CityNews 240530

Political columnist MICHAEL MOORE wonders if there’s something rotten going on

Americans are not like us at all

ROBERT MACKLIN

Is it the end of the streaming dream?

NICK OVERALL

Is it time to prune… or not?

JACKIE WARBURTON

PATIENT PEOPLE

Three diverse health professionals have built a collaborative environment in Deakin, where patients can utilise their complementary skills under one roof

KEEPING

Locally sourced, 100% recycled Australian timber for renovations, repairs & new builds. Drop into our workshop & showroom 10 Mildura St, Griffith, ACT

30 Years of Recycling & Design

NEWS / Dads Group

For first-time dads, it’s hard to know what’s normal

By Katarina LLOYD JONES

“I think that if you play the role of a primary carer, irrespective of your gender, it’s stressful,” says Mike Peereboom, ACT volunteer for Dads Group.

“You become anxious, and you be come isolated, to a certain extent.

“It’s just a huge shift, from inde pendence, to having a dependent that has significant implications on your freedom, and the way that you can go about interacting with others and executing ordinary day-to-day tasks.

“So I think Dads Group... provides connection, at least the social aspect. It provides connection and support.”

In November 2022, Mike moved from Sydney to Canberra with his wife and two young children.

For the first six months, Mike says he stepped into the role as primary carer, but was completely in the dark about where to go and meet fellow new dads.

“I wanted to connect with other dads who were in a similar stage of life. I wanted other men to share the journey with, and wanted to see my kids make friends, too,” he says. He had joined the Dads Group, a

Arts & Entertainment 23-26

Crossword & Sudoku 27

Dining & Wine 25

Gardening 22

Keeping Up the ACT 11

Letters 12

News 3-15

Politics 4, 10

Streaming 24

national not-for-profit, in Sydney and was looking for something similar. He contacted Dads Group and asked if they knew of anything. They suggested he start a branch in Canberra.

Dads Group is all about equitable,

Porter, Cassandra Hodgkinson and Dr Nicholas Studdert. Feature Pages 14-15.

Initially, Mike says he just ran a mid-week catch-up at a playground.

Now, through Dad’s Group, he hosts a barbecue on the first Saturday morning of every month, and a mid-week meeting every Wednesday, during the school term.

He says the secret to the barbecue’s success is because of its simplicity.

“It’s just a gathering of dads and their kids at a playground with coffee, bacon and eggs,” says Mike.

“It’s a simple formula that provides new fathers with the connection and support they desperately need.”

Mike says the only qualification for attendance is that you identify as either a new, or expecting father or father figure.

“In Australia we are privileged to have a huge amount of support for mothers through antenatal classes, maternal child health, mothers’ groups, professional support services for mothers and playgroups,” he says.

“These institutions in many ways have been the backbone of new community growth and had a huge impact on our culture.”

Mike says having a community of dads helps them to find their way through those challenges.

“I’ve met up with heaps of dads in the last six months who, they’re on pat-leave, and they’ve got a twoweek-old, and they’ve never changed a nappy, and their kid’s not sleeping the way that they would hope for them to be sleeping,” Mike says.

“They chat with me, and they feel stretched and stressed.

“I’m not an expert, but it actually is meaningful to be able to say: ‘That’s hard, that’s exhausting, these three things that you described seem like a pretty common experience, but that other thing that you said, that’s a bit of an outlier to what I would consider to be normal for a first-time parent, and that’s maybe something that you need to address.’

“When it’s your first time being a parent, it’s hard to know what’s normal.”

Unfortunately, Mark says he won’t be able to keep organising Dads Group events forever, as his youngest child is now three, but he hopes he will find someone to pass the baton to soon.

positive, strength-based parenting support, Mike says.

It started 10 years ago when the current CEO, Tom Docking, had his first child and was confronted by loneliness and lack of support.

Since 1993: Volume 30, Number: 22

General manager: Tracey Avery, tracey@citynews.com.au

Senior advertising account executive: David Cusack, 0435 380656

Advertising account executives: Damien Klemke, 0439 139001

Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au

Journalist: Katarina Lloyd Jones, katarina@citynews.com.au

Arts editor: Helen Musa, helen@citynews.com.au

Production manager: Janet Ewen

Graphic Designer: Mona Ismail

Distribution manager: Penny McCarroll

“Mum does most of the work… it’s true, but that doesn’t mean that dad doesn’t have his own challenges to negotiate.

“New dads can feel just as anxious, stressed, lonely and overwhelmed as new mums but are often forgotten in the equation.”

Anyone interested in attending a Dads Group event or joining the team as a volunteer, Mike says to reach out via the national Dads Group website or via the Dads of North Canberra Facebook page.

Visit dadsgroup.org

Mike Peereboom, left, with fellow dads at a Dads Group social event… “It’s a simple formula that provides new fathers with the connection and support they desperately need.” Photo: Facebook

Is muzzling inquiry an attempt to protect Berry?

It is not just the state of Denmark where “there is something rotten”. Just how committed is the ACT government to the ACT Integrity Commission (AIC) and integrity generally?

It has recently come to light that the head of the Education Directorate, Ms Katy Haire, is attempting to shut down the AIC’s Operation Kingfisher inquiry. Kingfisher is looking at why the government awarded the Campbell Primary School’s refurbishment to Lendlease when there was another cheaper bid that, it would appear, met the criteria of the tender.

Ms Haire commenced legal action in early September. However, she has sought to delay the Supreme Court process at least four times. The action is now listed for hearing on November 25. This is a month after the ACT election.

The question in my mind is the extent to which this is about Ms Haire – or whether it is an attempt to protect Education Minister Yvette Berry. Ms Berry has appeared before the IAC. The goal of Ms Haire’s court action is to stop the IAC from continuing its Operation Kingfisher investigation. How politically convenient!

One of the things that makes me wonder, is the grounds for the appeal to the Supreme Court. Her applica-

tion to the court includes the notion that the commissioner “might not approach those tasks with a sufficient level of impartiality and is not open to persuasion”. The legal action raises “apprehended bias” and “breach of the rule of natural justice”.

Look at the flip side. The AIC has postponed public hearings to ensure transparency and fairness. The Commissioner, Michael Adams KC, explained that the “postponement of the public hearing was to provide all relevant parties with adequate time to consider and prepare responses to the submissions produced by counsel assisting”.

Additionally, the AIC will then make a draft report available to the

reality in 2018. Such commissions have been on party platforms from before the 2012 election to ensure that governments and MLAs act with integrity.

And now there is an effort to hobble to AIC. Why? Is this really just about Ms Haire or does it go much deeper?

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee, a former law lecturer, pointed out that “serious questions” remain for the government.

She slammed Ms Berry “for deceiving Canberrans by claiming

she had no knowledge of the matter”.

“Since making those comments, the attorney-general has confirmed he knew about the court proceedings and advised the Chief Minister back in September last year,” she said.

We are expected to believe that Ms Berry was not told by either the attorney-general or the chief minister.

This is despite the government approving support to fund the legal action “pursuant to the Law Officers Legal Services Direction 2023”.

However, as Ms Lee points out “the directions specifically state that assistance is not provided if a public servant is ‘defending professional or personal disciplinary investigation or

It is important not to lose sight of the right of any person to take legal action of the sort that Ms Haire is embarking on. This right is a fundamental part of being in a democratic society. However, it is also appropriate to question motives when the legal system is used to delay and delay and delay.

Similarly, it is appropriate to question whether such delays are tied to an electoral cycle or are just coincidental.

Considering how long it took for the government to establish an independent commission against corruption, and then call it an integrity commission, it is reasonable to question the extent to which the government is really committed to such a commission.

It is appropriate to question whether the government would be prepared to back a range of techniques to stymie any outcome that might possibly touch on one of their ministers.

There is no dead king walking the palace walls as there was in Hamlet. However, the AIC has been established to ensure there is “nothing rotten” in the ACT. It ought to be allowed to do its work.

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

Education chief Katy Haire… has sought to delay the Supreme Court process at least four times.

NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (ACT)

Canberra region’s heritage festival a roaring success

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Welcome to my regular column on National Trust of Australia (ACT) activities.

It’s been a busy few weeks since our last newsletter.

The 41st Canberra and Region Heritage Festival was another roaring success. The Trust conducted many successful events including the Open Day at the Yarralumla Woolshed and a number of heritage walks and tours.

On April 18, the chair of the Australian Heritage Council, Ted Baillieu AO, presented the second ACT Heritage Oration at the historic Shine Dome to a most appreciative audience. The text of his oration can be accessed here: nationaltrust.org.au/2024-heritage-oration/

During the festival, I was honoured to speak about the work of the National Trust and current heritage issues to the joint annual meeting of the Ginninderra and Yass Rotary Clubs held at Murrumbateman. And, as usual, the Trust is working on a range of heritage issues. These include:

• The Heritage Amendment Bill 2024, which will be debated by the Legislative Assembly in June.

• Light Rail Stage 2B – public comment on the Environmental Impact Statement closes on June 30.

• Keyton’s Gold Creek development.

• The University of NSW Reid Campus Master Plan.

• The need to better protect unoccupied

heritage buildings, highlighted by the destruction by fire of the old Ginninderra Police Station.

• Our “wishlist” for the 2024 ACT Assembly elections

On June 2, the Minister for Heritage, Rebecca Vassarotti MLA, will launch the Trust’s new suburb brochures. There are details about this elsewhere on this page.

We have launched our 2024 Heritage Awards and I encourage readers to visit the exhibition on the 2023 awards developed by ANU students, noted elsewhere on this page.

And a date for the diary: The ACT & Region Heritage Symposium will be held on Saturday, August 17, with the theme “Planning for Heritage”.

Gary Kent, President

Student exhibition celebrates heritage awards

Students from the Australian National University Centre for Museum and Heritage Studies have been working with the National Trust and winners of the 2023 Heritage Awards to create a public exhibition celebrating the awards.

The exhibition is on the top floor of the Sir Roland Wilson Building, 120 McCoy Circuit, Acton (next to the Shine Dome) and is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm until June 28.

Anyone needing accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan please contact the event organiser at info@nationaltrustact.org.au

Heritage walk in West Belconnen

There’s an upcoming heritage walk that will look at the Weetangera Cemetery and European history of The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, 9.30am-11.30am on Sunday, June 30.

The cost is $15 and bookings via Trybooking.

There will be more details soon at nationaltrustact.org.au/

Heritage Symposium 2024

The 2024 ACT Region Heritage Symposium, “Planning for Heritage”, will explore the idea that change in the built and natural environment is both inevitable and necessary.

Factors such as land development, increased housing demand, climate change and regulation of land use can have a significant impact on heritage values and heritage places and landscapes. Save the date: Saturday, August 17 (location to be advised).

This symposium is supported with funding made available by the ACT Government.

National Trust (ACT) Heritage Awards 2024

Nominations are now being sought for the 2024 National Trust of Australia (ACT) Heritage Awards. The Awards recognise projects that make a significant contribution to preserving or promoting the heritage of the ACT. The awards are offered in the following categories:

• Architecture and building conservation.

• Heritage landscapes and the natural environment.

•Local community projects.

•First Peoples’ heritage.

• Heritage Education and Promotion.

•Heritage Tool or Resource.

How do I nominate a project?

For full details including suitable project types and nomination forms, please visit the Trust’s website: www.nationaltrust.org.au/act-heritage-awards-2024/ Nominations close at 5pm on Friday, 5 July 2024

Archaeologist Dave Johnston speaking at the Aboriginal quarry site at Millpost Farm on a National Trust heritage walk, April 14.

2024 ACT Heritage Oration…. from left Gary Kent (National Trust president), Ted Baillieu (Australian Heritage Council chair), Rebecca Vassarotti (ACT Heritage Minister) and Duncan Marshall (ACT Heritage Council chair).

Garden that helps Richard to remember

By Katarina LLOYD JONES

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, deaths from AIDS-related illnesses peaked in 1994, with 764 Australians dying.

Thirty years on, the community’s understanding about HIV and AIDS has dramatically changed and new antiviral treatments have seen numbers plummet.

But, for 2023 ACT Volunteer of the Year, iconic Canberra drag queen Rachel and AIDS advocate Richard Allen, it is important that those who lost their lives are remembered.

“When I first was confronted at ward 17, St. Vincent’s Hospital, it was horrible, absolutely horrid,” he says.

“They’ve lost all their body fat, they’re all drawn in the face.

“Even my partner Kimbo, when I saw him, he wasn’t the man I knew.”

Richard has been living with HIV for 34 years, but his partner, Kimbo, died in 1994.

“The nurses weren’t even going into the room to the patients, it was us,” he says.

“It was so sad, and I thought, what can I do to show that they’re no different than anyone else, they’re human, they’re our sons, they’re our

daughters, they’re our lovers, our partners?”

So, Richard began the long process of creating the AIDS Garden of Reflection, at the National Arboretum.

“I went through trying to find out what location we can have it, where can it be built, how can we build it?

Where is the funding coming from?” he says.

“Back then [the arboretum] wasn’t here, we’re talking about 1996, that’s how long ago this was in the making.”

Unfortunately, as momentum began

to build, Richard had to be taken to Sydney for treatment, as the virus temporarily “got the better of him”, forcing him to let the project die.

“When I got back on my feet… then I wrote a letter to the chief minister and I wrote to the AIDS Action Council [now Meridian] and I let them know this is what I wanted to do,” says Richard.

“They gave me 110 per cent all the way. I couldn’t fault them in any shape or form.”

An enormous community drive

for funding was started, eventually raising $190,000.

“A year or two before it was designed or built, we found out we couldn’t use memorial in our title, we’d have to go through the prime minister’s office.

“I just said to myself, I don’t really want to go through all this crap again… so a friend of mine came up with a suggestion: ‘Why don’t you call it a garden of reflection?’

“So it became a garden of reflec -

Richard says he wants more Canberrans to know and understand the history of the garden, which opened in April, 2017.

Referring to the Canberrans who died, Richard says: “I know who they all are. They’re all my friends.”

“I come here and I see them. I know they’re here, although I know they’re not buried here or anything, their spirits are here, because this is their garden, this is their home.

“This is where the community needs to understand, come to the garden to remember them, because they went before their time.

Importantly, the garden is for everyone and anyone, says Richard, which is why he chose to not include his name on the plaque.

“I didn’t want the recognition, it was for the community,” he says.

“I’ve got my legacy, I’m happy.”

New school in Kenny named

The ACT’s newest public school has been named Shirley Smith High School. The school opened this year in Kenny, with its first cohort of year 7 students. It will ultimately accommodate up to 800 students from across east Gungahlin. The government says the school is named after prominent activist and Wiradjuri woman Shirley Smith, who was a founding member of many Aboriginal community services in Redfern.

New sports chief

Former Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins has been appointed chair of the Australian Sports Commission. Ms Jenkins served on the Carlton Football Club board, was ambassador for the T20 Women’s World Cup Cricket 2020 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, and conducted the Independent Review of Gymnastics in Australia in 2021.

Continence advice

Women of all ages are invited to attend a free pelvic floor workshop presented by a physiotherapist from Canberra Health Services. The workshop will provide information, education and self-help strategies for prevention and improvement of continence problems. Belconnen Community Health Centre, 1pm-3.30pm, June 5. Book via email to chs.ccptpelvichealth@act.gov.au or call 5124 9977.

HERMAN MILLER AERON

THE GADFLY

Americans are not ‘just like us’ at all

I recently concluded a negotiation with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the Defence Department for their right to publish a case study, which they had commissioned some time ago.

It examined the government’s acquisition of the Hornet, the Super Hornet and the Growler. Together with our 72 F-35s, they represent a very formidable RAAF defence of the approaches to the Australian mainland.

What struck me most powerfully was the determination of the purchasers to put “inter-operability” with the American defence machine as perhaps the most vital element in their decision-making process.

Just because we speak a similar language, we find it easy to see Americans as our natural allies. Their general outlook on politics and pastimes – be it on the silver screen or the basketball court – only adds to the notion that deep down, they’re “just like us”.

The last several weeks have blown that perception to smithereens.

America’s attention has been focused on the two men left in the race to become president of the United States – Donald Trump for the Republicans and Joe Biden for the Democratic Party. Both have already occupied the Oval Office for a four-year term, so they’re not unknown quantities.

The

Biden has invested in a transformation of US industry and brought inflation under control. He has expanded the health scheme initiated by his predecessor Barack Obama. He has supplied weaponry to the Ukrainians to fight Russia’s invasion of their country.

But at the same time, he has poured billions of dollars’ worth of bombs, warplanes, drones, artillery, tanks and small arms into the Israeli military for the slaughter of well over 34,000 Palestinian children, women and men in Gaza. And he did so knowing that it is being used to continue a war designed to keep a deeply corrupt politician, Benjamin Netanyahu, in power.

Trump’s occupation of the Oval Office was chaotic. He threatened the break-up of NATO, cosied up to Vladimir Putin, appointed judges to the Supreme Court who would make

Biden is a doddering 81 and would be 86 by the time his second term ended (should he last that long). Trump is 77 and would be Biden’s current age (and probably bald) if he stayed for just the one more term. That’s the American leadership story.

abortions illegal, gave tax breaks to the very wealthy that would expand the US budget deficit astronomically, and started a tariff war with China.

He paid $130,000 to silence a porno actress with whom he’d had an overnight stand; and when he lost the election, he attempted to strongarm officials to change the vote; and when that failed, he backed a raid on Congress that attempted to force his vice-president to nullify the election result.

At time of writing, he is fighting the porno actress case and has already been fined $9000 for contempt of court. Once more he faces jail… as indeed he does for charges already laid for the

Congressional riot.

The latest polling puts him in the lead against Joe Biden.

Biden is a doddering 81 and would be 86 by the time his second term ended (should he last that long).

Trump is 77 and would be Biden’s current age (and probably bald) if he stayed for just the one more term.

That’s the American leadership story. Just what is it that reminds you of Australia?

Nada!

There is, however, a Chinese proverb for it fashioned by Mao himself: “Political power flows out of the barrel of a gun”.

Actually, America disproved that spectacularly in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. And now they seem to be rattling the chamber of their arsenal at China’s quest to reunite with provincial Taiwan.

Should we join that inter-operation, our biggest trading partner, I suspect, would be mad as a hornet.

robert@ robertmacklin. com

Dr Kerrie steps up to top doc

Canberra GP Dr Kerrie Aust is the new AMA ACT president.

Dr Aust was inspired to study medicine in her late teens and early twenties by compassionate doctors caring for her mother, who required palliative care.

“I had first-hand experience of the difference it makes to have your own GP who has an ongoing relationship with your family, and that’s one of the reasons I believe so strongly in general practice as the bedrock of primary care,” Dr Aust said.

She worked as an internal auditor and fraud investigator before studying medicine at the ANU.

Dr Aust said she is keen to use her term as president to collaborate with doctors across the territory and the region to see positive change in the ACT Health system.

She replaces cardiologist Prof Walter Abhayaratna, who will stay on as AMA ACT secretary. Also elected to the new board are Dr Clair Bannerman, Prof Kirsty Douglas, Dr Iain Dunlop, Dr Betty Ge, Dr Marisa Magiros, Dr Andrew McMahon, Dr James Miller and Dr Jason Gluch.

Renovation Matters offers transformational renovations that add the biggest impact and value when selling your property.

If you are not selling, we can help you renovate to meet your specific requirements!

American leadership story: Joe Biden, left, and Donald Trump... “Just what is it that reminds you of Australia?” asks Robert Macklin.

Dr Kerrie Aust.

NEWS Complaints on hold draw fines

A phone and internet provider has been hit with a hefty fine after an investigation found dozens of customer complaints went unresolved for more than two weeks, reports BRAY BOLAND.

Phone and internet providers across Australia receive more than 2500 complaints each day, a number that remains stubbornly high.

But how long should customers be expected to wait for a response?

An investigation has uncovered dozens of cases where complaints went unresolved for more than two working weeks.

And the company involved – Southern Phone, which is wholly owned by AGL Energy – has been hit with a whopping fine.

The telco has been made to pay almost $250,000 for 77 breaches of complainthandling rules between April and June 2023.

It must also complete a compulsory review of the way it handles customer feedback.

Telcos are required to meet minimum standards and time frames when handling complaints.

Customers must be informed if these standards cannot be met.

Southern Cross failed to notify customers of expected delays or resolve their issues within the 10 days required for non-urgent complaints on 38 occasions, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has found.

The telco failed to keep appropriate complaints han-

ACT

dling records on 39 occasions, the watchdog discovered.

Samantha Yorke from the ACMA said customers had a right to expect complaints to be dealt with in a timely manner.

“Experiencing issues with your phone and internet can be frustrating, but to then have a complaint mismanaged by your service provider just exacerbates the problem,” she said.

Despite some improvements, the number of complaints across the entire telecommunications industry remained too high, she said.

Southern Phone said it had been working to improve its systems.

“Since that investigation, (Southern Phone) has made a number of improvements including implementing changes to its IT systems,” a spokesperson told AAP.

“It has also paid infringement notices and provided an undertaking to the ACMA setting out remedial actions and steps as to its systems, processes and practices for achieving compliance going forward.”

No timeline has been set for a court-enforceable review of the company’s complaintshandling processes.

Telcos that supply more than 30,000 services must report on their complaints to the ACMA every three months. –AAP

electricity prices to rise

Electricity prices will rise 12.75 per cent in the ACT from July 1, an increase of $240 a year for an average residential customer.

For an average business customer, the increase will be $922.

“The federal government’s bill of $300 relief will fully offset the increase in electricity prices for most residential customers and partially offset the increase in electricity prices for small business customers,” said Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission spokesman Joe Dimasi.

“Despite the increase in regulated electricity prices, electricity bills for ACT customers on standing offers are expected to remain some of the lowest in the country.”

Tax cuts for every taxpayer

Emergency shame behind the hospital figures

The significant blowout in elective surgery wait times in the ACT, particularly for Urgent, Category 1 patients, is not related to some nationwide phenomenon, as the Health Minister Rachel StehenSmith asserts.

Rather, it’s due to the repeated deferral of planned hospital upgrades, and a failure by her to deliver on an election promise to establish an elective surgery centre.

Across Australia, Aboriginal people wait longer for elective surgery compared to other Australians, as measured by median (50th percentile) wait times.

The ACT doesn’t have the challenges in service provision to remote communities and, in theory, there should be no discernible difference in access between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples given our geographic compactness and urban population.

In 2021-22, the median wait time for elective surgery for ATSI people in

the ACT was 50 days compared to 43 days for other Australians; ie, a 16 per cent longer wait for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people. The national average variance was 28 per cent. SA had a variance of -7 per cent; ie, median wait times for Aboriginal people were shorter (in number of days) by that percentage.

However, in 2022-23, wait times for Aboriginal people in the ACT were 24 per cent longer than for nonAboriginal people, while nationally it dropped to 14 per cent (see Chart 1).

Victoria was the only jurisdiction in which the variance in median wait times for Aboriginal people awaiting surgery compared to non-Aboriginal people was larger than in the ACT.

As we recently noted, the ACT’s hospital system has been deprived of the necessary beds and staff (due to real cuts in capital and recurrent funding) over the past eight years. Scarcity of resources is adversely impacting every part of the system.

Waiting times in the emergency departments in the ACT have been the worst in the country for a number

of years, and the deterioration is unarguably a result of the delay in the hospital redevelopment combined with a real cut in hospital funding.

According to the latest Productivity Commission report, the ACT continues to occupy the lowest position with just 47.9 per cent of patients meeting the “4-hour rule” (ie, length of stay being less than four hours) in 2022-23. The national average was 55.8 per cent. The rates for Aboriginal and nonAboriginal people are comparable.

A more detailed measure of emergency department performance is the proportion of patients seen on time overall and in each category.

Notably, the ACT’s performance had deteriorated to just 46 per cent of

“The ACT’s hospital system has been deprived of the necessary beds and staff over the past eight years. Scarcity of resources is adversely impacting every part of the system.” JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED revisit the state of public health. Open every weekend from 10am to 4pm Cafe open from 10am to 3pm

patients being seen on time in 2018-19. That was the lowest of all states and territories and, relevantly, recorded before the pandemic. It stayed at 48 per cent (again, the lowest) for the following three years to 2001-22. In 2022-23, 51 per cent of patients were seen on time in the emergency departments, and the ACT’s ranking improved from the lowest to third lowest, ahead of WA and SA.

The improvement would have been commendable but for the signs that the improvements in the urgency Categories 3-5 coincides with a deterioration in the more urgent Categories 1 and 2.

The timely treatment of Category 3 (Urgent) patients has been a consistent problem with only around one third of patients seen on time. That rate improved to 41 per cent, however the proportion of Category 2 patients (Emergency) decreased from 73 per cent to 66 per cent. The drop is significant with around 1400 more people, triaged as Emergency patients, not being treated within the recommended time.

This data highlights the fact that unless the system’s overall capacity is improved, seeking to improve on one measure will show up elsewhere – in this case, with sicker patients not treated on time.

The overall rate for Aboriginal patients who were seen on time is also 51 per cent, on par with nonAboriginal people.

However, the Productivity Commission report also shows that compared to non-Aboriginal people, Aboriginal Canberrans are 1.6 times more likely not to wait, 2.2 times more likely to leave at their own risk, and 2.8 times more likely to discharge themselves against medical advice.

In other words, Aboriginal people do not wait around to be counted or have the treatment completed. This is not only certain to skew access statistics, but at face value also a damning lack of trust in the system.

The question for Ms Stephen-Smith and her progressive colleagues is: if they honestly believe that Aboriginal people should wait no longer than other Canberrans for planned surgery, or in the emergency departments, what have they done about it? And, no, we are not in the same boat as other Australian jurisdictions.

Jon Stanhope is a former chief minister of the ACT and Dr Khalid Ahmed a former senior ACT Treasury official.

Since 1966, Norwood Park has provided a beautiful and tranquil setting for memorials and ceremonies in the ACT. The landscaped grounds sit elevated above Canberra and are one of Australia’s most established memorial parks.

• Indoor and outdoor chapel areas

• On-site function room/catering and picnic areas available

• Custom plaques and a large selection of urns

• Over 20 acres of various memorial gardens

• Friendly and supportive staff

• Our grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset

Liberals hide behind ‘cop-out’ conscience voting

When Assembly debate on the ACT’s Voluntary Assisted Dying bill started in mid-May, a majority of ACT Liberal MLAs showed antagonism to the bill and what it stands for, by not supporting the bill moving to the in-principle stage for debate.

Unfortunately for ACT and surrounding residents, this was not because these MLAs were unhappy that the bill’s eligibility requirements will still not enable many to have their personal end-of-life wishes and decision-making recognised and carried out in a timely and humane way. None of them has indicated publicly that they have constructive and progressive suggestions for improving the coverage of, and access, to VAD, including working on these matters in far more collaborative ways in the Assembly.

Statistically, older women suffer most from cruel neurological, non-curable diseases and, as the bill stands, they will still be seriously disadvantaged by the bill’s eligibility requirements. While the shadow minister for women voted for the bill’s in-principle stage, this is her last term in office. The limited number of moderate Liberal MLAs clearly hold no sway in opening the eyes of their more conservative and religiously influenced colleagues about the need to better

recognise and accept others’ personal wishes and related requests for assistance.

Since the ACT Liberal Party continues to hide behind “cop-out” conscience voting on such a long-awaited and necessary social reform, all Liberal candidates for the forthcoming election should make clear their commitment, or otherwise, to ensuring that the timely operational implementation of the final form of our VAD system is adequately supported and resourced in the next Assembly term.

Many voters would also wish to know if each candidate would work to have the legislation reviewed much sooner, with

for the best result

the aim of enabling adoption, well before the early 2030s, of broader eligibility and decision-making VAD related improvements that would alleviate the suffering of a growing number of Canberrans.

No-one should be forced to endure unwanted levels of suffering when afflicted with terminal or other conditions that have already eroded, and will only continue to destroy, a person’s functionality, quality of life and independence.

Pertinently, the federal constitution of the Liberal Party contains a key objective about “the freedom of citizens to choose their own way of living and of life, subject to the rights

of others” (2017, section 2 (d) (iv)).

Not hearing the Liberal candidates’ positions on these matters will only suggest they will be adept at running away from addressing or promoting key issues of public interest and demand for four years, should they be elected in October.

Sue Dyer,

Downer

Kangaroo claims are ‘beyond ridiculous’

How can the Labor-Greens government claim the recent kangaroo management review was independent when it was conducted by the Invasive Species Council?

The CSIRO, the nation’s peak science body, conducted a review into the culling program and found it unnecessary.

To imply that kangaroos are causing grasses to go extinct is beyond ridiculous considering these animals have survived and thrived for millions of years in this country.

Developers paving over green spaces and nature is the biggest threat to grasslands, not kangaroos.

Whitney Anders Richardson, via email

No-one’s asking the hard questions

Undoubtedly columnist Rob Macklin will be swamped with complaints from Labor stalwarts for his conclusion that the treasurer’s

budget speech was a “disgrace” because of its lack of consideration for indigenous Australians (CN, May 22).

I have to say I largely agree with him and not just on behalf of our indigenous communities. Governments and oppositions generally find it too easy to make promises, declare they are actually moving forward on important issues, and generally “getting the balance right” but too frequently failing to produce the goods.

They get away with it because very few in today’s media seem to have the ability to knowledgeably quiz them and, especially, demand evidence that what they say is true.

This is especially so with TV journalists, sadly, including those at the ABC. Not once in post-Budget interviews with the treasurer, ministers and opposition leaders, did I hear any of our top TV-guns seek such answers in any fully-informed and really probing way.

Thus, spokespersons side-slip easily into their carefully orchestrated “messages of the day”. I don’t usually live in the past, but it would be heaven if Kerry O’Brien, Richard Carleton and Nine’s formidable Laurie Oakes were still around to show their current counterparts how it’s done.

Eric Hunter, Cook

Hubert

Light rail to Woden not worth the cost

In criticising me about the projected cost of light rail stage 2B Dave Rogers (Letters, CN May 23) overlooked some important details.

The figures I used were from a range of publications on the subject too numerous to cite formally without excessive complexity and verbosity blurring the message.

They were also the totals of expenditure over the full construction period, estimated at between about four and nine years.

Furthermore, the quoted estimates did not take into account the cost of the planned demolition of the northbound span of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge announced in the latest edition of “Our CBR”, nor the cost of a replacement road bridge and new rail bridge. These costs alone would be in the multi-billions.

The fundamental question has to be: is light rail stage 2B really worth it in terms of direct financial cost of construction, and the indirect costs of up to nine years of severe road traffic disruption between Commonwealth Park and Woden Town Centre?

I, for one, think not.

Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

I counted seven passengers who didn’t pay

I totally agree with Colin Lyons (Letters, CN May 9) about the blatant fare evasion we witness regularly on the buses.

It appears to be rife, with many passengers now jumping on the bandwagon because they know they can get away with it.

I’ve witnessed passengers, mainly school students but adults, too, walking past the driver with no attempt to use a MyWay card or even offer an “excuse” to the driver as to why they can’t or won’t pay their fare! This displays a sense of entitlement. On one bus trip alone, I counted seven passengers who didn’t pay. No wonder Transport Canberra is losing money.

Let’s hope when the new system comes in later in the year there are measures in place to stop these fare evaders. One measure until then would be to have inspectors come on the buses to check that every passenger has paid their fare (unless there is a concession).

Sandra Mostyn, Calwell

Haven’t we had that promise for two elections?

Hold the phone! Stop the presses! Breaking news; Andrew Barr discovers we have a health problem. 800 new nurses, doctors and associated specialties. This year. Fantastic!

Hang on? Haven’t we had that same promise two elections in a row?

A bit like the widening of William Hovell Drive –polished up for every election.

Well, you cannot dig up London Circuit and keep the hospitals functioning at the same time.

Twenty three years and the same old rubbish. And Andrew, us “old busybodies” do remember some things that matter. Bill Brown, Holt

Light rail on Adelaide Avenue… an impression of the Kent Street stop.

This is Radio Yerevan; our listeners asked us…

“The

rules are simple: they lie to us, we know they’re lying, they know we know they’re lying, but they keep lying to us, and we keep pretending to believe them.” – Elena Gorokhova, A Mountain of Crumbs

The Radio Yerevan jokes, also known as Armenian Radio jokes, have been popular in the Soviet Union and other countries of the former Communist eastern bloc since the second half of the 20th century.

In Soviet society, where you could be sent to Siberia for speaking out openly, few Russians openly criticised the government. They expressed their views in the form of jokes – which they called anekdoty (anecdotes). The security service knew about these anekdoty, and you could be arrested for telling them.

Radio Yerevan anekdoty are based on the popular Russian perception of Armenians as “clever but subversive”. They always start with “This is Radio Yerevan; our listeners asked us…” followed by the response “We’re answering…” as below:

This is Radio Yerevan; our listeners asked us: “Is it possible to build Communism in America?”

We’re answering: “It’s possible, but then who will we buy grain from?”

“When the final phase of social-

ism, Communism, is built, will there still be thefts and pilfering?”

“No, because everything will have been thieved or pilfered.”

“What is the most permanent feature of our socialist economy?”

“Temporary shortages.”

“Is it true that American skyscrapers are the tallest in the world?”

“It’s true, but on the other hand Soviet-made transistors are the largest in the world.”

“What will be the results of the next election?”

“Nobody knows. Somebody stole the results.”

“Why did you not broadcast for such a long time?”

“The previous announcer, while reading: ‘Socialism is nothing as compared with Communism’, made too long a pause after the word ‘nothing’.”

“We’re told that a time of plenty is on the horizon.”

“But how do we reach the horizon?”

“What should we do if the Western borders of the USSR are opened?”

“Move to Siberia to avoid the stampede.”

“Will the police and KGB still exist

wrestled the gun from him so they could shoot instead.”

“What is the duration of the workday in a socialist country?”

“As in the West, it’s based on an eight-hour system: from eight am to eight pm.”

“What is an exchange of opinions?”

“You walk into your boss’s office with your opinion and you walk out with his.”

“What is a Soviet musical duet?”

“A Soviet quartet after playing abroad.”

“Why is our government not in a hurry to land our men on the moon?”

“Because they might refuse to return.”

“Suppose Nixon and Khrushchev ran in a foot race and Nixon came first. How should our media report that?”

“Comrade Khruschev took second place; Nixon came second last.”

“Why do Soviet police always patrol in teams of three?”

when perfect Communism is built?”

“Of course not. Comrade citizens will be expected to arrest themselves.”

“What to do if a man takes a seat near you and starts to sigh?”

“Warn him to stop his anti-Soviet propaganda.”

“Why did the man who shot at a government limousine on Red Square miss the target?”

“Because citizens next to him

“One knows how to read, the other to write, and the third one, naturally, has to keep watch on the two intellectuals.”

“What’s the difference between the Constitutions of the US and USSR –

both guarantee freedom of speech?”

“Yes, but the US constitution guarantees freedom after the speech.”

“What is the difference between what is permitted and what is prohibited?”

“In England, what is permitted, is permitted, and what is prohibited, is prohibited. In America everything is permitted, except for what is prohibited. In the USSR, what is permitted is prohibited.”

To conclude with the seven paradoxes of the socialist state: Nobody works, but the plan is fulfilled. The plan is fulfilled, but the shelves are empty. The shelves are empty, but nobody starves. Nobody starves, but everybody’s unhappy. Everybody’s unhappy, but nobody complains. Nobody complains, but the jails are full.

Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.

“Suppose Nixon and Khrushchev (pictured) ran in a foot race and Nixon came first. How should our media report that?” “Comrade Khrushchev took second place; Nixon came second last.”

Three health practices, one vision – patient care

With a focus on surgery and rehabilitation, three diverse health professionals have built a collaborative and collegiate environment in Deakin, where patients can utilise their complementary skills under one roof.

Sports orthopaedic surgeon Dr Mark Porter; podiatric surgeon and podiatrist Dr Nicholas Studdert, and physiotherapist Cassandra Hodgkinson share the vision of having their practices focus on physical activity, quality of life and taking care of musculoskeletal problems.

Whether the patient is an amateur athlete, a professional athlete or an elderly person who just wants to walk comfortably down to the shops, this way they can receive all the treatment needed in one place, says Mark.

“We see Napier Close as a one-stop shop for injury rehabilitation,” says Cassandra.

“That’s really the focus of our treatment, and it’s nice to have a group of like-minded people all in the same building who share a common goal,” Mark says.

From a podiatric point of view, Nicholas says he works primarily with lower limbs, performing elective corrective surgery and he provides complementary support to his colleagues, particularly in the rehabilitative sense.

“I think that there’s a real advantage too, particularly for my surgical practice, in having multiple surgeons within the same building,” says Nicholas.

“We all bring different things to it and we all are able to bounce ideas off each other if we need to.”

Mark says: “And from a just purely collaborative point of view, it’s just nice to have a sort of collegiate building.

“Just ease of communication, quite often it’s just on a personal level, once you know people personally, you are more likely to get things done together and you’ll go the extra mile for something, especially with the physios, we’re just across the corridor.

“We see a lot of patients in common and quite often it’s just a simple discussion.”

Cassandra says having the opportunity to work in such close proximity to other specialists has been “fantastic”, and that it ensures a “cohesive pathway for patients to recover from their injuries”.

“Sometimes it’s Mark referring patients to me for their rehabilitation, other times it’s patients coming to me with injuries that do need a surgical opinion,” she says.

“It’s very much a two-way street and working out what’s the best course of rehab for that patient, and often it’s a combination of both.”

Mark says although his practice is purely sports related, he still needs to lean heavily on the physios and podiatrists for their assistance with management of a patient’s problems.

“From a surgical point of view, I purely do sports orthopaedics, so a lot of my patients need considerable rehabilitation, both before and after the surgery, and quite often, a lot of the things that I do surgically won’t be as great a success unless there’s close physiotherapy follow up,” he says.

Nicholas says the same applies for his practice, as with the general podiatry services he offers, it is not unusual to unearth sport-related injuries that are actually at the knee-level or higher up within the kinetic chain.

“My focus is at the lower level, but they’re all connected,” he says.

“If you have, for example, extremely flat feet, it’s highly likely that there’s more stress on your knees, which means it’s much more likely that you’re going to get a knee injury, which means you’re much more likely to need to see Mark, so there’s a real natural connection there.”

Mark and Cassandra say the smaller building also provides a slightly friendlier feel to the practices, building a community of patients and practitioners.

“They know that I can have that opportunity during the day time to ask more specific questions about their rehabilitation, and same with Nick upstairs, we’ve got that ability to be able to talk within our working day, which, in other situations, you may not get that opportunity for a few days,” says Cassandra.

“It’s just much more time efficient, [it’s] obviously better for the patients as well, because we quite often get on the same page quickly,” says Mark

Orthopaedic surgeons “speak the same language” as podiatric surgeons, Nicholas says, just focusing on different procedures and areas of the body.

“In the same way, Cass’s physiotherapy can provide rehabilitation and complementary services to patients of both Mark and I, ensuring complete patient care and the best possible outcomes and recovery,” he says.

“You can be slowed down because of your hip or your knee as much as you can be slowed down by your feet, and so slotting into an environment where you can provide your services within the broader context of keeping people moving is really important.”

DR MARK PORTER

SPORTS

ORTHOPAEDIC

SURGEON

Canberra Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

Orthopaedic surgeons are doctors who specialise in the musculoskeletal system, the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles, and Dr Porter says he has sub-specialised further within this area.

His expertise is in sports orthopaedic surgery, which largely comprises arthroscopic, reconstructive procedures and sports-related trauma of the knee, shoulder and ankle.

Mark graduated with a medical degree and masters in sports medicine from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, and later completed a doctorate in science.

He then went on to complete the sports physician specialist training program (FACSP) in Australia before training as an orthopaedic surgeon (FRACS).

Mark says he is unaware of any other orthopaedic surgeon who only performs sports orthopaedic surgery and this provides him with the opportunity to concentrate his research in this area.

The goals of his research are improving patient outcomes following the injuries that he looks after. He has published many articles in the areas of knee ACL reconstruction and ankle stabilisation in particular, in the American Journal of

care is led by a commitment to personalised treatment plans, ensuring everything is tailored to each patient’s individual needs and circumstances. Open and honest communication is a priority.

Mark says he always ensures patients understand their condition completely, as well as understanding the proposed surgical interventions, realistic outcomes and the timing of them.

Having competed internationally as an amateur and professional boxer he understands the pressures of returning to training and competition following injuries.

He remains a passionate run-

Mark says he and his wife de cided to relocate their practice to the building in Deakin to establish a multi-disciplinary practice so that they could create an atmosphere of professional collaboration.

Patients with acute sporting injuries are welcome to call for an appointment and can use their discharge referral from any public A&E department to see Dr Porter. There is also a vascular surgeon, a sports doctor and anaesthetic practice within the building.

Canberra Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, 2/19 Napier Close, Deakin. Call 6253 5404 or visit cosm.net.au

We are a private orthopaedic and sports medicine practice that is committed to performance. Whether you’re a professional athlete or an everyday athlete, our goal is to put injury on the sidelines. So you can keep on moving forward.

Dr Mark Porter Orthopaedic

Sports orthopaedic surgeon Dr Mark Porter.

CASSANDRA

PHYSIOTHERAPIST

Physiosport

Deakin

Cassandra Hodgkinson completed her masters of sports physiotherapy at Latrobe University, in 2005.

Before then, she received a sports science degree from the University of Canberra and a degree in physiotherapy from the University of Sydney.

Cassandra says following her studies, she worked at the 2006 Commonwealth Games before going on to work in the Athlete’s Village Medical Headquarters in 2018.

She has travelled internationally with various teams including the Australian Skier Cross Team, Australian Softball Team, NZ cycling team and NSW/ACT Rams AFL team over the past few years.

“I don’t do much travel now with sporting teams, but am involved in rehabbing sports injuries to get athletes of all ages back to sport,” says Cassandra.

“We help people heal and progress on their sporting and activity journeys.”

Her dedication to helping Australian athletes stay in their best health comes from experience, with Cassandra having been a national-level downhill skier throughout her teen years, and having completed various ironman and marathon events.

She says she enjoys running, skiing, golf and cycling, both road and mountain biking, and is halfway through completing the Abbott Six Major Marathons, planning to compete in the Berlin Marathon in September.

Treatment for a fractured ankle inspired Cassandra to pursue a career as a physiotherapist.

One thing she says many people don’t know about physiotherapy is the range within the career.

“There can be a wide variety, from pediatrics, cardiorespiratory, orthopaedics to women’s health,” she says.

“We also run Pilates and G:LAD classes for osteoarthritic knees.”

Cassandra says she has worked with Dr Mark Porter for many

years, meeting when he was a sports physician at the Australian Institute of Sport.

“We also run together, and did the Chicago Marathon last year and [are] training to do the Berlin Marathon this year,” she says.

Cassandra also has a practice at the O’Connor shops, which she has operated for more than 20 years.

She splits her time between Deakin and O’Connor, saying that at Deakin they offer Pilates, massage therapy and exercise physiology, so the physiotherapy service itself is also quite internally multidisciplinary.

Physiosport Deakin, 1/19 Napier Close, Deakin. Call 6147 0838 or visit physiosport.com.au

DR NICHOLAS STUDDERT

PODIATRIC SURGEON & PODIATRIST

Canberra Foot Surgery

Podiatrists are experts in the lower limb, says Dr Nicholas Studdert, and they are trained exclusively in diagnosing and treating pathology of the lower limbs.

Podiatry was one of the three original health fields, he says, along with general medicine and dentistry.

“Your feet are important and deserve the highest level of care,” says Nicholas.

He founded Canberra Foot Surgery as a returning Canberran, after studying for many years in Perth.

“There are only 40 podiatric surgeons in Australia and before I arrived there was only one in Canberra,” he says.

“A podiatric surgeon is a specialist podiatrist and can provide conservative as well as surgical interventions.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to provide this meaningful service to the ACT community and surrounds.”

As an undergraduate, Nicholas studied law and psychology at the University of Canberra, before going on to study a doctorate in podiatric medicine and doctorate of podiatric surgery at the University of Western Australia.

“I was attracted to the completeness of the clinical skill set,” says Nicholas.

“I see all types of patients –children to the elderly – people with hammer toe, bunions, plantar fasciitis, flat feet and high arches.

“I can offer them orthoses, laser therapy, as well as surgery. The scope is very broad.

“I have always been interested in working in health and this provided a specialised skill set I could use to assist people – podiatric surgery is primarily about mobility, which anyone who has had their mobility restricted will know, is of vital importance to our health and life.”

Nicholas says a podiatric surgeon provides specialist advice and procedures for foot and ankle complaints, often consulting with patients who have not been able to find relief elsewhere, who have complex or advanced conditions or who may be seeking surgical intervention for their ongoing

pain or symptoms.

“I consult with them, provide advice, take them through the surgical journey if needed, and provide comprehensive followup after surgery,” he says.

“Often I see people in the long term, providing initial surgical intervention as well as ongoing podiatric care to them and their family into the future.”

Nicholas says he met Mark when Mark did knee surgery on his wife 12 years ago, before he became a podiatric surgeon.

“We then met again in the hall of our local private hospital when I was touring the facility when I first arrived back in Canberra,” he says.

“I credit Mark with having the foresight to see from that chance encounter that our services combine easily and well to help patients.”

Canberra Foot Surgery, 4/19 Napier Close, Deakin. Call 6105 9555 or visit canberrafootsurgery.com.au

Our

Whether you’re seeking general podiatry, specialist surgery, or both, our goal is to get you back on your feet, sooner.

Podiatric surgeon and podiatrist Dr Nicholas Studdert.

Physiotherapist Cassandra Hodgkinson.

FESTA DELLA REPUBBLICA /

Festival celebrates day every

FESTA Della Repubblica, a free event that this year celebrates the 78th Italian national day, will be held at the Italian Cultural Centre, Forrest, on June 2.

Hosted by Com.It.Es, its Canberra president Franco Barilaro says Festa Della Repubblica is a community event and every one’s invited to experience and enjoy all aspects of Italian culture.

“The Italian community is thrilled to invite all Canberrans to share the celebrations of the Italian National Day,” he says.

“The Festa Della Repubblica is an opportunity for families to enjoy good food, great coffee, fun activities and immerse themselves in a very Italian atmosphere.

“This is an event where all the Italian regional associations get together to celebrate. This is our 13th year of celebrating and we are welcoming everyone to come in and be an Italian for the day.”

Com.It.Es is an organisation formed by leading members of the Italian community, with the Canberra branch working with the Italian government and the Italian embassy to meet the needs, hopes and desires of the Italian community in Canberra.

“There will be Italian music performed live by Joe Sorrentino, and the spectacular Dante Musica Viva Choir will perform a

“There will also be Italian street food, gelato, sweets, chestnuts, and coffee stalls open from 10.30am to 4pm.

“Activities will include a jumping castle, face painting and Italian cars on display.”

The Italian ambassador, Paolo Crudele, will open the festivities with a summary of the Italian president’s speech.

“It will be promoting integration, as we share our culture and traditions with Canberra. Fortunately, we are already well

He admits that lunchtime is his favourite part of the day, after he does his 11am speech.

“The event wouldn’t be possible without all our volunteers, they put a lot of work and preparation into making the day a success, and I wish to thank each and every one of them,” he says.

Festa Della Repubblica, Italian Cultural Centre, 80 Franklin Street, Forrest, 11am-4pm, June 2.

The Dante Musica Viva choir.

Italian cars on show.

Festa Della Rebubblica stalls.

The Calabresi stand at La Festa Della Rebubblica.

one can feel Italian

When Italy voted to become a republic

Festa Della Repubblica (Festival of the Republic) marks the day in 1946 when the Kingdom of Italy voted to swap its king for a president and become a democratic republic with a new parliament.

After a mainly military education, Victor Emmanuel III came suddenly to the throne in 1900 on the assassination of his father, King Umberto I.

In 1946, public opinion forced a plebiscite to decide between the monarchy and a republican form of government.

In an effort to influence the vote in favour of the dynasty, Victor Emmanuel III abdicated in favour of Umberto II, but the plebiscite resulted in a victory for the republic, and both Victor Emmanuel and Umberto went into exile.

The result of the referendum was far from a landslide, with only about 54 per cent of the voters choosing to remove their monarch as head of state through this peaceful revolution at the ballot box.

On one hand, it was a big step to end the line of kings that had ruled Italy since its unification about a century earlier, and it was not strictly necessary to get rid of the king in order to have a new constitutional democracy. But on the other hand, many Italians were disappointed in the royal family for supporting the ill-fated Fascist dictatorship that led the country to military defeat in World War II.

Democracy was not new to Italy in 1946, either, the Italian Parliament having played a strong role as a check on the power of the king and his ministers since the mid-1800s.

But with the king’s support, the Fascist Party, led by Benito Mussolini, was able to seize power in the early ‘20s, and later pass a law in 1926 that completely freed Mussolini from accountability to Parliament.

In this way, the Festa Della Repubblica can be seen to celebrate the return of democracy to Italy in a stronger, more permanent form.

The first period of Italian democracy was based on a constitution agreed to by the King of Piedmont-Sardinia, Charles Albert, in 1848, when Italy was still in the process of uniting as a single nation. The Statuto Albertino, as it is known, was so important to Italy’s formation that the day it was signed became the first Italian National Day. This was always celebrated on the first Sunday in June, which hovers from year to year around its modern replacement, Festa Della Repubblica.

Stephanie’s has specialised in bra fitting for over 30 years

Owner Fil Barilaro says Stephanie’s boutique lingerie, in the Manuka Arcade, is central, open and inviting, but offers privacy and high standards of personalised service.

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

“Stephanie’s has one simple philosophy that underpins every aspect of the boutique – beauty and comfort,” says Fil.

“Beautiful, well-fitted undergarments should provide skin-soft comfort that lets you be yourself.

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

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

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

Having undergarments fitted by our exceptional team may initially seem indulgent, even decadent. But once experienced, the comfort and confidence you feel in properly fitted lingerie will have you converted for life!

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

The owner of Stephanie’s Boutique Lingerie, Fil Barilaro, in her store at the Manuka Arcade.

Beauty and comfort are not only the domain of women, with Stephanie’s stocking a range of boutique men’s underwear. Stephanie’s also offers gift vouchers.

FAST FACTS ON ITALY

• Italy is one of Western Europe’s youngest countries, first becoming a nation-state in 1861.

• Italy’s population, as estimated in 2023, is about 60,000,000 people.

• There are multiple theories about the meaning of Italy’s flag. A popular one is that the colours carry idealistic significance: green for freedom, white for faith, and red for love.

• The capital of Italy, Rome, is more than 2000 years old and is often known as “the eternal city”.

• Thirteen of Shakespeare’s 38 plays are set in Italy.

• With a median age of 46.8 years, Italy has the oldest population in Europe.

• Mount Etna, located on the coast of Sicily, is Europe’s most active Volcano.

• Italy is tied second as the most successful national team in the history of the FIFA World Cup, having won four titles (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006).

• Italy is the world’s largest wine producer, making about 4,250,000 litres every year.

Italian Cultural Centre, Forrest.

Com.It.Es Canberra president Franco Barilaro.

The Colosseum in Rome.

Umberto II, 1944.

Nowhere quite matches inner-south charm

Located just south of the city centre, the inner south is one of the oldest parts of Canberra.

The age and historic charm of the inner south has found its way into the hearts of residents and businesses alike.

Total Body Contouring, in Franklin Street, Griffith, is expanding to the building next door, says owner Christy Christensen.

Through this expansion, Christy says Total Body Contouring will soon be welcoming a qualified and experienced doctor, who will be available for botox and other injectable treatments.

Injectable treatments will include Bio-Regenerator (Rejuran) for face and neck, scar treatment, and periorbital rejuvenation, masseter reduction and facial slimming injections, and thread lift, a non-surgical procedure that uses threads under the skin to create a smoother appearance, says Christy.

Christy says dermal filler injections, antiwrinkle injections and collagen stimulators will also be on offer, done by the new in-house doctor.

However, Christy says some new devices and services are already available, including the Venus Viva, a non-surgical, skin resurfacing device that utilises NanoFractional radio frequency technology, and facial lymphatic drainage massages.

“We have so much to offer for the next phase of growth and service offerings,” she says.

“We give a personalised experience and journey, everyone is different,” she says.

“First, we set up a consultation to make sure you get the right specialisation for your needs and wants.

“With industry certification for all our services, your safety comes first.

“CityNews” speaks to the business owners passionate about the area. Body contouring experts offer more services

But, regular services are still available, says Christy, “and fat freezing is still only $320.”

Christy says Total Body Contouring is about building body confidence.

Sleep, Respiratory & Orofacial Myology Centre at Symmetry Dental, Kingston

Matthew Ryan has 15 years experience working with children and adults to maximise sleep, growth, performance and general health.

Symmetry Dental is a truly family-run centre – 4 family members (father and 3 brothers) with a holistic approach to individual specialities and a team with an honest desire to do the best for your family.

SLEEP

• Reduce Snoring

• Improve Sleep Apnoea

• Help CPAP Compliance

• Alternatives to CPAP

• Circadian Biology

• Home Sleep Studies

• Holistic approach

Total Body Contouring, Shop 3/22 Franklin Street, Griffith. Call 6239 7347, or visit totalbodycontouring.com.au

Symmetry Dental was established in Kingston in 2010, but founder, Dr Michael Ryan, has been working in the Canberra region for his whole life, says his son and fellow dentist Dr Matthew Ryan.

“This isn’t a dental practice where you just go to the dentist and get a clean and a filling,” says Matthew.

“We have a team that has very specific and individual specialisations.”

Dr Robert Waites covers general dentistry, but Matthew says his services go above and beyond.

“My whole family are dentists, both of my brothers and my dad are dentists but we don’t do any dentistry on each other, we go to him, he’s that good,” says Matthew.

Dr Michael Ryan is a chronic pain specialist and Dr Joseph Ryan is one of six oral medicine specialists in Australia, says Matthew.

Then, Matthew says he and his other brother, Dr Patrick Ryan, work in early intervention orthopedic orthodontics.

Matthew says this involves providing early treatment to children whose jaws and faces and airways aren’t growing correctly.

“We retrain the way they breathe, the way they sit, the way their tongue sits in their mouth, the way they swallow, the way they chew, all these little factors that drive the growth of the face and the airway,” says Matthew.

BREATHING TRAINING

• Proven to help Long Covid

• Improve general health

• Increase Oxygen Density

• Performance and Stamina

• Improve Anxiety and Insomnia

• Postural Proprioception Retraining

OROFACIAL MYOLOGY

• Proven reduction in OSA

• Support for Chronic Pain Treatment

• Support Orthodontic Results

• Facilitate Craniofacial Growth for kids

• Reduce Snoring, Grinding, Bedwetting, Fatigue

Matthew says Symmetry Dental goes beyond what people would think of as dentistry, looking at the root causes of problems and providing a holistic approach to dental services.

Symmetry Dental, 27 Jardine Street, Kingston. Call 6295 3006 or visit symmetrydental.com.au

Dr Robert Waites With more than twenty years of experience Dr Robert Waites has sought the very best of cutting-edge postgraduate training for the benefit of his patients and his expertise is unparalleled in his field.

Dr Waites maintains a commitment to excellence in the areas of restorative, functional and cosmetic dentistry, specialising in:

• Single-step root canal therapy

• One-appointment composite veneers (See Picture left)

• Meticulous crown and bridge therapy with 100% Australian materials and laboratory work to guarantee unsurpassed treatment quality.

Total Body Contouring owner Christy Christensen.

Dr Matthew Ryan with his son.

FAT FREEZING FROM ONLY $320

Fat loss with Cooltech®

Cooltech, also known as fat freezing, is a popular, non-surgical treatment that makes it possible to reduce fat deposits by up to 25%. The applicator design gives you more than DOUBLE the treatment time and far exceeds the results of any of its competitors. The advantages of Cooltech are, among other things, that the treatment is very effective, almost painless and far more gentle on the body than, for example, surgery.

Skin analysis scanning with Venus Viva

Venus viva offers effective treatments to target skin damage and reduce wrinkles. Using NanoFractional technology combined with Radio frequency to the skin, this process stimulates fibroblasts, activating to production of new collagen, resulting in diminished skin damage and a visibly firmer, more even complexion. You will notice a naturally smoother, more radiant looking complexion. With minimal down time, the unique pin pattern delivers targeted energy to deeper skin layers allowing the surrounding healthy tissue to heal with improved skin texture.

Facial Lymphatic Massage

Lymphatic massage is a specialized massage technique designed to stimulate the flow of lymph, the clear fluid that circulates through the lymphatic system. Benefits include:

• Detoxification: Helps remove toxins and waste products from the body.

• Reduced Swelling: Beneficial for conditions like lymphedema, where there is localized swelling due to fluid retention.

• Improved Immune Function: Enhances the body’s ability to fight off infections by improving lymph flow.

• Relaxation and Pain Relief: Can provide relaxation and alleviate pain from conditions like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.

OPENING HOURS: Tue – Fri 9:30am – 6:00pm Sat 10:00am – 4:00pm

Injectables By Doctor

New injectable services administered by our qualified and experienced doctor including:

• Dermal Filling Injections

• Anti - Wrinkle Injections

• Collagen Stimulators

• Bio - Regenerator

• Masseter Reduction + Facial Slimming Injections

• Thread Lift

• Package offers on most services available

Venus Viva

Facial Lymphatic Massage

Cooltech RESULTS

THE INNER CIRCLE

Diamonds Manuka co-owner and gemologist Robert Hunt has been in the jewellery business for more than 30 years, says his partner and store co-owner, Elaine Hunt.

Robert was formerly part of Briolette, Elaine says, and when it closed they founded Diamonds Manuka.

It has been almost five years now, she says, with Diamonds Manuka opening in 2019.

Elaine says she and Robert love working in the jewellery business because “it’s always interesting,” and there are always beautiful stones.

“When you’ve got a lovely product, that’s just a pleasurable experience,” she says.

Elaine says they love serving the Manuka community.

“It’s a great location,” she says.

“It’s sort of unique, because it’s not like a big plaza, it’s just a friendly little shopping centre.”

Elaine says they always have a range of items and can make anything custom to what the customer wants, with a particular focus on Australian stones.

“Robert loves Australian things, so we deal with the pink diamonds and we do the opals and we do the Australian sapphires,” she says.

Elaine says the Diamonds Manuka team are friendly and are always happy to help.

Diamonds Manuka, Manuka Arcade, Shop 4/22 Franklin Street, Griffith. Call 6295 6448 or visit diamondsmanuka.com.au

“Your feet are your foundation,” says Happy Fit Footwear founder Jane Earl.

“If your feet aren’t right, it can upset your knees, your hips, your back, everything.

“I’m a podiatrist, and we specialise in goodquality, supportive footwear that also looks good and feels good straight out of the box.”

Happy Fit Footwear has recently opened a second location in the heart of the Manuka shopping district.

“The whole reason I set the business up was because I was getting patients who needed to have supportive footwear that they could put their orthotics in, but there was a limited choice, particularly in the southside, that was giving people access to good-fitting footwear,” she says.

Jane says Happy Fit Footwear caters to people

After spending 15 years in Manuka, owner and clinician Jayne Armstrong says Contours de Femme has moved to a “new, beautiful and spacious location” in Kingston. Specialising in LPG endermologie treatments, and using Jan Marini Skin Research, Jayne says Contours de Femme leaves its clients feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.

There is also a range of spa services, run by manager Sharon McGladdery.

“She does all things to do with spa, so she has a lovely spa room, and she specialises in all the LVL, which is lash volume lift, all the waxing, all the beauty side stuff, she takes care of all of that,” says Jayne.

Jayne says her client-base is what gets her up every morning, and that she simply loves what she does.

“I have a very loyal client base, they just love what I offer, and I still personally do the treatment, so I think that’s what gives me purpose every day to get up. It’s what I look forward to,” she says.

“I’ve been very fortunate, even going through

who wear orthotics as well as those with trickyto-find shoe sizes.

“Shoes make people happy, and it’s a shame that people with difficult feet aren’t able to enjoy it,” she says

Jane says the Happy Fit Footwear team gets a tremendous sense of joy from finding people shoes that look good and feel good.

But, Jane says they are a shoe shop for regular

BODY SCULPTING FOR THE MODERN Woman

Located

Happy Fit Footwear team, from left, Jane, Kirsty and Ronimieh.

Discover our finely curated collection of investment-worthy jewellery, breathtaking designs, and exceptional craftsmanship

Along with Argyle Pink, Yellow, White and Champagne Diamonds, we also stock Sapphires, South Sea Pearls and Opals.

We design and create timeless pieces to suit the individual.

Offering friendly, personalised service and attention to detail, Diamonds Manuka is a destination for everything on your jewellery wishlist.

Contact Diamonds Manuka on (02) 6295 6448

Shop 4 Manuka Arcade 22 Franklin Street, Manuka ACT

•

•

•

Is it time to prune… or not?

When the autumn leaves have fallen from shrubs and trees, it’s time to give them a little prune. Pruning of crepe myrtles, deciduous hibiscus and any summer-flowering plants can be done now. Most importantly, it is not the time for spring-flowering deciduous shrubs such as Forsythias and Weigelas.

If you don’t know the name of a shrub and don’t know when to prune, a rule of thumb is that after flowering, give it a good clip or take a third of the current season’s growth to keep it in check.

After pruning, add compost and mulch around the base of the plant and water.

If the shrubs are evergreen, hold off pruning them. As a general rule, only prune evergreen hedges in their growing season.

Other pruning that can be done this time of year is the foliage on oriental hellebores. Its coarse, leathery leaves can look brown and tattered, so trimming leaves at the base of the plant will not only get rid of the old growth and any harbouring insects, but will allow light to get into the rhizome through winter to induce flowering.

There are a few different varieties that are available and stinking hellebores (Helleborus foetidus) is a must-have in the winter garden. It grows bigger than oriental hellebores and its foliage is fan-like. It is quite striking in a mass planting with flowers.

The most striking of them all and a real feature in a large winter garden, is the Corsican hellebore

Slow-growing brussel sprouts… if planted in February, there should be signs of small heads on the side of the main

(Helleborus argutifolius). A small shrub, it grows to at least 70 cm tall and is considered the most robust of all the hellebores.

Its large, blue green leaves are sharply toothed and this variety is more sun tolerant than its counterparts.

Hellebores are not bothered by our frosts and, after flowering, oriental hellebores can be divided, transplanted and potted. However, the Corsican and stinking hellebores are better propagated by seed, which can be collected when the seed heads are dry. The seeds can be tossed into the garden where you want them to grow. It is not necessary to sow into punnets, unless you want more control with germination.

Hellebores like to grow in dry, shady areas and sometimes in places where nothing else will grow. They go dormant in summer and as

reason, they are a low water-use plant and, over time, can self-seed.

ALL winter vegetables should be in by now. Anything planted from now will not grow until the soil warms in mid-spring.

One of the most common and most successful winter vegetable crops to grow would be the brassicas and the slowest growing of them all is the brussel sprout.

If planted out in February, by now there should be signs of small heads on the side of the main stems. A little sprinkle of boron around the base of the plants will keep them growing strong, prevent hollow stems and encourage the heads to grow bigger.

Brussel sprouts like the colder weather and, most of all, it is important to net all brassicas with a fine mesh to prevent winter aphids and cabbage moths from eating the plants.

WINTER-flowering plants such pansies, violas and cyclamens can be planted and watered with seaweed solution after two weeks to keep them flowering right through winter.

jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au

Jottings…

• Turn compost over and add manure to speed up decomposition.

• Pull weeds such as sticky weed, vetch and flick weed before they flower.

• Cut chrysanthemums to the ground after flowering.

• Prepare the ground for winter tree planting.

Oriental hellebores… their coarse, leathery leaves can look brown and tattered this time of year. Photos: Jackie Warburton

stems.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Streetcar Alex won’t be channelling Brando

By Helen MUSA

Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire is one of the greatest acting vehicles in the western repertoire.

Set in New Orleans, it pits the neurotically fragile Blanche DuBois, Southern bellegone-wrong, against her brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski, the coarse son of Polish immigrants. The two almost represent the decline and fall of the western world.

In Elia Kazan’s 1951 film where, using the Method acting technique, Marlon Brando makes Stanley Kowalski sympathetic, while Vivienne Leigh as Blanche DuBois flutters around him with her illusions. Brando invested Stanley with all the vitality of life, contrasting with Leigh’s Blanche, fast heading in the opposite direction.

Spare a thought, then, for Alex Hoskison, one of Canberra’s finest young male actors, as he faces the role of Stanley, performing opposite Amy Kowalczuk as Blanche in a Free Rain Theatre production soon to be seen at ACTHub.

Hoskison is the son of well-known actor Karen Vickery, but after completing his studies at Narrabundah College and studies

at ANU, he chose a career outside the theatre and now works by day in the AttorneyGeneral’s department.

Even so, the lure of the stage means that he has been seen in recent years in Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Twelve Angry Men, Queers and as the psychopathic killer Brett in Boys. I’ve seen them all.

When I caught up with Hoskison in between rehearsals, he was grappling with how to avoid the Brando model while portraying the hyper-masculine antagonist in a newer era when toxic masculinity has almost become a cliche.

“As an actor I’ve got to work from the inside and you can’t say that Stanley, although assertive, loud and crude, is evil.”

Unlike Shakespeare, Williams’ stage directions, Hoskison says, are many and masterly.

Stella, for instance, “jumps up and kisses him which he [Stanley] accepts with lordly composure”.

“There are so many layers in the text,” Hoskison says. “One of his real fears is the fear of not belonging, he’s proud of his military service and proud of being a provider, but Blanche undermines all that.”

Stanley is not without imagination, conjuring up the “coloured lights” of their love-making and asking Stella: “And wasn’t we happy together? Wasn’t it all okay? Till she showed here. Hoity-toity, describing me as an ape”.

Also, it is unquestionable, we agree, that

coquetry is second nature to Blanche, that she has slept with men for money, that she has been banned by the local military base for her promiscuity and that she seduces young men. She even admits to Stella: “Look, I’m flirting with your husband.”

Another thing, he says, Stanley’s investi gations into Blanche’s dubious background are partly tied up with his loyalty to his mate Mitch, who is about to make a life with Blanche.

In the notorious rape scene, Stanley plainly sees her as having offered an invita tion, saying, “Tiger, tiger! …We’ve had this date with each other from the outset.”

His insensitive assumption and subse quent action destroys her.

But Hoskison is quick to point out that a play is not a textbook.

It’s one of those plays where audiences will leave at the end speculating on what happens next. Hoskison personally believes Stella and Stanley’s baby is doomed to grow up in an atmosphere of smoke, violence and the worst elements of masculinity, but that’s just his idea.

“That’s the fantastic thing about theatre. I’d love members of the audience to walk out and have a heated discussion about who was in the wrong. I don’t want this to be laid out like a textbook,” he says.

A Streetcar Named Desire, ACTHub, Kingston, June 19-29.

STREAMING

Rises, bundles and end of the streaming dream?

Netflix is once again asking its Aussie subscribers to get out their wallets, hitting them with yet another price hike.

The cost of a premium subscription, which gives users access to shows and movies without ads and in ultra-high definition, has now been jacked up from $22.99 a month to $25.99.

The price of a standard plan has also increased from $16.99 a month to $18.99 a month.

The platform’s cheapo plan that makes users sit through ads also hasn’t been missed, going from $6.99 to $7.99 a month.

After the backlash that the streaming giant has copped for relentless price hikes in recent years, it’s no surprise this one has been kept quieter, with Netflix changing its advertising of subscription prices before directly informing many subscribers.

Of course, the response has been frosty, with many quickly taking to social media to sound off.

“Yet another reason to #CancelNetflix if you haven’t already. They’re only going to continue to cancel shows and raise the prices,” one person said on Twitter.

“Everyone gouging. Maybe we should all cancel our subscriptions,” said another on Facebook.

And my personal favourite: “Netflix seems to be playing chicken. Another price rise so soon, I’m out dawg.”

With cost-of-living pressures already tak-

ing their toll, having to fork out more money for entertainment is no welcome news for many families.

Last year many Australians said they cancelled a streaming service to save money.

According to Finder around 5.5 million decided to axe a subscription, with 70 per cent citing cost as the reason.

It seems streaming is rapidly moving away from the original promise that made it take off so quickly: the ability to watch almost anything you want for under $10 a month.

On average Australian households are

spending $45 a month on a multitude of services to catch their favourite shows.

Ironically, it seems the sheer amount of services now on the market are making streaming more like the days of Foxtel and cable TV, which it once so successfully diverted from.

That’s certainly the case in the US, where streaming “bundles” have just been announced.

Let me explain.

A few weeks ago Warner Bros and Disney declared they were teaming up to

Many people are now engaging in ‘platform rotation’ – they sign up for a subscription to see what they want to before canceling and moving on to the next one when something else pops up that catches their interest.

offer viewers a “package deal”, which will group three streaming platforms into one subscription. That includes Disney Plus, Max (Our equivalent is Binge) and Hulu.

They promise the price would be a lot less than what a subscription to each individually would cost.

Not missing a beat, a few days later Comcast said that it will launch its own bundle which will group subscriptions to Netflix, Apple TV+ and another American streaming service called Peacock. They’ve called it “ScreenSaver”.

While an exact price hasn’t been announced yet, we can estimate that it’d come out at around $40 to $60 a month, given the current market prices.

Does this all sound familiar to, say, 15 years ago?

MUSIC

To clarify, these “bundles” aren’t released in Australia yet, but if the past is anything to go by there’s a good chance we’ll soon follow in the footsteps of the US, especially given some of the stats mentioned above. It seems rather than compete for subscription bucks, the streaming platforms have now decided to join forces in a bid to collectively bring people in.

There’s certainly been some outrage, with one headline in The Atlantic going as far as to decry “The dream of streaming is dead”. Is the bundle ultimately good for the customer though?

For people who watch a lot of television this revert to a more cable-like model could save some money.

But for others who are more particular about what they like, it doesn’t work.

Many people are now engaging in “platform rotation”, meaning they sign up for a subscription to see a show or film they want to see before canceling and moving on to the next one when something else pops up that catches their interest.

If this has become a way of watching television, there’s something clearly wrong with the direction streaming is heading.

Making music for everyone

By Helen Musa

The ANU School of Music Community Music Centre is now well ahead of the pack in making music education widely accessible.

The program received a community outreach grant of more than $550,000 from ArtsACT, which has led to a rebranding of the former Open School of Music as the ANU Community Music Centre, signalling a shift towards providing more opportunities for adults, women, gender-diverse individuals and other minority groups.

Also, the centre’s convenor, Jennifer Binovec, says, music should never be never limited by age, time, background or experience, so increasing the visibility of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music and musicians is an important thrust.

Binovec, a graduate clarinet and sax instrumentalist from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, has been the deputy director and head of Woodwind, Brass and Percussion at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music, a performer with the NZ Opera Orchestra, a music teacher in Coonabarabran and, for four years, a teacher and performer in Prague.

A researcher at the School of Music since 2020, she says: “My role is behind a screen and answering

emails.”

“We’ve had just five months and now 15 programs have been launched,” she tells me with pride.

So far they’ve engaged about 50 professional tutors, all well-known musicians from the immediate region.

One of the most in-demand, The Community Rock School directed by Micha Formin, was carried over from earlier cycles because it was so popular.

“There are so many adult musicians who want to be involved in playing a band, coming back to music or continuing music,”

Binovec says, explaining that they’ve had participants ranging up to 82 years, some of whom have played in a band, but others with no background.

The rock school takes place on Saturdays, with a five-week course.

Another very well-known

initiative is Sing With Toby – that’s Toby Cole, of course, who, with the support of the School of Music and Tuggeranong Arts Centre, has started a choir for the Tuggeranong region that has around 30 regular members performing concerts around the community.

On a different note is the CATS (Creative Oral and Theory Skills) course, an advancement from an earlier program that had focused on just classical and some jazz theory. This now involves intensive classes on Saturday mornings.

There’s also a composition stream involving about 12 weekly participants, ranging from 10 to 60 years.

All up, around 200 people attend each week across Canberra. Details

After the backlash Netflix has copped for relentless price hikes in recent years, it’s no surprise this one has been kept quieter. Photo: John-Mark Smith

Music Centre.

Photo: Chloe Hobbs

DINING / Rosa’s,

National Triangle

Pretty Rosa’s among the roses

Rosa’s is a newish, casual eatery and a welcome addition to the exciting revitalisation known as “The Lawns of the Lobby” in the National Triangle.

Rosa’s opens early for coffee and breakfast and runs through the afternoon seven days a week (hours vary, so check the website; we got caught once with Rosa’s being closed).

It’s a pretty location, even though the National Rose Garden isn’t in full bloom this time of year. However, the autumn trees are stunning and Rosa’s has a massive deck with plenty of seating and several communal wooden tables scattered about on the lawns themselves for a relaxed vibe.

Rosa’s serves pastries, brekky rolls, sandwiches, panini, pizza and coffee to take away. Or choose to dine onsite, which is what we did.

It was a sunny Sunday, and we were cruising so ordered our dishes at the counter one at a time, relaxing in between.

To tantalise our tastebuds we kickstarted with quality, intense, briny Ortiz anchovies with sourdough, loving that Rosa’s provides a thick wedge of fresh lemon and a small side dish of chilli powder to perk matters up ($26, but worth every bite).

A gorgeous-looking dish, and another great starter, was the Stracciatella cheese with swirls of vibrant, ruby red beet oil, dribbles of bright green basil oil, and dollops of sweet leatherwood honey ($24). We initially wondered about the honey, but it worked a treat.

Now it was time for pizza and more pizza ($23 to $30). Seven are on the menu and we road-tested three.

First up was the “potato bake” with Fior di

WINE / incredulity

latte and gorgonzola combined. It features roast potato, toasted garlic and rosemary. It was piping hot and the cheese wonderfully melted. Yum. Yum. Yum.

King prawns featured on our next pizza and Rosa’s didn’t skimp on ingredients. We were attracted to the addition of Nduja, a spicy, spreadable pork sausage from Italy’s Calabria region. Ndjua packs a punch but doesn’t overwhelm if used in the right proportion. Rosa’s makes this pizza with a garlic cream, intense tomato sauce, fresh parsley and bold, complex parmesan. It was fantastic.

The “sausage time” pizza didn’t skimp on ingredients either and, again, was served piping

hot. Gotta love sausage combining pork and fennel, with zippy chilli, pickle and a blend of Fior di latte and parmesan.

Rosa’s was packed when we were there, but the staff coped relatively well, were friendly and took the time to ask customers for feedback.

The wine list is short and sharp. Marc Bredif Chenin Black, Vouvray, Loire Valley (2022) was $20/glass and $88/bottle. MDI Pinot Grigio, Pasut Vineyard, Mildura $14/$60 and Vasse Felix Classic Dry Rose, Shiraz, Margaret River $13/$55. Beers, ciders and spirits are available.

Pruning and dodging incoming missiles!

Wine writer RICHARD CALVER ponders the lot of Ukrainian wine makers: “They are cultivating the vines while under missile attack. Extraordinary. So far removed from our normality. Pruning and dodging incoming, just wild.”

We are sitting in the less-thansalubrious Badger bar at the Australian National University after a workout at the campus gym.

I have a bottle of water and a glass of 2022 Clonakilla shiraz ($10.50) in front of me. My mate is drinking a Heaps Normal non-alcoholic beer ($8.50).

The Clonakilla will undoubtedly get better with age because it is already well rounded and a very pleasant drink. It’s not what I’d expect in a student bar.

“How’s it been going?” my mate asks.

“Well, as you know, I’ve published my quirky book Blinded – available on Amazon Kindle – and this is the second time this week I’ve been to the gym.”

“Good on you.”

“Yes, but the last time it made me feel old, not just because of the exercise or the after effects. The young woman behind the service counter asked me about the slogan on my T-shirt. It’s a quote by Ringo Starr: ‘I Love Beethoven, especially his poems’.

“I had to explain to her that he was a famous Beatle and that the comment is ironic because Beethoven never wrote poetry. It’s supposed to show Ringo as ignorant and endearing at the same time and I disliked having to explain the humour.”

“She’d never heard of the Beatles?”

“Apparently not. I was incredulous.”

“We’re growing old, mate.”

“Yes, and it was the second round of incredulity this week.”

“How so?”

“Well, I get this email newsletter called Daily Wine News and there was an article about how brave Ukrainian winemakers were getting into new markets including having a stand at a wine show in Dusseldorf where 17 wineries from Ukraine were taking part.

“The article says that they are cultivating the vines while under missile attack. Extraordinary. So far removed from our normality. Pruning and dodging incoming, just wild.”

“I didn’t even know that Ukraine made wine,” my mate said.

“No, well, I suppose it’s not a renowned wine here in Australia. I believe that most of the vineyards are in the south.

“And the article is quite interesting because it mentions that Ukrainian winemakers haven’t been exporting their wines to Russia since 2014, which was apparently the dominant market for Ukrainian wines and spirits.

“The article also mentions a red variety that I’d like to taste, the Odesa Black, described as ‘powerful’. It would be good to see how it compares with our reds. The message of the article was positive though, mostly about how the country is expanding its exports in Europe.”

“Yes, well it would be good to support the country by buying some of their wine. Do you know

of any outlets?”

“I agree. I went on to the Dan Murphy website and searched ‘Ukraine’. I got a hit on four spirits, I think all vodka, but no wine. I’ve not tried beyond that original search but I think you’re spot on with the thought. We need to support Ukraine in every way we can.”

“Cheers to that.”

“Thanks, mate. And buy my book will you please. It’s only $US8.”

“You’re not Ukrainian.”

“Oh yes,” I said, “we all are.”

The cover of Richard Calver’s novel Blinded.

Stracciatella cheese. Photos: Wendy Johnson King prawn pizza.

Teacher’s murder opens a lesson in crime writing

Tim Sullivan is a successful British screenwriter and director of film and television, as well as a best-selling crime writer.

The Teacher is the sixth in his DS Cross thriller series featuring a detective who has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

George Cross, who is a member of the Major Crimes Unit of the Avon and Somerset Police, is an extraordinary creation. His colleagues understand that he has no sense of humour and is “averse to small talk as well as being completely inept at it”.

DCI Carson indulges Cross’ need for quiet and his own space, as well as his literal interpretation of any conversation because Cross is “uniquely gifted when it comes to solving crime”. He has the highest conviction rate in the force.

He plays the church organ to relax. “The sounds of the organ, particularly the low pedal notes reverberating off the walls, in an almost physical way, put him in a familiar safe and comforting solitary space”.

The Major Crimes Unit is called to the small village of Crockerne, where an elderly, reclusive man has been found murdered.

Alistair Moreton was not popular in the village. He was opinionated, “didn’t care who he upset”, disrupted parish council meetings and took his neighbours to court

repeatedly.

been the headmaster of a prep school with a reputation for bullying and sadistic beatings, the number of suspects grows.

Cross is supported by his colleagues, as he begins the investigation, but a senior officer from a neighbouring force, DI Warner, is co-opted to lead the team. His lack of understanding of Cross’ character creates humour, until the dark side of DI Warner is revealed.

Sullivan’s vivid style reflects his film and screenwriting career particularly in his descriptions of the sadism of the prep

been writing best-selling, award-winning, literary crime novels since 2016.

Clifford sets her latest novel It Takes a Town in the fictional remote Australian country town of Welcome, which has produced one famous celebrity, Vanessa Walton, who has returned to live in the town and teaches drama at the local high school.

Vanessa found fame as a child and has “the sort of charisma that had caught the nation’s eye and managed to hold its faithless gaze for most of the following 40 years”.

Sergeant Carole Duffy arrives in Welcome, the morning after a violent storm, to learn that Vanessa Walton has been found dead at the bottom of her stairs. The evidence suggests that she tripped and fell, as there’s no sign of a forced entry. The coroner decides the death was an accident.

drawn on his own experiences at his first prep school to create Moreton and his behaviour, saying: “I still find it unbelievable and inexcusable what happened to me and my contemporaries in a quiet corner of Somerset many years ago”.

AUSTRALIAN author Aoife Clifford was born in London of Irish parents, studied arts/law at the Australian National University, and now lives in Melbourne. She has

The Langridges are Welcome’s wealthiest family. Barton Langridge, who “has the sort of face you instantly want to punch, even if you know nothing about him and his statements about ‘crazy lefties’, ’Marxist teachers’ and ‘taking Australian jobs’,” is the local member of parliament.

Jasmine Langridge, Barton’s 16-year-old

ARTS IN THE CITY

stepdaughter, a climate activist who vehemently opposes her stepfather’s ideas, believes Vanessa was murdered, as she and her friend accidentally discovered anonymous death threats in Vanessa’s bag at school.

When Jasmine disappears the police are forced to reinvestigate Vanessa’ death as they search for Jasmine.

Carole Duffy is told, “it takes a town to solve a murder” but it is the women of the town, the English teacher, the supermarket worker, the nosey neighbour and Jasmine and her friend Brianna who ask the right questions and uncover hidden truths, revealing the motivation and identity of the murderer.

Clifford says that her novel explores “the unintended consequences of a murder investigation across a community, the price of fame told from the perspective of the not-so famous, and how the real dangers come from the ones we love. Life can be both heartbreaking and hilarious and it is important that my writing reflects this.” As a result, It Takes a Town is a complex and immersive read.

Free festival of Japanese films

The Japanese Film Festival Online returns for its third edition. This year’s program features 23 films and two TV dramas, as well as four new Japanese horror shorts. Highlights are Father of the Milky Way Railroad, a biopic detailing the life of Japanese poet and novelist Kenji Miyazawa and BL Metamorphosis, in which a highschool girl and an elderly lady bond through their shared love of manga. Streamed free with subtitles in up to 16 languages at watch.jff.jpf.go.jp from June 5 to July 3.

The National Gallery is staging the first Australian exhibition dedicated to Anni and Josef Albers, leaders in the Bauhaus art movement. Known as a European art world power couple, the Alberses were at the forefront of artistic innovation through weaving, painting and printmaking. June 8-September 22.

Geoff Page’s new poetry book, Penultima, will have us looking towards its successor. With 25 collections published over the

A scene from the Japanese film festival highlight, Father of the Milky Way Railroad.

last 50 years, his mighty influence on Australian poetry cannot be denied. Beyond writing, Page is also notable for his support of the arts through his regular sessions at Smiths Alternative – Geoff’s Poetry at Smiths and Geoff’s Jazz at Smiths. The book is available at pittstreetpoetry.com

The Friends of the National Library will present two of Australia’s top crime writers discussing The Craft of Crime with CityNews crime fiction reviewer Anna Creer. Sulari Gentill is the author of the Rowland Sinclair Mysteries, while former journo Chris Hammer has made

himself the king of rural noir. NLA, June 5.

The development application for a major upgrade to Gorman Arts Centre has recently been submitted. Gorman turns 100 this year and is occupied by some of the ACT’s leading arts organisations, smaller arts groups, arts businesses and individual artists, so it is pleasing to learn that residents are being properly consulted.

Arts National, the former ADFAS, will have calligraphic artist Gemma Black to talk about the Book of Kells, which is kept today at Trinity College in Dublin. Regarded as the most elaborately illustrated manuscript of its type, it is considered a wonder that it has survived the centuries. National Library, June 3.

Author Tim Sullivan… “The writing of this novel has been surprisingly cathartic.”

BOOKS

German writer wins International Booker Prize

Jenny Erpenbeck has become the first German writer to win the International Booker Prize.

Erpenbeck, who began as an opera director in the 1990s, wrote Kairos about the end of the Cold War in Germany, and will split the 50,000 pounds ($A95,317) prize money equally with the translator Michael Hofmann.

Hofmann, a German-born poet and essayist who grew up in the UK, was announced at London’s Tate Modern as the first male translator to win.

Speaking at the museum, Erpenbeck said she was “really surprised” and “very honoured”.

She also said that she won with the help of “people who supported me” such as Hofmann.

Erpenbeck, born in East Berlin in 1967, had previously featured on the longlist for Go, Went, Gone.

Canadian writer and broadcaster Eleanor Wachtel, chairwoman of the 2024 judges, called Kairos “both beautiful and uncomfortable, personal and political”.

“Erpenbeck invites you to make

HOROSCOPE PUZZLES

Your week in the stars

By Joanne Madeline Moore

June 3-9, 2024

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Can you keep your bossy Aries side under control this week? If you can, then you’ll astound and amaze others with your can-do attitude, natural personal authority, networking skills, creative ideas and talent for leadership. You’re ready, willing and able to work hard and help others. Just make sure you are generous and inclusive. Encourage family members, close friends, work colleagues and community members to pull together and cooperate.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

From June 9 until July 20, dynamic Mars and daring Uranus will be transiting through your sign. You need to start planning, so you can make the most of this powerful pairing. It’s time for brave Bulls to venture beyond the safety of your home paddock. A confident attitude, an adventurous spirit and an inquiring mind will take you far in the weeks ahead. Angelina Jolie (who turns 49 on Tuesday) observes: “Life is a giant adventure, so much to do, to see.”

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

You’re full of fantastic ideas as the Sun, New Moon, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter all visit Gemini, and your sparky energy goes into overdrive. But if you are too gung-ho and disorganised, then taskmaster Saturn will bring you back down to earth with a thud. A work project needs to pass the Practicality Test, so try to balance being enthusiastic with being realistic. If you can mix being spontaneous with being sensible, then you’ll have a rewarding week.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

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

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Have you been feeling down? Jupiter boosts confidence, so it’s time to think big, especially when it comes to your dreams for the future. Pluto also helps you power ahead with personal changes that could transform your close relationships in wonderful ways. You must be persistent though! Your mantra for the week is from fellow Leo, actress and producer Lucille Ball: “Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.”

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

A work matter, volunteer project or relationship issue is taking up a lot of your time and attention. If you are patient then it will pay off in the long run, but there are no quick fixes to finding the right job (or partner) for you. The Sun, New Moon, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter encourage you to maintain enthusiasm, curiosity and momentum. Mars moves through your adventure and education zones (from June 9 until July 20), which favours travel and study.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Seven planets (including the New Moon and Venus) activate your relationship and aspirations zones. So it’s a good time to go on a first date, snuggle up close with your sweetheart or dream up some ambitious goals for the future. Passion and purpose will take you far. But Saturn could stir up trust and intimacy issues, and you may feel temporarily stuck in the past. Keep moving forward – inch by inch and step by step – towards a brand-new day.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

the connection between these generation-defining political developments and a devastating, even brutal love affair, questioning the nature of destiny and agency,” Wachtel added.

“Like the GDR (German Democratic Republic), it starts with optimism and trust, then unravels.”

She also said: “In luminous prose, Jenny Erpenbeck exposes the complexity of a relationship between a young student and a much older writer, tracking the daily tensions and reversals that mark their intimacy, staying close to the apartments, cafes, and city streets, workplaces and foods of East Berlin.

“It starts with love and passion, but it’s at least as much about power, art and culture.

“The self-absorption of the lovers, their descent into a destructive vortex, remains connected to the larger history of East Germany during this period, often meeting history at odd angles.”

Last year’s winner, Time Shelter by Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov, was set during and after the fall of Soviet influence on Eastern Europe.

This week Jupiter (planet of prosperity and opportunity) makes a lovely link with your ruling planet, Pluto. Which boosts Scorpio confidence, charisma and judgement. And Lady Luck is poised to knock on your door – especially involving home, family and/or real estate. The question is – are you brave enough and confident enough to let her in? It’s also a good week to study, do research, and participate in some powerful, transformational conversations.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

The Sun, New Moon, Mercury and Venus (plus the Jupiter/Pluto trine) activate your relationship zone and boost your natural Sagittarian inclination to reach out and help others. If you put other people first – at home, work and play – then you’ll be rewarded with love, friendship, companionship, and a warm inner glow. Motto for the moment is from actress Angelina Jolie (who turns 49 on Tuesday): “I will do the best I can with this life, to be of use.”

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

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

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

As five planets move through your creativity zone, you’re in the mood for avant-garde adventures and bohemian friendships. But remember there’s a fine line between being spontaneously successful and being hastily foolhardy. Also, a financial or business matter could require much more planning than you originally thought. Relax, take your time, and concentrate on enjoying the long and winding journey, rather than just focusing on the final destination.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

Is your domestic space a disorganised mess? This week the Sun, New Moon, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter highlight your home zone, so it’s time to spruce up your living space via cleaning, tidying and decluttering. Then beautify your surroundings with the addition of pictures, ornaments, new furniture or a lick of fresh paint – plus fresh flowers and inspiring music are a must! Then invite family and friends around to enjoy the improved, uplifted atmosphere.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2024

1 Which alloy consists essentially of copper and tin? (6)

8 Name a popular soft drink. (8)

9 To accumulate in the course of time, is to do what? (6)

10 Denver is the capital of which US State? (8)

11 Name an emirate on the NW coast of the Persian Gulf. (6)

12 To be of sound mind, is to be what? (4)

13 Name a much prized timber. (5)

16 Name a city in West Yorkshire, England. (5)

19 Who was one of the gunfighters involved in the gunfight at the OK Corral, Wyatt ...? (4)

21 Which term implies additional ones? (6)

22 Which mountain range lies between southern Russia and Georgia? (8)

23 What is a cinematic film with a soundtrack? (6)

24 Which term indicates “and so forth”? (2,6)

25 Name another word for alignment. (6)

Down

2 What is a person who lives apart from society? (7)

3 What is salvation achieved by absorption into Brahman? (7)

4 When one chooses someone by vote, one does what? (6)

5 Name an officer of rank in the Australian Army. (7)

6 What is another term for otalgia? (7)

7 Which hats are also known as trilbies? (7)

13 Name the young of the domestic fowl. (7)

14 To be no longer operative, is to be what? (7)

15 What are meals also called? (7)

17 What is a level of command known as? (7)

18 Name a very long Australian river. (7)

20 Which articles are sent by mail? (6)

Jenny Erpenbeck, author of Kairos, holds the trophy after winning the International Booker Prize. Photo: AAP