CityNews 220526

PAUL COSTIGAN / CANBERRA’S SHAMBLING PLANNING REFORM IS A CHARADE MAY 26, 2022

Politicians sit on their hands as covid rages on

MICHAEL MOORE Not many laughs in politics these days

CLIVE WILLIAMS Winter means it’s too late to fertilise

JACKIE WARBURTON

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NEWS / Reconciliation Day, May 30

‘They turn up, they hug a blackie and move on’

By Belinda

STRAHORN AN indigenous health leader has characterised Canberra’s Reconciliation Day as “tokenistic”, highlighting that more needs to be done to address the treatment of Aboriginal people in the ACT. Julie Tongs, CEO of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, says the annual holiday lacks significance and falls short of its true intention.

“It’s tokenistic,” Tongs says.

“How many people actually turn up for Reconciliation Day? “Most of them jump in their car and go down to the coast for the weekend.”

Tongs argues that Reconciliation Day – to be celebrated on May 30 this year – is meaningless without greater action to address the ongoing issues facing indigenous people in Canberra.

“For me it’s about actions and until the government and the wider community take Aboriginal issues seriously I think that reconciliation is a long way off,” says Tongs.

A Wiradjuri woman, Tongs has lamented the over-representation of

Julie Tongs… “It’s tokenistic. How many people actually turn up for Reconciliation Day? Most of them jump in their car and go down to the coast for the weekend.”

Photo: Belinda Strahorn indigenous people in the ACT’s prison system.

She feels that issues such as the level of police brutality towards indigenous people and higher rates of poverty are often overlooked.

“There are bad things happening here with the incarceration rates, high child protection rates, poverty, and police brutality and all of these

INDEX Arts & Entertainment 27-29 Canberra Matters 11 Cinema & Streaming 29 Crossword & Sudoku 31 Dining 28 Garden 30 Horoscopes 31 Letters 15 News 3-15 Politics 12 Whimsy 14

things impact on Aboriginal people,” Tongs says.

“I think people in Canberra bury their heads in the sand…it’s up to all of us to hold the government to account.”

Tongs, who has worked in Aboriginal Affairs for more than 30 years, says there’s more to addressing the plight of indigenous people in the ACT than merely on one day of the year.

Since 1993: Volume 28, Number: 21

Cover: Canberra sprinter Clare De Salis. Photo Holly Treadaway. Story Page 6.

Well written, well read

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

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

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

“A friend of mine, [the late] Dr ‘Puggy’ Hunter – who was chair of NACCHO [Tthe National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation] used to say ‘They turn up, they hug a blackie and they move on’.”

“If we are fair dinkum then people need to turn out and turn up every day, not just Reconciliation Day.” This year’s theme for Reconciliation Day is: “Be Brave, Make Change”.

Activities on the day – taking place at the National Arboretum – include bush-tucker demonstrations, arts, crafts and storytelling.

“There are a lot of cultural activities that are really important, and I get that, but at the end of the day people just can’t come out on one day and be like ‘Everything is great’, and then go back to doing what they are doing the next day,” says Tongs.

The ACT was the first jurisdiction in Australia to gazette a Reconciliation Day holiday. It was first held in 2018, replacing Family and Community Day. The ACT government website promoting Reconciliation Day says the day is used to “promote conversations and foster a deeper understanding of our national story and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.”

Tongs believes that the Sorry Day bridge walk – an annual march over Commonwealth Avenue Bridge – was a more powerful symbol of the true

journey towards reconciliation.

“It hasn’t happened since the covid lockdown, but everyone was jumping on board and it was starting to build momentum,” says Tongs.

“Our bridge walk was reflecting on the past injustices. It was a day of mourning for the stolen generation, and all the terrible things that have happened.”

Despite the steps taken to improve indigenous relations they still fall well short of what’s required, says Tongs.

“A lot of my people are still living in the past because things haven’t changed,” Tongs says.

“Kids are still being removed, men and women are being incarcerated daily.”

Tongs said governments must start listening to indigenous people if they are serious about reconciliation.

“I get sick of politicians saying ‘Aboriginal land always was, always will be’, but nothing ever comes with that,” says Tongs.

“They are good with the rhetoric but not good with the actions.

“Until we are able to be heard and listened to, and taken seriously, nothing is going to change.”

The fifth annual Reconciliation Day in Canberra will be celebrated on Monday, May 30, at the National Arboretum Canberra, 10am-3pm.

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SEVEN DAYS

Lights out as Pretty Woman drops into dumpster WHEN real estate agent Lenny Haddrill was trying to lease the Mitchell warehouse formerly known as the Pretty Woman whorehouse, his “For Lease” sign dryly listed among the building’s few virtues, “internal amenities”.

All for nought, I fancy, as a new tenant has stripped bare the 419 square metres in Huddart Court, and with it piled more than 20 years of naughtiness into builders’ dumpsters.

Pretty Woman seemed never to recover from the last covid lockdown and the signature scarlet neon sign went dark. Now the lights are long gone, so too the concrete lions that stood either side of its front door.

What was it like inside? Who knows? I can’t find anyone who admits to having ever been there.

Then I thought of a guy who’s seen the inside of more brothels and been with (not biblically) more prostitutes than anyone else I know and isn’t shy to talk about his exploits.

It’s former MLA Michael Moore and it was all for work, of course. Just ask wife Helen who, when taking a call from a Sydney reporter, explained her husband wasn’t home, he was “visiting a brothel”.

Michael was elected to the first self-government assembly in 1989 on the Residents’ Rally ticket and took up the chair of a select committee looking into HIV, illegal drugs and prostitution.

By the 1992 election, he had the Prostitu-

The not-so-pretty Pretty Woman site in Mitchell undergoing an architectural makeover. tion Act 1992 before the Assembly, but Labor and the Libs weren’t game to pass it that side of the poll. They did in a heartbeat afterwards.

The legislation, which remains largely unamended 30 years later (now it’s the Sex Workers Act 1992) was aimed at empowering the sex worker. Moore says, for example, it made condoms compulsory, which drew an enquiry during a radio interview asking if this was to be policed by a condomstabulary?

The select committee published an interim report ahead of the legislation and Moore says the most faxed (it was 1991) section was Appendix G, the price list of services available.

In deference to the modesty of my readership, I shall list only the headline and

the price: “For the beginners on a budget”, $35; “Spanish massage”, $55; “Cinderella’s syndrome” $55; “Domination”, $90 and “Double Trouble”, $240.

In settling the legislation, Moore and his four other committee members – Bill Wood, Robyn Nolan, Bill Stefaniak and Carmel Maher – were warmly welcomed at every brothel, all illegal in the ACT at that time, including upstairs bordellos at the Ainslie and O’Connor shops. Ultimately, the legislation had all brothels contained in the industrial suburbs of Fyshwick, Hume and Mitchell.

Ah, speaking of Mitchell, your memories of Pretty Woman, Michael?

None. “I think Pretty Woman must have come later.”

On that note…

IN a recent, polite request to meet with Small Business Minister Tara Cheyne, Phillip’s passionate Head Trader Tom Adam wrote that, among other things, he was keen to dispel some of the “offline feedback” from public servants online that “we’re all ‘rolling in cash’ and ‘making profits from government funds’.”

“After the past 2.5 years I may have received $165,000 in government grants and support, in the same time have paid $135,000 back in PAYG and BAS, but I’ve also paid $480,000 in wages to my 20-odd employees, with a total of $2000 “profit” (before interest and tax) and lived off $45-50,000 a year through the whole thing.

“I didn’t get into business for the money, I do it for what I love.”

When he’s not arguing the cause as president of the Phillip Business Community, Master Tom is founder and chief instructor of Canberra Martial Arts & Fitness.

“But I have to be honest, over the past 2.5 years I’ve felt that some of the comments (directly and indirectly) have made me feel that I’m not on an equal footing with other Canberrans who have stable positions,” he says.

I WAS taken aback by the content of an open letter to members of the ACT Legislative Assembly from a group called Save Canberra’s Kangaroos that’s featured in a full-page advertisement in this edition of “CityNews”.

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Headlined “The Killing Must Stop”, the group says that every year, over the winter months, ratepayers fund the ACT government to “send hired guns to stalk Canberra nature reserves at night”.

Here’s the shock: “Over 12 years, across 11,400 hectares of the Canberra Nature Park, 27,950 kangaroos have been killed.

Thousands more pouch joeys have been bludgeoned to death or decapitated.

“Last year, 296 kangaroos and 120 joeys were killed at Farrer Ridge. Nearby residents huddled in their houses, distressed by the sound of kangaroos being shot and dying.

Tragically, only 32 kangaroos survived what can only be described as a massacre.”

Almost that time again, what will the pollies do?

A BON mot from “Whimsy” columnist Clive Williams: Scientific studies show that if your parents didn’t have children there’s a high probability you won’t either.

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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COVER STORY / Clare De Salis

Why ‘Speedy De Salis’ hasn’t got a second to lose

By Belinda

STRAHORN CANBERRA sprinter Clare De Salis had a nervous wait to find out if she’d claimed the women’s crown at the 140th running of Australia’s richest and most decorated footrace, the Stawell Gift.

While De Salis dominated her semifinal, the Easter Monday final was a much closer affair and had to be decided by photo.

“I knew it would be close,” says De Salis.

“It was nerve wracking waiting for the results of the photo finish to be announced.”

It was Queensland teenager Carla Bull who prevailed, scraping home to win the 120-metre women’s sprint final in a blistering 13.77 seconds.

Competing off an 8.5-metre handicap, De Salis – an exercise physiology and rehabilitation student – clocked 13.79 seconds to finish second.

Mia Gross finished third with a time of 13.80 seconds.

Known among friends as “Speedy De Salis”, the 21-year-old has been a regular fixture at Stawell for the past three years, but this year was her first

Clare De Salis… “It wasn’t my time to win but I’ll keep trying to go one better, if it’s meant to be I’ll get that win one day.”

Photo: Holly Treadaway time in the final.

Run on grass, athletes are handicapped according to form and ability, and start off at varying marks accordingly.

Runners race for glory and $40,000 in prize money for both the men’s and women’s Gift winners.

“The final was amazing,” says De

Salis who pocketed $6000 for placing second.

“I was so happy to experience a Stawell Gift final and I knew that, no matter what the outcome was, I could walk away with a huge smile on my face.

“It wasn’t my time to win but I’ll keep trying to go one better, if it’s meant to be I’ll get that win one day.”

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Among a talent-laden field, De Salis needed to draw on every ounce of courage and determination to make her mark in the final.

The example set by her brother Anthony – who battled through and overcame a cancer diagnosis – helped De Salis stay focused.

“In 2019 Anthony was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and went through a year of intensive treatment.

He is now in remission,” De Salis says.

“Every day that I went to the hospital with him and sat by his side it amazed me how someone going through something so horrible could be so positive and show such strength.

“Trying to balance full time uni, placement and work, while staying committed and motivated to train was overwhelming, but what kept me going was knowing what Anthony had been through.”

Reflecting on the race, De Salis – who trains six days a week and is coached under Suzan Fulop and Adrian Faccioni – spoke of how “up and down” her race preparation had been.

“A few weeks leading into Stawell my hamstring tendon was playing up and I struggled mentally to know I needed to ease off in sessions whilst knowing I had to compete in a few weeks’ time,” De Salis says.

“However, all the credit goes to my coaches who did everything possible to ensure I was in the best position

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both mentally and physically going into Stawell.

“I can confidently say I wouldn’t have made that final let alone come second if it wasn’t for all the support.”

Held in all but five years since 1878, the Stawell Gift was for well over a century a male-only competition.

The Gift’s race distance of 130 yards (119 metres) is believed to have originated from the distance between two local pubs in the English town of Sheffield.

Currently a member of the North Canberra-Gungahlin Athletics Club, the Canberra-born athlete says her interest in running began at a young age.

“I started Little Athletics when I was eight-years-old and it went from there,” says De Salis.

“During high school I was doing well at athletic competitions and was progressing through the rounds, and once I started making the national championships I decided to take it more seriously.”

Normally a 100-metre and 200-metre runner, some of De Salis’s sprinting achievements include competing at the Australian Championships, winning the 2019 Castlemaine Gift, and the Terang Gift in 2021.

Looking forward, De Salis has an ambitious goal: “I want to see how far I can take it,” she says.

“The ultimate would be the 200-metre race at the Olympics.”

NEWS / mental health

Michael finds a way to see ‘beautiful things’ again

By Nick

OVERALL ROYAL Australian Air Force officer of 16 years, Michael Raymond had tried everything in his battle with mental illness by the time he was at the point of giving up.

The avionics technician and electrical engineering officer recalls taking anti-depressants, undergoing counselling and trying a range of mindfulness exercises to treat the depression, anxiety and complex post traumatic stress that had developed during his military service.

“It was a cumulative thing from some of the events and traumas throughout and prior to my military career,” says Michael, a Canberra local.

“I was just putting Band-Aids on wounds until it all caught up with me. At 35, I found myself in the pit of a mental health battle where I was considering whether it was worth being here or not.

“I had been through the medical system in Australia trying to treat it and I just wasn’t seeing a shift.”

Michael says he had “basically given up”, when he discovered psychedelic treatment.

In what he describes as a last-ditch

Michael Raymond pictured in Peru… “I was able to open up and talk out some things and let go of some things that I’d been carrying for way too long.” effort, he travelled to South America to try a traditional ceremony where he took Ayahuasca, a psychedelic medicine mixed from two native South American plants and one that has been used by the continent’s tribes for thousands of years.

“I wasn’t expecting anything to come of it, I wasn’t a big believer that anything could really shift, but after one session over there I was just shocked,” says Michael.

“I felt like I had scratched and dirtied sunglasses that I had lifted up and I could now see clearly again.

“It seemed to break me out of my depression, I was really able to open

up and talk out some things and let go of some things that I’d been carrying for way too long.

“It made me realise the value of being alive, how much I do want to be here and I do love my family and all those beautiful things about life I was able to see again.”

Michael’s story is just one of many in a rapidly growing body of research around the controversial form of treatment.

Now, the ACT government is considering legislative changes to allow psychedelic therapy in Canberra.

Mind Medicine, an advocacy and research group for psychedelic treat-

ment, has been in discussion with members of both parties in the Legislative Assembly regarding the consideration of MDMA-assisted therapy to treat post traumatic stress and psilocybinassisted therapy to treat depression.

“Overseas trials have found that using MDMA-assisted therapy to treat PTSD and psilocybin-assisted therapy to treat depression have produced remarkably positive results,” says Mind Medicine Canberra chapter leader Tony Shields.

“Around the world nine universities have set up centres of excellence to study psychedelic therapy including at Monash, Johns Hopkins, UCLA, Imperial College, London and Harvard.

“The treatments only require two to three sessions with the medicines as part of psychotherapy in medically controlled environments and have been shown to be safe and non-addictive when used in this setting.”

In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) can approve the use of psychedelic therapies, under its Special Access Scheme, for individual treatment-resistant patients to be treated by approved medical practitioners.

However a “Catch 22” between federal and ACT legislation means that it is illegal for practitioners to actually do that treatment in the ACT because of ACT legislative restrictions.

Mr Shields says there are now ACT

medical practitioners trained in psychedelic therapy willing to treat ACT patients, and that in a clinical setting the substances are “very safe”.

“Substances in clinical settings are unadulterated, the dosing levels are controlled, patients can’t take the substances home and patients are screened,” says Mr Shields.

“It seems cruel to deny these patients treatment when it has been approved for the individual patient by the TGA.” Recently, Michael talked about his experiences in a speech at Monash University, which has opened Australia’s first neuro medicines lab dedicated to psychedelic research.

He says that while the treatment is not a “silver bullet” for mental illness, and that the substances must be respected, he hopes that governments will continue to take up the form of the therapy.

“I think soldiers who go through the struggles of war, and people who have been through so much more than me, should have the option,” he says.

“It helped me transition out of the military and in many ways my mental health is better than it ever has been. I really think it’s an injustice if we don’t allow access to these medicines.”

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NEWS / Miss Galaxy

BRIEFLY

Emily wants a better go for pageants

By Lily

PASS EMILY Egan wants to address the negative stereotypes surrounding beauty pageants.

Last month the 24-year-old was crowned Miss Galaxy Australia 2022 and says, as a big advocate for smashing glass ceilings, she’ll use her new title to continue the fight against the “unfortunate” stereotype.

In the Galaxy Australia system, the motto is “be the best version of you”, and the judges focus their attention on women who have purpose, and platforms.

“Beauty and brains are not mutually exclusive, you don’t need to pick one or the other,” says Emily, who is a promising example.

“I have done my bachelor of media and communications at the University of Canberra, and I loved it.

“Storytelling and people are what is really important to me, and that fits with communication and networking. I have a job in the public service as a communications adviser and I really want to grow in that and become a communications manager in the long term.”

Going to a pageant, or watching a pageant will help to change people’s misconceptions, Emily believes.

“You will 100 per cent see the calibre of women in pageantry. Some of the women that I have met at pageants are the most well-rounded and academically gifted people I’ve met,” she says.

“If I had never been to, let’s say, a basketball game, and never knew anyone who played basketball, then how could I assume or pretend to have an

NO A FIN NCIAL CHECKS.

Miss Galaxy Australia 2022, Emily Egan… “Some of the women that I have met at pageants are the most wellrounded and academically gifted people I’ve met.” understanding of basketball?

“I’m very much not what you would say is a perfect pageant girl and I loved that Galaxy wasn’t about this perfect image.”

The Galaxy Pageants, Emily says, are about being who you are, owning that, and being confident in yourself.

“When I came back the third time, this year, I thought I was really going to be myself and I think that’s what helped me win.”

Emily has been modelling for many years, and doing beauty pageants for six, with 2022 marking her third attempt at the Miss Galaxy Australia title.

The biggest difference between the Galaxy pageant and pageants such as Miss Universe, is that the Galaxy pageant has four divisions, Teen, Miss, Ms and Mrs.

Guilia Jones.

Guilia resigns for health reasons GUILIA Jones has resigned from the ACT Legislative Assembly due to family and health reasons.

Canberra Liberals Leader Elizabeth Lee said Jones had served the people of Murrumbidgee over the last decade and fought tirelessly on local issues such as shops at Coombs and Molonglo Valley and better community facilities for people at Woden.

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He lived in Canberra in the early ‘50s when he was press secretary to prime minister Bob Menzies. He was also the Adelaide correspondent for “The Canberra Times”.

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“But we still have a state final, a national final and an international final,” she says.

“The biggest thing for me is just how big of a victory this is for Canberra and I want to state that this is not Emily Egan winning Miss Galaxy Australia, it’s that this is the first title that has ever come to Canberra.”

And Emily made it very clear, as the only ACT candidate, she wasn’t getting lumped in with NSW. “When I went on stage I was very particular about saying ‘Emily Egan – ACT’. They asked if I could say NSW and I said, heck no.”

Now, Emily’s getting ready to represent Canberra internationally.

“I’m going to Texas in August to compete in Galaxy International. I’ll be Australia’s delegate, which is so exciting and nerve-wracking,” she says.

“I feel like doing this three times, and training for six years have really prepared me to have Australia across my chest and talk about Canberra and all the things that matter to me.”

Emily says her family has been getting their cars serviced with Car Mechanical Services in Fisher for “centuries, or as long as I can remember,” so it made sense to go to them for sponsorship.

The owners, Raffy and Charlie Sgroi, covered Emily’s competition entrance fees and flights.

“Now they’re sponsoring me for internationals as well, so it’s a massive team effort and it’s about community. Raffy and Charlie do so much charity and community work themselves and so it just ended up being a perfect match,” she says.

“Who knows what will happen at internationals, maybe there might be a win there, maybe I might be a placing, but it will be me going out with a bang at my big last one. We’ll call it a day on pageants, it’s been a long road.”

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THE KILLING MUST STOP AN OPEN LETTER TO MEMBERS OF THE ACT LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY We, concerned ACT residents whose rates and taxes fund the killing of kangaroos, demand a stop to all killing on Canberra nature reserves and a public inquiry into the full impacts of this annual slaughter: • on animals; • on people; • on the environment; and • on the reputation of the Territory.

Every year, over the winter months, ratepayers fund the ACT Government to send hired guns to stalk Canberra nature reserves at night.

Over 12 years, across 11,400 hectares of the Canberra Nature Park, 27,950 kangaroos have been killed.

Thousands more pouch joeys have been bludgeoned to death or decapitated.

Canberra’s so-called “conservation cull” permits shooting of female kangaroos with joeys in-pouch and the bludgeoning to death of those joeys. Hundreds every year.

Would we do this to puppies or kittens?

If you believe we are better than this, please email your local MLA or Minister for the Environment, vassarotti@act.gov.au For more information, please email canberrakangaroos@optusnet.com.au

Thousands more dependent at-foot joeys have been orphaned to slower death from hunger, thirst, cold and myopathy (a particularly painful and deadly form of stress).

Many Canberra residents feel their own lives have been placed at risk, because shooting often occurs near people, next to roads, reserve fences, off-reserve walking trails, or back fences of homes.

The reserves themselves are also affected by the reduction in kangaroo populations, their keystone native grazers, and from the impact of shooters’ vehicles which churn up the ground, killing native species and seeding exotic weeds.

Many reserves are now covered in thistles and rank grassy weeds. These weeds will be suburban fire traps in summers to come.

Culling began in 2009 without any scientific baseline research on the ACT’s kangaroo populations.

Since then, no plausible evidence has been produced to demonstrate any benefits from killing kangaroos. Every government attempt to justify this slaughter has been debunked. Independent research, and even research funded by the government itself, provides no evidence that kangaroo grazing has ever harmed any other native species or ecosystem.

During 2021-22, a citizen science project conducted a “direct observational count” of kangaroos in all 37 of Canberra’s accessible nature reserves. This research has confirmed that the Environment Directorate’s claims of an overabundance of kangaroos is demonstrably unfounded.

This project’s findings are corroborated by a Farrer resident, who has walked on Farrer Ridge Reserve for decades. She reports that, until last year, the kangaroo population there had remained stable for 40 years, reducing during drought. Last year was the first year Farrer Ridge was included in the government’s slaughter, and almost the entire population was wiped out.

The ACT Environment Directorate itself confirmed, on April 13, 2022, that the kangaroo population of the ACT is unknown – but that it intends to kill another 1500 kangaroos this year, anyway.

This is not conservation. This is extermination.

The Kangaroo Management Plan, which mandates killing kangaroos, and the Code of Practice, which mandates the bludgeoning of joeys, are legislative instruments.

Each and every member of the Legislative Assembly is therefore personally responsible for this tragedy.

Please stop it before any more damage is done.

Concerned Canberra Citizens

What happened at Farrer Ridge?

Last year, 296 kangaroos and 120 joeys were killed at Farrer Ridge. Nearby residents huddled in their houses, distressed by the sound of kangaroos being shot and dying. Tragically, only 32 kangaroos survived what can only be described as a massacre.

Some locals, especially children, have cried when they learned that kangaroos they nurtured through the drought and

the fires have now been shot. One elderly couple reports, “They were shining their spotlight into our house!” Another man was horrified to find a pile of kangaroo corpses dumped outside his back fence awaiting collection in the morning.

Experiences of residents at Farrer Ridge echo similar stories from other suburban reserves throughout the 12 years of slaughter.

Authorised by Save Canberra’s Kangaroos, PO Box 6090, Conder 2906

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CANBERRA MATTERS

Our city’s shambling planning reform a charade FOR a city with the international standing for being well designed (thank you, Walter and Marion), it is embarrassing to witness the shambolic efforts by the ACT government’s planning bureaucrats to come up with something resembling a 21st century planning system.

Their so-called planning reform is a charade.

The planning chief has said numerous times that the current planning regime has become too complex and that no-one can fathom how it functions. He also said that the emphasis needed to be on the outcomes rather than ticking boxes.

That the system should be more about outcomes is correct but maybe not for the reasons he thought. The future of suburban development is about design – about the integration of architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, urban engineering, heritage, adaptive design, garden design, green infrastructure, biodiversity and much more to do with designing for climate change and sustainability.

Such a professional integrated approach to suburban development is absent from the current pretence at

Architect-designed housing in Dickson… The future of the city’s suburbs should be about design – not just bad planning.

Photo: Paul Costigan reforms.

The city has suffered due to the narrow views of the current bureaucratic planners and urban designers.

They have used ad hoc and obscure processes to deliver bland and badly designed buildings, a lack of amenity and reduced greenery and biodiversity. The city is becoming boring.

It is time for the chief minister to realise his dream of an attractive, compact city. He needs a new set of experienced professional designers to deliver innovations through integrated design solutions.

To make this happen, Labor and Greens politicians would have to admit that they are being fed disinformation by the bureaucrats. They are convinced that residents are standing in the way of change and are resisting the infill of the established suburbs.

This is a twisting of the truth to distract from the reality that rubbish development is what this planning directorate delivers.

Residents who care for the city’s future accept that their suburbs will be redeveloped and are already undergoing huge changes. Tragically, residents are not experiencing infill that is well designed. The ACT government’s planning directorate appears to have no comprehension of good design and how it could deliver a high standard of living for the next generations as they deal with climate change.

Residents would love to see developments and infill based on good design and care for the suburban green infrastructure. People like their trees, the birds and all those suburban creatures.

If that was to happen, their

attitudes to infill would change dramatically. But while the planning bureaucrats continue to ignore residents and enable the destruction of Canberra’s urban amenities, the residents are forced to oppose the constant flow of terrible redevelopments and infill.

The future of the city’s suburbs should be about design – not just bad planning. Planning has its place in defining some fundamentals, but the oversight of suburban development and infill should be in the hands of experienced professional suburban designers.

The government’s residential zoning system has been degraded by bureaucratic ad hoc decisions and a lack of expertise in ensuring the regulations are addressed in development applications.

Numerous programs have been devised to destroy the zoning system by stealth. For example, the Demonstration House program is a developerdriven pretence of innovation aimed to destroy the principles of the residential zones. And let’s not forget that one of the developers is employed within the City Renewal Authority.

If a design-led reform were to be

agreed to, then it would be appropriate to scrap the no-longer fit for purpose residential zones in favour of landscape focused suburban design guides underpinned with regulations.

But that agreement would have to be based on none of the present planning coofs being allowed anywhere near drafting new suburban design guides.

This would need to be done in partnership with community groups with the design team led by agreed design professionals. None of the usual local planning consultants need apply.

To see what is being suggested, search “Croydon Suburban Design Guide”. This one is relevant to a large South London suburban area. A serious reworking would be necessary to have it set more relevant to Canberra suburbs as well as to place highest priority on landscape, green infrastructure and biodiversity. This and other design guides could form the basis of a new Canberra Suburban Design Guide. Dear chief minister, give it a go, it could be a great legacy.

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POLITICS / covid control

Politicians sit on their hands as covid rages on WITH the election behind us, it is time to question Australia’s current control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Political expediency has Australian governments dropping the ball, clouding the figures and reluctant to take appropriate action.

Is there anyone in Canberra who does not know multiple people who have come down with the virus? For many, thanks to the high rate of multiple vaccinations, the symptoms have been relatively mild. However, there are a rapidly growing number of people who are in intensive care and there are an increasing number of deaths.

Relying on goodwill in order to encourage people to socially distance, to wash hands and to wear masks has not proven successful. As I argued a few weeks ago, the pendulum has swung too far. The numbers simply continue to increase. And they are increasing exponentially.

How many people are taking the rapid antigen tests (RAT) and not reporting the result? How many people are feeling sick and do not want to be restricted in any form of isolation and are, therefore, not taking even the RAT? Despite fuzzy numbers, there are around 60,000 new cases being reported every day in Australia.

More than 3000 hospital places

Too many restrictions have been lifted too soon. It is simply time to reintroduce the use of masks, for example, in such settings as supermarkets, for sporting spectators, for pubs, clubs and nightclubs. are being taken up by people with COVID-19 and there are around 135 in intensive care units with around a third of these needing ventilation. Australia is now approaching seven million cases of COVID-19 with the number of active cases being estimated at just short of 400,000.

The ACT is no exception. We have just seen the highest numbers of cases in the Canberra hospitals and can expect to see a further increase with more than a thousand new cases in the community being reported each day. About half of these are tested at home using the RAT system and the other half identified using Polymerase Chain Reaction tests (PCR).

Restrictions at the moment are focused on close contacts of a person who has tested positive. However, the spread of the virus should be enough to wake governments up to the reality that too many restrictions have been lifted too soon.

It is simply time to reintroduce the use of masks, for example, in such settings as supermarkets, for sporting spectators, for pubs, clubs and nightclubs.

Some will continue to wear their masks in other settings out of consideration of others or to protect themselves. Governments should also encourage this approach.

The issue of the pandemic did

P R UR NE YO OO T S GE TES A PL

Your Teenager’s Path To Getting Road Ready

not feature strongly in the election campaign. Perhaps focus groups indicated to candidates that such discussion would be divisive and would cost votes. However, it is possible to take note of the issue of covid regulation fatigue at the same time as finding the right regulatory balance.

ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith has been asking people to restrict Emergency visits to our hospitals for real emergencies and has indicated that elective surgery is about to be postponed. The spread of the pandemic increases the demand on beds and has an impact on staffing.

Schools and childcare facilities are also feeling the impact with some returning to remote learning due to increases in covid-related student and staff absences. This also has a significant impact on working parents and their productivity.

Blaming indefinite postponement of elective surgery solely on COVID-19, however, is a cop-out. As columnists Jon Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed have warned a number of times in “CityNews”, constantly cutting hospital budgets in real terms has a dramatic impact on the delivery of

health services.

As recently as April 6, commenting on the public hospitals, they stated: “We have on several occasions since 2016, noted that the annual funding growth provided in ACT Budget forecasts was not sufficient to meet the costs of inflation and population growth or the increase in demand from ageing, and improvements in technology.”

More people are getting sick, our hospitals are struggling, and people are dying from COVID-19. Despite this, our governments prefer to sit on their hands rather than introduce gentle but effective public health regulation that could, at least to some extent, protect our hospitals, promote productivity and save lives.

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

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There are not many laughs in politics these days THERE’S not much humour in public life these days. Prime Minister Menzies and President Reagan used humour as a stock in trade.

Both men were liked by the public in a way that few modern politicians are – largely because of their ability to use humour to amuse an audience, defuse criticism or break the ice.

Menzies was once addressing a noisy meeting of coal miners when an interjector yelled: “Tell us all you know, Bob – it won’t take long!”

Menzies looked up at the man and said: “I‘ll tell you everything we both know – it won’t take any longer.” The meeting erupted in laughter, making Menzies’ pitch a lot easier.

Reagan’s age (73) was often the subject of snide remarks by political opponents during his run for the presidency. In a famous moment during the October 28, 1984, presidential debate with former vice-president Mondale, Reagan turned the issue in his favour, deadpanning, “I want you to know that I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent’s youth and inexperience.”

President Obama also had a sense of humour. On Stephen Colbert’s late-night show, Colbert chided the ex-president for not having received a

Funny guys, from left, Robert Menzies, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. promotion in eight years. “Honestly, there wasn’t a lot of room for advancement in my last job,” Obama observed. “The only one with a powerful position was my wife.”

Obama also poked fun at Trump for his pursuit of conspiracy theories involving Obama’s birthplace.

Obama reluctantly released his birth certificate to counter Trump’s claims he wasn’t born in the US, and joked that Trump could now focus “on the issues that matter — like, did we fake the moon landing?”

It’s hard to imagine Trump being amusing – or President Biden telling one and getting the punchline right.

As far as I know, Trump only had one attempt at humour, and that might

have been inadvertent. It came at a formal dinner in March, 2018, when he said he would be open to a oneon-one meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. “As for the risk of dealing with a madman is concerned,” Trump said, “that’s his problem, not mine.”

Sadly, the same humourless situation is true of our bureaucracy. When I was writing Australian diplomatic cables from Washington, I used to insert relevant amusing incidents (as is done in British diplomatic reporting) to add to their readability.

The anecdotes were removed by my ambassador who said that a cable should just report the facts and our analysis of them. However, back here

at the blunt end those who read my occasionally unamended cables said how much they enjoyed them.

Men in public life are more likely to use humour than women. Apart from Amanda Vanstone, I know of no professional women who tell jokes.

There are, of course, many professional comediennes, but none that I know of in government service.

Humour may also be a generational thing; not many young people use humour to their advantage. When I give a long presentation, I often try

to start it off with humour to get the audience onside. The safest bet is to use a one-liner or tell a joke against oneself, but it has to be done in a way that doesn’t make you seem an idiot.

Clearly you need to be careful about what you say, so as not to offend others. When I was in the army, we were told that contentious issues were politics, women and religion; they were never to be discussed in the mess.

The list of dangerous topics would now be longer, with the addition of topics such as racism, transgender issues, bullying, refugees etcetera.

I don’t have a problem with any of that, but I do think some people have become a bit precious, as for example the “outrage” when a politician recently said that crocodiles were low on calories but high on humans.

When it comes to humour without malice, perhaps it’s time those of us who are not offended stopped pandering to the few who are?

Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.

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LETTERS

There’s a better way for the destructive tramline THE virtually identical Commonwealth and Kings Avenue Bridges are rightly included in the recent heritage listing of Lake Burley Griffin and environs.

The bridges are each bifurcated to avoid ugly bulkiness, not to enable infill between their individual twin carriageways – and that attractive extant format is seen in many other locations throughout the world.

The much-photographed water-level views between the carriageways of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge (especially looking towards Parliament House), which also contribute to the heritage listing, will disappear if double tram lines and related paraphernalia are jammed between its carriageways, as part of the Civic-Woden tram installation. Also destroyed will be the important symmetry with its Kings Avenue counterpart, notably when viewed from Capital Hill.

That tramline route is destructive in other ways as well – at City Hill, where the expensive, disruptive, and disrespectful raising of London Circuit South is involved, along with associated intrusive property development there and along Commonwealth Avenue North; and, critically on Commonwealth Avenue South, where important cultural landscapes will be destroyed – not to mention the complicated junction with State Circle. And very expensive underground power lines are required on that route.

If we must have this tramline, then an alternative less expensive route for the Civic to Capital Hill section, that won’t need underground power, is available – via Edinburgh Avenue’s open northern reserve and then straight on into the ANU; the existing Parkes Way land bridge; Acton Peninsula with its national attractions; a yacht-friendly version of Walter Burley Griffin’s missing third central lake crossing for trams, bikes, scooters, and pedestrians, from the peninsula to the narrow point of Lennox Gardens, with the potential for further recreational facilities in the nearby Flynn Place precinct; Flynn Drive; and easily on to State Circle. With the Griffin connection, that route would be acceptable under the broad terms of the above heritage listing, while offering: • some opportunities for sensitive “landvalue-capture” property development; • unique visitor access to more key national attractions; • reasonable travel times for workers

Commonwealth Bridge… The water-level views between the carriageways of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge will disappear if double tram lines and related paraphernalia are jammed between its carriageways, says Jack Kershaw.

Photo: Paul Costigan (keeping in mind that, unlike primarily dormitory Gungahlin, the outer terminus of Civic light rail stage 1, Woden is already a major and growing employment centre in its own right); and • convenient public transport for students.

Jack Kershaw, Kambah

To date, Labor/Greens have been in power since November 2001 and, after 2012, with no risk of ever being removed, so making the ACT a one-party, authoritarian state.

To add insult to injury, in 2012, Labor, as a condition of coalition, agreed to the Greens’ demand for the red elephant that is light rail in Canberra.

Max Flint, co-ordinator, Smart Canberra Transport

Democracy is dead in the ACT THERE have been letters published lately writing about how this arrogant government has “shrugged off” the auditor-general’s report on Light Rail Stage 2 and how it is determined to saddle future generations with the cost of the folly that light rail in Canberra is.

Make no mistake – Light Rail Stages 1 and 2 will cost around $5 billion if not more, a debt to be paid for by at least 90 per cent of Canberrans who will rarely, if ever, ride a tram in their lifetime, with the attendant opportunity costs already being manifested across Canberra.

But why is this government so arrogant and dismissive of criticism? Because the Labor/Greens coalition has killed democracy in the ACT. When Katy Gallagher was chief minister, after the close shave in the 2012 election, Labor unnecessarily formed a coalition with the last-standing Greens MLA. Labor did not have to do that to retain power – the Greens would never have cooperated with the Liberals. As a result, Labor, either through stupidity or most likely design, killed-off any semblance of democracy in the ACT, especially under the Hare-Clark system.

In defence of letter writing Greg VISITING American Herman Safransky (”Why ‘sanctimonious’ greens are dangerous”, Letters, CN May 12) sees fit to bag/tag letter writer Greg Cornwell as suffering from chromophobia, with an imagined symptom of causing an” inability to speak or formulate coherent sentences in letters to the editor”.

He trusts we have sternly rebuked Greg. Hell, no, we support him!

Good luck and welcome to Australia, Herman. I hope you enjoy the cultural experience and, yes, we do speak English – it’s actually a non-American like, like, like, language. Have a nice day!

John Lawrence via email

Worrying for future of Lonsdale Street IF the Braddon United Retailers and Traders (BURT) really does speak for the vendors of Braddon, they show an embarrassing lack of imagination (“Parking plans ‘death blow’ to

Braddon businesses”, CN May 5).

Obviously, with less parking on Lonsdale Street it will become more difficult to collect my new mattress, washing machine and TV set from the many big-box stores. Oh, wait a minute: they don’t exist.

Rather, Lonsdale Street is full of restaurants and boutique stores selling mostly tiny goods; precisely the sort of street that one might think would benefit from higher foot traffic, from higher numbers of people lingering, walking, browsing and passing through.

If BURT thinks that the sort of person who wants to spend time on Lonsdale Street is put off by a 200-metre walk from one of the many available parking spaces, or that the lure of free parking and the shiny lights of Big W too great for us to resist, then I truly do worry for the future of this potentially lovely little street.

John Noble, Braddon

So the phrasing about bringing back the powerful owl to Canberra is a little nonsensical, as the only records of the species are these two, which are in recent history. They have never been established here.

The gang-gang cockatoo is still doing quite well locally. To investigate its status is beyond the scope of the space devoted to Mr Costigan’s article or this response. It has been subject to special attention, both by a survey of the Canberra Ornithologists Group and there was a special forum devoted to them on April 1 in Downer.

I am the author of the study and book about the Canberra Ornithologists Group’s long running garden bird survey project.

About the powerful owl and others

ROBERT Brown (Letters, CN May 17) cites two possible developments leading to a cleanenergy grid that illustrate the uncertainties and massive costs associated with our future electricity supply.

On the contrary, we have just had an election markedly influenced by misinformation emanating from the political parties of the left and their allied independents that this is all straightforward, cheap and can even happen by 2030.

For example, to scale rooftop solar beyond local capacity requires upgrading the distribution grid, by far the most expensive part of the entire grid.

Both Robert Brown and Dr Douglas Mackenzie (Letters, CN April 21) cite the Sun Cable project, the latter incorrectly claiming that Mike Cannon-Brookes and “Twiggy” Forrest have invested $30 billion in Sun Cable.

That won’t happen until the 24-hour cycle energy storage requirements are proven and economic. There are doubts that lithium-ion battery technology can deliver.

Meanwhile, during the recent election campaign no mention was made of the billions that have been committed by the Morrison government to Snowy Hydro 2 and the Marinus cable across Bass Strait. These projects are laying the groundwork for whatever form the solution for clean energy takes.

BELATEDLY, I have just looked through the March 24 issue of “City News” and am responding to the article by “Canberra Matters” columnist Paul Costigan (“Of lost owls and trees and government neglect”).

While the general intent of the article has some merit, some of the information content is dubious.

Firstly, about tawny frogmouths: they are predatory nocturnal birds, but frogmouths are certainly not owls, so the name “tawny frogmouth owls” is a bit of a nonsense.

There is a kind of suggestion by association in the context of the article that tawny frogmouths require tree hollows for nesting.

That is wrong. They build a rather flimsy stick nest on branches and they never use tree hollows. They have no particular need that the tree they use must be old. They are common and not endangered. A main threat to them are collisions with cars.

About the powerful owl. They mainly are an inhabitant of forests. They need very large trees with hollows for breeding and a supply of mainly possums, for food. Urban environment is rather marginal for them, so the tree-related activities we do in the suburbs of Canberra probably have very little real impact on that species.

In the last about 30 years there have only been two properly documented occurrences of a powerful owl in suburban Canberra.

One at the botanic gardens and one near the bowls club in Turner.

Philip Veerman, Kambah

Not that straightforward

John L Smith, Farrer

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Passionate professionals keen to share their skills NOTED American educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom once said experts are always made, not born.

If that’s true, Canberra’s certainly helped make more than a few experts.

From exercise to beauty, health to workwear, and more, there are plenty of professionals in the ACT passionate about sharing their insights and skills.

Experts in strata management

Seears Workwear owners Shane, left, and Pat Seears.

Pat’s got more workwear than ever before SEEARS Workwear has recently extended its floor space to cater for its largest range of winter workwear stock – the biggest in the region, says owner Pat Seears.

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

The store also has workwear for chefs, paramedics and firefighters, says Pat, who knows the needs of local businesses and supplies many Fyshwick businesses with their work uniforms.

Stocking work apparel such as high-vis workwear, jackets, jeans, shoes and hats, he says:

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Located on Barrier Street, he says they stock safety work boots, leather shoes and steel-toed canvas shoes, from brands such as Puma, Rockport and Dunlop.

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Seears Workwear also has stores in NSW and Queensland, and Pat says they deliver all over the country.

AWARD winners at the Canberra Region Local Business Awards, and experts in strata management, co-owners of LMM Solutions, Michael and Jane Fennell love what they do.

“First of all, we’d say it’s a fantastic industry, constantly growing and it’s always something different.”

They say that LMM Solutions specialise in high quality strata management services.

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Michael and Jane say they pride themselves at LMM Solutions on the training they provide.

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Sue says she does this work because she loves the Sue Oliver. challenge of discovering how she can help someone be the best they can be.

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Care For Yourself. Call 0403 145976 or visit actenergyhealing.com

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Call Sue on 0403 145 976 actenergyhealing.com carefy@bigpond.net.au

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hello@theglowingcomplexions.com 18 CityNews May 26-June 1, 2022

THE highly trained team of “We try to empower people physiotherapists and exercise by educating them. In our classes physiologists at Higher Function we talk about why we’re doing a use the latest scientific research in certain exercise,” she says. their evidence-based treatments “We help our patients perform and classes, says CEO Janet Fabbri. better physically, reducing pain and “With more than 50 years stiffness, by giving them the science of combined experience in behind their exercise, specific physio musculoskeletal sports injuries and exercise physiology treatment, Janet Fabbri (right). and neurological conditions, we and ongoing support and care.” understand the physiology of the body, biomechanics Janet, who’s been in the industry for more than 35 and how the body moves,” says Janet. years, says she still finds it incredibly rewarding to see “We’re the best place for helping people reach their people make progress and reach their goals. higher functioning goals.”

“Things won’t happen overnight, consistency is key, Whether someone wants to walk up and down the but really seeing people improve over time is wonderful.” stairs without pain or to be able to run up and down Mount Ainslie, Janet says the Higher Function team Higher Function Physio & Pilates, Suite 4, Level 1/23 Petrie takes the time to learn the goals of each individual.

Plaza. Call 6262 9664 or visit higherfunction.com.au

The Glowing Complexions is a beauty salon located in Weetangera shopping centre.

We have highly qualified therapists that use the latest technologies and techniques.

Scan our QR code to book online or check out our list of services and pricing. Be sure to check out our pamper package deals. Huge saving on a range of treatments.

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Up-close and beautiful OLIVIA Robinson, owner of The Glowing Complexions, began working in beauty when she was 15.

Eight years later, she says she’s never stopped learning.

“There’s always more to learn, there’s all these new ingredients to figure out and it just never stops,” she says.

She’s encouraging new people who enter the industry to do a lot of training, and practice as much as they can.

“I struggled getting used to being so close to people, because they’re in such a vulnerable state and you’re near their eyes. It’s a bit nerve-wracking to start with

but you do get used to it.”

Olivia loves working in beauty, and loves that there’s new things to learn every day.

“Giving people confidence, and boosting their natural features, it makes them feel good about themselves and that’s why I love it,” she says.

“Facials are fun, and it’s satisfying to see the change in people’s face and skin.”

The Glowing Complexions, 3/16 Weetangera Place, Weetangera. Call 0401 164421 or visit theglowingcomplexions.com

23 Petrie Plaza, Canberra City • 6262 9664 • higherfunction.com.au

Bathrooms | Kitchens | Laundries | Full Home Alterations | Landscaping | Concreting O413 097 628 | 5A DALY ST, QUEANBEYAN NSW | MONAROBATHROOMS.COM.AU | CityNews May 26-June 1, 2022 19

Experience a relaxing session in our infrared LED Light Therapy Bed Benefits to your skin, beauty, body & wellness that may occur include: BODY • Sports Recovery • Muscle Cramps & Body Fatigue • Supports endurance • Supports circulation BEAUTY • Anti-Ageing benefits • Fine Lines & Wrinkles • Pigmentation • Skin feels firmer

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It’s important to look after your skin, says Louise LOUISE McMahon, owner of Deziner Beauty, says as the extreme colder weather comes around, it’s important to look after your skin.

“Everyone needs to strengthen their skin to better handle the extreme temperatures, cold or hot, and facials are a good way of doing that.”

She says clients expect beauticians to be there for their big moments such as weddings or holidays, as well as wanting information on the latest fads.

“My advice would be to people starting off in the industry, you must be firm, confident, hard

working and reliable.”

She says her own biggest fear was travelling to do wedding make-up.

“My fear was something happening that stopped me from getting to the location and wrecking their special day, so I would always leave the day before so that I would be there, ready.”

And, she says she’s always researching new products and treatments.

“There are always new treatments coming out and clients ask me for my expert knowledge and advice.”

Deziner Beauty, 72 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6299 5792, or visit dezinerbeauty.com.au

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Architecture and and Design: Architecture Design:

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AWARD-WINNING architects Maria Filardo and Can Ercan joined forces just over 12 months ago to create their boutique firm, Filardo Ercan Architects, located in Griffith.

Renowned for their residential architecture, interior design, commercial and hospitality fitouts and heritage projects, Maria and Can’s combined expertise in architecture, interior design and heritage allows them to provide a unique skill set and a holistic approach for clients.

“We chose to be a small firm (with big impact) so we can always provide a personal service to our clients,” says Maria.

Maria has over 20 years experience in architecture and is skilled in residential, commercial and hospitality design. She is also a lecturer at CIT in building and interior design.

Can has over 25 years of experience in heritage conservation, having worked for NSW Heritage Office, ACT Heritage Unit as well as an associate and senior architect with leading firms in Canberra and Sydney.

“As a team, we are unique in that we offer creative

Architects Can Ercan and Maria Filardo. and sustainable design in architecture, interior design and heritage conservation. We always aim to offer something different and better in every new project,” says Can. “We love what we do and the good relationship we have with our clients is reflected in the great end results we achieve,” says Maria.

Filardo Ercan Architects, visit feas.com.au or call Maria on 0421 342625 and Can on 0415 550801.

Janet can make exams convenient STUDENTS from any institution in the world can sit their exams right here in Canberra with Fraser Exam Centre, says manager and senior invigilator Janet Fraser.

“We provide a service for anybody to save them time, travel and accommodation,” she says.

“Rather than going back to the institution, students can give us a call. We’ll handle all the administration and they can sit their exams right here.”

Janet, who’s been an invigilator for more than three decades and

Fraser Exam Centre manager Janet Fraser. worked all around the world, says their services apply to anyone look-

ing to increase their qualifications.

“We do both written and computer-based exams for individual and group bookings,” she says.

“I also like to set the centre up to be very friendly so people feel comfortable while completing their exams.

“It becomes more like studying at home, and can result in better outcomes for students.”

Fraser Exam Centre, call 0437 771559 or visit fraserexamcentre.com.au

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20 CityNews May 26-June 1, 2022

Call Janet 0437 771 559

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ALL ABOUT BELCONNEN

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From early farmland to thriving town centre COMPRISING 25 suburbs surrounding the Belconnen town centre and the Ginninderra Lake, the Belconnen district is the most populated district of the ACT. Originally farming land, Belconnen was developed in 1966, with Aranda as its first suburb. Before then it had been the home of the Ngunnawal people for thousands of years.

Now, Belconnen has become a thriving hub for North Canberrans, with so much to offer residents and visitors.

Experts in all aspects of driver training

Two decades of quality flooring FOR more than two decades, Choices Flooring has been providing the Belconnen and Canberra community with quality and reliable products, says owner Ral Van der Weyde.

“Our key promise to you is to help you find the floor you’ve been searching for,” says Ral. “We’ve got all the up-to-date products including a large range of wool, a large range of nylons and timber, luxury vinyl planks and more.”

Ral says Choices Flooring Belconnen is proud to embrace the latest product developments

and styles and their trained staff members in interior decorating can help support a customer’s next decorating project.

“We provide inspiration and flooring advice whilst also managing the installation,” says Ral. “Contact our store for a free measure and quote or simply visit our store to see the latest styles in flooring.”

Choices Flooring Belconnen, corner of Lathlain and Cohen Streets. Call 6251 1030 or visit choicesflooring.com.au/Store/Belconnen

GETTING a licence can be quite complex in Canberra, but the ACT’s newest driving school, Stay Road Right, can help, says general manager Simon Abbott.

“New, young drivers must now get a minimum of 100 hours of supervised driving but having 10 lessons reduces the log book hours by 30 hours,” says Simon.

“Learners can also gain another 30 hours of logbook credit by completing the Advance30 course available in the next school holidays.

“For only $199 participants will have class and in-car sessions to make them and the community safer.”

Simon says the company is one of the few in Canberra that assists in every aspect of driver licencing.

“Before even gaining a learner’s licence, young people need to complete a 10-hour road safety course called the pre-learner licence course,” he says.

“We run this via Zoom and in-person and we are the cheapest provider in Canberra at only $140.”

Simon says the company employs highly skilled facilitators and driver trainers to ensure young people are given all of the skills and knowledge available to make them as safe as possible.

“Contact our office as there are some great package deals available,” he says.

Stay Road Right, Belconnen Churches Centre, 54 Benjamin Way, Belconnen. Call 6147 6296 or visit stayroadright.com.au

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Cnr of Lathlain & Cohen Streets, Belconnen CityNews May 26-June 1, 2022 21

ALL ABOUT BELCONNEN

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Osteoarthritis research participants wanted REBECCA Davey, CEO of Arthritis ACT, says the team are excited about working with researchers at the University of Canberra.

“We’ve got quite a few research trials happening at the moment around management of osteoarthritis,” she says.

“In particular we’ve got studies on hand arthritis and knee arthritis, and we’re looking for people who would like to participate in those studies.

“The hand study includes just one week of a client’s participation. The knee study includes being involved in the Good Life with Arthritis: Denmark (GLA:D) program, so not only will they get to be part of the study but they will also be able to hopefully fix up their

knee osteoarthritis and make their knee feel better,” Bec says.

She says Arthritis ACT firmly believes in conservative management.

“In the early days of osteoarthritis, conservative management can prolong joint life, and lead to you avoiding a joint replacement,” she says.

“We know that the body we’re born with is usually better than the body we can create through surgery, and that you want surgery to be the last resort once you’ve tried everything else.”

Arthritis ACT, 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce.

Call 1800 011041, or visit arthritisact.org.au

Flexible workspaces provide a platform for business JAGA offers flexible workspaces with a difference, says CEO Swaroop Kaushik.

“We offer co-working spaces that include private workstations, meeting rooms, networking options, phone booths, and much more,” says Swaroop.

“Whether you are an organisation or an individual, you will find our workspaces are designed to suit you and to give you more flexibility.”

Swaroop says JAGA is very cost-effective and close to a range of nearby facilities such as shopping centres, libraries, parks and more.

“The key element is everything we do helps our members live well, work well, do well, all through a supportive environment that’s designed around them,” he says.

“The spaces are designed to facilitate interaction

22 CityNews May 26-June 1, 2022

and what’s really interesting, especially in Belconnen, is that people are looking at JAGA as not just a workspace or a building or a business, they’re looking at it as an amenity for the Belconnen community.”

Swaroop says the spaces provide tea, coffee, beer, wine and more for networking options and can offer a range of useful services for businesses such as mail handling and reception.

“The areas are beautifully designed with lots of natural light so you’re not just sitting in four walls,” he says.

“There’s so many ways people can use these spaces.

We consider them a platform for businesses.”

JAGA is located at Swanson Court, Belconnen and Allara Street, Canberra City. Visit jaga.com.au or call 1800 512150.

ARTHRITIS ACT ARE THE EXPERTS IN OSTEOARTHRITIS TREATMENT Our team of physiotherapists are all trained in delivering the highly evaluated GLA:D® program for osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.

Research from the GLA:D® program in Denmark found symptom progression reduces by 32%. Other outcomes include less pain, reduced use of joint related pain killers, and less people on sick leave.

GLA:D® participants also reported high levels of satisfaction with the program and increased levels of physical activity 12 months after starting the program.

The GLA:D® program involves: • A first appointment explaining the program and collecting data on your current functional ability· Our physiotherapists work closely with our exercise physiologists and excercise scientists so if you need hydrotherapy or other exercise supports, you can keep your care all in the hands of one practice.

• Two education sessions which teach you about osteoarthritis and how the GLA:D® Australia exercises improve joint stability, and how to retain this improved joint stability outside of the program·

Do you want to live better with your osteoarthritis?

•

Call us today on 1800 011 041 and book your appointment with one of our physiotherapists to discuss your best course of treatment.

Jacqui Couldrick

Lead Physiotherapist

Group neuromuscular training sessions twice a week for six weeks to improve muscle control of the joint, aiming to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. GLA:D® is offered at both our Bruce and Pearce offices.

If GLA:D® is not for you, our team will be able to support you with specialised treatments aimed at improving your quality of life whilst living with osteoarthritis. Our team can also assist you to prepare for and recover from surgery, if this is the best course of action for you.

“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

We Are Still Open

ALL ABOUT BELCONNEN

Throughout the Belconnen Market expansion

‘Come and lose yourself in a world of fantastic reading!'

Family friendly pub has something for everyone

•

Children’s Book Specialist

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New Releases

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Large Non Fiction Range

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THE Clubhouse Kaleen is not your average pub, says owner Ben Santosuosso.

“At the Clubhouse we’re really family friendly, we welcome kids and our large-portioned meals are priced towards families,” says Ben. “Our menu is Italian inspired but also includes all the classics. There’s seven choices of pasta, pizzas, steak, fish, chicken wings, fish and chips and burgers. We’ve got something for everyone.”

Ben says when it comes to drinks, there’s no shortage of choice, either.

“We support the Canberra brewers like Bentspoke and Capital Brewing. We’ve got ciders and ginger beer on tap and your classics like VB, Carlton, 4 Pines and a few other craft beers.

“There’s also a selection of spirits, wines, cocktails,

02 5105 1168 Shop 36/1 Lathlain Street, Belconnnen Markets bookpassion.com.au

and even coffees and cakes at our cafe that serves brunch as well.”

With pool tables, pinball and other games, as well as space that fits up to 600 people, Ben also says there’s plenty of room for functions and events.

“We’ve had 18ths to 70ths, weddings to engagements and we support a lot of charities like Rotary events,” he says.

“We also do a lot of live music on Fridays and Saturdays with great bands and on July 9 we’ve even got an Elvis tribute show.”

The Clubhouse Kaleen, 16 Georgina Cres, Kaleen. Call 6210 5742, visit clubhousekaleen.com.au or search the Clubhouse Kaleen on Facebook.

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Visit The Clubhouse Kaleen and enjoy the pub difference Family Friendly Pub, Great Food, Great Prices, Function Rooms, Live Music, Live sport The Clubhouse Kaleen, 16 Georgina Cr Kaleen Ph 6210 5742

24 CityNews May 26-June 1, 2022

advertising feature Leisha’s got a passion for books BOOK Passion first opened more than 20 years ago and to this day is still serving Canberra’s community of booklovers at the Belconnen Markets, says owner Leisha Sutton.

“We have a large children’s section, fiction, new releases, a popular backlist, cooking, biography, science, military, art, history, Australiana, mind, body and spirit, classics, we’ve got everything.

“There’s also a range of jigsaw puzzles people can browse.”

Leisha says particularly popular at the moment is crime fiction, especially from some of the region’s talented local authors.

“I do a weekly top five and for the last few weeks

the top spots have all been crime fiction,” she says.

“We’ve got Shelley Burr’s ‘Wake’ which is very popular, works by Dervla McTiernan, Chris Hammer and much more.”

As an early childhood teacher and a keen reader herself, Leisha says her passion is working with children and books.

“If you immerse your child in literature they’ll become lifelong readers themselves,” she says.

“Reading early can help to develop so many skills.”

Book Passion, Shop 35, Belconnen Fresh Food Markets, 1 Lathlain Street, Belconnen. Call 5105 1168 or visit bookpassion.com.au

‘Friendly and caring’ healthcare in Belconnen THE Belconnen Medical and Skin Clinic opened recently, and practice manager Amelia Gorham says it’s ready to help people out in all their healthcare needs.

“The clinic opened on March 1. We’re accepting new patients and we’re ready to make a difference in people’s lives,” she says.

Amelia says the clinic will fill a gap in Belconnen, left behind when the National Health Co-op closed, so Belconnen was a good spot for her and the team to continue providing care for patients, in a number of ways.

“Our friendly and caring team of professionals bring

Book Passion owner Leisha Sutton.

diversity and extensive experience in general practice.

“We do skin checks, child and travel vaccinations, covid vaccinations, flu vaccinations, we have general health care services and a physio who does hydrotherapy at CISAC,” she says, and they have Laverty Pathology services on site.

“The clinic is in a good, central location and there’s convenient parking for patients and staff.”

Belconnen Medical and Skin Clinic, 2 Ibbott Lane, Belconnen. Call 5110 3157 or visit belconnenclinic.com.au

Belconnen Medical and Skin Clinic

Appointments available now

Dr Mayokun Otesile

Dr Dinesh Mehra

Dr Saheed Jimoh

Jacinta Searles

General Practitioner

General Practitioner

General Practitioners

02 51103157

Skin Checks

Physiotherapy

Unit 3, 2 Ibbott Lane, Belconnen ACT 2617

General Practitioner

Physiotherapist

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Dr Kingsley Okolie General Practitioner

Sam Payne

Physiotherapist

Travel & Childrens Vaccinations

Book online belconnenclinic.com.au CityNews May 26-June 1, 2022 25

ABOUT BELCONNEN

FASTRACK YOUR LEARNER’S LICENCE

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These courses have been approved by the ACT Government as approved Learner Licence Training Courses under section 15 (1) (b) of the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2000

THE Belconnen Arts Centre is running basket-making classes to accompany its new “Circles of Nature” exhibition, says public programs officer Anne McMahon.

“It’s an exhibition using natural materials, and a few other things have snuck in like a bit of twine and some dyed material, but the idea is that the works express a connection to nature and the environment,” says Anne.

“We see a lot of interest in basketry exhibitions, I think because people can see that it’s a process done by hand, but there’s also a kind of magic to it. It’s material that you might put into compost, but it turns into really delightful objects that can be decorative or useful.”

Anne says people can still enrol in the basket-making

classes running on Saturdays, or they will be offering an “Infuse” session on mask-making on June 25.

“Infuse sessions are free sessions for members of the community to come and join, and they offer an opportunity to participate in art.

“Each session is focused on a different process and media. This next one will be mask-making, and then mask-play,” she says.

“We offer a very eclectic and interesting collection of works. There are lots of really beautiful pieces.”

Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen.

Call 6173 3300 or visit belcoarts.com.au

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Photo: Andrew Sikorski 26 CityNews May 26-June 1, 2022

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ED IS N

High tea should look good and taste good, too

WENDY JOHNSON

‘Moulin’, the musical about to create a sensation

By Helen

MUSA “MOULIN Rouge! The Musical” is about to head for Sydney and it’s likely to create a sensation.

The film version did so in 2001 when director Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce first unleashed it on the world with Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor in the romantic lead roles.

With a winning combination of theatrical spectacle, nostalgia for the can-can era in Montmartre and a saucy book drawn from some of the most recognisable songs of the 20th century, it came from an original concept of Luhrmann.

But he’s stepped aside from this show, saying: “I knew I wasn’t the right person to re-interpret something I made 20 years ago.”

The book has been redeveloped with Luhrmann’s agreement by celebrated American screenwriter and Tony-winner, John Logan and it’s directed by American Alex Timbers.

Under the eye of musical supervisor, arranger and lyricist, Justin Levine, who speaks of “the emotional memory I carried from songs”, it uses the same winning combination of pop songs in a period setting, retaining, Elton John’s “Your Song”, the jazz

Alinta Chidzey (Satine) and Des Flanagan (Christian). Photo: Michelle Grace Hunder

The Australian cast of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”. classic “Nature Boy” and David Baerwald and Kevin Gilbert’s tragic song, “Come What May”, originally intended for Luhrmann’s 1996 film, “William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet”.

No prizes for spotting the origins of numbers such as “El Tango de Roxanne” and “Only Girl in a Material World”, but you can

Photo: Michelle Grace Hunder

also expect to hear hints of David Bowie, Offenbach, T. Rex, U2 and Madonna as well as contemporary artists.

I saw the show in preview in Melbourne and the catchy songs were a highlight for the audience, who were constantly nudging each other in the joy of song-spotting.

Americanised to suit its Broadway opening in 2019, the original story of a young English poet cut adrift in Paris has been tweaked slightly to become a boy from the American south.

With a “La Traviata” meets “Barnum” plot, it’s a spectacular exposé of the manipulations behind the world of stardom under the theme – “Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love”.

The consumptive heroine Satine, played

by Alinta Chidzey, who played Mary Poppins for Free Rain Theatre in Canberra, is the classic good-hearted courtesan caught up in a world where, to support herself and her companions who’ve mostly come from the streets, is obliged to offer her charms to aristocratic patrons such as the show’s villain, The Duke, played by Andrew Cook – but even he gets to

sing a Rolling Stones mashup song.

Club impresario Harold Zidler is played by Simon Burke as an over-the-top but emotionally vulnerable entrepreneur and the other characters include a 21st-century polyglot bunch, Satine’s old friends, Santiago, played

by Ryan Gonzalez, and the artist ToulouseLautrec played by Canberra’s Tim Omaji.

The whole production is bigger than “Ben Hur” with the stage dominated by a 5.1-metre blue elephant and draped with a bevy of full-bodied dancers who recline around the performance area when the audience comes in, ready for their showstopper, “Lady Marmalade”.

Only the young bohemian poet, Christian, played by Des Flanagan, signals innocence, even though when he opens his mouth, the words to popular songs come tumbling out.

This is “rich” theatre. It took 30 trucks to move the show from Melbourne to Sydney, including the aforementioned elephant, 12 large-scale chandeliers, 793 individual costume pieces and a life-size mill or “moulin”.

Producers Gerry Ryan and Carmen Pavlovich say the closures caused by covid have given “Moulin Rouge” extra clout, as it is “about showing people fighting to save their beloved theatre against the odds. It is a story about the resilience of artists in the necessity of art”.

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical”, Capitol Theatre, Sydney, May 28-September 25.

THE MASTERS OF ROMANCE Experience the power and passion of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performing some of the Great Romantics. Hear Beethoven’s powerful Coriolan Overture, Dvořák’s pastoral Eighth Symphony and the beautiful melodies of Bruch’s Violin Concerto.

Don’t miss the Sydney Symphony performing for one night only!

Wednesday 15 June, 7:30pm Llewellyn Hall

BOOK NOW premier.ticketek.com.au Principal Partner

CityNews May 26-June 1, 2022 27

DINING / Tea Lounge High Tea, Hyatt Hotel

ARTS IN THE CITY

High tea, good to look at – and eat

‘Country Roads’ calling Darren

WHEN a lovely friend has a very special birthday (age not declared, but birthdays will be every five years from now on), it’s time to head to the historic Hyatt Hotel for a traditional high tea, starting with a glass of beautiful bubbles.

The Hyatt’s pastry chefs spend hours and hours perfecting perfect, pretty savoury bites, finger sandwiches, luscious cakes, tempting tartlets and more, to be enjoyed with the finest tea leaves, quality coffee and wines.

High teas are visual extravaganzas, but it’s not all about the look, it’s also about the taste. Our high tea stands featured savoury items on the bottom tier, sweets on the middle tier and buttermilk scones and panna cotta on the top tier.

It would be a sin to have a high tea without scones and the Hyatt’s come with double cream and berry jam (the debate was on – does the cream go beneath the jam or on top?). The fruit panna cotta was set just so… not too jiggly but jiggly enough.

From the extensive range of savoury delights, my top three were the cauliflower, sweet potato and caramelised onion on macaroon, the eggplant caponata with Persian feta and crispy onion

28 CityNews May 26-June 1, 2022

By Helen Musa DARREN Coggan, the boy from Wagga Wagga best-known for his show about Cat Stevens and winner of two Golden Guitars, returns to his country roots with “The Poems, Prayers and Promises of John Denver”, singing songs such as “Take Me Home Country Roads”, “Rocky Mountain High” and “Leaving on a Jet Plane”. At The B, Queanbeyan, Saturday, June 4. Book at theq.net.au

The extensive range of savoury delights.

Photos: Wendy Johnson and the spiced chicken, chipotle garlic salsa and roasted capsicum tartlet.

Just as scones and high tea go together, so too does high tea and cool cucumber, cream cheese finger sandwiches. Nice and light.

It was almost impossible to decide what to select from the middle tier, but I applaud the Hyatt for offering slices and tartlets that were stunningly beautiful but not soooo sweet you couldn’t indulge in one or two (or, in my case, several).

The Tea Lounge specialises in traditional black and herbal specialty teas with 28 varieties on the menu. The range includes soothing chamomile and sophisticated French Earl Grey, Queen Mary, and Rose

Slices and tartlets… not soooo sweet you couldn’t indulge in one or two.

Garden. Decadent options include rainforest magic, sticky date pudding (yes, sticky date pudding), Turkish Delight and chilli chocolate. If that’s not enough, health-related teas cover off “cold and allergy” and “energy” specialty teas.

The musician behind the piano made the afternoon even more special, playing “Happy Birthday”.

The Tea Lounge High Tea at the Hyatt is $70 (adult) and $50 (child).

The Hyatt is far from the only place to indulge in high tea in the capital.

Buvette at the Burbury Hotel focuses on French pastries, cakes and tarts, including decadent buttery croissants, ranging from $50 to $105 for freeflowing high tea with Piper-Heidsieck champagne. QT offers a Sky High Tea, with mouth-watering treats oozing with elegance, from $70, and White Rabbit Cocktail Room has a “Tipsy Tea” from $70 with two cocktails.

“GUESS How Much I Love You” is a play for children aged three years and up by Richard Tulloch, adapted from the books by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram. In the show, complete with puppetry, Little and Big Nutbrown Hare discover the magic and colour of the seasons. At Canberra Theatre, June 3-4. Book at canberratheatrecentre.com.au “DREYFUS Drei” is a short documentary by Australian Jewish artist Ella Dreyfus, who set out to uncover her family’s history with her uncle George in Melbourne and her cousin Jonathan in Berlin. There’ll be a free screening, Q&A and reception hosted by the German embassy and the ANU Film Group, at Kambri, ANU Building 153, from 5.30pm on June 1, registration at eventbrite.com.au NEWS from Four Winds at Bermagui is that Matthew Hoy, already the artistic director, will take the reins as the Easter festival’s creative director, replacing Lindy Hume, who has been curating the event for two years.

IN “Der Doppelgänger”, bass Jack Stephens and pianist Ronan Apcar join Luminescence to present German lieder

by Schubert, Strauss and Wolf. ANU Drill Hall Gallery, Acton, Friday, June 3. Book at eventbrite.com.au CANBERRA Spinners and Weavers annual exhibition, with the great title of “Warped and Twisted”, will showcase members’ work, with some items for sale. At Canberra Textile Works, 70 Maclaurin Crescent, Chifley, 10am-3pm, June 3-12.

STREAMING / Stranger Things

Weirdest yet, that’s the promise

By Nick

OVERALL THE world is high on nostalgia.

Turn on the radio and odds are it won’t be long before the ‘80s-inspired synthwave melody of “Blinding Lights” by the Weeknd plays – a song that’s been streamed on Spotify nearly three billion times since its release in 2019.

Walk through any major city and somewhere there’ll be a bar designed to make its patrons feel like they’re in another decade. Go to the cinema and posters of reboots, remakes and sequels plaster the walls. This year alone follow-ups to “Top Gun”, “Scream” and “Jurassic Park” promise to be among the biggest box office hits.

Audiences are entranced by the aesthetics of eras gone by. Now more than ever before, people are hooked on the idea of escaping to another time period.

Perhaps there is no greater example of this nostalgia mania than “Stranger Things”, Netflix’s horror sci-fi sensation set in the ‘80s that feels like the lovechild of a Steven Spielberg movie and a Stephen King book.

Fans have waited three years to return to Hawkins, the fictional Indiana town whose residents are perennially locked in battle with creatures from another dimension. Its fourth season, out this week, promises to be its “weirdest” yet and will see its now iconic crew of characters face off against an enemy that not only threatens their quaint little town, but the world itself.

“Stranger Things” is streaming royalty. Netflix has pumped a staggering $270 million into season four, or the equivalent of around $30 million an episode. It’s even bigger than the

‘Stranger Things’... a modern force of nostalgia. budget of the battle-clad, final season of fantasy epic “Game of Thrones”, which drew in more than 10 million viewers an episode.

While “Stranger Things” has now become one of the most popular shows of all time, it’s strange indeed to think this pop-culture hit was actually rejected multiple times before making it to the screen.

Show creators and brothers Matt and Ross Duffer pitched the idea to numerous networks who didn’t believe a crew of children from the ‘80s facing off against interdimensional evils would resonate with audiences.

However, Netflix spotted the genius.

The cast of “Stranger Things” have become some of the biggest names in modern entertainment, each with their own career launched thanks to the show. That’s especially true for Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven, who has become a household name.

Now, six years since the series first appeared on people’s Netflix feed, and the kids have pretty much become adults. Audiences have watched this group of friends grow up together and with a fifth and final season also planned, they’ll well and truly be beyond their teens by the time things wrap up.

One only needs to take a look at Harry Potter to realise how watching a group of friends grow

up together solidifies itself in pop culture in the long term.

All of this has made “Stranger Things” a modern force of nostalgia. Every aspect of its production is intricately designed to make viewers feel something from another time, even if they don’t consciously realise it’s doing so.

A film grain is overlaid on each episode to give the show a subtly dated feel. The typography could be taken right from the cover of a VHS box.

Pop-culture references litter every scene.

These elements come together to create a series that is just so wonderfully addictive. The neon-laden sets and the synthesised melodies of its score work a constant magic on the memories of its viewers, keeping them coming back for more.

Why are people so addicted to this sensation of nostalgia though?

For many, perhaps, that tangible feeling of another time period is the ultimate way to escape from the woes of the present, however briefly that escape is.

Yes, “Stranger Things” may be about creepy monsters, but this series recreates a moment in time that, somehow, seems a little less scary.

“Stranger Things”, season four, is streaming on Netflix.

CINEMA / Reviews

The painful disbelief at losing little Olivia

By Dougal

MACDONALD “To Olivia” (M) THIS is an agreeable but not magnificent movie about the innards of a relationship between a married pair – the man, Roald Dahl (played

by Hugh Bonneville), the author of slightly wacky books for kids of all ages, his wife (Oscar-winning, for her role in “Hud”) actress Patricia Neal (Keeley Hawes).

Their life skills may be opposing but complementary; watching them interacting is more aligned with the film’s intention than at their first appearance (their real-life marriage lasted for two decades more). Who can know what went on after the guests left?

Medical science hadn’t yet come up with a treatment for measles. The plot centres, but doesn’t dwell, on the couple’s daughter Olivia who, in 1962 aged seven, died of the ailment.

Roald and Patricia were living on a small patch of rural Buckinghamshire at the time. It’s not surprising that two people with burgeoning creative talents took losing Olivia gravely, unable to understand how or why it happened.

Much of the dramatic energy in writer/director John Hay’s screenplay is occasionally physically vigorous but mostly delivered as

dialogue. Either way, it doesn’t pull too many punches.

At Dendy, Palace Electric and Hoyts Belconnen

“How to Please a Woman” (M) BEFORE seeing writer/director Renée Webster’s debut feature movie (after working on TV series episodes), I thought, how humdrum is this likely to be?

Has somebody made another movie about wives and mothers left at home to clean house, launder dirty linen and all the other domestic routines. A well-worn theme. No novelty about that.

Dulls-ville. I expected it could not possibly be women’s sexual rights at every appropriate occasion.

I wuz wrong, big time! And I am very happy to admit that. Ms Webster’s movie doesn’t fall into any single category of fiction feature. It covers an agreeably wide canvas, of which the dominant element is good, clean, dirty, satisfying orgasms, however induced, in women. With not a pubic area of either sex and only one pair of bare female nipples in view during its 107 minutes.

Gina’s (Sally Phillips) husband Adrian (Cameron Daddo) has lost interest in her sexually. Her marriage is economically comfortable but otherwise dull. She has just

been made redundant at an almost insolvent removalist firm.

On the morning of her birthday, a package arrives. The delivery man is what any well-raised, 50-year-old housewife might be glad to get.

The girls at the swimming club have sent her a house cleaner. Played by Alexander England, Tom is a hunk, ready, willing and able to clean house and more.

“How to Please a Woman” doesn’t take sides. What it says and how it says it is agreeably sensible and sensitively agreeable, validly and

correctly delivering information about the physical and emotional elements of sex and laying it on with not too heavy a hand.

Made in Perth, its entertainment and didactic values come wrapped in respect and dramatic warmth. Since its first release here on May 19, its Australian maker has sold screening rights in the US, UK, Canada, Poland, former Yugoslavia, Czech Republic and Hungary. Where next, what next, I wonder?

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“Ebb and flow” hydroponics… can increase yield and is great for leafy greens that like to be picked often.

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Fish-emulsion products, which are a soil conditioner not a fertiliser, can still be applied.

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TREE dahlia (Dahlia imperialis) is a superfast-growing perennial and can grow up to five metres tall in one season.

Bees are highly attracted to tree dahlias. Once they’ve flowered, they can be chopped down into segments about 60 centimetres long with at least two nodes. Bury and cover them with soil and mulch. In the spring time there should be new shoots appearing from the nodes and there’s a new plant for the garden.

GROWING veggies by hydroponics can be done in Canberra outdoors and, in my case, it was a successful project.

My yield of tomatoes was extended until May because the water had a heater and reticulated warm water throughout the system. This allowed me to have tomatoes growing in the same spot without crop rotation being an issue; broccoli in winter and tomatoes in summer.

The system I used for these larger vegetables was a “bucket and drip” irrigation system and different to the “ebb and flow” or flood or drain system that is used for smaller herbs and greens.

The “ebb and flow” is a simple system that involves the periodic flooding and draining of nutrient solutions past the roots. This method of hydroponics can increase yield and is great for leafy greens that like to be picked often.

For growing on a balcony or small space, the main advantage of hydroponics is that there’s no heavy soil to deal with and most of the products are lightweight and easy to use.

For anyone renting, it is a terrific removable system to take when moving. There’s a lot of information online and there are stores in Canberra with helpful staff to answer any questions. jackwar@home.netspeed. com.au

TURNIPS and broad beans can still be put in the garden along with kale, leaks and lettuces.

They might need a little night protection with a cloche and removed in the day.

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the spring garden to a good start. I believe the garden is a busier place in winter than in the warmer months with so much to do.

NOW’S a good time to spray all fruit trees to prevent peach leaf curl in spring on peach and nectarine trees. A fungicide is required, and I use copper oxychloride and spray under the leaves. I also pick up and remove any fallen leaves. Most fungal diseases can’t be seen with the naked eye but show signs of being there on leaves.

Copper can also be sprayed on apples, pears and plums for shot hole diseases that are seen in summer. Repeat spraying in winter and spring, spraying when the weather is not too windy or there is rain about. Be mindful not to spray near water bowls or ponds as copper is harmful to aquatic life.

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PUZZLES PAGE

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Your week in the stars

By Joanne Madeline Moore

General knowledge crossword No. 831

May 30-June 5, 2022

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ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

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Mars and Jupiter are both jumping through Aries, so rambunctious Rams are feeling restless. And the New Moon also stimulates your spontaneous and independent nature. But Mercury is retrograde until Friday. So make sure you stick to the facts and figures, especially when you’re dealing with money and business matters. If you stretch the truth in dubious directions, then you’ll be caught out.

The weekend is wonderful for friends, hobbies and having fun.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

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Quit complaining Bulls! Mercury, Venus and Uranus are visiting your sign, which provides a golden opportunity to get real about who you are and where you’re going. Despite Mercury retrograde disruptions (until Friday) it’s time to draw up a plan, get creative, and start making your dreams come true. Be inspired by entertainer, activist and birthday great Josephine Baker (who was born on June 3, 1906): “To realise our dreams we must decide to wake up.”

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GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

Gung-ho Gemini – avoid the temptation to skim over important details. The New Moon’s in your sign, so you’re keen to zoom ahead, but remember Mercury is retrograde until Friday. So there’s a fine line between making smart snap decisions and messy mistakes. The stars encourage creative thinking but nervous energy is also high. If you don’t pace yourself, then you’ll be exhausted by the end of the week. So slow down and practice the gentle art of patience.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Many Crabs will feel emotionally vulnerable, as the New Moon navigates its way through your self-sabotage zone. So don’t make things worse by being mysteriously moody or overly dependent. If you side-step issues and let other people set your personal agenda, you’ll just end up feeling paralysed and powerless.

With Mercury retrograde, you need to steer clear of fake news, unreliable folk and flighty friends, especially from Monday through until Friday.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Your hopes-and-wishes zone is activated by the New Moon. Circumstances are constantly changing, so your goals need to be regularly reviewed and updated to keep pace with outside events as well as your inner evolution. Mercury also starts moving forwards (with lucky Venus) in your career zone. So make your professional dreams as big and beautiful as possible. Be inspired by birthday great Marilyn Monroe: “We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

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

Lic # 1993 14963 Solution next edition

Across

Down

1 What is an abstract or summary? (6) 8 Name the capital of Norfolk Island. (8) 9 In which room is clerical work done? (6) 10 What are films about US frontier life? (8) 11 John Travolta starred in which musical? (6) 12 What is the smallest in the litter? (4) 13 What do we call one who resists authority?

(5) 16 To have gone astray, is to have done what?

(5) 19 Name Australia’s flightless birds. (4) 21 What is any warning or caution? (6) 22 Which term implies “in the open air”? (8) 23 To tell, is to do what? (6) 24 Name a large heavy kind of terrier. (8) 25 To discover the presence of something, is to do what? (6)

2 Name another term for an umpire. (7) 3 What is the generalisation of weather conditions of a region? (7) 4 Which long pin is used for putting through meat while being cooked? (6) 5 To move into irregular action, is to do what? (7) 6 What might we call a competitor in a race? (7) 7 Name a stout aromatic NZ herb. (7) 13 Which term describes a fugitive? (7) 14 Which outdoor fire was used on “cracker night”?

(7) 15 What are collections of stories of admirable persons? (7) 17 Name a small stream or brook. (7) 18 What has the property of recovering shape after deformation? (7) 20 To have made points, is to have done what? (6)

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LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Venus, Mars and Jupiter are revving up your partnership zone. But Mercury is reversing through your intimacy zone, so a romantic relationship could feel stuck.

Do your best to talk about problems with your sweetheart, as you introduce some exciting new activities into the mix. If you’re single, you could revisit a rocky old romance (while wearing decidedly rose-coloured glasses). Just remember that memories are so seductive because they’re so selective!

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CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

A child, friend or lover won’t behave in predictable ways, so don’t try to anticipate what they will do next. Avoid butting in, being a bossy Goat, and offering (well-intentioned) advice. Loved ones require plenty of room to move and space to express themselves, so they can make their own mistakes and follow their own dreams. Smart Capricorns will back off, calm down and go with the flow. The New Moon signals a change at work or a new exercise routine.

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AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

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PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

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This week, be on alert for fake news and unrealistic expectations. You’re keen to make some serious changes that could lead to more job satisfaction in the future.

But Mercury is reversing through your work zone (until Friday) so avoid putting all your eggs in the career basket. Love, romance, friendship and companionship are just as important. Your motto is from birthday great Marilyn Monroe: “A career is wonderful, but you can’t curl up with it on a cold night.”

Monday’s New Moon urges you to adjust your home/work ratio so it’s much more balanced and family friendly. With Mercury still in retrograde mode (until Friday) do all you can to bypass domestic dramas and repair neighbourhood friction. It’s time for Pisceans to sit down and smoke the peace pipe! But a relative or close friend could bamboozle you with some confusing information. Make sure you check the facts thoroughly before you respond.

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SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Has a close relationship been going down a rocky road? Or stalling? Or even going backwards? The New Moon encourages you to dig deep, build bridges and start communicating again. You’ll have to be extra patient though, as you make the first move and are prepared to wait for long-term results. Things start moving forward from Friday onwards, when Mercury turns direct. So this week, the buzz words are rebirth, regeneration and transformation.

Communication planet Mercury is in retrograde mode until Friday. So watch what you say and tweet and post and podcast on social media. Think twice before you unleash something controversial that you later regret! Try to keep yourself occupied in entertaining ways, as the New Moon lights up your leisure and recreation zone. Creative projects and quirky Aquarian hobbies are particularly favoured, as you share stories and develop ideas with others.

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