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by Adam Wojtonis

the Canberra Liberals

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A second opinion on hearing loss – you need professional advice, not a sales pitch

A woman came into my clinic for a consultation about her hearing aids, telling me her hearing aids were 4 years old and she had never found them to be of much help. She said the salesperson quoted her $14,000 for a pair of hearing aids, however, the monthly special of 20% discount meant they cost her $11,200. So, she ‘only’ paid $11,200 for hearing aids that did not help her. Sadly, I hear this all too often.

Here are some things to do to avoid this type of problem:

1. Visit your GP. If you or someone you know has a problem with their hearing, visiting your GP to check for wax in the ears, and to get advice is a starting point.

2. Qualifications. Always check the qualifications of the person you are dealing with. A person without professional qualifications has no business advising you about your hearing. They need to belong to a professional association with a Code of Conduct, so you know they are acting in your best interests, not their own.

years. If you are not sure about their advice, then seek a second opinion. The wrong hearing aids can be an expensive waste and could lead you to stop wearing them. You should always have a trial of hearing aids to ensure that they are right for you.

6 Pensioners and eligible DVA card holders often have entitlement to free services. If you are covered by a government concession, then let the clinician know (even though your clinician should ask). Eligible clients may obtain free hearing tests, consultations, and free hearing aids (referred to as fully subsidized hearing aids).

“A person without professional qualifications has no business advising you about your hearing. They need to belong to a professional association with a Code of Conduct, so you know they are acting in your best interests, not their own.”

– Dr Vass

These hearing aids are appropriate for many people, however if you have great difficulty hearing in background noise (for example a restaurant), then you may want to consider partially subsidized hearing aids. This is when the government pays a certain amount, and you pay for additional features and benefits. Your decision should be based on the following:

you are dealing with a qualified clinician, then they belong to a professional association. The best contact is an independent complaints body referred to as Ethics Review Committee. You can email ethics@auderc.org.au and view the website www.auderc.org.au. You can make an anonymous complaint and your complaint will be handled in a confidential and professional manner. If you are in the ACT, contact the ACT Human Rights Commission email human rights@act.gov au and the website www.hrc.act.gov.au

3. Independent advice. You should get independent, professional advice.

4. There are a wide range of hearing aids out there. Finding the right hearing aids for your communication needs can be challenging. Hearing aids vary in price and performance. Bluetooth® connectivity and rechargeable hearing aids are available on most hearing aids, along with apps that allow you to control your hearing aids from your mobile device. Be aware that just because a hearing aid is more expensive, that doesn’t mean they are the best hearing aid for you.

5. Just as hearing aids vary in performance, clinicians may also vary in performance due to training, experience, and skills. Make sure that you are comfortable and confident in their advice. You are likely to be with this clinician for the life of your new hearing aids, typically 4 to 5

(a) Can you afford the more expensive hearing aids? Don’t go into financial stress if you can’t afford them. (b) Are you clear on the free vs partially subsidized features & benefits? Never believe someone who tells you the free hearings are not good or of poor performance, this is simply not true. (c) If you try the partially subsidized hearing aids and are not happy, then return them. Do not keep hearing aids because you think the failure is yours or that you will improve over time. If the hearing aids are not working for you in the trial period, then they will not work for you in a year or two.

7. If you have a complaint, then seek help. Your clinician should be able to help you through most of your needs. Sometimes, a problem may be beyond the expertise of even the best clinician. However, if you have a complaint there are things you can do. If

NEWS / swooping birds

Get ready: why magpies start swooping in spring

They come from above: MEG EDWARDS explains why magpies, magpie-larks and lapwings swoop in spring.

Spring is a mixed blessing. The days get warmer. Flowers bloom. Birds nest.

It’s this last change that can be a problem. Nesting makes male birds from species such as magpies, magpie-larks and masked lapwings (also known as plovers) territorial and protective – and willing to dive-bomb humans.

One species is notorious – the Australian magpie. This iconic black and white songbird is a familiar sight in cities and towns across both Australia and NZ, as it was introduced to NZ in the 19th century, where it is now common. The magpie’s strong beak and powerful wings can provoke fear amongst walkers, joggers and cyclists.

This year, the swooping started early. More than 450 incidents were recorded on Magpie Alert before the formal start of spring. Most swooping incidents cause fear but not injury.

Actual injuries occur 10-15 per cent of the time. While some injuries come from claws or beak, many more occur when we try to flee and fall over. Very rarely, swooping can trigger more serious injuries or even death.

When a magpie swoops you, it’s defending its nest and chicks. It sees you

as a potential threat.

Australian magpies start their breeding season in winter. They build basket-like nests of sticks and twigs which they line with soft materials such as grass and hair. Peak breeding season comes between August and November when eggs and chicks are in the nest. These four months are when swooping increases.

The good news is swooping season is usually only intense for a few weeks while the chicks are most vulnerable in the nest, which usually happens sometime between August and October.

Fast-moving cyclists are seen by these birds as a particular threat. Data from MagpieAlert, the public database of attacks, indicates cyclists are the number one target. But humans aren’t being singled out – magpies can swoop other birds to defend their territory and suitable nesting sites, or protect their young from predatory birds, cats, or foxes.

Generally, male magpies will perform a warning swoop when they perceive danger. If that’s ignored, they can swoop a second or third time. This is often combined with alarm calls and clapping their beak to make warning sounds.

magpies actually swoop humans. But if you’ve been swooped before, you’re more likely to be swooped again. Magpies can recognise and remember human faces, and have been known to swoop the same people year after year.

they come in from the front and can go for the eyes.

Then there are the masked lapwings, who nest on the ground and can swoop if you get too close.

relatives are butcherbirds – songbirds with strong beaks.

Barring seagulls and masked lapwings, these swooping species have one thing in common – they’re songbirds, meaning they belong to the order Passeriformes. Songbirds make up nearly half of all bird species globally. This enormously influential group of birds actually evolved in Australia. If you’re weary of being swooped, choose a different path for a couple of weeks until the chicks have left the nest.

Magpies often nest in the same area each year, so if you’ve been swooped before, consider avoiding that route.

Wearing sunglasses on the back of your head or sticking fake eyes to the back of your helmet or hat can help, as magpies do not like to be looked at when swooping.

If you are unlucky enough to be swooped, try not to run or scream as this can make you seem an even bigger threat. Instead, move out of the bird’s territory as soon as possible.

Arts & Entertainment 31-33

Crossword & Sudoku 35

Dining & Wine 33 Gardening 34

Keeping Up the ACT 13 Letters 17

News 5-17

Only around 10 per cent of nesting

Magpies tend to swoop from above. But magpie-larks – the unrelated black and white bird also known as peewees or mudlarks – can actually do more damage. When they swoop,

The Australian magpie was named after the Eurasian magpie due to their similar black and white colouring. But the Eurasian magpie does not swoop, even though it’s related to crows. The Australian magpie is not from the crow family – its closest

This spring, keep an ear out for the beautiful calls of our songbirds – and an eye out for our overly protective flying friends.

Meg Edwards, lecturer in wildlife science, University of Southern Queensland. Republished from The Conversation.

Politics 6, 12 Streaming 32 ACT Frogwatch co-ordinator Anke Maria Hoefer. Story Page 8. Photo: Katarina Lloyd Jones.

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Only around 10 per cent of nesting magpies actually swoop humans. Photo: Transport and Main Roads Queensland

Are Labor and the Greens getting divorced?

Are ACT Labor and the Greens going for a divorce? Is it just a trial separation?

In the lead-up to the October 19 ACT election both parties are trying to untangle themselves from the coalition that they have managed for the best part of a decade.

The failure of Labor to support the amendments proposed by Greens Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury has been a catalyst for an opportunistic separation.

A media release from Mr Rattenbury points the finger at their coalition partner. It screams: “Labor Fails Vulnerable Canberrans and Abandons Their Own Pokie Reforms”.

The Greens are hitting out at Labor on two fronts. First, Labor is supposed to be the party that protects vulnerable people. Second, and perhaps more importantly, Labor is exposed to accusations over conflict of interest when it comes to poker machines.

The Greens and Labor have been arm-wrestling for years to be the most progressive political party. By accusing Labor of refusing to look after the most vulnerable, the Greens appear more progressive.

It might just be on this issue of gambling – but it does remind voters that the Greens are a viable alternative to those who are annoyed by Labor on

other issues.

The reform bill introduced by the Greens and recently debated in the Assembly was successful to some extent. There will be restrictions on poker machines being now set at a maximum of 3500 throughout the ACT.

However, an angry Shane Rattenbury was beside himself about the last-minute failure of Labor to “follow through on even the minimalist proposal they had put on the table”. The catalyst was the failure of ACT Labor to support “their own amendments to (further) reduce poker machine numbers in the ACT, despite the Greens providing clear indication we would support the proposal”.

There was a small concession, “reducing the machine numbers

The Greens and Labor have been arm-wrestling for years to be the most progressive political party. By accusing Labor of refusing to look after the most vulnerable, the Greens appear more progressive.

alone wouldn’t address the deep harm that comes from machines, it would be a small positive step in the right direction”.

However, Mr Rattenbury argued that “the ACT Greens are in politics because we want to get good outcomes for the community”.

The implication is that Labor MLAs are not in politics to get good outcomes for the community. The Greens sully the reputation of their coalition colleagues. This was followed by Yerrabi MLA Andrew Braddock specifically identifying the conflict of interest that Labor has always had regarding revenue from poker machines going into party coffers.

He argued: “ACT Labor has sunk to a new low today and in doing so, cemented the fact that they are so impossibly compromised by their links to the poker machines”.

In looking for a separation, Braddock went further and, supported by

the Liberals, demanded that Labor separate itself from poker machine revenue.

In response, Chief Minister Andrew Barr has slammed these comments as provocative and defamatory. Keep in mind that the Labor Club has an objective “to promote and support the Labor Party”. The Labor Club over its three venues has just over 400 poker machines that assist in returning a tidy surplus to the clubs.

At this stage, the Labor Clubs have stopped donating to ACT Labor. The Greens point out that there is nothing to stop them re-commencing such donations.

Labor is also interested in being seen as separate from the Greens for the upcoming election. But perhaps the price over poker machines seems too great. And what about backbench members who are tied by party decisions?

Murrumbidgee electorate Labor MLA, Dr Marisa Paterson, has a long history of commitment to gambling reform. She told me that she was “disappointed the amendments she had prepared were not supported by either the Greens or the Liberals”. However, she was not fazed, argu-

ing Labor had prepared “a comprehensive package including further reduction in poker machine numbers and the requirement for cashless poker machines to take to the election”. Cashless poker machines allow more control regarding things like precommitment and restrictions on amounts gambled.

As a compromise, Labor and the Greens have agreed to an independent inquiry. The inquiry will have the aim “to assist the government on the steps necessary to develop and implement a club industry revenue, activity and a worker transition plan”. Labor and the Greens have so much more in common than they have differences. Expect that this will be a short-term trial separation rather than ongoing conflict leading to divorce.

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

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Poker machines… Labor is exposed to accusations over conflict of interest when it comes to pokies.

NEWS / FrogWatch

Counting and caring for frogs before they croak

By Katarina LLOYD JONES

October in Canberra brings two important environmental events, breeding season for frogs, and the annual FrogWatch census.

Covering 220 sites, the citizen sci ence project sees volunteers record frog calls all across the region, helping to build a database of the at-risk local frog populations.

“Frogs are excellent indicators of a healthy and diverse ecosystem,” says Anke Maria Hoefer, co-ordinator of ACT Frogwatch, part of the Gin ninderra Catchment Group team.

But, she says frogs are in “dire straits” worldwide.

“There are lots of threats. One is habitat destruction, we put more roads in, take out ponds, build houses on old blocks that have natural habitat, we straighten creeks,” she says.

fects all amphibians.

“It goes into the skin, and they need their skin to breathe.

engagement tool, and encourages everyone to get involved.

years become familiar with the environment, and some even learn how to identify different species from their

“Only the males call,” says Anke

“They call and advertise where they are. They stay put and the females listen and find the males. Their mating call, that’s what we hear.

“Most of our frogs are small, greyish, brownish and hard to spot, but we can hear them, and each species has a

All the necessary information on how to record these calls is provided at the training sessions, which are mandatory, Anke Maria says.

These training sessions will take place on September 24, at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, and September 25, at the Jerrabomberra Wetlands Offices in Fyshwick.

“People come to the training, then they choose a site, or several sites, that they want to monitor,” she says.

eter that’s provided, you take the air temperature, the water temperature, you look at the cloud cover, is it windy?

“You write these things down, and the time, and then you turn your light off and do a three-minute recording, a recording of the frog calls, or if there are no frogs calling you still do that.”

Anke Marie says all this data is uploaded to the online platform Canberra Nature Mapper.

It is then verified by her, ensuring all data is accurate.

Last year, Anke Maria says FrogWatch had more than 600 surveys returned to them, and they’re hoping to see the same level of enthusiasm this year.

But, she says, many people often forget about frogs and the pivotal role they play in the food chain.

“We still have the idea that Canberra is the bush capital, and there’s always enough, and more of that somewhere else, and they’re not protecting what’s already there,” says Anke Maria.

“We’re changing the flow of water, the availability of water, and of course making it harder for animals, not just frogs, but generally for animals, to move between different habitats.

“And there’s internationally, a sickness, a bit like our COVID-19, they have their own, it’s called frog chytrid fungus, it’s a fungal infection that af-

“The fungal infection changes their skin and they die of cardiac arrest at the end.

“We also have introduced species like cats or foxes and, of course, some dogs like to eat frogs.”

With so many factors affecting the Canberra frog population, Anke Maria says FrogWatch is an important

“We have little kids that drag their parents along or their grandparents, we have work colleagues that do it as a bonding exercise. It’s so nice,” she says.

“And lots of retired people that want to give back and do something.”

It’s also very straightforward, says Anke Maria, with FrogWatch setting up sites that residents can “adopt” as those who take part across multiple

“We want them to go there during the day and have a day visit, [...] because at night everything is so different and you don’t want to get lost.

“Next one is the three visits during October at night, you go out during the first three hours after dark, and usually a visit takes maybe 15 [minutes], if you’re very excited, half an hour. It doesn’t take too much of your time.

“You arrive, you have a thermom-

“We really need to change in the ACT, to see that even our back gardens and front gardens, they are part of a landscape ecosystem, and we have a responsibility to open these gardens for all animals and native plants so that we can help.”

Volunteer at ginninderralandcare.org. au/frogwatch or email frogwatch@ ginninderralandcare.org.au

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ACT Frogwatch co-ordinator Anke Maria Hoefer…“Frogs are excellent indicators of a healthy and diverse ecosystem.” Photo: Katarina Lloyd Jones

CANBERRA LIBERALS

‘A world-class stadium located at the Acton Waterfront will revitalise not only the city centre, but all of Canberra.’

A concept impression of the proposed new stadium at the Acton Waterfront on Lake Burley Griffin… “A new stadium located in the city will signal to the rest of Australia – and the world –that Canberra is open for business; and open to host world-class events,” says Elizabeth Lee.

‘It is now abundantly clear that the Canberra Liberals are the only party that will build a new stadium for our city.’

We’ll build a world-class stadium by the lake

A Canberra Liberals government will deliver a new stadium in the city, with the preferred site being the Acton Waterfront.

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said construction would begin in the first term of government and the Canberra Liberals were committed to providing Canberrans with a city stadium that would bring enormous social, cultural and economic benefit to the ACT.

“A world-class stadium located at the Acton Waterfront, in close proximity to restaurants, bars and hotels will revitalise not only the city centre, but all of Canberra,” Ms Lee said.

“A new stadium, delivered by the Canberra Liberals will provide our local sporting teams such as the Raiders, Brumbies and Canberra United with a modern facility and will be a venue that attracts international sporting events, State of Origin and world-class music and entertainment.”

She said the proposed waterfront stadium would hold 30,000 seats, significantly boost tourism and create local jobs, with taxpayers to receive significant economic benefit for money spent on the project even before considering federal funding or PPP arrangements.

“There is a reason why cities all across Australia and the world build stadiums in the city centre due to the many benefits that come with an infrastructure project of this kind in the city,” Ms Lee said.

“The Canberra Liberals have always been committed to building infrastructure projects that have the most economic, cultural and social benefit for Canberrans, and a new stadium located in the city will signal to the rest of Australia – and the world – that Canberra is open for business; and open to host world-class events.

“The site for the stadium at the Acton Waterfront does not require other buildings to be knocked down or excessive associated costs as those put forward by Chief Minister Andrew Barr at other sites across Canberra.

“It is clear the Labor-Greens government has no interest in building a new stadium and Andrew Barr has strung Canberrans along for over a decade with broken promises and nine feasibility studies.

“For too long Canberrans have been let down by a government that has failed time and time again to deliver infrastructure proj ects to the ACT and it is now abundantly clear that the Canberra Liberals are the only party that will build a new stadium for our city.”

Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee says the proposed waterfront stadium would hold 30,000 seats, significantly boost tourism and create local jobs, with taxpayers to receive significant economic benefit.

“With just weeks before the next election it is now-or-never for so many candidates,” says columnist ANDREW HUGHES, who this week looks at the all-important media strategies.

Communication strategies are so critical to winning office. It’s not just about online or offline, it is what is the most effective way to reach the electorate in a way that they will understand, respect and remember.

With just weeks before the next election it is now-or-never for so many. So let’s look at who is doing good, average and dogwater (thanks to Mr12 for this rating-scale term).

Labor, comms score: 70 per cent

The Good: Labor are minimising Andrew Barr in the media to only what is necessary, implicitly recognising that while in the inner-urban areas he still has decent appeal, but in the suburban areas not so much. Another plus to emerge from this is using the team to spread risk, and present diversification and unity.

So Yvette Berry, Christ Steel, Tara Cheyne and Rachel Stephen-Smith are all getting gigs. It also helps support the narrative of stability, effectiveness and good government. The

daily pressers are also to the Labor playbook in the final eight weeks before an election.

The use of media with this has been smart as well as it provides credibility and saves on advertising costs.

The Average: The plastic rage at the Greens. You govern with them and the left faction is in your own party. So there is a need to stop pretending on that. Then the announcements just done with the points above in mind, which may have worked well last time but this time seem just a bit too manufactured.

The Dogwater: As with Labor campaigns, those not in the Assembly are reduced to flyers in the letterbox engagement. The lack of grassroots engagement by the entire team, and not just the chosen few, is noticeable. Some have done the odd meet-andgreet but by and large those out of the Assembly seem just to be making up the numbers. Heavy focus on the inner-urban areas needs to have a pause for a bit.

Liberals, comms score: 65 per cent

The Good: Elizabeth Lee is a good

and popular leader in many parts of Canberra. She has some solid policies and presents as a viable alternative chief minister. Definitely works well with the media. Her deputy, Leanne Castley, combines well with her. Others, like Jeremy Hanson, do relationship building well in their electorates.

even those elected, is just not up to standard in 2024.

Greens, comms score: 60 per cent

The Good: With roots in the street-level activist movements they should be good at the ground game. And they tend to be. Rattenbury’s appeal is good with the Gen X and over, so there’s that as well. Messaging is strategic and on brand, with segments targeted explicitly for deeper engagement and to remind the base of who they are.

The indies, comms score: 75 per cent

The Good: Nice campaign events and launches, early to maximise the space they have away from the campaign itself. Good candidate selection, decent ground game and the digital is for the main good. They have used the media well, and handled the tough questions on support if elected usually quite well. Will likely push for the fifth seat in all electorates.

The Average: Comms on announcements have been good, nice spread on traditional and social media, with easy content for media outlets to cut and paste into programs. But the announcements themselves seem to be hit and miss for timing. They seem to be using a banana strategy – we get a bunch all at once then nothing for a while.

The Dogwater: Unlike Labor, they lack the team unity approach. This hurts the consistency and impact of messaging and candidates. Social media could be more regular and stronger, including the website. The lack of candidates on the ground,

The Average: The safe and predictable reliance on Rattenbury and Vassarotti. It has meant that the other Greens haven’t seen much light of media or content, and now they could be the victims of the indies.

The Dogwater: The fake rage at Labor over policies they actually helped implement as part of the government. Hurts the rest of their messaging, and even the hard left in the party expected more action and less talk. Little engagement with the south means they appear exclusive and focused only on areas such as Braddon, weakening impact in other parts of Canberra where they need to be stronger in to claim those fifth seats.

The Average: Deciding to first be sole independents, then realising that they needed to be a party to stand any chance of winning a gig has meant that the messaging has been fragmented of late.

This could open the door to cannibalisation of the indie vote with each other, rather than taking it away from the three elected parties.

The Dogwater: Realising that they need leaders for resonance on messaging means they have started late.

Not going hard enough in comms and pressers has also hurt, and for some the ground game has gone into mute mode. Social and digital media needs to be fresher to support clear differentiation, especially from other indies and the Greens who they need to target for those final seats in the Assembly.

From left, Andrew Barr, Elizabeth Lee and Shane Rattenbury.

PLANNING / Tuggeranong at 50

Former planner MIKE QUIRK looks at the past and the future for Tuggeranong as its first suburb, Kambah, turns 50.

Fifty years ago settlement in Tuggeranong began in Kambah.

Tuggeranong was the third new-town developed by the National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) following Woden-Weston Creek and Belconnen.

Activities were located in the context of a centre’s hierarchy – major office employment and higher-order services and facilities and at Civic and the town centres; group centres, locations of major supermarkets and services and facilities serving a group of suburbs and neighbourhoods with primary schools and facilities meeting day-to-day needs.

Tuggeranong represented the ongoing development of high quality suburban development with the early provision of services and facilities, quality open space and transport connections and significant local employment assisted by Canberra’s office-centric employment structure.

It avoided the unco-ordinated sprawl found in other Australian cities. Its planning worked within the community’s preference for lowdensity housing and the car.

Hugh Stretton’s Ideas for Austral-

ian Cities (1970) and the NCDC’s Tomorrow’s Canberra (1970) outline Canberra’s then exemplary planning and development.

In Kambah and Wanniassa the centres’ hierarchy was modified with Territorial Units replacing neigh bourhoods in the expectation they would be more adaptable to social and demographic changes.

Like the other new-towns, settle ment in Tuggeranong was dominated by young households with dependents.

Due to the government’s ownership of land, unlike other Australian cities, growth was concentrated to a limited number of locations enabling the early provision of schools, shops and other facilities. This concentration has a long-term downside as it results in a more rapid decline in population as the area ages.

and the other new towns.

reduce traffic intrusion.

By 1996 the District’s population was over 91,000. By 2016 it had fallen to 85,200. It has since increased to over 89,000.

In 2001, 26.8 per cent of the population of Tuggeranong were aged 0 to 14 years. By 2021 the share in this cohort had declined to 19.2 per cent. Correspondingly, the population aged 65 years and over increased

Greater awareness of the environmental impacts of development, climate change, fire risks, social changes including increased workforce participation of women, reduced family size, reduced housing affordability, changed shopping patterns, increased working from home and an increased preference for higher-density housing in areas of high accessibility.

What is striking about Canberra’s suburbs is that they have good “bones”, which will make their adjustment to the parameters now shaping city development easier than many areas.

Canberra Model Shipwrights Society

2024

Exhibition of Model Ships

Sat 14 September 2024 - 10 am to 4 pm

Sun 15 September 2024 - 10 am to 3

Mount Rogers Primary School Alfred Hill Drive, Melba, ACT

Model Ships on display by members of:

Canberra Model Shipwrights Society, Sydney Model Ship Builders Club, ACT Scale Modellers Society,

SUNDAY ROAST

The ACT District Population Projections 2020 to 2060 indicate the population of Tuggeranong will stabilise near its current level. The projections appear pessimistic if the experience of Kambah is a guide. The projections projected a 2023 population of 15,200 (down from 18,400 in 1991) and a decline to 14,070 by 2033. Yet the latest ABS (2023) estimate is 15,760.

In 2021, there were 34,469 dwellings in the District of which almost 80 per cent were separate dwellings. Despite the number of dwellings in Tuggeranong increasing by 1850 between 2016 and 2021, the ACT government’s District strategy forecasts a demand

for an additional 1100 dwellings between 2022 and 2060.

The population increase is likely to be higher as small, older households are replaced by younger households, from dual occupancies and the uptake of medium-density and higher-density housing at centres and at nodes on transport routes.

The identified light rail route in Tuggeranong along Athllon Drive to the town centre does not serve the majority of the District’s population.

A more effective and flexible strategy would be to provide several bus ways that serve all of Tuggeranong. A busway network would be less risky than the high-cost light rail which has little to recommend it given increased working from home, improved electric bus technology and the potential for driverless technology to reduce the demand for public transport.

The challenge is to ensure suburbs are adaptable to environmental, social and economic changes affecting the welfare of an increasingly diverse population.

A discussion of the issues facing suburbia, including a chapter on Canberra that I wrote with Malcolm Smith and David Wright, can be found in the new book The Next Australian City (Guy Gibson and Ross Elliot editors).

Mike Quirk is a former NCDC and ACT government planner.

Still or sparkling? Which water is

Still or sparkling? It’s a question you’ll commonly hear in a café or restaurant and you probably have a preference. But is there any difference for your health? CHRISTIAN MORO and CHARLOTTE PHELPS have the answer.

If you love the fizz, here’s why you don’t have to pass on the sparkling water.

This article specifically focuses on comparing still filtered water to carbonated filtered water (called “sparkling water” or “unflavoured seltzer”). Soda water, mineral water, tonic water and flavoured water are similar, but not the same product.

The bubbles in sparkling water are created by adding carbon dioxide to filtered water. It reacts to produce carbonic acid, which makes sparkling water more acidic (a pH of about 3.5) than still (closer to neutral, with a pH around 6.5-8.5).

Water is the best way to hydrate our bodies. Research shows when it comes to hydration, still and sparkling water are equally effective.

Some people believe water is healthier when it comes from a sealed bottle. But in Australia, tap water is monitored very carefully. Unlike bottled water, it also has the added benefit of fluoride, which can help protect young children against tooth decay and cavities.

Sparkling or still water is always better than artificially sweetened flavoured drinks or juices.

Isn’t soda water bad for teeth and bones?

There’s no evidence sparkling water damages your bones. While drinking a lot of soft drinks is linked to increased fractures, this is largely due to their association with higher rates of obesity.

Sparkling water is more acidic than still water, and acidity can soften the teeth’s enamel.

Usually this is not something to be too worried about, unless it is mixed with sugar or citrus, which has much higher levels of acidity and can harm teeth.

However, if you grind your teeth often, the softening could enhance the damage it causes. If you’re undertaking a home whitening process, sparkling water might discolour your teeth.

In most other cases, it would take a lot of sparkling water to pass by the teeth, for a long period of time, to cause any noticeable damage.

Don’t burden your child with conflict

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We can achieve this through Family Dispute Resolution Conferences and Mediations

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or still water is always better than artificially sweetened flavoured drinks or juices.

How does drinking water affect digestion?

There is a misconception drinking water (of any kind) with a meal is bad for digestion.

While theoretically water could dilute stomach acid (which breaks down food), the practice of drinking it doesn’t appear to have any negative effect.

Your digestive system simply

adapts to the consistency of the meal.

Some people do find that carbonated beverages cause some stomach upset. This is due to the build-up of gases, which can cause bloating, cramping and discomfort.

For people with an overactive bladder, the acidity might also aggravate the urinary system.

Interestingly, the fizzy “buzz” you feel in your mouth from sparkling water fades the more you drink it.

Is cold water harder to digest?

You’ve chosen still or sparkling water. What about its temperature? There are surprisingly few studies about the effect of drinking cold water compared to room temperature. There is some evidence colder water (at two degrees Celsius) might inhibit gastric contractions and slow down digestion. Ice water may constrict blood vessels and cause cramping. However other research suggests drinking cold water might temporarily boost metabolism, as the body needs to expend energy to warm it up to body temperature. This effect is minimal and unlikely to lead to significant weight loss.

Which water wins?

The bottom line is water is essential, hydrates us and has countless other health benefits. Water, with carbonated bubbles or without, will always be the healthiest drink to choose. And if you’re concerned about any impact to teeth enamel, one trick is to follow sparkling water with a glass of still. This helps rinse the teeth and return your mouth’s acidity back to normal.

Christian Moro, associate professor of Science & Medicine, and Charlotte Phelps, senior teaching fellow, Medical Program, Bond University. Republished from The Conversation.

Sparkling

Photo: Adobe Stock

THE GADFLY / AUKUS BRIEFLY

What happens when Sir Keir works it out?

What happens when the new UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer realises that the ridiculous antiChinese AUKUS deal is irrelevant to Britain’s defence structure and harmful to its economy?

Will AUKUS become AUS, or will we reject the whole silly shebang and give President Macron a call.

After all, in 1968 Britain’s Labour PM Harold Wilson withdrew all defence commitments “East of Suez”. In 1983 the Conservative Party’s Margaret Thatcher underlined it by abandoning Hong Kong. In 1997, Labour’s Tony Blair oversaw the return of the colony to China. By then it had become a British canon until the nitwit Boris Johnston signed the deal courtesy of our own oddball, Scott Morrison.

One of Sir Keir’s first acts when he moved to 10 Downing Street, was to reassure Xi Jinping that Britain’s “One China” policy was unchanged.

No surprises there. Britain is in fierce economic pain. He might like to resuscitate its “special relationship” with the US, but not at the cost of retaining – and expanding – every element of Chinese trade he can muster.

In this endeavour, the US is a competitor, as we learned to our cost when China barred some of our goods and the US leapt in to replace us.

Britain’s AUKUS commitment is to supply certain technology and receive some from the US. They might get a guernsey in producing some parts, but the submarines will essentially be American.

The AUKUS spin-off is small beer compared with the $A168 billion annual Britain-China trade. Moreover, the terms of the AUKUS deal allow the Brits to depart without paying a cent in compo (though it would cost us an arm and a leg to do likewise).

No doubt Sir Keir watched the two US presidential conventions in Milwau-

kee and Chicago. While politically his own party is closer to the Democrats than the Republicans, his decision on AUKUS might well depend on the

If Donald Trump returns to the Oval Office, only a tealeaf reader would dare predict his attitude to the tripartite AUKUS caucus. I suspect he’d rather keep all the subs in American hands, though he might see it as a chip to play in the game of diplomacy with his “beautiful letter” pen pal Xi Jinping.

If Trump’s generals sell him the line that they’ve sucked Australia into becoming an American base that could give him pause. More likely he’ll see it as a Joe Biden initiative, and that alone could kill it.

The Democratic Convention was also tricky. A presidential Kamala Harris is not about to publicly disown the deal signed by her beloved predecessor.

In fact, she sounded much more bellicose than Trump on the night as she recommitted the US to the Ukraine war and showed her contempt for the autocrats such as Putin, Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping.

What’s more, her patron Nancy Pelosi broke a lifelong friendship with Joe to give Kamala her big chance, and

recently led a delegation to Taiwan to give the finger to Xi. But once in the Oval Office, Kamala will need to be a new version of herself, and going to war with China is not on her game plan.

The hard heads around Sir Keir will put their case. On the one hand the British defence contractors will be grasping for the dollars (and the technology) that might flow their way; on the other, the economists will be telling him the truth about China’s goodwill gift to the Exchequer’s bottom line, and that Morrison only included the Brits for show in any case.

It’s just possible that Paul Keating, Gareth Evans and a certain former Liberal PM might also weigh in and could even tip the scales.

Wouldn’t that be fun? Albo might have to take a rare big decision.

robert@robertmacklin.com

Apartments join food-waste pilot scheme

The ACT’s Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collection pilot is being expanded next month into more than 1150 additional households within multiunit developments in Belconnen and Tuggeranong.

Introduced in November 2021, the FOGO pilot has been providing a weekly collection of food scraps and garden waste for about 5300 households in Belconnen, Bruce, Cook and Macquarie.

Tonne of Lego fun

Roundabout Canberra volunteers are sifting through a tonne of Lego pieces for The Giant Charity Lego sale at the Albert Hall, 1pm-5pm, September 21. Organisers say a collection of rare and vintage sets has been donated to the event and more than 200 new and used Lego sets will be available to buy on the day. Loose Lego pieces are $30 a kilogram and Duplo, $20.

Money for jam

The Bold Bandannas, a Relay For Life team, will host a stall at Bunnings Majura Park, 10am-4.30pm, on September 14, selling homemade preserves and hand-crafted items in aid of the Cancer Council ACT.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer… his decision on AUKUS might well depend on the US election result.

Photo: UK Parliament / Maria Unger

Why don’t pollies see the need for public toilets?

We assume that none of the local politicians need to use public toilets in Canberra. Maybe they can hold on forever due to youth, unlike the rest of us.

The Eurobodalla shire council has done a lot to improve the number and accessibility of the public toilets down the coast unlike our local government which should learn from their example.

Why cannot the local ACT politicians understand that each shopping centre needs a public toilet as do many picnic areas such as Yarramundi reach.

Watson shops is now a busy suburban shopping centre, yet has no public toilet despite the local residents’ association pushing for one.

The local cafes cannot be blamed for only providing access to their toilets for their customers.

The role of local government is to provide public facilities, we gather the ACT government never got that memo.

Not having accessible public toilets at parks, shopping centres etcetera does not help older people, families with kids, people with bowel issues.

Maybe the local politicians can hold on forever until they get home but the rest of us cannot and expect the provision of public toilets to be improved in Canberra as a matter of course.

Karna and Julina O’Dea, via emai

The government has allowed the decay

The letters from Raechel Nano, Dr Douglas Mackenzie and Maddie Lewis (CN, September 3) berate our Labor/Green government for its omissions in the maintenance of this decaying city.

There is a more serious decay threatening in what development this government has allowed and its orthodoxy towards family.

I am thinking of the thousands of apartments that have been crammed into the Woden town centre along with planning for a light rail service to Civic and a CIT campus that will supposedly be attended by students from all over Canberra using public transport.

I visited one such small single-bedroom apartment recently, on the 10th floor, where the view was the wall of another similar building a few tens of metres away. Rent $450 a week.

Don’t contemplate the prospects of a

young couple living in such accommodation if they wanted to have a family. There are no schools, and the only playground is on an extremity of the district.

If we want an ageing society amused by overseas trips while the fossil fuel and iron ore exports hold up, and lots of abortion and euthanasia, the current government can just sit back and get elected again.

John L Smith, Farrer

Consensus ‘along the corridor’ impossible

Columnist Andrew Hughes’ comments on the disunity within the Canberra Liberals (“Labor will be back unless things start to change”, CN August 29) strongly align with my own experiences while consulting for then-leader Alistair Coe before the last ACT election.

Attempting to foster and establish policy consensus “along the corridor” proved to be an almost impossible task, given the competing vested interests, fragile egos and widespread ineptitude among most members.

Unless the Liberals can learn to work as a cohesive team rather than against each other, I don’t see them returning to government anytime soon. Period.

There is still a pervasive and selfish sentiment along the corridor, which I believe persists: considering the salary, superannuation contributions, and numerous perks of office, “coming second is not such a bad outcome”.

Mike Carmody, via email

God help us if Labor and Greens get back

I’m with letter writer Anne O’Donnell (CN August 29) – Aggie Court’s Labor “candidacy,” in the electorate of Kurrajong should be disendorsed!

Currently working for the ACT CFMEU, which has been placed into administration, she should not engage in any party politics. Come on Liberals, at least roar up and object to Labor endorsing this CFMEU candidate.

And speaking of the Canberra Liberals, Sue Dyer’s comment (letters, CN August 29) that they need more than time management. Clearly, the Liberals need to get united on the same platform to win government and not think of their own individual agendas! They seem to be very divided, under their moderate leader.

God help us all if Labor and The Greens get back in.

Ros

Thomas, Gordon

More nails in the Barr government’s coffin

KEEPING UP THE ACT (CN September 5) nails Chief Minister Andrew Barr to the cross of debt.

It begins with the outrageous three years and $31 million per kilometre to upgrade 2.4km of Athllon Way in Tuggeranong, compared to the one year and $4.7 million a kilometre for the Romans to build the 212-kilometre Appian Way.

Rome’s Colosseum of 60,000 seats took 10 years to build, and cost an estimated $600 million. This compares very badly with the 10 years and $1.8 billion to build the 30,000-seat Bruce “Barrena”.

KUTA then moves on to the absurdity of “a few billion laying a couple more centimetres of light rail”. As Peter Haddon (Letters, CN September 5) wrote, “the folly of building a tramline in Canberra in the 21st century” could not be justified on cost/ benefit grounds alone.

Are these more nails in Barr’s “cross of debt”, or are they in the lid of the Barr government’s coffin?

Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakinl

Vaping side effects are red flags for health

Contrary to columnist Ross Fitzgerald’s assertion that there has been no deaths scientifically attributed to vaping nicotine (CN August 29), a quick Google search will reveal credible references to such deaths.

For example, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 68 such deaths in the US by February 2020 and more than 2800 cases of serious lung injury requiring hospitalisation. Vaping-related hospitalisations have also been reported in Australia, in addition to some suspected deaths.

Due to the need to collect more information about the long-term effects of e-cigarettes, it is difficult to estimate the likely number of deaths attributable to these products.

Based on current information, sources including the Australian Lung Foundation and the ANU National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health report that health harms associated with vaping include: nicotine addiction; intentional and unintentional poisoning; acute nicotine toxicity causing

seizures; burns and injuries; lung injury; indoor air pollution; environmental waste and fires; dual use with cigarette smoking, which increases exposure to harmful toxins; and vaping is associated with the uptake of cigarette smoking and can be considered to be a “gateway” to further risk and health complications.

Even the short-term side effects of vaping – such as coughing, shortness of breath, eye irritation, headaches, dry and irritated mouth and throat, and nausea – should be red flags for harms to your health.

Karina Morris, Weetangera

Antisemitism events have skyrocketed

On reading columnist Michael Moore, one would never know that the war in Gaza started because Hamas broke a ceasefire, crossed an established border, sent 3500 Hamas terrorists into Israel to slaughter, rape and torture some 1200 men, women and children, and kidnap another 250 people back into Gaza on October 7.

Nor that Hamas officials promise to repeat October 7 “again and again and again” until Israel is destroyed.

He also omits the overwhelming evidence that Hamas converted homes, schools, hospitals and mosques in Gaza into a giant terror base.

Moore falsely accuses Israel of genocide, and justifies this by citing unfiltered Hamas propaganda and assertions made by antiIsrael activists – including a couple of the tiny number of Jews who have thrown their lot in with the violently anti-Zionist “free Palestine” movement.

Moore also raises the straw man that criticism of Israel is immediately called antisemitic by an all-powerful Israel lobby. No reasonable person claims that criticism of Israel is always antisemitic.

But the incidence of antisemitism has skyrocketed over the last 11 months according to all known metrics, so this phenomenon is clearly not a figment of the Jewish imagination or part of any nefarious scheme to foreclose debate.

Richard Webb, Griffith

Ric’s taking a break from reading letters

Letter writer Eric Hunter has got it quite wrong on a number of occasions when commenting on several letters you have

published in relation to my early view that The Voice would fail because of Albanese’s ego-driven approach to it and the fact that the illegal actions of Palestinian student supporters could possibly hurt their employment prospects.

As a result I have endeavoured to ignore all letters written by him. This has proved a hard task considering the number of letters and publications he contributes to on a daily basis. So I have decided to not read any letters in any publications for a period of two months to see if I can restore some feeling of equanimity in my retirement. I will be interested to see if this will do the trick.

Ric Hingee, Duffy

Janine promises to deliver the goods!

I refer to Monica Beran’s letter (CN August 29) and her comments about the need for a change of government.

After much contemplation and consideration, I have made the decision to run in Ginninderra as a non-party, independent candidate in the upcoming ACT election.

Born and raised in Canberra, I am the epitome of a Canberran; aware of the needs and issues of our beautiful city. Through my previous and current employment, I am a person of lived experience in many spaces.

As a long-standing social justice advocate, during the last few years I have been proactive in working on coronial, prison and mental health reform within the ACT. I have been advocating for these things because of the systemic flaws and failings in these jurisdictions, which need vast overhauls to improve the services for our people.

Further, as a parent, wife, friend and community advocate, I am aware of other issues, including education, housing, ACT Policing, homelessness, the environment and much more.

Quite simply, the ACT community deserves some new blood, and my campaign focuses on a fresh perspective to tackle the issues the Canberra community are currently experiencing.

If elected, I promise to listen and “hear” about issues local members of our community raise; I won’t just “talk the talk”, I am fully prepared to “walk the walk”, unlike many other MLAs.

Vote 1, Janine Haskins, Independent for Ginninderra and I will deliver the goods!

Janine Haskins, Cook

Here’s how to make the most of school-holiday fun SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Whether the family is staying in Canberra or travelling to the surrounding regions, there’s plenty of fun to be had during these school holidays. There’s museum exhibits, or even themed art classes.

The Canberra region has truly everything and more to keep the children engaged and entertained during their time away from school.

In this feature, CityNews rounds up some of the best activities that the whole family can enjoy over the school break.

Fun and adventure for all ages

Tuff Nutterz has been bringing families together for fun and adventure since its launch in 2019, says chief operations officer, Juan Gomez.

“It is the ultimate destination for a day filled with laughter, excitement, and unforgettable memories,” he says.

“We’re back in Canberra this October, ready to deliver joy every day from 9am to 4.45 pm, October 5-13, at The Lawns of the Old Parliament House, right across the road from the National Gallery.”

The October event features Australia’s largest inflatable obstacle course – 300 metres of exhilarating challenges – and two other inflatable activities, designed for all age groups to enjoy.

Juan says that Tuff Nutterz is consistently one of the top-rated school holiday activities, making two appearances in the ACT each year, in April

and October.

“We’re thrilled to offer such an engaging experience for families to bond and have a blast,” he says.

Tickets are priced from $25 when booking four people or more and sessions run daily, with the last entry at 3 pm.

There is also coffee, ice cream and food options for purchase, but Juan says attendees are also welcome to bring their own snacks and drinks. Grip socks are highly recommended for all participants.

“What’s special about Tuff Nutterz is that it’s a full day of outdoor fun, away from screens, where families can share these exciting experiences together,” says Juan.

Tuff Nutterz, The Lawns of the Old Parliament House. Visit tuffnutterz.com

A journey into nature’s fantasy art worlds

These September/October school holidays will feature a two-week fantasy art adventure at Lavender Art Studios, crafted especially for young dreamers aged 5-13, says owner Elita Mackay.

“Our enchanted workshops are bursting with the vibrancy of nature and creativity, as children immerse themselves in magical worlds where springtime blooms, mythical creatures roam, and fairy tales come to life.”

Through acrylic painting, printmaking and sculpting, Elita says young artists will capture the essence of dragons soaring over blossoming meadows, castles rising amidst lush forests, and enchanted gardens where fairies dance in the morning dew.

“Each day unfolds like a new chapter in a living storybook, with art bars bringing to life the beauty of nature and imagination, while our special Posca pen workshop lets children create vivid realms filled with the colours of spring and the wonders of the natural world,” she says.

Adding to the enchantment, live harp music played by Lavender Art Studios in-residence harpist will fill

the air, says Elita, with melodies perfectly tuned to each magical theme, creating an immersive atmosphere that inspires creativity.

With more than 25 years of hands-on experience, Elita says the skilled staff will guide young artists every step of the way, supported by a professionally fitted-out art studio equipped with the finest art supplies. She says all materials are provided, and the cost includes morning and afternoon tea, making this the ultimate creative escape for little artists.

Lavender Art Studios, First Floor, 42 Townsend Street, Phillip. Call 0412 649770, or visit lavenderartstudios.com.au

Dinosaurs galore at the interactive museum

Discover one of the biggest permanent collections of interactive dinosaurs in Australia during these school holidays, says National Dinosaur Museum general manager Carole Arulantu, and get a closeup look at one-of-a-kind skeletons and fossils.

Carole says the National Dinosaur Museum features a landscaped dinosaur garden, with lifelike fibreglass models, while the upper gallery is home to skulls, interactive replica models, animatronics and fossils that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.

These school holidays the museum is also partnering with Westfield Belconnen to do a scavenger hunt from October 7 to October 13 at the mall.

But, they do more than just dinosaurs, says Carole, with exhibitions examining the Triassic period through to the Ice Age, complete with 700-million-year-old marine fauna fossils.

“The Dinosaur Museum is escapism,” she says.

“There are children who can relate to Land Before Time or relate to other dinosaur movies. And you know, of course, the Jurassic Parks.

“It’s always an ongoing topic. It never dies.”

Carole says there are new discoveries made about dinosaurs every day, so they are always modernising and updating their exhibits.

“I’ve got members, children who come in day in and day out, but they discover something new every day,” she says.

People are welcome to bring food and sit on the museum deck while they eat, or Carole encourages them to explore the food options nearby.

The National Dinosaur Museum, 6 Gold Creek Road, Nicholls. Call 6109 8160 or visit nationaldinosaurmuseum.com.au

History of Australia through correctional eyes

Opened in 2005, the Cooma Correctional Museum offers the history of Australia through correctional eyes, says statewide museum manager Andrew Weglarz.

“We show the history of corrections in Australia starting from the First Fleet, up until today,” he says.

“On November 1 2023, we celebrated our 150th anniversary, we’re the oldest working jail in Australia.”

Andrew says people should think of them as a big-city museum in a rural setting.

“We have a working gallows, people can use a real trap-door, but we also have fire trucks and tractors from history,” he says.

Andrew says they have serving minimumsecurity prisoners working as guides.

“We have done risk assessments with them, and they are coming to the end of serving their time,” he says.

“In 1957, a minister put all offenders who identified as homosexual into Cooma Jail, until reforms in 1984, so we have that history, too.

“We also have a show of Aboriginal history.”

He says the museum has been named the TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award Winner for 2024, and has previously received a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, alongside some fantastic reviews.

Andrew has been doing this work for eight

years, having previously worked as a senior prison officer in the UK and in Canberra.

“My passion is the privilege I have been given to tell Australia’s history,” he says.

“I also set up displays in the reception areas of some other correctional facilities, too.”

Cooma Correctional Museum, 2 Vagg Street, Cooma. Open seven days, 8.30am-3.15pm. Call 6452 5974 or visit correctiveservices.dcj.nsw.gov.au

lavenderartstudios.com.au/school-holiday-program

National Dinosaur Museum general manager Carole Arulantu.

ACT SENIORS MONTH

Health, wealth and wisdom… it’s

From looking after their health, renovating the home to getting their affairs in order, these local services allow seniors to balance their priorities with ease, making time for both the necessary and the fun.

In this feature CityNews speaks with the people and services passionate about improving the lives of Canberra’s older community.

Helping seniors with

“As we get older, we often face new challenges,” says Jo Twible, one of KJB Law’s principals.

“These can include decisions around downsizing from the family home to a smaller home or retirement village, or it could be entering aged care or a granny flat agreement.

“You might also re-think your will, enduring powers of attorney and superannuation nominations, to take into account what you see happening in your family’s lives, or, might decide to make changes to more complex estate planning involving family trusts.”

KJB Law runs free seminars twice yearly on these topics, in conjunction with Phillips Wealth Partners, to help Seniors gain an appreciation of these issues.

“We really want people to have a general understanding of the issues that might be facing them early on in the decision-making process, so they know what questions to be asking when trying to compare some of the options that might be available,” says Jo, with their next free seminar being on November 6 at the Hellenic Club.

of property, business succession planning and exits, as well as family separations.

“At the end of the day,” says Jo, “we view ourselves as here for our clients’ life journeys, helping them with their legal needs.”

Dancing is a great way to increase movement, and the best part is that it doesn’t even feel like exercising, says Dale Harris, owner of Dale’s Ballroom

It is also a great way to get out and be social, she says, which makes it a great hobby for older Canberrans.

Dale is an expert in many styles of dance, including tango, foxtrot, quickstep, Viennese waltz, cha cha, samba, jive, rumba and paso doble, and has more than 25 years’ experi ence teaching dance.

The seven-week dance course for adults is open again, and Dale encour ages anyone to come and learn, regardless of age or experience.

“We have people of all ages coming in for the classes,” she says, with adult classes on Wednesdays, starting at 7pm.

She says classes cover Latin, New Vogue and standard dances.

seniors

In addition to estate planning and administration, retirement village and aged-care entry and exit, KJB can help with general buying and selling

KJB Law, Ground floor, 10 Corinna Street, Woden. Call 6281 0999 or visit kjblaw.com.au

Looking for peace of mind for your future?

KJB Law draws on decades of experience, helping you create a Will and Estate plan that stipulates all your wishes and concerns.

We are able to assist with:

• Wills and Testamentary Wills

• Power of Attorney

• Self-managed super funds

• Advice on potential claims against estates

• Advice for blended families

Kerstin Glomb

They also offer private classes by appointment, which Dale says are a great option for those who may be a little timid about dancing in front of others.

“We can accommodate choreographing a dance for your

Dale’s Ballroom Dancing, 6/38 Reed Street North, Greenway. Call 0407 066110 or visit dalesballroomdancing.com

Simplify your move into village life

Retirement village contracts are often difficult to navigate. Jo Twible will simplify the process, explaining the details of your contract, to help you with a smooth transition.

Jo Twible’s services include:

• Retirement village entry & exit

• Aged care entry

• Residential & Commercial Conveyancing

• Commercial Leasing

• Sale and purchase of businesses

Dales Ballroom owner Dale Harris, centre, with daughters Brooke and Grace.

KJB principal and solicitor Jo Twible.

“We make sure to have regular communication with our clients and if they wish, their families can also be involved in the care planning,” she said.

“Ensuring regular communications helps us to provide tailored care around their care needs and lifestyles and make any changes as they may come up.”

Michelle said she had worked in the health industry for more than 15 years and in her previous occupation had much exposure to the older population.

“It was through this experience that I decided it would be fulfilling to work exclusively with the ageing

There was a range of services available, including domestic assistance, shopping, gardening, social support and outings and Allied Health services, such as physiotherapy and podiatry.

Salvos Home Care was an approved provider of government-funded programs including Home Care Packages and the Commonwealth Home Support Program.

Salvos Home Care ACT, call 1300 111227 or visit salvos.org.au/home-care/salvos-home-care-act

• PRIVATE DANCING LESSONS

– Individuals or Groups

– Perfect for Wedding Parties BY APPOINTMENT

• KIDS MEDAL CLASSES

Thursdays from 5pm

• ADULT BEGINNER CLASSES

Wednesdays from 7pm

• SOCIAL DANCING Mondays 7pm - 9:30pm

All Classes are held at:

The Crystal Ballroom Canberra 6/38 Reed Street Nth, Greenway, Tuggeranong

Dale’s Ballroom Dancing

Phone: 0407 066 110 | Email: dale_harris@bigpond.com

Web: dalesballroomdancing.com | Principal: Dale Harris

Salvation Army Home Care ACT team leader Michelle Upton.

Clarke Street, Civic. Call 6279 4444 or visit www.mvlaw.com.au

“Ageing is a diverse journey, unique to each individual,” she says. “Our goal is to provide a platform where seniors can explore a range of options and resources to support their unique ageing journey.”

COTA ACT, 2 Wisdom Street, Hughes. Call 6282 3777 or visit cotaact.org.au

MV Law partner Tanya Herbertson.

Elder Law

Have you retired, or are thinking about retiring? Or are you downsizing and moving to a retirement village?

Before you sign off on any important life decisions, it’s crucial to seek specialist legal and financial advice in advance in order to protect your interests. This becomes even more important as you grow older.

Avoid stress and worry in later life by consulting the elder law specialists at MV Law. With an indepth understanding of the legal issues facing older Australians, we can provide advice and guidance on a range of issues including moving into a retirement village or aged care facility and decisions affecting your financial affairs.

Wills and Estates

As Canberra’s wills and estate planning specialists, we are the goto experts for providing comprehensive estate planning services that cover all aspects of wills and estate matters.

From the front-end work of preparing wills and powers of attorney for all types of situations and financial circumstances, to administering estates and handling disputes, we have the experience and knowledge to ensure the best possible outcome for our clients.

Because we specialise in wills and estate planning, we have a unique perspective on all the issues that can and do happen. As a result, we’re able to consider every aspect of the law in order to plan for and advocate on your behalf accordingly.

We can also help with:

• Probate and Letters of Administration

• Administration of deceased estates (contentious and non-contentious)

• Estate disputes and estate litigation

• Family Provision claims

• Enduring Powers of Attorney and Enduring Guardians

• Testamentary Trust Wills

• Superannuation death benefit disputes

• Personal injury compensation

• Property Law

• Dispute Resolution

ACT SENIORS MONTH advertising feature

Exercise options to suit all abilities

No matter what type of chronic pain condition people may have, Arthritis ACT can offer support, says CEO Rebecca Davey.

“It’s important to remain ac tive at all ages, and particularly as we age, we need to ensure we maintain our balance and strength”, she says.

“Our strength and balance classes run across Canberra and are a great introduction to people who maybe haven’t exercised intentionally in many years.

“For something different, for those that don’t like structured classes, we offer Nordic Walking instruction. We’re teaching people how to walk with poles, which is a great, low-impact aerobic activity for everyone.”

Rebecca says it’s also important to build strength in different areas of the body.

“We do Pilates and Tai Chi for falls prevention,” she says, and, as an added benefit for Arthritis ACT members, “we have free, online exercise classes every week from Tuesday to Thursday.”

She says Arthritis ACT also offers services such as exercise physiology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and a broad range of education and support groups to help people in

managing their pain.

“People come to us because we know the condition. About 50 per cent of our staff live with chronic pain, so we understand how chronic pain can affect all parts of a person’s life,” she says.

“No task or question is too big or small for us.”

Arthritis ACT, Health Hub, Building 28, University of Canberra, Ginninderra Drive and Allawoona Street, Bruce. Call 1800 011041 or visit arthritisact.org.au

“We’re embracing new technol ogy to make sure we get the best service and quality of work, and a better customer experience,” says owner Terry McHugh.

“We’ve transitioned to digital denture and mouthguard manufacturing, which has revolutionised our processes.

“We were doing high-quality work before, and we’re doing even higher-quality work now because of the new technology

and Young.

He says services can be claimed through health funds and they accept DVA cards.

“The most important thing, and the most enjoyable thing, is seeing happy customers walking out with their new dentures,” he says.

“If you’re happy, we’re happy.”

Fringe Dentures, 3/24 Iron Knob Street, Fyshwick. Call 6239 2534 or visit fringedentures.com.au

David Luke Retirement Plan ning specialises in advising those coming up to, or already in retirement, says director David Luke.

“I can help maximise your Centrelink entitlement, minimise tax exposure, set up income streams and offer investment advice and implementation,” he says.

“I have been a financial planner in Canberra and surrounding regions for 23 years, exclusively advising on retirement,” he says, and has run his own business for the last five years.

David says financial rules are daunting when you look at them for the first time.

“I can lead you through the process of the ATO, Centrelink, and investment markets, to make them work for you and achieve the retirement you want,” he says.

“You don’t need any prior knowledge with the rules or with financial planning, just an idea of what you want to achieve.”

He says he will break down the issues so you understand how it all fits together.

“I’m more than happy to visit you at home, after hours or on weekends.

“Don’t let the complexity of the system make you think it’s all too hard. Make it work for you instead.”

David Luke Retirement Planning, Level 1, 33 Allara Street, Canberra City. Call 0404 857242, or visit davidlukeplanning.com.au

“I have no relationship with any product providers – I am on your side and I’m a one-person operation so you will always deal directly with me,” says David.

Fringe Dentures owner Terry McHugh.

Arthritis ACT CEO Rebecca Davey.

Director David Luke.

MEET OUR PAIN MANAGEMENT EXPERTS

Linda Clee – Physiotherapist

Linda is an experienced physiotherapist having worked clinically in private practice for over 20 years, in rehabilitation settings and in community based aged care. Having owned and operated her own clinic for over 10 years, Linda offered a range of different therapy options, and has refined her skills and service offerings to ensure a functional focus to therapy; that is holistic and promotes overall wellness. A dancer in a past life, Linda loves to add a bit of fun in her programs, often throwing in rhythm and co-ordination challenges that are good for the body and the

Sophie Bullock – Exercise Physiologist

Sophie has post graduate qualifications in hydrotherapy, and as a non-sports centred Exercise Physiologist, helps clients who struggle with engaging in exercise due to a lack of sports participation. Sophie’s goal is to improve clients health via our hydrotherapy program, gym instruction and in-home visits. Sophie also is known for her passion for working with children.

Emil Terbio – Exercise Physiotherapist

Physiotherapist Emil comes to us with a wealth of physiotherapy experience and knowledge from the public hospital system and also private practice. Emil works closely with our team of Exercise Physiologists on a coordinated approach to improving your pain and overall wellbeing. Emil has a special interest in neurology and improving the lives of people living with neurological conditions. He’s also mad keen on soccer and will support you with all sports related injuries and injury prevention.

Sarah Solano – Exercise Physiologist

Sarah believes that exercise is the best medicine. She is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with her degree in exercise physiology and rehabilitation. Previously Sarah was a swim teacher, personal trainer and an allied health assistant in the hydrotherapy field.

Blake Dean – Exercise Physiologist

Blake has expertise in improving clients mobility and decreasing their pain through appropriate exercise. Blake delivers our ‘My Exercise’ program, targeting the relief of lower back and sciatic pain, shoulder and upper body concerns as well as leg, hip and ankle interventions – for those who do not qualify for physiotherapy-led GLAD programs. Blake provides individual & group exercise for younger people with a disability. Blake treats clients in-clinic or via our hydrotherapy program as well as attending your gym with you.

Jacqui Couldrick – Physiotherapist

Jacqui has a particular interest in hip and knee osteoarthritis. Jacqui delivers the GLAD program designed to reduce the need for joint replacements, or if a joint replacement is unavoidable, to prepare you thoroughly for surgery and recovery for day to day tasks. Jacqui is studying towards a PhD in the outcomes of the GLAD program.

Holly Hazelwood – Exercise Physiologist

Jarrod Phillips – Exercise Physiologist

Jarrod is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist who graduated from the University of Canberra in 2024. He has a passion for wanting to help those in need and aims to provide the best possible treatment and advice to each and every one of his clients.

• Occupational Therapy – Assistance with the planning and modification of your home, workplace or car. Applications for NDIS, the Disability and Housing Support Pension, and also driving assessments.

• Physiotherapy – including the GLAD program for knee and hip osteoarthritis, sports injury prevention and rehabilitation, and pain condition support.

• Exercise Physiology – Individual exercise prescriptions, small group classes to increase strength and improve rehabilitation, strength and balance classes, hydrotherapy support.

Holly is a former sports journalist who believed so strongly in the power of exercise to heal and nurture that she undertook her 4 year degree in Exercise Physiology. Holly is be able to work with people directly to support them through their pain journey and regain independence and a joy for living again. Holly provides one on one and group exercise classes both on land and at our hydrotherapy centres to support people to gain freedom from chronic pain. ALSO ACCESS OUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS WHO HELP MAKE YOUR EVERY DAY EASIER

ACT SENIORS MONTH advertising feature

• 3 Models to choose from

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Renovation Matters can help future-proof homes through installing things such as grab rails, making them more accessible to the ageing, says founder, Kim Persson.

She says things such as grab rails are an important part of improving safety and support at home.

“Grab rails can be great for people with temporary injury, allowing them support where required,” says Kim.

“They can also be a great help to the elderly, and even young children, helping them to get in and out of a bath or shower, or on and off a toilet.”

Kim says grab rails can be installed to any place in the home, not just the bathroom, as long as there is

sufficient support in the wall to affix them to.

But, Kim says, it’s important to ensure they are installed by a professional, as without the right support, the grab rail can come away from the wall, causing falls and injuries.

Renovation Matters can also assist in building larger entrances to allow for wheelchair or mobility access, installing toilets with higher seats or bidets, or removing large hobs from showers, which Kim says can be difficult for people with mobility issues to get in and out of.

Renovation Matters. Call Kim on 0427 696662, or visit renovationmatters.com.au

For more than two decades, Open Mobility has been a trusted name in assistive technology, says showroom manager for Belconnen and Tuggeranong, Kim Nelson.

“Our commitment to customer satisfaction has made us a go-to provider of mobility solutions in Canberra,” she says.

“Now, with two convenient locations in the heart of Canberra – at Belconnen and Greenway (both opposite the post offices) – they’re even more accessible to the community.”

Kim says Open Mobility offers a wide range of products, from mobility scooters to lift chairs, beds and daily living aids, designed to empower individuals to lead independent lives.

“Our expert team goes above and beyond to ensure customer needs are met, providing free and secure delivery, set-up, and demonstrations for all purchases,” she says.

Kim says Open Mobility presents a range of leadingbrand scooters, lift beds, lift chairs and accessories, it’s an unparalleled opportunity to access state-of-the-art mobility solutions at exceptional value.”

As a registered NDIS provider, Open Mobility guarantees the highest level of care and support for participants.

Open Mobility, 32 Cohen Street, Belconnen and 310 Anketell Street, Greenway. Call 6108 3899, or visit openmobility.com.au

As people grow older, maintaining independence becomes extremely important, says the owner of Personal Home Lifts, Mike Bresnik.

“A home lift provides the ability for Canberrans to remain in their houses and compared to the costs of downsizing it is a cost effective option,” he says.

“Real estate agents have told me that, on average, the cost of moving… is $72,000.

“A personal home lift costs between $35,000 and $40,000 (plus building and electrical work) so it really is an affordable option.”

Mike says domestic lifts are gaining popularity as people choose to stay in their home, alongside trusted neighbours and life-long friends, but are no longer able to climb their stairs safely.

“It’s another way to get their independence back and give their family peace of mind,” he says.

“There are two lift sizes to choose from, and the larger one is suitable to fit a standard wheelchair and a carer inside.”

They have by-appointment viewings at their Hume showroom.

Personal Home Lifts, call 6147 5566.

Open Mobility will also be at the COTA ACT Seniors and Better Ageing Expo on September 25, 10am to 3pm, at the Old Bus Depot Building, Kingston.

A recent before and after of an updated bathroom with added grab rails for support on the walls.

ACT SENIORS MONTH

grandparents. We have that caring nature in our blood,” says Prakash.

“We specialise in personal care because that’s our nature, we are compassionate and caring people.

“We focus more on personalised support plans, we listen to them, and we prepare their plans, and we get their feedback as well.”

To ensure they provide the best home support services they can,

Prakash says DTC Care is dedicated to arranging frequent in-house and online training for all their support workers.

DTC Care. Call 0426 803524, or visit dtccare.com.au for more information and to access a referral form.

“We have customers from the Snowy Mountains all the way to the northern beaches of Sydney and operate in a location that’s really convenient for customers

Lewis says the business is always striving to make things as easy as possible for their customers.

“We’ve recently installed automatic gates that are phone operated. Customers can call from their phone and go right through,” he says.

with a range of legal issues in areas such as family law, children’s matters, conveyancing, and power of attorney.

“Our team is focused on giving honest and expert advice at all times, they are experienced in their fields and we take pride in knowing

that they will always use common sense, respect, courtesy and good judgement,” he says.

Capon & Hubert Lawyers and Mediators, first floor, 32-38 Townshend Street, Phillip. Call 6152 9203 or visit chsol.com.au

“Our monthly storage costs are easily half the price of a storage unit in Canberra,” he says.

“People generally like a single garage-sized unit, and in Canberra and Sydney that can easily be $800-900, whereas we charge $299 a month.

“We’ve installed 24/7 security cameras and have cloud-based storage of everyone entering and exiting to make sure customers know what they’re storing is safe.

“We take pride in providing excellent customer service and looking after your property while it’s in our care.”

Self Storage Solutions, call 9986 3618 or visit selfstoragesolutions.com.au

DTC Care director Prakash Bhattarai.

Capon & Hubert founding partner, Ken Hubert.

Local MP David Smith says he’s here to help

“I am proud to represent the people of Bean in the federal parliament,” says David Smith MP. He says the Albanese Labor government will always show up, take responsibility and bring people together to find solutions to the problems facing Australia.

“We know Australians are doing it tough right now, and that’s why we’re doing everything we can to help with the cost of living, without adding pressure to inflation,” David says.

“That’s why we are relieving cost-of-living pressures with cheaper childcare and early education, cheaper medicines, strengthened paid parental leave, energy bill relief, and fee-free TAFE.

“That’s why we are investing record amounts into Medicare and bulk billing. And that’s why we are building new homes, investing in afford able housing, and making renting fairer.”

David says they are creating a record number of jobs in Australia, and ensuring that workers in vital sectors receive an increased wage.

This includes 2.6 million Australians who will receive real wage growth due to increases in the minimum wage, he says, and as recently announced, a 15 per cent wage increase for early childhood education and care workers.

“The Australian government offers many Australians support for an array of issues, but I know that it can be complex to navigate at the best of times and that’s why my team and I are always ready to assist you with issues whether they are local or national,” says David.

Office of David Smith, MP for Bean, 205 Anketell Street, Greenway. Call 6293 1344 or visit davidsmith.org.au

prakash@dtccare.com.au

I will be at the ACT Seniors and Better Ageing Expo, and if you are attending I look forward to seeing you there.

Drop by my stand to raise any Federal Parliamentary matters that are important to you. I can also assist with:

Government department inquiries, including pensions, Medicare and My Aged Care

Arranging congratulatory messages from the King, Governor General and Prime Minister Pick up a copy of my popular booklet: Bean Seniors Guide Can’t

David Smith, member for Bean.

ACT SENIORS MONTH advertising

“At NextSense, you have access to leading surgeons, an expert team of health professionals, and the latest technologies – often with no out-of-pocket costs,” he says.

“If you are over the age of 50, it is important to have regular hearing tests with an audiologist who can manage your hearing loss in a timely manner.”

Because NextSense is local, people can have their Cochlear implant surgery, and associated therapy in Canberra.

Patient Alan Edwards says his life completely changed after receiving a Cochlear implant.

As his hearing loss increased over

time, he became distant, withdrawing from society and his family.

He had virtually no hearing left and described himself as “desperate” for a solution.

“NextSense helped me understand my hearing loss and I really felt confident with the professionalism,” Alan says.

“The impact it has had on me and my life is beyond measure.”

NextSense, Equinox Business Park, Equinox 4 Level 1, 70 Kent Street, Deakin. Call 1300 581 391 email hello@nextsense.org.au or visit nextsense.org.au

Dr Vass offers life-changing hearing help

Getting help with hearing loss is all about improving communication and gaining clarity, says Dr Vass Hearing Clinic principal Dr William Vass.

Offering professional, independ ent 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 miscommunication 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 communi cation 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

Is hearing loss affecting

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.

There is no doubt that the spacious, designer villas in the Summerfield country estate, with total ownership, not lease or licence, offer great value and a wonderful, relaxed country lifestyle compared to the traditional, crammed retirement villages in Canberra and Sydney, says sales director Jane Mackenzie-Ross.

“Summerfield has absolutely no entry or exit fees, when you buy or sell, which is very much in contrast to what is on offer in Canberra” she says.

“Retirement villages and Summerfield cannot be compared in either value or lifestyle opportunity. Inspect and you will see.”

As well as a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-car luxury home with vaulted ceilings, spacious rooms and wonderful views are the outstanding Summerfield facilities, which Jane says include a clubhouse, indoor heated swimming pool, arts and crafts, community gardens and much more.

With Summerfield being a five-minute walk to the vibrant and historic Braidwood, Jane says everything is there for the taking.

“The Summerfield and

for the young at heart and any age over 55,” she says.

“For those who may still be working or working from home for instance, not just those who are retired”.

Summerfield offers a vibrant community and country lifestyle for those who want to participate in activities, and have total ownership over their assets and home, being able to sell at any time and keep the capital growth.

“Don’t wait until you cannot enjoy this wonderful Summerfield lifestyle,” she says.

“Make an appointment today to inspect the last remaining villas for sale, or visit the website for open day dates.”

Summerfield Braidwood, 70 Little River Road, Braidwood. Call Jane on 0400 472577 or visit summerfield.com.au

Dr William Vass.

Alan Edwards, NextSense.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Jared finds a deeper side to playing Peter Allen

By Helen MUSA

Jared Newell is about to take on one of the giant roles in Aussie musical theatre, that of songwriting legend and gay icon Peter Allen, in an upcoming local production of The Boy From Oz.

It’s one of Australia’s proudest theatrical exports. Scripted by the late Nick Enright with songs by Allen, it opened in Australia in 1998 with Todd McKenney in the lead and went on Broadway in 2003 in a revised version with Hugh Jackman as Allen.

When I last spoke to Newell in 2021, he’d just sung another giant role, that of the Four Seasons’ lead singer, Frankie Valli, in Canberra Philharmonic Society’s production of Jersey Boys.

The son-in-law of legendary Canberra ballet teacher Lisa Clark, he had also taken the job of singing teacher at her dance centre in Hume.

A teaching career allows Newell flexibility to tour with the Ten Tenors, as he has been doing for the past 13 years, but now he’s also studying for a masters in speech pathology at the University of Canberra.

“It’s got a good connection with singing… it seemed like a logical next step and it’s hard, but I’m loving it,” he says.

Newell didn’t see Peter Allen in his heyday, but has been doing lots of online research and is amazed by his vocal range – he will have to emulate that on stage.

“It blows me away when you see him live in concert and with songs like Not the Boy Next Door, he hits really high notes, but I feel that my training has given me chords of steel to take on this role.”

He rejects the idea that Peter Allen was just a larger-than-life camp queen, saying: “Of course he had a surface, but he led a rich life full of huge highs and deep lows.”

He’s been reading Stephen MacLean’s book Peter Allen: The Boy from Oz and watching the mini-series with black-and-white footage, finding both “really illuminating”.

“There was a deeper element to him. He was more than just the guy who sang I Go to Rio and danced with the Rockettes,” says Newell.

It is true, he notes, that when Allen met Judy Garland and later her daughter Liza Minnelli, whom he married, they gave him advice on how to enhance his profile from the format of the Allen Brothers in the late ‘50s and ‘60s; “such a straight act,” Newell says.

Predictably, when The Boy from Oz went to Broadway, it was beefed up with more content about Garland and Minnelli and terms such as “jackeroo” were removed, but Newell is pleased to say they’ve largely returned to the original.

One song that might have puzzled the American audience is Tenterfield Saddler. Newell explains that this is sung when the older Peter looks back

at the young Peter, experiencing the loss of his father by suicide and reflecting on his heritage and his grandfather, George Woolnough, the saddler of the title.

“It’s a key point,” Newell says. “He’s telling Peter, you’re going to have a great life, connecting with his grandfather and father and what it means to have a heritage like that, it’s such a pivotal moment.”

In the local production they’ll have two young, local performers playing young Peter, Mitchell Clement and Blake Wilkins, who were also cast in Billy Elliott.

“Peter adopted a persona, playing a character on stage in order to give himself a point of difference,” Newell says.

“On stage he was larger than life, but he lived an extremely private life and shunned the spotlight, spending most of his time at his beach house in California. Both of his sides were true.”

Allen once said: “The maniac only comes out when I hit the stage. I have to be a different person offstage. If I were to try to keep that up 24 hours a day, I would have a nervous breakdown.”

So how does Newell rate Allen as a performer, or as a songwriter?

“I think I will remember him as a songwriter,” Newell says after a long pause. “I Honestly Love You is his most-covered tune, but I have an image of him singing, I Still Call Australia Home. “For me, he is a songwriter.”

The Boy From Oz, The Q, Queanbeyan, October 1-20.

STREAMING No bingeing, Netflix has ways to make you stay

ONCE upon a time people flocked to Netflix to be able to watch all of their favourite shows without having to wait a week for each new episode.

The “binge” model of television sparked a whole new way people enjoyed entertain ment and formed part of the genesis of the streaming revolution.

But fierce competition in the market and higher subscription prices are eroding that very model as we know it, most notably on Netflix.

This week the platform has dropped part two of season four of one of its most popular series.

That’s Emily In Paris, a drama-comedy about an ambitious marketing executive from Chicago hired to bring an American perspective to a firm in the City of Light.

When the show first appeared on screens in 2020 it became one of those lockdown breakout hits, watched by 58 million households in the first month of its release, likely those eagerly dreaming of a trip to Europe at a time when it wasn’t allowed.

In the time since, the show has held on to its popularity thanks to its charismatic lead Lily Collins, even leading to a tourism boost for Paris when borders reopened. This boost became known as “The Emily Effect”.

The point is, Emily In Paris is a major hit and Netflix is exploiting that with its new release schedule.

The fourth season has been split into

two halves. The first five episodes were released on August 15th and the second five episodes come out this week.

We’ve seen it done with some of Netflix’s most popular offerings, including Stranger Things, Bridgerton and, most recently,

Cobra Kai.

Cobra Kai, a spin-off to the ‘80s classic film The Karate Kid, has been broken into not two, but three different parts.

The third set of episodes doesn’t even have a release date yet, just some time off in

the distance of 2025.

There’s been a string of reasons that float around as to why Netflix decides to do this.

Making episodes better, stretching out the hype, trying to make them eligible for multiple award seasons are all among the

Executives have never precisely revealed why, but it seems this is a move to try and stop viewers from cancelling their

Recent data shows people have been cutting back on streaming services due to the cost-of-living crunch.

Twenty-seven per cent of Australians, or around 5.5 million viewers axed one of their subscriptions in 2023, citing costs as the main reason. That’s come on the back of a string of price hikes that services continue

To counteract this, a lot of viewers are now engaging in “subscription rotation”.

This involves paying for one service at a time and then cancelling the subscription when they’ve finished bingeing their

It also lets people make use of the one-month free trials that Netflix and other streaming services offer.

But by breaking their seasons up into multiple chunks over multiple months, it appears Netflix is actively trying to skirt

ARTS IN THE CITY

this strategy.

It means people have to stay subscribed for at least two months to see the end of the new seasons of their favourite shows.

Ironically, Netflix was once built on the “binge” model of entertainment and part of why people were lured from traditional television.

Somehow though audiences have ended up with a model that is worse than both the “old way” and the bingeing method.

Netflix is pulling people out of the stories they’ve already waited so long for and leaving them in a frustrating limbo that ultimately tarnishes their own storytelling.

One has to imagine that writers are being told to tailor the series to this new format, messing with the natural plot arcs that seasons should take.

Once again, the platform is trying to get people to stay subscribed by ultimately offering a worse user experience.

The track record proves the better the shows, the better the audience. That’s the model that should be followed.

A work about work experiences

Canberra Youth Theatre’s next play, Work, But This Time Like You Mean It, was written by Honor Webster-Mannison. It’s part of Canberra Youth Theatre’s Emerging Playwright Commission and delves into the politics of young people’s first experiences in the workplace. Courtyard Studio, September 20-29.

The Electric Light Orchestra Tribute Show will pay homage to the English rock band formed in 1970, known for creating modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones. The Q, Queanbeyan, September 20.

The 2024 Italian Film Festival kicks off at Palace Electric Cinema on September 19 with Gloria! Directed by Italian singer, songwriter, and actor Margherita Vicario, which tells the music-filled story of a maid at a Venetian refuge whose hidden talent inspires an uprising. The closing film on October 16 is an equal knockout, the Papal thriller Conclave, in which cardinals gather at the Vatican to elect a new Pope. Oscar nominees Ralph Fiennes and

Canberra Youth Theatre’s Work, But This Time Like You Mean It… Courtyard Studio, September 20-29.

Stanley Tucci star respectively as Cardinals Lawrence and Bellini.

In a poetry-meets-physics event, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Rae Armantrout will read and engage in conversation with ANU professor Ben Buchler. The Street Theatre, September 19.

Canberra Choral Society presents This Shining Night, a concert directed by Dan Walker. Conceived around radiant and whimsical choral works, it features American soprano Rachel Mink, hitherto known for her work with Luminescence, as soloist. Wesley Uniting

Church, Forrest, September 21.

The National Folk Festival has started announcing its 2025 Easter festival line-up. Headlining the event will be Australian singersongwriter Josh Pyke, along with David Francey from Canada, Irish singer-songwriter Daoirí Farrell and Kadinelia from Greece.

Dan Russell and The Phoenix Collective will perform music by Schubert, Shostakovich, Arnalds, and Sigur Rós, in the context of social commentary from various historical perspectives. All Saints Ainslie, September 20.

The 2024 Craft + Design Festival will run from November 1-10 under the theme of “regenerate”.

Lily Collins in the title role of Emily In Paris… the program is a major hit and Netflix is exploiting that with its new release schedule.

DINING / Recess Coffee, Griffith

Home of the mean sandwiches

The simple sandwich. Sometimes, you’re presented with massively thick slices of bread and skimpy filling. Sometimes, thin slices of bread and skimpy filling. And sometimes, filling that is just, well, tasteless. It can be a wee bit disappointing.

But Recess Coffee, a new café at Griffith shops, knows how to make a mean sandwich and they’re delish. Recess Coffee (where the Vietnamese restaurant was for more than 20 years) is a welcome addition to the shops, with a truly unique offering. It’s open seven days for all-day breakfast and lunch, with light through to hearty dishes. That includes toast and seasonal jam ($10) right up to wagyu rump steak ($36).

A friend and I popped by for a quick lunch –we each ordered a sandwich, shared fries and enjoyed a coffee and glass of wine. We lucked into a table in the pretty open-air patio area out back. Indoors was super busy with nearly all bench seats and individual tables packed out. The coffee machine was cranking.

Recess Coffee bakes some bread items in-house and sources others from the wonderful Under Bakery in Mawson, so we were off to a good start.

My friend ordered the handheld fried chicken sandwich, loaded with ingredients ($22). The chicken thigh was moist, tender and tasty. The cheese was beautifully melted and the pickles zingy. Yuzu kewpie was a great addition and the white bread, soft and fresh.

I was mightily impressed with my charcoalroasted porchetta sandwich with a creamy and tangy tonnato sauce ($24 and worth every bite). The porchetta was superb – fatty and moist and a real celebration of boneless pork roast. It was such a wonderful, more-ish sandwich.

house salt ($9).

Coffees are created with locally roasted beans bursting with flavour. My cappuccino was smooth and creamy and the temperature perfect. Coffee is serious business at Recess with Scott Brewer (formerly of Barrio) on deck. Also on deck is Anthony Iannelli who took Terra in the city to a hatted restaurant, and chef Vance Arellano, formerly of Silo Bakery.

The short but rewarding wine list included the Mada Nebbiolo Rose from Hilltops NSW ($13 a glass).

Service was excellent and the staff was accom -

WINE / high and different

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Recess Coffee. We received a warm greeting and staff checked in as we were munching away to make sure all was well. Recess Coffee deserves a big round of applause for good-old-fashioned table service (no QR codes on the tables!).

Recess Coffee is not just a place to enjoy if you live in or happen to be visiting the area. It’s a destination in its own right.

High-country wines with altitude and attitude

I was invited to a wine event that was given the nomenclature Altitude and Attitude.

When I was younger I often felt the need to get high and be different, something that fades with age.

The rationale for the name was explained to me by Jane Adams, one of the organisers and the marketing manager for Freeman Vineyards based in the Hilltops Region of southern NSW: “The common thread is that the nine exhibitors are all high-country growers or use high-country grapes.

“Among them are a bunch of Canberra winemakers that are looking at Hilltops wines for quality and diversity, like Nick O’Leary and Collector, and for different wine styles that you get from the unusual varietals that are grown in the region, with about 600 hectares under vines.

“The event came about through distributors who care about Hilltops wines, but especially as an idea of Matt Quirk, the owner of Quality Estate Distributor, who drove the event.

“We are noticing that these are tough times with possibly more winds ahead. I follow what my grandfather taught me: ‘Promote yourself in tough times and you’ll survive over the long term’.

“With that in mind, we want to promote the region and today’s collaborators to restaurants, wine bars, caterers and retail liquor outlets. There’s also Eagle’s Rest here, the winery at the highest point in the Hunter Valley, so we are all interested in grapes grown at altitude.”

After the event, I looked up a scholarly article

about the effect of altitude on grapes titled Effects of Altitude on the Chemical Composition of Grapes and Wine: a review by Mansour et al and the summary threw a lot of chemical names at me: “Overall, high-altitude growing sites can favour an increase – albeit at different intensities –in content of many chemical compounds found in grapes and wine, such as total polyphenols, total monomeric anthocyanins, catechins, quercetin derivatives and cyanidin-derived anthocyanins, trihydroxylated flavonols, carotenoids, isoamyl acetate and ethyl hexanoate.”

Importantly, the study also isolates that due to their cool climate, high-elevated winegrowing regions represent favourite cultivation sites under current and future global warming.

I tasted a few wines at this event, seeking out the different. I especially liked the Mayfield Vineyard (Orange NSW, 880 metres to 956 metres) Block 14 Chardonnay 2022 with its bouquet of butter mushrooms, akin to some expensive French chablis, and its long finish, texture and great mouthfeel with just a hint of oak. This wine won the award as the best NSW and ACT chardonnay at the 2023 Royal Melbourne Show. I also enjoyed the vertical tasting of the Eagle’s Rest semillons. The 2016 was the standout, featuring a lovely buttery nose and a nutty, toasty characteristic that showed the wonderful effects of ageing from the 2019 citrus and lemon palate. But the 2013 seemed already over the hill. I spoke with Jane again, this time to discuss with her the Freeman Vineyard’s wine with attitude: a furmint. This is a white variety that originates from Hungary.

I remarked at how it had very complex flavours, fruit driven with a floral bouquet. It finished like an arneis with a hint of pear. Jane told me that in Hungary they tend to use this grape in making a sweet wine, but here we were, well, different.

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”–Zig Ziglar

Freeman Vineyards, based in the Hilltops Region of southern NSW.

GARDENING

Peony time for fluffy blooms

By Jackie WARBURTON

Peonies, which are in flower now, are longlasting, flowering shrubs with beautiful fluffy blooms that are also gorgeous indoors in a vase.

They’re an herbaceous perennial that dies down in autumn and remerges in spring. They like to be planted in the full sun and protected from the hot west winds. In the peak of summer, a little dappled shade will be needed. These plants reward the gardener with many long-lasting, fragrant blooms. They like a rich soil and add plenty of compost and organic matter, plus a little dolomite lime, to keep the pH high.

While they can take up to three years to flower, they’re worth the wait.

The tree peony, which can

grow into a small shrub, is another variety of peony that grows well in Canberra.

Tree peonies lose their leaves in autumn and leave a woody stem and with herbaceous peony, all parts of the plant die off for the season. They are well suited to our climate as they need cold temperatures to initiate flowering in November. Herbaceous peonies are best planted in the autumn as bare-rooted rhizomes with a few buds and eyes.

Tree peonies are available in pots and can be planted any time. They can be expensive, but worth the wait. They like to be fed well with a fertiliser high in potash for flowering twice a year. Feeding is easy to remember – Anzac Day and Remembrance Day to keep them blooming.

NOW the weather has warmed, the insects are around in abundance as well.

The main pest for our roses are aphids that suck sap from the new flower buds, cause distortion in the

petals and spread diseases.

There are many insect sprays that will get rid of them, but by waiting for a few weeks, the parasitic wasp will find the aphids and biodiversity will be working without the use of pesticides. If there are no wasps around, they can be bought online.

To keep aphids and other pest insects at bay, planting late winter/ early spring flowering ground covers such as seaside daisy, veronicas and calendulas, under roses or in the vegetable patch will encourage the hoverflies, lady beetles to the garden and keep the aphid infestation under control.

Place several types of water bowls for the wildlife around the garden in dappled shade. They can be from bee baths, a bird drinking bowl or a shallow bowl for birds to bathe in.

All bowls will need to be maintained due to stagnant water attracting mosquitos or add a drip of olive oil to the water bowl to keep the mosquitoes from breeding there.

THE spring flower show for the Horticultural Society and Orchid Society of Canberra will be held at the Mallee Building, at EPIC over the weekend of September 21-22. It’s $5 to get in and is open from 10am until 4pm (Saturday) and 3pm (Sunday).

There will be show benches full of displays of spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and jonquils and flower sprigs of camellias.

It is a sight to see so many

varieties of camellias on display with many forms on show such as singles, doubles and formal doubles and with all colours from white to pinks to reds.

These shows are a terrific way to choose the flowers that you like, together with their names, and then go about sourcing these varieties for your own garden.

The Horticultural Society has many members who will be there on the day to answer any gardening questions.

There will be stalls selling plants such as cacti, succulents and carnivorous plants.

This show is in conjunction with the Canberra Orchid Society who will have a diversity of orchids, exotic and native, on display and for sale. My interest has increased in orchids as they seem to flower well for me indoors and are relatively easy to look after. My next challenge is to get my Stanhopea tigrina to flower.

jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au

Jottings…

• Fertilise roses and lawns as the soil warms up.

• Look out for greenhouse thrips on viburnum hedges.

• Keep watering blueberries that are flowering now.

• Continually pick broad beans to increase yield.

Photos: Jackie Warburton

Aphids on a rose bush… they suck sap from new buds, distort the petals and spread diseases.

HOROSCOPE PUZZLES

By Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Impatient Rams are keen to share information and exchange ideas with family, friends and work colleagues. But Saturn slows progress and Neptune confuses communication. Plus – on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning – the Partial Lunar Eclipse Supermoon lights up your self-sabotage zone. So make sure your amusing chatter doesn’t denigrate into gratuitous gossip. Sunday is super for making plans to transform your career or rev up your daily routine.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

An unreliable relative or a questionable acquaintance could lead you astray, so keep your realism radar set on high and avoid getting caught up in dubious schemes. You’re learning some valuable friendship lessons, as Saturn stirs up your peer group zone. And the Partial Lunar Eclipse Supermoon (on Tuesday/Wednesday) shines a bright light on work that still needs to be done. Sunday is a good time to dive deeper into a new hobby or travel experience.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

Taskmaster Saturn and nebulous Neptune could suck the wind out of your sails, especially at home or work. And you may feel disappointed or confused. Don’t despair and give up, Gemini! Get your creative juices flowing in imaginative new directions. Sunday’s Sun/Pluto trine focuses your busy mind and sharpens your cerebral talents. So it’s the perfect time to analyse, study, research and dig deep as you uncover a mystery or solve a perplexing problem.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

With Mars charging through your sign, Crabs are raring to go! The Partial Lunar Eclipse Supermoon, Sun, Mercury, Saturn and Neptune are all activating your travel and education zones, so it’s time to make plans for a future trip or a new course of study. But – with Saturn slowing progress and Neptune confusing issues – you need to be patient and persistent. Then – when the right moment manifests –you’ll be ready, willing and able to move forward.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

It’s a big week for colourful Cats. On Tuesday night/Wednesday, there’s a Partial Lunar Eclipse Supermoon in your intimacy/secrets/trust zone. And Thursday/ Friday’s Sun/Uranus trine is terrific for initiating creative ideas and making financial progress. Then Sunday’s magnetic Sun/Pluto trine boosts personal power and encourages passionate communication and purposeful transformation. So it’s time for self-assured Lions to sparkle and shine!

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

There’s a tendency to become obsessed about an idea (or person) as you focus with Virgo tunnel-vision. You’re putting in 100% effort but don’t be disappointed if the results aren’t perfect. You’ll learn more from perceived ‘failures’ than you will from successes. Draw inspiration from film star Sophia Loren (who was born on September 20, 1934): “It’s better to explore and make mistakes than to play it safe. Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life.”

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

This week is all about bringing more balance and harmony into your busy world. We celebrate the Equinox on Sunday – when the Sun transits into Libra, and day and night are of equal length. With Venus also visiting your sign, it’s time to tap into your passion and creativity. So your motto is from fellow Libran, legendary stage actress Sarah Bernhardt: “Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

The Sun and Mercury are moving through your peer group zone, while Saturn, Neptune and the Partial Lunar Eclipse Supermoon stimulate your friendship zone. So a work colleague could frustrate you, an authority figure could annoy you, or a friend could give you confusing information. Avoid the temptation to just sulk, stew and simmer. A double dose of Scorpio charm and diplomacy will get you through with your reputation (and sanity) intact!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Expect a domestic drama or a professional challenge as Saturn, Neptune and a Partial Lunar Eclipse Supermoon leave you wondering what on earth is going on! Do your best to be especially diplomatic with a cranky colleague or a recalcitrant relative. Blunt honesty isn’t the best policy – communication will improve with some creative sugar-coating. A pinch of patience (not your usual modus operandi) will help smart Sagittarians sail through.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

From Wednesday to Saturday, you could feel doubtful or disappointed, as Saturn and Neptune dull motivation and confuse communication. Then your Capricorn confidence starts to return, as Sunday’s Sun/Pluto trine boosts your earthy energy and natural enthusiasm. Personal projects, holidays, travel and education are highlighted. Remember it’s Equinox week, so the more you relax and tune into your inner equilibrium, the happier you’ll be!

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Saturn, Neptune and the Partial Lunar Eclipse Supermoon are stirring up your finance zones. So impulse buys today could lead to cashflow problems tomorrow. Astute Aquarians will avoid making expensive purchases or major money moves, as you’re inclined to view your financial situation through rose-coloured glasses. The Sun/Uranus trine (on Thursday/Friday) is fabulous for innovative creative ideas, especially involving home and family.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

The Partial Lunar Eclipse Supermoon is in Pisces but, if you daydream the week away, you’ll just end up feeling dazed and confused. Try channelling your creative energy into friendships, joint ventures and group projects. You’re keen to pursue a particular course of action but is a loved one on the same page? Take the time to double-check, otherwise you could find you are veering off in completely different directions. Communicating clearly is the key.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2024

4 What is another term for a tyro? (6)

7 Name a large heavy kind of terrier. (8)

8 Name a renowned German composer whose operas included Tristan and Isolde. (6)

9 What is any kind of drink, other than water? (8)

11 Which brand of mathematics uses letters and symbols? (7)

13 What is one ampere in one second? (7)

15 Name a native of Jerusalem. (7)

17 What is a small signboard of a professional person? (7)

20 Which council representative is elected by municipality constituents? (8)

23 To be in between, is to be what? (6)

24 What is a seemingly endless period of time? (8)

25 Name a dealer in general supplies for the table. (6)

1 Which US coin has a value of ten cents? (4)

2 What do we call an edible grain such as wheat, rice, etc? (6)

3 What, in computers, is digital information? (4)

4 Name the central pillar from which the steps of a winding stair radiate. (5)

5 What are fashions, as at a particular time? (6)

6 Name a feeling of gladness, gaiety, or animation. (5)

9 Which muscle is on the front of the upper arm? (6)

10 Name one of the Archangels, appearing usually as a divine messenger. (7)

12 To appoint to a post or duty, is to do what? (6)

14 Which term implies a relationship to the positive pole of a battery? (6)

16 What are pinafores? (6)

18 Who was the reputed author of the Iliad and Odyssey? (5)

19 Which term means “after”? (5)

21 What is a musical composition for two performers? (4)

22 What is a branch of university study? (4)

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

Jewel and Harry were keen to buy an electric car for their business, inspired by the news that the purchase may be free of fringe benefits tax.

I told them that, yes, certain vehicles were exempt from FBT.

"To be eligible for the exemption, the vehicle must be a battery electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric or a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle," I said.

"In addition, the vehicle must be a car as defined in the legislation. That is, a passenger vehicle designed to carry a load of less than one tonne and fewer than nine passengers. The car must have been first held and used after July 1 2022 and it must be valued below the luxury car tax threshold, which for the financial year 2024/25 is $91,387 GST inclusive.”

However, some vehicles were not eligible for the FBT exemption even if they were electric. These included motorcycles and scooters, large work vans, commercial vehicles that can carry a load of more than one tonne, caravans and motorhomes.

"In addition, cars that have an electric motor that do not require charging are not counted as low-emission vehicles for the FBT exemption," I told the couple.

"You can still buy one of these if you wish, but it will simply have to be under salary sacrifice arrangements.

“By the way, for plug-in hybrid vehicles the exemption is only available until March 31 2025. However, for battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles there is currently no end date for the FBT exemption."

Jewel said they had been looking at a few cars and we're just trying to make a final decision. Was there anything else they needed to know?” "Yes," I replied. "The car must be used by current employees or their associates, usually family members. The car has to be defined as zero or low emissions and luxury car taxes have never been payable on the vehicle.

"Depending on the finance arrangement, some of the car expenses are also exempt from FBT if they are provided for an eligible electric car. These include registration, insurance, repairs and fuel including the cost of electricity to charge the car.

"Just as an aside a home-charging station is not a car expense associated with providing a fringe benefit, but it may be a property fringe benefit so if you decide to install a charging station either at home or at the office you may need some more FBT guidance.

"Of course, it can be difficult to work out the car’s electricity usage, particularly if the car is charged at home. Given that the electricity is unable to be separately identified and costed, the tax office has set an electric vehicle home charging rate of 4.2 cents a kilometre travelled. You can use this rate for your costs of vehicle charging.

"You will, of course, need to keep good records of the kilometres so that you can work out how many kilometres you have travelled. You can then use the per kilometre rate of 4.2 cents to calculate this figure.

"However, if your car is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, you cannot use this method. You will have to calculate your electricity usage separately.

"I, too, am looking at buying an electric vehicle, so it will be interesting to see where our research leads us both.”

If you need any information on FBT, electric cars or any other tax related matter 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.