CityNews 221117

Gin promises a roaring success for wine women

By Belinda STRAHORN

university, less than 10 per cent of fe males go on to hold senior roles within the industry, Collingwood said.

“After graduation, the number in the industry is close to about 70 per cent male and 30 per cent female,” she said.

“In leadership and management roles this drops back to less than 10 per cent female representation.

“It surprises me that we are in 2022 and we have these kinds of statistics.”

later we are totally into it,” she said.

“I love the wine industry. It has a lot to offer. It’s one of those unusual industries where you can grow the grapes, make the wine, and sell it in the one place.”

With the theme of “women in wine” in mind, the flavour combination for the Hear Me Roar Gin was chosen by women working in the industry.

The Hear Me Roar Gin, created by the Australia Women In Wine Awards (AWIWA) board, follows on the heels of the success of the Hear Me Roar Shiraz released in 2019.

Similar to the release of the shiraz, the profits from the sale of the gin –being distilled in the Barossa Valley – will go towards encouraging women to further their careers within the industry.

AWIWA board member and coowner of Murrumbateman’s Four Winds Vineyard Sarah Collingwood is eagerly anticipating the release of the gin in the expectation it will sell well and help further advance the cause of women in winemaking.

“The shiraz we made in 2019 raised almost $40,000 for women for mentor ing, scholarships and travel bursaries to help give women support in the industry, and to make sure they didn’t feel like they needed to leave,” she said.

While Collingwood was raised in a wine-making family, she was shocked

INDEX

emakers in the industry.

“In 2019-20 the average female wine maker is earning $22,000 less than the average male winemaker,” she said.

“Similarly women who are starting out in the industry as cellar hands

“The disparity starts pretty early on. We need to do something to start mov ing the dial on some of these numbers.” Despite an equal share of male and female students graduating from viti culture and winemaking courses at

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Collingwood said that the winemak ing industry struggles to overcome its predominantly male-dominated back ground. But the industry is changing,

“Agriculture has traditionally been a very male-dominated area and it’s the same for wineries,” Collingwood

“We do hear some stories about women having pretty tough experi ences in the industry.

“Fortunately I don’t think it’s hap pening any more, but once upon a time at some wine shows the judges would have a dinner and it would be in a male-only club, so it was exclusionary right from the get go.”

Like a lot of people who grew up in a farming family, Collingwood had time away from the land, only return ing with her husband sometime later to take up a role in the family winemaking business.

“We were just coming back to help mum and dad out for a while and 12 years

“We asked them to suggest their three favourite botanical ingredients to go into the gin, and it ended up be ing blackcurrant leaf, native finger lime and Tasmanian pepperberry,” Collingwood said.

Collingwood played her own part in the manufacture of the gin by helping to design the label.

“Denomination is a female design firm in Sydney who specialise in drinks packaging and they have done the label,” she said.

“It’s been a lot of fun.”

The gin’s name is taken from the opening verse of the Helen Reddy hit song “I Am Woman”, itself the anthem of the women’s movement in the early ‘70s.

The gin is being distilled by win emaker Rebekah Richardson in the Barossa Valley, and will be available for pre-order ready for the Christmas market.

The gin costs $110 and can be ordered from womeninwineawards.com.au

Four Winds Vineyard CEO Sarah Collingwood… “Agriculture has traditionally been a very male-dominated area and it’s the same for wineries.” Inset: Hear Me Roar Gin bottle.

Photo: Belinda Strahorn

Did Brindabella’s pollies fight for the road money?

THE story so far: the ACT government manages to inveigle Finance Minister (and “mother” of the tram in Canberra) Senator Katy Gallagher to move $85.9 million of Commonwealth largesse from road improvements in the south of the city to help nudge light rail along in the inner north.

That’s a foregone upgrade to the south-west corridor ($50.9 million), the Kings Highway corridor ($30 million) and the Boboyan Road upgrade ($5 million) for three more stops servicing the (imminent) high-rise, lakeside set.

ACT Transport Minister Chris Steel disowned the former federal government’s allocation, laughingly labelling it “pork barrelling”, unlike Minister Gallagher’s virtuous reasoning: “We consulted with the ACT government, which made clear that the priority project for the ACT was Stage 2A of the light rail project and that is why we have redirected funding in this Budget.”

This decision must have come as another terrible blow for the overlooked, ignored and tramless voters in the southern electorate of Brindabella, compelled to live out their lives using only roads.

Who would stand for this, certainly not their local members? They would have fought this blatant discrimination of money going from the roads of the proud south to

the tram-favoured inner-north electorate of Kurrajong (whose local MLAs number Andrew Barr and Shane Rattenbury).

They would, wouldn’t they? We asked the government members – Labor’s Mick Gentleman and Joy Burch, and Greens MLA Johnathan Davis – the following: Was the $85.9 million worth of roads funding cuts discussed in caucus? If so, how did you vote?

Simple enough and probably top of mind with their electorate: in other words, did you fight for us?

“We won’t be commenting on this one –no response from Minister Gentleman”, came

the first media-person reply.

No joy from Joy; no response at all. And some bottom-of-the-garden twaddle from Johnathan.

He wrote: “Whether it’s in the Assembly chamber, through Assembly committees, in representations to the Commonwealth or indeed in my party room, I always advocate for strong investment in infrastructure and services in Tuggeranong… [I’ll spare you the waffle that follows, but here’s the interesting bit…]

“I was proud to support a motion from the Minister for Transport and City

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Services [Chris Steel] in August seeking a collaboration between the Commonwealth Government and the ACT government to upgrade Boboyan Road.

“I’ve recently contacted the Minister for Transport and City Services and I understand conversations between the Commonwealth and the ACT are ongoing and an agreement has not yet been finalised.”

What was there to talk about, the money was already there? Is Johnathan Davis MLA (he/him) telling us that Steel had already given the roads money away and, three months ago, was trying to get at least Boboyan Road ($5 million), one of the projects he collectively dismissed as “all pork”, back on the Commonwealth’s agenda?

Who would know? The sad reality is that the government, funded from our taxes and charges, continues to make slippery secret decisions with no transparency to ordinary voters.

I CO-HOST the “CityNews Sunday Roast” interview news program on 2CC (9am-mid day). A few weeks back, one of our regular political commentators Dr Andrew Hughes, of the ANU, flabbered my gastor with a thought bubble that said, given the dismay with the standard of local politics and the (seemingly big) thirst for some independent members of the Legislative Assembly, it

would make sense for David Pocock to run some candidates in October, 2024.

That is the giant-killer independent now Senator Pocock who toppled the previously untoppable Liberal Zed Seselja at the last election.

So we had Senator Pocock on the program the other day and put it straight to him; it would make sense to run Pocock independents at the next ACT election, wouldn’t it, David?

He hummed a little (to be fair this might have been news to him), he haaa’d, he dodged a little and prevaricated. He grimaced, he smiled, but the best we could get from him was that we should ask him again, but later.

My partner in radio crime Rod Henshaw suggested that no sharp denial suggested yes. Which the senator didn’t deny.

If David does run some Pocockians – the Greens worst nightmare – for the Assembly, just remember, you read it here first.

Ian Meikle is the editor of “CityNews” and can be heard with Rod Henshaw on the “CityNews Sunday Roast” news and interview program, 2CC, 9am-noon.

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A second opinion on hearing loss

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!

Here are some things to do to avoid getting ripped off:

1. A visit to the GP may save you from being ‘sold’ something when your only problem is wax in your ears.

2. Look for someone who is independent and can offer you unbiased advice, not just give you a sales pitch.

3. There are a range of hearing aid prices. Finding the right hearing aid might save you money and it will also give you the best chance of success.

4. Hearing aids can be expensive.

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 free-to-client government hearing aids or if you’d like to top-up to a different hearing aid.

The free-to-client hearing aids are appropriate for many people, however if you have great difficulty hearing background noise (for example in restaurants) then you might trial the top-up hearing aids, but only if you can afford them. There are a range of top up options and prices, if you are disappointed after a trial, you should return them and trial the free-toclient hearing aids.

If you get the feeling the person you’re dealing with is just trying to sell you something, then take a step back and get a second opinion.

“In an unregulated market there is a lot of opportunity to take advantage of people. Yes you have read correctly, there is no licensing of people who sell hearing aids.”

– Dr Vass

Fair dinkum passion for growing Aussie bonsai

By Lily PASS

THERE’S a lot of interest in growing native plants in the Canberra Bonsai Society, says president Tony Gill.

“Australian plants are good as bonsai. A vast majority of them tend to be evergreens, so that means their cycle is a bit different,” he says.

“Native plants always have some level of growing, there’s no identified dormant period. The real hot periods in Aus tralia are periods where plants basically feel stressed and are less productive to protect their energy because they need it to survive.

“If you were to collect native plants in their natural environ ment, they will have tap roots. They don’t develop a very ex pansive root network whereas once you put them in a pot what you’re trying to encourage is a regular root system of fine roots.

“The tap root allows the plant to find more water sources in a natural environment and it

“I use quite a lot of native Australian plants. My favour ite at the moment is the lepto spermum laevigatum or coastal tea tree.

And Tony says there’s a whole

aim for,” he says.

Tony has always enjoyed gardening, but found his niche in 2009 when he joined the Can berra Bonsai Society.

“It is a natural extension

“I had a busy job. I was an engineer and the Canberra Bonsai Society provided some balance, a hobby.”

Tony explains the origin of bonsai goes back 1200 years

to China, before it evolved in

“The Japanese have a lot of formality in developing their bonsai, but each country is developing their own niche,” he

Since his retirement in 2017, Tony, 65, has been president of the Canberra Bonsai Society, which was founded in 1975 with only eight members.

“I like developing trees and sharing my knowledge and ex perience,” he says.

“I’ve got probably 100 plants in different stages. I’ve got a collection of about 30 trees in pots, but I’ve got a whole raft of probably another 60 or 70 in dif ferent stages in nursery pots,”

The Canberra Bonsai Soci ety now has 270 members, and Tony’s advice for the newest enthusiasts is: “You should only have as many trees as you can look after. It keeps me quite

“In the summer, it would take me an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon to water them; they’re all hand watered.”

As a self-proclaimed “life long learner”, Tony says since retirement he has completed a

Certificate III in Horticulture, and a Diploma in Horticulture.

Next on his list is a Certifi cate IV in Photography.

“I take photos of my trees. The reason I’m doing the course is to be able to take bet ter photographs of my bonsai,” he says.

While the Canberra Bonsai Society has members in their 80s and 90s, there are also mem bers in their 20s and 30s. Tony says it is not necessarily an activity that is purely for older people.

“You do need time, knowl edge and patience,” he says.

“One of the issues, particu larly as you get older, is that some of the bonsai are quite heavy.”

But members of the Canberra Bonsai Society have something to be more concerned about.

“There have been many ex amples in Canberra where bon sai have been stolen,” Tony says.

“I’ve got CCTV cameras so I can check in as required, but a concern in the bonsai com munity is the security of their bonsai,” says Tony.

“I have managed it by having a good fence, cameras and a dog, although I’m not sure the dog would do much.”

Calling

MANY in the community spend an extraordinary amount of time and energy responding to the flow of developers’ consultations on proposed developments.

To make things more onerous, residents are having to co-ordinate multi-responses to multiple issues within the same areas within tight timeframes.

Community volunteers work on this stuff despite knowing that the ACT’s planning systems are not transparent nor conducted democratically. Greenslabor planning and development processes are very murky. Hard evidence and simple facts are tossed into the bin.

Except in rare cases, after presen tations at community meetings and many submissions, the alterations to proposals are minimal at best. The aim is to have the consultation boxes ticked and for development applica tions moved to the next stages.

The process then gets repeated in subsequent stages with feedback yet again provided in good faith. It is often the same feedback – even though the former submissions were ignored.

For residents’ groups, this has been the pattern for far too long. They com mit to making submissions on demand as if they are being taken seriously by

the bureaucrats, the politicians and the developers. This does not happen.

It could be that the well-paid politicians are wilfully blind to how they and their chief bureaucrats treat residents. Maybe they are not collectively bright enough to deal with the cycle of their own inactions and horrible decisions. Their reaction to criticism is to distract from their inadequacies by announcing new policy thought bubbles and by getting the complaint media to tell stories of how progressive they are.

This government’s well-honed fabrication of consultation is conde scending and insulting to residents’ groups who have values they would like their government to reflect. Polite residents try not to speak openly

about this dilemma in the hope that by doing so (remaining polite) the government may be nice and change the way it deals with local communi ties. It does not happen!

This sham continues with the ACT Planning Reforms as overseen by the planning bureaucrats under the watch ful eye of the chief minister – the actual planning minister. Most residents’ submissions were ignored. The next stage is being rolled out knowing that what the government is proposing will not be changed much despite numerous suggestions and objections.

People have remained polite and the bureaucracy exploits this. The chief minister is happy watching the boxes being ticked while the last shreds of what used to be government

planning are dismembered under the guise of reforms.

Every trick in the book is now being used to disguise the reality that this ACT government has become dysfunctional in its management of planning and development.

The switched-on leaders within community groups have realised that the time has come to pull back from relying on this disingenuous govern ment and the disinformation dressed up as progressive policies.

They realise their valuable time and expertise should no longer be wasted away on submissions and in making fruitless responses to fault-ridden de velopment applications that go on to be approved by the planning directorate.

The bureaucrats of the ACT’s planning directorate’s bland tower block in Dickson are not providing leadership in vision, design, planning, aesthetics and the enhancing of the city’s biodiversity, green infrastruc ture and urban environments ready for the effects of climate change. This tower is where community submis sions disappear. The city’s health and wellbeing will be dependent on the creativity and expertise that resides within the suburbs – which

the Greenslabor government and its bureaucrats consistently ignore.

What residents value and aspire to has been included in many of the previous submissions. These need to be extracted, refined and published. No need for Rattenburystyle, over-the-top documents with meaningless worthy words. A couple of pages of key statements on values and principles need to be uploaded to the community websites.

Instead of repeating how they are matching the shallow standards in the ACT government’s policies, devel opers should be asked (politely, of course) to respond to and reflect the values and principles of the residents who live in the relevant suburban areas. Those responses could be used to politely suggest what needs to change for residents to accept and sign off on what is being proposed.

Something like this is worth a try as what the government is doing now and what is being dressed up as planning reform is rapidly wreck ing this city.

IN THE

The ACT’s planning directorate’s office block in Dickson… where community submissions disappear.

Photo: Paul Costigan

Every trick in the book is now being used to disguise the reality that this ACT government has become dysfunctional in its management of planning and development.

SOLVING SCIATICA

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

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

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

muscles, tendons and ligaments surrounding the joints and bones that support the sciatic nerve. This is largely due to not having used their body to the fullest extent due to the sciatic pain.

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

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

Do you want to solve your sciatica?

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

Blake Dean

Holly Hazelwood

Sophie Bullock

Natasha Perry

BRIEFLY

Christmas stall

HAND-made children’s toys, clothing, decorations and gifts will feature at the Calvary Hospital Auxiliary’s annual Christ mas stall in the foyer of Calvary Public Hospital, Bruce, 8am-4pm on November 30 and December 1. All proceeds go to buying equipment for the care and comfort of the hospital’s patients and staff.

Christmas lunch

QUANTUM Leap, a mixed barbershop quartet and Tea4Two vocal guitar duo will entertain the Christmas-themed, final lunch meeting of the year for the Gungahlin Day VIEW club, from 11.45am at Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club, Nicholls, on November 2. RSVP to 0407 556460 by 9pm, November 20.

Christmas market

RESIDENTS of Kangara Waters Retirement Village are holding a market with stalls offering Christmas gift ideas, including handmade porcelain art, patchwork, cards and art work, jewellery, bags, homemade cakes, biscuits and other seasonal treats. At 2 Joy Cummings Place, Belconnen, Saturday, December 3, 8.30am-1pm.

A meeting with strings

THE Brindabella Orchestra String Ensem ble will entertain the ladies of the Weston Creek VIEW Club at their Christmas lunch meeting at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden, from 11.30am on December 6. Lunch costs $35 and visitors are welcome. RSVP to Barbara on 6286 4626 by 5pm, December 1.

LEGAL OPINION / personal violence

The power of truth – and lies – in the courtroom

“YOUR truth is your power” are the arresting words on Grace Tame’s website. That Ms Tame, 2021 Australian of the Year, was a victim is undisputed. Her assailant has been imprisoned.

Truthful and untruthful victims of crimes of personal violence (of which sexual violence is just one example) must tread the same path ways through the justice maze. It ought to be straightforward. It isn’t.

Here in Canberra there are three different laws that govern their progress.

This article is about the perils of that journey from complaint, to giving evidence in court, to making a statement when the offender is sentenced.

The first step, the making of a complaint, usu ally follows high anxiety for the complainant. Will they be believed? What dangers lie before them? Do they have the mental and physical reserves to cope with the journey? For the true victim, it takes courage to walk into a sexualassault centre or into a police interview – the emotions are raw and naked.

Professionally, my contact with truthful victims of sexual assault unforgettably includes sitting on a floor with a large “comfort” dog and a young teenager who was retelling how her father molested her repeatedly over several years while mum was at work.

Equally unforgettable was the much older woman, scarred for life from age five by dad’s conduct while her mum was in hospital. She and I walked in parks, side by side, as she opened up.

Talking to police and prosecutors does not

mean that there will be a trial. There are broad guidelines for all Australian prosecutors as to when any matter should be taken to trial or retrial. However, the implementation of those guidelines is hidden in secrecy. If a prosecution goes ahead or does not go ahead there is no way to evaluate whether the decision was made in good faith or for irrelevant reasons such as political expediency or personal advancement.

At trial, witnesses may have a right to give their evidence via an audio visual link from a remote room, or they may persuade the trial judge that this is the right way to give their evidence. They may have a support person in that remote room, or even a special helper –known as a witness intermediary or champion - to “guide” the phrasing of the questions they must answer.

Sometimes the evidence of the complainant in sexual assault cases is taken separately from the trial proper and recorded. That recording is what the jury will see and hear.

If there is a retrial the recorded evidence is what the judge and jury see and hear. The complainant does not come back a second time, save in “exceptional” circumstances. From the complainant’s point of view this approach is attractive. It puts an end to public pain.

But from the accused’s point of view it is unfair. No such end for them. Sexual assault trials are usually contested on “There was sex but we both agreed to it” or “There was no sex between us”.

In such cases DNA, fingerprinting, even expert medical evidence often offers little or nothing. It comes down to a decision about the believability of the complainant and the believ

ability of the accused.

The accused does not have to give evidence. If they have given an explanation during a police audio-visually recorded interview then that is played to the court during the prosecu tion (sic) case.

On a retrial, this would mean that the judge and jury were watching two pre-recorded versions. They would not hear a fresh word from either the complainant or the accused. How then can the fact finder be perceptive about believability, an assessment which is inherently a mix of subjective and objective criteria? Does this mandated replay of a “TV-like complainant’s evidence” plus the recorded police interview with the accused then force the accused to give evidence and be cross-examined, despite the onus on the prosecution being to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt?

If the accused pleads guilty or is found guilty, then the victim has a chance to provide a victimimpact statement that the sentencing judge must take into account when deciding an appropriate sentence. How it is to be used by the judge is not spelt out.

That statement can be put to the sentencing judge in several ways: written and handed up, or spoken in the courtroom.

Our Canberra laws seem to be silent on whether the statement, written or spoken, should be submitted as evidence that is either sworn on a religious basis or affirmed on a secular basis.

Factual issues in sentencing are decided on a balance of probabilities. Mere assertion in a victim’s impact statement that is neither sworn nor affirmed is not evidence and therefore has no value to a sentencing judge. The situation is not analogous to accepting the unsworn evidence of a child who is too young to understand the import of an oath or affirmation.

There is another practical hurdle to a judge making use of victim-impact statements. The law provides for only a limited right of crossexamination of the maker of a victim-impact statement. The cross-examiner must show the sentencing judge that such questions will affect the likely sentence.

Given that the court will have a pre-sen tence report or reports, along with character evidence that will contain anything favour able to the offender, the likelihood is that such questions would attack the complainant – a risky strategy, even counter-productive. It signals “no remorse” by the offender.

Let me share an example of how good inten tions by law makers are thwarted by real life. The complainant alleged that she was raped by a man of a different racial group to hers.

Her social-media history showed occasions when she had rather explicitly shared her desire to have sex with a man in that other racial group. That evidence could not be put before the jury. The jury convicted.

The complainant gave a tearful victim impact statement which, for those with knowl edge of her social media (thus the lawyers and the trial judge) was a concoction. It was better to allow the media to lap up that concoction than to seek to correct the record by cross-examining her. Such cross-examination would have fuelled more adverse media attention.

The result of poor drafting and trial realities is a false be lief among victims that their statements matter. At best they are cathartic, at worst they are a fraud for which there is no redress.

I applaud Grace Tame’s ideals, but both truth and lies can be power. Lies are especially powerful when the recipients are pre-disposed to accept them. That is human history, be it the European Inquisition, the false swearing as to witchcraft, claims of racial superiority, or the current notion that all alleged victims of sexual assault are victims. Sometimes we collectively are their victims.

Hugh Selby is a recently retired barrister who enjoyed appearing in criminal jury trials and teaching about them.

BRADDON GUNGAHLIN

The result of poor drafting and trial realities is a false belief among victims that their statements matter. At best they are cathartic, at worst they are a fraud for which there is no redress.

To quote Dick:

IF Shakespeare were writing today, I think he’d change his famous quote from Dick the Butcher in “Henry VI, Part 2”.

You know the one, “The first thing we do, Let’s kill all the lawyers”.

Not that I have much time for lawyers. Recently, I needed to sort out a concern over one of my biographies with a relative of the subject. We were quite good friends and we pretty much sorted it out face to face and on the phone.

But then she said she’d ask her lawyer to confirm it in writing. And wouldn’t you know – when the lawyer’s letter arrived it expanded the little problem into a big issue and I had to get my lawyer to respond. Suddenly, the relative and I were adversaries; the dispute was finally resolved but a friendship that I valued was gone forever. That’s lawyers for you.

However, these days they are much less pestilential – at least on the macro scale – than that other mob of pretentious “experts” we call economists.

They pretend they know stuff in the same way that theologians as sert their absolute certainty about the number of angels who could

dance on the end of a pin. And by their jabbering of forecasts – they affect our day-to-day lives in the most extraordinary manner.

How many times have you heard some television newsreader intone the message that: “Most economists believe the number of jobless/hours worked/inflation figures/trade bal ance/widgets exported would have been much higher/lower/smaller/ bigger than today’s result”.

first thing we do’

And in consequence the govern ment is embarrassed or triumphant and either changes course or doubles down on whatever the result portends. Either way, it turns out to be a mistake.

Truth is, the economists don’t know, any more than the theolo gians know the precise number of their angelic terpsichoreans. It’s all a giant con. Yet we’re so scared of the unknown that we elevate them to the status of guru and every night on the ABC we get a segment from the chummy Alan Kohler with pretty graphs and chatty reportage about the minuscule movements –for no apparent reason – of various stocks, bonds and commodities. At least he does it with the smile of someone who is in on the joke.

Unlike, say, the Nobel Prize com mittee who have given the Econom ics Prize to three characters who, they assured us, had thrown a piercing light on the causes of the Great Depression of the ‘30s. Golly, I’d been on tenterhooks waiting for that one.

However, I confess that until recently I’d actually made a point of reading Paul Krugman in the “New

York Times”, who also won a Nobel for some breathtaking economic insight. I thought it gave me a social cache at parties to casually drop his name into the conversation. But then I read this – his latest. It was my road-to-Damascus moment:

“I agree with the conventional wisdom on this, and I’m agnostic about the issue of whether slack is best measured by the unemploy ment rate, the ratio of vacancies to unemployment or something else. I’m also reasonably sure that the economy is indeed running too hot, so the Fed was right to raise rates –although I’m much less clear about whether the Fed needs to keep raising rates, given that much of the effect of past rate hikes has yet to be felt. As I said, there’s still a lot of downdraft in the pipeline.” See what I mean: “The first thing we do…”

robert@ robertmack lin.com

Insect farmer takes the top ACT title

OLYMPIA Yarger is the ACT Australian of the Year. She was recognised for her ground-breaking work as an insect farmer and founder of agri-tech start-up Goterra.

Olympia is an insect farming pioneer and has developed an innovative waste management system that uses maggots to process food waste and reduce greenhouse gases. Her system has pro cessed more than 35,000 tonnes of waste and saved more than 66,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Tom Calma is the ACT Senior Australian of the Year. He is a Kungarakan Elder, who has worked for more than 45 years championing the rights, responsibilities, and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Currently chancellor of the University of Canberra, Calma is a passionate volunteer and the co-chair of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament co-design group.

Kofi Owusu-Ansah, an award-winning performer and songwriter has been named ACT Young Australian of the Year.

Performing under the stage name Genesis Owusu, Kofi’s 2021 album, “Smiling with No Teeth”, won four ARIA Awards. It explores the impact of two distinct but entwined “black dogs” – racism and depression.

And the ACT Local Hero is Dr Shamaruh Mirza for her work supporting culturally and linguisti cally diverse Canberrans.

A medical scientist, she is the co-founder of SiTara’s Story, a volunteer-run not-for-profit that provides a safe space for women to support and empower each other.

The four ACT winners will represent the Canberra community at the 2023 Australian of the Year Awards on January 25.

Paul Krugman, of the “New York Times”… “There’s still a lot of downdraft in the pipeline”.

All politics is local – never more than when it’s not

THE last few weeks have seen significant changes in international politics. This does have an impact on Australia and on us locally in Canberra.

The most interesting impact seems to be the slowing of the swing to the far right. Although framing in terms of left and right has limitations, it does help to understand many politi cal concerns.

The midterm election results in the US have not returned the predicted “red wave” of Republican victories. However, there is doubt about which party is likely to control either the Senate or the Congress. A control of both houses by Republicans has the potential to stifle the goals of the Democrat president, Joe Biden.

The right-wing wave may have slowed, but the far right has not disappeared and will continue to have an impact. Jair Bolsonaro is gone in Brazil in a close-run race, finally conceding the leadership of the country to recycled President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (known as Lula). The impact that Bolsonaro had regarding COVID-19, the destruction of the Amazon to benefit big corpora tions and undermining of universal healthcare has been devastating.

Lula ran a campaign on supporting the rights of minorities and greater

in marked contrast to Bolsonaro who sought to loosen gun control and “strengthen traditional family values” with the usual right-wing emphasis on individual freedom and personal rights and rejecting any action on climate.

At the time of the UN’s COP27 meeting on climate change in Egypt, understanding the impact of the conservative right is even more important than ever.

There are other concerns that illustrate the outcome of right-wing

governments such as that of Bol sonaro. “The Guardian”, for example, reported that his government was responsible for “a litany of outrages, ineptitudes and errors committed during a chaotic four-year reign that saw nearly 700,000 covid deaths, tens of millions plunged into poverty, and South America’s largest economy becoming an international pariah”.

In Italy, Giorgia Meloni has now been sworn in as a far-right prime minister. She is the first woman to hold this role after her Brothers of Italy Party won around 25 per cent of the vote in a snap election.

She immediately received praise from Prime Minister Viktor Orban, of Hungary. France’s Marine Le Pen used the opportunity to Tweet: “Throughout Europe, patriots are coming to power and with them this Europe of nations”.

One common factor for many of the right-wing governments is support from the evangelical religions.

Former prime minister Scott Mor rison was able to muster this kind of support for his own government. How ever, evangelicalism is not as strong in Australia as in other countries. With evangelical support goes the push for individual freedoms on many matters – but restrictive policies on issues related to religion such as a woman’s right to choose an abortion or the right to die with dignity. The push for individual freedom following the COVID-19 lockdowns and other regulation has become quite apparent in Australia, and is very strong amongst the right wing. This was notable in the demonstra tors that flooded into Canberra in vehicles emblazoned with similar messages to those of the far right in the US.

Gun control is unlikely to be a major election issue in Australia. However, our involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan indicate that a more bellicose approach can be expected from conservative govern ments. With the actions of Russia attacking the Ukraine and the rise of China as a major military power, we should hope for carefully measured diplomacy and efforts to reduce the

likelihood of Australian engagement in further wars.

Over the next few months Aus tralians in Victoria and in NSW are facing elections. The impact of COVID-19 and how it was handled will be a major issue for many voters. However, the strong influence of the evangelical right within the conserva tive elements of the Liberal Party is something that ought also to be taken into account.

In Canberra, the very conservative former senator, Zed Seselja, was rejected in favour of a much more moderate Senator David Pocock. As we monitor the final outcome of the mid-term election in the US, it will be interesting to see if a more moderate approach is taken by the voters of NSW and Victoria.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.

The push for individual freedom following the covid lockdowns and other regulation has become quite apparent in Australia, and is very strong amongst the right wing.

hay fever

Hay fever can be serious, but there is treatment

noting the culprits are molecules in saliva, sweat and urine, not hair.

What treatments are best for hay fever?

HAY fever (also known as allergic rhinitis) is a catch-all term that covers a group of ailments that cause sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy and red eyes.

Hay fever affects millions of people in Australia. Ask your friends and colleagues about hay fever and chances are several will report they have it. However, they will probably describe different triggers, symptoms and seasons when it occurs.

Although it may seem like more of an annoy ance than anything else, uncontrolled hay fever can have economic and further health effects.

Hay fever can reduce people’s ability to concentrate, for example when driving or at work or school. This is made worse with hay fever also leading to disturbed sleep, affecting mood.

Nasal inflammation from allergies also has a concerning impact on an individual’s defences against infection. The inflammation from hay fever and the need to “mouth breathe” has a direct impact on asthma, leading to worse symptom control and a greater risk of a flare-up that requires unscheduled health care.

To reduce these risks, a range of treatments are available. However, before considering treatment, we need to consider what’s going wrong and why.

What is hay fever?

In addition to genetic factors, envi ronmental exposures such as airborne pollutants can dramatically predispose people to allergies.

Common causes of hay fever fall in three main groups:

1. Seasonal: pollens and plant materi als that give symptoms at certain times of the year. Calendar charts of the various pollens are available

2. Perennial (symptoms year round): however clean your house is, you will be exposed to fungal spores and to faeces from dust mites feeding off your dead skin cells. That sounds unsettling enough, but they can both be potent allergens that can’t be effectively avoided

3. Intermittent: most typically these are animals’ dead skin. It’s worth

Given these serious consequences, it’s reassuring to know there are effective treatments for hay fever. These range from common over-the-counter products to specialist medicines.

Antihistamines

Many people will immediately think of antihistamines for hay fever: by tablet, nasal spray or eye drops. Histamine is a key messenger chemical in the allergy process, but it isn’t the only one. There fore, antihistamines alone are usually only sufficient to get on top of mild problems.

There are a large number of antihistamines available with a range of effectiveness. Although many are available without prescription, bear in mind some are sedating, and some are unsafe in pregnancy, or when you have certain cardiac conditions, and may clash with some other medicines.

Nasal treatments

Nasal sprays apply treatment directly to microscopic hairs in the nose, helpfully spreading the medicine around. Many people take over-the-counter nasal corticosteroid spray to dampen down inflammation.

As a physician I’ve found it’s common

in clinics for people to say sprays “don’t work” for them but usually this is because they don’t take them properly. These treatments can take many days to work, and need to be taken regularly every day. The trick is: don’t sniff them (the medicine will end up in the back of your throat), or spray them on to the sensitive middle part of the nose, which can bleed.

Saline sinus rinses can be very helpful in clearing mucus, allergens and inflammatory material (snot, to you and me) before using other medicines. Always use sterile liquids for this or nasty sinus infections can occur.

Decongestants

Decongestants might seem like a good idea when you can’t breathe, but are associated with a rebound worsening of swelling when they wear off (this has the excellent name of rhinitis medicamentosa).

As for many chemicals, if you take them long enough the body switches off its own supply (negative feedback) so when the drug is removed, the body is worse off. Use them sparingly.

Prescribed therapies

If your hay fever is more severe, your doctor could consider a course of higher-strength nasal steroid drops, but these aren’t to be used for longer than a month as they can cause erosion of the nasal lining.

Adding a medicine that acts on other key messengers of inflammation (leukotrienes), such as Montelukast, can

sometimes be helpful. These tablets are usually well tolerated but can have side effects such as headache which lead to their discontinuation.

Specialist treatments

For people with hay fever alongside asthma or other allergic disease, there are now effective medicines that block messengers of allergy in a highly specific manner, such as the monoclonal antibody Dupilumab, and more are coming soon. Although too costly to be prescribed in hay fever alone, they show our understanding of the relevant mechanisms has improved.

Giving people a regular small dose of something they are sensitised to can make their immune system more tolerant of it. This is often referred to as immunotherapy, and can be by regular tablet or injection.

Although potentially very helpful, this treatment takes years and the improve ments seen are incremental rather than a complete permanent resolution.

This article does not constitute specific medical advice. Please speak to your GP, specialist or pharmacist about using the medicines mentioned here. You may also wish to review the helpful information and videos from Asthma Australia.

John D Blakey, adjunct clinical associate professor – Curtin Medical School, Curtin University. This article is republished from theconversation.com

Although it may seem like more of an annoyance than anything else, uncontrolled hay fever can have economic and further health effects, writes JOHN D BLAKEY.

Hay fever… can lead to disturbed sleep, affecting mood.

Running the gauntlet of Canberra Avenue traffic

CANBERRA Avenue, Fyshwick, has been reported as number one of the top five crash locations in Canberra.

The avenue runs from the large rounda bout at the intersections of Canberra Avenue, Wentworth Avenue and Sturt Avenue to at least Tom Price Street, at the end of the builtup area, a distance of about six kilometres. The recent news reports didn’t state which sections of Canberra Avenue experience the most collisions, but most readers will know that the speed limit from just after that roundabout to the NSW border is 80km/h.

Added to that, there are seven sets of traffic lights, three of which control traffic going to or coming from other 80km/h roads; pedestrians crossing at both controlled intersections and other uncontrolled places; the uncontrolled intersections at McMillan Crescent, Dalby Street, Mildura Street, the Southside Village Caravan Park, Faulding Street, and Whyalla Street; the service station on Dalby Street; bus stops and short sections of bus lanes; bicycle lanes, slip lanes and merging lanes; the bridge over Jerrabomb erra Creek; the underpass under the Monaro Highway; countless businesses employing trucks (including B-doubles), which turn at many of the controlled and uncontrolled intersections; the fire and ambulance station on Dalby Street; and the Fyshwick Markets, Canberra Outlet Centre and dozens of other shopping, food and entertainment destinations.

The road is also a major route to the south coast, meaning additional traffic on Friday afternoons as Canberrans escape.

So, we have a very complex road system with heavy traffic usage, increasing at peakhours and covering about six kilometres, with all those potential driver distractions, on which the speed limit is 80km/h!

A similar distance along Northbourne Avenue from London Circuit to Epic, with similar traffic volumes (I’m estimating here) has a maximum limit of 70km/h for only a short section between Yowani and Epic, with major sections of 60km/h and 40km/h. Almost all intersections on Northbourne Avenue are controlled, and there are few slip lanes or merging lanes.

Another comparison can be made with the seven kilometres, 80km/h drive on Hindmarsh Drive from Fyshwick to Palmer Street in Garran, where there are virtually no buildings, only five sets of traffic lights, one uncontrolled intersection, no bus stops, and a set of average speed cameras.

The internet tells us that Canberra Avenue has had the distinction of being a top hotspot a number of times since at least 2015. If the ACT government has known about this for at least seven years, can anyone explain why the speed limit on all of Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick is still 80km/h?

The speed limit hasn’t been reduced, there are no speed or red-light cameras at any of the traffic lights, there is no “accident black spot” signage, and there is no signage advis ing that something might be done one day.

Jeff Heron, Kingston

Solar panels as a trade weapon?

IN respect of Douglas Mackenzie’s letter (CN November 9), China might be big on renewables, but is busily building 150 nuclear power plants as well as more fossil fuel-powered plants, in recognition that renewables will not meet their ultimate, projected needs for electrical energy.

In the meantime, it is proceeding to cap ture the world market on solar panels and, when ready, use that as a trade weapon.

Max Flint, Erindale Centre

The Voice has lashings of political spin

ERIC Hunter’s condescending advice (“Peter needs our sympathy and understanding”, Letters, CN November 3) assumes, as an opponent of The Voice, I must be ignorant of Aboriginal history. I’m not.

Even if I was, would he seriously extend that charge to everyone opposed to The Voice?

In a strange religious pitch, he insinuates malevolence in Voice opponents. This is a deeply pessimistic view of our society. I believe most Australians take little joy in Aboriginal vex, whatever their metaphysical stance or Voice opinion.

His letter reflects another profound flaw in The Voice: on top of its vague emotional promise, it is politically divisive. Prime Minister Albanese knows it; he’s already been burned with his initial stab at Constitutional wording.

Rather than Hunter’s description as a “respectful and reasonable invitation for all Australians”, The Voice has lashings of political spin, and, as his letter attests, doesn’t brook misgivings too kindly.

Peter Robinson, Ainslie

I absolutely know the difference

CONTRARY to John Schmidt’s opinion (“The time for fossil fuel is gone”, Letters, CN October 27), I am well aware of the differ ence between the past and the future.

He claims the time is well past for the use of fossil fuels in our technology, but he does not suggest what can be used in their place to make all the plastic goods mentioned in my earlier letter.

Does he have any idea what all the plastics will be made from or the man-made fibres. If there is a possible replacement, why did he not suggest it or has it not been found?

Douglas Mackenzie claims I did not note his use of the term fossil fuels and its context. I had noted this, but the term “fossil fuels” are used when talking about banning all fossil fuels’ extraction and use.

Dr Mackenzie claims that Andrew Forrest and Fortescue Future Industries are looking to use “green hydrogen”. This is still in the experimental stages and very costly to produce. Hydrogen also is a problem to transport and store as per the following quote from the web: “Abundant, cheap and clean-burning, hydrogen has long been de

scribed as the fuel of the future. That future has never quite materialised, however, due to hydrogen’s disadvantages. It’s difficult to transport, it can make metal brittle and it’s 20 times more explosive than petrol.”

Given Australia currently produces only around 20 per cent of our electricity requirement through wind and solar, should we not be waiting until we have a reliable source of supposedly clean electricity be fore we go banning fossil fuels – especially if we are forced to have electric cars?

Vi Evans via email

Richard can call himself what he likes

GOODNESS me! What’s with Rick Forster (Letters, November 7)? He asserts his entire belief in the “peaceful transition to self-rule we have enjoyed” under “our incredibly robust and democratic Australian Constitu tion”. No comparison, Richard claims, with the “rabid regimes” we might identify with were we to become the “Democratic People’s Socialist Republic of the Com monwealth of Australia”.

And to cap it all, he says it is immaterial if he is a monarchist or not. He’s right there. Richard can call himself what he likes when Shaun Micallef appoints him as his head satirist.

Eric Hunter, Cook

Write to us: editor@citynews.com.au

Psychic Fair the

Psychic Readers, Healers, Mediums, Stalls, Workshops

I

Every child should grow up in a home like this…

my childhood on a quarter-acre block in the ‘50s and ‘60s. It was the norm in our city and tradesmen,

When I bought my quarter-acre block in Canberra (for four times my annual Clerk Class 2 gross salary in 1983) our neighbours were tradesmen and small-business owners. They had their quarter-acre blocks all around us. Little did we realise that the ‘50s through the ‘80s was a passing golden age.

Both generations had trees for the children to climb, a productive vegetable garden, a garage, a woodshed, a workshop, a chook run, a clothesline and space for children to play hide and seek with an infinite number of hiding places. No one ever parked overnight on the street.

On an established quarter-acre block, “lockdowns” are barely a problem, children can have pets, they have space for hobbies and also the opportunity to take responsibility for active and meaningful household tasks.

The quarter-acre block comes with responsibilities to consider neighbours, maintain the nature strip and to organise the outdoor space.

Every child should have the opportunity to be brought up in a home like this with parents who know how to use it.

Sadly, many families today do not know how to use the space at their disposal and the outdoor space is just a rubbish tip and fire hazard. Perhaps they are too lazy or unthinkingly follow the lifestyle example of neighbours who live in apartments or units.

Keith Thomas, via citynews.com.au

Souvenir edition to government’s ills

THE November 3 edition of “CityNews” could be kept as a souvenir edition of what’s wrong with this ACT government and perhaps serve as a basis for an opposition’s manifesto for the next election.

But what hope that, hey? Where is this government’s Kryptonite? They even have the Liberals’ natural constituency wrapped up.

This government is now generational. Think about that. We seem to be voting on automatic.

Special mention to your regular contributing writers and particularly notable is your cartoonist at shushcapital [“Keeping

up the ACT”]. They really have the knack of sticking the knife in from the existential angst of Rattenbury, the clever dig at Mick “our Gorbi” Gentleman and my favourite, the government’s aim to reach their “smugness goal to be fully self-congratulatory by 2024”.

Great stuff.

Algis Kusta,

Time for new number plates

Deakin

So have they seen the business case and agree with it? Or are they just supporting this white elephant project to support the ACT Labor government?

Either way, the more responsible action would be to follow up on Maxine Cooper’s Auditor-General report of 2016. Obviously, there are questions to be answered. What about seeing a business case for alternative options such as small electric buses or the trackless tram?

Commonwealth funding arrangements.

If the ACTCOSS board can’t or won’t fill the CEO position in January with someone of Dr Campbell’s calibre, then suspicions will arise about the job and its role being downplayed, if not compromised.

Both ACTCOSS and the ACT government should remember that many ACT voters are looking for real evidence of more integrity and transparency being exercised at the territory level of governance, too. Strong and authentic advocacy is also needed to help improve the decision-making and quality-of-life outcomes that the govern ment states it is aiming for under the ACT Wellbeing Framework.

Sue Dyer, Downer

‘Serious’ concerns at Kippax centre

TWO current issues at Kippax Group Centre are of serious concern to our West Belcon nen community; namely, approval to build on the sports oval, plus the demolition of the former public health centre.

Firstly, long-designated green spaces must be returned, not only for us, but for the future and still growing population levels.

Moreover, how foolish for the previous Assembly to approve developments on this low-lying “flood plain”, with the likelihood of future inundation with no home insurance.

In the following year they emitted a record 37,000 tonnes.

We can completely eliminate those emissions at a third of the cost of light rail stage two, by replacing all our buses with electric buses.

Leon Arundell, Downer

Trackless tram comes in a kit

THE trackless tram, or autonomous rail transit (ART) as it is known in China, combines the best of high-speed rail and autonomousvehicle (AV) technology with on-street mass transit to achieve a flexible, carbon-neutral and cost-effective urban connector.

It is sold as a kit of parts – three cars plus a station – that can be installed about as fast as a city’s permitting process would allow, according to its proponents.

Why does the ACT government insist on the very expensive tram system when an ART system could be in place in a quarter of the time and price with the much needed saved funds going into fixing ACT roads and the hospitals.

Michael

Finck, via email

Colorado cannabis experiment a ‘disaster’

WITH the passage of time it is probably appropriate to consider a new issue of motor-vehicle number plates reflecting the modern Canberra of 2022.

We’ve already had “the bush capital”, “heart of the nation”, “feel the power of Canberra”.

The new plates could proudly have the slogan “Canberra – the dope capital of Australia”.

John Lawrence via email

Government not listening to our needs

IAN Meikle sums up eloquently the debacle with the southside tram in his “Seven Days” column “Mother of the tram kicks in millions more for tracks” (CN November 10).

It is indeed bewildering that Federal Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Andrew Leigh, Assistant Minister for Treasury, have both come out recently in full support of the southside tram project.

As usual the ACT government says they have consulted and the community is in agreement but no evidence is given for this supposed support for the southside tram.

Canberrans are very engaged with their community and it is such a shame that the ACT government doesn’t listen to our needs.

Penny Moyes, Hughes

Thank you, Emma Campbell

THE intelligence, honesty, consistency, and communication skills that Emma Campbell brought to the CEO position at ACTCOSS will be sorely missed (“Seven Days”, CN November 7), particularly since what she has done also aimed to make us a better community overall.

Few have the ability to do this. This was also in stark contrast to what was happening as a result of the former federal Coalition government’s efforts to shackle NGOs and other key service providers directly and indirectly, via “agreements” linked to

Secondly, this Kippax Health Centre was designed by a gold-medal architect, with a centre courtyard and overlooks the playing fields. We appealed against its removal but were shocked to be told that we do not have “legal standing”; so much for existing ACT legislation.

Over now to our Ginninderra members of the Assembly to work for our community needs; recreation, sport and a reopened health centre, with mental health experts. Indeed, two of our local politicians, Yvette Berry and Tara Cheyne are also ministers.

Christopher Watson, via email

Goodbye emissions, hello electric buses

WHY does Noel Baxendell think that light rail “is needed as we respond to the climate emergency” (Letters, November 8)?

In the first year of light rail operation, Transport Canberra’s trams and buses emitted more carbon dioxide per person per journey than the equivalent in car travel.

WITH spiralling rates of car crashes, mental illness, homelessness, autistic and uncontrollable brain-damaged children, the Colorado cannabis experiment is widely seen as a disaster.

A 2019 study by Australian epidemiolo gists professors Reece and Hulse demon strated a robust link between marijuana use in early pregnancy and serious birth defects in Colorado 2000-2014.

In summary, the study found that the use of tobacco, alcohol, cocaine and opiate pain relievers by expectant mothers in Colorado decreased, but cannabis use by expectant mothers increased. The overall rate of birth defects increased 30 per cent.

Cannabinoids have a large “epigenetic footprint”, which relates to their disruption of the gene control systems that are impli cated in all of life and particularly ageing, birth defects, brain damage and cancer.

Together these changes make an irrefuta ble case that multigenerational cannabinoid genotoxicity is a major public health crisis set to blindside the community that refuses to take notice of the scientific research.

Prof Dr Stuart Reece, University of WA

Guy Clews

dose of dorin

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS advertising feature

Time to get organised for Christmas celebrations

Christmas function with all the trimmings

RYDGES Canberra reopened in September 2021 following an 18-month refurbishment, says area director of sales and marketing Natalie Graham.

“The entire ground level of the hotel was redeveloped including the restaurant and bar, internal atrium and private event spaces,” she says.

QPRC brings Christmas events to the community

“QPRC is coming out to Queanbeyan, Bungen dore and Braidwood this festive season to host a series of events including community Christmas carols and the annual Queanbeyan Street Christmas Party, featuring the headlining act, Dragon!” she says.

“At each of these events, we’ll be uplifting the community voice, literally, through hosting a series of musical performances and entertainment from local groups such as primary schools, scouts, guides and churches.”

Sarah says they will also have a range of food

• A Very Merry Braidwood Christmas Stage Show Spectacular will take place at Ryrie Park, 5pm, on December 2.

• Bungendore Community Christmas Party, Mick Sherd Oval, 4pm-8pm, December 3.

• Queanbeyan Community Street Christmas Party, Crawford Street, 5pm-9pm, December 10.

• Queanbeyan Community Christmas Carols, at Queanbeyan Park, 6pm-9pm, December 15.

QPRC. Visit qprc.nsw.gov.au/Community/Events

“The hotel has a range of event spaces which include a private bar complete with its own outdoor terrace, stylish private lounge with floor to ceiling windows the entire length of the space, and our restaurant is also available for private hire.”

Natalie says they offer everything in terms of catering.

“From festively themed canape menus through to our three-course feasting

menu, a seated lunch or dinner with dishes designed to be shared and spark conversation,” she says.

“Rydges Canberra is the ideal place to book your Christmas party this year. Whether it’s a corporate event for your team or a social catch up with family and friends we’ll have the perfect package to suit your needs, and if we don’t we’ll create a custom one for you.

“Our executive chef selected the best of the festive season produce from the Canberra region and south coast to design menus that include all of the Christmas trimmings.”

Rydges Canberra, 17 Canberra Avenue, Forrest. Call 6295 3144, or visit rydges.com/canberra

Inclusive service at Holy Covenant

HOLY Covenant Anglican Church has been operating in Cook since 1968, says Rev Dr Wayne Brighton.

“We offer membership of a community that values what Jesus valued – inclusion, diversity, compassion, justice and freedom,” he says.

“By valuing these things, we seek to be fruitful in the ways of God’s spirit.

“We believe that God works through every person and that no one is a project or a spectator. Our age, ability, gender, orientation and heritage are gifts through which God works so that the world can flourish.”

Dr Brighton says there is a simplicity here without being simplistic as this classical liturgical setting provides a space for all that we are and everything in God’s purposes.

“A wider range of sources are used to affirm that we are all loved by God,” he says.

Over Christmas, Dr Brighton says Holy Covenant is offering “Blue Christmas” on December 18 at 5pm, to recognise the loss and loneliness that can be felt during holidays due to death, disease, poverty, isolation or abuse.

Christmas Eve is Kids’ Christmas at 5pm, a family picnic, a nativity play and Christmas carols and at 11pm there’s “Christmas Eve: Carols, Candles and Communion”, a traditional Christmas Eve service.

“Christmas Day at 8am is a classic Christ mas service and 10am is a contemporary celebration,” he says.

Holy Covenant Anglican Church, 89 Dexter Street, Cook. Call 6251 6100, or visit holycovenant.org.au

Everyone’s welcome at All Saints Anglican Church

WHETHER regular parishioners or those just coming by to visit, All Saints Anglican Church in Ainslie welcomes anyone, says Rector Lynda McMinn.

She says the church will host Christmas Eve mass at 11pm, and Christmas Day mass at 9am.

“We’re thrilled to be able to worship together in person, especially at this time of year,” she says.

“We were streaming mass online during lockdown and as much as you can observe something online you miss that emotional connection of being together in person.

“Even being able to see people face-to-face and nod and smile means a lot.

“Our heritage-listed building has a fascinating history, first being built as a railway station for the Rookwood Cemetery and then being

A booklet detailing the history of the church is available for sale from the parish office.

“Anyone is welcome to come and worship with us or just to come and see this historic and charming building,” she says.

All Saints Anglican Church, 9-15 Cowper Street, Ainslie. Call 6248 7420, or visit allsaintainslie.org.au

Gift shop ready for an Aussie Christmas

WOMBAT Cards and Gifts is a small family business started by Monica and John Rolls in 2015.

“We started as a small market stall sell ing homemade greeting cards that I started making when I retired,” says Monica.

“Now I have most of my Christmas stock and decorations in, and people need to get in early because they sell quickly.

“We have all of the Australian animals with little Christmas hats on, and nativity scenes with Australian animals, too.”

Monica says she loves what she’s doing and loves that she’s achieving something by introducing people to Australian animals.

“We have indigenous, dot-painting laser-cut animals that my granddaughter painted,” she says.

the store. It makes me feel happy when people come in and see the products that we have.”

Wombat Cards and Gifts, Shop 2, 31/35 Nettlefold Street, Belconnen. Call 0423 786222, or visit wombatcardsandgifts.com.au

Supporting mums through pregnancy and beyond

BEING a parent is one of the most rewarding experiences, but it can also be one of the most challenging, especially as parents navigate their way through a whole new lifestyle.

A new addition is also a time of great change, with a lot of new products and services needed.

“CityNews” speaks to the businesses who can help support mums with pregnancy, birth, babies, kids and beyond.

“Kidstart offers classes for children from five months to five years of age to develop them socially, physically, emotionally and intellectu ally,” she says.

Operating since 1996 and located in Wanniassa, Kristen says Kidstart offers three distinct and age-appropriate programs to ignite a love of learning.

The first program is for children under the age of three, to attend with an adult, and introduces them to music, stories and stimulating equipment.

The second program is a “Pre-Preschool” program for three and four-year-olds to attend by themselves before starting preschool.

“It has been amazing to see 26 years’ worth of

Preschool. The program is centred on phonics based literacy.

“We use interactive computer sessions to expose the children to the letter sounds, letter identification and letter formation,” says Kristen.

“We are passionate about developing a love of learning in each and every child.

“By allowing them to thrive in an educational setting and experience the joy in exploring and achieving, we hope learning will be a lifelong passion for all our Kidstart kids.”

Kidstart Southside Education and Activity Centre, 65 Sternberg Crescent, Wanniassa. For enrolment enquiries visit kidstart.com.au or call 0422 406622.

The importance of a postnatal assessment

ALL women who have had a baby should have a postnatal assessment with a pelvic floor physiotherapist, according to Marita O’Shea of Her Physio.

“This is different from your six-week check with your obstetrician, GP or midwife,” she says.

“Every woman that has had a baby needs time to recover and every woman is different in terms of their recovery.”

Marita, a women’s health physiotherapist with postgraduate qualifications in pelvic floor rehabilita tion says common postnatal issues are pelvic-floor weakness, urinary incontinence, abdominal separation, symptoms of heaviness or prolapse and lower back pain.

A postnatal assessment with a women’s health physiotherapist involves an internal pelvic-floor muscle assessment, a functional assessment of the deep abdominal muscles and abdominal separation, and a musculo skeletal assessment, says Marita.

“We consider your birth history, your exercise history and your exercise

goals,” says Marita.

“Our aim is to support women to return to exercise safely after birth and prevent any long-term issues.

“For many women, exercise is important for their mental health. We encourage and assist women to continue to exercise safely in the postnatal period.”

Marita is available for consultations at Specialist Services in Deakin, where she works with specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists.

Her Physio, 12/12 Napier Close, Deakin. Call 6282 2033 or visit herphysio.com.au

Marita O’Shea of Her Physio.

“The midwifery team offers antenatal and postnatal care, community at home support, baby health checks, breastfeeding support, immunisa tions, and a range of women’s health services.

“Our midwives work closely with ACT hospitals, and assist in ensuring continuity of care between

propriate midwifery services, as many choose not to access mainstream services without support.”

Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, 63 Boolimba Crescent, Nar rabundah. Call 6284 6222 or visit winnunga.org.au

Senior meet preschoolers for ‘meaningful interactions’

NORTHSIDE Community Service is a not-for-profit, communitybased organisation that has been supporting the community in North Canberra and beyond since 1976, says manager Kate

“We’re a progressive and modern community organisation that embraces diversity, social justice and advocacy for those in our community whose voices are often unheard,” she says.

“Northside supports young children through our highquality early education services, children and young people through our youth programs and family support services, older citizens through our aged-care services and support programs, and the wider community through our housing, community development, outreach, and volunteer programs.”

Kate says “Learning Through the Ages” is a new and note worthy intergenerational program that has been introduced

“Each week our senior social group spends time with our preschool children from one of four Northside Early Childhood Centres, giving the opportunity for meaningful interactions and relationships to be built over a 10-week period,” she says.

“Research into intergenerational learning has shown extensive benefits for both the seniors and children in regard to their mental and emotional health, and overall wellbeing.

“This program has already proved an invaluable one here at Northside, and we are very excited to continue watch ing the countless positive outcomes unfold.”

Northside Community Service, 2 Rosevear Place, Dickson. Call 6171 8000, or visit northside.asn.au

Program uses sport to develop important skills for kids

OWNER of the ACT chapter of Ready Steady Go Kids, Leonie Collis says the goal of their multi-sport program is to get kids moving and interested in being active from a young age.

Running year-round, the indoor program allows children aged one and a half to six to have a go at soccer, tennis, hockey, AFL, cricket, basketball, athletics, golf, rugby and tee-ball.

“The program covers all the gross motor skills associated with sports – catching, throwing, bouncing, kicking, batting, running, balance as well as spatial awareness” says Leonie.

“Getting their gross motor skills up means kids gain confidence, which they bring with them to school sports and PE sessions.

“Having a strong body also helps kids with day-today activities like sitting at a desk, dressing themselves etcetera. Our hope is that these kids remain active and healthy throughout their lives.

“We’re open for enrolments all the time, parents can book their free trial any time.”

Leonie says parents are encouraged to get involved with the 45-minute classes, and that each child is able to attend one free session to ensure it’s suited to them.

She also says they take the program to Early Learning Centres.

“During the sessions there’s lots of socialising going on through lots of group activity,” she says.

“The kids get the opportunity to be amongst each other and make friends in the class, which is always great to see.”

Steady Go Kids, visit readysteadygokids.com.au

Ready

CEO Julie Tongs.

WINNUNGA NIMMITYJAH ABORIGINAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services (Winnunga) is a multiaccredited Aboriginal community controlled and managed primary health care service located in Narrabundah ACT.

We provide integrated client centric wrap around services, which focuses on the clinical, cultural and spiritual needs of Aboriginal clients, families and the community, including programs for Mums and Bubs.

The Midwifery Program aims to remove barriers that prevent women from accessing maternity care in mainstream services.

The Program maintains strong working relationships with each hospital which allows for seamless transitions of care.

Following the birth of baby, the Program provides up to six weeks of postnatal care in the client’s home assisting mothers with feeding, weight monitoring, emotional wellbeing assessments and mother-crafting/health education.

The Midwifery Program has developed strong links with the Winnunga Australian Nurse Family Partnership Program. Both programs work together to provide holistic care for first time Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander mothers, or mothers having an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander baby, in the Canberra region.

The programs complement each other and ensure mothers feel prepared and supported through their pregnancy and early parenting stages, up until the child is two years of age.

The ANFPP provides information and education to mothers using a strengths-based approach, which builds individual capacity to identify solutions to problems.

Mothers feel empowered as they learn how to work with their strengths, realise the power of their own actions and gain a greater sense of control over their lives.

Winnunga AHCS is a national leader in accreditation, was one of the first Aboriginal community controlled health services to achieve dual accreditation under RACGP and QIC standards. Winnunga AHCS has been at the forefront of setting a national agenda for quality improvement in Aboriginal community controlled health and continues to advocate locally and nationally for best practice standards in operational and governance areas of Aboriginal health services. Ph: 6284 6222 | 63 Boolimba Cres, Narrabundah www.winnunga.org.au

MUMS & BUBS

Supportive workforce for mothers

MOTINA Hive aims to provide mothers with flexible work, training, ongoing development and mentorship including resume assistance, says CEO and founder Jordanna Davis.

“We provide businesses with support in social media, marketing, events, PR, website design, administration, project management and more,” she says.

“I noticed a gap for stay-at-home parents in the workforce and people are really struggling.

“I wanted to help support mums to receive an income, have flexible work, and be able to continue their professional development.

Jordanna says they have multiple packages available to suit any business needs.

“If you have a problem you need fixing, or not enough time to do all the little things, we can help,” she says.

Family store is ready for summer

FAMILY favourite store Lellow Kids is full of new summer clothing and footwear, says owner Jen Takiari, just in time for some Christmas shopping.

“We’ve got so many gift ideas,” says Jen. “From clothing and footwear to baby essentials, developmental toys, books, games and so much more for newborns up to eight-year-olds.”

“Because it’s a small business you really get to know the custom ers and experience all the different life stages with them,” says Jen.

“You’ll get parents coming in who are expecting, then they’ll

come in with their baby, then they’ll come in and get their first shoes and then they’re getting things to start school.

“I just love getting to know people here, it’s a really fun place.”

Jen says she’s also proud that many of the brands stocked in store come from Australian businesses.

“Some of the brands we stock are unique to us, you’ll only find them here in Lellow,” she says.

“A lot of people shop here for Christmas gifts because we’ve got something that’s that little bit extra special.”

Lellow Kids, 63/30 Lonsdale Street, Braddon. Call 6247 3679 or visit lellowkids.com

Motina Hive CEO and founder Jordanna Davis.

Lisa aims for new highs with her latest album

By Helen MUSA

DEFYING gravity is a byword for singer songwriter Lisa Richards.

Not only is “Waiting to Fly” the title of her eighth album, borne out of repeated lockdowns and isolation, but her launch later this month will be a musical celebration of “taking flight” with her own songs and stories.

But defying gravity also has a darker side for Richards who, speaking of her youthful years of addiction to anything she could lay her hands on, says: “I had never had any dreams, or hopes, or goals except to get high and stay high until I died.”

If you listen to Richards’ voice, you’ll never forget it. Described by critics as “both ferocious and sweet”, it has a strange mixture of thinness and depth. When I catch up with her, I ask how she views it.

“It’s the only voice I’ve ever known so that I can only tell you where other people put me,” she says.

“Some people compare me to Bjork or Joanna Newsom, but I see myself as singing a mongrel mix of folk, jazz and blues – a different voice.”

She’s noticed many people sing in a different voice from the one they speak with, meaning

that the singing voice must be affected.

“With me, I don’t do that… I think people find that refreshing,” she says.

At 59, Richards says she’s beginning to feel grown-up. After 22 years living in the US, she fell in love with a Canberran, now her husband, and has lived here for nine years.

When we talk, I hear an Aussie accent, but she says some people think she has one and some think she doesn’t, adding, “voice is always a subject of great consideration for me”.

When young, she used to get in trouble for sounding too Townsville – that’s where she was born – but now people think English isn’t her first language.

Richards’ troubled Townsville youth is well behind her. The daughter of a psychiatrist, she was introduced to antipsychotic drugs as a girl of four or five years old, given in the belief that if one medicated children, it would calm them down.

“The first time I got drunk… I was seven and I didn’t have much supervision. I was very unhappy so I started to look for an escape.”

At 20, she headed south, busked in Kings Cross, imbibed any substance she could get, then went to rehab at 26.

“Music was my escape, but I didn’t practice it until I was an adult, although my mother had been a pianist,” she says.

Encouraged by a drummer friend, she left Australia for New York without a Green Card, then visited the South By Southwest Confer

ence in Austin, Texas where, she says, “it felt like home, it opened up a whole world… It was about real music-making, not superstars. It broadened my vision”.

She was married to a bass player there for 14 years, all the while maintaining her sobriety.

She’s been nine years in Canberra now and has learnt that it doesn’t matter where you live, you can have a good life if you put yourself to it.

“The arts scene here is very different, and I think it’s growing and getting stronger,” she says. “ It’s taken me a long time to get connected, but now I am.”

Mind you, she has reached out to American contacts, too, sourcing southern Californian-based percussionist Larry Salzman and touring guitarist Clint Wells for her new album “Waiting to Fly” and yes, the acronym is WTF.

These days Richards’ songs are about defy ing the low moments, so when people say she sings the blues, she know a true-blues aficionado would not agree “because the blues are about the highs and the lows, but the way I sing is very much cabaret with a bluesy touch”.

Now with the release of her new album, Richards is ready to fly.

“I’ve had more highs being a composer than I ever did,” she says.

Lisa Richards, Street Theatre, November 26.

Proudly sponsored by

Singer songwriter Lisa Richards… “I had never had any dreams, or hopes, or goals except to get high and stay high until I died.”

MUSIC Koebi reflects on something new

By Helen Musa

WITH a musical Samoan father and a watchful Polish mother, Koebi Faumui and his siblings were destined to be musicians.

Not necessarily for a day job, because although all were trained in music, big sister Kashia took environmental studies in business management and older brother Salale is doing a psychology degree.

But 20-year-old Koebi, now in his second year studying jazz guitar with Greg Stott and music produc tion with Ken Lampl at the ANU School of Music, is well and truly on his way to becoming a professional musician.

Only eight when he started recording with his siblings The Faumuis, he has already recorded 10 original albums and five covers.

Father and manager Garry Fau mui, manager of the Booyah Group, which uses music to strengthen social bonds, says his aim has been to pass on to his children “enduring stuff”, while their mother has been “the critic… she tells us when we suck”.

Koebi, Garry says, is the only one of his musical children who

expressed an interest in stepping out on his own.

When I catch up with him, he’s brimming with excitement about the musical colleagues he’s been able to assemble for his new EP launch at ANU Kambri in early December, including Citizen Kay, Lucy Sugarman, Seanzsound, and members of the group Archie. “These are people whose music I respect,” he says. “It’s my dream.”

His new EP, called “Something New”, is a culmination of originals written over the past year, but he’s

released a couple of teaser singles in recent months – “Good People”, a song with a universal message and “I Know Better”, which “felt like it encompassed my life in the last couple of years”.

“I wouldn’t like to get stuck in one category, but maybe what I do is pop indie,” he says.

His efforts to make a quieter departure from the kind of sound he used to do, he suspects, may be attributed to his studies with “awesome teachers” Greg Stott, Eric Ajaye and John Mackey.

“Being at university has helped me develop some vocabulary, and also some maturity. I feel I know a lot about jazz now,” he says.

Koebi’s musical inclination is quite eclectic, as the line-up of rock, rap, hip-hop, folk, electronic and reggae on December 3 will show.

He has produced and helped write a song about mental health with eight local rappers and produced a track with a group of indigenous year 5 students.

“The songs that mean the most to me are the ones where I go deep, but the funny thing is that they often come easily,” he says.

“They can come in 30 minutes.

“I want to get some more meaning into my lyrics, to question things, to be quite reflective.”

He suspects that his Seventh-day Adventist upbringing may have had some influence, both in the content of his songs, but also the discipline he discovered in his childhood.

“You have a great deal of selfcontrol when you know you’re not like the rest of the people,” he says.

“I am thankful for my days in church; that upbringing gives you hope to sing and hope to play better.”

“Something New”, ANU Kambri, 7pm, December 3.

my lyrics, to question things, to be quite reflective.”

All hands on deck for a mystery

THE creators of Netflix’s most cerebral show are back for another mindbending mystery.

German writing duo Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese have gifted viewers a new puzzle to solve in the form of “1899”, a psychological thriller wrapped in an ominous sci-fi premise.

Netflix subscribers might be familiar with their other series “Dark”, easily one of the streaming platform’s most inventive offerings.

The complex and interweaving plot threads of its three seasons made “Dark” not only a fascinat ing watch, but one of those rare experiences that can be even better on a rewatch.

With that success behind them and a new chunk of Netflix’s budget at their disposal, bo Odar and Friese have delivered another tale that both intrigues and unsettles.

It’s been tight lips on details for the plot (best for a show of this kind) but the setup alone has been enough to raise many an eyebrow, including those of this columnist.

“1899”, set in, would you believe it, 1899, drops viewers amongst a group of European migrants who board a New York-bound steamship in search of a new life.

Their hopes of a fresh start are soon dashed when they encounter an eerily similar vessel to their own at sea, one they discover is harbour ing some uncanny cargo indeed.

It’d be remiss to sail much further into spoiler territory, but it is worth saying this eerie odyssey across the Atlantic draws from the urban leg end of the Bermuda Triangle – the fabled stretch of ocean where many a ship and airplane has vanished under mysterious circumstances.

One highly dubious but fun

answer for the disappearance of vessels in the triangle is that they actually fall into a parallel universe or time warp. Fans of “Dark” will know that sounds oddly familiar.

The allure of the Bermuda Triangle has good television written all over it, and yet there’s never re ally been a quality production that delivers on that potential. However, “1899” steams confidently ahead into the unknown.

IT seems audiences just can’t get enough of period pieces with doomed matriarchs.

This year alone there’s been a series on Russian empress Catherine the Great, French Monarch Cath erine de’ Medici and now it’s Marie Antoinette’s turn.

Conspicuously titled “Marie Antoinette”, this new eight parter from the BBC regales the life of the last Queen of France before the French revolution.

Those wanting to learn more about this fascinating historical figure will find a much deeper examina tion here than the 2006 film that starred Kirsten

CINEMA / reviews

Dunst as the titular monarch.

This time around its German actress Emilia Schüle who dons the pastel gowns. She marches the opulent halls of Versailles with coquettish energy and the audacious attitude that Antoinette was known for.

Her story is ripe for a TV show. At just 14 years old, Antoinette became wife to heir apparent to the French throne, Louis XVI – the beginning of a life at court that would be charged with controversy and scandal.

Antoinette was accused of ille gitimate children, reckless spending and harbouring sympathies for France’s enemies – particularly Austria, from where she was born.

She’d even eventually earn the unfortunate moniker of Madame Déficit as blame for France’s financial crisis was in large part dumped on her.

Is there any stock in these accusations? This new series doesn’t think so. It paints a portrait of a

defiant and progressive woman, as opposed to the rumours and gossip that brought the guillotine down on her.

On Binge November 22.

HOMEGROWN action hero Russell Crowe is up front and centre of Stan this month with “Poker Face”, a new action flick that he directs and stars in.

It’s the second film that he’s taken charge of both in front of the camera and behind it, the first being 2014’s emotional, if somewhat forgettable, war film “The Water Diviner”.

With “Poker Face”, Crowe takes on the role of a tech billionaire who invites a shady consortium of players to a high-stakes poker night. Drawn by the allure of a big win, it’s soon revealed that there’s more than just chips on the table.

Secrets are uncovered, thievery breaks loose, and there’s even a revenge plot thrown into what might be one of the most eventful games of poker ever put to screen. Can it join the ranks of other popular modern gambling films such as “Molly’s Game” and “Casino Royale”?

With starpower that also includes the youngest Hemsworth brother, this might well be one worth rolling the dice on.

On Stan, November 22.

In search of the elusive velvet queen

By Dougal MACDONALD

“La Panthere des Neiges” (The Velvet Queen) (G)

FRENCH wildlife photographer Vincent Munier wants to photograph the rare snow leopard in the mountains of east Tibet.

This beautiful animal continues to elude him. Together with writer friend Sylvain Tesson, Munier searches for the prized animal at elevations of 4500 metres among peaks reaching 6000 metres.

Marie Amiguet joins Munier in writing and directing this visually awesome, philosophically rich, consideration of the power of the natural world and the authority that the really wild environment exercises.

Few filmmakers have ventured into that breathtaking, demanding, scary and, in its unique way, beautiful environment.

In 2020, Frederic Larrey made “The Frozen Kingdom of the Snow Leopard”, a 52-minute documentary showing highlights of a full year

in a snow leopard’s territory.

The film made in 2021 by Amiguet and Munier is 40 minutes longer than that. Its pace is slow, almost soporific. In some of the world’s bleakest, hard-to-get-at terrain, it goes among all manner of living creatures while saving the best for last. The snow leopard is the apex predator of the region. Other animals are there to provide it with sustenance – or so it may seem. And those animals make “The Velvet Queen” interesting.

While Munier scans the landscape for evidence of a snow leopard, Tesson considers what’s driving his friend’s pursuit. The voiceover ponders the relationship between humans and nature. “The Velvet Queen” invites filmgoers to encounter other animals that inhabit that sere, bleak environment, large and small, carnivores, herbivores, yaks, antelopes, asses or shaggy Pallas’ cat.

The film’s French title says all that it needs to say. Its Anglicised title is a bit enigmatic.

The snow leopard shots, when they appear, provide an explanation that you wouldn’t want to test by trying to stroke one.

At Dendy

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (M)

MY deal with the editor expects me to select two new releases each week for reviewing and this was the only other one. That’s why I made my first venture into the fantasy world of Wakanda.

It’s the last in what was only ever intended to be a five-film series about a kingdom on a planet that may be Earth in an era that has yet to be reached. There’s good people trying to live at peace. And other people wanting to conquer those good folk for reasons of political power.

People whack each other with sticks. Other people stab others with pointy sticks. When the day’s whacking and stabbing programs are over, everybody goes home at the bottom of the sea or up in the sky where machines lacking any and every proven aviating design attribute will collect and hold them until the next meeting. Some of them have those wonderful Hollywood guns that keep shooting after the bullets have all run out.

Who’s making them do these things to each other? A bloke called Ryan Coogler wrote and directed it. With a lot of help.

At all cinemas

Steaming into trouble in the new Netflix series “1899”.

ATTENTION all noods. It’s time to head to Canteen, Dairy Road Precinct.

We visited on Canteen’s first day and the team performed with precision, dealing with the odd glitch professionally.

At Canteen, each noodle is handmade daily on site from Australian durum wheat, rye flour and kansui in a custom nood room. Canteen pays full respect to Japanese Tori-style ramen featuring steaming hot chicken broth with exceptional flavour. The menu is fully focused on Japanese cuisine, with some French influences.

Canteen also lovingly creates fun, tasty Japanese sandos, special rice bowls and more.

Choose from three eating zones – shared courtyard in the foyer of the building, outdoor garden courtyard (furniture still coming) and indoors (order with a QR code and then it’s table service). We settled indoors fascinated by the massive gleaming pots and gigantic sieves and industrial strength emulsifiers in the openconcept kitchen, all put to work to produce bowl after bowl of absolutely delicious ramen.

Our tastebuds were tantalised with the warm edamame with soy and wasabi ($8) and, just because we could, we ordered the fries with Daddy sauce ($8). They were thin, piping hot, perked up with nori salt and served with a bowl of house-made barbecue sauce (secret ingredients) and a dollop of that famous kewpie Japanese mayo. Who is Daddy? Ramen Daddy, of course, which has developed a cult following in Canberra.

It’s no wonder ramen is often referred to as Japanese soul food. Four types are on Canteen’s menu and the Hot Daddy ($21) was spectacularly spicy with perfect noodles (not soggy). It was loaded with yum toppings, many of which add texture, and a perfectly cooked egg.

The mazesoba (soupless ramen) with spicy miso pork was equally excellent ($21) and, again,

than a gluggy nood). The pork is slow cooked and so tender. We slurped away loving every bite of our multi-layered umami experience.

Canteen dishes up rice bowls and the chicken katsu ($20) was packed full of goodness. The chicken, super crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, was decorated with drizzles of creamy kewpie.

Last, but definitely not least, was the super sexy crème caramel ($10). OMG. It’s one of the best, if not the best, we’d had, and we were told that a small amount of brown sugar is used towards the

Canteen specialises in Japanese and Australian spirits, wine, beer and sake. Staff are highly knowledgeable and happily offer suggestions. Cocktails are uber cool.

Congrats to the staff for stacking dishes quietly. Canteen has paid huge attention to sound proofing with its con temporary interior design, but restaurant operations can be noisy. Canteen’s staff operate with care.

ARTS IN THE CITY

Riotous look at Shakespeare’s ‘Dark Lady’

EMILIA Bassano could have been the “Dark Lady” of Shakespeare’s sonnets, but the story of her own literary achievements has been erased from history. Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s new play, “Emilia”, described as riotous and witty, will be at The Playhouse, performed by a cast of 13, December 1-4.

“THAT Was Friday” is a new contemporary performance work, the brainchild of sibling creative partnership House of Sand – Charley Sanders and Eliza Sanders. It’s billed as a “madcap, visceral” crossing theatre, dance, music, cabaret with visual and performance art. Belcon nen Arts Centre, November 23-26.

“SENSE and Sensibility” by Kate Hamill, based on the novel by Jane Austen, was to have been directed for Canberra Rep by Liz Bradley, who has since passed away, but not before handing over to director Cate Clelland. The show will now run at Canberra Rep Theatre, November 17 (preview) to December 3.

THE next Ainslie Salon, “Sonic Travels”, will be a four-night mini festival, a melting pot of indie, soul, hip-hop and post-rock styles, featuring Sudanese singer Ajak

Asian experimentalism Senyawa, local musicians Moody Beaches, Dog Name, s.wells, Ike (from) Pluto, Lyndon Bassett and others. Ainslie Arts Centre, November 23-26.

“THE Blacksmith” is a new film made by a voluntary cast and crew, all of whom are Canberra residents. Supported by members of the community, who provided locations and logistical support, the filming was completed in September. The

Cinemas, Friday, November 25.

ACTOR Richard E Grant, who has starred in everything from “Spice World”, “Star Wars” and “Doctor Who” to “ Downton Abbey” and “Game of Thrones”, will present his live show at Canberra Theatre

Centre on Monday, November 28.

IN “Primavera”, Art Song Canberra’s last concert for 2022, soprano Sarah Mann and pianist Ella Luhtasaari, with Canberra clarinet tist Milan Kolundzija, will perform life-celebrating songs by Ravel, Strauss and Granados, Schubert and Canteloube, Wesley Music Centre, 3pm, Sunday, November 20.

SOUTHERN Tablelands Arts has announced a two-week residency at the Queanbeyan Hive open to professional artists from all disci plines who live in one of the seven contributing council areas that make up the STA region. Applica tions (to southerntablelandsarts. com.au) close on December 8.

Hot Daddy ramen… spicy with noodles (not soggy) and loaded with toppings and an egg.

Photo: Wendy Johnson

Three Emilias of “Emilia”… The Playhouse, December 1-4.

Photo: Pia Johnson

Pick roses for long-lasting colour

ROSES are a terrific choice for long-lasting colour in the garden and I find them an easy-care plant.

Because they’re a cut flower, there are many highly fragrant varieties available.

to mind is also a popular grower in Canberra, Cecile Brunner. It can easily grow two metres tall. It makes a wonderful cut flower with button-size flowers that are popular for, say, bouquets.

Climbing roses are the most time consuming to grow, but worth the wait if grown well. All climb ers need a strong trellis or structure to grow and

Planting roses into the ground should be done in winter when they’re dormant. Planting out from a pot can be done any time provided it’s not too hot, but a little TLC will be needed to help them recover from transplant shock.

Place a little blood and bone at the bottom of the hole and place roots gently over a mound and backfill. Water in and leave for a week or so.

Don’t plant a rose where another has grown before or died. Toxins

sunflowers and bulbs such as liliums

Roses… an easy-care plant.

Photo: Jackie Warburton

By Joanne Madeline Moore November 21-27, 2022

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

The Sun, Jupiter and the fiery New Moon encourage you to focus on your hopes and dreams for the future. The more ambitious your aspirations, the better! You’ll also shun superficial encounters with other people, preferring philosophical conversations with family, friends and colleagues. But remember that mighty Mars (your patron planet) is in retrograde mode until January 12. So smart Rams will try extra hard to be prudent, patient and persistent.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

This week Mercury, Venus and the New Moon shine a spotlight on personal and shared finances, plus power and trust issues. You are pragmatic and have a good business brain – just make sure you’re using it! Ignorance is no excuse. Do all you can to improve your financial literacy ASAP. The Sun/Jupiter trine is good news for a romantic relationship, a group project or helping a charitable cause. You’ll find creativity, compassion and kindness will take you far.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

Prepare for a relationship renaissance as Mercury (your power planet), Venus and the New Moon kick-start your love life. Attached Twins will shift into a new phase of an established partnership. Unhappily single? You could meet someone special and go on a first date. But remember Mars is reversing through your sign until January 12. So make sure you eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and do all you can to conserve energy and boost vitality.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

With Mercury, Venus and the New Moon activating your wellbeing zone, it’s time to improve your diet and get your body moving via a gym membership, a new exercise program or a vigorous workout in the great outdoors. Spend some quality time savouring the splendour of the natural world as you go walking, hiking or biking in the local parks, bush, mountains or open plains. As entertainer (and birthday great) Bjork observes: “Nature is our chapel.”

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

The New Moon encourages you to tap into your inner muse and be the talented Cat you were born to be. As Madonna (a fellow Lion) sings: “Express Yourself”. But don’t let imaginative daydreams turn into escapist delusions, as Mars reverses through your hopes and wishes zone. With help from the buoyant Sun/Jupiter trine, it’s time to cast off creative blocks and confusing misconceptions. Express the authentic you and shine your Leo light for the world to see!

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

With proactive Mars reversing through your career zone, a professional relation ship could end up in a confusing mess if you misread each other’s words, actions or motives. So avoid jumping to conclusions and (when in doubt) don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. The Mercury/Venus conjunction and the New Moon (in your domestic zone) favour socialising with family members and enjoying the simple pleasures of home sweet home.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

The fiery New Moon signals a fresh start involving a neighbour or a family member. Mercury and Venus also encourage you to hold out the olive branch of peace as you crank up your diplomatic skills, sympathise and compromise. Creative communication and smart negotiation are the secrets to smooth partnerships, as you take the time to talk things through. You could also make plans to study, teach, travel or undertake community service in 2023.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

The New Moon stimulates your money and self-esteem zone. So take a long look at your bank balance, basic values, life philosophy and future aspirations. And how much do you truly value your authentic self, Scorpio? Remember, there is just no substitute for healthy core self-esteem. Draw inspiration from actress Goldie Hawn (who celebrates her 77th birthday on Monday): “I want to dig deep and ask – Who am I? What do I have to offer? What do I have to learn?”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

With the Sun/Jupiter trine and the New Moon in your sign, shake off the shackles of other people’s expectations and, instead, be the authentically real you. Draw inspiration from birthday great Goldie Hawn: “The only thing that will make you happy is being happy with who you are.” But Mars is reversing through your love zone, so expect some relationship setbacks along the way. Smart Sagittarians will amp up the diplomacy and tone down the drama.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

Courtesy of the positive Sun/Jupiter connection, you’re at your powerful and persuasive best as you make a presentation or influence your peer group in an inspiring way. But don’t let negative self-talk sabotage your plans (and confidence) over the next few days. You could also be surrounded by intrigue and gossip, as secrets that were previously hidden rise to the surface. Make sure you handle any sensitive information with Capricorn style and discretion.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Do you know where you’re heading? With the New Moon highlighting your hopesand-wishes zone, you need to make some creative adjustments that will improve your life in 2023. Have the courage to listen to your intuition and follow your dreams. The stars also favour friendships, socialising, entertaining and networking as you mix and mingle with a wide range of people. And the Sun/Jupiter trine is terrific for professional projects and financial matters.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

Have you been feeling like a listless and lonely Fish? This week’s stars provide a welcome energy boost that will banish procrastination and fire up your aspirations. The New Moon ignites your ambition, and the Sun/Jupiter trine stirs your restless wanderlust. So it’s time to expand your mind, spread your wings and plan an adventurous trip. Your motto is from writer George Eliot (who was born on November 22, 1819): “Go forward with a joyful confidence.”

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2022

Across 4 Helsinki is the capital of which North European republic? (7)

8 What is a plate of false teeth called? (7)

9 When one separates into parts, one does what? (7)

10 Name a tropical American pear-shaped fruit. (7)

11 Which cylindrical devices are used for applying paint? (7)

12 Which man was formerly employed as a harem attendant? (6)

14 What are pursuits made in order to find something? (6)

18 Which dog has a propensity to pursue prey, as the fox, etc? (7)

21 What is the overhead interior lining of a room? (7)

22 Name the title of an ancient Egyptian king. (7)

23 What is the state of being eaten away by slow consumption? (7)

24 Which term is applicable to an estate agent? (7)

1

Solution next edition Down

Name the first word of the name of Australia's national anthem. (7)

2 What is the casting obtained when melted metal is poured into a mould? (5)

3 Which term describes an insane person? (7)

4 Name another word for a trilby. (6)

5 What is a fictitious prose narrative of consider able length? (5)

6 Name a British film actor and singer in Hollywood, Dame Julie ... (7)

7 What are office tables called? (5)

13 Name the ultimate state achieved, usually after a series of reincarnations. (7)

15 Which is the twentieth letter of the Greek alphabet, transliterated in English as u or y? (7)

16 Name an English conductor Sir Malcolm ... (7)

17 Which horse won the first two Melbourne Cups 1861-62? (6)

18 Name a nocturnal hoofed mammal with a long flexible snout. (5)

19 To be not fitted, is to be what? (5)

20 Name NZ rugby league representatives (coll). (5)

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SUDDEN NEW RULES AROUND CLAIMING HOME-OFFICE COSTS

The rules for claiming home office expenses have changed and we were only just notified of this.

A draft tax ruling was issued, which contains many surprises. Remember this is only a draft. However, I'd recommend you start keeping records in accordance with this draft now.

Until June 20, 2022, you had the choice of claiming 80 cents an hour, 52 cents an hour or actual costs depending on your circumstances. According to the draft ruling, effective from July 1, 2022, unless you claim the actual-costs method, your only option is to claim 67 cents an hour, with a number of caveats.

The ruling is very specific that this is a claim for additional running expenses incurred in working from home that relate to earning your income. They must be either related to your employment or running your business.

One significant change is that you do not need an area specifically set aside to make a claim. If there is more than one person working from home each person will be able to make a claim provided that they each satisfy the requirements and they can even use a different method for claiming. However, I am only looking at the 67 cents method in this article.

Now, this is where it gets interesting: 67 cents an hour includes internet, energy, phone and stationery. You can claim depreciation on your computers and other relevant items in addition to 67 cents an hour. And the sting in the tail? If you use your phone when working from home and in the office to earn your income you have no additional claim as it is included in the hourly rate claim. This could be quite disadvantageous.

The draft states that when the invoice is in one person’s name but three or four people share the energy costs, additional records are required to show that you contributed to the expenses. This could be tricky and if adult kids live with their parents and don’t pay board they won’t have a claim because they did not contribute to the expenses.

In the current year (2022-2023), you have to keep different records for the first six months and the second six months.

So, from July to December, you needn't keep a record that is representative of the total number of hours worked during the six-month period.

From January 1, 2023, you actually need a record of the total number of hours worked from January to June. For subsequent years you need to keep a record of the number of hours you worked from home during that income year. A list of days with eight hours per day will not be good enough and estimates are not acceptable.

You need proof of additional running expenses. You must keep one monthly or quarterly bill for internet, phone and energy.

For stationery you must keep one receipt for an item purchased. You also need to have records to show the work-related use of depreciable assets for a four-week period so that the correct percentage can be claimed.

Yes, this seems arduous and it is just a draft, but trying to claim the actual usage method and do the necessary apportionments will likely be worse and, in my experience, generally produces a smaller deduction.

If you need help with the latest ATO information contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co on 6295 2844.

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.