduce healthier food choices, stop bad habits (like smoking) or reboot your exercise program? Get moving and make a dynamic start!

Avoid the temptation to operate on autopilot. If you shake up your daily routine, then it will put an extra spring in your Scorpio step. But a relationship with a family member could involve you taking on more responsibility.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Sagittarians can be selfish, self-indulgent souls. With the New Moon spotlighting your leisure zone, you’ll be preoccupied with your immediate entertainment wants and personal pampering needs. However, over the coming year, you’ll shift your focus further afield, as you make some important decisions about your place in the wider world. Saturn will teach you that social responsibility and community involvement are just as important as individual priorities.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

This week’s fiery New Moon activates your domestic zone so it’s a good time to declutter and tweak the feng shui at home, support a family member or get stuck into a DIY project. There’s also a conjunction between Venus and your power planet, Saturn. So, make sure you are clear and concise in the way you communicate with friends, work colleagues, clients and/or customers. And don’t be afraid to take on professional and financial challenges.

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

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

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2022

Sudoku hmedium No. 311

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

The New Moon lights up your cash zone, which signals a fresh financial chapter. So, the more proactive and informed you are about money matters, the better your fiscal future will be. Strong self-esteem is also a priority this week, Pisces. Try to get the balance right between quiet relaxation and vigorous work. Your motto is from French writer Emile Zola, who was born on April 2, 1840: “The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.”

Solutions – March 17 edition Crossword No. 821

Curious, quirky Aquarians are keen to ricochet off in diverse new directions.

Which is exactly how it should be, as you explore and experiment to the max.

And don’t worry about making messy (or embarrassing) mistakes along the way.

Keep stretching your wings, trying new things and being the authentic you! Your inspirational quote is from singer-songwriter-musician Emmylou Harris, who turns 75 on Saturday: “Normal is a cycle on a washing machine.”

“Paul, everything has changed this year, so I will give you a rundown for clarity," I said.

"The four main caps are the concessional contributions cap (CC), the non-concessional contributions cap (NCC), the total super balance cap (TSB) and the transfer balance cap (TBC).

"Before drawing a pension, the cap that applies is the TSB. This is the total amount that you have in superannuation in the accumulation phase. The current cap is $1,700,000.

"If you are also drawing one or more pensions, your TSB is the total of all your accumulation accounts plus the total of all your superannuation accounts in retirement phase.

"If you were drawing a pension before June 30, 2021, your TSB would have been $1,600,000. The TSB increased from July 1 to $1,700,000, but if you were already drawing a pension you would have a TSB between $1,600,000 and $1,700,000 which has to be calculated specifically for each person."

I told Paul and Steph that the TSB was important because it came into play when making certain contributions.

"If you are wanting to maximise your superannuation for retirement, you may have heard of catchup CC. To clarify CC, are those contributions for which either you or your employer have had a tax deduction and were limited to $25,000 a year from July 1, 2017, until July 1, 2021, when the CC cap increased to $27,500 a year.

"So, if your TSB is less than $500,000 you can make catch-up contributions for a maximum period of five years that you did not contribute the maximum. The first year you can do this is the financial year ended June 30, 2019.”

Paul said he had no idea about this.

"My balance is currently less than $500,000, I can make some catch up contributions which is a great idea,” he said.

Next we looked at NCC, which are contributions that haven't been claimed as tax deductions at any time.

"From July 1, 2021, you are able to make NCC of up to $110,000 a year," I said.

"You can bring forward two years' NCC, totaling up to $330,000, at one time but you have to wait for three years until you make another NCC. "These contributions are also measured against your TBC. You cannot make an NCC that will exceed this cap without incurring tax. If you do exceed your cap then tax will be charged on those contributions at the highest marginal tax rate which is currently 47 per cent.

"Even if you have exceeded your TSB you can still make concessional contributions up to the maximum until you reach age 67 whether you are working or not. Once you reach age 67 you need to meet the work test to make further contributions until age 75. Once you are 75 you cannot make further NCC. “When you retire the TBC comes into play. The TBC is the maximum amount that you can transfer from accumulation phase to a pension.

The reason that this becomes important is because the earnings in a pension fund, which is not a defined benefit fund, are tax free as is the pension. This all sounds very confusing but should be clear when you actually retire.”

Steph said: “Thanks Gail, now we can plan for our retirement more effectively.”

If you need advice on superannuation, contributions, tax or any other related matter, please contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 6295 2844.

Solution next edition

02 6295 2844

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

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

info@gailfreeman.com.au | www.gailfreeman.com.au Follow us on Facebook

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