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By Katarina LLOYD JONES
Historian Barry York has recently recorded his 500th oral history interview.
It was the story of a German man who had migrated to Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic and spent weeks in the Howard Springs quarantine facility in the NT.
Many of Barry’s interviews over the past 40 years have been on the topic of migration, a trend influenced by his own experience and stories from his uncle Joe, who had migrated from Malta in 1924 and had sponsored Barry and his parents to come to Australia in 1954.
Barry says he would go to his uncle’s house and sit transfixed as Joe recalled stories from the “old days” in Malta.
Barry says this curiosity was also fostered by his requests for information about his grandparents, who he never knew, in the form of bedtime stories, with his mum’s answers helping him to imagine what his grandparents would have been like.
His interest in preserving people’s stories never faded, and Barry went on to complete a PhD on Maltese migration to Australia before 1949.
“I started off by doing conventional research, you know, archives, libraries, print-based sources, and then it dawned on me that, [...] there were people still alive, old people, who had come here before 1949,” he says.
“I interviewed some who had come in the 1910s, 1920s, and now, when you hear their voices, you’re hearing people who came here more than 100 years ago, which is quite extraordinary.
“You can deal with statistics about immigration and all that, but there’s always a human
story behind it, and I thought, well, by recording the people who were behind the statistics, I’m humanising the story.
“The human voice is so distinctive and intimate, the accents, the intonations, can’t be captured really in print form, and above all else, the pauses can be telling.
“So to me, the interviews are about sound archiving, really creating a historical source for researchers based on listening.
“A lot of the people I’ve interviewed have been workers, working-class type people, and their stories are told and preserved through this method.
“All these stories would be lost, because none of these people would have written their autobiographies.”
Barry moved to Canberra in the late 1980s, and began doing contract work for the National Library of Australia’s (NLA) oral history collection, and for the ACT Heritage Library.
He continues to do contract work, predominantly for the NLA, who commission specific stories.
He says one standout career moment was in 1997, when the NLA agreed to his pitch to interview former world heavyweight
wrestling champion Mario Milano, his childhood hero.
“Growing up in Brunswick and working-class background and all that, I was a big fan of the pro-wrestling, it’s the WWE today, back then it had a bit more credibility.
“I recorded, over three sessions, several hours of Mario’s life.
“He ended up settling in Australia, so it was a migration story, but also he wrestled in America, and he was born in Italy, migrated to Venezuela after the war, like many Italians did.
“I would never have dreamed that I would record his story.”
Barry says a lot of work goes into preparing for oral history interviews, including a preliminary chat and a point-form outline of the important elements of their life to maintain a structure to the interview.
Then, he will draw up a question guide for them, which he will send to them so they can check if anything important has been neglected.
Barry says he takes a “whole life” approach to
his oral history interviews, beginning with birth, parents, formative years, the voyage and settlement experiences, so interviews often take several hours and can sometimes take multiple sessions.
Barry hopes more people engage with recording their friends and families’ stories, especially now that technology makes it so easy.
“When I started, lucky I’m a
big bloke, the recording equipment, it was called a Nagra-E, it weighed a tonne and it was reel-to-reel,” he says.
“Each reel went for 25 minutes, it was bad, because after 20 minutes you’d have to stop their flow, and then take a few minutes to change the takes.
“Now it’s fantastic, the technology is wonderful.”
“I’m really committed to this work,” he says.
“It’ll be my most important legacy professionally.”
Barry says he also helps out a lot with those who reach out asking for tips on how to conduct the oral history interviews, always gratis.
Barry’s work is accessible for research, personal copies and public use. Visit nla.gov.au/ collections/ to view the York Collection.
“Oppositions don’t win elections – governments lose them” according to an old political truism. Voters have power.
If a government has not done a good enough job – don’t put a vote or a following preference against the names of their candidates. Leave those squares blank.
Although they sing their own praises about spending your money, just how well has the Labor-Greens coalition gone on the big-ticket items? Forget about what they have spent. Consider how well they have done on outcomes.
On financial responsibility, improving health, ensuring better education, maintaining basics such as roads, housing and ensuring better standards of living, the Labor-Greens government has not fared well.
There may be specific government MLAs whose actions deserve a vote – but for the others, leave the square next to their name without a number.
In 2023 the Chief Minister and Treasurer, Andrew Barr, remained resolute in reassuring everyone the ACT was in a strong financial position. Standard & Poors did not agree, and for the first time since self-government, the AAA+ credit rating was cut. The ACT continues to
live beyond its means.
The problem is a failure to control spending. Canberrans know about constant increases in revenue, especially on things such as rates and land taxes. When Labor came to government there was revenue of $2.2 billion. The ACT is now expected to have revenue more than $7.5 billion!
Taxes are not reducing. The current budget papers state: “The 2023-24 Budget contains a package of carefully sequenced tax measures”. For people struggling with increasing interest rates and higher payments on their home mortgages, these constant tax increases have been particularly challenging. Have the increased taxes delivered better health and education outcomes? The government will spruik all your money spent on infrastructure such as schools and hospital buildings. However, I repeat, the real test is about outcomes.
measures, our hospitals are now rated amongst the lowest achievers in Australia. Excuses about covid, financial challenges, shortages of staff are not valid excuses. They face all jurisdictions.
On financial responsibility, improving health, ensuring better education, maintaining basics such as roads, housing and ensuring better standards of living, the Labor-Greens government has not fared well.
New schools and extending buildings in current schools are important, but they do not measure educational outcomes.
When the National Assessment Plan (NAPLAN) results indicate the ACT falling further and further behind other jurisdictions, it is impossible to give the government a good mark on education.
The grass is being mowed regularly, the leaves in streets with deciduous trees are being efficiently removed. The rubbish, recycling and green bins have been regularly emptied on time. It is a great start. Canberrans will all reflect on the state of our roads and general maintenance.
Our public health and hospital system was once rated amongst the highest in Australia. Then Labor came to power. On so many
Transport remains a vital issue. Labor and the Greens are absolutely committed to the extraordinary expenditure on extending the route of the tram. At this stage Belconnen
misses out, Molonglo misses out, Tuggeranong misses out. Even so, those living in these areas are feeling the pressure of paying for such an expensive form of infrastructure.
The tram has worked well for those living in Gungahlin. Perhaps it will work well as an extension to Woden. At what cost? What were the alternatives? There are now so many national and international examples of successful battery-electric buses running in dedicated lanes at a much lower cost. Was the decision evidence based or ideological?
The ever increasing ideological restrictions on cars and parking are designed to switch people to public transport and away from fossil fuel guzzlers. However, although the advent of electric cars and the huge increase in rooftop solar has been changing the debate significantly, the majority are still in need of their cars most days.
The challenge for voters is recognising when ideology trumps growing evidence. Is this what is wanted in the next government?
The elephant in the room is the alternative. There are so many indications that the Liberals are not
ready for government in the ACT. Will they undo all the progressive achievements since self-government? Is it worth giving them a go… at least for four years?
What about independents? Federally, they have performed very well. ACT senator David Pocock is a great example. This can also happen in the ACT. There may never be enough to form a government. It is time to consider independents as an alternative vote.
Whoever winds up in government, there will need to be a strong crossbench that uses the Assembly to provide appropriate checks and balances.
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.
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By Katarina LLOYD
Through social media, children have finger-tip access to topics and trends far beyond their maturity level, and primary school deputy principal in ACT education directorate Debra Sayers says it is causing behavioural changes in some students.
Of particular concern for educators, Ms Sayers says, is the fact that students in Years 5 and 6 are vaping, and becoming dependent on nicotine.
Ms Sayers says: “The addiction is real. And as educators, if a child puts their hand up and says they need to use the bathroom, of course they can use the bathroom.”
“I think if they were somehow confiscated, that would be a problem, but we don’t do that, because we don’t really see them.
“They’re easily hidden, there is not a smoke smell, not a cigarette smell, it can often be: ‘oh no, I just sprayed perfume.’
“It brings out a side of little people that we prefer them not to have until they get a bit older.
“We don’t want them lying to us and
sneaking about to vape.”
After seeing the increase in vaping both at schools and in the community, Ms Sayers says she wanted to get involved with the creation of
educational modules being rolled out by ACT Health.
Before teaching, she was an education officer with the National Heart Foundation, in which she visited
schools and taught young people about the dangers of a poor diet, smoking and lack of exercise.
She says she now worries all the great work Australia has done on reducing rates of smoking is at risk of unravelling.
“The fact that there is something out there that is more attractive than a cigarette, not hard frankly, but just as hideous, was a real problem for me,” she says.
“Smoking can be easily sold as being hideous for you, but this vaping thing, it’s much harder to make it hideous.”
Over the past few years, doctors, ACT teachers from public, independent and Catholic schools, and students have been designing an educational course.
The Vaping, Youth and Health eLearning Package is geared towards preventing students in years 5 and 6 from starting to vape, coming off the back of a launch of educational modules geared towards years 7 and 8, and the realisation that the uptake in vaping was actually occurring at a younger age.
It supports teachers to develop and deliver learning programs about vaping so that students understand the risks and health effects, which Dr Sally Singleton, deputy chief health officer ACT, public health physician and general practitioner, says are often misrepresented as non-existent
compared to tobacco smoking.
Dr Singleton says there is data showing a national rise in youth who have “ever vaped”, including in the ACT, and there is also data showing that those people have then gone on to engage in smoking tobacco, marking the first rise in many years in young people who are reporting that they’ve tried smoking.
Dr Singleton says: “The best data we have on that is from something called the Australian secondary school students alcohol and drug survey.”
“The 2022 survey found that in [the] ACT, students aged 12 to 17, almost one third, so 27 per cent, reported having ever used an e-cigarette, and about one in seven reported that they had vaped in the last month, and concerningly, one in 20, or five per cent, were vaping more than 20 times per month.
“Our concern is that there’s a large number of people who’ve reported that they’ve ever vaped, but also a large number that are reporting that they’re continuing to then be vaping frequently.”
Ms Sayers believes banning things outright often gives the perception of the item being cool, and as such, the solution lies in education, which is why the education modules are so important.
She says it’s available to all teachers to access via the Healthy Children’s Learning Hub.
‘We
aim to create a safe, nurturing space akin to a dental spa experience – making it ideal for those with dental anxiety.’
Two years after moving Integrated Dental to Canberra, principal Dr Henriette Macri-Etienne says the process has been a “tremendous journey of innovation”.
Integrated Dental Canberra provides preventative, cosmetic and restorative specialty services such as wisdom teeth removal and root canal therapy.
But it’s their commitment to creating a sanctuary of calm that Dr Henriette says is the driving force behind her practice.
Specialising in holistic, trauma-informed dentistry, Dr Henriette says Integrated Dental Canberra is committed to finding ways to make clients feel safer.
Those with special needs, mental health disorders and neurodivergent characteristics greatly benefit from Dr Henriette’s integration of Eastern and Western modalities of treatment and, when possible, offers natural alternative options.
“We aim to create a safe, nurturing space akin to a dental spa experience – making it ideal for those with dental anxiety,” she says.
Dr Henriette says their trauma-informed approach is guided by five values: safety, choice, empowerment, collaboration and trustworthiness.
“Choice is essential. We always give people choices – from the materials to the natural alternatives to fluoride or even pause the
procedure if needed for a little break if it feels too overwhelming.
“Empowerment refers to our clients. They should feel accommodated and supported in their decisions, guided by our knowledge and expertise.
“Collaboration lies in the tailored management plan every client receives because not everybody has the same triggers.
“Trustworthiness is vital as a feeling of safety and support is needed, especially with dental services like root canal therapy.
“Many people feel really embarrassed about their dental anxiety, so incorporating those five values in everything we do helps them know they won’t be judged at our clinic.”
Meanwhile, Dr Henriette says many people find visiting the dentist an overwhelming sensory experience, which can disproportionately impact neurodivergent people.
“Neurodivergent [dentistry] refers to the autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, dyslexia,” she says.
“But it also includes individuals with mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
“And that ties in with sensory sensitivities around light, smells, touch, behavioural and emotional regulation.
“To support them, my team and I are dedicated to creating an atmosphere of safety, empowerment and choice – transforming their dental journey from dread to delight.”
Dr Henriette and her team use several
Dr Henriette Macri-Etienne… “What we’re trying to create is a comfort menu, where it’s not about us forcing people to do things they don’t want to do.”
tools and strategies to create a sanctuary of calm in her practice, such as stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system through weighted blankets, weighted eye pillows and different breathing modalities including deep breathing and box breathing.
“We also use auriculotherapy. Lots of points are represented on the ear and it’s a simple technique we can use for relaxation,” she says.
“It’s especially helpful for children and patients on the spectrum because they’re non-invasive.
“You just stick them on the ear, and
suddenly, you feel really floppy.
“And we’ve got squishy toys as well as the usual pharmaceuticals – happy gas, antianxiety medications that we can prescribe an hour before their appointment or even IV sedation.”
They also recently began utilising Pulsetto, a vagus nerve stimulator that helps the heart rate go down when waiting for the appointment to begin.
“What we’re trying to create is a comfort menu, where it’s not about us forcing people to do things they don’t want to do, but
they can choose depending on the level of anxiety depending on the type of supportive therapies they feel would be helpful for them,” says Dr Henriette.
“For some, it might be dry needling. For others, it might just be the weighted blanket.”
Integrated Dental Canberra also works with a psychologist for cognitive behavioural therapy, so no matter what fears patients may have, they can feel supported.
“Some of the anxious patients that we see haven’t been for 20 years – they’re that terrified,” she says.
“For some people, it’s due to a bad childhood experience. Or they may have sensory issues, where they really struggle with sensory things in their mouth.
“So it might be that sort of neurodivergent behaviour, but often it’s as we get older, we can develop certain fears and anxieties that weren’t there before.
“Fears and anxieties can develop later in life for no apparent reason, but more often than not, they’re either medical or non-dental and trauma gets stacked up, we become more and more sensitive to things that are invasive.”
No matter what it is, Dr Henriette says they always work with patients to ensure they are comfortable, safe and supported, empowering them to smile with confidence every day.
Integrated Dental, 5/16 Moore Street, Civic. Call 6249 8551 or visit integrateddentalcanberra.au
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“In effect the ACT has dropped from one of the top performing jurisdictions in Australia to the worst.” JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED find little comfort in the ACT Treasury’s Pre Election Budget Update.
The ACT Treasury has a very important role in the electoral process and the functioning of our democracy.
The under treasurer is required to prepare a pre-election budget update at least 30 days before the election as a Notifiable Instrument (Section 20C of the Financial Management Act 1996 details what must be included in the update).
The purpose of the pre-election budget update is set out in Section 20D of the FMA as follows:
(a) to allow the assessment of the government’s financial performance against the financial policy objectives and strategies set out in the latest financial policy objectives and strategies statement; and (b) to give the electorate an accurate picture of the territory’s financial position before the election.
The ACT Pre Election Budget Update (PEBU) was released on September 18.
The updated financial statements reflect some movements from those published in the 2024-25 Budget in June. While we do not propose to discuss those changes in detail, we note that the forecast Net Operating Balance for 2024-25 has deteriorated from a deficit of $855 million in the Budget to $872 million in the PEBU.
However, there has been a miraculous recovery in the operating position of $788 million over the forward estimates period. The overall financial position nevertheless remains unchanged.
Treasury’s pre-election budget update doesn’t include any funding for the 800 additional health workers promised by the government in a flurry of flyers to all Canberra households.
The illustrated charts offer a comparison of key metrics across all Australian jurisdictions, as well as historically.
Chart 1 reflects the Net Operating Balance (surplus or deficit) as a proportion of expenses, a standard measure of the operating budget for ACT (PEBU) and the weighted average of all states and the NT.
The ACT’s deficits are significantly larger by comparison when other jurisdictions are also in deficit, and the territory’s operating budget is forecast to remain in deficit while other jurisdictions return to surplus in aggregate in 2025-26.
Chart 2 reflects the Net Debt to Revenue ratio, a standard measure of the debt serviceability for ACT (PEBU) and the weighted average of all states and the NT.
The PEBU forecasts ACT’s Net Debt
to Revenue ratio to increase to 128 per cent in 2028, the second highest of all jurisdictions behind Victoria and well above the national average.
So, where have we come from, and what has occurred since the LaborGreens coalition has been in government in the ACT? Table 1 summarises the changes in key metrics.
In effect the ACT has dropped from one of the top performing jurisdictions in Australia to the worst.
With regards to an assessment of the government’s financial performance against the financial policy objectives (as set out in Section 20D of the FMA), one can only conclude that if the objective was to increase debt to 128 per cent of revenue after a rating downgrade at 98 per cent, and the operating budget to be relegated to a worse position than the average of all other Australian jurisdictions, then according to PEBU, those objectives will quite clearly be met!
Any future large-scale projects will need to be financed within these provisions or through additional debt.
territory’s contribution to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and savings of $1.147 million against a curiously titled item “More frontline paramedic”. How “more” paramedics would cost less has not been explained. Surprisingly, the provisions do not include any funding for the 800 additional health workers promised by the government in a flurry of flyers to all Canberra households.
The PEBU identifies several plans and strategies across government that are not included in full or in part and will be subject to future government budgetary decisions.
The update is useful in providing information on the provisions (where funding has not been allocated to agency budgets) for capital, expense and revenues, and the various policies and strategies that have been announced but not funded in the budget. Such provisions are not disclosed in the normal budget papers.
Provisions for capital expenditure total $1.251 billion over the three years from 2025-26 to 2027-28. The most notable provisions are, $60.9 million for public housing, $50 million for Light Rail Stage 2B, and $675.9 million in other provisions for as yet unidentified projects.
Any future large-scale projects will need to be financed within these provisions or through additional debt.
Expense provisions total $1.180 billion over the three forward years. Again, these are expenses that are included in the aggregate expenditure estimates but have not been allocated to agencies, and include $142.5 million for the Digital Health Strategy, $170.6 million for current and future EBA negotiations, $48.75 million for the
Items not included are:
• ACT Climate Change Strategy 2019-25;
• ACT Disability Strategy 20242033;
• ACT Infrastructure Plan update;
• ACT Sustainable Buildings Pathway;
• ACT Transport Strategy 2020;
• ACT’s Zero Emissions Vehicles Strategy 2022-30;
• Canberra Hospital Master Plan 2021-2041;
• Disability Justice Strategy: Second Action Plan 2024-2028;
• District Strategies;
• Electronic Monitoring Implementation Strategy;
• Insourcing Framework;
• Integrated Energy Plan 2024-2030;
• National Firearms Register;
• Urban Forest Strategy 2021-2045.
The Treasury also advises that the estimates in this PEBU reflect current government policy, including decisions made since the 2024-25 Budget, and that the estimates do not pre-empt decisions that may be made by a
future government.
We have previously pointed out that the government’s budget estimates have consistently understated expenditure and that they do not reflect the true cost of services into the future.
With virtually no change in the PEBU from the June budget estimates, we maintain the view that the forward estimates do not reflect the cost of current policy.
For example, it is certain that the government will not be able to meet the nationally agreed performance targets in health with the funding allocated.
Further, the financial information provided in the PEBU has limited value in assisting in an assessment of the ACT’s financial position.
In principle, it should answer three questions: what does it mean, where do we stand, and where have we come from?
For example, the forecast of $12.393 billion in Net Debt in 2028 is only meaningful if considered in the context of forecast revenue thus allowing an assessment of the debt’s serviceability, ie, Net Debt to Revenue Ratio, which in fact is used by the rating agencies for that purpose.
A comparison across jurisdictions of this measure allows for an assessment of whether the ACT’s debt is at par with others or abnormal and of any change or trend over time.
Regrettably no such information is provided in the 2024 PEBU. By way of comparison the 2012 PEBU, for example, provided key relevant metrics, and a comparison across jurisdictions.
Jon Stanhope is a former chief minister of the ACT and Dr Khalid Ahmed a former senior ACT Treasury official.
Sources: Annual Financial Statements and Budget Papers.
ONCE UPON A TIME… there lived a crafty young wolf named Andy.
From his whiskers to his tail, Andy knew that he, and he alone, would become the greatest ruler of his backwards village; a place where the locals couldn’t even tell a ristretto from an espresso, let alone spell either.
Unfortunately for Andy, his mum had forbidden him from entering village politics until his room was tidy, and Andy never did anything in response to feedback from old people. Andy instead turned to the place where all the young wolves thrived –student politics.
Here, those not focused on doing degrees could fight with others not focused on doing degrees to see who would run the union bar. And it was at the union bar, that Andy discovered the magic of thought bubbles!
Andy learnt that a thought bubble attached to a promise and tied up in a slogan, was an alchemy that could bring tears to the eyes of even Voldemort, himself.
And so it was that Andy set out to use these dark arts against voters. Donning monographed sheep’s clothing, Andy took to the streets to try out his new tricks. “Boy, oh boy!” he cried, “listen to all the things that I can do for you, villagers!”
The villagers came running, and became enraptured as Andy told them tales of better health care, affordable housing, new footpaths and even surplus budgets. This was bloody fantastic, they thought, and channelled those thoughts on to ballot papers.
To his great delight, Andy was voted Chief and could now rest on his laurels.
Of course, elections still came every four years to annoy Andy. But Andy simply countered them with his
catch cry of: “Boy, oh boy, listen to what I have in store for you guys, this time!”
Sometimes, when the villagers weren’t buying it, Andy would need to throw in a stadium study or the promise of walk-in Band-Aid clinics. On other occasions, he might need to bamboozle them with voodoo logic such as: “The reasons our old promises didn’t work is because they quite clearly needed to be accompanied by these new promises. Only a fool would think otherwise.”
Well, the villagers certainly didn’t want to be thought of as fools.
But when villagers got particularly testy, Andy would resort to stronger forms of political necromancy, such as blame. “It’s not my fault,” Andy would say. “You need to blame it on the Feds, blame it on covid, blame it on the census, blame it on the sunshine, blame it on the moonlight, blame it on the boogie.”
Then, one election, when Andy was out stomping the streets, a new voice cried out. It was Andy’s younger sister, Lizzy, out to spoil his fun!
“Boy, oh boy,” teased Lizzy, “get a load of this sneaky old wolf and all of his broken promises. Vote for me and I’ll give you lots of shiny new promises.”
Andy was furious. “You can’t cry that! Only I can cry promises in this
village! Besides, it’s not responsible to make so many promises when our budget is totally up crap creek.”
But Lizzy didn’t listen. “Boy, oh boy,” she cried again, “how would you guys like a stadium?”
Soon, Lizzy had attracted a large crowd. “We probably shouldn’t trust her,” said a wary villager, “but…” “Birdman Rally!” cried Andy, “groovy fridge magnets, free transport!”
But the villagers weren’t listening.
“Another week of Floriade!” Andy’s arms began to move wildly as he gesticulated to the crowd: “You get an EV, you get an EV, everybody gets an EV!” But it was no use. After two decades of blustery promises, the villagers no longer believed the wily wolf.
So, tail between his legs, Andy returned home to reflect on how he had broken the trust of the people he was meant to serve.
Yeah, nah.
Andy kicked his cat and got straight on the phone to the feds.
“Boy, oh boy, are you guys in trouble at next year’s election? How about you plonk me in a safe seat in Melbourne? Somewhere close to where all the cool cafes are, and I can be out lapping the laneways with promises aplenty. Whaddaya say, my dudes?”
While audibly abrupt, the click that followed was deafening.
Dear candidate,
Can you help ensure Canberra’s 58,000 + unpaid carers are seen, heard, and supported? Can you help us build a Canberra that truly cares for its carers. Carers ACT, on behalf of the carers of our region, has eight key election asks for you and your colleagues to help make a reality.
1. Carer Recognition Card: A governmentissued, non-means-tested card to verify carer status, provide recognition, and foster community connection.
2. Review of the Mental Health Act: A full review to include carer rights and ensure better care integration.
3. Carer Directed Wellbeing and Respite Packages: $500,000 in funding for Carers ACT to distribute respite and wellbeing packages.
4. Carer Wellbeing and Respite Centre: Land to build a purpose-built centre for carers offering respite, services, and community support.
and employment while building financial security.
6. Carer Bereavement Counselling: Specific support for carers exiting their roles due to bereavement.
7. Integrated Mental Health Centre: A central hub for mental health care, navigation, and respite, benefitting carers and those they care for.
8. Dedicated Mental Health Prevention Funding: A commitment of 20% of the ACT mental health budget to prevention and early intervention.
The
transformation from a
transient population to a tightly knit community is a testament to the city’s allure… yet, there persists a narrative that frames Canberra as a political experiment, writes JERRY NOCKLES.
In the whirlwind of political campaigns, it is all too easy to lose sight of what truly matters.
The catchphrase from Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, “it’s the economy, stupid,” served to sharpen the focus of his volunteers. Yet, it was another of Clinton’s slogans, “Putting People First”, that truly encapsulated the essence of his approach. This principle of prioritising people remains as relevant as ever, especially as we anticipate elections at the state level in the ACT, the upcoming federal election, and the presidential election in the US in this pivotal year.
In this context, I am reminded of my own journey to Canberra, which began in 1986 as a young sailor with the Royal Australian Navy. Arriving at Queanbeyan railway station late at night, kitbag in tow, I was on my way to HMAS Harman for what would be a brief but impactful posting.
Growing up in Bathurst, NSW, I found a comforting similarity in Canberra’s sprawling plains, the mountains that embrace the city, its crisp air, and the warmth of its community, which echoed my own upbringing.
My journey to Canberra not only sharpened my understanding of community but also instilled in me a deep appreciation for the diverse tapestry of lives that make up our city.
Though I left the Navy in 2009, my wife, Patience, continues to serve. Like many Defence Force families, we have moved roughly 20 times over the years. Despite this nomadic lifestyle, the capital region has always beckoned us back – it has been our anchor. Its familiarity is comforting, yet the changes we have witnessed are remarkable.
In the 1980s, Canberra seemed a transient place, its population drawn by academic, diplomatic, Defence or public service duties, or those seeking opportunity in a growing city. Often, when you asked someone where they were from, the answer would be from somewhere else. This lent credence to the misguided view of Canberra as an “artificial” city.
Fast forward to 2024, and Canberra has blossomed into a vibrant, organic city. Our own chapter of Australia’s remarkable multicultural achievement is enriched by proud, deeprooted Canberrans, including second
or third-generation locals and First Nations people.
This transformation from a transient population to a tightly knit community is a testament to the city’s allure and a core reason many newcomers choose to stay. The laughter of children in local parks and the warmth of community gatherings reflect our shared humanity.
Yet, there persists a narrative that frames Canberra as a political experiment. While some may view Canberra this way, this perspective fails to recognise the rich themes of resilience and community that define our city.
Reducing the diverse experiences of Canberrans to a mere experiment overlooks the genuine lives, dreams and ambitions of its people. We are not specimens in a lab; we are a vibrant community striving for a better life for ourselves, our families, and our neighbours in an interconnected and complex world.
The spirit of community in Canberra is palpable, defined by a collective commitment to the common good and the dignity and well-being of our neighbours, with an acute awareness of the challenges they may face.
This is not the hallmark of a political experiment, but of a living, breathing, thriving community. A community whose guiding principles are compas -
sion, consideration, connection, and care.
Adopting an experimental mindset towards public policy is misguided. If our objectives are merely to push boundaries for political acclaim, we have lost our way. True success lies in policies that genuinely enhance the lives of Canberrans, allowing them to lead more fulfilling lives – both in their community and as engaged global citizens.
Success should be measured by the ability of individuals and families to flourish in our city, balancing work and home life in a manner that is equitable, gratifying, and sustainable. Policies should be evaluated based on the real-world incentives they create and the outcomes they deliver, rather than the lofty ideals they espouse.
Canberra is so much more than an experiment; it is a city brimming with potential and promise. It is a place where opportunity is abundant, and where prosperity, resilience, compassion, and inclusivity are not mere aspirations but tangible goals we can achieve together. As we navigate challenges such as an exploding cost of living, housing affordability, and climate change, the need for
policies that not only reflect our community’s values and aspirations but also address them has never been more urgent.
The wonderful character of our city did not emerge from a Petri dish. It grew organically from a caring community with a conviction for compassion and a desire to achieve a meaningful life. It grew from people. This conviction motivates us all to serve and strive towards a future rich with opportunities that reflect the strength, diversity and vibrant spirit of our city.
At its heart, it all begins with putting people first.
Dr Jerry Nockles is a former chief of staff to the federal minister for productivity. He has held senior positions in the child-focused organisations UNICEF and World Vision, and has a passion for elevating human potential.
Concerned about Whimsy columnist CLIVE WILLIAMS’ mental state, a friend sent him some statistics, along with a mental health check. But it didn’t stop there...
First the human statistics – with Earth’s population placed in perspective.
The population of Earth is around 7.8 billion. For most people, it’s an obscure figure. However, if you condense 7.8 billion into 100 persons, and then into various percentage statistics, the resulting analysis is much easier to comprehend. Out of 100:
• 11 are in Europe; 5 are in North America; 9 are in South America; 15 are in Africa; 60 are in Asia; 49 live in the countryside; 51 live in a city;
• 75 have mobile phones – 25 do not; 30 have internet access – 70 do not; 83 can read – 17 are illiterate;
• 33 are Christians; 22 are Muslims; 14 are Hindus; 7 are Buddhists; 12 are other religions; 12 have no religious beliefs.
• 26 live less than 14 years; 66 died between 15 and 64 years of age; 8 are over 65 years old.
If you have your own home, eat full meals and drink clean water,
have a mobile phone, can surf the internet and have gone to college, you are in the minuscule privileged lot (less than 7 per cent category).
Amongst 100 persons in the world, only eight live to or exceed the age of 65! If you are over 65 years old, be content and grateful. Cherish life. Grasp the moment. If you did not leave this world before the age of 64, like the 92 persons who have gone before you, you are already the blessed amongst humankind. Take good care of your health. Cherish every remaining moment.
If you think you are suffering memory loss, read on.
In the following analysis, Bruno Dubois, professor of neurology at Pierre et Marie Curie University and Director of the Institute for Memory and Alzheimer’s Disease (IM2A) at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris addresses the subject in a rather reassuring way: “If anyone is aware of their memory problems, they do not have Alzheimer’s.”
It often happens in people 60 years and older that they complain they lack memory: “The informa-
tion is always in the brain, it is the ‘processor’ that is lacking.” This is “anosognosia” or temporary forgetfulness. Half of people 60 and older have some symptoms that are due to age rather than disease. The most common cases are:
• forgetting the name of a person,
• going to a room in the house and not remembering why they were going there,
• a blank memory for a movie title or actor, or actress,
• wasting time searching where they left glasses or keys.
After 60 years, most people have such a difficulty, which indicates that it is not a disease but rather a characteristic due to the passage of years. Many people are concerned about these oversights, hence the importance of the following statements:
1. “Those who are conscious of being forgetful have no serious problem of memory.”
2. “Those who suffer from a memory illness or Alzheimer’s are not aware of what is happening.”
Professor Dubois reassures the majority of people concerned about their oversights: “The more we complain about memory loss, the less likely we are to suffer from memory sickness.”
Now for a little neurological test (at right): only use your eyes!
1. Find the C in the table below:
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2. If you found the C, then find the 6 in this table: 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 69999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
3. Now find the N in the table below: MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMNMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
If you pass these three tests without problem:
• you can cancel your annual visit to the neurologist.
• your brain is in perfect shape!
• you are far from having any relationship with Alzheimer’s.
There you have my friend’s missive but, as one does, I asked my friendly neighbourhood AI Bot to assess the above claims for me. It responded as follows:
1. Population Statistics: The data presented about the distribution of the world’s population is approximately accurate:
• 11 per cent in Europe
• 5 per cent in North America
• 9 per cent in South America
• 15 per cent in Africa
• 60 per cent in Asia
These figures align reasonably well with current global demographic data.
2. Urban vs. Rural Population: The claim that 49 per cent live in the countryside and 51 per cent in cities is outdated. According to recent UN data, more than 55 per cent of the global population now lives in urban areas.
3. Mobile Phone and Internet Access:
The claim that 75 per cent have mobile phones is close to current estimates, which suggest over 70 per cent of the global population uses mobile phones.
The statement that only 30 per cent have internet access is an underestimate. Current statistics indicate that around 60 per cent of the global population has internet access.
4. Literacy Rates: The assertion that 83 per cent can read and 17 per cent are illiterate is close to accurate, as UNESCO reports a global literacy rate of around 86 per cent .
5. Religious Affiliation: The provided religious breakdown roughly matches global estimates but can vary slightly depending on the source.
6. Age Distribution:
The statement about 26 per cent living less than 14 years and only 8 per cent being over 65 years old isn’t entirely accurate. According to the World Bank, the global population under
14 is around 26 per cent, but those over 65 make up about 9 per cent, not just 8 per cent. The claim that 66 per cent die between 15 and 64 years isn’t specific and needs more context, as life expectancy varies widely across countries.
7. Economic Privilege: The mention of being in the top 7 per cent if you have a home, full meals, clean water, a mobile phone, internet access, and college education is somewhat accurate. These are indicators of relative economic privilege globally.
8. Anosognosia and Memory Loss:
• The term “anosognosia” refers to a lack of awareness or denial of a neurological deficit, often seen in conditions such as stroke or Alzheimer’s disease. The text correctly uses it in this context but generalises it to mean temporary forgetfulness, which is not accurate.
• The reassurance about memory issues from Professor Bruno Dubois is sensible advice, though it oversimplifies the complexities of memory disorders. Being aware of memory lapses can indeed be a sign of normal ageing rather than Alzheimer’s, but it is not a definitive diagnostic criterion.
9. Neurological Test: The tests (finding the C, 6, and N) are simple visual exercises that can be reassuring, but are not conclusive indicators of cognitive health. They shouldn’t replace medical advice or evaluations. The Bot’s Conclusion: “The text provides a mix of accurate data and some inaccuracies or oversimplifications. It’s important to verify such statistics with current and reliable sources. While the general message is positive and aims to provide reassurance, it should be read with a critical eye, especially regarding demographic and medical claims.”
Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.
A recent column on whether mathematics was an invention, or a discovery drew more email responses than almost any other.
I shouldn’t have been surprised. The readership of this splendid publication is clearly highly intelligent and of a questing mind.
Those who favoured one or the other split fairly evenly, and after subsequent discussion I find myself more in the “invention” camp. After all, Pi was unquestionably an invention of Archimedes and it’s only an approximation anyway.
It’s a human tool. Creatures with much bigger brains than ours – the sperm whale, for example – have no need of such tools so didn’t bother inventing them. The “discovery” folk are probably guilty of the same homocentric outlook that science has been battling since Galileo dared report the findings of his telescope.
This was a great relief since, as mentioned in the original Gadfly column, the question had kept me awake at nights when I should be saving my energy for the daily editing of my next book out in 2025, the hidden story of the co-founder of our national capital, Charles Weston.
Trouble is, there’s another question that leapt in to take its place. It too has fierce proponents on both sides
and is even more consequential for our daily lives: Is there really such a thing as “free will”?
Science is doubtful. Experiments have shown that our brains decide on a course of action some four seconds before we are aware of it*. But that’s not the whole story. Far from it.
For example: in retrospect, everything that happened in the past was inevitable. This is obvious because all the factors aligned to make it happen. So, how can there be “free will” when we are all simply responding to what went before? And if we’re merely
the puppets of yesterday, how then can we be blamed for our actions?
It’s true that as a society we lay down firm guidelines we call “the law” to direct our behaviour and hopefully that should be sufficient to keep the place in reasonable running order. But look around. There is a crisis of domestic violence. Massive cartels are making billions trading worldwide in banned substances. And they’re corrupting the folk appointed to deter them. There are wars raging
Even if we don’t blast ourselves to pieces, our homeland, this beautiful blue planet, is becoming unlivable. And we have no one to blame but ourselves.
in Africa, the Middle East and the fringe of Europe where it seems only a matter of time before that terrifying American invention, the atomic bomb makes its second entry, stage right.
In fact, war has become such a part of our existence that we’ve even made laws designed to apply to the utter lawlessness of this mutual murder!
And every night on TV the news shows children being bombed, yet we don’t rise up as one and demand it cease!
Even if we don’t blast ourselves to pieces, our homeland, this beautiful blue planet, is becoming unlivable.
And we have no one to blame but ourselves. The guidelines, it seems, were insufficient to discourage the greed, the selfishness and the self-reliance required.
Instead, we preferred to listen to the fables of a shaman-cum-priest-
hood that promised the same old cureall to our fear of death. And no matter how extravagant their temples – from the looted pyramids to the empty cathedrals, the blue mosques to the golden buddhas – they stand as sad monuments to our fatal credulity. It is hard to believe that on a bare canvas, we would opt for the horrors that confront us. Are they really a product of our “free will”?
Over to you.
robert@robertmacklin.com
*In research published in 2013, neuroscientist John-Dylan Haynes, of the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, and his colleagues had volunteers decide whether to add or subtract two numbers while in the fMRI scanner. They found patterns of neural activity that were predictive of whether subjects would choose to add or subtract that occurred four seconds before those subjects were aware of making the choice.
Several letter writers have raised the issue of what independents would do in the local election if they held the balance of power and how they would operate, with wild accusations that they would be useless.
The intent of some of these writers is to try to persuade people not to vote for independents. They are raising a “dead cat”.
Unlike previous elections there are numbers of credible independents in every electorate. Most have formed parties because this is the only way they can get the numbers to be elected. But, they are independent. All of these are very experienced people in the community and in their lives.
Let’s examine the “dead cat”.
First, in the ACT today the chance of a dead heat in this election given the statistics of the last is so remote as to be irrelevant. The ratio is 16:9. If there was a balance of power or minority government, Cathy McGowan expressed it back in Indi in 2013: “As an independent I will support the government of the day”.
Second, What credible Independents usually do is to be independent. They vote in the best interests of their communities.
In federal parliament, both in the lower house and in the Senate, the existing independents seem to show more commonsense and focus on community needs and national issues more than the major parties do.
Local politics in Canberra is stalemated. The Greens/Labor coalition is not threatened. The Liberals offer no genuine opposition. They seem comfortable taking their salaries and squabbling amongst themselves.
I see no chance for change, except voting for credible Independents.
My suggestion is don’t vote for major parties at all. The current secretive and non-consultative government needs a fright. Don’t listen to the “dead cat” people. They want to scare you to maintain the status quo.
Tony Stewart, via email
Only a blind-faith government supporter would not recognise the significance of the timing of the free public transport travel period for two months, including the election date!
The roll-out of the new ticketing system is running many months, if not longer behind schedule so why roll it now in the lead-up to the election? It is nothing more than a crass political decision.
The free fare period won’t make any difference to many passengers, especially young people who don’t pay anyway and simply avoid paying fares with total impunity.
Furthermore, a driver told me this morning on a popular route that there has been no discernible increase in passenger numbers.
The ACT has the lowest percentage
recovery of operating costs of any capital city public transport system in Australia and yet the government has the gall to forgo revenue for two months just before an election!
Why will it take nearly two months to install the new ticketing system?
It is yet another example of the inept financial management of this Government, so comprehensively illustrated by Jon Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed on a regular basis.
Colin Lyons, Weetangera
Claims by correspondents that many of the ACT problems are caused by the “selfgovernment model” rings partly true, but none offer a way forward.
Self government was inevitable. The federal parliament was not structured to administer a growing city with such unique attributes.
The adopted city/state model was premised on the basis the ACT could enter the federal state funding model at state level given the role of the Commonwealth Grants Commission (CGC) in recognising the ACT’s fiscal constraints thereby offsetting its diseconomies of scale in delivering state-like services.
No such apparatus exists for disbursement of federal funding at the local government (municipal) level, rather, it was widely anticipated the ACT could achieve economies of scale by adopting a blanket outsourced service delivery approach
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to all five districts without the need for robust local governance entailing separate reporting, councils, or additional elected representatives.
This latter assumption was always the risk factor underpinning the model, which unfortunately has come to fruition.
Yes, the city/state model is failing Canberrans due to a significant neglect of local city services. Benchmark Canberra with any other regional city and the deterioration is obvious.
The dual role as both a city and state authority has led to a disproportionate focus on state-level services. This imbalance is evident in the deteriorating condition of our local suburban infrastructure, poorly maintained streets, roadside kerbs, nature strips, public parks, and community facilities. That said, the system is not terminal.
As the ACT approaches the 500,000 population mark, the CGC under terms of reference from the federal treasurer, via minister for territories, could commission a study that benchmarks the ACT local government operations with a selection of larger local councils elsewhere.
Terms of reference could include a requirement to report on the merits for the resurrection of a municipal fiscus (existed prior to self-government) within the existing ACT government accounting framework, merits of differential rating between the five districts, and overlaid by a reporting framework for the five elected members for each district.
Unfortunately, nobody seeking office in
2024 has foreshadowed any hint of review. The Barr coalition, while aware, is somewhat constrained as the incumbent government, the Liberal Party oblivious to the underlying structural weakness as reflected in their crazy $100m cash splash for even more municipal infrastructure without maintenance capacity to accompany it, while the independents appear totally ignorant on the subject.
Anyone foreshadowing a review will attract my vote in October 2024.
John D Purcell PSM, Kambah
Greens
Please tell me that it is a bad joke that there is a possibility of Shane Rattenbury becoming chief minister.
Talk about getting out of the frying pan into the fire. The Greens would be an economic disaster for Canberra, just as Barr has been.
There must not be majority government in Canberra and a reasonable number of good independents elected. And this from someone who majored in politics and economics at the ANU, worked with various Commonwealth ministers and engaged in politics at first hand, including setting up a community based party.
If the Greens were to get in, I would have to think seriously of turning my vacation in France into a permanent stay.
Ric Hingee, Duffy
Airlines can sometimes get bad publicity, but I’ve always believed in delivering balanced coverage.
My story involves a former Canberra-based Qantas supervisor who was working at Sydney airport, when I recently suffered a medical episode while connecting to another flight.
Bec knew me because of my previous weekly interstate travel in and out of Canberra.
A few days after my incident, I was discharged from hospital and returned to Sydney airport to thank the Qantas staff who did such an incredible job as they cared for me until the ambulance arrived.
They are truly “marvels” – such a well-oiled machine working together.
I can’t thank these guys enough for their actions.
Also a big salute to supervisor Bec, who recognised me from Canberra Airport. Talk about a small world!
I have no hesitation praising the people at Qantas after witnessing first hand the experience of how they handle situations.
Back office also reached out to me and was incredibly reassuring of my checked luggage and onward journey plans. I am left with a feeling of such faith, trust and gratefulness.
As a journalist, it’s really nice to balance the type of stories involving airline matters. This is one of the good ones!
Scott Mayman, CityNews aviation writer
In his support of nuclear energy for Australia, John L Smith (Letters, CN September 26) makes some questionable statements and claims.
He cites the statement of Mike Quirk (CN September 17) “nuclear power is unlikely to be available for 10 to 15 years”. Mr Quirk’s claim was rather optimistic: it could take more than 20 years to establish from scratch a nuclear energy industry in Australia.
Some commentators point to the ANSTO facility at Lucas Heights as an example of an operating nuclear reactor with experienced personnel for its operation and maintenance.
This small reactor is used solely for creating radioactive isotopes for
medical purposes, such as targeted radiation oncology on cancerous tumours.
However, the real killer of Mr Smith’s nuclear ambition is the cost, yet to be revealed by Peter Dutton. It would probably be necessary to build two reactors at each of Dutton’s six sites to replace the retired, or soon-to-be retired, coal-fired power plants. This would almost double the cost from the CSIRO’s estimate of “at least $8.5 billion per reactor” (or $59.5 billion for seven) to about $120 billion.
That sort of money would buy a gigantic number of solar panels, a huge number of wind turbines and a large fleet of grid-scale storage batteries. To use a well-worn aphorism: it’s a no-brainer.
Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin
Prof Ross Fitzgerald’s superb pieces in print and online about the treatment of imprisoned whistleblower David McBride at the AMC prison is extremely important, not just for residents of the ACT but for all of us throughout the nation.
As soon as he arrived, Maconochie instituted policies that actually treated prisoners as human beings. Despite, or more likely, because of the fact that he achieved remarkable success in prisoner rehabilitation, he was politically undermined and sent back to England in 1844.
Sadly, such vengeful undermining is still often the case with reformers and whistleblowers.
Neal Price, Hobart
Legislative Assembly.
My office along with the ACT Human Rights Commission and the ACT Ombudsman have been nominated to be the multibody “ACT National Preventive Mechanism”. We are jointly responsible for visiting places of detention in the ACT, with the aim of identifying risks of ill-treatment and making recommendations to detaining authorities that seek to reduce these risks.
about the anniversary of St Andrew’s church
(The light on the hill that’s shone brightly for 90 years, CN September 19), my grandmother, Mrs Eileen Magee, sang alto in the St Andrews choir from 1967 to 1975. Leaving the church after a service one day – I would have been about 11 at the time – she pointed out a little statue of a dog, high up on the roof.
and Queanbeyan are growing too fast now and worry that some historic assets may be lost, including the buildings, the people, the parks and gardens and the environment we try to cherish. Thanks to CityNews for publishing Nichole’s articles; keep up the excellent work.
Ray Wand, Symonston
Fitzgerald’s interventions in McBride’s case are to be applauded, but even more importantly are his disturbing revelations about the widespread mistreatment of prisoners at Alexander Maconochie Centre. It is an awful irony that this terrible Canberra prison was named in honour of Scottish-born Alexander Maconochie (Lord Meadowbank), who lived from 1787 to 1860. This is because in regard to prison reform and prisoner rehabilitation, Maconochie was more than a century and a half ahead of his time.
After working from 1836 to 1840 in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), Maconochie became governor of the Norfolk Island prison colony. There, convicts were treated with extreme brutality.
In the past week, there has been discussion in the pages of CityNews about the treatment of a particular detained person at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC).
Without commenting on the circumstances of that particular individual, I wanted to simply note that my office, along with other independent statutory offices, provide mechanisms for concerns to be raised and considered.
As ACT Custodial Inspector, I am responsible for the preventive-focused oversight of adult corrections and youth justice, including being able to periodically visit the AMC, the Court Transport Unit and the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre.
My functions include conducting reviews of these places, thematic issues, and reviewing certain critical incidents that may arise. My reviews include recommendations to government (which they may accept or reject) and I must table reports in the ACT
My office does not handle individual complaints, but works co-operatively with oversight entities that do. Depending on the subject matter and nature of a complaint, it may be handled by the ACT Human Rights Commission, ACT Ombudsman, the Corrections Official Visitors, or the ACT Integrity Commission.
Detained people may contact any of these agencies directly, and the Official Visitors visit regularly.
Our offices are independent from ACT Corrective Services, who are ultimately responsible for the care and treatment of detained people.
The recent discussion in CityNews is a reminder that preventing ill-treatment in detention in the ACT requires continuous, long-term, and co-ordinated efforts from different stakeholders.
Rebecca Minty, ACT Custodial Inspector
Further to Nichole Overall’s cover story
She told me that during construction, one of the workmen was in the habit of bringing a pup to work. One day the dog fell into a gap between the stonework and plunged to the bottom.
Whimpering was heard, but rescuing the dog would have meant dismantling an already completed entire stone wall. It just wasn’t feasible. So the poor little dog was left in there.
Another workman fashioned the small statue as a tribute. It’s located to the right of the original entrance (a small curved staircase) at the front of the church.
Tony Magee, via email
Compliments to Nichole Overall’s Yesterdays columns on the history of Canberra and Queanbeyan.
I always find her research invaluable as do my colleagues. Some of us are old Canberra residents, either born here or decided to reside in the area some years ago (the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s).
We are a bit concerned that Canberra
The National Rugby League (NRL) is entering a new era.
Its heartland of Sydney and Brisbane provided the Aussie Rules grand-finalists at the MCG. Local crowds at Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions AFL games are always the largest of any code.
Ironically, it was rugby league players whose running and passing helped evolve “aerial ping pong” into the spontaneous entertaining game that AFL is today.
At the same time, the rugby league scrum became just a formality to restart play, dispensing with the specialist roles of hooker, lock and scrum half. The game became predictable, mostly played by big and fast athletes who spend too much time exerting a barely controlled form of violence against the opposing players.
If Canberra ever gets a new stadium it will have to accommodate AFL. With the roar of the AFL crowds, I wonder if the NRL can hear the bell tolling for rugby league?
John L Smith, Farrer
Allied Health Professions Day was first held in England in 2018, but it is now an international event celebrated on October 14.
This year’s theme, Stronger Together, highlights the benefits of multidisciplinary team-based care.
Whether it’s quality physiotherapy, rewarding exercise or effective treatment of conditions such as arthritis and chronic pain, Canberra is home to many experts passionate about improving health in all sorts of ways. In this feature, “CityNews” speaks with local allied health experts, surgeons and medicinal practitioners who specialise in maintaining people’s wellbeing.
Arthritis ACT is an allied health practice with a difference, says CEO Rebecca Davey.
There are physios, exercise physiologists and an occupational therapist available, but Rebecca says they also have a team of peer workers, people with lived experience of the conditions they support people with.
“The issue with chronic conditions is often that until you’ve lived with it, you don’t have an innate understanding of what it is to walk that walk,” says Rebecca, who is very open with the community about her journey with inflammatory arthritis and the associated chronic pain.
“It’s often just the practical ideas that you can share, and you can honestly say: ‘This works for me, you might like to try it, or you might not.’
“Everyone that works in the health arena is passionate. It’s the reason why people choose these careers.
“I think the difference with us is that we have all the added extras to support the community, especially in terms of community education and linkages to a wide range of experiences within [the] team who are there to support clients that come to our service.
Arthritis ACT offers ongoing programs for people who need any type of support with their chronic pain or debilitating fatigue conditions, and Rebecca says there are a
range of low-cost group exercise classes, and lower-cost private access to one-on-one physiotherapy, exercise physiology and occupational therapy.
There is also access to free education programs and support groups every week, which Rebecca says helps clients build their own community of people that can really support them and understand.
Arthritis ACT, Pain Support & ME/CFS ACT, 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce. Call 1800 011041 or visit arthritisact.org.au
Getting help with hearing loss is all about improving communication and gaining clarity, says Dr Vass Hearing Clinic principal Dr William Vass.
Offering professional, independent advice and treatment, Dr Vass says taking the first step with a hearing test can be life-changing.
“We know hearing loss can be linked to anxiety, isolation, anger, relationship issues, work issues and miscommunication in general,” he says.
“After treatment or rehabilitation patients can find it a lot easier to get along with people, don’t have to guess so much and are much more confident in their communication skills, especially with their partner.”
While hearing loss can come with ageing, Dr Vass says it can also often affect young people, too.
“Those exposed to loud noises in military and construction fields can experience hearing loss. Some people might be genetically exposed to hearing loss or there could be viral infections,” he says.
“It’s very important to act early. Waiting too long can start to see a disconnect between the brain and the ear.
“We find that those people who put off getting help with their hearing loss
for long periods don’t have as successful outcomes as those who seek help earlier.”
Dr Vass says patients have the certainty that they’ll be seeing him when they visit the clinic and that he will provide one-on-one, tailored care and advice.
“It’s rewarding to help people not be so isolated, and help improve their communication with others, especially their loved ones,” he says.
Dr Vass Hearing Clinic, suite 14, John James Medical Centre, 175 Strickland Crescent, Deakin. Call 6282 2717 or visit drvasshearing.com.au
Physiotherapist Emil comes to us with a wealth of physiotherapy experience and knowledge from the public hospital system and also private practice. Emil works closely with our team of Exercise Physiologists on a coordinated approach to improving your pain and overall wellbeing. Emil has a special interest in neurology and improving the lives of people living with neurological conditions. He’s also mad keen on soccer and will support you with all sports related injuries and injury prevention.
Sophie has post graduate qualifications in hydrotherapy, and as a non-sports centred Exercise Physiologist, helps clients who struggle with engaging in exercise due to a lack of sports participation. Sophie’s goal is to improve clients health via our hydrotherapy program, gym instruction and in-home visits. Sophie also is known for her passion for working with children.
Sarah believes that exercise is the best medicine. She is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with her degree in exercise physiology and rehabilitation. Previously Sarah was a swim teacher, personal trainer and an allied health assistant in the hydrotherapy field.
Jarrod is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist who graduated from the University of Canberra in 2024.
He has a passion for wanting to help those in need and aims to provide the best possible treatment and advice to each and every one of his clients.
Blake has expertise in improving clients mobility and decreasing their pain through appropriate exercise. Blake delivers our ‘My Exercise’ program, targeting the relief of lower back and sciatic pain, shoulder and upper body concerns as well as leg, hip and ankle interventions – for those who do not qualify for physiotherapy-led GLAD programs. Blake provides individual & group exercise for younger people with a disability. Blake treats clients in-clinic or via our hydrotherapy program as well as attending your gym with you.
Jacqui has a particular interest in hip and knee osteoarthritis. Jacqui delivers the GLAD program designed to reduce the need for joint replacements, or if a joint replacement is unavoidable, to prepare you thoroughly for surgery and recovery for day to day tasks. Jacqui is studying towards a PhD in the outcomes of the GLAD program.
Holly is a former sports journalist who believed so strongly in the power of exercise to heal and nurture that she undertook her 4 year degree in Exercise Physiology. Holly is be able to work with people directly to support them through their pain journey and regain independence and a joy for living again. Holly provides one on one and group exercise classes both on land and at our hydrotherapy centres to support people to gain freedom from chronic pain.
• Occupational Therapy – Assistance with the planning and modification of your home, workplace or car. Applications for NDIS, the Disability and Housing Support Pension, and also driving assessments.
• Physiotherapy – including the GLAD program for knee and hip osteoarthritis, sports injury prevention and rehabilitation, and pain condition support.
• Exercise Physiology – Individual exercise prescriptions, small group classes to increase strength and improve rehabilitation, strength and balance classes, hydrotherapy support.
Diabetes is a condition that can change over time, and what works on one day, or one month, or one year, may not the next, says Natalie Smith, general manager, health service operations NSW & ACT at Diabetes Australia.
“That’s why we recommend [that] everyone who is living with diabetes follows an annual cycle of care,” she says.
“It’s a simple tool to make sure you stay on top of diabetes and reduces the risk of complications to your eyes, heart, kidneys and feet.”
Natalie says regular visits with the GP and health professional team is really important to make sure issues are identified early, and to have plans in place to deal with them.
Allied health care teams are an important part of this, and include credentialed diabetes educators, dietitians, exercise physiologists, dentists and podiatrists, says Natalie.
“Your GP is your gateway to these essential health professionals as well as your network of specialists,” she says.
“I’d encourage anyone living with diabetes to talk to their GP about the annual cycle of care.
“While you’re there, you could also ask about allied health care referrals, which provide Medicare rebates for allied health services associated with chronic conditions like diabetes.”
Diabetes Australia runs credentialed diabetes educators or dietitian clinics in the ACT, says Natalie, and appointments can be booked over the phone.
More information about the annual cycle of care can be found on the Diabetes Australia website.
Diabetes Australia. Call 1800 177055, or visit diabetesaustralia.com.au
Curtin Optical stocks a wide range of eyewear and accessories, says owner Corey Nicholls.
Having been a part of the Curtin community for 29 years, he says Curtin Optical has three experienced optometrists available for appointments from Mondays to Fridays.
“We cater to all tastes – from budget to well-known brands,” says Corey.
Curtin Optical also offers mobile optical dispensing services – spectacle selections and deliveries to the elderly or people unable to come into the store due to disability, he says.
“This includes spectacle repairs and adjustments, and an after-hours service,” says Corey.
“In addition, Curtin Optical offers an express service for those who have lost or broken their spectacles (Rx dependent).
“Curtin Optical’s in-store services can offer a same-day turnaround and its mobile jobs have a 24-hour turnaround.”
Corey says its independence from large chains gives customers a more personalised service.
He says they are also providers to the ACT pension scheme and DVA, with Curtin Optical offering a 10 per cent discount to ACT Seniors Card holders on complete spectacles, when their card is presented at ordering.
Curtin Optical. Shop 1B, Curtin Place, Curtin. Call 6281 1220 or visit curtinoptical.com.au
Book an appointment to see a Diabetes Australia credentialled diabetes educator or dietitian.
Call us on 1800 177 055 to arrange an appointment.
As podiatrists, the team at The Walking Clinic specialise in issues with lower limbs, including the hips, knees and feet, says podiatrist Ricky Lee.
“We also make custom biomedical devices to assist with people’s gait, and prescribe custom orthotics,” he says.
Ricky says he always wanted to get involved with healthcare because he has always wanted to help people.
“One of the great things about working as a podiatrist is people come here in pain, and we help them and you can see improvements straight away,” he says.
The Walking Clinic can also help those suffering with plantar fasciitis, or chronic heel pain, with many options, including shockwave therapy.
Shockwave therapy for chronic heel pain breaks
down scar tissue and increases blood flow to decrease the associated pain, says Ricky, promoting healing and improving long term outcomes.
“Heel pain is very common, and for many people, when they get out of bed it can feel as though they are stepping on a knife,” Ricky says.
“This obviously affects their movement, so being able to help with that is great.”
Ricky says they can also assist in addressing issues with children’s gait, injury recovery, callus and corns, fungal laser treatment, or nail issues such as in-grown toe nails.
The Walking Clinic is located in Lyneham, Woden, Belconnen, Garran and Manuka.
See walkingclinic.com.au for details.
The saying “there’s always room for improvement” is as relevant in the home as it is in many other areas in life.
Here CityNews showcases the goods and services of local experts who can help you achieve those objectives…
Re-furnishing the home does not necessarily have to break the bank, with leading second-hand furniture company, ExGovernment Furniture, having something to suit every budget, says co-owner James Fullerton.
“Whatever your budget is, we can work with it,” he says.
At the moment, Ex-Government Furniture has home storage options, whether it be for the home office or the garage.
“We’ve got a lot of metal, swing-door cabinets with sliding drawers, and some full-height metal storage cabinets that are great for the garage,” James says.
“But, these are really popular so they’re going out the door quick.”
They also have a lot of European designer lounge items, mainly Italian and Danish, for those who are looking for stand-out pieces for the living area, says James.
Or, if looking for something made locally, James says they currently have Australian-made small desks, which are perfect for revamping the home office space, and for those who may only have a small area to work with.
Ex-Government Furniture, 6 Yallourn Street, Fyshwick. Call 6280 6490 or visit exgovfurniture.com
From antique heirlooms to modern club lounges and TV recliners, Ebsworth Upholstery can assist with any furniture restoration or re-upholstery project, says office manager Robyn Ebsworth.
Robyn operates the business with her husband Mark, a skilled upholsterer with more than 20 years of experience, and together she says they work with designers, timber restorers, metal fabricators and frame makers to deliver attention to detail that’s second to none.
“We often have customers with furniture that once belonged to their grandparents that’s been passed down through generations,” says Robyn.
“When it’s restored for them, there can be a real emotional response. “These heirlooms are often a way to remember loved ones.”
It’s just one of the valued services that Ebsworth Upholstery offers, says Robyn.
“We’ve got one of the biggest fabric libraries in Canberra that includes soft furnishings, fabrics, upholstery and drapery, and customers can come and purchase fabrics for their own
projects through that library as well,” she says. They’re also proud to offer custom-made furniture and lampshade making services, with the manufacturing process all done here in Australia.
“With us, customers can add their own style and flair to their furniture, something you can’t get at the large furniture retailers,” she says.
Ebsworth Upholstery, unit 4, 1 Alumina Street, Beard. Call 0434 982708 or visit ebsworthupholstery.com.au
“Let’s face it, renovation costs have increased significantly over the last few years due to inflation,” says director Andrew Hooper.
“Three years ago, it was a different market, but today, aligning your expectations with current realities is key to staying within budget.
“Class Constructions understands these challenges, and their transparent process is your best defence.”
While renovation prices have risen, Andrew says their commitment to delivering quality and value remains unchanged, and when partnering with them, clients don’t just hire a builder with more than 30 years of experience, they also gain a team dedicated to the project’s success.
Andrew says the team understands how frustrating it can be when the design and budget don’t align, but Class Constructions has an in-house designer, Ramir Araneta, who helps ensure the space is both beautiful and functional, while their specialised software provides a realistic budget from the start.
“This way, clients can avoid the frustration of a lengthy 6-12 month timeline only to discover that they’ve exceeded their budget,” says Andrew.
“At Class Constructions, transparency is the foundation – just open communication and integrity from start to finish to ensure your design fits your budget and exceeds your quality expectations.
“Reach out to the team today, and they’ll work with you to build something extraordinary – and within budget!”
Class Constructions, call 0489 953410 or visit classconstructions.com.au
Renovation Matters offers transformational renovations that add the biggest impact and value when selling your property.
If you are not selling, we can help you renovate to meet your specific requirements!
Renovation Matters offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to home and property renovations in Canberra, says owner Kim Persson, including full home makeovers, kitchen, laundry and bathroom upgrades, outdoor landscaping, and property styling for sale.
“We also provide specialised services like structural improvements, energy efficiency upgrades, and custom design projects,” she says.
Kim says one of their signature offerings is the pre-sale renovation package, designed to maximise property value before selling.
“This service focuses on making cost-effective, high-impact improvements that significantly enhance both the appeal and functionality of your home, ensuring you achieve the best possible return on investment,” she says.
“We also offer a convenient payment option, where all upfront costs can be covered, allowing you to pay at settlement.”
Renovating is an excellent way to add value to your home, improve its functionality, and create a space
that better suits your lifestyle, and Kim says even when planning to sell, renovations can make a huge difference in attracting buyers and securing higher offers.
She says renovating before selling offers several key benefits: it can help the property stand out in a competitive market, increase the sale price, and ensure faster sales.
“With a strategic approach to renovations – focusing on areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and curb appeal – you can significantly boost the perceived value of your home without over-capitalising,” she says.
“Renovation is not just about improving a property; it’s about creating homes where people can live comfortably and thrive.
“Whether you’re staying put or looking to sell, the right renovation can make all the difference in your quality of life and the long-term value of your property.”
Renovation Matters, call 0427 696662 or visit renovationmatters.com.au
That’s exactly where we come in. At Class Constructions, we specialise in turning your ideas into reality. Bring us your vision, and we’ll create detailed drawings, with the help of our in-house building designer, while ensuring we stick to your budget. Let us take the stress out of your renovation journey.
When it comes to building or renovating your home, you deserve a team that shares your vision and cares as much about the final outcome as you do. At Class Constructions, we bring a wealth of experience and expert craftsmanship to every project, ensuring your new home, renovation, or commercial property exceeds expectations. What truly sets us apart is our unmatched level of care. We’re not just builders; we’re partners in creating a space that reflects your style and meets your needs. Our dedication to transforming
ordinary projects into extraordinary spaces makes us the perfect choice for your next construction endeavor.
Choose Class Constructions for quality, integrity, and lasting value. With nearly three decades of experience and a commitment to accessibility, Andrew ensures that every aspect of your project is thoughtfully designed and expertly executed. Let’s work together to create the space of your dreams.
Discover the difference with Class Constructions today!
After the initial project feasibility review, receive FREE CONCEPT PLANS – at no additional cost!
Terms and conditions apply. This offer is only available until the end of October, so contact us today to take advantage!
The Kitchen Company is very much a Canberrafocused family business, that’s very much about the homeowner.
General manager Charlotte Batley said the company was started by her husband Adam Batley’s father, Peter, in 1981.
Adam had worked there for 25 years, 15 years running it, “and I’ve been here for 10.”
“We offer custom kitchens in forever homes, we have dedicated interior designers who will work with clients for months or even years to achieve their dream, and a fabulous team who can do it all, from start to finish,” she said.
“The kitchen is such a big part of the home, so
really we feel like we’re transforming people’s lives.
“We are big believers in Canberra, we love it here and we love the community, some clients are repeat clients or spread the word about how pleased they are with us, and seeing them so happy keeps us passionate.
“People really get a personal, lovely and different experience when they come through us.”
Charlotte said they also offered a free design and quote service, so customers could be confident in their decision before making a financial commitment.
The Kitchen Company, Unit 1/4 Wiluna Street, Fyshwick. Call 6239 2944, or visit thekitchenco.com.au
Daylight Artistry is a locally-owned, family operated business that has been serving the Canberra community for close to 20 years, says director Ben Potter.
Daylight Artistry offer a range of products that allow customers to boost the natural light in their home and improve ventilation, and Ben says they are the premier dealer for Solatube in Canberra and a proud supplier of Velux skylights.
At the moment, he says Solar Star by Solatube is his favourite product available.
“The Solar Star pulls heat from your roof space so you can reduce your aircon bills,” says Ben.
“One Solar Star exceeds the performance of eight whirly birds in regards to air flow.”
Consistent ventilation goes beyond reducing air conditioning usage however, with Ben saying proper roof ventilation also reduces the opportunity for mould to develop, as it prevents condensation and moisture in the roof cavity space.
This helps to protect the general roof cavity area and prevents building materials from deteriorating.
Daylight Artistry also offers an all inclusive installation service, and Ben says testimonials and photos of their work can be found on the website and on their social media pages.
Daylight Artistry, call 6280 9901 or visit daylightartistry.com.au
The Housing Industry Association does regular surveys on the average life of a kitchen, finding that the average turnover is 11 to 18 years, says Robyn Monteleone, partner at Select Custom Joinery.
But, with the sustainable practices and custom designs offered by Select Custom Joinery, Robyn says there is no reason why their kitchens wouldn’t last 50 years or more in terms of durability and functionality.
Select Custom Joinery will be showcasing their sustainable practices at the Sustainable Canberra Expo 2024, she says, which will take place at Exhibition Park, 10am-4pm, on November 2, .
“The expo is for businesses offering sustainable solutions, which we do from a cabinet-making and furnituremaking perspective,” she says.
“We aim to build kitchens, bookshelves, any type of interior joinery, from sustainable materials, and with classic designs, to be durable over time.
“We specialise in using materials like plywood and timber, and we aim to minimise waste.”
Robyn says through their design services, they can ensure their designs are custom made to the client’s taste and lifestyle, creating timeless pieces that suit the needs of the home, all while maintaining an eco-friendly approach.
But, they are a small team, so Robyn says appointments are necessary.
Select Custom Joinery. 1182 Wallaroo Road, Hall. Call 6230 9414 or visit selectcustomjoinery.com.au
By Jackie WARBURTON
flowers.
Some
They are shade-tolerant and prefer to live in the understory of trees, where there is morning sun and protection from the afternoon sun. They bloom from early spring through to summer and are available in many colours.
My favourite to grow is the evergreen Keirin. It has small, pink blooms and, when in flower, the bush is totally covered with spectacular blooms.
Another favourite is the generally larger, deciduous Mollis azalea with a more upright growth than its counterpart, with much larger
They are deciduous and their flower colour ranges from purple, pink, red, orange and yellow. But they’re not only in plain colours: there are multi-coloured ones with stripes or flecks in the petals and pretty in the garden.
They’re popular for pots and small gardens and need clipping after flowering to promote new flowering buds the following year.
The main pest problems for azaleas and rhododendrons are azalea lace bugs and thrips.
Lace bugs can spread from shrub to shrub and will be there, unnoticed, until the damage is done to the leaves. These insects are very small and usually on the undersides of the leaves. They spend winter as eggs and spraying before the flowers emerge is the best time to attack and break its breeding cycle.
Thrips are different insects, but cause similar damage. They’re easier
to see on the top of the silvery leaf. Thrips are better treated in summer when they are most active.
OPEN Gardens Canberra has a large number of spring gardens that are open in and around Canberra.
Membership costs $30 a year or $10 for each garden visit.
Visiting other gardens can give you plants and flowers ideas and design inspiration, plus the chance to meet other gardeners. The funds go towards horticultural scholarships and community grants.
At some open gardens there are small plant sales that have been propagated from the garden and rare finds are always found.
More at opengardenscanberra. org.au
THE native hibiscus ( Alyogyne huegelii) is a low-maintenance, fast-growing shrub with a long flowering period from late winter through to spring.
Its striking blue/mauve flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies.
Alyogyne have an open-growth habit, but can be pruned if needed for hedging.
Growing to two metres, it may need a little protection from frost while young and, like all natives, good drainage is needed because
they don’t like wet feet. Pink is a new hybrid variety that also has a prolific display of perfumed flowers. Although the flowers only last a day, the shrub produces more and more flowers through the warmer months. Regular tip pruning will keep flowers coming right through the season. The native hibiscus is from the Malvaceae family and many other plants from this family grow well in our environment, although many are not native.
jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au
• Increase irrigation on lawns to keep them from drying out over summer.
• If needed, prune citrus to keep them in shape and to keep them producing flowers and fruit.
• Prune hedges before the hot weather sets in.
• Prune flowering ornamental trees, such as crab-apples and cherries after flowering.
• Canberra Bonsai Society’s annual show will be at Can- berra High School, Macquarie, October 12-13.
Retiring principal of the Bungendore Wood Works David Mac Laren is known as a formidable personality in the arts, with interests that spread well beyond wood. Arts editor HELEN MUSA explains why.
In a remarkable display of grace and perspicacity, David Mac Laren will pass on the directorship of the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery after 40 years at the helm.
This is no ordinary retirement, for instead of throwing up his hands in despair at the current problems of small businesses, he has, after consultation, handed over the ropes to a young Canberra Wood craftsman Ralph Barford.
Mac Laren will keep working privately in wood, but wants to enjoy time on his 40-hectare farm too.
Bungendore Wood Works is one of the great success stories in this region, both for the arts and for tourism. With the Octagon Gallery upstairs, it has become a destination point for wood-lovers and the general public, as evinced when in March it was selected as best Gallery in Australia by the US-based World Art Awards.
Modest enough to admit to all and sundry that he couldn’t have survived without the
support of the richly-endowed community of Australian woodies, Mac Laren sees himself as an introvert.
Be that as it may, he is known as a formidable personality in the arts, with interests that spread well beyond wood.
For some years, urged by his former colleague Stan d’Argeaval, he turned the Wood Works into a mecca for jazz, with Don Burrows, Kevin Hunt and George Golla regularly playing there.
Mac Laren wasn’t always going to be a woodie.
A New York boy who grew up on Long Island, he still holds American citizenship –that’s why he received an “honorary” Medal of the Order of Australia in 2018.
After school, he spent a short, unhappy period at Yale studying for mechanical engineering.
“Yale was all about preparing for a career, “ Mac Laren says. “I needed to change from engineering and I wanted to leave the US, but I needed a place where English was spoken. Canberra looked nice and sunny, so in 1962, I went to the ANU and studied
philosophy and literature.”
The Vietnam War intervened. Instead of staying overseas as many would have done, Mac Laren repatriated for the call-up but was rejected because he suffered from Crohn’s disease.
He fell among the theatrical crowd in New York and became a playwright, living the life and having several works staged, for no pay,
by
La Mama.
By now fortyish and married, he was feeling isolated, until one day the finger of fate pointed at him.
Wandering around Manhattan in 1973 he spotted a gallery called Impressions in Wood, and fell in love. Soon he was working there with a team of makers who talked nothing but wood – he was hooked.
By Helen Musa
The coming production of Little Shop of Horrors at Gungahlin Theatre will mark the 10-year anniversary of Dramatic Productions, founded by Richard Block.
More than 100 performers auditioned for the eight roles in the musical, so local talent is well and truly on display.
Little Shop is a horror comedy rock musical by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, based on the 1960 movie, The Little Shop of Horrors.
It’s an obvious choice for a bit of Halloween fun too, as I find when I catch up with director Marty King.
“If people feel like they want to dress up and embrace the Halloween season, I would be more than encouraging of that,” he says.
King is probably best known for his 2022 production for the same company of School of Rock.
A public servant by day with a small family, including a newborn baby girl, he’s been carefully spreading out his theatrical activities, there are signs that his three-year-old son may go follow in his father’s footsteps as he’s already coming to rehearsals and can sing along.
King’s engagement with Canberra’s musical theatre community began in 2016 when he was thrown into the deep end as assistant director with Canberra Philharmonic on Anything Goes after meeting director Jim McMullen, who asked him to come on board.
But in fact, he and his partner Emma had both studied theatre at the University of Ballarat, now Federation University.
“I’d never directed before and I’d never done musical theatre, but I kind of caught the bug.”
He became assistant director on Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge in 2017 and Strictly Ballroom in 2018, both directed by Chris Baldock,
and worked with Ylaria Rogers on Shrek at The Q in 2018.
Then he met Richard Block from Dramatic Productions and his enormously successful production of School of Rock ensued.
“It wasn’t so much the musical theatre bug that I caught,” he says, “when I finished uni, I thought, maybe that’s not the thing for me, but then came the opportunity to work on Anything Goes.
“There’s something about directing, about seeing the big picture that resonates with me, there’s something about creating a vision and shaping a show, there’s more freedom.”
He describes Little Shop as “fun and timeinsensitive”.
“Knowing I might be doing the show in October, I thought, that’s in line with Halloween so it’s a spooky season show.”
Although the cast is about eight, he’s expanded the chorus for a couple of numbers using backstage people, so everybody is involved in the show.
Little Shop of Horrors is famous for having a non-human star – Audrey II, the carnivorous plant.
“No matter what stage you’re at in your musi -
cal theatre journey, you must surprise people so that they say, ‘Oh, I didn’t expect that’,” King says.
“Part of that was designing our own Audrey plant. We’ve been working away for months and what we’ve got is pretty special – possibly the largest Audrey II I’ve seen. I think people will be blown away.”
Block says the puppet budget alone is larger than the set, props and costumes combined.
Of course, there are human beings in the show too, especially the hapless central character Seymour, played by Alex Unikowski, on stage for almost every scene.
But with a man-eating plant in the show, the human characters come and “go”, so several of the cast play multiple roles.
It’s a tour de force for Unikowski, who is more often seen by Canberrans behind the keyboard than on stage.
The character is something of a loser, but on the other hand, the story has what King calls “a bit of a Faustian take”, as Seymour, who wishes for more, seizes the opportunity to take it despite red-flag warnings”.
Seymour, who works in Mushnik’s flower shop, finds a mysterious plant whom he names Audrey II, but soon discovers that she feeds on blood. When he stops feeding her, Audrey II promises that, if fed, she will make sure that all of Seymour’s dreams come true.
So, with a weird plot like this, I ask, what engages the emotions?
“It’s definitely a very amusing show with a lot of comedy,” he says, “although in this version I’m leaning a bit harder on the horror aspects, taking inspiration from old B-grade horror movies.
Then, after seeing the 16 tall ships in the US bicentennial Parade of Sails on July 4, 1976, he and his wife returned to Australia, where they bought a 40-hectare property with a mining shack on it in 1977.
Soon enough Mac Laren was engaging local wood makers in crafting objects for an exhibition, also travelling far and wide to meet just about every woodie in Australia.
His collaboration with Bungendore architect Maurice Barnes saw the quixotic design of the present gallery come true when the Bungendore Wood Works and Gallery were opened in January 1994.
While nowadays Mac Laren would be rated highly as an astute businessman, he prefers to see himself as a strategist, saying, “whatever I do, I have strategies”.
These strategies led to national tourism awards and a national tourism conference in the early ‘90s brought in not only politicians but a huge lift in business.
It hasn’t been plain sailing. There was the 1983 drought and the 1993 Recession We Had To Have. Fire claimed his first workshop, replaced in 2003 by a new one. Then covid knocked the wind out of their clients, who went for safety and conventionality.
He still thinks like a playwright and has been staging a series of exhibitions divided into acts. When we spoke, he was planning on using his dramatic skills by doing the actual handover as a play in the Octagon –his will be a hard act to follow.
“It’s funny, but I also hope to make people squirm, embracing those horror moments.
“I want them to embrace the fear a bit.”
NETFLIX is back with another twisted true-crime series this month that’s already doing numbers worldwide.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story tells the disturbing tale of how in 1996 two brothers were convicted for the murder of their parents in a trial that was televised across the US.
What gave this case so much public interest was the darkly intriguing circumstances that surrounded the notorious killings.
Brothers Lyle and Erik were only 21 and 18 at the time they shot their parents with a shotgun more than a dozen times at their mansion in Beverly Hills.
In court, the brothers told the jury they killed their father out of fear he was trying to murder them when they threatened to go public with years of abuse they had suffered at his hands, abuse that their mother had allowed. However, the prosecution accused the brothers of trying to cash in on their family’s multi-million dollar estate.
So what’s the real reason? Netflix’s new, heavily dramatised show digs for an answer.
The series comes from Ryan Murphy, the same showrunner behind Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
That series came out two years ago and remains, in this columnist’s opinion, the most disturbing true-crime series to hit screens since the streaming era began.
Evan Peters gave a remarkable performance as the titular murderer who killed more than a dozen victims in the 1980s.
The series gained notoriety for its depiction of violence which often crossed a line into gratuitous.
Real-life families of victims then complained of its insensitivity, accusing the show’s producers of exploiting tragedy.
But the controversy and furore only fuelled interest in the show.
Now, Murphy and Netflix have turned the “Monster” title into something of a crime anthology series, hence its inclusion in this new show about the Menendez brothers.
Like the notorious trial that once caused so much controversy in the 1990s, this retelling on
Netflix has, similarly, split audiences.
“No way Netflix dropped a show on the Menendez brothers and titled it ‘monsters’... those boys were abused throughout their whole lives by their father and their mother allowed it… how are they the monsters?,” one popular tweet reads.
“Nobody should have to explain to you why killing makes you a monster,” says another in reply.
The commentary across any online channel in response to this show follows a similar line of argument.
Like what audiences saw in the Dahmer story, it’s the cast here that has made this new series so compelling and taken it to Netflix’s most-watched show this month.
Javier Bardem plays Jose, the father of Lyle and Erik.
Bardem is no stranger to playing monsters, take No Country For Old Men or Skyfall as just two quick examples, and here he turns on his chilling charm yet again.
Equally fascinating is Bloodline star Chloe Sevigny’s performance as the boys’ mother, Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez.
Less known are the two actors playing the
By Helen Musa
It seems almost incredible to report, but Canberra actor Amy Kowalczuk has never acted in Shakespeare before.
By the end of the year, she’ll have performed in seven different roles, five times as an actor and twice directing, including the mighty role of Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire.
Now Kowalczuk takes on the daunting role of “mad Meg”, Henry VI’s wife Queen Margaret, described by Shakespeare himself as having “a tiger’s heart wrapped in a woman’s hide”.
The polar opposite of her gentle, intellectual husband, she’s front and centre in the rarely-performed Shakespearean plays that bear his name but which have some extraordinary acting scenes in them.
Lexi Sekuless Productions is taking on the second of these plays in Rockspeare Henry Sixth Part Two or 2H6, staged with radical costumes by Tania Jobson and a cool original soundscape by Ukrainian composer Ikoliks.
Sekuless staged the first part of the story in October 2023 and now she’s plunging us right into the centre of the Wars of the Roses, with Kowalczuk as Queen Margaret not the relatively low-key ingénue of 1H6, but now as the full fully fledged dominatrix.
The story kicks off with King Henry’s marriage to the penniless Margaret and the English court’s reaction. Tensions build between the houses of York and Lancaster and we meet Richard, soon to become the notorious Richard III and Margeret’s sworn enemy.
It’s all grist to the mill to Kowalczuk, enjoying her close work with Sekuless who has made a specialty of exploring the deep texture of Shakespeare’s language on stage.
But it isn’t as if Kowalczuk is a theatrical novice.
brothers themselves.
Nicholas Chavez and Copper Koch play Lyle and Erik respectively, both offering intriguing performances that have audiences questioning whether they really are victims or should be locked up for life.
Whereas Dahmer felt like it was often trying to instil pure horror in its viewers, this new series tries to get people more swept up in the scandal of it all.
It has certainly been softened compared to Dahmer, perhaps as a result of some of the backlash, but a warning that the Lyle and Erik Menendez story still carries an R18+ rating and a justified one at that.
At this stage, it is too early to say how the series will hold up in the long term.
With a subject matter as confronting as this, it takes a few years for audiences to properly digest it.
Regardless, the wild success of this new installment in the true-crime canon proves there is more of a morbid appetite for it than ever before.
Then in 1997 she scored the title role in Annie for Alpha Theatre.
After performing in musical theatre, she also undertook the Advanced Musical Theatre Course with Canberra musical theatre legend Queenie van de Zandt in 2010, later begging Everyman Theatre’s Duncan Ley and Jarrad West to let her audition for Breaker Morant. Before long in 2012, they had her performing in a double bill of Woody Allen’s God and Mark Ravenhill’s Pool No Water.
In 2013, Derek Walker invited her to join in the cast of the four-hander, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, which was rehearsed at NIDA, then toured to Gorman House.
She went on to play Fantin in a 2017 production of Le Miz, but hasn’t done a musical since.
Now, Kowalczuk is on another learning curve, working with Sekuless on Shakespeare, an experience of which she says: “I’m being given a new lease on my performance abilities… We’re getting down into the nitty-gritty of Shakespeare.”
A good thing because, as she says, the play includes “a fantastic, juicy love affair, upfront, close and personal… You can’t get much closer than this.”
The young Marguerite of Anjou, she explains, was gifted to Henry the Sixth (Chips Jin) by her lover, the Duke of Suffolk, played by Mark Lee – “the ultimate pairing, a match of very strong characters.”
But Margaret is in complete contrast to King Henry, known for his gentle incompetence as a ruler and Kowalczuk’s favourite parts include a monologue where she tells Henry off for bringing her to England and a fierce love scene between Margaret and Suffolk.
“Everything is said out loud, so you have to think quickly on your feet, it’s one of the most present forms of theatre I have ever done,” she says.
At Hawker College her drama teachers, the legendary Steve Brown and Kate Rose, were doing much more exciting things, such as The Golden Age by Louis Nowra and 48 Shades of Brown: the play, directed by Jamila Rizvi.
“There’s exciting dialogue, exciting movement, exciting costumes and exciting music but mostly,” she says, “it’s a highly political scramble”.
Rockspeare Henry Sixth Part Two, Mill Theatre, Fyshwick, October 9-24.
What does it take to become famous? Prof Cass Sunstein, from Harvard Law School, himself famous in his own field, notes that that fame requires talent, resilience, and a large dose of serendipity.
His book, How to Become Famous: Lost Einsteins, Forgotten Superstars and How the Beatles Came to Be (Harvard Business Review Press $49.99), is not a self-help manual to fame, but rather a commentary, mixing personal reflection with experimental psychology and behavioural science studies.
He looks at how and why people such as the Beatles, Taylor Swift, Bob Dylan, Muhammed Ali, Jane Austen, and Stan Lee, or films such as Star Wars, or works of art like the Mona Lisa, became famous.
Sunstein is talking about really famous people, not the faux celebrities, such as the Kardashians, nor the social media influencers.
He quotes Samuel Johnson, who pointed out “the bubbles of artificial fame, which are kept up a while by a breath of fresh air, and then break at once and are annihilated”.
He notes: “Taylor Swift is really famous in the sense that people know not only her name but also why they know her name. This is also true of Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk and the Pope.”
Sunstein offers a new understanding of the roles played by ability, luck, and
contingency in the achievement of fame.
He observes: “There is no set of shared characteristics that famous people have. Success and fame depend on 1001 different factors, and there isn’t a unifying set”.
He admits there is no easy answer for “How To Become Famous” and that his choice of subjects is based on his personal favourites, whose success he often places in the context of chance.
Thus, what if Brian Epstein had not seen the Beatles that lunchtime in the Liverpool Cavern in 1961 and then later managed to persuade George Martin to record them?
Sunstein writes: “What would the world be like if the Beatles never existed? This was the question posed by the playful, thought-provoking, 2019 film Yesterday, in which a young, completely unknown singer starts performing Beatles hits to a world that has never heard them.
“Would the Fab Four’s songs be as phenomenally popular as they are in our own Beatle-infused world? The movie asserts that they would, but is that true? Was the success of the Beatles inevitable due to their amazing, matchless talent? Maybe.”
Sunstein similarly recounts the story of
Fresh from its debut at the Adelaide Fringe, where it won Best Kids and Family Show, Signor Baffo has embarked on its first regional tour. It’s an interactive children’s comedy performed by comedian Joshua Burton and is filled with culinary chaos and belly laughs. Tuggeranong Arts Centre, October 9-10.
Good news, Bell Shakespeare’s new season will bring Henry 5 to Canberra in April. But alas, its piece de resistance for 2025, Coriolanus, directed by Peter Evans and starring Hazem Shammas and Peter Carroll, will not play here. Why not?
Surfacing after a period of lowkey activity, director Chris Baldock, with translator Céline Oudin, will stage the Canberra premiere of French murder mystery, 8 Women, for Mockingbird Theatre Company. Set in an isolated countryside mansion in 1950s France, a family is gathered for the holiday season. But their beloved patriarch has been murdered. Belconnen Arts Centre, October 10-19.
Comedian Joshua Burton as Signor Baffo… Tuggeranong Arts Centre, October 9-10.
A piano recital by Irma Enriquez will highlight works by remarkable Latin American women composers and poets. Wesley Music Centre, October 9.
Daramalan Theatre Company will present The Heart as the first production at the new Joe Woodward Theatre, October 12-19. The play features characters from past productions who awaken on stage, questioning their reality. The second act portrays modern young people grappling with creativity and life and the production concludes with a choir performance of
On October 13, Greenaway Studio, Chapman, will host Myee Clohessy, founder and artistic director of the Highlands Music Collective, on violin and John Martin on piano for an afternoon of music from the First Viennese School. As a birthday tribute they will also play two of Sally Greenaway’s compositions for violin and piano.
Prizewinning Canberra pianist Ronan Apcar, who left town for the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne a year or so ago, returns to perform Industrial Revolutions, commissioned from local composer Lynden Bassett. At Smith’s Alternative, October 12.
the then Cassius Clay who, after his bicycle was stolen when he was 12, told the police officer: “I want to whup that guy”. The officer responded: “Well, if you want to whup somebody, you better learn to box” and enrolled him in his boxing gym. Again serendipity and timing, allied to obvious talent, ambition, mentorship and hard work.
And what of the “lost Einsteins”, people who might have been famous but never made it.
Sunstein writes: “There are a zillion people in human history who could have been iconic, or something in that direction, who never made it. One reason is they may have been born in a time and place where they had the wrong gender or the wrong demographic or the wrong skin colour or wrong religion. (By wrong, I mean unfavourable for opportunity or success).”
Sunstein notes there was “No Age of Shakespeare in 1600”. Shakespeare owed a great deal, in terms of posterity, to the posthumous publication of the First Folio in
1623, which preserved a number of his plays.
Scottish novelist Mary Brunton was thought by contemporaries to be as talented as Jane Austen in the early 19th century but Sunstein believes she lacked a “champion”. He explains why Bob Dylan made it and a talented songwriter and folk singer Connie Converse did not in the New York music scene of the 1950s and 1960s.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, arguably the most famous painting in the world, was not immediately considered a masterpiece.
Sunstein believes that its theft in 1911, was “critical to the emergence of the Mona Lisa as the most famous painting in the world. Without that theft, it probably would now be one of a set of paintings that people think are very good”.
Clive James once wrote: “A life without fame can be a good life, but fame without a life is no life at all”.
How to Become Famous is a fascinating analysis of the nature of fame, in which Sunstein concludes: “There is no set of shared characteristics that famous people have. Success and fame depend on 1001 different factors, and there isn’t a unifying set. Life is a lottery.”
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While I love going out for breakfast, I get tired of same-same on some menus. I’m always looking for a dish that elevates my palette. A dish with a difference. A dish that’s memorable.
We found just that from the breakfast-all-day menu at the relatively new Good Neighbour Café in what some would say is an unlikely spot on Wentworth Avenue.
However, Good Neighbour is close to old Kingston, the foreshore and heaps of residences and businesses in the immediate area. It’s not worried about drawing customers in.
On approach, we noticed a massive line of folks ordering and waiting for coffees (it was, after all, around 8.30am on a weekday), but Good Neighbour has a separate, special front window, so we needn’t have fretted that we’d have to wait a l-o-o-o-ng time to enjoy brekkie inside.
Order at the counter (while admiring the extensive line-up of decadent pastries, baked goods and daily-made sandwiches) and food is served at the table.
The chilli crab folded eggs ($27) had a kick for those who like a lively start to their day. The dish featured a generous serve of blue swimmer crab and drizzles of punchy chilli oil. Thin slices of red onion and loads of fresh, vibrant coriander were layered on top.
The dish came with Indian flatbread and a wedge of fresh lime. It’s a well-thought-out breakfast item.
I was up for Dirty Eggs (Huevos Sucios, $23), which also packed a punch. It was a visual feast that got me excited when served. In the centre
The chilli crab folded eggs featured blue swimmer crab and drizzles of punchy chilli oil with thin slices of red onion and coriander layered on top. Photos: Wendy Johnson
of the dish, on top of a soft tortilla, were two perfectly cooked fried eggs.
Placed all around the dish were super crunchy croquettes, thickish slices of chorizo, a scattering of black beans, corn salsa and chipotle aioli. I squeezed fresh lemon all over and dug in.
Good Neighbour offers quality sides, including mushrooms ($4), smoked salmon ($7) and bacon, chorizo or grilled halloumi (each $6). I ordered a side of bacon to road test it and ask for crispy. It was perfect.
The café’s interior is clean, contemporary and stylish. Sage green metal furniture is out front (some tables and some benches).
Dirty Eggs… two perfectly cooked fried eggs on top of a soft tortilla with croquettes, slices of chorizo, a scattering of black beans, corn salsa and chipotle aioli.
The owners of Gus’ Place, a city institution, are behind this new café and they’ve created a place that will continue to be popular. Lunch starts at 11.30 and I’ll no doubt be back to try the Karaage bowl ($23.50), featuring Japanese fried chicken, wafu salad, rice, togarashi and kewpie mayo. As a good neighbour, Good Neighbour invites customers to just pop by for a coffee, tea, freshly squeezed juice, smoothie or shake. I eyed the brownie basque cheesecake ($9.50) and the hazelnut olive oil cake ($8.50) which both looked sensational.
Seppeltsfield was established in 1851 and is one of the most iconic wineries in Australia.
It is a label, famous for its fortifieds, epitomised in the Centennial Collection – the world’s only unbroken lineage of single vintage tawny dating back to 1878.
In February 2023 Seppeltsfield announced the release of a rare 1923 100 Year Old Para Vintage Tawny – seeing one hundred years maturing in oak. The release coincided with the day the Seppelt family moved into the homestead.
So, this is a label that drips with history and is known for wines that are old, kept on oak and which you cellar for a long time.
For example, I have in my collection a 1947 Para vintage liqueur port given to me by a client in the 1990s when she had a win in the then Employee Relations Commission of Victoria, long since abolished.
The vintage date refers to the oldest component of the blend and I looked up the price of the 1947 on the internet: it’s worth around $350. For those of you who are thinking of a gift for me (so many!), a
current release 1924 100 Year Old Para Vintage Tawny is $1750 for 100ml in a premium gift box, with a certificate that can be personalised.
With this as background, you can imagine my surprise when sitting in the Symposium wine bar at the ANU with a mate, I discovered on the list a 2023 Seppeltsfield Barossa Nero D’Avola, a young bright wine made for drinking now.
It is made in a “joven” style without any oak maturation. Joven means young in Spanish, albeit the grape variety is Italian, and this style of wine is meant to be fresh, easy drinking, aromatic and fruity.
This is the opposite of the heady, intense fortifieds that this winery is famous for, but which appear to have a diminishing market with the category “fortified and other” comprising only three per cent of the off-trade sales of wine in 2023 compared with four per cent in 2019, according to Wine Australia.
Joven wines are usually from the current vintage and should be consumed within a year to around 18 months from being made.
One expert, Mark O’Neill, estimates that around 80 per cent of wines marketed around the world are now made in this style. The Seppeltsfield Nero D’Avola certainly
lived up to the joven description, with a remarkable bouquet of cranberry and a hint of violet.
On taste, it was surprisingly bold with fresh acidity and finished with depth, mouth filling and textural.
I spoke with Lauren Mudge, head of sales and marketing at Seppeltsfield, who confirmed that the 2023 Nero D’Avola had won two gold medals, the Top Gold Medal at the 2023 Royal Adelaide Wine Show (national show) and Gold Medal 2023 Barossa Wine Show, and was available from the winery at $30 a bottle.
Lauren told me the winery was based on its sales of fortifieds, but that the range was moving to more young, vibrant wines.
“Our line-up include styles you would expect from the Barossa including shiraz and grenache, but also alternative styles like nero d’avola, touriga and vermentino, which not only thrive on the growing conditions in the Barossa but are gaining interest from consumers, given their drinkability,” she said.
By Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
This week your partnership zone is activated by the Sun, Mercury and Jupiter. So – when it comes to romantic, platonic and business relationships – it’s time to be more creative, curious and generous as you shine brighter, communicate better and laugh more often. There are also interesting connections to be made and new friends to be found within your local community. So get out and about as you explore fresh nooks and crannies in your neighbourhood.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
On Tuesday fiery Mars boosts energy, motivation and confidence, especially involving travel, communication and education. Attached Bulls – love planet Venus is visiting your relationship zone (until October 17) so plan something romantic with your partner. Unhappily single? You could find yourself drawn to a charming Capricorn, a sexy Scorpio or an amorous Aries. Your motto is from birthday great John Lennon: “Love is the flower you’ve got to let grow.”
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
The Sun and Mercury are activating your creativity zone, so it’s time to write, sing, dance, perform, paint or play music as you draw on the richness of your colourful world within. Tuesday’s Mercury/Jupiter trine will help you turn imaginative ideas into successful projects. Travel, teaching studying, and business ventures are also favoured. With Jupiter jumping through your sign (until June 2025) keep learning, exploring and expanding your horizons.
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
With mighty Mars marching through your sign (until November 4) it’s time to be the bold, brave, confident Cancer you were born to be (like fellow Cancerians Princess Diana and Meryl Streep). No hiding in the shadows or sulking on the sidelines. Crawl out of your Crab cave and take on the world. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, Eleanor Roosevelt: “You not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.”
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
Have you and a friend or family member been heading in different directions? Venus encourages you to remember the good times you’ve enjoyed together and search for common ground. Things will look a lot brighter in the morning. Your motto is from birthday great Eleanor Roosevelt: “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” If you are unhappily single, you could find yourself falling for someone from your complicated past.
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
On Tuesday, Jupiter forms a beneficial aspect with Mercury (the Virgo power planet). Which is fabulous for travel, education, communication, work and finances, as your thinking is clear and your judgement is sound. So make the most of this positive energy surge while you can. However, with Neptune and Saturn transiting through your relationship zone, it’s time to take off your rose-coloured glasses and see someone in the clear light of day.
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
This week is all about getting the ratio right between your busy public life and your private inner world. Be inspired by well-balanced Libran movie star Hugh Jackman (who turns 56 on Saturday): “The secret to modern life is finding the measure in time management.” It’s also time to make plans, set goals and dream big dreams. And don’t make them too safe and sensible! Go for gold, as Mars and Jupiter encourage you to be bold and brave about the future.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
Scorpios can be very intense, determined and driven. This week, peacemaker Venus is vamping through your sign (until October 17) so it’s time to cool down, compromise and cooperate. Plus – with the Sun and Mercury both transiting through your solitude and spirituality zone – it’s also time to mediate, contemplate and ruminate. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, singer-songwriter John Lennon: “Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream.”
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
Prepare to inspire others with your high spirits and contagious enthusiasm. You’re at your buoyant best on Tuesday, when Mercury and Jupiter boost confidence levels and put extra wind in your Sagittarian sails (especially involving relationships, joint ventures, goals and dreams). But a family situation looks complicated and/or confusing. Ask for some clarification, otherwise you could find yourself jumping to hasty conclusions! Patience is the key.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
Venus and Mars join forces to help you with a troubled relationship. Mars pushes you to be proactive as you make the first move, and Venus encourages you to hold out the olive branch of peace. Compromise and cooperation will take you a lot further than conflict and false pride. Singer-songwriter (and birthday great) John Lennon also reminds us: “We need to learn to love ourselves first. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others.”
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
This week, Venus and Mars bless work projects and professional connections. But it’s time to clear up any murky unfinished business, before Pluto powers into your sign on November 19-20 (depending on where you are in the world). So, do your best to clean up the relationship swamp; take out the emotional garbage; and get some closure on messy mistakes from the past. Then you can start the brand-new Pluto in Aquarius era with a shiny new slate.
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
Practical Saturn and poetic Neptune are both transiting through your sign. So it’s a good week to find someone you can share a dream with – a partner, family member, close friend or colleague. Then work together to make that shared dream a concrete reality. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, John Lennon (who was born on October 9, 1940): “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2024
1 What describes a compound of elements of
kinds? (6) 8 Which small hourglass runs for about three minutes? (8) 9 What are families of lions known as? (6)
Name a very large herbivorous mammal. (8) 11 Who was a renowned US film actor, born in England, Dame Elizabeth ...? (6)
12 Which term describes a set of three? (4)
13 To bring together, is to do what? (5)
16 What are prescribed quantities of medicine? (5)
19 Who was made a lifetime President of Yugoslavia, Marshal ...? (4)
21 When one confuses, one does what? (6)
22 What is refinement also known as? (8)
23 Which early steam locomotive was built by the Stephenson brothers? (6)
24 Name a renowned Apache Indian chief. (8)
25 To be of little breadth or width, is to be what? (6)
2 Where were earlier miscreant sailors hanged? (7)
3 What are puzzling questions? (7)
4 Name an area very deficient in water. (6)
5 Name a periodic payment. (7)
6 What are antelopes also known as? (7)
7 What are caves, or caverns? (7)
13 Name another term for hay fever. (7)
14 Which branch of mathematics uses letters and other symbols? (7)
15 When one stretches, one does what? (7)
17 Who holds a commission in the armed services? (7)
18 Which Spanish painter was known as “the Greek”? (2,5)
20 Who, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was the King of the Fairies? (6)
