CityNews 241017

SUCCESSFUL WOMEN IN BUSINESS

“...a

—Limelight

“...the

—The Age

NEWS / All Women Simpson Desert Crossing on Motorbikes

Rowena’s ‘brutal’ desert ride against bullying

By Katarina LLOYD JONES

Canberra public servant Rowena Smith joined five other women from across Australia in the All Women Simpson Desert Crossing on Motorbikes ride in August for a five-day fundraiser for the anti-bullying organisation Dolly’s Dream.

“Being a mum of two girls, I have seen, even in Canberra, the effects of what bullying does, [...] and in many schools, it is rife,” says Rowena, who is in her 50s, and has been riding for more than 30 years.

“And, unfortunately, teachers and parents are the last to know that this is actually happening.

“We need to do as much as we can to help, and to encourage those that are being bullied to reach out and ask for support.

“Another reason that I wanted to support it, was just to bring awareness that we can do this, sometimes it takes courage for children to actually reach out.”

The group had been raising funds for four years before the August ride, reaching a total of $100,000, says

INDEX

rienced cyberbullying.

In May, the Australian Council for Educational Research (Acer) released a report that revealed Australian students’ exposure to bullying was higher than all comparison OECD countries, except Latvia.

It says one in six students surveyed in Australia had been made fun of, one in 10 had experienced rumours being spread about them, and six per cent reported being physically hit or pushed.

This is compounded by constant access to social media, with the 2020 headspace National Youth Mental Health Survey finding about half of those surveyed, 51 per cent, had expe -

This is a major public health concern, with Public Health Association Australia noting cyberbullying as the cause of at least three suicides a week in young people.

It is for these reasons that Dolly’s Dream aims to raise awareness about bullying for all young Australians, but is particularly focused on the mental health and wellbeing of those in the outback, who often face extreme social isolation and often face cyber bullying.

Rowena says they also raised $1000 during the ride itself, with donors from affected, rural communities wanting to contribute to raising awareness.

“One of the really nice things [was]

when we were at the communities, in the pubs and things like that, the amount of people from the outback that came in to greet us and talk to us was really nice,” she says.

“Some were telling us about their experiences, and the isolation aspects, especially for kids, and the need for money and the need for awareness… how it can provide education, organising events, getting together once a year just to socialise.

“The stations are hundreds and hundreds of kilometres big, and they don’t see anyone, these kids are isolated, they don’t see anyone.”

Rowena says she had always heard about how isolating the outback can

be, but it wasn’t until she actually rode through it that it really sunk in.

“Once we got to Birdsville, we had crossed the last dune that we had to do, which was called Big Red and it’s like 50 metres high and the platform is hundreds of square metres in size, [...] and we rode into Birdsville which is a very remote area, and there were things we noticed, like there’s no access really to fresh fruit or, fresh produce, and that does also affect their lifestyle,” she says.

“It is a very, or can be, a very harsh lifestyle, especially in drought when they have that.”

All six women had off-road dirt bikes, mostly lighter Yamahas that are easier to manoeuvre through sand, but that didn’t make the journey too much easier.

Even with the assistance of a support crew that carried some gear for them, Rowena says the conditions were “really brutal”.

“It was really hard, but at the end of the day, you have to remember that, yes, we haven’t had a shower for five days, but that’s alright, we still keep going because there’s a lot of people a lot worse off than that,” she says.

“And if it meant that we could do this, to actually raise awareness and to actually give back to the community… It was a great thing.

Donate at dollysdream.org.au

Since 1993: Volume 30, Number: 42

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

Senior advertising account executive: David Cusack, 0435 380656

Advertising account executive: Damien Klemke, 0439 139001

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

Journalist: Katarina Lloyd Jones

Elizabeth Kovacs, elizabeth@citynews.com.au

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

Production manager: Janet Ewen

Distribution manager: Penny McCarroll Arts

Commercial and Residential Conveyancing for ACT & NSW

Rowena.

Rowena Smith rode in the fundraising All Women Simpson Desert Crossing on Motorbikes. Photo: Katarina Lloyd Jones

The All Women Simpson Desert Crossing on Motorbikes and support crew. Photo: Supplied

Vibrant democracy rewarded with candidates

Being cynical about politics is easy. However, the highest number of candidates ever standing for election in the ACT is a testament to the vibrancy of our local democracy.

Credit goes to each and every one of the candidates who have been prepared to stand up for what they believe.

This is such a different range of candidates from the first self-government election in 1989 which featured some of Emile Brunoro’s notorious political parties such as the Surprise Party, the Party! Party! Party! and, of course, the Sun-Ripened Warm Tomato Party.

To his credit, Emile was engaging in the political process by registering his six parties and touching an important sentiment of the time.

Interestingly, I have a recollection of chatting to Surprise Party candidate Amanda Call at a public election function. Although getting involved originally to poke fun at the process, she had started to engage seriously in the election process.

Taking on an election as a candidate deserves recognition. Candidates who manage to gain more than 50 first preference votes are doing very well, whether they are in a party or not.

Using 50 friends as a starting point

is pretty good. Most of us then have a much wider group of acquaintances. Friends and acquaintances often have different political stances and do not necessarily agree with our politics. As building trust is the starting point for people seeking election, getting around 50 votes is a credit. When someone puts up their hand to be a candidate, the driving force is usually to make a difference, to improve our community. This is commendable! Candidates often stand to improve the chances of a colleague getting elected in the hope that preferences

Taking on an election as a candidate deserves recognition. Candidates who manage to gain more than 50 first preference votes are doing very well, whether they are in a party or not.

will flow to that person. This is also admirable. An example from this election is David Pollard who is making a third attempt in Yerrabi. He did very well at the last election. This election, while running with the Independents for Canberra, he was supported by Trent Pollard.

The highest number of candidates standing since self-government! The wide range of political perspectives including Animal Justice, First Nation and Libertarian parties, have provided a real choice for voters. Fortunately, thanks to the preferential system of voting – such candidates do not disadvantage stronger candidates as happens in “first-past-the-post” systems such as those used in the UK and the US.

In the ACT we have the quite complex Hare-Clark for our electoral system. It is a proportional system and delivers more closely than any other electoral system the widest range of voters’ intentions.

The other election on the horizon in Australia is in Queensland. They do have preferential voting. However, with a lack of proportional representation, they do tend to have wide swings from one party to the other. Extremist elements are having a negative impact on democracies throughout the world. Populist candidates and parties are fuelled by the need to bring people out to vote.

Extreme positions on the left and right of the political spectrum appeal to people who are disenfranchised, angry and disgruntled. These are people who will come out to vote.

In Australia we are blessed with compulsory voting – which tends to encourage debates on policy around the better outcomes for the community rather than just the populist one liners.

The other notable election is between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. If a right-leaning candidate runs as an independent in the US, their votes undermine the prime candidate.

This is why Robert Kennedy Jr has dropped out of the election. His appeal to the anti-vaxxers and other rightwing minorities would mean the votes

going to him would be exhausted immediately and reduce the chances of Trump being elected.

Australians, and Canberrans in particular, can count ourselves lucky to have such sophisticated electoral systems. Compulsory and preferential voting, along with independent electoral commissions in all jurisdictions, have ensured that our democracy remains lively and effective in delivering the best possible outcome for the vast majority of voters. However, none of this vibrancy would be possible without candidates putting their hands up to stand for election. No matter what their perspectives, the community should give a big thank you to all the candidates.

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

David Pollard… making a third attempt in Yerrabi.

Come along and see the friendly free-flying birds that can be photographed and

Walk amongst over 500 birds from 60

Open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm with the last admission 4.30pm

NEWS / new CEO for St John Ambulance

Martin pushes for first aid bigger than bandages

By Katarina LLOYD JONES

It’s been 40 years since Martin Fisk OAM woke up and found himself between two St John Ambulance volunteers after passing out at a rock concert, but he says he never forgot the “kindness, compassion and professionalism” they showed him.

After the incident, he carried on with his life, spending 11 years as the CEO of Menslink, and held senior leadership roles with Fearless Women, the ACT Human Rights Commission and Project Independence.

In that time though, Martin says he found himself facing four more first aid incidents, including a staff member at work having a medical incident, being first on scene at two car accidents, and being on scene at a medical emergency in the bush that required helicopter rescue.

Martin says each experience further exemplified the critical role the St John Ambulance volunteers play in keeping the community safe, and so when one of the directors reached out to see if he knew of anyone who might be interested in the CEO role,

he jumped at the chance and applied himself.

Martin has big plans for his time as CEO, most notably, drawing on the ideas of Val Dempsey, 2022 Senior Australian of the Year and long time St John Ambulance volunteer, of encouraging all learner drivers to receive first-aid training.

Already, Martin says, learner drivers can do an online first aid course with St John Ambulance for free, with five hours getting taken off their log-

book requirements upon completion.

Another key objective for Martin is to see every workplace, every car and every household in the ACT have a first aid kit, and someone confident enough to administer first aid nearby.

“And I want every business and every community centre to have a defibrillator, in case somebody has a heart attack, and for everyone to know where they are,” he says.

Martin says it is crucial that more Canberrans increase their first aid

knowledge.

“No matter how wonderful our ambulance service is, it may still take 10 to 15 minutes from the initial triple zero phone call to when they arrive on site,” he says.

“That is an absolutely critical time.

“As Val Dempsey described in her [Senior] Australian of the Year speech, there was a car accident where somebody simply needed their airway cleared and the people didn’t know what to do, just knowing that can save a life, knowing how to start CPR can save a life, knowing how to get a burns victim under cold water can save a life.

“Because at the end of the day, none of us know when we’re going to have an accident, or when somebody else is going to have an accident or a medical emergency, and to be able to immediately know what to do for those 10 minutes before an ambulance arrives is absolutely critical.”

Martin says it is also his goal to go and meet as many St John Ambulance volunteer responders as he can, and hopefully welcome some new volunteers.

They are also working in collaboration with the government for the CBR Night Crew program.

“I like to call it first aid plus,” says Martin.

“Some of them need first aid, but some people might just need a phone

charger because they can’t get home and they might be vulnerable.

“If you’ve got a choice between having a phone and telling your parents that you’re okay, or could they come and pick you up, or walking across Haig Park at 2 o’clock in the morning, you’re going to want a phone charger.”

Martin says he empathises with those who feel a lack of confidence in their ability to administer first aid, and he says the best thing is more regular training.

“When I did my last first aid course, one of the most important things that the instructor told me was: ‘you only have to help somebody until the blue and red flashing lights turn up. You’re not responsible for saving this person’s life’,” says Martin.

“You just need to get them through until emergency services arrive, who are trained paramedics.”

Martin says another important service that St John Ambulance offers is restocking first aid kits, because unbeknownst to many, a lot of items in first aid kits expire.

Martin says these items don’t go to waste though, with St John Ambulance donating any close-to-expired items to local wildlife rescue organisations.

“It’s just this amazing organisation contributing to the community in so many ways that people don’t necessarily realise,” says Martin.

Martin Fisk is the new St John Ambulance CEO…”I want every business and every community centre to have a defibrillator, in case somebody has a heart attack”.

Photo: Katarina Lloyd Jones

Jo Twible

SNR FINANCIAL ADVISER PHILLIPS WEALTH PARTNERS

PRINCIPAL KJB LAW Craig Phillips Mitchell Chatfield

SOLICITOR KJB LAW

Luisa Capezio

HEAR FROM LOCAL EXPERTS ON MATTERS CONCERNING LEGAL, ESTATE, FINANCIAL & RETIREMENT PLANNING WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 10am to 12:30pm HELLENIC CLUB, MATILDA STREET, PHILLIP

RSVP: REGISTRATIONS ESSENTIAL Register online & more information (use QR code) Call: Shradha Deo at KJB Law 02 6281 0999 or Email: shradha@kjblaw.com.au

SCAN ME

King car still rules as transport plans keep failing

Strategies to reduce car use by achieving a shift towards public transport, cycling and walking in the ACT have failed.

The 2012 strategy targeted a doubling, to 30 per cent, in the use of these modes on the journey to work by 2026, with public transport targeted to increase to 16 per cent.

At the 2021 Census these modes were 12 per cent of work trips with public transport representing 6 per cent of trips. The 2022 ACT and Queanbeyan Travel Survey found 75 per cent of all trips in Canberra were made by car.

Elon Musk infamously/famously said of public transport: “[It’s] a pain in the ass.

“Why do you want to get on something with a lot of other people, that doesn’t leave where you want it to leave, doesn’t start where you want it to start, doesn’t end where you want it to end? And it doesn’t go all the time… that’s why everyone doesn’t like it.

“And there’s like a bunch of random strangers, one of whom might be a serial killer, okay, great. And so that’s why people like individualised transport, that goes where you want, when you want.”

Musk’s opinion has an element of truth, but a more appropriate framing is provided by Jarrett Walker in Human Transit: How Clearer Thinking about Public Transit Can Enrich Our Communities and Our Lives. He says a person

destination and has a poor service frequency.

will choose public transport when:

It takes me where I want to go.

It takes me when I want to go.

It is a good use of my time.

It is a good use of my money.

It respects me in the level of safety, comfort, and amenity it provides.

I can trust it.

It gives me freedom to change my plans.

For public transit to be a real alternative to driving, its frequency, convenience and reliability needs to increase.

Most people, if they have a choice, will not use a bus if it takes twice as

long to get to a destination and has a poor service frequency.

Limited transport funds need to be targeted to deliver the greatest benefit to the community. Given this, no wonder the extension of light rail is an election issue.

Mike Quirk is a former NCDC and ACT government planner.

New transport strategy is needed

Canberra’s transport strategy is needed to ensure funds are used to deliver reliable and frequent services that connect efficiently with work, school, friends, family and services. The review should:

• Investigate whether high-cost light rail is hindering the delivery of such a system and improvements to cycling and pedestrian networks. An immediate action should be to put on hold its extension until the review is completed;

• Investigate light rail’s appropriateness for the inter-town public transport route. The government has continually failed to justify its decision to adopt light rail. The increase in working from home and rapidly improving electric bus and autonomous vehicle technologies suggest light rail could be a high-risk strategy;

• Explore how public transport can best serve the large number of employment and activity locations.

• Investigate how to encourage employment in areas well served, and discourage employment in areas poorly served by public transport;

• Investigate how best to meet the transport needs of an increasingly diverse population. Many need to travel outside peak hours to access education, to do shift work, care for children and attend appointments. Assess the impact of autonomous vehicle technology. Potentially it could reduce congestion, fuel use, accidents, deaths and injuries; deliver door to door, frequent and reliable services including to the disabled and elderly and increase car sharing.

Investigate other strategies to reduce car use and increase the attractiveness of public transport including car pooling, dedicated bus lanes, buses priority measures, increased car parking charges, reduced parking supply, cycleway and pedestrian infrastructure improvements and easy to understand information on routes, fares and timetables;

• Consider how to meet the transport needs of people needing to access low-demand locations. A lot of money can be spent to serve areas with low patronage. Running an empty bus is a huge waste of energy and, Investigate the relative impact of light rail and bus rapid transport on residential density.

Looking for help with:

With over 50 years combined experience serving Canberra, choose a family run, community focused team to empower your business.

– Gail Freeman and Bethany Freeman-Chandler

From Fiona’s parade of hopefuls to caustic Tom

If you’re like me and can’t stand

vowels of Fiona Bruce introducing Antiques Roadshow.

Behind her is some extravagant pile built in the 18th century from the sweat of countless black slaves in the Americas, and she often gives a tour of the joint.

Half the time the owners have drunk and gambled their way through their ill-gotten gains and the place has been taken over by the state. And instead of selling the old masters on the walls and making reparations to the poverty-stricken descendants in the Caribbean, they’re charging a wide-eyed public a substantial fee to view the rich rewards of their colonial felonies.

But since there’s not much sport on the other channels, you stick with AR as the parade of hopefuls pass through the selection panel to reach an “expert” who will give them a resale valuation of their various family treasures.

About a third of them turn out to be more loot from the colonial era, quite often the sacking of the Chinese imperial summer palace. These have been “in the family” since great Uncle George or some such happened upon

it. So, of course, they’d never sell it, even though the expert reckoned it would fetch 10,000 pounds at auction. Like hell they wouldn’t. Why else would they have brought it along? Same with great grandpa’s medals from World War I. According to the expert, they tell a wonderful story of “bravery” when the poor bugger was just as likely to be half mad with the drink and the other half with the enemy artillery exploding all round him.

The experts are a fascinating bunch, One of the two painting chaps

– the one with white hair – seems pleasant enough, but the other prissy creep (who stars with Fiona in a spin-off called Fake or Fortune) is very hard to take.

The jewellery folk – two chaps and a kindly woman – are quite bearable, but my favourite by far is the wacky bloke with a handle-bar moustache and a penchant for guns. He fondles them like they were pets. He never talks about their job of killing people, but you can’t help feeling that one day he’ll go running

About a third of them turn out to be more loot from the colonial era, since great uncle George happened upon it. So, of course, they’d never sell it, even if it would fetch 10,000 pounds at auction. Like hell they wouldn’t!

about the castle garden shooting things, even if they’re only trees and shrubs.

Fiona then does a little act with an expert who tries to fool her about the relative value of three objects called “basic”, “better” and “best”; and she signs off with a bon mot in her patronising best.

It’s a huge relief to be back in Australia for a repeat of Tom Gleeson’s Hard Quiz. In fact, it’s getting so that some seem like repeats of repeats! And while they were quite amusing the first (and occasionally the second) time around, the bones of the formula are beginning to show.

Tom’s schtick takes a teaspoon of

Groucho Marx’s aggression towards his contestants and mixes it with a couple of rude words and lots of sly digs at the ABC.

And the questions – often on the most arcane subjects – are very well researched. But then Tom adds a personal note that shows he’s forgotten one of the wise injunctions of showbiz – “be nice to people on the way up, because you’ll surely meet them on the way down”.

His caustic remarks about his spin-off, outrating Charlie Pickering’s show, or any number of other putdowns (Daryl Summers and Grant Denyer leap to mind) are neither clever nor funny.

Truth is, Hard Quiz will have its own shelf life, and when the end is nigh Tom will want a showbiz hand to hold.

Good luck with that.

Hard lines Tom.

robert@robert macklin.com

Antiques Roadshow host Fiona Bruce… signs off with a bon mot in her patronising best.

Canberra’s Most Trusted Non-Surgical Weight Loss, Beauty and Health Clinic

Fat loss With Cooltech®

Cooltech, also known as fat freezing, is a popular, non-surgical treatment that makes it possible to reduce fat deposits by up to 25%.

The advantages of Cooltech are, among other things, that the treatment is very effective, almost painless and far more gentle on the body than, for example, surgery.

The Latest In Non-Invasive Full Body Contouring and fat freezing – Cooltech®

Many people find that despite a healthy lifestyle, they can have a hard time getting rid of fat in certain areas of the body. This can be extremely frustrating for the individual and lead to not feeling comfortable in their body. Stubborn fat deposits can be genetically determined and therefore be extremely difficult to get rid of.

The Latest Telsa Functional Magnetic Stimulation for the whole body and Incontinence Treatments

TESLAFormer Treatment builds body muscle in the areas you want and leads to burning fat as muscle forms.

The TESLAChair offers the latest technology to battles incontinence and weakness in the pelvic floor muscles. It is an effective treatment for conditions that form after child birth, sexual dysfunction and pelvic/ lower back pain and stress making it a versatile machine capable of resolving multiple issues of the body. This treatment also enables better circulation within the targeted muscles which helps those with circulatory problems.

OPENING HOURS: Tues – Fri 9:30am-6:00pm Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm Shop 3/22 Franklin St, Griffith ACT 2603, Australia info@totalbodycontouring.com.au totalbodycontouring.com.au

ONDA With Coolwaves®

ONDA is an award winning and the world’s first and only body shaping device to use revolutionary new Coolwaves technology – and is set to change the way in which non-surgical body shaping procedures are delivered.

Cool waves bypass the uppermost layers of skin tissue, helping deliver more energy/heat directly to where it is needed: the subcutaneous fat cells. This new technology helps dramatically reduce the heating of the surface tissue by focusing heat in the subdermal fatty tissues, with 20% more heating of the fat than laser and RF fat reduction technologies while keeping the skin cooler and more comfortable.

Additionally, ONDA Coolwaves has no consumables, no downtime, and offers faster treatment in fewer sessions. Not available elsewhere in ACT.

Albania calls, but get there before the hordes

I usually travel between Whimsys, and recently spent 10 days in Albania. No doubt you’ll be interested to hear about it.

Albanians are, of course, best known in Europe for dominating organised crime, but apparently Albanian criminals don’t engage in criminality in Albania, instead investing their ill-gotten gains in big villas, expensive cars and real estate.

There is very little street crime of the kind that makes Barcelona, Rome and Paris a nightmare for tourists.

Historically, Albania – in the Balkans, on the Adriatic and Ionian seas within the Mediterranean Sea – has been controlled by various powers. It was part of the Roman Empire, then the Byzantine Empire after Rome’s division. From the 11th century, it was invaded by Normans, Venetians and Serbs. The Ottomans conquered Albania in the late 15th century, ruling for more than 400 years.

After a brief period of independence in 1912, Albania was occupied by Italy, and then Germany during World War II. From 1944, it became a Communist state under dictator Enver Hoxha until 1985. Since 1991 Albania has been an independent republic.

The dictator Hoxha was paranoid about Albania’s security, isolating the country from much of the world.

He built more than 600,000 two-man pillboxes throughout the country and nuclear bunkers in the capital Tirana. He used so much concrete that he bankrupted the economy.

There was severe repression under Hoxha’s rule. It’s estimated that up to 25,000 people were executed for political reasons. Around 50,000 to 100,000 people were arrested and imprisoned as perceived enemies of the state. Additionally, tens of thousands were sent to labour camps where many perished under the harsh conditions. Being invaded so many times has however had its benefits. Albania is rich in archaeological sites, particu-

lar from the periods of Roman and Ottoman occupation. There are also lots of impressive public monuments to Albanian martyrs from different periods of Albanian history.

Albania has a population of about 2.8 million people. The total area of Albania is about 28,748 square kilometres – or around 12 times the size of the ACT.

Albania has spectacular mountains and challenging terrain, but the road system is good. I saw no potholes in the time I was there, and, unlike Canberra and Australia, it’s developing a modern railway system.

The food was interesting – offer-

Albania has spectacular mountains and challenging terrain, but the road system is good. I saw no potholes in the time I was there and, unlike Canberra and Australia, it’s developing a modern railway system.”

ing such delicacies as grilled krap, koran casserole, fried intestines and dustpan of veal. That could, of course, be down to poor translation. Food prices are much the same as Australia. Albania produces several beers of which Korca and Elbar are the most common; both are good quality beers.

The hotels are mainly three-star, with one hotel I stayed at having the toilet and shower in one cubicle.

This is a great Albanian innovation; without going into more detail, it proved to be an excellent time-saver in the morning.

The currency is the Lek. One Euro is worth 100 Lek and the Euro is interchangeable with the local currency. They’ve not heard of the

Australian dollar.

Roadside rubbish is a big problem, and in fact rubbish is a problem in much of Albania. It could be said that the plastic bag is the wildflower of Albania.

There are stray dogs everywhere, but they generally seem well fed and I didn’t see anyone mistreating them. Dogs that have been neutered have a plastic tag in their ear.

At the moment, there are not many foreign tourists in Albania, but that will change with the ongoing development of better access to UNESCO heritage sites. People in Albania are still naively tourist-friendly. So, if you’re interested in going, probably best to do it before it’s discovered by the Western hordes.

On a cautionary note, Albania has a Mediterranean climate and is best avoided in the summer when daytime temperatures are 35-40 degrees.

Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.

Enver Hoxha, founding leader of Communist Albania.

A bunker in the Albanian Alps... “The dictator Hoxha was paranoid about Albania’s security.”

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

Campaign to free McBride has only just begun

The fact that Australian Army war crimes whistleblower David McBride has been granted a chance to appeal against his five years and eight months sentence at the dreadful Alexander Maconochie Centre prison in Canberra is long overdue.

It is important to understand that this occurred only because of the tireless efforts of Prof Ross Fitzgerald and other key supporters who continued to reveal the inhumane conditions that Mr McBride was facing. In a number of articles, Prof Fitzgerald also documented in detail, with first-person corroboration, deeply disturbing revelations about the terrible treatment of other prisoners at the AMC.

It is a condemnation of all the mainstream media that the only outlets that were courageous enough to publish Prof Fitzgerald’s revelations were CityNews and John Menadue’s national newsletter Pearls and Irritations.

But the campaign to free David McBride has only just begun. Whether or not the Public Defender’s Office can help with his appeal is unclear.

The federal government may spend millions of dollars opposing McBride’s appeal.

If so, there is an urgent need for those who value justice and the human rights of prisoners to contribute to his online fundraiser.

The appeal may not happen until mid 2025. Well before then, there should be a

public inquiry, not just into the mistreatment of Mr McBride, but also into serious allegations about the inhumane conditions other inmates face at the AMC.

It is ironic that probably the worst jail in Australia was named after one of the world’s greatest prison reformers, Alexander Maconochie.

As Neal Price explained in a letter supporting a call for a federal parliamentary inquiry into the AMC, in 1840 Maconochie became governor of the brutal Norfolk Island prison colony.

In four years he had made remarkable progress in prisoner rehabilitation. Despite, or more likely because of his success, in 1844 the authorities shipped Maconochie back to England.

Is it beyond the dreams of avarice to hope that the disturbing revelations about the AMC prison are publicly debated?

And that they are widely covered, not just by CityNews and Pearls and Irritations, but by the mainstream media as well.

Andrew William Hopkins, Galston NSW

A bad sign for Access Canberra

Following some lowlife stealing my street sign for the fourth time attempts to have this resolved though Access Canberra via their on-line service and direct phone contact leaves me with frustration, despair and anger.

Lots of recorded messages about tree cutting and number button pushing options. It’s apparent this system doesn’t

work adequately!

Would members of the Legislative Assembly please test run it in their spare time to determine whether it’s worth retaining or discarding? I come down on the latter.

John Lawrence via email

Lack of land crushes housing hopes

Dr Douglas McKenzie (Letters, CN September 26) complained about the consequences of houses being built only a metre apart with no back yards for kids to play in.

These houses are not family friendly, are unattractive and are unaffordable for most couples seeking their first home.

What is the cause of this? Quite simply, lack of land, causing a high price for land.

On the edge of Canberra, indeed at the edge of all cities and towns, there is plentiful land that can easily be developed for housing. But nobody wants to talk about this.

Let’s freely, without any restrictions, develop this plentiful land for housing. As land prices fall due to the increased supply, house prices will come down and be a lot more affordable. With cheap land, houses will have adequate land for children to play and owners can develop gardens.

An article by Mike Quirk, an ex-ACT planner, on the facing page comes to the point: “Increased density is a key component of any strategy to date”. Why?

There is an unexplained ideology that prevents greenfield development. But what if all the proles say that we have had enough

of this? They say they want detached houses with large gardens, like our masters.

The cause of high house prices, anywhere, is the high cost of land. This so-called planning preventing the free development of land I believe started around 1995. Before then, the cost of house and land had a maximum ratio of 4.5 times income. Now this ratio is nearly double that.

The ACT government restricted the rate of development and is building slums on the edge of Canberra, and high-rise tenements towards the centre.

Tim Walshaw, Watson

Price gouging at the base of profits?

The Guardian has placed Coles and Woolworths profits as the highest in the world. Is price gouging at the base of these profits?

The only true indication of price gouging is to see the difference between the duopolies’ purchasing price and their selling price of those goods.

That knowledge will come when pigs fly.

But the average person knows fact from fiction!

John Quinn, Spence

Was it me who sent you to France, Ric?

I don’t know if I’m the “ex-journalist” who, according to Ric Hingee, writes too many letters, but being of generous mind I’ll take

it as a compliment anyway.

He did hint that this unnamed highproductivity letter writer forced him to take a holiday in France to escape the scribblings of those with whom he disagrees.

What a joy to forget the cares of Canberra’s local political machinations to absorb the charms of Paris and savour the scenery and products of provincial Burgundy and surrounding areas.

Perhaps my ongoing alleged prolixity could cause Ric to reflect on his statement (letters, CN October 3) that if the Greens form government he would consider going back to France permanently. He might feel a lot better by doing so, regardless of the election result.

Eric Hunter, Cook

Not

provoking China, it’s being prepared

Prof Ross Fitzgerald (letters CN September 26) claims that “Gareth Evans is utterly correct in maintaining that the AUKUS submarine agreement is a dangerous deal”. What would be more dangerous is if we had no means to fight back should we be attacked. It is not, as Ross claimed, that we would be provoking China, it is being prepared. China has a huge arsenal of weapons, warships and planes. Is he suggesting that we should not have military weapons to defend ourselves? This would be an invitation for an enemy to attack as we would be defenceless.

Vi Evans, via email

WINNUNGA NIMMITYJAH ABORIGINAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

Winnunga Nimmityjah AHCS is an Aboriginal community controlled primary health care service operated by the Aboriginal community of the ACT.

In Wiradjuri language, Winnunga Nimmityjah means Strong Health. The service logo is the Corroboree Frog which is significant to Aboriginal people in the ACT.

Our aim is to provide a culturally safe, holistic health care service for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of the ACT and surrounding regions. The holistic health care provided by Winnunga AHCS includes not only medical care, but a range of programs to promote good health and healthy lifestyles.

Our services include:

• GP and Nursing

• Midwifery

• Immunisations

• Health Checks

• Men’s & Women’s Health

• Hearing Health

• Dental

• Physiotherapy

• Podiatry

• Dietician (Nutrition)

• Counselling

• Diabetes Clinic

• Quit Smoking Services / No More Boondah

• Needle Syringe Program

• Mental Health Support

• Healthy Weight Program

• Healthy Cooking Group

• Mums and Bubs Group / Child Health

• Optometry Service

• Psychology and Psychiatrist

• Community Events

• Groups

Winnunga AHCS is a national leader in accreditation, was one of the first Aboriginal community controlled health services to achieve dual accreditation under RACGP and QIC standards. Winnunga AHCS has been at the forefront of setting a national agenda for quality improvement in Aboriginal community controlled health and continues to advocate locally and nationally for best practice standards in operational and governance areas of Aboriginal health services.

CLINIC hours | MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9am-5pm

Ph: 6284 6222 | 63 Boolimba Cres, Narrabundah www.winnunga.org.au

COVID-19 Vaccinations and Testing for Winnunga Clients

ACT ELECTION 2024 / letters

Woes and worsening ways of Barr’s government

The ACT electorate is arguably considered to be the most highly educated and intelligent electorate in Australia.

Well, consider this: under the leadership of Andrew Barr and his coalition partner

Shane Rattenbury, the ACT since 2011-12 has increasingly suffered worsening outcomes across all key service areas, in particular health, education, public transport, housing including, in particular, public, social and community housing, planning and law and order. These outcomes are clearly outlined in the annual Productivity Commission Reports on Government Services.

Of particular concern also is much less of a focus on traditional local government issues such as local roads, footpaths, nature strips, city and suburban streetscapes, which in many cases are little more than what one might expect in a third-world country.

As treasurer from 2011-12, Mr Barr has presided over (per capita and capacity to raise revenue) the ACT becoming the most indebted jurisdiction in Australia, with debt approaching $12.4 billion (as reported by Jon Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed in this publication).

The Barr government has been abjectly lazy in revenue raising policy, deliberately choosing to rely on residential and commercial rates and land taxes, fees, charges, fines etcetera.

It has not sought to enlarge the revenue

base through innovative and creative private sector, business or commercial and entrepreneurial initiatives.

Given the ACT’s lack of primary and secondary manufacturing resources, this policy choice is deeply flawed.

As astute readers of this publication may also have observed, the Barr government has also presided over a growing and concerning perception of maladministration in some areas of the ACT public sector.

Prime examples of this include the Campbell school tender, the failed $75 million IT program under Minister Steel, the increasingly dysfunctional planning directorate, the CIT consultancy debacle, the dysfunction in the former Director of Public Prosecutions Office, the numerous personnel-related issues in the the health and hospital areas and the seeming compliance of Treasury officials (who one would expect to be frank and fearless in providing advice) to run the government spin on critical financial and budgetary matters.

The ACT auditor-general who, aside from Legislative Assembly committees, is the only real independent source of review, has had numerous of his authoritative reports on these issues and another critical infrastructure project light rail Phase 1, 2A, 2B, ignored or dismissed by the Barr government.

This growing maladministration in the ACT public sector is a damning indictment on the Barr government and the cabinet.

The Westminster system of government relies on continual change and renewal

to be effective. It is deleterious for any democratically elected government to be in power for decades as they become increasingly inward looking, hubristic and arrogant. The Barr government demonstrates all these tendencies.

Ron Edgecombe, Evatt

Community sport and recreation first

The “give them bread and circuses” strategy is strong in the lead-up to the ACT election. But forget the bread (ie cost of living).

Hundreds of millions for a new stadium and millions each year for a new Big Bash League Cricket team. Bring the circuses to town; they have a great economic impact. Or do they?

Some candidate has to stand up and say we can’t afford these things; there are other priorities.

What about money for affordable housing or community sport?

There are 170,000 Canberrans participating and volunteering in community level sports. Community sports infrastructure is languishing despite the well-known benefits of participating. We can’t afford more stadiums or another national team. It’s about priorities and it should be community sport and recreation first.

I wonder which of our representatives have community sport facilities as a high priority for this election?

Maybe reprioritising the $8 million annual grant to ACT horseracing would be a start.

That’s $80 million over 10 years. Maybe a chunk of this money could get the Throsby Home of Football going, or go to better basketball facilities or go to public swimming pools or to mountain bike tracks.

Being socially active is better than sitting around and watching.

Ian Hubbard, via email

They’ll have to do better to win this vote

Beatrice Bodart-Bailey (“When it comes to green, the ACT Greens aren’t”, CN October 10) is critical of the “ridiculous” cost of the Barr-Rattenbury government’s 1.7-kilometre light rail stage 2A from Civic to the lake.

The last estimate for the projected cost of which I am aware is $1.47 billion, and the stage is already running late.

How much would the 10-kilometre stage 2B to Woden cost, and how long would it take? No wonder Mr Barr is now proposing a “staged” construction of 2B.

Honorary Professor Bodart-Bailey also raised the issues of electric buses, which would have the advantages of being fully route-flexible, and far lower capital cost; and urban infill, with its lack of green space and tree canopies, and the attendant risks of heat stress.

Apart from the removal of cooling trees, the Canberra Liberals’ proposal for a new suburb in Kowen forest would necessitate the provision of water supply and electricity, sewerage, drainage, and both internal and

access roads for a satellite “dormitory” suburb. The cost would be mind-boggling.

Both Labor-Greens and the Liberals will have to do a lot better to win my vote on October 19.

Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

Which side of Liberals will indies choose?

We (the Canberra voters) need to know, loud and clear, which side of the Liberal Party will get the support of each of the independents.

Polling suggests that the Liberals will get the highest count followed by a mixed bag of independents. Middle-of-the-road is what Canberra wants and needs.

Time is short. The idiot in the Liberal T-shirt at Chisholm shops who tried to prevaricate recently came close to causing me to vote against the woman who’s name was on his T-shirt.

Canberra does not need an overdue-forretirement gentleman, a tram that serves five per cent of the population or a Greens party that manages to lose evidence of Canberra’s pollution of the Murrumbidgee/ Murray system.

Brian Wilson, Gowrie

From Bush Capital to Concrete Capital

Let us help to navigate the complexity of conveyancing laws in the ACT & NSW including stamp duty, identity verification, and tenancy laws. We also specialise in retirement village agreements.

Daryn Griffiths Property and Commercial Solicitor First Floor, 32-38, Townshend Street, Phillip enquiries@chsol.com.au chsol.com.au

For the best outcome when it matters how it’s done call Capon & Hubert on 6152 9203

Recently the ACT government replaced the timber decking around part of Lake Tuggeranong. What could have been a grand opportunity to extend the boardwalk around the lake was reduced to just regular maintenance and the government wants us to thank them and think they really care about anything south of Lake Burley Griffin, just like the recent work on Sulwood Drive.

If you go over the border to Queanbeyan the parks and gardens are well maintained and they have regular street sweepers, parts of Canberra now resemble an overgrown jungle under this “progressive” government.

With the upcoming election the rusted on Labor voters will no doubt keep voting for the same mediocrity, very progressive indeed. They have let the Bush Capital become the Concrete Capital with ugly high-rise apartments dotting the once pristine landscape.

These buildings and surrounds have become heat seekers, yet the progressive greenies keep voting for this.

Probably the same people that believe the lie that Canberra is powered by 100 per cent renewable power. Is this what the federal government is trying to stamp out with its misinformation bill?

They call themselves “progressive” but have presided over a government that has shut down just about every community health and sporting facility in the Phillip precinct, next to go is the beautiful outdoor 50-metre pool. In its place, you guessed it, more ugly concrete high-rise apartments, but aren’t we meant to be becoming fatter and unhealthy as a population, surely we should be keeping public sporting facilities. Call that “progressive”?

Ian Pilsner, Weston

‘War on wildlife’ includes wallabies

Not content with killing over 30,000 Eastern Grey Kangaroos and bashing to death hundreds of kangaroo joeys, it seems the ACT government’s war on wildlife also extends to Red Neck Wallabies and Swamp Wallabies.

A recent freedom of information request revealed that 157 Red Neck Wallabies and 53 Swamp Wallabies were

killed at Mulligans Flat as part of the ACT government’s annual cull of Eastern Grey Kangaroos. Mulligans Flat is a sanctuary where all wildlife is supposed to be able to live in peace and safety, free from fear and violence.

While the world hurtles towards a mass extinction crisis, it seems in the ACT we have both feet on the accelerator. Rebecca Marks, Palmerston

Bunker politics insults voters

Canberrans for a Good Death recently conducted a candidates survey on voluntary assisted dying (VAD) and related end-of-life reform matters that are of critical concern to many older voters. Only one of 24 ACT Liberal candidates responded.

The Liberals’ retreat to the bunker on VAD is also reflected in associated policy statements, which include lacklustre offerings for older Canberrans. The latter comprise scraps of lightweight action about a “learn, cook and eat” program, some more funding for the annual Seniors Expo and a tiny bit more free travel on public transport.

The Liberals have chosen to ignore what a welleducated and politically savvy electorate is looking for from the next Assembly. The Liberals are still unwilling, for example, to commit to working to provide more humane end-of-life options that do not require a dying person to first get to the stage of having to endure intolerable suffering.

In contrast, candidates standing as Independents for Canberra showed much more willingness to positively reply to the survey questions on VAD, and support eligibility reform that would assist more who wish to consider VAD, especially older women.

At the end of the October 8 ABC ACT Election Leaders’ Debate, and in relation to her vision for the next four years, Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee enthusiastically claimed that “I have listened and I have heard”, and “what matters to you, matters to me”. But, as Aristotle deduced: “One swallow does not a summer make”. Voters should remember that four of the seven Liberal MLAs standing for re-election voted against the VAD bill back in June.

Sue Dyer, Downer

ACT ELECTION 2024 / gifts and donations

What’s the price of getting the best politicians?

Elections cost money. How much, and who pays? Politicians receive gifts. From whom and in what amounts, asks HUGH SELBY

In mid-September, The Guardian newspaper reported that the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer “has declared more free tickets and gifts than other major party leaders in recent times, with his total now topping £100,000 [a little under $200,000].

“[He] has accepted almost 40 sets of free tickets during his time as party leader, mostly to football matches but also £4000 of hospitality at a Taylor Swift concert and £698 of Coldplay tickets,” the paper reports.

“Lord Alli… paid for Starmer’s work clothing worth £12,000 [author’s note – that’s luxury suits, ties etcetera, not tradies’ overalls and safety gear], accommodation valued at more than £20,000 and [spectacles] valued at £2485 [author’s note – a bit above what you and I would get at our preferred optometrist].”

Starmer has previously insisted his acceptance of hospitality is related to his security requirements of not being able to go into the stands, saying: “If I don’t accept a gift of hospitality, I can’t go to a game. You could say:

‘Well, bad luck.’…but, you know, never going to an Arsenal game again because I can’t accept hospitality is pushing it a bit far.”

Any fair-minded, diehard fan would agree.

Our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, receives less, with much of what he does receive being surrendered. Those with a fascination for the detail can find it at openpolitics. au/47/anthony-albanese.

Like Starmer, he too receives tickets to football (various codes), the Australian Open Tennis, a cricket Test, and to concerts (such as Jimmy Barnes, Midnight Oil, Pixies, Nick Cave, Radio Birdman, Taylor Swift, West Side Story, Foo Fighters and Elton John).

Here in the ACT our local politicians must abide by the following guidelines:

• To lodge a return within seven days after a gift or sum

• of gifts from the same person or organisation totals $1000 or more, and within seven days of receiving any additional gift from that person or organisation;

• Gifts may not be made by property developers, close associates of property developers, foreign

entities or persons acting on behalf of a prohibited donor, to political entities – and those same political entities are restricted in their acceptance of such gifts.

For full details see the disclosure handbook on the ACT Election 24 website.

Last year the CFMEU was generous to ACT Labor, but so too were some individuals. Similarly, the ACT Liberals benefited from some generous individuals. There were some “free” tickets to various local events, but nothing catching the eye.

Apart from the salaries and allowances paid to our elected politicians we also pay both election funding (post-election) and administrative funding that is paid quarterly.

Following the October 19 election, a registered political party is eligible to receive election funding at a rate of around $10 a vote, for the votes obtained by its candidates who together polled at least 4 per cent of the total number of formal first preference votes cast in an electorate.

A non-party candidate is eligible to receive election funding if he or she polls at least 4 per cent of the total number of formal first preference votes cast in the relevant electorate.

With about 320,000 voters across five electorates in the ACT, so assume around 64,000 voters per electorate, the 4 per cent eligibility

mark for funding is around 2500 first preferences (given that there is some variation in the numbers of voters in each electorate).

Hence, at the 4 per cent mark there is a payment of around $25,000. It’s much more where there are much higher percentages of first preference votes and multiple candidates meeting the 4 per cent threshold.

Administrative Funding, per sitting member, is around $7000 a quarter. It cannot be used for any election expense.

During the election campaign the battle of the corflutes is, thankfully, limited:

“Candidates, parties, and other entities must not:

• display more than 250 signs on public unleased land; or

• place signs along roads with a usual speed limit of 90km/h or more”. There is an election expenditure cap of $50,135 a candidate. This covers the following spending:

• Broadcasting electoral advertisements (including production costs);

• Publishing electoral advertisements in a news publication, including printed and electronic newspapers or periodicals (including production costs);

• Displaying electoral advertisements at a place of entertainment (including production costs);

• Production of printed or electronic

electoral matter requiring authorisation – examples include how-tovote cards, posters, pamphlets and internet advertising;

• Producing, broadcasting, publishing or distributing electoral matter that does not require authorisation – for example direct mailing (including printing and postage), business cards promoting candidacy, T-shirts, badges and buttons, pens, pencils and balloons;

• Consultant’s or advertising agent’s fees; and

• Opinion polling and other electoral research undertaken to support the production of electoral matter included in any of the above. There’s a penalty for going over the cap: twice the amount of the excess spending.

The alleged cost of the existing light rail (Civic to Gunghalin) came in at $675 million. This August, the fundraising for US presidential candidate Kamala Harris raised $US 361 million. It will be more than our tram by election day.

At least our tram is a durable thing, unlike political messaging. Spending caps are a good idea.

Hugh Selby is the CityNews legal affairs commentator. His free podcasts on “Witness Essentials” and “Advocacy in court: preparation and performance” can be heard on the best known podcast sites.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2024 advertising feature

Celebrating women leading businesses

Canberra is home to hundreds of female-run small businesses, whether it is renovation needs, assistance with daily law, entertainment or health, Canberran businesswomen have the knowledge and expertise to help everyone.

CityNews spoke with some experts across Canberra who have tips, insights and advice to help women be their best selves.

We can cultivate the next generation of leaders who thrive in an inclusive workplace through these initiatives.

Sage Advice founder

Raffy Sgroi

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2024 advertising feature

Sage advice for innovative career coaching

By RAFFY SGROI, founder of Sage Advice

The call for diverse and inclusive workplaces has never been louder in today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape.

At Sage Advice, we believe that a new way to do business is not just an aspiration; it’s a necessity for fostering environments where everyone can thrive and grow in their careers.

Our innovative ToDEI (Transforming Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) coaching model empowers organisations to embrace this transformative journey.

The ToDEI coaching model takes a multifaceted approach to reshaping organisational cultures. It assists small businesses in rethinking their operational systems to create a more productive workplace-centered around the wellbeing and satisfaction of their employees.

This approach leads to tangible results, enabling business owners to achieve their goals while significantly reducing staff turnover and boosting productivity.

Our offerings extend beyond just consultation. Sage Advice provides strategic workshops to strengthen and equip leadership teams with the tools necessary to cultivate inclusive workplaces.

We recognise that fostering an inclusive environment requires comprehensive training and support, and our workshops focus on empowering leaders to champion this cultural shift.

Moreover, our program is designed for employees at all levels, providing them with the confidence and resources needed to advance in their careers. We believe every individual should feel valued and empowered, and our programs are tailored to foster this sense of belonging.

My philosophy is straightforward: for workplaces to engage meaningfully in implementing diverse and inclusive policies, there must be a profound cultural change that begins at the

ground level.

Understanding the difference between simply being diverse and being genuinely inclusive is crucial. While diversity can be achieved through hiring practices, inclusion goes much deeper. It requires a commitment to creating a culture where all employees feel heard, respected and valued for their unique contributions.

I believe that customised recruitment practices are crucial for tapping into the remarkable pool of talent represented by the 4.4 million individuals living with disabilities in Australia, especially considering that 90 per cent of these disabilities are invisible.

I work closely with each business to design tailored recruitment strategies that attract a diverse range of candidates but also foster an inclusive environment where all applicants feel valued.

By understanding your organisation’s unique needs and strengths, I help employers implement

LOOKING FOR HELP WITH YOUR BUSINESS?

Our comprehensive range of services is designed to guide you on your journey toward personal and professional growth, transformation, and success. With a team of experienced coaches and experts, we are committed to providing tailored solutions that meet your unique needs and aspirations:

• Personal Coaching

• Business Development

• Career Coaching

adaptive recruitment processes that focus on skills and potential rather than traditional metrics.

Moreover, I also believe it is crucial to invest in future leaders. Investing time and mentorship in school students is rewarding and essential for building a diverse talent pipeline.

We can cultivate the next generation of leaders who thrive in an inclusive workplace through these initiatives.

What sets my ToDEI model apart from many others is that it has been designed and perfected in a real-world workplace setting, viewed through both a business strategist and a business owner.

This dual perspective ensures that my strategies are practical, effective, and rooted in real experiences, uniquely suited to create meaningful change in any organisation.

By leveraging these insights, my goal is to break down barriers and unlock the full potential of every candidate, transforming workplaces into vibrant, diverse communities.

At Sage Advice, we are passionate about guiding organisations through this transformation. With our ToDEI coaching model, we aim to reshape workplaces into inclusive environments that drive business success and foster a culture of respect and collaboration.

Whether you’re a business owner striving to become an employer of choice, an employee eager to unlock your full potential, or new to the workforce and ready to make your mark – get in touch with Sage Advice today! Together, we can create a thriving, inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to shine.

We can create workplaces where diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords but integral components of a thriving organisational culture.

For more information about Sage Advice Canberra, Zest Canberra, and Her Zest Canberra, visit their official websites and social media pages on Facebook: Sage Advice Canberra, Her Zest Canberra, and Zest Canberra.

How Raffy inspires a transformative coaching model

The inspiration behind Sage Advice’s ToDEI (Transforming Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) coaching model draws on the remarkable journey of its founder, Raffy Sgroi. With more than 20 years of experience in running a successful business, Car Mechanical Services, she has perfected a model that has not only transformed the business into a state-of-the-art, green certified inclusive workplace, but has also earned multiple awards at local, national and international levels. Her exceptional strategic insight and unwavering commitment to inclusion have positioned Car Mechanical Services as a leader in its field.

• Workshops and Training

• Community Engagement admin@sageadvice.au sageadvice.au

Bringing purpose-led businesses and community leaders together to build relationships for positive change in business and the world.

Sage Advice founder Raffy Sgroi… “I believe it is crucial to invest in future leaders. Investing time and mentorship in school students is rewarding and essential for building a diverse talent pipeline.”

Raffy and Charlie Sgroi and the Car Mechancial Services team.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2024

“Even after kids, it’s still important that you’re looking after yourself,” says Total Body Contouring owner, Christy Chistensen.

Christy has been successfully running her business, Total Body Contouring for a year after collating 35 years of professional experience.

Christy is a proud mother to four children, two of which are under the age of eight, and says there’s no such thing as a day off of work.

“My husband is very supportive of me running my small business,” she says.

“We make it work because it’s something I’m passionate about. He’s been a great help.

“Women power! I’m doing this not only for myself, but for other women to help them feel good about themselves.”

Christy’s clinic uses cutting-edge technology to perform non-invasive surgery that, she says, allows women to leave her clinic feeling good about themselves and seeing results quickly.

“We are an advanced clinic, we don’t do small facials,” she says.

“Instead of going under the knife, all of our services are non-invasive, using advanced technological breakthroughs to help women feel good about themselves.”

According to Christy, it can be tough to feel good bodywise after kids, which is where she can help.

“I’m giving them back their body confidence,” she says. “It’s a pretty special opportunity.”

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

Lawyers Lucy Stramandinoli and Anna Neilan are the all-female directors of boutique firm Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law.

“We each bring with us over 20 years’ experience working in family law,” they say.

“We know from being mothers and directors of a busy law firm that it is hard juggling a work/life balance, raising family while also working in the stressful and complicated area of family law.”

Lucy says she studied law while raising her young children – “That was so much hard work.”

“Having two daughters myself, it is important for me to set an example for them,”she says.

Anna’s children were little when she and Lucy set up the firm.

“We have known each other for over 20 years having worked in opposing firms and together,” says Anna.

“We support each other and share the same values and work ethic.”

Lucy says it was hard work setting up the firm from scratch in 2017.

“But choosing the right business partner who shares the same goals and morals as you do makes the load a lot easier,” she says.

“It has also meant that we could create a work environment and choose staff who share our goals and

Working for the best possible solution

At Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law, we pride ourselves in our proven track record, our commitment to excellence, and expert knowledge of family law. We understand how difficult and emotional family law matters can be, we are compassionate and empathetic, guiding you towards the best possible solution for you.

For separating couples:

• Parenting arrangements

• Dividing property and superannuation

• Family violence matters

New or existing relationships:

• Best arrangements for your children

• Protecting assets and yourself

• Preserving entitlements

morals, which makes for a very happy, productive and meaningful place to work.”

Anna and Lucy say that it is important to support women lawyers coming up in the profession.

“We had strong role models and mentors and it is important to support our staff as they develop from being young lawyers to more senior lawyers,” says Anna, “it’s about finding your tribe”.

Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law, Unit 1, ground floor, 5 Farrell Place, Civic. Call 6152 0493, or visit nsfamilylaw.com.au

Anna Neilan Family Lawyer

Lucy Stramandinoli Family Lawyer

Anna Neilan, left, and Lucy Stramandinoli.

Total Body Contouring owner Christy Christensen.

Elaine aims to make jewellery dreams come true Carole has a passion for dinosaurs

Co-owner at Diamonds Manuka, Elaine Hunt says she couldn’t be working in a better job.

With her gemologist husband Robert, the pair have been in the jewellery business for more than 30 years.

“Our expert team at Diamonds Manuka can help you choose the perfect engagement or wedding piece to celebrate your unique love story,” says Elaine.

“We can help you select an exquisite solitaire, trilogy or anything else your heart desires.”

They can also assist with the creation of unique designs, Elaine says, and stock a wide range of handmade diamond jewellery from which a special piece can be chosen, as well as a wide range of coloured gemstones, including sapphires.

“We specialise in engagement and wedding rings, and are here to help you make your dreams come true,” Elaine says.

Elaine says she and Robert love working in the jewellery business. “When you’ve got a lovely product, that’s just a pleasurable experience,” she says.

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

“The National Dinosaur Museum is escapism,” says general manager Carole Arulantu.

“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.

The museum houses one of the biggest permanent collections of interactive dinosaurs in Australia and offers a close-up 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.

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.

Along with Argyle Pink, Yellow, White and Champagne Diamonds, we also stock Sapphires, South Sea Pearls and Opals. We design and create timeless pieces to suit the individual. Offering friendly, personalised service and attention to detail, Diamonds Manuka is a destination for everything on your jewellery wishlist.

our finely curated collection of investment-worthy jewellery, breathtaking designs, & exceptional craftsmanship Contact Diamonds Manuka on (02) 6295 6448 Shop 4 Manuka Arcade 22 Franklin Street, Manuka ACT

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

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.

Nancy Powter, left, with Elaine and Robert Hunt.

National Dinosaur Museum general manager Carole Arulantu.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2024

Gail & Bethany build

Gail Freeman, principal and lead chartered accountant of Gail Freeman & Co, says she has spent decades helping individuals and businesses in Canberra navigate their finances.

“We’ve always been passionate about helping people understand their finances and how to build wealth for the future,” she says.

“I find that when clients feel informed and empowered, they’re more confident in making strong decisions for their future financial security.”

Chartered accountant Bethany Freeman-Chandler says Gail Freeman & Co utilises technologically advanced processes to move with the times.

“It is essential that businesses have the right software to streamline their accounting processes,” she says.

“I always ensure our clients have the tools and systems in place to make managing their finances as effective as possible.”

According to Gail, planning for the future is essential.

“It’s not just about solving the problems of today but building a strong financial foundation for each individual’s future,” she says.

Gail’s extensive knowledge of Australian tax law allows her to provide strategies to clients that are not only compliant, but are financially beneficial for individual needs.

Gail Freeman & Co, 9/71 Leichhardt Street, Kingston. Call 6295 2844 or visit gailfreeman.com.au

confident clients making strong decisions

Unleash your creativity with NatureArt Lab

We are excited & grateful to win the ‘Building Communities’ category in the 2024 Telstra Business Awards ACT. We love making a difference to people’s lives through our inspiring courses, workshops & tours.

Build your creative skills, meet like minded people & connect with nature through:

• Nature photography • Nature journaling

• Bird watching • Art workshops

• Nature tours & much more!

advertising feature

Kirsten

steps up with a winning show

“Local theatre is an excellent way to meet people, it’s a place where you can find a community who are always on your side, will cheer-lead for you when you need it, and can be a shoulder for you in [a] hard time,” says choreographer Kirsten Haussmann.

She says this is a great thing for women, as it can be an isolating business to be in.

“Theatre is a way to leave everything at the door and just be,” she says.

“From a mental health perspective I feel there is nothing better.”

Kirsten is choreographing the Queanbeyan Players upcoming production of the classic musical farce Nice Work If You Can Get It, featuring the music of George and Ira Gershwin.

Kirsten says Queanbeyan Players, which has been led by women for the last few years, has paved the way for a “wonderfully inclusive and supportive company” by always being a strong supporter of women.

Set in the 1920s, the musical sees a gang of bootleggers meet a wealthy playboy and con him into hiding 400 cases of alcohol in his basement.

“It’s fast paced, funny, and you’ll leave with a song in your heart and a smile on your face,” she says. “Come alone and laugh your socks off, we’d love to have you there.”

Queanbeyan Players, Nice Work if You Can Get It, The Q, November 1-10. Visit queanbeyanplayers. com/nice-work-if-you-can-get-it

Julia makes a ‘creative difference’ to people’s lives

Julia Landford says, as a “nature lover, artist and environmentalist”, she’s honoured to have her business NatureArt Lab win the 2024 Telstra Best of Business Award for Building Communities.

“NatureArt Lab is a unique, purpose-led arts and environmental education business that, over the past seven years, has made a significant difference to many people’s lives,” she says.

“We are contributing to environmental sustainability, building communities and championing health through our connections with nature and creativity.

“We now have a talented team of around 30 artists teaching a range of high-quality art and photography courses, all inspired by nature.

“We have created communities that are local, national and international to nurture creative connections with nature.

“Next year we are looking forward to sharing some of our amazing nature experiences in Australia and around the world. We are leading tours to Heron Island to see an extraordinary array of marine and bird life with guest artists teaching bird and marine illustration, as well as to wildlife hotspots in Borneo to see orangutan, birds and towering rainforests, among many other nature experiences.

“I’m also passionate about environmental sustainability and ensuring that all businesses in the Canberra region are thinking about how their business can minimise its impact on the environment and biodiversity loss.”

NatureArt Lab, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith. Call 0414 342839, or visit natureartlab.com.au

SCAN ME

Choreographer Kirsten Haussmann.

Julia Landford.

Bethany Freeman-Chandler and Gail Freeman.

Renovation Matters is more than just a business; it’s a community-focused company, says owner Kim Perssons.

“[We are] proud to be a woman-owned and operated business,” she says.

“We support not only women within our team, but also in our client base.

“Through our client services, we aim to empower women who are looking to renovate or invest in property, offering them tailored advice and support to make informed decisions.”

Kim says it is their personal approach to design that makes working with Renovation Matters so special.

“I’m driven by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact, whether by improving the liveability of a space or achieving optimal market returns,” she says.

“Our attention to detail, from the initial design phase to the finishing touches, ensures that every project reflects the client’s vision while also being functional and durable.”

Kim says seeing the transformation process make a positive impact on people’s lives is her favourite part of the job.

“It’s incredibly fulfilling,” she says.

“From helping them conceptualise their ideas to watching the outcome come to life.

“My passion stems from the desire to create beautiful, functional spaces that not only enhance the quality of life for clients choosing to renovate their homes but also help those looking to maximise their property’s value when selling.”

Renovation Matters. Call 0427 696 662, or visit renovationmatters.com.au

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

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

NOW IS THE TIME…

Julie’s leading the way in indigenous health care

Julie Tongs has been the CEO of Winnunga Nimmityjah, an Aboriginal community controlled health service, for more than 25 years.

She says her vision has always been for Winnunga to be a leader in the provision of primary health care.

“Winnunga is a leader in providing comprehensive primary health care and is pivotal to the overall health system in the ACT and surrounding NSW region,” she says, with the Narrabundah-based health centre providing more than 60,000 occasions of service a year.

Alongside clinical services, an Australian Family Partnership Program and social health campaigns, Julie says they offer immunisations, testing clinics, telephone consults, walk-in services to GPs, as well as psychologists, psychiatrists, podiatrist, optometry, physiotherapy, dieticians, drug and alcohol help and mental health nurses.

Clients come from all walks of life, Ms Tongs says.

“They come to us because they feel safe here and not judged.”

Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, 63 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah. Call 6284 6222 or visit winnunga.org.au

Owner Kim Perssons.

CEO Julie Tongs.

Jo helps women with legal aid

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2024 advertising feature Rebecca loves changing negatives into positives

“Having been with KJB Law for more than 27 years, I love that [we] continue to be a law firm that helps people through their life journeys,” says principal Jo Twible.

“People need different types of legal help at different times in their lives,” Jo says.

“It might be that first home purchase, or it could be making sure you’ve done your estate planning properly to ensure your family is looked after.

“We’re there for our clients each step of the way, and are there for their families too.”

The team is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where women’s voices are heard and women get their fair share of matter experience, client exposure and their contributions are heard, Jo says.

“KJB Law plays a vital role in supporting women in business through dedicated client services and initiatives aimed at fostering gender equality,” she says.

“By providing legal protections against discrimination, offering business advisory services, and promoting women-led enterprises, our team is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where women’s voices are heard.

“Representation of women in the legal field is crucial; it not only inspires confidence among female clients but also ensures diverse perspectives in legal decision-making.”

KJB Law, ground floor, 10 Corinna Street, Woden. Call 6281 0999 or visit kjblaw.com.au Principal Jo Twible.

“I love what I do, and I love the team and our clients as well,” says Arthritis Australia CEO Rebecca Davey.

Recently celebrating 10 years working with patients at Arthritis Australia, Rebecca says her background in nursing and midwifery played a pivotal role in her journey.

Living with chronic pain herself, Rebecca says it is important that people understand that change isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“It’s our job to show them that their life isn’t over just because they have chronic pain,” she says.

“At least half of my team live with chronic pain. I think it’s important that our patients are treated by people who know what they are going through and can provide the right level of care.

“It’s important that they know that just because things change in life, doesn’t mean they’re not important.”

According to Rebecca, work doesn’t feel like work when she’s doing something that she is passionate about.

“People come in lost, and I help them unpack everything and give them a path forward,” she says.

Rebecca says Arthritis Australia gives their patients a “toolbox to move forward”.

For her, the greatest joy comes from hearing back from their patients and hearing that they can “do this now”.

“It’s the little things that matter,” says Rebecca. “Our goal is to turn negative things into positives.”

Arthritis ACT, 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce. Call 1800 011041 or visit arthritisact.org.au

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

CEO Rebecca Davey.

MEET OUR PAIN MANAGEMENT EXPERTS

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

• 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.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2024

“Starting accounting while raising children was hard. Once the kids grew older, I found the courage to start my own business,” says WW Accounting business owner, Wanda Wojciechowska.

Daughter Aimee followed in her mum’s footsteps, and now helps Wanda manage their small accounting team.

“I’ve worked with mum for nine years,” says Aimee.

Wanda now has more than 20 years experience in the accounting sector.

According to Wanda, her journey of owning and successfully running an accounting firm was fuelled by hard work, determination and support from family and friends.

“I was fuelled by seeing – in my previous jobs – the lack of personal service that the clients deserved. I needed to work in an environment where I could put my heart into it,” Wanda says.

“Back then, accounting was a male-dominant industry, but here I was, a woman determined not to let anything talk me out of my ultimate goal of owning/running

my own business.”

According to Wanda, it was the best decision she ever made and encourages all women of any age and experience to pursue their own goals.

Wanda says the goal to a good workplace is by upholding oldfashioned service through meeting clients, putting a face to a name and maintaining great relationships.

“The secret of our success is being passionate, reliable and listening to our clients and actually hearing them. It’s the personal touch that stands WW Accounting apart.”

WW Accounting, 17 Esperance Street, Red Hill. Call 0400 083 938 or visit wwaccounting.com.au

At The Women’s College, located within the University of Sydney, young women are supported every step of the way throughout their university days, both academically and socially as well as into their careers, says The Women’s College registrar, Anne-Maree McCarthy.

“Join a fully supported network of women in your transition to university and enjoy fully catered accommodation, social and extracurricular activities with opportunities for academic assistance, tutorial assistance, mentoring and leadership opportunities,” she says.

interested parties of the need to register with the college before they are able to apply for a study position.

Although applications do not guarantee a spot, Anne-Maree urges all interested parties to give it a go.

About 280 residents and 50 affiliate (non-resident) students enjoy a dynamic and vibrant experience of university life, says Ann-Maree, while academic assistants and tutors provide advice on time management, exam study and assistance with course content.

“It’s a welcoming place, a home away from home,” she says.

Anne-Maree says applications for 2025 are now open and advises

She says the college accepts students studying at USYD (Sydney campus), Australian Catholic University (ACU), University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Macquarie University.

“There is no need to wait for your university offer to start your application. Apply now,” she says.

The Women’s College, 15 Carillon Avenue, Newtown. Call 02 9517 5018 or visit the womenscollege.edu.au

Steeped in history, and nestled on the picturesque grounds of a championship 18-hole golf course adorned with stylish gardens sits Duntryleague, one of the Orange region’s premier golfing venues, says office manager Renée Tom.

The West Orange Motors Duntryleague Classic event will take place in January, and Renée says it is an ideal opportunity to play one of the great golf courses and visit the surrounding cool climate wine region of Orange.

“Entry to the competition includes three rounds of golf on Duntryleague’s 18-hole championship course, registration and cocktail party on Saturday evening, gala presentation dinner on Tuesday evening, green fees and competition fees,” she says.

Duntryleague will also host the Hahn Open Amateur Tournament on November 2-3, where Renée says participants can enjoy two rounds of golf on Duntryleague’s championship course, along with a presentation dinner on November 2.

The guest speaker will be Kerry O’Keeffe, and Renée says this is sure to make the presentation evening entertaining.

“Orange is the perfect destination for your golfing getaway, with a historical mansion offering entrants a unique experience, stay-play packages overlooking the golf course, and a rich food and wine culture,” she says.

“Duntryleague also stocks a full range of golf equipment from all leading brands and provides tuition from four PGA teaching professions to extensive club-fitting technology for the complete player package.”

Duntryleague Golf Club, Woodward Street, Orange. Call 6362 3466 or visit duntryleague.com.au

Aimee and Wanda Wojciechowska.

Dale makes dance lessons a fun way to get fit

Teaching a range of classic dance styles, Dale’s Ballroom Dancing offers a fun way to get fit, socialise and compete in a friendly environment, says owner Dale Harris.

With medal classes every Thursday from 5pm, Dale says she loves to welcome anyone to come and learn regardless of age or experience.

“We have people of all ages coming in for the classes,” she says.

“One of the great things about it is the fitness. You don’t realise how much exercise you’re doing, you’re constantly on the move.”

Dale is an expert in many styles of dance including New Vogue sequence dances, standard, tango, foxtrot, quickstep, Viennese waltz, and Latin cha cha, samba, jive, rumba and paso doble.

Backed by more than 25 years’ experience teaching dance, she started ballroom dancing at the age of six.

She’s since received many qualifications in ballroom dancing and is also a championship adjudicator

who travels interstate to judge ballroom competitions.

Adult beginner classes are on every Wednesday from 7pm, and courses are run every seven weeks.

“Anyone can join. You can just rock up on the night and we can get you caught up in the course as we need,” she says.

Social dance is on every Monday from 7pm, “everyone and anyone is welcome”.

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

• Flowers for all special occassions

• Births, Weddings, Floral tributes & wreaths

• Plush toys & Premium giftware

“I’d always enjoyed doing things with flowers,” says Blossoms of Canberra owner Tania Garrett.

She says she decided to follow her passion in 2010 after her kids were all grown up. She studied floristry at CIT, later opening up her own flower shop.

Six years in business later, she says she loves it.

Predominantly female run, Tania says Blossoms of Canberra takes the greatest care with its flowers, which has resulted in a longer freshness time for their buds.

According to Tania, this care and attention to detail is what makes her business so special.

“We take time to ensure our customers walk away with the thing they were really looking for,” she says.

The shop delivers fresh blooms throughout Canberra in hospitals, shops and cafes.

With two florists working alongside her, Tania says it’s a joy to make people happy through flowers.

“You can convey messages through flowers. Sometimes saying

things that words can’t say,” she says.

“It’s something truly special.”

Tania can be found with her blooms at the Erindale shops.

Blossoms of Canberra, 68 Comrie Street, Erindale Shopping Centre, shop 24, Wanniassa. Call 6231 0822 or visit blossomsofcanberra.com.au

Tribe Group looks after the day-to-day finances of businesses of varied sizes, says bookkeeping and BAS manager at Tribe Group, Beth Hinds.

With a team that’s 70 per cent women, Beth says employees are always supported with flexible work hours, to ensure they can manage what is going on at work and home.

“We understand this is different for everyone and strive to achieve the balance for all staff,” she says.

“We even take time out of work with clients to get the balance right.”

Beth says she loves supporting small businesses and seeing them grow, ensuring businesses are on top of their compliance matters and making sure they lodge and pay on time.

According to Beth, the key to making a difference is staying client focused.

“The team enjoys seeing new business form and grow, we support businesses at all the stages of growth and ensure they are connected with the right resources

to succeed,” she says.

“I love implementing new software to make clients’ jobs easier so that they can get back to what they love doing and leave the paperwork to us.”

For Beth, helping businesses succeed in their finances is the best part about being a bookkeeper.

“You get to talk to the people doing the work. That is the real opportunity of being your bookkeeper,” she says.

Tribe Group, 25/105-119 Newcastle Street, Fyshwick. Call 6274 0400 or visit tribegroup.com.au

Sweet Pea & Poppy Chocolates

Mojo Candles

Beth Hinds.

Tania Garrett.

Dale Harris with daughters Brooke and Grace.

GARDENING

Beautiful Astelia has silver lining

By Jackie WARBURTON

Astelia is a beautiful, striking plant, grown for the silvering in its leaves.

Astelia Australiana grows well at the National Botanic Gardens and is endemic to Victoria, where this rare, branching rhizome is considered vulnerable.

Another Astelia to try for our climate is the less fickle A. chathamica Silver Spears. A native to NZ, its silver foliage is just as striking and suitable for pots.

NOW the soil is warm and, hopefully, the frosts have gone, the tomatoes, pumpkins, eggplants and all summer vegetables can be planted out into the garden.

Once planted, place a little diatomaceous earth around seedings to keep night insects such as slaters and pill bugs at bay. Water in the morning to allow the plant to take up the moisture during the day and to prevent any fungal rotting if the night temperatures are still a bit cool.

Mulch around the base of the plant with sugar cane mulch or pea straw or, best of all, compost .

Pumpkins need at least four metres of space to have good growth. They can be grown on a fence or on the ground.

All pumpkins have male and female flowers on the one vine and both flowers need to be open at the

same time of the day and to have bees visit.

If the female flower is not pollinated it will grow into a silly looking pumpkin, turn yellow and drop off. To increase bee activity, plant flowers such as alyssum and calendulas or anything flowering around pumpkins. Add a bee bath, too.

WHEN thinking about tomatoes, look out for heirloom or heritage seeds or seedlings to grow. These seeds have been collected for years and years and have not been genetically modified for mass production in the commercial market.

Heirloom seeds can be kept and grown year after year whereas most, grafted, store-bought tomatoes may not grow the same tomato next year. Tomatoes like an acid soil and if there has been overhead watering and more rain on new plants a sprinkle of dolomite lime on the leaves to help with any fungal issues. They are a vine and need support to grow off the ground and away from rats and possums.

STACHYURUS praecox, a small, deciduous tree that caught my eye many years ago in old Canberra gardens, is one of the most beauti -

ful winter-flowering plants that grows in our region. And now I have one in my garden.

It flowers before the spring leaves appear. The dainty, pendulous racemes in winter are lovely. They don’t mind the shade and can be trained on a wall or espaliered if space is tight.

Good compost-rich soil is all they need, and their autumnal foliage is dramatic as well. It’s a good all-round shrub for our climate and a must-have for any garden enthusiast.

jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au

Jottings…

• Plant dahlia tubers this month and before Christmas.

• Keep watering fruit trees that are developing fruit.

• Prune azaleas and rhododen- drons after flowering.

• Sow seeds of autumn flowers such as calendula and snapdragons.

• A short walk-and-talk looking at significant plantings in the English garden, Weston Park, Yarralumla, 3pm, October 20. Book at 0421 972287.

Astelia Australiana… rare, but growing well at the National Botanic Gardens. Photos: Jackie Warburton

The winter-flowering Stachyurus praecox… a deciduous shrub with dainty pendulous racemes.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

INSIDE Plot flaw or not, spending time with Vera is special

Wharfies overboard, but not before one last show

By Helen MUSA

In November 2020 CityNews ran a story headlined, “Wharfies are absolutely not winding up”, but now, alas, the time has come for the final revue, The End of The Wharf As We Know It, and it opens in Canberra.

Written by Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott, it will feature the four faces best known as stars of the revue beloved of Canberra’s for a generation –Biggins, Scott, Forsythe and Mandy Bishop, with regular guester David Whitney making up a fearsome five.

Scott has long been musical director and when I catch up with him by phone to Sydney, they’re deep in rehearsals.

“We’re drawing a line under the revue after this,” he tells me.

“Our producer Jo Dyer is terrific – she used to work at the Sydney Theatre Company and we still have costume and set people at the STC who work with us – but we didn’t realise what we were taking on and, yes, we are really planning to retire.”

Not all of them.

“Drew and I are the older ones,” he says,

“Jonathan has a stellar career and Mandy, who’s been dividing her time between the US and Australia for a few years, wants to build her career here.”

As for Whitney. Well, he’s definitely younger.

“But Drew and I have got to an age where we’d like to take things easier,” he says.

It’s fun, but it’s a slog. They open in Canberra then go to Sydney and after Christmas hit the road for another three months, he says.

“If we were just in one place like Melbourne, we’d have a life, but to be in the car all the time, it’s very tiring.”

Scott’s not complaining, acknowledging that many people in the theatre industry have no work at all but feels, well, we’re all getting on.

Against all the odds, Scott is going to attempt one small private act of enjoyment while he’s in Canberra – he’ll pop in on Part II of Everyman Theatre’s production of The Inheritance then, back to front, he’ll see Part I in a completely different production in Sydney – it’s just the way his schedule works out.

After The Wharf Scott will take time to write more cabaret shows and his agent is urging him to take a small role in TV, but

on the other hand, he tells me, “I might do nothing”.

This final Wharf Revue will not exactly be a “best-of” show, as all the writing is new, but he agrees that it’s a summary of the major parts that they’ve been playing for more than 25 years.

Satire-loving Canberrans can expect to see familiar people on stage – Bishop as Julia Gillard, Scott as Kevin Rudd, Biggins as Paul Keating and Forsythe as Pauline Hanson.

“We’ve built up an interest in these characters and in real life they still pop up and have something to say,” Scott says, adding that Whitney fits in well because he

does a very good Peter Dutton. Scott’s not going to give us too many spoilers, but he will tell us that he gets to play Miriam Margolyes in a “non-political silly sketch” about how the English make programs about Australia then only bump into other English people – like Martin Clunes and King Charles.

Oh yes, and Biggins has an entirely new character called Angus Taylor Swift.

Scott, master of the keyboard, is also the master of musical parody and over the years has put political words into famous songs as when Julia Gillard sang Bizet’s Habanera. This time he’s whipped up a parody of Michael Jackson in Bad and Noël Coward in Mad Dykes and Englishmen, sung by Joanna Lumley.

It wouldn’t be a Wharf Revue without a big blockbuster ending.

In this case, it’s been based on The Simpsons, partly because Dutton looks so much like Homer Simpson that it was impossible to resist.

Readers in the know will be aware that Homer works in a nuclear facility owned by a sinister character called Mr Burns. In this case, Rupert Murdoch heads up the nuclear facility and Sideshow Bob Brown makes an appearance – there’s a political joke in that — one for Simpsons’ aficionados.

The End of The Wharf As We Know It, Canberra Theatre, October 25 – November 2.

Wharf Revue members, from left, Mandy Bishop, Jonathan Biggins and Phillip Scott.

Photo: Vishal Pandey

Plot flaw or not, spending time with Vera is special

Anne Cleeves has been writing her critically acclaimed crime novels since 1986.

She has created three memorable and distinctive detectives, Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez and Matthew Venn, who can be found on TV in Vera, Shetland and The Long Call.

Although Vera on TV is coming to an end, Vera will live on in fiction and The Dark Wives has arrived to prove it.

The Dark Wives is set shortly after The Rising Tide (2022), in which one of her team died and Vera is still guilt ridden. Joe Ashworth “thought guilt was like a weight on Vera’s shoulders. Physical. It made her seem stooped and old. Never before had he thought of Vera as old.”

A university student is discovered murdered outside Rosebank, a care home for disturbed teenagers. Josh Woodburn worked at the home but hadn’t arrived for his evening shift. At the same time 14-year-old Chloe disappears from the home.

Chloe has left a diary entry in which she reveals that she had been close to Josh, writing: “I think I could be in love with him”. Vera doesn’t think Chloe could have killed him, but it’s November, dark and cold, and she needs to be found.

The new case and the urgency of finding Chloe energises Vera, as she welcomes a new member to her team. DC Rosie Bell is from Newcastle, “brash and loud”, who enjoys “a night out with the lasses on the Quayside, eyeing up the footballers, getting pissed and rowdy”.

She admires Vera, considers her “a bit of a legend” and aims to learn from her. However, she proves herself invaluable when interviewing those affected by Josh’s death.

The search for Chloe eventually leads to Gillstead, a hamlet in a valley, with a few farms, a pub, one street of cottages and on the fell, three standing stones, The Dark Wives. The legend tells of three crones who had been turned to stone by a giant who thought they talked too much.

Chloe’s grandfather still owns a “bothy” there, somewhere to camp out, which Chloe had loved as a child. There, Vera makes a grim discovery and is convinced the

Talking to the names making news.

Sundays, 9am-noon.

foremost novelists, winning the Whitbread (now Costa) Book of the Year Award with her first novel Behind the Scenes at the Museum (1995). Two of her three critically acclaimed novels set around World War II, Life after Life (2013) and God in Ruins (2015) were both winners of the Book of the Year awards.

Her best-selling crime novels, featuring a former police detective turned private investigator, became the BBC TV series Case Histories, starring Jason Isaacs.

murderer is searching for Chloe as avidly as the police.

Vera on the page is quite different from the screen version. She’s physically bigger with a more dominant personality and she’s secretive.

The Dark Wives is a classic Vera story set against the wild, ancient landscape of Northumbria. There’s a very obvious plot flaw, but you can forgive it because you get to spend time with Vera and that’s special.

KATE Atkinson is one of the world’s

In Death at the Sign of the Rook , Jackson Brodie returns. He’s now over 60 and a grandfather, living in Yorkshire and driving a Land Rover Defender, a supercharged V8, “the whole macho construct only slightly spoiled by his granddaughter’s baby seat in the back”.

Brodie is employed to investigate the

theft of a painting by the Padgetts. Their mother has just died and they suspect her carer, Melanie Hope, of stealing the Renaissance portrait of Woman with Ermine, which their parents had bought in a stately home auction in 1945. But Brodie can find no evidence of Melanie Hope’s existence. Meanwhile, in Burton Makepeace House, “one of the greatest houses in the north, second only to Chatsworth… Vanburgh designed the house and Capability Brown landscaped the grounds”, Dowager Lady Milton is mourning the loss of her housekeeper, the ultra efficient Sophie Greenway two years ago. Sophie had taken with her the Milton’s Turner, the last of their valuable paintings, the rest having been sold to pay taxes and roof repairs.

In a classic Christie climax, Atkinson gathers her eclectic cast of characters at Burton Makepeace House at a murder mystery evening, while a snow storm rages outside. As a further complication, an axe murderer has joined them leading to a tense, action-packed finale. It’s exhausting and exhilarating at the same time.

Something new from Andrew Farriss

ARTS IN THE CITY

By Helen Musa

Andrew Farriss, co-founder of INXS, now a cattle farmer, will be in town with his Something Stronger tour, combining famous hits with material from his new album, The Prospector. No stranger to Canberra, Farriss held a Coombs Fellowship at the ANU in 2015. He was inducted into the Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2016 and was Eurovision Australian judge panel member last year. He will perform Live at the Polo, David

Street, Turner, October 25.

A life of Rosalie Gascoigne, by Nicola Francis, is now out with ANU Press and free online. This biography explores the celebrated Canberra artist’s tale of finding herself later in life and traces her experiences of the dramatic social changes of the ‘60s and ‘70s and the growth of cultural life in Canberra.

Qais Essar, a contemporary Afghan composer, instrumentalist and producer, will perform alongside tabla player Murtaza Damoon at Ainslie Arts Centre, Braddon, October 26.

Agatha Christie’s

SUNDAY ROAST

Soon after its recent debut production of The Cut, The Seeing Place theatre company founded by Sammy Moynihan and Marlene Radice, encountered copyright challenges with the name, and will now be known as Shwa Shwa, based on a mythical figure imagined by Augusto Boal.

The hotly sought-after Collie Art Prize is back for 2025 in southwestern WA, with more than $60,000 in prize money. Since its inception in 2018, Canberra region artists have been shortlisted and at least one Canberra critic involved in the judging. Entries close on December

12 at collieartgallery.org.au

The Canberra Symphony Orchestra will perform outdoors at the Lanyon Homestead, Tharwa, on October 26.

The Crossroads Festival will raise funds for Rebus Theatre’s mental health programs. Highlights include Salving Solos at Pulp Book Café on October 19, and Recital Remedies, an instrumental recital featuring Alec Randles, Demetri Neidorf, Wayne Kelly, and Duncan n Sargeant, who has been organising concerts to promote mental health awareness for 20 years, at Gorman Arts Centre, October 27.

The cover of Ann Cleeves’ new book The Dark Wives.

Kate Atkinson’s thriller In Death at the Sign of the Rook.

Belinda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope…”Vera on the page is quite different from the screen version. She’s physically bigger with a more dominant personality and she’s secretive.”

Andrew Farriss… Live at the Polo, October 25.

Nostalgia is an incredibly powerful force. Modern audiences can’t resist a series that winds back the clock a few decades, putting on show the sights and sounds of an entirely different era.

Combine nostalgia with horror and you get one potent concoction indeed.

That’s exactly what a new film called Late Night With the Devil has done, streaming on Netflix from October 18.

This one is directed by Australian filmmakers Colin and Cameron Cairnes and serves as a wickedly satirical look at late-night TV and the extreme lengths some will go to chase fame.

It takes place in 1977 on the set of a popular entertainment program during Halloween. The props, music, costumes, even the grainy camera work, are all designed to replicate the feeling of watching a late-night show on the small screen from 50 years ago.

“The live television event that shocked a nation!”, the film’s wryly retro poster reads.

David Dastmalchian, who viewers might have seen before in The Dark Knight and Prisoners, plays the show’s charismatically creepy host Jack Delroy.

In a bid to boost ratings, Delroy invites a girl who some say is “possessed” on to his program as a guest. It’s from there that things spiral into insanity.

Entirely original, Late Night With the Devil

is one of the most unusual horror offerings out there on streaming.

In an era where these movies are pumped out by the truckload, to see one do something this bold and succeed is a treat, even better that it comes from two brothers here in Australia.

Those looking for a special scare this Halloween are sorted.

STAYING on the topic of Aussie talent, Disney Plus has just launched a new series

created and filmed down under.

It’s called Last Days of the Space Age and coincidentally, it’s also set in the ‘70s.

The drama series takes place in and around Perth and follows the daily lives of a dozen characters as the social and political fabric of the world rapidly changes around them.

Among the ensemble are Judy and Tony, a couple who both work at a local power plant they are striking against.

Their daughter Tilly has aspirations to be one

of the first female astronauts, despite society telling her to focus on finding a husband.

Then there’s Jono, the eldest brother of a Vietnamese family who immigrated to Australia and who is trying to carve out a life on the meagre profits from a food truck.

Last Days of the Space Age is trying to capture a moment in Australian life by touching on as many social issues as possible through as many characters as it can muster up.

Perhaps the most notable appearance here is from Scottish actor Iain Glen, a star of Game of Thrones.

There’s plenty of Australian talent on display though, including Jesse Spencer, famous for his roles in House and Chicago Fire, and Radha Mitchell, who kick-started her career on Neighbours.

Last Days of the Space Age walks a fine line between period drama and soap opera, a misty-eyed look back at the end of an era with social commentary that occasionally hits its target.

Performances from its main cast do help the series stay afloat and for Australian viewers, this look at a different era might be enough to keep them coming back for the show’s slightly-too-long eight-episode-run.

THAT’S enough of wistfully gazing back; those looking for something more

action-packed can now stream Challengers on Amazon Prime Video.

On its surface, Challengers is a movie about tennis, but those who click play will soon learn that there’s much more here than meets the eye.

Zendaya stars as Tashi, a former tennis prodigy turned coach after suffering a devastating ankle injury.

Tashi now vicariously lives out her career through her husband Art, who she’s turned into a grand-slam champion.

Things take a turn when Art has to compete against Patrick, his former best friend and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend who’s now determined to win back more than the game at hand.

Challengers present love like a game of tennis, an energetic and addictive back and forth.

Some pithy cinematography backs it up. In one particularly clever shot, the audience becomes the tennis ball, getting hit between both players on the court.

All of this makes Challengers double up as a great sports movie and a great romance movie. For those looking for an entertaining watch, this one serves up an ace indeed.

Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th October

David Dastmalchian as Late Night With the Devil’s charismatically creepy host Jack Delroy.

DINING / Turquoise Turkish, Queanbeyan

Take time for a taste of Turkish

Planning a trip to Queanbeyan? Perhaps heading to The Q for a show or the shops? Take time to have a bite at Turquoise Turkish.

This restaurant is nicely positioned on main drag Monaro Street. It’s been there for more than 13 years, and (as we discovered) for a reason.

The colour turquoise features strongly in the renovation this restaurant underwent not quite a year ago – on the walls, tiles and woven through ornate, detailed fabrics.

Jewellers

Restorations - Repairs - Remakes - Re-Setting Ring Re-Sizing - 48hr Service Custom Design – for something Special Pearl Re-Threading and Knotting Advance

A Family Business – 73 years combined experience Southlands Shopping Centre – Mawson About 50 metres from the Post Office Open: Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri – 10am to 4pm 6286 1499 Hellen – direct number: 0408

PLUMBING

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

The restaurant has an exotic but relaxed feel, and we were comforted by the sun streaming through the large front windows flooding our table. The Turkish music, playing at just the right level in the background, added ambience.

Turquoise Turkish promises traditional food and delivers with a reasonable price point. The chef is passionate about crafting time-honoured Turkish recipes and promises that each bite will transport you to the heart of Turkey. We kickstarted our lunch with a couple of selections from the hot entrée section of the menu (all $16). Bursting with flavour were the feta spring rolls – super thin pastry filled with salty feta, parsley and fresh herbs. We always find cigaretteshaped Borek fun to eat. These were deep-fried to perfection and a delightful start.

Next were potato balls, golden

Sis Karides… plump king prawns char-grilled with paprika, Turkish herbs, a touch of garlic and a smattering of sauce.

on the outside and rustic chunky on the inside which added an element of fun with great texture. They featured spinach and more of the fresh herbs so prominent in quality Turkish cuisine.

We didn’t want a heavy meal but a tasty one and the prawns didn’t disappoint. The Sis Karides dish featured plump king prawns chargrilled to add a smokey element. The prawns were lifted with paprika, Turkish herbs, a touch of garlic and a smattering of sauce($34).

Carefully positioned around a mound of fluffy rice, they were served with veggies that were still firm after being grilled, including superbly cooked eggplant.

WINE / sweet treat

I can’t go past an amazing pide (Turkish pizza) and struggled to select from the 16 on offer.

The Keymali was an excellent choice, and the freshly baked pide was artfully laid out on a long wooden board with a wedge of lemon, grated carrot and lettuce ($26). Minced lamb – the main ingredient – worked wonderfully well with finely diced onion, cheese and, once more, fresh herbs. What a soul-satisfying dish.

Our meal was topped off with four cubes of gorgeous light pink Turkish delight, lightly dusted

with icing sugar and celebrating rosewater. It was as fresh as Turkish delight could be, and not too sweet.

Turquoise Turkish offered us attentive and knowledgeable service. I had never been before and wondered how I had missed out all these years.

Turquoise Turkish is BYO. Dine in or grab quality takeaway (kebabs with bread baked onsite daily is only $16 and a snack pack is available).

Stickies: sweet dreams are made of this

I seldom eat dessert. I say that not to boast, but because it is a conscious health choice.

A health and wellbeing website says that Australians, on average, consume about half a kilo of sugar each week, much of this hidden via consumption of sweetened products such as cakes, pies, confectionary and sugary drinks.

Eating large amounts of sugar has a direct connection to tooth decay and weight gain, as well as other health problems including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and some cancers.

So, the consumption of sugar should be ameliorated; given its addition to everyday items, including such things as bread, it would be almost impossible to eliminate it from your diet, despite any flan-tastic efforts you went to.

Plus I have a confection to make: when I do eat dessert, I very much like to have a sticky with it.

Sugar in wine is highly dependent on the style of wine. Of course, the sugar in wine is naturally occurring and is derived from the grapes.

In traditional wine making, the sugar feeds yeast and forms alcohol. A food data website that breaks down the nutrition facts about particular foods indicates that one “serving” or 5 fl oz of sweet dessert wine is about 23 per cent sugar. So, if you are watching your sugar intake, it’s also important that partaking a sweet wine is infrequent.

That factor means, for me, a quality dessert

“The varietal used in Noble One is a semillon and it has been affected by botrytis. This is a fungus, also known as noble rot, that can have a devastating effect on grapes.

wine should be consumed when indulgence strikes. My favourite is Noble One from De Bortoli Wines. I’ve tried the 2020 most recently, $36 from the winery, although it was a present to me, and I’m not the only one who appreciates this drop.

The website selling the wine lists no less than 27 awards it has won.

The varietal used in Noble One is a semillon and it has been affected by botrytis. This is a fungus, also known as noble rot, that can have a

devastating effect on grapes. It can induce grey rot, spoiling the grapes to make them unusable.

But under the right growing conditions, especially high humidity, its effect is to concentrate the sugar and juice of the grapes, adding intensity to the flavours.

In Noble One you get a golden-toned liquid that couldn’t be more distant in colour from the desiccated grapes affected by noble rot. On taste, the 2020 has layers of honey and fruit with a lemon peel tang overlaid with light vanilla. It’s not claggy and has a vibrant, balanced acid finish.

I consumed it with strawberries and cream sprinkled with coconut sugar. First made in 1982, this sweet hit hasn’t disappointed since.

And all this talk of sugar reminds me of the poor old man who wanted to give himself a treat so he goes into town, parks his car and slowly walks into an ice cream parlour.

Carefully and painfully he climbs on to a stool at the counter, lets out a stifled groan and orders a banana split with whipped cream. The woman serving behind the counter asks: “Crushed nuts?”

“No,” he says, “it’s just bad arthritis.”

HOROSCOPE PUZZLES

By Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

There’s the potential for explosive Sun-Pluto power struggles on Tuesday and Wednesday (with an authority figure, work colleague or loved one). So calm down, Rams, and try to communicate with extra care and diplomacy, otherwise you could overreact and do or say something you later regret. Friday looks rather fabulous, as the lovely Mars/Uranus link highlights your adventurous Aries nature. Time to express, explore, experiment and enthuse!

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Are your dreams achievable? Are you being realistic about a project that’s due to be completed? Perhaps you need to be more proactive, get others on board and learn to delegate? If you think creatively, work hard and capitalise on your group connections, then you’ll eventually taste success. Communication is emphasised, so expect plenty of phone calls, texts, tweets and emails. But avoid getting drawn into an argument about work, religion or politics.

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

On Tuesday there’s a terrific trine between Saturn and your patron planet, Mercury. So it’s a great week for mental focus, long-term planning and clever problemsolving, especially at work. But tread carefully with a temperamental friend or family member who wants things done their way – and may not be prepared to compromise. Joint finances could also be a point of contention. On Friday, do something adventurous that makes your heart sing!

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

When it comes to a relationship issue, are you desperately trying to fix a frustrating situation? Prepare for some resistance from other people (especially your partner or a family member). Quick fixes won’t work. You need to slow down and think things through in a realistic and responsible fashion. However, when it comes to a personal project or a group endeavour, being proactive and adventurous will work in your favour. Strike while the iron is hot!

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

There’s a challenging connection between Pluto and the Sun, so try to avoid family squabbles, online arguments and run-ins with authority figures. If you are the person in charge, then resist the urge to be bossy and overbearing. Behaving like a demanding Diva will get you nowhere fast! Strive to be extra patient …which is not one of your natural virtues. For some proactive Cats, Mars and Uranus shake things up and take you in a new direction at work.

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Expect an eventful week, as the Sun/Pluto square stirs up trouble. A double dose of diplomacy is required if you want to keep the peace. The focus is on long-term relationships. How to nurture them, keep them … and then let them go if you have outgrown each other. Enjoyable mutual interests are essential to satisfying romantic and platonic relationships. A close friend could also be the final piece of the puzzle as you follow your true destiny.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Venus (your patron planet) is visiting your communication zone, which highlights flirtatious encounters, romantic adventures and long-term friendships. But – courtesy of the Sun/Pluto square – possessiveness and jealousy could rear their ugly heads. So slap on a diplomatic smile and share the love around. As actress/writer (and Libran birthday great) Carrie Fisher observed: “Everything is negotiable. Whether or not the negotiation is easy is another thing.”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

The Sun squares powerful Pluto (your boss planet) and then transits into Scorpio, which boosts your temperamental streak and your control-freak tendencies. You could feel like you’re stuck in a self-sabotaging rut or even going backwards. You’ll find the more stubborn you are, the more challenging the week will be. As comedian (and birthday great) John Cleese reminds us: “You don’t have to be the Dalai Lama to tell people that life’s about change.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

On Tuesday, take the time to listen to what a housemate or relative is really saying, but don’t let finances come between you and a friend. Do you enjoy your job and does it stimulate your mind? Take the time to re-evaluate a professional matter (or a volunteer position) as Mars and Uranus stimulate your work sector. It’s also a great time to be more adventurous physically, as you get active in the great outdoors via biking, hiking, bushwalking or camping.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

This week Pluto pushes your insecurity buttons, which could activate your protective Capricorn shield. But the more defensive – and resistant to change – you are, the more exhausted you’ll feel. And the more difficult the week will be. Try to get the balance right between maintaining the status quo (with things that are working) and changing the aspects of your life that aren’t functioning well. A close relationship certainly needs to be reviewed and renewed.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

With the Sun (creativity) and Mercury (communication) both transiting through your career zone, it will be easier to sort out workplace problems than at other times, especially if you articulate your thoughts and are prepared to compromise. A stressed friend or colleague is hoping you can provide some astute advice and a helping hand. Friday’s proactive Mars/Uranus link is fabulous for sorting out a work problem or motivating a family matter.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

Someone may pressure you to reveal information that was given to you in confidence. Hence your current moral and philosophical conundrum as you ponder: ‘Is honesty always the best policy’? With the Sun, Mercury and Uranus all activating your travel zone, adventure and faraway places beckon, so start planning your itinerary now. It’s also important to keep up to date with your international contacts. Who knows where they will eventually lead?

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2024

1 What are vagabonds known as? (6)

8 Which fabric is often used for wall hangings? (8)

9 Who is responsible for the content of a newspaper? (6)

10 What are wages known as? (8)

11 Which golf scores are one over par? (6)

13 Name a writ process for the summoning of witnesses. (8)

16 What are apothecaries? (8)

19 Which term describes a wise and trusted counsellor? (6)

22 Name a disease of the eye, characterised by progressive loss of vision. (8)

24 Which work is provided by the government for the unemployed? (6)

25 To feel unnaturally elated, one feels what? (8)

26 Topeka is the capital of which US State. (6)

2 Name another term for a wireless. (5)

3 What is a basic unit of measurement? (5)

4 When one emphasises something, one does what? (8)

5 Which pointed device is attached to a rider’s boot heel to goad a horse onwards? (4)

6 Name another term for an Inuit. (6)

7 Which mythical monster is said to spout fire? (6)

12 Which Arnhem Land Peninsula is a site of bauxite mining? (4)

14 Name the first chancellor of the modern German Empire, Otto von ... (8) 15 What is the Orient known as? (4)

Which gas is used to inflate balloons? (6) 18 Through which openings do we take food? (6) 20 Name a particular synthetic polyamide. (5) 21 Which is the last letter of the Greek alphabet? (5)

23 What is a monster, commonly represented as a hideous giant? (4)