KEEPING UP THE ACT
KICK STARTERS
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Plucky pony club saddles up to fight for its future
By Elizabeth KOVACS
As the Canberra Riding Club’s Pony Club celebrates 65 years, its future in Lyneham is in doubt as the ACT government eyes housing development around the racecourse precinct.
One of the oldest of 14 pony clubs around Canberra, the club says it is facing “an onslaught of existential crises, from rising lease rates to potential land redevelopment, which cast a shadow on [its] future.”
Located at the corner of Randwick Road and Barton Highway, the club is entirely operated by volunteers who maintain the facilities, run training days and organise events.
“It’s all through us,” says chief instructor of Canberra Riding Club Pony Club, 32-year-old Franny Barnard.
“Whereas other sports have the support of the grounds being managed by the ACT government [we don’t].”
The club pays to lease the area, hosting events – such as its annual gala – to help raise funds to keep it in the heart of Canberra.
It was nationally recognised as the
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Australian Pony Club of the Year in 2023.
“We hope the award… publicly demonstrates to the ACT government the valuable contribution CRC Pony Club makes to sport, recreation and wellbeing in the Canberra community,” says club president Sally McRae.
“Ongoing government support is vital to allow us to renew our lease and continue to develop facilities for our ever-expanding club.”
The club says it provides significant benefits to the community by supporting youth mental health and
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3-17 Politics 4, 5, 8, 10, 12 Streaming 30 Cover: Champion Muay Thai boxer Gabrielle De Ramos. Story Page 8. Photo: Andrew Campbell.
neurodiverse members, and increasing women’s participation in sport.
Despite the possibility of losing its facilities to housing development, Franny is confident in the club’s future.
“I was at the 50th anniversary when I was a kid and I ran the 60th anniversary a few years ago,” she says.
“I have full confidence in the life of this club.”
Although in conversation with the government about retaining their current location, Franny says that
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relocation, although tricky, won’t threaten their existence.
The club’s swelling numbers – 75 and rising – are a credit to Franny and her team of volunteers’ work in creating a space for riders of all ages and experiences.
“It’s a safe place to start,” says
“We are not only coaching skills. We’re also helping kids with confidence and mindset and overcoming
“It’s not only the kids, it’s the horses, too.”
Franny says its continued success is due to the welcoming environment.
“It’s a very screen-dominated and indoor life that we’re all having, and lots of families are seeing the impacts of not being able to get out to do exercise and have fun,” she says.
“That’s what Pony Club is all about.
“You’re out, you’re getting dirty, you’re getting the sun and vitamin D.”
Franny, accompanied by Freya,14; Tilly 12 and Maddy, 14, work with their horses every week doing jobs ranging from dressage preparation and jumping to the less glamorous mucking out of stalls.
“The first stereotype [that needs to] break is that horses could ever be considered a ‘hobby’, ”says Franny.
“You don’t just ride horses,” says Freya.
“You have to take care of them,
feed them. You’re always out doing something with them. It’s not just riding.”
Franny has three horses and credits the club for her knowledge and passion.
“I’m paying it forward by making the club the happiest place it can be for the next generation of riders,” she says.
“I especially enjoy working with the kids on their riding goals and passing on my hard-earned knowledge about riding, horse care and competition.
“I hope to keep the pony club dream alive by providing happy, life-changing experiences that they will cherish, like I do.”
For Freya, the club has been a ‘lifeline”. She says she had struggled to find a place in a sporting community before discovering CRC.
“It’s changed how I think about sports,” she says.
“[I] don’t always need to be comparing myself to others. It’s a slow journey to get to be a really confident, strong rider.”
Maddy says: “We’re a team. It’s a community behind individuals.
“I would love to be a coach here. It’s such a great community to be part of.
“If you ever feel like you’re lost in the horse world or you’re overthinking everything, you can always come back to pony club.”
Chief instructor Franny Barnard with students, from left, Maddy, Tilly and Freya… “I hope to keep the pony club dream alive,” says Franny. Photo: Elizabeth Kovacs
Right turn: can Castley shake off conservatives?
vote, provides an indicator of a progressive label. The Liberal MLAs voting in favour were Elizabeth Lee, Leanne Castley, Nicole Lawder and
It is a good indicator of just how out of step the conservatives are with the Canberra community. A survey conducted in July found 77 per cent support by Canberrans “across all political persuasions and religions”.
The Dying with Dignity ACT survey also noted: “There was unexpectedly strong support for this from Catholics (77 per cent) and from Liberal voters
As one of the less conservative, Mark Parton appears to be holding his cards close to his chest. He did score almost a quota on his own firstpreference votes. This was second only to Andrew Barr, and is a good indication that he is doing something right as far as his electorate of Brindabella is concerned.
to lead the Canberra Liberals to bring an end to the “forever opposition”?
The Canberra Liberals’ own website states: “We believe in individual freedom and free enterprise; and if you share this belief, then ours is the party for you”. It is neither conservative nor liberal. However, their record over the last couple of decades does reveal a strongly conservative bias within both the party generally and the parliamentary wing of the Canberra Liberals.
The challenge for Castley is to shake off the conservative perception, and provide a chance for the Canberra Liberals to topple Barr, or his successor, as leading Australia’s “forever Labor government”.
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.
matter where she gets the support.
Looking from the outside, the shenanigans of the election of Castley with Hanson as her deputy looked like
Leanne Castley… “Political labels like ‘conservative’ or ‘progressive’... mean nothing in my part of town. The only label you can slap on me is ‘battler’.”
Photo: Holly Treadaway
resemblance” to Scott Morrison’s 2018 ascension to power.
This is ironic in the light of Castley’s inaugural speech. She posed
The only label you can slap on me is ‘battler’.”
Support for voluntary assisted dying, however, as it is a conscience
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Parton is an excellent communicator. He is a former radio host and would seem the ideal candidate if Castley was to be overthrown by the party room. It is four years out from an election. Is he biding his time until the others self-implode for the chance
Anna Neilan Family Lawyer
Lucy Stramandinoli Family Lawyer
Hidden breeding ground for unknown champions
In a quiet corner of Fyshwick there’s a gym making a lot of noise nationally and internationally on the Thai boxing scene. GWYN REES, a practitioner of the combat sport Muay Thai, explains what’s behind the extraordinary success of Canberra’s breeding ground for champions…
In the realm of combat sports, there’s a hidden gem in Fyshwick that’s been quietly making waves.
Muay U, a Muay Thai gym, might not be a household name yet, but its impact on the sport is undeniable.
Founded five years ago, the gym has steadily carved a niche for itself, not only in Australia but across the global stage of Muay Thai.
Sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, Muay Thai is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps and various clinching techniques.
The past 18 months have been nothing short of monumental for Muay U. With a staggering 78 fights involving 24 fighters, the gym has clinched prestigious titles such as the WBC World title, two WBC International titles and national championships.
From Canberra to the revered grounds of Rajadamnern Stadium in Thailand, the Denver Colorado scene and the arenas of Singapore, Muay U has been on a relentless journey to -
wards excellence – a journey steered by its founder, Kieran Walsh.
Walsh’s story is one of resilience and transformation. Introduced to Muay Thai at the age of 10, he evolved into an accomplished martial artist. However, adversity struck when issues with his hand forced him into retirement from active fighting.
Rather than succumbing to setbacks, Walsh turned this limita tion into a formidable strength by channelling his expertise into coaching, mentoring and nurturing budding talents within the sport.
The gym has become a sanctuary for professional athletes and serves as a launchpad for fighters such as Max McVicker, David Pennipede, Gabrielle De Ramos, Josh Tonna, and Diandra Martin. These fighters have not only showcased their skills on the international stage, but have also elevated Muay U’s reputation as a breeding ground for champions.
Walsh’s reputation precedes him, both in Australia and Thailand, where he’s swiftly gaining legendary status.
says: “You get back what you put in.”
skill to Muay U. The Sitmonchai expertise, coupled with Walsh’s coaching finesse, has created a dynamic synergy that permeates through the gym, fostering a culture of excellence and technical proficiency.
Behind Muay U’s triumphs lies Walsh’s quiet charisma and his remarkable ability to attract top-tier talent. His capacity to draw skillful individuals to the gym and foster an environment where these talents share their knowledge with the broader community of fitness and martial arts enthusiasts is commendable.
This inclusive approach has amassed a following of individuals who are passionate about fitness and martial arts, regardless of their aspirations in the ring. It’s about building a community where everyone, from active fighters to enthusiasts seeking fitness and skill enhancement, feels welcomed and valued.
It’s easy to understand why, because Walsh has demonstrated an ability to secure unparalleled
Known for his unbridled passion and unwavering commitment to the intricate and technical aspects of Muay Thai, his influence is strikingly evident in the performance of his fighters. However, behind this lies immense
Adding to Muay U’s success story are the imports – San Sitmonchai and Super K Sitmonchai – two luminaries from the renowned Sitmonchai Gym in Thailand.
San, having transitioned from a fighter to an exceptional pad holder, brings invaluable experience and
As Muay U continues to make ripples in the ever-evolving landscape of Muay Thai, it’s clear that this unassuming gym and its passionate owner are poised to leave an indelible mark on the sport.
As Walsh says: “There is no success without struggle”, and for Muay U, the journey to the top is just the beginning of an enduring legacy.
Muay U gym, Gladstone Street, Fyshwick.
Muay Thai coach and mentor Kieran Walsh… a story of resilience and transformation.
Photo: Andrew Campbell
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
Perception is in the believing eye of the beholder
Perception is so often everything in politics. It is the key to making people believe you are some thing you are likely not, even if for just a short period of time.
Like how real estate agents turn up in the latest, expensive car to make you think they are successful.
This helps guide narratives around which is essential for us as the electorate to believe that the politi cian believes in. A commonality. A touch point. It is these narratives that campaigns are won, and lost, around.
For the prime minister, the narrative that he is a Labor leader from a working-class background, all true, and can therefore understand what those on low wages are going through is being diluted right now.
The house purchase is one thing, after all being in NSW you would need a lazy seven figures to buy anything with off-street parking and three bedrooms, but the requests for flight upgrades are not saying you understand the struggle.
Sure the politics of envy, the evil sibling of the politics of perception, is also intertwined in this. I’ll admit, yes, please, to the upgrades and the Chairman’s Lounge.
I’m guessing most of us would also be unlikely to say no, especially if you’ve done long haul in row 80 of a packed
A380 or done the struggle for space in the overhead lockers (yes, to both).
The big difference though is if you are the federal minister responsible for transport in a Western democracy, then allegedly asking for flight upgrades, sometimes each worth thousands, is not a good look if you want to be seen as “one of the people” and above stakeholder influence from big players who could easily be extras on Billions on Netflix.
ACT senator David Pocock was smart enough to realise how issues like this can potentially play out in the dynamic media landscape of 2024, and after accepting his Chairman’s Lounge pass then handed it back. One of the
The perception battle is already on for the next federal election. Strong, decisive, conservative Dutton from outer Brisbane, versus the intellectual, low-wage warrior from inner Sydney.
very few, as more than 200 politicians and their plus ones have not.
Once perception works against you then that aspect of the narrative of your story needs to change. The thing is, replacing it is hard.
Julia Gillard tried to do this, being so bold to even tell us so by declaring we’d see the real Julia Gillard. Yet the real Julia Gillard, one of the most effective Prime Ministers in Australian history in getting legislation passed, was already there but lost in Labor’s 2010 campaign narrative fire.
Switch to the US where Kamala Harris did a miraculous job in perception by moving from a vice president who had been far from outstanding to being a contender to be the most powerful person on earth.
The Republicans cleverly played on her perception that maybe she can’t stand up to the bullies of the world and that she’s all image and no substance, as when pressed to name what she would do differently to her
current boss, nada.
She should probably have looked at Labor’s campaign with Steven Miles in Queensland. Knowing he was facing a similar perception battle, he realised the way to prevent political oblivion was relatively simple.
Change perception by controlling the narrative, creating policies which were only his, associated with his own personal attributes, using the media as the messenger.
Have policies which would dominate the discussion for a few days, usually announced on a Thursday so we would talk about them over a weekend with our networks, and then repeat.
The gift on the perception front was the LNP’s folly to do a preference deal with KAP, which likely involved allowing them to introduce legislation to change abortion laws. All of a sudden Crisafulli was fighting his own perception battle.
Combined with Labor’s strategy, the LNP watched five per cent primary vote move away from them in two weeks, said goodbye to a likely two-seat election buffer, and now have to work hard to keep government in the most politically dynamic electorate (at state level) in Australia.
The perception battle is already on for the next federal election. Strong, decisive, conservative Dutton from the outer areas of Brisbane, versus the intellectual, low-wage warrior from inner Sydney.
Yet the perception of both to the voters they’ll need to win at the next election, those in the middle to outer suburbs currently being economically tortured, is that both are too far out on their respective ideological spectrums.
Neither has the aspiration and positive policies which connect with the narratives of those in the outer. Or Howard’s Battlers. Or Latham’s Ladder of Opportunity. With so many of us now making our minds up earlier, and voting early, time is fast running out for them to change that perception.
Dr Andrew Hughes is a lecturer in marketing with the Research School of Management at ANU where he specialises in po litical marketing and advertising.
Anthony Albanese… requests for flight upgrades are not saying you understand the struggle. Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP
Sciatica is caused by nerve pain that originates from the lower back and can cause pain from the point, right down through your bottom and down one leg to your calf.
Not the entire area may be causing you pain at any one time, but what the pain will certainly do is cause you frequent extreme discomfort that is often not relieved by pain medication.
Exercise is a key to dealing with sciatica. People who have lived with sciatica for some time will generally have some weakness of the
muscles, tendons and ligaments surrounding the joints and bones that support the sciatic nerve. This is largely due to not having used their body to the fullest extent due to the sciatic pain.
Sciatic pain will generally respond well to rebuilding the support structures surrounding the sciatic nerve. For some people surgery may be the only solution, but in most cases, even if surgery is required, building up the support structures either prior to or following surgery will still be necessary.
Arthritis ACT has a team of exercise physiologists that can improve your quality of life in relation to your sciatica. Both hydrotherapy and land based exercise techniques are useful, and for those who do not like water exercise, land based exercise is just as effective.
Do you want to solve your sciatica?
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Back maybe, but failed policies need reviewing
The returned Barr government should not rest on its laurels.
It should take the opportunity to review its policies and management, which have demonstrably failed to meet the challenges facing Canberra.
Detailed assessments are needed to determine priorities, given the level of unmet need greatly exceeds the resources available.
Among the areas needing review are transport, urban development and social housing.
Public transport
Targets to reduce car use by increasing the use of public transport have not been met. Major failings include the decisions not to undertake an assessment of the merits of bus rapid transport on for the extension of Woden and the signing of a contract to construct Stage 2A, from Civic to Commonwealth Park, at a time of labour and supply shortages and before Stage 2B, from Commonwealth Park to Woden, had been approved.
As the contract for Stage 2B extension will not be signed until after the 2028 election, the opportunity exists to assess whether the light rail extension, which Minister Chris Steel sees as essential to reducing future congestion, is the best strategy.
Has the focus reduced the funding available to deliver fast, frequent
and reliable bus services and is the expenditure justified given improve ments in electric bus and autonomous vehicle technology and increased working from home?
Are the transport needs of the “50,000” workers in the Parliamentary Zone best met by light rail?
One project that could shed some light is Brisbane’s (electric bus) Metro. The Metro opened on October 21 and will be fully operational in December. It will operate on two dedicated busways covering 21 kilometres.
It has a level of comfort and service similar to light rail with high-capacity buses (150 passengers and 170 in event mode), an operational frequency of every five minutes in the peak and is closely integrated with the rest of the transport network. Its estimated cost of $67 million a kilometre
per kilometre cost of Canberra’s Stage 2A of $339 million.
Urban development & social housing
The move to a higher-density city has been a component of planning policies since the late 1980s.
The aims were to reduce travel, widen housing choice and to reduce infrastructure costs.
The infill target was increased from around 50 per cent to 70 per cent in the 2018 Planning Strategy, a long-term planning strategy that did not investigate the environmental, travel and infrastructure costs of alternative land use distributions, the scope to disperse employment or housing preferences.
The merits of potential greenfields areas such as Kowen and the level of
infrastructure cost savings of infill, especially in inner Canberra, where substantial augmentation of social and physical infrastructure has occurred, were not assessed.
A consequence has been an undersupply of detached blocks reflected in an increasing price differential between detached and multi-unit dwellings and an increase in car-dependent development in surrounding NSW.
While the demand for higherdensity dwellings is growing from increased numbers of single and couple households, reduced housing affordability and the increased concentration of employment services in inner areas, a strong demand remains for detached dwellings.
Most infill dwellings developed have been apartments that do not meet the needs of many households in terms of number of bedrooms (only 14 per cent of apartments in Canberra have three or more bedrooms), storage space, communal open space and orientation.
Between 2011 and 2024, despite an increase of more than 100,000 in the territory’s population, the number of public housing dwellings fell by more than 1000.
A great increase in supply of well
designed and constructed apartments is essential to address needs and improve community acceptability. Outcomes could be improved by the introduction of a minimum block size for redevelopments and the exclusion of dual occupancies in RZ2 areas.
A Canberra and region planning strategy, prepared in conjunction with NSW governments, is urgently needed. The assessments would include environmental impact, infrastructure cost, housing preferences, affordability and strategies to disperse employment, particularly to locations well served by public transport.
It can only be hoped that the government has the insight that its policies and management practices need to be improved to deliver better outcomes for the community, not just in relation to transport, urban development and social housing, but in health, education, city maintenance and financial management.
Mike Quirk is a former NCDC and ACT govern ment planner.
Wirrinya district of the Lachlan Valley, near Forbes.
Tyres,
POLITICS / Alexander Maconochie Centre
I have followed with interest the series of articles published in CityNews, and other media, which lament the imprisonment of David McBride in the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC).
The articles focus not only on the inherent barbarism of the jailing of Mr McBride for having the temerity to blow the whistle on the possible mur der of Afghani civilians by Australian Defence Force personnel, but also on the patently poor management of the AMC where he is to be detained for the next five years.
My interest in this issue is, on one level, personal in that I was responsible for the decision to build the AMC.
I recently dug out the speech I delivered in 2008 at the formal opening of the prison. In that speech I outlined its intended operational plans and philosophical basis.
I named the prison the Alexander Maconochie Centre honour of the 19th century Scottish prison reformer. I first encountered the work of Maconochie (1787–1860) as a law student at the ANU. By a quirky coincidence, I later encountered his work during the years I spent as the deputy administrator of Norfolk Island in the early 1990s.
My wife Robyn and I and our family lived, in fact, immediately over the road from the site of the Norfolk Island
convict prison that Maconochie oversaw and the residence he occupied.
Before the opening of the AMC, I introduced the ACT Human Rights Act, which codified an important philosophical conviction that I hold, namely that even those who offend against the law retain an essential humanity and the human rights that accompany that state.
In my remarks at the time, I noted: “Society has a responsibility to treat those who have been punished, by being deprived of their liberty, with humanity and with respect for their dignity. Whatever they have done. However they have offended. Whoever they are.”
I was also driven in my determina-
Red
flag after red flag has been raised in warning of the inexorable decline of the AMC and its current status as almost certainly the worst performing prison in Australia.
tion to build the AMC by a deep commitment to the importance of rehabilitation as a fundamentally important means of reducing offending behaviour; encouraging detainees to seek self-improvement, fulfil their potential and ultimately lead successful lives in the community.
I have commented previously that considering the appalling reputation which the AMC has accrued in recent years, exposed again in CityNews in the last weeks in an excruciating expose by Andrew Fraser, that Alexander Maconochie is surely spinning wildly in his grave at the insult his spirit must sense in having his name associated with such a debacle.
A very brief summary of the phi-
losophy which Maconochie pioneered, which is based on the possibility of redemption, is in his words: “My experience leads me to say that there is no man utterly incorrigible. You cannot recover a man except by doing justice to the manly qualities which he may have – and giving him an interest in developing them.”
For those of us committed to the importance of rehabilitation and the possibility of redemption the last 10 years of the operation of the AMC have been excruciating to behold.
Sadly, it is also the case that it is not as if there has not been red flag after red flag raised in warning of the inexorable decline of the AMC and its current status as almost certainly the worst performing prison in Australia.
It did not, of course, have to be like this. For example in 2015 the auditorgeneral released an excellent 200-page report titled “The Rehabilitation of Male Detainees at The Alexander Maconochie Centre.” The report provides an excellent summary of almost every aspect of the operation of the AMC with multiple recommendations designed to ensure that the prison achieved its potential and met the ACT government’s original plans
for the prison and the communities’ expectations.
However, from a recent re-reading of the report, sadly, my assessment is that not a single recommendation of the auditor-general has been fully implemented.
There can, I think, be only two possible explanations for that, namely there is simply no one in the government who cares or alternatively the ACT’s finances are so stretched that prisoner rehabilitation has been dismissed as of no importance.
But back to David McBride and his imprisonment. Truly, we really do need to have a hard look at ourselves and ask is this who we are, locking up for five years an honourable man driven by the horror of the alleged murder of innocent civilians to blow the whistle on the possible cause of their death.
Jon Stanhope was ACT chief minister from 2001 to 2011 and the only chief minister to have governed with a majority in the Assembly.
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David McBride… imprisoned for having the temerity to blow the whistle on the possible murder of Afghani civilians by Australian Defence Force personnel. Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP
“The 2024 ClubsACT Clubs and Community awards provided an amazing showcase for the ACT Club Sector of the fantastic contribution that our industry makes to the ACT Community. The Clubs in the ACT, social, cultural and sporting all play a significant role in the social cohesion of the ACT community.
“All of the nominations we received in every category were of a high quality and there was very little between the winners and other nominees, making it especially tough for the judges.”
“I think the important thing with our awards are that they don’t aim to recognise the normal things that hospitality venues do as part of their businesses, like selling chips or chicken schnitzels, they really seek to remind the community of the unique role our not-for-profit venues play in sustaining the broader community. These awards highlight the social licence value of our industry.
There is no other industry with a core purpose that ensures the provision of safe and free spaces for community gatherings, the sponsorship of sporting and other events and facilities and focuses on cultural development. Our focus on often marginalised communities in Canberra and the role we play in terms of social cohesion and tackling isolation across the ACT is fundamental to the DNA of all our members. This was especially recognised by Minister Bill Shorten in his address where he listed a range of contributions our clubs make to Canberra.”
I really think that as a relatively small industry we really punch above our weight in terms of social impact and the contribution we make to Canberra socially, culturally and in terms of the broad spectrum of sporting interests we support. The Club industry in Canberra is one we are very proud of and one I’m very honoured to represent.” Mr Shannon said.
2024 AWARDS
Arts & Culture Award
Winner – Canberra Racing Club
– Festival of Speed
The Canberra Festival of Speed, launched in March 2024, is an annual celebration of automotive culture that attracted over 13,500 attendees in its debut. The festival showcases Canberra’s artisan scene and cultural heritage, featuring thrilling motorsport events, classic car displays, interactive exhibits, and a European food village. Honoring automotive history and craftsmanship, particularly European motoring, the festival supports local artisans and fosters community engagement through workshops and family activities. It boosts local tourism, aids regional businesses, and promotes collaboration with charities, making it an enriching addition to Canberra’s arts scene and a contender for the Arts & Culture Award.
Winner – Irish Club – Bloomsday
Each June 16, Bloomsday celebrates Irish writer James Joyce and his iconic novel Ulysses. This year, Canberra’s Irish Club hosted a special event with the Irish Community Players, who performed The First Bloomsday, a play by long-time member Ian Phillips.
2024 AWARDS
The production re-enacted Dublin’s first Bloomsday celebration in 1954 and drew a large crowd, including Irish Ambassador Tim Mawe and his wife. Proceeds from the event funded a mural by Simon Sawell, depicting a lively Irish pub scene.
Enhanced by a recent refurbishment, the Club now offers a warm, inviting space, furthering its dedication to Irish culture and community. Live music sessions every Friday keep the spirit alive.
Celebrating Diversity & Social Inclusion Award
Winner – Eastlake – A safe space for the community to connect and grow.
• The Rotary Club of Gungahlin
• The Yeribi View Club
• The Men’s table
Education, Learning & Development Award
Winner – Vikings – The transformative power of education enhances individuals’ lives across all age groups.
• Cadet program
• Apprentice chef program
• ASBA / Headstart Program
• School Scholarship Program
Contribution to Sport, Community Development & Wellbeing Award
Winner – Canberra Southern Cross Club
– Cupcakes & Conversations
The Canberra Southern Cross Club’s “Cupcakes & Conversations” has won the Contribution to Sport, Community Development & Wellbeing Award for its commitment to mental health awareness. Organized by CRUX, the club’s a
staff representative group, this RU OK? Day initiative encouraged open conversations about mental health. Over 150 cupcakes were baked and distributed across five venues, fostering a supportive workplace culture. Positive feedback from staff and the community highlights the initiative’s success in promoting wellbeing and open communication. Future plans include expanding the initiative to involve customers, furthering the club’s dedication to mental health.
Highly Commended – Ainslie Group –Breaking Down Masculinity Stereotypes: Ainslie Football & Social Club
The Ainslie Football & Social Club is working to break traditional masculinity stereotypes and promote mental health awareness. Central to this is the Tomorrow Man program, encouraging male players to discuss mental wellbeing and foster resilience. Inspired by former player Rowan “Rooster” Andrews, this initiative highlights the mental health struggles many face. Ainslie Football & Social Club has also upgraded Alan Ray Oval facilities to better support female players and the wider community, reinforcing their commitment to inclusion. Through these efforts, Ainslie Football & Social Club aims to lead by example, supporting the emotional wellbeing of future generations.
Sustainability & Environment Award
Winner – Ainslie Group – Greener Fairways, Stronger Community: Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club’s Commitment to Environmental Stewardship and Community Wellbeing
Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club has completed a $1.3 million irrigation upgrade, enhancing sustainability and community wellbeing. The decade-long project, finishing in 2024, introduces an energyefficient system that cuts watering time by 60% and reduces energy use with variable-speed pumps.
Beyond improving course playability, the upgrade benefits the local community by conserves water, supports local birdlife and native vegetation thriving around the course, and maintains a selfsufficient water catchment.
The club also boosts biodiversity through habitat preservation and tree planting, underscoring its commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Hospitality Innovation Award
Winner – Harmonie German Club – Taking it to the Streets
The Harmonie German Club’s mobile food trailer, launched in February 2024, marks a new era of community engagement and cultural celebration.
Supported by the Diversification and Sustainability Fund, the initiative brings German hospitality, cuisine, and heritage to a wider audience at festivals, markets, and events across Canberra. This mobile extension of the club has increased visibility, driving memberships and demand for event bookings.
Key outcomes include participation in highprofile events, fostering cultural understanding, and providing authentic German experiences.
With plans to expand its menu, enhance
sustainability, and secure long-term partnerships, the food trailer is set to become a permanent fixture in Canberra’s cultural and event scene.
Emerging Talent Award
Winner – Canberra Southern Cross Club – Jason Nguyen
Since joining the Canberra Southern Cross Club in 2020, Jason Nguyen has significantly enhanced member experiences and operational efficiency. Starting as Customer Experience Manager, he quickly made strides in service quality and team culture, supported by the club’s focus on professional development.
His impact was reflected in increased customer satisfaction and repeat visits, leading to his promotion to Assistant Manager, overseeing a $7 million venue.
By 2022, Jason took on leadership of the Yacht Club, guiding it to win the Best Wedding Venue by the Lake award. His mentorship of junior staff, combined with the club’s support, has built a resilient workforce and strengthened community connections.
Individual Service to the Industry Winner – Vikings Group – Michael Peel Michael Peel, a valued member of the Canberra Vikings Group, exemplifies the spirit of community, the club industry and a dedication that defines the club’s mission. With over 30 years in hospitality and eight years at Vikings, Michael is known for his lively presence and a laugh. Based at Vikings Town Centre, Michael has enhanced the club’s atmosphere through his customer-focused approach and vibrant leadership. His contributions align perfectly with the Vikings Group mission ‘to foster a welcoming, community driven environment.
Canberra Hospital Foundation & Clubs ACT – Best Burger Competition
Small Club Winner – Canberra Racing Club
– Feed the Seoul Burger
Highly Commended – Irish Club
– Soft Shell Crab Burger
Large Club Winner – Eastlake
– CHF Chicken Burger
Highly Commended – Vikings Group
– The Ham Burger
Heart of the Community –Club of the Year
The Heart of the Community award in the ACT honors clubs that demonstrate a strong commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. Qualifying clubs engage in initiatives that promote social connection, support local charities, and enhance community wellbeing. By prioritising customer service and member experiences, these clubs make a positive impact on the lives of those they serve, exemplifying the spirit of community leadership.
Winner – Large Club – Canberra Southern Cross Club
Winner – Small Club – Irish Club
ClubsACT Chief Executive Craig Shannon.
Whoever dies with the most toys wins what?
I have had three incredibly enlightening walks around the lake in recent weekends.
Not always the case, usually I end up fluffily determined to have a think about something at the end of an hour I had dedicated to thinking about that very thing, and waste the whole time being distracted by nature and birds and being happy and stuff.
Yet another good reason that attention spans are overrated. Honestly, this is why once mum heard about Jack and the Beanstalk she fair dinkum banned me from taking cows to markets.
Anyway, wandering around with Fred the other day he reckons that he’s still not got round to the role to make the pile that he could have with his amazing skills, and instead spent decades doing what he loved and people needed.
The poor guy ended up really satisfied and happy, making a great contribution to society, loving what he did, addressing the UN General Assembly, and being deeply admired by his children, family and many, many friends. Tragic.
My next walk with Kezza revealed that she, too, has abandoned plans to buy the next racket and milk it till she could replace the Cadbury with Lindt and now spends her free time and half her work time volunteering to direct this town’s doctors with relentless
“What my mates have learned is that, like Jimmy Stewart in the final scene of It’s A Wonderful Life, you can be the richest person in the world if you have friends and have a crack at being nice to people in this life.”
All she has got out of it is the undying respect and friendship of a few thousand people and suspicious looks from them who cannot fathom that there is no self interested ulterior motive. She is freaking them out!
Luckily her labrador, Hermione, world’s smartest hound, will probably end up a highly successful day trader or tax partner and feed the family while she is crusading. Unlike my genius dog, who is still discovering that his tail is behind his bum.
The kicker was today, though. I was beetling around dazed and caffeinating with my Sunday morning family of idiots and very – very – sheepishly admitted that I’d taken my eye off the
ning (Betamax videos and typewriters, my investing friend – you heard it here first) because everything else was really interesting.
Helping people, family, love, literally everything. Then a couple of the guys described almost the same thing! Baz has been ignoring his financial life for decades while propping up his little part of Canberra’s health system, same for Bill and Ben and the other Flower Pot men of Yarralumla.
And all those poor guys have got to show for it are a pile of adult kids who admire no one else above them, a profession that regards them as legends and careers littered with so many awards you can’t walk round
The poor guy ended up really satisfied and happy, making a great contribution to society, loving what he did and being deeply admired by his children, family and many, many friends. Tragic.
their office without your head bumping into an Order of Austraya.
I’m not for a minute comparing them to the millions of Australians doing it tough, and who have no choice but to work insanely hard to get through these times. God knows, I remember such times because they stick to you your whole life – and the one thing I know about charity, philanthropy and giving of your time and yourself, is that it is a luxury that you bestow upon yourself.
No, I’m thinking of people with millions in the bank who are struggling and schlepping and making themselves horribly miserable because they need more. Do they need more? Is Canberra lucky because we have fewer folk who literally measure themselves by postcode and possessions?
I dunno. All I know is that week after week now my friends kind of reach a stage where what gives them joy is helping others, including people who have never met them and will never thank them. What is life about?
Well, I can tell you none of my buddies are trying to accumulate brownie points in the afterlife. As long as the afterlife isn’t Andy’s waiting room or the Swannie’s dressing room after a grand final it will hopefully be okay.
What my mates have learned is that like Jimmy Stewart in the final scene of It’s A Wonderful Life, you can be the richest person in the world if you have friends and have a crack at being nice to people in this life.
That’s all I can be really sure of, all else is a beautiful mystery. And, to be perfectly honest, Cadbury’s is delicious anyway, and the sky above Lake Burley Griffin this morning was equally beautiful for princes and paupers. So is everything else that will ever matter.
Antonio Di Dio is a local GP, medical leader and nerd. There is more of his Kindness on citynews.com.au
The surgical assembly line with the end in sight
Last week I joined an assembly line whose efficiency would have Henry Ford weeping tears of joy.
No, I wasn’t one of the mechanics doing his bit before it passed down the line, I was a metaphorical Model-T on the line itself!
I was having my headlights adjusted and, but for one big bump at the start, the whole experience was smooth as silk.
Older Canberrans will have cracked the analogy already. Hundreds and hundreds of them have already joined me on the line in hospitals around the city where eye surgeons are removing cataracts from our cloudy retinas.
Nurse Nardia at my hospital said: “It’s amazing. They just keep coming; and when I think there can’t possibly be any more suddenly there’s another rush.”
The war babies and the boomers have coalesced in this gold rush for the ophthalmology industry and my journey, I suspect, is typical.
I was alerted to the problem by the annual Access Canberra demand for a driver’s licence eye test. While I passed the test, I had trouble with the left eye, which took me back to my optometrist, and a referral to specialist Dr Chich-Hung Kuo.
We’ve never had health insurance, and until the Barr-Rattenbury
Cataract clouding… “In hospitals around the city, eye surgeons are removing cataracts from our cloudy retinas,” writes Robert Macklin.
government blew the health budget on that idiotic tram it had worked well.
Now it’s a mess and people like us are caught between insane premiums and waiting forever for so-called “elective surgery”.
Anyway, my driving to the shops and the chemist with my chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is vital, so Dr Kuo’s $2400 (less $649.90 Medicare refund) started the process. Then came $3208 (no refund) for the hospital and $600 for the anaesthetist (less $169.50) from our hard-pressed savings. Now for the good part. The day before surgery, word arrived that I
should report by 11.30am. My eldest son drove up from Sydney and came in with me for an expected four-hour wait (as in the Canberra Hospital). Not so in the new Kent Street Canberra Private in Deakin. We’d barely arrived before Noah and Wang, recently from Bhutan in their medical scrubs, sat with us and checked the details then ushered me into the lift to the third-floor assembly line.
Voila! The blue plastic curtained beds were ranged around the entire floor. Mine awaited, a creased sheet suggesting a former sedan’s recent departure.
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We’ve never had health insurance, and until the Barr-Rattenbury government blew the health budget on that idiotic tram it had worked well. Now it’s a mess and people like us are caught between insane premiums and waiting forever for socalled “elective surgery”.
In a trice, it seemed, Wang and Noah were back pushing me and my bed into the operating theatre where Ross, the young anaesthetist, inserted a cannula into my notoriously unco-operative arm vein and used drops to numb the eyeball. Next the kindly features of Dr Kuo loomed into view; time slowed; soft Huo mutters emanated: “Good… good… ah, very good.”
All over, I thought.
Not exactly. A big dressing covered the eye and – safety first – I had to wait an hour or so in a big comfy recliner on the assembly line floor. And there –I kid you not – they served me delicious fresh sangers with the crusts removed!
(The Canberra Hospital version is made from used carpets). And the next day I had to visit Dr Huo’s rooms in Woden for a regular check-up. Next morning I removed the dressing and set forth to Kuo’s second floor rooms, only to find the lift out of order. Two flights totalling more than 30 high steps stretched skywards. With my COPD it was Mt Everest plus K2. I could have cried. But then a Canberra tradie – fawn boots, in his 30s – stepped from the shadows. “I’m early for my meeting,” he said. “Lean on me and…”
“I couldn’t…”
“No worries, mate. Put your arm round the shoulders.”
And I did. We made it.
At the top I was so overwhelmed I didn’t get his name. I guess he’d say, “No worries”. But I’ll remember his face, with both eyes.
robert@robertmacklin.com
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• Come in and speak to our staff of Runners, Triathletes and Orienteers with a passion and a first-hand knowledge of our entire product range!
SCAN ME
‘Antiseptic’ news reports belie the truth of war
I concur with Robert Macklin’s remarks (CN, October 24) on the ABC acceding to the antiseptic presentation of news reports while refraining to blame or censure those responsible for the deaths and homelessness of non-combatant civilians dismissed as impersonal collateral damage.
The faceless white shrouds display what is judged to be the publicly accepted standard of appalling events. In no way does it illustrate the effect of dropping 1000lb bombs on or near schools, hospitals, places of prayer, refuge or residence.
Such an explosion vaporises those in the immediate vicinity while the concussion ruptures internal organs, bursts eardrums, turns brains to jelly and results in every orifice being afflicted by fatal external haemorrhage.
While not making delicate family reading, this has been a primary cause of the many thousands killed in the retributive search for those responsible for last year’s atrocity perpetrated by Hamas.
Financial and travel sanctions have been imposed by many nations, including Australia, on such as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its personnel for, inter alia, facilitating the supply and firing of ballistic missiles towards Israel and the danger to life that these pose.
Surely, to show a measure of balance, it would not be inappropriate to similarly sanction the IDF, its political masters together with their global aiders and abettors who, speaking with forked tongues of concern for the communal distress they create, willingly supply their weapons of mass destruction without which the carnage and indiscriminate carpet-bombing couldn’t continue.
If it is determined that Israeli forces are genuinely acting within the proportionality parameters afforded by the Laws of War as formulated and blended over centuries by such as Augustine, Abu Bakr, Grotius, von
Clausewitz and the United Nations, then, paraphrasing Dickens’ Mr Bumble in “Oliver Twist”, the law is indeed an ass.
John Murray, Fadden
Hare-Clark rewards the hard working MLAs
Columnist Michael Moore’s analysis of the Hare-Clark with Robson rotation (CN, October 31) is spot on. It certainly gives much more power to the electors, while also diminishing that of the parties, and rewards
QUALITY AUSTRALIAN HEMP PRODUCTS
hard-working MLAs.
This was demonstrated by the large primary vote to Mark Parton and Tara Chayne, both of whom acknowledge and follow the same work ethic as Mary Porter, my wife, who received more primary votes than any Labor candidate, other than Katy Gallagher, in the 2012 election.
While Michael’s assessment that the American election system is easy to understand is correct, the process is not.
Not having the equivalent of the Australian Electoral Commission, the US elections are conducted by individual state, and in some cases county, elections authorities and, in many instances, those running the elections are elected.
This system resulted in Donald Trump attempting to coerce elected Republicans, in several jurisdictions, to alter the outcome in his favour.
While many may not like the outcomes of elections in Australia, no one can doubt they are conducted scrupulously and beyond reproach, and the result is the result.
Ian De Landelles, Murrays Beach, NSW
Dead wildlife would have concerned the King
King Charles is a keen conservationist who would have been concerned if he had travelled from Canberra just a short distance by car and seen the dead bodies of wombats and kangaroos lying on the sides of the road.
LEST WE FORGET
Mary Samara-Wickrama, of Weston, has written an Armistice Day poem.
November the eleventh, we remember Those who have gone before Across the seas to foreign lands
To fight in the Great War.
Millions lost their lives or were wounded, Damaged to their very core.
And families mourned for dear ones, Gone for evermore,
A “war to end all wars”
Was what we were all told.
But wars still break out around the world
For human hearts have grown cold.
We wear red poppies today to remember That we are in their debt.
But we,alive,must always strive
For peace on earth, lest we forget.
Lest We Forget.
Some wombat bodies may have been blue crossed for removal, but what is being done to prevent such cruel accidents from happening again?
More effective road signage and strict follow-up of those motorists exceeding the speed limits are needed to help save lives.
Susan Cruttenden, via email
The uncertainties that lie ahead
When the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) chief executive Daniel Westerman told a Senate inquiry recently that he “can’t guarantee” power bills will fall under the integrated system plan for a renewable grid, he was only being truthful about the uncertainties that lie ahead.
AEMO speaks of its “current technical understanding of what is needed to achieve power system security”. It is mainly referring to how a secure synchronous power supply can be developed without a substantial presence of 500MW steam turbine generators. There is no ready replacement for the inertia of a 250-tonne Australian Energy Market Operator turbine spinning at 3000rpm!
AEMO is active in pursuit of an answer to this problem, assuming because most nations committed to the Paris Agreement are facing the same problem then it can and will be solved.
Researchers, engineers and manufacturers around the world are focusing on rapid response software algorithms for the control of the inverters that interface every wind, solar and battery energy source to the grid. This implies the deployment of a computerbased management system in every inverter.
What national security pitfalls will there be in this new technology? Will ASIO spring another Huaweistyle ban on all Chinese inverter manufacturers?
John L Smith, Farrer
Ceremonies have become ‘meaningless’
Welcome to Country – I fear this mystic hangover has become meaningless, no longer attracts much support and needs removal.
There will be financial strain on some indigenous people who earn anywhere between $350 and $1000+
for performing the welcome and smoking ceremonies. Their scale of fees, conditions and supplementary payments for miscellaneous inconveniences are clearly articulated on the internet.
John Lawrence via email
Koala love, but what about the rest?
The government-funded Conservation Council ACT Region has called for a halt to further development of Jacka after a lone koala strayed into the new suburb.
The koala is one of the world’s millions of species. Five per cent of those species are estimated to be at risk of climate-related extinction.
Canberrans contribute disproportionately to the emissions that are driving those extinctions. Our per capita carbon footprint is four times that of the rest of the world. Our so-called “net zero emissions by 2045” policy applies to only six per cent of our carbon footprint.
The government is doing nothing to address the remaining 94 per cent except, “working in partnership across state, territory and national governments and will discuss scope 3 emissions through existing arrangements and sub-national policy forums”.
The Conservation Council says that the ACT led the nation in achieving 100 per cent renewable electricity, legislating targets of net-zero emissions and phasing out fossil gas by 2045.
I commend the Conservation Council for its concern about the survival of koalas. I look forward to it showing similar concern for the hundreds of local species that are at risk of climate-related extinction.
Leon Arundell, Downer
Cartoon: Paul Dorin
How streaming is changing the way we listen
‘I almost feel like stuck in a rut’: how streaming services have changed the way we listen to music.
Music streaming can alter what was once a private activity into something more seemingly public.
Around 2016, streaming became the dominant way people engaged with recordings of music. Users engage in a constant process of renting music, by perpetually paying to use these services or by providing access to user data. Streaming services operate simultaneously in two types of markets: the circulation of music for users; and the exploitation of users’ data and attention.
With this sharing, music streaming has altered the social experience of listening to music. Now, anyone with an account could potentially be listening in and seeing what music we choose to spend our time with.
So how does “Spotify snooping” and streaming music more generally change the way we listen to music?
To understand the changing nature of music listening, I interviewed 49 users of streaming services about how they listen to music.
One key finding is these services render music more ubiquitous across everyday life.
As one interviewee explains: Streaming has made it easier
want to find something new’. And I’ll go out and find that. But even though it’s not Spotify’s fault, I kind of feel a little [trapped] in the world that I’ve set up for myself by listening to certain types of things. I guess the algorithm promotes what you’ve already been listening to and only gives you often slight variations on what that is because it doesn’t want to freak you out. And I guess that’s its job. It can be a little limiting sometimes.
viewed by outsiders, the users I spoke to talked of a need to navigate music streaming carefully.
One interviewee spoke of the “social pressure” to curate what he is listening to:
I’m also slightly conscious of how much I’m listening to something and, you know, like it’s not… is it embarrassing, but is it? Am I listening to it too much? Should I be listening to more varied music because I want to seem, I don’t
know, like should I listen to more of plays around in the back of my
rendered into a series of data points.
Sometimes you listen to things in a personal context, you know, I guess if the music you’re listening to is reflective of how you’re feeling, you how you’re feeling or communicate
broadcast, it’s a little bit off, isn’t
This knowledge of how streaming experience of using the service itself.
once privately listening to songs on their iPod:
It was sort of a bit anonymous as well. I like that you could just sort of you know… I could just be in bed, for example, with the headphones in listening and it wasn’t sort of necessarily recorded online. And I suppose I have to admit there’s a part of me that feels a little bit resentful that you can’t just sort of download things the way you could in the past and have it […] [to] listen indefinitely.
While streaming undoubtedly commands a significant way we now engage with music, some interviewees also indicate it has changed their relationship with music:
I guess having ownership over music feels different to having, you know, like a subscription. I feel less passionate about streaming services […] I think I just feel more passive with Spotify I guess, like, less active. Because every time I try to be active I just get frustrated at not being able to find what I want […] Like, there was just so much more effort involved in music before whereas I think when something becomes less – less effortful perhaps it becomes less special, you know.
Streaming technologies not only change how we access music recordings but also are associated with changes in the social experience of listening to music.
Streaming allows people to incorporate music ubiquitously and musically inflect everyday life in increasingly varied ways. But it can also transform private acts of listening into public ones to be viewed with risk if not managed carefully.
Michael James Walsh, Associate Professor in Social Sciences, University of Canberra. Republished from The Conversation.
ABOUT QUEANBEYAN
Fast-growing city has lots to offer visitors and locals
Home to artists, politicians, designers and everything in between, Queanbeyan is one the fastest growing inland cities in NSW, according to the QueanbeyanPalerang Regional Council.
In this special feature CityNews speaks to experts from in and around Queanbeyan who are passionate about what they do and the town they are from.
Lawyers with a ‘Kind’ approach to solving problems
Requiring a lawyer is often a stressful process for clients, says managing principal lawyer of BDN Lawyers Tanya Nadin.
“Our clients are valued regardless of how big or small their task. We work hard to minimise what is often a stressful process for our clients,” she says.
Tanya is a founding member of Kind Lawyers, a group of likeminded lawyers from various law firms who are challenging the traditional way lawyers deal with each other in adversarial proceedings such as family law.
“At BDN we believe this approach is equally applicable in other areas of law,” she says.
“We like people and like helping them achieve their goals and solve their legal problems.
“As legal practitioners, we want to get the best outcome for our clients and help them find a sensible, pragmatic, timely and cost-effective solution.”
For example, the responsibilities of having a power of attorney differ between NSW and the ACT, which is something Tanya says BDN ensures their clients are on top of.
It is important to engage with a lawyer who is familiar with the requirements in both places, she says.
“We have offices in both Canberra and Queanbeyan and offer a full range of legal services.”
BDN Lawyers, Level 1, 1 Farrell Place, Civic (call 6130 1999) and 260 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan (call 6299 3999). Visit bdn.com.au
The Queanbeyan Golf Club has been operat ing its “game changing” Vibe Bar and Bistro for seven months.
“We are trying to fight the ‘exclusive’ stereotypes of golfing clubs and facilities,” says CEO Glen Lloyd.
“We cater to all types of functions and want to make sure everyone is having a good time.
“We’re big on social interactions and encouraging community.
“That’s why we called it Vibe, we want to have a relaxed and good environment for our customers to enjoy.”
Glen says providing in-house food and drinks has been a game changer for the organisation.
“It’s an extra service that we can give to the community and it gives us autonomy over the menu,” he says.
“Our chefs do regular specials and we try to provide a mix of club specials and up-market food to give our customers a variety of options to choose from.”
The club’s chefs come from a range of backgrounds and offer fresh and exciting options for the menu.
“We like giving both our staff and customers the freedom to choose,” says Glen.
The club, established 97 years ago, runs regular raffles for charity and community
Vibe Bar & Bistro at Queanbeyan Golf Club
Vibe Bar & Bistro offers a great range of club classics, pizzas, and daily specials.
Enjoy dining with amazing views over the beautiful golf course or in our Al Fresco area.
WEDNESDAY – SCHNITTY SPECIAL
• Plain Schnitty with your choice of sauce and chips $15
• Parmi $17
THURSDAY – STEAK NIGHT (Dinner Only)
300g rump steak, sides and a beer $25
• Open for Lunch & Dinner Tuesday to Saturday, 12noon-8pm
• Function room available
• Delivery available on Menulog
organisations.
“We are here to support the community,” says Glen.
“The more the community supports the club, the more we can give back to the community. It’s what we are all about.”
Queanbeyan Golf Club, E/5 Brown Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 1669 or visit queanbeyangolf.com.au
Tanya Nadin, managing principal lawyer, BDN Lawyers.
Catering available at Vibe Bar & Bistro.
ALL ABOUT QUEANBEYAN
Doctors with a pride in holistic healthcare
Brindabella Medical Centre doctors Shanket Bhakta, Vithya Indrakumar and Shyama Gonakumbura are renowned for their compassionate approach, attentive listening and dedication to patient care, says operations manager Anita Segal.
“We are a mixed-billing medical centre, prioritis ing personalised care,” says Anita.
“We bulk bill Commonwealth concession card holders, children under 16, and DVA gold card holders for standard in-person consultations on weekdays, excluding phone and form-related appointments.
“Our independent general practitioners focus on building long-term patient relationships and of fering a wide range of medical and health services, including pre-employment and insurance medicals, childhood immunisations, travel vaccinations, women’s and men’s health, stress management, cardiograms (ECGs), spirometry, cryotherapy, occupational health counselling, medical check-ups, Implanon insertion and removal, and nutrition and exercise physiology.”
Anita says the Brindabella Medical Centre team is deeply passionate about delivering high-quality, patient-centred care, and committed to fostering a supportive environment where patients feel heard, valued and empowered in managing their health.
“We pride ourselves on our holistic approach to healthcare, community engagement initiatives and ongoing educational programs aimed at promoting wellness and empowering patients to lead healthier lives,” she says.
Brindabella Medical Centre, Suite 2/80 Morisset Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6188 8400 or visit brindabellamc.com.au
Helping patients feel confident with their smiles
At Comprehensive Dental Care, the team is dedicated to providing top-tier dental services focused on prevention, restoration, cosmetic and dental implants surgery, says principal dentist, Dr Sonika Sharma.
“Utilising the latest techniques, [we] create a seamless experience in a friendly, relaxed environment,” she says.
With an emphasis on cosmetic dentistry, Comprehensive Dental Care offers a wide range of procedures to enhance both the appearance and function of their patients’ smiles, including porcelain veneers, bridgework, implants and crowns.
“Whether serving individuals, families or children, [we] take pride in our commitment to professional, personalised care,” Dr Sharma says.
“We provide implant dentistry and advanced cosmetic procedures, helping our patients feel confident and comfortable with their smiles.
“Our practice is dedicated to keeping patients informed about every aspect of their treatment to build trust and understanding.”
Dr. Sharma and her team are passionate about delivering high-quality dental care.
“We look forward to welcoming you to our practice and ensuring your visits are as pleasant and comfortable as possible,” she says.
Comprehensive Dental Care, 32 Lowe Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6297 1303 or visit comprehensivedentistry.com.au
Principal dentist, Dr Sonika Sharma.
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ALL ABOUT QUEANBEYAN
Johnny and his team love caring for cars
Lange’s Auto Centre has been operating in and servicing the Queanbeyan community for more than 50 years.
“I love doing it,” says owner Johnny Lange.
“It’s a pleasure to be providing a reliable and expert mechanical service to the community.”
The local family-owned business prides itself on working on any make and model of cars, ensuring its customers are road ready.
“We do vehicle servicing for cars, light vehicles and motorcycles as well as identity and design checks, LPG systems and defect notice clearances,” says Johnny.
“We do NSW registration inspections, too.”
Johnny says the family business has cemented its trust and commitment in the local community since opening in 1972.
‘‘It’s almost a daily occurrence that our clients would rather wait a day for Lange’s to service their vehicle than to have it done by somebody else today,’’ he says.
“We put a lot of money back into the community, too, through sponsoring sports teams such as the Queanbeyan Junior Blues.”
Johnny recommends booking a week in advance to ensure a spot for your vehicle.
Lange’s Auto Centre, 44 Yass Road. Call 6297 6969 or visit langesauto.com.au
Meals on wheels with much more on the menu
Servicing the Queanbeyan community for 54 years, Meals on Wheels Queanbeyan has been a staple in the community for providing healthy and nutritious meals for those in need.
“We don’t just provide meal deliveries,” says Queanbeyan branch manager Melissa Ellis.
“We provide social interactions and wellness checks as well with our home-care packages.
“We don’t just drop the meals off at the door, our volunteers will go inside and help our clients unpack them and sometimes cook them. It’s a full service and provides social interactions for our clients who can’t get out much on their own.”
Manager since 2021, Melissa oversees 45 volunteers in the Queanbeyan branch who service the Queanbeyan Palerang council region.
“All of our deliveries are done by our hardworking volun -
teers,” she says.
“We wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”
Previously working in the public sector, Melissa says working with Meals on Wheels is incredibly rewarding.
“I love it, it brings me joy,” she says. “We’re giving back to the community.”
Everything the organisation does, is for the community, Melissa says.
“We are all about accommodating our clients,” she says.
“We have no lock-in contracts for our home-care packages, which means no set requirements or minimums.
“We are there whenever and wherever we are needed.”
Meals on Wheels, unit 2/30 Lowe Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6299 3000 or visit mealsonwheelsqueanbeyan.org.au
Where Queanbeyan ‘comes home’ to the arts
“It’s like coming home to a place that you know,” says artistic director and program manager at The Q, Jordan Best.
Not limited to arts, The Q hosts conferences, meetings, weddings and everything in between, although Jordan says it’s the arts that she’s particularly passionate about.
“There’s so many studies that have been done on the tremendous health benefits of performing arts, no matter what area you are interested in,” she says.
A director herself, Jordan has been working at The Q for four years, something she says has been the best experience.
“We are small enough to feel like you’re home,” she says.
“It’s all about supporting both our artists and our community.”
The Q will stage Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream outside the front of the venue at the Aunty Louise Brown Gardens between November 29 and December 15.
For this show they are trialling a new “pay-whatyou-feel” method, Jordan says. They want to show the community that experiencing the arts doesn’t have to be expensive.
“Whatever it is that you enjoy, we want to provide it for you, without breaking the bank,” she says.
The performances on offer vary considerably, says Jordan.
“There really is something for everyone.
“We will also be seeing The Italian Tenors hit the stage on November 29, which should be great fun.”
The Q, 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6285 6290 or visit theq.net.au
Jordan Best.
Delivering better healthcare for Queanbeyan
The Albanese government has delivered on its commitment to people in Queanbeyan to improve access to healthcare, with the opening of the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic and the Mental Health Hub, says Kristy McBain.
The federal member for Eden-Monaro says: “These two vital services are already making a big difference in the Queanbeyan region.
“I’m proud to have delivered these critical healthcare services for Queanbeyan, which will ensure that local families can access the care they need at short notice – all bulk-billed under Medicare.”
She says the Queanbeyan Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, located at the Brindabella Family Practice on Morisset Street, is open for extended hours, seven days a week, with no appointment required.
“The clinic is helping to ease pressure on the Queanbeyan hospital with more than 2200 presentations already. All you need to access the Urgent Care Clinic is your Medicare card,” she says.
Meanwhile, the Queanbeyan Mental Health Hub provides locals with access to free, walk-in mental health support and care.
“The Hub provides people living in the Queanbeyan region with better access to mental health care locally – something that was long called for,” Ms McBain says.
“It is staffed by a range of skilled mental health professionals and people with lived experience.”
The Mental Health Hub is at Shop 110, Riverside Plaza, call 9393 9213.
The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, Brindabella Family Practice, Suite 4, 7-9 Morisset Street, call 6299 6990.
Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain… “I’m proud to have delivered these critical healthcare services for Queanbeyan, which will ensure that local families can access the care they need at short notice – all bulk-billed under Medicare.”
ving the Palerang region
s little or as much as you want Order the things you like Change your order whenever you want to.
We deliver right into your kitchen. We don’t just leave your order at the door.
FREE “HEAT AND EAT” ask, we will happily heat and present your meals for you.
e make time to talk to you, and find out how you are.
We are a “not-for-profit” registered charity Our motivation is love and care, not profit
We have just 2 employees You will always talk to the same knowledgeable and helpful people
his means you may be eligible for subsidised meals
We’re not just a Queanbeyan service.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
on (02)6299 3000 or at admin@mealsonwheelsqueanbeyan.org.au
WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT OF
Working for our community Member for Eden-Monaro
KristyMcBainMP
KristyMcBain
Kristy.McBain.MP@aph.gov.au 02 6284 2442
Author sed by Kr sty McBain ALP, 21-25 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS
Get planning now for a merry end-of-year event
The countdown to Christmas is on, which means it’s time to start planning end-of-year functions.
In this special feature, we showcase some fabulous options from some of Canberra’s best venues. Church
The best part of the Christ mas season is sharing it with people, says All Saints Anglican Church parish secretary Elizabeth Dixon.
Elizabeth recommends the Ainslie church’s children’s pageant at 4pm and the midnight mass at 11pm.
The Ainslie Group will give guests a “Christmas party to remember!”, says catering and event manager, Leanne King.
The group has two club venues – Ainslie and Gungahlin – that have a rich local history, Leanne
“Ainslie is coming up to its centenary in 2027 and Gungahlin Lakes is reaching 28 years,” she
“It’s the perfect venue to host your Christmas
With versatile space, inspired catering options and an atmosphere brimming with holiday cheer, Leanne says their venues are ideal for anything and everything, from intimate gathering to large, end-of-year celebrations.
letting it be the centrepiece to their function, or enjoy the grand scale of Ainslie’s spaces.
“Visitors should let our experienced functions and events team handle the details so you can relax, celebrate and make lasting memories with friends, family and colleagues,” Leanne says.
The Gungahlin Lakes venue has an 18-hole golf course with 280 metres of driving range.
Ainslie Group, Ainslie Football & Social Club, 52 Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie. Call 6248 8422 or, Gungahlin Lakes Golf & Community Club, 110 Gundaroo Drive, Nicholls. Call 6242 6283 or visit ainslie group.com.au
can expect carols, stories, hymns and great company at both the pageant and the mass sessions.
“The pageant is a day for the whole family,” Elizabeth says.
“The children get dressed up and tell the story of the birth of Jesus.”
The church’s traditional high mass will be celebrated at 9am on Christmas Day.
“Part of church is getting together and enjoying being with a community of people,” says Elizabeth.
“Our activities aren’t limited by whether you’re a regular at the church. Anyone can join in on them. We get people from all walks of life.
Affordable options for every budget and a “Build Your Own” approach, allows you to have as much or as little involvement as you wish. Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering of 30 or a grand celebration up to 250 guests, our versatile packages can be tailored to suit your needs. Leveraging 20 years of expertise in the functions and events industry, we believe in simplicity, transparency, and inclusivity, ensuring every guest can achieve a flawless event.
“Just show up when you’re able.” Elizabeth says the church is known for its music and urges visitors to enjoy the spectacular music.
“It really lifts your spirits,” she says. All Saints is also welcoming new, fulltime rector Father Alipate Tuineau. The church was originally built as the first mortuary station to Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney, in 1868. The stonework was moved to Canberra in 1957.The church offers history tours to individuals and groups.
All Saints Anglican Church, 9-15 Cowper Street, Ainslie. Call 6248 7420 or visit allsaintsainslie.org.au
Music from the choir at All Saints Anglican Church.
Themed functions with all the trimmings
Sales, marketing and advertising director Tim Bruen says the Crowne Plaza in Civic is an ideal location to host a Christmas function.
“We host Christmas-themed lunches on the first two Fridays of December for smaller organisations,” he says.
“There’s no minimum number.
“We want to cater to as many people as we can.”
Bookings for larger events can also be accommodated, up to 120 people.
Tim urges anyone thinking about organising a Christmas party to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
“Our staff look forward to hosting Christmas parties,” he says.
“We set everything up with all the Christmas trimmings and decorations.”
Established in 1989, Tim says the hotel provides services to the community all year round.
“We like to think of ourselves as a great starting point,” he says.
“We are in the centre of Canberra and are located next to the casino and lots of different bars and establishments.
“We love celebrating the end-of-the-work-year and hosting [your] functions.”
Tim’s particular recommendation is their barbecue buffet on the terrace that overlooks Glebe Park.
“It’s an amazing view and the food is great,” he says.
“Our head chef is exceptional.”
Crowne Plaza, 1 Binara Street, Canberra. Call 6274 5500, or visit canberra.crowneplaza.com
Christmas Services
9-15 COWPER STREET, AINSLIE
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GARDENING
The challenges of tree tomatoes
By Jackie WARBURTON
Tree tomatoes aren’t really grown in Canberra, but as an indoor plant in winter and outdoor plant in summer or in a glasshouse, anything is possible.
Tree tomatoes, or tamarillos, produce lovely egg-shaped fleshy fruit, but unlike their cousins the tomato have big, lush tropical leaves. Shallow rooted, they need moisture while growing and fruiting.
Growing one of these in Canberra is only possible in a pot because
they have to be kept out of the frost. Mine has survived two winters in the glasshouse and will begin to branch after it is about two metres tall.
There is different coloured fruit for different flavours, so know what you like before growing one. The largest fruit is a vibrant red that is least tart and can be eaten raw.
They have lovely purple solanaceae flowers in spring. There will be an abundance of fruit that is tangy and great for cooking chutneys, desserts and sauces.
The skin is not palatable, but the flesh can be scooped out and eaten raw or used for cooking.
NOW the warm weather has arrived, it’s a great time for semi-hardwood cuttings of plants such as camellias, viburnums or any
evergreen spring-flowering plants.
A semi-hardwood cutting is a piece of stem on the tip of the plant that is flexible and strong. It is generally two-coloured: first it’s brown, which is old growth, and green, which is new spring growth.
Remove all the leaves that will be under the potting mix and bunch a few cuttings the right way up and dip into some honey or hormone gel and plant into 50 per cent potting mix and 50 per cent perlite. Water gently and keep in the shade, but do not let them dry out.
This method can be used for daphne, azaleas and westringias as well.
I have the propagation bug again and it’s easy to do and a cheap way to multiply plants for the garden.
THE vegetable patch should be in full swing and all seedlings will need to be in the garden for any harvest in the holidays.
Lettuce, silverbeet, snow peas and radishes can all be planted now and, if grown fast, they’ll be ready for the Christmas table and the holidays.
Plant out another batch of seedlings again in a few weeks’
time to extend yield over the season and sprinkle a little diatomaceous earth around seedlings while they are young.
SUMMER-flowering plants such as gazanias and gaillardias can be planted now. While short lived, they make up for it in their blooms. Gallardia’s vibrant yellows, reds and oranges all in one big flower are magnificent and thrive on neglect. Planted in the right spot they can bloom for up to nine months of the year. Gallardias need full hot sun and are not fussed by the soil they grow in. Tip pruning will promote bushy growth with more flowers.
jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au
Jottings…
• Keep watering blueberries and all berry canes.
• Take green-shoot prunings from dahlias now.
• Net apple trees to prevent coddling moths.
• Place diatomaceous earth around new seedlings.
Tree tomatoes… they’re not really grown in Canberra, but as an indoor plant in winter and outdoors in summer anything’s possible. Photos: Jackie Warburton
Gallardia’s vibrant yellows, reds and oranges all in one big flower are magnificent and thrive on neglect.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
It’s a Russian circus by name, but not by nature
By Helen MUSA
Just how Russian do you have to be to call yourself The Great Moscow Circus?
Well not at all, as I find when I catch up with Mark Edgley, who’s promoting the brand for a multi-stage new “Extreme” show, which is already in full flight in Gungahlin.
It’s been on tour in Queensland, the NT, WA, SA, Tasmania and Victoria, but now it will settle in the ACT for the summer, with a quick side trip to Goulburn before Christmas, returning from January 4 to as yet unnamed locations in Mawson for three weeks and two weeks in Queanbeyan.
The circus has been a household name since 1965 and now together with the Webers, another famous circus family, it’s being presented by the Edgley-Weber organisation.
Edgley explains the branding very carefully.
The Great Moscow Circus first visited Australia in 1965 under the auspices of the company started by his grandfather, legendary circus performer Eric Edgley, and has continued every three to five years in Australia and NZ ever since, making it almost
60 years old.
When the Soviet Union collapsed in December 1991, the Edgley family purchased the name, now owned by them and the Weber Circus family, both Australian, with no affiliation whatsoever with the government of Russia.
His father Michael Edgley also brought many Russian ballet shows to Australia as well, but that association with Russia has stopped, too.
But with a brand name as recognisable as the Great Moscow Circus, he says, “you’d be mad to let it go”.
Covid grounded the circus in 2021 after
which, due to what he politely calls “the sensitive political world situation”, they put together a team of carefully chosen circus stars for the first time.
“We have no association with Russia at all,” Edgley assures me. “We don’t even have Russian performers, although with artists from Armenia, Ukraine, Brazil, Colombia, Greece, NZ and, of course, Australia, we have a bit of an international flavour.”
“We’ve given this one the title Extreme Circus name mainly because of the BMX motorbikes, the wheel of death and the trampoline acts.
“There’s a very new low-wire act direct
from South America and we have other aerial acts performed by the Weber girls, Tianni, Tahlia and Tanika Weber.”
The live singers include musical star Elly Rowbottom, who acts as vocalist, dance and ringmaster, and the show is lit with technocoloured lighting.
To Edgley’s mind, the most extreme of the death-defying acts is the BMX show.
“It’s like a competition for the BMX performers, they’re improving their tricks every time they do a show – it’s just a test for them but for us it’s magic and we can see them close up,” he says.
One aspect of the show that Edgley
believes audiences will relate to is the clown ing. He rates their clown, Gagik Avetisyan, from Armenia, as the world’s funniest clown, with a bag of audience-engagement tricks up his sleeve.
“He’s just under 5 foot [1.5m] but as a clown, he’s big,” says Edgley.
“Don’t be confused with other circuses. Others come and go, but there’s only one Great Moscow Circus.”
The Great Moscow Extreme Circus, corner Flemington Road and Ernest Cavanagh Street, Gungahlin, until November 17. Further dates in January will be announced.
don’t even have Russian performers,” says Mark Edgley.
‘Glittering reflections’ put Canberra on the map
By Helen Musa
In what he calls “a myriad of glittering reflections,” newly-announced director of the ANU Drill Hall Gallery, Tony Oates, has curated an exhibition of work by two of our late artists who have put the visual art in Canberra on the map.
The major show, Richard Larter: Free Radical, celebrates the work of the legendary local artist who, from the 1950s until his death in 2013, mixed new science with the history of abstraction and pornography with political freedom, allowing “the chemistry of paint and its application to canvas a weapon against inequality”.
Oates says Larter has been widely touted as the founding father of Australian pop art, although it was a label (as a serious contrarian), he hotly rejected.
Known for his confrontational paintings, many painted in Canberra and Yass, that fused global politics with sexually liberated imagery, his abstract works exhibited concern for composition and the dynamic relationships of colour, shape and line.
Richard Larter, Untitled (detail), 1966, synthetic polymer on board.
Larter’s work captures the energies of place and the politics of the times, Oates says, and viewers will enjoy the “sparkling riot of colour, pattern and effervescent cheek”.
The paired exhibition, Riffing on:
Pat Larter’s Rhythms & Pete Maloney’s Blues, puts together a selection of works from the 1993 exhibition of the same name, where paintings by Maloney, who died in 2023,
performed almost as backdrops, stages and sets for the models and subjects of Pat, wife to Larter.
When I catch up with Oates, he says that like me, he’d managed to miss the 1993 exhibition, which was held in a small gallery in Surry Hills, Sydney. But he’s heard enough about it.
Pat, by then a grandmother, had her own practice but most of
Peter Maloney, Red, 1994, oil on canvas.
her work was based on what Oates calls “performance things”, so this collaboration represented an opportunity for her to make paintings in a slightly more conventional form – not too conventional, though.
Pat was famous for heading to the newsagency in Yass to buy her painting materials, which included a fair amount of glitter.
What started as modelling for
Larter developed into her own performative practice, in which her sexual liberation provided the context and subject matter for her painting, so while Maloney was producing large abstract paintings, Pat’s work often involved using models performing in the space.
She would then photograph and make collages showing the models and Maloney’s work together. These
are held in the Art Gallery of NSW and the National Gallery of Australia, but many present-day viewers might not understand where they came from.
Oates sees the work of both Pat and the younger Maloney as representing a kind of dialogue between second-wave feminism of the ‘70s and the gay rights movement of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
As for Maloney, he taught at the ANU School of Art and his works were in 2018 the subject of a Drill Hall Gallery show, Peter Maloney: Missing in Action, which centred around a forgotten body of work created at the height of the Sydney HIV/AIDS epidemic. He was very well aware of the mighty influence that Richard Larter had on younger Canberra artists.
“Both of them were a bit ratbaggy and anti-authoritarian and both instilled that into their followers,” Oates says.
Thus, we see a painting in the second exhibition by Malone called Red but it is plainly blue. This is a colourful exhibition, but you might have to revise your preconceptions about colour.
Richard Larter: Free Radical, with Riffing On: Pat Larter’s Rhythms & Pete Maloney’s Blues, ANU Drill Hall Gallery, November 8-January 19.
ARTS IN THE CITY Story of ‘seeing’ things differently
Barbie Robinson’s new kids’ (and adults’) book, Molly and Maple, illustrated by Yass artist Sara Phemister, is based on the true story of former Canberra journalist, speechwriter and community activist Amanda Holden. It’s about a woman’s resilience when she lost her sight and about the two canine guardian angels who helped her to “see things differently”. It will be launched by muso/writer Fred Smith, with audio-description of the illustrations by choreographer and disability advocate Liz Lea, at The Book Cow Kingston on November 15.
Canberra Symphony Orchestra’s raffle nearly sank when the José Carreras & Plácido Domingo concert, tickets to which were first prize, was cancelled. Opera Australia has stepped in with four AReserve tickets to Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour’s Guys & Dolls and four magnums of Moët & Chandon.
Meantime the CSO, under the baton of guest conductor Benjamin Bayl, will perform Dvořák’,
composer Christopher Sainsbury. Llewellyn Hall, November 13-14.
The National Folk Festival will receive funding of $120,000 from the federal government’s latest Revive Live grant round to support the presentation of original Australian artists and to enhance accessibility for patrons.
Phoenix Collective’s Dan Russell has dashed to London in hope of purchasing a replacement for his damaged Lorenzo Ventepane violin. He’ll be back in time for the next concert at Wesley Uniting Church, on November 15, where they’ll perform Beethoven and Vasks with dance music by French electro-pop duo Daft Punk.
chameleon of the new generation”, will join Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Scotland Unbound, Llewellyn Hall, November 16.
Hawker College, always a powerhouse of theatre studies, is putting on one of the most hilarious plays ever written, Michael Frayn’s Noises Off. Complete with slamming doors, falling trousers and flying sardines, it takes a fond look at the foibles of wannabe actors and stage folk. Murranji Theatre, Hawker, November 14-15.
Apeiron Baroque’s chamber concert, Sanguine/Melancholy, will feature duelling violins as the ensemble is joined by Ella Bennetts, Anton Baba and Aaron Reichelt to present rare works by Abel, Telemann, CPE Bach, Hume, Zelenka, Oswald, and Janitsch. Wesley Music Uniting Church, Forrest, November 10.
Scottish-Japanese guitarist Sean Shibe… Llewellyn Hall, November 16.
DINING / Denman Kitchen + Wine Bar Sustainable sum of the beef parts
Nose-to-tail dining. It’s a sustainability approach
Two Before Ten is devoted to, including at its new gastro pub in fast-growing Denman Prospect.
The Denman Kitchen + Wine Bar, in the heart of the community at the village shops, is innovative in using as many parts of beef cattle as possible, not just prime cuts.
The menu even includes an interesting diagram specifying which parts are used for which dishes, including the lower leg for osso bucco, rump for beef tataki, and chuck and brisket for bolognese.
Our nose-to-tail experience started with fabulous ox tongue sliders ($15 for two), well worth a try Each decently sized slider featured a thickish slice of wonderfully tender tongue. On top was creamy slaw and the sliders featured perky pickles, a spiced barbecue sauce and creamy aioli.
Vegan dumplings… with tamarind and soy
Photos: Wendy Johnson
spect ($36). The intensely flavoured mushroom duxelles was served on the side as was a piece of puff pastry (hence the deconstructed idea).
We adored the silky, rich jus and the silverbeet was a powerhouse of vitamins, iron and calcium.
Not wanting an all-beef experience, we ordered the vegan dumplings (five pieces, $14), which were pretty on the plate. Neither of us was fussy about the texture of the filling, but we couldn’t quite put our finger on the issue so decided it was just personal preference. The tamarind and soy dipping sauce was super tasty.
We shared the deconstructed eye-fillet Wellington, which was cooked beautifully and with full re -
The duck fat roasted potatoes were impossible to ignore ($12). They were golden and perfectly seasoned.
The Denman Kitchen + Wine Bar goes beyond beef with its menu. Duck leg is prepared with hoisin, orange, sweet potato and bok choy ($32). Market fish is also $32. Chicken pops up in several dishes including in the burger section. Kids are well taken care
of with bolognese, house-made chicken nuggets and house-made fish fingers (all dishes $12).
We applauded the Denman Kitchen + Wine Bar for celebrating local and regional wines and beers.
As with the food, the aim is to keep matters affordable. Our 2023 Linear Wines Gruner Veltliner (Canberra) was only $12 a glass and $52 a bottle (we’ve paid $90 for a bottle in Kingston).
The service was friendly, but a bit hit-and-miss. Although we emphasised we were sharing all dishes, we weren’t provided with extra plates
WINE / Riesling Challenge 2024
at each stage or an additional steak knife for the Wellington. It meant getting up several times to ask for bits and bobs, but we’ve no doubt the service will be refined over time. We wouldn’t hesitate to go back, including for the dark chocolate and sea salt tart served with caramelised white chocolate and toffee ice cream ($15).
Contrasts among the riesling challengers
The trophies were about to be given out at the prestigious annual riesling event that Canberra hosts.
It was a rainy evening and the 23rd International Canberra Riesling Challenge Awards were held at the Hotel Realm where I scored an invitation.
As usual there was a mammoth task visited on the judges, having to taste and grade 326 Rieslings from 140 wineries across five countries, Australia, France, Germany, NZ and the US.
The best riesling from the Canberra District was the 2024 Brindabella Hills Riesling. This is the first year that Nick O’Leary has been making Brindabella Hills wines, and this one beat out three of his own entries to take the trophy for the best of the Canberra 12 that were entered.
I spoke with Nick at the event and he was straightforward in the rationale for this wine to be the winner: “It’s simple, the fruit was pristine.” After the awards ceremony, the wine was on taste and it was a splendid example of a local riesling, grown from local fruit. The bouquet is complex with a lovely lime peel scent dominating. It possessed a minerality that was as clean and fresh as the pleasant citrus finish with a line of acid that augurs well for its cellaring.
This is the best Brindabella Hills wine I have tasted, deserving of the trophy.
The overall winner that was awarded the Best Wine of the 2024 Challenge Trophy couldn’t have been a greater contrast to the local winner.
This was a 2023 Frogmore Creek Iced Riesling from Frogmore Creek Wines, Coal River Valley, Tasmania, named after a seasonal creek that runs through the property.
This is a comparatively new winery: the first vintage was made in 2002. This wine also won the trophy for the best Sweet Riesling. Again, after the awards ceremony we were offered a sample. On taste, it was sweet, heady, reflecting a ripe stone fruit intensity without being claggy, ideal as a dessert wine.
I spoke with Shelley Bickerstaff, national brand manager at Frogmore Creek: “In Canada and other parts of Europe they freeze the wine on the vine. But in Tasmania we don’t get to those temperatures, so we take the pressed juice and freeze the content that then releases the concentrate, which is what we ferment and make the wine out of.
“This was the first award that we put this one into so we’re pleased with the win.”
Shelley said that the winemaker, Alain Rousseau, was proud to make this wine from the winery’s coldclimate grapes and she passed on his comment that the “Iced Riesling is perfect for summertime enjoyed simply with vanilla ice cream as my wife and I do.”
It’s the sort of quote that leaves you itching for a punchline, but there was no punch line, so I thought what a humble bloke.
dipping sauce.
The 2023 Frogmore Creek Iced Riesling won Best Wine of the 2024 Challenge Trophy.
STREAMING
‘Vile’ series may be key to unlock brothers’ cells
Did a Netflix series just influence a murder case?
The streaming platform’s true crime hit Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has taken the world by storm, opening up new debate on a notorious double killing in 1989 that saw two brothers sentenced to life behind bars for murdering their parents.
The show offers a dramatised retelling of the shocking crime and the trial that followed.
As expected, in our true crime-obsessed age, it’s become a phenomenon.
What’s less expected though is that the popularity of the series might have just changed the real-life story of the Menendez brothers forever.
After more than 30 years in prison, there’s now a possibility that Lyle and Erik could finally walk free.
The brothers have spent the majority of their life behind bars after they were convicted of murdering Jose and Kitty Menendez with shotguns in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989.
The infamous case made the two brothers famous when their trial was broadcast on television screens around the world.
Lyle and Erik, just 21 and 18 at the time of their parents’ death, said the killing came after years of horrific abuse they had suffered at the hands of their father and mother, while others claimed the murders were a sinister plan to cash in on their multi-million dollar inheritance.
As those who watched the Netflix series
will know, the brothers lost the case.
However, more than three decades since the crime that captured world’s attention first unfolded, a new motion filed by Los Angeles County’s District Attorney George Gascón may now see them up for resentencing.
“We are going to recommend to the court that the life without the possibility of parole be removed and they would be sentenced for murder,” Gascón said. “I believe that they have paid their debt to society. The final decision will be made by the judge.” It comes only weeks after the Netflix show
reignited global interest in the case.
For weeks now the series has held firm in Netflix’s top 10, and has racked up more than half a billion viewing hours around the world
A documentary film about the case was also released at the same time on the platform to capitalise on the internet interest generated by the drama series.
Since both dropped, The LA County District Attorney says they’ve received a whole new wave of inquiries about the case.
It also follows two petitions calling for the
“I think people have a more nuanced take now on what it means to be a victim of that kind of abuse,” one Oakland-based attorney
“People are more willing to speak out on it, and the courts are trying to do something
Netflix was not the first to dramatise the Menendez brothers’ case. Law and Order has also had a crack at the story as did another documentary series in 2017, but it is fascinating that the recent popularity of the streaming juggernaut is what has triggered a
It has whole new implications about the power of the true crime genre and of streaming shows generally.
“This is unique in the annals of legal
history,” a legal analyst told US publication “NewsNation”.
“I think Netflix added so much pressure and tension on the entire system, that everyone began to take not just another look, but serious, additional looks.”
It’s intriguing that the Menendez brothers themselves have heavily criticised the show.
Posting a statement through his wife’s Twitter account, Erik said the series included “vile and appalling character portrayals of Lyle and of me”.
“It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward – back through time to an era when the prosecution built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused, and that males experienced rape trauma differently than women.”
Ryan Murphy, the show’s creator, has vehemently defended his show though, calling it “the best thing that has happened to the Menendez brothers in 30 years in prison”.
If this latest development is anything to go by he might be right.
Open every day during school holidays from 10am to 4pm Cafe open from 10am to 3pm 257 Bannaby Road
The Menendez Brothers… convicted of murdering their parents with shotguns in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989.
HOROSCOPE PUZZLES
By Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Finances, joint ventures, secret deals and trust issues are on the table as the Supermoon (on Saturday at 8.28 am EDST) highlights hiccups involving self-esteem and/ or financial management. Strive to be less impulsive and extravagant, and more cautious with cash and credit. Don’t spoil a potentially productive week by being physically reckless or making inappropriate comments. Slow down and consult with loved ones along the way.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
This week the Supermoon (in your sign) emphasises your practical side. So do your best to handle current situations in a suitably sensible and pragmatic fashion. When it comes to a romance, work partnership or joint venture, avoid getting stuck in a boring rut. The planets push you to find creative ways to express yourself personally and within relationships. But don’t believe everything you hear! Keep your bulldust detector switched onto high.
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
With the help of the Supermoon, use the power of your fertile imagination and trusty intuition to get to the bottom of a problem that’s been bothering you. If you listen to the wisdom of your inner voice (and pay attention to the symbolism in your dreams) it will point you in the right direction. You’re also keen to work constructively with a colleague or communicate creatively with a friend. But don’t get carried away and promise more than you can deliver.
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
The silvery, ever-changeable Moon is your power planet. And many sensitive Crabs feel emotionally volatile and vulnerable around the time of the Full Moon. This week’s Supermoon is in earthy Taurus, so you’ll probably feel more grounded (and less moody) than usual. But you still need to be extra careful and consistent in the way you communicate with other people (especially children, teenagers, work colleagues and close friends).
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
There’s a Supermoon and a Sun/Uranus opposition, so expect some disruptions and/or surprises that could stir up friction between family needs and work responsibilities. With dynamic Mars marching through your sign, it’s time to be bold and courageous! Inspiration for the week comes from painter (and birthday great) Georgia O’Keeffe: “I’ve been terrified every moment of my life - and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.”
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
Saturn squares Mercury (your patron planet) which can make you even more self-critical than usual. Don’t be too hard on yourself, Virgo! Sometimes it’s a good idea to look at things from a totally different perspective. As poet (and birthday great) Marianne Moore observed (and Morticia Addams would agree): “Your thorns are the best part of you.” Saturday morning’s Supermoon shines a bright spotlight on travel, adventure, education and aspirations.
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
Stylish Librans appreciate quality and luxury, but don’t overdo it or you’ll end up being the most beautiful bankrupt on the block! This week the Sun, Supermoon and Uranus stir up your money and self-esteem zones, so it’s time to get your finances in order, work out a new budget, and plan to live in a more sustainable way. With Venus in your home zone (from Tuesday until December 7) you’re in the mood to cook up a storm with family and friends at Villa Libra.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
What an unpredictable week, Scorpio! The Sun (transiting through your sign) opposes disruptive Uranus, and there’s a dramatic Supermoon in your relationship and joint ventures zones. So start flexing your adaptability muscles, and expect some thrills and spills along the way. Your motto for the moment is from singersongwriter-musician Neil Young (who turns 79 on Tuesday): “As you go through life, you’ve got to see the valleys as well as the peaks.”
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
This week’s earthy Supermoon highlights your health, daily routine and work zone. But expect some surprising developments and stressful moments along the way. Resist the urge to be argumentative, extravagant and super self-indulgent. On the weekend you need to slow down before you blow a fuse! Try to ground your fiery energy and calm your busy mind. Some meditation, contemplation, yoga, chanting or Tai Chi could be just what the doctor ordered.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
Fault-finding Saturn could exacerbate a problem with a relative, neighbour or student. But hopefully Venus (moving into your sign) will come to the rescue and teach you an important celestial lesson. If you look for the best in the person involved, and work hard on improving your communication skills, then the relationship will gradually improve and have a good chance of longevity. It’s important to take baby steps, with a heart full of love and forgiveness.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
The Supermoon and Sun/Uranus opposition could stir up your restless and reckless side, as you unleash your Inner Rebel. But try to do so in appropriate ways that don’t upset loved ones, antagonise authority figures, or endanger your personal safety! A professional or domestic challenge could also test your mettle. Aim to approach problems with a brand-new perspective. Be inspired by birthday great, Neil Young: “One fresh take can change everything.”
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
You’re in the mood to book an adventurous holiday or plan a new course of study. However – on the weekend – hidden tensions could bubble to the surface with a family member, neighbour or work colleague. Be extra diplomatic and try not to take criticism personally. Social media is also a potential minefield, as the planets stir up your communication zone. So be careful you don’t send the wrong message to the wrong person at the wrong time!
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2024
Across
3 What is a period set aside for riotous merrymaking? (8)
7 Which term describes a scarcity or scant supply? (6)
8 What might we call one who accedes to belligerent demands? (8)
9 Name a renowned US evangelist, Billy ... (6)
10 Which dish consists of eggs, beaten and fried, and often served folded round other ingredients? (8)
11 What are disembodied spirits of dead persons? (6)
14 When one decorates, one does what? (6)
17 What do we call an official such as an ambassador? (8)
18 In World War II, what did we call those countries that fought against the Axis and Japan? (6)
19 What is a model or pattern to be copied or imitated? (8)
20 Papa Nui is the name of which Pacific Island? (6)
21 What are patent medicines called? (8)
1 To promise marriage, is to do what? (7)
2 Name those children bereaved by the death of both parents. (7)
3 What is an agile goatlike antelope? (7)
4 To have teased or heckled, is to have done what? (7)
5 What do we call one who calls upon another for friendly purposes? (7)
6 Name another term for pantries. (7)
11 Name a species of small marine or freshwater fish. (7)
12 Who followed his dead wife Eurydice to Hades? (7)
13 What is a cavalry soldier known as? (7)
14 Name the brightest star in the zodiacal constellation Scorpius. (7)
15 What is a tapering, four-sided shaft of stone? (7)
16 What are agents of retribution? (7)
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
HOW TO AVOID THE TAX GRINCH AT THE CHRISTMAS PARTY
Chen came to see me confused about fringe benefits tax (FBT) liabilities for his staff Christmas party.
“There's no special legislation concerning Christmas parties," I told him.
"The general principles concerning entertainment apply to both FBT and income tax.
"The most important thing to understand about FBT is that it only applies to employees – past, present or future – and does not apply to your clients. So, if FBT is payable on your Christmas party then it should be tax deductible to the extent that it is subject to FBT.
"The calculations are complex and you need to separate the costs that apply to your clients and the costs that apply to your staff.
“You also need to be aware that any benefit under $300 a head is regarded as a minor benefit and is not subject to FBT.
"If the Christmas party is held on your business premises, the situation is slightly different. If you invite only your staff and their associates then there is no FBT to be paid for your staff regardless of the cost.
"However, if the cost for each associate exceeds $300 then the whole payment for that person is subject to fringe benefits tax. It should also be tax deductible. If you also invite some clients, then the cost per client is not subject to fringe benefits tax, nor is it tax deductible.
Chen said this year they planned to celebrate at a restaurant.”
“If you go to a restaurant or other venue away from your business premises, the situation will be different," I told him.
"If the cost exceeds $300 for each person, the full cost will be subject to FBT as it will also be for their associates. It will also be tax deductible.
"There is a second method of calculating FBT called the 50/50 method but, as you are not using this, I don't propose to discuss it further.
“I know that some of your staff are employed in other states and I assume that some or all of these staff will come to Canberra for the party. The $300 minor benefit cost also includes their travel and accommodation if it is solely to attend the party. If they come for work purposes their travel should not be included. However, if they bring a partner or other associate, those travel and accommodation costs will be included in the $300 threshold.”
“Lastly, the good news is that the cost of any Christmas present is regarded as a separate benefit so is also subject to a $300 minor benefit exemption. This means that you can provide each staff member with a meal costing less than $300 and a gift costing less than $300 and also provide the same for their associates. These amounts are not tax deductible nor can GST be claimed, if any, but they are also not subject to FBT.”
Chen said he hadn't realised how complex this was. He'd intended to raise some general questions about client entertainment but felt he'd better digest what was covered so far.
If you need guidance on FBT or any other tax related matter, please contact the experts at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 6295 2844.
Disclaimer
This column contains general advice, please do not rely on it. If you require specific advice on this topic please contact Gail Freeman or your professional adviser. Authorised Representative of Lifespan Financial Planning Pty Ltd AFS Lic No. 229892.
