CityNews 220728

KEEPING UP THE ACT SHOWS HOW THE GROWTH AND RENEWAL PROGRAM CULLS MUCH-LOVED CANBERRANS

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JULY 28, 20

e l W rwit e , n e l w r e ad

It’ll take more than God to fix the environment

MICHAEL MOORE

Kingston building approval sends the wrong signals

PAUL COSTIGAN

More houses will lower prices, is Lee crackers?

IAN MEIKLE

Material way to keep garden frost at bay

JACKIE WARBURTON

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PRISON SERVICE SHAME / the reaction

Drug claims: ‘I’m so glad this has come to surface’

By Belinda

STRAHORN “CITYNEWS” has received an overwhelming response to its prison exclusive that revealed allegations of a drug-taking culture among some corrections officers at Canberra’s jail.

In “CityNews” on May 12, Tim Rust – a former senior director of operations at Canberra’s prison – blew the lid on a long-standing culture of drug taking among some corrections officers at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC).

In the weeks following publication of the story, “CityNews” has been contacted by a stream of readers who aired similar claims to the concerning allegations levelled against prison officers by Mr Rust.

Mr Rust’s allegations – which have been referred to the ACT Integrity Commission – include cocaine-fuelled staff parties, hot-tub photos with senior and junior prison staff, an affair with an ex-inmate, and attempts by prison authorities not to fully investigate the substance of the matters.

In an email to “CityNews”, a former colleague of the whistleblower – who worked as a corrections officer between 2016 and 2020 – lent his weight

to Mr Rust’s claims about a drugfuelled party culture amongst some prison staff.

Rust – who left corrective services last year – told “CityNews” it was widely known among staff that private drug parties were being attended by a core group of 10 prison officers, nicknamed the “Bali 10”.

“I knew Tim Rust and can confirm 100 per cent that what he has spoken out about is correct,” the former corrections officer said in the email.

“I had heard rumours about those parties and knew three officers involved. “They also did drugs at other venues.”

The former prison employee – who wished to remain anonymous – felt encouraged by the fact that Mr Rust’s

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claims were publicly aired.

“I am so glad this has come to the surface,” the former officer said.

The email also outlined serious incidents of bullying between prison officers at the AMC. “What has not come to light was the bullying between officers that management refused to acknowledge,” the former officer wrote.

“I was targeted and sustained an injury due to bullying. I reported it but management did nothing.

“They did an internal investigation after I insisted I wanted an external [one].

“The officer that injured me deliberately was a senior officer. She received no reprimand. I was forced to resign due to my injury.”

Other allegations made by Mr Rust include an affair between a prison officer and an ex-detainee that involved drug taking.

In response to Mr Rust’s revelations, two ex-wives of former prison officers – who didn’t want to be named

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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: Susanne Boag Proof reader: Glenda Anderson Distribution manager: penny@citynews.com.au

– told “CityNews” that their husbands were having affairs with inmates.

“I reported to Corrections that he was having an affair with a detainee, and nothing happened, it was swept under the carpet,” one ex-wife told “CityNews”.

“I didn’t know who I was married to,” the other ex-wife said.

“I knew he was dating an inmate.”

One of the ex-wives, who had attended a staff Christmas function with her then corrections officer husband, expressed her disgust at the behaviour of prison officers and left the party feeling “nauseated” by what she saw.

“Everyone was so drug affected that they didn’t seem to care what they were doing,” the ex-wife said.

“There’s a massive drinking and drug culture. It’s incestuous, and they cover for everyone.

“After attending one social occasion I vowed never to return. It was disgusting and made my stomach turn.”

Both of the former wives of prison officers point the finger of blame at corrections for allowing inappropriate workplace behaviour to go unchecked.

“It’s not a good environment at all,” one of the ex-wives said.

“There’s a slippery slope between who you look up to and who you become.

“I really hope some justice comes to those who are having these parties,

using cocaine, and glorifying their power. They need to be brought down.”

The woman expressed gratitude for Mr Rust’s decision to speak up about prison workplace culture.

“If I could shake Mr Rust’s hand for speaking out, I would,” one ex-wife said.

“Corrections ruined my life. They [prison officers] have a standing in the community, they are supposed to be the wall between us and some notso-savoury people, and yet they are worse.”

The article also garnered a strong reaction on Facebook.

“Absolutely disgusting…,” said Lina Vmz. “Yes and they will threaten and sack anyone who speaks up about this #corruption,” Jane Smith said.

While some considered it an important issue to be raised, others didn’t.

“What’s the big deal,” Johnny Williams said.

“What pple [people] do outside of business hours in their business,” said Jasmine Lee. Some weeks after publication of the story, both the former ACT Corrections Minister Shane Rattenbury and current Corrections Minister Mick Gentleman denied knowing about the published allegations.

Know something? Email belinda@citynews.com.au

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SEVEN DAYS

More houses will lower prices, is Lee crackers?

THAT Elizabeth Lee, always moaning about something and now look what’s she trying to do – get the government to sell more building blocks.

Does she realise what that’s going to do to the price of housing for householders in this town?

The opposition leader’s upset because a new report says that only 966 blocks of land were released for detached housing in Canberra during 2021.

According to the “ACT Land and Property Report” for December, 656 single-dwelling blocks were released in the first half of the year, while only 340 blocks made it to market between July and December.

It follows almost 20,000 applications made for just 152 blocks across two recent land ballots in the ACT. “The numbers from the report tell a stark story of Canberrans being deprived of genuine choice when it comes to housing options,” Lee grumbled.

“This LaborGreens government is denying Canberrans

the opportunity of owning their own home because it is deliberately restricting the release of land.”

And the problem for those who have a free-standing house is?

By strangling demand, our nation-leading, neoliberal, progressive, broke coalition government is effectively increasing the value of freestanding properties by, some say, about $50k annually. And up go the rates!

You’d be mad to ever vote them out, despite their dangerous promise of releasing 4171 blocks over the next five years. But, hey, that’s only 835 a year and way less than last year.

Gotta love this “building a better normal”, so long as it’s not houses! Thank you, Andrew! Thank you, Shane!

WITH great fanfare, the ACT government hit the spin cycle this past week with a breathless announcement of a new high school for 800 students in Taylor, a suburb of Gungahlin, which will fortuitously open in 2024, the year of the next ACT election.

The frothing press release extolled the virtues of the new school’s resources, declaring it part of the ACT government’s “infrastructure pipeline, creating more good jobs as we work towards our goal of 250,000 local jobs by 2025”, whatever that means.

Maybe the CFMEU can explain it.

for marketing purposes.”

However, he has some catching up to do with international tennis stars such as Rafael Nadal (15.7 million followers), Serena Williams (15 million) and Novak Djokovic (11.1 million).

Nick Kyrgios.

Caricature: Paul Dorin

“The upcoming ACT Budget will provide additional funding,” they said, but no hint of telling the taxpayer what the funding total would be. We asked but, no surprises, no-one answered.

REACHING the Wimbledon final has been good, very good, for Canberra tennis star Nick Kyrgios, beyond the $1.8 million he pocketed for losing to Novak Djokovic.

Apparently, his Instagram following has jumped by almost half (46 per cent) adding 916,000 new followers between June 13 and July 13, taking his total to 2.9 million.

HypeAuditor, an artificial intelligence analytics platform, shows Kyrgios’ posts

What is it? It’s got reader John Rogers stumped. attract on average 2000 comments each, with 56 per cent classified as positive, 6 per cent negative, and 38 per cent neutral.

“Though Kyrgios may have proved a divisive figure during the Wimbledon tournament, his popularity and the interest both the public and brands are taking in him cannot be denied,” says Alexander Frolov, CEO of HypeAuditor.

“Almost overnight, he turned himself into an even more lucrative brand-sponsorship influencer. With an estimated sponsored post price of between $US40,000 and $US100,000 according to our data, he won’t come cheaply to any brand that engages him

To the young,

READER John Rogers, of Fisher, walks every morning. The former journalist with the “Canberra Chronicle”, the ABC and the federal press gallery, likes to take photos “of things that catch my interest – quirky, unusual things that tell a story”.

He says he often sees cast-offs and unwanted objects and curiosities, “the no-longer wanted, no-longer useful goods and objects”.

Occasionally, a mystery roadside dumping intrigues him, like the one pictured here.

He’s had some suggestions as to what it is, including “weights rack for placing different bell-bars along the top, small weights equipment at the bottom”; “fold-up clothing rack”; “a communication device for ET to phone home”; “spaghetti drying rack”; “bike stand”; “exercise torture device”; and “a Victorian trousers press”.

“Anyhow, after three days looking at it, it disappeared,” says John. “So I don’t know.

Does anyone?”

If you do, suggestions to editor@citynews.com.au 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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4 CityNews July 28-August 3, 2022

ADVERTISMENT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NEWS

Press Paws, there’s no stopping Donna

By Lily

PASS DONNA Blundell has worked as a horticulturist since she was 19, and this year provided her an opportunity to expand her focus to the other half of nature, animals.

Donna, 47, from Queanbeyan, is studying in a CIT course in community services and says her class was tasked with undertaking a project to help the community.

Together they found an organisation called Rainbow Paws.

President of Rainbow Paws Natarsha Lawrence says the organisation began in 2016, and its aim is to provide support for pets and their people during hard times.

“The Rainbow Paws program helps the most vulnerable in the community, including those at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness; those entering a refuge and those going into hospital who have no support networks to care for their pets,” says Natarsha.

So, Donna is making toys for the pets and clients of Rainbow Paws.

The toys will be given to clients, or sold to raise funds at the Christmasin-July event that Rainbow Paws is

Donna Blundell with some of her handmade pet toys. hosting.

“Pets provide emotional support, stability and unconditional love. We believe they deserve nothing less in return,” says Natarsha.

The Rainbow Paws Program also runs a “Doggy Christmas Party” in December, and shares Christmas

Photo: Lily Pass

hampers, gifts or treats with clients so pets and their owners have something special on Christmas Day. “I feel that it is helping those people to live a better life, and helping the animals, without directly interfering in their lives,” says Donna.

Donna says making pet toys gives

her something fun to do, and it is also her way of relieving stress.

“I make the toys when my son is at swimming, or if I am sitting and waiting for him somewhere, and it is also my wind down at night, something I do after dinner,” says Donna.

Her grandmother gave her the skills to be crafty and quick, and the toys don’t take her very long to make.

Donna has made “too many toys to count” and she often gives spare toys out to other pets she comes across.

She says pets seem to love them, and her four-year-old malamute, Piper, is a prime example.

“Piper is a rescue dog, my last three dogs have all been rescue dogs, I think they are a lot like people in that they have feelings as well, and you don’t want to just dump them,” says Donna.

“She has one of the toys, she loves to hold on to it and shake.”

The toys Donna makes are made from repurposed or donated materials, such as offcuts and cloth.

“The dog pull-toys are made out of stuff from the Green Shed, they were baby blankets and clothes, and I just cut as much as I could out of them,” says Donna.

She says it’s important to her to provide help to the community, and she believes that if people lead by example and do good things, then good things will follow.

BRIEFLY Nominate for ACT mental-health gongs NOMINATIONS are open until August 31 for the 2022 ACT Mental Health Month Awards, which recognise the achievements of individuals, groups, organisations, businesses and initiatives in mental health in the ACT. “There are many exceptional people and initiatives working to promote and improve mental health understanding, awareness, service provision and wellbeing in the Canberra community,” said Corinne Dobson, acting CEO of the Mental Health Community Coalition ACT. There are categories for consumers, carers, researchers and organisations, including scholarships. Nominate at mentalhealthmonthact.org/awards

Warm is the word WARM is the word at the next St Ninian’s clothing sale which will offer winter clothing for all ages, jackets and suits, blankets, doonas, towels and linen, and shoes and boots. And the kitchen will be serving house-made hot scones. It’s at the church hall, corner of Mouat and Brigalow streets, Lyneham, 9am-1pm, July 29-30.

Bob’s rhyming time POET Bob Bush, a familiar speaker at community and service clubs, will entertain the ladies of the Tuggeranong Day VIEW Club over lunch at the Vikings Town Centre Club, Greenway, on August 16. The cost is $30 and visitors are always welcome. RSVP by August 12 to 0409 747017.

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POLITICS / ‘State of the Environment’ report

It’ll take more than God to fix the environment THE recent “State of the Environment” report dispels any doubts about the need for a change of the federal government at the last election.

The revelation of the Morrison government’s appalling environmental performance is not really surprising.

However, the decline in trust of politicians has also been highlighted.

The Morrison government cynically sat on the report from December last year until after the election.

The report was described by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek as “shocking”. In a talk at the National Press Club she outlined the loss of more Australian mammal species than any other continent, that Australia has more foreign plant species than native ones for the first time and in 2019 the Murray-Darling fell to the lowest levels ever.

One of the most “shocking” findings is that as recently as the last five years, threatened communities have grown by 20 per cent. The catastrophic fires have played a key role in increasing those endangered.

The report blamed climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and mining for accelerating the disintegration of the environment.

These conclusions were drawn after conducting extensive research into

How ironic is it that Scott Morrison argues people should “trust God” rather than governments?

Levels of trust have steadily declined over the last decade when the Liberals have held power federally. poor land and water management, extreme weather events, high emissions, indigenous impacts, water temperatures and rising sea levels.

All of this was known when the report was handed to then Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, in December.

Such appalling news required immediate and firm action. However, the Morrison government determined it was better to keep voters in the dark rather than have the matter debated as part of the election. They blatantly prioritised their own political interests before the interests of the people.

An attempt to defend the former environment minister by the current Liberal shadow Karen Andrews backfired. She argued that Ley “complied with requirements” and went on to say: “One of the key tenets of the Liberal Party is to protect the natural environment for future generations”. This report puts the lie

to any such suggestions.

How ironic is it that Scott Morrison, who is still an elected MP, argues that people should “trust God” rather than governments? Levels of trust have steadily declined over the last decade when the Liberals have held power federally. The decline accelerated markedly during the last years of the Morrison government.

The former prime minister also told Margaret Court’s Victory Life Centre in Perth: “We trust in Him. We don’t trust in governments, we don’t trust in the United Nations, thank goodness.

We don’t trust in all of these things, fine as they might be and as important as the role that they play.”

His reflections appear more like psychological projection than a sensible reflection on the damage that he and his colleagues have inflicted on the environment as well as levels of trust in politics. But at least he, and

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his fundamentalist colleagues, can put their trust in their God! He told the congregation: “Whether it is on these existential issues like the world’s stability, or climate, or any of these things, don’t be anxious about it” and added, “God’s kingdom will come.

It is in His hands. We trust in Him”.

No Scott! God will not fix the environment. We could not trust your government to make such a report public when it was necessary. Fixing the environment will take significant action by governments with the ball now in the court of Plibersek and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

They are not on their own. The independents, the Greens and the Jacqui Lambie Network all have a key

role to play.

Plibersek outlined Labor’s agenda during her talk at the National Press Club. The challenge for them is that “we need to restore environments that have already been damaged and we need to actively manage our landscapes, oceans and waterways, and the critical places that we have vowed to protect so they don’t become run down through neglect”.

As a first step she announced the establishment of an Environmental Protection Agency. In contrast to the previous government she told the Press Club that what is needed is “a fundamental reform of our national environmental laws and empowering a new Environmental Protection Agency to enforce them”.

As a key insight into the community’s hope for a new approach, she added: “We need trust and transparency.

Decisions need to be built on good data, to show the public how we’re tracking in real time”.

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SPORT

Batsman looks forward to a big bash at Manuka MANUKA Oval did plenty of heavy lifting to keep the Big Bash going over the past couple of seasons.

When covid struck, the competition was on a knife’s edge as borders shut.

The ACT was seen as a solution for Cricket Australia, with a “bubble” established in Canberra at the back end of 2020, and Manuka Oval hosting more than a dozen matches across the last two seasons.

The Thunder’s connection to the capital will continue this year, with the club bringing more of their home matches back to Canberra for the upcoming BBL and WBBL seasons.

The men’s team will play two matches at Manuka Oval including the first match of the season on December 13 against the Melbourne Stars, while the Thunder’s women will host the Melbourne Renegades at the same venue on November 15.

“Canberra showed that it is more than capable of hosting first-class cricket, and plenty of it, when the city pretty much rescued the Big Bash a couple of years ago,” the head of Sydney Thunder Andrew Gilchrist told “CityNews”.

“For us, it is our home away from home. We play some of our best cricket in the ACT and I know the teams are excited to get back down there.”

Thunder batsman Ollie Davies… and that schoolboy photo with his hero Shaun Marsh.

Having spent so much time in Canberra over the past few seasons, batsman Ollie Davies and his teammates feel like locals in the nation’s capital.

“We absolutely love playing at Manuka. I think I have played there three times and had two good innings,” Davies told “CityNews”.

“I love batting there, it has nice short square boundaries.

“The atmosphere is also great. We always get a good, full crowd every single time we play there and I know the boys love heading down and playing because we get great support from the locals.”

Davies is a success story from the Big Bash. The competition raised the

ire of cricket purists when it was first established in 2011.

The fluro-coloured team kit, loud music and fireworks were a world away from the Test and Sheffield Shield formats that some within the game described as becoming “male, pale and stale”.

Davies was 11 when that first competition was played and, like many other young cricket fans, had his favourite player: WA batsman Shaun Marsh.

Despite growing up in Curl Curl on Sydney’s northern beaches, Davies had a Perth Scorchers hat and shirt because it was his idol’s team. He remembers going for a surf at the local beach during the school holidays,

but rushing home to make sure he could tune in to watch players such as Marsh on the TV every night.

Nine years on, a 20-year-old Davies would debut for the Thunder against the Scorchers in Canberra.

He played against Shaun’s brother Mitch that night and set Manuka Oval alight with an exciting innings, showing off his power hitting to help his team to a win.

A photo of Davies and his idol meeting at a match in Sydney years earlier went viral around the time of his debut.

Now it is Davies on the TV with young cricket fans across the nation looking up to him.

“It is pretty surreal,” said Davies of being someone the next generation of cricketers can aspire to be like.

“For me, as a young kid, if someone, like Shaun Marsh in my case, came over and signed an autograph for me that was going to make my year.

“I have made a deal with myself that after every game or training session, if there are people wanting autographs I am going to make sure that I go around and sign every single one just because doing that could make someone’s day and make them want to play cricket and enjoy the game.

“Having that opportunity to hopefully be someone’s idol is surreal but a really good feeling as well.”

This season has seen the addition of a BBL draft for the first time, meaning Canberra fans will have the chance to watch some of the world’s best cricketers ply their trade in person.

While the Thunder boss says he will leave selections in the draft to his list manager Tim Cruickshank and head coach Trevor Bayliss, he has mentioned some names that could potentially feature in lime green at Manuka Oval this year.

“We are going to see who nominates for the draft and we do have some ideas internally where we think we might use overseas players,” said Gilchrist.

“We have obviously had one of the biggest names in cricket, South Africa’s Faf du Plessis nominated and we are hopefully going to see some more names filter through in the next couple of weeks from Cricket Australia.”

There are more of Simon Anderson’s sport columns at citynews.com.au

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CANBERRA MATTERS / Kingston

Kingston building approval sends wrong signals The ACT’s government planning system is under review with the first badly organised and inadequate consultation stage completed in mid-June.

What is being proposed by this “Greenslabor” government will deliver less transparency, more complex and inaccessible governance, less political oversight and reduce opportunities for community engagement.

On June 22 something happened that reinforced the above points. On that day, the planning authority released its decision on the development application (DA) for a questionable, four-storey office building across two blocks on Giles Street, Kingston.

Just before the 2020 ACT elections, there was a DA for this site for an eight-storey residential building despite a former ruling in 2014 by the present planning minister that development on this site was restricted to two storeys. The chief minister and the leader of the ACT Greens expressed their opinions publicly that eight storeys across these sites was an overreach. This rare public comment on planning matters was put down to the coming elections.

That DA disappeared. In November it reappeared as a proposal for a fourstorey office building – apparently the previous need for crammed apart-

Worrying for people who want to trust this ‘Greenslabor’ government is that elected politicians remain wilfully blind to the damage being done to what was once a well-planned designed city.

The developer’s impression of the four-storey Kingston building. ments was no more. Given that many in the local community group, the Kingston and Barton Residents Group, had just completed a hard look at the operations of the planning authority, it did not take long before people realised how bad a decision it was to even consider, let alone approve, this DA for these two sites on Giles Street.

It is as if the planning bureaucrats who make these approvals are ignorant of their own rules, under which DAs are supposed to be assessed. It also follows that for the consultants to lodge such a faulty application they must have already known that pesky planning rules would be ignored in approving this DA. A serious matter raised during the first stage of the planning review was that the decisions on DAs are

taken behind closed doors with vague statements released on how decisions are made. This lack of transparency is normal for the “Greenslabor” planning bureaucracy and is an on-going concern for residents who wish to have a planning system they can respect and trust.

The bureaucrats did say something about this assessment – stating that “a thorough Territory Plan assessment was undertaken” but there is nothing presented to back this up. The reality is that the decision published on this Giles Street DA seems to ignore aspects of the Territory Plan.

The kindest conclusion has to be that they did indeed make the thorough assessment, and then ignored what they had read. It is either that or there is something seriously missing

in the levels of expertise in the planning directorate. For instance – can they read?

There are numerous faults with the DA. You cannot go past the claim that the development “respects” the character of the centre (Kingston).

Whoever wrote that must be still laughing and similarly the planning bureaucrats who accepted this as a true statement. What is proposed is at best a very ordinary 21st century example of bulked-out, dark-windowed “blandscaping”.

The bureaucrats have done what they do best when it comes to community involvement. They ignore them. The locals had submitted comprehensive details on what was wrong with the proposed DA – includ-

ing the detrimental impacts, the incompatibility, the non-compliance, the negative environmental impacts including dramatically reduced solar for the neighbours, how the DA failed the parking requirements and finally how community feedback had been misrepresented (as it is too often).

The fact that this DA was submitted with any confidence and then taken seriously by the bureaucrats adds to the view that planning in Canberra lacks transparency, is constantly being varied to be even more inaccessible, decisions and rulings lack proper governance and community engagement is a joke.

More worrying for people who want to trust this “Greenslabor” government, the elected politicians remain wilfully blind to the damage being done to what was once a well-planned designed city.

Paul Costigan is a commentator on cultural and urban matters.

There are more of his columns at citynews.com.au

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BRIEFLY Chapter closes for bookshop THE Queanbeyan Leagues Club property on Monaro Street, where the Lions Community Bookshop has been operating from rent free for the past four years, is being redeveloped, and the bookshop has been told it will need to move by December. The club is hoping someone might come to its rescue. “We are looking to stay in the CBD and we are ideally looking for something rent free,” says Lions Club secretary Karen Abbott.

Car show offers help BEARS of Hope are the beneficiaries of the ACT Meteors Hot Rod Association’s fifth annual Father’s Day car show at Federation Square, Gold Creek, 9am12.30pm, on September 4. Funds raised will support bereaved fathers and families facing the grief of losing a child. Car show registration is $15 to enter hot rods, classic cars and chrome-bumper cars on the day.

Email meteorshra@outlook.com

Bec makes a splash QUEANBEYAN’S Bec Warner is the Austswim NSW teacher of the year for the infant and preschool aquatics category in 2021/22. Warner has taught thousands of people how to swim in her decade long career as a swimming teacher at the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) aquatics centre. The Austswim award is the top award presented to individuals that achieve the highest standards of aquatic education excellence.

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www.yourpropertyprofits.com.au CityNews July 28-August 3, 2022 11

LETTERS

Write to us: editor@citynews.com.au

That child might wonder at our weak politicians I WOULD like to congratulate Jon Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed on reporting in a series of “CityNews” articles what is arguably one of the most urgent problems Canberrans are facing, namely the debt created by the Greens/Labor government and the prospect of insolvency.

It is interesting to note that budget deficits and borrowings started not in 2021 when the lockdown required payments to support those who lost their job, but some eight years earlier when preparations for the light rail from Civic to Gungahlin began.

As Stanhope writes, a child in primary school today will be paying off the debt until retirement.

Twenty years from now, this child might also be amazed at the stupidity of its elders to borrow massively for a transport system that permits no updating either with regard to technical advances or routes in accord with changing passenger requirements.

It might also realise that the government’s promotional speak that it “is building light rail to Woden to help make Canberra a more connected, sustainable, and vibrant city” was no more than a euphemism for permitting property developers to create urban heat islands by high-density, high-rise constructions along the tram line.

Finally this child might wonder why no MLA had the moral courage to stand up against this project that, under their very eyes, resulted in an underfunding of essential public services cruelly impacting on those at the bottom of the income scale.

Surely, it is absurd that in one of Australia’s richest jurisdictions, discussions need to be held on whether a vulnerable elderly person should be evicted from public housing so a young mother with her children suffering from domestic violence can be provided with accommodation.

Robin Underwood, via citynews.com.au

Rates rise, time to can the tram?

THE ACT government’s announcement for future infrastructure spending was justified

by Chief Minister Barr as capitalising on the “lowest interest rates since Federation”.

Clearly our government ignores the RBA forecasts. Rising rates will propel the ACT

into even further debt, which its citizens have no more tolerance for.

Now is the time, with a perfect excuse to cut spending, to finally can the tram for good.

Ken Murtagh, Hughes

Greens cave in to developer bias COLUMNIST Paul Costigan is right about the ACT Greens and their compromised values as “just a branch of Barr’s neoliberal Labor” (CN July 14).

For example, the ACT Greens’ commitment to light rail, as Paul has pointed out previously, is a huge free kick for developers to erect more characterless buildings for apartments, further enhancing the ACT government’s rates base.

While I do support some federal Greens’ policies such as including dental care in Medicare, the ACT Greens on light rail exhibit that religious zeal and hanging on to dogma, no matter how logical the arguments are against the further extension of light rail, such as the massive financial cost, greenhouse gas emissions and alternative, cheaper and more flexible transport options.

Open-mindedness and flexibility of thinking seem to be features of Greens’ thinking that are absent. Instead there is either rampant zealotry on the one hand, or caving into ACT Labor’s developer bias on the other.

Murray May, Cook

Clay toes the party tram line IN a recent interview on the 666 ABC morning program, Jo Clay, a Greens MLA for Ginninderra stated that she did not think the expenditure of nearly $100 million on upgrades to four roundabouts on major roads on Canberra’s southside was sensible investment in transport planning because the roads would quickly become congested again.

That was a sound comment on her part as transport planners have known for many years that expanding road capacity achieves no discernible benefit in the long term.

That’s where her sound argument finished.

When a listener called in to ask her how the government could justify spending hundreds of millions on Light Rail Stage 2 when cheaper and better systems were available, all Clay could respond to was that many people were using the existing light rail!

What a woeful justification for such a

disgraceful waste of taxpayers’ money.

One might ask how could the residents of Gungahlin commute to the CBD given all the bus services were stopped?

Clearly, Clay was toeing the party line and could not offer a plausible justification in terms of the business case. The auditorgeneral has said as much in questioning the analysis carried out.

Colin Lyons, Weetangera

How will we charge electric cars?

SHOULD the 2035 aim of electrical vehicles be realised (citynews.com.au, July 18), we can but hope that the ACT has an incredibly robust and reliable electrical grid with plenty of spare capacity and expansion capability in place long before then.

I want to see independently verified modelling complete with extensive costings provided in 2022, that clearly tells us what is required to upgrade the electrical system throughout the ACT to enable the recharging of all these electrical vehicles in the next decade or two. Just imagine 250,000+ cars all being plugged in each afternoon for charging.

Make no mistake, the ACT electrical system (everything from substations and infrastructure cabling) will require an overhaul/upgrade. And how much will it cost to put in public recharging stations throughout the ACT? You just know the ratepayer is going to get stuck with an astronomical bill – remind you of rail, anyone?

Additionally, there will be the household cost of buying electric cars (which will remain a high cost asset for a long time yet), coupled with the cost of installing recharging stations at home premises.

Consider also the reduction of fuel tax revenue, which will have to be made up somewhere – so expect your rego to increase significantly and/or services to be dropped.

I predict this government will ultimately say: “Oh well, the grid is maxed out so if you don’t have power generation at home (eg solar) then too bad you can’t recharge the car” – so likely you’ll pay for a solar system now, too.

No support from me until I see what it’s going to cost – we have been absolutely fooled and smashed by the ever increasing cost of rail by this government, and I predict this will be more of the same.

Bjorn Moore, via email

Crisis, what crisis?

IS this Housing ACT’s considered response to Canberra’s housing crisis?

Paul Varsanyi, Kambah

I don’t have Mario’s insider knowledge LETTER writer Mario Stivala is quite happy to provide his opinion on numerous occasions, but does not appear to accept other opinions and suggests they are “living in the dreamtime” in my case (Letters, CN July 14).

You can usually tell about a person’s character when they resort to insults, but even though I am an economist, I won’t pretend to know what is better value for money than the PM, his treasurer and his finance minister. If they think a Royal Commission into Robodebt is worthwhile (and presumably Stivala wasn’t impacted by it, unlike thousands of others), then I am willing to go along with the ALP on that decision as I don’t have the insider cost/ benefit knowledge that Stivala appears to have to argue about its merits.

Ric Hingee, Duffy

Too many heads deep in the sand EXACTLY! to this piece, “We’ve lost the plot on covid messaging”, citynews.com.au July 14.

In mid-July 2022, state and federal government leaders and their senior health personnel resemble lemmings heading for the proverbial cliff. Limp statements that do nothing to ensure broader application of sensible preventive health measures abound.

Our Chief Minister’s recent negative stance and commentary about influencing behaviour was particularly notable for its defeatist tone and poor role-modelling.

Hopefully, the upcoming ACT Budget’s economic and social well-being analyses will include data on the current and projected productivity losses from covid across our main employment sectors and the local impacts of the longer-term costs being borne

by hundreds who may suffer from “long covid”‘ for extensive periods of time, and the thousands more who now are more likely to experience the serious longer health impacts arising from catching covid more than once.

Funding is well overdue for large, well-lit and eye-catching public health messaging in major public spaces, across all shopping centres, transport interchanges, bus stops and outside all crowded gathering places.

Strong messages on the sides of our buses and light rail vehicles would also be an effective way of spreading information. At the national level, a far less shambolic approach to reducing and slowing transmission is overdue, too. The federal government’s lacklustre ads also need an urgent make-over and reboot.

Sue Dyer, Downer

Another hour calling Access Canberra FURTHER to Michael Moore’s article about Access Canberra gilding “its own wilting lily” (CN July 21), I’ve just spent the greater part of an hour trying to speak to a human about my driver’s licence being suspended without notice despite my having completed my medical and submitting the certificate.

I must have dialled the recommended number 20 times, only to have it suddenly ring off.

When I finally spoke to a human, she tried a few numbers – without success – then told me to visit the Woden office of Access Canberra in person. No doubt I’d also wait there for ages.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

Barry’s right, there’s more to transport LETTER writer Barry Peffer correctly points out (“Emissions are not the full story”, CN July 12) that there is more to transport than greenhouse emissions.

He asks, “if all [public transport] journeys... were to use cars, what effect would that have had on our roads and congestion?”

With average car occupancy of 1.46 (as measured in the 2017 ACT and Queanbeyan Household Travel Survey), the number of car trips would increase by nine per cent.

If government incentives were to increase average car occupancy to 1.5, there would be no increase in the number of car trips.

Leon Arundell, Downer

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SMALL TOWNS

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Plenty to see and do in the Canberra surrounds SPREAD across the surrounds of Canberra are small towns with friendly communities and fascinating histories.

Whether it’s a picturesque stay in the countryside or shopping at some of the many passionate small businesses, there’s no shortage of hidden gems to uncover throughout the region.

This week “CityNews” stopped by a few small towns surrounding Canberra to check out what there is to see and do.

Jo brings beloved books to Yass

There’s nothing like Braidwood Outdoors, says owner Donna Robertson.

Braidwood’s one-stop outdoor shop DONNA Robertson, owner of Braidwood Outdoors, says there is nothing quite like her business.

She describes the business as “what you would call an old-style country store.”

“I sell everything from firearms, ammunition and hunting gear through to Western fashion, normal fashion, leather goods, footwear and camping gear so it’s very broad.”

In 2008 she opened Braidwood Outdoors, because she wanted something closer to home.

“So I didn’t have to travel to Canberra every day, and there was no gun shop in Braidwood, that’s what the business started off as, just a firearm shop.”

And the business has been very popular.

“It’s a rural community, so there’s plenty of hunting and feral patrols as well as club shooters, and there’s still no business like Braidwood Outdoors in the area,” says Donna.

“I’ve got a pretty good customer base. Customers are really quite loyal to me which is great and a lot of my support actually comes from Canberra and Sydney.

“There’s a lot of people who come here for weekend getaways or have properties here and they’ll ring up and check if I’ve got something in stock rather than buying it in Sydney or Canberra.

It’s quite humbling really that people are so loyal.”

Braidwood Outdoors, 72 Wallace Street, Braidwood.

Call 4842 2775.

OWNER of The Yass Book Store Jo Hicks was inspired to open her “eclectic and colourful” shop after seeing a need for a book retailer in her hometown.

“There was a book store about 10 years ago when I first moved here but there hasn’t been one for a while and I thought we needed one,” she says.

“I’m a big reader. I love reading and I’ve always thought a bookstore is a great thing for a town to have.”

Since opening the store, Jo says the collection has expanded into a wide range of genres and tastes.

“We’ve got a lot of children’s books, fiction, non-fiction, and I sell games and puzzles and a bit of fine stationery like

cards and gift wraps,” she says.

“A lot of Australian crime fiction is also very popular at the moment. We’ve sold a lot of Chris Hammer and we’ve got Geraldine Brooks’ new book in.”

She also says the book store hosts a number of events that include presentations from authors and poets around the region.

“It’s an eclectic and colourful shop, with beautiful sideboards, bookshelves and vintage furniture,” she says. “It’s a space people love to be in.”

The Yass Book Store, Liberty Theatre, 173 Comur Street, Yass. Call 6226 2677 or visit theyassbookstore.com.au

The Yass Book Store... “an eclectic and colourful shop,” says owner Jo Hicks.

So much more than just a shop. It’s an experience not to miss.

Braidwood Outdoors is a family business providing the support and equipment you need to have an enjoyable experience with your outdoor pursuits. A good old fashion 100% Aussie owned and operated shop, if you need it we have it. We sell everything from firearms to camping gear, from camping gear to fashion and accessories.

Whilst Braidwood Outdoors specialise in Firearms, we also have a large assortment of other fabulous things at unreal prices, we sell the genuine product at genuine prices. There is something here for everybody.

72 Wallace St, Braidwood NSW Phone: (02) 4842 2775 CityNews July 28-August 3, 2022 13

SMALL TOWNS Delicious food in an historic setting SET in the old police stables at Gundaroo, the Cork Street Cafe provides delicious food and a relaxed environment, says owner Cassandra SimakoffEllims.

“We strive to offer quality, tasty, humble food, like pizza and its sidekicks, and drinks,” she says.

“Being out of town means that we aim for a long, relaxed meal. The sort that in an ideal world would roll into the next meal.”

With indoor and outdoor dining, Cassandra says visitors can enjoy a long evening with friends on the large wooden tables in the courtyard or an intimate dinner for a smaller group inside.

“Serving good food to people where you converse with the regulars regularly and meet people from all over the place who you wouldn’t interact with otherwise has always been a joy,” she says.

Cork Street Cafe, 24 Cork Street, Gundaroo.

Call 6236 8217 or visit corkstreetcafe.com

Plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained, says Belinda Sierzchula.

Creativity blooms in small community

A weekend escape to open spaces

BEC Blazejak says she’s always been creative and she wanted a business to call her own.

“It just so happened a friend was selling her floristry business, so I decided to give it a go.”

Now, Love Grow Bloom offers delivery of floral arrangements, gifts and hampers to Yass, Murrumbateman and Canberra.

“I’m building up to hopefully start doing events and growing the business even more,” says Bec. “I use a lot of local products from the Murrumbateman and Yass area in my hampers, things like food, chocolate, wine and candles, to support and showcase other local small businesses.”

“I also run workshops about once a month on floristry things like dried wreaths or vase arrangements because there’s not a lot of things like that in the area.

“It gives people something to do without having to travel too far. It’s been very popular and it’s nice to see people in workshops accomplish something creative that they maybe thought they couldn’t achieve.”

Bec says it’s nice working in a smaller community, because she gets more of a chance to get to know her customers.

“I get to know people and I get to know what they like – an order might come through for a particular customer and I get to create something I know they’ll like and personalise it, and it’s nice to work and support other small businesses.”

MICHELAGO Farm Stay is surrounded by lovely bushland, says owner Belinda Sierzchula, and all the money that comes from campers goes back into restoring the natural environment there.

“We’ve got four defined camping spots for tents or caravans, but often people just camp wherever they feel like it and we’re pretty flexible,” Belinda says.

“We’re nice and close to Canberra, only 40 minutes or maybe an hour max from just about anywhere in Canberra so it’s accessible for a quick weekend away.

Belinda says there’s plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained.

“There’s a kids’ play area with a ninja line and trampoline to keep them busy while the adults relax.

“We’ve got a small dam here, too, and some kayaks for kids to paddle around with, and we’ve got some very cute miniature donkeys, some alpacas and a goat that kids can do animal feeding with.”

Belinda says all campsites have a firepit, and there’s a little general store that makes “nice burgers and chips” to go with the “amazing views of the mountains here.”

“It’s a nice way to share a little bit of our lifestyle with people who don’t get that experience in town, with the animals, open spaces and the lovely view.”

Michelago Farm Stay, 6141 Monaro Highway, Michelago, NSW. Call 0411 043027, or visit hipcamp.com

A camping farm stay between Canberra & Cooma with spectacular views of the mountains. Come and get away from all the hustle & bustle and enjoy our views and funny animals. All of the camping fees are used for rehabilitating our land with natives.

Michelago Farm Camping Ph: 0411 043 027 Bookings: https://www.hipcamp.com/en-AU/discover/ new-south-wales/michelago-farm-camping 14 CityNews July 28-August 3, 2022

Love Grow Bloom. Call 0407 426232, or visit lovegrowbloom.com.au

Pizzas from Cork Street Cafe.

Gundaroo’s little pizza cafe on Ngunnawal country, near Canberra.

Set in the old Police Stables at Gundaroo, the Cork Street Cafe provides delicious food and a relaxed environment.

Specialising in pizzas, the Cork Street Cafe’s menu also caters for lunch, and dinner on selected days of the week.

Dine In & Takeaway Thursday & Friday from 5pm Saturday & Sunday from 9am

24 Cork St, Gundaroo Ph 6236 8217 corkstreetcafe.com

Flowers Gifts & Hampers pick up or delivery Murrumbateman • Yass • Canberra

Bec 0407 426 232 Murrumbateman hello@lovegrowbloom.com.au facebook.com/lovegrowbloomflorist @lovegrowbloom_florist

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‘Country book store in a beautiful art deco theatre building’

We are an independent bookshop with a wide range of books, including: • children’s books • teen and young adult • adult fiction and non-fiction Moss Vale’s That Beautiful Shop.

Decor to turn a house into a home THAT Beautiful Shop, in Moss Vale, offers a full upholstery service, says owner Virginia Ransom.

The shop also sells curtains and blinds, couches, sofas and armchairs, rugs and lamps, custom bedheads, wallpaper and pre-loved chairs that have been reupholstered.

Virginia says she’s not an interior designer: “I don’t pretend to be. My point of difference is I offer all of this stock, but I’m not going to go to your house and tell you what to get rid of.

“We offer all types of upholstery and curtain fabrics,

and lots of wallpaper designs.

“My priority is to satisfy the client’s individual needs, to make sure they get exactly what they want.

“We offer servicing to clients from Sydney, to the coast, and to Canberra.”

And, Virginia says she hopes the store is busy.

“I like meeting the people, and helping them turn their house into a home.”

We also stock: • quality stationery • cards • wrapping paper • writing paper • notebooks – all with a focus on Australian and sustainable brands

Liberty Theatre 173 Comur Street, Yass Phone 6226 2677 theyassbookstore.com.au E: jo@theyassbookstore.com.au

That Beautiful Shop, 406 Argyle Street, Moss Vale.

Call 4868 1234.

Redecorating the whole room?

That Beautiful Shop 406 Argyle St, Moss Vale, T: 02 4868 1234

Or reviving an old piece?

Whatever your project, come and see us for custom-made sofas, upholstery, curtains, rugs and much more.

Open Wednesday to Saturday, OR by appointment CityNews July 28-August 3, 2022 15

TRADIES’ HEALTH MONTH

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The importance of keeping tradies safe at work WorkSafe ACT warns young workers are at risk

SIXTY per cent of tradies often have aches and pains as a result of their job, according to the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

Their research has also found that two-thirds of tradies agreed that they would be more inclined to stretch or warm-up before starting work if their employer prioritised it.

These statistics are why the Australian Physiotherapy Association runs the Tradies National Health Month initiative every August.

The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness of the health and injury risks affecting those who work in trade occupations, as well as the flow-on effects to families, employers and the wider community.

In the lead-up to the month, “CityNews” speaks to businesses who have the knowledge, skills and equipment that can help keep tradies safe.

“A MANAGER or a boss yelling at you is just as dangerous as a drill that doesn’t have a guard,” says WorkSafe ACT Young Workers Strategy Coordinator Luke Folkard.

“Just like physical health, psychological health is an important part of work health and safety for young workers, including young tradies,” he says.

“They can be exposed to hazards like stress, bullying, fatigue, violence and aggression, Luke Folkard, left, with Nathan Merritt. sexual harassment, difficult situYoung Workers Inspector for WorkSafe ations or traumatic events and in the workplace ACT Nathan Merritt says that as an apprentice psychosocial risks should be managed like any bricklayer, he had a positive experience with his other risk.” employer, and that he’s striving to provide that Luke says data analysis shows young workers are to more people. one of the most vulnerable groups in workplaces “I had good support from my boss, if I needed and may be more at risk of experiencing injuries, to report an incident I knew where to go and especially when they are new to the workplace. that’s a right I think everyone deserves,” he says.

“Young workers may be less likely to voice “I knew my roles and responsibility, I knew their concerns or not know where they should what was wrong and right, and I had the report issues,” says Luke. confidence to stand up when I needed to and “When your boss asks you to stick around that’s something we want more young workers after work or work on Saturday, a lot of young to be able to do.” workers feel like they can’t say no.

“We’re looking to increase education both for For more information and resources, call WorkSafe employers and for workers around their rights ACT on 132231 or visit worksafe.act.gov.au/ and duties.” initiatives/young-workers

Sore?

Higher Function Physio & Pilates, Suite 4, Level 1/23 Petrie Plaza.

Call 6262 9664 or visit higherfunction.com.au

We can help you understand and manage any workplace injury Joint injuries, sprains, dislocations and breaks • Ankle • Shoulder • Elbow & Wrist • Knee Muscular strains, tears and pain • Hamstring • Quadriceps • Calf • Arm Back and Neck pain

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16 CityNews July 28-August 3, 2022

TRADESPEOPLE work in an incredibly demanding environment, says exercise physiologist at Higher Function, Sam Catherall.

“Carpenters, painters, electricians and other trades have a variety of different skill sets, but all of them require a wellrounded, physically and mentally strong body to complete their work,” he says.

“Lower back pain is the most frequently reported complaint, which can arise from an abundance of contributing factors including repetitive movements, poor stability and strength, stress and anxiety, poor rest and nutrition, and working overtime.

Sam believes psychological stress is also reported in the construction industry.

“With such a competitive market, there can be the added stress of finishing a job quickly while also marketing for the next one.

“This has the potentiality of encouraging poor work-to-rest ratios, resulting in an increased risk of injury.”

Sam says 88 per cent of tradespeople reported they take good care of their tools, yet only 61 per cent say they take good care of their bodies.

Tradies can see a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist for an initial assessment, and receive a tailored exercise program to use at their own gym, at home, or, Sam says, at Higher Function.

“Find what works for you and incorporate it into your specific lifestyle.”

Atlas Sports Physiotherapy

This might just be the tip of the iceberg.

23 Petrie Plaza, Canberra City

Helping to prevent and manage pain

6262 9664

higherfunction.com.au

Phone: 6248 5505 www.atlasphysio.com.au First floor, 30 Lonsdale St, Braddon

SPORTS & DANCE PHYSIOTHERAPY

TRADIES’ HEALTH MONTH

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Tradies are athletes in a different uniform “MORE than 30 per cent of Australians work as a tradie or in manufacturing but they represent almost 60 per cent of all workplace injuries,” says owner of Atlas Physiotherapy Roz Penfold.

“Tradies are really athletes in a different uniform,” says Roz, who brings more than three decades of experience to her role.

“They come in all shapes, sizes and ages! In fact often tradies also train in the gym, on the footy pitch or pull out their runners or bike

Physio Kylie Turton with patient Gabriel Turner.

shoes after work.

“Tradies rely on their musculoskeletal health when performing their work, and can tend to ignore body stress, pain and aches that, if left untreated, can lead to debilitation and disability in the future.”

Roz says the most common workplace injuries experienced by tradies are shoulder dislocations and tears, knee cartilage and ligament damage, ankles sprains, acute lower back flares and muscular tears – particularly the quadriceps, calves and hamstrings.

“It’s well known that physiotherapists are highly experienced in treating sporting and workplace injuries, and this expertise is translated to assisting tradies prevent and recover from injuries,” she says.

“Atlas physiotherapists can assist in the initial management of these injuries, provide treatment where required, and most importantly guide them back to their workplace safely and in a timely manner.”

Depending on the specific trade, Roz also recommends a number of measures that can be taken to assist in minimising risk.

“Warm up and stretch where able, work around a neutral wrist position, vary tasks through the day, reduce time using tools that vibrate, rotate between using power tools and other tasks, change body positions regularly and use protective aids, gloves and guards where appropriate.”

Atlas Sports and Dance Physiotherapy, 30 Lonsdale Street, Braddon. Call 6248 5505 or visit atlasphysio.com.au

Seears Workwear owners Pat Seears, right, and his son Shane Seears.

‘Best in the business’ when it comes to safety gear BACKED with more than 90 years’ combined industry experience, the Seears Workwear team is the “biggest and best in the business” when it comes to providing work safety gear and equipment, says owner Pat Seears.

“Everything is the best quality from the best manufacturers,” he says.

“We have high-vis clothing, hard hats, safety boots, gloves, safety glasses and goggles, respirators and much more.”

Having first started as a “two-bob shop in the early ‘80s”, Pat says Seears Workwear has grown to provide one of the largest ranges of workwear in Australia, including from brands such as Cat, Akubra, Rockport, Huski, FXD and Steel Blue to name a few.

The store also includes workwear for chefs, paramedics and firefighters, says Pat, who knows the needs of local businesses.

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

He says Seears can also assist companies through their corporate uniform services, which provide customised embroidery services for promotional clothing and business uniforms.

Seears Workwear, 60 Barrier Street, Fyshwick.

Call 6280 4111 or visit seearsworkwear.com.au

Chronic pain treatment varies from person to person

CELBRATING TRADIE HEALTH MONTH AUGUST

WHEN treating chronic pain, Dr Nick Tsai from Orthopaedics ACT says it’s key to note that pain differs from person to person.

“It’s important to determine whether the pain is mechanical, which can be managed operatively by either fixing or replacing a joint, or related to other causes such as the spine or nerves, which often need medications, injections or other treatment methods,” he says.

Most commonly, Dr Tsai says Orthopaedics ACT sees patients with osteoarthritis pain, a condition he describes as “very debilitating”.

“It can negatively affect quality of life, sleep and makes it hard to function normally,” he says.

“In general this sort of pain responds very well [to treatment], even if it’s been going for a long time.”

But Orthopaedics ACT’s experienced team can help with other types of chronic pain, too, Dr Tsai says.

“Some people can have pain, which is not mechanical, but is related to nerve injuries and can become something called a complex regional pain syndrome,” says Dr Tsai.

“This is a different type of pain, which is generally not amenable to surgical treatment but needs a multi-disciplinary team approach to pain.

“Associate Prof Tillman Boesel, who is a visiting pain management specialist with Orthopaedics ACT, sees people with this variant of pain.”

Orthopaedics ACT, Woden Specialist Medical Centre, level 2, 90 Corinna Street, Phillip. Call 6221 9320 or visit orthoact.com.au

18 CityNews July 28-August 3, 2022

Orthopaedics ACT’s orthopaedic surgeon Dr Nicholas Tsai.

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THE WORLD OF HORSES

Saddle up for Canberra’s best equine experiences WINSTON Churchill once famously said that “no hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.”

That quote would ring true for many in Canberra, where there’s plenty of activities, businesses and charities that all celebrate the bond between people and horses.

This week “CityNews” spoke with some local horse lovers to find out about the equine experiences on offer in and around the capital.

Horses bring joy and therapy to people with disability

Centre houses latest in equine technology

Race club membership offers ‘fantastic’ value

LOCATED on an “idyllic”, 40-hectare farm around 10 minutes from the centre of Belconnen, Pegasus ACT is a charity that delivers therapeutic horse-facilitated programs to people living with disability.

CEO Matthew Watson says its programs can provide a range of benefits, from developing confidence right through to physical therapy that can help people learn to walk.

“It’s about being able to build a relationship and trust with a horse, and learning to work with that horse,” he says.

“Seeing people’s personalities grow and develop through that relationship with their horse is amazing. Even the nervous kids are on a horse within two lessons. They’re calm, they’re having a good time, they’ve got a smile on their face.”

He says the programs always try to keep the same horse and same volunteer for each participant, so that they can build a relationship and understanding with both.

“If you have a participant who can’t walk or has difficulty walking, the movement of the horse actually encourages those muscles to move,” says Matthew.

“We’ve had children here who when they started could barely walk, if at all, and after a few months they are learning to sit up on their own or starting to walk on their own.”

He also says they’re always looking for volunteers, and that they don’t need any prior experience to help out.

“Words can’t quite explain it. Many people come along and fall in love with the place,” he says.

COMBINING stunning architecture, sculptures and a native botanical garden, Willinga Park is a world-class equestrian centre that houses the latest in equine technology, says owner Terry Snow.

Set on 41 Hectares of Aerial view of Willinga Park. the NSW South Coast, Terry says the facilities include a conference centre, luxury stables, commercial cattle stud facilities and extensive facilities for the agistment and training of horses.

“Each year the park hosts several community-wide events and premier equine sporting competitions across dressage, showjumping, eventing and campdrafting.”

Terry says he’s strived to contribute to the Olympic sport of dressage by creating the best facilities in Australia, where riders of all levels can qualify for international standing.

“The Park fully supports Australia’s athletes across equestrian disciplines and aims to fully support past and future Australian Olympians,” he says.

“Willinga Park-based dressage rider Jayden Brown, his grooms and six Willinga Park dressage horses recently moved to the UK to compete and train with the best in the industry while they set their sights on the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.”

MEMBERSHIP to the Canberra Racing Club is available in young, full or senior categories.

It provides members with a variety of facilities and benefits and offers great savings, says marketing and sponsorship manager Robbie Ringland. “Memberships at Thoroughbred Park are fantastic value with the full cost returned to you in credit to be used on food and beverages on-course,” he says.

“You also receive free entry to all race days and entry into our tipping competition that’s currently worth $61,000.”

Thoroughbred Park is the home of the Canberra Racing Club, which holds race meetings there 25 times a year, including TAB Melbourne Cup Race Day and the Canberra Racing Carnival encompassing John McGrath Auto Group Canberra Black Opal Stakes and TAB Canberra Cup Race Days.

Robbie says the Canberra racing scene is having a great season, with local trainer, Matthew Dale being recently crowned Canberra’s Premier Trainer for 2021/2022 to go alongside his victory in the Barbara Joseph Medal at the 2022 Canberra Racing Carnival.

“To win the inaugural Barbara Joseph Medal was a great honour” Dale says.

“Any winner over your home carnival is a great thrill, so to get two winners and take home the medal was great.”

Dale puts his success down to consistency and the hard-working staff he has around him.

Pegasus Riding for the Disabled, 119 Drake Brockman Drive, Holt.

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Willinga Park, 132 Forster Drive, Bawley Point.

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Training is provided. For more information, visit: pegasusact.com.au/volunteering/ call us on: 02 6254 9190 or email: volunteers@pegasusact.com.au 20 CityNews July 28-August 3, 2022

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Award-winning horse riding store HORSELAND Canberra took out the Horseland store of the year award last year, chosen for their expertise in all things equestrian out of 51 stores nationally, says manager Kelsey Young.

“We live and breathe horses,” she says.

“Being nationally recognised for our expertise and excellence is a result of our team’s passion and skill and is an achievement that we’re really proud of.”

Stocking the world’s leading equestrian brands, Kelsey says they have the biggest range in the Canberra region to suit all budgets.

“It doesn’t stop at saddles and bridles, but includes horse health, stylish casual wear, dog rugs, toys, boots and more,” she says.

Like many of the staff, Kelsey started horse riding from a young age and says she “never looked back”.

“Several of the team get out regularly to compete across disciplines like showjumping, dressage, endurance and eventing,” she says.

Kelsey says she and the team are always excited to help riders that are starting out. “[It] can be such an exciting time, but it can also be daunting — I love being able to share in their journey and provide them with all the advice they need,” she says.

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Frost cloth protests a Kroenleinia grusonii to prevent it from freezing and rotting from the centre.

Photo: Jackie Warburton

Material way to keep frost at bay

By Jackie

WARBURTON OVER the next four to six weeks the frost will be at its worst for the garden and a little care and attention might be needed to protect some plants that just don’t like the cold.

There are many cloth materials available on the market to wrap around plants to protect from the harsh elements, such as frost.

My Kroenleinia grusonii is protected with frost cloth to prevent it from freezing and rotting from the centre. Frost cloth can stay on the plant during the day as its a lightweight material that lets the light and water in. Any other materials such as old sheets can be used, but heavy materials like that can’t

be in contact with the plant and a staked frame could be used with the material removed during the day.

If a tented structure is too unsightly then there are liquid products that can be sprayed on to the leaves and protect the plants from the elements, but will need to be reapplied after rain.

TRUFFLES are a delicacy on the dinner plate this time of year and a long-term investment if you want to grow your own at home.

The soil needs to be calcareous and a high pH around 7.5. Calcareous soils are clay-rich soils with little organic matter. Purchase trees already inoculated with mycelium known as mycorrhiza (root fungus).

This will enhance the symbiotic relationship between the fungus and the tree to find nutrients from each other. If the soil has too much organic matter it won’t work. Keep the pH high by adding garden lime or dolomite lime to the soil annually.

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Winter cheer… Bulbine bulbosa, its flowers are fragrant and a bright yellow.

Photo: Jackie Warburton

Oak trees and hazelnuts are the most common “host” tree for truffles. However, hazelnut trees would be a preferred choice for the home garden, with the bonus of having nuts to eat as well.

Plant where they are protected from hot winds and can be grown as a hedge or a small tree.

Hazelnuts are wind pollinated and only one pollinator is required every five trees.

I’ve had success with Corylus avellana, “American White” and “Cosford” as they both only grow two to three metres tall and fit in a suburban backyard nicely.

Hazelnuts are ready around February/March and fall to the ground at maturity and truffles are ready to be dug up around July/ August.

THERE are still some flowers in the winter garden that can really put on a show and natives are no exception. Bulbine bulbosa is endemic to our regions and grows well. Over time in the garden, it can create a clump and be problem free. Its flowers are fragrant and a bright yellow and give some winter cheer.

POME fruits can be pruned now as the trees are into dormancy.

First, remove all dead, diseased and damaged wood from the

tree. Heritage apple trees are spur bearing and need minimal pruning.

Other varieties, such as Fuji, granny smith and pink lady apples, are tip growers (they grow their fruit on the tips of branches). Their lateral branches are shortened to about 20 centimetres long to reduce whippy growth and minimise the risk of branches breaking when in fruit.

Planting chives under apples can repel apple scab and encourage predatory insects and are good companion plants. Place a little dolomite lime around the base of the tree to keep the pH high and add boron when the tree is coming out of dormancy for good flower set and fruit formation. Water in well.

After pruning, spray trees with horticultural oil on the bark and branches to kill any insects overwintering in the bark. Also use a fungicide, such as copper, to keep fungal diseases at bay.

THE bonus of having chickens is all my household food scraps go to good use and most garden pruning is put into their run and composted for me with free manure. There is a lot of research online for growing chickens in Canberra. They are a great addition to the family, especially for the kids, and having egg-laying chooks is a real bonus. jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

INSIDE

Is Netflix making the right move?

NICK OVERALL

Frances brings deep connections to Bangarra COVER STORY

By Helen Musa

AS Stephen Page prepares to hand over the artistic baton of Bangarra Dance Theatre in 2023 to Frances Rings, he can be in no doubt it’s going to exactly the right place, for her career in Australian dance and connections to its oldest culture are deep and abiding.

Rings’ dance work “Terrain”, a love song to Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre), has been revived and it encapsulates her life’s work to date.

Born in Adelaide, the daughter of a Kokatha woman and a German immigrant father, Rings spent her early years with her father in Port Augusta, SA, and would travel on weekends with him to the Flinders Ranges.

She pays tribute to his powerful influence on her sense of country: “Although he was from Germany, dad had respect for country and he loved it, loved the light and the rich culture, he really connected with it and passed it on to me,” she says.

Later in life she met her wider maternal kinship group on the west coast of SA, near Ceduna, enriching her connection to country, but it was initially her father’s influence.

Bangarra’s incoming artistic director Frances Rings… “A lot of other indigenous women look to me and I do my best to honour the wonderful legacy I’m invested with.” Photo: Daniel Boud. Right: “Terrain”... Rings’ “love song” to Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre).

“I’m not really a big city person, so I moved out of Sydney when I was around 30 and went to live just south of the Royal National Park,” she says. And later, after she’d had children, moved to the central coast while continuing to work in Sydney.

The relevance of her love of country is immediately obvious in “Terrain”, which relates specifically to Kati Thanda, but even so, creating a dance work about a landscape must have presented challenges, I suggest.

I am quickly given to understand that her capacity to meet such challenges didn’t come from nowhere.

When Rings was 17, after completing Year 12 in Ipswich, Queensland, she won a place in the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) and left for Sydney, coming to Stephen Page’s attention.

Offered a spot at Bangarra, she performed in Page’s productions, then became the first choreographic artist-in-residence for Bangarra, going on to study at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Back in Australia, she choreographed works for Bangarra, the WA Ballet, Tasdance and Atamira Dance Company in Auckland.

It was a time of discovery. In “Unaipon”, Rings’ 2004 work for Bangarra, she sought to celebrate the life of author and inventor David Unaipon, whose image is featured on the Australian $50 note.

“I went to Murray Bridge in SA where his closest living relative was still living and I talked about my ideas and my own experience of not knowing about him,” she says.

In 2012, Page asked Rings to choreograph a work depicting Aboriginal views on

landscape and “Terrain” was to be the result.

She took a trip to Marree, the town close to Kati Thanda and found Arabana elder Reginald Dodd, who ran his own tours.

“I took the tour with David Page and designer Jacob Nash,” she says.

“We went out with Uncle Reg, talked to him and he gave us an idea about the significance of the country, what we could expect and how the sense of belonging becomes like a part of our body.”

Of the late David Page, she reflects that his music reflected his passion for “what country means to us and our connection to land, rights and ritual”.

“Uncle Reg then came on as cultural consultant and we did three trips and then another trip for research and then another trip with all the dancers when we did a

performance for the community,” she says.

“We do it every time, it’s a part of our creative cycle. We engage a consultant so that we can be guided as to what we can use and what we can do.”

Rings comes to the artistic directorship of Bangarra with formidable creative and organisational experience, gained over many years.

In 2016, she returned to her alma mater, NAISDA as the head of creative studies, overseeing auditions and the entire youth education program. In 2019 she moved to Bangarra as associate director, continuing in her multiple creative and administrative roles.

“I’ve been working at this for a long time.

I don’t just sit around and just create dance,” she says.

“I was never handed this job on a platter.

In my first year out of NAISDA I got an opportunity to follow the traditional dancers in the company and observe them and sometimes even understudy them.

“It teaches you how to be in a company, how you have to start all over again and that makes you humble.

“I worked hard to get here; as a mother, it’s been really challenging, but I’m really proud of where I am. A lot of other indigenous women look to me and I do my best to honour the wonderful legacy I’m invested with.”

Bangarra Dance Theatre’s “Terrain”.

The Playhouse, July 28-30.

The Australian Bee Gees Show… at The Q, August 4.

ARTS IN THE CITY ‘Barry’ comes home to Queanbeyan

By Helen Musa THE Australian Bee Gees Show has enjoyed a decade-long residency in Las Vegas, performing more than 3000 shows. The show will be at The Q, Queanbeyan, on August 4. And – what are the chances?

– Michael Clift, who plays the role of Barry Gibb, was born in Queanbeyan.

A SELECTION of artworks created by First Nations artists from far-north Queensland and the Torres Strait is on display at the National Museum under the title “Belonging / Stories from Far North Queensland”. The museum acquired a collection of 415 artworks created by 103 artists working in 11 art centres across the region.

CANBERRA Symphony Orchestra and Pialligo Estate are co-presenting “Music in the Fields”, an eating and musical experience in the Pialligo Fields pavilion.

Curated by CSO violinist Pip Thompson, the program includes selections from Tchaikovsky’s “String Quartet No. 1” and Arvo Pärt’s “Fratres”. 2pm and 6.30pm, Saturday, August 6.

THE official Gershwin website (gershwin.com) has posted news that “The Gershwin Project”, a program “CityNews” reviewer Len Power wrote and produced for Artsound FM in 2008, is now available at mixcloud.com.

The 26-episode program was narrated by Bill Stephens and the music was sourced from the collection of Bert Whelan, a local Canberra Gershwin enthusiast and collector.

ARGENTINE-Canberra pianist Marcela Fiorillo was commissioned on behalf of Lia Jensen-Abbott by Albion College at Michigan University to compose a new work, “Latin American Variations on an Anton Diabelli Theme”, as part of the Albion College Diabelli Squared Project 2022. The work may be heard at youtube/ jPrQBD65OyM ANU School of Music is hosting Piano Week, August 8-11. The week brings together local and international pianists for a celebration of keyboard instruments and piano music in four concerts, including a showcase of historical instruments.

CityNews July 28-August 3, 2022 23

STREAMING

How will advertising bring people back to Netflix?

WISH Netflix was cheaper? Later this year it can be, for those willing to put up with ads.

The streaming giant announced it will partner with Microsoft to deliver a new, cheaper subscription option that brings back those pesky interruptions.

Netflix says they’ve been forced to “try other options” as subscribers continue to abandon the platform for other streaming competitors – a development that’s spooked its investors far more than any new season of “Stranger Things” ever could.

But can ads bring people back?

While this columnist isn’t willing to call it before Netflix announces the exact pricing, offering a worse viewer experience, rather than a better one, in an attempt to restore faith to the platform, does not set an optimistic precedent.

Why have people been cancelling their subscriptions?

On top of the monthly fees that have been climbing over the last few years, there’s just too much competition in the streaming market now.

Platforms like Disney Plus, Foxtel Binge, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Plus, Paramount Plus and more are all offering top-shelf TV, some for much cheaper than Netflix.

But the variety of choice for many has also become too much of a good thing.

If someone feasibly wanted access to every great show, they would have to foot

Netflix’s move has spooked its investors far more than any new season of “Stranger Things” ever could.

60 bucks a month for a subscription to every major platform. That may as well be cable TV, which is what we had 10 years ago and why Netflix became so enticing in the first place.

Many viewers are getting fed up with all the choice and are returning to piracy as streaming starts to resemble the traditional format of television it once broke away from.

The development is ironic, given new data shows Australians are now watching streaming more than they are free-to-air TV.

While Netflix hasn’t revealed how the ads would be implemented, it’s hard to see any model that would work well.

Take the traditional style, where TV shows were interrupted by ad breaks multiple times.

Episodes were often written into three very concise acts, split over 42 minute run times in order to incorporate these advertisements as smoothly as possible.

Writers would slyly structure their scripts to protect the plot as best they could, fitting ad breaks into deliberately written

moments of down time.

But when streaming came along, creators were saved from having to worry about this. They were left to their own storytelling discretion, and able to make their shows as long or short as they thought the plot called for.

It’s why a season of something like “Stranger Things” contains eight episodes with vastly different run times. Some episodes are 90 minutes, some are 50, a stark contrast compared to a decade ago, where seasons of major TV shows often had more than 20 episodes, each running within strict hour-long time slots to hit the ad quotas.

Television storytelling has greatly benefitted from this creative freedom that streaming opened up.

Take a look at what “Fight Club” director David Fincher said about his buck-wild animated Netflix series “Love, Death and Robots”: “F– the movie stuff, let’s just take it to Netflix, because they’ll let us do whatever we want.”

Would the re-introduction of ads stifle such creativity? It’s possible, and it would be a shame to see that happen.

The other option for Netflix would be to run the ads before or after episodes, rather than during.

That would be better for the viewer, but Netflix would also be shooting itself in the foot, considering the whole “bingeing” model they’ve built over the years and why watching “just one more episode” has become so easy.

Maybe there’s a silver lining. Maybe interrupting television marathons would encourage people to take a break and go outside a bit more.

When called to justify the ads, a Netflix boffin said it was about meeting the demand for quality that subscribers have come to expect of the platform.

“We have to have an ‘Adam Project’ or a ‘Bridgerton’ every month, and make sure that’s the expectation of the service constantly,” he said in a presentation to shareholders.

Fair enough, in theory. But someone telling you why nine out of 10 dentists recommend a certain toothpaste in the middle of the next season of “Squid Game” doesn’t exactly speak wonders for the future of Netflix’s storytelling.

CINEMA / reviews

Wasted dramatic strength

By Dougal

MACDONALD I’VE not read Delia Owens’ Carolina salt-marsh novel about pre-school girl-child Kya, abandoned in the care of a brutal father when her mother and siblings flee the family’s backwoods house.

The screenplay by Owens and co-writer Lucy Alibar for director Olivia Newman’s 125 minutes of filming may well accurately reflect the book. By the end, I was working hard to restrain a mixture of righteous indignation and regret that such a dire but ultimately flabby narrative rather blighted the film’s lush exterior locations (actually in adjacent Louisiana, not either of the Carolinas).

Its structure flicks to and fro from a courtroom where a gung-ho prosecutor is trying to persuade a jury that young adult Kya (Daisy Edgar-Jones) with a talent for drawing wildlife pictures had indeed murdered no-good sometime boyfriend Chase (Harris Dickinson) so deserves to be executed.

By repeating that presumption several times, the film rather loses its punch while leaving the way clear for Kya’s defending attorney Tom (David Strathairn) to deliver a winning summation of the evidence (apology for the spoiler but it had already made a strong claim).

The story leaves it to the viewer’s imagination to figure out how Kya became so literate, writing page notes for every drawing. It does not venture into any female companionship from which I guess every girl-child learns reproductive biology 101. That was just one of the film’s several failures to persuade me of its wasted dramatic strength and merit. Which I regret, because I had hoped it would deliver both those qualities.

FROM Spain, Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat’s comedy “Official Competition” casts Antonio Banderas, Oscar Martinez and Penelope Cruz skewering the business of movie making while falling victim to some of the bloat it seeks to satirise.

As his legacy, ageing millionaire Humberto Suarez (José Luis Gómez) decides to finance a great movie with the best people. So he hires pretentious art-house filmmaker Lola Cuevas to direct an adaptation of “Rivalry”, a novel about two warring brothers that Suarez has bought, complete with publishers. Wanting to do it her way, Lola casts actors who couldn’t be more different – self-centred playboy Félix Rivero (Banderas), and “serious actor” Ivan Torres (Martinez).

Conflicts emerge because of everyone’s rigid personality types. Lola will go to any lengths to capture a moment of “truth”, which stirs up the heat between Felix and Ivan about who is the better actor, and they go to extreme lengths to prove it at the cost of the production.

In one hilarious practice session, Lola barks at both men, forcing them to use their fear by acting out a grieving moment while a giant rock hovers ominously over their heads. Later, Felix, fed up that his devil-may-care attitude and mainstream success paint him as an unserious performer, just to prove he’s the better actor, convinces the others that an absolutely horrendous lie is true.

The cast of “Rivalry” plays up aspects of their own personas, Banderas recapturing some of his first forays into Hollywood, Martinez a stodgy bore obsessed with his own reputation. Penelope Cruz displays great skin dancing “The Floss” in a sequence quite unconnected with the plot and Lola, with disdain for awards symbolising supposed excellence, literally grinds the production to a standstill.

Gently nibbling the hand that feeds it, “Official Competition” makes effective use of its 114 minutes of subtly satirical comedy in an industry that everyone involved clearly loves enough to make fun of.

At all cinemas

At Dendy and Palace Electric

“Where the Crawdads Sing” (M)

24 CityNews July 28-August 3, 2022

“Official Competition” (M)

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DINING / Thai at Red Hill

Chicken curry, dish of the day THAI food is well known for being salty, sour, sweet, bitter and hot. The blends of coriander, cumin, ginger, garlic, basil and cinnamon are exotic and combined in endless ways.

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With Thai flavours floating in our heads, we arrived at Red Hill shops. Thai at Red Hill is a friendly, family operated business. It has an extensive menu for dining in, takeaway and delivery.

We started with dim sim (four pieces, $8.50), gentle tasting but slightly chewy. The dim sim were topped with a salad of sorts – radish, tomatoes, lettuce and grated carrot. While it looked pretty, we weren’t sure it added any Thai value.

The crispy prawn cutlets performed much better at commanding the attention of our taste buds – super crunchy on the outside and it was fun dipping them in the spicy pinkish chilli mayo served in a love-heart-shaped dish (four pieces, $9.50).

One of the four chef’s specials is the chicken satay skewers, rich in colour on the outside (four pieces, $10.90). The satay sauce, also served in a love-heart dish, was tasty and the skewers arrived the same as the dim sim, with radish, tomato, lettuce and grated carrot salad.

Other chef’s specials include pork-minced, spicy larb roll (four pieces, $8.50), deep-fried whole barramundi with cashew nuts ($33), and red duck curry with lychee ($18.90), which sounded lovely.

The dish of the day by far was the green curry with chicken ($16.90), which can also be ordered with vegetables and tofu, prawn, beef, pork, or seafood (a line-up of red, yellow and Panang

The green chicken curry… coconut cream was decadent, the chicken moist and eggplant earthy.

Photo: Wendy Johnson curries are also on the menu). The coconut cream was decadent, the chicken moist and eggplant earthy. Thick chunks of red capsicum and thick chunks of zucchini were other additions (we couldn’t find the green capsicum promised on the menu) and the dish was topped off with a couple of fresh basil leaves.

Our vegetable journey continued with a dish of mixed veggies served with a hearty oyster sauce ($16.90). The big squares of tofu absorbed the sauce nicely and the broccoli was bright green, lively and not overcooked. Tomatoes featured once more, as did capsicum, mushrooms

and carrot.

The service was attentive and the restaurant’s décor was Thai inspired. Am not sure I can put my hand on my heart and say this is the best or most authentic Thai I’ve ever had, but if I lived in the area, I could see myself wandering down every so often to support a local restaurant.

Thai at Red Hill is BYO and a quality supermarket, just a few steps away, has a great selection of wines to choose from if you’re caught off guard.

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26 CityNews July 28-August 3, 2022

‘Never was a story of more woe… … than this of Juliet and her Romeo.’

By Helen Musa KELLY Roberts and Chris Zuber are wellrespected in Canberra as directors of stimulating productions and now they’re in deep rehearsals as co-producers of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, coming soon for Canberra Rep. Actor Pippin Carroll, a Canberra Critics’ Circle award winner, is cast in one of the best-known roles in the entire acting repertoire, that of Romeo.

Carroll is joined by Annabelle Hansen as Juliet and, while they’re a tiny bit older than the characters (we know from the text that Juliet is 13, for instance), they’re bringing a youthful flair to this eternal tale of star-crossed lovers.

“Age is important,” Zuber says. “You can’t do this play without a sense of naivete and the tension between generations.”

Roberts and Zuber are both drama teachers so have it in mind to respect Shakespeare’s words and characters, but they’re not above making a few judicious cuts here and there, ones we probably won’t notice.

Like Franco Zeffirelli before them, they’ve been much influenced by the idea that the play takes place in a scorching hot summer in Verona when the blood is up, accounting for the extreme actions of the more violent characters such as Tybalt and Mercutio.

A guiding principle has been that sense of temperature and the impact heat has on people, making them act on impulse. But equally important has been the sense of “time’s wingèd

Pippin Carroll as Romeo and Annabelle Hansen as Juliet.

Photo: Helen Drum chariot hurrying near”.

Pretty well everyone in the audience, Roberts and Zuber believe, will know that Romeo and Juliet are going to die and in fact the prologue gives it away before the whole thing starts, so it’s not the usual kind of dramatic tension, but rather seeing the internal workings in the action.

The Capulet family, Zuber says, is a complex group of characters in a play involving a lot more subtext than some of Shakespeare’s other works and a lot more questions.

Why, for instance, is Lady Capulet so distant as a mother? It turns out that she was a mother very much the same age as Juliet and her marriage shows husband and wife both in sympathy and at odds with each other.

As for the famous couple themselves, Juliet is old before her time and quickly perceives the danger they are in. She’s also very brave, prepared to take the sleeping potion given her

by Friar Laurence, not knowing whether it could actually be a poison.

Roberts believes that her bravery is also pushed forward by the impulses of youth – and everything is moving too fast.

As for the friar, played by Ryan Street, Roberts and Zuber see him as honourable, trying to do good for the young lovers, but cowardly at the end of the play.

One of the things that will catch the eye of audiences is the casting of Anneka van der Velde as the normally macho Mercutio, necessitating a few pronoun changes but making the relationship between Romeo and his best mate a little bit more complex.

Their idea of the tragedy is that it’s the opposite to Hamlet who thinks too much.

“It’s about people acting before they think,” Zuber says.

“The prologue of the play gives a defining sense of fate, which adds to the tension and the excitement.”

But just as Aristotle demanded, there is also “a catharsis thing” and the audience should find satisfaction in that.

Zuber has designed the set as “more or less realistic but dialled-up a bit so that it is familiar but not familiar – in a distant time and place, but recognisable.”

They’re using a lot of music and, having discovered that Richard Manning, who plays Lord Capulet, is a guitarist, they’ve included some of his original music, too.

Jenny Norberry has designed costumes, which Roberts says will have “an eye-catching contemporary feel.”

“Romeo and Juliet,” Canberra Rep Theatre, July 28 (preview) to August 13.

HOROSCOPE Your week in the stars

By Joanne Madeline Moore

PUZZLES

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General knowledge crossword No. 840

August 1-7, 2022 ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

Courtesy of Mars and Uranus, you could blow your budget with a spontaneous spending spree… or commit yourself to an ambitious project that you don’t have the time or enthusiasm for. Short-term big talk is no good if it doesn’t translate into long-term action. Patience and persistence are the keys. So your motto is from birthday great Barack Obama: “If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”

SOLE TRADER KEEN TO SORT OUT TAX PAYMENTS

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Angelique has just started a new business and is unsure about how she pays tax as a sole trader and needs to know how much money is needed to budget correctly.

This week, avoid getting stuck in a comfortable but complacent and boring rut.

With intrepid Mars and Uranus hooking up in your sign, be bold, take a chance and strike while the iron is hot! With Venus (your patron planet) linking up with dynamic Mars, it’s definitely time to be creative and proactive. Draw inspiration from birthday great, actress and producer Lucille Ball: “I’d rather regret the things I have done than the things that I haven’t.”

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

Good fortune and lucky opportunities are on your side this week, Gemini, as the golden Sun trines prosperity planet Jupiter. It’s especially favourable for social media, short trips, communication, education, community connections and group activities. It’s also a wonderful week to make a long list of your goals, hopes and wishes. Then throw your dreams into space and watch and wait as they gradually manifest into your preferred future.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

The Sun/Jupiter trine blesses a career move, a professional idea, a business matter, a start-up, or a side hustle. There’s one proviso, though… your heart must be in it. If you’re just going through the motions, then it will affect the quality of your work and success will be fleeting. So do your best to find a challenging project that you can really get your Crab claws into. The weekend is wonderful for travel, art, beauty, creative projects and spiritual pursuits.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Lucky Lions … it’s one of your best weeks of the year, as the golden Sun (your power planet) makes beautiful music with prosperity planet Jupiter. So stop Cat-napping and prepare to pounce, as you make the most of the fabulous opportunities that are waiting in the wings. Inspiration for the week is from flamboyant Leo fashion designer Betsey Johnson: “Real success is being totally indulgent about your own trip… and going full speed ahead.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Have you been selling yourself short? Stop being a critical fusspot who engages in negative self-talk and sabotages success. Mercury (your ruler) moves through your sign from Thursday until October 10. So it’s time to be the bold and beautiful Virgo you were born to be. Your motto for the week is from birthday great, actress and producer Lucille Ball: “I have an everyday religion that works for me. Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line.”

3 What is a printer’s direction, meaning “let it stand”? (4) 4 Name a four-stringed instrument of the violin family. (5) 5 Name a naturally occurring radioactive metallic element. (6) 6 What do we call all of the runners in a race? (5) 9 Which term describes that which is composed of elements of different kinds? (6) 10 Name a biscuit company founded in Australia, and now controlled by a US firm. (7) 12 Name one of a US comedy duo, Bud ... (6) 14 Which term describes that which relates to a population? (6) 16 What are strong, hooded, waterproof jackets?

(6) 18 What is brilliance of success, reputation, etc? (5) 19 Religious denominations are called what? (5) Down 21 What is a state of prolonged unconsciousness?

1 Name a clumsy flightless bird, now extinct. (4) (4) 2 Which is the last meal of the day? (6) 22 Which word describes a musical composition? (4) 4 What is a glass bottle for wine, etc? (6) 7 Which term describes a flirtatious woman? (8) 8 Name an account book of final entry. (6) 9 In which institution are the sick and injured given treatment? (8) 11 What is a circular bandstand known as? (7) 13 Manama is the capital of which Arab sheikhdom? (7) 15 Name a self-propelled cigar-shaped explosive missile. (7) 17 What was the profession of Doc Holliday? (7) 20 Name an edible snail. (8) 23 What is an alternative term for a medical centre? (6) 24 What is the middle ear also known as? (8) 25 Name an earlier instrument of punishment.

(6)

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

It’s a lovely week for Librans, as Venus (your patron planet) makes beautiful music with Mars and Neptune. Which favours work, professional relationships, creativity and being proactive. A tricky relationship should improve, as you focus on the things you have in common. The Sun/Jupiter trine also encourages you to expand your mind and dream big dreams. As birthday great Martha Stewart observes: “Without an open mind, you can never be a great success.”

Solution next edition

Across

FREE PUZZLES EVERY DAY AT citynews.com.au

Sudoku hard No. 320

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

It’s a fabulous week for your public profile, professional projects and work opportunities, as the Sun and Jupiter send good fortune in your direction. Many shrewd Scorpios (like Ted Turner, Bill Gates, Anna Wintour and Kendall Jenner) have a smart business brain so make sure you’re utilising it to the max! Inspiration for the week is from birthday great, artist and director Andy Warhol: “Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

The stage is set for a potentially lucky week so make the most of it. Many restless Sagittarians are gypsies at heart and love to travel. The Sun/Jupiter trine activates your adventure zone so start planning your next trip, saving, booking and packing ASAP. However, moderation and common sense could fly out the window as you party to the max, spend too much or overdo just about everything. You’ll certainly have a lot of fun along the way!

If you need guidance on your quarterly instalments or any other tax matter, contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

Coupled Capricorn – love is in the air, so plan something suitably romantic and seductive. If a problem is creating distance between you and a loved one, take the time to talk through issues in a compassionate way. Are you single and looking for your soulmate? With Mars and Uranus hooking up in your love zone, you need to be romantically proactive. If you are attracted to someone, then you’ll have to make the first move. Fortune favours the brave!

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

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

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2022

Solutions – July 21 edition Sudoku medium No. 320

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

Are you worried about money? The planets suggest a boost to finances and an increase in cashflow but be careful you don’t cancel that out by indulging in a spontaneous spending spree! Under the influence of the Sun/Jupiter trine, it’s a terrific time to apply for a job, spruce up your workspace, or improve communication with colleagues, clients or customers. Business matters are also favoured, such as taking an abstract idea and spinning it into a rock-solid reality.

Solution next edition

Crossword No. 839

Opportunities to travel or study look promising this week, as the stars stimulate your innate curiosity. The Sun/Jupiter trine is especially positive for social media connections and inter-personal relations as you talk, text, tweet, publish, post, podcast or socialise. You could also make headway with a romantic relationship or a fledgling friendship. You’ll find the more you connect and contribute within your local community, the more satisfied you’ll feel.

I reassured her that despite the system being a little complex, once she was in the swing of it she'd find it quite easy.

"Remember when you were an employee and tax was deducted every pay so that you had paid the approximately correct amount of tax at the end of the year? Well, the system for sole traders, investors and other business owners is designed to replicate that," I told her.

"The starting point is when you lodge your first business tax return. The amount of tax owing will be calculated and that is due after the end of that financial year. The amount of tax you paid on your business income is increased slightly to allow for inflation and that is divided by four. This amount becomes your quarterly instalments for the current year.”

Angelique commented that it seemed she was paying double the tax on her first year’s income.

“Angelique, you are correct. However, at the end of year two, the amount of tax you owe is calculated and then a credit is raised for the instalments you've paid," I said.

"This means that, going forward, you will be paying tax as you go with either a shortfall or extra payment at the end of the year.

"So if your income goes up, the amount you owe will be greater and if it goes down then you will get a refund.”

Angelique asked what happened if her income was going down and the instalments were too high.

"That's a good question," I replied, "and obviously there's a mechanism to deal with that by reducing your instalments to a more accurate amount.

"However, if you reduce your instalment by too much, penalties can be charged. So any downward variation needs to be accurate.

"If you know your income has gone up and the instalments are too low, while you can vary your instalment upwards, it is preferable to save the money and earn some interest on it until you have to pay it rather than have it paid to the Australian Tax Office (ATO) and not earning interest.

“When you are registered for GST these quarterly payments are made with your business activity statements (BAS). If you are not registered for GST you just pay the instalments quarterly.

"The quarters end on September 30, December 31, March 31 and June 30. The instalments are due at the end of the next month if you lodge them yourself or at the end of the following month if we lodge them for you with your BAS. "The important thing is that you have to lodge and pay your instalments on time. If at any time you are unable to pay or you are concerned that the instalment is too high please contact me promptly and I will advise you of your options. While it's possible to make a payment arrangement, the ATO charges very high interest rates.”

02 6295 2844

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

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

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

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