Our aim is to provide a culturally safe, holistic health care service for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of the ACT and surrounding regions. The holistic health care provided by Winnunga AHCS includes not only medical care, but a range of programs to promote good health and healthy lifestyles.
St John Paul II College (JPC) is a welcoming and inclusive learning community where diversity is embraced and learning outcomes are maximised for each individual. The college is a flagship in education and provides a unique, innovative educational environment where all students can flourish. The colleges core principles of Justice, Peace and Courage support the holistic development of students as they navigate an ever changing world.
Key dates:
• Open Evening | Thursday 30 March 2023 commencing at 4.30pm, last tour at 6.30pm
• School Tours | Small group tours are available during May
• Senior College Expo (Year 9-12 Students) | Wednesday 17 May 2023 from 4.30-7.00pm
• Try JPC Day (for Year 5 & 6 2023 students) | Friday 19 May or Monday 22 May
For more information and for bookings, visit our website www.jpc.act.edu.au
Be active… Be creative… Be inspired…
By Lily PASS
ON November 14, Tom Drury celebrated his 100th birthday, which led to claims of his being the oldest active railway modeller in the world.
“I would like to believe so, and I think I would be,” he says, and he’s very happy to offer up his 100th birthday card from King Charles, who he shares his birthday with, to prove his age.
Tom moved to Australia from the UK and came straight to Canberra in 1972. It wasn’t until 2013 that he joined the Canberra Model Railway Club.
He says his interest actually began with model aircraft, which he used to build for his son to play with, but has evolved to include trains.
“I grew up in Yorkshire and there weren’t really many trains around, so I find them really interesting now,” he says.
“I have my own model layout at home, too. It keeps me busy and keeps my mind going. If you’ve got a good mind, it will help your body keep going, too.”
Tom lives with his daughter June at their Dunlop home, where his model layout takes up a whole car space in the garage.
“We had to get rid of a car for me to be able to keep going,” he says, “so it’s pretty big. I’ve built it all, done all the carpentry, the track laying, everything.”
Tom says his daughter often tells
people that she will go to drive into the garage and sees his legs sticking out from under the table, while he’s doing electrical work. So, he says, being 100 hasn’t slowed him down at all.
ZONTA Club of Canberra Breakfast is having a pre-loved fashion sale VIP event at the Ann Harding Conference Centre, University of Canberra, 5.30pm-8.30pm, on March 17th. Tickets through Humanitix for $20. The following day, 9am-3pm, entry will be free. Club president Serina Bird says the sale helps people shop in a sustainable, cost-effective way and aids fellow women who are doing it tough.
VAL Dempsey, Australian Senior Citizen of the Year 2022, is the guest speaker at the next lunch meeting of the Tuggeranong Day VIEW Club at the Town Centre Vikings Club, Greenway, from 11am on March 21. Lunch costs $33 and interested ladies are welcome. RSVP to 6193 5398 or maleyjan@yahoo.com before March 17.
Family History ACT (FHACT) is conducting a Beginning Family History Course over three Saturdays, 2pm-5pm, from March 18. Attend in person at the FHACT Library at Cook or via Zoom. More from familyhistoryact.org.au/home
GUNGAHLIN Day View Club’s next lunch meeting will feature a presentation by Tony Gill, president of the Canberra Bonsai Society. At Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club, Nicholls, from 11.45am, on March 22. Cost is $35, interested ladies and visitors welcome. RSVP to 0422 505771 by 9pm, March 19.
Since 1993: Volume 29, Number: 10
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“I’m still very capable, very strong.”
Tom worked as a pattern-maker in his younger years, and says he’s always liked building things, but now he attends the Canberra Model Railway Club for more social reasons.
“I like the camaraderie. I look forward to coming here in the morning and everyone here is nice. I’ve never had an argument yet,” he says.
“I really, always look forward to our expos too, seeing everyone’s train displays and seeing what people are
On March 25 and 26, the Canberra Model Railway Club will host its 34th exhibition at the University of Canberra High School, Kaleen.
Vice-president Chris Neil is working closely with president Bob Morton, and “worker bee” Ron Geeves in organising the exhibition.
“We’re expecting to exhibit 35 layouts,” says Chris.
the largest exhibition outside the metropolitan area in NSW.
“There are no real hobby traders here in the ACT, so the beauty of the expo is we can bring together people who sell trains, scenery items and building prerequisites,” says Bob.
“And, for the University of Canberra High School, I think the expo takes the place of a fete.
“The school takes care of the parking, we pay them to do that, but they also run a barbecue and the canteen so it’s a really good fundraising weekend for them.”
But there’s also a local focus, with the Canberra Model Railway Club running a mentoring program with students in years 7 to 10 from the school.
“We use building layouts and running trains as a means of getting the students interested,” says Chris.
“We have the mentor layouts that we put into the exhibition as well, and the kids can man the stand and talk about their own layouts, too.”
Centenarian Tom Drury… “I have my own model layout at home, too. It keeps me busy and keeps my mind going. If you’ve got a good mind, it will help your body keep going, too.”Photos: Lily Pass Tom with his letter from King Charles.
GIVEN their historical policy positions, the ACT Greenslabor coalition government would have been expected to have had a high priority on social housing and homelessness programs. But then there was the tram.
The tram was heralded as part of the transformation of public transport, getting people out of cars, improving the transport networks across Canberra and a lot more.
In 2012 the forecasted costs varied from around $610 million to $700 million. Katy Gallagher, as the then chief minister, emphasised that there was no open cheque book, meaning there was to be a limit on the spending for the tram.
Time and time again voters were not convinced about the Canberra Liberal leadership and with no realistic alternatives, Greenslabor have been winning elections. A vote for the Greenslabor coalition translated as a vote for the Gungahlin tram.
When the ACT Greenslabor government sold off a large part of its public-housing assets along Northbourne Avenue and within Canberra’s inner south, Greenslabor argued these sales were needed to refresh the housing stock.
Apparently, moving tenants out
of the inner north and inner south was good for them as well as for the renewal of housing. Not everyone believed this – but it happened.
There have been damning reports about the ACT government’s failure on homelessness and that the availability of social housing has reduced despite the varied claims by members of the Greenslabor government (Jon Stanhope’s “CityNews” column on February 9).
It was also revealed last year (“CityNews”, September 14) by Jon Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed that something was not right about the ACT housing ministers’ claiming that the housing-renewal program was funded through asset recycling – the sale of properties. The columnists published the 2018 agreement between
the ACT and federal governments. This sets out that $472 million from the sales of the housing stock along Northbourne and in the inner south was transferred directly to fund the tram (Capital Metro). It was not used for building social housing.
Decisions were made politically and followed through by the bureaucracy to withdraw funds from the housing portfolios and transfer them to assist with paying for the Gungahlin tram. When these facts surfaced last year there was the usual scoffing by Greenslabor ministers. Significantly, no effort was made to produce anything to challenge the crystal-clear tables about the transfer of money (from housing to tram).
It is now clear that if the identified cheaper and more effective form of
rapid transport system had been adopted and there was no theft from the housing portfolios, life would be better for a lot of people.
If that housing money was spent on housing (not the tram), more people would have a roof over their heads and would no longer be on the social housing lists – where the waiting times are growing, not reducing.
The speculation is that the tram to date may have cost something closer to $3 billion – a little more than the assurances given in 2012. Many other portfolio budgets have also been reduced.
Given the obvious impact on the social housing and homelessness programs, surely someone in the Greenslabor cohort and some senior bureaucrats would have stepped forward to say how inhumane it would be to transfer money from housing to help pay for the tram.
Apparently, no-one acted along those lines. Does this mean that the Greenslabor politicians, their political staffers (who write the spin) and the senior portfolio bureaucrats collectively knew that these decisions were increasing inequity in this city by having future tenants wait longer
and for some to remain homeless. Did they agree to stay silent on this?
Do the two ACT senators (Gallagher and Pocock) and the federal Labor politicians (Payne, Leigh and Smith) know what happened? Does their silence translate as endorsement of the resultant housing stress and increased inequity in this city?
This looks like being a year for finding out more about the shameful goings-on within the federal bureaucracies on their cover-ups over Robo Debt programs and the harm caused to many. Canberra has a beautiful red tram. But this has come at the cost of people’s chances to be housed and by increasing inequity.
Maybe it is time for everyone to know who thought increasing inequity was a good idea, who produced the spin and alternative facts to justify such cruel decisions and who in 2023 continues to cover up this awful reality.
If that housing money was spent on housing (not the tram), more people would have a roof over their heads and would no longer be on the social housing lists – where the waiting times are growing, notLight rail… did no-one think it inhumane to transfer money from housing to help pay for the tram? Photo: Paul Costigan
Discover the story of Canberra – the people, places and history that make up this city and region. Canberra is a young city on ancient country – a place where nationhood found a home. Selected as Australia’s National Capital in 1909, Canberra’s history has a much older history and it continues to evolve to embrace new narratives of belonging and expressions of identity through its communities and places.
Share the stories of the people who have always been on this country and those who have come to make their lives here. Journey through these changes in this new major exhibition drawn from Canberra Museum and Gallery’s collection with moving images from the National Film and Sound Archives.
Cnr London Circuit and Civic Square, Canberra City 02 6207 3968 cmag.com.au
Mon–Fri 10am–4pm Café open 8.30am–3pm Sat–Sun 12–4pm Café open 12–4pm
Studio Anna Ceramics, c.1960–1970FEARLESS Women is a not-forprofit organisation that helps girls and young women thrive, not just survive, says CEO Glenda Stevens.
“We have lots of programs here in the ACT for the girls who are the real high-flyers, and we’ve got programs for the girls who really need strong, intense support,” she says.
“But for that group in the middle, there was nothing.”
Glenda, 60, says Fearless Women began through a combination of ANU research in 2018, along with anecdotal comments about girls not being impor tant enough to have this support.
“Menslink are doing it for the boys, but there was no counterpart for girls,” she says.
“The ANU found only eight per cent of young women in the ACT felt their wellbeing and health was balanced, and 20 per cent of young women had negative feelings about their future.”
Fearless Women has recently launched Fearless Future, a 50-minute school wellbeing program for girls and young women in years five to 10.
“We go into schools and talk to girls
about their emotional wellbeing and where to go for help. There are a whole lot of supporters out there, people who are on your team,” says Glenda.
“We ask what the girls want to know and what it is they want from their life, and with our research we found that
what girls want is a girls-only space; they feel safer.”
As Fearless Women continues to grow, they have also officially begun a mentorship program.
“We have been trialling it for six months, but we recently had it evalu-
ated and it received lots of gold stars and green ticks so we feel confident in continuing it on,” says Glenda.
“The mentor program runs for two years, with mentors and mentees meeting once a fortnight for two hours.
“They go out and do something that interests them, but the focus is chatting, and the mentor is to be a nonjudgmental, independent person.”
The mentorship program caters to girls and young women aged between 10 and 25, who may need additional support due to internal or external factors, including anxiety, being from a single-parent home, not having a positive female role model, are carers, or for whatever reason, are displaying negative or neutral social
At the moment, Glenda says, Fearless Women is without government funding, and is yet to receive any.
“We exist because of the generosity of the people of Canberra. We have not yet secured government funding, but we have been trying and there’s a submission round coming up shortly. So we would be really thrilled if it came through,” she says.
“And, given that Menslink is funded by the government, we think there would be a level of parity required.”
Growing up, Glenda says she didn’t have a mentor, but wishes she did.
“My parents divorced when I was in my early teens. I had a fairly large
family which was reasonably dysfunctional. I had an older sibling with addiction issues and I took refuge in books and sport,” she says.
“I really wish there was someone there who told me I could do more. It took me a long time to learn that, but it puts me in a good position now, to be able to help everybody else. I understand it now.”
After raising a daughter and two sons of her own, Glenda says she wishes she knew then what she does now.
“I worked really hard when raising them, because my teen years were disruptive,” she says.
“I tried to teach them to figure out what is important, what is worth the fight, and figure out who you are. Being kind is so important to my core values and so is forgiveness, both kind and forgiving to yourself and others. We’re all still learning and we all make errors.”
The meaning of the word fearless is important, says Glenda, and worth diving into.
“It’s a quite common but complex word. It’s not just bold, it’s not just brave, it’s actually understanding all the challenges, and stepping forward anyway, into a life where girls and young women can thrive, not just survive.”
Donate, become a mentor, or for more information, fearlesswomen.org.au
NOW
IN 2022, you could buy a new car, drive it around for a few months and still command thousands of dollars more than you paid for it on the second-hand market.
Fuelled by worldwide supply shortages, the trend pushed already high electric vehicle prices even higher, lifting them out of the reach of many Australian motorists.
But industry experts say prices are finally falling as more batterypowered vehicles are listed for sale.
The cost of some models will continue to drop this year, they predict, as cheaper vehicles enter the market and early adopters eye off their next upgrade.
Riz Akhtar, from Carloop, a firm that analyses electric vehicle trends, said the Australian market had undergone big changes over the last two months as more electric cars were listed for sale and wait times got shorter.
“Last year people were asking $10,000 more for a three-year-old Tesla than what you could buy a new one for,” he said.
“Obviously the used Teslas were available immediately while the new models had a six-to-nine-month wait.”
Data analysed by Carloop shows local buyers are now waiting between eight and 12 weeks to take ownership
of a Tesla, down from as long as seven months in January last year.
Used Tesla car listings are also at a record high in Australia, the data shows, with more than 650 models for sale on the second-hand market this month.
The combination of shorter waiting periods, more used models and price cuts from manufacturers in January had sliced thousands of dollars from the price of some vehicles, Mr Akhtar said.
“For the first time, we’ve seen some of the lower-priced Teslas dip below $50,000.
“People still (incorrectly) believe Teslas cost more than $100,000 new and that there’s barely any other brand offering electric vehicles that are affordable. They don’t even look at
the used EV market.
“As interest grows and people see they are more attainable, that will change.”
Carma buying director Peter Willis said the online second-hand car provider was already seeing demand for electric cars rise in Australia across multiple brands.
Battery-powered and hybrid vehicles had grown to represent up to 12 per cent of vehicles listed on the site, he said, but demand was still higher than supply.
“Every time we sell one, we seem to have two people waiting in line that were disappointed,” Mr Willis said.
“Everything that is economical and fuel efficient, which is generally hybrid and electric vehicles, is now
front-of-mind for most buyers.”
But Mr Willis said prices for electric vehicles were still higher than their petrol equivalents – a trend leading some to look into hybrid vehicles as a compromise.
“We get people daily trying to source that infamous $30,000 to $40,000 electric vehicle, which there doesn’t seem to be in the market,” he said.
“Once the cars creep into the next price bracket, I think you’ll get a lot more people looking at them.”
It’s an issue recognised by federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who acknowledged that while electric vehicles were cheaper to run, they were more expensive at the outset.
The issue was particularly prevalent in Australia as the country did not have the same mix of models available for sale as in other nations.
“In the UK, for example, you can get many, many more models of cheaper EVs and they’re coming down all the time,” Mr Bowen told ABC radio. “We are looking at the policies on that.”
Those policies, discussed in the National Electric Vehicle Strategy consultation, could include a fuel efficiency standard that would encourage car brands to import more zero- and low-emission models.
A response to the consultation is expected before May.
Even without the policy, keen EV buyers could expect to see more price
falls in the new and second-hand car markets this year, Mr Akhtar said.
Price pressure from the release of cheaper electric vehicles such as the GWM Ora ($44,490), BYD Dolphin (expected below $40,000) and the MG4 would change the game, he said.
“When MG launches the MG4, which is supposed to be around $40,000, we’ll be getting close to a $37,000 price (after government rebates) for an electric vehicle.
“That will also impact the used electric vehicle market.”
Electric Vehicle Council policy head Jake Whitehead said greater competition in the $30,000 to $40,000 price bracket would be critical to the success of next-generation vehicles in Australia, including the price of second-hand models.
But significant price drops for used EVs may not happen until 2025, he warned, when today’s purchases would filter through the market.
“There’s not thousands of really cheap second-hand EVs in Australia but that’s the future we could achieve if we continue to see that doubling of the fleet over the next couple of years,” Mr Whitehead said.
“The more significant waves of second-hand vehicles will be in about two years’ time and from that point there’ll be large numbers coming out of fleets for everyone to purchase.”
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
– you need professional advice, not a sales pitch
THE ACT is in the midst of a purple and orange (e-scooter) revolution. Operating since September 2020, the electric scooter-sharing schemes have become increasingly dominant features on the streets and in the suburbs of the capital.
The recent expansion of Canberra’s electric scooter program will make the city home to one of the world’s largest e-scooter operating areas.
“With shared e-scooters now available across the entirety of our city, Canberrans can travel north to south and east to west using a range of shared paths and connecting links,” said Transport Minister Chris Steel.
Micro-mobility devices are promoted as sustainable, alternative and cost-effective forms of travel. For people with disability or older Canberrans, the popularity and expansion of e-scooters have come to represent an increasing threat.
Public safety and accessibility should be front and centre of any discussion of e-scooters. The reality is that e-scooters are often discarded with little regard, creating trip hazards, blocking paths, kerb ramps, and access pathways.
Increasingly, we hear reports from Canberrans with disability regard-
ing near misses or collisions with e-scooters on footpaths, bike paths and within shared spaces. Not only is this extremely dangerous, but it is also making people with disability more risk averse when it comes to travelling on shared footpaths.
Companies operating the schemes in the ACT, assure us that measures have been put in place to ensure everyone’s safety. These include electronic geofencing to prevent inappropriate parking, speed limits, fees for incorrect parking, technologies to avert collisions and educational videos. While this may be the case, the reality we see on the ground is that some users continue to flout the rules and guidelines promoted by the companies, seemingly with little to no consequence.
Examples include e-scooters being run at speed close to people with mobility devices, being mounted by multiple users and being left across thoroughfares.
The ACT’s enthusiasm for shared e-scooter schemes stands in contrast to developments around the world. Scooter-sharing systems have sprung up in more than 100 cities worldwide as their popularity has grown. But this tiny-wheeled transport upheaval could
be about to end as quickly as it began. All over Europe, cities are working out how to balance the proliferation of people whizzing up and down streets on the battery-charged two wheelers with the implications for public accessibility, safety and traffic. Authorities in the Norwegian capital Oslo banned night-time e-scooter rentals following an outcry from doctors over the numbers of injuries incurred. In Stockholm, councillors voted to nearly halve the number of rentals permitted in the Swedish capital. In a bid to decrease public nuisance, e-scooters can now only be parked in designated zones.
Despite increased regulation and restrictions on the use of e-scooters in the French capital, public safety remains very much at risk. In 2022, e-scooters were responsible for three deaths and 317 injuries in Paris alone. A study in another French region shows they increase the number of accidents sevenfold. Soon, the citizens of Paris will decide the fate of the shared e-scooter schemes in a rarely seen referendum. A number of cities including Nice, Toulouse, Barcelona, Copenhagen, and Montreal have already banned e-scooters altogether.
Closer to home, a spate of recent accidents, injuries and deaths have brought e-scooters under increased scrutiny. Authorities in Queensland are working on improved parking plans and have introduced speed limits on some footpaths and increased penalties for high-risk offences.
Trials of e-scooter share schemes are currently being rolled out across Victorian and NSW cities. It has become increasingly clear that the introduction, let alone the expansion of e-scooter schemes, cannot operate safely without the provision of additional infrastructure and signage, user and driver education, as well as expanded rule and legal enforcement.
The importance of safe and accessible outdoor public spaces for people with disability cannot be overstated. For many people with disabilities, and older Canberrans, a walk or wheel around the neighbourhood has been one of the remaining safe ways to promote physical and mental health and enjoy recreation for the last few years.
That is why Advocacy for Inclusion’s recent submission to the ACT government’s consultation on the expansion of e-scooters urges
improved infrastructure and signage, user and driver education, as well as expanded rule and legal enforcement before any expansion of them. If these measures are unsuccessful, restrictions on the speed and availability of e-scooters may be needed.
E-scooters are another example of the perils of early adoption of transport innovation ahead of regulation around issues like accessibility – many of us were critical of the early adoption of ride sharing in Canberra despite the lack of disability access and other expectations required of taxis and other transport modalities. We were assured it would come but almost a decade later wheelchair-accessible rideshare is nowhere to be seen.
It’s time that public safety and accessibility take centre stage, lest we all continue to run the risk of being bowled over.
Craig Wallace is the head of policy at Advocacy for Inclusion.
For people with disability or older Canberrans, the popularity and expansion of e-scooters have come to represent an increasing threat.
UNTIL very recently I gave the Harry and Meghan tattle-tale show a wide berth. Spoiled brats of the British monarchy firing explosive verbal darts at each other…really, who cares?
But that was before I read a devastating column in the “New York Times” by one Zeynep Tufekci (Americans do have the weirdest names). Zeynep is a woman who really knows her onions concerning the royals and their hangers-on.
I found some of the appendages quite sad. I expected better of Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith than to lunch with Camilla, the queen consort, and the execrable Jeremy Clarkson. After which, says Zeynep, Clarkson penned his magazine piece “dreaming of the day when [Meghan] is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowds cry ‘Shame!’ and throw lumps of excrement at her.”
That put me right off my own lunch, but the rest of Zeynep’s report revealed the extraordinary symbiosis between the royals and Britain’s gutter press.
I’d heard previous stories from a good mate who, as cadets on the old “Courier-Mail”, we’d shared our first by-line (an op-ed on the “colour bar” against Aboriginals in Brisbane hotels).
He later became an editor in the Mirror group, and when I was in London I stayed with him in his Mayfair flat.
He often spoke of certain royals visiting the office and pointed out the flat the Duke of Edinburgh kept for his not infrequent dalliances. I was tempted to write it at one stage, but my editor balked. However, that’s a mere bagatelle compared with the verbal blitzkriegs between Harry/ Meghan and The Firm.
By chance, I read Zeynep’s piece on Australia Day when the debate about the Aboriginal Voice referendum was front of mind, and the battle royal
could hardly have been more germane.
It demolished all that ceremonial gibberish that gives the monarchy their phony gravitas, to reveal a bunch of very rich, very pompous plunderers of the public purse. And that’s fine if it’s the Pommy purse they’re pillaging.
But the very idea that we should even be paying homage to King Charles and his Operetta is somewhere between laughable and revolting. And if that were not enough, I steeled myself to actually watch the toe-curling Australia Day address by their man in Yarralumla, who, we’re told,
Pentecostal PM to hold five additional ministries without a squeak to those who already held them, much less the Australian public whom he was addressing.
Whatever the findings of Virginia Bell’s inquiry into Morrison’s power-grab, the G-G’s silence was the enabler that permitted the PM to bulldoze the conventions of our
democratic system until he boasted about it to a couple of journos.
And why not? The G-G doesn’t represent the Australian people. He is an instrument of the monarchical system. Indeed, he oversees the ceremony that requires ministers to pledge they will be “faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, King of Australia”.
I recently had the opportunity for a couple of conversations with him, on a quite different subject. A pleasant man, but I came away with the sense that under a PM like Morrison he’d have one duty above all: “Don’t make waves”.
I ruminated on it while departing through the gates of Yarralumla, and I fervently wished for him a song my mother and I used to sing back in the day while washing and drying the dinner dishes: “Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye; Here I go, cheerio, on my way.”
robert@ robertmacklin. com
AS the Enlighten Festival continues to light up the facades of the national institutions until March 13, the iconic face of Parliament House has a special theme – a series of colourful animations featuring the birds, trees and bugs of Capital Hill.
It’s the work of acclaimed Canberra artists Camila De Gregorio and Chris Macaluso, who run the design studio, Eggpicnic.
Visitors are warmly encouraged to come and experience the beauty and vibrancy of the six-minute, large-scale animation, which was designed in consultation with Canberra-based ecologist Dr Michael Mulvaney.
“Our animation features the changing seasons of Canberra and the species found in the gardens of Parliament House, including critically endangered and future endangered birds,” says Chris.
Chris says that he learnt a lot from visiting the Parliament House gardens with Dr Mulvaney, bird and tree expert.
The 33-hectare site of Parliament House includes 23 hectares of landscaping, ranging from areas evoking the Australian bush to turfed areas, and formal and semi-formal gardens with native and exotic plants – much of which visitors are welcome to explore.
“The gardens are a really interesting ecosystem and a relatively unknown place of nature,” says Chris.
Dr Mulvaney taught Chris and Camila about the Brittle Gum trees that feature in the Parliament House gardens and throughout Canberra.
“The bark of the Brittle Gums changes colour subtly throughout the seasons – from reddish in the summer, beige in autumn, white in winter and pink in the spring,” says Chris.
Eggpicnic captured the changes of the Brittle Gums throughout the seasons in the illumination, using the iconic pillars of Parliament House as a perfect background for the animation and unveiled the insects that rely on the flowering gums as well as a number of native birds, flying through the forest.
“We wanted to create a sense of a forest environment that people can be immersed in. We used the facade of Parliament House and the negative space that occurs between the pillars to show depth with the birds flying in front, behind and between the facade,” says Chris.
The birds featured include the critically endangered Swift Parrot and endangered Superb Parrot and Gang Gang Cockatoo as well as magpies, crimson rosellas and other native Canberra birds.
As a special feature of the 2023 Enlighten projection at Parliament House, an original soundscape accompanies the illumination. The
soundscape features birdsong of the species and brings to life the joyful sensory experience of encountering birds in the gardens.
“We collaborated with ABC broadcaster and self-confessed ‘bird nerd’ Dr Ann Jones, who worked on creating the soundscape of the birds that helps create the mood and brings attention to the visual material to make it a more immersive experience that visitors can hear when they are in the space,” says Chris.
Chris says Eggpicnic are artists and birders passionate about wildlife conservation. Their award-winning work captures the beauty of the natural world with the hope to inspire everyone to protect it.
“Our studio specialises in static public art so this project was a first for us, working with both animation and on such a large scale. It’s incred ible to see the scale of it!” he says.
“By bringing this work and to have it projected on Parliament House – the centre of government – I feel we are bringing conservation issues to the people,” says Chris.
“Our work uses visual methods to create public support for species that need more attention.”
Enlighten at Parliament House runs from 8pm to 11pm each night until March 13. Start your Enlighten evening at Parliament House with one-hour free undercover parking.
Parliament House is the heart of Australian parliamentary democracy, and one of the most open parliamentary buildings in the world.
Unlike many civic buildings, which express the power and tastes of individuals or political philosophies, Parliament House was designed to encourage public access and involvement while responding to the Australian climate, landscape, vegetation, and even the quality of the light. It was designed to be both a functional building and a major national symbol.
From the iconic Forecourt and Great Verandah to the breathtaking Marble Foyer, a visit to Parliament House is always memorable. Visitors can even catch a lift to the roof to enjoy sweeping views over Canberra and see how Parliament House is successfully integrated into Walter Burley Griffin’s original design for Canberra.
Get the most out of your visit by joining one of the many terrific tours that run daily.
More at www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/
The Australian Parliament House is one of the most iconic buildings in the country. It is a stunning venue that represents the character of Australia, its people and their democratic spirit.
One of the few parliament buildings in the world available for private use, inside its walls lies a collection of unique spaces which play host to a diverse range of events – from business breakfasts to grand gala dinners.
Parliament House’s award-winning executive chef David Learmonth leads an in-house culinary team that is passionate about putting “Australia on a plate”, utilising local produce and native ingredients to create an unforgettable dining experience. But an event at Australian Parliament House is about so much more than a venue, or food and wine. It is a world of its own, offering guests a rich and layered experience that wraps in architecture and design, cultural heritage and political history. Just imagine the possibilities.
Contact APH Catering and Events on 6277 8000 or email APHevents@aph.gov.au
The Queen’s Terrace Café at Parliament House is family-friendly with amazing views, great coffee and cakes, plus a wide range of other food options. Experience the stunning vista from the outdoor terrace whilst enjoying everything from classic meals to high tea or fine dining experiences.
Queen’s Terrace Café is open from 9am to 4pm every day (except Christmas Day).
You’ll find the perfect keepsake of your visit to the iconic Australian Parliament House at The Parliament Shop. It is the place to purchase items that reflect themes of democracy, parliament and Australian history and culture, including a quality range of Eggpicnic cards and prints featuring the birds and trees from Capital Hill.
The Parliament Shop is open every day except Christmas Day.
Queen’s Terrace Café is open from 9am to 4pm every day (except Christmas Day).
GET a grip. As the American statesman, Benjamin Franklin, pointed out: “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”.
The fear campaigns of the Liberals regarding taxes, tap into the more selfish or greedier parts of our personalities.
The latest example has the Liberals taking on a government intent on increasing superannuation taxes where there is more than $3 million in accumulated funds. This plays into the hands of federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. It also really upsets the rich who have been using superannuation as a tax-minimisation measure to accumulate wealth.
However, it is not just the issue of paying a fair contribution of taxes. This debate also raises the issue of the purpose of superannuation. Are superannuation savings set aside to increase wealth or to ensure that, as people step out of paid work, they have the potential to enjoy their
retirement years based on sensible accumulation of their contributions.
Paying a low rate of 15 per cent taxation on superannuation has proved a powerful incentive for people to save. This lowers the pressure on a range of social services and pension sectors and reduces demand on government expenditure. At the same time, it allows people who have superannuation savings to have a wider range of choices about how they live in retirement.
The superannuation system was not designed for wealth accumulation.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the intention to focus on those with more than $3 million in superannuation. Instead of asking them to pay tax at 32.5 per cent, 37 per cent or at 45 per cent – he still allowed a concessional rate of 30 per cent.
It is likely that the rich people who have accumulated this much money in their superannuation accounts would otherwise be paying taxes at the highest level of 45 per cent. Some people have been (legally) using the superannuation loophole in order to minimise the level of taxation that they were paying.
It may have been legal… but so were the “bottom-of-the-harbour” tax-evasion schemes that were operating in the ‘70s. Such schemes were eventually made illegal in 1980. Originally, they were legal. However, they were also immoral. This poses the question about how ethical are schemes using superannuation specifically to minimise the taxes of the very wealthy.
How many Canberrans, or other Australians, really need more than $3 million to carry them through from retirement until their demise? Who needs more than this sort of money to
have a comfortable retirement?
Keep in mind that this accumulation of wealth is beyond ownership of the family home. On the family home there are no taxes payable on increasing value. For those with more than $3 million invested in superannuation, there is a fair chance that they do not live in a hovel or rented accommodation. It is appropriate to apply an increased tax at a rate of 30 per cent on more than $3 million in accumulated superannuation.
The announced tax increase does not stop people with large sums of money from investing and earning from those investments. Good on them. However, the common good is achieved with a fair tax system.
The common good includes effective health systems for all – not just for the rich. The same is true for education, housing, the range of social services, the justice system and defence of the nation. There are good reasons to pay taxes.
However, Dutton and his cronies continue to run fear campaigns on taxation. Get a grip. The conservatives within the Liberal Party love to run these anti-tax campaigns.
Who cares about the truth? The “super-mining” tax, Tony Abbott’s constant use of “just another great big tax” does have some appeal. The common good, however, demands a reasonable level of taxation through an equitable system.
The slippery-slope argument followed immediately. Dutton was quick to predict that this is just the first of many increases in taxation. He has no evidence. But when was evidence necessary in the politics of opposition?
The sensible approach of ACT independent senator David Pocock in supporting these changes should remind Canberrans why it is that he was selected by the voters to replace the conservative Zed Seselja.
Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legisla tive Assembly and an independent minister for health.
How many Canberrans, or other Australians, really need more than $3 million to carry them through from retirement until their demise?
HOME at Queanbeyan is holding its first fundraising film night for three years at The Q theatre, on March 17. The charity, which doesn’t get government funding, provides supported accommodation for people living with a mental illness. The film is “Made in Dagenham” and tickets, which include food and drinks, at $80, from The Q (qprc.sales.ticketsearch.com).
THE Hackett-based Health Care Consumers’ Association is offering free training to show consumers how to navigate the health system. Over the two-day course participants will learn what’s available and how to use services; how to stay safe in the health system and advocacy for themselves and their loved ones. It’s on between 10am3pm on March 24 and 31 and registrations via Eventbrite or email Nadia Owuor at reps@hcca.org.au or call 6230 7800.
YASS’ “Alive in the Park” will bring free live music, art and culture to Riverbank Park from noon until 10 pm on March 12. The festival will be headlined by Australian alt-rock band RedHook – a homecoming gig for lead guitarist Craig Wilkinson.
WESLEY Uniting Church will hold its first fete since covid at 24 National Circuit, Forrest, 9.30am-1.30pm on March 18. Organisers say the antiques and collectables, books and white elephant treasures and homewares have been quietly accumulating.
CANBERRA’S district planning strategies and population projections are on the shaky foundations of the 2018 Planning Strategy.
The platitudinous Strategy did not analyse the social, environmental or economic consequences of alternative population and employment distributions, housing preferences, strategies to reduce travel by influencing employment location, justify its 70 per cent renewal target, investigate infrastructure capacity or costs or the financial, housing affordability and environmental implications of under-supplying sites for detached housing.
The Strategy provides the assumptions in the suburban projections that there be no development in Kowen or west Murrumbidgee and extensive redevelopment in inner areas such as North Canberra where the population is projected to increase from 62,045 in 2022 to 85,920 in 2033.
The assumptions should be justified and discussed with the community in the context of possible urban futures.
Despite the impression in some media reports, projections are not set in stone and are subject to considerable uncertainty. Future uncertainties include possible pandemics, decentralisation of the public service, remote work, changes to migration and fertility and the adequacy of water resources.
The 2003 projections based on growth
expectations of the time, projected the population of Canberra would peak at 388,000 in 2031. Its adoption contributed to school closures.
In the absence of a sound planning strategy, the Missing Middle Canberra Group is able to claim up-zoning will overcome a shortage of land, inadequate social housing, homelessness, car dependence, increase walking and cycling, reduce McMansion development, enliven urban areas, create stronger communities, better connect people with each other, with jobs, transport and services and is asserted to be the fairest, cheapest and most effective way to build homes close to jobs and amenities. What next, up-zoning as a solution to the common cold?
The hyperbole of the Group needs to be replaced with the missing strategic and sitespecific analysis including impact on privacy, congestion, tree cover and solar access.
The decline in strategic land use and transport analysis is also apparent in Minister Steel’s claim, without justification, light rail is necessary for Canberra to maintain its status as one of the world’s most liveable cities and to avoid crippling congestion.
He is yet to demonstrate light rail is superior to Bus Rapid Transit in performing the mass-transit task or land-value capture between the town centres. It is unclear why he has dismissed the opportunity costs of light rail or the potential impact of employment dispersal, improving electric bus technology and increased working from home on the need for light rail.
The lack of critical evaluation of issues by the media (except “CityNews”), the government and the Planning Authority is detrimental to Canberra becoming a more liveable, financially, socially and environmentally sustainable city.
Is the government capable of developing a planning strategy based on analysis rather than platitudes?
Mike Quirk, GarranIN relation to Sue Dyer’s letter (“Angst and frustration at corruption of consultation”, CN March 2), I would like to endorse her sentiments as this has also been my experience over many years of dealing with the ACT government.
They seem to have a mantra of “do have your say”, which I have done many times but to no avail.
Many people I talk to are just so fed up with the process of community involvement ACT-style that we feel what is the point?
Many hours spent doing submissions and attending meetings have come to zero change. I even wonder if the submissions are read.
It seems their minds are already made up and this process is just so they can say they tried to do some sort of consultation.
Please let’s have an open and transparent discussion about planning in Canberra before it is too late.
Penny Moyes, Hughes
I WAS at the Canberra United game at McKellar Park on February 24. My 12-yearold daughter went to use the toilets and they all had signs on them saying they were gender neutral.
She felt unsafe and waited until we got home.
As a parent I find this disturbing that my daughter could potentially be in the same bathroom as an adult male and I don’t understand what point was trying to be made.
There were port-a-loos there that could have been designated gender neutral without anybody being discriminated against.
Pete Locke, Macgregor
FOR the truly sustainable population growth of Canberra-Queanbeyan to over 800,000, without relying on demeaning “densification” (including rubbish high-rise), the airport and RAAF facilities should move, to say, out along the Barton Highway.
The extensive swathe of land extending south from Majura to Tralee, already has vibrant adjacent commercial facilities (Fyshwick, Hume, and in Queanbeyan itself), excellent road connectivity, rail corridors, potential for a lake (with an Olympic-standard rowing course) on Jerrabomberra Creek, conservation and semi-rural areas including
parts of Majura, the Molonglo River Reserve, Pialligo, wetlands, and the Mugga Lane and Campbell Park ridges.
Other sustainable growth areas in the ACT include West Greenway in Tuggeranong, Kowen, and Ginninderry (if it gets a proper town centre, and the ACT boundary is extended).
Jack Kershaw, Kambah
THIS letter is to all of those readers who believe that the science is “in” on climate change. I have news for you – the same science says that Australia could disappear off the map tomorrow and it would not make an iota of difference to global warming let alone to climate change. Given that slow global warming is occurring, whatever the drivers may be, Australia’s priority is to protect its citizens from the possible consequences, not to pursue needless emissionsreduction policies that risk destroying our economy for absolutely zero effect.
We need to control bushfire fuel loads, stop people living among the gumtrees and save every drop of water that falls on the country, while pursuing water conservation in homes, agriculture and industry.
Then we need to look to nuclear energy for electricity production before the unsustainable renewables policy sends us broke while disfiguring the countryside.
Max Flint, via email
These
include:
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COLUMNIST Michael Moore and a letter writer must have been channelling each other (CN February 23) on fighting inflation by letting the Reserve Bank vary the GST.
Having long had a low inflation and interest rate environment, we have forgotten what it is like when both are not low.
The Reserve Bank is an independent agency and is tasked with managing monetary issues (banking and inflation) and its primary tools are interest rates and money supply.
The GST is not within its control, and nor should it be. The GST is a tax imposed by the government to fund government services. The suggestion of increasing the GST would actually add to inflation by increasing prices, not reduce inflation. Reducing the GST would reduce prices slightly but at the cost of reducing revenue.
Short term fiddles of GST rates or the like are usually resisted by businesses and government bureaucracies for good reason, as they create more problems and complexities to be unwound down the track. The current federal government made certain noises in opposition and now sings a slightly different tune in government about budgets, deficits, costs, and they have barely started on initiatives they wanted to pursue. They need more money and there is one reliable source – they are called taxpayers.
Martin Gordon, DunlopIS it too much to ask for a real light rail timetable?
Light rail “timetables” tell us only how frequently trams are due to depart from Alinga Street or Gungahlin Place. They don’t tell us when trams are due to depart from other stops, or when they are due to arrive anywhere.
Too often I get to watch a tram depart without me, after I have walked for five minutes from home towards my local light rail station.
If I miss one tram, I have to wait up to 15 minutes for the next. In that time, my ancient legs and my almost-as-ancient, two-speed bicycle can take me all the way from home to Civic.
Leon Arundell, DownerBILL Bush (Letters, CN February 23) criticises opposition leader Elizabeth Lee because the Liberals do not support decriminalisation of illegal, mind-altering drugs.
I wonder if Bill has ever seen (or treated, as I have) the mental health problems and brain damage as a result of the consumption of these products. The completely inadequate mental health facilities in the ACT to treat such victims is the main problem.
Dr Alan Shroot, ForrestCATE Faehrmann, Greens MP and drug law reform spokesperson, has launched the Greens’ plan to legalise and regulate recreational cannabis in NSW.
Those supporting such a plan try to make drugs look like a disability that they couldn’t avoid, and they expect the same treatment as for someone who has a disability that was unavoidable.
And then there are the health issues people have where they didn’t know what the impact of poor choices would bring.
In the case of drugs, everyone knows beforehand what they bring – there is simply no case for pity due to ignorance – only another dive into community compassion.
Colliss Parrett, BartonI RATE the ACT Greenslabor government as complacent, farcical, arrogant, deceptive, dishonest, cynical, and diabolical.
“Have Your Say” is the most blatant mechanism for deception and corruption that any government has exercised for so long.
It doesn’t seem to matter what we writers to the editor of “CityNews” say about the government, they still take no notice!
Let’s hope that they sit up in shock in 2024.
Jenny Holmes, Weston
IN May, the Greens/Labor government will undertake its 15th annual cull of Eastern Grey Kangaroos.
About 29,000 kangaroos and between 7000 to 9000 joeys have been killed to date in an immensely cruel manner that most Canberrans would find unacceptable.
Supposedly the “conservation cull” will protect endangered species.
However in 2014 a CSIRO report commissioned by the government found that there was no basis to claim that kangaroos damaged the grassy layer on which the threatened species depend.
Despite this finding, the cull has continued and this year another 1500 to 2000 animals will be killed needlessly.
The government has ignored calls for an independent review, presumably because it is not interested in being told that it is wrong.
The Environment Directorate operates without any external scrutiny and is effectively allowed to mark its own homework.
As public servants, many Canberrans are well aware that external review of programs is standard practice and must be undertaken on a regular basis.
Canberrans should be asking the government, “Why is the Environment Directorate allowed to operate without any external scrutiny?”
And: “Why are our rates being used to kill our wildlife at a time where they are already facing multiple threats such as habitat loss and the impact of climate change?”
Rebecca Marks via emailBEATRICE Bodart-Bailey is right again: the Rattenbury-Barr government’s pet light rail project is no better than 19th-century technology (“As the world changes, the tram pushes blindly on”, CN March 2).
Canberra should follow the examples of London, Paris and Berlin and move the “tram” with its ugly “mess of wires” underground; or, even better, use a much more practical and flexible network of electric buses or multi-carriage electric trams.
Dr
Douglas Mackenzie, DeakinA FEW days ago, I went to Access Canberra to pay for a registration on a secondhand car I had bought. As the rego had expired, I was issued with a seven-day permit to drive the car while I took it for a roadworthiness test. This cost me $48.
I was vexed and annoyed to find that they wouldn’t accept cash, but only a card payment. Since when has this complacent local government we have in the ACT decided not to accept cash, which is a legal tender?
Is this government in bed with the global elites that want to make everything digital to pave the way for an ID card with every personal detail of its citizens?
Vivien Munoz, via email
ERIC Hunter (Voice Letters, CN February 23) claims he has seen no objection to the Voice backed by authoritative evidence. My question is, have we seen any support for the Voice backed by authoritative evidence?
It does not matter how many questions are thrown at the “yes” camp, we do not get any answers. Question is, if they cannot or will not provide authoritative evidence in support of the Voice, why not. Have they got something to hide?
Mr Hunter states: “All eligible Australians have the right to vote in a referendum and that’s the only vote we’ll have to consider. The operational details of the Voice, Makarrata and treaty will fall to the parliament.” Unfortunately this is the problem. If the referendum votes “yes” to the Voice and it is enshrined in the Constitution, the government can do whatever it wants and it will be too late for the voters to do anything.
Indigenous people already have a higher per-capita say in parliament than the rest of the population because their proportion is higher (ie, there are 11 Aboriginal politicians in parliament).
Also, there are over a hundred advisory bodies for their benefit. If the advisory bodies are not doing their job, putting anything in the Constitution is not going to change that. The Voice would just divide the nation not unite it. Having a separate body would be racism.
Most Australians are descendants of the original inhabitants or the first fleet or both, so we all have equal rights, so why divide us now?
Vi Evans, via email
LET every Australian be grateful there is the goodwill and the time to discuss not just the “strengths and weaknesses” of the proposed Voice, but also other options.
What is being proposed has these elements:
• A local and regional structure for indigenous “policy development”;
• An apex body into which the “local and regional outcomes” are fed; and,
• A change to our National Constitution that introduces perpetual exclusivity for less than four per cent of our community.
Those elements are laid out in a lengthy mid-2021 report; however, few people will read that report and – this is quite extraordinary – we the citizenry are not going to be presented with succinct, informative statements of the arguments for and against. What follows assumes a broad agreement as to these propositions:
• The Australian indigenous community, like every other “community” in our nation, does not speak with one view, but many. Those different views reflect the variable effect of, among other factors, history, opportunity, location and leadership.
• Age-old customs, languages and populations were ravaged by outsider settlement.
• Despite our lack of a national
Human Rights Act we believe every member of our community is entitled to: a safe “home”; sufficient daily nutrition; an education that brings literacy, numeracy and the reasonable possibility of meaningful employment; ready access to a health system that is preventive, expert in treatment and accessible; and, respect for and the maintenance of our cultural roots (which includes religious beliefs).
• Those beliefs are aspirational because, despite them, there are many among us who are homeless, lacking the basics of daily life, suffering from chronic disease, and are or will be long-term unemployed.
• A significant change in national perception over the past 30 years has been that whereas “the indigenous” were out of sight and mind, their successes and failures are now widely reported (examples being sporting success, “artistic” success, academic/research success, pride in claiming an indigenous heritage –all and more on the one hand; while on the other – over representation in the juvenile and adult criminal justice system, health and educational
outcomes that are well below other communities, and, inadequate housing).
• “Discrimination” is un-Australian and we don’t tolerate it. The ACT’s Discrimination Act makes it unlawful to treat any of us unfavourably because of our race. “Race” includes a person’s colour, descent, ethnic or national origin and nationality. However, there are exceptions as has been seen, for example, in campaigns to “tolerate” homophobia on religious grounds.
What’s more, as the ACT’s Human Rights Commission explains: “It is not unlawful to take special measures to help groups or individuals who are disadvantaged or have been unfairly treated. Those “special measures” are sometimes known as “positive discrimination” in that those who benefit from them receive “something” that the non-beneficiaries cannot claim.
Proponents of the Voice would likely argue that indigenous Australians are deserving of the special measures of the Voice, being “their” publicly funded consultation structures discussed above AND a constitutional enshrinement of at least the apex consultative arm and
its access to government.
A contrary argument (there are likely more points that others may write about) would be:
The current Voice proposal is still a “top down” approach that fails to recognise how today’s communication technology can quickly gather the views of disparate communities large and small without the “after-theevent interpretative gloss” of a mere couple of dozen people.
That the number and experience of the myriad of indigenous organisations allows for “those on the ground” to assist their clientele to respond confidently and accurately to such surveys.
That such an approach will be both more cost and time efficient and effective than a well-meant, but inherently flawed attempt to impose a model of “consultation” that will inevitably drown out most of those seeking to voice an opinion.
Which leaves the issue of the Constitutional Amendment to lock in preference for less than four per cent of our community. Where is the need for it?
There is no shortage of articulate indigenous people. As the recent troubles
in Alice Springs have shown there is now no shortage of media attention. Our indigenous fellow Australians are no longer “out of sight, out of mind”. If there is to be a referendum for a constitutional amendment then let the referendum questions include whether such amendment should be limited to five, ten, or a dozen years. Why? So that lived experience, not dreams, guides the next generation of multi-ethnic, multicultural Australians.
Hugh Selby is the “CityNews” legal affairs commentator. His free podcasts on “Witness Essentials” and “Advocacy in court: preparation and performance” can be heard on the best known podcast sites.
All opinions welcome “CityNews” welcomes all opinions on the Voice. Respectful submissions of up to 750 words to editor@citynews.com.au, please.
THERE are so many elements that go into making a wedding a dream come true. The venue, the dress, the music, dancing, flowers, catering and more, it’s no easy task organising the special day. Luckily, Canberra’s home to many experts who know how to bring dream weddings to life. In this special feature “CityNews” has gathered insights to ensure every couple has their perfect day.
florist who will create your wedding flowers,” says Duvall.
“In a business setting I have been doing this work going on five years now, but much longer personally for family and friends.”
His husband, Dan Hines, explains Daniel was stood down from his job at Qantas when COVID-19 hit.
“While trying to figure out his next move, Daniel decided to follow his passion in floristry,” says Hines.
After studying floristry at CIT and launching the business online, Duvall opened his shopfront in the
JOSE Ciminelli, CEO of YES Canberra, has a combined total of 30 years’ experience in the event styling industry.
“And we’ve never failed anybody yet,” he says.
“We understand how important a wedding is for everybody concerned. It doesn’t matter who it’s for, we realise the importance of the event to the individual.”
YES Canberra offers a spectrum of colours, choices and styles, as well as covering pretty much everything one might need for a wedding or event, says Jose.
“From simple chairs, covers and sashes, to the whole marquee. We can
marquee at the racetrack,” he says.
“We can cater for 500 people with no problems at all, more even.
“We’re the one-stop shop for all your wedding needs.
“We can also do different configurations and themes, such as a western theme with wine barrels.”
Jose also says they’re very competitive with pricing.
“If you’ve got a quote from someone else that you’re not happy with, run it past us and we’ll do our best to save you money.”
YES Canberra is located at 9-11 Huddart Court, but will move soon to unit 3, 71 Vicars Street, Mitchell.
that are individual and meaningful for every customer.
“He is always honoured when asked by customers to contribute to life’s important moments. Through the good times and the not-so-good times he hopes to provide both joy and comfort through his work.”
Hyacinth Bouquets, 53 Gibraltar Street, Bungendore. Call 0403 916058 or visit hyacinthbouquets.com.au/ weddings
We are proud to be locally owned and operated in Bungendore and deliver throughout Canberra, Queanbeyan, Bungendore and surrounds.
Hyacinth Bouquets is located in the historic Old Bungendore Post Office and offer a full range of giftware and locally roasted Bungendore coffee from Village Coffee Roastery through our coffee window 7 Days a week.
Hyacinth Bouquets - Old Bungendore Post Office
53 Gibraltar st Bungendore 0403 916 058
www.hyacinthbouquets.com.au
Proudly Serving
TO suit decor visions both simple and grand, the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan offers a setting to suit all styles, says events manager, Bianca Paquay.
She says the venue has the “unique and memorable” collaboration of contemporary comforts and amenities, integrated with the historic architecture of the original Royal’s ‘20’s brick walls.
“The Royal has a picturesque background at every turn, which is a photographer’s dream!
“We have a Wedding Venue Open Day coming up on March 19 between 12pm and 2pm.
“We’ve set aside our venues upstairs on this day so that couples can walk through the Upper House and Royal Suite. We’re going to have some
staff on hand to help answer any questions, but this will give the chance for people to see the venue for themselves, to see if it’s the right place for them.”
The most rewarding part, she says, is seeing the couples getting ready in the morning, “hearts in a flutter in nervous anticipation; and then returning later to our reception venue with the biggest smiles on their faces – ready to start the party as newlyweds.”
Royal Hotel Queanbeyan, 85 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 1444, or visit royalhotelqbn.com.au/weddings/
HAPPY Days Event Hire provides hire items for weddings that are different, fun and ones that will create lasting memories, says owner Natalie Calvani.
“Our light-up letters are fun, bright and definitely make a statement at any wedding,” she says.
“They’ve become an incredibly popular choice. We now have the complete alphabet and numbers in two sizes, 60 centimetres and 1.2 metres, which give our customers more options.
“Other items we have available to hire are our Mirror Me photo booths and jukeboxes that have over 7000 songs available.”
Natalie says there’s music from the ‘50s all the way through to today’s top charts, and the jukeboxes are updated every month with the latest music.
“Our Mirror Me photo booth is not an ordinary booth. The camera is hidden behind the mirror and takes beautiful photos. Our packages are all inclusive so there are no hidden costs,” she says.
Natalie also says Happy Days takes care of delivery and pick up of all their items, offers DIY options or can
THE Bunched Co is an online, dessert delivery service, says director Jorja Wallace.
“The business was started more than five years ago with donut bouquets,” she says.
“In 2020/21 we started doing dessert boxes too, and I took over in January 2022, and started creating donut cakes and towers.
“No one else offers the stacks and towers that we do, and up until 2021 no one did donut bouquets which really helped us stand out.”
She says The Bunched Co provides a different experience to traditional wedding cakes, that is a further alternative from cupcakes, “so people can help themselves”.
A former public servant, lawyer and journalist, Jorja says she’s very much enjoying unlearning the hard rules of her previous jobs to explore her creativity.
“It is a complete change for me, a different lifestyle and I am finding myself again,” she says.
“I don’t do the baking part, a bakery makes the donuts for me fresh daily, so I just have to do all the styling and putting together of the bouquets, towers and boxes, which I am grateful for.
“We also cater for christenings, baby showers, birthday parties, donations to charities and a wide variety of gatherings.”
The Bunched Co. Call 0432 114566, or visit thebunchedco.com.au
Sunday 19 March 2023 th
12pm - 2pm
DALE’S Ballroom Dancing offers classes to help couples and bridal parties impress the audience on the big day, says owner Dale Harris.
“Couples can choose their song, and we can choreograph something to suit them, the music and their style,” she says.
“I have a private studio for teaching all types of dancing that people want to learn for the occasion.”
Dale has more than 20 years of experience teaching dance, having first started dancing herself at the age of six.
She’s since received many qualifications in ballroom
dancing and is also a championship adjudicator who travels interstate to judge ballroom competitions.
From absolute beginners to those experienced in dancing, she says she can offer advice and techniques to help make that special dance one to remember.
“It’s always great to see messages come back through from people saying the dance was fabulous or that they had a ball,” she says.
“We have general classes on Wednesdays to practice so people can come and meet me first for a lesson if they like, or if they want to get in touch we can have a chat about what suits them.”
Dale’s Ballroom Dancing, call 0407 066110, or visit dalesballroomdancing.com.au
• PRIVATE DANCING LESSONS
– Individuals or Groups
– Perfect for Wedding Parties
BY APPOINTMENT
• MEDAL CLASSES
Thursday from 5.30pm
• ADULT BEGINNER CLASSES
Wednesdays from 7pm
• SOCIAL DANCING
Every Monday 7pm - 9.30pm
All Classes are held at: The Crystal Ballroom Canberra 6/38 Reed Street Nth, Greenway, Tuggeranong
Dale’s Ballroom Dancing
Phone: 0407 066 110 | Email: dale_harris@bigpond.com
Web: dalesballroomdancing.com | Principal: Dale Harris
ENJOY YOURSELF IN A FUN AND RELAXED SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
Celebrate a Special Event like weddings, engagements, significant birthdays, baptisms & company conferences with a custom-made chocolate bar for you, your guests, and as thank yous for the helpers who make it all a success.
We have a selection of wrapper designs with over 6 dozen schemes & as many colours to help you choose, or we can work with you to create your own designs.
Lolly Swagman can also customise Bonbonniere from our enormous selection of sweets, lollies and chocolate.
Open Monday to Friday 9:30-4:00 Weekends & Public Holidays 9:30-5:00
mrs.swag@lollyswagman.com.au
www.lollyswagman.com.au
11 Old Hume Highway Berrima 02 4877 1137
LOLLY Swagman has explored tastes new and old, in the heart of the Southern Highlands, for nearly three decades, says owner Ian Richardson.
“We have arrangements with a boutique specialty chocolate maker in Melbourne that offers a customdesigned range of chocolates for weddings and other special events,” he says.
“There are four dozen examples, people can select their colours, size and designs, so they are completely customisable.
“We used them for our own wedding, and the design examples we have can be used as just a base for any ideas.
“Having enjoyed it so much at our wedding, we wanted to offer it to others, too.”
Ian says the chocolate can be used as both wedding favours and place markers, “they do a double duty”.
“There are budget bars, with limited customisation, all the way up to medium and large bars in milk, white and dark chocolate, and there’s some that cater to dietary requirements, too,” he says.
“Pricing is variable, based on the number of embellishments such as sparkles or floral designs.
“We will help anybody who comes to us with their own unique designs and graphics, or we can provide some guidance, too, because it can be a bit overwhelming, but they can be highly unique to you.”
Lolly Swagman, 11 Old Hume Highway, Berrima. Call 4877 1137, or visit lollyswagman.com.au
AFFORDABLE Bridal has been running a successful and friendly business for 22 years, says owner Marguerite Foster.
“I started it so that there was some where in Canberra with great service, prices and range,” she says. “People think they have to go to Sydney to see wedding dresses, but we’ve got plenty of brands and styles.”
The shop stocks more than 300 dresses, including wedding dresses, formal wear and bridesmaids dresses, running up to size 32.
“We’re a family business which strives to be a personal, safe, inclusive and friendly environment,” says Marguerite. “It can be a very challenging, but also satisfying job. I love helping girls find the right dress, and making them feel special.
“I still cry sometimes, after 22 years, when people find the right dress, and everyone is different which makes the job so much fun.”
Marguerite says Affordable Bridal moved in January to a new shopfront in Franklin, and everyone is welcome to book their appointments, and come and say hello.
“We are all very down-to-earth, the new space is great and we have such a good variety of stock.”
Affordable Bridal, Shop 112/227 Fleming ton Road, Franklin. Call 0493 560589, or visit affordableb.com.au
ANNABEL’S Bridal Studio has gowns to make any bride’s walk down the aisle completely breathtaking, says owner Misty Annabel.
With more than 16 designers and hundreds of styles in-store, Misty says they strive to make brides feel confident, happy and beautiful on their big day.
“I make sure the process from choosing the gown to the collection of the gown is as organised and as enjoyable as possible,” she says.
“We pride ourselves on listening closely to brides, there’s diversity in our range from design as well as size.”
The business, which is coming up on its 18th anniversary in May, was first started by Misty after seeing a gap in the Canberra market for a luxury bridal boutique.
“My mother has been in the design and tailoring industry since I was four-years-old, I grew up under the cutting table,” says Misty.
“Today she’s our experienced in-house tailor, and helps brides create their personalised dream look.”
Misty also says the business has an event coming up that brides-to-be may like to check out.
“In our trunk shows designers send exquisite gowns and clients then choose what they want from those designs,” she says.
“Our next trunk show is April 15 to 22 featuring designer Martina Liana.”
Annabel’s Bridal Studio, at “The Kennedy”, suite 2, 28 Eyre Street, Kingston. Call 6295 3984, or visit annabelsbridal.com.au
BLUE Ginger Photography is a family busi or help with anything, whenever needed, on
FOR 25 years, European-trained and Dutch-born pastry chef Wim den Hartog has been sharing his talent in the ACT hospitality business.
Wim says L’Orange Patisserie has been offering cakes, pastries and desserts, for six and a half years now. His wife, Misty Annabel, says Wim’s love for pastries began at age 13.
“Wim’s passion for pastries is his first love,” she says. Croquembouche, or profiterole towers, are popular for weddings, says Wim.
“We sell quite a few for weddings, it’s a nice change from a traditional cake,” he says.
“Customers can choose the colours, some choose to have cascading flowers such as daisies, or other decorations as well.
“I love weddings, and I think the dessert is truly the icing on the wedding cake, whether it’s something small in the middle of a lolly table or something more traditional.
“Guests should approach this as a delightful ritual to be enjoyed with friends or family”.
Wim says occasion cakes, high teas and larger cakes are available to order for other occasions, too.
“We have a wide range of European sweets and treats from France, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium,” he says.
L’Orange Patisserie, Manuka Court, 11-15 Bougainville Street, Griffith. Call 6295 3897 or visit lorangepatisserie.com.au
FIGS are ripening and ready for picking in the next month or so and an easy small tree to grow in our climate.
Figs are best picked when just ripe or when coloured and soft, which is important because figs won’t ripen after picking, but they will keep for at least two weeks in the fridge.
Of course, the best flavoured figs are sun drenched ones picked straight from the tree. Figs are shallow rooted and don’t mind a little lime around the dripline to keep the pH high and alkaline. Use dolomite lime twice a year in the growing season.
A bonus to growing fig trees is that they don’t need to be grafted and grow well from their own cuttings. Cuttings are best done in the winter dormancy. Cut stems 20-30 centimetres long from the end of branches as thick as a little finger. Cut to a bottom node, bunch cuttings into a container of potting mix and ensure there are at least three to four nodes below the soil. Water in, then place in the shade and keep moist until there is new growth in spring. A quick way to
increase cuttings is by propagating in water and works well for figs and is a good activity to get kids involved. Figs can be rooted in water quite quickly. Change the water weekly and there should be some roots appearing in about four to six weeks. Water-propagated cuttings in general can be delicate to transplant, so do more cuttings to compensate for any losses.
Among the most trusted varieties to grow in our conditions are Black Genoa or Brown Turkey.
Black Genoa is a large-sized fig with purple skin, a red flesh and rich in flavour. With good storage qualities, it fruits generally twice a year and produces more yield than its counterpart figs.
Brown Turkey figs have a copper-coloured skin, pink pulp and fruit once a year. It’s a smaller tree and better for drier conditions, pots.
The main fig harvest is produced on fresh, current-season’s growth. Fruits grown on older growth and spurs are a Breba crop. Breba figs are not as full in flavour and are much smaller. They can be removed from the tree to encourage the growth of the main crop.
Prune fig trees when dormant in winter and remove secondary branches that are crossing over or rubbing on other branches. Aim for a rounded, small-vase shaped tree.
CAULIFLOWER seedlings need to be in the ground now. They are a cool-season crop and
need to have good growth before winter to get them growing through the colder months. They like full sun, lots of water and, as with other brassicas, lots of food in the way of compost, organic manures and organic fertilisers that are low in nitrogen.
Mulch with a pea straw or sugar cane to help keep the moisture around the roots and prevent frost burn. Don’t plant them next to other brassicas such as cabbages and brussels sprouts so they’re not competing for nutrients. The bigger the monoculture, the bigger the risk of pest issues such as cabbage moths and white flies.
Growing vegetables in a polyculture method emphasises companion planting and biodiversity leads to fewer chemicals used in the garden. jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au
• Divide any overgrown perennials.
• Keep planting Asian greens, broccoli, carrots, and root vegetables.
• Give citrus some fertiliser to get them growing strong before the cold weather sets in.
• Deadhead spent roses and flowers to encourage more growth.
THE Street Theatre’s walls are about to echo to that distinctive style of music that grew out of the bordellos of Buenos Aires –tango.
Visitors to The Street will be the Latin Grammy award-winning Quinteto Astor Piazzolla, who together pay homage to the memory of Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla, the man who single-handedly transported the art form from the brothels and cafes to the concert platforms of the world.
Modelled on Piazzolla’s own ‘60s quintet, the ensemble was founded by his widow, Laura Escalada Piazzolla, with the mission to protect and promote her late husband’s legacy.
Today’s line-up features Pablo Mainetti on tango music’s unique bandoneon instrument, Bárbara Varassi Pega on piano, Serdar Geldymuradov on violin, Armando de la Vega on guitar and Daniel Falasca on double bass.
Piazzolla’s music is an unorthodox mix of traditional tango, classical, jazz, and popular music like Neapolitan songs and klezmer. His brand of tango has attracted admirers
turned Piazzolla’s “Libertango” into the club hit, “I’ve Seen That Face Before”.
Tour manager Cristian Pilditch has been working with Canberra entrepreneur Frank
and seductive melodies”.
Pilditch considers it “a bit of a coup“ to have the quintet at The Street, telling me: “These guys are usually performing at the
SIR Paul McCartney will appear on The Rolling Stones’ upcoming album, bringing together two of the biggest bands in British musical history.
The former Beatle, 80, has provided a bass part to one of the tracks that is expected to feature on the Stones’ upcoming studio album, which remains untitled.
McCartney.
A spokesman for the band said reports Sir Ringo Starr also fea tured were untrue and that McCartney had found himself in a nearby recording studio while Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were mixing the record.
The album, due to be released later this year, will feature the late Charlie Watts on around half its songs, with current drummer Steve Jordan on the others, the PA news agency understands.
special.”
Quinteto Astor Piazzolla, The Street Theatre
7.30pm, March 15.
Jordan has toured as a regular member of the band since the death of longstanding drummer Watts in August 2021. Although the Beatles and Stones were portrayed as rivals during the ‘60s and ‘70s, members have collaborated over the years. –PA
AS Easter draws near, one of the most enduring festivals in the region is swinging into gear.
It’s the Four Winds Festival, preparing to return to its home property on glorious Barragga Bay, Bermagui, after a covid-enforced time out in the cold.
Cellist Matthew Hoy has stepped into the artistic role as creative director replacing Lindy Hume, who was in the role for two years.
She is now interim creative director and artistic adviser for Opera Australia and he expects her to continue working in the region, so they’ll possibly work together again.
Hoy is now looking at ways of deepening the relationships and the connections that lie at the heart of a lot of the works and “bringing different worlds together”, for instance by combining Bermagui’s Yuin choir Djinama Yilaga with the Australian String Quartet.
Hoy’s boasting 70 of Australia’s finest artists on the program this year.
With community in mind, they’ll kick off on April 7 with a big, free community percussion and music event on Horseshoe Bay foreshore in Bermagui town centre, a picnic opening at the 1000-seat Sound Shell on Barragga Bay – sometimes known as “nature’s auditorium”.
The idea is to signal a return to the festival site after last year’s enforced evacuation to Cobargo.
“We know a lot of attendees will be coming back to sit, relax and connect,” Hoy says.
Later in the afternoon the indoor Windsong Pavilion will be transformed with a visual and sound installation, “Wonga and the Waratah”, created by Four Winds
Aboriginal creative producer Cheryl Davison.
At night, three performances take place in the pavilion, including the “After Dark” program featuring pianist Paul Grabowsky.
Hoy is aware that it’s pretty hard to beat the deepening evening sky at Barragga Bay and is taking full advantage of it on Saturday evening, first with “Celestial & Submerged Objects”, where he joins Lina Andonovska, Sonya Lifschitz and Madame Lark to play oceanic and heavenly work by American composer George Crumb.
Then as it gets dark, audiences will experience a moonlit event, “Eclipse”, starring First Nations-Islander singer Jess Hitchcock and neo-soul singer Ngaiire, supported by the Four Winds Festival Orchestra.
Kids are not forgotten. “Drip Drop Play” is an immersive experience for children aged 5-12 where Thea Rossen and Jared Yapp, as water diviners, use ice and water to create sound with children.
A quirky inclusion is “Penelope”, inspired by Homer’s “Odyssey”, featuring Georgie Darvidis performing a mix of narrative, indie rock and chamber music.
Sunday’s performances all take place in the outdoor Sound Shell, opening with “Something Borrowed”, where the Four Winds Festival Orchestra will play music inspired by the great outdoors, followed by “Reflect”, where Timothy Young on piano plays work inspired by contemporary war, including Max Richter’s “ Nature of Daylight”, responding to the 2003 Iraq War. On Sunday afternoon, the festival culminates on the big stage with “Wata” (“Wind” in ancient Yolŋu) composed by Paul Grabowsky and led by Daniel and David Wilfred in the “manikay” tradition, invocations of time and place intended for public ceremonial events.
Four Winds Festival, Barragga Bay, Bermagui, April 7-9.
“IN the Embrace of the Brindabellas”
is an al fresco performance featuring two international contemporary dance companies from Taiwan, Dancecology and Ku and Dancers (who are visiting Elizabeth Dalman at Mirramu) dancing in the peace garden at “Terroux”, Rochford Road, Wallaroo, 4.30pm to 6.30pm, March 18.
CANBERRA Rep’s first production for 2023 is AR Gurney’s epistolary play, “Love Letters”. Directed by Kate Blackhurst, it features Canberra theatre luminaries Andrea Close and Michael Sparks in a story of two lifetimes. Canberra Rep Theatre, March 15-26.
CHRIS Mercer has joined the National Film and Sound Archive as head of programs and place. He comes from global design and engineering firm Arup, has also worked as head of production for Sydney Theatre Company and production manager at the National Theatre in London,
By Jill Lawless in LondonFROM Major Tom to Ziggy
Stardust and Aladdin
Sane, the many faces and inspirations of David Bowie are getting a permanent home in London.
Britain’s Victoria & Albert Museum has acquired Bowie’s archive of more than 80,000 items as a gift from the late musician’s estate.
The trove of costumes, musical instruments, letters, lyrics, photos and more will be opened to the public at a new arts centre dedicated to the chameleonlike pop icon.
The David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts is due to open in 2025 as part of V&A East Storehouse, an offshoot of the UK’s national museum of art, design and performance that is being built in east London’s Olympic Park.
The V&A said the centre will let fans and researchers gain insights into the creative process of Bowie, who died in 2016 at the age of 69.
Kate Bailey, the museum’s senior curator of theatre and performance, said the archive was an “extraordinary” record of a creator whose “life was art.”
“He’s an artist who was working really in 360 – drawing from literature, but also drawing from art history... (and) the places that he’d been to,” she said.
Bowie created a series of largerthan-life stage characters, mining influences ranging from German Expressionist cinema to Japanese Kabuki theatre.
is a board member of Australian Dance Theatre and lectures regularly at NIDA.
“SINGSPIRATION” is a Canberra Day celebration of African Australians coming up at 48 Sandford Street, Mitchell, 4pm-6pm, Monday, March 13.
PERFORM Australia is partnering with Lexi Sekuless’ Mill Theatre in the Dairy Road precinct for its vocational education productions for 2023 after a move from Fyshwick forced the company to give up its own in-house theatre.
THE Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra will perform “Viennese Vogue” – Mozart, Schubert and Hummel – at Albert Hall, March 15.
Some of the items in the archive are iconic, such as a multicoloured quilted jumpsuit designed by Freddie Burretti for Bowie’s alien rock star creation Ziggy Stardust, Kansai Yamamoto’s futuristic creations for the Aladdin Sane tour in 1973 or the Union Jack coat designed by Bowie and Alexander McQueen for the cover of 1997’s “Earthling” album. Others are more personal, including letters, handwritten lyrics for songs including the anthem “Heroes”, and notebooks that Bowie kept throughout his life. The archives also contain more than 70,000 photographs, slides and images. The museum secured the archive from the Bowie estate and also received a 10 million pound ($A18 million) donation from the Blavatnik
MARCH 8, 2014, 12.41AM, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 takes off with 227 passengers aboard from Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Six hours later, air traffic controllers at Beijing International Airport are expecting the plane to touch down. No blip would ever emerge on their radar screens.
Instead, the only thing left of Flight 370 was a final automated position report transmitted from the cockpit. Sent out at 1.19AM, it contained an eerie sign off: “Good night Malaysian three seven zero”.
It’s now been nine years since the aircraft vanished seemingly into thin air and to this day the world still doesn’t know what transpired that night.
On what is a macabre but important anniversary, Netflix has released a new documentary which dives deep into the infamous disappearance of the aircraft.
“MH370: The Plane That Disappeared” puts questions to family members, scientists, investigative journos and more to try to answer the questions that still swirl around the vanishing.
Over the course of three 60-minute episodes, the doco breaks down the many theories that have attempted to explain the baffling event. Some of the facts that have emerged from investigations may even puzzle those who don’t normally find themselves allured by a conspiracy.
One of the most uncanny is that the crew
equipped with multiple emergency locator transmitters (which normally only take half a second to beam out a distress signal) and yet none of them did.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. A report from the Malaysian government in 2018 discovered the plane was steered off course for an unknown reason. It found the aircraft was maneuvered by its system being manipulated – not by any system failures.
There were also two men on the plane who were found to be travelling with stolen passports, a fact that quickly raised suspicions in the aftermath of the disappearance.
since it was lost, Flight 370 has captivated and haunted the world. There’s been no shortage of attempts to explore the mystery in the documentary medium as a result, especially in the streaming realm.
“Malaysia 370: The Plane That Vanished” came out in 2014 and was the first to try to dive into the mystery. The iterations since are endless.
Apple TV+ has its version in the form of “MH370: Mystery of the Lost Flight”, there’s “Lost: MH370” on Amazon Prime Video, SBS On Demand features “MH370: The Lost Flight” and, of course, “Air Crash
Less than loving to a designer, the space has the disadvantage of having a lift shaft right in its middle, but Richards says optimistically, that it will “allow a special little area so that we can configure the galleries as we want them.”
Once up and running, there will be decals on the windows and digital screens so passers-by can see what’s happening at night.
The opening exhibition, following Swayn’s own philosophy, will seek to find beauty in everyday functional objects, designed but usually overlooked, as with the yellow stack hats, an Australian design from the ‘80s, which will feature in the opening exhibit and which, like humdrum objects such as traffic buttons/buzzers, demand a new look.
Central to the exhibit will be four light cubes, two-metre by two metre designed by Wong and lit from within, each containing questions for onlookers such as: “I am always sharp, what am I?”
The new gallery will be called “CMAG on the Square” and will involve a rigorous curated exhibition program, Richards says, probably focusing on large-scale installation artworks.
As part of the Enlighten Festival CMAG will open from 5pm-8pm with “Light, Colour, Cocktails”, March 17 and 18.
Investigations” did its own episode during its fourteenth season.
While some of these do a valiant effort in exploring the disappearance, Netflix’s new product is easily the most authoritative and fascinating look at the strange event to date.
The streaming giant is well aware of the power of a mystery.
In 2020, it rebooted the ‘80s TV hit “Unsolved Mysteries” for a fifteenth season.
Twenty-one episodes on and it remains a popular staple of the platform.
Now with their new doco they’re taking that momentum and exploring what is one of the most intriguing mysteries of the modern age.
“Planes go up, planes go down, what planes don’t do is just vanish off the face of the Earth,” declares the show’s prolific marketing.
In the first 10 days of the trailer being uploaded to Youtube, five million viewers flocked in to catch a glimpse of the show. Tens of thousands of comments were plastered on the video – people from all around the world saying they remember when and where they were when the news of the plane’s disappearance broke.
There’s no doubt Netflix has another hit on its hands with this one. While the doco doesn’t feature any new bombshells, it does make for a fascinating examination of one of the most famous mysteries of the last decade and acts as an important way to remember the lives lost that fateful night.
We can only sit and wonder. It is a disquieting thought indeed that the only people who may ever know what happened to Flight 370 are beyond the reach of any of us.
“Supreme spatchcock”... with barbecue corn puree.
Photos: Wendy Johnson Zucchini flowers… with Sicilian-inspired salsa agresto and salty white anchovies.
AS the name implies, Such and Such doesn’t want to be nailed down in an exact or precise way.
Its vibe is radically different from its award-winning sister restaurant Pilot, a more formal, set-menu
experience.
Such and Such is casual and less structured; relaxed but not too carefree. Drop in for a drink, a couple of share plates or a full meal, listening to a super-cool playlist.
A stone’s throw from the Canberra Theatre Centre, Such and Such offers dining at the bar, in the small indoor dining area or outdoors in a courtyard, Constitution Place. Be sure to take in the custom glass artwork created by Australian artist Scott Chaseling at the entrance.
The compact menu is loaded with intrigue and primarily designed around sharing.
Don’t pass by the stunning zucchini flowers, lovely and crunchy and balanced with Sicilian-inspired salsa agresto, and salty white anchovies ($11 each).
Amazing is the tender, tasty wagyu tongue – thin slices delicately skewered and served with a delicious mayo and green sauce ($12 each). It might not be a “make-it-at-home” dish for many, but with wizards in a
I’M a little sheepish about sharing with ewe the fact that I spent most of the month of February in NZ, eh.
It is the land of my upbringing and the place where I return to undertake outdoor adventures and where I recently completed the Nelson Taste trail on an e-bike with 10 other people, some whom I’ve known for more than 40 years.
ture suited the heat of the day and allowed our systems to be settled after crossing a busy highway where some motorists were unsympathetic to our party’s attempt to just get to the other side of the road.
The intense strawberry flavour and slight acidity cut through the clagginess of my self-prepared ham, cheese and tomato sandwich and it took us out of the ordinary as enjoying a small glass of wine during the day can do. But never enough to make that bike wobbly!
k itchen it’s worth trusting taste buds to their talents.
At Such and Such, explanation might be required for some dishes, but that’s part of the adventure.
What’s “Zingy 2.0” we asked? It’s a “take two” of Pilot’s staple salad and stands for simplicity of ingredients without compromising on taste ($18). The dressing is to die-for.
What’s “crazy water” we asked? It’s an Italian-inspired way of serving fish in a broth made from seawater. Such and Such’s special take incorporates Japanese influences ($45).
The cucumber in smooth tahini miso ($20) celebrates this humble veg three ways – fresh, slightly pickled and more heavily pickled. It packs a punch on flavour and offers multiple textures.
We loved the side of smoked beetroot with smooth macadamia cream and tangy currents ($22) but acknowledged it may be too heavily smoked for some.
Such and Such’s a la carte menu is divided into three, starting with light dishes and topping off with more substantial mains. This included the “supreme spatchcock” ($46), juicy and flavoursome. The barbecue corn puree was pure heaven.
Although we didn’t indulge, desserts feature strawberry rice ($20), chocolate cherry cake ($24) and a kiwi cup ($7).
Wine is a major focus (emphasis on fun, small, independent producers). We explored both the 2021 Vino Friendo, a fresh, lively and sustainable semillon and chardonnay blend made at Ravensworth winery ($68) and the Dormilona Pinku Shiraz, a playful little rosé from the hands of winemaker Jo Perry, organically grown and with a tiny amount of skin contact ($68). Staff are knowledgeable and keen to chat about the carefully curated wine list.
While we were tasting produce and visiting two wineries (Seifried Estate and Te Mania) in the region around Nelson (which is at the northern end of the South Island), the North Island of NZ was being pounded by Cyclone Gabrielle.
The weather destroyed many, many Hawkes Bay wineries. It was ultimately tragic for the four dead and 10,000 people displaced by this weather bomb.
We were very lucky to enjoy sunny weather with very little wind in the pocket of the country we explored. The luck we had was accompanied by a quotient of guilt and angst that others were suffering as we enjoyed the fruits of the land.
As Nelson is surrounded on three sides by mountains, it enjoys a unique mesoclimate that produces some very good grape varietals, although I didn’t care for the Te Mania sauvignon blanc.
We actually found it difficult to get locally produced wine in the restaurants that were recommended, a disappointment as promotion of the local wine should be a priority.
At Seifried, I shouted our group to a Pinot Rosé 2022 that the manager of the place let us drink with our cut lunches under the shade of some mature trees. The price was marked up to $NZ45 when it is usually $NZ20 a bottle so we paid a surcharge for eating and drinking in the lovely winery garden.
The wine’s temperature and tex-
A member of our party was particularly partial to pinot noirs from Otago and purchased the Roaring Meg Pinot Noir 2021, which we enjoyed at various meals where we self-catered.
This wine features flavours of black cherry and spice and was good value for money, at under $NZ30. This wine reinforced my view that Otago pinot noirs are up there with the best in the world, especially given value-formoney considerations.
On my return to Australia, I felt deracinated [removed from home]. In NZ I’d had a physical and recreational challenge that completely filled my days: we rode 73 kilometres one day to reach our required destination to be fed and watered.
On my return I’m embracing retirement and the need to impose my own discipline on the passage of each day.
While shopping in Manuka I saw that French Flair was offering a tasting and decided to see if they had a French pinot noir to sample to refresh my senses with this varietal.
I was offered a taste of the Domaine Francoise et Denis Clair Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune 2020, which is sold at $75 a bottle. It is a 100 per cent pinot noir from Burgundy. It was darker in colour than the NZ counterparts I’d been trying, a deep purple. It had a luscious bouquet and a tannin hit that meant it would be good drinking for some time. It was a good homecoming.
“The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back.” –Shutterfly
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
This week Mars (your power planet) squares Neptune, the Sun and Mercury. Which could confuse your mind, fire up your temper and increase your impatience. Rational, reasonable Rams will simmer down, take a few deep breaths, and transform your exasperation into red hot creativity and vigorous physical activity. Wisdom for the week is from birthday great, lawyer and jurist Ruth Bader Ginsburg “You can disagree without being disagreeable.”
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
Venus (your ruler) shifts into Taurus, so you’ll be at your flirtatious best as you charm the cynics and dazzle the doubters. If you’re attached, it’s time to rejuvenate the relationship with some good old-fashioned romance. Single Bulls – you could meet your soul mate while you’re doing routine daily chores … like grocery shopping or walking the dog. But watch your luxury-loving urge to splurge doesn’t spin out of control via a spontaneous spending spree.
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
With gung-ho Mars still in Gemini, your quicksilver energy is firing on all cylinders this week. The Sun, Mercury, Saturn and Neptune also set the stage for a career upgrade. (But your tendency to over-talk and over-share could get you into trouble – especially if you spread gossip.) When it comes to a difficult professional relationship, you may feel as if you’re going backwards. Compromise and patience will set you on the road to a satisfying long-term solution.
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
With no less than six planets activating your career and aspirations zones, it’s time to have ambitious dreams and set humongous goals. Stop procrastinating and instead, ask yourself an important question: “Do I need to tweak my dreams to make them a more honest reflection of the real me?” Believe in yourself, be authentic and reach for the stars! But you may feel rather crabby on Thursday and Friday when Mars inflames your moods and shortens your patience.
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
This week the Sun (your patron planet) links up with Neptune in the gentle, mystical sign of Pisces. So slow down and calm down Cats! Tap into your imaginative, intuitive, spiritual side. Dream a special dream that will propel you into a magical future. And aim to surround yourself with family and friends who support and encourage your aspirations. So your motto is from birthday great, actress Glenn Close: “Be aware of your inner voice and follow it.”
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
Attached Virgo - is your relationship stuck in a time-warp where it’s been difficult to move forward? This week’s stars bring a shift in perspective, as you view your lover in a promising (and realistic) new light. Single Virgo – are you sick and tired of looking for love? Your Prince or Princess is waiting in the wings, but you may have to kiss a few frogs before you finally find them! Friday night favours friendships and romantic declarations in the moonlight.
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
With lucky Venus and prosperous Jupiter in your partnership zone, this week is all about cosy companionship, inspired collaboration and generous joint ventures. The more you focus on the needs of loved ones (and the more you cooperate with others) the happier everyone will be. However – with Mars increasing your impatience – take extra care when driving, travelling and talking (don’t speed, double-check your itinerary, and don’t pass on garrulous gossip).
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
You’ll feel more inspired than usual, as the planets stimulate your self-expression zone. Use the power of your imagination to solve problems and soar into higher realms of creativity. Your motto for the week is from birthday great Albert Einstein: “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” Love and friendship are favoured on Thursday, and the weekend’s a great time to organise a neighbourhood get-together or a romantic rendezvous.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
Are you confused about which path to follow in the future? Pay close attention to your nightly dreams. They are full of creative ideas and symbolic wisdom that can lead you in the right direction. Painters, artists, writers, musicians and performers will feel particularly inspired as Venus, Jupiter and Saturn boost creativity and productivity. Some Sagittarians will bump into a lover from the past. But do you really want to travel down that rocky road again?
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
Family matters and domestic DIY projects are favoured this week, as lucky Venus and prosperous Jupiter navigate their way through your home zone. Can you figure out a problem that has loved ones stymied? They’re expecting you to come up with the goods so get creative! For many Capricorns, luck and family are linked. You’ll also find the more time and effort you put into education, communication and social media, the more successful you’ll be.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
The Sun, Mercury, Saturn and Neptune are all stimulating your cash zone. Letting finances take their own course seems tempting but you need to keep up to speed with money matters. If you increase your financial literacy then it will pay off handsomely further down the track, as you replace short-term whims with wise long-term strategies. Slow down on Thursday and Friday, otherwise you could do something rash or say something stupid.
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
Pisces folk are inspirational people. This week there are four planets visiting your sign – the Sun, Mercury, Neptune and then Saturn. So you’ll feel like daydreaming, visualising and creating even more than usual as you perform, paint, draw, dance, write, sing or play music. It’s time to make your dreams a reality! Your quote for International Women’s Day is from Piscean entertainer Liza Minnelli: “Don’t listen to anyone who doesn’t know how to dream.”
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2023
Across
1 What do we call one who displays enthusiastic diligence? (6)
7 What is a French Protestant known as? (8)
8 To make constant petty criticisms, is to do what? (6)
9 To pass another vehicle, is to do what? (8)
10 Which term describes that which occurs in a house? (6)
11 What are passages taken out of a book, or the like? (8)
14 What was the former name of Zimbabwe? (8)
18 What is a junior lifesaver called? (6)
19 What was the name of Donald Campbell’s speedboat? (8)
21 Name a former unit of distance. (6)
22 What is any kind of drink, other than water? (8)
23 Name a particular type of loose overcoat. (6)
Solution next edition Down
1 Name an Indian Ocean island, part of the United Republic of Tanzania. (8)
2 What is an area of shallow water separated from the sea by low banks? (6)
3 What are statements embodying things to be proved? (8)
4 Name another term for a chill. (4)
5 Which professional clown was kept by a prince or noble, especially during the Middle Ages? (6)
6 What is a small pendent case for a miniature portrait or other keepsake? (6)
12 Who makes or sells candles? (8)
13 Which large fish is a source of caviar and isinglass? (8)
15 Who starred in “The Bridge on the River Kwai”, William ...? (6)
16 Name a particular type of oil. (6)
17 To have suddenly leapt, is to have done what? (6)
20 Which republic was formerly known as Persia? (4)
