BARR’S SPENDING IS CRUSHING COMMUNITY WELLBEING
For
Good
WHEN QUEENS COLLIDE
Elizabeth I v Mary Queen of Scots in a classic play you’ve probably never heard of
Andra reveals stories her grandmothers didn’t tell
By Katarina LLOYD JONES
Some people find it hard to view their grandparents as whole people, but after writing her debut book, Stories My Grandmothers Didn’t Tell Me, author Andra Putni says she finally understands.
“Often people pass away before grandchildren are adults, or people are busy with that forward rush of life, but I definitely came to see them as real people, and the book is quite honest,” she says.
“It’s not all rose tinted and lovely grandma stuff.”
Both of Andra’s grandmothers came from Latvia to Australia in 1949, with Milda Seja arriving at Greta Migrant Camp, Newcastle, and Aline Balulis at Graylands Migrant Hostel in Fremantle. Both ultimately settled in Newcastle.
Andra, who grew up in Toowoomba, says: “We would drive down when I was little [...] and we’d be all kind of tired and messy from 10 hours in the car.
“I would walk initially into grandma Milda’s house and see all these incredible Latvian cross-stitch tapestries with all these amazing geometric pat-
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terns and all this amber jewellery, and I knew she had hidden war stories but I didn’t really know what they were.
just knew that there were these sto ries, and I had glimpses of them, but I didn’t really know what they were.
“I wanted to really explore the topic that people have all these hidden stories in their families, just hiding in plain sight, and that often our grandparents or parents have been through momentous world events.
“Because there’s a lot of trauma associated with some of these events, they don’t talk about them unless they’re really asked for the stories, and you have to ask in a way that makes people feel like you’re ready to hear those stories.”
Andra says the decision to write about what her two grandmothers went through was, at times, wracked with uncertainty, for herself and fam ily members, many of whom were ap prehensive about dredging up painful memories.
Andra says that she had purposeful conversations about the war years with Aline, but had to rely on fragments of stories and other people’s memories of grandma Milda, who had passed away in 1997, before the book was being written.
“It became a bit like a dance, moving between quite dark topics, and then lighter things.”
mother, who was still in Latvia, living behind the Iron Curtain, and a realisation of how poor her mother was.
Andra says: “I remember sitting beside nanna in her small weatherboard house in Newcastle as she told me: ‘At first we tried to send money but people stole it, and big packages never made it through. Then one time I sent her a cream silk scarf folded in a letter. It was so very thin that you couldn’t tell it was there. She got it! I thought she might wear the scarf to feel a bit better, but she wrote and told me she’d sold it at the Riga markets. That’s how the plan started. I decided I would buy scarves to send to her and then she could earn money by selling them’.
“I remember nanna telling me how she wanted to buy the best scarves to send to her mother – she would agonise over which ones were the right colours and patterns that might sell well.
“My heart really ached sitting beside nanna hearing these stories, but I was also really glad to finally be learning more about my family.”
Hearing the stories was difficult, Andra says, and she was worried about delving into difficult things, putting down writing the book several times.
“It would feel like all these momen-
The book also details Aline and Milda’s new lives in Australia, with Milda taking up a central role in the organising of Latvian events for the Latvian-Newcastle community.
For Aline, her new life in Australia included receiving letters from her
Andra says she still continues to try and discover more about her heritage every day, including learning the language and attending community events organised by the Canberra Latvian society.
Stories My Grandmothers Didn’t Tell Me can be pre-ordered from Amazon AU or andraputnis.com.au
Cover: Karen Vickery, left, as Queen Elizabeth and Steph Roberts as Mary Queen of Scots in Mary Stuart. Photo: Jane Duong. Story Page 23.
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From left, Andra’s maternal grandmother, Milda Seja, at the beach in Latvia c.1938, author Andra Putnis, and her paternal grandmother Aline Balulis, outskirts of Newcastle, c.1960.
Leaders are meant to represent the values we respect and want the most in someone given one of the most incredible privileges on earth: leading a government.
Along with voting intentions, leadership ratings are constantly measured. Just ask Turnbull and Abbott about how many Newspolls they lost.
In a political strategy perspective they need to be able to engage both base and target segments, raise resources with key stakeholders, be able to authentically believe in the values they represent, and help frame and communicate narratives to the electorate.
Oh, and, of course, be the example to the truest of believers on the parlia mentary floor.
But there’s one more often over looked skill that is the hallmark of only the best leaders for in itself it is a form of leadership. And that’s leaving when your time is up.
Not having to be pushed, or due to a crushing electoral result because messages from the electorate were consistently ignored.
As we have seen, leaders have maybe two elections in them. And that’s either as a winner or opponent.
Here in the ACT some of these lessons seem to have been forgotten
exec gig he needs.
which is as per the PM’s unofficial policy. Thing is, those outside jobs are not easy to get so Barr doesn’t want to
Labor can be thankful for the Liberals, though. They’d love to get to sloppy as that’d be an upgrade from messy when it comes to their leadership.
A failed coup by Weston Creek
2024 is going to be different as it is likely two of the three party leaders in the Assembly now won’t be in 12 months. And the third. Maybe.
local Jeremy Hanson, then the empty chair as branch president, vendettas so entrenched that organised crime would be in awe, would all have Elizabeth Lee feeling as though she’s not even come close to being given a fair run. She’d be right, too.
Added to a lack of momentum through a poor comms campaign and it’s unlikely she’ll be running again as leader unless she can get to 11 seats. So say hello to another four more years of what-iffing.
That leaves the Greens. Shane once commanded the support of the hard or Socialist left in the party room. With good reason, too, as he had an impressive activist CV.
That was then, this is now. Rebecca Vassarotti may love the very easy but friendly response of ANU meet-andgreets but she also would love to be
leader, connecting with the centre-left voter on gender, climate and housing. Rattenbury is undoubtedly smart and his old activist sense of fear and even paranoia has served him well. But externally he’s seen as weak and perceived as only able to throw words at Labor. And he can’t resonate with those who identify with the Renters Party, just the Greens.
With the tide turning against the Greens at the ballot box, he would know his time is limited, but as a long-term party servant he gets to go when he decides in the next year.
For all local leaders, the lessons of how to leave office have been there all along. But like their global counterparts so few lead by example.
While they may not have a local nemesis, they all know that October will be the killing season.
Dr Andrew Hughes is a lecturer in marketing with the Research School of Management at ANU where he specialises in po litical marketing and advertising.
Leaders in limbo, from left, Andrew Barr, Elizabeth Lee and Shane Rattenbury.
‘The company prides itself on integrity, consistently honouring commitments and striving to exceed client expectations’
Top-tier workmanship brings dream spaces to life
Class Constructions Canberra has carved out a reputation for high-end custom renovations and the creation of accessiblefriendly homes and bathrooms, says director Andrew Hooper.
Class Constructions’ approach extends far beyond construction; it ensures that every phase of a project unfolds seamlessly.
“With more than 26 years in the construction industry, including two decades devoted specifically to renovations, my journey began humbly, in a joinery shop, before evolving through roles in civil construction, honing my expertise in formwork, concrete, and steel,” he says.
“This diverse background equips me with an understanding of industry intricacies, underpinning Class Constructions’ reputation for delivering top-tier workmanship.”
Based in Canberra, and rooted in the local community, Class Constructions possesses a deep understanding of regional dynamics and the requirements of the area, enabling personalised service and prompt response to client needs.
“At Class Constructions, we understand that the design phase of any project is crucial for its success,” says Andrew.
construction of bespoke million-dollar residences, Class Constructions takes pride in the fact that many of its clients come from referrals, word of mouth and repeat customers, who have consistently praised their service and results.
“That’s why Class Constructions is proud to have an in-house building designer, Ramir Araneta.
“Ramir’s experience in the ACT and surrounding NSW ensures that every detail meets clients’ visions and regulatory standards.
“When you choose Class Constructions, you can rely on Ramir and the team to help keep your project within budget during the design phase.
“From intricate home tiling to the
“We ensure clients remain informed and confident in every decision, by providing transparent, frequent communication.
“The company prides itself on integrity, consistently honouring commitments and striving to exceed client expectations.
“Transparency is foundational at Class Constructions. We maintain open communication, promptly updating clients on developments, positive or otherwise, to foster trust and prevent misunderstandings.”
The company also offers an extended 120-day liability period, surpassing the industry standard of 90 days, to ensure
However, Class Constructions’ signature services goes beyond luxury renovations, excelling in creating accessible-friendly spaces that significantly enhance homeowners’ independence and comfort, he says.
Class Constructions understands that embarking on a renovation project is not just a financial investment but also an emotional journey especially when it comes to improving accessibility in the home.
“Having cared for an ageing loved one myself, I intimately understand the challenges families face and the critical role that accessibility and comfort play in daily living,” says Andrew.
“My personal experience has deeply influenced Class Constructions’ approach to accessible-friendly renovations.
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showers, our solutions are designed to not only meet accessibility standards but also enhance overall quality of life.”
Andrew’s empathy and first-hand knowledge informs Class Constructions’ commitment to delivering spaces that promote independence and comfort, reflecting their dedication to caring for clients like family.
Class Constructions attributes its success to a dedicated team of professionals, themselves drawn to Class Constructions’ reputation for integrity and excellence, says Andrew.
One of Class Constructions’ Murrumbateman builds achieved for a client a record price for the area, highlighting the value of the company’s exceptional
craftsmanship.
Recently, Class Constructions was selected as a finalist in the MBA Awards 2024, for its outstanding work on the Watson’s Modern Scandi-barn build, further affirming their dedication to delivering high-quality, award-worthy construction projects.
“Class Constructions stands out not just as a construction company, but as a trusted partner in creating enduring, accessible dream spaces cherished across generations,” says Andrew.
“The team’s warm, client-centric approach, underpinned by a commitment to quality, transparency, and excellence, ensures every project achieves enduring success.”
Class Constructions, Call 0489 953410 or visit classconstructions.com.au
Class Constructions director Andrew Hooper (pictured)… “Class Constructions stands out not just as a construction company, but as a trusted partner in creating enduring, accessible dream spaces cherished across generations,” he says.
NEWS / New CEO for Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services
Sonia hasn’t a bad word for migrants and refugees
By Katarina LLOYD JONES
It’s important to look past the fear-mongering around migrants and refugees and embrace the benefits of a diverse and multicultural society, says Sonia di Mezza.
“There’s a fear that we are just go ing to be overrun with refugees in this country, and that is not one based on reality,” says the new CEO of Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services (MARSS), a government funded, notfor-profit migrant and refugee support organisation based in Civic and Gun gahlin.
“Home Affairs takes [around] 18,000 [refugees] every year, some of them people who have already applied from Australia, and some people who are in camp; 18,000 is not huge, it is a very small part of the overall migration
the people she is working to assist on
“I spent all of my childhood and youth navigating two different cultures, and there were obviously some wonderful aspects of that, having a culture to enjoy and share and celebrate, and there were tough times,
“Sometimes in my childhood we faced racism, and they were challeng-
“But all of that really helped me when I was working overseas with people from diverse backgrounds, to be able to understand the person in front of me and to understand their cultural context and to be able to work effectively and advocate for their rights.”
Sonia’s passion for advocacy is evident, her office filled with art, posters, and memorabilia of past postings, which includes 11 years as a human rights lawyer and solicitor, and resettlement consultant in Sudan, Lebanon, India and Pakistan.
She also spent four years working as a refugee lawyer representing asy-
with members of Canberra’s multicultural communities and says Canberra can be a bit of a culture shock.
“Canberra is particularly cold and if the person comes from a very hot country, it can be difficult to experience in your first year living here, until you get used to it,” she says.
“Housing is a huge need of our migrant and refugee communities, and is hard to come by given the current housing crisis throughout Australia.
“Learning English and finding employment, as well as navigating government agencies such as Centrelink are other big challenges for our clients.
“People come from diverse backgrounds, from difficult and problematic contexts, and people just need some understanding and support so [...] they can settle successfully into Australia, whether they be migrants or refugees.”
Before MARSS, Sonia spent three years as the CEO of Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services in Bendigo and says she is happy to bring what
Sonia di Mezza… “There’s a fear that we are just going to be overrun with refugees in this country, and that is not one based on reality.” Photo: Katarina Lloyd Jones
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Good reason to doubt election health promises
Health remains one of the key challenges for the ACT election in October.
While the government continues to make promises that we doubt it can afford, the Canberra Liberals find ways to criticise.
The advice of former UK prime minister Tony Blair to the new Brit ish government regarding the health crisis in the UK, as heard on BBC Radio 4 the Tuesday after the election there, also rings true for dealing with failures in the health system in Canberra.
Tony Blair pointed to “a whole slew of new treatments, new vaccines, new injectables, new diagnostics, so you can switch your healthcare system from cure to prevention”.
He added: “There’s a massive amount you can do there, if you’re also prepared to do the other thing”. The other thing is to base decisions on “all your health data”.
Whoever is in government in the ACT after October will have a huge challenge to restore the position of the ACT to leading the nation in hospital and health care – as was the case before Labor came to power over two decades ago.
It is not that the Labor-Greens government has done nothing. Through covid the ACT performed very well on preventive health. The
University of Canberra Hospital has taken some pressure off the Canberra Hospital. The construction that has occurred over the years at the Woden site of the Canberra Hospital is apparent for all to see. Although it is yet to be determined if it was a positive move, the government has taken back management of the previous Calvary Public Hospital.
However, when compared with the other states and the NT, the ACT has gone backwards. As pointed out by Jon Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed in the pages of CityNews, there has been constant purloining from the health budget. This type of pilfering has taken its toll.
The spending made by the government is largely in capital works. The weakness in the approach taken by the
Whoever is in government in the ACT after October will have a huge challenge to restore the position of the ACT to leading the nation in hospital and health care – as was the case before Labor came to power over two decades ago.
Labor-Greens governments over the years has been in the recurrent budget, through which staff are funded.
Attempts to take pressure off the hospital have been tried. The nurse-led walk-in clinics have been evaluated and found to be successful. Ironically, as shadow health minister, Leanne Castley has discovered through FOI, the government has been exploring adding GPs to the system. Wouldn’t that mean doctorled walk-in clinics?
It is time for the election promises. More nurse-led walk-in clinics are on the agenda. The intention is to staff more clinics in south Tuggeranong, the inner south, north Gungahlin and west Belconnen.
Additionally, Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith announced: “The government is resourcing our
four-year elective surgery plan to deliver 60,000 elective surgeries and to expand operating theatre capacity in public health services”. There are no figures in their media release to indicate how many elective surgeries are currently being delivered and their level of complexity.
Before the budget, the government announced (as an opening salvo in the election campaign) that it was committed to hiring 800 more healthcare workers. It identified more nurses, doctors, specialists, midwives, physiotherapists and other allied health professionals.
More than $86 million was allocated in the 2024-25 ACT Budget to recruit more than 137 new full-time equivalent nurses and midwives as a first step.
These sorts of promises are important. However, there are challenges throughout Australia in recruiting staff. The quality of staff that we have in our health systems, and our hospitals in particular, must not be diminished.
Recruiting from overseas, especially from low and middle-income countries, also has an important moral dimension. Where people in these
countries have very poor population to medical profession ratios, it seems immoral to worsen the situation.
Training and recruitment have been allowed to go backward against population growth and health needs over the past decades. Attempts to rectify this problem in the few months leading into an election raise many more questions than answers.
Promises for improvement are appropriate. Let’s hope they will become reality. However, experience of similar promises being delivered over the last few years provides reason to doubt such assurances.
Will there be a strong enough crossbench in the ACT Assembly to hold government accountable for these promises? Well, that is up to ACT voters.
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.
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Police are cracking down on Civic and Braddon
Police are targetting criminal and anti-social behaviour in Civic and Braddon with a new high-visibility campaign.
Called City Safe, the campaign will focus on policing licensed premises, local businesses and high foot traffic areas in Civic and Braddon, where every day police respond to assaults, disturbances, drug incidents, property damage, robbery, sexual assault, theft and burglary.
The operation follows concerns raised by local businesses regarding criminal and anti-social behaviour.
ACT police chief Deputy Commissioner Scott Lee said: “Everyone in the community has a right to feel safe, and to see these sorts of incidents occurring on a regular basis in one of the busiest precincts within the ACT is very disappointing.
“Recently, I met with city business owners and operators who raised their concerns about the number of people engaging in criminal and anti-social behaviour.
“Criminal acts and anti-social behaviour significantly impacts the community, affecting their sense of safety within the community.
“Officers attached to the operation will be out and about, engaging with shopkeepers to identify and address incidents as they occur.”
Help wanted with birthing kits
A birthing kit packing day will be held by the Zonta Club of Canberra Breakfast on July 27.
The kits are packed by Zonta Clubs around Australia for the Birthing Kit Foundation of Australia, which has distributed 2.6million kits to third-world countries, such as PNG, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and India. There will be two sessions at the Church
of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, O’Connor, and at each session 1400 kits will be completed. Tickets to volunteer are free through Humanitix.
Changes at Goodwin
Goodwin board member since 2014, Laurann Yen has been appointed chair of the Canberra-based, not-for-profit, independent aged-care provider. She replaces Liesel Wett, who has been on the board since 2009 and chair for the past decade.
Silver anniversary lunch
Musician Lawrence De Costa will entertain the ladies of the Gungahlin Day VIEW Club as they celebrate the club’s 25th anniversary over lunch at the Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club, Nicholls, from 11.30am on July 24. Associated clubs, members, guests and visitors all welcome. Lunch costs $35 and RSVPs by text to 0413 923933 9pm, July 21.
More about Mercy Shops
Annie Allica, from Mercy Ships, is the dinner speaker at the next meeting of the Tuggeranong Evening VIEW Club at the Town Centre Vikings Club, Greenway, from 7pm on July 24. RSVP to tuggeven@gmail.com
Winter clothing sale
Warm winter pre-loved clothing for all ages, jackets and suits, blankets, doonas, towels and linen, and shoes and boots are promised at “reasonable prices” at the next clothing sale at St Ninian’s Uniting Church, Lyneham, 9am-1pm, July 26 and 27. The kitchen will be serving scones, cooked on the premises.
Beanies and scarves
The Bold Bandannas, a Relay for Life Team raising funds for cancer research, prevention and support has a stall at the Belco fruit and veg markets, 8am-5pm, on Saturday, July 27. They’ll be selling beanies and scarves,
a range of hand-sewn items, plants plus homemade preserves, pickles, chutney, lemon butter and sugar-reduced preserves. More from 0451 679220.
Val will have a view
Senior Australian of the Year 2022 Val Dempsey will talk about her decades of service to St John Ambulance at the next lunch meeting of the Weston Creek VIEW Club at the Southern Cross Club, Woden, from 11.30am on August 6. Visitors and interested ladies welcome. RSVP to 0408 864616 by August 1.
Free pelvic-floor advice
Women of all ages are invited to attend a free, physiotherapist-led pelvic-floor workshop to provide information, education and self-help strategies for continence problems. At Gungahlin Community Health Centre, 1pm-3pm, August 8. Book at chs.ccptpelvichealth@act.gov.au or on 5124 9977
A look at family history
Family History ACT is hosting a half-day conference that’s open to anyone wanting to learn more about the connections between family and local and community history. Family History-Community History will be held 9am-1pm on August 10. Register at familyhistoryact.org.au
Cartoon: Paul Dorin
POLITICS / ACT budget – expenditure
‘The budget papers have an Alice in Wonderland feeling of make-believe about them’
Barr’s spending is crushing community wellbeing
“With debt at $90,000 for every ACT household and taxes rising at 6.6 per cent, almost double the rate of wages, it is asking far too much to accept the ACT government’s claim that it is supporting the wellbeing of Canberrans.” JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED
The ACT government has resorted to major new revenue measures in the 2024-25 Budget, with increased taxes on utilities and large businesses (including supermarkets, which are certain to be passed to households) and directly on households.
Is this the end of tax hikes? The government has, after all, added more than $400 million a year into the forward estimates, and expenditure has similarly been forecast to grow.
The operating budget is forecast to return to a “surplus”, albeit, as measured by Mr Barr. It will be interesting to see if, say, the head of Treasury or the Auditor-General agree with him.
Regrettably, our view of the budget remains the same as last year i.e that the budget papers have an Alice in Wonderland feeling of make-believe about them.
In our commentary on the 2023-24 Budget last year, we said: “Based on the 10 years of actual results against the budget forecasts, the estimate in the current budget spend of $9.021 billion for 2026-27 is almost certainly understated and, in reality, will be in the order of $9.6 billion”.
Our assessment was based on the fact that Mr Barr had not once in his 12 years as Treasurer been able to contain expenditure growth at the level that was forecast in the budget.
Our estimate for 2026-27 was based
on the average by which each of his forecasts had been underestimated.
It is now well established that for the last decade the ACT government’s budget forecasts could not be relied upon for the budget year, let alone over the forward years.
However, we didn’t anticipate Mr Barr would beat his own record in respect of the extent of the underestimate in expenditure.
Table 1 provides the expenditure forecasts in the 2023-24 and the just handed down 2024-25 Budget, along with the 2022-23 audited outcome.
Unfortunately, it confirms that we were correct in highlighting that actual expenditure will be hundreds of millions of dollars higher than forecast by Mr Barr.
These unbudgeted costs will be borne by Canberra households, many of whom are already struggling under mortgage stress as well as the highest rates of taxation in the country.
As we noted in our most recent article on the budget we provided an estimate of the natural growth of the budget, based on the economic parameters applicable, as being about 5 per cent a year.
That is, in fact, a conservative estimate, noting that in the current year expenses are forecast to grow at 6.6 per cent ( Table 1). On this basis, as we predicted last year, expenditure is on track to hit at least $9.6 billion in 2026-27.
The forecast for 2027-28 is clearly understated and will exceed $10
billion. These are not small costs and will inevitably be borne by Canberra households.
It is quite apparent from the budget papers that resource allocation has been constrained by a significant growth in debt and the associated interest costs, and the need to address problems that should have been dealt with earlier and possibly at a much lower cost.
Market borrowings are forecast to increase from $11.7 billion in 2023-24 to $18.1 billion in 2027-28. That is an increase at an average of $1.6 billion a year, and a compounding growth rate of 11.6 per cent. Interest costs increase by $446 million over this period at an average of 21.1 per cent a year.
To put this in perspective, Table 2 details the expenditure forecasts in the 2024-25 Budget on select government functions and, for the purposes of comparison, the annual interest costs on the debt that the ACT govern-
ment has racked up.
If the debt and interest costs had been stabilised at the 2023-24 level, that would have provided an extra $446 million in 2027-28, and a staggering $1.1 billion over the forward estimates.
What could that money have delivered? Lower taxes, more funds for hitherto neglected services, targeted support programs for vulnerable people in our community? How about delivering on some of the promises?
We leave that question for the readers and to the imagination of the ministers overseeing these functions.
To be fair, in 2022 Treasurer Barr advised that he does have a strategy for stabilising debt.
Unfortunately, it is fundamentally flawed as we pointed out at the time, being premised on a startling claim that economic growth in the ACT would outstrip the rate at which he is accumulating debt.
To provide context for that claim, in our opinion, not even Donald Trump would have the nerve to be so brazen.
The Budget Overview advises that “funding in the 2024-25 Budget is targeted towards health services, cost of living challenges and housing. Investment is also targeted at infrastructure to support the wellbeing of Canberrans and strengthen our economy and productive capacity over time”.
We will discuss the claim of an additional $700 million for health, along with other specific budget initiatives in a future article. However, in real terms, annual growth in health funding in this budget has been set (Table 2) at a mere 2.7 per cent.
This level of growth is less than the estimate of inflation and wage growth in the budget. In other words, a funding increase of 2.7 per cent represents, in real terms, a cut in funding for health services.
Public housing will receive $50 million in capital in 2024-25 under the quaintly titled initiative “Continuing the Growth and Renewal of Public Housing and Social Housing Accelerator”. This also includes a $5 million contribution from the Commonwealth.
Apart from some initiatives that had been previously funded (a re-announcement), remarkably, the budget announces $51.2 million over four years for repair and maintenance. This is a normal recurrent cost belatedly funded to address chronic problems with the housing stock condition as reported by the Productivity Commission, which we highlighted recently.
With debt rising to the equivalent of almost $90,000 for every ACT household and taxes rising at 6.6 per cent annually at almost double the rate of wage growth, it is asking far too much to accept the ACT government’s claim that it is supporting the wellbeing of Canberrans.
Jon Stanhope is a former chief minister of the ACT and Dr Khalid Ahmed a former senior ACT Treasury official.
Cooleman Court, Weston Creek
Table 1: Comparison of Expenditure Forecasts in 2023-24 and 2024-25 budgets
Table
Written and Directed by Wesley Enoch AM
31 JULY & 1 AUGUST 2024
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Di Dio to root out medical ‘bad apples’
Well-known Canberra medical leader Antonio Di Dio has been appointed as director of the Professional Services Review.
The PSR is Aus tralia’s safeguard ing agency against inappropriate medical practice when providing Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits services.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said: “Associate Professor Di Dio is a trusted member of the medical community and will bring his expertise to an essential role in our healthcare system, ready to separate the bad apples from the bunch.
“[He] brings a wealth of experience to the role after working at the coalface as a general practitioner for more than 30 years.
“He has been a valuable educator at the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian Medical Council.
“The experience Associate Professor Di Dio is bringing to the PSR will benefit the Australian healthcare system for years to come.”
Antonio Di Dio is known to readers as the CityNews Kindness columnist.
Antonio Di Dio.
Tues 23 July, 11am-12pm
Understanding Foot Pain – a Step Towards Relief
Linda Clee, physiotherapist
Thurs 25 July, 1pm-2pm The Management of Joint Pain
Dr Roopa Gawarikar, joint pain specialist
Thurs 25 July, 2pm-3pm Solving Sciatica
Sophie Bullock, exercise physiologist
Fri 26 July, 11.30am-12.30pm Opioids and Chronic Pain
Dr Geoffrey Speldewinde, pain and rehabilitation medicine specialist
To register for any of these sessions – please call 6251 2055 or email info@arthritisact.org.au
We whitefellas were complicit in colonial crimes
The timing of the forthcoming October royal tour is perfect.
When Charles III and Queen Camilla touch down in the “King’s Voyager” it will be exactly one year from the crushing defeat of the Voice referendum.
Its supporters have learned the lessons of that disastrous campaign and begun to rally around the Truthtelling Commission. The Greens are introducing a bill in federal parliament to establish it, and while PM Albanese hates being pushed around by them, his own Indigenous Minister Linda Burney has reminded him that “money for the commission is already in the Budget”.
It will highlight the crime against humanity that was the violent occupation of the 7,680,000 square hectares stolen by agents of the British Crown from the 800,000 to a million Aboriginal folk who had owned and cared for the land and its creatures for many thousands of years. It will capture the emotional heart of white Australia, a vital element in their embrace of the cause.
The arrival of the royal couple will undoubtedly revive the Republican Movement. And while the PM is also sympathetic to that cause – as, I suspect, is the new Governor-General
Aborigines Using Fire to Hunt Kangaroos, by Joseph Lycett (c.1817).
Sam Mostyn – he’s made it “crystal clear” that Aboriginal recognition must come first.
Recent events in other parts of the former British Empire have driven home the determination of victims to hold the perpetrators to account.
As the great Henry Reynolds noted in a recent article: “The hostile reception which met the tour of the West Indies by the young royals in March 2022 was a warning sign that old ways were out of joint with the emerging rise of the Global South. The old colonial deference has passed its use-by date.
“It is now time to begin talking
Image: National Library of Australia
about reparations in recognition of all the benefits that the British extracted from their far flung empire and the ubiquitous violence which accompanied the pillage.
“At its very simplest we should expect that the British admit and shoulder moral responsibility for the great tragedy that continues to shadow our history.”
The Australian experience differed from the West Indies slavery in that the Aboriginal people were enslaved in their own beloved country as their spiritual and physical identities were stripped away.
As I discovered in the three years
The Australian experience differed from the West Indies slavery in that the Aboriginal people were enslaved in their own beloved country as their spiritual and physical identities were stripped away.
of research and writing The Donald Thomson Story – Fighting for Justice, the biography of our first home-grown anthropologist, we whitefella Australians were thoroughly complicit in the crime.
It’s to be published later this month, and other works will precede and follow it. It’s not a story of massacres, nor even of the stolen generations, but of the intimate tribal lives of the Aboriginal people of Cape York, the NT and to a lesser extent the central deserts.
Thomson was accepted by them in their most sacred and scarifying ceremonies of initiation, corroboree, cult and even the nightly dances that
told their old and new stories the way we flock to the passive equivalent we call TV.
Until his death in 1970, Thomson was their champion in the highest echelons of government, academia and the mass media.
He led them to war against a Japanese invasion and even recruited 75 headhunters to forge a path behind the lines in Dutch New Guinea.
But his was a nation whose first parliament invented the White Australia Policy and whose population largely followed the British colonial leader.
Little wonder that his fellow professors at Melbourne University dubbed him “Australia’s Lawrence of Arabia”. But like Lawrence, he failed to win his own people to the rightness of his cause by the time he died. It is unfinished business. We need the courage and the moral decency to bring ourselves to account. robert@ robertmacklin. com
/ medium-density development
Lost: the value of open space and shady trees
By RICHARD JOHNSTON & MERVYN DORROUGH
We seem to have lost sight of the importance of generous open space and landscaping with large, shade trees in more recent residential development in Canberra.
The major challenge now for urban designers is, as laid down in Canberra’s Living Infrastructure Plan: Cooling the City (2019): better preparing the city for and being more resilient to climate change.
The key goals of this plan are to by 2045 achieve:
• 30 per cent tree canopy cover (or “equivalent”); and
• 30 per cent permeable surfaces.
This applies to public spaces and private blocks, and suggests that the built-on area of future development needs to be more limited than in recent examples, and much more attention needs to be paid to substantial communal open space with good landscape design.
even more northern cities such as Vienna.
school, in a safe place within sight of home, instead of having their own private backyards or no play space at all apart from adjacent streets and the few public parks.
The example in the left-hand picture is one of the first on the Kingston Foreshore, when it was run by a dedicated development authority. Regrettably more recent projects on the Foreshore have tended to higher densities and no large, shade trees, as the government and developers have sought to maximise their financial returns.
A very good, new example of integrating buildings & landscape for reducing urban heating and providing social benefits is the approved scheme for 403 dwellings on a derelict site at 1 Dairy Road Fyshwick by the Molonglo Group. This has:
Lots of open space with a central lineal water feature.
Four-storey, L-shaped buildings grouped to form semi-private “courtyards”.
mandatory for major projects, but the promised guideline document is yet to emerge.
The objective is no net heat gain with new development. This study for Dairy Road indicated that the main contributors to heat reduction would be:
• At least 30 per cent site area to be canopy area of shade trees. Extensive permeable ground surfaces including rain gardens and wetlands.
• Appropriate location of open space and buildings (courtyard layout) for good solar orientation and climate moderation.
Wouldn’t this be a great model for the East Lake “urban renewal” area, which the government claims will be an “exemplary” project?
However, we see little sign yet that the government has learned any lessons from the tendency to overdevelop and eliminate large, shade trees from leased sites over the last two decades.
Internal courtyards can have an important role in responding to climate but also in building community. European cities have been doing this for centuries and there are some wonderful, more recent, mediumdensity examples in Barcelona and
We used to do this sort of thing in Canberra. Some of the public housing complexes of the ‘70s feature large communal courtyards with big trees and meeting and play spaces to encourage the interaction of residents.
There were also some good private redevelopments done in Canberra, 30
or 40 years ago. Several were built under NCDC redevelopment guidelines which favoured block amalgamation for larger sites, enabling reasonable dwelling densities with generous communal open space.
If well designed and provided with appropriate facilities these central open spaces are well used, particularly by families and kids playing after
• Vehicular circulation and visitor parking areas confined to under the buildings and on the perimeter of the site, allowing deep-rooted tree planting in the open space areas.
This project was also the subject of a “Microclimate Assessment” report, which is called for in the Living Infrastructure Plan and which the government said would become
Richard Johnston is an architect and town planner, formerly a senior executive in the ACT Planning and Land Authority.
Mervyn Dorrough is a landscape architect, former director of Redbox Design Group, and was involved in major projects such as Parliament House, New Acton and the Kingston Foreshore.
The aerial picture, left, shows moderate density and communal open space on this early development at Kingston Foreshore. At right is a more recent development with higher density, limited communal space and no large shade trees.
Blinded by the light... what’s with modern cars?
As we strive for technological, engineering and innovative superiority in our car design and performance, I think we have lost all sense of perspective in aligning these with reason and safety.
In particular, exterior vehicle light indicator and headlight design and function. Whether electric vehicles or just the ordinary sedan or SUV, their blinding brightness and colour, ridiculous linear display and operation adds to what is already a volatile driving experience on Canberra roads with its multitude of speeding and other traffic signs and lights to compete with.
As manufacturers attempt to outdo each other for populist market dominance with these so-called innovative designs, they clearly have no regard for how they will operate in the real world, rather than the showroom.
Angela Kueter-Luks, via email
Spending money like it’s going out of fashion
Here we go again, the Barr government spending money like it was going out of fashion, even though we are already up to our eyes in debt. This month’s Our CBR is all about spend, spend, spend.
Funding for students between $400 and $750 depending on age, $50 rebate on electricity, gas and water, a $250 one-off
payment for about 5700 apprentices, various promises to do with Canberra’s health, improvements to paths across Belconnen, stamp duty concession of homes on the first $1 million, upgrade on the Canberra Theatre Centre and cameras for road safety.
A lot, or most of these things should have been done years ago, so why now? Oh, yes, there is an election coming up. Watch this space to see if they get done.
Vi Evans, via email
The government is here for all Australians
I applaud the prime minister for suspending WA senator Fatima Payman from Labor caucus meetings for her Pro-Palestinian stand.
Senator Payman is, like many “Free Palestine” supporters, somewhat naïve or perhaps just arrogant in thinking that her grandstanding on Palestine in the Australian parliament will make any difference to the current war.
The only thing that Palestinians need to free from is their own repressive terrorist government – Hamas.
Senator Payman might also want to note that the Australian Government is here for all Australians – irrespective of doctrine.
“Freedom of speech” is not any justification for Payman’s actions or for the pro-Palestinian graffiti that has taken place in most cities around the country – it’s less “freedom of speech” and more blatant, ignorant vandalism.
Hamas has been attacking Israel for
almost 20 years with rockets, and suicide bombers, culminating in the brutal attacks on October 7 in which almost 1400 Israelis, children included, were brutally tortured and shot, and 250 kidnapped – some still in captivity, their fate unknown.
Repeated use of vacuous slogans, senseless acts of graffiti and violent antisemitic protests here in Australia will have no effect whatsoever on a conflict that originated more than a century ago, when the Middle East was carved by the British and the French.
The solution can only come from the Middle East itself and those countries that have some real sway in the region.
Australia, Ms Payman, is not one of them.
Declan Mcgrath, via email
Difficult to reform the party from outside
For crossing the floor, Senator Fatima Payman deserved no more than a reprimand.
Resigning from the Labor Party was a mistake. She will find it difficult to reform the party from outside.
Eight years ago I made the same mistake. I resigned from the board of the Conservation Council ACT Region in protest at what I believed was unconstitutional behaviour by office-bearers.
Last year the council’s president personally decided that I should not be a member of the council’s Transport Working Group, nor contact members of any Conservation Council working group, nor attend the
Conservation Council office.
In June the Magistrates Court dismissed the council’s application for a court order to prohibit me from being within 10 metres of the Conservation Council office, from contacting staff or board members at the office, from calling the office, from sending physical post to the office, from emailing any Conservation Council email address, and writing about the Conservation Council in the media, on social media or on my personal blog.
Leon Arundell, Downer
Eric misunderstands my point
Eric Hunter’s letter “Pause before hitting the blame button, (CN July 4) July) confuses or misunderstands the things I wrote in my letter on Palestine demonstrations.
Nowhere did I suggest that students did not have a right to demonstrate peacefully. I have demonstrated similarly in respect to the People’s Republic of China, workplace laws, family violence, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the like.
My criticism was of those who are violent, refuse to obey lawful orders, engage in graffiting offices and monuments, or barricade electoral offices. I suggested that such criminal behaviour would be a career-limiting move, especially if one were studying law. Others have mentioned the same problem for students that break the law.
Ric Hingee, Duffy
Gigantic construction site, no thanks!
In response to Jon Stanhope’s letter on the ACT government plans to build 4000 homes adjacent to Straithnairn (CN July 4), I am astounded at such plans.
It has been established that this area is the site of significant Aboriginal artefacts.
For the above reason, and the beautiful vista Jon Stanhope refers to, what needs to be planned is a nature reserve.
When will the ACT government walk the talk? “Gigantic construction site”, no thanks!
Merrilyn Fahey, Reid
Vote for compassion, out the government
Canberrans have become too complacent, undervaluing the importance of their kangaroos. Allowing the government to get away with killing hundreds, maybe thousands of healthy adult kangaroos and leaving their joeys to die of dehydration, starvation and predation.
The good news is that this cruelty can be stopped. By voting the ACT Labor/ Greens coalition government out of office. Political parties such as Canberra Liberals, Animal Justice Party, the Belco Party and independents such as Peter Strong are all against the cull. I urge Canberrans to vote for compassion.
Robyn Soxsmith, Kambah
Why it’s important to get the training setting right
When learning a new skill, running a training session or hosting a conference, it’s important to get the setting right.
From a professional atmosphere, to quality catering, to accessible audio-visual capabilities, an event is made all the more memorable when all the details fall into place.
Here’s a guide to quality training and conference spaces available in the Canberra region.
Versatile function rooms, caring team
The Ainslie Group is offering an August functions special, says catering and event manager Leanne King, where a minimum spend of $1000 will be accompa nied by a free room hire.
“Our versatile function rooms are perfect for any occasion, whether you’re planning an intimate training session or a corporate theatre-style event for up to 350 people,” says Leanne.
“With our advantageous facilities, including staging and AV, with extras like projector screens that allow for split or shared content, your event is sure to impress and bring your vision to reality.”
Leanne says there is also a variety of catering options to suit any style, from stand-up mingling to sit-down dining.
Learn and train for road safety skills
She says that no matter the dietary need, both the Ainslie Football & Social Club and Gungahlin Lakes Golf & Community Club venues ensure all are met and treated with the utmost care, making the event seamless and memorable.
“With proximity to accom-
modation and public transport options, we can help bundle deals with our local hotel allies and best transport options,” she says.
“As fully secured premises, your events have a guaranteed confidential and private place for gathering.”
Ainslie Group, Ainslie Football & Social Club, 52 Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie, call 6248 8422 or visit ainslie group.com.au, or Gungahlin Lakes Golf & Community Club, 110 Gundaroo Drive, Nicholls, call 6242 6283.
The Road Ready Centre and Beck’s Transport Training have moved into shared premises, says CEO of RRC Steve Lake, making them the premier location in Canberra for driver testing and training services.
The Road Ready Centre has been helping new drivers learn to drive safely for more than 24 years, while Beck’s Transport Training has been operating for four years, says Steve.
“The Road Ready Centre delivers courses for learner drivers and also for people wanting to get a learner licence,”
“We do the road rules knowledge test,
Steve says coming into a professional training centre allows customers to experience quality training with road safety experts from the very start of their driving journey.
Meanwhile, next door, Beck’s Transport Training allows anyone who wants to upgrade their driving skills to be able to drive a heavy vehicle, usually for employment opportunities. Together, the two centres can help all drivers needing training or licence testing on the one site.
The Road Ready Centre and Beck’s Transport Training, Unit 7, 83-101 Lysaght Street, Mitchell. For The Road Ready Centre, call 6103 0463 or visit roadreadycentre.com. au. For Beck’s Transport Training, call 0417 085445 or visit beckstransporttraining.com
Host your next event with us in August and enjoy FREE ROOM HIRE!
Our versatile function rooms are perfect for any occasion, whether you’re planning an intimate training session or a corporate theatre-style event for up to 350 people. With facilities including staging, AV, projector screens that allow for split or shared content, and extendable room options that allow for multiple bar and dining areas, your event is sure to impress and bring your vision to reality.
Choose from a variety of catering options to suit your style, from stand-up mingling to sit-down dining. With proximity to accommodation and public transport, we can help bundle deals with our local allies to provide you easy travel options. As fully secured premises, your events have a guaranteed confidential and private place for gathering.
Book your August event today and enquire with our Award-winning functions team!
Anthony and Kate Beck of Beck’s Transport Training.
Road Ready young drivers learning to manage risk at the safer driver course.
centres and a premium destination for conferences and events, says marketing and sales manager, Nadine Young.
Just hours from Canberra and Sydney airports, Willinga Park spans more than 105 hectares of unspoiled beauty, and its conference centre features awardwinning architecture, state-of-the-art facilities, luxury accommodations, and tailored catering, she says.
“We are thrilled to unveil Willinga Park to our nonequine companions,” says Nadine.
She says at the heart of the conference centre is the 350sqm hall, filled with natural light and equipped with cutting-edge technology, including a 10m x 3.5m LED screen and wireless presentation capabilities.
The sophisticated boardroom and the elegant Stables
while the Pavilions provide luxurious self-contained accommodations with north-facing views, ensuring delegates feel re-energised and inspired.
“We recognise that everyone’s requirements are unique, and our customised service ensures that each client receives tailored solutions that precisely meet their individual needs,” she says.
Nadine says Willinga Park’s blend of natural beauty, cutting-edge facilities, and commitment to excellence ensures every event is memorable, and whether planning a corporate conference, celebration, or wedding, Willinga Park promises an unparalleled experience.
Willinga Park, 134 Forster Drive, Bawley Point. Call 4405 5666, or visit willingapark.com.au
Oaks Ranch, on the south coast, is a luxury, 14-room boutique hotel, restaurant, bar, event and conference facility and golf course, says general manager Josh Tyler.
It is located five minutes from Broulee Beach on 120 hectares, flanked by the Tomago River and Candlagan Creek.
“The Oaks Ranch first opened in 1970. The current owners closed the hotel in June 2021 to renovate and elevate the property’s offering, before we reopened in February 2022,” Josh says.
“Our conference and event facilities offer everything from boardroom-style to cabaret conferencing, weddings and events with a large alfresco breakout area, stunning views west across the property to the Deua mountain ranges.”
flipcharts and a whiteboard.
The restaurant and bar, Arlo, offers a refined casual eating experience, influenced by Australian, Asian and European cuisines.
“For conferencing we offer full or half-day delegate packages, a selection of house-made sweets and savoury snacks for our morning and afternoon teas,” he says.
“Our conference lunches range from gourmet sandwiches on local artisan breads to dining in Arlo. We also offer barista-made coffee, specialty teas, and in-house breakfast for overnight guests.
“Oaks Ranch is a Spanish mission-style property, a rural oasis with a sense of tranquillity – and the sunsets are truly amazing.”
CONFERENCING MEETS UNSPOILT, NATURAL LANDSCAPES.
Willinga Park conference centre.
Photo: Cameron Murray
Premier meeting venue and deluxe accommodation
The Crowne Plaza Canberra stands as a premier meeting venue and deluxe hotel accommodation, says Tim Bruen, director of sales and marketing.
“Established in 1989, the hotel has proudly carried the Crowne Plaza brand for over two decades. Boasting eight meeting spaces, six of which are bathed in natural light, it proves ideal for hosting education and training seminars, recruitment days, product launch or training workshops, and board meetings,” he says.
“Over the coming months we have a number of events including a truffle degustation dinner on the August 10, featuring local Bredbo Macenmist Black Truffles.
“Christmas and end-of-year function details are also available on our website”
Tim says the venue is equipped with video conferencing, high-quality audio-visual products and
services, and secure undercover parking for delegates and attendees.
“With the new financial year upon us and end-ofyear celebration functions just around the corner. too, now is a great time for those looking at upcoming events to make a booking,” he says.
Tim says bookings, with a deposit, for any event before August 31 will receive a $50 Canberra Centre voucher for each $1500 spent.
The hotel is also presenting a new menu that, he says, features grazing boards or tables, full-day delegate menu packages, and canapé packages designed to be allergy-friendly, and can be customised to suit diverse dietary needs.
Crowne Plaza, 1 Binara Street, Canberra. Call 6274 5500, or visit canberra.crowneplaza.com
Two premier road safety training businesses have
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Steeped in history, but with a modern twist
Situated in the picturesque Southern Highlands, The Robertson Hotel offers accommodation, a restaurant, bar, cafe, piano room and expansive gardens for any events or corporate and private functions, says Megan Paul, corporate event co-ordinator.
Steeped in history, the hotel was built in 1924, and remains true to much of its original ambience, but with a modern twist, says Megan.
“Our welcoming team offers an open door and family-friendly environment, which you will notice immediately upon your arrival,” she says.
“Boasting 39 rooms, ranging from our cosy heritage rooms with shared bathrooms, through to our beautiful king deluxe rooms and two and three-bedroom suites for larger groups, The Robertson Hotel has something for any occasion.
“Meanwhile, our public spaces, with their high ceilings and opulent open fireplaces transport one to a bygone era of old-world charm.
“From our grand white dining room, open to guests and passers-by, to our Gatsby style bar, elegant lounge and ballroom under the chandelier, you’ll fall in love with the Robertson, be it for your weekend conference, corporate retreat, team building activity, or murder mystery party.”
The Robertson Hotel is just a 90-minute drive from Canberra, says Megan, offering companies a retreat-like atmosphere that feels like stepping back in time.
“We provide a variety of menu options tailored to suit the budget and vision of each company,” she says. Megan says The Robertson Hotel team is proud to preserve the hotel’s rich history and create memorable experiences for guests.
There is also plenty of on and off-site outdoor space for team building activities, she says.
The Robertson Hotel, 1 Fountaindale Road, Robertson, NSW. Call 4885 1111 or visit therobertsonhotel.com
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The what-if when two mighty queens collide
COVER STORY
By Helen Musa
Chaika Theatre has taken another leap into the classics this year, but it’s one you’ve probably never heard of.
Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805), a contemporary of Goethe, was idolised in his time and is regarded by many as Germany’s premier classical playwright.
But unless you’re an opera fan – Schiller plays have been adapted many times for the operatic stage – you’re unlikely to have seen any of them.
Now Chaika is taking on Schiller’s play Mary Stuart in which two mighty opposites – Queen Elizabeth I and her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots – take the stage together.
Actually, they never met in real life, but why let the facts get in the way of one of the great what-if scenarios?
Why it has languished for so long in the English-speaking world is a mystery. It’s full of modern-sounding realpolitik, but its style, a mixture of prose and verse, has presented obstacles.
Not so in opera where that doesn’t matter. Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda, Rossini’s William Tell, Tchaikovsky’s Maid of Orleans and four Verdi operas are all based on Schiller plays. in a hostile climate.”
European men, she wanted to give the thing, but having two was just too much.
“We find it so strange that they never met, but the play asks how they got to such a point and why Elizabeth views Mary as such a threat to her crown.”
By today’s standards the executions seem horrific, Rogers says. We use expressions about politicians being stabbed in the back, but for Elizabeth and Mary that was a real prospect, yet both stayed incredibly strong.
The play asks what it means to have power and what it means for Elizabeth to find herself responsible for condemning another queen to what happened to her own mother, Anne Boleyn, who was beheaded.
There is real history in the story, seen in the Earl of Leicester’s relentless courting of the queens, but Rogers says the important thing is their relationship rather than something the men set up.
“We’ve been playing around with their meeting,” he says. “It becomes this moment of magical realism in the play as we ask, how much is feasible? They had such an intimate relationship and so much in common.”
One thing that you won’t be seeing is exploitation of any sexual aspects of the story – the focus is not on the male gaze, but on the two queens themselves and it is led by them.
“It’s not a documentary,” Rogers says –“and it won’t look anything like Shakespeare in Love.”
Mary Stuart, ACT Hub, 14 Spinifex Street, Kingston, July 25-August 3.
Boys and girls come out to play Lord of the Flies
By Helen Musa
When Canberra Rep announced that co-directors Lachlan Houen and Caitlin Baker were “making their directorial debut on the Rep stage” with the coming production of Lord of the Flies, one got the impression that they were novices – they’re not.
Both have been around the theatrical traps for some years. In 2023 alone, Baker staged Joanna Richards’s new philosophi cal thriller, You Can’t Tell Anyone, at The Courtyard Studio for Canberra Youth Theatre and Houen co-directed the post-electricpost-apocalyptic Simpsons spoof, Mr Burns, for NUTS, packing them in at the ANU. Both have been deeply involved as participants and workers at Canberra Youth Theatre.
When I catch up with them, they’ve just
completed blocking Lord of the Flies. They’re doing Nigel Williams’ popular adaptation of the novel, which they point out is 70 years
ARTS IN THE CITY
Funny Hannah’s home for a stand-up show
International comedy star and former Canberran Hannah Gadsby performs her new stand-up show Woof! at Canberra Theatre, July 25.
Oh, What A Night! the Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons revue, featuring hits such as Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry and Walk Like A Man, plays The B, Queanbeyan, July 23.
Young, independent artist, Leo Amadeus, is launching a first album, These Past Few Years, with local artist Rylee De Salis and a nine-piece Canberra band at Smith’s Alternative, Civic, on July 27.
In appalling news, artistic director and violinist of Phoenix Collective, Dan Russell has had his Lorenzo Ventepane violin and two bows destroyed in an accident. Phoenix Collective is seeking donations towards the replacement of the instruments lost and Russell will travel to London in
old this year.
Readers will mostly know what happens in Lord of the Flies, and it’s not pretty. A group of 11 young British school boys are stranded on an island and forced to establish a new society for themselves.
But far from displaying the noblest of human passions, they quickly divide into factions and social classes, like the hunters and the beach boys.
Some, like Jack, quickly revert to savagery. Others, like Ralph and the clever Piggy, try to structure a workable society within their limited understanding. But outside in the forest, the sense of an intangible beast lurks. Could it be their own nature?
Adaptor Williams follows Nobel Laureate William Golding’s plot pretty much as written, dividing the action into three acts built around three main events.
But theatre is very different from written narrative and in what could be a controversial decision, Baker and Houen have decided to cast colourblind, sort of.
STREAMING
This means that the more sensitive, sacrificial characters, the wise Piggy and the innocent Simon, will be played by female actors acting as boys, while the more aggressive characters, Jack and the hunters, will be played by boys as boys.
Caught in the middle is Ralph, the conflicted protagonist who doesn’t always want to be the protagonist and who weeps for the end of innocence. He will be played by a male.
But are girls likely to behave better than boys in such circumstances? “The best people to talk about privileged young men are women,” Baker quotes.
Oddly enough, they both tell me, there’s only one woman ever mentioned in Golding’s text and that’s Piggy’s aunt.
It was an open casting process at Rep, but the play holds its challenges, because even Williams’ version can be done with just adult actors delineating the subconscious power structures that emerge.
But Baker and Houen see the play as “a call
to arms for people to take both the art and arguments of young people seriously – it’s a parable about young people reckoning with the fact that violence is more often than not taught.”
For this reason, they preferred to open up to young actors, whose life experience could reflect those of the boys in the play, so the maximum age will be 23 years.
Houen would rather like to fill the Rep stage with sand but that’s a decision for two very seasoned designers, Michael Sparks and Russell Brown, who will understand the necessary contingencies.
It’s a famous novel and no-one for a minute thinks it has dated; far from it.
Baker and Houen should have the last word: “In an era where democracy seems increasingly fragile, what better text is there than Lord of the Flies to ask that we look our past in the face and realise it’s a mirror?”
Lord of the Flies, Canberra Rep Theatre, July 25-August 10.
Sweethearts come with heartbreaks
OUT on Netflix this month is a sports doco that’s managed to stay in the top 10 most watched shows for several weeks now.
This new seven-part series follows a group of hyper-competitive athletes vying for the chance to perform on the ultimate national stage.
Basketball? Soccer? Cricket? No. They’ve all been done. This one is about cheerleading.
America’s Sweethearts charts the surprisingly intense world of professional cheerleading, following dozens of women who dream of performing for the Dallas Cowboys elite squad.
Only 36 can make it, though. The documentary charts the process to get in, from cutthroat video auditions to a gruelling training camp.
October to attend the fine instrument auctions of Tarisio, Bromptons and Ingles & Hayday in search of a similar violin. Tax deductible donations via artists. australianculturalfund.org.au
The Scandinavian Film Festival returns with epic dramas, sweeping romances and Scandi noir from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. Palace Electric, July 23- August 14.
Billed as the ultimate feel-good Irish show, Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of The Dubliners is touring Australia. Narrated by writer and director Ged Graham, who guides audiences through the life of the group in between performances of numbers such as The Irish Rover, The Leaving of Liverpool and Dirty Old Town. Canberra Theatre, July 27.
Oriana Chorale’s winter concert Flight, with Sally Whitwell on piano, includes Eric Whitacre’s choral tour de force Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine as well as works by Esenvalds and Australian composers Joe Twist and Matthew Orlovich. Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, July 27.
When it’s this competitive the tiniest details can make or break a tryout, from falling a few centimetres short of the required height of a leg kick to having smudged make-up, the selectors are brutal in their nitpicking. I’m surprised some of these judges were bold enough to outline their selection criteria on camera. Seems fraught with danger in this era.
What’s even more extraordinary is that a lot of these women hold down full-time jobs while going through this training process because of how little they are paid.
On average, NFL cheerleaders make only around $150 a game, a ludicrously small amount given the dozens of hours that go into training each week. Seems pretty cheap for a franchise worth more than $US150 billion.
One of the women in the doco even works as a nurse when the pom poms are down. How you keep that routine up I don’t know.
As someone with only a passing interest in the NFL, let alone cheerleading, I was surprised how quickly this doco actually drew me in.
America’s Sweethearts is peak guiltypleasure viewing. A little trashy sure, but those who enjoy sports docos will likely find the pursuit of athletic prowess here an entertaining watch in its own way.
NOW streaming on Paramount Plus is a homegrown contender for this year’s best
drama series.
It’s called Fake and it follows Birdie Bell (Asher Keddie), a food writer who begins to unravel the mystery surrounding a man she meets through an online dating app.
At first he seems like the one, a successful grazier with all the looks and charm in the world, but it’s not long before she finds out he harbours some unnerving secrets indeed.
It’s like the fear of a Tinder date gone wrong dialed up to 10.
Aussie star David Wenham is the one who plays this creepy Casanova named Joe Burt.
The Aussie-made series includes eight episodes around 40 minutes a piece and was filmed entirely in Melbourne.
Eerie and addictive, Fake is absolutely the real deal.
IT’S been almost 30 years since Twister hit cinema screens, a blockbuster flick that wasn’t really all that good but has still managed to cement its place in the disastermovie canon.
It stars Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt
as two meteorologists determined to create a weather warning system by putting themselves in the path of tornadoes.
As is the case with any remotely popular film, Twister is now getting a sequel called Twisters that is hitting the big screen this month.
It’s no surprise then that Amazon Prime Video has started streaming its predecessor.
While not quite what you’d call Oscar-worthy, Twister still has that charm characteristic of films from the late ‘90s and early 2000s.
For those heading out to see its long belated sequel, Twister still has just enough entertainment to value to make it worth taking for another spin.
Zoe Ross as Eric in Lord of the Flies. Photo: Caitlin Baker
Hannah Gadsby… Canberra Theatre, July 25.
America’s Sweethearts… charts the intense world of professional cheerleading.
DINING / Wildbark Café, Mulligans Flat
Humble cafe a sanctuary of calm
When the sun is out, Canberra is a walking mecca.
If you’re keen on exploring Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary (Australia’s largest box-gum grassy woodland area managed for conserva tion), factor in time for a cuppa or a bite to eat at Wildbark Café.
Part of the Wildbark Visitor Centre (Throsby), the café is small but humble and entirely relaxed. Loads of light flood through massive floor-toceiling windows and outdoor picnic tables enjoy full sunlight. The surrounding views are calm and peaceful.
At the front of Wildbark Café is a posted sign declaring: “We don’t do fast food. We do GREAT food”. Translation: Don’t be in a rush.
We were having lunch before heading out on the hour-long Wetlands Walk, one of four walks mapped out with a free app providing an interactive guide to the nature experience.
My friend is a massive fish-’n’-chips fan and was attracted by the barramundi ($22). The beer-batter coating was excellent – light, golden, crispy and not too oily. The dish featured two, large pieces of barra, with a perky lemon pepper aioli, a bouquet garni crunchy, fresh salad, and piping hot fried chips. It sure hit the spot.
Larger lunch items include a vegan burger, a fried chicken burger and a double New York beef burger (all $22 each). Wildbark Café offers a couple of salads as mains, with one a combination of pear, walnut, parmesan and crispy prosciutto ($18).
I was after something simple and light, which took me to the toasties section. I opted for the Reuben, having not had one in yonks ($18).
WINE / Uruguay
a lemon pepper aioli and fresh salad.
Photo: Wendy Johnson
The couple of slices of beef pastrami were savory, salty and smokey. The sauerkraut was tangy and tart and the mayo creamy. Punchy pickles added zing and, while I love Swiss cheese, the slices on the sandwich weren’t melted, which affected the overall enjoyment. I was hankering for hot, gooey cheese, but no luck. My small portion of chips was a perfect size for a not-so-heavy sandwich.
desserts include a hazelnut brownie ($7), apple turnover (yummy and warm with ice cream, $12), cookies and cream cake ($14) and chocolate mud cake $15).
Wildbark Café serves lunch from 11.30 and four types of pizza are available, $22 to $24.50.
The beer line-up showcases Capital Brewery and Bentspoke, and the compact wine list drops from Four Winds, Twelve Signs and Lock & Key
Pastries and muffins are on show at the service counter. Iced teas, coffees and drink specials are available all day.
Open seven days from 8am with the kitchen closing at 3pm.
Why Uruguay’s on my bucket list
I recently attended a function at the Hyatt that was the official launch of Vinos of Uruguay in Canberra and the centenary of the hotel.
What an exceptional night it was, showing indeed how wonderful life is and how good food and wine is its own reward.
On arrival, there was entertainment: couples entwined doing the tango while we sipped a glass of red vermouth made by a Uruguayan company called Basta Spirit.
Vermouth is a fortified wine enhanced by the addition of aromatics. This aperitif was warming, not overly sweet and had a hint of camomile that went well with the tang of an orange slice. I scanned the room but there was no sign of the famous one-legged tango dancer, Eileen.
When we were seated we were provided with tonnes of information about Uruguay and the wine varieties that were on taste and the related growing regions.
Throughout the night Jenny Polack, a renowned wine educator, gave us PowerPoints about the history of wine in Uruguay and lots of material on the varietals and blends that we tried.
It was a professional performance that did the trick of inveigling to the extent that a visit to this very safe, quite small but fully democratic country, has made it to my bucket list.
Here is just one portentous fact: Uruguay has the right characteristics for the production of good quality wine as it is located between parallels 30 degrees and 35 degrees of south latitude, similar to the Hunter Valley. For me the star that shone brightest, mainly because of the exquisite food match, was the 2023 Bouza Albari-
The wine was young and fresh, but with a slight influence of oak. It was heady with a floral bouquet that was also redolent of peach. It tasted like many new-style chardonnays that have a full, acid but pleasant finish.
The wine was paired with a blini topped with sour cream, egg, chives and Black River Caviar, a product of Uruguay. It was the bomb, balanced salt and cream and a lingering rich creaminess as you bit into the tiny bubbles of flavour.
The red wine that is synonymous with Uruguay, Tannat, was originally from the south-west of France. It was introduced to Uruguay by Basque immigrants and has become the signal red of the country: its production now surpasses that of the origin of the varietal.
I especially enjoyed the Tannat Las Espinas 2020, a mediumbodied wine with a good tannic structure served with grilled beef.
What do tango dancers call their colleagues? Their co-twerkers.
GARDENING
The Aeonium “Zwartkop” has striking, deep-purple foliage... to grow outdoors, it will need protection from the frost.
Spring calls out for crab-apples
Crab-apples are a popular tree to grow in our region and there are many to choose from.
It is a small, deciduous tree that puts on an autumn display with foliage colour, but it’s spring blossoms are what it’s grown for.
Malus ioensis “Plena” is a feature crab-apple tree, big enough to sit under. In spring, in full bloom, it is a showstopper.
It doesn’t produce apples as such, but other varieties of crab-apples are edible and used in pies, jellies and jams.
Crab-apple trees are best pruned in winter when the structure of the tree can be seen and some of the vigorous growth can be directed to where it’s wanted.
Most mature trees will need branches cleaned out from time to time, but the maintenance of this tree is minimal. It likes to be planted in full sun and, once established, needs minimal care.
A crab-apple tree needs to be planted deep to prevent suckering and, apart from a little damage from pear and cherry slugs, overall it’s a great small, shade tree that flowers beautifully in spring. There are many crab-apple trees to choose from that suit smaller gardens and
there are some that will do well in pots.
Planting now, while they are dormant, is a good time. Plant into good soil that’s a little sweet with lots of organic matter. Water in well and water when you see new growth.
I’m trialling a Huonville Red Crab in my garden. It’s a hybrid between a crab-apple and apple. The crimson blooms grow into hand-size fruits with an unusual red flesh and I’m looking forward to it flowering and fruiting this year.
AEONIUMS are a plant that’s been bred to extend its growing conditions to withstand our cold and dry weather. It is a succulent that’s growing in popularity with hybrids, colours and variations.
Its flat, saucer-shaped leaves create interest and grow a little differently than most succulents.
The Aeonium “Zwartkop” has striking, deeppurple foliage. To grow outdoors, it will need protection from the frost. Growing it more in sun than shade will keep its growth compact.
Aeoniums are winter growers. They are dormant in the hotter months and require minimal watering through summer.
Aeoniums can grow roots off their stems if the growing conditions are right and once these roots become strong, the stem of the plant can be removed from the parent plant and put in a pot.
Like all succulents, they grow well in an equal mix of potting mix and coarse sand. Keep them
moist, they don’t like to dry out. Their inflorescence can be striking with its bold yellow and can last up to a few weeks, but once the flower dies that branch, or that part of the rosette, will die. Try not to grow them too fast. They can be grown by seed, but it would take a long time to get good results. Vegetative propagation is the fastest method. Mealy bugs and aphids can be a problem with aeoniums and a spray with organic neem oil once a month will keep insects at bay and the leaves glossy and shiny.
ALL winter pruning can be done now on clear days, but not before rain.
Feed the soil with mulch, straw, manure or compost and do not use any fertilisers for plants in the winter when they are dormant.
Keep the ground weed free and ready for planting in six to eight weeks when the soil has warmed.
jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au
Jottings…
• Plant grape vines and kiwi fruit in the next month or two.
• Rhubarb crowns can be dug up, divided and replanted.
• Spray citrus with winter oil to smother stink bug eggs.
• Fertilise growing and flower- ing bulbs.
Malus ioensis “Plena” is a feature crab-apple tree… in spring, in full bloom, it is a showstopper.
Photos: Jackie Warburton
HOROSCOPE PUZZLES
By Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Mars (the ruling planet for Rams) makes positive links with Pluto and the Sun, so the potential is there to have a fabulous week. As long as you don’t try to control others or boss them around. “I’m not a bossy Aries!” I hear you say? Just remember – you can seem bossy and controlling, even when you think you’re being a meek and mild Lamb. The Sun shifts into fellow fire sign Leo which favours activities involving children, teenagers and creativity.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
Monday is the best day for Bulls. Jupiter links up with Venus (your patron planet) which boosts luck, increases feelgood vibes and encourages family fun. The Sun also transits into your domestic zone, which is wonderful for activities involving home, housemates and children. But Tuesday looks tricky – when the Sun/Pluto opposition frustrates plans and encourages power struggles, especially at work. Tactful Taureans will tread carefully and plan accordingly.
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
Mars and Jupiter are moving through your sign and unpredictable Uranus squares Mercury (your ruling planet) so expect a tricky week when you’ll feel restless and impatient. Weigh up the pros and cons of any big choices you make. And – if you can – delay making important decisions until next week, when you’ll be thinking more clearly. As actress (and birthday great) Helen Mirren reminds us: “We write our life story by the choices we make.”
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
It will be difficult to balance head and heart this week, Crabs. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try! Loved ones or work colleagues will attempt to throw you off balance, scramble your sense of certainty, or press your emotional buttons. But it’s up to you to deflect their efforts with plenty of grace and good humour. Your motto for the moment is from Nelson Mandela (a fellow Cancerian): “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
Monday’s Sun/Neptune trine boosts imagination but intensity levels ratchet up on Tuesday, courtesy of the Sun/Pluto opposition. Problems involving partners (of the romantic, platonic or business variety) are likely, plus jealous thoughts and possessive behaviour are also a danger. If you’re not careful, you could find yourself embroiled in a fiery argument or a frustrating power struggle. Clever Lions will step back and gain some much-needed perspective.
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
Some reflective Virgos will reminisce about an old love or experience a disappointment, as you discover you’ve over-committed energy and enthusiasm to a project (or relationship) that’s going nowhere. Monday is the day to reformulate your goals for the future. But – with Uranus squaring Mercury – steer clear of unreliable dreamers and unpredictable schemers. Surround yourself with positive people who promote your talents and support your dreams.
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
Monday is fabulous for travelling and socialising. But later in the week – if you’re involved with a group, class, club or organisation – expect power plays or personality clashes. A friendship could also be placed under temporary strain. When it comes to your social circle, aim to be much more discriminating. Don’t waste precious time on negative people who undermine your confidence. Surround yourself with stimulating new friends as well as trusted old mates.
General knowledge crossword No. 941
July 22-28, 2024 Sudoku
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
This week Pluto boosts your personal magnetism – and your manipulative side. An energy surge increases your desire to be in charge, but (if you want to avoid unnecessary power struggles and unpleasant dramas) stop trying to control others. You can be powerful and passionate – or compulsive and controlling. If you’re a smart Scorpio, then you’ll choose the path of least resistance, as you channel your energy in positive and proactive ways!
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
Monday looks fabulous (when your ruler Jupiter makes a lovely link with lucky Venus) but the rest of the week looks rather shambolic. Uranus disrupts your daily routine, and your patience could wear thin with a stressed work colleague, an unpredictable friend or an annoying neighbour. For some Sagittarians, a rushed romance could see you jump from the frying pan straight into the fire. So slow down, calm down and think (carefully) before you speak and act!
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
Pluto stirs up your intrigue zone, so no secret is safe as you uncover clues and pick up on cues that other people may miss. But be careful what you unearth because you could stir up problems from the past. Lust and loot also loom large, as you work through matters involving trust, intimacy, shared possessions or joint finances. It’s not a good time to lend cash, borrow money or initiate a joint financial partnership. Be patient and wait for a more auspicious week.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
This week family relationships or close friendships look rather complicated, as frustrated loved ones play power games. If you have a problem that’s bothering you, avoid making a rash decision. Slow down and let your intuition be your guide. Wisdom for the week is from birthday great, Swiss psychoanalyst Dr Carl Jung: “Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.”
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
Avoid getting drawn into pointless disputes with family, friends or colleagues. This week will work best if you keep your nose out of other people’s business and concentrate on pursuing personal projects. Monday’s Sun/Neptune trine encourages fiery bursts of inspiration. However – with Saturn still sauntering through your sign – good ideas on their own won’t get you far. You must combine creativity with plenty of hard work and practical productivity.
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2024
4 What is a sequence of rulers from the same family or stock? (7)
8 What is a radio or TV aerial called? (7)
9 Name a province in the south-western Republic of Ireland. (7)
10 What are formulas for preparing dishes in cookery? (7)
11 Which term describes the first two batsmen? (7)
12 Name the mid-morning break in primary school. (6)
14 What is a place of confinement? (6)
18 What is the slaughter of a great number, as in battle, etc? (7)
21 What is an ostentatious flourish or parade? (7)
22 Which term suggests any obscuration or overshadowing? (7)
23 To be in, at, or near the middle, is to be what? (7)
24 What is a special variety or branch of a language? (7)
1 Name the gate that keeps horses in line before the start of a race. (7)
2 Who made his screen debut in First Love in 1939, Robert ...? (5)
3 What are concealed marksmen? (7)
4 Name a small dark-blue fruit of a plum. (6)
5 Which term describes the one or particular occasion? (5)
6 What are seats for two or more people? (7)
7 Which units of linear measurement are defined as 0.9144 metres? (5)
13 Name the internal floral leaves of a flower. (7)
15 What is a part, or quantity remaining? (7)
16 Name the part of a dirigible in which the passengers are carried? (7)
17 To desert a country, cause, etc, is to do what? (6)
18 What is an accepted system of religious belief? (5)
19 Name the fruit of the Malus pumila tree. (5)
20 To be hirsute, is to be what? (5)
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
Interest remissions depend on special circumstances
Tian didn’t lodge and pay his business tax on time and has been charged a penalty and interest. He wants to know if there's anything he can do about it.
I told him that, interestingly, the tax office had just set up a new regime for General Interest Charge remission requests.
"If we prepare the remission request for you, there is now a special form for GIC remission for tax agents to use," I said.
"It has the usual details, namely my details and then your details. The first question is: ‘What circumstances/events caused the delayed payment resulting in general interest charges?'.
"The ATO states that not only do they look at the circumstances of the late payment, but they will also consider whether it is fair and reasonable to remit the penalty."
I told Tian that the ATO gives a couple of examples in the instructions.
In the first example, the taxpayer had their office flooded and they had to relocate the business, which is why the payment was late. In this case the GIC was remitted.
However, in the other example, the company had unpaid BAS’s due to their cash flow being impacted initially by covid and then by increased costs of materials and higher interest rates. The ATO declined to remit the GIC as most other businesses were also impacted by the general economic downturn.
"So you need to make sure your circumstances were unique rather than general,” I said.
Tian felt his circumstances were unique.
I told him the next question was: "How did this delay the payment on time?"
"The ATO says that you need to explain how the circumstances impacted your financial position," I said.
"The last question asked is: 'What steps were taken to relieve the effects of the event/circumstances?' The ATO states that you need to show what reasonable steps you took to reduce the impact of the event causing the delayed payment.
"For example, did you attempt to take out a loan or sell some assets? "The ATO further advises that if the circumstances were beyond your control and you had taken all reasonable steps, then they would consider remission.
"However, if the circumstances were not beyond your control but you have taken mitigating steps, the ATO will consider whether it is fair and reasonable to the community to remit the GIC.”
It was different in the case of penalty remission, I said. In that case the ATO considers a taxpayer's compliance history, the size of the debt and the reason why the ATO imposed a penalty.
"So you really need to be able to demonstrate that you have a good tax history,” I told him.
Tian said he could provide me with information to illustrate the special circumstances.
"Just one more question, if I may?" he said. "I tried to lodge my tax return and it said ‘unfinalised income statement’. Do I need to do anything?"
I explained that it meant his employer had not finalised the payroll for the year and by lodging a return before the payroll was finalised there was a risk it could change if an error was found.
As the July 14 deadline had passed, I suggested he contact his employer for clarification.
If you need help with GIC, penalties, wages or any tax-related matter, contact the experts at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 6295 2844.
Disclaimer
This column contains general advice, please do not rely on it. If you require specific advice on this topic please contact Gail Freeman or your professional adviser.
Authorised Representative of Lifespan
medium No. 372
