Swan Magazine August 2018

1

IN THIS ISSUE PAGE

FEATURES Books and Writing

Competition for Well-Versed Death in the Sea of Grass Editing for Publications Just Out KSP - What’s On in August Marathon Writing The Idler

5 19 5 4 3 3 52

Business Card Board

Finance with Steve Networking

57 46 47

Federal Notes Girls School Cinema League of Legends Letters to the Editor Living the Dream Out and About with Sharron Rivercare Grants Robert Juniper Arts Award SAFE Standing Up for Swan Hills SVRN

The Compassionate Friends What’s On

9 18 17 16 16 13 8 17 54 10 49 55 14

Business

Community

Front Page Photograph: Love in the Rain.

Photographer: Michael Jung

PAGE Corridors College

Corridors at Supanova 2018

7

Douglas Wineries & Dineries Help Save Slate Cafe Entertainment 30 From 30 Footnote People in History Forgotten Treasures Film Reviews One Act Comedy Festival at KADS Theatre Reviews Theatre with Gordon Theatre Allsorts at Stirling TV with Chris

33 8

Art and Artists House and Garden Landscaping with Stone

48

Food

Leisure

34 53 41 38 37 40 43 36 42

6

DISCLAIMER The information in this publication is of a general nature. The articles contained herein are not intended to provide a complete discussion on each subject and or issues canvassed. Swan Magazine does not accept any liability for any statements or any opinion, or for any errors or omissions contained herein.

SWAN MAGAZINE WEBSITE:

www.swanmagazine.com.au

Email: editor@swanmagazine.com.au Registered Address: 18 Tokay Lane, The Vines, Western Australia 6069 SEPTEMBER DEADLINES: Advertisements: 1st September Editorial: 1st September Copyright: Swan Magazine 2018 2

BOOKS AND WRITING KSP - WHAT’S ON IN AUGUST SHANNON COYLE

WORKSHOP: So You Want to … Polish to Perfection Saturday 11 August 1.00-4.00pm

In this session, Westerly editor and UWA writing lecturer Kate Noske will be looking at editing as an active creative practice and an important skill set.

We will discuss and practice exercises in several different forms of editing, thinking about how the process of paying attention to the text shifts with each new set of editing concerns.

And we will look at the details necessary to polishing a piece for submission to a publication. Bring a sample of your own work to consider and discuss in this session, around 1,000 words prose or twenty lines of poetry.

Tickets from $35.

KSP SUNDOWNER SESSION featuring Open Mic Friday 31 August 6.30-8.00pm

At KSP’s bi-monthly Sundowner Sessions guests can take the mic and perform a short piece of poetry or fiction at the Balcony Bar, or sit back with friends and enjoy the readings.

Glass of complimentary wine on arrival thanks to our friends at Lion Mill Winery.

Tickets only $5 for members or $10 for guests.

For more details please visit the KSP website

www.kspwriterscentre.com

or phone the office 9294 1872.

SPOOKY STORIES NIGHT Saturday 25 August 6.00-9.00pm

The KSP Writers’ Centre in Greenmount is the perfect place for a winter Spooky Stories Night. The heritage-listed property is rumoured to be haunted by the ghosts of its former owners, Katharine Susannah Prichard, author, and Hugo Throssell VC, Gallipoli hero, who both passed away here at 11 Old York Road.

This popular annual event puts the ‘fun’ in fundraiser with Halloween activities, marshmallow-roasting and facepainting, as well as the announcement of KSP’s 2018 Ghost Story Competition winners and readings of the winning stories.

Due to space limitations, advance bookings are essential.

Tickets have sold out in the past so be sure to get in quick.

Suitable for ages 6 and up. Tickets from $10.

O

MARATHON WRITING

n your marks, get set, go! No need to wear lycra or running shoes for this marathon. All you need is a pen. The Society of Women Writers WA is hosting another Marathon Writing Competition on Saturday 22 September 2018 from 9.30am to 4pm at Citiplace Community Centre in the Perth Railway Station Concourse.

Can you beat our reigning champion, teenager Amber Berriman of Gidgegannup who has won the trophy three times in a row?

Helen Iles, author of Bitter Comes the Storm, Fire in the Heartland, and The Horse Keepers, will give you a series of writing prompts: a word, a phrase, an image or a song to spark your creativity and generate ideas for writing stories, poetry or articles.

There will be ten challenges, each lasting twenty-five minutes. The winner will receive a trophy and certificate. There are also prizes for second and third places.

Helen, the Chairperson of The Society of Women Writers WA, says “The aim is to produce first drafts, fresh new material for future writing projects.

“Don’t worry about grammar, punctuation or spelling. Let the words spill out onto the paper. You will be amazed at how much writing you can produce.”

Bring your favourite pens.

Notepaper will be supplied. Tea and coffee provided. Bring your lunch or you can buy lunch from nearby take-away outlets.

The cost of the marathon $25 and it is open to all writers, men and women, young and old.

To book, call 0429 116 395 or email swwwabookingofficer@gmail.com

For more information, visit the Society’s website: www.swwofwa.com.au

3

BOOKS AND WRITING JUST OUT Title: Author: Publisher: ISBN:

Out of the Shadow Neill Florence Balboa Press AU 9781 5043 1312 4

heartbreak and loss, but also one of determination and joy.

Her hope is that those considering giving a child up for adoption and prospective adoptees will be able to see the decision from both perspectives and come to a greater understanding of how best to handle a potential reunion between birth-mother and child. She also hopes to reach mothers who have experienced stillbirth to show them that they can overcome the darkness and move forward “little by little in small positive steps.”

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

ut of the Shadow: Sequel to Pursuit of Happiness follows an immigrant family from Germany across the Australian bush in search of a new home, facing dangers along the way.

The novel is the second book of a planned trilogy that grew from a set of letters written from Germany to family in Australia in the second half of the 19th century.

In their journey across Queensland, the Schillingberg family lose confidence in the protection of a bullocky named Joel Skipton and his Aboriginal assistant Bindi, and face the Aboriginal hostility alone.

Why then does Gretchen Schillingberg demand that they wait at Aberfoyle Station for the bullock team to catch up?

Through Gretchen, Florence explores the historical mistreatment of Aboriginal Australians. Gretchen is sensitive to the destruction of indigenous culture – rejecting the belief that the decimation of an entire people is necessary to enable expansion and the safety of European settlers.

Florence notes that “Aboriginal welfare continues to languish” today. The author hopes to pull readers into a suspenseful, historical tale that will encourage thoughtful meditations on the repercussions of Western expansion that Aboriginal Australians still face centuries later.

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

In 1974, Jackee Ashwin relinquished her baby boy as part of the adoption process in Australia during that era. In 1983, she lost her other son to stillbirth. Rebuilding her life after these incidents, she was reunited with her son in 2012 after he found her online. Ashwin’s ambition is to help every birth-parent who willingly or unwillingly gave up a child for adoption and who may be contemplating finding their child. She lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her husband. More information can be found at: www.jackeeashwin.com. ~oOo~ Title: Author: Publisher: ISBN:

n today’s fast-paced society, the simple things are often lost or forgotten. For children, this means an oversight in learning important lessons in friendship, respect and sharing. Kathleen Beining wants to return to these virtues as well as Christian values through the “Mrs. Bumbleberry Series.”

The “Mrs. Bumbleberry Series” carries messages that have been lost over time. Beining brings back these morals and values with through simple tales that are full of colorful illustrations.

“My stories not only have a message, but guidance on how to apply these lessons,” Beining said. “Mrs. Bumbleberry represents those strong Christian values, and how to live out those ideals in your everyday actions.”

Mrs. Bumbleberry and the Ark focuses on treating others with respect. Katy is worried about attending church summer camp and unsure that she will make new friends. Mrs. B reminds Katy that she can make friends if she treats them the way she would want to be treated.

Luckily, Katy meets Andi. The two become best friends through learning about God’s great works with Mrs. B. In Mrs. B, Substitute Grandma readers are introduced to Katy and Andi who are on a field trip to Appleton Farm, but first the children need an adult to accompany them. Mrs. B comes to the rescue and teaches the girls the value in sharing and working together.

“Most adults grew up with these messages, but somewhere along the line we forgot to pass these ideals down to our children,” Beining said. “It is time to return to these Christian values so kids may grow to be respectful and caring adults.”

For more information, visit www.kathleenbeining.com.

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Westbow Press

About the Author

Neill Florence is a former high school principal and English teacher in Queensland. Now retired, he has written several novels and short story collections. ~oOo~ Title: Author: Publisher: ISBN:

Mrs. Bumbleberry and the Ark and others Kathleen Beining Balboa Press AU 9781 4525 3171 7

Relinquished, Returned, Rejected Jackee Ashwin Balboa Press AU 9781 4525 3171 7

rom 1950 to 1980, thousands of newborn children in Australia were taken from their mothers simply because the women were unwed. The children were placed with other families, and the mothers were ridiculed and shamed.

In Relinquished, Returned, Rejected Jackee Ashwin tells her personal story of hiding the shame of her teenage pregnancy, the adoption and the guilt that accompanied her throughout her life. She also shares the heartache of stillbirth.

After meeting her adopted son in 2012, Ashwin was compelled to share her experience. “I have a desperate need for birth mothers, fathers and adopted children to read my story should they be considering contacting their birth parent or child,” she explains. “I want them to know both sides of the coin and the potential disaster should the reunion not be handled correctly.”

Facing the loss of her son’s to adoption and stillbirth and a marital breakdown, Ashwin describes the mental resilience that saw her through. Her story is one of

About the Author

Kathleen Beining grew up in Missouri and currently lives there with family and friends. She is a devout Christian and believes in the importance of sharing, caring and helping others. There are currently eight books in the “Mrs. Bumbleberry Series,” with more on the way.

4

BOOKS AND WRITING

C

COMPETITION FOR WELL-VERSED

T

EDITING FOR PUBLICATION

he Society of Women Writers WA is conducting an Editing for Publication Workshop on Saturday 18 August 2018 from 9am to 4pm at Citiplace Community Centre.

This workshop will be run by Helen Iles, Editor and Publisher; author of Bitter Comes the Storm, Fire in the Heartland, and The Horse Keepers, who will show you how to turn a critical eye on your manuscript and bring it to publication standard.

Helen, the Chairperson of The Society of Women Writers WA, says “This workshop will cover Story Structure; Logic and Credibility; Character Development; Removing Redundancies; Tightening Prose; Tense and Pacing; Order of Facts; Sentence Content and Length; Dialogue; Active Writing; Appropriate Punctuation; Voice; and Write it Real!”

Participants should bring along a printout of their writing and a red pen, or their work on a laptop.

Tea and coffee provided. Bring your lunch, or you can buy lunch from nearby take-away outlets.

The workshop is open to all writers, men and women. Cost is $150 for members of the Society; $160 for non-members. Bookings are essential as places are limited. Email swwwabookingofficer@ gmail.com or call 0429 116 395.

For more information, visit the website:

www.swwofwa.com.au

alling all poets! The City of Nedlands Roland Leach Poetry Prize is now open to Year 3 to Year 12 students right across Western Australia.

The biennial competition, now in its seventh year, aims to promote poetry in the community and recognise and reward outstanding original works of poetry written by children and young adults across the State.

Categories cover middle primary, upper primary, lower secondary and upper secondary school with prizes awarded for each one.

Winners will receive book vouchers, a trophy and certificate with the Roland Leach Poetry Prize presented to the poet with the most outstanding entry.

Roland Leach is an award-winning West Australian poet with four collections: Shorelines: Three Poets, Drowning Ophelia, Darwin’s Pistols and other poems and My Father’s Pigs.

He has won numerous awards, including the 1995 Newcastle Poetry Prize, 1998 Josephine Ulrick Poetry Prize and two Tom Collins Prizes – and his poem My Great Aunt appeared in The Best Australian Poems 2012.

Find out more and download an entry form at www.tinyurl.com/rolandleach.

Submissions close 1pm August 31.

Editing for Publication Venue: Citiplace Community Centre Perth Railway Station Concourse, opposite top of Platform 9 Saturday 18 August 2018 9am to 4pm

Helen Iles This workshop will be run by Helen Iles, Editor and Publisher; author of Bitter Comes the Storm, Fire in the Heartland, and The Horse Keepers, who will show you how to turn a critical eye on your manuscript and bring it to publication standard.

Helen, the Chairperson of The Society of Women Writers WA, will cover Story Structure; Logic and Credibility; Character Development; Removing Redundancies; Tightening Prose; Tense and Pacing; Order of Facts; Sentence Content and Length; Dialogue; Active Writing; Appropriate Punctuation; Voice; and Write it Real!

Participants should bring along a printout of their writing and a red pen, or their work on a laptop. Tea and coffee is provided. Bring your lunch, or you can buy lunch from nearby take-away outlets.

The workshop is open to all writers, men and women. Cost is $150 for members of the Society; $160 for non-members. Bookings are essential as places are limited. Email swwwabookingofficer@gmail.com or call 0429 116 395.

For more information, visit the website: www.swwofwa.com.au

Roland Leach 5

HOUSE AND GARDEN LANDSCAPING WITH STONE

L

andscaping with rock brings in a natural element that evokes solidness and a sense security to your home and garden.

You can use large and small rock, boulders and natural stones in many different ways to add some depth and texture to your landscaping design.

Landscaping rocks can come in different unique sizes, shapes and styles. Not only is there a fun collection of colours of landscaping rock there are also several different kinds of stone to choose from. Different landscaping designs will require different landscaping rock .

If you want to add one of those large boulders that are often seen in commercial landscape designs.

The easiest way to get these large boulders to your yard is to work with a landscape contractor. Not only will they deliver these boulders, but they will help with the design plan and if you want (and it’s usually cost effective and by far easier) they’ll place the rock in the proper spot at the right angle.

The trick to landscaping with stone and rocks successfully is to fully integrate them into your backyard garden and the landscape design.

For a landscaping design to look professional, layers are used, and this can be hard to achieve without the use of some landscaping stones. A flat yard and garden is kind of boring, but using stones to create different levels for your eyes to focus on brings energy into the landscape.

Landscaping with rock and stone is not the only way to give your yard depth but they are one of the easiest ways. You can try to change the slope of your yard, but it’s simpler to use landscaping stones to bring depth and change the look of the yard.

If you were to just put your landscaping rock here and there you will be doing

nothing for the yard and your yard will end up looking strange and unbalanced.

Think of balancing a flower garden bed with a large landscape rock or anchor an island garden with a large rock as the centerpiece. A cottage garden will look like it’s been there forever if there are boulders and rock strewn in and out of the delphiniums and roses.

Plan exactly where each landscaping rock should be placed for the ultimate good effect. Think about the landscaping design principles and use balance and unity in your plan.

Cluster rocks in odd numbers - it’s better than dotting the landscape with one here and there.

If you take the time to bury your rock so that it looks like it’s been in that spot for years it will look much better. The depth will all depend upon the landscaping rock that you finally choose for your yard. If you choose a very large landscaping rock then it should be sunk into the ground deeper than a smaller landscaping rock.

Ten to fifteen centimetres is a good depth for your landscaping rock to be buried. Make sure that the boulder is stable and secure, without rocking back and forth if someone leans on it.

6

However, there are a few points on the down side to be considered: Rock is heavy and not very moveable.

Once it’s planted, it usually stays.

Landscape rocks can be expensive.

The delivery and planting costs are high too.

Smaller rocks and stones can make mowing the lawn a challenge unless they are contained with edging of some sort.

If you decide that you’re tired of the look of the small stones and rocks in your gardens and landscape, removing it is usually a hassle. It’s a lot of back bending hard work to shovel up and don’t forget it then needs to be hauled away. k Use rocks around a fire pit k Place a large boulder strategically in a rock garden as a focal point k Use in a landscaping “island” design k Place natural stone outcroppings around a man-made pond or waterfall k For privacy, use large landscape rock to add height to an area. Back-fill behind a boulder wall with trailing plants and flowers. k Rock boulders can add interest in front of a fence k Build stone walls to define outdoor rooms.

CORRIDORS COLLEGE CORRIDORS AT SUPANOVA 2018

C

SARAH HICKEY

orridors College in Midland has been in operation since 1998 and has seen hundreds of students come through the doors and while the landscape may have changed the heart and soul of this not for profit organisation has stayed the same.

For Corridors, the goal is not just assisting a disadvantaged young person to finish Year 12, it is also about reengaging them in communities, assisting them to rebuild positive relationships in their lives, growing self confidence and installing healthy lifestyle choices.

Corridors also look to prepare their students for life after school by creating experiences which install and improve the employability of each young person and allow them to develop transferrable skills.

So how exactly can you expose students to budgeting, project management, product development, marketing, customer service, cash handling, manufacturing, rostering and sales in a relevant but real world way? One word – Supanova.

If you haven’t heard of Supanova it is a fan convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy film, TV, comic books, anime, gaming and collectables.

It is held annually in the Australian cities of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Gold Coast and Perth with over 30,000 people attending across three days at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre (PCEC) while globally the convention in San Diego (USA) boasts an attendance of over 150,000 fans.

The students of Corridors College were tasked to plan and execute a Corridors stand at Supanova in Perth that was well displayed and stocked with items available for attendees to purchase.

The project took over four months to plan and complete but it was done with a result that was over and above what the team imagined it would be. The students with the support and guidance of a team of staff attended Supanova with printed t-shirts, 3D printed Pokemon items, wooden tea-lights and tote bags – the best part of every item was that it was hand made so each was slightly unique.

The engagement at the stand over the weekend was fun and positive with the tote bags selling out on the first day!

Overall the best takeaway from the experience was

the positive feedback that the students received for their talents, creativity and efforts.

The Corridors team are already planning for Supanova 2019 and hoping the project will continue to give students added confidence and a platform to display their creative and budding entrepreneurial skills.

If you want to reach out to Corridors Group, you can do so via Sarah by way of email - sarah.hickey@corridors.wa.edu.au - or you can simply follow the Group on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.

7

FOOD HELP SAVE SLATE CAFE DOUGLAS SUTHERLAND-BRUCE

A

portion of Marshall Road in Bennett Springs and Dayton Boulevard in Dayton has been temporarily closed from May 1, for a period of sixteen weeks, as part of the New Lord Street project.

The temporary road closures will allow for the construction of a new intersection, a significant upgrade which will eventually remove the highly congested roundabout at St Leonards Boulevard.

In addition, Marshall Road will be widened and realigned to join Dayton Boulevard and a new roundabout will be constructed to connect Dayton Boulevard, Lord Street, Marshall Road and Isoodon Street.

Altone Ward Councillor Peter Lyndon-James said

nearby local businesses will remain open and accessible at all times during the temporary road closure.

“Slate Café, Sikh Gurdwara and Shree Swaminarayan Temple are all open over the next sixteen weeks, and will be accessible via Marshall Road from Altone Road,” he said.

Which is all well and good, of course, but Cafés rely heavily on passing trade and the livelihood of the owners and staff hang in the balance over the next four months.

They need you to keep going with your family, kids and pets to this charming café - do yourself and them a favour and keep going.

RIVERCARE GRANTS

R

ound two of the Community Rivercare Program is now open and applications are invited from not-for-profit volunteer groups until Monday, 17 September, 2018.

Member for Swan Hills, Jessica Shaw MLA has encouraged local rivercare groups to apply for grants to continue building on the great work already underway to protect the Ellen Brook, Susannah Brook and the other important tributaries in Swan Hills.

Grant funding is available to improve habitat for birds, fish and other animals dependent on waterways, improve water quality, and address foreshore erosion in the Swan Canning Catchment.

The funding is administered by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, with $900,000 allocated to community groups over three years.

In the first round of funding, 17 community groups were awarded more than $540,000 for projects ranging from one to three years in duration.

More information can be found at https://pws.dbca.wa.gov. au/rivercare 8

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson: “The McGowan Government is committed to supporting community groups and the valuable work they do along river foreshores.

“Community groups are instrumental in protecting and enhancing the natural values of our rivers and increasing public enjoyment of recreational areas.

“I encourage community groups to apply for these grants, so we can continue to support important projects that improve the health of the Swan Canning Riverpark.”

Member for Swan Hills Jessica Shaw: “Rivercare community groups throughout Swan Hills understand the importance of the river to our community, wildlife and the environment. They do such a fantastic job in ensuring the river is cared for and preserved.

“As a local hills resident, I love visiting the rivers throughout Swan Hills. It is so important that local rivercare groups be supported to continue their invaluable work.”

FEDERAL NOTES HON KEN WYATT AM, MP Member for Hasluck , Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health

DIRTY DEEDS, DONE DIRT CHEAP

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrion and Ken Wyatt, MP for Hasluck, working on the GST share for WA

I

was disappointed and concerned to see the CFMMEU up to their same old tricks, fear-mongering again, in their flyer about the Banking Royal Commission circulated recently in Hasluck.

The courts have fined the CFMMEU and its officials over $15 million for breaching industrial laws.

There are currently around eighty representatives of the CFMMEU before the courts. One judge recently called them the ‘most recidivist corporate offender in Australian History’.

At a time when union membership is at record lows – with less than nine per cent of the private sector members of a union, Labor and Bill Shorten have now publicly committed to supporting their union mates at the expense of all other Australians.

Royal Commissions can only be established by the Executive Government and are put in to existence by the signing of Letters Patent by the Governor-General. Parliament has no ability to establish a Royal Commission.

The votes in Parliament mentioned in the CFMMEU flyer related to either non-binding motions or were for the establishment of a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry – which has different powers from a Royal Commission.

I did not support those for a number of reasons, including that they were political stunts with no impact whatsoever, and had poorly drafted terms of reference. It was a political stunt for the Labor Party rather than any desire to seriously address the issues at stake.

In contrast, the Government’s “take action now” approach has resulted in a legislated Banking Executive Accountability Regime to ensure senior bank executives take responsibility for misconduct that occurs under their watch, increased funding to ASIC for enforcement and investigation of misconduct and reforms to deliver greater competition and choice for consumers in financial services.

I will continue to deliver for the people of Hasluck and ensure you are well represented.

Meanwhile Bill Shorten and Labor are beholden to their militant union mates in the CFMMEU for power and money.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

KEN WYATT & THE TURNBULL GOVERNMENT ARE DELIVERING

GST FIX FOR WA INCREASING THE GST FLOOR TO 75c

Our plan to deliver a fairer share of the GST will make you, your family and all Western Australians better off. This means: A GST floor of 70 cents increasing to 75 cents over time An additional $4.7 billion to WA A real long-term fix to the GST system Funding for essential services is guaranteed

WA WILL BE $4.7 BILLION BETTER OFF over the next 8 years

KEN WYATT MP r You Federal Member for Hasluck

Hawaiian’s Forrestfield, 80 Hale Road, Forrestfield WA 6058 (08) 9359 0322 Ken.Wyatt.MP@aph.gov.au kenwyatt.com.au kenwyattmp Authorised by Ken Wyatt MP, Liberal Party of Australia, Hawaiian’s Forrestfield, 80 Hale Road Forrestfield WA 6058.

9

STANDING UP FOR SWAN HILLS GIVING THANKS FOR STRENGTH JESSICA SHAW MLA – MEMBER FOR SWAN HILLS

W

e have all been shocked by the recent tragic events in Ellenbrook and the deaths of Michelle Peterson and her two children, Bella (15) and Rua (8).

On Sunday, 22 July our community came together to remember them. It has been incredible to see just how much love and support there is for this family.

I was deeply humbled to be asked to speak at the service on behalf of the family and convey their thanks to all of the people who helped them through this difficult time.

Many people at the service were from Ellenbrook. Many came from far further afield – from the South West, from the East coast, and from across the Tasman Sea.

We did not come together to take away our grief, our shock or our loss – that would be impossible – but rather, to support one another in our grief and to support the family in theirs.

We came together to give thanks for having known three people who spread such warmth and light into so many lives; to share stories of them and to recount how they each touched our lives and our community.

We came together to give thanks for the first responders, who attended the home. Every day, we ask these men and women to run, not away from danger, but towards it. We acknowledge the impact something like this has on them and on their families.

We thanked state and local government workers and other community service organisations, who provided support at this difficult time.

We came together to acknowledge the sporting teams, community and church groups, teachers and friends who played

such a role in Michelle, Bella and Rua’s lives.

We thanked Ellenbrook Secondary and Malvern Springs Primary Schools. The teachers, staff and chaplains have provided such incredible support to our children and families.

We thanked Bella’s school friends who arranged such a touching tribute to Bella’s life at Ellenbrook Secondary College; and the Malvern Springs Primary School community, who arranged a service for Rua.

The family particularly wished to thank the many hundreds of people, local businesses, sporting and community groups who gave donations and made other gestures of support. It has been truly overwhelming.

Many of us will have been lost for words over these past weeks. Many of us have asked why these tragic events occurred?

We may never have answers.

For as long as we have existed, there has been tragedy and pain. For as long as we continue to, there will be grief and loss.

But, if nothing else, the way our community came together in response to these tragic events, shows us that none of us need face these things alone.

Perhaps it was a day to give thanks for how strong our community is, for how it holds together in the face of tragedy, to give thanks for its love and support of Michelle, Bella, Rua and their family.

Perhaps too, it was a time to reflect on how we can further strengthen our community; on how each and every one of us, every day, can show compassion and kindness.

At a time when we could so easily fall into despair, our community’s response has shone a light on to the things that draw us together, the things that really matter.

In the face of loss, we can often be reminded of the value of what we have.

In our grief, we found hope and comfort in coming together and supporting each other.

Let our reaction to this tragedy be to cherish, to hold tightly, our families and our friends.

Let the legacy of this tragedy be our resolve to strengthen our community, together.

Let our commemoration of this tragedy be our stories of Michelle, Bella and Rua - of our love for them and joy they gave to so many of us.

And let the bonds of community and hope sustain us through our sorrow.

In time, the family will hold small, private services to farewell Michelle, Bella and Rua. We ask that you please respect the family’s privacy over the coming weeks.

Jessica Shaw MLA LOCAL MEMBER FOR SWAN HILLS

@JessicaShawMLA Jessica.Shaw@mp.wa.gov.au 9296 7688 HERE TO HELP Aveley, Bailup, Belhus, Brigadoon, Bullsbrook, Chidlow, Ellenbrook, Gidgegannup, Melaleuca, Mount Helena, Sawyers Valley, The Vines, Upper Swan, and Wooroloo.

Office Address 8/31 Egerton Drive Aveley WA 6069

Postal Address PO Box 2265 Ellenbrook WA 6069

If you feel you, your family or a friend need support, please contact: • Headspace: 1800 650 890 •

Mental Health Emergency Response Line 1300 555 788

•

Lifeline on 13 11 14

•

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800, 24 hours a day

•

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

•

Beyondblue 1300 244 636

The above article is a modification of Ms Shaw’s opening remarks on behalf of the family, at the Community Service for Michelle Peterson and her children, Bella and Rua, held at Midland Sporting Complex, 22 July 2018.

Standing up for Swan Hills Authorised by Jessica Shaw, 8/31 Egerton Drive, Aveley, WA 6069

10

NOTES FROM PARLIAMENT CELEBRATING SCHOOLS TREE DAY Hon Donna Faragher JP MLC Member for East Metropolitan Region

S

hovels were out on Friday 27th July at Woodbridge and Maida Vale Primary Schools in support of National Schools Tree Day. I was delighted to hand over flowering plum trees and gardening equipment to budding gardeners at both schools in support of this important national initiative.

Each year, thousands of school students participate in National Schools Tree Day, a special National Tree Day event designed to help raise awareness about the importance of our natural environment, landcare and spending time outdoors.

Woodbridge Primary School’s Gardening Club and students from Years 1 and 2 at Maida Vale Primary School enthusiastically got involved in this year’s tree planting activities. It was such fun spending some time outdoors and getting our hands dirty all for a good cause. I also got some handy gardening tips from these budding gardeners!

National Tree Day began in 1996 and since then more than 4 million people have planted over twenty-four million trees and

ADVERTISEMENT

Donna

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

FARAGHER

jp mlc

Member for East Metropolitan Region Shadow Minister for Education; Training; Women’s Interests

Here to help!

Ground Floor, 108 Swan Street Guildford 6055 9379 0840 | Faragher.eastmetro@mp.wa.gov.au Authorised by D.Faragher, 108 Swan Street, Guildford WA 6055.

11

plants across Australia. National Tree Day aims to inspire participants to do something positive for their local environment or community and to reconnect with nature.

I encourage all schools in the East Metropolitan Region to consider hosting a Schools Tree Day event next year.

If you would like more information about Schools Tree Day or National Tree Day, please visit www:// treeday.planetark.org/.

OUT AND ABOUT WITH SHARRON

THE PERTH HAIR AND MAKEUP ARTISTS AWARDS

Hair and Makeup Artist Awards were held on Sunday 5th August – and for the first time we saw the Perth Beauty Expo run alongside T he Perth the Awards. Whilst separate events – they complimented each other so well I couldn’t resist flitting between the two as one was

upstairs and one downstairs at the Ascot Racecourse Members Lounge.

Upstairs Jodie Burwood, host of the Beauty Expo, offered a variety of supplier exhibits, competitions and a full day of workshops covering the latest in products, services and business tools. Loved seeing Famous Sharron there and the vivacious Lee Hancock from Blurred Concepts, showing her magical make up remover towel - ‘Just Me’ – which really do work!

Caroline fr

12

om

d a fine Smitten an

pair of spa

rkling eyes

OUT AND ABOUT WITH SHARRON

Downstairs Shelley Meyer, Owner and Creative Director of the Hair and Makeup Artist Awards is to be congratulated on a non-stop show of talented Western Australians competing in areas as diverse as Glamour Wedding to Avant Garde and Arabian to Body Art which just blew my mind!

All sections culminated in a runway show of non-stop music and colour which was brought home with a specially choreographed show

by Fabian Maillot entitled The Four Elements.

I was literally on the edge of my seat as dancers and models came together with a specially developed sound track and a story evolved.

Interstate and Overseas guests included UK based Celebrity Makeup Artist - Sean Maloney and a presentation from Martha Mok entitled Journey: Experience, Survival and Success. Already looking forward to next year!

Modelling Gla

mour Bridal en

tr y Two fam

h Fire from T

e Four Elem

e nt

13

ou s Sha

r ro n s

WHAT’S ON IF YOU WOULD LIKE AN EVENT LISTED IN THIS COLUMN RING our office on 0418 934 850 Entries for non-profit entities are free.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - Glen Forrest Group Every Monday evening We meet at 7.00pm at the Glen Forrest Uniting Church, Mc Glew Rd, Glen Forrest. Call Dermot 0488 905 211 or John 0448 074 536 or the Perth Office (all hours) 9325 3566.

A demonstration and cuppa are the norm. Men and Women are welcome. Enquiries to Ted 9295 4438.

SWAN VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE

AUSTRALIAN BREASTFEEDING ASSOC. Discussion groups, guest speakers, morning tea. Free breastfeeding counselling. Expectant mothers, mothers, babies and children welcome. National Breastfeeding Helpline 1800 686 2686 is a 24 hour 7 days a week service.

Swan/Mundaring Group meets every Monday, 9:30-11:30am at the Gumnuts Family Centre, 8 Mudalla Way, Koongamia. A qualified ABA counsellor is present at each meeting to give confidential information and support on breastfeeding issues.

Contact Natalie 9572 4971.

Kalamunda Group meets fortnighly on a Thursday, 9:30-11:30am at the Maida Vale Baptist Church, Edney Road, High Wycombe.

Contact Jenny 9252 1996.

Northam Group meets each second Tuesday of the month at the Bridgeley Community Centre, Wellington Street, Northam 10am to Noon.

Fourth Tuesday each month at Toodyay Playgroup, Stirling Terrace, Toodyay. Noon to 2pm. Please phone Louisa 9574 0229.

THE HILLS CHOIR

Monday Evenings Do you enjoy singing and joining with others to make beautiful music? Come and join the Hills Choir. We meet from 7.30 to 9.30pm at the Uniting Church on Stoneville Road, Mundaring.

Contact Margie on 9295 6103 for further information.

Monday Mornings The Art Group meets at Baskerville Hall from 9am – 12pm for just $5.00 per session.

Group leader Gilly can help and advise with most media. Feel free to come and have a look and meet our local artists – they are a very friendly lot, new members welcome!

For more information call 9296 1976 or enquiries@swanvalleycommunitycentre.com www.swanvalleycommunitycentre.com

SWAN HARMONY SINGERS

Wednesdays Come and sing with us! Swan Harmony Singers is a community choir that meets, 7-9pm, to sing music ranging from jazz to pop, plus the occasional classic. No auditions. Join us at the Salvation Army Church Hall, 371 Morrison Rd, (opposite Swan View Primary School), Swan View. Enquiries: call Anna on 9299 7249, or Chris on 9298 9529 or 0435 062 728.

COMBINED MIDLAND PROBUS CLUB

3rd Wednesday of the month Are you 55 or over and wish to join a non-fundraising club and meet new friends, explore new places and discover new interests in the company of fellow retirees then Midland Probus is the club for you.

ELLENBROOK COMMUNITY WEIGHT LOSS CLUB

Every Tuesday evening We meet from 6.45pm to 8.00pm at the Woodlake Community Hall, Meeting room 1 Highpoint Blvd, Ellenbrook.

Friendly support group at low cost. Male and females of all ages welcome. Contact Shirley 9276 7938 shirleysardelich@ aapt.net.au.

. . . ?

N E H W R E B M REME

HILLS CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT GROUP

1st Wednesday of each month Hilltop Grove Estate, 1645 Jacoby Street, Mahogany Creek. Morning tea provided, between 10.30 - 12.00 noon.

Enquiries Terina 9572 1655.

LY CART FESTIVAL THE INAUGURAL HILLS BIL

MORRIS DANCING

All welcome. It’s like bush dancing, with sticks and bells. It’s aerobic exercise and great fun!

Tuesdays 7-9pm practice, Guildford Town Hall, cnr James St and Meadow St, Guildford. And drinks later at the Woodbridge Hotel with live Irish music For more information please contact: Christine Hogan: 9279 8778 Email: madtattersmorris@iinet.Net.Au Website: madtattersmorris.myclub.org.au

Sunday 28th October

Keane Street East, Mount Helena

www.hillsbillycartfestival.com

visit our website to become a competitor, register your interest or become a sponsor.

SWAN WOODTURNERS GROUP

The group meets in the rear hall of The Senior Citizens’ Centre, The Avenue, Midland, at 1-00pm. on 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Tuesday, and at 7-00pm. on 2nd Tuesday of each month.

Printing proudly funded by customers of Mundaring Community Bank® Branch

14

Bigger than a bank.

WHAT’S ON Meetings are held at: Bellevue RSL Club, 2 Purton Way Bellevue from 12:30pm -to 3:00pm. Interesting Guest Speaker every month.

Our basic purpose is to advance intellectual and cultural interests among adult persons. Probus offers many member benefits and a chance to enjoy your retirement with likeminded people For Fun, Friendship and Fellowship contact John on: 9297 2219, 0419 962 872 or Email: jayveegee@iinet.net.au

ELLENBROOK AND DISTRICT MENS SHED INC.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday We are open at 4 Transit Way Ellenbrook from 10.00am to 3.00pm. Potential members can turn up on those days and there will be someone to explain what we do and give membership details.

Annual fees are low and members can do their own thing, participate in projects for the community or simply just come in for a chat and a cuppa.

We are considering extending our days to include Saturdays or evenings if there is enough interest.

MUSTARD SEED - DISCOVERING COMPUTERS

Mustard Seed is a fifteen year old non-profit organisation and teaches all aspects of everyday computing. Ability levels from beginners onwards. Want help with Windows 10? In need of instruction with your Mac computer? Have an iPad or Android tablet and don’t know what it will do? We can help. Cost is $3 per session. Classes are heldat 56 McGlew Road, Glen Forrest. To gain a place enrol now.

Phone 9299 7236 or 0478 604 163 or E: mustardcomputers@gmail.com W: noodlebytes.com

Midland.

Feel welcome to join us for morning tea and see how easy it is to make your own garments.

For more information contact Pat 9309 3260; Liz 9572 7074 or Pat 9295 2793.

TALKING HORSES

Wednesday evenings 6:00pm The WA Horse Council equestrian radio program is now in its seventh year. The programme is broadcast on the Community Radio Station 91.3 SportFM. To ensure that your club, event, breed or business gets coverage, call Diane Bennit 0409 083 617.

SWAN HARMONY SINGERS’ 21ST ANNIVERSARY CONCERT Sunday October 14 October Swan Harmony Singers have been especially busy this year. Their concert in October marks a significant anniversary, as the choir turns twenty-one. The program includes Beach Boys’ hit Kokomo, Feelin’ Good, the lovely ballad I Wish you Love, and the traditional spiritual Wade in the Water. For this special occasion, the choir will also be reprising a few numbers that have become firm favourites over the years, songs like Fields of Gold, the Yesterday Once More, Adele’s Skyfall, and Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.

The concert starts at 3pm in Darlington Hall. Tickets (including afternoon tea) are: Adults $20, Concessions $15, groups of 10 or more $150. Children under 10 are free. More details: call Anna Wright 9299 7249. Advance bookings: Mundaring Community Bank 9295 6411.

SWAN VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE MUSIC CLASSES

Tuesday mornings Learn to play tunes on piano or keyboard immediately – the SIMPLY MUSIC method. Play songs, chords, blues and classical in small groups at a reasonable price. Call Heather 9296 4181 for more details.

MIDLAND MEN’S SHED

Every Tuesday morning We meet socially every Tuesday morning from 9.30am to 11.30am in the Bellevue Baptist Church Hall and our usual attendance is around fifty-five.

At least once a month we have a guest speaker on a range of topics.

We also go on excursions to various places of interest (e.g. HMAS Stirling, Aviation Museum, Fremantle Ports, ALCOA, etc.).

Our workshop with wood working and metal working is in Midvale and for the opening hours and further details please contact Rob Cutter on 0419 967 873. Also in operation is our music group – the Rockin’ Shedders which is going from strength to strength and their repertoire of songs increases each week.

For more information on the Shed please contact Kevin Buckland on 0417 961 971 or by email to kebinsv@tpg.com.au.

EASTERN DISTRICTS MACHINE KNITTERS

Friday - second and fourth We meet from 9:00am to noon at 10 Brockman Road, 15

COMMUNITY LIVING THE DREAM

S

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

MURRAY SEVERN

hane Severn from Henley Brook has cracked the big time by winning a job with Cathay Pacific Airways as a Second Officer at the age of only twenty-four.

A Second Officer is the third in line of command for a flight crew and are used on international or long-haul flights where more than two crew are required to allow for adequate crew rest periods.

It is also a starting position for young pilots to progress through to the position of Captain-In-Command. Shane has been assigned to a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 flight crew flying to destinations such as London, Paris, Rome, Dublin and San Francisco.

Sir:

The latest announcement that “The Australian Republic Movement will join with Labor, Liberal and Greens MPs to rally support for a republic..” (Australian 14/7/18) is an indication of how morally bankrupt our parliament is.

All of these members and senators of the Federal parliament who are combining to do away with the Queen have actually sworn to ”.. be faithful and bear true allegiance..” to Her Majesty.

Not, as republicans claim “the British Queen” but to the Queen as Queen of Australia.

Monarchists oppose a republic, not for the sake of the monarchy alone, but to retain the Australian Constitution, an Australian and not a British document formulated and voted upon by Australians and which continues to serve Australia well.

It also blocks politicians from assuming total power which could well happen under a republic.

Republicans say they want an Australian citizen to become head of state. Whilst our constitution doesn’t mention head of state, who are earth do they think General Sir Peter Cosgrove is?

Why don’t they come straight out and say they want a president heading a republic instead of trying to befuddle the people with their mantra of head of state.

There is no such thing as a minimalist republic. The last proposal required nearly seventy changes to our constitution and even that would not have worked. If republicans want to push for a republic then they should draft a new constitution and tell us how they propose to better what we already have.

Philip Benwell National Chair Australian Monarchist League

Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its head office and main hub located at Hong Kong International Airport.

It is an award-winning and globally reputed airline, winning the "World's Best Airline" award four times and consistently ranking as among the best airlines in the world.

The Airbus A350-1000 is truly a state-of-the-art aircraft costing US$366.5 million, with new technology throughout the entirety of the aircraft. From the design of the wings that morph and change shape in flight to obtain optimal efficiency to the flight controls and system that reduce the pilot’s workload, this aircraft utilizes modern technology to create a better way of flying.

Powering the A350-1000 are Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines - the most powerful engine ever developed for an Airbus aircraft which allow the A350 to cruise at 903kph, at an altitude of up to 43,100 feet. The Cathay A350-1000 carries 334 passengers and is in direct competition to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777.

Shane started flying lessons with the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia located in Jandakot at the age of fourteen and flew his first solo flight at sixteen. He has since worked as a pilot with Rottnest Taxi Service, Aviair in Kununurra and Hardy Aviation in Darwin.

Shane’s qualifications include a Master’s Degree - Master of Aviation Management (UNSW), a Bachelor’s Degree - Bachelor of Aviation (ECU), a Graduate Diploma - Flying (ECU), a Multi Engine Command Instrument Rating and both an Australian and Hong Kong commercial pilot licence.

“I used to take Shane plane spotting along Kalamunda Road where the jets fly very low just before landing at Perth airport, an awesome sight for people who love flying. He will now fly an airliner bigger than any of those jets he could only then dream about flying. Shane is now truly living his dream!” Murray Severn (Shane’s father).

Sir,

Scott Morrison laments banks charging high interest/fees to small customers and paying low interest to small lenders, because they can.

This habit can be tracked back precisely to the day the last state-owned bank was sold off to private enterprise and the big banks no longer had to compete with a bank that had a social conscience.

Perhaps a state government should start another bank.

Incidentally, this isn’t a problem for big companies. Some years ago, I asked the CFO of a large insurance company what sort of interest the bank paid them on their deposits. The CFO replied “They pay what we tell them they’re going to pay.”

Tony Jackson Rockingham 16

COMMUNITY LEAGUE OF LEGENDS

S

MATT ROSS

chools from around Australia will now have their own League of Legends high school esports league.

The league is part of the newly announced “High School League of Legends Australian & New Zealand Championship” that will begin this month.

The trans-Tasman league builds on the success of “High School League” - the New Zealand secondary schools League of Legends competition.

The High School League of Legends New Zealand Championship, launched last year as “High School League”, with more than 95 teams from across the country competing in the competition.

This year, the high school league will expand its footprint to include Australia, having acquired the license from Riot Games to run the High School League of Legends State Championships for Queensland, the ACT and New South Wales.

Within this new ecosystem, Kiwi teams will compete alongside Aussie schools in the inaugural High School League of Legends Australia and New Zealand Championship, which starts in Term 3.

Australian state champions will clash with the best New Zealand team to earn trans-Tasman bragging rights.

League of Legends is one of the most popular gaming titles in the world and gamers from Australian and New Zealand will have the opportunity to represent their school on the esports field.

Esports has experienced rapid growth throughout Australasia during the past few years and it was only a matter of time before a competition like this was born.

The high school league will run the competition in conjunction with Riot Games and it will officially get underway on the 30th July. Schools can sign up via lolhsl.com.

“We are delighted to become an official partner of Riot Games Oceania so we can continue to provide a pathway for Australian and New Zealand LoL players in high schools. Our competition within New Zealand has already produced a number of up and coming super-stars who have graduated to the pro ranks,” tournament director Matt Ross said.

“Players now not only get to represent their schools and region but also their country, while finding a pathway to going pro.”

“We have been working with Riot since 2016 and shares core values in promoting sportsmanship and providing students the opportunity to represent their school colours on the competitive field.”

Riot Games' debut title, League of Legends, was released in 2009 and has more than 100 million people playing every month around the globe.

James Wyld from Riot Games Oceania said this was an exciting step in the development of esports in the region.

ROBERT JUNIPER ARTS AWARD MAUREEN DE LA HARPE

A

re you a young artist in the Shire of Mundaring needing financial assistance for a particular arts project? If so, this is a reminder that the deadline for applications for the 2018 Robert Juniper Award for the Arts is September 30.

Your project can be in any branch of the arts – music, film, performing or visual arts, literature, etc. The annual award, of up to $9,000, is presented by the Mundaring Bicentennial Scholarship Trust and the winner is announced in December each year.

The age limit for applicants is 35, and you need to have a strong connection with the Shire, through residence, work or education. To download application forms, visit the Trust website: www.mundaringarts. org, or contact the Trust Secretary Chris Durrant 9299 6093. Forms and explanatory booklets are also available at the Greenmount and Mundaring Libraries, the Mundaring Shire Offices and local schools.

Money for the award comes from a generous contribution from the Shire of Mundaring, supplemented by fund-raising events and subscriptions from Friends of the Trust.

Interested in becoming a Friend and making a valuable contribution for a small annual subscription?

Visit the website or contact Chris Durrant (see above) to find out more.

17

COMMUNITY GIRLS SCHOOL CINEMA CHRIS MCRAE

Historic Setting for Cold Winter Nights

F

ringe World has been an inspirational breath of fresh air for the Perth cultural scene since the inaugural Fringe World Festival in 2012. Since then it has grown to produce six incredibly sucessful fesitvals (now boasting the title of the third largest Fringe Festival in the world) and now plays host to numerous pop up bars and other cultural ventures.

The latest foray from Fringe World is just the ticket to get us through the cold winter months with the company taking over the heritage listed Perth Girls High School building to create a winter themed pop up cinema aptly named The Girls School Cinema.

Nestled in plain sight in the heart of East Perth, the historic, heritage listed building once played host to more than five hundred students when it operated as the Perth Girls High School from 1936-1962.

In 1963, only a year after the school ceased operations, the WA Police took ownership and it became the Police Trafic Branch in 1966 before the rights to the building were sold in 2015. Now under the ownership of a syndicate of local investors, the site is becoming a hub for cultural and artistic pursuits.

Upon entering the aesthetically impressive building, a retro vibe has been established with old school cinema signs and box office style.

The foyer area has cleverly combined a love letter to the original use of the building with a photo narrative of the school adorning the walls along with what appears to be original school furniture.

This is adjacent to a pop up bar at which numerous refreshments were available, including toasted sandwiches from Perth favourite Toastface Grillah and wine, beer and cider courtesy of WA providers Gage Roads Brewing Company and

Mad Fish Wines.

A short stroll down one of the corridors, an outdoor area, complete with fire barrels and pop up food options has been established. Unfortunately there was not much on offer with only gourmet hot dog provider Wassup Dog operating.

However the quality of the food was decent. A gourmet hot dog with spinach, cabbage and aoili was $10 from Wassup Dog and a toasty Trillacheese toastie from Toastface Grillah was $8, both of which were satisfying and great options for a winter evening.

The lines for the bar were relatively lengthy but with doors opening forty-five minutes before the start of the film, there was plenty of time for customers to purchase food and drink, all of which could be taken into the main cinema space.

The theatre space was particularly inviting with rows up rows of paired lounge beanbags set up in what I can only assume was the school’s main assembly hall. Large industrial heaters at the back of the space ensured a cosy atmosphere and each pair of beanbags came complete with blankets and a small table for refreshments.

The cinema was packed for the showing of Ocean’s 8 (reviewed in this issue) but there was plenty of space to relax.

The program of films on offer by the pop up venue is impressive and caters to a wide variety of tastes with selections ranging from the latest releases through to classic favourites being screened.

Overall, the Girls School Cinema was a particularly pleasant experience. A great atmosphere and the perfect date night option for a cold winter evening. Secure your tickets, grab your loved one or best friend and make a night of it at the Girls School Cinema!

The pop up Girls School Cinema runs through until 29th September at the site of the old Perth Girls High School, 2 Wellington St, East Perth.

More information at www.girlsschoolcinema.com.au 18

FICTION DEATH IN THE SEA OF GRASS KAREN R W TREANOR

TSHANILAND, 1935

N

CHAPTER TWO

ext morning Claire stood poking the firebox of the big old coal stove and waiting for the kettle to boil. She and her kidneys had come to terms with the incessant tea-drinking habits of both native and foreign-born Tshanilanders, but she could not start her day without at a cup of real coffee.

A rattle on the back steps announced the arrival of Koko, the old woman who came with the house as caretaker, gardener, negotiator with itinerant fruit sellers and general factotum.

Koko was probably no older than Claire’s own mother, but several missing teeth made her appear ancient.

“Hau! You have done it again!” exclaimed the old lady, divesting herself of a blanket and three shawls. “You have made the fire.”

“Yes, Koko; I must have my coffee. For me it is like medicine; I cannot start the day’s work without coffee,” Claire said. They went through this ritual every day. The conversation inevitably ended with Koko receiving what remained in the coffeepot after Claire had her morning dose. Ladling sugar into a thick mug, the old lady accepted the offered coffee and stepped back next to the stove to drink it.

“Good morning, Doctor,” Duchess called from the front hall. “You are expected at the hospital at ten o’clock, and I have not made any appointments for the rest of the morning.”

“Good, because I have a few things to attend to; I had better get going,” Claire replied.

Koko dashed into the laundry room off the back porch and returned with a freshly ironed lab coat. Thanking her, Claire took the coat to her bedroom, prying open the heavily starched pockets with a feeling of satisfaction. Claire loved well-ironed clothes and Koko was a genius with the flatiron.

She had been horrified at Claire’s suggestion that they invest in one of the electric irons that were becoming popular.

Just as well, thought Claire — the electricity service even here in the capital was patchy at best, and most houses had retained their oil lamps for the frequent power outages.

Dressing with more than usual care, Claire gathered her crisp lab coat, driving gloves and medical bag, and set out for the hospital. Today she had only a few patients under her care and all were coming along well. By eleven, she was parking at the Rangeview Hotel with some trepidation.

Walking down the side path to the cottages behind the main hotel building, she wondered why she had agreed to take in a lodger sight unseen.

Maybe it was loneliness. Despite having many acquaintances, Claire had no close friends in Tshaniland.

It was very difficult to form friendships with the Batshani; outwardly friendly, they were slow to accept strangers into their inner circles. Her growing fluency in the language helped, as did her relationship with the Queen, but Claire knew it would be a long time before she was accepted completely.

Coming as she did from a large New England family, she found living by herself initially exhilarating but eventually quite lonely. True, she no longer had to fear visits from her formidable Aunt Batty and the loathsome cousins; on the other hand, Aunt Thea and the nice cousins were equally unlikely to drop in.

Being a presentable single woman, Claire was invited many places to fill out a table, or to be introduced to someone’s chinless nephew, but these were mostly superficial encounters.

Many of the English in Tshaniland still regarded Americans as barely civilized, and there were dinners to which Claire was

invited that she always managed to find an excuse not to attend.

She didn’t mind discussing the differences between American and British English as part of pre-dinner small talk, but she rather objected to having her use of the language criticized to her face.

And while she found English table manners as odd as apparently they found hers, she at least tried not to stare.

There were many evenings that Claire spent alone, except for the books that were the major draw on her modest salary.

“I hope that frown doesn’t betoken a change of heart about taking in a lodger,” said an amused voice just ahead of her.

Startled, Claire looked up at the minuscule veranda of Cottage Three and saw a woman with a wild mane of dark hair looking down at her.

“Sorry, was I frowning? I was thinking about how much I didn’t like being matched up with people’s unmarriageable nephews.”

“Wonderful! We’ll get along well; I, too, have had my share of the desperate and dateless thrown at me. Come up; I’ve ordered morning coffee.”

Claire seated herself on a chintz-cushioned rattan chair while her hostess apologized and ducked inside her room to pin up her hair.

“There, that’s better, although it won’t stay this way; it never does. You’re Claire Winter, Dr. Winter, of course,” said the woman, drawing up a chair and lifting the lid on a dish of hot muffins.

“Right, and you obviously are Rita Lerner. So that’s the

19

“It’s very kind of you to take in a stranger. A lot of people would assume I was some sort of Bohemian, likely to set fire to the furniture or something,” Rita said as they went along.

“I had a sharp shock about judging people by appearances when I was in medical school, and it stuck with me,” Claire said, flushing slightly as she recalled turning an old bum out of the medical ward, only to discover he was the Emeritus Professor of Neurosurgery.

“You’d be surprised how many people are not that broadminded.”

“Some people fear what’s different because they take it as a threat, heaven knows why. It’s like this business with Hitler and his Aryan race rubbish. Why would you want a whole nation full of blue-eyed blond people? I’m a mongrel by birth and proud of it. Our family could be its own League of Nations.”

“By that you mean you’ve got a lot of different European ancestors, but suppose you suddenly found you had, say, a Negro in your family tree. You wouldn’t take that so lightly,” Rita said, sounding sure of her ground.

“Maybe so. That’s one of those situations no one could know about in advance. One thing living here has shown me is that there are villains and near-saints on both sides of the colour line.

And speaking of near-saints, there’s one now.” Claire waved gaily at an old woman walking a large ugly dog.

“That’s Miss Culthorpe,” she explained to Rita. “Takes in orphans of any species. At any given time she’ll have a litter of kittens, a stray dog or two, several local children, and perhaps a widow. Not to mention an assortment of birds. She’s rather a fixture in Tshaniland. She has a small private income and a great gift for talking people out of goods or cash to aid some worthy cause or other.”

“What is she doing here? Should she not be in Saffron Walden, sorting out the choir or something?” Rita asked, looking over her shoulder at the old lady and her old dog.

“Ah, I see you know your English eccentrics. She is in fact from Canterbury, and came out here nearly forty years ago to keep house for her brother, who was a Church of England clergyman. She had a fiancé who died in the Boer War, and she goes every year on pilgrimage to his grave. Her brother died childless and left her ‘a modest competence’ as they call it. She decided she could do more good with the money by staying on here.”

Flipping a hand loosely to indicate intention to turn, Claire pulled into the driveway of her home and office and stopped.

“Here we are, come in and meet Duchess.”

“Duchess? You have royalty staying?”

“No, it’s her name. The missionaries in the last century were spectacularly successful in introducing the idea of ‘Christian names’.

They were not quite as successful in introducing Christianity. Most Batshani have an English name as well as a personal name in Sitshana, which is only used by family as a rule.

Somewhere along the way the idea of English names and English nouns got a bit scrambled, so you’ll meet people named Nurse who aren’t nurses and Beauty who aren’t beautiful. I know a man whose mother named him Windowsill because she liked the way the word sounded.”

Taking Rita in through the kitchen in case the waiting room was full of potential gossips, Claire poked her head into the office.

“I’m back, Duchess. Come and meet someone.”

“You have only one appointment this afternoon, Doctor,” Duchess said, coming down the hall. “But tomorrow is your dropin day, so we shall no doubt be overflowing from the time the first rooster calls.”

“Duchess, this is Miss Lerner. She’ll be staying with us for a while. She’s an artist.”

Duchess smiled broadly. “It will be nice for you to have a friend here. You work too hard and are too much alone. Shall I make some tea?”

“No, I think we might have a cool drink and then I’ll get

introductions over, now tell me what on earth brought you to Tshaniland. The Berghofs weren’t very forthcoming, but I gather you ran afoul of someone important.” Claire accepted the cup of coffee Rita handed her and plunked a couple of sugar lumps in it.

“You could say that. I did an illustration of Herr Hitler for an Austrian literary magazine. I suddenly found that most of my commissions for portraits dried up and with it my income. The magazine folded up and disappeared, too. An object lesson in keeping your politics separate from your bread-winning skills.”

“What was so bad about the illustration? Wasn’t it flattering enough?”

“I think it must have been the forked tongue that did it,” said Rita with a smile.

“Have a muffin. They do them very well here. It makes up for the vegetables.”

Claire smiled complicitly; she knew what Rita meant. The local cooks entertained a profound suspicion of any vegetable retaining the slightest crunch. When Claire was offered the vegetable dish, she tried not to look closely at the sodden Brussels sprouts and limp carrots.

“Your English is awfully good, if you don’t mind my saying,” Claire said. “You could be from Philadelphia.”

“I almost am. I spent two years in Pittsburgh with relatives.

Later on I studied in London. More muffins?”

Claire shook her head. “Mrs. Berghof all but force-fed me last night; I really have to take it easy today. I used to think that sort of thing was an exclusively Jewish trait, but now I think it must be a universal European characteristic.”

“Why would you think urging food on people is a Jewish trait?” Rita asked, sitting back and pleating her napkin.

“Because Mrs. Steinberg used to do it. She was the mother of one of my classmates. Rebecca and I were the only two women in our class at Commonwealth University, so we stuck together.

She used to take me home for a meal sometimes, and I’d have to force myself to take a long walk the next day to burn some of the extra calories off. Beck is probably making a fortune in private practice now, and here am I, taking in lodgers. Sorry, I didn’t mean that the way it sounds.” Rita laughed.

“That’s all right, no offense taken. Can I take that to mean you are agreeable to my moving in? If you change your mind later, that’s all right, too. I just need a breathing space.”

“Let’s just try it and see, all right? I won’t make any promises, but it’s a big house and we don’t need to live in each other’s pockets. If you’re willing to share the cost of the basic food, the electricity—such as it is—and one third the rent, I’ll be more than satisfied. You can have the two back bedrooms and the run of the living room as well as sprawling rights on the veranda,” Claire explained.

“Sprawling rights?”

“Wait ‘til you see the veranda furniture; you’ll know what I mean. Bargain?”

“Bargain.”

Rita went to get the rest of her bags, leaving Claire feeling quite pleased about her new lodger. Rita’s facility in English made her more accessible than she had expected. Claire had envisioned long painful attempts at communicating with someone whose grasp of English was no better than her own rudimentary German.

Except for the slight accent and a certain formality of phrasing, Rita hardly seemed foreign at all, Claire thought, slightly ashamed of herself for being so relieved.

Reaching the car, Claire helped Rita stow her bags. “It’s a lot safer than it looks, and as my Gran would say, a little rust won’t slow you down that much.”

“It has character. I may decide to paint you in it—On the Rounds, we could title it.”

“Make it at the end of my rounds, then you can paint in the live goat, two chickens and basket of pineapples that most of my patients prefer to pay with rather than hard cash,” laughed Claire, slamming her door and driving out onto the main road without signalling.

20

lunch. You will share it with us?”

“Not today, thank you, Doctor. I would like to go to Fraser’s

to get some fabric rather than have luncheon.”

“Take all the time you need. I can manage if anyone wanders in while you’re away.”

“There will be no wandering in this office, Doctor. I will lock the door and put up the sign. You do not want just anyone coming in—it is not professional.”

Duchess turned to leave, adding, “Don’t forget, today is the broadcast of Jungle Adventures.”

“How could I forget that? Miss Lerner might enjoy listening to it too. I’ll see you after lunch.”

After Duchess left, Claire said to Rita, “She despairs of my ever learning how to behave. I am constantly failing her by my want of formality and what she regards as my naive trust in the basic decency of people.”

“She may have a point. But it is your house, so you set the rules.”

“Don’t worry, your bedroom has a lock and key, and the waiting room for the surgery is quite separate from the living area. An enormous fern in a pot, which is Duchess’s pride and joy, blocks access from the waiting room to the main house hall. This used to be the District Commissioner’s house, but they built a modern one about ten years ago.

When they hired me, getting this place at low rent was part of the contract. It’s a bit run down, but I like it. We get hot water from the stove; you can see there are pipes in the back that run through to the bathroom. A bit primitive, but it works. Come, I’ll show you your rooms.” Grabbing one of Rita’s bags and wondering if it was packed with bricks, Claire led the way into the living room and down a short corridor to the two rooms at the back of the house which opened into each other.

“You could call this a suite,” explained Claire. “I think it was

probably for the nanny and the younger children, or maybe the governess and the nubile daughters. If there’s ever a fire, just go out the window onto the veranda. There is one pumper truck for all of Tshaniland, so in case of fire, it’s every woman for herself.”

Rita looked around at the sunlit rooms with the oldfashioned furniture.

“It’s perfect. Thank you very much, Claire. I hope to be able to get to the USA soon, but it’s been difficult getting anything done, what with being on the move.”

“How did you get here, anyway? The Berghofs said something about being many weeks en route, not that it’s any of my business.”

“Oh, I’m not ashamed of it. I won’t tell you how I got to Italy, but I may never eat mutton again. Then thanks to some almost genuine paperwork I got a job as a stewardess on a very slow and scary ship that goes up and down to Dakar, Freetown and other spots of no particular glamour, ending at Durban. The rest of my luggage may or may not be on the way here. I sent it to a shipping agent in London.”

“What about your family? Will they have trouble now you’ve gone?”

“Fortunately my parents managed to leave before exit permits became so hard to get. My father wanted me to go with them but I was stubborn. No one was going to chase me out of my homeland. More fool I.” Rita looked downcast for a moment, then said, “But at least I did get out, and thanks to you I have a place to stay for a while. I’ll try to make myself useful.”

“There’s no need for that, but if you can cook a bit, I could use a lesson or two. I’m pretty basic in the kitchen: sausages and eggs and toast tend to be my mainstay. Well, let’s scare up some lunch and then you can rest or whatever for the afternoon.”

Seated on the veranda with cheese sandwiches and iced tea, they chatted about nothing in particular for a while.

Afterwards, Claire went in to the surgery to attend to the patient who had an appointment, plus two other people who wandered in on the chance she could fit them in. At four o’clock the “closed” sign went up and Claire went to make a pot of tea while Duchess put a plate of shortbread on the table by the radio, ready for the week’s entertainment.

Rita was invited to join the tea party, but halfway through the news broadcast that preceded it she turned very pale and excused herself.

“Please, don’t let me spoil the fun. I’ll just go and sort out my clothes, I think. See you later.”

Claire, who had been in the kitchen and missed the first part of the news, raised an eyebrow. “Was there something upsetting on the news, Duchess?”

“I do not think so. There was a story about the British wanting to break the record that the French ship holds for crossing the ocean. And there was something about Germany and citizenship papers, I think it was, but I was considering ocean voyages and whether I would like to do that, so I wasn’t paying attention,” Duchess said, looking abashed at having to admit to daydreaming.

“Well, I doubt the Normandie’s holding the Blue Ribbon would upset anyone but a die-hard Britisher, so perhaps it’s just that Rita’s tired. We’ll let her rest. Oh, here’s Jungle Adventures.

Turn it up!”

Claire and Duchess enjoyed the show as much as ever, screaming with laughter at some of the medical procedures the hero undertook in unbelievable conditions. At the end of the show, Claire said, “Well, Duchess, do you think you could do a tracheotomy with a pen knife and a piece of bamboo?”

Duchess just shook her head and gathered up her shopping.

“Early start tomorrow; do not sit up talking too late,” she admonished as she left. Claire found Rita sitting in the living room staring at but not reading a book.

“You should have had a nap,” she said.

“No, then I wouldn’t sleep tonight. I haven’t been sleeping well recently, but now I’ve got a place to stay for a while I hope that will pass.”

“You don’t look awfully well. I don’t suppose your food or 21

from the large block in the top compartment of the battered wood and zinc icebox while Rivka investigated the food cooling compartment and then looked in the pantry.

“I can see a potential meal here,” Rivka announced, accepting the tall cold glass gratefully.

“I’m glad you can. I was going to make chicken sandwiches. It doesn’t seem right, putting you to work the minute you arrive,” said Claire.

“It will do me good to be useful, and I think we can do a bit better than sandwiches. You sit and enjoy your drink while I mix up some mayonnaise.”

While Claire watched in fascination, Rivka beat eggs and oil and lemon juice together bit by bit until she had a bowl of thick golden sauce.

“So that’s how it’s done!” exclaimed Claire.

“I’ve got a recipe for making mayonnaise but I never dared to try—it sounded so fiddly.”

“Nothing to it as long as the eggs are fresh, the oil is trickled in, and you have a strong beating arm,” Rivka said proudly, putting the bowl into the icebox.

“All we have to do later is cut up that half chicken and slice some tomatoes and celery and we’ll have a feast.”

They went out to the veranda to enjoy the late afternoon breeze, and were soon discussing European politics.

“I’ve just recently heard about the Prince of Wales’ American lady friend. Some people seem quite concerned about it,” Claire said.

“Rightly so; it could cause a constitutional crisis in England, which would be a very bad thing to happen given the uneasiness in Europe at present. The King’s health isn’t good, I believe, so what happens in the Prince’s life is important.

“Of course, the German Government is delighted at the idea of Prince Edward becoming King, due to him being so proGerman.”

“Only natural, given his family history. Odd that the most English of institutions, the Monarchy, is almost all German in ancestry. Do you think the Prince is really pro-German, or is it just that he has to be charming to everyone?” Claire wondered.

“Perhaps. But there have been ties between the two countries in the past, so I suppose it’s natural that Hitler has expectations of that continuing in the future. At least there’s hope for the next generation, what with the little Princesses of York being half Scottish,” Rivka said, clearly approving of this new blood in the royal family.

Claire was about to go on when she heard a rattle at the front gate and looked up to see Miss Culthorpe struggling with the latch while trying to hold on to a large picnic basket she’d just lifted from her bicycle’s carrier.

“Please don’t let it be one of her sponge cakes,” Claire breathed, then called out, “Hold on, Miss Culthorpe, I’m coming!”

“Oh, thank you, dear, I was doing quite well until he began to try to get out,” said the little old lady, handing over the basket.

She stood puffing alarmingly and fanning herself with a laceedged hankie.

“He? What’s in here, Miss Culthorpe?” Claire hastily put the heavy basket down and looked at it as it rocked on the pathway.

Fiendish hissing issued from its cracks. Something that might have been a large green eye peered through a slit between the lid and the side.

“It’s Wellington. I named him that because he has quite

quarters on the ship were all that grand. Do you think you might have picked up a bug or something?”

“No, but you’re right—the ship was very hot and stuffy, with a constant smell of boiled cod, mutton, and cabbage.

Claire, before this goes any further, I’ve got to tell you the truth.”

Rita’s face paled further, leaving the veins clearly visible at her temples.

“Don’t say you really are a Bohemian and have set fire to the furniture behind my back!” Claire laughed, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

“No. My real name is Rivka, not Rita. I’m a Jew, and at the rate things are going, I’m going to be a Jew without a country.

That news bulletin: it said that Germany has changed the citizenship of Jews. They’re now called state citizens, with almost no rights, but everyone else is a Reich citizen. It’s only a matter of time before Austria is bullied into doing something similar.”

“They can’t do that! Everyone has the right to be a citizen of where they were born,” Claire protested. Rivka took a ragged breath and said, “I’m sure if you read the newspapers, you’ll see that Hitler has justified the action somehow. He’ll claim the original German Jews arrived without proper permits or papers or something in the fifteenth century, so therefore their great-great-great-grandchildren have no citizenship rights.

Some fairy tale will be presented to the world, and the world will accept it as it has everything else.”

She ran her hands through her wild mane of hair and cried, “Oh, God, what will happen to me? Where can I go?”

Claire was startled at this outburst. She could see Rivka was on the raw edge of hysteria, but wondered if this were the overreaction of the artistic temperament.

Hoping to calm her guest, Claire said, “You’re not going anywhere for the moment. You’ve got a permit to be here for six months, so there’s no immediate worry. Later on, you’ll have your American visa. It will all work out. As for your immediate plans, I thought we could have a gin and tonic on the veranda, make a simple supper, and have an early night.” She went to a cupboard and brought out a bottle of gin and some tonic water.

“At least let me help with supper,” offered Rivka, getting herself under control and giving a shaky smile.

“Okay, you look in the icebox and see what you think.

Tomorrow I’ll have to do some shopping.”

In the kitchen, Claire chipped some ice for the drinks 22

a Roman nose, like the dear Duke. I’m afraid he’s in a bad way, and Dr. Viljoen the veterinarian doesn’t make his visit until next week, by which time I fear poor Wellington will be hors de combat, permanently. Can you help him?”

“Well, I’m not a vet, but if it’s that desperate, let’s see what we can do. Rivka, can you come help for a minute? Just open the surgery door so I can get this basket on the table. Oh, and if you can put down some newspapers, that would be good; there’s a pile in the pantry.”

Claire hoisted the basket again and staggered up the steps, wondering how the frail little woman had made it here on her own.

“Sorry about this, but I couldn’t say no,” she whispered to Rivka, who had gathered up an armful of newspapers and was laying them out on the examining table.

“Think nothing of it. I can’t wait to see what’s in the basket.”

“What is in the basket, Miss Culthorpe?” asked Claire, pulling on a lab coat and approaching the basket gently. “I know you said its name is Wellington, but what exactly is it?”

“He’s a cat. Quite a handsome cat, but he’s been badly hurt and he’s rather upset about it, as you can hear.” Miss Culthorpe peered into a crack in the basket from whence the hissing emanated.

“All right, Miss Culthorpe, why don’t you go into the waiting room?” Claire went to a cabinet and waited until Miss Culthorpe had left the room, then took down a bottle labelled ‘chloroform.’

“Oh, you’re not going to kill him!” Rivka exclaimed.

“What? No, but I’m not putting my hand in that basket while he’s conscious!” said Claire.

Dripping a bit of chloroform onto a cotton swab, she poked it into the crevice in the basket and threw a towel over the whole thing.

“We’ll just let him get groggy, then we’ll see what’s wrong.

Let’s go put the kettle on; this could be a long wait.”

Claire led the way into the kitchen and, poking the firebox, demonstrated how one got the fire burning brightly after it had died down.

“I always give the grate a good shake first, then bung in a few small logs. If I’m doing any serious cooking, I add some coal. Coal deliveries are intermittent, so I don’t waste it—come winter you’ll see how valuable it is.”

Pulling the big aluminium kettle forward, Claire said, “We can give Miss Culthorpe some tea, the sovereign remedy for anything short of death itself. Can you cope with this while I check on Wellington?”

“Certainly.” Rivka scooped tea into the teapot and tipped the now steaming kettle into it.

“Bless you.” Claire went back to the surgery and listened carefully to the basket. A sound of snoring with intermittent small snarls indicated that Wellington was on his way to deep sleep. With great caution, Claire opened the lid of the basket, which had been fastened with a wooden clothes peg. A rank smell billowed out; certainly this animal was a tomcat. Under the urinous odour was the distinctive metallic scent of fresh blood.

Claire lifted the large animal onto the newspapers and laid the chloroform-soaked cotton ball near his head, covering it with a small towel.

Rivka came into the surgery and said, “Miss Culthorpe is having her tea and says thank you very much. She hopes this isn’t too great an imposition on you. Now, what can I do?”

“Just be sure that cotton ball stays near his head, but don’t breath too much of it yourself or I’ll have two patients.”

Claire cut away some of the stinking matted fur and found what ailed her patient. There was a huge gash on one hip, his tail

was dislocated, and one eye was partly shut.

“He’s a mess. First things first, clean the wounds.” With a few strokes of a damp swab, Claire cleaned up the eye and decided it would heal up by itself. The large gash on the hip was more serious. This, she washed, trimmed, and sewed back together as neatly as possible, after first clipping away the hair.

She checked the cat’s breathing: he seemed to be all right. Now for the tail. Feeling along the bones, she found the dislocation, put it right, then taped two tongue depressors either side to keep the tail stable while the wrenched muscles repaired themselves. There was a warning rumble from Wellington, who was starting to come around.

Rivka looked up, somewhat nervous. Claire said, “I’ll give him a sedative; that should keep him calm. I’m guessing at the dosage, but I think it’s all right. If he managed to survive these wounds, he’s a tough animal. Just push the cotton ball closer for a moment.”

Dissolving a fraction of a tablet in some water, Claire squirted it into the cat’s mouth with an eyedropper. “There, that’s the best we can do. Let’s see what Miss Culthorpe wants to do with him now.”

In the waiting room, Claire displayed her handiwork to the old lady. “He’ll stay asleep for a while, and he probably won’t be very happy when he wakes up. I can keep him here for a few days if you like. Perhaps he’ll let me change his bandages and perhaps he’ll just tear them off—it’s hard to tell with cats.”

“If you could keep him here, that would be very kind. I’m full up with boarders at the moment, and I haven’t any cages empty. I wouldn’t dare just let him out in the yard. I know I’m putting you to a lot of trouble, Claire, but I didn’t know where else to go.”

“Well, I can’t promise he’ll survive, but the wounds are clean, the bleeding has stopped, and he seems a strong animal.

Have you any idea how he got in such a state?” asked Claire as she walked Miss Culthorpe out to the road.

“I have my suspicions but I didn’t actually see anything.

There was a screech of a vehicle coming around the corner too fast shortly before Wellington dragged himself up onto the porch. I’m probably jumping to conclusions, but I think it was the truck from the German Farm. I’ve seen that young man driving around before, and he does seem to go very fast,” Miss Culthorpe trailed off.

“I don’t know where he came from—Wellington, that is.

He started coming around about a week ago. He may have gone astray from his home.”

“Or someone may have abandoned him at your house on purpose, because they know your reputation for taking in orphans of one sort or another, Miss Culthorpe.” Claire suggested.

“Anyway, don’t worry, I’ll keep Wellington here for a few days and then we’ll see if we can find his owners. You might put 23

up a note on Fraser’s notice board.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll do it first thing tomorrow. Thank you so much, Claire. And how nice that you have a friend to stay; you and Miss Lerner must come around for tea one day soon.”

Miss Culthorpe settled her straw hat more firmly on her head and straddled her bicycle. Wobbling a little, she pedalled off down Roberts Street.

“What a sweet old lady,” Rivka said, coming up to the gate where Claire stood watching her departing guest.

“She has another side, quite frightening really, when she collects for worthy causes. She has an answer for every excuse, so if she comes rattling a collecting box at you, just give in, it’s easier.” They went back to the waiting room, and Claire closed and latched the door behind them.

“What are you going to do with that cat once he wakes up?”

Rivka wanted to know. “Somehow he doesn’t look like anybody’s ‘pussum-wussums’.”

“You’re right. He looks more like a working cat, maybe a farm cat. I could shut him in the butler’s pantry—that’s the little hall off the dining room. With a dirt box and an old blanket, he should be all right for a while. A bit more sedative in his milk should keep him calm.”

“Well, I suggest we do that now; I think he’s waking up,” said Rivka, her ear to the surgery door.

Before Wellington had fully wakened, Claire and Rivka put him in an old fruit crate on a blanket, and left a bowl of lightly medicated milk and a tray of dirt for him. Claire found a leftover sausage in the icebox, and left that beside the milk bowl.

“There, that’s about the best we can do. Let’s go and see about our own supper now,” Claire said.

After the chicken salad and bread and butter, Rivka refused the offer of coffee and said she wouldn’t mind investigating the wonders of the hot water system. By eight-thirty she’d said good night and, as far as Claire could tell, had gone to sleep instantly.

Well, thought Claire, so far so good. Rivka coped with the unexpected job of veterinary nurse, and she doesn’t seem to have any bad habits I can’t live with, so maybe this idea of having a lodger isn’t all that bad.

Claire read the two chapters of the new Dorothy L. Sayers novel that she rationed herself to each night, and turned out the light. There would be an early start in the morning and she’d need to be on her toes for it. ~oOo~

Rivka observed. “What about some more of that medicine?”

“Good idea. I’ll put a bit in some meat and we can poke it under the door until he calms down a bit,” said Claire, heading for the icebox. A gory slab of beef sat in a dish nearest the ice compartment.

“We’ll have to eat this tonight. Fresh beef doesn’t keep well and this is on the turn. I’d hate to throw it out.”

“Wash it in vinegar; that will neutralise any surface smells.

If you’d let me, I could cook it. My grandmother had a great recipe for a sort of potroast.”

“It’s all yours. Meanwhile, let’s have some for the cat.” Rivka cut little chunks and Claire put crumbs of medicine into them.

Gingerly they poked the bits of meat under the door, where snarls and gulps indicated the food was welcome.

After toast and coffee, Claire went back to the butler’s pantry. She slipped through the barely opened door and stood looking at her patient. He was awake, but reasonably quiet. “I’ve probably overdosed you, but better that than having you tear the house down.” The splinted tail looked all right, and the stitches in the flank were intact.

“How’s he doing?” Rivka called from outside the room.

“Better. His eye looks almost normal and he hasn’t ripped out the stitches.” Claire knelt slowly beside the big cat. “You won’t believe this, but I think he’s purring. He must have lived with humans somewhere along the way; he doesn’t seem frightened of me. He’ll keep for now, I guess.” Claire backed out of the pantry and said, “I have to get in to my patients now. What will you do today?”

“I thought I’d take a walk and see what the shops have to offer. Maybe get a few ideas for a drawing or two. Will that be all right?”

“Sounds like fun. Lunch is at one if you’re back—just sandwiches, usually. Have a good time.” Claire slipped on the fresh white coat Koko presented and went down the hall to her office.

She hoped the morning surgery wouldn’t take too much time. She wanted to talk to Redmond Trevelyan about the diamond she’d found at the autopsy.

After a morning filled with cuts, sprains, rashes and fevers,

Claire was sitting at the kitchen table eating bread and cheese when Rivka came in, looking unwell.

“What’s wrong? You look as if you’d seen a ghost.”

“I think I may have. I was going through the market when a truck came tearing through far too fast. I jumped back, knocking over someone and a display of apples. By the time I’d helped set everything to rights, the truck had gone again.”

“Unpleasant, but not uncommon.”

“It was the driver that gave me a shock. I’m sure I’ve seen him before. I think it was in Vienna, last year.”

“And this has upset you because…?”

“Because I think he’s a Nazi, and finding him here worries me. What’s a Nazi doing in a place like Tshaniland? I can guess what he was doing in Vienna; Hitler wants to make Austria part of the Third Reich. That was another reason for me to leave home, because if Austria becomes a part of Germany, the already difficult times Jews are having will become much worse. The Nazis have just wiped out the citizenship of German Jews, and if they take over Austria, the same thing will happen. Someone like me who made fun of Hitler would disappear so fast you’d never know I was there.”

“Surely not, or at least not without a fair trial. You make it sound like you’d committed treason.”

“Claire, for people like Hitler, what I did is treason,” Rivka explained, wondering if Tshaniland was so far out of the mainstream that its inhabitants didn’t realise what was going on in Europe.

“In Germany, people are transported to work camps without anyone knowing what’s happened to them.”

“So who was the man in the market, and what’s he doing here, do you think?” Claire asked, mentally running through Europeans she knew.

“I don’t know his name. He’s tall and blond, a real

In the morning, Claire awoke and dressed quietly. The sound of laughter drew her to the kitchen, where she found her houseguest and Koko amusing each other. Rivka had a drawing pad and a charcoal pencil, and Koko was giggling and hiding her face in her hands. The pad bore witness to several attempts by the artist to capture the seamed brown face.

“Good morning. I see you have introduced yourselves,” Claire said, making for the coffee canister and spooning the lifegiving grains into the percolator basket.

“Yes, I’m trying to convince Koko to let me draw her. She has a wonderful face,” said Rivka, making a few deft strokes on the drawing pad. “I know some primitive tribes fear photographs, but surely a drawing pencil isn’t the same thing.”

“Somehow the topic has never come up before. Perhaps once she gets more accustomed to you she won’t mind,” said Claire. “Glory, what’s that?”

A loud scratching and a howl came from the butler’s pantry.

“The cat! He’s awake. I wonder how he’s feeling.”

The women went up the hall and peeked through the glass panel in the door. On the floor was a wide-awake and unhappy cat, digging frantically at the threshold.

“Hau, khati gakulu!” exclaimed Koko. “Is very big animal! Is very big angry!”

“Is Miss Culthorpe’s animal, Koko,” explained Claire. “He is badly hurt. He will stay with us for a few days.”

“If he doesn’t tear the house down about our ears first,” 24

Ubermensch. The truck was fairly new and very clean. Quite different from other vehicles I’ve seen on the streets.”

“Sounds like someone from the Lutheran Farm. It obviously wasn’t Pastor Berghof, you know him. It was probably Franz Felsbach. Perhaps Franz was in the army and when his enlistment was up, he got a job out here.”

“Claire, you don’t understand. Committed Nazis don’t sign up for two years and then leave - the movement is a career for them. There were some of them on the boat, and I overheard many things that would make your blood curl in your veins.

Nobody notices a stewardess; servants are part of the furniture.

From what I heard, they would like to take over the world.

Perhaps getting a foothold in Tshaniland is a first step toward taking over South Africa.”

“Rivka, you’ve got an imagination, I’ll say that for you.

You’ve built a whole conspiracy from a simple near-accident with a truck at the market,” Claire laughed.

“And by the way, it’s curdle, not curl in your veins.”

“Laugh if you like, but I would give a lot to know why this Franz Felsbach is here. An experimental farm under the aegis of the church would be a very good cover, do you not think?”

Claire took her plate to the sink and ran some water on it. “If it will make you more comfortable, I’ll mention it to the District Commissioner. I’m seeing him this afternoon about another matter. Meanwhile, may I suggest you put your feet up and have a rest? And don’t forget you’re on cook’s duty tonight!”

Leaving Rivka to make herself a sandwich, Claire went to her room to put on something respectable for visiting in town.

She had learned to suppress her carefree American style and follow the prevailing English way of doing things, including remembering to wear gloves and stockings to town.

Early in her time in Tshaniland, she had gone barelegged for lunch one day. The many shocked glances informed her that she’d broken a taboo, but it wasn’t until one of the older women talked to her in the ladies’ room afterwards that the enormity of her sin had been brought home to her. Now, whether she wanted to or not, she made sure she was correctly dressed most of the time.

The acid tongues of wives with too little to do and too much time in which to do it could make a great deal of trouble for a young unmarried professional woman.

She drove up Gladstone Street to the District Commissioner’s office, parking next to a shaggy pony that was dozing in the shade of a jacaranda tree, a dozen colourful yarn tassels hanging from its bridle.

“Nee sabona, Khaba,” Claire greeted the DC’s assistant as she entered the cool foyer of the office.

“Nee sabona wena, Tshadola. We received your message and the District Commissioner will see you soon.

Please be seated.”

Claire joined the four other people on a hard wooden bench under the slowly revolving ceiling fan. Almost everything of importance having to do with papers and permits took place at the District Commissioner’s office, and it was a rare day you did not find a group of people waiting patiently.

Claire smiled at a child sitting on her grandmother’s lap. She and the three-year-old were taking turns making faces at each other when Khaba motioned her to come with him, his face impassive.

“I know: I shouldn’t forget my dignity,” Claire said apologetically. “The little girl started it.”

“Much can be forgiven when a child is made happy,” said Khaba, permitting himself a tiny twitch that might have grown into a smile, given long enough.

“The Doctor to see you, sir,” he said, showing her into the office.

“Ah, Doctor, come in. Tea?” asked Redmond Trevelyan.

“Not for me, but please don’t let me interrupt your afternoon refreshment,” said Claire, taking the

uncomfortable seat that was offered. She wondered who designed government furniture, and if it was with the express purpose of discouraging petitioners from staying very long.

“Later, perhaps. Now, what can I do for you?”

“I may have some useful information. I think the dead man could be Thabo Khonzi, who works at the German Farm. He disappeared on short notice, ostensibly because of trouble at home, but I have reason to question that. I’m ashamed to say I can’t remember his face well enough to be sure he’s the one. You might get one of the workers to have a look at the body.”

“Why not the farm manager?” Trevelyan asked, fiddling with a briar pipe that looked as if it had recently been retrieved from a blast furnace.

“It’s just a feeling, but I think you’d do better with one of the workers, someone who knew Khonzi well. Also, after you left the autopsy, I found a small stone on the table. I was going to Enkalovu anyway, so I showed it to Her Majesty. She says it’s an uncut diamond and was quite keen to know how the dead man came by it. She suggested that he had swallowed it to get it away from wherever he found it. As we have no diamond mines here, this brings up all sorts of questions.”

“Indeed.” Trevelyan rummaged in a desk drawer and withdrew a tobacco pouch. “Do you mind?”

“No, please light up. Perish the thought I should prevent an addict from getting his daily dose,” Claire said.

“It’s just a habit. Helps me to think.”

Trevelyan seemed uncomfortable with the idea he might be thought an addict of anything, but soon had the charred pipe smouldering away.

“Another point. I have a houseguest who will be staying

25

SWAN VALLEY

SWEET TEMPTATIONS

TRAIL

handcrafted artisan produce

1121

swanval

26

ley.COM.A

U/sweet

with me for a while. You probably know more about her than I do, since all foreigners’ papers pass through your hands. I promised her I would tell you what she told me. She thinks she saw Franz Felsbach, the assistant manager at the German Farm, in Vienna last year.”

“Seems odd; Vienna is a large city. And even so, assuming she’s correct, what of it?”

“Well, she thinks he’s a Nazi and wonders why he’d turn up here, apparently a civilian. She says Nazis are a seriously committed lot and she doubts he’d have retired from the army, or whatever group he was attached to. I know it sounds laughable, but she suggested perhaps the Nazis have designs on South Africa that could be implemented from a base in Tshaniland.

There, I knew you’d smile at that, but I’ve done my duty and you can just laugh me off now.”

“A few years ago I would have done that, but given recent concerns about German plans for the Sudetenland and all that, we do well not to laugh off anything Mr. Hitler is involved in.

Thank your friend and ask if I may talk with her about this some time.”

The pipe sent up a small volcano of sparks, causing the DC to leap up and beat his shorts frantically for a moment.

“We have an enormous piece of beef for supper tonight.

Could you come and share it, and speak to her then? Miss Lerner might feel less uncomfortable talking to you there,” Claire offered.

“That’s extremely kind of you; I could do with a homecooked meal. The Club gets a bit set in its menus and I don’t think I could face finnan haddie and mutton chops for a third day in a row. Shall we say seven-thirty?”

“Fine. We can watch the sun set through a frosted gin and tonic glass,” Claire smiled.

Collecting her gloves, she left and hurried to the market to get something to go with the beef. She had no idea what Rivka was planning, but fresh fruit never went amiss. Stopping at the dairy, she was lucky to get the last of that morning’s cream.

Fortunately, she’d remembered to put the clean pint tin in the car yesterday. Her first few weeks in Tshaniland had been punctuated by dairyfree days because Claire had never remembered to wash out and bring the various containers to get her milk and cream. Boston’s paper-capped home-delivered glass bottles were far away.

Arriving home, Claire threw her gloves and bag into the woven grass basket on the front hall table that served as her organizer and hurried into the kitchen with her purchases.

There she found Rivka standing at the stove stirring something that smelled wonderful, while Koko sat on the floor with a large purring beast in her lap. Legs straight out in front of her, back propped against the white-washed wall, Koko smiled at Claire’s amazement.

“Is lonely, is crying in room. Koko takes care of him.”

“Well I’ll be shot for a burglar!” exclaimed Claire, kneeling slowly and reaching a tentative hand toward Wellington. He curled a lip and hissed half-heartedly at her, but remained where he was.

“We didn’t know if you’d approve, but he was trying to tear the door down, so we took a chance,” Rivka explained. “Once he was able to check out the house and get his bearings, he seemed quite happy to stay here in the kitchen with Koko.”

“Well, we couldn’t keep him penned up forever, I guess. I brought fruit and cream. I didn’t know what else you might want.

Oh, and we’re having company. I hope you don’t mind such short notice, but Commissioner Trevelyan wants to hear more about your suspicions directly from you. I got the impression that what I told him somehow fits in with something else, but he didn’t tell me much.”

“I hope I’m not just imagining things. I’m sure he’s a busy man and I don’t want to waste his time.” Rivka now seemed to be backing off from her earlier stand. Claire wondered if it had to do with her experiences in Vienna. Perhaps she was somewhat in awe of officials—or frightened of them.

“He’s busy enough, but I suspect he’s also lonely. He’s an

interesting guest, has lots of stories about his time in the bush in Kenya before he came down here—it just takes a little coaxing to get him started. It’ll be fun, you’ll see.”

Just then there was a tramping of boots on the back porch.

“Ho, khaiya!” a familiar voice called, “Hello, the house.”

“Sergeant Mosiela, what brings you here?” Claire asked

“About the matter you discussed with the DC, Doctor. I have brought someone to view the deceased one.”

“Ah, yes. Rivka, please excuse me, I won’t be long.” Going down into the yard, Claire found Solomon Bhendu, the man who’d spoken to her about Thabo Khonzi during her visit to the German Farm. There was an ashen cast to his brown skin, which Claire knew from long experience indicated ill health or fear.

“It’s all right, Bhendu. It won’t take long, and he doesn’t look bad, just asleep. Truly, I give you my hands.” She made the gesture to indicate a willingness to sacrifice one’s hands to the axe, which had long been the Batshani oath-giving sign.

Bhendu looked better at once: he believed the oath wasn’t something even a foreign woman would do lightly. And this foreign woman was known to the Queen, so her word would be doubly reliable. He still didn’t want to look at the dead person, but he’d do it. If it was Thabo, he owed it to his spirit, for it would wander the winds until the body was properly committed to the earth. A wandering spirit could cause all sorts of mischief.

Claire led the way to the mortuary and unlocked the door.

“He’s in the cellar. We’ll have to use the lantern.”

Taking the men down the ramp into the cellar, Claire folded back the heavy canvas shroud, pulled down the meths-soaked sheet just to the collarbone, and showed Bhendu the corpse.

“Yes, that is Thabo Khonzi,” he said, stepping back as soon as he got a good look at the quiet face. Claire covered everything up again and led the way back to the upper room.

“Thank you. Thabo’s spirit can now be brought to rest,” Claire said to Bhendu. Turning to Sergeant Moliesa, she said, “If the man has no family, I think the German pastor might agree to take care of the funeral. Thabo worked out there at the farm, and they would probably want to do the right thing. Would it matter a great deal if he had a Christian burial?”

Sergeant Moliesa looked thoughtful for a long moment.

“So long as he is buried the proper way, and his grave is marked the proper way, I do not think there would be a problem.”

Claire knew this meant the body must be wrapped in its own sleeping mat, put in a J-shaped grave at least six feet down, and five large stones put on the closed grave, one at each compass point and one in the centre. The Batshani, unlike most other people, thought there were five cardinal points.

“I am certain that can be arranged. Perhaps Bhendu will take a message from me to the Pastor.” Claire looked at the man, who nodded violently and edged further toward the door.

“Good, I’ll write a note right now. Come have some tea while you wait.” Back at the house they settled on the back porch under the giggling ministrations of Koko, who’d put down her patient to tend to the teakettle.

“Hau, hau!” exclaimed Bhendu, looking at the large tawny cat with his swollen eye, splinted tail and stitched up haunch. “It is a lion!” He and the sergeant laughed at this witticism.

Wellington turned his back and retreated behind the stove, from where a grumbling growl told of his opinion of human wit.

Going into her office, Claire wrote a brief explanatory note to Pastor Berghof and returned to the porch, where she gave it to Bhendu. He left with the sergeant after finishing the tea and the doorstop-sized bread and jam sandwich Koko served.

Claire used to wonder why her bakery bill was so large until the first time she’d seen a Motshani sandwich. Now she was merely grateful there weren’t more drop-in guests.

“Koko, you can go home now if you like.” Claire said, finding the old woman again seated on the floor, the large cat with his head in her lap.

“Wellington will be all right, I’ll make a bed for him beside the stove.”

“Is good cat, is catching many mice soon,” the old lady said, getting up and beginning the process of enshawling herself, 27

ending up with a plaid blanket fastened with a large safety pin around her shoulders.

“I don’t think we are keeping him. We’re just taking care of him for a while, until Miss Culthorpe has a place for him,” Claire explained.

“House should have cat,” Koko said firmly, going out onto the porch.

Claire chuckled to herself and said to Wellington, “You’ve got the old lady on your side, but don’t be complacent: this is my house.” She began to wash and peel fruit, arranging it in a pressed glass dish which the Indian shopkeeper had assured her was almost indistinguishable from cut glass.

Thinking how her grandmother would shudder at this poor imitation, she reached out the window and picked a few hibiscus flowers to decorate the sliced mango, pineapple and pawpaw.

Sharp on seven-thirty there was a rap at the front door.

Claire called from her room, “Rivka, can you get that? I’ve just got to find a stocking without any runs. I swear someone else wears them when my back is turned. Offer the DC a drink. I’ll be right out.”

She heard a murmur of voices from the living room and decided to give them a few minutes before going in. She thought Rivka might be feeling uncomfortable about having brought up her suspicions of Franz, and she knew Trevelyan was very good at putting people at their ease.

Years of dealing with people who regarded figures of authority with mixed awe and fear had polished Trevelyan’s

technique, and unlike many of his colleagues, he did not resort to gruff barks to elicit responses.

Tracking down a silk stocking that almost matched the one she was wearing, Claire rolled it into place and fastened the garters, put on her other shoe, and went into the living room.

“Commissioner, welcome; I see you’ve found the refreshments.”

“I was just showing Miss Lerner a trick,” he said, rolling one of the hard Tshaniland lemons on the tabletop. “They have a very thick skin, so if you roll them on a hard surface before cutting, you get more juice,” he explained to Rivka.

“I didn’t know that,” said Claire. “You’re a man of many parts.” “ One picks up little survival techniques here and there.

I learned how to cook a snake once when I was laid up with a wrenched ankle at a bush camp. It’s the sort of thing that’s guaranteed to bring a dinner table conversation to a rapid change of direction.” The Commissioner handed a gin and tonic to Claire with a smile. She noticed he had on a freshly ironed shirt, and his moustache had been trimmed and combed. Well, well, she thought, there may be possibilities here. Rivka, too, had taken extra care tonight, and her mane had been subdued with a pair of tortoiseshell combs.

“Let’s go out on the veranda. There’s a fantastic view of the sunset over the Misty Ranges there,” she suggested, leading the way to the rickety rattan couches. “One day these will collapse under a guest and I suppose I shall be sued for keeping lethal weapons on my porch. But they came with the house, and the people at Government Stores don’t seem inclined to replace them.”

A mournful wail from the other side of the French doors announced that the other houseguest was feeling lonely. Claire opened the doors and the large cat stalked out stiffly.

“This is Wellington. Miss Culthorpe brought him to me in a rather battered condition, and with Rivka’s help, I patched him up. I wish we had a resident veterinarian in Entshanini; if word gets out about this, I’ll have all sorts of animal patients brought to me,” Claire said.

“Miss Culthorpe has already been to see me about the accident, which she seems to think wasn’t an accident. She says the truck from the German Farm ran Wellington down, and wants me to prosecute someone for reckless driving,” the Commissioner said, looking at the cat, who turned his back and began washing a paw.

“If it was the man I saw on the street, and if he is in fact the same man I saw in Vienna, he’d be quite capable of running over a cat, or a human, for that matter,” Rivka said.

“Yes, I understand that you think Franz Felsbach might be someone of interest to His Majesty’s Government,” Trevelyan said. “Tell me about him.”

“You are perhaps aware that there is a widely-held belief that a gang of Nazi thugs was responsible for the assassination of Chancellor Dollfuss last year,” Rivka began. “It’s one of those open secrets around Vienna; everyone thinks it’s true but no one in authority seems to be doing anything about it. I was on my way home from a gallery opening on the night it happened.

“Of course I didn’t know the Chancellor had been killed.

I was walking along thinking about an idea for a new picture.

I came up the street behind the Chancellery and was about to cross over when three men in uniform came running up the sidewalk to a parked car.

They were in a hurry, and I stepped aside, trying to avoid them. Waiting beside the car was a very tall and blond man—the driver, I suppose. When he heard the running men, he stepped forward onto the pavement, right in front of me. I swerved to avoid him, he swerved the same way, we collided and I was thrown against the wall of the building. The man paid me no attention. He began opening the doors of the car and then went around to the driver’s side and got in. As he did so, the streetlight fell full on his face and I got a good look.

“I saw his left cheek clearly in the street light: on it was a scar like a lightning bolt. The sort of scar you’d get from falling 28

onto broken glass, maybe from falling through a window. It stuck in my mind because it looked so much like the insignia the SS men wear on their collars. I’m ninety-nine percent certain that man is the same one calling himself Franz Felsbach.”

“I see. What sort of uniforms were they wearing?” asked the DC.

“The driver wore a plain dark trench coat, but I could see some sort of uniform under it. The other men wore what looked like ordinary Austrian Army uniforms. They must have stolen them in order not to look out of place. There are always soldiers on the streets these days. People just try and keep out of their way.”

“Perhaps the uniforms weren’t stolen, but supplied by someone who wanted the Chancellor dead. Or perhaps they weren’t Germans at all, but renegade Austrian soldiers,” Claire suggested, being drawn into the story.

“But what I want to know is why Franz Felsbach, or whoever he is, is here in Tshaniland. If he is a German soldier, what’s he doing at an experimental farm? It’s not just to get him away from Vienna—he could have been hidden in plain sight back in an army unit in Germany. So what’s he doing here?” Rivka persisted.

“You have a quick mind, young lady,” Trevelyan said.

“That would have been the best place to hide him, in with other soldiers. So if he’s not here simply to get away from the scene of the crime, presumably he’s here for some other purpose.”

“Once an assassin, always an assassin?” suggested Claire.

“Is there someone here whom the Nazis want killed?”

Trevelyan snorted. “Who? Mr. Moleponi? Many people have wished him dead during one of his interminable speeches, but nobody could stay awake long enough to do it.”

“What about the Prince? If he comes to Tshaniland, it will be with a much-reduced personal staff. They say he hates the security precautions that restrict him in England. Visits like this are a chance to live almost normally. What better time to take a shot then when he’s being shown around the German Farm?”

“Surely they wouldn’t do anything that blatant. More likely poison his food or cause an accident to his car,” Rivka said.

“Ladies, you’re making my blood run cold. And anyway, the royal visit is by no means settled. The King’s health is frail and it’s not certain that the Prince will be allowed to take any long trips, even to open the Birchenough Bridge which will require some important person or other,” Trevelyan said, finishing his gin and tonic.

“I must see to the cooking; please excuse me,” Rivka said, slipping through the French doors before Trevelyan could get to his feet.

“Interesting woman. Seems to have her head screwed on the right way, but one tall blond German looks much like another, in my experience,” the DC said as Claire took his glass and went to refill it.

“I’d agree if it wasn’t for the scar. I’ve noticed it myself; it’s quite prominent. And she’s right—it does look like that insignia some of them wear on their uniforms. I’ve seen it in the newsreels,” said Claire, handing over the drink.

Wellington gave a sudden twitch and disappeared into the shrubbery below the edge of the veranda. There was a loud squeak and a lot of thrashing. The big cat reappeared with a rat clenched in his teeth.

“Well, it looks as if he’s earning his keep already,” observed the DC. “Nasty things, rats. Carry rabies.”

“Noble cat!” exclaimed Rivka, returning to the veranda.

“I didn’t know we had any rats around,” Claire said. “It’s a disgusting idea. My mother would be horrified.”

“Any old house is apt to have rodents of some sort,” the DC said. “If I were you, I’d keep the cat.”

Wellington tossed the dead rat in the air and managed to assume an expression that was almost kittenish.

“We’ll see,” said Claire. “Meanwhile, take your rat somewhere else, Wellington.” He must have understood the tone, for he trotted off with his prize and was not seen again until bedtime.

The dinner was a notable success. The DC extravagantly

praised Rivka’s dumplings, the meat was tasty, and the fruit salad made a nice counterpoint to the rich gravy.

As he took his leave, Trevelyan said, “This was quite the best meal I’ve had for months. Perhaps you’ll let me repay your hospitality by taking you ladies out to dinner one day next week. We could go up to the Forest Inn in Sibuya. It’s a nice drive and it would give Miss Lerner a chance to see a bit of the country. What about Tuesday?”

It was agreed provisionally, which was the best a doctor and a district commissioner could ever hope for—both were on call all the time, and many social occasions were missed or interrupted due to emergencies.

In the morning, during a break between patients, Claire found Miss Culthorpe in the waiting room. “Oh, Claire, dear, I just wanted to know how Wellington is getting along.”

“I do apologise for not sending a note around to you, Miss Culthorpe. He’s on the mend, and in fact caught a disgusting big rat near the veranda last night. He’s quite the hunter. So far he hasn’t pulled out his stitches and I think he’ll heal completely,” Claire said. “Would you like to see him?”

“Yes, please. I’ve had no response to the note I put on Fraser’s notice board. And I’ve not had any luck finding him a new home, either,” said the little woman with a worried look. Claire ushered her into the kitchen, where Koko sat on the floor with her morning mug of tea and the big cat in her lap.

“As you see, he seems contented enough.” Miss Culthorpe smiled. “I think he may have solved his own problems. He looks quite at home where he is. Why don’t you keep him, Claire? If he caught one rat, you know there are probably more—think of the savings in traps and poison!”

“Well, he can stay here while he’s convalescent, then we’ll see,” said Claire, with the feeling that she was being manipulated by the two old ladies and the large feline.

Waving Miss Culthorpe off at the front gate, Claire heard a powerful engine and turned to see something she’d never have seen on Newbury Street. A large white car with a huge spearcarrying man on each running board pulled up in front of the house. The driver, splendid in a maroon jacket and gazelle loincloth, leaped out and opened the back door. From it stepped the regal figure of Malaila, Queen of Tshaniland.

“I have come for a progress report, and for some of your excellent coffee,” the Queen announced, gold anklets chiming as she made her way up the path. Today she was in full tribal regalia, with the peculiar addition of a cashmere cardigan atop the bright Java cloth skirt.

“Stunning sweater, Your Majesty,” said Claire, the formal greetings having been pronounced.

“I bought it in London last year. It’s much better than a gazelle cape on nippy mornings,” said the Queen, apparently not seeing any incongruity in her garments. “In fact, I bought three, so I can send them off to the dry-cleaner in Johannesburg in rotation.”

Entering the house, the Queen swept into the living room and said, “I understand you’ve taken in a lodger. Bring her out to meet me; it will be a pleasure for her. We must do our best to make strangers feel at home.”

Stifling a smile, Claire settled her friend and said, “I’ll just get the coffee going and be right back.” Edging around the two spear-carriers, who had stationed themselves on either side of the Queen, Claire fled to the kitchen.

“Quick,” she said to Rivka, who was sketching the view from the back porch. “Tidy your hair and come with me. The Queen has just arrived. Try to appreciate the honour that’s about to be done you.” Claire set the percolator on the stove and hustled Rivka into the living room.

“Your Majesty, this is Rivka Lerner, my guest, and an artist of some note. Rivka, this is Her Majesty, the Great She-leopard, 29

daughter of the Lady of the Winds, heir of Alilo, ruler of Tshaniland.”

“I am honoured, Your Majesty,” Rivka said, doing something that might have been a curtsy.

“Let us see what you have there,” Malaila demanded, reaching for the sketchpad.

Flipping through the pages, the Queen made approving noises every so often, laughing aloud at the drawing of Koko with the battered cat asleep on her lap.

“Very good, very good. You will come to Enkalovu and paint me. I have in mind a portrait, but not one of those stiff solemn things you see in the National Gallery; something with life. You are the one to do it. Make arrangements with Molapo, he will fit you into my schedule. Leave us now.”

Looking slightly stunned, Rivka took her sketchpad and left, throwing an amazed glance at Claire as she went.

“You have overwhelmed her, I think. where no one has any right to be. Right away Yesterday she was a homeless refugee, that lets out people like Khonzi. None of my today portrait painter to the Queen. You people would commit sacrilege by entering don’t think it might have been a good idea a sacred place.” to ask her if she wanted to paint you?”

“So that brings us back to foreigners,

“What artist wouldn’t be honoured which is what I suspected from the by the chance? I’ve turned down any beginning because of that broken feather I number of painters before this. There found at the autopsy. The English founded was that strange little Spaniard last year their early empire on the longbow, but I in Paris—he was quite amusing but I find it difficult to think of any of the ones we didn’t fancy being depicted with clocks know shooting down an unarmed man for bleeding all over me or a flaming giraffe sport.” in the background.

“They teach archery at the Highveldt

“Enough of that, tell me what School, so my brothers tell me. Apparently progress you have made with your quite a few people do it as a hobby and investigation.” The Queen waved away there’s a group of women who do it at the previous words with one long elegant the Entshanini Club. I can’t imagine Mr. hand as if erasing a blackboard.

Wilson-Gore or those middle-aged Amazons

“There’s not much to report,” Claire creeping across the Sea of Grass stalking said, feeling guilty she hadn’t really done someone. By the way, I hear Mrs. Wilsonanything further about the mysterious Gore is breeding again. Who’d have thought diamond. “The dead man you no doubt the old fellow had it in him?” The Queen already know was Thabo gave a throaty laugh.

Khonzi, who worked at the German Farm.

“Something to do with champagne The pastor there is going to arrange his cocktails, apparently,” said Claire funeral. Given how hard the Germans indiscreetly. “But you’re right, it’s hard work their labourers, I’m amazed Khonzi to think of any of the English people in had any time to find a diamond and Tshaniland killing poor Khonzi. If we knew presumably swallow it. Even if he had why, we might know who.” worked

“I’d have thought a lavender diamond in the Transvaal mines, it’s most unlikely was ‘why’ enough,” said Malaila dryly. a stone would have remained in his

There was a scratching on the door system for more than a few days.” from the dining room and Koko came in bent

“I’ve had that checked. He hasn’t nearly double under the weight of a fully been outside Tshaniland in three years, laden coffee tray. Coming to within three or not that anyone was able to discover. paces of the Queen, she went down on her That’s not to say the man could not knees and bent her head. have slipped over a border at night, “Buya-la, koko,” the Queen instructed, but it’s unlikely, I think. Mr. Trevelyan is and the old woman got up and set the tray on checking with the Department of Mines the table beside her. in Johannesburg, but I haven’t much hope “How did you know her name?” Claire of that telling us anything. Which brings asked after the old woman crept out. us to the conclusion that wherever Khonzi “I didn’t; koko is the word for any got the diamond, it was somewhere in old woman. Didn’t you know that? It’s a Tshaniland.” diminutive for ‘koroko,’ grandmother.”

“You said that the Tears of Alilo are “I must get back to my former habit of alluvial diamonds, found by chance in learning ten new words a day,” said Claire. “I stream beds. Would that be any stream started with the best of intentions, but when bed, or is there a particular stream? I I get busy the little things tend to slip.” don’t know anything much about geology “You should persist. It isn’t dignified for besides what I’ve learned from you, but is a doctor to be speaking kitchen kaffir rather it not possible these diamonds are being than proper Sitshana,” said the Queen, using washed down from some source in the the pejorative as if it held no sting for her. On mountains?” Claire asked. reflection, Claire realised it probably didn’t.

“I suppose that’s a reasonable Malaila would theory. I can tell you that in the past the rarely have been subjected to the sort of diamonds were found in one particular abuse ordinary Africans suffered at the place. If they washed there from higher tongues of those who thought themselves up, it would be from a sacred place, superior by virtue of white skins.

eath inthe sea With Karen Treanor’s kind permission, Swan Magazine will be serialising Death in the Sea of Grass over the coming year - but if you can’t wait to find out who dunnit or why they didit, you can buy the whole book as a downloadable ebook from Fido Publishing for the bargain price of only $4.99 from their website on www. fidopublishing.com.

While there you might like to browse her other books which are all available through Barnes and Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com.) or Amazon on www.amazon. com.

30

“Well, we don’t seem to have got very far with our mystery,” the Queen said, accepting a cup of coffee from Claire.

“I like how you’ve brought me into this. What do I know about solving crimes?” Claire asked, passing the shortbread tin.

“You solve medical mysteries; how much different can this be? There’s a wrongful death: that is to say, a disease in society.

It must have a cause, as a disease has a bacterium at its roots.

You have a trained mind: put it to work here. I must know, Claire.

There are things going on of which you know nothing, which would be strengthened by any social disorder.

“You’re not in any danger, are you?” Claire asked.

“There are those who do not wish me well, shall we put it.

And there is a great deal of work to be done in Tshaniland that requires planning and funding, and I can’t attend to that if I have to be always on my guard against plots and unrest.”

The Queen drank her coffee quickly and stood up. “This has been very nice, but I must be off. Put that artist in touch with Molapo and he will arrange things. Perhaps you can bring her to Enkalovu to have a look at possible settings. I want a portrait that will convey the strength of the past and the hope of the future—you know the sort of thing. What do you think would be a fair price? Something like one hundred pounds? I don’t want to offend her, but I don’t want to overpay either. She has talent, but she isn’t what you’d call a big name, is she?”

“I think perhaps a hundred pounds and a longer residence permit would be acceptable,” said Claire, with a flash of prescience. If Rivka’s attempts to get an American visa came to nothing, at least getting a toehold for her in Tshaniland would help. It might not be everyone’s idea of a sanctuary, but it was better than going back to an increasingly troubled Europe.

“That’s a good idea. I know she left Austria in peculiar circumstances; if she feels secure here she’ll paint better.” In a whirl of colour, the Queen and her giant guards swept out the door and were gone, leaving Claire to wonder if there was anything that happened in Tshaniland that the Queen didn’t know about.

It was therefore all the odder that the diamond’s provenance was unknown to her—if in fact that were true. Claire was sure there was something Malaila had not told her.

“Is it safe to come in?” asked Rivka, peeking around the dining room door.

“Yes. I took it upon myself to negotiate your contract. I hope that’s acceptable. I had a flash of brilliance and suggested that as well as cash, an extended residence permit would be a good idea. Since you will have to fit your painting about whatever scraps of time the Queen is able to give you, the picture could take a while. And there’s no telling how long it will take to get your American visa.” If you get it at all, Claire thought to herself.

“Thank you. I didn’t know what to ask for. I was thinking maybe twenty pounds,” Rivka said, helping herself to a cup of coffee.

“Never sell yourself too cheaply, even when you’re desperate. You’ll get a hundred pounds and an extended residence permit. Once word gets out you’re painting the Queen, others will no doubt want their portraits done, so start thinking up excuses now. “

With a full-throated laugh, Rivka said, “Oh, Claire, I can’t

thank you enough. Last week I was desperate, and today I’m a royal portraitist. How things can change!”

“How indeed. Well, I must get to work. Later we’ll take a ride out to the royal enclosure and you can start to get a feel for the place. The Queen wants the portrait to show both ancient strength and modern determination, so you’ll probably want to do some serious planning before you start.”

“What about something with symbols? That’s a tried and true way of conveying ideas. You know, the sort of thing where you have a globe and a dove and a sword next to the subject, to show his determination to defend peace with force if required while going forward into the world.”

“Well, you won’t want for symbols at Enkalovu. The place is wall-to-wall with leopard skins, spears, gold doohickeys and carved stones. I’ll be back about four and we can take a ride out there.” Gathering up her medical bag and gloves, Claire left a bemused Rivka staring at a blank sheet of drawing paper.

When she returned from visiting her private patients, Claire took Rivka to Enkalovu. The artist was suitably impressed with the throne room, the traditional grass huts where the minor functionaries and assorted royal cousins lived, and the Regalia House. There they found Elspeth Masilani, and Claire was shocked at the change in the woman since they had last met.

“MaThemba,” she said, using the formal greeting that identified Elspeth as mother of Themba, her eldest son. “You do not look well. Please come to my office and let me check your health.”

“It is nothing, Tshadola, and I have medicine,” The older woman replied in a tone that allowed no argument. Claire introduced Rivka and told Elspeth about the proposed portrait.

“Miss Lerner will need to see the royal regalia so she can decide how to paint Her Majesty,” she explained. That was all the encouragement needed. Elspeth launched into detailed descriptions of the various pieces of jewellery, the royal headdress, the exotic skins, the stools and seats, and many other things that even Claire had not seen before. Rivka made lightning sketches of things that interested her and scribbled notes in the margins.

As they left, they were waved to by two young girls, who were just coming home from school.

“The taller of the girls is one of the Queen’s half-sisters, Busisilani, known as Busi,” Claire explained. “She attends the Highveldt School along with two of the brothers. That was the deal when the school opened: all royal children who wanted to attend would be accepted, as long as their marks were competitive with other students. And since the young royals are intensely tutored at home before applying to the school, they all get in.”

“How many siblings are there?” Rivka asked.

“Lots. This is a very unusual society. When we have time I’ll try to explain about the royal offspring.”

“I was just thinking that Busi is much the same size and colour as her sister: perhaps she could stand in when it comes to painting the clothing. That way I’d only need the Queen for the head and shoulders.”

“There could be a problem, depending on what the Queen decides she wants to wear. Some items are sacred and only the 31

Queen can wear them. But it’s a good idea and may appeal to Malaila, who is terribly well organised and not given to time-wasting.”

On the way home, Claire took a detour to the Place of Stone. Rivka was stunned at the sight of the ancient hill fort and its closely fitted grey stones.

“The Batshani say this place was built by men who came from the sky,” Claire explained. “Archaeologists are keen to get in here, but as it’s considered a holy place, so far none of them have been successful. I’m allowed to visit because of my special relationship to Her Majesty, and I think we can stretch that to cover you as the Royal Painter. You won’t see anyone, but be sure there are at least two watchers hidden somewhere nearby, keeping an eye on who comes here. We could walk up and get a closer look some day if you like.”

“It’s amazing. You’d think the Egyptians had built it. I didn’t know there was anything like this in this part of Africa.”

“There’s something even bigger in Rhodesia, I understand, but I’ve never seen it. Perhaps the same people built both. Africa continues to amaze me.”

“You really love it here, don’t you?”

Rivka asked. “Don’t you miss your home, and big cities?”

“I miss my family, and I miss autumn in New England, and I certainly miss book stores, but most of the time life is just too interesting here to be homesick.

I feel useful here—back in Boston I’d still be a junior GP in someone else’s practice, wrapping sprained ankles and diagnosing chicken pox. Here I do surgery, get to see the most amazing injuries, treat the occasional case of plague—what more could I want?”

“Plague?”

“There’s a pocket of endemic plague in the south of the country that flares up now and then. When it gets out of hand, they send in the army to burn out all the huts, confiscate everyone’s blankets, and move them to a new area with a couple of shillings in compensation. It sounds brutal, but it seems to work. Well, let’s head home,” said Claire, signalling after a fashion as she swooped around a rickety truck loaded with people and goats. Rivka shut her eyes and said nothing, but her hands were knotted tightly on her handbag.

They arrived home to find two patients sitting on the doorstep mournfully contemplating the “closed” sign on the surgery Special Offer door. Never very good at saying no, Claire brought them in and to Swan Magazine Readers! attended to their problems, knowing she could expect a If you’re enjoying Death in the Sea of Grass scolding from Duchess in the you can have a hard-print copy of the same author’s best selling gothic mystery morning.

As she let the patients out and The Angelus Ghost for $15 plus postage. locked the door, the lights went out and Claire sighed heavily. She Enquiries and orders to wondered how they had the nerve quendabooks@iinet.net.au to charge her for electricity when it was off as much as it was on recently.

“Stay put; I’m coming with a lamp,” she called to Rivka. Oil lamps and matchboxes were scattered all over the house for just such emergencies. Taking the one from Duchess’s desk, Claire lit it and went into the kitchen.

“You might as well get used to

this; it happens frequently,” said Claire.

“Not to worry, my aunt Tzeitel lives on a farm and has never had electricity. I can cope with lamps.”

Rivka had a pot of Welsh rarebit ready, and they ate in the kitchen by the comforting glow of the cast iron stove and the oil lamp. Wellington heaved himself out of his fruit box and accepted a small saucer of the cheese mixture, paid a brief visit to the back yard, then retired again with a sigh.

“He seems to have settled in pretty well,” Rivka observed.

“Yes. I have a sinking feeling I’ve acquired a cat. Still, he’ll be a bit of company for us, and it’s good to know he’s such a good rat catcher. I didn’t even know we had rats. It’s a pretty disgusting thought.”

“My grandmother had an old saying, something about, ‘if you see a rat’s dropping, you have ten rats; if you see a rat itself, you have a hundred.’ I don’t know how true that might be, but at least now you know you have one less than whatever number was lurking around. Well, rats or no, I’m ready for my bed. Thanks for everything, Claire.” Rivka found a small lamp for her room and said goodnight.

Claire sat up for a while, reading the fat envelope of clippings from the Christian Science Monitor and several other Boston papers which her mother sent every month. Claire never understood how her mother selected the articles; some of them were rather bizarre. Why, for instance, did her mother think she would be interested in the deliberations of the Neponset Town Council?

Turning the cutting over, she found a wedding announcement for two people she’d never met. Perhaps they were distant cousins. Before she was aware of it, her head drooped and she dozed off, her head pillowed on the Monitor’s obituary page.

Outside, the quarter-moon caught a flash of metal, which moved in and out of the shadows until it stopped in the shelter of the pear tree.

Next month ...

Chapter Three

KAREN R TREANOR KAREN Treanor has been writing since the age of six. Discovering bandicoots in her backyard, and learning that nobody was writing about these engaging little beasts, she started Quenda Books, which publishes the Scoot, Scoot, Bandicoot® series, in 2003.

For many years she was a frequent visitor at Western Australian schools and libraries, talking about bandicoots and book publishing.

Karen worked for Swan Publishing for several years, and her book reviews, poems and short stories have appeared often in the Swan Magazine.

She lived in Mundaring with many visiting bandicoots, possums, bobtail lizards, and magpies; plus some resident chickens, cats and a very tolerant husband until 2014, when she packed up the cats and husband, and moved to Tasmania where she spends her time wallaby wrangling, making sourdough bread, and writing.

32

DOUGLAS’ WINERIES AND DINERIES

These are the restaurants and eateries, casual and formal, and wineries that I personally reccommend and eat at for pleasure.

The hidden gem of a bar in Bassendean 77 Old Perth Road

OPEN Wednesday - Thursday 5-10ish Friday 5 - 10:30ish Saturday - Sunday 12 - 10:30ish HAVING A FUNCTION? - FULLY CATERED & NO HIRE FEE

33

ENTERTAINMENT 30 FROM 30 CHRIS MCRAE

E

ver since I can remember, I have been fascinated by films. As a child I remember the excitement of the cinema visit and clearly remember the first film I saw at the cinema as Aladdin in 1995.

Since then, I have watched as many movies as I can, enjoyed many, disliked plenty, reviewed both good and bad and appreciated the time, energy and talent that goes into making them.

Now, as I reach thirty years of age, it is time for me to look back in retrospect at the films that have made an impact on me.

Whether they have stuck with me through sheer entertainment or their message hit home, the following list covers my favourite films from each year of my life.

It is entirely personal and for me, sums up the magic of the movies. Over the next three issues of the Swan Magazine, I will be highlighting my personal best of the best of each decade, culminating in my most recent picks in my 30th birthday month.

when Robin Williams’ poetry teacher encourages his boys to ‘Carpe Diem..seize the day’, sparking an uprising. Emotional, at times heartbreaking and a beautifully moving story about the challenges of adolescence and the power of the written word.

1990: EDWARD SCISSORHANDS Director: Tim Burton Starring: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne West and Anthony Michael Hall

One of the early pairings of the dynamic duo of Burton and Depp. Amazingly creative with a soft heart at the centre of its dark exterior. Depp is mesmerising, as is everything about this quirky story of the man with scissors for hands. Cleverly shot and scripted with a highly unique concept.

1991: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Directors: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise Starring: Paige O’Hara, Robby Benson, Jesse Corti and Rex Everhart

A tale as old as time and the first animated movie to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. This animated classic is truly timeless with the story, songs and characters proving to be some of the most beloved in not only the world of Disney but film history. A true classic for young and old.

PART 1 (1988-1997) 1988: STAND AND DELIVER Director: Ramon Menendez Starring: Edward James Olmos, Estelle Harris, Mark Phelan and Virginia Paris

Having now gone into teaching, this is one of the first ‘teacher’ films I recall seeing. The manner in which high school teacher Jaime Escalante teaches his troubled students not only all about his subject but also inspires them to love to learn was enough to lift me up and set hearts soaring.

1992: THE MIGHTY DUCKS (CHAMPIONS) Director: Stephen Herek Starring: Emilio Estevez, Joshua Jackson, Heidi Kling and Lance Smith

The arrival of the Bash Brothers, Flying V and Quack Attack which sparked my love for hockey as a young boy. A hockeypacked thrill with some brilliantly funny characters, catch phrases and some truly memorable moments which have now translated into the National Hockey League itself!

Quack Quack!!

1989: DEAD POETS SOCIETY Director: Peter Weir Starring: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles

Possesses one of the most renowned film scenes of all time 34

1993: WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE Director: Lasse Hallstrom Starring: Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis and Mary Steenburgen

A poignantly beautiful story of the power of family bonds in this coming of age story. Centering around Gilbert Grape’s (Depp) daily struggle to care for his widowed mother and mentally challenged brother whilst making ends meet at the dwindling local convenience store, this is a heartwarming and challenging story driven by breakout performances from Depp and DiCaprio.

1994: THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION Director: Frank Darabont Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, William Sadler and Bob Gunton

A stunning screenplay and powerhouse performances from Robbins and Freeman bring this searing tale about the power of the human spirit to life. Robbins stars as Andy Dufresne, imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit and the story unfolds around his efforts to adapt to his new life and find comfort in those around him. A stunning achievement and deserves every accolade.

1995: SE7EN Director: David Fincher Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey and Gwyneth Paltrow

This modern film noir revolving around a serial killer’s disturbing ‘seven deadly sins’-inspired murders is graphic, atospheric and includes one of cinemas greatest twists. The intriguing part is that it puts you in the mind of a killer which in itself is brilliantly twisted. Dark and highly original, this is one of Fincher’s best!

1996: FARGO Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen Starring: William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare

This Minnesotan set crime thriller is brilliantly executed by the Coen brothers and a talented ensemble cast led by the always reliable Willian H Macy and Frances McDormand.

Elements of crime thriller, noir and black comedy combine against the backdrop of the ferocious Minnesotan winter to create a classic of the genre.

1997: TITANIC Director: James Cameron Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane and Kathy Bates

One of the most ambitious and sweeping films of the 90’s, the lavish spectacle that is Titanic is the Gone with the Wind of its generation. A romance staged against the backdrop of one of history’s biggest disaster’s became a modern classic and swept the Academy Awards for good reason.

A cinematic event like no other of the time period.

Catch Part 2 of my ’30 from 30’ (1998-2007) in next month’s edition of the Swan Magazine .

35

ENTERTAINMENT THEATRE ALLSORTS AT STIRLING JANET BRANDWOOD

S

tirling Players’ fourth season features experienced director Andie Holborn plus two young directors - Scarlett Greenock and Cassidy Pemberton, both directing for the first time.

The three plays are firstly, Long Live the King by local playwright Yvette Wall, directed by Scarlett Greenock and with the following cast: - Jack Churchman (Prince Edward), Isobel Green (Lady Elizabeth), Kirra Hosking (Lady Lucy) and Jess Hosking (Alice ).

The year is 1547. King Henry VII has died. His daughter Lady Elizabeth and his son Prince Edward, who is now king, are told the news and discreetly wander off on the estate accompanied by Prince Edward’s troublemaking companion, Lady Lucy.

Unexpectedly, they meet a farm girl, Alice, whose presence causes tensions to rise and truths Director Scarlett Greenock (centre) and the cast of Long Live the King to be told. Friendships are born and enemies made. Long live the king!

Secondly, A Year and a Day travelling Storyteller and a girl meeting in a land devastated by

by Christina Reid, directed by Andie Holborn with the plot of a war and famine.

The Storyteller remembers and conjures a long-long-ago land of peace and plenty, a beautiful garden inhabited by the kritters of the land, the trees and the water, and then the humans come to the garden, two tribes who worship different Gods.

The Storyteller’s tale of the corruption and loss of the ancient garden is a love story that becomes a never-ending story of old ghosts who still haunt the earth, a legend with a warning for the girl and the audience, “Don’t be seduced by the music. Don’t look back.”

Finally, the third is A Work in Progress, both written and directed by Cassidy Pemberton.

Alex is an author trying to write an amazing debut novel, about a fantasy world and a prince and his companions trying to rescue his love from a wicked sorcerer, but Alex One Act Youth has no idea how to end the book.

Alex keeps rewriting the ending, picturing the different Season scenarios happening, but none of them seem to fit. How will Alex end the book and is help needed from the characters in the book Alex has created?

Theatre Allsorts runs from September 6th to the 9th at 8 pm; September 9 at 2 pm at Stirling theatre, Morris Place.

Tickets cost $15 and may be booked through A Year and a Day Morris Newsagency on 9446 9120.

Directed by Andie Holborn A Work in Progress

Stirling Theatre

Directed by Cassidy Pemberton

Morris Place, Innaloo

Long Live the King

September 6 - 9, 2018

Directed by Scarlett Greenock Bookings open August 6 through Morris News 9446 9120 Tickets: $15

36

ENTERTAINMENT ONE ACT COMEDY FESTIVAL AT KADS DAVID GRIBBLE

A

s we move into the third quarter of the year we approach the one act festival season the ITA’s Dramafest, the Bunbury and the Hills Festival of Theatre.

Accordingly most community theatre groups are putting together a production of short plays for showcasing at the fetsivals.

One Act plays, like short stories are particularly difficult to write as you have so little time and space to develop character and plot. There must be no wasted words or actions, no padding, no fluff.

On the up-side, they are very easy to stage, having no sets and precious few props.

Probably the first cab off the one act rank, a mini-cab if you will, is from celebrated group Kalamunda Dramatic Society who are running a Winter Quartet of short plays by local playwrights James Forte and Jonny Grimshaw who have provided two each Who’s Pulling the Strings -directed by Peter Nettleton. Flip and Scratch are fairground puppets, once big stars but now fallen on Paul Anderson and Karen Staflund rehearsing James Forte’s Kurkervation! hard times. Faced with the inevitable decline of their audiences, they discuss their various

The season runs from Friday the 31st August for just four options for a post-puppetry life, unaware that nights until Saturday the 8th September. someone else is pulling the strings...

Tickets cost $20 ($17 concession) and can be booked online

The life of petty thief Eamon Doherty isn’t looking too at www.kadstheatre.com.au/whats-on. bright. That is until the morning he wakes to find he’s been touched by the hand of God. His mate Colin isn’t so sure but he’s happy to entertain the idea over a few pints of Guinness at their local...

The resulting hilarious conversation is the basis of the plot of Touched by the Hand, written and directed by Johnny Grimshaw.

Portia is young, rich and beautiful - and a target for dubious suitors. Her dead father left a test to ensure she gets a husband who is worthy. Her suitors have to prove they are prepared to risk their crown jewels (literally) to gain her hand, and then have the smarts to work out the puzzle that has been set!

However, Portia is one step ahead and has no intention of marrying someone decided by some farcical competition over which she has no control. Arranged marriages are only OK if she is doing the arranging, and she’s decided to stack the deck firmly in her favour!

This is The Mechanic of Venice, written by James Forte and directed by Alexis Marr, is a hilarious modern take on a subplot of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice and will have you in fits of laughter as you try and work out who’s scamming who!

With a brisk forty minute runtime, this is just one of the four great One Act plays you will see in the KADS One Act Comedy Festival 2018!

Kurkervation, written and directed by James Forte rounds off the season - at the Woelow Winter Writers’ Workshop, local eminence Whirl has grabbed the privilege of interviewing visiting celebrity Eddy who has just completed volume six of the scientific history of kurkervation and is now on the obligatory circuit of book signings.

Whirl knows nothing about kurkervation and Eddy cares even less for Woelow’s Writers’ Festival...

Please note: Touched by the Hand has replaced Civil Liberties Alliance originally advertised for the one act play lineup for this performance season.

37

FILM REVIEWS THE BREAKER UPPERERS Romantic comedy for adults Reviewer: James Forte

T

he Breaker Upperers is the most recent in a line of weirdly funny movies from the other side of the Tasman. It is based on an appealing concept. Two girls form a company which specializes in breaking up relationships.

Those where at least one of the involved wants out – and is prepared to pay for it.

Having problems dumping your boy or girl friend? Then Jen (Jackie van Beek) and Mel (Madeleine Sami) are the girls for you. They meet after discovering they are being cheated by the same guy. (He regularly leaves one at the Departures door of the airport and then emerges at the Arrivals door to be greeted by the other.)

VAN GOGH Of wheat fields and clouded skies Reviewer: James Forte

I

n previous reviews I have mentioned the appeal of Van Gogh (Loving Vincent) and praised the high-definition movies giving us access to the best of the arts. The latter includes current plays in London’s West End (Follies) and visits to the art exhibitions of the great galleries.

The largest state-owned collection of Van Gogh’s works is in the modern building dedicated to him - alongside the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The largest private collection is in the Kröller-Müller museum and it is the forty paintings and eighty-five drawings from there that are featured in this film.

In the previous review I mentioned that Vincent only ever managed to sell one painting. Hundreds of his works ended up with his brother Theo – who died soon after Vincent.

It was Theo’s widow Johanna who gathered and exhibited them, bringing Vincent to the attention of the art world. And later, arguably, to the status of the most popular and iconic painter the world has seen.

For a while his Irises was the most valuable painting ever auctioned (owned by Perth’s Alan Bond). Starry Night is the most reproduced art poster.

But after Johanna Van Gogh, there was another heroine who recognized his genius. Helene Kröller-Müller was the wife of a wealthy industrialist and invested in the art of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Between 1908 and 1929 she accumulated nearly three hundred of Van Gogh’s works from all periods of his life. She built a gallery to house them and can be credited with spreading the appreciation of Van Gogh from the art world to the general public.

The Kröller-Müller museum is in the middle of the HogeVeluwe forest just to the north of Arnhem. Helene died in 1939

There follows an entertaining series of scenes demonstrating the girls’ skills at dreaming up cunning scenarios.

From simply standing at a front door and singing a break-up song to impersonating police officers breaking the terrible news of the loss of a loved-one. There is also a fair bit of LGBT humour with a same-sex marriage interrupted by Jen wearing a fake pregnancy bump.

Jackie and Madeleine also wrote and directed the film.

And it is my sad duty to report that after a fabulous start the film loses its way. That joke source (of making money from doomed relationships) is insufficient to sustain the whole film. Halfway through it meanders off into other areas – family, drug and other problems for the two girls. There are still some laughs but the focus is gone - the back of the narrative has been broken.

One of my favourite actors, Celia Pacquola (Nat in the TV series Utopia) has a large supporting role (the film opens with her sobbing as she is given the bad news). Her visit with Jen and Mel, dressed as policewomen, to a real police station was hilarious. So was the Celine Dion Karaoke in a party-bus painted as a fire engine.

If you are female, raunchy and Kiwi you are going to love this movie – three and a half stars. Otherwise wait until you have someone who is surplus to your requirements and take them to see it.

The Breaker Upperers is currently showing at Event Cinemas. ~oOo~ 38

and during the occupation, the Germans “repatriated” several paintings by their artists but the Van Gogh collection remained intact. During the battle of Arnhem, the galleries became a Red Cross hospital.

Whoops. This is supposed to be a film review. For two hours we are led through the history and architecture of the museum, concentrating on 125 of Vincent’s masterpieces. There are a number of the portraits which were the basis for Loving Vincent and the well-known scene of the Arles pavement bistro (Café Terrace at Night).

The only thing better than this film is personally visiting the place – and even then you will not get the detailed and expert commentary.

Van Gogh had full houses at Cinema Paradiso on the weekends of 23rd and 30th June. Watch out for further encores.

Go to the Luna Cinema web-pages for details on Klimt & Schiele (coming in October) and other films of the world’s great art collections. ~oOo~ THE WIFE Glenn Close on fire Reviewer: James Forte

B

ehind every successful man stands a surprised mother-inlaw. This lovely paraprosdokian (by Hubert Humphrey) is a happy tilt at the idea that in order to achieve anything, a man

needs a strongly supportive woman.

And this is the theme of The Wife - although with an interesting slant – the wife is fiercely independent and not needing any reflected glory from her husband.

The story is taken from the novel by Meg Wolitzer. Joe and Joan Castleman met at some north-eastern American university in the fifties when he was a young lecturer with aspirations and she was his student in creative writing.

He is married with a young child and a wandering eye. Joan becomes wife number two and, forty years later, his eye is still wandering.

He is brash, charismatic and conceited about his large body of work. She is discreet and gracious. We suspect early on that she is the brighter of the two. The film opens with them getting the news that he has won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Soon they are on Concorde to Europe and the glittering ceremony with the King of Sweden. On the flight they are pestered by hack journalist Nathaniel Bone who wants to write a pop biography of Joe. It is Joan who diplomatically handles the task of rejecting him. And she is continuously playing the peacemaker between Joe and their son – who is trying to become a writer.

Directed by Björn Runge, Glenn Close gives a stunning

performance as Joan. Somehow it reminded me of Katherine Hepburn as the formidable mother in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? If anything, Glenn Close does it better.

This is Academy Award best-actress standard.

A cold, snow-covered but brightly lit Stockholm is a wonderful location. There are many light touches of comedy amid the tension. When Joe dramatically hurls his Nobel medal through the limousine window, the driver goes searching for it in the snow-drifts. Perhaps the Swedes expect prizewinners to be eccentric.

Go and see this film for Close’s performance. Four stars. It is currently showing at Luna Cinemas. ~oOo~ MARY SHELLEY Gothic horror comes of age Reviewer: James Forte

O

ne can think of this film as Jane Austen with very large doses of scandal. Mary Shelley depicts the early life of the author of what is arguably the greatest gothic horror classic – Frankenstein.

At the age of sixteen, Mary (Elle Fanning) meets the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (Douglas Booth). Early in their conversation:

Percy: “How old are you?”

Mary: “Old enough to know why you are asking.”

He seduces her in her mother’s graveyard and then carries Mary and her sister off to Lord Byron’s chateau in Switzerland.

One stormy evening, Byron breaks the boredom by challenging all in the party to write ghost stories. The result was The Vampyre by Dr John Polidori and Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin.

Initially, the former was assumed to be the work of Byron and the latter by Percy Shelley. Mary’s work was initially stated to be by an anonymous gentleman, but was soon acknowledged to be by the true author – the point at which the film draws to a close.

Later she married Shelley (who died young) and went on to write a great deal more.

Written by Emma Jensen and directed by Haifaa al-Mansoor, the film gallops along at a fine pace. Haifaa is a pioneer as the first female Saudi Arabian film director; she grew up when there were no cinemas in her country. She completed a Masters degree in film studies at Sydney University.

Most of her films have a broad feminist flavour.

She now has sufficient reputation to be able to attract large budgets for her work and it shows in this film.

Darkly forbidding libraries, sinister forests, confined carriages, isolated castles – this film is worthy of the material Mary wrote.

Highly recommended - four and a half stars.

39

OCEAN’S 8 The heist movie goes girly Reviewer: Chris McRae

The tension of mystery and the set up and eventual resolution of the unknown was what made Clooney’s Ocean’s era so great to watch. Ocean’s 8 not only recaptures that but brings it to a new audience and the excellent casting assists in giving it’s own feel and standing.

The jazzy score gives the film the heist flavour it deserves and although it plays to sterotypes in terms of character types, roles and some plot lines, this is exactly what a heist film should adhere to in order to work.

The supporting players are also excellent and the male cast members inject some great humour and drama with James Corden’s detective John Frazier pitching his role perfectly with great humour and Richard Armitage’s unlikeable Claude Becker

G

ood heist movies are known for many things. The twisting, turning storylines, glamourous settings and jazzy soundtracks are staples.

However, it is generally down to the charm, charisma and often star power of the ensemble casts to drive the thrills, mystery and intrigue. In 1960’s Ocean’s 11, it was the ‘glint in the eye’ charm of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.

In 2001’s remake and resulting sequel’s (Ocean’s 12 in 2004 and Ocean’s 13 in 2007) it was the ‘oh so cool’ swagger of George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon that put the concept of the heist on the map again as the well known Danny Ocean (Clooney) recruited his band of merry men in order to pull off heists and robberies with slick ease.

Now in 2018, a whole new spin on the Ocean’s franchise comes around with Ocean’s 8, driven by an all female cast with plenty of sass and attitude in spades!

The game is on as Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock), sister to Danny, is released from prison and re-teams with long time partner Lou (Cate Blanchett) in order to re-visit her criminal ways.

With a seeminly impossible plan to steal one of the world’s most reknowned pieces of jewelerry from the famed New York Met Gala, the two re-visit familiar territory, assembling the best of the best. Fashionisha Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter), jewel expert Amita (Mindy Kaling), computer hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna), master pickpocket Constance (Awkwafina) and business minded thief Tammy (Sarah Paulson).

Along with the dream team, they must rely on the beauty and grace of the famous model and socialite Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) in order to pull off one of the heists of the century.

At first, this film appears to be setting itself up as a re-hash of the original. However, as the characters are established, this rollicking ride really finds it’s feet. The chemistry between the lead characters gels perfectly and the set up is very well done as each piece of the puzzle starts to fall into place.

well placed between Hathaway’s graceful Daphne and Bullock’s kniveing Ocean.

Ocean’s 8 is a solid entry into the franchise, isn’t forced and never takes itself too seriously. In a Hollywood in which gender equality is a hot topic, this has not been cast just because ‘it’s time’ but because all the actresses fit these roles well and do a darn good job at creating a highly enjoyable heist thrill ride!

Ocean’s 8 is now showing. ~oOo~ MACBETH National Theatre Live Reviewer: Chris McRae

T

he teriffic thing about the National Theatre, which lies in the heart of bustling London is that its productions are among some of the most accessible in the world.

Through its National Theatre Live program, professional productions of classics through to contemporary masterpieces are filmed and streamed across the world into cinemas and via their online and app based services.

It allows theatre lovers the chance to see some of the world’s best theatre actors tread the boards in the marvellous setting of the National Theatre.

The Luna Palace Cinemas in Leederville screened their latest production of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy Macbeth (or the Scottish play, depending on your superstition) which was performed in the Olivier Theatre in the National.

This production starred Rory Kinnear as the titular

40

character and Anne-Marie Duff as Lady Macbeth and was a stunning contemporary take on arguably one of the greatest plays ever written.

The deep stage at the Olivier allowed for an inticate set design and the rotating stage pieces gave the design team the ability to bring many set pieces to life and the whole performance to flow.

We are transported into a world of ambition and violence with the famous witch scene on the moors to open this three hour spectacle. A large, slanting metal ramp has been constructed which spans the width of the stage and is a key set point throughout the performance, representing the battleground on which blood is spilt, heads roll and power struggles play out.

Large poles which actors clamber up and, at times, severed heads are mounted on, litter the stark metallic landscape of this connecting set piece which is cleverly woven into the transitions and is a versatile part of the setting and atmosphere.

The look of the performance is stunning with traditional Elizabethan dress being traded for contemporary, battle worn clothing, resembling a surburban militia.

Armour is secured with packing tape and the look of characters such as Macbeth and Macduff is edgy and contemporary. The action flows seamlessly with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s ‘castle’ giving a sense of confinement and the feel of a one room apartment, symbolic towards the end as Macbeth is surrounded.

The acting is sublime with Kinnear bringing a true sense of anguish to the famed titular character and Duff bleeding a sense of warmth yet heartbreak and pain at the same time.

The supporting cast is just as good with Kevin Harvey as the brooding, haunting Banquo, Patrick O’Kane as the menacing Macduff (the final fight sequence between him and Macbath is mesmerising) and Parth Thakerar as Malcolm.

Director Rufus Norris has given us a stark urban landscape against which the key themes of power and ambition play out in a visceral and eye catching manner. The production is seamless, flawless and a treat for not only lovers of Shakespeare but those who appreciate good, contemporary theatre.

FORGOTTEN TREASURES

IN BRUGES

S

CHRIS MCRAE

ome Oscar nominated films have been known to slip under the radar or gain cult following for their offbeat, often quirky content, nature or style. In 2008, In Bruges slipped quietly through cinemas but caught the attention of award voters with Colin Farrell picking up the Golden Globe for Best Actor (Comedy) and Martin McDonagh (who directed the stunning Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) collecting an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay.

On paper, the film does not scream entertainment. Two hitmen (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) lie low in the picturesque town of Bruges (it’s in Belgium) whilst awaiting instructions from their less than hospitable boss (Ralph Fiennes).

As the two mismatched crims kill time, what results is a razor sharp, brilliantly executed black comedy in which Farrell’s foul mouthed, childish Ray, who wants nothing more than to get out of the town, consistently butts heads with Gleeson’s Ken, the calm problem solver who wants to make the most of the sightseeing time.

Chance encounters with a film set crew, an angry dwarf, American tourists and a beautiful stranger (Clemence Poesy) has Ray thinking that maybe Bruges isn’t so bad after all.

The film is never slow paced with the wit of the script and the jet black humour driving the tone of the film. Farrell is utterly brilliant as the childish Ray with a mouth like a sailor but a heart of gold. The film’s scintillating final chapter is utterly gripping as it injects a dose of action thriller into the comedy.

If this one flew under your radar, be sure to check it out.

Laugh out loud funny, highly quotable and one of the funniest cult comedies you’ll see. Watch if you enjoyed: Hot Fuzz, Burn After Reading, Seven Psychopaths or The Guard.

In Bruges is available on DVD and Blu Ray and can also be streamed on Stan.

41

TV WITH CHRIS TV REVIEWS - AUGUST 2018 Chris McRae THE RANCH Network:

the socially inept Kazakh reporter Borat and flamboyant fashionista Bruno made headlines, brought Cohen a sense of infamy and were praised for tackling political, social and relevant issues head on.

Now, nearly ten years after Bruno was released, a new series shrouded in secrecy has dropped. Who Is America?

With the turmoil of recent events in the United States and the swearing in and ultimate leadership of what has been labelled a ‘cartoon president’, Baron Cohen turns his comedic and interviewing eye to the heart of American society, exploring everything from social views in the Bible belt to gun laws and everything inbetween.

For Baron Cohen and his humour, no topic is taboo and some of his interviews and alter egos in Who Is America? will have you gasping and questioning his morality.

The thing that he does so well is he reveals the truth. In the opening episode, former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, South Carolina Trump supporters and a Laguna Beach gallery owner suffer the fire (and at times misfires) of Baron Cohen’s revealing and stereotype driven characters.

Netflix

N

etflix have the television entertainment in the palm of their hand. They are adding old favourites and new hits to their streaming catalogue on a weekly basis as well as a plethroa of ‘Netflix Originals’ for every taste.

For fans of That 70’s Show (the beloved sitcom which ran for 200 episodes from 1998-2006), director David Trainer reunites with many of the original cast including key members Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson in Netflix series The Ranch.

The show, which first dropped on Netflix in 2015, follows Colorado rancher Beau Bennett (Sam Elliott) who runs his family ranch with a ‘his way or the highway’ attitude along with son Rooster (Masterson).

Prodigal son Colt (Kutcher) returns to the family ranch from a semi-pro football career and ends up staying to help, becoming part of the ranch once again.

In Parts 1-4, the Bennett boys fall in and out of love as Colt attempts to win back the heart of childhood sweetheart Abby (Elisha Cuthbert), Beau goes through a divorce with the boys’ mother Maggie (Debra Winger) and Rooster attempts to bed as many fine ladies as possible. At the same time, they fight to keep their beloved ranch afloat in the small Colorado town.

Part 5 (the first half of Season 3) picks up with the ranch falling on hard times in the wake of Beau’s heart attack. Many surprises are to come as Colt and Abby’s relationship deepens, Beau’s stubborness gets in the way of his health and Rooster must deal with the dangerous new boyfriend of his exgirlfriend Mary.

The characters in this highly entertaining country-set sitcom (which has some amazing country music throughout) are endearing, relateable and very very funny.

The chemistry between Elliott, Kutcher and Masterson provide the core of what is a very cleverly scripted comedy.

The ranching culture of small town Colorado is lovingly woven into a story where boys will be boys with their guns, beer and stubborness but with a soft centre, revolving around the importance of family and the strong connection to ‘home’.

Part 5 continues the strong, comedic foundations set down by the first forty episodes and is great entertainment.

Part 6 has already been announced and will stream later this year.

The Ranch Parts 1-5 and now streaming on Netflix.

A terrifyingly surreal sketch reveals the scary reality at the heart of the series’ aim in which alter ego Erran Morad (an Israeli terrorist expert) convinces several right wing politicians, gun activists and lawmakers to support a gun program for toddlers.

He later shoots a ‘how to video’ for children with US gun rights advocate Phillip van Cleave in which guns take the shape of stuffed animals and where a ‘Puppy Pistol’ can “make the bad men go away”.

When the comedy and the motivation behind it fires, Baron Cohen hits the nail on the head once again with a biting and often scary look at the stark reality under the surface of some viewpoints.

However, it can be a little too much and due to the nature of society as it stands, it has the ability to offend more than it does to entertain ‘mockumentary style’. It will be interesting to see what lawsuits come from this series as it is claimed that many of the guests were in fact tricked into appearing and words twisted.

Who Is America? is relevant, at times clever but not always consistent and a step too far at times. However the content, challenges and questions it raises are headscratchers and that could be a good thing in challenging times.

Who Is America? streams with new episodes weekly every Monday on Stan

WHO IS AMERICA? Network: Stan)

B

ritish comedian Sacha Baron Cohen (or rather his alter egos) has carved a reputation for tackling the big issues, going where no other comedian does and at times hitting very close to the bone with his subject material.

His work with wannabe rapper and interviewer Ali G, 42

COMMUNITY THEATRE THEATRE WITH GORDON

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.

- Helen K eller

T

THE FOREIGNER

he Foreigner is an exceptionally funny, light-hearted comedy written by Larry Shue, who was born in New Orleans at the end of World War 2, before sadly dying at the age thirty-nine in a fourteen seater, plane crash.

This play which won ‘Best New American Play’ and ‘Best Off-Broadway Production’ was presented just over two years ago by the Darlington Theatre Players Inc, in the Marloo Theatre and was a major hit. Now this delightful, two-hour and a quarter hour comedy is being presented by Serial Productions, at the heritage-listed Old Mill Theatre on the corner of Mends Street

Built by George, Brendan Tobin, the cast, and crew to the same design as before, everything has been fitted in. Working on a minimal budget we are presented with a panelled, lounge, a staircase, a brick chimney, a motel reception area and patio doors with rain lashing down outside. George never having been one to take the easy way out, he realises that a convincing set depends on the number and quality of the soft furnishings; there are numerous superb props to give that special touch of authenticity (Lesley Sutton, Ray Egan).

The sound effects were crisp and perfectly operated by George Boyd. Several lighting effects, including a lightning storm, were cleverly designed by Shelly Miller then operated by Brendan Tobin.

On the night I saw the show, the sound could have been turned off; the rain was bouncing off the theatre’s metal roof and a thunder clap shook the building. The audience were MOST impressed by the sound effects. There is an event at the end of the play in which the sound and lighting were particularly effective.

There were several unusual and special – to say the least – costumes required, and Marjorie De Caux was there as always.

When English SAS trainer, Froggy Le Soeur (Ray Egan) is sent to America to teach an army course, he takes along his very shy and depressed friend, Charlie (Joe Isaia) who has marital problems. Being extremely nervous in company, Charlie is petrified to talk to anyone.

The two men arrive at Betty Meeks (Jacqui Warner – delightful) country fishing lodge. Betty’s motel is financially having a hard time, and despite the warm welcome, the guesthouse is looking rundown.

To hide Charlie’s shyness, Froggy tells Betty that Charlie is a foreigner and cannot speak a word of English. Because of this ‘fake news’, whilst Charlie sits having an afternoon cup of tea, he hears the sordid ‘love secrets’ of the local vicar, David (Rodney Van Groningen) and his adoring fiancée, Catherine (Kylie Isaia).

Before the end of the day, Charlie learns about almost all of the village scandals.

Before long, Catherine’s retarded brother, Ellard (Steven Ozanne), begins teaching Charlie English. When a local redneck and con-man, Owen (Richard Hadler), an inbred thug who hates ‘outsiders’, hears about Charlie the foreigner, he is in major trouble.

and Mill Point Road in South Perth.

The curtain goes up at 8.00 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings until 18th August. There are Sunday matinées at 2.00 pm on the 5th and 12th August.

The scene: is a USA fishing lodge in rural Georgia during the 1980s.

This set: is another jaw-dropping production from the best set designer in the area – George Boyd. The stage at Marloo is a very wide one, so I was a little concerned as to how the spacious set could be transferred to The Old Mill. Simple! You just start again!

Accomplished director, Robert Warner and his assistant Joe Isaia faced a major task putting on such an unusual style of comedy, but they have transferred their own warmth and humour into the already hilarious script.

The fabulous cast includes some of Community Theatre’s funniest actors; the chemistry between them was outstanding. The new addition to their cast is young Steven Ozanne, who proved his talent as a thug in KADS’s The Return, now excels here as an inbred yokel.

Joe Isaia? What can one say, even the mention of his name brings a smile to everyone’s face. Joe’s routine of telling a joke in a non-existent, foreign language – filled with words like perestroika and Pravda. His actions, body language and expressions were amazing.

The giggles poured out, with a couple of belly laughs a minute. There were no straight jokes, nor could it be described as a farce, and yet it was one of the funniest shows I have seen in months. Every actor was perfectly tuned in, with each giving 43

included a wooden telephone box c.f. Dr Who. Nicole Tomlinson’s costumes were predominantly black suits, tights and T-shirts.

The Stage Management was smoothly carried out by Sarah Connolly and her deputy, Alex Hutchings. The whole production was managed by Stephen Carr.

Stephen Carr’s fine lighting and graphic projection design was operated by Sophie Paice, with good team work, included Sebastian Boyd’s soundscape that blended sensitivity and booming drama.

a remarkable, full and well-observed performance. Superb teamwork.

This is a DON’T MISS production; this is the second time that I have seen this play and would happily see it again. A wacky comedy with clever plot twists that expose the foolishness of life.

Hilarious from the opening minutes. ~oOo~

THIS SILENT THING

This Silent Thing was co-devised by an ensemble of Curtin Theatre Arts students, their guest Artist-In-Residence, award winning performer, Margi Brown Ash, and Theatre Arts senior lecturer, Leah Mercer. Margi also is a well-known Brisbane counsellor that specialises in skill and character development.

This Curtin Theatre Arts’ and the Hayman Theatre Company’s 60-minute Winter production, can be seen at the new Hayman Theatre (building 302) with curtain-up nightly at 7.00 pm.

Before the show, the audience are welcomed into the ‘home’ by Kelsey Gardner and Brooke Tyler, and offered warm mulled wine or orange juice. There was clay for anyone that wanted to create a ‘being’.

The athletic Hermes (Nelson Fannon) goes to the museum collection and selects a winged headpiece to aid and protect him as the messenger to the Gods. He then choses a mask / hood and gives it to the King of all of the Gods, Zeus (Samuel Addison).

A mild natured, young woman, Pandora (Amber Gilmour) is born and given a magical box – full of troubles – by Zeus, who now has full control of this female. In trying to build his team further, Zeus choses a character who is willing to take on any persona, a henchman (Callum O’Mara) and Prometheus (Isaac Willis) – naturally all males.

Slowly Pandora begins to realise that the features she admires in a man are the feminine traits, and likewise she noticed that men tend to prefer women with masculine qualities. If men and women are so similar, then why are women so subservient and treated like nonentities? As Pandora matures, she proves to be a full and capable individual, possibly even a leader. Pandora’s friend (Michaela Knight) challenges Zeus.

In this fast moving play that smoothly blended ancient history and folk tales with the present day, the Directors, Margi Brown Ash and Leah Mercer were capably assisted by Molly Earnshaw. Inspirational quotes were projected onto the back wall, as though being typed out by its author. There were several of poet Nikita Gill’s mind-stirring quotes displayed.

The standard of acting, especially, Pandora, Zeus and Hermes were particularly good, with the ensemble showing vigour and emotion.

This powerful play was devised to make the performance students think, re-act and work hard, and in doing so, give the audience points to ponder after they have left the theatre. One does not have to have any knowledge of Greek Mythology to enjoy this authorative story; it was involved but still lucid. ~oOo~

To find this new theatre, enter Curtin University’s grounds from Manning Road, and then turn right at first roundabout. Go 650 metres to second entrance to carpark C9 on the right. The path to the theatre is on the left.

Margi and Leah’s have had their creative theatre company, The Nest Ensemble, for the last fifteen years. This cherished and private play is their first joint devised piece. Six years ago, Margi’s and Leah’s jointly written play, Joey, the Mechanical Boy won the Blue Room Theatre’s Members’ Choice Award, for their play being the most admired of the year’s productions. This is probably the most prestigious award, as it is decided by the audiences who have attended all year.

The scene: a home house party. Then a thousand years ago in the ‘Patriarchal Museum’.

The set: A dozen Persian and Axminster rugs. The museum had a line of a dozen illuminated pine boxes, with Perspex display boxes containing ancient treasures from Greek mythology. These good properties supplied by Ella Randle also

THE BREAKFAST CLUB

The Breakfast Club is an American comedy-drama that was written in 1985 by John Wilden Hughes, Jnr and has been adapted for the WA stage by Brenton Foale.

The 1985 film which starred Emilio Estevez and Molly Ringwald, earned $51.5 million on a $1 million budget. In 2016, the film was selected as being ‘culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant’, and so it has been preserved in the United States National Film Registry.

The Fremantle Performing Artists were founded only about six months ago by the multi-talented stage performer, Brenton Foale; FPA is the performance wing of his Western Australian Acting School, based in Fremantle.

Brenton has produced a most entertaining and faithful adaptation, with the production aimed at audiences mid-teenage and upwards. The language was a little strong at times, but was nothing that the kids don’t hear every day at school.

The curtain goes up on this hour and three-quarter production, 44

each evening in the comfortable main theatre at the Koorliny Arts Centre, 10 Hutchins Way in Kwinana – just off the freeway.

The performances are nightly at 7.30 until Saturday 28th July.

The school cleaner, Carla Reed (Claire Burke), pushes in her trolley and starts sweeping up the mess. She explains to the group how she was once ‘student of the year’ and look at her now. Yes life can change!

When Carla leaves the kids open up to each other about their lives. What will the essays for the unforgiving Vernon reveal?

There is one matinée on Saturday at 2.30 pm.

The scenario: It is March 1984. This is the story of ‘The Breakfast Club’ – a group of detention students who have to turn up on Saturday as a penance for their sins. The school in the book was Shermer High School in the USA, but here the location has been transferred to Fremantle High School.

The set: is simple but most effective. The room is the school library, with several tables, desks and a wall of white book cases, crammed with books. For the uninitiated, books are the props dreaded by all stage hands.

The programme is most impressive, twenty A4 sides in full colour gloss, and although it was good value for $8, many theatres have found that a selling price of $6 tends to be a mental cut-off point, perhaps an A5 for $5 or $6 might be wiser.

Director Brenton Foale and his assistant director, Abigail Acton have managed to assemble a supreme cast of actors of the ‘correct’ age – not twentyfive year olds, pretending to be sixteen or seventeen.

Often, young actors have the attitude that when selected for a part, their job is finished! The learning of lines and acting skills are secondary – they are already there; thank goodness this was not the case for this cast.

The play’s characters called for dual personalities, the face that everyone sees at school, and their private persona. Every student was outstanding, with a rich portrayal. The cast were line perfect, and managed to give the audience a convincing ‘school bully’ and minutes later, a sensitive tear-jerking reveal.

Some of these actors have WAAPA training, but others have little acting experience, perhaps only a couple of school plays. Archer (Brian) is still only fifteen year old, and yet he managed to match the older actors’ finely observed characterisations.

Koorliny sounds a long way from Perth, but it is only a 30-minute trip and this fine show was well worth the journey.

An extremely impressive first production, with great set, good teching (Jayden Lyon), fine makeup by Amy Rattray, and of course superb acting. Try and catch it.

It is seven in the morning, and an eight hour Saturday detention for five, year 12 students is about to start. The austere Assistant Principal, Richard Vernon (Ian Banks) is hovering as the sinners arrive, as requested, with their parents. Brainy nerd, Brian Johnson (Archer Larwood) arrives with his ‘Mummy’ (Sarah Fawcett) and younger brother (Harrison Bond). They are closely followed by honed athlete, Andrew Clark (Cameron Fawcett), who has been brought along by his father (Nick Fawcett). Another parent, Mr Standish (Brenton Foale) delivers his ‘little Princess’ Claire (Arianne Westcott-King).

Mr Vernon tells the students to sit at a desk, before ordering them not to speak, move, or sleep. The students must write an essay of a 1000 words on who they think they are. The door crunches open, and in swaggers John Bender (Blair Allen), a student with trouble written all over his face, definitely a criminal in the making. When Mr ‘Dick’ Vernon leaves the room, and ignoring the rules, Bender pesters the other students.

When Bender starts to ask Claire questions about her sexlife, Andrew decides to protect the ‘rich princess’. During the upset, a dowdy girl, looking like the Addams Family’s Cousin Itt, with a mass of hair and no face visible, glides into the room and sits down. She cocoons herself in her Parka jacket, and considers herself invisible. This is the school’s basket case, Allison Reynolds (Rebecca Collin).

45

FINANCE WHY SMALL SMSFS STILL TRUMP THE BIG SUPER FUNDS STEVE BLIZARD

I

n the wake of the Bank Royal Commission hearings, there has been some negative press lately about so-called low balance Self Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs).

First the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) echoed calls from the big public offer retail super funds to attack the humble SMSF by issuing information sheets about their risks.

The bottom line of these information sheets was to bag the “cost-effectiveness” of an SMSF and reinforce ASIC’s view that a SMSF with a starting balance of $200,000 or below is unlikely to be in the client’s best interests.

Not happy with this, the Productivity Commission released a report on 29 May 2018 regarding the efficiency and competitiveness of the superannuation system, finding that SMSFs with less than $1 million are "not competitive" against retail super offerings!

SMSF administrator Class analysed publicly-available contribution tax and insurance data from the ATO to restate SMSF performance so it can be directly compared to institutional fund returns.

They found that for the ten year period the Productivity Commission’s report covers, SMSFs outperformed public offer Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) funds on a like-for-like basis.

Class analysis of SMSF performance across five years shows that although funds with smaller balances do generate lower returns, the variance is considerably less than the exaggerated results provided in the draft Report.

The discrepancy in published returns highlights the need for the two industry regulators to collaborate on their research, in order to provide accurate like-for-like fund performance.

However the three areas in which a SMSF is always going to be superior to public offer funds include control, unique investment opportunities and estate planning flexibility.

ADMIN FEE PRICE WAR

In defence of the retail public offer funds, the Bank Royal Commission has proven to be a boon to fund members.

On 24 July, one major institution commenced a fee price war, slashing its superannuation platform administration fees to as low as 0.15 percent pa.

So for fund members looking for a basic low cost fund, it is now possible to access a fund cheaper than many Industry super funds, finally throwing into doubt the validity of the infamous “compare the pair” TV adverts.

MORE THAN RETURNS

The problem with the public flagellation of SMSFs based on comparing their returns with super choice platforms offered by the big end of town, is that having an SMSF is not just about investment returns.

In fact, when viewed from an estate planning perspective, there are compelling reasons why an SMSF will always trump a public offer retail super fund, irrespective of the fund balance.

According to the Productivity Commission, more than one million members have chosen to self-manage their super in an SMSF.

Large SMSFs are broadly competitive with institutional funds in terms of net returns.

However, its draft report about the efficiency and competitiveness of the superannuation system, smaller SMSFs (with less than $1 million in assets) perform significantly worse than institutional funds, mainly due to the materially higher average costs they incur due to being small.

Discrepancy around ten year performance reporting

CONTROL

Before the recent US stock market rise, it seemed that you could always rely on your average public offer retail super fund to post a negative return, after contributions were taken into account.

For example, in the APRA report on the performance of Australia’s largest 200 superannuation funds for the years 2004 to 2013, it was noted that for the 5-year period up to 30 June 2013 (financial years 2009 to 2013), the 5-year average across all entities was only 3.9 percent each year.

During that time many super fund members concluded that, if we have to put money into super because it’s compulsory, then I may as well be losing the money myself instead of paying someone else to lose it for me!

Hence Australia witnessed a surge in SMSF establishments so that as at 30 June 2017, according to statistics released by APRA and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), close to 600,000 SMSFs were in operation, managing $696.7 billion in assets - nearly a third of the $2.3 trillion or so invested via Australian superannuation funds - with thousands of new SMSFs being established every quarter.

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Public offer funds won’t allow you to buy residential real estate, buy your business real property from you, or let you borrow to do either.

Continued on page 60 ...

46

BUSINESS - NETWORKING IT’S NOT THEM - IT’S YOU! SHARRON ATTWOOD

Caution – contains low level negativity ……….. oo often I hear people slamming an event or a training – saying that attending was such a waste of their time!

Likewise – they agree to catch up with someone for that institution of business networking ‘the coffee chat’ only to be caught moaning about the lack of value brought by the other party – I hear you winging about how they wasted your time.

But what if I tell you that you most likely brought this all on yourself? You can roll your eyes and even scoff – but what did you do to avoid it?

I teach attendees of my workshops to always do their research! Treat your time like the valuable currency it is - and take that time to make sure you invest it well.

Similarly – you should always endeavour to bring value to the other party. Make sure they don’t walk away with the same complaint about you. Well may you ask though – would that be your fault – or theirs?

It’s never been easier to see if an event, connection or training is of value to you and if you bring value to the other party. Please allow me now to introduce you to this handy little tool called Social Media! If you were asked to pay a thousand dollars for a product – you’d check out the reviews, manufacturer, history and ask a friend.

Extend this excellent policy of doing your due diligence into the way you assess just how you spend, or invest, your time in business networking and education.

When looking at a training I will always research the presenter and the host. I’ll look at their LinkedIn profile, Facebook page and even Google them to see what qualifications and/or experience supports their ability to present on the topic.

As you progress through your business journey it’s vital to attend the right training at the right time – meaning it needs to be targeted at the level you need, at a time you can apply it.

A disgruntled attendees’ issue may well be that the training was pitched above or below their level of experience and understanding – so you need to figure this out. Do you even know what you need?

You can try asking the presenter for a direct answer – they really should be able to clearly articulate the learning outcomes – and if they can’t – well there’s a flag for you! A lot of publicly offered training I see is quite basic in nature – so if you are looking for that next level – ask!

You can also look on Facebook or booking systems such as Eventbrite to see if anyone you know has attended.

The same applies to networking events. Look for feedback or recommendations from those you know, like and trust.

Look for written reviews or video testimonial – though I am yet to see anything other than glowing reviews on video testimonials – so maybe take those with a pinch of salt even if it’s someone you know - I’d still follow them up.

I get asked all the time for my take on a course, presenter, event and even of business people. Colleagues will ask – ‘Is this for me?’ - ‘Am I for them?’

Obviously, you need to know what your objective is – to know what suits you and what will give you value for the time and money invested. So, consider who you want to meet, what you want or need to learn and get clear on what value you have to offer others.

Meeting someone in the follow up ‘coffee chat’ or even a chat over the phone requires a win/win outcome as you are

T

both investing time. You don’t need to necessarily be a customer for one another but both parties need to bring value. What’s yours?

It may be as simple as listening well enough that you are ready to refer or you may already know someone to connect the other party to. Everyone loves to be really listened to.

You must also do some research between the initial meeting and the follow up – your ‘one to one’ – with a peer or colleague. It’s not stalking – it’s good manners! Connect on LinkedIN – watch their YouTube – catch a blog or even peruse their book.

Nothing is more disrespectful than taking a meeting

and then asking them what they do. Get a jump on rapport building and get a clue! Who doesn’t like to have themselves quoted back to them? Go armed with insightful questions that build on something!

When you have done the research, and make an informed decision – well so be it. You are so much more likely to be in the right room, with the right people at the right time.

And if you blindly attend anything and it’s not to your liking – who is at fault? If a little research could have identified the mismatch – well it’s not them – it’s you!

47

ART AND ARTISTS AUGUST AT MAC EXHIBITIONS

To celebrate the opening of the Antipodean Encounters exhibition, join textile artist Carmela Corvaia to learn the art of

DON'T JETTISON EVERYTHING MAC MEMBERS SHOW Curated by Mikaela Castledine Runs until the 16th September Tuesday to Friday 10am - 5pm, Sat & Sun 11am - 3pm Gallery 1

The current trend towards fixing or reinventing, as a reaction to our throw away culture, acknowledges something that artists have always done, seeing the beauty in unexpected places. MAC celebrates the ingenuity of our members with an exhibition of works created from the discarded, the broken or the abandoned.

ACT-BELONG-COMMIT ELEVATE ARTS MUNDARING ENVIRONMENTAL ART PROJECT PLASTIC POLLUTION: REDUCING OUR FOOTPRINT AND CARING FOR OUR PLANET Runs until Sunday 16th of September Tue - Fri 10am - 5pm, Sat & Sun 11am - 3pm Gallery 2 Hundreds of primary school children from across the eastern region immerse themselves in this year’s theme to create designs for the 2018 Mundaring Environmental Art banners to be displayed in the heart of Mundaring. Learn more >

MIDLAND JUNCTION ARTS CENTRE ANTIPODEAN ENCOUNTERS WESTERN AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS AND TAIWANESE CULTURE Opening Day Saturday 11th August 11am - 2pm Viewing: Wednesday 15th August until Friday 28th September East & West Gallery Personal objects have been the catalyst for conversation between twenty local artists and members of the Perth Taiwanese community who have immigrated to Western Australia. The artists have translated and contextualized these dialogues, creating new works to help navigate the increasingly complex issues embedded in the hybrid cultural society in which we live.

TEA WARE Opening day: Saturday 11th August 10am - 3pm Viewing: Wednesday 15th August until Friday 28th September Wed - Fri 10am - 5pm, Sat 11, 25 Aug & 15 Sep 11am - 2pm The Store Tea and the sharing of tea is celebrated by many cultures in very diverse and often ritualistic ways. Tea drinking habits can be found worldwide. After water, it is the most widely consumed drink in the world. In conjunction with Antipodean Encounters: Western Australian Artists and Taiwanese Culture, MJAC is celebrating the teaware and the art of ceramics.

feltmaking and create a felted object.

Suitable for all ages at the Midland Junction Arts Centre.

Cost: $5 ( Materials supplied) BOUND BOOK WITH LETTERPRESS COVER WORKSHOP WITH VANESSA WALLACE Saturday 11th August from 1pm - 2pm To celebrate the opening of the Antipodean Encounters exhibition, join printmaker Vanessa Wallace to make a stab bound book with a traditional Chinese letterpress text cover using stitched book binding technique.

Suitable for all ages at the Midland Junction Arts Centre.

Cost: $5 ( Materials supplied) OIL PAINTING WITH HARRISON SEE Tuesday 14th, 21st, 28th Aug & 4th September - 6pm - 9pm Over the course of four weekly sessions, Harrison will guide you through the process of creating your own painted scenes on canvas. Each week you will be encouraged to abstract and reinterpret the subject matter (including landscapes, figures and still life scenes) in the creation of small scale studies.

Harrison will discuss and demonstrate the importance of emphasis, mark making and colour while using varying mediums and techniques. At the end of this series you will create a larger artwork applying all your new skills within a single composition.

Suitable for sixteen years and over at Midland Junction Arts Centre Cost: $280 (Materials supplied)

WORKSHOPS & EVENTS FELTED OBJECTS WITH CARMELA CORVAIA Saturday 11th August from 11am - 12pm 48

SWAN VALLEY AND REGIONAL NETWORK GIDGEGANNUP PHYSIOTHERAPY NOW OPEN

S

enior Physiotherapists Sean Fuller, Sarah Mac Alasdair and Daniel Parasiliti have opened up their new clinic within the Gidgegannup Medical Centre at 2071 Toodyay Rd.

Do their faces look familiar? We have been delivering quality health care to the eastern corridor for over fifteen years at our Glen Forrest and Midland clinics.

Do you suffer lower back or neck pain? At Gidgegannup Physiotherapy we have extensive experience in treating a vast array of musculoskeletal and sporting injuries, whilst also specialising in the management of vertigo related symptoms.

Our Physiotherapists can also assist with workers compensation and motor vehicle injuries and accept all EPC doctors referrals with no additional gap.

Call us today for an appointment on 0429 611 446.

H

GUILDFORD CONSIDERED FOR STATE REGISTER

eritage Minister David Templeman today announced Guildford Historic Town will be assessed for inclusion in the State Register of Heritage Places.

Guildford Historic Town is rare as a highly intact 19th century town that still retains its original grid pattern layout around a central square.

The area is characterised by a very fine collection of predominantly 19th century buildings - some of which are individually significant - which together, illustrate the development and prosperity of the town.

The City of Swan requested that Guildford Historic Town be assessed for possible inclusion in the State Register following its own community consultation process to consider the proposal to nominate it to the Heritage Council.

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is preparing the assessment documentation, which will be sent to owners and other stakeholders in September to seek their views on the proposal.

While the assessment is underway, the City of Swan will refer all development applications to the Heritage Council of WA for comment.

The Heritage Council will consider all stakeholder views and make a recommendation to the Minister for Heritage, who will decide whether Guildford Historic Town should be included in the State Register.

Heritage Minister David Templeman: "Guildford Historic Town has such an important story to tell about the State's early history and development.

"As one of three towns established in Western Australia during the founding of the Swan River Colony in 1829, it is one of the State's most important historic areas.

"The Heritage Council and I want to hear from owners, tenants, and the local community about whether they would support the entry of Guildford Historic Town in the State Register.

"Places entered in the State Register can be developed to meet contemporary needs or adapted for a new use, as long as the development is sensitively done and respects the heritage values of the place."

Midland MLA Michelle Roberts: "The local community at Guildford has been pushing for heritage listing for a number of years, and it is fantastic to have a Minister for Heritage who has listened to the community and moved to formally assess the Town of Guildford for State Heritage listing.

"I urge all local homeowners, residents and business owners to have their say so that we can protect the beautiful Guildford townsite for future generations."

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT MATTHEW HUNT

T

he City of Swan understands the impact the recent tragedy in Ellenbrook has had on the wider community. If you or someone you know has been affected, there are people and organisations that can help.

We have an extensive list of health support services on our website. Visit the City’s health support page for a list of contact details: www.swan.wa.gov.au/In-around-Swan/See-Do/Youth/ Support-services/Mental-health-support

The Red Cross is also there for you with a range of community support services.

Visit the Red Cross website for more information:

www.redcross.org.au/get-help

49

SWAN VALLEY AND REGIONAL NETWORK MEDICARE SCAM – IMPORTANT SUPER SUNDOWNER

W

T

e're reminding you to join us for a fantastic Sundowner with The Chamber of Commerce And Community at our free "Super Sundowner" on Thursday August 16, from 5:00pm to 7:30pm at the amazing Ellenbrook Art Gallery.

This event is FREE for Members. Prospective members and guests are most welcome!

This is an opportunity to celebrate at one of the classiest venues in Ellenbrook, having deep and meaningful discussions while you access your inner artist and art critic ("I love the depth of suffering displayed in the subject's wail of terror" vs "I love the way she looks so happy with her shriek of joy!")

Celebrate your successes ond make form some new relationships with style, while you savour the nibbles and drinks.

Catch up with other Chamber Members and network with the best Chamber West of the International Date Line. Get that needed boost!.

Please email Kelly@chamberofcommerceandcommunity. com with any dietary requirements.

Forward this invitation to anyone you believe would like to join us. We wouldn't want anyone to miss out!

*We aim to be friendly to your needs. Kids are welcome!

Share this event on Facebookand Twitter.We hope you can make it!

Cheers, Chamber of Commerce and Community.

he myGov Medicare payment website has been cloned in a sophisticated attempt to scam users out of their bank account details, the federal government’s online security agency warns.

The controversial MyGov payment website has become the target of scammers attempting to part users from their bank login and account details.

The federal government’s StaySmartOnline service says the scam involves a ‘phishing’ email that looks to be from Medicare, and a ‘cloned’ MyGov payment website.

The fake Medicare email asks recipients to update their Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) details in order to receive benefits and claims.

But if recipients click the provided links, they are taken to a replica of the real myGov website.

After being prompted to enter your login details and provide a secret security question and answer, users are transferred to a fake Medicare website.

“These emails and web pages feature myGov and Medicare design and branding, making them appear legitimate,” the StaySmartOnline statement reads.

It advises to follow the following steps to avoid email scams: • Do not click on links in emails or text messages claiming to be from myGov or Medicare. myGov will never send you a text, email or attachment with hyperlinks or web addresses.

• Don’t open messages if you don’t know the sender, or if you’re not expecting them.

• Be suspicious of messages that aren’t addressed directly to you, or don’t use your correct name.

• Login to your official myGov account by typing the web address into your browser, to check your inbox for any legitimate emails from Medicare.

• You can also contact the organisation separately to check if they have sent the message.

If you are concerned that your personal information has been compromised and misused, you can contact Australia’s National Identity and Cyber Support Service, IDCare or use their free Cyber First Aid Kit - www.idcare.org

If you have been a victim of a cybercrime such as fraud, report it to the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN) - www.report.acorn.gov.au

Human Services Minister Michael Keenan has announced the Government intends to introduce a controversial new system that may soon see welfare recipients required to have their face scanned and analysed before they can access their payments.

The system, which will also affect people trying access Medicare and childcare subsidies, age pension and pay tax online, is part of a new biometric security program that is set to begin in October.

Under the new strategy those trying to access these government services will be required to take photo to create a myGov ID, which will then be checked against driver’s licences and passports to confirm their identity.

When fully rolled out the digital identity solution will allow users access to almost any government agency through one single portal, with the trial allowing 100,000 people to apply for a Tax File number online.

Details in brief: Thursday, August 16th, from 5:00pm to 7:30pm Ellenbrook Arts HQ 34 Main Street Ellenbrook YOUR COMMUNITY

Volunteer Community Representative Do you live in Ellenbrook and are you interested in what is happening in your community? Would you like the opportunity to be part of the decision making process?

The City of Swan is currently seeking nominations for a positive and motivated community representative for the Ellenbrook Community Advisory Group (ECAG).

The purpose of the ECAG is to make recommendations regarding funding of both community infrastructure and community development programs in Ellenbrook, based on an understanding of local community issues and priorities.

Applications must be received by 5pm on Friday, August 24, 2018.

DISCLAIMER The information in this publication is of a general nature.

The articles contained herein are not intended to provide a complete discussion on each subject and/or issues canvassed.

Swan Magazine does not accept any liability for any statements or any opinion, or for any errors or omissions contained herein.

CoS1577

For more information or to apply for the position, please complete the Nomination Form located on the City’s website or contact Kate van Namen on 9267 9058, or by email kate.vannamen@swan.wa.gov.au or Matthew Hunt on 9207 8573, or by email matthew.hunt@swan.wa.gov.au

www.swan.wa.gov.au

50

SWAN VALLEY AND REGIONAL NETWORK BUSINESS FOR SALE NEW HOPE FOR CANCER PATIENTS BUTLERS EQUINE

A small business providing Horse care products to WA

D

ue to family concerns, Butlers Equine is now available for sale.

This small Boutique business was established in 2014/2015 with one Fly Spray & lots of weekends at markets & Horse shows.

It has grown to now include a range of over twelve popular and effective products being sold in over twenty outlets throughout WA.

Currently, a part-time business, with most of our trade over six to seven months from October to April, the future of Butlers Equine is entirely up to you. Maintain it as is and have a great small business to yourself or grow it to as big as you can dream.

The potential for expansion is there to discover.

The purchase of this business will give you the rights to all the recipes with manufacturing training and instruction, the website, Facebook page (2500 followers) and all our contacts and ongoing business.

Or you can consider opening your own retail outlet – Your choice.

For serious enquiries please contact: Simone Parker

simone@butlersequine.com or 0488 754 447

W

A cancer patients with the most aggressive and deadly cancers will have access to the latest in personalised drug trials as a result of State Government support for a national cancer program.

Under the new initiative, announced today by WA Health Minister Roger Cook, patients with rare and advanced-stage cancers will be able to access trials under the Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Program, without having to travel interstate.

The development follows provision of seed funding from the WA Department of Health to the State's leading clinical trials facility, Linear Clinical Research, to offer the latest in personalised cancer drug trials.

These trials enable patients to undergo treatment tailored to their individual cancer, based on a genetic profile of their cancer.

The Garvan Institute of Medical Research in NSW has been running the personalised medicine trials for the past six years. Despite being open to patients outside of NSW, interstate patients were expected to meet their own travel expenses.

Under the new arrangements, WA patients already matched to one of the trials will be able to receive treatment at Linear's clinical facility based at the QEII Medical Centre.

Additionally, WA patients will soon be able to undergo genetic testing locally through PathWest - potentially being matched to one of the cancer treatments available under the program.

The initiative comes ahead of recently announced Commonwealth funding for the Program which will enable patients across Australia to access the personalised treatment in their home states.

Continued on page 60 ...

MARYVILLE & BULLSBROOK

'18

COME ALIVE !!

SUNDOWNER

FRIDAY, 16TH AUGUST 5PM TO 7.30PM ELLENBROOK ART GALLERY 34 MAIN ST, ELLENBROOK Free to Members $20 Non-Members Nibbles and beverages provided (Dietary requirements catered for)

CE I T O EN 18

UR gust 2 0 S O L th Au DC

ROA r d a y,

Enjoy a lovely exhibition of glass artworks; 'Desert by the Sea' by Anne Sorensen & Jill Yelland

Satu

PLUS, Find out how you can benefit from being a member!

11

Saturday 11 AUGUST th

Book your ticket via Eventbrite https://august-super-sundowner-ccac.eventbrite.com.au

www.targawest.com.au | info@targawest.com.au | www.facebook.com.au/targawest

Follow us on Facebook for upcoming events Proudly sponsored by:

PERTH AIRPORT

Photo: Brett Sandells

51

Photo: Chris Richmond, CMR Photographic

THE IDLER The Idle Thoughts of an Idle Mind

Images of scattered pills, powders, spoons, rubber ties, needles and other drug paraphernalia surrounded the headline, but I was distracted by the caramel sauce smears on the top left-hand corner of the page that signalled the previous readers predilection. I was starting to second guess my choice.

You idiot, caramel would’ve been a bigger sugar hit than raspberry,’ I chastised myself.

Just as I was about to change my order the brownie landed in front of me, the coffee still missing in action. Staring at the syringe protruding daggerlike from the brownie my stomach sent a clear rumbling protest about my habit of waiting until the accompanying drink arrived.

I tried to distract myself with the newspaper article, but the image of the empty heroin needle soon had me pulling the shot out of the brownie, and drizzling a miniscule amount of its red contents on top the rich chocolatey morsel. The sticky, glistening red smear contrasted with the rich brown background sent my stomach into overdrive.

LET THEM EAT CAKE

GLENNYS MARSDON

T

he clock showed 3:00pm and right on cue the sugar craving kicked in. My mind contemplated the well-intentioned apple lingering in the top draw of my desk. The crisp sweetness of the Pink Lady apple was usually enough to satisfy my desires, but not today.

With several more hours ahead of me, the apple offering dissipated as quickly as a box of donuts in a school canteen.

Instead I left the office and went in search of the only thing that would sustain me until 8pm, sugar, or to be correct, cake.

Nudging forward like an apprehensive driverless car, my weary carcass eventually reached its destination, a small French patisserie called Pierre’s. Dressed in stereotypical black and white awnings, crimson flower boxes and cane table settings, Pierre’s specialised in almond croissants, hazelnut roulades and all things French cake-ery. It was perfect afternoon food porn.

Inside Pierre’s the display cabinet groaned under the weight of delicate delights. The green tea sponge looked intriguing and fitted my newly acquired ‘challenge yourself’ edict, but so too did a slightly hidden section off to the left labelled, ‘Flavour Shots.’

The Flavour Shots section boasted a range of cupcakes, brownies and muffins each dramatically stabbed in the heart with what looked like hypodermic needles. The top row featured banana cupcakes with caramel ‘shots’ sticking out the top. Below them vanilla cakes with strawberry coulis injections, and on the last row, chocolate brownies with raspberry shots.

A photo on the glass window explained that the ‘shots’ could be drizzled over the cake or injected into the centre for ‘an oozy surprise’. The chocolate brownie, raspberry combination had me at ‘Bonjour madam’.

Having ordered, I sat down at a nearby table waiting for my coffee and indulgence to arrive, and as I did so I turned over the crumpled newspaper left behind by a previous tenant. The frontpage headline hollered Western Australia’s latest honour …

WA named drug capital of Australia.

I looked at the syringe in my right hand and twisted it around admiring the contents from various angles. I plunged it back into the middle of the brownie and looked in the direction of the counter where the barista was handing a takeaway coffee to a patron who’d ordered after me.

Why was my coffee taking so long?

To my left I noticed two young girls in private school uniforms, each nursing a Freakshake. The one with the blonde pigtails and glasses played with the straw in her spearmint shake trying not to dislodge the donut balancing on the rim of the glass. Mission accomplished she pulled the syringe out from the donut and squirted its bright lime green contents all over the mountain of whipped cream languishing on top of the donut. Her darkhaired friend followed suit.

Dislodging her shot from the chocolate brownie on top of her cherry ripe shake, and with the precision of a highly decorated surgeon, she carefully cascaded a red trickle down the inside of the glass, before turning the syringe towards her friend and firing the rest of its contents onto her glasses.

Continued on page 60 ...

52

FOOTNOTE PEOPLE IN HISTORY THE RECTOR OF STIFFKEY

H

arold Francis Davidson (1875 – 1937), usually known as the Rector of Stiffkey, was a Church of England priest who in 1932, after a public scandal, was convicted of immorality by a church court and defrocked.

Harold Davidson was the son of the Reverend Francis Davidson and his wife. Nearly thirty of the Davidson family were or had been Anglican clergy and so his family assumed that he would follow his father in becoming a priest and he was brought up strictly.

At the age of fifteen Harold was sent to live with two maiden aunts and he became an enthusiastic amateur actor. In 1894 he appeared in a school production of the farce Sent to the Tower.

In the face of his father's disapproval, he decided to pursue a career on stage.

Within a few months of his ninteenth birthdaay, Davidson appeared on the London stage performing a comic routine. He was reasonably successful and his greatest triumph was as Lord Fancourt Babberley in Brandon Thomas's Charley's Aunt.

In 1898 Davidson finally bowed to his father's wish that he should study for holy orders. At Oxford, Davidson's behaviour was notably eccentric; he displayed considerable energy but disregarded rules, was persistently unpunctual and regularly failed his examinations. He continued to appear on the stage when he could.

In 1903 at the age of twenty-eight he was ordained and in 1906 sent as rector of the Norfolk parish of Stiffkey. The Stiffkey living was highly desirable, with 60 acres of glebe land, a large Georgian rectory, and an income in 1906 of £503 per annum.

Three years later Davidson married Molly Saurin. The Stiffkey rectory became a family home, as children were born at regular intervals. Notwithstanding his parochial and domestic responsibilities, Davidson quickly adopted the habit of spending much of the week in London, engaged in various kinds of social work.

He became chaplain to the Actors' Church Union, based at St Paul's, Covent Garden, and was frequently to be found backstage in London's theatres, ministering to the needs of showgirls.

Between 1910 and 1913 he expanded this work to Paris, to which he made regular visits, sometimes acting as a chaperone for dancers recruited by the Folies Bergère.

Many out-of-work and would-be actresses were invited to stay at the Stiffkey rectory, sometimes as many as twenty at a time.

Davidson was thirty-nine years old at the outbreak of war. In October 1915 he joined the Royal Navy as a chaplain.

He began his service on HMS Gibraltar, a depot ship based in the Shetland Islands and in October 1916 Davidson joined HMS Fox in the Middle East and shortly afterwards was arrested by the naval police during a raid on a Cairo brothel. He explained that he was looking for a diseased prostitute who had been infecting his men. Davidson left the Navy in March 1919.

“The Reverend Mr Davidson's downfall ... was girls. Not a girl, not five or six girls even, not a hundred, but the entire tremulous universe of girlhood. Shingled heads, clear cheeky eyes, nifty legs, warm, blunt-fingered workaday hands, small firm breasts and, most importantly, good strong healthy teeth, besotted him." Ronald Blythe: The Rector of Stiffkey

Davidson resumed his pre-war routine of spending his weeks in London, departing early on Monday morning and returning late on Saturday. Sometimes, through a missed rail connection or other mishap, he was barely in time for the Sunday morning service at Stiffkey, and sometimes he would fail to arrive at all.

According to his own estimate, Davidson approached around 150 to 200 girls a year over a period of twelve years.

His activities usually centred on the innumerable Lyons, ABC

Rev Harold Davison ‘The Rector of Stiffkey’

and Express Dairies teashops and their staffs of waitresses. He called himself the "Prostitutes' Padre".

Although many of Davidson's parishioners accepted that his London rescue mission was entirely honourable were less convinced.

Early in 1931 a formal complaint against Davidson was made to the Bishop of Norwich about the rector's supposed behaviour with women in London. Under the provisions of the Clergy Discipline Act of 1892, members of the clergy could be prosecuted in a consistory court.

A consistory court was convened in 1932. Davidson was accused of associating with "women of loose character", and "accosting, molesting, and importuning young females for immoral purposes".

Davidson was found guilty on five counts of immorality and ‘de-frocked’. Sorely in need of funds to meet his continuing legal expenses, Davidson reverted to his early career as a stage entertainer. He exhibited himself in a barrel on the Blackpool sea front where thousands paid to observe him through a small window.

This became his life for the next four years, interrupted by occasional prosecutions and a nine-day spell in prison for nonpayment of rent.

Although the barrel act remained his staple performance, he introduced variations over the years: freezing in a refrigerated chamber, or being roasted in a glass-fronted oven while a mechanised devil prodded him with a pitchfork.

By 1937 interest in Davidson's Blackpool sideshows was waning and, for that summer, he accepted an invitation to join "Captain" Fred Rye's animal-themed show in Skegness.

Davidson's act consisted of a ten minute address delivered outside a cage containing two lions, after which he would enter the cage and spend a few minutes with the lions. The act was billed as "Daniel in a modern lion's den" and attracted large audiences, including a significant number of clergy.

Continued on page 60 ...

53

#AdoptLove

Kitten Duo We all know kittens are super cute and at SAFE Metro we’re offering ‘twice the fun for the price of one’ on kitten adoptions! Five-month-old kitty duo Fraycee and Maestro are looking for their permanent home. They’re guaranteed to fill your home with smiles and laughs - as you can see in these great photos, they’re getting plenty of practice in foster care. Of course, they can be adopted separately but we think they’d make a wonderful pair.

Maestro can’t make up his mind what colour to be. He came in jet black but is now changing colour to a smoke. He is a friendly kitten that loves games and following you around. He is dog and cat social as well. He will be one of those felines that enjoys being looked at, appreciated, patted and fed like royalty. Maestro is litter trained and comes running when called.

Sister Fraycee has the fluffiest ears we’ve ever seen on a kitten, making her look very majestic.

She’ll follow you around the house like a second shadow. In the mornings she likes to lie in the sink while watching you get ready for the day and in the evenings, she likes to sit in your lap and chill out.

PHOTOGRAPHS: JESSICA WYLD, SHUTTER PAWS

Both Fraycee and Maestro will be microchipped, have had their first vaccinations and come with a voucher for desexing.

Looking for some serious cuteness in your life?

Contact SAFE Metro on 0475 346 545.

SAFE Inc. is Western Australia’s largest volunteer-based animal rescue organisation using the foster care model. Founded in 2003, we currently have 12 branches state-wide and have successfully rehomed more than 20,500 homeless animals. More than 80% of money donated goes directly to animal care. We are aligned with a wide network of Australia’s most respected welfare organisations and are the Western Australian arm of Animal Welfare League Australia (AWLA).

FOSTER CARE keeps animals out of cages and is the key difference between SAFE and other organisations that utilise shelters. Fostering ensures animals are socialised with other pets and children (where appropriate) and greatly improves an animal’s chance of adoption. To become a foster carer, the first step is to contact our Perth branch, SAFE Metro on 0475 346 545 or 0448 893 033.

VOLUNTEER: https://safe.org.au/volunteer/

DONATE: https://safe.org.au/donate 54

ADOPT: https://safe.org.au/find-a-pet/

COMMUNITY he Compassionate Friends of Western Australia Tregardless strives to support families who have lost a child, of that child’s age throughout WA.

We are a non-profit, non-government funded charity that provide peer call support, group meetings, a drop in centre, sending out quarterly newsletters, Anniversary Cards, we hold Walk of remembrance and a candlelight service (non-religious) at Christmas.

We are run by volunteers and bereaved parents that are further along in their grief and wish to help others who have suffered this tragedy.

Although everybody’s grief is different it helps to talk to someone who has actually had this tragedy happen to them.

They WON”T say “I know how you feel” as no one can, but they will say “I don’t know exactly what you are feeling but this is how I felt when my child died”.

WALK OF REMEMBRANCE HELD IN MARCH EACH YEAR Events like these above give the bereaved some hope of a life after the death of their child. They connect with others that have been through the same tragic experience.

In doing so its helps them to feel that they are not alone in their grief, that there is a worldwide connection to other suffering the same.

DONATIONS Donations allow us to purchase stamps so we can send our booklets and other information to the newly bereaved, community groups, doctors surgeries and hospital throughout Western Australia.

They help us cover advertising cost in newspapers throughout Western Australia, pay for our office and utilities allowing us to have Peer Support Workers come in and contact to bereaved that wish to have contact.

The Compassionate Friends of WA Inc. receives no Government funding in any way.

We raise funds by holding events, charity drives and donation from our members and outside bodies.

Although this is fantastic, we still struggle with the cost of keeping our doors open so any suggestion on fundraising or donations are gratefully accepted.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED We are always looking for volunteers to help man Sausage Sizzles, Charity Shopping Centre Drives and other events along with peer support volunteers (bereaved parents) for telephone support and group meeting facilitation.

54 Simpson Street, Ardross 6107 6257

55

Concluded from page 56 ...

The lime spurt of retaliation saw them both dissolve into a flood of giggles as the contents of each shake was dredged up into the syringe then fired into the other’s glass until both shakes resembled brown dishwater.

I looked out the window trying to distract myself as I continued to wait, but soon realised my fingers were back on top of the plunger.

I pushed it down and watched as half of the red syrup disappeared into the centre of the brownie. I withdrew the syringe, swirled the rest of the contents on top of the brownie and watched as it cascaded over the side pooling on the lefthand side.

A drip of raspberry sauce lingered lemming-like off the end of the syringe. I flicked it off with my finger and put the finger to my lips my tongue licking off the residue. That was it. I picked up the brownie, sunk my teeth into the middle and was rewarded with a pas de deux of rich chocolatey sweetness, followed by an after burn of sour raspberry tingle. I closed my eyes, bliss.

Social etiquette went out the window as I took another bite and licked the top of the brownie to ensure the optimum, cake to raspberry ratio, was achieved.

Moments later my coffee landed. I know this because I heard a clunk and smelt the unmistakable aroma, but I was too preoccupied to open my eyes and acknowledge its arrival.

When I did open my eyes, I was confronted with the devastating sight of a smidgen of brownie quaking to one side of the plate alongside the faintest dribble of sauce. I shook the syringe attempting to force the remaining skerrick of syrup down from the base where it was cowering. Nothing came.

It clung stubbornly like the last piece of crackling on a roast pork pan. Desperate, I put the syringe in my mouth and sucked the contents quickly rendering myself cross-eyed as tried to watch for any movement. On the fourth attempt I was rewarded with a drop landing featherlike onto the plate.

Pigtail girl giggled, then beamed a knowing smile in my direction.

‘Have you tried the caramel shot,’ said a cool muso type as he sauntered passed, a take away pack of twelve Flavour Shots secreted under his arm, ‘you’ll be hooked.’

I blushed and looked down only to be greeted by the newspaper headline.

There for the grace of God go I, I thought, then pondered the mixed signals being sent to our youth.

Caramel hot shot injections socially acceptable, heroin ... not so much.

Photo given in evidence at the trial. The Rector with a fifteen year old girl- Estell Douglas

Concluded from page 57 ...

In July 1937 Davidson gave his usual speech before entering the cage in which two lions, Freddie and Toto, were sitting.

Eyewitnesses later reported that after Davidson had cracked his whip and shouted, Freddie became agitated and knocked Davidson over, before seizing him by the neck. Davidson never recovered consciousness and died two days later.

Rye saw Davidson's death as a business opportunity; crowds flocked to see "The Actual Lion that Mauled and Caused the Death of the Ex-Rector of Stiffkey".

The question of Davidson's treatment by the consistory court was first raised by the Church Times immediately after the trial and has continued ever since.

Concluded from page 50 ...

Investing in a business property rented to your own SMSF, or direct commercial property syndicates, then sold during retirement in pension phase, capital gains tax free, may outperform most public offer funds.

Concluded from page 56 ...

Without the State Government money, access to the program would not have been available to WA patients until next year at the earliest.

The WA initiative gives them immediate access to the program.

Linear is the State's only early phase trials unit, and one of only five such facilities in Australia, that offers trials to healthy volunteers and patients from national and international start-up biotech and multinational pharmaceutical companies.

Health Minister Roger Cook: "This is a really exciting development for Western Australians with cancer.

"Personalised medicine is one of the new frontiers of science, and this initiative will enable WA cancer patients to access cutting-edge medicine without the cost or upheaval of travelling interstate.

"The program gives us the opportunity to extend the lives of really ill patients who have not responded to existing treatments.

"The combination of advanced genetic screening capabilities for cancer and exceptional cancer specialists and researchers working on this program, means WA cancer patients with rare cancers will now have access to the best level of clinical care available.

ESTATE PLANNING FLEXIBILITY

In recent years, some public offer super funds have been offering a Non-lapsing Binding Death Benefit Nomination, but that’s about the most you can hope for from these funds.

Whereas with an SMSF, you can have much greater flexibility, subject only to the terms of the relevant fund trust deed and the requirements of Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act as regards to whom and how the benefits may be paid.

This ability is particularly important for fund members who are in a "blended family", where the restrictions of a public offer retail super fund are completely inappropriate.

However, the big public offer retail super funds don’t care about these benefits.

They simply want SMSFs curtailed, relying on reports by bodies such as ASIC and the Productivity Commission who have limited understanding of the potential financial and estate planning choices available in the real world.

Courtesy of Roxburgh Securities.

56

BUSINESS CARD BOARD ACCOUNTANT

DOG TRAINING

ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES

ELECTRICAL

BRICKPAVING

EDITOR

Specialising in Brickpaving & Soakwells

Need an editor?

Get expert advice on layout, editing, costings, publishing and marketing from a professional editor.

First consultation free. Free quotes.

FREE Quotes No job too big or too small Call Larry: 0431 057 124 or 6278 2301

Swinburne Press (founded 1989) P: 6296 5161 E: douglassb@iinet.net.au

CEILINGS

GARDENING

COSMETICS

GARDENING

57

BUSINESS CARD BOARD GLASS

SHEDS

MAINTENANCE

TREE SERVICES

Just Trees Your Affordable Local Tree Service Pruning - Lopping - Removals - Mulching

9274 3236

~ Fully Insured

~ Call for a Free Quote

7B Bushby Street, Bellevue, WA 6056

MARKETS

TUITION

PUBLISHERS

TV ANTENNA

Have a book to publish?

v Family History v Non-Fiction v Autobiography v Biography v Fantasy v Fiction v Poetry

Swinburne Press (founded 1989) P: 6296 5161 E: douglassb@iinet.net.au

WEB DESIGN

Your business could be here being seen by more than 100,000 readers for only $25.

Ring 0418 934 850 58

59

SWAN VALLEY

SWEET TEMPTATIONS

TRAIL

handcrafted artisan produce

1121

swanval

ley.COM.A 60

U/sweet