CityNews 220428

PAUL COSTIGAN / PLANNING REEFORM IS JUST SHIFTING AROUND THE RULES Only 906 sleeps, Ms Lee, it’s time to step up

IAN MEIKLE

Truth the casualty as fear mongering begins

MICHAEL MOORE

Who does’t appreciate a jolly good screw?

CLIVE WILLIAMS

APRIL 28, 20

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NEWS / The Violet Initiative

Well written, well read

Phone: 6189 0777 | Since 1993: Volume 28, Number: 17

Time we started talking about dying, says Carnell

By Belinda

STRAHORN KATE Carnell regrets not having more conversations with her elderly parents about their end-of-life plan.

A fall sustained by the former chief minister’s mother precipitated a drastic change in her parents’ living arrangements, with both of them entering an aged-care home.

“Mum and dad ended up dying in a residential, aged-care home, where they were looked after beautifully, but I don’t believe they died where they wanted to die,” Ms Carnell says.

The newly appointed board chair of The Violet Initiative, Ms Carnell wants to encourage everyone – old or young, sick or healthy – to talk about death and to make plans for end-of-life care before it’s too late.

“We didn’t have the discussions we should have had with my parents, and there’s lots of regrets,” Ms Carnell says.

“I know that mum and dad didn’t have the end they would have liked.”

Reflecting on her experience as a former CEO of Beyond Blue, Ms Carnell says, like the issue of mental health, having a conversation about death is a necessary part of life.

“Twenty years ago when we started

Kate Carnell… “Eighty per cent of people say they want to die at home yet 80 per cent of people die in hospital.”

Photo: Holly Treadaway Beyond Blue, having a discussion around mental health was really difficult, but not so much now,” says Ms Carnell.

“We’d like to think we can get there with The Violet Initiative and provide the sort of support that people involved in the end-of-life experience need to

make it as good as possible.”

Violet is a national not-for-profit organisation, providing free information and support to people caring for someone navigating the last stages of life.

Ms Carnell, a former pharmacist, says encouraging greater family

involvement in the decisions around end-of-life care is an important first step in addressing the stigma associated with the process of dying.

“We all die but there seems to be a taboo about talking about death, planning for it, and discussing what we would like to happen with family and friends,” says Ms Carnell.

“Often family members feel left out of the process and don’t know what to do or say. To make death as positive as possible – with the best quality of life until the end – it’s really important that the person who is dying and their family and friends are supported with information and help to have those discussions.”

The biggest hurdle to overcoming a discussion about death is starting the conversation in the first place, Ms Carnell says.

“As a society, we have taken the approach that if you put it out of your mind and you don’t deal with it then somehow it will go away, but it won’t,” Ms Carnell says.

“You have to plan discussions about death and dying, they don’t just happen. We need to get better at asking our loved ones: ‘What would a good death look like for you?’”

By failing to have that conversation early enough, families find themselves at the mercy of the health system – which is already overwhelmed, Ms Carnell says.

“Eighty per cent of people say they want to die at home yet 80 per cent of people die in hospital,” she says.

“Having people die in hospital is an extraordinarily expensive way to go. It ups the cost of our health system and really isn’t a good outcome for many people.”

Violet – formerly known as LifeCircle – also runs a social enterprise program where businesses can access training for their staff dealing with end-of-life issues.

“We provide training to people at Westpac, for example, who take calls from people who have lost a loved one.

There’s a whole range of people who deal with people going through that final stage of life,” says Ms Carnell.

One of the things she hopes to achieve during her term as chair is to advocate for greater government involvement including financial assistance for Violet.

“The dilemma for Violet is we have no government money; we rely totally on our training operations and entities like The Snow Foundation, which means we are cash strapped all the time,” says Ms Carnell.

“If we can keep people out of the hospital system, then the government saves money, so it makes total sense for the government to get behind Violet.”

More at violet.org.au

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SEVEN DAYS

Only 906 sleeps, Elizabeth, it’s time to step up I DO hope the Canberra Liberals have had a quiet couple of long weekends. No, I don’t, I know they have; we’ve heard barely a peep or two from them since April 13.

In fact it’s arguable they haven’t made enough noise since Saturday night, October 20, 2001, when Gary Humphries led them into opposition having been flogged by Labor’s Jon Stanhope.

Since then, 7496 days ago (to April 28), the perpetual world of opposition has become normal work for the Libs; still, the money’s good, the hours are family friendly and everyone’s got a word for you wherever you go. Who needs all the stress of government?

To be fair, former Canberra Liberals Leader Alistair Coe was driven by the maxim, “you don’t go into politics to be in opposition”. He at least had the strength of character to stop banging his head against the ideological brick wall after 4518 days, oh, and the car-crash 2020 election.

Earlier this month colleague columnist Michael Moore wondered aloud how effective the party’s relatively new leader Elizabeth Lee was after a year in the job.

“Criticisms have been levelled at the ACT government for being ‘stale’ and ‘complacent’ after more than two decades in power. However, there are also accountability questions when the focus of the lens is the Canberra Liberal opposition,” he wrote,

Liberal leader Elizabeth Lee. bemoaning the opposition’s lack of attack strategies where the flaccid, geriatric Labor government was vulnerable.

“It is difficult to judge, as an outsider, what is retarding the efforts of the Liberal opposition. No doubt they work hard on constituency and other issues. However, where they are focused and how they present to the public does not provide enough confidence as yet to see them as an effective alternative government.”

Ouch! And that’s from someone who welcomed Lee’s elevation as a “breath of fresh air”.

And so to April 13 when an indignant Lee popped up with a pre-Easter list of issues

beleaguering the Labor/Greens government.

It’s a familiar roll call of failure to “CityNews” readers because our columnists have been empirically highlighting these issues for weeks, months, years while our unelectable friends on the opposition benches sit seemingly sucking their thumbs.

Lee recited the shocking state of Calwell High (see “Seven Days”, April 14) and violence against nurses at the Dhulwa mental health facility.

And the housing affordability crisis (see Jon Stanhope’s columns); lack of probity in procurement processes (Michael Moore); failure to properly communicate and relocate public housing tenants (Stanhope and Paul Costigan); a failing prison system (Stanhope); the longest emergency department wait times and elective surgery shortfalls (Stanhope and Moore) and a broken planning system (Costigan).

However, she did say this: “It is clear, this is a government governing for themselves, not for Canberrans and as a result the list of significant failures continues to pile up.”

And it resonated with me. I usually approve the comments on our busy website (citynews.com.au) and over recent weeks there’s been a steady stream of readers particularly complaining at the way the government is treating them. Here’s a few of their comments: • “This government replies to nobody and acknowledges nothing. I’m not really sure why we have a government at all. I suppose it is the one party state of Canberra.”

• “You could easily do an encyclopaedia’s

worth of words in pictures to illustrate the dilapidated and neglected state of Canberra under the Barr government. There are no longer any resources put into basic civic services… If only we had an electable opposition so we can be rid of this circus, Barr as ring-master and his bunch of clowns.”

• “The signage at the Marion Mahony Griffin View on Mt Ainslie is sun-bleached and vandalised. It needs replacing and I’ve had no response from two approaches to the Chief Minister’s Department.”

• “The voter movement to the Greens at this most recent election was part of a protest vote against sitting Labor, but voters could not stomach the under performing Libs nor the other Rightist groups on offer… It is fair to say there have been no real surprises in their performance to date. Some wacky offthe-wall statements about under-18 voters are about the only sound bites that spring readily to mind. Beyond that, there have been no attempts to rein in the ever increasing pomposity of the current CM.” • “I have had one discussion with the housing relocation officers six weeks ago, when they told me as they were leaving that I would receive a phone call from one of them or their supervisor within a few days, and as yet I have heard nothing. So I live every day with this axe hanging over my head, in limbo, with no clear way to move forward.”

• “The Labor politicians treat their constituency with contempt. The public service is no better.”

• “I’m personally aware that Calwell High has been combining classes for two years now. It took the union far too long to respond, and, of course, the current government doesn’t give a damn.”

So, where are we? We have an arrogant, indifferent and often cruel government constantly exposed and shamed by the incredible work of our writers. And we have a string of unhappy voters bruised by the indifference of the government.

The opposition owes it to the community to hold the government fearlessly and ferociously to account. It’s not that hard, they are the gift that keeps on giving and we do it every week. Time to step up and lead, Elizabeth Lee. Only 906 days to the 2024 polls.

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

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NEWS / North Canberra Bears

Bear facts or how the girls saved the footy club

By Lily

PASS IN 2018, Nicole Bain and Angela Donaldson took over leadership at a touchfootball club, the North Canberra Bears.

In their first season, club president Nicole and player-development co-ordinator Angela managed to scrape together enough players for one team.

This year, the North Canberra Bears have 23 teams playing socially and competitively.

“The husband and wife who were running the club originally moved away, and the club dropped right off. Now we’re rebuilding it again,” says Angela.

“The club’s been around for about 25 years. Nicole and I just thought it was an opportunity for us to bring our own girls into the sport, and try and keep the club alive.”

Through encouraging the community to give it a try, and encouraging their daughters to bring friends along, Nicole and Angela have seen the club grow

Player development co-ordinator Angela Donaldson, left, and club president Nicole Bain, right, and a sleuth of North Canberra Bears at training.

Photo: Lily Pass back from “taking a flailing” to “a healthy participation”.

“We’ve got about 220 or 230 players now, and 30 or 40 volunteers,” says Nicole.

As ex-players themselves, the North Canberra Bears held a special place in Nicole and Angela’s hearts.

“We didn’t actually antici-

pate it growing as big as it has.

I think if you do the basics and you do them well at the grassroots community level, it just grows from there, and we’ve remained friends fortunately,” says Nicole.

“What’s kept me in it are the connections and friendships with the people that started

all of this. I wouldn’t be here if Nicole and the girls weren’t,” says Angela.

And Nicole and Angela are happy to see friendships growing between the club’s younger players.

“The girls are starting to organise dinners now. Soon they’ll be organising weekends

away and it’s been the best thing to see. We’ve gone on to have all our babies together,” says Nicole.

One of the players, Luci Wilson, 16, says she’ll keep playing for as long as she can.

“I got into it through friends, and I realised touch is the one sport I really want to focus on and that’s because of the community,” she says.

And, Luci says Canberra’s touch-football scene is doing well for girls.

“Having female coaches to coach young women I think is important because there are some challenges and tricky situations in managing groups of girls,” says Nicole.

“We role model to them and we hope through seeing us, they go on to put that back into the community. If you want to live in a fun, positive and healthy community, you’ve got to get behind creating it.”

Nicole says she’s conscious of a sports dropout rate for girls as they get older, and is putting steps in place to prevent that.

“Sport is so competitive now.

It funnels into this top group of the elite players and then the rest of the players sometimes get left behind. They just think

it’s too hard and they stop playing sports anymore,” she says.

“But we have mums playing in teams and ex-players playing with the young girls so just knowing the players can get a run every season helps.”

Angela says players have the opportunity to just play for fun.

“It doesn’t have to be leading to a representative level. There is an option if they do want to, but they can still come and play with their mates just for fun,” she says.

In giving the girls in the club more responsibility, Nicole and Angela have found that it encourages them to continue playing.

“We bring them into the club and when they reach a certain age we give them responsibility. Someone becomes a team captain, someone is put in charge of organising a team and some people are put in charge of coaching the juniors.”

And they want to be clear, boys are welcome to play for the Bears, too.

“We don’t want to be seen as a club just for girls, that’s why we’ve really done a focus this last year to push those boys numbers up as well.”

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

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

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

This seems a ridiculous amount of money to pay and is most likely not appropriate for the majority of people (or possibly anyone).

5. If you are a pensioner or partpensioner, or a DVA gold or white card holder, you should carefully consider if you want to use the Here are some things to free-to-client government do to avoid getting hearing aids or if you’d ripped off: “In an like to top-up to a unregulated market different hearing aid.

1. A visit to the GP may save there is a lot of opportunity The free-to-client you from to take advantage of people. hearing aids are being ‘sold’ appropriate for many something Yes you have read correctly, when your only there is no licensing of people people, however if you have great problem is wax who sell hearing aids.” difficulty hearing in your ears. background noise (for – Dr Vass example in restaurants) 2. Look for then you might trial the someone who is top-up hearing aids, but only independent and can if you can afford them. There are offer you unbiased advice, a range of top up options and prices, not just give you a sales pitch. if you are disappointed after a trial, you should return them and trial the free-to3. There are a range of hearing aid client hearing aids. prices. Finding the right hearing aid might save you money and it will If you get the feeling the person also give you the best chance of you’re dealing with is just trying to success. sell you something, then take a step back and get a second opinion.

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COVER STORY / Mother’s Day Classic

Sugar soldiers on to life after cancer

NO FINANCIAL CHECKS.

but my heart was full and I felt like my whole self,” she says.

Little did she know she would fly back into a city clouded in bushfire smoke from the 2020 fires, which caused further infection and delayed surgery.

By the time she had recovered from a lumpectomy and was ready to face the world once again, the covid lockdown had begun.

The extra home time for recovery might have been a blessing if the side effects from the chemotherapy and hormone treatment hadn’t left her feeling like she was “constantly climbing up a hill”.

She attributes staying well as she was looked after by her Australian family and young boys who would lovingly rub lotion on her rash-covered skin.

Living with constant pain in her joints and without sleep, the normally sunny Sugar regularly found herself cranky, sad and often unrecognisable.

“Nobody tells you just how emotional you can get from all the treatment. I was doing everything the counsellors said, like finding joyful things to do and finding time for myself but I was very anaemic and having the blues,” she says.

As it turns out her uterus was also

Mother’s Day sale

Sugar Masangcay with family, Kieran, 5, partner Kai Andersen and Kaleb, 3.

Photo: Holly Treadaway impacted and just as she was about to return to study at CIT, Sugar underwent an endometrial ablation to stop heavy bleeding.

Post cancer treatment, Sugar found great comfort and friendship at Dragons Abreast Canberra, one of many global dragon boating clubs set up to support people affected by breast cancer and promote the benefits of an active lifestyle after diagnosis.

“You get a genuine feeling that there is life after cancer,” she says.

The reality is, 55 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer every day and while survival rates have greatly

improved, nine Australians die from it every single day.

Sugar will be one of many volunteers at this year’s Mother’s Day Classic event – held each year to help raise money for breast cancer research and support the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s goal of zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030.

To register to walk, run, volunteer or fundraise for the May 8 event go to mothersdayclassic.com.au Author Bina Brown is a journalist and member of the Canberra Mother’s Day Classic organising committee.

KANGARA Waters Retirement Village is holding a Mother’s Day Market on Saturday, April 30. There will be pre-loved treasures for sale, including china, crystal and silverware, plus bric-a-brac, hand-made gifts, plants, garden pots, jams, chutney and pickles. At Joy Cummings Place, Belconnen, 8.30am-12.30pm.

Croquet and cake QUEANBEYAN Croquet Club is celebrating World Croquet Day with a come-and-try day on Sunday, May 1.

All ages are welcome, all equipment is provided at 28 Farrer Place, Queanbeyan (opposite the showground), any time between 1.30pm and 4pm.

A free afternoon tea will be provided. Players should wear enclosed, flat-soled shoes, eg joggers. More at queanbeyancroquet.org.au Community notices welcome at editor@citynews.com.au

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Dr Brad takes to talking space ASTROPHYSICIST and cosmologist Brad Tucker will talk on “Space 2.0” at the May 7 meeting of The English in Australia (TEA), which meets at the Southern Cross Club, Woden, at 10.30am on the first and third Saturday of the month. People of all nationalities are welcome. More from 0427 320542.

With the fundraising Canberra Mother’s Day Classic about to hit the streets again, BINA BROWN meets a mum who’s come through terrible adversity to believe in a “genuine feeling that there is life after cancer”.

CANCELLED holidays and isolation may have been the norm for most of us in recent years, but for Sugar Masangcay it wasn’t just the pandemic that stopped her in her tracks.

The 40-year-old mother of two had been planning to show off her boys, Keiran, 5, and Kaleb, 3, to family in the Philippines when she received the traumatic news that she had an invasive carcinoma in her left breast.

She was breastfeeding Kaleb at the time and, like many women, thought nothing of a lump.

But a biopsy and a trip to the surgeon, who described the lump as “big, bad and aggressive”, saw her determined to roll with what was to come.

“I couldn’t cancel that trip to the Philippines but I knew I had to get through chemotherapy and to see my mother in Davao,” says Sugar.

In 2019 she endured a heavy course of drugs and a bout of pneumonia, which saw her living in isolation before it became reality for everyone else.

Her decision to visit the Philippines between chemotherapy and surgery was risky, but it was also her driving force.

“Everyone was thinking I’d be sick,

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CANBERRA MATTERS

Planning reform’s just shifting around the rules IN mid-March the ACT’s government’s planning reform process moved to another stage of being something that might happen – one day.

There are 85 pages (read them all) of what the government calls an overview (which it isn’t) along with 732 pages of proposed legislation (glanced at them, then found something else to do). The former provides the clues to the real intentions. It’s about development.

The last decade of ACT government policy, strategies and consultation documents have been repetitive, obtuse and wordy. They always use loads of worthy clichés, present a lack of appreciation and understanding of good design, planning and biodiversity and are devoid of a 21st century vision.

These latest documents tick these boxes. They needed to be succinct.

But maybe that was the intention – to be obscure and verbose.

This government is clear it has little interest in planning, architecture, design, landscapes, biodiversity and green infrastructure. Forget planning – it is all about fiddling with rules to make bad development easier.

The government should retitle the ACT Planning Authority as the ACT Development Authority.

These draft documents contrast with

The Planning Directorate’s building on Northbourne Avenue… the lack of meaningful, people-focused and climate-ready planning has allowed for questionable developments.

Photo: Paul Costigan the chief planner’s statements in April 2017 when, after decades of service within the directorate, he graduated to being the chief planner and directorate chief (no conflict there).

Back then he announced worthy performance indicators for himself – including: • Pursue a citizen focus; • High-quality public spaces and improved environmental management; • Build up trust in the planning process; • Being genuine, listening, engaging with key groups; • Engaging with the local residents because they know the area better than anyone.

Over the five years since those personal goals were set, I believe he has failed them. This latest step with these planning reforms (a misnomer) does nothing to improve on this failure to achieve anything worthwhile against his own performance indicators.

For many years the ACT Greens and Labor politicians have deflected criticism of planning and development decisions by saying that the system is to be reformed.

Meanwhile, the lack of meaningful, people-focused and climate-ready planning has allowed for questionable developments – assisted by the Planning Directorate’s version of community consultations. Instead of

real engagement, the directorate’s Better Normal (thank you, ACT Greens) sessions are information sessions with no real intent of allowing challenges.

The government encourages the use of its Have Your Say website – being the site that has swallowed up a huge amount of submissions. It is the online black hole for community views.

The “reforms” so far consist of the shifting around of rules and processes, with more power to the chief planner.

A lot was made in the media of Territory Priority Projects – being a new process to allow him to declare projects as being unchallengeable.

Given that the last decade has seen most questionable developments go ahead despite the amazing efforts of community groups – not much will change there.

The ACT Greens have supported this reform shell game. They roll out meaningless talking points to justify their existence and well-paid jobs.

They have even dared to say that the new processes will introduce more transparency and better consultation.

A bit odd given that the chief planner is yet to announce most of the reforms including precinct codes and how

his new version of consultation will operate.

The drafts confirm the use of offsets to destroy the city’s biodiversity and greenery. What mind-numbing KoolAid do the ACT Greens consume?

The prospect of real-world improvements to planning in this city remains remote. This stage of pretend-reform has a month to run.

Announcements about more stuffing around will most likely appear later in the year – or the year after.

It is hard to fathom that, after the visionary concepts of Marion Mahony and Walter Griffin, the city is being run by dull bureaucratic types who cannot even pretend to have a vision.

The developer-aligned bureaucratic culture that made a mess of things is now Building a Better Normal (quoting the ACT Greens). Better for whom?

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

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Improving the lives and mobility of people in need FROM helping a three-yearold girl turn her head to reintroducing an elderly gentleman to what’s most important to him, Independent Living Specialists (ILS) are passionate about improving the lives of people in need.

The new store, which recently opened in Phillip, is part of a national chain that provides leading mobility and homecare equipment including wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walking aids, lift chairs, hospital beds, daily living aids and much more.

Store manager Peter Corbett says it’s “incredibly rewarding” to be part of a team who help care for and improve the lives of people in the community.

“Some people are coming out of hospital because they’ve got a planned surgery, other people might wake up all of a sudden and their lives have changed completely,” he says.

“We want to provide products that can help them in their lives going forward as much as possible.”

People are free to trial the products in store, and in certain circumstances, at home with a referral.

Silvia Gonzalez, an occupational

therapist of six years, says some of this equipment can be the difference between living at home or being in a nursing home.

“As people, we like to be independent, we like to be able to do things ourselves.

A lot of the time this equipment and these aids can help someone to have that independence again,” she says.

“Having this equipment also means there’s less manual handling for family carers or paid carers to help that person to do their daily activities.”

Silvia, who was inspired to pursue a career where she could make a difference in people’s lives, says her job is one she learns from every day.

“No person is the same, they all have their own circumstances and we work with them individually based on their goals and needs,” she says.

“For example, think of someone who had a stroke and now they’ve got weakness down one side of their body.

They are going to have to learn how to do everything one-handed.

“How are they going to cook? How are they going to eat and drink? All those things matter and that’s what we try to help with.”

Silvia says that sometimes even the smallest improvement can make the biggest difference to a person’s wellbeing.

“I had a gentleman who was discharged

The Independent Living Specialists’ Canberra team, from left, Elena Narovska, Peter Corbett, Silvia Gonzalez and Chad Wanschers. from hospital to an aged-care facility, and he had just a manual wheelchair, but he had a stroke so he couldn’t push himself,” she says.

“We eventually tried a powered wheelchair with him and you should have seen the smile on his face when he could

leave his room by himself for the first time, let alone get to the shops because all he wanted was some hot tabasco sauce.

“The wheelchair opened up a whole range of possibilities for him, the difference a bit of equipment can make is huge.”

While Silvia and Peter say the

equipment can be life-changing for elderly people, they also say there’s a bit of misperception that the products are only for older individuals.

“There’s one three-year-old girl at the moment and she has a powerchair and she can now move herself, and to be able to look around while she’s still developing, that’s super important,” says Silvia.

“The joy on her face when realising she can move, she can turn to where a voice is coming from and have that interaction, it’s amazing.”

Peter says ILS encourages people to not be embarrassed to ask questions, as the experienced team always strives to make people feel as comfortable as possible.

“There are things we take for granted to be able to do physically, and we want to provide solutions for those who can’t do those things,” he says.

“That could be equipment that’s helping someone with things as simple as eating or clipping their nails, because they can’t bend down due to back issues.

“It’s a very rewarding feeling to think that someone is going to walk out of this store and hopefully be in a better position than when they walked in.”

Independent Living Specialists, units 3-4, 25 Dundas Court, Phillip. Call 9044 1333, email canberra@ilsau.com.au or visit ilsau.com.au

Moving Through Life EARLY INTERVENTION > CHILDHOOD > ADULTHOOD > AGED CARE

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ilsau.com.au | 1300 008 267 CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022 13

STEPHANIE’S BOUTIQUE LINGERIE advertising feature

POLITICS / Election 2022

Iconic lingerie boutique Truth the casualty as located in Manuka Arcade fear mongering begins FEAR mongering works in elections. The marketing skills of Scott Morrison have really come to the fore over China.

STEPHANIE’S Boutique Lingerie now faces The Lawns, in the heart of the inner-south, elegant shopping district of Manuka.

Owner Fil Barilaro says the new location, in the Manuka Arcade, is central, open and inviting, but offers privacy and the same high standards of service.

Stephanie’s Boutique Lingerie opened in 1992 and is renowned as a specialist and leader in bra fittings.

“Stephanie’s has one simple philosophy that underpins every aspect of the boutique – beauty and comfort,” says Fil. “Beautiful, well-fitted undergarments should provide skin-soft comfort that lets you be yourself.

“We invite you to experience the personal satisfaction that comes from confidently wearing some of the world’s most elegant and best quality lingerie.

“Tell us your mood and our expert team of fitters will help choose a style and brand of lingerie perfect for your body. Tell us your irritations with your current underwear and we will have them vanish forever.”

Fil says her team are widely respected as the bestfitting service in Canberra and hand-select a range of brands to suit all body shapes and sizes.

“Once we complete your first fitting, we securely store the details of what suited you. This makes your next visit one where we show you new styles, perfect for you or someone buying you a gift,” she says.

Fil says now’s the time to consider a special Mother’s Day gift from Stephanie’s.

“Lingerie has long been an intimate gift, perfect for

The owner of Stephanie’s Boutique Lingerie, Fil Barilaro, in her store at the Manuka Arcade. lovers, daughters to mothers , new mothers and best friends,” she says.

Beauty and comfort are not only the domain of women, with Stephanie’s stocking a range of boutique men’s underwear. Stephanie’s also offers gift vouchers. If you don’t want to choose a gift yourself or order online Stephanie’s Boutique Lingerie is now located in Manuka Arcade, Manuka. Visit stephaniesboutiquelingerie.com.au or call 6295 0469.

Exclusively at

Stephanie’s Boutique Manuka Arcade Stephanie’s Boutique Lingerie is located in Manuka Arcade and welcomes you to call in and browse the wide range of new season stock, make an appointment for a personalised fitting or pick up the perfect Mother’s Day gift

Manuka Arcade, Manuka www.stephaniesboutiquelingerie.com.au 6295 0469 stephanies@vergola.com.au 14 CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022

He is busily making national security a key election issue while the Chinese sign up to a security deal with our near neighbours in the Solomon Islands. There is no apology from Scott Morrison. There are no admissions of guilt! Or failure! Or incompetence!

On the contrary. Morrison has Defence Minister Peter Dutton blasting away at the Labor Party inferring they are too close to the Chinese Communist Party and that under their stewardship the country will be in dire straits. It is yet another rehash of the 1950s “reds-under-the-beds” rhetoric from this arch-conservative minister.

The reality is that this federal government was simply lackadaisical while the industrious Chinese government managed to persuade the Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, his country would be better off with a security deal that includes support from China.

The unrest in the Solomon Islands has been going on for some time. From 2003 Australia led a multi-lateral force of police and military to quell unrest following violence in the late 1990s and a coup, which played a key role in restoring stability.

As academic Dr Mark Harrison from the University of Tasmania told Al Jazeera: “Australia completely misjudged the implications of China’s rise in the early 2010s, and the reassessment has been slow and equivocal, and still has a long way to go.”

This situation is much more about the incompetence of recent Australian governments than any immediate impact of the treaty that has been signed between the Solomon Islands and China. The government has been sitting on its hands hoping that Australia’s reputation will be enough to stave off the drive by China to be a significant influence in the Pacific.

This complacency is not recent. In 2015 Andrew Robb, as the then-Liberal minister for trade, agreed to a 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin to the Chinese. China’s “Belt and Road” initiative had already been underway for a couple of years and its expansionist intentions were on the table with investments in around 70 countries. Apparently, the Liberals were not worried about the Chinese at this point.

And now Morrison’s government stands on its high horse and argues that somehow it will be better on national security and the threat that China poses than the alternative government under Anthony Albanese.

The NT were paid $506 million for the 99-year lease on the Port of Darwin by the Chinese company Landbridge. How pathetic does that sum of money seem now when the Port Darwin arrangement puts national security at much more risk than the ChinaSolomon Islands agreement? How pathetic does half a billion dollars sound compared to the $16 billion being spent on 72 F-35A Joint

Cartoon: Paul Dorin Strike Fighters. Not enough to even buy three of them!

With no anti-corruption and integrity commission there has not even been the opportunity to understand what influences were operating on Robb and what the time lines were. What we do know is that he supported the deal at the time calling it a “powerful sign” of a commercial relationship between China and Australia.

We also know that on the day preceding the 2016 federal election Robb commenced a job with Landbridge around four months after stepping down as minister. It is, therefore, unsurprising that Robb has been scathing about Australia’s deteriorating relationship with China. He blames the situation on former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and Australia’s intelligence agencies.

With an election looming, the serious question is who will be the better manager of Australian security. Will a Labor government be more successful than the Liberals in dealing with an expansionist China?

It is hard to imagine any government doing much worse than the Liberals on this issue. They have had plenty of time to understand and take action on China since they originally came to government under Tony Abbott in 2013.

However, Morrison is in full marketing mode ready to sell ice to the Antarctic. It is a warning. Like the first casualty of war, the truth in an election campaign is established by the way in which it is framed.

Will Labor be more successful than the Liberals in dealing with an expansionist China?

It’s hard to imagine any government doing much worse than the Liberals on this issue.

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’s more of Michael Moore’s columns on citynews.com.au

ADVERTISEMENT

War on ‘Mr Fluffy’ loose-fill asbestos insulation

By MICHAEL CALKOVICS, Environmentalist Community activist MICHAEL CALKOVICS believes it’s time the ACT government settled fairly with the last, remaining owners of ‘Mr Fluffy’ houses.

THOSE who have lived in Canberra for some time would no doubt be more than aware of the issue of “Mr Fluffy” loose-fill asbestos insulation detected in more than 1000 properties.

The ACT Labor/Greens government declared war on this hazardous material and decided the only way to resolve the issue was to demolish every property that either had or still contains this substance.

I’m sure everyone supported this approach.

However, there were many (including me, as a neighbour) that don’t support how this process was carried out.

For instance, this “war” was also cruelly and deliberately carried out against civilian owners of affected properties.

THE ISSUES ARE: • Property owner(s) who had undertaken their own site remediation and demolition and who might have spent an entire lifetime’s

savings in reconstruction, received an “Official Certificate of Clearance” from the local government, dated 2004.

• This certificate has now been revoked by the same government, demanding properties be acquired by voluntary (compulsory) acquisition.

• This Local Labor Coalition government sets out its own terms and conditions and is not negotiable (is this legal?) leaving many owners of affected properties feeling ripped off as they believe they are only getting partial replacement value on their land and house.

Many “shell-shocked” owners, who are too frail and or unable to fight, have left in despair. Some moved across the border as “refugees” because they can’t afford to repurchase an equivalent property in Canberra.

Meanwhile, this local government is going to profit out of this with land sold at auctions, rezoning of blocks to dual

occupancy, then reaping stamp duties for multiple sales and, in many cases, doubling of the rates, as there are now two properties on the one block.

The Minister for Local Government and Planning and The City of Queanbeyan (No. 4080 of 1988, Coram: Stein J. 22nd September 1988).

I think it’s a deliberate and blatant attack on innocent civilians, a land grab. To me, its a war crime.

THE FOURTH PILLAR

But those householders who still remain are being intimidated with unfair terms and conditions by the authorities.

The question for me is: is this land grab federally unconstitutional? I see this is a manifest jurisdictional error as Canberra is a territory and federal laws preside.

We have a crown lease.

I would also ask or challenge this via the rules of natural justice that, I believe, has been denied affected property owners.

The rules of natural justice do apply by law. As does challenging, where the consent is “manifestly ultra vires or in excess of jurisdiction” – (Woolworths v.

Bathurst City Council (1987) 63 LGRA 55). See also Church of Scientology v.

Woodward ((1982) 154 CLR 25).

Then there is my case – Calkovics v.

As seen on upper level of the Magistrates Court is a pillar. And, written on a plaque, is: “’Who Then is Your Neighbour’. A Commission for the ACT Magistrates Court by Niel Roberts (1997) “A legal judgement in 1932 raised the question how far our duty of care towards others extends; who we call our ‘Community’ and how we look out for them. (From Donoghue v. Stevenson, 1932). It is still a relevant question”.

This is why I’m writing this article (Calkovics, 2022).

A CALL FOR PEACE I kindly ask all local and federal authorities to resolve this issue. It’s not too late. Let the remaining hostages go free of this “Mr Fluffy” land scam.

Chances are, given a fair current replacement value, they will leave.

1) Leo Carvalho looks at his goldfish. This landscaping and property that this pond sits on is now “pure gold” to the government. Meanwhile, the Carvalho family will get a pittance. Is there something fishy going on?

Photo: Michael Calkovics 2) There wouldn’t be an issue if our local coalition government, that resides within our Legislative Assembly, were as hard working, squeaky clean and of such a high quality as this photo shows of the Carvalho family home.

Photo: Michael Calkovics

1

2

3

3) The war on “Mr Fluffy” asbestos insulation on properties is one thing and supported. Yet the deliberate attack on civilians’ lives in the name of making money (for the tram?) is a “war crime”.

Photo: Michael Calkovics

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

THE GADFLY

War crimes, we’d never do anything like that HAS there ever been a war without war crimes?

Try as I might, I can’t think of one.

This is not to excuse or minimise the gut-wrenching horror of Putin’s barbaric murderers and rapists in the invasion of Ukraine. But let’s not forget all the others.

Ancient history is full of them – mass slaughters and rapine, with slavery of both sexes for the defeated. Same goes for the colonial era in South America, Africa, Asia and North America. And let’s not forget our own Frontier War where, only now, the extent of the massacres is being uncovered, with the attempted genocide and ethnocide of an ancient people and their culture tossed in for good measure.

The 20th century saw the Nazi blitz of Britain where bombing raids on cities killed indiscriminately from Portsmouth to Coventry and all in between. And in revenge, the much-admired Winston Churchill ordered the fire bombing and utter destruction of Dresden and all its people when the war was already won.

In our part of the world there was Changi, the Burma Road, the “Death March” of Corregidor and the war-crime trials that followed. Oh, and the atomic bombs dropped on the women and children of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but that, we’re told, was in a good cause.

Then there’s the sheer awfulness of Vietnam where we went “all the way” with US Presi-

dent Lyndon Johnson, author of the Agent Orange chemical warfare. Anyone who’s visited that country in the last 20 years will have been witness to the maiming it caused… to say nothing of My Lai, the NixonKissinger “secret” bombing of Cambodia and their millions of mines that don’t discriminate for age or gender.

I used to think the 20th century was the worst of it,

until along came Dick Cheney and his malleable President George W Bush to give us the “shock and awe” of Baghdad, Abu Ghraib, and – with his successors – the long, horrific grind of Afghanistan and the court case now being played

out in Sydney.

But that was then. In response to the Ukraine horrors, the ABC posted a little lecture from a recently retired Australian major-general, Mick Ryan, “who served in East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan and as a strategist on the US Joint Chiefs of Staffs”.

Mick says that over the last three decades, “I loved being a member of the profession of arms because it imposed a professional discipline that made us better soldiers, better citizens and better servants of our nation”.

By comparison, he says: “The Russian officers who commanded the forces in and around Bucha were negligent, ethically corrupt and criminal… they have shown throughout their disastrous campaign a lack of the vital mindset of the professional.”

Oh, Mick, if only the human psyche were not so easily manipulable. Truth is, all wars between nations are barbarous. And once you’ve been

given the okay by your political leaders to kill some of the enemy, the ethical structures of the combatant totter and fall as night follows day.

The real criminals, Mick, are those politicians who beat the drums of war, who use the differences of governance in other countries to bolster their own standing at home. They protect each other in the name of “leadership” and “defence of values” to pour their national treasure into ever more terrifying killing machines – men like Vladimir Putin.

They’re the ones who should be dragged to the courts of justice.

Luckily, our politicians would never do such a thing.

We’re the good guys. robert@robertmacklin.com

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16 CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022

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WHIMSY

Who doesn’t appreciate a jolly good screw?

“The screw principle was known in antiquity. The ancients used wooden screws for crushing grapes, drawing water and fastening planks of wood for shipbuilding and other purposes.

THEY’RE one of humans’ most important needs – we have lots of them at home, and without them our standard of living would not be the same. I speak, of course, of the humble screw.

We take them for granted, but they are a very clever invention. A screw is typically made of metal and characterised by a helical ridge, called a male external thread.

Screws are often self-threading, creating an internal thread in the screwed material that helps pull fastened materials together. There are many screws for a variety of purposes; materials commonly fastened by screws include wood, metal, and plastic.

Bolts by contrast have a constant width screw thread that screws into a matching part, commonly known as a nut. Hence the terms nuts and bolts. I recall at school being told of someone who came from an engineering family – the father was nuts and the mother had bolted.

The screw principle was known in antiquity. The ancients used wooden screws for crushing grapes, drawing water and fastening planks of wood for shipbuilding and other purposes.

The metal screw did not become common until machine tools for their mass production were developed toward the end of the 18th century.

Throughout the 19th century, the most common screw heads were simple straight slots.

The inventor of the Phillips crosshead screw was John P Thompson who, in 1932, patented a “recessed cruciform screw”. He sold the patent to Henry Frank Phillips, an American businessman from Portland, Oregon, who developed the concept and manufactured them.

If you find an alleged antique – such as a cast-iron, mechanical bank – held together with Phillips screws, it can’t be older than the 1930s.

The most common screw heads today are Phillips (Crosshead), slotted (straight groove), hex (Hexagonal hole), Pozi (Pozidriv – an improved Phillips), Robertson (Square hole), and Torx (Star-shaped hole).

“Screw” can of course have other meanings.

A screw can be: •

A small amount of tobacco, salt, etcetera in a twist of paper.

•

•

•

•

• •

“Means for uniting a screw with a driver”… the 1936 patent for Henry Frank Phillips.

• An unsound or worn-out horse.

• A ship’s or boat’s propeller.

• A salary – as with, “He’s on a good screw”.

• A prison warder.

• •

•

expression meaning to cheat someone.

“I’m totally screwed” means you have no recourse whatsoever, “up the Puhoi without a peddle”, so to speak.

“To screw” can also be used in a vulgar sense meaning to have sexual intercourse. “Screwing around” means having sex with multiple partners.

“To screw one’s face up” is to twist it out of its natural shape or contort it (such as after taking foul medicine).

“To screw up” is to make a mess of something by ineptness or bungling. (The experienced carpenter nailed it, but the new guy screwed it up.)

“To screw around” is to mess about and waste time.

“To have a screw loose” is to be eccentric, odd, etcetera.

“To screw kick” is to miskick a ball.

“To put the screws on” is to apply pressure, to subject to force; exert pressure on someone, as in exacting payment.

“To screw on” means to twist or rotate something in order to attach

or tighten it. An example is when you screw a top back on a bottle or jar.

Context is obviously important when you use screw in a phrase!

Anyway, for something “light” to end up on: How many IT guys does it take to screw in a lightbulb? None. It’s a hardware problem.

How many Microsoft executives does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

None. They’d just redefine “darkness” as the industry standard.

How many Donald Trump fans does it take to screw in a lightbulb? None.

They prefer to stay in the dark.

How many conspiracy theorists does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Who knows? They doubt there’s even a light bulb.

Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.

There’s more of Clive’s “Whimsy” at citynews.com.au

And in phrases: • “To screw someone” is a slang

2022 Election

Contribute to good government

Everyone wants your vote Your preferences are important Find out more on the website

www.canberra-alliance.org.au/2022_Election or scan the QR code

Authorised by Peter Tait, Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy, 91 David Street, O’Connor.

18 CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022

LETTERS

Why ‘sanctimonious’ Greens are dangerous Why are the Greens so dangerous? Because their often sanctimonious attitude is a deep-rooted hatred of success, everyone should be equal.

And they use a persuasive argument to support their case: climate change.

If we abandon existing methods of living and without producing provable satisfactory alternatives, where is humankind heading?

Their solution to the imagined horror of the future still dominated by the use of fossil fuels is unknown. All the Greens can offer is fear, fear of the future for your children and grandchildren.

And it seems to be working.

People appear to believe with the drastic changes the Greens propose our lifestyles will not change, our standards of living will be maintained, the pluses and minuses of progress will continue.

A local example here in the ACT of this ruthless manipulation is The Tram.

Ideologically it is designed to encourage equality: more people on public transport, less private, non-egalitarian, private cars and thus reduced pollution.

This despite the known facts: a tram is inflexible, this one is more expensive than new buses and also will take longer to reach its Civic and Woden destinations.

These valid criticisms aside, the tram will disadvantage all who do not live or work upon or near its direct route and will be particularly difficult to use for the elderly and mothers with young children.

And, irony of irony, these environmental champions will allow the removal of the majestic cedars lining the Commonwealth Avenue approach to Parliament House. Vale the Bush Capital.

There are other issues, too. Public car parks are being in-filled, again to the detriment of private ownership, while many small capitalists in Civic’s CBD will face ruin when access from South Canberra is inconvenienced for years by the raising of London Circuit.

And yet, the deafening and increasing chorus attacking Stage 2A and 2B of The Tram’s progress is met with silence. When did you last hear of a Green or even a Labor government spokesperson publicly defending the indefensible?

I told you they were dangerous.

Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla

Shame on RSL for march decision

Write to us:

I WAS appalled at the treatment of non-veteran servicemen (and women) this Anzac Day. Only veterans were allowed to march, which has created a two-tier structure denying the service of those who have or had devoted their careers to the service of this country, but not serving overseas.

There is no excuse using the redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial as the excuse. Shame on the RSL. Edmund Lawler, via email

Add potholes to our shabby city TO add to the “Seven Days” column’s collection of Canberra shabbiness (“The signs that point to the shabby state of Canberra”, CN April 21) what about all potholes on the roads, it’s a real shambles. One could drive through Tokyo for 40 kilometres to the airport and there will not be one pothole in sight.

Furthermore, I missed the opportunity to photograph the seriously bent traffic sign outside the War Memorial that I could have added to the article. I was jack-knifed by a P-plater a few years ago on my way to the airport, which created a huge bent traffic sign outside the memorial. It was a spectacular accident with fire engines, police and ambulances etcetera.

I went back to photograph it the next morning and it was already replaced! There were direct orders from then-director Brendan Nelson citing the War Memorial as a main tourist attraction and why they can’t allow such unsightly signs to be seen by the tourists.

Perhaps if we had more tourists things would be fixed within 24 hours!

Alan Arab, via email

To die ‘a very happy man’ WHAT a wonderful article by Don Aitkin (“When you die, that’s it. Do I fear it? Not really’, CN April 28) on death and dying.

I’m some years younger than Don on his passing, as I will only attain my “OBE” (over bloody eighty) in March, 2023, but I’m still fortunate enough at this stage to be able to care for myself in my own home.

editor@citynews.com.au Don’s reflection on his life and dying really resonated with me, and like him, I’m an agnostic. Likewise, I don’t fear death, but accept it is inevitable and also share the thought that it may not be pleasant for friends or relatives.

Nevertheless, I tell my family and friends that if/when I “fall off my perch” with a massive coronary, for example, I’ll die a very happy man as I’ve had a wonderful, fulfilling (for me?) life!

Rod McCallum, Garran

Uneven roads with potholes I AM writing about the terrible condition of the roads and streets in the Canberra region.

They are greatly in need of urgent and proper repair. Is the nation’s capital supposed to have the best roads in Australia or the worst?

I’m from Sydney originally and Sydney roads are much better than the capital’s. I have driven around Canberra for the past two years and find the roads here with lots of potholes, rough surfaces and very uneven.

Some of the potholes are quite large and your tyre can bottom out. I’m sure many of Canberra’s disgruntled road users feel the same way about the condition of our roads.

Michael Freiberg, Hackett

Seselja motivated by common sense DURING the US Senate grilling before her recent appointment to the US Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson responded to the question: “Can you provide a definition of the word ‘woman’?”, saying: “No, I can’t.

I’m not a biologist”.

There was, in my younger days, something that could be literally called “common sense” that enabled anyone to readily answer such questions according to a consensus and understanding about what was natural and unnatural to humanity.

Now we have technology created by specialists who attempt to subdue that reality to their wishes. Debate is suppressed to the point of illegality.

Recently a letter in our local daily newspaper claimed that ACT senator Zed Seselja

was motivated by “religion-based ideology” in his opposition to “same-sex marriage and voluntary assisted dying (or euthanasia)”.

In my unpublished response I suggested that Seselja is motivated by that common sense that exists independently of religion.

For example, how many people who speak in favour of euthanasia have ever been faced with making such a decision about their own life in the presence of their family?

Would they find when they experience the reality of the love and reaction of those close to them at the end of their life, that they would want to journey with them to the end (“When you die, that’s it. Do I fear it? Not really”, CN April 28)?

An act is ethically good if its foreseeable consequences constitute the greatest happiness for the greatest number. This ignores the basic human challenge – how to conform our being to reality.

John L Smith, Farrer

Transit lanes reduce travel times MOST of the cost of traffic congestion is the cost of increased travel time. Rather than reduce our travel times, the ACT government plans to increase them.

The ACT Transport Strategy 2020 says that Canberra’s average car trip is 9.4 kilometres and takes 20 minutes. The same trip would take 41 minutes by public transport, 45 minutes by bicycle, or more than two hours on foot.

The strategy includes “rebalancing of investment towards public transport, cycling and walking”. For an average trip, each of those travel modes costs more in travel time than does car travel.

We already have four kilometres of transit lanes between Civic and Woden. Extending them for the full 10 kilometres would reduce travel times, during peak periods each weekday, for 12,000 bus, taxi, motorcycle and multi-occupant car trips.

If they were designated as bus lanes rather than transit lanes, they would reduce travel times for only about 10,200 bus, taxi and motorcycle trips.

A more expensive separated busway would reduce travel times for only about 10,000 trips.

At more than twice the cost of a busway, stage two of light rail would increase travel times, by 10 minutes, for more than 10,000 public transport trips each weekday.

What is the sensible choice?

Leon Arundell, Downer

Time to ‘normalise’ prison life THERE is a pressing problem with the ACT Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) that should be of top priority for Corrections Minister Mick Gentleman.

Jon Stanhope, former chief minister of the ACT, was critical of the “rehabilitation” not taking place in the AMC (ABC Radio National, 7am, April 8).

The ACT government adopted the Alexander Maconochie reward system for its prisoners, which was to have been world-leading, the pride and joy of the ACT. Unfortunately, it has failed. “Rehabilitation” must be replaced with something from the other side of the world, from the Nordic countries.

In “The Nordic Edge: Policy Possibilities for Australia, 2021”, Anna Eriksson writes: “Australia’s methods of punishment in correctional institutions comprise: seeking to inflict pain through retribution and to protect the community through incapacitation of ‘risky’ individuals.

“In stark contrast, Norway’s approach to punishment is vastly different; incorporating the ‘normalisation principle’ to reduce harm of incarceration and increase post-release success; increase the use of dynamic security instead of an over reliance on static security (bars, locks); rethinking of aims of imprisonment of ‘releasing people who can be your neighbour’; and having staff who are sufficiently trained, educated, supported and mentored to undertake a challenging job and who care for the people who will need to implement policy in practice.

“Finland extends the reward system further than Maconochie did. It legislated ‘normalisation’, which means that prisoners are paid for the work they do in prison but also have to pay their bills in return.

“They are paid the real minimum wage for work and studies, and they pay for food, electricity, use of phones, clothes in prison, as well as saving money for their eventual release. A percentage of their salary goes towards funds and support for victims.

“Normalisation does not mean that life in prison becomes easier, but rather that it mirrors the rights and responsibilities of outside life.”

The ACT corrections minister should consider alternative policies and procedures that eliminate “rehabilitation” because it is not working at all. Be the first jurisdiction to change that!

Jenny Holmes, Weston

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49 Jardine Street, Kingston | kingstonnaturaltherapies.com.au | Phone 6295 6660 CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022 19

MOTHER’S DAY

Thoughtful gift ideas to make mum feel special Plenty of gifts that say, ’thank you’

“WHEN you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.”

That quote from famous actress Sophia Loren couldn’t be more true, but there is one day of the year to give some extra love back to mums.

Whether it’s giving her some beautiful flowers, taking her out to dinner or enjoying a show together, make it a special day with this guide to Mother’s Day gifts.

Sandy has plenty of charming gifts CHARLIE & Chums’ owner Sandy Borgo says there’s plenty of charming odds and ends in-store that mum will love this Mother’s Day. “We have a ‘Lisa Pollock’ range with some lovely items like aprons, tea towels and pot holders,” says Sandy.

“There’s also the ‘Imagine Ellie’ range, with beautifully created designs for the smart woman and personalised messages mum will love.

“If mum likes some wine, ‘Grass on the Glass’ has a selection of four coasters and a bag to go on the picnic, as well as throws that cover the food so flies don’t get on it.”

Having just moved into a new and bigger

store across from Target in Tuggeranong Southpoint, Sandy says it’s just the start of an expanded range to discover, with more items coming soon.

“We’ve got some special jewellery and bangles with nice engraved messages to help lift women up,” she says.

“There’s slippers, warmies, we’ve got mugs with your favourite dog on it, all sorts of things.”

“BEING a mum is the hardest job in the world, but it’s the best job in the world,’’ says manager of South Pacific Hemp Sue Booth.

“At South Pacific Hemp we have plenty of gifts to say ‘thank you, mum’, from a collection of hemp foods and hemp seed oils to gorgeous balms and skin creams, babycare, homewares, bags and accessories, fabrics, pet products and more.”

Opened in March last year, Sue says the store is Canberra’s first all-hemp shop and includes a range of specially designed clothing that mum will love.

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

“Hemp protects your skin by naturally filtering UV light. It also resists bacterial growth and breathes excellently, preventing odours, has four times the strength of cotton and it won’t weaken when washed.”

Sue says the dedicated team welcomes anyone to come and ask about the range of products.

“There’s tea towels, totes, sponges and cookie cutters and for the body, there’s shampoos, oils, bath salts and divine creams and much more,” she says.

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

Charlie & Chums, Tuggeranong Southpoint, across from Target. Call 0402 097580 or visit charlieandchums.com.au

WE HAVE THE BEST TREATS FOR MOTHER’S DAY! Glass on the Grass set of 4 coasters with bag Stunning jewellery

Colourful garden wall art

Water birds - Plant Dripper

Glass travel mugs

brooches, necklaces & bangles

Lisa Pollock range-more in store

Comfy snuggups - various sizes Keep Mum cosy with warmies

NEW LARGER STORE WITH NEW PRODUCT LINES Find us at South Point, opposite Target Or Shop online at charlieandchums.com.au Phone Sandy on 0402 097 580

20 CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022

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QUALITY AUSTRALIAN HEMP PRODUCTS

The Blu Ginger dining team… “The restaurant covers all regions of ethnic India,” says Reddy Manne.

Traditional Indian cuisine with a ‘modern twist’ THIS Mother’s Day, Blu Ginger Indian Restaurant will cook for mum with the same love and care as she would for her family, says owner Reddy Manne.

“Blu Ginger consistently uses the age-old recipes with a modern twist,” he says.

“The restaurant covers all regions of ethnic India.

All meals are cooked fresh with local and imported ingredients and all spices are ground in store.”

First established in 2000, Reddy says the restaurant

has become renowned in Canberra for its butter chicken, jahingiri and shahi gosht, among other choices.

“We serve gluten-free meals and accommodate any dietary requirements,” he says.

“Blu Ginger caters fresh made to order with affordable prices.”

Blu Ginger Indian Restaurant, 2/5-21 Genge Street, Civic.

Call 6247 2228 or visit bluginger.com.au

Visit us today in store or online for everything HEMP!

HEMP

Opening hours: Monday-Friday 10am-4pm Saturday 10am-3pm

Ph: 0431 318 898 | 84 Wollongong St, Fyshwick | southpacifichemp.com.au |

7

OPEN

DAYS

Lunch 11.30am-2.30pm | Dinner 5pm-late

BOOK NOW for Mother’s Day Sunday May 8, 2022 Great food & great service is Blu Ginger’s recipe for a memorable dining experience.

With a chef of over 35 years experience, the dishes use only fresh local produce & authentic Indian spices to combine tradition with a modern twist.

ATO 2 | 5 Genge Street | Canberra City

6247 2228 | bluginger.com.au CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022 21

MOTHER’S DAY Blossoms and gifts for mum

Curtain up on a ‘lingering’ play THIS May, audiences can take mum to experience “Three Tall Women” at the Australian Capital Theatre Hub, a show that’s been described as a “pearl-handled dagger of a play” and the debut of one of Canberra’s newest theatre companies.

Considered famous playwright Edward Albee’s most “autobiographical play”, “Three Tall Women’’ is the story of a sophisticated, flawed and complex woman as she looks back at her extraordinary life.

A portrait of Albee’s tempestuous relationship with his adoptive mother, the key role is played at different stages of the character’s life by three of Canberra’s most celebrated actresses – Natasha Vickery, Lainie Hart and Karen Vickery.

“I am absolutely thrilled to bring together this extraordinary team to realise Albee’s ‘Three Tall

TANIA Hancock, owner of Blossoms of Canberra has always loved “dabbling with flowers.”

In 2010, she studied floristry at CIT, and has also worked at the Canberra Hospital florist.

And for Mother’s Day, she’s looking forward to helping people convey messages of love and thanks.

“Make sure you spoil your mum, and show her you love her with flowers and gifts.”

While her store is filled with flowers for any occasion, she also has ‘Animal Blossoms’, which are “adorable, animalshaped ceramic pots,” to put flowers inside.

You can choose from a rabbit, snail, turtle or echidna.

“We also have Pot Buddies, little Beatrix Potter characters such as Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkin who hang or sit on flower pots.

“They’re handmade and hand-painted, and it makes for a wonderful and decorative garden ornament.”

Tania says she likes the thought of making people happy with her products, “and making a difference in someone’s life.”

Blossoms of Canberra, Erindale Shopping Centre. Call 6231 0822 or visit blossomsofcanberra.com.au

Blossoms of Canberra owner Tania Hancock.

“Three Tall Women” cast member Karen Vickery.

Women’,” says artistic director of Chaika Theatre Karen Vickery.

“Our powerhouse female creative and production team comprises three NIDA graduates, a WAAPA graduate, and an alumnus of the renowned training at 16th Street.

“And then there’s Anna who is an Academy Award-nominated costume designer… and all residents of Canberra! It really is a dream team.”

Directed by Sophie Benassi, this Pulitzer Prizewinning play is described as one that will “linger long in the senses”.

“Three Tall Women” at the ACT Hub, 14 Spinifex Street, Kingston. May 4-21. Tickets from acthub.com.au or call 6210 8748.

Photo: Jane Duong

ORDER NOW FOR MOTHER’S DAY Sunday May 8th

Come in & visit us near the front doors of the Erindale Shopping Centre!

Flower Delivery Phone 02 6231 0822 22 CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022

Canberra, Queanbeyan & Jerrabomberra (Monday to Saturday)

Order online for ACT delivery blossomsofcanberra.com.au or pick up instore

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Electrifying... each of Albee’s women is memorable” WALL STREET JOURNAL

Edward Albee’s

PULITZER PRIZE WINNING

Eyelash extensions available at Glowing Complexions.

Olivia has a passion for pampering OLIVIA Robinson, owner of The Glowing Complexions in Weetangera, offers “a range of advanced skin treatments and all your other beauty needs”.

There’s options for brow design, body waxing, lash lifts, brow lamination, eyelash extensions, teeth whitening, tooth gems, fibroblast skin tightening and bb-glow.

“With seven years in the beauty industry we are sure to give you the best advice and service to suit your needs,” says Olivia.

“For Mother’s Day we will be running a giveaway with over $600 worth of prizes. For any appointment booked between now and May 6, you will go in the

Artisan Brow Design

draw to win a customised pack including Organic Spa Skincare, Inika make-up, an Esthemax Hydrojelly take home kit and a $150 voucher to use on any service.

Olivia says she has always loved being able to give people the self confidence they deserve.

“The slightest change can make someone feel and look their best, giving them a chance to relax and unwind from busy lives.”

The Glowing Complexions, 3/16 Weetangera Place, Weetangera. Call 0401 164 421, email hello@theglowingcomplexions.com or visit theglowingcomplexions.com

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Weetangera Shops CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022 23

MOTHER’S DAY

Suzy promises lots of pampering SUZY Mooney, owner of About Face Beauty & Anti Aging Salon, is offering a “massage and facial pamper package”, for Mother’s Day. “It is an hour and a half facial, and an hour-long massage,” she says.

“Mothers deserve to be spoiled on Mother’s Day, they deserve to have a treatment that they never get to have for themselves.”

Suzy says she enjoys making people look and feel their best, and has been working in the beauty industry for 23 years.

About Face Beauty & Anti Aging Salon offer facial treatments, LED light therapy, cosmetic tattooing, manicures and pedicures and eyelash and eyebrow treatments.

And, she offers gift vouchers, so mum can book in for herself for specific services, and at a time that best suits her.

About Face Beauty & Anti Aging Salon, 310 Anketell Street, Tuggeranong Square, Greenway. Call 0488 932883 or visit aboutfacetuggeranong.com.au

Canberra’s ‘most exclusive’ high tea

One-stop beauty shop for beauty needs

CELEBRATE mum this Mother’s Day with Canberra’s most exclusive high tea at Hotel Realm, says Doma Hotels’ director of food and beverage Thomas Craigie.

“Treat her to a buffet of finely made French cakes and tarts, delicate savouries and traditional scones, accompanied with TWG fine teas and freshly brewed coffee,” he says.

“There’ll be poached prawn and lime sandwiches, baby gem hearts, roast vegetable quiche, Tasmanian smoked salmon sandwiches, cucumber, cream cheese and dill chicken, tarragon and celery wraps.

“Sweets include chocolate opera cake, walnut cake, raspberry opera cake, assorted macarons, lemon and meringue tart and chocolate tart.”

Thomas says guests will have the choice between a $95 Traditional Buffet High Tea with complimentary glass of sparkling on arrival or a $145 Free-Flowing Champagne High Tea. Children aged three and under are free, and tickets for kids aged four to nine are discounted to $50.

Gluten-free options will also be available.

QUINTESSENCE Nail & Beauty in Belconnen offers gift vouchers, skin-care kits, gift sets, make-up sets, handmade earrings and flower arrangements, candles, diffusers and more, says owner Alicia Fragopoulos.

“We are a one-stop beauty shop for all beauty needs.”

They provide waxing and tinting services, manicures and pedicures, massages, facials, tanning, laser hair removal, lash extensions, lash lifts, henna brows, brow lamination, teeth whitening and spa packages.

Alicia says she loves the feeling of being pampered and relaxed, and purchased the business in 2016 to provide the same kind of escape for others.

“Every day brings different treatments, clients and conversations. It’s very rewarding to see clients leaving happy, fresh and relaxed.”

“We are professional, caring and kind and enjoy making people look and feel good,” she says.

Mother’s Day High Tea at the Hotel Realm Ballroom, 18 National Circuit, Barton, Sunday, May 8, 11am and 2.30pm.

Call 6163 1888 or visit hotelrealm.com.au

SPOIL MUM THIS MOTHER’S DAY WITH A BEAUTY TREATMENT Facials IPL & Anti Aging LED Light Therapy Cosmetic Tattoo Beauty Waxing GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

Beauty & Anti Aging Salon Phone 0488 932 883 Shop 9b, 310 Anketell Street, Tuggeranong Square, Greenway

aboutfacetuggeranong.com.au 24 CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022

Quintessence Nail & Beauty, 2/9 Page Place, Page. Call 6278 5334, email quintessencenailandbeauty@iinet.net.au or visit beautysalonbelconnen.com.au

advertising feature

Gift vouchers

INXS Tribute show will play at The Q on May 7.

‘Priscilla’ promises a fun night out THE Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre’s (The Q) acting marketing officer Joel Horwood says the upcoming season of “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” comes with a surprise.

“Priscilla” will run from April 26 to May 22 and will feature a special edition 2021 pinot gris from Contentious Character for guests to enjoy.

“It displays hints of melon on the nose and lemon flavours that perfectly match Tick, Adam and Bernadette’s zest and sassiness,” says Joel.

“Experiences are better when they’re shared. And who better to share the experience of laughter and joy with than your mum.”

For the chance to win a free double pass to one of the shows, Joel says people can find the Mother’s Day

post on The Q’s Facebook or Instagram pages and tag mum. Entries close May 5, with winners announced on May 6.

Also coming up at The Q is “Bach to Bolling” (May 5), a “refreshing mix of the noble and lyrical side of the cello mixed with boogie-woogie, ragtime and some Bachian counterpoint.”

Other choices include an INXS Tribute Show on May 7, comedian Jimeoin on May 20 and “21 Forster Street” from May 26 to June 4, a show traversing different time periods from the 1860s to the present day, and the true story of a heritage home in Bungendore.

The Q, 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6285 6290, email boxoffice@qprc.nsw.gov.au or visit theq.net.au

Tanning | Spa Packages | Manicures | Pedicures Laser Hair Removal | Bio Sculpture Gel Nails Body Treatments | Facials | Waxing & Tinting Lashes | Makeup www.beautysalonbelconnen.com.au 02 6278 5334 quintessencenailandbeauty@iinet.net.au Shop 2/9 Page Place, Page Shopping Centre

Bach to Bolling

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MUM

Jimeoin Live!

INXS Tribute Show CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022 25

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Tips on becoming a healthier and happier you MAINTAINING health or going on a journey towards good health means different things to different people.

It could be managing a health condition, achieving some exercise goals, or even starting a new hobby or class to improve fitness.

Luckily, Canberra offers plenty of opportunities to become a healthier and happier you, and this week “CityNews” speaks with local experts who can help get you there.

Specialised gym sessions help kick fitness goals NICHE Power Performance (NPP) is a gym that offers personalised sessions aimed at helping people achieve their fitness goals, says owner Tim Cornforth.

“Unlike other gyms, all our training is with a qualified and experienced coach, no walk-ins,” says Tim. “Whether you’re an aspiring athlete or just want to get back into training, we welcome people of all levels and fitness abilities.”

With an experienced team of strength and conditioning coaches, Tim says NPP offers personal training, sports training, group sessions, mums’ and bubs’ groups, youth-mentor programs, motivational speaking and more.

“We need to change the way we view physical activity in order not to see it as something we ‘have to do’, ‘should do’ or ‘can do’ for our health, but as something that we do because we personally value its positive benefits to our overall wellbeing,” says Tim. “The benefits we get from training or even just going for a walk is incredible and something we should be encouraging everyone to do.

“At NPP we’re excited to help with that and to build a community through healthy and meaningful ways.”

Niche Power Performance

Low-impact way to turbo-charge a walk

Niche Power Performance owner Tim Cornforth.

Niche Power Performance, 60 Dundas Court, Phillip. Visit nichepowerperformance.com.au or email hello@nichepowerperformance.com.au

A NEW, scientifically studied exercise technique called Nordic Walking is more effective than jogging, but as gentle as walking, and is the perfect way to get in some regular exercise this year, says Capital Nordic Walking founder Kristen Pratt.

The technique, which keeps European crosscountry skiers fit during their off season, uses specially designed poles that are planted behind the user to propel them along using the power of the upper body as well as the legs.

“It doubles the number of muscles being used and strengthened compared to walking and running, making it easy to get a high-intensity cardiovascular workout,” says Kristen.

“It strengthens arms, shoulders, back and core while also massively reducing strain on leg joints.”

Kristen says Nordic Walking is quickly growing in Canberra, beneficial to those who need some low-impact exercise and for those with a competitive spark.

“The great thing about Nordic walking is you don’t have to go very fast to get a good workout, but competitive Nordic walkers can get up to speeds similar to running,” she says.

“For people who like walking, it can turbo-charge your walk and for people who are really fit, like runners and crossfitters, it’s a really good cross activity to build muscle because it is so low impact.”

Capital Nordic Walking, email hello@ capitalnordicwalking.com.au or visit capitalnordicwalking.com.au

ACHIEVE YOUR FITNESS GOALS WITH NPP NPP aims to create an environment and opportunity for everyone to succeed.

We sponsor many local athletes, sporting teams, Indigenous scholarships and school programs.

Our goal is to provide an opportunity for those who wouldn’t typically have access or the ability to reach their potential.

So when you train at NPP you are doing more than training YOUR body, you are assisting us to make a difference in the Community.

CALL US TODAY 0401 282 708

60 Dundas Court Phillip BOOK ONLINE nichepowerperformance.com.au 26 CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022

hello@nichepowerperformance.com.au

AVAILABLE FOR PERSONAL TRAINING AND GROUP SESSIONS

Opening Times Monday to Friday 5.30am to 8pm Saturdays 5.30am to 2pm

advertising feature Owner of the Pilates Centre Canberra Felicia Darbyshire-Pirie.

Walk like a Nordic in 2022!

Get way more bang for your exercise buck!

Nordic Walking turbo-charges your walk, turning it into a total-body workout!

PROVEN to be far more effective, and gets better results, than just walking, jogging, running, cyucling and swimming!

Doubles the muscles actively used, gets your heart pumping, burns more calories, and is much easier on your joints!

Personally tailored Pilates classes OWNER of The Pilates Centre Canberra, Felicia Darbyshire-Pirie says she’s proud to provide Pilates classes that focus on each individual.

“We believe in quality over quantity,” says Felicia, a Pilates instructor of more than 15 years.

“Pilates is total body strengthening and conditioning, but it can also be rehab. To me it’s a combination of intuition and science that helps people achieve goals.

“It can be a super strong workout if that’s what you’re wanting, or it can be a recovery workout if that’s what you need.”

From two weeks post-spinal surgery all the way through to high-performing, advanced clients, Felicia

says the centre welcomes anyone regardless of experience or fitness level. She believes a good instructor is what makes all the difference.

“We only hire really high-quality instructors with really good qualifications,” she says.

“We’re a host site for an internationally renowned teacher-training course and that’s something we’re very proud of.

“I like to say Pilates is the perfect training partner for everything, even life.”

TO LEARN WITH THE PROS VISIT WWW.CAPITALNORDICWALKING.COM.AU

The Pilates Centre Canberra, 58 Colbee Court, Phillip.

Call 6162 1793, visit pilatescentre.com.au, email info@pilatescentre.com.au

At the Pilates Centre Canberra we offer the full Pilates studio experience • Individualised training in Private, Duet or small group settings • Highly qualified instructors • Online Matwork classes • World class Pilates teacher training Book a class today on 6162 1793 or email us info@pilatescentre.com.au

58 COLBEE COURT, PHILLIP ACT

“We love to do it, teach it, research it and educate about it!”

CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022 27

HEALTH AND FITNESS

advertising feature Nick’s got the gear to get people running THE Runners Shop carries a great range of shoes for running, walking or going to the gym, says owner and long-time runner Nick Walshe.

“Having a pair of well cushioned shoes is important – for all types of exercise, but especially for runners,” says Nick.

“This is because runners are often sending a force equivalent to around four times our body weight, which impacts on our knees, feet and lower back.

“Good cushioning in runners helps with injury prevention, especially when increasing your training.

Running shoes are also designed to flex in a way that supports the motion of your foot when running – much more so than training shoes or casual shoes.

With a team of passionate staff all actively involved in running, Nick says customers can experience first hand knowledge of the products available.

“We take the time to make sure we help customers find the right pair of shoes – suitable for their feet and fitted correctly,” says Nick.

“Our shoe brands include Brooks, Hoka, Saucony, New Balance, Asics, Mizuno, On, Altra and Topo.

Nick says running can be incredibly beneficial not just physically, but also mentally.

“It’s a great way to relieve stress, and find some balance in our busy lives,” he says.

“Also, with the many running groups and events in Canberra these days, there is a social community side to running as well. And it’s surprisingly addictive!”

The Runners Shop, 76 Dundas Court, Phillip (call 6285 3508) and upstairs at 46-50 Hibberson Street, Gungahlin (call 6241 7054) or visit therunnersshop.com.au

Exercise options to suit all abilities ARTHRITIS ACT CEO Rebecca Davey says it’s important to remain active at all ages, “to condition muscles that protect against injury”, and Arthritis ACT has solutions for people of varying abilities.

“We have Nordic Walking classes. We’re teaching people how to walk with poles, which is a great, lowimpact aerobic activity for everyone.”

Rebecca says it’s also important to build strength in different areas of the body.

“We now run Pilates from both locations, Pearce and Bruce,” and, as an added benefit for Arthritis ACT

members, “we have free, online exercise classes every week from Tuesday to Thursday.”

That’s only the start, Rebecca says, with Arthritis ACT also offering services such as exercise physiology, disability support and meal planning to help people in managing their pain.

“No question is too big or small for us,” she says.

Arthritis ACT, Building 1, Colette Place, Pearce, and Building 18, 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce. Call 1800 011041, email info@arthritisact.org.au or visit arthritisact.org.au

The Runners Shop owner Nick Walshe.

EXPERT ADVICE ON THE PERFECT FIT FOR YOU STAFFED BY EXPERIENCED RUNNERS, TRIATHLETES & ORIENTEERS • Extensive range of shoes for Runners, Joggers, Walkers and Gym enthusiasts of all ages • Brands include Asics, Brooks, Nike, New Balance, Mizuno, Saucony, Hoka and On • Great range of technical running apparel which breathes (wicks moisture) all year round • Extensive range of nutrition products from Endura, GU, Hammer and Tailwind

(02) 6285 3508 Visit us in store at 76 Dundas Court, Phillip

or purchase online therunnersshop.com.au 28 CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022

SOLVING SCIATICA Sciatica is caused by nerve pain that originates from the lower back and can cause pain from the point, right down through your bottom and down one leg to your calf.

Not the entire area may be causing you pain at any one time, but what the pain will certainly do is cause you frequent extreme discomfort that is often not relieved by pain medication.

Exercise is a key to dealing with sciatica. People who have lived with sciatica for some time will generally have some weakness of the muscles,

tendons and ligaments surrounding the joints and bones that support the sciatic nerve.

This is largely due to not having used their body to the fullest extent due to the sciatic pain.

Sciatic pain will generally respond well to rebuilding the support structures surrounding the sciatic nerve. For some people surgery may be the only solution, but in most cases, even if surgery is required, building up the support structures either prior to or following surgery will still be necessary.

Arthritis ACT has a team of exercise physiologists that can improve your quality of life in relation to your sciatica. Both hydrotherapy and land based exercise techniques are useful, and for those who do not like water exercise, land based exercise is just as effective.

Do you want to solve your sciatica?

Call us today on 1800 011 041 and book your appointment with one of our exercise physiologists and scientists to solve your sciatica.

MEET OUR EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGISTS & EXERCISE SCIENTIST

Blake Dean

Gwen Estigoy

Holly Hazelwood

Sophie Bullock

Natasha Perry

“You do not need to have any particular condition to utilise our services, just a desire to ‘Build a Better You.’

www.arthritisact.org.au | e: info@arthritisact.org.au

Enquire or book today 1800 011 041

FABULOUS FOOD

5.30PM - 9.00PM TUESDAY TO SUNDAY

2/29 Bentham Street Yarralumla 02 6282 7741

Welcome to Cap’n Joe Cafe.

The perfect place for a mid week meeting or to catch up with friends for a bite to eat.

We serve Black Mountain Coffee.

Roasted locally by Seven Miles Coffee Roasters and the best coffee in town!

Open Mon – Fri 7am – 3pm Sat 8am - 2pm | 22-24 Colbee Crt, Phillip | 6282 6828 | www.capnjoe.com.au

Grazier Lane, Belconnen 0417 783 292 Monday - Saturday: 6am - 9pm Sunday: 7am - 9pm

Kippax Place, Holt

0409 200 206 Monday - 6am - 3pm Tuesday - Thursday 6am - 3pm, 5pm - 8.30pm Friday - Saturday 6am - 8.30pm Sunday 7am - 3pm, 5 - 8.30pm

94/11 Wimmera St, Harrison

BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER

7am - 9pm 7 days

G-10 210 Anketell St, Greenway 2900 02 6182 9032

30 CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022

Phone number (02) 6255 7070

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ED IS N

Flavour rules at the cosy Inn

WENDY JOHNSON

Jungle secrets take Canberra author to the top

By Helen

MUSA A CANBERRA writer has made it to the top three nominations for Britain’s most admired award for historical military history writing, the Templer Medal.

Awarded annually to the author of the book that has made the most significant contribution to the history of the British Army or the army of any country in the British Commonwealth, it has rarely if ever gone to an Australian and in 40 years has only ever been won once by a woman.

It’s an exceptional achievement for an exceptional book, which I couldn’t put down.

Christine Helliwell’s “Semut” (ant in the Malay language), published by Penguin, deals with the little known 1945 covert operation in World War II carried out by British and Australian operatives, who engaged the local Dayak people to white-ant (hence the title) Japanese military operations in what is now the Malaysian Sarawak.

An anthropologist of 40 years standing and now an emeritus professor at the ANU who, since 2014 has been researching World War II in Borneo, she spent many years as a young student living in longhouses in

Author Christine Helliwell… “I had to learn to write for the general public because academic writing is so different”.

Borneo falling in love with the Dayak people.

Helliwell breathes life into her extraordinary account of the operation, presented to the locals as a move to defeat the Japanese but in reality designed to reinstate British rule in Borneo, something neither the Aussies nor the Dayaks knew.

Although a formally trained academic, Helliwell was well aware that books like this can languish on shelves unread, so she deliberately sought to make it as exciting as

possible.

“I had to learn to write for the general public because academic writing is so different, so I took myself to a Dymocks for a day and sat there reading popular accounts of military history,” she says.

Laying down an explanation of the word “Dayak” at the beginning of the book so the layperson can follow it, she builds up a picture of the cultural differences between the different groups – obviously in particular

the Kelabit, Iban, the Kayan and Kenyah people.

In part a lament for the vanishing forests, the book is at times very sad. You can almost hear the cacophony of the forest as well as its subtleties and Helliwell’s story of the elusive Penan hunter who suddenly appears out of nowhere, later followed by his fellows, is memorable, conjuring up what one writer has called the Bornean “inbuilt jungle radar”.

Helliwell’s dramatic accounts of the raids are nothing short of racy. There’s the ambush at Marudi, the battle for Kapit and massacre at Pasir Nai, where many Japanese heads are taken.

Her masterly explanation of the spiritual traditions behind the ancient Borneo custom of taking heads, conveniently revived for the campaign by the British and Australians, puts headhunting in cultural perspective, and indeed in the book almost had me calling out “Ooo, Ooo, Ooo” along with the Kayan headhunters returning from a successful raid.

For those who love military history, there are the campaigns themselves, which will be further elaborated in her next book.

It is tempting to speculate as what the Society for Army Historical Research Templer Medal judges will make of her accounts of mendacity of the Brits, the egos of characters such as Major Tom Harrisson, the unfairness of the treatment of Major Toby Carter and the contempt in which many of the indig-

enous people of Borneo were held.

All these negatives are mediated by the knowledge that, post-war, the peoples of Sarawak did eventually gain the right to rule themselves, one hopes, with the modest exercise of power that Helliwell sees in their great tribal leaders.

Helliwell is delighted to have been nominated for The Templer, describing herself as “gobsmacked, if truth be told – I never imagined that ‘real’ military historians would much enjoy my little story about Dayaks during World War II”.

The winner and joint second-prize winners of the Templer Medal will be announced on April 28 and an updated version of this story will be published on citynews.com.au

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WHEN “All The President’s Men” exploded on to cinema screens in 1976 the effects of the Watergate scandal were still reverberating throughout politics.

Richard Nixon had resigned after being disgraced by the controversy. Senior US government officials were facing charges or being imprisoned.

Faith in the democratic process had been cast into doubt.

Amidst the maelstrom, director Alan J Pakula had carefully crafted a film about the two “Washington Post” journalists who first revealed the scandal to the public.

“All The President’s Men” starred Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford as the two reporters who staked their careers, reputations and even their lives on exposing the break-in and bugging of Democratic National Committee Headquarters, a scheme that aimed to illegally obtain information from Nixon’s political opposition.

Using an entertainment medium, it was a film that made the intricacies of Watergate widely accessible to the public for the first time and marked the beginning of a cascade of books, podcasts, movies and television shows that have similarly tried to explore Watergate even now, 50 years after it first made news.

The newest example is “Gaslit”, an eight-part series streaming on Stan that tells the story of one of the most important figures of the scandal but whose story has not, until now, been given the recognition it deserves.

That person is Martha Mitchell, the wife of then US Attorney-General John Mitchell.

Films such as “All The President’s Men” made it widely known that John Mitchell was a key orchestrator of the break-in at the Democratic National Committee HQ. What they didn’t reveal was that his wife Martha was the one to bring him undone.

From eavesdropping on phone calls, listening to backdoor conversations, and rifling through her husband’s papers, Martha became one of the key Watergate whistleblowers. She not only sounded the alarm on her husband, but the entire Nixon administration despite a crushing

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amount of pressure on her to keep it zipped.

In attempting to reveal the truth she was abandoned by most of her family and labelled as crazy.

In fact, so terribly manipulated was Martha that her name was eventually built into a term for being manipulated. “The Martha Mitchell Effect” is used to describe a situation where a psychologist falsely diagnoses a patient as delusional.

One can easily see where the title “Gaslit” comes from for this new series about Martha.

Julia Roberts plays Mitchell in a performance that could sweep the awards season. She’s joined by an A-list cast playing the officials who did all they could to shut down her attempts to bring Watergate into the spotlight, however unsuccessful they were.

Nixon himself is quoted as saying that “if it hadn’t been for Martha Mitchell, there’d have been no Watergate”.

He let that confession slip among others in his controversial interviews with British TV host David Frost in 1977, interviews that became some of the most watched in the history of television.

Nixon had agreed to Frost’s questioning in a desperate attempt to try to salvage his deteriorating image, thinking that Frost, made famous by comedy and light entertainment television, would make for an easy interviewer.

But the TV host gave Nixon more of an intellectual

boxing match than he’d bargained for, famously cornering the disgraced former head of state into admitting “if the president does it it’s not illegal”.

The 2008 Ron Howard film “Frost/Nixon” offers a compelling account of these interviews and can be streamed on Binge.

It’s adapted from a popular play and stars Michael Sheen and Frank Langella as the respective interviewer and former president and who put on performances that are incredible to watch.

“Frost/Nixon”, “Gaslit”, “All The President’s Men’’, it is intriguing that the allure of Watergate continues half a century after the scandal first happened. Why is this the case?

Perhaps the event so vividly drawing back the curtain on how malleable political systems can be is why it has cast such a long shadow.

Watergate may be the most prescient reminder of the eye that must be kept on modern government.

The “-gate” suffix that sits on the end of the title of almost any scandal actually comes from the name of the office building that was broken into that night in 1972 – the “Watergate Complex”.

Will Smith’s Oscars “Slapgate”? You can thank Richard Nixon for that one.

CINEMA / documentaries

Assange’s plight with a mythological twist

By Dougal

MACDONALD “Ithaka” (M)

Lic # 1993 14963

Sean Penn and Julia Roberts in “Gaslit”... a performance that could sweep the awards season.

TO understand the somewhat enigmatic title of this documentary, we need to make a brief visit to ancient mythology.

Odysseus, aka Ulysses (or vice versa) has set out for home after victorious Greek armies finished overwhelming Troy. Where’s home? It’s west of Greece on a little Ionian island.

One line from Virgil’s epic poem, “The Aeneid”, telling the story of his 10 years wandering the Mediterranean back to Ithaka lives as a modern proverb. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes (beware of Greeks bearing gifts).

Whether it was writer/director Ben Lawrence or Julian Assange’s father John Shipton who chose “Ithaka” for the film’s title isn’t important.

But it’s certainly an apposite summation for what it’s saying. US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning personifies the Greeks. The gifts which she provided to WikiLeaks publisher Assange in 2010 are the leaks.

Subsequently, the US government launched and continues to pursue a criminal investigation

into WikiLeaks for publishing secret and embarrassing information. There are those who will argue that this was a freedom-of-the-press matter.

I feel anger about the treatment that Assange is still undergoing for having done something that apparently still waits for some legislature to turn into a crime.

But of Lawrence’s film, my feeling is that its punch might not have diminished by being shorter than 115 minutes (including a long credits sequence). Ithaka remains a destination craving to be reached. And with clarity, succinctly, this documentary explains why.

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“Elizabeth. A Portrait In Parts” (M) A COUPLE of weeks ago, reviewing filmmaker Roger Michell’s “The Duke”, I mourned his recent passing and told readers that it was his last film.

I was wrong.

“Elizabeth”, a nostalgic, uplifting and modern documentary about Queen Elizabeth II” must have been winding its way through a laboratory somewhere in the UK awaiting completion of the editing function and release.

Not many movies get completed after the

director has died. This one had the privilege, and the complexities, of stringing together bits of film from various vaults, writing pithy summations of a collection of apposite categories of vision and sound, then glueing them together in correct order. Bravo, editor Joanna Crickmay and the film’s quintet of producers. You have cobbled together 89 minutes of delightful cinema with no plot and only one star – Her Maj, in all her moods, at all her duties.

I write this on her 96th birthday. And I am pleased to tell readers that, however their view of the monarchy/republic dichotomy that goes on that sceptred isle and in those loyal dependencies, what Michell and his team have wrought is mightily entertaining, honest, unbiased, fun.

And respect for a woman who, of all the folk whose heads have worn the crown of England deserves 10 out of 10 for her performance of arduous, often antediluvian, political, gubernatorial and family duties.

I sometimes wished that some of the film’s clips might have been longer or taken a different perspective. But on-the-day control of the film’s variety of events had long since passed by.

And, by golly, HM has made an act that Charlie is going to find hard to emulate.

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DINING / The Inn, Ainslie

Flavour rules at Ainslie’s cosy Inn AUTUMN menus are popping up in dining establishments throughout the capital, including at The Inn, an upstairs extension of Edgar’s in Ainslie.

Three of us gathered in the dining room, but would have been just as happy at The Terrace next door with its unique panorama of Telstra Tower and Mount Ainslie and colourful Canberra sunsets over the city.

The Inn is perfect for autumn and winter.

The décor is warm and cosy, complete with a wood-lined bar and a more intimate décor.

Many dishes are cooked on the massive (and impressive) Asado grill, which adds incredible flavour.

Our food journey began with oysters chargrilled in their own brine and served with soy sauce and desert lime on top. They were magical.

Burrata lovers won’t be disappointed with The Inn’s version. Gorgeous with fig and apple chutney, vincotto and fresh peppery rocket ($23). The burrata was a perfect texture and the dish a pretty presentation. Some may feel the chutney a tad too sweet.

Another feast for the eyes was the citruscured salmon ($27) with a grapefruit dressing, slices of pink grapefruit, avocado placed for

Citrus-cured salmon… with a grapefruit dressing, slices of pink grapefruit, avocado and pops of salty roe.

Photo: Wendy Johnson a bit on the Asado grill and pops of salty roe.

The dish sang with flavour.

Chargrilled eggplant was next up with a lovely caponata. The eggplant was cooked to perfection and announced itself as an enticing dish for this time of year. Soul satisfying in every respect.

Another soul-satisfying dish is the freerange roast chook, barbecued with earthy harissa. The chicken arrived atop a mound of corn and black barley with a half lemon

(chargrilled) on the side ($36). It was mouthwatering and the combination and depth of flavour was amazing.

Our veggie hit was the wood-fired brussels sprouts, a generous serve for $12. The sprouts were taken to the next level with N’duja

Vlad’s playing it for the laughs

butter featuring hot salami and always a sensational addition to barbecued food.

The dishes came out at a nice pace and the knowledgeable service was with a smile.

One of our party began with Canberra’s very own Heaps Normal non-alcoholic beer ($8.50). For wine we enjoyed a top drop from the “Old World” section of the menu, an Albarino from Spain ($74).

Our table was small for three people and the number of dishes we ordered. We felt cramped... also, the menu was challenging to read in parts because the text was faded (and the lights dim).

There’s a lot going on at Edgar’s, now truly a multi-purpose venue, including Wakefield’s Bar and Wine Room, which we want to return to explore for its exciting wine selection, snack menu featuring local produce and live entertainment. Mama Dough is also part of the family.

More of Wendy Johnson’s dining reviews at citynews.com.au

By Richard Calver BY the end of March each year, lawyers are required to have accumulated sufficient continuing professional development (CPD) points to be permitted to hang out their shingle for another year, starting from April Fool’s Day.

A 40-year-old lawyer who had been practising since he was 25 died and arrived at the Pearly Gates for judgment. The lawyer said to St. Peter, “There must be some mistake! I’m only 40 years old, that’s far too young to die.” St. Peter frowned and consulted his ledger. “That’s peculiar because when we add up your billing records, you should be at least 83 by now!”

The presentation was informative and annoying. As to the latter admonition, I really didn’t believe that describing a non-fungible As part of my CPD, I enrolled in a webinar token (NFT) purchase as something that presented by international law firm Norton would make me “the coolest kid on the block” Rose Fulbright (NRF) entitled “The Great was in any way motivating as a rationale to Penfolds Wine NFT Experiment: Why All make a purchase.

Companies Need to Think NFT”.

Despite that jarring note, informative It was presented by one of NRF’s lawyers as it was, save for the mind-blowing cost of well as Kristy Kyte, Penfolds chief marketing purchasing the NFT. But backing up for one officer, and Sam Falic, co-founder and presimoment, an NFT is a unique token used to dent of the Web3 tech company, BlockBar, show ownership of digital and sometimes which partnered with Penfolds on the project. physical assets. Fungibility is the ability of a

good or asset to be interchanged with other individual goods or assets of the same type.

So, cash is fungible. Ownership of a house is ownership of a non-fungible asset.

NFTs are useful in wine marketing, we were told, because it opens up the “high end” wine market to a different demographic, younger folk who take an interest in cryptocurrency and NFTs; hence the “cool kids” comment that I mentioned before.

After the seminar, I went on the Penfolds website and learned at least one thing not mentioned during the webinar: the price.

For $180,000 you get a single-barrel NFT, which will be converted into 300 bottle NFTs at the date of bottling of the wine in October 2022.

The process will be verifiable through the blockchain, with each NFT being identified with a barrel and bottle number. Each bottle will be stored in limited-edition gift boxes at BlockBar’s facility until redeemed by the purchaser no earlier than the date of release of the wine in October 2023.

There are also experiential items thrown into the mix redeemable as part of the purchase of the NFT. As part of the NFT purchase, the owner of the barrel NFT at the time of bottling in October 2022 will receive a personalised keepsake barrel head and an opportunity to engage in a selection of special experiences, which include a private wine tasting in Magill Cellar 3 (Penfolds Magill Estate Winery, in SA, from whence the wine will be made). As well there’s a vineyard tour, with regular video updates and imagery from the winemakers and a virtual tasting, and visit to Penfolds Magill Estate Winery, for a “day in the life” of a Penfolds winemaker experience.

These all reinforce the “wine journey”.

Oh and the wine? I believe it’s a shiraz described by Ms Kyte thus: “Magill Cellar 3 from the 2021 vintage, is not available for public purchase making it the ultimate collector’s item”. But, of course, the NFTs are available. And by the way, Qantas Wine is selling Penfolds Magill shiraz 2016 for $139 a bottle.

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By Helen Musa COMEDIAN My Cousin Vlad is probably not the “Vlad” you’re thinking of, but he’s coming to Canberra with his show of the same name, where he’ll hit the core topics of modern society – technology, “wogs” or “Euros” versus Aussies, family and marriage. At Canberra Theatre, May 6.

Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

THE 2022 Australian Catholic University Prize for Poetry is now open for submissions on the theme of “Hope”, inspired by a line from Alfred Lord Tennyson. There’s a $10,000 first prize. Canberra poet Geoff Page won the top award in 2020. Entries by July 4 to acu.edu.au PRINCIPAL viola of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Stefanie Farrands, joins Richard Tognetti to perform Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante” at Llewellyn Hall, 8pm, May 14. As well, the ACO will play Mozart Divertimento in D major, K.136, Britten’s “Elegy for Strings” and his “Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge”. Book at aco.com.au

On the wine journey with the ‘cool kids’ WINE

ARTS IN THE CITY

CANBERRA Symphony is partnering with Toby Cole’s ANU Chamber Choir and other Canberra choristers for a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” in July, to be conducted by Simon Hewett and featuring soloists Chloe Lankshear, Andrew Goodwin, Adrian Tamburini and Cole himself. Audition requirements and the rehearsal schedule are available at cso.org.au/ messiah-choir. Tickets at cso.org.au/ messiah or 6262 6772.

A HIGHLIGHT of this year’s Queanbeyan Palerang Heritage Festival will be “Singing in the Park”, where Georgia Pike-Rowney will lead the community in fun songs such as the 1938 “Song of Queanbeyan”. The community can sing along, with lyric sheets made available on the day, no rehearsal required. At Queanbeyan Central Park & Playground, 2pm, May 1. Free, but registration essential at eventbrite.com.au

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Persimmons… When the fruit comes, the birds will have their eyes on it and that’s when it’s ready for picking.

Photo: Jackie Warburton

Pick the persimmons carefully

By Jackie

WARBURTON PERSIMMON trees can put on an autumnal show and can be grown into quite a large tree in the garden, not only the orchard.

I have planted mine as a backdrop tree so the autumn colour is seen, and the tree will be easy to net to protect the fruit from the birds.

There are mainly two types of persimmons – astringent (hard eating) and non-astringent (soft eating).

The fruit is completely different from each other so a little research with recipes and a taste test is needed to decide which type would work best given they can take up to seven years to fruit.

When the fruit comes, the birds will have their eyes on it and that’s when it’s ready for picking. Fruit is grown on current growth so a light pruning after the fruit has been removed will help with next year’s yield.

Persimmons can be picked and ripened indoors on a sunny windowsill if birds are a pest. Most varieties are self-fertile and need acidic soils to grow well and lots of sun. They don’t like their roots disturbed, but can be planted when

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they are dormant in winter.

THERE should be a good show of autumn colour in the vegetable garden with asparagus fronds turning golden yellow and grapes, apples, plums and pears, too, are colouring up.

Keep the water up to fruit trees until they have lost all their leaves. It is important to keep them mulched.

With the continuing wet weather, slaters, pill bugs and earwigs are still a problem in the garden. Clear any old debris from the garden and the base of plants to ensure there is good airflow.

Once plants are “out of reach”, the insects move on.

Diatomaceous earth is a terrific insecticide for crawling insects in the veggie garden. Sprinkle around the base of any small seedings that need protection. All veggies can be watered with seaweed solution and leafy greens need to be regularly picked to keep the sweetness and stop them from going bitter.

CAMELLIAS will need a fertiliser

now that is high in potash to help them into their flowering period, which is generally mid-winter, early spring. It’s best not to do any pruning now as the flower buds have already formed.

If there are too many buds and the branches look too heavy, then it is fine to remove a few buds. This is called disbudding and will promote bigger, more beautiful flowers in the long run. It can be hard removing flower buds, but the results will show when they flower.

Camellias will be coming into stock in nurseries soon, so get in quick as there is generally only an annual order and they sell out fast.

If you are after a special variety, they can be mail ordered as well.

NOW’S a good time to clean out all the plants that have been affected by frost and trimming of spent foliage and flowers of herbaceous plants – plants that die back in winter. It’s also a good time to replenish soils, and weed and mulch for winter.

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Your week in the stars

By Joanne Madeline Moore

General knowledge crossword No. 827

May 2-8, 2022

Choosing the Correct Chair is Important

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Are you an Aries spendthrift? This week, indulgent Venus transits into your sign, while the Sun, impulsive Mars and rash Uranus activate your cash zone. So you’re in the mood for a spontaneous spending spree. But is that such a smart idea? When it comes to financial matters, if you are patient then you’ll be able to capitalise on any lucky breaks that come your way. It’s all in the timing and preparation. Just remember, Rams, slow and steady wins the money race at the moment.

Evan Dunstone is a Churchill Fellow in contemporary chair design.

He has 27 different chair designs in production at his Queanbeyan workshop.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Steady Bulls love their dependable routines. But prepare to be jolted out of pedantic predictability as Mars and Uranus shake up your perfectly planned timetable in the most delightful way. So it’s a good time to rejuvenate your physical appearance, revise your goals for the next 12 months, and have plenty of fun! Heed the wise words of birthday great Audrey Hepburn, who was born on May 4, 1929: “The most important thing is to enjoy your life – to be happy.”

A chair is a tool for sitting. Each design should be evaluated on its performance, not just its aesthetics. A high-performance chair is one that provides an elegant ergonomic solution to a specific brief. In 2006, I received a brief from a Melbourne professor who was required to sit for long periods reading complex texts. He specified a chair that “doesn’t lull me to sleep, allows me to move, and helps me alight”.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

Avoid being a superficial Gemini. This week there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface than meets the eye. The Sun and Uranus encourage you to dive deep, listen and learn. The planets also boost creativity, compassion, confidence and motivation, especially at work. So get must-do tasks out of the way early, then do something that really makes your heart sing. As birthday great Audrey Hepburn said: “I believe, every day, you should have at least one exquisite moment.”

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Transformation is the name of the game as Jupiter and Pluto boost your personal magnetism, and your ability to rise like a Phoenix from the ashes of a difficult situation. A close relationship has the potential to be reborn into a much more positive partnership. But you must release old grudges, let go of the past, and move into a bright new future. No sulking or side-stepping, Crabs! You’ll find the right words – spoken at the right time – can transform the lives of those around you.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Thursday’s Sun/Uranus conjunction could spark a brilliant creative idea that shakes up your career or helps you find a new job. Be adventurous! Then Saturday’s Sun/ Mars link boosts motivation, energy and self-confidence. Your motto for the moment is from Audrey Hepburn, who was born on May 4, 1929: “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

This week you’re in a curious state of mind, as the Sun/Uranus conjunction creates a sudden opportunity involving international connections, travel, tourism, publishing, education or social media. So get your ideas out there on the world stage, as you inform and entertain others with your mercurial thoughts. Your motto for the moment is from writer (and fellow Virgo) Samuel Johnson: “Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind.”

Down

1 What was the occupation of Figaro? (6) 8 Which term describes one who inspects or scrutinises test results? (8) 9 Name a triangular edible nut of South America. (6) 10 To be abounding in means, is to be what? (8) 11 What is a group of seven persons or things?

(6) 13 To augment, is to do what? (8) 16 Which term designates that which relates to the stars? (8) 19 What do we call an habitual criminal? (6) 22 Which mythical monster was killed by Theseus and Ariadne? (8) 24 What was the Pleistocene glacial epoch known as? (3,3) 25 To prevail on someone by urging to do something, is to do what? (8) 26 What is a seat for two or more persons? (6)

2 To concur, is to do what? (5) 3 Who is said to have created the word “toreador”?

(5) 4 Name one who is connected with another by blood or marriage. (8) 5 Which term describes a homeless child? (4) 6 To be extremely small in size, is to be what? (6) 7 Rod Laver was a champion at which sport? (6) 12 Name a body of water that is smaller than a lake.

(4) 14 Which term expresses the energy values of food?

(8) 15 Who was slain by his brother, Cain? (4) 17 Name wading birds allied to the herons. (6) 18 What do we call a self-centred person? (6) 20 What is a more familiar term for larceny? (5) 21 Name one of the west Germanic people that migrated to Britain in the fifth century AD. (5) 23 Who was Eve’s gentleman friend? (4)

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

The focus is on physical health as Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune activate your wellbeing zone. So it’s a good time to shake up your daily routine, improve your diet, and find fun ways to boost your fitness levels. Professional progress is also a priority, as Jupiter and Pluto encourage you to power ahead with a challenging work project. (Nothing ventured, nothing gained!) Some singles will be attracted to a colleague, client or customer. Who said that work and romance don’t mix?

Solution next edition

Across

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Sudoku medium No. 314

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

This week Jupiter (planet of prosperity and opportunity) makes a lovely link with your ruler, Pluto, and Venus visits your work zone. So Lady Luck is poised to knock on your door. The question is – are you brave enough and confident enough to let her in? Be inspired by film star, fashion icon and birthday great Audrey Hepburn: “Opportunities don’t often come along. So, when they do, you have to grab them.”

Friendships and local community connections are also favoured.

Sitting for extended periods stiffens the hip and knee joints through a lack of mobility. A chair that is too low or too deep makes alighting difficult. Serious reading requires an upright posture for concentration.

Softness does not necessarily equate to comfort, especially if the softness reduces mobility. Lumbar support is important, but it must work in concert with the wholistic ergonomic concept of the chair.

I started to think about a form of rocking chair, but one with a very shallow range of motion that encouraged active sitting.

Our multi-award-winning Cascade Rocker was born.

The Cascade moves in response to the sitter’s change of posture; it is not a rocking chair in the conventional sense. This promotion of active sitting keeps the hips, knees and lumbar region moving, relieving stress and fatigue. To alight from the Cascade, the occupant simply leans forward and pushes down on the arms. The beautifully balanced Cascade flows forward, assisting the sitter to gain their feet in one smooth, effortless, motion.

Our Cascade rockers have found wide application because they’re such an elegant response to a common problem.

They’ve been used by everyone from professionals needing to sit and concentrate for long periods, through to stroke survivors with impaired balance and mobility. Dunstone Design hand makes each Cascade from the finest timbers and leather.

Cascade Rocking Chairs might be a tool for sitting, but they are also a work of art.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Innovative ideas and lightning flashes of inspiration make for a thought-provoking week. But you could blurt out the most inappropriate comment to the most inappropriate person (probably a relative or work colleague). So take your foot out of your mouth and think before you speak! It’s also time to nurture and appreciate your best mates, as Venus visits your friendship zone. As birthday great Audrey Hepburn observed: “True friends are families which you can select.”

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

Can you keep your Capricorn control-freak tendencies under control this week? If you can, then you’ll astound and amaze others with your can-do attitude, natural personal authority, networking skills, creative ideas and talent for leadership.

You’re ready, willing and able to work hard and help others. Just make sure you are generous and inclusive as you encourage family, close friends, work colleagues and community members to pull together and make things work.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2022

Solutions – April 21 edition Sudoku hard No. 313

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

Jupiter boosts good luck and your confidence levels go through the roof. So it’s time to think big, especially when it comes to your hopes and dreams for the future. Pluto also helps you power ahead with personal changes that have the potential to transform your life in wonderful ways. You must be a persistent Pisces, though! Your mantra for the week is from Harry Truman (born on May 8, 1884): “You can always amend a big plan, but you can never expand a little one.”

Solution next edition

Crossword No. 826

Jupiter and Pluto boost your natural Aquarian inclination to reach out and help others. If you put other people first – at home, work and play – then you’ll be rewarded with karmic credit and a warm inner glow. Your motto for the week is from birthday great, actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn: “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” Watch out for a tendency to overspend on the weekend.

CityNews April 28-May 4, 2022 35

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