Independents for Canberra are merging as a serious force in the upcoming election, says MICHAEL
Why disconnecting from the boss isn’t that easy RICHARD CALVER
‘How often do planes crash?’
‘Usually just the once’ CLIVE WILLIAMS
They called me ‘scoreboard’ for I could do nil else
ANTONIO DI DIO
Sting’s the thing when it comes to nettles
JACKIE WARBURTON
TAHLEE BEARHAM fights on, in memory of her brother, to find life-saving stem-cell donors
Arts & Entertainment 23-26
Crossword & Sudoku 27
Dining & Wine 24
Gardening 22
Keeping Up the ACT 7
Letters 13 News 3-13 Politics 4 Streaming 25 Mastermind winner Mick Logue with his trophy. Photo: Katarina Lloyd Jones. Story Page 6.
Since 1993: Volume 30, Number: 32
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• Matrimonial Property settlements
• Parenting Arrangements for Children
• Divorce
• Binding Financial Agreements
• De Facto relationship breakdowns
“A Fair Society”, “A Healthy Canberra”. Headlines in the platform of the Independents for Canberra reflect the grassroots movement that has driven their emergence.
them as another political party?
platform, agreed to by all candidates and made public at the end of July, certainly makes them look like a political party.
of the platform. “It’s time to bring independent voices to the ACT Legis lative Assembly. No party politics. No vested interests. Real representative democracy, the way it’s supposed to be. Together, we can create a capital that leads the nation”.
Flourishing Future” and “A New Kind of Politics”.
Standard and Poors AAA+ credit rating, many voters are certainly looking for a new kind of future. A future that is not based on unafford able, empty promises.
An example of unaffordable and empty promises by the incumbent Labor-Greens government were demonstrated in a previous CityNews article by Jon Stanhope and Khalid
to agree on the first of their “shared policy commitments”.
These are strident positions based on social justice. “Housing is a right”.
This is the first of their specific poli-
Commitments regarding the criminal justice system include: “implementing effective rehabilitation programs for repeat offenders”; “closing the indigenous
incarceration gap”; and “investing in youth diversion programs to tackle the youth crime crisis and reduce antisocial behaviour among young people”.
A key element is to ensure “an adequately funded police force commensurate with community need”.
The Independents for Canberra have been able to agree on a range of health measures with a focus on primary care, staffing, prevention and support for community physical activity, protection of vulnerable women and children and an appropriate focus on indigenous health.
An interesting promise is to introduce a Future Generations Act. The concept builds on similar legislation that has been in place for some time in Wales. It will focus on generations to come with a Future Generations Commissioner tasked with ensuring all government decisions align with the future vision.
Why is this not a political party? “A New Kind of Politics”! There is agreement on this first platform. However, there will be no Fatima Payman-style retribution on anyone who takes a different stance from others. In fact, voting on issues differently will be
expected. It is a key element that makes this a group of independents rather than a political party.
These independents will focus on evidence, administrative efficiency, reaching out and genuinely listening to the community and to each other. Thomas Emerson has worked with Senator David Pocock and brings many of his learnings to the table.
The emphasis is on integrity, hard work, access, accountability and transparency. This will include publishing on their website the way individuals have voted on all issues. None of the candidates have commitments to unions or big business party donors.
The platform that has been released provides a clear indication of the commitment that has been made by this range of candidates.
Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an in dependent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.
a welcoming, supportive, connected community that supports your child to reach their potential. A
A woman came into my clinic for a consultation about her hearing aids, telling me her hearing aids were 4 years old and she had never found them to be of much help. She said the salesperson quoted her $14,000 for a pair of hearing aids, however, the monthly special of 20% discount meant they cost her $11,200. So, she ‘only’ paid $11,200 for hearing aids that did not help her. Sadly, I hear this all too often.
Here are some things to do to avoid this type of problem:
1. Visit your GP. If you or someone you know has a problem with their hearing, visiting your GP to check for wax in the ears, and to get advice is a starting point.
2. Qualifications. Always check the qualifications of the person you are dealing with. A person without professional qualifications has no business advising you about your hearing. They need to belong to a professional association with a Code of Conduct, so you know they are acting in your best interests, not their own.
years. If you are not sure about their advice, then seek a second opinion. The wrong hearing aids can be an expensive waste and could lead you to stop wearing them. You should always have a trial of hearing aids to ensure that they are right for you.
6 Pensioners and eligible DVA card holders often have entitlement to free services. If you are covered by a government concession, then let the clinician know (even though your clinician should ask). Eligible clients may obtain free hearing tests, consultations, and free hearing aids (referred to as fully subsidized hearing aids).
“A person without professional qualifications has no business advising you about your hearing. They need to belong to a professional association with a Code of Conduct, so you know they are acting in your best interests, not their own.”
– Dr Vass
These hearing aids are appropriate for many people, however if you have great difficulty hearing in background noise (for example a restaurant), then you may want to consider partially subsidized hearing aids. This is when the government pays a certain amount, and you pay for additional features and benefits. Your decision should be based on the following:
you are dealing with a qualified clinician, then they belong to a professional association. The best contact is an independent complaints body referred to as Ethics Review Committee. You can email ethics@auderc.org.au and view the website www.auderc.org.au. You can make an anonymous complaint and your complaint will be handled in a confidential and professional manner. If you are in the ACT, contact the ACT Human Rights Commission email human rights@act.gov au and the website www.hrc.act.gov.au
3. Independent advice. You should get independent, professional advice.
4. There are a wide range of hearing aids out there. Finding the right hearing aids for your communication needs can be challenging. Hearing aids vary in price and performance. Bluetooth® connectivity and rechargeable hearing aids are available on most hearing aids, along with apps that allow you to control your hearing aids from your mobile device. Be aware that just because a hearing aid is more expensive, that doesn’t mean they are the best hearing aid for you.
5. Just as hearing aids vary in performance, clinicians may also vary in performance due to training, experience, and skills. Make sure that you are comfortable and confident in their advice. You are likely to be with this clinician for the life of your new hearing aids, typically 4 to 5
(a) Can you afford the more expensive hearing aids? Don’t go into financial stress if you can’t afford them. (b) Are you clear on the free vs partially subsidized features & benefits? Never believe someone who tells you the free hearings are not good or of poor performance, this is simply not true. (c) If you try the partially subsidized hearing aids and are not happy, then return them. Do not keep hearing aids because you think the failure is yours or that you will improve over time. If the hearing aids are not working for you in the trial period, then they will not work for you in a year or two.
7. If you have a complaint, then seek help. Your clinician should be able to help you through most of your needs. Sometimes, a problem may be beyond the expertise of even the best clinician. However, if you have a complaint there are things you can do. If
By Katarina LLOYD JONES
Mick Logue loves trivia, and he’s pretty good at it, being a three times Australian Pairs quizzing champion and a representative on the Australian national quiz team.
But most recently, the born-andbred Canberran emerged as the victor of season 6 of the SBS quiz Master mind.
The television game show is ex tremely difficult, but the 37-year-old’s expert knowledge on the Canberra Raiders (1989-1999), the Socceroos at the World Cup (2006-2022) and British sitcom, Men Behaving Badly, led him to victory.
Mastermind episodes involve two rounds, one on the contestant’s cho sen subject and the other on general knowledge.
Episodes run 6pm Monday to Thursday, and in each episode four contestants compete, with the winner continuing to the weekly final, which takes place on Fridays.
swer only once, but the earlier they guess, the more points they earn.
The weekly final also features a “slow burn” round, where the contestant picks a category from a list of four, then, 10 clues are presented one at a time.
The grand-final includes a new specialist subject for each contestant, a slow burn round and a general knowledge round.
In March-April Mick took two weeks off from his role as duty man-
prepare for the semi-finals and finals, but even then, he said, he still felt underprepared.
“I definitely had a bit of a mental breakdown before the grand final in the morning,” said Mick.
“What really got me was, so I was doing this TV show, Men Behaving
Badly, and I’d watched it through that many times, but every time I watched it, I found something new, and I’m thinking, how many watches short am
“It was 12 to 14-hour days of just cramming, it was the hardest I’ve worked for anything in my life, and so much of the knowledge is just gone now.
“I would play along at home watching myself, I’m getting them wrong when I’m getting them right on the
“And then there were some I just didn’t recall being asked, it’s such a
Mick said he initially got into trivia through his family, and until covid, had been running a pub-trivia hosting business, Trivial Excuse, full-time for
“I started quizzing just around Canberra when I was 18,” says Mick.
“I couldn’t do it beforehand because my family was big into trivia, but they wouldn’t take me down to the pub
“I guess I found the options a bit bland, very generic, so I thought I’d give it a crack myself.”
Mick says the art to trivia is being as engaged as possible with the world around you.
He says: “You take in so much information during the day, and most of it just disappears.”
“If you can relate to it in some way,
you can definitely ensure that a lot more sticks around.
“There’s this phenomenon called the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon.
“Basically, there was a guy who found out about this terrorist group in the ‘80s called the Baader-Meinhof Gang, which is why it’s called that, and he’d never heard of them before, but then once he’d heard of it the first time, he then saw they were just coming up everywhere.
“And so that’s like the bane of quizzes everywhere, as soon as you miss something, then you just start seeing it.”
As someone who frequently hosts trivia as well as participates, Mick credits its enduring popularity to its accessibility.
“I think it’s something everyone can do,” he said.
“And everyone knows something.
“When I’m hosting, I try to go as wide as I can, I like to include both highbrow topics and extremely lowbrow ones, so if the question you win on is something like a Kardashian or something of that nature, there’s no shame in knowing it, it’s all just stuff, it’s all knowledge.
“I think a really good question is one where people aren’t sure what they’re doing.
“They don’t have the answer but they know they have a chance, I like to put in obscure facts that are workoutable.”
Voices of West Belconnen and the Ginninderra Falls Association are hosting a public meeting in support of a national park in the Murrumbidgee and Ginninderra gorges.
Despite being over the border, organisers say the confluence of Ginninderra Creek and the Murrumbidgee is an area of importance to the region as well as having national significance.
“Instead of being overwhelmed with urban development, this area should be protected,” the organisers say. At Flynn Community Hub Hall, 4pm, August 18.
Free seniors workshop
For Science Week, teacher Thomas McCoy is running a free, over-55s computing workshop on August 10 and again on August 17 at CIT Tuggeranong, 10am-1pm looking at how to get started with Scratch, a self-expression system used worldwide to produce colourful, musical, moving creations. Register via Creative Computing for Seniors Workshop at eventbrite.com.au
A view from Marymead Josh Vaughan, from Marymead Catholic Care, is guest speaker at the next meeting of the Tuggeranong Day VIEW Club, Vikings Town Centre Club, Greenway, 11am-2pm, August 20. RSVP to 0409 931720 or marilyndnewham@outlook.com before August 16.
Jams help fundraising
The Bold Bandannas Relay for Life team will sell homemade preserves at its fundraising stall within Ziggy’s at the Fyshwick Markets, 8am-4.30pm, August 17.
In this year of the international test of Democracy versus Autocracy, something unexpected is happening – the good guys have taken the lead.
At the beginning, prospects looked dreadful. Russia’s murderous Vladimir Putin cleared the field of candidates by jailing the small fry and killing Alexei Navalny by unknown means in a far-off gulag. And Pretend Emperor Xi Jinping eliminated his opponents by charges of corruption as a legal system bent to his will.
And speaking thereof, the US Supreme Court of the United States, which would-be dictator Donald Trump had stacked with reactionary cronies, began giving legal imprima tur to his policies and preferences. The anti-democratic forces looked to be on a roll.
But then in short order came India where the would-be theocratic kingpin, Narendra Modi, met democratic resistance that forced him into coalition with a more reasonable grouping. His faith-filled fantasies fell in a heap.
Meanwhile, the British poll threw out the Tories in favour of a centrist Labour Party; and the remarkable French electoral manoeuvring saw Marine Le Pen’s far-right extremists
run into a solid wall of fiercely democratic parties. Even the Iranians elected a “moderate” against the wishes of their “Supreme Leader” Ali Khamenei.
Suddenly the 2024 race was looking good for Democracy. In Melbourne Cup terms, our horse had stumbled at the start but had now joined the pack as the runners passed the finish post for the first time.
But then, down the back straight, Pretend Emperor Xi secured himself a fourth term from his hand-picked
lackies and the also-rans bunched up behind him.
However, the weight of Xi’s economic policies were beginning to show the vulnerability of chubby Pretend Emperor’s rule that will inevitably threaten his Mandate of Marxist Heaven. Some even say his race is run already.
That takes us via Xi’s “beautiful letter” to the man in orange colours who would enact Project 2025. This is the Republican Party plan designed to clip Democracy’s fetlocks and place
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Then the seemingly impossible happened and, at the top of the straight, the old jockey surrendered the saddle to his female stablemate.
“the entire executive branch under the direct control of the president under the unitary executive theory”. Indeed, it proposes to replace tens of thousands of neutral federal civil service workers with the political henchmen of a President Trump.
Xi’s letter celebrated Trump’s survival from an assassin’s bullet, courtesy of his God; and as they approached the turn towards the home straight it looked very much as though he was odds on to replace his ageing opponent sitting astride the Democratic Party mare.
That’s when the seemingly impossible happened and at the top of the straight, the old jockey surrendered the saddle to his female stablemate. He tossed her the whip. “The baton is in our hands,” she cried. “Let’s win this!”
By now it was a two-horse race as they thundered towards the finishing post on that special Tuesday in November. In two mighty strides she overtook the distance between them. Punters raced to place their bets –$300 million in a single stroke.
And then…well, who knows for sure, but Democracy has its nose in front. And if you think about it, even the murderous Putin paid lip service to what Churchill called “the worst system of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time”. After all, once he’d killed off his opponents, the Russki didn’t have to bother with an election.
Perhaps he knew deep down that the people valued the right to vote, even if it was utterly meaningless… except, of course, to the deluded little man in the mirror.
robert@robertmacklin.com
From August 26 employees will have the right to disconnect from work. But it’s not that simple, says industrial lawyer RICHARD CALVER
Relations at work are becoming increasingly fraught, epitomised by a new worker right that commences for non-small business employees on August 26.
From then, employees will be able to refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact or attempted contact outside their working hours, unless their refusal is unreasonable.
For small businesses (fewer than 15 employees) they have a year to get ready: the new right applies to their employees from August 26 2025.
This right forms part of the extensive workplace relations shake up introduced by the Albanese government’s Closing Loopholes legislative package that contains a plethora of fundamental changes to employment law.
However, the creation of the right to disconnect was first proposed on March 20 2023 by Adam Bandt, leader of the Greens, in a Bill that didn’t proceed, the Fair Work Amendment (Right to Disconnect) Bill 2023 . In the negotiations to get the Loopholes legislation through, the right to disconnect appears to be one of the requirements for the Greens’ support.
exercise a workplace right. Ultimately, such employer action could give rise to a general protections claim. But it is likely that the Fair Work Commission will be able to clarify the nitty gritty of reasonable or unreasonable refusal as it’s been given the power to make an order, for example, to prevent employers from taking
for exercising their right to disconnect. It could also, on application, make an order preventing the employee from unreasonably refusing contact.
The government department responsible for administering the workplace laws has published a fact sheet on this new right. It says that the right does not prohibit employers
also doesn’t prevent employees from Instead, an employee will be able to refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact, or attempted contact outside of working hours, when they are not expected to be working or paid to be
Hence, an element of employer mind reading seems to have been introduced double negatives suck (non-legal term)
she being reasonable or unreasonable?
• whether the employee is being compensated to remain available or perform additional work outside ordinary hours
• the nature of the employee’s role and the employee’s level of responsibility, and
• the employee’s personal circumstances (including family or caring responsibilities).
Dot point three is important because a number of awards contain monetary compensation for matters such as being on standby. This factor will be reflected in the Fair Work Commission’s award term.
If an employee is not covered by an award that provides such compensation, one of the ways to deal with this issue would be to pay an allowance to an employee with whom you want to maintain after-hours contact.
The key to managing this new right must be communication by employers with their employees. I’d suggest that employers let their employees know, either through written policies or via specific training, the company procedures for employees to exercise their right to disconnect, including what would be considered unreasonable by the employer, particularly where a business operates using shift work. Employers should also set up procedures for employees to make a complaint relating to the right to disconnect so it’s clear how the employer will deal with the complaint.
“Powerful and sustained change requires constant communication, not only throughout the rollout but after the major elements of the plan are in place. The more kinds of communication employed, the more effective they are.”
– DeAnne Aguirre
Some kids could bat, some could bowl, some were so hopeless they were prized for their fielding and batted at 11. And then there was me.
My name was “scoreboard” cause I could do nil else. I was hidden at deep-as-possible fine leg and every couple of overs the skipper would ask me how many runs the opposition needed to win. Forty six off 11 overs, I’d say. Thanks mate, he’d reply. Can I have a bowl this week I’d sometimes add, fruitlessly and for good reason.
Of course, even those few words were wonderful, so much better than the silence of returning to Australia, knowing few people, knowing few words of the language with enough confidence to use them.
Our wonderful captain, one of the Taylor’s Arm Lavertys, would ask me the score and it was my huge joy to be of some use. Taylor’s Arm, a village in the Nambucca Valley in NSW, was where dad arrived from Italy in ‘52, and worked so hard for years to save up to bring mum out in ’56. He could not understand a thing about cricket other than it was pointless. Neither did his partner on the bananas, a beautiful fellow southener called Vincenzo.
The combined kids liked it though, and by 2014, Vince’s grandson Phil
and I had played 51 matches for Australia between us, Phil dominating a bit.
Those days of the Simmos versus Thommos, and teams from other towns like Nambucca and Kempsey and Coffs, were wonderful. In the awful months preceding, our family had moved for a sixth time in nine years.
My uncle Orazio had mysteriously died, some cousins had endured a deeply upsetting time, I endured the shame of being a little homeless for a while, there was some minor enough bullying, and a constant feeling of embarrassment.
All of it was forgotten standing at bloody deep fine leg on a Saturday at Thistle Park, in Macksville, with the
big man of cricket, young Pud, leading a team of Lavertys and Donnellys (not many indigenous kids in the cricket team – but just wait till winter, and their complete genius on the footy field, they were artists!) around the park, and asking me what the score was. It was better than that. Taciturn men who would rather be back shielding a fortress in Tobruk than verbalise an emotion, never needed to, when in their generosity they’d pick us up in utes and drive us anywhere to play against other kids for no purpose other than the most important one – because it was there. Because we’re Australians and that’s what we do and you are now, too. Decades later I would sometimes pick
Thank you, Pud Laverty, for making me feel that the kid who could not bat, bowl or field was a part of the team, and Mr Laverty for endless patience.
up the kids of some mildly disinterested parents who never attended games and never resented it – but rather, celebrated the chance to repay those wonderful people who drove me around in my gormless undifferentiated state.
In later school years Mr Valentine took me around the north coast debating, Mrs Welsh took us to a thousand Eisteddfods, Mr Carline took us to play soccer in a van I swear he rented out on holidays as a getaway/kidnap vehicle.
One golden day back in ‘77 I took my usual first ball swipe and miraculously made a sort of contact, enough to gasp, run a two, and replayed it proudly in my lonely head for the rest of the season.
It was my highest score of 1977/78, the year the Test tourists were India, who played a thrilling 3-2 series
against us starred in by – of course – Thommo and Simmo.
I had the privilege of meeting those two skippers, Bob Simpson and Bishen Bedi, years later, as we enjoyed a Test together at the SCG, and told them of the incredible joy of being in a team when you had nothing else in life, and the gratitude to people you’ve never met for schlepping you round the hundreds of country kilometres to get to games and back. They knew it, too, and they equally felt that whatever they had reached in life was consequent to nothing less than the love, support and kindness of hundreds of people.
Thank you, Pud Laverty, for making me feel that the kid who could not bat, bowl or field was a part of the team, and Mr Laverty for endless patience. If I made a list of the kind people who’ve helped me on my journey, I sometimes think it would include just about everyone I ever met.
Antonio Di Dio is a local GP, medical leader and nerd. There is more of his Kindness on citynews.com.au
‘How often do planes crash?’ ‘Usually just once.’
“Superman don’t need no seat belt.”
“Superman don’t need no airplane, either.” Exchange between Muhammad Ali and a female flight attendant.
Speaking of aeroplanes, you’ve no doubt wondered why some aeroplanes still use propellers when they could be using jets?
All fixed-wing aircraft had propellers until jet propulsion arrived in the 1940s. German Hans von Ohain was the designer of the first operational jet engine, though credit for the invention of the jet engine went to England’s Frank Whittle, who registered a patent for the turbojet engine in 1930 but did not perform a flight test until 1941.
Sir Frank Whittle and his turbojet engine... registered a patent for it in 1930, but did not perform a flight test until 1941.
Anyway, here are some of the reasons why some aeroplanes still use propellers:
• Fuel efficiency – propeller-driven aircraft tend to be more fuel-efficient at lower speeds.
• Lower initial cost – propeller-driven aircraft generally have lower upfront costs compared to jet engines.
• Simplicity – propeller systems are often simpler in design and maintenance compared to jet engines.
• Better performance at lower speeds – propellers are effective for aircraft operating at lower speeds, such as small general aviation planes and
turboprops.
But on the downside, they have:
• Limited speed and altitude –propeller-driven aircraft are not as efficient at higher speeds and altitudes compared to jet engines.
• Noise and vibration – propellers can produce more noise and vibration, which can be uncomfortable for passengers and pilots.
• Drag – propellers create more drag compared to jet engines, affecting overall speed and efficiency. The positives for jet engines are:
• High speed and altitude capability – jet engines are more efficient at
higher speeds and altitudes, making them suitable for commercial airliners and military jets.
Power-to-weight ratio – jet engines generally have a higher power-toweight ratio compared to propellers, providing better performance in certain applications.
Smooth operation – jet engines produce less vibration and noise compared to propellers, offering a smoother ride for passengers.
Greater range – jet engines allow aircraft to fly longer distances without refuelling, making them ideal for long-haul flights.
On the downside though, they suffer from:
• Higher fuel consumption – jet engines typically consume more fuel compared to propellers, especially at lower speeds and altitudes.
• Higher maintenance costs – jet engines are more complex and require more maintenance compared to propellers, leading to higher operational costs.
• Higher initial cost – aircraft equipped with jet engines generally have higher upfront costs compared to propeller-driven aircraft.
• Environmental impact – jet engines emit more pollutants, such as CO2 and nitrogen oxides, compared to propeller-driven engines, contributing to environmental concerns. Well, there you have it. And here’s
some lighter aviation-related notes:
A passenger looking down at the terrain, in panic, asks if the plane is going the right way. To which Yoda responded, “Off course, we are.”
Two pilots are discussing piloting. One asks, “Why did you become a pilot?” The other responds, “To overcome my fear.” “Which one - heights?” “No, dying alone.”
My wife once asked a flight attendant if we could change our seats because of a crying baby. It seems you can’t do that if the baby is yours.
It’s mealtime on Jetstar, and the flight attendant asks a passenger if he would like some dinner. “What are my choices?” the passenger asks. “Yes or no,” she replies.
A pilot was asked: “How often do planes crash?” He replied, “Usually just once.”
American Airlines safety briefing:
“There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but you need to pay attention –there are only four ways to leave this airplane.”
The attendant at Delta Airlines check-in desk said, “Window or aisle?” Norm replied, “Window or you’ll what?”
A businessman was having a tough
time lugging his oversized travel bag on to the plane. Helped by a flight attendant, he finally managed to stuff it in the overhead bin. “Do you always have such heavy luggage?” she sighed. “No more,” the man said. “Next time, I’m in the bag, and my partner can buy the ticket.”
Ed walks up to the counter at the airport. “Can I help you?” asks the agent. “I want a round-trip ticket,” says Ed. “Where to?” asks the agent. “Back to here of course” Ed replies. A teacher was arrested at security after his bag was searched. They found a protractor, ruler, calculator and graph paper. They charged him with possessing implements of maths instruction.
What’s the difference between God and a fighter pilot? God doesn’t think he’s a fighter pilot.
And a final thought: Give a man a plane ticket and he’ll fly free for a day. Push him out of the plane and he’ll fly free for the rest of his life.
Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.
Former ABC journalist ERIC HUNTER reveals what he thinks lies at the heart of the national broadcaster’s journalism problems… the “leading question”.
Given my long and varied ABC experience, I can readily accept columnist Robert Macklin’s critical assessments covering so much of Aunty’s TV output (“Fading memories as the ABC falls to pieces”, CN July 11).
I would like to expand though on a particular issue that lies at the heart of the ABC’s current journalism problems.
Rob hints at it with his praise for my former close colleagues, Mike Willesee, Richard Carleton and Kerry O’Brien (I’d substitute the late Andrew Olle for Leigh Sales, but I’m biased because I was Andrew’s executive producer in his early TV days).
My real concern though surrounds the mainstay of ABC current affairs, the studio interview. It’s the critical format astute and experienced journalists are expected to probe and uncover the “real story” – often the very one that politicians don’t want to talk about.
That is where Mike, Richard and
Kerry truly shone, along with the instinctive ability to think on their feet. Yet, it’s these “delicate” topics in which today’s leaders are most effectively trained to prevaricate.
So what do the likes of Sarah Ferguson and David Speers do in order to counter this extra-well-preparedfor avoidance of the facts?
What they should be doing is to arrive armed with a clear understanding of how probing questions are likely to be answered and be armed with alternative authoritative data that make it clear when the interviewee is avoiding the truth.
But it is critical that questions are structured so as to make it obvious when the truth is being avoided while simultaneously the questioner is perceived to be neutral in their views. Today’s interviewers need to be much better researched and more prepared than Mike, Richard and Kerry ever needed to be.
But, apparently with the encouragement of ABC management, our current crop of “top-guns” have actually gone backwards and deliver 90 per cent of their questions in a
effective in drawing out reluctant information.
It’s the “leading question”, a technique that is discouraged across the board, be it in market research, job interviewing, in fact, any activity where an honest answer is sought, but so particularly in journalism interviews where its disadvantages have long been highlighted in media style-manuals.
But ABC interviewers have gone even further downhill. They almost invariably flag their now ubiquitous leading questions with intros like, “Do you think that…” , or “Do you feel that…?”
I’ve even heard, and not just once, senior politicians asked, “Do you
No wonder also that public perceptions of political bias by ABC interviewers are at an all-time high. Not surprising, given that virtually every question signals the questioner’s belief that a certain answer is expected or, super-optimistically, it will be a shamefaced admission of error. It’s much less a political bias than a lack of professionalism. But what happens back in the studio? Is there any post mortem carried out as why there was once again a failure to gain any admission of obfuscation from the interviewee? Is there any thought that, maybe, a return to the previously well-
Open every weekend from 10am to 4pm Cafe open from 10am to 3pm
similarly well-structured follow-up questions if required, to at least gain some new insights.
What’s happened to Kipling’s old and still wise injunction about his six honest “serving men” whose names were Who, What, When, Where, Why and How? Furthermore, from the national broadcaster’s special perspective, they also provide a much needed shield of neutrality.
Eric Hunter worked 20 years in journalism and program management for ABC television and radio and is a former long-term journalism lecturer at the University of Canberra.
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ACT Right to Life is deeply concerned that there are children born alive after a failed abortion and left to die without care in the ACT.
I have written to the Minister of Health, the Coroner’s Court and the chief police officer for the ACT seeking an understanding of any rights for these children in regards to appropriate levels of care due to any human person.
I have received no replies so far.
Surely members of the act community would expect that these children would be afforded humane care. In the ACT abortion is legal up to birth. Many members of the community find this intolerable. Babies actually born alive cannot be identified as other than human.
The rationale or ideology that promotes abortion up to birth has no tenable case to offer in respect of a living human person being left to die without care.
John Kennedy, president, ACT Right to Life Association
Why the shock and outrage over trump?
While we cannot condone the attempted assassination of former president Trump, I do not understand how much we are all shocked and outraged.
Donald J Trump is a convicted felon, he has practised dirty politics and dirty business and has already hinted, if re-elected, at a split from NATO, withdrawing US support
for Ukraine and sinking the AUKUS deal. Trump and his Republican Party have encouraged and proliferated violence and violent rhetoric and have supported gun laws that have made getting an assault rifle, as easy as ordering a “cheeseburger ‘n’ fries”.
More concerning, Trump, and his sycophantic supporters, believe that his escape from death was an act of God, who has now anointed Trump, one of the most divisive actors in US politics, to unify America?
The real victims were the rally attendees,
Corey Comperatore who was fatally wounded, Trump supporters David Dutch and James Copenhaver, who both sustained injuries and the shooter himself, Thomas Matthew Crooks – bullied and ostracised in school, his obvious mental health issues ignored, empowered by lax, gun laws that allows almost anyone, irrespective of their mental health status, to acquire a high-powered gun or rifle.
“The Right to Bear Arms”, indeed?
Declan Mcgrath, via email
There has been much talk about the introduction of electronic ankle bracelets for alleged offenders on bail orders.
I note that ankle bracelets are widely used, on both a national and international basis, with proven success in reducing recidivism, and essentially saving lives of potential victims.
A current parolee and I recently provided evidence to the Legislative Assembly Standing Committee involved in the inquiry into the administration of bail in the ACT.
We both strongly recommended the use of electronic monitoring; not only for alleged offenders on bail, but also for particular offenders on communitybased orders.
While I don’t believe ankle bracelets are suited to all types of offenders, I can see a benefit for community safety when the offences include domestic/family violence, sex offences, dangerous drivers and certain repeat offenders.
The bracelets could serve as an active deterrent for such people, as well as providing an immediate response from police if a breach occurs.
So far as the financial feasibility of such a program being rolled out goes, I believe it would be a costeffective mechanism to keep people out of the remand facility at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
I would think that empirical data could be accessed quite readily, without unnecessary monetary implications, and in a timely manner. Essentially, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
However, cost should not be a consideration when it comes to the safety of our community. Simple.
Janine Haskins, Cook
We are aware from his column that Robert Macklin does not believe in God (“Where the heavenly call centre works overtime”, CN July 25).
To his credit Mr Macklin acknowledged many of us do. In a rather troubled world, where the world order
and democracy are being challenged, and populists and so-called “experts” are gaining more credibility, it is of great comfort to many of us to know that there is a God – a God who cares for us deeply.
It is interesting when disaster strikes, many more of us turn to God. The day after planes struck the Twin Towers in New York, at a prayer meet in Narrabundah I used to attend, those gathered there increased from the usual two or three to about 80 people. When covid first struck, the number of people tuning into the online Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney increased from the usual 600 people to about 1500. Believers know who to turn to.
Herman van de Brug, Holt
In his column “How the independents are coming to the party” (CN July 31), Andrew Hughes mentions possible independent candidates for the October 19 ACT election including Thomas Emerson and Fiona Carrick. All seem well qualified and eminently suitable to form a basis for a new ACT government.
In my opinion, the performance of the Barr government has been poor – almost scandalously so – complacent and spendthrift (light rail).
I could not possibly vote for Andrew Barr’s Labor or Shane Rattenbury’s Greens. The Belco Party with a resurrected Bill Stefaniak is out of the question. That leaves the independents.
I admire the honesty and effectiveness of ACT Senator David Pocock and hope that such qualities can be found in the potential ACT independents named by Dr Hughes when the territory election campaign begins. If so, that’s where my vote will go.
Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin
Unbending and unrepentant, former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has managed to cast aside any of her remaining role-model leadership qualities, while clinging to her oft-repeated claims about having worked her hardest for the people of NSW ( “Berejiklian stays defiant despite corrupt finding loss”, citynews.com.au July 26).
Yet many more on much lower pay scales exhibit the ability to work very hard on a daily basis and show good awareness and honesty about avoiding workplace conflicts of interest and the dangers of not doing so.
Surely now even a biased future Liberal prime minister would not dare to consider Ms Berejiklian for a senior ambassadorship position, let alone that of governor-general.
Sue Dyer, Downer
Michael Delaney (letters, CN August 1), what happens to the Unimproved Value (UV) is not important for the calculation of rates and land tax. It is based on the Average Unimproved Value (AUV).
As the average is over five years, it is almost certain your AUV has increased substantially since 2023-24 to get a 34 per cent increase in land tax because no component of the tax rates has increased by anywhere near that amount.
Those rates are published in the Budget Papers and on government web pages.
The fixed charge has increased by 5 per cent, the valuation based marginal rates up to $275,000 AUV have not changed (so properties up to that value have increases as low as 2.4 per cent for a constant AUV). Marginal rates above that have increased by up to 11.6 per cent, but the theoretical maximum increase for a property with a constant AUV is 10.5 per cent, it is 10 per cent at an AUV of $2 million.
Peter Bradbury, via email
After reading Robert Macklin’s column, “We whitefellas were complicit in colonial crimes” CN July 18), I wonder where all the recent claims of Australia being invaded have come from.
Robert claims there was a violent occupation, he claims the Aboriginals owned and cared for the land and its creatures for many thousands of years. How could they care for the land when they were a nomadic race and they ate the creatures, and how is that taking care of them?
Capt Cook came and then left, there was no conflict. When the first fleet arrived, again, there was no invasion.
In all the history books I have read about early settlement in Australia, none contain claims about violent occupation.
Vi Evans, via email
Take Fysh, the surname of former Tasmanian premier Philip Fysh (1877-1878 and 1887-1892), add “wick”, an Old English suffix for “dwelling place”, and it spells the name of one of Canberra’s most recognised suburbs.
First built in the early 1900s, a portion of Fyshwick was built as an internment camp during early 1918, intended to accommodate German and Austrian nationals being expelled from China. By the time the camp was established, the internees were no longer being sent to the Molonglo Internment Camp, as it was then known as.
Instead it was used to house 150 World War I internees, transferred from the Bourke Camp in NSW.
Today, Fyshwick not only represents one of the biggest and busiest business hubs in the capital, but it’s also one of the most diverse, offering art, gastronomy, shopping and more.
“CityNews” takes a tour of the suburb’s bustling business scene and speaks with some of its proudest retailers.
best manufacturers,” he said.
“We have high-vis clothing, hard hats, safety boots, gloves, safety glasses and goggles, respirators and much more.”
Having first started as a “two-bob shop in the early ‘80s”, Pat said Seears Workwear had grown to provide one of the largest ranges of workwear in Australia, including from brands
Margaret shares her flair and passion for art
The Artists Shed is a privately run creative enterprise that’s a gallery, art school, art store and studio, says principal artist Margaret
Puma and Dunlop.
He said Seears could also assist companies through its corporate uniform services, which provided customised embroidery services for promotional clothing and business uniforms.
Seears Workwear, 60 Barrier Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 4111 or visit seearsworkwear.com.au
Margaret has been a working artist in the Canberra/Queanbeyan area since 1990.
Although not formally trained, Margaret says she honed her skills and became a self-supporting artist.
She is an inaugural win ner of the Gallipoli Art Prize and finalist in major art prizes, as well as completing many significant commissions.
Margaret says she developed her art practice through versatility and following her passion, which she loves to share with others.
“The Art School caters for most mediums and is a very relaxed environment to ‘play’ with paint for teens and adults,” says Margaret.
“The Artists Shed has evolved to include two studio spaces, for Doodle -
Roseologist, a floristry studio.”
The gallery includes Margaret’s nature and history inspired paintings, such as the Branching Out series, as well as a space for Friends of The Shed to exhibit.
“The Art Store has quality art materials and hampers of art materials for art gifts,” says Margaret.
Margaret Hadfield Gallery, the Artists Shed, unit 1-3, 88 Wollongong Street. Call 0418 237766, or visit artistshed.com.au
Canberra’s leading second-hand furniture store, Ex-Government Furniture, has something for everyone, says co-owner James Fullerton.
With a combined 50 years of experi ence working with second-hand furniture between James and his co-owner Taylor Radnell, James says they can help furnish any home, and to any budget.
At the moment, he says it’s a great time to get designer-brand furniture at a fraction of the retail price, as they currently have a huge range of designer items in stock.
James says they have stock that includes some of the most high-end brands in the furniture industry, including Eames and Herman Miller.
But, for those working to a specific budget, James says Ex-Government Furniture has plenty of budget-friendly items available.
“We have some serious bargains at the moment as well as the high-end stuff,” says James.
“But with new stock arriving every week, it’s best to get in quick.”
For those looking for the ultimate deal, he says they are offering a special package for students, where a bundle of four dining chairs can be bought for just $10.
Ex-Government Furniture, 6 Yallourn Street. Call 6280 6490 or visit exgovfurniture.com or facebook.com/exgovfurniture
Chris Perkins never knows what building materials will be coming through the front door at Handy man’s Trading Post.
“We’ve got two sheds packed to the brim with new and used building materials,” says Chris, who took over the store in 2015 but has been working there for more than 25 years.
The store itself has been around for close to 40 years, and Chris believes it’s the only one of its kind in the area.
“We have a variety of products but we do get a lot of doors in such as sliding doors, french doors, hinge doors, and front and back doors,” he says.
“We also have doors with brass handles that you can’t source anywhere else.”
At most furniture stores, Chris says it usually takes about six to eight weeks for customers to get their order but at the Handyman’s Trading Post they don’t have to wait.
“The beauty of our shop is you can see what you’re buying and take it home right away,” he says.
And Chris says if they don’t take it home that day, it might not be there the next day.
“We get things in daily so you’ve got to get it while you can,” he says.
As for the service Chris and his team deliver, Chris says they haven’t had a complaint.
“Just have a look at our Google reviews,” he says.
“We treat everyone the same and we tell it how it is so they know exactly what they’re getting before they leave with it.”
Handyman’s Trading Post, 34 Geelong Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 4036 and email build@htp.net.au
Owner of Timberland Furniture Tony Purdy says he has a range of beautiful furniture that includes almost anything the home needs: bedding, dining suites, TV units, coffee tables, buffets and more.
There are four unique Australian hardwood timbers available, including Pine, Tasmanian Oak, Tasmanian Blackwood and “feature-grade” Ash.
But for Tony, there’s no looking past the Tasmanian Blackwood, one of Australia’s most beautiful and sought after timbers.
“Tasmanian Blackwood is a prestigious hardwood with a warm and natural colour,” he says.
“We display [Tasmanian Blackwood] in its natural colour and you can’t beat it as far as I’m concerned.”
“It can adorn different rooms of the house, and can
be complemented by any piece of furniture. You can’t beat it as far as I’m concerned.”
“It’s my favourite timber.”
Timber is a more natural choice than other materials, says Tony who adds that the Tasmanian Blackwood, like their other hardwoods, can be complemented by any piece of furniture.
Tony says they also have local and imported readymade furniture products at an affordable price. At the moment, Tony says the store is offering up to 50 per cent off all floorstock, so everything is on special.
Timberland Furniture, 100 Barrier Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 7411, or visit timberlandfurniture.com
Christine Shaw is not a standard real estate agent, something she says she is immensely proud of, especially now that she has been announced as a Top Ten Agent.
“The two repeated compliments I receive is that I am different, and I don’t sound like any other agent,” she says.
“Some might say I am a square peg in a round hole. I love those compliments, and if you’ve met me at an open house and thought this, your first impression is right – that’s me!
“What you see is what you get – no prepared scripts or pressure tactics. I will tell you to not sell if I think it is the right decision, and give you renovation ideas instead.”
Christine says normally, the agents who feature on the Top Ten list have a high volume of sales, but their high ratings are formed from seeking testimonials from specific clients.
“I got into the Top Ten this year with 30 list stats, that’s never happened before, because 100 per cent of my owners give me five stars,” she says.
“Every one of my clients gets an email asking for a testimonial, not just the ones I know are going to like me at the end of the process.”
in social policy with her real estate career.
“The opportunity to be on the deputy chief minister’s Consultative Group for Affordable Housing and Homelessness, and part of the Housing Summit in October 2017, allows me to be involved in housing policy,” she says.
“I am one of the highest female fundraisers for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout over the last three years, and walk the talk that those fortunate to be in the “haves” should give back .
I get brilliant results and have excellent negotiation skills, resulting in a repeat and referral business of over 70 per cent.
Her distinctive approach to real estate does not stop there however, with Christine being dedicated to a social-impact model that gives back to the Canberra community.
Christine says her business ethos is “real estate with a purpose” and that she is particularly committed to improving the availability of affordable housing and helping those facing homelessness.
In 2012, Christine established the Investors Can Help Project, which in collaboration with the Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services, was able to help “Canberra’s newest community members find housing”.
Then, in 2017, Christine became a member of the ACT government’s Consultative Group on Affordable Housing and Homelessness, which she says allowed her to merge her background
“I not only fundraise, but I have partnered with Hands Across Canberra and give at least 10 per cent of what I earn to help homelessness initiatives.
“I’m the only agent who has a named fund with Hands Across Canberra.
“Selling your home or investment property is an important journey, and by having me as your agent, you are having a positive social impact on the broader community.”
Christine says she always goes the extra mile for her clients.
“I am honest and frank in my communication with you – no tricks, no games, no predatory behaviour – and it shows in the results,” she says.
“I get brilliant results and have excellent negotiation skills, resulting in a repeat and referral business of over 70 per cent.”
Christine says selling a home is not just a one-dimensional step in any person’s life, and she’s proud to be a “unique” agent who thinks and understands the broader issues, while still delivering fantastic results with her clients.
Christine Shaw, call 0405 135 009, email cshaw@blackshaw.com.au
Top Ten Agents is an annual award given to the leading real estate agents in each state and territory.
The winners are drawn from more than 670,000 reviews nationally on the leading real estate agent reviews and ratings website
RateMyAgent.
RateMyAgent is used by agents who sell 80 per cent of property across Australia and reflects the vendor selling experience reviews for one-in-three properties sold nationwide. Reviews can be left by anyone who has sold a property in Australia in the past 12 months.
“Our winners embody what exceptional client service should
Forget the rest –GO WITH THE BEST
look like in the real estate industry,” says RateMyAgent CEO Michael Davey. “Nominees and winners of the RateMyAgent Awards are selected based on verified, performancebased reviews, helping them stand out from their peers and become steadfast in a challenging market.
Christine has 181 reviews across 47 different locations
As I’ve written before, when it comes to real estate agencies in the ACT & surrounds... why go with the rest, when you can go with one of the best! Christine has a long history of superlative performance based upon hard work, diligence, knowledge and integrity.
THANK YOU CHRISTINE!
With more than 15 years of experience in sales, and nine years at the helm of Edge Real Estate, licensed agent, property manager, auctioneer, and Top Ten Agent, Steven Thomas’ reputation for excellence is well-earned.
For Steven the fundamental difference to his approach is his ability to truly listen to his clients.
“I worked for eight or nine years as a counsellor,” he says.
“So that obviously included a lot of counselling and negotiation and things of that nature, but it comes from a different place, it’s not standard sales training.
“You don’t do that sort of work unless you genuinely care about people.”
He says this background also allows him to have a greater capacity to understand seller’s needs, and the whole life cycle of change that is involved around the selling of the home.
“It’s about a lot more than the sale of the house itself,” says Steven.
“It’s about all the associated issues, and because of my own training, my formal training in counselling and systems counselling, I look at things as a whole
Recent sales
$803,000
system and all the impacts, and the process of change that is involved for an individual in that.
“People will often say to me I don’t seem like a real estate agent due to the way I communicate with them.”
Steven’s extensive qualifications include a Diploma in Property, a Certificate IV in Property, and licences as an auctioneer and agent in both the ACT and NSW, which Steven says complements his remarkable practical experience and history as a counsellor.
A long-term resident of Canberra, Steven says he is deeply rooted in the community, with his children attending local schools. He is also the founder of the Canberra Kindness Facebook page, which he says has got more than 6000 members. Steven says he also frequently engages with charity work, including with the Red Cross and St Vincent’s de Paul.
“Once a counsellor, always a counsellor. That sense of contribution to the community is very real for me,” he says.
Steven’s journey in real estate is marked by his exceptional negotiation and communication skills, with such abilities being honed during his time as a counsellor, where active listening and empathetic communication were paramount.
$1,195,000
He says these skills have proven invaluable in his real estate career, enabling him to understand and meet the personal needs of his clients effectively, ensuring that sellers feel heard and valued.
This human centric approach means his clients are always fully informed, and can therefore make better quality decisions, says Steven.
“If you look on Rate My agent, you’ll see I’ve got over 200 [reviews],” says Steven.
“I don’t know whether there’s any other agents [with] over 200 reviews that are still carrying a five-star rating.
“To have five stars and over 200 reviews is very rare and I think that speaks to my social sciences background.”
Steven says he made the switch to real estate because counselling has a high intensity level, and is not something one can do forever.
“What I love about real estate is it’s about people, and it’s about change and I’m an expert in those things.”
One of Steven’s standout achievements is his ability to sell properties that have languished on the market with larger agencies.
He says his hands-on, tailored approach often succeeds where others falter, showcasing his innovative strategies and
$1,320,000
dedication to each client.
This track record of turning challenging sales into success stories has earned him a reputation as a go-to agent for difficult listings, he says.
A consistent high performer, Steven holds several suburb records and has closed numerous sales exceeding $2 million.
His achievements reflect not only his skill and hard work but also his ability to deliver exceptional results consistently.
Steven says clients seeking a real estate agent who combines local knowledge, professional expertise, and a personal touch will find him an ideal choice, as he is not just a real estate agent; he is a dedicated community member, and a skilled negotiator.
Steven’s comprehensive qualifications, local roots, and impressive track record make him a standout figure in the Canberra real estate market, and whether buying or selling, Steven says his expertise, commitment, and personalised approach ensures a smooth and successful real estate experience.
Steven Thomas, call 0419 888026, email steve@edge.com.au or visit edge.com.au/thomas
Licenced Real Estate Agent
Auctioneer / Principal
Selecting Steve Thomas as my agent to sell my property was the best decision I could have made. Steve was honest and approachable from the first meeting and clearly explained the process. He assisted me with contact details of various services I needed to list and sell my home. Through his friendliness, experience, and charisma, he engaged with potential buyers as soon as they arrived at the open homes. He provided me with detailed feedback immediately after exhibitions. Along with his teammate, Mary, an offer within the expected range was received in only a couple of weeks. I would not hesitate to recommend Steve as a great real estate agent to anyone thinking of selling their home.
By Jackie WARBURTON
Stinging nettles are small plants that grow quickly in wet, winter soils and spread, unwanted, to all areas of the garden if not kept under control.
They grow by rhizomes under the ground and self-seed. Disturbing the rhizomes results in more plants growing, so thorough removal will be needed to eradicate them completely.
Having nettles in the garden indicates high fertility and nitrogen content in the soil so, once they’ve been pulled out, roots and all, this makes the perfect place to plant lettuces, Asian greens or spinach.
In the kitchen, nettles can be a delicacy to make soups, pesto or even nettle pasta, but can only be eaten when cooked. They are unsafe to eat raw.
They have hairlike barbs on the leaves and stems and will give a good sting if touched or by inadvertently brushing against one. A little baking soda and water will neutralise the sting and lessen the pain, which can last a day or so.
THERE are a lot of flowering natives putting on a show right now. One of my favourites is Grevillea “Peaches and Cream”, a lowmaintenance shrub that grows to 1.5 metres, but needs a protected spot to grow well.
It has a two-toned flower that lasts for many months on the bush and, like all grevilleas, needs a native fertiliser that’s low in phosphorus and good drainage.
It can be grown as an informal hedge or screening plant with the bonus of winter flowers that are attractive to bees and nectarfeeding birds.
Grevilleas can die if they have too much water and too much care! Only water until the plant is established. Keep it on the drier side to grow well.
A grafted grevillea grows better in our Canberra clay soils. Or choose a variety that doesn’t mind clay soils, such as Grevillea “Lady O” that puts on a show of magnificent red flowers for many months through winter.
If Grevilleas have browning leaves, the drainage needs to be improved straight away. Most grevilleas can be hard to bring back once they begin to die.
All grevilleas benefit from a little iron chelates in the soil in spring to prevent the leaves from yellowing. Overall, they’re a set-and-forget plant that doesn’t like to be fussed over.
NOW we’re on the good side of winter, it’s rose-pruning time.
Roses should be pruned as late as possible because once they’re pruned, they begin to shoot.
With frost still around until early November, the new shoots can be burned by the frosts and affect
the spring flush of flowers. There are many pruning techniques that are required for different roses and knowing if you have climbers, old roses or modern roses will determine their pruning styles. It is too early to fertiliser roses as the soil is too cold and will be wasted. Our soils in Canberra don’t start to warm until October. That’s the time to sprinkle a little rose fertiliser at the base of the plant and water it well. Roses are heavy feeders and benefit from fertiliser in spring, summer and autumn.
jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au
• Fertilise winter bulbs as they grow and begin to flower.
• Deadhead pansy and violas to keep them flowering.
• Remove winter grass, bindi and clover from self-seeding in the lawn.
• Keep watering broad beans while flowering and forming edible pods.
By Helen MUSA
“I’m just a Brissie boy,” is how 23-year-old ballet dancer Joel Burke, co-founder of Ballet International Gala (B.I.G.) describes himself.
Burke is no novice.
A tap dancer as a boy, studying at Kick Dance Studio, he went on to spend four years at Queensland Ballet Academy with Paul Boyd and Christian Tátchev, and became a Prix de Lausanne competitor. In 2023 he was co-star of the dance movie, The Red Shoes: Next Step.
Burke was well on the way to dance celebrity when he won the cover model prize for New Energetiks’ dancewear and the world could have been his oyster, but he came to the conclusion that he truly was a Brissie boy and that it was “time for ballet to become accessible for everyone”.
During covid, together with his mate Khalid Tarabay, he launched B.I.G. at Queensland Performing Arts Centre in January 2022 and sold out.
“It showed that there was an appetite for ballet, we realised that this could
go to every capital city,” he tells me by phone from Brisbane.
The rest is history. This is the fifth version of a gala program featuring some of the world’s most famous dancers.
Big names poured in, including principal artists from The Royal Ballet,
Mariinsky Ballet, American Ballet Theatre
CityNews dance reviewers have been
Ballet Theatre, and Sharni Spencer, from With Tarabay’s business management ballet savvy, they see their collaboration
people,” he says.
There’ll be little snippets of everyone’s favourite pieces of ballet, no matter where you’re coming from, you’ll get something.”
Necessarily, because of touring, they’re using recorded music but there is a little live violin for the swan.
Audiences can expect the Dying Swan, a bit of Don Quixote Act and Le Corsaire, the Black Swan’s terrifying solo from Swan Lake and a new work about the artist Caravaggio that some people may find disturbing – “it’s a matter of taste”.
One of the most controversial yet at the same time successful interventions into the ballet tradition is what he calls having “a bit of a rock band on stage”.
Burke stresses that they are a for-profit
adding that some state ballet institutions have hundreds of staff, whereas they sold four very focused staff.
Burke’s connections helped him find the international stars that have put the stamp of quality on B.I.G. but also Instagram was his friend and some of his earliest dancers, such as Alexander Campbell, principal artist with the Royal Ballet, came to him that way.
“We are getting the right mix of
The performance concludes with its signature all-star finale, choreographed by Burke himself, where each artist competes with one another to the music of the rock band.
“We wanted to see if it would work with ballet dancers and it got the audience very excited.”
“But nothing beats classical ballet,” Burke asserts, and with that in mind, they will soon be staging the full-length Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet and, the real BIGGIE, Swan Lake itself.
The Ballet International Gala, Canberra Theatre, August 19.
By Helen Musa
It may have become something of a cliche in a world filled with anxiety that you should concentrate on the good things rather than the horrors of daily life – and it turns out to be very good advice.
That’s the premise of the next play at ACT Hub, Every Brilliant Thing, by British playwright Duncan Macmillan, first staged at the National Theatre, London in 2015. To director Joel Horwood, this is a terrific opportunity both to say thank you to, and to work with Jarrad West, who plays the central and only role of the Narrator. Horwood has previously acted in West’s productions of Holding the Man, The Importance of Being Earnest and Queers. Every Brilliant Thing is an interactive
monologue performed with audience participation. The central unnamed boy-narrator is grappling with his mother’s hospitalisation for what is obviously a suicide attempt, so he starts to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world, starting with ice cream. I’d start with a cappuccino.
His main motive is to keep his mum alive. Because the subject matter is a very adult one, there’s been a question of how to play it so that and, since he runs the gamut to adulthood in the play, West won’t be mimicking a child, rather telling the story of a real person’s life.
There’s nothing depressing about this play, despite the trigger warnings that are bound to come, as his whole motivation is to give his mother something to live for.
As well, he suspects he might be a genius and goes about facing the challenges of the adult world by writing lists.
Horwood ha been grappling with whether to leave the house lights on,
which can be very unpopular with theatregoers but makes sense in this play. There needs to be visual engagement as West sits on the stage for a little over an hour.
The set will be simple – a couple of props, a piano and a bookshelf, a stripped back, “very much a symbolic space”, he says.
The tradition of direct address to the audience is quite an old one in the theatre, most famous being Kafka’s A Report to an Academy and it’s a particular kind of storytelling, so Horwood keeps reminding West not to do too much “acting” because he must remain open and vulnerable while weaving a story about the impact of suicide on families.
But the play does not dwell in the dark ness for too long, Horwood is sure, and the message is uplifting.
Every Brilliant Thing, ACT Hub, Spinifex Street Kingston, August 14-25.
Madly passionate about Greek food? Run, don’t walk, to Alia Bar on London Circuit, Civic.
A relatively new kid on the block in the Canberra dining scene, Alia Bar’s fit-out is gorgeous and upmarket, but don’t fret. The prices of wine and food – by design – aren’t outrageous.
We lucked into a big, round marble table near large windows with soft flowing curtains, sinking into soft, comfy dining chairs under a stunning glass chandelier.
The Alia experience continued with shared dishes curated by chef John Santos, served by attentive, friendly staff and washed down with well-priced wines.
Alia correctly describes its offering as “contemporary dining meets Greek taverna in Santorini”. You expect a wise yaya (grandma) to come bounding out of the kitchen to encourage you to “eat, eat and eat more”. While we didn’t meet a yaya, we did eat, eat and eat more, sharing small and large plates.
Honey, chilli, oregano and lemon enhanced the saganaki with just the right balance of sweet ($18). The filo pastry used
for the Spanakopita was paper-thin and delightfully crispy. Packed inside was spinach and salty feta ($19).
Octopus lovers will find the Xtapodi with oregano and lemon – such a great combo of Greek flavours – divine ($28). It was super soft and wonderfully charred and we loved the half-lemon charred too, adding depth to the juice.
The pan-roasted half chicken was a “good-for-the-soul” dish and yummy with creamy spinach kritharaki (the Greek version of Italian Orzo pasta). And what would a roast be without potatoes? Alia’s lemon potatoes are true comfort food and prepared with just the right amount of garlic, oregano and citrus salt ($16).
Flathead was grilled and served whole (if you’re not a fan of carving a whole, cooked fish, ask the kitchen for help). Perfectly cooked, it married well with a punchy preserved lemon gremolata ($55).
Skillfully created was the oxtail, a must-try
dish ($36). It was succulent with a lovely texture and the red wine sauce a masterpiece. The kitchen team nailed the accompanying tomato-olive orzo.
One side that celebrated colour as much as flavour was the Village salad. While loaded with goodness, we felt the red onion slices were too thick. The feta was salty and the olives were simply fabulous.
A stunning dessert, and our fave by far, was the baklava cheesecake encased in more of that paper-thin filo. This dish is created with cream cheese, walnuts and a divine syrup drizzled on top ($19). Close your eyes and, bingo, you’re in Greece.
We weren’t as passionate about the tiramisu ($24), agreeing we’d had better. It was a generous serve, but the flavour profile could have been more pronounced in some way. And we felt the texture could have been slightly firmer.
A listicle is a portmanteau of the words list and article. I recently read a listicle online that sought to “pair” the creation of “content” with a wine type.
This theme seems to be aimed at those who undertake the occupation of content creator, a role that has become more common as social media is integrated with our everyday lives.
My view? Social media is like waking up in a mental asylum. You have no idea you’re committed until you try to leave. Which thought led me to try to nail down what a content creator actually does.
One advertisement I saw for a content creator indicated that the employer wanted people who could “create visually appealing and engaging social content that align with social media trends, nuances and brand aesthetic”. I have never tried to align a nuance but it sounds painful.
In any event, the article is entitled “10 Content Types and Their Most Suitable Wine Pairings”. It is in itself a listicle and describes the way to pair a wine with this style of content thus:
Listicles: The wine coolers of content.
People love lists – just look at Buzzfeed’s success. They’re palatable, accessible to everyone and ever-popular despite sometimes carrying a stigma of lower quality. Listicles tend to be lighthearted, quick and easy to read, just as wine coolers are enjoyable and refreshing for a summer barbecue on a warm day. Post listicles with some caution, however. Just as all the sugar in wine coolers can lead to upset stomachs, too many listicles can turn readers off.
Hmmm, I thought, I’ve never written a wine-related listicle, preferring to avoid
wine coolers and, frankly, lists. But, hey, here it is. Three wines I’ve recently enjoyed:
1. The Vintner’s Daughter Rose 2022 This is from a Canberra District Winery and paired well with a yellow chicken curry cooked at home. My spreadsheet shows I paid $32 for this wine 18 months ago bought directly from the winery. It was fresh, crisp and dry. It had a clean finish and lovely berry flavours. Stephanie Helm is a marvellous winemaker and this rose is a good example of the application of her skill.
2. Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 2020. This is a Margaret River varietal that went well with a beef casserole. I bought a bottle on special from Vintage Cellars at only $21 and this was a good value-for-money wine that made me wish I’d bought more. The wine is purple in colour with a good tannic structure, but still smooth on the finish. It has an agreeable earthy flavour that would deepen with age.
3. De Bortoli Rutherglen Estate Arneis 2022 . I was given this wine by a couple with whom I visited Rutherglen. I had to come back to Canberra, but they stayed on and visited the De Bortoli cellar door. This wine had impressed them on taste, I was told, and the gift was a souvenir of good memories from our visit. It went well with salmon, the slight acidity cutting through the fish oil. Like most Arneis varietals, it had a refreshing pear finish and a hint of spice but it is not a sweet wine. It compares well with the local Pankhurst Arneis, which is one of my favourites. I sneaked an internet look at the price and it’s great value at $22 a bottle.
IT’S hard to imagine transplanting a character from a 40-year-old film into six seasons of modern TV and still keeping it fresh, but Netflix’s Cobra Kai has done just that.
This pithy comedy-drama reignites the famous feud between Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence, the two teens at the centre of 1984’s classic flick The Karate Kid.
Both Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprise their roles, but the twist here is that the show actually follows the bad guy.
Thirty-four years after their showdown at the All Valley Karate Tournament, Johnny has been crane kicked into a life of boozing and depression. All that changes though when he reopens the infamous Cobra Kai Dojo, his last chance at redemption.
In an age of spin-off and sequel exhaustion, this is one of those rare shows that continues to surprise and innovate with its story, but now Cobra Kai is finally calling it time with its sixth and final season which has just been released on Netflix.
Although this is the finale of the beloved show, the end isn’t anywhere near in sight yet.
Netflix is splitting the final season into not two, but three different batches all with different release dates to stretch out the hype as much as they possibly can.
So far audiences have been treated to the first five episodes. The second set won’t release until November and the final five episodes haven’t been given a release date at all, just some vague time off in 2025.
For a while now Netflix has been splitting the seasons of its big shows into two parts, but three so far apart now verges on ridiculous
Cobra Kai has proven it still has some big punches to land but Netflix’s obnoxious release plan is only holding its own show back from the swansong it deserves.
OVER on Binge, the second season of a series made here at home is what’s making the trending charts.
It’s called The Twelve and it stars Sam Neill as a smooth-talking lawyer defending a woman accused of the murder of her niece.
Filmed in Sydney, the show follows the 12 jurors brought into the courtroom, exploring how their personal lives and trauma prejudice the trial.
A neat premise for a melodrama, but its central conceit is also the biggest problem with the show.
There are just a little too many characters here to keep track of. The story often gets
bogged down by the sheer amount of perspective switching that often drags the plot to a snail’s pace.
When it does kick into gear, The Twelve makes for some fine Aussie drama, but season two has a lot of work to do if this series is going to hit its stride.
Viewers who have hung on will be judging harshly indeed.
NOW available on Disney Plus is a film which tells the remarkable true story of the first woman to swim the English Channel.
Young Woman and the Sea stars Star Wars star (how’s that for a tongue twister?) Daisy Ridley as Trudy Ederle, who in 1926 freestyled her way across the 33-kilometre stretch of water between France and England. She pulled off the remarkable feat in 14 hours and 39 minutes and this biopic charts the intense physical, psychological and emotional training it took to get there, with a little stretching of the truth to up the stakes.
Those crazy enough to attempt the swim must contend with intense tides, jellyfish and relentless exhaustion. There were 80 failed attempts before Thomas William Burgess became the first to do it in 1911 with a time of 22 hours and 35 minutes.
The fact Ederle was able to shave off just 8 hours shows just how dedicated she was.
Injecting enough cinematic drama into a watery trek that lasted more than half a day meant Young Woman and The Sea was always going to sink or swim. Thankfully, it’s definitely the latter.
Science fiction or speculative fiction, never sci-fi, has always been a reflection of underlying public fears.
Think the 1950s novels that reflected the American Russia Cold War and nuclear fears. Three Australian writers now provide future scenarios that reflect fears of the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), climate change and the growing power of China.
Canberra-based former diplomat and aid worker Tim Napper is a Ditmar and Aurealis fiction award winner. He received a creative writing doctorate for his thesis: Noir, Cyber punk and Asian Modernity, elements that feature strongly in his fourth novel, Ghost of the Neon God (Titan $24.99), set in a near future Australia dominated by government surveillance and corporate capitalism. China is the omniscient global power.
Napper’s main character, first generation Vietnamese, Jackson Nguyen is a Melbourne small-time thief with a standard cochlearglyph implant. Jackson’s life goes awry when, in attempting to rob a rich Chinese woman, he later finds she has transferred into his brain the world’s first empathetic and self-aware AI, which the Chinese and the Australian government desperately want to possess.
Jackson, initially unaware of his AI presence, flees Melbourne for WA and hijacks the car of young student Sally, who becomes a reluctant partner as they escape from a number of corrupt police and Chinese operatives. They are increasingly assisted by the
Taiwan war, although the local and global geopolitical framework is only
South-east Australia is in the hands of the Chinese with their stronghold in Victoria. SA is a no- man’s land with the only free state being WA. Wales’ main character Jack Dunne, an Outrider, is one of a dwindling elite group of AUKUS SAS soldiers. The last major Australian resistance centres on “The Hill” in the Dandenong Ranges.
Jack’s wife has been killed in that resistance and his main task is to protect his 11-year-old son Harry, while continuing to fight the Chinese and, in particular, the turncoat Victorian militia. The involvement of the latter allows Wales to soften explicit
Tacit American support is essential for the resistance but is dependent on Jack’s
survival, as he confronts and combats “death and destruction” in Jack Reacher style. Characterisation is not deep, but the focus is on the action, the confrontations and military hardware. Wales succeeds in delivering a novel on the Tom Clancy thriller level. Jordan Prosser is a Victorian writer, filmmaker and performer. In his debut novel, Big Time (University of Queensland Press. $34.99), he imagines a near future, climateimpacted, Australia, divided into two areas. The Western Republic of Australia is linked to the rest of the world, while the Free Republic of East Australia (FREA) is a conservative, almost ‘50s, dystopian autocracy with
closed borders. Here the Internet is strictly controlled, cultural dissidents are imprisoned and immorality is punished.
Prosser’s main character Julian is a member of a successful rock group but their second album is seen as a threat against the state. Julian, like many others, takes a designer drug: “F”, a synthetic hallucinogen, administered by eye drops, which allows users to see fragments of the future. Julian can see far more than most, but will his future be real and/or distort existing reality?
Prosser has said: “Big Time considers the responsibility of artists during times of great social unrest – should they be spearheading the revolution, or offering simple escapism?
“I also see this story as a lament for the end of your (my) 20s – it’s about having the scales fall from your eyes, seeing the world for what it truly is, then deciding what – and who – you’re determined to hold on to as the band plays you off”.
Big Time, with its various narrative sections and wide-ranging ambitions in relation to societal commentary, ultimately becomes something of a psychedelic trip in itself.
have survived The Change. Seen by nearly 17 million people around the world, it’s a parody set to classic tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.
The B, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, August 14-17.
The Alpenrose Piano Trio from Salzburg includes Canberra pianist
the Mozarteum in Salzburg. They’ll perform a concert at the Austrian ambassador’s residence, Forrest, August 14. Tickets at bernicezchua. squarespace.com
To celebrate 20 years of professional practice in this region, Dianna Nixon is presenting a singing, dancing, acting, playing concert by her music students, aged 8 to 70+.Street Theatre, August 11.
The Gold Anniversary of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells will be marked by a large live group,
compositions, including Moonlight
and Family Man. Canberra Theatre, August 15.
The Australian Chamber Orchestra and Sydney Dance Company will join forces for Silence & Rapture, a spectacular showcase of music, dance and lighting centred around the music of Arvo Pärt and JS Bach. Llewellyn Hall, August 17.
Music and Words – The
a
of
Quan Wing and guest artists, accompanied by Colin Forbes and Sam Row on piano. Manning Clark House, Forrest, August 11.
By Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Have you been waiting in the wings or sulking on the sidelines? This week the fiery Leo Sun activates your creativity and entertainment zones. And gung-ho Mars (your power planet) hooks up with adventurous Jupiter. So spring into action – wake up, explore, experiment, get into party mode and make some noise! Be inspired by original celebrity chef – and birthday great – Julia Child: “Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.”
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
Are you feeling hemmed in at home? Mercury reverses through your domestic zone (from Thursday until August 28-29) which could cramp your style. Try cleaning, decluttering, renovating and/or extending your present living space so it’s more spacious. Bulls need room to breathe! Expect some family drama, as impatience and uncertainty overtake common sense. If you try to escape from your current commitments, then loved ones won’t be impressed.
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
With retrograde Mercury and the Sun in your neighbourhood zone, find more meaningful ways to connect with people and contribute to your local community. Education and short trips are highlighted, plus expect plenty of phone calls, snail mail, texts, tweets and emails. But you’ll also have to handle stress, delays and misunderstandings along the way. The secret to a successful week is getting the balance right between being spontaneous and being patient.
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
Are you a luxury-loving Crab who’s living in financial fairyland? With Mercury reversing through your financial zone (from Thursday) you’re in the mood to spend up a storm. But make sure your personal finances are rock solid before you commit to a major purchase. And – if you can – delay making any big-ticket buys (and signing contracts) until after Mercury moves forwards on August 28-29. Your motto for the week? Spend in haste, repent at leisure!
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
Mercury reverses into your sign, so plans will proceed slowly. And Sunday looks particularly tricky, as the retro Mercury/Uranus square highlights personal or professional problems. On Wednesday, Mars and Jupiter stimulate your friendship zone, so it’s a good time to network with your peer group and catch up with close friends. Be inspired by fellow Leo, actress Gillian Anderson: “I believe people are in our lives for a reason. We’re here to learn from each other.”
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
Your ruling planet Mercury is still in retrograde mode. So it’s time for active and conscientious Virgos to pace themselves, as some plans backfire and confidence levels are lower than usual. You could also question your current trajectory and look to others for feedback and approval. Don’t overdo it! Madonna (who celebrates her 66th birthday on Friday) observes: “If your joy is derived from what others think of you, then you’re going to be disappointed.”
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
Helpful Librans to the rescue! Venus and retrograde Mercury increase your interest in assisting those who are sick, in trouble or in need. You’ll find the more you lend a hand to others, the better you’ll feel and the more useful you’ll be. A personal matter should also improve, as Mars and Jupiter help you put a philosophical spin on a frustrating situation. Rest and relaxation are important, as you set aside some quality time with a very special person… you.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
With Mercury reversing into your career zone, proceed carefully with a complicated professional project. If you are too hasty (or too stubborn) then you’ll experience communication problems with a colleague, client or customer. Plus, Uranus also squares retro Mercury – so unpredictable feelings could resurface, as loved ones push your emotional buttons. Simmer down, Scorpio, otherwise you run the risk of turning a minor matter into a major obsession.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
Most Sagittarians are independent, freedom-loving souls. And this week, gung-ho Mars and generous Jupiter (your patron planet) hook up in your partnership zone. So the focus is on relationships of all sorts – romantic, platonic and professional. The more proactive and positive you are, the better. Your motto is from birthday great, psychotherapist and bestselling author Esther Perel: “Our need for togetherness exists alongside our need for separateness.”
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
Expect some frustration or conflict this week, Capricorn. Mercury is still retrograde, and go-slow Saturn (your ruling planet) squares gung-ho Mars on Friday. So you could feel like a car trying to move forward with the handbrake on! Patience and persistence are required if you want to steer projects through to a satisfactory conclusion. The Mars/Jupiter conjunction favours fresh, nutritious food; jaunty walks in the fresh air; and having fun with pets.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
Mercury is still in retrograde mode (until August 28-29) so be careful how you treat other people, in person and online. Self-indulgent behaviour, unrealistic expectations and controversial comments will just boomerang back on you! So your mantra is from actress Cara Delevingne (who turns 32 on Monday): “The energy you give off is the energy you receive.” Some quiet meditation or soulful contemplation will help you get through the week in a more relaxed state.
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
The Mars/Jupiter conjunction boosts family fun and feelgood vibes – as long as you communicate clearly and sensitively. With Neptune and Saturn both transiting through your sign, it’s time to set inspirational long-term goals, and then work hard to turn them into concrete reality. No procrastinating, Pisces! No lame excuses! Be inspired by model and actress Cara Delevingne (who turns 32 on Monday): “Believe in yourself. Make yourself proud.”
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2024
1 Name a golden-flowered plant. (8)
2 What do we call one who rents? (6)
3 Name the birthplace of Omar Khayyam. (8)
4 What is the unit of electric potential? (4)
5 To be on fire, is to be what? (6)
6 One who wags school is known as a what? (6)
12 Which Nevada city is known for its gambling casinos? (3,5)
13 Who devised the strategy of the Wooden Horse of Troy? (8)
15 Name an alternative term for a horse. (6)
16 Which type of warfare was prevalent in the Somme in World War One? (6)
(8)
23 What are assemblies of ecclesiastics? (6)
17 What was the surname of Daniel, “Mad Dog”? (6)
20 Name a former unit of currency in India. (4)
