‘The Liberals don’t need a change in leader, but more a change in strategy when it comes to leadership. Because maybe, just maybe, that will lead to the change in government,’ writes ANDREW HUGHES
Well written, well read
Countdown to failure of pharmacy vape scheme ROSS FITZGERALD
KEEPING UP THE ACT
As the weather warms, here come the moths!
JACKIE WARBURTON
AUGUST 29, 2024
HOMES SWEET HOMES
Master Builders new CEO ANNA NEELAGAMA wants to see Canberra building more houses. Lots more.
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NEWS / Jamison market
By Katarina LLOYD JONES
The Sunday Trash and Treasure Market at Jamison is celebrating its 50th anniversary on September 8.
Club of Belconnen, Peter Oldham – a Rotarian since 1995, and 2005 presi dent – says the community-building market is more of an institution than anything else, and is thrilled to be cel ebrating the community spirit, which has kept it going all these years. came from Melbourne.
brought the idea back to Canberra, and were allocated a spot in the Jami son car park.
that’s 50 years ago,” says Peter. more than $8 million, which Rotar ians have re-distributed back into the local community, and overseas, through various projects.
Peter says a standout one for him was the building, and subsequent expansion, of Rotary Cottage at Canberra North Hospital.
They have also invested in clean-
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Arts & Entertainment 27-30
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Keeping Up the ACT 10
Letters 12-13
News 3-14
Politics 4, 14
Peter says their first president Brian Daniell, at nearly 100 years old, still engages on the periphery.
He says there are also a few vendors who have been there close to the entire 50 years.
Trash and treasure market hits the Big Five-Oh!
over time.
“The permit was changed when I was president,” he says.
“Up until then, we had very few fruit and vegetable stalls because the permit said that it had to be homegrown stuff.
“We got the permit changed and now fruit and veggies are by far the largest number.”
But, Peter says there are still plenty of stalls selling knick-knacks and the
“I’m a philatelist, amongst other things,” he says.
“And there’s a guy who sells stamps at the markets, so I always go and check the new ones.”
Peter says the market is incredibly important for building a sense of community, but Rotary member numbers are dropping, threatening any further longevity.
“It’s a big effort, and it’s been a consistent effort, every week”
But Peter also emphasises the importance of the people who have sup -
“The people of Canberra, and particularly Belconnen, are fantastic,” he
“We’re getting one or two younger people in,” he says.
“But it’s quite different now because they’ve got much bigger commitments than we had at their age, in terms of the mortgages and what have you.”
they’re all volunteers, on every Sunday.
“We run under a permit from the ACT government, and we have to fence off the area, which is a bit of a pain these days, with all of us getting old, but that’s okay.
“They support us every week, we get to know them over the years when they stop and chat.”
Peter says anything and everything can be found at the market, and that items for sale have also transformed
Peter encourages everyone to join them in celebrating the market’s 50th anniversary, and maybe even join the Rotary Club!
Trash and Treasure Jamison, find them at Jamison Centre on September 8, from 6.30am to 12.30pm.
Since 1993: Volume 30, Number: 35
Streaming 30 Cover: Anna Neelagama, the new CEO of Master Builders ACT. Photo Katarina Lloyd Jones. Story Page 6.
General manager: Tracey Avery, tracey@citynews.com.au
Senior advertising account executive: David Cusack, 0435 380656
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Rotary Club of Belconnen’s Trash and Treasure Market… over the years, the club has raised more than $8 million.
POLITICS / disunity is death
Labor will be back unless things start to change
As the ACT election gets closer, so does a sense of déjà vu: yes, while there will be some reshuf fling of chairs, there probably won’t be of government, unless things start to change.
Stunts such as finding the lookalike Andrew Barr for a parody skit aren’t helping the Libs cause. If you can’t take this election seriously, why would anyone believe you are a viable alternative government?
I’ve been asked why I think Labor is the number one show in town in local politics. They are far from perfect, after all. But there are sev eral reasons. By far, one of the most important is leadership. Especially how they deal with this internally, so that externally we believe they are one big, happy family.
Truth is they aren’t. Labor might be one of the most highly organised parties, but they are also one of the most segmented parties you’ll come across. If you ever attend any of their party conferences they’ll have people in the room who are pro and anti-life, development happy and defenders of the earth, and so on. The wide spectrum of left and right.
Sometimes you win and sometimes lose but regardless, the outcome of any vote is respected and protected. Since the dark days of the Rudd-
‘We
as you are all in it together.
Locally, this is where they are streets ahead. One of the reasons why the Liberals don’t come close to getting the numbers behind them to win is that they are often seen as divided. It’s either a conservative leading the conservatives, or a moderate leading the moderates. Rarely are they the united team.
When the two meet and replicate what Labor does, that is agree to disagree, support the leadership team with blind loyalty, they are
The Liberals don’t need a change in leader, but more a change in strategy when it comes to leadership. Because
of doing how-to-votes in near freezing and rainy conditions, as I saw one weekend recently.
government they’ve been
Here’s how I would have played it. Elizabeth Lee, the moderate and progressive leader pursuing policies linked to that and her own narrative. Hanson, or another conservative, would be told, you and your team are responsible for party performance on the more conservative issues and
However, there is party agreement on everything and we all defend each other at the cost of being cut from the
it. Eleven years of government and Labor struggling, although the 2001 election was outside their control.
Locally, the Liberals need a similar strategy to have a chance at winning. The disposal of Jeremy Hanson, and I have been enthusiastically told two different stories about why, was a mistake. Regardless of the reasons, the consequences have been clear. Division. Disunity. Campaign teams restricted to the individual level faithful, not even party level. No Tara Cheyne-level commitment
Now the Liberals can actively see who is keen to be in government, who is pretending, but also have factional consequences for bad behaviour.
Deputy Liberal leader Leanne Castley is doing fine, but she’s arguably between a rock and a hard place. She should have been allowed to more actively pursue her own policy agenda. The contrast with Labor is stark in
leadership. While rumours abound of very earthy and blunt conversations on some issues behind closed doors, it never leaves those spaces. The only thing hurting them now is the fact that they have to resolve the Barr leadership issue so the other pieces can be shuffled.
The Greens are heading the way of Labor. Rattenbury may be shrewd, but Vassarotti should be the leader in this election. Yet with both Labor and the Greens, there is no sense of division, just a need to recognise the obvious in leadership change.
What the Liberals need to recognise though is far different. They don’t need a change in leader, but more a change in strategy when it comes to leadership. Because maybe, just maybe, that will lead to the change in government they’ve been seeking.
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.
Time for some turbocharging, says Anna
sense that, when there’s an election, people kind of hold off on making deci-
“We have the ACT election in October and then the federal election uniquely affects us as well, and that’ll be held in May, so you have that degree of economic uncertainty and then gen -
“And then on the building side, during the COVID-19 pandemic, all the costs went up – materials, labour, massive skills shortage – there were a lot of industrial relations reforms.
“So it’s just been this, kind of a per -
Her other focus was boosting the women-in-construction program.
She said MBA ACT have had female presidents in the past and, since 2018, had run the Master Builders Women in Construction Group, but as the first female CEO, she was excited to expand
“We’re at the start of the journey, so still a way to go. I think we need to still understand what has traditionally stopped school leavers, tertiaryqualified women, and even change-ofcareer women coming into the sector.
“I think we need to do a deep dive and really properly explore that for
“Being part of that, and being part of the continued development of the ACT is something that’s super exciting and special to be part of.”
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Crime milestone for man in boot
A 27-year-old man found hiding in the boot of a Honda City sedan became the 500th apprehension for Operation Toric.
The man was arrested after police stopped the car on Kingsford Smith Drive, Florey. He faces charges of breaching parole and possessing a prohibited weapon.
Since being established in August 2022, Operation Toric has laid more than 1470 offences targeting recidivist offenders involved in motor vehicle thefts, burglaries, robberies, associated dangerous driving and other crimes in the ACT.
Of those charged, 200 were on bail, while 118 were subject to conditions such as good behaviour orders, intensive corrections orders or on parole.
It’s goodbye to Beaver Galleries
Canberra’s longest-running, privately owned art gallery, Beaver Galleries in Deakin will close on December 1.
Despite weeks of speculation, owners Martin and Susie Beaver’s decision has caused a shock in arts circles and comes only weeks after Nancy Sever Gallery in Civic announced it would reopen online only.
The galleries were founded by Martin Beaver’s late parents, Ron and Betty, in their Red Hill home in 1975.
presents:
Friday 6 September, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Saturday 7 September, 10am – 2pm
Join us for Inspire – a festival of art, nature and sustainability.
Be inspired by local artists, enjoy talks from special guests, soak up some live music or learn new skills. You’ll have an opportunity to explore Strathnairn Arts artists’ open studios, sample food and products from local artisans and producers, and participate in workshops and activities designed for all ages.
Whether you want to learn more about a sustainable lifestyle, get closer to nature, enjoy local art or are simply looking to enjoy a fun day out with the family, Ginninderry’s Inspire Festival is an all ages and free event with something for everyone.
Follow event signs to Strathnairn Arts Association, Gullifer St, Strathnairn.
BRINDABELLA SUNSET SESSION
SPECIAL GUESTS ON MAIN STAGE INSPIRING TALKS WORKSHOPS
ART EXHIBITIONS OPEN STUDIOS LIVE MUSIC FOOD STALLS
Countdown to failure of pharmacy vape scheme
Australia’s failed prescription policy for vaping nicotine was finally scrapped by a federal Senate vote on June 25. It has been replaced by an utterly unworkable pharmacy supply scheme that begins operating on October 1.
The fact is, pharmacists and vapers both hate the new system. The three flavours permitted (mint, menthol and tobacco) are among the least popular.
No one could answer National Party Senator Ross Cadell’s question when he asked Department of Health officials during the June Senate debate what the criteria for success and the criteria for failure of the new scheme would be. That was not a good sign.
In the ACT, Emma Davidson is the Minister for Population Health and responsible for the territory’s vape policy. A supporter of the ACT vape policy being consistent with her government’s policy of decriminalising drug use, Ms Davidson strongly advocates vapes as being the most popular and most effective aid to enable people to quit smoking cigarettes.
But how can the ACT decriminalise all drugs but retain Draconian penalties for possession of nicotine for vaping?
The evidence keeps mounting that
Vaping… pharmacists and vapers both hate the new system.
vapes help many smokers quit who have previously failed to stop smoking despite countless attempts using conventional techniques.
Recently, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) in the UK released figures showing that of the 5.6 million vapers in the UK, 53 per cent said they had managed to quit smoking entirely thanks to vapes. Cigarette smoking used to be more common in the UK than in Australia before vapes but is now significantly less common than in Australia.
The UK government is spending £45 million a year giving one million smokers free vapes, while Australian governments make safer vapes much harder to obtain than deadly cigarettes. One of these countries has
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got it wrong and it’s not the UK.
Minister Davidson supports tobacco harm reduction and rejects drug prohibition. She was quoted in The Canberra Times (July 2) saying: “Leaving the possibility open for young people to be locked up for having a vape in their possession not only increases disadvantage, but also disincentives young people from accessing healthcare.
“We’ve seen in New Zealand that regulating vapes as a consumer product significantly reduces black market supply and rates of tobacco smoking.”
Ms Davidson is right, and her comments are entirely consistent with what the community thinks the Greens policy is on drug use: namely that drug use should be decriminalised.
NZ and Sweden are leading the world in reducing cigarette smoking. It is expected that both countries will soon be recognised as effectively smoke free (ie smoking rates less than 5 per cent). This has been achieved by providing easy access to smoke-free alternatives.
NZ has achieved this with a policy adopted in 2020 of making safer vapes easier to obtain than deadly cigarettes. Sweden has largely relied on snus, ie pasteurised tobacco in a pouch that is placed between the upper teeth and cheeks.
In Australia all vaping devices are
now illegal to import and sell, with the exception of three very expensive TGA-registered products that from October 1 can be legally bought from chemists without a prescription.
Minister Davidson was also quoted as saying: “We need to stop framing vapes as a therapeutic product. Restricting the sale of regulated vapes to pharmacies, and indeed imposing that on pharmacies is no different to expecting pharmacies to sell light beer as an alternative to higher alcohol beer.”
The absence of legislative interventions that will realistically reduce black market vape supply means “that under-18s are now more likely to be the target market than they were before.”
The vape black market is thriving in Australia and will continue to sell unregulated vapes with unknown ingredients and unknown nicotine levels to anyone of any age who has enough money to buy them.
The crime gang territory wars will continue. The fire-bombing of tobacconist shops will continue.
Australia has now had 94 tobacconist shops firebombed by criminal gangs fighting turf wars. Young people will continue to have easy access to
unregulated and often dangerous products.
After the pharmacy scheme has collapsed, it will be time for Australia to finally adopt the sensible approach we should have adopted all along. We couldn’t do much better than copy exactly what NZ has done. Vapes are an adult consumer product in competition with another adult consumer product – cigarettes.
But while there hasn’t yet been a death scientifically attributed to vaping nicotine, eight million people die each year around the world from a smoking-related disease.
It seems to me extremely likely that, after it has tried every policy that has no hope of working, Australia will eventually end up with a sensible policy position on vaping.
Ross Fitzgerald AM is emeritus professor of history and politics at Griffith University. He writes widely about drug use, and addictions.
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BRIEFLY Fundraising lunch for Ukraine
Ukraine ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko, pictured, is the guest of honour at a fundrais ing, three-course lunch for the Ukraine Crisis Appeal at Otis Dining Hall, Kingston, midday-3pm on Sunday, September 8.
All funds raised will go directly to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, the largest Australian tax-deductible humanitarian fundraising effort for Ukraine.
Tickets are $395 each for the ambassador’s table (10 seats available) and $295 elsewhere. Book at ukrainecrisisappeal.org/ events
Bilingual education
A panel-led discussion for families and others interested in bilingualism and bilingual education will be held at the ANU, from 5.30pm, on September 19. Questions and input from the audience is encouraged and there’s informal networking after the seminar. Free but registration, via events button, at required: to immersia.anu.edu.au
Green light for Brickworks
Doma’s redevelopment of the Yarralumla brickworks precinct has the green light following the approval of the Estate Development Plan. The Suburban Development Agency’s acting CEO Fiona Wright said the precinct would feature about 380 residential dwellings, including stand-alone houses, terraces and apartments over 16.1 hectares.
‘We aim
to create a safe, nurturing space akin to a dental spa experience – making it ideal for those with dental anxiety.’
Dr Heneriette’s ‘tremendous journey of innovation’
Two years after moving Integrated Dental to Canberra, principal Dr Henriette Macri-Etienne says the process has been a “tremendous journey of innovation”.
Integrated Dental Canberra provides preventative, cosmetic and restorative specialty services such as wisdom teeth removal and root canal therapy.
But it’s their commitment to creating a sanctuary of calm that Dr Henriette says is the driving force behind her practice.
Specialising in holistic, trauma-informed dentistry, Dr Henriette says Integrated Dental Canberra is committed to finding ways to make clients feel safer.
Those with special needs, mental health disorders and neurodivergent characteristics greatly benefit from Dr Henriette’s integration of Eastern and Western modalities of treatment and, when possible, offers natural alternative options.
“We aim to create a safe, nurturing space akin to a dental spa experience – making it ideal for those with dental anxiety,” she says.
Dr Henriette says their trauma-informed approach is guided by five values: safety, choice, empowerment, collaboration and trustworthiness.
“Choice is essential. We always give people choices – from the materials to the natural alternatives to fluoride or even pause the
procedure if needed for a little break if it feels too overwhelming.
“Empowerment refers to our clients. They should feel accommodated and supported in their decisions, guided by our knowledge and expertise.
“Collaboration lies in the tailored manage ment plan every client receives because not everybody has the same triggers.
“Trustworthiness is vital as a feeling of safety and support is needed, especially with dental services like root canal therapy.
“Many people feel really embarrassed about their dental anxiety, so incorporating those five values in everything we do helps them know they won’t be judged at our clinic.”
Meanwhile, Dr Henriette says many people find visiting the dentist an overwhelming sensory experience, which can disproportion ately impact neurodivergent people.
“Neurodivergent [dentistry] refers to the autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, dyslexia,” she says.
“But it also includes individuals with mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
“And that ties in with sensory sensitivities around light, smells, touch, behavioural and emotional regulation.
“To support them, my team and I are dedicated to creating an atmosphere of safety, empowerment and choice – transforming their dental journey from dread to delight.”
Dr Henriette and her team use several
Dr Henriette Macri-Etienne… “What we’re trying to create is a comfort menu, where it’s not about us forcing people to do things they don’t want to do.”
they can choose depending on the level of anxiety depending on the type of supportive therapies they feel would be helpful for them,” says Dr Henriette.
“For some, it might be dry needling. For others, it might just be the weighted blanket.”
Integrated Dental Canberra also works with a psychologist for cognitive behavioural therapy, so no matter what fears patients may have, they can feel supported.
“Some of the anxious patients that we see haven’t been for 20 years – they’re that terrified,” she says.
“For some people, it’s due to a bad childhood experience. Or they may have sensory issues, where they really struggle with sensory things in their mouth.
“So it might be that sort of neurodivergent behaviour, but often it’s as we get older, we can develop certain fears and anxieties that weren’t there before.
“Fears and anxieties can develop later in life for no apparent reason, but more often than not, they’re either medical or non-dental and trauma gets stacked up, we become more and more sensitive to things that are invasive.”
are represented on the ear and it’s a simple technique we can use for relaxation,” she says.
“It’s especially helpful for children and patients on the spectrum because they’re non-invasive.
“You just stick them on the ear, and
a vagus nerve stimulator that helps the heart rate go down when waiting for the appointment to begin.
“What we’re trying to create is a comfort menu, where it’s not about us forcing people to do things they don’t want to do, but
Love your smile –
No matter what it is, Dr Henriette says they always work with patients to ensure they are comfortable, safe and supported, empowering them to smile with confidence every day.
Integrated Dental, 5/16 Moore Street, Civic. Call 6249 8551 or visit integrateddentalcanberra.au
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Come & experience the difference. Scan the QR Code to BOOK ONLINE
CFMEU candidate should have resigned by now
I’m just back from the shops after seeing a booth for one of our new local Kurrajong Labor candidates, Aggi Court, who has sprung up out of nowhere but is very focused on listening to people, at least until October.
But what surprised me was that, according to her blurb, she is currently working full-time for the CFMEU as some sort of policy officer.
Now, I know a lot of local Laborites have had direct CFMEU backing but having an actual CFMEU employee running for office? Especially after the federal government’s CFMEU bill, that now includes the ACT.
Plus, she’s seemingly open and proud about it all. Why isn’t anyone making her candidacy an issue?
And as the ACT CFMEU is placed into administration then, according to news reports, they can’t engage in any party politics or back any political candidate.
So, will Ms Court be disendorsed? And how much has the CFMEU contributed to her campaign already? If it is anything, then shouldn’t she have resigned by now to avoid a clear conflict of interest?
This is the sort of stuff the Canberra Liberals should be on to. I mean, imagine if a current CFMEU member was endorsed to run for the federal Labor Party while still working for the CFMEU? And what’s more had happy snaps taken with Albo, like Aggi
Court has had with Chief Minister Andrew Barr. It would be front page news!
Anne O’Donnell, Ainslie
I’m still waiting to hear from Amardeep
With most election candidates spouting similar inoffensive buzzwords, it can be difficult to know where they stand on issues that matter to voters.
I wrote to all of the candidates in my electorate of Murrumbidgee to ask their views on voluntary assisted dying (I didn’t write to current members, whose positions
are already known, nor to other Labor candidates).
I received a very fast response from each of the independent candidates with clearly worded policy positions.
I also received a thoughtful response from Liberal candidate Karen Walsh.
I received no response from prominent Liberal candidate Amardeep Singh, even when I sent a reminder two weeks later.
Irrespective of his views on the subject, I have deduced from this that he would not be a very responsive or accountable MLA, despite his inundation of glossy, buzzwordy flyers.
Scott Humphries, via email
Reserves are for everyone to enjoy
My imagination began to race when I read Michael Moore’s column (“House throws spanner in the Kurrajong works”, CN August 15) that a policy of the First Nations party under Paul Girrawah House is the “transfer to local Aboriginal people of full control and rights of all Crown nature reserves… including most of the urban bushland within the city boundaries”.
Does this mean if the policy is adopted, the community won’t be able to walk up Mount Taylor for exercise, walk on ridges such as Farrer Ridge to see the wildflowers or have their kids swim at the Black Mountain peninsula reserve without a permit from Aboriginal people or possibly
INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED Keeping
local
paying an entry fee?
These reserves have been developed over the past 50 years with funds from taxpayers and many hours of free labour from volunteer groups for everyone to enjoy. To now want to transfer “full control and rights” in relation to these assets to one small group seems to be a negative step.
If I’m misrepresenting the policy then I’d be grateful if Paul would expand on it, with some examples of its application.
Bill Bowron, Wanniassa
National service a test for multiculturalism
Quite rightly, Ric Hingee, of Duffy, gives close attention to problems found within Australia’s migrant and refugee policy (Letters, CN August 15)
With some notable exceptions, especially those since October 7, Australia’s multicultural society has functioned rather well over the years; however, what can’t be known for sure is whether it would continue to do so should the country ever be called to arms.
It’s worth asking if such a diversity of people with wide-ranging differences in temperament, language, culture and creed could function cohesively as a unified body for Australia’s defence.
Of course, the best way of anticipating and eliminating any multicultural problems that could arise within the armed forces is through the introduction of military service.
Frank Reade, Macquarie
Report remarkable for what it omits
The ACT government’s August 2024 Transport Infrastructure Plan Update is remarkable for what it omits.
We travel five times as far as car passengers as we do by public transport. Transit lanes encourage us to travel as car passengers by getting more of us to work, more quickly, in fewer cars. The Update makes no mention of transit lanes.
The government provides public transport users with polluting buses, and subsidises public transport operating costs by $10 per trip. The Update omits to mention comparable support for healthier walking or cycling.
Parking fees cut traffic congestion, and can fund transport improvements –750 commuters switched to buses when the federal government introduced pay parking in the parliamentary triangle. The ACT government estimated that increased parking fees, combined with bus rapid transit between Gungahlin and Civic, would reduce car travel in the ACT by two per cent. Light rail, at twice the cost, reduced car travel by only half a per cent.
The Update omits to mention parking fees. Its only mention of bus rapid transit is of a feasibility study for an uncosted “indicative” bus transitway.
Leon Arundell, Downer
Nuclear is no more than a small niche
Anthony Horden (letters, CN August 15) has claimed that only nuclear power can provide an emission-free, 24/7 generating system. Experience in the rest of the world suggests otherwise.
In 1996, 17.6 per cent of the world’s electricity was generated by nuclear power. This fell to just 4 per cent.
There has sensibly been a renewed interest in nuclear power since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine showed the West the dangers of relying on oil and gas from Russia, but nuclear is still no more than a small niche in the world’s energy market.
Germany has closed all its nuclear plants, the US is not building a single reactor and the UK Prime Minister Starmer has said he believes that Hinkley Point C when completed will be the last reactor built in the UK. Work at Hinkley Point began in 1995 and it will be completed by 2031. Seven other countries are phasing out all their existing reactors.
The main disadvantage of electricity generated by nuclear power is its cost. Private investors will not touch it – overseas or in Australia.
It also uses vast amounts of water to cool fuel rods.
Nuclear power is also very unreliable. Wind and solar do need backup – either battery storage or pumped hydro. Nuclear reactors are plagued by unplanned technical outages. To list just the major reactor shutdowns in the US from 2023 – Browns Ferry for 44 days; Byron 2, 21 days; Callaway 1, 26 days; Milestone 3, 30 days and Prairie Island 1, 61 days.
Noel Baxendell, Holt
Nuclear choices haven’t always come first
Mike Quirk argues in his letter (CN, August 20) that decisions to embark on nuclear power were made by other countries before the choice of wind and solar power was available. This is not true.
Bangladesh, Egypt and Turkey are all constructing their first nuclear power plants. Many countries are said to be considering, planning or starting nuclear power programs.
Mike Quirk states nuclear power in Australia has
been assessed as the more expensive option. That assertion cannot be proven because no one knows the cost of a low emissions power system entirely dependent on wind and solar generation and vast energy storage. Such a large-scale widely distributed system has never been developed or tested.
John L Smith, Farrer
Lacklustre Libs need time management
The NSW operations of the political party that claims to produce better managers of state and national economies suggest that the Liberal Party’s biggest and most influential branch federally needs some basic time management and other skills development and retraining.
Practical exercises requiring the planning and organisation of a few government school fund-raising sausage sizzles could help them get back on track (“Liberals in disarray, boss sacked after election fail”, citynews.com.au August 16).
Sue Dyer, Downer
Focus closely on the individual candidate
For those who worry about our elections don’t panic. If the big picture leaves you numb, focus closely on the individual candidate.
If they have no experience, average-to-below education, claim being a former successful small-business operator with no solid evidence, have questionable knowledge of managerial complexity or economic analysis and budget control, no worries.
Just vote for those who are less likely to take this place off the cliff into a dry creek bed. It’s called democracy, folks; so give it a red hot crack and be astute! John Lawrence via email
Chief Minister Andrew Barr with fellow Kurrajong candidate and CFMEU employee Aggi Court.
Columnist sees world one way, I see it another
Who was it who said, “We see the world, not as it is, but as we are?”
Columnist Robert Macklin (“Albanese lacks the courage of his own convictions”, CN August 15) sees the world one way. I see it another. Can we both be right?
Let us examine and comment on some of his statements and suggestions: Holt should have moved on Menzies instead of allowing him to remain in office for so long. But Menzies’ electoral support, and his dominance of his government and the Liberal Party, were such that no move on him, whether due or not, could be contemplated.
Holt was a nice guy, and so is Albo – nice guys come last; Holt drowned after two years as PM, something similar may be in store for Albo. To be a nice guy may not come easily, but it is fundamental to social harmony, and is as important in government as anywhere else. Albo should not have bowed to the hammering of the NSW right or tamely accepted the caucus vote for Shorten as leader. But if, as Macklin says, timing is everything, then Albo was right to “duck, weave and wait” to become Labor leader.
Albo has sacrificed O’Neil by moving her to a different portfolio, leaving Giles to cop the slings and arrows of the Immigration ministry. But O’Neil has actually been promoted, from Home Affairs (then ranked 15th in the Ministry) to Social Services (currently ranked 10th). Giles is no longer in Immigration, but has moved to the less exposed Skills and Training ministry.
Macklin claims to hear leadership buzz and chatter, and will be very surprised if Albo leads
Labor to the 2025 election. Marles wants to be PM; the killing season is now – Marles is likely to move on Albo.
The Labor Party is anxious to avoid a return to the decade of the six prime ministerships. It well remembers the consequences of Gillard’s move on Rudd shortly before the 2010 election: the government barely survived, and it was succeeded from 2013 by those of Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison.
Michael McCarthy, Phillip
Albanese’s worse than Gough Whitlam
Columnist Robert Macklin (“Albanese lacks the courage of his own convictions”,CN August 15) like many on his side of politics, has real trouble calling Anthony Albanese for what he is, to put it mildly – not so bright.
Albanese’s promises have been to reduce electricity bills by $275, reduce the cost of living, 24-hour nurses in aged care, not touch our super, have a clear and transparent parliament (think the $2.4 million to Brittany Higgins), not to go missing when this country needs him (think Alice Springs, when he preferred to hobnob it at the Australian Tennis Open), install the Uluru statement in full which included treaty (which he later denied) and the biggie – to make Australia a renewable superpower. Something the experts and scientists tell us is not possible. None of these promises have been fulfilled, they have all failed.
In the lead up to the last election, Albanese promised to be a bit of Bob Hawke and a bit of John Howard, but he is worse than Gough Whitlam. Far-left prime ministers in Australia
have never gone far, there is a reason for this. Ian Pilsner, Weston
Macklin needs to tread very carefully
Thanks to Dave Jeffrey (letters, CN August 22) for drawing attention to The Gadfly column by Robert Macklin (“Where the heavenly call centre works overtime”, CN July 25). I was not aware of the article, but having now read it I can assure Mr Jeffrey that I also take umbrage at its content.
Mr Macklin’s characterisation of Christians, especially Catholics, as being mad for praying to God and describing the Bible as a book of fables and fanatics, is a sad example of the lack of respect shown in public discourse in our troubled country.
Mr Macklin clearly considers Catholics an easy target in this post-religious world and he must feel emboldened to say such offensive things in a jurisdiction that had no qualms in compulsorily acquiring the assets of a Catholic health organisation, which had operated in the ACT for decades, because it didn’t fit with the post-religious ideology practised by the ACT government.
It is interesting to note however that in this same jurisdiction it is still unlawful for someone to publicly vilify you for your religious conviction by inciting severe ridicule.
Mr Macklin needs to tread very carefully should he continue to publicly ridicule people of faith. I wonder if he is only prepared to attack Christians or does he dare to extend his public ridicule to followers of Islam who also pray to God.
Appalled at roadside rubbish everywhere
Roadside rubbish along Belconnen Way, Parkes Way and Tuggeranong Parkway is shocking, and appears intentionally discarded: building materials, car debris, tyres, plastics, boxes, bottles, takeaway containers.
A resident of 50 years, I am appalled by the staggering increase in roadside rubbish everywhere in Canberra. It contaminates our environment. What must international visitors think of our national capital?
Why don’t ACT government staff and contractors remove this rubbish regularly (as they used to), and impose heavy fines where culprits are identified?
Also noticeable is serious neglect of roadside trees, so overgrown they obscure critical road signage for motorists.
Road lane markings are worn to near invisibility; potholes abound (costing me $800 car damage on Kingsford-Smith Drive).
In recent years our general rates have soared. Road maintenance is severely reduced, I suggest, to divert funds to the poorly-conceived light rail disaster (old 19th century technology).
The current ACT government has been in power too long, and grown complacent.Thank goodness for the upcoming election!
Anne Kaminskas, Aranda
I can hardly wait to show them the door
The article by Jon Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed “Income estimates for land supply make no sense” (CN
August 22) makes very clear that Andrew Barr’s Labor-Greens government is more interested in profiting from land sales than providing the basic necessities for life in the nation’s capital city. Rather than the housing crisis being ameliorated, it is being made worse – much worse. In my view, which I’m sure I share with many other Canberrans, a major driver of this financial avarice is the government’s obsession with light rail: in particular the Stage 2B to Woden folly.
Franky, I can hardly wait for the October 19 ACT election and the opportunity to show Mr Barr, Mr Rattenbury and the rest of the ACT government, the Legislative Assembly door.
Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin
Time for change of government
No truer words have been written than Janine Haskin’s letter (“Time to get rid of the Assembly’s low-hanging fruit”, CN August 22). It’s about time we have a change of government.
Surely the people of Canberra must see that the present government’s spending spree with our money is unsustainable. Our rates increase every year to plug the great debt hole that Andrew Barr is creating for things we, the majority of the public, would not vote for if we had a chance to agree or disagree.
Please give someone else a go Mr Barr, we’ve had you long enough, step aside, take a leaf out of Joe Biden’s book!
Monica Beran, Farrer
Lots of
good vibrations delivered from the past
Opening his front door to a furniture delivery, JOHN ROGERS, of Fisher, gets a lovely surprise…
For several years after my partner and I moved into the house we bought in Weston Creek, mail sometimes arrived for two people we had never heard of.
More than 20 years since their departure, decades that have seen the house being a home to several different families, I recently opened the front door to two delivery men bringing some bedroom furniture we had bought.
One of them, a very ablebodied man of about 50, told me with a broad grin that he was particularly happy to be making the delivery. He had come here often in the 1970s as a “little tacker”. His grandparents, Grace and George, had in fact been the first residents of our house and his memories of them were happy ones.
Paul Ross, Googong
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Of course, I took him on a guided tour of some of the rooms. His recollections were clear: the tall pantry cupboard in the kitchen (removed as part of renovations several years ago) where the first dishwasher had been; one of the rooms that had been an office (and still having that function) and a small swimming pool in the backyard where he had swum and where there is now a rockery.
Grace and George moved some years ago to a retirement home in Tuggeranong. Their grandson’s obvious delight in being in the house again, briefly reliving some of his childhood years, confirmed the “good feelings” when we first moved into the house had not been misplaced.
“Thanks so much for the tour... it’s made my day”, he said. It made my day, too, having the past life of the house and its occupants revived and our good feelings affirmed.
dose of dorin
Many Jews oppose Israeli war on Palestinians
There is a reluctance amongst journalists and columnists to call Israel out on its totally disproportionate war on the Palestinian people.
So powerful has the pro-Israel lobby been in Australia, and internationally, any valid criticism creates a fear of being branded as antisemitic – and therefore racist.
The powerful Israel lobby is in no position to call Jewish people “antisemitic”. So, what are Jewish writers who oppose the war saying?
According to Wieland Hoban, chairman of Germany’s Jüdische Stimme (Jewish Voice): “There is no inherent contradiction between being Jewish and supporting Palestinian rights”.
He told Euronews that “progressive” Jews often face marginalisation from all sides. It is not just the gentiles who are marginalised when they speak out about the innumerable atrocities that have been committed and framed as “retaliation”.
More than 40,000 people are dead including more than 14,000 children in the name of retaliation. More than 50,000 children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition through the siege of Gaza. This is hardly “retaliation”.
Max Kaiser is one of the executive officers of the Jewish Council of
Cartoon: Paul Dorin
Australia and the author of Jewish Antifascism and The False Promise of Settler Colonialism. Writing on Crikey.com, he is concerned about “the systemic erasure of Palestinian humanity that has become deeply entrenched in our society”.
Dr Kaiser makes the point that “for many Jews like me, our Jewish heritage teaches us the importance of ‘Tikkun Olam’ – repairing the world.”
“Today, that repair means confronting a truth that might make some people uncomfortable: the state of Israel is purposely destroying hundreds of thousands of Palestinian lives and attempting to erase Palestinian culture and memory,” he says.
In using the word “purposely”, Dr Kaiser refers to the United Nations’ Human Rights Council’s 55th Session earlier this year. The report’s title was “Anatomy of a Genocide”.
Section 93 of the report finds
Many Jewish people see as appalling the dominance of the Zionist as ‘God’s chosen people’ and their approach to the complete destruction of Palestine.
that “the threshold indicating the commission of the following acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza has been met: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to groups’ members; and deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part”.
The report added that “genocidal acts were approved and given effect following statements of genocidal intent issued by senior military and government officials”.
Dr Kaiser was criticising the action of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in cancelling the performance by Jayson Gillham of the world premiere of a 2024 piece by Australian composer Connor D’Netto called “Witness”.
Mr Gillham wanted to dedicate the performance to journalists that had been deliberately targeted and killed
by Israeli armed forces.
Mr Gillham, in his dedication, pointed out that “over the last 10 months, Israel has killed more than one hundred Palestinian journalists.
A number of these have been targeted assassinations of prominent journalists as they were travelling in marked press vehicles or wearing their press jackets.
“The killing of journalists is a war crime in international law, and it is done in an effort to prevent the documentation and broadcasting of war crimes to the world”.
Dr Kaiser, argues that anyone who supports this form of Zionism is “complicit” in seeking to end Palestinian existence.
“In the destruction of Palestinian cities, universities, hospitals, schools, and libraries, Israel seeks to create a world where Palestinians simply do not exist,” he says.
The actions of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra “reveals the extent to which the Israel lobby has succeeded in rendering Palestinian suffering invisible and Palestinian lives disposable”.
He is not alone in his criticisms.
Many Jewish people see as appalling the dominance of the Zionist as “God’s
chosen people” and their approach to the complete destruction of Palestine.
The “progressives” have formed groups such as Rabbis for Ceasefire and IfNotNow.
IfNotNow is an American Jewish group opposed to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories that started during the 2014 Israel-Hamas War.
As of mid-August, two thirds of people fleeing Gaza and seeking an Australian visa have been refused by the government. They worry about the extent to which their lives, and that of their children, are expendable. Safe zones in identified schools and hospitals are now a myth.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton believes that no Palestinians should be allowed a visa to enter Australia.
Dr Kaiser and other Jewish writers are challenging us to consider where complicity in this genocide starts and ends.
Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legisla tive Assembly and an independent minister for health.
Week shines the spotlight on women’s
Women’s Health Week is a campaign of events and online activities centred on improving women’s health.
Running from September 2-6, the week is a reminder for women to set aside time for their wellbeing.
Each day of the week will focus on an important women’s health topic including menopause, pelvic health, mind health, movement and health checks.
To learn more, CityNews spoke with experts across Canberra who have tips, insights and advice to help women lead healthier lives.
Dr
Vass
offers life-changing hearing help Supporting women with hair loss
Getting help with hearing loss is all about improving communication and gaining clarity, says Dr Vass Hearing Clinic principal Dr William Vass.
Offering professional, independent advice and treatment, Dr Vass says taking the first step with a hearing test can be life-changing.
“We know hearing loss can be linked to anxiety, isolation, anger, relationship issues, work issues and miscommunica tion in general,” he says.
“After treatment or rehabilitation patients can find it a lot easier to get along with people, don’t have to guess so much and are much more confident in their communication skills, especially with their partner.”
While hearing loss can come with ageing, Dr Vass says it can also often affect young people too.
“Those exposed to loud noises in military and construction fields can experience hearing loss. Some people might be genetically exposed to hearing loss or there could be viral infections,” he says.
“It’s very important to act early. Waiting too long can start to see a disconnect between the brain and the ear.
“We find that those people who put off getting help with their hearing loss for long periods don’t have as successful outcomes as
those who seek help earlier.”
Dr Vass says patients have the certainty that they’ll be seeing him when they visit the clinic and that he will provide one-on-one, tailored care and advice.
“It’s rewarding to help people not be so isolated, and help improve their communication with others, especially their loved ones,” he says.
Dr Vass Hearing Clinic, suite 14, John James Medical Centre, 175 Strickland Crescent, Deakin. Visit drvasshearing.com.au or call 6282 2717.
HeadsUp Kippax is a Canberra-based charity that supports women to find wigs and headwear, particularly those with hair loss from chemotherapy, permanent alopecia, surgery or radiation treatment, says founder and manager, Sue Owen OAM.
But, she says it is more than just a shop, with HeadsUp Kippax being an environment where women can come to feel truly understood, as a lot of the staff have experienced hair loss themselves.
“They walk in, and they almost can start breathing again, because they realise we understand, and we have experience,”
“We’re really understanding. When they come into this environment, they can have one-on-one time with us and be here for an hour and a half, because we don’t rush them.
“There’s so much to choose from, things that they hadn’t even thought they might want, we suggest trying it on, we help them try it on while they’re sitting down and relaxed and having a cup of tea, or a cup of coffee and chocolate.
“It gives people who are going through a really difficult time, a very healthy environment to come into.”
Sue says they do customised wig fittings, which includes internal sewing and can also order stock in, to ensure customers have the exact colours and styles they prefer. They can also help with clipping hair if someone is going through chemotherapy treatment and experiencing hair loss.
As women more often take on the responsibility of being carers in the community, ensuring they have support for both their physical and mental health becomes all the more important, says Arthritis ACT CEO Rebecca Davey.
In the lead up to Women’s Health Week (September 6-10), Rebecca highlights how women tend to carry the burden of being carers.
“And the scary thing is carers are more likely to end up with long-term chronic conditions than non-carers,” she says.
“We provide a full suite of pain support ser vices that include skills from physiotherapists, dietitians, exercise physiologists and more.
“We’ve also got mental health programs like art therapy and support groups, as well as our occupational therapist who can help modify the home to assist women who are carers or those living with conditions.”
Women are also much more likely to suffer from autoimmune diseases, which affect their child-bearing and rearing years as well as their careers, Rebecca says.
She says the team at Arthritis ACT prides itself on providing a place of support for these conditions, as well as any other type of pain that women may be suffering from.
“Support is what we do and even if that support is just being a place for women to come somewhere safe to talk then we’re definitely here,” she says.
Arthritis ACT, Health Hub, Building 28, University of Canberra, Ginninderra Drive and Allawoona Street, Bruce. Call 1800 011041, or visit arthritisact.org.au
As a female-led business, Capital Nordic Walking owner Claudia Martin says they are passionate about promoting women’s health.
Nording walking promotes the four B’s of wellbeing, she says, balance, through the two poles, big movements, through using more than 90 per cent of muscles, brain activity, from learning a new skill and boosting mental health.
“You get to join a vibrant and thriving community, and we’ve really seen people open up through learning this new fun social activity,” she says.
“We offer four different supported walks, and one of the groups, our lovely Friday group, they call themselves the Problem Solvers, it’s a group of all women, and they come, and after their walk they have lunch and they talk about how to solve problems with each other.
“We’ve had recent widowers join a lot, people who
have suddenly lost such a big part of their life, and I’ve just seen heaps of people open up and become healthier both physically and mentally.”
Claudia says Nordic walking is also a great option for those with arthritis, Parkinson’s, MS or people in cancer treatment, as it is an activity you can do for a long time without feeling exhausted.
It is also a great option for carers, she says, providing an opportunity to get their own exercise or just have a social break from caring duties.
They have also been seeing an increase in attendance of mums-to-be and new mums, says Claudia, providing a supportive community when going through major bodily changes.
Capital Nordic Walking, call 0423 789614, email claudia@capitalnordicwalking.com.au or visit capitalnordicwalking.com.au
• Safe, effective, and accessible exercise for all ages and levels of fitness
• Combines walking with core and upper body training – shown to be more effective than jogging, running, cycling or swimming.
• Our proven programs are delivered by certified instructors, teaching skills sequentially in individual or group settings
• Includes professional pole fitting service - trial different styles and take home the most suitable
• Join our vibrant community! Nordic Walking is fun and social, with free weekly group walks across Canberra for our community to get together.
Arthritis ACT CEO Rebecca Davey.
We assist you with:
Planning and design of custom builds or modification to your home
Workplace modifications to make working easier, efficient and less painful
Car modifications and driving assessments - if you have been told you need this
Applications to the NDIS and other schemes e.g Housing and Disability Support Pensions
We work closely with our team of physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, art therapy and dietetics at Build a Better Me: Arthritis, Pain Support & ME/CFS ACT to provide you with the best support possible!
You do not need to have any particular condition to utilise our services, just a desire to ‘Build a Better You’. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
WOMEN’S HEALTH WEEK
“We think that’s because we have a large multicul tural community here and more older mums, and these people can be at higher risk for gestational diabetes,” she says.
“Your GP and maternity care team should always be your primary source of information.
“However, we know that a diagnosis will raise a lot of questions about what it means for you and your baby. Visit the Diabetes Australia website for further information.”
Diabetes Australia. Call 1800 177055, or visit diabetesaustralia.com.au
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services CEO Julie Tongs.
Diabetes Australia’s general manager for NSW & ACT Natalie Smith.
WINNUNGA NIMMITYJAH ABORIGINAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services (Winnunga) is a multiaccredited Aboriginal community controlled and managed primary health care service located in Narrabundah ACT.
We provide integrated client centric wrap around services, which focuses on the clinical, cultural and spiritual needs of Aboriginal clients, families and the community, including programs for Mums and Bubs.
The Midwifery Program aims to remove barriers that prevent women from accessing maternity care in mainstream services.
The Program maintains strong working relationships with each hospital which allows for seamless transitions of care.
Following the birth of baby, the Program provides up to six weeks of postnatal care in the client’s home assisting mothers with feeding, weight monitoring, emotional wellbeing assessments and mother-crafting/health education.
The Midwifery Program has developed strong links with the Australian Family Partnership Program. Both programs work together to provide holistic care for first time Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander mothers, or mothers having an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander baby, in the Canberra region.
The programs complement each other and ensure mothers feel prepared and supported through their pregnancy and early parenting stages, up until the child is two years of age.
The AFPP provides information and education to mothers using a strengths-based approach, which builds individual capacity to identify solutions to problems.
Mothers feel empowered as they learn how to work with their strengths, realise the power of their own actions and gain a greater sense of control over their lives.
Winnunga AHCS is a national leader in accreditation, was one of the first Aboriginal community controlled health services to achieve dual accreditation under RACGP and QIC standards. Winnunga AHCS has been at the forefront of setting a national agenda for quality improvement in Aboriginal community controlled health and continues to advocate locally and nationally for best practice standards in operational and governance areas of Aboriginal health services.
CLINIC hours | MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9am-5pm
6284 6222 | 63
WOMEN’S HEALTH WEEK
Specialists in managing pain
Dr Roopa Gawarikar is a pain specialist and radia tion oncologist at the Canberra Region Neurology and Pain Centre where, she says, they provide multimodal, evidence-based and patient-centred treatment for all neurological and pain conditions.
Dr Yash Gawarikar manages various neuro logical conditions such as migraines, dizziness, Parkinson’s, dementia, multiple sclerosis and peripheral neuropathy, while Roopa says she manages various pain conditions such as pelvic pain, joint pain, back pain, post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, headaches, nerve pain and cancer pain.
“I specialise in helping women with chronic pelvic pain, which is a very disabling condition,” she says.
“It significantly impacts the lives of so many women.
“I aim to manage their pain, and help improve their daily function, sleep and mood.”
Roopa says she has seen women with pelvic pain across different age groups and different phases of life, and each patient is treated to their specific conditions and circumstances.
“Each patient is very different and we manage pain using multimodal treatment, which can include options such as pharmacotherapy, ketamine infusion, injections, pelvic physiotherapy and some patients also benefit from seeing our pain psychologist Dr Kirkwood,” she says.
“We are passionate and empathetic towards helping patients improve their quality of life.”
Canberra Region Neurology and Pain Centre, Units 2,3 and 4 Corinna Chambers, Ground Floor, 36-38 Corinna Street, Phillip and Mary Potter Circuit, Bruce. Call 6253 0066 or visit crneurologyandpain.com.au
Money Coaching
Pain specialist and radiation oncologist Dr Roopa Gawarikar of Canberra Region Neurology and Pain Centre.
Women with Cents money coach Natasha Janssens.
North: Suite 9, Calvary Private Clinic, Mary Potter Circuit, Bruce.
South: Suite 2-4, Corinna Chambers, 36-38 Corinna Street, Phillip
P 02 6253 0066
F 02 8330 6344
W crneurologyandpain.com.au
E reception@crneurologyandpain.com.au
ALL NEW REFERRALS WILL BE SEEN IN 4 WEEKS
Dr Yash Gawarikar
CONSULTANT NEUROLOGIST
Director, Canberra Region Neurology and Pain Centre
QUALITY CARE
Canberra Region Neurology and Pain Centre and Day Hospital is a multi disciplinary centre specialising in the management of patients with complex neurological disorders and chronic pain conditions including cancer pain.
• Prompt service offered to all patients with neurological and chronic pain issues
• Evidence based best practise treatment tailored to each individual patient
• Diagnostic Neurological services such as Nerve conduction studies, EMG and EEG
• Botulinum toxin therapy (Botox) for chronic migraine, spasticity, cervical dystonia, hemifacial spasm, axillary hyperhidrosis and other neurological conditions
• Multidisciplinary management for all neurological conditions such as migraine, Parkinsons’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, epilepsy, peripheral neuropathy
• Multidisciplinary management of all pain conditions such as back pain, joint pain, neuropathic pain, headaches, pelvic pain, fibromyalgia
• Rehabilitation
Dr Roopa Gawarikar
SPECIALIST PAIN MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND RADIATION ONCOLOGIST
GUNGAHLIN AND MITCHELL
The northside hubs rich in selection and choice
For a long time, the suburb of Mitchell was seen as a home for industrial businesses.
Mostly it still is. But now, weaving in between the industrial experts of the region are other businesses such as cafes, accounting firms, gyms, clothing stores and physiotherapists.
The suburb was named after Maj Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, surveyor-general and explorer of NSW, and all its streets are named after Australian industrialists.
Nearby is Gungahlin, one of the fastest growing regions in Australia.
Gungahlin is one of the original 18 districts of the ACT used in land administration.
Whether it’s landscaping, IT, finance, home items or just some recreation, the businesses in Gungahlin have a variety of services to choose from.
In this feature CityNews meets some of the top, expert businesses operating from these two northside commercial hubs.
Beautiful resting places for loved ones Club’s a ‘hole-in-one’ for dining
Canberra Memorial Parks (CMP) operates three cemeter ies across the ACT, says CEO Kerry McMurray.
These include Woden, Gungahlin and Hall, with a mausoleum at Woden, and the only public crematorium in Gungahlin, which he says includes a viewing room to hold small services and meet the specific needs of cultural and religious groups.
There is also a natural burial area at Gungahlin, which Kerry says provides the community with an option to conduct an environmentally friendly service in a natural bushland setting.
“There are three key factors that make CMP standout,” says Kerry.
“Firstly, and most importantly, it is the dedication and commitment of all staff to providing a professional, empathetic, and compassionate service to all our families, in what is the most challenging time for many of them.
“The next is the high standard that the grounds and surrounds are maintained, to provide an environment that provides a picturesque landscape for families to honour the life of their loved one.
“Each service we provide for is done with an
eye of detail and a commitment to meet the needs of each family.”
Kerry says CMP is also investing in the construction of an architecturally designed new memorial hall and condolence lounge at Gungahlin Cemetery, to provide enhanced services to the community.
They are also investing in the establishment of an Ash Memorialisation Garden parkland, which Kerry says will offer the community a range of new and bespoke options to celebrate and memorialise the life of their loved one.
Canberra Memorial Parks, call 6207 0000 or visit canberramemorialparks.act.gov.au
Gungahlin Lakes Golf & Community Club, is the jewel of North Canberra and the heart of Gungahlin, says marketing manager, Tori Heron.
“Nestled amid picturesque natural surroundings, our club offers a serene and private setting that transforms any event into an unfor gettable experience,” she says.
“Even when dining, you can enjoy a floor-to-ceiling view.”
Gungahlin Lakes is a drawcard for the Canberra community, says Tori, with a world-class golf course and an expert team of staff.
She says the facility is open year-round, and has seasonal menu changes to accommodate variety and affordability, making it the perfect place to spend time, no matter the weather.
There is also an array of locally produced beer and wine on offer, and Tori says there is no shortage of entertainment, with Unplugged
Sundays providing the chance to enjoy live music sessions, and themed trivia nights the whole family will love.
Then there’s live sport on the big screen, and the annual celebrations of Anzac Day, Spring Carnival and Christmas, she says.
“Gungahlin Lakes is a true holein-one, perfectly complemented by ample free parking, friendly staff and an inviting atmosphere,” says Tori.
Gungahlin Lakes Golf & Community Club, 110 Gundaroo Drive, Nicholls. Call 6242 6283 or visit ainsliegroup.com.au
Discover Gungahlin Lakes Golf & Community Club, the jewel of North Canberra and the heart of Gungahlin. Nestled amid picturesque natural surrounds, our club offers a serene and private setting that transforms any event into an unforgettable experience. Whether it’s a wedding, corporate gathering, or special celebration, our function spaces are a true hole-in-one, perfectly complemented by ample free parking. Our dedicated functions team will ensure every detail is meticulously planned, providing seamless and personalised service. With a straightforward catering package and no hidden fees, Gungahlin Lakes makes your dream event not just possible but perfect.
Start planning today with our expert team!
our website or scan the QR code to
and enquire
Canberra Memorial Parks
Cremation – Burial – Memorialisation
Canberra Memorial Parks is there for you to celebrate and honour the life of a loved one and find them a beautiful resting place, or to plan your end-of-life options.
Our facilities and experience allow us to facilitate a wide range of religious, cultural and family traditions in your end-of-life planning.
• Gungahlin Crematorium at Gungahlin Cemetery offers a wide range of facilities including a private viewing room which is ideal for intimate services.
• Our natural burial area at Gungahlin Cemetery offers burial options with a lower environmental impact.
• Eternity Memorial Garden at Woden Cemetery is a beautiful space where ashes can be laid-to-rest and loved ones memorialised.
• The Olive Grove development at Gungahlin Cemetery offers a premium lawn burial option to complement our range of burial products.
To make an appointment to explore end-of-life options for yourself or your loved ones, contact Canberra Memorial Parks on (02) 6207 0000.
www.canberramemorialparks.act.gov.au
GUNGAHLIN AND MITCHELL
JAX Tyres & Auto Mitchell carries the best brands in the world to make sure they can always provide the safest tyres, and best customer experience possible, says franchise owner Hamilton Pohla-Murray.
“We like putting the best tyres on people’s cars because it’s people’s lives we’re dealing with,” he says.
“But of course, it’s also budget dependent, some people want the best value for money and I understand that there are different demographics in buyers.
“Whether it is bare necessities or the hot-up drag car, we want to put the safest tyres, and for the best price that we can.”
Hamilton says they also offer complimentary safety inspections.
“We like to make sure customers know what’s going
workshop, but tyres and mechanics.
“It’s a thriving workshop and we look forward to servicing all of our customers.”
JAX Tyres & Auto Mitchell has been operating since the ‘90s, says Hamilton, and while he only took over as franchise owner this year, he says he is dedicated to maintaining its reputation as always prioritising the customer’s experience.
When Reece Cummings, owner of Karate Canberra –Kodokan Cummings Karate Dojo moved to Canberra 15 years ago, he established the dojo with the intention of it being a small, not-for-profit, training group.
Over the years, it has grown, but he says the sense of community has stayed the same.
“We remained a not-for-profit because the essence of what we do is community,” he says.
“So whilst we have 300 students and we operate at a commercial facility, the money that is generated is for the benefit of its members.”
This sense of community is what keeps Reece driven, he says.
“The people I have met through martial arts, he says.
“And the fact that you can see the difference that it makes, not only in children, but in adults as well, in their building of resilience.”
Reece says the karate that they practise is one of the oldest styles, and is founded in discipline, self-confidence, respect and courtesy.
“These traditional values, mental as well as physical, still apply today,” he says.
“The way we approach karate is, the skills that we learn in the dojo, those traditional skills, can still be applied at school, at home or in the workplace today.”
Karate Canberra - Kodokan Cummings Karate Dojo,
counting across public practice and various industries.
“With a focus on integrity and excellence, we aim to build lasting partnerships and deliver unparalleled financial expertise,” they say.
“We believe that by empowering our clients with the knowledge and resources they need, we can contribute to their long-term financial security and prosperity.”
Chris says the difference between WFS and other challenges and aspirations, and we’re always here to provide guidance and support every step of the way.”
Chris and Michael believe that excellence in service is a team effort, with both of them taking pride in the fact that the entire WFS team shares these core values and qualities.
Wholistic Financial Solutions directors Chris McGuigan, left, and Michael Johnson.
GARDENING
As it warms, here come moths
NOW is the time to prepare for the fight against codling moths. In the next few weeks, as the weather warms, they’ll be out.
Codling moths emerge from the ground and crease in the bark of fruit trees when the temperature reaches 16C.
There are several ways to combat this pest. Netting is the surest way to keep them at bay. Net trees after they finish flowering with a fivemillimetre or less mesh size. The netting needs to be high above the branches to allow space for new growth.
Last season, the sooty mold and lack of airflow around some apple trees was a problem with this fine mesh netting. Importantly, ensure good spacing for airflow between the netting and the tree. If netting is not an option, kaolin clay or diatomaceous earth can be used on the fruit trees if they are not too big. Codling pheromone traps are an old product that’s readily available. They work by luring the male moth to the trap.
lavenders in and around apple trees also help keep this moth at bay.
GROWING vegetables by crop rotation is a long-term way of controlling pests and diseases in the vegetable patch.
A four-year cycle is easy to remember and works well. Crop rotation not only helps the soil, but it also helps the plants to grow better.
In many ways, we are companion planting, too, and encouraging good and bad insects to live in the garden. The ecology should work itself out and not need any assistance from spraying. Remembering what was in the vegetable patch last summer is a good start to beginning a crop-rotation routine.
There are four main groups that prefer to be grown together and use what is in the soil with little fuss.
SUNDAY ROAST
pumpkins and corn) are unfussy floater crops and can generally be planted anywhere.
Adding lots of organic matter to the soil gets vegetables growing and cropping fast. Crop rotation is a terrific solution to get good soil fertility with the least amount of work in the home garden.
FLOWERING now is a terrific little plant called sweet box, (Sarcococca confusa). It has dark small glossy leaves and does well as a small hedge in shady areas where every other hedging plant of the box family would struggle. The scented cream flowers are highly fragrant. Slow growing, it lends itself to shaping and clipping to formal shapes or topiaries. After flowering it produces little black berries. Lightly prune a few times a year to keep it in shape. jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au
Talking to the names making news. Sundays, 9am-noon. IAN MEIKLE NICHOLE OVERALL &
The small sticky patches disrupt the breeding cycle of the moths and keep infestation numbers down.
Planting
After planting legumes (peas and beans) , always put in plants that don’t flower, such as brassicas that benefit from, say, nitrogen left in the soil from peas and beans.
The other two to remember are all root crops, such as carrots and onions that follow the brassicas into the soil and, finally, the popular Solanum family – tomatoes, eggplants and potatoes. These use lots of energy from the soil to grow fruit and flowers. They should be planted after onions and roots.
The final rule is that cucurbits (cucumbers,
Jottings…
• Water all plants that are beginning to flower.
• Remove old leaves from hellebores that have white fly and aphids underneath.
• Add compost to the vegetable patch, ready for planting next month.
• Visit the National Arboretum’s Warm Trees.
A pheromone trap to capture codling moths.
Photos: Jackie Warburton
Sweet box… does well as a small hedge in shady areas.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Warlow brings some razzle dazzle to Chicago
By Helen MUSA
“It would be a crime to miss it,” they’re saying of the new production of Chicago heading to Canberra Theatre in September.
If you were to take the story seriously, and strangely enough it’s based on real Chicago history from the 1920s, the question of law and order is central to the plot, presided over by celebrity lawyer Billy Flynn.
The role has been on veteran actor Anthony Warlow’s bucket-list for years. He saw James Naughton in an early production on Broadway and Terry Donovan playing the charmingly corrupt advocate at the Theatre Royal during the ‘80s, but he’s never had a chance to play it, until now.
Not that Warlow has been short of roles. His name is synonymous with musical theatre in Australia and he has trodden the world’s stages.
He’s played Daddy Warbucks in Annie and Captain Hook in Finding Neverland on Broadway. He’s been a star on the West End, sung in concerts at Carnegie Hall and he’s even been honoured as a NSW National Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia.
Chicago adds an extra layer of showbiz razzle dazzle to the show.
However, like all good performers Warlow is not resting on his laurels and declares himself excited to join a younger generation
and again, but that doesn’t give it any less impact, Warlow believes.
“It still has gravitas in my view, even with people under the age of 40, who may not have heard of it before,” he says.
The show is not a vocal challenge to a highly trained singer such as Warlow, as Billy Flynn doesn’t have much singing, but he praises it as “a tight production”.
“At the end of the day, we are all perform -
ing in the cabaret and vaudeville idiom, which is so universal,” he says.
“It’s also a good-looking show – I’m in a tuxedo, everyone’s in shades of black with some coloured highlights and it looks like a
The choreography in Chicago is almost as famous as the show about the merry
An interesting side note to him is that when Bob Fosse, the original choreographer, got together with co-creators Fred Ebb and John Kander, they got stuck, so they put themselves into a hotel room and didn’t leave until they had written pretty much what we have today.
The choreography in this version of the show is by Ann Reinking and it’s a homage to Fosse but not a copy, although Warlow sees Roxie and Velma’s end number, Nowadays,
As for his own dancing, he just tries to move around holding other people, although he admits to having made up a couple of soft-shoe routines by himself. Considering the showbiz fame of the show, it amuses Warlow that his part is the amalgamation of two real-life Chicago lawyers, William Scott Stewart and WW O’Brien, and that also the celebrity journalist Mary Sunshine is based on Maurine Dallas Watkins, who covered the real-life trial and wrote a play based on it.
Chicago, Canberra Theatre, September 7-29.
“A refreshingly honest and funny musical about making real connections in the city that never sleeps...”
THEATRE / Away Meg cares, but not enough for dying Tom
By Helen Musa
Erin Bond is one of the new talents that Canberra Rep has been drawing on in its 2024 season.
Appearing for the first time for the company in Michael Gow’s famous play Away, she takes on the role of Meg, one of the two main characters, opposite rising local actor Callum Doherty as Tom.
The director too, Lainie Hart, is also a kind-of newbie, a first-time director for Rep. But she brings to the rehearsal room her job as a psychologist, combined with a history as a leading actor, useful in directing a play about people in conflict and crisis.
Away, a popular choice for senior schools, is set in 1967. It begins with the end-of-school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream but soon switches to the north coast of NSW, where the protagonists turn up for a typical Aussie holiday, although their accommodation varies according to their means and status.
Meg and Tom have been in The Dream together and are attracted to each other, but are held back by class prejudices, which become clear when we meet her upwardly mobile parents, Gwen and Jim, and his English immigrant mum and dad, Vic and Harry.
Nearby, their headmaster Roy and his wife Coral are staying in a Gold Coast hotel, and are experiencing marital problems. What could possibly go wrong?
Central to the play are the two young people, Meg and Tom.
It’s no spoiler to say that Tom is dying from
leukaemia, and indeed Rep will be fundraising for leukaemia during the play’s run.
In Gow’s original version, the play finishes not with The Dream but with King Lear, as Tom, still alive, recites the words of Shakespeare, “while we, unburden’ d, crawl toward death”.
In a later production, Gow changed his mind and eliminated Tom from that scene, but Rep is bringing him back.
When I catch up with Bond at Rep’s theatre, she’s just dashed across from her job as a receptionist at the AIS, which helps her live while pursuing an ANU degree in political science and philosophy.
More into the leadership side of life at Burgmann College, she nevertheless has had
quite a bit of theatrical experience in her home state Queensland and is glad to be back up on the boards.
Bond, at 20, supposes she’s about four or five years older than the girl she plays.
“Meg’s mum has projected her ambitions on to her daughter, wanting her to go to university then become a teacher or a nurse until she marries, but Meg wants to break stereotypes,” says Bond.
“She has an eagerness to know something else, but Tom [who comes from a different demographic] is about the last thing her mum wants.”
Hart’s background as a psychologist, Bond tells me, positively affects the way she directs – “she knows something about human beings
and their sad condition.”
One of the saddest conditions is unconsummated young love, and Tom, knowing he will soon die, wants to experience sex.
But Meg sees it otherwise.
“At 16, Meg is fighting so hard to be mature but not always making it,” Bond says.
“Her first interaction with boys is just friendship, but she does see something interesting and different in Tom right away and there’s a level of caring in the characterisation.”
Not quite enough caring for Tom though.
Towards the end of the play Tom, aware of his impending death, puts the hard word on Meg and she says no.
The scene sees Tom trying every ploy possible, including playing the illness line and promising to take a bodybuilding course, in the hope of getting her acquiescence. Meg says she’s afraid, but it’s Tom who’s crying.
Values may have changed since Gow wrote the play. To older audience members, Meg’s words, “stop it, get up what’s the matter?
Maybe you’re cracked as well”, may seem callous, but to a present-day generation
Spice Girl in the spotlight
Victoria Beckham is set to star in a new Netflix documentary series that will explore her fashion and beauty business.
The series will offer a “behind-thescenes” look at her reinvention from Spice Girl to a creative director of her own brand.
It follows the success of Beckham, the Netflix docuseries that followed the rise of her husband David Beckham from a young, talented footballer to England captain.
The new docuseries, which was announced at Edinburgh TV Festival, will provide further access to the family and those close to them as well as featuring “never-before-seen” archive footage.
Asked whether audiences trust documentaries made by famous stars, Adam Hawkins, director for documentary series at Netflix, said: “I think the audience is incredibly smart, and they can sniff out if you are being inauthentic 100 miles away.
“I honestly believe that Beckham, Robbie Williams - they’re incredibly authentic. They go to places that aren’t always comfortable.”
Discussing Beckham, he added: “One thing was Victoria herself, those scenes with her... she’s surprising, she’s warm, she’s witty, she’s super smart, and now we’re going to get a chance to hang out with her for the next several months.” –PA
Curtain rises on six plays
In a spectacular theatrical traffic jam, not just one but six plays will open in Canberra within four days: Enemies of Grooviness Eat Sh!T (Courtyard Studio) September 4; Sanaz Toossi’s English (The Playhouse), Ordinary Days (The Q), Canberra Rep’s Away and ACTHub’s August – Osage County, September 5; and Chicago at Canberra Theatre on September 7. Might it not be a good idea for our theatre companies to communicate?
Of special note among is that
English, a comedy set in a small classroom in Iran, is directed by Tasnim Hossain, now resident director at the Melbourne Theatre Company but very much a product of the Canberra arts scene. The show stars Osamah Sami, creator of the movie, Ali’s Wedding.
The work of Canberra composer Sally Greenaway was recently featured in the first instalment of Ed Le Brocq’s new spotlight on Australia’s living composers.
The winners of the 2024 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards will be announced at the National Library on September 12. Australian history, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, young adult, and children’s literature will all be honoured, but alas, not drama.
Simon Holmes à Court will give the 24th Manning Clark Lecture on The Politics of Energy Transition. Coombs Lecture Theatre, ANU, September 10.
Renowned Canberra flautist Sally Walker and friends will present music by Mozart and Boccherini in Music Fit for a King, Wesley Uniting Church, September 7.
Two legends of Canberra’s poetry scene, Hazel Hall and Kathy Kituai, will launch new anthologies upstairs at Smiths Alternative, Civic, on September 3.
The world premiere of Jakub Jankowski’s Ritornello, commissioned by the Australian Chamber Orchestra, will be performed by the ACO alongside works by Mendelssohn, Bach and Thorvaldsdottir, at Llewellyn Hall, September 14.
Erin Bond as Meg and Callum Doherty as Tom in Michael Gow’s famous play Away.
Photo: Eve Murray
The Playhouse, September 5-7.
DINING / Kitchen by Mike, National Gallery
Gallery stop for Mike’s canteen
Years ago I was given a copy of award-winning Kitchen by Mike, the first cookbook released by chef Mike McEnearney, who has led and worked in many fine kitchens, including London’s Michelin-starred Pied a Terre.
While I have not (yet) been to the Kitchen by Mike eatery in Sydney, I have used the cookbook often. And now I have visited the pop-up by the same name, at the National Gallery of Australia (until October 7).
Kitchen by Mike is truly about fresh, whole some and honest food that is good for the body and soul.
The canteen-style pop-up offers maximum flexibility and the menu changes daily. Here’s how it works. Choose one main and three salads for $35, or one main and two salads for $30. Those who want to just feast on salads can opt for three ($23) or two ($18). Mike’s famous sourdough bread and Pepe Saya butter is $5.
On our visit, mains featured a perfectly roasted free-range chicken, with verjus, oregano and cumin salsa. It was excellent – moist and super tasty.
One friend ordered the goat’s cheese and spinach quiche with a lovely, thin pastry. The cheese, as with all that Kitchen by Mike sources, is high quality and hails from Meredith Valley. Pot-roasted lamb shoulder was another main we selected, packed with flavour and beautifully tender.
The salads look and taste sensational and choosing is a challenge. We all ordered two each, and not one disappointed. The colours are vibrant and the ingredient combinations top-notch.
That includes my cucumber and ginger salad with toasted sesame, chilli and mirin. It was
WINE / 2010
My second salad featured chunks of ruby red beetroot, with slices of fennel, quinoa, edamame, cured rhubarb and ponzu adding an intriguing citrus flavour.
Another winning salad was the Caesar, with Kitchen by Mike using kale and crunchy croutons, as well as salty bacon, tangy parmesan and a soft half-egg.
The concentrated pomegranate molasses on the roasted pumpkin salad added punch and the coconut yoghurt was creamy. Last, but not least, was the super-charged cabbage slaw with crisp,
Spencer rose (Hilltops, NSW, $66 bottle). It’s worth a trip to Kitchen by Mike even if you’re not visiting the NGA. Take a walk around the lake and visit for lunch or a beverage and one of Kitchen by Mike’s sweets – muffins, brownies, cakes, cookies and tarts.
Kitchen by Mike is on the lower ground floor in a light-filled space with views of the Sculpture Garden and Lake Burley Griffin.
Looking back on quite a vintage year
Who can forget 2010? Labor was at internal war, a factor that affected all Australians.
In June of that year Julia Gillard became the first woman to be Prime Minister of Australia, removing Kevin Rudd from the top job. Then the 2010 Australian federal election was held on August 21 which Gillard won in her own right.
As for wine, Huon Hooke writing in 2011 said this of the 2010 vintage: “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards, said the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. He might have been talking about wine vintages.
“It’s easy to know which are the great vintages in hindsight, but harder to accurately identify them as they happen. The 2010 vintage is one that observers and buyers of Australian wine will look back on with great fondness in the distant future. It’s an outstanding vintage in many regions, few missing out on its bounty.”
It was this bounty that I shared with friends at a recent Sunday lunch. The lunch was at a mate’s place in Tuggeranong, the house with a view across to the Brindabellas, a glorious outlook. I had extracted from my wine fridge a 2010 Brown Brothers Patricia Extended Lees sparkling. Before I took the Uber, I snuck a look online to see the price of this wine. $160 a bottle! But I pressed on, the wine in a flashy black presentation box celebrating the matriarch Patricia Brown.
On arrival, despite the struggle with opening the box, we had the sparkling as an aperitif, sipping it slowly and admiring the view. The bead
was small and sufficient, the colour more yellow than I’d anticipated. The bouquet was yeasty, with a hint of citrus.
On taste there was no big bold brioche flavour that you’d expect from a French vintage champagne. Instead, the palate was complex, cashew nuts and a subtle citrus flavour that became more discernible as the wine warmed.
It was a good start to the lunch, a clean drink that lifted the mood. This range of sparkling wine was recently given the title of the best sparkling wine in Australia with the 2018 Patricia Pinot Noir & Chardonnay Brut awarded the top honour for Best Sparkling Wine in Australia at the recently held 2025 Halliday Awards.
After a warming soup, my hosts served beef with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and some well-cooked vegetables. It was a delight to have improved English cooking, a traditional Sunday lunch. At this point, I should make a food joke but I’m afraid it wouldn’t pan out.
One of the reds served courtesy of my hosts was a 2010 Kurtz Family Vineyards Boundary Row Shiraz. This is a big Barossa wine, lots of fruit and tannin and big in alcohol. The aroma of aniseed was in evidence with cherry predominant.
On first taste it was not as “big” as was expected, head not knocked off, but was flavoursome with a good balance between fruit and alcohol, with a finish of plum. It matched the beef perfectly, flavours of wine and food enhanced mutually. It didn’t last long with enthusiasm expressed by all at the table.
There is no evidence that the 2010 Boundary Row is available for purchase but a 2021 equivalent is selling for $30 a bottle, a wine to put away and opened after 10-14 years.
“I deeply believe that if the Australia Labor Party is to have the best future for our nation, then it must change fundamentally its culture and to end the power of faceless men.”
–Kevin Rudd, 2012
STREAMING No expense spared for the return of the Rings
The most expensive television show ever made is back for a second season, with an even bigger budget.
This week Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power returns with eight new episodes.
The prequel series to JRR Tolkien’s fantasy epic is set thousands of years before the iconic film trilogy and explores the forging of the ring that would one day be heroically transported to Mordor by Frodo Baggins.
The marketing for season two has upped the ante, filled with huge battle sequences.
It’s like they’re trying to tell people “season one was just a warm-up, here’s what you came for. We can compete with Game of Thrones”.
The show is produced by Amazon Prime Video and season two has reached deep into Jeff Bezos’ pockets, with a $US700 million budget.
That’s almost 250 million bucks more than the first season and reportedly around $500 million more than the budget of the show’s biggest competitor House of the Dragon – the Game of Thrones spin-off that wrapped up its second season just a few weeks ago.
But for all that money, does it actually make a Lord of the Rings prequel worth it?
Rich in lore as Tolkien’s magnum opus is, I can’t help but feel that much of the plot of this new show would be better left as Lord of the Rings mythology rather than literally brought to the screen.
Season two kicks off with three episodes available to stream from August 29 before releasing new ones weekly. It promises a heavy focus on the backstory of Sauron, the big bad from Tolkien’s original trilogy.
Fascinating for Middle-Earth aficionados maybe, but it feels as if the show is tarnishing the evil mystique that surrounds the ruler of Mordor.
It’s actually an Aussie actor who’s taking on this mega role and a little-known one at that.
Charlie Vickers, originally from Melbourne,
is the man to do it and while his commitment is clear to see there’s something about leaving Sauron’s backstory to the imagination that gives it so much more intriguing malice.
In this columnist’s opinion, the gritty magic of Peter Jackson’s epic cinematic trilogy did not translate to season one of The Rings of Power and season two has a lot of work to prove itself, lest it be heading for the fires of Mount Doom itself.
Bilbo Baggins once said not all who wander are lost, but right now this spin-off feels like it’s firmly both.
THIS week also marks the return of TV’s most dysfunctional murder investigators. They’re not detectives, but podcasters. Only Murders in the Building (Disney Plus) follows a group of true crime obsessives whose biggest dreams and worst nightmares come true when they get caught up in their own killer conspiracy.
Four seasons deep now and Only Murders in the Building has somehow managed to keep itself fresh after all these years.
That’s thanks to an entertaining cast that includes Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, Martin Short and some star appearances from the
One has to wonder how much gas is left in this tank, but the series remains an easy watch and a fun poke at true crime fanatics.
FOR those who are looking for something a little more down to earth, it’s hard to go wrong with David Attenborough, who’s just launched his newest doco series on Netflix.
This one’s called Secret World of Sound and focuses on the animal kingdom’s sonic wonders, with stunning cinematography stretching from the plains of Africa to the
Attenborough is now 98 years old and yet continues to pump out these incredible productions year-round and it seems Netflix has taken the lion’s share of his works.
One can only imagine what they’ve got up their sleeves for when Attenborough turns 100.
Something tells me it’s been planned for a long time.
Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power… filled with huge battle sequences.
David Attenborough in Secret World of Sound, which focuses on the animal kingdom’s sonic wonders.
HOROSCOPE PUZZLES
By Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
New Moon week is the ideal time to ditch bad habits and start afresh. It’s a juggle to get everything done, but keep calm and don’t lose your cool! You’re unusually focused, but are you focusing on the right things? Work, health, wellbeing, diet and fitness are the main areas where you need to make some overdue changes and adjustments. But – if you are too hasty and hot-headed – you could find yourself in the middle of an argument, an accident, or a crisis of confidence.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
The New Moon highlights children, teenagers, friendships and leisure activities. There are also opportunities for advancement via connections within your local community, especially if you are proactive. But it will take creative teamwork and sustained effort to turn a lucky break into a long-term success. It’s also time to get some firm direction, as you formulate your personal goals and dreams for the future. Remember – you can’t hit a target if you haven’t got one.
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
The week starts with Mars and Jupiter both jumping through your sign, which boosts Gemini magnetism. And then Mercury and Uranus rev up your tendency to unpredictable behaviour. You’ve got the power to inspire others and transform your own life, so do your best to find appropriate ways to let off steam and choose positive and challenging projects to channel your energy into. Otherwise, you’ll just drive other people crazy with your capricious ways!
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
Courtesy of the Sun, Venus, Uranus and Neptune the buzz word is communication. Your Crab curiosity is piqued, and you’re keen to connect and converse with a wide range of stimulating people, especially within your local community. But remember Mercury is retrograde until Wednesday (and Neptune opposes Venus), so relationships will be complicated, and communication could be confusing. Smart Crabs will slow down, shut up, listen and learn!
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
The Sun (your ruler) and New Moon shine a bright spotlight on financial matters. Lions are drawn to luxury-living, and you’re inclined to buy expensive things that you don’t really need. This week, do your best to avoid being an impulsive binge shopper. The more creatively and proactively you nurture your nest egg, the more it will gradually grow. Sunday’s Sun/Saturn opposition could (temporarily) create difficulties and dent confidence, so pace yourself.
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
The silvery New Moon lights up your sign, so it’s the perfect week to update your wardrobe, change your appearance, launch a project, apply for a job or start a new phase of your life. Personal projects, ambitious work goals and dynamic friendships are also highlighted. On Saturday, too much nervous energy and impatience could disrupt a trip, as Uranus squares your ruler Mercury. And the Sun/ Saturn opposition could complicate a relationship on Sunday.
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
Are you frustrated by ongoing problems at work? Mighty Mars is moving through your career zone (from Thursday until November 4) so it’s time to take on challenges with a proactive approach and a courageous attitude. At the moment, fortune definitely favours the bold and the brave! And with Venus (your patron planet) transiting through your sign, (until September 23) it’s also a good week to tap into the well of creativity and inspiration, without and within.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
The early week New Moon highlights your hopes-and-wishes zone, so be proactive about setting goals, dreaming dreams and creating your preferred future. It’s also a good time to fire up an old friendship or work on solving problems in a troubled relationship. Positive changes are coming, as you focus on projects that make your heart sing. Be inspired by Beyoncé (who turns 43 on Wednesday): “As soon as I accomplish one thing, I just set a higher goal.”
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
Have you been dragging your heels at work? Your career is set to improve, as the early week New Moon signals an exciting new chapter. So make the most of any fresh ideas, professional projects or job opportunities that come your way. But the Mercury/Uranus square increases exuberance and decreases patience. So slow down, and be careful you don’t overindulge, over-exaggerate, over-promise or overcommit, especially involving travel and work.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
Many Capricorns can expect a challenging week, as your ruler Saturn opposes the Sun. But the Sun and New Moon also activate your education and adventure zones, so start thinking about where you’d like to go travelling in the future. And don’t let anyone dim your curiosity or diminish your dreams! Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, Beyoncé: “Your self-worth is determined by you. Don’t depend on someone telling you who you are.”
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
Each New Moon indicates a shift of gear in a particular area of life. This week, the heavens highlight a fresh start involving money, an intimate relationship or trust issues. You’ll feel rather restless, so it’s a good time to travel, experiment and explore. You’ll also be extra curious as you dig up gossip, uncover a secret or start some controversial conversations! However – if you are too blunt and impatient with a loved one – expect some unpleasant blowback.
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
Close relationships and joint ventures are set to improve, as the Sun and New Moon activate your partnership zone. But Tuesdays’ nebulous Mars/Neptune square could temporarily scramble your inner compass and blow you off course, especially involving personal projects and domestic matters. You need to dream inspiring dreams and set long-term goals … and then draw up a detailed plan to follow. Daydreaming will only get you halfway there!
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore
2024
General knowledge crossword No. 947
4 What is a sunshade also called? (7)
8 Name a disciple and companion of the apostle Paul. (7)
9 Who is a person that lives apart from society? (7)
10 Name a cocktail largely of gin, with a little vermouth. (7)
11 Where are operations performed? (7)
12 What is a doctrine contrary to the orthodox doctrine of a church? (6)
14 Name an alternative term for brogue. (6)
18 Which small fireworks are used often at Christmas? (7)
21 What are days of peace and tranquillity? (7)
22 Name a pioneer of any great moral reform. (7)
23 What are vicars also known as? (7)
24 What are the upper houses of parliaments? (7)
1 What is an organ of storage and digestion? (7)
2 Which board is used to file fingernails? (5)
3 Name an informal term for trousers. (7)
4 What is fool’s gold? (6)
5 Name a renowned former Australian tennis player, Tony ...? (5)
6 Which transport service usually runs at frequent intervals directly between two points? (7)
7 Which lord is entitled to allegiance and service? (5)
13 What was the name of the capital of the former Burma? (7)
15 What is a cup for the wine of the eucharist? (7)
16 To stain or sully, is to do what? (7)
17 Name those who escort persons to seats in a theatre. (6)
18 Which alloy consists essentially of copper and zinc? (5)
19 What is a company of eight singers? (5)
20 Name the easternmost point of the Australian mainland, Cape ... (5)
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
Rental properties can be complex
Sanjay and Aditi have just bought an investment property and had heard the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) was focusing on the rental sector this year.
They came to see me wanting to know what they needed to know.
“Sanjay, rentals can be quite complex and there are a few things that you need to know," I said.
"I recently read that the ATO had said nine out of 10 rental property returns lodged are incorrect. So as far as the ATO is concerned, this is a big problem.
“It is not uncommon when you buy a new investment property that you have to do repairs.
"But the first rule with repairs is that they have to arise during your period of ownership. If the property needs repainting when you bought it, the need must have arisen before you owned it. If it arose before you bought it, that is regarded as an initial repair and either comes off the capital gain when you sell or it can be depreciated over several years while you own the property.
"On the other hand, if you repaint the property in a couple of years’ time the need for the repaint arose as a direct result of it being rented out by you and you can claim the cost in full.
"Exterior painting can only be claimed every few years as it is less likely to be damaged by the tenants."
I told the couple that there were also issues around large items of capital expenditure that they might think were a repair but the ATO would consider to be an improvement. These have to be written off over 40 years.
Aditi said their investment property was at the coast and they spent a few nights there this year. She wanted to know if that had any impact on the calculations?
I said: “Yes, Aditi, you will need to keep a record of your private use every year and that will enable us to apportion the deductions.
"It is important to note that the property needs to be available for rent and the ATO has provided details of when they regard a property as being available for rent.
"The best idea is to have it listed with an agent all year round. If it is only available to friends and family and not advertised anywhere, the ATO regards this as not being available for rent all year and the apportionment is quite different.
"Also the income and deductions have to be claimed in the ratio in which the property is owned, not in a way that provides a larger tax benefit for one or other of you.”
The other area that caused a lot of difficulty was interest claims, I told them.
"In simple terms it is the purpose of borrowing that determines the deductibility of interest," I said.
"So if you draw down on your mortgage to buy a car, for example, that component of the interest is not deductible. A loan apportionment is required to be prepared.
"It is not the security you give for a loan that allows you to claim the interest, it is the use to which the funds are put. So be careful if you renegotiate the loan, draw down or even make additional repayments.
"You would be wise to seek advice before you actually make any changes to the loan. Also using an offset account for an investment property may not be as helpful as it is when used for your home mortgage.”
Sanjay said: "That's a lot to absorb, Gail. I'm sure we'll have further questions for you in the future.”
If you need advice on rental property claims or any other tax matter, please contact the expert team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 02 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 Financial Planning Pty Ltd AFS
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